Senate Journal
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--- - - -- -----.- .. __ . -- - Ninetieth Regular Session WEDNESDAY, September 2, 1992 The chief clerk makes the foUowing entries under the The report for the period April I, 1992, through June above date. 30, 1992, is attached. Sina:rely, PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS James R. Klauser State of Wisconsin Secretary ~tofA~tration State of Wisconsin AUSUSt 18, 1992 Legislative Audit Bureau To the Honorable the Lesislature: September I, 1992 This report is transmitted as required by sec. To the Honorable the Legislature: 20.002(11)(f) of the Wisconsin Statutes, (for distribution to the appropriate standing committees under sec. We have completed an evaluation ofthe ~t 13.172(3) Stats.), and confirms that the Department of of Natural Resoun:es' Nonpoint Source Water Pollution Administration has found it necessary to exercise the Abatement Program. This is the Second of two reports "temporary reaUocation of balances" authority provided mandated by Wisconsin Act 27, the 1987-89 Biennial by this section in order to meet payment responsibilities Budget. We completed the first evaluation in May 1989. and cover resultins negative balances during the month The Program is managed in cooperation with the of July, 1992. Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer On July 13, 1992, the Transportation Fund balana: Protection's Soil and Water Resource Management was $-14.9 miUion. This shortfall continued until July Program. 23, 1992 when the balana: reached $+9.2 million. The Sina: our last evaluation, the Department of Natural shortfall was due to delay in the receipt of Revenue Bond Resources has improved some financial practices related proceeds. to the Nonpoint program, and the problem of a recurring On July 20, 1992, the Environmental Qean-up Fund large balana: has been corrected. However, absena: of balance was $-240 thousand. This shortfall reoccurred agreement among policymakers regarding the program's on July 31, 1992 when the balana: reached $-309 fmancial needs has created fiscal constraints for fiscal thousand. These shortfalls were due to the timing of year 1992-93 and highlighted the need for resolution of revenues to the Fund. the program's projected long-term costs and funding needs. We repeat our recommendation that the The Transportation Fund and Environmental Oean up Fund shortfaUs were not inexcess of the $400 million Department improve the reHability of its long-term. ceiling and did not exa:ed the balances of the funds financial projections for the program by making use of available for interfund borrowing. available information on the program's fmancial experiena:, and we recommend the DNR, DATCP, and The distribution of interest earnings to investment the Department of Administration jointly submit a pool participants is based on the average daily balance in report on financial projections for the Nonpoint the pool and each fund's share. Therefore, the monthly program. calculation by State Finana: will automatically reflect the use of these temporary reaUocations of balana: Our review of released and unreleased information on authority. project results found little evidena: of improved water quality and indications that project participation rates Sina:rely, are generally lower than required to achieve water James R. Klauser quality improvements. To enable the Legislature and the Secretary Governor to make informed decisions on amendments to Referred to the joint committee on Finana:. the Nonpoint program, the departments need to comply with an agreed-upon schedule for the release of State of Wisconsin information on program results. ~t of Administration August II, 1992 We appreciate the courtesy and cooperation extended To the Honorable the Lesislature: to us by the ~t of Natural Resources and by the Chapter 34, Laws of 1979, requires that when the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Department of Administration maintains an offia: in Protection. Responses from the departments are Washington, DC, for the purpose of promoting federal! attached as appendices. state cooperation, it should submit a report detailing the Sincerely, activities of the offia: and reporting the status of federal Dale Cattanach legislation of concern to the Legislature and other state State Auditor agencies (Wis. Stats. 16.548(2». 1065 Digitized by Google JOURNAL OF THE SENATE [September 2, 1992] • State of Wisconsin Schmeling Sharon Legislative Audit Bureau September I, 1992 VIsIIIaa N.. ~.... To the Honorable the Legislature: Mayer. Marv Jane We have completed an evaluation of the Department 0rpaIza.... ' ........... of IoIJbyIsIs: Each of the of Health and Social Services' oversight ofcounty mental following organizations previously registered with the health programs as directed by the Joint Legislative Ethics Board as the employer of a lobbyist has Audit Committee. Problems that emerged in 1991 in withdrawn, on the date indicated, its authorization for Sauk County and the Northern Pines Unified Services the lobbyist identified to act on the organization's behalf. Center raised concern that the Department's oversight of county programs may be inadequate. Coual Carporadoa, TIle In general, the Department bas limited its oversight Cahill. Jane A. 8/12192 of county mental health programs to the minimum Reed. Rex 8/12192 required by law Jaraely to avoid increasing program and reporting requirements on county program operations. State staff review county programs once every two years, and consultation is provided only at the request of Brozek. Michael 6/1192 counties. Varda. Anthony 6/1/92 The Department could take some steps to improve oversight without substantially increasing either the number of staff required or the reporting burdens on Theiler. Carl 8/17192 counties. These include regularly updating program OrpaIzadoll'..... doIl of""""'lIdhIty: Each of the standards, improving coordination of state staff, and following organizations previously registered with the using information already available from cOunties to Ethics Board as the employer of a lobbyist indicates a more effectively direct consultation and oversight cessation of all lobbying activity effective on the date activities. Counties could also assume greater shown. responsibilities for ensuring the quality of their mental health programs and for assisting one another. ....... Baek Ia a.uae. file. 8111/91. We have included discussion of other oversight Correedoa FadIIdes DeYeIopaaeBt Groap 8/13/91 mechanisms that the Legislative Council's Special Bablitch. Stcohen 8/13/92 Committee on Ovenight of Community Mental Health Services might consider as alternatives to assigning Donaaa-Rodt Foods, lac. 8118191. greater oversight responsibilities to the Department. Earl. Anthony 8/18/92 We appreciate the courtesy and cooperation extended Weiden. Michael 8/18/92 to us by the staff of the Department of Health and Social Services, many county staff, and representatives of Healthcare AIIIaee 8111/91. interest groups concerned with the mentally ill. The Department's response is Appendix II. Swandby. Janet 8111/92 Sincerely, KIrby LepI Faad 8/8/91. Dale Cattanach PIn Treatmeat, Inc. 8111191. State Auditor Hanson. Thomas 8112/92 STATE OF WISCONSIN ETHICS BOARD Raekert &: Mielke, Inc. 8/10191. August 2S, 1992 Mielke. William 8/20192 To the Honorable the Senate: Oraanizadoll'. modIfIcadoll or ..rndneat of records:: The At the direction of s. 13.68S(7), Wisconsin Statutes, I am organizations listed below have previously registered furnishing you with the following changes in the Ethics with the Ethics Board and now indicate the follOwing Board's records of licensed lobbyists and their modifications to their records: employers. AmericaD u.a AIIoda.... of WWonsIn 0rpaIza.... '. aatborlzatt. of additional lobbyists: The (New address, phone, fax) following organizations previously registered with the 150 S. Sunnyslope Road, #IOS Ethics Board as employers of lobbyists have authorized Brookfield, WI 53005 to act on their behalf these additional licensed lobbyists: 414-782-7834 CathoDe Confereace, WIIconsin Fax: 414-782-7834 1066 Digitized by Google JOURNAL OF THE SENATE [September 2, 1992] Geaeq Labs )[aMI CIIIb, lac. Subjects: Issues affecting plumbing products and (New Address, phone, fax) supplies including regulation. 1901 S. Meyers Road, Suite 520 Houlh. James Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181 708-932-5700 Also available from the Wisconsin Ethics Board are Fax: 7~932-5713 reports identifying the amount and value of time state agencies have spent to affect legislative action and ........... A8N:1a.... WhcwwIn reports of expenditures for lobbying activities filed by the (New Address, phone) organizations that employ lobbyists. 1782 Fordem Avenue, Apt. 304 Madison, WI 53704 Sincerely, 608-249-2637 R. Roth Judd Executive Director RetaIl lWIIw .woc.1De., WIKG d State of Wisconsin (New Address, phone, fax) ~tofT~portation P.O. Box 97 September I, 1992 Mequon, WI 53092 To the Honorable the Legislature: 414-238-1220 Milwaukee Regional Airport Authoritv Study Fax: 414-238-1225 Enclosed please find a copy of the recently completed Also available from the WISCOnsin Ethics Board are Milwaukee Regional Airport Authority Study. reports identifying the amount and value of time state Alae..., BIll 91, Act 39, Section 9155, Para. (7j), agencies have spent to affect legislative action and mandated that the Wisconsin Department of reports ofexpenditures for lobbying activities filed by the Transportation conduct a study to determine the organizations that employ lobbyists. feasibility of establishing