The Honorable, The Senate:
I am vetoing
Senate Bill 351. The bill allows all counties, except Milwaukee and Menominee, to decrease the number of county board supervisors between federal decennial censuses, either by a board-initiated redistricting plan or by petition and referendum. Under current law, counties may change the number of county board members only once every ten years when a redistricting plan is adopted to conform to the federal decennial census. An exception to this rule was adopted under
2003 Wisconsin Act 32, whereby Milwaukee County may reduce its number of county supervisors once prior to November 15, 2010.
Senate Bill 351 prudently limits the downsizing of a county board through successful petition and referendum to once per decade. There is no limit, however, on the number of times a county board itself may adopt a redistricting plan that reduces the number of supervisors or the number of times a referendum question to downsize may appear on the ballot. The open-ended nature of these provisions may create circumstances where the cost, time and effort spent on redistricting far outweigh any savings or benefits obtained. Also, unlike the one-time authority granted to Milwaukee County, this bill provides ongoing authority into the future.
While I object to this bill because of its open-ended and ongoing authority, a more tailored bill could be developed which would accomplish the goals behind this piece of legislation.
Sincerely,
Jim Doyle
Governor
Office of the Governor
April 21, 2004
The Honorable, The Senate:
I am vetoing Senate Bill 484. This bill requires any contract under Medical Assistance for prepaid health benefits be made on an actuarially sound basis consistent with federal law. The bill specifies that this requirement is applicable to contracts issued or renewed on the effective date of the bill. I object to this bill because it is unnecessary and duplicative.
Prepaid health benefits, often provided by health maintenance organizations (HMOs), are a critical component of the effort to ensure high quality health care for Medical Assistance and BadgerCare recipients. HMOs, through prepaid health benefit plans, provide service to Medical Assistance recipients at a discount compared to service purchased on a fee-for-service basis. Current federal law requires the state to propose rates to the HMOs that are actuarially sound. This is a condition the state must meet to qualify for federal Medicaid funding. It is unlikely that the state would ever enter into contracts with prepaid health plans if those contracts did not qualify for federal Medicaid funds. Furthermore, the provisions could create confusion in the future regarding contract negotiations between the state and prepaid health plan providers if federal laws were to change, but corresponding changes to state law were not enacted.
Sincerely,
Jim Doyle
Governor
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The Chief Clerk makes the following entries under the above date.
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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 Revenue
April 26, 2004
The Honorable, The Legislature:
I am submitting the quarterly report of the Wisconsin Lottery for the quarter ending March 31, 2004. As required by s.
565.37(3), Wis. Stats., the attached materials contain unaudited Wisconsin Lottery year to date Sales and Expenditure information.
Revenues for the quarter were $116.2 million, a $10.7 million increase for the same quarter last year.
The information reported here is a summary and is not intended to be a complete financial accounting of Wisconsin Lottery operations.
If you have any questions or comments regarding this report, please feel free to contact me at (608) 266-6466.
Sincerely,
Michael L. Morgan
Secretary of Revenue
State of Wisconsin
Investment Board
April 20, 2004
The Honorable, The Legislature:
Pursuant to ss.
25.17(14r), Stats., I have attached a revised copy of SWIB's Investment Guidelines plus a "red-lined" copy that shows the amendments that the Board of Trustees recently made.
Our March 31, 2004 Investment Goals, Strategies and Performance Report that you recently received provides a more detailed discussion of the strategy and investment changes that are being implemented under the guidelines. Please contact me if you have any questions or comments.
Sincerely,
David C. Mills
Executive Director
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State of Wisconsin
Office of the Governor
Aprill 21, 2004
The Honorable, The Senate:
I am pleased to nominate and with the advice and consent of the Senate, do appoint Clark
, Mary Ann,
of Cumberland, as a member of the Nursing Home Administrator Examining Board, to serve for the term ending July 1, 2005.
Sincerely,
JIM DOYLE
Governor
Read and referred to committee on Health, Children, Families, Aging and Long Term Care.
Office of the Governor
Aprill 21, 2004
The Honorable, The Senate:
I am pleased to nominate and with the advice and consent of the Senate, do appoint Kinney
, Maureen L.,
of La Crosse, as a member of the Wisconsin Waterways Commission, to serve for the term ending March 1, 2009.
Sincerely,
JIM DOYLE
Governor
Read and referred to committee on Environment and Natural Resources.
State of Wisconsin
Office of the Governor
Aprill 19, 2004
The Honorable, The Senate:
I am pleased to nominate and with the advice and consent of the Senate, do appoint Knaus
, Jeffrey,
of Kaukauna, as a member of the Examining Board of Architects, Landscape Architects, Professional Engineers, Designers and Land Surveyors, to serve for the term ending July 1, 2007.
Sincerely,
JIM DOYLE
Governor
Read and referred to committee on Economic Development, Job Creation and Housing.
State of Wisconsin
Office of the Governor
Aprill 19, 2004
The Honorable, The Senate:
I am pleased to nominate and with the advice and consent of the Senate, do appoint Jordan
, Virginia,
of Eau Claire, as a member of the Dietitians Affiliated Credentialing Board, to serve for the term ending July 1, 2007.
Sincerely,
JIM DOYLE
Governor
Read and referred to committee on Health, Children, Families, Aging and Long Term Care.
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Relating to commencement of a school term.
