Perhaps best know for the bills he has done at the request of his constituents, Erpenbach is proud to have been re-elected to serve again. He is joined today by his parents, Liz and Bill Erpenbach, both retired public servants, his children Joe and Amy Erpenbach and Will and Eli Erpenbach."
Senator Fitzgerald Introduced Senator Galloway
"Pam Galloway was elected to represent the 29th Senate District, a geographically large district in North Central Wisconsin including Marathon, Taylor, Price and Rusk Counties.
A breast cancer surgeon from Wausau, Dr. Galloway had never before held political office, and come to Madison excited to work on issues ranging from quality healthcare to improving our state's economy.
Here with Pam today is Chris, her husband of 32 years, and many of her close friends and family."
Senator Miller Introduced Senator Vinehout
"Kathleen represents a sprawling rural district in Western Wisconsin - from dairy farms nestled among the majestic bluffs of the Mississippi River to the cranberry bogs and Christmas trees in the Central Sands Region; from the bustle of Water Street and the UW Eau Claire to the best prices for gasoline on the interstate at Love's in Oakdale.
A passion for establishing affordable health care for all brought this former dairy farmer to the Senate four years ago. Making sure government does well what it was created to do keeps her here. We're proud to have her represent Western Wisconsin on the Joint Committee on Audit."
Senator Fitzgerald Introduced Senator Zipperer
"State Senator Rich Zipperer was elected to the Wisconsin State Senate on November 2nd to represent the 33rd Senate District, which runs from the city of Waukesha to the City of Hartford. He previously served in the State Assembly, representing the 98th State Assembly district since 2007. He is also an attorney, working in private practices in Southeast Wisconsin.
Senator Zipperer will serve as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Utilities, Commerce and Government Operations in the upcoming legislative session.
While in the Assembly he served as the ranking Republican on the Assembly Committee on Jobs, the Economy and Small Business, Chairman of the Taxpayer Protection Caucus, and Co-chair of the Wisconsin Jobs NOW Task Force.
Senator Zipperer resides in Pewaukee with his family. His wife, Rita, and three children Vince, Sylvia and Elizabeth, are with him today; as well as his father, mother, one of his three sister, and other family and friends."
Senator Grothman Introduced Senator Fitzgerald
"Senator Scott Fitzgerald was recently elected to his fifth term representing the 13th Senate District, which includes Dodge, Jefferson, Columbia, Waukesha and Dane Counties. Senator Fitzgerald was first elected in 1994, and was recently chosen by his Republican colleagues to serve as Majority Leader. In prior sessions he has served as Majority Leader, Co-Chairman of the joint committee on Finance and Chair of the Senate Corrections Committee. He served for 27 years in the U.S. Army Reserves, retiring as Lieutenant Colonel.
Scott is joined today by his wife Lisa, his sons Scotty, Brennan and Connor, his parents Steve and Bonnie, and his in-laws Albin and Lousie Will.
Please join me in welcoming back Scott Fitzgerald."
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Upon the calling of the newly elected Senators on Monday, January 3, 2011, the following appeared before the Senate, took and subscribed the oath of office which was administered by the Honorable Michael Gableman, Associate Justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
Frank Lasee Tim Carpenter
Leah Vukmir Chris Larson
Joe Leibham Neal Kedzie
Scott Fitzgerald Tim Cullen
Dale Schultz Michael Ellis
Van Wanggaard Terry Moulton
Bob Jauch John Erpenbach
Pam Galloway Kathleen Vinehout
Rich Zipperer
The roll was called, disclosing the presence of a quorum.
Pursuant to Senate Rule
15, the official attendance for session was:
Senators Carpenter, Cowles, Cullen, Darling, Ellis, Erpenbach, S. Fitzgerald, Galloway, Grothman, Hansen, Harsdorf, Holperin, Hopper, Jauch, Kapanke, Kedzie, Larson, F. Lasee, Lassa, Lazich, Leibham, Miller, Moulton, Olsen, Risser, Schultz, Taylor, Vinehout, Vukmir, Wanggaard, Wirch and Zipperer - 32.
Absent - 0.
Absent with leave - Senator Coggs - 1.
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Senator Miller, with unanimous consent, asked that Senator Coggs be granted a leave of absence for today's session.
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Considered as privileged and taken up.
Senate Resolution 1
Relating to: notifying the assembly and the governor that the 2011-2012 senate is organized.
By Senators Fitzgerald, Ellis, Grothman, Miller and Hanen.
Read.
The question was: Shall Senate Resolution 1 be adopted?
The ayes and noes were required and the vote was: ayes, 32; noes, 0; absent or not voting, 1; as follows:
Ayes - Senators Carpenter, Cowles, Cullen, Darling, Ellis, Erpenbach, S. Fitzgerald, Galloway, Grothman, Hansen, Harsdorf, Holperin, Hopper, Jauch, Kapanke, Kedzie, Larson, F. Lasee, Lassa, Lazich, Leibham, Miller, Moulton, Olsen, Risser, Schultz, Taylor, Vinehout, Vukmir, Wanggaard, Wirch and Zipperer - 32.
Noes - None.
Absent or not voting - Senator Coggs - 1.
Adopted.
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Remarks of President Risser
"With the adoption of Senate Resolution 1, the Senate has elected new officers for itself. In a few moments, I will ask those officers to come before the bar to take the oath of office. Before I do that, however, I would like to say a few words on behalf of myself and each of the Senate Presidents who came before me.
First, I want to say thank you to my fellow Senators for allowing me to serve as Senate President. It is a great honor to serve as President and I have enjoyed that opportunity. I especially appreciate the fact that the members of this body---regardless of party or personal philosophy - have maintained an order and decorum that has give the Wisconsin State Senate a reputation as a model legislative body. I'm sure that this tradition and long history of fair, respectful debate on the many issues that confront our state will continue under its new leadership.
The Wisconsin State Senate did not always select its presiding officer. The Lieutenant Governor acted as President of the Senate until 1979 when the state constitution was changed to provide that the Senate select its own president.
I was the first Senator selected for that position in 1979 and have served on and off as president for approximately 24 of the past 32 years since that time. Senator Mike Ellis, who will be receiving the gavel from me today, will become the fourth person to hold this position along with Senator Brian Rude, Senator Alan Lasee and myself.
Senator Ellis, by the way, will be the first Senate President who is less than 6'2" tall - but I am sure he will make up the difference in other ways. Senator Ellis - as mentioned by Senator Fitzgerald earlier - has served longer in the State Legislature than any other legislator in the states history, other than myself. He is well versed in the Senate Rules and I know he will do a great job as our president.
Historically, until 1882, Wisconsin Senators served only two year terms. One of these two year term State Senators was my own Great-Grandfather, Col. Clement Warner, who came to the Senate in 1868 after the Civil War with one arm missing - having lost it in the war.
Our proceedings this afternoon are being broadcast by Wisconsin Eye. You will notice the little black boxes in the balcony which contain cameras to cover our proceedings. In addition to covering all Senate sessions, Wisconsin Eye also covers numerous committee hearings throughout the session making it possible for people throughout Wisconsin to follow the activities of the Senate.
It is fortunate that the Senate will continue to have the services of our Chief Clerk Rob Marchant and his staff for the coming session. This body used to select its staff on a patronage, partisan basis, but for over thirty years - beginning with our former Chief Clerk Don Schneider - we have maintained a non-partisan, professional Chief Clerk who has served everyone in this body regardless of which party holds the majority and Rob Marchant has done an excellent job of upholding this tradition.
Our current Sergeant at Arms Ted Blazel will also be staying with us. He joins a list of top-notch professional, non-partisans who help make this partisan body work.
Finally, I would like to recognize my wife, Nancy, who is here today. Without her help and support, I would not be standing before you now.
With that, I would like to call Senators Ellis and Leibham, as well as Chief Clerk Marchant and Sergeant at Arms Blazel before the bar to take the oath of office."
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The President, Michael G. Ellis, the President Pro Tempore, Joe Leibham, the Chief Clerk, Robert J. Marchant, and the Sergeant at Arms, Edward A. Blazel, having been duly elected by the adoption of Senate Resolution 1, appeared together before the bar of the Senate, took and subscribed the oath of office which was administered by the Honorable Michael Gableman, Associate Justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
President Ellis in the chair.
President Ellis and President Pro Tempore Leibham introduced the Senators returning from the 99th Session: Senators Cowles, Taylor, Coggs, Darling, Harsdorf, Holperin, Olsen, Miller, Hopper, Grothman, Wirch, Lassa, Risser, Lazich, Hansen and Kapanke.
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With unanimous consent, Senator Fitzgerald addressed the members from the rostrum.
Remarks of Majority Leader Fitzgerald
"It is an honor and also very humbling to be chosen as the next Majority Leader. We've got an enormous challenge ahead of us, and the stakes are simply too high for us to fail.
I'd like to quickly congratulate our new governor, Scott Walker, as well, and the recently announced members of his cabinet. I also look forward to working with our colleagues in the state Assembly - which we know as the Lower House - but I do sometimes wonder about that new Speaker they've got over there.
I'd like to give a note of appreciation to the minority leadership as well, for the standards of decorum they've always held in this body. I am hopeful that this will continue over the next two years.
Every single person working under this dome has a responsibility. We all made a promise to the five-and-a-half-million people in the state of Wisconsin that we would work to make this state a better place.
For those of you here in attendance, and for everyone who has a stake in what we do here, I have a message for you. If you're expecting more of the same, you're going to be disappointed.
Under Scott Walker and the speaker and I - the phrase "that's the way we've always done things" is no longer a valid reason. There are going to be some disappointed lobbyists. There are going to be some disappointed bureaucrats. And there are going to be some very real changes to the status quo.
We all have a role in this building, and we all have a role in re-building the future of this great state. And we all need to ask the Lord for strength to face these challenges together, and not to let our differences tear us apart.
We all have to remember that this job is bigger than just ourselves, and more important than our own ambitions and personal desires.
If there's one piece of advice I can give to the newly elected freshmen, that's what it would be - remember that truth. Remember that we OWE it, to the people of Wisconsin and to the future of our great state - to work together in order to move forward."
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With unanimous consent, Senator Miller addressed the members from the rostrum.
Remarks of Minority Leader Miller
"Today we celebrate the opening of the 100th session of the Wisconsin State Legislature.
Since 1848 over 1,000 men and women have served in the Senate, and today we welcome both the new and returning members who will have the honor of serving the people of Wisconsin for the next four years.
Throughout our history, the Senate has taken on the issues of the day, large and small. Debated (and debated and debated) them and arrived at solutions.
