Thursday, September 23, 1999
10:00 A.M.
Ninety-Fourth Regular Session
STATE OF WISCONSIN
Senate Journal
The Senate met.
The Senate was called to order by Senator Fred Risser.
The Chair, with unanimous consent, asked that the proper entries be made in the journal.
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report of committees
The committee on Economic Development, Housing and Government Operations reports and recommends:
Senate Bill 187
Relating to: eliminating the time period in which state employes must use accumulated sick leave credits to purchase state group health insurance.
Passage.
Ayes, 5 - Senators Wirch, Moore, Grobschmidt, Drzewiecki and Zien.
Noes, 0 - None.
Senate Joint Resolution 20
Relating to: 4-year terms of office for clerks of the circuit courts (first consideration).
Adoption.
Ayes, 5 - Senators Wirch, Moore, Grobschmidt, Drzewiecki and Zien.
Noes, 0 - None.
Robert Wirch
Chairperson
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petitions and communications
State of Wisconsin
Joint Legislative Council
September 9, 1999
The Honorable, The Senate:
Please note that reports to the 1999 Legislature by the Joint Legislative Council are available on our web page at www.legis.state.wi.us/lc/jlc99recs.htm.
Sincerely,
David J. Stute
Director
State of Wisconsin
Legislative Audit Bureau
September 23, 1999
The Honorable, The Senate:
We have completed a review of local transit systems' contracts with University of Wisconsin (UW) campuses, as directed by 1997 Wisconsin Act 27. While 16 UW campuses are currently served by mass transit systems, only the two largest campuses, UW-Madison and UW-Milwaukee, have contracted for extensive service through bus pass programs that allow students unlimited access to local bus routes.
UW-Milwaukee first contracted for a student bus pass program in the 1994-95 academic year. Since the program's inception, costs have increased by 33.4 percent, from $1,152,000 in the 1994-95 academic year to $1,537,000 in 1998-99. In four of the five years since the program began, contract revenues and revenue from state and federal aid fully covered program costs.
UW-Madison's student bus pass program began in the 1996-97 academic year. Excluding start-up expenses, costs have increased by less than one percent, from $1,377,000 in 1996-97 to $1,385,000 in 1998-99. Contract and aid revenues fell short of costs in each year, and the amount of the estimated shortfall was $111,000 in 1998-99. Local revenues have made up the shortfall.
Transit system and UW representatives believe the student bus pass programs have many benefits, including increasing bus ridership, alleviating parking concerns, and reducing traffic congestion. However, affected local communities may wish to re-evaluate the continuing use of local revenue to support these programs, taking into account both their costs and the local benefits they provide. Similarly, the Legislature may wish to note its contribution to these programs. In 1998-99, $387,000 in state and federal mass transit aid was used to support the cost of UW-Milwaukee's and UW-Madison's student bus pass programs, and an additional $1,380,000 in state and federal aid was used to support in intra-campus bus route operating exclusively on the UW-Madison campus.
We appreciate the courtesy and cooperation extended to us by the Milwaukee County Transit System. Madison Metro Transit System, and other systems throughout the state, as well as officials from UW-Milwaukee, UW-Madison, and other campuses. Responses have been provided by the University of Wisconsin and the Madison Metro Transit System; they are Appendices I and II.
Sincerely,
Janice Mueller
State Auditor
State of Wisconsin
Ethics Board
September 21, 1999
The Honorable, The Senate:
The following lobbyists have been authorized to act on behalf of the organizations set opposite their names.
For more detailed information about these lobbyists and organizations and a complete list of organizations and people authorized to lobby the 1999 session of the legislature, visit the Ethics Board's web site at http://ethics.state.wi.us
Elverman, Timothy J Miller & Schroeder Small Business Capital Corporation
Gallucci, Anita League of Wisconsin Municipalities
S269 Mason, Cory State Bar of Wisconsin
Maxwell, Georgia Wisconsin Credit Union League
Opitz, David Elkhart Lake's Road America
Yates, Tricia Wisconsin Education Association Council
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.
Sincerely,
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