.@SenatorDevin says his father, former Rep. Daniel LeMahieu, was skeptical of his plan to run for majority leader.
"He asked why do you want that headache," @SenatorDevin tells @wispolitics1 during a virtual luncheon.
"He asked why do you want that headache," @SenatorDevin tells @wispolitics1 during a virtual luncheon.
It's being streamed on @wisconsineye here: wiseye.org/?p=24958
LeMahieu says he has a good relationship with @repvos but "there is a learning curve."
"We have the same goals in mind and same priorities for Wisconsin," he says, but sometimes disagree on details.
"We have the same goals in mind and same priorities for Wisconsin," he says, but sometimes disagree on details.
He says they may have gotten off to a "rocky start."
"You come in, you make mistakes, you learn from them," he says of his dispute with @repvos over the first bill of the year.
LeMahieu initially had an agreement on that bill with @GovEvers, but Vos opposed the deal. LeMahieu and Vos came to a different version of the bill, which Evers then vetoed.
Republicans in the Assembly and Senate will reach a deal on the budget this year, @SenatorDevin says.
"I have no doubt that we'll agree on a budget again this year," he says.
"I have no doubt that we'll agree on a budget again this year," he says.
LeMahieu says he wants to work with the governor when possible.
"When there's areas where the governor and the Legislature can work together, I think we should do that," he says.
He goes on to argue Evers lately hasn't worked with Republicans.
"When there's areas where the governor and the Legislature can work together, I think we should do that," he says.
He goes on to argue Evers lately hasn't worked with Republicans.
Democrats argue the reverse -- that it's Republicans who are unwilling to work with @GovEvers.
LeMahieu says his office calls the governor's office from time to time and LeMahieu and Evers have directly talked on occasion.
"It's been a while since we've talked," he says.
"It's been a while since we've talked," he says.
Republicans want to determine how the state will spend $3.2 billion in federal COVID aid. Evers has control of that money and will likely veto their plan.
LeMahieu: "If we don't know how this $3.2 billion is going to be allocated, it's going to be very hard to develop a budget."
LeMahieu: "If we don't know how this $3.2 billion is going to be allocated, it's going to be very hard to develop a budget."
.@SenatorDevin says he wants to know how much federal money @GovEvers will put toward broadband, roads and building projects.
He says Republicans need that information to write the budget this summer.
He says Republicans need that information to write the budget this summer.
Evers can use the money for broadband and has said he will do so.
He has given no signs that he will use any of it for roads or buildings and the nonnpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau has said the funds likely can't be use for purposes such as those.
He has given no signs that he will use any of it for roads or buildings and the nonnpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau has said the funds likely can't be use for purposes such as those.
Specifically, Evers has said he would use $200 million of the federal funds for infrastructure, including broadband.
LeMahieu says he bumped into @TommyThompsonWI in the Capitol yesterday and had a brief conversation with him.
He says "we'll take a look at" some of the larger building projects that UW has requested.
He says "we'll take a look at" some of the larger building projects that UW has requested.
LeMahieu notes a portion of the federal funds can be used for building projects and suggests some of that could go to UW.
He says he's waiting for guidelines from the feds on how it can be spent.
He says he's waiting for guidelines from the feds on how it can be spent.
LeMahieu says Republicans will hold the line on taxes and look for ways to cut them.
LeMahieu says Republicans might reduce income tax rates or cut or eliminate the personal property tax paid by businesses.
He prioritizes those approaches over reducing property taxes.
He prioritizes those approaches over reducing property taxes.
Asked about voting issues, LeMahieu says Wisconsin is one of the easiest states to vote in.
He says it's important to have "safeguards" from fraud because Wisconsin elections are often close.
He says it's important to have "safeguards" from fraud because Wisconsin elections are often close.
LeMahieu says he hasn't claimed fraud took place in November, but says "liberties" might have been taken with the state's election laws.
From there, he criticizes last week's 5-2 state Supreme Court decision that allowed thousands of people to stay on the voter rolls.
From there, he criticizes last week's 5-2 state Supreme Court decision that allowed thousands of people to stay on the voter rolls.
Details on that decision are here: jsonline.com/story/news/pol…
He says the @WI_Elections more often should be writing formal rules instead of issuing guidelines to election clerks.
Rules can be easily blocked by lawmakers.
Rules can be easily blocked by lawmakers.
.@SenatorDevin, like other Republican lawmakers, says he doesn't want to expand BadgerCare Plus under Obamacare.
The change would net the state an additional $1.6 billion over two years.
"The sweetener is only short term," LeMahieu says.
The change would net the state an additional $1.6 billion over two years.
"The sweetener is only short term," LeMahieu says.
He's referring to an additional $1 billion the state would get under the recently approved American Rescue Plan.
Even without that sweetener, the state would come out ahead in future years because of the way Obamacare is structured.
Even without that sweetener, the state would come out ahead in future years because of the way Obamacare is structured.
.@SenatorDevin says there is not support in the state Senate to legalize recreational marijuana *or* medical marijuana.
"We don't have 17 votes" for either effort, LeMahieu says.
"We don't have 17 votes" for either effort, LeMahieu says.
It's long been clear that recreational marijuana did not have the votes, but it appeared there might be a path for medical marijuana.
LeMahieu says he does not see that happening.
LeMahieu says he does not see that happening.
He says medical marijuana should be dealt with at the federal level.
There should not be "rogue states" that set their own laws.
Dozens of states have legalized marijuana in some fashion.
There should not be "rogue states" that set their own laws.
Dozens of states have legalized marijuana in some fashion.
LeMahieu says the government shouldn't be telling people what to do to keep themselves safe during COVID because people know how to take care of themselves.
"We don't need the governor to tell people how to do that," @SenatorDevin says.
"We don't need the governor to tell people how to do that," @SenatorDevin says.
.@SenatorDevin says the news media is too focused on conflict.
"My bigger frustration with the media is just some of the stories they choose," he says.
"I'd like to see the media cover more positive stories."
"My bigger frustration with the media is just some of the stories they choose," he says.
"I'd like to see the media cover more positive stories."
LeMahieu said the press focuses too much on conflict & should write more positive stories.
His latest news release focused on conflict: "The Governor’s repeated abuse of emergency powers and pervasive violation of state statute created a state of chaos and had to be stopped."
His latest news release focused on conflict: "The Governor’s repeated abuse of emergency powers and pervasive violation of state statute created a state of chaos and had to be stopped."
Here's an initial story on @SenatorDevin saying the Legislature won't approve medical or recreational marijuana. Update coming soon.
bit.ly/2QwkO63
bit.ly/2QwkO63
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