Tuesday, March 11, 1997
10:00 A.M.
Ninety-Third Regular Session
The Senate met.
The Senate was called to order by Senator Fred Risser.
The roll was called and the following Senators answered to their names:
Senators Adelman, Breske, Buettner, Burke, Chvala, Clausing, Cowles, Darling, Decker, Drzewiecki, Ellis, Farrow, Fitzgerald, George, Grobschmidt, Huelsman, Jauch, A. Lasee, Moen, Moore, Panzer, Plache, C. Potter, Risser, Rosenzweig, Rude, Schultz, Shibilski, Weeden, Welch, Wineke, Wirch and Zien - 32.
Absent - Senator A. Lasee - 1.
Absent with leave - None.
The Senate stood for the prayer which was offered by silent meditation.
The Senate remained standing and Senator Wirch led the Senate in the pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.
__________________
Read first time and referred:
Senate Bill 109
Relating to: electronic filing of certain campaign finance reports with the elections board and making an appropriation.
By
Senators
Adelman, Drzewiecki, Breske, Buettner, Chvala, Clausing, Cowles, Darling, Huelsman, Jauch, Moore, Plache, Risser, Rosenzweig, Rude, Schultz, Welch and Wirch; cosponsored by Representatives Baldwin, Walker, Ainsworth, Albers, Baumgart, Black, Bock, Boyle, Brandemuehl, Carpenter, Coggs, Cullen, Dobyns, Duff, Freese, Green, Hahn, Hanson, Harsdorf, Hasenohrl, Huber, Hutchison, Johnsrud, Kelso, Kreibich, Kreuser, Krug, Vander Loop, Wasserman, La Fave, F. Lasee, J. Lehman, Meyer, Morris-Tatum, Murat, Musser, Notestein, Olsen, Otte, Plale, Plouff, Porter, R. Potter, Reynolds, Riley, Robson, Ryba, Schafer, Schneider, Seratti, Skindrud, Springer, Travis, Turner, Underheim, R. Young and Ziegelbauer.
To committee on Judiciary, Campaign Finance Reform and Consumer Affairs.
Senate Bill 110
Relating to: the appointment of the secretary of agriculture, trade and consumer protection.
By
Senators
Clausing, Decker, Moen, C. Potter, Breske and Wineke; cosponsored by Representatives Gronemus, Springer, Dueholm, Huber, Plouff, Baumgart, Baldwin, Hasenohrl, Black, Bock, R. Young and Cullen.
To committee on Agriculture and Environmental Resources.
Senate Bill 111
Relating to: advertising practices of public utilities and sewerage service providers.
By
Senators
Cowles, Darling, Rude, Schultz and Farrow; cosponsored by Representatives Jensen, Duff, Gronemus, Ainsworth, Urban, Goetsch, Musser, Nass, F. Lasee, Kelso, Ladwig and Seratti.
To committee on Utility Regulation.
__________________
The committee on Health, Human Services, Aging, Corrections, Veterans and Military Affairs reports and recommends:
Senate Bill 112
Relating to: the temporary placement of young adult offenders at a juvenile secured correctional facility and making appropriations.
Introduction.
Ayes, 7 - Senators Moen, Breske, Moore, Wirch, Buettner, Rosenzweig and Fitzgerald.
Noes, 0 - None.
Rodney Moen
Chairperson
Referred to the committee on Health, Human Services, Aging, Corrections, Veterans and Military Affairs.
__________________
Senator Chvala, with unanimous consent, asked that the Senate recess until 12:20 P.M..
10:12 A.M.
__________________
12:20 P.M.
The Senate reconvened.
Senator Risser in the chair.
__________________
State of Wisconsin
Legislative Audit Bureau
March 10, 1997
The Honorable, The Legislature:
S103
We have completed a biennial evaluation of the performance of the Wisconsin Lottery, as required by s.13.94 (1)(em), Wis. Stats. We have examined the possible causes for a recent decline in lottery sales which began in fiscal year 1995-96, when sales fell 7.1 percent, or from $518.9 million in the previous year to $482.1 million. The decline is expected to continue through the current fiscal year and the next biennium, when sales are expected to reach only $440.5 million annually, even with proposed budget initiatives intended to support sales. This decline, and an October 1996 court decision that prevented the distribution of property tax credits from lottery proceeds until another method can be devised in accordance with the state constitution, have raised questions regarding the benefits of having a state lottery.
The probable causes of the sales decline can be found in factors both outside and within the control of the Legislature and lottery administrators. Lotteries appear to attract less interest as they age, but certain practices that can increase sales, such as introduction of casino-type games and promotional advertising, are constitutionally prohibited to the Wisconsin Lottery. However, policy and administrative actions also contributed to the decline of sales. For example, the Legislature has withheld support for initiatives that might have supported sales, and administrative efforts to privatize virtually all lottery functions were largely unsuccessful, leading to essential functions such as contacts with retailers being performed minimally, if at all.
If the Legislature is interested in increasing sales or preventing further sales declines, we offer suggestions for several actions that could be taken. We appreciate the courtesy and cooperation extended to us by the Department of Revenue. A response from the Department is Appendix II.
Sincerely,
Dale Cattanach
State Auditor
