Robson says good-bye on the last day of session…
Following the passage of patient neglect legislation (SB-657), retiring State Senator Judy Robson noted its importance to nurses, such as herself. Robson took the opportunity to bid farewell to her colleagues. The Democrat from Beloit was first elected to the Assembly in 1987. “I’ve always believed that public service is a very high calling, because it’s such an honor to serve in the state senate.”
Robson says she overcame many challenges over the years in the chamber and believes she paved an historic path. “In the 162 years of Wisconsin statehood only 21 women have served in the state senate.”
Robson tells her colleagues that she’s proud of her achievements on the floor, as well as becoming the first woman Democrat to serve both as minority leader and as majority leader in the senate. Robson recalls using a typewriter when she took office 23 years ago, and sharing a 12 by 12 room with her staff. “Now we stream our proceedings into cyber-space — it’s instant. We have blackberries, we have cell phones, and some of us even have facebook. Some of us Twitter.”
Jackie Johnson report 1:15
Robson’s unedited comments 7:45