Fred Risser Longest Serving State Legislator in Nation

Wisconsin State Senator Fred Risser has become the longest serving legislator in the nation, Associated Press reports:

Fred Risser jokes about having been in the Legislature so long, the state is tearing down buildings he voted to construct.

The 79-year-old Democratic state senator from Madison has served 50 years longer than any of the nation's current 7,500 legislators. It became official Jan. 3, when New York Sen. John Marchi retired.

[...]

Risser won a special election to the state Senate in 1962. The proud liberal Risser has pushed to regulate smoking, protect abortion rights and increase funding for the University of Wisconsin and state employees.

He is considered highly ethical, though he has irritated opponents by tying up the Senate with procedural maneuvers when he opposes a bill.

Fred's a very decent man, which has been reflected by his continued successfull re-election. Personally, I was surprised to learn he's 79 -- he has the energy of a man half his age.

Wow, if he was first elected in 1962, that means he's been in government my entire life...

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