>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION.
>> WELCOME TO WISCONSIN PUBLIC
MEDIA'S COVERAGE OF THE 2023
WISCONSIN STATE BUDGET ADDRESS,
LIVE FROM THE CAPITOL IN
MADISON.
>> IN A FEW MOMENTS, GOVERNOR
TONY EVERS WILL MAKE HIS WAY
INTO THE ASSEMBLY CHAMBERS.
EVERS WILL ADDRESS THE FULL
LEGISLATURE, HIS CABINET AND THE
PEOPLE OF WISCONSIN.
>> GOOD EVENING, I'M FREDERICA
FREYBERG FROM PBS WISCONSIN.
>> AND I'M SHAWN JOHNSON FROM
WISCONSIN PUBLIC RADIO.
WE'RE ABOUT TO HEAR FROM
GOVERNOR TONY EVERS ABOUT HIS
STATE BUDGET PLANS FOR THE 2023
TO 2025 BIENNIUM.
>> SINCE HIS STATE OF THE STATE
ADDRESS ABOUT A MONTH AGO,
GOVERNOR EVERS HAS BEEN
PREVIEWING SOME OF HIS BUDGET
PLANS, WHICH INCLUDE INCREASED
EDUCATION FUNDING, AGAIN
PROPOSING TO LEGALIZE MARIJUANA
AND PROVIDING MORE MONEY TO
COMBAT WATER CONTAMINATION AND
ASSIST WITH PFAS CLEAN UP.
>> ADDITIONALLY, OTHER BIG
TICKET ITEMS WE EXPECT TO HEAR
ABOUT ARE MAJOR CHANGES TO
SHARED REVENUE FUNDING AND SALES
TAXES AS WELL AS NEW FUNDING
PROPOSALS TO ADDRESS MENTAL
HEALTH AND PROGRAMS TO HELP THE
STATE'S VETERANS.
TO HELP US EXPLORE SOME OF THE
GOVERNOR'S BUDGET PROPOSALS,
WE'LL BE JOINED FOR AFTER THE
SPEECH BY JASON STEIN, RESEARCH
DIRECTOR FOR THE WISCONSIN
POLICY FORUM.
THIS TWO-YEAR BUDGET STANDS OUT
FOR ONE SIGNIFICANT REASON --
THE AMOUNT OF MONEY LAWMAKERS
HAVE AVAILABLE TO SPEND.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
ACCORDING TO THE LATEST
PROJECTIONS, THE STATE WILL HAVE
A MORE THAN $7 BILLION BUDGET
SURPLUS.
THIS STANDS, OF COURSE, IN STARK
CONTRAST TO YEARS PAST, WHEN
LAWMAKERS HAD TO BALANCE THE
STATE CHECKBOOK WITH A LOOMING
BUDGET DEFICIT.
>> YOU CAN HEAR IN THE
BACKGROUND THERE ARE
INTRODUCTIONS GOING ON IN THE
ASSEMBLY CHAMBER RIGHT NOW.
WE CAN TELL YOU THE GOVERNOR IS
ABOUT TO WALK INTO THE CHAMBER,
IT LOOKS LIKE, AND YOU KNOW, YOU
SAID IT, THE TOPIC OF THE NIGHT
IS REALLY GOING TO BE THIS
SURPLUS, THIS MASSIVE SURPLUS,
AND WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO WITH
IT.
YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR THE
GOVERNOR'S PLANS TONIGHT FOR
WHAT HE'S GOING TO DO WITH IT,
BUT THIS WILL BE THE BEGINNING
OF THE PROCESS WITH A
REPUBLICAN-DOMINATED
LEGISLATURE.
>> AS WE'VE SAID, IT CERTAINLY
IS A NICE PROBLEM TO HAVE FOR
BUDGET WRITERS TO HAVE THIS KIND
OF SURPLUS.
YOU KNOW, SHAWN, WE'VE BEEN HERE
MANY TIMES BEFORE WHEN WE'VE
BEEN TALKING ABOUT, AGAIN, JUST
THE VERY OPPOSITE OF THAT, AND
WHERE THEY WERE GOING TO HAVE TO
MAKE DIFFICULT AND PAINFUL CUTS
AND THAT KIND OF THING.
NOW THAT'S NOT TO SAY, OF
COURSE, THAT REPUBLICAN BUDGET
WRITERS AND LEGISLATURE WILL GO
ALONG WITH BIG SPENDING, DESPITE
THIS PROJECTED SURPLUS.
>> AND WE'RE GOING TO HEAR SOON
FROM THE ASSEMBLY
SERGEANT-AT-ARMS INTRODUCE THE
GOVERNOR.
>> MR. PRESIDENT AND MEMBERS,
THE GOVERNOR OF THE GREAT STATE
OF WISCONSIN, THE HONORABLE TONY
EVERS!
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> SHAKING HANDS WITH LAWMAKERS
ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE.
THIS IS THE HAPPY PART OF THE
SPEECH, WHERE EVERYBODY GETS
ALONG AND WANTS TO SAY HELLO TO
THE GOVERNOR.
YOU KNOW, IF YOU'VE WATCHED
THESE SPEECHES RECENTLY, YOU'LL
SEE ONE SIDE OF THE AISLE, THE
DEMOCRATS CLAP FOR A LOT OF WHAT
HE PROPOSES TONIGHT, REPUBLICANS
ARE GOING TO -- THEY HAVE BEEN
TELEGRAPHING FOR A WHILE NOW, IN
NO UNCERTAIN TERMS, THAT THEY
ARE GOING TO DO THEIR OWN
BUDGET.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE LAST
TWO-YEAR BUDGET AS AN EXAMPLE,
THEY REALLY DID.
THEY TOSSED OUT HUNDREDS OF THE
GOVERNOR'S PROPOSALS IN A SINGLE
VOTE AND KIND OF STARTED
BUILDING ANEW.
YOU COULD SEE THAT THIS TIME,
ALTHOUGH THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE
TO HAVE SOME LEVEL OF AGREEMENT
ON BIG PICTURE STUFF, LIKE
EDUCATION FUNDING, TAX CUTS AND
THE BALANCE BETWEEN THE TWO, IF
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A BUDGET
HERE COME THIS SUMMER.
>> YES.
IT DOES SOUND AS THOUGH THERE
MAY BE POINTS OF COMPROMISE, AND
AGAIN, EASIER WHEN YOU'RE
WORKING WITH THIS KIND OF A
SURPLUS TO BE SURE.
>> AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO
INTRODUCE THE GOVERNOR OF THE
GREAT STATE OF WISCONSIN, THE
HONORABLE TONY EVERS.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU, EVERYBODY!
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU.
GOOD EVENING, WISCONSIN!
HONORABLE SUPREME COURT
JUSTICES, TRIBAL NATION LEADERS,
CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS, MEMBERS
OF THE WISCONSIN NATIONAL GUARD,
ACTIVE AND RETIRED MEMBERS OF
OUR ARMED FORCES, CABINET
MEMBERS, SENATE PRESIDENT
KAPENGA, MAJORITY LEADER
LEMAHIEU, MINORITY LEADER AGARD,
SPEAKER VOS, AND MINORITY LEADER
NEUBAUER, LEGISLATORS,
DISTINGUISHED GUESTS, AND ALL
THE FOLKS TUNING IN AT HOME,
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE
TONIGHT.
I'M TONY EVERS, AND I'M PROUD TO
DELIVER MY THIRD BIENNIAL BUDGET
MESSAGE TONIGHT AS THE 46TH
GOVERNOR OF THE GREAT STATE OF
WISCONSIN.
[APPLAUSE]
THANK YOU.úTHANK YOU, EVERYBODY.
NOW, AFTER ACCIDENTALLY
SUGGESTING WHEN I WAS HERE LAST
TIME THAT SHE'S BEEN MARRIED
TWICE, I'M HAPPY TO REPORT THAT
KATHY AND I ARE STILL MARRIED
AND SHE'S UP IN THE GALLERY
TONIGHT.
KATHY, I'M GLAD IT WAS JUST ONE
WEDDING, AND I'M STILL GLAD THAT
IT WAS WITH ME.
I LOVE YOU SO MUCH, KATHY, THANK
YOU.
[APPLAUSE]
WISCONSIN, AS I SHARE OUR AGENDA
FOR OUR NEXT TWO YEARS TOGETHER,
WE BEGIN THIS BIENNIUM IN THE
BEST FISCAL POSITION WE'VE EVER
BEEN IN OUR 175 YEARS OF
STATEHOOD.
EVERYBODY.
EVERYBODY MADE IT HAPPEN.
THIS IS A BREAKTHROUGH BUDGET,
ONE THAT HAS RARELY, IF
EVER, COME ALONG IN OUR STATE'S
HISTORY.
AND WITH THIS OPPORTUNITY COMES
RESPONSIBILITY.
OBVIOUSLY.
TODAY, WE CARRY THE WEIGHT OF
POSTERITY.
WHILE WE MUST FIND WAYS TO SAVE
WHEN WE CAN, WE HAVE A DUTY TO
INVEST IN NEEDS THAT HAVE BEEN
LONG NEGLECTED.
WHILE WE CANNOT AFFORD TO BE
CARELESS OR RECKLESS, WE HAVE A
DUTY TO PROTECT THE FUTURE WE'VE
WORKED HARD TO BUILD TOGETHER.
WHILE WE MUST CONTINUE TO STAY
WELL WITHIN OUR MEANS, WE HAVE A
DUTY TO CREATE PROSPERITY THAT
WILL DEFINE OUR STATE FOR
GENERATIONS.
TONIGHT, I'M PROUD TO REPORT
THAT OUR 2023-25 BIENNIAL BUDGET
BALANCES THESE IMPORTANT
OBLIGATIONS.
[APPLAUSE]
MY PLAN TO CUT YOUR TAXES IS A
GOOD EXAMPLE.
I PROMISED CUTTING TAXES WOULD
BE PART OF OUR AGENDA TO HELP
WORKING FAMILIES AFFORD RISING
COSTS, AND IT IS.
AND I'M PROPOSING WE DO IT
RESPONSIBLY BY TARGETING RELIEF
TO WORKING WISCONSINITES WHO
NEED HELP AFFORDING RISING
COSTS.
SO, I'M DELIVERING ON MY PROMISE
FOR A 10% MIDDLE CLASS TAX CUT
AND PROVIDING $1.2 BILLION IN
TAX RELIEF FOR WORKING FAMILIES.
[APPLAUSE]
UNDER MY PLAN, IF YOU'RE A
SINGLE FILER MAKING LESS THAN
$100,000 OR A MARRIED
JOINT FILER MAKING LESS THAN
$150,000, THE CORNERSTONE OF MY
TAX PLAN WILL CUT YOUR TAXES BY
10 PERCENT.
THAT'S REAL, SUSTAINABLE RELIEF
THAT WILL KEEP INCOME TAXES LOW
NOW AND INTO THE FUTURE WITHOUT
CAUSING DEVASTATING CUTS TO
PRIORITIES LIKE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
AND PUBLIC SAFETY.
[APPLAUSE]
AND HERE'S WHO ELSE WE CAN HELP
IF WE CAN GET THIS DONE: SENIORS
LIVING ON FIXED INCOMES THAT
HAVEN'T KEPT UP WITH RISING
COSTS; WORKING FAMILIES WITH
KIDS TO HELP AFFORD CHILD CARE
AND REDUCE CHILD POVERTY;
FAMILIES PROVIDING CARE AND
ASSISTANCE TO AN AGING RELATIVE;
AND VETERANS AND SURVIVING
SPOUSES PAYING RENT.
MY PLAN PROVIDES TAX RELIEF TO
HELP YOU, TOO.
[APPLAUSE]
GIVING WORKING FAMILIES A LITTLE
EXTRA BREATHING ROOM IS JUST ONE
KEY PART OF OUR PLAN TO BOLSTER
THE MIDDLE CLASS, MAINTAIN OUR
ECONOMY'S MOMENTUM, REDUCE
BARRIERS TO WORK, AND ADDRESS
OUR STATE'S WORKFORCE
CHALLENGES.
BUT WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO
TO KEEP BUILDING OUR ECONOMY
FROM THE GROUND UP.
LET'S START WITH MAKING SURE OUR
INFRASTRUCTURE IS PREPARED TO
SUPPORT A WORKFORCE AND ECONOMY
OF THE 21ST CENTURY.
NO ADMINISTRATION IN STATE
HISTORY HAS DONE MORE TO EXPAND
TO HIGH-SPEED INTERNET THAN WE
HAVE.
WE'VE ALLOCATED MORE THAN $340
MILLION TO ENSURE MORE THAN
390,000 HOMES AND BUSINESSES
WILL NOW HAVE NEW, IMPROVED,
RELIABLE, HIGH-SPEED INTERNET,
AND THAT'S A BIG DEAL, FOLKS.
[APPLAUSE]
BUT IN THIS CENTURY, NEARLY
EVERYTHING ABOUT OUR ECONOMY,
OUR WORKFORCE, AND OUR WAY OF
LIFE DEPENDS ON ACCESS TO
RELIABLE HIGH-SPEED INTERNET.
AND THE LONGER IT TAKES TO GET
EVERYONE CONNECTED, THE MORE
COSTLY IT BECOMES FOR OUR STATE
TO CATCH UP.
WE CANNOT AFFORD TO KEEP OUR
SAME PACE.
IN FACT, WE NEED TO DOUBLE OUR
EFFORTS.
SO, I'M AGAIN PROPOSING TO MAKE
THE LARGEST INVESTMENT IN
HIGH-SPEED INTERNET IN OUR
STATE'S HISTORY.
I'M ASKING THE LEGISLATURE TO
JOIN ME IN SUPPORTING A $750
MILLION INVESTMENT INTO
BROADBAND EXPANSION GRANTS, SO
THE STATE IS DOING OUR PART TO
MEET OUR GOAL OF GETTING EVERY
WISCONSINITE, EVERY HOME, AND
EVERY BUSINESS CONNECTED TO
RELIABLE, AFFORDABLE, HIGH-SPEED
INTERNET BY THE END OF 2025.
WE HAVE TO DO THIS, FOLKS, AND
TOGETHER, WE WILL.
[APPLAUSE]
PART OF ENSURING OUR
INFRASTRUCTURE IS READY FOR A
21ST CENTURY WORKFORCE AND
ECONOMY IS BUILDING UPON OUR
WORK OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS TO
FIX ROADS.
5800 MILES OF ROADS AND NEARLY
1600 BRIDGES.
I'M ALSO PROPOSING THE HIGHEST
LEVEL OF FUNDING EVER TO AID
THAT GOES DIRECTLY TOWARD
HELPING LOCAL COUNTIES AND
COMMUNITIES REPAIR AND MAINTAIN
OUR ROADS TO DO JUST THAT.
[APPLAUSE]
WE'RE ALSO INVESTING IN KEY
PROJECTS ACROSS THE STATE, FROM
THE RAY NITSCHKE MEMORIAL BRIDGE
IN GREEN BAY TO THE BLATNIK
BRIDGE IN SUPERIOR.
[APPLAUSE]
AND WE'RE EXPANDING
TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVES IN
OUR SMALL COMMUNITIES, BUILDING
OUT OUR ELECTRIC VEHICLE
CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE, AND
RE-ENGINEERING ROADS TO IMPROVE
SAFETY AND HELP PREVENT RECKLESS
DRIVING.
[APPLAUSE]
THESE INVESTMENTS WILL BE
CRITICAL FOR BRINGING OUR
INFRASTRUCTURE INTO THIS
CENTURY.
AT THE SAME TIME, WE'RE STILL
BALANCING THESE INVESTMENTS WITH
PRUDENT DECISIONS TO PREPARE FOR
FUTURE ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY.
SO, WE'RE GOING TO USE A PORTION
OF OUR STATE'S SURPLUS NOT TO
CREATE MORE ONGOING EXPENSES BUT
TO REDUCE THEM.
WE'RE GOING TO PAY DOWN $380
MILLION IN STATE DEBT IN
TRANSPORTATION REVENUE BONDS.
THAT MEANS WE'LL SPEND LESS OF
YOUR HARD-EARNED TAX DOLLARS IN
THE FUTURE, PAYING ON DEBT AND
INTEREST, SO WE CAN STAY FOCUSED
ON FIXING THE DARN ROADS.
[APPLAUSE]
INVESTING IN 21ST CENTURY
TRANSPORTATION AND
INFRASTRUCTURE IS ESSENTIAL TO
PREPARING OUR WORKFORCE AND OUR
ECONOMY FOR THE FUTURE, AND WE
HAVE TO START RIGHT AWAY.
BUT INFRASTRUCTURE IS ONLY ONE
PART OF THE WORK AHEAD OF US TO
KEEP OUR TALENTED WORKFORCE HERE
AND BRING MORE TALENT TO
WISCONSIN.
WE HAVE TO CONTINUE HARNESSING
LOCAL INNOVATORS AND INGENUITY
TO MAINTAIN OUR ECONOMIC
MOMENTUM AND RETAIN AND RECRUIT
TALENTED WORKERS TO BUILD A
WORKFORCE FOR THE FUTURE.
AND BUILDING AN ECONOMY FROM THE
GROUND UP STARTS WITH INVESTING
IN OUR MAIN STREETS, OUR
COMMUNITIES, AND OUR LOCAL
PARTNERS.
SO, I ANNOUNCED LAST MONTH WE'RE
CONTINUING OUR SUCCESSFUL MAIN
STREET BOUNCEBACK PROGRAM-AND
THAT'S GREAT NEWS.
THIS PROGRAM HAS ALREADY HELPED
REVITALIZE OUR MAIN STREETS AND
MOVE MORE THAN 8,500 BUSINESSES
INTO VACANT STOREFRONTS ACROSS
OUR STATE.
[APPLAUSE]
BUT I ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT, WHEN
IT COMES TO BOLSTERING OUR
WORKFORCE, NO TWO COMMUNITIES'
NEEDS ARE ALIKE.
THERE'S NO ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL
SOLUTION TO OUR STATE'S
WORKFORCE CHALLENGES.
WE TRUST OUR LOCAL INNOVATORS,
COMMUNITIES, BUSINESSES, AND
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS TO
KNOW BEST WHAT THEY NEED TO
SUPPORT A STRONG, SUCCESSFUL
WORKFORCE AND BRING NEW WORKERS
TO THEIR AREA.
THEY MIGHT NEED MORE
HIGH-QUALITY CHILD CARE
PROVIDERS, THEY MIGHT NEED MORE
CLINICS AND ACCESSIBLE
HEALTHCARE, OR TO EXPAND JOB
TRAINING IN HIGH-DEMAND
INDUSTRIES-WE MUST MEET THOSE
UNIQUE NEEDS, WHATEVER THEY MAY
BE AND WHEREVER THEY MAY BE.
IT'S WHY ONE OF THE MOST
SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENTS WE MAKE
IN THIS BUDGET IS TO INVEST
NEARLY $500 MILLION INTO
PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO SUPPORT
LOCAL AND REGIONALLY-BASED
PROJECTS IN COMMUNITIES AND
REGIONS TO HELP THEM EXPAND THE
STATE'S WORKFORCE, INVEST IN
HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE, AND OTHER
CAPITAL PROJECTS IN COMMUNITIES
ACROSS OUR STATE.
[APPLAUSE]
THESE INNOVATIVE INVESTMENTS
WILL ENSURE COMMUNITIES HAVE
WHAT THEY NEED FOR LOCAL WORKERS
TO LIVE HERE, WORK HERE, AND
RAISE A FAMILY HERE, BASED ON
LOCAL NEEDS-AND THAT'S
CRITICALLY IMPORTANT.
IT'S ALSO ONLY ONE PART OF THE
EQUATION: WE NEED TO MAKE SURE
WISCONSIN WORKERS AND FAMILIES,
AND THE TALENT WE HOPE TO
RECRUIT-HAVE HOUSING IN OUR
COMMUNITIES, TOO.
[APPLAUSE]
LACK OF ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE
HOUSING WILL HOLD OUR WORKFORCE
AND OUR ECONOMY BACK.
SO, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A
MULTI-PRONGED APPROACH TO MAKE
SURE WE HAVE SAFE, RELIABLE, AND
AFFORDABLE HOUSING ACROSS OUR
STATE.
WE'RE CREATING A NEW AFFORDABLE
WORKFORCE HOUSING PROGRAM WITH A
$150 MILLION INVESTMENT INTO
LOCAL COMMUNITIES TO MAINTAIN
AND DEVELOP WORKFORCE HOUSING
ACROSS OUR STATE.
OF WISCONSIN.
[APPLAUSE]
WE ALSO KNOW WE CAN EXPAND
HOUSING OPTIONS IN OUR
COMMUNITIES BY RENOVATING AND
RESTORING HOUSING THAT'S ALREADY
AVAILABLE.
SO, WE'RE INVESTING $200 MILLION
INTO RENOVATING AND RESTORING
EXISTING RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES,
INCLUDING PROVIDING LOW-INTEREST
AND FORGIVABLE LOANS TO HELP
WORKING FAMILIES UPDATE AND
REMEDIATE LEAD IN THEIR CURRENT
HOMES.
[APPLAUSE]
OUR LOCAL PARTNERS HAVE ALWAYS
PLAYED A CRITICAL ROLE IN OUR
WORK TO BUILD AN ECONOMY AND
WORKFORCE FOR THE FUTURE.
BUT LET'S BE FRANK: WORK AT THE
LOCAL LEVEL OVER THE LAST DECADE
HASN'T BEEN HELPED BY THE FACT
OUR LOCAL PARTNERS HAVE BEEN
ASKED TO DO MORE WITH LESS.
WHETHER IT'S EXPANDING
AFFORDABLE HOUSING, REPAIRING
STREETS, ENSURING CLEAN PARKS
AND WATER, SAFETY SERVICES LIKE
EMS, POLICE, AND FIRE, OR
SUPPORTING LOCAL LIBRARIES AND
PUBLIC HEALTH, SO MUCH OF THE
HARD WORK IN THIS STATE HAPPENS
AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.
AND IT'S TIME FOR THE STATE TO
DO ITS PART.
[APPLAUSE]
LAST MONTH, I PLEDGED MY SUPPORT
FOR A BUDGET PROVISION TO SEND
20 PERCENT OF THE STATE'S SALES
TAX REVENUE BACK TO OUR LOCAL
COMMUNITIES FOR SHARED REVENUE.
AND I'M EXCITED TO SHARE THAT
OUR BUDGET INCLUDES THAT
PROPOSAL, I DON'T CARE WHERE IT
CAME FROM, PROVIDING MORE THAN A
HALF A BILLION DOLLARS MORE PER
YEAR IN NEW RESOURCES TO INVEST
IN KEY PRIORITIES, LIKE PUBLIC
SAFETY.
WE HAVE TO GET THIS DONE, FOLKS.
[APPLAUSE]
AND WE'RE NOT JUST GOING TO FUND
OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS-WE'RE ALSO
GOING TO INVEST IN KEY PROGRAMS
AT THE STATE LEVEL TO HELP LOCAL
PARTNERS DO IMPORTANT WORK IN
OUR COMMUNITIES.
ONE OF THOSE INVESTMENTS INTO
LOCAL PUBLIC HEALTH I'M EXCITED
TO ANNOUNCE TONIGHT IS A NEW
PILOT PROGRAM TO HELP MAKE SURE
OUR KIDS CAN SAFELY PARTICIPATE
IN YOUTH ATHLETICS.
TO EXPLAIN WHY THIS INITIATIVE
IS SO IMPORTANT, I HAVE TO START
BY TELLING YOU THE STORY OF KAI
LERMER.
EXCUSE ME.
KAI WAS A JUNIOR AT WAUKESHA
NORTH HIGH SCHOOL AND A
THREE-SPORT ATHLETE-HE PLAYED
VARSITY FOOTBALL,
BASKETBALL, AND WAS A LONG
JUMPER ON THE TRACK TEAM.
ON MARCH 25, 2019, KAI WAS
PLAYING PICK-UP BASKETBALL WITH
FRIENDS WHEN HE WENT INTO
CARDIAC ARREST.
AS HIS PARENTS LATER LEARNED,
KAI HAD AN UNDIAGNOSED HEART
CONDITION CALLED WOLFF-
PARKINSON-WHITE SYNDROME, A
CONDITION NO ONE KNEW HE HAD.
YOUTH PHYSICALS REQUIRED TO
PARTICIPATE IN HIGH SCHOOL
ATHLETICS TYPICALLY DON'T
INCLUDE AN EKG-A TEST THAT
MIGHT'VE DIAGNOSED KAI SOONER.
ONLY DAYS AFTER GOING INTO
SUDDEN CARDIAC ARREST, ON
APRIL 3, 2019, KAI PASSED AWAY.
HE WAS 16.
AS KAI'S FAMILY WILL TELL YOU,
"TO KNOW KAI WAS TO LOVE KAI."
WHILE I WAS NEVER FORTUNATE
ENOUGH TO MEET KAI MYSELF, I'M
HUMBLED TONIGHT TO BE ABLE TO
HONOR HIM.
AND IT IS MY PRIVILEGE TO
WELCOME KAI'S LOVED ONES,
INCLUDING HIS MOM, PATRICIA, AND
GODFATHER, PAUL, WHO ARE UP IN
THE GALLERY WITH US TONIGHT.
FOLKS, THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE]
>> LAST YEAR, I JOINED KAI'S
FAMILY AND FRIENDS WHEN I SIGNED
THE
"KAI 11" BILL AT WAUKESHA NORTH
HIGH SCHOOL, A BIPARTISAN BILL
THAT PASSED THANKS TO KAI'S
PARENTS, GODPARENTS, LOVED ONES,
AND FRIENDS AND THEIR
RELENTLESS DEDICATION AND
ADVOCACY.
THE "KAI 11" BILL WAS CRITICAL
FOR RAISING AWARENESS, AND
HELPING ENSURE COACHES,
STUDENT-ATHLETES, AND PARENTS
KNOW THE RISKS OF SUDDEN CARDIAC
ARREST.
TONIGHT, I'M ANNOUNCING WE'RE
BUILDING UPON "KAI 11" BY
INVESTING MORE THAN $4 MILLION
INTO A PILOT PROGRAM THROUGH
LOCAL PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENTS
TO IMPLEMENT AN EKG SCREENING
PROGRAM FOR KIDS PARTICIPATING
IN YOUTH ATHLETICS.
[APPLAUSE]
THIS PILOT PROGRAM WILL SCREEN
FOR CONDITIONS LIKE KAI'S TO
HELP PREVENT CARDIAC-RELATED
HEALTH INCIDENTS IN YOUTH
ATHLETES.
IT'LL ENSURE KIDS AND THEIR
PARENTS CAN MAKE THE BEST
DECISIONS FOR PARTICIPATING IN
ATHLETICS SAFELY AND IDENTIFY
KEY STRATEGIES FOR POTENTIALLY
EXPANDING THE SCREENING PROGRAM
STATEWIDE IN THE FUTURE.
FOLKS, THIS INVESTMENT INTO
LOCAL PUBLIC HEALTH WILL SAVE
KIDS' LIVES JUST LIKE KAI'S.
LET'S GET THIS DONE.
[APPLAUSE]
I'M ALSO EXCITED ABOUT ANOTHER
INVESTMENT TONIGHT THAT WILL
HELP ENSURE OUR LOCAL PARTNERS
CAN DO THEIR IMPORTANT WORK.
WE'RE GOING TO MAKE AN
UNPRECEDENTED INVESTMENT INTO
SUPPORTING EVERY LEVEL OF OUR
STATE'S JUSTICE WORKFORCE.
WITHOUT PROVIDING NEW RESOURCES
TO RECRUIT, RETAIN, AND
COMPENSATE QUALIFIED AND
EXPERIENCED PROFESSIONALS WHO
ARE ESSENTIAL TO ENSURING OUR
JUSTICE SYSTEM FUNCTIONS WELL,
OUR STATE AND PARTNERS AT THE
LOCAL LEVEL WILL CONTINUE TO
FACE A CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS.
WE'RE GOING TO TACKLE THIS ISSUE
HEAD-ON IN THIS BUDGET.
WE'RE INVESTING NEARLY $36
MILLION INTO BOLSTERING OUR
JUSTICE WORKFORCE, INCLUDING
ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEYS AND
PUBLIC DEFENDERS, AMONG OTHER
KEY POSITIONS.
[APPLAUSE]
INVESTMENTS IN OUR BUDGET LIKE
THESE ARE CRITICAL.
THE STATE HAS TO START BEING A
PARTNER IN, NOT AN OBSTACLE
TO, OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES'
SUCCESS.
THE WAY WE'VE BEEN FUNDING OUR
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ISN'T
SUSTAINABLE.
WE NEED TO CHANGE THAT.
I'M ALSO HERE TO TELL YOU THAT
THE WAY WE'RE FUNDING OUR
SCHOOLS ISN'T SUSTAINABLE,
EITHER.
WE NEED TO CHANGE THAT, TOO.
BUDGETS REFLECT OUR PRIORITIES,
WHICH IS WHY EVERY BUDGET I'VE
BUILT OVER THE LAST COUPLE YEARS
HAS BEEN DOING WHAT'S BEST FOR
KIDS.
THIS ONE IS NO DIFFERENT.
NOW, LET'S REMEMBER WHERE WE
STARTED.
FOUR YEARS AGO, WE HADN'T SEEN
THE LARGEST PER PUPIL REVENUE
LIMIT ADJUSTMENT OR THE LARGEST
NOMINAL INCREASE IN GENERAL AID
IN A DECADE; IN 10 YEARS, NOT
ONE ADDITIONAL CENT HAD BEEN
INVESTED IN SPECIAL EDUCATION
AID, AND FRANKLY IF I HADN'T
BEEN HERE AS GOVERNOR TO USE MY
VETO PEN AND
TAKE UNILATERAL ACTION, PER
PUPIL AID WOULDN'T HAVE
INCREASED BY MORE THAN $300 PER
STUDENT.
[APPLAUSE]
SO, WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED A LOT.
AND I'M PROUD OF OUR WORK.
BUT I'VE ALSO SPENT FOUR YEARS
ASKING SOME PEOPLE IN THIS
BUILDING THAT WE NEED TO DO
MORE.
AND I'VE HEARD THOSE SAME PEOPLE
SUGGEST TIME AND AGAIN THAT
BECAUSE OF OUR PREVIOUS BUDGETS
AND FEDERAL PANDEMIC AID, OUR
KIDS AND OUR SCHOOLS HAVE
ALREADY RECEIVED ENOUGH.
SO I'D LIKE TO RESPOND TO THAT
TONIGHT.
ON MONDAY THIS WEEK, THE CDC
RELEASED ITS YOUTH RISK BEHAVIOR
SURVEY REPORT.
HERE'S WHAT THE DATA SHOW:
IN 2021, MORE THAN 40 PERCENT OF
BAD OR HOPELESS NEARLY EVERY DAY
OR HOPELESS NEARLY EVERY DAY FOR
AT LEAST TWO WEEKS IN A ROW THAT
THEY STOPPED DOING THEIR USUAL
ACTIVITIES.
ONE IN 10 STUDENTS ATTEMPTED
SUICIDE.
ONE IN FIVE STUDENTS SERIOUSLY
CONSIDERED ATTEMPTING SUICIDE.
AND THE STATISTICS ARE
ESPECIALLY BLEAK FOR TEEN GIRLS
AND LGTBQ STUDENTS.
NEARLY 60 PERCENT OF TEEN GIRLS
FELT PERSISTENTLY SAD OR
HOPELESS-DOUBLE THE RATE FOR
TEEN BOYS.
NEARLY A THIRD OF TEEN GIRLS
SERIOUSLY CONSIDERED ATTEMPTING
SUICIDE.
THINK ABOUT THAT.
THAT'S ONE IN THREE TEEN GIRLS.
AND ABOUT 70 PERCENT OF
LGBTQ STUDENTS EXPERIENCED
PERSISTENT FEELINGS OF SADNESS
OR HOPELESSNESS.
MORE THAN 20 PERCENT OF LGBTQ
STUDENTS ATTEMPTED SUICIDE.
NO ONE WHO HASTHE PRIVILEGE OF
WORKING IN THIS BUILDING CAN
-- INCLUDING I, CAN READ THESE
STATISTICS AND SAY WITH A
STRAIGHT FACE THAT WE'RE ALREADY
DOING ENOUGH.
FOLKS, 'ENOUGH' WILL BE ENOUGH
WHEN THESE ARE NOT THE
STATISTICS WE'RE READING ABOUT
OUR KIDS IN THE NEWS.
IT'S TIME TO GET SERIOUS.
[APPLAUSE]
AS A GOVERNOR WHO ALSO HAS --
I'M A GOVERNOR AND A
GRANDFATHER.
TONIGHT I'M CALLING ON THE
LEGISLATURE TO
JOIN ME IN DOING WHAT'S
BEST FOR OUR KIDS BY APPROVING
THE LARGEST INCREASE IN K-12
SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION IN STATE'S
HISTORY.
[APPLAUSE]
I'VE SAID BEFORE, AND I'LL SAY
AGAIN TONIGHT: OUR KIDS CAN ONLY
ACHIEVE THEIR FULL AND BEST
POTENTIAL WHEN THEY CAN BRING
THEIR FULL AND BEST SELVES TO
THE CLASSROOM.
IF WE WANT TO HAVE A CHANCE AT
IMPROVING OUR KIDS'
OUTCOMES, THEN WE HAVE TO
SHORTEN THE ODDS.
WE CAN START BY ADDRESSING THE
STATISTICS, EXCUSE ME, I JUST
READ TO YOU.
LET'S MAKE SURE EVERY KID IN
WISCONSIN HAS ACCESS TO
SCHOOL-BASED MENTAL HEALTH
SERVICES THROUGH OUR "GET KIDS
AHEAD" INITIATIVE.
IT'S THE YEAR OF MENTAL HEALTH,
FOLKS.
I KNOW WE CAN GET THIS DONE.
[APPLAUSE]
AND HERE'S ANOTHER EASY STEP WE
CAN TAKE: LET'S MAKE SURE KIDS
AREN'T HUNGRY, YES, EVER, BUT
ESPECIALLY AT SCHOOL.
MY PLAN IS SIMPLE: FULLY FUND
UNIVERSAL SCHOOL BREAKFASTS AND
LUNCHES SO THAT EVERY KID CAN BE
FOCUSED ON THEIR SCHOOLWORK AND
NOT WHEN OR WHETHER THEY'LL EAT
NEXT.
[APPLAUSE]
THESE ARE BASIC STEPS WE CAN
TAKE TO HELP IMPROVE OUTCOMES
FOR OUR KIDS SO THEY CAN COME TO
CLASS COURSEWORK-READY.
COUPLED WITH OUR INVESTMENTS AND
INITIATIVES TO BOLSTER OUR
EDUCATOR PIPELINE TO KEEP
CLASS SIZES SMALL AND IMPROVE
FINANCIAL LITERACY, MATH, AND
READING OUTCOMES ACROSS OUR
STATE, WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE
OUR KIDS ARE READY FOR SUCCESS.
[APPLAUSE]
AND WE'RE ALSO GOING TO MAKE
SURE OUR KIDS HAVE THE SKILLS
AND TOOLS THEY NEED TO JOIN THE
21ST CENTURY WORKFORCE WE'RE
GOING TO BUILD TOGETHER.
SO, I'M GOING TO DELIVER ON MY
PLEDGE TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO
COMPUTER SCIENCE EDUCATION IN
WISCONSIN WITH A $10 MILLION
INVESTMENT TO BOLSTER COMPUTER
SCIENCE EDUCATION ACROSS OUR
STATE OF WISCONSIN, INCLUDING
REQUIRING HIGH SCHOOLS TO
PROVIDE THIS CRITICAL
INSTRUCTION.
[APPLAUSE]
THE BEST MEASURE OF THE
OPPORTUNITY WE HAVE TO OFFER IS
WHETHER WE'RE WILLING TO INVEST
IN THE FUTURE OF OUR KIDS AND
OUR FAMILIES.
SO, HIGH-QUALITY EDUCATION HAS
TO START EARLY.
OUR BUDGET EXPANDS ACCESS TO
QUALITY, AFFORDABLE CHILD CARE
FOR WISCONSIN'S KIDS THROUGH OUR
SUCCESSFUL CHILD CARE COUNTS
INITIATIVE THAT HELPED
STABILIZE OUR CHILD CARE
INDUSTRY DURING THE PANDEMIC.
[APPLAUSE]
AND WE'RE GOING TO INVEST MORE
THAN $22 MILLION TO KEEP WORKING
TO SUPPORT PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN
BUSINESSES AND CHILD CARE
PROVIDERS WHO WANT TO DO THEIR
PART TO HELP MAKE SURE CHILD
CARE IS MORE AFFORDABLE AND
ACCESSIBLE FOR THEIR WORKERS.
[APPLAUSE]
BUT AFTER I ANNOUNCED ONE OF OUR
BUDGET'S TOP PRIORITIES WOULD BE
EXPANDING ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE
CHILD CARE, BRITTANY, WHO'S A
NURSE IN MILWAUKEE, WROTE TO ME
SAYING THAT WE SHOULD ALSO WORK
TO MAKE PARENTAL LEAVE MORE
AFFORDABLE.
SHE SAID, LET START FROM THE
BEGINNING.
FOLKS, BRITTANY'S RIGHT.
PARENTS ARE THE FIRST AND BEST
TEACHERS OUR KIDS HAVE, SO WE
HAVE TO START FROM THE BEGINNING
AND TONIGHT, I OFFER A PLAN DO
JUST THAT.
WE HAVE A PLAN TO BOLSTER OUR
STATE'S WORKFORCE, MAINTAIN OUR
MOMENTUM, AND BUILD AN ECONOMY
FOR OUR FUTURE FROM THE GROUND
UP-THAT PLAN INCLUDES MAKING
SURE PARENTS CAN PUT THEIR KIDS
AND FAMILIES FIRST.
SO, WE'RE TAKING A COMPREHENSIVE
APPROACH TO PAID FAMILY LEAVE
FOR WORKERS AND EMPLOYERS ACROSS
OUR STATE.
BECAUSE DOING WHAT'S BEST FOR
OUR KIDS IS WHAT'S BEST FOR OUR
STATE-AND IT'S WHAT'S BEST FOR
OUR FAMILIES AND OUR WORKFORCE,
TOO.
THE WEEKS AFTER WELCOMING A NEW
CHILD ARE CRITICAL FOR FAMILIES
TO HAVE TIME TOGETHER AND FOR
KIDS' FUTURE DEVELOPMENT.
TONIGHT, I'M ANNOUNCING THAT
WE'RE GOING TO CREATE A
STATEWIDE PROGRAM THAT WILL
PROVIDE MOST PRIVATE-SECTOR
WORKERS WITH WISCONSIN PAID
FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE FOR 12
WEEKS, AND WE'RE GOING TO DO IT
BY INVESTING MORE THAN
$240 MILLION IN STATE FUNDS TO
GET THAT PROGRAM STARTED.
[APPLAUSE]
AND NEW PARENTS AREN'T THE ONLY
ONES WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM A PAID
FAMILY LEAVE PROGRAM THAT TRULY
MEETS THE NEEDS OF OUR
WORKFORCE.
TOO OFTEN, FOLKS ARE ALSO UNABLE
TO RECEIVE FAMILY OR MEDICAL
LEAVE SUPPORT BASED ON THEIR
UNIQUE CIRCUMSTANCES OR
SITUATION.
SO, WE'RE ALSO GOING TO EXPAND
ELIGIBILITY SO WORKERS HAVE THE
FLEXIBILITY TO RESPOND TO THEIR
PERSONAL, FAMILY MEMBERS', OR
THEIR KIDS' NEEDS.
WE'RE EXPANDING ELIGIBILITY USES
FOR FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE TO
INCLUDE CARING FOR A NEW CHILD,
THE UNFORESEEN OR UNEXPECTED
CLOSURE OF A CHILD CARE
FACILITY, AFTERMATH OF DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE OR SEXUAL ASSAULT,
HAVING A SERIOUS HEALTH
CONDITION SUCH AS MEDICAL
QUARANTINE, CARING FOR FAMILY
MEMBERS WITH SERIOUS HEALTH
CONDITIONS, AND MILITARY
DEPLOYMENT FOR SERVICE MEMBERS
AND THEIR SPOUSES, KIDS, AND
PARENTS.
MY PLAN TAKES CARE OF THESE
FOLKS, TOO.
[APPLAUSE]
LISTEN, I KNOW THE PEOPLE IN
THIS BUILDING MIGHT NOT AGREE
WITH ME ON THE PERIPHERY OF
EVERY POLICY ALL OF THE
TIME.
THAT IS DEMOCRACY, RIGHT?
[LAUGHTER]
BUT I ALSO BELIEVE WE SHOULD BE
ABLE TO PASS COMMON-SENSE
PROPOSALS THAT ALREADY
HAVE BROAD, BIPARTISAN
SUPPORT, ESPECIALLY THOSE WE
KNOW WILL HELP US RETAIN AND
RECRUIT A TALENTED WORKFORCE.
AND HERE'S WHAT ELSE I KNOW: WE
CANNOT AFFORD TO STAND STILL
WHILE OTHER STATES ARE WILLING
TO TAKE BOLD, URGENT ACTION TO
COMPETE FOR NEW WORKERS, AND
THAT INCLUDES COMPETING FOR
WISCONSIN'S OWN HOMEGROWN
TALENT.
I WISH WE COULD ALL AGREE THAT
EXPANDING AFFORDABLE HEALTHCARE
WILL HELP OUR FAMILIES, OUR
FARMERS, OUR RURAL COMMUNITIES,
OUR SMALL BUSINESSES AND MAIN
STREETS, AND OUR STATE'S BIGGEST
EMPLOYERS ALIKE.
SO, YES, I'M AGAIN PROPOSING TO
EXPAND BADGERCARE BECAUSE ACCESS
TO QUALITY, AFFORDABLE
HEALTHCARE IS WORKFORCE AND
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
[APPLAUSE]
AND, WITH THE HELP OF THE
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, WE'LL
BE CONTINUING FIGHTING TO EXPAND
BADGERCARE JUST AS WE HAVE IN
THE PAST FOUR YEARS.
[APPLAUSE]
AND, YES, I WISH WE COULD AGREE
THAT EACH DAY WOMEN IN THIS
STATE ARE TREATED LIKE
SECOND-CLASS CITIZENS BECAUSE OF
A LAW ENACTED BEFORE THEY HAD
THE RIGHT TO VOTE-ONE THAT
STRIPS THEM OF THEIR
REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS
THAT IS BAD FOR FREEDOM, IT'S
BAD FOR FAMILIES, AND IT'S BAD
FOR RECRUITING NEW WORKERS, TOO.
WE CANNOT EXPECT MORE PEOPLE TO
MOVE HERE IF THEY HAVE TO GIVE
UP BASIC FREEDOMS WHEN THEY DO.
PERIOD.
[APPLAUSE]
AND, AND I ALSO THINK WE SHOULD
BE ABLE TO AGREE THAT, IN
AMERICA'S DAIRYLAND, IMMIGRANTS
ARE AN ESSENTIAL PART OF OUR
COMMUNITIES, OUR CHURCHES, OUR
SCHOOLS, OUR WORKFORCE, AND OUR
ECONOMY.
SO LET'S FINALLY ANSWER THE
CALL OF BUSINESSES, FARMERS AND
AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRIES, AND LAW
ENFORCEMENT, AMONG OTHERS-LET'S
MAKE SURE EVERYONE CAN ACCESS
DRIVER'S LICENSES, REGARDLESS OF
THEIR CITIZENSHIP STATUS, SO OUR
WORKERS CAN GET FROM POINT A TO
POINT B, AND WE CAN KEEP OUR
ROADS SAFER, TOO.
[APPLAUSE]
AS WE BEGIN THE BUDGET
DISCUSSION-AND I HAVE NO DOUBT
THE CONVERSATION WILL BE
LIVELY-TONIGHT, LET'S DISPOSE OF
THE NOTION THAT THE PRIORITIES
IN THIS BUDGET ARE SOMEHOW
EXTREME OR FAR-FETCHED.
I PROMISE YOU THIS: IN THIS
BUDGET, THERE'S MORE THAT UNITES
US THAN DIVIDES US.
THESE AREN'T REPUBLICAN OR
DEMOCRATIC PRIORITIES-THEY'RE
WISCONSIN PRIORITIES, AREAS
WHERE WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO FIND
COMMON GROUND.
THIS BUDGET IS ABOUT SOLUTIONS,
NOT WISH LISTS.
THIS IS A BUDGET ABOUT
PRAGMATISM, NOT POLITICS.
THIS IS A BUDGET ABOUT GETTING
BACK TO BASICS AND DOING THE
RIGHT THING.
EXPANDING HIGH-SPEED INTERNET.
IMPROVING HEALTHCARE ACCESS.
REDUCING CHILD CARE COSTS.
KEEPING COMMUNITIES SAFE.
BUILDING MORE HOUSING.
ADDRESSING PFAS AND WATER
CONTAMINANTS.
FUNDING OUR SCHOOLS.
IMPROVING MENTAL HEALTH.
[APPLAUSE]
AND THERE'S MORE!
FIXING ROADS AND BRIDGES.
BOLSTERING OUR CURRENT AND
FUTURE WORKFORCE.
MAINTAINING OUR ECONOMY'S
MOMENTUM.
WE'RE NOT FLIRTING WITH FRINGE
IDEAS HERE, FOLKS-THE PRIORITIES
I JUST LISTED SHOULD BE EASY.
THESE CONCEPTS AREN'T
CONTROVERSIAL, AT LEAST NOT TO
THE FOLKS WHO SPEND MORE OF
THEIR TIME OUTSIDE OF THE
CAPITOL BUILDING THAN INSIDE OF
IT.
[APPLAUSE]
SO, AS WE SHOULDER THE WEIGHT OF
POSTERITY, LET'S NOT ALLOW OUR
WORK TOGETHER TO BE HINDERED BY
PARTISANSHIP.
AS YOU CONSIDER THIS
BREAKTHROUGH BUDGET, LET'S NOT
JUST DISMISS IDEAS BECAUSE
THEY'RE PROPOSED BY A PERSON OR
A PARTY YOU DISLIKE.
AND AS WE BALANCE THIS HISTORIC
OPPORTUNITY WITH OUR HISTORIC
RESPONSIBILITY, LET'S GIVE
THESE PRIORITIES DELIBERATION
AND DEBATE THAT'S WORTHY OF THE
TRADITIONS AND THE PEOPLE OF
THIS STATE.
WE HAVE SO MUCH WORK TO DO AND
SO MUCH WE CAN ACCOMPLISH IF
WE'RE WILLING TO WORK TOGETHER.
TOGETHER, WE WILL.
LET'S GET TO WORK, FOLKS.
THANK YOU, AND ON, WISCONSIN!
[APPLAUSE]
THANK YOU.
[BAND PLAYING "ON WISCONSIN]
*
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> AND SO, GOVERNOR TONY EVERS,
CONCLUDES HIS BIENNIAL BUDGET
ADDRESS, TALKING ABOUT NEW
FUNDING INITIATIVES FOR MENTAL
HEALTH AND VETERANS AS WELL AS
CHANGES TO SHARED REVENUE AND
THE STATE SALES TAX SYSTEM.
THERE WILL BE A LOT TO DISCUSS
AND ANALYZE IN THE WEEKS AHEAD.
AND MONTHS AHEAD.
>> TONIGHT, WE'RE JOINED BY
JASON STEIN, RESEARCH DIRECTOR
FOR THE WISCONSIN POLICY FORUM.
JASON, THANKS FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> SO, JASON, WHAT STANDS OUT IN
THIS ADDRESS?
>> I MEAN, REALLY, THE REALLY
SUBSTANTIAL FUNDING INCREASES
FOR A WHOLE VARIETY OF
PRIORITIES.
YOU START WITH SCHOOLS,
HEALTHCARE, THINGS LIKE THAT,
THINGS THAT WE WOULD
TRADITIONALLY BE EXPECTING, BUT
THEN YOU THROW IN MORE THAN
$290 MILLION FOR MILLER PARK,
$240 MILLION FOR FAMILY MEDICAL
LEAVE, $750 MILLION FOR
BROADBAND, THOSE SORT OF
NON-TRADITIONAL PRAY O PRIORITIS
EASILY ABOVE A BILLION DOLLARS,
JUST THOSE THREE.
>> CAN YOU PUT THAT IN CONTEXT
FOR PEOPLE?
I THINK THEY'VE HEARD OVER AND
OVER AGAIN WE HAVE THIS HISTORIC
BUDGET SURPLUS, YOU HEARD THE
GOVERNOR MAKE MENTION OF IT
TONIGHT, 7.1 BILLION SOUNDS BIG
BUT HOW DOES THIS COMPARE TO
PREVIOUS BUDGETS?
>> THIS IS UNLIKE ANYTHING WE'VE
EVER SEEN BEFORE IN OUR NUMBERS
GOING BACK 40 YEARS.
SO IT'S REALLY UNPRECEDENTED SO
IT DOES ALLOW FOR BOTH PARTIES
TO THINK BIG, WHETHER THAT'S ON
THE TAX CUT SIDE OR ON THE
SPENDING SIDE.
AT THE SAME TIME, A LOT OF
SUBSTANTIAL INCREASES HERE THAT
WILL LOWER THE STATE'S RESERVES
SUBSTANTIALLY, WHICH IS
APPROPRIATE, BUT I THINK THE
SPENDING THAT IS HAPPENING MAY
BE DIFFICULT TO SUSTAIN IN THE
NEXT BUDGET.
>> AS TO THE TAX CUTS, THE
GOVERNOR REGARDS THEM AS TAX
CUTS FOR THE MIDDLE CLASS, AND
THAT IS AS OPPOSED TO WHAT WE
UNDERSTAND THAT THE REPUBLICAN
BUDGET WRITERS ARE INTERESTED
IN, WHICH MAY WELL BE A FLAT
TAX.
HOW DO THESE TWO PLANS COMPARE?
>> SURE.
I MEAN, THE FIRST THING IS THE
GOVERNOR HAS A MIX OF BOTH TAX
INCREASES THAT WOULD PRIMARILY
FALL IN UPPER INCOME EARNERS AND
TAX DECREASES THAT WOULD
PRIMARILY BE FOR LOW AND MIDDLE
INCOME EARNERS.
SO WHEREAS THE REPUBLICAN PLAN
IS, YOU KNOW, ESSENTIALLY
PUTTING FORWARD A VERY LARGE TAX
CUT.
THAT ALSO WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO
SUSTAIN IN FUTURE YEARS.
IT WOULD, OVER A FOUR-YEAR
PHASE-IN EVENTUALLY RAMP UP TO
$5 BILLION A YEAR.
>> HOW ABOUT THE PAID FAMILY
LEAVE PROVISION THAT THE
GOVERNOR TALKED ABOUT THERE?
I MEAN, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT
WE ACTUALLY HEARD ABOUT DURING
THE RACE FOR GOVERNOR LAST YEAR,
REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE FOR
GOVERNOR TIM MICHAELS SAID HE'D
SUPPORT SOME KIND OF PAID FAMILY
LEAVE IN A DEBATE.
WHAT'S THE LIKELIHOOD YOU'D SEE
THIS REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURE
SUPPORT WHAT THE GOVERNOR TALKED
ABOUT TONIGHT?
>> OBVIOUSLY YOU'VE SEEN THE
REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURE IN THE
PAST MOVE TO -- NOT MOVE IN
FAVOR OF FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVE.
YOU WOULD NOT EXPECT -- I THINK
YOU'D START OUT EXPECTING THERE
NOT TO BE A COMPROMISE ON THAT,
BUT I WILL SAY THAT IN THE WAKE
OF THE DOBBS DECISION BY THE
U.S. SUPREME COURT THIS SUMMER,
THAT OVERTURNED ROE V. WADE, YOU
HAVE SEEN SOME DISCUSSION ON THE
REPUBLICAN SIDE ABOUT WAYS TO
PROVIDE FOR MOTHERS AND NEW
FAMILIES, AND SO THAT MAY
PROVIDE SOME OPENING FOR AT
LEAST SOME KIND OF DISCUSSION
BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES.
>> DO YOU FEEL LIKE THERE'S MORE
COMPROMISE TO BE HAD IN THIS
BUDGET?
>> I DO, IN THE SENSE THAT, YOU
KNOW, THE GOVERNOR IS NOT REALLY
EXPECTED TO RUN FOR A THIRD
TERM, SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, THAT
SORT OF LOWERS THE TEMPERATURE
ON THE POLITICS, AND IT MAY
PROVIDE, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, WE
HAVE A VERY LARGE SURPLUS, IT
MAKES, YOU KNOW, SOME THINGS
CERTAINLY EASIER IN TERMS OF THE
FINANCING, AND I THINK BOTH
SIDES HAVE THINGS THAT THEY
WOULD REALLY LIKE TO GET OUT OF
THIS BUDGET, AND FOR THAT TO
HAPPEN, THERE'S GOT TO BE A
BUDGET APPROVED AND SIGNED.
>> SO WHAT HAPPENS NOW FROM
HERE?
I MEAN, IN THE PAST, A GOVERNOR
WOULD UNVEIL A BUDGET, AND THEY
WOULD GET, YOU KNOW, A LARGE
PERCENTAGE OF WHAT THEY WANTED.
THAT WOULD BE THE WORKING
DOCUMENT THAT THE LEGISLATURE
DEALT WITH.
WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THIS
LEGISLATURE, GIVEN RECENT
HISTORY?
>> SURE.
I MEAN, IF TIM MICHELS HAD WON
IN NOVEMBER, I THINK YOU WOULD
HAVE SEEN HIS BUDGET BE APPROVED
IN ITS MAJORITY BY THE
REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURE.
YOU'RE EXPECTING SOMETHING, YOU
KNOW, IN AN OPPOSITE DIRECTION,
AT LEAST THE GOVERNOR'S BIG
SIGNATURE PROPOSALS, YOU WOULD
NOT EXPECT THEM TO GO THROUGH AS
PASSED, BUT IN AREAS LIKE AID
FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, WHICH WE
CALL SHARED REVENUE, IN --
PERHAPS ON MILLER PARK OR THE
BREWER STADIUM, IN SOME OF THOSE
AREAS, REPEALING A PERSONAL
PROPERTY TAX, YOU COULD EXPECT
TO SEE SOME GIVE AND TAKE AND
MAYBE AN ALTERNATE COMPROMISE
PROPOSAL.
>> AS TO THAT SHARED REVENUE
PLAN THAT WOULD GIVE 20% OF THE
STATE SALES TAX BACK TO LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS, THE GOVERNOR MADE
NOTE OF THE FACT THAT IT DOESN'T
MATTER WHOSE IDEA IT WAS,
BECAUSE THIS WAS A REPUBLICAN
IDEA.
>> EXACTLY.
AND YET AT THE SAME TIME, YOU
DIDN'T SEE A LOT OF CLAPPING ON
THE REPUBLICAN SIDE FOR MOST OF
THE THINGS THE GOVERNOR WAS
PUTTING FORWARD, INCLUDING THAT
PROPOSAL.
SO AGAIN, THERE IT SEEMS LIKE
THE TWO SIDES ARE PRETTY CLOSE,
BUT THERE'S STILL ALWAYS, I
THINK IN TODAY'S HYPERPARTISAN
WORLD, A LOT OF GULF TO BRIDGE.
>> I THINK THERE MIGHT BE AN
IDEA IN THE PUBLIC THAT WHEN YOU
HAVE SO MUCH MONEY, THEY OUGHT
TO BE ABLE TO GET SOMETHING THEY
WANT, THE GOVERNOR OUGHT TO BE
ABLE TO GET WHAT HE WANTS, THE
LEGISLATURE SHOULD BE ABLE TO
GET WHAT THEY WANT.
IZE EE BU -- EASY BUDGET CYCLE.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
>> I THINK APPETITES GROW AS THE
PLATTERS GROW, SO I THINK IT
WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE.
THERE'S CERTAINLY -- BOTH SIDES
CAN GET MANY THINGS THAT THEY
WANT, MAYBE NOT ALL THE THINGS
THAT THEY WANT, AND I THINK ONE
OF THE DYNAMICS AS WELL, THOUGH,
IS WHEN THERE'S MORE TO DIVVY
UP, THERE'S ALSO MORE TO FIGHT
ABOUT.
>> MEANWHILE, THIS IS BEING
INTRODUCED FORMALLY BEFORE THE
JOINT FINANCE COMMITTEE THIS
EVENING?
>> THAT'S HOW IT STARTS, RIGHT
AWAY.
>> CORRECT.
THE GOVERNOR'S BILL WILL GO TO
THE JOINT FINANCE COMMITTEE.
IT WILL BE REVIEWED, THERE WILL
BE HEARINGS IN THE COMING
MONTHS, AND THEN IN MAY AND
JEUP, JUNE, THE JOINT FINANCE
COMMITTEE WILL MARK THAT BUDGET
UP, THEY'LL SEND A BILL OUT TO
THE ASSEMBLY AND THEY'LL
EVENTUALLY AGREE ON A VERSION,
IT WILL GO TO THE GOVERNOR, AND
THEN HE WILL DECIDE, AM I GOING
TO USE MY POWERFUL PARTIAL VETO
PEN TO VETO THIS IN PART BUT
SIGN MOST OF IT, OR AM I GOING
TO REJECT IT IN WHOLE, WHICH
WOULD, YOU KNOW, PUT US IN
PRETTY UNCHARTED TERRITORY.
>> WE WILL SEE.
>> ALL RIGHT.
JASON STEIN, RESEARCH DIRECTOR
AT THE WISCONSIN POLICY FORUM,
THANKS FOR JOINING US.
>> THANK YOU.
>> IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE
TONIGHT'S SPEECH ALONG WITH
JASON STEIN'S INSIGHTS YOU CAN
WATCH IT AGAIN BY GOING TO
PBSWISCONSIN.ORG.
IT WILL BE POSTED THERE LATER
THIS EVENING.
>> WE WILL ALSO HAVE CONTINUING
COVERAGE OF THE STATE BUDGET
PROCESS THIS FRIDAY NIGHT AT
7:30 ON "HERE AND NOW."
>> WISCONSIN PUBLIC RADIO WILL
ALSO CONTINUE TO FOLLOW
DEVELOPMENTS FROM THE STATE
CAPITOL, BOTH ON THE AIR AND
ONLINE AT WPR.ORG.
I'M SHAWN JOHNSON WITH WISCONSIN
PUBLIC RADIO.
>> AND I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG
WITH PBS WISCONSIN.
THIS CONCLUDES WISCONSIN PUBLIC
MEDIA'S COVERAGE OF THE 2023
WISCONSIN STATE BUDGET ADDRESS.
THANKS FOR JOINING US.
[MUSIC]
*