The Ninety-Fifth Wisconsin Legislature convened from January 3, 2001, to January 6, 2003, in regular session, and also convened in three special sessions.

During this session, an exposé by the Wisconsin State Journal revealed sprawling corruption in both chambers and both parties in the Wisconsin Legislature. In what was referred to as the "caucus scandal", five legislators, including leaders of both major parties, were eventually implicated and prosecuted for extensive use of state-paid legislative employees for political purposes.

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 7, 2000. Senators representing odd-numbered districts were serving the third and fourth year of their four-year term, having been elected in the general election held on November 3, 1998.

The governor of Wisconsin at the start of this term was Republican Tommy Thompson, of Juneau County, serving the beginning of the third year of his fourth four-year term, having won re-election in the 1998 Wisconsin gubernatorial election. Thompson resigned February 1, 2001, to accept appointment as United States Secretary of Health and Human Services. At that time, the lieutenant governor, Republican Scott McCallum, of Columbia County, then ascended to become governor for the remainder of this legislative term.

Major events January 20, 2001: Inauguration of George W. Bush as 43rd President of the United States. May 20, 2001: The Wisconsin State Journal published its initial exposé revealing state legislators had been misusing legislative staffers for political purposes. September 11, 2001: September 11 attacks destroyed the World Trade Center and damaged The Pentagon. October 1, 2001: Start of Operation Enduring Freedom. October 7, 2001: United States invasion of Afghanistan initiated the War in Afghanistan. May 30, 2002: A three-judge panel of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin published its decision in Baumgart v. Wendelberger, serving as the redistricting plan for Wisconsin for the 2000 United States census. November 5, 2002: 2002 United States general election: Jim Doyle (D) elected Governor of Wisconsin.

Major legislation August 31, 2001: An Act relating to: state finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2001 legislature, 2001 Act 16. Vetoed in part.

Party summary Senate summary

Party (Shading indicates majority caucus)TotalDemocraticRepublicanVacantEnd of previous Legislature 17 15 32 1Start of Reg. Session 18 15 33 0from May 9, 2001Republican Margaret Farrow (District 33) resigned after being appointed Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin. 14 32 1from July 18, 2001Republican Theodore Kanavas (District 33) sworn in to replace Margaret Farrow. 15 33 0 Final voting share Beginning of the next Legislature 13 18 31 2

Assembly summary

Party (Shading indicates majority caucus)TotalDemocraticRepublicanVacantEnd of previous Legislature 45 54 99 0Start of Reg. Session 43 56 99 0 From Aug. 31, 2001Republican Joan Wade (42nd District) resigned. 55 98 1 From Nov. 16, 2001Republican Jacob Hines (42nd District) was sworn in to replace Joan Wade. 56 99 0 From Apr. 30, 2002Republican Scott Walker (14th District) resigned after his election as county executive. 55 98 1 From Aug. 1, 2002Republican Timothy Hoven (60th District) resigned. 54 97 2 From Nov. 5, 2002Republican Leah Vukmir (14th District) was sworn in to replace Scott Walker. 55 98 1 Final voting share Beginning of the next Legislature 41 58 99 0

Sessions Regular session: January 3, 2001January 6, 2003 May 2001 special session: May 1, 2001May 3, 2001 January 2002 special session: January 22, 2002July 8, 2002 May 2002 special session: May 13, 2002May 15, 2002

Leadership Senate President: Fred Risser (D–Madison) President pro tempore: Gary R. George (D–Milwaukee)

Majority Leadership Majority Leader: Charles Chvala (D–Madison) Assistant Majority Leader: Rodney C. Moen (D–Whitehall) Majority Caucus Chair: Judy Robson (D–Beloit)

Minority Leadership Minority Leader: Mary Panzer (R–West Bend) Assistant Minority Leader: Margaret Farrow (R–Pewaukee) Alan Lasee (R–Rockland) Minority Caucus Chair: David Zien (R–Wheaton) Minority Caucus Vice Chair: Carol Roessler (R–Oshkosh)

Assembly Speaker of the Assembly: Scott R. Jensen (R–Waukesha) Speaker pro tempore: Stephen Freese (R–Jamestown)

Majority Leadership Majority Leader: Steven Foti (R–Oconomowoc) Assistant Majority Leader: Bonnie Ladwig (R–Mount Pleasant) Majority Caucus Chair: Daniel P. Vrakas (R–Delafield)

Minority Leadership Minority Leader: Shirley Krug (D–Milwaukee) Spencer Black (D–Madison) Assistant Minority Leader: Spencer Black (D–Madison) James Kreuser (D–Kenosha) Minority Caucus Chair: Peter Bock (D–Milwaukee)

Members Members of the Senate Members of the Senate for the Ninety-Fifth Wisconsin Legislature:

Dist. Senator Party Age(2001) Home Firstelected 01 Rep. De Pere, Brown County 1977 02 Rep. Green Bay, Brown County 1987 03 Dem. Milwaukee, Milwaukee County 1988 04 Dem. Milwaukee, Milwaukee County 1992 05 Rep. Wauwatosa, Milwaukee County 1993 06 Dem. Milwaukee, Milwaukee County 1980 07 Dem. South Milwaukee, Milwaukee County 1995 08 Rep. River Hills, Milwaukee County 1992 09 Dem. Sheboygan, Sheboygan County 1998 10 Rep. River Falls, Pierce County 2000 11 Rep. Waukesha, Waukesha County 1990 12 Dem. Eland, Shawano County 1990 13 Rep. Juneau, Dodge County 1994 14 Rep. Redgranite, Waushara County 1995 15 Dem. Beloit, Rock County 1987 16 Dem. Madison, Dane County 1984 17 Rep. Richland Center, Richland County 1991 18 Rep. Oshkosh, Winnebago County 1987 19 Rep. Neenah, Winnebago County 1982 20 Rep. West Bend, Washington County 1993 21 Dem. Racine, Racine County 1996 22 Dem. Pleasant Prairie, Kenosha County 1996 23 Rep. Eau Claire, Eau Claire County 1993 24 Dem. Stevens Point, Portage County 1995 25 Dem. Poplar, Douglas County 1986 26 Dem. Madison, Dane County 1962 27 Dem. Middleton, Dane County 1998 28 Rep. New Berlin, Waukesha County 1998 29 Dem. Schofield, Marathon County 1990 30 Dem. Green Bay, Brown County 2000 31 Dem. Whitehall, Trempealeau County 1982 32 Dem. La Crosse, La Crosse County 2000 33 Rep. Pewaukee, Waukesha County 1989 Rep. Brookfield, Waukesha County 2001

Members of the Assembly Members of the Assembly for the Ninety-Fifth Wisconsin Legislature:

SenateDist.Dist.RepresentativePartyAge(2001)HomeFirstElected 01 01 Rep. Sister Bay 2000 02 Rep. Bellevue 1994 03 Rep. Brillion 1986 02 04 Rep. Ashwaubenon 1998 05 Dem. Kaukauna 1998 06 Rep. Waukechon 1990 03 07 Dem. Milwaukee 1986 08 Dem. Milwaukee 1998 09 Dem. Milwaukee 1984 04 10 Dem. Milwaukee 1980 11 Dem. Milwaukee 1992 12 Dem. Milwaukee 1984 05 13 Dem. Milwaukee 1990 14 Rep. Wauwatosa 1993 Rep. Wauwatosa 2002 15 Dem. West Allis 1996 06 16 Dem. Milwaukee 1992 17 Dem. Milwaukee 1982 18 Dem. Milwaukee 1992 07 19 Dem. Milwaukee 1998 20 Dem. Milwaukee 1998 21 Dem. South Milwaukee 1996 08 22 Dem. Milwaukee 1994 23 Dem. Milwaukee 1992 24 Rep. Menomonee Falls 1996 09 25 Dem. Manitowoc 1992 26 Rep. Sheboygan 1998 27 Rep. Herman 1998 10 28 Rep. La Follette 1998 29 Dem. Menomonie 1996 30 Rep. Hudson 1998 11 31 Rep. Whitewater 1990 32 Rep. Waukesha 1992 33 Rep. Delafield 1990 12 34 Rep. Eagle River 2000 35 Rep. Merrill 1999 36 Rep. Florence 1992 13 37 Rep. Oakland 1992 38 Rep. Oconomowoc 1982 39 Rep. Beaver Dam 2000 14 40 Rep. Larrabee 1998 41 Rep. Aurora 1994 42 Rep. Montello 1998 Rep. Oxford 2001 15 43 Rep. La Grange 1996 44 Dem. Janesville 1976 45 Dem. Beloit 1998 16 46 Dem. Sun Prairie 1996 47 Rep. Springvale 1990 48 Dem. Monona 1998 17 49 Rep. Platteville 2000 50 Rep. Westfield 1991 51 Rep. Dodgeville 1990 18 52 Rep. 1998 53 Rep. Nekimi 1992 54 Rep. Oshkosh 1987 19 55 Rep. Neenah 1990 56 Rep. Appleton 2000 57 Rep. Appleton 1996 20 58 Rep. Hartford 1988 59 Rep. West Bend 1993 60 Rep. Port Washington 1994 --Vacant from Aug. 1, 2002-- 21 61 Dem. Racine 1990 62 Dem. Racine 1996 63 Rep. Mount Pleasant 1992 22 64 Dem. Kenosha 1993 65 Dem. Pleasant Prairie 1996 66 Rep. Randall 2000 23 67 Rep. Eagle Point 1996 68 Dem. Eau Claire 1998 69 Rep. Abbotsford 1998 24 70 Rep. Pittsville 2000 71 Dem. Plover 1998 72 Dem. Wisconsin Rapids 1970 25 73 Dem. Summit 1986 74 Dem. Port Wing 1998 75 Dem. Rice Lake 1984 26 76 Dem. Madison 1998 77 Dem. Madison 1984 78 Dem. Madison 1998 27 79 Rep. Primrose 1993 80 Rep. Albany 1994 81 Dem. Madison 1978 28 82 Rep. Greenfield 1998 83 Rep. Norway 1994 84 Rep. New Berlin 1998 29 85 Dem. Wausau 1988 86 Rep. Stettin 1998 87 Dem. Ladysmith 1990 30 88 Rep. Green Bay 2000 89 Rep. Peshtigo 1987 90 Dem. Green Bay 1992 31 91 Dem. Whitehall 1982 92 Rep. Irving 1984 93 Rep. Eau Claire 1992 32 94 Rep. West Salem 1994 95 Dem. La Crosse 2000 96 Rep. Eastman 1984 33 97 Dem. Milwaukee 1983 98 Rep. New Berlin 1988 99 Rep. Brookfield 1989

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