73rd Wisconsin Legislature
The Seventy-Third Wisconsin Legislature convened from to in regular session, and reconvened in a special session in June 1958.
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 6, 1956. 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 2, 1954.
The governor of Wisconsin during this entire term was Republican Vernon W. Thomson, of Richland County, serving a two-year term, having won election in the 1956 Wisconsin gubernatorial election.
Major events
- January 7, 1957:
- * Inauguration of Vernon W. Thomson as the 34th Governor of Wisconsin.
- * John E. Martin became chief justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court by seniority rule at the expiration of Edward T. Fairchild's term.
- January 20, 1957: [Second inauguration of Dwight Democratic Party (United States)|D. Eisenhower|Second inauguration] of Dwight D. Eisenhower as President of the United States.
- May 2, 1957: Wisconsin's senior United States senator, Joseph McCarthy, died in office.
- August 28, 1957: William Proxmire elected United States senator from Wisconsin.
- September 9, 1957: U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the Civil Rights Act of 1957 into law.
- October 4, 1957: The Soviet Union launched Sputnik 1, the first artificial satellite to orbit the Earth.
- October 10, 1957: The Milwaukee Braves won the 1957 World Series.
- November 3, 1957: The Soviet Union launched Sputnik 2, carrying the first animal to orbit the Earth.
- January 22, 1958: Wisconsin U.S. representative Lawrence H. Smith died in office.
- January 31, 1958: The United States launched Explorer 1, its first successful satellite.
- March 8, 1958: The USS Wisconsin (BB-64) was decommissioned, leaving the U.S. Navy without an active battleship for the first time since 1896.
- July 29, 1958: U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the National Aeronautics and Space Act, establishing NASA.
- October 9, 1958: Pope Pius XII died.
- October 28, 1958: The 1958 papal conclave elected Cardinal Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli as the next pope, he then took the papal name John XXIII.
- November 4, 1958: 1958 United States general election:
- * Gaylord Nelson elected Governor of Wisconsin.
- * William Proxmire re-elected United States senator from Wisconsin.
Major legislation
- 1957 Joint Resolution 32: First legislative passage of a proposed amendment to the state constitution to set a county and municipal debt limit of five percent of taxable property. This amendment was eventually ratified at the November 1960 election.
- 1957 Joint Resolution 58: First legislative passage of a proposed amendment to the state constitution to allow the state to take on debt to pay for port improvements. This amendment was eventually ratified at the April 1960 election.
Sessions
Regular session: January 9, 1957September 27, 1957June 1958 special session: June 11, 1958June 13, 1958Leaders
Senate leadership
- President of the Senate: Warren P. Knowles
- President pro tempore: Frank E. Panzer
- Majority leader: Robert S. Travis
- Minority leader: Henry Maier
Assembly leadership
- Speaker of the Assembly: Robert G. Marotz
- Majority leader: Warren A. Grady
- Minority leader: Robert T. Huber
Members
Members of the Senate
Members of the Senate for the Seventy-Third Wisconsin Legislature:| Dist. | Counties | Senator | Residence | Party |
| 01 | Door, Kewaunee, | Kiel | Rep. | |
| 02 | Brown | Green Bay | Rep. | |
| 03 | Milwaukee | Milwaukee | Dem. | |
| 04 | Milwaukee | Milwaukee | Rep. | |
| 05 | Milwaukee | Milwaukee | Rep. | |
| 06 | Milwaukee | Milwaukee | Dem. | |
| 07 | Milwaukee | Milwaukee | Dem. | |
| 12 | Iron, Lincoln, Oneida, Price, Taylor, | Merrill | Rep. | |
| 13 | Dodge | Oakfield | Rep. | |
| 14 | Outagamie | Bear Creek | Rep. | |
| 15 | Rock | Janesville | Rep. | |
| 16 | Dane | Madison | Dem. | |
| 17 | Grant, Green, Iowa, | Platteville | Rep. | |
| 18 | , | Rosendale | Rep. | |
| 19 | Calumet | Neenah | Rep. | |
| 20 | Ozaukee | Plymouth | Rep. | |
| 21 | Racine | Racine | Dem. | |
| 22 | Kenosha | Lake Geneva | Rep. | |
| 23 | Barron, Burnett, Polk, Rusk, Sawyer, | Spooner | Rep. | |
| 24 | Clark, Portage, | Vesper | Rep. | |
| 25 | Ashland, Bayfield, | Merrill | Dem. | |
| 26 | Dane | Madison | Dem. | |
| 27 | Columbia, Crawford, Richland, | Richland Center | Rep. | |
| 28 | Chippewa | Eau Claire | Dem. | |
| 29 | Marathon | Wausau | Rep. | |
| 30 | Florence, Forest, Langlade, Marinette, | Oconto | Rep. | |
| 31 | Adams, Juneau, Monroe, Marquette, | Sparta | Rep. | |
| 32 | Jackson, La Crosse, | La Crosse | Rep. | |
| 33 | Jefferson | Hartland | Rep. |
Members of the Assembly
Members of the Assembly for the Seventy-Third Wisconsin Legislature:Committees
Senate committees
- Senate Standing Committee on AgricultureH. M. Jones, chair
- Senate Standing Committee on ConservationC. Krueger, chair
- Senate Standing Committee on EducationW. W. Clark, chair
- Senate Standing Committee on Governmental and Veterans Affairs, chair
- Senate Standing Committee on HighwaysJ. Miller, chair
- Senate Standing Committee on Interstate CooperationF. E. Panzer, chair
- Senate Standing Committee on the JudiciaryW. L. Merten, chair
- Senate Standing Committee on Labor, Taxation, Insurance, and BankingW. Trinke, chair
- Senate Standing Committee on Public WelfareP. P. Carr, chair
- Senate Special Committee on CommitteesJ. Miller, chair
- Senate Special Committee on Contingent ExpendituresL. H. Prange, chair
- Senate Special Committee on Legislative ProcedureF. E. Panzer, chair
Assembly committees
- Assembly Standing Committee on AgricultureO. R. Rice, chair
- Assembly Standing Committee on Commerce and ManufacturesJ. S. Crawford, chair
- Assembly Standing Committee on ConservationM. E. Dillman, chair
- Assembly Standing Committee on Contingent ExpendituresB. Lewison, chair
- Assembly Standing Committee on EducationW. B. Calvert, chair
- Assembly Standing Committee on ElectionsV. C. Wallin, chair
- Assembly Standing Committee on Engrossed BillsM. C. Kintz, chair
- Assembly Standing Committee on Enrolled BillsC. H. Sykes, chair
- Assembly Standing Committee on Excise and FeesH. R. Abraham, chair
- Assembly Standing Committee on HighwaysE. C. Nitschke, chair
- Assembly Standing Committee on Insurance and BankingR. E. Peterson, chair
- Assembly Standing Committee on the JudiciaryE. A. Toepel, chair
- Assembly Standing Committee on LaborE. L. Genzmer, chair
- Assembly Standing Committee on MunicipalitiesP. A. Luedtke, chair
- Assembly Standing Committee on PrintingE. A. Hinz, chair
- Assembly Standing Committee on Public WelfareM. H. Ward, chair
- Assembly Standing Committee on RevisionA. J. Redford, chair
- Assembly Standing Committee on RulesW. A. Grady, chair
- Assembly Standing Committee on State AffairsD. Blanchard, chair
- Assembly Standing Committee on TaxationG. Pommerening, chair
- Assembly Standing Committee on Third ReadingH. M. Peters, chair
- Assembly Standing Committee on TransportationL. M. Hagen, chair
- Assembly Standing Committee on Veterans and Military AffairsB. F. Wackett, chair
Joint committees
- Joint Standing Committee on FinanceA. A. Laun & J. R. Stone, co-chairs
- Joint Standing Committee on Revisions, Repeals, and Uniform LawsA. Busby & A. J. Cane, co-chairs
- Joint Legislative CouncilR. G. Marotz, chair
Employees
Senate employees
- Chief Clerk: Lawrence R. Larsen
- Sergeant-at-Arms: Harold Damon
Assembly employees
- Chief Clerk: Arthur L. May
- Sergeant-at-Arms: Norris J. Kellman