Office of the Governor
April 9, 2004
To the Honorable, the Senate:
The following bill(s), originating in the Senate, have been approved, signed and deposited in the office of the Secretary of State:
Sincerely,
Jim Doyle
Governor
State of Wisconsin
Office of the Governor
April 12, 2004
The Honorable, The Senate:
I am vetoing Senate Bill 384 in its entirety. The bill creates the Wisconsin Advantage Jobs Training Program and allows a technical college district to contract with a business located in the district to provide worker training programs and other assistance if the contract is approved by the Wisconsin Technical College System Board.
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Specifically, the bill allows a technical college system board, either on its own or jointly with any other entity, to enter into a contract with a business in its district to provide training for jobs created or retained by the business; adult basic education programs; vocational and skill-assessment services; training facilities, equipment and materials; or professional services. Under the bill, a district board may not increase its tax levy to support a training program initiated under this section.
The Wisconsin Technical College System is critical to the health of Wisconsin's economy and the services that it provides to businesses in Wisconsin are vital in ensuring that the workforce in Wisconsin remains of the highest caliber. Senate Bill 384, however, does not enhance the ability of the Wisconsin Technical College System to provide worker training services to businesses.
This bill does nothing to improve working training in our state, since Technical College districts already have the power to enter into contracts with businesses to provide training. Unfortunately, the bill actually represents a step backward, because it pits job training against other worthy economic development projects as part of the Wisconsin Development Fund.
Since the day I unveiled my Grow Wisconsin plan, I have urged the Legislature to take action on my worker training program, making important strategic investments in our workforce. The Legislature missed the boat in failing to pass Senate Bill 310 – part of Grow Wisconsin – to create a new worker training program, with funding resources, to assist businesses that increase their workforce or make significant capital investments in their company. SB 310 represents real, meaningful improvements in job training that will help our workers earn their way up the economic ladder. The bill I am vetoing today falls far short of this, and is actually a step backward.
Finally, I am vetoing this bill and Senate Bill 451 because they represent a troubling departure from the longstanding and important practice of including appropriations in bills that require funding. The Legislature tried to separate the proposal into two separate bills, instead of allowing the proposal to be evaluated in its entirety. These types of legislative games are not in the interests of good public policy, and are a disservice to the people of Wisconsin. The Legislature should be advised that I am not likely to look favorably on future efforts to split bills away from their appropriations.
Sincerely,
Jim Doyle
Governor
State of Wisconsin
Office of the Governor
April 12, 2004
The Honorable, The Senate:
I am vetoing Senate Bill 451 in its entirety. The bill creates an appropriation and appropriates funds for the Wisconsin Advantage Jobs Training Program, a program created in Senate Bill 384.
Specifically, the bill creates an appropriation for the Wisconsin Technical College System Board. Senate Bill 451 provides $500,000 GPR to the appropriation in fiscal year 2004-05 allowing the Board to make grants under the Wisconsin Advantage Jobs Training Program, which would have been created had I signed Senate Bill 384. The bill also reduces the Wisconsin Development Fund by $500,000 GPR in fiscal year 2004-05. In addition, the bill requires that the base funding level for the Wisconsin Advantage Jobs Training Program be $1,000,000 GPR annually beginning in the 2005-07 biennium.
I am vetoing Senate Bill 451 because the Wisconsin Advantage Jobs Training Program was not enacted into law due to my veto of Senate Bill 384. As a result, the appropriation of funds for this program is not necessary. Furthermore, a reduction in funding for the Wisconsin Development Fund, one of the state's important economic development programs, is counterproductive to my efforts at growing Wisconsin's economy.
Sincerely,
Jim Doyle
Governor
State of Wisconsin
Office of the Governor
April 12, 2004
The Honorable, The Senate:
I am vetoing Senate Bill 508 in its entirety. The bill provides that employees who provide companionship services are exempt from state laws regarding overtime pay. In addition, Senate Bill 508 adopts the federal definition of companionship services. Under current law, when an employee of a commercial enterprise that provides in-home companionship services works more than 40 hours in a given week, the business must pay the employee an hourly wage equal to 1.5 times the regular rate for each hour over 40.
I am vetoing Senate Bill 508 in its entirety because the definition of companionship services included in the bill is so broad that the exemptions provided may be subject to misapplication and misuse. By downgrading the pay status of the companionship services occupation at a time when the demand for home care workers is increasing, Senate Bill 508 will lead to a less professional and less stable home care workforce. I also object to singling out one category of home-related personal service for separate treatment under the state's overtime law.
Sincerely,
Jim Doyle
Governor
State of Wisconsin
Office of the Governor
April 13, 2004
The Honorable, The Senate:
I am vetoing Senate Bill 63 in its entirety. The bill creates an exemption to the prohibition on the selling, buying, bartering and trading of feathers and nonedible parts of grouse, partridge, pheasant, quail and wild turkey.
The bill modifies state regulation of fur dealers by designating the sale, purchase, barter and trade of feathers and nonedible parts from upland game birds as a regulated activity under a license issued by the Department of Natural Resources. The bill also grandfathers licensed resident fur dealers to allow them to trade in upland game bird feathers and nonedible parts until their current license expires. Hunters would be exempt from fur and feather dealer licensing and record keeping requirements.
I support the state's efforts to regulate the trade of certain fur and animal parts under current law. However, I object to the commercialization of the upland game bird resource and creating the potential of overharvest for feathers and parts, which would have negative long-term impacts on the state's upland game bird population. Reducing upland game bird populations could also have a negative impact on the sport in the form of reduced bag limits, shorter hunting seasons and issuance of fewer permits. Lastly, the bill potentially increases law enforcement workload related to investigation and response to complaints of illegal hunting.
Sincerely,
Jim Doyle
Governor
Office of the Governor
April 14, 2004
To the Honorable, the Senate:
The following bill(s), originating in the Senate, have been approved, signed and deposited in the office of the Secretary of State:
Sincerely,
Jim Doyle
Governor
State of Wisconsin
Office of the Governor
April 6, 2004
The Honorable, The Senate:
This letter is to withdraw the nomination of Bob Henzl that was made March 10, 2004 for the State fair Park Board. Mr. Henzl no longer wishes to pursue this appointment.
Sincerely,
Jim Doyle
Governor
State of Wisconsin
Office of the Secretary of State
To the Honorable, the Senate:
Sincerely,
Douglas La follette
Secretary of State
State of Wisconsin
Office of the Secretary of State
To the Honorable, the Senate:
Sincerely,
Douglas La follette
Secretary of State
State of Wisconsin
Office of the Secretary of State
To the Honorable, the Senate:
Sincerely,
Douglas La follette
Secretary of State
State of Wisconsin
Department of Administration
April 7, 2004
The Honorable, The Legislature:
In accordance with Wisconsin statutes section 13.172(2) and section 16.957(2)(d)4, the department submits the FY2003 Annual report on the Public Benefits Fund.
The Public Benefits Fund supports the Focus on Energy program and Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance programs.
Please let me know if you have any questions about the report or the programs.
Sincerely,
Marc J. Marotta
Secretary
State of Wisconsin
University of Wisconsin System
April 6, 2004
The Honorable, The Legislature:
At its meeting April 2, 2004, the Board of Regents accepted the attached report for submission to the chief clerk of each house of the Legislature for distribution to the appropriate standing committees under s.
13.172(3).
