WHEREAS, the State of Wisconsin and the State of Minnesota enjoy many similarities, including commonalities in governmental programs and the operation of state governmental services; and

        WHEREAS, residents and businesses in Wisconsin and Minnesota are currently experiencing difficult economic times; and

        WHEREAS, the States of Wisconsin and Minnesota anticipate multi-billion dollar budget shortfalls and face similar challenges meeting demands for state services with limited revenues; and

        WHEREAS, the magnitude of the current fiscal situation requires Wisconsin and Minnesota to identify and explore creative opportunities to make the operation of state government and the provision of state government services more efficient and cost-effective; and

        WHEREAS, the Governors of Wisconsin and Minnesota agree that cooperative arrangements between the agencies of each state could result in significant improvements to the delivery and cost-effectiveness of state services and have agreed to direct their respective state agencies to work together to identify specific areas to implement cooperative service arrangements;

        NOW, THEREFORE, I, JIM DOYLE, Governor of the State of Wisconsin by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the Laws of this State do hereby declare:

        1.  Each Secretary is directed to meet with his or her counterpart within Minnesota government to identify specific activities, programs and services within the agency for potential cooperative service arrangements.

        2.  The identification of potential cooperative service arrangements is intended to be an initial step in the process, and Secretaries are directed to be creative and flexible in their approach and to identify the maximum number of potential areas for further review and consideration.

        3.  No later than February 27, 2009, each Secretary must provide the Governor with a report of the results of the cooperative work with Minnesota counterparts.  The report shall identify the specific activities, programs and services currently provided by the Wisconsin or Minnesota state agencies that could be made more efficient or cost-effective through a cooperative service arrangement.

        4.  The Department of Administration is directed to serve as the lead agency resource to provide technical support to the state agencies under this Executive Order.  The Secretary of the Department of Administration will work with the Secretaries to identify a uniform reporting format consistent with this Order.

        IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of Wisconsin to be affixed.  Done at the Capitol in the City of Madison this thirteenth day of January, in the year two thousand and nine.

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JIM DOYLE
Governor

By the Governor:

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DOUGLAS LA FOLLETTE
Secretary of State