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AJR26: Joint Resolution Text
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2025 - 2026 LEGISLATURE
LRB-2634/1
CMH:wlj&cdc
2025 ASSEMBLY JOINT RESOLUTION 26
April 15, 2025 - Introduced by Representatives
Roe
,
Anderson
,
Brown
,
J. Jacobson
,
Arney
,
Bare
,
Billings
,
Clancy
,
DeSmidt
,
Doyle
,
Fitzgerald
,
Joers
,
Johnson
,
Kaufert
,
Krug
,
Madison
,
Moore Omokunde
,
Neubauer
,
Sinicki
,
Snodgrass
,
Stubbs
,
Subeck
,
Tenorio
and
Udell
, cosponsored by Senators
Spreitzer
,
Carpenter
,
Drake
,
Hesselbein
,
L. Johnson
,
Larson
,
Pfaff
,
Ratcliff
,
Roys
,
Smith
,
Wall
and
Wirch
. Referred to Committee on Rules.
AJR26,1,2
1
Relating to:
honoring the life and public service of Senator Timothy Francis
2
Cullen.
AJR26,1,4
3
Whereas, Timothy Francis Cullen was born on February 25, 1944, in
4
Janesville, Wisconsin, and passed away on December 23, 2024; and
AJR26,1,7
5
Whereas, son of a Teamster and a United Auto Workers Union member, Tim
6
was the third generation of his family to work at General Motors in Janesville, and
7
he worked there for four summers in the 1960s to pay his way through college; and
AJR26,1,10
8
Whereas, Tim graduated from Janesville High School in 1962 and from the
9
University of Wisconsin–Whitewater in 1966, and attended graduate school at
10
Northern Illinois University; and
AJR26,1,13
11
Whereas, after graduation from UW–Whitewater, Tim served in the United
12
States Army Reserve and taught social studies at George S. Parker High School
13
before being elected to the Janesville City Council in 1970; and
AJR26,2,2
1
Whereas, Tim served as ombudsman for U.S. Representative Les Aspin from
2
1971 to 1974; and
AJR26,2,8
3
Whereas, while serving as the people’s advocate, Tim bridged the gap between
4
constituents of the First Congressional District and the decisions being made on
5
their behalf in Washington, through making government more responsive and
6
accessible, cutting through the red tape of an often distant and unresponsive
7
bureaucracy, lending an ear to their issues and concerns, and giving a voice to the
8
people of Wisconsin’s First Congressional District; and
AJR26,2,11
9
Whereas, in 1974, Tim ran for the Wisconsin State Senate as a Democrat,
10
winning his election to represent the 15th State Senate District with more than 55
11
percent of the vote; and
AJR26,2,15
12
Whereas, Tim served from 1975 to 1987 in the Wisconsin State
13
Senate—including as Senate Majority Leader from 1982 to 1986—and chaired
14
committees relating to diverse issues including agriculture, labor, aging,
15
transportation, business, and financial institutions; and
AJR26,2,19
16
Whereas, Tim’s first bill enacted into law ceded state lands to the City of
17
Delavan for park and recreational purposes, and it was followed later that session
18
by bills that eliminated a citizenship requirement for bartenders and made Susan
19
B. Anthony’s birthday a special observance day in Wisconsin Schools; and
AJR26,2,23
20
Whereas, as Senate Majority leader, Tim was a champion for policies that
21
improved the lives of everyday Wisconsinites, provided support to local
22
municipalities, and protected consumers, workers, and both current and future
23
homeowners; and
AJR26,3,6
24
Whereas, legislation authored by Senator Cullen that was enacted into law
1
during his first six legislative sessions in the State Senate included improvements
2
to state unemployment compensation laws, the creation of the Homeownership
3
Mortgage Loan Program, increased payments to Wisconsinites claiming the
4
homestead tax credit, better consumer protections for credit card holders,
5
prohibiting felons from possessing firearms, and protections against sexual
6
exploitation of children and the abuse of vulnerable adults; and
AJR26,3,10
7
Whereas, Tim’s advocacy for the people of the 15th State Senate District and
8
all Wisconsinites was reflected in his legislative advocacy surrounding consumer
9
protection, housing, agriculture, labor, transportation, conservation efforts, and
10
government transparency; and
AJR26,3,13
11
Whereas, a sharp, shrewd leader and coalition builder, Tim’s great respect for
12
his fellow caucus members and colleagues was reflected in the reputation he built
13
within his own caucus and bonds forged across the aisle; and
AJR26,3,16
14
Whereas, Tim served the people of our state on a bipartisan basis as the
15
Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Health and Social Services in the cabinet
16
of Republican Governor Tommy Thompson from 1987 to 1988; and
AJR26,3,18
17
Whereas, Tim began a twenty-year private sector career at Blue Cross Blue
18
Shield in 1988; and
AJR26,3,21
19
Whereas, Tim returned to elected office by winning a seat on the Janesville
20
School Board in 2007 and later winning election to another term in his former seat
21
in the State Senate in 2010; and
AJR26,3,23
22
Whereas, in 2008, Governor Jim Doyle appointed him to co-chair a state task
23
force to save the Janesville General Motors plant; and
AJR26,4,4
24
Whereas, Tim served from 2011 to 2015 in the Wisconsin State Senate and
1
served on committees relating to a diverse range of issues including economic
2
development, veterans, military affairs, state and federal relations, information
3
technology, workforce development, small business, tourism, education, insurance,
4
and housing; and
AJR26,4,7
5
Whereas, during this time, Tim was a fierce unapologetic advocate and
6
champion for working families, union rights, collective bargaining and basic
7
fairness to workers, and access to the ballot box; and
AJR26,4,12
8
Whereas, in 2011 Tim made a good-faith effort to negotiate with then-
9
Governor Scott Walker’s office concerning the provisions in what would be
2011 Act
10
10
related to collective bargaining, underscoring his dedication to finding common
11
ground and representing the interests of Wisconsin workers even in times of
12
extreme partisanship; and
AJR26,4,16
13
Whereas, many of Tim’s efforts, both as a public servant and private citizen,
14
focused on attaining equal opportunities for all children, fighting for racial and
15
gender equality, putting an end to partisan gerrymandering and maintaining open,
16
accountable, and transparent state government; and
AJR26,4,20
17
Whereas, during his return to the state legislature, Tim struck up a friendship
18
and partnership with former Senate Majority Leader Dale Schultz, a Republican
19
from Richland Center, who traveled the state with him for years urging the state to
20
adopt nonpartisan redistricting and end gerrymandering; and
AJR26,5,2
21
Whereas, Tim’s lifelong commitment to serving his community and the State
22
of Wisconsin included serving as a board member of Big Brothers of Janesville, the
23
Janesville YMCA, the Les Aspin Center for Government, Everyone Cooperating to
24
Help Others (ECHO), the Janesville Teacher Diversity Board, Forward Janesville,
1
WisconsinEye, Common Cause in Wisconsin, and the Wisconsin Fair Elections
2
Project; and
AJR26,5,5
3
Whereas, Tim founded the Tim Cullen Government Institute, allowing 11th
4
graders to meet with state and local government leaders—making government
5
more responsive and accessible and fostering the next generation of leaders; and
AJR26,5,9
6
Whereas, Tim authored three books sharing his insight and experience:
7
“Ringside Seat: Wisconsin Politics, the 1970s to Scott Walker”; “Disassembled: A
8
Native Son on Janesville and General Motors”; and “Wisconsin Gerrymandering:
9
The Fight for Permanent Fair Maps and Why it Matters”; and
AJR26,5,16
10
Whereas, the proceeds from his published books benefit two programs that
11
recognize the need for teachers of color in local school districts and encourage
12
diverse students to become teachers—the Janesville Multicultural Teacher
13
Scholarship Fund, which Tim started in 2008 and through which eleven
14
participants of color have been hired and 20 students are currently in the pipeline
15
to become teachers, and Beloit’s similar Grow Your Own Multicultural Teacher
16
Scholarship Program; and
AJR26,5,19
17
Whereas, Tim will be remembered as an incredible husband to his late wife
18
Barbara, a caring and dedicated father and grandfather, a devoted friend and
19
mentor, and a beloved member of the Janesville community; and
AJR26,5,23
20
Whereas, Tim’s lifelong commitment to bipartisanship and good government,
21
to fighting for the working class, and to improving the lives of all Wisconsinites will
22
continue to have a positive impact on the Janesville community and the entire State
23
of Wisconsin; now, therefore, be it
AJR26,6,3
24
Resolved by the
assembly
, the
senate
concurring, That
the members of
1
the Wisconsin Legislature honor the life, legacy, and public service of Senator Tim
2
Cullen and extend their deepest condolences to his family and friends, colleagues,
3
and all those who knew him.
AJR26,6,4
4
(end)
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