For you information and consideration, attached is the Government Accountability Board's staff's initial review of potential Partisan Primary dates. This review includes several examples of new Partisan Primary dates, some important election events they affect, and pros and cons for each example. Partisan Primary dates, some important election events they affect, and pros and cons for each example. In addition to changing the Partisan Primary date, adjustments must also be considered for the special election cycle and the Presidential Preference Election, which are not addressed in this report.
A report, including your feedback, additional input from our local election officials and other interested customers, and additional analysis, will be submitted to the Governor and Legislature after members of the Government Accountability Board consider this matter during its March 22-23, 2011, regular meeting.
My staff and I are available to answer your questions and discuss the attached review. I may be contacted at
Kevin.Kennedy@wi.gov, or at (608) 261-8683. Thank you in advance for reviewing this matter and for your feedback.
Sincerely,
kevin kennedy
Director and General Counsel
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State of Wisconsin
Legislative Audit Bureau
March 8, 2011
The Honorable, The Legislature:
S186
In response to a complaint reported on the Fraud, Waste, and Mismanagement Hotline established by
2007 Wisconsin Act 126, we have completed a limited-scope review of the Department of Transportation's (DOT's) warranty program for asphalt state highways. Concerns were raised about the quality of asphalt highways constructed under warranties. From 1995 through 2009, 184 such highways were constructed under warranties that guarantee pavements will meet contractually specified performance standards, typically for five years. If DOT determines that these standards have not been met, contractors can be required to perform and pay for repairs.
We reviewed all warranted asphalt state highway projects constructed from 2002 through 2004. Pavements on 12 of these 34 projects did not meet some performance standards during their warranty periods. However, because many inspection results were provided to DOT regional offices after warranties had expired, it is unclear whether contractors can now be required to repair identified problems.
We also compared the quality of 33 asphalt pavement projects constructed under warranties to that of all 215 asphalt pavement projects constructed on state highways during the same three year period. We found that the warranted projects generally show less distress?such as cracks, potholes, and ruts - and are smoother than those without warranties. However, some DOT engineers are concerned that warranted pavements constructed since 2004 are deteriorating more quickly than anticipated, particularly in northwest Wisconsin.
Because our May 2009 review of concrete state highways and several recent single audit reports for the State of Wisconsin found that DOT did not always follow its quality assurance program, we examined quality assurance procedures for asphalt state highways. We found that construction engineers performed 181 of the 193 tests (93.8 percent) required by DOT to measure the density of asphalt pavement on 41 projects constructed in 2009. We also found that DOT has improved its documentation of contractors' roughness measurements.
We appreciate the courtesy and cooperation extended to us by DOT in completing this review.
Sincerely,
janice mueller
State Auditor
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State of Wisconsin
Office of the Governor
March 9, 2011
The Honorable, The Senate:
I am pleased to nominate and with the advice and consent of the Senate, do appoint Armstrong, Perry,
of Madison, as a member of the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority, to serve for the term ending January 1, 2014.
Respectfully submitted,
SCOTT WALKER
Governor
Read and referred to committee on Economic Development and Veterans and Military Affairs.
State of Wisconsin
Office of the Governor
March 9, 2011
The Honorable, The Senate:
I am pleased to nominate and with the advice and consent of the Senate, do appoint Guse
, Bradley,
of Arpin, as a member of the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority, to serve for the term ending January 1, 2014.
Respectfully submitted,
SCOTT WALKER
Governor
Read and referred to committee on Economic Development and Veterans and Military Affairs.
State of Wisconsin
Office of the Governor
March 7, 2011
The Honorable, The Senate:
I am pleased to nominate and with the advice and consent of the Senate, do appoint Klapperich, Steven,
of St. Cloud, as a member of the Hearing and Speech Examining Board, to serve for the term ending July 1, 2015.
Respectully submitted,
SCOTT WALKER
Governor
Read and referred to committee on Health.
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Relating to verified statements and contract penalties for grant and loan programs.
Submitted by Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.
Report received from Agency, March 9, 2011.
Referred to committee on Agriculture, Forestry, and Higher Education, March 16, 2011
.
Relating to making minor technical changes to the department's rules.
Submitted by Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.
Report received from Agency, March 9, 2011.
Referred to committee on Agriculture, Forestry, and Higher Education, March 16, 2011
.
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Assembly Bill
4
Relating to: automobile insurance coverage limits, permissible policy provisions, and proof of financial responsibility.
By Representatives Nygren, Petersen, Steineke, Klenke, Knilans, Krug, Petryk, Rivard, Endsley, Tranel, Marklein, Severson, Wynn, Bernier, Tiffany, Jacque, Weininger, Knudson, T. Larson, Kooyenga, Farrow, Kuglitsch, Litjens, August, Kapenga, Thiesfeldt, Williams, Honadel, Ripp, Nerison, J. Fitzgerald, Kramer, Suder, Vos, Knodl, Ballweg, Mursau, Murtha, Kestell, Meyer, Petrowski, Tauchen, Brooks, A. Ott, J. Ott, Bies, Van Roy, Kaufert, Stone, Kerkman, LeMahieu, Strachota, Kleefisch, Nass, Spanbauer, Pridemore, Ziegelbauer and Fields; cosponsored by Senators Lasee, Lazich, Taylor, Darling, Hopper, Wanggaard, Galloway, Kapanke, Leibham, Harsdorf, Kedzie and Vinehout.
Read first time and referred to committee on Senate Organization.
