73rd Wisconsin Legislature

The Seventy-Third Wisconsin Legislature convened from January 9, 1957, to September 27, 1957, in regular session, and reconvened in a special session in June 1958.

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 6, 1956. 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 2, 1954.

Major events

 * January 7, 1957:
 * Inauguration of Vernon W. Thomson as the 34th Governor of Wisconsin.
 * John E. Martin became chief justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court by seniority rule at the expiration of Edward T. Fairchild's term.
 * January 20, 1957: Second inauguration of Dwight D. Eisenhower as President of the United States.
 * May 2, 1957: Wisconsin's senior United States senator, Joseph McCarthy, died in office.
 * August 28, 1957: William Proxmire (D) elected United States senator from Wisconsin.
 * September 9, 1957: U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the Civil Rights Act of 1957 into law.
 * October 4, 1957: The Soviet Union launched Sputnik 1, the first artificial satellite to orbit the Earth.
 * October 10, 1957: The Milwaukee Braves won the 1957 World Series.
 * November 3, 1957: The Soviet Union launched Sputnik 2, carrying the first animal to orbit the Earth.
 * January 22, 1958: Wisconsin U.S. representative Lawrence H. Smith (WI-01) died in office.
 * January 31, 1958: The United States launched Explorer 1, its first successful satellite.
 * March 8, 1958: The USS Wisconsin (BB-64) was decommissioned, leaving the U.S. Navy without an active battleship for the first time since 1896.
 * July 29, 1958: U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the National Aeronautics and Space Act, establishing NASA.
 * October 9, 1958: Pope Pius XII died.
 * October 28, 1958: The 1958 papal conclave elected Cardinal Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli as the next pope, he then took the papal name John XXIII.
 * November 4, 1958: 1958 United States general election:
 * Gaylord Nelson (D) elected Governor of Wisconsin.
 * William Proxmire (D) re-elected United States senator from Wisconsin.

Major legislation

 * 1957 Joint Resolution 32: First legislative passage of a proposed amendment to the state constitution to set a county and municipal debt limit of five percent of taxable property. This amendment was eventually ratified at the November 1960 election.
 * 1957 Joint Resolution 58: First legislative passage of a proposed amendment to the state constitution to allow the state to take on debt to pay for port improvements. This amendment was eventually ratified at the April 1960 election.

Sessions

 * Regular session: January 9, 1957 –September 27, 1957
 * June 1958 special session: June 11, 1958 –June 13, 1958

Senate leadership

 * President of the Senate: Warren P. Knowles (R)
 * President pro tempore: Frank E. Panzer (R–Oakfield)
 * Majority leader: Robert S. Travis (R–Platteville)
 * Minority leader: Henry Maier (D–Milwaukee)

Assembly leadership

 * Speaker of the Assembly: Robert G. Marotz (R–Shawano)
 * Majority leader: Warren A. Grady (R–Port Washington)
 * Minority leader: Robert T. Huber (D–West Allis)

Members of the Senate
Members of the Senate for the Seventy-Third Wisconsin Legislature:

Members of the Assembly
Members of the Assembly for the Seventy-Third Wisconsin Legislature:

Senate committees

 * Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture –H. M. Jones, chair
 * Senate Standing Committee on Conservation – C. Krueger, chair
 * Senate Standing Committee on Education – W. W. Clark, chair
 * Senate Standing Committee on Governmental and Veterans Affairs –L. P. O'Brien, chair
 * Senate Standing Committee on Highways – J. Miller, chair
 * Senate Standing Committee on Interstate Cooperation – F. E. Panzer, chair
 * Senate Standing Committee on the Judiciary – W. L. Merten, chair
 * Senate Standing Committee on Labor, Taxation, Insurance, and Banking –W. Trinke, chair
 * Senate Standing Committee on Public Welfare –P. P. Carr, chair
 * Senate Special Committee on Committees –J. Miller, chair
 * Senate Special Committee on Contingent Expenditures –L. H. Prange, chair
 * Senate Special Committee on Legislative Procedure –F. E. Panzer, chair

Assembly committees

 * Assembly Standing Committee on Agriculture – O. R. Rice, chair
 * Assembly Standing Committee on Commerce and Manufactures – J. S. Crawford, chair
 * Assembly Standing Committee on Conservation – M. E. Dillman, chair
 * Assembly Standing Committee on Contingent Expenditures – B. Lewison, chair
 * Assembly Standing Committee on Education – W. B. Calvert, chair
 * Assembly Standing Committee on Elections – V. C. Wallin, chair
 * Assembly Standing Committee on Engrossed Bills – M. C. Kintz, chair
 * Assembly Standing Committee on Enrolled Bills – C. H. Sykes, chair
 * Assembly Standing Committee on Excise and Fees – H. R. Abraham, chair
 * Assembly Standing Committee on Highways – E. C. Nitschke, chair
 * Assembly Standing Committee on Insurance and Banking – R. E. Peterson, chair
 * Assembly Standing Committee on the Judiciary – E. A. Toepel, chair
 * Assembly Standing Committee on Labor – E. L. Genzmer, chair
 * Assembly Standing Committee on Municipalities – P. A. Luedtke, chair
 * Assembly Standing Committee on Printing – E. A. Hinz, chair
 * Assembly Standing Committee on Public Welfare – M. H. Ward, chair
 * Assembly Standing Committee on Revision – A. J. Redford, chair
 * Assembly Standing Committee on Rules – W. A. Grady, chair
 * Assembly Standing Committee on State Affairs – D. Blanchard, chair
 * Assembly Standing Committee on Taxation – G. Pommerening, chair
 * Assembly Standing Committee on Third Reading – H. M. Peters, chair
 * Assembly Standing Committee on Transportation – L. M. Hagen, chair
 * Assembly Standing Committee on Veterans and Military Affairs – B. F. Wackett, chair

Joint committees

 * Joint Standing Committee on Finance –A. A. Laun (Sen.) & J. R. Stone (Asm.), co-chairs
 * Joint Standing Committee on Revisions, Repeals, and Uniform Laws –A. Busby (Sen.) & A. J. Cane (Asm.), co-chairs
 * Joint Legislative Council –R. G. Marotz, chair

Senate employees

 * Chief Clerk: Lawrence R. Larsen
 * Sergeant-at-Arms: Harold Damon

Assembly employees

 * Chief Clerk: Arthur L. May
 * Sergeant-at-Arms: Norris J. Kellman