The Eighty-Second Wisconsin Legislature convened from to in regular session, and also convened in four special sessions.

This was the first legislative term since 1893, when the Democratic Party of Wisconsin held the Governor's office and majorities in both chambers of the Legislature.

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 5, 1974. 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 7, 1972.

The governor of Wisconsin during this entire term was Democrat Patrick Lucey, of Crawford County, serving the first two years of his second four-year term, having won re-election in the 1974 Wisconsin gubernatorial election.

Major events January 1, 1975: Former Attorney General of the United States John N. Mitchell was convicted of perjury for his part in the Watergate scandal. Former White House chief of staff H. R. Haldeman and former White House domestic affairs advisor John Ehrlichman were convicted on perjury, conspiracy, and obstruction charges. January 6, 1975: Second inauguration of Patrick Lucey as Governor of Wisconsin. April 1, 1975: 1975 Wisconsin Spring election: Voters ratified two amendments to the state constitution: Allowing the state to take on debt to make veterans' housing loans. Repealing the section of the constitution which removed voting rights from any person found to have engaged in or facilitated a duel. Voters also rejected two other amendments to the state constitution: Would have allowed municipalities to bypass normal debt limits to pay for revenue-generating infrastructure. Would have allowed the state to take on debt to fund transportation infrastructure (beyond the existing allowances for highways and port facilities). This referendum was later ruled invalid and ordered to be rerun. April 30, 1975: Saigon was captured by forces of the People's Army of Vietnam, effectively ending the Vietnam War. November 15, 1975: The 1st G6 summit was held at Rambouillet, France. April 6, 1976: 1976 Wisconsin Spring election: Georgia Governor Jimmy Carter won the 1976 Wisconsin Democratic presidential primary. Wisconsin voters rejected an amendment to the state constitution which would have raised the limit on municipal indebtedness. May 11, 1976: U.S. President Gerald Ford signed the Federal Election Campaign Act into law. May 23, 1976: Wisconsin Supreme Court chief justice Horace W. Wilkie died. Justice Bruce F. Beilfuss became the 22nd chief justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court due to the rule of seniority. September 7, 1976: Wisconsin Governor Patrick Lucey appointed Shirley Abrahamson to the Wisconsin Supreme Court, to succeed Horace W. Wilkie. She was the first female justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court. November 2, 1976: 1976 United States general election: Jimmy Carter (D) elected President of the United States. William Proxmire (D) re-elected United States senator from Wisconsin. Wisconsin voters again rejected the amendment to the state constitution which would have allowed state to take on debt to fund transportation infrastructure.

Major legislation July 30, 1975: An Act ... relating to state finances and appropriations constituting the executive budget bill of the' 1975 legislature, and making appropriations, 1975 Act 39. It was vetoed in part, but the vetoes were overridden. Established the office of secretary of the Department of Health and Social Services, making it a gubernatorial appointee. 1975 Joint Resolution 13: First legislative passage of a proposed a series of amendments to the state constitution to overhaul the state judiciary, establishing a court of appeals, collapsing the county courts into the circuit courts, and establishing the administrative powers of the supreme court over the subordinate state courts. These amendments were eventually ratified at the April 1977 election.

Party summary Senate summary

Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) Total Dem. Rep. Vacant End of previous Legislature 14 18 32 1 Start of Reg. SessionRepublican Bob Kasten (4th District) and Democrat Doug La Follette (22nd District) resigned before the start of the session due to election to other offices. 18 13 31 2 From Apr. 8, 1975Republican Jim Sensenbrenner (4th District) and Democrat John J. Maurer (22nd District) were sworn in to replace Bob Kasten and Doug La Follette, respectively. 19 14 33 0 From Apr. 30, 1976Democrat Wayne F. Whittow (11th District) resigned after being elected Milwaukee city treasurer. 18 32 1 From Dec. 8, 1976Democrat Warren Braun (11th District) was sworn in to replace Wayne F. Whittow. 19 33 0 Final voting share Beginning of the next Legislature 23 10 33 0

Assembly summary

Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) Total Dem. Rep. Vacant End of previous Legislature 62 37 99 0 Start of Reg. Session 63 36 99 0 From Apr. 8, 1975Republican Jim Sensenbrenner (10th District) resigned after election to the state senate. 35 98 1 From Sep. 2, 1975Republican Rod Johnston (10th District) was sworn in to replace Jim Sensenbrenner. 36 99 0 Final voting share Beginning of the next Legislature 66 33 99 0

Sessions Regular session: January 6, 1975January 3, 1977 December 1975 special session: December 9, 1975December 11, 1975 May 1976 special session: May 18, 1976 June 1976 special session: June 15, 1976June 17, 1976 September 1976 special session: September 8, 1976

Leaders Senate leadership President of the Senate: Martin J. Schreiber (D) President pro tempore: Fred Risser (D–Madison) Majority leader: Wayne F. Whittow (D–Milwaukee) William A. Bablitch (D–Stevens Point) Minority leader: Clifford Krueger (R–Merrill)

Assembly leadership Speaker of the Assembly: Norman C. Anderson (D–Madison) Speaker pro tempore: Edward Jackamonis (D–Waukesha) Majority leader: Terry A. Willkom (D–Chippewa Falls) Minority leader: John C. Shabaz (R–New Berlin)

Members Members of the Senate Members of the Senate for the Eighty-Second Wisconsin Legislature:

Dist. Senator Party Age(1975) Home Firstelected 01 Dem. Whitelaw, Manitowoc County 1970 02 Rep. Green Bay, Brown County 1972 03 Dem. Milwaukee, Milwaukee County 1974 04 --Vacant until Apr. 8, 1975-- Rep. Shorewood, Milwaukee County 1975 05 Dem. Milwaukee, Milwaukee County 1974 06 Dem. Milwaukee, Milwaukee County 1972 07 Dem. Milwaukee, Milwaukee County 1970 08 Dem. West Allis, Milwaukee County 1972 09 Dem. Milwaukee, Milwaukee County 1968 10 Rep. New Richmond, St. Croix County 1954 11 Dem. Milwaukee, Milwaukee County 1968 Dem. Milwaukee, Milwaukee County 1976 12 Rep. Merrill, Lincoln County 1946 13 Dem. Jefferson, Jefferson County 1969 14 Rep. Bear Creek, Outagamie County 1954 15 Dem. Janesville, Rock County 1974 16 Dem. Stoughton, Dane County 1959 17 Dem. Platteville, Grant County 1974 18 Rep. Rosendale, Fond du Lac County 1956 19 Dem. Oshkosh, Winnebago County 1974 20 Rep. Sheboygan, Sheboygan County 1960 21 Dem. Racine, Racine County 1965 22 --Vacant until Apr. 8, 1975-- Dem. Kenosha, Kenosha County 1975 23 Dem. Chippewa Falls, Chippewa County 1970 24 Dem. Stevens Point, Portage County 1972 25 Rep. Ashland, Ashland County 1972 26 Dem. Madison, Dane County 1962 27 Rep. Portage, Columbia County 1970 28 Rep. Greenfield, Milwaukee County 1968 29 Rep. Wausau, Marathon County 1966 30 Rep. Oconto, Oconto County 1956 31 Dem. Neillsville, Clark County 1974 32 Rep. La Crosse, La Crosse County 1968 33 Rep. Waukesha, Waukesha County 1970

Members of the Assembly Members of the Assembly for the Eighty-Second Wisconsin Legislature:

SenateDist.Dist.RepresentativePartyAge(1975)HomeFirstElected 01 01 Dem. Luxemburg 1970 02 Dem. Manitowoc 1972 03 Rep. De Pere 1974 02 04 Rep. Green Bay 1972 05 Dem. Kaukauna 1962 06 Dem. Chilton 1966 03 07 Dem. Milwaukee 1974 08 Dem. Milwaukee 1974 09 Dem. Milwaukee 1974 04 10 Rep. Shorewood 1968 Rep. Fox Point 1975 11 Dem. Milwaukee 1971 12 Rep. Milwaukee 1964 05 13 Dem. Milwaukee 1974 14 Dem. Milwaukee 1972 15 Dem. Milwaukee 1970 06 16 Dem. Milwaukee 1972 17 Dem. Milwaukee 1972 18 Dem. Milwaukee 1964 07 19 Dem. St. Francis 1972 20 Dem. Milwaukee 1972 21 Dem. South Milwaukee 1974 08 22 Rep. Wauwatosa 1966 23 Dem. West Allis 1972 24 Dem. West Allis 1972 09 25 Dem. Milwaukee 1968 26 Dem. Milwaukee 1968 27 Dem. Milwaukee 1968 10 28 Dem. Luck 1958 29 Dem. Woodville 1970 30 Dem. River Falls 1970 11 31 Dem. Milwaukee 1966 32 Dem. Milwaukee 1972 33 Dem. Milwaukee 1966 12 34 Dem. Gilman 1974 35 Rep. Merrill 1972 36 Rep. Crandon 1972 13 37 Dem. Madison 1956 38 Dem. Edgerton 1970 39 Rep. Watertown 1952 14 40 Rep. Marion 1968 41 Rep. Shiocton 1964 42 Rep. Appleton 1972 15 43 Rep. Burlington 1972 44 Rep. Janesville 1972 45 Dem. Beloit 1970 16 46 Dem. Waunakee 1958 47 Rep. Oregon 1974 48 Dem. Janesville 1964 17 49 Rep. Muscoda 1964 50 Dem. Cazenovia 1970 51 Rep. Shullsburg 1967 18 52 Rep. Fond du Lac 1956 53 Rep. West Bend 1972 54 Rep. Horicon 1962 19 55 Rep. Neenah 1970 56 Dem. Oshkosh 1972 57 Rep. Oshkosh 1968 20 58 Dem. Sheboygan 1967 59 Dem. Kohler 1974 60 Rep. Saukville 1972 21 61 Dem. Racine 1972 62 Dem. Racine 1970 63 Dem. Wind Point 1974 22 64 Dem. Kenosha 1946 65 Dem. Kenosha 1970 66 Rep. Randall 1960 23 67 Dem. Chippewa Falls 1970 68 Dem. Eau Claire 1968 69 Rep. Elk Mound 1974 24 70 Dem. Pittsville 1974 71 Dem. Stevens Point 1966 72 Rep. Berlin 1974 25 73 Dem. Superior 1972 74 Dem. Washburn 1972 75 Rep. Spooner 1970 26 76 Dem. Madison 1972 77 Dem. Madison 1970 78 Dem. Madison 1974 27 79 Rep. Elroy 1966 80 Rep. Sauk City 1970 81 Dem. Beaver Dam 1974 28 82 Dem. Hales Corners 1970 83 Rep. New Berlin 1964 84 Rep. Oconomowoc 1974 29 85 Dem. Wausau 1974 86 Dem. Eland 1968 87 Rep. Shawano 1974 30 88 Rep. Crivitz 1972 89 Dem. Pittsfield 1958 90 Dem. Green Bay 1974 31 91 Rep. Osseo 1974 92 Rep. Sparta 1970 93 Dem. Wisconsin Rapids 1970 32 94 Dem. Holmen 1970 95 Dem. La Crosse 1974 96 Rep. Viroqua 1954 33 97 Dem. Menomonee Falls 1974 98 Dem. Waukesha 1970 99 Rep. Brookfield 1974

Employees Senate employees Chief Clerk: Glenn E. Bultman Sergeant-at-Arms: Robert M. Thompson

Assembly employees Chief Clerk: Everett E. Bolle Sergeant-at-Arms: Raymond J. Tobiasz

Notes

References

External links 1975: Related Documents from Wisconsin Legislature