84th Wisconsin Legislature

The Eighty-Fourth Wisconsin Legislature convened from January 3, 1979, to January 5, 1981, in regular session, and also convened in three special sessions.[1]

84th Wisconsin Legislature
83rd 85th
Wisconsin State Capitol
Overview
Legislative bodyWisconsin Legislature
Meeting placeWisconsin State Capitol
TermJanuary 1, 1979 – January 5, 1981
ElectionNovember 7, 1978
Senate
Members33
Senate President
President pro temporeFred Risser (D) until May 1, 1979
Party controlDemocratic
Assembly
Members99
Assembly SpeakerEdward Jackamonis (D)
Speaker pro temporeDavid Kedrowski (D)
Party controlDemocratic
Sessions
RegularJanuary 3, 1979 – January 5, 1981
Special sessions
Sep. 1979 Spec.September 5, 1979 – September 5, 1979
Jan. 1980 Spec.January 22, 1980 – January 25, 1980
Jun. 1980 Spec.June 3, 1980 – July 3, 1980

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 7, 1978. 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 2, 1976.[1]

Major events

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Major legislation

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  • 1979 Joint Resolution 3: Second legislative passage of four proposed amendments to the state constitution to clarify language about the gubernatorial succession, add a process by which the governor and legislature can fill a vacancy in the office of lieutenant governor, separate the office of Lieutenant Governor from the office of President of the Senate, and making uniform the language of the terms of election for the three administrative branch officials. All four amendments were ratified by voters at the April 1979 election.

Party summary

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Senate summary

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Senate partisan composition
  Democratic: 21 seats
  Republican: 12 seats
Party
(Shading indicates majority caucus)
Total
Dem. Rep. Vacant
End of previous Legislature 22 11 33 0
Start of Reg. Session[note 1] 21 10 31 2
From Apr. 3, 1979[note 2] 9 30 3
From Apr. 17, 1979[note 3] 11 32 1
From Jul. 11, 1979[note 4] 12 33 0
From Feb. 28, 1980[note 5] 11 32 1
From May 6, 1980[note 6] 12 33 0
From Oct. 1, 1980[note 7] 20 32 1
From Oct. 22, 1980[note 8] 19 31 2
Final voting share 61.29% 35.48%
Beginning of the next Legislature 20 13 33 0

Assembly summary

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Assembly partisan composition
  Democratic: 60 seats
  Republican: 39 seats
Party
(Shading indicates majority caucus)
Total
Dem. Rep. Vacant
End of previous Legislature 66 33 99 0
Start of Reg. Session 60 39 99 0
From Apr. 17, 1979[note 9] 37 97 2
From July 24, 1979[note 10] 39 99 0
From Jan. 26, 1980[note 11] 59 98 1
From Apr. 29, 1980[note 12] 60 99 0
From Dec. 8, 1980[note 13] 38 98 1
Final voting share 60.61% 39.39%
Beginning of the next Legislature 59 39 98 1

Sessions

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  • Regular session: January 3, 1979 – January 5, 1981
  • September 1979 special session: September 5, 1979
  • January 1980 special session: January 22, 1980 – January 25, 1980
  • June 1980 special session: June 3, 1980 – July 3, 1980

Leaders

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Senate leadership

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Senate majority leadership

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Senate minority leadership

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Assembly leadership

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Assembly majority leadership

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Assembly minority leadership

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Members

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Members of the Senate

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

 
Senate partisan representation
  Democratic: 21 seats
  Republican: 12 seats
Dist. Senator Party Age
(1979)
Home First
elected
01 Alan Lasee Rep. 41 De Pere, Brown County 1977
02 Tom Petri (res. Apr. 3, 1979) Rep. 38 Green Bay, Brown County 1972
Don Hanaway (from Jul. 11, 1979) Rep. 45 De Pere, Brown County 1979
03 Jerry Kleczka Dem. 35 Milwaukee, Milwaukee County 1974
04 --Vacant until Apr. 17, 1979--
Rod Johnston (from Apr. 17, 1979) Rep. 41 Whitefish Bay, Milwaukee County 1979
05 David Berger Dem. 32 Milwaukee, Milwaukee County 1974
06 Monroe Swan (rem. Oct. 22, 1980) Dem. 41 Milwaukee, Milwaukee County 1972
07 Kurt Frank Dem. 33 Milwaukee, Milwaukee County 1970
08 James T. Flynn Dem. 34 West Allis, Milwaukee County 1972
09 Jim Moody Dem. 43 Milwaukee, Milwaukee County 1978
10 Michele Radosevich Dem. 31 North Hudson, St. Croix County 1976
11 Warren Braun Dem. 44 Milwaukee, Milwaukee County 1976
12 Clifford Krueger Rep. 60 Merrill, Lincoln County 1946
13 Peter D. Bear (res. Oct. 1, 1980) Dem. 26 Madison, Dane County 1978
14 Gerald Lorge Rep. 56 Bear Creek, Outagamie County 1954
15 Timothy Cullen Dem. 34 Janesville, Rock County 1974
16 Carl W. Thompson Dem. 64 Stoughton, Dane County 1959
17 Richard Kreul Rep. 54 Fennimore, Grant County 1978
18 Scott McCallum Rep. 28 Fond du Lac, Fond du Lac County 1976
19 Gary Goyke Dem. 31 Oshkosh, Winnebago County 1974
20 --Vacant until Apr. 17, 1979--
David W. Opitz (from Apr. 17, 1979) Rep. 33 Port Washington, Ozaukee County 1979
21 Joseph A. Strohl Dem. 32 Racine, Racine County 1978
22 John J. Maurer Dem. 56 Kenosha, Kenosha County 1975
23 Marvin J. Roshell Dem. 46 Lafayette, Chippewa County 1978
24 William A. Bablitch Dem. 37 Stevens Point, Portage County 1972
25 Daniel Theno Rep. 31 Ashland, Ashland County 1972
26 Fred Risser Dem. 51 Madison, Dane County 1962
27 Everett Bidwell Rep. 79 Portage, Columbia County 1970
28 Lynn Adelman Dem. 39 New Berlin, Waukesha County 1976
29 Walter Chilsen Rep. 55 Wausau, Marathon County 1966
30 Jerome Van Sistine Dem. 52 Green Bay, Brown County 1976
31 Thomas Harnisch Dem. 31 Neillsville, Clark County 1974
32 Paul Offner Dem. 36 La Crosse, La Crosse County 1968
33 Roger P. Murphy (res. Feb. 28, 1980) Rep. 55 Waukesha, Waukesha County 1970
Susan Engeleiter (from May 6, 1980) Rep. 28 Brookfield, Waukesha County 1980

Members of the Assembly

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

 
Assembly partisan representation
  Democratic: 60 seats
  Republican: 39 seats
Senate
Dist.
Dist. Representative Party Age
(1979)
Home First
Elected
01 01 Lary J. Swoboda Dem. 39 Luxemburg 1970
02 Francis J. Lallensack Dem. 62 Manitowoc 1972
03 Daniel Fischer Dem. 26 Reedsville 1976
02 04 Gary T. Dilweg Rep. 41 De Pere 1978
05 William J. Rogers Dem. 48 Kaukauna 1962
06 Gervase Hephner Dem. 42 Chilton 1966
03 07 Kevin Soucie Dem. 24 Milwaukee 1974
08 John Norquist Dem. 29 Milwaukee 1974
09 Phillip Tuczynski Dem. 31 Milwaukee 1974
04 10 Rod Johnston (res. Apr. 17, 1979) Rep. 41 Whitefish Bay 1975
Betty Jo Nelsen (from Jul. 24, 1979) Rep. 43 Shorewood 1979
11 Gus Menos Dem. 58 Milwaukee 1971
12 John L. Merkt Rep. 32 Mequon 1976
05 13 Michael G. Kirby Dem. 26 Milwaukee 1974
14 Robert E. Behnke Dem. 46 Milwaukee 1972
15 James W. Wahner (res. Jan. 26, 1980) Dem. 39 Milwaukee 1970
Lois Plous (from Apr. 29, 1980) Dem. 41 Milwaukee 1980
06 16 William B. Broydrick Dem. 30 Milwaukee 1978
17 Walter L. Ward Jr. Dem. 35 Milwaukee 1972
18 Marcia P. Coggs Dem. 50 Milwaukee 1976
07 19 Louise M. Tesmer Dem. 36 Milwaukee 1972
20 John Plewa Dem. 33 Milwaukee 1972
21 Chester A. Gerlach Dem. 31 South Milwaukee 1974
08 22 George Klicka Rep. 44 Wauwatosa 1966
23 Thomas A. Hauke Dem. 40 West Allis 1972
24 Gary J. Barczak Dem. 39 West Allis 1972
09 25 Barbara Ulichny Dem. 31 Milwaukee 1978
26 Stephen R. Leopold Dem. 34 Milwaukee 1976
27 Joseph Czerwinski Dem. 34 Milwaukee 1968
10 28 David E. Paulson Rep. 47 Amery 1978
29 Robert W. Harer Rep. 37 Woodville 1978
30 James Harsdorf Rep. 28 River Falls 1977
11 31 Mordecai Lee Dem. 30 Milwaukee 1976
32 Dismas Becker Dem. 42 Milwaukee 1977
33 Richard E. Pabst Dem. 45 Milwaukee 1966
12 34 Robert J. Larson Rep. 46 Medford 1978
35 Sheehan Donoghue Rep. 35 Merrill 1972
36 Lloyd H. Kincaid Dem. 53 Crandon 1972
13 37 David Travis Dem. 30 Madison 1978
38 Harland E. Everson Dem. 61 Edgerton 1970
39 Milton Lorman Rep. 51 Fort Atkinson 1976
14 40 Francis R. Byers Rep. 58 Marion 1968
41 Ervin Conradt Rep. 62 Shiocton 1964
42 David Prosser Jr. Rep. 36 Appleton 1978
15 43 Cloyd A. Porter Rep. 43 Burlington 1972
44 Delmar DeLong Rep. 47 Janesville 1972
45 Gary K. Johnson Dem. 39 Beloit 1970
16 46 Thomas A. Loftus Dem. 33 Sun Prairie 1976
47 Jonathan B. Barry Dem. 33 Primrose 1976
48 Wayne W. Wood Dem. 48 Janesville 1976
17 49 Robert S. Travis Jr. Rep. 31 Platteville 1976
50 Joanne M. Duren Dem. 47 Cazenovia 1970
51 Joseph E. Tregoning Rep. 37 Shullsburg 1967
18 52 Earl F. McEssy Rep. 65 Fond du Lac 1956
53 James R. Lewis Rep. 42 West Bend 1972
54 Esther Doughty Luckhardt Rep. 65 Horicon 1962
19 55 Michael G. Ellis Rep. 36 Neenah 1970
56 Richard A. Flintrop Dem. 33 Oshkosh 1972
57 Gordon R. Bradley Rep. 57 Oshkosh 1968
20 58 Carl Otte Dem. 55 Sheboygan 1967
59 Calvin Potter Dem. 33 Kohler 1974
60 David W. Opitz (res. Apr. 17, 1979) Rep. 33 Port Washington 1972
Donald K. Stitt (from Jul. 24, 1979) Rep. 34 Port Washington 1979
21 61 James F. Rooney Dem. 43 Racine 1972
62 R. Michael Ferrall Dem. 42 Racine 1970
63 E. James Ladwig Rep. 40 Caledonia 1978
22 64 Joseph F. Andrea Dem. 51 Kenosha 1976
65 Eugene Dorff Dem. 48 Kenosha 1970
66 Mary Wagner Dem. 29 Salem 1978
23 67 David R. Hopkins Rep. 40 Eagle Point 1978
68 William P. Gagin Rep. 62 Eau Claire 1968
69 Richard Shoemaker Dem. 27 Menomonie 1978
24 70 Donald W. Hasenohrl Dem. 43 Pittsville 1974
71 David Helbach Dem. 30 Stevens Point 1978
72 Patricia A. Goodrich Rep. 45 Berlin 1974
25 73 Thomas B. Murray Dem. 40 Superior 1972
74 David Kedrowski Dem. 36 Washburn 1972
75 Patricia Spafford Smith Dem. 53 Rice Lake 1978
26 76 Mary Lou Munts Dem. 54 Madison 1972
77 Midge Miller Dem. 56 Madison 1970
78 David Clarenbach Dem. 25 Madison 1974
27 79 Tommy Thompson Rep. 37 Elroy 1966
80 James F. Laatsch Rep. 38 Arlington 1978
81 Randall J. Radtke Rep. 27 Lake Mills 1978
28 82 James A. Rutkowski Dem. 36 Hales Corners 1970
83 John C. Shabaz Rep. 47 New Berlin 1964
84 Harry G. Snyder (res. Dec. 8, 1980) Rep. 40 Oconomowoc 1974
29 85 Edward F. McClain Dem. 43 Wausau 1974
86 Raymond Omernick Rep. 55 Wittenburg 1978
87 Earl W. Schmidt Rep. 42 Birnamwood 1974
30 88 Richard P. Matty Rep. 46 Stephenson 1972
89 Cletus J. Vanderperren Dem. 66 Pittsfield 1958
90 Sharon Metz Dem. 44 Green Bay 1974
31 91 Steve Gunderson Rep. 27 Osseo 1974
92 Robert Quackenbush Rep. 55 Sparta 1970
93 Marlin Schneider Dem. 36 Wisconsin Rapids 1970
32 94 Virgil Roberts Dem. 56 Holmen 1970
95 John Medinger Dem. 30 La Crosse 1976
96 Bernard Lewison Rep. 76 Viroqua 1954
33 97 Ronald H. Lingren Dem. 43 Menomonee Falls 1974
98 Edward Jackamonis Dem. 39 Waukesha 1970
99 John M. Young Rep. 52 Brookfield 1978

Employees

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Senate employees

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  • Chief Clerk: Donald J. Schneider[2]
  • Sergeant-at-Arms: Daniel B. Fields

Assembly employees

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Notes

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  1. ^ Republicans Jim Sensenbrenner (4th District) and Ernest Keppler (20th District) resigned before the start of the session due election to other offices.
  2. ^ Republican Tom Petri (2nd District) resigned after his election to the U.S. House of Representatives.
  3. ^ Republicans Rod Johnston (4th District) and David W. Opitz (20th District) were sworn in to replace Jim Sensenbrenner and Ernest Keppler, respectively.
  4. ^ Republican Don Hanaway (2nd District) was sworn in to replace Tom Petri.
  5. ^ Republican Roger P. Murphy (33rd District) resigned after he was appointed a Wisconsin circuit court judge.
  6. ^ Republican Susan Engeleiter (33rd District) was sworn in to replace Roger P. Murphy.
  7. ^ Democrat Peter D. Bear (13th District) resigned.
  8. ^ Democrat Monroe Swan (6th District) was removed from office due to a criminal conviction.
  9. ^ Republicans Rod Johnston (10th District) and David W. Opitz (60th District) resigned due to their elections to the state senate.
  10. ^ Republicans Betty Jo Nelsen (10th District) and Donald K. Stitt (60th District) were sworn in to replace Rod Johnston and David W. Opitz, respectively.
  11. ^ Democrat James W. Wahner (15th District) resigned.
  12. ^ Democrat Lois Plous (15th District) was sworn in to replace James W. Wahner.
  13. ^ Republican Harry G. Snyder (84th District) resigned after he was appointed a Wisconsin circuit court judge.

References

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  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. (1979). "Biographies". The State of Wisconsin Blue Book 1979–1980 (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. pp. 20–88. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
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