Section 62 includes a provision that prohibits the district from levying any taxes until agreements are reached between the county, city and the professional football team concerning the funding of maintenance of the football stadium facilities and the distribution of proceeds from the sale of naming rights related to these facilities. I am partially vetoing this provision to remove involvement by the county because it is unreasonable that a city must seek approval from a county for maintenance or naming issues on city property. As part of the local and legislative process, agreements were reached that call for the city to have responsibility over maintenance. Regarding naming rights, the bill specifies that the city must approve not only the distribution of naming rights proceeds, if any, but the sale itself. This veto does not alter agreements reached either in the local or legislative process. These vetoes are merely jurisdictional clarifications. Local control and taxpayer accountability is protected by preserving the City of Green Bay's historic responsibility for Lambeau Field.
This legislation will contribute to the economic viability of professional football teams in Wisconsin, which are an important state tourism and business attraction. Currently, our only year-round National Football League team is the Green Bay Packers. The Packers are one of the key generators of economic activity in the city of Green Bay, Brown County and Wisconsin. The stadium renovation and expansion project that will hopefully result from this legislation will create significant numbers of job opportunities for a broad spectrum of Wisconsin citizens. Most importantly, Assembly Bill 892 gives the tools to assist the Packers directly to the taxpayers of Brown County. This legislation is an important first step toward ensuring a constructive dialogue on the economic realities facing the team and the improvements necessary to ensure its continued success in Green Bay and Brown County.
Sincerely,
Tommy G. Thompson
Governor
__________________
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 803153May 25, 2000
Assembly Bill 432154May 25, 2000
Assembly Bill 99156May 26, 2000
Assembly Bill 154157May 26, 2000
Assembly Bill 174158May 26, 2000
Assembly Bill 197159May 26, 2000
Assembly Bill 314160May 26, 2000
Assembly Bill 394161May 26, 2000
Assembly Bill 610162May 26, 2000
Assembly Bill 717163May 26, 2000
Assembly Bill 431166May 26, 2000
Assembly Bill 892167May 26, 2000
Assembly Bill 959168May 19, 2000
Assembly Bill 960169May 19, 2000
Assembly Bill 961170May 19, 2000
Assembly Bill 962171May 19, 2000
Assembly Bill 963172May 19, 2000
Assembly Bill 964173May 19, 2000
Assembly Bill 965174May 19, 2000
Assembly Bill 966175May 19, 2000
Sincerely,
Douglas La Follette
Secretary of State
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Referral of Agency Reports
State of Wisconsin
Department of Administration
Madison
May 10, 2000
To the Honorable, the Legislature:
Chapter
34, Laws of 1979, requires that when the Department of Administration maintains an office in Washington, DC, for the purpose of promoting federal/state cooperation, it should submit a report detailing the activities of the office and reporting the status of federal legislation of concern to the Legislature and other state agencies (Wis. Stats. 16.548(2)).
The report for the period January, 2000 through March, 2000 is attached.
Sincerely,
George Lightbourn
Secretary
Referred to committee on State Affairs.
