Wisconsin State Senate

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Wisconsin State Senate
Wisconsin State Legislature
Coat of arms or logo
Type
Type Upper house
Term limits None
History
New session started January 12, 2011
Leadership
President of the Senate Mike Ellis, (R)
Since January 8, 2013
President pro tempore Joe Leibham, (R)
Since January 8, 2013
Majority Leader Scott L. Fitzgerald, (R)
Since January 8, 2013
Minority Leader Chris Larson, (D)
Since January 8, 2013
Structure
Seats 33
Political groups Republican Party (18)
Democratic Party (15)
Length of term 4 years
Authority Article IV, Wisconsin Constitution
Salary $49,943/year + per diem
Elections
Last election November 6, 2012
Next election November 4, 2014
(16 seats)
Redistricting Legislative Control
Meeting place
State Senate Chamber
Wisconsin State Capitol
Madison, Wisconsin
Website
Wisconsin State Senate

The Wisconsin Senate, the powers of which are modeled after those of the U.S. Senate, is the upper house of the Wisconsin State Legislature, smaller than the Wisconsin State Assembly. Together, they constitute the legislative branch of the state of Wisconsin.

The Wisconsin Constitution ties the size of the State Senate to that of the Assembly, by limiting its size to no less than 1/4, nor more than 1/3, of the size of the Assembly. Currently, Wisconsin is divided into 33 Senate Districts (1/3 of the current Assembly membership of 99) apportioned throughout the state based on population as determined by the decennial census, for a total of 33 senators. A Senate district is formed by combining three Assembly districts. Similar to the U.S. Senate, in addition to its duty of reviewing and voting on all legislation passed through the legislature, the State Senate has the exclusive responsibility of confirming certain gubernatorial appointments, particularly cabinet secretaries (as part of the system of checks and balances) and members of boards and commissions. Senators are elected for four-year terms, staggered so that half the Senate is up for election every two years. If a vacancy occurs in a Senate seat between elections, it may be filled only by a special election. The Senate chamber is in the south wing of the Wisconsin State Capitol, in Madison, Wisconsin.

Contents

[edit] Salary and benefits

Senators elected or re-elected in the fall of 2008 will receive an annual salary of $49,943. In addition to their salaries, senators outside Dane County may receive a per diem up to $88 to cover living expenses while they are in Dane County on state business. Members of the Madison delegation may receive a per diem up to $44 to cover expenses. Each senator also receives $75 per month in "out-of-session" pay when the Legislature is in session for three days or less. Over two years, each senator is allotted $66,008 to cover general office expenses, printing, postage and district mailings.

[edit] 2011–2013 recall elections

See also: Wisconsin Senate recall elections, 2011
See also: Wisconsin Senate recall elections, 2012

Following the 2011 Wisconsin protests and the passage of Act 10, two separate recall elections targeted both Democrats and Republicans in 2011 and 2012. Two Republicans: Dan Kapanke and Randy Hopper, lost their recall elections to their Democratic opponents, Jennifer Shilling and Jessica King, respectively, on August 9, 2011. In response to these recall efforts, three Democratic senators also faced recall. Democratic Senator Dave Hansen defeated his challenger in his recall election on July 19, 2011. This election occurred without a primary because one of the would-be Republican challengers, John Nygren, failed to obtain enough signatures to appear on the ballot. Two Democratic senators, Robert Wirch and Jim Holperin, won recall elections on August 16, 2011. Republican Senator Pam Galloway, who faced a 2012 recall election, resigned on March 16, 2012 amid "significant challenges" within her family; thereby leaving the Senate evenly split between Republicans and Democrats. The Galloway recall election went forward after her resignation, and she was replaced on the ballot.[1][2]

The official results of the 2012 recall gave the Democrats a one seat pickup so they achieved a 17–16 majority. Senator John Lehman was sworn in on July 16 and the Senate met on Tuesday July 17 to reorganize with a Democratic majority and elected Fred Risser President of the Senate and Tim Carpenter President Pro Tempore of the Senate. On July 19, 2012, Senator Rich Zipperer announced he would resign his Senate seat to join the staff of Governor Walker.

[edit] 2012 general election

The Wisconsin State Senate reverted back to a Republican majority in January 2013 for several reasons. Democrat Jim Holperin, who survived two recall attempts during his time in office, announced he would not seek re-election. Republican Assemblyman Tom Tiffany defeated Democrat Susan Sommer, 56% to 40%, flipping the seat back to Republican. Senator Jessica King, who, in the August 2011 recall elections, defeated Republican Randy Hopper, lost her own bid for a full term of her own to Republican Rick Gudex by 590 votes. The Senate has 18 Republicans and 15 Democrats.

[edit] Senate Officers

2013–2015 Legislative Session:

[edit] During the 2013–2015 Legislative Session

Affiliation Party
(Shading indicates majority caucus)
 Total
Republican Democratic Vacant
End of previous legislature 16 17 33 0
Begin 18 15 33 0
Latest voting share 54.5% 45.5%

[edit] Members

Senator District Party Current Age First elected Seat up
Frank Lasee 01 Republican 51 2010 2014
Robert Cowles 02 Republican 62 1987 2016
Tim Carpenter 03 Democratic 53 2002 2014
Lena Taylor 04 Democratic 46 2004 2016
Leah Vukmir 05 Republican 54 2010 2014
Nikiya Harris 06 Democratic 38 2012 2016
Chris Larson 07 Democratic 32 2010 2014
Alberta Darling 08 Republican 68 1992 2016
Joe Leibham 09 Republican 43 2002 2014
Sheila Harsdorf 10 Republican 56 2000 2016
Neal Kedzie 11 Republican 57 2002 2014
Tom Tiffany 12 Republican 55 2012 2016
Scott Fitzgerald 13 Republican 49 1994 2014
Luther Olsen 14 Republican 62 2004 2016
Tim Cullen 15 Democratic 69 2010 2014
Mark Miller 16 Democratic 70 2004 2016
Dale Schultz 17 Republican 59 1991 2014
Rick Gudex 18 Republican 44 2012 2016
Michael Ellis 19 Republican 72 1982 2014
Glenn Grothman 20 Republican 57 2004 2016
John Lehman 21 Democratic 67 2012 2014
Robert Wirch 22 Democratic 69 1996 2016
Terry Moulton 23 Republican 66 2010 2014
Julie Lassa 24 Democratic 42 2003 2016
Robert Jauch 25 Democratic 67 1986 2014
Fred Risser 26 Democratic 85 1962 2016
Jon Erpenbach 27 Democratic 52 1998 2014
Mary Lazich 28 Republican 60 1998 2016
Jerry Petrowski 29 Republican 62 2012 2014
Dave Hansen 30 Democratic 65 2000 2016
Kathleen Vinehout 31 Democratic 54 2006 2014
Jennifer Shilling 32 Democratic 43 2011 2016
Paul Farrow 33 Republican 48 2012 2014

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Patrick Marley (March 15, 2012). "State Sen. Galloway to resign, leaving Senate split". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved March 15, 2012. 
  2. ^ Dustin Vrab (March 16, 2012). "Senator Pam Galloway resigns". CBS58. Retrieved March 17, 2012. 

[edit] External links
Legislatures of the United States
United States Congress
State legislatures
Other legislatures
Obsolete

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