January 16, 2001
The Honorable, The Senate:
Pursuant to Senate Rule
20(2)(a), I have made the following appointments to Senate committees:
To the Senate committee for review of Administrative Rules: Senators Schultz and Cowles;
To the Senate committee on Audit: Senators Rosenzweig and Lazich;
To the Senate committee on Economic Development and Corrections: Senator Zien;
To the Senate committee on Education: Senators Roessler, Farrow, Darling, Lazich and Harsdorf;
To the Senate committee on Environmental Resources: Senators Cowles and Schultz;
To the Senate committee on Finance: Senators Darling and Welch;
To the Senate committee on Health, Utilities, Veterans and Military Affairs: Senators Rosenzweig, Cowles, Fitzgerald and Lazich;
To the Senate committee on Human Services and Aging: Senators Rosenzweig, Roessler and Welch;
To the Senate committee on Information Policy and Technology: Senators Lazich and Harsdorf;
To the Senate committee on Insurance, Tourism, and Transportation: Senators Lasee and Farrow;
To the Senate committee on Judiciary, Consumer Affairs, and Campaign Finance Reform: Senators Huelsman and Fitzgerald;
To the Senate committee on Labor and Agriculture: Senators Lasee and Harsdorf;
To the Senate committee on Privacy, Electronic Commerce, and Financial Institutions:: Senators Huelsman and Fitzgerald;
To the Senate committee on 2001-03 Biennial Budget: Senators Schultz and Harsdorf;
To the Senate committee on Universities, Housing, and Government Operations: Senators Ellis, Huelsman and Zien;
To the joint survey committee on Retirement Systems: Senator Ellis;
To the joint survey committee on Tax Exemptions: Senator Ellis;
To the Council on Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse: Senator George;
To the Building Commission: Senators Risser, Meyer and Roessler;
To the Education Commission of the States: Senator Shibilski;
To the Educational Communications Board: Senator George;
To the Environmental Education Board: Senator Burke;
To Forward Wisconsin: Senator Grobschmidt;
To the Council on Highway Safety: Senator Breske;
S25
To the Joint Legislative Council: Senators , Grobschmidt, Robson, Baumgart, Rosenzweig and Zien;
To the Migrant Labor Council: Senator Robson;
To the Minnesota-Wisconsin Boundary Area Commission: Senators Jauch and Meyer;
To the Mississippi River Parkway Commission: Senator Meyer;
To the Rural Economic Development Board: Senators Decker and Zien;
To the State Capitol and Executive Residence Board: Senators Risser, Burke and Schultz;
To the Council on Tourism: Senator Breske;
To the Transportation Projects Commission: Senators Breske, Grobschmidt, Hansen, Lasee and Schultz
To the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority: Senators Moore and Fitzgerald.
With regards to the members of the minority party, the appointments reflect the recommendations of that caucus.
Sincerely,
Chuck Chvala
Chair, Committee on Senate Organization
State of Wisconsin
Department of Justice
January 2001
The Honorable, The Senate:
It is with great pleasure and pride that I present this report for the Wisconsin Crime Victim Compensation Program. The Wisconsin Crime Victim Compensation Program was established by the legislature in 1976. It has been administered by the Office of Crime Victim Services in the Department of Justice since July 1, 1980. This report covers activities of the program for the biennia beginning July 1, 1995, and ending June 30, 1999. The report chronicles the continued success the program has had in assisting victims of crime with the financial expenses associated with their physical and emotional recovery.
I commend the dedicated staff of the program, victim advocates and law enforcement personnel, who through their constant efforts have made Wisconsin's Crime Victim Compensation Program one of the best in the country.
Sincerely,
JAmes E. Doyle
Attorney General
State of Wisconsin
Council on Physical Disabilities
January 2, 2001
The Honorable, The Legislature:
As required by s.
46.29 (f) of the state statutes, I am pleased to submit to you the Annual report of the Council on Physical Disabilities for the state fiscal year 2000 (July 1, 1999 through June 30, 2000). The Council appreciates the opportunity to participate in state government as a representative of Wisconsin's citizens with physical disabilities.
Alternate versions of the report are available on request. If you have any questions, please contact Holly Laux O'Higgins at the Office for Persons with Physical Disabilities. She can be reached at (608) 266-8905 or via e-mail at
lauxhm@dhfs.state.wi.us.
Sincerely,
Linda Rowley
Chairperson
State of Wisconsin
Governor's Blue-Ribbon Commission on State-Local Partnerships for the 21st Century
January 2001
The Honorable, The Legislature:
The report of the Governor's Blue-Ribbon Commission on State-Local Partnerships for the 21st Century is enclosed.
Sincerely,
Richard Lorang
Policy Director
State of Wisconsin
Legislative Audit Bureau
January 12, 2000
The Honorable, The Legislature:
We have completed an evaluation of the State's recycling activities, as directed by the Joint Legislative Audit Committee. State expenditures from the segregated Recycling Fund for fiscal year (FY) 1999-2000 were $28.9 million, used primarily for grants to municipalities for the operation of recycling programs, The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) administers these grants and has primary responsibility for the State's recycling efforts.
The best data available indicate Wisconsin recycled 36 percent of its municipal solid waste in 1995, and the national average was 26 percent in that year. Wisconsin is one of few states nationally that provides substantial financial support to local programs; Wisconsin's grant payments in calendar year 2000 were $24.4 million, Minnesota is the only other midwestern state that provides substantial state support to local recycling programs. Minnesota budgeted $14.0 million for local grants in FY 2000-01 and achieved residential per capita recycling rates similar to Wisconsin's.
Wisconsin grants to municipalities support an average of 30.4 percent of local recycling costs and are used for a broad array of local costs, including salaries, equipment, and administration. However, our review found little relationship between the percentage of local costs covered by a municipality's grant and the municipality's recycling rate.
Although DNR is authorized 19.0 full-time equivalent (FTE) recycling positions, only 15.4 FTE reported working on recycling activities. In addition, DNR has not met a statutory requirement to audit at least 5.0 percent of grants provided to municipalities each year. We include a recommendation that DNR devote its 0.5 FTE recycling auditor position exclusively to audits of municipal recycling grants and suggest DNR report to the Legislature on the relationship of its authorized positions to local recycling efforts.
We appreciate the courtesy and cooperation extended to us by DNR, municipal recycling managers, and staff with recycling-related responsibilities in the Department of Commerce and the University of Wisconsin-Extension.
Sincerely,
Janice Mueller
State Auditor
__________________
State of Wisconsin
Office of the Governor
January 12, 2001
The Honorable, The Senate:
S26
I am pleased to nominate and with the advice and consent of the Senate, do appoint
Hutchison, David E.,
of Luxemburg, as a member of the Educational Communications Board, to serve for the term ending at the pleasure of the Governor.
Sincerely,
TOMMY G. THOMPSON
Governor
Read and referred to committee on Universities, Housing, and Government Operations.
