The Chief Clerk makes the following entries under the above date.
__________________
State of Wisconsin
Department of Health and Family Services
June 25, 2008
To the Honorable, the Legislature:
The Department of Health and Family Services is pleased to submit to the Governor and the Legislature the Wisconsin Tobacco Prevention and Control Program, 2007 Annual Report. The report is required by
2003 Wis. Act 33, SB 44, Section 2462, 255.15 (4).
Wisconsin continued its success during 2007 in preventing youth tobacco use and promoting tobacco addiction treatment, the elimination of tobacco‐related disparities and exposure to secondhand smoke. Highlights include:
• Smoking among high school students decreased from 38 percent in 1999 to 20 percent in 2006. This equals over 47,000 fewer high school smokers in 2006 than in 1999.
• Youth access to tobacco products declined substantially from 24.6 percent of establishments selling to minors in 2000 to 4.5 percent selling to youth in 2007.
• The Wisconsin Tobacco Quit Line received over 70,000 calls since its beginning in May 2001, through December 2007. Smokers who use Quit Line services are four to five times more likely to quit successfully than a smoker who quits “cold turkey."
• The First Breath Program, administered by the Wisconsin Women's Health Foundation in partnership with the Division of Public Health, provided 6,211 pregnant women on public assistance programs with intensive tobacco addiction treatment counseling and support at 114 sites in 63 counties from 2003 through December 2007. In 2007, 1,490 women were enrolled in the program.
• Tobacco consumption declined from 80.1 packs per capita in 2000 to 69.0 in 2007.
These accomplishments mark the continued importance of tobacco prevention and control in Wisconsin.
Under the leadership of Governor Doyle, the Tobacco Prevention and Control Program achieved great success in the 2007‐09 Biennial Budget. The Program's budget was increased by $5 million annually, bringing the program's total funding to $15 million annually. The Program will use the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's revised 2007 Best Practices for Comprehensive Tobacco Control Programs to guide its enhancement of existing efforts in Wisconsin.
In addition, the Biennial Budget included a $1 increase in the state's tobacco excise tax, effective January 1, 2008. This tax increase is a proven best practice strategy that will significantly increase the quit attempts by Wisconsin smokers. In order to provide treatment to these tobacco users, Quit Line services will be expanded and nicotine replacement therapy medications will be provided in conjunction with free coaching.
These successful milestones demonstrate the continuous progress that is being made in tobacco and control efforts in Wisconsin as well as the significance of these efforts.
Sincerely,
Karen E. Timberlake
Secretary
__________________
State of Wisconsin
Southeast Wisconsin Professional
Baseball Park District
June 30, 2008
To the Honorable, the Legislature:
On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Southeast Wisconsin Professional Baseball Park District, we are pleased to submit the District's Financial Statements - Independent Auditor's Report for Year Ended December 31, 2007 (approved at the meeting of the Board of Directors on June 10, 2008) for your review and use. A copy can also be found on the District's website,
www.millerparkdistrict.com.
The above report indicates that the Southeast Wisconsin Professional Baseball Park District Board of Directors has consistently protected the taxpayers of the five‐county District, and continues to do so. As you review the enclosed report, please note that for the twelfth consecutive year, the Southeast Wisconsin Professional Baseball Park District has received a “clean opinion" from independent financial auditors, BDO Seidman, LLP. In this year's audit, dated June 10, 2008, BDO Seidman states, “In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the District at December 31, 2007, and the changes in its financial position, for the year then ended in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America."
S861
Thank you for your assistance and cooperation. Please feel free to contact me if you should have any questions or should you desire more information.
Very truly yours,
Michael R. duckett, P.E., R.l.S
Executive Director
__________________
Relating to general permit criteria requiring decontamination of equipment for invasive species and viruses.
Submitted by Department of Natural Resources.
Report received from Agency, July 11, 2008.
Referred to committee on Environment and Natural Resources, July 11, 2008
.
Relating to surface water quality criteria.
Submitted by Department of Natural Resources.
Report received from Agency, July 11, 2008.
Referred to committee on Environment and Natural Resources, July 11, 2008
.
__________________
The committee on Environment and Natural Resources reports and recommends:
Relating to hunting and trapping regulations and the use of department managed lands.
No action taken.
Relating to deer hunting as it relates to the management of chronic wasting disease.
No action taken.
Relating to the implementation and administration of grants for endangered resources.
No action taken.
Mark Miller
Chairperson
