Assembly Bill 510
Relating to: authorizing the creation of a metropolitan service district, authorizing a metropolitan service district to levy a property tax, authorizing a metropolitan service district to apply for funding from certain programs that receive funding from the Warren Knowles-Gaylord Nelson Stewardship 2000 Program, authorizing certain towns to use tax incremental financing, and authorizing a metropolitan service district to impose impact fees and issue debt.
Assembly Amendment 1 adoption:
Ayes: 8 - Representatives Gunderson, LeMahieu, M. Lehman, Lothian, Gottlieb, Huber, Berceau and Taylor.
Noes: 0.
Passage as amended:
Ayes: 7 - Representatives Gunderson, LeMahieu, M. Lehman, Lothian, Huber, Berceau and Taylor.
Noes: 1 - Representative
Gottlieb.
To joint committee on Finance.
Senate Bill 97
Relating to: dog licensing and claims for damage that is caused by dogs in certain populous counties.
Concurrence:
Ayes: 7 - Representatives Gunderson, LeMahieu, Lothian, Gottlieb, Huber, Berceau and Taylor.
Noes: 1 - Representative
M. Lehman.
To committee on Rules.
Scott Gunderson
Chairperson
Committee on Urban and Local Affairs
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Speaker's Communications
December 1, 2003
Mr. Patrick Fuller, Chief Clerk
Wisconsin State Assembly
Room 208, Risser Justice Center
17 West Main Street
Madison, Wisconsin 53708
Dear Patrick:
Pursuant to Assembly Rule
23 (4), please message Enrolled Assembly Bill 228 to the Office of the Governor today. If your office is unable to deliver the enrolled bill today, please notify me as soon as possible.
Sincerely,
John G. Gard
Speaker
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Chief Clerk Reports
The Chief Clerk records:
Assembly Bill 611
Presented to the Governor on Friday, November 21.
Assembly Bill 98
Presented to the Governor on Monday, November 24.
Assembly Bill 126
Assembly Bill 259
Assembly Bill 260
Assembly Bill 261
Assembly Bill 472
Assembly Bill 503
Presented to the Governor on Tuesday, November 25.
Assembly Bill 48
Assembly Bill 130
Assembly Bill 228
Assembly Bill 251
Assembly Bill 328
Presented to the Governor on Monday, December 1.
Patrick E. Fuller
Assembly Chief Clerk
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Executive Communications
State of Wisconsin
Office of the Governor
Madison
November 25, 2003
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
Assembly Bill 61184November 21, 2003
Assembly Bill 9885November 25, 2003
Respectfully submitted,
James Doyle
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 14179December 5, 2003
Assembly Bill 23280December 5, 2003
Assembly Bill 25281December 5, 2003
Assembly Bill 6282December 5, 2003
Assembly Bill 61184December 8, 2003
A558
Assembly Bill 9885December 10, 2003
Sincerely,
Douglas La Follette
Secretary of State
__________________
Governor's Veto Message
November 26, 2003
To the Honorable Members of the Assembly:
I am vetoing Assembly Bill 126 in its entirety. This bill directs the Legislative Audit Bureau to conduct a longitudinal study of the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program.
While I share the desire to evaluate the Choice program in a meaningful way, I am vetoing this bill because it fails to require all Choice schools and students to participate in the study. Without such a requirement, the Legislative Audit Bureau will be unable to create truly representative samples of students participating in the program. A sample bias will be created as successful Choice schools continue to participate in the study, while unsuccessful and failing Choice schools withdraw from participation. Such a flaw is contrary to basic research methods, will likely skew results, and will hinder the usefulness of the study.
Further, the sample bias created under this bill may, in fact, create a false sense of accountability for Choice schools. While there are many exemplary schools with demonstrable results participating in the Choice program, there are other schools that are truly unaccountable to the parents and taxpayers who support them. To achieve true academic accountability, all Choice schools and students would need to participate throughout the length of the study.
Finally, I am concerned that long-term funding of Legislative Audit Bureau positions from private sources, particularly if those funds are provided by organizations that formally support or oppose the Choice program, creates a conflict of interest. Not only will this potentially compromise the study's objectivity, it could negatively impact the deeply held respect that the Bureau has earned over many years.
In conclusion, while I support the Legislature's efforts to work toward a meaningful evaluation of the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program, this bill falls short of that goal. I encourage the Legislature to continue to work toward true accountability on behalf of the children and parents who utilize the voucher program, and the taxpayers who subsidize it.
