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.
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Senator Panzer, with unanimous consent, asked that all action be immediately messaged to the Assembly.
Senator M. Meyer, with unanimous consent, asked to be added as a coauthor of Senate Bill 346.
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Senator Jauch, with unanimous consent, asked that when the Senate adjourn, it do so in honor of Don Schneider, his mother Marge Schneider and Cindy Ashley.
Senator Wirch, with unanimous consent, asked that when the Senate adjourn, it do so in honor of Paul Simon who died recently and was a political hero to him.
S570
Senator Wirch, with unanimous consent, asked that when the Senate adjourn, it do so in honor of LeAnn Zadler who coordinated a group of Kenosha people to help a local family have their first merry Christmas in years.
Senator Wirch, with unanimous consent, asked that when the Senate adjourn, it do so in honor of Dan Roanhaus, Steve Hunter and Ray Garreau Sr. who organized an ice-fishing derby to benefit a local family whose daughter was critically injured in an auto accident.
Senator Breske, with unanimous consent, asked that when the Senate adjourn, it do so in honor of Nueske's – a fantastic meat market, shipping and processing plant in his district and only 7 miles from his house – which was mentioned in the New York Times this morning because of the classic taste of their bacon. Nueske's is known throughout the country for the quality of their meats and he counts himself lucky to have them in his backyard.
Senator Hansen, with unanimous consent, asked that when the Senate adjourn, it do so in honor of former Senator Jerry Van Sistine who was in the gallery.
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Senator Panzer, with unanimous consent, asked that the Senate adjourn until Tuesday, at 10:00 A.M..
Adjourned.
11:20 A.M.
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Senate Enrolled Proposals
The Chief Clerk records:
Senate Bill 17
Senate Bill 131
Senate Bill 252
Senate Bill 305
Senate Bill 306
Report correctly enrolled on January 22, 2004.
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Corrections In:
2003 Assembly Joint resolution 54
Prepared by the Legislative Reference Bureau
(January 20, 2004)
1. Page 1, line 6: delete that line.
