The Eighty-Fourth Wisconsin Legislature convened from to in regular session, and held three special sessions during this period.
Senators representing odd-numbered districts were newly elected in the November 7, 1978, general election and were serving the first two years of a four-year term. Assembly members were also elected in the same general election and served two-year terms. Senators representing even-numbered districts were serving the third and fourth years of their four-year terms, having been elected in the November 2, 1976, general election.
The Governor of Wisconsin during this legislative term was Republican Lee S. Dreyfus of Portage County, serving the first two years of his four-year term after winning the 1978 Wisconsin gubernatorial election.
Major events January 1, 1979: Lee S. Dreyfus was inaugurated as the 40th Governor of Wisconsin. March 28, 1979: A partial meltdown occurred at the Three Mile Island Nuclear Generating Station in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. April 3, 1979: 1979 Wisconsin Spring Election: Wisconsin voters approved four amendments to the Constitution of Wisconsin: Updated the terms of gubernatorial succession. Provided that the governor may appoint a lieutenant governor in the event of a vacancy, with the consent of the Legislature. Separated the office of lieutenant governor from the office of president of the Senate. Standardized the language describing the term lengths of the three state administrative officers. November 4, 1979: More than 500 Iranian radicals, mostly students, stormed the U.S. Embassy in Tehran and took 90 hostages, demanding the return of the deposed shah, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, to stand trial in Iran. April 1, 1980: 1980 Wisconsin Spring Election: Donald W. Steinmetz was elected to the Wisconsin Supreme Court to succeed Connor T. Hansen. Ronald Reagan won the Wisconsin Republican presidential primary. Jimmy Carter won the Wisconsin Democratic presidential primary. November 4, 1980: 1980 United States General Election: Ronald Reagan (R) was elected President of the United States. Bob Kasten (R) was elected United States senator from Wisconsin.
Major legislation 1979 Joint Resolution 3 – Second legislative passage of four proposed amendments to the Constitution of Wisconsin to: clarify the language regarding gubernatorial succession, establish a process for the governor to fill a vacancy in the office of lieutenant governor with the consent of the Legislature, separate the office of lieutenant governor from the role of president of the Senate, and standardize the language describing the terms of election for the three administrative branch officials.
All four amendments were ratified by voters in the April 1979 election.
Party summary Senate summary
Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) Total Dem. Rep. Vacant End of previous Legislature 22 11 33 0 Start of Reg. SessionRepublicans Jim Sensenbrenner (4th District) and Ernest Keppler (20th District) resigned before the start of the session due election to other offices. 21 10 31 2 From Apr. 3, 1979Republican Tom Petri (2nd District) resigned after his election to the U.S. House of Representatives. 9 30 3 From Apr. 17, 1979Republicans Rod Johnston (4th District) and David W. Opitz (20th District) were sworn in to replace Jim Sensenbrenner and Ernest Keppler, respectively. 11 32 1 From Jul. 11, 1979Republican Don Hanaway (2nd District) was sworn in to replace Tom Petri. 12 33 0 From Feb. 28, 1980Republican Roger P. Murphy (33rd District) resigned after he was appointed a Wisconsin circuit court judge. 11 32 1 From May 6, 1980Republican Susan Engeleiter (33rd District) was sworn in to replace Roger P. Murphy. 12 33 0 From Oct. 1, 1980Democrat Peter D. Bear (13th District) resigned. 20 32 1 From Oct. 22, 1980Democrat Monroe Swan (6th District) was removed from office due to a criminal conviction. 19 31 2 Final voting share Beginning of the next Legislature 20 13 33 0
Assembly summary
Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) Total Dem. Rep. Vacant End of previous Legislature 66 33 99 0 Start of Reg. Session 60 39 99 0 From Apr. 17, 1979Republicans Rod Johnston (10th District) and David W. Opitz (60th District) resigned due to their elections to the state senate. 37 97 2 From July 24, 1979Republicans Betty Jo Nelsen (10th District) and Donald K. Stitt (60th District) were sworn in to replace Rod Johnston and David W. Opitz, respectively. 39 99 0 From Jan. 26, 1980Democrat James W. Wahner (15th District) resigned. 59 98 1 From Apr. 29, 1980Democrat Lois Plous (15th District) was sworn in to replace James W. Wahner. 60 99 0 From Dec. 8, 1980Republican Harry G. Snyder (84th District) resigned after he was appointed a Wisconsin circuit court judge. 38 98 1 Final voting share Beginning of the next Legislature 59 39 98 1
Sessions Regular session: January 3, 1979January 5, 1981 September 1979 special session: September 5, 1979 January 1980 special session: January 22, 1980January 25, 1980 June 1980 special session: June 3, 1980July 3, 1980
Leaders Senate leadership President of the Senate: Russell Olson (R) Fred Risser (D–Madison) President pro tempore: Fred Risser (D–Madison)
Senate majority leadership Majority Leader: William A. Bablitch (D–Stevens Point) Assistant Majority Leader: James T. Flynn (D–West Allis)
Senate minority leadership Minority Leader: Clifford Krueger (R–Merrill) Assistant Minority Leader: Roger P. Murphy (R–Waukesha)
Assembly leadership Speaker of the Assembly: Edward Jackamonis (D–Waukesha) Speaker pro tempore: David Kedrowski (D–Washburn)
Assembly majority leadership Majority Leader: James W. Wahner (D–Milwaukee) Gary K. Johnson Assistant Majority Leader: R. Michael Ferrall (D–Racine)
Assembly minority leadership Minority Leader: John C. Shabaz (R–New Berlin) Assistant Minority Leader: Tommy Thompson (R–Elroy)
Members Members of the Senate Members of the Senate for the Eighty-Fourth Wisconsin Legislature:
Dist. Senator Party Age(1979) Home Firstelected 01 Rep. De Pere, Brown County 1977 02 Rep. Green Bay, Brown County 1972 Rep. De Pere, Brown County 1979 03 Dem. Milwaukee, Milwaukee County 1974 04 --Vacant until Apr. 17, 1979-- Rep. Whitefish Bay, Milwaukee County 1979 05 Dem. Milwaukee, Milwaukee County 1974 06 Dem. Milwaukee, Milwaukee County 1972 07 Dem. Milwaukee, Milwaukee County 1970 08 Dem. West Allis, Milwaukee County 1972 09 Dem. Milwaukee, Milwaukee County 1978 10 Dem. North Hudson, St. Croix County 1976 11 Dem. Milwaukee, Milwaukee County 1976 12 Rep. Merrill, Lincoln County 1946 13 Dem. Madison, Dane County 1978 14 Rep. Bear Creek, Outagamie County 1954 15 Dem. Janesville, Rock County 1974 16 Dem. Stoughton, Dane County 1959 17 Rep. Fennimore, Grant County 1978 18 Rep. , Fond du Lac County 1976 19 Dem. Oshkosh, Winnebago County 1974 20 --Vacant until Apr. 17, 1979-- Rep. Port Washington, Ozaukee County 1979 21 Dem. Racine, Racine County 1978 22 Dem. Kenosha, Kenosha County 1975 23 Dem. Lafayette, Chippewa County 1978 24 Dem. Stevens Point, Portage County 1972 25 Rep. Ashland, Ashland County 1972 26 Dem. Madison, Dane County 1962 27 Rep. Portage, Columbia County 1970 28 Dem. New Berlin, Waukesha County 1976 29 Rep. Wausau, Marathon County 1966 30 Dem. Green Bay, Brown County 1976 31 Dem. Neillsville, Clark County 1974 32 Dem. La Crosse, La Crosse County 1968 33 Rep. Waukesha, Waukesha County 1970 Rep. Brookfield, Waukesha County 1980
Members of the Assembly Members of the Assembly for the Eighty-Fourth Wisconsin Legislature:
SenateDist.Dist.RepresentativePartyAge(1979)HomeFirstElected 01 01 Dem. Luxemburg 1970 02 Dem. Manitowoc 1972 03 Dem. Reedsville 1976 02 04 Rep. De Pere 1978 05 Dem. Kaukauna 1962 06 Dem. Chilton 1966 03 07 Dem. Milwaukee 1974 08 Dem. Milwaukee 1974 09 Dem. Milwaukee 1974 04 10 Rep. Whitefish Bay 1975 Rep. Shorewood 1979 11 Dem. Milwaukee 1971 12 Rep. Mequon 1976 05 13 Dem. Milwaukee 1974 14 Dem. Milwaukee 1972 15 Dem. Milwaukee 1970 Dem. Milwaukee 1980 06 16 Dem. Milwaukee 1978 17 Dem. Milwaukee 1972 18 Dem. Milwaukee 1976 07 19 Dem. Milwaukee 1972 20 Dem. Milwaukee 1972 21 Dem. South Milwaukee 1974 08 22 Rep. Wauwatosa 1966 23 Dem. West Allis 1972 24 Dem. West Allis 1972 09 25 Dem. Milwaukee 1978 26 Dem. Milwaukee 1976 27 Dem. Milwaukee 1968 10 28 Rep. Amery 1978 29 Rep. Woodville 1978 30 Rep. River Falls 1977 11 31 Dem. Milwaukee 1976 32 Dem. Milwaukee 1977 33 Dem. Milwaukee 1966 12 34 Rep. Medford 1978 35 Rep. Merrill 1972 36 Dem. Crandon 1972 13 37 Dem. Madison 1978 38 Dem. Edgerton 1970 39 Rep. Fort Atkinson 1976 14 40 Rep. Marion 1968 41 Rep. Shiocton 1964 42 Rep. Appleton 1978 15 43 Rep. Burlington 1972 44 Rep. Janesville 1972 45 Dem. Beloit 1970 16 46 Dem. Sun Prairie 1976 47 Dem. Primrose 1976 48 Dem. Janesville 1976 17 49 Rep. Platteville 1976 50 Dem. Cazenovia 1970 51 Rep. Shullsburg 1967 18 52 Rep. 1956 53 Rep. West Bend 1972 54 Rep. Horicon 1962 19 55 Rep. Neenah 1970 56 Dem. Oshkosh 1972 57 Rep. Oshkosh 1968 20 58 Dem. Sheboygan 1967 59 Dem. Kohler 1974 60 Rep. Port Washington 1972 Rep. Port Washington 1979 21 61 Dem. Racine 1972 62 Dem. Racine 1970 63 Rep. Caledonia 1978 22 64 Dem. Kenosha 1976 65 Dem. Kenosha 1970 66 Dem. Salem 1978 23 67 Rep. Eagle Point 1978 68 Rep. Eau Claire 1968 69 Dem. Menomonie 1978 24 70 Dem. Pittsville 1974 71 Dem. Stevens Point 1978 72 Rep. Berlin 1974 25 73 Dem. Superior 1972 74 Dem. Washburn 1972 75 Dem. Rice Lake 1978 26 76 Dem. Madison 1972 77 Dem. Madison 1970 78 Dem. Madison 1974 27 79 Rep. Elroy 1966 80 Rep. Arlington 1978 81 Rep. Lake Mills 1978 28 82 Dem. Hales Corners 1970 83 Rep. New Berlin 1964 84 Rep. Oconomowoc 1974 29 85 Dem. Wausau 1974 86 Rep. Wittenburg 1978 87 Rep. Birnamwood 1974 30 88 Rep. Stephenson 1972 89 Dem. Pittsfield 1958 90 Dem. Green Bay 1974 31 91 Rep. Osseo 1974 92 Rep. Sparta 1970 93 Dem. Wisconsin Rapids 1970 32 94 Dem. Holmen 1970 95 Dem. La Crosse 1976 96 Rep. Viroqua 1954 33 97 Dem. Menomonee Falls 1974 98 Dem. Waukesha 1970 99 Rep. Brookfield 1978
Employees Senate employees Chief Clerk: Donald J. Schneider Sergeant-at-Arms: Daniel B. Fields
Assembly employees Chief Clerk: Marcel Dandeneau Sergeant-at-Arms: Joseph E. Jones
Notes
References
External links 1979: Related Documents from Wisconsin Legislature