This session, we will endeavor to build upon the successes of our past work in the State Senate: work that has led to year-after-year of budget surpluses and the largest Rainy Day Fund in state history. Work that has increased individual freedoms, reduced the size and role of government in our lives, and increased the accountability and transparency of our state.
Prior to the pandemic, our pro-growth economic policies resulted in record-low unemployment and record-high wage growth. Our past work has given our state’s employers, both large and small, the confidence to invest in and grow their dream, resulting in more jobs, higher wages, budget surpluses, and a roaring economy. This session, we will continue to build upon the historic reforms which support our state’s farmers, manufacturers, and main street businesses – the backbone of our Wisconsin economy.
As part of the last budget, the Senate put forward a bold tax cut which returned surplus tax collections directly back to working families – a reform which will benefit the middle-class year-after-year. We did this while making historic investments in education, transportation and health services. The people of Wisconsin have entrusted us to continue our prudent budgeting, building on past successes and guiding our great state into the new decade.
We enter the 2021-22 Legislative Session facing historic challenges. However, I am confident in our ability to meet these challenges with wisdom, understanding, and a mutual desire to move our state Forward through our shared hardships. Our state’s economy is recovering quickly with unemployment dropping to 5%. Employers have safely re-opened their doors – welcoming back employees and customers. It’s time to get Wisconsin’s children back into school, our workforce back to business, and our residents & visitors back to play.
Today, on inauguration day, we come together as one body, representing all 5.8 million of our fellow Wisconsinites. We pledge our oath to support the Constitutions of our state and nation. We will faithfully fulfill our duties on behalf of We the People. It is with an incredible sense of responsibility and deep love for our state and her people that we make this solemn promise to all Wisconsinites: our state’s best and most prosperous days lie ahead.
My thanks to all Senators for your willingness to serve your constituents and the State of Wisconsin. It’s time to get to work and move our great state FORWARD.”
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Remarks of Minority Leader Bewley
“Today, we are at our best. We are proud and confident. We congratulate our new members of the Senate, and we thank their families and friends for the support that made it possible. It is a good day.
As we begin this 106th session of the Wisconsin Legislature, I am somewhat surprised my desire to take shelter from all the turmoil surrounding Covid and the presidential election results in here and focus on Wisconsin, our districts, our two caucuses and the important issues that lie ahead
But we can’t forget the two lessons given to us through the challenges of the past year. Covid exposed to everyone the inconsistent and often threadbare social and physical infrastructure throughout our state. And the death of George Floyd sent shockwaves around the world, placing at our feet the obligation to see and face racial injustice within our own systems.
As Senators, our job is to repair what is old and broken, and to create the new. Work delayed is progress and justice denied, and an abdication of our sworn duty to protect our state and its people. This Senate is capable of great things, but we need the courage to do them. Drafting bills is easy. Drafting bills that will pass is hard. Be we can do hard work, and the people of Wisconsin deserve our best work. Unthinkable things are around the corner, and we must be ready, and this is our time. And even if we are spared another global tragedy, what better can we do than plan, and dream and build for the best future possible. Our businesses deserve to thrive, our children want to learn, our elderly hope for security and comfort, and our waters and lands require our protection.
What can we do differently? We can try to see Wisconsin as each other sees it, through each other’s lens and try to appreciate and respect the diversity of opinions, lifestyles, values, backgrounds, fears and joys and simply try to understand. When we see things together, as our shared future, we will be doing our jobs. So, welcome to the future. We have a lot of work to do.”
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Report of Committees
The joint committee on Legislative Organization reported and recommended:
Senate Joint Resolution 1
Relating to: the session schedule for the 2021−20122 biennial session period.
Introduction.
Ayes: 8 − Senator Kapenga, Representative Vos, Senators LeMahieu, Feyen, Bewley and Ringhand, Representatives Steineke and Peterson.
Noes: 2 – Representatives Hintz and Hesselbein.
CHRIS KAPENGA
Senate Chairperson
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Senate Joint Resolution 1
Relating to: the session schedule for the 2021-2022 biennial session period.
By the joint committee on Legislative Organization.
hist125652The question was: Adoption of Senate Joint Resolution 1? The ayes and noes were required and the vote was: ayes, 28; noes, 3; absent or not voting, 1; as follows:
Ayes - Senators Agard, Ballweg, Bernier, Bewley, Bradley, Darling, Erpenbach, Felzkowski, Feyen, Jacque, Johnson, Kapenga, Kooyenga, Larson, LeMahieu, Marklein, Nass, Petrowski, Pfaff, Ringhand, Roth, Roys, Stafsholt, Stroebel, Testin, Wanggaard, Wimberger and Wirch - 28.
Noes - Senators Carpenter, Smith and L. Taylor - 3.
Absent or not voting - Senator Cowles - 1.
Adopted.
Senator LeMahieu, with unanimous consent, asked that all action be immediately messaged to the Assembly:
Messaged.
Relating to: public access to the state capitol building.
By Senators LeMahieu, Feyen and Kapenga; cosponsored by Representatives Vos and Steineke.
Senator Kapenga, with unanimous consent, asked that the Senate stand informal.
hist125676Senator LeMahieu moved that Senate Amendment 1 to Senate Joint Resolution 2 be laid on the table. The question was: Tabling of Senate Amendment 1 to Senate Joint Resolution 2?
The ayes and noes were demanded and the vote was: ayes, 19; noes, 12; absent or not voting, 1; as follows:
Ayes - Senators Ballweg, Bernier, Bradley, Darling, Felzkowski, Feyen, Jacque, Kapenga, Kooyenga, LeMahieu, Marklein, Nass, Petrowski, Roth, Stafsholt, Stroebel, Testin, Wanggaard and Wimberger - 19.
Noes - Senators Agard, Bewley, Carpenter, Erpenbach, Johnson, Larson, Pfaff, Ringhand, Roys, Smith, L. Taylor and Wirch - 12.
Absent or not voting - Senator Cowles - 1.
Tabled.
hist125677Senator LeMahieu, with unanimous consent, asked that Senate Joint Resolution 2 be laid on the table. Tabled.
Senator Kapenga, with unanimous consent, asked that the Senate stand informal.
hist125678 Senator LeMahieu, with unanimous consent, asked that Assembly Joint Resolution 1 be withdrawn and taken up at this time. Assembly Joint Resolution 1
Relating to: public access to the state capitol building.
hist125679The question was: Concurrence of Assembly Joint Resolution 1? Concurred in.
Senator LeMahieu, with unanimous consent, asked that all action be immediately messaged to the Assembly:
Messaged.
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Announcements, Adjournment Honors and Remarks Under
Special Privilege
Senator Bernier, with unanimous consent, asked that the Senate adjourn in honor of Thomas “Tom” J. Fliehr. Tom has been her best friend for the past 14 years. They have experienced life’s joys and sorrows. They have traveled much of the United States together and he has been a faithful supporter of her political life, though politics is not his favorite subject matter.
Senator Nass, with unanimous consent, asked that the Senate adjourn in honor of Mr. Jim Schildbach, an outstanding Wisconsinite, dedicated to the principles that enshrined the freedoms we have enjoyed for more than two centuries.
Senator Stroebel, with unanimous consent, introduced his guests attending the 2021 inaugural; his wife Laura Stroebel and his son Lewis Stroebel.
Senator Agard, with unanimous consent, introduced her guests attending the 2021 inaugural; Devin Sargent, Bailey Sargent, Keanan Sargent, Trystan Sargent, Steve Agard, Mary Berryman Agard, Barb Baumgartner, Pris Herman, Vernon Rathert, Aaron Collins, Sidney Litke, and Megan Wittman.
Senator Ballweg, with unanimous consent, introduced her guests attending the 2021 inaugural; her husband, Tom Ballweg, who is celebrating his birthday today.
Senator Wanggaard, with unanimous consent, asked that the Senate adjourn in honor of Traffic Investigator Joseph B. (Joey) Nosalik, his partner for 20 years, who served the Racine Community for nearly three decades in law enforcement with the Racine Police Department. Before joining the Racine Police Department, Joey served our country as a proud United States Marine, serving in Vietnam. Joey was loved by his wife Susan and children, Joey Jr and daughter Trista. He will be greatly missed but forever in our memory and the people of Racine and our country are better because of his life.
Senator Wanggaard, with unanimous consent, asked that the Senate adjourn in honor of our courageous emergency personnel who continue to serve others during this medical emergency. While it may be difficult to assess the risk of exposure regularly by each of these areas of service the professionalism displayed by these disciplines is often times above the call of duty. Senator Wanggaard prays the Lord’s blessing of protection and each of these individuals and their families.
Senator Wanggaard, with unanimous consent, asked that the Senate adjourn in honor of Valirie Maxim, his Committee Clerk and staff member since 2015. She was a wonderful member of the Wanggaard Team and will be greatly missed.
Senator Felzkowski, with unanimous consent, introduced her guests attending the 2021 inaugural; Jeff Felzkowski and Logan Czaja.
Senator Felzkowski, with unanimous consent, asked that the Senate adjourn in honor of her brother, Tom Behling, who passed away on November 8, 2020.
Senator Bradley, with unanimous consent, introduced his guests attending the 2021 inaugural; Krista Bradley, Stephen Hicks, Mackenzie Hicks, Matthew Stark, Brian Westrate, Bill Feehan, Andrew Matz, Leah Vukmir, Jessica Ward, Arthur William Paddy, Thomas Bradley, Gregory Spitz, Theodore Fine, Eric Delgado, Sirena Rivera, Melissa Moss, and Jennifer Barnes.
Sergeant at Arms Blazel, with unanimous consent, asked that the Senate adjourn in honor of his family. He would like to adjourn in honor of his wife Hanna, and his sons Benjamin and William. Sergeant at Arms Blazel wants to especially thank his wife for her support over the last eighteen years that he has served as Sergeant at Arms. She has been very supportive during the long hours and challenges that have been a part of the last nine sessions.
Sergeant at Arms Blazel, with unanimous consent, asked that the Senate adjourn in honor of his mother Mary Kay Blazel and his late father Robert Blazel for their love and support over the years.
Sergeant at Arms Blazel, with unanimous consent, asked that the Senate adjourn in honor of his brother John Blazel and his wife Carrie, and their daughters Madeleine and Emma; his sister Beth Findlay and her husband Tim, and their daughters Jillian and Emily; his sister Jane Loos and her husband Chris.
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Adjournment
Senator LeMahieu, with unanimous consent, asked that the Senate stand adjourned until Thursday, January 7, 2021.
Adjourned.
4:04 P.M.
