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.
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.[3][5]
Political career
State Assembly
Lasee was a member of the State Assembly who dissented on many issues, including state budgets.[6] He was called an advocate of taxpayers, limited spending and an opponent of tax increases.[7][8] He was elected seven times.[9]
A 2006 proposal was the "Taxpayer Protection Act". The TPA proposed to tie governments revenue to inflation, population, personal income growth etc.[10]
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.[14]
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.[15][16][17]
Frank Lasee was challenged by Democrat Dean DeBroux in the general election, and prevailed by over twenty percentage points.[18]
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.[19]
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[20]
In September 2011, he announced he would run for the U.S. Senate seat vacated by retiring Democratic U.S. Senator Herb Kohl.[21][22] On January 29, 2012, he announced his withdrawal from the U.S. Senate race.[23]
On February 14, 2016, Lasee announced he would run for the U.S. House seat being vacated by retiring Rep. Reid Ribble.[24] He lost to eventual general election winner Mike Gallagher in the primary.[25][26]
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.[28][29]
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.[30] He subsequently married Amy Joy Larsen (née 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.[31]
Electoral history
Wisconsin Senate (2010, 2014)
Wisconsin State Senate 1st District election, 2010 [14]
