I am vetoing Assembly Bill 144 in its entirety. This bill does the following:
* Requires legislative approval by joint resolution of Indian gaming compacts that are for a period longer than 15 years.
* Stipulates that if the Legislature does not approve the compact, it must be returned to the Governor for renegotiation.
* Prohibits the Governor from authorizing a gaming establishment on lands acquired by the U.S. Secretary of the Interior in trust for the benefit of an Indian tribe after October 17, 1988, until the Legislature approves the proposed compact by joint resolution.
* Prohibits the Governor from entering into, amending, extending or renewing any compact that includes terms that in any way condition which gaming activities may be conducted under the compact based on gaming activities that are conducted in Canada.
* Requires that gaming compacts direct that tribes make good faith efforts to reach agreement with local governments on reimbursement of costs for services to gaming establishments.
My reasons for vetoing this bill are no different than those given in vetoing Senate Bill 41. I reiterate those reasons below.
Negotiations with the eleven Native American tribes that have gaming compacts with the state are a complex and involved process. Each of the tribes is a sovereign nation, with separate goals and interests pertaining to gaming. Completing individual compacts with each tribe is time consuming for a Governor and his staff. Adding the entire Legislature to this process would make these negotiations impossible to complete.
The state is currently facing a significant fiscal crisis. The Native American tribes are interested in compacts that reflect the long-term commitment that each of these nations has made to gaming enterprises within their broader economic development strategy. Taken together, there are significant positive opportunities for all involved in negotiating new compacts. These opportunities will be impossible to achieve without a focused negotiation strategy.
I believe that current law authorizing the Governor, on behalf of the state, to conduct negotiations with the Native American tribes regarding gaming compacts is wise public policy. Changing that law would prevent the state and tribes from reaching mutually beneficial goals.
Respectfully submitted,
Jim Doyle
Governor
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Referral of Agency Reports
State of Wisconsin
Department of Corrections
Madison
February 27, 2003
To the Honorable, the Legislature:
As required under Section
301.03 (6r) of Wisconsin State Statutes, I am submitting information relative to the number of prisoners that the Department of Corrections considers violent and the total number of prisoners.
On October 31, 2002, the Department had 22,105 adult inmates assigned to Type "1" prisons in state and in contract facilities out of state. Out of 22,105 inmates, 13,952 or 63.1 percent had assaultive offenses.
Sincerely,
Matthew J. Frank
Secretary
Referred to committee on Corrections and the Courts.
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State of Wisconsin
Investment Board
Madison
March 11, 2003
To the Honorable, the Legislature:
Pursuant to §
25.17 (14r), Stats., I have attached copies of SWIB's recently revised Investment Guidelines.
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I have attached a copy of the current guidelines plus a copy that shows where the changes were made. Additional information regarding the investment strategies associated with these changes will be provided in our annual performance and strategies report, which should be completed by the end of March. If you have any questions, please contact Sandy Drew (1-0182)
Sincerely,
Patricia Lipton
Executive Director
Referred to committee on Ways and Means.
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Representative Vrakas asked unanimous consent for a leave of absence for part of today's session for Representatives Gunderson, F. Lasee, Musser and Nischke. Granted.
Representative Turner asked unanimous consent for a leave of absence for part of today's session for Representatives Coggs, Cullen, Pocan, Steinbrink, Travis and A. Williams. Granted.
Speaker Pro Tempore Freese in the chair.
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Representative Vrakas asked unanimous consent that the Assembly stand recessed. Granted.
The Assembly stood recessed.
10:42 A.M.
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2:12 P.M.
The Assembly reconvened.
Speaker Pro Tempore Freese in the chair.
Representative Foti asked unanimous consent for a quorum call. Granted.
A quorum was present.
Represenative Coggs asked unanimous consent that his leave of absence be lifted. Granted.
Represenative Cullen asked unanimous consent that his leave of absence be lifted. Granted.
Represenative Nischke asked unanimous consent that his leave of absence be lifted. Granted.
Represenative Pocan asked unanimous consent that his leave of absence be lifted. Granted.
Represenative Steinbrink asked unanimous consent that his leave of absence be lifted. Granted.
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Assembly Joint Resolution 23
Relating to: declaring March Red Cross Month.
The question was: Shall Assembly Joint Resolution
23 be adopted?
Motion carried.
Representative Foti asked unanimous consent that the rules be suspended and that Assembly Joint Resolution 23 be immediately messaged to the Senate. Granted.
Represenative F. Lasee asked unanimous consent that his leave of absence be lifted. Granted.
Representative Foti asked unanimous consent that the rules be suspended and that Assembly Resolution 7 be withdrawn from the committee on Rules and taken up at this time. Granted.
Assembly Resolution 7
Relating to: recognizing Chief State Forester Gene Francisco's accomplishments and 34 years of dedicated service to the state of Wisconsin.
The question was: Shall Assembly Resolution 7 be adopted?
Motion carried.
Assembly Bill 37
Relating to: allowing certain school buses to tow trailers.
The question was: Shall Assembly Bill 37 be ordered engrossed and read a third time?
Motion carried.
Representative Foti asked unanimous consent that the rules be suspended and that Assembly Bill
37 be given a third reading. Granted.
The question was: Assembly Bill 37 having been read three times, shall the bill be passed?
Motion carried.
Representative Foti asked unanimous consent that the rules be suspended and that Assembly Bill
37 be immediately messaged to the Senate. Granted.
Represenative Travis asked unanimous consent that his leave of absence be lifted. Granted.
Assembly Bill 79
Relating to: authorizing the Wisconsin Health and Educational Facilities Authority to issue bonds to finance a project undertaken for a facility used for education by a private, tax-exempt institution.
The question was: Shall Assembly amendment 1 to Assembly Bill 79 be adopted?
Motion carried.
The question was: Shall Assembly Bill 79 be ordered engrossed and read a third time?
Representative Foti asked unanimous consent that the rules be suspended and that Assembly Bill
79 be given a third reading. Granted.
The question was: Assembly Bill 79 having been read three times, shall the bill be passed?
Motion carried.
Representative Foti asked unanimous consent that the rules be suspended and that Assembly Bill
79 be immediately messaged to the Senate. Granted.
Representative Gunderson asked unanimous consent that his leave of absence be lifted. Granted.
Representative A. Williams asked unanimous consent that her leave of absence be lifted. Granted.
Assembly Bill 115
