MORE LIKE BEN IN WORD, IN DEED
AND IN SERVICEMENT SERVICEMENT SERVICE.
WE SURE WISH HE COULD BE WITH US
TONIGHT.
WE MISS HIM EVERY DAY.
ALSO NOT WITH US TONIGHT ARE
MORE THAN 5,000 WISCONSINITES
WHO HAVE DIED DUE TO COVID-19.
THEY WERE FIREFIGHTERS, HEALTH
CARE WORKERS, NUNS, EDUCATORS,
ENTREPRENEURS, COMMUNITY
PILLARS, STUDENTS, VETERANS,
VOLUNTEERS, BIRD WATCHERS, CARD
PLAYERS AND PACKERS, BREWERS AND
BUCKS FANS.
THEY WERE MOMS AND DADS,
BROTHERS AND SISTERS, FRIENDS
AND CO-WORKERS AND THEY ARE
LOVED AND MISSED BY MANY.
SO TONIGHT I'D LIKE TO DEDICATE
MY ADDRESS TO THOSE WE'VE LOST
THIS YEARS AND THE FAMILIES,
SONS AND DAUGHTERS, MOMS AND
DADS, FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS LEFT
BEHIND WHO ON TOP OF EVERYTHING
ELSE THIS PAST YEAR HAVE HAD TO
MOURN THE LOSS OF SOMEONE THEY
LOVE.
AND I'D ASK YOU TO JOIN ME
BRIEFLY IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE
TO HONOR THE LIVES OF THESE
WISCONSINITES WE LOST TO
COVID-19.
[MOMENT OF SILENCE]
>> THANK YOU.
AS I STOOD BEFORE YOU AND
DELIVERED MY SECOND STATE OF THE
STATE ADDRESS LAST YEAR, THE
WORLD AND OUR STATE LOOKED MUCH
DIFFERENT THAN IT DOES NOW.
WE WERE COMING OFF A SUCCESSFUL
YEAR, MAKING A DOWN PAYMENT ON
OUR PRIORITIES, LIKE FULLY
FUNDING OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS,
FIXING OUR CRUMBLING ROADS AND
BRIDGES AND MAKING HEALTH CARE
MORE ACCESSIBLE AND AFFORDABLE.
WE PUT $330 MILLION IN GENERAL
SCHOOL AID, THE LARGEST IN MORE
THAN A DECADE, AND FUNDED A $97
MILLION INCREASE FOR SPECIAL
EDUCATION, THE LARGEST EVER.
WE PROVIDED MORE THAN $465
MILLION IN NEW FUNDING FOR OUR
LOCAL ROADS, HIGHWAYS AND
TRANSIT NEEDS.
AND EVEN THOUGH MY EFFORTS TO
EXPAND HEALTH CARE WERE REJECTED
BY THE REPUBLICANS, WE MADE
CRITICAL INVESTMENTS IN
IMPROVING MENTAL HEALTH
TREATMENT, SUPPORTING OUR DIRECT
CARE WORKFORCE AND INCREASING
FUNDING FOR OUR RURAL HEALTH
CARE PROVIDERS.
SO, WE BEGAN 2020 WITH OUR
SIGHTS SET HIGH.
WE WERE ANNOUNCING A THREE-PRONG
PLAN TO ADDRESS OUR DAIRY CRISIS
AND SUPPORT RURAL COMMUNITIES
ACROSS OUR STATE.
WE WERE LOOKING AHEAD TO
REDISTRICTING ON THE HORIZON,
CREATING THE PEOPLE'S MAPS
COMMISSION TO DRAW OUR STATE'S
NEXT MAPS AFTER THE 2020 CENSUS
AND ENSURE THAT PEOPLE CHOOSE
THEIR ELECTED OFFICIALS, NOT THE
OTHER WAY AROUND.
WE WERE PUSHING TO RETURN OUR
STATE'S COMMITMENT TO TWO-THIRDS
FUNDING FOR OUR KIDS IN OUR
SCHOOLS, AND WE WERE GOING TO
INCREASE AID TO OUR MOST RURAL
SCHOOL DISTRICTS WHILE PROVIDING
$130 MILLION TOWARDS REDUCING
PROPERTY TAXES THROUGH
EQUALIZATION AID.
THEN, THINGS CHANGED OVERNIGHT.
WE WERE GOING ABOUT OUR DAILY
LIVES WHEN A NOVEL CORONAVIRUS
HIT AND WE HAD TO TAKE URGENT,
NECESSARY STEPS TO PREVENT THE
COVID-19 PANDEMIC FROM
SPREADING.
SUDDENLY, STATES AND COUNTRIES
WERE ASKING FOLKS TO SHELTER IN
PLACE.
KIDS AND ED CAIRDZ WERE EDUCATORS WERE LEARNING
AND TEACHING FROM THEIR KITCHEN
TABLES AND SO MANY BEGAN WORKING
FROM HOME AND THOSE WHO WEREN'T
WERE WORRIED ABOUT GOING TO WORK
EACH DAY.
WHEN I DELIVERED MY LAST STATE
OF THE STATE ADDRESS, NO ONE
COULD HAVE PREDICTED THE REST OF
THE YEAR WOULD GO QUITE LIKE IT
DID.
WHAT WE NOW KNOW ABOUT 2020 IS
IT WAS ONE OF THE MOST
UNRELENTING YEARS ANY OF US HAVE
EVER EXPERIENCED.
IF SOMEONE HAD SAID OUR SPECIAL
SESSIONS TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR
SCHOOLS AND PROPERTY TAX RELIEF
WOULD BE MET WITH INACTION, IF
SOMEONE HAD SAID THEN, AFTER
VISITING ALL 72 COUNTIES MY
FIRST YEAR IN OFFICE LAST YEAR
WE'D ONLY BE VISITING EACH OTHER
VIRTUALLY AND LEARNING TO USE A
THING CALLED ZOOM, IF SOMEONE
HAD SAID THAT IN A YEAR'S TIME
WE'D LOST MORE THAN 5,000 OF OUR
FAMILY MEMBERS, FRIENDS AND
NEIGHBORS DUE TO THE WORST
PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS IN A
CENTURY, WE WOULDN'T HAVE
BELIEVED THEM.
I SAID THEN THAT THE YEAR WOULD
CHALLENGE THE DEPTH OF OUR
EMPATHY AND THE STRENGTH OF OUR
SELFISHNESS.
AND IT DID, BUT IN MORE AND
DIFFERENT WAYS THAN WE COULD
HAVE EVER IMAGINED.
JUST TAKE A LOOK.
>> FIRST TONIGHT I'M CALLING A
SPECIAL SESSION OF THE
LEGISLATURE NEXT WEEK TO TAKE UP
LEGISLATION TO INVEST IN
FARMERS, AGRICULTURE INDUSTRIES
AND OUR RURAL COMMUNITIES.
>> TONY EVERS WANTS TO PUT $250
MILLION INTO OUR STATE'S
EDUCATION.
>> LEGISLATIVE LEADERS HAVE
OTHER PLANS.
>> IT WAS A TRAGEDY FOR
MILWAUKEE, YES, BUT IT'S A TRAJ
TRAGEDY FOR THE ENTIRE STATE.
>> TODAY, I HAVE DECLARED A
PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY TO
ADDRESS THE OUTBREAK.
>> TONY EVERS SAYS ALL K-12
SCHOOLS STATEWIDE WILL CLOSE
BEGINNING NEXT WEDNESDAY.
>> AND THE WISCONSIN STATE FAIR
IS ALSO CANCELLED THIS YEAR,
WHICH IS THE FIRST CANCELLATION
SINCE 1945.
>> LAWMAKERS DIDN'T EVEN SHOW UP
TODAY, KNOWING THE END RESULT.
REPUBLICAN LEADERS QUICKLY
DECIDED THEY WOULDN'T TAKE UP
THE GOVERNOR'S REQUEST, ARGUING
THE ELECTION SHOULD AND CAN
SAFELY HAPPEN ON TUESDAY.
>> THAT'S WHAT I'M FEELING.
>> THIS ORDER IS EFFECTIVE
IMMEDIATELY.
SAFER AT HOME IS STRUCK DOWN.
>> ONE FELL SWOOP, FOUR JUDGES
WHO HAVE THROWN OUR STATE INTO
CHAOS.
?
>> ANOTHER AMERICAN CITY IS
ROCKED BY OUTBREAK OVER THE
POLICE SHOOTING OF A BLACK MAN.
>> I LOST MY COUSIN IN CHICAGO.
I KNOW HOW THIS FEELS.
>> UNFORTUNATELY, WISCONSIN IS
IN A MUCH DIFFERENT AND MORE
DIRE PLACE TODAY.
>> WISCONSIN JUST SAW THE FIVE
DEADLIEST DAYS OF THE PANDEMIC
SO FAR.
>> REPUBLICANS HAVE SHOWN NO
INDICATION THAT WE WILL MOVE
ONMENT
>>
ONMENT -- ON.
>> 19 PEOPLE HAVE DIED SINCE
MONDAY.
DO YOU FEEL ANY RESPONSIBILITY
FOR THE MESS AND THE CRISIS THAT
THE STATE IS FACING?
>> WISCONSIN IS NOW IN CRISIS
MODEMENT ALL HOSPITALS ARE
EITHER AT OR NEARING CAPACITY.
>> MASKS DO NOT OBSERVE TEARS
WHEN YOU ARE AT A BEDSIDE
REMOVING SOMEBODY FROM A BY PAP.
PLEASE HELP US.
THANK YOU.
>> IT'S TEMPTING TO LOOK BACK
AND SEE A YEAR RIFE WITH HEART
HEARTBREAK, SETBACKS AND LOSS,
BECAUSE IT WASMENT FROM OUR
HEALTH CARE WORKERS TO OUR
STUDENTS, WISCONSINITES HAVE
BEEN STRETCHED TO THE LIMIT,
MAKING SACRIFICES FOR OUR
NEIGHBORS, FAMILIES, LOVED ONES
AND I KNOW SO MANY ARE TIRED.
OUR STATEWIDE ERTS EFFORTS TO CONTAIN
THE VIRUS WERE MET WITH
RESISTANCE.
WE IN VETTED NEARLY $2 BILLION
IN OUR STATE'S RESPONSE,
DELIVERING MORE THAN 26 MILLION
PIECES OF PPE TO HOSPITALS,
LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES,
VETERANS HOMES AND FRONT LINE
WORKERS.
WE PROVIDED MORE THAN $370 TO
HELP STABILIZE OUR ECONOMY AND
SUPPORT NEARLY 53,000 OF OUR
SMALL BUSINESSES, MORE THAN
15,000 FARMS AND OUR LODGING,
HOSPITALITY AND TOURISM
INDUSTRIES.
WE INVESTED MORE THAN $200
MILLION IN HELPING COMMUNITIES
ACROSS WISCONSIN RECOVER.
BUT WE KNOW WE HAVE A LONG WAY
TO GO TO GET OUR ECONOMY BACK ON
TRACK.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, MANY OF THE
CHALLENGES OF 2020 WILL NO DOUBT
CARRY INTO THIS NEW YEAR.
BUT AS WE REFLECT ON THESE
CHALLENGES, THE MAGNITUDE OF
WHAT THIS PAST YEAR PRESENTED US
AND THE WORK WE DID TOGETHER TO
PREPARE, ADAPT AND RESPOND, LET
US ALSO REMEMBER TO GRANT
OURSELVES GRACE TO PERMIT
OURSELVES PERSPECTIVE, TO
RECOGNIZE OUR OWN RESILIENCE.
YES, OUR REVERENCE AND OUR
PATIENCE AND OUR TALL TOLERANCE HAVE
BEEN TESTED BY TIMES AND BY EACH
OTHER.
SOMETIMES DOING WHAT'S BEST AND
WHAT IS RIGHT LOST OUT TO
ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO CHOSE
POLITICS AND POLITICAL INTERESTS
INSTEAD.
YES, THERE WERE MOMENTS WHERE WE
COULD HAVE OFFERED A GREATER
EMPATHY, MORE HUMILITY AND
BETTER COMMUNITY THAN WHAT WE
GAVE TO THOSE WHO, TOO, WERE
CARRYING THE BURDEN OF THE LAST
YEAR.
BUT DESPITE ALL OF THIS, WE ALSO
MANAGED TO FIND THE STRENGTH IN
THE STRUGGLES WE SHARED.
WE FOUND FAITH IN THE KINDNESS
OF STRANGERS, WHO BROUGHT FOOD
AND GROCERIES TO THOSE WHO
COULDN'T LEAVE THEIR HOMES.
PACKING MEALS FOR KIDS SO THAT
THEY WOULDN'T GO HUNGRY EVEN IF
THEY WEREN'T IN SCHOOL.
SEWING MASKS FOR OTHERS WHO
COULDN'T AFFORD THEIR OWN.
THOUSANDS MARCHED ECHOING THE
CALL OF GENERATIONS DEMANDING
EQUITY AND JUSTICE.
WE FOUND PER CERTIFICATE REAR
ADVANCE IN OUR FARMERS, GROWERS
AND FARM WORKERS TO MAKE SURE WE
KEPT FOOD ON OUR TABLE.
MAIN STREET BUSINESSES AND
RESTAURANTS REIMAGINED AND
RETOOLED TO KEEP CUSTOMERS SAFE.
AND THE MEN AND WOMEN OF OUR
WISCONSIN NATIONAL GUARD WHO
HAVE HEEDED THE CALL TO SERVE
TIME AND AGAIN FROM OUR
STATEWIDE TESTING TO WORKING THE
POLLS DURING WHAT HAS BEEN THE
LONGEST GUARD ACT TIE VAITION IN
OUR HISTORY.
WE FOUND COURAGE IN THE HOSPITAL
ROOMS AND HALLWAYS AND DOCTORS
AND NURSES AND HEALTH CARE
WORKERS WHO BRACE THEMSELVES ON
THE WAY TO WORK AND WALK THROUGH
THE DOOR ANYWAY.
WHO HAVE COMFORTED OUR LOVED
ONES WHEN WE COULDN'T.
WHO EVEN TODAY HAVE NEVER
STOPPED SHOWING UP FOR US.
THIS PAST YEAR ASKED A LOT OF
US.
AND WE'VE ASKED A LOT OF ONE
ANOTHER.
BUT WHEN WE DID, WE FOUND THAT
THE STRENGTH OF OUR STATE IS IN
WHAT WE'RE WILLING TO FACE
TOGETHER, WHAT WE'RE WILLING TO
DO FOR EACH OTHER, ESPECIALLY
WHEN OUR NEIGHBORS NEED US THE
MOST.
>> INCREASED CORONAVIRUS TESTING
WILL ROLL OUT THIS WEEK ACROSS
THE STATE.
GOVERNOR EVERS' GOAL IS TO REACH
85,000 TESTS A WEEK.
>> GOVERNOR EVERS IS CALLING ON
THE LEGISLATURE TO TAKE UP A
PACKAGE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE
REFORMS THEY ANNOUNCED FOLLOWING
GEORGE FLOYD'S DEATH.
>> THEY BOYCOTTED A GAME.
>> WE NEED TO INSPIRE CHANGE.
>> YOUNG PEOPLE ARE DOING IT OUT
HERE.
IT'S A GREAT THING.
>> THE GOVERNOR TOLD ME HE
WANTED TO THANK THE PEOPLE OF
WISCONSIN FOR THE SACRIFICES
THAT THEY HAVE MADE.
>> TO FIGURE OUT WHAT YOU'RE
FIGHTING FOR AND KEEP THAT AT
THE FOREFRONT.
SO THIS COMMUNITY, THESE
PATIENTS, THESE FAMILIES THAT
ARE BEING AFFECTED BY THIS,
THAT'S WHAT I'M FIGHTING FOR.
>> CHANGING THE WORLD IS NOT
SOME FAR OFF IDEA.
AND WE CAN CREATE THAT SOCIETY
THAT IS OPEN, INCLUSIVE,
WELCOMING, INVITING TO
EVERYBODY.
>> IT'S WORKING.
WE ARE HEADED IN THE RIGHT
DIRECTION.
?
>> I KNOW THIS YEAR HAS BEEN
EXTREMELY DIFFICULT AND I KNOW
GOOD NEWS IS HARD TO COME BY.
BUT TONIGHT WE MUST ALSO OFFER
OUR NEIGHBORS PROMISE OF A
BETTER TOMORROW, PROMISE THAT
EACH OF US WILL PLAY A PART IN
DELIVERING BY DOING EVERYTHING
WE CAN.
>> WE LOVE OUR FUTURE AND WE
DON'T WANT TO MESS IT UP.
WE WANT TO HELP OTHER PEOPLE AS
THEY RISE.
>> ALTHOUGH THE YEAR IS BEHIND
US, THE REMNANTS AND HARDSHIP OF
2020 REMAIN.
I KNOW FOLKS ARE EAGER TO PUT
THIS VIRUS IN THE PAST.
FRANKLY, I AM, TOO.
I KNOW SO MANY ARE READY TO GET
VACCINATED AND GET BACK TO THE
LIFE WE KNEW IT.
AND WE'RE WORKING TO DISTRIBUTE
THE VACCINE DOSES AS QUICKLY AND
AS FAIRLY AS WE CAN.
AND WHILE CONGRESS RECENTLY
PROVIDED ADDITIONAL RESOURCES TO
HELP SUPPORT FAMILIES IN OUR
STATE'S RESPONSE, WE KNOW IT
WILL LIKELY NOT BE ENOUGH TO
CONTINUE FIGHTING THIS VIRUS
UNTIL WE'RE THROUGH DISTRIBUTING
THE VACCINE.
THERE'S ALWAYS MORE WORK TO DO
AND JUST AS WE HAVE THIS PAST
YEAR, WE'RE GOING TO GET IT
DONE.
NOW, TWO YEARS INTO MY FIRST
TERM AS GOVERNOR WE'RE NOT GOING
TO SLOW DOWN.
IN FACT, WE'RE JUST GETTING
STARTED.
OUR FOREBEARERS GAVE US A
MANDATE TO GO FORWARD.
AND WE HAVE, AS WE MUST.
BUT FORWARD WAS A CHALLENGE TO
US THEN, JUST AS IT IS HERE
TODAY, NOT TO MOVE FOR
MOVEMENT'S SAKE.
IN THIS STATE, FORWARD ISN'T A
METRIC OF THOSE WHO MOVE THE
FASTEST.
IT'S A MEASURE OF THE STRIDES WE
MAKE WHEN WE ALL GO TOGETHER.
AS THIS PAST YEAR AS
UNDERSCORED, OUR COURSE OVER THE
PAST DECADE HAS PROVEN UNSTEADY
AND UNEVEN.
FOR YEARS, OUR STATE HAS PLOWED
AHEAD UNENCUMBERED BY THE HOPES
OF THOSE WE MIGHT LEAVE BEHIND.
WE ARE REMINDED NOW THAT IN THE
FIGHT FOR PROGRESS AND
PROSPERITY, WE EACH SHARE
RESPONSIBILITY.
AND IT BEGINS WITH BROADBAND.
THIS PANDEMIC HAS UNDERSCORED
AND IN SOME WAYS EXACERBATED THE
DIGITAL DIVIDE THAT EXISTS
ACROSS OUR STATE.
THIS PANDEMIC HAS SHOWN US
FIRSTHAND THAT LACK OF ACCESS TO
HIGH-SPEED INTERNET CONTINUES TO
BE A SETBACK FOR KIDS, FAMILIES
AND BUSINESSES ACROSS OUR STATE.
STUDENTS, EDUCATORS AND SCHOOLS
MAKING THE SHIFT TO VIRTUAL
LEARN
LEARNING WERE FACED WITH A LACK
OF ACCESS OR UNRELIABLE
CONNECTIONS THAT MADE IT
DIFFICULT TO TEACH, ENGAGE AND
LEARN.
FOLKS TRYING TO STAY HEALTHY AND
ACCESS BASIC HEALTH CARE
SERVICES HAD TROUBLE USING
TELEMEDICINE OR OTHER
ALTERNATIVES TO VISIT WITH THEIR
DOCTOR WHEN THEY COULDN'T GO IN
PERSON.
AND BUSINESSES WORKING TO ADAPT
AND PROVIDE ONLINE ORDERING OR
PAYMENT OPTIONS DIDN'T HAVE THE
TECHNOLOGICAL TOOLS OR
CONNECTIVITY IN THEIR AREA.
AND IN SOME COMMUNITIES,
CONSUMERS DIDN'T HAVE THE
INTERNET CONNECTION TO TAKE
ADVANTAGE EVEN IF THEY COULD
HAVE.
ACCORDING TO THE FCC, MORE THAN
430,000 PEOPLE WHO MAKE UP 25%
OF OUR STATE'S RURAL POPULATION
LACK ACCESS TO HIGH-SPEED
INTERNET.
OUR STATE RANKS 36TH IN THE
COUNTRY FOR ACCESSIBILITY IN
RURAL AREAS.
EARLIER THIS YEAR, OUR WISCONSIN
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
RELEASED ITS WISCONSIN TOMORROW
REPORT.
IT HIGHLIGHTED BROADBAND AS ONE
OF THREE PRIORITIES TO BEGIN OUR
ECONOMIC RECOVERY, SAYING THIS:
FIXING BROADBAND IN WISCONSIN IS
NOT A MOON SHOT.
IT'S NOT INSURMOUNTABLE.
BUT IT IS CRITICAL TO ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT AND RECOVERY AND
MUST HAPPEN NOW.
SO TONIGHT, I'M EXCITED TO
DECLARE 2021 THE YEAR OF
BROADBAND ACCESS.
I'M PROUD THAT MY FIRST BIENNIAL
BUDGET INVESTED $54 MILLION INTO
BROADBAND ACROSS OUR STATE, THE
LARGEST STATE INVESTMENT IN
BROADBAND IN OUR STATE'S
HISTORY.
WELL, NOT TO BE OUT OUTDONE, WE'RE
GOING TO DO IT AGAIN IN THIS
BUDGET, EXCEPT THIS TIME WE'RE
GOING TO NEARLY QUADRUPLE IT.
BY 2021-23 BIENNIAL BUDGET WE'LL
INVEST NEARLY $200 MILLION INTO
BROADBAND.
THAT'S FIVE TIMES THE AMOUNT
INVESTED IN THE 2013-2015 AND
2017 BUDGETS COMBINED.
IT'S 2021, FOLKS.
HAVING ACCESS TO HIGH-SPEED
INTERNET IS NO LONGER A LUXURY.
IT'S A NECESSITY.
EVERY WISCONSINITE ACROSS OUR
STATE SHOULD HAVE ACCESS TO
RELIABLE, HIGH-SPEED INTERNET,
PERIOD.
NOW, LACK OF BROADBAND ACCESS
ISN'T THE ONLY ISSUE THIS
PANDEMIC BROUGHT TO THE
FOREFRONT THIS PAST YEAR.
THE LAST TWO MONTHS OF THE YEAR
I WORKED WITH REPUBLICAN LEADERS
ON A COVID COMPROMISE.
I CALLED ON THE LEGISLATURE TO
PASS THAT COM COMPROMISE AS THE VERY
FIRST BILL THIS SESSION AND TO
SEND IT MY DESK WITHOUT DELAY.
BUT TONIGHT I'D LIKE TO TALK
ABOUT THE VERY SECOND BILL THAT
SHOULD BE PASSED BY THE
LEGISLATURE THIS SESSION AND
THAT'S A BILL TO FIX OUR BROKEN
UNEMPLOYMENT SYSTEM.
SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THIS
PANDEMIC, WE SAW AN
UNPRECEDENTED INFLUX OF
UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS.
IT EXCEEDED THE NUMBER OF CLAIMS
EVEN DURING THE GREAT RECESSION.
TO PUT IT IN PERSPECTIVE, OVER
THE COURSE OF FOUR YEARS, FROM
2016 THROUGH 2019, THE
DEPARTMENT OF WORKFORCE
DEVELOPMENT HANDLED 7.2 MILLION
CLAIMS.
WELL, SINCE MARCH THE DWD
RECEIVED 8.8 MILLION CLAIMS
ALONE, 1.6 MILLION MORE CLAIMS
THAN THE FOUR PREVIOUS YEARS
COMBINED.
SO AS WE SAW A MASSIVE NUMBER OF
NEW INCOMING CLAIMS, WE GOT TO
WORK REASSIGNING STATE EMPLOYEES
FROM OTHER DIVISIONS OR AGENCIES
AND HIRING AND CONTRACTING NEW
WORKERS.
WE BROUGHT OUR STAFFING UP FROM
ABOUT 50 ON0 EMPLOYEES IN OUR
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE DIVISION
TO ABOUT 1800 TO PROCESS CLAIMS
AND FOLLOW UP WITH FOLKS WHO HAD
APPLIED FOR BENEFITS.
AND DURING THAT TIME, THE DWD
PAID NEARLY 600,000 CLAIMANTS
MORE THAN $4.6 MILLION IN
UNINSURANCE BENEFITS TO FOLKS
ACROSS OUR STATE.
BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT OUR
UNEMPLOYMENT SYSTEM ISN'T
DESIGNED TO HANDLE THE MASSIVE
NUMBER OF MODERN DAYS WHICH HAS
CONTRIBUTED TO DELAY IN
PROCESSING CLAIMS, REQUIRED MORE
TIME TO IMPLEMENT NEW FEDERAL
PROGRAMS AND MADE IT HARDER TO
GET BENEFITS OUT THE DOOR.
OUR ANTIQUATED SYSTEM ISN'T
QUITE AS OLD AS I AM, BUT IT'S
BEEN AROUND SINCE RICHARD NIXON
WAS PRESIDENT.
THE SYSTEM ISN'T NEW AND THESE
PROBLEMS AREN'T, EITHER.
AND REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS
ALIKE ARE TO BLAME.
THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS IS
THAT PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS
AND MORE THAN A DECADE'S WORTH
OF LEGISLATORS HAVE KNOWN THIS
SYSTEM WAS OUTDATED AND COULDN'T
HANDLE AN ECONOMIC CRISIS LIKE
THE ONE THIS PANDEMIC PRESENTED,
AND THEY NEVER TOOK THE TIME TO
FIX IT.
AND TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE, THE
LEGISLATURE SPENT THE LAST
DECADE PASSING LAWS DELIBERATELY
MAKING IT EVEN HARDER FOR PEOPLE
TO ACCESS THESE CRITICAL
SUPPORTS WHEN THEY NEED IT THE
MOST.
EXACERBATING THE PROBLEMS WITH
OUR ALREADY OUTDATED SYSTEM.
THIS PAST YEAR BROUGHT TO PEAR
THE INACTION OF MY PREDECESSORS
AND MEMBERS OF THIS AND PREVIOUS
LUGHT THIEWRS WHO AVOIDED THEIR
RESPONSIBILITY AND DUTY FOR FAR
TOO LONG.
WELL, I'LL TELL YOU THIS.
IT'S GONE ON LONG ENOUGH.
IT ENDS TONIGHT.
I'M ANNOUNCING TODAY I WILL BE
CALLING A SPECIAL SESSION OF THE
LEGISLATURE TO TAKE UP A PLAN TO
MODERNIZE OUR UNEMPLOYMENT
SYSTEM AND HELP ENSURE NOTHING
LIKE THIS HAPPENS TO THE PEOPLE
OF WISCONSIN AGAIN.
WE KNOW THAT REPLACING THE
SYSTEM WILL TAKE YEARS.
THAT'S WHY IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN
DONE SOONER.
BUT IT'S ALSO WHY WE DON'T HAVE
ANOTHER MOMENT TO WASTE.
NO POLITICS, NO POSTURING.
SEND ME THE BILL AND LET'S JUST
GET IT DONE.
AND I WANT TO MAKE MYSELF CLEAR.
THE LEGISLATURE CONTINUES TO
IGNORE THIS PROBLEM.
THEY GAVEL AND GAVEL OUT LIKE
THEY'VE DONE BEFORE AS THEY
LEAVE THIS PROBLEM FOR ANOTHER
ADMINISTRATION, ANOTHER
GENERATION.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE WILL
HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE AT THE
BALLOT BOX.
BECAUSE THIS YEAR, WE'RE ALSO
GOING TO FIX ANOTHER PROBLEM
THAT'S PLAGUED OUR STATE FOR
MORE THAN A DECADE: OUR
GERRYMANDERED MAPS.
LAST YEAR DURING MY STATE OF THE
STATE ADDRESS, I ANNOUNCED I
WOULD BE CREATING THE PEOPLE'S
MAPS COMMISSION, A NONPARTISAN
REDISTRICTING COMMITTEE OF
WISCONSINITES FROM EACH
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT WHO WOULD
DRAW FAIR, IMPARTIAL MAPS BASED
ON THE 2020 CENSUS.
THE PEOPLE'S MAPS COMMISSION
SELECTED BY A PANEL OF THREE
RETIRED JUDGES HAS GOTTEN TO
WORK.
THEY'RE HOSTING VIRTUAL HEARINGS
IN EVERY CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
TO HEAR FEEDBACK AND INPUT FROM
PEOPLE ACROSS OUR STATE TO BEGIN
DRAWING THE PEOPLE'S MAPS.
NOW, REPUBLICANS IN THE
LEGISLATURE SAID RIGHT AWAY
THEY'D IGNORE ANY MAPS THE
COMMISSION CREATED.
AND THAT'S NOT A SURPRISE GIVEN
THAT IN 2011 THIS LEGISLATURE
HIRED PRIVATE ATTORNEYS TO DRAW
OUR MAPS IN SECRET AND BEHIND
CLOSED DOORS.
AND BECAUSE THE LEGISLATURE
WROTE THEMSELVES OUT OF
WISCONSIN PUBLIC RECORDS LAW,
THEY WERE ABLE TO DESTROY MANY
OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS FROM THAT
PROCESS.
WELL, I BELIEVE AND I KNOW MANY
OF YOU AT HOME DO THAT PEOPLE
SHOULD GET TO CHOOSE THEIR
ELECTED OFFICIALS, NOT THE OTHER
WAY AROUND.
WISCONSINITES DON'T WANT MAPS
THAT FAVOR ANY POLITICAL
CANDIDATE OR PARTY.
WE JUST WANT MAPS WHERE EITHER
CANDIDATE CAN WIN.
FOLKS, THAT'S JUST COMMON SENSE.
SO TONIGHT I'M ANNOUNCING THAT
BY BIENNIAL BUDGET IS GOING TO
MAKE SURE THAT THE LEGISLATURE
DRAWS OUR MAPS IN THE LIGHT OF
DAY, IN THE PUBLIC EYE AND WITH
PUBLIC INPUT BY REQUIRING PUBLIC
MEETINGS FOR MAP-DRAWING
PROCESS.
AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE ALSO GOING
TO PREVENT THE LEGISLATURE FROM
DESTROYING RECORDS FROM THE
MAP-DRAWING PROCESS, BECAUSE THE
PEOPLE OF OUR STATE DESERVE TO
KNOW HOW THESE MAPS ARE DRAWN
AND BY WHOM.
AND FINALLY, AND MOST
IMPORTANTLY, WE ARE GOING TO
REQUIRE THE LEGISLATURE TO TAKE
UP THE PEOPLE'S MAPS, WHICH WILL
BE DRAWN NOT BY ANY POLITICAL
PARTY, BUT BY THE PEOPLE OF OUR
STATE.
FOLKS, IT'S TIME WE LOOK TO THE
PEOPLE, NOT POLITICIANS, TO DRAW
MAPS THAT ARE FAIR AND
IMPARTIAL.
NOW, MAKE NO MISTAKE.
I DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE THE
CHALLENGES THAT THIS NEW YEAR
MAY BRING OR THE GRIEF WE'RE
STILL GRAPPLING WITH, THE
RAMIFICATIONS WE'RE STILL FULLY
TO REALIZE, THE NEW PROBLEMS
THAT MAY ARISE THIS YEAR.
BUT AS SURE AS THEY'LL FACE
STRUGGLES, WE'LL MAKE IT THROUGH
TOGETHER.
WE AREN'T DEFEATED.
WHILE THE YEAR WAS TRYING, WE'RE
TOUGH.
WISCONSIN, WE'VE NEVER BEEN
KNOWN FOR BEING TIMID, AND WE'RE
SURE NOT GOING TO START TODAY.
OUR PEOPLE, OUR STATE AND OUR
DEMOCRACY HAVE WITHSTOOD TESTS
BEFORE AND WE WILL AGAIN ANSWER
THE CALL TO GO FORWARD AND
FAILS.
BE HAPPY, BE HEALTHY AND STAY
SAFE.
LET'S MOVE FORWARD TOGETHER.
THANK YOU AND ON WISCONSIN, UW
MARCHING BAND, TAISK IT TAKE IT AWAY!
?
[UW MARCHING BAND PLAYING "ON
WISCONSIN"]
>> THAT CONCLUDES GOVERNOR TONY
EVERS' 2021 VIRTUAL STATE OF THE
STATE ADDRESS DURING THIS
ONGOING COVID-19 PANDEMIC.
YOU CAN WATCH THE GOVERNOR'S
SPEECH AGAIN ONLINE.
WE ARE ALSO PROVIDING A LINK TO
THE UPCOMING REPUBLICAN RESPONSE
BY ASSEMBLY SPEAKER ROBIN VOS.
AND BOTH SPEECHES WILL BE POSTED
LATER TONIGHT ON
pbswisconsin.org.
ALSO "HERE AND NOW" THIS FRIDAY
AT 7:30 FEATURES ANALYSIS OF THE
GOVERNOR'S MESSAGE AND
CONTINUING COVERAGE ON THE
REPUBLICAN RESPONSE FROM SENATE
MAJORITY LEADER DEVIN LEMAHIEU.
WE NOW RESUME OUR
REGULARLY-SCHEDULED PROGRAMMING
ALREADY IN PROGRESS.