94th Wisconsin Legislature
| 94th Wisconsin Legislature | |||||
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 Wisconsin State Capitol | |||||
| Overview | |||||
| Legislative body | Wisconsin Legislature | ||||
| Meeting place | Wisconsin State Capitol | ||||
| Term | January 4, 1999 – January 1, 2001 | ||||
| Election | November 3, 1998 | ||||
| Senate | |||||
| Members | 33 | ||||
| Senate President | Fred Risser (D) | ||||
| President pro tempore | Gary R. George (D) | ||||
| Party control | Democratic | ||||
| Assembly | |||||
| Members | 99 | ||||
| Assembly Speaker | Scott R. Jensen (R) | ||||
| Speaker pro tempore | Stephen Freese (R) | ||||
| Party control | Republican | ||||
| Sessions | |||||
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| Special sessions | |||||
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The Ninety-Fourth Wisconsin Legislature convened from January 4, 1999, to January 3, 2001, in regular session, and also convened in two special sessions.[1]
Senators representing odd-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 odd-numbered senators were elected in the general election of November 3, 1998. Senators representing even-numbered districts were serving the third and fourth year of a four-year term, having been elected in the general election of November 5, 1996.[1]
Major events
[edit]- January 4, 1999: Fourth inauguration of Tommy Thompson as Governor of Wisconsin.
- February 12, 1999: In the United States Senate, the impeachment trial of U.S. President Bill Clinton ended with a verdict of "not guilty".
- March 29, 1999: The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed above 10,000 for the first time.
- April 6, 1999: 1999 Wisconsin Spring election:
- Wisconsin voters ratified an amendment to the state constitution which adjusted what state gambling proceeds could be used for.
- May 1, 2000: The Wisconsin politics news website Wispolitics.com was launched.
- September 7, 2000: Wisconsin Supreme Court justice Donald W. Steinmetz resigned. Wisconsin governor Tommy Thompson appointed Diane S. Sykes to succeed him.
- November 7, 2000: 2000 United States general election:
- The 2000 United States presidential election was too close to call, and hinged on a recount in Florida.
- Herb Kohl (D) was re-elected as United States senator from Wisconsin.
- December 12, 2000: The United States Supreme Court ruled in the case Bush v. Gore, stating that there was not enough time to set standards and conduct a fair recount, thus the recount must end. George W. Bush was therefore declared the winner of the 2000 United States presidential election.
Major legislation
[edit]- October 28, 1999: An Act relating to: state finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 1999 legislature, 1999 Act 9. Vetoed in part.
Party summary
[edit]Senate summary
[edit]
Democratic: 17 seats
Republican: 16 seats
| Party (Shading indicates majority caucus)
|
Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dem. | Rep. | Vacant | ||
| End of previous Legislature | 16 | 17 | 33 | 0 |
| Start of Reg. Session | 17 | 16 | 33 | 0 |
| From May 25, 2000[note 1] | 15 | 32 | 1 | |
| Final voting share | 53.13% | 46.88% | ||
| Beginning of the next Legislature | 18 | 15 | 33 | 0 |
Assembly summary
[edit]
Democratic: 45 seats
Republican: 54 seats
| Party (Shading indicates majority caucus)
|
Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dem. | Rep. | Vacant | ||
| End of previous Legislature | 45 | 52 | 97 | 2 |
| Start of Reg. Session | 44 | 55 | 99 | 0 |
| From Jan. 29, 1999[note 2] | 54 | 98 | 1 | |
| From May 12, 1999[note 3] | 45 | 99 | 0 | |
| Final voting share | 45.45% | 54.55% | ||
| Beginning of the next Legislature | 43 | 56 | 99 | 0 |
Sessions
[edit]- Regular session: January 4, 1999 – January 3, 2001
- Oct. 1999 special session: October 27, 1999 – November 11, 1999
- May 2000 special session: May 4, 2000 – May 9, 2000
Leadership
[edit]Senate leadership
[edit]- President of the Senate: Fred Risser (D–Madison)
- President pro tempore: Gary R. George (D–Milwaukee)
Senate majority leadership
[edit]- Majority Leader: Charles Chvala (D–Madison)
- Assistant Majority Leader: Rodney C. Moen (D–Whitehall)
Senate minority leadership
[edit]- Minority Leader: Michael G. Ellis (R–Neenah) (until Jan. 25, 2000)
- Mary Panzer (R–West Bend) (after Jan. 25, 2000)
- Assistant Minority Leader: Brian Rude (R–Coon Valley) (until May 25, 2000)
- Margaret Farrow (R–Pewaukee) (after May 30, 2000)
Assembly leadership
[edit]- Speaker of the Assembly: Scott R. Jensen (R–Waukesha)
- Speaker pro tempore: Stephen Freese (R–Jamestown)
Assembly majority leadership
[edit]- Majority Leader: Steven Foti (R–Oconomowoc)
- Assistant Majority Leader: Bonnie Ladwig (R–Mount Pleasant)
Assembly minority leadership
[edit]- Minority Leader: Shirley Krug (D–Milwaukee)
- Assistant Minority Leader: Marlin Schneider (D–Wisconsin Rapids)
Members
[edit]Members of the Senate
[edit]Members of the Senate for the Ninety-Fourth Wisconsin Legislature:[2]
Democratic: 17 seats
Republican: 16 seats
Members of the Assembly
[edit]Members of the Assembly for the Ninety-Fourth Wisconsin Legislature:[2]
Democratic: 45 seats
Republican: 54 seats
Employees
[edit]Senate employees
[edit]- Chief Clerk: Donald J. Schneider[2]
- Sergeant-at-Arms: Jon H. Hochkammer
Assembly employees
[edit]- Chief Clerk: Charles R. Sanders[2]
- Sergeant-at-Arms: Denise L. Solie
Notes
[edit]- ^ Republican Brian Rude (32nd District) resigned.
- ^ Republican Thomas D. Ourada (35th District) resigned.
- ^ Democrat Sarah Waukau (35th District) was sworn in to replace Thomas D. Ourada.
References
[edit]- ^ a b "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.
- ^ a b c d Barish, Lawrence S.; Meloy, Patricia E., eds. (1999). "Biographies". State of Wisconsin 1999–2000 Blue Book (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. pp. 20–88. Retrieved January 15, 2024.