MADISON, Wis. (AP) - The Latest on the beginning of the Wisconsin legislative session (all times local):
4:25 p.m.
Assembly Democrats aren’t quite buying Republican Speaker Robin Vos’ call for the parties to work together.
Vos outlined the GOP agenda during the chamber’s inauguration ceremony. He said members need to find a long-term solution for road funding, rework school funding, reform taxes and address a growing worker shortage.
Minority Leader Peter Barca told reporters during a news conference following the ceremony that Vos’ agenda could generate bipartisan support since it calls for more jobs and better infrastructure.
But he says he’s more worried about what Vos didn’t say, pointing out during the last few sessions Republicans have passed contentious legislation that seemingly came out of nowhere, such as Gov. Scott Walker’s signature public union restrictions and a right-to-work bill.
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3:30 p.m.
Assembly Speaker Robin Vos is asking members to set aside “rigid ideologies” this session and find common ground.
Vos addressed the chamber Tuesday shortly after Wisconsin Supreme Court Chief Justice Patience Roggensack swore him into his position for the upcoming two-year session.
Vos offered a broad outline of his agenda, telling members they need to find a long-term solution for road funding, rework public school funding, reform the tax code and address a growing shortage of workers. He also said he’s looking forward to Republicans in Washington handing the states more power.
He challenged both Democrats and Republicans to put aside what’s best for their political careers as well as “rigid ideologies some want us to maintain” and reach across the aisle for ideas.
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3:20 p.m.
Republican Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald says the Legislature is “too often” characterized by divisions.
Fitzgerald made the comment Tuesday as the new legislative session began with Republicans holding their largest majorities in decades. In the Senate, Republicans hold a 20-13 majority, their largest since 1971.
Fitzgerald promises to continue working to cut taxes, improve the state’s business climate and pass a state budget that he says will put the best interest of Wisconsin residents as a priority.
Democratic Minority Leader Jennifer Shilling says in her comments at the start of the session that Wisconsin should look at its neighbor Minnesota and its job growth and state budget surplus as a model. She says Democrats will offer alternatives to the GOP agenda.
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2:30 p.m.
Newly elected members of the Wisconsin state Senate have been sworn into office.
Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Dan Kelly administered the oath Tuesday to four new members of the Senate and returning incumbents who won re-election.
The inauguration ceremonies in both the Senate and Assembly mark the beginning of the 2017 legislative session. Gov. Scott Walker is set to deliver his State of the State address on Jan. 10. But the real work won’t begin until after he unveils his state budget in early February.
Republicans hold their largest legislative majorities in decades and it’s the first time they control the state Legislature, governor’s office and presidency in 47 years.
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2:20 p.m.
Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Patience Roggensack has sworn in the 103rd state Assembly.
Roggensack administered the oath of office on Tuesday to Assembly members during a ceremony that included a presentation of colors by U.S. Marine reservists and an invocation by Diocese of Madison Bishop Robert Morlino. He implored lawmakers to live by God’s commandments and asked them to consider both sides of every issue and be kind to their assistants.
The members then rose and Roggensack administered the oath of office en masse.
Eleven new Assembly members were sworn in, including seven Republicans and four Democrats.
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12:45 p.m.
Assembly Speaker Robin Vos says he doesn’t know yet what the first bill of the new Wisconsin legislative session will be.
The Republican leader said Tuesday at a news conference before inauguration ceremonies that tackling big issues like a nearly $1 billion transportation funding shortfall and rewriting the school aid formula will take time and input from the public.
Assembly Majority Leader Jim Steineke says there is no rush to act on a package of bills and he doesn’t expect the Assembly to begin debating proposals until early February.
Vos says he is open to ideas like breaking up the Department of Natural Resources and allowing concealed weapons on college campuses, but advocates of hot-button issues need to generate public support before bringing them forward.
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11:15 a.m.
Fifteen newly elected members of the Wisconsin Legislature are to be sworn into office, joining incumbents in both the Senate and Assembly beginning their new terms.
But not all of them are new to the Legislature.
Two of the four new state senators being sworn in Tuesday previously served in the Assembly. They are Republican Dave Craig, of Vernon, and Democrat LaTonya Johnson, of Milwaukee.
Democrat Jason Fields, of Milwaukee, is rejoining the Assembly after serving there from 2005 to 2013.
All of the newly elected members of the Senate and Assembly were to be sworn in at 2 p.m. Tuesday. Republicans hold their largest majorities in decades.
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9:27 a.m.
The Wisconsin Legislature is set to begin its two-year session, with the largest Republican majorities in decades.
Eleven new Assembly members and four new state senators were set to be sworn in on Tuesday afternoon. There are four new Democrats in the Assembly and seven new Republicans. In the Senate, three of the new members are Republicans one is a Democrat.
Republicans control the Senate 20-13 and 64-35 in the Assembly.
Gov. Scott Walker plans to deliver his State of the State speech on Jan. 10 and he will unveil his two-year state budget next month.
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