What the 2004 election revealed is that to properly accommodate increasing voter turnout Wisconsin's election system needs improvement. We ought to be focused on making it easier for legitimate voters to vote, and ensuring that every valid vote is counted. A photo ID requirement won't achieve either objective, but it will disenfranchise tens of thousands of Wisconsin seniors who don't have drivers' licenses.
A212
Three weeks ago, I proposed a comprehensive package of election reform that addresses the real problems - the understaffed and under-trained polling workforce, the lack of statewide uniformity in election administration, and the burdens associated with our absentee voting system. The measures that I proposed will help restore integrity to our election system and give clerks and poll workers the tools and resources they need to properly administer elections in Wisconsin. Most importantly, my proposed reforms, unlike AB 63, do not undercut our proud history of ensuring maximum access to the ballot box in Wisconsin.
The protection of our citizens' fundamental rights is of utmost importance. Any legislative attempt to restrict those rights must be carefully scrutinized. Because AB 63 needlessly strips away full and unfettered access to voting for some of Wisconsin's most vulnerable citizens - including nearly 100,000 senior citizens -- I cannot sign it into law.
Respectfully submitted,
Jim Doyle
Governor
__________________
Referral of Vetoes
Assembly Bill 63
Relating to: requiring certain identification in order to vote at a polling place or obtain an absentee ballot, verification of the addresses of electors, and the fee for an identification card issued by the Department of Transportation.
To committee on Campaigns and Elections.
__________________
Communications
State of Wisconsin
Joint Legislative Council
Madison
April 26, 2005
Mr. Patrick Fuller
Assembly Chief Clerk
P.O. Box 8952
Madison, WI 53708
Dear Patrick:
I am pleased to transmit to you the following reports to the 2005 Legislature on legislation introduced by the Joint Legislative Council:
RL 2005-01 Special Committee on Recodification of Chapter
45, Veterans
RL 2005-05 Special Committee on Recodification of Chapter
767, Stats., Actions Affecting the Family
RL 2005-06 Special Committee on Wisconsin's Transportation Network Infrastructure
RL 2005-11 Special Committee on Improving Wisconsin's Fiscal Management
I would appreciate your including this letter in the Journal for the information of the membership. Additional copies of these reports are available in the Legislative Council Staff offices, One East Main, Suite 401, or from our web page at
http://www.legis.state.wi.us/lc/.
Sincerely,
Terry C. Anderson
Director
__________________
State of Wisconsin
Revisor of Statutes Bureau
Madison
DATE: May 1, 2005
TO: Patrick E. Fuller
Assembly Chief Clerk
Robert Marchant
Senate Chief Clerk
FROM: Gary L. Poulson
Assistant Revisor of Statutes
SUBJECT: Rules published in the April 30, 2005,
Wisconsin Administrative
Register, No. 592.
The following rules have been published:
__________________
A213
Referral of Agency Reports
State of Wisconsin
Department of Administration
Madison
March 29, 2005
To the Honorable, the Legislature:
Pursuant to s.
16.75 (3m)(c)4, Wis. Stats., enclosed is the Department of Administration's Minority Business Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2004. State agencies, including the University System, reported3d purchases and contracts with Wisconsin certified minority owned businesses totaling $43,414,752 in FY2004.
We have begun a complete review of our business practices which will allow more minority participation in State contracting. Specifically, we are working with all agencies to implement a system that requires the regular reporting of second tier dollars on state contracts.
Thank you for your continued efforts to provide opportunities for all Wisconsinites including minority owned businesses.
Sincerely,
Marc Marotta
Secretary
Referred to committee on Small Business.
__________________
State of Wisconsin
Department of Revenue
Madison
April 18, 2005
To the Honorable, the Legislature:
I am submitting the quarterly report of the Wisconsin Lottery for the quarter ending March 31, 2005. As required by s.
565.37(3), Wis. Stats., the attached materials contain unaudited Wisconsin Lottery year to date revenue and expenditure information.
Total operating revenues for the year, as of the quarter ending March 31, 2005, were $331.7 million, down $33.9 million from the same period last year. Powerball sales alone account for $27.9 million, or 82 percent of the decline. Powerball sales are lower than projected due to the absence of any large jackpots. Instant ticket sales, which were down the first two quarters, were up $2.0 million for the third quarter.
The information reported here is a summary and is not intended to be a complete financial accounting of Wisconsin Lottery operations.
If you have any questions or comments regarding this report, please feel free to contact me at (608) 266-6466.
Sincerely,
Michael L. Morgan
Secretary of Revenue
Referred to committee on State Affairs.
__________________
Milwaukee Public Schools
Division of Business Services
Madison
April 22, 2005
To the Honorable, the Assembly:
According to Wisconsin School Law 121.87 in accordance with 13.172, the Board is required by law to submit the enclosed reports. School Law 121.87 states "...annually by May 1 the board of school directors of the school district operating under ch.
119 shall submit a report to the legislature under s .13.172 (2) that specifies the number, percentage, race, sex, grade and attendance area of pupils transferred outside their attendance area without written consent under s.
121.85 (6)(am)."
Enclosed you will find a report that meet the requirements stated above. The total number of intra-district students bused under the Chapter
220 designation for the school year 2004-2005 equals 17,054. Of that number 901 either did not return a consent form or checked box indicating no consent. Students who have moved during the school year and no longer require parental consent were subtracted from the non-returned figure. The district did meet the requirement of one hundred percent (100%) parents providing consent.
Sincerely,
Michael Turaz, Director
