I am vetoing Assembly Bill 855 in its entirety. This bill advances the dates by which the University of Wisconsin System (UWS), the Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS) and the Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (WAICU) must develop, and submit to the Education Commission for approval, proposed formulae for the Wisconsin Higher Education Grant (WHEG) and Tuition Grant (TG) financial aid programs.
While it is very important to notify prospective and current postsecondary students of their financial aid status as soon as possible so they have this information in order to assist them in making decisions related to their postsecondary education, this bill has no practical effect since the Wisconsin State Supreme Court has ruled the creation of the Education Commission unconstitutional. Even if future legislation is enacted reestablishing HEAB as the administering entity of state financial aid programs, the UW, WTCS and WAICU are all already represented on the Board and would be overseeing the development of WHEG and TG formulae.
Furthermore, I believe it is premature to enact additional legislation related to the administration of the WHEG and TG Programs. As a part of my 1997-99 biennial budget, I plan to propose statutory legislation that will not only address the administration of state financial aid programs, but also reaffirm the state's commitment to providing the financial aid funding necessary to meet the needs of our state's postsecondary students so that they will continue to have access to Wisconsin's outstanding public and private postsecondary educational institutions.
Sincerely,
Tommy G. Thompson
Governor
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Communications
State of Wisconsin
Office of the Secretary of State
Madison
To Whom It May Concern:
Acts, Joint Resolutions and Resolutions deposited in this office have been numbered and published as follows:
Bill Number Act Number Publication Date
Assembly Bill 1048 (part)351June 5, 1996
Assembly Bill 853353June 6, 1996
Assembly Bill 459354June 6, 1996
Assembly Bill 786355June 6, 1996
Assembly Bill 781356June 6, 1996
Assembly Bill 895357June 6, 1996
Assembly Bill 913358June 6, 1996
Assembly Bill 427361June 11, 1996
Assembly Bill 510362June 11, 1996
Assembly Bill 728363June 11, 1996
Assembly Bill 782364June 11, 1996
Assembly Bill 926365June 11, 1996
Assembly Bill 1079366June 11, 1996
Assembly Bill 1004372June 11, 1996
Assembly Bill 438373June 11, 1996
Sincerely,
Douglas La Follette
Secretary of State
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Agency Reports
State of Wisconsin
Investment Board
Madison
March 15, 1996
To the Honorable, the Assembly:
Pursuant to s.1.11(2)(j) of the Statutes, the State of Wisconsin Investment Board is pleased to report that during fiscal year 1995 it did not consider any proposals for major action in Wisconsin that could significantly affect the quality of the human environment. Accordingly, the agency was not required to prepare any environmental assessments or impact statements under s.1.11.
Please contact Ken Johnson, Executive Assistant, at 267-0221 if you have any questions concerning this report.
Sincerely,
Patricia lipton
Executive Director
State of Wisconsin
Department of Administration
Madison
March 15, 1996
To the Honorable, the Legislature:
This report is transmitted as required by sec.20.002(11)(f) of the Wisconsin Statutes, (for distribution to the appropriate standing committees under sec. 13.172(3) Stats.), and confirms that the Department of Administration has found it necessary to exercise the "temporary reallocation of balances" authority provided by this section in order to meet payment responsibilities and cover resulting negative balances during the month of February, 1996.
On February 16, 1996 the Petro Storage Fund balance was -$73 thousand. This shortfall continued until February 20, 1996 when the balance reached +$8.8 million. The shortfall was due to the timing of revenues.
The Petro Storage Fund shortfall was not in excess of the $400 million ceiling and did not exceed the balances of the Funds available for interfund borrowing.
The distribution of interest earnings to investment pool participants is based on the average daily balance in the pool and each fund's share. Therefore, the monthly calculation by the State Controller's Office will automatically reflect the use of these temporary reallocations of balance authority.
Sincerely,
James r. Klauser
Secretary, DOA
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State of Wisconsin
Wisconsin Gaming Commission
Madison
March 22, 1996
To To the Honorable, the Legislature:
I am submitting the quarterly, fiscal year-to-date report of the Wisconsin Gaming Commission for the period ending December 31, 1995 as requied by s.
565.37(3), Wis. Stats., Lottery sales and financial information, and s.
562.02(1)(g), Wis. Stats., Racing statistical information.
If there are any questions or comments regarding this report, please do not hesitate to contact me at (608) 266-1645.
Sincerely,
F. Scott Scepaniak
Chairman
Wisconsin Gaming Commission
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State of Wisconsin
Department of Employment Relations
Madison
March 25, 1996
To the Honorable, the Assembly:
Pursuant to s.
230.04(13)(e), Stats., the annual report of the Department of Employment Relations, Division of Affirmative Action is hereby submitted. Please distribute the enclosed announcements of the availability to members of the Assembly.
Additional copies may be obtained from the Department of Employment Relations, Division of Affirmative Action, 137 East Wilson Street, Madison WI 53702. The telephone number is (608) 266-5709.
Sincerely,
Jon e. litscher
Secretary, DER
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State of Wisconsin
Legislative Audit Bureau
Madison
March 26, 1996
To the Honorable, the Assembly:
We have completed financial audits of the Mendota and Winnebago Mental Health Institutes for fiscal year 1994-95. We were able to provide unqualified opinions on the institutes' financial statements.
Copies of the audit reports have been distributed to members of the Joint Legislative Audit committee and those required by law to receive them. If you are interested in receiving a copy of the audit reports, please contact our office and request report numbers 96-3 and 96-4.
Sincerely,
Dale Cattanach
State Auditor
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State of Wisconsin
Department of Health and Social Services
Madison
March 27, 1996
To the Honorable, the Assembly:
Enclosed is a copy of the Annual Wisconsin Report on Child Abuse and Neglect pursuant to s.48.981. The report includes a full statistical analysis of suspected child abuse and neglect reports received by county child protective services agencies in 1994. This report describes the extent of abuse and neglect in Wisconsin and discusses steps Wisconsin has taken to address the needs of maltreated children and their families.
Sincerely,
Joe Leean
Secretary, DHSS
State of Wisconsin
Department of Administration
Madison
