76th - Rebecca Young
639 Crandall Street
Madison 53711
Democrat
77th - Spencer Black
5742 Elder Place
Madison 53705
Democrat
78th - Tammy Baldwin
525 Riverside Drive
Madison 53704
Democrat
79th - Rick Skindrud
1261 LaFollette Road
Mount Horeb 53572
Republican
80th - Mike Powers
N6842 Attica Road
Albany 53502
Republican
81st - David Travis
4229 Mandrake Road
Madison 53704
Democrat
82nd - James A. Rutkowski
4550 S. 117th Street
Greenfield 53228
Democrat
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83rd - Scott L. Gunderson
28918 Kramer Drive
Waterford 53185
Republican
84th - Mary A. Lazich
4405 S. 129th Street
New Berlin 53151
Republican
85th - Gregory B. Huber
406 S. 9th Avenue
Wausau 54401
Democrat
86th - Thomas Springer
701 16th Street
Mosinee 54455
Democrat
87th - Marty Reynolds
219 W. 2nd Street North
Ladysmith 54848
Democrat
88th - Carol Kelso
416 W. LeCapitaine Circle
Green Bay 54302
Republican
89th - John G. Gard
481 Aubin Street
P.O. Box 119
Peshtigo 54157
Republican
90th - John J. Ryba
714 Wilson Avenue
Green Bay 54303
Democrat
91st - Barbara Gronemus
1634 West Street
P.O. Box 676
Whitehall 54773-0676
Democrat
92nd - Terry M. Musser
Route 1, Box 98
Black River Falls 54615
Republican
93rd - Rob Kreibich
3437 Nimitz Street
Eau Claire 54701
Republican
94th - Michael D. Huebsch
401 16th Avenue North
Onalaska 54650
Republican
95th - Mark Meyer
920 S. 6th Street
La Crosse 54601
Democrat
96th - DuWayne G. Johnsrud
Route 1, Box 91A
Eastman 54626
Republican
97th - Peggy Krusick
3426 S. 69th Street
Milwaukee 53219
Democrat
98th - Marc C. Duff
1811 S. Elm Grove Road
New Berlin 53151
Republican
99th - Frank H. Urban
3645 Emberwood Drive
Brookfield 53005
Republican
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OATH OF OFFICE
Pursuant to Article IV, Section 28 of the Wisconsin Constitution, the Honorable Justice Jon P. Wilcox of the Wisconsin Supreme Court administered the oath of office to the members en masse.
The roll was called by the Assistant Chief Clerk of the 1993-94 session, Charles Sanders, and the members, as their names were called, came to the desk to sign the oath of office book.
The roll was taken.
The result follows:
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Present - Representatives Ainsworth, Albers, Baldus, Baldwin, Baumgart, Bell, Black, Bock, Brancel, Brandemuehl, Carpenter, Coggs, Coleman, Cullen, Dobyns, Dueholm, Duff, Foti, Freese, Gard, Goetsch, Green, Grobschmidt, Gronemus, Grothman, Gunderson, Hahn, Handrick, Hanson, Harsdorf, Hasenohrl, Hoven, Huber, Hubler, Huebsch, Hutchison, Jensen, Johnsrud, Kaufert, Kelso, Klusman, Kreibich, Kreuser, Krug, Krusick, Kunicki, La Fave, Ladwig, F. Lasee, Lazich, Lehman, Linton, Lorge, Meyer, Morris-Tatum, Murat, Musser, Nass, Notestein, Olsen, Ott, Otte, Ourada, Owens, Plache, Porter, R. Potter, Powers, Prosser, Reynolds, Riley, Robson, Rutkowski, Ryba, Schneider, Schneiders, Seratti, Silbaugh, Skindrud, Springer, Travis, Turner, Underheim, Urban, Vander Loop, Vrakas, Walker, Ward, Wasserman, Wilder, Williams, Wirch, Wood, L. Young, R. Young, Ziegelbauer and Zukowski - 97.
Absent - None.
Absent with leave - Representatives Boyle and Plombon - 2.
Vacancies - None.
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LEAVES OF ABSENCE
Representative Schneider asked unanimous consent for a leave of absence for today's session for Representatives Boyle and Plombon. Granted.
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ELECTION OF SPEAKER
Representative Gard nominated Representative Prosser for the position of Speaker of the Assembly.
Representative Meyer nominated Representative Schneider for the position of Speaker of the Assembly.
There being no further nominations, the chair declared nominations closed.
The roll was taken.
The result follows:
For Representative Prosser - Representatives Ainsworth, Albers, Brancel, Brandemuehl, Coleman, Dobyns, Duff, Foti, Freese, Gard, Goetsch, Green, Grothman, Gunderson, Hahn, Handrick, Harsdorf, Hoven, Huebsch, Hutchison, Jensen, Johnsrud, Kaufert, Kelso, Klusman, Kreibich, Ladwig, F. Lasee, Lazich, Lehman, Lorge, Musser, Nass, Olsen, Ott, Otte, Ourada, Owens, Porter, Powers, Prosser, Schneiders, Seratti, Silbaugh, Skindrud, Underheim, Urban, Vrakas, Walker, Ward, Williams and Zukowski - 52.
For Representative Schneider - Representatives Baldus, Baldwin, Baumgart, Bell, Black, Bock, Carpenter, Coggs, Cullen, Dueholm, Grobschmidt, Gronemus, Hanson, Hasenohrl, Huber, Hubler, Kreuser, Krug, Krusick, Kunicki, La Fave, Linton, Meyer, Morris-Tatum, Murat, Notestein, Plache, R. Potter, Reynolds, Riley, Robson, Rutkowski, Ryba, Schneider, Springer, Travis, Turner, Vander Loop, Wasserman, Wilder, Wirch, Wood, L. Young, R. Young and Ziegelbauer - 45.
Absent or not voting - Representatives Boyle and Plombon - 2.
Representative Prosser was elected Speaker of the Assembly.
Representatives Porter and Kelso escorted Representative Prosser to the rostrum.
The oath of office was administered by Judge Harold Froehlich, former speaker of the Assembly and current Outagamie Circuit Court Judge in Appleton.
Speaker Prosser in the chair.
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REMARKS BY THE SPEAKER
"At the outset of my remarks, would you please join me in a moment of prayer:
"Almighty God: As we begin the work of a new legislative session we ask you to guide our deliberations and decisions. Open our minds to a shared and shining vision of goodness, unity, and justice for our beloved state. Inspire our best efforts, that we may make difficult choices with wisdom and understanding. Enable us to discern clearly right from wrong. And as we seek to discharge the public trust we have so eagerly sought, give us humility that we may fully appreciate the sources of authority, both spiritual and temporal, from whom we have received permission to conduct the people's business. Amen."
Governor Thompson, Judge Wilcox, Judge Froehlich, my legislative colleagues, ladies and gentlemen:
I am very appreciative of the great honor you have bestowed upon me today... and mindful of the weighty responsibilities that go with it. The speaker's office is a goal I have pursued for many years. But now that the goal has been achieved, I realize how dependent I am upon your ideas and counsel, your encouragement and support, for any real chance of success in the months ahead.
I recognize also debts from the past.
Like you, I am deeply indebted to a loving and supportive family, who are here today, and to faithful friends and neighbors, political associates and staff, who have made this ceremony possible.
Over the years, many people have proved to be mentors; but one person in particular stands out.
Nearly four decades ago, a young activist in Appleton encouraged a teenage boy to become interested in politics. Ten years later he invited a law student to work for him in the speaker's office in the Wisconsin Assembly. Six years after that he pulled me out of the ashes of political defeat, asked me to join his campaign for Congress, and eventually took me with him to Washington. Then, as now, he was an excellent role model. That is why I am so pleased to have former Speaker, former Congressman, and current Circuit Judge Harold Froehlich here to administer my oath of office.
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Each of you has similar debts to mentors, family, and friends. None of us has been beamed here to the Capitol by our own power. We owe too much to others.
Four years ago, Speaker Kunicki initiated the becoming practice of inviting members to stand and applaud their families and supporters for all they have done to permit us to serve. Let's continue that fine tradition now.
These ceremonies, including the election of a new speaker, embody both continuity and renewal. We have continuity in the orderly transfer of power, from one person to another, from one party to another, greatly facilitated by the gracious cooperation of the outgoing speaker.
We have renewal as we welcome 12 new members to the Assembly--and elect new leaders who espouse change and propose reform.
But, make no mistake, we are meeting in very troubled times. The recent election was a siren, warning us of a dangerous political whirlwind.
Throughout the Nation, there is cynicism, disillusionment, and frustration with government. People have lost faith in political leaders and respect for the political process. There is anxiety because of a widespread sense that our political system is broken. There is despair that the current crop of politicians cannot fix it. There is anger when the public sees politicians bickering, sniping, and posturing in their little games instead of solving critical problems. The people want and expect something more. They demand action.
These dangerous winds are blowing even here in Wisconsin. And they pose a special test for us in the Wisconsin legislature.
We begin this session tomorrow, knowing that the challenges we face substantially surpass any legislative challenges in recent history.
This legislature was committed by the last legislature to fund two-thirds of public school operating costs by fiscal year 1996-97, an undertaking which will require a billion dollars of new expenditure. We are expected to accomplish this feat after first using up all reasonable revenue growth. We are expected to satisfy this obligation without raising any broad-based tax.
This legislature must also decide whether additional school aids should be delivered through Wisconsin's longstanding equalization aid formula, or whether aid distribution principles should be significantly revised. There is bound to be tension between the universal cry for property tax relief and the universal demand for quality education.
This legislature must respond to the growing fear of crime among our people--by revising the juvenile code, reviewing criminal sentencing, establishing adequate courts and correctional facilities, and even considering the ultimate sanction.
This legislature has been charged with reshaping public assistance programs, so that, in fact, we are able to end welfare as we know it. The whole Nation will be watching closely how we respond.
Whether we like it or not, this legislature will likely determine the fate of the State's four remaining dog tracks...and the future of major league baseball in Milwaukee.
Destiny will probably force this legislature to react to an altered relationship with the federal government and provide us with an opportunity to redefine the roles of state and local governments in the coming century.
All of this constitutes historic work. None of it will be easy. Our continuing task is to retain and enhance public confidence.
In one of his most memorable speeches, Abraham Lincoln borrowed a passage from the Book of Mark to evoke the problems of sectional division within our country. Lincoln said simply: "A house divided against itself cannot stand."
Today, the people of Wisconsin have great expectations about business in our Capitol. Promises have been made. And those promises need to be kept. This house, divided against itself, cannot fulfill its obligations. We must rise above familiar rivalries to a new level of cooperation. All of us should participate in problem-solving. We must come together, in common purpose, to get the job done.
That will be my new goal as your speaker. If we can come together and make real progress on these issues, the members of the 1995 Wisconsin Assembly will become role models for future generations of political leaders. That's if we succeed. If we fail, we are very likely to be carried off by that whirlwind.
I'm optimistic.
I'm very optimistic.
Let's go to work."
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ELECTION OF SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE
Representative Johnsrud nominated Representative Freese for the position of Speaker Pro Tempore of the Assembly.
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Representative Bock nominated Representative Carpenter for the position of Speaker Pro Tempore of the Assembly.
There being no further nominations, the speaker declared nominations closed.
Representative Jensen asked unanimous consent that all Republican members be recorded as voting for Representative Freese and all Democratic members as voting for Representative Carpenter. Granted.
For Representative Freese - Representatives Ainsworth, Albers, Brancel, Brandemuehl, Coleman, Dobyns, Duff, Foti, Freese, Gard, Goetsch, Green, Grothman, Gunderson, Hahn, Handrick, Harsdorf, Hoven, Huebsch, Hutchison, Jensen, Johnsrud, Kaufert, Kelso, Klusman, Kreibich, Ladwig, F. Lasee, Lazich, Lehman, Lorge, Musser, Nass, Olsen, Ott, Otte, Ourada, Owens, Porter, Powers, Schneiders, Seratti, Silbaugh, Skindrud, Underheim, Urban, Vrakas, Walker, Ward, Zukowski and Speaker Prosser - 51.
For Representative Carpenter - Representatives Baldus, Baldwin, Baumgart, Bell, Black, Bock, Carpenter, Coggs, Cullen, Dueholm, Grobschmidt, Gronemus, Hanson, Hasenohrl, Huber, Hubler, Kreuser, Krug, Krusick, Kunicki, La Fave, Linton, Meyer, Morris-Tatum, Murat, Notestein, Plache, R. Potter, Reynolds, Riley, Robson, Rutkowski, Ryba, Schneider, Springer, Travis, Turner, Vander Loop, Wasserman, Wilder, Williams, Wirch, Wood, L. Young, R. Young and Ziegelbauer - 46.
Absent or not voting - Representatives Boyle and Plombon -2.