November 17, 2006
ASSEMBLY HOLD LEADERSHIP ELECTIONS
The State Assembly majority and minority caucuses selected their leadership Tuesday. The Republicans hold a 52-47 majority. The session is scheduled to begin January 3rd, 2007.
Republicans
Assembly Speaker - Rep. Mike Huebsch (R-West Salem)
Speaker Pro Tempore - Mark Gottlieb (R-Port Washington)
Majority Leader - Jeff Fitzgerald (R-Beaver Dam)
Assistant Majority Leader - Mark Gundrum (R-New Berlin)
Caucus Chair - Mark Honadel (R-South Milwaukee)
Vice-Caucus Chair - Pat Strachota (R-West Bend)
Caucus Secretary - Mary Williams (R-Medford)
Caucus Sgt. At Arms - Jerry Petrowski (R-Marathon)
Democrats
Minority Leader - James Kreuser (D-Kenosha)
Assistant Minority Leader - Jon Richards (D-Milwaukee)
Caucus Chair - Tony Staskunas (D-West Allis)
Vice-Caucus Chair - Tamara Grigsby (D-Milwaukee)
Caucus Secretary - Donna Seidel (D-Wausau)
Caucus Sgt. At Arms - Ann Hraychuck (D-Balsam Lake)
SENATE AND ASSEMBLY TO SELECT COMMITTEE CHAIRS, MEMBERSHIPS OVER THE NEXT COUPLE WEEKS
Over the next several weeks, Senate and Assembly leaders will chose who will head the various committees in each house. So far, only the Senate Democrats have chosen Sen. Russ Decker (D-Schofield) as the co-chair of the budget-writing Joint Committee on Finance. It is presumed that Rep. Dean Kaufert (R-Neenah) will not return as the Assembly co-chair of the Finance Committee.
For the first time in several sessions, both higher education committees in each house will have new leadership. In the Assembly, Rep. Rob Kreibich (R-Eau Claire) lost his bid for reelection and will not return as chair of the Colleges and Universities Committee. In the Senate, Sen. Sheila Harsdorf (R-River Falls) will also not return as chair of the Higher Education Committee because she will move to the minority and a new chair will be chosen from the majority Democrats.
ELECTIONS CHANGE THE REPRESENTATION OF FOUR YEAR INSTITUTIONS STATEWIDE
As a result of the recent election, in the Assembly two of the 13 four year institutions System wide are represented by Republicans with 11 represented by Democrats. In the Senate, four of the 13 campuses are represented by a Republican with nine represented by Democrats. The breakdown is as follows:
- UW-Madison - Reps. Spencer Black (D-Madsion), Mark Pocan (D-Madison); Sen. Fred Risser (D-Madison)
- UW-Milwaukee - Rep. Jon Richards (D-Milwaukee), Sen. Jeff Plale (D-South Milwaukee)
- UW-Whitewater - Rep. (elect) Kim Hixon (D-Whitewater)*, Sen. Judy Robson (D-Beliot)
- UW-Parkside - Rep. (elect) Cory Mason (D-Racine), Sen. (elect) John Lehman (D- Racine)
- UW-Green Bay - Rep. (elect) James Soletski (D-Green Bay)*, Sen. Dave Hansen (D-Green Bay)
- UW-Stevens Point - Rep. Louis Molepske (D-Stevens Point), Sen. Julie Lassa (D-Stevens Point)
- UW-Eau Claire - Rep. (elect) Jeff Smith (D-Eau Claire), Sen. (elect) Kathleen Vinehout (D-Alma)
- UW-Stout - Rep. (elect) John Murtha (R-Baldwin), Sen. Sheila Harsdorf (R-River Falls)
- UW-River Falls - Rep. Kitty Rhoades (R-Hudson), Sen. Sheila Harsdorf (R-River Falls)
- UW-La Crosse - Rep. Jennifer Shilling (D-La Crosse), Sen. Dan Kapanke (R-La Crosse)
- UW-Platteville - Rep. (elect) Phil Garthwaite (D-Fennimore), Sen. Dale Schultz (R-Richland Center)
- UW-Superior - Rep. Frank Boyle (D-Superior), Sen. Robert Jauch (D-Poplar)
- UW-Oshkosh - Rep. (elect) Gordon Hinz (D-Oshkosh), Sen. Carol Roessler (R-Oshkosh)
*Pending recount of the election results.
For more information on state related issues contact,
Kristi Thorson or Don Nelson
Assistant Director, State Relations
608/262-8967