The Sixty-Ninth Wisconsin Legislature convened from to in regular session.
This session saw the first legislative terms of Gaylord Nelson, Patrick Lucey, Ruth Bachhuber Doyle, and Robert T. Huber, all of whom would—over the course of the subsequent two decades—play important roles in the transition of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin from a permanent minority party to competitive status with the state Republican Party, by winning over many former Wisconsin Progressive Party voters.
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 2, 1948. 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 5, 1946.
The governor of Wisconsin during this entire term was Republican Oscar Rennebohm, of Dane County, serving his first full two-year term, having won election in the 1948 Wisconsin gubernatorial election. He had previously been elected lieutenant governor in 1946, and ascended to the gubernatorial office following the death of governor Walter Samuel Goodland in March 1947.
Major events January 3, 1949: Second inauguration of Oscar Rennebohm as Governor of Wisconsin. January 20, 1949: Second inauguration of Harry S. Truman as President of the United States. April 4, 1949: The North Atlantic Treaty was signed by representatives of twelve countries, including the United States, establishing the NATO defensive alliance. April 5, 1949: 1949 Wisconsin Spring election: Edward J. Gehl was elected to the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Wisconsin voters ratified an amendment to the state constitution to allow the state to take on debt to pay for veterans' housing. Wisconsin voters rejected an amendment to the state constitution to repeal the prohibition on taxing federal lands. June 19, 1949: Wisconsin Supreme Court justice John D. Wickhem died in office. August 29, 1949: The Soviet Union held their first succerssful atomic bomb test. July 14, 1949: Wisconsin Governor Oscar Rennebohm appointed Timothy Brown to the Wisconsin Supreme Court, to succeed the deceased justice John D. Wickhem. October 1, 1949: Mao Zedong proclaimed the establishment of the People's Republic of China. December 7, 1949: The government of the Republic of China retreated to the island of Taiwan and declared Taipei to be their new capital. June 25, 1950: Forces of the Korean People's Army began an invasion of the Republic of Korea, initiating the Korean War. The United Nations Security Council unanimously adopted United Nations Security Council Resolution 82, condemning North Korea's invasion of South Korea. June 27, 1950: U.S. president Harry Truman ordered U.S. forces to the defense of the Republic of Korea. October 19, 1950: Chinese forces joined the Korean War, supporting North Korea. November 7, 1950: 1950 United States general election: Walter J. Kohler Jr. elected Governor of Wisconsin. Alexander Wiley re-elected United States senator from Wisconsin.
Major legislation August 11, 1949: An Act ... relating to discontinuing the Wisconsin veterans' authority and transferring its functions to the department of veterans' affairs, a veterans' housing trust fund, veterans' housing loans, incentive grants for veterans' housing and making appropriations, 1949 Act 627. Utilized the recently ratified amendment to the state constitution to create new veterans programs. 1949 Joint Resolution 1: Second legislative passage of a proposed amendment to the state constitution to enable the state to take on debt to pay for veterans' housing. This amendment was ratified by voters at the April 1949 election. 1949 Joint Resolution 2: Second legislative passage of a proposed amendment to the state constitution to repeal a portion of the constitution which had prohibited taxing land owned by the federal government. This amendment was rejected by voters at the April 1949 election. But the same amendment was later ratified in 1951.
Party summary Senate summary
Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) Total Dem. Prog. Rep. Vacant End of previous Legislature 5 1 27 33 0 Start of Reg. SessionDemocrat Clement J. Zablocki (3rd District) and Republican Charles D. Madsen (29th District) resigned before the start of the session. 4 0 27 31 2 From Mar. 4, 1949Republican Edward F. Hilker (21st District) died. 26 31 2 From Apr. 5, 1949Democrats Casimir Kendziorski (3rd District) and John E. Olson (29th District) were sworn in. 6 32 1 Final voting share Beginning of the next Legislature 7 0 26 33 0
Assembly summary
Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) Total Dem. Rep. Vacant End of previous Legislature 12 87 98 1 Start of Reg. Session 26 74 100 0 From Apr. 5, 1949Democrat Casimir Kendziorski (Milwaukee County) resigned after being elected to the Wisconsin Senate. 25 99 1 From Jul. 23, 1949Republican John D. Heimick (Milwaukee County) died. 73 98 2 From Dec. 9, 1949Democrat William Banach (Milwaukee County) resigned. 24 97 3 From Apr. 13, 1950Republican Glenn W. Birkett (Racine County) died. 72 96 4 Final voting share Beginning of the next Legislature 24 76 100 0
Sessions Regular session: January 12, 1949September 13, 1949
Leaders Senate leadership President of the Senate: George M. Smith (R) President pro tempore: Frank E. Panzer (R–Oakfield) Majority leader: Warren P. Knowles (R–New Richmond)
Assembly leadership Speaker of the Assembly: Alex L. Nicol (R–Sparta) Majority leader: Vernon W. Thomson (R–Richland Center) Minority leader: Leland McParland (D–Milwaukee)
Members Members of the Senate Members of the Senate for the Sixty-Ninth Wisconsin Legislature:
Dist. Counties Senator Residence Party 01 Door, Kewaunee, Two Rivers Rep. 02 Brown Green Bay Rep. 03 Milwaukee (South City) --Vacant until Apr. 5, 1949-- Milwaukee Dem. 04 Milwaukee (Northeast County Milwaukee Rep. 05 Milwaukee Milwaukee Rep. 06 Milwaukee Milwaukee Dem. 07 Milwaukee (Southeast County Milwaukee Dem. 08 Milwaukee West MilwaukeeRep. 09 Milwaukee Milwaukee Dem. 10 Buffalo, Pepin, Pierce, New RichmondRep. 11 Bayfield, Burnett, Douglas, SuperiorRep. 12 Ashland, Iron, Price, Rusk, Sawyer, PhillipsRep. 13 Dodge OakfieldRep. 14 Outagamie AppletonRep. 15 Rock BeloitRep. 16 Crawford, Grant, BloomingtonRep. 17 Green, Iowa, South WayneRep. 18 , CampbellsportRep. 19 Calumet OshkoshRep. 20 Ozaukee SheboyganRep. 21 Racine RacineRep. --Vacant from Mar. 4, 1949-- 22 Kenosha Lake Geneva Rep. 23 Portage Stevens Point Rep. 24 Clark, Taylor, Marshfield Rep. 25 Lincoln Merrill Rep. 26 Dane Madison Dem. 27 Columbia, Richland, Richland Center Rep. 28 Chippewa Chippewa Falls Rep. 29Barron, Dunn, --Vacant until Apr. 5, 1949-- Chetek Dem. 30 Florence, Forest, Langlade, Marinette, Amberg Rep. 31 Adams, Juneau, Monroe, Sparta Rep. 32 Jackson, La Crosse, La Crosse Rep. 33 Jefferson Rep.
Members of the Assembly Members of the Assembly for the Sixty-Ninth Wisconsin Legislature:
SenateDist. County Dist. Representative Party Residence 31 Adams Rep. Adams 12 Ashland Rep. Mellen 29 Barron Rep. Cameron 11 Bayfield Rep. Mason 02 Brown 1 Dem. Green Bay 2 Dem. Wrightstown 10 Buffalo Rep. Alma 11 Burnett Rep. Spooner 19 Calumet Rep. Menasha 28 Chippewa Rep. Chippewa Falls 24 Clark Rep. Owen 27 Columbia Rep. Lodi 16 Crawford Dem. Ferryville 26 Dane 1 Dem. Madison 2 Dem. Marshall 3 Dem. Cross Plains 13 Dodge 1 Rep. Mayville 2 Rep. Burnett 01 Door Rep. Sturgeon Bay 11 Douglas 1 Rep. Superior 2 Rep. Superior 29 Dunn Rep. Elk Mound 28 Eau Claire Rep. Eau Claire 30 Florence, Forest, Rep. Rhinelander 18 Fond du Lac 1 Rep. Fond du Lac 2 Rep. Rosendale 16 Grant 1 Rep. Platteville 2 Rep. Lancaster 17 Green Rep. Monroe 18 Green Lake Rep. Green Lake 17 Iowa Rep. Arena 12 Iron Rep. Lac du Flambeau 32 Jackson Rep. Black River Falls 33 Jefferson Rep. Lake Mills 31 Juneau Rep. Hustler 22 Kenosha 1 Rep. Kenosha 2 Dem. Kenosha 01 Kewaunee Rep. Kewaunee 32 La Crosse 1 Rep. La Crosse 2 Rep. Onalaska 17 Lafayette Rep. South Wayne 30 Langlade Rep. Antigo 25 Lincoln Rep. Merrill 01 Manitowoc 1 Rep. Manitowoc 2 Dem. Two Rivers 25 Marathon 1 Rep. Hamburg 2 Rep. Wausau 30 Marinette Rep. Marinette 09 Milwaukee 1 Dem. Milwaukee 06 2 Dem. Milwaukee 08 3 Dem. West Allis 09 4 Dem. Milwaukee 03 5 Dem. Milwaukee --Vacant from Apr. 5, 1949-- 09 6 Dem. Milwaukee 06 7 Dem. Milwaukee 08 8 Dem. Milwaukee 05 9 Rep. Milwaukee 07 10 Dem. Cudahy 03 11 Dem. Milwaukee 07 12 Dem. Milwaukee 04 13 Dem. Milwaukee 14 Rep. Milwaukee 05 15 Rep. Milwaukee 06 16 Dem. Milwaukee 07 17 Rep. Milwaukee 06 18 Dem. Milwaukee 05 19 Rep. Milwaukee 08 20 Rep. Wauwatosa 31 Monroe Rep. Sparta 02 Oconto Rep. Oconto 14 Outagamie 1 Rep. Appleton 2 Rep. Kaukauna 20 Ozaukee Rep. Grafton 10 Pierce Rep. Spring Valley 29 Polk Rep. Milltown 23 Portage Dem. Stevens Point 12 Price Rep. Phillips 21 Racine 1 Dem. Racine 2 Dem. Racine 3 Rep. Burlington 27 Richland Rep. Richland Center 15 Rock 1 Rep. Edgerton 2 Rep. Beloit 12 Rusk Rep. Ladysmith 27 Sauk Rep. Baraboo 14 Shawano Rep. Shawano 20 Sheboygan 1 Dem. Sheboygan 2 Rep. Waldo 10 St. Croix Rep. Somerset 24 Taylor Rep. Gilman 32 Trempealeau Rep. Galesville 16 Vernon Rep. Westby 22 Walworth Rep. Delavan 13 Washington Rep. West Bend 33 Waukesha 1 Rep. Waukesha 2 Rep. Hartland 23 Waupaca Rep. Clintonville 19 Winnebago 1 Rep. Oshkosh 2 Rep. Menasha 24 Wood Rep. Vesper
Committees Senate committees Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture and ConservationM. Olson, chair Senate Standing Committee on CommitteesJ. Miller, chair Senate Standing Committee on Contingent ExpendituresB. Gettelman, chair Senate Standing Committee on Education and Public WelfareR. P. Robinson, chair Senate Standing Committee on HighwaysJ. Miller, chair Senate Standing Committee on the JudiciaryG. W. Buchen, chair Senate Standing Committee on Labor and ManagementG. A. Bubolz, chair Senate Standing Committee on Legislative ProcedureF. E. Panzer, chair Senate Standing Committee on State and Local GovernmentR. Schlabach, chair Senate Standing Committee on Veterans AffairsM. Laird, chair
Assembly committees Assembly Standing Committee on AgricultureO. R. Rice, chair Assembly Standing Committee on Commerce and ManufacturingE. A. Hinz, chair Assembly Standing Committee on ConservationR. S. Travis, chair Assembly Standing Committee on Contingent ExpendituresB. Tremain, chair Assembly Standing Committee on EducationW. W. Clark, chair Assembly Standing Committee on ElectionsH. W. Timmer, chair Assembly Standing Committee on Engrossed BillsW. M. Rohan, chair Assembly Standing Committee on Enrolled BillsT. S. Jones, chair Assembly Standing Committee on Excise and FeesH. R. Abraham, chair Assembly Standing Committee on HighwaysH. A. Harper, chair Assembly Standing Committee on Insurance and BankingF. Pfennig, chair Assembly Standing Committee on the JudiciaryV. W. Thomson, chair Assembly Standing Committee on LaborE. L. Genzmer, chair Assembly Standing Committee on MunicipalitiesP. A. Luedtke, chair Assembly Standing Committee on PrintingA. F. Betts, chair Assembly Standing Committee on Public WelfareE. W. Hanson, chair Assembly Standing Committee on RevisionE. W. Hanson, chair Assembly Standing Committee on RulesJ. Spearbraker, chair Assembly Standing Committee on State AffairsB. J. Gehrmann, chair Assembly Standing Committee on TaxationM. F. Burmaster, chair Assembly Standing Committee on Third ReadingC. E. Nelson, chair Assembly Standing Committee on TransportationR. Bice, chair Assembly Standing Committee on Veterans and Military AffairsM. Catlin, chair
Joint committees Joint Standing Committee on FinanceF. B. Porter (Sen.) & A. R. Ludvigsen (Asm.), co-chairs