Tuesday, April 13, 2004
Ninety-Sixth Regular Session
The Chief Clerk makes the following entries under the above date:
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Chief Clerk Reports
The Chief Clerk records:
Assembly Bill 13
Assembly Bill 157
Assembly Bill 197
Assembly Bill 200
Assembly Bill 210
Assembly Bill 286
Assembly Bill 323
Assembly Bill 424
Assembly Bill 437
Assembly Bill 485
Assembly Bill 519
Assembly Bill 530
Assembly Bill 608
Assembly Bill 623
Assembly Bill 650
Assembly Bill 695
Assembly Bill 812
Assembly Bill 868
Assembly Bill 908
Assembly Bill 913
Presented to the Governor on Monday, April 12.
Patrick E. Fuller
Assembly Chief Clerk
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Executive Communications
State of Wisconsin
Office of the Governor
Madison
April 13, 2004
To the Honorable Members of the Assembly:
The following bills, originating in the Assembly, have been approved, signed and deposited in the office of the Secretary of State:
Bill Number Act Number Date Approved
Assembly Bill 738222April 12, 2004
Assembly Bill 265223April 12, 2004
Assembly Bill 652224April 12, 2004
Assembly Bill 341225April 12, 2004
Assembly Bill 390226April 12, 2004
Assembly Bill 533227April 12, 2004
AB 323 (in part)228April 13, 2004
Respectfully submitted,
James Doyle
Governor
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Governor's Veto Message
April 12, 2004
To the Honorable Members of the Assembly:
I am vetoing Assembly Bill 598 in its entirety. This bill changes the Municipal Employment Relations Act so that the contracting out of services is made a permissive, rather than mandatory, subject of bargaining. Under the bill, a local government would not be required to bargain with labor unions regarding a decision to contract with a private party or with another local government for the provision of services. In addition, a local government would not be required to bargain over the impact of any outsourcing decision on the wages, hours, and conditions of employment of local government workers. Under current law, both the decision to contract out and its impact are mandatory subjects of bargaining.
I am vetoing the bill because it undermines the stability of labor relations and threatens the quality of life of Wisconsin residents. Decisions about outsourcing and contracting out jobs should remain a topic of the collective bargaining process. Public employees should have the right to make the case, through the existing collective bargaining process, that they can serve the interests of taxpayers better than a private firm. Instead of building a stronger partnership with our hardworking, dedicated public employees, this bill puts them in the crosshairs. Undermining our relationship with public employees will ultimately reduce the quality and quantity of services that taxpayers depend on.
Rather than creating an environment of instability, we should continue existing, successful processes that ensure that our public service needs are adequately addressed both near and long term.
Respectfully submitted,
Jim Doyle
Governor
