77th Wisconsin Legislature

The Seventy-Seventh Wisconsin Legislature convened from January 13, 1965, to January 2, 1967, in regular session.[1]

77th Wisconsin Legislature
76th 78th
Wisconsin State Capitol
Overview
Legislative bodyWisconsin Legislature
Meeting placeWisconsin State Capitol
TermJanuary 4, 1965 – January 2, 1967
ElectionNovember 3, 1964
Senate
Members33
Senate PresidentPatrick Lucey (D)
President pro temporeFrank E. Panzer (R)
Party controlRepublican
Assembly
Members100
Assembly SpeakerRobert T. Huber (D)
Speaker pro temporeGeorge Molinaro (D)
Party controlDemocratic
Sessions
RegularJanuary 13, 1965 – January 2, 1967

This was the first legislative session after the redistricting of the Senate and Assembly according to a decision of the Wisconsin Supreme Court in 1964.

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 3, 1964. Senators representing odd-numbered districts were serving the third and fourth year of a four-year term, having been elected in the general election of November 6, 1962.[1]

Major events

Major legislation

  • December 30, 1965: An Act ... relating to a public defender at appellate level, 1965 Act 479. Created the position of state public defender and placed the role under supervision of the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
  • 1965 Joint Resolution 2: Second legislative passage of a proposed amendment to the state constitution to revise the definition of lotteries. This amendment was ratified by voters at the April 1965 election.
  • 1965 Joint Resolution 5: Second legislative passage of a proposed amendment to the state constitution to abolish the county offices of coroner and surveyor in counties with a population greater than 500,000 (at the time, this only applied to Milwaukee County). This amendment was ratified by voters at the April 1965 election.
  • 1965 Joint Resolution 14: Second legislative passage of a proposed amendment to the state constitution to allow legislators to serve in the military without vacating their legislative seat. This amendment was ratified by voters at the April 1966 election.
  • 1965 Joint Resolution 50: Second legislative passage of two proposed amendments to the state constitution to allow the legislature to create inferior courts and to abolish the office of justice of the peace. Both amendments were ratified by voters at the April 1966 election.

Party summary

Senate summary

Senate partisan composition
  Democratic: 13 seats
  Republican: 20 seats
Party
(Shading indicates majority caucus)
Total
Dem.Rep.Vacant
End of previous Legislature1022321
Start of Reg. Session1320330
Final voting share39.39%60.61%
Beginning of the next Legislature1221330

Assembly summary

Assembly partisan composition
  Democratic: 53 seats
  Republican: 47 seats
Party
(Shading indicates majority caucus)
Total
Dem.Rep.Vacant
End of previous Legislature47531000
Start of Reg. Session52481000
From Feb. 17, 1965[note 1]51991
From May 11, 1965[note 2]521000
From Sep. 15, 1965[note 3]47991
From Nov. 24, 1965[note 4]531000
Final voting share53%47%
Beginning of the next Legislature48521000

Sessions

  • Regular session: January 13, 1965 – January 2, 1967

Leaders

Senate leadership

Assembly leadership

Members

Members of the Senate

Members of the Senate for the Seventy-Seventh Wisconsin Legislature:[3]

Senate partisan representation
  Democratic: 13 seats
  Republican: 20 seats
Dist.CountiesSenatorResidenceParty
01Door, Kewaunee, & ManitowocAlex MeunierSturgeon BayRep.
02Southern Brown & CalumetRobert W. WarrenGreen BayRep.
03Milwaukee (Southwest City)Casimir KendziorskiMilwaukeeDem.
04Milwaukee (North County)Jerris LeonardMilwaukeeRep.
05Milwaukee (Northwest City)Wilfred SchueleMilwaukeeDem.
06Milwaukee (North City)Martin J. SchreiberMilwaukeeDem.
07Milwaukee (Southeast County & Southeast City)Leland McParlandCudahyDem.
08Milwaukee (Western County)Allen BusbyWest MilwaukeeRep.
09Milwaukee (City Downtown)Norman SussmanMilwaukeeDem.
10Buffalo, Burnett, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, & St. CroixRobert P. KnowlesNew RichmondRep.
11Milwaukee (Western City)Richard J. ZaborskiMilwaukeeDem.
12Clark, Forest, Lincoln, Oneida, Taylor, & VilasClifford KruegerMerrillRep.
13Eastern Dodge, Jefferson, & WashingtonFrank E. PanzerOakfieldRep.
14Outagamie & WaupacaGerald LorgeBear CreekRep.
15Eastern Rock & WalworthPeter P. CarrJanesvilleRep.
16Most of Dane & Western RockCarl W. ThompsonStoughtonDem.
17Grant, Green, Iowa, Lafayette, & RichlandGordon RoseleipDarlingtonRep.
18Fond du Lac & Western DodgeWalter G. HollanderRosendaleRep.
19WinnebagoWilliam DraheimNeenahRep.
20Ozaukee & SheboyganErnest KepplerSheboygan FallsRep.
21Racine (City & Southeast County)Henry DormanRacineDem.
22KenoshaJoseph LouriganKenoshaDem.
23Barron, Chippewa, Dunn, & WashburnHolger RasmusenSpoonerRep.
24Green Lake, Portage, Waushara, & WoodWilliam C. HansenStevens PointDem.
25Ashland, Bayfield, Douglas, Iron, Price, Rusk, & SawyerFrank Christopherson Jr.SuperiorDem.
26Dane (Madison)Fred RisserMadisonDem.
27Adams, Columbia, Juneau, Marquette, & SaukJess MillerRichland CenterRep.
28Southwest Milwaukee, Most of Racine, & Southern WaukeshaTaylor BensonRaymondDem.
29Marathon, Menominee, & ShawanoCharles F. Smith Jr.WausauRep.
30Northern Brown, Florence, Langlade, Marinette, & OcontoReuben La FaveOcontoRep.
31Eau Claire, Jackson, Monroe, & TrempealeauJ. Earl LeverichSpartaRep.
32Crawford, La Crosse, & VernonRaymond Bice Sr.La CrosseRep.
33Waukesha (Northern half)Chester DempseyHartlandRep.

Members of the Assembly

Members of the Assembly for the Seventy-Seventh Wisconsin Legislature:[3]

Assembly partisan composition
  Democratic: 53 seats
  Republican: 47 seats
Milwaukee County districts
Senate
Dist.
CountyDist.RepresentativePartyResidence
27Adams, Juneau, & MarquetteLouis C. RomellRep.Adams
25Ashland, Bayfield, & IronBernard E. GehrmannRep.Ashland
23Barron & WashburnFred J. MoserDem.Cumberland
02Brown1Jerome QuinnRep.Green Bay
2Lawrence J. KafkaRep.New Denmark
3Cletus J. VanderperrenDem.Green Bay
10Buffalo, Pepin, & PierceMilton S. BuchliDem.Montana
Burnett & PolkHarvey L. DueholmDem.Luck
02CalumetWilmer H. StruebingRep.Brillion
23ChippewaBruce PeloquinDem.Chippewa Falls
12ClarkFrank NikolayDem.Abbotsford
27ColumbiaEverett BidwellRep.Portage
32Crawford & VernonBernard LewisonRep.Viroqua
26Dane1Norman C. AndersonDem.Madison
2Edward NagerDem.Madison
3Robert UehlingRep.Madison
164Jerome L. BlaskaDem.Sun Prairie
5David D. O'MalleyDem.Waunakee
13Dodge1Esther S. DoughtyRep.Horicon
182Elmer C. NitschkeRep.Beaver Dam
01Door & KewauneeLawrence JohnsonRep.Algoma
25DouglasReino A. PeralaDem.Superior
23DunnFrancis L. PetersonRep.Boyceville
31Eau Claire1Thomas H. BarlandRep.Eau Claire
2Louis V. MatoDem.Fairchild
30Florence & MarinetteRobert Haase (res. Sep. 15, 1965)Rep.Marinette
Leslie R. Stevenson (from Nov. 24, 1965)Dem.Marinette
18Fond du Lac1Earl F. McEssyRep.Fond du Lac
2William S. SchwefelRep.Oakfield
12Forest, Oneida, & VilasPaul AlfonsiRep.Minocqua
17GrantJames N. Azim Jr.Rep.Muscoda
Green & LafayetteG. Fred GalliRep.Monroe
24Green Lake & WausharaFranklin M. JahnkeRep.Markesan
17Iowa & RichlandGregor J. BockRep.Highland
31Jackson & TrempealeauJohn Q. RadcliffeDem.Strum
13JeffersonByron F. WackettRep.Watertown
22Kenosha1George MolinaroDem.Kenosha
2Earl H. ElfersDem.Salem
32La Crosse1D. Russell WartinbeeRep.La Crosse
2Norbert NuttelmanRep.West Salem
30Langlade & OcontoMilton McDougalDem.Oconto Falls
12Lincoln & TaylorJoseph SwedaDem.Lublin
01Manitowoc1Eugene S. KaufmanDem.Manitowoc
2Everett E. BolleDem.Two Rivers
29Marathon1Ben A. RiehleDem.Athens
2Dave ObeyDem.Wausau
Menominee & ShawanoHerbert J. GroverDem.Shawano
06Milwaukee1Mark Lipscomb Jr.Dem.Milwaukee
052Joseph E. JonesDem.Milwaukee
043Angelo F. GrecoDem.Milwaukee
094Frank E. Schaeffer Jr.Dem.Milwaukee
065Thomas M. SchausDem.Milwaukee
096Lloyd BarbeeDem.Milwaukee
067Allen J. Flannigan (died Feb. 17, 1965)Dem.Milwaukee
William A. Johnson (from May 11, 1965)Dem.Milwaukee
118Adrian MandersDem.Milwaukee
059Edward F. MertzDem.Milwaukee
1110Fred KesslerDem.Milwaukee
0311Raymond J. TobiaszDem.Milwaukee
12Albert R. TadychDem.Milwaukee
0913Ronald G. ParysDem.Milwaukee
0314Robert P. KordusDem.Milwaukee
0515James McCannDem.Milwaukee
1116Wayne F. WhittowDem.Milwaukee
0717John E. McCormickDem.Milwaukee
0418Louis J. CeciRep.Milwaukee
0719Daniel D. HannaDem.Milwaukee
0820Glen PommereningRep.Wauwatosa
21Richard J. LynchDem.West Allis
22Robert T. HuberDem.West Allis
2823Robert SchmidtDem.Greendale
0724William P. AtkinsonDem.South Milwaukee
0425Nile SoikRep.Whitefish Bay
31MonroeKyle KenyonRep.Tomah
14Outagamie1Harold V. FroehlichRep.Appleton
2William J. RogersDem.Kaukauna
3Ervin ConradtRep.Shiocton
20OzaukeeJ. Curtis McKayRep.Thiensville
24PortageNorman MyhraDem.Stevens Point
25Price, Rusk & SawyerWillis J. HutnikRep.Ladysmith
21Racine1Earl W. WarrenDem.Racine
2Manny S. BrownDem.Racine
283Merrill E. StalbaumRep.Waterford
15Rock1Lewis T. MittnessDem.Janesville
162Carolyn BlanchardRep.Edgerton
153George B. BeltingRep.Beloit
27SaukWalter TerryRep.Baraboo
20Sheboygan1Kenneth KundeDem.Sheboygan
2Harry L. GessertRep.Elkhart Lake
10St. CroixDonald L. IversonDem.Hudson
22WalworthGeorge M. BorgRep.Delavan
13WashingtonFrederick C. SchroederRep.West Bend
33Waukesha1Kenneth MerkelRep.Brookfield
2Harold W. ClemensRep.Oconomowoc
3Vincent R. MathewsDem.Waukesha
284John C. ShabazRep.New Berlin
14WaupacaGerald K. AndersonRep.Waupaca
19Winnebago1William A. SteigerRep.Oshkosh
2Floyd E. ShurbertRep.Oshkosh
3David O. MartinRep.Menasha
24Wood1Raymond F. HeinzenRep.Marshfield
2Harvey F. GeeRep.Wisconsin Rapids

Committees

Senate committees

  • Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture – J. E. Leverich, chair
  • Senate Standing Committee on Conservation – C. Krueger, chair
  • Senate Standing Committee on Education – P. P. Carr, chair
  • Senate Standing Committee on Governmental and Veterans Affairs – W. Draheim, chair
  • Senate Standing Committee on Highways – J. Miller, 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 – C. Dempsey, chair
  • Senate Standing Committee on Senate Organization – F. E. Panzer, chair
  • Senate Special Committee on Committees – R. Bice, chair
  • Senate Special Committee on Contingent Expenditures – R. La Fave, chair
  • Senate Special Committee on Legislative Procedure – F. E. Panzer, chair

Assembly committees

  • Assembly Standing Committee on Agriculture – D. D. O'Malley, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Assembly Organization – R. T. Huber, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Commerce and Manufactures – E. S. Kaufman, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Conservation – N. C. Anderson, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Contingent Expenditures – K. Kunde, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Education – A. F. Greco, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Elections – V. R. Mathews, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Engrossed Bills – E. H. Elfers, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Enrolled Bills – L. Barbee, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Excise and Fees – E. E. Bolle, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Highways – J. L. Blaska, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Insurance and Banking – J. E. McCormick, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on the Judiciary – F. Nikolay, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Labor – J. E. Jones, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Municipalities – F. E. Schaeffer, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Printing – B. A. Riehle, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Public Welfare – H. L. Dueholm, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Revision – L. V. Mato, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Rules – F. Nikolay, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on State Affairs – E. W. Warren, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Taxation – R. A. Perala, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Third Reading – M. Lipscomb, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Transportation – R. J. Tobiasz, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Veterans and Military Affairs – N. Myhra, chair

Joint committees

  • Joint Standing Committee on Finance – W. G. Hollander (Sen.) & G. Molinaro (Asm.), co-chairs
  • Joint Standing Committee on Legislative Organization – R. Haase, chair
  • Joint Standing Committee on Revisions, Repeals, and Uniform Laws – E. Keppler (Sen.) & E. Nager (Asm.), co-chairs
  • Joint Legislative Council – R. T. Huber, chair

Employees

Senate employees

  • Chief Clerk: Lawrence R. Larsen[4] (died March 2, 1965)
    • William P. Nugent
  • Sergeant-at-Arms: Harold E. Damon

Assembly employees

  • Chief Clerk: James P. Buckley[4]
  • Sergeant-at-Arms: Thomas H. Browne

Changes from the 76th Legislature

New districts for the 77th Legislature were defined in the case of State ex rel. Reynolds v. Zimmerman, decided by the Wisconsin Supreme Court in May 1964. This was the first time redistricting in Wisconsin was performed by a court.[5]

Senate redistricting

Summary of Senate changes

  • Only 5 districts were left unchanged.
  • 7 counties were split into two or more districts, the most since the 1892 redistricting.
  • 18 districts comprised at least some split county component, the most in the history of the state.
  • Brown County went from having its own district to being split between two shared districts (2, 30).
  • Kenosha County became its own district (22) after previously having been in a shared district with Walworth.
  • Milwaukee County went from having 8 districts to 8 (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11) plus part of a 9th (28).
  • Rock County went from having its own district to being split between two shared districts (15, 16).
  • Winnebago County became its own district (19) after previously having been in a shared district with Calumet.

Senate districts

Map after redistricting, changes highlighted.
  Territory which was moved to a new district
  Districts which were entirely unchanged
  Districts which contain none of their prior territory
Dist.76th Legislature77th Legislature
1Door, Kewaunee, Manitowoc countiesDoor, Kewaunee, Manitowoc counties
2Brown CountyBrown (south & east), Calumet counties
3Milwaukee County (city south)Milwaukee County (city southwest)
4Milwaukee County (northern quarter)Milwaukee County (north)
5Milwaukee County (city northwest)Milwaukee County (city northwest)
6Milwaukee County (city northeast)Milwaukee County (city north)
7Milwaukee County (southern quarter)Milwaukee County (southeast)
8Milwaukee County (middle-west)Milwaukee County (middle-west)
9Milwaukee County (city center)Milwaukee County (city center)
10Buffalo, Dunn, Pepin, Pierce, St. Croix countiesBuffalo, Burnett, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, St. Croix counties
11Milwaukee County (city west)Milwaukee County (city west)
12Ashland, Iron, Price, Rusk, Sawyer, Vilas countiesClark, Forest, Lincoln, Oneida, Taylor, Vilas counties
13Dodge, Washington countiesDodge (east half), Jefferson, Washington counties
14Outagamie, Waupaca countiesOutagamie, Waupaca counties
15Rock CountyRock (east half), Walworth counties
16Dane County (excluding Madison)Dane (excluding Madison), Rock (west half) counties
17Grant, Green, Iowa, Lafayette countiesGrant, Green, Iowa, Lafayette, Richland counties
18Fond du Lac, Green Lake, Waushara countiesDodge (west half), Fond du Lac counties
19Calumet, Winnebago countiesWinnebago County
20Ozaukee, Sheboygan countiesOzaukee, Sheboygan counties
21Racine CountyRacine County (southeast)
22Kenosha, Walworth countiesKenosha County
23Barron, Burnett, Polk, Rusk, Sawyer, Washburn countiesBarron, Chippewa, Dunn, Washburn counties
24Clark, Portage, Wood countiesGreen Lake, Portage, Waushara, Wood counties
25Ashland, Bayfield, Douglas countiesAshland, Bayfield, Douglas, Iron, Price, Rusk, Sawyer counties
26Dane County (Madison)Dane County (Madison)
27Columbia, Crawford, Richland, Sauk countiesAdams, Columbia, Juneau, Marquette, Sauk counties
28Chippewa, Eau Claire countiesMilwaukee (southwest), Racine (most), Waukesha (south half) counties
29Marathon, Menominee, Shawano countiesMarathon, Menominee, Shawano counties
30Florence, Forest, Langlade, Marinette, Oconto countiesBrown (north & west), Florence, Langlade, Marinette, Oconto counties
31Adams, Juneau, Monroe, Marquette, Vernon countiesEau Claire, Jackson, Monroe, Trempealeau counties
32Jackson, La Crosse, Trempealeau countiesCrawford, La Crosse, Vernon counties
33Jefferson, Waukesha countiesWaukesha County (north half)

Assembly redistricting

Summary of Assembly changes

  • Only 22 districts were left unchanged.
  • Barron County went from having its own district to being in a shared district with Washburn.
  • Douglas County went from having 2 districts to 1.
  • Green County went from having its own district to being in a shared district with Lafayette.
  • Lincoln County went from having its own district to being in a shared district with Taylor.
  • Marinette County went from having its own district to being in a shared district with Florence.
  • Oconto County went from having its own district to being in a shared district with Langlade.
  • Milwaukee County went from having 24 districts to 25.
  • Outagamie County went from having 2 districts to 3.
  • Waukesha County went from having 2 districts to 3.

Assembly districts

CountyDistricts in 76th LegislatureDistricts in 77th LegislatureChange
AdamsShared with Juneau & MarquetteShared with Juneau & Marquette
AshlandShared with BayfieldShared with Bayfield & Iron
Barron1 DistrictShared with Washburn
BayfieldShared with AshlandShared with Ashland & Iron
Brown3 Districts3 Districts
BuffaloShared with Pepin & PierceShared with Pepin & Pierce
BurnettShared with PolkShared with Polk
Calumet1 District1 District
Chippewa1 District1 District
Clark1 District1 District
Columbia1 District1 District
CrawfordShared with RichlandShared with Vernon
Dane5 Districts5 Districts
Dodge2 Districts2 Districts
DoorShared with KewauneeShared with Kewaunee
Douglas2 Districts1 District
Dunn1 District1 District
Eau Claire2 Districts2 Districts
FlorenceShared with Forest & LangladeShared with Marinette
Fond du Lac2 Districts2 Districts
ForestShared with Florence & LangladeShared with Oneida & Vilas
Grant1 District1 District
Green1 DistrictShared with Lafayette
Green LakeShared with WausharaShared with Waushara
IowaShared with LafayetteShared with Richland
IronShared with Oneida & VilasShared with Ashland & Bayfield
JacksonShared with TrempealeauShared with Trempealeau
Jefferson1 District1 District
JuneauShared with Adams & MarquetteShared with Adams & Marquette
Kenosha2 Districts2 Districts
KewauneeShared with DoorShared with Door
La Crosse2 Districts2 Districts
LafayetteShared with IowaShared with Green
LangladeShared with Florence & ForestShared with Oconto
Lincoln1 DistrictShared with Taylor
Manitowoc2 Districts2 Districts
Marathon2 Districts2 Districts
Marinette1 DistrictShared with Florence
MarquetteShared with Adams & JuneauShared with Adams & Juneau
MenomineeShared with ShawanoShared with Shawano
Milwaukee24 Districts25 Districts
Monroe1 District1 District
Oconto1 DistrictShared with Langlade
OneidaShared with Iron & VilasShared with Forest & Vilas
Outagamie2 Districts3 Districts
Ozaukee1 District1 District
PepinShared with Buffalo & PierceShared with Buffalo & Pierce
PierceShared with Buffalo & PepinShared with Buffalo & Pepin
PolkShared with BurnettShared with Burnett
Portage1 District1 District
PriceShared with TaylorShared with Rusk & Sawyer
Racine3 Districts3 Districts
RichlandShared with CrawfordShared with Iowa
Rock3 Districts3 Districts
RuskShared with Sawyer & WashburnShared with Price & Sawyer
Sauk1 District1 District
SawyerShared with Rusk & WashburnShared with Price & Rusk
ShawanoShared with MenomineeShared with Menominee
Sheboygan2 Districts2 Districts
St. Croix1 District1 District
TaylorShared with PriceShared with Lincoln
TrempealeauShared with JacksonShared with Jackson
Vernon1 DistrictShared with Crawford
VilasShared with Iron & OneidaShared with Forest & Oneida
Walworth1 District1 District
WashburnShared with Rusk & SawyerShared with Barron
Washington1 District1 District
Waukesha2 Districts4 Districts
Waupaca1 District1 District
WausharaShared with Green LakeShared with Green Lake
Winnebago3 Districts3 Districts
Wood2 District2 District

Notes

References