WISCONSINREPORT.COM (06/29/2009) - State Senator Tim Carpenter (D-Milwaukee) says Wisconsin has now succeeded in what he calls a long struggle to bring mandatory auto insurance to Wisconsin. Governor Jim Doyle signed into law legislation that requires drivers in Wisconsin to carry auto insurance. Wisconsin joins the 48 other states that have what Carpenter calls a commonsense requirement. Meanwhile, some Republicans are voicing objections to some of the auto insurance requirements.

“For decades, I have joined with like-minded colleagues to fight the special interests that lobbied to stop this from becoming a reality in Wisconsin. Ninety-two percent of my constituents who have responded to District-wide surveys have been in support of mandatory auto insurance.

Responsible drivers should not have to be liable for damages caused by those who have chosen not to carry insurance. It is a privilege to drive on the roads in Wisconsin, and carrying insurance should be a responsibility we take to enjoy that privilege,” said Carpenter.

“When the leadership of the Senate asked my advice as to what would be important to add to the budget when it came to the Senate, I asked to add only one thing: mandatory auto insurance. It is time,” said Carpenter.

“Thanks are in order to my colleague Sen. John Lehman for his long-time advocacy on this issue, to the Senate leadership for supporting this provision in both the Senate and the Conference Committee, and to the Governor for signing the bill into law,” said Carpenter.

“The people of Wisconsin are the winners as this becomes law. It is the responsible and sensible thing to do, and I am proud to have advocated for my constituents on getting mandatory auto insurance to become a reality in Wisconsin,” said Carpenter.

Representative John Nygren (R-Marinette) issued the following statement regarding Governor Doyle’s partial veto of auto insurance provisions contained in the budget:

“While I am disappointed the Governor did not remove all of the ill-conceived provisions adversely affecting auto insurance in the budget, I am glad he was receptive to my call to remove and modify some of them," Representative Nygren said.

"While the Governor’s modifications are a step in the right direction, the changes instituted in the budget still place a heavy burden of higher auto insurance premiums on the responsible Wisconsin driver at a time when they can least afford them," Nygren continued.

"I hope this is the last we see of these harmful provisions and I urge the democrats to not re-introduce this language as separate legislation," Assembly Representative Nygren said.

"It’s time we focus our efforts on job creation and retention to help the people of Wisconsin. I look forward to working with my colleagues on important job creation legislation,” said Nygren.