"We're back in business and ready to go."
Those were the words of Rep. Garey Bies (R-Sister Bay) shortly after being sworn in to the Assembly Monday afternoon at the State Capitol.
Bies says he believes the 101st Legislative Session will be less contentious than the last one and says he's received early indications that lawmakers on both sides of the aisle will be able to do a better job of working together.
Bies says the physical location of his seat in the Assembly Chambers has changed and that will give him a new perspective. Instead of being in the back row on the left Bies is now in the third row from the front and closer to the aisle.
Some of the first items expected to be taken up by the Legislature include mining legislation and bills related to job production.
The GOP has a 59-39 advantage in the Assembly. The Senate is comprised of 18 Republicans and 15 Democrats.
