Gov. Doyle: To Veto Legislation Attacking the SAGE Program

Contact: Anne Lupardus, Office of the Governor, 608-261-2162

Will Also Veto Ten Other Bills, Sign Three

Governor Jim Doyle today, after returning from events in Buffalo and Trempealeau counties, will veto Senate Bill 68, which undermines the SAGE small class size program, a major priority of Governor Doyle.

“This bill lets schools take small class size funding without actually reducing class sizes,” Governor Doyle said. “That makes no sense. Every parent and every teacher knows that putting a child in a small class at such a critical stage is one of the best things you can do for their education. As Governor, I have been forced to use my veto pen more than once to defend the SAGE program, and I am pleased to do it again today.”

Governor Doyle’s veto message is available at:http://www.wisgov.state.wi.us/docview.asp?docid=6738

Governor Doyle will also veto today Assembly Bill 84, which eliminates the requirement that school be held for at least 180 days each year, while retaining the minimum required number of hours of direct pupil instruction. This bill creates an opportunity for school districts to reduce the number of days students are at school by increasing the length of the school day.

“Lengthening the school day by ten minutes – equivalent to less than two minutes per class period – would allow school districts to take five full days off the school calendar,” Governor Doyle said. “I do not believe ten extra minutes a day will lead to the same amount of learning as an additional week of school. In addition, shorter school years may be impractical for working families who would face challenges with respect to child care. This bill is a disservice to our kids, our families, and our economy.”

Governor Doyle’s veto message is available at:http://www.wisgov.state.wi.us/docview.asp?docid=6734

Governor Doyle will also veto Assembly Bill 730, which allows, with no accountability measures in place, the establishment of new charter schools by University of Wisconsin System schools.

“While charter schools can be a good option for many families, this bill doesn’t ensure that the new charter schools would be high-quality,” Governor Doyle said. I am vetoing this bill because it fails to provide adequate accountability measures.”

Governor Doyle’s veto message is available at:http://www.wisgov.state.wi.us/docview.asp?docid=6733

Another bill lacking proper accountability measures for charter schools is Assembly Bill 1060, which Governor Doyle will also veto today. The bill allows for “virtual” charter schools that allow for a lower standard for teachers and instructional staff than in public schools.

Governor Doyle’s veto message is available at:http://www.wisgov.state.wi.us/docview.asp?docid=6728

Governor Doyle will also veto the following bills today:

Assembly Bill 152 allows counties to increase administration fees in collecting fines and forfeitures, which could adversely affect the Common School Fund.

Governor Doyle’s veto message is available at:http://www.wisgov.state.wi.us/docview.asp?docid=6729

Assembly Bill 299 eliminates the requirement that a county shoreland ordinance is retained on newly incorporated territory.

Governor Doyle’s veto message is available at:http://www.wisgov.state.wi.us/docview.asp?docid=6730

(Clarification: Governor Doyle did not act on Assembly Bill 299 this evening. He will veto it tomorrow.)

Assembly Bill 327 creates a new form of corporate organization, the unincorporated cooperative association, and in doing so, creates a tax consequence.

Governor Doyle’s veto message is available at:http://www.wisgov.state.wi.us/docview.asp?docid=6731

Assembly Bill 509 unfairly suppresses the ability of citizens to receive reimbursement for damages caused by highways in poor repair. The bill eliminates incentives for local governments to keep highways in good condition and prevents citizens from recovering costs caused by local governments’ failure to repair roads.

Governor Doyle’s veto message is available at:http://www.wisgov.state.wi.us/docview.asp?docid=6732

Assembly Bill 578 broadly allows health care providers to shield information and claim immunity in the name of quality improvement.

Governor Doyle’s veto message is available at:http://www.wisgov.state.wi.us/docview.asp?docid=6737

Assembly Bill 871 repeals the exception to the state’s criminal sanctions for many post-dated checks and checks written for past consideration will reduce the legal options for low income individuals to work with merchants and others to make payment on their debts.

Governor Doyle’s veto message is available at:http://www.wisgov.state.wi.us/docview.asp?docid=6735

Assembly Bill 969 creates “recompense,” a new, but vague and undefined form of payment of restitution that can be ordered in criminal cases. The bill allows payment before conviction, which could lead to constitutional challenges, and will impose a financial hardship on the courts.

Governor Doyle’s veto message is available at:http://www.wisgov.state.wi.us/docview.asp?docid=6736

Governor Doyle will sign the following bills today:

Assembly Bill 129 provides that if an installment payment of property taxes is not paid by the due date, only the amount of that installment, and not the entire amount of property taxes levied, becomes delinquent.

Governor Doyle thanked Representative Bob Ziegelbauer and Senator Joe Leibham for their work on the bill.

Assembly Bill 383 provides that a state executive branch agency must conduct a criminal history background investigation of any individual seeking a position with that agency before offering the individual the job if the duties of the job include “access to funds administered by an agency.”

Governor Doyle thanked Representative Steve Kestell and Senator Alan Lasee for their work on the bill.

Senate Bill 579 exempts caregivers at direct care or treatment service facilities from a background information form required by the Department of Health and Family Services, if the facility requires its caregivers to disclose any criminal conviction or criminal charge.

Governor Doyle thanked Senator Glenn Grothman and Representative Terry Moulton for their work on the bill.