The Eighty-Second Wisconsin Legislature convened from January 6, 1975, to January 3, 1977, in regular session, and also convened in four special sessions.[1]
This was the first legislative term since 1893, when the Democratic Party of Wisconsin held the Governor's office and majorities in both chambers of the Legislature.
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 5, 1974. 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 7, 1972.[1]
Major events
January 1, 1975: Former Attorney General of the United States John N. Mitchell was convicted of perjury for his part in the Watergate scandal. Former White House chief of staff H. R. Haldeman and former White House domestic affairs advisor John Ehrlichman were convicted on perjury, conspiracy, and obstruction charges.
Voters ratified two amendments to the state constitution:
Allowing the state to take on debt to make veterans' housing loans.
Repealing the section of the constitution which removed voting rights from any person found to have engaged in or facilitated a duel.
Voters also rejected two other amendments to the state constitution:
Would have allowed municipalities to bypass normal debt limits to pay for revenue-generating infrastructure.
Would have allowed the state to take on debt to fund transportation infrastructure (beyond the existing allowances for highways and port facilities). This referendum was later ruled invalid and ordered to be rerun.
September 7, 1976: Wisconsin Governor Patrick Lucey appointed Shirley Abrahamson to the Wisconsin Supreme Court, to succeed Horace W. Wilkie. She was the first female justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
Wisconsin voters again rejected the amendment to the state constitution which would have allowed state to take on debt to fund transportation infrastructure.
Major legislation
July 30, 1975: An Act ... relating to state finances and appropriations constituting the executive budget bill of the' 1975 legislature, and making appropriations, 1975 Act 39. It was vetoed in part, but the vetoes were overridden. Established the office of secretary of the Department of Health and Social Services, making it a gubernatorial appointee.
1975 Joint Resolution 13: First legislative passage of a proposed a series of amendments to the state constitution to overhaul the state judiciary, establishing a court of appeals, collapsing the county courts into the circuit courts, and establishing the administrative powers of the supreme court over the subordinate state courts. These amendments were eventually ratified at the April 1977 election.
^Republican Bob Kasten (4th District) and Democrat Doug La Follette (22nd District) resigned before the start of the session due to election to other offices.
^Republican Jim Sensenbrenner (4th District) and Democrat John J. Maurer (22nd District) were sworn in to replace Bob Kasten and Doug La Follette, respectively.
^Democrat Wayne F. Whittow (11th District) resigned after being elected Milwaukee city treasurer.
^Democrat Warren Braun (11th District) was sworn in to replace Wayne F. Whittow.
^Republican Jim Sensenbrenner (10th District) resigned after election to the state senate.
^Republican Rod Johnston (10th District) was sworn in to replace Jim Sensenbrenner.
