Wisconsin State Senate

Wisconsin State Senate
Wisconsin State Legislature
Type
Type	Upper house
Term limits	None
New session started	January 12, 2011
Leadership
President of the Senate	Michael Ellis, (R) since January 12, 2011
President pro tempore	Joe Leibham, (R) since January 12, 2011
Majority Leader	Scott L. Fitzgerald, (R) since January 12, 2011
Minority Leader	Mark F. Miller, (D) since January 12, 2011
Structure
Members	33
Political groups	Republican Party (17) Democratic Party (16)
Length of term	4 years
Authority	Article IV, Wisconsin Constitution
Salary	$49,943/year + per diem
Elections
Last election	November 2, 2010 (17 seats)
Next election	November 6, 2012 (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 Republican Party currently controls the chamber by a 17 to 16 margin. 6 Republicans faced recall elections, through a large effort by activists from unions and others as the result of Governor Walker's repeal of collective bargaining rights in Wisconsin, and other similarly non-fiscal provisions in his "Budget Repair Bill." The recall elections were delayed when "fake" candidates forced Democratic primary elections. 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, through a well-funded effort by tea party activists. 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.

The Senate chamber is in the south wing of the Wisconsin State Capitol, in Madison, Wisconsin.

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.

2011–2013 legislative session

See also: Wisconsin Senate recall elections, 2011

Officers

• President of the Senate: Mike Ellis
• President pro tempore of the Senate: Joe Leibham
• Majority Leader: Scott L. Fitzgerald
• Assistant Majority Leader: Glenn Grothman
• Minority Leader: Mark F. Miller
• Assistant Minority Leader: Dave Hansen
• Majority Caucus Chair: Pam Galloway
• Majority Caucus Vice Chair: Sheila Harsdorf
• Minority Caucus Chair: Julie Lassa
• Minority Caucus Vice Chair: Kathleen Vinehout
• Chief Clerk: Robert Marchant
• Sergeant at Arms: Edward Blazel

Composition

Affiliation	Party (Shading indicates majority caucus)		Total
	Republican	Democratic		Vacant
End of previous legislature	15	18	33	0
Begin	19	14	33	0
August 9, 2011	17	16
Latest voting share	51.5%	48.5%

Members

Senator	District	Party	Current Age	First elected	Seat up
Frank Lasee	01	Republican	50	2010	2014
Robert Cowles	02	Republican	61	1987	2012
Tim Carpenter	03	Democratic	51	2002	2014
Lena Taylor	04	Democratic	45	2004	2012
Leah Vukmir	05	Republican	53	2010	2014
Spencer Coggs	06	Democratic	62	2003	2012
Chris Larson	07	Democratic	31	2010	2014
Alberta Darling	08	Republican	67	1992	2012
Joe Leibham	09	Republican	42	2002	2014
Sheila Harsdorf	10	Republican	55	2000	2012
Neal Kedzie	11	Republican	56	2002	2014
Jim Holperin	12	Democratic	61	2008	2012
Scott Fitzgerald	13	Republican	48	1994	2014
Luther Olsen	14	Republican	60	2004	2012
Tim Cullen	15	Democratic	67	2010	2014
Mark Miller	16	Democratic	69	2004	2012
Dale Schultz	17	Republican	58	1991	2014
Jessica King	18	Democratic	37	2011	2012
Michael Ellis	19	Republican	70	1982	2014
Glenn Grothman	20	Republican	56	2004	2012
Van H. Wanggaard	21	Republican	59	2010	2014
Robert Wirch	22	Democratic	68	1996	2012
Terry Moulton	23	Republican	65	2010	2014
Julie Lassa	24	Democratic	41	2003	2012
Robert Jauch	25	Democratic	66	1986	2014
Fred Risser	26	Democratic	84	1962	2012
Jon Erpenbach	27	Democratic	51	1998	2014
Mary Lazich	28	Republican	59	1998	2012
Pam Galloway	29	Republican	56	2010	2014
Dave Hansen	30	Democratic	64	2000	2012
Kathleen Vinehout	31	Democratic	53	2006	2014
Jennifer Shilling	32	Democratic	42	2011	2012
Rich Zipperer	33	Republican	37	2010	2014

External links

• Wisconsin State Senate official government website
• State Senate of Wisconsin at Project Vote Smart
• Wisconsin State Senate at Ballotpedia