State of Wisconsin Archives: on Families & Children
Bill Lee:
My faith informs my view of marriage
Marriage is between a man and a woman. My faith informs my view of marriage. And as a conservative, I know that outside of the democratic process the
Supreme Court imposed a new interpretation of the Constitution that was contrary to all historical evidence and understanding of the institution of marriage.
Source: 2018 Wisconsin governor campaign website BillLee.org
Jul 2, 2018
Jim Doyle:
Allow contraceptives to be discussed in sex ed. classes
Legislative Summary: AB458: This bill provides that a school board may offer an instructional program in human growth and development. The bill requires that the program address [among other things] the health benefits, side effects, and
proper use of contraceptives and barrier methods approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections.The Madison Isthmus analysis: The bill is opposed by Wisconsin Right to Life
and Wisconsin Family Action. In a memo to legislators, Wisconsin Right to Life legislative director Susan Armacost states: "AB-458 would require that students be taught about a number of activities that could endanger their health and could result in a
growing number of teen sexually transmitted diseases, pregnancies and abortions."
Legislative Outcome:Passed Assembly 51-45-3 on Jan/28/10; Passed Senate 18-15-0 on Jan/28/10; Signed by Governor Jim Doyle on Feb/24/10
Source: The Madison Isthmus on Wisconsin AB458 voting records
Feb 24, 2010
Kathleen Vinehout:
Fan of Family Care programs defeating privatization
The frail elderly and disabled, and their families, learned the governor sought to privatize the successful Family Care and IRIS programs, handing them over to a few large insurance companies. More than 200 statewide and local organizations jointly
passed a resolution against the governor's plan. The unconscionable actions by the governor and his legislative allies caused chaos in so many lives. However, a fighting spirit brought about the death of their very ill-conceived idea.
Source: The Cap Times on 2018 Wisconsin Gubernatorial race
Jun 17, 2016
Leah Vukmir:
Only recognize marriages between 1 man & 1 woman
Q: Support gay marriage?Tammy Baldwin (D): Yes. Supreme Court decision was "a victory for freedom, fairness & equality."
Leah Vukmir (R): No. Defended WI law only recognizing marriages between 1 man & 1 woman.
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org: Wisconsin legislative voting records
Oct 9, 2018
Leah Vukmir:
Don't allow contraception to be discussed in sex ed. classes
Legislative Summary: AB458: This bill provides that a school board may offer an instructional program in human growth and development. The bill requires that the program address [among other things] the health benefits, side effects, and
proper use of contraceptives and barrier methods approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections.The Madison Isthmus analysis: The bill is opposed by Wisconsin Right to Life
and Wisconsin Family Action. In a memo to legislators, Wisconsin Right to Life legislative director Susan Armacost states: "AB-458 would require that students be taught about a number of activities that could endanger their health and could result in a
growing number of teen sexually transmitted diseases, pregnancies and abortions."
Legislative Outcome:Passed Assembly 51-45-3 on Jan/28/10; State Rep. Leah Vukmir voted NO; Passed Senate 18-15-0 on Jan/28/10; Signed by Governor Jim Doyle
Source: The Madison Isthmus on Wisconsin AB458 voting records
Jan 28, 2010
Mark Neumann:
Traditional family is most important thing for USA now
Eric Hovde has spent his career in the private sector, making his money in real estate. Among others, he touched on social issues, like single parenthood. "We know that leads to higher poverty rates, higher incarceration rates," said Hovde.
Meanwhile, Neumann took it a step further, arguing the traditional family is the most important thing concerning the country right now.
Source: WTMJ & Journal-Sentinel on 2012 Wisconsin Senate debate
Apr 11, 2012
Rebecca Kleefisch:
A new tax reduction benefit for child care expenses
- Double the state child and dependent care tax credit.
- Create a new tax reduction benefit for child care expenses up to $10,500.
-
End gender-based taxes.
- Block any raise in the state gas tax. Evers proposed increasing the gas tax by 36% and raising it by inflation every year thereafter.
Source: 2022 Wisconsin Gov. campaign website RebeccaForGovernor.com
Apr 3, 2022
Sarah Godlewski:
Make the child tax credit permanent
Let's lock in the 2017 middle-class tax cuts, make the child tax credit permanent, pass a new tax cut for the 99%, and help more than 300,000 Wisconsinites
(about 20% of whom are people of color) by cementing the Earned Income Tax Credit expansion.
Source: The Cap Times on 2022 Wisconsin Senate race
Jul 19, 2021
Scott Fitzgerald:
Don't allow contraception to be discussed in sex ed. classes
Legislative Summary: AB458: This bill provides that a school board may offer an instructional program in human growth and development. The bill requires that the program address [among other things] the health benefits, side effects, and
proper use of contraceptives and barrier methods approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections.The Madison Isthmus analysis: The bill is opposed by Wisconsin Right to Life
and Wisconsin Family Action. In a memo to legislators, Wisconsin Right to Life legislative director Susan Armacost states: "AB-458 would require that students be taught about a number of activities that could endanger their health and could result in a
growing number of teen sexually transmitted diseases, pregnancies and abortions."
Legislative Outcome:Passed Assembly 51-45-3 on Jan/28/10; Passed Senate 18-15-0 on Jan/28/10; State Sen. Scott Fitzgerald voted NO; Signed by Governor Jim D
Source: The Madison Isthmus on Wisconsin AB458 voting records
Jan 28, 2010
Tammy Baldwin:
Treatment foster care helps kids stay out of institutions
Therapeutic, or treatment, foster care (TFC) is an alternative form of care for some of our most vulnerable youth. The TFC model works to keep particularly vulnerable youth out of costly and often ineffective institutional care. Through TFC, foster
parents are given special training to address the needs of youth with major mental and/or physical health challenges. Also through this program, children are given access to intensive in-home services to better sustain them in the community.
Source: 2022 Wisconsin Senate campaign website baldwin.senate.gov
Feb 21, 2014
Tom Nelson:
Allow contraceptives to be discussed in sex ed. classes
Legislative Summary: AB458: This bill provides that a school board may offer an instructional program in human growth and development. The bill requires that the program address [among other things] the health benefits, side effects, and
proper use of contraceptives and barrier methods approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections.The Madison Isthmus analysis: The bill is opposed by Wisconsin Right to Life
and Wisconsin Family Action. In a memo to legislators, Wisconsin Right to Life legislative director Susan Armacost states: "AB-458 would require that students be taught about a number of activities that could endanger their health and could result in a
growing number of teen sexually transmitted diseases, pregnancies and abortions."
Legislative Outcome:Passed Assembly 51-45-3 on Jan/28/10; State Rep. Tom Nelson voted YES; Passed Senate 18-15-0 on Jan/28/10; Signed by Governor Jim Doyle
Source: The Madison Isthmus on Wisconsin AB458 voting records
Jan 28, 2010
Tony Evers:
All Wisconsinites should be able to marry who they love
Q: Support gay marriage?Tony Evers (D): Yes. Believes that "all Wisconsinites should be able to marry who they love--plain & simple."
Scott Walker (R): No. Called Supreme Court legalizing same-sex marriage a "grave mistake" & talked of constitutional amendment against it.
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Wisconsin Governor race
Oct 9, 2018
Tony Evers:
$130 million tax relief through child/caregiver tax credits
Having access to quality, affordable childcare and caregiving continue to be a barrier for folks who want to join our workforce. We'd invest more than $130 million into providing tax relief through child and caregiver tax credits.
Our tax credit for childcare would provide tax relief to an estimated 107,000 Wisconsinites who'd receive about $274 per filer, and through our caregiver tax credit, most caregivers will receive up to $500.
Source: 2022 State of the State Address to the Wisconsin legislature
Feb 15, 2022
Tony Evers:
54% of Wisconsinites today live in a child care desert
54% of Wisconsinites today live in a child care desert--where there are few to no high-quality options for child care in their neighborhood or community. The first thing I'm going to do is deliver on my promise to expand the Child and Dependent
Care Credit, which will provide nearly $30 million in tax relief to more than 100,000 Wisconsinites. We'll also be investing more than $22 million into the Partner Up! program to expand partnerships between employers and child care providers.
Source: 2023 State of the State Address to the Wisconsin legislature
Jan 24, 2023
Tony Evers:
Paid leave is the right thing to do for kids and families
Wisconsin, we also need to expand paid family leave. I've proposed investing $240 million to jumpstart a program that would provide most private-sector workers 12 weeks of paid leave. Republicans rejected my proposal.
Twice. Paid leave is the right thing to do for kids and families, and it's also what we need to do to compete for and keep talented workers.
Source: 2024 State of the State Address to the Wisconsin legislature
Jan 23, 2024
Eric Hovde:
Restrictions on gender-affirming treatments for minors
LGBTQ Rights: Limit or expand LGBTQ rights?Eric Hovde (R): Limit. Supports restrictions on gender-affirming treatments for minors and believes "men shouldn't be playing [in] girls sports--period."
Tammy Baldwin
(D): Expand. Sponsored the Equality Act, banning discrimination against LGBTQ people: "It is wrong that LGBTQ+ people can be denied an apartment, cut from a job, or face other forms of discrimination." Protect same-sex and interracial marriages.
Source: Guides.vote candidate survey on 2024 Wisconsin Senate race
Sep 9, 2024
Tony Evers:
Make sure every kid has a healthy breakfast and lunch
Kids in class should be focused on learning, not wondering when or whether they'll eat next. Our kids should never go hungry, period, but especially not at school. In the Year of the Kid, the budget I will introduce next month will again
include my "Healthy Meals, Healthy Kids" initiative. Let's end school meal debt and make sure every kid has a healthy breakfast and lunch at school with no stigma and at no cost.
Wisconsin's child care crisis affects not only our kids, families, and child care providers but our state's employers, workforce, and economy, too. Our state budget will--once again--include sustainable, ongoing funding to make our Child Care Counts
program permanent, including investing over $500 million aimed at lowering child care costs, supporting this critical industry, and investing in employer-sponsored child care.
Source: 2025 State of the State Address to the Wisconsin legislature
Jan 21, 2025
Page last updated: Feb 07, 2026