To committee on Judiciary, Campaign Finance Reform and Consumer Affairs.
Senate Bill 424
Relating to: hours of sales by intoxicating liquor wholesalers.
By
Senators
George and Rude; cosponsored by Representatives Plale and Sykora.
To committee on Economic Development, Housing and Government Operations.
Senate Bill 425
Relating to: the delegation of authority by 1st class city school districts over funds held in trust for certain pension plans.
By
Senators
George, Rude and Darling; cosponsored by Representatives Plale, Kreuser, Staskunas, Riley and Cullen.
To committee on Education.
Senate Bill 426
Relating to: authorizing certain counties to let public works contracts under the design and build construction process.
By
Senators
George, Rude, Darling and Welch; cosponsored by Representatives Morris-Tatum, Staskunas, Jensen, Riley and Notestein.
To committee on Economic Development, Housing and Government Operations.
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State of Wisconsin
Southeast Wisconsin Professional Baseball Park District
January 22, 1998
The Honorable, The Senate:
Enclosed please find the Miller Park monthly progress report for the month of December 1997 for your review and consideration.
As we begin the new year, I believe it is appropriate to recognize the continuing efforts of the District Board members. Through countless volunteer hours of dedicated service, the Board and its Committees have successfully guided the Miller Park project thorough another challenging and productive year. With great pride, we continue to report the Miller Park project is meeting our "four for four" objectives of constructing a quality facility, on time, within budget, and with meaningful community participation. The enclosed monthly progress report confirms our project performance to date, and provides additional details on each of our objectives.
During 1997 we also emphasized enhanced communications with legislators, local elected officials, state and local agencies, project partners, general public and other interested parties. We've found the improved communications to be most helpful for all concerned, and plan to continue these efforts in 1998 and beyond. Along these lines, we have recently developed a Miller Park Internet website at
www.millerpark.org.
Please feel free to contact me if you should have any questions or comments regarding the enclosed progress report.
Sincerely,
Michael R. Duckett, P.E., E.L.S.
Executive Director
State of Wisconsin
Ethics Board
January 27, 1998
At the direction of s.
13.685(7),
Wisconsin Statutes, I am furnishing you with the names of organizations recently registered with the Ethics Board that employ one or more individuals to affect state legislation or administrative rules, and notifying you of changes in the Ethics Board's records of licensed lobbyists and their employers. For each recently registered organization I have included the organization's description of the general area of legislative or administrative action that it attempts to influence and the name of each licensed lobbyist that the organization has authorized to act on its behalf.
Organizations recently registered:
Below are the names of organizations recently registered with the Ethics Board as employing one or more individuals to affect state legislation or administrative rules.
Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital
Subject(s): All matters affecting health care.
Hottenroth, Theresa
Leitch, Laura J
Variable Annuity Life Insurance Co (VALIC)
Subject(s): Issues related to variable annuities including defined contribution plans.
Hough, James E
Osborne, Patrick
Organization's authorization of additional lobbyists:
The following organizations previously registered with the Ethics Board have authorized to act on their behalf these additional licensed lobbyists:
Liquid Waste Carriers Assn, Wisconsin
Swandby, Janet
Surgery Center Assn Wisconsin
Leitch, Laura J
UW Students, Inc, United Council of
Grabel, John
Also available from the Wisconsin Ethics Board are reports identifying the amount and value of time state agencies have spent to affect legislative action and reports of expenditures for lobbying activities filed by the organizations that employ lobbyists.
To the Honorable the Senate:
Sincerely,
R. Roth Judd
Executive Director
State of Wisconsin
Office of Justice Assistance
January 15, 1998
The Honorable, The Senate:
As you know, each year the State of Wisconsin receives Federal funds under the Edward Byrne Memorial State and Local Law Enforcement Assitance Program, authorized through the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988. This year the state is eligible to receive $9,591,000.
S422
The federal act requires that each state develop an Anti-Drug and Anti-Crime Strategy, identifying and prioritizing needs and programmatic responses in the areas of drug enforcement, prosecution and courts, jails and corrections, victim services, system improvements, treatment and prevention. The Strategy constitutes both a plan for action and the State's application for the Byrne grant. In 1997, the State submitted its first required three-year Strategy covering 1997-1999. The document enclosed is the required 1998 Strategy Update, which serves as the application for the FFY98 Byrne grant. The act further requires that members of the State Legislature be offered opportunities to review the Strategy. Legislators are allowed 30 days for review and comment.
I would very much appreciate your review and commentary as soon as possible. Thank you in advance for your timely assistance. Please contact me or Judy Witt of my staff (267-2116) should you require additional information.
Sincerely,
Steven D. Sell
Interim Executive Director
State of Wisconsin
Legislative Audit Bureau
January 27, 1998
The Honorable, The Legislature:
We have completed our review of the fiscal effects of replacing the sales tax on food and beverages sold through vending machines with a permit fee. As directed by
1997 Wisconsin Act 27, our review also included the feasibility of such a change and any constitutuional problems that would arise from the change.
Because vending machine sales tax revenues are not recorded separately by the Department of Revenue, the precise fiscal effect of the permit proposal cannot be determined definitely. Earlier estimates, including those made by the Legislative Fiscal Bureau, have been disputed by proponents and opponents of the proposal, who disagree strongly over the number of vending machines in Wiscosin and compliance with state tax laws. To develop new estimates of the fiscal effect, we used updated data from other states and information from Wisconsin entities concerning the number of machines in the state and annual sales per machine. Our estimates suggest the proposed fee of $65 per machine would result in a net revenue loss to the State. To be revenue neutral for the State, the permit fee would need to be increased to $123 per machine.
Our survey of Wisconsin's larger cities indicates that few would voluntarily provide local program administration for the $8 per machine administrative allowance envisioned in the proposal. However, the Department of Revenue has indicated it could provide both central and local administration and enforcement within the $8 allowance. We also note the counties that impose a local sales tax would have their receipts decrease from an average $20 per machine to $1 per machine under the proposal. To be revenue neutral for both the State and the counties, the overall cost of the permit would need to be increased beyond $123 per machine.
Based on experience in the two other states that have established similar permit systems, and on the opinion of Legislative counil staff, it appears that while opponents could challenge the constitutionality of a permit, the State's authority to establish such forms of taxation is broad. We identified no significant constitutional impediments to the Legislature enacting a vending machine permit fee.
We appreciate the courtesy and cooperation extended to us by the Department of Revenue, municipal governments, and vending machine industry representatives.
Sincerely,
Dale Cattanach
State Auditor
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State of Wisconsin
Office of the Governor
January 20, 1998
The Honorable, The Senate:
I am pleased to nominate and with the advice and consent of the Senate, do appoint Robertson, Dr. Russell G.,
of Mequon, as a member of the Rural Health Development Council, to serve for the interim term ending July 1, 2001.
Sincerely,
TOMMY G. THOMPSON
Governor
Read and referred to committee on Health, Human Services, Aging, Corrections, Veterans and Military Affairs.
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