Breaking Bad Rules - Our Shot in Wisconsin

Mar 17, 2026

Breaking Bad Rules - Our Shot in Wisconsin

Jake Beckstrom

I think by now you have heard us talk about the “Rule of 17” in the Wisconsin State Senate. Simply put, it is an unwritten rule followed by the majority party (currently Republicans) to control which bills move forward to receive a vote on the Senate floor. Let me say that again, and in a different way: it is an unwritten, un-legislated, un-codified, and ultimately unofficial (and might I add, wildly un-democratic) rule. It allows just a few Senators to hold up the entire legislative process and negate open, healthy debate on sound bills.

This Rule of 17 has prevented our bill from making it to the senate floor for the last few years, and is once again keeping us from getting a full vote. It is frustrating because we already have enough votes among both Republicans and Democrats to pass our bill. This Rule is the only thing standing in our way.

The news is not all bad though. There are several senators in the Republican Party who want to dismantle and retire the Rule of 17. But in order to do so, there needs to be a bill sharp enough to bypass the Rule. It can’t be a bill that plays any tricks, or can’t stand up to scrutiny. It can’t be any certain legislator’s “pet project” in their district, or be a partisan con-job which would be overturned as soon as the other party gains control. It needs to be a bill that benefits the whole state, that the members of both political parties can stand behind as a smart and impactful bill.

Last session our bill passed in the Assembly, 93-3.

That’s what our $5M SCI Research Grant bill is. We passed a nearly identical version of this bill a couple years ago in the Assembly by 93-3. We currently have the support to pass our bill in the Senate with nearly 31 Yes votes, a clear majority.

This is where Senator Dan Feyen comes in. Sen. Feyen wants to buck the Rule of 17 with our bill. Please reach out to Sen. Feyen today! He is the Assistant Majority Leader in the WI State Senate, just one rank below Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu (who we just called a few weeks ago and have not made progress with).

Sen. Feyen is one of our highest-ranking Republican allies and he supports SB99. He has told us to our face that there is still a chance to get it onto the Senate floor for a vote. Today - Tuesday, March 17 - the Senate will begin three days of floor periods in which Sen. Feyen can work his magic. We are asking you to contact him today so that he usher our bill to the Senate before the floor period ends.

Please call or email Sen. Feyen's office today - no matter what state or country you live in. Send a heartfelt message describing how SCI affects you and your hopes for a bill like this. Implore him to do what he can, and what he has told us has always been a possibility.

You could say something like this:

Dear Sen. Feyen,
Please move SB99 out of the Senate Organization Committee and place it on the Senate floor for a full vote. Our bill would change the lives of individuals (like me/ my family/friend) who live with a spinal cord injury. It will give us tangible hope, rather than more empty talk. Stand with the SCI community and give SB99 the opportunity for a full vote in the Senate this session.

As the Assistant Majority Leader, Sen. Feyen has a few paths to get bills to where they need to be when there is enough pressure and political will. Please ask him to get SB99 to the Senate floor for a vote, any way he can.

Now go pick up your phone, make a call and send an email - it will only take 5 minutes and could make all the difference.

Thanks in advance!