Frank G. Lasee
Member of the Wisconsin Senate
from the 1st district
In office
January 3, 2011 – December 29, 2017
Preceded byAlan Lasee
Succeeded byCaleb Frostman
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
from the 2nd district
In office
January 3, 1995 – January 5, 2009
Preceded byDale Bolle
Succeeded byTed Zigmunt
Personal details
Born (1961-12-11) December 11, 1961
Oceanside, California, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Height6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)[1]
SpouseAmy Joy Lasee
Alma materUniversity of Wisconsin–Green Bay
ProfessionSalesman, politician

Frank Lasee (born December 11, 1961) is an American politician and former Republican member of the Wisconsin State Senate. He represented the 1st Senate District from 2011 until 2017, succeeding his cousin, Alan Lasee. Lasee previously served in the Wisconsin State Assembly, representing the 2nd Assembly District from 1995 to 2009.

Early life, education, and early career

Born in Oceanside, California, to a Marine Corps officer stationed at Camp Pendleton on December 11, 1961, and subsequently raised in Green Bay and De Pere, Lasee graduated in 1986 from the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay with a major in history.[2][3][4] He is married and the father of six daughters.[5]

Prior to his election to the State Assembly in 1994, Lasee was the Ledgeview Town Board Chair from 1993 to 1997,[4] and was a telemarketing supervisor for an insurance company.[6]

Wisconsin legislature

Elections

2008

Lasee lost his bid for an eighth term representing the 2nd Assembly District to Democrat Ted Zigmunt on November 4, 2008.[7] Lasee blamed his defeat on the Wisconsin Education Association Council, the state's largest teachers' union, claiming they spent $250,000 on campaign ads.[8]

2010

Frank's older cousin, Alan Lasee, announced his retirement from the Wisconsin Legislature on January 11, 2010. Frank Lasee competed with Democrat Monk Elmer for his cousin's old seat in the 2010 campaign, ultimately prevailing by twenty percentage points.[9]

2014

In June 2014, the Democratic Party of Wisconsin filed a complaint with the Government Accountability Board alleging that Lasee was living outside of his district. The Party contended that while Lasee listed a town of Ledgeview address on his candidacy papers, he was actually living with his wife and children in Racine, which is outside of the 1st Senate District. The Government Accountability Board ultimately ruled to allow Lasee to stay on the ballot and leave the issue up to the voters.[10][11][12]

Frank Lasee was challenged by Democrat Dean DeBroux in the general election, and prevailed by over twenty percentage points.[13]

Tenure

Lasee was a member of the State Assembly who dissented on many issues, including state budgets.[14] He was called an advocate of taxpayers, limited spending and an opponent of tax increases.[15][16] He was elected seven times.[17]

Some of his most notable proposals are as follows.

Taxpayer Protection Act

A 2006 proposal was the "Taxpayer Protection Act". The TPA proposed to tie governments revenue to inflation, population, personal income growth etc.[18]

Taxpayers Bill of Rights

A Taxpayers Bill of Rights, also known as TABOR, was introduced by Frank Lasee and Jeffrey Wood in 2004 in Wisconsin. They stated "taxpayers in this state need protection".[19][20] TABOR includes five basic provisions:[21]

  1. Limit state and school spending growth to population growth plus inflation.
  2. Limit county and municipalities the same way.
  3. Any increase in income, sales, franchise, or property tax rates, would require the approval of voters.
  4. Any proposal by the state or local governments to borrow money would require the approval of voters.
  5. Establish an emergency fund and budget stabilization fund.
Consumer’s Choice in Auto Insurance Act

Lasee authored Senate Bill 7, the companion bill to Assembly Bill 4 was later passed the legislature. AB4 lowered the cost of insurance by eliminating the stacking clause.[22]

Committee assignments

Senate Standing Committees
  • Committee on Financial Institutions and Rural Issues
  • Committee on Insurance and Housing (Chair)
  • Committee on State and Federal Relations and Information Technology
  • Committee on Transportation and Elections
Joint Committees
  • Joint Survey Committee on Tax Exemptions (Co-Chair)
  • Joint Legislative Council
  • Governor's Commission on Waste, Fraud and Abuse[23]

2012 U.S. Senate election

In September 2011, he announced he would run for the U.S. Senate seat vacated by retiring Democratic U.S. Senator Herb Kohl.[24][25] On January 29, 2012, he announced his withdrawal from the U.S. Senate race.[26]

2016 U.S. House of Representatives election

On February 14, 2016, Lasee announced he would run for the U.S. House seat being vacated by retiring Rep. Reid Ribble.[27] He lost to eventual general election winner Mike Gallagher in the primary.[28][29]

On December 29, 2017, Lasee resigned from the Senate to become administrator of the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development's Worker's Compensation Division.[30]

Heartland Institute

In 2019, Lasee became president of The Heartland Institute, an American conservative and libertarian public policy think tank. He was removed in March 2020, with the organization facing financial issues.[31][32]

Electoral history

U.S. House, Wisconsin District 8 Republican Primary, 2016 [33]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mike Gallagher 40,322 74.48
Republican Frank Lasee 10,705 19.77
Republican Terry McNulty 3,109 5.74
Wisconsin State Senate 1st District election, 2014 [13]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Frank Lasee 47,438 61.59
Democratic Dean DeBroux 29,555 38.37
Republican hold
Wisconsin State Senate 1st District election, 2010 [9]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Frank Lasee 43,415 60.04
Democratic Monk Elmer 28,800 39.83
Republican hold
Wisconsin State Assembly 2nd District election, 2008 [7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Ted Zigmunt 16,008 52.12
Republican Frank Lasee (incumbent) 14,687 47.82
Democratic gain from Republican
Wisconsin State Assembly 2nd District election, 2006 [34]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Frank Lasee (incumbent) 15,347 89.30
Independent Write-in 1,839 10.70
Republican hold
Wisconsin State Assembly 2nd District election, 2004 [35]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Frank Lasee (incumbent) 21,848 99.36
Independent Write-in 141 0.64
Republican hold
Wisconsin State Assembly 2nd District election, 2002 [36]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Frank Lasee (incumbent) 10,920 62.53
Democratic Dan Katers 6,524 37.36
Republican hold

References

  1. ↑ Blaska, David (2011-10-10). Blaska blogs U.S. Senate candidate Frank Lasee, a district of charter schools, and Steve Jobs. Isthumus, 10 October 2011. Retrieved on 2018-09-11 from https://isthmus.com/archive/blaskas-blog/blaska-blogs-us-senate-candidate-frank-lasee-a-district-of-charter-schools-and-steve-jobs/.
  2. ↑ "Alumni: UW-Green Bay alums doing a capitol job," Inside, University of Wisconsin-Green Bay feature and news magazine, November 2005.
  3. ↑ "Frank Lasee Biography" at Wisconsin State Legislature web site
  4. 1 2 at Wisconsin Historical Society
  5. ↑ "District Information - Wisconsin State Legislature". Legis.wisconsin.gov. 1961-12-11. Retrieved 2013-01-20.
  6. ↑ Assembly members, part 1 in 2003-2004 Legislative Directory at Madison.com
  7. 1 2 "2008 General Election - State Assembly - County-by-County Canvass". Wisconsin State Elections Board. Archived from the original on May 22, 2013. Retrieved March 22, 2013.
  8. ↑ "Lasee denounces teachers union after loss". Green Bay Press-Gazette. November 5, 2008. Retrieved March 22, 2013.
  9. 1 2 "2010 General Election - State Senate - County-by-County Canvass" (PDF). Wisconsin Government Accountability Board. Retrieved March 22, 2013.
  10. ↑ Journal Sentinel Staff (June 6, 2014). "Democrats contend Frank Lasee doesn't live in his district". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
  11. ↑ Associated Press (June 7, 2014). "Democrats say GOP senator lives outside district". Sheboygan Press. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
  12. ↑ Beckett, Andrew (June 10, 2014). "GAB rules on ballot challenges". Wisconsin Radio Network. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
  13. 1 2 "Statewide Summary Election Results for All Offices 11-14-2014" (PDF). Wisconsin Government Accountability Board. Retrieved 2016-02-13.
  14. ↑ "Frank Lasee to vote not" Herald Times Reporter, October 22, 2007.
  15. ↑ Lasee proposes another version of TPA Archived 2007-10-05 at the Wayback Machine by Bob Hague, Wisconsin Radio Network, April 26, 2006
  16. ↑ "'Hold the line' on budget, lawmakers told" Herald Times Reporter, October 18, 2007
  17. ↑ Rep. Frank Lasee talks about his political choices by Warren Bluhm, Green Bay Press Gazette, October 14, 2007.
  18. ↑ Taxpayer Protection Act Archived 2007-11-29 at the Wayback Machine presentation, April 11, 2006 with Frank Lasee and Jim Perry
  19. ↑ Regents, Assembly speaker discuss implications of "Taxpayer Bill of Rights" Archived 2008-10-12 at the Wayback Machine UW #System News, March 4, 2004
  20. ↑ The University of Wisconsin System Legislative Update April 23, 2004
  21. ↑ Wisconsin Needs a Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights by Frank Lasee, Budget & Tax News, The Heartland Institute, February 1, 2004
  22. ↑ "Wisconsin's new auto insurance law eases coverage levels - NewsoftheNorth.Net, Northwoods News". Archived from the original on 2011-08-23. Retrieved 2011-04-14.
  23. ↑ "District Information - Wisconsin State Legislature". Legis.wisconsin.gov. Retrieved 2013-01-20.
  24. ↑ "Lasee says he's 'quite likely' to run for Senate". Fox11online.com. 2011-09-01. Archived from the original on 2013-01-23. Retrieved 2013-01-20.
  25. ↑ Walker, Don. "Frank Lasee plans to run for U.S. Senate". JSOnline. Retrieved 2013-01-20.
  26. ↑ "Lasee ends US Senate campaign". Wrn.com. 2012-01-30. Retrieved 2013-01-20.
  27. ↑ "State Sen. Frank Lasee will run for Congress". wbay.com. February 14, 2016. Archived from the original on February 15, 2016. Retrieved 2016-02-14.
  28. ↑ "Mike Gallagher Wins GOP Primary In Wisconsin's 8th Congressional District". Wisconsin Public Radio. 9 August 2016. Retrieved 2017-01-30.
  29. ↑ "Mike Gallagher wins 8th Congressional District". Press Gazette Media. Retrieved 2017-01-30.
  30. ↑ "GOP lawmakers Frank Lasee and Keith Ripp resign to take jobs in Gov. Scott Walker's administration". Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. Associated Press. December 29, 2017. Retrieved 2018-01-04.
  31. ↑ Kaufman, Alexander C. (March 7, 2020). "Pro-Trump Climate Denial Group Lays Off Staff Amid Financial Woes, Ex-Employees Say". HuffPost. Retrieved 2020-03-11.
  32. ↑ Waldman, Scott (March 17, 2020). "Prominent U.S. Climate Denial Group Fires President Amid Financial Crisis". Science. Retrieved 2020-12-06.
  33. ↑ "G.A.B. Canvass Reporting System, County by County Report, 2016 Partisan Primary" (PDF). Wisconsin Government Accountability Board. 2016-08-23. Retrieved 2018-09-11.
  34. ↑ "2006 General Election - State Assembly - County-by-County Canvass". Wisconsin State Elections Board. Archived from the original on May 22, 2013. Retrieved March 22, 2013.
  35. ↑ "2004 General Election - State Assembly - County-by-County Canvass". Wisconsin State Elections Board. Archived from the original on May 22, 2013. Retrieved March 22, 2013.
  36. ↑ "2002 General Election - State Assembly - County-by-County Canvass". Wisconsin State Elections Board. Archived from the original on May 22, 2013. Retrieved March 22, 2013.
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