The Wisconsin State Senate held its annual reunion on May 24, 2010 at the State Capitol. Events included an "In Memoriam" reading of names, Senate memories open mic, and a group photograph.

The Wisconsin State Senate held a reunion on May 24 at the State Capitol. Following the reunion Senior Producer Steve Walters interviewed Senator Monroe Swan, who held office from 1973-1979.

The Wisconsin State Senate held a reunion on May 24 at the State Capitol. Following the reunion Senior Producer Steve Walters interviewed Senator Barbara Lorman, who held office from 1981-1993.

The Wisconsin State Senate held a reunion on May 24 at the State Capitol. Following the reunion Senior Producer Steve Walters interviewed Senator Joseph Leean, who held office from 1985-1995.

The Wisconsin State Senate held a reunion on May 24 at the State Capitol. Following the reunion Senior Producer Steve Walters interviewed Senator David Berger, who held office from 1975-1981.

The Wisconsin State Senate held a reunion on May 24 at the State Capitol. Following the reunion Senior Producer Steve Walters interviewed Senator Michele Radosevich, who held office from 1977-1979.

The Wisconsin State Senate held a reunion on May 24 at the State Capitol. Following the reunion Senior Producer Steve Walters interviewed Senator Joseph Wineke , who held office from 1993-1997.

The Wisconsin State Senate held a reunion on May 24 at the State Capitol. Following the reunion Senior Producer Steve Walters interviewed former Senator John Norquest, who held office from 1983-1987.

Following the Special Committee on Ethics on December 15, 2009, WisconsinEye caught up with committee chair, Representative Mary Hubler (D-Rice Lake), and committee member Mark Gundrum (R-New Berlin) about the actions of the committee and the possible expulsion of Representative Jeffrey Wood of the 67th Assembly District.

WisconsinEye Senior Producer, Steve Walters, interviewed Sen. Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau) regarding his reactions to President Obama's appearance in Madison on November 4, 2009. They also talked about drunk driving legislation that will soon be discussed on the floor of the Senate and new ideas regarding MPS governance and the break up of the MPS into smaller districts. The interview took place in the State Capitol on November 5, 2009.

Lt. Gov. Barbara Lawton discussed school energy issues in an interview from the State Capitol on June 1, 2009.

Rep. Louis Molepske, Jr., D-Stevens Point, discussed the state budget and other legislative issues from the Capitol on March 17, 2009.

Rep. Joe Parisi, D-Madison, discussed the state budget and other legislative issues from the Capitol on March 17, 2009.

Rep. Jim Soletski, D-Green Bay, discussed some of his legislative and budgetary priorities in an interview from the Capitol on March 17, 2009. Soletski specifically talked about Assembly Bill 35, relating to the use of race-based names, nicknames, logos, and mascots by school boards and his work as the chair of the Assembly Committee on Energy and Utilities. The committee is currently working on transforming recommendations made by the Governor’s Task Force on Global Warming into legislation.

Rep. Kelda Helen Roys, D-Madison, discussed the state budget and other legislative issues from the Capitol on March 17, 2009.

Rep. Ed Brooks, R-Reedsburg, discussed the state budget, agricultural issues, and other legislative issues in an interview from the Capitol on March 12, 2009.

Rep. Scott Gunderson, R-Waterford, discussed the state budget, environmental issues, and other legislative items in an interview from the Capitol on March 5, 2009.

Rep. Phil Garthwaite, D-Dickeyville, discussed the state budget, transportation spending, and rural issues in an interview from the Capitol on March 5, 2009.

Rep. Thomas Lothian, R-Williams Bay, discussed the state budget and other legislative issues in an interview from the Capitol on March 5, 2009.

Rep. Garey Bies, R-Sister Bay, discussed the recently passed budget repair bill and the upcoming budget process with WisconsinEye in an interview from the Capitol on February 19, 2009. Bies also discussed several pieces of legislation that he is working on covering the topics of drunken driving, phosphorus fertilizer and preventing tobacco use among minors.

Rep. Peter Barca, D-Kenosha, discussed the topic of bipartisanship as well as the state budget process with WisconsinEye in an interview from the Capitol on February 19, 2009. Barca also discussed the economy and the Wisconsin Shares child care subsidy program. Barca chairs the Joint Audit Committee, which will be reviewing the program.

Sen. Mary Lazich, R-New Berlin, discussed the recently passed budget repair bill and the upcoming budget with WisconsinEye in an interview from the Capitol on February, 19, 2009. Lazich also discussed the economy, transparency in government and the Wisconsin Shares child care subsidy program. Lazich serves as a member on the Joint Audit Committee, which will be reviewing the program.

Rep. Dan Knodl, R-Germantown, reflected on his first month in the State Legislature as well as on campaign finance, state budget and economic issues in an interview from the state Capitol on February 4, 2009.

Sen. Bob Jauch, D-Poplar, discussed the work of the Senate Committee on Children and Families and Workforce Development, which he chairs, in an interview from the state Capitol on February 4, 2009. Earlier in the day the committee held a joint informational hearing with its Assembly counterpart on the state of Wisconsin children and families and their needs and challenges during the economic downturn.

George R. Walls, president of the Communications Workers of America Local 4603, discussed why members of his union were in the state Capitol on February 4, 2009 to meet with state legislators. Walls said the union members talked with legislators about the “video competition” bill passed in the last legislative session.

Following the Senate Committee on Labor, Elections and Urban Affairs on January 29, 2009, Sen. Spencer Coggs, D-Milwaukee, discussed the committee actions. Coggs specifically discussed Senate Bill 1, relating to a state minimum wage, permitting the enactment of local living wage ordinances, and granting rule-making authority, and Senate Bill 2, relating to the filing of a wage claim or the bringing of a wage claim action by a collective bargaining representative on behalf of an employee and the priority of a wage claim lien over a prior lien of a commercial lending institution and over the rights of a purchaser of any property of the employer. Both were passed by the committee with Coggs voting in favor of them.

Following the Senate Committee on Labor, Elections and Urban Affairs on January 29, 2009, Sen. Glenn Grothman, R-West Bend, discussed the committee actions. Grothman specifically discussed Senate Bill 1, relating to a state minimum wage, permitting the enactment of local living wage ordinances, and granting rule-making authority, and Senate Bill 2, relating to the filing of a wage claim or the bringing of a wage claim action by a collective bargaining representative on behalf of an employee and the priority of a wage claim lien over a prior lien of a commercial lending institution and over the rights of a purchaser of any property of the employer. Both were passed by the committee with Grothman voting against them.

Minority Leader Rep. Jeff Fitzgerald, R-Horicon, discussed an upcoming Assembly floor session in an interview from the Capitol on January 27, 2009. Fitzgerald discussed two bills expected to be voted on in the floor session; Assembly Bill 1, relating to state procurement of products and services from businesses located in this state and setting a goal for local government to purchase a certain percentage of products and services from businesses located in this state, and Assembly Bill 2, relating to state procurement of contractual services.

Freshman democrat Rep. Fred Clark of Baraboo discussed an upcoming Assembly floor session in an interview from the Capitol on January 27, 2009. Clark discussed his bill, Assembly Bill 1, relating to state procurement of products and services from businesses located in this state and setting a goal for local government to purchase a certain percentage of products and services from businesses located in this state. The bill was expected to be voted on during the floor session.

Wisconsin Public Radio State Government Reporter Shawn Johnson discussed an upcoming Assembly floor session in an interview from the Capitol on January 27, 2009. The Assembly was scheduled to vote on Assembly Bill 1, relating to state procurement of products and services from businesses located in this state and setting a goal for local government to purchase a certain percentage of products and services from businesses located in this state, and Assembly Bill 2, relating to state procurement of contractual services. Johnson also discussed the other stories he would be following during the day at the Capitol.

Rep. Louis Molepske, Jr., D-Stevens Point, discussed the work of Assembly Committee on Jobs, the Economy and Small Business, which Molepske chairs, and work the legislature can do to improve the state economy in an interview from the Capitol on January 22, 2009. Molepske specifically discussed Assembly Bill 1, relating to state procurement of products and services from businesses located in this state and setting a goal for local government to purchase a certain percentage of products and services from businesses located in this state, and Assembly Bill 2, relating to state procurement of contractual services. Both were passed by the committee earlier in the day.

Rep. Rich Zipperer, R-Pewaukee, discussed the work of Assembly Committee on Jobs, the Economy and Small Business, which Zipperer serves on as the ranking Republican member, and work the legislature can do to improve the state economy in an interview from the Capitol on January 22, 2009. Zipperer specifically discussed Assembly Bill 1, relating to state procurement of products and services from businesses located in this state and setting a goal for local government to purchase a certain percentage of products and services from businesses located in this state, and Assembly Bill 2, relating to state procurement of contractual services. Both were passed by the committee earlier in the day.

Sen. Jon Erpenbach, D-Waunakee, discussed campaign finance reform and his health care plan, “Healthy Wisconsin,” in an interview from the Capitol on January 22, 2009.

Mike McCabe, Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, discussed campaign finance efforts in the state legislature, including a recent declaration by the Assembly Speaker that the body would institute a ban on fundraising during the state budget process. McCabe discussed the prospects of increased reform during the new legislative session. McCabe was interviewed from the Capitol on January 21, 2009.

Rep. Josh Zepnick, D-Milwaukee, discussed efforts to strengthen the state’s have drunk driving laws in an interview from the Capitol on January 21, 2009. Zepnick discussed different options and the timetable in which he thought the legislature would be able to address the issue.

Henry Schienebeck from the Great Lakes Timber Professionals Association and Tim Lee from North Lumber Company and also the association discussed the message they wanted legislators to hear and address in the new legislative session in an interview from the Capitol on January 21, 2009. Schienebeck and Lee were interviewed shortly before providing invited testimony to the Assembly Committee on Forestry.

Sen. Neal Kedzie, R-Elkhorn, discussed the state economy, the state budget and drinking laws in an interview from the Capitol on January 21, 2009. Kedzie has made specific comments against efforts by Senate Democrats to increase the minimum wage.

Charley Ray, general manager for Living Forest Cooperative, discussed the message he and his group wanted legislators to hear and address in the new legislative session in an interview from the Capitol on January 21, 2009. Ray was interviewed shortly before providing invited testimony to the Assembly Committee on Forestry.

Tami Jackson, development and communication director for the Wisconsin Association of Lakes, discussed a piece of legislation, which the group supports, that would ban the use of phosphorus in lawn fertilizer. Runoff from the fertilizer can cause the growth of increased populations of algae and other lake plants to the detriment of lake users, Jackson said. Jackson was interviewed from the Capitol on January 21, 2009.

Sen. Ted Kanavas, R-Brookfield, discussed the state economy and actions the state legislature can take to better it in an interview from the Capitol on January 20, 2009. Kanavas, a member of the Senate Economic Development Committee, also discussed the political differences between the political parties on economic issues.

Rep. Gary Sherman, D-Port Wing, discussed his new chairmanship of the Assembly Committee on Forestry in an interview from the Capitol on January 20, 2009. Sherman discussed his priorities for the committee, prospects for legislation and the importance of the forest products industry in the state economy.

Jay Heck, executive director of Common Cause in Wisconsin, discussed campaign finance efforts in the state legislature, including a recent declaration by the Assembly Speaker that the body would institute a ban on fundraising during the state budget process. Heck discussed the prospects of increased reform during the new legislative session. Heck was interviewed from the Capitol on January 20, 2009.