Wisconsin Democrats ready to address priorities with full control in Madison

Democrats gained enough seats Tuesday to have the majority in both chambers for the first time in 16 years.

It means liberal ideas blocked in recent years should have a clear path.

“My voters are being very clear that they want help with the cost of living,” said State Sen. Jamie Wall, D-Green Bay.

Wall says his top priority will be coming up with ways to lower the cost of housing, healthcare, and property taxes.

“I think we should do better at the state level to fund schools and that will allow us to push down the property tax levy and give people some relief on those bills,” said Wall.

In the Senate, Republicans have been operating with an 18 to 15 majority. The election flipped those numbers in favor of Democrats.

In the Assembly, Democrats needed to gain five seats to take the majority. They ended up gaining eight, giving them a 53 to 46 advantage.

“The Democrats are going to come in with a lot of bad ideas,” said State Rep. Ron Tusler, R-Harrison.

Tusler says if Democrats’ ideas were good, his party would have passed them. He’s concerned for what’s ahead after what he calls the worst election night Republicans have ever had.

“I think they’ll go after Act 10,” said Tusler. “I think they will greatly influence the expense of education, which is already very expensive in Wisconsin. I think that will make your taxes go significantly higher.”

Wall doubts Act 10 will be an immediate priority. There’s a pending Supreme Court case for the 2011 law, which removed collective bargaining rights for most public employees.

As for legalizing marijuana, we asked Wall if he thinks it is an item Democrats will attempt to pass right away.

“We just elected three new senators and we’ll have to get together in a room and talk about our priorities,” said Wall. “This is something that is pretty popular that people want and brings in a little bit of extra revenue for the state, which would be helpful in a budget so maybe we’d do that sooner than later.”

Both sides acknowledge the next two-year budget will likely take up much of the focus when the new legislature starts its work early next year.

The Democratic “trifecta” of controlling the governor, Senate, and Assembly didn’t last long the last time it happened. It lasted one election cycle in 2009 and ‘10. Then Republicans held all three for eight years, under Scott Walker.