January 2021 Special Session
10:10 A.M. THURSDAY, February 18, 2021
The Senate met.
The Senate was called to order by Senate President Kapenga.
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Call of Roll
The roll was called, disclosing the presence of a quorum.
Pursuant to Senate Rule 15, the official attendance for session was: Senators Agard, Ballweg, Bernier, Bewley, Bradley, Carpenter, Darling, Erpenbach, Felzkowski, Feyen, Jacque, Johnson, Kapenga, Kooyenga, Larson, LeMahieu, Marklein, Nass, Petrowski, Pfaff, Ringhand, Roth, Roys, Smith, Stafsholt, Stroebel, L. Taylor, Testin, Wanggaard, Wimberger and Wirch - 31.
Absent with leave - Senator Cowles - 1.
Vacancies - 13th Senate District - 1.
The Senate stood for the prayer which was offered by Senator Marklein.
The Senate remained standing and Senator Felzkowski led the Senate in the pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.
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Chief Clerk's Entries
Amendments Offered
hist127828Senate Amendment 2 to Senate Substitute Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 1, January 2021 Special Session offered by Senator Larson. hist127834Senate Amendment 3 to Senate Substitute Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 1, January 2021 Special Session offered by Senators Erpenbach, Ringhand, Smith, Roys, L. Taylor and Bewley. hist127835Senate Amendment 4 to Senate Substitute Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 1, January 2021 Special Session offered by Senators Erpenbach, Ringhand, Smith, Roys, L. Taylor and Bewley. hist127837Senate Amendment 5 to Senate Substitute Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 1, January 2021 Special Session offered by Senator Carpenter. hist127838Senate Amendment 6 to Senate Substitute Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 1, January 2021 Special Session offered by Senator Carpenter. _____________
Second reading and amendments of senate joint resolutions and senate bills
Senate Bill 1, January 2021 Special Session
Relating to: transactions with the Department of Workforce Development under the unemployment insurance law, funding for unemployment insurance modernization efforts, granting rule-making authority, and making an appropriation.
Senator LeMahieu moved that Senate Amendment 2 to Senate Substitute Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 1, January 2021 Special Session be rejected.
POINT OF ORDER
Senator Carpenter raised the point of order that he was denied the ability to physically attend Senate session on April 15, 2020.
The Chair ruled the point of order not well taken, citing a prior ruling of the Chair and Mason’s Manual of Legislative Procedure, which provides that “[a] point of order must be raised before the irregularity or occasion for raising the point of order has passed.” [Senate Journal, February 19, 1976, p. 1779, and Mason’s Manual, Sec. 231.1.]
Senator Carpenter appealed the ruling of the chair.
The question was: Shall the Decision of the Chair stand as the judgment of the Senate?
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.
The Decision of the Chair stands as the judgment of the Senate.
hist127839The question was: Rejection of Senate Amendment 2 to Senate Substitute Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 1, January 2021 Special Session? The ayes and noes were demanded and the vote was: ayes, 20; noes, 11; absent or not voting, 1; as follows:
Ayes - Senators Ballweg, Bernier, Bradley, Darling, Felzkowski, Feyen, Jacque, Kapenga, Kooyenga, LeMahieu, Marklein, Nass, Petrowski, Pfaff, Roth, Stafsholt, Stroebel, Testin, Wanggaard and Wimberger - 20.
Noes - Senators Agard, Bewley, Carpenter, Erpenbach, Johnson, Larson, Ringhand, Roys, Smith, L. Taylor and Wirch - 11.
Absent or not voting - Senator Cowles - 1.
Rejected.
Senator Pfaff, with unanimous consent, asked to have his voted changed from “Aye” to “No” on the question of rejection of Senate Amendment 2 to Senate Substitute Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 1, January 2021 Special Session.
hist127840Senator LeMahieu moved that Senate Amendment 3 to Senate Substitute Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 1, January 2021 Special Session be rejected. The question was: Rejection of Senate Amendment 3 to Senate Substitute Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 1, January 2021 Special Session?
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.
Rejected.
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Leaves of Absence
Senator LeMahieu, with unanimous consent, asked that Senator Cowles be granted a leave of absence for today's session.
hist127841Senator LeMahieu moved that Senate Amendment 4 to Senate Substitute Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 1, January 2021 Special Session be rejected. _____________
Leaves of Absence
Senator Bewley, with unanimous consent, asked that Senator Agard be granted a leave of absence for part of today's session.
The question was: Rejection of Senate Amendment 4 to Senate Substitute Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 1, January 2021 Special Session?
The ayes and noes were demanded and the vote was: ayes, 19; noes, 11; absent or not voting, 2; 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 Bewley, Carpenter, Erpenbach, Johnson, Larson, Pfaff, Ringhand, Roys, Smith, L. Taylor and Wirch - 11.
Absent or not voting - Senators Agard and Cowles - 2.
Rejected.
hist127842Senator LeMahieu moved that Senate Amendment 5 to Senate Substitute Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 1, January 2021 Special Session be rejected. The question was: Rejection of Senate Amendment 5 to Senate Substitute Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 1, January 2021 Special Session?
The ayes and noes were demanded and the vote was: ayes, 19; noes, 11; absent or not voting, 2; 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 Bewley, Carpenter, Erpenbach, Johnson, Larson, Pfaff, Ringhand, Roys, Smith, L. Taylor and Wirch - 11.