Madison, Wis. – CJ Szafir, President of the Institute for Reforming Government, issued the following statement after State Senator Alberta Darling (R-River Hills) announced her retirement from the state legislature after 32 years of public service:
Senator Darling has been one of the strongest advocates for lower taxes, educational reforms, and Wisconsin’s conservative movement at-large. She is one of the most consequential policymakers of our time, and we are all better off due to her service.
Whether through her ability to consistently craft budgets that cut taxes or through her leadership in ushering in Act 10 reform that resulted in massive pressure from public labor unions and a failed attempt to recall her, Alberta always led fearlessly.
Senator Darling has been one of the strongest proponents of Wisconsin’s successful school choice program and more recently fought to pass a historic education reform package that would have further empowered families and worked to resolve the abhorrent failures of Milwaukee Public Schools. There has been no stronger advocate for empowering parents and helping our children succeed than Alberta.
Even after her retirement, Alberta’s legacy will continue through all of the positive ways she helped shape public policy over three decades. While she leaves big shoes to fill, I wish her well in retirement and thank her for her dedication and service to others over self. It’s been an honor to work with her and her all-star team.
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