89th Wisconsin Legislature explained

89th Wisconsin Legislature
Body:	Wisconsin Legislature
Before:	88th
After:	90th
Chamber1:	Senate
Membership1:	33
Control1:	Democratic
Chamber2:	Assembly
Membership2:	99
Control2:	Democratic
Session1 Type:	Regular

The Eighty-Ninth Wisconsin Legislature convened from to in regular session, and also convened in two special sessions.^[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 8, 1988. 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 4, 1986.^[1]

Major events

• January 20, 1989: Inauguration of George H. W. Bush as the 41st President of the United States.
• April 4, 1989: 1989 Wisconsin Spring election:
  • Wisconsin voters rejected an amendment to the state constitution which would have allowed the state legislature to enact progressive tax relief for state property and sales taxes.
• June 3, 1989: Forces of China's People's Liberation Army began a crackdown on the Tiananmen Square protests, ultimately resulting in many deaths.
• November 9, 1989: After an unexpected announcement of liberalization of travel policy in East Germany, crowds of civilians began demolishing the Berlin Wall, which had divided the city since the 1960s.
• February 7, 1990: The Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union agreed to allow parties other than the Communist Party of the Soviet Union to compete in elections in the constituent republics of the Soviet Union.
• April 3, 1990: 1990 Wisconsin Spring election:
  • Wisconsin voters ratified an amendment to the state constitution which revised the gubernatorial line-item veto power to prevent the governor from creating entire new words from vetoing parts of other words.
• August 7, 1990: U.S. President George H. W. Bush ordered American military forces to Saudi Arabia following Iraq's invasion of Kuwait.
• November 6, 1990: 1990 United States general election:
  • Tommy Thompson (R) re-elected Governor of Wisconsin.
• November 29, 1990: The United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 678, ordering Iraq to withdraw forces from Kuwait by January 15, 1991, and empowering states to use all necessary means to force Iraq to comply with the resolution.

Major legislation

• August 8, 1989: An Act relating to state finances and appropriations, constituting the general executive budget bill of the 1989 legislature, and making appropriations, 1989 Act 31. Vetoed in part, this act also established the Wisconsin Department of Corrections.

Party summary

Senate summary

	Party (Shading indicates majority caucus)		Total
	Dem.	Rep.		Vacant
End of previous Legislature		19	14	33	0
Start of Reg. Session	20	13	33	0
From Apr. 20, 1989^[2]		12	32	1
From Jul. 11, 1989^[3]		13	33	0
From Sep. 1, 1989^[4]			19	32	1
From Oct. 2, 1989^[5]			18	31	2
From Dec. 13, 1989^[6]		19	14	33	0
From Jul. 12, 1990^[7]	18	32		1
From Aug. 1, 1990^[8]		13	31	2
From Nov. 28, 1990^[9]			19	32	1
Final voting share
Beginning of the next Legislature		19	14	33	0

Assembly summary

	Party (Shading indicates majority caucus)		Total
	Dem.	Rep.		Vacant
End of previous Legislature		54	44	98	1
Start of Reg. Session	56	43	99	0
From Jul. 11, 1989^[10]		42	98	1
From Jul. 31, 1989^[11]	55	42	97	2
From Sep. 22, 1989^[12]		43	98	1
From Oct. 26, 1989^[13]			56	99	0
From Dec. 13, 1989^[14]	55		98	1
From Jan. 12, 1990^[15]		42	97	2
From May 15, 1990^[16]	56	43	99	0
From May 28, 1990^[17]		42	98	1
From Jul. 1, 1990^[18]			55	97	2
Final voting share
Beginning of the next Legislature		58	41	99	0

Sessions

• Regular session: January 3, 1989January 7, 1991
• October 1989 special session: October 10, 1989March 22, 1990
• May 1990 special session: May 15, 1990

Leaders

Senate leadership

• President of the Senate: Fred Risser (D–Madison)

Senate majority leadership

• Majority Leader: Joseph A. Strohl (D–Racine)
• Assistant Majority Leader: David Helbach (D–Stevens Point)

Senate minority leadership

• Minority Leader: Michael G. Ellis (R–Neenah)
• Assistant Minority Leader: Brian Rude (R–Coon Valley)

Assembly leadership

• Speaker of the Assembly: Thomas A. Loftus (D–Sun Prairie)
• Speaker pro tempore: David Clarenbach (D–Madison)

Assembly majority leadership

• Majority Leader: Thomas A. Hauke (D–West Allis)
• Assistant Majority Leader: Marlin Schneider (D–Wisconsin Rapids)

Assembly minority leadership

• Minority Leader: David Prosser Jr. (R–Appleton)
• Assistant Minority Leader: Randall J. Radtke (R–Lake Mills)

Members

Members of the Senate

Members of the Senate for the Eighty-Ninth Wisconsin Legislature:^[19]

Dist.	Senator	Party	Age (1989)	Home	First elected
			Rep.		Rockland, Brown County	1977
			Rep.		Green Bay, Brown County	1987
			Dem.		Milwaukee, Milwaukee County	1988
			Dem.		Milwaukee, Milwaukee County	1984
			Dem.		Milwaukee, Milwaukee County	1982
			Dem.		Milwaukee, Milwaukee County	1989
			Dem.		Milwaukee, Milwaukee County	1980
			Dem.		Milwaukee, Milwaukee County	1984
			Dem.		Milwaukee, Milwaukee County	1983
			Dem.		Sheboygan, Sheboygan County	1986
			Dem.		Menomonie, Dunn County	1988
			Rep.		Clifton, Pierce County	1989
			Rep.		Waukesha, Waukesha County	1976
	--Vacant from Aug. 1, 1990--
			Dem.		Crandon, Forest County	1983
			Dem.		Elderon, Marathon County	1990
			Rep.		Fort Atkinson, Jefferson County	1980
			Rep.		Dayton, Waupaca County	1984
			Rep.		Beloit, Rock County	1987
			Dem.		Madison, Dane County	1984
			Rep.		Fennimore, Grant County	1978
			Rep.		, Winnebago County	1987
			Rep.		Neenah, Winnebago County	1982
20			Rep.			1984
			Dem.		Racine, Racine County	1978
			Dem.		Kenosha, Kenosha County	1984
			Dem.		Lafayette, Chippewa County	1978
			Dem.		Stevens Point, Portage County	1983
			Dem.		Poplar, Douglas County	1986
			Dem.		Madison, Dane County	1962
			Dem.		Middleton, Dane County	1982
			Dem.		New Berlin, Waukesha County	1976
			Rep.		Wausau, Marathon County	1966
			Dem.		Green Bay, Brown County	1976
			Dem.		Whitehall, Trempealeau County	1982
			Rep.		Coon Valley, Vernon County	1984
			Rep.		Brookfield, Waukesha County	1980
			Rep.		Elm Grove, Waukesha County	1989

Members of the Assembly

Members of the Assembly for the Eighty-Ninth Wisconsin Legislature:^[19]

Senate Dist.	Dist.	Representative	Party	Age (1989)	Home	First Elected
01	01			Dem.		Luxemburg	1970
	02			Dem.		Whitelaw	1982
	03			Rep.		Brillion	1986
02	04			Rep.		Shawano	1982
	05			Rep.		Chilton	1984
	06			Dem.		Green Bay	1988
03	07			Dem.		Milwaukee	1988
	08			Dem.		Milwaukee	1986
	09			Dem.		Milwaukee	1980
04	10			Rep.		Shorewood	1979
				Rep.		River Hills	1990
	11			Dem.		Milwaukee	1986
	12			Dem.		Milwaukee	1984
05	13			Dem.		Milwaukee	1982
	14			Dem.		Milwaukee	1984
				Dem.		Milwaukee	1990
	15			Dem.		Milwaukee	1984
06	16			Dem.		Milwaukee	1982
	17			Dem.		Milwaukee	1980
	18			Dem.		Milwaukee	1976
07	19			Dem.		Milwaukee	1972
				Dem.		Milwaukee	1989
	20			Dem.		Milwaukee	1984
	21			Dem.		South Milwaukee	1984
08	22			Dem.		West Allis	1982
	23			Dem.		West Allis	1972
	24			Dem.		Milwaukee	1983
09	25			Dem.		Manitowoc	1980
	26			Dem.		Kohler	1974
	27			Rep.		Russell	1982
10	28			Dem.		Amery	1982
	29			Dem.		Menomonie	1966
	30			Rep.		River Falls	1988
11	31			Rep.		Waukesha	1982
	32			Rep.		Waukesha	1982
	33			Rep.		Oconomowoc	1982
12	34			Dem.		Eagle River	1982
	35			Rep.		Antigo	1984
	36			Dem.		Freedom	1983
13	37			Rep.		Lake Mills	1978
	38			Rep.		Jefferson	1984
	39			Rep.		Oak Grove	1982
14	40			Rep.		Deer Creek	1988
	41			Rep.		Leon	1984
	42			Rep.		Douglas	1986
15	43			Rep.		Richmond	1982
	44			Dem.		Janesville	1976
	45			Dem.		Beloit	1987
16	46			Dem.		Sun Prairie	1976
	47			Rep.		Monroe	1986
	48			Dem.		Monona	1984
17	49			Rep.		Mount Ida	1986
	50			Rep.		Washington	1982
	51			Rep.		Shullsburg	1967
		--Vacant from May 28, 1990--
18	52			Dem.			1988
	53			Rep.		West Bend	1980
	54			Rep.		Oshkosh	1987
19	55			Rep.		Menasha	1982
	56			Rep.		Oshkosh	1988
	57			Rep.		Appleton	1978
20	58			Rep.		Mequon	1988
	59			Rep.		Hartford	1988
	60			Rep.		Cedarburg	1984
21	61			Dem.		Racine	1984
		--Vacant from Jul. 1, 1990--
	62			Dem.		Racine	1988
	63			Rep.		Caledonia	1978
22	64			Dem.		Kenosha	1984
	65			Dem.		Kenosha	1982
	66			Rep.		Burlington	1972
23	67			Dem.		Chippewa Falls	1986
	68			Rep.		Taft	1988
	69			Rep.		Neillsville	1982
24	70			Dem.		Pittsville	1974
	71			Dem.		Stevens Point	1984
	72			Dem.		Wisconsin Rapids	1970
25	73			Dem.		Summit	1986
	74			Dem.		Ashland	1986
	75			Dem.		Rice Lake	1984
26	76			Dem.		Madison	1984
	77			Dem.		Madison	1984
	78			Dem.		Madison	1974
27	79			Dem.		Verona	1982
	80			Dem.		Dekorra	1970
	81			Dem.		Madison	1978
28	82			Dem.		Hales Corners	1970
	83			Rep.		Muskego	1984
	84			Rep.		New Berlin	1988
29	85			Dem.		Wausau	1988
	86			Dem.		Mosinee	1986
	87			Rep.		Medford	1978
30	88			Rep.		Lena	1987
	89			Dem.		Pittsfield	1958
	90			Dem.		Green Bay	1986
31	91			Dem.		Whitehall	1982
	92			Rep.		Irving	1984
	93			Rep.		Clear Creek	1988
32	94			Dem.		Holmen	1970
	95			Dem.		La Crosse	1976
	96			Rep.		Eastman	1984
33	97			Rep.		Menomonee Falls	1980
	98			Rep.		Wauwatosa	1982
	99			Rep.		Elm Grove	1986
				Rep.		Elm Grove	1989

Employees

Senate employees

• Chief Clerk: Donald J. Schneider^[19]
• Sergeant-at-Arms: Daniel B. Fields

Assembly employees

• Chief Clerk: Thomas T. Melvin^[19]
• Sergeant-at-Arms: Robert G. Johnston

External links

• 1989: Related Documents from Wisconsin Legislature

Notes and References

1. State of Wisconsin Blue Book 2023–2024 . 2023 . . 978-1-7333817-2-7 . https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/misc/lrb/blue_book/2023_2024/180_historical_lists.pdf . Historical Lists . 492-493, 496, 501, 513-514 . December 23, 2023 .
2. Republican Susan Engeleiter (33rd District) resigned after her confirmation as Administrator of the Small Business Administration.
3. Republican Margaret Farrow (33rd District) was sworn in to replace Susan Engeleiter.
4. Democrat Mordecai Lee (5th District) resigned.
5. Democrat Richard Shoemaker (10th District) resigned after he was convicted of several misdemeanors.
6. Democrat Tom Barrett (5th District) and Republican William Berndt (10th District) were sworn in to replace Mordecai Lee and Richard Shoemaker, respectively.
7. Democrat Lloyd H. Kincaid (12th District) resigned.
8. Republican J. Mac Davis (11th District) resigned after being elected a Wisconsin circuit court judge.
9. Democrat Roger Breske (12th District) was sworn in to replace Lloyd H. Kincaid.
10. Republican Margaret Farrow (99th District) resigned after her election to the state senate.
11. Democrat Louise M. Tesmer (19th District) resigned after being elected a Wisconsin circuit court judge.
12. Republican Frank Urban (99th District) was sworn in to replace Margaret Farrow.
13. Democrat Rosemary Potter (19th District) was sworn in to replace Louise M. Tesmer.
14. Democrat Tom Barrett (14th District) resigned after his election to the state senate.
15. Republican Betty Jo Nelsen (10th District) resigned after being confirmed as administrator of the Food and Nutrition Service.
16. Republican Alberta Darling (10th District) and Democrat David Cullen (14th District) were sworn in to replace Betty Jo Nelsen and Tom Barrett, respectively.
17. Republican Joseph E. Tregoning (51st District) resigned to accept a state job.
18. Democrat Scott C. Fergus (61st District) resigned.
19. The State of Wisconsin Blue Book 1989 - 1990 . . 1989 . Theobald . H. Rupert . Barish . Lawrence S. . Biographies . 20–88 . December 23, 2023 .