With a new Republican at the helm of the state Assembly, tensions between Republicans and Democrats will flare during the next legislative session in the Assembly, according to state Rep. Spencer Black, D-Madison.
Tuesday afternoon Assembly Representatives elected Rep. Mike Huebsch, R-West Salem, as Speaker of the Assembly over Rep. Dean Kaufert, R-Neenah.The position was vacated by the former speaker, Rep. John Gard, R-Peshtigo, who lost his bid for U.S. Congress Nov. 8.
Black saw the election of Huebsch over Kaufert as an indication that the Assembly Republicans are taking a ""hard-line and fairly rigid right-wing approach"" into the next legislative session.
""Mike Huebsch is quite a hard-line Republican, pretty far to the right ideologically,"" Black said.
He added that Kaufert is more conciliatory and would have worked in a more bipartisan fashion.
""Based on Mike Huebsch's past approach I expect the Assembly Republicans to essentially obstruct efforts by the governor and Senate Democrats to pass legislation on education, health care and the environment,"" Black said.
Bob Delaporte, media director for Huebsch, said the representative's number one goal for the 2007-'08 legislative sessions is to protect taxpayers.
""We had a lot of Democrats run on lower taxes and we are going to make sure that they have the opportunity to fulfill their campaign promise,"" Delaporte said.
He also noted that Huebsch would strive to work together with Democrats to pass legislation and he has ""nothing but optimism for this session.""
""The people have said work together. We're going to do our best,"" Delaporte said. ""This is what the people want, this is how they voted, and we're taking that responsibility incredibly seriously.""
With Huebsch elected as Speaker of the Assembly, Republicans filled his vacant seat of Majority Leader with the election of Rep. Jeff Fitzgerald, R-Horicon.
In a statement Fitzgerald echoed Huebsch's desire to work with Democrats in the upcoming legislative session.
""The upcoming session will have some unique challenges and the Assembly Republicans will be focused on moving the state forward. I look forward to working with the entire legislative body in making Wisconsin a better place to live,"" Fitzgerald said in the statement.
