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Wisconsin State Assembly
| Wisconsin State Assembly | |
 | |
| General Information | |
| Type: | Lower house |
| Term limits: | None |
| 2012 session start: | January 10, 2012 |
| Website: | Official House Page |
| Leadership | |
| House Speaker: | Jeff Fitzgerald, (R) |
| Majority Leader: | Scott Suder, (R) |
| Minority leader: | Peter Barca, (D) |
| Structure | |
| Members: | 99 |
| Democratic Party (39) Republican Party (59) Independent (1) | |
| Length of term: | 2 years |
| Authority: | Art IV, Wisconsin Constitution |
| Salary: | $49,943/year + per diem |
| Elections | |
| Last Election: | November 2, 2010 (99 seats) |
| Next election: | November 6, 2012 (99 seats) |
| Redistricting: | Wisconsin Legislature has control |
Meeting place: | |
Contents |
Sessions
Article IV of the Wisconsin Constitution contains provisions related to the meeting of the Wisconsin State Legislature, of which the Assembly is a part. Section 11 of Article IV states that the times for regular sessions are to be provided by law. Section 11 also states that the Governor of Wisconsin has the power to call the Legislature into special session.
2012
- See also: Dates of 2012 state legislative sessions
In 2012, the Assembly will be in session from January 10 through a date to be determined by the Legislature.
Major issues
With potential recalls of Governor Scott Walker (R), Lieutenant Governor Rebecca Kleefisch (R) and four Republican state senators, debate on major legislation is expected to be limited.[4] Republican leaders say they are focused on passing bills on only four main issues - clearing the way for on ore mine in northern Wisconsin, easing laws regarding development on wetlands, environmental regulation, and creating a venture capital fund to help start-up businesses.[5]
2011
- See also: Dates of 2011 state legislative sessions
In 2011, the Assembly adjourned a special session at the request of Governor Scott Walker on January 4, 2011. The special session was called to consider legislation regarding tax credits, tort law, medical savings accounts, other legislation relating to taxation, and the budget repair bill. The legislature's special session will be ongoing. [6] The regular session began on January 11. An extraordinary session was called by the Legislature from June 13-30, with another extraordinary session scheduled for July 19-29. The next scheduled floor period is September 13, 2011. Though the January special session is ongoing, special session bills may be taken up in the interim. [7]
2010
- See also: Dates of 2010 state legislative sessions
In 2010, the Assembly convened its legislative session on January 19, and it ended its last scheduled floor-period on April 22. [8][9]
Elections
2012
- See also: Wisconsin State Assembly elections, 2012
Elections for the office of Wisconsin State Assembly will be held in Wisconsin on November 6, 2012. All 99 seats will be up for election.
The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in these elections is July 10, 2012.
2010
- See also: Wisconsin State Assembly elections, 2010
Elections for the office of Wisconsin's State Assembly were held in Wisconsin on November 2, 2010. The signature-filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in these elections was July 13, 2010. The primary election day was September 14, 2010. Out of the 99 districts up for re-election, incumbents ran in 80 of them.
In 2010, the candidates for state assembly raised a total of $7,619,470 in campaign contributions. The top 10 donors were: [10]
| Donor | Amount |
|---|---|
| Public Fund | $160,215 |
| Marek, John | $150,200 |
| Prestrud, Marv | $65,942 |
| Kapenga, Chris | $54,028 |
| Klenke, John | $50,317 |
| Wisconsin Republican Party | $43,734 |
| McDonald, Dari | $42,179 |
| Simonson, John Christian | $41,196 |
| Wisconsin Education Association Council | $36,250 |
| Wisconsin Dental Association | $29,789 |
Qualifications
Section 6 of Article 4 of the Wisconsin Constitution states, "No person shall be eligible to the legislature who shall not have resided one year within the state, and be a qualified elector in the district which he may be chosen to represent."
Vacancies
| How Vacancies are filled in State Legislatures |
 |
If there is a vacancy in the Assembly, the vacant seat must be filled by a special election[11]. The Governor can call for an election when allowed under law. The election cannot be held after February 1st before a spring general election unless it's held on the same day of the election which is first Tuesday in April. The same requirement applies to any election after September 1st preceding the fall general election unless it's held on the same day of the election which is the first Tuesday in November[12]. Also, all vacancies must be filled quickly as long the vacancy happened before the second Tuesday in May during an election year[13].
Assemblymen
Partisan composition
- See also: Partisan composition of state houses
| Party | As of May 2012 | |
|---|---|---|
| Democratic Party | 39 | |
| Republican Party | 59 | |
| Independent | 1 | |
| Total | 99 | |
Salaries
- See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
As of 2010, members of the Wisconsin Assembly are paid $49,943/year. Legislators receive a maximum of $88/day per diem, set by the compensation commission. Based on the maximum, the leadership of each house determines what amount to authorize for each session.[14]
The $49,943/year that Wisconsin assemblymen are paid as of 2010 is an increase over the $47,413 were paid during legislative sessions in 2007. Per diem is the same.[15]
When sworn in
Wisconsin legislators assume office the first Monday in January following the election.
Leadership
The Speaker of the House is the presiding officer of the body and is elected by its membership. Duties of the speaker include appointing members to legislative committees, authenticating acts, orders, and proceedings of the Assembly, and supervising all other officers of the Assembly. In the absence of the Speaker, the Speaker Pro Tempore assumes all duties of the position.[16][17]
Current leadership
Current members
Assembly standing committees
The Wisconsin Assembly has 31 standing committees:
- Administrative Rules Committee
- Aging and Long-Term Care Committee
- Agriculture Committee
- Assembly Organization Committee
- Audit Committee
- Children and Families Committee
- Colleges and Universities Committee
- Consumer Protection Committee
- Criminal Justice Committee
- Education Committee
- Elections and Campaign Reform Committee
- Energy and Utilities Committee
- Finance Committee
- Financial Institutions Committee
- Forestry Committee
- Health Committee
- Homeland Security and State Affairs Committee
- Housing Committee
- Insurance Committee
- Jobs, the Economy and Small Business Committee
- Judiciary and Ethics Committee
- Labor and Workforce Development Committee
- Natural Resources Committee
- Public Health and Public Safety Committee
- Rules Committee
- Rural Economic Development Committee
- Tourism, Recreation and State Properties Committee
- Transportation Committee
- Urban and Local Affairs Committee
- Veterans and Military Affairs Committee
- Ways and Means Committee
External links
- Official website of the Wisconsin State Assembly
- Official list of the members of the Wisconsin State Assembly
- Project Vote Smart on the Wisconsin State Assembly
References
- ↑ Population in 2010 of the American states
- ↑ Population in 2010 of the American states
- ↑ "Wisconsin Assembly" FAQ's, March 4, 2009
- ↑ Governor Journal, "Recalls Make for Quiet Session," January 16, 2012
- ↑ Appleton Post Crescent, "Wisconsin legislative agenda influenced by negative effects of recalls," January 16, 2012
- ↑ Wisconsin.gov, State of Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau, accessed 7 March 2011
- ↑ Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau, Wisconsin Legislative Spotlight, accessed July 1, 2011
- ↑ 2010 session dates for Wisconsin legislature
- ↑ Explanation of Wisconsin legislative floor-periods
- ↑ Follow the Money: "Wisconsin Assembly 2010 Campaign Contributions"
- ↑ Wisconsin Legislature "Wisconsin Election Law"(Referenced Statute 17.19 (1), Wisconsin Statutes)
- ↑ Wisconsin Legislature "Wisconsin Election Law"(Referenced Statute 8.50, Wisconsin Statutes)
- ↑ Wisconsin Legislature "Wisconsin Election Law"(Referenced Statute 8.50(4)-(d), Wisconsin Statutes)
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2010 Legislator Compensation Data"
- ↑ Empire Center, "Legislative Salaries Per State as of 2007"
- ↑ Rules of the Wisconsin Assembly - Duties of the Speaker
- ↑ Wisconsin Assembly Leadership
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