# 90th Wisconsin Legislature

The Ninetieth Wisconsin Legislature convened from January 7, 1991, to January 4, 1993, in regular session, and also convened in five 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 6, 1990. 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 8, 1988.
The governor of Wisconsin during this entire term was Republican Tommy Thompson, of Juneau County, serving the first two years of his second four-year term, having won re-election in the 1990 Wisconsin gubernatorial election.

## Major events

* January 7, 1991: Second inauguration of Tommy Thompson as governor of Wisconsin.
* January 12, 1991: The United States Congress passed a resolution authorizing the use of military force to expel Iraqi forces from Kuwait.
* February 27, 1991: U.S. President George H. W. Bush declared victory in the Gulf War.
* April 2, 1991: 1991 Wisconsin spring election:
** Wisconsin voters rejected an amendment to the state constitution, which would have enabled the state to take on debt to pay for housing projects.
* December 25, 1991: The Soviet Union was dissolved.
* April 7, 1992: 1992 Wisconsin spring election:
** Wisconsin voters ratified two amendments to the state constitution:
*** to enable the state to take on debt to pay for railroad projects.
*** to limit legislative pay raises to only take effect after an intervening election.
* June 2, 1992: A three-judge panel of the United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin published its decision in Prosser v. Wisconsin State Elections Board, serving as the redistricting plan for Wisconsin for the 1990 United States census.
* September 1, 1992: Wisconsin Supreme Court justice William G. Callow resigned.
* October 8, 1992: Wisconsin governor Tommy Thompson appointed Jon P. Wilcox to the Wisconsin Supreme Court, to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of William G. Callow.
* November 3, 1992: 1992 United States general election:
** Bill Clinton (D) elected President of the United States.
** Russ Feingold (D) elected United States senator from Wisconsin.
** Wisconsin voters rejected an amendment to the state constitution which would have enabled the legislature to grant targeted tax credits to defray property taxes.

## 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 | 14 | 33 | 0 |
| From Jul. 17, 1991 | 19 | 13 | 32 | 1 |
| From Oct. 7, 1991 | 19 | 14 | 33 | 0 |
| From Dec. 29, 1992 | 18 | 14 | 32 | 1 |
| Final voting share | 56.25% | 43.75% | | |
| Beginning of the next Legislature | 15 | 15 | 30 | 3 |

### Assembly summary

| | Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) | Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) | Total | |
| | Dem. | Rep. | Total | Vacant |
| End of previous Legislature | 55 | 42 | 97 | 2 |
| Start of Reg. Session | 58 | 41 | 99 | 0 |
| From Sep. 16, 1991 | 57 | 41 | 98 | 1 |
| From Oct. 1, 1991 | 57 | 40 | 97 | 2 |
| From Oct. 7, 1991 | 57 | 39 | 96 | 3 |
| From Nov. 27, 1991 | 58 | 39 | 97 | 2 |
| From Dec. 26, 1991 | 58 | 40 | 98 | 1 |
| From Jan. 20, 1992 | 58 | 41 | 99 | 0 |
| Final voting share | 58.59% | 41.41% | | |
| Beginning of the next Legislature | 52 | 47 | 99 | 0 |

## Sessions

* Regular session: January 7, 1991 – January 4, 1993
* January 1991 special session: January 29, 1991 – July 4, 1991
* October 1991 special session: October 15, 1991 – May 21, 1992
* April 1992 special session: April 14, 1992 – June 4, 1992
* June 1992 special session: June 1, 1992
* August 1992 special session: August 25, 1992 – September 15, 1992

## Leadership
### Senate leadership

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

#### Senate majority leadership

* Majority Leader: David Helbach (D–Stevens Point)
* Assistant Majority Leader: Charles Chvala (D–Madison)

#### Senate minority leadership

* Minority Leader: Michael G. Ellis (R–Neenah)
* Assistant Minority Leader: Brian Rude (R–Coon Valley)

### Assembly leadership

* Speaker of the Assembly: Walter Kunicki (D–Milwaukee)
* Speaker pro tempore: David Clarenbach (D–Madison)

#### Assembly majority leadership

* Majority Leader: David Travis (D–Madison)
* Assistant Majority Leader: Barbara Notestein (D–Milwaukee)

#### Assembly minority leadership

* Minority Leader: David Prosser Jr. (R–Appleton)
* Assistant Minority Leader: Randall J. Radtke (R–Lake Mills)

## Members
### Members of the Senate

Members of the Senate for the Ninetieth Wisconsin Legislature:
| Dist. | Senator | Party | Age (1991) | Home | First elected |
| 01 | Alan Lasee | Rep. | 53 | Rockland, Brown County | 1977 |
| 02 | Robert Cowles | Rep. | 40 | Green Bay, Brown County | 1987 |
| 03 | Brian Burke | Dem. | 32 | Milwaukee, Milwaukee County | 1988 |
| 04 | Barbara Ulichny | Dem. | 43 | Milwaukee, Milwaukee County | 1984 |
| 05 | Tom Barrett | Dem. | 37 | Milwaukee, Milwaukee County | 1989 |
| 06 | Gary George | Dem. | 36 | Milwaukee, Milwaukee County | 1980 |
| 07 | John Plewa | Dem. | 45 | Milwaukee, Milwaukee County | 1984 |
| 08 | Joseph Czarnezki | Dem. | 36 | Milwaukee, Milwaukee County | 1983 |
| 09 | Calvin Potter | Dem. | 45 | Kohler, Sheboygan County | 1990 |
| 10 | William Berndt | Rep. | 34 | Clifton, Pierce County | 1989 |
| 11 | Joanne Huelsman | Rep. | 52 | Waukesha, Waukesha County | 1990 |
| 12 | Roger Breske | Dem. | 52 | Elderon, Marathon County | 1990 |
| 13 | Barbara Lorman | Rep. | 58 | Fort Atkinson, Jefferson County | 1980 |
| 14 | Joseph Leean | Rep. | 48 | Waupaca, Waupaca County | 1984 |
| 15 | Timothy Weeden | Rep. | 39 | Beloit, Rock County | 1987 |
| 16 | Charles Chvala | Dem. | 36 | Madison, Dane County | 1984 |
| 17 | Richard Kreul (res. Jul. 17, 1991) | Rep. | 66 | Fennimore, Grant County | 1978 |
| 17 | Dale Schultz (from Oct. 7, 1991) | Rep. | 38 | Washington, Sauk County | 1991 |
| 18 | Carol Buettner | Rep. | 42 | Oshkosh, Winnebago County | 1987 |
| 19 | Michael G. Ellis | Rep. | 49 | Neenah, Winnebago County | 1982 |
| 20 | Donald K. Stitt | Rep. | 46 | Port Washington, Ozaukee County | 1984 |
| 21 | George Petak | Rep. | 41 | Racine, Racine County | 1990 |
| 22 | Joseph F. Andrea | Dem. | 63 | Kenosha, Kenosha County | 1984 |
| 23 | Marvin J. Roshell (res. Dec. 29, 1992) | Dem. | 58 | Lafayette, Chippewa County | 1978 |
| 24 | David Helbach | Dem. | 42 | Stevens Point, Portage County | 1983 |
| 25 | Robert Jauch | Dem. | 45 | Poplar, Douglas County | 1986 |
| 26 | Fred Risser | Dem. | 63 | Madison, Dane County | 1962 |
| 27 | Russ Feingold | Dem. | 37 | Middleton, Dane County | 1982 |
| 28 | Lynn Adelman | Dem. | 51 | New Berlin, Waukesha County | 1976 |
| 29 | Russ Decker | Dem. | 37 | Schofield, Marathon County | 1990 |
| 30 | Jerome Van Sistine | Dem. | 64 | Green Bay, Brown County | 1976 |
| 31 | Rodney C. Moen | Dem. | 53 | Whitehall, Trempealeau County | 1982 |
| 32 | Brian Rude | Rep. | 35 | Coon Valley, Vernon County | 1984 |
| 33 | Margaret Farrow | Rep. | 56 | Elm Grove, Waukesha County | 1989 |

### Members of the Assembly

Members of the Assembly for the Ninetieth Wisconsin Legislature:
| Senate Dist. | Dist. | Representative | Party | Age (1991) | Home | First Elected |
| 01 | 01 | Lary J. Swoboda | Dem. | 51 | Luxemburg | 1970 |
| 01 | 02 | Dale Bolle | Dem. | 67 | Whitelaw | 1982 |
| 01 | 03 | Alvin Ott | Rep. | 41 | Brillion | 1986 |
| 02 | 04 | John Ainsworth | Rep. | 50 | Waukechon | 1990 |
| 02 | 05 | William N. Vander Loop | Dem. | 58 | Kaukauna | 1990 |
| 02 | 06 | Rosemary Hinkfuss | Dem. | 59 | Green Bay | 1988 |
| 03 | 07 | Gwen Moore | Dem. | 39 | Milwaukee | 1988 |
| 03 | 08 | Peter Bock | Dem. | 42 | Milwaukee | 1986 |
| 03 | 09 | Walter Kunicki | Dem. | 32 | Milwaukee | 1980 |
| 04 | 10 | Alberta Darling | Rep. | 46 | River Hills | 1990 |
| 04 | 11 | Louis Fortis | Dem. | 43 | Milwaukee | 1986 |
| 04 | 12 | Barbara Notestein | Dem. | 41 | Milwaukee | 1984 |
| 05 | 13 | Thomas Seery | Dem. | 45 | Milwaukee | 1982 |
| 05 | 14 | David Cullen | Dem. | 30 | Milwaukee | 1990 |
| 05 | 15 | Shirley Krug | Dem. | 32 | Milwaukee | 1984 |
| 06 | 16 | Spencer Coggs | Dem. | 41 | Milwaukee | 1982 |
| 06 | 17 | Annette Polly Williams | Dem. | 53 | Milwaukee | 1980 |
| 06 | 18 | Marcia P. Coggs | Dem. | 62 | Milwaukee | 1976 |
| 07 | 19 | Rosemary Potter | Dem. | 38 | Milwaukee | 1989 |
| 07 | 20 | Tim Carpenter | Dem. | 30 | Milwaukee | 1984 |
| 07 | 21 | Richard Grobschmidt | Dem. | 42 | South Milwaukee | 1984 |
| 08 | 22 | Jeannette Bell | Dem. | 49 | West Allis | 1982 |
| 08 | 23 | Thomas A. Hauke | Dem. | 52 | West Allis | 1972 |
| 08 | 24 | Peggy Krusick | Dem. | 34 | Milwaukee | 1983 |
| 09 | 25 | Vernon W. Holschbach | Dem. | 64 | Manitowoc | 1980 |
| 09 | 26 | James Baumgart | Dem. | 52 | Sheboygan | 1990 |
| 09 | 27 | Wilfrid J. Turba | Rep. | 62 | Russell | 1982 |
| 10 | 28 | Harvey Stower | Dem. | 46 | Amery | 1982 |
| 10 | 29 | Alvin Baldus | Dem. | 64 | Menomonie | 1966 |
| 10 | 30 | Sheila Harsdorf | Rep. | 34 | River Falls | 1988 |
| 11 | 31 | Daniel P. Vrakas | Rep. | 35 | Hartland | 1990 |
| 11 | 32 | Joseph Wimmer (res. Oct. 1, 1991) | Rep. | 56 | Waukesha | 1982 |
| 11 | 32 | Scott R. Jensen (from Jan. 20, 1992) | Rep. | 31 | Brookfield | 1992 |
| 11 | 33 | Steven Foti | Rep. | 32 | Oconomowoc | 1982 |
| 12 | 34 | Jim Holperin | Dem. | 40 | Eagle River | 1982 |
| 12 | 35 | Thomas D. Ourada | Rep. | 32 | Antigo | 1984 |
| 12 | 36 | Jerome T. Schwartz | Dem. | 39 | Armstrong Creek | 1990 |
| 13 | 37 | Randall J. Radtke | Rep. | 39 | Lake Mills | 1978 |
| 13 | 38 | Stephen Nass | Rep. | 38 | Whitewater | 1990 |
| 13 | 39 | Robert Goetsch | Rep. | 57 | Oak Grove | 1982 |
| 14 | 40 | William Lorge | Rep. | 30 | Deer Creek | 1988 |
| 14 | 41 | Robert T. Welch | Rep. | 32 | Leon | 1984 |
| 14 | 42 | Ben Brancel | Rep. | 40 | Douglas | 1986 |
| 15 | 43 | Charles W. Coleman | Rep. | 58 | Richmond | 1982 |
| 15 | 44 | Wayne W. Wood | Dem. | 60 | Janesville | 1976 |
| 15 | 45 | Judy Robson | Dem. | 51 | Beloit | 1987 |
| 16 | 46 | Rudy Silbaugh | Rep. | 60 | Stoughton | 1990 |
| 16 | 47 | David G. Deininger | Rep. | 43 | Monroe | 1986 |
| 16 | 48 | Sue Rohan | Dem. | 38 | Monona | 1984 |
| 17 | 49 | David A. Brandemuehl | Rep. | 59 | Mount Ida | 1986 |
| 17 | 50 | Dale Schultz (res. Oct. 7, 1991) | Rep. | 37 | Washington | 1982 |
| 17 | 50 | Sheryl Albers (from Dec. 26, 1991) | Rep. | 37 | Westfield | 1991 |
| 17 | 51 | Stephen Freese | Rep. | 30 | Jamestown | 1990 |
| 18 | 52 | Peg Lautenschlager | Dem. | 35 | Fond du Lac | 1988 |
| 18 | 53 | Mary Panzer | Rep. | 39 | West Bend | 1980 |
| 18 | 54 | Gregg Underheim | Rep. | 40 | Oshkosh | 1987 |
| 19 | 55 | Dean Kaufert | Rep. | 33 | Neenah | 1990 |
| 19 | 56 | Judith Klusman | Rep. | 34 | Oshkosh | 1988 |
| 19 | 57 | David Prosser Jr. | Rep. | 48 | Appleton | 1978 |
| 20 | 58 | Steven D. Loucks | Rep. | 29 | Mequon | 1988 |
| 20 | 59 | Michael A. Lehman | Rep. | 47 | Hartford | 1988 |
| 20 | 60 | Susan B. Vergeront | Rep. | 45 | Cedarburg | 1984 |
| 21 | 61 | Robert L. Turner | Dem. | 43 | Racine | 1990 |
| 21 | 62 | Kimberly Plache | Dem. | 29 | Racine | 1988 |
| 21 | 63 | E. James Ladwig | Rep. | 52 | Caledonia | 1978 |
| 22 | 64 | Peter W. Barca | Dem. | 35 | Kenosha | 1984 |
| 22 | 65 | John Antaramian | Dem. | 36 | Kenosha | 1982 |
| 22 | 66 | Cloyd A. Porter | Rep. | 55 | Burlington | 1972 |
| 23 | 67 | Leo Richard Hamilton | Dem. | 63 | Chippewa Falls | 1986 |
| 23 | 68 | David Zien | Rep. | 40 | Eau Claire | 1988 |
| 23 | 69 | Heron Van Gorden | Rep. | 64 | Neillsville | 1982 |
| 24 | 70 | Donald W. Hasenohrl | Dem. | 55 | Pittsville | 1974 |
| 24 | 71 | Stan Gruszynski | Dem. | 41 | Stevens Point | 1984 |
| 24 | 72 | Marlin Schneider | Dem. | 48 | Wisconsin Rapids | 1970 |
| 25 | 73 | Frank Boyle | Dem. | 45 | Summit | 1986 |
| 25 | 74 | Barbara Linton | Dem. | 38 | Ashland | 1986 |
| 25 | 75 | Mary Hubler | Dem. | 38 | Rice Lake | 1984 |
| 26 | 76 | Rebecca Young | Dem. | 56 | Madison | 1984 |
| 26 | 77 | Spencer Black | Dem. | 40 | Madison | 1984 |
| 26 | 78 | David Clarenbach | Dem. | 37 | Madison | 1974 |
| 27 | 79 | Joe Wineke | Dem. | 33 | Verona | 1982 |
| 27 | 80 | Eugene Hahn | Rep. | 61 | Springvale | 1990 |
| 27 | 81 | David Travis | Dem. | 42 | Madison | 1978 |
| 28 | 82 | James A. Rutkowski | Dem. | 48 | Hales Corners | 1970 |
| 28 | 83 | Maxine Hough | Dem. | 48 | East Troy | 1990 |
| 28 | 84 | Marc C. Duff | Rep. | 29 | New Berlin | 1988 |
| 29 | 85 | Gregory Huber | Dem. | 34 | Wausau | 1988 |
| 29 | 86 | Brad Zweck (res. Sep. 16, 1991) | Dem. | 32 | Mosinee | 1986 |
| 29 | 86 | Thomas J. Springer (from Nov. 27, 1991) | Dem. | 23 | Mosinee | 1991 |
| 29 | 87 | Martin Reynolds | Dem. | 40 | Ladysmith | 1990 |
| 30 | 88 | John Gard | Rep. | 28 | Peshtigo | 1987 |
| 30 | 89 | Cletus J. Vanderperren | Dem. | 78 | Pittsfield | 1958 |
| 30 | 90 | Mary Lou E. Van Dreel | Dem. | 55 | Green Bay | 1986 |
| 31 | 91 | Barbara Gronemus | Dem. | 59 | Whitehall | 1982 |
| 31 | 92 | Terry Musser | Rep. | 43 | Irving | 1984 |
| 31 | 93 | Joseph C. Hisrich | Dem. | 48 | Eau Claire | 1990 |
| 32 | 94 | Virgil Roberts | Dem. | 68 | Holmen | 1970 |
| 32 | 95 | John Medinger | Dem. | 42 | La Crosse | 1976 |
| 32 | 96 | DuWayne Johnsrud | Rep. | 47 | Eastman | 1984 |
| 33 | 97 | Lolita Schneiders | Rep. | 59 | Menomonee Falls | 1980 |
| 33 | 98 | Peggy Rosenzweig | Rep. | 54 | Wauwatosa | 1982 |
| 33 | 99 | Frank Urban | Rep. | 60 | Elm Grove | 1989 |

## Employees
### Senate employees

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

### Assembly employees

* Chief Clerk: Thomas T. Melvin
* Sergeant-at-Arms: Robert G. Johnston