Republicans Talk Voter ID, Vouchers and Van Wanggaard At Annual Convention

Republican state lawmakers made promises at the GOP’s annual convention this weekend about voter ID, vouchers and one of their own.

For years Republicans used their annual conventions to talk about the need for a voter ID law. They finally passed one last session, but it remains tied up in court with two circuit court judges ruling it unconstitutional.

So far, higher courts – including the Supreme Court – have rejected calls for an expedited appeal of those cases. Regardless, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Burlington) said voter ID would soon be the law in Wisconsin: “Our agenda includes election reform, because we promise that election reform led by voter ID will be in place for the 2014 elections.”

Vos also promised to keep property taxes in check and to freeze tuition at the University of Wisconsin. He also highlighted the governor’s plan to expand vouchers in the proposed state budget: “Under this legislature, we will see an expansion of the program.”

Just how big that expansion ends might be remains to be seen. Many Republican senators have attacked the voucher program, which may be why Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau) didn’t talk about it in his speech at the convention. But Fitzgerald did make a promise for 2014: “Next year, we’re going to expand our majority and bring back one of those we lost in the recall: our good friend Van Wanggaard.”

Wanggaard lost his recall election to Senator John Lehman (D-Racine) last June. If he does run again, his new district would lean Republican under the new GOP-drawn legislative map.