The Honorable, The Legislature:

We have completed an evaluation of the State of Wisconsin Investment Board, as directed by s. 25.17(51m), Wis. Stats. As of December 31, 2009, the Investment Board managed a total of $78.1 billion in investments that include assets of the Wisconsin Retirement System, the State Investment Fund, and five smaller insurance and trust funds.

We assessed the performance of the Investment Board by comparing returns to benchmarks established by the Board of Trustees. As of December 31, 2009, the Wisconsin Retirement System's two funds - the Core and the Variable - had each exceeded their ten-year benchmarks, although performance relative to shorter-term benchmarks had fluctuated. When we compared average annual investment returns to those of nine other public pension funds during the same period, the Core Fund's performance compared favorably.

Nevertheless, the value of Wisconsin Retirement System assets has fluctuated significantly over the past ten years as financial markets have experienced their worst decline since the 1930s. For example, losses in 2008 totaled $23.6 billion. While these losses were partially offset by gains of $13.5 billion in 2009, the combined value of the two retirement funds on December 31, 2009, was 17.1 percent below its peak in 2007. The losses of 2008 will significantly affect Wisconsin Retirement System participants and employers for the next several years.

In addition to meeting its benchmarks, the Investment Board is also concerned with meeting the long-term earnings expectation established by the Wisconsin Retirement System's actuary. Returns are currently assumed to equal 7.8 percent over the long term. To better respond to recent market volatility while at the same time maintaining sufficient earnings to meet long-term goals, the Investment Board is undertaking new investment strategies that may involve leveraging Wisconsin Retirement System assets and entail new risks. We recommend careful review of the continuing appropriateness of the earnings expectation, as well as of the new strategies the Investment Board is undertaking.

S888 We appreciate the courtesy and cooperation extended to us by the Investment Board. A response from the Board's Executive Director follows the appendices.

The Honorable, The Senate:

The following lobbyists have been authorized to act on behalf of the organizations set opposite their names.

For more detailed information about these lobbyists and organizations and a complete list of organizations and people authorized to lobby the 2009-2010 session of the legislature, visit the Government Accountability Board's web site at: http://gab.wi.gov/.

Nation, Thad Midwest Consumers for Choice and Competition d/b/a Wired Wisconsin

Petersen, Eric J AT&T Wisconsin

Also available from the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board are reports identifying the amount and value of time state agencies have spent to affect legislative action and reports of expenditures for lobbying activities filed by organizations that employ lobbyists.

Senate Clearinghouse Rule 06-067