95th Wisconsin Legislature
| 95th Wisconsin Legislature | |||||||
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 Wisconsin State Capitol | |||||||
| Overview | |||||||
| Legislative body | Wisconsin Legislature | ||||||
| Meeting place | Wisconsin State Capitol | ||||||
| Term | January 1, 2001 – January 6, 2003 | ||||||
| Election | November 7, 2000 | ||||||
| Senate | |||||||
| Members | 33 | ||||||
| Senate President | Fred Risser (D) | ||||||
| President pro tempore | Gary R. George (D) | ||||||
| Party control | Democratic | ||||||
| Assembly | |||||||
| Members | 99 | ||||||
| Assembly Speaker | Scott Jensen (R) | ||||||
| Speaker pro tempore | Stephen Freese (R) | ||||||
| Party control | Republican | ||||||
| Sessions | |||||||
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| Special sessions | |||||||
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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
[edit]- 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:
Major legislation
[edit]- 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
[edit]Senate summary
[edit]
Democratic: 18 seats
Republican: 15 seats
| Party (Shading indicates majority caucus)
|
Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Republican | Vacant | ||
| End of previous Legislature | 17 | 15 | 32 | 1 |
| Start of Reg. Session | 18 | 15 | 33 | 0 |
| from May 9, 2001[note 1] | 14 | 32 | 1 | |
| from July 18, 2001[note 2] | 15 | 33 | 0 | |
| Final voting share | 54.55% | 45.45% | ||
| Beginning of the next Legislature | 13 | 18 | 31 | 2 |
Assembly summary
[edit]
Democratic: 43 seats
Republican: 56 seats
| Party (Shading indicates majority caucus)
|
Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Republican | Vacant | ||
| End of previous Legislature | 45 | 54 | 99 | 0 |
| Start of Reg. Session | 43 | 56 | 99 | 0 |
| From Aug. 31, 2001[note 3] | 55 | 98 | 1 | |
| From Nov. 16, 2001[note 4] | 56 | 99 | 0 | |
| From Apr. 30, 2002[note 5] | 55 | 98 | 1 | |
| From Aug. 1, 2002[note 6] | 54 | 97 | 2 | |
| From Nov. 5, 2002[note 7] | 55 | 98 | 1 | |
| Final voting share | 43.88% | 56.12% | ||
| Beginning of the next Legislature | 41 | 58 | 99 | 0 |
Sessions
[edit]- Regular session: January 3, 2001 – January 6, 2003
- May 2001 special session: May 1, 2001 – May 3, 2001
- January 2002 special session: January 22, 2002 – July 8, 2002
- May 2002 special session: May 13, 2002 – May 15, 2002
Leadership
[edit]Senate
[edit]- President: Fred Risser (D–Madison)
- President pro tempore: Gary R. George (D–Milwaukee)
Majority Leadership
[edit]- Majority Leader: Charles Chvala (D–Madison)
- Assistant Majority Leader: Rodney C. Moen (D–Whitehall)
- Majority Caucus Chair: Judy Robson (D–Beloit)
Minority Leadership
[edit]- Minority Leader: Mary Panzer (R–West Bend)
- Assistant Minority Leader: Margaret Farrow (R–Pewaukee) (until May 9, 2001)
- Alan Lasee (R–Rockland) (after May 9, 2001)
- Minority Caucus Chair: David Zien (R–Wheaton)
- Minority Caucus Vice Chair: Carol Roessler (R–Oshkosh)
Assembly
[edit]- Speaker of the Assembly: Scott R. Jensen (R–Waukesha)
- Speaker pro tempore: Stephen Freese (R–Jamestown)
Majority Leadership
[edit]- Majority Leader: Steven Foti (R–Oconomowoc)
- Assistant Majority Leader: Bonnie Ladwig (R–Mount Pleasant)
- Majority Caucus Chair: Daniel P. Vrakas (R–Delafield)
Minority Leadership
[edit]- Minority Leader: Shirley Krug (D–Milwaukee) (until May 1, 2001)
- Spencer Black (D–Madison) (after May 1, 2001)
- Assistant Minority Leader: Spencer Black (D–Madison) (until May 1, 2001)
- James Kreuser (D–Kenosha) (after May 1, 2001)
- Minority Caucus Chair: Peter Bock (D–Milwaukee)
Members
[edit]Members of the Senate
[edit]Members of the Senate for the Ninety-Fifth Wisconsin Legislature:[6]
Democratic: 18 seats
Republican: 15 seats
Members of the Assembly
[edit]Members of the Assembly for the Ninety-Fifth Wisconsin Legislature:[6]
Democratic: 43 seats
Republican: 56 seats
Notes
[edit]- ^ Republican Margaret Farrow (District 33) resigned after being appointed Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin.
- ^ Republican Theodore Kanavas (District 33) sworn in to replace Margaret Farrow.
- ^ Republican Joan Wade (42nd District) resigned.
- ^ Republican Jacob Hines (42nd District) was sworn in to replace Joan Wade.
- ^ Republican Scott Walker (14th District) resigned after his election as county executive.
- ^ Republican Timothy Hoven (60th District) resigned.
- ^ Republican Leah Vukmir (14th District) was sworn in to replace Scott Walker.
References
[edit]- ^ "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.
- ^ Hall, Dee J. (May 20, 2001). "State employees secretly campaign". Wisconsin State Journal. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
- ^ Hall, Dee J.; Brinkman, Phil (March 12, 2006). "Jensen guilty; he's fifth lawmaker to fall in caucus scandal". Wisconsin State Journal. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
- ^ Results of Fall General Election - 11/07/2000 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin State Elections Board. May 10, 2001. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 10, 2021. Retrieved February 15, 2021.
- ^ Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau (1999). "Elections" (PDF). In Barish, Lawrence S.; Meloy, Patricia E. (eds.). State of Wisconsin 1999-2000 Blue Book (Report). State of Wisconsin. Retrieved February 15, 2021.
- ^ a b Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau (2001). "Biographies". In Barish, Lawrence S.; Meloy, Patricia E. (eds.). State of Wisconsin 2001–2002 Blue Book (Report). State of Wisconsin. Retrieved January 15, 2024.