Thursday, May 18, 2000
Ninety-Fourth Regular Session
The Chief Clerk makes the following entries under the above date:
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Executive Communications
State of Wisconsin
Office of the Governor
Madison
May 17, 2000
To the Honorable Members of the Assembly:
The following bills, originating in the Assembly, have been approved, signed and deposited in the office of the Secretary of State:
Bill Number Act Number Date Approved
AB 471 (partial veto)177May 17, 2000
Assembly Bill 561178May 17, 2000
Assembly Bill 137179May 17, 2000
Assembly Bill 751180May 17, 2000
Assembly Bill 700182May 17, 2000
Assembly Bill 742183May 17, 2000
Assembly Bill 968184May 17, 2000
Assembly Bill 967185May 17, 2000
Assembly Bill 969186May 17, 2000
AB 942 (partial veto)187May 17, 2000
Assembly Bill 402189May 17, 2000
Assembly Bill 504190May 17, 2000
Assembly Bill 538191May 17, 2000
Assembly Bill 778192May 17, 2000
Assembly Bill 841193May 17, 2000
Assembly Bill 860194May 17, 2000
AB 796 (partial veto)197May 18, 2000
Respectfully submitted,
Tommy G. Thompson
Governor
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Governor's Veto Messages
May 17, 2000
To the Honorable Members of the Assembly:
I have approved
Assembly Bill 471 as
1999 Wisconsin Act 177 and have deposited it in the Office of the Secretary of State. I have exercised the partial veto in Sections 1 and 2.
Assembly Bill 471 creates a small business employe training grant program within the Department of Commerce. An applicant under the program may receive up to $10,000 in grants. Grant proceeds may be used for employe skills training and other education related to the needs of the business.
Sections 1 and 2 authorize the payment of small business employe training grants from the existing Wisconsin Development Fund appropriation. That appropriation currently funds nearly a dozen state economic development grant and loan programs. I am vetoing Section 1 and partially vetoing Section 2 to remove the reference to the Wisconsin Development Fund appropriation because adding a program of this magnitude will unacceptably dilute funding available for economic development and job creation in Wisconsin.
I remain steadfast in my support for small business growth and development and request the Department of Commerce to identify other potential sources of funding for this program. I am also committed to carefully reviewing a permanent source of funding for the program in my 2001-03 biennial budget. Through training, tax relief, venture capital, and technical assistance programs, small businesses and the Wisconsin economy will continue to thrive.
Sincerely,
Tommy G. Thompson
Governor
__________________
May 18, 2000
To the Honorable Members of the Assembly:
I have approved
Assembly Bill 796 as
1999 Wisconsin Act 197 and have deposited it in the Office of the Secretary of State. I have exercised the partial veto in Sections 4m, 10e, 10s, 13d, 13h, 13p, 13t, 21, 25g, 25r and 26m.
A961
Assembly Bill 796 makes various changes to the governance of the State Fair Park and expands the board to 13 members, including 4 legislators. The bill also exempts the State Fair Park from various requirements associated with building program oversight and approval by the Governor, Legislature, State Building Commission and Department of Administration.
Assembly Bill 796 authorizes the State Fair Park Board to establish a nonprofit corporation to raise funds and operate the fairgrounds under contract with the board. The bill also includes minority group and women hiring and contracting goals associated with State Fair Park construction and renovation projects.
These changes anticipate the fundamental restructuring I and others envision for the State Fair Park. My administration is continuing to revise the State Fair Park's master plan to help fully realize the State Fair Park's potential. Redevelopment of the fairgrounds is not a discrete construction project. Implementation of this plan is expected to take several years and consist of multiple construction and renovation projects of various size and scope. That's why, the State Fair Park needs maximum flexibility in implementing the ultimate vision included in these redevelopment plans.
Section 10e establishes new membership for the State Fair Park Board. I am partially vetoing the requirement that a member be recommended by the Mayor of West Allis because it unnecessarily narrows the field of potential board members. However, as I review appointments to the board, I will consult with the Mayor of West Allis. The Mayor will have significant input on this appointment.
Sections 4m, 10s, 13d, 13h, 13t and 26m direct the Department of Administration, in consultation with the State Fair Park Board, to ensure that contractors, as a condition of receiving a contract, seek to achieve a project employment goal of 25 percent minority group members and 5 percent women. Identical numerical goals are set for the aggregate value of contracts awarded to minority and women-owned businesses for construction, professional services related to construction and facility development work. This section also requires that an independent person be hired by the Department of Administration to monitor compliance with, and efforts toward reaching, these goals.
I am vetoing sections 4m, 13d and 13t and partially vetoing sections 10s, 13h and 26m to remove requirements associated with goals for awarding the aggregate value of contracts to minority and women-owned businesses and for the hiring of an independent monitor because they unreasonably limit the ability of the department and the State Fair Park to initiate and complete various construction projects in a timely manner.
Sections 21 and 26m authorize the State Fair Park Board to permit a private person to construct a building, structure or facility in the State Fair Park under a lease agreement with the board. The board is required to develop policies that encourage that these private persons have a 25 percent employment and contracting goal for minority group members and businesses and a 5 percent employment and contracting goal for women and women-owned businesses. The board is also required to apply these contracting goals to contracts made under individual lease agreements and to the aggregate value of all contracts made by private persons in lease agreements with the board. I am partially vetoing these sections to remove the contracting goals for private persons because it sets a poor precedent for regulating actions by private business. While I concur that hiring goals are desirable for these lease agreements, additional restrictions are unreasonable and place unnecessary limits on private business actions.
Sections 13p and 26m extend minority and women hiring and contracting goals included in the bill to projects below $100,000. I am vetoing this provision because it unnecessarily increases administrative burdens associated with small construction and renovation projects. This veto will make minority and women hiring for State Fair Park consistent with state policy. From a legal perspective, State Fair Park is owned by the State and should be treated like any other State property. Under current law the Department of Administration must attempt to ensure that 5 percent of the total amount expended annually for State construction contracts be awarded to minority business. However, I request that the Department of Administration and the State Fair Park implement processes to ensure that there is maximum participation by minority and women employes and businesses in small construction projects.
Under current law, the Department of Administration must attempt to ensure that 5 percent of the total amount expended annually for state construction contracts be awarded to minority businesses. I request that the department and the State Fair Park make every effort to move beyond that goal in ensuring maximum participation in construction and related contracts by minority and women-owned businesses. While my vetoes retain a requirement that the Department of Administration report on the state's progress toward reaching the minority and women hiring goals in the bill, I also request that both agencies make complete and regular reports related to minority and women contracting associated with State Fair Park projects.
Sections 25g, 25r and 26m cross-reference the minority contracting requirements in the bill with Department of Commerce requirements associated with certifying and listing minority businesses. I am vetoing this provision because my partial vetoes in sections 13h and 21 make this cross-reference unnecessary.
Assembly Bill 796 increases the autonomy of the State Fair Park Board in response to recommendations of the State Fair Park Strategic Development Commission. These changes are aimed at assisting the State Fair Park with increasing private participation in redeveloping the park to better showcase Wisconsin agriculture and enhance the Park as a recreation and entertainment destination.
Sincerely,
Tommy G. Thompson
