Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester)
After claiming another seat in last week’s elections, Assembly Republicans voted Monday to keep their top leaders in place for the session that begins next spring.
Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester) and Majority Leader Jim Steineke (R-Kaukauna) were both reelected by the chamber’s Republican caucus. Vos was unanimously reelected without opposition, while Steineke overcame a challenge by Rep. Kevin Petersen of Waupaca.
In his thank you speech, Vos listed off the numerous initiatives carried out by the Assembly GOP since he took over leadership of the chamber in 2012 – including passing a right-to-work law, expanding school choice, and defunding Planned Parenthood. Vos said some have questioned what else is left to do, although he thinks there’s still much to accomplish. “The question really comes down to ‘what do we believe the state of Wisconsin is going to look like…and how can we all work together to make it stronger, better, and more prosperous than it is today?'”
Steineke told GOP lawmakers he’s excited about what’s to come next session, with a unified Republican government in Washington D.C. and the likelihood that states will be receiving more control over their own policies. He promised “bigger, bolder reforms coming, because of the cooperation we’ll have from President-elect (Donald) Trump and Speaker (Paul) Ryan.”
Assembly Democrats will meet Tuesday afternoon to hold their leadership elections.