93rd Wisconsin Legislature

The Ninety-Third Wisconsin Legislature convened from January 6, 1997, to January 4, 1999, in regular session, and also convened in an April 1998 special session.

This was the third consecutive session in which partisan control of the Senate changed during the legislative term.

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 5, 1996. 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 8, 1994.

Major events

 * January 20, 1997: Second inauguration of Bill Clinton as President of the United States.
 * January 26, 1997: The Green Bay Packers won Super Bowl XXXI.
 * November 13, 1997: Wisconsin state senator Lynn Adelman was confirmed as United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Wisconsin.
 * September 10, 1998: Wisconsin Supreme Court justice Janine P. Geske resigned. Governor Tommy Thompson immediately appointed David Prosser Jr. to succeed her.
 * November 3, 1998: 1998 United States general election:
 * Tommy Thompson (R) re-elected Governor of Wisconsin, the first person to win four terms as governor of Wisconsin.
 * Russ Feingold (D) re-elected United States senator from Wisconsin.
 * Wisconsin voters ratified two amendments to the state constitution:
 * Creating a right to keep and bear arms.
 * Changing sheriff terms to four years, allowing sheriffs to hold other nonpartisan offices, and allowing the legislature to call special elections to fill sheriff vacancies.
 * December 19, 1998: The United States House of Representatives voted to impeach U.S. President Bill Clinton for perjury and obstruction of justice.

Major legislation

 * October 13, 1997: An Act relating to: state finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 1997 legislature, and making appropriations, 1997 Act 27. Vetoed in part.

Sessions

 * Regular session: January 6, 1997 –January 4, 1999
 * Apr. 1998 special session: April 21, 1998 –May 21, 1998

Senate leadership

 * President of the Senate: Fred Risser (D–Madison) (until Apr. 21, 1998)
 * Brian Rude (R–Coon Valley) (after Apr. 21, 1998)
 * President pro tempore: Gwen Moore (D–Milwaukee) (until Apr. 21, 1998)
 * Alan Lasee (R–Rockland) (after Apr. 21, 1998)

Senate majority leadership

 * Majority Leader: Charles Chvala (D–Madison) (until Apr. 21, 1998)
 * Michael G. Ellis (R–Neenah) (after Apr. 21, 1998)
 * Assistant Majority Leader: Rodney C. Moen (D–Whitehall) (until Apr. 21, 1998)
 * Margaret Farrow (R–Elm Grove) (after Apr. 21, 1998)

Senate minority leadership

 * Minority Leader: Michael G. Ellis (R–Neenah) (until Apr. 21, 1998)
 * Charles Chvala (D–Madison) (after Apr. 21, 1998)
 * Assistant Minority Leader: Brian Rude (R–Coon Valley) (until Apr. 21, 1998)
 * Fred Risser (D–Madison) (after Apr. 21, 1998)

Assembly leadership

 * Speaker of the Assembly: Ben Brancel (R–Douglas) (until Nov. 2, 1997)
 * Scott R. Jensen (R–Waukesha) (after Nov. 4, 1997)
 * Speaker pro tempore: Stephen Freese (R–Jamestown)

Assembly majority leadership

 * Majority Leader: Steven Foti (R–Oconomowoc)
 * Assistant Majority Leader: Bonnie Ladwig (R–Caledonia)

Assembly minority leadership

 * Minority Leader: Walter Kunicki (D–Milwaukee) (until May 26, 1998)
 * Shirley Krug (D–Milwaukee) (after May 26, 1998)
 * Assistant Minority Leader: Marlin Schneider (D–Wisconsin Rapids)

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

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

Senate employees

 * Chief Clerk: Donald J. Schneider
 * Sergeant-at-Arms: Jon H. Hochkammer

Assembly employees

 * Chief Clerk: Charles R. Sanders
 * Sergeant-at-Arms: John A. Scocos