Legislative Bulletin, Nov. 12, 2010

Here is a rundown of those who will serve in leadership posts.

Senate Republicans (Majority Party: 19 of 33 seats)

Senate Majority Leader: Scott Fitzgerald of Juneau
Senate Assistant Majority Leader: Glenn Grothman of West Bend
Senate President: Mike Ellis of Neenah
Senate President Pro Tem: Joe Leibham of Sheboygan
Senate Republican Caucus Chair: Dan Kapanke

Senate Democrats: (Minority Party: 14 of 33 seats)

Senate Minority Leader: Mark Miller of Monona
Senate Assistant Minority Leader: Dave Hansen of Green Bay
Senate Democratic Caucus Chair: Julie Lassa of Stevens Point

Assembly Republicans: (Majority Party: 60 of 99 seats)

Assembly Speaker: Jeff Fitzgerald of Horicon
Assembly Majority Leader: Scott Suder of Abbotsford
Assembly Assistant Majority Leader: Dan Knodl of Germantown
Assembly Speaker Pro Tempore: Bill Kramer of Waukesha
Assembly Republican Caucus Chair: Scott Gunderson of Waterford

Assembly Democrats: (Minority Party: 38 of 99 seats)

Assembly Minority Leader: Peter Barca of Kenosha
Assembly Assistant Minority Leader: Donna Seidel of Wausau
Assembly Democratic Caucus Chair: Kelda Roys of Madison

Assembly Independent: Bob Ziegelbauer (1 of 99 seats)

Joint Finance Committee membership
The 16 member Joint Committee on Finance is a key legislative committee because of its statutorily-prescribed role in reviewing and modifying the executive budget. This week, new leaders appointed most of the committee members. The committee includes 8 Senate members and 8 Assembly members of the committee. Since Republicans control both houses, they get a majority of the seats on the Joint Finance Committee as well. Here is a list of the appointments announced this week.

Senate Republicans:
Alberta Darling of River Hills, Senate co-chair
Luther Olsen of Ripon, Senate vice-Chair
Sheila Harsdorf of River Falls
Joe Leibham of Sheboygan
Glenn Grothman of West Bend
Randy Hopper of Fond du Lac

Senate Democrats: Appointments for the two Senate Democratic members of the committee have not yet been made.

Assembly Republicans:
Robin Vos of Caledonia, Assembly co-Chair
Mark Gottlieb of Port Washington, Assembly vice-Chair
Dan Meyer of Eagle River
Dan LeMahieu of Cascade
John Nygren of Marinette
Pat Strachota of West Bend

Assembly Democrats: Appointments for the two Democratic members will be announced at a later date.

A Word about the Next Few Months:

Those elected to office on Nov. 2, 2010, will be inaugurated on Jan. 3, 2011. Between now and Jan. 3, the transition of power will take place. Those who retired or who lost their seats will be packing up their offices. The new leadership will make office assignments and committee appointments.

Governor-elect Walker has chosen a transition team and has set up a transition office near the Capitol.

The next Governor is likely to deliver his “State of the State” speech sometime in the latter part of January.

Gov.-elect Walker is reportedly already working on the 2011-2013 state budgets. In the past, sitting Governors typically present their budget proposals to the state Legislature in the second or third week of February. It is likely that Gov.-elect Walker also will unveil his budget sometime in February. After that, lawmakers begin reviewing the budget, a process which typically runs through June.

For more information, contact the AFSCME office at 608-836-6666.
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