The Eighty-Eighth Wisconsin Legislature convened from January 5, 1987, to January 3, 1989, in regular session, and also convened in three special sessions and two extraordinary sessions.[1]
Senators representing odd-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 odd-numbered senators were elected in the general election of November 4, 1986. Senators representing even-numbered districts were serving the third and fourth year of a four-year term, having been elected in the general election of November 6, 1984.[1]
The governor of Wisconsin during this entire term was Republican Tommy Thompson, of Juneau County, serving the first two years of a four-year term, having won election in the 1986 Wisconsin gubernatorial election.
Major events
- January 5, 1987: Inauguration of Tommy Thompson as the 42nd Governor of Wisconsin.
- February 27, 1987: The Tower Commission report was published, admonishing U.S. President Ronald Reagan for lax oversight of his National Security Council in the Iran–Contra affair.
- April 7, 1987: 1987 Wisconsin Spring election:
- Wisconsin voters ratified two amendments to the state constitution:
- Allowing pari-mutuel track betting.
- Authorizing the creation of a state lottery.
- Wisconsin voters ratified two amendments to the state constitution:
- October 23, 1987: The United States Senate rejected the nomination of Robert Bork for a seat on the United States Supreme Court.
- November 8, 1988: 1988 United States general election:
- George H. W. Bush (R) elected President of the United States.
- Herb Kohl (D) elected United States senator from Wisconsin.
Major legislation
- An Act ... relating to creating a state lottery, creating a lottery board, taxation of lottery winnings,
creating a lottery property tax credit,granting rule-making authority, providing a penalty and making appropriations, 1987 Act 119. Established the Wisconsin Lottery. A property tax credit included in the original law was line-item vetoed.
Party summary
Senate summary
Democratic: 19 seats
Republican: 14 seats
| Party (Shading indicates majority caucus)
|
Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dem. | Rep. | Vacant | ||
| End of previous Legislature | 19 | 14 | 33 | 0 |
| Start of Reg. Session[note 1] | 19 | 11 | 30 | 3 |
| From Apr. 21, 1987[note 2] | 14 | 33 | 0 | |
| From Apr. 15, 1988[note 3] | 18 | 32 | 1 | |
| From Nov. 15, 1988[note 4] | 19 | 33 | 0 | |
| Final voting share | 57.58% | 42.42% | ||
| Beginning of the next Legislature | 20 | 13 | 33 | 0 |
Assembly summary
Democratic: 55 seats
Republican: 44 seats
| Party (Shading indicates majority caucus)
|
Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dem. | Rep. | Vacant | ||
| End of previous Legislature | 52 | 47 | 99 | 0 |
| Start of Reg. Session | 54 | 45 | 99 | 0 |
| From Apr. 21, 1987[note 5] | 42 | 96 | 3 | |
| From Jun. 16, 1987[note 6] | 55 | 44 | 99 | 0 |
| From Aug. 4, 1987[note 7] | 43 | 98 | 1 | |
| From Oct. 12, 1987[note 8] | 44 | 99 | 0 | |
| From May 23, 1988[note 9] | 54 | 98 | 1 | |
| Final voting share | 55.1% | 44.9% | ||
| Beginning of the next Legislature | 56 | 43 | 99 | 0 |
Sessions
- Regular session: January 5, 1987 – January 3, 1989
- September 1987 special session: September 15, 1987 – September 16, 1987
- November 1987 special session: November 18, 1987 – June 7, 1988
- May 1988 extraordinary session: May 17, 1988 – June 16, 1988
- June 1988 special session: June 30, 1988 – June 30, 1988
- June 1988 extraordinary session: June 30, 1988 – July 20, 1988
Leaders
Senate leadership
- President of the Senate: Fred Risser (D–Madison)
Senate majority leadership
- Majority Leader: Joseph A. Strohl (D–Racine)
- Assistant Majority Leader: John Norquist (D–Milwaukee) (until Apr. 15, 1988)
- Jerome Van Sistine (D–Green Bay) (after Apr. 18, 1988)
Senate minority leadership
- Minority Leader: Susan Engeleiter (R–Menomonee Falls)
- Assistant Minority Leader: Michael G. Ellis (R–Neenah)
Assembly leadership
- Speaker of the Assembly: Thomas A. Loftus (D–Sun Prairie)
- Speaker pro tempore: David Clarenbach (D–Madison)
Assembly majority leadership
- Majority Leader: Thomas A. Hauke (D–West Allis)
- Assistant Majority Leader: John Medinger (D–La Crosse)
Assembly minority leadership
- Minority Leader: Betty Jo Nelsen (R–Shorewood)
- Assistant Minority Leader: Joseph E. Tregoning (R–Shullsburg)
Members
Members of the Senate
Members of the Senate for the Eighty-Eighth Wisconsin Legislature:[2]
Democratic: 19 seats
Republican: 14 seats
Members of the Assembly
Members of the Assembly for the Eighty-Eighth Wisconsin Legislature:[2]
Democratic: 55 seats
Republican: 44 seats
Employees
Senate employees
- Chief Clerk: Donald J. Schneider[2]
- Sergeant-at-Arms: Daniel B. Fields
Assembly employees
- Chief Clerk: Thomas T. Melvin[2]
- Sergeant-at-Arms: Patrick Essie
Notes
- ^ Republicans Don Hanaway (2nd District) and Scott McCallum (18th District) and Democrat Timothy Cullen (15th District) resigned before the start of the session.
- ^ Republicans Robert Cowles (2nd District), Carol Buettner (18th District), and Timothy Weeden (15th District) were sworn in to replace Don Hanaway, Scott McCallum, and Timothy Cullen, respectively.
- ^ Democrat John Norquist (3rd District) resigned after his election as Mayor of Milwaukee.
- ^ Democrat Brian Burke (3rd District) was sworn in to replace John Norquist.
- ^ Republicans Robert Cowles (6th District), Timothy Weeden (45th District), and Carol Buettner (54th District) resigned due to their elections to the state senate.
- ^ Republicans James R. Charneski (6th District) and Gregg Underheim (54th District) and Democrat Judy Robson (45th District) were sworn in to replace Robert Cowles, Carol Buettner, and Timothy Weeden, respectively.
- ^ Republican Richard P. Matty (88th District) resigned.
- ^ Republican John Gard (88th District) was sworn in to replace Richard P. Matty.
- ^ Democrat John H. Robinson (85th District) resigned due to election as mayor of Wausau.
References
- ^ a b Barish, Lawrence S.; Lemanski, Lynn, eds. (2021). "Historical Lists" (PDF). State of Wisconsin Blue Book 2021–2022 (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. pp. 468, 471, 475, 479–480. ISBN 978-1-7333817-1-0. Retrieved August 5, 2023.
- ^ a b c d Theobald, H. Rupert; Barish, Lawrence S., eds. (1987). "Biographies". The State of Wisconsin Blue Book 1987–1988 (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. pp. 20–88. Retrieved December 14, 2023.
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