Bryan Steil Opposition Research

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Bryan Steil (WI-01) Research Report The following report contains research on Bryan Steil, a Republican candidate in Wisconsin’s 1st Congressional district. By accepting this report, you are accepting responsibility for all information and analysis included. Therefore, it is your responsibility to verify all claims against the original documentation before you make use of it. Make sure you understand the facts behind these conclusions before making any specific charges against anyone.

Updated: June 15, 2018

Table Of Contents Table Of Contents ...... 2 Summary Notes ...... 4 Biographical Summary ...... 4 Top Issue Summaries ...... 5 Issue Position Summaries ...... 7 Top Issues ...... 8 Steil Is Not Honest With Voters, Refuses To Answer Tough Questions ...... 8 Steil Is Dishonest About His Relationship With Ryan, Is Closely Linked ...... 9 Steil Paid Property Taxes Late, Became Up To Date After Ryan Retired ...... 11 Steil Worked To Ship Jobs Overseas ...... 11 Steil Is Out Of Touch With Regular Wisconsinites, Part Of The One Percent ...... 15 Steil Donated To A Liberal New York Politician ...... 16 Steil Refused To Address Causes Of Gun Violence, Only Wants To Treat Victims After The Fact ...... 16 Steil Is An Establishment Insider ...... 17 Steil Supported A Resolution To “Chill” Free Speech On Campuses ...... 19 Steil Is Willing To Blindly Make Cuts And Figure Out Details Later, Even If It Means Jobs Will Be Lost ...... 19 Steil Is Not An Active Republican, Has Missed Key Primaries ...... 21 Steil Worked For A Law Firm That Represented Trump’s Allies In The Russia Probes ...... 22 Steil Repeatedly Omits Key Parts Of His Biography ...... 23 Personal Notes ...... 25 Family Notes ...... 25 Education Notes ...... 26 Steil Licensing Notes ...... 26 Work In Paul Ryan’s Office ...... 28 McDermott Will & Emery ...... 29 Steil’s Former Law Firm Represented Trump’s Associates In The Russia Probe ...... 29 Regal Beloit Corporation ...... 30 Regal Beloit Shipped Jobs Overseas While Steil Worked For Them ...... 30 Regal Beloit Has Shipped Wisconsin Jobs Overseas ...... 34 Steil Held Positions With Several Regal Beloit Subsidiaries, Including Foreign Companies ...... 35 Charter NEX Film ...... 38 UW-System Board Of Regents ...... 39 Steil Claimed To Be The Lone Vote On Multiple Issues ...... 39 Editorial Boards Have Criticized The Regents During Steil’s Tenure ...... 39 2016: Steil Was Nominated By Gov. Walker And Confirmed By The Senate ...... 40 Steil Supported And Defended The Controversial UW Merger Plan ...... 40 Steil Supported Eliminating Humanities Majors ...... 44 2017: Steil Opposed UW Budget That Froze Tuition, Raised Student Fees ...... 45 Steil Opposed Raising Tuition On Non-Residents ...... 46 Steil Weakened Tenure Protections For Faculty ...... 46 Steil Supported The Regents’ Free Speech Resolution ...... 47 Steil Supported A Controversial Plan To Divide Funds Among Schools Based On Workforce Development Focus ...... 48 Steil Voted To Remove Academics From Leading UW Campuses ...... 48 Steil Pushed To Move UW System Trust Funds To Be Managed By State ...... 48 Janesville Generations Fund...... 50 Political Notes ...... 52

2018: Steil’s Campaign For Congress ...... 52 Steil’s Campaign Contributions ...... 54 Barack Obama ...... 56 Donald Trump ...... 56 Evan Wynn For Assembly ...... 57 Nancy Pelosi ...... 57 Paul Ryan ...... 57 Republican National Conventions ...... 59 Rock County Republicans ...... 60 Issue Notes ...... 61 Abortion Issues ...... 61 Budget Issues ...... 61 Defense And Foreign Policy Issues ...... 62 Economic Development Issues ...... 62 Education Issues ...... 63 Gun Rights Issues ...... 63 Health Care Issues ...... 64 Immigration Issues ...... 64 Taxes Issues ...... 64 Trade Issues ...... 65 Property And Financial Notes ...... 66 Steil Finances ...... 66 Legal Notes ...... 68

Summary Notes

Biographical Summary

Type Detail Citation

Name/DOB Bryan George Steil, 3/30/1981 Voter registration

Marriage None News

Education Janesville Craig High School, class of 1999 Press reports Georgetown University, class of 2003 University of Wisconsin Law School, class 2007

Military None n/a

Professional  U.S. House of Representatives, 2003-2004 News, Financial background  McDermott, Will & Emery, 2007-2009 Disclosure  Regal Beloit Corporation, 2009-2017  Charter NEX Films, 2018

Top Issue Summaries

 Steil Is Not Honest With Voters, Refuses To Answer Tough Questions: On issue after issue, Bryan Steil has been evasive with Wisconsin voters and instead returns to old, tired talking points. Whether discussing pressing issues like immigration, guns, or authorizing the use of military force, Steil has declined to give voters specific answers on his positions or offer a clear policy proposal to address those issues. Even on directly comparative questions, Steil has demurred: he has never answered how he differs from Paul Ryan, and he and he refused to comment on how he differs from Trump. [Read background]

 Steil Has Been Dishonest About His Relationship With Paul Ryan, Is Closely Linked: In the early months of his campaign for Congress, after deflecting a series of questions and about how he differed from Paul Ryan, Bryan Steil astonishingly said that he was not close to Paul Ryan personally. He said, “one year [working for Paul Ryan] after college is not a close tie personally.” What Steil did not acknowledge, is that Paul Ryan was a longtime close family friend, and not just his former employer. Paul Ryan said on the House floor in 2009 that he had “had the privilege of getting to know the Steil family during the formative years of my life.” Ryan and Steil attend the same church, and their campaigns share the same fundraiser. Professionally, Steil not only worked for Ryan after college, he also worked for Ryan’s first campaign for Congress. [Read background]

 Steil Paid Property Taxes Late, Became Up To Date After Ryan Retired: Steil was delinquent in paying his 2017 property taxes, and only became up to date when Paul Ryan announced he would not seek re-election. Just five days after Ryan made the announcement that he was retiring from the House, Bryan Steil paid his 2017 property taxes in full, including $243 in late penalties and interest fees. [Read background]

 Steil Worked To Ship Jobs Overseas: As an attorney at Regal Beloit Corporation, Steil said he was responsible for doing mergers and acquisitions – buying up companies to help grow the company. Unfortunately, that corporate growth did not mean jobs for American workers. On numerous occasions during Steil’s tenure, the Department of Labor found that Regal Beloit’s outsourcing of production directly contributed to job losses in the United States. Though this impacted hundreds or thousands of American families, Regal Beloit executives blithely described this outsourcing as “simplifying” its footprint. In fact, in 2016, Regal Beloit’s COO said in 2016 that a key part of it simplifying its footprint would be ending its foundry operations in Wisconsin, and outsourcing that production instead. Regal Beloit described those Wisconsin operations as “non-core.” [Read background]

 Steil Is Out Of Touch With Regular Wisconsinites, Part Of The One Percent: Steil cannot relate to the struggles of everyday Wisconsinites. Steil comes from a well-connected family, sits on the board of a nonprofit his relatives started, and has assets worth potentially more than $1.5 million. [Read background]

 Steil Donated To A Liberal New York Politician: In 2011, Bryan Steil donated to a liberal New York politician who was not only running as a Democrat, but also with the Green Party and the Working Families Party – a corrupt ultra-liberal group with ties to ACORN. [Read background]

 Steil Refused To Address Causes Of Gun Violence, Only Wants To Treat Victims After The Fact: In the aftermath of several school shootings, Steil was pressed to offer any policies he would pursue to prevent those events from happening again; Steil refused to offer a single proposal, and said he would not pursue any policy changes. Instead, Steil seems content to let those events happen and deal with the aftermath, as he said he was “proud” to offer triage “classroom casualty care kits” to elementary schools in Janesville to deal with “mass casualty” incidents. [Read background]

 Steil Is An Establishment Insider: Bryan Steil is the definition of an insider politician, and he is the establishment’s choice to replace Paul Ryan. Steil is intimately tied into the Republican Party apparatchik, having been a delegate to the RNC twice and sitting in a leadership position for the Rock County Republican Party. Steil has also been by Paul Ryan’s side ever since he first ran for Congress, and he never stopped working with him. Before Steil even formally entered the race, Republican insiders “begged” for

Steil to run and several party chairmen publicly backed Steil and discouraged others from running. [Read background]

 Steil Supported A Resolution To “Chill” Free Speech On Campuses: In 2017, Bryan Steil supported a resolution that members of the ACLU said would have the effect of “chilling campus speech and silencing voices of dissent.” Reports suggested that the resolution would also “ramp up punishment is seen as disruptive” and that the distinction of what was and was not seen as disruptive was subjective. [Read background]

 Steil Is Willing To Blindly Make Cuts And Figure Out Details Later, Even If It Means Jobs Will Be Lost: Bryan Steil has demonstrated he’s willing to be a budget demagogue at all costs, even if it means cutting jobs and eliminating programs for small Wisconsin communities. In spite of calls to slow down a planned merger for UW Colleges and Universities until more concrete details were figured out, Steil called for the merger to go “full steam ahead.” Steil continued to bullishly advocate for the merger even after school officials said the plan would result in job losses and could jeopardize crucial programs for Wisconsin communities. [Read background]

 Steil Is Not An Active Republican, Has Missed Key Primaries: Though Bryan Steil has tried to portray himself as a longtime, active participant in grassroots Republican politics he is a Johnny-come- lately. In both 2000 and 2008, Steil failed to vote in crucial Republican Presidential Primaries. [Read background]

 Steil Worked For A Law Firm That Represented Trump’s Allies In The Russia Probes: Though Steil likes to claim he differs from Trump’s fiery political style, he has ties closer than he lets on. Steil used to work a high power Chicago law firm, McDermott, Will and Emery, which represented Michael Cohen during a portion of the Russia probes. [Read background]

 Steil Repeatedly Omits Key Parts Of His Biography: Bryan Steil likes to portray himself as a guy who builds things and who has never strayed from the Wisconsin’s first Congressional District. Steil said things like he “functionally” lived in Janesville his whole life. In fact, he functionally lived in Chicago – long enough to vote there – and he worked as a corporate attorney, representing a major corporation in negotiating mergers and acquisitions of smaller companies. Steil also likes to say that he is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin, without mentioning his time at Georgetown. [Read background]

Issue Position Summaries

 Abortion Issues: Steil has said that his opposition to abortion rights was a “core tenant of my philosophy.” He has also said that a ban on abortion is rooted as a “core tenant of our United States Constitution.” When he was pressed on whether he thinks there should be any exceptions to abortion bans, Steil said that there should be in cases of rape, incest, and the life of the mother. When it came to Planned Parenthood, however, Steil saw now exceptions: Steil said the federal government should stop funding Planned Parenthood, regardless of whether those funds were used for abortion services or not. [Read background]

 Budget Issues: Steil repeatedly talked about Washington having a “spending problem,” and was critical of the most recent federal budget, arguing that it had “a lot of problems.” Steil, however, expressed support for increasing defense budget. Steil is lockstep with Ryan’s budget approach, and going back to 2012, he has praised Ryan’s budget proposals and “entitlement reforms.” [Read background]

 Defense And Foreign Policy: Steil has lacked specifics on defense issues: when asked specifically whether Trump needed approval for air strikes in Syria, Steil demurred and said, “as we go through this campaign we’re going to lay out kind of all those approaches.” Steil, however, has expressed general support for “strengthening our defense.” When it came to discussing North Korea, Steil said he was “cautiously optimistic” about Trump’s approach and said it appeared that the sanctions and “maximum pressure campaign” were working. [Read background]

 Economic Development Issues: Steil has repeatedly cited the FoxConn project as an example of positive economic development; he’s called the FoxConn project “exciting” and said Wisconsin needs to reform its education policies to train workers for the FoxConn jobs. [Read background]

 Education Issues: Steil has emphasized that his preferred approach to education is to prepare the workforce for jobs. Without citing any specific examples, Steil has said that he wants to repeal federal education requirements. In one instance, Steil discussed repealing federal education oversight for the UW merger plan, though that oversight was to ensure students’ federal financial aid was protected and that accreditation standards were being met: does that mean Steil opposed protecting financial aid and ensuring the highest standard of education for students? [Read background]

 Gun Rights Issues: Steil has said he’s a “supporter of the second amendment” and as said that there are no additional laws that need to be made to prevent gun violence and to ensure that guns are used safely and properly in the United States. Even in the wake of several school shootings, Steil refused to say a single policy change needed to happen. [Read background]

 Health Care Issues: Bryan Steil has acknowledged that there are problems with health care costs, but he could not offer any specifics for how to address those. Steil repeated that he preferred a “patient-centered approach” to health care, and said that Ron Johnson’s health care proposal was “intriguing.” [Read background]

 Immigration Issues: Steil said he supported Trump’s immigration policies, and was unable to articulate what would need to be done to reform immigration policies other than to build a wall. When he was asked about the DREAM Act, Steil refused to comment and repeated that a wall would need to be built first. [Read background]

 Tax Issues: Steil said that he wanted to “like to continue” slashing corporate taxes and said that the Republican federal tax reforms were a “terrific step forward.” [Read background]

 Trade Issues: Steil said he was supportive of free trade agreements, and that they needed to be “free, fair, reciprocal.” When asked about Trump’s posturing at the G-7 conference, Steil said that it was all about “defending American workers” and that the free trade agreements were “ultimately going to benefit the people here.” [Read background]

Top Issues

Steil Is Not Honest With Voters, Refuses To Answer Tough Questions

On issue after issue, Bryan Steil has been evasive with Wisconsin voters and instead returns to old, tired talking points. Whether discussing pressing issues like immigration, guns, or authorizing the use of military force, Steil has declined to give voters specific answers on his positions or offer a clear policy proposal to address those issues. Even on directly comparative questions, Steil has demurred: he has never answered how he differs from Paul Ryan, and he and he refused to comment on how he differs from Trump.

Steil Has Not Given Specifics On Key Issues…

Steil Declined To Say Whether He Thought Trump Needed Congressional Approval To Order Air Strikes On Syria. According to a transcript of an interview with Bryan Steil on the Dan O’Donnell Show, “O’DONNELL: On national defense, one of the biggest issues really of the last year has been President Trump’s authorization of strikes in retaliation for what we believe to be the Assad regime’s use of chemical weapons. Now a big debate amongst conservatives is whether he should have gotten or should have been required to get congressional authorization. As a congressman, will you push for that or do you believe that without a f0rmal declaration of war, the president can do these strikes in conjunction with foreign allies. STEIL: Sure, the separation of powers, it’s in the U.S. constitution, is a really powerful force. And so, as we go through this campaign we’re going to lay out kind of all those approaches, we’re on day three. I’m out there kind of introducing myself to voters, and we’re going to get into the nuance of all those conversations as we go. But definitely, the separation of powers is a critical aspect of our U.S. constitution.” [WISN, Dan O’Donnell Show, 12:38, 4/24/18]

Steil Declined To Offer A Single Policy Proposal To Address A Spate Of School Shootings. According to a transcript of an interview on Capital City Sunday, “QUESTION: Would you be open to anything like, you know, there’s ideas out there like arming teachers, you know, banning bump stocks, any of those that you would support? STEIL: There’s a whole number of solutions out there, but I think first and foremost is let’s enforce the rules that are on the books now and let’s make some immediate progress before we even need to get to that type of a conversation.” [KTTC, Capital City Sunday, 07:28, 5/25/18]

Steil Refused To Discuss Comprehensive Immigration Reform, The DREAM Act, Or Offer Any Specific Comments On Immigration Policies. According to a video posted by the Republican Party of Kenosha, “QUESTION: Do you think the United States should provide a path to citizenship for DREAMers or anyone else who came here illegally? STEIL: [Incomprehensible] The whole immigration system is a complete mess. So step one before you can get into that part of the conversation is you need to secure the border. As so I think before you get into that conversation is step one, is secure the border and then have a conversation about how you address the broader immigration system. So addressing that broader immigration system before you get through step one I think is jumping the gun. So I think step one is we got to secure the border, and then step two is figuring out how you have a comprehensive solution to immigration.” [Republican Party of Kenosha County, 21:30, 5/6/18]

…And On Multiple Occasions, Steil Could Not Name A Difference Between Himself And Ryan Or Trump

Steil Couldn’t Point To A Single Different Between Himself And Paul Ryan. According to an interview on Up Front with Mike Gousha, Steil was asked, “How are you different than Paul Ryan? Is there any significant different between the two of you and your views of the issues?” Steil did not name a single difference, and instead pivoted to say, “I kind of look at the whole Republican delegation kind of as an example. I look at aspects of Ron Johnson, his manufacturing background, we share that together. I look at some of the aspects of Mike Gallagher, some of his foreign policy experience. And then you look at Paul Ryan, you look at his 20 years of bold conservative reforms. I’m my own man, but I think there’s aspects of all the Republican of Wisconsin that is really kind of a role model for how you can be effective in Washington.” [WISN, Up Front With Mike Gousha, 5/6/18]

Steil Could Not Give An Example Of How He Differs From Paul Ryan And Establishment Republicans. According to a transcript of an interview with Bryan Steil on the Dan O’Donnell Show, “O’DONNELL: How do you reject that [establishment] label and how do you demonstrate to those voters who would see you as furthering and essentially being another term of Paul Ryan’s congressional seat? STEIL: I worked for Paul as an economic legislative aid for one year out of college. I did that and then moved back to Wisconsin, lived here functionally ever since. I think the whole Wisconsin delegation is a great example of what needs to be done. You look at Ron Johnson, Sean Duffy, Mike Gallagher, and Paul Ryan – I think they all give a really great example of the type of people we need in Washington. If everyone in Washington was like the Wisconsin delegation, I think this non-stop crisis factory would be a long time shut down.” [WISN, Dan O’Donnell Show, 08:30, 4/24/18] Edited for clarity

Steil Refused To Comment On How He Differed From Ryan Or Whether He Was Aligned With Movement Conservatives Like Trump. According to a transcript of an interview with Bryan Steil on the Dan O’Donnell Show, “O’DONNELL: Do your politics more closely align to Speaker Ryan’s or President Trump’s? And I know this may be a distinction without a difference. You know what I’m saying? It’s sort of like this economic conservatism, dogmatic conservatism, versus this new style of conservatism mixed with nationalism, especially on economic issues such as trade policy and that sort of thing. Where do you kind of fit within that dichotomy within the Republican party. STEIL: I think they’re pretty darn aligned. I think they’re saying it really differently. I think there’s a lot of conservative reforms that all of these guys are really aligned on, right? You look at the tax reform that went through. I think you see alignment. I think you see people saying it differently. I think people in Wisconsin have a very different conversation than people not from this area. I think being aligned with…if you listen to Ron Johnson, you listen to Paul Ryan, you listen to Sean Duffy, they’re fighting for the same conservative causes, they’re saying it differently. Being a Wisconsin guy, I’m probably going to sound a lot more like the Wisconsin delegation on that voice – you’re talking kind of frankly and honestly with the voters about what needs to be done and how we move the ball forward. I think it’s just a different approach, but it’s all kind of fighting for the same conservative movement.” [WISN, Dan O’Donnell Show, 09:29, 4/24/18]

Steil Is Dishonest About His Relationship With Ryan, Is Closely Linked

In the early months of his campaign for Congress, after deflecting a series of questions and about how he differed from Paul Ryan, Bryan Steil astonishingly said that he was not close to Paul Ryan personally. He said, “one year [working for Paul Ryan] after college is not a close tie personally.” What Steil did not acknowledge, is that Paul Ryan was a longtime close family friend, and not just his former employer. Paul Ryan said on the House floor in 2009 that he had “had the privilege of getting to know the Steil family during the formative years of my life.” Ryan and Steil attend the same church, and their campaigns share the same fundraiser. Professionally, Steil not only worked for Ryan after college, he also worked for Ryan’s first campaign for Congress.

Steil Claimed He Did Not Have Close Ties To Ryan

Bryan Steil Said Working For Ryan “One Year After College Is Not A Close Tie Personally” To Paul Ryan. According to a transcript of an interview on Capital City Sunday, “QUESTION: And how do you break that mold for those voters who think you have close ties to him and you’re just going to be another Paul Ryan in office. STEIL: Sure, I think one year out of college is not a close tie personally.” [KTTC, Capital City Sunday, 02:16, 5/25/18]

Steil’s Family Worked With Ryan’s Family, Ryan Offered Condolence Remarks To Steil’s Family On The House Floor

ago at his home in Janesville, but not before leaving an indelible mark on the countless lives he touched-myself included. He will be sorely missed, but will never, ever, be forgotten.” [Congressional Record, Extensions of Remarks, 4/23/09]

Paul Ryan Said That Bryan Steil’s Grandfather Was Law Partners With His Own Father; Ryan Said He “Had The Privilege Of Getting to Know The Steil Family During The Formative Years Of My Life” After His Own Father’s Passing. According to the Congressional Record, Ryan said, “His long list of achievements and honors fails to do justice in describing the type of man George Steil was. My father was George's law partner, and I had the privilege of getting to know the Steil family during the formative years of my life. Because I lost my father at a young age, George became a mentor of mine. He gave me the kind of fatherly guidance and encouragement that I so desperately needed as I grew up and faced life's many challenges. Unlike any other, I looked to George as a role model, and was blessed to be taken under his wing.” [Congressional Record, Extensions of Remarks, 4/23/09]

Ryan Mentioned Bryan Steil During His Remarks In Memory Of George Steil. According to the Congressional Record, Ryan said, “To his two great-grandchildren and ten grandchildren, including my former and future staffers Bryan and Allison Steil: your grandfather's zest for life and selfless commitment to service provides a guiding light for you to follow for years to come.” [Congressional Record, Extensions of Remarks, 4/23/09]

Steil Was A Member Of The Same Church As Paul Ryan

Steil Was A Member Of The St. John Vianney Parish, Which Ryan Also Attended. According to Fox – 6 WITI, “Ahead of the announcement, Steil launched SteilForWisconsin.com. His website names Janesville, Craig High School and St. John Vianney Parish -- where both Ryan and Steil are from, graduated and attend church, respectively.” [Fox 6 – WITI, 4/22/18]

1998: Steil Helped On Ryan’s First Run For Congress

Steil Helped Paul Ryan’s First Campaign For Congress In 1998. According to the Isthmus, “When Paul Ryan first ran for Congress in 1998, Bryan Steil was there to help. Although Steil couldn't vote - he was still in high school - he helped canvass for the young candidate.” [Isthmus, 10/9/14]

Steil Was A Legislative Aide To Ryan

Steil Was A “Legislative Aide To Ryan.” According to The Freeman, “Like Ryan, Steil is a Republican and a Janesville native. He is also a former legislative aide to Ryan, who recently announced that he won't seek re- election to Wisconsin's First Congressional District seat in the House of Representatives, which he's held since 1999.” [The Freeman, 4/25/18]

Steil Used The Same Staff As Ryan

Steil Was Using The Same Fundraiser As Paul Ryan. According to the Janesville Gazette, “GOP sources told The Gazette that Mary Stitt, who has worked on campaign finances for Ryan, is working with Steil.” [Janesville Gazette, 4/16/18]

2012: Steil Was Been Described As A Longtime Friend Of Paul Ryan

2012: Steil Was Described As A “Longtime Friend” Of Ryan’s. According to Gannett News Service, “For this event, Ryan wore khakis and a dark-colored, short-sleeve polo shirt. This event also included a debt clock that showed the nation's financial obligation increasing by the second. In this setting, Ryan is an engaging wonk. ‘Paul is at his best when he's interacting directly with voters,’ said Bryan Steil, a former legislative aide and longtime friend of the congressman. He added Ryan has long been a fan of charts and graphs. ‘It's probably a little bit on the wonky side, but it makes certain aspects of his talk about the debt really clear.’” [Gannett News Service, 10/5/12]

Steil Paid Property Taxes Late, Became Up To Date After Ryan Retired

Steil was delinquent in paying his 2017 property taxes, and only became up to date when Paul Ryan announced he would not seek re-election. Just five days after Ryan made the announcement that he was retiring from the House, Bryan Steil paid his 2017 property taxes in full, including $243 in late penalties and interest fees.

2017: Steil Received A Penalty And Interest Charges For Paying His Property Taxes Late; He Paid His Property Taxes In Full After Having To Pay $243 In Interest And Penalties. According to the Rock County Treasurer, Steil completely paid his 2017 tax bill on April 16, 2018; the payment was late, and he had to pay a total of $243.58 in interest and penalties. For 2017, according to the City of Janesville and the Rock County Treasurer, Steil had to pay a total of $5,412.88 in real estate taxes after receiving a First Dollar Credit, the School Levy Credit, and the Lottery Credit; because he was late, he paid $162.39 in interest and a $81.19 penalty, making his total payment $5,656.46. [Rock County Treasurer, Tax Payment History – 2017, accessed 6/7/18; City of Janesville, Tax Bill – 2017, accessed 6/7/18]

Steil Worked To Ship Jobs Overseas

As an attorney at Regal Beloit Corporation, Steil said he was responsible for doing mergers and acquisitions – buying up companies to help grow the company. Unfortunately, that corporate growth did not mean jobs for American workers. On numerous occasions during Steil’s tenure, the Department of Labor found that Regal Beloit’s outsourcing of production directly contributed to job losses in the United States. Though this impacted hundreds or thousands of American families, Regal Beloit executives blithely described this outsourcing as “simplifying” its footprint. In fact, in 2016, Regal Beloit’s COO said in 2016 that a key part of it simplifying its footprint would be ending its foundry operations in Wisconsin, and outsourcing that production instead. Regal Beloit described those Wisconsin operations as “non-core.”

Steil Said He Worked Doing Mergers And Acquisitions Of Companies For Regal Beloit

Steil Said He Had Experience Doing Mergers And Acquisitions Of Companies Through His Work At Regal Beloit. According to the minutes of a regular meeting of the Board of Regents, “President Behling called upon Regent Steil to move adoption of Resolution 10956, “Approval of Restructuring of UW Colleges and UW-Extension.” Regent Steil explained that he came to this issue with a background in mergers and acquisitions working for one of the state’s largest manufacturing companies. Suggesting that some of the principles he had learned in the private sector merger process would apply here, Regent Steil noted that a vote to restructure the UW Colleges and UW-Extension would not be the end – rather, it would be the start of hard work with the university’s diverse stakeholders. Change is difficult, he said, and bold actions are required to implement change. While some have said the UW System needs to slow down as they identify the risks in the restructuring proposal, Regent Steil said “full steam ahead” to its opportunities: maintaining all of the UW campuses in this changing environment; enhancing the two-year institutions; simplifying and streamlining transferability; and finding financially responsible cost savings. Most importantly, Regent Steil stated that the restructuring was the right thing to do for UW students. With that, he moved adoption of Resolution 10956, approving the restructuring of UW Colleges and UW-Extension.” [Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System, Minutes of the Regular Meeting, 11/9/17]

2017: Regal Beloit Said It Would “Simplify” Its Footprint By Closing A Wisconsin Factory And “Outsourcing” That Product Instead

2017: Regal Beloit CEO Mark Gliebe: “We Have A Great Footprint With Manufacturing Facilities In China, India, Malaysia, Mexico, The U.S.” According to a transcript, NIGEL EDWARD COE: “Yes, okay. Okay. And have we seen any change in behavior from some of your notable Chinese competitors?” MARK J. GLIEBE: “Sure, I wouldn't say there's been any significant change in behavior. They've always -- they've been tough and they've always been tough. But look, we have a great footprint with manufacturing facilities in China, India, Malaysia, Mexico, the U.S. We can compete with anybody wherever

they participant.” [Regal Beloit Corp at Morgan Stanley Laguna Conference, Transcript via Fair Disclosure Wire, 9/14/17]

2016: The COO Of Regal Beloit Said The Company Had Announced Four “Programs” Aimed At “Simplifying” Its Footprint. According to the transcript of an earnings call, Regal Beloit COO Jon Schlemmer said, “Given the weakness in our core markets, we have accelerated our restructuring programs. These programs will deliver additional simplification benefits and PTS-related synergies. In fact, within the last 30 days, we announced four additional programs aimed at further simplifying our footprint.” [Regal Beloit Earnings Call, Transcript via Fair Disclosure Wire, 2/9/16]

The First Was The Closure For A Foundry In Wausau, WI Since Its Foundry Operations Were “Non-Core” To The Company’s Long-Term Strategy. According to the transcript of an earnings call, Regal Beloit COO Jon Schlemmer said, “The first is the closure of our foundry in Wausau, Wisconsin. We already outsource the majority of our castings, and this will get us out of foundry operations, which is non-core to our long term manufacturing strategy.” [Regal Beloit Earnings Call, Transcript via Fair Disclosure Wire, 2/9/16]

The COO Of Regal Beloit Said The Next Two Programs Would Move A Portion Of Its Motor Assembly And Parts Production To Facilities In Mexico. According to the transcript of an earnings call, Regal Beloit COO Jon Schlemmer said, “The next two transitions move a portion of our motor assembly and parts production to existing facilities in Mexico.” [Regal Beloit Earnings Call, Transcript via Fair Disclosure Wire, 2/9/16]

The Department Of Labor Found That Regal Beloit Cut Jobs Due To Outsourcing And “Buying Companies In Other Countries That Do The Same”

2017: Workers At A Regal Beloit Facility In Tennessee Lost Employment Due To The Company “Shifted To A Foreign Country The Production Of Articles…Which Contributed Importantly To Worker Group Separations.” According to a Trade Adjustment Assistance decision, “The investigation was initiated in response to a petition filed on November 17, 2016 by a state workforce official on behalf of workers of Regal-Beloit America, Inc., a subsidiary of Regal-Beloit Corporation, Erwin, Tennessee (subject firm). The subject worker group is engaged in activities related to the production of sub-fractional horsepower motors and plastic resin components. The subject worker group includes on-site leased workers from At Work Personnel Services. Workers are not separately identifiable by product line. During the course of the investigation, information was collected from the petitioner and the workers' firm. Section 222(a)(1) has been met because a significant number or proportion of the workers in such workers' firm have become totally or partially separated, or are threatened to become totally or partially separated. Section 222(a)(2)(B) has been met because the workers' firm has shifted to a foreign country the production of articles like or directly competitive with the articles produced by the workers which contributed importantly to worker group separations at the subject firm. Conclusion After careful review of the facts obtained in the investigation, I determine that workers of Regal-Beloit America, Inc., Erwin, Tennessee, who are engaged in activities related to the production of sub- fractional horsepower motors and plastic resin components, meet the worker group certification criteria under Section 222(a) of the Act, 19 U.S.C. § 2272(a).” [U.S. Department of Labor, TAA Decision 92425, 1/27/17]

2015: The Department Of Labor Found Regal Beloit Had Outsourced Production Of Motors, Which Caused A “Significant Number” Of Employees To Be Laid Off. According to a Trade Adjustment Assistance decision, “The investigation was initiated in response to a petition filed on June 22, 2015 by a company official on behalf of workers of Regal Beloit America, Inc., West Plains Division, a wholly owned subsidiary of Regal Beloit Corporation, West Plains, Missouri (Regal Beloit America). The workers' firm is engaged in activities related to the production of electric motors. The subject worker group does not include on-site leased workers. Workers of Regal Beloit America were eligible to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance under TA-W-82,708 (certification expired on May 21, 2015). During the course of the investigation, information was collected from the workers' firm. Section 222(a)(1) has been met because a significant number or proportion of the workers in such workers' firm have become totally or partially separated, or are threatened to become totally or partially separated. Section 222(a)(2)(B) has been met because the workers' firm has shifted to a foreign country the production of a(n) article like or directly competitive with the articles produced

by the workers which contributed importantly to worker group separations at Regal Beloit America.” [U.S. Department of Labor, TAA Decision 86114, 8/28/15]

 Regal Beloit Said That It Was Laying Off Missouri Workers “Directly” Because Of “The Transfer Of Work To The CASA II, Juarez Mexico Plant. According to a petition for Trade Adjustment Assistance filed by Regal Beloit, “Our current and future separations have been directly connected to the loss of production that the West Plains plant has suffered due to the transfer of work to the CASA II, Juarez Mexico plant. Hours have been reduced for the remaining employees and we are participating in the Missouri Shared Work Program.” [U.S. Department of Labor, Petition for TAW 6/19/15]

2014: The Department Of Labor Found That Regal Beloit Had Eliminated “A Significant Number” Of Workers Because They Had Acquired The Same Products From Foreign Countries. According to a Trade Adjustment Assistance decision, “During the course of the investigation, information was collected from the workers’ firm. Section 222(a)(1) has been met because a significant number or proportion of the workers in such workers’ firm have become totally or partially separated, or are threatened to become totally or partially separated. Section 222(a)(2)(B) has been met because the workers’ firm has acquired from a foreign country articles like or directly competitive with articles produced by the workers which contributed importantly to worker group separations at Regal Beloit Corporation.” [U.S. Department of Labor, TAA Decision 82199, 12/18/14]

 A Petition Stated That Regal Beloit “[Had] Been Buying Companies In Other Countries That Do the Same As We Have Done Here In Springfield.” According to a petition for Trade Adjustment Assistance for workers at a Springfield Missouri Regal Beloit facility, “Production has been moved out of the country because the company has been buying company’s [sic] in other countries that do the same as we have done here in Springfield.” [U.S. Department of Labor, Petition for TAW 82199, 11/30/12]

2014: The DOL Found That Regal Beloit Had Shifted Production To A Foreign Country, Which Caused Significant Layoffs In Kentucky. According to a Trade Adjustment Assistance Decision, “The investigation was initiated in response to a petition filed on June 6, 2014 by a company official on behalf of workers of Regal Beloit Corporation, Mt. Sterling Division, Mt. Sterling, Kentucky (TA-W-85,363), and Regal Beloit Corporation, Winchester Division, Winchester, Kentucky (TA-W-85,363A) (collectively referred to as Regal Beloit Corporation). The workers' firm is engaged activities related to the production of metal stamping. During the course of the investigation, information was collected from the workers' firm. Section 222(a)(1) has been met because a significant number or proportion of the workers at both locations become totally or partially separated, or are threatened to become totally or partially separated. Section 222(a)(2)(B) has been met because the employment decline is related to the shift in production of metal stamping to a foreign country that is a party to a free trade agreement with the United States. In accordance with Section 246 the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (‘Act’), 26 U.S.C. 2813, the Department herein presents the results of its investigation regarding certification of eligibility to apply for alternative trade adjustment assistance (ATAA) for older workers.” [U.S. Department of Labor, TAA Decision 85363, 8/8/14]

 2014: Regal Beloit Closed Two Kentucky Factories, Costing 200 Employees To Lose Jobs. According to the Milwaukee Business Journal, "Regal Beloit Corp. has informed employees of two plants in Kentucky that it will close the plants and transfer production to other locations sometime over the next 18 months. The Beloit-based manufacturer of electric motors, motion control systems and power generations products said Thursday that the closures of plants in Mt. Sterling and Winchester, Ky., will affect about 200 employees. The company is meeting with the union to discuss the impact of its decision and intends to help employees find work elsewhere at Regal Beloit or outside the company. Production is being relocated to other sites both within Regal Beloit as well as outside the company." [Milwaukee Business Journal, 6/6/14]

Corporation, including on-site leased workers from Penmac Personnel Services, Springfield, Missouri (Regal). The workers' firm is engaged in activities related to the production of electric motors and parts for heating, ventilation and air conditioning applications. Workers are not separately identifiable by product line. During the course of the investigation, information was collected from the workers' firm. Section 222(a)(1) has been met because a significant number or proportion of the workers in such workers' firm have become totally or partially separated, or are threatened to become totally or partially separated. Section 222(a)(2)(B) has been met because the employment decline is related to the shift in production to a country that is party to a free trade agreement with the United States. In accordance with Section 246 the Trade Act of 1974, as amended ("Act"), 26 U.S.C. 2813, the Department herein presents the results of its investigation regarding certification of eligibility to apply for alternative trade adjustment assistance (ATAA) for older workers.” [U.S. Department of Labor, TAA Decision 85641, 12/10/14]

 2014: Regal Beloit Closed A Missouri Factory To Shift Production To Mexico “In Order To Produce A Lower Cost Product.” A Petition Stated That Regal Beloit Had Closed A Factory In Missouri To Move The Production To “Reynosa, Mexico In Order To Produce A Lower Cost Product.” According to a petition for Trade Adjust Assistance for workers at a Springfield Missouri’s Regal Beloit facility, “Production is being moved to the company’s locations in McAllen, Texas and Reynosa, Mexico in order to produce a lower cost product.” [U.S. Department of Labor, Petition for TAW 85641, 11/10/14]

 When Regal Beloit Closed That Missouri Factory In 2015, It Moved The Jobs To Mexico. "A large Springfield manufacturer will soon be closing its doors. The Regal Beloit plant on east Sunshine has an emptier parking lot than in the past, and it will soon be vacant. 'They have let folks go out in segments, in groups, of people coming out. There will be another group coming out this Friday, tomorrow,' says Cynthia Collins, Missouri Career Center business service representative. When Regal Beloit announced the closing about a year and a half ago, there were about 330 employees. Right now, we believe, from corporate management and an employee, that there are about 100 left. The plant, which makes electric motors, has been in Springfield for decades. 'We've seen employees that had been there for 44 years. I mean Regal was GE before Regal, so you had folks that started on at GE and within 8 or 9 years ago, Regal bought GE, and those employees continued on,' said Collins. The Missouri Career Center says Regal Beloit employees qualify for retraining assistance through the Trade Act, because some of the jobs are leaving the country, going to Mexico. Collins says those employees also have skills that can be used in other jobs, and some are getting right back to work. [...] Regal Beloit's corporate Wisconsin office says the plant will have about 50 employees left at the end of the year, and the plant will shut down sometime in early 2015." [NBC - 3 KYTV, 12/18/14]

2009: The Department Of Labor Found That Regal Beloit Outsourcing Manufacturing To Mexico “Contributed Importantly” To Lay Offs In Missouri. According to a Trade Adjustment Assistance decision, “The investigation was initiated in response to a petition filed on June 3, 2009 by a company official on behalf of workers of Regal Beloit Manufacturing, Lebanon, Missouri. The investigation revealed that the worker group includes on-site leased workers of Penmac Agency. The workers are engaged in employment related to the production of small and medium sized electric motors. The workers are not separately identifiable by specific motor produced. The investigation revealed that workers of Regal Beloit Manufacturing, including on-site leased workers of Penmac Agency, Lebanon, Missouri who are engaged in employment related to the production of small electric motors meet the criteria for certification. Criterion I has been met because at least five percent of workers in the workers' firm have become totally or partially separated during the relevant period. Criterion II has been met because there has been a shift in production of small electric motors by Regal Beloit Manufacturing to Mexico. Criterion III has been met because the shift in production of electric motors by Regal Beloit Manufacturing to Mexico contributed importantly to worker group separations at Regal Beloit Manufacturing.” [U.S. Department of Labor, TAA Decision 70935, 8/13/09]

2009: The Department Of Labor Concluded Regal Beloit-Owned Marathon Electric Laid Off Workers At A Texas Plant Because It Had Shifted “A Major Portion” Its Operations To Mexico. According to a Trade Adjustment Assistance decision, “The investigation was initiated in response to a petition filed by a company official on May 19, 2009 on behalf of the workers of Regal Beloit, Marathon Electric/Generators Division, Brownsville, Texas. The workers produced generators and related parts. The worker group includes on-site leased workers from Select Staff, Staff Force and Manpower. The investigation revealed that workers of Marathon Electric/Generators Division, Brownsville, Texas, who are engaged in 14

employment related to the production of generators, electric motors and related parts meet the criteria for certification. Criterion I has been met because at least five percent of the workers have become separated in the last year. Criterion II has been satisfied because the worker's firm has shifted a major portion of production of generators, electric motors and related parts to an affiliated facility in Mexico. Criterion III has been met because the shift in production to Mexico contributed importantly to worker group separations at the Brownsville, Texas facility.” [U.S. Department of Labor, TAA Decision 70159, 7/31/09]

 NOTE: Steil disclosed that he was a Director of Calamsar Investments, a Cyprus company that owned Marathon Electric of India. Steil was a director through 2017, though it’s not certain when he became a director of that company because Cyprus business filings are not immediately available.

Steil Is Out Of Touch With Regular Wisconsinites, Part Of The One Percent

Steil cannot relate to the struggles of everyday Wisconsinites. Steil comes from a well-connected family, sits on the board of a nonprofit his relatives started, and has assets worth potentially more than $1.5 million.

Steil Could Have Up To $1.3 Million In Investment Assets

2018: Steil Disclosed Owning Up To $1,375,000 Of Investment Assets.

Asset Value Min Value Max Charter Nex Films 401k Plan / Vanguard Target $1,001 $15,000 Retirement 2045 Fund Investor Shares Associated Banc-Corp $1,001 $15,000 Bank of Montreal $1,001 $15,000 Caterpillar, Inc. $15,001 $50,000 Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. $15,001 $50,000 Fiserv, Inc. $15,001 $50,000 Ford Motor Company $1,001 $15,000 General Electric Company $1,001 $15,000 Interest Bearing Brokerage Cash Account $100,001 $250,000 JP Morgan Chase & Co. $1,001 $15,000 JP Morgan US Government Money Market Fund None None Merck & Company, Inc. Common Stock $1,001 $15,000 U.S. Bancorp $1,001 $15,000 Vanguard Mid Cap Growth Index Fund Investor Shares $15,001 $50,000 Vanguard Morgan Growth Fund Investor Shares $50,001 $100,000 JP Morgan Chase Bank Checking Account $50,001 $100,000 JPMorgan Chase Bank Roth IRA Money Market $1,001 $15,000 American Century Emerging Markets Fund R6 Class $1,001 $15,000 American Funds Washington Mutual Investors Fund $15,001 $50,000 Class R6 MFS International Diversification Fund Class R3 $1,001 $15,000 MFS New Discovery Value Fund A Shares $1,001 $15,000 Nationwide Geneva Small Cap Growth Fund Class R6 $1,001 $15,000 Schwab Small Cap Index Fund $1,001 $15,000 T Rowe Price Institutional Large Cap Growth Fund $15,001 $50,000 Vanguard Mid Cap Index Fund Institutional Shares $15,001 $50,000

Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund $1,001 $15,000 Institutional Shares Vanguard Target Retirement 2045 Fund Investor Shares $100,001 $250,000 Vanguard Target Retirement 2060 Fund Investor Shares $50,001 $100,000 [Clerk of the House of Representatives, Steil 2018 Financial Disclosure, 5/25/18]

Steil Sits On Board Of A Non-Profit Started By His Family

The Janesville Community Fund Was A Part Of The Community Foundation Of Southern Wisconsin, Which Was Co-Founded By John Steil. According to a Janesville Gazette editorial, “For more than 20 years, the Community Foundation of Southern Wisconsin has done great things in and around Janesville. Now, organizers hope a new entity within that foundation, the Janesville Community Fund, can lift this city in more ways. Starting with a base of $75,000, the fund is designed to serve as a financial resource for Janesville nonprofit groups. About 22 years ago, a small group of civic-minded Janesville residents pooled their knowledge and dollars to launch what was then known as the United Community Foundation. Longtime residents will recognize names of founding board members--Alan Dunwiddie, Jim Cripe, Alfred Diotte, Martin Kennedy, Phil Reuter, Gary Smith and John Steil. Some of them worked for Parker Pen and took their cue from a fund set up by that company. That fund supported causes but wasn't designed to take donations from the public.” [Janesville Gazette, Editorial, 1/24/14]

Steil Donated To A Liberal New York Politician

In 2011, Bryan Steil donated to a liberal New York politician who was not only running as a Democrat, but also with the Green Party and the Working Families Party – a corrupt ultra-liberal group with ties to ACORN.

NOTE: Steil’s contribution was returned on September 21, 2012. Based on Steil and Wagner’s biographies, it appears they were classmates from Georgetown.

2011: Bryan Steil Donated $250 To Justin Wagner, A Candidate For State Senate In New York. [New York State Board of Elections, 12/10/11]

Justin Wagner Was A Democrat Running Who Was Also Running On The Working Families Party And Green Party Lines. According to the Examiner News, “The gloves came off a long time ago in the bare knuckle brawl for the 40th State Senate District seat between incumbent Republican Greg Ball and Democratic challenger Justin Wagner. Ball, 35, who also is running on the Conservative and Independence lines, is seeking a second two-year term in the Senate. He previously served four years in the Assembly. Originally from Pawling, he has lived in Patterson in Putnam County since 2005. Wagner, 31, who also is running on the Working Families and Green Party lines, has never held elected office. An attorney for a large New York City law firm, he has lived in Croton for the last three years.” [Examiner News, 11/2/12]

The Working Families Party Was A Corrupt Organization Tied To ACORN. [Breitbart, 12/15/09]

Steil Refused To Address Causes Of Gun Violence, Only Wants To Treat Victims After The Fact

In the aftermath of several school shootings, Steil was pressed to offer any policies he would pursue to prevent those events from happening again; Steil refused to offer a single proposal, and said he would not pursue any policy changes. Instead, Steil seems content to let those events happen and deal with the aftermath, as he said he was “proud” to offer triage “classroom casualty care kits” to elementary schools in Janesville to deal with “mass casualty” incidents.

Steil Said There Was No Policy He Would Pursue To Address Gun Violence And School Shootings….

…But Said He Was “Proud” To Give Triage Kits To Elementary Schools

Steil Said That He Was “Proud” That The Janesville Generations Fund’s First Grant Went To Providing “Classroom Casualty Care Kits” To Help Hemorrhage Control In Cases Of Mass School Shootings. According to a press release from Mercy Health System, “Every classroom at both Janesville high schools received a Classroom Casualty Care kit. Each kit includes an information card and hemorrhage control supplies. A complementary Classroom Casualty Care Instructor kit provides training materials, including access to a training video. Funding for the high school kits was made possible thanks to a grant secured by the Janesville School District earlier this year. A second $10,000 grant from the Janesville Generations Fund, a component of the Community Foundation of Southern Wisconsin, Inc. will allow the Casualty Care Program to provide kits for all Janesville grade, middle and private, parochial and Montessori school classrooms. ‘This project empowers citizens in a smart and straightforward way,’ said Bryan Steil, Janesville Generations Fund Board President. ‘We are proud that our first grant has gone to a project that will make an immediate impact locally. As the Janesville Generations Fund grows, we hope to make additional grants that directly impact our community.’ […] The Casualty Care in the Classroom task force was formed in January in response to an active shooter tabletop drill mediated by the FBI last winter with participants from all city services and other local agencies.” [PRWeb, Press Release, 12/10/17]

Steil Said The Casualty Care Kits Were Like “Fire Protection Inside Your Buildings” And That The Janesville Generation Fund Made A $10,000 Grant So The Kits Would Be In All Janesville Schools. According to the Janesville Gazette, “The program is paid for by a grant from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction and a fundraising effort by the Janesville Generations Fund. The Community Foundation of Southern Wisconsin established the fund. Bryan Steil, advisory board chair for the Janesville Generations Fund, said it is an endowed fund that is using the money it raises to have a positive impact in the community. ‘It is a one-time grant of $10,000 which provides the tourniquets that will be used and supplied at the schools in the event of a catastrophic event,’ Steil said. ‘All schools in Janesville--public, private, Montessori and parochial schools--are a part of it.’ Steil said it is good for school staff to prepare for a catastrophic event in hopes they never will have to use the equipment and training. ‘You prepare for the worst,’ Steil said. ‘It's the same reason you have fire protection inside your buildings. You hope you never have to use it, but in the event that you do, you want to be as prepared as you can be. This really provides that opportunity.’” [Janesville Gazette, 11/19/14]

Steil Is An Establishment Insider

Bryan Steil is the definition of an insider politician, and he is the establishment’s choice to replace Paul Ryan. Steil is intimately tied into the Republican Party apparatchik, having been a delegate to the RNC twice and sitting in a leadership position for the Rock County Republican Party. Steil has also been by Paul Ryan’s side ever since he first ran for Congress, and he never stopped working with him. Before Steil even formally entered the race, Republican insiders “begged” for Steil to run and several party chairmen publicly backed him and discouraged others from running.

Steil Was Twice A Delegate To The Republican National Convention

Steil Was A Delegate For The First Congressional District And Bound To Vote For Ted Cruz. [Wisconsin Blue Book, 2017-2018, accessed 6/7/18] 17

Steil Was An Alternate Delegate For The 1st Congressional District To The Republican National Convention; The District Was Set To Support Mitt Romney. According to the Wisconsin Blue Book, in 2012, Steil was an alternate delegate to the Republican National Convention representing the first congressional district; the district was set to nominate Mitt Romney. [Wisconsin Blue Book, 2013-2014, accessed 6/7/18]

Steil Has Worked With Paul Ryan Throughout His Tenure In Congress

Steil Had A Leadership Role In The Rock County Republican Party

Steil Was “The First Vice Chairman On The Rock County Republican Board.” According to the Associated Press, “Steil is the first vice chairman on the Rock County Republican board and is well-known to GOP activists in Ryan's southeastern Wisconsin congressional district, even though he doesn't have a high public profile.” [Associated Press, 4/23/18]

Establishment Republicans Cleared The Field For Steil

Three Former Party Chairmen Encouraged Steil To Enter The Race To Replace Paul Ryan. According to the Post-Crescent, “On Friday, three former Rock County Republican Party chairs threw their support behind Steil, the general counsel to a Milton manufacturer of packaging materials, Charter NEX Films. Steil is a vice chairman of the Rock County GOP. Tim Lindau, Beth Schmidt and Jim Olson released a statement calling on Steil to run, praising him as a political outsider with business experience. ‘We need an outsider's voice to champion conservative values in Congress,’ they said. ‘Bryan is no career politician.’” [Post- Crescent, 4/14/18]

“Ahead Of Steil’s Decision, Several Other Viable Republicans Cleared The Field For Him.” According to Fox -6 6 WITI, “Ahead of Steil's decision, several other viable Republicans cleared the field for him by deciding not to run. They include former White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus and Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Robin Vos.” [Fox – 6 WITI, 4/22/18]

Republicans Said They’d “Begged” Steil “For Years To Run For Something” And that Steil Considered Running For Ryan’s Seat In 2012. According to the Janesville Gazette, “Longtime political observer Stan Milam, who has spent more time with Ryan than any other local news reporter, said he finds that statement sincere. […] But political observers suggested several Republican heavy hitters who live in the 1st Congressional District might throw in, including Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, former White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus and party activist Bryan Steil of Janesville. Steil issued a statement saying he has received calls urging him to run and is giving the possibility ‘serious consideration.’ Milam noted Steil said in 2012 that he would consider running for Congress if Ryan won his race for vice president. ‘Republicans have begged (Steil) for years to run for something, and I think it would be hard for him to turn this down,’ Milam said.” [Janesville Gazette, 4/11/18]

Steil Was Appointed By Gov. Walker After Donating To Him

Representative on the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System, to serve for the term ending May 1, 2023. Respectfully Submitted, SCOTT WALKER Governor.” [Wisconsin Senate Journal, #752, 2/17/16]

2009-2017: Steil Donated A Total Of $300 To Scott Walker’s Gubernatorial Campaigns. [Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, accessed 5/27/18]

Steil Supported A Resolution To “Chill” Free Speech On Campuses

In 2017, Bryan Steil supported a resolution that members of the ACLU said would have the effect tofu “chilling campus speech and silencing voices of dissent.” Reports suggested that the resolution would also “ramp up punishment is seen as disruptive” and that the distinction of what was and was not seen as disruptive was subjective.

Regents Planned To “Vote On A Resolution Affirming Their Commitment To Free Speech As Legislators Consider A Bill That Would Punish UW Students Who Disrupt Campus Speakers.” According to the Associated Press, “The University of Wisconsin System regents plan to vote on a resolution affirming their commitment to free speech as legislators consider a bill that would punish UW students who disrupt campus speakers. The Republican bill would require the regents to suspend or expel students if they receive complaints about their conduct during a speech or presentation. The regents also would be required to adopt a policy calling for system schools to remain neutral on public controversies.” [Associated Press, 7/7/17]

Steil Said He Supported The Regents’ Speech Resolution And That It Gave The “Chancellors The Tools To Protect The Freedom Of Expression Of All Students.” According to the minutes of a regular meeting of the Board of Regents, “Responding to Regent Jones’s statement about striking a balance, Regent Steil said that the Board is always working to protect students’ right of free expression. He indicated that this proposal would further the right for all students’ voices to be heard. He also noted that the policy relies on thoughtful implementation by each institution, giving chancellors the tools to protect the freedom of expression of all students. Regent Steil stated his support for the resolution. With no further discussion, Resolution 10952 was adopted on a voice vote.” [Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System, Minutes of the Regular Meeting, 10/6/17]

October 2017: UW Regents Voted To Approve A Resolution Which Would “Ramp Up Punishment For Students Whose Protest Is Seen As Disruptive To The Free Expression Of Others On UW Campuses.” According to the Badger Herald, “The University of Wisconsin Board of Regents voted earlier this month to approve a resolution which would ramp up punishment for students whose protest is seen as disruptive to the free expression of others on UW campuses. In the resolution passed by the Board of Regents, a UW student who is considered disruptive to the free expression of others on two separate occasions will face suspension. That same student will face expulsion if he or she is found to have disrupted free expression a third time.” [Badger Herald, 10/17/17]

HEADLINE: “Board Of Regents Free Speech Resolution Met With Mixed Reactions On Campus.” [Badger Herald, 10/17/17]

A UW Student And Member Of The ACLU-Wisconsin Board Of Directors Said The Policy Was “Chilling Campus Speech And Silencing Voices Of Dissent.” According to a letter to the editor written by Shaadie Ali, a member of the board of directors for the American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin and UW student, “Earlier this month, the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents voted overwhelmingly to approve a policy allowing for the suspension and expulsion of student protesters who ‘interfere with’ speaking events. The regents framed this crackdown on student protest as an effort to protect freedom of expression. In reality, it is already having the opposite effect - chilling campus speech and silencing voices of dissent.” [Badger Herald, LTE, 10/23/17]

Steil Is Willing To Blindly Make Cuts And Figure Out Details Later, Even If It Means Jobs Will Be Lost

Bryan Steil has demonstrated he’s willing to be a budget demagogue at all costs, even if it means cutting jobs and eliminating programs for small Wisconsin communities. In spite of calls to slow down a planned merger for UW Colleges and Universities until more concrete details were figured out, Steil called for the merger to go “full steam ahead.” Steil continued to bullishly advocate for the merger even after school officials said the plan would result in job losses and could jeopardize crucial programs for Wisconsin communities.

Steil Wanted To Go “Full Steam” Ahead Of A UW Merger Plan That Lacked Details…

Steil Said He Wanted To Go “Full Steam Ahead” With A Controversial Proposal To Merge The University Of Wisconsin’s Two Year Schools With Four Year Schools. According to the Associated Press, “The University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents approved a plan Thursday to merge the system's two-year schools with its four-year campuses, brushing aside opponents' complaints that faculty and students weren't consulted and the proposal is too vague. The regents signed off on the plan on a voice vote. State public schools Superintendent Tony Evers and Janice Mueller were the only regents who voted against the plan. They said the process has been rushed and the plan sorely lacks details. ‘You say we have to be bold,’ Mueller said before the vote. ‘But we also have to be deliberative.’ System President Ray Cross responded that the details will be sorted out before the merger goes into effect in July. That was good enough for the rest of the regents, who said the board has to move quickly to ensure the two-year schools stay open. ‘I see opportunities and say full steam ahead,’ Regent Bryan Steil said. ‘It's the right thing to do for our students.’” [Associated Press, 11/10/17]

Steil Said He Would Apply Principles From Experience In Mergers And Acquisitions To The Effort To Restructure And Merge The UW Colleges And Universities, And Motioned For The Merger. According to the minutes of a regular meeting of the Board of Regents, “President Behling called upon Regent Steil to move adoption of Resolution 10956, “Approval of Restructuring of UW Colleges and UW- Extension.” Regent Steil explained that he came to this issue with a background in mergers and acquisitions working for one of the state’s largest manufacturing companies. Suggesting that some of the principles he had learned in the private sector merger process would apply here, Regent Steil noted that a vote to restructure the UW Colleges and UW-Extension would not be the end – rather, it would be the start of hard work with the university’s diverse stakeholders. Change is difficult, he said, and bold actions are required to implement change. While some have said the UW System needs to slow down as they identify the risks in the restructuring proposal, Regent Steil said “full steam ahead” to its opportunities: maintaining all of the UW campuses in this changing environment; enhancing the two-year institutions; simplifying and streamlining transferability; and finding financially responsible cost savings. Most importantly, Regent Steil stated that the restructuring was the right thing to do for UW students. With that, he moved adoption of Resolution 10956, approving the restructuring of UW Colleges and UW-Extension.” [Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System, Minutes of the Regular Meeting, 11/9/17]

Steil Defended Pursuing The Merger Plan In Spite Of It “[Lacking] Key Details.” According to the Chippewa Herald, “The Regents backed the proposal from System President Ray Cross over concerns from former UW Colleges officials, student and faculty groups, Democratic lawmakers and two board members that it lacks key details and was made with minimal input from those affected by the mergers. […] Although the mergers would unfold on an aggressive timeline -- they are set to take effect July 1 -- Regents noted that Cross will return to the board at each of its next six meetings to provide updates on the implementation process. ‘A vote to merge is not the end, it's the start of hard work, said Regent Bryan Steil, who voted in favor of the plan. State Superintendent Tony Evers, a Democrat who is running for governor, and Regent Janice Mueller voted against the proposal.” [Chippewa Herald, 11/10/17]

…Even After He Was Told It Would Create Job Losses And Jeopardize Key Programs In Small Wisconsin Communities

start of hard work,’ said Regent Bryan Steil, who voted in favor of the plan. […] UW leaders have said the proposal would result in savings, but did not provide the board with estimates for how the reorganization of Colleges and Extension -- institutions with combined annual operating budgets of nearly $300 million -- would affect the System's bottom line. And while Cross acknowledged Thursday that the changes would result in job losses ‘over time’ as campuses consolidate administration and other services, he has not said how many positions would be cut.” [Chippewa Herald, 11/10/17]

The UW Colleges Chancellor Told Steil That The Restructuring Plan Could Affect Local County And Municipal Financial Support For UW And Had Created “Concerns About The Universities’ Support Of Programs In Small Communities And Whether Open Access Will Be Maintained.” According to the minutes of a Capital Planning and Budget Committee meeting, “Steil was told that restructuring could have impact on local and county support for UW system: "UW Colleges Chancellor Sandeen introduced the 2017 report by describing the partnerships that the colleges have with the counties and municipalities. She introduced Vice Chancellor Steve Wildeck who reported that that cities and counties supplied approximately $6.9M of financial support to UW Colleges in 2017 to support debt service, small projects, and operations. He elaborated on the UW-State-Local partnership by explaining the responsibilities of each group. Mr. Wildeck provided an overview of two recent UW Colleges building projects which include construction of the Everett Roehl Stem Center at Marshfield/Wood County and the Science Building Renovation project at UW-Manitowoc. Regent Steil asked about the impact of restructuring on the counties and Chancellor Sandeen answered that there are some concerns about the universities’ support of programs in small communities and whether open access will be maintained. Regent Jones asked about the counties’ reactions to the restructuring plan involving UW-Extension and Chancellor Sandeen responded that local and regional staff are working with the counties to maintain good relationships to ensure that things go smoothly and that the chancellors of the receiving institutions continue to support those efforts." [Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System, Minutes of the Capital Planning And Budget Committee Meeting, 2/8/18]

Steil Is Not An Active Republican, Has Missed Key Primaries

Though Bryan Steil has tried to portray himself as a long active participant in grassroots Republican politics, he is a Johnny-come-lately. In both 2000 and 2008, Steil failed to vote in crucial Republican Presidential Primaries.

Steil Did Not Vote In Presidential Primaries In 2000 And 2008

Election Date Jurisdiction Method 2000 General 11/1/00 Washington, n/a DC DC General Election 11/5/02 Washington, n/a DC 2004 General Election 11/2/04 Madison, WI n/a Sept. 2004 Election 9/14/04 Madison, WI n/a 2006 Partisan Primary 9/12/06 Madison, WI At Polls 2006 General Election 11/7/06 Madison, WI Absentee Non-Primary Election 11/4/08 Chicago, IL At Polls 2010 Spring Primary 2/16/10 Janesville, WI At Polls 2010 Spring Election 4/6/10 Janesville, WI At Polls 2010 General Election 11/2/10 Janesville, WI Absentee 2011 Spring Primary 2/15/11 Janesville, WI At Polls 2011 Spring Election 4/5/11 Janesville, WI At Polls 2012 Presidential Preference 4/3/12 Janesville, WI At Polls 2012 June 5 Recall Election 6/5/12 Janesville, WI At Polls 2012 Partisan Primary 8/14/12 Janesville, WI At Polls

2012 Presidential And General 11/6/12 Janesville, WI Absentee 2013 Spring Election 4/2/13 Janesville, WI At Polls 2014 Fall Partisan Primary 8/12/14 Janesville, WI At Polls 2014 General Election 11/4/14 Janesville, WI At Polls 2015 Spring Election 4/7/15 Janesville, WI At Polls 2016 Spring Primary 2/16/16 Janesville, WI At Polls 2016 Spring Election And 4/5/16 Janesville, WI At Polls Presidential 2016 Partisan Primary 8/9/16 Janesville, WI At Polls 2016 General Election 11/8/16 Janesville, WI At Polls 2017 Spring Primary 2/21/17 Janesville, WI At Polls 2018 Spring Primary 2/20/18 Janesville, WI At Polls 2018 Spring Election 4/3/18 Janesville, WI At Polls 11/7/2017 Milton School District 11/7/17 Janesville, WI At Polls [Wisconsin Election Commission, accessed 6/7/18; D.C. Board of Elections, 6/8/18; City of Janesville Clerk-Treasurer, 6/8/18; Chicago Board of Election Commissioners, 6/11/18; Madison Clerk, 6/13/18]

Steil Worked For A Law Firm That Represented Trump’s Allies In The Russia Probes

Though Steil likes to claim he differs from Trump’s fiery political style, he has ties closer than he lets on. Steil used to work a high power Chicago law firm, McDermott, Will and Emery, which represented Michael Cohen during a portion of the Russia probes.

Steil’s Former Law Firm Represented Trump’s Associates In The Russia Probes. According to Newsweek, “According to Newsweek, “Sometimes even lawyers have lawyers. NBC News first reported on June 16 that another longtime personal attorney for Trump, Michael Cohen, retained Stephen Ryan from the firm McDermott, Will and Emery. Ryan, a former assistant U.S. attorney, oversees the firm’s government strategies practice and specializes in cases involving congressional oversight and investigations, his biography says. He also worked as deputy counsel for the President’s Commission on Organized Crime during the Ronald Reagan administration. In an interview in May, he said that Mueller, the special counsel, has a ‘sterling’ reputation and is ‘the best choice that could have been made’ to oversee the Russia probe.” [Newsweek, 6/22/17]

Steil Repeatedly Omits Key Parts Of His Biography

Bryan Steil likes to portray himself as a guy who builds things and who has never strayed from the Wisconsin’s first Congressional District. Steil said things like he “functionally” lived in Janesville his whole life. In fact, he functionally lived in Chicago – long enough to vote there – and he worked as a corporate attorney, representing a major corporation in negotiating mergers and acquisitions of smaller companies.

Steil Says He “Functionally” Has Lived In Wisconsin His Since College…

Steil said He “Functionally Lived In Wisconsin” Since College. According to a transcript of an interview with Bryan Steil on the Dan O’Donnell Show, “O’DONNELL: How do you reject that [establishment] label and how do you demonstrate to those voters who would see you as furthering and essentially being another term of Paul Ryan’s congressional seat? STEIL: I worked for Paul as an economic legislative aid for one year out of college. I did that and then moved back to Wisconsin, lived here functionally ever since. I think the whole Wisconsin delegation is a great example of what needs to be done. You look at Ron Johnson, Sean Duffy, Mike Gallagher, and Paul Ryan – I think they all give a really great example of the type of people we need in Washington. If everyone in Washington was like the Wisconsin delegation, I think this non-stop crisis factory would be a long time shut down.” [WISN, Dan O’Donnell Show, 08:30, 4/24/18] Edited for clarity

…But Also “Functionally” Lived And Voted In Chicago

Date Registration Note 2/25/08 Steil registered to vote in Illinois at One West Superior Apt 1215, Chicago, IL 60610; he did not declare a party, as that is only done at election sites in Illinois. [Chicago Board of Election Commissioners, 6/11/18]

Steil Said He Worked In Manufacturing…

Steil Defended His Experience In Manufacturing By Arguing He Was An Attorney For Manufactures. According to a transcript for an interview with Bryan Steil on Up Front with Mike Gousha, “STEIL: I’ve spent the last nine years working in manufacturing in Rock County. Proud of my work in Rock County. […] My employer’s a manufacturing company. So my employer was Regal Beloit Corporation, my employer is Charter NEX. So everyday, I come into the office and it’s focused on how do you bring in raw material, manufacture it, and get it out the door.” [WISN, Up Front With Mike Gousha, 5/6/18]

…But Worked As An Attorney, Doing Things Like Acquiring Companies And Dealing With Anti-Trust Suits

2017: Steil Said He Worked In Mergers And Acquisitions. According to the minutes of a regular meeting of the Board of Regents, “President Behling called upon Regent Steil to move adoption of Resolution 10956, “Approval of Restructuring of UW Colleges and UW-Extension.” Regent Steil explained that he came to this issue with a background in mergers and acquisitions working for one of the state’s largest manufacturing companies. Suggesting that some of the principles he had learned in the private sector merger process would apply here, Regent Steil noted that a vote to restructure the UW Colleges and UW-Extension would not be the end – rather, it would be the start of hard work with the university’s diverse stakeholders. Change is difficult, he said, and bold actions are required to implement change. While some have said the UW System needs to slow down as they identify the risks in the restructuring proposal, Regent Steil said “full steam ahead” to its opportunities: maintaining all of the UW campuses in this changing environment; enhancing the two-year institutions; simplifying and streamlining transferability; and finding financially responsible cost savings. Most importantly, Regent Steil stated that the restructuring was the right thing to do for UW students. With that, he moved adoption of Resolution 10956, approving the restructuring of UW Colleges and UW-Extension.” [Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System, Minutes of the Regular Meeting, 11/9/17]

Regal Beloit Corporation Said That Steil Was Copied Or Party To A Number Of Communications Between The Company And The United States Justice Department To Discuss 23

The Company’s Acquisition Of A.O. Smith. According to a filing in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, Steil was copied to many communications between the Justice Department and Regal Beloit. This information was shared after a complaint regarding Regal Beloit’s compliance with the Tunney Act, an antitrust law. [U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, Case No. 1:11-cv-01487-ESH, Notice of Tunney Act Requirements filed 8/25/11]

Steil Was Copied As Part Of An Anti-Trust Suit, Which Resulted In A Consent Decree Under Which Regal Beloit Was To Divest From Some Of Its Pump Motor Holdings To Maintain Competition In That Market. [U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, Case No. 1:11-cv-01487- ESH, Order for Final Judgment filed 11/1/11]

At His Campaign Announcement, Steil Said He Graduated From The University Of Wisconsin, Did Not Mention Georgetown

Steil Claimed He “Graduated From The University Of Wisconsin” And “Spent The Last Nine Years Working In Manufacturing” Without Mentioning Georgetown Or His Legal Career. According to Bryan Steil’s campaign announcement speech, “I’m Bryan Steil. I went to high school at Craig High School right down the road, I graduated from the University of Wisconsin. I spent the last nine years working in manufacturing in Rock County.” [Bryan Steil, Facebook, 4/22/18]

Personal Notes

Family Notes

Steil Was From A Politically Connected Family

Steil Was “A Member Of A Powerful Janesville Political Family With Close Ties To Ryan.” According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, “Steil, a member of a powerful Janesville political family with close ties to Ryan, said he would use his experience as an attorney for manufacturing companies to represent the southeastern Wisconsin district in Congress.” [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 4/23/18]

 Steil Was A “Long-Time Family Friend Of Paul Ryan.” According to the Capital Times, “Newly appointed regent Bryan Steil of Janesville is corporate counsel at Regal Beloit Corp., a multinational manufacturing company with several locations in Wisconsin, according to a press release on the Walker appointments. Steil is a former congressional legislative assistant to and long-time family friend of Paul Ryan, now Republican Speaker of the House.” [Capital Times, 2/24/16]

2009: In The House, Paul Ryan Delivered Remarks In Memory Of Bryan Steil’s Grandfather And Described Him As “A Personal Friend And Mentor.” According to the Congressional Record, “Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a loving father, grandfather, and great- grandfather, a devoted husband, and a personal friend and mentor. George K. Steil, Sr. was a pillar of integrity and leadership in the Janesville community and the state of Wisconsin. George passed away less than a month ago at his home in Janesville, but not before leaving an indelible mark on the countless lives he touched-myself included. He will be sorely missed, but will never, ever, be forgotten.” [Congressional Record, Extensions of Remarks, 4/23/09]

 Paul Ryan Said That Bryan Steil’s Grandfather Was Law Partners With His Own Father; Ryan Said He “Had The Privilege Of Getting to Know The Steil Family During The Formative Years Of My Life” After His Own Father’s Passing. According to the Congressional Record, Ryan said, “His long list of achievements and honors fails to do justice in describing the type of man George Steil was. My father was George's law partner, and I had the privilege of getting to know the Steil family during the formative years of my life. Because I lost my father at a young age, George became a mentor of mine. He gave me the kind of fatherly guidance and encouragement that I so desperately needed as I grew up and faced life's many challenges. Unlike any other, I looked to George as a role model, and was blessed to be taken under his wing.” [Congressional Record, Extensions of Remarks, 4/23/09]

 Ryan Mentioned Bryan Steil During His Remarks In Memory Of George Steil. According to the Congressional Record, Ryan said, “To his two great-grandchildren and ten grandchildren, including my former and future staffers Bryan and Allison Steil: your grandfather's zest for life and selfless commitment to service provides a guiding light for you to follow for years to come.” [Congressional Record, Extensions of Remarks, 4/23/09]

Steil’s Grandfather Was Appointed By Gov. Tommy Thompson As The First Chair Of The Wisconsin Lottery Board And Had Also Served As A UW Regent. According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, “George Steil, Bryan's grandfather, was appointed by former Gov. Tommy Thompson as the first chair of the Wisconsin Lottery Board. He also served as a UW Regent.” [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 4/23/18]

 Steil’s Grandfather Was President Of The UW Board Of Regents From 1992 To 1994. According to the State Bar of Wisconsin, “Steil was appointed by former Gov. Tommy Thompson as the first chair of the Wisconsin Lottery Board; as chair of the Governor's Advisory Council on Judicial Selection, which recommends applicants for judicial positions; and in 1990 as a member of the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin. He served as president of the Board of Regents from 1992 - 1994.” [State Bar of Wisconsin, 3/30/09]

 When, Steil Delivered Remarks At The UW-Whitewater Commencement Ceremony He Said That As A Child He Had Watched His Grandfather Deliver The Keynote Speech At A Whitewater Commencement. According to the Daily Jefferson County Union, “Members of the Class of 2017 headed out into the ‘real world’ as the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater held its winter commencement Saturday in the Kachel Fieldhouse. […] Also making remarks was UW Regent Bryan Steil, a native of Janesville, who noted that when he was a child, he attended a UW-Whitewater commencement at which his grandfather was the keynote speaker. Steil joked that he could not recall what his grandfather said that day, but he clearly remembered going out for pizza afterward.” [Daily Jefferson County Union, 12/18/17]

 Steil’s Grandfather Was Appointed By Gov. Tommy Thompson As The First Chair Of The Wisconsin Lottery Board. According to the State Bar of Wisconsin, “Steil was appointed by former Gov. Tommy Thompson as the first chair of the Wisconsin Lottery Board; as chair of the Governor's Advisory Council on Judicial Selection, which recommends applicants for judicial positions; and in 1990 as a member of the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin. He served as president of the Board of Regents from 1992 - 1994.” [State Bar of Wisconsin, 3/30/09]

 Steil’s Grandfather Was The Former Head Of The State Bar Of Wisconsin. According to the State Bar of Wisconsin, “Former State Bar President George K. Steil Sr. of Janesville passed away on March 29, 2009. He was 84. Steil was a senior shareholder in Brennan, Steil Basting, S.C. Steil served as president of the firm, which he joined in 1960.” [State Bar of Wisconsin, 3/30/09]

Steil Was Unmarried

Steil Said He Was Not Married And That “Slow And Steady Wins The Race.” According to a transcript of an interview with Bryan Steil on the Dan O’Donnell Show, “O’DONNELL: What about personal? You married? Got kids? STEIL: Not married. Slow and steady wins the race.” [WISN, Dan O’Donnell Show, 03:51, 4/24/18]

Education Notes

Steil Attended Janesville Craig High School. According to Fox – 6 WITI, “Ahead of the announcement, Steil launched SteilForWisconsin.com. His website names Janesville, Craig High School and St. John Vianney Parish -- where both Ryan and Steil are from, graduated and attend church, respectively.” [Fox 6 – WITI, 4/22/18]

Steil Earned A Bachelor Of Science Degree In Business Administration With A Focus On International Business Form Georgetown University And A Juris Doctor From The University Of Wisconsin Law School. According to a press release from Governor Scott Walker, “Bryan Steil currently serves as Corporate Counsel at Regal Beloit Corporation, a multinational manufacturing company with major facilities throughout Wisconsin. Mr. Steil has previously worked as an Attorney at McDermott Will & Emery in Chicago, as well as a Legislative Assistant to Congressman Paul Ryan in Washington D.C. Mr. Steil received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a focus on International Business from Georgetown University and Juris Doctor from the University of Wisconsin Law School.” [US Official News, Press Release, 2/13/16]

 Steil Claimed He “Graduated From The University Of Wisconsin” And “Spent The Last Nine Years Working In Manufacturing” Without Mentioning Georgetown Or His Legal Career. According to Bryan Steil’s campaign announcement speech, “I’m Bryan Steil. I went to high school at Craig High School right down the road, I graduated from the University of Wisconsin. I spent the last nine years working in manufacturing in Rock County.” [Bryan Steil, Facebook, 4/22/18]

Steil Licensing Notes

Steil Was Licensed And In Good Standing To Practice Law In Wisconsin. According to records maintained by the Wisconsin Court System, Steil was registered as Active and in Good Standing as an attorney and assigned the Bar Number 1064826. Steil was listed as associated with Regal Beloit Corporation. Wisconsin Courts said "there is currently no public disciplinary history for this attorney." [Wisconsin Court System, accessed 6/10/18]

Steil Was Admitted To The Bar In Wisconsin In 2007. According to the Wisconsin Bar Association, Steil was listed as an Active member of the Bar and that his License was in Good Standing. He was listed as speaking English and having gone to the University of Wisconsin Law School. His Wisconsin Admission date was listed as 6/19/07, and his address was listed with the Regal Beloit Corp. [Wisconsin Bar Association, accessed 6/10/18]

Steil Was Licensed To Practice Law In Illinois In 2007, But Was Not Authorized Since 2010. According to the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission of the Supreme Court of Illinois, Bryan George Steil was admitted as a lawyer by the Illinois Supreme Court on 11/8/07. He was listed to the Regal Beloit Corporation. He was no longer authorized to practice law in Illinois: his Illinois Registration Status stated, "Retired - Removed and not authorized to practice law - Last Registered Year: 2010." There were no records of malpractice insurance, as he is listed as retired. There was no record of discipline and pending proceedings. [Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission of the Supreme Court of Illinois, accessed 6/10/18]

Work In Paul Ryan’s Office

Steil Was A Legislative Aide To Ryan…

…Though Some News Reports Have Described Him As Ryan’s Driver

Steil Was Ryan’s Personal Driver From 2003 To 2004. According to the Associated Press, “Steil has been a regent since 2016 and works as general counsel and secretary at Charter NEX Films Inc., an independent producer of polyethylene film used for food and consumer packaging. Steil, whose name is pronounced ‘style,’ worked as Ryan's personal driver from 2003 to 2004.” [Associated Press, 4/23/18]

Steil Was Listed As A Legislative Aid And Staff Assistant Between July 2003 And July 2014

Period Position Earned 7/1/03 to 8/31/03 Staff Assistant $3,847.50 9/22/03 to 9/30/03 Legislative Assistant $1,958.33 10/1/03 to 12/31/03 Legislative Assistant $8,500.00 1/20/04 to 1/27/04 Mileage Reimbursement $9.00 1/1/04 to 1/2/04 Legislative Assistant $168.06 1/3/04 to 3/31/04 Legislative Assistant $7,394.43 4/1/04 to 6/30/04 Legislative Assistant $8,562.49 7/1/04 to 7/26/04 Legislative Assistant $2,185.72 [Statement Of Disbursements Of The House Of Representatives]

McDermott Will & Emery

Steil Was An Attorney At McDermott Will & Emery In Chicago. According to the Daily Cardinal, “Steil is corporate counsel at Regal Beloit Corporation, a manufacturing company with facilities throughout the state. He was previously an attorney at McDermott Will & Emery in Chicago and a legislative assistant to House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Janesville, in Washington, D.C.” [Daily Cardinal, 2/13/16]

Steil’s Former Law Firm Represented Trump’s Associates In The Russia Probe

Steil’s Former Law Firm Represented Trump’s Associates In The Russia Probes. According to Newsweek, “According to Newsweek, “Sometimes even lawyers have lawyers. NBC News first reported on June 16 that another longtime personal attorney for Trump, Michael Cohen, retained Stephen Ryan from the firm McDermott, Will and Emery. Ryan, a former assistant U.S. attorney, oversees the firm’s government strategies practice and specializes in cases involving congressional oversight and investigations, his biography says. He also worked as deputy counsel for the President’s Commission on Organized Crime during the Ronald Reagan administration. In an interview in May, he said that Mueller, the special counsel, has a ‘sterling’ reputation and is “the best choice that could have been made” to oversee the Russia probe.” [Newsweek, 6/22/17]

Regal Beloit Corporation

Steil Defended His Experience In Manufacturing By Arguing He Was An Attorney For Manufactures. According to a transcript for an interview with Bryan Steil on Up Front with Mike Gousha, “STEIL: I’ve spent the last nine years working in manufacturing in Rock County. Proud of my work in Rock County… GOUSHA: But you’re a corporate attorney, you’re not a manufacturer, per se. STEIL: My employer’s a manufacturing company. So my employer was Regal Beloit Corporation, my employer is Charter NEX. So everyday, I come into the office and it’s focused on how do you bring in raw material, manufacture it, and get it out the door. My focus in particular is on business development and how do you grow the company and grow jobs in those companies.” [WISN, Up Front With Mike Gousha, 5/6/18]

Steil Worked Doing Mergers And Acquisitions At Regal Beloit. According to the minutes of a regular meeting of the Board of Regents, “President Behling called upon Regent Steil to move adoption of Resolution 10956, “Approval of Restructuring of UW Colleges and UW-Extension.” Regent Steil explained that he came to this issue with a background in mergers and acquisitions working for one of the state’s largest manufacturing companies. Suggesting that some of the principles he had learned in the private sector merger process would apply here, Regent Steil noted that a vote to restructure the UW Colleges and UW-Extension would not be the end – rather, it would be the start of hard work with the university’s diverse stakeholders. Change is difficult, he said, and bold actions are required to implement change. While some have said the UW System needs to slow down as they identify the risks in the restructuring proposal, Regent Steil said “full steam ahead” to its opportunities: maintaining all of the UW campuses in this changing environment; enhancing the two-year institutions; simplifying and streamlining transferability; and finding financially responsible cost savings. Most importantly, Regent Steil stated that the restructuring was the right thing to do for UW students. With that, he moved adoption of Resolution 10956, approving the restructuring of UW Colleges and UW-Extension.” [Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System, Minutes of the Regular Meeting, 11/9/17]

Regal Beloit Shipped Jobs Overseas While Steil Worked For Them

2017: A Regal Beloit Executive Described The Company “Simplifying Its Footprint” By Closing A Wisconsin Factory

2012: Regal Beloit COO Jon Schlemmer Said The Company Was Developing “Two New World Class Manufacturing Facilities” In China. According to the transcript of an earnings call, Regal Beloit COO Jon Schlemmer said, “While we are on the subject of China, I would like to give you an update on the construction of our new manufacturing facilities. We are in the process of building two new world class manufacturing facilities. One for hermetic motors and one for generators. While we have the opportunity to build these new facilities, we are making the investments to plan for long-term capacity requirements, quality and productivity improvements and optimize lean layouts.” [Q1 2012 Regal Beloit Corporation Earnings Conference Call, Transcript via Fair Disclosure Wire, 5/2/12]

During Steil’s Time At Regal Beloit, The Department Of Labor Found That The Company’s Overseas Operations Caused American Job Losses

2009: The DOL Found That Workers At Regal Beloit In Neillsville, WI Lost Employment Due To “A Shift In Production To A Country (Mexico).” According to a Trade Adjustment Assistance decision, “The investigation was initiated in response to a petition received on January 15, 2009, and filed by a company official on behalf of workers at Regal-Beloit Corporation, Electric Motors Group, Neillsville, Wisconsin. The worker group also includes leased workers of Mid-West Labor working on-site at Regal-Beloit Corporation, Electric Motors Group, Neillsville, Wisconsin. The workers produce electric motors. The workers are not separately identifiable by product line. The decline in employment at the subject plant is related to a shift in plant production of electric motors to a country (Mexico) that is a party to a free trade agreement with the United States. In accordance with Section 246 the Trade Act of 1974 (26 USC 2813), as amended, the Department of Labor herein presents the results of its investigation regarding certification of eligibility to apply for alternative trade adjustment assistance (ATAA) for older workers. […] After careful review of the facts obtained in the investigation, I determine that there was a shift in production from the workers' firm or subdivision to Mexico of articles that are like or directly competitive with those produced by the subject firm or subdivision.” [U.S. Department of Labor, TAA Decision 64901, 1/23/09]

2009: The Department Of Labor Concluded Regal Beloit Laid Off Workers At A Texas Plant Because It Had Shifted “A Major Portion” Its Operations To Mexico. According to a Trade Adjustment Assistance decision, “The investigation was initiated in response to a petition filed by a company official on May 19, 2009 on behalf of the workers of Regal Beloit, Marathon Electric/Generators Division, Brownsville, Texas. The workers produced generators and related parts. The worker group includes on-site

leased workers from Select Staff, Staff Force and Manpower. The investigation revealed that workers of Marathon Electric/Generators Division, Brownsville, Texas, who are engaged in employment related to the production of generators, electric motors and related parts meet the criteria for certification. Criterion I has been met because at least five percent of the workers have become separated in the last year. Criterion II has been satisfied because the worker's firm has shifted a major portion of production of generators, electric motors and related parts to an affiliated facility in Mexico. Criterion III has been met because the shift in production to Mexico contributed importantly to worker group separations at the Brownsville, Texas facility.” [U.S. Department of Labor, TAA Decision 70159, 7/31/09]

 2014: Regal Beloit Closed Two Kentucky Factories, Costing 200 Employees To Lose Jobs. According to the Milwaukee Business Journal, "Regal Beloit Corp. has informed employees of two 32

plants in Kentucky that it will close the plants and transfer production to other locations sometime over the next 18 months. The Beloit-based manufacturer of electric motors, motion control systems and power generations products said Thursday that the closures of plants in Mt. Sterling and Winchester, Ky., will affect about 200 employees. The company is meeting with the union to discuss the impact of its decision and intends to help employees find work elsewhere at Regal Beloit or outside the company. Production is being relocated to other sites both within Regal Beloit as well as outside the company." [Milwaukee Business Journal, 6/6/14]

2014: The Department Of Labor Found That Regal Beloit Caused A Significant Amount Of Layoffs In Springfield, MO When It Shifted Production “To A Country That Is Party To A Free Trade Agreement.” According to a Trade Adjustment Assistance decision, “The investigation was initiated in response to a petition filed on November 12, 2014 by a company official on behalf of workers of Regal Beloit Corporation, including on-site leased workers from Penmac Personnel Services, Springfield, Missouri (Regal). The workers' firm is engaged in activities related to the production of electric motors and parts for heating, ventilation and air conditioning applications. Workers are not separately identifiable by product line. During the course of the investigation, information was collected from the workers' firm. Section 222(a)(1) has been met because a significant number or proportion of the workers in such workers' firm have become totally or partially separated, or are threatened to become totally or partially separated. Section 222(a)(2)(B) has been met because the employment decline is related to the shift in production to a country that is party to a free trade agreement with the United States. In accordance with Section 246 the Trade Act of 1974, as amended ("Act"), 26 U.S.C. 2813, the Department herein presents the results of its investigation regarding certification of eligibility to apply for alternative trade adjustment assistance (ATAA) for older workers.” [U.S. Department of Labor, TAA Decision 85641, 12/10/14]

 Some Employees Said Regal Beloit Asked Them Not To Talk To Reporters About The Closure. “Some employees at the plant said the company asked them not to talk to reporters, and some said they feared repercussions since the plant potentially could be open another 18 months.” [NBC – 3 KYTV, 7/10/13]

owned subsidiary of Regal Beloit Corporation, West Plains, Missouri (Regal Beloit America). The workers' firm is engaged in activities related to the production of electric motors. The subject worker group does not include on-site leased workers. Workers of Regal Beloit America were eligible to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance under TA-W-82,708 (certification expired on May 21, 2015). During the course of the investigation, information was collected from the workers' firm. Section 222(a)(1) has been met because a significant number or proportion of the workers in such workers' firm have become totally or partially separated, or are threatened to become totally or partially separated. Section 222(a)(2)(B) has been met because the workers' firm has shifted to a foreign country the production of a(n) article like or directly competitive with the articles produced by the workers which contributed importantly to worker group separations at Regal Beloit America.” [U.S. Department of Labor, TAA Decision 86114, 8/28/15]

Hub City, Inc. Was A 100% Owned Subsidiary Of Regal Beloit Corporation. According to an SEC filing, Hub City, Inc. was a Delaware corporation that was 100% owned by Regal-Beloit Corporation – Wisconsin. [SEC, Regal-Beloit Corporation Subsidiaries, 2/8/12]

 2009: The DOL Found That Hub City Inc. Laid Off Workers Because It Began To Acquire The Products From A Foreign Country. According to the a Trade Adjustment Assistance decision, “The investigation was initiated in response to a petition filed on July 10, 2009 by a company official and union official representing the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers on behalf of workers of Hub City, Aberdeen, South Dakota. The workers are engaged in the production of gearboxes and bearings. The investigation revealed that workers of Hub City who are engaged in employment related to production of gearboxes and bearings meet the criteria for certification. Criterion I has been met because more than five percent of the workers at the subject firm were separated from employment during the relevant period. Criterion II has been satisfied because the workers' firm has acquired from a foreign country articles like or directly competitive with articles produced by the workers. Criterion III has been met because the acquisition of gearbox components from China and India by Hub City contributed importantly to worker group separations at the Aberdeen, South Dakota facility.” [U.S. Department of Labor, TAA Decision 71629, 9/9/09]

Regal Beloit Has Shipped Wisconsin Jobs Overseas

2004: The DOL Found That Regal Beloit Increased Foreign Imports Of Motors And Cut Employment In A Motor Production Facility In Wisconsin. According to a Trade Adjustment Assistance decision, “The investigation was initiated on December 29, 2003 and filed on behalf of workers at Regal-Beloit Corporation, Motor Technologies Group, Leeson Electric, Grafton, Wisconsin. The workers produce electric motors; they are not separately identifiable by product line. The investigation revealed that employment and production declined at the subject firm from January through November 2003 compared to the same period in 2002. The investigation also revealed that imports of electric motors by the subject firm increased during the relevant time period.” [U.S. Department of Labor, TAA Decision 53887, 1/12/04]

 NOTE: This was prior to Steil’s tenure at Regal Beloit

separately identifiable by product line. The decline in employment at the subject plant is related to a shift in plant production of electric motors to a country (Mexico) that is a party to a free trade agreement with the United States. In accordance with Section 246 the Trade Act of 1974 (26 USC 2813), as amended, the Department of Labor herein presents the results of its investigation regarding certification of eligibility to apply for alternative trade adjustment assistance (ATAA) for older workers. […] After careful review of the facts obtained in the investigation, I determine that there was a shift in production from the workers' firm or subdivision to Mexico of articles that are like or directly competitive with those produced by the subject firm or subdivision.” [U.S. Department of Labor, TAA Decision 64901, 1/23/09]

 NOTE: This was right at the start of Steil’s tenure at Regal Beloit

Steil Held Positions With Several Regal Beloit Subsidiaries, Including Foreign Companies

Steil Was A Director Of Calamsar Investments, A Cyprus Company

Steil Disclosed Being A Director Of Calamsar Investments Limited, A Cyprus Company. [Wisconsin Ethics Commission, Steil 2017 Statement of Economic Interest, 4/25/17]

Calamsar Investments Limited Was A 100% Owned Subsidiary Of Regal Beloit Finance, Based In Cyprus. [SEC, “Regal-Beloit Corporation Subsidiaries,” 2/8/12]

 Calamsar Investments Limited Is A Cyprus-Based Subsidiary Of Regal Beloit. According to Bloomberg, Calamsar Investments Limited “operates as a subsidiary of Regal Beloit Finance BV” and was based in Cyprus. [Bloomberg, Company Snapshot, accessed 6/11/18]

Calamsar Investments Limited Owned Marathon Electric India, A Company Based In India. According to SEC filings from Regal-Beloit, Calamsar Investments Limited owned 99.999% of India-based Marathon Electric India Private Limited (formerly GEMI). [SEC, “Regal-Beloit Corporation Subsidiaries,” 2/8/12]

Marathon Electric Claimed To Be The “Largest Manufacturer And Exporter of Motors” In India. According to Marathon Electric’s website, “Since 1913, Marathon Electric has been dedicated to providing customers with quality products for targeted applications. Headquartered in Wausau, Wisconsin USA, the company is composed of two strategic product lines: Motors and Generators. In India, Marathon Electric delivers efficient mechanical power solutions using AC & PM electric motors up to 5.6MW. Marathon Electric India has manufacturing facilities, Marathon Electric India Pvt Ltd at Faridabad & Marathon Electric Motors (India) Ltd at Kolkata.& Marathon Electric Motors(India) Ltd at Ahmedabad.Together, Marathon Electric in India is the Largest Manufacturer & Exporter of Motors. Our strategic product lines include motors and Fans. Our range of Fractional Horsepower motors serves applications such as Heating, Ventilating, Air-conditioning & Commercial Refrigeration (HVAC), General Purpose Applications, Evaporative Coolers & Cooler Kits, Washing Machines & Wet Rice Grinders. Our Integral Horsepower motors range upto 11KV serving a wide range of applications such as pumps, compressors, fans, crushers, conveyors, kilns etc.We also manufacture Propeller, Axial Flow and Centrifugal Flow type of industrial fans used for various purposes.” [Marathon Electric, About Marathon, accessed 6/11/18]

2009: The Department Of Labor Concluded Regal Beloit-Owned Marathon Electric Factory Laid Off Workers At A Texas Plant Because It Had Shifted “A Major Portion” Its Operations To Mexico. According to a Trade Adjustment Assistance decision, “The investigation was initiated in response to a petition filed by a company official on May 19, 2009 on behalf of the workers of Regal Beloit, Marathon Electric/Generators Division, Brownsville, Texas. The workers produced generators and related parts. The worker group includes on-site leased workers from Select Staff, Staff Force and Manpower. The investigation revealed that workers of Marathon Electric/Generators Division, Brownsville, Texas, who are engaged in employment related to the production of generators, electric motors and related parts meet the criteria for certification. Criterion I has been met because at least five percent of the workers have become separated in the last year. Criterion II has been satisfied because the worker's firm has shifted a major portion of production of 35

generators, electric motors and related parts to an affiliated facility in Mexico. Criterion III has been met because the shift in production to Mexico contributed importantly to worker group separations at the Brownsville, Texas facility.” [U.S. Department of Labor, TAA Decision 70159, 7/31/09]

Steil Was A Director Of Elco Motors, Inc., A Canadian Company

Steil Disclosed Being A Director Of Elco Motors, Inc., A Canadian Company. [Wisconsin Ethics Commission, Steil 2017 Statement of Economic Interest, 4/25/17]

Elco Motors, Inc. Was A Canadian Subsidiary Of Elco Group, NV, Which Was Owned By Regal Beloit. According to an SEC filing, Elco Motors, Inc. was a 100% owned subsidiary of Elco Group BV, a Netherlands company which was 55% owned by Regal Beloit Holding BV – The Netherlands, a company that was 100% owned by Regal-Beloit Manufacturing Corporation – Wisconsin. [SEC, Regal-Beloit Corporation Subsidiaries, 2/8/12]

Steil Was A Director And VP Of Hub City, A South Dakota Company That Has Laid Off Workers Because Of Foreign Sourcing

2016: Steil Was Listed As A Secretary of Hub City, Inc. According to filings maintained by the South Dakota Secretary of State, Steil was a director of Hub City, Inc. a Delaware corporation, in 2016. [Secretary Of State, Hub City Inc. 2016 Annual Filing, 3/15/16]

2009: The DOL Found That Hub City Inc. Laid Off Workers Because It Began To Acquire The Products From A Foreign Country. According to the a Trade Adjustment Assistance decision, “The investigation was initiated in response to a petition filed on July 10, 2009 by a company official and union official representing the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers on behalf of workers of Hub City, Aberdeen, South Dakota. The workers are engaged in the production of gearboxes and bearings. The investigation revealed that workers of Hub City who are engaged in employment related to production of gearboxes and bearings meet the criteria for certification. Criterion I has been met because more than five percent of the workers at the subject firm were separated from employment during the relevant period. Criterion II has been satisfied because the workers' firm has acquired from a foreign country articles like or directly competitive with articles produced by the workers. Criterion III has been met because the acquisition of gearbox components from China and India by Hub City contributed importantly to worker group separations at the Aberdeen, South Dakota facility.” [U.S. Department of Labor, TAA Decision 71629, 9/9/09]

Steil Was The Secretary For Jakel Motors, A Missouri Company

2017: Steil Was The Secretary For Jakel Motors Incorporated, A Missouri Company. According to an annual registration report filed with the Missouri Secretary of State, Bryan Steil was the secretary of Jakel Motors Incorporated. [Missouri Secretary of State, 2017 Annual Registration Report, 2/20/17]

 2016: Steil Filed To Reinstate Jakel Motors Incorporation After It Faced Administrative Dissolution For Failure To File An Annual Report. [Missouri Secretary of State, Application for Reinstatement, 6/7/16]

 2016: Steil Was The Secretary For Jakel Motors Incorporated. According to an annual registration report filed in Missouri, Bryan Steil was Jakel Motors Incorporated’s secretary in 2016. [Missouri Secretary of State, 2016 Annual Registration Report, 7/18/16]

Steil Was The Secretary for McGill Manufacturing Company, An Indiana Company

Steil Was The Secretary For McGill Manufacturing Company, An Indiana Company. According to the Indiana Secretary of State, Bryan G. Steil was the secretary for McGill Manufacturing Company, Inc. [Indiana Secretary of State, Business Details, accessed 6/8/18]

2017: Steil Was The Secretary For McGill Manufacturing Company, Inc. According to a Business Entity Report for the years 2017 and 2018 filed in Indiana, Bryan G. Steil was the Secretary of McGill Manufacturing Company, Inc. [Indiana Secretary of State, Business Entity Report, 4/4/17]

Charter NEX Film

2018: Steil Worked As General Counsel And Secretary At Charter NEX Films. According to the Associated Press, “Steil has been a regent since 2016 and works as general counsel and secretary at Charter NEX Films Inc., an independent producer of polyethylene film used for food and consumer packaging. Steil, whose name is pronounced ‘style,’ worked as Ryan's personal driver from 2003 to 2004.” [Associated Press, 4/23/18]

NOTE: Steil disclosed that he received a leave of absence from Charter NEX Films on April 21, 2018. His disclosure also indicated he started at Charter NEX Films in 2018. [Clerk of the House of Representatives, Steil 2018 Financial Disclosure, 5/25/18]

UW-System Board Of Regents

Steil Claimed To Be The Lone Vote On Multiple Issues

Steil Boasted That He Had Been A “Conservative Voice” On The Board Of Regents. According to a transcript of an interview with Bryan Steil on the Dan O’Donnell Show, “STEIL: The work that I’ve done on the Board of Regents for the past two years, really been a conservative voice there, I think. Putting the line on some excessive spending, I think we need some of that discipline in Washington. You still got federal spending out of control. You got healthcare costs increasing. You gotta prepare people for the jobs of the future.” [WISN, Dan O’Donnell Show, 02:06, 4/24/18]

Steil Said He Was The “Lone Vote On Some Of These Things” On The Board OF Regents. According to a transcript of an interview with Bryan Steil on the Dan O’Donnell Show, “STEIL: I think if we take the Wisconsin problem solving approach to Washington, we’re going to be able to put some process and order to that. Washington has a spending problem, there needs to be some discipline in folks in there who are holding the line on spending. You go back, you look at my record on the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents, I’ve been the lone no vote on some of these things, even when it’s not popular, I’m going to take that same approach to Washington if given that ability by the voters.” [WISN, Dan O’Donnell Show, 12:38, 4/24/18]

 NOTE: A review of UW Regents minutes only found one instance of Steil being the “lone vote” of dissent; that was in the approval of the 2017-2018 Operating Budget. In other occasions, he has been joined in dissent or voted in the majority. Many votes, however, are not fully recorded and are only taken by voice vote – it would be worthwhile to raise this point and have a third party ask for a justification for the claim, if he makes it again.

Editorial Boards Have Criticized The Regents During Steil’s Tenure

2018: Capital Times Editorial: UW Board Of Regents Has Made A “Mess” Of “Everything They Have Touched.” According to an editorial in the Capital Times, “Casual observers of the 2018 Wisconsin gubernatorial race may have been surprised when state Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Evers announced last week that he can’t wait to replace members of the University of Wisconsin System’s Board of Regents. But anyone who has been paying attention to the mess that the current regents have made of everything they have touched will understand the sense of urgency that Evers, a regent and a Democratic gubernatorial contender, brings to the work of renewing higher education in Wisconsin.” [Capital Times, Editorial, 5/16/18]

 HEADLINE: “Editorial: UW regents failing to defend higher education and should be replaced” [Capital Times, Editorial, 5/16/18]

2018: Capital Times Editorial: “Most” Of The Members Of The University Of Wisconsin Board Of Regents Are “Cronies Of Gov. Scott Walker.” According to a Capital Times editorial, “Evers, as the elected superintendent of public instruction, has for the better part of a decade been the most accountable and responsible member of the board. He has seen the other regents — most of whom are cronies of Gov. Scott Walker — break faith with the most basic premises of the Wisconsin Idea in order to advance an agenda of downsizing and diminishing what has historically been one of the great state university systems in the nation.” [Capital Times, Editorial, 5/16/18]

2018: Capital Times Editorial: UW Regents “Have Proven, Again And Again, That They Are More Than Willing To Let The UW System Decline.” According to a Capital Times Editorial, “Unfortunately, that’s how the majority of the regents operate. They do not listen. They do not base their decisions on the facts. They lack even the most basic vision for the future. And they have proven, again and again, that they are more than willing to let the UW System decline.” [Capital Times, Editorial, 5/16/18]

2016: Steil Was Nominated By Gov. Walker And Confirmed By The Senate

February 2016: Gov. Walker Nominated Steil To The Board Of Regents For A Term Ending 2023. According to the Senate Journal, “The Honorable, the Senate: I am pleased to nominate and with the advice and consent of the Senate, do appoint BRYAN STEIL, of Janesville, as a Congressional District 1 Representative on the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System, to serve for the term ending May 1, 2023. Respectfully Submitted, SCOTT WALKER Governor.” [Wisconsin Senate Journal, #752, 2/17/16]

Steil Had A Public Hearing Before The Senate Committee On Universities And Technical Colleges. [Wisconsin Senate, Committee on Universities and Technical Colleges, 3/3/16]

March 2016: Steil Was Confirmed By The Wisconsin Senate 32-0 As Part Of An En Masse Appointment Approval. According to records maintained by the Wisconsin State Legislature, on March 15, 2016, the Senate voted to approve Steil’s executive appointment “as a Congressional District 1 Representative on the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System, to serve for the term ending May 1, 2023.” During that same vote, the Senate approved en masse several executive appointments to various boards and commissions. [Wisconsin Senate Roll Call, Vote #297, 3/15/16; Wisconsin Senate Journal, #811, 3/15/16]

June 2016: Steil Was Officially Seated To The Board Of Regents. According to the Capital Times, “That session of the regents, where they approved a $6.2 billion budget, also saw the official seating of Walker's three latest appointments to the board: Brookfield lawyer Tracey Klein, Janesville lawyer Bryan Steil and nontraditional student Lisa Erickson of Osceola.” [Capital Times, 6/22/16]

Steil Supported And Defended The Controversial UW Merger Plan

Steil Voted For The Merger Plan, Wanted It To Proceed “Full Steam Ahead” Even If It Lacked Details

restructuring of UW Colleges and UW-Extension.” [Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System, Minutes of the Regular Meeting, 11/9/17]

Capital Times Editorial: All The Regents Except For Janice Mueller And Tony Evers Voted In Favor Of The Proposal. According to a Capital Times Editorial, “Evers opposed the scheme because of his deep understanding of issues in higher education, and because of his long-term commitment to maintaining the UW System as the national and international leader it has historically been. But Evers was joined by only one other member of the board, Regent Janice Mueller, in voting ‘no.’ Mueller, a former state auditor, explained at the time of the November 2017 vote: ‘We have to be deliberative, and I don’t know if we’ve had enough time to really study this proposal. There’s very little detail in the proposal; there’s nothing in terms of revenues or expenses.’” [Capital Times, Editorial, 5/16/18]

November 2017: UW Regents Approved A Proposal To Make 13 Two-Year Schools Branch Campuses Of Seven Nearby Four-Year Schools. According to the Associated Press, “A plan to merge the University of Wisconsin System's two- and four-year schools is proving challenging to execute and likely won't be complete until at least the end of 2019, chancellors and the two-year schools' leader told the Board of Regents on Thursday. The Regents in November approved UW System President Ray Cross' proposal to make the 13 two-year schools branch campuses of seven nearby four year schools as of July 1. The four-year schools will officially take control of the two-year campuses on that date pending approval of the Higher Learning Commission, which must give the four-year schools permission to award associate degrees.” [Associated Press, 4/6/18]

Dissenting Regents Said The Merger Plan Was “Rushed” And Lacked Details

Associated Press: Dissenting Regents Said That The Proposal to Merge Two- And Four-Year Schools Was “Rushed, “Sorely Lacks Details,” And Did Not Consult Students And Faculty. The Associated Press reported, “The regents signed off on the plan on a voice vote. State public schools Superintendent Tony Evers and Janice Mueller were the only regents who voted against the plan. They said the process has been rushed and the plan sorely lacks details. ‘You say we have to be bold,’ Mueller said before the vote. ‘But we also have to be deliberative.’ […] News of the proposal angered students and faculty, who complained that they weren't consulted as Cross developed the plan. The steering committee that will work through the merger doesn't contain any faculty or students members. Cross told the regents that including faculty and students on the committee would make the panel too cumbersome. He promised the committee would take input from those groups in the coming months. ‘I will not vote for this,’ said Evers, who is running as a Democrat against Gov. Scott Walker next year. ‘A bad process usually leads to bad policy. There are people in the state of Wisconsin who feel they've been left behind in this process. Whether that's reality or perception doesn't make a hell of a lot of difference.’ The proposal itself remains fuzzy. As Mueller pointed out, it includes no financial projections or estimates of potential job losses. Cross told reporters Thursday there will be some positions eliminated over time but could offer no specifics.” [Associated Press, 11/10/17]

Some Regents Objected To The Merger Plan Until Financial Impacts Could Determined After UW Leaders Claimed It Would Result In Savings Without Providing Estimates Or Details. According to the Chippewa Herald, “Mueller, a former state auditor, asked to delay a vote on the plan until the Regents' December meeting to give board members more time to understand the proposal and hear specifics about its potential financial impact on the UW System. UW leaders have said the proposal would result in savings, but did not provide the board with estimates for how the reorganization of Colleges and Extension --

institutions with combined annual operating budgets of nearly $300 million -- would affect the System's bottom line.” [Chippewa Herald, 11/10/17]

The Proposal Caught People “Off Guard” And Was Announced Without Any Input From Administrators, Faculty, Staff Or Students. According to Wisconsin Public Radio, “The proposed plan to merge the UW System's 13 two-year campuses with one of the four-year universities was released earlier this month by UW System President Ray Cross, and caught some people off guard, including administrators, faculty, staff and students -- stakeholders that have traditionally been able to share their opinions on big picture changes within the system before they're made.” [Wisconsin Public Radio, 10/31/17]

Steil Supported The Merger Even Though It Would Create Job Losses And A Loss Of Local Community Support And College Funding

Steil Supported The Merger Plan Even Though It Was Acknowledged That It “Would Result In Job Losses.” According to the Chippewa Herald, “Although the mergers would unfold on an aggressive timeline -- they are set to take effect July 1 -- Regents noted that Cross will return to the board at each of its next six meetings to provide updates on the implementation process. ‘A vote to merge is not the end, it's the start of hard work,’ said Regent Bryan Steil, who voted in favor of the plan. […] UW leaders have said the proposal would result in savings, but did not provide the board with estimates for how the reorganization of Colleges and Extension -- institutions with combined annual operating budgets of nearly $300 million -- would affect the System's bottom line. And while Cross acknowledged Thursday that the changes would result in job losses ‘over time’ as campuses consolidate administration and other services, he has not said how many positions would be cut.” [Chippewa Herald, 11/10/17]

Steil Blamed Federal Oversight For Slowing UW Merger Plan…

Steil Said He Wanted To Improve Workforce Development By Reorganizing The UW System And Eliminating Federal Oversight “So That Wisconsin Can Have More Of A Say About What It Needs To Develop Its Workforce.” According to The Freeman, “Steil said although local government succeeded in creating jobs for Wisconsin, he intends to take workforce development a step further by enhancing educational opportunities for high schools, technical colleges and universities so that students can retain the skillsets that employers will look for in the future, he said. But the UW-System needs to be reorganized and federal oversight regulations should be eliminated so that Wisconsin can have more of a say about what it needs to develop its workforce, he said. ‘Often, the federal government is getting in the way and putting up roadblocks,’ Steil said. ‘The UW-System is trying to do this reorganization and we're spending countless dollars dealing with federal oversight and in my opinion, that money is far better in the pockets of students than in the pockets of DC bureaucrats.’” [The Freeman, 4/25/18]

Steil Said He Would Push To Repeal Federal Education Regulations, Including Those That Protect Student Financial Aid And Ensure Schools Are Accredited. According to a transcript of an interview with Bryan Steil on the Dan O’Donnell Show, “O’DONNELL: What do you think is the one conservative idea or reform needs to go to Washington, that hasn’t been done yet? What do you think, as a congressman, is the one thing you will focus on to getting the federal government to a more conservative place economically, socially, on defense? What do you think is that one proposal? STEIL: Sure, well, if anything I think it’s training our workforce for the jobs of the future. You look at my work on the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents and you go through what really gets in the way, there’s an incredible number of instances where the federal government gets in the way of allowing our high schools, tech schools, and four year universities to be effective. O’DONNELL: How so? STEIL: Well you look at, there’s an incredible number of regulations that are put on higher education that really just makes it inefficient, right? I mean, who’s better at preparing the workforce of the future in Wisconsin? Is it a D.C. bureaucrat or somebody in your local community or your state of Wisconsin? O’DONNELL: So what sorts of regulations would you move to repeal? STEIL: Sure, well you just take the reorganization at the University of Wisconsin level where they said, ‘let’s take these two year institutions and these four year institutions, let’s make this more efficient,’ right? I mean, this is a pretty straightforward reform. To get that done, the number of regulations and red tape, and the number of man hours that are being put to get Washington’s sign off is ridiculous. We in Wisconsin know what’s needed for the Wisconsin workforce, it’s pretty straightforward, right? We’ve got to prepare people to be ready to work at FoxConn. You know, high tech manufacturing. We don’t need a D.C. bureaucrat to tell us that. My background on the education side, I think it going to be a new voice in that sense. You look at the Wisconsin delegation, I think I’m going to be able to bring that to the forefront in D.C. and really allow local folks to make the right decisions that we need in our workforce here.” [WISN, Dan O’Donnell Show, 10:41, 4/24/18]

2018: Steil: “The UW-System Is Trying To Do This Reorganization And We're Spending Countless Dollars Dealing With Federal Oversight.” According to the Waukesha Freeman, “‘Often, the federal government is getting in the way and putting up roadblocks,’ Steil said. ‘The UW-System is trying to do this reorganization and we're spending countless dollars dealing with federal oversight and in my opinion, that money is far better in the pockets of students than in the pockets of DC bureaucrats.’” [Waukesha Freeman, 4/25/18]

…Though Federal Government Was Concerned About Protecting Student Aid And Accreditation

Regents And UW Chancellors Said The Federal Government Needed To Ensure Students Would Not Lose Financial Aid And To Ensure The Schools Were Properly Accredited. According to the Associated Press, “A plan to merge the University of Wisconsin System's two- and four-year schools is proving challenging to execute and likely won't be complete until at least the end of 2019, chancellors and the two-year schools' leader told regents Thursday. The regents in November approved UW System President Ray Cross' proposal to make the 13 two-year schools branch campuses of seven nearby four-year schools as of July 1. The four-year schools will officially take control of the two-year campuses on that date pending approval of the Higher Learning Commission, which must give the four-year schools permission to award associate degrees. […] UW-Eau Claire Chancellor James Schmidt said he still doesn't know how resources would be divvied up. UW-Milwaukee Chancellor Mark Mone said the work is like ‘trying to fix a bicycle while riding it.’ UW Colleges Chancellor Cathy Sandeen, leader of the two-year schools, said the nuts-and-bolts transition will last until at least Dec. 31, 2019, largely because of a U.S. Department of Education decision that the two-year schools must award financial aid in their current format for the 2018-19 academic year. Most of the hard changes will take place in the 2019-20 year, she said.” [Associated Press, 4/5/18]

Editorial Boards Said The Merger Plan “Betrayed The Promise Of The [UW] System”

2018: Capital Times Editorial: UW Regents “Have Betrayed The Promise Of The System…By Making Wisconsin’s Two-Year UW Colleges Branch Campuses Of Four-Year Universities.” According to a Capital Times editorial, “These regents have betrayed the promise of the system they are 43

supposed to preserve by embracing an ill-conceived scheme to radically restructure the system by making Wisconsin’s two-year UW Colleges branch campuses of four-year universities. The “plan” was criticized by faculty and student groups, former UW officials, and elected leaders from around the state as shortsighted — especially in an era when the demands for retraining in a new economy are likely to make the two-year campuses more necessary — and particularly damaging to rural communities and small cities.” [Capital Times, Editorial, 5/16/18]

Democrat Cathy Myers Criticized Steil’s Merger As “Dismantling The UW System”

Cathy Myers Accused Steil Of “Dismantling The UW System.” According to the Badger Herald, “April 22, University of Wisconsin Regent Bryan Steil launched his campaign for Ryan's seat, ‘touting himself as a problem solver who would take on the political establishment,’ according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. A former member of Paul Ryan's staff, Steil lauded his former boss for being ‘hardworking [and] selfless.’ Since announcing his candidacy, Steil has received some criticism from the blue side of the state - with Myers criticizing Steil for his identity as a product of the Board of Regents. ‘Scott Walker's handpicked Board of Regents is dismantling the UW System,’ Myer's said. ‘As a UW Regent, Bryan Steil has a duty to protect public education, but like Betsy DeVos, he's using his appointment to undermine our public school system and the “Wisconsin Idea”.’” [Badger Herald, 4/27/18]

Steil Supported Eliminating Humanities Majors

Steil Supported Eliminating 13 Humanities Majors At UW-Stevens Point. According to the Capital Times, “The controversy over the planned elimination of 13 humanities majors at UW-Stevens Point has become a ‘communication nightmare,’ Regent Regina Millner said last Thursday in Madison. […] Steil's support for the proposed cuts at UW-Stevens Point was made public as Millner insisted that members of the Board of Regents should not take a position.” [Capital Times, 5/9/18]

 Steil Praised A UW Provost For Accurately Communicating The Need For The “Point Forward Initiative.” According to the Capital Times, “The controversy over the planned elimination of 13 humanities majors at UW-Stevens Point has become a ‘communication nightmare,’ Regent Regina Millner said last Thursday in Madison. […] And while Millner was speaking to the problems with communication of the campus program cuts plan, the Stevens Point Journal and other news outlets were publishing emails from some of her colleagues on the UW System Board of Regents praising campus officials' messaging on the issue. ‘This is what good, thoughtful leadership is all about,’ Regent Drew Petersen, vice president of the Board of Regents, wrote to UW-Stevens Point Chancellor Bernie Patterson on March 28. ‘Congratulations to you and (UWSP) Provost (Greg) Summers for staying true to your vision on these reforms.’ Regent Bryan Steil praised two essays published on national higher education news websites under the byline of Summers in an April 3 email to Patterson. ‘The articles do a great job of laying out the rational of the changes and how they help (rather than hinder) the Point Forward initiative,’ Steil wrote. Steil's support for the proposed cuts at UW-Stevens Point was made public as Millner insisted that members of the Board of Regents should not take a position.” [Capital Times, 5/9/18]

Steil Praised UW-Stevens Point Officials’ Decision To Eliminate Several Liberal Arts Majors. According to the Stevens Point Journal, “The University of Wisconsin System's president and at least three regents praised UW-Stevens Point officials who were defending a proposal to eliminate several liberal arts majors on campus, newly released emails show. […] Most of the emails to Patterson and Summers came from people who opposed the proposal, which calls for the elimination of 13 humanities and social science majors and expansion of 16 degrees in technical fields. Positive messages came from President Cross, Regents José Delgado, Bryan Steil and Petersen, provosts at UW-Stout and UW-Parkside, the UW System's top lawyer and its chief of communications.” [Stevens Point Journal, 5/5/18]

A Fellow Regent Said It Was “Not Appropriate” That Steil’s Support For Cutting Humanities Majors Was Public. According to the Capital Times, “Steil's support for the proposed cuts at UW-Stevens Point was made public as Millner insisted that members of the Board of Regents should not take a position.

‘For us to be in favor of what's being done or not like what's being done, that shifts the whole dynamic. That's not appropriate,’ Millner said at the forum last Thursday featuring a guest panel.” [Capital Times, 5/9/18]

After Stevens Point Students Staged Their First Sit-In Since The Vietnam War To Protest Proposed Majors Cuts, Steil Praised An Administrator For Defending Those Cuts. The Stevens Point Journal reported, “Critics of the proposal see it as a way to gut tenured faculty ranks and change the university into a technical college. University officials have said the school will keep 80 percent of its humanities courses under the proposal. Three regent emails came after Patterson sent the 17 regents an update on UW-Stevens Point's proposal and the actions the university had taken to correct perceived misconceptions or misinformation about the reforms. Patterson sent the email in the days leading up to the April 5-6 regent meeting in Madison and the days after students staged the first sit-in protest at the UW-Stevens Point administration building since the Vietnam War. […] Steil, who is running for Paul Ryan's U.S. House seat as a Republican, wrote, ‘Thank you for sending the two articles. The articles do a great job of laying out the rational [sic] of the changes and how they help (rather than hinder) the Point Forward initiative. I look forward to seeing you at the meeting later this week.’” [Stevens Point Journal, 5/5/18]

2017: Steil Opposed UW Budget That Froze Tuition, Raised Student Fees

Steil Was The Only Regent To Vote Against The UW Budget, Cited Student Fees As Reason

Steil Said He Voted Against The 2017-2018 Budget Because Of Student Fees “We Could Do Without,” But Said, “On The Whole, The Budget Is A Responsible Budget.” According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, “The University of Wisconsin System Regents on Thursday approved a budget that will freeze resident undergraduate tuition for a fifth straight year but increase student fees and housing costs on all campuses. Regent Bryan Steil voted against the $6.22 billion annual operating budget because of student fee increases that he later said ‘we could do without.’ Steil, who was the lone no vote, declined to be more specific. ‘On the whole, the budget is a responsible budget,’ he said. ‘There's room for improvement.’” [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 7/6/17]

After Asking Questions About The Allocation Of Segregated Fees, Steil Voted Against The 2017- 2018 Operating Budget. According to the minutes of a regular meeting of the Board of Regents, “Returning to the topic of segregated fees, Regent Steil stated that the Board of Regents and the UW System do a great job of providing value to students, but added that there is still room for improvement in preventing increases in some of the segregated fees. Suggesting that the Board dive deeper into that area going forward, he observed that the standard for student approval of segregated fee increases is inconsistent between institutions. President Behling said Regent Steil made a good point, and promised that this would be added to the list of other good suggestions that had been raised. President Cross stated that he and the chancellors shared Regent Steil’s concerns about how to more thoughtfully and carefully approach segregated fee increases. He indicated that the UW System has been aggressive on that issue in the past year, but noted that institutions are living with the historical indebtedness of some of their projects. Regent Steil agreed that improvements had been made, but reiterated that there is room for even more improvement. The motion having been moved and seconded, Regent Behling called for a roll call vote on the motion to adopt Resolution 10901. The motion was adopted, with Regents Atwell, Behling, Delgado, Erickson, Evers, Grebe, Hall, Higgins, Jones, Klein, Millner, Mueller, Petersen, Ring, Tyler, and Whitburn voting in the affirmative. Regent Steil voted in opposition. There was one absence, and there were no abstentions.” [Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System, Minutes of the Regular Meeting, 7/6/17]

2017: Steil Was The Lone Vote Against The UW System Budget And Said He Opposed It “Because Of The Raise In Student Fees.” The Freeman reported, “In 2017. Steil voted against the UW- System budget because of the increase in segregation costs, or student fees assessed to all students for student services, activities, programs, and facilities that support the mission of University of Wisconsin System institutions, including UW-Madison. ‘I was the lone vote against the budget because of the raise in student fees,’ Steil said. ‘Even when it's unpopular I've kind of held the line of what I think is excessive spending that isn't needed to deliver a high quality education to prepare people for the jobs of the future.’” [The Freeman, 4/25/18] 45

Steil Said He Was Uncomfortable With Raising Student Fees Until He Could “Make Sure That Each Dollar Spent Is Justified.” According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, “Regent Bryan Steil cast the lone vote against the UW System's $6.2 billion budget last week, saying he was uncomfortable with increases in student fees at some campuses, and that ‘capturing and preventing’ increases of some fees needed more attention. ‘I am focused on the total cost of education and seg fees are a piece of that puzzle,’ Steil later told the Journal Sentinel. ‘Before seg fees are increased, we need to make sure that each dollar spent is justified.’” [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 7/14/17]

Steil Opposed Raising Tuition On Non-Residents

2016: Steil Was One Of Two Regents To Oppose Raising Tuition For Nonresidents At Some University Of Wisconsin System Schools, Argued Some Of The increases Were “Too Much, Too Fast.” According to the Herald Times Reporter, “Six UW campuses got permission to raise tuition for nonresident undergraduates and some graduate and professional programs. The 13 two-year UW Colleges campuses also will raise tuition next year by 5 percent ($587) for nonresident students. Tuition for all resident undergrads in the UW System has been frozen for four years by the Legislature and Gov. Scott Walker, and is expected to remain frozen for at least the next academic year. Two regents opposed the tuition increases, Bryan Steil and student representative James Lagnes III of UW-Whitewater. Steil said some of the increases were ‘too much, too fast,’ and Lagnes agreed.” [Herald Times Reporter, 12/9/16]

 Steil And Regent Langnes Opposed Resolution 10805, A “Review And Approval Of Proposed Non-Resident, Graduate, And Professional School Increases.” [Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System, Minutes of the Regular Meeting, 12/8/16]

Steil Weakened Tenure Protections For Faculty

2016: UW Regents “Weakened Faculty Tenure Protections” By Giving Chancellors Greater Authority To Lay Off Professors. According to the Daily Cardinal, a student newspaper at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, “The new head of the University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents wants UW institutions to recruit leaders from the private sector, and said the System is launching a new effort to ‘streamline’ its process for hiring chancellors and other top officials. Regent President John Behling also credited controversial changes that weakened faculty tenure protections with leading to increased UW funding in the latest state budget. […] The board's move last year to change faculty tenure rules, which gave chancellors greater authority to lay off professors, helped lead to a 2017-19 state budget that increases funding for the UW System after years of cuts, according to Behling. He led the process to rewrite the tenure rules, which faced strong opposition from faculty.” [Daily Cardinal, 7/7/17]

 The Resolutions To Adopt The New Post-Tenure Review Policies Were Adopted By Voice Vote, No Dissenting Votes Were Noted. [Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System, Minutes of the Regular Meeting, 12/8/16]

The Regents Added “Added Stronger Language To A Policy That Faculty Members Already Believes Takes Power Out Of Their Hands And Places It In The Hands Of Campus Administrators.” According to the Herald Times Reporter, “Also Thursday, the regents added stronger language to a policy that faculty members already believe takes power out of their hands and places it in the hands of campus administrators. The new language spells out that every five years, campus administrators must do ‘independent, substantive reviews’ of tenured faculty, a process that faculty members fear could open the door to arbitrarily overturning positive performance reviews given by faculty peers, and ultimately justify a firing. Regent Tony Evers, the state's superintendent of public instruction for K-12 schools, said the policy seemed to be ‘a solution seeking a problem, and I don't think this is a problem.’” [Herald Times Reporter, 12/9/16]

A UW-Madison Faculty Member Said The New Policy Could “Absolutely” Be Used To Terminate A Faculty Member Whose Teaching Or Research Is Politically Controversial. According to the Capital Times, “The new policy makes it easier for university administrators to terminate a faculty member 46

whose teaching or research is politically controversial, said Dave Vanness, a UW-Madison faculty member and past-president of the campus chapter of the American Association of University Professors. ‘Absolutely, it can be used politically,’ Vanness said. ‘There is nothing that prevents a case from being brought basically for political reasons but not being acknowledged as such.’” [Capital Times, 12/8/16]

Steil Supported The Regents’ Free Speech Resolution

 Only One Regent, Tony Evers, Voted Against The Resolution. According to the Badger Herald, “At the conclusion of the Oct. 6 meeting, the resolution passed the Board of Regents with a nearly unanimous vote. Only Tony Evers, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, voted to reject the resolution.” [Badger Herald, 10/17/17]

HEADLINE: “Board Of Regents Free Speech Resolution Met With Mixed Reactions On Campus.” [Badger Herald, 10/17/17]

Steil Supported A Controversial Plan To Divide Funds Among Schools Based On Workforce Development Focus

2017: UW Regents Adopted A Policy To Tie Aid To UW Schools Based In Part On How They Stack Up Against Each Other In Instructional Time. According to the Associated Press, “University of Wisconsin System Regents have adopted a policy calling for tracking faculty teaching loads. The Republican- authored state budget requires the Regents to develop the policy. The budget ties state aid to UW schools based in part on how they stack up against each other in instructional time. The Board of Regents approved a broad policy to satisfy the mandate Thursday at UW-Madison. State Superintendent Tony Evers cast the only dissenting vote. Evers, a Democrat, is running against Republican Gov. Scott Walker next year.” [Associated Press, 12/8/17]

2017: UW Regents Approved A Formula For Divvying Up State Aid According To Schools’ Performances. “The University of Wisconsin System regents have approved a formula for divvying up a chunk of new state aid according to schools' performances. The Republican-crafted state budget hands the system $26.25 million tied to performance in a number of areas, including improving student access, student progress toward completion, workforce contributions and efficiencies.” [Associated Press, 12/7/17]

Steil Supported Resolutions On The “Outcomes-Based Funding Model” And The “Plan For Monitoring And Rewarding Teaching Workloads.” Both resolutions (10967 and 10968) were adopted by voice vote, and Steil’s dissent was not recorded. [Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System, Minutes of the Regular Meeting, 12/7/17]

Steil Voted To Remove Academics From Leading UW Campuses

2017: UW Regents Adopted A Hiring Policy That Allowed Non-Academics To Lead The State’s Colleges. According to the Associated Press, “University of Wisconsin System regents adopted sweeping hiring policy changes Thursday that clear the way for non-academics to lead the state's colleges. Under the plan, campuses can't block people who lack terminal degrees and tenure from serving as system president, chancellors or vice chancellors. The system must look to recruit applicants from the private sector as well.” [Associated Press, 10/6/17]

Steil Said He Supported The Policy To Allow Individuals Without Terminal Degrees To Lead UW Schools, Saying It Would “Streamline The Process” Of Hiring Leadership. According to the minutes of a regular meeting of the Board of Regents, “Regent Steil commended the work of the Administrative Hiring Workgroup, acknowledging the time and effort this required. Noting that one of the Regents’ most important tasks is hiring the best person, Regent Steil said the proposal would streamline the process and focus on a hands-on approach by the Regents, broadening the pool of candidates that will be considered, and furthering the Regents’ ability to hire the best possible candidate. For that, he expressed his support for this proposal.” [Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System, Minutes of the Regular Meeting, 10/5/17]

The Plan Was Passed By Voice Vote, And Tony Evers Cast The Lone Dissenting Vote. According to the Associated Press, “The regents adopted the changes on a voice vote during a meeting at UW-Stout. State schools superintendent Tony Evers cast the lone dissenting vote. Evers, a Democrat, is running against Walker in next year's elections.” [Associated Press, 10/6/17]

Steil Pushed To Move UW System Trust Funds To Be Managed By State

April 2017: Steil Presented Information About The UW System Trust Funds That Was Discussed At The First Meeting Of The “Newly Formed” Subcommittee On Investments. According to a press release from the University of Wisconsin System, “Heard a report from Regent Bryan Steil, chairman of the Subcommittee on Investments, on the first meeting of this newly formed subcommittee of the Business and Finance Committee. The meeting included discussion of background information on the structure, management, and oversight of UW System Trust Funds.” [States News Service, Press Release, 4/6/17]

Steil Said The Decision To Transfer Half A Billion Dollars In Trust Funds To The State Of Wisconsin Investment Board Would Save The UW System Millions Per Year. According to the Capital Times, “The University of Wisconsin is completing the transfer of its half-billion dollar trust funds to the highly rated State of Wisconsin Investment Board for management. SWIB is assuming management of some $560 million in funds which have been bequeathed, gifted or granted to the university. A committee of the UW System Board of Regents Thursday recommended approval of an Investment Policy Statement to govern investment and management of the system's trust funds, which previously were managed in-house. The board unanimously approved the measure Friday. Gerald Whitburn, chair of Regents Business and Finance Committee, said that transferring management of the funds grew out of a desire to fully meet the Board of Regents' fiduciary responsibility. ‘As we move to SWIB, we are moving our trust funds to one of the largest funds in the world, with $117 billion under management, and one of most highly respected money management organizations anywhere in the country,’ Whitburn said. ‘We thought that at the end of the day, this step is in the state's best interest and the university's best interest.’ The Board of Regents in November approved researching a transfer to SWIB. Potential savings to the university soon were identified, said Regent Bryan Steil. ‘We started with a focus on fiduciary duty and ended up with a win win in implementing the transfer in a cost-effective way,’ Steil said. UW staff estimates the system will save $1.8 million annually in management and administrative fees with its trust funds under SWIB.” [Capital Times, 4/11/18]

Janesville Generations Fund

Steil Was The First Chairman Of The Janesville Community Fund’s Advisory Board

2014: Steil Was The First Chairman Of The Janesville Community Fund’s Advisory Board. According to a Janesville Gazette editorial, “As Community Foundation Executive Director Sue Conley explains, many foundation funds generate scholarships or are specific to organizations or fields of interest. The Janesville Community Fund, in contrast, will raise endowment dollars and have the flexibility to change over time. It will serve as a catalyst for helping the community through nonprofits or city projects. Residents who care about Janesville will oversee it, and it will benefit our community forever. Bryan Steil, John's nephew, is chairman of the Janesville Community Fund's 14-member advisory board. He says grants to nonprofits will start small but hopes the fund can accomplish grand things as donations grow. For example, had it been formed years earlier, the fund might have supported construction of ECHO's downtown offices and CAMDEN Playground, as well as renovations of the YWCA's women's shelter. Donations began through word of mouth, Steil said, and the advisory board has yet to set a fundraising goal. Gifts can be large or small, and pledges can be made over three years. ‘Janesville has had a wonderful background of people who have given to the city. It's another avenue for people who can continue to do that,’ Steil said of the Janesville Community Fund. ‘Projects that have a long-term ability to serve the community are what we foresee this fund to do and hopefully grow over the longer term.” [Janesville Gazette, Editorial, 1/24/14]

 2016: Steil Was The Chairman Of The Board Of The Janesville Generations Fund – Formerly Called The Janesville Community Fund – And Worked On “Growing The Endowment” For The Organization. According to the Janesville Gazette, “The Janesville Generations Fund has continued the holiday giving trend into the new year. The endowment fund--formerly known as the Janesville Community Fund, a component of the Community Foundation of Southern Wisconsin--announced two major gifts Thursday. […] The Janesville Generations Fund oversees grant distribution from six funds established to benefit Janesville. They are the Cabin Fund, Esther S. Geffs Advised Fund, Marion J. and Robert C. Lietz Fund, Alvah Lloyd and Lulu Lloyd Charitable Fund, Karl A. and Bernice E. Samek Charitable Fund and Mae Theisen Charitable Fund. The fund was established in 2013. Initial supporters raised $100,700. ‘The advisory board continues to work on growing the endowment fund to have a greater impact in the community for years to come,’ said Bryan Steil, board chairman.” [Janesville Gazette, 1/8/16]

2018: Steil Was On The Advisory Board For The Janesville Generations Fund, Was No Longer The Chairman. According to the Community Foundation of Southeastern Wisconsin, the following individuals were on the Janesville Generations Fund Advisory Board: Duffy Dillon, chair; Tim Lindau, secretary; Kathleen Agard; Rebecca Bortner; Dan Cullen; Nicole Gilbertson; Christina Isackson; Bryan Steil; Jon Wangerin; Liaison: Jim Cripe. [Community Foundation of Southeastern Wisconsin, Janesville Generations Fund, accessed 6/11/18]

Steil Gave Triage Kits To Schools To Deal With The Aftermath Of Shootings

Political Notes

2018: Steil’s Campaign For Congress

Steil Touted Himself As A Problem Solver Who Could Challenge The Establishment

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Steil Was “Touting Himself As A ‘Problem Solver’ Who Would Take On The Political Establishment.” According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, “University of Wisconsin Regent Bryan Steil on Sunday launched his campaign for House Speaker Paul Ryan's congressional seat, touting himself as a "problem solver" who would take on the political establishment. Steil, a member of a powerful Janesville political family with close ties to Ryan, said he would use his experience as an attorney for manufacturing companies to represent the southeastern Wisconsin district in Congress. ‘The chattering class in Washington gets paid to identify problems. For the past nine years, in manufacturing, I got paid to solve problems,’ Steil said at a campaign event at Performance Micro Tool in Janesville. ‘I want to take my problem- solving skills to Congress. I think they need problem solvers, doers... not talkers.’” [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 4/23/18]

Establishment Republicans “Cleared The Field” For Steil…

Before Announcing, Republican Party Insiders Said That Steil Was “Reaching Out To Friends From All Six Counties” In The District. According to the Janesville Gazette, “Janesville attorney and businessman Bryan Steil is lining up support in advance of an expected announcement that he will run to replace the outgoing 1st District representative, Paul Ryan. Andrew Iverson, chairman of the Republican Party of Rock County, issued a one-sentence statement Monday, saying: ‘Bryan Steil is reaching out to friends from all six counties (in the 1st Congressional District) and is honored and encouraged by the support he is receiving.’” [Janesville Gazette, 4/16/18]

…After Steil Had Eyed The Race For Years

Steil Had “Clearly Been Eyeing The Seat For Years; As Early As 2012…Steil Began Showing Up At Ryan’s Campaign Events To Shake Hands With Attendees.” According to a column by Christian Schneider, “Steil, a former Ryan staffer, has clearly been eyeing the seat up for years; as early as 2012, when it was a real possibility Ryan might ascend to the vice presidency, Steil began showing up at Ryan's campaign events to shake hands with attendees. But he hasn't ever been elected to anything, and to this point, his primary claim to fame is that he's the guy in the race who isn't anti-semitic.” [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Schneider column, 4/20/18]

Congressional District might throw in, including Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, former White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus and party activist Bryan Steil of Janesville. Steil issued a statement saying he has received calls urging him to run and is giving the possibility ‘serious consideration.’ Milam noted Steil said in 2012 that he would consider running for Congress if Ryan won his race for vice president. ‘Republicans have begged (Steil) for years to run for something, and I think it would be hard for him to turn this down,’ Milam said.” [Janesville Gazette, 4/11/18]

Steil Has Received Endorsements From Several Elected Officials

State Sen. Nass Called On Steil To Run For Congress And Praised Him For “Challenging The Antiquated Policies Of Our State’s Public Higher Education System.” According to a letter to the editor of the Daily Jefferson County Union by State Sen. Steve Nass, “I call upon Bryan Steil to run for Congress because he is a conservative reformer. Mr. Steil has proven during his time on the UW System Board of Regents that he will fight for Wisconsin's middle class families by challenging the antiquated policies of our state's public higher education system. Infighting for reforms in the UW System, Bryan has not been afraid to buck the established order among regents and system administrators. Bryan Steil is one of a few regents that I can count on keeping his word to fight for the best interests of the taxpayers and tuition-paying families. I trust Bryan Steil to take the conservative fight to Washington D.C. on behalf of the people in the 1st Congressional District.” [Daily Jefferson County Union, Letter to the Editor, 4/23/18]

GOP Activist Brandon Scholz Said Steil’s “Time is Now” And That He Had “Been On The Phone Nonstop” Since Ryan Announced He Would Retire. According to the Washington Post, “At least half a dozen high-profile potential candidates have decided not to run. But that has cleared the field for an organized former Ryan staff member, University of Wisconsin Regent Bryan Steil, to become the likely nominee. Wisconsin Republicans who spoke to The Fix universally praised Steil. ‘His time is now. He's ready,’ longtime Wisconsin GOP activist Brandon Scholz said. ‘This guy has been on the phone nonstop’ since Ryan announced his retirement.” [Washington Post, 4/19/18]

Racine County Executive Jonathan Delagrave Supported Steil. According to the Janesville Gazette, “GOP sources who asked not to be identified said Steil would make an announcement ‘in the very near future.’ Those backing Steil if he decides to run include Racine County Executive Jonathan Delagrave and Nancy Milholland, co-founder of the Racine Tea Party, a source said.” [Janesville Gazette, 4/16/18]

The Wisconsin Tea Party Criticized Steil, But The Racine Tea Party Backed Him

The Wisconsin Tea Party Criticized Steil For Being A “Former Lackey To Paul Ryan” Who “Will Be Bought And Paid For By Big GOP Donors And Corporate Colleagues.” According to the Janesville Gazette, “The Wisconsin Tea Party took a swipe at Steil on Friday, predicting on its Facebook page Steil would run and calling him ‘a former lackey to Paul Ryan’ who ‘will be bought and paid for by big GOP donors and corporate colleagues.’” [Janesville Gazette, 4/16/18]

Racine Tea Party Co-Founder Nancy Milholland Backed Steil. According to the Janesville Gazette, “GOP sources who asked not to be identified said Steil would make an announcement ‘in the very near future.’ Those backing Steil if he decides to run include Racine County Executive Jonathan Delagrave and Nancy Milholland, co-founder of the Racine Tea Party, a source said.” [Janesville Gazette, 4/16/18]

Paul Ryan Declined To Endorse A Replacement

April 2018: Paul Ryan Said He Had No Plans To Endorse In The Race To Replace Him. According to the Wisconsin State Journal, “Steil, 37, entered the race less than two weeks after Ryan said he would not seek re-election. Ryan said Friday he had no immediate plans to endorse anyone.” [Wisconsin State Journal, 4/23/18]

Steil Used The Same Staff As Ryan

Steil Said He Raised $250,000 In Three Days

Steil Claimed He Raised $250,000 Within Three Days Of Launching His Campaign For Congress. According to the Associated Press, “Republican Bryan Steil (STYLE) is telling supporters he raised $250,000 within three days of announcing his bid to replace House Speaker Paul Ryan. Steil emailed supporters Wednesday with the fundraising number. It comes after he officially announced his candidacy on Sunday and just two weeks after Ryan said he would not seek re-election. The impressive fundraising total further cements Steil's position as the likely Republican frontrunner in the contest that's attracted several other GOP candidates. Steil is an attorney, a member of the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents and a former Ryan aide.” [Associated Press, 4/25/18]

Steil’s Campaign Contributions

A Steil Advisor Said That Steil Was “Out There Supporting” Any “Conservative Candidate” In Wisconsin. According to the Associated Press, “Blake Gober is a Republican strategist who is helping run Steil's campaign for Congress. Gober said he first met Steil in 2011 when Gober was working on then- Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice David Prosser's campaign. ‘Whenever there's been a conservative candidate, he's been out there supporting them, working for them in whatever way possible,’ Gober said of Steil. ‘The grassroots knows him and trusts him.’ Gober said that even though Steil has been closely tied with Ryan, he won't be viewed as a ‘creature’ of Madison or Washington because he's never run for office. ‘He's going to run as Bryan Steil, not as the second coming of Paul Ryan,’ Gober said.” [Associated Press, 4/23/18]

Steil Has Made Nearly $7,000 In Political Contributions Since 2009

Recipient Date Amount Republican Party of Wisconsin 4/30/18 $90.00 Republican Party of Wisconsin 4/30/18 $80.00 Republican Party of Wisconsin 4/30/18 $50.00 Republican Party of Kenosha County 3/15/18 $70.00 Friends of Scott Walker 12/1/17 $100.00 Amy Loudenbeck for Assembly 12/1/17 $50.00 Schimel for Attorney General 10/25/17 $50.00 Republican Party of Walworth County 7/9/17 $65.00 Racine County Republican Party 3/23/17 $70.00 1st District Republican Party of 10/8/16 $125.00 Wisconsin Waukesha County Republican Party 10/5/16 $20.00 Mike Gallagher for Congress 9/30/16 $100.00 Republican Party of Wisconsin 6/6/16 $750.00 Republican Party of Wisconsin 6/6/16 $750.00 Republican Party of Milwaukee County 4/27/16 $43.19 Republican Party of Wisconsin 4/19/16 $60.00 Mike Gallagher for Congress 3/31/16 $100.00 Republican Party of Rock County 1/30/16 $25.00

Waukesha County Republican Party 11/4/15 $20.00 1st District Republican Party of 9/26/15 $30.00 Wisconsin Republican Party of Wisconsin 6/1/15 $75.00 Republican Party of Rock County 3/14/15 $60.00 1st District Republican Party of 1/10/15 $125.00 Wisconsin Republican Party of Wisconsin 1/9/15 $75.00 Republican Party of Wisconsin 1/9/15 $50.00 Schimel for Attorney General 10/31/14 $25.00 Friends of Scott Walker 10/27/14 $75.00 Waukesha County Republican Party 10/8/14 $20.00 Citizens for Horlacher 7/14/14 $100.00 Ashton Kirsch for State Assembly 6/4/14 $100.00 Republican Party of Wisconsin 5/13/14 $65.00 Friends of Scott Walker 12/13/13 $75.00 Republican Party of Walworth County 6/12/13 $60.00 Republican Party of Wisconsin 5/14/13 $50.00 Friends of John Macco 11/5/12 $200.00 Republican Party of Milwaukee County 11/5/12 $25.00 Amy Loudenbeck for Assembly 10/22/12 $50.00 Wynn for Wisconsin 10/20/12 $25.00 Republican Party of Kenosha County 10/14/12 $30.00 Beth for the 45th Assembly 10/9/12 $30.00 Waukesha County Republican Party 10/3/12 $15.00 Justin Wagner For NYS Senate 9/21/12 $(250.00) Republican Women-Waukesha County 9/20/12 $25.00 Mitt Romney 9/18/12 $250.00 Mitt Romney 9/17/12 $250.00 Van Hollen for Attorney Gen. 9/13/12 $50.00 Amy Loudenbeck for Assembly 9/8/12 $50.00 Republican Party of Rock County 7/21/12 $10.00 Beth for the 45th Assembly 7/18/12 $50.00 Friends for Joe Knilans 7/16/12 $50.00 Citizens for August 7/13/12 $50.00 Republican Party of Walworth County 6/9/12 $110.00 Friends of Scott Walker 6/2/12 $100.00 Republican Party of Wisconsin 5/16/12 $50.00 Republican Party of Wisconsin 4/30/12 $20.00 Amy Loudenbeck for Assembly 4/10/12 $50.00 Republican Party of Kenosha County 3/2/12 $50.00 Republican Party of Rock County 2/23/12 $35.00 Racine County Republican Party 2/22/12 $100.00 Republican Party of Milwaukee County 2/16/12 $40.00 Friends for Joe Knilans 1/28/12 $100.00

Republican Party of Rock County 1/5/12 $50.00 Justin Wagner For NYS Senate 12/10/11 $250.00 Wynn for Wisconsin 11/4/11 $20.00 Amy Loudenbeck for Assembly 10/20/11 $20.00 Friends for Joe Knilans 10/20/11 $20.00 1st District Republican Party of 9/10/11 $50.00 Wisconsin Republican Party of Rock County 3/12/11 $100.00 Republican Party of Rock County 1/22/11 $35.00 Amy Loudenbeck for Assembly 10/28/10 $100.00 Friends of Scott Walker 10/20/10 $75.00 Friends of Leah Vukmir 10/18/10 $30.00 Amy Loudenbeck for Assembly 10/11/10 $30.00 Wynn for Wisconsin 10/9/10 $200.00 Friends for Joe Knilans 10/4/10 $225.00 Wynn for Wisconsin 9/9/10 $100.00 Wynn for Wisconsin 8/30/10 $100.00 Republican Party of Rock County 6/13/10 $10.00 Republican Party of Wisconsin 5/12/10 $50.00 Republican Party of Rock County 1/30/10 $10.00 Republican Party of Rock County 1/11/10 $50.00 Republican Party of Rock County 11/1/09 $25.00 Friends of Scott Walker 9/30/09 $100.00

Steil Contributed To A New York Politician Running On The Democratic And Working Families Party Line

Wagner, Justin D/WFP NY-State Senate 12/10/11 $250.00 NYS BOE

Wagner, Justin D/WFP NY-State Senate 9/21/12 $(250.00) NYS BOE

Barack Obama

Steil Said That Ryan Was Correct That “Cities Like Janesville Across the Country Would Be Better Off” Without Obama. According to the Janesville Gazette, “Ryan has been attacked for pointing a finger at Obama for the plant's shutdown. Critics say Obama did not take office until January 2009, long after the decision had been made to idle the plant. During his 2008 campaign, however, Obama commented that his policies, especially on green technology, could ensure that the plant would stay open another 100 years. […] Steil said Ryan comments on GM were offered in a broader sense. ‘I agree with Paul Ryan that Janesville and cities like Janesville across the country will be better off with a Romney/Ryan administration,’ Steil said.” [Janesville Gazette, 8/31/12]

Donald Trump

Steil Said He Supported Trump And His Conservative Reforms. According to a transcript for an interview with Bryan Steil on Up Front with Mike Gousha, “GOUSHA: Would you describe yourself as an enthusiastic supporter of President Trump? STEIL: I support the president and particularly the conservative reforms that we’re starting to get done.” [WISN, Up Front With Mike Gousha, 5/6/18]

Evan Wynn For Assembly

Steil Was The Treasurer For Evan Wynn For Assembly. “Evan Wynn, first-time candidate for the Wisconsin State Assembly's 43rd district and Iraq War veteran, pledged to support and fight for an amendment to the Wisconsin constitution that would protect the segregated transportation fund from being raided. […] Authorized and paid for by Wynn for Wisconsin, Bryan Steil, Treasurer.” [Zoom Info, Rep. Evan Wynn, 6/13/14]

Nancy Pelosi

Steil Said, “We Cannot Let Nancy Pelosi Take [The Speakership] Back.” According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, “Steil launched his bid just over a week after Ryan, who's served in Congress for 20 years, announced he wasn't seeking re-election and would retire at the end of the year. He praised his former boss during his announcement as a ‘hard-working, selfless’ public servant. ‘Two and a half years ago, Paul Ryan made us all proud by taking the gavel becoming speaker of the House. Next year, Paul will hand the gavel to someone new. We cannot let Nancy Pelosi take it back,’ Steil said.” [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 4/23/18]

Paul Ryan

Steil Has Been Described As A Longtime Friend Of Paul Ryan’s…

Steil Was A “Longtime Friend” To Paul Ryan. According to Fox 6 WII, “Steil has been a member of the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents since 2016. He is a lawyer. Steil has been a longtime friend and former aide to Ryan.” [Fox – 6 WITI, 4/22/18]

…But Claimed He Did Not Have Close Ties To Ryan

1998: Steil Helped On Ryan’s First Run For Congress

Steil Praised Ryan’s Integrity And Ability To Clearly Communicate Information About Debt

2012: Steil Said That Ryan “Knocked One Out Of The Park” With His Speech About “The Risks About Runaway Spending” At The Republican National Convention. According to the Janesville Gazette, “Republican vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan gave viewers a lot to think about and provided fodder for pundits to argue with his speech Wednesday at the Republican Party National Convention. Area

Republicans attending the event can be excused if they were not surprised or startled by what he said. […] Janesville's Bryan Steil, another alternate delegate who worked on economic issues for two years in Ryan's congressional office, agreed that Ryan has not strayed from his basic policy positions during his 14 years in Congress. ‘It's the same message to a different audience,’ Steil said. ‘As for his speech, I think he knocked one out of the park. He discussed the risks of runaway spending,’ Steil said. ‘He provided the convention with a serious discussion about what needs to be done to fix this economic mess we are in.’” [Janesville Gazette, 8/31/12]

2012: Steil Said That Ryan Was “At His Best When He’s Interacting Directly With Voters” And Said That His Charts And Graphs “[Make] Certain Aspects About His Talk About The Debt Really Clear.” According to Gannett News Service, “For this event, Ryan wore khakis and a dark-colored, short-sleeve polo shirt. This event also included a debt clock that showed the nation's financial obligation increasing by the second. In this setting, Ryan is an engaging wonk. ‘Paul is at his best when he's interacting directly with voters,’ said Bryan Steil, a former legislative aide and longtime friend of the congressman. He added Ryan has long been a fan of charts and graphs. ‘It's probably a little bit on the wonky side, but it makes certain aspects of his talk about the debt really clear.’” [Gannett News Service, 10/5/12]

Steil Praised Ryan’s Ability To Have “An Adult Conversation” And For Having “Great Integrity” And “[Acting’] On His Beliefs.” According to the Isthmus, “Steil hasn't been disappointed. Like a lot of supporters, Steil says Ryan is a man of integrity fighting against a corrupt and dysfunctional political system. ‘He's a guy who tells you what he's going to do, explains it, and then goes to Washington and acts on his beliefs,’ says Steil, an attorney. ‘He's a man of great integrity.’ Steil sees Ryan around town often. ‘You are as likely to see Paul on a Sunday morning news show as you are to see him grocery shopping at Schnucks on Sunday night.’ Although he recognizes that Ryan has many ideological foes in Janesville, Steil says even his opponents respect him because he's willing to have "an adult conversation" on the issues.” [Isthmus, 10/9/14]

Steil Said Ryan Was Pushing “The Country In The Direction It Needs To Go,” Praised His Budget And “Entitlement Reform” Policies

Steil: “The Direction Paul Ryan Wants To Take The Country Is The Direction It Needs To Go.” According to a Gannett report, “‘I accept the calling of my generation to give our children the America that was given to us, with opportunity for the young and security for the old -- and I know we are ready,’ Ryan said. ‘Our nominee is sure ready. After four years of getting the runaround, America needs a turnaround, and the man for the job is Gov. Mitt Romney.’ Convention delegate Bryan Steil, 31, who lives in Ryan's hometown, said with Ryan on the ticket, Americans will have a clear choice in November. ‘It puts a focus on what direction we want to take this country,’ Steil said. ‘I really want to have that debate. It's healthy for the democracy, and in my opinion the direction Paul Ryan wants to take the country is the direction it needs to go.’ The direction Ryan wants to take America is outlined in his manifesto called ‘The Path to Prosperity.’ As chairman of the House Budget Committee, he pushed through a plan that calls for deep spending cuts and a restructuring of Medicare. Ryan also wants to abolish President Barack Obama's health care law. ‘The president has declared that the debate over government-controlled health care is over,’ Ryan said in his speech. ‘That will come as news to the millions of Americans who will elect Mitt Romney so we can repeal Obamacare.’” [Gannett News, 8/29/12]

Steil Said That He Was Excited That Ryan Was Able To Promote Ideas “On Federal Budget Reform, Entitlement Reform And Reducing Government Spending.” According to the Janesville Gazette, “Steil said he's excited to be at the convention where his former boss will formally become the GOP vice presidential candidate. ‘I was an aide to Congressman Ryan from 2003 to 2004 and worked on economic issues,’ Steil said. ‘I remember at the time he took on big spenders, both Democrats and Republicans. He was not in the mainstream of political thought on federal government economics at that time,’ Steil said. ‘Now I have a chance to go to the convention that will nominate him to carry that same message to the American voters. It took the country eight years to catch up to Paul Ryan. The congressman has moved his ideas down the field on federal budget reform, entitlement reform and reducing government spending,’ Steil said. ‘We are now in a position to score.’” [Janesville Gazette, 8/27/12]

When He First Announced His Run For Congress, Steil Praised Ryan’s Record

Steil Called Ryan A “Hard-Working, Selfless” Public Servant. According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, “Steil launched his bid just over a week after Ryan, who's served in Congress for 20 years, announced he wasn't seeking re-election and would retire at the end of the year. He praised his former boss during his announcement as a ‘hard-working, selfless’ public servant. ‘Two and a half years ago, Paul Ryan made us all proud by taking the gavel becoming speaker of the House. Next year, Paul will hand the gavel to someone new. We cannot let Nancy Pelosi take it back,’ Steil said.” [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 4/23/18]

Steil Said Ryan “Made Us All Proud” When He Became Speaker. According to Fox 6 WITI, “In his speech, Steil said Ryan ‘made us all proud’ by becoming speaker in 2015 and said when Ryan hands over the speakers' gavel upon his retirement in January 2019, ‘we cannot let (House Democratic Leader) Nancy Pelosi take it back.’” [Fox – 6 WITI, 4/22/18]

On Multiple Occasions, Steil Could Not Name A Difference Between Himself And Ryan

Republican National Conventions 59

2016: Steil Was A Delegate For Wisconsin’s 1st Congressional District To The RNC And Was Bound To Vote For Ted Cruz. According to the Wisconsin State Journal, “Of Wisconsin's 42 delegates, 36 are bound to Cruz and six from the 3rd and 7th Congressional districts are bound to Trump. That could change if a dissident group of Republicans are successful in changing the rules on the convention floor, allowing delegates to vote their conscience, but that prospect is considered unlikely. […] Of Wisconsin's 42 delegates, 36 are bound to vote for Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and six are bound to vote for presumptive nominee Donald Trump based on the April 5 primary results. There are 39 alternates. Delegates are in BOLD. 1st Congressional District (Cruz) ROSE ANN DIECK BILL JAECK BRYAN STEIL Bill Folk Gene Hainault Jonathan Steitz.” [Wisconsin State Journal, 7/17/16]

 Steil Was A Delegate For The First Congressional District And Bound To Vote For Ted Cruz. [Wisconsin Blue Book, 2017-2018, accessed 6/7/18]

2012: Steil Was An Alternate Delegate At The Republican National Convention. According to the Janesville Gazette, “Republican vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan gave viewers a lot to think about and provided fodder for pundits to argue with his speech Wednesday at the Republican Party National Convention. Area Republicans attending the event can be excused if they were not surprised or startled by what he said. […] Janesville's Bryan Steil, another alternate delegate who worked on economic issues for two years in Ryan's congressional office, agreed that Ryan has not strayed from his basic policy positions during his 14 years in Congress.” [Janesville Gazette, 8/31/12]

 Steil Was An Alternate Delegate For The 1st Congressional District To The Republican National Convention; The District Was Set To Support Mitt Romney. According to the Wisconsin Blue Book, in 2012, Steil was an alternate delegate to the Republican National Convention representing the first congressional district; the district was set to nominate Mitt Romney. [Wisconsin Blue Book, 2013- 2014, accessed 6/7/18]

Rock County Republicans

Issue Notes

Abortion Issues

Steil Said That “Life Begins At Conception” And That It Was A “Core Tenant” Of His Philosophy. According to a video posted by the Republican Party of Kenosha County, Steil said, “I’m pro-life, it’s a core tenant of my faith. I grew up in a large Catholic family. To me, life begins at conception. It’s pretty straightforward. And if you think about what the role of somebody in the United States Congress is, it’s to defend life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. It starts with life. So your obligation is to defend life, and life starts at conception. […] But the core there is how do you protect life and your obligation is that life begins at conception, and that’s a core tenant of my philosophy, of my religious upbringing, and I think it’s a core tenant of our United States Constitutions.” [Republican Party of Kenosha County, 00:15, 5/6/18]

Steil Said There Should Be Exceptions To Permit Abortion In The Cases Of “Rape, Incest, Life Of The Mother.” According to a video posted by the Republican Party of Kenosha, when Steil was asked about whether there should be exceptions to banning abortion, he said, “I think it’s rape, incest, life of the mother. But the core there is how do you protect life and your obligation is that life begins at conception, and that’s a core tenant of my philosophy, of my religious upbringing, and I think it’s a core tenant of our United States Constitutions.” [Republican Party of Kenosha County, 00:15, 5/6/18]

Steil Said The Government Should Stop Funding Planned Parenthood, Regardless If Funds Were Used For Abortion Services Or Not. According to a transcript of a video posted by the Republican Party of Kenosha, “QUESTION: Do you believe any tax dollars should be used to support Planned Parenthood, whether or not the funds were used specifically for abortion services? STEIL: Your key is to get it out of Planned Parenthood funding. Because it’s an entity that pays for that. What we need to do is couple that with mechanism to provide those services to women, there are proposals out there that address that in particular. I think they need to be really further explored as to how we can accomplish that goal, because it hasn’t been accomplished yet.” [Republican Party of Kenosha County, 04:31, 5/6/18]

Budget Issues

Steil Said There Was “A Spending Problem” And Said The Last Year’s Budget Had “A Lot Of Problems.” According to a transcript of an interview with Bryan Steil on the Dan O’Donnell Show, “O’DONNELL: We also saw a budget that, let’s face it, I don’t think any conservative was happy about, even though we got increases in defense spending, we continue to see spending go up even as we see taxes get cut. Now the conservative approach is cut taxes cut spending. I know you’re a big supporter of the tax cuts, but your thoughts on that budget? STEIL: Well we definitely have a spending problem, right? So you look at that budget that went through, there’s a lot of problems with it. I mean, you identified the positive, right, is strengthening our defense. But yeah, definitely not excited about that budget. I think if we take the Wisconsin problem solving approach to Washington, we’re going to be able to put some process and order to that. Washington has a spending problem, there needs to be some discipline in folks in there who are holding the line on spending. You go back, you look at my record on the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents, I’ve been the lone no vote on some of these things, even when it’s not popular, I’m going to take that same approach to Washington if given that ability by the voters.” [WISN, Dan O’Donnell Show, 12:38, 4/24/18]

Defense And Foreign Policy Issues

2018: Steil Said A Positive Of The Last Year’s Budget Was The “Strengthening Of Our Defense.” According to a transcript of an interview with Bryan Steil on the Dan O’Donnell Show, “O’DONNELL: We also saw a budget that, let’s face it, I don’t think any conservative was happy about, even though we got increases in defense spending, we continue to see spending go up even as we see taxes get cut. Now the conservative approach is cut taxes cut spending. I know you’re a big supporter of the tax cuts, but your thoughts on that budget? STEIL: Well we definitely have a spending problem, right? So you look at that budget that went through, there’s a lot of problems with it. I mean, you identified the positive, right, is strengthening our defense.” [WISN, Dan O’Donnell Show, 12:38, 4/24/18]

Steil Said He Was “Cautiously Optimistic” About Trump’s Meeting With North Korea’s Kim Jong-Un And Said That Sanctions Against North Korea Were “Working.” According to a transcript of an interview on with Steve Scaffidi, “SCAFFIDI: As a congressman, you’ll have to ace issues like the President going to a summit in Singapore meeting with the leader of North Korea. What do you expect to come out of this, essentially 24 hour meet and greet with the president of North Korea? STEIL: Sure. I’m cautiously optimistic. But what I think it really says is our maximum pressure campaign with the sanctions against is working. It brought North Korea to the table. And I was with the Ambassador to Japan on Friday. I think it’s pretty clear this maximum pressure campaign has brought him to the table, and now the choice for the dictator of North Korea to determine does he want to take his country a step forward and remove his nuclear weapons program, or does he not? And I think we need to maintain the pressure on North Korea until they take a step forward and benefit really the people of North Korea that really are living underneath a really brutal dictator.” [WTMJ, Steve Scaffidi, 03:58, 6/11/18]

Economic Development Issues

Steil Praised The FoxConn Project

Steil Called The FoxConn Project “Exciting.” According to a transcript for an interview with Bryan Steil on Up Front with Mike Gousha, “GOUSHA: Where do you stand on FoxConn? STEIL: I think it’s exciting that we’re finally looking at how do you grow jobs in this area. If you go back not that long ago, we’re having the opposite conversation. I think large companies coming to this area is a really positive statement of the reforms that have been done in Wisconsin and the reforms that are being done in Washington, D.C. So I think it’s terrific, I think companies are coming here because we have the best workforce not just in the United States, we really in Southeastern Wisconsin have the best workforce in the entire world.” [WISN, Up Front With Mike Gousha, 5/6/18]

Education Issues

Steil Said He Would Push To Repeal Federal Education Regulations. According to a transcript of an interview with Bryan Steil on the Dan O’Donnell Show, “O’DONNELL: What do you think is the one conservative idea or reform needs to go to Washington, that hasn’t been done yet? What do you think, as a congressman, is the one thing you will focus on to getting the federal government to a more conservative place economically, socially, on defense? What do you think is that one proposal? STEIL: Sure, well, if anything I think it’s training our workforce for the jobs of the future. You look at my work on the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents and you go through what really gets in the way, there’s an incredible number of instances where the federal government gets in the way of allowing our high schools, tech schools, and four year universities to be effective. O’DONNELL: How so? STEIL: Well you look at, there’s an incredible number of regulations that are put on higher education that really just makes it inefficient, right? I mean, who’s better at preparing the workforce of the future in Wisconsin? Is it a D.C. bureaucrat or somebody in your local community or your state of Wisconsin? O’DONNELL: So what sorts of regulations would you move to repeal? STEIL: Sure, well you just take the reorganization at the University of Wisconsin level where they said, ‘let’s take these two year institutions and these four year institutions, let’s make this more efficient,’ right? I mean, this is a pretty straightforward reform. To get that done, the number of regulations and red tape, and the number of man hours that are being put to get Washington’s sign off is ridiculous. We in Wisconsin know what’s needed for the Wisconsin workforce, it’s pretty straightforward, right? We’ve got to prepare people to be ready to work at FoxConn. You know, high tech manufacturing. We don’t need a D.C. bureaucrat to tell us that. My background on the education side, I think it going to be a new voice in that sense. You look at the Wisconsin delegation, I think I’m going to be able to bring that to the forefront in D.C. and really allow local folks to make the right decisions that we need in our workforce here.” [WISN, Dan O’Donnell Show, 10:41, 4/24/18]

Gun Rights Issues

Steil Said, “I’m A Supporter Of The Second Amendment” And Said That “More Than Anything” Enforcement Of Current Laws Was Needed. According to a transcript of an interview on Capital City Sunday, “QUESTION: We just had another school shooting on Friday. The week prior to that, the following Friday, another school. Do you think that congress is doing enough, and should it be up to congress or should it be up on the state level to reform gun control? STEIL: I’m a supporter of the second amendment. But what I think we need to do more than anything is enforce the laws that are on the books. And what we’ve seen in a hand full of instances is where the enforcement side is broken down. And that’s broken down probably on two cases: it’s broken down both on the federal level, federal enforcement of gun laws that are on the books, and it’s broken down on the state level, and state enforcement of laws that are already on the books. And more than anything, what we need to do is enforce the laws that are on the books and we can solve a lot of the problems that are out there.” [KTTC, Capital City Sunday, 06:50, 5/25/18]

enforce the rules that are on the books now and let’s make some immediate progress before we even need to get to that type of a conversation.” [KTTC, Capital City Sunday, 07:28, 5/25/18]

Health Care Issues

Steil Said He Wanted To Create A “Patient-Centered Approach” To Health Care, But Didn’t Offer Any Specifics Other Than Saying Ron Johnson Had An “Intriguing Proposal.” According to a video by the Republican Party of Kenosha, the moderator asked, “what do you think should be done to help citizens when it comes to health insurance costs?” Steil responded, “The liberals are going to tell you that you have an option of either large insurance companies or a federal government-run approach. But there’s really a third option, it’s a patient centered approach. What we need to do is reshift this focus from the government- level solution – and again, the liberals are going to want to tell you the options are the government or the insurance companies, and they’re going to make you want to choose the government – the answer is that it’s not the government, it’s a patient centered approach. There’s really intriguing proposals out there on how to do that. Ron Johnson’s got a really intriguing proposal, there’s a number of other items along the way as to how you shift back from the federal government and bring in a patient-centered approach. And that’s what we’re looking at trying to do and accomplish when we’re out there in Washington. How do you get the government out of your health care, not choosing your doctor for you, and how do you get a patient-centered approach to you as an individual can make the best decisions for you and your family.” [Republican Party of Kenosha County, 14:18, 5/6/18]

Immigration Issues

Steil Said Building A Wall Was A “Key Piece” Of His Immigration Policy. At a Republican Party of Kenosha County event, the moderator asked, “do you support building a wall, why or why not?” Steil responded, “Our immigration system is a complete disaster right now on the books. The first step of that is to secure the border, a physical barrier is a key piece of that. So yeah, I support the president on that piece and that initiative. What we need to do then is step back and say, how do we address the immigration picture as a whole. But yeah, the first step is you got to secure the border.” [Republican Party of Kenosha County, 18:08, 5/6/18]

Steil Said He Supported Trump’s Immigration Policies. At a Republican Party of Kenosha County event, the moderator asked, “do you support building a wall, why or why not?” Steil responded, “Our immigration system is a complete disaster right now on the books. The first step of that is to secure the border, a physical barrier is a key piece of that. So yeah, I support the president on that piece and that initiative.” [Republican Party of Kenosha County, 18:08, 5/6/18]

Steil Refused To Discuss Comprehensive Immigration Reform, The DREAM Act, Or Offer Any Specifics On Reforms Until A Wall Had Been Built To Secure The Border. According to a video posted by the Republican Party of Kenosha, “QUESTION: Do you think the United States should provide a path to citizenship for DREAMers or anyone else who came here illegally? STEIL: [Incomprehensible] The whole immigration system is a complete mess. So step one before you can get into that part of the conversation is you need to secure the border. As so I think before you get into that conversation is step one, is secure the border and then have a conversation about how you address the broader immigration system. So addressing that broader immigration system before you get through step one I think is jumping the gun. So I think step one is we got to secure the border, and then step two is figuring out how you have a comprehensive solution to immigration.” [Republican Party of Kenosha County, 21:30, 5/6/18]

Taxes Issues

Steil Said He Would “Like To Continue What Both Walker And Ryan Have Achieved For Wisconsin,” Such As Tax Reform, Which He Said Had “Really Improved Our Economy.” According to The Freeman, “With a background in manufacturing, Steil said workforce development is a major focus of his campaign. He added that he would like to continue what both Walker and Ryan have achieved for Wisconsin. ‘I think there's a need to take some of these quality reforms that really improved our economy like

the tax reform alone,’ Steil said. ‘I think we've seen some real benefits from that. You have some of the greatest employment statistics in our area.’” [The Freeman, 4/25/18]

Steil Called The Republican Tax Reforms A “Terrific Step Forward.” According to a transcript for an interview with Bryan Steil on Up Front with Mike Gousha, “GOUSHA: Let’s talk tax reform. Do you support what’s been passed by congress? Do you think the tax reform package that was approved was good legislation? STEIL: Yeah, I think it’s a terrific step forward in allowing employers and job growth in our area. I think the results are starting to speak for themselves. I think the unemployment rate is a terrific statistic that kind of provides evidence of the types of results that those types of tax reforms produce.” [WISN, Up Front With Mike Gousha, 5/6/18]

2018: Steil Said “I Think We've Seen Some Real Benefits From” Republican Tax Reform, Noting Employment Statistics In The Muskego Area. According to the Waukesha Freeman, “‘I think there's a need to take some of these quality reforms that really improved our economy like the tax reform alone,’ Steil said. "I think we've seen some real benefits from that. You have some of the greatest employment statistics in our area." Steil said although local government succeeded in creating jobs for Wisconsin, he intends to take workforce development a step further by enhancing educational opportunities for high schools, technical colleges and universities so that students can retain the skillsets that employers will look for in the future, he said. But the UW-System needs to be reorganized and federal oversight regulations should be eliminated so that Wisconsin can have more of a say about what it needs to develop its workforce, he said.” [Waukesha Freeman, 4/25/18]

Trade Issues

Steil Said There Need To Be “Free, Fair, Reciprocal Trade Agreements.” According to a transcript of an interview on with Steve Scaffidi, “STEIL: Overall, trade is a significant benefit to the people here in Southeastern Wisconsin. We need to be able to trade our products from Wisconsin to Canada, to the European Union, and to China. And so what we need is free, fair, reciprocal trade agreements that are put in place. And there’s examples where some of our trade partners are not stepping up to the plate and doing their fair share. You mention Canada, Canada, to give an example here, they’ve got a convoluted milk pricing scheme that keeps out our dairy products. So what we need to do is break down those barriers to allow Americans, to allow people in Southeast Wisconsin to sell their products free, fair; and then that trade needs to be reciprocal.” [WTMJ, Steve Scaffidi, 01:53, 6/11/18]

Steil Said That Trump At The G-7 Conference Was “Getting Out And Defending American Workers” And Said, “Trade…Is Ultimately Going To Benefit The People Here.” According to a transcript of an interview on with Steve Scaffidi, “STEIL: And so what I think you’re seeing is the President getting out and defending American workers, American agriculture, American manufacturing, and the need to have that trade, which is ultimately going to benefit the people here of Southeast Wisconsin. And we can get good, high quality trade agreements in place.” [WTMJ, Steve Scaffidi, 01:53, 6/11/18]

Property And Financial Notes

Steil Finances

Steil Salary Disclosures

2018: Steil Disclosed Earning $85,247 In Salary From Charter Nex Films, Inc. Until April 21, 2018. According to Steil’s federal financial disclosure form, he earned $85,247 in salary from Charter Nex Films between January 1, 2018 and April 21, 2018. Steil indicated that he received a leave of absence on April 21, 2018. [Clerk of the House of Representatives, Steil 2018 Financial Disclosure, 5/25/18]

2017: Steil Disclosed Earning $174,518 From Regal Beloit. According to Steil’s federal financial disclosure form, he earned $174,518 in salary from Regal Beloit in 2017. [Clerk of the House of Representatives, Steil 2018 Financial Disclosure, 5/25/18]

Steil Investment Disclosures

2018: Steil Disclosed Owning Between $470,027 And $1,375,000 Of Investment Assets.

Steil Reported Receiving Gifts From A Law Firm In 2017

2017: Steil Disclosed Receiving A Gift Worth More Than $50 From Law Firm Latham & Watkins Of Chicago, Illinois. [Wisconsin Ethics Commission, Steil 2017 Statement of Economic Interest, 4/25/17]

Legal Notes

Steil Was Mentioned In Court Records For A Regal Beloit Anti-Trust Consent Decree

Regal Beloit Corporation Said That Steil Was Copied Or Party To A Number Of Communications Between The Company And The United States Justice Department To Discuss The Company’s Acquisition Of A.O. Smith. According to a filing in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, Steil was copied to many communications between the Justice Department and Regal Beloit. This information was shared after a complaint regarding Regal Beloit’s compliance with the Tunney Act, an antitrust law. [U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, Case No. 1:11-cv-01487-ESH, Notice of Tunney Act Requirements filed 8/25/11]

2011: Regal Beloit Reached A Settlement With The Department Of Justice That Would Force The Company To Divest Its US Business For Electric Motor For Pool And Spa Pumps. According to a press release, “The Department of Justice announced today that it has reached a settlement that will require Regal Beloit Corporation (RBC) to divest its U.S. business for electric motors for pool and spa pumps to SNTechInc. and to divest A.O. Smith Corporation's (AOS) development work and related assets for draft inducers for high-efficiency furnaces to Revcor Inc., in order to proceed with RBC's acquisition of AOS's electric motor business. The department said that without the divestitures the acquisition would lead to higher prices, lower quality products, less customer service and less innovation in each of these markets.” [United States Department of Justice, Press Release via US Official News, 8/24/11]

The DOJ Said Regal Beloit’s Acquisition Of A.O Smith Corporation Would “Have Lessened The Vigorous Competition That Currently Exists Among Manufacturers Of Electric Motors For Pool And Spa Pumps.” According to a press release, “‘The acquisition as originally proposed would have lessened the vigorous competition that currently exists among manufacturers of electric motors for pool and spa pumps resulting in higher prices and lower quality products,’ said Sharis A. Pozen, Acting Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Department of Justice's Antitrust Division. ‘The acquisition also would have eliminated the firm best positioned to challenge Regal Beloit Corporation's dominance in the market for draft inducers for high-efficiency furnaces.’” [United States Department of Justice, Press Release via US Official News, 8/24/11]