# 88th Wisconsin Legislature

The Eighty-Eighth Wisconsin Legislature convened from January 5, 1987, to January 3, 1989, in regular session, and also convened in three special sessions and two extraordinary 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 4, 1986. 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 6, 1984.
The governor of Wisconsin during this entire term was Republican Tommy Thompson, of Juneau County, serving the first two years of a four-year term, having won election in the 1986 Wisconsin gubernatorial election.

## Major events

* January 5, 1987: Inauguration of Tommy Thompson as the 42nd Governor of Wisconsin.
* February 27, 1987: The Tower Commission report was published, admonishing U.S. President Ronald Reagan for lax oversight of his National Security Council in the Iran–Contra affair.
* April 7, 1987: 1987 Wisconsin Spring election:
** Wisconsin voters ratified two amendments to the state constitution:
*** Allowing pari-mutuel track betting.
*** Authorizing the creation of a state lottery.
* October 23, 1987: The United States Senate rejected the nomination of Robert Bork for a seat on the United States Supreme Court.
* November 8, 1988: 1988 United States general election:
** George H. W. Bush (R) elected President of the United States.
** Herb Kohl (D) elected United States senator from Wisconsin.

## Major legislation

* An Act ... relating to creating a state lottery, creating a lottery board, taxation of lottery winnings, creating a lottery property tax credit, granting rule-making authority, providing a penalty and making appropriations, 1987 Act 119. Established the Wisconsin Lottery. A property tax credit included in the original law was line-item vetoed.

## Party summary
### Senate summary

| | Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) | Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) | Total | |
| | Dem. | Rep. | Total | Vacant |
| End of previous Legislature | 19 | 14 | 33 | 0 |
| Start of Reg. Session | 19 | 11 | 30 | 3 |
| From Apr. 21, 1987 | 19 | 14 | 33 | 0 |
| From Apr. 15, 1988 | 18 | 14 | 32 | 1 |
| From Nov. 15, 1988 | 19 | 14 | 33 | 0 |
| Final voting share | 57.58% | 42.42% | | |
| Beginning of the next Legislature | 20 | 13 | 33 | 0 |

### Assembly summary

| | Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) | Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) | Total | |
| | Dem. | Rep. | Total | Vacant |
| End of previous Legislature | 52 | 47 | 99 | 0 |
| Start of Reg. Session | 54 | 45 | 99 | 0 |
| From Apr. 21, 1987 | 54 | 42 | 96 | 3 |
| From Jun. 16, 1987 | 55 | 44 | 99 | 0 |
| From Aug. 4, 1987 | 55 | 43 | 98 | 1 |
| From Oct. 12, 1987 | 55 | 44 | 99 | 0 |
| From May 23, 1988 | 54 | 44 | 98 | 1 |
| Final voting share | 55.1% | 44.9% | | |
| Beginning of the next Legislature | 56 | 43 | 99 | 0 |

## Sessions

* Regular session: January 5, 1987 – January 3, 1989
* September 1987 special session: September 15, 1987 – September 16, 1987
* November 1987 special session: November 18, 1987 – June 7, 1988
* May 1988 extraordinary session: May 17, 1988 – June 16, 1988
* June 1988 special session: June 30, 1988 – June 30, 1988
* June 1988 extraordinary session: June 30, 1988 – July 20, 1988

## Leaders
### Senate leadership

* President of the Senate: Fred Risser (D–Madison)

#### Senate majority leadership

* Majority Leader: Joseph A. Strohl (D–Racine)
* Assistant Majority Leader: John Norquist (D–Milwaukee) (until Apr. 15, 1988)
** Jerome Van Sistine (D–Green Bay) (after Apr. 18, 1988)

#### Senate minority leadership

* Minority Leader: Susan Engeleiter (R–Menomonee Falls)
* Assistant Minority Leader: Michael G. Ellis (R–Neenah)

### Assembly leadership

* Speaker of the Assembly: Thomas A. Loftus (D–Sun Prairie)
* Speaker pro tempore: David Clarenbach (D–Madison)

#### Assembly majority leadership

* Majority Leader: Thomas A. Hauke (D–West Allis)
* Assistant Majority Leader: John Medinger (D–La Crosse)

#### Assembly minority leadership

* Minority Leader: Betty Jo Nelsen (R–Shorewood)
* Assistant Minority Leader: Joseph E. Tregoning (R–Shullsburg)

## Members
### Members of the Senate

Members of the Senate for the Eighty-Eighth Wisconsin Legislature:
| Dist. | Senator | Party | Age (1987) | Home | First elected |
| 01 | Alan Lasee | Rep. | 49 | Rockland, Brown County | 1977 |
| 02 | --Vacant until Apr. 21, 1987-- | --Vacant until Apr. 21, 1987-- | --Vacant until Apr. 21, 1987-- | --Vacant until Apr. 21, 1987-- | --Vacant until Apr. 21, 1987-- |
| 02 | Robert Cowles (from Apr. 21, 1987) | Rep. | 36 | Green Bay, Brown County | 1987 |
| 03 | John Norquist (res. Apr. 15, 1988) | Dem. | 37 | Milwaukee, Milwaukee County | 1982 |
| 03 | Brian Burke (from Nov. 15, 1988) | Dem. | 30 | Milwaukee, Milwaukee County | 1988 |
| 04 | Barbara Ulichny | Dem. | 39 | Milwaukee, Milwaukee County | 1984 |
| 05 | Mordecai Lee | Dem. | 38 | Milwaukee, Milwaukee County | 1982 |
| 06 | Gary George | Dem. | 32 | Milwaukee, Milwaukee County | 1980 |
| 07 | John Plewa | Dem. | 41 | Milwaukee, Milwaukee County | 1984 |
| 08 | Joseph Czarnezki | Dem. | 32 | Milwaukee, Milwaukee County | 1983 |
| 09 | William Te Winkle | Dem. | 32 | Wilson, Sheboygan County | 1986 |
| 10 | James Harsdorf | Rep. | 36 | River Falls, Pierce County | 1980 |
| 11 | J. Mac Davis | Rep. | 34 | Waukesha, Waukesha County | 1976 |
| 12 | Lloyd H. Kincaid | Dem. | 61 | Crandon, Forest County | 1983 |
| 13 | Barbara Lorman | Rep. | 54 | Fort Atkinson, Jefferson County | 1980 |
| 14 | Joseph Leean | Rep. | 44 | Dayton, Waupaca County | 1984 |
| 15 | --Vacant until Apr. 21, 1987-- | --Vacant until Apr. 21, 1987-- | --Vacant until Apr. 21, 1987-- | --Vacant until Apr. 21, 1987-- | --Vacant until Apr. 21, 1987-- |
| 15 | Timothy Weeden (from Apr. 21, 1987) | Rep. | 35 | Beloit, Rock County | 1987 |
| 16 | Charles Chvala | Dem. | 32 | Madison, Dane County | 1984 |
| 17 | Richard Kreul | Rep. | 62 | Fennimore, Grant County | 1978 |
| 18 | --Vacant until Apr. 21, 1987-- | --Vacant until Apr. 21, 1987-- | --Vacant until Apr. 21, 1987-- | --Vacant until Apr. 21, 1987-- | --Vacant until Apr. 21, 1987-- |
| 18 | Carol Buettner (from Apr. 21, 1987) | Rep. | 39 | Oshkosh, Winnebago County | 1987 |
| 19 | Michael G. Ellis | Rep. | 45 | Neenah, Winnebago County | 1982 |
| 20 | Donald K. Stitt | Rep. | 42 | Port Washington, Ozaukee County | 1984 |
| 21 | Joseph A. Strohl | Dem. | 40 | Racine, Racine County | 1978 |
| 22 | Joseph F. Andrea | Dem. | 59 | Kenosha, Kenosha County | 1984 |
| 23 | Marvin J. Roshell | Dem. | 54 | Lafayette, Chippewa County | 1978 |
| 24 | David Helbach | Dem. | 38 | Stevens Point, Portage County | 1983 |
| 25 | Robert Jauch | Dem. | 41 | Poplar, Douglas County | 1986 |
| 26 | Fred Risser | Dem. | 59 | Madison, Dane County | 1962 |
| 27 | Russ Feingold | Dem. | 33 | Middleton, Dane County | 1982 |
| 28 | Lynn Adelman | Dem. | 47 | New Berlin, Waukesha County | 1976 |
| 29 | Walter Chilsen | Rep. | 63 | Wausau, Marathon County | 1966 |
| 30 | Jerome Van Sistine | Dem. | 60 | Green Bay, Brown County | 1976 |
| 31 | Rodney C. Moen | Dem. | 49 | Whitehall, Trempealeau County | 1982 |
| 32 | Brian Rude | Rep. | 31 | Coon Valley, Vernon County | 1984 |
| 33 | Susan Engeleiter | Rep. | 34 | Brookfield, Waukesha County | 1980 |

### Members of the Assembly

Members of the Assembly for the Eighty-Eighth Wisconsin Legislature:
| Senate Dist. | Dist. | Representative | Party | Age (1987) | Home | First Elected |
| 01 | 01 | Lary J. Swoboda | Dem. | 47 | Luxemburg | 1970 |
| 01 | 02 | Dale Bolle | Dem. | 63 | Whitelaw | 1982 |
| 01 | 03 | Alvin Ott | Rep. | 37 | Brillion | 1986 |
| 02 | 04 | Cathy Zeuske | Rep. | 28 | Shawano | 1982 |
| 02 | 05 | Gary J. Schmidt | Rep. | 39 | Chilton | 1984 |
| 02 | 06 | Robert Cowles (res. Apr. 21, 1987) | Rep. | 36 | Green Bay | 1982 |
| 02 | 06 | James R. Charneski (from Jun. 16, 1987) | Rep. | 51 | Allouez | 1987 |
| 03 | 07 | Dismas Becker | Dem. | 50 | Milwaukee | 1977 |
| 03 | 08 | Peter Bock | Dem. | 38 | Milwaukee | 1986 |
| 03 | 09 | Walter Kunicki | Dem. | 28 | Milwaukee | 1980 |
| 04 | 10 | Betty Jo Nelsen | Rep. | 51 | Shorewood | 1979 |
| 04 | 11 | Louis Fortis | Dem. | 39 | Milwaukee | 1986 |
| 04 | 12 | Barbara Notestein | Dem. | 37 | Milwaukee | 1984 |
| 05 | 13 | Thomas Seery | Dem. | 41 | Milwaukee | 1982 |
| 05 | 14 | Thomas Barrett | Dem. | 33 | Milwaukee | 1984 |
| 05 | 15 | Shirley Krug | Dem. | 28 | Milwaukee | 1984 |
| 06 | 16 | Spencer Coggs | Dem. | 37 | Milwaukee | 1982 |
| 06 | 17 | Annette Polly Williams | Dem. | 49 | Milwaukee | 1980 |
| 06 | 18 | Marcia P. Coggs | Dem. | 58 | Milwaukee | 1976 |
| 07 | 19 | Louise M. Tesmer | Dem. | 44 | Milwaukee | 1972 |
| 07 | 20 | Tim Carpenter | Dem. | 26 | Milwaukee | 1984 |
| 07 | 21 | Richard Grobschmidt | Dem. | 38 | South Milwaukee | 1984 |
| 08 | 22 | Jeannette Bell | Dem. | 45 | West Allis | 1982 |
| 08 | 23 | Thomas A. Hauke | Dem. | 48 | West Allis | 1972 |
| 08 | 24 | Peggy Krusick | Dem. | 30 | Milwaukee | 1983 |
| 09 | 25 | Vernon W. Holschbach | Dem. | 60 | Manitowoc | 1980 |
| 09 | 26 | Calvin Potter | Dem. | 41 | Kohler | 1974 |
| 09 | 27 | Wilfrid J. Turba | Rep. | 58 | Elkhart Lake | 1982 |
| 10 | 28 | David E. Paulson | Rep. | 55 | Amery | 1978 |
| 10 | 29 | Richard Shoemaker | Dem. | 35 | Menomonie | 1978 |
| 10 | 30 | William Berndt | Rep. | 30 | River Falls | 1984 |
| 11 | 31 | Joanne Huelsman | Rep. | 48 | Waukesha | 1982 |
| 11 | 32 | Joseph Wimmer | Rep. | 52 | Waukesha | 1982 |
| 11 | 33 | Steven Foti | Rep. | 28 | Oconomowoc | 1982 |
| 12 | 34 | Jim Holperin | Dem. | 36 | Eagle River | 1982 |
| 12 | 35 | Thomas D. Ourada | Rep. | 28 | Antigo | 1984 |
| 12 | 36 | John Volk | Dem. | 71 | Freedom | 1983 |
| 13 | 37 | Randall J. Radtke | Rep. | 35 | Lake Mills | 1978 |
| 13 | 38 | Margaret S. Lewis | Rep. | 32 | Jefferson | 1984 |
| 13 | 39 | Robert Goetsch | Rep. | 53 | Oak Grove | 1982 |
| 14 | 40 | Francis R. Byers | Rep. | 66 | Marion | 1968 |
| 14 | 41 | Robert T. Welch | Rep. | 28 | Leon | 1984 |
| 14 | 42 | Ben Brancel | Rep. | 36 | Douglas | 1986 |
| 15 | 43 | Charles W. Coleman | Rep. | 54 | Richmond | 1982 |
| 15 | 44 | Wayne W. Wood | Dem. | 56 | Janesville | 1976 |
| 15 | 45 | Timothy Weeden (res. Apr. 21, 1987) | Rep. | 35 | Beloit | 1984 |
| 15 | 45 | Judy Robson (from Jun. 16, 1987) | Dem. | 47 | Beloit | 1987 |
| 16 | 46 | Thomas A. Loftus | Dem. | 41 | Sun Prairie | 1976 |
| 16 | 47 | David G. Deininger | Rep. | 39 | Monroe | 1986 |
| 16 | 48 | Sue Magnuson | Dem. | 34 | Madison | 1984 |
| 17 | 49 | David A. Brandemuehl | Rep. | 55 | Mount Ida | 1986 |
| 17 | 50 | Dale Schultz | Rep. | 33 | Washington | 1982 |
| 17 | 51 | Joseph E. Tregoning | Rep. | 45 | Shullsburg | 1967 |
| 18 | 52 | Earl F. McEssy | Rep. | 73 | Fond du Lac | 1956 |
| 18 | 53 | Mary Panzer | Rep. | 35 | West Bend | 1980 |
| 18 | 54 | Carol A. Buettner (res. Apr. 21, 1987) | Rep. | 38 | Oshkosh | 1982 |
| 18 | 54 | Gregg Underheim (from Jun. 16, 1987) | Rep. | 36 | Oshkosh | 1987 |
| 19 | 55 | Esther K. Walling | Rep. | 46 | Menasha | 1982 |
| 19 | 56 | Gordon R. Bradley | Rep. | 65 | Oshkosh | 1968 |
| 19 | 57 | David Prosser Jr. | Rep. | 44 | Appleton | 1978 |
| 20 | 58 | John L. Merkt | Rep. | 40 | Mequon | 1976 |
| 20 | 59 | Dwight A. York | Rep. | 47 | Lomira | 1984 |
| 20 | 60 | Susan B. Vergeront | Rep. | 41 | Cedarburg | 1984 |
| 21 | 61 | Scott C. Fergus | Dem. | 31 | Racine | 1984 |
| 21 | 62 | Jeffrey A. Neubauer | Dem. | 31 | Racine | 1980 |
| 21 | 63 | E. James Ladwig | Rep. | 48 | Caledonia | 1978 |
| 22 | 64 | Peter W. Barca | Dem. | 31 | Kenosha | 1984 |
| 22 | 65 | John Antaramian | Dem. | 32 | Kenosha | 1982 |
| 22 | 66 | Cloyd A. Porter | Rep. | 51 | Burlington | 1972 |
| 23 | 67 | Leo Richard Hamilton | Dem. | 59 | Chippewa Falls | 1986 |
| 23 | 68 | Joseph Looby | Dem. | 69 | Eau Claire | 1968 |
| 23 | 69 | Heron Van Gorden | Rep. | 60 | Neillsville | 1982 |
| 24 | 70 | Donald W. Hasenohrl | Dem. | 51 | Pittsville | 1974 |
| 24 | 71 | Stan Gruszynski | Dem. | 37 | Stevens Point | 1984 |
| 24 | 72 | Marlin Schneider | Dem. | 44 | Wisconsin Rapids | 1970 |
| 25 | 73 | Frank Boyle | Dem. | 41 | Summit | 1986 |
| 25 | 74 | Barbara Linton | Dem. | 34 | Ashland | 1986 |
| 25 | 75 | Mary Hubler | Dem. | 34 | Rice Lake | 1984 |
| 26 | 76 | Rebecca Young | Dem. | 52 | Madison | 1984 |
| 26 | 77 | Spencer Black | Dem. | 36 | Madison | 1984 |
| 26 | 78 | David Clarenbach | Dem. | 33 | Madison | 1974 |
| 27 | 79 | Joe Wineke | Dem. | 29 | Verona | 1982 |
| 27 | 80 | Robert M. Thompson | Dem. | 59 | Dekorra | 1970 |
| 27 | 81 | David Travis | Dem. | 38 | Madison | 1978 |
| 28 | 82 | James A. Rutkowski | Dem. | 44 | Hales Corners | 1970 |
| 28 | 83 | David J. Lepak | Rep. | 27 | Muskego | 1984 |
| 28 | 84 | John C. Schober | Rep. | 35 | New Berlin | 1982 |
| 29 | 85 | John H. Robinson (res. May 23, 1988) | Dem. | 31 | Wausau | 1980 |
| --Vacant from May 23, 1988-- |||||
| 29 | 86 | Brad Zweck | Dem. | 28 | Mosinee | 1986 |
| 29 | 87 | Robert J. Larson | Rep. | 54 | Medford | 1978 |
| 30 | 88 | Richard P. Matty (res. Aug. 4, 1987) | Rep. | 54 | Stephenson | 1972 |
| 30 | 88 | John Gard (from Oct. 12, 1987) | Rep. | 24 | Suamico | 1987 |
| 30 | 89 | Cletus J. Vanderperren | Dem. | 74 | Pittsfield | 1958 |
| 30 | 90 | Mary Lou E. Van Dreel | Dem. | 51 | Green Bay | 1986 |
| 31 | 91 | Barbara Gronemus | Dem. | 55 | Whitehall | 1982 |
| 31 | 92 | Terry Musser | Rep. | 39 | Irving | 1984 |
| 31 | 93 | Mark D. Lewis | Dem. | 37 | Eau Claire | 1982 |
| 32 | 94 | Virgil Roberts | Dem. | 64 | Holmen | 1970 |
| 32 | 95 | John Medinger | Dem. | 38 | La Crosse | 1976 |
| 32 | 96 | DuWayne Johnsrud | Rep. | 43 | Eastman | 1984 |
| 33 | 97 | Lolita Schneiders | Rep. | 55 | Menomonee Falls | 1980 |
| 33 | 98 | Peggy Rosenzweig | Rep. | 50 | Wauwatosa | 1982 |
| 33 | 99 | Margaret Farrow | Rep. | 52 | Elm Grove | 1986 |

## Employees
### Senate employees

* Chief Clerk: Donald J. Schneider
* Sergeant-at-Arms: Daniel B. Fields

### Assembly employees

* Chief Clerk: Thomas T. Melvin
* Sergeant-at-Arms: Patrick Essie