Legislators’ Positions on School Vouchers and on the Mining Bill

During the last couple of weeks, I posted my analyses of two truly poisonous proposals: the mining bill (AB1/SB1) and the expansion of the private school voucher program. This post lists the positions of the Fox Valley’s legislators on these proposals. I hope that this will help us all to hold our legislators responsible. In the list below, the senators are listed first followed by the state assembly representatives. Please use the links in the list if you want to do your own research on this topic.

State Senators

Robert Cowles

Private school vouchers: Sen. Cowles voted against the expansion of the school voucher program when it was proposed in 2006.  So he will probably do so again.

Mining Bill: He believes that the current bill provides insufficient protection for water quality standards and is seeking changes.  He believes that current water quality protections should be maintained.

Michael Ellis

 Private School Vouchers: He believes that a local referendum should be required before private school vouchers may be used in a school district

Mining Bill: I called his office and was told that he will probably vote for the mining bill.

State Assembly Representatives

Al Ott

Private School Vouchers: He supported the expansion of the voucher program when it was proposed in 2006.  So, he will probably support the current proposal.

Mining Bill: He is a sponsor of the current mining bill (AB1/SB1).

Jim Steineke.  Mr. Steineke is a genuine radical rightist. He organized Appleton’s first Tea Party Group.

Private School Vouchers: I called his office, and returned my call. He said that in general, he supports the idea of private school vouchers because he believes that parents should have a choice when the public schools are not meeting their children's needs.  His specific vote, he said, will depend on what the governor actually proposes. (Updated on Feb 2, 2013 at 2:50 PM after speaking with Mr. Steineke.)

Mining Bill: Mr. Steineke has supported the mining bill in articles in the Post-Crescent.

Gary Tauchen.

Private School Vouchers: He says that such vouchers would be good for school districts financially but adds that further study should be done before the voucher program is expanded.

Mining Bill: He is a sponsor of the current mining bill (AB1/SB1).

Dean Kaufert

Private School Vouchers: He supported the predecessor of this bill in 2006. So, he will probably vote for this bill.

Mining Bill: He is a sponsor of the current bill.

David Murphy

Private School Vouchers: I called his office and was told that he supports the expansion of private school vouchers.

Mining Bill: I called his office and was told that he supports the current mining bill.

Penny Bernard Schaber

Private School Vouchers: She opposes the expansion of the private school voucher program.

Mining Bill: She opposes the mining bill.