2003 Senate Joint Resolution 73
ENROLLED JOINT RESOLUTION
Relating to: the life and public service of Paul Offner.
Whereas, Paul Offner was born on August 7, 1942, in Bennington, Vermont, and died on April 20, 2004, in Washington, D.C.; and
Whereas, he earned a BA degree from Amherst College in 1964, a master's degree from Princeton University's Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, and a Ph.D. degree in economics from Princeton University in 1970; and
Whereas, Dr. Offner was first elected to the Wisconsin assembly in 1974, serving in the 1975 session; and
Whereas, he was subsequently elected to the Wisconsin senate in 1976, serving in the 1977 through 1983 sessions; and
Whereas, during the 1983 session, Dr. Offner served as assistant senate majority leader; and
Whereas, during his tenure in the legislature, Dr. Offner became known for his expertise and commitment to change on the issues of poverty, health care, and welfare reform; and
Whereas, Dr. Offner was the lead author on legislation that laid the foundation for managed care, including HMO's and PPO's; and
Whereas, Dr. Offner served as cochairperson for Governor Patrick Lucey's Employment Relations Study Commission (the Stevens-Offner Commission) in 1976, working on civil service reforms; and
Whereas, Dr. Offner was most recently a researcher at the Urban Institute; and
Whereas, Dr. Offner previously served as the health care commissioner for the District of Columbia, served as a legislative aide for U.S. Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan, served on the Clinton White House Health Care Task Force, coordinated the Clinton transition team's welfare reform policies, and served as a research professor at Georgetown University; now, therefore be it
Resolved by the senate, the assembly concurring, That: the members of the Wisconsin legislature commend the devoted public service that Paul Offner contributed to this state and his community, express their sorrow at his death, and extend their condolences to his family and friends; and be it further
Resolved, That the senate chief clerk shall provide copies of this joint resolution to Dr. Offner's wife, Molly, and his daughter, Shu Yu.
