NEWS
Senate prepares for new era
Looking for a print version?
Simply choose ‘Print’ on your computer and a printer-friendly document will be generated.
Also by Courtney Johnson:
- Construction pops up on State Street this spring (November 6, 2007)
- Woods ahead in fundraising race (March 28, 2007)
- E-mail sparks privacy concern (October 9, 2007)
- Big Ten Network reaches deal with UW housing (August 31, 2007)
- City agency to run Halloween entertainment (May 10, 2007)
Related Stories:
- Robson ousted, Decker in as Senate majority leader (October 25, 2007)
- Tides change in state leadership (November 10, 2004)
- Health care on tap for Legislature (November 29, 2006)
- Bill on sick leave passes (March 2, 2007)
- Legislature OKs newest regents (January 19, 2007)
by Courtney Johnson
Thursday, November 16, 2006
While last week's state Senate election resulted in a key change in party leadership, a second shakeup came about when Senate Democrats elected Sen. Judy Robson, D-Beloit, as the first Democratic woman to serve in the legislative body's top spot.
Having served as Senate Democratic leader since 2004, Robson was unanimously elected as the Senate's newest majority leader by her fellow Democrats last Thursday.
Sen. Fred Risser, D-Madison, who was unanimously elected Senate President last Thursday, said he is confident in Robson's abilities.
"She has leadership qualities — whether she's a man or a woman — and she has proven them, as far as I'm concerned, through her minority leadership," he said.
Robson, who received a master's degree from the University of Wisconsin, was first elected as a state senator in 1999. She is the 2006 recipient of the Russ Feingold Award for Service to the Elderly and was a co-author of the Nursing Home Diversion Bill. In addition, Robson was one of the original authors of Wisconsin's SeniorCare prescription drug program.
According to Kelley Flury, a spokesperson for Robson, the senator will continue to display this strength as majority leader.
"Sen. Robson and other Democrats view this as a tremendous opportunity for Democrats to lead after years of Republican leadership," Flury said, adding that many voters on the campaign trail expressed feelings that "Republicans were no longer working for them."
Flury declined to grant an interview request with the senator, saying Robson is too busy to speak with a student newspaper.
Despite the recent shakeup in party control, many members of the Senate are optimistic that politicians will be able to maintain a civil, nonpartisan atmosphere.
The National Conference of State Legislators recently honored Robson and Sen. Dale Schultz, R-Richland Center, who was Senate majority leader before the election, as examples of how to return respect and courtesy to government.
"That took work on both sides," said Todd Allbaugh, communications director for Schultz. "While [Schultz] is certainly disappointed that Republicans lost majority, he is hopeful and confident that Sen. Robson will continue the work that they began together in giving everyone a voice in the Wisconsin state Senate."
Senate Republicans also elected Sen. Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, as their minority leader and Sen. Joe Leibham, R-Sheboygan, as their assistant minority leader.
Both Democrats and Republicans seem to agree that planning the 2008 budget will be the major focus of the state Legislature when it reconvenes Jan. 3 of next year.
"Putting together the budget is going to have to be a bipartisan issue," Risser said. "The budget is the most important issue, and that will be occupying a majority of the legislative activity the next six months."
Democrats regained control of the Wisconsin Senate after picking up four seats in last week's mid-term election. They now control the Senate 18-15.
The four new incoming senators are Rep. John Lehman of Racine, Jim Sullivan of Wauwatosa, Kathleen Vinehout of Alma and Pat Kreitlow of Eau Claire.
Robson will be the second woman in Wisconsin to serve as majority leader. The first was former Sen. Mary Panzer, R-West Bend, who served as majority leader in the 2003-04 session.
"It's unfortunate that we are still in a position to have the first woman doing anything major, so it's a big deal because it cracks open a piece of the glass ceiling," said UW political science professor Virginia Sapiro. "Wisconsin is a little behind."
Wisconsin was also one of the last states to elect a female member of Congress, U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., who was voted in to her first term in 1998.
