93rd Wisconsin Legislature explained

93rd Wisconsin Legislature
Body:	Wisconsin Legislature
Before:	92nd
After:	94th
Chamber1:	Senate
Membership1:	33
Chamber2:	Assembly
Membership2:	99
Control2:	Republican
Session1 Type:	Regular

The Ninety-Third Wisconsin Legislature convened from to 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

• 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

• 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

Senate summary

	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^[2]		16		32	1
From Apr. 20, 1998^[3]	16		17	33	0
Final voting share
Beginning of the next Legislature		17	16	33	0

Assembly summary

	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^[4]		51	98	1
From Dec. 7, 1997^[5]	46		97	2
From Jan. 20, 1998^[6]			52	98	1
From Apr. 15, 1998^[7]			53	99	0
From Apr. 20, 1998^[8]		52	98	1
From Aug. 1, 1998^[9]	45		97	2
Final voting share
Beginning of the next Legislature	44		55	99	0

Sessions

• Regular session: January 6, 1997January 4, 1999
• Apr. 1998 special session: April 21, 1998May 21, 1998

Leadership

Senate leadership

• President of the Senate: Fred Risser (D–Madison)
  • Brian Rude (R–Coon Valley)
• President pro tempore: Gwen Moore (D–Milwaukee)
  • Alan Lasee (R–Rockland)

Senate majority leadership

• Majority Leader: Charles Chvala (D–Madison)
  • Michael G. Ellis (R–Neenah)
• Assistant Majority Leader: Rodney C. Moen (D–Whitehall)
  • Margaret Farrow (R–Elm Grove)

Senate minority leadership

• Minority Leader: Michael G. Ellis (R–Neenah)
  • Charles Chvala (D–Madison)
• Assistant Minority Leader: Brian Rude (R–Coon Valley)
  • Fred Risser (D–Madison)

Assembly leadership

• Speaker of the Assembly: Ben Brancel (R–Douglas)
  • Scott R. Jensen (R–Waukesha)
• Speaker pro tempore: Stephen Freese (R–Jamestown)

Assembly majority leadership

• Majority Leader: Steven Foti (R–Oconomowoc)
• Assistant Majority Leader: Bonnie Ladwig (R–Caledonia)

Assembly minority leadership

• Minority Leader: Walter Kunicki (D–Milwaukee)
  • Shirley Krug (D–Milwaukee)
• Assistant Minority Leader: Marlin Schneider (D–Wisconsin Rapids)

Members

Members of the Senate

Members of the Senate for the Ninety-Third Wisconsin Legislature:^[10]

Dist.	Senator	Party	Age (1997)	Home	First elected
			Rep.		Rockland, Brown County	1977
			Rep.		Green Bay, Brown County	1987
			Dem.		Milwaukee, Milwaukee County	1988
			Dem.		Milwaukee, Milwaukee County	1992
			Rep.		Wauwatosa, Milwaukee County	1993
			Dem.		Milwaukee, Milwaukee County	1980
			Dem.		South Milwaukee, Milwaukee County	1995
			Rep.		River Hills, Milwaukee County	1992
			Dem.		Kohler, Sheboygan County	1990
			Dem.		Menomonie, Dunn County	1992
			Rep.		Waukesha, Waukesha County	1990
			Dem.		Elderon, Marathon County	1990
			Rep.		Juneau, Dodge County	1994
			Rep.		Marion, Waushara County	1995
			Rep.		Beloit, Rock County	1987
			Dem.		Madison, Dane County	1984
			Rep.		Richland Center, Richland County	1991
			Rep.		, Winnebago County	1987
			Rep.		Neenah, Winnebago County	1982
20			Rep.			1993
			Dem.		Racine, Racine County	1996
			Dem.		Kenosha, Kenosha County	1996
			Rep.		Eau Claire, Eau Claire County	1993
			Dem.		Stevens Point, Portage County	1995
			Dem.		Poplar, Douglas County	1986
			Dem.		Madison, Dane County	1962
			Dem.		Verona, Dane County	1993
			Dem.		Mukwonago, Waukesha County	1976
			Rep.		New Berlin, Waukesha County	1998
			Dem.		Schofield, Marathon County	1990
			Rep.		Pulaski, Brown County	1992
			Dem.		Whitehall, Trempealeau County	1982
			Rep.		Coon Valley, Vernon County	1984
			Rep.		Elm Grove, Waukesha County	1989

Members of the Assembly

Members of the Assembly for the Ninety-Third Wisconsin Legislature:^[10]

Senate Dist.	Dist.	Representative	Party	Age (1997)	Home	First Elected
01	01			Rep.		Red River	1994
	02			Rep.		Ledgeview	1994
	03			Rep.		Brillion	1986
02	04			Rep.		Green Bay	1992
	05			Dem.		Kaukauna	1990
	06			Rep.		Waukechon	1990
03	07			Dem.		Milwaukee	1986
	08			Dem.		Milwaukee	1980
	09			Dem.		Milwaukee	1984
04	10			Dem.		Milwaukee	1980
	11			Dem.		Milwaukee	1992
	12			Dem.		Milwaukee	1984
05	13			Dem.		Milwaukee	1990
	14			Rep.		Wauwatosa	1993
	15			Dem.		West Allis	1996
06	16			Dem.		Milwaukee	1992
	17			Dem.		Milwaukee	1982
	18			Dem.		Milwaukee	1992
07	19			Dem.		Milwaukee	1984
	20			Dem.		Milwaukee	1989
	21			Dem.		South Milwaukee	1996
08	22			Dem.		Milwaukee	1994
	23			Dem.		Brown Deer	1992
	24			Rep.		Menomonee Falls	1996
09	25			Dem.		Manitowoc	1992
	26			Dem.		Sheboygan	1990
	27			Rep.		Sheboygan Falls	1992
10	28			Dem.		Bone Lake	1994
	29			Dem.		Menomonie	1996
	30			Rep.		River Falls	1988
11	31			Rep.		Whitewater	1990
	32			Rep.		Waukesha	1992
	33			Rep.		Hartland	1990
12	34			Rep.		Minocqua	1994
	35			Rep.		Antigo	1984
	36			Rep.		Florence	1992
13	37			Rep.		Fort Atkinson	1992
	38			Rep.		Oconomowoc	1982
	39			Rep.		Oak Grove	1982
14	40			Rep.		Deer Creek	1988
	41			Rep.		Aurora	1994
	42			Rep.		Douglas	1986
				Rep.		Mecan	1998
15	43			Rep.		La Grange	1996
	44			Dem.		Janesville	1976
	45			Dem.		Beloit	1987
16	46			Dem.		Sun Prairie	1996
	47			Rep.		Springvale	1990
	48			Dem.		McFarland	1992
17	49			Rep.		Mount Ida	1986
	50			Rep.		Westfield	1991
	51			Rep.		Dodgeville	1990
18	52			Rep.			1992
	53			Rep.		Nekimi	1992
	54			Rep.		Oshkosh	1987
19	55			Rep.		Neenah	1990
	56			Rep.		Clayton	1988
	57			Rep.		Appleton	1996
20	58			Rep.		Hartford	1988
	59			Rep.		West Bend	1993
	60			Rep.		Port Washington	1994
21	61			Dem.		Racine	1990
	62			Dem.		Racine	1996
	63			Rep.		Caledonia	1992
22	64			Dem.		Kenosha	1993
	65			Dem.		Pleasant Prairie	1996
	66			Rep.		Burlington	1972
23	67			Rep.		Eagle Point	1996
	68			Rep.		Lafayette	1996
	69			Rep.		Reseburg	1992
24	70			Dem.		Pittsville	1974
	71			Dem.		Stevens Point	1994
	72			Dem.		Wisconsin Rapids	1970
25	73			Dem.		Summit	1986
	74			Dem.		Ashland	1986
		--Vacant from Aug. 1, 1998--
	75			Dem.		Rice Lake	1984
26	76			Dem.		Madison	1984
	77			Dem.		Madison	1984
	78			Dem.		Madison	1992
27	79			Rep.		Primrose	1993
	80			Rep.		Albany	1994
	81			Dem.		Madison	1978
28	82			Dem.		Greenfield	1970
				Rep.		Greenfield	1998
	83			Rep.		Waterford	1994
	84			Rep.		New Berlin	1992
		--Vacant from Apr. 20, 1998--
29	85			Dem.		Wausau	1988
	86			Dem.		Mosinee	1991
	87			Dem.		Ladysmith	1990
30	88			Rep.		Green Bay	1988
	89			Rep.		Peshtigo	1987
	90			Dem.		Green Bay	1992
31	91			Dem.		Whitehall	1982
	92			Rep.		Irving	1984
	93			Rep.		Eau Claire	1992
32	94			Rep.		Onalaska	1994
	95			Dem.		La Crosse	1992
	96			Rep.		Eastman	1984
33	97			Dem.		Milwaukee	1983
	98			Rep.		New Berlin	1988
	99			Rep.		Brookfield	1989

Employees

Senate employees

• Chief Clerk: Donald J. Schneider^[10]
• Sergeant-at-Arms: Jon H. Hochkammer

Assembly employees

• Chief Clerk: Charles R. Sanders^[10]
• Sergeant-at-Arms: John A. Scocos

External links

• 1997: 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. Democrat Lynn Adelman (28th District) resigned after he was confirmed as a United States district judge.
3. Republican Mary Lazich (28th District) was sworn in to replace Lynn Adelman.
4. Republican Speaker Ben Brancel (42nd District) resigned after being appointed secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.
5. Democrat James A. Rutkowski (82nd District) resigned to accept appointment to a state commission.
6. Republican Joan Wade Spillner (42nd District) was sworn in to replace Ben Brancel.
7. Republican Jeff Stone (82nd District) was sworn in to replace James A. Rutkowski.
8. Republican Mary Lazich (84th District) resigned after her election to the state senate.
9. Democrat Barbara Linton (74th District) resigned.
10. State of Wisconsin 1997 - 1998 Blue Book . . 1997 . Barish . Lawrence S. . Biographies . 20–88 . January 14, 2024 .