John L. Merkt
Encyclopedia
John L. Merkt was an American politician.
Merkt served as local ward committeeman from 1974 to 1976. He was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly
in 1976 and served until 1988.
. He was a graduate of Marquette University High School
. He attended Marquette University
from 1964 to 1968 and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in secondary education, from the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse in 1971.
in 1976 and served for over a decade.
In 1995, in collaboration with then State Representative, State Supreme Court Justice David Prosser, Jr.
and Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson
, John Merkt helped push the creation of Miller Park in Milwaukee.
Among his other efforts, Merkt worked to toughen seatbelt legislation and raise the minimum drinking age, from 18 to 19, and later to 21. He also worked to tighten laws and penalties regarding the sale or possession of drugs, especially cocaine; including tripling the mandatory sentence from 12 months incarceration to 36 months incarceration for those found guilty of possession or sales of cocaine within 500 feet (152.4 m) of a school zone. He also wrote Wisconsin's Len Bias
Law, which makes providing drugs that prove fatal to be considered manslaughter.
Merkt served as local ward committeeman from 1974 to 1976. He was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly
Wisconsin State Assembly
The Wisconsin State Assembly is the lower house of the Wisconsin Legislature. Together with the smaller Wisconsin Senate, the two constitute the legislative branch of the U.S. state of Wisconsin....
in 1976 and served until 1988.
Biography
John L. Merkt was born in Milwaukee, WisconsinMilwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...
. He was a graduate of Marquette University High School
Marquette University High School
Marquette University High School is a private, all-male, Jesuit, Roman Catholic school located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools and is a member of both the National Catholic Educational Association and the Jesuit...
. He attended Marquette University
Marquette University
Marquette University is a private, coeducational, Jesuit, Roman Catholic university located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1881, the school is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities...
from 1964 to 1968 and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in secondary education, from the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse in 1971.
Career
John Merkt was elected to the Wisconsin State AssemblyWisconsin State Assembly
The Wisconsin State Assembly is the lower house of the Wisconsin Legislature. Together with the smaller Wisconsin Senate, the two constitute the legislative branch of the U.S. state of Wisconsin....
in 1976 and served for over a decade.
In 1995, in collaboration with then State Representative, State Supreme Court Justice David Prosser, Jr.
David Prosser, Jr.
David T. Prosser Jr. is a member of the Wisconsin Supreme Court. A former Republican speaker of the Wisconsin Assembly, Prosser was appointed to the court by Governor Tommy Thompson in 1998, and was elected to his first 10-year term without opposition in 2001...
and Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson
Tommy Thompson
Thomas George "Tommy" Thompson , a United States Republican politician, was the 42nd Governor of Wisconsin, after which he served as U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services. Thompson was a candidate for the 2008 U.S. Presidential Election, but dropped out early after a poor performance in polls...
, John Merkt helped push the creation of Miller Park in Milwaukee.
Among his other efforts, Merkt worked to toughen seatbelt legislation and raise the minimum drinking age, from 18 to 19, and later to 21. He also worked to tighten laws and penalties regarding the sale or possession of drugs, especially cocaine; including tripling the mandatory sentence from 12 months incarceration to 36 months incarceration for those found guilty of possession or sales of cocaine within 500 feet (152.4 m) of a school zone. He also wrote Wisconsin's Len Bias
Len Bias
Leonard Kevin "Len" Bias was a first team All-American college basketball player at the University of Maryland. He was selected by the Boston Celtics as the second overall pick in the 1986 NBA Draft on June 17, but died two days later from cardiac arrhythmia induced by a cocaine overdose...
Law, which makes providing drugs that prove fatal to be considered manslaughter.