The Joint Committee on Finance or Joint Finance Committee (JFC) is a powerful joint committee of the Wisconsin Legislature, responsible for overseeing all legislation dealing with state income or spending in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. It also controls final approval of many state payments and assessments, even after legislation has become law. Because of its prominent role in state finances, the committee is one of the most coveted assignments for Wisconsin legislators, and its members are heavily courted by interest groups and lobbyists.

Background and history The predecessor to the Joint Committee on Finance, the Joint Committee on Claims, was almost as old as the state of Wisconsin, being established by 1857 Wisconsin Act 59, enacted during the 10th Wisconsin Legislature. The committee on claims was empowered to consider "all bills or accounts requiring the appropriation of money by the Legislature."

The Joint Committee on Finance was a product of the progressive era of Wisconsin politics. The impetus for the new organization was the perception that state finances had become a sprawling mess of thousands of different appropriations scattered through dozens of different pieces of legislation and overseen by multiple different committees. This sprawl made it difficult for the Legislature to understand or enforce specific revenue targets for any given institution.

At the start of the 50th Wisconsin Legislature, in January 1911, was introduced, proposing the expansion of the eight-member Joint Committee on Claims into a 14-member Joint Committee on Finance. The law passed without opposition and was signed by Governor Francis E. McGovern on March 2, 1911, as . The new joint committee had vastly expanded power; all bills containing appropriations, providing for revenue, or relating to taxation would have to receive the committee's approval. The expansive power of the committee, overseeing both expenditure and revenue, remains unique among U.S. state governments.

The committee began to organize in February 1911, and had their first meeting on February 28, 1911, in room 203–North of the Wisconsin State Capitol. Even before their first meeting, the Legislature passed , which authorized the Joint Finance Committee to employ experts in accounting and statistics in the formulation of public financial statements. was replicated in each successive term, with legislation specifically authorizing the committee to hire a clerk and necessary expert staff.

Current membership

Majority Minority Sen. Howard Marklein, co-chair (Spring Green) Rep. Mark Born, co-chair (Beaver Dam) Sen. Patrick Testin, vice chair (Stevens Point) Rep. Tony Kurtz, vice chair (Wonewoc) Sen. Eric Wimberger (Oconto) Sen. Rob Stafsholt (New Richmond) Sen. Julian Bradley (New Berlin) Sen. Romaine Quinn (Birchwood) Rep. Shannon Zimmerman (River Falls) Rep. Jessie Rodriguez (Oak Creek) Rep. Alex Dallman (Markesan) Rep. Karen Hurd (Withee) Sen. La Tonya Johnson (Milwaukee) Sen. Kelda Roys (Madison) Rep. Tip McGuire (Kenosha) Rep. Deb Andraca (Whitefish Bay)

Historical co-chairs

Senate Co-ChairTermAssembly Co-ChairNotes Senator Residence Party Representative Residence Party Albert W. Sanborn Ashland, Ashland Co. Rep. 1911–1912 Ray J. Nye Superior, Douglas Co. Rep. George E. Scott Prairie Farm, Barron Co. Rep. 1913–1914 1915–1916 F. W. Kubasta Merrill, Lincoln Co. Rep. Platt Whitman Highland, Iowa Co. Rep. 1917–1918 Edward A. Everett Eagle River, Vilas Co. Rep. A. H. Wilkinson Bayfield, Bayfield Co. Rep. 1919–1920 Carl Kurtenacker La Crosse, Rep. Ray J. Nye Superior, Douglas Co. Rep. 1921–1922 George Oakes New Richmond, Rep. Henry Huber Stoughton, Dane Co. Rep. 1923–1924 Charles E. Tuffley Boscobel, Grant Co. Rep. George Staudenmayer Portage, Columbia Co. Rep. 1925–1926 George A. Nelson Milltown, Polk Co. Rep. William Lyman Smith Neillsville, Clark Co. Rep. 1927–1928 Henry Ellenbecker Wausau, Marathon Co. Rep. Herman E. Boldt Sheboygan Falls, Sheboygan Co. Rep. 1929–1930 Edward F. Hilker Racine, Racine Co. Rep. Thomas M. Duncan Milwaukee, Milwaukee Co. Soc. 1931–1932 Charles A. Beggs Rice Lake, Barron Co. Rep. Otto Mueller Wausau, Marathon Co. Rep. 1933–1934 Joseph C. Hamata Racine, Racine Co. Dem. E. F. Brunette Green Bay, Brown Co. Dem. 1935–1936 Charles A. Beggs Rice Lake, Barron Co. Prog. Edwin Myrwyn Rowlands Cambria, Columbia Co. Prog. 1937–1938 Ernst J. Hoesly New Glarus, Green Co. Prog. Otto Mueller Wausau, Marathon Co. Rep. 1939–1940 P. Bradley McIntyre Lancaster, Grant Co. Rep. 1941–1942 Helmar Lewis Boscobel, Grant Co. Rep. 1943–1944 George H. Hipke Stanley, Chippewa Co. Rep. 1945–1946 Julius Spearbraker Clintonville, Waupaca Co. Rep. 1947–1948 Foster B. Porter Bloomington, Grant Co. Rep. 1949–1950 Alfred R. Ludvigsen Hartland, Waukesha Co. Rep. 1951–1952 Arthur Lenroot Jr. Superior, Douglas Co. Rep. 1953–1954 Foster B. Porter Bloomington, Grant Co. Rep. 1955–1956 Alfred A. Laun Jr. Kiel, Manitowoc Co. Rep. 1957–1958 J. Riley Stone Reedsburg, Sauk Co. Rep. William Draheim Neenah, Winnebago Co. Rep. 1959–1960 Fred Risser Madison, Dane Co. Dem. 1961–1962 Everett Bidwell Portage, Columbia Co. Rep. Walter G. Hollander Rosendale, Rep. 1963–1964 Glen Pommerening Wauwatosa, Milwaukee Co. Rep. 1965–1966 George Molinaro Kenosha, Kenosha Co. Dem. 1967–1968 Byron F. Wackett Watertown, Jefferson Co. Rep. 1969–1970 1971–1972 George Molinaro Kenosha, Kenosha Co. Dem. 1973–1974 Dennis Conta Milwaukee, Milwaukee Co. Dem. Henry Dorman Racine, Racine Co. Dem. 1975–1976 1977–1978 Gary K. Johnson Beloit, Rock Co. Dem. Jerry Kleczka Milwaukee, Milwaukee Co. Dem. 1979–1980 1981–1982 John Norquist Milwaukee, Milwaukee Co. Dem. 1983–1984 Mary Lou Munts Madison, Dane Co. Dem. Gary George Milwaukee, Milwaukee Co. Dem. 1985–1986 Marlin Schneider Wisconsin Rapids, Wood Co. Dem. 1987–1988 1989–1990 Walter Kunicki Milwaukee, Milwaukee Co. Dem. 1991–1992 Barbara Linton Ashland, Ashland Co. Dem. 1993–1994 Joseph Leean Dayton, Waupaca Co. Rep. 1995–1996 Ben Brancel Douglas, Marquette Co. Rep. Timothy Weeden Beloit, Rock Co. Rep. Brian Burke Milwaukee, Milwaukee Co. Dem. 1997–1998 Scott R. Jensen Waukesha, Waukesha Co. Rep. John Gard Peshtigo, Marinette Co. Rep. Timothy Weeden Beloit, Rock Co. Rep. Brian Burke Milwaukee, Milwaukee Co. Dem. 1999–2000 2001–2002 Alberta Darling River Hills, Milwaukee Co. Rep. 2003–2004 Dean Kaufert Neenah, Winnebago Co. Rep. Scott L. Fitzgerald Clyman, Dodge Co. Rep. 2005–2006 Russ Decker Weston, Marathon Co. Dem. 2007–2008 Kitty Rhoades Hudson, Rep. Mark F. Miller Monona, Dane Co. Dem. 2009–2010 Mark Pocan Madison, Dane Co. Dem. Alberta Darling River Hills, Milwaukee Co. Rep. 2011–2012 Robin Vos Burlington, Racine Co. Rep. Lena Taylor Milwaukee, Milwaukee Co. Dem. Alberta Darling River Hills, Milwaukee Co. Rep. 2013–2014 John Nygren Marinette, Marinette Co. Rep. 2015–2016 2017–2018 2019–2020 Howard Marklein Spring Green, Sauk Co. Rep. 2021–2022 Mark Born Beaver Dam, Dodge Co. Rep. 2023–2024 2025–2026

See also Wisconsin Legislature

References

External links Official website