Glenn Grothman

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Glenn Grothman
Grothman in July 2010
Member of the Wisconsin Senate
from the 20th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
2005
Preceded by Mary Panzer
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
from the 58th district
In office
December 1993 – 2005
Personal details
Born (1955-07-03) July 3, 1955
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Political party Republican
Residence West Bend, Wisconsin
Profession Attorney

Glenn Grothman (born July 3, 1955) is the Republican Assistant Majority Leader of the Wisconsin Senate, representing the 20th District in southeastern Wisconsin since 2005. The district includes the city of West Bend, other parts of Washington County, and parts of Fond du Lac, Dodge, Sheboygan, and Ozaukee counties. Previously, Grothman served in the Wisconsin State Assembly, representing the 58th Assembly District from 1993 until 2005, and serving as the vice chair of the Assembly's Republican caucus from 1999 to 2004.

Early life and education

Grothman graduated from Homestead High School in Mequon, and attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison for his undergraduate degree.[1] In 1983, he received his law degree from the University of Wisconsin Law School.

Wisconsin legislature

Grothman was elected to the 58th Assembly District in a special election held in December 1993. From 1999 to 2004, he was the Assembly Majority Caucus Vice Chairperson. Grothman was elected to the Senate unopposed in 2004.[2] From 2007 to 2008, he was the Senate Minority Caucus Chairperson. From 2009 to 2010 he was the Senate Assistant Minority Leader, becoming the Senate Assistant Majority Leader in 2011.[1] Grothman is a member of the American Legislative Exchange Council.

As of 2009, Grothman was the only Republican Wisconsin Senator with a law degree.[3]

Political positions

Concealed carry

An advocate of Second Amendment rights, Grothman is a long-time supporter of concealed carry legislation, but does not advocate allowing concealed weapons in taverns. He believes concealed carry laws would deter criminal behavior, with permits being awarded to law-abiding citizens who pass a gun safety course.[4]

Equal pay

Speaking in support of Governor Scott Walker's decision to repeal the Wisconsin Equal Pay Act, Grothman stated that he believes that money is more important to men than to women, and women do not therefore need as much. [5]

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Grothman has argued that Martin Luther King, Jr. Day should not be a work holiday, calling the day off "an insult to all the other taxpayers around the state". He has expressed doubts that "state workers would be 'checking out DVDs or reading books' about King and would probably just be out shopping or watching television instead."[6] He released a statement opposing a Kwanzaa holiday, stating that we should "treat Kwanzaa with the contempt it deserves before it becomes a permanent part of our culture."[7]

Municipal water safety

He is a co-sponsor of Senate Bill 19 (2011), which removes the requirement of mandatory disinfection of groundwater in municipal water systems, a requirement that was imposed in reaction to a Cryptosporidium outbreak in 1993, which killed at least 104 citizens of Milwaukee, and sickened thousands of others.[8][9]

Sex education

He opposed a provision in a 2010 sex education law that prohibited teachers from promoting bias based on sexual orientation, saying that he did not believe the topic should be discussed at all in the public schools. According to the Capitol Times, Grothman's opposition was based on "the belief that instructors who lead these talks would have what he called an "agenda" to persuade students to become gay."[10] Grothman believes the kindergarten program for 4-year-olds should be defunded by Governor Scott Walker because any academic benefits disappear by the fourth grade, and the program is used by school districts to pad their budgets to get more state aid.[11]

Smoking

Grothman opposed a bill that would increase funding for anti-smoking programs from $10 to $30 million. He believes that anti-smoking campaigns do not work, and are no longer necessary, writing "Everybody knows you're not supposed to smoke!."[12] He also voted against the ban on smoking in bars, restaurants and other small business that became effective in July 2010.[13] After the bill was passed, he introduced new legislation to allow guests to smoke in hotel rooms.

Women and single parents

In February 2012, Grothman introduced Senate Bill 507, which would amend Wisconsin statutes to emphasize single parenthood as a contributing factor to child abuse and neglect.[14] He also sponsored State Bill 202, which would have repealed the Equal Pay Enforcement Act, saying that the "Left and the social welfare establishment want children born out of wedlock because they are far more likely to be dependent on the government."[15]

2011 Wisconsin budget protests

Grothman has been a vocal proponent of SB11, a controversial bill proposed by Governor Scott Walker in early 2011. He has said he supports the so called budget repair bill because it is fiscally responsible. In a recent press interview, he said that he did not "find it impressive" that over 70,000 protesters marched on the capitol.[16]

During the protests, Grothman was cornered by almost 200 pro-union protesters yelling "Shame! Shame!" outside the state capitol building. Grothman said he was not concerned about violence at the time, adding that, "They're loud, they'll give you the finger, and they yell at you, but I really think deep down inside they're just mostly college kids having fun, just like they're having fun sleeping with their girlfriends on air mattresses. That's the guts of that crowd." He also described the protesters as "a different breed of person" and "a bunch of slobs taking up the building."[17][18]

During this time, Grothman also advocated the hiring of more business-friendly individuals to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. In doing so, he went out of his way to single out one of the University of Wisconsin campuses as a target: "Maybe you (should) look to hire those people who know what the real world is like, rather than a recent graduate from UW-Stevens Point who doesn't know what the real world is like." This was only days before appearing at UW—Stevens Point with the Joint Finance Committee for a day of hearings on Scott Walker's budget bill.[19]

Grothman was subject to a recall effort in the spring of 2011, but the effort failed, collecting only 75% of the required signatures.[20]

Awards and recognition

  • Pro Life Wisconsin, Legislator of the Year, 2010, 1995
  • Wisconsin Right to Life, Pro-Life Hero Award, 1996
  • Wisconsin Right to Life, Sanctity of Life Award 2004
  • Wisconsin Guild of Midwives, Legislator of the Year 2006
  • Milwaukee County Republican Party Assembly, Tax Cutter of the Year, 2002
  • Eagle Forum, Leadership Award 2007
  • Independent Business Association, Legislator of the Year 2000
  • National Federation of Independent Businesses, Guardian of Small Business Award 1999-2000, 2005–06
  • Wisconsin Builders Association, Friend of Housing Award 2001-07
  • Wisconsin Builders Association, Legislator of the Year 2005
  • Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce, Working for Wisconsin Award 1998-2006
  • Wisconsin Grocers Association, Friend of Grocers Award 1997-2004;
  • Wisconsin Farm Bureau, Friend of Agriculture Award 1995-2007
  • Wisconsin Dairy Business Association, Milk Bottle Award 2006, 2004
  • Wisconsin Counties Association, Outstanding Legislator Award 1997-98
  • Wisconsin Bear Hunters Association, Hero Award 2010[1]

Personal life

Grothman has never been married and has no children.[15]

Electoral history

Wisconsin State Senate District 20 Election 2004[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Glenn Grothman 75,424 99.15%
Scattering 649 .85%
Wisconsin State Senate District 20 Election 2008[21]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Glenn Grothman 69,942 80.26%
Independent Clyde Winter 17,113 19.64%
Scattering 91 .10%

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Glenn Grothman, Bio". Wisconsin State Legislature. Retrieved March 3, 2011. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Fall General Election – 11/02/2004; State Senate, District No. 20" (PDF). Wisconsin State Elections Board. December 1, 2004. Retrieved April 19, 2011. 
  3. ↑ "Lawyer-Legislator Q&A: Senator Glenn Grothman (Senate District 20)". State Bar of Wisconsin: Rotunda Report. 2009-11-11. Retrieved 2010-04-28. 
  4. ↑ Grothman, Glenn. "A Good Idea". grothman.org. 
  5. ↑ Waldron, Travis. "Wisconsin State Senator Says Women Are Paid Less Because ‘Money Is More Important For Men’". The Daily Beast. Retrieved 9 April 2012. 
  6. ↑ Mary Spicuzza (2011-01-18). "State senator says public employees should work on MLK Day". The Wisconsin State Journal. Retrieved 2011-03-03. 
  7. ↑ Representative Glenn Grothman. "What is Kwanzaa?". Retrieved 2011-03-04. 
  8. ↑ "Wisconsin Legislature Data". Wisconsin Legislature website. Retrieved 2011-03-03. 
  9. ↑ "2011-2012 Wisconsin Legislature Senate Bill 19". State of Wisconsin. Retrieved 9 April 2012. 
  10. ↑ Shawn Doherty (2010-02-11). "Vital Signs: Grothman suggests "don't ask don't tell" for state schools". The Capital Times. Retrieved 2010-04-28. 
  11. ↑ "Wisconsin state Sen. Glenn Grothman says recent research shows that the benefits of 4-year-old kindergarten don’t last (False)". PolitiFact Wisconsin (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel). 2011-01-16. Retrieved 2011-03-03. 
  12. ↑ Jackie Johnson (2007-09-06). "Grothman: More funding for anti-smoking efforts is absurd". Wisconsin Radio Network. Retrieved 2011-03-03. 
  13. ↑ "Assembly, Senate pass indoor smoking ban". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. 2009-05-13. Retrieved 2011-03-03. 
  14. ↑ "SB507: Bill Text". Wisconsin Legislature. Retrieved March 6, 2012. 
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Alphonse, Lylah M. (March 2, 2012). "Wisconsin Bill Claims Single Moms Cause Child Abuse by Not Being Married". Yahoo! Shine. 
  16. ↑ "State Senate Stalemate Continues Sen. Grothman: Protests Not Impressive -". Channel 3000 WISC Madison (WISC Madison). 2011-02-21. Retrieved 2011-03-03. 
  17. ↑ Condon, Stephanie (2011-03-02). "GOP Wisconsin lawmaker chased down by protesters". Political Hotsheet (CBS News). Retrieved 2011-03-03. 
  18. ↑ "Protesters Confront Wisconsin State Senator". MSNBC Video, The Last Word. 2011-03-02. Retrieved 2011-03-14. 
  19. ↑ "Grothman urges DNR to hire older workers" JSOnline - All Politics Blog: 2011-04-04. Retrieved 2011-04-11.
  20. ↑ "Aggressive effort to recall Grothman falls short," by Bill Schanen IV, Ozaukee Press, 4 May 2011
  21. ↑ "Fall General Election – 11/04/2008; State Senate, District No. 20" (PDF). Wisconsin State Elections Board. November 24, 2008. Retrieved April 19, 2011. 

External links

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Wisconsin State Senate
Preceded by
Mary Panzer		 Wisconsin State Senator - 20th Senate District
2004 – Present 		Succeeded by
Incumbent
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