Relating to: payment of judgments in traffic courts and municipal courts by installments and the suspension of operating privileges.
Passage.
Ayes, 5 - Senators
Taylor, Sullivan, Erpenbach, Grothman and Hopper.
Noes, 0 - None.
Lena Taylor
Chairperson
__________________
Pursuant to Senate Rule 17 (5), Senator Lehman added as a coauthor of
Senate Bill
56
.
Pursuant to Senate Rule 17 (5), Senator Hansen added as a coauthor of
Senate Bill
61
.
__________________
State of Wisconsin
Office of Senator Neal Kedzie
February 10, 2009
The Honorable, The Senate:
Pursuant to Senate Rule
75, I am writing you to inform you of how I would have voted on the following votes taken on Tuesday, February 10, 2009, during my leave of absence:
Appointments en masse: Aye
Confirmation of Leinenkugel: Aye
Adoption of SJR 8: Aye
Rejection SA 2 to SSA 1 to SB 1: No
Rejection SA 3 to SSA 1 to SB 1: No
Rejection SA 4 to SSA 1 to SB 1: No
Passage of SB 1: No
Passage of SB 2: No
Passage of SB 7: Aye
Please contact me if you have any questions pertaining to this matter.
Sincerely,
neal kedZie
State Senator, 11th Senate District
State of Wisconsin
Department of Children and Families
February 2, 2009
The Honorable, The Senate:
Enclosed is a copy of the Child Abuse and Neglect Report, 2007 Data, pursuant to s.
48.981. The report includes a statistical analysis of suspected child abuse and neglect reports received and investigated by county child protective services (CPS) agencies and the state Bureau of Milwaukee Child Welfare in calendar year 2007. The report also contains information on child fatalities due to child abuse or neglect.
Sincerely,
Reggie bicha
Secretary
__________________
State of Wisconsin
Department of Administration
February 3, 2009
The Honorable, The Legislature:
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 Fourth Quarter of 2008. 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,
michael l. morgan
Secretary
__________________
State of Wisconsin
Investment Board
February 5, 2009
The Honorable, The Senate:
Whether during favorable markets or during a major market downturn such as in 2008, SWIB must diligently seek ways to manage the Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) assets more effectively and efficiently. After an extensive review of best practices in the industry, SWIB initiated several changes designed to better manage risk and increase return potential.
The first was to restructure SWIB's domestic large company stock portfolios, which represent the biggest category of investments held by the WRS. The second was to move funds from external to internal management to reduce costs and increase net returns.
So far, the results look promising.
At the end of 2007, SWIB realigned its three internally managed large company domestic stock portfolios into
portfolios that cover market sectors and reorganized the staff to provide more efficient market coverage. The new structure gives managing analysts individual discretion over trades within their assigned market sector, making the most of their knowledge and expertise. The six sectors staffed to date are consumer discretionary, financials, health care, industrials, technology and materials. Four additional sector portfolios will be implemented as resources become available.
The ultimate goal is to improve the analysts' depth of coverage and eventually merge the large company domestic and international portfolios to form global sector portfolios. This will allow the analyst for industrials, for example, to review and evaluate all large cap industrial companies, regardless of where they are located.
Early this year, the Governor and Legislature approved additional budget and staff to allow SWIB to move assets from outside money managers to less expensive management by SWIB staff. Since the beginning of 2008 we have moved nearly $2.4 billion from external to internal management. The use of external managers in certain areas - such as emerging markets, which requires highly specialized skills and expertise - continues to be an effective strategy. SWIB has always had a focus on internal money management, but a growth in assets and restraints on resources meant more assets were moved to external mangers over the years.
In addition, SWIB is also working to further optimize the mix of indexed, enhanced indexed and active investment strategies as well as the mix of portfolio managers to improve diversification and reduce costs. Formal targets for the amount of active risk in the Core and Variable Funds have been adopted. Additional tools and emphasis are being applied to ensure that risk is allocated where it is most likely to add return.
Today's investment universe offers a wide range of opportunities. We are charged with scrutinizing each opportunity to determine if it fits within the investment strategy appropriate for the trust funds as we continually manage the WRS into the future.
Sincerely,
james a. senty
Chair
__________________
The committee on Transportation, Tourism, Forestry, and Natural Resources reports and recommends:
Relating to neighborhood electric vehicles.
No action taken.
Relating to allowing the operation of certain 2-vehicle combinations on certain highways without a permit.
No action taken.
Jim Holperin
Chairperson
__________________
The committee on Veterans and Military Affairs, Biotechnology, and Financial Institutions reports and recommends:
S63
Relating to making it a dishonest or unethical practice for securities licensees to make use of misleading designations or certifications purporting to demonstrate special expertise in the financial or retirement needs of seniors.
No action taken.
Jim Sullivan
Chairperson
__________________
Motions Under Senate Rule
98 and Joint Rule
7
for the Month of January 2009
A certificate of congratulations by the Wisconsin Senate on the motion of Senator Grothman, for Andrew David Alt, on the occasion of earning and attaining the rank of the Eagle Scout Award.
A certificate of congratulations by the Wisconsin Senate on the motion of Senator Lazich, for the Big Bend/Vernon Lions Club, on the occasion of their sponsoring the annual Special Olympics Basketball Tournament since 1996 and the outstanding dedication and service to Big Bend, Vernon and the State of Wisconsin.
A certificate of commendation by the Wisconsin Senate on the motion of Senator Sullivan, for Joanne Benz, on the occasion of her tireless work in the Wauwatosa community.
A certificate of congratulations by the Wisconsin Senate on the motion of Senator Lazich, for Mark Carstensen Construction & Development Companies, on the occasion of being named the South Suburban Chamber of Commerce 2008 Business of the Year.
