>> GOOD EVENING, WISCONSINITES.
THANKS FOR TUNING IN.
I'M TONY EVERS, PROUD TO BE THE
46TH GOVERNOR OF OUR GREAT STATE
TO PRESENT MY BUDGET TO YOU THIS
EVENING.
I WANT TO MENTION THAT TODAY IS
A PRETTY IMPORTANT DAY AND
THAT'S NOT JUST BECAUSE I'M
GIVING MY SECOND-EVER BUDGET
ADDRESS.
IT'S BECAUSE TODAY WE HAVE A
SPRING PRIMARY ACROSS OUR STATE.
AND THERE ARE A LOT OF IMPORTANT
THINGS ON THE BALLOT, FROM STATE
SUPERINTENDENT OF OUR SCHOOLS,
LOCAL MAYORS, JUDGES AND SO MANY
OTHERS.
POLLS CLOSE IN LESS THAN A
HOWEVER, SO IF YOU HAVEN'T HAD A
CHANCE TO VOTE YET, HIT PAUSE,
GRAB YOUR PHOTO IDEA, MASK AND
PROOF OF RESIDENCE.
FIND YOUR POLLING LOCATION BY
GOING TO myvote.wi.gov AND GET
THERE RIGHT AWAY.
REMEMBER, YOU JUST NEED TO BE IN
LINE MY 8:00 P.M. TO VOTE.
VOTING IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT PART
OF OUR DEMOCRACY, SO DON'T
WORRY, I PROMISE I WON'T BE
OFFENDED AND I'LL STILL BE HERE
ON YOUTUBE WHEN YOU GET BACK.
WHEN I GAVE MY STATE OF THE
STATE ADDRESS LAST MONTH, I
TALKED ABOUT THE STRUGGLES WE
FACED THIS PAST YEAR AND THE
CHALLENGES WE HAVE FACED AND
WILL FACE IN THE DAYS AHEAD.
I KNOW I DON'T HAVE TO TELL YOU
HOW HARD THIS PAST YEAR HAS BEEN
BECAUSE WE'VE LIVED IT.
YOU'VE LIVED IT.
PEOPLE ACROSS OUR STATE AND
COUNTRY SPENT THE BETTER PART OF
THE LAST YEAR WORRIED, WORRIED
ABOUT HOW YOU'LL SEE A DOCTOR OR
FORWARD YOUR PRESCRIPTIONS,
WORRIED ABOUT TAKING CARE OF
YOUR LOVED ONES FROM A DISTANCE,
WORRIED ABOUT AFFORDING CHILD
CARE FOR YOUR KIDS AND HOW THIS
PANDEMIC HAS AFFECTED THEM.
I KNOW THERE HAVE BEEN SLEEPLESS
NIGHTS WORRYING ABOUT FINDING
WORK OR BEING SAFE AT WORK,
WORRYING ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE
BUSINESS YOU BUILT FROM THE
GROUND UP, WORRIED ABOUT MAKING
SURE YOU CAN KEEP THE LIGHTS ON
AND HEAT ON AT HOME.
SO, AS YOU'RE WATCHING TONIGHT,
FILLED WITH A YEAR'S WORTH OF
WORRY, I KNOW YOU'RE ALSO
WONDERING WHETHER WE CAN CLAW
OUT OF THIS CRISIS, WHERE WE CAN
GO FROM HERE, HOW WE GET BACK ON
TRACK AND WHAT'S NEXT.
WELL, TONIGHT, WISCONSIN, I WANT
TO TELL YOU THIS.
IT'S GOING TO BE OKAY.
WE ARE GOING TO BE OKAY.
AS BOTH A STATE AND A COUNTRY,
WE FIND OURSELVES WITH A
DECISION TO MAKE.
WHEN THIS PANDEMIC IS OVER, WE
CAN GO BACK TO THE WAY THINGS
HAVE ALWAYS BEEN AND ALWAYS HAVE
BEEN, OR WE CAN TAKE THIS MOMENT
TO DEMAND A FUTURE WE DREAM.
WE CAN IGNORE THE PROBLEMS THIS
PANDEMIC BROUGHT TO THE
FOREFRONT, OR WE CAN FACE THEM
AND FIX THEM TOGETHER.
WE CAN MAKE EXCUSES FOR THE LAST
DECADE OF DECISION-MAKERS WHO
HAVE CUT CORNERS OR WE CAN
COMMIT RIGHT NOW TO START
PUTTING PEOPLE FIRST.
WELL, WISCONSIN, WE AREN'T GOING
TO RETRACE OUR STEPS BACK TO THE
WAY THINGS WERE.
WE AREN'T GOING TO FOLLOW THE
MAP BACK TO WHERE WE STARTED
WHEN THIS PANDEMIC BEGAN.
AFTER ALL WE'VE BEEN THROUGH, WE
AREN'T GOING TO APOLOGIZE FOR
WANTING MORE FOR EACH OTHER, FOR
OUR NEIGHBORS, FOR OUR KIDS, OUR
PARENTS, GRANDPARENTS AND THE
STATE'S FUTURE.
SO I WANT TO TELL YOU SOMETHING
TONIGHT AND I NEED YOU TO REALLY
HEAR ME: DON'T LET ANYONE TELL
YOU WE CAN'T AFFORD TO MAKE
HEALTH CARE MORE ACCESSIBLE
WHILE SAVING YOUR HARD-EARNED
TAX DOLLARS.
DON'T LET ANYONE TELL YOU WE
CAN'T AFFORD TO FULLY FUND OUR
PUBLIC SCHOOLS WHILE CUTTING
TAXES AT THE SAME TIME.
DON'T LET ANYONE TELL YOU WE
CAN'T AFFORD TO SUPPORT OUR
FARMERS, OUR RURAL COMMUNITIES
AND OUR SMALL BUSINESSES WHILE
PROTECTING OUR NATURAL RESOURCES
AND INVESTING IN NEW, CLEAN
JOBS.
DON'T LET ANYONE TELL YOU WE
CAN'T SPEND WITHIN OUR MEANS
WHILE STILL SUPPORTING
WISCONSINITES WHO NEED HELP TO
RECOVER.
BECAUSE THEY'RE WRONG.
WE CAN.
I'VE GOT A BLUEPRINT THAT WILL
DO JUST THAT AND MAKE SURE WE
BOUNCE BACK AND BETTER THAN
BEFORE.
BUT I DIDN'T SIT IN A ROOM AND
WRITE IT ALL MYSELF.
I'M NOT ABOUT TO MAKE DECISIONS
ABOUT YOU WITHOUT YOU.
SO JUST LIKE WE DID TWO YEARS
AGO, WE WENT DIRECTLY TO FOLKS
FROM ACROSS OUR STATE TO ASK FOR
YOUR HELP PUTTING TOGETHER OUR
BADGER BOUNCEBACK AGENDA THAT
I'M EXCITED TO SHARE HERE
TONIGHT.
JUST TAKE A LOOK.
>> DURING THE TIME PERIOD OF A
GLOBAL PANDEMIC, YOU SPENDING
YOUR TIME GIVING UP THIS MOMENT,
GIVING UP THIS OPPORTUNITY TO
ENGAGE IN A CONVERSATION IS A
REALLY BIG DEAL.
>> COUNTIES, GOVERNMENTS ARE
STRAPPED, WAGES ARE STAGNANT AND
HEALTH INSURANCE COSTS MORE.
>> THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS
THAT PERHAPS WE COULD DO IF WE
HAD GOOD BROADBAND AND COULD USE
TELEHEALTHMENT
>> IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE
GOVERNOR HEAR ABOUT WHAT MATTERS
MOST.
>> WE KNOW THAT THE WORST
IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE AS
WELL AS WATER POLICY IN GENERAL
ALL IMPACT THOSE WHO ARE ALREADY
BEARING THE BRUNT OF THE
INEQUITIES IN OUR SOCIETY.
>> I LIVE OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF
NOWHERE AND I HAVE VERY POOR
BROADBAND.
>> WE ASK THE GOVERNOR TO
CONTINUE PRIORITIZING
INVESTMENTS TO GROW OUR ECONOMY.
>> OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, WE NEED
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE SPENDING
MORE MONEY ON OUR STREETS.
>> THAT'S WHY THESE LISTENING
SESSIONS ARE SO IMPORTANT TO
ENSURING THAT WE ARE HEARING
DRESKTLY FROM THE
DIRECTLY FROM THE PEOPLE OF
WISCONSIN.
>> CAREGIVERS ARE LIVING
PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK.
>> MY IN LAWS LIVE ON A FARM AND
HAVE THREE CHILDREN GOING TO
SCHOOL VIRTUALLY.
>> GUESTING WISCONSIN GETTING WISCONSIN
MEDICAID EXPANSION.
>> I'M HOPING GOVERNOR EVERS HAS
A GOOD PLAN TO DEAL WITH
COVID-19, GETTING PAST IT.
>> WE'RE WORKING TOGETHER TO
BUILD A STATE THAT WORKS FOR
EVERY WISCONSINITE.
>> NOW WITH ALL THE BAD NEWS OUT
THERE, HERE IS SOME GOOD NEWS.
OUR BADGER BOUNCEBACK AGENDA HAS
TOLD SOLUTIONS TO FACE THE
URGENT CRISIS.
BADGERBADGER BOUNCEBACK IS POSSIBLE
BECAUSE WE PUT OUR STATE IN THE
BEST POSITION TO HELP FOLKS
RECOVER AND PUT THIS PANDEMIC
BEHIND US.
JUST BEFORE OUR LAST BUDGET WAS
SIGNED, WE DECIDED TO TAKE THE
UNPRECEDENTED STEP OF MAKING A
PAYMENT ON OUR STATE'S DEBT.
WE PAID OFF $56 MILLION EARLY
THAT HELPED SAVE WISCONSIN
TAXPAYERS AN ESTIMATED NEARLY
$70 MILLION OF FUTURE DEBT
SERVICE PAYMENTS.
AND IN RESPONSE TO THIS
PANDEMIC, JUST AS SO MANY HAVE
HAD TO MAKE SACRIFICES THIS PAST
YEAR, I ASKED OUR STATE AGENCIES
TO MAKE SACRIFICES, TOO.
AT MY DIRECTION, THEY FOUND
HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS IN COST
SAVINGS OVER TWO FISCAL YEARS TO
MAKE SURE WE HAD RESOURCES
AVAILABLE TO RESPOND TO THIS
PANDEMIC AND INVEST IN OUR
ECONOMIC RECOVERY.
WE MADE SOME TOUGH CHOICES THESE
PAST THREE MONTHS, BUT BECAUSE
OF THE FINANCIAL POSITION OUR
STATE IS IN, THIS WEEK WE ARE
ABLE TO ANNOUNCE PART OF OUR
BADGER BOUNCEBACK AGENDA WILL
INCLUDE SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENTS
IN ECONOMIC RECOVERY FOR ALL
BUSINESSES ACROSS OUR STATE.
I WAS PROUD THAT MORE THAN $370
MILLION OF OUR CARES FUNDS WENT
TO SUPPORTING WISCONSIN
BUSINESSES, INCLUDING 53,000
SMALL BUSINESSES, MORE THAN
15,000 FARMS AND OUR LODGING,
HOSPITALITY AND TOURISM
INDUSTRIES.
BUT WE ALSO KNOW WE HAVE A LONG
ROAD AHEAD OF US AND OUR MAIN
STREET BUSINESSES NEED HELP NOW.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE GOING TO MAKE
UNPRECEDENTED INVESTMENTS IN THE
WISCONSIN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
CORPORATION TO BE ABLE TO HELP
SUPPORT OUR SMALL BUSINESSES AND
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
OUR BADGER BOUNCEBACK AGENDA
MAKES A LARGER INVESTMENT INTO
THE WEDC THAN THE LAST THREE
BUDGETS COMBINED.
WE'RE GOING TO PUT $200 MILLION
INTO HELPING SMALL BUSINESSES
AFFECTED BY THE PANDEMIC,
INCLUDING HELPING THEM RETAIN
AND REHIRE THE JOBS THEY'VE
LOST.
AND WE KNOW THAT IF WE WANT TO
COME OUT ON OTHER SIDE OF THIS
PANDEMIC STRONGER THAN EVER, WE
NEED TO COMMIT TO INVESTING IN
INNOVATION AND ECONOMIC GROWTH,
TOO.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE ALSO GOING TO
INVEST $100 MILLION INTO A
VENTURE CAPITAL PROGRAM TO
JUMP-START INNOVATION AND
START-UPS IN WISCONSIN.
BUT AS I'VE SAID ALL ALONG, IF
WE'RE GOING TO GET SERIOUS ABOUT
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN OUR
STATE, THEN WE HAVE TO CONNECT
THE DOTS.
AND YOU'VE HEARD ME SAY THAT A
LOT: CONNECT THE DOTS.
IT MEANS RECOGNIZING HOW EVERY
ISSUE OUR STATE IS FACING
AFFECTS ALL THE OTHERS.
WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND HOW HAVING
GOOD ROADS AND TRANSPORTATION
AFFECTS SMALL BUSINESSES AND
FARMERS GETTING THEIR PRODUCT
FROM POINT A TO POINT B.
WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND HOW LACK
OF ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING
AFFECTS KIDS IN THE CLASSROOM.
WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND HOW LEAD
POLLUTION AND POOR WATER QUALITY
AFFECTS OUR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM.
WE HAVE TO CONNECT THOSE DOTS
BETWEEN THESE ISSUES TO MAKE
SURE WE CAN RECOVER FROM THIS
CRISIS.
THAT'S WHY IN THE COMING DAYS
THE WEDC WILL ALSO BE ANNOUNCING
OUR ADMINISTRATION'S VISION FOR
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO MAKE
SURE WE CAN BOUNCE BACK WITH AN
ECONOMY THAT WORKS FOR
EVERYBODY.
THAT'S JUST PART OF OUR BADGER
BOUNCEBACK AGENDA, BECAUSE IT
BEGINS, AS IT ALWAYS DOES FOR
ME, BY DOING WHAT'S BEST FOR OUR
KIDS.
IT STARTS WITH EDUCATION.
*
>> I AM THE PARENT OF A 5TH
GRADE STUDENT.
MY SON HAS MULTIPLE, COMPLEX
DISABILITIES.
>> I SEE OUR SCHOOL COUNSELORS,
SOCIAL WORKERS AND PSYCHOLOGISTS
BEING STRETCHED VERY THIN, WITH
AN INCREASING NUMBER OF MENTAL
HEALTH ISSUES OUR STUDENTS HAVE
HAD BOTH BEFORE AND EVEN MORE SO
DURING THE PANDEMIC.
>> THE BIGGEST ISSUE THAT I'M
DEFINITELY HEARING FROM
COLLEGE-AGE STUDENTS IS THE NEED
FOR EXTRA FINANCIAL AID.
>> IT HAS BEEN EXTRAORDINARILY
DIFFICULT FOR HIM TO GAIN ACCESS
TO THE AAC DEVICES AND SERVICES
THAT HE DESPERATELY NEEDS IN
ORDER TO COMMUNICATE.
>> I SEE THEM BEING TORN IN
DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS WITH ALL OF
THEIR DIFFERENT RESPONSIBILITIES
AND THEN OUR STUDENTS OFTEN FUEL FALL
THROUGH THE CRACKS.
>> THINK ABOUT OUR YOUNG
CHILDREN AND PEOPLE WHO WORK
WITH THEM AND LET'S TAKE CARE OF
OUR BABIES AND YOUNG CHILDREN.
>> WITH GREATER EDUCATION, YOU
DECREASE COSTS IN ALMOST ALL
OTHER AVENUES WITHIN YOUR STATE
BUDGET.
IT'S AN INVESTMENT.
AND WE NEED THAT INVESTMENT TO
MOVE FORWARD.
>> IF WE'RE GOING TO BOUNCE BACK
FROM THIS PANDEMIC, THEN WE HAVE
TO START BY MAKING SURE OUR KIDS
ARE BETTER OFF THAN WHEN WE
STARTED THIS PANDEMIC.
EVERY KID IN OUR STATE SHOULD
HAVE ACCESS TO HIGH-QUALITY
PUBLIC EDUCATION.
PERIODMENT BUT ITPERIODMENT BUTPERIOD.
BUT IT HAS TO START EARLY.
FOR MANY WISCONSIN FAMILIES,
QUALITY CHILD CARE IS SOMETHING
THAT ISN'T AVAILABLE OR
AFFORDABLEMENT LAST
AFFORDABLE.
WE'LL HAVE $40 MILLION TO
ADDRESS EQUITY IN OUR EARLY
EDUCATION AND CHILD CARE SYSTEM
FOR OUR KIDS, ALL WHILE
SUPPORTING THE FOLKS WHO CARE
FOR THEM.
AND THOSE INVESTMENTS CAN'T STOP
WHEN OUR KIDS GROW UP AND HEAD
OFF TO KINDERGARTEN.
SO FOR THE SECOND BUDGET IN A
ROW, OUR BADGER BOUNCEBACK
AGENDA PROVE PROPOSES THE STATE
PROVIDE TWO-THIRDS FUNDING FOR
OUR SCHOOLS.
REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS AGREE
ON THIS ISSUE, INCLUDING TWO
YEARS AGO WHEN IT WAS BACKED BY
A BIPARTISAN COMMISSION.
IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN PASSED IN
OUR LAST BUDGET OR IN THE
SPECIAL SESSION OF THE
LEGISLATURE I CALLED LAST YEAR.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE LEGISLATURE
COULDN'T GET IT DONE IN EITHER
CASE.
WELL, HERE'S THE BOTTOM LINE.
IF MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE
ARE GOING TO MAKE PROMISES ON
THIS, THEN THEY SURE OUGHT TO
KEEP THEM.
LET'S STOP TALKING ABOUT IT AND
JUST GET IT DONE.
AND TWO-THIRDS FUNDING ISN'T THE
ONLY PLACE WE'VE SEEN PUBLIC
EDUCATION INVESTMENTS SIDE
LIEFNED BY POLITICS DES DESPITE
HAVING BROAD PUBLIC SUPPORT.
IT WAS THE FIRST INCREASE IN
MORE THAN A DECADE.
AND THAT WAS A BIG STEP FORWARD.
BUT THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS
AFTER A DECADE OF FAILING TO
PROVIDE MORE FUNDING, WE STILL
HAVE A LOT MORE TO GET TO WHERE
WE NEED TO GO.
THIS BUDGET PROPOSES TRYING TO
HELP CLOSE THAT GAP WITH A MORE
THAN $709 MILLION INVESTMENT IN
SPECIAL EDUCATION AID.
AND FINALLY, WE'RE ALSO GOING TO
INVEST IN SUPPORTING OUR RULE
SCHOOLS BY FULLY FUNDING
SPARSITY AID WITH A $20 MILLION
INVESTMENT.
THE REALITY IS THAT OUR PUBLIC
SCHOOLS FROM KICKAPOO TO CASHTON
HAVE BEEN DOING MUCH MORE WITH
FAR LESS FOR TOO LONG AND THESE
INVESTMENTS WILL ENHANCE SUPPORT
TO VULNERABLE KIDS, BUT PROVIDE
SCHOOLS WITH THE BUDGET
FLEXIBILITY TO FUNDAMENTAL
HEALTH SERVICES, KEEPING BUSES
RUNNING, TECHNOLOGY AND OTHER
CRITICAL NEEDS.
AND OUR WORK CAN'T STOP WHEN OUR
KIDS FINISH HIGH SCHOOL.
OUR HIGHER EDUCATION
INSTITUTIONS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN AN
ECONOMIC DRIVER FOR OUR SATE AND STATE
AND WE NEED TO DOUBLE DOWNS IF
WE'RE GOING TO BOUNCE BACK.
OUR COLLEGE SYSTEMS HAVE A PROUD
HISTORY OF NOT ONLY PREPARING
STUDENTS TO ENTER THE WORKFORCE,
BUT GENERATING BILLIONS OF
DOLLARS OF ECONOMIC ACTIVITY
STATEWIDE AND BRINGING THOUSANDS
OF JOBS TO COMMUNITIES ALL
ACROSS OUR STATE.
IT'S A DIRECT PIPELINE TO THE
SKILLS, INNOVATION AND RESEARCH
AND CREATIVITY THAT WILL HELP
OUR FAMILIES, COMMUNITIES AND
OUR STATE BAWNS BOCK BOUNCE BACK AND IT
WILL PAY DIVIDENDS FOR OUR
FUTURE.
SO WE'RE GOING GOOD TO TO BUILD ON OUR
STATE TECHNICAL COLLEGES AND
EMPLOYERS WHO COUNT ON THEM FOR
WISCONSIN'S HIGHLY-SKILLED
WORKFORCE BY PROVIDING AN
ADDITIONAL $36 MILLION
INVESTMENT OVER THE NEXT TWO
YEARS.
BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO MAKE SURE
HIGHER EDUCATION IS SOMETHING
THAT'S ACCESSIBLE, FORWARDABLE
AND THEREFORE ATTAINABLE TO ALL
WHO CHOOSE TO PURSUE IT.
SO WE'RE GOING TO KEEP THE TRUE TO
WIFTION
TUITION FREEZE AND EXPAND THE
BUCKY PROMISES TO ALL CAMPUS
STATEWIDE SO STUDENTS CAN GET A
FOUR YEEFER
FOUR-YEAR EDUCATION AT NO COST
TO THEM OR THEIR FAMILY.
WE'RE GOING TO FUND THAT FREEZE
AND INVEST $190 MILLION INTO THE
UW SYSTEM OVER THE NEXT TWO
YEARS.
SO AT THE END OF THIS BIENNIUM,
WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE, THE
STATE WILL AGAIN BE INVESTING
MORE GPR DOLLARS ANNUALLY IN THE
UW SYSTEM THAN THE DEPARTMENT OF
CORRECTIONS.
AND THAT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE
CAN'T KEEP DOING THINGS THE WAY
WE'VE ALWAYS DONE THEM IF WE
WANT TO BOUNCE BACK AND BETTER
THAN WE WERE BEFORE THIS
PANDEMIC HIT.
THAT'S WHY OUR BADGER BOUNCEBACK
AGENDA IS ABOUT INVESTING IN
PEOPLE, NOT PRISONS.
>> THE PUBLIC ISN'T SERVED BY
THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM
OPERATING IN THE WAY THAT IT
DOES HERE IN WISCONSIN.
VICTIMS OF CRIMES, SURVIVORS OF
CRIMES ARE NOT BENEFITED FROM
HIGH RECIDIVISM RATES.
>> I'M HERE TO ADVOCATE FOR
PUTTING 17-YEAR-OLDS IN THE
JUVENILE SYSTEM.
>> WHEN WE TALK ABOUT CRIMINAL
JUSTICE SYSTEM AND THE WAY THAT
IT'S WRAPPED IN RACISM, IT'S
WRAPPED IN ALL THESE HISTORICAL
WAY THAT'S WERE MEANT TO KEEP
PEOPLE BOXED OUT AND WE KNOW
THIS AND WE'RE DEALING WITH AND
TALKING TO A LOT OF SMART
PEOPLE.
THEN WE NEED TO SHOW SOME REAL
COURAGE.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE HIM MAKE
REAL STEPS.
>> BRAINS ARE NOT FULLY MATURE
UNTIL MID 20s, SO IT CAN BE
PRETTY TAWM MA
PRETTY TRAUMATIZING TO GO
THROUGH THE SYSTEM.
>> THEY CAN BE DIVERTED FROM
PRISONS.
>> COMMUNITIES NEED PEOPLE WHO
COME HOME AND DO THAT WORK THAT
A LOT OF PROFESSIONALS WHO
HAVEN'T DONE THERE CAN DO.
>> THIS IS ALL SERIOUS STUFF AND
IF WE DON'T MAKE SOME PROGRESS
THIS BUDGET, WE WILL BE IN A
MUCH, MUCH WORSE PLACE.
>> AS A TAX PAYING CITIZEN, WHAT
WOULD YOU RATHER INVEST IN:
COURT OR INCARCERATION AND
RECIDIVISM?
THANK YOU.
>> WE KNOW OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM
HAS PUT A STRAIN ON OUR STATE.
WE FAILED TO ADEQUATELY FUND
ALTERNATIVES TO INCARCERATION,
ESPECIALLY FOR FOLKS WHO NEED
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES OR
SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT.
OUR PRISONS HAVE BEEN
OVERCROWDED, WHICH COSTS MORE OF
YOUR TAX DOLLARS IN THE LONG
RUN.
AND WE HAVEN'T GIVEN FOLKS
ENOUGH RESOURCES OR TOOLS TO BE
SAFE AND SUCCESSFUL WHEN THEY
REENTER OUR COMMUNITIES FROM
EDUCATION TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING
TO WORKFORCE TRAINING.
AND PERHAPS MOST IMPORTANTLY, WE
HAVE YET TO ADDRESS THE
DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACT THE LAST
MORE THAN TWO DECADES OF LAWS
HAVE HAD ON OUR COMMUNITIES OF
COLOR.
IT'S TIME TO FACE THE FACTS.
WE HAVE GOT TO CHANGE.
IF WE'RE GOING TO BOUNCE BACK
FROM THIS PANDEMIC, WE HAVE TO
GET OUR PRIORITIES STRAIGHT.
WE CAN'T KEEP THROWING YOUR
TAXPAYER DOLLARS INTO A SYSTEM
THAT DOESN'T HELP OUR STATE OR
OUR PEOPLE THRIVE.
IT'S HOLDING US BACK.
AND HERE'S THE DEAL.
YOU KNOW I'M A BIG BELIEVER IN
SCIENCE.
WE CAN KEEP OUR COMMUNITIES SAFE
BY HOLDING VIOLENT OFFENDERS
ACCOUNTABLE, SAVING MONEY AND
REFORMING OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM ALL
AT THE SAME TIME.
BECAUSE IN THE 21ST CENTURY, WE
CAN USE SCIENCE AND EVIDENCE TO
HELP US MAKE BETTER DECISIONS.
AND IT STARTS WITH OUR KIDS.
IT'S BEEN YEARS SINCE THE 2017
WISCONSIN ACT 185 WAS PASSED AND
THE LEGISLATURE MADE PROMISES TO
CLOSE LINCOLN HILLS AND COPPER
LAKE.
MANY OF THOSE CHANGES AND
PROMISES HAVE YET TO BE REALIZED
DUE TO LEGISLATIVE INACTION.
BY FOCUSING ONLY ON PHYSICAL
BUILDINGS AND NOT ON HOLISTIC
CHANGE THROUGHOUT THE SYSTEM,
ACT 185 WAS ALWAYS GOING TO FALL
SHORT.
THAT'S WHY IN THIS BUDGET I'M
GOING TO PROPOSE THAT WE TRULY
OVERHAUL OUR JUVENILE JUSTICE
SYSTEM BY FOCUSING ON BEST
PRACTICES AND A COMMUNITY-BASED
APPROACH TO FACILITIES.
WE'RE ONCE AGAIN PROPOSING THAT
OUR JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM
TREAT YOUTH UNDER 18, WITH SOME
LIMITED EXCEPTIONS, AS KIDS, NOT
ADULTS.
WE ARE ONE OF THE ONLY STATES IN
THE NATION THAT HAS NOT MADE
THIS EVIDENCE-BASED CHANGE IN
ENSURING THAT YOUTH ARE TREATED
AS IEWFGHT AND YOUTH AND THAT NEEDS TO
CHANGE NOW.
THERE'S NO TRAINING FOR HOW TO
ENGAGE JUSTICE-INVOLVED KIDS.
SO WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE
AGENCIES HAVE THE TRAINING THEY
NEED TO HELP OUR KIDS BE
SUCCESSFUL FROM UNDERSTANDING
ADOLESCENT BRAIN DEVELOPMENT TO
BEST PRACTICES ON ENGAGING KIDS
TO EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICES FOR
DELINQUENCY TO UNDERSTANDING THE
UNIQUE NEEDS OF GIRLS AND LGBTQ
YOUTH.
WE'RE ALSO GOING TO INVEST $9
MILLION IN A PILOT PROGRAM TO
START INCREASING SERVICES IN OUR
COMMUNITIES SO KIDS WHO ARE AT
MODERATE OR HIGH RISK CAN GET
INTENSIVE, EVIDENCE-BASED
TREATMENT CLOSER TO HOME.
BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT WE SHOULD
BE PROVIDING KIDS AND FAMILIES
WITH AS MUCH SUPPORT AS WE CAN
TO GET ON THE RIGHT TRACK IN
PRIORITIZING VEST.
AND REHABILITATION FOR OUR KIDS.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE ALSO GOING TO
CHANGE THE WAY WE SENTENCE YOUTH
TO CONSIDER RISK, TREATMENT
NEEDS AND SEVERITY OF THE
OFFENSE.
OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM SHOULD BE
ABOUT BOTH ACCOUNTABILITY, BUT
ALSO ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY FOR
TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION.
AND ANY MEANINGFUL REFORM OF THE
JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM MUST
INCLUDE THIS APPROACH.
FINALLY, WE'RE GOING TO AGAIN
PROPOSE TO CLOSE LINCOLN HILLS
AND COPPER LAKE SO THAT WE CAN
GET OUR KIDS CLOSER TO HOME AS
SOON AS WE CAN SAFELY AND
RESPONSIBLY CAN.
AND WE'RE GOING TO DO IT BY
ELIMINATING ACT 185'S OUTDATED
TWO-TIER CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM AND
CREATING SMALLER COMMUNITY BASED
FACILITIES ACROSS OUR STATE AND
MAKING SURE OUR KIDS GET THE
SAME EVIDENCE-BASED TREATMENT
AND BEHAVIORAL SUPPORT NO MATTER
WHAT PART OF THE STATE THEY'RE
FROM.
AND WHEN IT COMES TO OUR ADULT
SYSTEM, WE HAVE TO DO THERE TOO.
WE CAN SAVE BY INVESTING IN
TREATMENT AND ALTERNATIVES TO
INCARCERATION.
A STUDY CONDUCTED BY THE
WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
FOUND THAT BY INVESTING IN STATE
TREATMENT AND DIVERSION FOR
EVERY SINGLE DOLLAR WE INVEST IN
DIVERSION PROGRAMS, WE SAVE MORE
THAN $8 IN RETURN.
EXPANDING ACCESS TO TREATMENT
AND DIVERSION ISN'T JUST THE
RIGHT THING TO DO FOR OUR
PEOPLE.
IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO FOR
OUR POCKETBOOKS, TOO.
THAT'S WHY IN OUR LAST BUDGET WE
INCREASED FUNDING FOR THE
TREATMENT ALTERNATIVES AND
DIVERSION PROGRAMS TO THE
HIGHEST FUNDING LEVEL EVER.
AND WE'RE GOING TO DOUBLE DOWN
ON THIS INVESTMENT IN THIS
BUDGET BY PROVIDING AN
ADDITIONAL $15 MILLION TO EXPAND
THIS PROGRAM.
A DECADE-LONG STUDY ON RACE AND
PRISON SENTENCING IN WISCONSIN
FOUND THAT COMPARED TO THEIR
WHITE COUNTERPARTS, INDIVIDUALS
QUISKTED
CONVICTED OF FELONIES WISCONSIN,
BLACK MEN ARE 28% MORE LIKELY TO
END UP IN PRIVILEGES SON.
NATIVE AMERICAN MEN ARE MORE
LIKELY TO END UP IN PRISON.
THE LAST WHOLESALE REWRITE OF
WISCONSIN'S CRIMINAL CODE HASN'T
HAPPENED IN MORE THAN A DECADE.
SO WE'RE GOING TO START BY
HAVING A SENTENCING REVIEW
COUNCIL GO THROUGH EVERY SECTION
OF THE CRIMINAL CODE TO FOCUS ON
EQUITY, REHABILITATION AND
EVIDENCE-BASED SENTENCING
PRACTICES THAT WILL RESULT IN
BETTER OUTCOMES AND MAKE THIS
SYSTEM FAIRER WHILE KEEPING OUR
COMMUNITY SAFE.
WE'RE ALSO GOING TO EXPAND THE
EARNED RELEASE PROGRAM TO
INCLUDE PROGRAMS THAT ARE
EVIDENCE-BASED TO REDUCE
RECIDIVISM LIKE EDUCATION, WORK
TRAINING PROGRAMS SO FOLKS HAVE
THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO BE
SUCCESSFUL.
REFORMING OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM IS
LONG OVERDUE AND IT'S PART OF
OUR OVER OVERALL GOAL TO ENSURE OUR
STATE BOUNCES BACK AND BETTER
THAN BEFORE.
I WANT TO BE CLEAR.
THERE'S MORE TO EQUITY AND
JUSTICE THAN CORRECTIONS AND
INCARCERATION.
>> IT'S TIME FOR US TO TAKE BOLD
ACTION AND TO REALLY DO
EVERYTHING WE CAN.
>> FOR ME, CLIMATE CHANGE IS THE
TOP ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE AND
ALLIED WITH, OF COURSE, IT
EQUITY AND RACIAL JUSTICE.
THE
>> AND MY TOP ISSUE IS MY CLIMATE
CHANGE.
IT'S DEEPLY CONCERNING TO ME AND
THE OUTLOOK OF MY FUTURE.
>> WE COULD BE INVESTING IN
PILOT PROGRAMS IN BOTH RURAL AND
URBAN AREAS THAT NOT ONLY COMBAT
CLIMATE CHANGE AND BUILD
RESILIENCE, BUT ALSO PROVIDE
JOBS AND TRAINING FOR
COMMUNITIES THAT DESPERATELY
NEEFD THEM RIGHT NOW.
>> AND I THINK WE REALLY NEED TO
SEE WHAT IT IS THAT THE STATE
CAN SUPPORT, LOCALITIES AND
MUNICIPALITIES.
THEY NEED HELP, ESPECIALLY WITH
THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON
REVENUES.
>> THE IN INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF THE
STATE ARE MORE THAN CAPABLE OF
ORGANIZING AND PROVIDING HELP TO
MEET THE CLIMATE CRISIS DEMANDS.
>> I'D LOVE TO SEE FUNDING AND
RESOURCES FOR LOCAL COMMUNITIES
TO GET STARTED ON SOME REALLY
AMBITIOUS CLEAN ENERGY GOALS.
>> WE CANNOT DRIVE AS A STATE
WITHOUT LOCAL LEADERSHIP AND
GIVING THIS INPUT IS A WAY TO
HAVE THAT LEADERSHIP.
>> WISCONSIN'S POPULATION SIZE
AND OUR NATURAL RESOURCE PROFILE
IS STRATEGICALLY GREAT TO LEAD A
STRONG EXAMPLE OF COMMUNITY
COMPETENT CLIMATE ACTION FOR
OTHERS TO FOLLOW.
>> WE CANNOT IGNORE THE ROLE
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE PLAYS IN
BUILDING A STATE WHERE EVERY
FAMILY IN EVERY ZIP CODE CAN BE
SUCCESSFUL.
THE CLIMATE CRISIS IS TAKING AN
UNDENIABLE TOLL ON FOLKS ACROSS
THE STATE.
EVERY WISCONSINITE, WHETHER THEY
LIVE IN THE DRIFTLESS, THE
CENTRAL SANDS OR THE NORTHWOODS,
ARE IN THE
OR IN THE HEART OF OUR URBAN
AREAS HAS EXPERIENCED THE
EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE.
LOW-INCOME WISCONSINITES AND
FARMERS ARE THE MOST
DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTED.
THE CRUX OF BOUNCING BACK IS OUR
WILLINGNESS TO STOP PRETENDING
THE PROBLEMS WE FACE DON'T
EXIST.
WE HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE OUR
CHALLENGES IF WE'RE GOING TO
HAVE A CHANCE OF FIXING THEM.
I WANT TO BE CLEAR.
ADDRESSING CLIMATE CHANGE
DOESN'T MEAN ABANDONING ALL OUR
STATE'S HISTORY OR OUR
TRADITIONS.
WE AREN'T AND WE WON'T.
BECAUSE IT IS THAT VERY HISTORY
AND THAT VERY TRADITION, FROM
THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE, WHO WERE
THE FIRST STEWARDS OF OUR LAND,
TO OUR FARMERS WHO HAVE BEEN THE
BACKBONE OF OUR STATE FOR
GENERATIONS, TO OUR OUTDOOR
RECREATION ECONOMY THAT DEMAND
WE EMBRACE A FUTURE WHERE WE
HAVE DON'T HAVE TO CHOOSE
BETWEEN CLIMATE CHANGE AND
GOOD-PAYING JOBS.
WE'RE REFDDYWE ARE READY FOR BOLD SOLUTI
WE CAN AND WILL DO BOTH.
IN THE PAST FEW YEARS, INCREASED
FLOODING CAUSED IN LARGE PART BY
CLIMATE CHANGE HAS CAUSED
WISCONSIN COMMUNITIES, BUSINESS,
FARMERS AND FAMILIES MILLIONS OF
DOLLARS.
BUT WE KNOW THAT FOR EVERY
DOLLAR INVESTED IN FLOOD
PREVENTION, WE CAN SAVE IN COSTS
DOWN THE ROAD.
THAT'S WHY OUR BADGER BOUNCEBACK
AGENDA PROPOSES A $30 MILLION
INVESTMENT IN PROACTIVELY
FLOOD-PROOFING, ENSURING PUBLIC
SAFETY AND REDUCING THE RISK OF
CATASTROPHIC FLOOD DAMAGE.
THIS WILL ALSO HELP OUR MIEW
MUNICIPALITIES ADDRESS WITH
PROGRAMS FOR ADAPTABLE ROADS AND
INFRASTRUCTURE, RESTORE WETLANDS
AND SUPPORT FARMERS AND FAMILIES
AND SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS WHEN
THEY LOSE THEIR CROPS OR THEIR
PROPERTIES ARE DAMAGED.
AND WE'RE GOING TO GET TO WORK
HELPING OUR SHORELINE
COMMUNITIES BY CREATING THE
GREAT LAKES EROSION CONTROL
REVOLVING LOAN PROGRAM TO HELP
SUPPORT COMMUNITIES ACROSS OUR
STATE THAT ARE EXPERIENCING
RECORD OR NEAR-RECORD LAKE
LEVELS AND DANGEROUS SHORE
EROSION.
WE ALSO KNOW OUR SMALL AND
FAMILY FARMS ARE SOME OF OUR
MOST ARDENT SUPPORTERS OF
PROTECTING OUR LAND AND OUR
WATER.
WE'RE READY TO BE GOOD PARTNERS
TO OUR FARMERS, WHO WILL PLAIF A
CRITICAL ROLE IN OUR WORK TO
BUILD A MORE SUSTAINABLE FUTURE.
THAT'S WHY WE ARE INVESTING IN
FARMING INNOVATION, SO OUR SMALL
FAMILY FARMS CAN LEAD THE WAY ON
TRANSITIONING TO MORE
SUSTAINABLE BEST PRACTICES IN
ADDRESSING LOCAL WATERSHED
ISSUES, RUNOFF AND REDUCING
WATER CONTAMINATION.
OUR BADGER BOUNCEBACK ALSO
BILTSDZ ON
BUILDS ON THE WORK OF THE TASK
FORCE ON CLIMATE CHANGE WHICH
INCLUDED A DIVERSE COALITION OF
FARMERS, UTILITY COMPANIES AND
BUSINESSES.
THANKS TO LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
BARNES FOR ALL HIS GOOD WORK ON
THIS ISSUE.
WE MADE A COMMITMENT TO MAKE
WISCONSIN 100% CARBON-FREE BY
2050 AND WE'RE GOING TO KEEP IT.
OUR UTILITY PARTNERS HAVE MADE
GREAT STRIDES THIS YEAR REDUCING
EMISSIONS, BUT WE STILL HAVE A
LONG WAY TO GO TO OUR 100% GOAL.
IT IS CRITICAL THAT WE TAKE
NECESSARY AND IMMEDIATE STEPS TO
ADDRESS ENERGY PRODUCTION AND
EFFICIENCY.
SO WE'RE GOING TO DOUBLE THE
REQUIRED UTILITY COMPANY
CONTRIBUTION TO THE FOCUS ON
ENERGY PROGRAM, WHICH WILL ALLOW
US TO GENERATE AN ADDITIONAL
$100 MILLION TO HELP MAKE OUR
HOMES, OUR SCHOOLS AND OUR
BUSINESSES MORE EFFICIENT.
WE'RE ALSO CREATING A NEW $20
MILLION ENERGY EFFICIENT GRANT
PROGRAM FOR OUR SCHOOLS SO THAT
THEY CAN UPDATE AGING
INFRASTRUCTURE AND REDUCE ENERGY
YOOFAGE.
AND AS WE EMBRACE AN ECONOMY
THAT WILL ALLOW US TO PROTECT
OUR ENVIRONMENT, WE'RE GOING TO
INVEST IN CLEAN JOBS AND
SUSTAINABLE INFRASTRUCTURE.
BUT WE'LL NEED SKILLED WORKERS
TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE ALSO INVESTING
$1 MILLION IN OUR FAST FORWARD
PROGRAM FOR TRAINING FOR GREEN
JOBS ACROSS THE STATE,
ENCOURAGING FOLKS TO PURSUE
CAREER PATHS IN CLEAN ENERGY
PRODUCTION AND ENVIRONMENTAL
CONSERVATION.
WE'RE ALSO CREATING A $4 MILLION
RENEWABLE AND CLEAN ENERGY
RESEARCH GRANT THROUGH THE
OFFICE OF SUSTAIN ABILITY AND
CLEAN ENERGY AND DIRECTING THE
PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION TO
ESTABLISH AN INNOVATIVE PILOT
PROGRAM IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE
STATE'S UTILITIES.
FOLKS, WE CANNOT AFFORD TO
CONTINUE IGNORING SCIENCE AND
DENYING THE REALITY OF CLIMATE
CHANGE IN WISCONSIN.
I KNOW WE CAN DELIVER ON THE
PROMISE WE MAKE TO OUR KIDS TO
LEAVE THEM A BETTER LIFE AND
WORLD THAN THE ONE WE INHERITED.
BUT I ALSO KNOW THERE MIGHT BE
WAVERING
WAYS THE LEGISLATURE AND I CAN
ACCOMPLISH THIS TOGETHER.
I WANT TO ADDRESS THAT HERE
TONIGHT.
TO MY FRIENDS IN THE
LEGISLATURE, OUR OPPORTUNITY TO
BOUNCE BACK FROM THIS CRISIS
CALLS FOR YOU TO SUMMON THE WILL
TO GET THIS DONE.
THERE'S NO TIME FOR FALSE
PROMISES OF HOPE AND PROSPERITY,
WITH EMPTY WORDS THAT YOU KNOW
FULL WELL WON'T MATCH YOUR
ACTIONS.
YOU CAN DISAGREE WITH ME IF YOU
WANT, BUT DON'T PUNISH THE
PEOPLE WE SERVE SO YOU CAN
SETTLE A SCORE.
NO ONE BUT YOU IS KEEPING.
EACH TIME A BILL FAILS TO PASS,
EACH TIME A COMPROMISE ENDS UP
IN FLAMES, EACH TIME LEGISLATORS
USE SIGHT OF THE PEOPLE WHO SENT
YOU HERE, THE DISAPPOINTMENT,
THE RESENTMENT AND THE
DISPARITIES GROW.
WE MUST BE UNAFRAID TO AGREE,
UNWILLING TO WAIT AND UNABASHED
ABOUT THE WORK WE HAVE BEFORE
US.
WISCONSINITES, WHEN I RAN TO BE
YOUR GOVERNOR, I SAID IT WAS
TIME FOR A CHANGE AND I TOLD YOU
THEN, AS I'LL TELL YOU TONIGHT,
THAT CHANGE WON'T HAPPEN WITHOUT
YOU.
THAT'S WHY BECAUSE OF YOU, I AM
OPTIMISTIC AND I AM HOPEFUL,
BECAUSE OVER THE LAST YEAR I'VE
SEEN THE HEART AND GRIT AND
RESILIENCE OF THE PEOPLE OF THIS
GREAT STATE.
I BELIEVE WE CAN PASS A BUDGET
WITH BIPARTISAN SUPPORT.
I BELIEVE WE CAN PASS A BUDGET
THAT WILL MAKE SURE OUR STATE
CAN BOUNCE BACK AND BETTER THAN
IT WAS BEFORE THIS PANDEMIC HIT.
I BELIEVE WE CAN PASS A BUDGET
THAT WILL FINALLY REALIZE THE
FUTURE WE DREAMED.
I KNOW THAT THE LEGISLATURE AND
I CAN GET THIS DONE.
CHANGE IS POSSIBLE.
THE FUTURE WE WANT TO BUILD IS
POSSIBLE, BECAUSE I KNOW YOU
WILL HOLD US TO ACCOUNT AND
DEMAND IT.
SO LET'S GO FORWARD TOGETHER.
LET'S BOUNCE BACK TOGETHER.
AND LET'S GET THIS DONE.
THANK YOU AND ON WISCONSIN!
*
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]