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State of Wisconsin
November 9, 2004
The Honorable, The Senate:
The Senate Republican Caucus met on November 9, 2004, and elections were held for all caucus leadership positions and by unanimous ballot the results of the elections were as follows:
Senator Dale Schultz Senate Majority Leader
Senator Alan Lasee President
Senator Dave Zien President Pro Tempore
Senator Mary Lazich Assistant Majority Leader
Senator Ron Brown Caucus Chair
Senator Cathy Stepp Caucus Vice-Chair
Senator Sheila Harsdorf Caucus Sergeant-at-Arms
Please contact me if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
MARY LAZICH
Senate Republican Caucus Chair
State of Wisconsin
November 9, 2004
The Honorable, The Senate:
Today the Senate Democratic Caucus elected the following leaders, effective immediately:
Minority Leader Senator Judy Robson
Assistant Minority Leader Senator Dave Hansen
Caucus Chair Senator Jeff Plale
Sincerely,
ROBERT W. WIRCH
Senate Democratic Caucus Chair
State of Wisconsin
November 4, 2004
The Honorable, The Senate:
I am writing to inform you that I am hereby submitting my resignation as State Senator from the 14th Senate District, effective 10:00 a.m. on November 5, 2004.
It has been an honor and a privilege to represent the people of the 14th Senate District in the Wisconsin State Senate. I have coordinated with the Senate Chief Clerk to ensure that my office will continue to serve those constituents under his direction until a successor takes office.
Sincerely,
ROBERT T. WELCH
State Senator
State of Wisconsin
Department of Natural Resources
November 1, 2004
The Honorable, The Senate:
In fulfillment of the requirements under s.
299.80 (16), Wisconsin State Statutes, I am submitting to you a copy of the Environmental Cooperation Pilot Program 2004 Progress Report. Please distribute as appropriate. I am also providing a copy of the Report to the Governor and to the Honorable Chief Clerk of the Assembly.
For more information on the Environmental Cooperation Pilot Program or additional copies of this report, please contact Mark McDermid at (608) 267-3125, or visit our web site at
http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/caer/cea/.
Sincerely,
SCOTT HASSETT
Secretary
Referred to committee on Environment and Natural Resources.
State of Wisconsin
Department of Public Instruction
November 2, 2004
The Honorable, The Legislature:
Enclosed is a copy of "The 2000-01 to 2002-03 Inter-District Public School Open Enrollment Program: A Report to the Governor and the Legislature," as required by s.
118.51 (15) (c), Wis. Stats. The report is submitted to you as required by s.
13.172 (3), Wis. Stats.
Sincerely,
ELIZABETH BURMASTER
State Superintendent
Referred to committee on Education, Ethics, and Elections.
State of Wisconsin
Legislative Audit Bureau
November 9, 2004
The Honorable, The Legislature:
S880
We have completed a review of the administration of the Wisconsin Works (W-2) program by Opportunities Industrialization Center of Greater Milwaukee, Inc. (OIC-GM), Wisconsin's largest provider of W-2 services, which has been awarded state contracts totaling $231.5 million since 1997. This review was undertaken as part of our ongoing, comprehensive audit of the W-2 program, as requested by the Joint Legislative Audit Committee.
We found that OIC-GM's relationships with other companies are complex and include a subsidiary, affiliates, and ownership interests in other organizations. There is also substantial overlap in the leadership of OIC-GM and these organizations. During the 2002-2003 W-2 contract period, OIC-GM paid these companies at least $2.1 million. Although we found no evidence these payments were inappropriate, there is, at a minimum, the potential for OIC-GM and its associated organizations to financially benefit through noncompetitive subcontracts involving state and federal funds.
We reviewed the level and appropriateness of expenditures made by OIC-GM under W-2 and other programs and with other state and federal funds, including payments made to an attorney recently convicted of misappropriating state and federal funds. We question $421,200 in state and federal funds OIC-GM paid for legal services, including $308,000 for questionable work that was inadequately supported and $113,200 paid to an officer of OIC-GM, which is not allowed under federal regulations. We also found that OIC-GM had large expenditures for telecommunications, which totaled at least $330,700 for the 2002-2003 contract period.
Among $1.2 million in other transactions made by OIC-GM, we identified $6,900 in expenditures charged to the W-2 program that are unallowable, and we questioned another $86,400 primarily because they were excessive, extraordinary, or unnecessary to agency operations.
Sincerely,
JANICE MUELLER
State Auditor
State of Wisconsin
Ethics Board
November 9, 2004
The Honorable, The Senate:
The following lobbyists have been authorized to act on behalf of the organizations set opposite their names.
For more detailed information about these lobbyists and organizations and a complete list of organizations and people authorized to lobby the 2003 session of the legislature, visit the Ethics Board's web site at
http://ethics.state.wi.us
Burke, Brian Arjo Wiggins Appleton Limited
Mangi, Christine Arjo Wiggins Appleton Limited
Pawlisch, Curt River Alliance of Wisconsin
Viohl, Bridget Arjo Wiggins Appleton Limited
Also available from the Wisconsin Ethics Board are reports identifying the amount and value of time state agencies have spent to affect legislative action and reports of expenditures for lobbying activities filed by organizations that employ lobbyists.
Sincerely,
R. Roth Judd
Director
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State of Wisconsin
Office of the Governor
November 2, 2004
The Honorable, The Senate:
I am pleased to nominate and with the advice and consent of the Senate, do appoint Glocke
, Char,
of Onalaska, as a member of the Chiropractic Examining Board, to serve for the term ending July 1, 2008.
Sincerely,
JIM DOYLE
Governor
