93rd Wisconsin Legislature

The Ninety-Third Wisconsin Legislature convened from January 6, 1997, to January 4, 1999, in regular session, and also convened in an April 1998 special session.^[1]

93rd Wisconsin Legislature
← 92nd 94th →
Wisconsin State Capitol
Overview
Legislative body	Wisconsin Legislature
Meeting place	Wisconsin State Capitol
Term	January 6, 1997 – January 4, 1999
Election	November 5, 1996
Senate
Members	33
Senate President	Fred Risser (D) until Apr. 21, 1998 Brian Rude (R) after Apr. 21, 1998
President pro tempore	Gwen Moore (D) until Apr. 21, 1998 Alan Lasee (R) after Apr. 21, 1998
Party control	Democratic until Apr. 20, 1998 Republican after Apr. 21, 1998
Assembly
Members	99
Assembly Speaker	Ben Brancel (R) until Nov. 2, 1997 Scott R. Jensen (R) after Nov. 4, 1997
Speaker pro tempore	Stephen Freese (R)
Party control	Republican
Sessions
Regular January 6, 1997 – January 4, 1999
Special sessions
Apr. 1998 Spec. April 21, 1998 – May 21, 1998

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]

The governor of Wisconsin during this entire term was Republican Tommy Thompson, of Juneau County, serving the second two years of his third four-year term, having won re-election in the 1994 Wisconsin gubernatorial election.

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

Senate partisan composition

  Democratic: 17 seats

  Republican: 16 seats

	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[note 1]	16		32	1
From Apr. 20, 1998[note 2]	16	17	33	0
Final voting share	48.48%	51.52%
Beginning of the next Legislature	17	16	33	0

Assembly summary

Assembly partisan composition

  Democratic: 47 seats

  Republican: 52 seats

	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[note 3]		51	98	1
From Dec. 7, 1997[note 4]	46		97	2
From Jan. 20, 1998[note 5]		52	98	1
From Apr. 15, 1998[note 6]		53	99	0
From Apr. 20, 1998[note 7]		52	98	1
From Aug. 1, 1998[note 8]	45		97	2
Final voting share	46.39%	53.61%
Beginning of the next Legislature	44	55	99	0

Sessions

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

Leadership

Senate leadership

• President of the Senate: Fred Risser (D–Madison) (until Apr. 21, 1998)
  • Brian Rude (R–Coon Valley) (after Apr. 21, 1998)
• President pro tempore: Gwen Moore (D–Milwaukee) (until Apr. 21, 1998)
  • Alan Lasee (R–Rockland) (after Apr. 21, 1998)

Senate majority leadership

• Majority Leader: Charles Chvala (D–Madison) (until Apr. 21, 1998)
  • Michael G. Ellis (R–Neenah) (after Apr. 21, 1998)
• Assistant Majority Leader: Rodney C. Moen (D–Whitehall) (until Apr. 21, 1998)
  • Margaret Farrow (R–Elm Grove) (after Apr. 21, 1998)

Senate minority leadership

• Minority Leader: Michael G. Ellis (R–Neenah) (until Apr. 21, 1998)
  • Charles Chvala (D–Madison) (after Apr. 21, 1998)
• Assistant Minority Leader: Brian Rude (R–Coon Valley) (until Apr. 21, 1998)
  • Fred Risser (D–Madison) (after Apr. 21, 1998)

Assembly leadership

• Speaker of the Assembly: Ben Brancel (R–Douglas) (until Nov. 2, 1997)
  • Scott R. Jensen (R–Waukesha) (after Nov. 4, 1997)
• 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) (until May 26, 1998)
  • Shirley Krug (D–Milwaukee) (after May 26, 1998)
• Assistant Minority Leader: Marlin Schneider (D–Wisconsin Rapids)

Members

Members of the Senate

Members of the Senate for the Ninety-Third Wisconsin Legislature:^[2]

Senate partisan representation

  Democratic: 17 seats

  Republican: 16 seats

Dist.	Senator	Party	Age (1997)	Home	First elected
01	Alan Lasee	Rep.	59	Rockland, Brown County	1977
02	Robert Cowles	Rep.	46	Green Bay, Brown County	1987
03	Brian Burke	Dem.	38	Milwaukee, Milwaukee County	1988
04	Gwen Moore	Dem.	45	Milwaukee, Milwaukee County	1992
05	Peggy Rosenzweig	Rep.	60	Wauwatosa, Milwaukee County	1993
06	Gary George	Dem.	42	Milwaukee, Milwaukee County	1980
07	Richard Grobschmidt	Dem.	48	South Milwaukee, Milwaukee County	1995
08	Alberta Darling	Rep.	52	River Hills, Milwaukee County	1992
09	Calvin Potter	Dem.	51	Kohler, Sheboygan County	1990
10	Alice Clausing	Dem.	52	Menomonie, Dunn County	1992
11	Joanne Huelsman	Rep.	58	Waukesha, Waukesha County	1990
12	Roger Breske	Dem.	58	Elderon, Marathon County	1990
13	Scott Fitzgerald	Rep.	33	Juneau, Dodge County	1994
14	Robert T. Welch	Rep.	38	Marion, Waushara County	1995
15	Timothy Weeden	Rep.	45	Beloit, Rock County	1987
16	Charles Chvala	Dem.	42	Madison, Dane County	1984
17	Dale Schultz	Rep.	43	Richland Center, Richland County	1991
18	Carol Buettner	Rep.	48	Oshkosh, Winnebago County	1987
19	Michael G. Ellis	Rep.	55	Neenah, Winnebago County	1982
20	Mary Panzer	Rep.	45	West Bend, Washington County	1993
21	Kimberly Plache	Dem.	35	Racine, Racine County	1996
22	Bob Wirch	Dem.	53	Kenosha, Kenosha County	1996
23	David Zien	Rep.	46	Eau Claire, Eau Claire County	1993
24	Kevin Shibilski	Dem.	35	Stevens Point, Portage County	1995
25	Robert Jauch	Dem.	51	Poplar, Douglas County	1986
26	Fred Risser	Dem.	69	Madison, Dane County	1962
27	Joe Wineke	Dem.	39	Verona, Dane County	1993
28	Lynn Adelman (res. Dec. 23, 1997)	Dem.	57	Mukwonago, Waukesha County	1976
	Mary Lazich (from Apr. 20, 1998)	Rep.	45	New Berlin, Waukesha County	1998
29	Russ Decker	Dem.	43	Schofield, Marathon County	1990
30	Gary Drzewiecki	Rep.	42	Pulaski, Brown County	1992
31	Rodney C. Moen	Dem.	59	Whitehall, Trempealeau County	1982
32	Brian Rude	Rep.	41	Coon Valley, Vernon County	1984
33	Margaret Farrow	Rep.	62	Elm Grove, Waukesha County	1989

Members of the Assembly

Members of the Assembly for the Ninety-Third Wisconsin Legislature:^[2]

Assembly partisan representation

  Democratic: 47 seats

  Republican: 52 seats

Senate Dist.	Dist.	Representative	Party	Age (1997)	Home	First Elected
01	01	David E. Hutchison	Rep.	53	Red River	1994
	02	Frank Lasee	Rep.	35	Ledgeview	1994
	03	Alvin Ott	Rep.	47	Brillion	1986
02	04	Mark A. Green	Rep.	36	Green Bay	1992
	05	William N. Vander Loop	Dem.	64	Kaukauna	1990
	06	John Ainsworth	Rep.	56	Waukechon	1990
03	07	Peter Bock	Dem.	48	Milwaukee	1986
	08	Walter Kunicki	Dem.	38	Milwaukee	1980
	09	Tim Carpenter	Dem.	36	Milwaukee	1984
04	10	Annette Polly Williams	Dem.	59	Milwaukee	1980
	11	Johnnie E. Morris-Tatum	Dem.	45	Milwaukee	1992
	12	Shirley Krug	Dem.	38	Milwaukee	1984
05	13	David Cullen	Dem.	36	Milwaukee	1990
	14	Scott Walker	Rep.	29	Wauwatosa	1993
	15	Tony Staskunas	Dem.	35	West Allis	1996
06	16	Leon Young	Dem.	29	Milwaukee	1992
	17	Spencer Coggs	Dem.	47	Milwaukee	1982
	18	Antonio R. Riley	Dem.	33	Milwaukee	1992
07	19	Barbara Notestein	Dem.	47	Milwaukee	1984
	20	Rosemary Potter	Dem.	44	Milwaukee	1989
	21	Jeffrey Plale	Dem.	28	South Milwaukee	1996
08	22	Sheldon Wasserman	Dem.	35	Milwaukee	1994
	23	John La Fave	Dem.	47	Brown Deer	1992
	24	Suzanne Jeskewitz	Rep.	54	Menomonee Falls	1996
09	25	Bob Ziegelbauer	Dem.	45	Manitowoc	1992
	26	James Baumgart	Dem.	58	Sheboygan	1990
	27	Clifford Otte	Rep.	63	Sheboygan Falls	1992
10	28	Robert M. Dueholm	Dem.	51	Bone Lake	1994
	29	Joe Plouff	Dem.	46	Menomonie	1996
	30	Sheila Harsdorf	Rep.	40	River Falls	1988
11	31	Stephen Nass	Rep.	44	Whitewater	1990
	32	Scott R. Jensen	Rep.	36	Waukesha	1992
	33	Daniel P. Vrakas	Rep.	41	Hartland	1990
12	34	Joe Handrick	Rep.	35	Minocqua	1994
	35	Thomas D. Ourada	Rep.	38	Antigo	1984
	36	Lorraine Seratti	Rep.	47	Florence	1992
13	37	David W. Ward	Rep.	43	Fort Atkinson	1992
	38	Steven Foti	Rep.	38	Oconomowoc	1982
	39	Robert Goetsch	Rep.	63	Oak Grove	1982
14	40	William Lorge	Rep.	36	Deer Creek	1988
	41	Luther Olsen	Rep.	45	Aurora	1994
	42	Ben Brancel (res. Nov. 2, 1997)	Rep.	46	Douglas	1986
		Joan Wade Spillner (from Jan. 20, 1998)	Rep.	35	Mecan	1998
15	43	Neal Kedzie	Rep.	40	La Grange	1996
	44	Wayne W. Wood	Dem.	66	Janesville	1976
	45	Judy Robson	Dem.	57	Beloit	1987
16	46	Tom Hebl	Dem.	51	Sun Prairie	1996
	47	Eugene Hahn	Rep.	67	Springvale	1990
	48	Doris Hanson	Dem.	71	McFarland	1992
17	49	David A. Brandemuehl	Rep.	65	Mount Ida	1986
	50	Sheryl Albers	Rep.	42	Westfield	1991
	51	Stephen Freese	Rep.	36	Dodgeville	1990
18	52	John P. Dobyns	Rep.	52	Fond du Lac	1992
	53	Carol Owens	Rep.	65	Nekimi	1992
	54	Gregg Underheim	Rep.	46	Oshkosh	1987
19	55	Dean Kaufert	Rep.	39	Neenah	1990
	56	Judith Klusman	Rep.	40	Clayton	1988
	57	Steve Wieckert	Rep.	42	Appleton	1996
20	58	Michael A. Lehman	Rep.	53	Hartford	1988
	59	Glenn Grothman	Rep.	41	West Bend	1993
	60	Timothy Hoven	Rep.	33	Port Washington	1994
21	61	Robert L. Turner	Dem.	49	Racine	1990
	62	John Lehman	Dem.	51	Racine	1996
	63	Bonnie Ladwig	Rep.	57	Caledonia	1992
22	64	James Kreuser	Dem.	41	Kenosha	1993
	65	John Steinbrink	Dem.	47	Pleasant Prairie	1996
	66	Cloyd A. Porter	Rep.	61	Burlington	1972
23	67	Tom Sykora	Rep.	50	Eagle Point	1996
	68	Chuck Schafer	Rep.	33	Lafayette	1996
	69	Robert K. Zukowski	Rep.	66	Reseburg	1992
24	70	Donald W. Hasenohrl	Dem.	61	Pittsville	1974
	71	William Murat	Dem.	39	Stevens Point	1994
	72	Marlin Schneider	Dem.	54	Wisconsin Rapids	1970
25	73	Frank Boyle	Dem.	51	Summit	1986
	74	Barbara Linton (res. Aug. 1, 1998)	Dem.	44	Ashland	1986
		--Vacant from Aug. 1, 1998--
	75	Mary Hubler	Dem.	44	Rice Lake	1984
26	76	Rebecca Young	Dem.	62	Madison	1984
	77	Spencer Black	Dem.	46	Madison	1984
	78	Tammy Baldwin	Dem.	34	Madison	1992
27	79	Rick Skindrud	Rep.	52	Primrose	1993
	80	Mike Powers	Rep.	34	Albany	1994
	81	David Travis	Dem.	48	Madison	1978
28	82	James A. Rutkowski (res. Dec. 7, 1997)	Dem.	54	Greenfield	1970
		Jeff Stone (from Apr. 15, 1998)	Rep.	37	Greenfield	1998
	83	Scott Gunderson	Rep.	40	Waterford	1994
	84	Mary Lazich (res. Apr. 20, 1998)	Rep.	44	New Berlin	1992
		--Vacant from Apr. 20, 1998--
29	85	Gregory Huber	Dem.	40	Wausau	1988
	86	Thomas J. Springer	Dem.	28	Mosinee	1991
	87	Martin Reynolds	Dem.	46	Ladysmith	1990
30	88	Carol Kelso	Rep.	51	Green Bay	1988
	89	John Gard	Rep.	33	Peshtigo	1987
	90	John Joseph Ryba	Dem.	67	Green Bay	1992
31	91	Barbara Gronemus	Dem.	65	Whitehall	1982
	92	Terry Musser	Rep.	49	Irving	1984
	93	Robin Kreibich	Rep.	37	Eau Claire	1992
32	94	Michael Huebsch	Rep.	32	Onalaska	1994
	95	Mark Meyer	Dem.	33	La Crosse	1992
	96	DuWayne Johnsrud	Rep.	53	Eastman	1984
33	97	Peggy Krusick	Dem.	40	Milwaukee	1983
	98	Marc C. Duff	Rep.	35	New Berlin	1988
	99	Frank Urban	Rep.	66	Brookfield	1989

Employees

Senate employees

• Chief Clerk: Donald J. Schneider^[2]
• Sergeant-at-Arms: Jon H. Hochkammer

Assembly employees

• Chief Clerk: Charles R. Sanders^[2]
• Sergeant-at-Arms: John A. Scocos

Notes

1. Democrat Lynn Adelman (28th District) resigned after he was confirmed as a United States district judge.
2. Republican Mary Lazich (28th District) was sworn in to replace Lynn Adelman.
3. Republican Speaker Ben Brancel (42nd District) resigned after being appointed secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.
4. Democrat James A. Rutkowski (82nd District) resigned to accept appointment to a state commission.
5. Republican Joan Wade Spillner (42nd District) was sworn in to replace Ben Brancel.
6. Republican Jeff Stone (82nd District) was sworn in to replace James A. Rutkowski.
7. Republican Mary Lazich (84th District) resigned after her election to the state senate.
8. Democrat Barbara Linton (74th District) resigned.