Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu has announced his GOP picks for various committee leadership positions for the next legislative session, which includes the re-appointment of Sen. Joan Ballweg as chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture & Tourism. Ballweg, a Markesan Republican who served in the Assembly for many years until being elected to the 14th Senate District in 2020, is the owner of John Deere farm equipment dealership. She has led the agriculture panel for the past two years.
"Last session, the Agriculture & Tourism Committee was able to pass important pieces of legislation including bills that would establish a comprehensive agriculture export plan and address nitrate contamination by making changes to the well compensation, producer-led watershed and county conservation grant programs," Ballweg said. "These two major industries are the heart of the 14th Senate District. I look forward to advancing Wisconsin’s long-held traditions and promoting the exciting opportunities our state has to offer."
Other Republican members of the Senate Ag Committee will include Cory Tomczyk, Mosinee (vice-chair); Howard Marklein, Spring Green; Patrick Testin, Stevens Point; and Romaine Quinn, Barron.
LeMahieu also chose Rob Cowles of Green Bay to chair the senate committee on Natural Resources & Energy; and Quinn will be the leader of the committee on Housing, Rural Issues & Forestry.
Meanwhile, Assembly Speaker Robin Voss has named Rep. Travis Tranel of Cuba City as the new chairperson of the Assembly Committee on Agriculture. Tranel is sixth-generation dairy farmer and has served on the ag committee since being elected to office in 2010.
"It's an honor to be appointed by the speaker to serve my fellow farmers as chair of this important committee," Tranel said. "Even though less than two percent of the U.S. population currently farms, 100 percent of the population eats so the future of ag is important for everyone."
The remainder of the committee consists of Loren Oldenburg, Viroqua (vice-chair); Karen Hurd, Fall Creek; Joel Kitchens, Sturgeon Bay; Clint Moses, Menomonie; Jeff Mursau, Crivitz; Todd Novak, Dodgeville; Ellen Schutt, Clinton; Peter Schmidt, Bonduel; and Nancy VanderMeer, Tomah.
Speaker Voss also named Oldenburg as chair of the Environment Committee; Rep. David Steffen, Ashwaubenon, was chosen as the leader of the Energy & Utilities Committee; and Rep. David Armstrong, Rice Lake, will chair of the Rural Development Committee.
The Democratic members of each of these committees will be announced soon. The next legislative session begins on January 3, 2023.
Categories: Wisconsin, Government & Policy