The following program is a PBS
Wisconsin original production.
Welcome to Wisconsin Public Media's
coverage of Governor Tony Evers,
seventh State of the State address.
We are bringing you live coverage
tonight from the Wisconsin state
capitol in Madison.
In a few moments, the 46th
governor of Wisconsin will make
his way into the assembly
chambers.
Evers will speak tonight before a
joint session of the Wisconsin
Assembly and Senate, the state
Supreme Court, his cabinet and
tribal leaders.
Good evening. I'm Shawn Johnson from
Wisconsin Public Radio.
And I'm Frederica Freiberg from
ABC, Wisconsin.
Tonight, Democratic Governor Tony
Evers lays out his plans
for 2025.
He'll be speaking to the 107th
session of the Wisconsin
legislature.
Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, who
represents communities in Racine
and Walworth counties, will provide
this year's Republican response
immediately following the governor's
State of the State address.
And the governor is already in
the assembly chambers, having left
the parlor where we are sitting.
And so he is making his way
to the podium.
He's getting an early start this
year. Sometimes we wait for the
governor. This year he's
practically waiting on us as he
goes between the both
sides of the aisle for this speech.
It's a different makeup of the
legislature than he's had recently.
Still, Republican majorities in the
state assembly and in the state
Senate, but they are smaller
under maps that he signed
last year that this
legislature passed last year
under the threat from the
state Supreme Court.
So this marks the governor's last
State of the state address before he
announces whether he will run for a
third term in 2026.
And he said that he's likely
to make that announcement after the
budget is wrapped up.
We're going to hear hints about
what's going to be in that budget
tonight. He's going to deliver his
budget address on February
18th, but then the legislature
again, controlled by Republicans.
If history is any guide, they're
going to make a lot of changes to
it. And it's
all going to be done with that sort
of political question hanging over
of what will Tony Evers do?
It is my honor to introduce the
governor of the great state of
Wisconsin, the Honorable
Tony Evers.
Thank you.
Good evening, Wisconsinites.
Honorable Supreme Court justices.
Tribal nation leaders,
Constitutional officers, Adjutant
General May, members
of the Wisconsin National Guard
and active and retired members
of our armed forces,
Cabinet members, legislators,
distinguished guests and
Wisconsinites from wherever
you are joining us tonight.
Thank you for being here with us.
I'm Tony Evers and I am so grateful
and proud to be the 46th governor
of the great state of Wisconsin.
Thank you.
I see her up there.
My former former Forever.
Forever Prom
date. Cathy is up in the gallery
as well.
Kathleen Francis.
You are the.
Cream.
To fill my cream buff.
And I love you more every
day.
Thank you so much.
Caffeine.
We begin a new year.
We begin a new year with a new
legislature elected under
new fair maps.
For the first time in a generation,
this legislature was not elected
under some of the most gerrymandered
maps.
And in America,
I am hopeful this will mean more
collaboration or partnership,
a little less rancor, and
a renewed commitment
to do the right thing for
the people of Wisconsin.
And that's great news.
It means we can work together
to make bipartisan progress on
critical priorities like reforming
our justice system,
fixing our roads, funding
our public schools, and expanding
access to affordable, affordable
housing.
You know, it's no secret that
sometimes people in this building
disagree and share some differences.
Never with me, of course.
But we begin this year with,
I believe, an urgent need and
a mandate to find common
ground. So let's get
to work.
Wisconsinites.
I begin tonight with good news.
Thanks to our work cutting taxes,
Wisconsinites are keeping more
of your hard earned income today
than any point in the last
50 years.
A new Wisconsin.
That is a new Wisconsin policy.
Farm report says Wisconsin state
and local tax burden dropped
to a record low in 2024.
The state and local taxes
Wisconsinites pay as a share
of your income is the lowest
it's been in over half of
a century.
Think about that.
Just two decades ago, Wisconsin was
in the top five states states for
our tax burden and the taxes
Wisconsinites paid as a share
of their income.
Today, Wisconsin is at the
bottom of 16 states and
the country.
We have seen the largest drop
in our tax burden of any state
over the last 20 years.
Cutting taxes has been a
bipartisan priority for over
the last six years.
I have proposed the middle class tax
cuts and every budget I introduced
as governor and the legislature
has sent me back some proposals I
agreed with, including one of the
largest tax cuts in state's
history.
All told, through the
through the income tax cuts I've
signed into law that most
of Wisconsinites have seen a 15%
income tax cut or more.
And if folks will see a $1.5
billion in tax relief
each year, primarily
targeted to the middle class.
And we've been able to provide real,
responsible relief while still
paying down our state's debt.
Savings we're saving where we can
and working across the aisle to be
good stewards of taxpayer
dollars.
After 30 consecutive years
of our state's checking account,
running a deficit,
we have ended all five fiscal
years that I've been governor with
a positive balance.
And Wisconsin.
Our workforce has never been
stronger. I declared 2024
the year of the worker in Wisconsin
because I want we wanted
to address the workforce challenges
that have plagued our state for
generations to make it a top
priority.
And here are the results so far.
In 2024, we reported
nine counties with the lowest rates
of unemployment on record.
We had.
We had historically low
unemployment and in Wisconsin ended
the last year it was seven
consecutive months of record
high employment.
Wisconsinites are hard workers by
nature, and more Wisconsinites
are working than ever before.
And we want Wisconsin workers to be
ready for the 21st century.
For the second consecutive year,
we hit an all time high of nearly
10,000 U.S.
apprentices and had record
high employer participation.
And we had the highest enrollment
ever in our registered
apprenticeship programs, 100
year history for the third year in a
row.
We launched the first ever teacher
apprenticeship program to retain
new teachers and bolster our
education workforce.
We created new youth apprenticeship
pathways from law enforcement
and fire prevention to early
childhood education.
And we're partnering with over 20
bipartisan states through the U.S.
Climate Alliance to train 1
million new registered apprentices
nationwide with a focus
on climate and clean energy fields
over the next decade.
And we're making sure our economy is
built for the 21st century, too.
In 2024, we
relaunch the largest public private
investment in Wisconsin startups
and entrepreneurs in the state
history.
We also welcome billions of dollars
in investments from global
companies, including Microsoft,
Eli Lilly and Company
and Kikkoman, among
others that will create thousands
of jobs here in Wisconsin.
Businesses partnering with our
administration last year committed
to more than $2 billion
in capital investments, the highest
level ever in the last
decade.
We're also working to make Wisconsin
a global leader in health and
medical field.
Advances from developing
new technologies to discovering
cures and strategies to improve
treatment outcomes.
We worked with Senator Baldwin to
secure Wisconsin's designation
as a U.S. regional tech hub.
Our tech hub is projected
to create over 100,000
jobs and $9 billion
worth of economic development in
Wisconsin over the next
decade alone.
And Wisconsinites.
Thanks to our hard work, state
government is working smarter and
faster than ever before.
We've been able to modernize and
improve programs that can help
improve your daily lives.
It's about making sure
our government works and works
better for you.
We expedited community
infrastructure projects for drinking
water by cutting the review time
for engineering plants in
half.
We partnered with the technical
colleges to streamline licensing
for students, helping make
sure they could join our strapped
health care workforce as soon
as possible.
We also created the first ever
interactive mapping tool for
producers to be able to monitor
animal diseases outbreaks
across Wisconsin.
After I directed investments to
bring our state's licensing system
into the 21st century,
folks can now apply for
or renew their light professional
licenses online.
And get this.
Wisconsinites no longer
will have to use a fax machine
to send in some of their materials.
For those of you who are wondering
what the heck a fax machine is.
Folks, that's the point.
We created a.
New system to help professionals
respond to drug overdoses,
identifying dangerous trends in
our communities and getting
information out quicker to folks
that need it.
We made it possible to purchase
state trail passes online so
folks no longer have to carry
a paper pass on the trails.
And we launched a new app for our
state run veterans homes so
that loved ones can stay up to speed
on their veterans medical care.
And Wisconsinites.
We're also saving your tax dollars
along the way by shrinking
our bottom line.
We're working to consolidate
building space across state
government and by downsizing
and expanding remote work options.
We've made it even easier for
the Wisconsin Knights to join our
state workforce.
Regardless of where you
live, our plan is projected
to save taxpayers over $7
million every year by delivering
another half $1 billion in savings
from deferred maintenance costs.
Wisconsin. We accomplished a lot
this last year. We have shown
that we can get a lot of good things
done. When politics stay out
of our way.
There is, as always, more work
to do. And our work together
continues here tonight.
I will soon interject, introduce
our next state budget, laying
out our state's top policy
priorities for the next two years.
Every budget I have ever built began
first by doing what's best for our
kids, and this one will be no
different.
So I will go.
I will again propose historic
investments in K through 12
education.
And I and I will
again ask Republicans and Democrats
to join me in doing what's best for
our kids by making meaningful
investments in public education
at every level, from early
childhood to our UW
system and our technical colleges.
The good news is that the
legislature need not wait until
I introduce my budget to get to
work.
Republican lawmakers can start today
by releasing the $50 million
we approved with bipartisan
support nearly two years ago.
These funds were already approved.
They are available now and
they should not still be sitting in
Madison Hawk's
box.
Helps our kids and their future.
Are too important for
politics.
Republicans please releases
investments of equity, yet their
work improving reading
outcomes statewide.
We have to do more to improve
outcomes for our kids.
And yes, that means making making
meaningful investments in our public
schools.
But our kids outcomes
are as much a reflection of what
happens within our schools
as they are, importantly, a
reflection of what happens beyond
them. And that's a simple matter
of math.
The average Wisconsin elementary
student, for example, spends less
than 12% of their year
receiving direct instruction
in the classroom.
That means that they probably
spend, give or take, about
80% of their time of the year
outside of our schools.
So we have to recognize that our
schools and educators cannot
singlehandedly fix our kids
circumstances beyond the school
doors that nevertheless
impact learning, success
and success in the classroom every
day.
Folks, the obligation to help
address the challenges our kids
are facing in 80% of the
time they're not in school
falls squarely at the feet
of elected officials,
including myself, in this building.
So tonight, I'm declaring 2025
the year of the kid in Wisconsin
because I want everyone here to
start talking or taking that
important responsibility seriously.
I will keep saying this and tell the
folks in this building finally hear
me. If we want to improve our kids
outcomes and we have to shorten
the odds.
If we want our educators in schools
to be able to do their very best
work in the hours our kids
are with them.
We have to set them up for success.
And we have to start by making sure
our kids can bring their full and
best selves to our classrooms.
Kids in class should be focused on
learning, not wondering when and
whether they'll eat next.
Our kids.
Our kids should never go hungry,
period.
But especially not at school
in the year The kid.
The budget I want to introduce next
month will again include my Healthy
Meals Healthy Kids initiative.
Let's end school meal debt and
make sure every kid has a healthy
breakfast and lunch at school with
no stigma at no cost.
And let's start treating our state's
mental health crisis with the
urgency it requires.
Yes, for everyone of every
age, but especially for our
kids. The state of our kids mental
health continues to be a concerning
for me as governor and also
as a grandfather.
A kid in crisis may be distracted
or disengaged, may not be able
to focus on their studies if
they are able to get to school
at all.
I fought hard to secure students
to secure $30 million
in our last state budget to support
school based mental health services
in schools across Wisconsin.
That was just a fraction of what I
asked the legislature to approve.
Tonight, I'm announcing my budget
proposal will invest nearly $300
million to provide comprehensive
mental mental health services and
schools statewide, including
support for peer to peer suicide
prevention programs and expanded
mental health training.
Making sure our kids are
healthy physically and mentally
is a crucial part of improving
outcomes in our classrooms.
But we have to connect the dots
between school achievement and the
challenges our kids are facing
at home and in our communities.
Take lack of access to clean
and safe drinking water as an
example.
There is no safe level
of lead exposure for kids.
None, according to the CDC.
Even the smallest exposure can
lead to it, can have serious
long term consequences
and can even, quote, reduce
a child's learning capacity,
ability to pay attention and
academic achievement.
End quote.
A 2019 study of kids
over several early grade levels
found that even low level
exposure during early childhood
can affect kids achievement,
including reading and math scores.
It also showed that even additional
schooling and physically
maturing, quote, are not
sufficient to offset the damage
caused by early childhood
exposure.
End quote.
My Healthy Meals Healthy Kids plan
will also help moderate modernized
bubblers recom bubblers in Wisconsin
at schools across Wisconsin to
remove harmful contaminants.
And as we kick off the Year of the
Kid, I'm also announcing we're
going to invest over $6 million
in our bi annual budget to support
lead poisoning, intervention
and response.
And I'm announcing this week that
I'll approve a Department of Health
Services emergency rule
strengthening Wisconsin's lead
standards.
So more kids and more families
will be eligible for these critical
resources.
RAF each day of inaction, addressing
harmful contaminants in our water
grows more and even
more expensive.
So I announcing tonight that I've
directed an additional $5
million to continue our work
getting harmful contaminants out
of water wells in 2025,
The Year of the Kid.
It's about doing what's best for
kids and families.
Simple as that.
If we want our kids to bring their
best and full selves
to our classrooms, elected officials
have to start acknowledging how
policy decisions and often
investments or lack
thereof here in this building
affect kids, families, schools and
communities across Wisconsin every
day. Whether or not kids and
families have access to safe,
reliable housing affects
kids at school, whether or
not kids and families have a way
to safely and efficiently travel
to and from home and work affects
kids at school.
Living in a traumatic or unsafe
home environment affects
kids at school, lack of access
to preventive health care and dental
care and eye care.
Affects kids in school.
The state cannot continue
to shirk responsibility for the 80%
of time. Our kids are not in
our classrooms.
That 80% falls
on us.
So folks,
that means we have work to do.
We can start with the basics, making
sure our kids are safe at home, at
school. In our communities
is an area where we have much
room for improvement.
Last week I created our new
Wisconsin Office for Violence
Prevention.
We're going to work across law
enforcement agencies and local
governments with school districts,
nonprofits and firearm dealers
to help keep our kids, families
and communities safe.
I also announce my budget will
include sustainable, ongoing
funding to make the Wisconsin Office
for Violence Prevention
permanent so that we can take
a statewide approach to preventing
crime and violence across our
state.
I will again be proposing
significant investments in our next
state budget to expand access
to mental and behavioral health
services across our state.
Those investments should receive
bipartisan support.
We also have to make sure crime
victims, survivors and
their families have the support they
need to recover.
I directed millions of dollars
to keep the Victims of Crime
Act providers afloat when
the federal funds were cut.
Tonight, I'm announcing I'm
investing $66 million
to support services for crime
victims. In our next state budget.
But these actions alone cannot be
our only effort to reduce crime and
violence and keep our kids, families
and communities safe.
Addressing gun violence must
be part of our work, folks.
In recent years, Wisconsin has seen
about a 21% decrease
in homicide and nearly 30%
decrease in burglary and
almost a 50% decrease
in motor vehicle theft.
Major categories of violent crime
are going down statewide,
and yet the rate of gun deaths
in Wisconsin is trending
in the opposite direction,
according to Everytown
for Gun Safety.
The rate of gun violence increased
in Wisconsin by 54%
between 2014 and 2023,
compared to a 3,434%
increase nationwide over
that same time period.
37 days ago,
a shot a shooting at Abundant Life
Christian School in Madison
took the lives of Erin and Ruby.
A student and an educator who
woke up and went to school
that morning.
Well, never return home.
Six others are injured and
countless lives will never be
the same.
Folks, Wisconsinites, Wisconsinites
sent us here to see big
problems and fix them.
We cannot let common sense
get lost in debates over whether
basic policies could have prevented
the most recent shooting or
the one before that or the one
before that.
We aren't here in Madison to quibble
about the semantics of the last
shooting.
We are here to do everything we can
to prevent the next one.
So we can do better than doing
nothing.
This legislature must do better.
And doing nothing.
So, folks, this is what
this is Wisconsin.
I get behind, we fish, we
trap. And generations of growing
up learning to appreciate our
traditions.
No one wants to change this
proud part of our heritage.
And we won't.
But we do not have to choose
between respecting the Second
Coming and Second Amendment or
keeping kids, schools and state
streets and community safe.
We can do both.
And the truth is this The vast
majority of Wisconsinites, including
gun owners, agree.
So let's start with two basic
policies.
We already know Wisconsinites
support We can take
easy, simple steps to keep
guns out of the hands of dangerous
people.
Let's ask everyone to play
by the same set of rules.
Let's close the loophole
loophole so that everyone goes
through a background check no matter
what kind of firearm they are buying
or where they are buying it.
And the second thing we can do is
pass a red flag law to give law
enforcement and loved ones the tools
they need to get guns out of the
home. When someone is a dangerous
risk for themselves or others.
Just last month, we saw how crucial
red flag laws can be
to prevent tragedy.
Shortly after the shooting at
Abundant Life, law enforcement
discovered the shooter had
potentially plotted with a man
in another state who was allegedly
planning his own mass shooting.
Because he lives in a state with a
red flag law.
Law enforcement was able to get an
emergency protective order
requiring him to surrender
his firearms before he could
move forward with his plan.
Their quick work almost
certainly saved lives
without red flag laws.
Law enforcement in Wisconsin
are often unable
to intervene unless a crime
has already been committed.
At that time, at that point,
sometimes it's too late.
We have to change that.
So that's still what an
overwhelmingly majority
of Wisconsinites, including our
gun owners, believe we should.
Let's give law enforcement and loved
ones the tools they need
by passing a red flag law here
in Wisconsin.
And there are other easy steps we
can take to keep our kids and our
communities safe and
keep guns off the streets.
We can keep guns out of the hands
of domestic abusers.
We can help make sure that guns in
homes where there are kids or
someone prohibited from possessing
a firearm are locked away
or have a trigger lock engaged.
We can help make sure that firearms
at retailers are secured
when their businesses unattended.
We can help make sure that if a
firearm is lost or stolen,
law enforcement is immediately
notified.
We should be able to get this common
sell stuff done with bipartisan
support. That's.
A lot of our work is not just to
prevent people from hurting others,
but to make sure people are
safe from hurting themselves.
These next two policies are personal
for me, as I know they are for folks
who are here and tuning in at home.
Please know that if you or that
you or someone you know is
struggling, help is always
available.
You can call or text nine,
eight, eight or visit nine eight
lifeline.org to get
free confidential help
any time.
24 seven.
Just three years ago, as I
deliver in my State of the State
address, state Representative
Jonathan Ross staff sat
right there in one of these seats.
Jonathan had a heart of service.
He was always working to make
someone else's life just a
little bit better.
As a fierce advocate
as Jonathan was.
He was still always eager to learn
about and understand others
in order to bridge divides.
At the end of last year, Jonathan
died by suicide.
We are so deeply sad,
saddened that he is no longer with
us. Jonathan's wife, Diana,
and his parents, Phyllis and Alan,
are here with us in
the gallery tonight.
Please stand and join me in
recognizing that.
Or to many Wisconsinites, even if
they did not know, Jonathan, the
story of losing him as their story
to Kathy and I share
that story.
The families, friends and coworkers
of veterans, farmers, construction
workers and law enforcement officers
and so many others share
that story.
Kids, classmates, parents,
grandparents. Loved ones and friends
in every corner of our state.
They share that story.
This heart has become
far too often.
Wisconsin in 2022, reported
932 deaths
by suicide, according to Department
of Health Services report,
nearly 60% of which
involved a firearm.
These are statistics we cannot
change because there are those
those are souls we cannot bring
back.
But there is more we can do
today to save lives
tomorrow.
If you talked to someone who loved
whose loved one died by suicide,
many will tell you that their
loss was not a foregone conclusion.
That maybe, just maybe,
if the person they loved had just
made it through one more dark night
to see with certainty
that the sun would rise again,
things could have ended up
differently tonight.
I am asking this legislature
to give the family in the
end the next one and the family
after that, hope for that same
opportunity.
Studies show studies show
that the time between when someone
decides to take their life
and attempts to do so is often
left less than 24 hours
and for about half less than ten
minutes.
The window for intervention
is really short.
Being able to purchase
and possess a gun in
minutes significantly significantly
increases the risk of firearm
suicide and firearm
homicide as well.
A decade old decade.
Decade ago today, Wisconsin had
a had a waiting period law
requiring time between when a person
purchased a firearm and took
possession of it.
That policy was repealed.
It's time for Wisconsin to return
that common sense to that common
sense policy.
Tonight, I'm announcing I will be
asking the legislature to restore
the 48 hour waiting period in
Wisconsin in our next state
budget.
I am also announcing tonight a new
self assigned firearm exclusion
program or safe
to help reduce suicide by firearm.
We can help make sure folks have a
plan to keep themselves safe
when they are in a crisis.
Our safe program will allow
Wisconsinites to temporarily
and voluntarily register
to prevent themselves from
purchasing a firearm.
Registering safe could make
a real difference and even save
someone's life.
Let's get this done.
Folks in the legislature must start
doing its part to take gun violence
seriously in the state.
People don't expect us to be
perfect in this building, but they
do expect us to be pragmatic.
People don't expect us to
acquiesce, acquiesce to each
concept, every policy put
before us.
But they do expect us to at least
have the courage to engage in
a conversation.
People don't expect us to agree
with each other 100% of the time,
but they do expect us to have the
guts to give reasonable policies
a vote that's still better
for Wisconsin than doing nothing.
Kathy and I raised three kids
into it and including twins.
We know that for parents, nothing
is more important than our kids
safety no matter where they are.
So keeping our kids, families,
schools and communities safe
by reducing crime and gun violence
should be a top priority for
us in this year of a kid.
Kathy and I also remember working
to make ends meet so that our
kids are not just safe, but have
food on the table, a warm bed to
sleep in and clothes on their back.
So a critical part of our work,
doing what's best for our kids and
the Year of the Kid must be
supporting the parents and families
who raise them.
There are a lot of ways we can lower
every day out of out of pocket
costs to make sure Wisconsinites
and working families can afford
basic needs.
So I have good news.
The plan I am announcing tonight
will support our economy and
our workforce, lower out-of-pocket
costs for working families
and Wisconsinites, and help give
folks a little breathing room in
their household budgets.
No surprise.
Childcare is too darn
expensive.
We have to make child care more
affordable and accessible.
This is as much about doing
what's best for our kids as it's
doing what's best for parents
in our work, in force,
in our workforce, and in our
economy, too.
After years of proposing similar
efforts, I was proud last year
to sign a bipartisan bill to expand
our Child and Dependent Care
credit. That bill goes into
effect this year so parents
and families be sure to look out for
that when you file your taxes.
Over 110,000
Wisconsin Tech taxpayers
will see an average benefit
of over $650
per filer, totaling never
nearly $73 million
this year alone.
That's great news for Wisconsin's
working families.
But we have to do more to lower the
order out of out of pocket
costs. Working families are paying
for childcare every day.
2023 Report.
The report showed childcare
costs in Wisconsin can consume
18 to 36%
of a family's household income.
Those parents are under 25
and have two kids in childcare.
It's closer to 70%.
The cost of putting two young kids
in childcare costs more than the
average rent mortgage
in Wisconsin and exceeds the
annual cost of tuition to
send two students to the University
of Wisconsin-Madison.
And even if folks can find
and afford care, families
may be waitlisted.
For months, child care providers
across Wisconsin surveyed last
fall had 48,000
kids on a wait list, with nearly 60%
of providers having unutilized
capacity, often because they
needed more workers.
Child care providers are stuck,
increasing costs while keeping
classrooms closed and serving
fewer kids as waitlist
grow.
Getting private providers up to full
capacity would mean serving another
33,000 kids.
Wisconsin's child care crisis
affects not only our kids, families
and childcare providers, but
our state employers,
workforce and economy too.
I've repeatedly proposed plans
to lower the cost of childcare,
which Republican lawmakers
rejected.
So I directed $170
million in emergency funding
to keep our childcare industry
afloat.
But folks, that was 15 months ago.
We must do better than nothing when
it comes to making child care
more affordable.
Our state budget will
once again include sustainable,
ongoing funding to
make sure our child care accounts
program permanent, including
investing over $500 million
aimed at lowering child care costs,
supporting this critical industry,
investing in
employer sponsored child care.
And when we're looking at every day
out of pocket costs, child care is
not the only thing folks are
struggling to afford.
The cost of prescriptions and
lifesaving medication like insulin
are also too darn high.
According to a 2023 national
survey. More than a quarter of
adults in America are having
a hard time affording prescription
drugs.
I found 30%
or it also found 30%
of adults aren't taking the
medications prescribed due
to cost.
No Wisconsinite should have to
choose between paying bills
and putting food on the table and
getting their life saving
medication, Accessing
health care and picking up basic
prescriptions or insulin should
not break the bank, folks.
So let's work to lower the costs of
prescriptions and protect
consumers from price gouging
and life saving medication
through my less for our tax plan.
I will again ask Republicans and
Democrats to work together to
approve new state programs
aimed at setting price ceilings
for prescriptions and improving
oversight of drug companies to
make sure Wisconsinites are getting
a fair shake.
That's remove the sales tax on
over-the-counter medications
and capped the co-pay on insulin
at $35 lower.
And.
You're learning every day.
Out of pocket costs for
Wisconsinites and working families
must be a priority for this session.
Making child care And every day
prescriptions more affordable
are two easy ways we can
help Wisconsinites afford
basic needs.
Help paychecks go a little further
and give parents, families and
seniors some breathing room
in their household budgets.
Am I plan allows us to
lower costs by supporting our
workforce and our economy
too.
The coming weeks, I'll announce my
comprehensive plan to lower costs
for Wisconsinites and working
families.
And this work is especially timely.
We've already seen steps
taken in Washington in recent
days that could significantly
increase costs, hurt Wisconsinites
and working families and leave a lot
of uncertainty for our
economy here in Wisconsin.
A lot has happened in Washington in
the last 72 hours, and
I know there's a lot angst, a lot of
angst about what may happen in these
days, months and years ahead.
I want to talk about what it means
for Wisconsin and how we
move forward together.
So let's talk about immigration.
These lands were inhabited
by indigenous peoples for millennia
before people from France,
Great Britain, Norway, Holland.
In.
They were never here before.
People from France, Great Britain,
Norway, Holland, like my
my wife's father.
Sweden, Germany and regions
the world over.
It came and settled here in a state
as we now know and love it.
Wisconsin began as the land
of many people, of many origins,
each important and none
any better than any other.
And that is still who we are.
177 years later,
the state of Wisconsin was born of
immigrants.
But today, there are those who would
have us forget that fact.
There are those who would have us
rewrite the story of ourselves,
and they would ask us to believe in
a distorted and dishonest
history.
They would have us abandon the
values, the values,
the values that made us who we
are as the people.
It was blood, love and labor
make our state great.
We cannot.
And we.
We cannot.
And we will not.
Wisconsinites are honest people.
We tell the truth.
So in this building, let's do the
same and let's move
past partizan rhetoric.
Let's agree to be honest about
the fact that in this state,
some of our state's largest
and most important industries
have companies have always welcomed
the hard work of immigrants.
Let's agree to be on.
Let's agree to be honest about the
fact that the story of our state's
success today is told in
the labor of over 3 million
Wisconsinites, including tens
of thousands of workers whose only
transgression to date was not
having the good fortune of being
born in this country.
Let's agree.
Let's agree that we can continue.
Let's agree that we can.
Continue to be a state that enforces
our laws when and if they're
broken, but still embraces
our shared history.
And all those who have helped write
our Wisconsin story from our
native native nations to the
generations of immigrants who
came after.
And let's agree.
Let's agree that if
you work, obey the law, pay
taxes, and contribute to our
communities and play by the rules
just like everyone else, you
should have a fair shot at coming
and continuing to pursue
the American dream.
Our current system, our
current.
System is unworkable
and unsustainable.
There must be bipartisan work
towards a solution that builds
upon the strength of our country
without threatening our economic
economy's success.
Wisconsin We cannot allow reckless
decisions in Washington to stymie
our Wisconsin economic
momentum.
We cannot stall.
We cannot stall our progress towards
fixing the problems that we have
that have plagued our station as
stake for generations.
We cannot afford to lose the
prosperity for posterity
that we've worked hard to build
together.
I have always been willing to work
with anyone who is willing to do the
right thing for the people of
Wisconsin.
And that has not changed.
But I will not compromise on our
Wisconsin values.
Treating people with kindness,
dignity, empathy and respect.
And I will continue to deliver on my
promise to fight for the values and
priorities that I have
every day as their governor.
But.
Protecting protecting access
to affordable health care is one
of them.
The Affordable Care Act insurance
coverage for millions of
Wisconsinites, including for
folks who have preexisting
conditions.
Women are no longer charged
more than men.
We no longer have annual or
lifetime limits on the care
patients receive.
So I promise you this I'll fight
every effort to repeal the
Affordable Care Act, just as I
have done since day one as governor.
I fight like hell to make sure
Wisconsin women have the freedom to
make their own reproductive health
care decisions without interference
from politics.
Without, without,
without and without interference.
Without interfering interference
from politicians in this building
who know nothing about their
life, their faith or their
circumstances.
And I fought like hell to restore
access to safe legal
abortion in Wisconsin and on
the 50s anniversary
of Roe v Wade.
I'll tell you tonight that I will
fight like hell against every effort
and veto any bill that makes
access to abortion, birth
control and infertility
treatments and any other part of
reproductive health care
any less accessible than
it is today.
And that's a promise.
And.
Wisconsin will continue to be bold
on clean energy, fight the climate
crisis and create good paying
jobs and innovative industries of
the future.
Because in Wisconsin, we know we
can't afford to choose between
mitigating climate change and
protecting our environment or
creating jobs and economic
development.
We must do both.
So we will continue our work
to do right by our kids
while leaving a world, a better
place and a world than the one
we inherited.
And to our LGBTQ
kids and Wisconsinites.
You know the promise I made to you.
I promise I have always been
proud to keep.
I will veto any bill that makes
Wisconsin a less safe, less
inclusive and less welcoming place.
And I'll never stop delivering on my
promise to use every power available
to me to defend you, protect
your rights, and keep you safe.
My.
My promise to the people of
Wisconsin has always been to be a
governor who works for all
Wisconsinites but does the right
thing when it matters most.
That is a promise I will continue to
keep. If everyone here
is more intent on doing more for
others than themselves,
more focused on what we can
accomplish together
than what they can gain on their
own. And committed to
doing what's right rather than
what's best for their personal
politics.
We will get a lot done for the
people we are here to serve.
We must continue to make smart,
strategic investments while staying
within our means.
We must continue to invest in
needs long ago, long
neglected while still finding
ways to save where we can.
And we must continue to
grow as ever.
Forward together.
So let's get good things done
for the people of Wisconsin this
year and let's get back to work.
Thank you. And on Wisconsin,
UW marching band.
Take it Away.
And so the University of Wisconsin
marching band concludes.
Governor Tony Evers, seven State
of the State address before a joint
session of the Wisconsin Assembly
and Senate.
Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, who
represents the parts of Racine and
Walworth counties, is making his way
back to our location as we speak.
He'll provide this year's Republican
response in just a few
minutes.
So Governor Evers
address was labeled
the Year of the Kid.
It was an emotional speech.
He was talking about mental health,
gun violence and suicide
prevention to help
children and other people
in the state of Wisconsin.
Yeah, there were definitely some
parts of the speech where he
let that emotion
draw out. It was not just a
throwaway line where he talked about
suicide prevention.
Told the story of
scare part of Jonathan Bronson
with his family in the gallery.
He connected it to policy.
He called for a 48 hour
waiting period for handgun
purchases.
He also talked about
the shooting at a Madison school
in December and calling for
universal background checks
and red flag laws.
So
it felt like a different speech from
some that he's given where he just
really let those kind of emotional
human angles carry
out.
Yeah, it definitely did.
Did you get the impression that
this was a speech
that sets him up to run
for a third term?
I mean, it was really expansive.
It had to.
It had to do with children.
It had to do with guns.
It had to do with federal policies
happening right now.
And not a budget address, but a lot
of budget material that was in
there.
He talked about a $300 million
mental health program for schools,
talked about a $5,000,500 million
in investment in child
care accounts.
As we hear the band, very loud
background here.
And so we're talking real
money there At that point.
We're up to nearly $1 billion in
a speech. Is this just a hint
at what the governor will be talking
about in its budget address in
February?
I thought it was interesting to the
number of elements that
he had around gun safety.
As you said, the red flag laws,
the background checks,
but also a safe program
allowing people to register to
prevent themselves from
buying a gun in the event
of suicidal ideation.
And sort of an underlying
message that we have to do
something. People expect us to do
something.
But I mean, as you could see in kind
of the reaction in the room.
Easier said than done when it comes
to issues like these and so many
others.
We did hear some references kind
of broadly to costs.
It's not very specific.
He did get into specifics on
prescription drug costs, that it
would be rolling out more as
he prepared to deliver his budget.
But costs in this
inflationary period, that's
something you heard lawmakers
who were on the campaign trail talk
about last year.
It sounds like something the
governor is going to use his budget
to talk about to a large degree.
And we will be looking ahead to
that budget address, as you've said,
next month.
Assembly Speaker Robin Vos
leads the Republican controlled
state Assembly.
He is the 75th speaker
of the Assembly and the longest
serving person ever to hold that
position.
Here is Assembly Speaker Robin for
us with tonight's Republican
response.
Hello, I'm Assembly Speaker Robin
Vos. On behalf of the legislature,
it's my honor to give the Republican
response to tonight's State of the
State address.
This week has been exciting as we
watch the peaceful transfer of power
in our nation's capital.
However, far too many Americans
believe the only place that policies
are made is in Washington, DC.
While I'm excited for the changes,
President Trump as an administration
will make too many federal policies
inflation, rising rents and
increasing food prices have hurt our
families for the last four years.
And elected officials in Madison
must also address the state
policies that have created the same
challenges.
The speech tonight was Governor
Evers seventh State of the State
address, where he largely delivered
the same tired rhetoric he's
presented the other six times.
He's given the same speech.
Year after year, we hear the same
lip service about wanting to work
together, and then, unfortunately,
he rarely follows through.
My hope tonight is that unlike the
past seven times, Governor
Evers is actually serious about
finding common ground with
legislative Republicans.
First, let's talk about taxes.
Cutting them remains the primary
objective for legislative
Republicans.
We have the largest one time surplus
in state history.
And instead of talking about how to
return that money to working
families tonight, Governor Evers
prioritized, adding more spending
and growing the size of government.
The fact is, a surplus of this size
only exists because over a year
ago, Governor Evers vetoed
a tax cut that would have returned
around $1,000 to every
family in Wisconsin.
That tax cut would have helped those
families as they struggle to keep up
with rising costs.
Instead, he alone decided
it was better for government to keep
your money.
Tonight, Republicans stand united in
returning that money to you, the
taxpayers.
And we will give Governor Evers
another chance to do the same.
We propose to return it to those who
are hardworking retirees and in
need of a much needed income tax
exemption.
And we will also look for ways to
hold down your property taxes and
help struggling young families.
Next, while we heard tonight about
another education plan to write a
blank check to our schools.
Republicans will focus on increasing
standards and demanding
accountability.
Right now, only 48%
of students in Wisconsin are even
reading at grade level.
This is absolutely unacceptable
and it has to change.
Our reading crisis is not just
limited to our biggest school
districts, however.
It exists in districts all across
the state, both large and small.
According to the Wisconsin
Department of Public Instruction own
data. Only 37%
of students were proficient in
English. In 2022,
there was little progress in the
next year, with only 39%
of students testing proficient
says that we're doing better now,
but it's only because they
significantly lowered the standards
to inflate the results.
Make no mistake our education system
is doing an enormous disservice to
our students.
We will not allow the Department of
Public Instruction to shortchange
our students by lowering our
standards.
Republicans will enact legislation
to require the forward exam to be
aligned with the National Assessment
of Educational Progress.
This will bring our standards back
to the baseline before I
artificially inflated them.
It will also allow parents to
compare the past with the present.
Recently, Governor Evers even said
in a statement, quote, We need to
have as high a standards as
possible, unquote.
He's right.
Hopefully this will be a place where
the legislature and Governor Evers
can actually find common ground
to come together with a solution to
this growing failure in K-12
education.
Finally, we will focus on helping
President Trump fix the broken
immigration system.
Every state is a border state.
When we deal with the challenges
presented by illegal immigration,
disappointingly, even tonight,
Governor Evers has already said
that he will not allow our National
Guard troops to help at the border.
And his administration has said they
will not assist with the deportation
of violent criminals.
There are too many lawless
bureaucrats and politicians pushing
dangerous sanctuary policies
that jeopardizes our public safety
here in Wisconsin.
This has to stop.
Our criminal justice systems and our
government programs are already
stretched too thin and the need to
focus resources on those who are
here legally.
Surprisingly, there is no current
statutory requirement for law
enforcement to inquire with Ice when
an individual's legal status cannot
be verified.
In fact, some law enforcement
agencies, including Dane County, the
city of Beloit and Milwaukee County,
have already announced they will not
comply with Ice in limited
circumstances.
Republicans will pass legislation
requiring all law enforcement
in Wisconsin to cooperate with
the immigration service to deport
those who commit a serious crime
and are being held in our jails or
our prisons.
The ideas I've just discussed in
this brief response are
common sense and have broad public
support.
Everyone, whether you're a
Republican, a Democrat or an
independent, should be able to rally
around the idea of fighting
inflation.
Better educational outcomes for our
kids and.
Punishing violent criminals.
We heard from tonight, Governor
Evers, a long list of things.
Partizan demands in a way that
doesn't bring Wisconsin together.
We all know Wisconsin is such a
great place to live, work, raise
a family and retire.
Our commitment and our promise to
you is to keep working to make it
even better.
Thank you for joining me tonight.
God bless you and your family.
And God bless the state of
Wisconsin.
That was Wisconsin Assembly Speaker
Robin Vos with the Republican
response.
If you would like to watch tonight's
speech from Governor Tony Evers
or Assembly Speaker and Speaker
Robin Vos, again, we will have
it posted later tonight on our
website at PBS's wisconsin.org.
We will have continuing coverage and
reaction to the State of the State
address this Friday evening at 730
on here. And now.
Wisconsin Public Radio will also
continue to follow developments from
the state capital, both on the air
and online at
npr.org.
We want to thank you for joining us
this evening live from the state
capitol in Madison.
I'm Shawn Johnson with Wisconsin
Public Radio.
And I'm Frederica Freiberg with PBS,
Wisconsin.
This concludes our coverage of
Wisconsin's 2025
State of the State address.
Thanks for watching.