The Eighty-Fifth Wisconsin Legislature convened from to in regular session, and also convened in three special sessions.
This session represents the third time the Legislature failed to pass a redistricting act on schedule. Ultimately, a panel of federal judges would implement a punitive redistricting plan in 1982, and after Democrats gained unified control of government in 1983, they passed a superseding plan.
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 4, 1980. 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 7, 1978.
The governor of Wisconsin during this entire term was Republican Lee S. Dreyfus, of Portage County, serving the second two years of a four-year term, having won election in the 1978 Wisconsin gubernatorial election.
Major events January 20, 1981: Inauguration of Ronald Reagan as 40th President of the United States. March 30, 1981: U.S. President Ronald Reagan and three others were shot by John Hinckley Jr. in Washington, D.C. April 7, 1981: 1981 Wisconsin Spring election: Wisconsin voters ratified five amendments to the state constitution: Adding a provision for a recall primary when a nonpartisan official is recalled from office and more than two candidates seek the office. Expanding debt options for municipal sewerage districts. Amending the right to bail to allow the legislature to set additional circumstances where bail could be denied or revoked. Updating conflicting language in the constitution relating to special corporations. Removing a requirement for two-thirds vote on any changes to banking law. September 25, 1981: Sandra Day O'Connor became the first woman to serve on the United States Supreme Court. March 26, 1982: Wisconsin Supreme Court justice John Louis Coffey resigned from office after he was confirmed as a judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. April 6, 1982: 1982 Wisconsin Spring election: Wisconsin voters ratified an amendment to the state constitution allowing the Legislature to make counties financial liable for damages suffered by wrongful acts by sheriffs. April 15, 1982: Wisconsin governor Lee S. Dreyfus appointed Louis J. Ceci to the Wisconsin Supreme Court, to succeed John Louis Coffey. June 9, 1982: A three-judge panel of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin handed down their decision in the case of Wisconsin State AFL-CIO v. Elections Board, imposing new punitive legislative maps on Wisconsin. November 2, 1982: 1982 United States general election: Tony Earl (D) elected Governor of Wisconsin. William Proxmire (D) re-elected United States senator from Wisconsin. Wisconsin voters ratified nine amendments to the state constitution: Removing the words "man" and "men and "his" and "her" and replacing them with gender-neutral words. Removing an exclusion on counting overseas soldiers and sailors from the language on redistricting. Removing obsolete language left in the constitution by the 1881 term-lengths amendments. Removing the requirement for a voice vote in the legislature for the election of their own officers. Removing obsolete language left in the constitution by a 1902 amendment. Removing obsolete language directing Civil War draft substitute payments to go into the state school fund. Removing obsolete language dealing with the transition from the Wisconsin Territory into statehood in 1848. Two amendments removing obsolete language left from the court transition amendments in 1977.
Major legislation March 4, 1982: Joint Resolution ... relating to removal of obsolete provisions regarding transitions from territory to statehood, transitions in offices, legislative districting and elections, the school fund and masculine and feminine gender terminology, Enrolled Joint Resolution 29. This was the second legislative passage of a series of proposed amendments to the state constitution removing obsolete language from the constitution. These amendments were ratified by voters at the November 1982 election.
Party summary Senate summary
Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) Total Dem. Rep. Vacant End of previous Legislature 19 12 31 2 Start of Reg. Session 19 14 33 0 Final voting share Beginning of the next Legislature 17 14 31 2
Assembly summary
Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) Total Dem. Rep. Vacant End of previous Legislature 60 38 98 1 Start of Reg. SessionRepublican Harry G. Snyder (84th District) resigned before the start of the session. 59 39 98 1 From Apr. 15, 1981Republican John M. Alberts (84th District) was sworn in to replace Harry G. Snyder. 40 99 0 From Apr. 30, 1981Democrat Jonathan B. Barry (47th District) resigned. 58 98 1 From Nov. 1, 1981Democrat William B. Broydrick (16th District) resigned. 57 97 2 From Dec. 17, 1981Republican John C. Shabaz (83rd District) resigned after he was confirmed as a United States district judge. 39 96 3 From Jan. 15, 1982Democrat Thomas W. Meaux (16th District) was sworn in to replace William B. Broydrick. 58 97 2 From Apr. 14, 1982Republican John C. Schober (83rd District) was sworn in to replace John C. Shabaz. 40 98 1 From Jun. 25, 1982Republican John T. Manske (47th District) was sworn in to replace Jonathan B. Barry. 41 99 0 Final voting share Beginning of the next Legislature 59 40 99 0
Sessions Regular session: January 5, 1981January 3, 1983 November 1981 special session: November 4, 1981November 17, 1981 April 1982 special session: April 6, 1982May 20, 1982 May 1982 special session: May 26, 1982May 28, 1982
Leaders Senate leadership President of the Senate: Fred Risser (D–Madison)
Senate majority leadership Majority Leader: William A. Bablitch (D–Stevens Point) Timothy Cullen (D–Janesville) Assistant Majority Leader: James T. Flynn (D–West Allis)
Senate minority leadership Minority Leader: Walter Chilsen (R–Wausau) Assistant Minority Leader: Don Hanaway (R–De Pere)
Assembly leadership Speaker of the Assembly: Edward Jackamonis (D–Waukesha) Deputy Speaker: Louise M. Tesmer (D–Milwaukee)
Assembly majority leadership Majority Leader: Thomas A. Loftus (D–Sun Prairie) Assistant Majority Leader: Chester A. Gerlach (D–South Milwaukee)
Assembly minority leadership Minority Leader: John C. Shabaz (R–New Berlin) Assistant Minority Leader: Tommy Thompson (R–Elroy)
Members Members of the Senate Members of the Senate for the Eighty-Fifth Wisconsin Legislature:
Dist. Senator Party Age(1981) Home Firstelected 01 Rep. De Pere, Brown County 1977 02 Rep. De Pere, Brown County 1979 03 Dem. Milwaukee, Milwaukee County 1974 04 Rep. Whitefish Bay, Milwaukee County 1979 05 Dem. Milwaukee, Milwaukee County 1974 06 Dem. Milwaukee, Milwaukee County 1980 07 Dem. Milwaukee, Milwaukee County 1970 08 Dem. West Allis, Milwaukee County 1972 09 Dem. Milwaukee, Milwaukee County 1978 10 Rep. River Falls, Pierce County 1980 11 Dem. Milwaukee, Milwaukee County 1976 12 Rep. Merrill, Lincoln County 1946 13 Rep. Fort Atkinson, Jefferson County 1980 14 Rep. Bear Creek, Outagamie County 1954 15 Dem. Janesville, Rock County 1974 16 Dem. Stoughton, Dane County 1959 17 Rep. Fennimore, Grant County 1978 18 Rep. , Fond du Lac County 1976 19 Dem. Oshkosh, Winnebago County 1974 20 Rep. Port Washington, Ozaukee County 1979 21 Dem. Racine, Racine County 1978 22 Dem. Kenosha, Kenosha County 1975 23 Dem. Lafayette, Chippewa County 1978 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 Dem. New Berlin, Waukesha County 1976 29 Rep. Wausau, Marathon County 1966 30 Dem. Green Bay, Brown County 1976 31 Dem. Neillsville, Clark County 1974 32 Dem. La Crosse, La Crosse County 1968 33 Rep. Brookfield, Waukesha County 1980
Members of the Assembly Members of the Assembly for the Eighty-Fifth Wisconsin Legislature:
SenateDist.Dist.RepresentativePartyAge(1981)HomeFirstElected 01 01 Dem. Luxemburg 1970 02 Dem. Manitowoc 1980 03 Dem. Reedsville 1976 02 04 Rep. De Pere 1978 05 Dem. Kaukauna 1962 06 Dem. Chilton 1966 03 07 Dem. Milwaukee 1980 08 Dem. Milwaukee 1974 09 Dem. Milwaukee 1974 04 10 Rep. Shorewood 1979 11 Dem. Milwaukee 1971 12 Rep. Mequon 1976 05 13 Dem. Milwaukee 1974 14 Dem. Milwaukee 1972 15 Dem. Milwaukee 1980 06 16 Dem. Milwaukee 1978 Dem. Milwaukee 1982 17 Dem. Milwaukee 1980 18 Dem. Milwaukee 1976 07 19 Dem. Milwaukee 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 1978 26 Dem. Milwaukee 1976 27 Dem. Milwaukee 1980 10 28 Rep. Amery 1978 29 Rep. Woodville 1978 30 Rep. River Falls 1980 11 31 Dem. Milwaukee 1976 32 Dem. Milwaukee 1977 33 Dem. Milwaukee 1980 12 34 Rep. Medford 1978 35 Rep. Merrill 1972 36 Dem. Crandon 1972 13 37 Dem. Madison 1978 38 Dem. Edgerton 1970 39 Rep. Jefferson 1980 14 40 Rep. Marion 1968 41 Rep. Shiocton 1964 42 Rep. Appleton 1978 15 43 Rep. Burlington 1972 44 Rep. Janesville 1972 45 Dem. Beloit 1970 16 46 Dem. Sun Prairie 1976 47 Dem. Primrose 1976 --Vacant from Apr. 30, 1981, to Jun. 25, 1982-- Rep. Milton 1981 48 Dem. Janesville 1976 17 49 Rep. Platteville 1976 50 Dem. Cazenovia 1970 51 Rep. Shullsburg 1967 18 52 Rep. 1956 53 Rep. Brownsville 1980 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. Port Washington 1979 21 61 Dem. Racine 1972 62 Dem. Racine 1980 63 Rep. Caledonia 1978 22 64 Dem. Kenosha 1976 65 Dem. Kenosha 1970 66 Dem. Salem 1978 23 67 Rep. Eagle Point 1978 68 Dem. Eau Claire 1968 69 Dem. Menomonie 1978 24 70 Dem. Pittsville 1974 71 Dem. Stevens Point 1978 72 Rep. Berlin 1974 25 73 Dem. Superior 1972 74 Rep. Tripp 1980 75 Dem. Rice Lake 1978 26 76 Dem. Madison 1972 77 Dem. Madison 1970 78 Dem. Madison 1974 27 79 Rep. Elroy 1966 80 Rep. Arlington 1978 81 Rep. Lake Mills 1978 28 82 Dem. Hales Corners 1970 83 Rep. New Berlin 1964 Rep. New Berlin 1982 84 --Vacant until Apr. 15, 1981-- Rep. Oconomowoc 1981 29 85 Dem. Wausau 1980 86 Rep. Schofield 1980 87 Rep. Birnamwood 1974 30 88 Rep. Stephenson 1972 89 Dem. Pittsfield 1958 90 Dem. Green Bay 1974 31 91 Rep. Blair 1980 92 Rep. Sparta 1970 93 Dem. Wisconsin Rapids 1970 32 94 Dem. Holmen 1970 95 Dem. La Crosse 1976 96 Rep. Viroqua 1954 33 97 Rep. Menomonee Falls 1980 98 Dem. Waukesha 1970 99 Rep. Brookfield 1978
Employees Senate employees Chief Clerk: Donald J. Schneider Sergeant-at-Arms: Daniel B. Fields
Assembly employees Chief Clerk: David Kedrowski Sergeant-at-Arms: Lewis T. Mittness
Notes
References
External links 1981: Related Documents from Wisconsin Legislature