# 94th Wisconsin Legislature

The Ninety-Fourth Wisconsin Legislature convened from January 4, 1999, to January 3, 2001, in regular session, and also convened in two special sessions.
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 3, 1998. 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 5, 1996.
The governor of Wisconsin during this entire term was Republican Tommy Thompson, of Juneau County, serving the first two years of his fourth four-year term, having won re-election in the 1998 Wisconsin gubernatorial election.

## Major events

* January 4, 1999: Fourth inauguration of Tommy Thompson as Governor of Wisconsin.
* February 12, 1999: In the United States Senate, the impeachment trial of U.S. President Bill Clinton ended with a verdict of "not guilty".
* March 29, 1999: The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed above 10,000 for the first time.
* April 6, 1999: 1999 Wisconsin Spring election:
** Wisconsin voters ratified an amendment to the state constitution which adjusted what state gambling proceeds could be used for.
* May 1, 2000: The Wisconsin politics news website Wispolitics.com was launched.
* September 7, 2000: Wisconsin Supreme Court justice Donald W. Steinmetz resigned. Wisconsin governor Tommy Thompson appointed Diane S. Sykes to succeed him.
* November 7, 2000: 2000 United States general election:
** The 2000 United States presidential election was too close to call, and hinged on a recount in Florida.
** Herb Kohl (D) was re-elected as United States senator from Wisconsin.
* December 12, 2000: The United States Supreme Court ruled in the case Bush v. Gore, stating that there was not enough time to set standards and conduct a fair recount, thus the recount must end. George W. Bush was therefore declared the winner of the 2000 United States presidential election.

## Major legislation

* October 28, 1999: An Act relating to: state finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 1999 legislature, 1999 Act 9. Vetoed in part.

## Party summary
### Senate summary

| | Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) | Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) | Total | |
| | Dem. | Rep. | Total | Vacant |
| End of previous Legislature | 16 | 17 | 33 | 0 |
| Start of Reg. Session | 17 | 16 | 33 | 0 |
| From May 25, 2000 | 17 | 15 | 32 | 1 |
| Final voting share | 53.13% | 46.88% | | |
| Beginning of the next Legislature | 18 | 15 | 33 | 0 |

### Assembly summary

| | Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) | Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) | Total | |
| | Dem. | Rep. | Total | Vacant |
| End of previous Legislature | 45 | 52 | 97 | 2 |
| Start of Reg. Session | 44 | 55 | 99 | 0 |
| From Jan. 29, 1999 | 44 | 54 | 98 | 1 |
| From May 12, 1999 | 45 | 54 | 99 | 0 |
| Final voting share | 45.45% | 54.55% | | |
| Beginning of the next Legislature | 43 | 56 | 99 | 0 |

## Sessions

* Regular session: January 4, 1999 – January 3, 2001
* Oct. 1999 special session: October 27, 1999 – November 11, 1999
* May 2000 special session: May 4, 2000 – May 9, 2000

## Leadership
### Senate leadership

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

#### Senate majority leadership

* Majority Leader: Charles Chvala (D–Madison)
* Assistant Majority Leader: Rodney C. Moen (D–Whitehall)

#### Senate minority leadership

* Minority Leader: Michael G. Ellis (R–Neenah) (until Jan. 25, 2000)
** Mary Panzer (R–West Bend) (after Jan. 25, 2000)
* Assistant Minority Leader: Brian Rude (R–Coon Valley) (until May 25, 2000)
** Margaret Farrow (R–Pewaukee) (after May 30, 2000)

### Assembly leadership

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

#### Assembly majority leadership

* Majority Leader: Steven Foti (R–Oconomowoc)
* Assistant Majority Leader: Bonnie Ladwig (R–Mount Pleasant)

#### Assembly minority leadership

* Minority Leader: Shirley Krug (D–Milwaukee)
* Assistant Minority Leader: Marlin Schneider (D–Wisconsin Rapids)

## Members
### Members of the Senate

Members of the Senate for the Ninety-Fourth Wisconsin Legislature:
| Dist. | Senator | Party | Age (1999) | Home | First elected |
| 01 | Alan Lasee | Rep. | 61 | Rockland, Brown County | 1977 |
| 02 | Robert Cowles | Rep. | 48 | Green Bay, Brown County | 1987 |
| 03 | Brian Burke | Dem. | 40 | Milwaukee, Milwaukee County | 1988 |
| 04 | Gwen Moore | Dem. | 47 | Milwaukee, Milwaukee County | 1992 |
| 05 | Peggy Rosenzweig | Rep. | 62 | Wauwatosa, Milwaukee County | 1993 |
| 06 | Gary George | Dem. | 44 | Milwaukee, Milwaukee County | 1980 |
| 07 | Richard Grobschmidt | Dem. | 50 | South Milwaukee, Milwaukee County | 1995 |
| 08 | Alberta Darling | Rep. | 54 | River Hills, Milwaukee County | 1992 |
| 09 | James Baumgart | Dem. | 60 | Sheboygan, Sheboygan County | 1998 |
| 10 | Alice Clausing | Dem. | 54 | Menomonie, Dunn County | 1992 |
| 11 | Joanne Huelsman | Rep. | 60 | Waukesha, Waukesha County | 1990 |
| 12 | Roger Breske | Dem. | 60 | Elderon, Marathon County | 1990 |
| 13 | Scott Fitzgerald | Rep. | 35 | Clyman, Dodge County | 1994 |
| 14 | Robert T. Welch | Rep. | 40 | Marion, Waushara County | 1995 |
| 15 | Judy Robson | Dem. | 59 | Beloit, Rock County | 1998 |
| 16 | Charles Chvala | Dem. | 44 | Madison, Dane County | 1984 |
| 17 | Dale Schultz | Rep. | 45 | Richland Center, Richland County | 1991 |
| 18 | Carol Buettner | Rep. | 50 | Oshkosh, Winnebago County | 1987 |
| 19 | Michael G. Ellis | Rep. | 57 | Neenah, Winnebago County | 1982 |
| 20 | Mary Panzer | Rep. | 47 | West Bend, Washington County | 1993 |
| 21 | Kimberly Plache | Dem. | 37 | Racine, Racine County | 1996 |
| 22 | Bob Wirch | Dem. | 55 | Pleasant Prairie, Kenosha County | 1996 |
| 23 | David Zien | Rep. | 48 | Wheaton, Chippewa County | 1993 |
| 24 | Kevin Shibilski | Dem. | 37 | Stevens Point, Portage County | 1995 |
| 25 | Robert Jauch | Dem. | 53 | Poplar, Douglas County | 1986 |
| 26 | Fred Risser | Dem. | 71 | Madison, Dane County | 1962 |
| 27 | Jon Erpenbach | Dem. | 37 | Middleton, Dane County | 1998 |
| 28 | Mary Lazich | Rep. | 46 | New Berlin, Waukesha County | 1998 |
| 29 | Russ Decker | Dem. | 45 | Weston, Marathon County | 1990 |
| 30 | Gary Drzewiecki | Rep. | 44 | Pulaski, Brown County | 1992 |
| 31 | Rodney C. Moen | Dem. | 61 | Whitehall, Trempealeau County | 1982 |
| 32 | Brian Rude (res. May 25, 2000) | Rep. | 43 | Coon Valley, Vernon County | 1984 |
| --Vacant from May 25, 2000-- |||||
| 33 | Margaret Farrow | Rep. | 64 | Pewaukee, Waukesha County | 1989 |

### Members of the Assembly

Members of the Assembly for the Ninety-Fourth Wisconsin Legislature:
| Senate Dist. | Dist. | Representative | Party | Age (1999) | Home | First Elected |
| 01 | 01 | David E. Hutchison | Rep. | 55 | Red River | 1994 |
| 01 | 02 | Frank Lasee | Rep. | 37 | Ledgeview | 1994 |
| 01 | 03 | Alvin Ott | Rep. | 49 | Brillion | 1986 |
| 02 | 04 | Phil Montgomery | Rep. | 41 | Ashwaubenon | 1998 |
| 02 | 05 | Lee Meyerhofer | Dem. | 34 | Kaukauna | 1998 |
| 02 | 06 | John Ainsworth | Rep. | 58 | Waukechon | 1990 |
| 03 | 07 | Peter Bock | Dem. | 50 | Milwaukee | 1986 |
| 03 | 08 | Pedro Colón | Dem. | 30 | Milwaukee | 1998 |
| 03 | 09 | Tim Carpenter | Dem. | 38 | Milwaukee | 1984 |
| 04 | 10 | Annette Polly Williams | Dem. | 61 | Milwaukee | 1980 |
| 04 | 11 | Johnnie E. Morris-Tatum | Dem. | 47 | Milwaukee | 1992 |
| 04 | 12 | Shirley Krug | Dem. | 40 | Milwaukee | 1984 |
| 05 | 13 | David Cullen | Dem. | 38 | Milwaukee | 1990 |
| 05 | 14 | Scott Walker | Rep. | 31 | Wauwatosa | 1993 |
| 05 | 15 | Tony Staskunas | Dem. | 37 | West Allis | 1996 |
| 06 | 16 | Leon Young | Dem. | 31 | Milwaukee | 1992 |
| 06 | 17 | Spencer Coggs | Dem. | 49 | Milwaukee | 1982 |
| 06 | 18 | Antonio R. Riley | Dem. | 35 | Milwaukee | 1992 |
| 07 | 19 | Jon Richards | Dem. | 35 | Milwaukee | 1998 |
| 07 | 20 | Christine Sinicki | Dem. | 38 | Milwaukee | 1998 |
| 07 | 21 | Jeffrey Plale | Dem. | 30 | South Milwaukee | 1996 |
| 08 | 22 | Sheldon Wasserman | Dem. | 37 | Milwaukee | 1994 |
| 08 | 23 | John La Fave | Dem. | 49 | Brown Deer | 1992 |
| 08 | 24 | Suzanne Jeskewitz | Rep. | 56 | Menomonee Falls | 1996 |
| 09 | 25 | Bob Ziegelbauer | Dem. | 47 | Manitowoc | 1992 |
| 09 | 26 | Joe Leibham | Rep. | 29 | Sheboygan | 1998 |
| 09 | 27 | Steve Kestell | Rep. | 43 | Herman | 1998 |
| 10 | 28 | Mark Pettis | Rep. | 48 | La Follette | 1998 |
| 10 | 29 | Joe Plouff | Dem. | 48 | Menomonie | 1996 |
| 10 | 30 | Kitty Rhoades | Rep. | 47 | Hudson | 1998 |
| 11 | 31 | Stephen Nass | Rep. | 46 | Whitewater | 1990 |
| 11 | 32 | Scott R. Jensen | Rep. | 38 | Waukesha | 1992 |
| 11 | 33 | Daniel P. Vrakas | Rep. | 43 | Delafield | 1990 |
| 12 | 34 | Joe Handrick | Rep. | 37 | Minocqua | 1994 |
| 12 | 35 | Thomas D. Ourada (res. Jan. 29, 1999) | Rep. | 40 | Antigo | 1984 |
| 12 | 35 | Sarah Waukau (from May 12, 1999) | Dem. | 52 | Antigo | 1999 |
| 12 | 36 | Lorraine Seratti | Rep. | 49 | Florence | 1992 |
| 13 | 37 | David W. Ward | Rep. | 45 | Oakland | 1992 |
| 13 | 38 | Steven Foti | Rep. | 40 | Oconomowoc | 1982 |
| 13 | 39 | Robert Goetsch | Rep. | 65 | Oak Grove | 1982 |
| 14 | 40 | Jean Hundertmark | Rep. | 44 | Larrabee | 1998 |
| 14 | 41 | Luther Olsen | Rep. | 47 | Aurora | 1994 |
| 14 | 42 | Joan Wade Spillner | Rep. | 36 | Mecan | 1998 |
| 15 | 43 | Neal Kedzie | Rep. | 42 | La Grange | 1996 |
| 15 | 44 | Wayne W. Wood | Dem. | 68 | Janesville | 1976 |
| 15 | 45 | Dan Schooff | Dem. | 27 | Beloit | 1998 |
| 16 | 46 | Tom Hebl | Dem. | 53 | Sun Prairie | 1996 |
| 16 | 47 | Eugene Hahn | Rep. | 69 | Springvale | 1990 |
| 16 | 48 | Mark F. Miller | Dem. | 55 | Monona | 1998 |
| 17 | 49 | David A. Brandemuehl | Rep. | 67 | Mount Ida | 1986 |
| 17 | 50 | Sheryl Albers | Rep. | 44 | Westfield | 1991 |
| 17 | 51 | Stephen Freese | Rep. | 38 | Dodgeville | 1990 |
| 18 | 52 | John F. Townsend | Rep. | 60 | Fond du Lac | 1998 |
| 18 | 53 | Carol Owens | Rep. | 67 | Nekimi | 1992 |
| 18 | 54 | Gregg Underheim | Rep. | 48 | Oshkosh | 1987 |
| 19 | 55 | Dean Kaufert | Rep. | 41 | Neenah | 1990 |
| 19 | 56 | Judith Klusman | Rep. | 42 | Clayton | 1988 |
| 19 | 57 | Steve Wieckert | Rep. | 44 | Appleton | 1996 |
| 20 | 58 | Michael A. Lehman | Rep. | 55 | Hartford | 1988 |
| 20 | 59 | Glenn Grothman | Rep. | 43 | West Bend | 1993 |
| 20 | 60 | Timothy Hoven | Rep. | 35 | Port Washington | 1994 |
| 21 | 61 | Robert L. Turner | Dem. | 51 | Racine | 1990 |
| 21 | 62 | John Lehman | Dem. | 53 | Racine | 1996 |
| 21 | 63 | Bonnie Ladwig | Rep. | 59 | Mount Pleasant | 1992 |
| 22 | 64 | James Kreuser | Dem. | 43 | Kenosha | 1993 |
| 22 | 65 | John Steinbrink | Dem. | 49 | Pleasant Prairie | 1996 |
| 22 | 66 | Cloyd A. Porter | Rep. | 63 | Burlington | 1972 |
| 23 | 67 | Tom Sykora | Rep. | 52 | Eagle Point | 1996 |
| 23 | 68 | Larry Balow | Dem. | 55 | Eau Claire | 1998 |
| 23 | 69 | Scott Suder | Rep. | 30 | Abbotsford | 1998 |
| 24 | 70 | Donald W. Hasenohrl | Dem. | 63 | Pittsville | 1974 |
| 24 | 71 | Julie Lassa | Dem. | 28 | Plover | 1998 |
| 24 | 72 | Marlin Schneider | Dem. | 56 | Wisconsin Rapids | 1970 |
| 25 | 73 | Frank Boyle | Dem. | 53 | Summit | 1986 |
| 25 | 74 | Gary E. Sherman | Dem. | 49 | Port Wing | 1998 |
| 25 | 75 | Mary Hubler | Dem. | 46 | Rice Lake | 1984 |
| 26 | 76 | Terese Berceau | Dem. | 48 | Madison | 1998 |
| 26 | 77 | Spencer Black | Dem. | 48 | Madison | 1984 |
| 26 | 78 | Mark Pocan | Dem. | 34 | Madison | 1998 |
| 27 | 79 | Rick Skindrud | Rep. | 54 | Primrose | 1993 |
| 27 | 80 | Mike Powers | Rep. | 36 | Albany | 1994 |
| 27 | 81 | David Travis | Dem. | 50 | Madison | 1978 |
| 28 | 82 | Jeff Stone | Rep. | 37 | Greenfield | 1998 |
| 28 | 83 | Scott Gunderson | Rep. | 42 | Norway | 1994 |
| 28 | 84 | Mark Gundrum | Rep. | 28 | New Berlin | 1998 |
| 29 | 85 | Gregory Huber | Dem. | 42 | Wausau | 1988 |
| 29 | 86 | Jerry Petrowski | Rep. | 38 | Stettin | 1998 |
| 29 | 87 | Martin Reynolds | Dem. | 48 | Ladysmith | 1990 |
| 30 | 88 | Carol Kelso | Rep. | 53 | Green Bay | 1988 |
| 30 | 89 | John Gard | Rep. | 35 | Peshtigo | 1987 |
| 30 | 90 | John Joseph Ryba | Dem. | 69 | Green Bay | 1992 |
| 31 | 91 | Barbara Gronemus | Dem. | 67 | Whitehall | 1982 |
| 31 | 92 | Terry Musser | Rep. | 51 | Irving | 1984 |
| 31 | 93 | Robin Kreibich | Rep. | 39 | Eau Claire | 1992 |
| 32 | 94 | Michael Huebsch | Rep. | 34 | West Salem | 1994 |
| 32 | 95 | Mark Meyer | Dem. | 35 | La Crosse | 1992 |
| 32 | 96 | DuWayne Johnsrud | Rep. | 55 | Eastman | 1984 |
| 33 | 97 | Peggy Krusick | Dem. | 42 | Milwaukee | 1983 |
| 33 | 98 | Marc C. Duff | Rep. | 37 | New Berlin | 1988 |
| 33 | 99 | Frank Urban | Rep. | 68 | Brookfield | 1989 |

## Employees
### Senate employees

* Chief Clerk: Donald J. Schneider
* Sergeant-at-Arms: Jon H. Hochkammer

### Assembly employees

* Chief Clerk: Charles R. Sanders
* Sergeant-at-Arms: Denise L. Solie