I am also vetoing these sections to modify the role of the Joint Committee on Finance so that it receives a copy of the Secretary of Revenue's proposal but does not have to hold a meeting to approve or modify the proposal. My intent is to ensure fiscal restraint and to provide for expeditious implementation of the property tax rent credit proposal.
I am committed to making continued efforts to reduce the tax burden on Wisconsin's citizens. This veto will assure Wisconsin's taxpayers of additional tax relief in 1998 and further tax relief in the future.
General Fund Taxes -- Sales and Excise Tax
3. Sales Tax Exemption for Auction Sales
Section 313cm
This section would extend the current sales tax exemption for auction sales of farm property or household goods at locations where the auctioneer holds three or fewer auctions during the year, to twelve or fewer auctions during the year.
I am vetoing this section because the provision is a deviation from current sales tax policy. Expanding the current provision from three to twelve auctions will create tax inequity adversely affecting hall auctions and auction houses, who as retailers must collect the sales tax from all auctions held at their business locations. Additionally, auction sales occurring at any one location in which there may be as many as twelve auctions during a calendar year should not be considered occasional sales and therefore should not qualify for the sales tax exemption for occasional sales.
While I am vetoing this provision, I am concerned that current law in this area is ambiguous and confusing and may have certain unintended impacts. Therefore, I am requesting the Secretary of Revenue to conduct a review of this section of the statutes, meet with interested groups and legislators and recommend any appropriate changes for consideration in the 1999-01 biennial budget.
Revenue
4. Delinquent Tax Warrant
Section 299r
Under current law, the Department of Revenue (DOR) may file with a clerk of court a delinquent tax warrant on a delinquent taxpayer's property. This section modifies current law so that, if a taxpayer requests, the Department of Revenue shall indicate on the warrant the amount that was paid to satisfy the warrant. I am partially vetoing this provision to eliminate the phrase "on the warrant" because this requirement would be unworkable. The department has no means to modify tax warrants once filed. My veto eliminates this unworkable provision while still providing a way to satisfy the desires of taxpayers. Instead of changing the warrant, my veto allows DOR to simply indicate in a letter to the taxpayer the amount that was paid to satisfy the warrant. If they so choose, taxpayers can then present such letters to credit bureaus or others to clarify their debt histories.
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Remarks by The Dalai Lama
to the Wisconsin State Assembly
May 13, 1998
Pursuant to the unanimous consent request made by Representative R. Potter on Tuesday, May 5, 1998 (Page 852 of the Assembly Journal), the remarks made by His Holiness, The 14th Dalai Lama, Ngawang Lobsang Tenzin Gyatso of Tibet, to the members of the Assembly on Wednesday, May 13, 1998 (Page 896 of the Assembly Journal) follow:
"Your Excellency the Governor, Honorable Speaker, President of the Senate, Honorable members of the Assembly and the Senate and distinguished guests. It is a great honor for me to be invited to address the Wisconsin State Legislature and it is also a great pleasure for me to be welcomed with such warmth.
I visited the state on several occasions in the past and therefore I also have quite a lot of old friends here. So it is particularly joyful today to have another opportunity to visit this most beautiful state.
Now I want to speak through my broken English in order to save time and also to communicate with you directly. But I must say my English is very broken. Sometimes there could be danger to get wrong understanding. So, be careful when you listen to my broken English.
Let me take this opportunity to mention here that some of the points that I wanted to touch upon are contained in the written text or statement that you already have. So I am not going to repeat these. Since I have this opportunity I want to share a few other points with you.
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I always consider myself as another human being like anybody else. On this level the entire 5.7 billion humanity is the same; mentally, emotionally, basically, physically. And then the most important thing, I feel, is that everyone has the desire for happiness, the desire for a happy life and a happy future. Here the most obvious method in fulfilling that desire is through material development. Towards this end everyone is making every effort and I think a great deal has been achieved.
On the other hand, there is another way to achieve happiness through inner peace. There are different religious traditions in the world and each one of them have immense potential to provide that goal. I think it is wrong to think that all our problems will be solved by means of material development. On the contrary we should also pay equal attention to inner spiritual development. Spirituality does not necessarily mean religious faith. But spirituality rather means the day today practice of the basic messages of various religious traditions that manifests in the good qualities of a human being like a good heart, a compassionate heart, a sense of caring for others, a sense of commitment, patience, tolerance and contentment. These are some of the basic good human values. I always try to promote these values. Irrespective of whether one is a believer or a non-believer, these basic human values are very essential to be kept alive.
Now when you have a sense of caring and a compassionate attitude, then people everywhere talk about the concept of peace and non-violence. Peace, I believe, is not the mere absence of violence. But genuine peace has to be achieved through inner peace. The main basis to bring about inner peace is through human affection. Therefore, peace and non-violence is primarily a reflection or manifestation of human compassion. At the same time when we make efforts to sustain peace and promote the concept of non-violence we have to find an appropriate way to resolve conflict and differences among human beings. Non-violence does not mean that we remain indifferent. Here the only weapon available is by means of dialogue in the spirit of compromise and reconciliation. Differences do exist, not only between political parties, but even within the family and often times within one self. You may have a different set of ideas and beliefs in the morning and at the end of the day you may have totally different views and ideas. So there is contradiction everywhere.
As long as there exists this wonderful human faculty of intelligence, we always find differences and contradictions. These contradictions and differences are not necessarily destructive by themselves. But because of these contradictions there is always progress and there is the ability to overcome and synthesize these problems. Sometimes I jokingly tell people, if we really want a world without any contradiction then let us start a world without any human beings. The world truly becomes safer then! Perhaps, in a way, out of the several thousand species of living beings, humans are the only troublemakers. The other living species inflict harm on others when it is absolutely necessary. But we human beings create problems to others sometimes unnecessarily and still we think we are smart. In one way the human species is really troublesome, but at the same time, if we look from a different angle, the human beings are the only species that has the ability to develop an immense sense of caring-not only to its own kind-but also extend to other species. Innate altruism can be developed only by human beings. To achieve these ends, an affectionate attitude and a respect for others' views and interests is very important.
Especially in a democratic system, there is bound to be a variety of differing views and ideas. People should always resort to a healthy side of constructive criticism in resolving their problems rather than stay in perpetual conflict.
As mentioned earlier, the various religious traditions have the potential to bring happiness, mainly inner happiness and inner peace. However, unfortunately, not only in the past, but even today, the existence of different religious beliefs have brought about some conflicts and in some worse cases even bloodshed. If we try to realize the values of other traditions and respect them, we can certainly contain these conflicts and unfortunate events. All religions, in spite of differing philosophies, have the potential to relay deep inner values. All religions carry the message of love, compassion, sense of brotherhood, sisterhood and tolerance. Therefore if a follower of any religion truly and sincerely practices and implements even some of the basic tenets and gain some spiritual experience, it greatly helps the person to understand the value and respect of other religious traditions. As there is a variety of mental dispositions among humans and different kinds of physical objects to satisfy a variety of needs, one religious tradition cannot satisfy the spiritual needs of human beings. It is therefore necessary to have a variety of religious traditions.
Judging from this level, there is a way to develop a genuine spiritual harmony within the different religious traditions. I always try to promote this viewpoint. Whenever I visit predominantly Christian countries like the United States, I always tell people that it is better to keep your own Christian traditions rather than follow Buddhism and particularly Tibetan Buddhism. In some individual cases, when a person has lost interest in his traditional values, it is then perhaps better to follow some other religious tradition than remain a radical atheist. Well if someone feels comfortable in remaining a radical atheist, it is a matter of individual right. It is fine too. No problems. Promotion of harmony among different religious traditions is one of my efforts.
A936
As a Tibetan and as the Dalai Lama, I have a traditional responsibility to Tibet and the Tibetan people. Today, the Tibetans, and particularly the Tibetans inside Tibet have immense trust on me and I have a great moral responsibility to them. I am trying to help them in whatever way I can. I am a Buddhist monk. My main concern is preservation of Tibetan Buddhist culture and Buddhist spirituality, which I see, has a great potentiality to bring happiness, not only to the six million Tibetans, but several millions of people in that part of the world. That means the whole of modern India, modern Nepal, Bhutan, Inner and Outer Mongolia and some republics in the Russian Federation, and most importantly of all, to millions of young Chinese. Tibetan Buddhism can certainly help them to achieve inner peace in a meaningful way. At this very moment you can see people simply lost in their principles and only think of money. As a result a lot of unhealthy things happen. I therefore feel that preservation of Tibetan Buddhist culture and spirituality is in the greater interest of people.
Then talking about the ecological problems facing Tibet. Major rivers covering the whole of that big continent - from Pakistan to India, China, Bangladesh and former Indo-China - they originate from Tibet. When dramatic ecological changes take place inside Tibet it will affect a large area in the region. The best way to solve this problem is to save the Tibetan Buddhist culture and Buddhist spirituality by way of dialogue with the Chinese government.
Therefore, I am making every effort to open a dialogue with the Chinese government on the basis of the middle way approach. I am not seeking independence, but simply trying to achieve a meaningful autonomy. That is my main effort. This is not about my own future or my own privilege. Six years ago, in 1992, I made it politically clear that as soon as the Chinese return with an offer of a certain degree of freedom to the Tibetan people, I will hand over all my legitimate authority to the government. And that government should be an elected one. I will then no longer be the head of the Tibetan government. I will truly be a simple Buddhist monk. That is my ambition. I want to spend the rest of my life on meditation and things like that. That is about Tibet.
I am encouraged and inspired by people like you. Many young students in the United States, especially, have really been a great source of inspiration and encouragement in our struggle. I want to take this opportunity to express my deep appreciation. Thank you very much."
