The Senate met.
The Senate was called to order by President Risser.
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The roll was called and the following Senators answered to their names:
Senators Breske, Carpenter, Coggs, Cowles, Darling, Decker, Ellis, Erpenbach, S. Fitzgerald, Grothman, Hansen, Harsdorf, Jauch, Kanavas, Kapanke, Kedzie, Kreitlow, A. Lasee, Lassa, Lazich, Lehman, Leibham, Miller, Olsen, Plale, Risser, Robson, Roessler, Schultz, Sullivan, Taylor, Vinehout and Wirch - 33.
Absent - None.
Absent with leave - None.
The Senate stood for the prayer which was offered by Pastor Sheryl Erickson from Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Madison.
“Holy and Gracious God, we give you thanks for this new day and its new possibilities. Already this morning, O God, many of us have said goodbye to our families, driven a commute, returned phone calls and e-mails, and attended committee meetings. Settle now the minds of everyone here this morning and turn their attention fully to the tasks at hand.
Bless this gathering of Senators. Give them discernment to make wise decisions this day. Give them open ears to listen thoughtfully to each other. Give them creativity to see new ways to resolve dilemmas. Give them a sense of unity, so their work together will be productive.
Watch over this Capitol and all who pass through these halls. We ask your blessing especially upon the Governor of Wisconsin and his administration; the members of the Wisconsin Senate and Assembly and their staff; and the judges of our State and all who serve in the courts. Bless our public servants with the vision to serve all of your people, and the wisdom to know how. Give them the courage and strength, integrity and patience they need to meet the challenges ahead.
We thank you this day after a national holiday for Martin Luther King Jr. Guide and enable us to follow his footsteps that we too might be bold enough to confront with goodness, those places in our State particularly fraught with danger, division, discord and sorrow, where love and justice is so desperately needed but so painfully absent. Guide us all to live by a vision to work to build a community where everyone is welcomed, all are valued, power is shared, privilege is no more, and all people, young and old, know wholeness and well-being.
Merciful God, keep this nation under your care. Help us elect trustworthy leaders who will contribute to wise decisions for the general welfare. Give us unity as a nation. Take away any petty boundaries that divide us and give us the determination to work together in a spirit of wisdom, kindness and justice. Bless our land with honest industry, truthful education, and an honorable way of life. Save us from violence, discord, and confusion; from pride and arrogance and from any evil course of action. Defend our liberties. Grant integrity, health and favor to all who bear office in our land.
Today we call to mind before You, O Holy One, all those whom it would be easy to forget; the homeless, the destitute, the sick, the aged, and all who have none to care for them. Strengthen those who can make decisions here that they might ease the lives of those who are broken.
Protect the men and women of our country serving in the armed forces around the world. We ask for comfort and healing for those military families in the State of Wisconsin who have lost a loved one in recent weeks. We long for an enduring peace to enter into the troubled parts of our world.
Now turn the hearts and minds of those gathered here this day to the tasks at hand. Guide this body of decision makers in their time together now, Great Giver of Life. Bless their endeavors this day for the good of all people. AMEN."
The Senate remained standing and Senator Kreitlow led the Senate in the pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.
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Read first time and referred:
Senate Bill 1, December 2007 Special Session
Relating to: campaign financing, designations for the Wisconsin election campaign fund by individuals filing state income tax returns, creating a nonrefundable individual income tax credit for contributions to the Public Integrity Endowment, candidate time on public broadcasting television stations and public access channels, staffing of the Government Accountability Board; providing exemptions from emergency rule procedures; granting rule-making authority; making appropriations; and providing penalties.
By
joint committee on Legislative Organization, by request of Governor James E. Doyle
.
To committee on Campaign Finance Reform, Rural Issues and Information Technology.
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The joint committee on Legislative Organization reports and recommends:
Senate Bill 1, December 2007 Special Session
Relating to: campaign financing, designations for the Wisconsin election campaign fund by individuals filing state income tax returns, creating a nonrefundable individual income tax credit for contributions to the Public Integrity Endowment, candidate time on public broadcasting television stations and public access channels, staffing of the Government Accountability Board; providing exemptions from emergency rule procedures; granting rule-making authority; making appropriations; and providing penalties.
Introduction.
Ayes, 9 - Senators Risser, Decker, Hansen, Fitzgerald, and Leibham; Representatives Huebsch, Fitzgerald, Kreuser, and Richards.
Noes, 0 - None.
Fred Risser
Senate Chairperson
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Senator Decker, with unanimous consent, asked that the Senate adjourn until Thursday, January 24, 2008.
Adjourned.
11:42 A.M.
