The Seventy-Seventh Wisconsin Legislature convened from to in regular session.
This was the first legislative session after the redistricting of the Senate and Assembly according to a decision of the Wisconsin Supreme Court in 1964.
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 3, 1964. 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 6, 1962.
The governor of Wisconsin during this entire term was Republican Warren P. Knowles, of St. Croix County, serving a two-year term, having won election in the 1964 Wisconsin gubernatorial election.
Major events January 4, 1965: Inauguration of Warren P. Knowles as the 37th Governor of Wisconsin. January 20, 1965: Second inauguration of Lyndon B. Johnson as President of the United States. April 6, 1965: 1965 Wisconsin Spring election: Wisconsin voters approved two amendments to the state constitution: Revising the definition of a lottery. Abolishing the county offices of coroner and surveyor for counties with more than 500,000 people (at the time, only Milwaukee County). July 30, 1965: U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Social Security Amendments of 1965, creating Medicare and Medicaid. January 2, 1966: The Green Bay Packers won the 1965 NFL Championship Game. April 5, 1966: 1966 Wisconsin Spring election: Wisconsin voters approved four amendments to the state constitution: To allow state legislators to serve in the military without vacating their legislative office. To allow the legislature to create inferior courts. To eliminate Section 15 of Article VII of the constitution, abolishing the office of justice of the peace. To allow for indebtedness in special districts for public utilities. June 22, 1966: Wisconsin Assembly Republican leaders Paul Alfonsi and Willis J. Hutnik were indicted for accepting bribes. Alfonsi was ultimately convicted, but his conviction was overturned by the Wisconsin Supreme Court. July 27, 1966: The Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled in the case State v. Milwaukee Braves, Inc., lifting a lower court injunction and allowing the Milwaukee Braves to move to Atlanta. August 11, 1966: Wisconsin Supreme Court justice Thomas E. Fairchild resigned after he was confirmed as a judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. August 24, 1966: Wisconsin Governor Warren P. Knowles appointed Leo B. Hanley to the Wisconsin Supreme Court, to succeed Thomas E. Fairchild. November 8, 1966: 1966 United States general election: Warren P. Knowles (R) re-elected as Governor of Wisconsin.
Major legislation December 30, 1965: An Act ... relating to a public defender at appellate level, 1965 Act 479. Created the position of state public defender and placed the role under supervision of the Wisconsin Supreme Court. 1965 Joint Resolution 2: Second legislative passage of a proposed amendment to the state constitution to revise the definition of lotteries. This amendment was ratified by voters at the April 1965 election. 1965 Joint Resolution 5: Second legislative passage of a proposed amendment to the state constitution to abolish the county offices of coroner and surveyor in counties with a population greater than 500,000 (at the time, this only applied to Milwaukee County). This amendment was ratified by voters at the April 1965 election. 1965 Joint Resolution 14: Second legislative passage of a proposed amendment to the state constitution to allow legislators to serve in the military without vacating their legislative seat. This amendment was ratified by voters at the April 1966 election. 1965 Joint Resolution 50: Second legislative passage of two proposed amendments to the state constitution to allow the legislature to create inferior courts and to abolish the office of justice of the peace. Both amendments were ratified by voters at the April 1966 election.
Party summary Senate summary
Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) Total Dem. Rep. Vacant End of previous Legislature 10 22 32 1 Start of Reg. Session 13 20 33 0 Final voting share Beginning of the next Legislature 12 21 33 0
Assembly summary
Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) Total Dem. Rep. Vacant End of previous Legislature 47 53 100 0 Start of Reg. Session 52 48 100 0 From Feb. 17, 1965Democrat Allen J. Flannigan (Milwaukee County) died. 51 99 1 From May 11, 1965Democrat William A. Johnson (Milwaukee County) was sworn in to replace Allen J. Flannigan. 52 100 0 From Sep. 15, 1965Republican Robert Haase (Florence & Marinette County) resigned to become state commissioner of insurance. 47 99 1 From Nov. 24, 1965Democrat Leslie R. Stevenson (Florence & Marinette County) was sworn in to replace Robert Haase. 53 100 0 Final voting share Beginning of the next Legislature 48 52 100 0
Sessions Regular session: January 13, 1965January 2, 1967
Leaders Senate leadership President of the Senate: Patrick Lucey (D) President pro tempore: Frank E. Panzer (R–Oakfield) Majority leader: Robert P. Knowles (R–New Richmond) Minority leader: Richard J. Zaborski (D–Milwaukee)
Assembly leadership Speaker of the Assembly: Robert T. Huber (D–West Allis) Speaker pro tempore: George Molinaro (D–Kenosha) Majority leader: Frank Nikolay (D–Abbotsford) Minority leader: Robert Haase (R–Marinette) Paul Alfonsi (R–Minocqua)
Members Members of the Senate Members of the Senate for the Seventy-Seventh Wisconsin Legislature:
Dist. Counties Senator Residence Party 01 Door, Kewaunee, Sturgeon Bay Rep. 02 Southern Brown Green Bay Rep. 03 Milwaukee (Southwest City) Milwaukee Dem. 04 Milwaukee (North County) Milwaukee Rep. 05 Milwaukee Milwaukee Dem. 06 Milwaukee Milwaukee Dem. 07 Milwaukee (Southeast County Cudahy Dem. 08 Milwaukee West MilwaukeeRep. 09 Milwaukee Milwaukee Dem. 10 Buffalo, Burnett, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, New RichmondRep. 11 Milwaukee (Western City) MilwaukeeDem. 12 Clark, Forest, Lincoln, Oneida, Taylor, MerrillRep. 13 Eastern Dodge, Jefferson, OakfieldRep. 14 Outagamie Bear CreekRep. 15 Eastern Rock JanesvilleRep. 16 Most of Dane StoughtonDem. 17 Grant, Green, Iowa, Lafayette, DarlingtonRep. 18 RosendaleRep. 19 Winnebago NeenahRep. 20 Ozaukee Sheboygan FallsRep. 21 Racine RacineDem. 22 Kenosha KenoshaDem. 23 Barron, Chippewa, Dunn, Spooner Rep. 24 Green Lake, Portage, Waushara, Stevens PointDem. 25 Ashland, Bayfield, Douglas, Iron, Price, Rusk, Superior Dem. 26 Dane (Madison) Madison Dem. 27 Adams, Columbia, Juneau, Marquette, Richland Center Rep. 28 Southwest Milwaukee, Raymond Dem. 29 Marathon, Menominee, Wausau Rep. 30 Northern Brown, Florence, Langlade, Marinette, Oconto Rep. 31 Eau Claire, Jackson, Monroe, Sparta Rep. 32 Crawford, La Crosse, La Crosse Rep. 33 Waukesha Hartland Rep.
Members of the Assembly Members of the Assembly for the Seventy-Seventh Wisconsin Legislature:
SenateDist. County Dist. Representative Party Residence 27 Adams, Juneau, Rep. Adams 25 Ashland, Bayfield, Rep. Ashland 23 Barron Dem. Cumberland 02 Brown 1 Rep. Green Bay 2 Rep. New Denmark 3 Dem. Green Bay 10 Buffalo, Pepin, Dem. Montana Burnett Dem. Luck 02 Calumet Rep. Brillion 23 Chippewa Dem. Chippewa Falls 12 Clark Dem. Abbotsford 27 Columbia Rep. Portage 32 Crawford Rep. Viroqua 26 Dane 1 Dem. Madison 2 Dem. Madison 3 Rep. Madison 16 4 Dem. Sun Prairie 5 Dem. Waunakee 13 Dodge 1 Rep. Horicon 18 2 Rep. Beaver Dam 01 Door Rep. Algoma 25 Douglas Dem. Superior 23 Dunn Rep. Boyceville 31 Eau Claire 1 Rep. Eau Claire 2 Dem. Fairchild 30 Florence Rep. Marinette Dem. Marinette 18 Fond du Lac 1 Rep. Fond du Lac 2 Rep. Oakfield 12 Forest, Oneida, Rep. Minocqua 17 Grant Rep. Muscoda Green Rep. Monroe 24 Green Lake Rep. Markesan 17 Iowa Rep. Highland 31 Jackson Dem. Strum 13 Jefferson Rep. Watertown 22 Kenosha 1 Dem. Kenosha 2 Dem. Salem 32 La Crosse 1 Rep. La Crosse 2 Rep. West Salem 30 Langlade Dem. Oconto Falls 12 Lincoln Dem. Lublin 01 Manitowoc 1 Dem. Manitowoc 2 Dem. Two Rivers 29 Marathon 1 Dem. Athens 2 Dem. Wausau Menominee Dem. Shawano 06 Milwaukee 1 Dem. Milwaukee 05 2 Dem. Milwaukee 04 3 Dem. Milwaukee 09 4 Dem. Milwaukee 06 5 Dem. Milwaukee 09 6 Dem. Milwaukee 06 7 Dem. Milwaukee Dem. Milwaukee 11 8 Dem. Milwaukee 05 9 Dem. Milwaukee 11 10 Dem. Milwaukee 03 11 Dem. Milwaukee 12 Dem. Milwaukee 09 13 Dem. Milwaukee 03 14 Dem. Milwaukee 05 15 Dem. Milwaukee 11 16 Dem. Milwaukee 07 17 Dem. Milwaukee 04 18 Rep. Milwaukee 07 19 Dem. Milwaukee 08 20 Rep. Wauwatosa 21 Dem. West Allis 22 Dem. West Allis 28 23 Dem. Greendale 07 24 Dem. South Milwaukee 04 25 Rep. Whitefish Bay 31 Monroe Rep. Tomah 14 Outagamie 1 Rep. Appleton 2 Dem. Kaukauna 3 Rep. Shiocton 20 Ozaukee Rep. Thiensville 24 Portage Dem. Stevens Point 25 Price, Rusk Rep. Ladysmith 21 Racine 1 Dem. Racine 2 Dem. Racine 28 3 Rep. Waterford 15 Rock 1 Dem. Janesville 16 2 Rep. Edgerton 15 3 Rep. Beloit 27 Sauk Rep. Baraboo 20 Sheboygan 1 Dem. Sheboygan 2 Rep. Elkhart Lake 10 St. Croix Dem. Hudson 22 Walworth Rep. Delavan 13 Washington Rep. West Bend 33 Waukesha 1 Rep. Brookfield 2 Rep. Oconomowoc 3 Dem. Waukesha 28 4 Rep. New Berlin 14 Waupaca Rep. Waupaca 19 Winnebago 1 Rep. Oshkosh 2 Rep. Oshkosh 3 Rep. Menasha 24 Wood 1 Rep. Marshfield 2 Rep. Wisconsin Rapids
Committees Senate committees Senate Standing Committee on AgricultureJ. E. Leverich, chair Senate Standing Committee on ConservationC. Krueger, chair Senate Standing Committee on EducationP. P. Carr, chair Senate Standing Committee on Governmental and Veterans AffairsW. Draheim, chair Senate Standing Committee on HighwaysJ. Miller, chair Senate Standing Committee on Interstate CooperationF. E. Panzer, chair Senate Standing Committee on the JudiciaryA. Busby, chair Senate Standing Committee on Labor, Taxation, Insurance, and BankingG. Lorge, chair Senate Standing Committee on Public WelfareC. Dempsey, chair Senate Standing Committee on Senate OrganizationF. E. Panzer, chair Senate Special Committee on CommitteesR. Bice, chair Senate Special Committee on Contingent Expenditures, chair Senate Special Committee on Legislative ProcedureF. E. Panzer, chair
Assembly committees Assembly Standing Committee on AgricultureD. D. O'Malley, chair Assembly Standing Committee on Assembly OrganizationR. T. Huber, chair Assembly Standing Committee on Commerce and ManufacturesE. S. Kaufman, chair Assembly Standing Committee on ConservationN. C. Anderson, chair Assembly Standing Committee on Contingent ExpendituresK. Kunde, chair Assembly Standing Committee on EducationA. F. Greco, chair Assembly Standing Committee on ElectionsV. R. Mathews, chair Assembly Standing Committee on Engrossed BillsE. H. Elfers, chair Assembly Standing Committee on Enrolled BillsL. Barbee, chair Assembly Standing Committee on Excise and FeesE. E. Bolle, chair Assembly Standing Committee on HighwaysJ. L. Blaska, chair Assembly Standing Committee on Insurance and BankingJ. E. McCormick, chair Assembly Standing Committee on the JudiciaryF. Nikolay, chair Assembly Standing Committee on LaborJ. E. Jones, chair Assembly Standing Committee on MunicipalitiesF. E. Schaeffer, chair Assembly Standing Committee on PrintingB. A. Riehle, chair Assembly Standing Committee on Public WelfareH. L. Dueholm, chair Assembly Standing Committee on RevisionL. V. Mato, chair Assembly Standing Committee on RulesF. Nikolay, chair Assembly Standing Committee on State AffairsE. W. Warren, chair Assembly Standing Committee on TaxationR. A. Perala, chair Assembly Standing Committee on Third ReadingM. Lipscomb, chair Assembly Standing Committee on TransportationR. J. Tobiasz, chair Assembly Standing Committee on Veterans and Military AffairsN. Myhra, chair
Joint committees