The Seventieth Wisconsin Legislature convened from to in regular session.

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 7, 1950. 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 2, 1948.

The governor of Wisconsin during this entire term was Republican Walter J. Kohler Jr., of Sheboygan County, serving a two-year term, having won election in the 1950 Wisconsin gubernatorial election.

Major events January 1, 1951: Inauguration of Walter J. Kohler Jr. as the 33rd Governor of Wisconsin. February 27, 1951: The Twenty-second Amendment to the United States Constitution came into force, establishing the two term limit for U.S. presidents. April 3, 1951: Wisconsin voters ratified two amendments to the state constitution: Repealing the prohibition on taxing federal lands. Setting an 8% combined municipal debt limit for city and school purposes. April 11, 1951: Amidst disagreements over strategy in the Korean War, U.S. president Harry Truman relieved General Douglas MacArthur from command. May 8, 1951: The first thermonuclear weapon was tested by the United States at Enewetak Atoll. July 28, 1951: The Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees was signed. August 13, 1951: Wisconsin Supreme Court justice Henry P. Hughes resigned. September 1, 1951: Wisconsin Governor Walter J. Kohler appointed George R. Currie to the Wisconsin Supreme Court, to succeed Henry P. Hughes. The United States, Australia, and New Zealand signed the ANZUS mutual defense pact. September 8, 1951: The United States and Japan signed the Security Treaty between the United States and Japan, allowing for a continuation of United States military forces basing in Japan. February 6, 1952: King George VI of the United Kingdom died and was immediately succeeded by his daughter, who was later crowned as Queen Elizabeth II. November 4, 1952: 1952 United States general election: Dwight D. Eisenhower elected President of the United States. Walter J. Kohler Jr. re-elected Governor of Wisconsin. Joseph McCarthy re-elected United States senator from Wisconsin. Wisconsin voters rejected a non-binding referendum on changes to constitutional guidelines for redistricting. Holding the referendum was part of a compromise which enabled the passage of the Rosenberry redistricting plan.

Major legislation April 12, 1951: An Act ... relating to the inclusion of public employes under the Federal Old Age and Survivors Insurance System, and making an appropriation, 1951 Act 60. Created the Wisconsin Public Employees Social Security Fund, and made Wisconsin the first state to allow some state and local employees to be covered by Social Security. July 10, 1951: An Act ... relating to civil defense, 1951 Act 443. Established the state office of civil defense. August 17, 1951: An Act ... relating to the apportionment of assemblymen and senators, 1951 Act 728. This was the first full legislative redistricting of Wisconsin since 1921. This plan was the product of a nonpartisan redistricting commission, popularly referred to as the "Rosenberry Commission" for its chairman, the former Wisconsin Supreme Court chief justice Marvin B. Rosenberry. Because of a compromise, implementation of the plan was delayed until the 1954 election to allow the consideration of a constitutional amendment which would have altered redistricting rules.

Party summary Senate summary

Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) Total Dem. Rep. Vacant End of previous Legislature 6 26 32 1 Start of Reg. Session 7 26 33 0 From Dec. 3, 1951Republican Gustave W. Buchen (20th District) died. 25 32 1 Final voting share Beginning of the next Legislature 7 26 33 0

Assembly summary

Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) Total Dem. Rep. Vacant End of previous Legislature 24 72 96 4 Start of Reg. Session 24 76 100 0 From Mar. 24, 1951Democrat William Banach (Milwaukee County) died. 23 99 1 Final voting share Beginning of the next Legislature 25 75 100 0

Sessions Regular session: January 10, 1951June 14, 1951

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) Minority leader: Gaylord Nelson (D–Madison)

Assembly leadership Speaker of the Assembly: Ora R. Rice (R–Delavan) Majority leader: Arthur O. Mockrud (R–Westby) Minority leader: George Molinaro (D–Kenosha)

Members Members of the Senate Members of the Senate for the Seventieth Wisconsin Legislature:

Dist. Counties Senator Residence Party 01 Door, Kewaunee, Two Rivers Rep. 02 Brown Green Bay Rep. 03 Milwaukee (South City) 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 NeenahDem. 20 Ozaukee SheboyganRep. 21 Racine RacineDem. 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. 29 Barron, Dunn, Menomonie Rep. 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 Seventieth Wisconsin Legislature:

SenateDist. County Dist. Representative Party Residence 31 Adams Rep. Adams 12 Ashland Rep. Mellen 29 Barron Rep. Cameron 11 Bayfield Rep. Grand View 02 Brown 1 Dem. Green Bay 2 Rep. Denmark 10 Buffalo Rep. Durand 11 Burnett Rep. Spooner 19 Calumet Rep. Menasha 28 Chippewa Rep. Chippewa Falls 24 Clark Rep. Unity 27 Columbia Rep. Lodi 16 Crawford Rep. Prairie du Chien 26 Dane 1 Dem. Madison 2 Dem. Madison 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. Menomonie 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 Dem. Gile 32 Jackson Rep. Black River Falls 33 Jefferson Rep. Lake Mills 31 Juneau Rep. Hustler 22 Kenosha 1 Dem. 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 Rep. 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 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 --Vacant from Mar. 24, 1951-- 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. Tomah 02 Oconto Rep. Oconto 14 Outagamie 1 Rep. Appleton 2 Rep. Bear Creek 20 Ozaukee Dem. Belgium 10 Pierce Rep. Prescott 29 Polk Rep. Milltown 23 Portage Dem. Stevens Point 12 Price Rep. Phillips 21 Racine 1 Dem. Racine 2 Rep. Racine 3 Rep. Mount Pleasant 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 Rep. Sheboygan 2 Rep. Waldo 10 St. Croix Rep. Somerset 24 Taylor Rep. Rib Lake 32 Trempealeau Rep. Strum 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 CommitteesW. P. Knowles, 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 AgricultureJ. T. Pritchard, chair Assembly Standing Committee on Commerce and ManufacturingH. W. Brooks, chair Assembly Standing Committee on ConservationR. S. Travis, chair Assembly Standing Committee on Contingent ExpendituresE. C. Nitschke, chair Assembly Standing Committee on EducationW. W. Clark, chair Assembly Standing Committee on ElectionsH. W. Timmer, chair Assembly Standing Committee on Engrossed BillsT. S. Jones, chair Assembly Standing Committee on Enrolled BillsR. A. Peabody, 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 BankingB. M. Engebretson, chair Assembly Standing Committee on the JudiciaryA. O. Mockrud, chair Assembly Standing Committee on LaborE. L. Genzmer, chair Assembly Standing Committee on MunicipalitiesP. A. Luedtke, chair Assembly Standing Committee on PrintingC. H. Sykes, chair Assembly Standing Committee on Public WelfareH. Rasmusen, chair Assembly Standing Committee on RevisionC. A. Peterson, chair Assembly Standing Committee on RulesB. M. Engebretson, chair Assembly Standing Committee on State AffairsB. J. Gehrmann, chair Assembly Standing Committee on TaxationA. F. Betts, chair Assembly Standing Committee on Third ReadingC. E. Nelson, chair Assembly Standing Committee on TransportationR. Bice, chair Assembly Standing Committee on Veterans and Military AffairsR. H. Sengstock, chair

Joint committees Joint Standing Committee on FinanceF. B. Porter (Sen.) & A. R. Ludvigsen (Asm.), co-chairs Joint Standing Committee on Revisions, Repeals, and Uniform LawsA. Busby (Sen.) & E. Grassman (Asm.), co-chairs Joint Special Committee on ReapportionmentR. P. Robinson (Sen.), chair

Employees Senate employees Chief Clerk: Thomas M. Donahue Sergeant-at-Arms: Harold Damon Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms: A. J. Oelmiller

Assembly employees Chief Clerk: Arthur L. May Assistant Chief Clerk: Robert H. Boyson Sergeant-at-Arms: Norris J. Kellman Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms: Earl J. Dalton

Notes

References

External links 1951: Related Documents from Wisconsin Legislature