Rich Zipperer

Rich Zipperer is a Republican member of the Wisconsin State Senate, representing the 33rd District. He is on the following Senate Standing Committees: Economic Development and Veterans and Military Affairs; Judiciary, Utilities, Commerce, and Government Operations (Chair); and State and Federal Relations and Information Technology. He is on the following Joint Committees: Information Policy and Technology, Survey Committee on Tax Exemptions, Review Committee on Criminal Penalties (Co-Chair).

Ties to the American Legislative Exchange Council
Zipperer is a member of the American Legislative Exchange Council, and serves on the ALEC Civil Justice Task Force.

Zipperer pays his ALEC membership fee with tax dollars. In his Campaign Finance Report for July 2009, he lists $1026.14 from ALEC on 01/12/2009 as “Other Income” on the Schedule 1-C Receipts: Other Income and Commercial Loans page. In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Sen. Zipperer co-sponsored 9 bills that reflect ALEC models, according to an analysis by the Center for Media and Democracy.

Sen. Zipperer and Justice
Bills introduced or cosponsored by Zipperer in the 2011 spring session:

JR1AB-1: Tort reform: actions against manufacturers, distributors, sellers, and promoters of a product; strict liability; noneconomic damages limited; punitive damages; frivolous claims; health care service reviews confidentiality; use of health care reports or employee statements; hospital quality indicators reporting; expert and lay witness testimony; crimes of abuse, homicide, or negligence re health care providers and treatment or residential care facilities in specified cases.

JR1SB-1: Tort reform: actions against manufacturers, distributors, sellers, and promoters of a product; strict liability; noneconomic damages limited; punitive damages; frivolous claims; health care service reviews confidentiality; use of health care reports or employee statements; hospital quality indicators reporting; expert and lay witness testimony; crimes of abuse, homicide, or negligence re health care providers and treatment or residential care facilities in specified cases.

AB-175: GPS tracking by Corr.Dept for restraining order or injunction violation conviction: court may order; surcharge, costs, notification, and penalty provisions; JRCCP report. (AB-175)* (compare with ALEC 7E3 GPS Tracking of Offenders).

SB-104: GPS tracking by Corr.Dept for restraining order or injunction violation conviction: court may order; surcharge, costs, notification, and penalty provisions; JRCCP report. (SB-104)* (compare with ALEC 7E3 GPS Tracking of Offenders).

Sen. Zipperer and Telecommunications
Bills introduced or cosponsored by Zipperer in the 2011 spring session:

SB 13: Telecommunications utility regulation revisions including alternative telecommunications utility, intrastate switched access rates, tariffs, interconnected VOIP service, universal service, basic voice service, and use of transmission equipment and property; PSC provision. (SB 13)* (compare with ALEC Regulatory Modernization Act).

Sen. Zipperer and Capital Gains
Bills introduced or cosponsored by Zipperer in the 2011 spring session:

SB-10: Capital gains tax: changes made by 2009 WisAct 28 reversed and tax phased out; JSCTE appendix report. (SB-10)* (compare with ALEC The Capital Gains Tax Elimination Act).

Sen. Zipperer and Voting
Bills introduced or cosponsored by Zipperer in the 2011 spring session:

AB-7: "Identification requirement for voting in elections created, provisional and absentee ballot provisions; use of corroborating electors to verify residence discontinued; DOT ID card fee waived, obtaining a card without a photo for religious reasons, and issuing an identification certificate; special voting deputies to certain adult family homes and residential care apartment complexes permitted; GAB public informational campaign." (AB-7)* (compare with ALEC Voter ID Act).

Sen. Zipperer and Education
Bills introduced or cosponsored by Zipperer in the 2011 spring session:

AB 94: The Milwaukee Parental Choice Program (AB 94)*(compare with ALEC The Parental Choice Scholarship Accountability Act).