The Fifty-Ninth Wisconsin Legislature convened from to in regular session.
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 6, 1928. 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 2, 1926.
The governor of Wisconsin during this entire term was Republican Walter J. Kohler Sr., of Sheboygan County, serving a two-year term, having won election in the 1928 Wisconsin gubernatorial election.
Major events January 7, 1929: Inauguration of Walter J. Kohler Sr. as the 26th Governor of Wisconsin. March 4, 1929: Inauguration of Herbert Hoover as the 31st President of the United States March 23, 1929: Wisconsin chief justice Aad J. Vinje died in office. Justice immediately succeeded to the position of chief justice due to the rule of seniority. April 2, 1929: 1929 Wisconsin Spring general election: Wisconsin voters approved two amendments to the state constitution: Allowing legislators to set their own salary by law rather than fixing the salary in the constitution. This was the sixth attempt in 20 years to amend the constitution to allow some adjustment to legislator salary, all the previous attempts failed. Sheriffs were allowed to serve two consecutive terms in office. Wisconsin voters approved an advisory (non-binding) referendum calling for modification of the federal prohibition law. April 12, 1929: Governor appointed to the Wisconsin Supreme Court to succeed the deceased justice . May 1, 1929: Wisconsin Supreme Court justice resigned due to poor health. June 3, 1929: Governor appointed to the Wisconsin Supreme Court to succeed the retired justice . July 27, 1929: The Geneva Convention on Prisoners of War was signed by 37 nations, including the United States. October 24–29, 1929: The Wall Street Crash of 1929 wiped out more than $30 Billion worth of value from the New York Stock Exchange (over $530 Billion adjusted for inflation), one of the inciting events of the Great Depression. October 25, 1929: Former U.S. Secretary of the Interior Albert B. Fall was convicted of bribery for his role in the Teapot Dome scandal, becoming the first Presidential cabinet member to go to prison for actions in office. November 14, 1929: Wisconsin Supreme Court justice died in office. December 15, 1929: The Green Bay Packers were the champions of the 1929 NFL season. April 4, 1930: Governor appointed to the Wisconsin Supreme Court to succeed the deceased justice . May 2, 1930: Wisconsin Supreme Court justice died in office. June 17, 1930: U.S. President Herbert Hoover signed the Smoot–Hawley Tariff Act, enacting some of the highest tariffs in U.S. history. July 13, 1930: Wisconsin congressman Florian Lampert (WI-06) died in office. August 25, 1930: Wisconsin Supreme Court justice died in office. September 16, 1930: Incumbent Wisconsin governor Walter J. Kohler Sr. lost renomination in the Republican primary (in the ongoing intra-party feud, the progressive Philip La Follette defeated the stalwart Kohler). September 25, 1930: Governor appointed to the Wisconsin Supreme Court to succeed the deceased justice Charles H. Crownhart. September 26, 1930: Governor appointed to the Wisconsin Supreme Court to succeed the deceased justice November 4, 1930: 1930 United States general election: Philip La Follette elected Governor of Wisconsin. Wisconsin voters approved an amendment to the state constitution granting the Governor the power of a partial veto on appropriation bills. December 14, 1930: The Green Bay Packers were the champions of the 1930 NFL season.
Major legislation August 30, 1929: An Act ... relating to a children's code for Wisconsin and providing penalties, 1929 Act 439. Wisconsin's Children's Code, created a comprehensive set of state laws around child welfare and juvenile justice. September 12, 1929: An Act ... relating to the consolidation of the departments of agriculture, the dairy and food commissioner, the department of markets, the state treasury agent, the state supervisor of inspectors of illuminating oils and the state humane agent in a new department of agriculture tind markets, and making appropriations, 1929 Act 479. Consolidated several state agencies and commissions into the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture and Markets. 1929 Joint Resolution 6: Joint Resolution to amend section 21 of Article IV of the constitution, relating to the compensation of members of the legislature, so as to in effect repeal such section, and the submission of this amendment to a vote of the people at the April election of 1929. Second legislative passage of a proposed amendment to the state constitution to remove the constitution's prescriptive section on legislator pay and instead allow legislator pay to be set by the normal legislative process. This amendment was ratified by voters at the April 1929 election. 1929 Joint Resolution 13: Joint Resolution to amend section 4 of Article VI of the constitution, relating to the election of sheriffs and to submit this amendment to a vote of the people at the April election of 1929. Second legislative passage of a proposed amendment to the state constitution to allow sheriffs to serve two consecutive terms. This amendment was ratified by voters at the April 1929 election. 1929 Joint Resolution 43: Joint Resolution to amend section 10 of article V of the constitution, relating to the approval of bills by the governor, and to submit this amendment to vote of the people at the general election in November, 1930. Second legislative passaged of a proposed amendment to the state constitution to grant the Governor the power of a partial veto on appropriation bills. This amendment was ratified by voters at the November 1930 election. 1929 Joint Resolution 69: Joint Resolution to amend section 5 of Article V of the constitution, relating to the compensation of the governor, so as to in effect repeal the said section. First legislative passage of a proposed amendment to the state constitution to remove the constitution's prescriptive section on gubernatorial salary and instead allow the Governor's salary to be set through the normal legislative process. This amendment would eventually be ratified at the November 1932 election. 1929 Joint Resolution 70: Joint Resolution to amend section 9 of Article V of the constitution, relating to the compensation of the lieutenant governor, so as to in effect repeal this section. First legislative passage of a proposed amendment to the state constitution to remove the constitution's prescriptive section on Lieutenant Governor's salary and instead allow the Lieutenant Governor's salary to be set through the normal legislative process. This amendment would eventually be ratified at the November 1932 election. 1929 Joint Resolution 72: Joint Resolution to amend Section 1 of Article VII of the constitution, relating to impeachments. First legislative passage of a proposed amendment to the state constitution making technical corrections to the impeachment section of the constitution. This amendment would eventually be ratified at the November 1932 election. 1929 Joint Resolution 74: Joint Resolution to amend section 3 of article XI of the constitution, relating to indebtedness secured by public utility and other income producing property of municipalities. First legislative passage of a proposed amendment to the state constitution making additional allowances for municipal indebtedness. This amendment would eventually be ratified at the November 1932 election.
Party summary Senate summary
Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) Total Dem. Soc. Rep. Vacant End of previous Legislature 0 2 31 33 0 Start of Reg. Session 0 2 31 33 0 Final voting share Beginning of the next Legislature 1 2 30 33 0
Assembly summary
Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) Total Dem. Soc. Ind. Rep. Vacant End of previous Legislature 2 8 1 89 100 0 Start of Reg. Session 5 3 1 91 100 0 From July 28, 1930Republican C. N. Saugen (Eau Claire County) died. 90 99 1 Final voting share Beginning of the next Legislature 3 9 0 88 100 0
Sessions Regular session: January 9, 1929September 20, 1929
Leaders Senate leadership President of the Senate: Henry Huber (R) President pro tempore: Oscar Morris (R–Milwaukee)
Assembly leadership Speaker of the Assembly: Charles B. Perry (R–Wauwatosa)
Members Members of the Senate Members of the Senate for the Fifty-Ninth Wisconsin Legislature:
Dist. Counties Senator Residence Party 01 Door, Kewaunee, Denmark Rep. 02 Brown Green Bay Rep. 03 Milwaukee (South City) Milwaukee Soc. 04 Milwaukee (Northeast County Milwaukee Rep. 05 Milwaukee Milwaukee Rep. 06 Milwaukee Milwaukee Soc. 07 Milwaukee (Southeast County Milwaukee Rep. 08 Milwaukee Milwaukee Rep. 09 Milwaukee Milwaukee Rep. 10 Buffalo, Pepin, Pierce, River FallsRep. 11 Bayfield, Burnett, Douglas, SuperiorRep. 12 Ashland, Iron, Price, Rusk, Sawyer, GliddenRep. 13 Dodge HoriconRep. 14 Outagamie KaukaunaRep. 15 Rock EdgertonRep. 16 Crawford, Grant, FennimoreRep. 17 Green, Iowa, Mineral PointRep. 18 , Fond du LacRep. 19 Calumet WinneconneRep. 20 Ozaukee Sheboygan FallsRep. 21 Racine Racine Rep. 22 Kenosha Kenosha Rep. 23 Portage Iola Prog.Rep. 24 Clark, Taylor, Neillsville Rep. 25 Lincoln Wausau Rep. 26 Dane Madison Rep. 27 Columbia, Richland, Lodi Rep. 28 Chippewa Eau Claire Rep. 29 Barron, Dunn, Frederic Rep. 30 Florence, Forest, Langlade, Marinette, Antigo Rep. 31 Adams, Juneau, Monroe, Sparta Rep. 32 Jackson, La Crosse, Holmen Rep. 33 Jefferson Rep.
Members of the Assembly Members of the Assembly for the Fifty-Ninth Wisconsin Legislature: