Rep. Robin Vos

Profile

Secrecy, Scandal, and Sleaze

Robin Vos is literally the Secrecy Speaker. In public policy and in his personal life Robin Vos has sought to shut out the public and shut up those who might damage his quest for political power.

• Robin Vos & the Million-Dollar Staff

  According to unearthed state records, as Speaker of the Assembly Robin Vos assigned himself 14 staff positions and filled 11 of his authorized slots at a projected cost to taxpayers of over $1.14 million in salary and benefits for the year in 2019.

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• Robin Vos & the Open Records Loophole

  As Assembly Speaker, Robin Vos was a key leader in the 2015 effort by the Republican-controlled legislature and outgoing Gov. Scott Walker to change state open records laws to create a massive loophole that would have allowed legislators to evade disclosing records. According to records, it was Robin Vos that requested the proposed changes be drafted as legislation to be included in the state budget.
  
  The Robin Vos-led effort also would have imposed a gag order on legislative staff to prevent them from discussing issues, even after they had left their jobs.

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• Robin Vos & the Republican Secrecy Agreement

  Republicans engaged in unprecedented secrecy surrounding their 2011 rigging of the state legislative district lines as part of the redistricting process. Robin Vos – then co-chair of the powerful budget writing Joint Committee on Finance – appeared to have been helping to coordinate legislators signing secrecy agreements regarding the legislative map rigging and advising them on what to say if questioned about it.

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• Robin Vos & the Divorce Gag Order

  As reported by the Associated Press: “[Robin] Vos’s first two marriages ended in divorce. Under the terms of his second divorce, which was finalized in 2017, his ex-wife Samantha was barred from speaking with anyone about their marriage or the grounds for the divorce. The separation agreement, made in 2012 as Vos was preparing to run for speaker, prohibited her from changing her marital status on Facebook until after the election.”

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• Robin Vos & Cliff Rosenberger

  Cliff Rosenberger resigned his position as Speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives, in part, because of his acceptance of a trip to London, England paid for by a conservative political organization in association with a payday loan lender. Meanwhile in Wisconsin, his traveling companion Robin Vos alleged his participation in the same trip was on the ethical up and up. Judge for yourself.

  Assembly Speaker Robin Vos’s Payday Loan London Junket Travel Buddy’s Home Raided by FBI

  As the home of Robin Vos traveling companion Cliff Rosenberger is raided by federal authorities, lobbyist reveals payday loan industry business discussed on trip.

  [One Wisconsin Now, 05/25/2018]

  Robin Vos, other Wisconsin lawmakers billed taxpayers $4,300 for one-day trip to Ohio

  "Taxpayers paid for Robin Vos to take a state a plane so he could meet with a guy who resigned from office because he's under investigation with the FBI."

  [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 05/14/2018]

  Robin Vos, lawmakers took $4,300 trip to Ohio on state airplane

  “The more we learn about Robin Vos’ high-flying ways, the more questions there are,” said Joanna Beilman-Dulin.

  [Associated Press, 05/14/2018]

  ICYMI: Payday Lenders, Other Special Interests Stamp Rep. Robin Vos’ Passport to Corruption

  Robin Vos has subsidized his lifestyle with first class travel on junkets paid for by payday lenders and other special interests.

  [One Wisconsin Now, 05/04/2018]

  Assembly Speaker Robin Vos received $57,000 in travel and other perks since 2014

  "Payday lenders and the others paying for these junkets have stamped Robin Vos' passport to corruption," Browne said in a statement.

  [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 05/03/2018]

  Why Would Former Ohio House Speaker Cliff Rosenberger’s Wealthy Patron Donate $15,000 to Robin Vos’s Wisconsin Political Operation?

  Reporting on an FBI inquiry of Cliff Rosenberger continues to reveal connections to Wisconsin’s Assembly Speaker Robin Vos.

  [One Wisconsin Now, 04/25/2018]

  Payday Loan Industry Spared No Expense Making Memories for Speaker Robin Vos on Free European Vacation

  A story in the Cincinnati Enquirer reports the details of the lavish accommodations provided for Assembly Speaker Robin Vos on his junket to London, England.

  [One Wisconsin Now, 04/24/2018]

  999 Motion Gets Robin Vos a Free European Vacation?

  Did an anonymous provision via a last-minute vote in the Joint Committee on Finance help earn Assembly Speaker Robin Vos a free European vacation?

  [One Wisconsin Now, 04/20/2018]

  Robin Vos’s Relationship with Disgraced Ex-Ohio Speaker Didn’t Start in London

  The list of questions Robin Vos needs to answer about his relationship with sleazy Cliff Rosenberger and how he’s doing business in Wisconsin keeps growing.

  [One Wisconsin Now, 04/18/2018]

  Robin Vos’s Free European Vacation Leaves Unanswered Questions

  Robin Vos’ fantastical claim raises even more questions that must be answered about his already shady relationship with the payday loan industry.

  [One Wisconsin Now, 04/17/2018]

  Wisconsin Republicans received nearly $90,000 from execs of title lender involved in free London trip for Robin Vos

  "If there's one thing to know about payday loans, it's that the people in this racket expect to be repaid," Browne said.

  [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 04/13/2018]

  Speaker Robin Vos took free trip to London with lobbyists and leaders from other states

  The Wisconsin Assembly's top leader was among a group of lawmakers from several states who took a free trip with lobbyists to London — an August excursion that contributed to the resignation Tuesday of his counterpart in Ohio.

  [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 04/12/2018]

In the News

Robin Vos has gone to great lengths to try to keep his dealings hidden from public view. But we believe the public has a right to know about who is in power, how they got there and what they intend to do.

Republican Wisconsin assembly speaker wears protective gear while telling voters they are ‘incredibly safe to go out’

Robin Vos wore a mask, gloves and other protective gear as he sought to assure voters it was "incredibly safe" to vote in person for Tuesday's election amid the coronavirus pandemic.

[CNN, 04/07/2020]

Mischief likely to result from GOP guidance on voter roll purge

Inviting the meddling of Robin Vos and Scott Fitzgerald means more electoral mischief, not solutions.

[Wisconsin Examiner, 12/06/2019]

Village of Waterford may have violated 1st Amendment by blocking citizen on Facebook

A federal judge ruled in January that Vos... violated the First Amendment when they blocked liberal group One Wisconsin Now.

[Racine Journal Times, 11/24/2019]

Robin Vos Definitely Not Helping Address Climate Change Crisis He Thinks Might Exist

Robin Vos acknowledged climate change “probably” exists but, despite overwhelming peer reviewed scientific evidence of human impact, he has “no idea why it is occurring.”

[One Wisconsin Now, 10/31/2019]

Free Speech Crackdown on Agenda for University of Wisconsin Board of Regents Meeting

The University of Wisconsin Board of Regents is poised to push forward with a controversial plan to limit campus speech.

[One Wisconsin Institute, 10/08/2019]

Top Republican signals he won’t cover legal bills in Twitter case

State officials agreed to pay for One Wisconsin Now's legal bills after a judge determined they violated the group's rights.

[Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 10/02/2019]

From Vienna, Robin Vos Vows to Obstruct the People’s Business

While vacationing in historic Vienna, Austria, Robin Vos took time out from sightseeing to vow to oppose Gov. Tony Evers’ agenda.

[One Wisconsin Now, 09/05/2019]

GOP Twitter block will cost Wisconsin taxpayers $200,000

A federal judge ruled [that] Robin Vos and Rep. John Nygren, both Republicans, had infringed on the group's First Amendment rights.

[Wisconsin State Journal, 08/17/2019]

Wisconsin Taxpayers To Pay $200K For Liberal Group’s Attorneys

Attorneys for a liberal group will be paid $200,000 by taxpayers because Republican state lawmakers blocked the group on Twitter.

[Associated Press, 08/16/2019]

Taxpayers to give up $200,000 because Republican lawmakers blocked a liberal group on Twitter

Wisconsin taxpayers will hand over $200,000 to a liberal organization's lawyers because Republican lawmakers blocked the group on Twitter.

[Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 08/15/2019]

Republican State Legislators Offer White Nationalism Protection Act

A handful of Republicans in the state legislature have re-introduced legislation to protect right-wing hate speech on UW campuses.

[One Wisconsin Now, 08/13/2019]

Three Year Anniversary of Victory for Voter Rights in Wisconsin

In the three years since Judge Peterson’s ruling, Wisconsin voters have shown that they will vote when given the opportunity to vote.

[One Wisconsin Institute, 07/29/2019]

Election Results

Below is a table of Robin Vos’ electoral history compiled from records available through the Wisconsin Elections Commission.

Campaign Finance Records

We’ve compiled important campaign finance records related to Robin Vos and his political campaign committees. Click below to download the reports.

• Campaign Committee Receipts

  Contributions made to Robin Vos’ political campaign committee, Friends & Neighbors of Robin Vos, from 2008 to 2018.

  Source: Wisconsin Ethics Commission

  Updated: March 1, 2019

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• Campaign Committee Expenses

  Expenses made by Robin Vos’ political campaign committee, Friends & Neighbors of Robin Vos, from 2008 to 2018.

  Source: Wisconsin Ethics Commission

  Updated: March 1, 2019

  Download

• Republican Assembly Campaign Committee Receipts

  Contributions made to the Republican Assembly Campaign Committee (RACC) – a committee overseen by Robin Vos – from July 2013 through 2018

  Source: Wisconsin Ethics Commission

  Updated: March 1, 2019

  Download

• Personal Contributions to Wisconsin State Political Campaign Committees

  Personal contributions made by Robin Vos to political campaign committees. State records from 2008 to 2019.

  Source: Wisconsin Ethics Commission

  Updated: March 1, 2019

  Download

• Personal Contributions to Federal Political Campaign Committees

  Personal contributions made by Robin Vos to political campaign committees. Federal records from 2008 to 2019.

  Source: Federal Elections Commission

  Updated: March 1, 2019

  Download

Economic Interests

We’ve compiled statements of economic interests filed by Robin Vos throughout the last 12 years, as well as a table of honoraria and expenses he has been required to report.

Statements of Economic Interests

Honorarium Expenses

Per Diem Records

Below is a table of per diem expense reimbursements granted to Robin Vos. Per diems cover certain costs while legislators are doing state business in Madison.

Wisconsin Court Cases

Robin Vos and his businesses have been parties in twenty state court cases. Click the links below to be taken to more detailed online court records of each case.

Ballot Box Voting History

Using publicly available data, One Wisconsin Now has compiled a record of Robin Vos’ voting history at the ballot box, including the nine times he voted absentee.

Legislative Record

Below are links to resources to view Robin Vos’ legislative record. See his voting record by clicking the related link and finding the “Votes” tab on the new page.