Wisconsin Senate

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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 comprise 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. 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 Democratic Party currently controls the chamber by an 18 to 15 margin. This majority will hold for the 2009 - 2011 session.

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

1 Salary and benefits
2 The 2007–2008 legislative session
3 External links

Salary and benefits

Senators elected or re-elected in the fall of 2002 will draw $45,569 per year in salary.

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.

The 2007–2008 legislative session

Officers

President of the Senate: Fred Risser
President pro tem of the Senate: Tim Carpenter
Majority Leader: Russ Decker
Minority Leader: Scott L. Fitzgerald
Assistant Majority Leader: Dave Hansen
Assistant Minority Leader: Joe Leibham
Majority Caucus Chair: Mark Miller
Minority Caucus Chair: Glenn Grothman

Chief Clerk: Rob Marchant
Sergeant at Arms: Ted Blazel

Seat allotment

*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*
*	*	*	*	*	*	*	+	+	+	+
+	+	+	+	+	+	+	+	+	+	+

*	Democrats:	18
+	Republicans:	15

Members

Senator	District	Party	First elected	Seat up
Alan Lasee	01	Republican	1977	2010
Robert Cowles	02	Republican	1987	2008
Tim Carpenter	03	Democratic	2002	2010
Lena Taylor	04	Democratic	2004	2008
Jim Sullivan	05	Democratic	2006	2010
Spencer Coggs	06	Democratic	2003	2008
Jeffrey Plale	07	Democratic	2003	2010
Alberta Darling	08	Republican	1992	2012
Joe Leibham	09	Republican	2002	2010
Sheila Harsdorf	10	Republican	2000	2012
Neal Kedzie	11	Republican	2002	2010
Jim Holperin	12	Democratic	2008	2012
Scott Fitzgerald	13	Republican	1994	2010
Luther S. Olsen	14	Republican	2004	2008
Judy Robson	15	Democratic	1998	2010
Mark Miller	16	Democratic	2004	2008
Dale Schultz	17	Republican	1991	2010
Randy Hopper	18	Republican	2008	2012
Michael Ellis	19	Republican	1982	2010
Glenn Grothman	20	Republican	2004	2012
John Lehman	21	Democratic	2006	2010
Robert Wirch	22	Democratic	1996	2012
Pat Kreitlow	23	Democratic	2006	2010
Julie Lassa	24	Democratic	2003	2012
Robert Jauch	25	Democratic	1986	2010
Fred Risser	26	Democratic	1962	2008
Jon Erpenbach	27	Democratic	1998	2010
Mary Lazich	28	Republican	1998	2008
Russ Decker	29	Democratic	1990	2010
Dave Hansen	30	Democratic	2000	2012
Kathleen Vinehout	31	Democratic	2006	2010
Dan Kapanke	32	Republican	2004	2012
Theodore Kanavas	33	Republican	2001	2010

External links

Wisconsin State Senate official government website
Project Vote Smart - State Senate of Wisconsin

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