Thursday, April 23, 2009
11:00 A.M.
Ninety-Ninth Regular Session
The Senate met.
The Senate was called to order by President Risser.
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The roll was called, disclosing the presence of a quorum.
Pursuant to Senate Rule
15, the official attendance for session was:
Senators Carpenter, Coggs, Cowles, Darling, Decker, Ellis, Erpenbach, S. Fitzgerald, Grothman, Hansen, Harsdorf, Holperin, Hopper, Jauch, Kanavas, Kedzie, Kreitlow, A. Lasee, Lassa, Lazich, Lehman, Leibham, Miller, Olsen, Plale, Risser, Robson, Schultz, Sullivan, Taylor, Vinehout and Wirch - 32.
Absent - None.
Absent with leave - Senator Kapanke - 1.
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The Senate stood for the prayer which was offered by Rev. Gwen Brandfass, Senior Chaplain for Oakwood Village Retirement Center in Madison.
"To the one who has breathed the breath of life into us all we turn in gratitude. We give you thanks for this United States of American and the freedoms allowed her citizens as a result of dedicated servants. With a grateful heart I ask your blessing up the state of Wisconsin and all the women and men gathered here today to do the work of the people. May they do there work in a spirit of kindness, gentleness and wisdom. As this body struggles with balancing budgets, revenue shortfalls, loss of jobs and rising expenses, may they not forget all those whom it would be easy to forget: the homeless, the destitute, the sick, the very young and the very old, and all who have none to advocate for them.
We pause and remember with appreciation the men and women who have chosen to serve this state in the National Guard and who as a result will soon be serving our country in Iraq. Bless them all and keep them safe. Send your peace to be with their loved ones left behind.
In your love and graciousness visit this state from north to south, from east to west, renewing the ties of mutual regard that form our civic life together. As we give thanks for the honest and able leaders in this chamber, may peace prevail with righteousness, and justice with order, that men and women from various view points with differing talents may find the courage to act with one accord for the good of your people. When times are prosperous, let our hearts be generous and thankful; and, in troubled times, let not our perseverance fail. Bless now this session with wisdom, its actions with insight, and the laws passed here with fairness and integrity. To our loving and gracious God we pray. Amen."
The Senate remained standing and Senator Hansen led the Senate in the pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.
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The Chief Clerk makes the following entries dated Wednesday, April
22
, 2009.
The committee on Environment reports and recommends:
Senate Bill 126
Relating to: changes to and extension of the Environmental Results Program, extension of the Environmental Improvement Program and the length of a compliance schedule under that program, and reporting requirements for certain environmental programs.
Passage.
Ayes, 5 - Senators
Miller, Jauch, Wirch, Kedzie and Olsen.
Noes, 0 - None.
Mark Miller
Chairperson
The committee on Health, Health Insurance, Privacy, Property Tax Relief, and Revenue reports and recommends:
Senate Bill 35
Relating to: the distribution of the first dollar property tax credit.
Passage.
Ayes, 7 - Senators
Erpenbach, Carpenter, Robson, Lassa, Lazich, Kanavas and Darling.
Noes, 0 - None.
Senate Bill 97
Relating to: authorizing temporary permits to practice dentistry or dental hygiene without compensation.
Passage.
Ayes, 7 - Senators
Erpenbach, Carpenter, Robson, Lassa, Lazich, Kanavas and Darling.
Noes, 0 - None.
Jon Erpenbach
Chairperson
The committee on Labor, Elections and Urban Affairs reports and recommends:
Senate Bill 161
S135
Relating to: administration of certain public assistance programs in Milwaukee County, removing county civil service protections from certain employees, required provisions in certain collective bargaining agreements under the Municipal Employment Relations Act, and making an appropriation.
Passage.
Ayes, 3 - Senators
Coggs, Wirch and Lehman.
Noes, 2 - Senators
A. Lasee and Grothman.
Spencer Coggs
Chairperson
Read first time and referred:
Senate Bill 171
Relating to: retail theft, proof of ownership for flea market sales, and providing penalties.
By
Senators
Taylor, Sullivan, Kreitlow, Holperin, Lassa, Wirch, Harsdorf and Darling; cosponsored by Representatives Danou, Turner, Jorgensen, Pasch, Kestell, Van Roy, Brooks, Lothian, Kerkman, A. Ott, Steinbrink, Zepnick, Kleefisch, Kaufert, Bies, Hebl and Staskunas.
To committee on Judiciary, Corrections, Insurance, Campaign Finance Reform, and Housing.
Senate Bill 172
Relating to: limiting a city's and village's use of direct annexation and authorizing limited town challenges to an annexation.
By
Senators
Holperin, A. Lasee and Schultz; cosponsored by Representatives Jorgensen, Clark, Danou, Hilgenberg, Bies, Brooks, Gunderson, Kerkman, LeMahieu, A. Ott, Petersen, Ripp, Roth, Townsend and Vos.
