97th Wisconsin Legislature

Wisconsin legislative term for 2005-2006

97th Wisconsin Legislature

| <-| 96th | 98th| ->

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Wisconsin State Capitol

Overview
Legislative body| Wisconsin Legislature
Meeting place| Wisconsin State Capitol
Term| January 3, 2005 – January 1, 2007
Election| November 2, 2004
Senate
Members| 33
Senate President| Alan Lasee (R)
President pro tempore| David Zien (R)
Party control| Republican
Assembly
Members| 99
Assembly Speaker| John Gard (R)
Speaker pro tempore| Stephen Freese (R)
Party control| Republican
Sessions
| Regular| January 3, 2005 – January 3, 2007

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Special sessions
| Jan. 2005 Spec.| January 12, 2005 – January 20, 2005

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Jul. 2005 Extra.| July 20, 2005 – July 20, 2005
Feb. 2006 Spec.| February 14, 2006 – March 7, 2006
Apr. 2006 Extra.| April 25, 2006 – May 17, 2006

The Ninety-Seventh Wisconsin Legislature convened from January 3, 2005, to January 3, 2007, in regular session, and held two concurrent special sessions in January 2005 and February 2006, and two extraordinary sessions in July 2005 and April 2006.[1]

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, 2004.[2] Senators representing odd-numbered districts were serving the third and fourth year of their four-year term, having been elected in the general election of November 5, 2002.[3]

The governor of Wisconsin during this entire term was Democrat Jim Doyle, of Dane County, serving the second two years of a four-year term, having won election in the 2002 Wisconsin gubernatorial election.

## Major events

[edit]

* January 20, 2005: Second inauguration of George W. Bush as President of the United States.
* April 5, 2005: 2005 Wisconsin spring election:
* Wisconsin voters ratified an amendment to the state constitution to double the terms of several county officers from two years to four years.
* November 7, 2006: 2006 United States general election:
* Jim Doyle (D) re-elected Governor of Wisconsin.
* Wisconsin voters ratified an amendment to the state constitution defining marriage as between one man and one woman.

## Party summary

[edit]

### Senate summary

[edit]

Senate partisan composition

Democratic: 14 seats

Republican: 19 seats

| Party

(Shading indicates majority caucus)

| Total  |

|
|
|

|  |
Democratic | Republican | Vacant
End of previous Legislature | 15  | 18  | 33  | 0
Start of session  | 14  | 19  | 33  | 0
Final voting share  | 42.42%  | 57.58%  |
Beginning of the next Legislature | 18  | 15  | 33  | 0

### Assembly summary

[edit]

Assembly partisan composition

Democratic: 39 seats

Republican: 60 seats

| Party

(Shading indicates majority caucus)

| Total  |

|
|
|

|  |
Democratic | Republican | Vacant
End of previous Legislature | 40  | 59  | 99  | 0
Start of session  | 39  | 60  | 99  | 0
From Oct. 31, 2005[note 1] | 59  | 98  | 1
From Jan. 17, 2006[note 2] | 60  | 99  | 0
From Mar. 21, 2006[note 3] | 59  | 98  | 1
From Aug. 2, 2006[note 4] | 58  | 97  | 2
Final voting share  | 40.21%  | 59.79%  |
Beginning of the next Legislature | 47  | 52  | 99  | 0

## Sessions

[edit]

* Regular session: January 3, 2005 - January 3, 2007
* January 2005 special session: January 12, 2005 - January 20, 2005
* July 2005 extraordinary session: July 20, 2005
* February 2006 special session: February 14, 2006 - March 7, 2006
* April 2006 extraordinary session: April 25, 2006 - May 17, 2006

## Leadership

[edit]

### Senate leadership

[edit]

* President of the Senate: Alan Lasee (R–Rockland)
* President pro tempore: David Zien (R–Wheaton)

Majority leadership (Republican)

* Majority Leader: Dale Schultz (R–Richland Center)
* Assistant Majority Leader: Neal Kedzie (R–Elkhorn)
* Majority Caucus Chairperson: Ron Brown (R–Eau Claire)

Minority leadership (Democratic)

* Minority Leader: Judy Robson (D–Beloit)
* Assistant Minority Leader: Dave Hansen (D–Green Bay)
* Minority Caucus Chairperson: Jeffrey Plale (D–South Milwaukee)

### Assembly leadership

[edit]

* Speaker of the Assembly: John Gard (R–Peshtigo)
* Speaker pro tempore: Stephen Freese (R–Jamestown)

Majority leadership (Republican)

* Majority Leader: Michael Huebsch (R–West Salem)
* Assistant Majority Leader: Jeff Fitzgerald (R–Horicon)
* Majority Caucus Chairperson: Daniel P. Vrakas (R–Delafield) (until Oct. 31, 2005)
* Mark Gundrum (R–New Berlin) (after Oct. 31, 2005)
* Majority Caucus Vice Chairperson: Mark Gottlieb (R–Port Washington)
* Majority Caucus Secretary: Carol Owens (R–Nekimi)
* Majority Caucus Sergeant at Arms: Jerry Petrowski (R–Stettin)

Minority leadership (Democratic)

* Minority Leader: James Kreuser (D–Kenosha)
* Assistant Minority Leader: Jon Richards (D–Milwaukee)
* Minority Caucus Chairperson: Robert L. Turner (D–Racine)
* Minority Caucus Vice Chairperson: Gary Sherman (D–Port Wing)
* Minority Caucus Secretary: Amy Sue Vruwink (D–Milladore)
* Minority Caucus Sergeant at Arms: Jennifer Shilling (D–La Crosse)

## Members

[edit]

### Members of the Senate

[edit]

Members of the Wisconsin Senate for the Ninety-Seventh Wisconsin Legislature:[4]

Senate partisan representation

Democratic: 14 seats

Republican: 19 seats

Dist.  | Senator  | Party  | Age
(2005)  | Home  | First
elected

|
|
|
|
|

01 | Alan Lasee | Rep.  | 67  | Rockland, Brown County | 1977
02 | Robert Cowles | Rep.  | 54  | Green Bay, Brown County | 1987
03 | Tim Carpenter | Dem.  | 44  | Milwaukee, Milwaukee County | 2002
04 | Lena Taylor | Dem.  | 38  | Milwaukee, Milwaukee County | 2004
05 | Tom Reynolds | Rep.  | 48  | West Allis, Milwaukee County | 2002
06 | Spencer Coggs | Dem.  | 55  | Milwaukee, Milwaukee County | 2003
07 | Jeffrey Plale | Dem.  | 36  | South Milwaukee, Milwaukee County | 2003
08 | Alberta Darling | Rep.  | 60  | River Hills, Milwaukee County | 1992
09 | Joe Leibham | Rep.  | 35  | Sheboygan, Sheboygan County | 2002
10 | Sheila Harsdorf | Rep.  | 48  | River Falls, Pierce County | 2000
11 | Neal Kedzie | Rep.  | 48  | Elkhorn, Walworth County | 2002
12 | Roger Breske | Dem.  | 66  | Elderon, Marathon County | 1990
13 | Scott L. Fitzgerald | Rep.  | 41  | Clyman, Dodge County | 1994
14 | Luther Olsen | Rep.  | 53  | Ripon, Fond du Lac County | 2004
15 | Judy Robson | Dem.  | 65  | Beloit, Rock County | 1987
16 | Mark F. Miller | Dem.  | 61  | Monona, Dane County | 2004
17 | Dale Schultz | Rep.  | 51  | Richland Center, Richland County | 1991
18 | Carol Roessler | Rep.  | 56  | Oshkosh, Winnebago County | 1987
19 | Michael G. Ellis | Rep.  | 63  | Neenah, Winnebago County | 1982
20 | Glenn Grothman | Rep.  | 49  | West Bend, Washington County | 2004
21 | Cathy Stepp | Rep.  | 41  | Sturtevant, Racine County | 2002
22 | Robert Wirch | Dem.  | 61  | Pleasant Prairie, Kenosha County | 1996
23 | David Zien | Rep.  | 54  | Wheaton, Chippewa County | 1993
24 | Julie Lassa | Dem.  | 34  | Stevens Point, Portage County | 2003
25 | Robert Jauch | Dem.  | 59  | Poplar, Douglas County | 1986
26 | Fred Risser | Dem.  | 77  | Madison, Dane County | 1962
27 | Jon Erpenbach | Dem.  | 43  | Middleton, Dane County | 1998
28 | Mary Lazich | Rep.  | 52  | New Berlin, Waukesha County | 1998
29 | Russ Decker | Dem.  | 51  | Weston, Marathon County | 1990
30 | Dave Hansen | Dem.  | 57  | Green Bay, Brown County | 2000
31 | Ron Brown | Rep.  | 58  | Eau Claire, Eau Claire County | 2002
32 | Dan Kapanke | Rep.  | 57  | La Crosse, La Crosse County | 2004
33 | Theodore Kanavas | Rep.  | 43  | Brookfield, Waukesha County | 2001

### Members of the Assembly

[edit]

Members of the Assembly for the Ninety-Seventh Wisconsin Legislature:[4]

Assembly partisan representation

Democratic: 39 seats

Republican: 60 seats

Senate
District  | Assembly
District  | Representative  | Party  | Age
(2005)  | Home  | First
Elected

|
|
|
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|
|

01 | 01 | Garey Bies | Rep.  | 58  | Sister Bay | 2000
02 | Frank Lasee | Rep.  | 43  | Bellevue | 1994
03 | Alvin Ott | Rep.  | 55  | Brillion | 1986
02 | 04 | Phil Montgomery | Rep.  | 47  | Ashwaubenon | 1998
05 | Tom Nelson | Dem.  | 28  | Kaukauna | 2004
06 | John Ainsworth | Rep.  | 64  | Waukechon | 1990
03 | 07 | Peggy Krusick | Dem.  | 48  | Milwaukee | 1983
08 | Pedro Colón | Dem.  | 36  | Milwaukee | 1998
09 | Josh Zepnick | Dem.  | 36  | Milwaukee | 2002
04 | 10 | Annette P. Williams | Dem.  | 67  | Milwaukee | 1980
11 | Jason Fields | Dem.  | 30  | Milwaukee | 2004
12 | Fred Kessler | Dem.  | 64  | Milwaukee | 1960
05 | 13 | David Cullen | Dem.  | 44  | Milwaukee | 1990
14 | Leah Vukmir | Rep.  | 46  | Wauwatosa | 2002
15 | Tony Staskunas | Dem.  | 43  | West Allis | 1996
06 | 16 | Leon Young | Dem.  | 37  | Milwaukee | 1992
17 | Barbara Toles | Dem.  | 48  | Milwaukee | 2004
18 | Tamara Grigsby | Dem.  | 30  | Milwaukee | 2004
07 | 19 | Jon Richards | Dem.  | 41  | Milwaukee | 1998
20 | Christine Sinicki | Dem.  | 44  | Milwaukee | 1998
21 | Mark Honadel | Rep.  | 48  | South Milwaukee | 2003
08 | 22 | Sheldon Wasserman | Dem.  | 43  | Milwaukee | 1994
23 | Curt Gielow | Rep.  | 59  | Mequon | 2002
24 | Suzanne Jeskewitz | Rep.  | 62  | Menomonee Falls | 1996
09 | 25 | Bob Ziegelbauer | Dem.  | 53  | Manitowoc | 1992
26 | Terry Van Akkeren | Dem.  | 50  | Sheboygan | 2002
27 | Steve Kestell | Rep.  | 49  | Herman | 1998
10 | 28 | Mark Pettis | Rep.  | 54  | Hertel | 1998
29 | Andy Lamb | Rep.  | 31  | Menomonie | 2004
30 | Kitty Rhoades | Rep.  | 53  | Hudson | 1998
11 | 31 | Stephen Nass | Rep.  | 52  | Whitewater | 1990
32 | Thomas Lothian | Rep.  | 76  | Williams Bay | 2002
33 | Daniel P. Vrakas (res. Oct. 31, 2005) | Rep.  | 49  | Hartland | 1990
Scott Newcomer (res. Jan. 17, 2006) | Rep.  | 40  | Hartland | 2006
12 | 34 | Dan Meyer | Rep.  | 56  | Eagle River | 2000
35 | Donald Friske | Rep.  | 43  | Merrill | 2000
36 | Jeffrey Mursau | Rep.  | 50  | Crivitz | 2004
13 | 37 | David Ward (res. Aug. 2, 2006) | Rep.  | 51  | Oakland | 1992
\--Vacant from Aug. 2, 2006--
38 | Joel Kleefisch | Rep.  | 33  | Oconomowoc | 2004
39 | Jeff Fitzgerald | Rep.  | 38  | Horicon | 2000
14 | 40 | Jean Hundertmark | Rep.  | 50  | Clintonville | 1998
41 | Joan Ballweg | Rep.  | 52  | Markesan | 2004
42 | J. A. Hines | Rep.  | 77  | Oxford | 2001
15 | 43 | Debi Towns | Rep.  | 48  | Janesville | 2002
44 | Michael J. Sheridan | Dem.  | 46  | Janesville | 2004
45 | Chuck Benedict | Dem.  | 58  | Beloit | 2004
16 | 46 | Gary Hebl | Dem.  | 53  | Sun Prairie | 2004
47 | Eugene Hahn | Rep.  | 75  | Springvale | 1990
48 | Joe Parisi | Dem.  | 44  | Madison | 2004
17 | 49 | Gabe Loeffelholz | Rep.  | 64  | Platteville | 2000
50 | Sheryl Albers | Rep.  | 50  | Reedsburg | 1991
51 | Stephen Freese | Rep.  | 44  | Dodgeville | 1990
18 | 52 | John Townsend | Rep.  | 66  | Fond du Lac | 1998
53 | Carol Owens | Rep.  | 73  | Nekimi | 1992
54 | Gregg Underheim | Rep.  | 54  | Oshkosh | 1987
19 | 55 | Dean Kaufert | Rep.  | 47  | Neenah | 1990
56 | Terri McCormick | Rep.  | 48  | Appleton | 2000
57 | Steve Wieckert | Rep.  | 50  | Appleton | 1996
20 | 58 | Patricia Strachota | Rep.  | 49  | West Bend | 2004
59 | Daniel LeMahieu | Rep.  | 58  | Oostburg | 2002
60 | Mark Gottlieb | Rep.  | 48  | Port Washington | 2002
21 | 61 | Robert L. Turner | Dem.  | 57  | Racine | 1990
62 | John Lehman | Dem.  | 59  | Racine | 1996
63 | Robin Vos | Rep.  | 36  | Caledonia | 2004
22 | 64 | James Kreuser | Dem.  | 43  | Kenosha | 1993
65 | John Steinbrink | Dem.  | 55  | Pleasant Prairie | 1996
66 | Samantha Kerkman | Rep.  | 30  | Burlington | 2000
23 | 67 | Jeffrey Wood | Rep.  | 35  | Chippewa Falls | 2002
68 | Terry Moulton | Rep.  | 58  | Chippewa Falls | 2004
69 | Scott Suder | Rep.  | 36  | Abbotsford | 1998
24 | 70 | Amy Sue Vruwink | Dem.  | 29  | Milladore | 2002
71 | Louis Molepske | Dem.  | 30  | Stevens Point | 2003
72 | Marlin Schneider | Dem.  | 62  | Wisconsin Rapids | 1970
25 | 73 | Frank Boyle | Dem.  | 59  | Summit | 1986
74 | Gary Sherman | Dem.  | 55  | Port Wing | 1998
75 | Mary Hubler | Dem.  | 55  | Rice Lake | 1984
26 | 76 | Terese Berceau | Dem.  | 54  | Madison | 1998
77 | Spencer Black | Dem.  | 54  | Madison | 1984
78 | Mark Pocan | Dem.  | 40  | Madison | 1998
27 | 79 | Sondy Pope-Roberts | Dem.  | 54  | Verona | 2002
80 | Brett Davis | Rep.  | 29  | Oregon | 2004
81 | David Travis | Dem.  | 56  | Waunakee | 1978
28 | 82 | Jeff Stone | Rep.  | 43  | Greendale | 1998
83 | Scott Gunderson | Rep.  | 48  | Waterford | 1994
84 | Mark Gundrum | Rep.  | 34  | New Berlin | 1998
29 | 85 | Donna J. Seidel | Dem.  | 54  | Wausau | 2004
86 | Jerry Petrowski | Rep.  | 54  | Stettin | 1998
87 | Mary Williams | Rep.  | 55  | Medford | 2002
30 | 88 | Judy Krawczyk | Rep.  | 65  | Green Bay | 2000
89 | John Gard | Rep.  | 41  | Peshtigo | 1987
90 | Karl Van Roy | Rep.  | 66  | Green Bay | 2002
31 | 91 | Barbara Gronemus | Dem.  | 73  | Whitehall | 1982
92 | Terry Musser | Rep.  | 57  | Irving | 1984
93 | Robin Kreibich | Rep.  | 45  | Eau Claire | 1992
32 | 94 | Michael Huebsch | Rep.  | 40  | West Salem | 1994
95 | Jennifer Shilling | Dem.  | 35  | La Crosse | 2000
96 | Lee Nerison | Rep.  | 52  | Westby | 2004
33 | 97 | Ann Nischke | Rep.  | 53  | Waukesha | 2002
98 | Scott Jensen (res. Mar. 21, 2006) | Rep.  | 44  | Waukesha | 1992
\--Vacant from Mar. 21, 2006--
99 | Don Pridemore | Rep.  | 58  | Hartford | 2004

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ Republican Daniel P. Vrakas (District 33) resigned after being elected county executive.
2. ^ Republican Scott Newcomer (District 33) was sworn in to replace Daniel P. Vrakas.
3. ^ Republican Scott Jensen (District 98) resigned.
4. ^ Republican David W. Ward (District 37) resigned.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Historical Lists" (PDF). Wisconsin Blue Book 2017-2018 (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. 2017. p. 646\. ISBN 978-0-9752820-9-0. Retrieved December 30, 2021.
2. ^ Results of Fall General Election - 11/02/2004 (Report). Wisconsin State Elections Board. December 1, 2004. Retrieved January 20, 2024 - via Wisconsin Historical Society.
3. ^ Results of Fall General Election - 11/05/2002 (Report). Wisconsin State Elections Board. December 2, 2002. Retrieved January 20, 2024 - via Wisconsin Historical Society.
4. ^ a b Barish, Lawrence S., ed. (2005). "Biographies" (PDF). State of Wisconsin 2005-2006 Blue Book (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. pp. 18–86. Retrieved January 21, 2024.18-86&rft.pub=Wisconsin+Legislative+Reference+Bureau&rft.date=2005&rft_id=https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/misc/lrb/blue_book/2005_2006/200_biographies.pdf&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:97th+Wisconsin+Legislature" class="Z3988">

## External links

[edit]

* Wisconsin State Senate
* Wisconsin State Assembly
* 2005-2006 Session from Wisconsin Legislature
* 2005-2006 Assembly Journal
* 2005-2006 Senate Journal

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