WEEK OF JANUARY 3, 2017
2017-2018 LEGISLATIVE SESSION KICKS OFF!

state capitol
Welcome to a new year and a new legislative session! With the start of the new session comes the resumption of the WCA Capitol Watch, the Wisconsin Counties Association's weekly update of legislative issues impacting counties.

Today is inauguration day at the Wisconsin State Capitol. Members of the Wisconsin State Senate and Wisconsin State Assembly were sworn in at 2:00 p.m. Following the inaugural festivities, both houses of the Wisconsin State Legislature took up a joint resolution outlining the session schedule for the 2017-2018 Legislative Session. 

LEGISLATIVE LEADERSHIP POSITIONS

Following the November election, each of the four legislative caucuses elected its leaders for the two-year session.  Following please find a listing of the Wisconsin State Assembly and Wisconsin State Senate leadership:

Wisconsin State Assembly
  • Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester)
  • Speaker Pro Tempore Tyler August (R-Lake Geneva)
  • Majority Leader Jim Steineke (R-Kaukauna)
  • Assistant Majority Leader Robert Brooks (R-Saukville)
  • Republican Caucus Chair Daniel Knodl (R-Grmantown)
  • Republican Caucus Vice-Chair Romaine Quinn (R-Rice Lake)
  • Republican Caucus Secretary Jessie Rodriguez (R-Oak Creek)
  • Republican Caucus Sergeant at Arms Samantha Kerkman (R-Salem)
  • Minority Leader Peter Barca (D-Kenosha)
  • Assistant Minority Leader Dianne Hesselbein (D-Middleton)
  • Democratic Caucus Chair Mark Spreitzer (D-Beloit)
  • Democratic Caucus Vice-Chair Steve Doyle (D-Onalaska)
  • Democratic Caucus Secretary Beth Meyers (D-Bayfield)
  • Democratic Caucus Sergeant at Arms Christine Sinicki (D-Milwaukee)
Wisconsin State Senate
  • Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau)
  • Senate Assistant Majority Leader Leah Vukmir (R-Brookfield)
  • Senate President Roger Roth (R-Appleton)
  • Senate President Pro Tempore Howard Marklein (R-Spring Green)
  • Senate Republican Caucus Chair Sheila Harsdorf (R-River Falls)
  • Senate Republican Caucus Vice-Chair Van Wanggaard (R-Racine)
  • Senate Minority Leader Jennifer Shilling (D-La Crosse)
  • Senate Assistant Minority Leader Janet Bewley (D-Ashland)
  • Senate Democratic Caucus Chair Mark Miller (D-Monona)
  • Senate Democratic Caucus Vice-Chair Janis Ringhand (D-Evansville)
JOINT COMMITTEE ON FINANCE

Each of the four leaders recently appointed the members of the Joint Committee on Finance.

Senate
  • Senator Alberta Darling (R-River Hills) - Co-Chair
  • Senator Luther Olsen (R- Ripon)
  • Senator Sheila Harsdorf (R-River Falls)
  • Senator Tom Tiffany (R-Hazelhurst)
  • Senator Leah Vukmir (R-Brookfield)
  • Senator Howard Marklein (R-Spring Green)
  • Senator Lena Taylor (D-Milwaukee)
  • Senator Jon Erpenbach (D-Middleton)
Assembly
  • Representative John Nygren (R-Marinette) - Co-Chair
  • Representative Dale Kooyenga (R-Brookfield)
  • Representative Mike Rohrkaste (R-Neenah)
  • Representative Mary Felzkowski (R-Irma)
  • Representative Mark Born (R-Beaver Dam)
  • Representative Amy Loudenbeck (R-Clinton)
  • Representative Katrina Shankland  (D-Stevens Point)
  • Representative Gordon Hintz (D-Oshkosh)
LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEES  

In December, the Speaker of the Wisconsin State Assembly and Majority Leader of the Wisconsin State Senate released their committee structures.

Below please find a list of the Assembly and Senate committees, as well as committee chairs.




Wisconsin State Assembly
Committee: Committee Chair
  • Aging and Long Term Care: Rep. Tom Weatherston
  • Agriculture: Rep. Lee Nerison
  • Campaigns and Elections: Rep. Kathy Bernier
  • Children and Families: Rep. Joel Kitchens
  • Colleges and Universities: Rep. Dave Murphy
  • Constitution and Ethics: Rep. Scott Allen
  • Consumer Protection: Rep. Cindi Duchow
  • Corrections: Rep. Michael Schraa
  • Criminal Justice and Public Safety: Rep. John Spiros
  • Education: Rep. Jeremy Thiesfeldt
  • Energy and Utilities: Rep. Mike Kuglitsch
  • Environment and Forestry: Rep. Jeff Mursau
  • Family Law: Rep. Jessie Rodriguez
  • Federalism and Interstate Relations: Rep. Tyler Vorpagel
  • Financial Institutions: Rep. Terry Katsma
  • Government Accountability and Oversight: Rep. Rob Hutton
  • Health: Rep. Joe Sanfelippo
  • Housing: Rep. John Jagler
  • Insurance: Rep. Kevin Petersen
  • Jobs and the Economy: Rep. Adam Neylon
  • Judiciary: Rep. Jim Ott
  • Labor: Rep. Bob Kulp
  • Mental Health: Rep. Paul Tittl
  • Rural Development and Mining: Rep. Nancy VanderMeer
  • Natural Resources and Sporting Heritage: Rep. Joel Kleefisch
  • Public Benefit Reform: Rep. Scott Krug
  • Regulatory Licensing Reform: Rep. Cody Horlacher
  • Science and Technology: Rep. Romaine Quinn
  • Small Business Development: Rep. Gary Tauchen
  • State Affairs: Rep. Rob Swearingen
  • Tourism: Rep. Travis Tranel
  • Transportation: Rep. Keith Ripp
  • Local Government: Rep. Ed Brooks
  • Urban Revitalization: Rep. Bob Gannon
  • Veterans and Military Affairs: Rep. Ken Skowronski
  • Ways and Means: Rep. John Macco
  • Workforce Development: Rep. Warren Petryk
  • Joint Audit: Rep. Samantha Kerkman
  • Joint Committee for the Review of Administrative Rules: Rep. Joan Ballweg
  • Joint Committee on Finance: Rep. John Nygren
  • Joint Legislative Council: Rep. Rob Brooks
  • Joint Survey Committee on Tax Exemptions: Rep. Tyler August
  • Joint Survey Committee on Retirement Systems: Rep. Todd Novak
  • Information Policy and Technology: Rep. Dan Knodl
  • Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties: Rep. Adam Jarchow
  • Law Revision: Rep. Jim Ott
  • Building Commission: Rep. Rob Swearingen

Wisconsin State Senate
Committee: Committee Chair
  • Joint Committee on Finance: Sen. Alberta Darling
  • Agriculture, Small Business & Tourism: Sen. Terry Moulton
  • Economic Development, Commerce & Local Government: Sen. Dan Feyen
  • Education: Sen. Luther Olsen
  • Government Operations, Technology & Consumer Protection: Sen. Duey Stroebel
  • Elections & Utilities: Sen. Devin LeMahieu
  • Sporting Heritage, Mining & Forestry: Sen. Tom Tiffany
  • Health & Human Services: Sen. Leah Vukmir
  • Insurance, Housing & Trade: Sen. Frank Lasee
  • Judiciary & Public Safety: Sen. Van Wanggaard
  • Labor & Regulatory Reform: Sen. Steve Nass
  • Natural Resources & Energy: Sen. Rob Cowles
  • Revenue, Financial Institutions & Rural Issues: Sen. Howard Marklein
  • Public Benefits, Licensing & State-Federal Relations: Sen. Chris Kapenga
  • Financial Services, Constitution & Federalism: Sen. David Craig
  • Workforce Development, Military Affairs & Senior Issues: Sen. Patrick Testin
  • Organization: Sen. Scott Fitzgerald
  • Transportation & Veterans Affairs: Sen. Jerry Petrowski
  • Universities & Technical Colleges: Sen. Sheila Harsdorf
  • Joint Committee for Review of Administrative Rules: Sen. Steve Nass
  • Joint Legislative Audit Committee: Sen. Rob Cowles
  • Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties: Sen. Van Wanggaard
  • Joint Committee on Employment Relations: Sen. Roger Roth
  • Joint Committee on Information Policy and Technology: Sen. Sheila Harsdorf
  • Joint Committee on Legislative Organization: Sen. Roger Roth
  • Joint Legislative Council: Sen. Roger Roth
  • Joint Survey Committee on Retirement Systems: Sen. Patrick Testin
  • Joint Survey Committee on Tax Exemptions: Sen. Dan Feyen
  • Law Revision Committee: Sen. Van Wanggaard
Full Senate committee membership can be accessed here. 
CAP TEAM

WCA members who are interested in joining our legislative effort should consider joining our County Ambassador Program (CAP) and becoming a member of our CAP Team.

The first CAP Team meeting for the 2017-2018 Legislative Session will occur on Wednesday, January 18, 2017 in Madison.

For more information about our County Ambassador Program, please visit our website.
HOW CAN YOU FOLLOW THE SESSION WITH US?

As a member-benefit, the Wisconsin Counties Association offers access to The Wheeler Report, WisPolitics, and WisconsinEye.

If you would like to subscribe to any one of these news services, please contact Amy Dias, Office Manager at [email protected] or at 866.404.2700.
QUESTIONS?

If you have any questions about anything happening at the state level, please feel free to contact any member of the WCA Government Affairs Team:

Kyle Christianson, Director of Government Affairs
608.663.7188
[email protected]

Sarah Diedrick-Kasdorf, Deputy Director of Government Affairs
608.663.7188
[email protected]

Dan Bahr, Government Affairs Associate
608.663.7188
[email protected]

Marcie Rainbolt, Government Affairs Associate
608.663.7188
[email protected]

Chelsea Fibert, Government Affairs Assistant
608.663.7188