“Eric Wimberger was born and raised in DePere. He attended St. Cloud State University where he served as student body president, majoring in Criminal Justice and minoring in Political Science. Eric drove semi-trucks long haul before enrolling at Marquette University Law School.
Following graduation from Marquette, Eric commissioned in the United States Marine Corps. As a Judge Advocate he was stationed in Japan and Washington D.C., honorably discharged as a Captain.
Eric returned home to Green Bay in 2010 where he continued service to the community. He started his law practice and was recognized as a “Super Lawyer Rising Star.” He remains dedicated to making a positive difference in the community, including as a board member with the philanthropic Cloud Family Foundation. You can also find him often helping his mom make great family memories at her small business, Sweet Memories Candy Shoppe, in Lakewood.”
Senator Bewley Introduced Senator Pfaff
“Senator Brad Pfaff is a proud son of the rolling hills, coulees, and valleys of northern La Crosse County. He learned the value of hard work, resilience, appreciation for the land, and respect for his community while growing up on his family’s dairy farm.
Brad has spent the majority of his career working for the people of Wisconsin. He served in senior positions with the US Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency in the Obama Administration, and most recently as the Secretary-designee of the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. Previously, Brad held positions in the Offices of US Representative Ron Kind and US Senator Herb Kohl.
Brad met his wife, Betty, a West Salem native, while he was a senior in high school at a 4-H leadership luncheon. They are the proud parents of two college-aged children.”
_____________
Oath of Office
On Tuesday, December 22, 2020, Robert Wirch took and subscribed the oath of office in the County of Kenosha, which was administered by the Honorable Mary K. Wagner, Kenosha County Circuit Court Judge.
On Monday, December 28, 2020, Melissa Agard took and subscribed the oath of office in the Senate Chamber, which was administered by the Honorable Jill Karofsky, Justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
On Monday, January 4, 2021, Robert Cowles took and subscribed the oath of office in the County of Brown, which was administered by Senate President Roger Roth.
On Monday, January 4, 2021, Julian Bradley, Patrick Testin, Brad Pfaff, Eric Wimberger, Mary Felzkowski, and Joan Ballweg took and subscribed the oath of office in the Senate Chamber, which was administered by the Honorable Patience Drake Roggensack, Chief Justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
On Monday, January 4, 2021, Dan Feyen, Duey Stroebel, Alberta Darling, and Rob Stafsholt took and subscribed the oath of office in the Senate Chamber, which was administered by the Honorable Rebecca Bradley, Justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
On Monday, January 4, 2021, Lena C. Taylor, Kelda Roys, and LaTonya Johnson took and subscribed the oath of office in the County of Dane, which was administered by the Honorable Chris Taylor, Dane County Circuit Court Judge.
_____________
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.
Senator LeMahieu, with unanimous consent, asked that all members of the Senate who are attending today’s session virtually be considered present and able to vote on today’s business.
_____________
Leaves of Absence
Senator LeMahieu, with unanimous consent, asked that Senator Cowles be granted a leave of absence for today's session.
_____________
Chief Clerk's Entries
Amendments Offered
hist125658Senate Amendment 1 to Senate Joint Resolution 2 offered by Senators Carpenter and L. Taylor. _____________
Petitions and Communications
State of Wisconsin
Office of the Senate Majority Leader
January 1, 2021
The Honorable, the Senate:
I am resigning my position as Wisconsin State Senator effective immediately, as is required by the policy of the United States Congress.
It has been an honor to serve in this incredible institution, and I wish the incoming class of senators best of luck in the coming years.
Please contact me if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
SCOTT FITZGERALD
Majority Leader
_____________
Messages from the Assembly
By Kay Inabnet, assistant chief clerk.
Mr. President:
I am directed to inform you that the Assembly has
Adopted and asks concurrence in:
_____________
Consideration of resolutions and joint resolutions not requiring a third reading
Senate Resolution 1
Relating to: notifying the assembly and the governor that the 2021-2022 senate is organized.
hist125649The question was: Adoption of Senate Resolution 1? The ayes and noes were required and the vote was: ayes, 31; noes, 0; absent or not voting, 1; as follows:
Ayes - 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.
Noes – None - 0.
Absent or not voting - Senator Cowles - 1.
Adopted.
_____________
Senate Officers Oath of Office
The President, Chris Kapenga, the President Pro Tempore, Patrick Testin, the Chief Clerk, Michael Queensland, 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 Rebecca Bradley, Justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
_____________
Remarks of President Kapenga
“Well, first, I just want to say as your new Senate President, officially, welcome to all the members.
I feel very privileged to be up here. I take this very seriously.
I do want to thank also the staff of the Chief Clerk’s office, LTSB. We’ve practiced a lot of extra things with the virtual items. And wanted to make sure all members, if they are not participating here, can participate flawlessly. So there was a significant amount of time put in by all these folks up front. I would just like to first give them all a round of applause.
Thank you team. We appreciate that.
I’m not going to go into a bunch of comments. I actually just wrote down three quick quotes on the position.
The first one is from Henry Roberts who wrote Roberts’ Rules of Order which is something that we follow. And, he wrote the role here is “for the majority is to give the minority a full, free opportunity to present their side of the case.” And, I will ensure that I do that. “And then for the minority having failed to win a majority to their views gracefully to submit and to recognize the action as that of the entire organization and cheerfully to assist in carrying it out until they can secure its repeal.”
So, that was a quote by Henry Roberts.
The second one, my staff actually had it engraved on the gavel, and it’s a quote from George Washington, who is one of my favorite Founding Fathers. And it says, “I hope I shall possess firmness and virtue enough to maintain (what I consider the most enviable of all the titles) the character of an honest man.”
That’s by George Washington.
And then the last one, Rob Marchant Senate Chief Clerk, for those of you who have been here for a while. “Enjoy presiding and don’t forget your sense of humor.” So, I will try to do that.
Thank you all for this honor.”
_____________
President Kapenga introduced the Senators returning from the 104th Session: Senators Jacque, Carpenter, Kooyenga, Larson, LeMahieu, Nass, Ringhand, Marklein, Roth, Wanggaard, Bernier, Bewley, Erpenbach, Petrowski, and Smith.
_____________
Remarks of Majority Leader LeMahieu
“Despite the incredible challenges of this past year, I’ve been heartened and encouraged by our State’s fighting spirit and the grit and determination of our people. Individuals, families, and employers have risen to meet and overcome unexpected challenges even in the face of overwhelming obstacles.
We pray with those that have lost loved ones this year. We mourn with those who have lost businesses this year. Our heart breaks with those who have lost jobs.
Yet, we believe that better days lie ahead. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and our mission here in this chamber is to support your strong spirit and enhance the opportunities available to you in our great state so we can build a stronger future together.
This year will bring its own unique set of challenges to every facet of life. Navigating through these uncertain times require this body to provide a strong, united effort in support of the Wisconsinites we serve.
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.
