February 15, 2007
Larry Isaak, President
Midwestern Higher Education Compact
1300 South Second Street, Suite 130
Minneapolis, MN 55454‐1079
Dear Mr. Isaak,
Pursuant to Wisconsin State Statute Section
14.90(1)(b), I have appointed Representative Steve Nass to the Midwestern Higher Education Commission.
Representative Nass is currently serving as the chair of the Assembly Committee on Colleges and Universities, and I am certain he will make an excellent addition to the Commission. Representative Nass can be reached at:
Representative Steve Nass
Wisconsin State Assembly
State Capitol, Room 12 West
Madison, WI 53708
608‐266‐5715
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Mike Huebsch
Assembly Speaker
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February 15, 2007
Charles Merritt
Vice President of External Relations
Education Commission of the States
700 Broadway, Suite 1200
Denver, CO 80203‐3460
Dear Mr. Merritt,
Pursuant to Wisconsin State Statute Section
39.76(1), I have appointed Representative Don Pridemore as the Wisconsin State Assembly commissioner on the Education Commission of the States.
Representative Pridemore currently serves as the chair of the Assembly Education Reform Committee, and I am certain he will make an excellent addition to the Commission. Representative Pridemore can be reached at:
Representative Don Pridemore
Wisconsin State Assembly
State Capitol, Room 318 North
Madison, WI 53708
608‐267‐2367
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Mike Huebsch
Assembly Speaker
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Executive Communications
State of Wisconsin
Office of the Governor
Madison
February 14, 2007
Dear President Risser and Speaker Huebsch:
Assembly Bill 72
makes certain adjustments to the 2005‐2007 executive budget and contains a fiscal note in excess of $10,000. Accordingly, and pursuant to Wis. Stat. §
16.47(2), I consider this bill an emergency bill, and I recommend that its passage be permitted prior to the passage of the budget bill.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
JIM Doyle
Governor
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Communications
February 15, 2007
Representative Jeff Fitzgerald
Chairperson, Assembly Committee on Rules
215 West, State Capitol
Madison, WI 53702
Dear Chairperson Fitzgerald:
Representative Richards and myself are unable to attend the Assembly Rules Committee meeting today due to a prior engagement.
I am hereby requesting excused absences for both of us.
Sincerely,
Jim Kreuser
Assembly Democratic Leader
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Referral of Agency Reports
State of Wisconsin
Wisconsin Technical College System
Madison
February 16, 2007
To the Honorable, the Legislature:
I am pleased to share with you the attached report in compliance with sec. 38.04(21), stat. This provision requires the Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS) Board to submit an annual report regarding high school students attending technical colleges. The report is to be submitted to the Legislature and to three state agencies (Departments of Administration, Public Instruction and Workforce Development). The reporting requirement was established in the 1997‐99 biennial budget (
1997 Wisconsin Act 27). This edition of the report provides enrollment information from 2000‐01 through 2005‐06. The following level of activity occurred in 2005‐06:
•2,276 high school students attended the WTCS under the 118.15 Compulsory Education Option.
•2,896 high school students attended the WTCS under the Youth Options Program.
•Over 8,663 high school students enrolled in WTCS postsecondary level courses through means other than 118.15 Compulsory Education or Youth Options.
If you have any questions regarding this report, please contact Jayson Chung, Associate Vice President, at (608) 266‐5517.
Sincerely,
Dan Clancy
System President
Referred to committee on Colleges and Universities.
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Agency Reports
State of Wisconsin
Legislative Audit Bureau
Madison
February 16, 2007
To the Honorable, the Assembly:
We have completed a financial audit of the State of Wisconsin Unemployment Reserve Fund for the years ended June 30, 2006 and 2005. We performed the audit at the request of the Department of Workforce Development (DWD) and to meet our audit responsibilities under s.
13.94, Wis. Stats.
Our audit report contains our unqualified opinion on the financial statements and related notes. It does not discuss DWD's ongoing development of computer software to support the Unemployment Insurance program, which we will address in a future evaluation.
During the period of this audit, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was lower than in prior years and ranged between 4.5 percent and 5.0 percent. However, unemployment benefit payments and other expenses exceeded employer contributions and other revenues. Consequently, the Unemployment Reserve Fund's balance continued to decline from its high of $1.9 billion as of June 30, 2000. The Fund's balance was $971.0 million at the start of our audit period and $895.0 million as of June 30, 2006.
2005 Wisconsin Act 86 directed DWD to study the long‐term financial stability of the Fund and report to the Unemployment Insurance Advisory Council by July 1, 2007, on any measures required to maintain the Fund's stability.
As part of our audit, we matched data on unemployment benefit payments and individuals in the custody of the Department of Corrections. From this work, it was determined that two prisoners had inappropriately received $2,697 in unemployment benefits. We have therefore recommended in a separate audit communication that DWD work with the Department of Corrections to periodically identify any similar instances of inappropriate benefit payments.
We appreciate the courtesy and cooperation extended to us by DWD staff during the audit.
Respectfully submitted,
Janice Mueller
State Auditor
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Representatives Kerkman and Vos introduced Jim Wanasek of Burlington, the first Hometown Hero Award recipient of the 2007‐2008 Session, who addressed the members from the rostrum.
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Representative Honadel asked unanimous consent that the Assembly stand recessed. Granted.
The Assembly stood recessed.
11:37 A.M.
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5:14 P.M.
The Assembly reconvened.
Speaker Pro Tempore Gottlieb in the chair.
Representative J. Fitzgerald asked unanimous consent for a quorum call. Granted.
A quorum was present.
Representative Roth asked unanimous consent that his leave of absence be lifted. Granted.
Representative Wood asked unanimous consent that his leave of absence be lifted. Granted.
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Representative J. Fitzgerald asked unanimous consent that the rules be suspended and that
Senate Joint Resolution 7 be withdrawn from the committee on
Rules and taken up at this time. Granted.
Senate Joint Resolution 7
