95th Wisconsin Legislature
The Ninety-Fifth Wisconsin Legislature convened from January 3, 2001, to January 6, 2003, in regular session, and also convened in three special sessions.
During this session, an exposé by the Wisconsin State Journal revealed sprawling corruption in both chambers and both parties in the Wisconsin Legislature. In what was referred to as the "caucus scandal", five legislators, including leaders of both major parties, were eventually implicated and prosecuted for extensive use of state-paid legislative employees for political purposes.
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 7, 2000. Senators representing odd-numbered districts were serving the third and fourth year of their four-year term, having been elected in the general election held on November 3, 1998.
The governor of Wisconsin at the start of this term was Republican Tommy Thompson, of Juneau County, serving the beginning of the third year of his fourth four-year term, having won re-election in the 1998 Wisconsin gubernatorial election. Thompson resigned February 1, 2001, to accept appointment as United States Secretary of Health and Human Services. At that time, the lieutenant governor, Republican Scott McCallum, of Columbia County, then ascended to become governor for the remainder of this legislative term.
Major events
- January 20, 2001: Inauguration of George W. Bush as 43rd President of the United States.
- May 20, 2001: The Wisconsin State Journal published its initial exposé revealing state legislators had been misusing legislative staffers for political purposes.
- September 11, 2001: 11 attacks">Wisconsin's 11th Senate district">11 attacks destroyed the World Trade Center and damaged The Pentagon.
- October 1, 2001: Start of Operation Enduring Freedom.
- October 7, 2001: United States invasion of Afghanistan initiated the War in Afghanistan.
- May 30, 2002: A three-judge panel of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin published its decision in , serving as the redistricting plan for Wisconsin for the 2000 United States census.
- November 5, 2002: 2002 United States general election:
- * Jim Doyle elected Governor of Wisconsin.
Major legislation
- August 31, 2001: An Act relating to: state finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2001 legislature, . Vetoed in part.
Sessions
Regular session: January 3, 2001January 6, 2003May 2001 special session: May 1, 2001May 3, 2001January 2002 special session: January 22, 2002July 8, 2002May 2002 special session: May 13, 2002May 15, 2002Leadership
Senate
- President: Fred Risser
- President pro tempore: Gary R. George
Majority Leadership
- Majority Leader: Charles Chvala
- Assistant Majority Leader: Rodney C. Moen
- Majority Caucus Chair: Judy Robson
Minority Leadership
- Minority Leader: Mary Panzer
- Assistant Minority Leader: Margaret Farrow
- * Alan Lasee
- Minority Caucus Chair: David Zien
- Minority Caucus Vice Chair: Carol Roessler
Assembly
- Speaker of the Assembly: Scott R. Jensen
- Speaker pro tempore: Stephen Freese
Majority Leadership
- Majority Leader: Steven Foti
- Assistant Majority Leader: Bonnie Ladwig
- Majority Caucus Chair: Daniel P. Vrakas
Minority Leadership
- Minority Leader: Shirley Krug
- * Spencer Black
- Assistant Minority Leader: Spencer Black
- * James Kreuser
- Minority Caucus Chair: Peter Bock