Assembly Bill 432154May 11, 2000
Assembly Bill 99156May 12, 2000
Assembly Bill 154157May 12, 2000
Assembly Bill 174158May 12, 2000
Assembly Bill 197159May 12, 2000
Assembly Bill 314160May 12, 2000
Assembly Bill 394161May 12, 2000
Assembly Bill 610162May 12, 2000
Assembly Bill 717163May 12, 2000
Assembly Bill 431166May 12, 2000
AB 892 (partial veto)167May 13, 2000
Assembly Bill 959168May 15, 2000
Assembly Bill 960169May 15, 2000
Assembly Bill 961170May 15, 2000
Assembly Bill 962171May 15, 2000
Assembly Bill 963172May 15, 2000
Assembly Bill 964173May 15, 2000
Assembly Bill 965174May 15, 2000
Assembly Bill 966175May 15, 2000
Respectfully submitted,
Tommy G. Thompson
Governor
__________________
Governor's Veto Message
May 13, 2000
To the Honorable Members of the Assembly:
I have approved
Assembly Bill 892 as
1999 Wisconsin Act 167 and have deposited it in the Office of the Secretary of State. I have exercised the partial veto in Sections 10, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 and 62.
Assembly Bill 892 creates a professional football stadium district governed by a district board. Upon approval of a referendum by voters, the district is authorized to levy a 0.5% sales tax for the purpose of repaying up to $160 million in revenue bonds issued to finance construction and renovation of professional football stadiums. Bonds issued by a district created under the bill may include a moral obligation of the Legislature to make an appropriation to meet debt repayment requirements.
Revenues from the 0.5% sales tax may also be used to finance up to $2.9 million of stadium operating and maintenance costs and up to $750,000 of district administrative costs. The bill also authorizes a commemorative motor vehicle license plate associated with a professional football team and voluntary donations in support of a professional football team through the income tax form. Revenues from these sources and from the sale of engraved bricks and tiles are to be deposited into a fund to pay stadium operating and maintenance costs.
A959
The bill also includes provisions to ensure prevailing wages are paid for construction work performed under the jurisdiction of a professional football stadium district. Minority group and women employment and contracting goals of 15 percent and 5 percent, respectively, are included in the bill. A construction reserve fund of $10 million is established under the bill, funded by fees charged for the right to purchase admission to events at the professional football stadium within the district. This fund will either be used to meet final costs to complete the football stadium facilities or for early retirement of bonds.
Sections 10, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 and 26 allow the Board of Commissioners of Public Lands (BCPL) to delegate all investment responsibility to State of Wisconsin Investment Board (SWIB) so that a broader array of investments can be pursued with the assets included in the common school, normal school, university and agricultural college funds. I am vetoing this provision because it may compromise the fiduciary responsibilities of the board and because the provisions were not adequately debated by the Legislature. While I may support some revisions to the investment authority of BCPL and SWIB, I believe this issue should be considered as separate legislation.
Section 62 includes a provision that prohibits the district from levying any taxes until agreements are reached between the county, city and the professional football team concerning the funding of maintenance of the football stadium facilities and the distribution of proceeds from the sale of naming rights related to these facilities. I am partially vetoing this provision to remove involvement by the county because it is unreasonable that a city must seek approval from a county for maintenance or naming issues on city property. As part of the local and legislative process, agreements were reached that call for the city to have responsibility over maintenance. Regarding naming rights, the bill specifies that the city must approve not only the distribution of naming rights proceeds, if any, but the sale itself. This veto does not alter agreements reached either in the local or legislative process. These vetoes are merely jurisdictional clarifications. Local control and taxpayer accountability is protected by preserving the City of Green Bay's historic responsibility for Lambeau Field.
This legislation will contribute to the economic viability of professional football teams in Wisconsin, which are an important state tourism and business attraction. Currently, our only year-round National Football League team is the Green Bay Packers. The Packers are one of the key generators of economic activity in the city of Green Bay, Brown County and Wisconsin. The stadium renovation and expansion project that will hopefully result from this legislation will create significant numbers of job opportunities for a broad spectrum of Wisconsin citizens. Most importantly, Assembly Bill 892 gives the tools to assist the Packers directly to the taxpayers of Brown County. This legislation is an important first step toward ensuring a constructive dialogue on the economic realities facing the team and the improvements necessary to ensure its continued success in Green Bay and Brown County.
Sincerely,
Tommy G. Thompson
Governor
__________________
Communications
State of Wisconsin
Office of the Secretary of State
Madison
To Whom It May Concern:
Acts, Joint Resolutions and Resolutions deposited in this office have been numbered and published as follows:
Bill Number Act Number Publication Date
Assembly Bill 803153May 25, 2000
Assembly Bill 432154May 25, 2000
Assembly Bill 99156May 26, 2000
Assembly Bill 154157May 26, 2000
Assembly Bill 174158May 26, 2000
Assembly Bill 197159May 26, 2000
Assembly Bill 314160May 26, 2000
Assembly Bill 394161May 26, 2000
Assembly Bill 610162May 26, 2000
Assembly Bill 717163May 26, 2000
Assembly Bill 431166May 26, 2000
Assembly Bill 892167May 26, 2000
Assembly Bill 959168May 19, 2000
Assembly Bill 960169May 19, 2000
Assembly Bill 961170May 19, 2000
Assembly Bill 962171May 19, 2000
Assembly Bill 963172May 19, 2000
Assembly Bill 964173May 19, 2000
Assembly Bill 965174May 19, 2000
Assembly Bill 966175May 19, 2000
Sincerely,
Douglas La Follette
Secretary of State
__________________
Referral of Agency Reports
State of Wisconsin
Department of Administration
Madison
May 10, 2000
To the Honorable, the Legislature:
Chapter
34, Laws of 1979, requires that when the Department of Administration maintains an office in Washington, DC, for the purpose of promoting federal/state cooperation, it should submit a report detailing the activities of the office and reporting the status of federal legislation of concern to the Legislature and other state agencies (Wis. Stats. 16.548(2)).
The report for the period January, 2000 through March, 2000 is attached.
Sincerely,
George Lightbourn
Secretary
Referred to committee on State Affairs.
