__________________
State of Wisconsin
June 21, 2005
The Honorable, The Senate:
Pursuant to Senate Rule
46(2)(c), I am writing to direct that
Assembly Bill 116 be withdrawn from the committee on
Job Creation, Economic Development and Consumer Affairs and rereferred to the committee on
Veterans, Homeland Security, Military Affairs, Small Business and Government Reform.
I have obtained the consent of the appropriate chairperson.
Sincerely,
ALAN LASEE
Senate President
State of Wisconsin
Legislative Audit Bureau
June 22, 2005
The Honorable, The Legislature:
We have examined the Indian Gaming, Racing, and Charitable Gaming programs administered by the Division of Gaming in the Department of Administration, as required by s.
13.94(1)(eg), Wis. Stats. We have issued an unqualified opinion on the Division's budgetary financial schedules for the three-year period from fiscal year (FY) 2001-02 through FY 2003-04.
Under the terms of the tribal-state gaming compacts, this office and the Department of Administration receive copies of independent financial audits of all Class III gaming operations for the 11 tribes that operate gaming facilities in Wisconsin. Based on these audited statements, total tribal revenue increased from $889.5 million in 2000 to almost $1.2 billion in 2004, or by 34.1 percent. Tribal expenditures increased from $470.8 million in 2000 to $676.2 million in 2004, or by 43.6 percent. Gaming profits, which are used by the tribes for payments to tribal members or for other purposes, increased from $418.7 million to $516.3 million, or by 23.3 percent.
Payments to the State increased under the 2003 compact amendments that were signed by 10 of the 11 tribes. The State received tribal payments of nearly $24.9 million in FY 2002-03 and $69.6 million in FY 2003-04. However, projecting future tribal payments is difficult pending the outcome of negotiations in response to a 2004 Wisconsin Supreme Court decision that invalidated certain compact provisions. In addition, because future payments to the State will be based on a percentage of net revenues, rather than on the lump-sum amounts most tribes paid in the past, it will be important for the Department of Administration to ensure that payments are correctly calculated and received in a timely manner. We note a number of potential concerns in these areas.
From FY 2001-02 through FY 2003-04, pari-mutuel tax revenue generated from greyhound racing and bingo tax revenue has declined. Nevertheless, during the three-year period we examined, the Racing and Charitable Gaming programs provided nearly $4.0 million to the Lottery Fund for property tax relief.
We appreciate the courtesy and cooperation extended to us by the Department of Administration and the 11 tribal nations located in Wisconsin. A response from the Department of Administration follows the appendix.
Sincerely,
JANICE MUELLER
State Auditor
Pursuant to Senate Rule
17 (5), Senator Zien added as a coauthor of
Senate Bills 228 and
234, and
Senate Joint Resolution 30.
Pursuant to Senate Rule
17 (5), Senator Kedzie added as a cosponsor of
Assembly Bill 179.
Pursuant to Senate Rule
17 (5), Senator Roessler added as a cosponsor of
Assembly Bill 5.
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State of Wisconsin
Office of the Governor
June 17, 2004
The Honorable, The Senate:
I am pleased to nominate and with the advice and consent of the Senate, do appoint Landes
, Samuel,
of Dane, as a member of the Snowmobile Recreational Council, to serve for the term ending July 1, 2008.
Sincerely,
JIM DOYLE
Governor
Read and referred to committee on Higher Education and Tourism.
__________________
Senator Schultz, with unanimous consent, asked that the reading be dispensed with, and that the appointments be taken up en masse.
Bohacek, Linda,
of Eau Claire, as a member of the Dentistry Examining Board, for the term ending July 1, 2008.
Cordero, Otto,
of Sauk City, as a member of the Physical Therapists Affiliated Credentialing Board, to serve for the term ending July 1, 2007.
Heine
, Margaret,
of Janesville, as a member of the Board of Nursing, to serve for the term ending July 1, 2009.
Lockhart, Jack,
of La Crosse, as a member of the Medical Examining Board, to serve for the term ending July 1, 2009.
Mistele, Enid,
of Sparta, as a member of the Physical Therapists Affiliated Credentialing Board, to serve for the term ending July 1, 2006.
Musser
, Gene,
of Middleton, as a member of the Medical Examining Board, for the term ending July 1, 2009.
Rodriguez, Mariana,
of Milwaukee, as a member of the Council on Domestic Abuse, to serve for the term ending July 1, 2008.
S272
Spano
, David,
of Elm Grove, as a member of the Wisconsin Professional Baseball Park District Board, for the term ending July 1, 2007.
Stroede, Jane,
of Wisconsin Dells, as a member of the Physical Therapists Affiliated Credentialing Board, to serve for the term ending July 1, 2009.
Read.
The question was: Confirmation?
The ayes and noes were required and the vote was: ayes, 32; noes, 1; absent or not voting, 0; as follows:
Ayes - Senators Breske, Brown, Carpenter, Coggs, Cowles, Darling, Decker, Erpenbach, S. Fitzgerald, Grothman, Hansen, Harsdorf, Jauch, Kanavas, Kapanke, Kedzie, A. Lasee, Lassa, Lazich, Leibham, Miller, Olsen, Plale, Reynolds, Risser, Robson, Roessler, Schultz, Stepp, Taylor, Wirch and Zien - 32.
Noes - Senator Ellis - 1.
Absent or not voting - None.
Confirmed.
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The committee on Health, Children, Families, Aging and Long Term Care reports and recommends:
Relating to the definition of "dental school."
No action taken.
Relating to definitions, temporary trainees, continuing education, temporary licenses, and unprofessional conduct.
No action taken.
Carol Roessler
Chairperson
__________________
By Patrick E. Fuller, chief clerk.
Mr. President:
I am directed to inform you that the Assembly has passed and asks concurrence in:
Assembly Bill 437
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Assembly Bill
437
Relating to: requiring the conveyance of property to a public utility for the construction of electric transmission lines.
By Representatives Montgomery, Huebsch, Jensen, Gard, Davis, J. Fitzgerald, Honadel, Nischke, Hahn, Zepnick, Ainsworth, Bies, Hines, Van Roy, Ott and Musser; cosponsored by Senators Plale, Kapanke, Kanavas, Wirch, Breske, Roessler, Lazich, Leibham and Schultz.
Read first time and referred to committee on Senate Organization.
__________________
Senate Joint Resolution 30
Relating to: the celebration and commemoration of Agri-View's 30 years of commitment to Wisconsin's agricultural industry.
Read.
Adopted.
Senate Bill 228
Relating to: provider organizations subject to health care liability requirements.
Read a second time.
Senator Kedzie, with unanimous consent, asked that Assembly Bill 259 be withdrawn from the committee on Agriculture and Insurance and taken up.
Assembly Bill 259
Relating to: provider organizations subject to health care liability requirements.
