[APPLAUSE]
>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION.
*
>> WELCOME TO WISCONSIN PUBLIC
MEDIA'S COVERAGE OF GOVERNOR
TONY EVERS' SECOND STATE OF THE
STATE ADDRESS.
WE ARE LIVE TONIGHT AT THE
WISCONSIN STATE CAPITOL IN
MADISON.
IN A FEW MOMENTS, TONY EVERS,
THE 46TH GOVERNOR OF WISCONSIN,
WILL MAKE HIS WAY INTO THE
ASSEMBLY CHAMBERS.
HE 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 FREDERICA FREYBERG FROM PBS
WISCONSIN.
>> AND I'M SHAWN JOHNSON FROM
WISCONSIN PUBLIC RADIO.
TONIGHT DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR TONY
EVERS LAYS OUT HIS PLANS FOR
2020.
>> WISCONSIN STATE SENATE
PRESIDENT ROGER ROTH OF APPLETON
WILL PROVIDE THE REPUBLICAN
RESPONSE FOLLOWING THE
GOVERNOR'S STATE OF THE STATE
ADDRESS.
>> AND SO WE ARE AWAITING THE
GOVERNOR'S ARRIVAL HERE THROUGH
THE ASSEMBLY CHAMBERS, WHERE WE
SIT, AND THEN HE WILL MAKE HIS
WAY THROUGH THE ASSEMBLY
CHAMBERS TO BE INTRODUCED.
>> IF YOU TUNE IN FOR STATE OF
THE STATE FORMALITIES, THE STATE
SENATE IS ALREADY OUT THERE.
THE STATE SUPREME COURT, THEY'VE
ALREADY BEEN INTRODUCED.
YOU'VE GOT PEOPLE IN THE GALLERY
THERE WHO ARE GUESTS, SOMEBODY
IN THE CROWD PERHAPS TONIGHT OR
OF THE GOVERNOR.
SO WE'RE WAITING FOR THE
GOVERNOR HIMSELF, TONY EVERS, TO
DELIVER HIS SECOND STATE OF THE
STATE ADDRESS.
COULD BE ON THE BRIEF SIDE
TONIGHT AS STATE OF THE STATE
ADDRESSES GO.
AND, YOU KNOW, POSSIBLY FITTING,
GIVEN THAT WE HAVE MAYBE TWO TO
THREE MORE MONTHS OF THE
LEGISLATIVE SESSION THIS YEAR
AND PARTY CONTROL, A DEMOCRATIC
GOVERNOR, REPUBLICAN
LEGISLATURE, AND THEY HAVE
TROUBLE AGREEING ON SOME OF THE
BIG STUFF, I THINK IT'S FAIR TO
SAY.
>> THEY DO INDEED, AND YET IT
SEEMS THAT BOTH TODAY HERE AT
THE CAPITOL AND TONIGHT
POTENTIALLY IN THIS SPEECH THE
THEME SEEMS TO BE ONE OF TRYING
TO STRIKE KIND OF A CONCILIATORY
TONE IN THIS DIVIDED GOVERNMENT,
BUT YOU JUST SEEM TO SENSE THIS
PARTISAN ANIMOS RIGHT AFTER THE
SURFACE.
SPEAKER VOS WAS TRYING TO TALK
ABOUT BIPARTISANSHIP THIS
AFTERNOON, KIND OF.
>> KIND OF.
SORT OF, BETWEEN THE GOVERNOR
AND REPUBLICAN LEA LEADERS, BOACT
SAYING THEY'RE THE ONES WHO KNOW
HOW TO GET IT DONE.
SPEAKERS VOS READ THE DEFINITION
OF BIPARTISANSHIP FROM THE
DICTIONARY TO PROVE HIS POINT,
BUT SAID THE GOVERNOR NEEDED TO
TONE DOWN HIS RHETORIC.
THAT PROMPTED A QUESTION HE
ABOUT THE LAME LUCK SESSION OF
THE LEGISLATURE.
DID THAT TONE DOWN THE RHETORIC.
SPEAKER VOS SAID THAT IT DID.
KIND OF GIVES YOU A SNAPSHOT OF
WHAT LIFE IS LIKE IN WISCONSIN
STATE GOVERNMENT.
THEY DO AGREE ON A LOT OF BILLS
THAT YOU MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT OR
DON'T GET TALKED ABOUT TOO
OFTEN.
YOU'LL HEAR BOTH SIDES BRAG
ABOUT THAT.
95% OF THE BILLS THEY AGREE ON.
IT'S THE ONES THEY DON'T AGREE
ON THAT GOT A LOT OF ATTENTION.
THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF THOSE,
BIG ISSUES C OF THE DAY.
>> I THOUGHT IT WAS OF NOTE THAT
SPEAKER VOS SAID THAT LAME DUCK
SESSION FOSTERED BIPARTISANSHIP,
WHICH SEEMS HARD TO UNDERSTAND
HOW.
>> HIS POINT WAS IT GAVE THE
LEGISLATURE EQUAL FOOTING WITH
THE GOVERNOR.
BUT, AS YOU KNOW, THAT
DEFINITELY SET OFF SOME IS BAD
BLOOD BETWEEN REPUBLICANS AND
DEMOCRATS LATE LAST QUEER AND -- LAST YE
AND BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR.
YOU'LL HEAR THE GOVERNOR TALK
ABOUT AREAS WHERE THEY HAVE
AGREED.
AND YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR THE
GOVERNOR, TONY EVERS, BE
INTRODUCED TO THE STATE ASSEMBLY
HERE MOMENTARILY BY ASSEMBLY
SERGEANT AT ARMS ANTON BYERS.
[GAVEL BANGING]
>> THE JOINT CONVENTION WILL
COME TO ORDER.
THE JOINT CONVENTION WILL COME
TO ORDER.
>> THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
ASSEMBLY SERGEANT AT ARMS.
>> MR. PRESIDENT AND MEMBERS,
THE GOVERNOR OF THE GREAT STATE
OF WISCONSIN, THE HONORABLE TONY
EVERS!
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> AND SO TO LOUD APPLAUSE THE
GOVERNOR MAKES HIS WAY DOWN THE
AISLE OF THE ASSEMBLY CHAMBER.
>> THIS IS THE PART OF THE NIGHT
WHERE IT'S OKAY FOR EVERYBODY TO
STAND UP AND CLAP.
YOU'LL SEE AS THE SPEECH GOES ON
THERE WILL BE SOME PARTS WHERE
ONE SIDE OF THE AISLE IS UP, THE
OTHER SIDE IS DOWN, AS WE'VE
BECOME PRETTY MUCH ACCUSTOMED
FOR A STATE OF THE STATE SPEECH.
[APPLAUSE]
>> WE DO KNOW SOME BITS AND
PIECES OF WHAT THE GOVERNOR IS
GOING TO TALK ABOUT FROM WHAT HE
TALKED ABOUT EARLIER.
HE RELEASED EXCERPTS FROM HIS
SPEECH TODAY.
>> ONE OF THE QUOTES WAS "FROM
NONPARTISAN REDISTRICTING TO
INVESTING IN OUR RURAL
COMMUNITIES, WE'VE GOT WORK TO
DO."
SO STAND BY FOR SOME MORE ON
THOSE ITEMS.
REDISTRICTING AND INVESTING IN
RURAL COMMUNITIES.
>> YEAH.
YOU WILL HEAR MORE DETAILS ABOUT
WHAT THAT MEANS TO THE GOVERNOR
TONIGHT IN HIS SPEECH.
YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR A LITTLE
BIT OF A VICTORY LAP IN TERMS OF
WHAT HE WAS ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH
IN HIS BUDGET.
YOU SEE HIM SHAKING HANDS THERE
WITH NOW ASSEMBLY SPEAKER ROBIN
VOS.
>> IT IS MY HONOR TO INTRODUCE
THE GOVERNOR OF THE GREAT STATE
OF WISCONSIN, THE HO HONORABLE TONY
EVERS!
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> HONORABLE SUPREME COURT
JUSTICES, TRIBAL NATION LEADERS,
CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS, MEMBERS
OF THE WISCONSIN NATIONAL GUARD
AND ACTIVE AND RETIRED MEMBERS
OF OUR ARMED FORCES, CABINET
MEMBERS, SENATE PRESIDENT ROTH,
FITZGERALD, SPEAKER VOS AND
MINORITY LEADER HINTZ,
LEGISLATORS, DISTINGUISHED
GUESTS AND MOST IMPORTANTLY THE
PEOPLE OF WISCONSIN, WELCOME AND
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE
TONIGHT.
[APPLAUSE]
>> MY PARTNER IN MISCHIEF,
KATHY, IS UP IN THE GALLERY
TONIGHT ALONG WITH OUR DAUGHTER
KATIE, SON-IN-LAW COLIN, HANNAH,
OUR SON NICK AND OUR
DAUGHTER-IN-LAW LANDA.
WHERE ARE YOU FOLKS?
I CAN'T SEE YOU.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR
LOVE AND SUPPORT.
I'M WITH YOU AND I WON'T
EMBARRASS YOU TONIGHT.
>> I'M TONY EVERS AND I'M
INCREDIBLY PROUD TO BE HERE AS
THE 46TH GOVERNOR OF THE STATE
OF WISCONSIN TO DELIVER MY
SECOND STATE OF THE STATE
ADDRESS.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> AS I REFLECT ON MY FIRST YEAR
IN OFFICE, ALTHOUGH THERE WERE
SETBACKS AND OCCASIONAL
POLITICAL POSTURING, WHAT I CALL
HUFFING AND PUFFING, WE ALSO HAD
A LOT OF SUCCESS AND I'M PROUD
OF EVERYTHING WE ACCOMPLISHED IN
JUST A YEAR'S TIME.
ONE OF THE BEST PARTS OF DOING
MY JOB IS GETTING OUT OF THE
CAPITOL AND VISITING WITH PEOPLE
ALL ACROSS THE STATE.
AND HOLY H MACKEREL, THAT'S WHAT I
DID.
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR BARNES AND I
VISITED ALL 72 COUNTIES THIS
PAST YEAR.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> ACTUALLY, THE BAD NEWS IS
THAT LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR BARNES
AND I RACED TO SEE WHO COULD BE
THE FIRST TO VISIT THOSE 72
COUNTIES AND HE BEAT ME BY ABOUT
FIVE DAYS.
BUT WE'RE JUST A FEW WEEKS INTO
2020 AND I'VE ALREADY GOT A
HEADSTART ON YOU THIS YEAR.
[APPLAUSE]
>> THIS PAST YEAR, WE ALSO
BROUGHT SCIENCE BACK TO THE
STATE OF WISCONSIN.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> AND WE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT
CLIMATE CHANGE EXISTS AND IT'S A
THREAT WE NEED TO START TAKING
SERIOUSLY.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR BARNES IS
THE CHAIR OF THE CLIMATE CHANGE
TASK FORCE, WORKING WITH LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS, INDUSTRY AND
BUSINESS LEADERS AND PEOPLE FROM
ACROSS THE STATE ON ENVIRONMENT,
STEWARDSHIP AND SUSTAINABILITY.
THANKS TO LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
BARNES FOR YOUR GOOD WORK ON
THIS.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> I'M ALSO PROUD THAT I WAS
ABLE TO SIGN EXECUTIVE ORDERS
AFFIRMING EQUITY, INCLUSION,
RESPECT AND DIGNITY FOR THE
STATE WORKERS IN THIS GREAT
STATE.
[APPLAUSE]
>> LAST YEAR I VISITED EVERY
SINGLE ONE OF OUR AGENCIES TO
THANK OUR EMPLOYEES AND TO HEAR
ABOUT THE GOOD WORK THEY'RE
DOING IN OUR STATE.
WE SHOULD BE PROUD OF THE FOLKS
WHO SERVE WISCONSINITES EVERY
DAY AND I LOOK FORWARD TO
CONTINUING TO LISTEN AND
ELEVATING THEIR VOICES AND THEIR
WORK.
[APPLAUSE]
>> I ALSO PROMISED THAT CRIMINAL
JUSTICE REFORM WOULD BE A
CENTRAL PART OF MY
ADMINISTRATION.
ALTHOUGH WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK
TO DO ON THIS ISSUE, WE MADE
SOME IMPORTANT PROGRESS THIS
YEAR.
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN EIGHT
YEARS, A GOVERNOR STEPPED A FOOT
INSIDE OF ONE OF OUR
CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS, AND
ACTUALLY IT WASN'T JUST ONE.
I VISITED SIX.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> AND THE WISCONSIN PAROLE
COMMISSION IS WORKING TO MAKE
SURE WE GET OUR PAROLE SYSTEM
BACK ON TRACK.
THE CHAIR, JOHN TATE II, IS HERE
WITH US IN THE GALLERY TONIGHT,
AND HE HAS BEEN DOING A GREAT
JOB.
THANKS FOR ALL YOUR WORK ON THIS
ISSUE, JOHN.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> PART OF REFORMING OUR
CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IS
BELIEVING IN FORGIVENESSES AND
THE POWER OF REDEMPTION, THINGS
THAT I THINK SPEAK TO THE
CHARACTER OF OUR STATE.
THIS PAST YEAR, I ALSO MADE GOOD
ON MY CAMPAIGN PROMISE TO
REINSTATE THE PARDON REVIEW
BOARD.
WE GRANTED THE FIRST PARDONS IN
OUR STATE IN NINE YEARS,
OFFERING FORGIVENESS AND A
SECOND CHANCE FOR THOSE FOLKS
WHO HAVE MADE AMENDS IN THEIR
OWN LIVES AND THE COMMUNITIES.
CONGRATULATIONS, KATIE AND
ANNETTE, WHO ARE TWO OF THE
FOLKS WE PARDONED SINCE TAKING
OFFICE AND THEY'RE ALSO UP THERE
IN THE GALLERY.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> MY LAST STATE OF THE STATE
ADDRESS I ASKED THE LEGISLATURE
TO SET POLITICS ASIDE SO WE
COULD WORK TOGETHER ON THE
ISSUES FACING OUR STATE.
I SAID I EXPECTED BILLS TO BE
PASSED WITH BROAD SUPPORT AND IN
THE SPIRIT OF BIPARTISANSHIP.
SO ONE OF THE THING I'M MOST
PROUD OF IS THAT MORE THAN 95%
OF THE BILLS I SIGNED MY FIRST
YEAR IN OFFICE HAD BIPARTISAN
SUPPORT.
MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENT.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> BY GOLLY, PEOPLE WORKED
TOGETHER ON IMPORTANT ISSUES.
REPRESENTATIVE LOUDENBECK,
KOLSTE, SENATOR KOOYENGA AND
BEWLEY CAME TOGETHER TO WORK ON
EXPANDING ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE
IN RURAL AREAS BY MAKING SURE
THAT MEDICAID COVERS TELEHEALTH
SERVICES IN WISCONSIN.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> THANKS TO SENATOR BREN NEAR,
SENATOR SCHACHTNER,
REPRESENTATIVE ZIMMERMAN AND
BROSTOFF.
VOTERS WILL NOT BE DENIED THEIR
RIGHT TO VOTE BECAUSE THEY HAVE
A DISABILITY.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> AND BECAUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE
THIESFELDT, BOWEN, SENATORS
JOHNSON AND DARLING'S GOOD WORK
WE SIGNED A BILL TO RECOGNIZE
AND PREVENT HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN
WISCONSIN.
[APPLAUSE]
>> THESE BILLS EX SHOW WHAT UNITES
US, NOT WHAT DIVIDES US.
THANK YOU ALL FOR THIS GOOD
WORK.
[APPLAUSE]
>> SO I BELIEVE AS I'VE OFTEN
SAID, THERE'S MORE TO AN ECONOMY
THAN JUST COUNTING JOB CREATION.
ASKING JOB CREATORS ACROSS OUR
STATE AND THEY'LL TELL YOU THAT
INVESTING IN A FOUNDATION OF
GOOD QUALITY OF LIFE AND A
DIVERSE WORKPLACE IS CRITICAL TO
A GROWING ECONOMY.
WE HAVE TO CONNECT THE DOTS AND
FOCUS ON THE FUNDAMENTALS OF
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
IT'S PRETTY SIMPLE STUFF, FOLKS:
GOOD ROADS, GOOD SCHOOLS AND
GOOD HEALTHCARE.
[APPLAUSE]
>> AND THIS YEAR WE GOT BACK TO
THE BASICS AND MADE A
DOWNPAYMENT ON THESE IMPORTANT
PRIORITIES.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STARTS WITH
EDUCATION.
WHAT'S BEST FOR OUR KIDS IS
WHAT'S BEST FOR OUR STATE.
ALTHOUGH THE BUDGET I SIGNED DID
NOT INCLUDE MY PROPOSED $1.4
MILLION FOR OUR KIDS, WE STILL
PROVIDED THE LARGEST INCREASE IN
GENERAL AID TO SCHOOLS IN MORE
THAN A DECADE.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> WORKING TOGETHER, WE WERE
ABLE TO INVEST MORE THAN $500
MILLION IN K-12 EDUCATION,
INCLUDING THE FIRST INCREASE OF
SPECIAL EDUCATION IN TEN YEARS.
THANK YOU.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> I ALSO USED MY VETO AUTHORITY
TO ADD NEARLY $100 MILLION MORE
IN PER-PUPIL AID THAN THE BUDGET
PASSED BY THE LEGISLATURE.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> BUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT
EDUCATION, WE CAN'T IGNORE THE
ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM OF STUDENT
DEBT.
SO TONIGHT I'M EXCITED TO
ANNOUNCE THAT I WILL BE SIGNING
AN EXECUTIVE ORDER CREATING A
TASK FORCE ON STUDENT DEBT IN
WISCONSIN.
[APPLAUSE]
>> WE HAVE TO WORK ON MAKING
HIGHER EDUCATION AVAILABLE TO
MORE FOLKS IN OUR STATE.
WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND HOW
EDUCATION-RELATED DEBT AFFECTS
NOT JUST OUR STUDENTS, BUT THEIR
FAMILIES, TOO.
AND WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THE FACT
THAT STUDENT DEBT IS PREVENTING
FOLKS FROM BUYING A CAR,
STARTING A BUSINESS, SAVING FOR
RETIREMENT AND STARTING FOR A
FAMILY.
SO THANK YOU TO OUR DEPARTMENT
OF FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
SECRETARY KATHY BLUMENFELD,
WHO'S GOING TO BE LEADING THIS
EFFORT.
I'M EXCITED FOR THE TASK FORCE
TO GET TO WORK.
[APPLAUSE]
>> IN ADDITION TO INVESTING IN
OUR KIDS THIS YEAR WE GOT BACK
TO THE BASICS OF ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT BY INVESTING IN OUR
TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM.
THE BUDGET I PROPOSED PROVIDED A
SUSTAINABLE LONG-TERM SOLUTION
TO OUR TRANSPORTATION FUNDING
CRISIS AND, BY THE WAY, IT
DIDN'T INCLUDE RAISING THE GAS
TAX BY A DOLLAR.
[APPLAUSE]
>> THAT SAID, THE BUDGET I DID
SIGN, HOWEVER, PROVIDED MORE
THAN $465 MILLION IN NEW FUNDING
FOR OUR HIGHWAYS, LOCAL ROADS
AND TRANSIT AID, $320 MILLION OF
WHICH IS GOING TO FIX OUR
HIGHWAYS ACROSS THE STATE.
AND WE HE DID THAT ALL WHILE
KEEPING BONDING AT THE LOWEST
LEVEL IN 20 YEARS.
THANK YOU ALL FOR THAT.
[APPLAUSE]
>> WE WERE ALSO ABLE TO DO
IMPORTANT WORK IN MAKING
HEALTHCARE MORE AFFORDABLE AND
ACCESSIBLE.
WE WEREN'T ABLE TO EXPAND
MEDICAID, WHICH WOULD HAVE
ALLOWED US TO BRING IN $1.6
BILLION IN NEW FEDERAL
INVESTMENT INTO OUR HEALTHCARE
SYSTEM, BUT THE PEOPLE'S BUDGET
STILL MADE SOME IMPORTANT
INVESTMENTS, LEAD TESTING AND
ABATEMENT, STABILIZING THE
INDIVIDUAL HEALTHCARE MARKET AND
LOWERING PREMIUMS AND EXPANDING
ACCESS TO RURAL HEALTHCARE.
[APPLAUSE]
>> FINALLY, I DELIVERED ON MY
CAMPAIGN PROMISE FOR A 10% TAX
CUT FOR WISCONSIN FAMILIES.
THE PEOPLE'S BUDGET, TOGETHER
WITH BILL 251, PROVIDED MORE
THAN $500 MILLION IN TAX RELIEF
FOR WORKING, MIDDLE CLASS
FAMILIES.
THAT'S MONEY BACK IN YOUR
POCKETS, FOLKS.
[APPLAUSE]
>> I KNOW THE BUDGET I SIGNED
DIDN'T INCLUDE EVERYTHING THAT
EVERYBODY WANTED.
I KNOW IT DIDN'T INCLUDE
EVERYTHING I WANTED.
BUT BECAUSE OF THE BUDGET WE
PROPOSED, WE WERE ABLE TO MOVE
THE NEEDLE ON CRITICALLY
IMPORTANT ISSUES, SOME FOR THE
FIRST TIME IN A GENERATION.
NOW, AS 2019 CAME TO A CLOSE, WE
ALSO BEGAN A NEW DECADE.
AND WHILE THERE IS TIME TO
CONTEMPLATE TEN YEARS WORTH OF
SUCCESSES AND FAILURES, WE MUST
FIGHT THE TEMPTATION TO CLING TO
THE NOSTALGIA OF YESTERDAY.
THERE IS TOO MUCH WORK TO FIND
COMFORT IN COMPLACENCY.
WE MUST SET OUT ON A NEW DECADE
WITH A RENEWED SET OF PURPOSE.
WE MUST BE RESOLVED TO CONFRONT
THE CHALLENGES WE FACE TODAY AND
WE MUST BE EAGER TO EMBRACE WHAT
MAY COME TOMORROW.
THE STRUGGLES WE FACE WILL TEST
BOTH THE DEPTH OF OUR EMPATHY
AND THE STRENGTH OF
OURSELFLESSNESS.
BUT WISCONSINITES, I KNOW WE ARE
UP FOR THIS TASK BECAUSE IT IS
THE DEPTH OF OUR EMPATHY AND THE
STRENGTH OF OURSELFLESSNESS THAT
HAS DEFINED WHO WE ARE AS A
PEOPLE FOR GENERATIONS, PEOPLE
LIKE JULIE AND JOHN WHO AFTER
LOSING A FAMILY MEMBER TO
SUICIDE LAST YEAR DECIDED TO USE
THE CORN MAZE THEY HOST AT THEIR
FARM TO RAISE AWARENESS FOR
SUICIDE PREVENTION.
JULIE AND JOHN ARE WITH US
TONIGHT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, FOLKS.
PLEASE STAND.
[APPLAUSE]
>> PEOPLE LIKE REVEREND MOWERS,
WHO AFTER ONLY THE HOMELESS
SHELTER IN HIS AREA CLOSED A FEW
YEARS AGO WORKED WITH THE
DEPARTMENT OF SAFETY AND
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES TO EX PE
EXPEDITE A NEW SHELTER AND GET
IT OPEN.
REVEREND MOWERS IS UP IN THE
GALLERY TONIGHT AND WELL
DESERVED THANKS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
[APPLAUSE]
>> AND PEOPLE LIKE DUAA, WHO
WHEN A GUNSHOT RANG OUT IN THE
HALLS OF HER HIGH SCHOOL, RAN TO
ON THE NEARBY MOT MOSQUE WHERE HER
FATHER WORKS AND TOOK MORE THAN
100 STUDENTS WITH HER TO PROVIDE
COVER AND SHELTER.
THANK YOU, DUAA, FOR YOUR
COURAGE AND YOUR BRAVERY.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> BECAUSE OF PEOPLE LIKE DUAA
AND DAVE, JULIE AND JOHN AND
PEOPLE JUST LIKE THEM ALL ACROSS
WISCONSIN THAT I HAVE NEVER BEEN
MORE HOPEFUL ABOUT THE FUTURE
WE'RE GOING TO CREATE.
WHEN WE GET TO CHOOSE HOW WE
DEFINE THE NEXT DECADE, AND,
FOLKS, WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT
TONIGHT.
WE'RE STARTING TONIGHT.
IN WISCONSIN, WE'RE KNOWN AS
AMERICA'S DAIRYLAND.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> IT'S ON OUR LICENSE PLATES.
AND FOR GOOD REASON.
IN 2018 WE PRODUCED MORE CHEESE
THAN ANY OTHER STATE, PRODUCING
MORE THAN 26% OF THE NATION'S
CHEESE, AND WE ACCOUNT FOR MORE
THAN 14% OF THE NATION'S MILK
PRODUCTION.
AND ALL THAT DAIRY PRODUCTION
AND PROCESSING BOASTS $43.4
BILLION IN ECONOMIC ACTIVITY AND
SUPPORTS ALL OF 79,000 JOBS.
YEAH.
HOW ABOUT THAT.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> THAT'S MILK IN THERE.
>> AND IT'S NOT JUST CHEESE AND
DAIRY, FOLKS.
OUR AGRICULTURE DIVERSITY IS ONE
OF THE STRENGTHS OF OUR STATES.
WE'RE ONE OF THE LEADING GROWERS
AND PROS PROCESSORS OF VEGETABLES AND
WE PRODUCE 62% OF THE NATION'S
CRANBERRY CROP.
IN 2018 WE EXPORTED MORE THAN $3
BILLION IN AGRICULTURE PRODUCTS
TO MORE THAN 140 COUNTRIES.
ALL IN ALL, AGRICULTURE
CONTRIBUTCONTRIBUTES NEARLY $105 BILLION
TO OUR STATE'S ECONOMY.
[APPLAUSE]
>> BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY
THESE NUMBERS TELL A STORY OF
THE FOLKS WHOSE SWEAT, WORK AND
PRIDE HAVE BEEN THE PILLAR OF
OUR STATE FOR GENERATIONS.
AMERICA'S DAIRYLAND IS MORE THAN
BUSHELS AND BALES AND
HUNDREDWEIGHTS.
IT'S ABOUT PEOPLE.
WISCONSIN WAS RAISED ON THE LAND
OF NATIVE AMERICANS WHO CAME
BEFORE US AND BUILT ON THE BACKS
OF ITS FARMERS WHO CAME OVER
THEM AND SURVIVED BY THE HAND OF
THE KIDS AND GRANDKIDS WHO ARE
THE KEEPERS OF THIS LEGACY.
YET THIS TRADITION HAS BEEN
CHALLENGED.
WE LOST ABOUT A THIRD OF OUR
DAIRY FARMS.
WE LEAD THE NATION IN FARM
BANKRUPTCIES.
WE'VE ENDURED THE CONSEQUENCES
OF UNNECESSARY AND UNPRODUCTIVE
TARIFFS AND TRADE WARS.
WE'VE HEARD PEOPLE WHO HAVE SAID
THERE'S NO PLACE FOR SMALL FARMS
ANYMORE.
THEY OUGHT TO GO BIG AND BUST.
WELL, THEY ARE WRONG.
THEY DON'T KNOW WISCONSIN.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> AND IN THIS STATE, NO ONE
CARRIES THE BURDEN ALONE.
WE HAVE LEANED ON FARMERS AND
THEIR FAMILIES.
WE HAVE DEPENDED ON THEIR
DEDICATION.
AND WE RELIED ON THEIR
RESILIENCE.
WE HAVE NOT FORGOTTEN THOSE WHO
HAVE SHARED THE HARVEST AND
BOUNTY, FEEDING OUR FAMILIES,
OUR COMMUNITIES AND OUR STATE
AND OUR COUNTRY FOR MORE THAN A
CENTURY.
TONIGHT WE SAY THAT WE ARE READY
TO BE A PARTNER IN THE PROMISE
OF POSTERITY.
[APPLAUSE]
>> I'M ANNOUNCING A
THREE-PRONGED PLAN TO START
ADDRESSING THESE CHALLENGES.
FIRST I'M CALLING A SPECIAL
SESSION OF THE LEGISLATURE NEXT
WEEK TO TAKE UP LEGISLATION TO
INVEST IN OUR FARMERS,
AGRICULTURE INDUSTRIES AND OUR
RURAL COMMUNITIES.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> THE PACKAGE OF BILLS WE'LL
ANNOUNCE TOMORROW INCLUDES A
BILL CREATING THE WISCONSIN
INITIATIVE FOR DAIRY EXPORTS.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> WE HAVE TO START MAXIMIZING
THE EFFICIENCY IN OUR SMALL AND
MIDDLE SIZE FARMS AND WE NEED TO
BUILD WISCONSIN'S DAIRY BRAND IN
INTERNATIONAL MARKETS AND
INCREASE DAIRY IMPORTS.
EXPORTS.
SO WE'RE GOING TO -- SO WE'RE
GOING TO SET A GOAL OF
INCREASING WISCONSIN'S DAIRY
EXPORTS BY 20% OF THE UNITED
STATES' MILK SUPPLY BY THE YEAR
2024.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> ADDITIONALLY, WE'RE GOING TO
EXPAND OUR FARM CENTER AND
INCREASE STAFFING AT THE
UW-EXTENSION TO ENSURE THAT
FARMERS AND AGRICULTURE
INDUSTRIES HAVE PARTNERS AND
SUPPORT CLOSER TO HOME.
[APPLAUSE]
>> AT THE SAME TIME, WE'RE ALSO
GOING TO WORK TO GET THE FOOD
OUR FARMERS PRODUCE TO THE
TABLES RIGHT HERE IN WISCONSIN.
SO WE'RE NOT ONLY GOING TO
BOLSTER OUR FARM-TO-SCHOOL
PROGRAM, BUT WE'RE ALSO
ANNOUNCING OUR FARM-TO-FORK
PROGRAM THAT WILL HELP CONNECT
OUR FARMERS AND THE FOOD THEY
PRODUCE WITH OUR UNIVERSITIES,
TECHNICAL COLLEGES, OUR
HOSPITALS AND LOCAL BUSINESSES
ACROSS THE STATE.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> FINALLY, WE'RE GOING TO
CREATE A NEW PROGRAM THAT WILL
FOCUS ON GETTING OUR FARMERS
ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
IN WISCONSIN.
[APPLAUSE]
>> OUR FARM CENTER IS DOING
IMPORTANT WORK IN THIS AREA, BUT
WE KNOW FOLKS ARE REALLY
STRUGGLING AND THEY NEED ACCESS
TO THOSE RESOURCES CLOSER TO
HOME.
OUR MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM WILL
ASSIST FARMERS IN ACCESSING
MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT AND
COORDINATE LOCAL AND REGIONAL
PEER SUPPORT PROGRAMMING AND
PROVIDE CONFIDENTIAL, ONE-ON-ONE
COUNSELING AND ASSISTANCE TO OUR
FARMERS.
[APPLAUSE]
>> THE SECOND PRONG OF OUR PLAN
IS ENSURING THAT INVESTING IN
FARMERS, AGRICULTURE AND RURAL
COMMUNITIES IS PART OF OUR
BROADER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
STRATEGIES.
SO TONIGHT I AM ALSO ANNOUNCING
THAT I'LL BE WORKING WITH THE
WISCONSIN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
CORPORATION TO ESTABLISH THE
OFFICE OF RURAL PROSPERITY.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> THE OFFICE WILL PROVIDE ON
ONE-STOP SHOP FOR THE FOLKS TO
NAVIGATE STATE PROGRAMS AND THE
RESOURCES THAT ARE AVAILABLE
THAT ARE TAILORED TO RURAL
COMMUNITIES, BUSINESSES AND
WORKERS.
FINALLY, THE THIRD PRONG OF OUR
PLAN IS TO DEVELOP A LONG-TERM
STRATEGIES ON THIS ISSUE, NOT
BASED ON WHAT FOLKS IN MADISON
THINK IS BEST, BUT BASED ON THE
FEEDBACK AND INPUT FROM FOLKS
ALL ACROSS THE STATE.
[APPLAUSE]
>> SO TOMORROW I WILL MAKE GOOD
ON MY CAMPAIGN PROMISE TO CREATE
A BLUE RIBBON COMMISSION TO HELP
PROMOTE AGRICULTURE AND RURAL
ECONOMIC PROSPERITY.
[APPLAUSE]
>> OUR BLUE RIBBON COMMISSION ON
RURAL PROSPERITY WILL CONVENE
FOLKS IN DIFFERENT INDUSTRIES
FROM ACROSS THE STATE.
THEY'LL WORK TOGETHER TO DEVELOP
A LONG-TERM STRATEGY ON HOW WE
CAN BEST SUPPORT THE NEEDS OF
RURAL WISCONSINITES AND RURAL
COMMUNITIES.
[APPLAUSE]
>> SOME OF THESE PROPOSALS
AREN'T NEW.
MANY OF THEM ARE A FORM OF WHAT
I PROPOSED IN MY BUDGET THAT
WERE UNFORTUNATELY TAKEN OUT.
BUT HERE'S THE BOTTOM LINE,
FOLKS.
WE'RE LOSING MORE THAN TWO DAIRY
FARMS A DAY.
AND FOR EACH DAY WE DELAY, THE
CHALLENGES WILL GET HARDER AND
HARDER.
SO I WANT TO BE CLEAR.
I'M NOT UNDER ANY MISGUIDED
BELIEF THAT WHAT I'M PROPOSING
TODAY IS A SILVER BULLET.
IN THE COMING MONTHS, IT'S GOING
TO TAKE MORE LISTENING THAN
TALKING TO HEAR FROM OUR FARMERS
AND OUR RURAL COMMUNITIES ABOUT
HOW WE CAN CONTINUE TO INVEST IN
AGRICULTURE AND RURAL PROSPERITY
ACROSS OUR STATE.
BUT WE HAVE TO START SOMEPLACE
AND WE'LL START TOMORROW.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> FINALLY, IN ADDITION TO
ADDRESSING THESE CHALLENGES, I'D
LIKE TO TALK ABOUT ANOTHER ISSUE
FOLKS IN OUR STATE FAIR ABOUT.
IN 2017, HANS, A DAIRY FARMER
AND A LINCOLN COUNTY BOARD
SUPERVISOR, INTRODUCED A
RESOLUTION SUPPORTING
NONPARTISAN REDISTRICTING,
KICKING OFF A TREND.
TODAY 50 COUNTIES REPRESENTING
78% OF THE PEOPLE OF WISCONSIN
HAVE PASSED SIMILAR RESOLUTIONS.
HANS IS UP THERE IN THE GALLERY
WITH US TONIGHT.
HANS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON
THIS VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> UNFORTUNATELY, NONPARTISAN
REDISTRICTING LEGISLATION HAS
BEEN INTRODUCED FOR YEARS, EVEN
RECEIVED BIPARTISAN SUPPORT.
THE BILL HAS NEVER BEEN GIVEN A
PUBLIC HEARING.
WELL, WHEN MORE THAN 80% OF OUR
STATE SUPPORTS IT MEDICAL MARIJUANA
AND 80% SUPPORT UNIVERSAL
BACKGROUND CHECKS, 70% SUPPORT
EXPANDING MEDICAID AND ELECTED
OFFICIALS CAN IGNORE THOSE
NUMBERS WITHOUT CONSEQUENCE,
FOLKS, SOMETHING'S WRONG.
[APPLAUSE]
>> THE PEOPLE WHO WORK IN THIS
BUILDING, WHO SIT IN THESE SEATS
AND WHO DRIVE THE POLICIES IN
OUR STATE SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO
IGNORE THE PEOPLE WHO SENT US
HERE.
THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE IS THE
LAW OF THE LAND AND, BY GOLLY,
PEOPLE SHOULD NOT TAKE "NO" FOR
AN ANSWER.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> SO TONIGHT, AS PROMISED, I AM
BRINGING THE FIGHT FOR
NONPARTISAN REDISTRICTING TO THE
LEGISLATURE.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> IN THE COMING DAYS, I WILL BE
SIGNING AN EXECUTIVE ORDER TO
CREATE A NONPARTISAN
REDISTRICTING COMMISSION WHO
WILL DRAW THE PEOPLE'S MAPS.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> OUR NONPARTISAN REDISTRICTING
COMMISSION WILL CONSIST OF THE
PEOPLE OF OUR STATE, NOT THE
ELECTED OFFICIALS, NOT
LOBBYISTS, NOT HIGH-PAID
CONSULTANTS.
THE PEOPLE'S MAPS COMMISSION
WILL VISIT EVERY CONGRESSIONAL
DISTRICT, HEAR DIRECTLY FROM
FOLKS AND DRAW FAIR, IMPARTIAL
MAPS FOR THE LEGISLATURE TO TAKE
UP NEXT YEAR.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> I BELIEVE AND WISCONSINITES
DO, TOO, THAT PEOPLE SHOULD GET
TO CHOOSE THEIR ELECTED
OFFICIALS, NOT THE OTHER WAY
AROUND.
[APPLAUSE]
>> SO WHEN THE PEOPLE'S MAPS ARE
PRESENTED TO THE LEGISLATURE
NEXT YEAR, I HOPE THEY WILL
RECEIVE UNANIMOUS, BIPARTISAN
SUPPORT.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> THE NONPARTISAN REDISTRICTING
AND INVESTING IN OUR RURAL
COMMUNITIES, TO ADDRESSING YOUTH
VAPING AND CAPPING THE COSTS OF
INSULIN, TO CHOOSING TO CLOSE
THE DARK STORE LOOPHOLE AND
GETTING PFAS OUT OF OUR WATER,
WE'VE GOT A LOT OF WORK TO DO.
[APPLAUSE]
>> THERE'S NO REST FOR THE
ELECTED, FOLKS, AND WE'VE GOT A
LOT TO DO TO GET DONE BEFORE
ANYONE TAKES A VACATION.
[APPLAUSE]
>> BUT AS I STAND HERE TODAY AND
WE TURN TO FACE THE HORIZON OF
THE UPCOMING DECADE, I HAVE
NEVER BEEN MORE HOPEFUL ABOUT
WILLS.
AND IT'S UP TO US TO DECIDE WHAT
KIND OF STATE WE'LL BE TEN YEARS
FROM NOW.
WE CAN CHOOSE TO RELITIGATE PAST
POLITICAL TUSSLES OR WE CAN
CHOOSE TO TRANSCEND ANIMOSITY TO
RISE AND GREET THE PROBLEMS
BEFORE US.
[APPLAUSE]
>> WE CAN CHOOSE TO RESENT THE
HAND THAT HELPS ANOTHER OR WE
CAN CHOOSE TO CELEBRATE OUR
NEIGHBOR'S PROSPERITY BECAUSE
THEREIN LIES OUR PROSPERITY,
TOO.
[APPLAUSE]
>> WE CAN CHOOSE TO SAY IN THIS
STATE YOU GO IT ALONE OR YOU
DON'T GO AT ALL, OR WE CAN SAY
IN WISCONSIN WHEN WE MOVE
FORWARD, WE ALL GO TOGETHER.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> AND YOU BET.
WE WILL MOST CERTAINLY FACE
CHALLENGES.
AND, YES, WE WILL FACE
ADVERSITY.
BUT LET US CHOOSE TO BE DEFINED
NOT BY OUR DIFFERENCE, BUT BY
OUR DIFFERENCE.
LET'S CHOOSE TO BE DEFINED BY
THE DEPTH OF OUR EMPATHY AND THE
STRENGTH OF OUR SELFLESSNESS AND
LET US PLUNGE INTO THE NEW
DECADE FACING THE CHARGE OF OUR
BEARERS WHO CAME BEFORE US.
LET'S MOVE FORWARD TOGETHER.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> IT'S TIME TO GET TO WORK,
FOLKS!
THANK YOU.
AND ON, WISCONSIN!
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
*
[UW BAND PLAYING AND MEMBERS
CLAPPING]
*
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> AND SO CONCLUDES GOVERNOR
TONY EVERS' SECOND STATE OF THE
STATE ADDRESS BEFORE THE
WISCONSIN ASSEMBLY AND SENATE.
WHILE THE UW MARCHING BAND
FINALLY GOT BOTH SIDES OF THE
AISLE TO APPLAUD TOGETHER.
>> THEY WERE GOT QUITE ON THE
SAME PAGE ON A LOT OF STUFF, BUT
THEY LIKED THE BAND FOR SURE.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
THE HEADLINE FROM THE POLICY
PART OF GOVERNOR EVERS' SPEECH
TONIGHT COULD BE SAID TO BE THAT
HE IS CALLING A SPECIAL SESSION
NEXT WEEK AROUND AGRICULTURE.
>> YEAH.
IF YOU'RE A GOVERNOR THAT HAS A
REPUBLICAN-DOMINATED LEGISLATURE
AND YOU DON'T SEE EYE TO EYE TO
THEM ON MANY BIG THINGS, WHAT'S
ONE THING YOU CAN DO AND THEY'RE
NOT GOING TO NECESSARILY PASS
YOUR BILLS OR BUDGET?
YOU CAN CALL A SPECIAL SESSION.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING GOVERNOR
EVERS HAS DONE BEFORE.
HE'S GOING TO DO IT ON
AGRICULTURE.
HE'S GOING TO BE CALLING THE
SPECIAL SESSION THE SAME WEEK
THAT VICE PRESIDENT MIKE PENCE
IS IN WISCONSIN.
WE KNOW THAT DAIRY IS GOING TO
BE A HEAVILY POLITICAL ISSUE IN
THE YEAR 2020 IN THE DAIRY
STATE.
AND GOVERNOR TONY EVERS IS GOING
TO BE TALKING ABOUT THIS IN A
SPECIAL SESSION.
>> HE SAYS THAT THIS SPECIAL
SESSION HAS KIND OF A RAFT OF
BILLS INCLUDED IN IT.
ONE WOULD BE ABOUT INCREASING
EXPORTS OF DAIRY PRODUCTS.
ANOTHER WOULD BE TO ALLOW BETTER
ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTHCARE FOR
DAIRY FARMERS.
AND ANOTHER WOULD BE TO
ESTABLISH SOMETHING CALLED THE
OFFICE OF RURAL PROSPERITY.
NOW, THE OTHER THING, ANOTHER
HEADLINE PERHAPS FROM THIS
SPEECH MIGHT BE THAT GOVERNOR
EVERS SAYS THAT HE WILL BE
EXACTING AN EXECUTIVE ORDER ON
REDISTRICTING.
HE SAYS HE WILL CREATE A
NONPARTISAN REDISTRICTING
COMMISSION TO CREATE WHAT HE
CALLS THE PEOPLE'S MAPS.
>> THE THING TO REMEMBER ABOUT
BOTH OF THESE SESSIONS, SPECIAL
SESSION AND EXECUTIVE ORDER, HE
CAN CALL THE SPECIAL SESSION.
HE CAN'T FORCE THE LEGISLATURE
TO MEET.
HE CAN SIGN AN EXECUTIVE ORDER
THAT DOESN'T CARRY THE FORCE OF
LAW.
SO THERE ARE LIMITATIONS TO WHAT
THE GOVERNOR CAN DO IN THESE
AREAS, BUT DEFINITELY GOT HIS
SIDE OF THE AISLE FIRED UP ON
THOSE.
>> AND NOT THE OTHER SIDE OF THE
AISLE AGAIN NOTED, RIGHT?
WISCONSIN STATE SENATE PRESIDENT
ROGER ROTH WILL LEAD REPUBLICANS
IN THE SESSION.
>> HE REPRESENTS WISCONSIN STATE
SENATE DISTRICT 19 IN THE FOX
VALLEY.
HE HAS TONIGHT'S REPUBLICAN
RESPONSE.
>> GOOD EVENING.
I'M SENATE PRESIDENT ROGER ROTH
AND I REPRESENT APPLETON AND
PART OF THE FOX VALLEY, WHERE MY
WIFE REBECCA AND I LIVE AND
RAISE OUR FIVE YOUNG CHILDREN.
IT'S AN HONOR FOR ME TO SPEAK
WITH YOU TONIGHT AND SHARE THE
PROGRESS WISCONSIN HAS MADE FOR
OUR WORKERS, BUSINESSES AND
FAMILIES ALL ACROSS OUR STATE.
WISCONSIN IS DOING GREAT.
THE STATE OF OUR STATE IS VERY
STRONG.
IN THE LAST DECADE, WISCONSIN
REPUBLICANS HAVE ENACTED REFORMS
THAT CONTINUE TO IGNITE OUR
ECONOMY AND HAS TAKEN OUR STATE
FROM BUDGET DEFICITS TO BUDGET
SURPLUSES.
WE HAVE MADE INVESTMENTS IN OUR
STATE'S INFRASTRUCTURE, WORKER
TRAINING, IN OUR KIDS'
EDUCATION.
THE RESULTS HAVE BEEN
SPECTACULAR ECONOMIC GROWTH,
RECORD LOW UNEMPLOYMENT, HIGHER
WAGES AND FROZEN COLLEGE
TUITION, ALL WITHOUT RAISING
TAXES.
IN FACT, THE AVERAGE RESIDENT'S
TAX BURDEN IS AT ITS LOWEST
LEVEL IN NEARLY 50 YEARS, WHILE
INCOMES CONTINUE TO GROW.
THAT'S A WINNING COMBINATION.
IT'S THE WISCONSIN WAY.
AND IT'S ALL MADE POSSIBLE BY
THE TOUGH REFORMS WE PASSED THAT
HAVE PROVEN TO BENEFIT WISCONSIN
FAMILIES FROM ASHLAND TO
WHITEWATER IN EVERYWHERE IN
BETWEEN.
THE REPUBLICAN BUDGET WE PASSED
AND SIGNED INTO LAW PRIORITIZES
TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE,
EDUCATION AND INCREASES
HEALTHCARE ACCESS FOR ALL
WISCONSINITES, ALL WITHOUT
ASKING YOU TO PAY MORE IN TAXES.
WE INVESTED MORE MONEY IN THE
RARAINY DAY FUND SO THE STATE
DOESN'T ASK YOU TO PAY MORE AT
THE WORST POSSIBLE TIME.
RECENTLY GOVERNOR EVERS WAS
ASKED TO GRADE HIS FIRST YEAR IN
OFFICE.
HE GAVE HIMSELF A GRADE OF
INCOMPLETE.
I APPRECIATE HIS HONESTY.
LISTENING TO MADISON ELITES
WHILE IGNORING THE REST OF
WISCONSIN ISN'T A RECIPE FOR
SUCCESS.
UNFORTUNATELY, HE HAS VETOED
IMPORTANT LEGISLATION WE CRAFTED
HAND IN HAND WITH THE PEOPLE OF
WISCONSIN.
HE VETOED A MIDDLE CLASS TAX CUT
THAT WOULD HAVE PROVIDED $340
MILLION IN RELIEF.
HE VETOED A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS
CENTER IN NORTHWEST WISCONSIN IN
FAVOR OF SENDING THAT MONEY TO,
YOU GUESSED IT, MADISON.
FRIENDS, HE EVEN VETOED A BILL
PROTECTING OUR MOST VULNERABLE
YOUTHS, BABIES BORN ALIVE AFTER
A FAILED ABORTION.
YET DESPITE ALL OF THIS, WE AS
REPUBLICANS ARE COMMITTED TO
CONTINUING TO FIND WAYS TO WORK
ON OUR COUNTERPARTS HERE IN THE
CAPITOL LIKE WE DID WITH OUR
MOST RECENT BUDGET.
WE STAND READY TO WORK TOGETHER
IN ALL THINGS THAT HOLD TRUE TO
THE VALUES OF WISCONSINITES AND
IMPROVE OUR STATE.
THE PRIORITIES THAT WE'LL BE
LEADING ON OVER THE NEXT FEW
MONTHS DO JUST THAT.
WE'LL BE WORKING ON LEGISLATION
TO KEEP DRIVING DOWN HEALTHCARE
COSTS, STREAMLINE INEFFICIENCIES
IN OUR GOVERNMENT, PROTECT OUR
FAMILIES WITH TOUGHER PENALTIES
FOR REPEAT CRIMINALS AND RETURN
BACK TO YOU YOUR HARD-EARNED
MONEY TO LOWER PROPERTY TAXES.
AND WE'LL DO ALL OF THIS WHILE
DEFENDING YOUR CONSTITUTIONAL
RIGHTS TO FREE SPEECH, TO KEEP
AND BEAR ARMS AND DUE PROCESS
UNDER THE LAW RIGHTS THAT SOME
HERE IN THE CAPITOL ARE SEEKING
TO ROLL BACK.
AS A KID GROWING UP IN MENASHA,
I HELPED MY FATHER BUILD HOUSES
AT A VERY YOUNG AGE.
I SAW HOW COMING TOGETHER WITH
YOUR FRIENDS AND YOUR NEIGHBORS
BUILDS NOT ONLY A HOME, BUT A
COMMUNITY WE CAN ALL BE PROUD
OF.
LIKE YOU, I KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE
TO PUT IN A HARD DAY'S WORK, NOT
GIVING UP UNTIL THE JOB'S
COMPLETE.
WE HERE IN THE LEGISLATURE WILL
NEVER FORGET THAT AS WE CONTINUE
TO WORK TO MAKE SURE THAT
GOVERNMENT B BARRIERS DON'T STAND
IN THE WAY OF YOU PURSUING YOUR
DREAMS.
IN 1851, WHEN OUR FOREBEARERS
CHOSE A MODEL FOR OUR GREAT
STATE, S THEY SETTLED ON ONE
POWERFUL WORD, "FORWARD."
I THINK THAT'S BECAUSE THEY WERE
AN UNSATISFIED PEOPLE, ALWAYS
MOVING FORWARD, ALWAYS WORKING
TO BETTER THEIR LIVES, BETTER
THEIR COMMUNITIES AND BETTER
THEIR CHILDREN'S FUTURE.
COME TO THINK OF IT, THEY WERE A
LOT LIKE YOU AND ME.
AND WE HERE TODAY ARE HEIRS TO
THEIR FAITH, DETERMINATION AND
SACRIFICE.
AND SO TO YOU I SAY, COME, LET
US GO FORWARD TOGETHER.
AFTER ALL, IT'S THE WISCONSIN
WAY.
AND ON A PERSONAL NOTE, I'D LIKE
TO WISH MY BEAUTIFUL WIFE
REBECCA A HAPPY 9TH ANNIVERSARY
AND WITH THAT, FROM THE CAPITOL,
GOOD NIGHT AND MAY GOD CONTINUE
TO BLESS OUR GREAT STATE.
>> THAT WAS WISCONSIN STATE
SENATE PRESIDENT ROGER ROTH.
>> IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO WATCH
TONIGHT'S SPEECH AND THE
REPUBLICAN RESPONSE AGAIN, WE
WILL HAVE IT POSTED LATER THIS
EVENING ON OUR WEBSITE AT
pbswisconsin.org.
WE WILL HAVE CONTINUING COVERAGE
AND REACTION TO GOVERNOR TONY
EVERS' STATE OF THE STATE
ADDRESS THIS FRIDAY EVENING AT
7:30 ON "HERE AND NOW."
>> WISCONSIN PUBLIC RADIO WILL
ALSO CONTINUE TO FOLLOW
DEVELOPMENTS FROM THE CAPITOL,
BOTH ON THE AIR AND ONLINE AT
wpt.org.
YOU CAN ALSO HEAR MORE
DISCUSSION ON THE MORNING SHOW
TOMORROW.
WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR JOINING
US THIS EVENING.
I'M SHAWN JOHNSON WITH WISCONSIN
PUBLIC RADIO.
>> AND I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG
WITH PBS WISCONSIN.
THANKS FOR JOINING US.
THIS CONCLUDES OUR COVERAGE OF
THE 2020 STATE OF THE STATE
ADDRESS.
*