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78th Wisconsin Legislature

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78th Wisconsin Legislature
77th 79th
Wisconsin State Capitol
Overview
Legislative bodyWisconsin Legislature
Meeting placeWisconsin State Capitol
TermJanuary 2, 1967 – January 6, 1969
ElectionNovember 8, 1966
Senate
Members33
Senate PresidentJack B. Olson (R)
President pro temporeRobert P. Knowles (R)
Party controlRepublican
Assembly
Members100
Assembly SpeakerHarold V. Froehlich (R)
Speaker pro temporeElmer C. Nitschke (R)
Party controlRepublican
Sessions
RegularJanuary 11, 1967 – January 6, 1969

The Seventy-Eighth Wisconsin Legislature convened from January 11, 1967, to January 6, 1969, in regular session.[1]

This session saw the culmination of Governor Warren P. Knowles state government reorganization and modernization plan, including the passage of the signature government reorganization law, which consolidated 85 executive branch agencies into 32 executive departments, and the passage of twelve amendments to the state constitution (the most in any single legislative session).

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 8, 1966. 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 3, 1964.[1]

Major events

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  • January 2, 1967: Second inauguration of Warren P. Knowles as Governor of Wisconsin.
  • January 15, 1967: The Green Bay Packers won Super Bowl I.
  • January 27, 1967: An accidental fire destroyed Apollo 1 during a launch rehearsal at Cape Canaveral, killing all three astronauts assigned to the mission.
  • February 10, 1967: The Twenty-fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution came into force when a sufficient number of states ratified.
  • March 4, 1967: Wisconsin Supreme Court justice Myron L. Gordon resigned after he was confirmed as a United States district judge for the Eastern District of Wisconsin.
  • March 13, 1967: Wisconsin governor Warren P. Knowles appointed county judge Connor Hansen to the Wisconsin Supreme Court, to succeed Myron L. Gordon.
  • April 4, 1967: 1967 Wisconsin Spring election:
    • Robert W. Hansen was elected to the Wisconsin Supreme Court, defeating incumbent chief justice George R. Currie. He was the only Wisconsin chief justice ever defeated seeking re-election.
    • Wisconsin voters ratified eight amendments to the state constitution:
      • Combining the election of governor and lieutenant governor into a single ticket election rather than two separate elections.
      • Doubling the term of the governor and lieutenant governor to four years from two.
      • Doubling the term of the secretary of state to four years from two.
      • Doubling the term of the attorney general to four years from two.
      • Doubling the term of the state treasurer to four years from two.
      • Abolishing term limits for sheriffs.
      • Adding section 23 to Article I of the constitution, establishing that the prohibition on sectarian instruction in public education should not prevent state entities from paying for transportation for children to attend private schools.
      • Allowing for judicial salary increases to take effect during the immediate term, rather than waiting until after the next election.
  • July 30, 1967: A fight between teenagers in Milwaukee escalated into the 1967 Milwaukee riot—one of 159 race riots which swept the country in the long, hot summer of 1967.
  • August 30, 1967: The United States Senate confirmed Thurgood Marshall as an associate justice of the United States Supreme Court, making him the first African American to serve on the court.
  • October 18, 1967: A student anti-war protest on the campus of the University of Wisconsin–Madison devolved into a riot, injuring 76 people.
  • December 31, 1967: The Green Bay Packers defeated the Dallas Cowboys in the 1967 NFL Championship Game. The game was referred to as "the Ice Bowl" due to the game-time temperature of −15 °F (−36 °F wind chill).
  • January 1, 1968: E. Harold Hallows became the 20th chief justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court by rule of seniority, at the expiration of the term of chief justice George R. Currie.
  • January 14, 1968: The Green Bay Packers won Super Bowl II.
  • March 31, 1968: U.S. president Lyndon B. Johnson announced, during a speech about the status of the Vietnam War, that he would not run for another term as president.
  • April 2, 1968: 1968 Wisconsin Spring election:
    • Wisconsin voters ratified four amendments to the state constitution:
      • Allowing the legislature to hold more than one session per biennium.
      • Allowing the legislature to set a uniform retirement age for state judges.
      • Clarifying that a judge may serve in a temporary role by appointment beyond the retirement age.
      • Allowing for appropriations for forestry improvements from funding sources other than a property tax.
  • April 4, 1968: Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee.
  • June 6, 1968: Democratic presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated in Los Angeles, California.
  • November 5, 1968: 1968 United States general election:

Major legislation

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  • July 19, 1967: An Act to provide for the functional reorganization of the executive branch of Wisconsin state government by the orderly transfer of all functions now assigned by law to the 91 separate departments of the executive branch into a streamlined new structure of constitutional offices, operating departments, and independent institutions and agencies, and to make appropriations, 1967 Act 75. This was the signature legislative package of the major executive branch reorganization, championed by governor Warren P. Knowles. It reorganized the state executive branch into 32 executive agencies, down from 85 (or 91 by some measures).

Party summary

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Senate summary

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Senate partisan composition
  Democratic: 12 seats
  Republican: 21 seats
Party
(Shading indicates majority caucus)
Total
Dem. Rep. Vacant
End of previous Legislature 13 20 33 0
Start of Reg. Session 12 21 33 0
From Aug. 9, 1967[note 1] 20 32 1
From Oct. 17, 1967[note 2] 21 33 0
Final voting share 36.36% 63.64%
Beginning of the next Legislature 10 23 33 0

Assembly summary

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Assembly partisan composition
  Democratic: 48 seats
  Republican: 52 seats
Party
(Shading indicates majority caucus)
Total
Dem. Rep. Vacant
End of previous Legislature 53 47 100 0
Start of Reg. Session 48 52 100 0
From Jan. 10, 1967[note 3] 51 99 1
From Apr. 10, 1967[note 4] 52 100 0
From Jun. 22, 1967[note 5] 47 99 1
From Aug. 11, 1967[note 6] 46 98 2
From Oct. 15, 1967[note 7] 51 97 3
From Oct. 16, 1967[note 8] 48 99 1
From Oct. 27, 1967[note 9] 47 52
From Nov. 27, 1967[note 10] 46 98 2
Final voting share 46.94% 53.06%
Beginning of the next Legislature 48 52 100 0

Sessions

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  • Regular session: January 11, 1967 – January 6, 1969

Leaders

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Senate leadership

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Assembly leadership

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Members

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Members of the Senate

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Members of the Senate for the Seventy-Eighth Wisconsin Legislature:[2]

Senate partisan representation
  Democratic: 12 seats
  Republican: 21 seats
Dist. Counties Senator Residence Party
01 Door, Kewaunee, & Manitowoc Alex Meunier Sturgeon Bay Rep.
02 Southern Brown & Calumet Robert W. Warren Green Bay Rep.
03 Milwaukee (Southwest City) Casimir Kendziorski Milwaukee Dem.
04 Milwaukee (North County) Jerris Leonard Milwaukee Rep.
05 Milwaukee (Northwest City) Wilfred Schuele Milwaukee Dem.
06 Milwaukee (North City) Martin J. Schreiber Milwaukee Dem.
07 Milwaukee (Southeast County & Southeast City) Leland McParland Cudahy Dem.
08 Milwaukee (Western County) Allen Busby West Milwaukee Rep.
09 Milwaukee (City Downtown) Norman Sussman Milwaukee Dem.
10 Buffalo, Burnett, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, & St. Croix Robert P. Knowles New Richmond Rep.
11 Milwaukee (Western City) Wayne F. Whittow Milwaukee Dem.
12 Clark, Forest, Lincoln, Oneida, Taylor, & Vilas Clifford Krueger Merrill Rep.
13 Eastern Dodge, Jefferson, & Washington Frank E. Panzer Oakfield Rep.
14 Outagamie & Waupaca Gerald Lorge Bear Creek Rep.
15 Eastern Rock & Walworth George M. Borg (res. Aug. 9, 1967) Delavan Rep.
James D. Swan (from Oct. 17, 1967) Elkhorn Rep.
16 Most of Dane & Western Rock Carl W. Thompson Stoughton Dem.
17 Grant, Green, Iowa, Lafayette, & Richland Gordon Roseleip Darlington Rep.
18 Fond du Lac & Western Dodge Walter G. Hollander Rosendale Rep.
19 Winnebago William Draheim Neenah Rep.
20 Ozaukee & Sheboygan Ernest Keppler Sheboygan Rep.
21 Racine (City & Southeast County) Henry Dorman Racine Dem.
22 Kenosha Joseph Lourigan Kenosha Dem.
23 Barron, Chippewa, Dunn, & Washburn Holger Rasmusen Spooner Rep.
24 Green Lake, Portage, Waushara, & Wood William C. Hansen Stevens Point Dem.
25 Ashland, Bayfield, Douglas, Iron, Price, Rusk, & Sawyer Arthur Cirilli Superior Rep.
26 Dane (Madison) Fred Risser Madison Dem.
27 Adams, Columbia, Juneau, Marquette, & Sauk Walter Terry Baraboo Rep.
28 Southwest Milwaukee, Most of Racine, & Southern Waukesha Taylor Benson Raymond Dem.
29 Marathon, Menominee, & Shawano Walter Chilsen Wausau Rep.
30 Northern Brown, Florence, Langlade, Marinette, & Oconto Reuben La Fave Oconto Rep.
31 Eau Claire, Jackson, Monroe, & Trempealeau Raymond C. Johnson Eau Claire Rep.
32 Crawford, La Crosse, & Vernon Raymond Bice Sr. La Crosse Rep.
33 Waukesha (Northern half) Chester Dempsey Hartland Rep.

Members of the Assembly

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Members of the Assembly for the Seventy-Eighth Wisconsin Legislature:[2]

Assembly partisan composition
  Democratic: 48 seats
  Republican: 52 seats
Milwaukee County districts
Senate
Dist.
County Dist. Representative Party Residence
27 Adams, Juneau, & Marquette Tommy Thompson Rep. Elroy
25 Ashland, Bayfield, & Iron Bernard E. Gehrmann Rep. Ashland
23 Barron & Washburn John C. Van Hollen Rep. Chetek
02 Brown 1 Jerome Quinn Rep. Green Bay
2 Lawrence J. Kafka Rep. New Denmark
3 Cletus J. Vanderperren Dem. Green Bay
10 Buffalo, Pepin, & Pierce Stanley York Rep. River Falls
Burnett & Polk Harvey L. Dueholm Dem. Luck
02 Calumet Gervase Hephner Dem. Chilton
23 Chippewa Bruce Peloquin Dem. Chippewa Falls
12 Clark William C. Kavanaugh Rep. Greenwood
27 Columbia Wesley L. Packard Rep. Lodi
32 Crawford & Vernon Bernard Lewison Rep. Viroqua
26 Dane 1 Norman C. Anderson Dem. Madison
2 Edward Nager Dem. Madison
3 Robert Uehling Rep. Madison
16 4 Russel R. Weisensel Rep. Sun Prairie
5 David D. O'Malley Dem. Waunakee
13 Dodge 1 Esther Doughty Luckhardt Rep. Horicon
18 2 Elmer C. Nitschke Rep. Beaver Dam
01 Door & Kewaunee Lawrence Johnson Rep. Algoma
25 Douglas Reino A. Perala Dem. Superior
23 Dunn Alvin Baldus Dem. Menomonie
31 Eau Claire 1 Wilmer R. Waters Rep. Eau Claire
2 Louis V. Mato Dem. Fairchild
30 Florence & Marinette Leslie R. Stevenson Dem. Marinette
18 Fond du Lac 1 Earl F. McEssy Rep. Fond du Lac
2 William S. Schwefel Rep. Oakfield
12 Forest, Oneida, & Vilas Paul Alfonsi Rep. Minocqua
17 Grant James N. Azim Jr. Rep. Muscoda
Green & Lafayette G. Fred Galli (died Jan. 10, 1967) Rep. Monroe
Joseph E. Tregoning (from Apr. 10, 1967) Rep. Shullsburg
24 Green Lake & Waushara Franklin M. Jahnke Rep. Markesan
17 Iowa & Richland Gregor J. Bock Rep. Highland
31 Jackson & Trempealeau John Q. Radcliffe Dem. Strum
13 Jefferson Byron F. Wackett Rep. Watertown
22 Kenosha 1 George Molinaro Dem. Kenosha
2 Russell Olson Rep. Randall
32 La Crosse 1 D. Russell Wartinbee Rep. La Crosse
2 Norbert Nuttelman Rep. West Salem
30 Langlade & Oconto Milton McDougal Dem. Oconto Falls
Rep.
12 Lincoln & Taylor Joseph Sweda Dem. Lublin
01 Manitowoc 1 Eugene S. Kaufman Dem. Manitowoc
2 Everett E. Bolle Dem. Two Rivers
29 Marathon 1 Ben A. Riehle (died Nov. 27, 1967) Dem. Athens
--Vacant from Nov. 27, 1967--
2 Dave Obey Dem. Wausau
Menominee & Shawano Herbert J. Grover Dem. Shawano
06 Milwaukee 1 Mark Lipscomb Jr. Dem. Milwaukee
05 2 Joseph E. Jones Dem. Milwaukee
04 3 Joseph F. Bellante Jr. Rep. Milwaukee
09 4 Frank E. Schaeffer Jr. Dem. Milwaukee
06 5 Paul Sicula Dem. Milwaukee
09 6 Lloyd Barbee Dem. Milwaukee
06 7 William A. Johnson Dem. Milwaukee
11 8 Adrian Manders (died Jun. 22, 1967) Dem. Milwaukee
Verna Manders (from Oct. 16, 1967) Dem. Milwaukee
05 9 Edward F. Mertz Dem. Milwaukee
11 10 Fred Kessler Dem. Milwaukee
03 11 Raymond J. Tobiasz Dem. Milwaukee
12 Sam L. Orlich Dem. Milwaukee
09 13 Ronald G. Parys Dem. Milwaukee
03 14 Robert P. Kordus Dem. Milwaukee
05 15 James McCann Dem. Milwaukee
11 16 Richard E. Pabst Dem. Milwaukee
07 17 John E. McCormick Dem. Milwaukee
04 18 James E. Held (died Oct. 15, 1967) Rep. Milwaukee
--Vacant from Oct. 15, 1967--
07 19 Daniel D. Hanna Dem. Milwaukee
08 20 George Klicka Rep. Wauwatosa
21 Richard J. Lynch Dem. West Allis
22 Robert T. Huber Dem. West Allis
28 23 James C. Devitt Dem. Greendale
07 24 William P. Atkinson Dem. South Milwaukee
04 25 Nile Soik Rep. Whitefish Bay
31 Monroe Kyle Kenyon Rep. Tomah
14 Outagamie 1 Harold V. Froehlich Rep. Appleton
2 William J. Rogers Dem. Kaukauna
3 Ervin Conradt Rep. Shiocton
20 Ozaukee J. Curtis McKay Rep. Thiensville
24 Portage Leonard A. Groshek Dem. Stevens Point
25 Price, Rusk & Sawyer Willis J. Hutnik Rep. Ladysmith
21 Racine 1 Earl W. Warren Dem. Racine
2 Manny S. Brown Dem. Racine
28 3 Merrill E. Stalbaum Rep. Waterford
15 Rock 1 Lewis T. Mittness Dem. Janesville
16 2 Carolyn Blanchard Rep. Edgerton
15 3 George B. Belting Rep. Beloit
27 Sauk Oscar A. Laper Jr. Rep. Rock Springs
20 Sheboygan 1 Kenneth Kunde (res. Aug. 11, 1967) Dem. Sheboygan
Carl Otte (from Oct. 16, 1967) Dem. Sheboygan
2 Harry L. Gessert Rep. Elkhart Lake
10 St. Croix Robert M. Boche Rep. Star Prairie
22 Walworth Clarence J. Wilger Rep. Elkhorn
13 Washington Frederick C. Schroeder Rep. West Bend
33 Waukesha 1 Kenneth Merkel Rep. Brookfield
2 Harold W. Clemens Rep. Oconomowoc
3 Vincent R. Mathews Dem. Waukesha
28 4 John C. Shabaz Rep. New Berlin
14 Waupaca Gerald K. Anderson Rep. Waupaca
19 Winnebago 1 Jack D. Steinhilber Rep. Oshkosh
2 Floyd E. Shurbert Rep. Oshkosh
3 David O. Martin Rep. Menasha
24 Wood 1 Raymond F. Heinzen Rep. Marshfield
2 Harvey F. Gee Rep. Wisconsin Rapids

Committees

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Senate committees

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  • Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture – F. E. Panzer, chair
  • Senate Standing Committee on Conservation – C. Krueger, chair
  • Senate Standing Committee on Education – H. Rasmusen, chair
  • Senate Standing Committee on Governmental and Veterans Affairs – W. Draheim, chair
  • Senate Standing Committee on Highways – R. La Fave, 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 – A. Meunier, chair
  • Senate Special Committee on Committees – R. Bice, chair
  • Senate Special Committee on Legislative Procedure – R. P. Knowles, chair
  • Senate Special Committee on Senate Organization – J. Leonard, chair

Assembly committees

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  • Assembly Standing Committee on Agriculture – N. Nuttelman, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Commerce and Manufactures – L. H. Johnson, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Conservation – P. Alfonsi, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Education – D. R. Wartinbee, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Elections – E. F. McEssy, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Excise and Fees – F. E. Shurbert, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Highways – W. J. Hutnik, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Insurance and Banking – K. Kenyon, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on the Judiciary – G. K. Anderon, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Labor – N. Soik, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Municipalities – J. C. McKay, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Printing – F. C. Schroeder, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Public Welfare – H. F. Gee, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on State Affairs – B. Lewison, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Taxation – F. M. Jahnke, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Transportation – E. C. Nitschke, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Veterans and Military Affairs – H. W. Clemens, chair
  • Assembly Special Committee on Assembly Organization – H. V. Froehlich, chair
  • Assembly Special Committee on Contingent Expenditures – G. J. Bock, chair
  • Assembly Special Committee on Engrossed Bills – E. Doughty, chair
  • Assembly Special Committee on Enrolled Bills – R. Uehling, chair
  • Assembly Special Committee on Revision – H. L. Gessert, chair
  • Assembly Special Committee on Rules – W. J. Hutnik, chair
  • Assembly Special Committee on Third Reading – C. Blanchard, chair

Joint committees

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  • Joint Standing Committee on Finance – W. G. Hollander (Sen.) & B. F. Wackett (Asm.), co-chairs
  • Joint Standing Committee on Legislative Organization – R. P. Knowles (Sen.) & H. V. Froehlich (Asm.), co-chairs
  • Joint Standing Committee on Revisions, Repeals, and Uniform Laws – E. Keppler (Sen.) & G. B. Belting (Asm.), co-chairs
  • Joint Legislative Council – J. Leonard, chair

Employees

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Senate employees

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  • Chief Clerk: William P. Nugent[3]
  • Sergeant-at-Arms: Harry O. Levander (died Nov. 16, 1967)
    • Kenneth Nicholson (from Nov. 16, 1967)

Assembly employees

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Notes

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  1. ^ Republican George M. Borg (15th District) resigned.
  2. ^ Republican James D. Swan (15th District) was sworn in to replace George M. Borg.
  3. ^ Republican G. Fred Galli (Green & Lafayette counties) died.
  4. ^ Republican Joseph E. Tregoning (Green & Lafayette counties) was sworn in to replace G. Fred Galli.
  5. ^ Democrat Adrian Manders (Milwaukee County) died.
  6. ^ Democrat Kenneth Kunde (Sheboygan County) resigned.
  7. ^ Republican James E. Held (Milwaukee County) died.
  8. ^ Democrats Carl Otte (Sheboygan County) and Verna Manders (Milwaukee County) were sworn in to replace Kenneth Kunde and Adrian Manders.
  9. ^ Democrat Milton McDougal (Langlade & Oconto counties) switched his part affiliation to Republican.
  10. ^ Democrat Ben A. Riehle (Marathon County) died.

References

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  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ a b Theobald, H. Rupert; Robbins, Patricia V., eds. (1968). "Biographies". The Wisconsin Blue Book 1968 (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. pp. 20–68. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
  3. ^ a b Theobald, H. Rupert; Robbins, Patricia V., eds. (1968). "The Legislative Branch". The Wisconsin Blue Book 1968 (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. pp. 342–362. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
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