82nd Wisconsin Legislature

Wisconsin legislative term for 1975–1976

82nd Wisconsin Legislature

| ←| 81st | 83rd| →

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Wisconsin State Capitol

Overview
Legislative body| Wisconsin Legislature
Meeting place| Wisconsin State Capitol
Term| January 6, 1975 – January 3, 1977
Election| November 5, 1974
Senate
Members| 33
Senate President| Martin J. Schreiber (D)
President pro tempore| Fred Risser (D)
Party control| Democratic
Assembly
Members| 99
Assembly Speaker| Norman C. Anderson (D)
Speaker pro tempore| Edward Jackamonis (D)
Party control| Democratic
Sessions
| Regular| January 6, 1975 – January 3, 1977

|

Special sessions
| Dec. 1975 Spec.| December 9, 1975 – December 11, 1975

|

May 1976 Spec.| May 18, 1976 – May 18, 1976
Jun. 1976 Spec.| June 15, 1976 – June 17, 1976
Sep. 1976 Spec.| September 8, 1976 – September 8, 1976

The Eighty-Second Wisconsin Legislature convened from January 6, 1975, to January 3, 1977, in regular session, and also convened in four special sessions.[1]

This was the first legislative term since 1893, when the Democratic Party of Wisconsin held the Governor's office and majorities in both chambers of the Legislature.

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 5, 1974. 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 7, 1972.[1]

The governor of Wisconsin during this entire term was Democrat Patrick Lucey, of Crawford County, serving the first two years of his second four-year term, having won re-election in the 1974 Wisconsin gubernatorial election.

## Major events

[edit]

* January 1, 1975: Former Attorney General of the United States John N. Mitchell was convicted of perjury for his part in the Watergate scandal. Former White House chief of staff H. R. Haldeman and former White House domestic affairs advisor John Ehrlichman were convicted on perjury, conspiracy, and obstruction charges.
* January 6, 1975: Second inauguration of Patrick Lucey as Governor of Wisconsin.
* April 1, 1975: 1975 Wisconsin Spring election:
* Voters ratified two amendments to the state constitution:
* Allowing the state to take on debt to make veterans' housing loans.
* Repealing the section of the constitution which removed voting rights from any person found to have engaged in or facilitated a duel.
* Voters also rejected two other amendments to the state constitution:
* Would have allowed municipalities to bypass normal debt limits to pay for revenue-generating infrastructure.
* Would have allowed the state to take on debt to fund transportation infrastructure (beyond the existing allowances for highways and port facilities). This referendum was later ruled invalid and ordered to be rerun.
* April 30, 1975: Saigon was captured by forces of the People's Army of Vietnam, effectively ending the Vietnam War.
* November 15, 1975: The 1st G6 summit was held at Rambouillet, France.
* April 6, 1976: 1976 Wisconsin Spring election:
* Georgia Governor Jimmy Carter won the 1976 Wisconsin Democratic presidential primary.
* Wisconsin voters rejected an amendment to the state constitution which would have raised the limit on municipal indebtedness.
* May 11, 1976: U.S. President Gerald Ford signed the Federal Election Campaign Act into law.
* May 23, 1976: Wisconsin Supreme Court chief justice Horace W. Wilkie died. Justice Bruce F. Beilfuss became the 22nd chief justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court due to the rule of seniority.
* September 7, 1976: Wisconsin Governor Patrick Lucey appointed Shirley Abrahamson to the Wisconsin Supreme Court, to succeed Horace W. Wilkie. She was the first female justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
* November 2, 1976: 1976 United States general election:
* Jimmy Carter (D) elected President of the United States.
* William Proxmire (D) re-elected United States senator from Wisconsin.
* Wisconsin voters again rejected the amendment to the state constitution which would have allowed state to take on debt to fund transportation infrastructure.

## Major legislation

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* July 30, 1975: An Act ... relating to state finances and appropriations constituting the executive budget bill of the' 1975 legislature, and making appropriations, 1975 Act 39. It was vetoed in part, but the vetoes were overridden. Established the office of secretary of the Department of Health and Social Services, making it a gubernatorial appointee.
* 1975 Joint Resolution 13: First legislative passage of a proposed a series of amendments to the state constitution to overhaul the state judiciary, establishing a court of appeals, collapsing the county courts into the circuit courts, and establishing the administrative powers of the supreme court over the subordinate state courts. These amendments were eventually ratified at the April 1977 election.

## Party summary

[edit]

### Senate summary

[edit]

Senate partisan composition

Democratic: 19 seats

Republican: 14 seats

| Party

(Shading indicates majority caucus)

| Total  |

|
|
|

|  |
Dem. | Rep. | Vacant
End of previous Legislature | 14  | 18  | 32  | 1
Start of Reg. Session[note 1] | 18  | 13  | 31  | 2
From Apr. 8, 1975[note 2] | 19  | 14  | 33  | 0
From Apr. 30, 1976[note 3] | 18  | 32  | 1
From Dec. 8, 1976[note 4] | 19  | 33  | 0
Final voting share  | 57.58%  | 42.42%  |
Beginning of the next Legislature | 23  | 10  | 33  | 0

### Assembly summary

[edit]

Assembly partisan composition

Democratic: 63 seats

Republican: 36 seats

| Party

(Shading indicates majority caucus)

| Total  |

|
|
|

|  |
Dem. | Rep. | Vacant
End of previous Legislature | 62  | 37  | 99  | 0
Start of Reg. Session  | 63  | 36  | 99  | 0
From Apr. 8, 1975[note 5] | 35  | 98  | 1
From Sep. 2, 1975[note 6] | 36  | 99  | 0
Final voting share  | 63.64%  | 36.36%  |
Beginning of the next Legislature | 66  | 33  | 99  | 0

## Sessions

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* Regular session: January 6, 1975 – January 3, 1977
* December 1975 special session: December 9, 1975 – December 11, 1975
* May 1976 special session: May 18, 1976
* June 1976 special session: June 15, 1976 – June 17, 1976
* September 1976 special session: September 8, 1976

## Leaders

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### Senate leadership

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* President of the Senate: Martin J. Schreiber (D)
* President pro tempore: Fred Risser (D–Madison)
* Majority leader: Wayne F. Whittow (D–Milwaukee) (res. Apr. 30, 1976)
* William A. Bablitch (D–Stevens Point) (from May 17, 1976)
* Minority leader: Clifford Krueger (R–Merrill)

### Assembly leadership

[edit]

* Speaker of the Assembly: Norman C. Anderson (D–Madison)
* Speaker pro tempore: Edward Jackamonis (D–Waukesha)
* Majority leader: Terry A. Willkom (D–Chippewa Falls)
* Minority leader: John C. Shabaz (R–New Berlin)

## Members

[edit]

### Members of the Senate

[edit]

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

Senate partisan representation

Democratic: 19 seats

Republican: 14 seats

Dist. | Senator | Party | Age
(1975) | Home | First
elected

|
|
|
|
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01 | Jerome Martin | Dem.  | 66  | Whitelaw, Manitowoc County | 1970
02 | Tom Petri | Rep.  | 34  | Green Bay, Brown County | 1972
03 | Jerry Kleczka | Dem.  | 31  | Milwaukee, Milwaukee County | 1974
04 | \--Vacant until Apr. 8, 1975--
Jim Sensenbrenner (from Apr. 8, 1975) | Rep.  | 31  | Shorewood, Milwaukee County | 1975
05 | David Berger | Dem.  | 28  | Milwaukee, Milwaukee County | 1974
06 | Monroe Swan | Dem.  | 37  | Milwaukee, Milwaukee County | 1972
07 | Kurt Frank | Dem.  | 29  | Milwaukee, Milwaukee County | 1970
08 | James T. Flynn | Dem.  | 30  | West Allis, Milwaukee County | 1972
09 | Ronald G. Parys | Dem.  | 36  | Milwaukee, Milwaukee County | 1968
10 | Robert P. Knowles | Rep.  | 58  | New Richmond, St. Croix County | 1954
11 | Wayne F. Whittow (res. Apr. 30, 1976) | Dem.  | 41  | Milwaukee, Milwaukee County | 1968
Warren Braun (from Dec. 8, 1976) | Dem.  | 42  | Milwaukee, Milwaukee County | 1976
12 | Clifford Krueger | Rep.  | 56  | Merrill, Lincoln County | 1946
13 | Dale McKenna | Dem.  | 37  | Jefferson, Jefferson County | 1969
14 | Gerald Lorge | Rep.  | 52  | Bear Creek, Outagamie County | 1954
15 | Timothy Cullen | Dem.  | 30  | Janesville, Rock County | 1974
16 | Carl W. Thompson | Dem.  | 60  | Stoughton, Dane County | 1959
17 | Kathryn Morrison | Dem.  | 32  | Platteville, Grant County | 1974
18 | Walter G. Hollander | Rep.  | 78  | Rosendale, Fond du Lac County | 1956
19 | Gary Goyke | Dem.  | 27  | Oshkosh, Winnebago County | 1974
20 | Ernest Keppler | Rep.  | 56  | Sheboygan, Sheboygan County | 1960
21 | Henry Dorman | Dem.  | 58  | Racine, Racine County | 1965
22 | \--Vacant until Apr. 8, 1975--
John J. Maurer (from Apr. 8, 1975) | Dem.  | 52  | Kenosha, Kenosha County | 1975
23 | Bruce Peloquin | Dem.  | 38  | Chippewa Falls, Chippewa County | 1970
24 | William A. Bablitch | Dem.  | 33  | Stevens Point, Portage County | 1972
25 | Daniel Theno | Rep.  | 27  | Ashland, Ashland County | 1972
26 | Fred Risser | Dem.  | 47  | Madison, Dane County | 1962
27 | Everett Bidwell | Rep.  | 75  | Portage, Columbia County | 1970
28 | James C. Devitt | Rep.  | 45  | Greenfield, Milwaukee County | 1968
29 | Walter Chilsen | Rep.  | 51  | Wausau, Marathon County | 1966
30 | Reuben La Fave | Rep.  | 59  | Oconto, Oconto County | 1956
31 | Thomas Harnisch | Dem.  | 27  | Neillsville, Clark County | 1974
32 | Milo Knutson | Rep.  | 56  | La Crosse, La Crosse County | 1968
33 | Roger P. Murphy | Rep.  | 51  | Waukesha, Waukesha County | 1970

### Members of the Assembly

[edit]

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

Assembly partisan representation

Democratic: 63 seats

Republican: 36 seats

Senate
Dist.  | Dist.  | Representative  | Party  | Age
(1975)  | Home  | First
Elected

|
|
|
|
|
|

01 | 01 | Lary J. Swoboda | Dem.  | 35  | Luxemburg | 1970
02 | Francis J. Lallensack | Dem.  | 58  | Manitowoc | 1972
03 | Alan Lasee | Rep.  | 43  | De Pere | 1974
02 | 04 | John C. Gower | Rep.  | 33  | Green Bay | 1972
05 | William J. Rogers | Dem.  | 44  | Kaukauna | 1962
06 | Gervase Hephner | Dem.  | 38  | Chilton | 1966
03 | 07 | Kevin Soucie | Dem.  | 20  | Milwaukee | 1974
08 | John Norquist | Dem.  | 25  | Milwaukee | 1974
09 | Phillip Tuczynski | Dem.  | 27  | Milwaukee | 1974
04 | 10 | Jim Sensenbrenner (until Apr. 8, 1975) | Rep.  | 31  | Shorewood | 1968
Rod Johnston (from Sep. 2, 1975) | Rep.  | 38  | Fox Point | 1975
11 | Gus Menos | Dem.  | 54  | Milwaukee | 1971
12 | Frederick C. Schroeder | Rep.  | 64  | Milwaukee | 1964
05 | 13 | Michael G. Kirby | Dem.  | 22  | Milwaukee | 1974
14 | Robert E. Behnke | Dem.  | 42  | Milwaukee | 1972
15 | James W. Wahner | Dem.  | 35  | Milwaukee | 1970
06 | 16 | Michael Elconin | Dem.  | 21  | Milwaukee | 1972
17 | Walter L. Ward Jr. | Dem.  | 31  | Milwaukee | 1972
18 | Lloyd Barbee | Dem.  | 49  | Milwaukee | 1964
07 | 19 | Louise M. Tesmer | Dem.  | 32  | St. Francis | 1972
20 | John Plewa | Dem.  | 29  | Milwaukee | 1972
21 | Chester A. Gerlach | Dem.  | 27  | South Milwaukee | 1974
08 | 22 | George Klicka | Rep.  | 40  | Wauwatosa | 1966
23 | Thomas A. Hauke | Dem.  | 36  | West Allis | 1972
24 | Gary J. Barczak | Dem.  | 35  | West Allis | 1972
09 | 25 | Dennis Conta | Dem.  | 34  | Milwaukee | 1968
26 | Harout O. Sanasarian | Dem.  | 45  | Milwaukee | 1968
27 | Joseph Czerwinski | Dem.  | 30  | Milwaukee | 1968
10 | 28 | Harvey L. Dueholm | Dem.  | 64  | Luck | 1958
29 | Leo Mohn | Dem.  | 49  | Woodville | 1970
30 | Michael P. Early | Dem.  | 56  | River Falls | 1970
11 | 31 | Paul Sicula | Dem.  | 35  | Milwaukee | 1966
32 | Peter J. Tropman | Dem.  | 30  | Milwaukee | 1972
33 | Richard E. Pabst | Dem.  | 41  | Milwaukee | 1966
12 | 34 | Stanley J. Lato | Dem.  | 50  | Gilman | 1974
35 | Sheehan Donoghue | Rep.  | 31  | Merrill | 1972
36 | Lloyd H. Kincaid | Rep.  | 49  | Crandon | 1972
13 | 37 | Norman C. Anderson | Dem.  | 46  | Madison | 1956
38 | Harland E. Everson | Dem.  | 57  | Edgerton | 1970
39 | Byron F. Wackett | Rep.  | 62  | Watertown | 1952
14 | 40 | Francis R. Byers | Rep.  | 54  | Marion | 1968
41 | Ervin Conradt | Rep.  | 58  | Shiocton | 1964
42 | Toby Roth | Rep.  | 36  | Appleton | 1972
15 | 43 | Cloyd A. Porter | Rep.  | 39  | Burlington | 1972
44 | Delmar DeLong | Rep.  | 43  | Janesville | 1972
45 | Gary K. Johnson | Dem.  | 35  | Beloit | 1970
16 | 46 | David D. O'Malley | Dem.  | 62  | Waunakee | 1958
47 | Lyman F. Anderson | Rep.  | 48  | Oregon | 1974
48 | Lewis T. Mittness | Dem.  | 45  | Janesville | 1964
17 | 49 | James N. Azim Jr. | Rep.  | 38  | Muscoda | 1964
50 | Joanne M. Duren | Dem.  | 43  | Cazenovia | 1970
51 | Joseph E. Tregoning | Rep.  | 33  | Shullsburg | 1967
18 | 52 | Earl F. McEssy | Rep.  | 61  | Fond du Lac | 1956
53 | James R. Lewis | Rep.  | 38  | West Bend | 1972
54 | Esther Doughty Luckhardt | Rep.  | 61  | Horicon | 1962
19 | 55 | Michael G. Ellis | Rep.  | 32  | Neenah | 1970
56 | Richard A. Flintrop | Dem.  | 29  | Oshkosh | 1972
57 | Gordon R. Bradley | Rep.  | 53  | Oshkosh | 1968
20 | 58 | Carl Otte | Dem.  | 51  | Sheboygan | 1967
59 | Calvin Potter | Dem.  | 29  | Kohler | 1974
60 | David W. Opitz | Rep.  | 29  | Saukville | 1972
21 | 61 | James F. Rooney | Dem.  | 39  | Racine | 1972
62 | R. Michael Ferrall | Dem.  | 38  | Racine | 1970
63 | Marcel Dandeneau | Dem.  | 43  | Wind Point | 1974
22 | 64 | George Molinaro | Dem.  | 72  | Kenosha | 1946
65 | Eugene Dorff | Dem.  | 44  | Kenosha | 1970
66 | Russell Olson | Rep.  | 50  | Randall | 1960
23 | 67 | Terry A. Willkom | Dem.  | 31  | Chippewa Falls | 1970
68 | Joseph Looby | Dem.  | 57  | Eau Claire | 1968
69 | La Verne Ausman | Rep.  | 44  | Elk Mound | 1974
24 | 70 | Donald W. Hasenohrl | Dem.  | 39  | Pittsville | 1974
71 | Leonard A. Groshek | Dem.  | 61  | Stevens Point | 1966
72 | Patricia A. Goodrich | Rep.  | 41  | Berlin | 1974
25 | 73 | Thomas B. Murray | Dem.  | 36  | Superior | 1972
74 | David Kedrowski | Dem.  | 32  | Washburn | 1972
75 | Kenneth M. Schricker | Rep.  | 53  | Spooner | 1970
26 | 76 | Mary Lou Munts | Dem.  | 50  | Madison | 1972
77 | Midge Miller | Dem.  | 52  | Madison | 1970
78 | David Clarenbach | Dem.  | 21  | Madison | 1974
27 | 79 | Tommy Thompson | Rep.  | 33  | Elroy | 1966
80 | Kenyon E. Giese | Rep.  | 41  | Sauk City | 1970
81 | Thomas S. Hanson | Dem.  | 35  | Beaver Dam | 1974
28 | 82 | James A. Rutkowski | Dem.  | 32  | Hales Corners | 1970
83 | John C. Shabaz | Rep.  | 43  | New Berlin | 1964
84 | Harry G. Snyder | Rep.  | 36  | Oconomowoc | 1974
29 | 85 | Edward F. McClain | Dem.  | 39  | Wausau | 1974
86 | Laurence J. Day | Dem.  | 61  | Eland | 1968
87 | Earl W. Schmidt | Rep.  | 38  | Shawano | 1974
30 | 88 | Richard P. Matty | Rep.  | 42  | Crivitz | 1972
89 | Cletus J. Vanderperren | Dem.  | 62  | Pittsfield | 1958
90 | Sharon Metz | Dem.  | 40  | Green Bay | 1974
31 | 91 | Steve Gunderson | Rep.  | 23  | Osseo | 1974
92 | Robert Quackenbush | Rep.  | 51  | Sparta | 1970
93 | Marlin Schneider | Dem.  | 32  | Wisconsin Rapids | 1970
32 | 94 | Virgil Roberts | Dem.  | 52  | Holmen | 1970
95 | Paul Offner | Dem.  | 32  | La Crosse | 1974
96 | Bernard Lewison | Rep.  | 72  | Viroqua | 1954
33 | 97 | Ronald H. Lingren | Dem.  | 39  | Menomonee Falls | 1974
98 | Edward Jackamonis | Dem.  | 35  | Waukesha | 1970
99 | Susan J. Shannon | Rep.  | 22  | Brookfield | 1974

## Employees

[edit]

### Senate employees

[edit]

* Chief Clerk: Glenn E. Bultman[2]
* Sergeant-at-Arms: Robert M. Thompson

### Assembly employees

[edit]

* Chief Clerk: Everett E. Bolle[2]
* Sergeant-at-Arms: Raymond J. Tobiasz

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ Republican Bob Kasten (4th District) and Democrat Doug La Follette (22nd District) resigned before the start of the session due to election to other offices.
2. ^ Republican Jim Sensenbrenner (4th District) and Democrat John J. Maurer (22nd District) were sworn in to replace Bob Kasten and Doug La Follette, respectively.
3. ^ Democrat Wayne F. Whittow (11th District) resigned after being elected Milwaukee city treasurer.
4. ^ Democrat Warren Braun (11th District) was sworn in to replace Wayne F. Whittow.
5. ^ Republican Jim Sensenbrenner (10th District) resigned after election to the state senate.
6. ^ Republican Rod Johnston (10th District) was sworn in to replace Jim Sensenbrenner.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b 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. ^ a b c d Theobald, H. Rupert; Robbins, Patricia V., eds. (1975). "Biographies". The State of Wisconsin Blue Book 1975 (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. pp. 20–88. Retrieved November 17, 2023.

## External links

[edit]

* 1975: Related Documents from Wisconsin Legislature

* v
* t
* e

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