monday, January 5, 2009
2:00 P.M.
Ninety-Ninth Regular Session
The Senate met.
The Senate was called to order by Senator Risser.
The Senate Stood for the prayer which was offered by United Methodist Pastor and former State Representative Harvey Stower, who is also currently in his sixth term as the mayor of Amery. He spent eight years in the Wisconsin State Legislature representing the 28th Assembly District between 1982 and 1992. In addition, he serves on the Wisconsin Land & Water Conservation Board, and the Boards of the Wisconsin Federation of Cooperatives, the Western Wisconsin Intergovernmental Collaborative, Wisconsin Church and Society-the United Methodist Church, and Inter-County Cooperative Publishing Association. Mr. Stower has also been the recipient of the 2001 Award for Excellence from the Robert Gard Wisconsin Idea Foundation, and numerous awards for his work on issues regarding human services, environmental protections, the arts, and veterans programs.
"Although you are known by many names by many people, may your spirit; the spirit of love, justice, and mercy be present here today and throughout this senate session. We gather with a cloud of witnesses, the memory of so many who have made this very room their workplace for the people of Wisconsin.
Knowles, Nelson, Hollander, Krueger, Plewa and more; who could combine principle with civility. We ask your blessing upon all the senators here, all have taken noble risks to be on a ballot. And remind them daily, that this fine addiction that we have of politics and that we enjoy is a hard won legacy for many of those in our history that have fought for our freedom and our human rights. That is a legacy we need to be reminded of.
Remind us, that it is not that we play for keeps, but for being our brothers and sisters keeper. That we are here to serve and not to be served, and that we are judged finally by how we treat the least of the brothers and sisters among us. We give thanks for this most beautiful office building in the state, and for all those who make up the community of the capitol; for staffers and police, custodians, the media, press, pages, constituents, and lobbyists all. We give you thanks.
And finally, bless our families and loved ones that put up with the political life and grant us grace to tell them often that we love them. Amen."
The Colors were presented by the VFW Day Post 7591 Color Guard Unit of Madison, WI.
The National Anthem was performed by the Trumpet Ensemble from Antigo High School in the 12th Senate District, directed by Jeff Dewey.
The Senate remained standing and Senator Carpenter led the Senate in the pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.
__________________
State of Wisconsin
Government Accountability Board
December 4, 2008
The Honorable, The Senate:
I am pleased to provide you with a copy of the official canvass of the November 4, 2008 General Election vote for state senator along with the determination by the designee of the Chairperson of the Government Accountability Board of the winners.
With this letter, I am delivering the Certificates of Election for the winners to you for distribution.
If the Government Accountability Board can provide you with further information or assistance, please contact our office.
Sincerely,
Kevin J. Kennedy
Director and General Counsel
__________________
Statement of Canvass
for
State Senator
GENERAL ELECTION, November 4, 2008
I, William Eich, designee of the Chairperson of the Government Accountability Board, certify that the attached tabular statements, as compiled from the certified returns made to the Government Accountability Board by the county clerks of the several counties of the state, contain a correct abstract of the total number of votes given, including a recount in the 18th State Senate District, for the election of candidates for State Senator, at a General Election held in the several towns, wards, villages and election districts in said counties on the Fourth day of November, 2008.
I DO, THEREFORE, DETERMINE AND CERTIFY that the following candidates, having each received the greatest number of votes in their respective senatorial districts, are duly elected State Senator:
Senate District Elected
S2
2nd District Robert L. Cowles
4th District Lena C. Taylor
6th District Spencer Coggs
8th District Alberta Darling
10th District Sheila Harsdorf
12th District Jim Holperin
14th District Luther S. Olsen
16th District Mark Miller
18th District Randy Hopper
20th District Glenn Grothman
22nd District Robert W. Wirch
24th District Julie M. Lassa
26th District Fred A. Risser
28th District Mary Lazich
30th District Dave Hansen
32nd District Dan Kapanke
Done in the City of Madison, this 1st day of December, 2008.
william eich
Designee of the Chairperson
Government Accountability Board
__________________
Remarks of Majority Leader Decker
"Welcome to the opening of the 99th session of the Wisconsin State Senate.
Each session of the Wisconsin State Legislature brings new faces and over time, we have seen a long cast of characters.
And we are lucky enough to have two real characters from our past here today. Please welcome Judge Lynn Adelman and Pastor and former Representative Harvey Stower.
Our state is a better place thanks to their service and we are honored to have them here today.
In the last election, Wisconsin voters embraced change and history when they supported a charismatic man whose father was from Kenya, his mother was from Kansas and he was raised by his grandparents in Hawaii. That man is President-elect Barack Obama.
The voters said they want change. They want a new direction to deal with the problems we face today.
We need to think. We need to be creative. We need to change.
That is how we will move Wisconsin forward.
So welcome to a new year and a new session."
__________________
Pursuant to Senate Rule
2 (1), Senate President Pro Tempore Carpenter in the chair.
With unanimous consent, the party leaders introduced their respective members as they came before the bar to be sworn in.
Senator Fitzgerald Introduced Senator Cowles
"Senator Cowles was first elected to the State Senate in an April, 1987 special election and has been re-elected every four years since. Prior to his election to the Senate, Rob served in the State Assembly from 1983-1987.
Senator Cowles has gained a reputation for being a vigilant watchdog against higher state spending. Rob has been an outspoken opponent of irresponsible state budgeting that has led to the poor fiscal conditions in which we now find our state.
As a past and current member of the Joint Legislative Audit Committee, Senator Cowles routinely request audits on state programs in an effort to find efficiencies and save taxpayer dollars. Audits of state programs conducted at Rob's request, such as the state's Information Technology projects and car fleet, have resulted in tens of millions of dollars in savings to taxpayers.
Senator Cowles is also known as a strong defender of our environment. Balancing sound environmental protection with the need to create and maintain quality jobs in our state, the Senator has guided responsible environmental and business policy for Wisconsin. Rob is particularly proud of his work with a bipartisan group of legislators to ensure passage of the Great Lakes Compact in the last session, as well as his work on a comprehensive energy efficiency and renewable energy bill that was designed to provide long-term economic and environmental benefits to the state."
