Relating to the state directory of new hires.
Submitted by Department of Workforce Development .
Report received from Agency, January 30, 2001.
Referred to committee on Labor and Agriculture,
January 31, 2001.
Relating to deer hunting and the wildlife damage abatement and claims program.
Submitted by Department of Natural Resources.
Report received from Agency, January 30, 2001.
Referred to committee on Environmental Resources, January 31, 2001.
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By John Scocos, chief clerk.
Mr. President:
I am directed to inform you that the Assembly has passed and asks concurrence in:
Assembly Bill 41
Adopted and asks concurrence in:
Assembly Joint Resolution 15
Assembly Joint Resolution 17
Concurred in:
Senate Bill 18
Senate Joint Resolution 8
Senate Joint Resolution 9
Senate Joint Resolution 10
Senate Joint Resolution 11
Senate Joint Resolution 12
Senate Joint Resolution 13
Senate Joint Resolution 14
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Assembly Bill
41
Relating to: polling hours.
By committee on Campaigns and Elections.
Read first time and referred to committee on Universities, Housing, and Government Operations.
Assembly Joint Resolution 15
Relating to: the joint rules.
By Representatives Jensen and Freese; cosponsored by Senators Chvala and Risser.
Read and referred to committee on Senate Organization.
Assembly Joint Resolution 17
Relating to: fund-raising social events in Dane County during floorperiods and special and extraordinary sessions.
By committee on Rules.
Read and referred to committee on Senate Organization.
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Senator Chvala, with unanimous consent, asked that the Senate recess for the purpose of awaiting the Governor's State of the State Address in Joint Convention in the Assembly Chambers at 7:00 P.M. and upon the rising of the Joint Convention adjourn until Thursday, February 1 at 10:00 A.M.
The Senate stood recessed.
6:47 P.M.
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The President of the Senate in the Chair.
The committee to await upon the Governor appeared with his excellency the Governor, who delivered his message as follows:
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Speaker Jensen, President Risser, Members of the Legislature, Constitutional Officers, Honorable Justices of the Supreme Court, tribal leaders, members of the Cabinet, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen.
Before I get started, let me thank the Speaker and the entire Legislature for the wonderful gifts and words of encouragement. I will truly miss you. Thank you for your friendship and partnership throughout the years.
Senator Risser, I know you're happy tonight. The real reason you've hung around so long is you wanted to outlast me. You win, Fred. And Speaker Jensen, you still hold the only position I've ever wanted but never achieved. I'm proud to see my friend rise so high and do so well.
I'd also like to thank my current and former Cabinet and staff for all their hard work and dedication to this state. They're the unsung heroes of our success. Let me introduce Nora Weber, Marge Miller and Marlene Cummings – the only two staff members and Cabinet secretary to spend all 14 years with me in office. Thank you for your unwavering support. Tonight, it all ends in the place where it all began.
Thirty-five years ago, I first came to this chamber a green and humble young man from Elroy. As you can see, I was fresh out of law school and had a bit of a baby face back then. The mustache, wide ties and leisure suits would come later. Thankfully, my daughters grew older and eventually broke me of them. But I'm glad Cliff Miller has been able to put my old wardrobe to good use.
Despite my youth, I came to Madison with a great deal of confidence, idealism and hope – qualities given to me by my hometown. The people of Elroy raised me. Taught me my values. And instilled in me the importance of putting people first.
Elroy common sense guided me as a legislator and a governor. And those same values will guide me as I serve the president of this great country as Secretary of Health and Human Services.
S49
Washington is a long way from Elroy, but Elroy will never be far from me. It's who I am.
And so this man from Elroy humbly comes before you one last time tonight to talk about our great state and its future.
We've done remarkable things inside and outside this grand old building. Just think back for a moment to the state of our state in the mid-80s.
Remember when our good friends down in Illinois mocked our troubled economy? They even went so far as to put up a billboard on the border saying, "When the last business leaves Wisconsin, please turn out the lights."
Well my friends, the lights are on in Wisconsin and burning brighter than ever.
In fact, I hope our friends in Illinois didn't let the toll gate hit them in the bumper when they moved their families and businesses to Wisconsin by the truckload.
Illinois companies are moving to Wisconsin for our more positive business environment – there are almost 50 in the Kenosha Business Park alone. Illinois families are coming for our great schools and unmatched quality of life. And the poor are venturing north for a good job and greater opportunity, not a bigger welfare check.
We've even taken to beating up on their sports teams. Let's see, since 1986, we've gone to two Super Bowls, three Rose Bowls and a Final Four. Down in Illinois, they still haven't found a quarterback.
I engage in this lighthearted teasing of our good friends and neighbors because it illustrates how much we've built Wisconsin since the days when they teased us.
My, how far we have come together.
We've come so far that we can all claim with great pride tonight that in the year 2001 the state of the state is that of the nation's leader. Name the issue and Wisconsin is leading the way.
Many states claim they're the best, but only one state can back it up. We follow our bold words with bold deeds. During my confirmation process, it was heartwarming to hear how often senators recognized Wisconsin as the nation's leader in innovation.
We took office with one clear mission: To build our economy. And this has remained our No. 1 priority – even in the good times.
We recognized that without strong businesses and good jobs, we can't provide a high quality of life for our families. We can't afford the social programs that help those in need or great public schools for our children.
Let's take a look at the strong economy we built: 800,000 new jobs; 95,000 new manufacturing jobs; a record 3 million people working – the highest percentage in America; unemployment cut by more than half to 3.3 percent; a jobless rate below the national average a record 156 straight months; and a median household income of nearly $46,000, well above the national average.
What a turnaround! No Company mirrors our comeback better than Wisconsin's very own Harley Davidson. Since 1986, Harley grew its earnings from $4 million to $348 million; increased employment from 1,200 to 3,700; opened four new facilities; and saw its stock price grow from 33 cents a share to $40. Please welcome Ken Sutton and Wayne Curtain from Harley.
Wisconsin is once again the place where eagles soar and Harleys roar!
We're enjoying the longest period of sustained economic growth in our history.
To those who try to downplay our economic success by giving the credit to good times nationally, let us be clear about one thing: Wisconsin built its economy first, and the nation followed.
Look at these charts, particularly the period from 1987 to 1992.
When the country fell into recession in the early 90s, Wisconsin was one of only a few states not to feel the sting. Our job creation grew while the nation's fell, and our unemployment rate dropped while the nation's rose.
We did not benefit from an economic boom – we helped create the economic boom.
How did we build this economic engine? By what I call the Four Ts of the Great Turnaround: Our 'Tude, the slang for Attitude, Tax Cuts, Transportation and Teaching.
We set a new tone, where success was the only option. We began believing we could achieve anything, then worked together to make it happen.
Don't for a second discount the importance of our attitude change, for it transformed how companies looked at Wisconsin. We made it clear Wisconsin was open for business and companies responded by building and growing here.
As we were adjusting our attitude, we began making investments in the right places to trigger economic growth.
