# 95th Wisconsin Legislature

The Ninety-Fifth Wisconsin Legislature convened from January 3, 2001, to January 6, 2003, in regular session, and also convened in three special sessions.
During this session, an exposé by the Wisconsin State Journal revealed sprawling corruption in both chambers and both parties in the Wisconsin Legislature. In what was referred to as the "caucus scandal", five legislators, including leaders of both major parties, were eventually implicated and prosecuted for extensive use of state-paid legislative employees for political purposes.
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 7, 2000. Senators representing odd-numbered districts were serving the third and fourth year of their four-year term, having been elected in the general election held on November 3, 1998.
The governor of Wisconsin at the start of this term was Republican Tommy Thompson, of Juneau County, serving the beginning of the third year of his fourth four-year term, having won re-election in the 1998 Wisconsin gubernatorial election. Thompson resigned February 1, 2001, to accept appointment as United States Secretary of Health and Human Services. At that time, the lieutenant governor, Republican Scott McCallum, of Columbia County, then ascended to become governor for the remainder of this legislative term.

## Major events

* January 20, 2001: Inauguration of George W. Bush as 43rd President of the United States.
* May 20, 2001: The Wisconsin State Journal published its initial exposé revealing state legislators had been misusing legislative staffers for political purposes.
* September 11, 2001: September 11 attacks destroyed the World Trade Center and damaged The Pentagon.
* October 1, 2001: Start of Operation Enduring Freedom.
* October 7, 2001: United States invasion of Afghanistan initiated the War in Afghanistan.
* May 30, 2002: A three-judge panel of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin published its decision in Baumgart v. Wendelberger, serving as the redistricting plan for Wisconsin for the 2000 United States census.
* November 5, 2002: 2002 United States general election:
** Jim Doyle (D) elected Governor of Wisconsin.

## Major legislation

* August 31, 2001: An Act relating to: state finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2001 legislature, 2001 Act 16. Vetoed in part.

## Party summary
### Senate summary

| | Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) | Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) | Total | |
| | Democratic | Republican | Total | Vacant |
| End of previous Legislature | 17 | 15 | 32 | 1 |
| Start of Reg. Session | 18 | 15 | 33 | 0 |
| from May 9, 2001 | 18 | 14 | 32 | 1 |
| from July 18, 2001 | 18 | 15 | 33 | 0 |
| Final voting share | 54.55% | 45.45% | | |
| Beginning of the next Legislature | 13 | 18 | 31 | 2 |

### Assembly summary

| | Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) | Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) | Total | |
| | Democratic | Republican | Total | Vacant |
| End of previous Legislature | 45 | 54 | 99 | 0 |
| Start of Reg. Session | 43 | 56 | 99 | 0 |
| From Aug. 31, 2001 | 43 | 55 | 98 | 1 |
| From Nov. 16, 2001 | 43 | 56 | 99 | 0 |
| From Apr. 30, 2002 | 43 | 55 | 98 | 1 |
| From Aug. 1, 2002 | 43 | 54 | 97 | 2 |
| From Nov. 5, 2002 | 43 | 55 | 98 | 1 |
| Final voting share | 43.88% | 56.12% | | |
| Beginning of the next Legislature | 41 | 58 | 99 | 0 |

## Sessions

* Regular session: January 3, 2001 – January 6, 2003
* May 2001 special session: May 1, 2001 – May 3, 2001
* January 2002 special session: January 22, 2002 – July 8, 2002
* May 2002 special session: May 13, 2002 – May 15, 2002

## Leadership
### Senate

* President: Fred Risser (D–Madison)
* President pro tempore: Gary R. George (D–Milwaukee)

#### Majority Leadership

* Majority Leader: Charles Chvala (D–Madison)
* Assistant Majority Leader: Rodney C. Moen (D–Whitehall)
* Majority Caucus Chair: Judy Robson (D–Beloit)

#### Minority Leadership

* Minority Leader: Mary Panzer (R–West Bend)
* Assistant Minority Leader: Margaret Farrow (R–Pewaukee) (until May 9, 2001)
** Alan Lasee (R–Rockland) (after May 9, 2001)
* Minority Caucus Chair: David Zien (R–Wheaton)
* Minority Caucus Vice Chair: Carol Roessler (R–Oshkosh)

### Assembly

* Speaker of the Assembly: Scott R. Jensen (R–Waukesha)
* Speaker pro tempore: Stephen Freese (R–Jamestown)

#### Majority Leadership

* Majority Leader: Steven Foti (R–Oconomowoc)
* Assistant Majority Leader: Bonnie Ladwig (R–Mount Pleasant)
* Majority Caucus Chair: Daniel P. Vrakas (R–Delafield)

#### Minority Leadership

* Minority Leader: Shirley Krug (D–Milwaukee) (until May 1, 2001)
** Spencer Black (D–Madison) (after May 1, 2001)
* Assistant Minority Leader: Spencer Black (D–Madison) (until May 1, 2001)
** James Kreuser (D–Kenosha) (after May 1, 2001)
* Minority Caucus Chair: Peter Bock (D–Milwaukee)

## Members
### Members of the Senate

Members of the Senate for the Ninety-Fifth Wisconsin Legislature:
| Dist. | Senator | Party | Age (2001) | Home | First elected |
| 01 | Alan Lasee | Rep. | 63 | De Pere, Brown County | 1977 |
| 02 | Robert Cowles | Rep. | 50 | Green Bay, Brown County | 1987 |
| 03 | Brian B. Burke | Dem. | 42 | Milwaukee, Milwaukee County | 1988 |
| 04 | Gwen Moore | Dem. | 49 | Milwaukee, Milwaukee County | 1992 |
| 05 | Peggy Rosenzweig | Rep. | 64 | Wauwatosa, Milwaukee County | 1993 |
| 06 | Gary R. George | Dem. | 46 | Milwaukee, Milwaukee County | 1980 |
| 07 | Richard Grobschmidt | Dem. | 52 | South Milwaukee, Milwaukee County | 1995 |
| 08 | Alberta Darling | Rep. | 56 | River Hills, Milwaukee County | 1992 |
| 09 | James Baumgart | Dem. | 62 | Sheboygan, Sheboygan County | 1998 |
| 10 | Sheila Harsdorf | Rep. | 44 | River Falls, Pierce County | 2000 |
| 11 | Joanne Huelsman | Rep. | 62 | Waukesha, Waukesha County | 1990 |
| 12 | Roger Breske | Dem. | 62 | Eland, Shawano County | 1990 |
| 13 | Scott L. Fitzgerald | Rep. | 37 | Juneau, Dodge County | 1994 |
| 14 | Robert T. Welch | Rep. | 42 | Redgranite, Waushara County | 1995 |
| 15 | Judy Robson | Dem. | 61 | Beloit, Rock County | 1987 |
| 16 | Charles Chvala | Dem. | 46 | Madison, Dane County | 1984 |
| 17 | Dale Schultz | Rep. | 47 | Richland Center, Richland County | 1991 |
| 18 | Carol Roessler | Rep. | 52 | Oshkosh, Winnebago County | 1987 |
| 19 | Michael G. Ellis | Rep. | 59 | Neenah, Winnebago County | 1982 |
| 20 | Mary Panzer | Rep. | 49 | West Bend, Washington County | 1993 |
| 21 | Kimberly Plache | Dem. | 39 | Racine, Racine County | 1996 |
| 22 | Robert Wirch | Dem. | 57 | Pleasant Prairie, Kenosha County | 1996 |
| 23 | David Zien | Rep. | 50 | Eau Claire, Eau Claire County | 1993 |
| 24 | Kevin Shibilski | Dem. | 39 | Stevens Point, Portage County | 1995 |
| 25 | Robert Jauch | Dem. | 55 | Poplar, Douglas County | 1986 |
| 26 | Fred Risser | Dem. | 73 | Madison, Dane County | 1962 |
| 27 | Jon Erpenbach | Dem. | 39 | Middleton, Dane County | 1998 |
| 28 | Mary Lazich | Rep. | 48 | New Berlin, Waukesha County | 1998 |
| 29 | Russ Decker | Dem. | 47 | Schofield, Marathon County | 1990 |
| 30 | Dave Hansen | Dem. | 53 | Green Bay, Brown County | 2000 |
| 31 | Rodney C. Moen | Dem. | 63 | Whitehall, Trempealeau County | 1982 |
| 32 | Mark Meyer | Dem. | 37 | La Crosse, La Crosse County | 2000 |
| 33 | Margaret Farrow (res. May 9, 2001) | Rep. | 66 | Pewaukee, Waukesha County | 1989 |
| 33 | Theodore Kanavas (from July 18, 2001) | Rep. | 40 | Brookfield, Waukesha County | 2001 |

### Members of the Assembly

Members of the Assembly for the Ninety-Fifth Wisconsin Legislature:
| Senate Dist. | Dist. | Representative | Party | Age (2001) | Home | First Elected |
| 01 | 01 | Garey Bies | Rep. | 54 | Sister Bay | 2000 |
| 01 | 02 | Frank Lasee | Rep. | 39 | Bellevue | 1994 |
| 01 | 03 | Alvin Ott | Rep. | 51 | Brillion | 1986 |
| 02 | 04 | Phil Montgomery | Rep. | 43 | Ashwaubenon | 1998 |
| 02 | 05 | Lee Meyerhofer | Dem. | 36 | Kaukauna | 1998 |
| 02 | 06 | John Ainsworth | Rep. | 60 | Waukechon | 1990 |
| 03 | 07 | Peter Bock | Dem. | 52 | Milwaukee | 1986 |
| 03 | 08 | Pedro Colón | Dem. | 32 | Milwaukee | 1998 |
| 03 | 09 | Tim Carpenter | Dem. | 40 | Milwaukee | 1984 |
| 04 | 10 | Annette Polly Williams | Dem. | 63 | Milwaukee | 1980 |
| 04 | 11 | Johnnie E. Morris-Tatum | Dem. | 49 | Milwaukee | 1992 |
| 04 | 12 | Shirley Krug | Dem. | 42 | Milwaukee | 1984 |
| 05 | 13 | David Cullen | Dem. | 40 | Milwaukee | 1990 |
| 05 | 14 | Scott Walker (res. Apr. 30, 2002) | Rep. | 33 | Wauwatosa | 1993 |
| 05 | 14 | Leah Vukmir (from Nov. 5, 2002) | Rep. | 35 | Wauwatosa | 2002 |
| 05 | 15 | Tony Staskunas | Dem. | 39 | West Allis | 1996 |
| 06 | 16 | Leon Young | Dem. | 33 | Milwaukee | 1992 |
| 06 | 17 | Spencer Coggs | Dem. | 51 | Milwaukee | 1982 |
| 06 | 18 | Antonio R. Riley | Dem. | 37 | Milwaukee | 1992 |
| 07 | 19 | Jon Richards | Dem. | 37 | Milwaukee | 1998 |
| 07 | 20 | Christine Sinicki | Dem. | 40 | Milwaukee | 1998 |
| 07 | 21 | Jeffrey Plale | Dem. | 32 | South Milwaukee | 1996 |
| 08 | 22 | Sheldon Wasserman | Dem. | 39 | Milwaukee | 1994 |
| 08 | 23 | John La Fave | Dem. | 51 | Milwaukee | 1992 |
| 08 | 24 | Suzanne Jeskewitz | Rep. | 58 | Menomonee Falls | 1996 |
| 09 | 25 | Bob Ziegelbauer | Dem. | 49 | Manitowoc | 1992 |
| 09 | 26 | Joe Leibham | Rep. | 31 | Sheboygan | 1998 |
| 09 | 27 | Steve Kestell | Rep. | 45 | Herman | 1998 |
| 10 | 28 | Mark Pettis | Rep. | 50 | La Follette | 1998 |
| 10 | 29 | Joe Plouff | Dem. | 50 | Menomonie | 1996 |
| 10 | 30 | Kitty Rhoades | Rep. | 49 | Hudson | 1998 |
| 11 | 31 | Stephen Nass | Rep. | 48 | Whitewater | 1990 |
| 11 | 32 | Scott R. Jensen | Rep. | 40 | Waukesha | 1992 |
| 11 | 33 | Daniel P. Vrakas | Rep. | 45 | Delafield | 1990 |
| 12 | 34 | Dan Meyer | Rep. | 52 | Eagle River | 2000 |
| 12 | 35 | Donald Friske | Rep. | 39 | Merrill | 1999 |
| 12 | 36 | Lorraine Seratti | Rep. | 51 | Florence | 1992 |
| 13 | 37 | David W. Ward | Rep. | 47 | Oakland | 1992 |
| 13 | 38 | Steven Foti | Rep. | 42 | Oconomowoc | 1982 |
| 13 | 39 | Jeff Fitzgerald | Rep. | 34 | Beaver Dam | 2000 |
| 14 | 40 | Jean Hundertmark | Rep. | 46 | Larrabee | 1998 |
| 14 | 41 | Luther Olsen | Rep. | 49 | Aurora | 1994 |
| 14 | 42 | Joan Wade (res. Aug. 31, 2001) | Rep. | 38 | Montello | 1998 |
| 14 | 42 | Jacob Hines (from Nov. 16, 2001 ) | Rep. | 74 | Oxford | 2001 |
| 15 | 43 | Neal Kedzie | Rep. | 44 | La Grange | 1996 |
| 15 | 44 | Wayne W. Wood | Dem. | 70 | Janesville | 1976 |
| 15 | 45 | Dan Schooff | Dem. | 29 | Beloit | 1998 |
| 16 | 46 | Tom Hebl | Dem. | 55 | Sun Prairie | 1996 |
| 16 | 47 | Eugene Hahn | Rep. | 71 | Springvale | 1990 |
| 16 | 48 | Mark F. Miller | Dem. | 57 | Monona | 1998 |
| 17 | 49 | Gabe Loeffelholz | Rep. | 60 | Platteville | 2000 |
| 17 | 50 | Sheryl Albers | Rep. | 46 | Westfield | 1991 |
| 17 | 51 | Stephen Freese | Rep. | 40 | Dodgeville | 1990 |
| 18 | 52 | John F. Townsend | Rep. | 62 | Fond du Lac | 1998 |
| 18 | 53 | Carol Owens | Rep. | 69 | Nekimi | 1992 |
| 18 | 54 | Gregg Underheim | Rep. | 50 | Oshkosh | 1987 |
| 19 | 55 | Dean Kaufert | Rep. | 43 | Neenah | 1990 |
| 19 | 56 | Terri McCormick | Rep. | 44 | Appleton | 2000 |
| 19 | 57 | Steve Wieckert | Rep. | 46 | Appleton | 1996 |
| 20 | 58 | Michael A. Lehman | Rep. | 57 | Hartford | 1988 |
| 20 | 59 | Glenn Grothman | Rep. | 45 | West Bend | 1993 |
| 20 | 60 | Timothy Hoven (res. Aug. 1, 2002) | Rep. | 37 | Port Washington | 1994 |
| --Vacant from Aug. 1, 2002-- |||||
| 21 | 61 | Robert L. Turner | Dem. | 53 | Racine | 1990 |
| 21 | 62 | John Lehman | Dem. | 55 | Racine | 1996 |
| 21 | 63 | Bonnie Ladwig | Rep. | 61 | Mount Pleasant | 1992 |
| 22 | 64 | James Kreuser | Dem. | 45 | Kenosha | 1993 |
| 22 | 65 | John Steinbrink | Dem. | 51 | Pleasant Prairie | 1996 |
| 22 | 66 | Samantha Starzyk | Rep. | 26 | Randall | 2000 |
| 23 | 67 | Tom Sykora | Rep. | 54 | Eagle Point | 1996 |
| 23 | 68 | Larry Balow | Dem. | 57 | Eau Claire | 1998 |
| 23 | 69 | Scott Suder | Rep. | 32 | Abbotsford | 1998 |
| 24 | 70 | MaryAnn Lippert | Rep. | 47 | Pittsville | 2000 |
| 24 | 71 | Julie Lassa | Dem. | 30 | Plover | 1998 |
| 24 | 72 | Marlin Schneider | Dem. | 58 | Wisconsin Rapids | 1970 |
| 25 | 73 | Frank Boyle | Dem. | 55 | Summit | 1986 |
| 25 | 74 | Gary E. Sherman | Dem. | 51 | Port Wing | 1998 |
| 25 | 75 | Mary Hubler | Dem. | 48 | Rice Lake | 1984 |
| 26 | 76 | Terese Berceau | Dem. | 50 | Madison | 1998 |
| 26 | 77 | Spencer Black | Dem. | 50 | Madison | 1984 |
| 26 | 78 | Mark Pocan | Dem. | 36 | Madison | 1998 |
| 27 | 79 | Rick Skindrud | Rep. | 56 | Primrose | 1993 |
| 27 | 80 | Mike Powers | Rep. | 38 | Albany | 1994 |
| 27 | 81 | David Travis | Dem. | 52 | Madison | 1978 |
| 28 | 82 | Jeff Stone | Rep. | 39 | Greenfield | 1998 |
| 28 | 83 | Scott Gunderson | Rep. | 44 | Norway | 1994 |
| 28 | 84 | Mark Gundrum | Rep. | 30 | New Berlin | 1998 |
| 29 | 85 | Gregory Huber | Dem. | 44 | Wausau | 1988 |
| 29 | 86 | Jerry Petrowski | Rep. | 40 | Stettin | 1998 |
| 29 | 87 | Martin Reynolds | Dem. | 50 | Ladysmith | 1990 |
| 30 | 88 | Judy Krawczyk | Rep. | 61 | Green Bay | 2000 |
| 30 | 89 | John Gard | Rep. | 37 | Peshtigo | 1987 |
| 30 | 90 | John Joseph Ryba | Dem. | 71 | Green Bay | 1992 |
| 31 | 91 | Barbara Gronemus | Dem. | 69 | Whitehall | 1982 |
| 31 | 92 | Terry Musser | Rep. | 53 | Irving | 1984 |
| 31 | 93 | Robin Kreibich | Rep. | 41 | Eau Claire | 1992 |
| 32 | 94 | Michael Huebsch | Rep. | 36 | West Salem | 1994 |
| 32 | 95 | Jennifer Shilling | Dem. | 31 | La Crosse | 2000 |
| 32 | 96 | DuWayne Johnsrud | Rep. | 57 | Eastman | 1984 |
| 33 | 97 | Peggy Krusick | Dem. | 44 | Milwaukee | 1983 |
| 33 | 98 | Marc C. Duff | Rep. | 39 | New Berlin | 1988 |
| 33 | 99 | Frank Urban | Rep. | 70 | Brookfield | 1989 |