93rd Wisconsin Legislature
| 93rd Wisconsin Legislature | |||||
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 Wisconsin State Capitol | |||||
| Overview | |||||
| Legislative body | Wisconsin Legislature | ||||
| Meeting place | Wisconsin State Capitol | ||||
| Term | January 6, 1997 – January 4, 1999 | ||||
| Election | November 5, 1996 | ||||
| Senate | |||||
| Members | 33 | ||||
| Senate President |
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| President pro tempore |
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| Party control |
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| Assembly | |||||
| Members | 99 | ||||
| Assembly Speaker |
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| Speaker pro tempore | Stephen Freese (R) | ||||
| Party control | Republican | ||||
| Sessions | |||||
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| Special sessions | |||||
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The Ninety-Third Wisconsin Legislature convened from January 6, 1997, to January 4, 1999, in regular session, and also convened in an April 1998 special session.[1]
This was the third consecutive session in which partisan control of the Senate changed during the legislative term.
Senators representing even-numbered districts were newly elected for this session and were serving the first two years of a four-year term. Assembly members were elected to a two-year term. Assembly members and even-numbered senators were elected in the general election of November 5, 1996. Senators representing odd-numbered districts were serving the third and fourth year of a four-year term, having been elected in the general election of November 8, 1994.[1]
Major events
[edit]- January 20, 1997: Second inauguration of Bill Clinton as President of the United States.
- January 26, 1997: The Green Bay Packers won Super Bowl XXXI.
- November 13, 1997: Wisconsin state senator Lynn Adelman was confirmed as United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Wisconsin.
- September 10, 1998: Wisconsin Supreme Court justice Janine P. Geske resigned. Governor Tommy Thompson immediately appointed David Prosser Jr. to succeed her.
- November 3, 1998: 1998 United States general election:
- Tommy Thompson (R) re-elected Governor of Wisconsin, the first person to win four terms as governor of Wisconsin.
- Russ Feingold (D) re-elected United States senator from Wisconsin.
- Wisconsin voters ratified two amendments to the state constitution:
- Creating a right to keep and bear arms.
- Changing sheriff terms to four years, allowing sheriffs to hold other nonpartisan offices, and allowing the legislature to call special elections to fill sheriff vacancies.
- December 19, 1998: The United States House of Representatives voted to impeach U.S. President Bill Clinton for perjury and obstruction of justice.
Major legislation
[edit]- October 13, 1997: An Act relating to: state finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 1997 legislature, and making appropriations, 1997 Act 27. Vetoed in part.
Party summary
[edit]Senate summary
[edit]
Democratic: 17 seats
Republican: 16 seats
| Party (Shading indicates majority caucus)
|
Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dem. | Rep. | Vacant | ||
| End of previous Legislature | 17 | 16 | 33 | 0 |
| Start of Reg. Session | 17 | 16 | 33 | 0 |
| From Dec. 23, 1997[note 1] | 16 | 32 | 1 | |
| From Apr. 20, 1998[note 2] | 16 | 17 | 33 | 0 |
| Final voting share | 48.48% | 51.52% | ||
| Beginning of the next Legislature | 17 | 16 | 33 | 0 |
Assembly summary
[edit]
Democratic: 47 seats
Republican: 52 seats
| Party (Shading indicates majority caucus)
|
Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dem. | Rep. | Vacant | ||
| End of previous Legislature | 47 | 51 | 98 | 1 |
| Start of Reg. Session | 47 | 52 | 99 | 0 |
| From Nov. 2, 1997[note 3] | 51 | 98 | 1 | |
| From Dec. 7, 1997[note 4] | 46 | 97 | 2 | |
| From Jan. 20, 1998[note 5] | 52 | 98 | 1 | |
| From Apr. 15, 1998[note 6] | 53 | 99 | 0 | |
| From Apr. 20, 1998[note 7] | 52 | 98 | 1 | |
| From Aug. 1, 1998[note 8] | 45 | 97 | 2 | |
| Final voting share | 46.39% | 53.61% | ||
| Beginning of the next Legislature | 44 | 55 | 99 | 0 |
Sessions
[edit]- Regular session: January 6, 1997 – January 4, 1999
- Apr. 1998 special session: April 21, 1998 – May 21, 1998
Leadership
[edit]Senate leadership
[edit]- President of the Senate: Fred Risser (D–Madison) (until Apr. 21, 1998)
- Brian Rude (R–Coon Valley) (after Apr. 21, 1998)
- President pro tempore: Gwen Moore (D–Milwaukee) (until Apr. 21, 1998)
- Alan Lasee (R–Rockland) (after Apr. 21, 1998)
Senate majority leadership
[edit]- Majority Leader: Charles Chvala (D–Madison) (until Apr. 21, 1998)
- Michael G. Ellis (R–Neenah) (after Apr. 21, 1998)
- Assistant Majority Leader: Rodney C. Moen (D–Whitehall) (until Apr. 21, 1998)
- Margaret Farrow (R–Elm Grove) (after Apr. 21, 1998)
Senate minority leadership
[edit]- Minority Leader: Michael G. Ellis (R–Neenah) (until Apr. 21, 1998)
- Charles Chvala (D–Madison) (after Apr. 21, 1998)
- Assistant Minority Leader: Brian Rude (R–Coon Valley) (until Apr. 21, 1998)
- Fred Risser (D–Madison) (after Apr. 21, 1998)
Assembly leadership
[edit]- Speaker of the Assembly: Ben Brancel (R–Douglas) (until Nov. 2, 1997)
- Scott R. Jensen (R–Waukesha) (after Nov. 4, 1997)
- Speaker pro tempore: Stephen Freese (R–Jamestown)
Assembly majority leadership
[edit]- Majority Leader: Steven Foti (R–Oconomowoc)
- Assistant Majority Leader: Bonnie Ladwig (R–Caledonia)
Assembly minority leadership
[edit]- Minority Leader: Walter Kunicki (D–Milwaukee) (until May 26, 1998)
- Shirley Krug (D–Milwaukee) (after May 26, 1998)
- Assistant Minority Leader: Marlin Schneider (D–Wisconsin Rapids)
Members
[edit]Members of the Senate
[edit]Members of the Senate for the Ninety-Third Wisconsin Legislature:[2]
Democratic: 17 seats
Republican: 16 seats
Members of the Assembly
[edit]Members of the Assembly for the Ninety-Third Wisconsin Legislature:[2]
Democratic: 47 seats
Republican: 52 seats
Employees
[edit]Senate employees
[edit]- Chief Clerk: Donald J. Schneider[2]
- Sergeant-at-Arms: Jon H. Hochkammer
Assembly employees
[edit]- Chief Clerk: Charles R. Sanders[2]
- Sergeant-at-Arms: John A. Scocos
Notes
[edit]- ^ Democrat Lynn Adelman (28th District) resigned after he was confirmed as a United States district judge.
- ^ Republican Mary Lazich (28th District) was sworn in to replace Lynn Adelman.
- ^ Republican Speaker Ben Brancel (42nd District) resigned after being appointed secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.
- ^ Democrat James A. Rutkowski (82nd District) resigned to accept appointment to a state commission.
- ^ Republican Joan Wade Spillner (42nd District) was sworn in to replace Ben Brancel.
- ^ Republican Jeff Stone (82nd District) was sworn in to replace James A. Rutkowski.
- ^ Republican Mary Lazich (84th District) resigned after her election to the state senate.
- ^ Democrat Barbara Linton (74th District) resigned.
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Historical Lists" (PDF). State of Wisconsin Blue Book 2023–2024 (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. 2023. pp. 492–493, 496, 501, 513–514. ISBN 978-1-7333817-2-7. Retrieved December 23, 2023.
- ^ a b c d Barish, Lawrence S., ed. (1997). "Biographies". State of Wisconsin 1997–1998 Blue Book (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. pp. 20–88. Retrieved January 14, 2024.