Thursday, January 22, 2004
10:32 A.M.
Ninety-Sixth Regular Session
The Senate met.
The Senate was called to order by Senator Alan Lasee.
The roll was called and the following Senators answered to their names:
Senators Breske, Brown, Carpenter, Chvala, Coggs, Cowles, Darling, Decker, Ellis, Erpenbach, S. Fitzgerald, Hansen, Harsdorf, Jauch, Kanavas, Kedzie, A. Lasee, Lassa, Lazich, Leibham, M. Meyer, Moore, Panzer, Plale, Reynolds, Risser, Robson, Roessler, Schultz, Stepp, Welch, Wirch and Zien - 33.
Absent - None.
Absent with leave - None.
The Senate stood for the prayer which was offered by Senator Gwendolynne Moore.
The Senate remained standing and Senator Harsdorf led the Senate in the pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.
Senator Zien, with unanimous consent, would like the journal to show he would have voted aye on concurrence of Assembly Bill 477, on the calendar of January 21, 2004.
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Marotta, Marc,
of Mequon, as Secretary of the Department of Administration, to serve for the term ending at the pleasure of the Governor.
Read.
The question was: Confirmation?
The ayes and noes were required and the vote was: ayes, 33; noes, 0; absent or not voting, 0; as follows:
Ayes - Senators Breske, Brown, Carpenter, Chvala, Coggs, Cowles, Darling, Decker, Ellis, Erpenbach, S. Fitzgerald, Hansen, Harsdorf, Jauch, Kanavas, Kedzie, A. Lasee, Lassa, Lazich, Leibham, M. Meyer, Moore, Panzer, Plale, Reynolds, Risser, Robson, Roessler, Schultz, Stepp, Welch, Wirch and Zien - 33.
Noes - None.
Absent or not voting - None.
Confirmed.
Senator Panzer, with unanimous consent, asked that the appointment of RILEY, ANTONIO, be referred to the committee on Senate Organization.
Senator Carpenter, with unanimous consent, asked to be added as a cosponsor of Assembly Bill
202.
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Senate Joint Resolution 57
Relating to: the life and public service of 1st Lieutenant Jeremy Lee Wolfe.
Read.
Adopted.
Senator Panzer, with unanimous consent, asked that Senate Bill 87 be referred to committee on Senate Organization.
Senate Bill 268
Relating to: an education tax credit for businesses.
Read a second time.
Senator Darling, with unanimous consent, asked that Senate Bill 268 be referred to the Joint Committee on Finance.
Senate Bill 277
Relating to: intoxicated operation of all-terrain vehicles, registration fees for all-terrain vehicles, nonresident trail passes for all-terrain vehicles, safety training for operating all-terrain vehicles, a study concerning the recreational operation of all-terrain vehicles, noise level requirements for all-terrain vehicles, the formula used for calculating the all-terrain vehicle gas tax payment, granting rule-making authority, making appropriations, and providing penalties.
Read a second time.
Senator Darling, with unanimous consent, asked that Senate Bill 277 be referred to the Joint Committee on Finance.
Assembly Bill 323
Relating to: the Managed Forest Land Program, providing funding for grants for land acquisition for outdoor recreation, requiring the exercise of rule-making authority, and making an appropriation.
Read a second time.
The question was: Adoption of Senate amendment 1 to Assembly Bill 323?
Adopted.
Ordered to a third reading.
Senator Panzer, with unanimous consent, asked that the bill be considered for final action at this time.
Assembly Bill 323
Read a third time and concurred in as amended.
Assembly Bill 459
Relating to: inclusion of social security numbers and employer identification numbers in Uniform Commercial Code financing statements.
Ordered to a third reading.
Senator Moore, with unanimous consent, asked to be added as a cosponsor of Assembly Bill 459.
Senator Wirch, with unanimous consent, asked to be added as a cosponsor of Assembly Bill 459.
Senator Panzer, with unanimous consent, asked that the bill be considered for final action at this time.
Assembly Bill 459
Read a third time and concurred in.
Senate Joint Resolution 58
Relating to: commending Donald J. Schneider for his many years of service to the Wisconsin senate and the people of Wisconsin.
Read.
Senator Panzer, with unanimous consent, asked that all members of the Senate be made coauthors of Senate Joint Resolution 58.
The question was: Shall Senate Joint Resolution 58 be adopted?
The ayes and noes weredemanded and the vote was: ayes, 33; noes, 0; absent or not voting, 0; as follows:
Ayes - Senators Breske, Brown, Carpenter, Chvala, Coggs, Cowles, Darling, Decker, Ellis, Erpenbach, S. Fitzgerald, Hansen, Harsdorf, Jauch, Kanavas, Kedzie, A. Lasee, Lassa, Lazich, Leibham, M. Meyer, Moore, Panzer, Plale, Reynolds, Risser, Robson, Roessler, Schultz, Stepp, Welch, Wirch and Zien - 33.
Noes - None.
Absent or not voting - None.
Adopted.
Senate Bill 395
Relating to: designating and marking a portion of USH 8 as the Donald J. Schneider Highway.
Read a second time.
Senator Erpenbach, with unanimous consent, asked that all members of the Senate be made coauthors of Senate Bill 395.
Ordered to a third reading.
Senator Panzer, with unanimous consent, asked that the bill be considered for final action at this time.
Senate
Bill 395
Read a third time and passed.
Senator Panzer with unanimous consent, asked that Donald Schneider be allowed to address the Senate and that his comments be spread upon the journal.
Mr. President and honorable members of the Senate, special guests, and colleagues whom I shared many happy years with in this chambers.
One quick comment I do need to make Mr. President. I think we've violated several rules today here. It is certainly a different position to be in at this podium, to have the honor to speak to all of you; and also I want to take the opportunity, so I do not forget, to congratulate Rob on his election as Chief Clerk, and congratulate all of you on your choice of Rob to replace me. I am sincerely pleased, I think he'll have a great career. And being at this podium now already I can tell that he's far exceeded my shoes in filling this position and will have a great career for all you in garnering the support that I had from all the members.
As I listen to the resolution and citation and look out upon all of you; I have been gone seven months and have had the opportunity to do a great deal of travel and I can tell you that there is a life after the legislature, but you certainly miss all of the people that you had the pleasure of being with on a day to day basis. Each and every person, and I found myself reflecting more upon some of those who were here before you, that as you replaced and were in the activity of the session you don't tend to remember all of those things as well as you do when you have more time I guess to do all of that. But the items that were talked about in the resolution and citation that you have chosen to mention and honor me today it's a shared honor because without the support of the people at the desk, the people in the offices, the service agencies, and in particular the members of the Senate, who allowed us to go out and be creative in some areas; push for some additional funding to maybe do the Senate Chambers a little differently than what the original plans were in the restoration project, automate the legislature, hosting of the NCSL annual meeting, rule modifications, office accounts, and Senate policy procedures to provide, ultimately, for what I believe is a stronger more effective State Senate and legislature.
I have the occasion to read many more newspapers now than I did before. I may reflect a little more about what is being written not only about this legislature and the congress but about world events and we all believe strongly in our freedoms and want to protect them and we honor those who give of their lives to protect them, but there's no doubt in my mind that the greatest protector of our way of life and our freedoms is the legislative branch of government. This is were the conflict resolution truly occurs. This is were policy is set to govern our lives and to provide for peace and prosperity and happiness for all of us. I think that all of you have done a magnificent job in providing that for the State of Wisconsin. It is truly a wonderful place that will always be my home, even though I may travel wide and far. I appreciate the warm welcome and the comments of warmth in the resolution since I am here today on the coldest day and I left Florida when it was 75. Its truly been a chilling experience for the first couple days back here but the warmth and friendliness of being in this chambers will be with me forever.
It is truly a great pleasure to return to see everyone in this chamber. I wish all of you the best for the future. I would only ask that as you move forward with your legislative careers and may move on to the executive branch or the judiciary or other places, keep in mind how important this legislative branch of government is. Put it to the forefront, care for it, provide for it, because it is the one part of our government that is truly closest to the people. It does provide for our peace and prosperity. Thank you Senators for allowing me to be with you again today.
