Speaker Vos Provides More Details on 1:1 Funding Proposal

During a year-end interview with Wisconsin Eye, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos provided a few more details regarding his proposal to provide high school freshmen with 1:1 learning devices. He says they have changed the proposal, which is included in the Assembly Republicans’ Forward Agenda, to instead cover 1:1 technology.  Vos says this would allow schools to use the money in the way that is best for them and gave the examples of hiring instructors to teach computing, expanding broadband or buying laptops.

His full comments can be seen at the 14:06 minute mark of this video: http://www.wiseye.org/Video-Archive/Event-Detail/evhdid/11170

Assembly Committee Chairs Announced

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos announced leadership for Assembly committees today. Representatives Jeremy Thiesfeldt (R-Fond du Lac) and Joel Kitchens (R-Sturgeon Bay) remain the Chair and Vice-Chair, respectively, of the Assembly Committee on Education. Representative David Murphy (R-Greenville) remains the chair of the Assembly Committee on Colleges and Universities, and Representative Travis Tranel (R-Cuba City) replaces Representative Rob Brooks (R-Saukville) as Vice-Chair. Representative Romaine Quinn (R-Rice Lake) will chair the new Assembly Committee on Science and Technology, and Representative Kevin Petersen (R-Waupaca) will serve as Vice-Chair.

  

The full committee list is as follows:

• Aging and Long-Term Care Chair: Rep. Weatherston, Vice-Chair: Rep. Petryk
• Agriculture Chair: Rep. Nerison, Vice-Chair: Rep. Novak
• Campaigns and Elections Chair Rep. Bernier, Vice-Chair Rep. Sanfelippo
• Children and Families Chair: Rep. Kitchens, Vice-Chair: Rep. Gannon
• Colleges and Universities Chair: Rep. Murphy, Vice-Chair: Rep. Tranel
• Constitution and Ethics Chair: Rep. Allen, Vice-Chair Rep. Thiesfeldt
• Consumer Protection Chair: Rep. Duchow, Vice-Chair Rep. Tittl
• Corrections Chair: Rep. Schraa, Vice-Chair: Rep. Hutton
• Criminal Justice and Public Safety Chair: Rep. Spiros, Vice-Chair: Rep. Kremer
• Education Chair: Rep. Thiesfeldt, Vice-Chair: Rep. Kitchens
• Energy and Utilities Chair: Rep. Kuglitsch, Vice-Chair: Rep. Steffen
• Environment and Forestry Chair: Rep. Mursau, Vice-Chair: Rep. Krug
• Family Law Chair: Rep. Rodriguez, Vice-Chair: Rep. Bernier
• Federalism and Interstate Relations Chair: Rep. Vorpagel, Vice-Chair: Rep. Schraa
• Financial Institutions Chair: Rep. Katsma, Vice-Chair: Rep. Jarchow
• Government Accountability and Oversight Chair: Rep. Hutton, Vice-Chair: Rep. Brandtjen
• Health Chair: Rep. Sanfelippo, Vice-Chair: Rep. Kerkman
• Housing Chair: Rep. Jagler, Vice-Chair: Rep. Allen
• Insurance Chair: Rep. Petersen, Vice-Chair: Rep. Duchow
• Jobs and the Economy Chair: Rep. Neylon, Vice-Chair: Rep. Ed Brooks
• Judiciary Chair: Rep. Ott, Vice-Chair: Rep. Horlacher
• Labor Chair: Rep. Kulp, Vice-Chair: Rep. Kuglitsch
• Mental Health Chair: Rep. Tittl, Vice-Chair: Rep. Jagler
• Rural Development and Mining Chair: Rep. VanderMeer, Vice-Chair: Rep. Mursau
• Natural Resources and Sporting Heritage Chair: Rep. Kleefisch, Vice-Chair: Rep. Quinn
• Public Benefit Reform Chair: Rep. Krug, Vice-Chair: Rep. Vorpagel
• Regulatory Licensing Reform Chair: Rep. Horlacher, Vice-Chair: Rep. Ballweg
• Science and Technology Chair: Rep. Quinn, Vice-Chair: Rep. Petersen
• Small Business Development Chair: Rep. Tauchen, Vice-Chair: Rep. Edming
• State Affairs Chair: Rep. Swearingen, Vice-Chair: Rep. Tauchen
• Tourism Chair: Rep. Tranel, Vice-Chair: Rep. Swearingen
• Transportation Chair: Rep. Ripp, Vice-Chair Rep. Spiros
• Local Government Chair: Rep. Ed Brooks, Vice-Chair: Rep. Ripp
• Urban Revitalization Chair: Rep. Gannon, Vice-Chair: Rep. Fields (D)
• Veterans and Military Affairs Chair: Rep. Skowronski, Vice-Chair: Rep. VanderMeer
• Ways and Means Chair: Rep. Macco, Vice-Chair: Rep. Katsma
• Workforce Development Chair: Rep. Petryk, Vice-Chair: Rep. Weatherston
• Joint Audit Chair: Rep. Kerkman, Vice-Chair: Rep. Macco
• JCRAR Chair: Rep. Ballweg, Vice-Chair: Rep. Neylon
• JFC Chair: Rep. Nygren, Vice-Chair: Rep. Kooyenga
• Leg Council Chair: Rep. Rob Brooks
• Tax Exemptions Chair: Rep. August
• Retirement Systems Chair: Rep. Novak
• Information Policy and Technology Chair: Rep. Knodl, Vice-Chair: Rep. Jacque
• Review Committee on Criminal Penalties Chair: Rep. Jarchow
• Law Revision Chair: Rep. Ott
• Building Commission Chair: Rep. Swearingen, Vice-Chair: Rep. Katsma

Joint Finance Committee Taking Shape

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos announced the Assembly Republican members of the Joint Finance Committee today. There are two new Assembly Republican members this session—Representatives Mark Born and Mike Rohrkaste.  Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald previously re-appointed all current Senate Republican members to the Committee. No word yet on the Committee’s four Democratic seats.

Once Governor Walker introduces his 2017-19 budget bill, it will be referred to the Joint Finance Committee for consideration. 

Assembly Republican Members 

Chair, Rep. John Nygren (R-Marinette)

Vice-Chair, Rep. Dale Kooyenga (R-Brookfield)

Rep. Amy Loudenbeck (R-Clinton)

Rep. Mary Czaja (R-Irma)

Rep. Mark Born (R-Beaver Dam)

Rep. Mike Rohrkaste (R-Neenah)

Senate Republican Members

Chair, Sen. Alberta Darling (R-River Hills)

Vice-Chair, Sen. Luther Olsen (R-Ripon)

Sen. Sheila Harsdorf (R-River Falls)

Sen. Howard Marklein (R-Spring Green)

Sen. Tom Tiffany (R-Hazelhurst)

Sen. Leah Vukmir (R-Wauwatosa)