Robin Vos Archives

Vos apologizes for calling senators behind budget veto deal ‘terrorists’

Monday, Oct 23, 2017

Facing a bipartisan backlash, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos has apologized for calling three GOP senators “terrorists,” saying it “goes against the guidelines I’ve sent for our chamber, and myself.” Still, the Rochester Republican on Monday continued to criticize the actions of “a few Senators, who cannot work with their colleagues in their own caucus,” saying it could disrupt the legislative process… Please log in to access subscriber content. If you don’t have a subscription, click here for a WisPolitics free trial and to view the different subscription options. Username or E-mail Password * Remember Me Forgot Password

Records: Vos sent stern texts to Walker, guv’s chief of staff during final budget drama

Friday, Sep 29, 2017

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos issued a stern warning to Gov. Scott Walker’s chief of staff against reaching a deal with three Senate Republicans to change the budget and then chided the guv after he did it anyway, according to text messages obtained through the open records law. Both texts sent a signal that such a deal would damage the speaker’s relationship with the East Wing. “I won’t forget this,… Please log in to access subscriber content. If you don’t have a subscription, click here for a WisPolitics free trial and to view the different subscription options.

Wachs out-raises Assembly colleagues in the first six months of 2017

Friday, Jul 21, 2017

Rep. Dana Wachs pulled in nearly $42,000 in the first half of the year, far outpacing his Assembly colleagues. But the Eau Claire Dem, who’s weighing a bid for governor, also spent $44,186 over the period, leaving only $13,497 in the bank. The next highest fundraiser was Rep. Bob Kulp, R-Stratford, who gathered $30,100 from January to June, but has $57,761 in the bank, according to his latest camp… Please log in to access subscriber content. If you don’t have a subscription, click here for a WisPolitics free trial and to view the different subscription options.

Emails show early concerns, last-minute changes to UW-Madison Thompson Center

Friday, Jun 30, 2017

The professor who envisioned the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership threatened at the last minute to drop out of the project over concerns the board overseeing it would have too much power, according to emails obtained by WisPolitics.com. Among other things, UW-Madison officials and Ryan Owens, the political scientist who originally pitched the idea, asked Assembly Speaker Robin Vos to … Please log in to access subscriber content. If you don’t have a subscription, click here for a WisPolitics free trial and to view the different subscription options.

Vos bill looks to rollback licensing requirements for bakers

Monday, Jun 5, 2017

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos is looking to roll back licensing requirements for bakers following a judge’s ruling that the state’s ban on selling homemade baked goods is unconstitutional. Vos, R-Rochester, has previously opposed Senate bills that would allow the sale of homemade baked goods, arguing they would hurt small businesses. Instead, his bill looks to level the playing field for every baker,… Please log in to access subscriber content. If you don’t have a subscription, click here for a WisPolitics free trial and to view the different subscription options.

GOP leaders announce Thompson Center at UW-Madison

Tuesday, May 23, 2017

Wisconsin Republicans today announced plans for a center at UW-Madison named after former Gov. Tommy Thompson, whose tenure was highlighted at an all-day symposium at the Capitol. They said the center would foster research into public policy and bring speakers to System campuses from diverse viewpoints. Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, has been pushing for more conservative voices on campus and has… Please log in to access subscriber content. If you don’t have a subscription, click here for a WisPolitics free trial and to view the different subscription options.

Vos surprised by Walker’s ‘edicts’ on Twitter about budget

Monday, May 22, 2017

Gov. Scott Walker again took to Twitter today to promote the lower taxes proposed in his budget, touting his “reform dividend” as evidence that “now is NOT the time to raise taxes on the hard-working people of WI.” And he repeated his Twitter pledge to veto the entire budget if it results in a property tax increase, issuing a warning to some GOP lawmakers who have considered eliminating Walker’s p… Please log in to access subscriber content. If you don’t have a subscription, click here for a WisPolitics free trial and to view the different subscription options.

Attorneys hired by GOP leaders for redistricting lawsuit have charged $41K so far

Friday, May 12, 2017

The attorneys hired by GOP leaders to represent the Legislature in the redistricting lawsuit have charged $41,470 for their legal work so far, according to documents released to WisPolitics.com through an open records request. Still, the lead firm on the case, which could make up to $175,000 for its efforts, had yet to submit a legal bill to lawmakers as of this morning. Dems on the Joint Finance … Please log in to access subscriber content. If you don’t have a subscription, click here for a WisPolitics free trial and to view the different subscription options.

Vos says he’s trying to solve ‘crisis on campus’ with speech bill

Thursday, May 11, 2017

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said today the free speech bill he co-authored looks to solve the “crisis on campus” of protesters shutting down controversial speakers. Critics say the bill goes too far in protecting speakers with racist and hateful ideas, laying out harsh punishments for students who violate policies that they say are too vaguely outlined. “It privileges some people’s First Amendment … Please log in to access subscriber content. If you don’t have a subscription, click here for a WisPolitics free trial and to view the different subscription options.

JFC co-chairs float possibility of separate transpo budget

Thursday, May 11, 2017

The co-chairs of the Joint Finance Committee today floated the possibility of breaking transportation off from the budget as their caucuses remain at odds over how to fund road work for the next two years. But the guv and Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald oppose the idea, their offices said. A Fitzgerald spokeswoman added transportation and the rest of the budget are so intertwined that “ext… Please log in to access subscriber content. If you don’t have a subscription, click here for a WisPolitics free trial and to view the different subscription options.

Fitzgerald doesn’t ‘see the momentum’ for Assembly GOP transpo plan

Wednesday, May 10, 2017

The tension between Republicans on transportation funding hit a new level today, with Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald saying he doesn’t “see the momentum” for the new Assembly Republican plan. Assembly Republicans, meanwhile, said the Senate should lay out its own proposal so lawmakers and the guv could “negotiate a deal that’s good for Wisconsin.” They dismissed a funding suggestion Fitzg… Please log in to access subscriber content. If you don’t have a subscription, click here for a WisPolitics free trial and to view the different subscription options.

Items in Kooyenga’s transpo plan drew skepticism earlier from Assembly GOP leaders

Friday, May 5, 2017

Nine months ago, Assembly GOP leaders sought to downplay proposals to repeal the prevailing wage, eliminate roundabouts and rely on local fees to address the state’s transportation issues. Now, they’re all key components of the transportation-tax plan state Rep. Dale Kooyenga, R-Brookfield, unveiled yesterday. But Assembly GOP leadership is also faced with a different task now than it was in Augus… Please log in to access subscriber content. If you don’t have a subscription, click here for a WisPolitics free trial and to view the different subscription options.

DOT frees up $100 million for projects, but Vos says long-term solution still needed

Thursday, Apr 13, 2017

State officials announced today that more than $100 million has been freed up for transportation projects across the state. But Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said the money doesn’t “come anywhere near to solving the long-term transportation funding crisis.”

Senate committee approves proposal on federal balanced budget amendment

Friday, Mar 31, 2017

A Senate committee today on a 3-2 party-line vote OK’d resolutions requesting a constitutional convention on a balanced budget amendment. The GOP members of the Committee on Financial Services, Constitution and Federalism also tweaked a bill that would govern how a Wisconsin delegation would operate for the proposed convention. One amendment would allow the minority leaders in the Assembly and Sen… Please log in to access subscriber content. If you don’t have a subscription, click here for a WisPolitics free trial and to view the different subscription options.

Transpo funding battle heats up as Vos says it’s ‘irresponsible’ to rule out veto override

Friday, Mar 31, 2017

Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald said today his Senate GOP caucus doesn’t have the votes right now to pass a gas tax hike and downplayed the suggestion lawmakers could override a pledged veto by Gov. Scott Walker. Speaker Robin Vos, however, said all options remain on the table for his caucus when it comes to transportation funding and that it’s “irresponsible” to rule out a veto override when the… Please log in to access subscriber content. If you don’t have a subscription, click here for a WisPolitics free trial and to view the different subscription options.