The One-Hundredth Wisconsin Legislature convened from January 3, 2011, through January 7, 2013, in regular session, though it adjourned for legislative activity on May 22, 2012. The legislature also held two special sessions and an extraordinary session during this legislative term.

This session was the start of eight years of unified Republican control of the governor's office and both chambers of the legislature. In this session, new governor Scott Walker pushed through the controversial 2011 Wisconsin Act 10, referred to at the time as the "Budget Repair Bill". The most controversial provision of the law was the stripping of state employees of collective bargaining rights. During consideration of the bill, mass protests erupted at the state capitol, and Democratic state senators fled the state in order to deny the Senate a quorum needed for budgetary legislation. Republicans in the state senate were eventually able to circumvent the quorum issue by stripping out all budgetary items from the bill and passing it as ordinary legislation. The session also saw passage of 2011 Wisconsin Act 43, the dramatic gerrymander which successfully locked in Republican control of the legislature for the next decade.

Following the outrage over Act 10, recall elections were held in 2011 and 2012 in which 13 state senators were challenged. Three were eventually removed from office and replaced by Democrats—one other resigned, but was replaced by a senator of the same party. The result was that Democrats briefly regained the senate majority in the second half of 2012. The governor was also subject to a recall election in 2012, but survived with roughly the same election margin as he had won in the 2010 election.

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 2, 2010. Senators representing even-numbered districts were serving the third and fourth year of their four-year term, having been elected in the general election held on November 4, 2008.

The governor of Wisconsin during this entire term was Republican Scott Walker, of Milwaukee County, serving the first two years of a four-year term, having won election in the 2010 Wisconsin gubernatorial election.

Major events

January 3, 2011: Inauguration of Scott Walker as the 45th Governor of Wisconsin. February 14, 2011: Major protests began at the Wisconsin State Capitol over the proposed "Budget Repair" Bill. February 17, 2011: 14 Democratic senators fled the state to deny the senate a quorum and prevent passage of the Budget Repair Bill. March 9, 2011: Senate Republicans amended the Budget Repair Bill to remove budgetary items, allowing it to pass without a quorum. July 19, 2011: Senator Dave Hansen survived a recall election. August 9, 2011: 2011 Wisconsin recall elections: Senators Randy Hopper and Dan Kapanke were defeated in recall elections, they were replaced by Jessica King and Jennifer Shilling, respectively. Senators Robert Cowles, Alberta Darling, Sheila Harsdorf, and Luther Olsen survived recall elections. August 16, 2011: Senators Jim Holperin and Robert Wirch survived recall elections. March 16, 2012: Pam Galloway resigned from the Wisconsin Senate. June 5, 2012: 2012 Wisconsin recall elections: Governor Scott Walker survived a recall election. Senator Van H. Wanggaard was defeated in a recall election and was replaced by John Lehman. Senators Scott L. Fitzgerald and Terry Moulton survived recall elections. Jerry Petrowski was elected to the Senate in a special election.

Major legislation

March 11, 2011: Act relating to state finances, collective bargaining for public employees, compensation and fringe benefits of public employees, the state civil service system, the Medical Assistance program, 2011 Act 10. The controversial Budget Repair Bill which removed collective bargaining rights from state employees, prompted months of protests at the state capitol, and ultimately led to recall elections for thirteen senators and Governor Scott Walker. August 9, 2011: Act relating to legislative redistricting, 2011 Act 43. An overhaul of Wisconsin legislative voting districts fortified the Republican majorities through gerrymandering.

Party summary

Senate summary

Party (Shading indicates majority caucus)TotalDemocraticRepublicanVacant End of previous Legislature 18 15 33 0 Start of Reg. Session 14 19 33 0 From Aug. 8, 2011Republicans Randy Hopper (18th district) and Dan Kapanke (32nd district) were recalled from office. 17 31 2 From Aug. 25, 2011Democrats Jessica King (18th district) and Jennifer Shilling (32nd district) were sworn in to replace Randy Hopper and Dan Kapanke, respectively. 16 33 0 From Mar. 17, 2012Republican Pam Galloway (29th district) resigned. 16 32 1 From Jul. 11, 2012Republican Van H. Wanggaard (21st district) was recalled from office. 16 15 31 2 From Jul. 17, 2012Democrat John Lehman (21st district) and Republican Jerry Petrowski (29th district) were sworn in to replace Van H. Wanggaard and Pam Galloway, respectively. 17 16 33 0 From Aug. 5, 2012Republican Rich Zipperer (33rd district) resigned. 15 32 1 From Dec. 14, 2012Republican Paul Farrow (33rd district) was sworn in to succeed Rich Zipperer. 16 33 0Final voting share Beginning of the next Legislature 15 18 33 0

Assembly summary

Party (Shading indicates majority caucus)Total Dem. Ind. Rep. Vacant End of previous Legislature 49 2 45 96 3 Start of Reg. SessionRepublicans Mark Gottlieb (60th district), Scott Gunderson (83rd district), and Michael Huebsch (94th district) resigned before the start of the term to accept appointments in Governor Scott Walker's administration. 38157 963 From Apr. 14, 2011Democrat Joe Parisi (48th district) resigned after being elected county executive. 37 95 4 From May 3, 2011Republicans Duey Stroebel (60th district) and David Craig (83rd district) and Democrat Steve Doyle (94th district) were sworn in to replace Mark Gottlieb, Scott Gunderson, and Michael Huebsch, respectively. 38 59 98 1 From Aug. 9, 2011Democrat Jennifer Shilling (95th district) resigned after her election to the state senate. Democrat Chris Taylor (48th district) was sworn in to replace Joe Parisi. From Nov. 8, 2011Democrat Jill Billings (95th district) was sworn in to replace Jennifer Shilling. 39 99 0 From Jun. 5, 2012Republican Jerry Petrowski (86th district) resigned after his election to the state senate. 58 98 1 From Jul. 2, 2012Democrat Barbara Toles (17th district) resigned. 38 97 2 From Dec. 14, 2012Republican Paul Farrow (98th district) resigned after his election to the state senate. 57 96 3 Final voting share Beginning of the next Legislature 39 0 59 98 1

Sessions Regular session: January 3, 2011January 7, 2013 January 2011 special session: January 4, 2011September 27, 2011 June 2011 extraordinary session: June 14, 2011August 1, 2011 September 2011 special session: September 29, 2011December 8, 2011

Leadership Senate leadership President of the Senate: Michael G. Ellis (R–Neenah) Fred Risser (D–Madison) President pro tempore: Joe Leibham (R–Sheboygan) Tim Carpenter (D–Milwaukee)

Senate majority leadership Senate Majority Leader: Scott L. Fitzgerald (R–Juneau) Mark Miller (D–Monona) Assistant Majority Leader: Glenn Grothman (R–West Bend) Dave Hansen (D–Green Bay) Majority Caucus Chair: Dan Kapanke (R–La Crosse) Pam Galloway (R–Wausau) Julie Lassa (D–Stevens Point) Majority Caucus Vice Chair: Sheila Harsdorf (R–River Falls) Kathleen Vinehout (D–Alma)

Senate minority leadership Senate Minority Leader: Mark Miller (D–Monona) Scott L. Fitzgerald (R–Juneau) Assistant Minority Leader: Dave Hansen (D–Green Bay) Glenn Grothman (R–West Bend) Minority Caucus Chair: Julie Lassa (D–Stevens Point) Neal Kedzie (R–Elkhorn) Minority Caucus Vice Chair: Kathleen Vinehout (D–Alma) Sheila Harsdorf (R–River Falls)

Assembly leadership Speaker of the Assembly: Jeff Fitzgerald (R–Horicon) Speaker pro tempore: Bill Kramer (R–Waukesha)

Assembly majority leadership (Republican) Assembly Majority Leader: Scott Suder (R–Abbotsford) Assistant Majority Leader: Dan Knodl (R–Germantown) Assembly Majority Caucus Chair: Joan Ballweg (R–Markesan) Assembly Majority Caucus Vice Chair: John Murtha (R–Baldwin) Assembly Majority Caucus Secretary: Mary Williams (R–Medford) Assembly Majority Caucus Sergeant-at-Arms: Samantha Kerkman (R–Randall)

Assembly minority leadership (Democratic) Assembly Minority Leader: Peter Barca (D–Kenosha) Assistant Minority Leader: Donna Seidel (D–Wausau) Assembly Minority Caucus Chair: Kelda Roys (D–Madison) Assembly Minority Caucus Vice Chair: Fred Clark (D–Baraboo) Assembly Minority Caucus Secretary: Penny Bernard Schaber (D–Appleton) Assembly Minority Caucus Sergeant-at-Arms: Josh Zepnick (D–Milwaukee)

Members

Members of the Senate Members of the Senate for the One-Hundredth Wisconsin Legislature:

Dist. Senator Party Age(2011) Home Firstelected 01 Rep. De Pere, Brown County 2010 02 Rep. Green Bay, Brown County 1987 03 Dem. Milwaukee, Milwaukee County 2002 04 Dem. Milwaukee, Milwaukee County 2004 05 Rep. Wauwatosa, Milwaukee County 2010 06 Dem. Milwaukee, Milwaukee County 2003 07 Dem. Milwaukee, Milwaukee County 2010 08 Rep. River Hills, Milwaukee County 1992 09 Rep. Sheboygan, Sheboygan County 2002 10 Rep. River Falls, Pierce County 2000 11 Rep. Elkhorn, Walworth County 2002 12 Dem. Conover, Vilas County 2008 13 Rep. Juneau, Dodge County 1994 14 Rep. Ripon, Fond du Lac County 2004 15 Dem. Janesville, Rock County 2010 16 Dem. Monona, Dane County 2004 17 Rep. Richland Center, Richland County 1991 18 Rep. Fond du Lac, Fond du Lac County 2008 Dem. Oshkosh, Winnebago County 2011† 19 Rep. Neenah, Winnebago County 1982 20 Rep. West Bend, Washington County 2004 21 Rep. Racine, Racine County 2010 Dem. Racine, Racine County 2012† 22 Dem. Pleasant Prairie, Kenosha County 1996 23 Rep. Chippewa Falls, Chippewa County 2010 24 Dem. Stevens Point, Portage County 2003 25 Dem. Poplar, Douglas County 1986 26 Dem. Madison, Dane County 1962 27 Dem. Waunakee, Dane County 1998 28 Rep. New Berlin, Waukesha County 1998 29 Rep. Wausau, Marathon County 2010 Rep. Marathon, Marathon County 2012 30 Dem. Green Bay, Brown County 2000 31 Dem. Alma, Buffalo County 2006 32 Rep. La Crosse, La Crosse County 2004 Dem. La Crosse, La Crosse County 2011† 33 Rep. Pewaukee, Waukesha County 2010 --Vacant from Aug. 5, 2012-- † Elected in a recall election (2011, 2012)

Members of the Assembly Members of the Assembly for the One-Hundredth Wisconsin Legislature: