Third, from health care and prescription drugs to police vehicles and information technology, we are using the resources and buying power of the state to help local governments reduce their costs.
And fifth, reforming the school finance system is the single most important thing we can do to hold down property taxes, and I hope we'll all work together to get it done.
In Wisconsin, we recognize that clean air and water are the cornerstones of a strong economy.
Tonight, I'm calling on Democrats and Republicans to pass legislation to protect our groundwater against withdrawals that significantly damage our rivers, lakes, wetlands, and springs. I applaud Representatives DuWayne Johnsrud and Louis Molepske as well as Senator Neal Kedzie for their efforts to find a bipartisan solution.
This year will mark a milestone in the long effort to clean up the Fox River, as the first PCBs are finally removed from the Fox River. It is a downpayment on what will be the largest river cleanup effort in the nation.
We also must preserve and protect the Great Lakes - the largest body of fresh water in the world. Let's fight to keep the beaches open, go after invasive species, and most of all, preserve these waters for Wisconsin citizens, instead of diverting them to Phoenix or Las Vegas.
We have in our state a great national treasure - but it is at risk. Our Ice Age Trail follows the path of the last glacier that cut its way through Wisconsin thousands of years ago. When completed, it will be Wisconsin's version of the Appalachian Trail.
Over the past 45 years, 400 miles of the trail have been protected for future generations, thanks in no small part to the Stewardship program. But unless we take aggressive action now, we will lose forever our chance to complete the trail.
And so tonight, I am setting the goal to permanently protect the next 400 miles of the Ice Age Trail within the next decade.
As a first step, I'm announcing that the Stewardship Program, with the help of the federal government and the leadership of Congressman Dave Obey, has purchased 207 acres in Chippewa County to help expand the Ice Age Trail.
There are other challenges as well.
We need to toughen our laws against sex predators.
We need to get the big money out of politics, and pass campaign finance reform. I am working with Senators Jon Erpenbach and Mike Ellis to do just that. There's one thing we all should agree on. Groups that run phony issue ads should have the same reporting and contribution requirements as everyone else.
Our state employees make outstanding contributions to our state in so many ways. One of those employees, Jim Larson, joins us tonight with his family.
Jim serves our state as a member of the State Patrol, and as a member of the Wisconsin Air National Guard. While on active duty last year in Kuwait, he suffered a financial penalty, because like many employees, his military salary is less than his civilian one.
A bipartisan bill - authored by Representative Terry Musser - would eliminate this penalty, but the bill has been stalled since September. It's time for the State of Wisconsin, as an employer, to join with companies like American Family, Miller Brewing, Schneider International, Rockwell Automation and many others, and provide a differential pay benefit to all state employees who serve our country.
I've recognized a number of outstanding individuals here tonight.
But I'd also like to honor those who couldn't be here.
Early last year, Wisconsin lost one of our own, Dr. Laurel Clark, who perished with her fellow explorers aboard the Shuttle Columbia.
Throughout the year, thousands of Wisconsin's young men and women left home to do their duty in Iraq when their country called. Nine of them never returned.
Sergeant Kirk Straseskie.
Major Mathew Schram.
Sergeant Daniel Gabrielson.
Specialist Paul Sturino.
Private Rachel Bosveld.
Sergeant Warren Hansen.
Specialist Eugene Uhl.
Lieutenant Jeremy Wolfe.
And Major Christopher Splinter.
They are a roster of heroes. They make Wisconsin proud. And we will never forget them.
In honor of those nine families, we're joined tonight by Julie and Marvin Bosveld, whose daughter Rachel became the first Wisconsin woman killed in action in Iraq. Rachel was an incredibly courageous 19 year-old who enlisted right after high school because she loved her country and wanted to serve.
Mr. and Mrs. Bosveld, this state owes you a profound debt of gratitude, for you truly raised a hero.
Tonight, let us also salute the men and women of our Wisconsin National Guard.
More than 2,000 of them were deployed last year, the most since the Berlin Crisis in 1961. They sustained the first combat injuries for the Wisconsin Guard since World War II, and were awarded more than 20 Purple Hearts.
Won't you join me in recognizing Major General Al Wilkening and members of our Wisconsin Army and Air National Guard.
Last spring, I had the opportunity to help release a bald eagle back into the wild. Its wings had been injured, and it had been found lying on the ground, unable to fly. The family that found it brought it to the DNR, and they got it to Marge Gibson, Executive Director of the Raptor Education Group, who slowly nursed the eagle back to health.
Months later, we stood with Ms. Gibson, high on the banks of the Wisconsin River. As she handed me the eagle, I asked her what would happen to it.
She explained that within a day, it would find its nest again. And more than likely, its lifelong mate would be waiting for it.
And so I threw the eagle up in the air, and as I did, it took one beat of its wings. It rose up about 10 feet, took one more beat of its wings, and began soaring again, high above the Wisconsin River.
Wisconsin is that eagle, strong and proud. We've taken a few hits, and we had fallen from where we should have been, but like that eagle, we have always found our way home.
We've worked hard to lift this state up, and now, Wisconsin is ready to soar again.
Let all of us who love this state come together to make Wisconsin a place full of hope, full of promise, full of opportunity for all who seek it.
I am humbled and honored to be your Governor.
On Wisconsin.
The Joint Convention arose at 8:15 P.M.
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10:00 A.M.
The Senate reconvened.
Senator A. Lasee in the chair.
The Chair noted the possible lack of a quorum.
The roll was called and the following Senators answered to their names:
Senators Brown, Carpenter, Chvala, Coggs, Darling, Ellis, Erpenbach, Hansen, Kanavas, Kedzie, A. Lasee, Lazich, Plale, Reynolds, Risser, Robson, Stepp, Welch, Wirch and Zien - 20.
Absent - Senators Breske, Cowles, Decker, Fitzgerald, Harsdorf, Jauch, Lassa, Leibham, Meyer, Moore, Panzer, Roessler and Schultz - 13.
Absent with leave - None.
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Senate Bill 214
Relating to: carrying or going armed with a concealed weapon, requiring the exercise of rule-making authority, making appropriations, and providing penalties.
Read.
The question was: Shall Senate Bill 214 pass notwithstanding the objections of the governor?
The ayes and noes were required and the vote was: ayes, 23; noes, 10; absent or not voting, 0; as follows:
Ayes - Senators Breske, Brown, Cowles, Darling, Decker, Ellis, S. Fitzgerald, Harsdorf, Kanavas, Kedzie, A. Lasee, Lassa, Lazich, Leibham, Panzer, Plale, Reynolds, Roessler, Schultz, Stepp, Welch, Wirch and Zien - 23.
Noes - Senators Carpenter, Chvala, Coggs, Erpenbach, Hansen, Jauch, M. Meyer, Moore, Risser and Robson - 10.
Absent or not voting - None.
Passed not withstanding objections of the governor.
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Relating to licenses, certifications, and registrations.
Submitted by Department of Commerce.
Report received from Agency, January 20, 2004.
Referred to committee on Labor, Small Business Development and Consumer Affairs, January 21, 2004.
Relating to hunting limits.
Submitted by Kickapoo Reserve Management Board.
Report received from Agency, January 20, 2004.
Referred to committee on Environment and Natural Resources, January 21, 2004.
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The committee on Health, Children, Families, Aging and Long Term Care reports and recommends:
Relating to the child care local pass through program.
No action taken.
Carol Roessler
Chairperson
The committee on Transportation and Information Infrastructure reports and recommends:
