[MUS
[MUSIC]
>> FOLLOWING PROGRAM PBS
WISCONSIN ORIGINAL PRODUCTION.
[MUSIC] WELCOME TO WISCONSIN
PUBLIC COVERAGE OF GOVERNOR TONY
EVERS FIFTH STATE OF THE STATE
ADDRESS.
BRINGING YOU COVERS FROM
MADISON.
46TH GOVERNOR OF WISCONSIN WILL
MAKE HIS WAY INTO THE ASSEMBLY
CHAMB
CHAMBERS.
>> HE WILL SPEAK BEFORE THE
STATE SUPREME COURT, CABINET AND
TRIBAL LEADERS, GOOD EVENING.
>> FROM PBS WISCONSIN.
TONIGHT DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR
EVERS WILL BE SPEAKING TO 106TH
SESSIONING.
>> ASSEMBLY SPEAKER ROBIN VOS
WILL PROVIDE THE REPUBLICAN
RESPONSE.
>> SO THE GOVERNOR HAS NOT YET
MADE HIS WAY TO ASSEMBLY PARLOR
WHERE WE SIT OFF THE ASSEMBLY
CHAMBERS.
FULL CHAMBERS GETTING READY TO
WELCOME GOVERNOR TONY EVERS.
>> A LOT OF NEW MEMBERS WATCHING
FIRST STATE OF THE SPEECH THIS
TIME.
YOU WILL SEE FAMILIAR PATTERNS,
I AM SURE WITH REPUBLICANS NOT
APPLAUD
APPLAUDING, DEMOCRATS VIGOROUSLY
APPLAUDING.
YOU HAVE A LARGE CONTINGENT OF
REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS OBSZ
OBVIOUSLY THIS TIME.
REPUBLICAN MAJORITY HAS GOTTEN
BIGGER.
GOVERNOR IS ABOUT TO MAKE HIS
WAY.
GETTING READY IN THE PARLOR WITH
SENATORS WHO WILL ESCORT HIM UP
THE AISLE.
>> I WAS LOOKING OFF CAMERA TO
GET A GLIMPSE OF THE GOVERNOR
AND ENTOURAGE AS HE MAKES HIS
WAY TO THE CHAMBERS.
COULD BE REGARDED AS A VICTORY
LAP FOR GOVERNOR TONY EVERS
HAVING WON THE LAST ELECTION.
GOVERNOR, BUDGET WRITERS, A LOT
OF MONEY TO WORK WITH.
>> THIS IS THE THEME THROUGHOUT
THE ENTIRE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
YOU'LL HEAR THE GOVERNOR ELUDE
TO THAT IN HIS ADDRESS.
PROJECTED SURPLUS THE LIKES NO
GOVERNOR HAS DEALT WITH BEFORE.
LEADS TO A LOT OF THE OF
OPPORTUNITIES.
OF COURSE WHATEVER HE WANTS TO
DO IS GOING TO NEED APPROVAL OF
REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURE IN THAT
ROOM THERE AND VICE VERSA.
SO HOW THEY DO THAT WILL BE KIND
OF THE STORY OF THIS UPCOMING
SESSION NEXT SIX OR SEVEN
MONTHS.
>> GOVERNOR OF THE GREAT STATE
OF WISCONSIN, HONORABLE TONY
EVERS.
[APPLAUSE]
>> GOVERNOR TONY EVERS IS MAKING
HIS WAY DOWN THE AISLE SHAKING
HANDS WITH DEMOCRATIC
REPRESENTATIVES, SENATORS,
REPUBLICANS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF
THE AISLE.
THIS IS THE TIME OF NIGHT
EVERYBODY IS STILL FRIENDLY,
START OF A NEW SESSION.
SPEECH HASN'T GOTTEN GOING YET.
ALL HAND SHAKES AND SMILES.
>> I WILL SAY AHEAD OF THIS
THERE HAD BEEN TALK WHETHER IT
COULD BE BELIEVED TO BE TRUE,
THERE WOULD BE SOME WORK BETWEEN
REPUBLICAN AND MAJORITY
LEGISLATURE.
>> DIDN'T HAPPEN IN THE FIRST
FOUR YEARS.
THERE WERE RECORD NUMBER OF
VETOES BY THE GOVERNOR IN THE
LAST TWO-YEAR SESSION.
A LOT ON WHICH THEY DISAGREE.
BEING ELECTED TO A SECOND TERM
BY A LARGER MARGIN THIS TIME,
YOU COULD ARGUE IT MAKES HIM
LEGIT IN THE EYES OF SOME
REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS VIEWING
TERM AS A FOUR-YEAR BLIP.
THEY CAN'T VIEW IT THAT WAY
ANYMORE.
HE IS THE GOVERNOR.
MAYBE, SOME AREAS LOCAL
GOVERNMENT FUNDING THEY FIND A
WAY TO WORK TOGETHER.
[APPLAUSE]
>> AT THIS TIME I INTRODUCE TO
YOU GOVERNOR OF GREAT STATE OF
WISCONSIN, HONORABLE TONY EVERS.
[APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
GOOD EVENING, WISCONSIN!
HONORABLE SUPREME COURT
JUSTICES, TRIBAL NATION LEADERS,
CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS, MAJ.
GEN. KNAPP, MEMBERS OF THE
WISCONSIN NATIONAL GUARD AND
ACTIVE AND RETIRED MEMBERS OF
OUR ARMED FORCES, CABINET
MEMBERS, SEN. PRESIDENT KAPENGA,
MAJORITY LEADER LEMAHIEU,
MINORITY LEADER AGARD, SPEAKER
VOS, AND MINORITY LEADER
NEUBAUER, LEGISLATORS,
DISTINGUISHED GUESTS, AND TO ALL
OF THE WISCONSINITES JOINING US,
WHETHER YOU'RE HERE IN THE
GALLERY OR WATCHING FROM HOME,
THANKS SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE
TONIGHT.
I'M TONY EVERS, AND I'M PROUD TO
BE STANDING HERE TONIGHT AS THE
46TH GOVERNOR OF THE GREAT STATE
OF WISCONSIN TO DELIVER MY FIFTH
STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS. IT'S
GOOD TO BE BACK!
[APPLAUSE]
GOOD TO BE BACK.
MY SON, NICK, AND HIS WIFE,
LANDA, ARE WITH US TONIGHT. AND
MY FORMER KINDERGARTEN
CLASSMATE, KATHY, IS UP IN THE
GALLERY.
MRAUDZ APPLAUSE APPLAUSE
WE CELEBRATED OUR 50TH WEDDING
ANNIVERSARY LAST YEAR, AND THIS
YEAR WILL BE CELEBRATING OUR
54TH YEAR OF GOING TO THE
WISCONSIN STATE FAIR TOGETHER.
KATHLEEN FRANCES, THANK YOU FOR
YOUR RELENTLESS SUPPORT,
UNDERSTANDING, HUMOR, AND
INSIGHT. I LOVE YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE]
ON MAY 29, 1848, PRESIDENT POLK
SIGNED A BILL MAKING WISCONSIN A
STATE. THAT MEANS, IN 2023,
WE'LL BE CELEBRATING WISCONSIN'S
175TH BIRTHDAY. AND I AM PROUD
TO REPORT TO YOU TONIGHT THAT IN
175 YEARS OF STATEHOOD, OUR
STATE HAS NEVER BEEN IN A BETTER
FISCAL POSITION THAN IT IS
TODAY.
[APPLAUSE]
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
WHEN WE BEGAN OUR WORK TOGETHER
FOUR YEARS AGO, OUR ROADS AND
BRIDGES WERE IN DISREPAIR. WE'D
SENT BACK TENS OF MILLIONS OF
YOUR TAX DOLLARS TO WASHINGTON,
D.C. THAT COULD'VE BEEN USED TO
EXPAND HIGH-SPEED INTERNET. OUR
SCHOOL RANKINGS DROPPED TO 18TH
IN THE COUNTRY AT ONE POINT.
SUPPORT FOR OUR UNIVERSITY
SYSTEM HAD BEEN CUT BY HUNDREDS
OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. AND OUR
STATE WAS NOT ACTIVELY WORKING
TO ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE OR
INVEST IN CLEAN ENERGY.
WELL, I'M PROUD TO SAY THAT THE
STATE OF OUR STATE IS MUCH
DIFFERET TODAY. WE'VE GOTTEN TO
WORK FIXING THE DARN ROADS-I
EVEN HELPED FILL SOME OF THOSE
POTHOLES MYSELF, BY THE WAY.
APPLAUSE [LAUGHTER]
AND AS I STAND HERE TONIGHT, I'M
PROUD TO REPORT WE'VE WORKED
TOGETHER TO REPAIR AND IMPROVE
OVER 5,800 MILES OF ROADS AND
NEARLY 1,600 BRIDGES ACROSS OUR
STATE.
[APPLAUSE]
WE'VE ALSO GOTTEN BACK ON TRACK
PREPARING OUR STATE, OUR
WORKFORCE, AND OUR ECONOMY FOR
THIS CENTURY. OVER THE LAST FOUR
YEARS, WE'VE ALLOCATED MORE THAN
$340 MILLION INTO EXPANDING
HIGH-SPEED INTERNET-MORE THAN
ANY ADMINISTRATION IN STATE
HISTORY. MORE THAN 387,000 HOMES
AND BUSINESSES WILL HAVE NEW OR
IMPROVED ACCESS TO RELIABLE,
HIGH-SPEED INTERNET, AND I WANT
TO DOUBLE THAT NUMBER BY THE END
OF THIS TERM. AND TOGETHER WE
WILL.
[APPLAUSE]
WE ALSO CREATED THE COUNCIL ON
HEALTH EQUITY AND CHARGED THEM
WITH PREPARING A BLUEPRINT FOR
REDUCING AND ELIMINATING HEALTH
DISPARITIES ACROSS OUR STATE. WE
CREATED THE STATE'S FIRST-EVER
PLAN TO RESPOND TO AND MITIGATE
THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE.
AND I SIGNED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER
CREATING THE FIRST-EVER OFFICE
OF ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE TO
DEVELOP STRATEGIES THAT WILL
HELP US ADDRESS DISPARATE
IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE IN
COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE STATE.
OUR STATE NOW HAS A LEAN ENERGY
PLAN WITH STRATEGIES TO HELP
LOWER ENERGY BILLS FOR WORKING
FAMILIES, REDUCE OUR RELIANCE ON
OUT-OF-STATE ENERGY SOURCES,
INVEST IN JOB TRAINING AND
APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS IN
INNOVATIVE INDUSTRIES AND
TECHNOLOGIES, AND CREATE AN
ESTIMATED MORE THAN 40,000 JOBS
BY 2030.
[APPLAUSE]
I ALSO KEPT MY PROMISES: I
VETOED EVERY BILL THAT
RESTRICTED REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM;
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
EXCUSE ME.
WE DELIVERED A 10 PERCENT TAX
CUT FOR WORKING FAMILIES; WE
INCREASED INVESTMENTS IN PUBLIC
TRANSIT AND OUR UNIVERSITY
SYSTEM AND TECHNICAL COLLEGES;
WE CONVENED A BLUE RIBBON
COMMISSION TO HELP DEVELOP
SOLUTIONS AND CREATE
OPPORTUNITIES FOR WISCONSIN'S
VETERANS. AND LAST OCTOBER, WE
TOOK THE COMMISSION'S
RECOMMENDATIONS AND ANNOUNCED
$10 MILLION TO SUPPORT VETERANS'
MENTAL HEALTH, CREATE A RENTAL
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR HOMELESS
VETERANS, AND TO EXPAND
VETERANS' ACCESS TO SKILLS AND
JOBS TRAINING.
[APPLAUSE]
WE'VE GOTTEN TO WORK THESE LAST
FOUR YEARS MAKING SMART,
STRATEGIC INVESTMENTS-AND OUR
STATE'S ECONOMY SHOWS IT. OVER
THE LAST FOUR YEARS,
UNEMPLOYMENT HAS HIT RECORD
LOWS, AND WE HAD THE HIGHEST
NUMBER OF PEOPLE EMPLOYED EVER.
OUR STATE HAS A AAA BOND CREDIT
RATING FOR THE FIRST TIME IN
ABOUT 40 YEARS-THAT MEANS WE'RE
ABLE TO GET LOWER INTEREST RATES
AND SAVE YOUR TAX DOLLARS. OUR
GENERAL FUND AND 'RAINY DAY
FUND' BOTH ENDED THE LAST FISCAL
YEAR AT THE HIGHEST LEVELS EVER
IN OUR STATE'S 175-YEAR HISTORY.
WE'RE NOW EXPECTED TO END THE
CURRENT BIENNIUM WITH ABOUT $6.5
BILLION IN OUR STATE COFFERS AND
OVER $1.7 BILLION IN THE 'RAINY
DAY FUND.'
[APPLAUSE]
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
AND THAT'S GREAT NEWS,
WISCONSIN. IT MEANS WE CAN
CONTINUE OUR PROGRESS MAKING THE
WISE INVESTMENTS WE'VE LONG
NEEDED TO-AND NOT BECAUSE ANYONE
WANTS TO MAKE GOVERNMENT BIGGER,
BUT BECAUSE WISCONSINITES WANT A
GOVERNMENT THAT WORKS, AND WORKS
BETTER. WE HAVE ROADS AND
BRIDGES TO FIX, SCHOOLS TO FUND,
KIDS TO SUPPORT, COMMUNITIES TO
KEEP SAFE, WATER TO KEEP CLEAN,
AND A FUTURE WE'VE BUILT
TOGETHER AFTER YEARS OF NEGLECT
THAT, TODAY, WE MUST WORK TO
PROTECT.
WE'VE WORKED TO INVEST IN PUBLIC
EDUCATION AT EVERY LEVEL AFTER A
DECADE OF DISINVESTMENT. WE
PASSED THE LARGEST INCREASE IN
SPECIAL EDUCATION AID IN STATE
HISTORY. OUR K-12 SCHOOLS HAVE
NOW RETURNED TO THE TOP 10 IN
THE COUNTRY.
[APPLAUSE]
BUT WE ALSO KNOW OUR CURRENT
FUNDING SYSTEM IS NOT
SUSTAINABLE. FOR YEARS,
COMMUNITIES HAVE RAISED THEIR
OWN PROPERTY TAXES TO KEEP THEIR
LOCAL SCHOOLS AFLOAT. AND WHILE
SOME SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAVE
SUCCESSFULLY PASSED REFERENDA TO
HELP KEEP THE SCHOOL LIGHTS ON,
MANY HAVE TRIED AND FAILED. THIS
SYSTEM MEANS DRASTIC DIFFERENCES
IN OUTCOMES FOR OUR
KIDS-CREATING WINNERS AND
LOSERS, HAVES AND HAVE-NOTS.
DOING WHAT'S BEST FOR OUR KIDS
HAS ALWAYS BEEN WHAT'S BEST FOR
OUR STATE. AND, TODAY, WE CAN
AFFORD TO DO MORE. SO, I AM
GOING TO DELIVER ON THE PROMISE
I MADE BEFORE THE ELECTION TO
USE A PORTION OF OUR STATE'S
HISTORIC SURPLUS TO MAKE AN
HISTORIC INVESTMENT IN OUR KIDS
AND OUR SCHOOLS.
[APPLA
[APPLAUSE]
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
WE'RE GOING TO MAKE TARGETED
INVESTMENTS TO IMPROVE READING
AND LITERACY OUTCOMES AND EXPAND
FINANCIAL LITERACY CURRICULUM
ACROSS OUR STATE. WE'RE GOING TO
INVEST $20 MILLION TO INCREASE
LITERACY-RELATED PROGRAMMING AND
IMPLEMENT EVIDENCE-BASED READING
PRACTICES ACROSS WISCONSIN. AND
OUR "DO THE MATH" INITIATIVE
WILL HELP ENSURE OUR KIDS HAVE
THE TOOLS AND SKILLS TO MAKE
SMART BUDGETING AND FINANCIAL
DECISIONS TO PREPARE FOR THEIR
FUTURE.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
WE ALSO KNOW THAT IF WE WANT TO
GET OUR KIDS CAUGHT UP AND
ACHIEVING AT THEIR HIGHEST
POTENTIAL, THEN WE NEED TO
REDUCE AND KEEP CLASS SIZES
SMALL. SCHOOLS NEED RESOURCES TO
RETAIN EXPERIENCED EDUCATORS AND
RECRUIT NEW, TALENTED FOLKS TO
JOIN OUR CLASSROOMS. I'M
PROPOSING A PATHWAY TO GET
EXPERIENCED EDUCATORS BACK INTO
OUR WORKFORCE BY MAKING IT
EASIER FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO
HIRE RETIRED TEACHERS AND STAFF.
AND WE'RE GOING TO INVEST OVER
$20 MILLION INTO RECRUITING,
DEVELOPING, AND RETAINING
TEACHERS AND STUDENT TEACHERS,
INCLUDING $10 MILLION FOR OUR
LOCAL, HOMEGROWN EDUCATORS, TO
BOLSTER OUR EDUCATOR PIPELINE
AND ENSURE IT'S SUSTAINABLE FOR
THE FUTURE.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
WE ALSO HAVE WORK TO DO TO GET
OUR KIDS CAUGHT UP FROM THE PAST
FEW YEARS. WE ALL WANT TO
IMPROVE OUTCOMES AND ENSURE OUR
KIDS ARE PREPARED FOR SUCCESS.
AND I BELIEVE THAT TOGETHER WE
WILL. AND WE'LL START BY MAKING
SURE OUR KIDS CAN BRING THEIR
FULL AND BEST SELVES TO OUR
SCHOOLS AND OUR CLASSROOMS.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
WE CANNOT OVERSTATE THE PROFOUND
IMPACT THAT THE PAST FEW YEARS
HAVE HAD ON OUR KIDS IN MANY
WAYS-AND THAT INCLUDES THEIR
MENTAL HEALTH. ACCORDING TO THE
OFFICE OF CHILDREN'S MENTAL
HEALTH'S 2022 REPORT, ABOUT A
THIRD OF OUR KIDS EXPERIENCE
FEELINGS OF SADNESS AND
HOPELESSNESS NEARLY EVERY DAY-A
10-PERCENT INCREASE OVER THE
LAST DECADE.
KIDS IN CRISIS ARE OFTEN
DISTRACTED OR DISENGAGED IN
CLASS, MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO
FINISH THEIR HOMEWORK, AND WON'T
BE ABLE TO FOCUS ON THEIR
STUDIES AT HOME OR AT SCHOOL.
IMPROVING STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH
CAN ALSO IMPROVE STUDENT
LEARNING OUTCOMES AND SCHOOL
ATTENDANCE, WHILE REDUCING
BULLYING, RISKY BEHAVIORS,
VIOLENCE, INVOLVEMENT IN THE
JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM, AND
SUBSTANCE MISUSE.
SO, OVER THE LAST YEAR, WE
DOUBLED OUR INVESTMENT IN OUR
"GET KIDS AHEAD"
INITIATIVE-INVESTING $30 MILLION
OF OUR FEDERAL PANDEMIC RELIEF
FUNDS TO PROVIDE EVERY WISCONSIN
PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT WITH NEW
RESOURCES TO EXPAND SCHOOL-BASED
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES. TONIGHT,
I'M ANNOUNCING WE'RE GOING TO
MAKE "GET KIDS AHEAD" A
PERMANENT STATE PROGRAM, AND
WE'RE INVESTING MORE THAN $270
MILLION TO ENSURE EVERY STUDENT
HAS ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH
SERVICES.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
THE LAST FEW YEARS HAVE AFFECTED
OUR KIDS' MENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL
HEALTH-AND ADULTS' MENTAL
HEALTH, TOO. WE'VE SEEN
RECORD-HIGH OPIOID-RELATED
OVERDOSE DEATHS, AND WISCONSIN'S
988 SUICIDE & CRISIS LIFELINE
RECEIVED 6,000 CALLS JUST IN THE
FIRST MONTH OF ITS LAUNCH THIS
PAST JULY.
THE STATE OF MENTAL HEALTH IN
WISCONSIN IS A QUIET, BURGEONING
CRISIS THAT I BELIEVE WILL HAVE
CATASTROPHIC CONSEQUENCES FOR
GENERATIONS IF WE DON'T TREAT IT
WITH THE URGENCY IT REQUIRES.
MENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH IS
AS MUCH A HEALTH ISSUE AS IT IS
AN ECONOMIC ONE: IT AFFECTS KIDS
IN THE CLASSROOM; IT AFFECTS
WORKERS BEING ABLE TO JOIN AND
STAY IN OUR WORKFORCE; IT
AFFECTS WHETHER FOLKS ARE ABLE
TO STAY IN SAFE HOUSING OR HAVE
ECONOMIC SECURITY; IT AFFECTS
FOLKS' ABILITY TO TAKE CARE OF
AND PROVIDE FOR THEIR FAMILY AND
LOVED ONES.
SO, TONIGHT, I'M DECLARING 2023
THE YEAR OF MENTAL HEALTH.
TOGETHER WITH OUR "GET KIDS
AHEAD" INITIATIVE INVESTMENT,
WE'LL BE MAKING AN OVERALL
INVESTMENT OF ABOUT $500 MILLION
TO EXPAND ACCESS TO MENTAL AND
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR
FOLKS ACROSS OUR STATE.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
A 2022 REPORT BY THE UNIVERSITY
OF WISCONSIN POPULATION HEALTH
INSTITUTE INDICATED THERE ARE
440 PEOPLE FOR EACH MENTAL
HEALTH PROVIDER IN WISCONSIN.
AND EVEN BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, A
2019 REPORT FROM THE INSTITUTE
INDICATED THAT 55 OF WISCONSIN'S
72 COUNTIES HAVE SIGNIFICANT
SHORTAGES OF PSYCHIATRISTS. SO,
WE'RE ALSO GOING TO INVEST IN
MAKING SURE WE HAVE ADEQUATE,
AVAILABLE MENTAL HEALTH
PROFESSIONALS WHO CAN PROVIDE
THE TREATMENT WISCONSINITES NEED
ACROSS OUR STATE.
WE'RE GOING TO INVEST IN
DEVELOPING ROBUST PREVENTION
STRATEGIES TO REDUCE SUICIDE,
SELF-HARM, AND OTHER MENTAL AND
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH-RELATED
INJURIES. AND THAT INCLUDES
STATE RESOURCES TO SUPPORT 988,
THE NEW SUICIDE & CRISIS
LIFELINE-WHICH WENT LIVE IN 2022
THANKS TO THE HARD WORK OF OUR
SENATOR, SENATOR TAMMY
BALDWIN-AS WELL AS INCREASED
SUPPORT FOR PEER-RUN AND
COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES ACROSS
THE STATE.
MENTAL HEALTH DEALS WITH
EVERYBODY.
[APPLAUSE]
WE CANNOT LOOK BACK TWO YEARS
FROM NOW AS WE PREPARE THE NEXT
BUDGET AND WONDER WHETHER WE
SHOULD'VE DONE MORE AND SOONER
TO TAKE GOOD CARE OF OUR MENTAL
HEALTH. LET'S TAKE THIS
SERIOUSLY, AND LET'S START
TODAY.
AND MENTAL HEALTH IS JUST ONE
ISSUE FACING OUR STATE THAT
NEEDS URGENT ATTENTION AND
ACTION. I'VE ALSO SPENT FOUR
YEARS TRYING TO GET SOME OF THE
PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM TO BELIEVE
PFAS ARE A PRESSING THREAT TO
OUR STATE'S ECONOMY, OUR HEALTH
AND WELL-BEING, AND OUR WAY OF
LIFE. I CREATED THE STATE'S PFAS
ACTION COUNCIL TO PREPARE THE
STATE'S FIRST-EVER PFAS ACTION
PLAN. WE SET ENFORCEABLE PFAS
DRINKING AND SURFACE WATER
STANDARDS FOR THE FIRST TIME
EVER. ATTORNEY GENERAL KAUL AND
I HAVE FILED A LAWSUIT AGAINST
MORE THAN A DOZEN DEFENDANTS WHO
WE BELIEVE CONTRIBUTED TO PFAS
CONTAMINATION AND TO MAKE SURE
WISCONSINITES WON'T HAVE TO FOOT
THE BILL FOR CLEANING IT UP. AND
I ALSO DIRECTED $10 MILLION THAT
WILL HELP GET PFAS, NITRATES,
AND OTHER HARMFUL CONTAMINANTS
OUT OF ABOUT 1,000 PRIVATE WELLS
ACROSS WISCONSIN.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
WHILE CLEAN DRINKING WATER HAS
BEEN A PRIORITY FOR MY
ADMINISTRATION FROM DAY ONE,
WE'VE ALSO PROPOSED EFFORTS,
RESOURCES, AND IDEAS TO MAKE
HEADWAY ON PFAS AND OTHER
CONTAMINANTS THAT HAVE BEEN
OBSTRUCTED, DELAYED, OR OUTRIGHT
REJECTED.
SO, TONIGHT, I IMPLORE YOU,
AGAIN, TO JOIN ME IN THIS FIGHT.
THE WORK WE MUST DO TO ADDRESS
PFAS AND OTHER CONTAMINANTS
GROWS HARDER AND MORE EXPENSIVE
WITH EACH DAY OF DELAY. PARTISAN
POLITICS CANNOT KEEP GETTING IN
THE WAY OF THIS WORK WHILE
WISCONSINITES WORRY ABOUT THE
WATER COMING FROM THEIR TAP.
CLEAN WATER MUST BE A TOP
PRIORITY FOR US, FROM PFAS TO
LEAD TO NITRATES, FOLKS-AND IT
WILL BE IN MY EXEUTIVE BUDGET
I'LL ANNOUNCE NEXT MONTH.
I'M PROPOSING TO INVEST MORE
THAN $100 MILLION TO TAKE A
THREE-PRONGED APPROACH TO
CONFRONT PFAS ACROSS OUR STATE.
WE'RE GOING TO INCREASE PFAS
TESTING, SAMPLING, AND
MONITORING STATEWIDE SO WE CAN
FIND THESE CONTAMINANTS AND GET
THEM OUT OF OUR WATER. WE'RE
GOING TO MAKE MORE RESOURCES
AVAILABLE TO ON-THE-GROUND
PARTNERS TO RESPOND TO PFAS
CONTAMINATION WHEN IT HAPPENS.
AND WE'RE GOING TO WORK TO
INCREASE AWARENESS ABOUT THE
DANGERS OF PFAS SO FOLKS CAN
TAKE STEPS TO KEEP THEMSELVES
AND THEIR LOVED ONES SAFE.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
WHETHER IT'S PFAS AND CLEAN
WATER, SUPPORTING OUR FARMERS
AND OUR AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY,
FINDING MORE DISTRICT ATTORNEYS
AND PUBLIC DEFENDERS, OR
EXPANDING ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE
HOUSING AND CHILD CARE, EVERY
LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT MUST BE
WORKING TOGETHER TO ADDRESS THE
CHALLENGES FACING OUR STATE. AND
THE STATE MUST DO ITS PART IF WE
WANT OUR LOCAL PARTNERS TO HELP
WITH THIS IMPORTANT WORK.
BUT WE ALL KNOW THAT FOR THE
LAST DECADE, LOCAL COMMUNITIES
HAVE BEEN ASKED TO DO MORE WITH
LESS. STATE AID HAS GONE DOWN
WHILE COSTS HAVE GONE UP. WHILE
HELP FROM THE STATE WAS CUT BY
MORE THAN NINE PERCENT, PUBLIC
SAFETY COSTS HAVE SKYROCKETED
MORE THAN 16 PERCENT.
COMMUNITIES ACROSS WISCONSIN
HAVE BEEN FORCED TO MAKE
DIFFICULT DECISIONS TO CUT
CRITICAL SERVICES-INCLUDING
PUBLIC SAFETY.
LAST FALL, I ANNOUNCED A PLAN TO
INVEST OVER $100 MILLION TO HELP
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS FUND ESSENTIAL
SERVICES IN COMMUNITIES ACROSS
OUR STATE. AND THAT INCLUDES A
NEW $10 MILLION PROGRAM TO HELP
SPECIFICALLY FUND PUBLIC SAFETY
SERVICES LIKE EMS, POLICE, AND
FIRE.
THE BOTTOM LINE FOR ME HAS
ALWAYS BEEN MAKING SURE OUR
COMMUNITIES HAVE THE RESOURCES
THEY NEED TO MEET BASIC AND
UNIQUE NEEDS ALIKE. BUT THERE
ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS WE
CAN FIND COMPROMISE TO ACHIEVE
THAT GOAL, AND TOGETHER WE WILL.
SO, AS WE KEEP WORKING TOGETHER
ON A PLAN, LET'S FIND COMMON
GROUND. I'M ANNOUNCING TONIGHT
THAT I WANT TO WORK TOGETHER ON
A BUDGET PROVISION THAT WILL
SEND A TOTAL OF UP TO 20 PERCENT
OF THE STATE'S SALES TAX REVENUE
BACK TO OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES
FOR SHARED REVENUE.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
THIS COMMITMENT WILL ENSURE OUR
COMMUNITIES WILL SEE GROWTH IN
SHARED REVENUE IN THE FUTURE
AFTER YEARS OF STATE INVESTMENT
NOT KEEPING UP WITH OUR
COMMUNITIES' NEEDS. AND IT MEANS
MORE THAN HALF A BILLION DOLLARS
MORE PER YEAR IN NEW RESOURCES
TO INVEST IN KEY PRIORITIES LIKE
EMS, FIRE, AND LAW ENFORCEMENT
SERVICES, TRANSPORTATION, LOCAL
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, AND
OTHER CHALLENGES FACING OUR
COMMUNITIES.
THE STATE MUST FULFILL ITS
OBLIGATION TO FUND OUR
COMMUNITIES, JUST LIKE WE MUST
FULLY FUND OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS
AND INVEST IN CLEAN WATER-OUR
STATE, OUR ECONOMY, AND OUR
WORKFORCE DEPEND ON THESE
INVESTMENTS.
[APPLAUSE]
AT THE SAME TIME, JUST BECAUSE
WE'RE IN THE GREATEST FISCAL
POSITION IN STATE HISTORY
DOESN'T MEAN WE CAN AFFORD TO BE
CARELESS. WISCONSINITES HAVE
WORKED TOO HARD AND HAVE GONE
THROUGH TOO MUCH FOR US TO
RETURN TO AUSTERITY. NOW IS THE
TIME TO STAY PRUDENT, TO SAVE
SMART, AND TO BE BOLD WITH
REASONABLE INVESTMENTS TO KEEP
BUILDING A LASTING LEGACY OF
PROSPERITY.
SO, CUTTING TAXES IS PART OF OUR
AGENDA, JUST AS IT HAS BEEN FOR
THE PAST FOUR YEARS. WE'VE KEPT
MORE MONEY IN WISCONSINITES'
POCKETS AND DELIVERED THE
LARGEST TAX CUT IN STATE
HISTORY-AND WE CAN DO MORE. BUT
I ALSO WANT TO BE CLEAR TONIGHT:
SPLURGING $3.5 BILLION TO HAND
OUT BIG BREAKS TO THE WEALTHIEST
20 PERCENT OF EARNERS ISN'T
RESPONSIBLE, FOLKS; IT'S
RECKLESS.
[APPLAUSE]
WHEN WE DELIVER TAX RELIEF-AND
WE WILL DELIVER TAX RELIEF-WE'RE
GOING TO DO IT RESPONSIBLY BY
ENSURING WE CAN KEEP TAXES LOW
NOW AND INTO THE FUTURE, AND
WE'LL DO IT WITHOUT DRIVING OUR
STATE INTO DEBT OR CAUSING
DEVASTATING CUTS TO PRIORITIES
LIKE PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND PUBLIC
SAFETY.
[APPLAUSE]
SPENDING BILLIONS ON A FLAT TAX
ISN'T A WORKFORCE PLAN OR AN
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN. WE
NEED TO BOLSTER THE MIDDLE
CLASS; WE NEED TO MAINTAIN OUR
ECONOMY'S MOMENTUM; AND WE NEED
TO REDUCE BARRIERS TO WORK AND
RECRUIT AND RETAIN TALENT TO
ADDRESS OUR STATE'S WORKFORCE
CHALLENGES.
I HAVE A PLAN TO RESPONSIBLY
ADDRESS ALL THREE PRIORITIES,
AND WE'LL BEGIN HERE TONIGHT.
A KEY PRIORITY IN OUR STRATEGY
FOR INVESTING FEDERAL PANDEMIC
AID WAS SUPPORTING WISCONSIN'S
SMALL BUSINESSES, OUR WORKFORCE,
AND LONG-TERM ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT. AND WE WERE
SUCCESSFUL. A NEW 2023 REPORT
SHOWS THAT, AS A SHARE OF AID WE
RECEIVED UNDER THE AMERICAN
RESCUE PLAN ACT, WISCONSIN RANKS
NUMBER ONE IN THE COUNTRY FOR
BOTH AID WE DIRECTED TO SUPPORT
BUSINESSES AND AID WE DIRECTED
TOWARD ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
[APPLAUSE]
WE INVESTED MORE THAN $800
MILLION TO PROVIDE GRANTS TO
TENS OF THOUSANDS OF BUSINESSES
TO RESPOND TO AND GET THROUGH
THE PANDEMIC-TO MAKE HEALTH AND
SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS, PURCHASE
INVENTORY, AFFORD PAYROLL AND
RENT, AND KEEP THE LIGHTS ON.
THROUGH OUR SUCCESSFUL MAIN
STREET BOUNCEBACK GRANT PROGRAM,
I'M PROUD TO ANNOUNCE TONIGHT
THAT WE'VE HELPED MORE THAN
8,500 WISCONSIN SMALL BUSINESSES
EXPAND AND MOVE INTO VACANT
STOREFRONTS IN COMMUNITIES
ACROSS ALL 72 COUNTIES.
[APPLAUSE]
IF YOU TRAVEL AROUND THE STATE
LIKE I DO, YOU CAN LITERALLY SEE
THE TRANSFORMATIVE IMPACTS THESE
INVESTMENTS HAVE HAD IN
CORRIDORS AND COMMUNITIES ACROSS
WISCONSIN.
TAKE FOND DU LAC, FOR EXAMPLE,
RIGHT BY WHERE KATHY AND I GREW
UP IN PLYMOUTH.
CHEESE CAPITOL BY THE WAY.
SOME THINGS HAVEN'T CHANGED MUCH
OVER THE YEARS-LIKE EDITH'S
RIGHT DOWNTOWN, WHERE KATHY
BOUGHT HER WEDDING DRESS
NOT HER FIRST WEDDING DRESS, HER
FIRST AND LAST WEDDING DRESS,
GOOD LORD.
50 YEARS AGO. BUT OTHER THINGS
HAVE CHANGED-EVEN JUST IN THE
LAST YEAR ALONE.
MONICA, WHO OWNS A JEWELRY STORE
IN FOND DU LAC, WAS ONE OF THE
8,500 SMALL BUSINESSES THAT
RECEIVED ONE OF OUR MAIN STREET
BOUNCEBACK GRANTS. MONICA TOOK A
CHANCE, OPENING HER STORE ON A
STREET IN FONDY THAT, AT THE
TIME, WAS SURROUNDED BY EMPTY
STOREFRONTS. SHE THOUGHT
MAYBE-MAYBE IN FIVE TO 10 YEARS
OTHER SHOPS MIGHT FILL IN AROUND
HER.
HER SHOP OPENED ITS DOORS JUST
ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO NOW. TODAY,
MONICA'S SMALL BUSINESS IS
SURROUNDED BY NEW BUSINESS
STOREFRONTS, MANY OF WHICH
RECEIVED OUR MAIN STREET
BOUNCEBACK GRANTS. IN FACT,
MONICA'S SHOP IS DOING SO WELL,
SHE'S MOVING HER BUSINESS INTO A
BIGGER SPACE JUST A FEW BLOCKS
AWAY.
[APPLAUSE]
THE NEXT ONE IS GOOD FOR
EVERYBODY.
WHEN I VISITED MONICA'S SHOP,
SHE TOLD ME, "I NEVER COULD'VE
DONE THIS IN FLORIDA OR
CALIFORNIA." AND SHE'S PROBABLY
RIGHT. BUT EVEN FOUR YEARS AGO,
THIS DREAM MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN
POSSIBLE IN WISCONSIN, EITHER.
WHEN WE BEGAN OUR WORK TOGETHER,
WISCONSIN WAS AMONG THE WORST
STATES IN THE COUNTRY FOR
START-UP CREATION. BUT, MUCH
LIKE DOWNTOWN FONDY, WISCONSIN'S
CHANGED A LOT SINCE THEN. SINCE
2019, WE'VE SEEN SIGNIFICANT
INCREASES IN BUSINESS START-UPS.
NEW BUSINESS FORMATIONS
INCREASED TO MORE THAN
71,000-THAT'S A 42-PERCENT
INCREASE BETWEEN 2019 AND 2021.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
AND THAT WAS NO ACCIDENT, FOLKS;
OUR ECONOMIC RECOVERY PLAN
WORKED BY DESIGN. WE KNEW THAT
SMALL BUSINESSES MAKE UP MORE
THAN 99 PERCENT OF WISCONSIN
BUSINESSES. WE KNEW THAT SMALL
BUSINESSES EMPLOY NEARLY HALF OF
WISCONSIN WORKERS. WE KNEW THAT
SMALL BUSINESSES ARE MORE LIKELY
TO HIRE LOCALLY, BUY SUPPLIES
LOCALLY, AND REINVEST LOCALLY
BACK INTO OUR COMMUNITIES. WE
FUELED OUR ECONOMIC RECOVERY BY
HARNESSING THE INGENUITY AND
HOMEGROWN TALENT WE ALREADY HAVE
RIGHT HERE IN WISCONSIN. AND
IT'S WHY OUR FOCUS MUST CONTINUE
TO BE BUILDING OUR ECONOMY FROM
THE GROUND UP-STARTING WITH OUR
SMALL BUSINESSES, OUR MAIN
STREETS, AND THE HEARTS OF OUR
COMMUNITIES.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
TONIGHT, I'M EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE
WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE OUR MAIN
STREET BOUNCEBACK PROGRAM IN MY
BIENNIAL BUDGET WITH A $50
MILLION INVESTMENT TO PROVIDE AS
MANY AS 5,000 ELIGIBLE
BUSINESSES WITH GRANTS UP TO
$10,000 TO HELP AFFORD BUILDING
REPAIRS AND IMPROVEMENTS, LEASE
AND MORTGAGE PAYMENTS, AND
DEFRAY OTHER EXPENSES THAT CAN
BE A BARRIER TO SOMEONE'S DREAM
BECOMING A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
WE'RE ALSO GOING TO ENSURE OUR
MORE THAN 8,500 SMALL BUSINESSES
WHO'VE ALREADY RECEIVED MAIN
STREET BOUNCEBACK GRANTS
CONTINUE TO THRIVE BY INVESTING
UP TO $5 MILLION INTO PROVIDING
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE,
MENTORSHIP, AND EDUCATIONAL
TRAINING TO THESE SMALL BUSINESS
OWNERS TO ENSURE THEY HAVE THE
SUPPORT THEY NEED TO CONTINUE
THEIR SUCCESS.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
OUR HOMEGROWN INNOVATORS AND
ENTREPRENEURS ALSO NEED
HOMEGROWN TALENT TO SUPPORT OUR
LOCAL BUSINESSES AND OUR LOCAL
ECONOMIES-AND THAT'S BEEN A TOP
PRIORITY FOR US THESE PAST FOUR
YEARS.
WE HAD RECORD-HIGH JOB NUMBERS
IN 2022 IN KEY SECTORS LIKE
CONSTRUCTION, WHOLESALE TRADE,
PROFESSIONAL, SCIENTIFIC, AND
TECHNICAL SERVICES, AND
TRANSPORTATION AND UTILITIES.
OUR REGISTERED APPRENTICESHIP
PROGRAM LAST YEAR HAD THE
HIGHEST NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS
EVER IN STATE HISTORY. AND LAST
YEAR, WE ADDED 14 NEW CAREER
PATHWAYS TO OUR YOUTH
APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM IN
CONSTRUCTION, AGRICULTURE,
HEALTH SCIENCES, AND SCIENCE AND
ENGINEERING.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
WE MADE A GROUNDBREAKING
INVESTMENT INTO THREE PROGRAMS
DESIGNED TO ADDRESS OUR STATE'S
POST-PANDEMIC WORKFORCE NEEDS,
INCLUDING OUR WORKER ADVANCEMENT
INITIATIVE AND OUR WORKER
CONNECTION PROGRAM, WHICH HELPED
PROVIDE MORE SKILLS TRAINING AND
CAREER COACHING, AND CONNECTED
UNEMPLOYED WORKERS WITH
AVAILABLE JOBS.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
WE ALSO RECOGNIZED THAT WE
CANNOT SOLVE OUR WORKFORCE
CHALLENGES WITH A
ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL APPROACH-WHAT
SUPERIOR NEEDS TO SUPPORT ITS
LOCAL WORKFORCE AND ECONOMY
MIGHT BE DIFFERENT FROM THE
NEEDS IN PLATTEVILLE AND
MILWAUKEE OR IN LA CROSSE AND
MARINETTE. SO, WE CREATED THE
WORKFORCE INNOVATION GRANT
PROGRAM AND INVESTED IN 27 LOCAL
PROJECTS ACROSS OUR STATE TO
HELP DEVELOP LONG-TERM,
LOCALLY-BASED SOLUTIONS THAT
MEET THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF OUR
LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND REGIONS.
ONE OF THOSE PROJECTS AT THE
WISCONSIN FORESTRY CENTER AT
UW-STEVENS POINT IS FOCUSED ON
DEVELOPING THE NEXT GENERATION
OF FORESTRY PROFESSIONALS WITH
SKILLS CURRICULUM IN K-12
SCHOOLS TO GET MORE YOUNG PEOPLE
INTO THIS CRITICAL PROFESSION.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
ANOTHER PROJECT WITH THE WAUPACA
COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
CORPORATION IS EXPANDING
TRANSPORTATION SERVICES TO MAKE
SURE WORKERS CAN GET TO WORK
AROUND THE CLOCK, EVEN THIRD
SHIFT.
TONIGHT, I'M ANNOUNCING WE'RE
GOING TO CONTINUE HARNESSING OUR
LOCAL INGENUITY THROUGH THE
WORKFORCE INNOVATION GRANT
PROGRAM WITH A $100 MILLION
INVESTMENT IN MY BUDGET TO KEEP
DEVELOPING NEW, INNOVATIVE IDEAS
AND LOCALLY-BASED PROJECTS THAT
WILL SUPPORT OUR WORKFORCE AND
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BASED ON
WHAT THOSE COMMUNITIES AND
REGIONS NEED.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
WE'RE ALSO GOING TO INVEST $10
MILLION IN AN INITIATIVE LED BY
THE WISCONSIN ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION TO
COLLABORATE WITH INDUSTRIES IN
EVERY SECTOR OF OUR STATE'S
ECONOMY TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT
INITIATIVES TO RETAIN AND
ATTRACT TALENTED WORKERS.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
BUT WE'LL ALSO NEED INVESTMENTS
IN TARGETED INDUSTRIES THAT WE
KNOW HAVE BEEN HIT HARD BY THE
PANDEMIC, INCLUDING IN OUR
HEALTHCARE INDUSTRY. I'LL
PROPOSE A HISTORIC, $50 MILLION
INVESTMENT TO BOLSTER
WISCONSIN'S HEALTHCARE
WORKFORCE--TO EXPAND OUR
LONG-TERM CARE PROVIDERS,
INCREASE THE NUMBER OF MENTAL
HEALTH PROVIDERS AND
PSYCHIATRISTS, AND EXPAND THE
WISCONSIN NURSE EDUCATOR PROGRAM
TO PROVIDE HIGH-QUALITY
EDUCATION FOR OUR FUTURE NURSES.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
FINALLY, OUR STATE'S CLEAN
ENERGY PLAN PROVIDES A BLUEPRINT
FOR SKILLS TRAINING,
APPRENTICESHIPS, AND CREATING
GOOD-PAYING, FAMILY-SUPPORTING
JOBS BY INVESTING IN NEW,
INNOVATIVE INDUSTRIES AND
TECHNOLOGIES. SO, WE'RE ALSO
GOING TO INVEST NEARLY $10
MILLION INTO EXPANDING CLEAN
ENERGY JOB TRAINING AND
REEMPLOYMENT AND REDUCING
BARRIERS FOR FOLKS JOINING OUR
CLEAN ENERGY WORKFORCE.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
BUT THERE'S ANOTHER CRITICAL
FACTOR THAT AFFECTS OUR STATE'S
WORKFORCE-AND I HEAR ABOUT IT
EVERYWHERE I GO, NO MATTER WHICH
CORNER OF THE STATE I'M
VISITING. FIFTY-FOUR PERCENT OF
WISCONSINITES TODAY LIVE IN A
CHILD CARE DESERT-WHERE THERE
ARE FEW TO NO HIGH-QUALITY
OPTIONS FOR CHILD CARE IN THEIR
NEIGHBORHOOD OR COMMUNITY. AND
EVEN IF THERE IS A NEARBY CHILD
CARE PROVIDER, IT STILL MIGHT
NOT BE AFFORDABLE FOR A WORKING
FAMILY.
IF WE WANT TO ADDRESS OUR
STATE'S WORKFORCE CHALLENGES, WE
HAVE TO MAKE SURE CHILD CARE IS
ACCESSIBLE AND AFFORDABLE. AND
TOGETHER WE WILL.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
SO, THE FIRST THING I'M GOING TO
DO IS DELIVER ON MY PROMISE TO
EXPAND THE CHILD AND DEPENDENT
CARE CREDIT, WHICH WILL PROVIDE
NEARLY $30 MILLION IN TAX RELIEF
TO MORE THAN 100,000
WISCONSINITES.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
THROUGH OUR PARTNER UP! PROGRAM,
MORE THAN 200 EMPLOYERS FROM
PRESCOTT TO TWO RIVERS ARE
HELPING MAKE CHILD CARE MORE
AFFORDABLE FOR THEIR EMPLOYEES.
WE ALSO HELPED STABILIZE THE
CHILD CARE INDUSTRY THROUGH OUR
MONTHLY CHILD CARE COUNTS
PROGRAM, PROVIDING THE FINANCIAL
STABILITY PROVIDERS NEEDED TO
STAY OPEN AND RECRUIT AND RETAIN
QUALITY STAFF TO CARE FOR OUR
KIDS. ALL TOLD, WE HELPED MORE
THAN 3,300 PROVIDERS ACROSS THE
STATE KEEP THEIR DOORS OPEN; WE
HELPED MORE THAN 22,000 CHILD
CARE PROFESSIONALS STAY EMPLOYED
OR BECOME EMPLOYED; AND WE
HELPED ENSURE CARE CONTINUED FOR
MORE THAN 113,000 KIDS ACROSS
OUR STATE. THAT'S A BIG DEAL,
FOLKS.
DAN
-- THAT'S THE BIG DEAL, FOLKS,
THAT IS A BIG DEAL.
[APPLAUSE]
THESE TWO PROGRAMS MADE A BIG
DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF KIDS
AND WORKING FAMILIES ACROSS
WISCONSIN. BUT THE REALITY IS
THAT THE FEDERAL FUNDS THAT
SUPPORT THEM WON'T LAST FOREVER.
SO, WE'LL BE CONTINUING THESE
PROGRAMS TO KEEP CHILD CARE
AFFORDABLE AND ACCESSIBLE IN MY
BUDGET. WE'RE GOING TO PROVIDE
MORE THAN $340 MILLION FOR CHILD
CARE COUNTS SO PROVIDERS CAN
HAVE THE FINANCIAL STABILITY
THEY NEED TO KEEP THE LIGHTS ON,
PAY THEIR WORKERS FAIR,
COMPETITIVE WAGES, AND CONTINUE
TO PROVIDE HIGH-QUALITY CARE TO
KIDS ACROSS THE STATE.
[APPLAUSE]
WE'LL ALSO BE INVESTING MORE
THAN $22 MILLION INTO THE
PARTNER UP! PROGRAM TO EXPAND
PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN EMPLOYERS
AND CHILD CARE PROVIDERS. OUR
EMPLOYERS ARE READY TO PLAY A
ROLE IN ENSURING WORKERS HAVE
ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE CHILD CARE,
AND WE'RE READY TO SUPPORT THEM.
[APPLAUSE]
WISCONSIN, WE FACE MUCH WORK
AHEAD OF US, BUT THERE IS ALSO
MUCH OPPORTUNITY. WE CAN DO BIG
THINGS IN OUR NEXT FOUR YEARS
TOGETHER. AND IF WE ARE
INSPIRED, NOT BY POWER, BUT BY
PARTNERSHIP, IF WE ARE
DEDICATED, NOT TO SELFISH
INTERESTS, BUT TO
SELF-SACRIFICE, IF WE CAN FORGE
NEW PATHS, NOT THROUGH CONFLICT,
BUT THROUGH COLLABORATION, THEN
TOGETHER WE WILL.
[APPLAUSE]
SO, LET'S GET TO WORK, FOLKS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. ON,
WISCONSIN!
UW MARCHING BAND, TAKE IT AWAY!
[MUSIC]
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
>> AND SO THE YOOFRT OF
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN MARCHING
BAND CONCLUDED.
JOINT SESSION.
>> ASSEMBLY SPEAKER ROBIN VOS IS
MAKING HIS WAY BACK TO LOCATION
AS WE SPEAK.
HE'LL PROVIDE THIS YEAR'S
REPUBLICAN RESPONSE.
>> BEFORE SPEAKER VOS GETS HERE,
WE'LL LOOK AT WHAT GOVERNOR
EVERS HAS TO SAY IN HIS STATE OF
THE STATE.
BIG PROPOSALS INCLUDING ONE
SHARED REVENUE.
HE WOULD PUT 20% OF STATE SALES
TAXES TO SHARED REVENUE 500
MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR.
>> THAT WOULD BE A MASSIVE
CHANGE.
DEDICATING IT TO LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS.
THAT IS A BIG DEAL.
REPUBLICANS TALKED ABOUT
SOMETHING WITH LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS.
SOUNDS LIKE THEY ARE TALKING TO
THE GOVERNOR STAFF.
NOT SURE THEY ARE ON BOARD.
A LOT IN THIS SPEECH.
KIND OF LIKE A MINIBUDGET
ADDRESS ALL THE PROPOSALS.
HE HAS A BIG BUDGET ADDRESS NEXT
MONTH.
BIG BUDGET SURPLUS.
A LOT OF IDEAS.
YOU HEARD BIG PIECES TONIGHT.
>> INCLUDING WHAT WAS IT 270
MILLION DOLLARS TOWARDS MENTAL
HEALTH SERVICES FOR SCHOOL
STUDENTS.
>> IN THE COMPARE TO OVERALL
BUDGET SURPLUS, SIX AND A HALF
BILLION DOLLARS PROJECTED.
NOT HUGE, THAT IS A SIZABLE
INVESTMENT THERE.
270 MILLION DOLLARS DIDN'T HEAR
APPLAUSE FROM REPUBLICANS, WHEN
YOU HEARD THE GOVERNOR, THEY ARE
GOING TO HAVE THEIR OWN IDEAS.
HE IS GOING TO INTRODUCE HIS
SPENDING PLAN NEXT MONTH IN THE
BUDGET ADDRESS.
>> WE WERE COMMENTING AS WE
WATCHED THIS SPEECH HOW
LITERALLY CRICKETS FROM
REPUBLICAN SIDE OF THE AISLE AS
THE GOVERNOR PROGRESSED DOWN HIS
IDEAS AND PROPOSALS FOR WHAT HE
WANTS TO DO BY WAY OF PARTIALLY,
AT LEAST IN THIS ADDRESS TALKING
ABOUT THIS PROJECTED 6.5 BILLION
DOLLAR SURPLUS.
>> ASSEMBLY SPEAKER ROBIN VOS
WILL HELP LEAD REPUBLICANS.
>> VOS REPRESENTS ASSEMBLY 63.
HERE IS ROBIN VOS TONIGHT.
HELLO, I'M ASSEMBLY SPEAKER
ROBIN VOS AND I'M HONORED TO
GIVE THE REPUBLICAN RESPONSE
TONIGHT.
WE LIVE IN THE GREATEST STATE IN
THE COUNTRY WITH A VERY BRIGHT
FUTURE AHEAD OF US!
WISCONSINITES HAVE A WORK ETHIC
LIKE NO OTHER, STRONG FAMILY
VALUES, AND TAKE PRIDE IN GOING
ABOVE AND BEYOND FOR OUR
NEIGHBORS.
LEGISLATORS IN MADISON HAVE
HEARD FROM YOU. WE UNDERSTAND
THE STRUGGLES FAMILIES ALL
ACROSS WISCONSIN HAVE HAD
DEALING WITH RECORD-SETTING
INFLATION.
DUE TO THE GOOD DECISIONS MADE
BY MY REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES OVER
THE PAST DECADE, WE NOW HAVE A
RECORD SURPLUS AND AMPLE
REVENUES TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES
FACING OUR STATE.
WHILE DEMOCRATS SEEM TO WANT TO
SPEND MOST OF YOUR MONEY GROWING
THE SIZE OF STATE GOVERNMENT,
OUR TOP PRIORITY IS TO MAKE
LIVING HERE LESS EXPENSIVE WHILE
MAINTAINING OUR WONDERFUL
QUALITY OF LIFE.
WE KNOW FAMILIES STRUGGLE WITH
INFLATION ON EVERYTHING FROM THE
COST OF EGGS TO THE PRICE OF A
NEW HOME.
THAT'S WHY I'M PROUD WISCONSIN
REPUBLICANS HAVE LED THE WAY FOR
THE PAST DECADE CUTTING STATE
AND LOCAL TAXES BY OVER $22
BILLION.
IN FACT, IT WAS RECENTLY
ANNOUNCED THAT WISCONSIN
FAMILIES NOW HAVE THE LOWEST TAX
BURDEN EVER RECORDED AND WHILE
WE SHOULD ALL TAKE PRIDE IN THAT
FACT, WE STILL HAVE A LONG WAY
TO GO!
THE STATES AROUND US, MICHIGAN,
ILLINOIS, AND IOWA, ALL HAVE A
LOWER INCOME TAX BURDEN THAN WE
DO.
WE MUST DO BETTER TO REMAIN
COMPETITIVE AND I PROMISE WE
WILL.
IN OUR LAST BUDGET, WE PASSED
THE LARGEST INVESTMENT IN K-12
EDUCATION IN OUR STATE'S
HISTORY, REACHING TWO-THIRDS
STATE FUNDING, ALL WITHOUT
RAISING INCOME OR SALES TAXES.
THE PANDEMIC AND THE RESPONSE TO
IT HAVE TAUGHT US WHAT'S
IMPORTANT FOR LEARNING.
WE KNOW STATE AND LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS MADE MISTAKES DURING
COVID AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE
THEY NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN.
WE WERE REMINDED THAT
WELL-TRAINED TEACHERS INSIDE THE
CLASSROOM, GIVING REAL LESSONS
IN READING AND MATH ARE CRITICAL
TO STUDENT SUCCESS.
WE ALSO KNOW ZOOM LESSONS AREN'T
EFFECTIVE FOR MOST KIDS NOR ARE
ACTIVIST AGENDAS THAT TEAR OUR
SCHOOLS APART WITH WOKE POLICIES
THAT ACTUALLY HARM STUDENTS.
REPUBLICANS WON'T TURN OUR BACKS
ON FAMILIES WHOSE CHILDREN HAVE
FALLEN BEHIND IN THESE LAST FEW
YEARS.
WHILE SOME BELIEVE THE ANSWER TO
FIXING EDUCATION IS SIMPLY
SPENDING MORE MONEY, AS WE JUST
HEARD FROM GOVERNOR EVERS,
WISCONSIN ALREADY SPENDS OVER
$14,000 PER PUBLIC SCHOOL
STUDENT OR OVER A QUARTER
MILLION DOLLARS PER CLASSROOM.
TAXPAYERS MAKE A HUGE INVESTMENT
IN OUR STUDENTS AND HAVE A RIGHT
TO EXPECT RESULTS.
THAT'S WHY WE NEED TO FOCUS ON
QUALITY OVER JUST MORE MONEY.
NOW DON'T GET ME WRONG,
REPUBLICANS UNDERSTAND COSTS ARE
RISING FOR OUR SCHOOLS AND LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS JUST LIKE FOR OUR
FAMILIES.
THE DIFFERENCE IS GOVERNMENT
MUST DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY IF WE
HAVE ANY HOPE OF KEEPING OUR TAX
BURDEN HEADING IN THE RIGHT
DIRECTION,
WHEN WE SEE TWO OUT OF EVERY
THREE KIDS WHO DON'T READ AT
THEIR GRADE LEVEL OR AREN'T
PROFICIENT IN MATH, WE HAVE TO
DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
I'M A PROUD PRODUCT OF WISCONSIN
PUBLIC SCHOOLS BUT I ALSO KNOW
WE CAN AND MUST DO MORE TO MAKE
OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS BETTER.
WHILE MY DEMOCRATIC COLLEAGUES
WANT TO MAKE THE ISSUE ABOUT
PUBLIC VS PRIVATE SCHOOLS,
SCHOOL CHOICE ISN'T JUST ABOUT
KIDS LEAVING A PUBLIC SCHOOL TO
GO TO A PRIVATE ONE.
IN THE 2021-2022 SCHOOL YEAR,
71,489 KIDS OPEN-ENROLLED
LEAVING ONE PUBLIC SCHOOL TO
CHOOSE A DIFFERENT PUBLIC
SCHOOL.
IT'S ABOUT PARENTS PICKING THE
BEST SCHOOL FOR THEIR CHILDREN,
NOT BEING TRAPPED IN THE ONE
WHERE THEY HAPPEN TO LIVE
WHETHER OR NOT IT IS THE RIGHT
FIT FOR THEIR SON OR DAUGHTER.
NOW THE ANSWER WILL MOST LIKELY
BE SOME ADDITIONAL FUNDS TO KEEP
UP WITH THE COST OF INFLATION,
BUT IT HAS TO COME WITH
ACCOUNTABILITY TO MAKE SURE THAT
WHEN KIDS LEARN INSIDE THE
CLASSROOM, IT ACTUALLY WILL HELP
IMPROVE THEIR LIVES AND BUILDS A
WELL-EDUCATED WORKFORCE.
REPUBLICANS ARE FOCUSED ON
REFORMING GOVERNMENT, GROWING
THE ECONOMY, AND MAKING THE
RIGHT PRIORITIES FOR THE STATE
BY USING THE RESOURCES THAT WE
ALREADY HAVE.
OUR STATE FACES A WIDE VARIETY
OF CHALLENGES, BUT ONE THAT'S AT
THE FOREFRONT IS NOT HAVING
ENOUGH WORKERS TO BE ABLE TO
FILL THE EXISTING JOBS THAT WE
HAVE.
HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU GONE
INTO A BUSINESS AND THEY HAVE A
HELP WANTED SIGN IN THE WINDOW?
OR GONE INTO A RESTAURANT TO
DISCOVER THAT HALF ISN'T OPEN
BECAUSE THEY CAN'T FIND ENOUGH
HELP?
WITH OVER 102,000 UNFILLED JOBS
IN WISCONSIN TODAY, NO ONE
SHOULD BE SITTING ON THE
SIDELINES.
THIS SHOULDN'T BE A PARTISAN
ISSUE.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE PUTTING A
QUESTION ON THE APRIL BALLOT
ASKING YOU, THE CITIZENS OF
WISCONSIN IF ABLE-BODIED,
CHILDLESS, ADULTS SHOULD BE
REQUIRED TO LOOK FOR WORK IN
ORDER TO KEEP GETTING
TAXPAYER-SUBSIDIZED WELFARE
BENEFITS.
I BET IT PASSES OVERWHELMINGLY
AND LET'S HOPE OUR LIBERAL
COLLEAGUES HEAR YOU LOUD AND
CLEAR AND WORK WITH US TO FIX
THE PROBLEM.
IN THIS TIME OF DIVIDED
GOVERNMENT, WE CAN FIND COMMON
GROUND AND COME TOGETHER WITH
SOLUTIONS THAT FACE OUR
CHALLENGING WORKFORCE SITUATION.
THE VOTERS HAVE SAID THEY WANT
US TO FIND WAYS TO WORK
TOGETHER.
IN A MONTH, THE WISCONSIN STATE
LEGISLATURE WILL HEAR AGAIN FROM
GOVERNOR EVERS ON HIS BUDGET
PRIORITIES, AND LET ME MAKE A
FEW PROMISES SO YOU KNOW WHERE
WE STAND:
WISCONSIN REPUBLICANS WILL NOT
RAISE YOUR TAXES AND WON'T PASS
A BUDGET THAT DOESN'T REDUCE THE
TAX BURDEN.
WE WILL NOT GROW THE SIZE OF
GOVERNMENT BEYOND OUR ABILITY TO
PAY,
WE WILL FIGHT TO EXPAND CHOICES
FOR PARENTS IN EVERY ZIP CODE IN
WISCONSIN,
WE WILL MAKE SURE OUR NEIGHBORS
GET A HAND UP, AND NOT A
PERMANENT HANDOUT,
AND WE WILL INVEST IN OUR
PRIORITIES TO MAKE SURE THAT
GOVERNMENT AT EVERY LEVEL CAN
OPERATE EFFICIENTLY,
TOGETHER, DEMOCRATS AND
REPUBLICANS, WE CAN MAKE
WISCONSIN AN EVEN BETTER PLACE
TO LIVE, WORK AND RAISE A
FAMILY.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING ME
TONIGHT.
GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY,
AND GOD BLESS THE STATE OF
WISCONSIN!
JA
>> THAT WAS WISCONSIN ASSEMBLY
SPEAKER ROBIN VOS.
>> IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO WATCH
TONIGHT'S SPEECHES, WE WILL HAVE
IT POSTED AT PBSWISCONSIN.ORG.
CONTINUING COVERAGE AND REACTION
THIS FRIDAY EVENING, 7:30 ON
"HERE AND NOW."
>> WISCONSIN PUBLIC RADIO WILL
COVER ON-AIR AND ONLINE AT
WPR.ORG.
WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR JOINING
US LIVE FROM THE STATE CAPITOL
IN WISCONSIN.
I AM SHAWN JOHNSON.
>> I AM FRIDERIC.
THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.
THIS CONCLUDES WISCONSIN'S 2023
STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS.
[MUSIC]