What's next, now that GOP has control of state senate?
By: Heather Sawaski
Updated: November 7, 2012
Green Bay, Wis.(WFRV)--Gains made by the Democrats in the Wisconsin state senate during last summer's recall elections are now gone. Republicans took one open seat and four GOP incumbents beat out their challengers, and if the projected results in district 18 stand, that would bring an 18-15 Republican majority for at least the next two years.
State Senator Rob Cowles represents Wisconsin's second district. After surviving a recall election last July, the Republican ran unopposed in Tuesday's election. He's hoping his party's new majority means the governor's next state budget will pass with ease.
Senator Cowles, "Namely, we would not be accelerating the structural deficit that would be under control, we would not be raising taxes, making decisions within the available resources on an ongoing basis."
The GOP majority means Republicans can pass legislation without a single vote from the Democrats.
St. Norbert College Political Science professor Charley Jacobs believes Senate Republicans will continue to follow lock- step with Governor Walker.
Says Jacobs, "He sort of led them down a favorable path in the sense that the policies that are important to the Republicans were the ones that earned the signature of the governor. So I think what we're going to see is the Governor try to see his full agenda in place. He made lots of promises in 2010 when he ran for governor and in order to win the trust of the voters in the next election, I think he's going to have to meet those promises."
Senator Cowles still sees both parties trying to work together.
Says Senator Cowles, "Just because we're at 18 seats, does that mean there's no bipartisanship? No, I could see bi-partisanship coming on the mining issue - I could see bi-partisanship on workforce development."
In a statement, Governor Walker says he looks forward to working with both parties to grow the economy and create jobs.
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