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Julie Lassa

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Julie Lassa
Image of Julie Lassa

Democratic Party

Prior offices
Wisconsin State Assembly
Wisconsin State Senate District 24

Education

Bachelor's

University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point, 1993

Julie M. Lassa (b. October 21, 1970) is a former Democratic member of the Wisconsin State Senate, representing District 24 from 2002 to 2017.

Lassa served as Minority Caucus Leader since 2013 and Majority Caucus Leader from July 17, 2012, to 2013.[1] She served in the Wisconsin State Assembly from 1999 to 2003.

Biography

Lassa earned a B.S. in political science and public administration from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, and did graduate work at University of Wisconsin-Madison's La Follette Institute of Public Affairs.

Lassa's professional experiences include executive director of Plover Area Business Association and legislative aide.

Lassa served on the Dewey Town Board from 1993 to 1994 and is a former Chair of the Portage County Democratic Party.[2]

In 2010, Lassa made an unsuccessful run for the seventh district congressional district seat held by Dave Obey.[3]

Committee assignments

2015 legislative session

At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Lassa served on the following committees:

2013-2014

At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Lassa served on the following committees:

2011-2012

In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Lassa served on the following committees:

2009-2010

In the 2009-2010 legislative session, Lassa served on the following committees:

Issues

Legislative walkout

Lassa and the 13 other Democratic senators participated in a legislative walkout on February 17, 2011, in opposition to Assembly Bill 11 - a Republican-sponsored bill aimed at limiting collective bargaining rights, compensation and fringe benefits of public employees.[4] The Democratic departure left the Senate one vote shy of a quorum. Reports confirmed the senators fled to a hotel in Rockford, Illinois.[5] State police were dispatched by Governor Scott Walker (R) to retrieve the senators, but were unable to cross state lines.[6] The 14 state senators who left the state are being described as the "Badger 14" or "Fab 14."[7]

On February 22, speaking from the basement of an Illinois hotel, Senate Minority Leader Mark Miller provided the minority response to Gov. Scott Walker, saying, "The governor has the tools at his disposal to put this issue to an end. As soon as he is willing to take a compromise, we will go back to work in an instant." Miller stated that the legislators payed for the trip themselves, and that no taxpayer money was spent.[8]

Walker called on the Democratic senators to return to the state by March 1 in order to vote to restructure the state's debt. If they did not, he stated he may have to start cutting state jobs, saying:

"It’s not just a number, it’s not just a budget, it’s ultimately a real person with a real family, so I’m going to push that back as far as I can. We’ve got to have real numbers to balance the budget to avoid layoffs. My hope is those 14 state senators … realize that in the end, it’s much better off to avoid those cuts, it’s much better off to avoid the most dire consequences that will come if we don’t pass this bill."[9]

The Democratic senators said they would not return until the governor was willing to compromise on the budget-repair bill.

Democrats threatened with arrest

Republicans passed a unanimous resolution on March 3 finding the missing legislators in contempt and threatening them with arrest. It gave them until 4 p.m. to return or the sergeant-at-arms was ordered to take "any and all necessary steps, with or without force, and with or without the assistance of law enforcement, by warrant or other legal process, as he may deem necessary in order to bring that senator to the Senate chambers."[10]

The constitutionality of that resolution was unclear, however, as the Wisconsin Constitution only allows for the arrest of legislators while in session if they are suspected of committing a felony, treason, or breach of the peace. Jim Palmer, executive director of the Wisconsin Professional Police Association, said the resolution was an "unreasonable abuse of police power."[11]

Sen. Jon Erpenbach provided the Democratic response, stating, "All 14 of us remain in Illinois, very strong in our convictions. Issuing arrest warrants at 4 p.m. isn't going to solve the problem. This is a debate about protection of the middle class in Wisconsin; that is what the Republicans should be focusing on."[10]

The move by Republicans came the day after they issued fines of $100 a day for not showing up at the Capitol, along with taking away parking spaces.[12] The week before Republicans also passed a rule suspending direct-deposit of paychecks. Sen. Erpenbach found a way around this by granting power of attorney to two of his aides, giving them power to, among other things, pick up his paycheck. In the end Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald mailed the check to Erpenbach.[13]

Meeting and possible compromises

On March 7, Democratic leader Sen. Mark Miller sent a letter to the governor and senate majority leader asking for a meeting near the Wisconsin-Illinois border to restart talks on the collective bargaining issue.[14] Gov. Walker responded at a press conference, calling the letter "ridiculous," and saying that several meetings between the two sides have taken place, but that Miller has stood in the way of a compromise.[15]

Sen. Chris Larson said, "Dems will return when collective bargaining is off the table. That could be soon based on the growing public opposition to the bill and the recall efforts against Republicans."[16]

On March 8, the Governor's office released an email exchange dated March 6 between Eric Schutt, Walker's deputy chief of staff, and Democratic Senators Cullen and Jauch. The exchange discusses possible compromises on the bill, including allowing unions to bargain for wages beyond inflation rates, permitting collective-bargaining on certain economic issues, allowing public workers to collectively bargain workplace safety issues, and limiting collective bargaining agreements to 2 years or less.[17]

Senate passes bill

Seal of Wisconsin.svg.png
2011 Wisconsin Senate Recalls
Senators Facing Recall
Robert Cowles • Alberta Darling • Sheila Harsdorf • Dave Hansen • Jim Holperin • Randy Hopper • Dan Kapanke • Luther Olsen • Robert Wirch
Other Recall Information
Recalls by Year • Recall Law in Wisconsin • Recall laws in other states • Recalls in Wisconsin • 2011 Scott Walker Budget Repair Bill • Protests over Budget Repair Bill • Wisconsin Government Accountability Board • Recall timeline • Election Results

On March 9, the Wisconsin State Senate approved Act 10, which included changes to the collective bargaining rights of public-sector workers. Republicans passed the bill by a vote of 18-1, with Sen. Dale Schultz (R) voting against it. Democrats, who had absented themselves in order to prevent the Senate from meeting its 20-member quorum, were not present to vote on the legislation.[18]

On May 26, 2011, Dane County Court Judge Maryann Sumi issued a stay against the law on the grounds that the legislative process had violated the state's open meetings law. The state Departments of Justice and Department of Administration appealed the decision to the Wisconsin Supreme Court. On June 14, the Wisconsin Supreme Court overruled the lower court's decision, stating it "exceeded its jurisdiction, invaded the legislature’s constitutional powers...and erred in enjoining the publication and further implementation of the act."[18]

Recall campaigns

In the wake of events surrounding the bill, both Democratic and Republican senators were targeted by active recall campaigns. Recall sponsors filed signatures on petitions targeting 6 Republican state senators and 3 Democratic state senators. Challenges were filed in all 9 of those campaigns, and the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board approved the six campaigns against Republicans at meetings on May 23 and May 31, and approved the three campaigns against Democrats on June 8. Democrats held onto the 30th District seat on July 19. Republicans lost two seats in the August 9 recalls, but held onto four. Two incumbent Democrats successfully retained their seats on August 16.

The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.


Elections

2016

See also: Wisconsin State Senate elections, 2016

Elections for the Wisconsin State Senate took place in 2016. The primary election took place on August 9, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was June 1, 2016.

Patrick Testin defeated incumbent Julie Lassa in the Wisconsin State Senate District 24 general election.[19][20]

Wisconsin State Senate, District 24 General Election, 2016
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.png Patrick Testin 52.35% 45,139
     Democratic Julie Lassa Incumbent 47.65% 41,091
Total Votes 86,230
Source: Wisconsin Elections Commission


Incumbent Julie Lassa ran unopposed in the Wisconsin State Senate District 24 Democratic primary.[21][22]

Wisconsin State Senate, District 24 Democratic Primary, 2016
Party Candidate
    Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Julie Lassa Incumbent (unopposed)


Patrick Testin ran unopposed in the Wisconsin State Senate District 24 Republican primary.[21][22]

Wisconsin State Senate, District 24 Republican Primary, 2016
Party Candidate
    Republican Green check mark transparent.png Patrick Testin  (unopposed)

2012

Lassa won re-election in the 2012 election for the Wisconsin State Senate, District 24 seat. She ran unopposed in the primary election and defeated Scott Noble (R) in the general election on November 6, 2012.[23][24]

Wisconsin State Senate, District 24, General Election, 2012
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngJulie Lassa Incumbent 56.6% 48,677
     Republican Scott Kenneth Noble 43.3% 37,259
     - Scattering 0.1% 88
Total Votes 86,024

2011 recall

See also: Recall of Wisconsin State Senators (2011)

A recall campaign against Lassa began in February following Lassa's decision to walkout of the Senate and leave the state with the rest of the Democrats over Gov. Scott Walker's Budget Repair Bill. The campaign ended on May 16, when an organizer announced that they were only able to collect about one-third of the signatures necessary.[25]

Prior to the announcement that the recall campaign had failed, the Democratic Party filed a complaint with the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board over newspaper ads calling for the senator's recall. The ads were paid for by a group that is not registered as a PAC calling itself Citizens of District 24. Since they are not registered as such, their spending on advertising is limited to $25, but the ads cost almost $500.[26]

2010

See also: Wisconsin State Senate elections, 2010

Lassa's seat was not up for election in 2010. Lassa ran for U.S. Congress District 7 in 2010. She defeated opponent Don Raihala in the September 14, 2010, primary. She faced Republican Sean Duffy for the seat vacated by the retiring Representative David Obey in the November 2, 2010, general election.[27] Duffy defeated Lassa.

U.S. Congress, District 7 (2010)
Candidates Votes
Green check mark transparent.png Sean Duffy (R) 132,551
Julie Lassa (D) 113,018

2008

On November 4, 2008, Julie Lassa won re-election to the Wisconsin State Senate, District 24.[28]

Julie Lassa raised $57,06 for her campaign, while Tom Kimmet raised $2,675.[29]

Wisconsin State Senate, District 24 (2008)
Candidates Votes
Green check mark transparent.png Julie Lassa (D) 57,985
Tom Kimmet (R) 27,660

Campaign finance summary

Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.

Julie Lassa campaign contribution history
YearOfficeStatusContributionsExpenditures
2012Wisconsin State Senate, District 23Won $95,522 N/A**
2008Wisconsin State Senate, District 23Won $57,066 N/A**
2004Wisconsin State Senate, District 23Won $73,396 N/A**
2002Wisconsin State Assembly, District 71Won $28,390 N/A**
2000Wisconsin State Assembly, District 71Won $37,390 N/A**
1998Wisconsin State Assembly, District 71Won $22,408 N/A**
** Data on expenditures is not available for this election cycle
Note: Totals above reflect only available data.

Personal

Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Lassa is married and has two children.[2]

Scorecards

See also: State legislative scorecards and State legislative scorecards in Wisconsin

A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.

Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.

Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of Wisconsin scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.









2016

In 2016, the Wisconsin State Legislature was in session from January 12 through March 15.

Legislators are scored on whether they voted for or against MMAC's position.
Legislators are scored on their votes on small business issues.
Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to labor policy.
Legislators are scored by the Wisconsin Family Action on their votes on legislation related to "marriage, family, the sanctity of human life, or religious freedom."[30]
Legislators are scored on their stances on conservation issues.
Legislators are scored on their votes on legislation WMC deemed as "most important issues for the business community."
Legislators are scored on their votes by the Wisconsin Professional Police Association on legislation related to Wisconsin's law enforcement community.
Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental issues.

2015


2014


2013


2012

Recent news

This section displays the most recent stories in a Google News search for the term "Julie + Lassa + Wisconsin + Senate"

All stories may not be relevant to this legislator due to the nature of the search engine.

Julie Lassa News Feed

See also

External links

 

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Wisconsin Radio Network, "Senate leadership transferred to Democrats," July 17, 2012
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Project Vote Smart, "Biography," accessed May 5, 2014
  3. ↑ Wisconsin AG connection, "Rep. Black to Retire from Assembly; Lassa to Seek Obey's Seat," May 11, 2010
  4. ↑ Wisconsin.gov, "ASSEMBLY BILL 11," accessed February 17, 2011
  5. ↑ Green Bay Press Gazette, "Wisconsin Democrats flee to Clock Tower Hotel in Rockford, Ill., to block anti-union bill," February 17, 2011
  6. ↑ Bloomberg Businessweek, Senator: Missing Wis. lawmakers left the state, 17 Feb. 2011
  7. ↑ Facebook, "Fab 14," accessed May 6, 2014
  8. ↑ WISN, "State Sen. Minority Leader Responds to Walker," February 22, 2010
  9. ↑ Christian Science Monitor, "Wisconsin governor to missing senators: Come back or I'll lay off 1,500," February 28, 2011
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Wall Street Journal, "Pressure Mounts on Absent Democrats in Wisconsin, Indiana," March 3, 2011
  11. ↑ Wisconsin State Journal, "Senate orders arrest of missing Democrats," March 3, 2011
  12. ↑ My Fox Chicago, "Wisconsin GOP Slaps Missing Dems With $100 Daily Fines," March 2, 2011 (dead link)
  13. ↑ Talking Points Memo, "AWOL Wisconsin Dem Beats The System, Gets His Paycheck Mailed To Him," March 3, 2011
  14. ↑ New York Times, "Wisconsin Democrats Urge New Talks on Labor Bill," March 7, 2011
  15. ↑ CNN, "Wisconsin gov: Democratic senator's border meeting idea 'ridiculous'," March 7, 2011
  16. ↑ Talking Points Memo, "Wisconsin Dems Deny WSJ Report Of Imminent Return," March 6, 2011
  17. ↑ CNN, "E-mails: Wisconsin governor offers concessions on budget bill," March 8, 2011
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 Wisconsin State Journal, "Front pages from historic Scott Walker protests," February 11, 2016
  19. ↑ Wisconsin Government Accountability Board, "Candidates on Ballot by Election - 2016 General Election - 11/8/2016," accessed November 4, 2016
  20. ↑ Wisconsin Elections Commission, "2016 Fall General Election Results," accessed December 2, 2016
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 Wisconsin Government Accountability Board, "Candidate Tracking by Office," accessed June 20, 2016
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 Wisconsin Elections and Ethics Commissions, "2016 Partisan Primary," accessed September 16, 2016
  23. ↑ Government Accountability Board, "2012 Fall Partisan Primary," accessed May 5, 2014
  24. ↑ Government Accountability Board, "2012 Fall General Election," accessed May 5, 2014
  25. ↑ Gazette Xtra, “Last recall drive targeting Wis. senator fails,” May 16, 2011
  26. ↑ WSAU, "Lassa recall ads questioned," May 13, 2011
  27. ↑ Wood County, "Wisconsin Official Website," accessed September 15, 2010
  28. ↑ Government Accountability Board, "Wisconsin State Election Results, 2008," accessed May 6, 2014
  29. ↑ Follow the Money, "2008 contributions," accessed May 6, 2014
  30. ↑ Wisconsin Family Action, "2015-2016 legislative scorecard," accessed May 31, 2017
  31. ↑ Wisconsin Family Action, "2015-2016 legislative scorecard," accessed May 31, 2017
Political offices
Preceded by
' 		Wisconsin State Senate District 24
2003–2017 		Succeeded by
Patrick Testin (R)


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