The Eightieth Wisconsin Legislature convened from to in regular session, and also convened in a special session in April 1972.

The April 1972 special session was called to come to a final agreement on a pivotal redistricting plan, which eliminated an Assembly district and broke the longstanding precedent of adhering to county boundaries.

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 3, 1970. 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 5, 1968.

The governor of Wisconsin during this entire term was Democrat Patrick Lucey, of Crawford County, serving the first two years of a four-year term, having won election in the 1970 Wisconsin gubernatorial election.

Major events January 4, 1971: Inauguration of Patrick Lucey as the 38th Governor of Wisconsin. March 1, 1971: A bomb exploded in a restroom in the United States Capitol, the Weather Underground claimed responsibility. April 30, 1971: The Milwaukee Bucks won the 1971 NBA Finals. May 3, 1971: The 1971 May Day protests against the Vietnam War began in Washington, D.C., attempting to disrupt government operations. Over 12,000 were arrested. July 1, 1971: The Twenty-sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution came into force when a sufficient number of states ratified. August 15, 1971: In what's known as the Nixon shock, U.S. President Richard Nixon signed Executive Order 11615, ending the convertibility of the U.S. dollar to gold at a fixed value. The order also imposed a 90-day freeze on wages, prices, and rents. December 13, 1971: Wisconsin Assembly speaker Robert T. Huber resigned his seat in the legislature to become chair of the state highway commission. April 4, 1972: 1972 Wisconsin Spring election: Wisconsin voters ratified four amendments to the state constitution: Allowing the legislature to create alternative systems of county government. Allowing counties the option to retain the office of coroner or replace it with a medical examiner. Allowing public school buildings to be utilized for civic, religious, or charitable events during non-school hours. Allowing public school students to receive separate religious instruction outside of public school facilities during school hours. June 17, 1972: Five Nixon campaign operatives were arrested trying to break into the Democratic National Committee offices at the Watergate in Washington, D.C. November 7, 1972: Richard Nixon (R) re-elected President of the United States.

Major legislation November 19, 1971: An Act ... relating to redistricting this state pursuant to the congressional apportionment based on the 1970 census of population, 1971 Act 133. May 8, 1972: An Act ... relating to districting the senate and assembly based on the number of inhabitants shown by the certified results of the 1970 census of population, 1971 Act 304.

Party summary Senate summary

Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) Total Dem. Rep. Vacant End of previous Legislature 11 21 32 1 Start of Reg. SessionDemocrat Martin J. Schreiber (6th District) resigned before the start of the session due to his election as Lieutenant Governor. 12 20 32 1 From May 4, 1971Democrat Mark Lipscomb Jr. (6th District) was sworn in to replace Martin J. Schreiber. 13 33 0 Final 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 48 1 51 100 0 Start of Reg. Session 67 0 33 100 0 From Jan. 19, 1971Democrat John Q. Radcliffe (Jackson & Trempealeau counties) resigned to accept appointment to the state highway commission. 66 99 1 From Apr. 13, 1971Republican Alan S. Robertson (Jackson & Trempealeau counties) was sworn in to replace John Q. Radcliffe. 34 100 0 From May 4, 1971Democrat Mark Lipscomb Jr. (Milwaukee County) resigned to take office in the state senate. 65 99 1 From Sep. 20, 1971Democrat Gus Menos (Milwaukee County) sworn in to replace Mark Lipscomb Jr. 66 100 0 From Dec. 13, 1971Democratic speaker Robert T. Huber (Milwaukee County) resigned to accept appointment to the state highway commission. 65 99 1 From Apr. 19, 1972Democrat Gary J. Barczak (Milwaukee County) was sworn in to replace Robert T. Huber. 66 100 0 Final voting share Beginning of the next Legislature 62 0 37 99 0

Sessions Regular session: January 4, 1971January 1, 1973 April 1972 special session: April 19, 1972April 28, 1972

Leaders Senate leadership President of the Senate: Martin J. Schreiber (D) President pro tempore: Robert P. Knowles (R–New Richmond) Majority leader: Ernest Keppler (R–Sheboygan) Minority leader: Fred Risser (D–Madison)

Assembly leadership Speaker of the Assembly: Robert T. Huber (D–West Allis) Norman C. Anderson (D–Madison) Speaker pro tempore: Joseph Sweda (D–Lublin) Majority leader: Norman C. Anderson (D–Madison) Tony Earl (D–Wausau) Minority leader: Harold V. Froehlich (R–Appleton)

Members Members of the Senate Members of the Senate for the Eightieth Wisconsin Legislature:

Dist. Counties Senator Residence Party 01 Door, Kewaunee, Whitelaw Dem. 02 Southern Brown Green Bay Rep. 03 Milwaukee (Southwest City) Milwaukee Dem. 04 Milwaukee (North County) Milwaukee Rep. 05 Milwaukee Milwaukee Dem. 06 Milwaukee Milwaukee Dem. 07 Milwaukee (Southeast County Milwaukee Dem. 08 Milwaukee West MilwaukeeRep. 09 Milwaukee Milwaukee Dem. 10 Buffalo, Burnett, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, New RichmondRep. 11 Milwaukee (Western City) MilwaukeeDem. 12 Clark, Forest, Lincoln, Oneida, Taylor, MerrillRep. 13 Eastern Dodge, Jefferson, JeffersonDem. 14 Outagamie Bear CreekRep. 15 Eastern Rock ElkhornRep. 16 Most of Dane StoughtonDem. 17 Grant, Green, Iowa, Lafayette, DarlingtonRep. 18 RosendaleRep. 19 Winnebago OshkoshRep. 20 Ozaukee SheboyganRep. 21 Racine RacineDem. 22 Kenosha Kenosha Dem. 23 Barron, Chippewa, Dunn, Chippewa Falls Dem. 24 Green Lake, Portage, Waushara, Marshfield Rep. 25 Ashland, Bayfield, Douglas, Iron, Price, Rusk, Superior Rep. 26 Dane (Madison) Madison Dem. 27 Adams, Columbia, Juneau, Marquette, Portage Rep. 28 Southwest Milwaukee, Greenfield Rep. 29 Marathon, Menominee, Wausau Rep. 30 Northern Brown, Florence, Langlade, Marinette, Oconto Rep. 31 Eau Claire, Jackson, Monroe, Eau Claire Rep. 32 Crawford, La Crosse, La Crosse Rep. 33 Waukesha Waukesha Rep.

Members of the Assembly Members of the Assembly for the Eightieth Wisconsin Legislature:

SenateDist. County Dist. Representative Party Residence 27 Adams, Juneau, Rep. Elroy 25 Ashland, Bayfield, Dem. Washburn 23 Barron Rep. Spooner 02 Brown 1 Rep. Green Bay 2 Rep. New Denmark 3 Dem. Green Bay 10 Buffalo, Pepin, Dem. River Falls Burnett Dem. Luck 02 Calumet Dem. Chilton 23 Chippewa Dem. Chippewa Falls 12 Clark Dem. Stanley 27 Columbia Dem. Poynette 32 Crawford Rep. Viroqua 26 Dane 1 Dem. Madison 2 Dem. Madison 3 Dem. Madison 16 4 Dem. Sun Prairie 5 Dem. Waunakee 13 Dodge 1 Rep. Horicon 18 2 Dem. Beaver Dam 01 Door Dem. Luxemburg 25 Douglas Dem. Superior 23 Dunn Dem. Menomonie 31 Eau Claire 1 Dem. Eau Claire 2 Dem. Fairchild 30 Florence Rep. Peshtigo 18 Fond du Lac 1 Rep. Fond du Lac 2 Rep. Oakfield 12 Forest, Oneida, Dem. Lac du Flambeau 17 Grant Rep. Muscoda Green Rep. Shullsburg 24 Green Lake Rep. Wautoma 17 Iowa Dem. Cazenovia 31 Jackson Dem. Strum Rep. Blair 13 Jefferson Rep. Watertown 22 Kenosha 1 Dem. Kenosha 2 Dem. Kenosha 32 La Crosse 1 Rep. La Crosse 2 Dem. Holmen 30 Langlade Rep. Oconto Falls 12 Lincoln Dem. Lublin 01 Manitowoc 1 Rep. Manitowoc 2 Dem. Two Rivers 29 Marathon 1 Dem. Athens 2 Dem. Wausau Menominee Dem. Shawano 06 Milwaukee 1 Dem. Milwaukee Dem. Milwaukee 05 2 Dem. Milwaukee 04 3 Dem. Milwaukee 09 4 Dem. Milwaukee 06 5 Dem. Milwaukee 09 6 Dem. Milwaukee 06 7 Dem. Milwaukee 11 8 Dem. Milwaukee 05 9 Dem. Milwaukee 11 10 Dem. Milwaukee 03 11 Dem. Milwaukee 12 Dem. Milwaukee 09 13 Dem. Milwaukee 03 14 Dem. Milwaukee 05 15 Dem. Milwaukee 11 16 Dem. Milwaukee 07 17 Dem. Milwaukee 04 18 Dem. Milwaukee 07 19 Dem. Milwaukee 08 20 Rep. Wauwatosa 21 Dem. West Allis 22 Dem. West Allis Dem. West Allis 28 23 Dem. Hales Corners 07 24 Dem. South Milwaukee 04 25 Rep. Shorewood 31 Monroe Rep. Sparta 14 Outagamie 1 Rep. Appleton 2 Dem. Kaukauna 3 Rep. Shiocton 20 Ozaukee Rep. Saukville 24 Portage Dem. Stevens Point 25 Price, Rusk Dem. Phillips 21 Racine 1 Dem. Racine 2 Dem. Racine 28 3 Rep. Waterford 15 Rock 1 Dem. Janesville 16 2 Dem. Milton 15 3 Dem. Beloit 27 Sauk Rep. Sauk City 20 Sheboygan 1 Dem. Sheboygan 2 Dem. Plymouth 10 St. Croix Dem. Woodville 22 Walworth Rep. Elkhorn 13 Washington Rep. West Bend 33 Waukesha 1 Rep. Brookfield 2 Rep. Oconomowoc 3 Dem. Waukesha 28 4 Rep. New Berlin 14 Waupaca Rep. Waupaca 19 Winnebago 1 Rep. Oshkosh 2 Rep. Oshkosh 3 Rep. Neenah 24 Wood 1 Dem. Marshfield 2 Dem. Wisconsin Rapids

Employees Senate employees Chief Clerk: William P. Nugent Sergeant-at-Arms: Kenneth Nicholson

Assembly employees Chief Clerk: Thomas P. Fox Sergeant-at-Arms: William F. Quick

Notes

References

External links 1971: Related Documents from Wisconsin Legislature