Senator Decker, with unanimous consent, asked that all action be immediately messaged to the Assembly:
Senate Joint Resolution
56
Senate Joint Resolution
58
Senate Bill 271
Senate Bill 365
Assembly Bill 198
Assembly Bill 248
Assembly Bill 332
Assembly Bill 348
Assembly Bill 362
Assembly Bill 382
Messaged.
Assembly Bill 165
Relating to: expanding the types of property that may be specially assessed by a neighborhood improvement district.
Senate amendment 1 to Assembly Bill 165 offered by Senators Grothman and Plale.
The question was: Adoption of Senate amendment 1 to Assembly Bill 165?
Adopted.
Ordered to a third reading.
Senator Decker, with unanimous consent, asked that the bill be considered for final action at this time.
Assembly Bill 165
Read a third time and concurred in as amended.
Senator Decker, with unanimous consent, asked that all action be immediately message to the Assembly:
Assembly Bill 165
Messaged.
__________________
Senator Jauch, with unanimous consent, asked that when the Senate adjourn, it do so in honor of Dan Kanninen. Dan will soon be departing Wisconsin and heading to Washington D.C. to be the White House Legislative Liaison to the Environmental Protection Agency. Dan has worked in the Legislature for 11 years; 10 years in Senator Jauch's office, and has very ably and efficiently worked on behalf of Governor Doyle over the last year. We appreciate his commitment to the institution and his support in helping each and every one of us with issues of importance. He has been a true champion of the Legislature and we all wish him well.
Senator Schultz, with unanimous consent, asked that when the Senate adjourn, it do so in honor of Ervin W. Johnson, from Darlington, a remarkably humble and accomplished man. He was a gentleman who exemplified what being a citizen is all about. He made contributions in so many areas; it's hard to describe them all. He is somebody who understood farming in the most Ag dependent county in the state, and was successful and instrumental in bringing many other people into the business. He was an attorney who participated in the State Bar and was regarded as an expert with respect to probate. He was a practicing district attorney for a period of time, and an individual who helped found the Lafayette County Manor. He was a school board member, director of several banks and somebody who in the twilight years of his life sought to give it all back, funding a library with his wife in Darlington. He was very generous with every school district in the county of Lafayette, helping young people realize their dreams for higher education. He will be sorely missed, and Senator Schultz will miss his wise counsel, and hopes that we can adjourn in his honor today.
Senator Leibham, with unanimous consent, asked that when the Senate adjourn, it do so in honor of the life and service of U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Amy S. Krueger, and her family who were honored today.
S512
Senator Leibham, with unanimous consent, asked that when the Senate adjourn, it do so in honor of his son Andrew Leibham of Sheboygan, who is celebrating his third Birthday on January 26, 2010.
Senator Taylor, with unanimous consent, asked that when the Senate adjourn, it do so in honor of Dan Kanninen. The Senator had an opportunity to work with Dan on many occasions, and knows that his work ethic will surely take him far in life.
Senator Lehman, with unanimous consent, asked that when the Senate adjourn, it do so in honor of the S.C. Johnson company and the Johnson family on the January 22, 2010 dedication of Fortaleza Hall, a beautiful compliment to the Frank Lloyd Wright Administration Building and Tower on the south side of Racine, honoring the life and work of Sam Johnson.
Senator Miller, with unanimous consent, asked that when the Senate adjourn, it do so in honor of the public service of Liz Stephens, who served in the office of a member of the joint finance committee in each of the last three sessions, including most recently the office of the Senate Co-Chair. We wish her success in her new responsibilities working for the Wisconsin Counties Association.
__________________
Senator Decker appointed Senators Lasse and Jauch to escort his excellency, the Governor, to the Joint Covention.
Senator Decker, with unanimous consent, asked that the Senate adjourn until Thursday, January 28, 2010, upon the rising of the Joint Convention.
Senator Decker, with unanimous consent, asked that the Senate recess until 6:30 P.M.
12:56 P.M.
__________________
By Patrick E. Fuller, chief clerk.
Mr. President:
I am directed to inform you that the Assembly has passed and asks concurrence in:
Assembly Bill 219
Assembly Bill 372
Assembly Bill 414
Assembly Bill 494
Assembly Bill 502
Assembly Bill 560
Adopted and asks concurrence in:
Assembly Joint Resolution
104
Assembly Joint Resolution
105
Amended and concurred in as amended:
Senate Bill 191
Concurred in:
Senate Bill 57
Senate Bill 262
Senate Bill 413
Senate Joint Resolution
11
Senate Joint Resolution
54
Senate Joint Resolution
55
__________________
6:30 P.M.
The Senate reconvened.
President Risser in the chair.
President Risser, with unanimous consent, asked that the Senate recess for the purpose of awaiting the Governor's State of the State Address in Joint Convention in the Assembly Chambers at 7:00 P.M.
The Senate stood recessed.
6:35 P.M.
__________________
The Senate proceeded in a body to the Assembly Chamber to meet in Joint Convention to receive the State of the State Message.
__________________
7:00 P.M.
Senate President Risser in the chair.
The Committee to wait upon the Governor appeared with his excellency the Governor, who delivered his message as follows:
__________________
"Speaker Sheridan, Speaker Pro Tem Staskunas, President Risser, Majority Leader Decker, Minority Leaders Fitzgerald and Fitzgerald, Constitutional Officers, Supreme Court Justices, tribal leaders, members of the Cabinet, distinguished guests, members of the Legislature, and fellow citizens of Wisconsin:
I stand before you tonight at a difficult time in America's history. We have been hit hard by an economic crisis - the depths of which we have not seen since the Great Depression.
Our nation's unemployment rate has soared to over 10 percent. While Wisconsin's rate is one and a half points lower - it is still far too high.
Far too many remain unemployed. Far too many are making do with a paycheck that doesn't go as far as it used to. And far too many are living with the fear that they might lose their jobs and their health care.
Let us never forget that an unemployment rate is not just a statistic. These are people who did nothing wrong. They didn't deal derivatives, manipulate Wall Street, hyper inflate the real estate market or get bonuses from big investment banks. They are our brothers and sisters, our mothers and fathers, our neighbors and friends.
Above all else, we have to look out for these people. In Wisconsin, I'm proud we haven't turned our backs on them.
We're making sure they have unemployment insurance and training to get a new start in life.
And although demand is at an all-time high, we're making sure they have health care and food assistance.
S513
We've been able to do this - and protect our most important priorities like education and health care - because we've made the deepest cuts in state spending in history. Everyone has felt the effects. We have cut state agencies by 10 percent or more. We have furloughed state workers and eliminated pay raises. We have held 3,400 state jobs vacant - 10 percent of the state workforce.
I will have to make another round of difficult cuts. But we will make these cuts as we have made them before - protecting education, health care, and public safety, and protecting the middle class against tax increases.
