79th Wisconsin Legislature explained

79th Wisconsin Legislature
Body:	Wisconsin Legislature
Before:	78th
After:	80th
Chamber1:	Senate
Membership1:	33
Control1:	Republican
Chamber2:	Assembly
Membership2:	100
Control2:	Republican
Session1 Type:	Regular

The Seventy-Ninth Wisconsin Legislature convened from to in regular session and also convened in two special sessions in the fall of 1969 and on December 22, 1970.^[1]

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, 1968. 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, 1966.^[1]

Major events

• January 6, 1969: Third inauguration of Warren P. Knowles as Governor of Wisconsin.
• January 20, 1969: Inauguration of Richard Nixon as the 37th President of the United States.
• January 21, 1969: Wisconsin U.S. representative Melvin Laird (WI-07) resigned from Congress to become United States Secretary of Defense.
• April 1, 1969: 1969 Wisconsin spring election:
  • Voters ratified two amendments to the state constitution:
    • Allowing the legislature to establish the office of county executive for all counties (it had previously been restricted to Milwaukee County).
    • Allowing the state to take on debt directly and end the practice of utilizing dummy corporations.
• July 20, 1969: As part of the Apollo 11 mission, American astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first humans to set foot on the Moon.
• October 29, 1969: The first message was sent over ARPANET, the forerunner of the internet.
• March 31, 1970: The Seattle Pilots professional baseball team was sold to a new ownership group led by Bud Selig, who immediately moved the franchise to Milwaukee and renamed them the Milwaukee Brewers.
• April 17, 1970: The Apollo 13 crew returned safely to Earth after suffering a catastrophic explosion on their spacecraft four days earlier.
• April 22, 1970: The first Earth Day was celebrated, organized by Wisconsin's junior United States senator, Gaylord Nelson.
• August 24, 1970: The Sterling Hall bombing on the University of Wisconsin–Madison campus killed a physics professor and injured three others.
• November 3, 1970: 1970 United States general election:
  • Patrick Lucey (D) elected Governor of Wisconsin.
  • William Proxmire (D) re-elected United States senator from Wisconsin.
• November 18, 1970: A three-judge panel of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin ruled in the case of Babbitz v. McCann, granting an injunction which prohibited enforcement of Wisconsin's laws against abortion, effectively making abortion legal in Wisconsin.^[2]

Major legislation

• 1969 Joint Resolution 2: Second legislative passage of a proposed amendment to the state constitution to allow the legislature to establish the office of county executive for all Wisconsin counties. This amendment was ratified by voters at the April 1969 election.
• 1969 Joint Resolution 3: Second legislative passage of a proposed amendment to the state constitution to allow the state to take on debt without utilizing a shell corporation. This amendment was ratified by voters at the April 1969 election.

Party summary

Senate summary

	Party (Shading indicates majority caucus)		Total
	Dem.	Rep.		Vacant
End of previous Legislature	12		21	33	0
Start of Reg. Session	10	23	33	0
From Apr. 20, 1969^[3]	9		32	1
From Aug. 26, 1969^[4]			22	31	2
From Oct. 4, 1969^[5]		21	30	3
From Oct. 14, 1969^[6]	10		31	2
From Nov. 11, 1969^[7]	11		32	1
Final voting share
Beginning of the next Legislature	12		20	32	1

Assembly summary

	Party (Shading indicates majority caucus)			Total
	Dem.	Ind.	Rep.		Vacant
End of previous Legislature	46	0		52	98	2
Start of Reg. Session	48	0	52	100	0
From Apr. 1, 1969^[8]	47			99	1
From Oct. 2, 1969^[9]		1	51
From Oct. 14, 1969^[10]	48			100	0
Final voting share
Beginning of the next Legislature		67	0	33	100	0

Sessions

• Regular session: January 6, 1969January 4, 1971
• September 1969 special session: September 29, 1969January 17, 1970
• December 1970 special session: December 22, 1970

Leaders

Senate leadership

• President of the Senate: Jack B. Olson (R)
• President pro tempore: Robert P. Knowles (R–New Richmond)
• Majority leader: Ernest Keppler (R–Sheboygan)
• Minority leader: Fred Risser (D–Madison)

Assembly leadership

• Speaker of the Assembly: Harold V. Froehlich (R–Appleton)
• Speaker pro tempore: Elmer C. Nitschke (R–Beaver Dam)
• Majority leader: Paul Alfonsi (R–Minocqua)
• Minority leader: Robert T. Huber (D–West Allis)

Members

Members of the Senate

Members of the Senate for the Seventy-Ninth Wisconsin Legislature:^[11]

Dist.	Counties	Senator	Residence	Party
01	Door, Kewaunee,		Sturgeon Bay		Rep.
02			Green Bay		Rep.
03	Milwaukee (Southwest City)		Milwaukee		Dem.
04	Milwaukee (North County)		Milwaukee		Rep.
05			Milwaukee		Dem.
06			Milwaukee		Dem.
07	Milwaukee (Southeast County		Cudahy		Dem.
08			West Milwaukee		Rep.
09			Milwaukee		Dem.
			Milwaukee		Dem.
10	Buffalo, Burnett, Pepin, Pierce, Polk,		New Richmond		Rep.
11	Milwaukee (Western City)		Milwaukee		Dem.
12	Clark, Forest, Lincoln, Oneida, Taylor,		Merrill		Rep.
13	Eastern Dodge, Jefferson,		Oakfield		Rep.
			Jefferson		Dem.
14			Bear Creek		Rep.
15			Elkhorn		Rep.
16			Stoughton		Dem.
17	Grant, Green, Iowa, Lafayette,		Darlington		Rep.
18			Rosendale		Rep.
19	Winnebago		Neenah		Rep.
20			Sheboygan		Rep.
21			Racine		Dem.
22	Kenosha		Kenosha		Dem.
23	Barron, Chippewa, Dunn,		Spooner		Rep.
24	Green Lake, Portage, Waushara,		Marshfield		Rep.
25	Ashland, Bayfield, Douglas, Iron, Price, Rusk,		Superior		Rep.
26	Dane (Madison)		Madison		Dem.
27	Adams, Columbia, Juneau, Marquette,		Baraboo		Rep.
28	Southwest Milwaukee,		Greenfield		Rep.
29	Marathon, Menominee,		Wausau		Rep.
30	Northern Brown, Florence, Langlade, Marinette,		Oconto		Rep.
31	Eau Claire, Jackson, Monroe,		Eau Claire		Rep.
32	Crawford, La Crosse,		La Crosse		Rep.
33			Hartland		Rep.
		--Vacant from Oct. 4, 1969--

Members of the Assembly

Members of the Assembly for the Seventy-Ninth Wisconsin Legislature:^[11]

Senate Dist.	County	Dist.	Representative	Party	Residence
27	text-align="left" colspan="2"	Adams, Juneau,			Rep.	Elroy
25	text-align="left" colspan="2"	Ashland, Bayfield,			Dem.	Washburn
23	text-align="left" colspan="2"				Rep.	Chetek
02	text-align="left" rowspan="3"	Brown	1			Rep.	Green Bay
	2			Rep.	New Denmark
	3			Dem.	Green Bay
10	text-align="left" colspan="2"	Buffalo, Pepin,			Rep.	River Falls
	text-align="left" colspan="2"				Dem.	Luck
02	text-align="left" colspan="2"	Calumet			Dem.	Chilton
23	text-align="left" colspan="2"	Chippewa			Dem.	Chippewa Falls
12	text-align="left" colspan="2"	Clark			Dem.	Colby
27	text-align="left" colspan="2"	Columbia			Rep.	Lodi
32	text-align="left" colspan="2"				Rep.	Viroqua
26	text-align="left" rowspan="5"	Dane	1			Dem.	Madison
	2			Dem.	Madison
	3			Rep.	Madison
16	4			Rep.	Sun Prairie
	5			Dem.	Waunakee
13	text-align="left" rowspan="2"	Dodge	1			Rep.	Horicon
18	2			Rep.	Beaver Dam
01	text-align="left" colspan="2"				Rep.	Algoma
25	text-align="left" colspan="2"	Douglas			Dem.	Superior
23	text-align="left" colspan="2"	Dunn			Dem.	Menomonie
31	text-align="left" rowspan="2"	Eau Claire	1			Dem.	Eau Claire
	2			Dem.	Fairchild
30	text-align="left" colspan="2"				Rep.	Peshtigo
18	text-align="left" rowspan="2"	Fond du Lac	1			Rep.	Fond du Lac
	2			Rep.	Oakfield
12	text-align="left" colspan="2"	Forest, Oneida,			Rep.	Minocqua
17	text-align="left" colspan="2"	Grant			Rep.	Muscoda
	text-align="left" colspan="2"				Rep.	Shullsburg
24	text-align="left" colspan="2"				Rep.	Wautoma
17	text-align="left" colspan="2"				Rep.	Highland
31	text-align="left" colspan="2"				Dem.	Strum
13	text-align="left" colspan="2"	Jefferson			Rep.	Watertown
22	text-align="left" rowspan="2"	Kenosha	1			Dem.	Kenosha
	2			Rep.	Randall
32	text-align="left" rowspan="2"	La Crosse	1			Rep.	La Crosse
	2			Rep.	West Salem
30	text-align="left" colspan="2"				Rep.	Oconto Falls
12	text-align="left" colspan="2"				Dem.	Lublin
01	Manitowoc	1			Rep.	Manitowoc
		2			Dem.	Two Rivers
29	text-align="left" rowspan="3"	Marathon	1			Dem.	Athens
	2			Dem.	Wausau
				Dem.	Wausau
	text-align="left" colspan="2"				Dem.	Shawano
06	text-align="left" rowspan="26"	Milwaukee	1			Dem.	Milwaukee
05	2			Dem.	Milwaukee
04	3			Dem.	Milwaukee
09	4			Dem.	Milwaukee
06	5			Dem.	Milwaukee
09	6			Dem.	Milwaukee
06	7			Dem.	Milwaukee
11	8			Dem.	Milwaukee
05	9			Dem.	Milwaukee
11	10			Dem.	Milwaukee
03	11			Dem.	Milwaukee
	12			Dem.	Milwaukee
09	13			Dem.	Milwaukee
03	14			Dem.	Milwaukee
05	15			Rep.	Milwaukee
11	16			Dem.	Milwaukee
07	17			Dem.	Milwaukee
04	18			Rep.	Milwaukee
07	19			Dem.	Milwaukee
08	20			Rep.	Wauwatosa
	21			Dem.	West Allis
	22			Dem.	West Allis
28	23			Rep.	Greenfield
				Ind.
07	24			Dem.	South Milwaukee
04	25			Rep.	Shorewood
31	text-align="left" colspan="2"	Monroe			Rep.	Tomah
14	text-align="left" rowspan="3"	Outagamie	1			Rep.	Appleton
	2			Dem.	Kaukauna
	3			Rep.	Shiocton
20	text-align="left" colspan="2"	Ozaukee			Rep.	Saukville
24	text-align="left" colspan="2"	Portage			Dem.	Stevens Point
25	text-align="left" colspan="2"				Rep.	Ladysmith
21	text-align="left" rowspan="3"	Racine	1			Dem.	Racine
	2			Dem.	Racine
28	3			Rep.	Waterford
15	text-align="left" rowspan="3"	Rock	1			Dem.	Janesville
16	2			Rep.	Edgerton
15	3			Rep.	Beloit
27	text-align="left" colspan="2"	Sauk			Rep.	Rock Springs
20	text-align="left" rowspan="2"	Sheboygan	1			Dem.	Sheboygan
	2			Dem.	Plymouth
10	text-align="left" colspan="2"	St. Croix			Rep.	Star Prairie
22	text-align="left" colspan="2"	Walworth			Rep.	Elkhorn
13	text-align="left" colspan="2"	Washington			Rep.	West Bend
33	text-align="left" rowspan="4"	Waukesha	1			Rep.	Brookfield
	2			Rep.	Oconomowoc
	3			Dem.	Waukesha
28	4			Rep.	New Berlin
14	text-align="left" colspan="2"	Waupaca			Rep.	Waupaca
19	text-align="left" rowspan="3"	Winnebago	1			Rep.	Oshkosh
	2			Rep.	Oshkosh
	3			Rep.	Menasha
24	text-align="left" rowspan="2"	Wood	1			Rep.	Marshfield
	2			Rep.	Wisconsin Rapids

Committees

Senate committees

• Senate Standing Committee on AgricultureW. Terry, chair
• Senate Standing Committee on EducationH. Rasmusen, chair
• Senate Standing Committee on Governmental and Veterans AffairsW. Draheim, chair
• Senate Standing Committee on Health and Social ServicesA. Cirilli, chair
• Senate Standing Committee on Interstate CooperationG. Lorge, chair
• Senate Standing Committee on the JudiciaryA. Busby, chair
• Senate Standing Committee on Labor, Taxation, Insurance, and BankingG. Lorge, chair
• Senate Standing Committee on Natural ResourcesC. Krueger, chair
• Senate Standing Committee on TransportationR. La Fave, chair
• Senate Special Committee on CommitteesG. Lorge, chair
• Senate Special Committee on Legislative ProcedureR. P. Knowles, chair
• Senate Special Committee on Senate OrganizationE. Keppler, chair

Assembly committees

• Assembly Standing Committee on AgricultureN. Nuttelman, chair
• Assembly Standing Committee on Commerce and ManufacturesF. C. Schroeder, chair
• Assembly Standing Committee on ConservationP. Alfonsi, chair
• Assembly Standing Committee on EducationL. H. Johnson, chair
• Assembly Standing Committee on ElectionsS. York, chair
• Assembly Standing Committee on Excise and FeesE. F. McEssy, chair
• Assembly Standing Committee on HighwaysW. J. Hutnik, chair
• Assembly Standing Committee on Insurance and BankingK. Kenyon, chair
• Assembly Standing Committee on the JudiciaryG. B. Belting, chair
• Assembly Standing Committee on LaborJ. N. Azim, chair
• Assembly Standing Committee on MunicipalitiesJ. D. Steinhilber, chair
• Assembly Standing Committee on PrintingE. Conradt, chair
• Assembly Standing Committee on Public WelfareH. F. Gee, chair
• Assembly Standing Committee on State AffairsB. Lewison, chair
• Assembly Standing Committee on TaxationR. Uehling, chair
• Assembly Standing Committee on TourismW. L. Packard, chair
• Assembly Standing Committee on TransportationE. C. Nitschke, chair
• Assembly Standing Committee on Veterans and Military AffairsJ. C. Van Hollen, chair
• Assembly Special Committee on Assembly OrganizationH. V. Froehlich, chair
• Assembly Special Committee on Engrossed BillsE. D. Luckhardt, chair
• Assembly Special Committee on Enrolled BillsL. J. Kafka, chair
• Assembly Special Committee on RevisionJ. Quinn, chair
• Assembly Special Committee on RulesG. J. Bock, chair
• Assembly Special Committee on Third ReadingC. Blanchard, chair

Joint committees

• Joint Standing Committee on FinanceW. G. Hollander (Sen.) & B. F. Wackett (Asm.), co-chairs
• Joint Standing Committee on Legislative OrganizationP. Alfonsi (Asm.), chair
• Joint Standing Committee on Revisions, Repeals, and Uniform LawsG. Roseleip (Sen.) & J. Sensenbrenner (Asm.), co-chairs
• Joint Legislative CouncilH. V. Froehlich, chair

Employees

Senate employees

• Chief Clerk: William P. Nugent^[12]
• Sergeant-at-Arms: Kenneth Nicholson

Assembly employees

• Chief Clerk: Wilmer H. Struebing^[12]
• Sergeant-at-Arms: Louis C. Romell

External links

• 1969: Related Documents from Wisconsin Legislature

Notes and References

1. State of Wisconsin Blue Book 2021–2022 . 2021 . Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau . 978-1-7333817-1-0 . Barish . Lawrence S. . Lemanski . Lynn . https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/misc/lrb/blue_book/2021_2022/160_historical_lists.pdf . Historical Lists . 468, 471, 475, 479–480 . August 5, 2023 .
2. https://cite.case.law/f-supp/320/219/ . Babbitz v. McCann . 320 . F. Supp. . 219 . . November 18, 1970 . December 12, 2023 .
3. Democrat Norman Sussman (9th District) died.
4. Republican Frank E. Panzer (13th District) died.
5. Republican Chester Dempsey (33rd District) died.
6. Democrat Ronald G. Parys (9th District) was sworn in to replace Norman Sussman.
7. Democrat Dale McKenna (13th District) was sworn in to replace Frank E. Panzer.
8. Democrat Dave Obey (Marathon County) resigned after being elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.
9. Republican Jerry J. Wing (Milwaukee County) switched his party affiliation to independent.
10. Democrat Tony Earl (Marathon County) was sworn in to replace Dave Obey.
11. The Wisconsin Blue Book 1970 . . 1970 . Theobald . H. Rupert . Robbins . Patricia V. . Biographies . 20–68 . October 29, 2023 .
12. The Wisconsin Blue Book 1970 . . 1970 . Theobald . H. Rupert . Robbins . Patricia V. . The Legislative Branch . 363-389 . October 29, 2023 .