83rd Wisconsin Legislature
82nd 84th
Wisconsin State Capitol
Overview
Legislative bodyWisconsin Legislature
Meeting placeWisconsin State Capitol
TermJanuary 3, 1977 January 1, 1979
ElectionNovember 2, 1976
Senate
Members33
Senate PresidentMartin J. Schreiber (D) until July 6, 1977
President pro temporeFred Risser (D)
Party controlDemocratic
Assembly
Members99
Assembly SpeakerEdward Jackamonis (D)
Speaker pro temporeMichael P. Early (D)
Party controlDemocratic
Sessions
RegularJanuary 3, 1977 January 3, 1979
Special sessions
Jun. 1977 Spec.June 30, 1977 June 30, 1977
Nov. 1977 Spec.November 7, 1977 November 11, 1977
Jun. 1978 Spec.June 13, 1978 June 15, 1978
Dec. 1978 Spec.December 20, 1978 December 20, 1978

The Eighty-Third Wisconsin Legislature convened from January 3, 1977, to January 3, 1979, in regular session, and also convened in four special sessions.[1]

This legislative session saw a dramatic overhaul of the Wisconsin judicial system as voters approved a series of amendments to the Constitution of Wisconsin which established the Wisconsin Court of Appeals and collapsed the county courts into the Wisconsin circuit court system. The amendment also established a constitutional basis for the powers of the Wisconsin Supreme Court to administer the state court system.

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 2, 1976. 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 5, 1974.[1]

Major events

Major legislation

Party summary

Senate summary

Senate partisan composition
  Democratic: 22 seats
  Republican: 11 seats
Party
(Shading indicates majority caucus)
Total
Dem. Rep. Vacant
End of previous Legislature 18 14 32 1
Start of Reg. Session 23 10 33 0
From Jan. 29, 1977[note 1] 22 32 1
From May 12, 1977[note 2] 11 33 0
Final voting share 66.67% 33.33%
Beginning of the next Legislature 21 10 31 2

Assembly summary

Assembly partisan composition
  Democratic: 66 seats
  Republican: 33 seats
Party
(Shading indicates majority caucus)
Total
Dem. Rep. Vacant
End of previous Legislature 63 36 99 0
Start of Reg. Session 66 33 99 0
From Jun. 27, 1977[note 3] 67 32 99 0
From Jul. 25, 1977[note 4] 66 98 1
From Aug. 15, 1977[note 5] 65 97 2
From Nov. 7, 1977[note 6] 66 33 99 0
From Nov. 14, 1977[note 7] 65 98 1
From Jan. 24, 1978[note 8] 66 99 0
Final voting share 66.67% 33.33%
Beginning of the next Legislature 60 39 99 0

Sessions

  • Regular session: January 3, 1977  January 3, 1979
  • June 1977 special session: June 30, 1977
  • November 1977 special session: November 7, 1977  November 11, 1977
  • June 1978 special session: June 13, 1978  June 15, 1978
  • December 1978 special session: December 20, 1978

Leaders

Senate leadership

Senate majority leadership

Senate minority leadership

Assembly leadership

Assembly majority leadership

Assembly minority leadership

Members

Members of the Senate

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

Senate partisan representation
  Democratic: 23 seats
  Republican: 10 seats
Dist.SenatorPartyAge
(1977)
HomeFirst
elected
01 Jerome Martin (died Jan. 27, 1977) Dem. 68 Whitelaw, Manitowoc County 1970
Alan Lasee (from May 12, 1977) Rep. 39 De Pere, Brown County 1977
02 Tom Petri Rep. 36 Green Bay, Brown County 1972
03 Jerry Kleczka Dem. 33 Milwaukee, Milwaukee County 1974
04 Jim Sensenbrenner Rep. 33 Shorewood, Milwaukee County 1975
05 David Berger Dem. 30 Milwaukee, Milwaukee County 1974
06 Monroe Swan Dem. 39 Milwaukee, Milwaukee County 1972
07 Kurt Frank Dem. 31 Milwaukee, Milwaukee County 1970
08 James T. Flynn Dem. 32 West Allis, Milwaukee County 1972
09 Ronald G. Parys Dem. 38 Milwaukee, Milwaukee County 1968
10 Michele Radosevich Dem. 29 North Hudson, St. Croix County 1976
11 Warren Braun Dem. 42 Milwaukee, Milwaukee County 1976
12 Clifford Krueger Rep. 58 Merrill, Lincoln County 1946
13 Dale McKenna Dem. 39 Jefferson, Jefferson County 1969
14 Gerald Lorge Rep. 54 Bear Creek, Outagamie County 1954
15 Timothy Cullen Dem. 32 Janesville, Rock County 1974
16 Carl W. Thompson Dem. 62 Stoughton, Dane County 1959
17 Kathryn Morrison Dem. 34 Platteville, Grant County 1974
18 Scott McCallum Rep. 26 Fond du Lac, Fond du Lac County 1976
19 Gary Goyke Dem. 29 Oshkosh, Winnebago County 1974
20 Ernest Keppler Rep. 58 Sheboygan, Sheboygan County 1960
21 Henry Dorman Dem. 60 Racine, Racine County 1965
22 John J. Maurer Dem. 54 Kenosha, Kenosha County 1975
23 Bruce Peloquin Dem. 40 Chippewa Falls, Chippewa County 1970
24 William A. Bablitch Dem. 35 Stevens Point, Portage County 1972
25 Daniel Theno Rep. 29 Ashland, Ashland County 1972
26 Fred Risser Dem. 49 Madison, Dane County 1962
27 Everett Bidwell Rep. 77 Portage, Columbia County 1970
28 Lynn Adelman Dem. 37 New Berlin, Waukesha County 1976
29 Walter Chilsen Rep. 53 Wausau, Marathon County 1966
30 Jerome Van Sistine Dem. 50 Green Bay, Brown County 1976
31 Thomas Harnisch Dem. 29 Neillsville, Clark County 1974
32 Paul Offner Dem. 34 La Crosse, La Crosse County 1968
33 Roger P. Murphy Rep. 53 Waukesha, Waukesha County 1970

Members of the Assembly

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

Assembly partisan representation
  Democratic: 66 seats
  Republican: 33 seats
Senate
Dist.
Dist. Representative Party Age
(1977)
Home First
Elected
01 01 Lary J. Swoboda Dem. 37 Luxemburg 1970
02 Francis J. Lallensack Dem. 60 Manitowoc 1972
03 Daniel Fischer Dem. 24 Reedsville 1976
02 04 John C. Gower Rep. 35 Green Bay 1972
05 William J. Rogers Dem. 46 Kaukauna 1962
06 Gervase Hephner Dem. 40 Chilton 1966
03 07 Kevin Soucie Dem. 22 Milwaukee 1974
08 John Norquist Dem. 27 Milwaukee 1974
09 Phillip Tuczynski Dem. 29 Milwaukee 1974
04 10 Rod Johnston Rep. 39 Fox Point 1975
11 Gus Menos Dem. 56 Milwaukee 1971
12 John L. Merkt Rep. 30 Mequon 1976
05 13 Michael G. Kirby Dem. 24 Milwaukee 1974
14 Robert E. Behnke Dem. 44 Milwaukee 1972
15 James W. Wahner Dem. 37 Milwaukee 1970
06 16 Michael Elconin (res. Nov. 14, 1977) Dem. 23 Milwaukee 1972
William B. Broydrick (from Jan. 24, 1978) Dem. 29 Milwaukee 1978
17 Walter L. Ward Jr. Dem. 33 Milwaukee 1972
18 Marcia P. Coggs Dem. 48 Milwaukee 1976
07 19 Louise M. Tesmer Dem. 34 Milwaukee 1972
20 John Plewa Dem. 31 Milwaukee 1972
21 Chester A. Gerlach Dem. 29 South Milwaukee 1974
08 22 George Klicka Rep. 42 Wauwatosa 1966
23 Thomas A. Hauke Dem. 38 West Allis 1972
24 Gary J. Barczak Dem. 37 West Allis 1972
09 25 Jim Moody Dem. 41 Milwaukee 1976
26 Stephen R. Leopold Dem. 32 Milwaukee 1976
27 Joseph Czerwinski Dem. 32 Milwaukee 1968
10 28 Harvey L. Dueholm Dem. 66 Luck 1958
29 Leo Mohn Dem. 51 Woodville 1970
30 Michael P. Early (res. Aug. 15, 1977) Dem. 58 River Falls 1970
James Harsdorf (from Nov. 7, 1977) Rep. 27 River Falls 1977
11 31 Mordecai Lee Dem. 28 Milwaukee 1976
32 Peter J. Tropman (res. Jul. 25, 1977) Dem. 32 Milwaukee 1972
Dismas Becker (from Nov. 7, 1977) Dem. 41 Milwaukee 1977
33 Richard E. Pabst Dem. 43 Milwaukee 1966
12 34 Stanley J. Lato Dem. 52 Gilman 1974
35 Sheehan Donoghue Rep. 33 Merrill 1972
36 Lloyd H. Kincaid Rep. 51 Crandon 1972
Dem.
13 37 Peter D. Bear Dem. 24 Madison 1976
38 Harland E. Everson Dem. 59 Edgerton 1970
39 Milton Lorman Rep. 49 Fort Atkinson 1976
14 40 Francis R. Byers Rep. 56 Marion 1968
41 Ervin Conradt Rep. 60 Shiocton 1964
42 Toby Roth Rep. 38 Appleton 1972
15 43 Cloyd A. Porter Rep. 41 Burlington 1972
44 Delmar DeLong Rep. 45 Janesville 1972
45 Gary K. Johnson Dem. 37 Beloit 1970
16 46 Thomas A. Loftus Dem. 31 Sun Prairie 1976
47 Jonathan B. Barry Dem. 31 Primrose 1976
48 Wayne W. Wood Dem. 46 Janesville 1976
17 49 Robert S. Travis Jr. Rep. 29 Platteville 1976
50 Joanne M. Duren Dem. 45 Cazenovia 1970
51 Joseph E. Tregoning Rep. 35 Shullsburg 1967
18 52 Earl F. McEssy Rep. 63 Fond du Lac 1956
53 James R. Lewis Rep. 40 West Bend 1972
54 Esther Doughty Luckhardt Rep. 63 Horicon 1962
19 55 Michael G. Ellis Rep. 34 Neenah 1970
56 Richard A. Flintrop Dem. 31 Oshkosh 1972
57 Gordon R. Bradley Rep. 55 Oshkosh 1968
20 58 Carl Otte Dem. 53 Sheboygan 1967
59 Calvin Potter Dem. 31 Kohler 1974
60 David W. Opitz Rep. 31 Saukville 1972
21 61 James F. Rooney Dem. 41 Racine 1972
62 R. Michael Ferrall Dem. 40 Racine 1970
63 Marcel Dandeneau Dem. 45 Wind Point 1974
22 64 Joseph F. Andrea Dem. 49 Kenosha 1976
65 Eugene Dorff Dem. 46 Kenosha 1970
66 Russell Olson Rep. 52 Randall 1960
23 67 Steven C. Brist Dem. 22 Chippewa Falls 1976
68 Joseph Looby Dem. 59 Eau Claire 1968
69 La Verne Ausman Rep. 46 Elk Mound 1974
24 70 Donald W. Hasenohrl Dem. 41 Pittsville 1974
71 Leonard A. Groshek Dem. 63 Stevens Point 1966
72 Patricia A. Goodrich Rep. 43 Berlin 1974
25 73 Thomas B. Murray Dem. 38 Superior 1972
74 David Kedrowski Dem. 34 Washburn 1972
75 Kenneth M. Schricker Rep. 55 Spooner 1970
26 76 Mary Lou Munts Dem. 52 Madison 1972
77 Midge Miller Dem. 54 Madison 1970
78 David Clarenbach Dem. 23 Madison 1974
27 79 Tommy Thompson Rep. 35 Elroy 1966
80 Leroy Litscher Dem. 54 Baraboo 1976
81 Thomas S. Hanson Dem. 37 Beaver Dam 1974
28 82 James A. Rutkowski Dem. 34 Hales Corners 1970
83 John C. Shabaz Rep. 45 New Berlin 1964
84 Harry G. Snyder Rep. 38 Oconomowoc 1974
29 85 Edward F. McClain Dem. 41 Wausau 1974
86 Laurence J. Day Dem. 63 Eland 1968
87 Earl W. Schmidt Rep. 40 Shawano 1974
30 88 Richard P. Matty Rep. 44 Crivitz 1972
89 Cletus J. Vanderperren Dem. 64 Pittsfield 1958
90 Sharon Metz Dem. 42 Green Bay 1974
31 91 Steve Gunderson Rep. 25 Osseo 1974
92 Robert Quackenbush Rep. 53 Sparta 1970
93 Marlin Schneider Dem. 34 Wisconsin Rapids 1970
32 94 Virgil Roberts Dem. 54 Holmen 1970
95 John Medinger Dem. 28 La Crosse 1976
96 Bernard Lewison Rep. 74 Viroqua 1954
33 97 Ronald H. Lingren Dem. 41 Menomonee Falls 1974
98 Edward Jackamonis Dem. 37 Waukesha 1970
99 Susan Shannon Engeleiter Rep. 24 Brookfield 1974

Employees

Senate employees

Assembly employees

Notes

  1. Democrat Jerome Martin (1st District) died.
  2. Republican Alan Lasee (1st District) was sworn in to replace Jerome Martin.
  3. Republican Lloyd H. Kincaid (36th District) switched his party affiliation to Democratic.
  4. Democrat Peter J. Tropman (32nd District) resigned.
  5. Democrat Michael P. Early (30th District) resigned after he was appointed secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs.
  6. Republican James Harsdorf (30th District) and Democrat Dismas Becker (32nd District) were sworn in to replace Michael P. Early and Peter J. Tropman, respectively.
  7. Democrat Michael Elconin (16th District) resigned.
  8. Democrat William B. Broydrick (16th District) was sworn in to replace Michael Elconin.

References

  1. 1 2 Barish, Lawrence S.; Lemanski, Lynn, eds. (2021). "Historical Lists" (PDF). State of Wisconsin Blue Book 2021–2022 (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. pp. 468, 471, 475, 479–480. ISBN 978-1-7333817-1-0. Retrieved August 5, 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Theobald, H. Rupert; Robbins, Patricia V., eds. (1977). "Biographies". The State of Wisconsin Blue Book 1977 (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. pp. 20–88. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
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