The Seventy-Second Wisconsin Legislature convened from to in regular session.
This was the first legislative session after the redistricting of the Senate and Assembly according to an act of the 1951 session (The implementation of that redistricting act had been delayed to the 1954 election).
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 2, 1954. 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 4, 1952.
The governor of Wisconsin during this entire term was Republican Walter J. Kohler Jr., of Sheboygan County, serving his third two-year term, having won re-election in the 1954 Wisconsin gubernatorial election.
Major events January 3, 1955: Third inauguration of Walter J. Kohler Jr. as Governor of Wisconsin. April 5, 1955: 1955 Wisconsin spring election: Wisconsin voters ratified two amendments to the state constitution: created a new section in Article VII (judiciary) establishing qualifications for state judges and setting a mandatory retirement age at 70. adjusted debt limit rules for school districts. May 14, 1955: Eight communist bloc counties, including the Soviet Union, signed the Warsaw Pact, establishing a defensive alliance. August 28, 1955: Emmett Till was lynched in Money, Mississippi. November 1, 1955: The United States Military Assistance Advisory Group for South Vietnam was established. This was later identified as the start of formal U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War. December 5, 1955: The American Federation of Labor and the Congress of Industrial Organizations merged, forming the AFL–CIO. April 3, 1956: 1956 Wisconsin spring election: Thomas E. Fairchild was elected to the Wisconsin Supreme Court to succeed his father Edward T. Fairchild. Wisconsin voters ratified two amendments to the state constitution: expanded the language around circumstances where municipalities could acquire land for public purposes. created an exception to changes to compensation for retired teachers. Wisconsin voters rejected two other amendements to the state constitution: would have abolished limits on sheriffs serving consecutive terms in office. would have created exceptions in the prohibition on free passes for state officers. June 29, 1956: U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956, establishing the Interstate Highway System in the United States. August 28, 1956: Wisconsin Supreme Court justice Edward J. Gehl died in office. September 5, 1956: Wisconsin Governor Walter J. Kohler Jr. appointed Emmert L. Wingert to the Wisconsin Supreme Court, to succeed the deceased justice Edward J. Gehl. November 1, 1956: Soviet forces invaded Hungary to put down the Hungarian Revolution of 1956. November 5, 1956: Following Egypt's nationalization of the Suez Company, French and English forces invaded the Suez Canal zone and took control of the canal. Due to sunken commercial ships in the canal, it was closed to traffic until March 1957, resulting in shortages and rationing. November 6, 1956: 1956 United States general election: Dwight D. Eisenhower (R) re-elected President of the United States. Vernon Wallace Thomson (R) elected Governor of Wisconsin. Alexander Wiley (R) re-elected United States senator from Wisconsin. November 13, 1956: The United States Supreme Court, in the case Browder v. Gayle, found that state and local ordinances which enforced racial segregation of buses were unconstitutional.
Major legislation August 3, 1955: An Act ... relating to incorporation of certain towns as fourth class cities, 1955 Act 500. This act dramatically reduced the population density requirements in order for a community to incorporate as a fourth-class city. The act was commonly known as the "Oak Creek Law", because the Milwaukee suburb had worked to pass this law in order to avoid further annexation to the city of Milwaukee. 1955 Joint Resolution 14. Second legislative passage of a proposed amendment to the state constitution to create a new section establishing qualifications for state judges and allowing the legislature to set a mandatory retirement age. This amendment was ratified by voters at the 1955 April election. 1955 Joint Resolution 17. Second legislative passage of a proposed amendment to the state constitution to add an exception for retired teachers in the rules on changes to compensation for state employees. This amendment was ratified by voters at the 1956 April election.
Party summary Senate summary
Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) Total Dem. Rep. Vacant End of previous Legislature 7 24 31 2 Start of Reg. Session 8 25 33 0 From Nov. 1, 1955Republican Paul J. Rogan (23rd District) resigned. 24 32 1 From Apr. 13, 1956Republican Arthur L. Padrutt (28th District) resigned. 23 31 2 Final voting share Beginning of the next Legislature 10 23 33 0
Assembly summary
Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) Total Dem. Rep. Vacant End of previous Legislature 25 72 97 3 Start of Reg. Session 36 64 100 0 From Oct. 12, 1955Republican Walter E. Cook (Clark County) died. 63 99 1 From Apr. 16, 1956Democrat Ivan A. Nestingen (Dane County) resigned. 35 98 2 Final voting share Beginning of the next Legislature 33 67 100 0
Sessions Regular session: January 12, 1955October 21, 1955
Leaders Senate leadership President of the Senate: Warren P. Knowles (R) President pro tempore: Frank E. Panzer (R–Oakfield) Majority leader: Paul J. Rogan (R–Ladysmith) Minority leader: Henry Maier (D–Milwaukee)
Assembly leadership Speaker of the Assembly: Mark Catlin Jr. (R–Appleton) Majority leader: Robert G. Marotz (R–Shawano) Minority leader: Robert T. Huber (D–West Allis)
Members Members of the Senate Members of the Senate for the Seventy-Second Wisconsin Legislature:
Dist. Counties Senator Residence Party 01 Door, Kewaunee, Kiel Rep. 02 Brown Green Bay Rep. 03 Milwaukee (South City) Milwaukee Dem. 04 Milwaukee (North County) Milwaukee Rep. 05 Milwaukee Milwaukee Rep. 06 Milwaukee Milwaukee Dem. 07 Milwaukee (South County Cudahy Dem. 08 Milwaukee West MilwaukeeRep. 09 Milwaukee Milwaukee Dem. 10 Buffalo, Dunn, Pepin, Pierce, New RichmondRep. 11 Milwaukee (Western City) MilwaukeeDem. 12 Iron, Lincoln, Oneida, Price, Taylor, MellenRep. 13 Dodge OakfieldRep. 14 Outagamie Bear CreekRep. 15 Rock JanesvilleRep. 16 Dane (Excluding Madison) BloomingtonRep. 17 Grant, Green, Iowa, PlattevilleRep. 18 , CampbellsportRep. 19 Calumet NeenahRep. 20 Ozaukee PlymouthRep. 21 Racine RacineDem. 22 Kenosha Lake Geneva Rep. 23 Barron, Burnett, Polk, Rusk, Sawyer, Ladysmith Rep. 24 Clark, Portage, Vesper Rep. 25 Ashland, Bayfield, Merrill Dem. 26 Dane (Madison) Madison Dem. 27 Columbia, Crawford, Richland, Richland Center Rep. 28 Chippewa Chippewa Falls Rep. 29 Marathon Wausau Rep. 30 Florence, Forest, Langlade, Marinette, Amberg Rep. 31 Adams, Juneau, Monroe, Marquette, Sparta Rep. 32 Jackson, La Crosse, La Crosse Rep. 33 Jefferson Hartland Rep.
Members of the Assembly Members of the Assembly for the Seventy-Second Wisconsin Legislature:
SenateDist. County Dist. Representative Party Residence 31 Adams, Juneau, Rep. Adams 25 Ashland Rep. Grand View 23 Barron Rep. Cameron 02 Brown 1 Rep. Green Bay 2 Dem. Green Bay 3 Rep. De Pere 10 Buffalo, Pepin, Rep. Durand 23 Burnett Rep. Milltown 19 Calumet Rep. Menasha 28 Chippewa Rep. Chippewa Falls 24 Clark Rep. Unity 27 Columbia Rep. Portage Crawford Rep. Richland Center 26 Dane 1 Dem. Madison 2 Dem. Madison 3 Rep. Madison 16 4 Dem. Stoughton 5 Dem. Verona 13 Dodge 1 Rep. Mayville 2 Rep. Beaver Dam 01 Door Rep. Sturgeon Bay 25 Douglas 1 Dem. Superior 2 Rep. Superior 10 Dunn Rep. Menomonie 28 Eau Claire 1 Rep. Eau Claire 2 Dem. Augusta 30 Florence, Forest, Dem. Antigo 18 Fond du Lac 1 Rep. Fond du Lac 2 Rep. Ripon 17 Grant Rep. Fennimore Green Rep. Monroe 18 Green Lake Rep. Wautoma 17 Iowa Rep. Benton 12 Iron, Oneida, Rep. Lac du Flambeau 32 Jackson Dem. Taylor 33 Jefferson Rep. Watertown 22 Kenosha 1 Dem. Kenosha 2 Dem. Kenosha 32 La Crosse 1 Rep. La Crosse 2 Rep. La Crosse 12 Lincoln Rep. Merrill 01 Manitowoc 1 Dem. Manitowoc 2 Rep. Two Rivers 29 Marathon 1 Dem. Athens 2 Rep. Wausau 30 Marinette Rep. Marinette 04 Milwaukee 1 Dem. Milwaukee 09 2 Dem. Milwaukee 3 Dem. Milwaukee 11 4 Dem. Milwaukee 05 5 Rep. Milwaukee 09 6 Dem. Milwaukee 06 7 Dem. Milwaukee 11 8 Dem. Milwaukee 05 9 Dem. Milwaukee 06 10 Dem. Milwaukee 03 11 Dem. Milwaukee 12 Dem. Milwaukee 06 13 Dem. Milwaukee 03 14 Dem. Milwaukee 05 15 Rep. Milwaukee 11 16 Dem. Milwaukee 07 17 Dem. Milwaukee 04 18 Dem. Milwaukee 19 Rep. Milwaukee 08 20 Rep. Wauwatosa 21 Dem. West Allis 22 Dem. West Allis 07 23 Dem. Milwaukee 24 Dem. Cudahy 31 Monroe Rep. Tomah 30 Oconto Rep. Oconto 14 Outagamie 1 Rep. Appleton 2 Rep. Kaukauna 20 Ozaukee Rep. Port Washington 24 Portage Dem. Stevens Point 12 Price Rep. Phillips 21 Racine 1 Dem. Racine 2 Dem. Racine 3 Rep. Burlington 15 Rock 1 Rep. Janesville 2 Rep. Edgerton 3 Rep. Beloit 23 Rusk, Sawyer, Rep. Tony 27 Sauk Rep. Reedsburg 29 Shawano Rep. Shawano 20 Sheboygan 1 Rep. Sheboygan 2 Rep. Sheboygan Falls 10 St. Croix Rep. Somerset 16 Vernon Rep. Viroqua 22 Walworth Rep. Delavan 13 Washington Rep. Jackson 33 Waukesha 1 Rep. Waukesha 2 Rep. Hartland 14 Waupaca Rep. Clintonville 19 Winnebago 1 Rep. Oshkosh 2 Rep. Winneconne 3 Rep. Menasha 24 Wood 1 Rep. Marshfield 2 Rep. Wisconsin Rapids
Committees Senate committees Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture and ConservationJ. E. Leverich, chair Senate Standing Committee on CommitteesJ. Miller, chair Senate Standing Committee on Contingent ExpendituresL. H. Prange, chair Senate Standing Committee on Education and Public WelfareW. W. Clark, chair Senate Standing Committee on Governmental and Veterans AffairsA. L. Padrutt, chair Senate Standing Committee on HighwaysJ. Miller, chair Senate Standing Committee on the JudiciaryA. Busby, chair Senate Standing Committee on Labor, Taxation, Insurance, and Banking chair Senate Standing Committee on Legislative ProcedureF. E. Panzer, chair
Assembly committees Assembly Standing Committee on AgricultureO. R. Rice, chair Assembly Standing Committee on Commerce and ManufacturesM. H. Ward, chair Assembly Standing Committee on Conservation, chair Assembly Standing Committee on Contingent ExpendituresW. Belter, chair Assembly Standing Committee on EducationW. J. Hutnik, chair Assembly Standing Committee on ElectionsF. E. Nuernberg, chair Assembly Standing Committee on Engrossed BillsL. M. Hagen, chair Assembly Standing Committee on Enrolled BillsR. A. Peabody, chair Assembly Standing Committee on Excise and FeesE. L. Genzmer, chair Assembly Standing Committee on HighwaysG. H. Bakke, chair Assembly Standing Committee on Insurance and BankingR. H. Sengstock, chair Assembly Standing Committee on the JudiciaryN. J. Lesselyoung, chair Assembly Standing Committee on LaborW. E. Cook, chair Assembly Standing Committee on MunicipalitiesP. A. Luedtke, chair Assembly Standing Committee on PrintingF. J. LeClair, chair Assembly Standing Committee on Public WelfareS. H. Raihle, chair Assembly Standing Committee on RevisionE. C. Nitschke, chair Assembly Standing Committee on RulesR. G. Marotz, chair Assembly Standing Committee on State AffairsE. A. Toepel, chair Assembly Standing Committee on TaxationW. A. Grady, chair Assembly Standing Committee on Third ReadingA. J. Redford, chair Assembly Standing Committee on TransportationL. C. Romell, chair Assembly Standing Committee on Veterans and Military AffairsB. F. Wackett, chair
Joint committees Joint Standing Committee on FinanceF. B. Porter (Sen.) & A. R. Ludvigsen (Asm.), co-chairs