99th Wisconsin Legislature explained

The Ninety-Ninth Wisconsin Legislature convened from January 5, 2009, through January 3, 2011, in regular session, though it adjourned for legislative activity on May 26, 2010. The legislature also held two special sessions and four extraordinary sessions during this legislative term.^{[1] [2]}

This session represented the first time the Democratic Party of Wisconsin held full control of state government since 1986.

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, 2008. 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 7, 2006.

Major events

• January 20, 2009: Barack Obama was inaugurated as the 44th President of the United States.
• February 17, 2009: The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 was signed into law by President Obama.
• March 6, 2009: The Dow Jones Industrial Average hit 6,443.27, its lowest level of the financial crisis of 2007–2008. It was 54% from its peak at 14,164 on October 9, 2007.
• May 12, 2009: The Wisconsin Senate called an extraordinary session to deal with Assembly Bill 255relating to eligibility for unemployment benefits and other matters relating to disbursement of funds from the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
• June 9, 2009: The Wisconsin Senate called an extraordinary session to deal with Senate Bill 232relating to payment of funds to state public schools.
• June 24, 2009: Wisconsin governor Jim Doyle called a Special session of the Legislature to act upon legislation relating to the hospital assessment, medical assistance and collecting federal revenue related to the assessment.^[3]
• November 2, 2010:
  • Scott Walker (R) elected Governor of Wisconsin.
  • Ron Johnson (R) elected United States senator from Wisconsin.
• December 16, 2009:
  • The Wisconsin Senate called an extraordinary session to deal with Senate Bill 66relating to laws on driving under the influence of alcohol.^[4]
  • Governor Doyle called a special session of the Legislature to act on Senate Bill 405 and Assembly Bill 534relating to rules governing the Milwaukee Public Schools.^[5]

Major legislation

• January 29, 2009: Act relating to payment of Wisconsin supplemental and extended unemployment insurance benefits in this state. 2009 Wisc. Act 1
• May 15, 2009: Act relating to eligibility for unemployment insurance benefits and payment of extended benefits; excluding recovery and reinvestment act moneys from the calculation of expenditure restraint payments; eligibility for participation in the programs of a community action agency; financial assistance under the Clean Water Fund Program and the Safe Drinking Water Loan Program; the confidentiality of pupil records provided to the Department of Public Instruction; financial assistance for criminal justice programs; authorizing political subdivisions to make residential energy efficiency improvement loans and impose special charges for the loans; definition of low-income household under energy and weatherization assistance programs; eligibility and notice changes for state continuation of coverage for health insurance; changes to enterprise zone jobs credits; state aid to school districts; providing an exemption from emergency rule procedures; granting rule-making authority; and making an appropriation. 2009 Wisc. Act 11
• June 11, 2009: Act relating to the payment of state school aid in June 2009. 2009 Wisc. Act 23
• December 22, 2009: Act relating to operating a vehicle while intoxicated, granting rule-making authority, making an appropriation, and providing a penalty. 2009 Wisc. Act 100lowering the legal blood-alcohol limit for operating a vehicle from 0.1 to 0.08, among other changes to law.
• May 18, 2010: Act relating to financial assistance related to bioenergy feedstocks, biorefineries, and conversion to biomass energy; the definition of the term agricultural use for the purpose of determining the assessed value of a parcel of land; requiring a strategic bioenergy feedstock assessment; creation of a bioenergy council; the agricultural and forestry diversification programs; biofuels training assessment; a study of regulatory burdens relating to biofuel production facilities; marketing orders and agreements for bioenergy feedstocks; exempting personal renewable fuel production and use from the motor vehicle fuel tax, the petroleum inspection fee, and business tax registration requirements; an income and franchise tax credit for installing or retrofitting pumps that mix motor vehicle fuels from separate storage tanks; offering gasoline that is not blended with ethanol to motor fuel dealers; state renewable motor vehicle fuels sales goals; use of petroleum-based transportation fuels by state vehicles; use of alternative fuels in flex fuel vehicles owned by the state; use of public alternative fuel refueling facilities; duties of the Office of Energy Independence; granting rule-making authority; requiring the exercise of rule-making authority; making appropriations; and providing penalties. 2009 Wisc. Act 401

Party summary

Senate summary

	Party (Shading indicates majority caucus)		Total
	Dem.	Rep.		Vacant
nowrap style="font-size:80%"	End of previous Legislature		17	14	31	2
nowrap style="font-size:80%"	Start of Reg. Session		18	15	33	0
Final voting share
Beginning of the next Legislature	14		19	33	0

Assembly summary

	Party (Shading indicates majority caucus)			Total
	Dem.	Ind.	Rep.		Vacant
nowrap style="font-size:80%"	End of previous Legislature	47	0		52	99	0
nowrap style="font-size:80%"	Start of Reg. Session		52	1	46	99	0
nowrap style="font-size:80%"	From May 12, 2010[6]		51			98	1
nowrap style="font-size:80%"	From Jun. 21, 2010[7]	50	2
nowrap style="font-size:80%"	From Jul. 31, 2010[8]			45	97	2
nowrap style="font-size:80%"	From Sep. 20, 2010[9]				49	96	3
Final voting share
Beginning of the next Legislature	38		1		57	96	3

Sessions

• Regular session: January 5, 2009May 26, 2010
• May 2009 extraordinary session: May 12, 2009May 13, 2009
• June 2009 extraordinary session: June 9, 2009June 11, 2009
• June 2009 special session: June 24, 2009June 27, 2009
• December 2009 extraordinary session: December 16, 2009
• December 2009 special session: December 16, 2009March 4, 2010
• December 2010 extraordinary session: December 15, 2010December 16, 2010

Leadership

Senate leadership

• President of the Senate: Fred Risser (D - Madison)
• President pro tempore: Pat Kreitlow (D - Chippewa Falls)

Senate majority leadership

• Majority Leader: Russ Decker (D - Weston)
• Assistant Majority Leader: Dave Hansen (D - Green Bay)
• Majority Caucus Chair: John W. Lehman (D - Racine)
• Majority Caucus Vice Chair: Kathleen Vinehout (D - Alma)
• Majority Caucus Sergeant-at-Arms: Jim Holperin (D - Conover)

Senate minority leadership

• Minority Leader: Scott L. Fitzgerald (R - Juneau)
• Assistant Minority Leader: Glenn Grothman (R - West Bend)
• Minority Caucus Chair: Joe Leibham (R - Sheboygan)
• Minority Caucus Vice Chair: Sheila Harsdorf (R - River Falls)

Assembly leadership

• Speaker of the Assembly: Michael J. Sheridan (D - Janesville)
• Speaker pro tempore: Tony Staskunas (D - West Allis)

Assembly majority leadership

• Assembly Majority Leader: Tom Nelson (D - Kaukauna)
• Assistant Majority Leader: Donna J. Seidel (D - Wausau)
• Assembly Caucus Chair: Peter W. Barca (D - Kenosha)
• Assembly Caucus Vice Chair: Barbara Toles (D - Milwaukee)
• Assembly Caucus Secretary: Ann Hraychuck (D - Balsam Lake)
• Assembly Caucus Sergeant-at-Arms: Marlin Schneider (D - Wisconsin Rapids)

Assembly minority leadership

• Assembly Minority Leader: Jeff Fitzgerald (R - Horicon)
• Assistant Minority Leader: Mark Gottlieb (R - Port Washington)
• Assembly Caucus Chair: Scott Suder (R - Abbotsford)
• Assembly Caucus Vice Chair: Joel Kleefisch (R - Oconomowoc)
• Assembly Caucus Secretary: Mary Williams (R - Medford)
• Assembly Caucus Sergeant-at-Arms: Gary Tauchen (R - Bonduel)

Members

Members of the Senate

Members of the Senate for the Ninety-Ninth Wisconsin Legislature:^[10]

Dist.	Senator	Party	Age (2009)	Home	First elected
01			Rep.		Rockland, Brown County	1977
02			Rep.		Green Bay, Brown County	1987
03			Dem.		Milwaukee, Milwaukee County	2002
04			Dem.		Milwaukee, Milwaukee County	2004
05			Dem.		Wauwatosa, Milwaukee County	2006
06			Dem.		Milwaukee, Milwaukee County	2003
07			Dem.		South Milwaukee, Milwaukee County	2003
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, Shawano County	2008
13			Rep.		Juneau, Dodge County	1994
14			Rep.		Ripon, Fond du Lac County	2004
15			Dem.		Beloit, Rock County	1998
16			Dem.		Monona, Dane County	2004
17			Rep.		Richland Center, Richland County	1991
18			Rep.		Fond du Lac, Fond du Lac County	2008
19			Rep.		Neenah, Winnebago County	1982
20			Rep.		West Bend, Washington County	2004
21			Dem.		Racine, Racine County	2006
22			Dem.		Pleasant Prairie, Kenosha County	1996
23			Dem.		Chippewa Falls, Chippewa County	2006
24			Dem.		Stevens Point, Portage County	2003
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.		Alma, Buffalo County	2006
32			Rep.		La Crosse, La Crosse County	2004
33			Rep.		Brookfield, Waukesha County	2001

Members of the Assembly

Members of the Assembly for the Ninety-Ninth Wisconsin Legislature:^[10]

Senate District	Assembly District	Representative	Party	Age (2009)	Home	First Elected
01	01			Rep.		Sister Bay	2000
	02			Dem.		Francis Creek	2008
	03			Rep.		Brillion	1986
02	04			Rep.		Green Bay	1998
	05			Dem.		Kaukauna	2004
	06			Rep.		Bonduel	2006
03	07			Dem.		Milwaukee	1983
	08			Dem.		Milwaukee	1998
		--Vacant from Sep. 20, 2010--
	09			Dem.		Milwaukee	2002
04	10			Dem.		Milwaukee	1980
	11			Dem.		Milwaukee	2004
	12			Dem.		Milwaukee	1960
05	13			Dem.		Milwaukee	1990
	14			Rep.		Wauwatosa	2002
	15			Dem.		West Allis	1996
06	16			Dem.		Milwaukee	1992
	17			Dem.		Milwaukee	2004
	18			Dem.		Milwaukee	2004
07	19			Dem.		Milwaukee	1998
	20			Dem.		Milwaukee	1998
	21			Rep.		South Milwaukee	2003
08	22			Dem.		Whitefish Bay	2008
	23			Rep.		Mequon	2006
	24			Rep.		Germantown	2008
09	25			Dem.		Manitowoc	1992
	26			Dem.		Sheboygan	2002
	27			Rep.		Elkhart Lake	1998
10	28			Dem.		Balsam Lake	2006
	29			Rep.		Baldwin	2006
	30			Rep.		Hudson	1998
11	31			Rep.		La Grange	1990
	32			Rep.		Williams Bay	2002
	33			Rep.		Pewaukee	2006
12	34			Rep.		Eagle River	1998
	35			Rep.		Merrill	2000
	36			Rep.		Crivitz	2004
13	37			Dem.		Fort Atkinson	2004
	38			Rep.		Oconomowoc	2004
	39			Rep.		Horicon	2000
14	40			Rep.		Waupaca	2006
	41			Rep.		Markesan	2004
	42			Dem.		Baraboo	2008
15	43			Dem.		Whitewater	2006
	44			Dem.		Janesville	2004
	45			Dem.		Beloit	2004
16	46			Dem.		Sun Prairie	2004
	47			Rep.		Lodi	2008
	48			Dem.		Madison	2004
17	49			Dem.		Fennimore	2006
	50			Rep.		Reedsburg	1991
	51			Dem.		Dodgeville	2006
18	52			Rep.		Fond du Lac	1998
	53			Rep.		Oshkosh	2008
	54			Dem.		Oshkosh	2006
19	55			Rep.		Neenah	1990
	56			Rep.		Appleton	2006
	57			Dem.		Appleton	2008
20	58			Rep.		West Bend	2004
	59			Rep.		Cascade	2002
	60			Rep.		Port Washington	2002
21	61			Dem.		Racine	1990
	62			Dem.		Racine	2006
	63			Rep.		Caledonia	2004
22	64			Dem.		Kenosha	1984
	65			Dem.		Pleasant Prairie	1996
	66			Rep.		Randall	2000
23	67			Ind.		Chippewa Falls	2002
	68			Dem.		Eau Claire	2008
	69			Rep.		Abbotsford	1998
24	70			Dem.		Milladore	2002
	71			Dem.		Stevens Point	2003
	72			Dem.		Wisconsin Rapids	1970
25	73			Dem.		Superior	2008
	74			Dem.		Port Wing	1998
		--Vacant from May 12, 2010--
	75			Dem.		Rice Lake	1984
26	76			Dem.		Madison	1998
	77			Dem.		Madison	1984
	78			Dem.		Madison	1998
27	79			Dem.		Middleton	2002
	80			Rep.		Oregon	2004
	81			Dem.		Madison	2008
28	82			Rep.		Greendale	1978
	83			Rep.		Waterford	1994
	84			Rep.		New Berlin	1998
		--Vacant from Jul. 31, 2010--
29	85			Dem.		Wausau	2004
	86			Rep.		Marathon	1998
	87			Rep.		Medford	2002
30	88			Dem.		Green Bay	2006
	89			Rep.		Marinette	2006
	90			Rep.		Green Bay	2002
31	91			Dem.		Trempealeau	2008
	92			Dem.		Black River Falls	2008
	93			Dem.		Eau Claire	2006
32	94			Rep.		West Salem	1994
	95			Dem.		La Crosse	2000
	96			Rep.		Westby	2004
33	97			Rep.		Waukesha	2006
	98			Rep.		Pewaukee	2006
	99			Rep.		Hartford	2004

Employees

Senate employees

• Chief Clerk: Robert J. Marchant
• Sergeant-at-Arms: Edward A. Blazel

Assembly employees

• Chief Clerk: Patrick E. Fuller
• Sergeant-at-Arms: William M. Nagy

Changes from the 98th Legislature

See also: 2008 Wisconsin elections.

Senate

Open seats

• In the 12th Senate district, Democrat Roger Breske was appointed Railroad Commissioner, leaving Democrat Jim Holperin to defeat Republican Tom Tiffany.^[11]
• In the 18th Senate district, Republican Carol Roessler was appointed Administrator of State and Local Finance, leaving Republican Randy Hopper to defeat Democrat Jessica King.^[12]

Assembly

Open seats

• In the 22nd Assembly district, Democrat Sheldon Wasserman ran for the Wisconsin State Senate, leaving fellow Democrat Sandy Pasch to defeat Republican Yash Wadhwa^[13]
• In the 24th Assembly district, Republican Suzanne Jeskewitz decided not to run for re-election, leaving Republican Dan Knodl to defeat Democrat Charlene Brady.^{[14] [15]}
• In the 47th Assembly district, Republican Eugene Hahn declined to run for re-election, leaving Republican Keith Ripp to defeat Democrat Trish O'Neil in the contest for the open seat.^[16]
• In the 50th Assembly district, Republican Sheryl Albers retired, leaving Republican Ed Brooks to defeat Democrat Tom Crofton^[17]
• In the 53rd Assembly district, Republican Carol Owens retired, leaving Republican Richard Spanbauer to defeat Democrat Jeff Mann.^{[18] [19]}
• In the 57th Assembly District, Republican Steve Wieckert retired,^[20] and Democrat Penny Bernard Schaber defeated Republican Jo Egelhoff in the general election
• In the 64th Assembly District, Democrat James Kreuser became County Executive for Kenosha County, leaving former Congressman and fellow Democrat Peter Barca to retake his former seat, running unopposed in the general election.
• In the 73rd Assembly district, Democrat Frank Boyle retired, leaving Democrat Nick Milroy to defeat the independent Jeff Monaghan.^[21]
• In the 81st Assembly district, Democrat David Travis retired, leaving Democrat Kelda Roys to win the seat after running unopposed in the general election.^[22]
• In the 91st Assembly district, Democrat Barbara Gronemus retired, leaving Democrat Chris Danou to defeat Republican Dave Hegenbarth.^[23]
• In the 92nd Assembly district, Republican Terry Musser retired, leaving Democrat Mark Radcliffe to defeat Dan Hellman^[24]

Incumbents defeated

• In the 2nd Assembly district, Republican Frank Lasee was defeated in the general election by Democrat Ted Zigmunt.^[25]
• In the 42nd Assembly district, Republican J.A. Hines lost his bid for re-election against Democrat Fred Clark^[26]
• In the 68th Assembly district, Republican Terry Moulton was defeated by Democrat Kristen Dexter.^[27]

Party affiliation

• In the 67th Assembly district, Jeffrey Wood successfully ran for re-election as an independent after dropping his affiliation with the Republican Party in 2008.

External links

• 2009 - 2010 Session from Wisconsin Legislature

Notes and References

1. Joint Resolution relating to: the session schedule for the 2009 - 2010 biennial session period . 2009 . Senate Joint Resolution . 1 . . January 28, 2024 .
2. State of Wisconsin Blue Book 2023–2024 . 2023 . . 978-1-7333817-2-7 . https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/misc/lrb/blue_book/2023_2024/180_historical_lists.pdf . Historical Lists . 492–493, 496, 501, 513–514 . January 28, 2024 .
3. Governor Doyle Calls Special Session of Legislature for Hospital Assessment . Office of the Governor of Wisconsin . June 23, 2009 . Vigue . Carla . https://web.archive.org/web/20101225185717/http://www.wisgov.state.wi.us/journal_media_detail.asp?locid=19&prid=4356 . December 25, 2010 . August 2, 2020 . .
4. News: Marley . Patrick . December 16, 2009 . Legislature passes tougher DUI laws; Doyle to sign measure . August 3, 2020 . Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
5. News: Markey . Patrick . Sandler . Larry . Richards . Erin . December 8, 2009 . Doyle calls special legislative session for MPS changes . August 2, 2020 . Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
6. Democrat Gary Sherman (74th District) resigned to accept appointment to the Wisconsin Court of Appeals.
7. Democrat Bob Ziegelbauer (25th District) changed his party affiliation to Independent.
8. Republican Mark Gundrum (84th District) resigned after his election as a Wisconsin circuit court judge.
9. Democrat Pedro Colón (8th District) resigned to accept appointment as a Wisconsin circuit court judge.
10. State of Wisconsin 2009 - 2010 Blue Book . 2009 . . Barish . Lawrence S. . Lemanski . Lynn . Biographies . 18-86 . January 28, 2024 .
11. Richard Moore, "In Senate race, both sides accuse each other of dirty deals" The Lakeland Times, November 4, 2010.
12. Dan Benson, "Republican Hopper wins Fox Valley Senate seat ", Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, November 4, 2008.
13. Larry Sandler "Pasch, Krusick and Vukmir win Assembly races" Milwaukee Journal Sentinel November 5, 2008.
14. Don Behm, "Washington County Board panel picks successor to Knodl" Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
15. Editorial:"Brady is a good fit" Milwaukee Journal Sentinel October 24, 2008.
16. WISC-TV, "47th District Assembly Candidates Focus On Economy"
17. Steve Rundio "Election officials expect big turnout" Tomah Journal, October 30, 2008.
18. "Primaries will trim field for Assembly " Appleton Post-Crescent, August 31, 2008.
19. http://elections.state.wi.us/docview.asp?docid=15403&locid=47 Wisconsin State Elections Board Canvass Summary, Fall General Election: November 4, 2008
20. Jim Collar "Appleton's Steve Wieckert announces retirement from Assembly " Appleton Post-Crescent March 22, 2008.
21. "Milroy Wins " KDLH-TV, November 4, 2008.
22. Jason Joyce, "Kelda Helen Roys wins 81st Assembly District, will replace 30-year incumbent Dave Travis", Isthmus September 9, 2008.
23. "Radcliffe tops Hellman in 92nd District" Jackson County Chronicle November 10, 2008.
24. News: Walters . Steven . Musser is 11th Assembly member to not seek re-election . https://web.archive.org/web/20091010000511/http://blogs.jsonline.com/allpoliticswatch/archive/2008/05/21/musser-is-11th-assembly-member-to-not-seek-re-election.aspx . October 10, 2009 . March 18, 2024 . Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
25. "Democrats take control of state Legislature" Green Bay Press-Gazette November 6, 2008.
26. Jacob Stein, "'Wave of change' pushes Democrats into control of state Assembly " Wisconsin State Journal, November 5, 2008.
27. J.R. Ross "Dems pull off sweep " WisPolitics.com, November 5, 2008.