Disabled Wisconsin lawmaker may sue the state after being denied accommodations

By: CBS 58 Newsroom

Posted: Jul 31, 2019 8:23 PM CDT

Updated: 2:24 p.m. August 1, 2019

MADISON, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Wisconsin House Speaker Robin Vos says he will not grant State Rep. Jimmy Anderson's request to call into committee meetings by phone.

Rep. Anderson is paralyzed and uses a wheelchair.

In a letter to Anderson, Vos says he will make a videographer available for meetings Anderson can't attend. He also said he would consider paper ballot voting.

See the full letter here:

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Posted: 8:25 p.m. July 31, 2019

MADISON, Wis. (CBS 58) -- A Dane County representative paralyzed from the chest down may sue the state after he was denied accommodations.

Jimmy Anderson uses a wheelchair to get around and relies on people to help him throughout the day.

He wants to be able to call into committee meetings if he can't get there in person.

House Speaker Robin Vos said allowing that would be disrespectful.

"What I think is disrespectful is making it harder for me to be the best representative that I can be for the 47th Assembly District and for the people of Wisconsin," said Rep. Anderson (D - Fitchburg).

Unlike the state Assembly, the state Senate allows members to call into meetings. Rep. Anderson plans to sue under the Americans with Disabilities Act if Speaker Vos does not change his mind.