As I See It
Republicans up to more of the same in Wisconsin’s state Legislature
Since the swearing in of a new Wisconsin state Legislature we’ve learned a few things.
Over the next 730 days of its two year term, the Legislature will be in session for 90 days, and again, be off for about the last 8 months of 2026 — like they were last year. A calendar Republicans voted for, while Democrats voted against.
We also learned that it isn’t childcare, healthcare, roads, PFAS, the $4.5 billion budget surplus or taxes that are the first things to tackle when taking office.
No, it’s another Constitutional Amendment. Wisconsin Republicans put seven Constitutional Amendments on ballots in 2023-2024. That’s one more than all other Midwest states combined.
Constitutional amendment ballot questions presented to voters
| State | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | Total |
| Wisconsin | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 8 |
| Illinois | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Indiana | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Iowa | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| Michigan | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Minnesota | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Ohio | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
And, as Democrats gained 10 seats in the state Assembly and 14 seats combined last election, committees in that chamber of the Legislature will go mostly to Republicans.
Assembly Speaker Robin Vos decided to reduce the number of Democrats on committees, despite the increase in representation.
Not quite the representative government for a purple state, as I see it. I’m Rick Solem.
