Shirley Krug Papers, 1985-2004


Summary Information
Title: Shirley Krug Papers
Inclusive Dates: 1985-2004

Creator:
  • Krug, Shirley, 1958-
Call Number: Milwaukee Mss 213

Quantity: 8.2 c.f. (21 archives boxes)

Repository:
Archival Locations:
UW-Milwaukee Libraries, Archives / Milwaukee Area Research Ctr. (Map)

Abstract:
Papers of Shirley Krug, a Democratic Assemblywoman from the 12th District (Milwaukee) from 1985 to 2005, consisting of legislative subject files containing background research information, position correspondence with individuals and interest groups, bill and amendment drafts, correspondence with other legislators, memoranda, and reports. Major subjects covered are Children in Need of Protection or Services Reform, Crime Victims Rights Enabling Legislation, Domestic Violence Mandatory Arrest, Lincoln Creek Flood Control, Mental Health Consumer Protection Act, Milwaukee Public Schools Governance Reform, Milwaukee Public Schools Initiative/Chapter 220, Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect, Prison-Pay-As-You-Go, and Temporary Restraining Order Reform.

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-mil00213
 ↑ Bookmark this ↑

Biography/History

Shirley Krug was born in Milwaukee in 1958. Krug was initially elected to the 15th Assembly District in 1984 but this became the 12th Assembly District after the district was redrawn. In a 1998 three-way race for the minority leader position, Krug defeated Jim Kreuser (D-Kenosha) and Marlin Schneider (D-Wisconsin Rapids) to become the first woman to serve as the Democratic Assembly Minority Leader (1998-2002).

Krug withstood a scandal concerning the shakedown and intimidation of lobbyists, in the late 1990s. Several lobbyists testified that they had been intimidated into and/or traded campaign contributions for favorable consideration on pending legislation. While Krug was mentioned in several testimonies, no evidence ever directly implicated her. Moreover, the charges seemed to be politically motivated as members of both the Democratic and Republican parties were implicated in the scandal. Nevertheless, this scandal indicated general campaign finance irregularities occurring in both the Democratic and Republican Parties in the state of Wisconsin during the late 1990s.

Krug was replaced as Minority Leader by Spencer Black (D-Madison) after the 2002 election. In that election, Democrats lost two seats giving the Republicans a 56-43 majority in the Assembly. Citing the losses and controversial leadership decisions, some members of the Democratic Assembly delegation decided that new leadership was needed to counter the growing dominance of the Republican Party in Wisconsin politics. The removal of Krug from her leadership position was criticized by some Democratic members because it happened with little warning and just days after the death of her mother. The timing of the ouster was more troubling to some of the Democratic delegation than the actual replacement of Krug as their leader.

Krug made an unsuccessful bid for Wisconsin's 4th Congressional District seat during the 2003-2004 election cycle. During the primary, Krug dropped out of the congressional race after she failed to secure any key endorsements, especially from women's groups. State Senator Gwen Moore (D-Milwaukee) eventually succeeded in winning the Congressional seat.

In 2004, Krug did not seek re-election to the Wisconsin State Assembly, ending her term of office in January 2005.

Scope and Content Note

The collection consists of legislative files, organized into four series reflecting their general function and organization: Legislative Subject Files, Committee Binders, Political Files, and Assembly and Senate Bills. The files often contain background research in the form of topical articles from newspapers, magazines, and journals, position correspondence with individuals and groups with a major interest in the legislation, bill drafts, final bills, amendments, amendment proposals, amendment drafts, notes about bills and drafts between legislators, position letters from other legislators, requests for support letters from other legislators, empirical information/reports regarding the subject, and other such information. Legislative topics include Neighborhood Schools Initiative, Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect, Crime Victims Rights Enabling Legislation, Children in Need of Protection or Services Reform, Temporary Restraining Order Reform, Mental Health Consumer Protection Act, Mandatory Arrest for Domestic Violence, Lincoln Creek Flood Control, and Prison-Pay-As-You-Go. There are also Committee Binders that contain similar information. Additionally, there are a number of files dealing with the political and administrative work of Krug's office. These files contain newsletters, press releases, survey results, speeches and testimonies, and voting records.

Noticeably absent from the collection are Krug's personal papers, campaign files, legislative strategy files, and legislative aid files. There are also noticeable chronological gaps in the legislative subject files that exist. Also absent are files which would shed light on Krug's leadership during her time as Assembly minority leader (1998-2002). Moreover, as the author of many of the bills included, there is a noticeable lack of information regarding her decision-making processes and, therefore, it is difficult to glean her personal or political feelings regarding the legislation she wrote. Another noticeable gap exists in the treatment of the campaign finance for votes scandal. While she was implicated in the controversy, there are no files regarding her reaction to these charges. In the end, there is a wealth of information regarding legislation, but there is scant information regarding Krug as an individual.

The LEGISLATIVE SUBJECT FILES series consist of files on legislation of concern to, and often authored by Krug. The major files contain articles, background information, including bills and amendments, correspondence, press releases, speeches, committee files, research reports, fiscal impact statements, and comparable policies in other cities and states. The following is a list of the major subject areas with a brief description of the nature of the legislation:

Crime Victims' Rights Constitutional Amendment: Amendment to the Wisconsin State Constitution which would: treat victims with dignity and respect; provide a more permanent, “weighty,” and longer lasting legal basis to secure victim's rights; provide effective, flexible means by which to enforce and implement victim's rights, as well as, a forum for victim's interests; enhance judges, prosecutors, and public officials attention to the role that victims are expected to play and taking their needs into account when exercising their discretionary authority. Included propositions are: being informed of the final disposition of cases (release, parole, and pardon applications); protection from threats; speedy disposition of cases; right to attend trials and hearings; and the right to restitution and compensation.

Domestic Violence Mandatory Arrest: Bill sought to clarify the circumstances under which police officers must make arrests in cases of suspected domestic abuse. It further sought to protect arresting officers from civil and criminal liability for their decisions as long as it was made in good faith.

Equal Educational Opportunity Constitutional Amendment: The amendment sought to devise a school funding formula that would seek to assure that the educational opportunities in all district schools are as nearly equal as possible. The measure sought to provide fairness and equality in the distribution of funds throughout the state of Wisconsin, thus avoiding large disparities in the level of spending among the wealthiest and poorest school districts.

Legislative Council Oversight of Community Mental Health: Directs the Department of Health and Social Services to develop: board member training, a model community mental health plan, program certification, expansion and revision of rights of patients; revision of statutes relating to abuse, neglect and misappropriation of property of patients; new procedure for receivership; creation of penalties for the intentional destruction, damage, concealment or falsification of patient records; and a provision for appointment of consumers or their family members to Health Services or community program boards.

Lincoln Creek Flood Control Plan: The Lincoln Creek Flood Control Plan proposed the construction of flood control measures designed to reduce flooding, improve water quality, and provide wildlife habitats. The plan makes provisions for modifying the existing Lincoln Creek channel through the construction of detention basins, cleaning or replacing existing box culverts, adding bypass culverts, and removing or replacing bridges over the creek. The area targeted for these improvements is the portion of Lincoln Creek running from 60th Street, north of Good Hope Road, to Green Bay Avenue.

Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) Governance Reform: The bill allows the mayor of Milwaukee to appoint the Milwaukee Public School Superintendent. The bill also sought to dissolve the school board in favor of a School Reform Board of Trustees.

Milwaukee Neighborhood Initiative/Chapter 220: Development of new schools to promote growth and economic development in 1st Class cities. Gives 1st Class cities the authority to issue bonds to finance or refinance the development or redevelopment of sites and facilities used for public instruction. A specific aspect of this redevelopment included a reconsideration of Chapter 220. Chapter 220 was a response to the federal Integration Aid Program started in 1976-1977. This program concerned school busing and cultural integration. The existing legislation was seen as inadequate and outdated. The new legislation was designed to improve, strengthen, and finance voluntary cultural integration of schools through busing.

Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (POCAN): Establishes a child abuse and neglect prevention grant program, whereby at risk families can receive help which will prevent the likelihood of child abuse and neglect. This would be a voluntary program which providing for home visitation; wraparound services; flexible funds (emergence funds), and appropriations.

Prison-Pay-As-You-Go: This bill requires that all bills and amendments creating a new criminal offense or extending the incarceration term of an existing criminal offense, for both adults and juveniles, must have a correctional fiscal estimate attached to it before it can be voted upon.

Temporary Restraining Order Reform: The bill proposed the expansion of the definition of domestic abuse to include non-marital partners and the extension of time frame in serving a restraining order.

Wisconsin Works: This program replaced Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC). Wisconsin Works is an economic assistance program based on need and work participation. The goal is for participants to achieve economic self-sufficiency through employment. The program is mainly for women with dependent children. The participants earn wages or receive cash grants and other program services based on employment status.

The COMMITTEE BINDERS series consists of disbound binders of the Blue Ribbon Commission on Mental Health, Legislative Council: Committee on Oversight of Mental Health Services, and Legislative Council: Special Commission on Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect. These files contain similar information to the legislative subject folders although they are more organized than the Legislative Subject files, and their binding suggests that they were transported to and from committee meetings. The Committee Binders Files contain committee proceedings, background articles, legislative memoranda, discussion papers, audit reports, fiscal statements, correspondence, and bill/amendment drafts.

The POLITICAL FILES series consists of a delegate diary, newsletters, press releases, speeches and testimonies, and voting records. While the span dates are relatively long, the actual amount of material is limited and sporadic. None of the files should be considered as complete or even representative of the functioning of Krug's office; the chronological gaps are too large and intellectual integrity is too incomplete. The Speeches and Testimonies folder was created from duplicate copies in the legislative subject folders. The Newsletters and Mailings folder might be of particular interest as it covers much of Krug's legislative career and represents “official” policy and interest statements from Krug.

The ASSEMBLY and SENATE BILLS series consist of bills and joint resolutions authored or co-authored by Krug while serving the 12th District of Wisconsin.

Administrative/Restriction Information
Acquisition Information

Presented by Shirley Krug, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 2004 and 2014. Accession Number: M2005-006, M2014-064


Processing Information

Processed by Shawn San Roman (Practicum student), May 2005.


Contents List
Milwaukee Mss 213
Series: Legislative Subject Files, 1985-2003
Box   1
Folder   1
Absentee Ballot Reform, AB 172, 2003
Box   1
Folder   2
Best-Small Business Program, 2000
Box   1
Folder   3
Charter Schools, AB 746, 2004
Children in Need of Child Protective Services (CHIPS) Files
Box   1
Folder   4
Amendments, 1995-1996
Box   1
Folder   5
Articles, 1995-1996
Box   1
Folder   6
Drafts, 1995
Box   1
Folder   7
Mailing Lists, 1995-1996
Box   1
Folder   8
Media, 1995-1996
Box   1
Folder   9
Special Committee, 1995-1996
Box   1
Folder   10
Trailer Bill, 1997
Box   1
Folder   11
County Board Downsizing, 2003
Crime Victims (CV) Files
Box   1
Folder   12
Articles, 1990-1991
Box   1
Folder   13
Constitutional Amendment, 1990-1993
Box   2
Folder   1
Legislation, 1997
Box   2
Folder   2
Leave Bill, 2003
Box   2
Folder   3
Resolution, 1997
Domestic Violence Mandatory Arrest (DVMA) Files
Box   2
Folder   4
AB 224, 1987-1988
Box   2
Folder   5-6
AB 224 Correspondence, 1987
Box   2
Folder   7
Arrest Policies Wisconsin, 1986-1988
Box   2
Folder   8
Arrest Polices Other States, 1984-1988
Box   2
Folder   9
Articles, 1977-1989
Box   3
Folder   1-2
Articles, 1983-1987, 1990-2000, undated
Box   3
Folder   3
Constitutional Amendment, 1989-1992
Box   3
Folder   4
Coordinated Community Intervention, 1991
Box   3
Folder   5
Dan Ullrich File, 1987-1995
Box   3
Folder   6
Form Letters, 1987
Box   3
Folder   7
Groups Against Domestic Violence, 1987-1990
Box   3
Folder   8
Milwaukee County Problem, 1987-1991
Box   3
Folder   9
Primary Physical Aggressor, 2001
Box   3
Folder   10
Shaun Hass File, 1988-1990
Box   4
Folder   1
Sherman Study, 1989-2000
Box   4
Folder   2
Speeches, 1987
Box   4
Folder   3
Statistics, 1986-1991
Box   4
Folder   4
Trailer Bills, 1987-2001
Equal Educational Opportunity Files (EEO)
Box   4
Folder   5
Articles, 1991-1994
Box   4
Folder   6-8
Background, 1991-1995, 1999-2002
Box   5
Folder   1
Committee Hearings-Ways and Means and Education, 1993
Box   5
Folder   2
Correspondence, 1992-1994
Box   5
Folder   3
Public School Cluster Plots, 1992-1993
Box   5
Folder   4
School Districts, 1991
Box   5
Folder   5
Fair Candidacy for Public Employees Bill, AB 141, 2003
Box   5
Folder   6
Fetal Monitor Tracing Bill, AB 218, 1987
Box   5
Folder   7
Golf Course Discrimination Bill, AB 398, 1999
Box   5
Folder   8
Harassment Restraining Orders, AB 376, 2003
Box   5
Folder   9
Home Equity Assurance Program, 1991
Legislative Council: Mental Health Files
Box   5
Folder   10
Articles, 1992-1993
Box   5
Folder   11
Committee Appointment Requests, 1991-1994
Box   5
Folder   12
Committee Materials, 1993
Box   6
Folder   1-2
Committee Materials, 1993-1994
Lincoln Creek (LC) Files
Box   6
Folder   3-4
Articles, 1984-2000
Box   6
Folder   5
Correspondence from Don Thielke, 1987
Box   6
Folder   6
Flood Control Study, 1988
Box   6
Folder   7
Power Point Reports, 1998-2002
Box   6
Folder   8
Project Update Newsletters, 1990-2002
Steering Committee
Box   7
Folder   1-8
1987-1991, 1993-1996
Box   8
Folder   1-3
1997-1998, 2000-2002
Milwaukee Public Schools Governance Reform (MPSGR) Files
Box   8
Folder   4
Articles, 1999-2003
Box   8
Folder   5
Background, 2003
Box   8
Folder   6
Chicago Public Schools, 1999-2003
Box   8
Folder   7
Detroit Public Schools, 1999-2003
Box   8
Folder   8-9
Minimum Mark-up Law, 2001, 2003
Milwaukee Neighborhood Schools Initiative/Chapter 220 (MPS/Ch. 220)
Box   9
Folder   1
Articles, 1985-1999
Box   9
Folder   2-4
Background, 1985
Box   9
Folder   5-7
Background, 1999
Box   10
Folder   1
Student Enrollment Figures, 1985
Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (POCAN) Files
Box   10
Folder   2
Articles, 1997
Box   10
Folder   3-7
Background, 1997-2001
Box   10
Folder   8
Correspondence, 1998
Box   10
Folder   9
Home Visitation Legislation, 1997
Box   11
Folder   1
Prison Escape Bill, AB 782 1988
Prison Pay As You Go Files
Box   11
Folder   3
Articles, 1999-2000
Box   11
Folder   4-7
Background, 1999-2000
Box   11
Folder   8
Impact Notes, 1990
Box   11
Folder   9
Legislative Impact, 1989-2001
Box   11
Folder   10
Real Estate Appraisals, 1999
Box   11
Folder   11
Residency, 1987-1999
Box   11
Folder   12
School Safety, 1999
Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) Files
Box   12
Folder   1-2
Background, 1990-1994
Box   12
Folder   3-4
Correspondence, 1990-1993
Box   12
Folder   5
Press Releases/Speeches, 1991-1994
Box   12
Folder   6
Wisconsin Children's Code, 1995
Wisconsin Works Files
Box   12
Folder   7
Articles, 1991-1993
Box   12
Folder   8-9
Background, 1991-1993
Box   12
Folder   10
Correspondence, 1992
Box   12
Folder   11
Wrongful Death, 1991
Series: Committee Binders, 1991-1998
Box   13
Folder   1-3
Blue Ribbon Commission on Mental Health, 1997
Box   13
Folder   4-5
Committee on Oversight of Mental Health Services, 1991-1993
Box   13
Folder   6-7
Special Commission on Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (POCAN), 1997-1998
Box   14
Folder   1-2
Special Commission on Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (POCAN) (continued)
Series: Political Files, 1983-2003
Box   14
Folder   3
Delegate Diary, 2000
Box   14
Folder   4
Legislation Passed, 1983-1988
Box   14
Folder   5
Newsletters and Mailings, 1988-2003
Box   14
Folder   6
Newsletter Survey, 1986-1987
Box   14
Folder   7
Press Releases, 1990-1992
Box   14
Folder   8
Speeches and Testimonies, 1993-2003
Box   14
Folder   9
Voting Record (Special Interests Reports), 1985-1986
Box   14
Folder   10
Voting Record, 1987-1989
Series: Assembly and Senate Bills, 1985-2003
Box   15
Folder   1-23
1985-1993
Box   16
Folder   1-11
1993 (continued)-1995
Box   17
Folder   1-15
1995 (continued)-1997/1998
Box   18
Folder   1-8
1997/1998 (continued)-1999
Box   19
Folder   1-12
1999 (continued)-2002
Box   20
Folder   1-10
2003
Box   21
Folder   1-3
2003 (continued)