For Rep. Baumgart, whom I believe has made history by adjourning the most times in honor of the same person, Aldo Leopold. I looked up a quote by Aldo to kind of send the gentleman from the 26th off, possibly to the Senate. The date was May 11, 1947, for a monument dedication at Wyalusing State Park, which is in Grant County. Aldo Leopold read the plaque, which said, "Dedicated to the last Wisconsin passenger pigeon, shot at Babcock, September 1899. The species became extinct through the thoughtlessness of man." So, gentleman, as you move to the most thoughtful of the two houses, just remember Marlin's words, history can repeat itself, just like the passenger pigeon - making you extinct from this thoughtless house!
President Theodore Roosevelt addressed this Legislature April 15, 1911 and this is a classic example of history repeating itself, "I wish to tell you how much I have been impressed with the way men's eyes are turned on what Wisconsin is doing. You have been put in a position of leadership in the Union which is not only a very pleasant position but a position of great responsibility." "You are engaged at this time to working out various problems, which are of concern to the whole country. As regards to certain phases of the movement it is national and we all have the same interest in your actions. Your power is limited directly to the State of Wisconsin but the influence of your actions will be far reaching." I think that can be said for auto lease legislation that we've passed in this last session as well as W-2.
In doing my research and reading a lot about the early days of the Wisconsin Territory it was a rather rough and tumble time period. One of the reoccurring things that have happened over the time period, and speaker is going to be interested in this, is the fact that I found that Assembly Speakers have had drinking problems. For example, Moses Strong, speaker in 1850, is well known for an incident in which he drank a whole pitcher of whiskey while presenting his case. Our current speaker is well known for his need to have a Pepsi on the morning and a Coca-Cola in the afternoon....and if you cross him watch out!
Rep. Rosemary Potter who is leaving really has, I think, charted a great course. In looking at how far things have come for women in Wisconsin, I looked back to July 11, 1921 when Wisconsin became the first state in the country where women had equal rights with men under civil laws, as Governor John Blaine signed the Women's Rights Bill. It took more than seventy (70) years for women to have equal rights to toilets. Thanks to Rosemary Potter and her "Potty Parity Bill" of 1992 that has now changed and, as it was reported yesterday by Rep. Carpenter, she even came to my district to cut the ribbon at the new toilets located on the grounds of the American Players Theater, and she didn't even invite me to join her. I understand there were some interesting pictures taken that day and it might be appropriate to have one of those framed for her.
It is interesting looking back - in 1848 the State of Wisconsin spent $13,472 in its first year of statehood. That included $5,050 in salary for the state's six constitutional officers.
In 1967, the Legislature approved its first billion-dollar budget, and the 1997-98 biennial budget passed in the Legislature totaling $38.4 billion. How times have changes.
During this, our sesquicentennial year, $8 million dollars, mostly private funds, will be spent celebrating Wisconsin's 150th year of statehood. That compares with Wisconsin's centennial budget of $286,967.56 in 1948. During our Jubilee year in 1898, we spent virtually nothing because, of course, that was the outbreak of war and that really over-shadowed the activities of the legislature.
Our longest serving Speaker and our shortest serving Speaker both spoke to you this year. Of course His Excellency, the Ambassador, Tom Loftus has been the longest serving speaker in Wisconsin history. And I have the privilege of being the shortest serving speaker in state history.
We've had some interesting people join us who come from a variety of religious faiths since the beginning of the state. Men of the cloth have included people like, Father Mazzuchelli who said, "It would be difficult to find in the history of any county whatsoever a legislative assembly where Protestants outnumbering Catholics eighteen to one have....conferred the office of Chaplain on a priest. In this instance and may infer not only a great deal of religious indifference, but also that spirit of impartiality in the basic laws of the government which separates them completely from religious observance."
Now none of us served in the legislature in 1969 when Father James Groppi on opening day of September Special Session on welfare and urban aids, welfare mothers and UW-Madison students led by Father Groppi took over the assembly chamber. The National Guard was called out to protect the Capitol. Several thousand welfare rights supporters led by father James Groppi occupied this Assembly Chamber.
Then we had Reggie White, this year, and I chose one of his less controversial statements. "So I want to read you something about the team concept, and this is why I pray to god that republicans and democrats here will come together and work for the good of men."
And just this Wednesday (May 13, 1998), His Holiness, the Dalai Lama, spoke and he said, "The need to resolve problems through dialogue and compromise is essential, because life is full of conflicts." "You find differences among societies and even within families and, even, within an individual". "True happiness comes from developing internal spiritual values, not from accumulating wealth", he said.
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Rep. Sheila Harsdorf has decided to leave the assembly. One of her more prominent bills this year dealt with massage therapy. It is a little known fact that Sheila has been an active massage therapist all the time she has served in the assembly; so it was only fitting for her to introduce and pass the massage therapist law. As she leaves the assembly she will be going back to River Falls to massage every day, twice a day, 90 Holsteins.
We have a couple of members who think they want to go to congress -- Rep. Mark Green and Rep. Tammy Baldwin. I looked up what one of our earliest congressman said upon being elected to congress. In 1840, when Henry Dodge was our delegate to Congress, evidently, he did not have a high regard for his fellow Congressman. He wrote to a friend, "You have never seen such a body of men convened as the present members of the House of Representatives. Bitter and vindictive as they can be towards each other and little of that courtesy necessary in legislative bodies. The Whigs are divided and cut to pieces among themselves and to tell you my opinion there appears to be, with the heads of the departments, a great deficiency of practical knowledge to enable them to administer the government." It's amazing at how things have not changed.
Rep. Bill Lorge -- who may or may not be returning to this chamber; may or may not be governor next year -- has been preparing himself to be governor. You see, Governor Thompson used to drive a Chevrolet Caprice as his official car; Bill went out and bought a black Chevrolet Caprice. He even liked to park it in the governor's spot when the governor wasn't there. But Bill didn't know the Governor got rid of that car and now he drives a Chrysler LHS. So you better change cars Bill, or your election plans are shot. You know, Jim Klauser finally succeeded, indirectly, in getting Tommy to drive a German car.
When Rep. John Dobyns leaves the legislature, one of the things he will be remembered for is his legislation regarding two-man crews for trains. Well looking back, one will find that railroads and the legislature have interacted a great deal. It was back in 1856 when we had our first railroad scandal. There was wholesale bribery of the legislature and state officers, including the Governor. By 1857, the scandal nearly undermined our state and the nation.
When it comes to Wisconsin symbols no one has tried harder than Bob Zukowski to establish Colby cheese as Wisconsin's official state cheese. When you look at our Agriculture statistics, Colby doesn't even show up as a cheese. It's American Cheese that is our top produced cheese. The gentleman also tried to get the American Flag protected. At least you got part of it right, the "American" part.
Representative Bill Murat will be leaving without having passed a single piece of legislation in the time he has been here. But I will tell you that the entire time I served in the minority I didn't either. So things have not changed much.
I thought it would be fitting to give you a piece of history to remember some of our members by as we celebrate our sesquicentennial this year. I hope you will remember some of what has been said. Thank you for your attention and I wish you all well in this sesquicentennial year."
__________________
Referral of Agency Reports
State of Wisconsin
Department of Commerce
Department of Natural Resources
Madison
April 16, 1998
To the Honorable, the Legislature:
On behalf of the Department of Commerce and the Department of Natural Resources, we are pleased to provide you with the above referenced report. The report summarizes the efforts to-date of the Department of Commerce and the Department of Natural Resources to honor the commitments that each agency made under the Memorandum of Understanding on Construction Site Erosion and Sediment Control.
Both agencies recognizes that there are many challenges ahead to full implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding as state agencies reorganize and adjust to shifting priorities and budgetary constraints. Despite these challenges, the Department of Commerce and the Department of Natural Resources remain committed to the success of state-administered erosion and sediment control programs and are prepared to work in partnership together and with other state agencies and local municipalities on this important water quality protection effort.
Sincerely,
William J. McCoshen
Secretary, Department of Commerce
George E. Meyer
Secretary, DNR
Referred to committee on Environment.
__________________
State of Wisconsin
Department of Commerce
Madison
April 24, 1998
To the Honorable, the Assembly:
In accordance with s.
560.03(15), the Department of Commerce is required to submit an annual report to the legislature analyzing the use of IRB financing authorized under Section
66.521 of Wisconsin Statutes, and report on the benefits of that use. The Department of Commerce is also required to submit a summary of the employment impact estimates required under Section
560.034(2) of Wisconsin Statutes.
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I am respectfully submitting the attached Industrial Revenue Bond Activity Report. If you have any questions concerning the report or would like to obtain copies, please contact Deb Daly in the Division of Community Development at 608/267-3895.
Referred to committee on Small Business and Economic Development.
Sincerely,
William J. McCoshen
Secretary, Department of Commerce
__________________
State of Wisconsin
Department of Commerce
Madison
April 29, 1998
To the Honorable, the Legislature:
As required by s.
16.045(5), I am submitting the sixth Wisconsin Gasohol and Alternative Fuel Use Report for distribution to the appropriate standing committees.
Should you or legislative members have questions, please contact the Division of Energy and Intergovernmental Relations, Nathaniel E. Robinson, Administrator, at 608/266-7257.
Sincerely,
MARK D. BUGHER
Secretary, DOA
Referred to committee on Environment.
__________________
DATE: April 23, 1998
TO: Charles R. Sanders
Assembly Chief Clerk
FROM: Katharine C. Lyall, President
University of Wisconsin System
RE: Report pursuant to s.
36.25(14)(c),
Wis.
Stats.
At its meeting April 3, 1998, the board of Regents accepted the attached report for submission to the chief clerk of each house of the Legislature for distribution to the appropriate standing committees under s.
13.172(3).
Section
36.25(14m)(c), Wis. Stats., requires the Board of Regents to submit a report to the governor and to the chief clerk of each house of the Legislature annually by April 15 on its precollege, recruitment, and retention plan for minority and disadvantaged students. The report must also include information on financial aid programs serving those students. The report for 1996-97 is attached.
If you need additional information regarding this report, please contact Andera-Teresa Arenas at 262-8636.
Referred to committee on Colleges and Universities.
__________________
State of Wisconsin
Department of Commerce
Madison
May 15, 1998
To the Honorable, the Assembly:
As specified in 101.122, we are submitting last year's annual report for the Rental Weatherization Program. This program began on January 1, 1985. This is the 12th report of the program's operation. Additional copies of the report are available by contacting the program staff at:
Rental Weatherization Program
Commerce-Safety and Buildings Division
Telephone: (608) 266-0671
Sincerely,
William J. McCoshen
Secretary, Deptartment of Commerce
Referred to committee on Housing.
__________________
AGency REports
Southeast Wisconsin Professional
Baseball Park District
Milwaukee
May 15, 1998
To the Honorable, the Assembly:
Enclosed please find your copy of the April 1998 Miller Park Monthly Progress Report. If you have any questions or comments on this month's report, please feel free to contact me.
Thank you in advance for your consideration and input on the Miller Park project.
Very truly yours,
Michael R. Duckett, P.E., R.L.S.
Executive Director, SEWPBPD
