The Seventy-Ninth Wisconsin Legislature convened from to in regular session and also convened in two special sessions in the fall of 1969 and on December 22, 1970.
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, 1968. 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, 1966.
The governor of Wisconsin during this entire term was Republican Warren P. Knowles, of St. Croix County, serving his third two-year term, having won re-election in the 1968 Wisconsin gubernatorial election.
Major events January 6, 1969: Third inauguration of Warren P. Knowles as Governor of Wisconsin. January 20, 1969: Inauguration of Richard Nixon as the 37th President of the United States. January 21, 1969: Wisconsin U.S. representative Melvin Laird (WI-07) resigned from Congress to become United States Secretary of Defense. April 1, 1969: 1969 Wisconsin spring election: Voters ratified two amendments to the state constitution: Allowing the legislature to establish the office of county executive for all counties (it had previously been restricted to Milwaukee County). Allowing the state to take on debt directly and end the practice of utilizing dummy corporations. July 20, 1969: As part of the Apollo 11 mission, American astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first humans to set foot on the Moon. October 29, 1969: The first message was sent over ARPANET, the forerunner of the internet. March 31, 1970: The Seattle Pilots professional baseball team was sold to a new ownership group led by Bud Selig, who immediately moved the franchise to Milwaukee and renamed them the Milwaukee Brewers. April 17, 1970: The Apollo 13 crew returned safely to Earth after suffering a catastrophic explosion on their spacecraft four days earlier. April 22, 1970: The first Earth Day was celebrated, organized by Wisconsin's junior United States senator, Gaylord Nelson. August 24, 1970: The Sterling Hall bombing on the University of Wisconsin–Madison campus killed a physics professor and injured three others. November 3, 1970: 1970 United States general election: Patrick Lucey (D) elected Governor of Wisconsin. William Proxmire (D) re-elected United States senator from Wisconsin. November 18, 1970: A three-judge panel of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin ruled in the case of Babbitz v. McCann, granting an injunction which prohibited enforcement of Wisconsin's laws against abortion, effectively making abortion legal in Wisconsin.
Major legislation 1969 Joint Resolution 2: Second legislative passage of a proposed amendment to the state constitution to allow the legislature to establish the office of county executive for all Wisconsin counties. This amendment was ratified by voters at the April 1969 election. 1969 Joint Resolution 3: Second legislative passage of a proposed amendment to the state constitution to allow the state to take on debt without utilizing a shell corporation. This amendment was ratified by voters at the April 1969 election.
Party summary Senate summary
Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) Total Dem. Rep. Vacant End of previous Legislature 12 21 33 0 Start of Reg. Session 10 23 33 0 From Apr. 20, 1969Democrat Norman Sussman (9th District) died. 9 32 1 From Aug. 26, 1969Republican Frank E. Panzer (13th District) died. 22 31 2 From Oct. 4, 1969Republican Chester Dempsey (33rd District) died. 21 30 3 From Oct. 14, 1969Democrat Ronald G. Parys (9th District) was sworn in to replace Norman Sussman. 10 31 2 From Nov. 11, 1969Democrat Dale McKenna (13th District) was sworn in to replace Frank E. Panzer. 11 32 1 Final voting share Beginning of the next Legislature 12 20 32 1
Assembly summary
Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) Total Dem. Ind. Rep. Vacant End of previous Legislature 46 0 52 98 2 Start of Reg. Session 48 0 52 100 0 From Apr. 1, 1969Democrat Dave Obey (Marathon County) resigned after being elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. 47 99 1 From Oct. 2, 1969Republican Jerry J. Wing (Milwaukee County) switched his party affiliation to independent. 1 51 From Oct. 14, 1969Democrat Tony Earl (Marathon County) was sworn in to replace Dave Obey. 48 100 0 Final voting share Beginning of the next Legislature 67 0 33 100 0
Sessions Regular session: January 6, 1969January 4, 1971 September 1969 special session: September 29, 1969January 17, 1970 December 1970 special session: December 22, 1970
Leaders Senate leadership President of the Senate: Jack B. Olson (R) President pro tempore: Robert P. Knowles (R–New Richmond) Majority leader: Ernest Keppler (R–Sheboygan) Minority leader: Fred Risser (D–Madison)
Assembly leadership Speaker of the Assembly: Harold V. Froehlich (R–Appleton) Speaker pro tempore: Elmer C. Nitschke (R–Beaver Dam) Majority leader: Paul Alfonsi (R–Minocqua) Minority leader: Robert T. Huber (D–West Allis)
Members Members of the Senate Members of the Senate for the Seventy-Ninth Wisconsin Legislature:
Dist. Counties Senator Residence Party 01 Door, Kewaunee, Sturgeon Bay Rep. 02 Southern Brown Green Bay Rep. 03 Milwaukee (Southwest City) Milwaukee Dem. 04 Milwaukee (North County) Milwaukee Rep. 05 Milwaukee Milwaukee Dem. 06 Milwaukee Milwaukee Dem. 07 Milwaukee (Southeast County Cudahy Dem. 08 Milwaukee West MilwaukeeRep. 09 Milwaukee Milwaukee Dem. Milwaukee Dem. 10 Buffalo, Burnett, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, New RichmondRep. 11 Milwaukee (Western City) MilwaukeeDem. 12 Clark, Forest, Lincoln, Oneida, Taylor, MerrillRep. 13 Eastern Dodge, Jefferson, OakfieldRep. JeffersonDem. 14 Outagamie Bear CreekRep. 15 Eastern Rock ElkhornRep. 16 Most of Dane StoughtonDem. 17 Grant, Green, Iowa, Lafayette, DarlingtonRep. 18 RosendaleRep. 19 Winnebago NeenahRep. 20 Ozaukee SheboyganRep. 21 Racine RacineDem. 22 Kenosha KenoshaDem. 23 Barron, Chippewa, Dunn, Spooner Rep. 24 Green Lake, Portage, Waushara, Marshfield Rep. 25 Ashland, Bayfield, Douglas, Iron, Price, Rusk, Superior Rep. 26 Dane (Madison) Madison Dem. 27 Adams, Columbia, Juneau, Marquette, Baraboo Rep. 28 Southwest Milwaukee, Greenfield Rep. 29 Marathon, Menominee, Wausau Rep. 30 Northern Brown, Florence, Langlade, Marinette, Oconto Rep. 31 Eau Claire, Jackson, Monroe, Eau Claire Rep. 32 Crawford, La Crosse, La Crosse Rep. 33 Waukesha Hartland Rep. --Vacant from Oct. 4, 1969--
Members of the Assembly Members of the Assembly for the Seventy-Ninth Wisconsin Legislature:
SenateDist. County Dist. Representative Party Residence 27 Adams, Juneau, Rep. Elroy 25 Ashland, Bayfield, Dem. Washburn 23 Barron Rep. Chetek 02 Brown 1 Rep. Green Bay 2 Rep. New Denmark 3 Dem. Green Bay 10 Buffalo, Pepin, Rep. River Falls Burnett Dem. Luck 02 Calumet Dem. Chilton 23 Chippewa Dem. Chippewa Falls 12 Clark Dem. Colby 27 Columbia Rep. Lodi 32 Crawford Rep. Viroqua 26 Dane 1 Dem. Madison 2 Dem. Madison 3 Rep. Madison 16 4 Rep. Sun Prairie 5 Dem. Waunakee 13 Dodge 1 Rep. Horicon 18 2 Rep. Beaver Dam 01 Door Rep. Algoma 25 Douglas Dem. Superior 23 Dunn Dem. Menomonie 31 Eau Claire 1 Dem. Eau Claire 2 Dem. Fairchild 30 Florence Rep. Peshtigo 18 Fond du Lac 1 Rep. Fond du Lac 2 Rep. Oakfield 12 Forest, Oneida, Rep. Minocqua 17 Grant Rep. Muscoda Green Rep. Shullsburg 24 Green Lake Rep. Wautoma 17 Iowa Rep. Highland 31 Jackson Dem. Strum 13 Jefferson Rep. Watertown 22 Kenosha 1 Dem. Kenosha 2 Rep. Randall 32 La Crosse 1 Rep. La Crosse 2 Rep. West Salem 30 Langlade Rep. Oconto Falls 12 Lincoln Dem. Lublin 01 Manitowoc 1 Rep. Manitowoc 2 Dem. Two Rivers 29 Marathon 1 Dem. Athens 2 Dem. Wausau Dem. Wausau Menominee Dem. Shawano 06 Milwaukee 1 Dem. Milwaukee 05 2 Dem. Milwaukee 04 3 Dem. Milwaukee 09 4 Dem. Milwaukee 06 5 Dem. Milwaukee 09 6 Dem. Milwaukee 06 7 Dem. Milwaukee 11 8 Dem. Milwaukee 05 9 Dem. Milwaukee 11 10 Dem. Milwaukee 03 11 Dem. Milwaukee 12 Dem. Milwaukee 09 13 Dem. Milwaukee 03 14 Dem. Milwaukee 05 15 Rep. Milwaukee 11 16 Dem. Milwaukee 07 17 Dem. Milwaukee 04 18 Rep. Milwaukee 07 19 Dem. Milwaukee 08 20 Rep. Wauwatosa 21 Dem. West Allis 22 Dem. West Allis 28 23 Rep. Greenfield Ind. 07 24 Dem. South Milwaukee 04 25 Rep. Shorewood 31 Monroe Rep. Tomah 14 Outagamie 1 Rep. Appleton 2 Dem. Kaukauna 3 Rep. Shiocton 20 Ozaukee Rep. Saukville 24 Portage Dem. Stevens Point 25 Price, Rusk Rep. Ladysmith 21 Racine 1 Dem. Racine 2 Dem. Racine 28 3 Rep. Waterford 15 Rock 1 Dem. Janesville 16 2 Rep. Edgerton 15 3 Rep. Beloit 27 Sauk Rep. Rock Springs 20 Sheboygan 1 Dem. Sheboygan 2 Dem. Plymouth 10 St. Croix Rep. Star Prairie 22 Walworth Rep. Elkhorn 13 Washington Rep. West Bend 33 Waukesha 1 Rep. Brookfield 2 Rep. Oconomowoc 3 Dem. Waukesha 28 4 Rep. New Berlin 14 Waupaca Rep. Waupaca 19 Winnebago 1 Rep. Oshkosh 2 Rep. Oshkosh 3 Rep. Menasha 24 Wood 1 Rep. Marshfield 2 Rep. Wisconsin Rapids
Committees Senate committees Senate Standing Committee on AgricultureW. Terry, chair Senate Standing Committee on EducationH. Rasmusen, chair Senate Standing Committee on Governmental and Veterans AffairsW. Draheim, chair Senate Standing Committee on Health and Social ServicesA. Cirilli, chair Senate Standing Committee on Interstate CooperationG. Lorge, chair Senate Standing Committee on the JudiciaryA. Busby, chair Senate Standing Committee on Labor, Taxation, Insurance, and BankingG. Lorge, chair Senate Standing Committee on Natural ResourcesC. Krueger, chair Senate Standing Committee on TransportationR. La Fave, chair Senate Special Committee on CommitteesG. Lorge, chair Senate Special Committee on Legislative ProcedureR. P. Knowles, chair Senate Special Committee on Senate OrganizationE. Keppler, chair
Assembly committees Assembly Standing Committee on AgricultureN. Nuttelman, chair Assembly Standing Committee on Commerce and ManufacturesF. C. Schroeder, chair Assembly Standing Committee on ConservationP. Alfonsi, chair Assembly Standing Committee on EducationL. H. Johnson, chair Assembly Standing Committee on ElectionsS. York, chair Assembly Standing Committee on Excise and FeesE. F. McEssy, chair Assembly Standing Committee on HighwaysW. J. Hutnik, chair Assembly Standing Committee on Insurance and BankingK. Kenyon, chair Assembly Standing Committee on the JudiciaryG. B. Belting, chair Assembly Standing Committee on LaborJ. N. Azim, chair Assembly Standing Committee on MunicipalitiesJ. D. Steinhilber, chair Assembly Standing Committee on PrintingE. Conradt, chair Assembly Standing Committee on Public WelfareH. F. Gee, chair Assembly Standing Committee on State AffairsB. Lewison, chair Assembly Standing Committee on TaxationR. Uehling, chair Assembly Standing Committee on TourismW. L. Packard, chair Assembly Standing Committee on TransportationE. C. Nitschke, chair Assembly Standing Committee on Veterans and Military AffairsJ. C. Van Hollen, chair Assembly Special Committee on Assembly OrganizationH. V. Froehlich, chair Assembly Special Committee on Engrossed BillsE. D. Luckhardt, chair Assembly Special Committee on Enrolled BillsL. J. Kafka, chair Assembly Special Committee on RevisionJ. Quinn, chair Assembly Special Committee on RulesG. J. Bock, chair Assembly Special Committee on Third ReadingC. Blanchard, chair
Joint committees Joint Standing Committee on FinanceW. G. Hollander (Sen.) & B. F. Wackett (Asm.), co-chairs Joint Standing Committee on Legislative OrganizationP. Alfonsi (Asm.), chair Joint Standing Committee on Revisions, Repeals, and Uniform LawsG. Roseleip (Sen.) & J. Sensenbrenner (Asm.), co-chairs Joint Legislative CouncilH. V. Froehlich, chair
Employees Senate employees Chief Clerk: William P. Nugent Sergeant-at-Arms: Kenneth Nicholson
Assembly employees