The Assembly today approved a resolution to call the evergreen displayed each year in the rotunda the “Wisconsin State Christmas Tree.”

The resolution, which just began circulating yesterday, comes after Gov. Tony Evers went back to calling it a “Holiday Tree” after former Gov. Scott Walker referred to it as a “Christmas Tree.”

Rep. Lisa Subeck, D-Madison, accused Republicans of playing politics by holding a roll call vote on the resolution.

“It is a Christmas tree and I know darn well that I’m in the minority religion as a Jewish woman, but when we try to officially name it, it’s exclusive,” Subeck said. “It’s purely asinine … that we are here taking up this resolution.”

But Republicans countered Evers was the one playing politics by changing the tree’s name.

“You hold up a picture of a tree with ornaments on it and every single person in the country calls it the same thing, except for Governor Evers,” Assembly Speaker Rep. Robin Vos, R-Rochester, said on the floor.

The Assembly joint resolution, which doesn’t carry the weight of a state law, passed the Assembly 64-30.

Four Dems broke with their colleagues to support the resolution along with all Republicans present. They were: Jill Billings, of La Crosse; Steve Doyle, of Onalaska; Lakeshia Myers, of Milwaukee; and Robyn Vining, of Wauwatosa.

Rep. Shelia Stubbs, D-Madison, was listed as not voting on the roll call, but asked afterward to have the journal reflect that she supported the resolution.

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