WASHINGTON, March 12 (UPI) -- U.S. Sen. Russell Feingold, D-Wis., sponsored a resolution commemorating the birth of the Republican Party in Ripon, Wis., 150 years ago.
The resolution, which passed the Senate Friday, recognizes the birth of the GOP on March 20, 1854, at a gathering of 50 men, three women and one child at the Little White Schoolhouse. The wooden frame school is a historic landmark on the Nation Register of Historic Places.
"This is an important piece of Wisconsin history and the City of Ripon will be forever recognized by the U.S. Senate for this historic event," the former Rhodes scholar said. "No matter where on the political spectrum Wisconsinites fall, we can all be proud of our long-standing history of political reform."
Rep. Tom Petri, R-Wis., sponsored an identical resolution in the U.S. House.
Wisconsin has a long tradition of embracing political mavericks, sending Fighting Bob La Follette and William Proxmire to the U.S. Senate.
