>> LIVE FROM THE STATE
CAPITOL IN MADISON IT'S THE
GOVERNOR'S 1997 STATE OF THE
STATE ADDRESS.
GOVERNOR THOMPSON WILL BE
TAKING THE FLOOR IN A
MOMENT.
GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME.
I'M PATTY LOEW FROM
WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISION,
AND THIS WILL BE GOVERNOR
THOMPSON'S 11TH STATE OF THE
STATE ADDRESS, A SPEECH SOME
POLITICAL OBSERVERS THINK
MAY BE THE GROUNDWORK FOR AN
UNPRECEDENTED RUN AT A
FOURTH FOUR-YEAR TERM.
WHAT WILL THE GOVERNOR TALK
ABOUT TONIGHT?
WELL, YOU CAN EXPECT A FEW
REFERENCES TO THE SUPERBOWL
CHAMPION GREEN BAY PACKERS.
WE THINK THERE WILL BE A
TRIBUTE OR TWO AND THE
GOVERNOR HAS JUST ENTERED
THE ASSEMBLY CHAMBERS AND IS
SHAKING HANDS WITH
DIGNITARIES.
ACTUALLY A FEW OF THE GREEN
BAY PACKERS ARE HERE THIS
EVENING.
YOU'LL MEET THEM.
THE GOVERNOR WILL ALSO
PROVIDE A SUMMARY OF THE
STATE'S ECONOMY.
HE IS TAKING THE PODIUM NOW.
YOU SEE THOSE VIDEO MONITORS
IN BACK OF THEM.
HE'LL DESCRIBE PLANS TO
DESIGN AND IMPLEMENT A
STATEWIDE HIGH SCHOOL
GRADUATION EXAM AND WILL BE
ACTUALLY TALKING TO SOME
STUDENTS AND TEACHERS FROM
AROUND THE STATE.
HE'LL ALSO DISCUSS DETAILS
OF A STATEWIDE
SCHOOL-TO-WORK INITIATIVE.
AND HE CONTINUES TO SHAKE
HANDS.
THAT'S KEN BRANZELL THE NEW
REPUBLICAN SPEAKER OF THE
ASSEMBLY.
THEY'RE ABOUT READY TO CALL
THIS TO ORDER AND THE
GOVERNOR OF WISCONSIN, TOMMY
THOMPSON.
>> AT THIS TIME THE CHAIR
WOULD RECOGNIZE --.
>> AT THIS TIME THE CHAIR
RECOGNIZES THE GOVERNOR OF
THE GREAT STATE OF
WISCONSIN, THE HOHN OBL
TOMMY G. THOMPSON.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.
SPEAKER BRANZELL, PRESIDENT
RISSER, MEMBERS OF THE
LEGISLATURE, CONSTITUTIONAL
OFFICERS, HONORABLE JUSTICES
OF THE SUPREME COURT, TRIBAL
LEADERS, MEMBERS OF THE
CABINET AND DISTINGUISHED
GUESTS, LADIES AND
GENTLEMEN.
THE STATE OF THE STATE IS
EUPHORIC.
WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS.
RECORD-BREAKING ECONOMIC
GROWTH, A QUALITY OF LIFE
THAT IS SECOND TO NONE, SAFE
AND VIBRANT COMMUNITIES, AND
HOME OF THE WORLD
CHAMPIONSHIP GREEN BAY
PACKERS!
I PREDICTED LAST YEAR AT
THIS MEETING THAT THE
LOMBARDI TROPHY WOULD BE
COMING HOME.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IT'S
BACK HOME WHERE IT BELONGS,
TITLETOWN, U.S.A.
AND LET THERE BE NO DOUBT,
NOT ONLY ARE THE PACKERS THE
SUPERBOWL CHAMPIONS, THEY
ARE, INDEED, AMERICA'S TEAM.
THE PACKERS HAVE EARNED THIS
TITLE, NOT ONLY BECAUSE THEY
ARE HEROES ON THE FIELD, BUT
BECAUSE THEY ARE HEROES OFF
THE FIELD.
FROM THE LAMBEAU LEAP TO
REGGIE WHITE'S URBAN HOPE TO
BRETT FAVRE'S WORK WITH ILL
CHILDREN, THE PACKERS SHOW
TIME AND AGAIN THAT THEIR
HEARTS ARE BIGGER THAN THEIR
EGOS.
THEY WORK HARD.
THEY HELP EACH OTHER.
THEY ACHIEVE GREAT HEIGHTS
AND THEY'RE GUIDED BY A
HIGHER VISION.
SOME EVEN CREATE THEIR OWN
WISCONSIN DELICACIES, LIKE
THE GILBERT DELICACY, RIGHT,
GILBERT?
[APPLAUSE]
I THINK THEY LOVE YOU!
THANK YOU.
WE'RE VERY PROUD OF YOU.
THANK YOU.
GILBERT IS A MAN OF GREAT
STRENGTH AND HUMILITY.
A MAN WHO DEDICATED HIS
PURSUIT OF THE SUPERBOWL TO
HIS VETERAN TEAMMATES, MEN
LIKE REGGIEE WHITE, SEAN
JONES, AND EUGENE ROBBINSON,
PLAYERS WHO CONTRIBUTED
GREATLY THROUGHOUT THEIR
CAREERS BUT HAVE NEVER
REACHED THE PINNACLE.
THANK YOU, GILBERT, FOR
BEING SUCH A GREAT
AMBASSADOR FOR OUR STATE.
WE'RE PROUD TO CALL YOU OUR
FRIEND AND NEIGHBOR AND WE
DON'T WANT YOU TO LEAVE.
PLUS PLAUS
THANK YOU, GILBERT.
GILBERT ASKED ME WHERE HE
SHOULD SIT.
I SAID ANYWHERE YOU WANT,
GILBERT.
JUST AS THE PACKERS
REPRESENT WHAT IS RIGHT AND
GOOD IN PROFESSIONAL SPORTS,
WISCONSIN REPRESENTS WHAT IS
RIGHT AND GOOD IN A PEOPLE
AND A STATE.
WE ARE A PEOPLE WHO KNOW WE
ARE STRONGEST WHEN WE ARE
UNITED.
WHEN A NEIGHBOR OR EVEN A
STRANGER IS IN NEED OF HELP,
WE RESPOND WITH SPEED AND
COMPASSION.
WHEN A FIERY TRAIN WRECK
FORCED WEYAUWEGA RESIDENTS
TO EVACUATE THEIR HOMES FOR
WEEKS, IT WAS THE PEOPLE OF
WISCONSIN WHO CAME TO THEIR
RESCUE.
THEY TOOK FAMILIES INTO
THEIR HOMES, PAID FOR THEM
TO STAY IN HOTELS, OFFERED
FOOD, CLOTHING, AND MONEY.
WE WORKED TOGETHER TO
DIFFUSE A POTENTIALLY
EXPLOSIVE SITUATION.
JOINING US TONIGHT IS
WEYAUWEGA MAYOR, JUDITH
WEISMAN, AND HER HUSBAND,
RON.
NICE TO SEE YOU UNDER BETTER
CIRCUMSTANCES, JUDY.
THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR A
JOB WELL DONE.
NOTHING CAN DERAIL THE
SPIRIT OF WISCONSIN.
NOT EVEN THE DEVASTATING
TORNADO THAT SWEPT THROUGH
THE VILLAGE OF OAKFIELD.
IT WAS THE MOST HORRIFIC
SIGHT IN MY TIME AS
GOVERNOR.
A PATH OF DESTRUCTION
THROUGH THE CENTER OF THE
VILLAGE.
AS I WALKED THROUGH THE
RUBBLE OF A COMMUNITY, I SAW
A LOT OF TEARS AND A GREAT
DEAL OF SHOHOCK.
BUT SOON THE GRIEF WAS
DROWNED OUT BY THE SOUNDS OF
CHAIN SAWS, DUMP TRUCKS,
RAKES AND SHOVELS.
THE POPULATION OF OAKFIELD
SEEMED TO QUADRUPLE THAT
NEXT DAY AS STRANGERS CAME
FROM MILES AROUND TO LEND A
HAND AND A HUG TO THOSE WHO
HAD JUST LOST A HOME OR A
FAMILY TREASURE.
I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME
OAKFIELD VILLAGE PRESIDENT,
TONY O'MALLEY, OAKFIELD
RESIDENTS ALLEN SEARL AND
GARY COLLIEN AND FOND DU LAC
COUNTY EXECUTIVE AL BUECHEL.
YOU HAVE A SPECIAL
COMMUNITY, GENTLEMEN, AND
DID A WONDERFUL JOB.
WE SALUTE YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
COMING.
I CONTINUE TO BE AMAZED BY
THE ABILITY OF WISCONSINITES
TO TURN TRAGEDY INTO
TRIUMPH, BUT THAT'S THE
SPIRIT OF WISCONSIN.
WE'RE BUILDERS WITH A BOLD
VISION FOR A BETTER
TOMORROW.
WE HAVE BUILT WISCONSIN INTO
A CHAMPIONSHIP STATE.
IN DOING SO, WE HAVE HELPED
TRANSFORM A NATION THROUGH
OUR BOLD INVASIONS AND
BRILLIANT SUCCESSES.
WE ARE AMERICA'S STATE.
WHENEVER I COME TO ADDRESS
YOU IN THIS CHAMBER, IT
BRINGS A RUSH OF MEMORIES.
AS A FRESHMAN LEGISLATOR 30
YEARS AGO I SAT RIGHT OVER
THERE AND REPRESENT -- IN
REPRESENTATIVE OWENS' SEAT
AND EVENTUALLY WORKED MY WAY
UP TO REPRESENTATIVE FOTI'S
SEAT IN THE FRONT ROW.
I STILL WANTED TO BE SPEAKER
BUT NEVER QUITE MADE IT.
I STILL REMEMBER THE FIRST
SPILL BILL I AUTHORED AND
THE EXCITEMENT IT BROUGHT.
IT WAS A LANDMARK BILL, OF
COURSE.
SETTING A STANDARD FOR HOW
MUCH BUTTER FAT A PRODUCT
MUST CONTAIN BEFORE IT CAN
BE CALLED BUTTER.
YOU MIGHT CALL IT THE BUTTER
MEANS BUTTER BILL.
AND, I MIGHT ADD, IT DID
PASS.
I ALSO KNOW OF THE PASSION
AND THE CONVICTION AND THE
VIGOR THAT FILLS THIS
CHAMBER.
I CAN EVEN REMEMBER FIGHTING
WITH A FEW GOVERNORS,
ALTHOUGH I WOULD NEVER
CONDONE SUCH ACTION NOW.
A DEMOCRACY CALLS FOR US TO
DISAGREE AT TIMES, BUT WE
DON'T HAVE TO BE DISGREEBL
IN THE PROCESS.
JUST AS WE LEAVE THIS NATION
IN SO MANY ARENAS WE MUST
ALSO LEAD IN CIVILITY AND
BIPARTISANSHIP AND REFORM
THE CAMPAIGN FINANCE SYSTEM
SO IT BREEDS CIVILITY.
WE MUST DISCUSS OUR
DIFFERENCES FACE TO FACE,
SEEKING COMPROMISE.
SO, AGAIN, I WILL BE
RESERVING MY SCHEDULE EVERY
TUESDAY WHILE YOU ARE IN
SESSION TO MEET WITH
LAWMAKERS -- DEMOCRATS AND
REPUBLICANS, ALIKE.
AND YOU KNOW I'VE ALWAYS
BEEN AND AM ALWAYS JUST A
PHONE CALL AWAY.
I HOPE YOU TAKE THE
OPPORTUNITY.
VINCE LOMBARDI SAID IT WELL.
PEOPLE WHO WORK TOGETHER
WILL WIN, WHETHER IT BE
AGAINST COMPLEX FOOTBALL
DEFENSES OR THE PROBLEMS OF
SOCIETY.
SO AS WE LOOK TO THE FUTURE
TONIGHT, WE WILL REMAIN
AMERICA'S STATE BY DARING TO
DO EVEN MORE.
WE WILL LEAD A NATION INTO A
NEW MILLENIUM.
AND WE WILL DO IT TOGETHER,
IN THESE CHAMBERS AND IN
COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THIS
GREAT STATE.
TONIGHT WE BEGIN LAYING OUT
A VERY BOLD BLUEPRINT FOR
SUCCESS IN THE 21ST CENTURY.
WE HAVE SO MANY NEW IDEAS
THAT THIS SPEECH WOULD LAST
LONGER THAN THE PACKERS'
VICTORY PARADE IF WE WERE TO
DISCUSS THEM ALLIGHT NOW.
SO TONIGHT WE WILL TALK
ABOUT WHERE WE HAVE COME AND
WHERE WE WILL GO WITH
SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON THE
FUTURE OF EDUCATION IN
WISCONSIN.
NEXT WEEK I'M GOING TO
OUTLINE A VERY AMBITIOUS NEW
PLAN FOR THE ENVIRONMENT.
AND IN TWO WEEKS, I WILL
PRESENT TO YOU A BIENNIAL
BUDGET THAT WILL TAKE US TO
THE BRINK OF A NEW
MILLENIUM.
IN THESE CHAMBERS WE HELPED
SPUR AN ECONOMIC REVOLUTION
THAT TRANSFORMED WISCONSIN
FROM A HUB IN THE RUST BELT
INTO THE JOB CENTER OF A
NATION.
WISCONSIN'S ECONOMY IS AS
STRONG AS IT HAS EVER BEEN.
IF THE NUMBERS THAT TELL THE
SUCCESS OF OUR ECONOMY ARE
BEGINNING TO SOUND LIKE A
BROKEN RECORD IT IS BECAUSE
WE KEEP BREAKING RECORDS.
OUR ECONOMY IS A SWEET TUNE
OF SUCCESS THAT NEVER GROWS
OLD.
THREE MILLION PEOPLE ARE
WORKING TODAY -- THE MOST
EVER.
FOUR STRAIGHT YEARS OF
RECORD EMPLOYMENT.
WE CUT OUR UNEMPLOYMENT RATE
IN HALF TO 3.5%.
THE SIXTH STRAIGHT YEAR IT
HAS DROPPED.
WE ARE CREATING THE HIGH
SKILL JOBS THAT PAY HIGH
WAGES.
MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME IS BACK
ABOVE THE NATIONAL AVERAGE,
GROWING 14% COMPARED TO ONLY
9% NATIONALLY.
AND PER CAPITA INCOME HAS
GROWN AT DOUBLE THE NATIONAL
RATE SINCE 1990.
THIS MEANS OUR FAMILIES HAVE
MORE INCOME TO INVEST IN
RETIREMENT, TO TAKE THAT
VACATION, TO BUY A HOME, AND
YOUNG FAMILIES ARE BUYING
HOMES IN RECORD NUMBERS.
HOUSING CONSTRUCTION IS AT
ITS HIGHEST LEVEL IN TWO
DECADES.
AREAS OF THE STATE THAT WERE
LAGGING BEHIND OUR ECONOMIC
GROWTH ARE NOW CATCHING UP.
THE CHIPPEWA VALLEY IS
POISED TO BECOME THE SILICON
VALLEY OF THE MIDWEST AS THE
COMPUTER INDUSTRY'S HIGH
TECH JOBS OF THE FUTURE
REPLACE THE MANUFACTURING
JOBS OF THE PAST.
IN THE LAST 18 MONTHS WE'VE
CREATED 3,600 NEW JOBS IN
THE CHIPPEWA VALLEY.
AND THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT
ONCE AGAIN IN SOUTHWEST
WISCONSIN.
WHEN A PLANT CLOSING COST
THE REGION 560 JOBS LAST
FEBRUARY, WE REPLACED THEM
WITH 837 NEW ONES BY YEAR'S
END.
WE THANK CABELA'S AND PENDA
CORPORATION FOR MOVING INTO
THE AREA AND THANK LAND'S
END FOR ITS CONTINUED FAITH
IN OUR WORKERS BY MAKING YET
ANOTHER MAJOR EXPANSION.
I'D LIKE TO THANK PLATVILLE
CITY MANAGER AL PROBST FOR
HIS PARTNERSHIP IN
ATTRACTING THESE NEW JOBS.
THANK YOU, AL, FOR YOUR HELP
AND SUPPORT.
AND THERE ARE MORE JOBS ON
THE WAY FOR THE STATE.
WEATHERSHIELD MANUFACTURING
-- 200 NEW JOBS IN
LADYSMITH.
SNAP-ON, 160 NEW JOBS IN
ELKHORN.
ADVANCED DATA COMM, 127 NEW
JOBS IN SUPERIOR.
AMERITECH COMMUNICATIONS AND
PUBLISHING, 667 NEW
FULL-TIME JOBS IN MILWAUKEE.
FEEL THE POWER OF AMERICA'S
STATE AT WORK.
WE MUST CONTINUE INVESTING
IN OUR GREATEST ECONOMIC
RESOURCE -- OUR PEOPLE.
THAT IS WHY, IN THESE
CHAMBERS, WE ENDED WELFARE.
NOT JUST IN WISCONSIN BUT IN
AMERICA.
IF IT WERE NOT FOR THE BOLD,
VISIONARY AND COURAGEOUS
WORK DONE HERE BY ALL OF
YOU, THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES
ACROSS THIS COUNTRY WOULD BE
SENTENCETO LIFE IN A
FAILED WELFARE SYSTEM
INSTEAD OF CAPITALIZING ON
THE FREEDOM TO PURSUE THEIR
DREAMS.
WHEN HISTORY LOOKS BACK UPON
OUR WORK OF THE PAST DECADE,
W-2 WILL STAND AS AN
AMERICAN SYMBOL OF FREEDOM,
HOPE, AND THE AMERICAN
DREAM.
WE'VE ALREADY CUT OUR
WELFARE ROLLS BY MORE THAN
HALF.
WE STARTED WITH 98,000 CASES
WHEN I STARTED AS GOVERNOR.
WE'RE DOWN TO 45,000 TODAY.
THAT'S MORE THAN 53,000
FAMILIES WHO ARE BETTER OFF
BECAUSE WE CARED ENOUGH TO
HELP THEM.
NOW WE MUST BEGIN PUTTING
W-2 TO WORK, FORGING NEW
PARTNERSHIPS WITH OUR
COUNTIES, BUSINESSES,
COMMUNITY SERVICE GROUPS,
CHURCHES, AS WELL AS PRIVATE
CITIZENS, WORKING TOGETHER
TO MAKE WISCONSIN WORK.
TOMORROW MY NEW SECRETARY OF
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, LINDA
STEWART, WILL ANNOUNCE THE
AGENCIES THAT WILL OPERATE
W-2 IN YOUR COUNTIES,
FORGING A STRONG PARTNERSHIP
WITH MILWAUKEE COUNTY
EXECUTIVE TOM AMENT TO MAKE
W-2 WORK IN OUR LARGEST
COUNTY.
AND ONE OF THOSE AGENCIES IN
MILWAUKEE COUNTY IS YW WORKS
AN WITH US TONIGHT IS ITS
C.E.O., JULIA TAYLOR, OF THE
WITH YWCA AND JULIA'S CHILD
CARE PROGRAM IS HELPING
PEOPLE LIKE DAUN LEWIS
REDMOND LEAVE WELFARE.
SHE STARTED OUT IN A NEW
PROGRAM AND TODAY DAUN, A
26-YEAR-OLD MOTHER, IS
WORKING AT ALLEN BRADLEY
EARNING $17 AN HOUR AND
SUPPORTING HER FAMILY.
CONGRATULATIONS, JULIA AND
DAUN.
THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.
JULIA AND DAUN ARE MAKING
WELFARE REFORM HAPPEN IN
THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD.
THEY'RE SHARING THEIR
EXAMPLE WITH MANY OTHERS.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
THIS FALL EVERY WISCONSINITE
CAPABLE OF WORKING WILL BE
WORKING.
INSTEAD OF CASHING A WELFARE
CHECK, THEY WILL BE CASHING
A PAY CHECK.
AN ENTIRE STATE AT WORK.
ONLY IN WISCONSIN.
ONLY IN AMERICA'S STATE.
IN THESE CHAMBERS WE HAVE
BUILT AN ENVIRONMENTAL
HERITAGE THAT IS WORLD
RENOWNED AND WE WILL DO
MORE.
NEXT WEEK I WILL BE
ANNOUNCING THE BOLDEST
ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVE IN
THIS STATE IN A GENERATION.
WE'RE GOING TO CLEAN UP
CONTAMINATED URBAN SITES
CALLED BROWNFIELDS, MAKE THE
NATION'S MODEL CLEAN WATER
PROGRAM EVEN BETTER, AND
ADDRESS THE MINING OF OUR
RESOURCES SO OUR ENVIRONMENT
IS NOT PUT AT UNDUE RISK.
WE WILL LEAVE OUR
ENVIRONMENT TO THE NEXT
GENERATION BETTER THAN WE
FOUND IT.
IN THESE CHAMBERS WE HAVE
ALSO CREATED A BETTER
ENVIRONMENT FOR OUR FARMERS.
WE PROVIDED FARMERS THE
UNDENIABLE RIGHT TO FARM
THEIR LAND WITHOUT FEAR OF
LAWSUITS AS DEVELOPMENT
MOVES THEIR WAY.
NO NEED TO WORRY ABOUT A
COSTLY LAWSUIT BECAUSE A NEW
NEIGHBOR DOESN'T LIKE THE
SMELL OF YOUR COWS.
WE MADE SURE LAND IS TAXED
ON ITS CURRENT USE, NOT ITS
POTENTIAL USE, CUT CAPITAL
GAINS TAXES, CUT INHERITANCE
TAXES, AND MADE IT EASIER TO
PASS FARMS ONTO THE NEXT
GENERATION.
AND WE CUT THEIR PROPERTY
TAXES.
AND WE CUT THEIR PROPERTY
TAXES.
FARMERS ACROSS THIS STATE
ARE REPORTING GIGANTIC
REDUCTIONS IN THEIR TAXES.
LOIS ALCORN OF LANCASTER
WROTE ME SAYING, THANK YOU,
GOVERNOR THOMPSON.
THANK THE LEGISLATURE.
OUR PROPERTY TAXES WENT DOWN
$3,152.18 -- 19.9%.
WAY TO GO.
WELL, LOIS, YOU'RE WELCOME
HERE TONIGHT AND THANKS FOR
BEING SUCH A WONDERFUL
PERSON.
LOIS ALCORN FROM LANCASTER.
WE PUT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS
IN THE POCKETS OF WISCONSIN
FARMERS THROUGH OUR ACTIONS
IN THIS PAST LEGISLATIVE
SESSION.
BUT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
IS TAKING THAT MONEY OUT OF
FARMERS' POCKETS.
TOO MANY FARMERS ARE NOT
DOING WELL ENOUGH BECAUSE
WASHINGTON HAS REFUSED TO
CREATE A BALANCED AND FAIR
DAIRY SYSTEM.
IN SETTING THE PRICE OF
MILK, THE NATIONAL CHEESE
EXCHANGE JUST DOES NOT WORK.
WE KNOW THIS BECAUSE MY
ADMINISTRATION LAUNCHED A
STUDY OF THE CHEESE EXCHANGE
AND ITS IMPACTN
FLUCTUATING MILK PRICES,
DRAWING NATIONAL ATTENTION
TO THE PRICING ISSUE.
WE THEN DEVELOPED STRONG
ALTERNATIVES FOR THE USDA TO
CONSIDER, SUCHS REMOVING
THE CHEESE EXCHANGE FROM THE
MILK PRICING FORMULA.
AND NEXT WEEK, I WILL LEAD A
DELEGATION OF STATE FARMERS
TO WASHINGTON TO MEET WITH
USDA SECRETARY DAN GLICKMAN
AND HOPEFULLY GET ACTION TO
STABILIZE MILK PRICES IN
WISCONSIN.
I WILL SPEAK TO SECRETARY
GLICKMAN'S BOSS, AS WELL.
TO PRESIDENT CLINTON I WILL
SAY, MR. PRESIDENT, YOU TALK
A LOT ABOUT BUILDING BRIDGES
TO THE 21ST CENTURY, BUT AS
THINGS STAND NOW, WISCONSIN
FARMERS ARE AT RISK OF
FLOATING DOWN THE RIVER
INSTEAD OF CROSSING THE
BRIDGE.
BUILD A BRIDGE OUR FARMERS
CAN CROSS, MR. PRESIDENT.
FIX THE MILK PRICING SYSTEM.
WE HAVE THE MOST PRODUCTIVE
AND EFFICIENT FARMERS IN THE
WORLD.
IT'S TIME FOR AMERICA TO DO
RIGHT BY THEM.
AND THESE CHAMBERS WERE THE
PLACE WHERE WE ALSO MADE
WISCONSIN ONE OF AMERICA'S
SAFEST STATES.
AGAIN, THIS YEAR, SIX OF THE
10 SAFEST CITIES IN AMERICA
ARE IN WISCONSIN, INCLUDING
THE SAFEST, THE
APPLETON-OSHKOSH REGION.
AND IN THE BUDGET I PRESENT
IN TWO WEEKS A CORNERSTONE
WILL BE A DRAMATIC AND
COMPREHENSIVE PUBLIC SAFETY
PACKAGE DEALING WITH CRIME,
SENTENCING AND PUNISHMENT.
AMERICA'S STATE, WISCONSIN,
IS ABOUT TO GET EVEN SAFER.
IN THESE CHAMBERS, WE SHOWED
AMERICA WHAT IT MEANS TO
GIVE A REAL PROPERTY TAX
CUT.
ACROSS THIS COUNTRY STATES
ARE STRUGGLING TO PROVIDE
PROPERTY TAX RELIEF, BUT
ONLY ONE HAS BEEN ABLE TO
CUT ITS PROPERTY TAXES
WITHOUT RAISING OTHER TAXES
AND THAT STATE IS WISCONSIN.
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN
HISTORY PROPERTY TAXES WENT
DOWN WITHOUT INCOME OR SALES
TAX GOING UP AS AN EXCHANGE.
IT WAS A PURE TAX CUT, THE
LARGEST IN STATE HISTORY.
THEY SAID IT COULDN'T BE
DONE.
I SAID IT COULD.
AND WE DID IT.
AND WE'RE NOT GOING BACK.
ALREADY SOME ARE TALKING
ABOUT WALKING AWAY FROM THE
STATE'S COMMITMENT TO FUND
TWO-THIRDS THE COST OF LOCAL
SCHOOLS.
NO WAY.
NOT ON MY WATCH.
AND IN THESE CHAMBERS WE
HAVE WORKED TO MAKE OUR
FAMILIES HEALTHIER.
WE TAKE GREAT PRIDE THAT 93%
OF OUR RESIDENTS HAVE HEALTH
COVERAGE, THE BEST IN THE
NATION.
AND AS WE LOOK TO THE
FUTURE, HOWEVER, WE MUST
REDEDICATE OURSELVES TO
ADDRESSING THE UNIQUE HEALTH
NEEDS OF THE ELDERLY, THE
LONG-TERM CARE POPULATION,
AND, PARTICULARLY, WOMEN.
A FEW YEARS AGO MY FAMILY
RECEIVED A SCARE WHEN SUE
ANN WAS DIAGNOSED WITH
BREAST CANCER.
WE THANK GOD THAT SHE CAUGHT
HER PROBLEM EARLY AND IS NOW
DOING FINE.
WE MUST COMMIT OURSELVES AS
A SOCIETY TO DOING MORE FOR
WOMEN'S HEALTH -- FROM
BREAST CANCER AND
OSTEOPOROSIS TO DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE AND ABUSE.
TONIGHT I AM UNVEILING A
STRIKING NEW MULTIMILLION
DOLLAR WOMEN'S HEALTH
INITIATIVE.
THE INITIATIVE CREATES AN
OFFICE OF WOMEN'S HEALTH TO
COORDINATE OUR STATEWIDE
EFFORT.
IT ALSO INCLUDES $2 MILLION
TO MAKE SURE THE HEALTH
NEEDS OF LOW-INCOME WOMEN
WITHOUT INSURANCE ARE BEING
MET.
$1 MILLION FOR A STATEWIDE
CAMPAIGN TO EDUCATE WOMEN
ABOUT HEALTH RISKS,
PREVENTION, AND TREATMENT
WITH EMPHASIS ON THE GROUND
BREAKING RESEARCH ON WOMEN'S
HEALTH AT THE UNIVERSITY OF
WISCONSIN.
MONEY FOR A STATEWIDE BREAST
CANCER CAMPAIGN AND MONEY
FOR A NEW MAMMOGRAM VAN THAT
WILL TRAVEL THROUGHOUT
REGIONS OF OUR STATE,
SCREENING WOMEN FOR BREAST
CANCER.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
EVERY WOMAN IN THIS STATE
WILL HAVE ACCESS TO A
MANNOGRAM AND OTHER EARLY
DETECTION EFFORTS.
THE KEY TO BEATING BREAST
CANCER IS TO CATCH IT EARLY.
SUE ANN KNOWS FROM
EXPERIENCE, AND I COULDN'T
BE MORE PROUD THAT MY WIFE
WILL HELP LEAD THIS
INITIATIVE IN WISCONSIN.
SUE ANN?
[APPLAUSE]
[CHEERING]
OVER THESE PAST 10 YEARS WE
HAVE JOINED TOGETHER IN
THESE CHAMBERS TO HELP LEAD
THE NATION IN ECONOMIC
RENEWAL, ABOLISHEDMENT OF
THE WELFARE STATE AND SOUND
FISCAL MANAGEMENT.
BUT I STAND BEFORE YOU THIS
EVENING WITH A KEEN
AWARENESS THAT IN SPITE OF
ALL OF OUR ACHIEVEMENTS WE
HAVE UNFINISHED BUSINESS TO
ATTEND TO BEFORE WELL COMING
IN THE NEW CENTURY.
WISCONSIN SHOULD BE PROUD OF
HAVING ONE OF THE HIGHEST
QUALITY PUBLIC EDUCATION
SYSTEMS OF THE 20TH CENTURY
BUT IT IS MY PROFOUND
CONVICTION THAT WE HAVE NOT
LAID THE FOUNDATION FOR
MAKING THE SAME BOAST IN THE
NEW CENTURY.
YOU SAW THE HEADLINE IN THE
RECENT EDUCATION WEEK
EVALUATION OF THE NATION'S
SCHOOLS.
THEY DESCRIBED WISCONSIN AS,
"SATISFIED WITH THE STATUS
QUO."
THERE ARE N MORE DISTURBING
WORDS FOR THE FUTURE OF OUR
WAY OF LIFE THAN "STATUS
QUO."
THIS IS OUR UNFINISHED
BUSINESS, TO PREPARE
WISCONSIN'S SCHOOLS TO MEET
THE CHALLENGES OF A NEW
MILLENIUM.
AMERICA'S STATE SHOULD
ACCEPT NOTHING LESS.
OUR GOAL MUST BE NO LESS
AMBITIOUS THAN CREATING THE
HIGHEST SKILLED, MOST
PRODUCTIVE WORKFORCE IN THE
WORLD WITH BUSINESSES
FLOCKING TO WISCONSIN FOR
OUR GREATEST ASSET -- OUR
PEOPLE.
IT IS MY GOAL AS WE MARCH
TOWARD THE YEAR 2000 TO MAKE
EDUCATION SO COMPELLING AND
RELEVANT TO THE LIVES OF OUR
YOUTH THAT SOME DAY WE PUT
THE DEPARTMENT OF
CORRECTIONS OUT OF BUSINESS.
THERE ARE FOUR PRINCIPLES
THAT MUST BE AT THE HEART OF
THIS EDUCATION REFORMATION.
PARENTS MUST BE EMPOWERED
WITH MORE CHOICES, EDUCATION
MUST BE RELEVANT TO
WORKPLACE, SCHOOLS MUST BE
HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR
PERFORMANCE, AND TECHNOLOGY
MUST PERVADE EVERY FACET OF
EDUCATION.
THERE IS NO GREATER NEED FOR
PARENTAL EMPOWERMENT THAN IN
THE MILWAUKEE PUBLIC
SCHOOLS.
EVERY YEAR 7,000 STUDENTS
ENTER M.P.S. AND 3300
GRADUATE.
WE'RE WASTING TOO MANY LIVES
AND TOO MUCH POTENTIAL.
NOW, I WANT TO BE VERY
CLEAR.
I DO NOT MEAN THIS AS AN
ATTACK ON THE EDUCATORS IN
MILWAUKEE.
THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF
EDUCATORS WHO HAVE DEVOTED
THEIR LIVES, SOMETIMES EVEN
RISKED THEIR LIVES, TO HELP
THE CHILDREN OF MILWAUKEE
LEARN.
AND SUPERINTENDENT BOB JASNA
HAS BEEN A PIONEER IN
IMPLEMENTING A GRADUATION
MATH TEST THAT HAS
DRAMATICALLY ELEVATED MATH
PERFORMANCE IN THE MILWAUKEE
SCHOOLS.
HE IS A BOLD REFORMER, A
GREAT LEADER, AND I AM VERY
SAD THAT HE IS RETIRING.
BUT WE MUST DO MORE TO REACH
MILWAUKEE'S STUDENTS AND
MAKE SCHOOLS RELEVANT SO
THOSE 3700 STUDENTS WHO WALK
AWAY FROM THE OPPORTUNITY
FOR AN EDUCATION STAY IN THE
SCHOOL SYSTEM.
DR. HOWARD FULLER HAS HELPED
ME DEVELOP A PROPOSAL FOR A
NEW FORM OF CHARTER SCHOOLS.
HE AND I ARE PROPOSING THAT
WE EMPOWER THE MILWAUKEE
AREA TECHNICAL COLLEGE, THE
UNIVERSITY OF
WISCONSIN-MILWAUKEE, AND THE
CITY OF MILWAUKEE TO
ESTABLISH CHARTER SCHOOLS TO
FIND NEW WAYS FOR CHILDREN
TO LEARN.
THESE ARE ALL PUBLIC BODIES,
EQUALLY ACCOUNTABLE TO THE
TAXPAYERS, AS YOU AND I ARE.
WE SHOULD GIVE THEM THE
FREEDOM TO HELP TEACH
CHILDREN AND TO GIVE PARENTS
MORE OPTIONS FOR WHO IS
EDUCATING THEIR CHILDREN.
AND LET ME SAY THIS ABOUT
OPTIONS FOR PARENTS IN
MILWAUKEE.
I AM NOT GOING TO GIVE UP MY
FIGHT FOR THE MILWAUKEE
SCHOOL CHOICE PROGRAM.
I WILL TAKE THIS CASE TO THE
HIGHEST COURT IN THE LAND.
IT IS RIGHT AND IT WILL
PREVAIL.
PARENTS MUST ALSO HAVE
CHOICES WITHIN OUR PUBLIC
SCHOOL SYSTEM.
THE PEOPLE WHO ARE PAYING
THE BILLS SHOULD HAVE A SAY
IN WHERE THEIR CHILD GOES TO
SCHOOL.
SO LET'S PASS PUBLIC SCHOOL
CHOICE AND GIVE PARENTS THE
CHOICES THEY NEED TO ENSURE
THEIR CHILD GETS THE BEST
EDUCATION POSSIBLE.
AND LET'S MAKE SURE WHAT
THEY ARE LEARNING IS
RELEVANT TO THE WORKPLACE.
LAST YEAR I ASKED FORMER
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
BERT GROVER TO ASSIST ME IN
IMPROVING OUR NATIONALLY
ACCLAIMED SCHOOL-TO-WORK AND
YOUTH APPRENTICESHIP
PROGRAMS.
DR. GROVER IS WITH US
TONIGHT AND HE'S GOING TO BE
LOBBYING FOR THESE
INITIATIVES.
I THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE,
DR. GROVER.
DR. GROVER HAS DELIVERED A
STUNNING NEW VISION FOR
CONNECTING LEARNING TO WORK.
AT ITS FOUNDATION IS A
CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL-TO-WORK
EFFORT AT THE STATE LEVEL
WITH NEW OPTIONS FOR
STUDENTS TO PURSUE APPLIED
LEARNING.
DR. GROVER AND I PROPOSE
SCHOOL-TO-WORK PROGRAM INTO
THE DEPARTMENT OF WORKFORCE
DEVELOPMENT.
RIGHT NOW IT IS DISJOINTED
AND SPLIT BETWEEN THREE
AGENCIES.
I WILL APPOINT DR. GROVER AS
THE LEADER ON THE GOVERNOR'S
COUNCIL ON WORKFORCE
EXCELLENCE TO HELP US
CONTINUE TO DEVELOP NEW WAYS
OF CONNECTING WORK AND
LEARNING.
AND TO GIVE STUDENTS AND
PARENTS MORE OPTIONS FOR
TECHNICAL EDUCATION, I AM
PROPOSING A STATEWIDE
INITIATIVE TO ALLOW HIGH
SCHOOL STUDENTS
UNPRECEDENTED ACCESS TO OUR
TOP-RATED TECHNICAL COLLEGE
SYSTEM.
THE AVERAGE AGE OF STUDENTS
IN OUR TECHNICAL COLLEGE
CAMPUSES IS 28.
OFTEN STUDENTS LEAVE HIGH
SCHOOL WITH NO CAREER IN
MIND ONLY TO REALIZE 10
YEARS LATER THEY NEED MORE
EDUCATION IN ORDER TO
SUCCEED.
WE SHOULD HELP OUR STUDENTS
REACH THAT CONCLUSION
EARLIER IN LIFE.
IF JOHNNIE DECIDES HIS
JUNIOR YEAR HE WOULD LIKE TO
BECOME A CARPENTER AND JOIN
HIS FATHER'S CONSTRUCTION
BUSINESS, LET'S GET HIM
READY.
I WANT TO GIVE STUDENTS IN
EVERY SCHOOL DISTRICT THE
OPTION OF ATTENDING A
TECHNICAL COLLEGE THEIR
JUNIOR AND SENIOR YEAR OF
HIGH SCHOOL, ACTUALLY
EARNING THEIR HIGH SCHOOL
DIPLOMA FROM THE TECHNICAL
COLLEGE IF THEY SO CHOOSE.
AND FROM THERE, THE STUDENT
COULD GO ON FOR A TECHNICAL
COLLEGE DEGREE, TRANSFER TO
A FOUR-YEAR DEGREE PROGRAM,
OR ENTER THE WORKFORCE AS A
WELL-TRAINED WORKER.
I ENVISION THE CREATION OF A
KINDERGARTEN THROUGH GRADE
14 PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM
WHERE WORK AND LEARNING ARE
FULLY CONNECTED, WHERE
EDUCATION IS MORE RELEVANT
TO BOTH THE WORKPLACE AND
THE STUDENT AND WHERE
TECHNICAL EDUCATION IS A
NATURAL NEXT STEP FOR OUR
STUDENTS.
ESSENTIAL TO MAKING
EDUCATION RELEVANT IS MAKING
OUR SCHOOLS ACCOUNTABLE FOR
THEIR PERFORMANCE.
WE MUST SET CONCRETE,
RIGOROUS ACADEMIC STANDARDS
FOR OUR SCHOOLS AND MEASURE
OUR STUDENTS' LEARNING.
TONIGHT I AM PROPOSING MODEL
ACADEMIC STANDARDS IN MATH,
SCIENCE, ENGLISH AND
LANGUAGE ARTS -- GEOGRAPHY
AND HISTORY.
I'M BRINGING THESE STANDARDS
FORWARD AS A STARTING POINT
IN A PROCESS THAT WILL LEAD
TO A FIRSTSTVER SET OF STATE
MODELD STANDARDS.
THESE ARE NOT SQIRBY,
CULTURAL OR SOCIAL
STANDARDS.
I'M TALKING ABOUT STRICT,
ACADEMIC STANDARDS IN CORE
SUBJECT AREAS.
FOR EXAMPLE, OUR MATH
STANDARDS REQUIRE EACH
STUDENT TO CALCULATE WITH
EFFICIENCY AND ACCURACY
SELECTING APPROPRIATE
METHODS AND PROCEDURES.
IN HISTORY EACH STUDENT MUST
BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY, CITE
AND DISCUSS IMPORTANT
HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS THAT
HAVE INFLUENCED GOVERNMENT
IN THE UNITED STATES AND
EXPLAIN THE NATURE OF THEIR
INFLUENCE.
WE EVEN HAVE AN ENGLISH
STANDARD.
I KNOW EVERYONE IN THIS
CHAMBER WILL LIKIKE IT.
THIS IS A STANDARD FOR OUR
ASPIRING JOURNALISTS.
IT REQUIRES --.
IT REQUIRES THAT EACH
STUDENT DISTINGUISH FACT
FROM OPINION INN ARTICLE.
IDENTIFY PROPAGANDA
TECHNIQUES AND INTEGRATE
KNOWLEDGE FROM THE ARTICLE
INTO PRIOR KNOWLEDGE ABOUT
THE TOPIC.
THESE STANDARDS REPRESENT
THE FUNDAMENTAL KNOWLEDGE
AND SKILLS OUR STUDENTS MUST
HAVE TO SUCCEED IN THE
WORKPLACE.
AND THESE STANDARDS SHOULD
BE TESTED IN A HIGH STATES
GRADUATION TEST.
IF YOU DON'T PASS, YOU DON'T
GRADUATE.
IF YOU CAN'T DO BASIC MATH,
IF YOU CAN'T READ A JOB
APPLICATION, AND IF UNTIL
THIS PAST SUNDAY YOU THOUGHT
THE FRENCH QUARTER WAS IN
FRANCE, YOU HAVE NOT EARNED
THE HONOR OF BEING A HIGH
SCHOOL GRADUATE IN AMERICA'S
STATE.
M.P.S. IS PROOF POSITIVE
THAT STANDARDS STRIFE
EXCELLENCE.
WHEN THE FIRST STUDENTS TOOK
THEIR GRADUATION MATH TEST
ONLY 21% PASSED.
BUT INSTEAD OF MAKING THE
TEST EASIER, AND LOWERING
THE BAR OF EXCELLENCE,
M.P.S. AND ITS MATH TEACHERS
MADE SURE THEIR STUDENTS
CROSSED THE BAR, LAST TIME
OUT, 96% OF THE STUDENTS
PASSED THE TEST.
TONIGHT I WOULD LIKE TO
APPLAUD BOB JASNA, THE
M.P.S. MATH TEACHERS FOR
SETTING THE BAR HIGH FOR
WISCONSIN WHEN IT COMES TO
EDUCATIONAL STANDARDS.
PLEASE WELCOME BOB JASNA, A
MATH TEACHER FROM MADISON
UNIVERSITY HIGH SCHOOL AND
DONNIE WALLACE, A VINCENT
HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT.
THANK YOU, BOB, FOR DOING A
WONDERFUL JOB AND I HOPE YOU
RECONSIDER AND STAY FOR A
COUPLE MORE YEARS.
LET ME BE CLEAR.
THE STANDARDS WE ARE
CREATING ARE MODEL
STANDARDS.
A BAR SET BY THE STATE.
BUT I WANT COMMUNITIES TO
HAVE THE FLEXIBILITY TO SET
THEIR OWN STANDARDS, TAKING
INTO ACCOUNT THE UNIQUE
NEEDS AND PRIORITIES OF THE
COMMUNITY.
THEREFORE I'M ASKING LOCAL
SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO ADOPT
THEIR OWN STANDARDS BY THE
1998 SCHOOL YEAR WITH THE
GRADUATION TEST IN PLACE BY
THE 1999 SCHOOL YEAR.
AND I'M ASKING THE
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC
INSTRUCTION TO DEVELOP THE
GRADUATION TEST BASED ON THE
FIVE CORE SUBJECT AREAS.
LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS WILL
HAVE THE FLEXIBILITY TO WORK
WITH PARENTS, EMPLOYERS, AND
LOCAL TEACHERS TO REFINE THE
TEST TO MEET THE NEEDS OF
THEIR COMMUNITIES.
SCHOOL DISTRICTS WILL HAVE
TO ANSWER TO THEIR PARENTS
AND TAXPAYERS IF THEIR TEST
IS LESS RIGOROUS THAN THOSE
OF THE NEIGHBORING SCHOOL
DISTRICT AND THESE CHAMBERS
AND ACROSS WISCONSIN WE MUST
DEMAND EXCELLENCE IN OUR
SCHOOLS.
TO COORDINATE THIS ENDEAVOR
I AM PROPOSING THE CREATION
OF STANDARDS DEVELOPMENT
COUNCIL CHAIRED BY THE
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR WITH A
REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC
INSTRUCTION AND THE
CHAIRPERSONS AND RANKING
MINORITY MEMBERS OF THE
EDUCATION COMMITTEES OF THE
SENATE AND ASSEMBLY.
THE COUNCIL WILL BE CHARGED
WITH CONDUCTING A STATEWIDE
PUBLIC PROCESS TO APPROVE OR
MODIFY THE STANDARDS THAT I
AM PROPOSING TONIGHT.
I'M ASKING THE COUNCIL TO
REPORT ITS RECOMMENDATION BY
SEPTEMBER OF THIS YEAR.
TONIGHT IS THE CULMINATION
OF A YEAR AND A HALF OF
WORK.
AND BRINGING THE ISSUE OF
ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT TO THE
FOREFRONT OF PUBLIC DEBATE.
A YEAR AGO ON MARCH 26 AND
MARCH 27 I CONVENED A
NATIONAL EDUCATION SUMMIT
WITH I.B.M.'S LOU GERSNER.
THERE THE NATION'S GOVERNORS
AND BUSINESS LEADERS AND
EDUCATORS REACHED AN
AGREEMENT ON THE NEED FOR
TOUGH, RIGOROUS STANDARDS.
AND TONIGHT I'M ASKING YOU,
DEMOCRATS, REPUBLICANS,
INDEPENDENTS, PARENTS,
TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS, TO
TAKE THIS TO THE NEXT LEVEL.
DEVELOP A CONSENSUS ON WHAT
OUR CHILDREN SHOULD BE
LEARNING IN SCHOOL.
I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK FOR A
MOMENT TO THE PARENTS OF
WISCONSIN.
I HOPE THE PARENTS OF
WISCONSIN WILL AVAIL
THEMSELVES OF THE
OPPORTUNITY TO RECEIVE THIS
DOCUMENT, READ IT LINE BY
LINE, AND FIND OUT WHAT SORT
OF INFORMATION SHOULD BE
TAUGHT TO YOUR CHILD AND
CHILDREN.
IT IS CRITICAL THAT YOU
REVIEW EVERY LINE, EVERY
WORD OF THESE STANDARDS.
YOUR VOICE, THE PARENTS'
VOICES, NOT JUST THE VOICE
OF THE EDUCATION EXPERTS, IS
WHAT WE NEED TO HEAR AS WE
DEFINE WHAT ACADEMIC
STANDARDS OUR STUDENTS
SHOULD MEET.
I HOPE ALL OF YOU LET ME
KNOW WHAT YOU THINK.
AS YOU REVIEW THESE
STANDARDS, YOU'LL NOTICE
THAT EVERY ONE OF THEM
INCLUDES A TECHNOLOGY
COMPONENT.
TECHNOLOGY MUST BE AN
INTEGRAL PART OF EVERY FACET
OF EDUCATION.
TONIGHT I'M ANNOUNCING ONE
OF THE MOST EXCITING
INITIATIVES I'VE EVER
UNDERTAKEN AS GOVERNOR.
IT WILL REVOLUTIONIZE HOW
AND WHAT OUR STUDENTS LEARN,
HOW OUR SCHOOLS TEACH, AND
IN SOME CASES EVEN WHAT A
SCHOOL IS.
I WANT TO INTRODUCE YOU TO
TECHNOLOGY, EDUCATION
ACHIEVEMENT IN WISCONSIN OR
SIMPLY TEACH WISCONSIN.
A $200 MILLION INVESTMENT IN
THE FUTURE OF OUR CLASSROOMS
OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS AND
A $500 MILLION INVESTMENT
OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.
TEACH WISCONSIN IS MY
COMMITMENT TO ENSURING EVERY
SCHOOL, EVERY STUDENT, AND
EVERY TEACHER HAS THE
HARDWARE, THE SOFTWARE, AND
THE KNOWLEDGE TO OPEN NEW
EDUCATION WORLDS THROUGH THE
USE OF TECHNOLOGY.
TEACH WISCONSIN WILL PUT THE
WORLD AT THE FINGER TIPS OF
EVERY STUDENT.
IT WILL LIBERATE TEACHERS
AND STUDENTS FROM THE BONDS
OF CLASSROOM WALLS.
TEACH WISCONSIN WILL BREAK
DOWN THE BARRIERS BETWEEN
EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS,
MAKING THE UNIVERSITY AND
TECHNICAL COLLEGE SYSTEMS
RELEVANT TO STUDENTS YEARS
BEFORE THEY HEAR THEIR FIRST
POMP AND CIRCUMSTANCE.
THE ONLY TETHER IN EDUCATION
WILL BE THE SIZE OF OUR
IMAGINATIONS AND OUR
WILLINGNESS TO APPLY THE
RESOURCES AT OUR DISPOSAL.
MY BUDGET WILL CONTAIN $65
MILLION OVER THE BYEN YUM
AND I'M GOING -- ONGOING
BLACK GRANTS TO SCHOOL
DISTRICT FOR TECHNOLOGY.
$50 MILLION IN ANNUAL
BONDING WILL BE AVAILABLE AS
LOANS TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO
UPGRADE ELECTRICAL AND
NETWORK WIRING AND THESE
GRANTS AND LOANS WILL BE A
PART -- APART FROM THE
REVENUE LIMITS ON SCHOOLS TO
AVOID PAINFUL, LOCAL
SPENDING DECISIONS.
WE ARE BUILDING A SONNET
RING AROUND WISCONSIN, A
FIBER OPTIC HIGHWAY
CONNECTING THE SCHOOLS OF
OUR STATE.
NO OTHER STATE WILL HAVE
ANYTHING LIKE IT.
THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO PUT IT
UP BUT I GUESS -- AND I'M
INSURING ALL SCHOOL
DISTRICTS HAVE ACCESS TO THE
SON IK RING AND A HIGH-SPEED
DATA LINK FOR NO MORE THAN
$250 PER MONTH.
THAT COMPARES TO THE
APPROXIMATELY $2500 MONTHLY
FEE MANY SCHOOLS PAY NOW.
OUR COOPERATEIVE EDUCATIONAL
SERVICE AGENCIES WILL
RECEIVE $8 MILLION OVER THE
BIENIUM, PROVIDE TRAINING
PROGRAMS FOR TEACHERS TO
LEARN BETTER USES OF
TECHNOLOGY.
IF TEACHERS CAN'T TEACH
STUDENTS TO NAVIGATE THE
SONIC RING OUR INVESTMENT IS
WASTED.
I'VE SET ASIDE $15 MILLION
FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF
WISCONSIN SYSTEM AND THE
TECHNICAL COLLEGE SYSTEM FOR
CONTINUED DEVELOPMENT AND
EXPANSION OF THE STUDENT
INFORMATION SYSTEM, DISTANCE
EDUCATION, CLASSROOM
TECHNOLOGY, AND TEACHER
TRAINING.
I'D LIKE TO THANK UNIVERSITY
OF WISCONSIN SYSTEM,
PRESIDENT KATHERINE LYLE,
AND WISCONSIN TECHNICAL
COLLEGE SYSTEM PRESIDENT ED
CHIN FOR THEIR VISION AND
PARTNERSHIP IN MAKING
TENOLOGY COME ALIVE FOR
OUR STUDENTS.
THE FINANCIAL COMMITMENT I'M
MAKING TO EDUCATIONAL
TECHNOLOGY IS NOT ONE TIME
PHANTOM MONEY.
EVEN THOUGH THIS IS GOING TO
BE A TIGHT BUDGET, WE MUST
MAKE A LONG-TERM INVESTMENT
IN THE FUTURE OF OUR
CHILDREN.
AND I'M CHALLENGING EACH OF
YOU, EACH LEGISLATOR, AND
EACH LEADER IN THIS CHAMBER
TODAY, TO ADOPT A SCHOOL AND
HELP GET IT WIRED.
THAT MEANS JOINING THE
WIRING WISCONSIN TEAM THIS
SPRING, ROLLING UP YOUR
SLEEVES, AND HELPING YOUR
ADOPTED SCHOOL PULL WIRES
INTO CLASSROOMS.
I WILL BE ADOPTING A SCHOOL
FROM MY HOME DISTRICT IN EL
ROY.
WHEN IT COMES TO INVESTING
IN TECHNOLOGY FOR TOMORROW'S
CLASSROOM, NO OTHER STATE
COMES CLOSE TO AMERICA'S
STATE.
NOW FOR THOSE OF US WHO WENT
TO SCHOOL WITH LAURA INGALS
WILDER AND THOUGHT
TECHNOLOGY WAS INDOOR
PLUMBING, IT IS SOMETIMES
HARD TO PICTURE EXACTLY HOW
THIS TECHNOLOGY CAN
DRAMATICALLY TRANSFORM YOUR
CHILDREN'S CLASSROOM.
SO I'D LIKE TO SHOW YOU THE
BACK PACK OF THE FUTURE.
THIS IS THE NEW NOTEBOOK
THAT STUDENTS WILL BE
CARRYING.
INSTEAD OF BOOKS, THEY WILL
BE RECEIVING THE KNOWLEDGE
FROM C.D.ROMS.
INSTEAD OF PENCIL HOLDERS
THEY'LL NEED SOMETHING TO
HOLD THEIR FLOPPY DISKS AND
C.D. ROMS.
ONE THING WILL NEVER CHANGE.
THEY'LL STILL NEED AN APPLE
FOR THE TEACHER.
TO SHOW YOU THE CLASSROOM OF
THE FUTURE, I'D LIKE TO
BRING IN SOME FRIENDS OF
MINE FROM WASHBURN AND
MILWAUKEE.
THEY WILL SHOW YOU THAT
WE'RE NOT EXAGGERATING WHEN
WE SAY THIS NEW TECHNOLOGY
IS AWESOME.
LET'S GO FIRST TO HIGH MOUNT
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN
MILWAUKEE AND MEET WISCONSIN
JOHNSON, A DOCTOR FROM THE
MILWAUKEE PUBLIC MUSEUM.
WISCONSIN JOHNSON IS OUR
INDIANA JONES.
>> YOU ACTUALLY KNOW WHAT
THE ANIMAL EATS BY STUDYING
THE TEETH.
>> DR. JOHNSON CAN WE
INTERRUPT FOR A MINUTE?
>> GOVERNOR THOMPSON, GOOD
TOTO SEE YOU.
>> HELLO.
HOW ARE YOU?
>> GOOD.
>> CAN YOU TELL US WHAT
YOU'RE DOING THERE?
>> YES.
WE'RE EXPLORING THE EXCITING
WORLD OF DINOSAURS WITH
STUDENTS HERE IN MILWAUKEE.
IT'S HIGH MOUNT ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL WHERE I AM BUT MORE
IMPORTANT WITH STUDENTS UP
IN NORTHERN WISCONSIN AT
WASHBURN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
WE'RE USING T THE DISTAE
LEARNING TECHNOLOGY WHICH
HAS BECOME A VERY IMPORTANT
TOOL FOR THE MUSEUM.
>> DR. JOHNSON, COULD THE
STUDENTS TELL THE, TELL ME
AND THE LEGISLATURE AND THE
SITORS HOW THEY THINK THIS
PROGRAM IS WORKING?
>> I THINK THEY'D BE HAPPY
TO DO THAT.
>> LET'S HEAR FROM THEM.
JOSH, CAN YOU TALK TO US?
>> YES.
HI, GOVERNOR.
>> HI, JOSH.
>> I LIKE GETTING CONNECTED
TO OTHER SCHOOLS.
WE CAN SHARE A LOT OF THINGS
WITH THEM.
MY NAME IS CHARLOTTE.
IT WAS FUN AND GAVE US
OPPORTUNITIES TO SHARE IDEAS
WITH EACH OTHER.
>> TALKING TO OTHER SCHOOLS
IS GREAT.
IT GIVES US A CHANCE TO FIND
OUT WHAT STUDENTS ARE DOING
IN SCHOOLS FAR AWAY.
>> IT'S LIKE HAVING A PEN
PAL BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO
WRITE ANYTHING.
>> THAT'S VERY GOOD.
NATASHA, HOW IS THIS
TECHNOLOGY HELPING YOU
LEARN.
>> HI, GOVERNOR.
>> HI, NATASHA.
>> TECHNOLOGY OPENS UP OUR
SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY TO
ANYWHERE IN THE WHOLE WORLD.
>> YOU'RE WONDERFUL.
THANK YOU.
I'LL BE BACK IN JUST A
MINUTE.
LET'S BRING IN OUR FRIENDS
FROM WASHBURN IN NORTHERN
WISCONSIN.
THEY'RE SHARING THE DINOSAUR
PROJECT WITH MOUNT HOPE.
CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT YOU
THOUGHT ABOUT TAKING A CLASS
IN DINOSAURS FROM A TEACHER
IN MILWAUKEE?
>> WE WANTED TO LEARN ALL
ABOUT DINOSAURS BUT THERE
ISN'T A PALEONTOLOJIST HERE.
WE COULDN'T GO TO THE
MILWAUKEE MUSEUM BECAUSE
IT'S SO FAR AWAY.
THROUGH THE FIBER OPTICS
SYSTEM WE WERE ABLE TO
COMMUNICATE WITH THE MUSEUM
AND LEARN ABOUT DINOSAURS
FIRSTHAND.
>> HOW DOES THE CLASS WORK,
ELSA?
>> WE SHARED THE STORIES AND
ACTIVITIES ABOUT DINOSAURS
WITH THE STUDENTS IN
MILWAUKEE.
WE EACH DID A PROJECT ON
DINOSAURS.
WE TOOK PHOTOS OF OUR
PROJECTS AND PUT THEM UNDER
THE DOCUMENT CAMERA SO THEY
COULD BE SEEN BY THE
STUDENTS IN MILWAUKEE.
WE EVEN BUILT A HUGE
DINOSAUR THAT FILLED HALF OF
THE CLASSROOM AND SENT A
PICTURE TO THE STUDENTS AND
THEY LIKED IT SO MUCH THEY
EVEN PUT IT ON THEIR WEB
SITE.
>> THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.
I HEAR THIS DINOSAUR WAS THE
LARGEST EVER BUILT.
IS THAT CORRECT?
>> YES.
>> YOU HAD A FUN TIME MAKING
IT?
>> YES.
>> I SEE YOU BROUGHT IN A
LOT OF YOUR CLASSMATES
TONIGHT.
IS THAT CORRECT?
>> YES.
>> THAT'S WONDERFUL.
THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.
YOU'RE GREAT KIDS.
>> DR. JOHNSON JUST TO WRAP
UP HERE, COULD YOU TELL THE
LEGISLATURE AND WISCONSIN
WHO'S WATCHING YOU TONIGHT
HOW THIS NEW TECHNOLOGY AND
THE FIBER OPTIC CABLE REALLY
WORKS TO HELP YOU TEACH THIS
CLASS IN HIGH MOUNT AS WELL
AS IN WASHBURN?
>> YES.
THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT AT
THE MILWAUKEE PUBLIC MUSEUM
THESE TECHNOLOGIES HAVE
BECOME VERY IMPORTANT TOOLS
CERTAINLY FOR THOSE OF US
WHO ARE SCIENTISTS WE USE IT
TO COLLECT AND DISTRIBUTE
DATA AND RESEARCH.
WHAT'S REALLY EXCITING IS
THAT KIDS ARE USING THINGS
LIKE THE INTERNET OR YOU SEE
THE STUDENTS INTERACTING.
IT'S EXCITING TO SEE THEIR
CURIOSITY AND TO ACTUALLY
SEE THEM GET A PASSION FOR
LEARNING.
THESE ARE TOOLS WE'RE USING
AT MUSEUMS AND INSTITUTIONS
TO HELP US.
THE KIDS DID MAKE A
WORLDWIDE WEB SITE.
MAYBE YOU CAN SEE THAT.
HERE YOU GO.
HERE IS THE HOME PAGE OF THE
WEB SITE THAT THE STUDENTS
ACTUALLY MADE.
THEY WERE ABLE TO PUT IN
THEIR ORIGINAL IDEAS AND
STORIES AND USE THESE
TECHNOLOGIES WHICH ARE SO
IMPORTANT.
WE RECOGNIZE IN THE MUSEUM
COMMUNITY THAT THESE ARE
TOOLS WE HAVE TO USE AND
WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT
THIS EDUCATIONAL
OPPORTUNITY.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
DR. JOHNSON AND, STUDENTS,
YOU DESERVE AN A AND
TOMORROW OFF.
I'LL TELL YOU.
>> WE STILL HAVE MORE
DINOSAUR STUFF TO DO.
>> THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.
YOU STUDENTS WERE EXCELLENT.
CONGRATULATIONS.
THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.
WHAT A GREAT WAY TO LEARN.
STUDENTS FROM OPPOSITE ENDS
OF THE STATE LEARNING
TOGETHER.
THE TECHNOLOGY WE USED IS
THE FIBER OPTIC VIDEO
NETWORK AND THIS IS THE
CLASSROOM OF TOMORROW.
WHAT YOU'VE SEEN TONIGHT IS
ON TWO LITTLE WIRES.
THIS CABLE HERE CAN HANDLE
500,000 TELEPHONE HOOKUPS IN
THE STATE.
THIS CABLE, THE SIZE OF THIS
CABLE.
THESE TWO LITTLE WIRES HERE
CAN TRANSMIT 60,000
MESSAGES.
WE ALSO USE THIS TECHNOLOGY,
KATHERINE LYLE AND I AND ED
CHIN TO ALLOW A STUDENT IN
MILWAUKEE TO REGISTER AT UWM
FROM HER CLASSROOM FROM HER
P.C. COMPUTER.
THAT'S THE WAY OF TOMORROW
AND WE WANT WISCONSIN,
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, TO
LEAD THE WAY AND WE CAN DO
IT.
TECHNOLOGY IS A GREAT
EQUALIZER.
IT GIVES EVERY STUDENT,
WHETHER POOR OR WEALTHY,
RURAL OR URBAN, ACCESS TO
THE BEST TEACHERS.
THE BEST INFORMATION AND THE
BEST EDUCATION POSSIBLE.
THE STUDENT FROM ELROY WILL
HAVE THE SAME OPPORTUNITY AS
THE STUDENT FROM BROOKFIELD.
THIS IS THE CHALLENGE THAT
LIES BEFORE US.
TO CREATE THE CLASSROOM OF
THE FUTURE WHERE EVERY
STUDENT CAN ACHIEVE AT A
HIGH LEVEL AND GRADUATE WITH
THE SKILLS TO CONTRIBUTE.
IN THESE CHAMBERS LET US
MAKE SURE THAT OUR CHILDREN
ARE ABLE TO LEAD THIS STATE
TO EVEN GREATER HEIGHTS WELL
INTO THE NEXT CENTURY.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
CONSTITIONAL OFFICERS,
PEOPLE OF WISCONSIN, THIS
WEEK HAS BEEN EUPHORIC.
THIS WEEK THE WORLD WATCHED
AS OUR AMBASSADORS THE GREEN
BAY PACKERS, THE PRIDE OF
WISCONSIN, ASCENDED TO THE
PINNACLE OF ATHLETIC
ACHIEVEMENT.
BUT IT STRIKES ME THAT WHAT
WE WITNESSED THIS WEEK WAS
NOT MERELY A SPORTING
VICTORY.
THE GREEN BAY PACKERS HAVE
COME TO SYMBOLIZE OUR ENTIRE
STATE AND OUR WAY OF LIFE, A
HOMETOWN TEAM STILL OWNED,
LOCK, STOCK AND BARREL, BY A
COMMUNITY, WINNING IT ALL.
AMERICA'S TEAM IN AMERICA'S
STATE.
AND THIS TEAM IS BUILT ON
MORE THAN ATHLETIC PROWESS.
AFTER THE NFC CHAMPIONSHIP
GAME I WAS INVITED INTO THE
LOCKER ROOM TO CELEBRATE
WITH THE PLAYERS AND THE
COACHES.
OF COURSE I EXPECTED THE
TYPE OF PARTY WE'VE SEEN ON
TV WHEN OTHER TEAMS WIN A
CHAMPIONSHIP -- LOUD VOICES,
CHAMPAGNE FLOING, CONFIDENT
PREDICTIONS, OF FUTURE
VICTORIES.
BUT WHAT I WITNESSED, WHAT I
WITNESSED STOOD IN STARK
CONTRAST TO THE
SELF-ADULATION COMMON TO
PROFESSIONAL SPORTS.
I WALKED INTO THE LOCKER
ROOM TO SEE AN ENTIRE TEAM
ON BENDED KNEE BEING LED IN
THE LORD'S PRAYER BY OUR
300-POUND MINISTER OF
DEFENSE.
AND THERE WASN'T A DRY EYE
AMONG THE WARRIORS OF THE
GRID IRON.
IN THAT MOMENT, EVEN MORE
THAN ON THE PLAYING FIELD OF
LAMBEAU, THE PACKERS
REPRESENTED WHO WE ARE IN
WISCONSIN.
WE KNOW FROM WHERE OUR
STRENGTH COMES.
WE ARE HUMBLED BY OUR
VICTORIES AND THANKFUL FOR
WHAT HAS BEEN ENTRUSTED TO
US.
AS I CONTINUE TO TRAVEL THIS
GREAT STATE OF WISCONSIN, I
AM AWED BY THE NEVER-ENDING
CHORUS OF OPTIMISM THAT
RINGS FROM EVERY COMMUNITY
INSPIRED BY THE DEEP AND
ABIDING FAITH THAT
CHARACTERIZES OUR PEOPLE,
INVIGORATED BY OUR SHEER
DETERMINATION TO SUCCEED.
AND HUMBLED BY THE DEEP
HONOR OF BEING YOUR
GOVERNOR.
WE ARE AMERICA'S STATE, AND
TOGETHER WE WILL MAKE
TOMORROW EVEN BETTER THAN
TODAY.
FROM SUE ANN AND ME, GOD
BLESS YOU AND GOD BLESS THE
GREAT STATE OF WISCONSIN.
>> THAT WAS GOVERNOR TOMMY
THOMPSON DELIVERING HIS 11TH
STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS
AND NOW WITH THE DEMOCRATIC
RESPONSE, MINORITY LEADER
WALTER KUNICKI FROM
MILWAUKEE.
YOUR GENERAL REACTION TO THE
SPEECH?
>> WELL, I THINK THE STATE
OF THE PACKERS IS GREAT.
OBVIOUSLY EVERYBODY IS HAPPY
ABOUT THE PACK.
AND RIGHTFULLY SO.
IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME IN
COMING.
I THI THE GOVERNOR TOUCHED
ON THE HIGH POINTS IN TERMS
OF THE ECONOMY AND THE LOW
UNEMPLOYMENT AND WE ALL HAVE
A LOT TO BE PROUD OF IN THAT
REGARD, TOO.
I THOUGHT THE SPEECH WAS A
LITTLE FLAT IN TERMS OF
RELATIONSHIP TO PREVIOUS
SPEECHES.
I THINK HE'S CLEARLY RUNNING
OUT OF A LITTLE ENERGY.
IN TERMS OF THE SUBSTANCE OF
THE SPEECH, I REALLY
BELIEVE, IN FACT EARLIER I
WENT AND GOT THE 1996 SPEECH
JUST TO RESTRU, AND A LOT OF
THE INITIATIVES ARE THE
SAME.
IT'S NOT TO SAY THEY'RE NOT
GOOD IDEAS.
I THINK REQUIRING GRADUATION
TESTS BEFORE MOVING A CHILD
ON FROM 8TH GRADE ONTO HIGH
SCHOOL IS SOMETHING THAT
SHOULD BE REQUIRED AND IT'S
SOMETHING THE GOVERNOR
PROPOSED LAST SESSION.
WE WORKED WITH HIM.
WE WEREN'T ABLE TO
ACCOMPLISH IT.
WE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH
HIM.
LAST YEAR THE LONG-DISTANCE
LEARNING WHICH HE HAS
RENAMED "TEACH" IN THIS
PARTICULAR SPEECH PROVIDES
SOME MONEY TO NOW REALLY
ACTUALLY GET THESE SCHOOLS
UP AND RUNNING.
>> QUITE A COMMITMENT, $500
MILLION OVER FIVE YEARS.
>> WELL, RIGHT.
IT'S A $500 MILLION
COMMITMENT, BUT LITERALLY
THERE IS NOT MUCH MORE THAN
$100 MILLION THAT WOULD BE
PUT UP IN THIS BUDGET AND
MOST OF THAT WOULD BE IN THE
FORM OF LOANS.
I THINK WHAT THE GOVERNOR IS
TRYING TO GET AT IS WE HAVE
SAID ALL ALONG THAT WE NEED
TO HAVE STANDARDS AND
TESTING, ACCOUNT ABILITY,
BUT THAT THE FUNDAMENTAL
PROBLEM WITH PUBLIC
EDUCATION IS THE INEQUITY IN
SCHOOL FUNDING.
YOU HAVE SOME SCHOOL
DISTRICTS THAT EDUCATE A
CHILD FOR AS LITTLE AS
$3,000 PER YEAR PER CHILD
AND SOME SCHOOL DISTRICTS
THAT EDUCATE A CHILD AT
$13,000 A YEAR.
AND THAT'S THE FUNDAMENTAL
PROBLEM WITH EDUCATION.
THAT WAS NOT ADDRESSED IN
TONIGHT'S SPEECH OTHER THAN
TO SAY THAT TECHNOLOGY WILL
BREAK DOWN THESE BARRIERS.
WELL, THE HARDWARE IS A LOAN
TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
POOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS CAN'T
AFFORD TO TAKE LOANS TO PUT
THIS HARDWARE INTO THOSE
CLASSROOMS SO IT DOESN'T
DEAL WITH EQUAL EDUCATIONAL
OPPORTUNITIES AND I THINK
THAT'S WHAT WAS MISSING.
CLEARLY THE SPEECH WAS
DESIGNED TO BASICALLY, YOU
KNOW, ANNOUNCE THAT THE
GOVERNOR IS RUNNING FOR
RE-ELECTION.
HE'LL SIT ON HIS LEAD.
HE'LL SIT ON THE SIDELINES
AND HIS LEADERSHIP WILL BE
MISSED.
>> THE OTHER INITIATIVE HE
ANNOUNCED WAS THE OFFICE OF
WOMEN'S HEALTH.
WITH $2 MILLION COMMITMENT
FOR LOW-INCOME WOMEN WITHOUT
HEALTH INSURANCE, $1 MILLION
FOR EDUCATION, A STATEWIDE
BREAST CANCER AWARENESS
PROGRAM.
HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT A NEW
STATE OFFICE OF WOMEN'S
HEALTH?
>> WELL, WE LOGGED THAT
EFFORT CLEARLY WE'LL HAVE TO
LOOK AT THE DETAILS TO SEE
WHETHER OR NOT, YOU KNOW,
MORE BUREAUCRACY IS NEEDED
AND HOW HE'S GOING TO COME
UP WITH THIS MONEY
INTERNALLY FROM THE
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
SOCIAL SERVICES.
BUT TO ADVANCE AN INITIATIVE
FOR WOMEN'S HEALTH,
ESPECIALLY IN YOU RECALL
AREAS AND PARTS OF THE STATE
WHERE THERE ISN'T PROPER
MEDICAL CARE, WILL BE
EMBRACED BY DEMOCRATS AND WE
LAWD HIM FOR THAT TYPE OF
EFFORT.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK
WE'LL BE ABLE TO EASILY
AGREE ON.
>> REPRESENTATIVE WALTER
KUNICKI THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR JOINING US.
AND THIS CONCLUDES OUR
COVERAGE OF THE GOVERNOR'S
11TH STATE OF THE STATE
ADDRESS.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
GOOD NIGHT.
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