Senate leader gives no word on confirming Evers cabinet
After seven months, no one has been confimed
MADISON - A committee of the state Senate on Thursday unanimously recommended confirming Transportation Secretary Craig Thompson despite criticism from some Republicans.
But after the vote, the head of the state Senate gave no promises that his chamber would take up the confirmation of Thompson or anyone else in Democratic Gov. Tony Evers’ cabinet.
Seven months after Evers took office, no one in his cabinet has been confirmed.
His secretaries have full authority to run their agencies without Senate confirmation. But without confirmation, they have fewer protections. At any moment, senators could come into session and reject their confirmations, kicking them out of their jobs.
One of the secretaries who has drawn the most criticism from Republicans is Thompson, who previously led a trade group, the Transportation Development Association of Wisconsin.
In that role, Thompson promoted raising the gas tax to help pay for roads. Some Republicans viewed that effort as a campaign against the policies of Republican Gov. Scott Walker, who lost his re-election bid to Evers last year.
Despite the GOP criticisms, Thompson won approval 4-0 from the Senate Committee on Transportation, Veterans and Military Affairs.
“I believe that Craig is a class act and he will do a great job for the state of Wisconsin,” said Sen. Jerry Petrowski, a Marathon Republican and the chairman of the committee.
“I know that there are constantly in the world we live in a lot of sniping going on for some of the secretaries, but I do believe that Craig has been involved in transportation for a long time and I believe that he will get the job done not only for the governor but for all the citizens of the state.”
Joining Petrowski in supporting Thompson were Sens. Rob Cowles, RAllouez, Tim Carpenter, D-Milwaukee, and Dave Hansen, D-Green Bay. A fifth member of the committee — Sen. Howard Marklein, R-Spring Green — missed the vote.
The committee also recommended approving Veterans Affairs Secretary Mary Kolar.
Just after the vote, Sen. Steve Nass, R-Whitewater, urged senators not to support Thompson.
“Mr. Thompson has no stomach for enacting cost saving reforms within the Department of Transportation,” Nass said in a statement. “He supports unlimited increases in transportation fees and the Wisconsin gasoline tax. Any senator that votes in support of this appointment should be held accountable by the taxpayers.”
Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, didn’t say whether the Senate would take up the confirmations when it returns this fall.
“In the coming weeks we’ll meet as a caucus to see where members are at on confirming nominees,” Fitzgerald said in a statement.
He noted Petrowski was the one who had the power to call Thursday’s committee votes. But it is Fitzgerald and other legislative leaders who will decide whether to take up the confirmations on the floor of the Senate.