State Rep. Bob Ziegelbauer, D-Manitowoc, was removed as chair of the Assembly Ways and Means Committee Friday by Assembly Speaker Mike Sheridan, D-Janesville.
Ziegelbauer said he was removed because he voted to prevent late-term abortions, opposing the position of party leadership.
""They mentioned to me that that was the principal reason, that I didn't vote with them on the amendment, and it almost failed to fail because of it ... They had to twist somebody else's arm to make the votes come out,"" he said.
He said voting in accordance with the wishes of his constituents is his main priority.
""I have always put the highest priority in representing the people of my district, and that's what I did,"" he said.
Rebekah Sweeney, spokesperson for Sheridan, said it is Sheridan's right to set the chair positions but was unsure why Ziegelbauer was removed.
""I wasn't privy to their conversation on why this action was taken,"" she said.
