Second, we will significantly increase aid to education.
Third, we will provide over a billion dollars in property tax relief through the homestead credit and the school levy credit.
Fourth, from prescription drugs to cell phones, we'll allow local governments to take advantage of the buying power of the state.
Fifth, we're simplifying the application form for the Homestead Credit - going from 17 pages to a single sheet of paper. The goal is simple: to make sure that families get the tax relief they deserve.
And finally, we'll make significant reforms to the Expenditure Restraint Program. State government spends about $60 million a year to encourage municipalities to hold the line on spending, but loopholes allow some communities to get the incentive even with large property tax increases. In my budget, I will close the loopholes - so we reward communities that actually hold down property tax increases. We will expand it to cover counties as well as municipalities. And instead of just giving incentives to achieve a target property tax increase, we will provide bonuses for municipalities and counties that hold their property taxes even lower.
These are the things that state government must do, and we will. Then, it will be up to local governments and their citizens to determine what's best for their own communities. And if elected officials fail to follow the wishes of the people, citizens should hold them accountable.
What we don't need is bumper sticker politics, or more mandates from Madison. And we certainly shouldn't trade Wisconsin's education system - where students score the best in the nation on the ACT - with Colorado's, where students score near the bottom.
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The incredible progress we've made in Wisconsin over the past two years wouldn't have been possible without the hard work of our state employees.
They are the people who care for our seniors ... patrol our highways ... protect our forests, air, and water ... provide job training ... and teach the next generation at our universities. They come to work everyday with a single purpose: to make Wisconsin a better place to live, work, and raise a family.
I'd like to introduce one of them - Trooper Les Boldt. If you watch TV news, you've probably seen him before. Thanks to the video camera in his patrol car, we could all marvel at the sight of him racing to stop a woman from jumping off a bridge.
Trooper Boldt represents the very best of Wisconsin. Please join me in saluting him and all of Wisconsin's state employees for the tremendous work they do.
Tonight, I have delivered my report on the state of our state. But that report would be incomplete without acknowledging the service of our brave men and women in uniform.
Right now, more than 1,700 members of our National Guard are deployed overseas, and countless more sons and daughters of Wisconsin are serving on active duty in regular and reserve units.
Thirty-three Wisconsin service members have laid down their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan. Some were parents, some were college students, some were just 18 years old. All of them are heroes.
I've gotten to know these families. I've met parents who were burying a son or a daughter, and children saying a last goodbye to their father. In churches and community centers and crowded gymnasiums, I've seen the incredible mark that these 33 men and women left on our communities.
Would you please join me in saluting these fallen heroes and their families?
Tonight, we are joined by Deb Kiser, whose husband, Army Reserve Staff Sergeant Chuck Kiser, was killed in Iraq on June 24. Since then, Deb has reached out to other families of the fallen, to help them cope with their loss. Like many of the families I have met, in her greatest moment of grief, Deb has summoned the grace to help others.
Deb, Alli, and Mark Kiser - you are heroes, too, and we honor you tonight.
As I have seen people like Deb Kiser help others deal with a loss ... as I have seen entire communities mourn the death of one of our troops ... I am constantly reminded that Wisconsin really is a family. And in our respect and admiration for those who have served and fallen, we stand united -- and we have them in our prayers.
As we face the challenges of the next two years, let us draw inspiration from these and all the hardworking families of Wisconsin. Let's give them a government worthy of their character and values.
From growing our economy to investing in health care and education to restoring fiscal responsibility ... yes, Wisconsin is on the move.
With a deep admiration for the great people of this state, and a sincere commitment to do their work, let us continue to move Wisconsin forward.
On Wisconsin.
__________________
Read first time and referred:
Senate Bill 5
Relating to: creation of a Joint Committee on State Mandates and required funding of state mandates.
By
Senators
Darling, Leibham, Kapanke, Brown, Kanavas, A. Lasee, Stepp, Lazich, Lassa and Harsdorf; cosponsored by Representatives Stone, McCormick, Gunderson, Gronemus, Musser, Jeskewitz, Rhoades, Gundrum, Hahn, Lothian and Mursau.
To committee on Veterans, Homeland Security, Military Affairs, Small Business and Government Reform.
Senate Bill 6
Relating to: the number of pupils eligible to participate in the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program.
By
Senators
Darling, Plale, Kanavas, Stepp, Reynolds and Lazich; cosponsored by Representatives Vukmir, Fields, Ziegelbauer, Huebsch, Montgomery, McCormick, Nischke, Stone, Jeskewitz, Nass, Honadel, Gottlieb, Towns, Vrakas, Kaufert, Hundertmark, Gundrum, Ott, Wood, and Gunderson.
To committee on Education.
__________________
State of Wisconsin
Ethics Board
January 11, 2005
The Honorable, The Senate:
The following lobbyists have been authorized to act on behalf of the organizations set opposite their names.
For more detailed information about these lobbyists and organizations and a complete list of organizations and people authorized to lobby the 2005 session of the legislature, visit the Ethics Board's web site at
http://ethics.state.wi.us
Altenburg, Rana Marquette University
Babcock, William Wisconsin Society of Architects
Bartlett, Robert Petroleum Marketers Assn of WI / WI Assn of Convenience Stores
Bauman, Lee Wisconsin Automobile & Truck
Dealers Association Inc
Beattie, Tom Association of Wisconsin School Administrators
Benforado, David J Municipal Electric Utilities of Wisconsin
Benske, John Amgen
Bentley, Marc S Wisconsin Engine Manufacturer
& Distributor Alliance (WEMDA)
Birkley, Michael Wisconsin Property Taxpayers Inc
Bloch, Jodi Wisconsin Hospital Association
Inc (WHA)
Borgerding, Eric Wisconsin Hospital Association Inc (WHA)
Boryczka, Nicole Wisconsin Alliance of Cities Inc
Boycks, Brad Wisconsin Builders Association
Boycks, Katie Wisconsin Association of Life & Health Insurers Inc
Boyer, Amy 3M
Boyer, Amy Alliance of Automobile
Manufacturers
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Boyer, Amy American Red Cross
Boyer, Amy Enterprise Rent-A-Car
Boyer, Amy Wisconsin Economic
Development Association
Boyer, Amy Wisconsin Mortgage Bankers
Association
Breedlove, Lynn Wisconsin Coalition for Advocacy
Brenton, Steve Wisconsin Hospital Association
Inc (WHA)
Broydrick, Cynthia Bad River Band of Chippewa Indians
Broydrick, Cynthia ING America Insurance Holdings Inc
Broydrick, William 3M
Broydrick, William Association of State Prosecutors
Broydrick, William Bad River Band of Chippewa Indians
Broydrick, William Cingular Wireless
Broydrick, William Dental Associates Ltd
Broydrick, William ING America Insurance Holdings Inc
Broydrick, William Nestle Waters North America
Broydrick, William Robert W Baird and Company Inc
Broydrick, William Rogers Memorial Hospital
Broydrick, William Skipper Buds
Broydrick, William Societys Assets Inc
Broydrick, William Wisconsin Energy Corporation
Burke, Brian Arjo Wiggins Appleton Limited
Chandler, Richard Wisconsin Energy Corporation
Chandler, Richard Wisconsin Realtors Association
Christianson, Peter C Accenture LLP
Christianson, Peter C Motion Picture Association of America Inc
Christianson, Peter C Suburban Schools Legislative Committee
Clay, Timothy Wisconsin Federation of
Cooperatives
Courter, Bill McLeod USA
Crass, David Jennie-O Turkey Store
Incorporated
Czech-Mrochinski, Mary Marquette University
Deschane, Gerard Wisconsin Builders Association
