98th Wisconsin Legislature
Wisconsin legislative term for 2007-2008
98th Wisconsin Legislature Legislative body Wisconsin Legislature Meeting place Wisconsin State Capitol Term January 1, 2007 – January 5, 2009 Election November 7, 2006 Members 33 Senate President Fred Risser (D )President pro tempore Tim Carpenter (D )Party control Democratic Members 99 Assembly Speaker Michael Huebsch (R )Speaker pro tempore Mark Gottlieb (R )Party control Republican Regular January 3, 2007 – January 5, 2009
Jan. 2007 Spec. January 11, 2007 – February 1, 2007 Oct. 2007 Spec. October 15, 2007 – October 23, 2007 Dec. 2007 Spec. December 11, 2007 – May 14, 2008 Mar. 2008 Spec. March 12, 2008 – May 14, 2008 Apr. 2008 Spec. April 17, 2008 – May 15, 2008
The Ninety-Eighth Wisconsin Legislature convened from January 3, 2007, through January 5, 2009, in regular session, though it adjourned for legislative activity on June 11, 2008. The legislature also held five special sessions during the term.[ 1] [ 2]
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 7, 2006. Senators representing even-numbered districts were serving the third and fourth year of their four-year term, having been elected in the general election held on November 2, 2004.
Major events
January 9, 2007: Apple Inc. CEO Steve Jobs introduced the first iPhone at a Macworld keynote in San Francisco.
April 3, 2007: 2007 Wisconsin Spring election:
April 1, 2008: 2008 Wisconsin Spring election :
August 28, 2008: Barack Obama accepted the nomination of the Democratic Party for President of the United States, becoming the first African American presidential nominee of a major American political party.
September 15, 2008: In the midst of the 2007–2008 financial crisis , Lehman Brothers filed for bankruptcy—the largest bankruptcy in U.S. history.
September 26, 2008: Washington Mutual filed for bankruptcy—the largest bank failure in U.S. history.
September 29, 2008: The U.S. House of Representatives rejected the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 . In response, the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 777.68 points (6.98%)—at the time it was the largest point drop in the history of the exchange.
October 3, 2008: U.S. President George W. Bush signed the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 , passed by the U.S. House of Representatives earlier that day.
October 6–10, 2008: The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 1,874.19 points, or 18.2%, on record-breaking volume.
November 4, 2008: Barack Obama elected President of the United States .
Major legislation
Party summary
Senate summary
Senate Partisan composition Democratic: 18 seats
Republican: 15 seats
Assembly summary
Senate Partisan composition Democratic: 47 seats
Republican: 52 seats
Sessions
Regular session : January 3, 2007 – January 5, 2009
January 2007 special session : January 11, 2007 – February 1, 2007
October 2007 special session : October 15, 2007 – October 23, 2007
December 2007 special session : December 11, 2007 – May 14, 2008
March 2008 special session : March 12, 2008 – May 14, 2008
April 2008 special session : April 17, 2008 – May 15, 2008
Leadership
Senate leadership
Majority leadership
Minority leadership
Assembly leadership
Majority leadership
Minority leadership
Members
Members of the Senate
Members of the Wisconsin Senate for the Ninety-Eighth Wisconsin Legislature:[ 5]
Senate partisan representation Democratic: 18 seats
Republican: 15 seats
Dist.
Senator
Party
Age (2007)
Home
First elected
01
Alan Lasee
Rep.
69
De Pere , Brown County
1977
02
Robert Cowles
Rep.
56
Green Bay , Brown County
1987
03
Tim Carpenter
Dem.
46
Milwaukee , Milwaukee County
2002
04
Lena Taylor
Dem.
40
Milwaukee , Milwaukee County
2004
05
Jim Sullivan
Dem.
39
Wauwatosa , Milwaukee County
2006
06
Spencer Coggs
Dem.
57
Milwaukee , Milwaukee County
2003
07
Jeffrey Plale
Dem.
38
South Milwaukee , Milwaukee County
2003
08
Alberta Darling
Rep.
62
River Hills , Milwaukee County
1992
09
Joe Leibham
Rep.
37
Sheboygan , Sheboygan County
2002
10
Sheila Harsdorf
Rep.
50
River Falls , Pierce County
2000
11
Neal Kedzie
Rep.
50
Elkhorn , Walworth County
2002
12
Roger Breske (res. Jun. 4, 2008)
Dem.
68
Eland , Shawano County
1990
--Vacant from Jun. 4, 2008--
13
Scott L. Fitzgerald
Rep.
43
Juneau , Dodge County
1994
14
Luther Olsen
Rep.
55
Ripon , Fond du Lac County
2004
15
Judy Robson
Dem.
68
Beloit , Rock County
1998
16
Mark Miller
Dem.
63
Monona , Dane County
2004
17
Dale Schultz
Rep.
53
Richland Center , Richland County
1991
18
Carol Roessler (res. Jul. 4, 2008)
Rep.
58
Oshkosh , Winnebago County
1987
--Vacant from Jul. 4, 2008--
19
Michael G. Ellis
Rep.
65
Neenah , Winnebago County
1982
20
Glenn Grothman
Rep.
51
West Bend , Washington County
2004
21
John W. Lehman
Dem.
61
Racine , Racine County
2006
22
Robert Wirch
Dem.
63
Pleasant Prairie , Kenosha County
1996
23
Pat Kreitlow
Dem.
42
Chippewa Falls , Chippewa County
2006
24
Julie Lassa
Dem.
36
Stevens Point , Portage County
2003
25
Robert Jauch
Dem.
61
Poplar , Douglas County
1986
26
Fred Risser
Dem.
79
Madison , Dane County
1962
27
Jon Erpenbach
Dem.
45
Middleton , Dane County
1998
28
Mary Lazich
Rep.
54
New Berlin , Waukesha County
1998
29
Russ Decker
Dem.
53
Schofield , Marathon County
1990
30
Dave Hansen
Dem.
59
Green Bay , Brown County
2000
31
Kathleen Vinehout
Dem.
48
Alma , Buffalo County
2006
32
Dan Kapanke
Rep.
59
La Crosse , La Crosse County
2004
33
Theodore Kanavas
Rep.
45
Brookfield , Waukesha County
2001
Members of the Assembly
Members of the Assembly for the Ninety-Eighth Wisconsin Legislature:[ 5]
Assembly partisan representation Democratic: 47 seats
Republican: 52 seats
Notes
^ Democrat Roger Breske (12th District) resigned to accept appointment as state commissioner of railroads.
^ Republican Carol Roessler (18th District) resigned.
^ Republican Jeffrey Wood (67th District) changed his party affiliation to Independent.
References
^ "2007 Senate Joint Resolution 1" . Wisconsin State Legislature .
^ Barish, Lawrence S.; Lemanski, Lynn, eds. (2021). "Historical Lists" (PDF) . State of Wisconsin Blue Book 2021–2022 (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. pp. 467, 471, 477, 479–480. ISBN 978-1-7333817-1-0 . Retrieved April 3, 2023 .
^ a b Barish, Lawrence S.; Lemanski, Lynn, eds. (2007). "Officers" (PDF) . State of Wisconsin 2007–2008 Blue Book (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. pp. 18–19. ISBN 978-0-9752820-2-1 . Retrieved April 9, 2023 .
^ "Robson out, Decker in as Senate majority head" . Wisconsin State Journal . October 25, 2007. p. 4. Retrieved April 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com .
^ a b Barish, Lawrence S.; Lemanski, Lynn, eds. (2007). "Biographies". State of Wisconsin 2007–2008 Blue Book (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau . pp. 18–86. Retrieved January 26, 2024 .
External links