95th Wisconsin Legislature explained

95th Wisconsin Legislature
Body:	Wisconsin Legislature
Before:	94th
After:	96th
Chamber1:	Senate
Membership1:	33
Control1:	Democratic
Chamber1 Leader1 Type:	Senate President
Chamber1 Leader1:	Fred Risser (D)
Chamber2:	Assembly
Membership2:	99
Control2:	Republican
Chamber2 Leader1:	Scott Jensen (R)
Chamber2 Leader2:	Stephen Freese (R)
Session1 Type:	Regular

The Ninety-Fifth Wisconsin Legislature convened from January 3, 2001, to January 6, 2003, in regular session, and also convened in three special sessions.^[1]

During this session, an exposé by the Wisconsin State Journal revealed sprawling corruption in both chambers and both parties in the Wisconsin Legislature. In what was referred to as the "caucus scandal", five legislators, including leaders of both major parties, were eventually implicated and prosecuted for extensive use of state-paid legislative employees for political purposes.^{[2] [3]}

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 7, 2000.^[4] Senators representing odd-numbered districts were serving the third and fourth year of their four-year term, having been elected in the general election held on November 3, 1998.^[5]

Major events

• January 20, 2001: Inauguration of George W. Bush as 43rd President of the United States.
• May 20, 2001: The Wisconsin State Journal published its initial exposé revealing state legislators had been misusing legislative staffers for political purposes.
• September 11, 2001: September 11 attacks destroyed the World Trade Center and damaged The Pentagon.
• October 1, 2001: Start of Operation Enduring Freedom.
• October 7, 2001: United States invasion of Afghanistan initiated the War in Afghanistan.
• May 30, 2002: A three-judge panel of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin published its decision in Baumgart v. Wendelberger, serving as the redistricting plan for Wisconsin for the 2000 United States census.
• November 5, 2002: 2002 United States general election:
  • Jim Doyle (D) elected Governor of Wisconsin.

Major legislation

• August 31, 2001: An Act relating to: state finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2001 legislature, 2001 Act 16. Vetoed in part.

Party summary

Senate summary

	Party (Shading indicates majority caucus)		Total
	Democratic	Republican		Vacant
nowrap style="font-size:80%"	End of previous Legislature		17	15	32	1
nowrap style="font-size:80%"	Start of Reg. Session	18	15	33	0
nowrap style="font-size:80%"	from May 9, 2001^[6]		14	32	1
nowrap style="font-size:80%"	from July 18, 2001^[7]		15	33	0
Final voting share
Beginning of the next Legislature	13		18	31	2

Assembly summary

	Party (Shading indicates majority caucus)		Total
	Democratic	Republican		Vacant
nowrap style="font-size:80%"	End of previous Legislature	45		54	99	0
nowrap style="font-size:80%"	Start of Reg. Session	43		56	99	0
From Aug. 31, 2001^[8]			55	98	1
From Nov. 16, 2001^[9]			56	99	0
From Apr. 30, 2002^[10]			55	98	1
From Aug. 1, 2002^[11]			54	97	2
From Nov. 5, 2002^[12]			55	98	1
Final voting share
Beginning of the next Legislature	41		58	99	0

Sessions

• Regular session: January 3, 2001January 6, 2003
• May 2001 special session: May 1, 2001May 3, 2001
• January 2002 special session: January 22, 2002July 8, 2002
• May 2002 special session: May 13, 2002May 15, 2002

Leadership

Senate

• President: Fred Risser (D–Madison)
• President pro tempore: Gary R. George (D–Milwaukee)

Majority Leadership

• Majority Leader: Charles Chvala (D–Madison)
• Assistant Majority Leader: Rodney C. Moen (D–Whitehall)
• Majority Caucus Chair: Judy Robson (D–Beloit)

Minority Leadership

• Minority Leader: Mary Panzer (R–West Bend)
• Assistant Minority Leader: Margaret Farrow (R–Pewaukee)
  • Alan Lasee (R–Rockland)
• Minority Caucus Chair: David Zien (R–Wheaton)
• Minority Caucus Vice Chair: Carol Roessler (R–Oshkosh)

Assembly

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

Majority Leadership

• Majority Leader: Steven Foti (R–Oconomowoc)
• Assistant Majority Leader: Bonnie Ladwig (R–Mount Pleasant)
• Majority Caucus Chair: Daniel P. Vrakas (R–Delafield)

Minority Leadership

• Minority Leader: Shirley Krug (D–Milwaukee)
  • Spencer Black (D–Madison)
• Assistant Minority Leader: Spencer Black (D–Madison)
  • James Kreuser (D–Kenosha)
• Minority Caucus Chair: Peter Bock (D–Milwaukee)

Members

Members of the Senate

Members of the Senate for the Ninety-Fifth Wisconsin Legislature:^[13]

Dist.	Senator	Party	Age (2001)	Home	First elected
			Rep.		De Pere, Brown County	1977
			Rep.		Green Bay, Brown County	1987
03			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.		Sheboygan, Sheboygan County	1998
			Rep.		River Falls, Pierce County	2000
			Rep.		Waukesha, Waukesha County	1990
			Dem.		Eland, Shawano County	1990
			Rep.		Juneau, Dodge County	1994
			Rep.		Redgranite, Waushara County	1995
			Dem.		Beloit, Rock County	1987
			Dem.		Madison, Dane County	1984
			Rep.		Richland Center, Richland County	1991
			Rep.		Oshkosh, Winnebago County	1987
			Rep.		Neenah, Winnebago County	1982
			Rep.		West Bend, Washington County	1993
			Dem.		Racine, Racine County	1996
			Dem.		Pleasant Prairie, Kenosha County	1996
			Rep.		Eau Claire, Eau Claire County	1993
			Dem.		Stevens Point, Portage County	1995
25			Dem.		Poplar, Douglas County	1986
			Dem.		Madison, Dane County	1962
27			Dem.		Middleton, Dane County	1998
			Rep.		New Berlin, Waukesha County	1998
			Dem.		Schofield, Marathon County	1990
			Dem.		Green Bay, Brown County	2000
			Dem.		Whitehall, Trempealeau County	1982
32			Dem.		La Crosse, La Crosse County	2000
			Rep.		Pewaukee, Waukesha County	1989
			Rep.		Brookfield, Waukesha County	2001

Members of the Assembly

Members of the Assembly for the Ninety-Fifth Wisconsin Legislature:^[13]

Senate Dist.	Dist.	Representative	Party	Age (2001)	Home	First Elected
01	01			Rep.		Sister Bay	2000
	02			Rep.		Bellevue	1994
	03			Rep.		Brillion	1986
02	04			Rep.		Ashwaubenon	1998
	05			Dem.		Kaukauna	1998
	06			Rep.		Waukechon	1990
03	07			Dem.		Milwaukee	1986
	08			Dem.		Milwaukee	1998
	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
				Rep.		Wauwatosa	2002
	15			Dem.		West Allis	1996
06	16			Dem.		Milwaukee	1992
	17			Dem.		Milwaukee	1982
	18			Dem.		Milwaukee	1992
07	19			Dem.		Milwaukee	1998
	20			Dem.		Milwaukee	1998
	21			Dem.		South Milwaukee	1996
08	22			Dem.		Milwaukee	1994
	23			Dem.		Milwaukee	1992
	24			Rep.		Menomonee Falls	1996
09	25			Dem.		Manitowoc	1992
	26			Rep.		Sheboygan	1998
	27			Rep.		Herman	1998
10	28			Rep.		La Follette	1998
	29			Dem.		Menomonie	1996
	30			Rep.		Hudson	1998
11	31			Rep.		Whitewater	1990
	32			Rep.		Waukesha	1992
	33			Rep.		Delafield	1990
12	34			Rep.		Eagle River	2000
	35			Rep.		Merrill	1999
	36			Rep.		Florence	1992
13	37			Rep.		Oakland	1992
	38			Rep.		Oconomowoc	1982
	39			Rep.		Beaver Dam	2000
14	40			Rep.		Larrabee	1998
	41			Rep.		Aurora	1994
	42			Rep.		Montello	1998
				Rep.		Oxford	2001
15	43			Rep.		La Grange	1996
	44			Dem.		Janesville	1976
	45			Dem.		Beloit	1998
16	46			Dem.		Sun Prairie	1996
	47			Rep.		Springvale	1990
	48			Dem.		Monona	1998
17	49			Rep.		Platteville	2000
	50			Rep.		Westfield	1991
	51			Rep.		Dodgeville	1990
18	52			Rep.			1998
	53			Rep.		Nekimi	1992
	54			Rep.		Oshkosh	1987
19	55			Rep.		Neenah	1990
	56			Rep.		Appleton	2000
	57			Rep.		Appleton	1996
20	58			Rep.		Hartford	1988
	59			Rep.		West Bend	1993
	60			Rep.		Port Washington	1994
		--Vacant from Aug. 1, 2002--
21	61			Dem.		Racine	1990
	62			Dem.		Racine	1996
	63			Rep.		Mount Pleasant	1992
22	64			Dem.		Kenosha	1993
	65			Dem.		Pleasant Prairie	1996
	66			Rep.		Randall	2000
23	67			Rep.		Eagle Point	1996
	68			Dem.		Eau Claire	1998
	69			Rep.		Abbotsford	1998
24	70			Rep.		Pittsville	2000
	71			Dem.		Plover	1998
	72			Dem.		Wisconsin Rapids	1970
25	73			Dem.		Summit	1986
	74			Dem.		Port Wing	1998
	75			Dem.		Rice Lake	1984
26	76			Dem.		Madison	1998
	77			Dem.		Madison	1984
	78			Dem.		Madison	1998
27	79			Rep.		Primrose	1993
	80			Rep.		Albany	1994
	81			Dem.		Madison	1978
28	82			Rep.		Greenfield	1998
	83			Rep.		Norway	1994
	84			Rep.		New Berlin	1998
29	85			Dem.		Wausau	1988
	86			Rep.		Stettin	1998
	87			Dem.		Ladysmith	1990
30	88			Rep.		Green Bay	2000
	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.		West Salem	1994
	95			Dem.		La Crosse	2000
	96			Rep.		Eastman	1984
33	97			Dem.		Milwaukee	1983
	98			Rep.		New Berlin	1988
	99			Rep.		Brookfield	1989

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. News: State employees secretly campaign . Dee J. . Hall . . May 20, 2001 . January 22, 2024 .
3. News: Jensen guilty; he's fifth lawmaker to fall in caucus scandal . Dee J. . Hall . Phil . Brinkman . . March 12, 2006 . January 22, 2024 .
4. Results of Fall General Election - 11/07/2000 . Wisconsin State Elections Board . May 10, 2001 . February 15, 2021 . January 10, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210110070313/https://elections.wi.gov/sites/elections.wi.gov/files/2000_General_Election_Summary_Results.pdf . dead .
5. State of Wisconsin 1999-2000 Blue Book . State of Wisconsin . 1999 . Barish . Lawrence S. . Meloy . Patricia E. . Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau . https://images.library.wisc.edu/WI/EFacs/WIBlueBks/BlueBks/WIBlueBk1999/reference/wi.wibluebk1999.i0017.pdf . Elections . February 15, 2021 .
6. Republican Margaret Farrow (District 33) resigned after being appointed Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin.
7. Republican Theodore Kanavas (District 33) sworn in to replace Margaret Farrow.
8. Republican Joan Wade (42nd District) resigned.
9. Republican Jacob Hines (42nd District) was sworn in to replace Joan Wade.
10. Republican Scott Walker (14th District) resigned after his election as county executive.
11. Republican Timothy Hoven (60th District) resigned.
12. Republican Leah Vukmir (14th District) was sworn in to replace Scott Walker.
13. State of Wisconsin 2001 - 2002 Blue Book . State of Wisconsin . 2001 . Barish . Lawrence S. . Meloy . Patricia E. . . Biographies . January 15, 2024 .