Leah Vukmir

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Leah Vukmir, Republican, Wauwatosa, is the current state representative for the 14th District of the Wisconsin Assembly, which includes Brookfield, Elm Grove, and Wauwatosa.

Background

Leah Vukmir was born in Milwaukee on April 26, 1958. She is a mother of two, and earned a bachelors degree in nursing from Marquette University, and a Masters degree in nursing from UW-Madison. Vukmir is a registered nurse, and an active pediatric nurse practitioner. First elected to the Assembly in November of 2002, Leah Vukmir succeeded now-Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker. She is also an active Member of the Health and Human Services Task Force of the American Legislative Exchange Council, and is considered one of the Wisconsin Legislature’s foremost experts on health policy.

Legislative Roles

Leah Vukmir is viewed by supporters as a defender of free market, limited government principles against rent-seeking corporatism which is prevalent in both parties, and against calls from the left for increased regulation and taxation. She has sponsored and helped pass several bills that promote her philosophy.

As chairperson of the Committee on Health Care and Health Care Reform, in 2007 Vukmir played a critical role in the Republican-controlled Assembly’s defeat of a mandatory, single-payer type government health care plan passed by the Senate that opponents argued would have largely frozen out private health insurance in Wisconsin, funded by a new 4.5 percent payroll tax imposed on each worker (the “Healthy Wisconsin Plan").

However, Vukmir has also not hesitated to confront and oppose legislative and Republican Party leadership on issues or procedures that she views as contrary to the limited-government principles the GOP advertises itself as defending.

Leah Vukmir is known for her authorship of innovative health care pricing transparency legislation, and a Constitutional amendment to bar mandates that individuals participate in a government-run health care system, or laws prohibiting individuals from purchasing private health care coverage.

Sponsored legislation

  • 2005-AB 3 A bill that would expand enrollment in the Milwaukee school parental choice program and would help eliminate the enrollment caps on the program.
  • 2005-AB 4 A bill that would make Health Savings Accounts tax deductible from state income tax. Wisconsin is one of three states that do not allow state tax deductions on HSA's. The bill passed both houses during the 2005-2006 legislative session, but was vetoed by the Governor.
  • 2007-AB 739 Vukmir co-sponsored this “Earmark Transparency Act” introduced by Rep. [Rich Zipperer] of Pewaukee that would mandate prior public diclosure and debate on all earmark spending. The bill would also require disclosure of which legislator sought a particular earmark. This bill was passed in the Assembly, but died in the Senate Rules Committee.
  • 2007-AB 820 Vukmir co-sponsored this “Competitive Marketplace Act” with Rep. Bill Kramer of Waukesha that would eliminate a law that requires certain retailers to mark-up prices by a certain amount.
  • All bills introduced by Leah Vukmir in the 2007-2008 legislature.

Legislation sponsored in 2009:[1]

  • AR-7 Rate increases re sales tax, income tax, or franchise tax: two-thirds majority vote in Assembly required for passage, concurrence, and adoption
  • AB-168 Biennial budget bill preparation and consideration revisions re state agency request for earmark or nonfiscal policy item prohibited, state agency budget modification report by DOA Secretary, earmark transparency report by LFB, JCF executive sessions and documents on legislature's Web site, committee of conference report may not contain earmarks or nonfiscal policy items; lobbyist principal's semiannual report to GAB modified
  • AB-196 State agency and school district operations expenditures, contracts, and grants: DOA required to make certain information available on a Web site; DPI duties

Committee membership

  • Education
  • Education Reform
  • Health and Healthcare Reform
  • Public Health

Major donors

The top 5 donors to Vukmir's 2008 campaign:[2]

  • 1. BLANK $950
  • 2. Knueppel, Kellye $785
  • 3. WI Manufactures & Commerce $500
  • 4. Sprenger, Gary $500
  • 5. WI Society of Anesthesiologists $500

Contact

Rep. Leah Vukmir
Room 107 West
State Capitol
P.O. Box 8953
Madison, WI 53708
(608) 266-9180
Rep.Vukmir@legis.wisconsin.gov

External links

References

  1. ↑ Wisconsin Legislature - Bills sponsored by Leah Vukmir
  2. ↑ Follow the Money - 2008 Campaign Contributions
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