Patrick Fuller
Assembly Chief Clerk
17 West Main Street, Suite 401
Madison, WI 53708
Dear Chief Clerk Fuller:
I hereby resign my seat as the State Representative for the 37th Assembly District, effective Friday, August 2, 2006. Subsequently, this resignation will also terminate my membership to the Legislature's Joint Committee on Finance, the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics Authority Board, and the Governor's Bicycle Coordinating Council.
Thank you for your time and attention. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
David Ward
State Representative
37th Assembly District
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August 10, 2006
Patrick Fuller
Assembly Chief Clerk
17 West Main Street, Suite 401
Madison, WI 53708
Dear Patrick:
Enclosed is a copy of the General Report of the Joint Legislative Council to the 2005-2006 Legislature, prepared and submitted pursuant to s.
13.81 (3), Stats.
I would appreciate your noting in the Assembly Journal, pursuant to s.
13.172, Stats., that this report has been delivered to your office.
Sincerely,
Terry C. Anderson
Director
Joint Legislative Council
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Referral of Agency Reports
State of Wisconsin
Department of Administration
Madison
August 2, 2006
To the Honorable, the Legislature:
A1185
In compliance with Wisconsin statute 16.548, please find the Wisconsin Office of Federal/State Relations quarterly report to be submitted to the Legislature for the second quarter of 2006. This report provides information on the activities of the office and the status of federal legislation of concern to the State of Wisconsin.
Please contact me if you have any questions about this material.
Sincerely,
Stephen E. Bablitch
Secretary
Referred to committee on State-Federal Relations.
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State of Wisconsin
Department of Natural Resources
Madison
August 8, 2006
To the Honorable, the Legislature:
I'm pleased to announce the availability a new publication entitled Wisconsin's Brownfields Initiative: 2006 Report To The State Legislature, a joint publication from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Department of Commerce and Department of Administration.
The report, required by statute (S.
292.255, Wis. Stats.), provides a summary of the legislative, financial and policy initiatives created and implemented by the State of Wisconsin since the passage of the Land Recycling Act in 1994 (Wisconsin Act 453). These initiatives have aided communities all across the state in the investigation, cleanup and redevelopment of hundreds of brownfields - abandoned, idle or underused properties where the reuse is hindered by real or perceived contamination.
Sincerely,
Scott Hassett
Secretary
Referred to committee on Natural Resources.
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Agency Reports
State of Wisconsin
Legislative Audit Bureau
Madison
August 8, 2006
To the Honorable, the Assembly:
As requested by the Joint Legislative Audit Committee, we have completed a review of the State's economic development programs. The Department of Commerce is the State's lead agency for economic development. It administered 88 of the 152 programs we identified to encourage the establishment and growth of businesses, including creating and retaining jobs. Seven other state agencies administered the remaining programs.
The 152 programs we identified provided financial assistance and direct services to businesses, individuals, local governments, and nonprofit and other organizations from fiscal year (FY) 2001-02 through FY 2004-05. During the period we reviewed, these programs awarded $180.9 million in grants and loans, as well as $56.3 million in targeted tax credits, $240.4 million in bonding authorization, and $64.4 million in loan guarantees.
We make a number of recommendations to streamline economic development programs by clarifying their purposes, consolidating statutory requirements, and standardizing eligibility criteria. In addition, accountability could be enhanced by strengthening agency reporting requirements and disclosing project costs and benefits to the public.
We appreciate the courtesy and cooperation extended to us by the Department of Commerce and the other agencies we reviewed. A response from Commerce follows the appendices.
Respectfully submitted,
Janice Mueller
State Auditor
