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]
Establishing disciplinary rules for the judiciary.
Repealing the mandatory retirement age for judges (70) and instead enabling the Legislature to set a mandatory retirement age. The legislature has never yet implemented such a law.
July 3, 1977: About 20,000 members of the Wisconsin State Employee's Union started an illegal strike, paralyzing many state agencies and functions.
Wisconsin voters rejected an amendment to the state constitution which would have allowed the Legislature to set up different forms of town government.
June 29, 1977: An Act ... relating to state finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget bill of the 1977 legislature, and making appropriations, 1977 Act 29. It was vetoed in part, but the vetoes were overridden. Established the office of secretary of the Department of Industry, Labor & Human Relations, making it a gubernatorial appointee. The Department of Agriculture was renamed the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.
^Republican James Harsdorf (30th District) and Democrat Dismas Becker (32nd District) were sworn in to replace Michael P. Early and Peter J. Tropman, respectively.
^Democrat William B. Broydrick (16th District) was sworn in to replace Michael Elconin.
Referencesedit
^ abBarish, 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. ISBN978-1-7333817-1-0. Retrieved August 5, 2023.
^ abcdTheobald, 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.
83rd, wisconsin, legislature, eighty, third, wisconsin, legislature, convened, from, january, 1977, january, 1979, regular, session, also, convened, four, special, sessions, 82nd, 84th, wisconsin, state, capitoloverviewlegislative, bodywisconsin, legislatureme. 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 83rd Wisconsin Legislature 82nd 84th Wisconsin State CapitolOverviewLegislative bodyWisconsin LegislatureMeeting placeWisconsin State CapitolTermJanuary 3 1977 January 1 1979ElectionNovember 2 1976SenateMembers33Senate PresidentMartin J Schreiber D until July 6 1977President pro temporeFred Risser D Party controlDemocraticAssemblyMembers99Assembly SpeakerEdward Jackamonis D Speaker pro temporeMichael P Early D Party controlDemocraticSessionsRegularJanuary 3 1977 January 3 1979Special sessionsJun 1977 Spec June 30 1977 June 30 1977Nov 1977 Spec November 7 1977 November 11 1977Jun 1978 Spec June 13 1978 June 15 1978Dec 1978 Spec December 20 1978 December 20 1978 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 Contents 1 Major events 2 Major legislation 3 Party summary 3 1 Senate summary 3 2 Assembly summary 4 Sessions 5 Leaders 5 1 Senate leadership 5 1 1 Senate majority leadership 5 1 2 Senate minority leadership 5 2 Assembly leadership 5 2 1 Assembly majority leadership 5 2 2 Assembly minority leadership 6 Members 6 1 Members of the Senate 6 2 Members of the Assembly 7 Employees 7 1 Senate employees 7 2 Assembly employees 8 Notes 9 References 10 External linksMajor events editJanuary 20 1977 Inauguration of Jimmy Carter as 39th President of the United States April 5 1977 1977 Wisconsin spring election William G Callow was elected to the Wisconsin Supreme Court to succeed Robert W Hansen Wisconsin voters ratified five amendments to the state constitution Allowing the legislature to authorize charitable raffle games as an exception to state gambling prohibitions Collapsing the county court system into the Wisconsin circuit courts Establishing the Wisconsin Court of Appeals Establishing disciplinary rules for the judiciary Repealing the mandatory retirement age for judges 70 and instead enabling the Legislature to set a mandatory retirement age The legislature has never yet implemented such a law July 3 1977 About 20 000 members of the Wisconsin State Employee s Union started an illegal strike paralyzing many state agencies and functions July 6 1977 Wisconsin governor Patrick Lucey resigned from office after he was confirmed by the United States Senate as Ambassador to Mexico Lieutenant Governor Martin J Schreiber immediately succeeded him as the 39th Governor of Wisconsin July 21 1977 The Wisconsin State Employee s Union strike came to an end after receiving concessions from the state government August 4 1977 U S President Jimmy Carter signed legislation creating the United States Department of Energy January 24 1978 The Great Blizzard of 1978 began affecting all of the Great Lakes region April 4 1978 1978 Wisconsin spring election John Louis Coffey was elected to the Wisconsin Supreme Court to succeed Leo B Hanley Wisconsin voters rejected an amendment to the state constitution which would have allowed the Legislature to set up different forms of town government August 6 1978 Pope Paul VI died at Castel Gandolfo in Italy August 26 1978 The August 1978 papal conclave elected Cardinal Priest Albino Luciani as the next pope he then took the papal name Pope John Paul I September 17 1978 The Camp David Accords were signed between Israel and Egypt September 28 1978 Pope John Paul I died October 16 1978 The October 1978 papal conclave elected Cardinal Priest Karol Jozef Wojtyla as the next pope he then took the papal name Pope John Paul II November 7 1978 1978 United States general election Lee S Dreyfus R elected Governor of Wisconsin Major legislation editJune 29 1977 An Act relating to state finances and appropriations constituting the executive budget bill of the 1977 legislature and making appropriations 1977 Act 29 It was vetoed in part but the vetoes were overridden Established the office of secretary of the Department of Industry Labor amp Human Relations making it a gubernatorial appointee The Department of Agriculture was renamed the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture Trade and Consumer Protection Party summary editSenate summary edit nbsp 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 edit nbsp 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 0Sessions editRegular 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 1978Leaders editSenate leadership edit President of the Senate Martin J Schreiber D until July 6 1977 President pro tempore Fred Risser D Madison Senate majority leadership edit Majority Leader William A Bablitch D Stevens Point Assistant Majority Leader Jerry Kleczka D Milwaukee Senate minority leadership edit Minority Leader Clifford Krueger R Merrill Assistant Minority Leader Jim Sensenbrenner R Shorewood Assembly leadership edit Speaker of the Assembly Edward Jackamonis D Waukesha Speaker pro tempore Michael P Early D River Falls Assembly majority leadership edit Majority Leader James W Wahner D Milwaukee Assistant Majority Leader R Michael Ferrall D Racine Assembly minority leadership edit Minority Leader John C Shabaz R New Berlin Assistant Minority Leader Tommy Thompson R Elroy Members editMembers of the Senate edit Members of the Senate for the Eighty Third Wisconsin Legislature 2 nbsp Senate partisan representation Democratic 23 seats Republican 10 seats Dist Senator Party Age 1977 Home Firstelected 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 edit Members of the Assembly for the Eighty Third Wisconsin Legislature 2 nbsp Assembly partisan representation Democratic 66 seats Republican 33 seats SenateDist Dist Representative Party Age 1977 Home FirstElected 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 1974Employees editSenate employees edit Chief Clerk Donald J Schneider 2 Sergeant at Arms Robert M Thompson Assembly employees edit Chief Clerk Everett E Bolle 2 Sergeant at Arms Joseph E JonesNotes edit Democrat Jerome Martin 1st District died Republican Alan Lasee 1st District was sworn in to replace Jerome Martin Republican Lloyd H Kincaid 36th District switched his party affiliation to Democratic Democrat Peter J Tropman 32nd District resigned Democrat Michael P Early 30th District resigned after he was appointed secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs Republican James Harsdorf 30th District and Democrat Dismas Becker 32nd District were sworn in to replace Michael P Early and Peter J Tropman respectively Democrat Michael Elconin 16th District resigned Democrat William B Broydrick 16th District was sworn in to replace Michael Elconin References edit 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 a b c d 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 External links edit1977 Related Documents from Wisconsin Legislature Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 83rd Wisconsin Legislature amp oldid 1193997351, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
