Inauguration Day was January 3rd! Legislators from across the state convened in Madison to swear the oath of office “en masse” (as a full Assembly, all at once) and begin the 2023-2024 legislative session.
After swearing the oath of office, one by one we received our pins for the 106th Legislative Session (that we wear on our clothing), signed the 177 year-old book, began taking votes, and bills began to be introduced on day one. We are off and running!
Rep. Vining Press Release on 2023-2024 Legislative Session: We Begin This Session With Less Rights Than Last Session
It is common to issue a press release on day one, so after much thought, here is what I decided to talk about as we begin this legislative session.
MADISON– On Tuesday, January 3rd, Representative Robyn Vining (D-Wauwatosa) will be sworn in and begin her third term in the Wisconsin State Assembly representing the 14th Assembly District, a redrawn district that now includes the people of Wauwatosa and West Allis. Rep. Vining has spent the last four years in the legislature focused on healthcare, mental healthcare, infant and maternal healthcare, funding for our public schools, Universal Changing Stations, a fair and healthy democracy, and the needs of small businesses. As the legislative session begins, Rep. Robyn Vining released the following statement:
“We begin this legislative session with a sense of hope and optimism that often accompanies the beginning of a session. Together we desire to do good work and to make the world a better place for the people we are swearing this oath to serve.
“This year, however, we also begin the legislative session with a deep sense of concern at the loss of Wisconsinites’ rights and representation.
“With the fall of Roe v Wade this past summer triggering Wisconsin’s archaic 1849 abortion ban, Wisconsin women and pregnant people now face the life-endangering and liberty-restricting loss of bodily autonomy, and access to the full spectrum of healthcare. It is time for the Wisconsin legislature to right this wrong and restore Wisconsin women and pregnant people their rights.
“We must also restore the right to fair representation in the state legislature. The new legislature being sworn in is a product of newly rigged maps that silenced the voice of Wisconsinites and handed the Republican party a supermajority in the state senate, and a 2-seat margin from a supermajority in the state assembly. While Wisconsin Democrats are committed to fight to uphold Governor Evers’ veto power, we must also restore the rights of the people to being fairly represented in the legislature. Politicians must not choose their voters–voters must be restored access to choosing who represents them.
“We have hope for what we might accomplish together–may we channel that hope that we might also restore what has been lost in the last year. Forward together. All of us.”
My children have outgrown sharing my chair at the inauguration, so I was happy Rep. Riemer’s baby joined us for the swearing in. Inauguration is the one day our children can join us on the floor during a formal session— and it’s very fun to have them. Children in our midst is a very good reminder during budget season that we are not writing a budget only for the next two years, but for their future, and for their grandchildren’s future.
Sometimes the temptation to legislators with 2-year terms can be to get stuck in a short-term mindset— we must reject that and instead remember we work for the people now, AND for decades to come. What we do now will affect our children’s adulthood, and their children’s childhoods, and that’s a responsibility we must steward well.
We carry the responsibility to love Wisconsin’s children in how we legislate this session.
First Floor Session Day
Some of the votes we take on day 1 are for our nonpartisan Assembly Chief Clerk and Assembly Sergeant at Arms. Ted and Anne are wonderful public servants who, along with their exceptional staff, serve the Wisconsin State Assembly, and by extension— you! I was honored to be the Democratic “second” on Ted Blazel’s nomination (the Republicans have the majority so they “nominate”, and the minority party then “seconds”.) Both Ted and Anne received unanimous votes. Something we agree on from all sides of the aisle? We all appreciate Ted Blazel, Anne Tonnen Byers, and their fantastic staff.
We also voted on the session calendar. That means we voted on which days we will be reserving for possible floor session dates over the next two years. That’s now decided, which allows us to begin scheduling meetings more easily (although we have not yet received our committee schedules).
Statewide Office Holders and The Gubernatorial Address
Also taking the oath of office on Inauguration Day were our statewide office holders. Governor Tony Evers was sworn in to serve his second term as Governor of Wisconsin, Sara Rodriguez was sworn in as the new Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General Josh Kaul was sworn in for his second term, Secretary of State Doug La Follette was sworn in for his second term, and John Leiber was sworn in as the new Treasurer in Wisconsin.
In his inaugural address, Governor Evers talked about moving Wisconsin forward through his second term–investing in Wisconsin’s infrastructure and tackling climate change, providing more support for healthcare workers and educators, and restoring reproductive freedoms for Wisconsinites. His recurring line was, “Together WI can!”
As we say, Forward Together!
Bills I Co-Sponsored This Week!
We hit the ground running on week 1! Here are the bills I co-sponsored this week:
Expungement Reform, LRB-0955
Rep. Goyke (D-Milwaukee, now representing 11,000 Wauwatosans) has been working on this important aspect of criminal justice reform for many years.
TAD Funding, LRB-0778
Expands programs receiving Treatment Alternative and Diversion (TAD) grants to include persons with any mental illness.
Safe Harbor, LRB-1123
I have worked for about 15 years to do what I believe is possible if we make the effort needed: end child sex trafficking in this generation. Safe Harbor laws across the nation protect children from being charged with the crimes of their abusers. Wisconsin is behind on this issue, and it is time to catch up. I thank Democrat Rep. Jill Billings for leading on this issue since before I entered the legislature, and I thank Republican Rep. Joel Kitchens for joining her in leading for this bill to be passed. May this be the session we pass this important bill and protect Wisconsin kids by doing so.
*Bills are introduced with an LRB#, and once they’re “jacketed” and submitted, the Speaker’s office is required to give it a bill#. So, an LRB# will become an AB# & SB#.
MLK Jr. Day
MLK Jr. Day is a good day to talk about voter suppression. MLK Jr. spoke of voting as a moral issue. This week in Wisconsin we saw a GOP member of the Elections Commission brag about successfully suppressing the vote. The Spindell brag is part of a larger story— what he did was admit in broad daylight the WI GOP intentionally suppressed the vote.
In his 1957 speech “Give Us The Ballot”, MLK Jr. condemned how hard it was for Black people to vote—he condemned voter suppression. He also condemned silence. So here we are, on a day we should take to reflect about the country we are today, what it looks like to honor our oaths as elected officials, what it looks like to be thoroughly committed to racial justice, committed to the moral issue of voting rights.
King said the conniving methods of voter suppression—“the denial of this sacred right is a betrayal of the highest mandates of our democratic tradition. King says on that day that “the civil rights issue is an eternal moral issue.” It is a good and right day to listen to this speech, “Give Us The Ballot”—because in Wisconsin we know voter suppression is alive and dangerous, it is intentional, and it needs to be stopped.
Reflect. Speak. Act. Voting rights are a moral issue.
NEW OFFICE, NEW ART! The new legislative session is off and running and with the new legislative maps, Assembly District 14 now includes the people of West Allis and Wauwatosa. So, I picked up these Milwaukee artist @james_steeno_gallery prints of the cities of Wauwatosa and West Allis for the Capitol office walls!
Welcome Bryce!
MEET BRYCE! Bryce is our new Research Assistant, and I “formally” welcomed him with the proper AD14 welcome, Cranky Al’s Donuts. The 2023 legislature is off to a speedy start, and we are properly sugared and ready to serve!
We will be back later this week with news of my committee appointments, next week’s floor session, and more!
