is this process is too rushed. If we only had more time, we didn't set the process.
That was determined by the court. They put this super expedited timeline together and
said you must act by these dates. Wasn't us? If you'll notice, we've actually filed
multiple motions with the court saying this timeline is too fast. We want to have more
ability for input. I didn't see your briefs saying you disagree with the court's timeline.
In fact, you've gone the opposite saying we've got to hurry it up, except right now
when you have the chance to actually vote for what you say. That's the hypocrisy of
the people on that side. We have a chance today to adopt a map drawn by a Democrat governor
passed by a Republican legislature that guarantees competitive districts. That is a win for Wisconsin,
but only if both sides are willing to do it. Republicans stand here today. We are going
to put our votes where our rhetoric is. We are going to vote yes for these maps, even
though we think other ones are better, because we accept the fact that perfection is never
what this body is about. Getting 99% of what you want in the minority should be a reason
for celebration. But I bet today we are going to see the extreme partisanship offered by
my colleagues on the left, because they can't take yes for an answer. Well, luckily, you
have a Republican legislature that is willing to leave, and you're going to see today by
the votes of the people on our side of the aisle that they are willing to let Governor
Evers' maps be the law of the land as long as he signs them when they get to his desk
later today.
The question is, shall substitute amendment one be concurred in. Representative from the
55th.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. You know, here I am rising again to tell you about my maiden
speech during the budget, where I said very specifically, do not forget where you came
from. Well, these maps today, they intentionally drew me where I came from, drew me right
out of it, Mr. Speaker. So, so much so. It's 15 feet from where I'm from. If you were
to take the end of this row and go all the way across to the start of this row, that's
how far 15 feet is.
You know, it's not an easy choice. It never has been an easy choice. But it is what is
best for our community, our communities, to represent and go back to the people that
brought you here, the people that you said you were coming down here to represent. I
grew up in this district, Nina. I am a graduate of Nina High School, K through 12 system, went
through the entire thing. I know everyone, absolutely everyone, business owners, local
leaders, you know, colleagues that I even graduated with, these are the people who
I vowed to represent. And they want me to come back. And so I am going to do everything
in my power, no matter what the vote is today, to represent those people. So today, Mr. Speaker,
the vote is green.
That's from the 84th.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I can't tell you what a great honor it was for me to have been elected
representative of the 84th district. It was sort of a new lease on my political life.
I came here with a deep spirit and willingness to get things done. And to work, I might
add in a bipartisan manner. I'm very proud of our many accomplishments on a bipartisan
nature from our shared revenue to our plan and the wonderful things that we were able
to move forward from Milwaukee much needed long overdue. I'm proud of a legislation that
was bipartisan regarding the crisis of reckless driving in Milwaukee. I'm proud of the driver's
education bill, another bipartisan piece of legislation. And I thank the governor for
signing those bills. My interest in coming here was to get things done as much as possible.
That's why I can't tell you how disappointed I am in the apparent gerrymandering of me
out of a district that I have represented for a short time. But I will say this, Mr. Speaker,
a district that I know and have built relations, some of them for decades. Relations with
the local representatives. Relationships with a lot of people that help make a difference.
Now, all right, yes, I'm disappointed, but I'm not defeated. I'm going to run. If I have to,
in Timbuktu, I will move to run in the district to represent the people who chose me to be
their representative. I intend on doing that, but I can't tell you in all sincerity how disappointed
I am. Also another point I'd like to make, Mr. Speaker, from the beginning, I felt, I felt I
was a good addition to the Republican caucus because the reality is there aren't too many
Milwaukeeans sitting in that caucus. And I thought the things that perhaps I was able to bring to
the table are important to that caucus. Well, I intend on giving it the biggest fight of my life.
And I'm going to support this bill, but if I have to move, you better believe I'm going to be calling all of you in the spirit of my
partisanship to help Bob Donovan move. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The question is, shall Senate substitute Amendment 1 be concurred in. Representative from the 27th.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Why am I here? I'm here because I love my community.
I'm here because the people in that community sent me here. They sent me here to represent them.
But under a map that looks very strange, coming out of Manitowoc down just far enough to pick up my house,
I got cut out. And I accept that to a point. But should my constituents have to accept that?
This is a community that I have served for over 25 years of my life in the business field.
I've made some friends. I made some enemies. But I can tell you that oftentimes those enemies became friends because even when there were hard deals involved in something or hard feelings,
I went out of my way to continue to talk to them, to be a part of their lives.
Just like I wanted to do for the constituents when I decided to run for this office.
I understand there's a lot of hard feelings when it comes to maps.
But when we have to hear that it's about fair maps and you look at these minor changes,
less than 2,400 feet would be my change to allow me to continue to serve those same people that I have built 25 plus years of relationships with.
All I ask is that our governor truly looks at this and understands I'm not giving up on those people.
I'm here to represent and I'm not going anywhere. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Representative from the 25th for an introduction.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I would like to introduce two friends that are here from the Manitowoc area.
We have Terry Stevenson. He is the Vice President of CA for Broadcasting and here with, he's on the Board of Directors for Wisconsin Broadcasters Association.
And he is probably going to be seeing you in a couple of your offices. Broadcasters will be all around.
And also, Genesis Wilder. She's a salesperson for the CA for Broadcasting. Just please give him a warm round of welcome.
The question is, she'll send it. Substitute Amendment 1B concurred in. Representative from the 88th.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I too have proudly represented the ladies and gentlemen from the 88th district for the last 10 years.
And prior to that, prior to that was my predecessors for as long a back as I can remember also represented the folks from the 88th district.
That is home to me.
My family grew up in the Green Bay area.