The Assembly Speaker is moving quickly to discuss the fate of a five-time OWI lawmaker.
The process to form a committee is under way, to consider the expulsion of Representative Jeff Wood (I-Chippewa Falls), who was arrested last week for OWI — his fifth such arrest. State Representative Mike Sheridan (D-Janesville) says he has already spoken with Minority Leader Jeff Fitzgerald (R-Horicon) in hopes of deciding membership of the Special Committee on Ethics and Standards.
“Yeah, we’re gonna be rolling this thing out very quickly.” Sheridan says driving under the influence “is a very serious issue.”
Wood said in a statement last week that he would not seek reelection, however there was no mention of resigning. Sheridan says Wood needs to get his act together, and this newly-formed committee will look at all the options.
“This is a process that we haven’t used since, I think, the early 1900s.” He says, “we have to make sure it’s done done and make sure it’s a fair process.”
In a statement released Thursday, Fitzgerald called upon Wood to resign and avoid the expulsion process. Sheridan says he hasn’t ruled out asking Wood for his resignation. This legislative session ends November fifth, Sheridan could call for an extraordinary session, if necessary.
Sheridan doesn’t expect Wood on the Assembly floor Tuesday, but instead would be excused if he’s getting treatment.
