The committee on Transportation and Information Infrastructure reports and recommends:
Assembly Bill 161
Relating to: the use of a flashing or rotating amber light on certain motor trucks.
Concurrence.
Ayes, 5 - Senators
Leibham, Kanavas, Kedzie, Breske and M. Meyer.
Noes, 0 - None.
Assembly Bill 280
Relating to: displaying, possessing, selling, or offering to sell a stolen registration plate and providing a penalty.
Concurrence.
Ayes, 5 - Senators
Leibham, Kanavas, Kedzie, Breske and M. Meyer.
Noes, 0 - None.
Assembly Bill 382
Relating to: issuing and displaying a school bus operator identification card.
Introduction and adoption of Senate Amendment 1.
Ayes, 5 - Senators
Leibham, Kanavas, Kedzie, Breske and M. Meyer.
Noes, 0 - None.
Concurrence as amended.
Ayes, 5 - Senators
Leibham, Kanavas, Kedzie, Breske and M. Meyer.
Noes, 0 - None.
Assembly Bill 419
Relating to: towing and storage charges associated with nonmoving traffic violations.
Concurrence.
Ayes, 5 - Senators
Leibham, Kanavas, Kedzie, Breske and M. Meyer.
Noes, 0 - None.
Assembly Bill 467
Relating to: the traffic violation and registration program and making an appropriation.
Concurrence.
Ayes, 5 - Senators
Leibham, Kanavas, Kedzie, Breske and M. Meyer.
Noes, 0 - None.
Relating to: consecutive monthly registration of certain vehicles used exclusively to transport calcium chloride liquid.
Passage.
Ayes, 5 - Senators
Leibham, Kanavas, Kedzie, Breske and M. Meyer.
Noes, 0 - None.
Joseph Leibham
Chairperson
__________________
Senator Wirch, with unanimous consent, asked that the Senate recess until 4:46 P.M.
11:21 A.M.
__________________
4:46 P.M.
The Senate reconvened.
Senator A. Lasee in the chair.
Senator Panzer, with unanimous consent, asked that the Senate recess until 6:45 P.M.
4:48 P.M.
__________________
6:45 P.M.
The Senate reconvened.
Senator A. Lasee in the chair.
Senator Lasee, with unanimous consent, appointed Senators Schultz and Hansen to act as escorts to his Excellency the Governor.
__________________
Senator Panzer, with unanimous consent, asked that the Senate recess for the purpose of awaiting the Governor's State of the State Address in Joint Convention in the Assembly Chambers at 7:00 P.M. and upon the rising of the Joint Convention recess until Thursday, January 22 at 10:00 A.M.
The Senate stood recessed.
6:47 P.M.
__________________
The President of the Senate in the Chair.
The committee to await upon the Governor appeared with his excellency the Governor, who delivered his message as follows:
__________________
Speaker Gard, President Lasee, Lieutenant Governor Lawton, Supreme Court Justices, constitutional officers, members of the Cabinet, tribal leaders, distinguished members of the Legislature, and fellow citizens of Wisconsin:
Last January -- after just three weeks in office -- I came before you to report that the state of our state was profoundly troubled.
After years of spending more than we could afford, we faced a $3.2 billion deficit -- the largest in Wisconsin history. After years of high taxes and over burdensome regulations, our economy was losing jobs, losing businesses, and losing steam.
Difficult times demanded difficult decisions, but we made them, and we're a better state because of it.
Our budget is balanced. We held the line on taxes. Democrats and Republicans are finding ways to get things done. And our economy is coming back to life.
And so -- while challenges remain -- I can report to my fellow citizens today: Wisconsin is back on track.
The first step to getting back on track was tackling our budget crisis.
The so-called experts said it couldn't be fixed … that it would require a massive tax increase … that it would result in devastating cuts to public schools, public safety, and public health.
But together, we proved the pundits wrong.
We balanced the budget. We did it honestly. We did it without tricks - and most importantly, we did it without raising taxes.
We didn't raise corporate taxes …we didn't raise income taxes … we didn't raise sales taxes … we didn't raise any taxes.
As a result, state taxes as a percentage of income are the lowest in 34 years.
Compare what we achieved to what happened around the country:
In dozens of other states, from Idaho to Indiana, they raised taxes.
In Kentucky, they let prisoners out early.
In Oregon, they cut the school year by as much as 17 days.
In Alabama, they put mannequins in state patrol cars.
In Texas, they took away health coverage from 160,000 kids.
And in California - well, you get the idea.
But Wisconsin is different. We cut thoroughly - but not thoughtlessly - so we could protect our most important priorities.
Let me tell you how we got back on track.
Under my budget, we slashed government overhead more than any administration - so we could increase funding for our schools by $189 million.
We got rid of two cabinet departments - so we could keep four-year-old kindergarten.
