By Scott Bauer and Todd Richmond
Associated Press
MADISON - Gov. Scott Walker wants to pass his second-term agenda quickly through a Legislature controlled by Republicans who tightened their grip on the majority with wins in the midterm election.
Walker told The Associated Press after defeating Democratic challenger Mary Burke on Tuesday that he wants to move fast on passing a budget, a process that typically lasts until late June. He repeated the message to his cabinet in their first post-victory meeting on Wednesday.
"We're going to be even more aggressive now because I think we have an even stronger ally in the Legislature," Walker told his cabinet, saying he plans to meet with Republican legislative leaders to discuss strategy in coming days.
Preliminary election results show Republicans with a 19-14 Senate majority, one better than last session. That means more moderate Republicans such as Sen. Luther Olsen, of Ripon, will carry less weight.
With two races still too close to call Wednesday, Republicans were also on pace to increase their majority in the Assembly to as large as 63-36, up from the 60 seats they held last session.
Walker told his cabinet that voters want a more effective, efficient and accountable government. He told agency leaders to determine what their departments can do better or jettison.
"We're ready to get to work," he said.
Walker has said he wants to continue to lower taxes on top of a $2 billion cut he made in his first term. He also wants to expand enrollment in the statewide private school voucher program, replace the Common Core academic standards, extend a University of Wisconsin tuition freeze and require drug tests for food stamp and unemployment benefit recipients. He's floated the idea of a new sales tax on gasoline to help fund road-building projects as well.
He isn't talking, however, about anything as contentious as his signature law stripping most public employees of their union rights.
Vos said the first bill he wants to see is a school accountability measure. A sweeping proposal that included sanctions for failing schools died last session.
Vos also wants to reform the state Government Accountability Board - which oversees state elections and enforces campaign finance laws - saying the board's staff had become partisan advocates. He didn't reveal what might be in the works, though.
He also said that he wants to reform John Doe investigations, Wisconsin's version of grand jury probes. Prosecutors are using the process to look into whether Walker's campaign illegally coordinated with outside groups in 2012; Vos labeled the investigation a "witch hunt."
Right-to-work legislation, which bars unions from requiring employees join their ranks, isn't on the immediate horizon but could be on the table in the long run, Vos said.
Republican Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald said the budget is the top priority. He said the GOP can move quickly but stopped short of setting a deadline.
Senate Republicans plan to confer with the Wisconsin Economic Development Association on how to help manufacturing and other business sectors, he said. He supports expanding voucher schools, he said, but stressed vouchers won't become a huge program.
Senate Minority Leader Chris Larson said Wednesday that he has had better days. He said he's not feeling any pressure to step down as leader, saying Democrats were caught in a GOP wave. But he faces a challenge for his leadership position from Sen. Jennifer Shilling, of La Crosse. Senate Democrats were set to meet next week.
Assembly Minority Leader Peter Barca said he thought Democrats were caught up in a national GOP "tidal wave" powered by spending by pro-Republican outside groups that was tough to counter. He said he hasn't thought about whether anyone might challenge him. Rep. Evan Goyke of Milwaukee told The Associated Press he was considering making a bid for Barca's spot.
Assembly Democrats were also expected to meet next week.
Associated Press
MADISON - Gov. Scott Walker wants to pass his second-term agenda quickly through a Legislature controlled by Republicans who tightened their grip on the majority with wins in the midterm election.
Walker told The Associated Press after defeating Democratic challenger Mary Burke on Tuesday that he wants to move fast on passing a budget, a process that typically lasts until late June. He repeated the message to his cabinet in their first post-victory meeting on Wednesday.
"We're going to be even more aggressive now because I think we have an even stronger ally in the Legislature," Walker told his cabinet, saying he plans to meet with Republican legislative leaders to discuss strategy in coming days.
Preliminary election results show Republicans with a 19-14 Senate majority, one better than last session. That means more moderate Republicans such as Sen. Luther Olsen, of Ripon, will carry less weight.
With two races still too close to call Wednesday, Republicans were also on pace to increase their majority in the Assembly to as large as 63-36, up from the 60 seats they held last session.
Walker told his cabinet that voters want a more effective, efficient and accountable government. He told agency leaders to determine what their departments can do better or jettison.
"We're ready to get to work," he said.
Walker has said he wants to continue to lower taxes on top of a $2 billion cut he made in his first term. He also wants to expand enrollment in the statewide private school voucher program, replace the Common Core academic standards, extend a University of Wisconsin tuition freeze and require drug tests for food stamp and unemployment benefit recipients. He's floated the idea of a new sales tax on gasoline to help fund road-building projects as well.
He isn't talking, however, about anything as contentious as his signature law stripping most public employees of their union rights.
Vos said the first bill he wants to see is a school accountability measure. A sweeping proposal that included sanctions for failing schools died last session.
Vos also wants to reform the state Government Accountability Board - which oversees state elections and enforces campaign finance laws - saying the board's staff had become partisan advocates. He didn't reveal what might be in the works, though.
He also said that he wants to reform John Doe investigations, Wisconsin's version of grand jury probes. Prosecutors are using the process to look into whether Walker's campaign illegally coordinated with outside groups in 2012; Vos labeled the investigation a "witch hunt."
Right-to-work legislation, which bars unions from requiring employees join their ranks, isn't on the immediate horizon but could be on the table in the long run, Vos said.
Republican Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald said the budget is the top priority. He said the GOP can move quickly but stopped short of setting a deadline.
Senate Republicans plan to confer with the Wisconsin Economic Development Association on how to help manufacturing and other business sectors, he said. He supports expanding voucher schools, he said, but stressed vouchers won't become a huge program.
Senate Minority Leader Chris Larson said Wednesday that he has had better days. He said he's not feeling any pressure to step down as leader, saying Democrats were caught in a GOP wave. But he faces a challenge for his leadership position from Sen. Jennifer Shilling, of La Crosse. Senate Democrats were set to meet next week.
Assembly Minority Leader Peter Barca said he thought Democrats were caught up in a national GOP "tidal wave" powered by spending by pro-Republican outside groups that was tough to counter. He said he hasn't thought about whether anyone might challenge him. Rep. Evan Goyke of Milwaukee told The Associated Press he was considering making a bid for Barca's spot.
Assembly Democrats were also expected to meet next week.