Wisconsin ALEC Politicians

For a list of politicians with known ALEC ties, please see ALEC Politicians.

'''This is a partial list of Wisconsin politicians that are known to be involved in, or previously involved in, the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). It is a partial list.''' (If you have additional names, please add them with a citation. The names in this original list were verified as of posting.)

Legislators who have cut ties with ALEC publicly are also listed here.

Assembly

 * Rep. Tyler August (R-32), ALEC International Relations Task Force /Federal Relations Working Group Member, Education Task Force Member
 * Rep. Joan Ballweg (R-41), ALEC Commerce, Insurance and Economic Development Task Force Alternate, Public Safety and Elections Task Force Alternate
 * Rep. Kathy Bernier (R-68), ALEC Public Safety and Elections Task Force Member
 * Rep. David Craig (R-83), received a $750 ALEC "scholarship" in 2012
 * Rep. Mike Endsley (R-26), ALEC Civil Justice Task Force Member
 * Rep. Mark Honadel (R-21)
 * Rep. Andre Jacque (R-2), ALEC Civil Justice Task Force Member, International Relations Task Force Member
 * Rep. Chris Kapenga (R-99), ALEC Civil Justice Task Force Alternate
 * Rep. John Klenke (R-88), ALEC Tax and Fiscal Policy Task Force Alternate, Commerce, Insurance and Economic Development Task Force Member
 * Rep. Dan Knodl (R-24), ALEC Health and Human Services Task Force Alternate, Public Safety and Elections Task Force Alternate
 * Rep. Dean Knudson (R-30), ALEC Education Task Force Alternate
 * Rep. Bill Kramer (R-97), ALEC Communications and Technology Task Force Alternate, Commerce, Insurance and Economic Development Task Force Member
 * Rep. Scott Krug (R-72), ALEC Public Safety and Elections Task Force Alternate
 * Rep. Mike Kuglitsch (R-84), ALEC International Relations Task Force, Civil Justice Task Force Member
 * Rep. Tom Larson (R-67), ALEC Communications and Technology Task Force Member
 * Rep. Daniel LeMahieu (R-59), ALEC Tax and Fiscal Policy Task Force Alternate
 * Rep. Amy Loudenbeck (R-45), ALEC Commerce, Insurance and Economic Development Task Force Alternate
 * Rep. Stephen Nass (R-33), Education Task Force Member, International Relations Task Force Member
 * Rep. John Nygren (R-89) ,State Chairman ALEC Health and Human Services Task Force Member, Education Task Force Member
 * Rep. Warren Petryk (R-93), ALEC Health and Human Services Task Force Member
 * Rep. Keith Ripp (R-42)
 * Rep. Michael Schraa (R-53), disclosed $1,200 in expenses related to ALEC in 2012 that had not yet been reimbursed
 * Rep. Erik Severson (R-28), ALEC Health and Human Services Task Force Member
 * Rep. Jim Steineke (R-5), ALEC Energy, Environment and Agriculture Task Force Member
 * Rep. Jeffrey Stone (R-82)
 * Rep. Patricia Strachota (R-58), ALEC Tax and Fiscal Policy Task Force Member
 * Rep. Scott Suder (R-69), former ALEC State Chairman, Public Safety and Elections Task Force Member and Co-chair of the Homeland Security Committee in 2007
 * Rep Rob Swearingen (R-34)
 * Rep. Jeremy Thiesfeldt (R-52), ALEC Education Task Force Alternate
 * Rep. Travis Tranel (R-49), ALEC Public Safety and Elections Task Force Alternate
 * Rep. Robin Vos (R-63), State Chairman, Tax and Fiscal Policy Task Force Member, and attended 2011 ALEC annual meeting
 * Rep. Chad Weininger (R-4), ALEC Energy, Environment and Agriculture Task Force Alternate

Senate

 * Sen. Alberta Darling (R-8), ALEC Tax and Fiscal Policy Task Force Alternate , Commerce, Insurance and Economic Development Task Force Member
 * Sen. Michael Ellis (R-19)
 * Sen. Paul Farrow (R-33), ALEC Communications and Technology Task Force Member, Education Task Force Member
 * Sen. Scott Fitzgerald (R-13), ALEC Public Safety and Elections Task Force Member and former State Chairman - A staff member stated in a July 2013 email to constituents that Sen. Fitzgerald is no longer an ALEC member, but in September 2013 the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that he had rejoined ALEC.
 * Sen. Glenn Grothman (R-20), ALEC Education Task Force Member, International Relations Task Force Member
 * Sen. Sheila Harsdorf (R-10)
 * Sen. Neal Kedzie (R-11)
 * Sen. Frank Lasee (R-1), ALEC Commerce, Insurance and Economic Development Task Force Alternate
 * Sen. Mary Lazich (R-28), ALEC Health and Human Services Task Force Member - Sen. Lazich told a constituent by email in March 2013 that she is no longer an ALEC member. Lazich confirmed to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel in September 2013 that she had not rejoined ALEC. Please see Legislators Who Have Cut Ties to ALEC for more.
 * Sen. Terry Moulton (R-23), ALEC Tax and Fiscal Policy Task Force Member
 * Sen. Leah Vukmir (R-5), ALEC Health and Human Services Task Force Co-chair

Former Representatives

 * Rep. Jeff Fitzgerald (R-39), ALEC Commerce, Insurance and Economic Development Task Force Member
 * Former Rep. Michael Huebsch (R), ALEC Energy, Environment and Agriculture Task Force Member, International Relations Task Force Member and former State Chairman
 * Former Speaker Scott Jensen (R), ALEC Member
 * Rep. Joseph Knilans (R-44), ALEC Tax and Fiscal Policy Task Force Alternate, Communications and Technology Task Force Member
 * Rep. Michelle Litjens (R-56), ALEC Health and Human Services Task Force Alternate, Energy, Environment and Agriculture Task Force Member
 * Former Rep. Phil Montgomery (R) (head of the Wisconsin Public Services Commission as of 2011), Communications and Technology Task Force Member
 * Former Rep. Betty Jo Nelsen, former ALEC Assembly Vice Chairman
 * Rep. Roger Rivard (R-75), ALEC Energy, Environment and Agriculture Task Force Member
 * Former Rep. Loiita Schneiders (former Minority Caucus Secretary)
 * Rep. Karl Van Roy (R-90), ALEC Energy, Environment and Agriculture Task Force Member
 * Former Rep. Susan Vergeront, former ALEC Assembly Membership Coordinator
 * Rep. Evan Wynn (R-43), ALEC Education Task Force Alternate
 * Former Rep. Dwight York, former ALEC Assembly Legislative Coordinator

Former Senators

 * Former Sen. Susan Engeleiter (R-Waukesha, former Senate Minority Leader, former Honeywell Vice President of Government Affairs, now CEO of Data Recognition Corporation, a privately held company that provides services to state departments of education, medium-to-large-size global businesses and to the United States government )
 * Former Sen. Pam Galloway (R-29), ALEC International Relations Task Force Member (resigned from office on March 17, 2012)
 * Former Sen. Randy Hopper (legislator)|Randy B. Hopper]] (R-18), ALEC Communications and Technology Task Force Member, International Relations Task Force Member, Tax and Fiscal Policy Task Force Alternate, Commerce, Insurance and Economic Development Task Force Member (recalled and removed from office August 9, 2011)
 * Former Sen. Dan Kapanke (R-32), ALEC Energy, Environment and Agriculture Task Force Alternate (recalled and removed from office August 9, 2011)
 * Former Sen. Alan Lasee (replaced by his younger cousin, Sen. Frank Lasee), former ALEC Senate Vice Chairman
 * Former Sen. Joseph Leean, former ALEC Senate Membership Coordinator
 * Former Sen. Peggy Rosenzweig (R) sat on board of UW system, 2003-2008, later sat on board of Wisconsin Technical College System.
 * Former Sen. Brian Rude, former ALEC Senate Legislative Coordinator
 * Former Sen. Donald Stitt (R-Port Washington), former ALEC State Chairman
 * Former Sen. Greg Underheim (R)
 * Former Sen. Van Wanggaard (R-21), ALEC Tax and Fiscal Policy Task Force Member, Communications and Technology Task Force Member - recalled June 2012
 * Sen. Rich Zipperer (R-33), ALEC Civil Justice Task Force Member

Wisconsin Legislators With ALEC References in Blue Books

 * Sen. Donald K. Stitt (R) – State Chairman of ALEC (1987-1988), Member (1991-1992 and 1993-1994) (also State Chairman in 1986 )
 * Rep. Susan B. Vergeront (R) – WI Chairperson (1989-1990 and maybe 1991-1992)
 * Task Force on Empowerment, Family and Urban Planning
 * ALEC Legislator of the year (1991)
 * Rep. Marc C. Duff (R) - (1991 – 1998)
 * Rep. Annette P. Williams (D) – America’s Outstanding State Legislator Award (1990)
 * Mary Lazich (R) – Member (1993 – 1998)
 * Timothy T. Hoven (R) – Member (1995-1998)
 * Task Force Commerce and Economic Development (1997-1998)
 * Michael Huebsch (R) – Member (1995-1996)* Huebsch was the state co-chairman in at least 2010 if not before, until he became an appointee of Governor Scott Walker in 2011
 * Mark A. Green (R) – State Chairman (1995-1998)
 * Jeffrey T. Plale (D) – Member (1997-2010)
 * Tommy Thompson (R) – Thomas Jefferson Award Winner (1991)
 * Neal Kedzie (R) – Member (1999-2010)
 * Jeff Fitzgerald (R) – Member (2001-2011)
 * Bonnie L. Ladwig (R) – Member (2001-2002)
 * Steve Wieckert (R) – Member (2003-2004)
 * Scott Walker (R) – Member (1995 – 1998)
 * Judith Klusman (R) – Member, Task Force on Telecommunications and Agriculture
 * David A. Zien (R) – Member (1995 – 1996)
 * Scott Suder (R) – Criminal Justice Task Force Co-Chair (2002-2004), Member (2002-2010)
 * Sen. Van Wanggaard (R-Racine)

2012 Assembly

 * Tyler August (R) - Received $1,229
 * David Craig (R) - Received $750 ALEC scholarship, but noted on his ethics statement that he had not yet received payment
 * Dan Knodl (R) - Received $2,250
 * Dean Knudson (R) - Received $1,500
 * Mike Kuglitsch (R) - Received $750
 * Michael Schraa (R) - Disclosed $1,200 in expenses from ALEC that had not yet been reimbursed
 * Jim Steineke (R) - $2,050 in ALEC expenses

2011 Senate

 * Scott Fitzgerald (R) - Received $1,529.93

2011 Assembly

 * Jeff Fitzgerald (R) - Received $1,329
 * Dan Knodl (R) - Received $2,000
 * Patricia Strachota (R) - Received $1,404
 * Robin Vos (R) - Received $? (No specific amount)

2010 Senate

 * Scott Fitzgerald (R) - Received $1,466.93

2010 Assembly

 * Scott Suder (R) - Received $1,200 from ALEC and $1,400 from the Heartland Institute
 * Michael Huebsch (R) - Received $2,000

2009 Assembly

 * Kitty Rhoades (R) - Received $575
 * Jeffery Stone (R) - Received $1,200
 * Scott Suder (R) - Received $2,200

Wisconsin Legislators Paying ALEC Membership Fees with Tax Dollars

 * Dan Kapanke (R-La Crosse): $100 – 2/1/2011
 * Mary Lazich (R-New Berlin): $100 – 2/1/2011
 * Terry Moulton (R-Chippewa Falls): $100 – 2/1/2011
 * Van Wanggaard (R-Racine): $100 – 2/1/2011
 * Rich Zipperer (R-Pewaukee): $100- 2/1/2011
 * Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau): $100 – 1/1/2011
 * Pam Galloway (R-Wausau): $100 – 1/1/2011
 * Glenn Grothman (R-West Bend): $100 – 1/1/2011
 * Frank Lasee (R): $200 – 1/1/2011
 * Alberta Darling (R-River Hills): $200 – 1/1/2009
 * Michael Ellis (R-Neenah): $100 – 1/1/2009
 * Neal Kedzie (R-Neenah): $100 – 1/1/2007
 * Michael Ellis (R-Neenah): $100 – 1/1/2007
 * Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau): $200 – 1/1/2007

References to Wisconsin ALEC Members in the Cap Times
From the Capital Times (2011):

“These days, a lot of it is health-related. ALEC, a strong believer in state's rights, federalism, and the free-market, is fighting federal health care reform tooth and nail. (It also opposes various state efforts to crack down on the health insurance industry and expand coverage.) Since 2005, 38 states have passed legislation crafted by its Health and Human Services Task Force, according to the ALEC guide. Wisconsin promises to soon be one of the star performers. 'There have been boilerplate bills that have similar characteristics to what has been passed here in Wisconsin,' Fitzgerald says.

In December, he says, he and 20 to 30 other Wisconsin GOP lawmakers attended ALEC's national meeting Washington D.C. (emphasis added), where a key topic of study and conversation was federal health care reform. The 'State Legislators' Guide to Repealing Obamacare' was handed out at this meeting, and its model legislation discussed. 'A good example of that is a bill Joe Leibham is working on right now,' Fitzgerald says.

"Sen. Joe Leibham, R-Sheboygan, and Rep. Robin Vos, R-Rochester, introduced the bill Fitzgerald is talking about on Thursday. The 'Health Care Freedom Amendment' would change the Wisconsin constitution to prohibit the government from forcing anyone to participate in any public or private health care or insurance program. The amendment is meant to block the implementation of federal health care reform.”