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Dave Hansen (Wisconsin)
Dave Hansen (b. December 18, 1947) was a Democratic member of the Wisconsin State Senate, representing District 30. He was first elected to the chamber in 2000 and left office in 2021.[1] He was the Assistant Majority Leader from July 17, 2012, to 2013.[2]
Biography
Hansen earned his B.S. from University of Wisconsin, Green Bay.[3] He is married and has three children.
Hansen's professional experiences include work as a steward with Teamster's Union, a teacher, and a truck driver for the Green Bay Department of Public Works. Hansen was previously a Brown County Board Supervisor from 1996 to 2002.
Hansen was the target of a recall in 2011. He easily defeated his opponent, David VanderLeest, to keep his seat.
Committee assignments
2019-2020
Hansen was assigned to the following committees:
- Public Benefits, Licensing, and State-Federal Relations Committee
- Natural Resources and Energy Committee
- Transportation, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee
2017 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:
| Wisconsin committee assignments, 2017 |
|---|
| • Natural Resources and Energy |
| • Transportation and Veterans Affairs |
| • Universities and Technical Colleges |
2015 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Hansen served on the following committees:
| Wisconsin committee assignments, 2015 |
|---|
| • Agriculture, Small Business, and Tourism |
| • Universities and Technical Colleges |
| • Transportation and Veterans Affairs |
| • Legislative Organization |
2013-2014
At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Hansen served on the following committees:
2011-2012
In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Hansen served on the following committees:
| Wisconsin committee assignments, 2011 |
|---|
| • Agriculture, Forestry, and Higher Education |
| • Education |
| • Energy, Biotechnology, and Consumer Protection |
| • Finance |
| • Legislative Organization |
| • Senate Organization |
| • State and Federal Relations and Information Technology |
2009-2010
In the 2009-2010 legislative session, Hansen served on the following committees:
| Wisconsin committee assignments, 2009 |
|---|
| • Public Health, Senior Issues, Long-Term Care, and Job Creation |
| • Education |
| • Transportation, Tourism, Forestry, and Natural Resources |
| • Finance |
| • Senate Organization |
| • Finance |
Issues
2011 Legislative walkout
Hansen 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 were 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
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 six Republican state senators and three Democratic state senators. Challenges were filed in all nine 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.
Nonpartisan redistricting
- See also: Redistricting in Wisconsin
In December 2012, Hansen said he planned to introduce legislation to make the once a decade redistricting process nonpartisan. Hansen's bill would put the Legislative Reference Bureau in charge of redrawing the maps as well as require a nonpartisan redistricting advisory commission.[19]
Sponsored legislation
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
2020
- See also: Wisconsin State Senate elections, 2020
Dave Hansen did not file to run for re-election.[20]
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.
Incumbent Dave Hansen defeated Eric Wimberger in the Wisconsin State Senate District 30 general election.[21][22]
| Wisconsin State Senate, District 30 General Election, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic |  Dave Hansen Incumbent |
51.30% | 40,214 | |
| Republican | Eric Wimberger | 48.70% | 38,175 | |
| Total Votes | 78,389 | |||
| Source: Wisconsin Elections Commission | ||||
Incumbent Dave Hansen ran unopposed in the Wisconsin State Senate District 30 Democratic primary.[23][24]
| Wisconsin State Senate, District 30 Democratic Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Democratic | Dave Hansen Incumbent (unopposed) | |
Eric Wimberger ran unopposed in the Wisconsin State Senate District 30 Republican primary.[23][24]
| Wisconsin State Senate, District 30 Republican Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Republican | Eric Wimberger (unopposed) | |
This candidate ran in one of Ballotpedia's races to watch in 2016. Read more »
2012
Hansen won re-election to the 2012 election for the Wisconsin State Senate, District 30 seat. He ran unopposed in the primary election and defeated John Macco (R) in the general election on November 6, 2012.[25]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Dave Hansen Incumbent |
54.2% | 42,949 | |
| Republican | John Macco | 45.7% | 36,178 | |
| - | Scattering | 0.1% | 77 | |
| Total Votes | 79,204 | |||
2011 recall
Hansen easily defeated David VanderLeest (R) in the July 19 recall election.
| July 19 Recall[26] | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | Percent | ||
Dave Hansen (D) 
|
22,051 | 65.93% | ||
| David VanderLeest (R) | 11,054 | 33.05% | ||
| Scattering | 340 | 1.02% | ||
An effort to recall Hansen from office got underway in March 2011.[27][28] About 18,872 signatures were filed with state election officials on April 21.[29] In early May the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board verified 17,099 signatures on the petition, enough to force a recall. They disqualified over 1,700 and still had to review some 5,500 that have been challenged by Hansen.[30]
The Government Accountability Board (GAB) was initially scheduled to review the challenges on May 31, but that was delayed until June 8. At that meeting, the Board validated 15,540 signatures, enough for the recall, setting the election date for July 19.[31]
Republican Assemblyman John Nygren announced on May 10 that he would run against Hansen.[32] The leader of the recall campaign, David VanderLeest, joined the race on May 22.[33] A primary between the two was scheduled to be held July 19, but Nygren was removed from the ballot for having an insufficient number of signatures on his nomination papers.
He appealed the GAB decision in circuit court,[34] but the original decision was upheld. Nygren blamed the outcome on “Democrat-appointed GAB staff that has constantly worked against me as I defended myself from the Democratic Party’s frivolous challenges.”[35]
Mary Scray, vice chair of the Brown County Board, announced she would probably run against Hansen in a recall.[36] However, on May 26, 2011, Scray dropped out of the race, citing family and professional responsibilities.[37]
2008
On November 4, 2008, Dave Hansen won re-election to the Wisconsin State Senate, District 28.[38]
Dave Hansen raised $238,107 for his campaign, while Chad Fradette raised $37,679.[39]
| Wisconsin State Senate, District 28 (2008) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
| Dave Hansen (D)
|
51,643 | |||
| Chad Fradette (R) | 26,483 | |||
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.
Scorecards
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.
2020
In 2020, the Wisconsin State Legislature was in session from January 14 to May 13.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to labor policy.
- Legislators are scored on their stances on conservation issues.
- Legislators are scored on whether they voted for or against MMAC's position.
- Legislators are scored on their votes by the Wisconsin Professional Police Association on legislation related to Wisconsin's law enforcement community.
2019
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2019, click [show]. |
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In 2019, the Wisconsin State Legislature was in session from January 7, 2019 through January 13, 2020.
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2018
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2018, click [show]. |
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In 2018, the Wisconsin State Legislature was in session from January 16 through March 27. Special sessions were held from January 1 through February 27 and from March 15 through March 29.
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2017
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2017, click [show]. |
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In 2017, the Wisconsin State Legislature was in session from January 3 through December 31. There were also special sessions. The first special session was January 5. The second special session was August 1 through September 15.
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2016
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2016, click [show]. |
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In 2016, the Wisconsin State Legislature was in session from January 12 through March 15.
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2015
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2015, click [show]. |
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In 2015, the Wisconsin State Legislature was in session from January 5 through December 31.
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2014
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2014, click [show]. |
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In 2014, the Wisconsin State Legislature was in session from January 14 through June 4.
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2013
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2013, click [show]. |
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In 2013, the Wisconsin State Legislature was in session from January 7 to December 31.
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2012
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2012, click [show]. |
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In 2012, the Wisconsin State Legislature was in session from January 10 through March 16.
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Recent news
This section displays the most recent stories in a Google News search for the term "Dave + Hansen + Wisconsin + Senate"
- All stories may not be relevant to this legislator due to the nature of the search engine.
See also
- Wisconsin State Legislature
- Wisconsin State Senate
- Wisconsin State Senate Committees
- Wisconsin Joint Committees
- Wisconsin state legislative districts
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Wisconsin State Legislature, "2013 Senate Resolution 1, " January 7, 2013
- ↑ Wisconsin Radio Network, "Senate leadership transferred to Democrats," July 17, 2012
- ↑ Project Vote Smart, "Biography," accessed May 5, 2014
- ↑ Wisconsin.gov, "ASSEMBLY BILL 11," accessed February 17, 2011
- ↑ Green Bay Press Gazette, "Wisconsin Democrats flee to Clock Tower Hotel in Rockford, Ill., to block anti-union bill," February 17, 2011
- ↑ Bloomberg Businessweek, "Senator: Missing Wis. lawmakers left the state," February 17, 2011
- ↑ Facebook, "Fab 14," accessed May 6, 2014
- ↑ WISN, "State Sen. Minority Leader Responds to Walker," February 22, 2010
- ↑ Christian Science Monitor, "Wisconsin governor to missing senators: Come back or I'll lay off 1,500," February 28, 2011
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Wall Street Journal, "Pressure Mounts on Absent Democrats in Wisconsin, Indiana," March 3, 2011
- ↑ Wisconsin State Journal, "Senate orders arrest of missing Democrats," March 3, 2011
- ↑ My Fox Chicago, "Wisconsin GOP Slaps Missing Dems With $100 Daily Fines," March 2, 2011 (dead link)
- ↑ Talking Points Memo, "AWOL Wisconsin Dem Beats The System, Gets His Paycheck Mailed To Him," March 3, 2011
- ↑ New York Times, "Wisconsin Democrats Urge New Talks on Labor Bill," March 7, 2011
- ↑ CNN, "Wisconsin gov: Democratic senator's border meeting idea 'ridiculous'," March 7, 2011
- ↑ Talking Points Memo, "Wisconsin Dems Deny WSJ Report Of Imminent Return," March 6, 2011
- ↑ CNN, "E-mails: Wisconsin governor offers concessions on budget bill," March 8, 2011
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 Wisconsin State Journal, "Front pages from historic Scott Walker protests," February 11, 2016
- ↑ Door County Daily News, "Hansen To Introduce Bill For Non-Partisan Redistricting," December 8, 2012
- ↑ NBC26, "Senator Dave Hansen retiring at the end of current term," January 9, 2020
- ↑ Wisconsin Government Accountability Board, "Candidates on Ballot by Election - 2016 General Election - 11/8/2016," accessed November 4, 2016
- ↑ Wisconsin Elections Commission, "2016 Fall General Election Results," accessed December 2, 2016
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 Wisconsin Government Accountability Board, "Candidate Tracking by Office," accessed June 20, 2016
- ↑ 24.0 24.1 Wisconsin Elections and Ethics Commissions, "2016 Partisan Primary," accessed September 16, 2016
- ↑ Wisconsin Government Accountability Board, "2012 Candidate List," accessed May 6, 2014 (dead link)
- ↑ Wisconsin Government Accountability Board, "July 12 Primary Election Results District 30," accessed August 11, 2011
- ↑ Recall Dave Hansen, "Website," accessed May 6, 2014
- ↑ AOL News, "Wisconsin Election Recall Reality Check," February 23, 2011
- ↑ Wisconsin Public Radio, "Recall signatures now filed against nearly one-fourth of Wisconsin Senate," April 22, 2011 (dead link)
- ↑ WTAQ, "GAB verifies enough recall Sen. Hansen signitures to move forward," May 12, 2011
- ↑ WisPolitics, "Dem recalls certified," June 8, 2011
- ↑ Daily Reporter, "Wisconsin GOP assemblyman to run against Democratic senator in recall election," May 10, 2011
- ↑ WTAQ, "'Recall Dave Hansen' organizer running for Senate," May 22, 2011 (dead link)
- ↑ ‘’Wis Politics “Nygren vows to pursue further legal options,” June 27, 2011
- ↑ WisPolitics, “Nygren Campaign: Statement following Dane County court decision,” July 1, 2011
- ↑ Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Wisconsin Senate recall races tempt Assembly members," April 30, 2011
- ↑ WFRV 5 "Scary drops out of Sen. Hansen recall race," May 26, 2011
- ↑ Government Accountability Board, "Wisconsin State Election Results, 2008," accessed May 6, 2014
- ↑ Follow the Money, "2008 contributions," accessed May 6, 2014
- ↑ Wisconsin Family Action, "2015-2016 legislative scorecard," accessed May 31, 2017
- ↑ Wisconsin Family Action, "2015-2016 legislative scorecard," accessed May 31, 2017
- ↑ Wisconsin Family Action, "2015-2016 legislative scorecard," accessed May 31, 2017
- ↑ Wisconsin Family Action, "2015-2016 legislative scorecard," accessed May 31, 2017
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by ' |
Wisconsin State Senate District 30 2000–2021 |
Succeeded by Eric Wimberger (R) |
