The Seventy-Seventh Wisconsin Legislature convened from January 13, 1965, to January 2, 1967, in regular session.[1]
| 77th Wisconsin Legislature | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||
 Wisconsin State Capitol | |||||
| Overview | |||||
| Legislative body | Wisconsin Legislature | ||||
| Meeting place | Wisconsin State Capitol | ||||
| Term | January 4, 1965 – January 2, 1967 | ||||
| Election | November 3, 1964 | ||||
| Senate | |||||
| Members | 33 | ||||
| Senate President | Patrick Lucey (D) | ||||
| President pro tempore | Frank E. Panzer (R) | ||||
| Party control | Republican | ||||
| Assembly | |||||
| Members | 100 | ||||
| Assembly Speaker | Robert T. Huber (D) | ||||
| Speaker pro tempore | George Molinaro (D) | ||||
| Party control | Democratic | ||||
| Sessions | |||||
| |||||
This was the first legislative session after the redistricting of the Senate and Assembly according to a decision of the Wisconsin Supreme Court in 1964.
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 3, 1964. 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 6, 1962.[1]
Major events edit
- January 4, 1965: Inauguration of Warren P. Knowles as the 37th Governor of Wisconsin.
- January 20, 1965: Second inauguration of Lyndon B. Johnson as President of the United States.
- April 6, 1965: 1965 Wisconsin Spring election:
- Wisconsin voters approved two amendments to the state constitution:
- Revising the definition of a lottery.
- Abolishing the county offices of coroner and surveyor for counties with more than 500,000 people (at the time, only Milwaukee County).
- Wisconsin voters approved two amendments to the state constitution:
- July 30, 1965: U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Social Security Amendments of 1965, creating Medicare and Medicaid.
- January 2, 1966: The Green Bay Packers won the 1965 NFL Championship Game.
- April 5, 1966: 1966 Wisconsin Spring election:
- Wisconsin voters approved four amendments to the state constitution:
- To allow state legislators to serve in the military without vacating their legislative office.
- To allow the legislature to create inferior courts.
- To eliminate Section 15 of Article VII of the constitution, abolishing the office of justice of the peace.
- To allow for indebtedness in special districts for public utilities.
- Wisconsin voters approved four amendments to the state constitution:
- June 22, 1966: Wisconsin Assembly Republican leaders Paul Alfonsi and Willis J. Hutnik were indicted for accepting bribes. Alfonsi was ultimately convicted, but his conviction was overturned by the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
- July 27, 1966: The Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled in the case State v. Milwaukee Braves, Inc., lifting a lower court injunction and allowing the Milwaukee Braves to move to Atlanta.[2]
- August 11, 1966: Wisconsin Supreme Court justice Thomas E. Fairchild resigned after he was confirmed as a judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.
- August 24, 1966: Wisconsin Governor Warren P. Knowles appointed Leo B. Hanley to the Wisconsin Supreme Court, to succeed Thomas E. Fairchild.
- November 8, 1966: 1966 United States general election:
- Warren P. Knowles (R) re-elected as Governor of Wisconsin.
Major legislation edit
- December 30, 1965: An Act ... relating to a public defender at appellate level, 1965 Act 479. Created the position of state public defender and placed the role under supervision of the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
- 1965 Joint Resolution 2: Second legislative passage of a proposed amendment to the state constitution to revise the definition of lotteries. This amendment was ratified by voters at the April 1965 election.
- 1965 Joint Resolution 5: Second legislative passage of a proposed amendment to the state constitution to abolish the county offices of coroner and surveyor in counties with a population greater than 500,000 (at the time, this only applied to Milwaukee County). This amendment was ratified by voters at the April 1965 election.
- 1965 Joint Resolution 14: Second legislative passage of a proposed amendment to the state constitution to allow legislators to serve in the military without vacating their legislative seat. This amendment was ratified by voters at the April 1966 election.
- 1965 Joint Resolution 50: Second legislative passage of two proposed amendments to the state constitution to allow the legislature to create inferior courts and to abolish the office of justice of the peace. Both amendments were ratified by voters at the April 1966 election.
Party summary edit
Senate summary edit
Democratic: 13 seats
Republican: 20 seats
| Party (Shading indicates majority caucus)
|
Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dem. | Rep. | Vacant | ||
| End of previous Legislature | 10 | 22 | 32 | 1 |
| Start of Reg. Session | 13 | 20 | 33 | 0 |
| Final voting share | 39.39% | 60.61% | ||
| Beginning of the next Legislature | 12 | 21 | 33 | 0 |
Assembly summary edit
Democratic: 53 seats
Republican: 47 seats
| Party (Shading indicates majority caucus)
|
Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dem. | Rep. | Vacant | ||
| End of previous Legislature | 47 | 53 | 100 | 0 |
| Start of Reg. Session | 52 | 48 | 100 | 0 |
| From Feb. 17, 1965[note 1] | 51 | 99 | 1 | |
| From May 11, 1965[note 2] | 52 | 100 | 0 | |
| From Sep. 15, 1965[note 3] | 47 | 99 | 1 | |
| From Nov. 24, 1965[note 4] | 53 | 100 | 0 | |
| Final voting share | 53% | 47% | ||
| Beginning of the next Legislature | 48 | 52 | 100 | 0 |
Sessions edit
- Regular session: January 13, 1965 – January 2, 1967
Leaders edit
Senate leadership edit
- President of the Senate: Patrick Lucey (D)
- President pro tempore: Frank E. Panzer (R–Oakfield)
- Majority leader: Robert P. Knowles (R–New Richmond)
- Minority leader: Richard J. Zaborski (D–Milwaukee)
Assembly leadership edit
- Speaker of the Assembly: Robert T. Huber (D–West Allis)
- Speaker pro tempore: George Molinaro (D–Kenosha)
- Majority leader: Frank Nikolay (D–Abbotsford)
- Minority leader: Robert Haase (R–Marinette) (resigned Sep. 15, 1965)
- Paul Alfonsi (R–Minocqua) (Oct. 4, 1965 – Jul. 8, 1966)
Members edit
Members of the Senate edit
Members of the Senate for the Seventy-Seventh Wisconsin Legislature:[3]
Democratic: 13 seats
Republican: 20 seats
Members of the Assembly edit
Members of the Assembly for the Seventy-Seventh Wisconsin Legislature:[3]
Democratic: 53 seats
Republican: 47 seats
Committees edit
Senate committees edit
- Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture – J. E. Leverich, chair
- Senate Standing Committee on Conservation – C. Krueger, chair
- Senate Standing Committee on Education – P. P. Carr, chair
- Senate Standing Committee on Governmental and Veterans Affairs – W. Draheim, chair
- Senate Standing Committee on Highways – J. Miller, chair
- Senate Standing Committee on Interstate Cooperation – F. E. Panzer, chair
- Senate Standing Committee on the Judiciary – A. Busby, chair
- Senate Standing Committee on Labor, Taxation, Insurance, and Banking – G. Lorge, chair
- Senate Standing Committee on Public Welfare – C. Dempsey, chair
- Senate Standing Committee on Senate Organization – F. E. Panzer, chair
- Senate Special Committee on Committees – R. Bice, chair
- Senate Special Committee on Contingent Expenditures – R. La Fave, chair
- Senate Special Committee on Legislative Procedure – F. E. Panzer, chair
Assembly committees edit
- Assembly Standing Committee on Agriculture – D. D. O'Malley, chair
- Assembly Standing Committee on Assembly Organization – R. T. Huber, chair
- Assembly Standing Committee on Commerce and Manufactures – E. S. Kaufman, chair
- Assembly Standing Committee on Conservation – N. C. Anderson, chair
- Assembly Standing Committee on Contingent Expenditures – K. Kunde, chair
- Assembly Standing Committee on Education – A. F. Greco, chair
- Assembly Standing Committee on Elections – V. R. Mathews, chair
- Assembly Standing Committee on Engrossed Bills – E. H. Elfers, chair
- Assembly Standing Committee on Enrolled Bills – L. Barbee, chair
- Assembly Standing Committee on Excise and Fees – E. E. Bolle, chair
- Assembly Standing Committee on Highways – J. L. Blaska, chair
- Assembly Standing Committee on Insurance and Banking – J. E. McCormick, chair
- Assembly Standing Committee on the Judiciary – F. Nikolay, chair
- Assembly Standing Committee on Labor – J. E. Jones, chair
- Assembly Standing Committee on Municipalities – F. E. Schaeffer, chair
- Assembly Standing Committee on Printing – B. A. Riehle, chair
- Assembly Standing Committee on Public Welfare – H. L. Dueholm, chair
- Assembly Standing Committee on Revision – L. V. Mato, chair
- Assembly Standing Committee on Rules – F. Nikolay, chair
- Assembly Standing Committee on State Affairs – E. W. Warren, chair
- Assembly Standing Committee on Taxation – R. A. Perala, chair
- Assembly Standing Committee on Third Reading – M. Lipscomb, chair
- Assembly Standing Committee on Transportation – R. J. Tobiasz, chair
- Assembly Standing Committee on Veterans and Military Affairs – N. Myhra, chair
Joint committees edit
- Joint Standing Committee on Finance – W. G. Hollander (Sen.) & G. Molinaro (Asm.), co-chairs
- Joint Standing Committee on Legislative Organization – R. Haase, chair
- Joint Standing Committee on Revisions, Repeals, and Uniform Laws – E. Keppler (Sen.) & E. Nager (Asm.), co-chairs
- Joint Legislative Council – R. T. Huber, chair
Employees edit
Senate employees edit
- Chief Clerk: Lawrence R. Larsen[4] (died March 2, 1965)
- William P. Nugent
- Sergeant-at-Arms: Harold E. Damon
Assembly employees edit
- Chief Clerk: James P. Buckley[4]
- Sergeant-at-Arms: Thomas H. Browne
Changes from the 76th Legislature edit
New districts for the 77th Legislature were defined in the case of State ex rel. Reynolds v. Zimmerman, decided by the Wisconsin Supreme Court in May 1964. This was the first time redistricting in Wisconsin was performed by a court.[5]
Senate redistricting edit
Summary of Senate changes edit
- Only 5 districts were left unchanged.
- 7 counties were split into two or more districts, the most since the 1892 redistricting.
- 18 districts comprised at least some split county component, the most in the history of the state.
- Brown County went from having its own district to being split between two shared districts (2, 30).
- Kenosha County became its own district (22) after previously having been in a shared district with Walworth.
- Milwaukee County went from having 8 districts to 8 (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11) plus part of a 9th (28).
- Rock County went from having its own district to being split between two shared districts (15, 16).
- Winnebago County became its own district (19) after previously having been in a shared district with Calumet.
Senate districts edit
Territory which was moved to a new district
Districts which were entirely unchanged
Districts which contain none of their prior territory
| Dist. | 76th Legislature | 77th Legislature |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Door, Kewaunee, Manitowoc counties | Door, Kewaunee, Manitowoc counties |
| 2 | Brown County | Brown (south & east), Calumet counties |
| 3 | Milwaukee County (city south) | Milwaukee County (city southwest) |
| 4 | Milwaukee County (northern quarter) | Milwaukee County (north) |
| 5 | Milwaukee County (city northwest) | Milwaukee County (city northwest) |
| 6 | Milwaukee County (city northeast) | Milwaukee County (city north) |
| 7 | Milwaukee County (southern quarter) | Milwaukee County (southeast) |
| 8 | Milwaukee County (middle-west) | Milwaukee County (middle-west) |
| 9 | Milwaukee County (city center) | Milwaukee County (city center) |
| 10 | Buffalo, Dunn, Pepin, Pierce, St. Croix counties | Buffalo, Burnett, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, St. Croix counties |
| 11 | Milwaukee County (city west) | Milwaukee County (city west) |
| 12 | Ashland, Iron, Price, Rusk, Sawyer, Vilas counties | Clark, Forest, Lincoln, Oneida, Taylor, Vilas counties |
| 13 | Dodge, Washington counties | Dodge (east half), Jefferson, Washington counties |
| 14 | Outagamie, Waupaca counties | Outagamie, Waupaca counties |
| 15 | Rock County | Rock (east half), Walworth counties |
| 16 | Dane County (excluding Madison) | Dane (excluding Madison), Rock (west half) counties |
| 17 | Grant, Green, Iowa, Lafayette counties | Grant, Green, Iowa, Lafayette, Richland counties |
| 18 | Fond du Lac, Green Lake, Waushara counties | Dodge (west half), Fond du Lac counties |
| 19 | Calumet, Winnebago counties | Winnebago County |
| 20 | Ozaukee, Sheboygan counties | Ozaukee, Sheboygan counties |
| 21 | Racine County | Racine County (southeast) |
| 22 | Kenosha, Walworth counties | Kenosha County |
| 23 | Barron, Burnett, Polk, Rusk, Sawyer, Washburn counties | Barron, Chippewa, Dunn, Washburn counties |
| 24 | Clark, Portage, Wood counties | Green Lake, Portage, Waushara, Wood counties |
| 25 | Ashland, Bayfield, Douglas counties | Ashland, Bayfield, Douglas, Iron, Price, Rusk, Sawyer counties |
| 26 | Dane County (Madison) | Dane County (Madison) |
| 27 | Columbia, Crawford, Richland, Sauk counties | Adams, Columbia, Juneau, Marquette, Sauk counties |
| 28 | Chippewa, Eau Claire counties | Milwaukee (southwest), Racine (most), Waukesha (south half) counties |
| 29 | Marathon, Menominee, Shawano counties | Marathon, Menominee, Shawano counties |
| 30 | Florence, Forest, Langlade, Marinette, Oconto counties | Brown (north & west), Florence, Langlade, Marinette, Oconto counties |
| 31 | Adams, Juneau, Monroe, Marquette, Vernon counties | Eau Claire, Jackson, Monroe, Trempealeau counties |
| 32 | Jackson, La Crosse, Trempealeau counties | Crawford, La Crosse, Vernon counties |
| 33 | Jefferson, Waukesha counties | Waukesha County (north half) |
Assembly redistricting edit
Summary of Assembly changes edit
- Only 22 districts were left unchanged.
- Barron County went from having its own district to being in a shared district with Washburn.
- Douglas County went from having 2 districts to 1.
- Green County went from having its own district to being in a shared district with Lafayette.
- Lincoln County went from having its own district to being in a shared district with Taylor.
- Marinette County went from having its own district to being in a shared district with Florence.
- Oconto County went from having its own district to being in a shared district with Langlade.
- Milwaukee County went from having 24 districts to 25.
- Outagamie County went from having 2 districts to 3.
- Waukesha County went from having 2 districts to 3.
Assembly districts edit
| County | Districts in 76th Legislature | Districts in 77th Legislature | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adams | Shared with Juneau & Marquette | Shared with Juneau & Marquette | 
|
| Ashland | Shared with Bayfield | Shared with Bayfield & Iron | 
|
| Barron | 1 District | Shared with Washburn |
|
| Bayfield | Shared with Ashland | Shared with Ashland & Iron |
|
| Brown | 3 Districts | 3 Districts |
|
| Buffalo | Shared with Pepin & Pierce | Shared with Pepin & Pierce |
|
| Burnett | Shared with Polk | Shared with Polk |
|
| Calumet | 1 District | 1 District |
|
| Chippewa | 1 District | 1 District |
|
| Clark | 1 District | 1 District |
|
| Columbia | 1 District | 1 District |
|
| Crawford | Shared with Richland | Shared with Vernon |
|
| Dane | 5 Districts | 5 Districts |
|
| Dodge | 2 Districts | 2 Districts |
|
| Door | Shared with Kewaunee | Shared with Kewaunee |
|
| Douglas | 2 Districts | 1 District |
|
| Dunn | 1 District | 1 District |
|
| Eau Claire | 2 Districts | 2 Districts |
|
| Florence | Shared with Forest & Langlade | Shared with Marinette |
|
| Fond du Lac | 2 Districts | 2 Districts |
|
| Forest | Shared with Florence & Langlade | Shared with Oneida & Vilas |
|
| Grant | 1 District | 1 District |
|
| Green | 1 District | Shared with Lafayette |
|
| Green Lake | Shared with Waushara | Shared with Waushara |
|
| Iowa | Shared with Lafayette | Shared with Richland |
|
| Iron | Shared with Oneida & Vilas | Shared with Ashland & Bayfield |
|
| Jackson | Shared with Trempealeau | Shared with Trempealeau |
|
| Jefferson | 1 District | 1 District |
|
| Juneau | Shared with Adams & Marquette | Shared with Adams & Marquette |
|
| Kenosha | 2 Districts | 2 Districts |
|
| Kewaunee | Shared with Door | Shared with Door |
|
| La Crosse | 2 Districts | 2 Districts |
|
| Lafayette | Shared with Iowa | Shared with Green |
|
| Langlade | Shared with Florence & Forest | Shared with Oconto |
|
| Lincoln | 1 District | Shared with Taylor |
|
| Manitowoc | 2 Districts | 2 Districts |
|
| Marathon | 2 Districts | 2 Districts |
|
| Marinette | 1 District | Shared with Florence |
|
| Marquette | Shared with Adams & Juneau | Shared with Adams & Juneau |
|
| Menominee | Shared with Shawano | Shared with Shawano |
|
| Milwaukee | 24 Districts | 25 Districts | 
|
| Monroe | 1 District | 1 District |
|
| Oconto | 1 District | Shared with Langlade |
|
| Oneida | Shared with Iron & Vilas | Shared with Forest & Vilas |
|
| Outagamie | 2 Districts | 3 Districts |
|
| Ozaukee | 1 District | 1 District |
|
| Pepin | Shared with Buffalo & Pierce | Shared with Buffalo & Pierce |
|
| Pierce | Shared with Buffalo & Pepin | Shared with Buffalo & Pepin |
|
| Polk | Shared with Burnett | Shared with Burnett |
|
| Portage | 1 District | 1 District |
|
| Price | Shared with Taylor | Shared with Rusk & Sawyer |
|
| Racine | 3 Districts | 3 Districts |
|
| Richland | Shared with Crawford | Shared with Iowa |
|
| Rock | 3 Districts | 3 Districts |
|
| Rusk | Shared with Sawyer & Washburn | Shared with Price & Sawyer |
|
| Sauk | 1 District | 1 District |
|
| Sawyer | Shared with Rusk & Washburn | Shared with Price & Rusk |
|
| Shawano | Shared with Menominee | Shared with Menominee |
|
| Sheboygan | 2 Districts | 2 Districts |
|
| St. Croix | 1 District | 1 District |
|
| Taylor | Shared with Price | Shared with Lincoln |
|
| Trempealeau | Shared with Jackson | Shared with Jackson |
|
| Vernon | 1 District | Shared with Crawford |
|
| Vilas | Shared with Iron & Oneida | Shared with Forest & Oneida |
|
| Walworth | 1 District | 1 District |
|
| Washburn | Shared with Rusk & Sawyer | Shared with Barron |
|
| Washington | 1 District | 1 District |
|
| Waukesha | 2 Districts | 4 Districts |
|
| Waupaca | 1 District | 1 District |
|
| Waushara | Shared with Green Lake | Shared with Green Lake |
|
| Winnebago | 3 Districts | 3 Districts |
|
| Wood | 2 District | 2 District |
|
Notes edit
- ^ Democrat Allen J. Flannigan (Milwaukee County) died.
- ^ Democrat William A. Johnson (Milwaukee County) was sworn in to replace Allen J. Flannigan.
- ^ Republican Robert Haase (Florence & Marinette County) resigned to become state commissioner of insurance.
- ^ Democrat Leslie R. Stevenson (Florence & Marinette County) was sworn in to replace Robert Haase.
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.
- ^ State v. Milwaukee Braves, Inc., 31 Wis. 2d 699 (Wisconsin Supreme Court July 27, 1966).
- ^ a b Theobald, H. Rupert, ed. (1966). "Biographies". The Wisconsin Blue Book 1966 (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. pp. 20–68. Retrieved October 13, 2023.
- ^ a b Theobald, H. Rupert, ed. (1966). "The Legislative Branch". The Wisconsin Blue Book 1966 (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. pp. 358–379. Retrieved October 13, 2023.
- ^ State ex rel. Reynolds v. Zimmerman, 23 Wis. 2d 606 (Wisconsin Supreme Court May 14, 1964).