Mark Miller (Wisconsin)
- ️Tue Nov 08 2016
Mark Miller
Prior offices
Wisconsin State Assembly
Wisconsin State Senate District 16
Education
Contact
Mark Miller (Democratic Party) was a member of the Wisconsin State Senate, representing District 16. He assumed office in 2005. He left office on January 4, 2021.
Miller (Democratic Party) ran for re-election to the Wisconsin State Senate to represent District 16. He won in the general election on November 8, 2016.
Miller served as Senate majority leader from July 17, 2012, to 2013, and previously as Senate minority leader.[1]
Miller served in the Wisconsin State Assembly from 1998 to 2004.
Biography
Miller earned his B.S. from University of Wisconsin-Madison and graduated from Bowhay Institute for Legislative Leadership Development (BUILLD) and graduated from Flemming Fellows Leadership Institute.
Miller's professional experience includes lieutenant colonel in the Wisconsin Air National Guard, an officer and manager of Flagship, Incorporated, and a real estate property manager.
From 1996 to 2000, Miller was also on the Board of Supervisors of Dane County for District 24.[2]
Committee assignments
2019-2020
Miller was assigned to the following committees:
- Natural Resources and Energy Committee
- Local Government, Small Business, Tourism and Workforce Development Committee
- Joint Legislative Council Committee
- Elections, Ethics and Rural Issues Committee
2017 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:
| Wisconsin committee assignments, 2017 |
|---|
| • Agriculture, Small Business, and Tourism |
| • Elections and Utilities |
| • Natural Resources and Energy |
| • Joint Legislative Audit |
| • Joint Legislative Council |
2015 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Miller served on the following committees:
| Wisconsin committee assignments, 2015 |
|---|
| • Natural Resources and Energy |
| • Elections and Local Government |
| • Review of Administrative Rules |
| • Joint Legislative Council |
2013-2014
At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Miller served on the following committees:
| Wisconsin committee assignments, 2013 |
|---|
| • Elections and Urban Affairs |
| • Energy, Consumer Protection, and Government Reform |
| • Natural Resources |
| • Joint Legislative Council |
2011-2012
In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Miller served on the following committees:
| Wisconsin committee assignments, 2011 |
|---|
| • Employment Relations |
| • Joint Legislative Council |
| • Legislative Organization |
| • Senate Organization |
2009-2010
In the 2009-2010 legislative session, Miller served on the following committees:
| Wisconsin committee assignments, 2009 |
|---|
| • Environment, Chair |
| • Finance, Chair |
| • Audit |
| • Joint Finance, Co-Chair |
| • Audit |
| • Employment Relations |
| • Joint Legislative Council |
Issues
Legislative walkout
Miller 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.[3] The Democratic departure left the Senate one vote shy of a quorum. Reports confirmed the senators fled to a hotel in Rockford, Illinois.[4] State police were dispatched by Governor Scott Walker (R) to retrieve the senators, but were unable to cross state lines.[5] The 14 state senators who left the state were described as the "Badger 14" or "Fab 14."[6]
On February 22, speaking from the basement of an Illinois hotel, Senate Minority Leader 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.[7]
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."[8]
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 unanimously passed a 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."[9]
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."[10]
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."[9]
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.[11] 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. Eventually, Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald mailed the check to Erpenbach.[12]
Meeting/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.[13] 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.[14]
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."[15]
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.[16]
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.[17]
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."[17]
Recall campaigns
In the wake of events surrounding the bill, both Democratic and Republican senators were targeted by active recall campaigns in 2011. 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.
Open records lawsuit
As Senate Minority Leader, Miller approved Senator Jon Erpenbach's use of private law firm Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek instead the Wisconsin Department of Justice for his taxpayer-funded legal defense against a lawsuit from the John K. MacIver Institute, a conservative Wisconsin think tank. On February 9, 2012, The MacIver Institute sued to force Erpenbach to release unredacted copies of all correspondence he had received related to Act 10 (the changes to public employee bargaining laws passed in 2011) from January 1 to March 23, 2011, after Erpenbach had responded to the Institute's initial March 24, 2011, Open Records Law request by releasing thousands of pieces of correspondence with their senders' names and other personal information removed. The MacIver Institute wanted to examine these records to determine whether any state employees violated government policies by sending communications from their government email accounts or on state time. Defending his use of a private law firm, Erpenbach cited disagreements about the case with Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen (R) and claimed that Van Hollen only upholds laws he agrees with, a claim disputed by a DOJ spokesperson. From March through October 31, 2012, the Wisconsin State Senate paid Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek $57,272, in addition to $2,194 paid to University of Wisconsin-Madison professor David Canon for research related to the case. The Senate may also be required to pay the legal expenses of the MacIver Institute if Erpenbach loses. On February 5, 2013, Grant County Circuit Judge Robert Van De Hey ruled that he would examine unredacted copies of the emails to decide if the MacIver Institute should be given access to them.[18][19]
Elections
2020
- See also: Wisconsin State Senate elections, 2020
Mark Miller 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 Mark Miller ran unopposed in the Wisconsin State Senate District 16 general election.[21][22]
| Wisconsin State Senate, District 16 General Election, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic |  Mark Miller Incumbent (unopposed) |
100.00% | 77,047 | |
| Total Votes | 77,047 | |||
| Source: Wisconsin Elections Commission |
Incumbent Mark Miller ran unopposed in the Wisconsin State Senate District 16 Democratic primary.[23][24]
| Wisconsin State Senate, District 16 Democratic Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Democratic | Mark Miller Incumbent (unopposed) |
2012
- See also: Wisconsin State Senate elections, 2012
Miller won re-election in the 2012 election for the Wisconsin State Senate, District 16 seat. He ran unopposed in the primary election and the general election which was November 6, 2012.[25]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Mark Miller Incumbent |
98.7% | 72,298 | |
| - | Scattering | 1.3% | 933 | |
| Total Votes | 73,231 |
2011 recall
A local group organized to mount a recall campaign against Miller, but did not meet the required signature threshold when the group declined to merge their signatures with a Utah-based group whose integrity they questioned.[26][27][28]
2008
On November 4, 2008, Mark Miller won re-election to the Wisconsin State Senate, District 16. He ran unopposed.[29]
Mark Miller raised $67,735 for his campaign.[30]
| Wisconsin State Senate, District 16 (2008) | |
|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes |
| Mark Miller (D)
|
73,672 |
Campaign themes
2012
Miller's website highlighted the following campaign themes:
- Health care reform
- He wants to make health care affordable and accessible. He also wants it to be a requirement for Wisconsin residents.
- Environmental conservation
- His environmental goals include preventing contaminated drinking water, reducing runoff into Wisconsin rivers and lakes, and making Wisconsin more self-sufficient and less dependent on imported energy.
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.
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.
Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Miller and his wife, Jo, have three children; Chandra, Keiko, and Sterling.[2]
Noteworthy events
Cullen leaves Democratic Caucus
On July 24, 2012, one week after Democrats gained the majority in the state Senate and Miller became Majority Leader, Tim Cullen quit the Democratic caucus because Miller did not give him chairmanship on a committee with clout. Cullen, who Miller had offered chair of the Committee on Small Business Development and Tourism called it "an insult to my district" and said he might leave the party altogether to become an independent.[31]
In a statement, Miller said, “I am disappointed in Senator Cullen and the decision he made today. Senator Cullen turned down the chairmanship of the Committee on Small Business Development and Tourism. He told me that if that was the committee offered to him, he would rather chair no committee at all. It was an important committee as small business is the economic engine for Wisconsin.”[32]
Three days later Cullen rejoined the caucus, receiving the chairmanship of two new committees and a leadership position on two others. Miller said he could have handled the situation better but welcomed Cullen back to the caucus.[33]
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 "Mark + Miller + 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 Radio Network, "Senate leadership transferred to Democrats," July 17, 2012
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 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 5, 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
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 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
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 Wisconsin State Journal, "Front pages from historic Scott Walker protests," February 11, 2016
- ↑ Mary Spicuzza, Wisconsin State Journal, "Taxpayers foot bill for Erpenbach's legal costs in open records case," February 5, 2013
- ↑ Patrick Marley, Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, February 5, 2013
- ↑ WKOW, "Rep. Sargent announces run for state Senate," January 22, 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
- ↑ Wisconsin Government Accountability Board, "Candidate Tracking by Office," accessed June 20, 2016
- ↑ Wisconsin Elections and Ethics Commissions, "2016 Partisan Primary," accessed September 16, 2016
- ↑ Wisconsin Government Accountability Board, "2012 Candidate List," accessed May 5, 2014 (dead link)
- ↑ "Recall Mark Miller" website
- ↑ AOL News, "Wisconsin Election Recall Reality Check," February 23, 2011
- ↑ Wisconsin State Journal, "Merged signatures plan dropped, so recall effort against Sen. Miller ends," April 29, 2011
- ↑ Government Accountability Board, "Wisconsin State Election Results," accessed May 5, 2014
- ↑ Follow the Money, "2008 contributions," accessed May 5, 2014
- ↑ Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Cullen quits Senate Democratic caucus," July 24, 2012
- ↑ NBC 15, "Sen. Cullen Leaves Democratic Caucus," July 24, 2012
- ↑ Wisconsin State Journal, "Cullen rejoins Democratic caucus after getting committee chairmanships," July 27, 2012
- ↑ 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 16 2004–2021 |
Succeeded by Melissa Sargent (D) |
Leadership
Senate President:Mary Felzkowski
Majority Leader:Devin LeMahieu
Minority Leader:Dianne Hesselbein
Senators
Republican Party (18)
Democratic Party (15)
