The Ninety-Third Wisconsin Legislature convened from to in regular session, and also convened in an April 1998 special session.

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.

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

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, 1997Democrat Lynn Adelman (28th District) resigned after he was confirmed as a United States district judge. 16 32 1 From Apr. 20, 1998Republican Mary Lazich (28th District) was sworn in to replace Lynn Adelman. 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, 1997Republican Speaker Ben Brancel (42nd District) resigned after being appointed secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. 51 98 1 From Dec. 7, 1997Democrat James A. Rutkowski (82nd District) resigned to accept appointment to a state commission. 46 97 2 From Jan. 20, 1998Republican Joan Wade Spillner (42nd District) was sworn in to replace Ben Brancel. 52 98 1 From Apr. 15, 1998Republican Jeff Stone (82nd District) was sworn in to replace James A. Rutkowski. 53 99 0 From Apr. 20, 1998Republican Mary Lazich (84th District) resigned after her election to the state senate. 52 98 1 From Aug. 1, 1998Democrat Barbara Linton (74th District) resigned. 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:

Dist. Senator Party Age(1997) Home Firstelected 01 Rep. Rockland, Brown County 1977 02 Rep. Green Bay, Brown County 1987 03 Dem. Milwaukee, Milwaukee County 1988 04 Dem. Milwaukee, Milwaukee County 1992 05 Rep. Wauwatosa, Milwaukee County 1993 06 Dem. Milwaukee, Milwaukee County 1980 07 Dem. South Milwaukee, Milwaukee County 1995 08 Rep. River Hills, Milwaukee County 1992 09 Dem. Kohler, Sheboygan County 1990 10 Dem. Menomonie, Dunn County 1992 11 Rep. Waukesha, Waukesha County 1990 12 Dem. Elderon, Marathon County 1990 13 Rep. Juneau, Dodge County 1994 14 Rep. Marion, Waushara County 1995 15 Rep. Beloit, Rock County 1987 16 Dem. Madison, Dane County 1984 17 Rep. Richland Center, Richland County 1991 18 Rep. , Winnebago County 1987 19 Rep. Neenah, Winnebago County 1982 20 Rep. West Bend, Washington County 1993 21 Dem. Racine, Racine County 1996 22 Dem. Kenosha, Kenosha County 1996 23 Rep. Eau Claire, Eau Claire County 1993 24 Dem. Stevens Point, Portage County 1995 25 Dem. Poplar, Douglas County 1986 26 Dem. Madison, Dane County 1962 27 Dem. Verona, Dane County 1993 28 Dem. Mukwonago, Waukesha County 1976 Rep. New Berlin, Waukesha County 1998 29 Dem. Schofield, Marathon County 1990 30 Rep. Pulaski, Brown County 1992 31 Dem. Whitehall, Trempealeau County 1982 32 Rep. Coon Valley, Vernon County 1984 33 Rep. Elm Grove, Waukesha County 1989

Members of the Assembly Members of the Assembly for the Ninety-Third Wisconsin Legislature:

SenateDist.Dist.RepresentativePartyAge(1997)HomeFirstElected 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 Sergeant-at-Arms: Jon H. Hochkammer

Assembly employees Chief Clerk: Charles R. Sanders Sergeant-at-Arms: John A. Scocos

Notes

References

External links 1997: Related Documents from Wisconsin Legislature