- Source: 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.
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: September 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 Baumgart v. Wendelberger, serving as the redistricting plan for Wisconsin for the 2000 United States census.
November 5, 2002: 2002 United States general election:
Jim Doyle (D) 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, 2001 Act 16. Vetoed in part.
Party summary
= Senate summary
== Assembly summary
=Sessions
Regular session: January 3, 2001 – January 6, 2003
May 2001 special session: May 1, 2001 – May 3, 2001
January 2002 special session: January 22, 2002 – July 8, 2002
May 2002 special session: May 13, 2002 – May 15, 2002
Leadership
= Senate
=President: Fred Risser (D–Madison)
President pro tempore: Gary R. George (D–Milwaukee)
Majority Leadership
Majority Leader: Charles Chvala (D–Madison)
Assistant Majority Leader: Rodney C. Moen (D–Whitehall)
Majority Caucus Chair: Judy Robson (D–Beloit)
Minority Leadership
Minority Leader: Mary Panzer (R–West Bend)
Assistant Minority Leader: Margaret Farrow (R–Pewaukee) (until May 9, 2001)
Alan Lasee (R–Rockland) (after May 9, 2001)
Minority Caucus Chair: David Zien (R–Wheaton)
Minority Caucus Vice Chair: Carol Roessler (R–Oshkosh)
= Assembly
=Speaker of the Assembly: Scott R. Jensen (R–Waukesha)
Speaker pro tempore: Stephen Freese (R–Jamestown)
Majority Leadership
Majority Leader: Steven Foti (R–Oconomowoc)
Assistant Majority Leader: Bonnie Ladwig (R–Mount Pleasant)
Majority Caucus Chair: Daniel P. Vrakas (R–Delafield)
Minority Leadership
Minority Leader: Shirley Krug (D–Milwaukee) (until May 1, 2001)
Spencer Black (D–Madison) (after May 1, 2001)
Assistant Minority Leader: Spencer Black (D–Madison) (until May 1, 2001)
James Kreuser (D–Kenosha) (after May 1, 2001)
Minority Caucus Chair: Peter Bock (D–Milwaukee)
Members
= Members of the Senate
=Members of the Senate for the Ninety-Fifth Wisconsin Legislature:
= Members of the Assembly
=Members of the Assembly for the Ninety-Fifth Wisconsin Legislature: