State Senate Shame: GOP Leader Puts Petty Score Settling Over State Business

MADISON, Wis. — A bipartisan package of bills to help address homelessness and common sense gun safety legislation is being pushed aside today by Senate Leader Scott Fitzgerald in favor of his petty, political score settling effort to fire the Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. Sen. Fitzgerald, who is also running for U.S. Congress, has indicated today was the last day he will convene the state Senate in floor session for the year.

One Wisconsin Now Executive Director Analiese Eicher commented, “As shameful as it is that Sen. Fitzgerald used the last day of floor session for the year to settle his petty, personal political scores, it is even worse that every other Senate Republican is going along with it.”

With the cowardly silence of the rest of the Senate Republican majority, Fitzgerald was allowed to fire the state Agriculture Secretary because he spoke out against unnecessary delays by Republicans in releasing mental health aid for state farmers.

What isn’t happening on what appears to be the last day of Senate session for the year is any debate or vote on a bipartisan package of bills to help with homelessness. The legislation cleared the Republican controlled state Assembly months ago.

Republicans are also refusing to consider common sense gun safety legislation supported by 80 percent of Wisconsinites, the subject of a special legislative session call issued by Gov. Tony Evers. Fitzgerald, in a transparent effort to pander to the NRA and the gun industry to benefit his U.S. Congressional campaign, has refused to allow any legislative consideration of the measures.

The Senate Republicans too cowardly to stand up for their constituents and let Scott Fitzgerald get away with his petty partisanship and bullying are:

• Kathy Bernier
• Rob Cowles
• David Craig
• Alberta Darling
• Dan Feyen
• Andre Jacque
• Chris Kapenga
• Dale Kooyenga
• Devin LeMahieu
• Howard Marklein
• Steve Nass
• Luther Olsen
• Jerry Petrowski
• Roger Roth
• Duey Stroebel
• Pat Testin
• Tom Tiffany
• Van Wanggaard