Contact: Speaker Robin Vos
(608) 266-3387
Madison…Everyday, there are brave men and women who put their lives on the line across the globe to stop terrorists, and for them, I am extremely grateful. As Speaker, I have strived to increase the civility within the legislature. I now regret using the word terrorist because it goes against the guidelines I’ve set for our chamber, and myself. For that, I apologize.
I continue to be concerned, however, that the actions of a few Senators, who cannot work with their colleagues in their own caucus, could disrupt progress on important legislation for the people of Wisconsin. Will we now have to run everything past a few rogue holdouts before committees take executive action? In the Assembly, our caucus communicated regularly on the budget. We talked with each other and with the public. Our members knew what the consensus positions were every step of the budget process and our outstanding Joint Finance team fought for Assembly Republicans’ priorities.
With good negation, comes good-faith give and take. But some Senators chose to continue taking while threating a “no” vote. Every lawmaker has a voice, but we must recognize that we now have large majorities in both houses. If the Governor has to negotiate every initiative with more than 80 individual legislators, nothing will get accomplished. The last seven years proved that we are better when we work together. I don’t want to see the constant, defiant demands of a few derail our progress. We can’t let perfect become the enemy of the very, very good, and we must be able to negotiate in good faith in order to continue to deliver on our promises.
