Frank Lasee

{{short description|American politician (born 1961)}} {{Infobox officeholder | honorific_prefix = | name = Frank G. Lasee | image = | alt = | state_senate = Wisconsin | district = 1st | term_start = January 3, 2011 | term_end = December 29, 2017 | predecessor = Alan Lasee | successor = Caleb Frostman | state_assembly2 = Wisconsin | district2 = 2nd | term_start2 = January 3, 1995 | term_end2 = January 5, 2009 | predecessor2 = Dale Bolle | successor2 = Ted Zigmunt | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1961|12|11}} | birth_place = Oceanside, California, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | party = Republican | spouse = {{unbulleted list | {{marriage|Kirsten F. Schneider||2001|end=div}} | Amy Joy Savaglio }} | children = 4 | relatives = | alma_mater = University of Wisconsin–Green Bay | occupation = Salesman, politician }} '''Frank G. Lasee''' (born December 11, 1961) is an American businessman and Republican politician from Brown County, Wisconsin. He was a member of the Wisconsin Senate for seven years, representing Wisconsin's 1st Senate district from 2011 to 2018. He also served 14 years in the Wisconsin State Assembly, from 1995 to 2009, and ran unsuccessfully for United States House of Representatives in 2016.

After losing the 2016 election, he worked two years as administrator of the Division of Worker's Compensation in the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development, in the last two years of the administration of Governor Scott Walker. He subsequently was hired as president of the Heartland Institute, but was fired a year later in the midst of financial difficulties at that organization.

== Early life and 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.<ref>"[http://www.uwgb.edu/univcomm/news/insidearchive/05nov3.htm Alumni: UW-Green Bay alums doing a capitol job]," ''Inside'', University of Wisconsin-Green Bay feature and news magazine, November 2005.</ref><ref name="statebio">"[http://legis.wisconsin.gov/w3asp/contact/legislatorpages.aspx?house=Senate&district=1&display=bio Frank Lasee Biography]" at Wisconsin State Legislature web site</ref><ref name="WHS">[http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Name/NI223336] at Wisconsin Historical Society</ref> He is married and the father of six daughters.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://legis.wisconsin.gov/w3asp/contact/legislatorpages.aspx?house=Senate&district=1&display=bio |title=District Information - Wisconsin State Legislature |publisher=Legis.wisconsin.gov |date=1961-12-11 |accessdate=2013-01-20}}</ref>

Prior to his election to the State Assembly in 1994, Lasee was the Ledgeview Town Board Chair from 1993 to 1997, and was a telemarketing supervisor for an insurance company.<ref name="WHS" /><ref>[http://www.madison.com/features/legisdir/41176.php Assembly members, part 1] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080509145548/http://www.madison.com/features/legisdir/41176.php |date=2008-05-09 }} in 2003-2004 Legislative Directory at Madison.com</ref>

== Political career ==

=== State Assembly === Lasee was a member of the State Assembly who dissented on many issues, including state budgets.<ref>"[http://www.htrnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071022/MAN0101/71022116/1984 Frank Lasee to vote not]" ''Herald Times Reporter'', October 22, 2007.</ref> He was called an advocate of taxpayers, limited spending and an opponent of tax increases.<ref>[http://www.wrn.com/gestalt/go.cfm?objectid=4D64D613-5A5E-4C48-9FC16CE0D928FF8C Lasee proposes another version of TPA] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071005135757/http://www.wrn.com/gestalt/go.cfm?objectid=4D64D613-5A5E-4C48-9FC16CE0D928FF8C|date=2007-10-05}} by Bob Hague, Wisconsin Radio Network, April 26, 2006</ref><ref>"[http://www.htrnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071018/MAN0101/710180519/1358/MANnews 'Hold the line' on budget, lawmakers told]" ''Herald Times Reporter'', October 18, 2007</ref> He was elected seven times.<ref>[http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071014/GPG06/710140581/1269/GPGopinion Rep. Frank Lasee talks about his political choices] by Warren Bluhm, ''Green Bay Press Gazette'', October 14, 2007.</ref>

Some of his most notable proposals included the Taxpayer Protection Act and a Taxpayers Bill of Rights.<ref name=":0">[http://www.uwsa.edu/govrel/pending/position/tpaPpt4-11-06.pdf Taxpayer Protection Act] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071129105142/http://www.uwsa.edu/govrel/pending/position/tpaPpt4-11-06.pdf|date=2007-11-29}} presentation, April 11, 2006 with Frank Lasee and Jim Perry</ref><ref>[http://www.heartland.org/Article.cfm?artId=14339 Wisconsin Needs a Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061203101129/http://www.heartland.org/Article.cfm?artId=14339 |date=2006-12-03 }} by Frank Lasee, Budget & Tax News, The Heartland Institute, February 1, 2004</ref>

A 2006 proposal was the "Taxpayer Protection Act". The TPA proposed to tie governments revenue to inflation, population, personal income growth etc.<ref name=":0" />

Lasee lost his bid for an eighth term representing the 2nd Assembly District to Democrat Ted Zigmunt on November 4, 2008.<ref name="2008 election">{{cite web |url=http://elections.state.wi.us/docview.asp?docid=15403&locid=47 |title=2008 General Election - State Assembly - County-by-County Canvass |publisher=Wisconsin State Elections Board |accessdate=March 22, 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130522174105/http://elections.state.wi.us/docview.asp?docid=15403&locid=47 |archivedate=May 22, 2013 }}</ref> Lasee blamed his defeat on the Wisconsin Education Association Council, the state's largest teachers' union, claiming they spent $250,000 on campaign ads.<ref name="weac">{{cite web |url=http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008811060674 |title=Lasee denounces teachers union after loss |publisher=Green Bay Press-Gazette |date=November 5, 2008 |accessdate=March 22, 2013}}</ref>

=== State Senate === 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.<ref name="2010 election">{{cite web |url=http://gab.wi.gov/sites/default/files/2010%20Fall%20General%20-%20State%20Senate%20County-by-County.pdf |title=2010 General Election - State Senate - County-by-County Canvass |publisher=Wisconsin Government Accountability Board |accessdate=March 22, 2013}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Journal Sentinel Staff|title=Democrats contend Frank Lasee doesn't live in his district|url=http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/democrats-contend-frank-lasee-doesnt-live-in-his-district-b99286096z1-262153121.html|accessdate=21 August 2014|publisher=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel|date=June 6, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Associated Press|title=Democrats say GOP senator lives outside district|url=http://www.sheboyganpress.com/story/news/local/2014/06/07/democrats-say-gop-senator-lives-outside-district/10187353/|accessdate=21 August 2014|publisher=Sheboygan Press|date=June 7, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Beckett|first1=Andrew|title=GAB rules on ballot challenges|url=http://www.wrn.com/2014/06/gab-rules-on-ballot-challenges/|accessdate=21 August 2014|publisher=Wisconsin Radio Network|date=June 10, 2014}}</ref>

Frank Lasee was challenged by Democrat Dean DeBroux in the general election, and prevailed by over twenty percentage points.<ref name= "2014 election" />

In the Senate a notable bill proposed by Lasee included the Consumer's Choice in Auto Insurance Act, which lowered the cost of insurance by eliminating the stacking clause.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wisconsin's new auto insurance law eases coverage levels - NewsoftheNorth.Net, Northwoods News |url=http://newsofthenorth.net/article/Top_Stories/WI_State_News/Wisconsins_new_auto_insurance_law_eases_coverage_levels/131039 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110823061131/http://newsofthenorth.net/article/Top_Stories/WI_State_News/Wisconsins_new_auto_insurance_law_eases_coverage_levels/131039 |archive-date=2011-08-23 |access-date=2011-04-14}}</ref>

==== 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<ref>{{cite web|url=http://legis.wisconsin.gov/w3asp/contact/legislatorpages.aspx?house=Senate&district=1&display=committee |title=District Information - Wisconsin State Legislature |publisher=Legis.wisconsin.gov |date= |accessdate=2013-01-20}}</ref>

== Congressional campaigns ==

=== 2012 U.S. Senate election === {{Main|2012 United States Senate election in Wisconsin}} In September 2011, he announced he would run for the U.S. Senate seat vacated by retiring Democratic U.S. Senator Herb Kohl.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fox11online.com/dpp/news/wisconsin/lasee-says-hes-quite-likely-to-run-for-senate |title=Lasee says he's 'quite likely' to run for Senate |publisher=Fox11online.com |date=2011-09-01 |accessdate=2013-01-20 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130123090932/http://www.fox11online.com/dpp/news/wisconsin/lasee-says-hes-quite-likely-to-run-for-senate |archive-date=2013-01-23 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Walker |first=Don |url=http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/news/128887913.html |title=Frank Lasee plans to run for U.S. Senate |publisher=JSOnline |date= |accessdate=2013-01-20}}</ref> On January 29, 2012, he announced his withdrawal from the U.S. Senate race.<ref>{{cite web|author=|url=http://www.wrn.com/2012/01/lasee-ends-us-senate-campaign/ |title=Lasee ends US Senate campaign |publisher=Wrn.com |date=2012-01-30 |accessdate=2013-01-20}}</ref>

=== 2016 U.S. House of Representatives election === {{Main|2016 United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin#District 8}}

On February 14, 2016, Lasee announced he would run for the U.S. House seat being vacated by retiring Rep. Reid Ribble.<ref name="wbay.com">{{cite web|url=http://wbay.com/2016/02/14/staten-sen-frank-lasee-will-run-for-congress/|title=State Sen. Frank Lasee will run for Congress|date=February 14, 2016|publisher=wbay.com|accessdate=2016-02-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160215230545/http://wbay.com/2016/02/14/staten-sen-frank-lasee-will-run-for-congress/|archive-date=February 15, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> He lost to eventual general election winner Mike Gallagher in the primary.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.wpr.org/mike-gallagher-wins-gop-primary-wisconsins-8th-congressional-district|title=Mike Gallagher Wins GOP Primary In Wisconsin's 8th Congressional District|website=Wisconsin Public Radio|date=9 August 2016 |language=en|access-date=2017-01-30}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/story/news/politics/elections/2016/11/09/mike-gallagher-wins-8th-congressional-district/93167448/|title=Mike Gallagher wins 8th Congressional District|newspaper=Press Gazette Media|language=en|access-date=2017-01-30}}</ref>

==Post-legislative career== On December 29, 2017, Lasee resigned from the Senate to become administrator of the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development's Worker's Compensation Division.<ref>{{cite news |date=December 29, 2017 |title=GOP lawmakers Frank Lasee and Keith Ripp resign to take jobs in Gov. Scott Walker's administration |url=https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/2017/12/29/gop-lawmakers-frank-lasee-and-keith-ripp-resign-take-jobs-gov-scott-walkers-administration/990429001/ |accessdate=2018-01-04 |work=Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel |agency=Associated Press}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/heartland-institute-staff-layoffs-climate-change-denial_n_5e6302a6c5b6670e72f85fa5 |title=Pro-Trump Climate Denial Group Lays Off Staff Amid Financial Woes, Ex-Employees Say |first=Alexander C. |last=Kaufman |date=March 7, 2020 |publisher=HuffPost |language=en |access-date=2020-03-11}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.science.org/content/article/prominent-us-climate-denial-group-fires-president-amid-financial-crisis |title=Prominent U.S. Climate Denial Group Fires President Amid Financial Crisis |first=Scott |last=Waldman |date=March 17, 2020 |publisher=Science |language=en |access-date=2020-12-06}}</ref>

==Personal life and family== Frank Lasee is a first cousin of Alan Lasee, who served 34 years in the Wisconsin Senate, also representing Wisconsin's 1st Senate district.

Frank Lasee's first wife was Kirsten F. Schneider. They had three daughters together before divorcing in 2001.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://wcca.wicourts.gov/caseDetail.html?caseNo=2001FA001048&countyNo=5&index=0 |title= Brown County Case Number 2001FA001048 Frank G Lasee vs Kirsten F Lasee |website= Wisconsin Circuit Court Access |access-date= February 10, 2024 }}</ref> He subsequently married Amy Joy Larsen (''{{nee}}'' Savaglio), of Racine, and became stepfather to her three daughters as well. Frank Lasee is also the father of another daughter with a former girlfriend, Kari Manteufel. This child was the subject of a decade-long child support and paternity battle beginning in 2005.<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/investigations/daniel-bice/2016/05/14/daniel-bice-where-is-home-for-congressional-hopeful-frank-lasee/84958114/ |title= Where is home for congressional hopeful Frank Lasee? |date= May 13, 2016 |first= Daniel |last= Bice |newspaper= Milwaukee Journal Sentinel |access-date= February 10, 2024 }}</ref>

== Electoral history ==

=== Wisconsin Senate (2010, 2014) === {{Election box begin no change|title=Wisconsin State Senate 1st District election, 2010<ref name="2010 election" />}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Republican Party (United States) |candidate =Frank Lasee |votes =43,415 |percentage =60.04}} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate =Monk Elmer |votes =28,800 |percentage =39.83}} {{Election box hold with party link without swing |winner = Republican Party (United States)}} {{Election box end}}{{Election box begin no change|title=Wisconsin State Senate 1st District election, 2014<ref name="2014 election">{{cite web|url=http://www.gab.wi.gov/sites/default/files/11.4.14%20Summary%20Results-all%20offices.pdf |title=Statewide Summary Election Results for All Offices 11-14-2014 |publisher=Wisconsin Government Accountability Board |accessdate=2016-02-13}}</ref>}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Republican Party (United States) |candidate =Frank Lasee |votes =47,438 |percentage =61.59}} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate =Dean DeBroux |votes =29,555 |percentage =38.37}} {{Election box hold with party link without swing |winner = Republican Party (United States)}} {{Election box end}}

=== Wisconsin Assembly (2002–2008) === {{Election box begin no change|title=Wisconsin State Assembly 2nd District election, 2002<ref name="2002 election">{{cite web|url=http://elections.state.wi.us/docview.asp?docid=1559&locid=47|title=2002 General Election - State Assembly - County-by-County Canvass|publisher=Wisconsin State Elections Board|accessdate=March 22, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130522193025/http://elections.state.wi.us/docview.asp?docid=1559&locid=47|archive-date=May 22, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Republican Party (United States) |candidate =Frank Lasee (incumbent) |votes =10,920 |percentage =62.53}} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate =Dan Katers |votes =6,524 |percentage =37.36}} {{Election box hold with party link without swing |winner = Republican Party (United States)}} {{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change|title=Wisconsin State Assembly 2nd District election, 2004<ref name="2004 election">{{cite web |url=http://elections.state.wi.us/docview.asp?docid=1414&locid=47 |title=2004 General Election - State Assembly - County-by-County Canvass |publisher=Wisconsin State Elections Board |accessdate=March 22, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130522185322/http://elections.state.wi.us/docview.asp?docid=1414&locid=47 |archive-date=May 22, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref>}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Republican Party (United States) |candidate =Frank Lasee (incumbent) |votes =21,848 |percentage =99.36}} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Independent (politician) |candidate =Write-in |votes =141 |percentage =0.64}} {{Election box hold with party link without swing |winner = Republican Party (United States)}} {{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change|title=Wisconsin State Assembly 2nd District election, 2006<ref name="2006 election">{{cite web |url=http://elections.state.wi.us/docview.asp?docid=10028&locid=47 |title=2006 General Election - State Assembly - County-by-County Canvass |publisher=Wisconsin State Elections Board |accessdate=March 22, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130522181001/http://elections.state.wi.us/docview.asp?docid=10028&locid=47 |archive-date=May 22, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref>}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Republican Party (United States) |candidate =Frank Lasee (incumbent) |votes =15,347 |percentage =89.30}} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Independent (politician) |candidate =Write-in |votes =1,839 |percentage =10.70}} {{Election box hold with party link without swing |winner = Republican Party (United States)}} {{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change |title=Wisconsin State Assembly 2nd District election, 2008<ref name="2008 election" />}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Ted Zigmunt |votes = 16,008 |percentage = 52.12}} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Republican Party (United States) |candidate = Frank Lasee (incumbent) |votes = 14,687 |percentage = 47.82}} {{Election box gain with party link without swing |winner = Democratic Party (United States) |loser = Republican Party (United States)}} {{Election box end}}

=== U.S. House (2016) === {| class="wikitable" !Year !Election !Date ! colspan="4" |Elected ! colspan="4" |Defeated !Total !Plurality |- ! rowspan="2" valign="top" |2016 | rowspan="2" valign="top" |Primary<ref name="2016pri">{{cite report |url=https://elections.wi.gov/sites/default/files/legacy/Statewide%2520Summary%2520Results.pdf |title=Canvass Results for 2016 Partisan Primary - 8/9/2016 |date=September 30, 2016 |publisher=Wisconsin Government Accountability Board |page=6 |via=Wisconsin Elections Commission |accessdate=February 10, 2024}}</ref> | rowspan="2" valign="top" |{{nowrap|Sep. 9}} | rowspan="2" valign="top" |{{nowrap|Mike Gallagher}} | valign="top" rowspan="2" {{Party shading/Republican}} |Republican | rowspan="2" align="right" valign="top" |40,322 | rowspan="2" align="right" valign="top" |74.46% | valign="top" |{{nowrap|'''Frank Lasee'''}} | valign="top" {{Party shading/Republican}} |Rep. | align="right" valign="top" |10,705 | align="right" valign="top" |19.77% | rowspan="2" align="right" valign="top" |54,152 | rowspan="2" align="right" valign="top" |29,617 |- | valign="top" |{{nowrap|Terry McNulty}} | valign="top" {{Party shading/Republican}} |Rep. | align="right" valign="top" |3,109 | align="right" valign="top" |5.74% |}

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *[https://archive.today/20121214131250/http://legis.wisconsin.gov/senate/sen01/ Profile, committees and bills] at the Wisconsin State Legislature *[http://www.franklasee.com/ Frank Lasee] official campaign site * {{CongLinks | congbio= | votesmart=3517 | fec= | congress= }}

{{s-start}} {{s-par|us-wi-hs}} {{s-bef|before=Dale Bolle}} {{s-ttl|title=Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly {{nowrap|from the 2nd district}}|years=1995–2009}} {{s-aft|after=Ted Zigmunt}} |- {{s-par|us-wi-sen}} {{s-bef|before=Alan Lasee}} {{s-ttl|title=Member of the Wisconsin State Senate {{nowrap|from the 1st district}} |years=2011–2017}} {{s-aft|after=Caleb Frostman}} {{s-end}} {{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lasee, Frank}} Category:Living people Category:1961 births Category:People from Oceanside, California Category:People from De Pere, Wisconsin Category:University of Wisconsin–Green Bay alumni Category:Democratic Party Wisconsin state senators Category:Democratic Party members of the Wisconsin State Assembly Category:Politicians from Green Bay, Wisconsin Category:People from Brown County, Wisconsin Category:21st-century members of the Wisconsin Legislature Category:20th-century members of the Wisconsin Legislature