>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION.
*
>> WELCOME TO WISCONSIN PUBLIC
MEDIA'S COVERAGE OF GOVERNOR
EVERS' FOURTH STATE OF THE
STAIFT ADDRESS.
WE'RE BRINGING YOU LIVE COVERAGE
TONIGHT FROM THE WISCONSIN STATE
CAPITOL IN MADISON.
IN A FEW MOMENTS, TONY EVERS
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.
>> GO GOOD EVENING.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
>> I'M SHAWN JOHNSON.
TONIGHT GOVERNOR EVERS LAYS OUT
HIS PLANS FOR 2022.
HE'LL BE SPEAKING TO THE
LEGISLATURE.
>> MAJORITY LEADER DEVIN
LEMAHIEU WILL PROVIDE A
REPUBLICAN RESPONSE FOLLOWING
THE STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS.
AND OF COURSE THIS IS AN
ELECTION YEAR STATE OF THE STATE
ADDRESS.
IT'S INESCAPABLE.
EVERY FOUR YEARS A GOVERNOR HAS
TO STA STAND UP AND GIVE A A F L
SPEEM.
>> SERGEANT AT ARMS.
>> MR. PRESIDENT AND MEMBERS,
THE GOVERNOR OF THE GREAT STATE
OF WISCONSIN, THE HONORABLE TONY
EVERS!
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
[APPLAUSE]
>> THIS MIGHT BE THE ONLY TIME
TONIGHT WHERE BOTH SIDES ARE
STANDING TO APPLAUD.
YOUYOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY IT'S A
CONTENTIOUS ATMOSPHERE.
HTHEY PASS A LOT OF STUFF THAT E
VETOES.
>> NOTABLE, TOO, HE IS WEARING A
MASK AS ARE SEEMINGLY MOST
DEMOCRATS.
OTHERS IN THE CHAMBER ARE NOT.
>> AND THIS IS TOTALLY HARD TO
COMPARE TO PREVIOUS YEARS, BUT
YOU JUST TALK ABOUT APPLAUSE.
I FEEL LIKE THE REPUBLICAN SIDE
OF THE IE AISLE DIED DOWN ON
APPLAUSE A LITTLE EARLIER JUST
BASED A MEMORY.
THERE'S THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
MANDELA BARNES.
THE GOVERNOR NOW SHAKING HANDS
WITH SPEAKER PRO TEM AND ABOUT
READY TO GIVE HIS REMARKS TO THE
STATE LEGISLATURE AND THE PEOPLE
OF WISCONSIN.
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
PREERVE IT.
>> AT THIS TIME I WOULD LIKE TO
INTRODUCE TO YOU THE GOVERNOR OF
THE GREAT STATE OF WISCONSIN,
THE HONORABLE GOVERNOR TONY
EVERS.
>> THANK YOU.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
GOOD EVENING, WISCONSIN.
GOOD EVENING.
HONORABLE SUPREME COURT
JUSTICES, TRIBAL NATION
LEEFERREDZ, MAJOR GENERAL KNAPP,
MEMBERS OF THE WISCONSIN
NATIONAL GUARD AND ACTIVE AND
RETIRED MEMBERS OF OUR REMEMBER
AD FORCES, CABINET MEMBERS,
SENATE PRESIDENT KAPENGA,
MAJORITY LIEFERRED
LEMAHIEU, MINORITY LEADER
BEWLEY, SPEAKER VOS, AND
MINORITY LEADER NEUBAUER,
LEGISLATORS, DISTINGUISHED
GUESTS, AND, MOST IMPORTANTLY,
ALL OF THE FOLKS TUNING IN FROM
HOME.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
WELCOME AND THANK YOU FOR
JOINING US.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> IN CASE YOU FORGOT,
I'M TONY EVERS, AND I'M
INCREDIBLY PROUD TO BE YOUR
GOVERNOR, THE 46TH GOVERNOR OF
THIS GREAT STATE.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] CLEAR
THE REST OF MY KIDS ARE WATCHING
FROM HOME THIS EVENING, BUT MY
DAUGHTER KATIE IS WITH US
TONIGHT.
AND MY FOREVER JUNIOR PROM DATE,
KATHY, IS ALSO UP IN THE
GALLERY.
WE'LL BE CELEBRATING OUR 50TH
ANNIVERSARY LATER THIS YEAR.
KATHLEEN FRANCES, I'M JUST AS
CRAZY ABOUT YOU AS I WAS 50
YEARS AGO.
HOW ABOUT THAT?
THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT, YOUR
WISDOM, YOUR PATIENCE, AND YOUR
WIT.
I LOVE YOU SO MUCH.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> 50 YEEFERS.
AS I DELIVER MY FOURTH STATE OF
THE STATE ADDRESS TO YOU
TONIGHT, I RECOGNIZE THERE ARE
THOSE WHO WOULD'VE SAID IT WAS
UNLIKELY I'D EVER BECOME
GOVERNOR.
I WAS A SCRAWNY KID WITH BIG
GLASSES.
I STILL GOT THEM.
WHO GREW UP IN PLYMOUTH, THE
CHEESE CAPITAL OF THE WORLD.
YES.
I RAISED HELL AND PLAYED BASS
GUITAR IN A ROCK BAND IN HIGH
SCHOOL.
I WORKED IN A CHEESE FACTORY
SCRAPING MOLD OFF OF CHEESE.
I TOOK MY KINDERGARTEN CLASSMATE
TO JUNIOR PROM AND ENDED UP
SPENDING THE REST OF MY LIFE
WITH HER.
[APPLAUSE]
>> I DIDN'T PLAN MY CAREER JUST
SO I COULD BE STANDING UP HERE
TONIGHT.
I DIDN'T SPEND YEARS PINING TO
RUN FOR THIS OFFICE.
AND I'D MUCH RATHER SPEND TIME
LISTENING TO OTHERS THAN TALKING
ABOUT MYSELF, WHICH, I'VE FOUND
OUT, ISN'T SOMETHING I HAVE IN
COMMON WITH MOST POLITICIANS.
I GUESS, IN MANY WAYS, MAYBE IT
WAS UNLIKELY.
BUT YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW JUST HOW
CLOSE I WAS TO ENDING UP ON A
MUCH DIFFERENT CAREER PATH.
SO, TONIGHT, FOR THE FIRST TIME,
I WANT TO BEGIN BY TELLING A
STORY I HAVEN'T SHARED BEFORE.
I GREW UP IN A HOUSE OF
HEALTHCARE WORKERS.
MY MOM WAS A NURSE, AND MY DAD
WAS A DOCTOR WHO TOOK CARE OF
TUBERCULOSIS PATIENTS AT A
SANITORIUM IN SHEBOYGAN COUNTY.
AND I'D GROWN UP ALWAYS WANTING
TO BE LIKE THEM.
I WANTED TO HELP PEOPLE JUST
LIKE THEY DID.
SO IN 1974, I WAS DOING JUST
THAT AND TRYING TO FOLLOW IN
THEIR FOOTSTEPS.
I WAS IN MY FIRST YEAR OF
MEDICAL SCHOOL IN AUSTRIA WHEN
KATHY AND I FOUND OUT THAT WE
WERE EXPECTING OUR FIRST KID.
WELL, AS YOU CAN IMAGINE,
SPENDING YEARS GOING TO MEDICAL
SCHOOL WASN'T EXACTLY IDEAL FOR
RAISING A NEWBORN.
SO I NEEDED TO FIGURE OUT A
BETTER WAY TO HELP SUPPORT OU
FAMILY, AND I NEEDED TO DO IT
PRETTY QUICKLY.
SO, KATHY AND I PACKED UP OUR
THINGS, AND WE HEADED BACK TO
GOOD OLD PLYMOUTH.
WE FOUND AN APARTMENT, AND I
APPLIED AND GOT A JOB AT THE
KOHLER COMPANY.
WELL, THERE I WAS THE NIGHT
BEFORE I WAS SUPPOSED TO START
MY JOB AT KOHLER.
MY MOM, WHO'D COLLECTED MAIL FOR
US WHILE WE WERE AWAY, SAID,
"OH, BY THE WAY, I'VE GOT A
STACK OF MAIL HERE FOR YOU," AND
SHE HANDED ME A STACK OF A
YEAR'S WORTH OF MAIL.
WELL, IN THAT STACK OF MAIL WAS
A LETTER.
IT WAS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF
WISCONSIN-MADISON.
AND I OPENED THAT LETTER THAT
NIGHT.
IT SAID "CONGRATULATIONS"
BECAUSE I'D BEEN ACCEPTED INTO
THE MASTER'S PROGRAM IN
EDUCATION.
THAT MOMENT CHANGED MY LIFE.
THAT LETTER CHANGED MY ENTIRE
TRAJECTORY.
BECAUSE OF THAT LETTER, I WENT
ON TO BECOME A SCIENCE TEACHER.
BECAUSE OF THAT LETTER, I WENT
ON TO BECOME A PRINCIPAL AND
STATE SUPERINTENDENT.
AND THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT IT IS
BECAUSE OF THAT LETTER THAT I'M
STANDING HERE TODAY AS YOUR
GOVERNOR.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> AND I TELL YOU THAT STORY
TONIGHT, IN PART, TO STATE THE
OBVIOUS: THINGS DON'T ALWAYS GO
THE WAY WE PLAN.
IN FACT, FOR THESE PAST FEW
YEARS, THAT'S SORT OF BEEN ONE
CONSTANT THAT WE'VE HAD.
IF WE'D HAD OUR WAY, WE WOULD
NOT HAVE FACED THE WORST
PANDEMIC IN A CENTURY OR THE
WORST ECONOMIC CRISIS SINCE THE
GREAT RECESSION.
IF WE'D HAD OUR WAY, WE WOULD'VE
EXPANDED BADGERCARE AND ACCESS
TO AFFORDABLE HEALTHCARE FOR
TENS OF THOUSANDS OF
WISCONSINITES.
WE WOULD'VE MET TWO-THIRDS
FUNDING FOR THE FIRST TIME IN
TWO DECADES AND WE WOULD'VE DONE
IT BY FULLY FUNDING OUR PUBLIC
SCHOOLS.
WE WOULD'VE PASSED MEANINGFUL
LEGISLATION TO ADDRESS PFAS AND
LEAD AND JUSTICE REFORM.
IF WE'D HAD OUR WAY, 11,637
WISCONSINITES WOULD STILL BE
HERE WITH US TODAY.
THEY'D BE AT OUR DINNER TABLES,
THEY'D BE IN OUR CLASSROOMS, OUR
HOSPITALS, OUR CHURCHES, OUR
FARMS, AND OUR FACTORIES, AND
THEY'D STILL BE HERE CELEBRATING
MORE BIRTHDAYS, MORE HOLIDAYS,
AND MORE MILESTONES WITH US.
BUT I ALSO TELL YOU THAT STORY
BECAUSE THIS WORK HAS ALWAYS
BEEN A RESPONSIBILITY AND AN
OBLIGATION I'VE MET WITHOUT
REGRET OR RESERVATION: TO DO
WHAT NEEDED TO BE DONE, TO DO
WHAT I MUST WITH WHAT I WAS
GIVEN, AND TO ALWAYS TRY TO DO
WHAT IS RIGHT.
NOT BECAUSE IT WAS PERFECT.
SELDOM IS.
NOT BECAUSE IT WAS ALWAYS EASY.
BUT BECAUSE, HOWEVER DIFFERENT
THINGS COULD HAVE ENDED UP FOR
ME, I HAVE NEVER DOUBTED THAT
I'M RIGHT WHERE I NEEDED TO BE
BECAUSE I WELCOME THE DUTY OF
DOING THE RIGHT THING WHEN IT
MATTERS MOST.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> TONIGHT, I AM PROUD TO BE
ABLE TO REPORT THAT THE STATE OF
OUR STATE IS STRONGER AND BETTER
THAN IT WAS A YEAR AGO, OR TWO
YEARS AGO, OR EVEN THREE YEARS
AGO.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> WE'VE WORKED HARD TO ENSURE
OUR WORKERS HAD JOBS TO RETURN
TO AFTER THIS PANDEMIC.
THROUGH FEDERAL PANDEMIC AID TO
OUR STATE, WE'VE INVESTED $1
BILLION INTO SUPPORTING OUR
SMALL BUSINESSES, FARMERS, AND
TOURISM, LODGING, AND
ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRIES.
TO DATE, WE'VE SUPPORTED MORE
THAN 100,000 SMALL BUSINESSES,
AND NEARLY 3,000 OF THOSE SMALL
BUSINESSES HAVE OPENED UP NEW
STOREFRONTS ON MAIN STREETS
ACROSS OUR STATE.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC, WE
WERE ALSO ABLE TO KEEP ALL 375
TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS DURING
THE 2020 CONSTRUCTION SEASON ON
TRACK.
AND BECAUSE WE DID, WE SECURED
$105 MILLION REALLOCATED FROM
OTHER STATES TO INVEST BACK INTO
OUR INFRASTRUCTURE.
[APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU TO THOSE OTHER
STATES.
WE'VE ALSO IMPROVED MORE THAN
1,770 MILES OF HIGHWAYS AND MORE
THAN 1,250 BRIDGES-AND IF YOU
LAID OUT ALL THE HIGHWAYS WE'VE
FIXED END TO END, YOU COULD JUST
ABOUT DRIVE FROM PLATTEVILLE TO
DENVER AND BACK.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> I ALSO DIRECTED $100 MILLION
TO SUPPORT WISCONSIN FARMERS
THROUGH OUR FARM SUPPORT
PROGRAM.
IN ONE ROUND ALONE, WE WERE ABLE
TO HELP MORE THAN 20,000
FARMERS, AND IN MORE THAN HALF
OF WISCONSIN'S 72 COUNTIES, OUR
SUPPORT FOR FARMERS THROUGH THIS
PROGRAM EXCEEDED $1 MILLION.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> I'VE ALSO DIRECTED MORE THAN
$100 MILLION THROUGH FEDERAL
PANDEMIC AID TO EXPAND ACCESS TO
RELIABLE, AFFORDABLE, HIGH-SPEED
INTERNET ACROSS OUR STATE.
THESE FUNDS ALONE-WHICH INCLUDED
THE LARGEST SINGLE ROUND OF
BROADBAND FUNDING IN STATE
HISTORY-ARE PROJECTED TO GIVE
NEW OR IMPROVED BROADBAND ACCESS
TO MORE THAN 110,000
WISCONSINITES IN NEARLY 50,000
HOMES AS WELL AS ALMOST 2,200
BUSINESSES.
>> DURING MY TIME AS GOVERNOR,
WE WILL HAVE INVESTED ALMOST 15
TIMES MORE INTO EXPANDING
HIGH-SPEED INTERNET THAN THE
PRIOR FOUR YEARS COMBINED.
ALL TOLD, OUR INVESTMENTS SINCE
2019 ARE PROVIDING MORE THAN
300,000 HOMES AND BUSINESSES
WITH HIGH-QUALITY, HIGH-SPEED
BROADBAND.
CHAP
CHAP YOU
>> THESE EFFORTS HAVE BEEN
CRITICAL FOR OUR ECONOMIC
RECOVERY, AND WE'VE WORKED HARD
TO GET SUPPORT OUT THE DOOR
QUICKLY TO FOLKS WHO NEED IT.
AN ANALYSIS FROM NOVEMBER SHOWED
WISCONSIN RANKED SECOND IN THE
MIDWEST FOR GETTING OUR FEDERAL
AID ALLOCATED.
AND I'M PROUD TO REPORT THAT AS
A SHARE OF THE FEDERAL AID OUR
STATE HAS RECEIVED, WISCONSIN
RANKED SECOND IN THE COUNTRY FOR
AID WE'VE DIRECTED TO ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT, AND WE RANKED FIRST
IN THE COUNTRY IN AID WE'VE
ALLOCATED TO BUSINESSES.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> AND WISCONSINITES ARE WORKING
HARD.
IN JANUARY OF 2019, OUR
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE WAS 3.1
PERCENT.
TODAY, OUR UNEMPLOYMENT RATE HAS
NOT ONLY RETURNED TO
PRE-PANDEMIC UNEMPLOYMENT
LEVELS, IT'S BETTER, AT 2.8
PERCENT.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
WE NOW HAVE THE LOWEST
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE AND THE FEWEST
NUMBER OF PEOPLE UNEMPLOYED EVER
IN STATE HISTORY.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> BUT WITH SO MANY
WISCONSINITES ALREADY WORKING, I
KNOW EMPLOYERS STRUGGLE WITH THE
SAME CHALLENGES THEY'VE FACED
FOR A DECADE TRYING TO FIND NEW
WORKERS TO FILL JOBS.
WE'VE GOTTEN TO WORK TRYING TO
FIND INNOVATIVE, LONG-TERM
SOLUTIONS TO THE WORKFORCE
CHALLENGES WE FACE.
WE'VE ALSO RECOGNIZED THAT
DIFFERENT PARTS OF OUR STATE
HAVE DIFFERENT NEEDS, WHETHER
IT'S MAKING CHILDCARE MORE
AFFORDABLE AND ACCESSIBLE,
TRAINING MORE HIGH-SKILLED
WORKERS, OR MORE APPRENTICESHIP
OPPORTUNITIES FOR HIGH
SCHOOLERS.
SO, WE'VE INVESTED NEARLY $60
MILLION INTO 12 REGIONALLY-BASED
PROGRAMS TO MEET THE UNIQUE
NEEDS OF DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES.
AND, AFTER WORKERS LOST THEIR
JOBS DURING THE PANDEMIC, WE
INVESTED $20 MILLION INTO
HELPING THOUSANDS OF
WORKERS GET NEW SKILLS AND
TRAINING TO FIND NEW JOBS.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> WE'VE ALSO BEEN WORKING HARD
TO KEEP MORE MONEY IN
WISCONSINITES' POCKETS.
LAST YEAR, WE PROVIDED $480
MILLION IN TAX RELIEF FOR
WISCONSIN BUSINESSES AND
FAMILIES AFFECTED BY THE
PANDEMIC.
REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS ALSO
FOUND COMMON GROUND, AND I WAS
GLAD TO DELIVER ON MY PROMISE TO
CUT TAXES FOR MIDDLE-CLASS
FAMILIES BY 15 PERCENT BY
SIGNING ONE OF THE LARGEST TAX
CUTS IN STATE HISTORY.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> JUST SAYIN'.
JUST SAY IFN.
JUST SAYIN'.
THROUGH ALL OF THE TAX CUTS I'VE
SIGNED INTO LAW, 86 PERCENT OF
WISCONSIN TAXPAYERS WILL SEE A
15 PERCENT INCOME TAX CUT.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> AT THE SAME TIME, WHILE THE
ECONOMY HAS REOPENED AND DEMAND
HAS SURGED, SOME CORPORATIONS
HAVE TAKEN ADVANTAGE-THEY'VE
SQUEEZED CONSUMERS FOR EVERY
EXTRA PENNY, RAISING EVERYDAY
COSTS FOR FOLKS IN WISCONSIN AND
ACROSS OUR COUNTRY.
A REPORT RELEASED LAST WEEK
SHOWED NATIONAL INFLATION IS THE
HIGHEST IT'S BEEN IN FOUR
DECADES.
AND NOW, SMALL BUSINESSES AND
WORKING WISCONSINITES AND
FAMILIES ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE
RISING COSTS AT GAS PUMPS AND IN
GROCERY STORE AISLES.
AND BUSINESSES FACE CHALLENGES
GETTING SUPPLIES AND RESOURCES.
SO, I DIRECTED NEW CHANGES THAT
TOOK EFFECT IN THE NEW YEAR TO
ENSURE WISCONSINITES HAD EXTRA
MONEY EACH MONTH TO HELP MAKE
ENDS MEET.
WITH THESE CHANGES, COUPLED WITH
THE TAX CUTS I'VE SIGNED INTO
LAW, IF YOU AND YOUR SPOUSE EACH
MAKE $50,000, YOU'LL SEE OVER
$1,200 MORE FOR YOUR HOUSEHOLD
IN YOUR PAYCHECKS THIS YEAR.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> BUT I ALSO KNOW WE MUST DO
MORE.
AND IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO
DO MORE.
WE HAD UNPRECEDENTED' REVENUE
PROJECTIONS LAST YEAR, AND WE
CLOSED OUT FISCAL YEAR 2021 WITH
THE HIGHEST-EVER POSITIVE GAAP
BALANCE IN STATE HISTORY AT MORE
THAN $1.1 BILLION.
LAST MONTH, AFTER RECEIVING THE
GREAT NEWS ABOUT OUR LOW
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE, WE RECEIVED
EVEN MORE GOOD NEWS.
A NEW REPORT SHOWED WISCONSIN IS
PROJECTED TO HAVE A $3.8 BILLION
SURPLUS-THAT'S BILLION WITH A
"B"-IN OUR STATE'S CHECKING
ACCOUNT AT THE END OF THIS
BIENNIUM.
AND THAT'S NOT EVEN INCLUDING
THE MORE THAN $1.7 BILLION
SITTING IN OUR 'RAINY DAY' FUND,
WHICH IS THE HIGHEST IT'S EVER
BEEN IN WISCONSIN STATE HISTORY.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> SO, I ANNOUNCED MY PLAN TO
USE OUR SURPLUS TO HELP ADDRESS
RISING COSTS AND GAS PRICES, TO
REDUCE BARRIERS TO WORK, AND TO
INVEST IN EDUCATION AT EVERY
LEVEL.
[APPLAUSE]
>> WE'D START BY SENDING EVERY
WISCONSIN RESIDENT A $150
SURPLUS REFUND.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> SO, UNDER MY PLAN, IF YOU'RE
A FAMILY OF FOUR, YOU WOULD
RECEIVE $600 TO HELP PROVIDE A
LITTLE MORE WIGGLE ROOM AND
HOPEFULLY A LITTLE LESS STRESS
ABOUT MAKING ENDS MEET.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
MY PLAN ALSO WORKS TO REDUCE
BARRIERS TO WORK SO WE CAN HELP
FILL JOB OPENINGS ACROSS OUR
STATE.
HAVING ACCESS TO QUALITY,
AFFORDABLE CHILDCARE AND
CAREGIVING CONTINUE TO BE A
BARRIER FOR FOLKS WHO WANT TO
JOIN OUR WORKFORCE.
WE'D INVEST MORE THAN $130
MILLION INTO PROVIDING TAX
RELIEF THROUGH CHILD AND
CAREGIVER TAX CREDITS.
OUR TAX CREDIT FOR CHILDCARE
WOULD PROVIDE TAX RELIEF TO AN
ESTIMATED 107,000 WISCONSINITES
WHO'D RECEIVE ABOUT $274 PER
FILER, AND THROUGH OUR CAREGIVER
TAX CREDIT, MOST CAREGIVERS WILL
RECEIVE UP TO $500.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> AND, FINALLY, AS I SAID LAST
JULY, THE BUDGET THAT WAS SENT
TO MY DESK FAILED TO
MEANINGFULLY INVEST IN OUR
PUBLIC SCHOOLS, POSSIBLY
JEOPARDIZING MORE THAN $2
BILLION IN FEDERAL AID FOR OUR
KIDS.
SO WE'D ALSO INVEST $750 MILLION
INTO IMPROVING OUR SCHOOLS AND
OUTCOMES FOR STUDENTS TO ENSURE
EVERYONE HAS ACCESS TO A
HIGH-QUALITY PUBLIC EDUCATION.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> AND THAT INCLUDES MORE THAN
$180 MILLION TO HOLD THE LINE ON
PROPERTY TAXES ACROSS OUR STATE.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> AND, FOLKS, THE GREAT NEWS IS
WE CAN DO ALL OF THIS AND STILL
NOT SPEND OUR ENTIRE PROJECTED
SURPLUS-UNDER MY PLAN, WE'LL
STILL HAVE MORE THAN $2 BILLION
WITH A "B" LEFT OVER.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> I'VE ALREADY HEARD THERE ARE
SOME WHO WANT TO WAIT TO GET
THIS DONE UNTIL THE NEXT BUDGET.
THAT'S $3.8 BILLION THAT WOULD
JUST BE SITTING IN MADISON UNTIL
THEN.
WELL, THAT'S NOT GOING TO HELP
WISCONSINITES BUY GROCERIES
TODAY.
IT WON'T HELP WISCONSINITES PAY
FOR GAS TODAY.
IT WON'T HELP WISCONSINITES PAY
FOR CHILDCARE, HEAT THEIR HOMES,
OR PUT FOOD ON THEIR TABLE
TODAY.
WISCONSINITES CAN'T WAIT.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> INDIFFERENCE IN THIS BUILDING
IS GETTING EXPENSIVE, FOLKS.
AND LET ME BE FRANK: THE PEOPLE
WHO WILL BEAR THE BURDEN OF
INACTION ARE ALMOST CERTAINLY
NOT THE PEOPLE SITTING IN THIS
CHAMBER TONIGHT.
SO, DON'T SIT HERE IN A WHITE,
MARBLE BUILDING WITH STATE
COFFERS THAT ARE FULL AND TELL
WISCONSINITES WHO ARE WORKING
HARD EVERY DAY THAT WE CAN'T
AFFORD TO DO MORE.
THAT'S BALONEY.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> TOMORROW, I WILL SIGN AN
EXECUTIVE ORDER CALLING A
SPECIAL SESSION OF THIS
LEGISLATURE TO TAKE UP
MY SURPLUS PLAN.
LET'S HELP ADDRESS RISING COSTS,
LET'S HELP MAKE SURE FOLKS CAN
AFFORD TO JOIN OUR WORKFORCE,
AND LET'S DO WHAT'S BEST FOR OUR
KIDS.
THIS IS THE PEOPLE'S MONEY.
LET'S GET IT BACK TO THEM.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> LOOK, REPUBLICANS AND
DEMOCRATS IN THIS BUILDING DON'T
AGREE ALL THE TIME.
I UNDERSTAND THAT.
BUT THIS ISN'T ONE OF THOSE
TIMES.
AND HERE'S HOW I KNOW
THAT-BECAUSE I RECEIVED A LETTER
LAST DECEMBER THAT READ, IN
PART, "THERE ARE SUPPLY
SHORTAGES AND SOARING INFLATION
RATES, CAUSING FAMILIES TO HAVE
TO PAY SIGNIFICANTLY MORE ON
ITEMS SUCH AS FOOD AND GASOLINE.
REAL PEOPLE ARE STRUGGLING WITH
THESE POCKETBOOK ISSUES."
WELL, MR. PRESIDENT AND MR.
SPEAKER, THAT LETTER WAS FROM
YOU.
AND I THINK IT SOUNDS LIKE WE
AGREE ON SOMETHING.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> THERE'S NO REASON WE CAN'T DO
THIS, AND THE RISING COSTS
WISCONSINITES ARE SEEING EVERY
DAY ARE EVERY REASON THAT WE
SHOULD.
SO, LET'S FIND COMMON GROUND,
LET'S PASS THIS PLAN, AND LET'S
GET THIS DONE.
IT'S JUST THE RIGHT THING TO DO,
FOLKS.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> AND IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO
DO BECAUSE WISCONSINITES ARE THE
REASON FOR OUR STATE'S AND OUR
ECONOMY'S SUCCESS.
FROM HEALTHCARE WORKERS TO FIRST
RESPONDERS, EDUCATORS AND
CHILDCARE WORKERS, LOCAL PUBLIC
HEALTH OFFICERS, TRIBAL NATION
PARTNERS, GROCERY STORE WORKERS,
FARMERS, SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS,
AND SO MANY MORE.
BUT I ALSO WANT TO SAY TONIGHT
THAT WE WOULD NOT BE
HERE AS A STATE WITHOUT THE
EXTRAORDINARY EFFORTS OF THE
WISCONSIN NATIONAL GUARD.
PERIOD.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> UNDER THE LONGEST GUARD
ACTIVATION IN WISCONSIN STATE
HISTORY, THE GUARD'S WORK BEGAN
ALMOST ON DAY ONE OF COVID-19
LANDING IN WISCONSIN AND
CONTINUES EVEN STILL TODAY.
AS FEAR WAS SPREADING ACROSS THE
GLOBE ABOUT A NEW VIRUS, 30
WISCONSINITES WERE STRANDED
ABOARD A CRUISE SHIP FOR WEEKS.
OUR ADMINISTRATION, TOGETHER
WITH SENATOR TAMMY BALDWIN,
WORKED TO BRING THEM TO
WISCONSIN.
AND IT WAS THE MEN AND WOMEN OF
OUR WISCONSIN NATIONAL GUARD WHO
GREETED THESE WISCONSINITES AND
WELCOMED THEM HOME.
[APPLAUSE]
>> THE GUARD HAS ALSO PLAYED A
KEY ROLE IN OUR EFFORTS TO
DISTRIBUTE MORE THAN 80 MILLION
PIECES OF PERSONAL PROTECTIVE
EQUIPMENT AND SANITIZING
SUPPLIES TO SCHOOLS, HEALTHCARE
WORKERS, FIRST RESPONDERS, AND
LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT.
THEY'VE HELPED ADMINISTER TESTS
AND SUPPORT TESTING SITES YOU
LIKELY VISITED IN YOUR
COMMUNITY.
ADDITIONALLY, WE RANKED AMONG
THE BEST IN THE COUNTRY
FOR GETTING AVAILABLE COVID-19
VACCINE SHOTS IN ARMS, AND IT'S
IN NO SMALL PART DUE TO THE
GUARD.
THEY HELPED DISTRIBUTE MORE THAN
1.2 MILLION OF THE VACCINE DOSES
WE'VE ADMINISTERED AS A STATE
AND THEY'VE ADMINISTERED MORE
THAN 230,000 OF THOSE VACCINES
THEMSELVES.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> THEY'VE ALSO BEEN ON THE
FRONTLINES OF DEFENDING OUR
COUNTRY AND OUR DEMOCRACY IN
MORE WAYS THAN ONE.
WHEN WISCONSINITES WERE
EXERCISING THEIR RIGHT TO VOTE,
THE WISCONSIN NATIONAL GUARD
WAS THERE, TOO.
OUR GUARD MEMBERS JOINED OUR
EXCEPTIONAL CLERKS, ELECTION
ADMINISTRATORS, AND POLL WORKERS
TO HELP MAKE SURE YOU COULD CAST
YOUR BALLOT AND DO IT SAFELY.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> EVEN NOW, SOME GUARD MEMBERS
ARE BEING TRAINED AS CERTIFIED
NURSING ASSISTANTS THROUGH OUR
PARTNERSHIP WITH MADISON COLLEGE
TO HELP SUPPORT OUR OVERWHELMED
HEALTHCARE WORKERS AND SYSTEMS.
REALLY GOOD WORK.
[APPLAUSE]
>> WELL, TONIGHT, WE ARE JOINED
BY WISCONSIN'S ADJUTANT GENERAL,
MAJOR GENERAL PAUL KNAPP, AS
WELL AS MEMBERS FROM OUR
WISCONSIN NATIONAL GUARD, WHO
ARE UP IN THE GALLERY TONIGHT.
PLEASE JOIN ME IN RECOGNIZING
THESE EXCEPTIONAL FOLKS AND
THEIR SERVICE.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> THESE FOLKS HAVE STEPPED UP
TO SERVE OUR STATE TIME AND TIME
AGAIN DURING ONE OF THE DIREST
PERIODS IN OUR STATE'S HISTORY.
AND THEIR SERVICE HAS NOT COME
WITHOUT COST-EMOTIONALLY
PHYSICALLY, AND MENTALLY. OUR
OUR EFFORT TO INVEST MORE THAN
$3 MILLION INTO EXPANDING THE
GUARD'S WELLNESS PROGRAM WAS
GUTTED FROM MY BIENNIAL BUDGET.
IT WOULD HAVE INCREASED ACCESS
TO IMPORTANT MENTAL HEALTH AND
WELLNESS SUPPORT TO MORE THAN
9,000 GUARD MEMBERS.
WELL, TONIGHT, I'M ANNOUNCING
I'M GOING TO DO IT ANYWAY.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> WE'RE GOING TO INVEST $5
MILLION TO EXPAND ACCESS TO THE
GUARD'S COMPREHENSIVE WELLNESS
OFFICE AND THEIR SERVICES TO
EVERY SINGLE MEMBER OF THE
WISCONSIN NATIONAL GUARD.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> THIS PROGRAM WILL PROVIDE
COUNSELING, RESILIENCY
TRAINING, AND CRISIS
INTERVENTION AND STRESS
REDUCTION PROGRAMMING, TO HELP
REDUCE BURNOUT, TAKE
CARE OF MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS,
PREVENT SUICIDE, AND TREAT
SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS FOR OUR
SERVICE MEMBERS.
AND I'LL TELL YOU RIGHT NOW THIS
PROGRAM WILL HAVE ONGOING
FUNDING IN THE BUDGET I'LL
PROPOSE NEXT YEAR.
AND I CALL ON THIS LEGISLATURE
TONIGHT TO JOIN ME BY ENSURING
THIS PROGRAM RECEIVES LONG-TERM,
SUSTAINABLE FUNDING IT DESERVES.
[APPLAUSE]
>> BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE
ALSO KNOW THE EFFECTS OF THIS
PANDEMIC WILL EXIST WHETHER THIS
VIRUS IS HERE OR NOT.
TROOPS CAME HOME AT A TIME OF
INCREASED ISOLATION AND
UNCERTAINTY, INCLUDING SOME
WHO'VE RETURNED AND TAKEN THEIR
OWN LIVES.
WE NEED LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS TO
SUPPORT OUR VETERANS AND THE
CHALLENGES THEY FACE-BOTH THOSE
THAT EXISTED BEFORE THIS
PANDEMIC AND OTHERS
THAT WORSENED BECAUSE OF IT.
WE'VE WORKED TO PROACTIVELY
ADDRESS SOME OF THE CHALLENGES
FACING OUR VETERANS, AND THE
LEGISLATURE EVEN AGREED WITH ME
ON SEVERAL PROVISIONS IN THE
LAST BUDGET.
IN FACT, FOLKS ON BOTH
SIDES OF THE AISLE EVEN CALLED
THIS "A REALLY GOOD BUDGET FOR
VETERANS."
I AGREE. BUT OUR WORK
CANNOT END THERE. SO, IN THE
COMING DAYS, I'LL SIGN AN
EXECUTIVE ORDER CREATING A BLUE
RIBBON COMMISSION ON VETERAN
OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP NEW,
INNOVATIVE INITIATIVES TO
SUPPORT THE MORE THAN 300,000
VETERANS WHO LIVE IN OUR STATE.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> WE CAN HELP REDUCE BARRIERS
TO HIGHER EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT,
AND JOB TRAINING, AND STREAMLINE
ISSUES AROUND GETTING PEOPLE
INTO THE WORKFORCE.
WE CAN HELP MAKE SURE WE
HAVE SUSTAINABLE, ONGOING
FUNDING FOR PROGRAMS THAT
SUPPORT THESE FOLKS BY ENSURING
SOLVENT.
AND YES, WE CAN HELP INVEST IN
HOUSING SECURITY, MORE
MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORTS, AND MORE
SUBSTANCE USE TREATMENT.
AND THIS BLUE RIBBON COMMISSION
IS GOING TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS
FOR ME TO DO JUST THAT IN MY
NEXT BUDGET.
[APPLAUSE]
>> AND SUPPORT FOR OUR VETERANS
ISN'T THE ONLY AREA WHERE WE CAN
DO MORE.
THIS PANDEMIC EXPOSED SERIOUS
CONCERNS ABOUT OUR HEALTHCARE
INFRASTRUCTURE AND CAPACITY,
COMMUNITIES. WE'VE EXPANDED
ACCESS TO TELEHEALTH SERVICES,
PROTECTED HEALTHCARE FOR
WISCONSINITES WHO HAVE
PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS, AND
WORKED TO REDUCE THE COSTS
OF PRESCRIPTION DRUG PRICES.
BUT WE ALSO KNOW THAT THERE IS
GREAT NEED FOR EMERGENCY
SERVICES AND RESPONDERS IN OUR
RURAL COMMUNITIES.
IN WISCONSIN, WE RELY ON NEARLY
800 EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE
PROVIDERS-MORE THAN HALF ARE
EITHER OPERATED EXCLUSIVELY BY
VOLUNTEERS OR THROUGH A
COMBINATION OF VOLUNTEERS AND
PAID STAFF.
THESE FOLKS ARE DOING
OUTSTANDING WORK, BUT MANY HAVE
BEEN DOING IT FOR YEARS, AND
IT'S SOMETIMES DIFFICULT FINDING
NEW VOLUNTEERS TO STEP INTO
THESE IMPORTANT ROLES.
IT ALSO HASN'T HELPED THAT, FOR
A DECADE, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS HAVE
BEEN ASKED TO DO MORE WITH
LESS.
SINCE 2011, STATE AID TO
COMMUNITIES HAS GONE DOWN EVEN
AS COSTS HAVE GONE UP.
HELP FROM THE STATE WAS CUT BY
MORE THAN NINE PERCENT, WHILE
PUBLIC SAFETY COSTS HAVE
INCREASED MORE THAN 16 PERCENT.
BETWEEN THESE RISING COSTS AND
LACK OF AVAILABLE STAFFING, SOME
HAVE EVEN GONE WITHOUT AMBULANCE
SERVICES, LEFT WITH NO OTHER
OPTION BUT TO HOPE AND RELY UPON
NEIGHBORING PROVIDERS.
WELL, NO ONE SHOULD BE CALLING
FOR AN AMBULANCE AND HAVE TO
WONDER WHETHER HELP WILL COME.
SO, TONIGHT, I'M ANNOUNCING
WE'RE INVESTING NEARLY $30
MILLION INTO SUPPORTING
EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE
PROVIDERS AND SERVICES ACROSS
OUR STATE.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> $20 MILLION OF THIS
INVESTMENT WILL BE GOING TO
FOLKS IN OUR RURAL AREAS FOR
WHATEVER HELP THEY NEED
THE MOST, WHETHER IT'S
INCREASING STAFFING SUPPORT,
GETTING FIRST RESPONDERS MORE
TRAINING, PURCHASING AN
AMBULANCE, MEDICAL EQUIPMENT OR
SUPPLIES.
EVERY EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE
AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL RESPONSE
PROVIDER WILL QUALIFY FOR
FUNDING.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> ADDITIONALLY, AS PART OF THIS
INVESTMENT, WE'RE GOING TO
INCREASE REIMBURSEMENT RATES FOR
THESE PROVIDERS TO HELP ENSURE
THEY DON'T HAVE TO CUT BACK ON
CRITICALLY IMPORTANT SERVICES.
[APPLAUSE]
>> THIS PANDEMIC DIDN'T JUST
EXPOSE THE NEED FOR US TO EXPAND
ACCESS TO RURAL HEALTHCARE.
IT ALSO HIGHLIGHTED THAT OUR
KIDS NEED MORE MENTAL HEALTH
SUPPORT IN OUR SCHOOLS, AND THIS
PANDEMIC HAS HIGHLIGHTED IT.
OUR KIDS NEED MORE MENTAL HEALTH
SUPPORT IN OUR SCHOOLS AND THIS
HAS BEEN MADE YOUR JENLT BECAUSE
OF THE PANDEMIC.
[APPLAUSE]
>> I CAME INTO OFFICE AFTER
YEARS OF DISINVESTMENT IN OUR
KIDS, OUR EDUCATORS, AND OUR
SCHOOLS.
SO WE'VE WORKED TO MAKE HISTORIC
INVESTMENTS IN EDUCATION AT
EVERY LEVEL.
WE'VE INCREASED SPECIAL
EDUCATION FUNDING FOR THE FIRST
TIME IN A DECADE, MADE THE
LARGEST INVESTMENT IN GENERAL
AID IN A DECADE, AND INVESTED
MORE THAN $900 MILLION INTO
PROVIDING LOCAL PROPERTY TAX
RELIEF.
CHAWM
>> NOW, OUR SCHOOLS HAVE
RETURNED TO BEING TOP 10 IN THE
COUNTRY-OUR K-12 SCHOOLS RANK
EIGHTH BEST IN THE
NATION AFTER RANKING 17TH JUST
FIVE YEARS AGO.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> THE PANDEMIC HIT IN THE
SPRING OF 2020.
STATES ACROSS OUR NATION CLOSED
SCHOOLS FOR THE REST OF
THE SEMESTER, WISCONSIN
INCLUDED.
PARENTS ARE THE FIRST AND BEST
TEACHERS OUR KIDS HAVE.
BUT I ALSO KNOW TURNING KITCHEN
TABLES INTO CLASSROOMS WASN'T
EASY.
I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT HOW
THIS PANDEMIC AFFECTED OUR KIDS,
AND I KNOW PARENTS ARE, TOO.
THAT'S WHY WE'VE TRUSTED SCHOOL
DISTRICTS, PARENTS, AND TEACHERS
TO WORK TOGETHER TO DO WHAT'S
BEST FOR OUR KIDS.
WE'VE TRUSTED THEM TO MAKE THE
BEST DECISIONS AT THE LOCAL
LEVEL BASED ON THEIR KIDS' AND
THEIR CLASSROOM NEEDS. MANY
SCHOOLS ACROSS OUR STATE
RETURNED TO IN-PERSON LEARNING
IN THE FALL OF 2020.
SO, WE DOUBLED DOWN ON OUR
EFFORTS TO GET RESOURCES AND
SUPPORT TO OUR KIDS
SUPPORT TO OUR KIDS AND OUR
SCHOOLS TO KEEP OUR KIDS SAFE,
HEALTHY, AND IN THE CLASSROOM.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> WE'VE DISTRIBUTED ALMOST
EIGHT MILLION PIECES OF PPE AND
SANITATION SUPPLIES TO SCHOOL TO
HELP KEEP OUR KIDS AND EDUCATORS
SAFE.
I ALSO DELIVERED ON MY PROMISE
TO INVEST $110 MILLION IN NEW,
ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO EVERY
SCHOOL DISTRICT IN THE STATE.
SCHOOLS COULD USE THOSE FUNDS TO
HIRE EDUCATORS AND STAFF,
PROVIDE MORE AFTER-SCHOOL
PROGRAMMING, OR BUY ART
SUPPLIES OR COMPUTERS-WHATEVER
OUR KIDS NEEDED.
[APPLAUSE]
>> BUT THAT'S JUST ONE PART OF
THE EQUATION FOR ENSURING OUR
KIDS' SUCCESS.
WE KNOW THIS PANDEMIC
HAS AFFECTED OUR KIDS IN MORE
WAYS THAN ONE, INCLUDING THEIR
MENTAL HEALTH.
AND A KID WHO'S IN CRISIS ISN'T
GOING TO BE ABLE TO PAY
ATTENTION AT SCHOOL, FINISH
THEIR HOMEWORK, OR ENGAGE WITH
THEIR FRIENDS OR TEACHERS.
IF THE FOLKS IN THIS ROOM WANT
TO HAVE REAL CONVERSATIONS ABOUT
OUR KIDS' SUCCESS AND
ACHIEVEMENT, THEN START BY FULLY
FUNDING OUR SCHOOLS AND MAKING
SURE OUR KIDS CAN BRING THEIR
FULL AND BEST SELVES TO THE
CLASSROOM AND TO THEIR STUDIES.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> IF THAT'S NOT WHERE WE'RE
STARTING THIS CONVERSATION, THEN
ALL YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT IS OUR
KIDS BARELY GETTING BY WHEN WE
SHOULD BE MAKING SURE KIDS CAN
GET AHEAD.
SO, TONIGHT, I'M ANNOUNCING OUR
NEW "GET KIDS AHEAD" INITIATIVE
TO INVEST $15 MILLION INTO
ADDITIONAL MENTAL HEALTH
SERVICES FOR OUR SCHOOLS.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> EVERY PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT
CAN OPT IN TO RECEIVE THESE
FUNDS-NO MATTER HOW BIG OR
SMALL.
WITH THIS INVESTMENT, KIDS IN
EVERY CORNER OF OUR STATE
WILL HAVE INCREASED ACCESS TO
MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT THROUGH
THEIR SCHOOLS, ON TOP OF THE
INVESTMENTS WE'VE MADE IN OUR
BUDGETS.
SCHOOLS WILL BE ABLE TO USE
THESE FUNDS TO PROVIDE
DIRECT MENTAL HEALTH CARE, HIRE
AND SUPPORT MENTAL HEALTH
NAVIGATORS, PROVIDE MENTAL
HEALTH FIRST AID AND
TRAUMA-BASED CARE TRAINING, OR
PROVIDE FAMILY ASSISTANCE
PROGRAMS-WHATEVER OUR KIDS
NEED.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> AND STUDENTS IN OUR HIGHER
EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS NEED OUR
HELP, TOO.
STUDENTS HAVE HAD TO
ADAPT, KEEP UP WITH THEIR
COURSEWORK, AND JUGGLE WORK,
FAMILY, AND KEEPING THEMSELVES
AND THEIR CLASSMATES SAFE.
AND IT'S BEEN TOUGH.
UW PRESIDENT TOMMY THOMPSON
TALKED ABOUT THIS A LOT.
SMASHED A LOT OF PUMPKINS.
BASED ON A NATIONAL HEALTH
SURVEY, DURING THE SPRING 2021
SEMESTER ALONE, 75 PERCENT OF UW
STUDENTS SCREENED POSITIVE FOR
MODERATE OR SEVERE PSYCHOLOGICAL
DISTRESS.
AND, FRANKLY, THIS WAS
A TREND WE SAW EVEN BEFORE THE
PANDEMIC.
BETWEEN 2009 AND 2019, THE USE
OF COUNSELING SERVICES ON OUR UW
CAMPUSES INCREASED 55 PERCENT.
SO, WE'RE ALSO INVESTING $5
MILLION INTO OUR UW SYSTEM TO
PROVIDE MORE MENTAL HEALTH
SERVICES THROUGH TELEHEALTH
COUNSELING AND ADDITIONAL
MENTAL HEALTH STAFF SUPPORT ON
OUR CAMPUSES.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> AND, CLEARLY, OUR STUDENTS AT
OUR HIGHER EDUCATION
INSTITUTIONS ALREADY HAVE ENOUGH
TO WORRY ABOUT-THEY'RE UNDER A
SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF PRESSURE
AND STRESS AS IT IS, AND RISING
COSTS AT THE GROCERY STORE AND
THE GAS PUMP AFFECT THEM, TOO.
THEY SURE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO
WORRY ABOUT THE PRICE TAG ON
THEIR EDUCATION GOING ANY
HIGHER.
SO, TONIGHT, I'M ALSO ANNOUNCING
I AM PROVIDING A $25 MILLION
INVESTMENT IN OUR UNIVERSITY OF
WISCONSIN SYSTEM SO THAT THEY
CAN USE THESE DOLLARS TO FUND
THE TUITION FREEZE THROUGH THE
END OF THE BIENNIUM.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> WITH THESE ADDITIONAL FUNDS,
THE UW SYSTEM AND BOARD OF
REGENTS CAN ENSURE THAT TUITION
PRICES FOR OUR IN-STATE STUDENTS
WILL NOT GO UP FOR THE NEXT TWO
YEARS, GIVING OUR STUDENTS AND
THEIR FAMILIES ONE LESS THING TO
WORRY ABOUT.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> FINALLY, AS I CONCLUDE MY
FOURTH STATE OF THE STATE
ADDRESS, I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE
THAT IT IS A PRIVILEGE FOR US TO
BE HERE TOGETHER TONIGHT-AND ON
ELECTION DAY, NO LESS-TO
PARTICIPATE IN AN ENDURING BUT
PROFOUND FUNCTION OF OUR
DEMOCRACY, ONE THAT'S MUCH LIKE
THE PEACEFUL AND RESPECTFUL
TRANSFER OF POWER OR LIKE THE
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT TO CAST A
BALLOT.
FUNCTIONS THAT, ESPECIALLY
TODAY, WE MUST NOT TAKE FOR
GRANTED.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> AS SOME WORK TO UNDERMINE
THESE BASIC TENETS, WE MUST
RECOGNIZE THAT WHAT MAKES THIS
STATE AND THIS COUNTRY
EXCEPTIONAL IS NOT THAT THESE
PROFOUND FUNCTIONS EXIST-IT'S
THAT THEY ARE DERIVED FROM OUR
COLLECTIVE ABILITY TO WILL THEM
TO CONTINUE.
WE ARE ALSO REMINDED OF THIS:
DEMOCRACY IS NOT A PROPHECY; IT
IS SELF-ACTUATING.
WE MUST CHOOSE EVERY DAY TO
CONTINUE THIS GRAND EXPERIMENT.
WE MUST CHOOSE EVERY DAY TO
ACCEPT THE DUTY OUR FOREBEARS
ENTRUSTED TO US.
WE MUST CHOOSE EVERY DAY TO
AFFIRM THE CERTAINTY OF THIS
LEGACY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> IN THE SUMMER OF 1783, AS THE
FUTURE OF THE UNITED STATES AND
ITS INDEPENDENCE REMAINED
UNCERTAIN, GEORGE WASHINGTON
WROTE A LETTER TO GOVERNORS, A
"CIRCULAR LETTER TO THE STATES""
IN IT HE DESCRIBED FOUR THINGS
ESSENTIAL NOT JUST FOR THE
WELL-BEING OF THE UNITED STATES
OF AMERICA BUT FOR THE VERY
EXISTENCE OF IT.
AND ON THAT LIST OF FOUR THINGS
WAS THIS: "THE PREVALENCE OF
THAT PACIFIC AND FRIENDLY
DISPOSITION AMONG THE PEOPLE OF
THE UNITED STATES, WHICH WILL
INDUCE THEM TO FORGET THEIR
LOCAL PREJUDICES AND POLICIES,
TO MAKE THOSE MUTUAL CONCESSIONS
WHICH ARE REQUISITE TO THE
GENERAL PROSPERITY AND IN SOME
INSTANCES TO SACRIFICE THEIR
INDIVIDUAL ADVANTAGES TO THE
INTEREST OF THE COMMUNITY."
[APPLAUSE]
>> WE ARE REMINDED TONIGHT OF
THE SPIRIT OF OUR SERVICE-TO
FORGET OUR OWN PREJUDICES, TO
MAKE CONCESSIONS WHERE THE
GREATER GOOD DEMANDS, AND TO
FIND COMMON GROUND WHEREVER AND
AS OFTEN AS WE CAN.
I STILL BELIEVE, AS I SAID THREE
YEARS AGO, THAT THERE IS MORE
THAT UNITES US THAN DIVIDES US,
CHIEF AMONG THEM OUR
RESPONSIBILITY TO DO WHAT'S
RIGHT WHEN IT MATTERS MOST.
WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED SO MUCH
TOGETHER.
AND TOMORROW, OUR WORK
CONTINUES.
SO, LET'S GET TO WORK
FOLKS.
FOR WISCONSIN, ALWAYS.
MAY GOD BLESS OUR STATE.
MAY GOD BLESS OUR DEMOCRACY. AND
MAY GOD
BLESS THESE UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA.
THANK YOU, AND ON, WISCONSIN!
UW MARCHING BAND, TAKE IT AWAY!
*
["ON WISCONSIN"]
>> AND SO GOVERNOR EVERS
CONCLUDES HIS FOURTH STATE OF
THE STATE ADDRESS BEFORE THE
WISCONSIN ASSEMBLY AND SENATE.
EVERYBODY SEEMED TO LIKE THE
MARCHING BAND.
>> THAT'S THE FUN PART.
THEY SHOULD DO THAT WITH EVERY
ASSEMBLY AND SENATE SESSION, A
NICE WAY TO WRAP THINGS UP AND
MAKE PEOPLE FEEL GOOD.
>> THE GOVERNOR SPOKE AGAIN
ABOUT THERE'S MOVER THAT UNITES
THEM THAN DIVIDES THEM.
>> I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THAT.
REPUBLICAN ISSUES, YOU DO EXPECT
IN A SPEECH LIKE THIS, WE'VE
BECOME CONDITIONED TO WHEN THE
GOVERNOR IS NOT FROM THE
LEGISLATOR'S PARTY, THEY DON'T
STAND, THEY DON'T CLAP FOR THE
GOVERNOR FOR A THE LO OF THE
SPEECH.
BUT HE WAS LITERALLY TALKING
ABOUT A REPUBLICAN-AUTHORED
BUDGET THAT HE SIGNED AND THOSE
DIDN'T GET APPLAUSE BECAUSE, YOU
KNOW, THAT IS JUST HOW
CONFRONTATIONAL STATE GOVERNMENT
IS RIGHT NOW.
AND THEY BOTH -- BOTH SIDES KNOW
THIS IS AN ELECTION YEAR.
>> THAMP THAT'S RIGHT.
REPUBLICANS SAY THAT GOVERNOR
EVERS IS TAKING CREDIT FOR THOSE
TAX CUTS WHEN IT WAS THEIR
BUDGET AND HE SAYS, WELL, I
SIGNED YOUR BUDGET BECAUSE I
APPROVED OF IT.
SO YOU JUST CAN'T -- YOU CAN'T
WIN FOR TRYING REALLY IN THIS
CLIMATE, IN THIS STATE.
MAYBE IT EXTENDS, AS WE KNOW,
BEYOND THE STATE.
BUT OF NOTE IN THE GOVERNOR'S
ADDRESS WAS THAT HE SAYS HE'S
CALLING A SPECIAL SESSION
TOMORROW TO TAKE UP HIS TAX
REFUND MEASURE, $150 TO ALL TAX
FILERS, AND WE KNOW, THOUGH,
THAT IN THE PAST THESE SPECIAL
SESSIONS HAVE BEEN GAVELED IN
AND GAVELED OUT.
>> FOR GOVERNOR EVERS, YES. AND
WE HAVE EVERY REASON TO BELIEVE
THAT THAT'S GOING TO BE THE CASE
HERE BECAUSE YOU HEARD
REPUBLICANS SAY THEY'RE NOT
GOING TO PASS HIS PLAN.
I THINK THEY -- IT WAS OUT THERE
IN THE WORLD FOR A COUPLE HOURS
WHEN HE INTRODUCED IT A COUPLE
WEEKS AGO BEFORE REPUBLICANS
SAID IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.
THERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF A
DEJA VU ON THAT AS WELL BECAUSE
FOUR YEARS AGO IT WAS GOVERNOR
SCOTT WALKER GIVING HIS STATE OF
THE STATE ADDRESS TO THE
LEGISLATURE HERE, CALLING FOR A
TAX CREDIT THAT WAS A CHILD TAX
CREDIT AT THE TIME.
THAT WAS PASSED IN AN ELECTION
YEAR.
SCOTT WALKER WAS A REPUBLICAN
GOVERNOR, WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY A
FACTOR WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT
WHEN THINGS ARE INTRODUCED AND
WHO'S IN THE LEGISLATURE.
>> WE ARE WAITING FOR THE
REPUBLICAN RESPONSE.
SENATOR DEVIN LEMAHIEU IS
EXPECTED TO APPEAR.
HE'S MAKING HIS WAY NOW TO HIS
LOCATION, HIS SPOT, TO DELIVER
THAT.
WE'LL BRING THAT TO YOU AS SOON
AS HE ARRIVES AT THAT LOCATION.
BUT WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT
THE EVERS' ELECTION DIVIDEND,
REALLY IS WHAT THE REPUBLICANS
CALL IT, AND THE GOVERNOR SAYS,
WELL, ACTUALLY, I JUST WANT TO
GET IT OUT THE DOOR BECAUSE WE
HAVE THIS HUGE SURPLUS.
>> YEAH, WHICH, AGAIN, IT'S
ALMOST REMINISCENT OF THE VERY
LANGUAGE THAT GOVERNOR WALKER
USED WHEN HE WAS TALKING ABOUT
THIS STUFF.
GOVERNOR EVERS HAS ADOPTED IT.
YOU'VE ALSO SEEN A SWITCH FROM
DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKERS TO WHO FOUR
YEARS AGO WERE TALKING ABOUT
WALKER'S PLAN AS AN ELECTION
YEAR BRIBE.
THEY NOW SUPPORT GOVERNOR EVERS
AND YOU HAVE REPUBLICANS WHO ARE
USING THAT KIND OF LANGUAGE WHEN
THEY TALK ABOUT TAX CUTS.
BUT, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE HAD A
LONG HISTORY, THOUGH, IN THIS
LEGISLATURE UNDER REPUBLICAN
CONTROL OF WHEN THE STATE HAS A
SURPLUS, THAT IS USUALLY THE
FIRST THING THAT REPUBLICAN
LAWMAKERS CALL FOR.
YOU ALMOST EXPECT IT RIGHT AWAY
IN THE FIRST STATEMENTS THEY PUT
OUT WHEN THE FISCAL BUREAU,
LEGISLATURE'S NONPARTISAN BUDGET
OFFICE COMES UP WITH BUDGET
ESTIMATES.
HERE COME FR THE STATEMENTS ON X
CUTS.
THEY'RE GOING TO SAVE IT FOR
NEXT YEAR.
THEY WANT THE GOVERNOR TO BE A
DIFFERENT GOVERNOR AT THAT TIME
AND THEY'LL BE ABLE TO ADDRESS
THEIR PRIORITIES TOGETHER.
>> THE OTHER THING THAT WE
NOTICED IN THE ADDRESS IS THAT
THE GOVERNOR WAS TALKING ABOUT
AMOUNTS OF MONEY THAT HE WOULD
BE GIVING TO EMS, FOR EXAMPLE,
FOR MENTAL HEALTH CARE, FOR
NATIONAL GUARD MEMBERS.
BUT THESE ARE FUNDS THAT HE
DOESN'T HAVE TO RUFN THROUGH THE
LEGISLATURE.
>> YEAH.
I THINK -- AND WE HAVEN'T DONE
AN EXHAUSTIVE CHECK OF THIS, BUT
I THINK ANYTIME YOU HEARD THE
GOVERNOR INTRODUCING MONEY, I
THINK YOU WOULD AGREE THAT THAT
WAS FEDERAL MONEY THAT WAS
PROVIDED THROUGH ONE OF THESE
FEDERAL CORONAVIRUS BILLS.
AND THAT IS FUNDING THAT THE
GOVERNOR HAS SOLE DISCRETION
OVER.
HE DOES NOT HAVE TO GET IT
APPROVED IN THE LEGISLATURE.
AND SO THIS YEAR YOU'RE GOING TO
HEAR HIM TALK ABOUT THAT
PROBABLY FREQUENTLY, INTRODUCING
NEW PLANS, NEW PROGRAMS THAT HE
WILL FUND WITH THIS MONEY, AND
IN THIS CASE HE DOESN'T HAVE TO
WORRY ABOUT GRIDLOCK IN STATE
GOVERNMENT.
>> HE SPOKE RATHER PASSIONATELY,
I WOULD SAY, ABOUT THE ELECTORAL
PROCESS ON THIS ELECTION DAY IN
THE STATE OF WISCONSIN.
AND IT COINCIDES WITH SOME
RALLIES THAT HAPPENED AT THE
STATE CAPITOL TODAY AROUND
TRYING TO UNDO THE RESULTS OF
THE 2020 ELECTION.
AND SO ALL OF THAT IS SWIRLING
AROUND THE CAPITOL TODAY,
TONIGHT AND GOING FORWARD.
>> ONE OF THE PEOPLE IN THE
CROWD TONIGHT, TIMOTHY RAMPTON,
REPUBLICAN STATE LAWMAKER WHO
JUST ANNOUNCED HIS CANDIDACY FOR
GOVERNOR, AND THE REASON HE IS
RUNNING IS THAT HE INTRODUCED A
RESOLUTION THAT WOULD DECERTIFY
WISCONSIN'S 2020 PRESIDENTIAL
ELECTION RESULTS, WHICH THE
LEGISLATURE'S NONPARTISAN
ATTORNEYS HAVE SAID IS
IMPOSSIBLE, YOU CAN'T DO.
BUT IT HASN'T STOPPED HIM FROM
BRINGING THAT FORWARD.
AND SO IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR AN
EXAMPLE OF WHERE I GUESS THE
OTHER END OF THE SPECTRUM IS
FROM THE GOVERNOR IN TERMS OF
HOW HE'S TALKING ABOUT THE
ELECTION, TALKING ABOUT
DEMOCRACY, YOU HAVE A CANDIDATE
RIGHT THERE LISTENING TO HIM,
20, 30 FEET AWAY.
>> AND OF COURSE HE IS NOT THE
ONLY PERSON GOING AFTER THIS.
WE HAVE ALL OF THOSE
INVESTIGATIONS ON THE PART OF
FORMER SUPREME COURT JUSTICE
MIEIVMIESKMICHAEL GABLEMAN TO CE
THESE INVESTIGATIONS.
I GET THE SENSE FROM GOVERNOR
EVERS JUST TALKING HIM THAT HE
JUST SEEMED ALMOST A LITTLE
DEFIANT.
I DON'T KNOW.
MAYBE IT'S BECAUSE AS WE WERE
DISCUSSING, YOU KNOW,
REPUBLICANS DIDN'T STAND, DIDN'T
APPLAUD, EVEN FOR TAX RELIEF.
>> YEAH.
AND HE KNOWS ALSO HE'S STANDING
RIGHT IN FRONT OF ASSEMBLY
SPEAKER ROBIN VOS, WHO THERE'S
JUST NO LOVE LOST BETWEEN THOSE
TWO.
I MEAN, THEY HAVE REALLY HAD
EXTREMELY HARSH PERSONAL WORDS
ABOUT ONE ANOTHER.
AND SO THERE IS THE GOVERNOR AND
SPEAKER VOS RIGHT NEXT TO EACH
OTHER.
I IMAGINE HE'S AWARE OF THE
PERSON WHO'S WATCHING, YOU KNOW,
HIS BACK AS HE'S GIVING THAT
SPEECH THERE.
AND WE WERE KIND OF WATCHING TO
SEE IF SPEAKER VOS WOULD REACT
TO ANY OF THIS STUFF.
BUT THEY KEPT POKE FACES FOR THE
MOST PART DURING THE ADDRESS.
>> I WILL SAY THE WAY THE
GOVERNOR DESCRIBED THE HELP THAT
THE NATIONAL GUARD HAS PROVIDED
TO THE STATE OF WISCONSIN,
WHETHER IT WAS TO HELP CONDUCT
ELECTIONS OR VACCINES OR WORKING
IN HOSPITALS, EVERYONE JOINED IN
AINAPPLAUDING AND APPRECIATING E
NATIONAL GUARD AND THEIR
MEMBERS.
SO THERE WAS THAT.
>> THE NATIONAL GUARD, MARCHING
BAND.
WE'VE GOT A COUPLE THINGS THERE
THAT PEOPLE LIKE.
BUT OTHERWISE YOU SAW THE
RESULTS THERE.
SO, WE MENTIONED THE SPECIAL
SESSION THAT HE'S CALLING THERE,
AND I THINK PEOPLE WOULD BE
FORGIVEN IF THEY THOUGHT THAT A
GOVERNOR CALLING A SPECIAL
SESSION WOULD BRING PEOPLE INTO
A ROOM LIKE YOU JUST SAW RIGHT
THERE.
BUT THAT'S JUST NOT HOW IT
WORKS.
IT'S UP TO THE LEGISLATURE TO
DECIDE WHETHER THEY WANT TO ACT
ON THIS STUFF.
>> WISCONSIN STATE MAJORITY
LEADER DEVIN LEMAHIEU LEADS THE
SESSION.
>> HE REPRESENTS THE OOSTBURG
AREA.
HE HAS TONIGHT'S REPUBLICAN
RESPONSE.
>> GOO EVENING.
GOOD EVENING.
I'M HERE TO GIVE THE REPUBLICAN
RESPONSE TO THE GOVERNOR'S STATE
OF THE STATE ADDRESS.
THE UNFORTUNATE REALITY IS OUR
NATION, OUR STATE AND OUR PEOPLE
HAVE BEEN IN THE MIDST OF CRISIS
FACING HISTORIC CHALLENGES AND
THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH AT EVERY
LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT HAS FAILED
TO EFFECTIVELY LEAD US THROUGH
IT.
AS A RESULT, THE STATE OF OUR
STATE IS NOT AS STRONG AS IT
SHOULD BE.
ASK YOURSELF THIS: HAS JOE
BIDEN OR TONY EVERS DONE
ANYTHING TO MAKE YOUR LIFE
BETTER?
OR HAS ABOUT ANYTHING THEY'VE
TOUCHED GOTTEN WORSE?
RUN-AWAY INFLATION, RISING
CRIME, CLOSED SCHOOLS, SUPPLY
CHAIN DISRUPTIONS, RESTRICTED
COVID RULES THAT NO LONGER MAKE
SENSE.
THE LEGISLATURE HAS SHIELDED OUR
STATE FROM MANY OF THE DAMAGING
EFFECTS OF BOTH THE CURRENT
NATIONAL CLIMATE AND PAST STATE
FISCAL MISMANAGEMENT.
OVER THE LAST DECADE, WE TURNED
A $3.6 BILLION DEFICIT INTO A
$3.8 BILLION SURPLUS.
WE GREW OUR STATE'S EMERGENCY
FUND FROM DISEEFER ZERO TO $IS.,
A SAVINGS, ALL WHILE WE FUNDED
CORE PRIORITIES.
WE SPENT WITHIN OUR MEANS AND
RETURNED SURPLUSES BACK TO THE
TAXPAYERS.
WE CREATED AN ENVIRONMENT IN
WHICH INDIVIDUALS AND BUSINESSES
CAN BOTH THRIVE.
BUT DES PI DESPITE BEING IN BETR
FINANCIAL SHAPE, WISCONSIN IS
NOWHERE NEAR WHERE WE WANT TO
BE.
NEARLY EVERY OTHER ASPECT OF OUR
LIVES HAS DECLINED IN QUALITY
BECAUSE OF JOE BIDEN'S
DISASTROUS POLICIES AND TONY
EVERS' WEAK LEADERSHIP.
WE NEED STRONG LEADERS TO ACT
DESIEFS SIEVELY, LEADERS WHO
CAST A BOLD VISION AND DELIVER
ON THAT VISION TO THE BENEFIT OF
EVERYONE.
THAT IS WHERE GOVERNOR EVERS HAS
FAILED WISCONSIN TIME AND AGAIN.
DURING THE UNEMPLOYED SURGE IN
THE WAKE OF THE SHUTDOWN ORDERS,
GOVERNOR EVERS LEFT THOUSANDS OF
DESPERATE FAMILIES WITHOUT HELP
FOR MONTHS.
HE DELAYED ACTION AND PEOPLE
SUFFERED AS A RESULT.
WHEN KENOSHA WAS BURNING NIGHT
AFTER NIGHT AND RIOTERS
DESTROYED BUSINESSES, GOVERNOR
EVERS FANNED THE FLAMES.
HE ALLOWED ENTIRE CITY BLOCKS TO
BURN WHILE HE WAITED AND WAITED
TO ACT.
THAT IS NOT THE STRONG
LEADERSHIP WISCONSIN NEEDS.
NOW, AS THE WAUKESHA P PARADE
MASSACRE IS FRESH IN OUR MINDS.
GOVERNOR EVERS IS DOING NOTHING
TO HOLD REPEAT OFFENDERS
ACCOUNTABLE.
THE SOFT-ON-CRIME POLICIES
PLAGUING OUR STATE HAS PUT CAR
THEFTS AND MURDERS IN MILWAUKEE
ON PACE TO BREAK RECORDS.
GOVERNOR EVERS REFUSES TO ACT
WHILE PEOPLE AROUND THE STATE
SUFFER.
THAT IS NOT THE STRONG
LEADERSHIP WISCONSIN NEEDS.
KIDS AND PARENTS HAVE STRUGGLED
MIGHTILY TO DEAL WITH SCHOOL
CLOSURES AND LOST LEARNING OVER
THESE PAST TWO YEARS.
IT'S GOTTEN SO BAD THAT 670
DARVE 60% OF FOURTH GRADERS
CAN'T READ AT GRADE LEVEL.
GOVERNOR EVERS HAS CALLED OUR
PARENTAL EMPOWERMENT BILLS
RADICAL AND PLEDGED TO VETO
THEM, KEEPING KIDS IN FAILING
SCHOOLS AND KEEPING PARENTS AT
ARM'S LENGTH.
UNFORTUNATELY, WHEN HE DOES
CHOOSE TO ACT, HE ALMOST ALWAYS
GETS IT COMPLETELY WRONG.
THE GOVERNOR ACTED WHEN HE
UNILATERALLY SHUT DOWN
WISCONSIN'S ECONOMY, DECLARING
HUNDREDS OF MAIN STREET
EMPLOYERS NONESSENTIAL.
HE PICKED WINNERS AND LOSERS AND
DEVASTATED OUR SMALL BUSINESS
COMMUNITY.
FAR TOO MANY BUSINESSES WERE
FORCED TO PERMANENTLY CLOSE.
THE LASTING DAMAGE CAN STILL BE
FELT AROUND THE STATE.
THANKFULLY, THE LEGISLATURE
HELPED REOPEN OUR ECONOMY BEFORE
MORE DAMAGE WAS DONE.
NOW, TONY EVERS' RESPONSE IS
HANDING OUT CHECKS USING TAX
DOLLARS BORROWED AGAINST OUR
FUTURES.
HE PROMISED TO GET THE MONEY OUT
OF THE DOOR AS QUICKLY AS
POSSIBLE, BUT NINE MONTHS LATER
HE STILL HAS NEARLY A BILLION
LEFT IN HIS MADISON BANK
ACCOUNT.
EVERY CHECK REPRESENTS THE OVER
HOVER-SPENDING OF THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT.
THE PRINTING AND BORROWING OF
NEW MONEY HAS CAUSED INFLATION
TO SPIKE TO A NEW 40-YEAR HIGH.
TONY EVERS' TWO BUDGET PROPOSALS
HAVE BEEN DISASTROUS AS WELL.
EACH INCLUDES A MASSIVE NEW TAX
INCREASE ON TOP OF 10% GROWTH IN
GOVERNMENT SPENDING.
HIHIS MOST RECENT BUDGET INCLUDD
A BILLION TAX INCREASE AND WILD
SPENDING THAT WOULD JEOPARDIZE
OUR STATE'S FINANCIAL FUTURE.
WISELY, WE HAVE REJECTED BOTH
BUDGETS.
THE LEGISLATURE PUT FORWARD OUR
IDEAS, OBJECTIVES AND PRIORITIES
IN A WAY THAT ALIGNED WITH THE
VALUES OF THE PEOPLE OF
WISCONSIN, WITH SMART
INVESTMENTS IN HEALTH CARE,
TRANSPORTATION AND EDUCATION.
WE BUILT BIPARTISAN CONSENSUS.
WE LED WITH PURPOSE, CONVICTION
AND A STRONG SENSE OF WHERE OUR
STATE NEEDED TO GO.
ULULTIMATELY GOVERNOR EVERS
FOLLOWED OUR LEAD BY SIGNING OUR
RESPONSIBLE BUDGETS.
WE PROVIDED STRONG LEEFERRED
SHIP NEEDED THAT WISCONSIN
NEEDED AND GOVERNOR EVERS
FOLLOWED.
IF NOT FOR THE LEGISLATURE'S
LEADERSHIP, GOVERNOR EVERS COULD
HAVE SUNK OUR ECONOMY OR RUINED
OUR OPPORTUNITY TO IMPLEMENT OUR
$3 BILLION TAX CUT, EQUATING TO
A SAVINGS OF $1200 PER FAMILY.
OUR TAX CUT BLUNTED RISING
INFLATION AND HAS HELPED OUR
STATE STAY ON THE RIGHT TRACK
DESPITE THE CURRENT ECONOMIC
TURMOIL.
THAT IS THE TYPE OF STRONG
LEADERSHIP WISCONSIN NEEDS RIGHT
NOW.
WE KNOW THAT OUR STATE IS ONLY
AS STRONG AS OUR PEOPLE, AND
THAT IS WHY OUR SOLUTIONS CENTER
ON EMPOWERING INDIVIDUALS AND
FAMILIES.
WE PUT FORWARD LEGISLATIVE
SOLUTIONS TO EVERY MAJOR PROBLEM
FACING OUR STATE.
OUR STRONGER WORKFORCE
INITIATIVE WOULD HELP GUIDE
50,000 PEOPLE BACK INTO THE
WORKFORCE.
AND OUR SUPPORTING LAW
ENFORCEMENT PACKAGE WOULD HELP
GET MORE COPS ON THE STREETS TO
MAKE WISCONSIN SAFER.
GOVERNOR EVERS SHOULD FOLLOW OUR
LEAD AND SIGN THESE BILLS.
OUR LEGISLATION EMPOWERING
PRRCHTS TO BE MORE INVOLVED IN
EDUCATION, EXPAND SCHOOL CHOICE,
INCREASES CURRICULUM
TRANSPARENCY AND INSTITUTES A
PARENT'S BILL OF RIGHTS THAT
PUTS PARENTS IN THEIR DRIVER'S
SEAT OF THEIR CHILDREN'S
EDUCATION.
GOVERNOR EVERS SHOULD LISTEN TO
PARENTS, FOLLOW OUR LEAD AND
SIGN THESE BILLS.
WE WORKED TIRELESSLY TO ADDRESS
THE TERRIBLE ABUSES TO OUR
ELECTION SYSTEM COMMITTED UNDER
THE COVER OF COVID.
THE PUBLIC'S CONFIDENCE IN OUR
SYSTEM HAS BEEN SHAK SHAKEN BY T
HARVESTING.
GOVERNOR EVERS HAS VETOED
ATTEMPTS TO FIX KNOWN PROBLEMS
IN OUR ELECTION STRAIFTION.
WE NOW HAVE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM
THE NONPARTISAN AUDIT BUREAU AND
WILL PUT THE LEGISLATIVE FIXES
ON GOVERNOR EVERS' DESK YET
AGAIN.
WE WILL GIVE HIM A SECOND CHANCE
TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND ADOPT
THESE NONPARTISAN
RECOMMENDATIONS TO REBUILD
CONFIDENCE IN OUR ELECTIONS.
UNFORTUNATELY, HE HAS ALREADY
PLEDGED TO REJECT THEM.
WE CANNOT ALLOW THESE PROBLEMS
CONTINUE TO FESTER BECAUSE OF
TONY EVERS' VETO PEN.
UNFORTUNATELY THE STATE OF OUR
STATE IS NOT AS STRONG AS IT
SHOULD BE.
THE LEGISLATURE HAS PROVEN TIME
AND AGAIN THAT WE KNOW HOW TO
LEAD WISCONSIN IN THE RIGHT
DIRECTION.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO LEAD WITH
SMART BUDGETS AND BOLD REFORMS
THAT STRENGTHEN OUR STATE'S
FARMERS, MANUFACTURERS AND MAIN
STREET BUSINESSES.
THEY ARE THE BACKBONE OF OUR
WISCONSIN ECONOMY.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO ADDRESS THE
WORKFORCE CRISIS, RISING CRIME
AND INFLATED COST OF LIVING WITH
CLEAR SOLUTIONS THAT ALIEFN WITH
WISCONSIN VALUES.
WE KNOW THAT STRONG FAMILIES AND
DETERMINED INDIVIDUALS ARE THE
SOLUTION TO OUR STATE AND
NATION'S PROBLEMS, NOT MORE
GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS OR MANDATES.
EMPOWERING INDIVIDUALS AND
FAMILIES IS THE ONLY WAY TO
RESTORE OUR STATE AND NATION TO
WHAT IT SHOULD BE.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO LISTEN AND
TO LEAD AND WE WILL ENSURE THAT
WISCONSIN'S BEST AND MOST
PROSPEROUS DAYS LIE AHEAD.
MAY GOD BLESS THE GREAT STATE OF
WISCONSIN.
>> THAT WAS WISCON WISCONSIN STE
MAJORITY LEADER DEVIN LEMAHIEU.
>> IF YOU'D LIKE TO WATCH
TONIGHT'S SPEECH AGAIN, WE WILL
HAVE IT POSTED LATER TONIGHT ON
OUR WEBSITE.
WE'LL HAVE CONTINUING COVERAGE
AND REACTION TO THE 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
WPR DOFERG.
WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR JOINING
US THIS EVENING.
I'M SHAWN JOFN SON.
>> AND I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG
WITH PBS WISCONSIN.
THANKS FOR JOINING US.
THIS CONCLUDES OUR COVERAGE OF
THE 2022 STATE OF THE STATE
ADDRESS.
*