⋅ An additional $130 million in bonding authority to invest in water quality improvement.
⋅ Three million dollars for ethanol production to help the environment and to help Wisconsin farmers.
⋅ Two million dollars for "brownfield" clean-up in the Menomonee Valley.
S89
⋅ Nearly two million dollars will be directed towards the Agricultural Stewardship Initiative to fund research which will help reduce agricultural pollution.
⋅ Creation of the Fox River Navigational System Authority to rehabilitate, repair, operate and maintain the lock system on the Fox River.
⋅ A $300,000 program to better control invasive aquatic plants which threaten Wisconsin's aquatic habitat and water-based recreation.
In closing . . . there can be no doubt this will be a difficult budget process and I am sure the debates will sometimes be fierce . . . but there is no need for our political differences to spill over into our personal relationships.
There's an old French proverb that says . . . "To speak kindly does not hurt the tongue."
Let's fight as hard as we can for what we believe . . . but let's also treat each other with respect and kindness and courtesy.
As I said in my inaugural address . . .
Let's be proud of what we do and say here.
Let's leave a legacy our children can look back on with pride when we are gone.
Shakespeare wrote . . . "If I lose my honor . . . I lose myself."
Let's be sure we hold both honor and self securely in our hands as this important budget debate unfolds.
Thank you.
The Joint Convention arose at 2:36 P.M.
4:16 P.M.
The Senate reconvened.
Senator George in the chair.
The Chair, with unanimous consent, asked that the proper entries be made in the journal.
__________________
Read and referred:
Senate Joint Resolution 22
Relating to: the life and public service of Daniel T. "Tom" Kelley.
By
Senator
Robson
; cosponsored by Representative Schooff
.
To committee on Senate Organization.
Senate Joint Resolution 23
Relating to: the life and public service of Helmar A. Lewis.
By
Senators
Schultz, Cowles, Farrow, Baumgart and Darling; cosponsored by Representatives Loeffelholz, Freese, Johnsrud, Albers, Gunderson, Ladwig, Turner, Vrakas, Wade, Gronemus, Owens, Krawczyk and Petrowski.
To committee on Senate Organization.
__________________
Read first time and referred:
Senate Bill 53
Relating to: proceeds from the sale of forest products at Badger Army Ammunition Plant and making an appropriation.
By
Senators
Welch and Schultz; cosponsored by Representatives Wade, Freese, Albers, Gunderson, Townsend and Musser.
To committee on Health, Utilities, Veterans and Military Affairs.
Senate Bill 54
Relating to: discharges of dredged or fill material into nonfederal wetlands.
By
Senator
Shibilski
.
To committee on Environmental Resources.
Senate Bill 56
Relating to: following snowplows and providing a penalty.
By
Senators
Plache, Breske, Burke, Darling, Moen and Schultz; cosponsored by Representatives Ainsworth, Boyle, Freese, Huber, Krawczyk, Ladwig, Lassa, M. Lehman, J. Lehman, Lippert, Musser, Olsen, Owens, Plouff, Powers, Ryba, Starzyk, Stone, Townsend, Turner, Vrakas and Wade.
To committee on Insurance, Tourism, and Transportation.
Senate Bill 57
Relating to: creating a permit authorizing the operation upon a highway of a specialized hauling rig that exceeds statutory size and weight limits.
By
Senators
Breske and M. Meyer; cosponsored by Representatives Stone, Grothman, Montgomery, Townsend, Albers, Lassa, Sykora, Petrowski, Pettis, Wade, Gronemus and Ryba.
To committee on Insurance, Tourism, and Transportation.
Senate Bill 58
Relating to: the regulation of snowmobile rail crossings.
By
Senators
Breske, Cowles, Decker, Baumgart and Schultz; cosponsored by Representatives Wade, Ryba, Kestell, Gunderson, Johnsrud, Gronemus, Townsend, Kreuser, Albers, Olsen, Pettis, Nass, Lippert, Kreibich, Kaufert, Petrowski, Sykora and Vrakas.
To committee on Insurance, Tourism, and Transportation.
Senate Bill 59
Relating to: authority of a court to suspend a person's operating privilege for violations of ordinances unrelated to the operation of a motor vehicle or for failing to pay a penalty for such a violation.
By
Senators
Harsdorf, Darling, Huelsman and Schultz; cosponsored by Representatives Ladwig, M. Lehman, Townsend, Olsen, Starzyk, Pettis, Albers, Stone, Leibham, Sykora and Jeskewitz.
To committee on Judiciary, Consumer Affairs, and Campaign Finance Reform.
Relating to: authority of a court to suspend a juvenile's operating privilege for violations of ordinances unrelated to the operation of a motor vehicle or for failing to pay a penalty for such a violation.
By
Senators
Plache and Huelsman; cosponsored by Representatives Ladwig, Stone, Olsen, Lippert, Starzyk, Vrakas, Kreuser, Miller, J. Lehman and Pettis.
To committee on Judiciary, Consumer Affairs, and Campaign Finance Reform.
__________________
The joint committee on Finance reports and recommends:
Senate Bill 55
Relating to: state finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2001 legislature.
Introduction.
Ayes, 16 - Senators
Burke, Decker, Moore, Shibilski, Wirch, Robson, Darling and Welch. Representatives Gard, Kaufert, Albers, Duff, Ward, Huebsch, Huber and Riley.
Noes, 0 - None.
To joint committee on Finance.
Brian Burke
Senate Chairperson
Pursuant to Senate Rule
36(2)(c) and section 13.52(6), Wisconsin Statutes, the Co-Chairs of the Joint Survey Committee on Tax Exemptions shall prepare and submit a report in writing setting forth an opinion on the desirability of
Senate Bill 55, relating to state finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2001 legislature, as a matter of public policy.
Pursuant to Senate Rule
36(2)(c) and section 13.50(6), Wisconsin Statutes, the Co-Chairs of the Joint Survey Committee on Retirement Systems shall prepare and submit a report in writing setting forth an opinion on the desirability of
Senate Bill 55, relating to state finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2001 legislature, as a matter of public policy.
__________________
State of Wisconsin
February 20, 2001
The Honorable, The Senate:
I will be unable to attend the Joint Committee on Finance meeting of February 20, 2001. Therefore, I am submitting my resignation from the committee.
I will be available to resume my position immediately for the next committee meeting. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
Kimberly M. Plache
State Senator
State of Wisconsin
February 20, 2001
The Honorable, The Senate:
Pursuant to Senate Rule
20(2)(a), I have appointed Senator Judy Robson to the Joint Committee on Finance.
