>> YOU ARE WATCHING WISCONSIN
PUBLIC BROADCASTING'S LIVE
COVERAGE OF THE 2007 STATE OF
THE STATE ADDRESS COMING TO YOU
FROM THE ASSEMBLY CHAMBERS OF
THE STATE CAPITOL IN MADISON.
GOOD EVENING, I'M FREDERICA
FREYBERG FROM WISCONSIN PUBLIC
TELEVISION.
WE'RE JOINED BY WISCONSIN
PUBLIC RADIO AS SHAWN JOHNSON.
IN A FEW MOMENTS GOVERNOR JIM
DOYLE WILL BE MAKINGHIS WAY.
GOVERNOR JIM DOYLE IS MAKING
HIS WAY INTO THE ASSEMBLY
CHAMBERS.
HE WILL ADDRESS THE FULL
LEGISLATURE, THE SUPREME COURT
AND HIS CABINET.
IN JUST A FEW SHORT MINUTES.
MAKING HIS WAY TO THE PODIUM
THROUGH THE ASSEMBLY OF THE
FULL LEGISLATURE.
AS SHAWN JOHNSON COVERS THE
CAPITOL ON A DAILY BASIS WHAT
MIGHT WE EXPECT TONIGHT?
>> THE GOVERNOR HAS GIVEN
SPECIFICS HE'LL TALK ABOUT
TONIGHT.
AN INCREASE IN THE TOBACCO TAX,
$1.25 A PACK.
SUPPORT A STATEWIDE SMOKING BAN.
HE IS GOING TO HERALD THE
ETHICS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT
PACKAGE THEY PASSED EARLIER
TODAY.
YOU'LL HEAR OTHER PROPOSALS
BROUGHT UP LAST YEAR DURING THE
STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS.
THE DIFFERENCE IS THIS TIME
HE'S DELIVERING THEM TO A MORE
FRIENDLY AUDIENCE.
>> WE CAN HEAR THE AUDIENCE
CLAPPING AND APPLAUDING FOR THE
GOVERNOR AS HE MAKES HIS WAY TO
THE PODIUM BECAUSE AS YOU WERE
JUST SUGGESTING, IT IS A MORE
FRIENDLY AUDIENCE.
WE HAVE A DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY
IN THE STATE SENATE AND LESS OF
A MAJORITY OF REPUBLICANS IN
THE STATE ASSEMBLY.
>> RIGHT.
JUST LOOK AT THE STATE ASSEMBLY
WHICH AS YOU MENTIONED
REPUBLICANS CONTROL THE CHAMBER.
LAST YEAR THEY HAD A MAJORITY
OF 21 SEATS AND IT'S DOWN TO
FIVE SEATS THIS YEAR.
THEY CAN'T REALLY CONTROL THE
AGENDA THE WAY THEY DID
PREVIOUSLY.
I THINK THERE IS JUST
ATTITUDE AT THE CAPITOL RIGHT
NOW, IT'S EARLY BUT AN ATTITUDE
AT THE CAPITOL RIGHT NOW OF
COMPROMISE AND I THINK PEOPLE
REALIZE THEY'LL NEED MEMBERS OF
BOTH PARTIES TO GO ALONG IF
THEY WANT THEIR AGENDA TO MOVE
FORWARD.
>> IT MAY NOT BE THE GRIDLOCK
THAT WE SAW IN GOVERNOR DOYLE'S
FIRST ADMINISTRATION.
>> LIKELY NOT.
I THINK SOME OF THOSE BILLS.
THE DEMOCRATIC SENATE AND
REPUBLICAN ASSEMBLELY PASSED
MEMBERS BUT YOU WON'T HAVE A
REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURE SENDING
A BILL TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK
WHERE HE IS GOING TO VETO IT.
>> THE GOVERNOR DOES HAVE SOME
RATHER LARGE VISIONS AS
OUTLINED.
HE'S LEAKED MUCH OF IT AHEAD OF
THIS ADDRESS, THE SMOKING BAN
STATEWIDE.
THE NEW TAX ON CIGARETTES.
HE'S GOT SOME NEW PLANS FOR
GIVING NEW MONEY TO THE
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN FOR NEW
PROGRAMMING.
HE'S GOT SOME EXPANSIONS IN
HEALTHCARE.
>> THE TYPES OF PROPOSALS WHERE
-- [INAUDIBLE]
>> NOT THE TYPES OF THINGS THAT
THE GOVERNOR IS NECESSARILY
PROPOSING IN AN ELECTION YEAR
THAT HE WAS IN LAST YEAR WHERE
HE HAD TO BE MORE CAUTIOUS.
>> LET'S GO INTO THE ASSEMBLY
CHAMBERS FOR THE STATE OF THE
STATE ADDRESS.
>> AT THIS TIME IT GIVES ME
GREAT HONOR TO INTRODUCE THE
HONORABLE JIM DOYLE, GOVERNOR
OF THE GREAT STATE OF WISCONSIN.
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU.
PRESIDENT RISSER, I'M GLAD I'M
STILL IN OFFICE TO SAY
PRESIDENT RISSER --
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
>> ALTHOUGH I DO WANT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE MY GOOD FRIEND,
ALLEN WHO WAS KIND ENOUGH TO
ESCORT ME TO THIS CHAMBER AND
DID A WONDERFUL JOB AS
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AS WELL.
[APPLAUSE]
>> SPEAKER HUEBSCH, SPEAKER
GOTTLIEB, MAJORITY LEADER
ROBSON, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
LAWTON, THE CONSTITUTIONAL
OFFICERS, MEMBERS OF THE
WISCONSIN SUPREME COURT,
MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE,
TRIBAL LEADERS, MEMBERS OF THE
CABINET, DISTINGUISHED GUESTS
AND FELLOW CITIZENS OF
WISCONSIN, I'M REALLY GLAD I'M
UP HERE GIVING THE FIFTH STATE
OF THE STATE ADDRESS.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
THANK YOU.
LET ME BEGIN BY CONGRATULATING
THE NEW LEADERSHIP IN THE
ASSEMBLELY AND SENATE.
IT'S A NEW DAY AND I BELIEVE WE
CAN DO GREAT THINGS FOR
WISCONSIN.
[APPLAUSE]
THREE MONTHS AGO, THOSE OF US
IN THIS ROOM HERE TODAY WERE
ENTRUSTED WITH A SACRED
RESPONSIBILITY BY THE PEOPLE OF
WISCONSIN.
ON NOVEMBER 7th THEY ISSUED A
MANDATE NOT FOR ANY PARTY,
REMEMBER THAT, YOU GUYS, IT
WASN'T FOR ANY PARTY, BUT IT
WAS A MANDATE FOR ACTION.
THEY WANT US TO END THE
DIVISIVENESS AND PARTISAN
FIGHTING AND FOCUS INSTEAD ON
MAKING PROGRESS FOR MIDDLE
CLASS FAMILIES.
DEMOCRATS, REPUBLICANS, LET US
PLEDGE TONIGHT WE WILL COME
TOGETHER TO GET THINGS DONE.
[APPLAUSE]
IN THE PAST YEAR WE'VE ADDED
TENS OF THOUSANDS OF NEW JOBS,
MADE NEW BREAKTHROUGHS IN
MEDICAL RESEARCH AND EXPANDED
OUR MANUFACTURING BASE WHILE
OTHER STATES HAVE FACED
DECLINES.
WE CHANGED THE MINIMUM WAGE TO
GIVE WORKING FAMILIES A RAISE.
WE CHANGED LAWS TO KEEP SEX
PREDATORS AWAY FROM OUR KIDS.
AND WE CHANGED LIVES BY
PROTECTING AND INVESTING IN OUR
SCHOOLS.
[APPLAUSE]
TODAY WE ARE SAFER, STRONGER
AND READY TO SEIZE THE
OPPORTUNITIES OF OUR TIME.
THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEAD THE
NATION IN RENEWABLE ENERGY
USING OUR RESOURCES SMARTLY TO
POWER OUR CITIES AND POWER NEW
JOBS.
THE OPPORTUNITY TO
REVOLUTIONIZE MEDICAL SCIENCE
WITH STEM CELL RESEARCH
PIONEERED RIGHT HERE IN
WISCONSIN.
THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE
HEALTHCARE AFFORDABLE FOR EVERY
WISCONSIN FAMILY.
THE OPPORTUNITY TO FULFILL THE
PROMISE TO THE NEXT GENERATION
TO MAKE COLLEGE AFFORDABLE AND
AVAILABLE TO EVERY KID WILLING
TO DO THE WORK AND MAKE THE
GRADE.
[APPLAUSE]
IN 2007 WISCONSIN IS A PLACE
WHERE ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE.
OVER THE NEXT FOUR YEARS LET'S
MAKE IT OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY
TO EXPAND THE OPPORTUNITIES
AVAILABLE TO EVERY CITIZEN OF
WISCONSIN.
[APPLAUSE]
THERE IS ONE CHALLENGE WE HAVE
TO ADDRESS HEAD ON, THE MIDDLE
CLASS SQUEEZE.
FROM FILLING UP THE TANK, TO
PAYING THE HEALTHCARE PREMIUM,
IT IS STILL TOO HARD FOR MANY
FAMILIES TO MAKE ENDS MEET.
WISCONSIN MUST REMAIN THE STATE
OF OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL.
WE MUST FIGHT TO ENSURE THAT
MIDDLE CLASS FAMILIES THRIVE.
[APPLAUSE]
TWO WEEKS FROM TONIGHT I'LL
PRESENT A BUDGET DESIGNED TO DO
JUST THAT WHILE PUTTING OUR
FISCAL HOUSE IN ORDER.
IT WILL CUT WASTE AND YES, CUT
TAXES FOR HARD WORKING
WISCONSIN FAMILIES.
[APPLAUSE]
WE MUST ALWAYS STAY TRUE TO A
BASIC WISCONSIN VALUE, LIVING
WITHIN OUR MEANS.
IN THE 1990s, STATE GOVERNMENT
CREATED A HUGE FINANCIAL MESS
FOR US.
IT WAS A TICKING TIME BOMB OF
RUNAWAY COMMITMENTS AND
EXCESSIVE SPENDING THAT
EXPLODED FOUR YEARS AGO AND WE
ARE STILL CLEANING UP THE
WRECKAGE.
WE'VE CUT THE SIZE AND COST OF
GOVERNMENT, ELIMINATED
OVERHEAD, BALANCED TWO STATE
BUDGETS AND CUT THE SO-CALLED
STRUCTURAL DEFICIT IN HALF.
YET WE STILL HAVE MORE WORK TO
DO OR WE'LL FACE A GROWING
IMBALANCE BETWEEN WHAT WE SPEND
AND WHAT WE TAKE IN.
IN MY BUDGET, WE'LL MAKE SOME
TOUGH CHOICES AND TAKE THE NEXT
STEP TO PUT OUR STATE ON A
PERMANENT PATH OF FISCAL
RESPONSIBILITY.
WE'LL WORK ON BEHALF OF MIDDLE
CLASS FAMILIES ON MANY FRONTS
FROM PRODUCING CLEAN AND
AFFORDABLE ENERGY TO CREATING
NEW HIGH-PAYING JOBS.
BUT TWO PRIORITIES STAND OUT
ABOVE THE REST.
FIRST, MAKING QUALITY
HEALTHCARE AFFORDABLE TO ALL.
[APPLAUSE]
AND SECOND, PREPARING OUR KIDS
FOR THE JOBS OF TOMORROW.
THE SIMPLE TRUTH IS, THE TIME
HAS COME FOR THE WEALTHIEST
NATION IN THE WORLD TO PROVIDE
ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE,
COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH INSURANCE
FOR ITS CITIZENS.
AND WISCONSIN CAN LEAD THE WAY.
[APPLAUSE]
THE STEADY MARCH OF MEDICAL
SCIENCE HAS EXTENDED AND
IMPROVED THE QUALITY OF OUR
LIVES, BUT IT HAS ALSO DRIVEN
UP THE COSTS SO THAT FEWER AND
FEWER FAMILIES CAN NOW AFFORD
IT.
HEALTHCARE SPENDING HAS GONE UP
DRAMATICALLY IN RECENT YEARS
BUT INCOMES HAVEN'T KEPT UP.
MORE PEOPLE GO WITHOUT
INSURANCE, MORE EMPLOYERS CAN'T
AFFORD TO PROVIDE IT, AND WORST
OF ALL, A GROWING NUMBER OF OUR
KIDS GO WITHOUT THE CARE THEY
NEED.
IT IS A NATIONAL PROBLEM AND IT
IS COSTING US DEARLY.
FAMILIES WHO CAN'T AFFORD
INSURANCE END UP IN EMERGENCY
ROOMS.
MINOR AILMENTS THAT COULD HAVE
BEEN TREATED OR PREVENTED END
UP AS MAJOR ILLNESSES.
THE COST IS PASSED ALONG TO
EVERYONE ELSE WHO HAS INSURANCE.
HERE IN WISCONSIN, THE NUMBER
OF PEOPLE WITH HEALTH COVERAGE
FROM THEIR EMPLOYER FELL BY 10%
FROM 2001 TO 2004.
AND UNLESS WE TAKE ACTION NOW,
THE SITUATION WILL ONLY GET
WORSE.
TONIGHT I PROPOSE A BOLD EFFORT
TO MAKE WISCONSIN AMERICA'S
LEADER IN HEALTHCARE.
[APPLAUSE]
IT REPRESENTS A COMPREHENSIVE
STRATEGY TO REDUCE COSTS,
IMPROVE QUALITY AND EXPAND
ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE HEALTHCARE
COVERAGE.
AT THE HEART OF THIS EFFORT IS
BADGERCARE PLUS, WHICH BEGINS
WITH A SIMPLE PREMISE.
IN WISCONSIN, NO CHILD SHOULD
GO WITHOUT HEALTHCARE.
[APPLAUSE]
FIRST, THROUGH BADGERCARE PLUS,
STARTING NEXT JANUARY WE'LL
OFFER EVERY WISCONSIN FAMILY,
REGARDLESS OF THEIR INCOME, THE
CHANCE TO BUY COVERAGE FOR
THEIR KIDS STARTING AT ABOUT
$10 A MONTH.
NO FAMILY WILL BE DENIED
COVERAGE FOR THEIR CHILD JUST
BECAUSE THEIR INCOME GOES UP.
SECOND, LIKE ALL OF YOU, I MEET
WORKING PEOPLE ALL OVER THIS
STATE WHO FIT THE INCOME
REQUIREMENTS FOR BADGERCARE BUT
ARE DENIED ACCESS BECAUSE THEY
DON'T HAVE CHILDREN.
SO TONIGHT I'M PROPOSING A
MAJOR EXPANSION TO COVER THESE
PEOPLE AS WELL, HELPING MORE
THAN 71,000 HARD WORKING MEN
AND WOMEN GET THE HEALTHCARE
THAT THEY NEED.
[APPLAUSE]
MANY OF THEM ARE WORKING TWO
AND THREE JOBS TO GET BY AND
THEY DESERVE AFFORDABLE
HEALTHCARE.
UNDER MY PLAN, AN INDIVIDUAL
MAKING ABOUT $20,000 A YEAR
WILL HAVE ACCESS TO COVERAGE
WHETHER OR NOT THEY HAVE A
CHILD.
AND PREGNANT MOTHERS MAKING UP
TO $30,000 WILL BE COVERED AS
WELL.
[APPLAUSE]
THIRD, WE WILL SIMPLIFY AND
STREAMLINE THE ELIGIBILITY
PROCESS FOR BADGERCARE AND
MEDICAL ASSISTANCE AND WE'LL
PARTNER WITH PRIVATE
ORGANIZATIONS TO IDENTIFY
ELIGIBLE KIDS AND SIGN THEM UP
FOR INSURANCE.
FOURTH, FOLLOWING THE
RECOMMENDATIONS OF MY HEALTHY
WISCONSIN COUNCIL, WE'LL CREATE
A PURCHASING POOL TO HELP
BUSINESSES, PARTICULARLY SMALL
BUSINESSES, AFFORD CATASTROPHIC
HEALTH COVERAGE FOR THEIR
EMPLOYEES AND WE WILL PROVIDE
RESOURCES TO HELP DOCTORS AND
HOSPITALS USE COMPUTER
TECHNOLOGY TO GREATLY REDUCE
MEDICAL ERRORS THAT COST
THOUSANDS OF LIVES AND BILLIONS
OF DOLLARS EVERY YEAR.
[APPLAUSE]
FINALLY, I BELIEVE HEALTHCARE
REFORM DOESN'T HAVE TO BE
COMPLICATED AND BUREAUCRATIC.
WE'VE LEARNED THAT THROUGH THE
SENIORCARE PROGRAM.
MY PLAN IS STRAIGHT FORWARD AND
EASY TO NAVIGATE.
ONE APPLICATION FORM, ONE PIECE
OF PAPER, NO CUMBERSOME
BUREAUCRACY.
BECAUSE OF THE WAY WE ARE
STRUCTURING THE PROGRAM THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL PAY
MOST OF THE COST BRINGING US AN
ADDITIONAL $60 MILLION FROM
WASHINGTON
[APPLAUSE]
THE STATE'S SHARE WILL BE PAID
FOR IN MY BUDGET, INCLUDING
MONEY WE WILL SAVE BY
STREAMLINING THE PROGRAM AND
TAKING ADVANTAGE OF GREATER USE
OF MANAGED CARE.
MORE IMPORTANTLY, AS MORE
FELLOW CITIZENS HAVE ACCESS TO
INSURANCE THEY'LL SPEND MORE
TIME WITH THEIR FAMILY DOCTOR
AND LESS TIME IN THE EMERGENCY
ROOM.
WHEN SOMEBODY HAS A MAJOR
ILLNESS, IT WILL BE PAID FOR BY
THEIR INSURANCE, NOT YOURS AND
MINE.
THAT WILL REDUCE THE COST OF
INSURANCE FOR EVERYONE, SAVING
AN AVERAGE WISCONSIN FAMILY UP
TO $500 A YEAR.
[APPLAUSE]
IF IN YOUR HEART YOU BELIEVE NO
CHILD, NO WORKER, NO FAMILY
SHOULD GO WITHOUT HEALTH
COVERAGE, IF YOU BELIEVE THE
COST OF INACTION IN LIVES AND
DOLLARS IS BOTH IMMORAL AND
UNACCEPTABLE, IF, AS DEMOCRATS,
REPUBLICANS, WISCONSINITES YOU
TAKE THIS BOLD STEP FORWARD,
HERE IS WHAT YOU WILL ACHIEVE.
AT LEAST 98% OF OUR PEOPLE WILL
HAVE ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE
COVERAGE, MORE THAN ANY OTHER
STATE IN THE NATION.
MORE THAN ANY OTHER STATE IN
THE NATION.
[APPLAUSE]
WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
HEALTH, THERE IS ONE MORE THING
WE NEED TO CONFRONT.
TOBACCO.
I'VE DEVOTED MUCH OF MY PUBLIC
CAREER TO THIS FIGHT.
AS ATTORNEY GENERAL I HELPED
LEAD THE NATIONAL EFFORT TO
TAKE ON BIG TOBACCO AND BEAT
THEM IN COURT FOR THE FIRST
TIME IN 40 YEARS.
WE MADE THEM TAKE DOWN THE
BILLBOARDS, GET RID OF THE
VENDING MACHINES AND SEND JOE
CAMEL INTO RETIREMENT.
[APPLAUSE]
AS A RESULT, TEEN SMOKING IS
DOWN 40% SINCE 2000.
AND SALES TO MINORS ARE NOW AT
THEIR LOWEST LEVEL IN WISCONSIN
HISTORY.
[APPLAUSE]
BUT DESPITE THIS PROGRESS, TOO
MANY OF OUR KIDS ARE STILL
LIGHTING UP.
TOO MANY LIVES ARE BEING CUT
SHORT AND THE COST HAS SWELLED
INTO THE BILLIONS.
WISCONSIN TAXPAYERS ARE FORCED
TO PAY ABOUT $500 MILLION EVERY
YEAR IN MEDICAID COSTS DIRECTLY
RELATED TO SMOKING.
AND SO, AFTER CONSULTING WITH
PUBLIC HEALTH LEADERS FROM
AROUND THE STATE, I AM
PROPOSING TO RAISE THE
WISCONSIN TOBACCO TAX BY $1.25
A PACK.
[APPLAUSE]
AND TO SET THE MONEY ASIDE TO
PAY THE COST OF TOBACCO-RELATED
ILLNESSES.
NOT ONLY --
[APPLAUSE]
NOT ONLY WILL IT HELP FUND OUR
HEALTHCARE NEEDS, IT WILL SAVE
LIVES.
HEALTH GROUPS LIKE THE AMERICAN
CANCER SOCIETY SAY THAT EVERY
DAY 5,000 KIDS TRY THEIR FIRST
CIGARETTE AND ANOTHER 2,000
KIDS BECOME REGULAR SMOKERS.
1/3 OF THESE KIDS WILL
EVENTUALLY DIE FROM THEIR
ADDICTION.
THESE HEALTH GROUPS SAY THAT IN
EVERY STATE WHERE THE TOBACCO
TAX HAS BEEN INCREASED, KIDS
END UP SMOKING LESS.
WE ALL HAVE DEAR FAMILY MEMBERS
AND FRIENDS WHO SMOKE.
GOOD PEOPLE OF GOOD CHARACTER
WHO WANT TO QUIT AND FIGHT THIS
ADDICTION EVERY DAY.
AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT
THIS INCREASE WILL BE COUPLED
WITH A MAJOR NEW INITIATIVE TO
HELP YOU QUIT SMOKING AND LIVE
HEALTHIER.
WE WILL COMMIT $30 MILLION TO
HELP PEOPLE WHO ARE SMOKING
STOP SMOKING BECAUSE YOU ALL
ARE AN IMPORTANT PART OF
WISCONSIN'S FUTURE.
FINALLY, WE MUST PROTECT OUR
FAMILIES FROM THE HEALTH
HAZARDS OF SECOND HAND SMOKE.
BECAUSE EVERYONE HAS THE RIGHT
TO BREATHE CLEAN AIR AT WORK
AND IN PUBLIC PLACES.
TONIGHT I'M ASKING THIS
LEGISLATURE TO MAKE ALL PUBLIC
BUILDINGS AND ALL WORKPLACES
COMPLETELY SMOKE FREE.
[APPLAUSE]
LET'S PASS THIS BILL TO PROTECT
OUR FAMILIES AND MOST
IMPORTANTLY, TO SAVE CHILDREN'S
LIVES.
AS I'VE OFTEN SAID, ANYONE WHO
KNOWS JESSICA WHO IS WITH US
HERE TONIGHT AND --
[APPLAUSE]
ANYONE WHO KNOWS JESSICA AND ME
KNOWS THAT MY FIRST PRIORITY IS
EDUCATION.
AND I WOULD LIKE YOU TO MEET
SOMEONE WHO SHOWS US THAT WHEN
WE SUPPORT AND INVEST IN THE
YOUNG PEOPLE OF WISCONSIN, THEY
CAN ACHIEVE ANYTHING.
EVEN WHEN HE WAS STILL A
STUDENT AT BROOKFIELD CENTRAL,
HIS TEACHERS, COACHES AND
FELLOW PLAYERS KNEW THAT HE WAS
BOUND FOR GREAT THINGS.
NOT ONLY IS HE AN ALL-AMERICAN
BUT HE HAS ALSO BEEN NAMED
TWICE TO THE ACADEMIC ALL
BIG-TEN TEAM.
THIS YEAR HE WAS NAMED THE TOP
LINEMAN IN AMERICA AND HE RANKS
AS ONE OF THE BEST IN HISTORY.
HE HAS HELPED LEAD THE BADGERS
TO TWO STATE BOWL VICTORIES AND
HE WILL ONE OF THE TOP PICKS
IN THE NFL DRAFT.
WON'T YOU JOIN ME IN THANKING
JOE THOMAS FOR GIVING US A
REASON TO CHEER THESE PAST FOUR
YEARS.
STAND UP, JOE.
[APPLAUSE]
JOE'S ACHIEVEMENT NOT ONLY ON
THE FOOTBALL FIELD BUT IN THE
CLASSROOM SHOW US THAT THE
FUTURE OF WISCONSIN IS IN VERY,
VERY GOOD HANDS AND JOE, LET ME
GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF ADVICE.
YOU WOULD LOOK GREAT IN THE
GREEN AND GOLD NEXT YEAR.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
JOE HAS ENJOYED TREMENDOUS
SUPPORT FROM ALL OVER WISCONSIN
THESE PAST FOUR YEARS.
NOW LET'S DEMONSTRATE THE SAME
SUPPORT FOR ALL OF OUR STUDENTS
SO THAT EVERY YOUNG PERSON CAN
SUCCEED.
TONIGHT AND IN MY BUDGET NEXT
MONTH I'LL OFFER A
COMPREHENSIVE EDUCATION AGENDA
TO PREPARE OUR KIDS FOR THE JOB
OF TOMORROW.
WE'LL START WITH THE WISCONSIN
COVENANT, A PROMISE TO EVERY
HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT THAT IF YOU
WORK HARD AND MAKE THE GRADE,
WE'LL MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A
PLACE IN HIGHER EDUCATION AND A
FINANCIAL PACKAGE TO HELP YOU
PAY FOR IT.
[APPLAUSE]
LAST FALL I JOINED THE
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN
ASSISTANT PRESIDENT KEVIN
REILLY, THE WISCONSIN TECHNICAL
COLLEGE PRESIDENT DAN CLANCY.
OUR GREAT STATE SUPERINTENDENT
LIBBY BURMASTER AND WISCONSIN
ASSOCIATION OF INDEPENDENT
COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES
PRESIDENT RALPH WEGENKE.
WE SIGNED AN HISTORIC AGREEMENT
TO MAKE THE WISCONSIN COVENANT
A REALITY.
I DON'T WANT ANY HIGH SCHOOL
KID TO THINK THAT COLLEGE ISN'T
FOR THEM.
OR THAT IT'S ONLY FOR RICH
PEOPLE.
I WANT EVERY BOY AND GIRL TO
KNOW THAT WITH THE WISCONSIN
COVENANT, COLLEGE IS WITHIN
YOUR GRASP, JUST REACH FOR IT.
[APPLAUSE]
IN MY BUDGET I'LL PROVIDE
FUNDING FOR THE OFFICE OF THE
WISCONSIN COVENANT AND TO
PREPARE FOR THE DAY WHEN THE
FIRST COVENANT SCHOLARS WALK
THROUGH THE DOOR OF OUR
UNIVERSITIES I'LL PROPOSE A
MAJOR INCREASE IN FINANCIAL AID.
[APPLAUSE]
THE WISCONSIN COVENANT WILL NOT
ONLY MAKE COLLEGE MORE
AFFORDABLE, IT WILL MAKE HIGH
SCHOOL MORE MEANINGFUL.
BUT WE CAN GO EVEN FURTHER.
TO MAKE SURE OUR KIDS ARE
PREPARED TO COMPETE IN THE
WORLD, I URGE YOU TO PASS MY
PROPOSAL TO MAKE A THIRD YEAR
OF MATH AND A THIRD YEAR OF
SCIENCE MANDATORY FOR HIGH
SCHOOL GRADUATION IN WISCONSIN.
[APPLAUSE]
OUR EDUCATION AGENDA WILL ALSO
MAKE SURE KIDS GET OFF TO THE
RIGHT START.
AS A FIRST STEP, WE SHOULD ALL
AGREE THAT IT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE
FOR WISCONSIN TO RANK 50th IN
SCHOOL BREAKFAST PARTICIPATION.
WE'LL TRIPLE THE STATE SUPPORT
FOR SCHOOL BREAKFASTS BECAUSE
WE KNOW THAT GOOD LEARNING
DEPENDS ON GOOD NUTRITION.
[APPLAUSE]
PARENTS AND TEACHERS ALSO KNOW
THAT STUDENTS LEARN BETTER WHEN
CLASS SIZES ARE SMALLER.
AS PART OF MY BUDGET I'LL ASK
YOU TO HONOR THE AGREEMENT WE
MADE LAST YEAR AND PROVIDE A
MAJOR INVESTMENT TO REDUCE
CLASS SIZES FROM KINDERGARTEN
TO GRADE THREE.
SMALLER CLASSES, HIGHER
STANDARDS, GOOD NUTRITION, A
STRONG START IN LIFE AND A
TICKET TO COLLEGE FOR EVERY KID
WILLING TO WORK FOR IT, THAT'S
OUR EDUCATION AGENDA, AN AGENDA
OF OPPORTUNITY.
[APPLAUSE]
IN MY INAUGURAL ADDRESS I SPOKE
ABOUT THE TREMENDOUS CHANGES
HAPPENING THROUGHOUT OUR
ECONOMY AND OUR WORLD.
WE FACE A NEW COLLEGE TO OUR
COMPETITIVENESS AND I BELIEVE
THE STATES THAT HAVE THE
FASTEST AND MOST FLEXIBLE
WORKER TRAINING PROGRAMS ARE
GOING TO BE THE ONES TO SUCCEED.
IN THE NEXT DECADE WISCONSIN
WILL NEED MORE WELDERS AND MORE
NURSES.
WE'LL NEED MORE ENGINEERS, MORE
MACHINISTS AND MORE SKILLED
MANUFACTURING WORKERS AND
THAT'S WHY WE NEED TO INVEST
JOB TRAINING.
INCREASING OUR EFFORTS FROM $2
MILLION TO $8 MILLION IN THE
NEXT BUDGET TO HELP WISCONSIN'S
TECHNICAL COLLEGES TRAIN AN
ADDITIONAL 36,000 WORKERS.
[APPLAUSE]
WE'LL ALSO BUILD NEW UNIQUE
PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN BUSINESSES
AND HIGH SCHOOLS TO GET OUR
KIDS READY FOR THE WORLD OF
WORK.
TO DO THAT, I ASK THE
LEGISLATURE TO DOUBLE THE
FUNDING FOR THE HIGHLY
SUCCESSFUL YOUTH APPRENTICESHIP
PROGRAM.
[APPLAUSE]
WISCONSIN HAS THOUSANDS OF
RESEARCHERS AND ENTREPRENEURS
WITH GOOD IDEAS FOR NEW
BUSINESSES BUT THEY NEED
VENTURE CAPITAL TO GET THESE
BUSINESSES OFF THE GROUND.
TONIGHT I PROPOSE A NEW
WISCONSIN VENTURE CENTER TO
GIVE OUR ENTREPRENEURS AN EDGE.
THE CENTER WILL BE FOCUSED ON
HELPING WISCONSIN INNOVATORS
CONNECT WITH INVESTORS FROM
AROUND THE COUNTRY.
WITH INVESTMENTS IN WORKERS, A
STRONG COMMITMENT TO
MANUFACTURING AND BY UNLEASHING
A NEW GENERATION OF
ENTREPRENEURS, WE CAN WIN THE
GLOBAL COMPETITION AND PUT
WISCONSIN TO WORK.
[APPLAUSE]
MANY STATES WILL TRY TO COMPETE
WITH US BUT WE HAVE A UNIQUE
AND SPECIAL ADVANTAGE THEY WILL
NEVER MATCH, THE UNIVERSITY OF
WISCONSIN.
TONIGHT -- TONIGHT --
[APPLAUSE]
TONIGHT I PROPOSE A NEW
INVESTMENT IN THE UNIVERSITY TO
PRODUCE MORE COLLEGE GRADUATES,
MORE ENGINEERS, SCIENTISTS AND
NURSES.
WE NEED MORE RESEARCH AND MORE
SUPPORT FOR INNOVATION THAT
WILL BE THE CORNER STONE OF OUR
SUCCESS.
THIS WILL BE A MAJOR
UNDERTAKING FOR THE UNIVERSITY
AND FOR THE STATE.
BUT THE BENEFITS WILL BE WIDE
AND FAR REACHING.
WE'LL EXPAND ENROLLMENT FROM
GREEN BAY TO LA CROSSE TO
OSHKOSH, SUPERIOR AND RIVER
FALLS MAKING A DREAM OF COLLEGE
A REALITY FOR THOUSANDS MORE OF
OUR CITIZENS.
FROM PARKSIDE TO WHITEWATER AND
ACROSS THE UW SYSTEM WE'LL
EXPAND FINANCIAL AID, RECRUIT
MORE MINORITY STUDENTS AND
PROVIDE ADDITIONAL ACADEMIC
HELP TO THOSE WHO NEED IT.
WE'LL CREATE A NEW HEALTH
SCIENCES MAJOR AT STEVENS
POINT, NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR
TECHNICAL COLLEGE STUDENTS AT
UW-OSHKOSH, IMPROVED SERVICES
FOR ADULT STUDENTS AT GREEN BAY.
STRENGTHEN STUDENT RETENTION
EFFORTS AT RIVER FALLS AND
EXPAND THE LIBERAL ARTS PROGRAM
AVAILABLE AT SUPERIOR.
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE
UW-PLATTEVILLE WE'LL EXPAND
OPPORTUNITIES AT UW COLLEGES AS
WELL LIKE A NEW MECHANICAL
ENGINEERING DEGREE AT UW-FOX
VALLEY, AN ELECTRICAL
ENGINEERING DEGREE AT ROCK
COUNTY.
AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR HUNDREDS
MORE STUDENTS THROUGHOUT THE
STATE.
IT'S NOT ONLY AN INVESTMENT IN
OUR STUDENTS, THIS IS AN
INVESTMENT IN OUR ECONOMY.
WE'LL TRAIN MORE NURSES AND
TEACHERS IN OSHKOSH, MORE
ENGINEERS IN PLATTEVILLE AND
MORE BIOLOGISTS IN GREEN BAY.
WE'LL FUND AN INNOVATIVE
PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN EAU CLAIRE,
STOUT AND THE CHIPPEWA VALLEY
TECHNICAL COLLEGE TO PRODUCE
MORE GRADUATES IN ADVANCED
NANOTECHNOLOGY, BIOTECHNOLOGY
AND POLYMER ENGINEERING.
[APPLAUSE]
EARLY NEXT YEAR WE'LL BREAK
GROUND ON THE INSTITUTES FOR
DISCOVERY WITHOUT ANY
IDEOLOGICAL STRINGS ATTACHED.
TOGETHER --
[APPLAUSE]
TOGETHER WE'LL LAUNCH A NEW AND
EXCITING ERA IN WHICH THE
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON
WILL NOT ONLY HELP CREATE
THOUSANDS OF NEW JOBS BUT WILL
HELP UNLOCK CURES TO DEADLY
DISEASES THROUGH BIOTECHNOLOGY
AND STEM CELL RESEARCH.
[APPLAUSE]
AT THE UNIVERSITY OF
WISCONSIN-MILWAUKEE WE WILL
MAKE A MAJOR NEW INVESTMENT IN
RESEARCH.
WE'LL RECRUIT TOP EXPERTS FROM
AROUND THE COUNTRY AND WE'LL
BUILD PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE
MEDICAL COLLEGE AND LEADING
HEALTHCARE CORPORATIONS THAT
WILL STRENGTHEN THE REGIONAL
ECONOMY.
IT WILL CEMENT OUR STATUS AS
ONE OF AMERICA'S LEADERS IN
SCIENTIFIC AND MEDICAL RESEARCH.
[APPLAUSE]
AND NOW I WOULD LIKE TO
INTRODUCE YOU TO A VERY SPECIAL
PERSON.
SOMEONE WHO WILL BENEFIT FROM
THIS INVESTMENT.
LAST YEAR WHILE HE WAS ON DUTY
IN IRAQ, A RUSSIAN MADE ROCKET
EXPLODED JUST A FEW FEET AWAY.
HE WAS HIT IN THE NECK, RIGHT
ARM, TORSO AND LOWER BODY
SUFFERING A STROKE AND LOSING A
LEG.
HE IS A DEVOTED HUSBAND, A
FATHER OF TWO.
WOULD YOU PLEASE JOIN ME IN
WELCOMING A MEMBER OF OUR
WISCONSIN NATIONAL GUARD
SPECIALIST RAY HUBBARD, A
WISCONSIN HERO.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
[APPLAUSE]
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
RAY IS AN EXAMPLE OF THE
TREMENDOUS SERVICE AND
SACRIFICE MADE BY OUR MEN AND
WOMEN SERVING IN HARM'S WAY.
AND WHAT'S EVEN MORE REMARKABLE
IS THAT SPECIALIST HUBBARD HAS
DECIDED HE ISN'T FINISHED
SERVING HIS COUNTRY.
THIS FALL, WITH THE HELP ALL OF
YOU WORKED TO GET DONE, WITH
THE HELP OF THE VETERANS
EDUCATION PLAN THAT YOU
APPROVE, HE WILL BE A STUDENT
AT THE UNIVERSITY OF
WISCONSIN-WHITEWATER ON HIS WAY
TO BECOMING A TEACHER.
[APPLAUSE]
HE'S MARRIED TO A MATH TEACHER,
TOO.
IT'S A GREAT EDUCATION FAMILY.
SPECIALIST HUBBARD, YOUR
CONTINUED SERVICE NOT ONLY
MAKES US STRONG, IT MAKES US
PROUD.
ON BEHALF OF A GRATEFUL STATE,
THANK YOU AND GOOD LUCK.
[APPLAUSE]
AS I SAID EARLIER, MAKING SURE
OUR STUDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO
AFFORDABLE HEALTHCARE AND
PROVIDING GOOD QUALITY
EDUCATION ARE OUR TOP
PRIORITIES BUT THERE ARE OTHER
CHALLENGES THAT NEED OUR
ATTENTION.
ST. PAUL WROTE THAT EACH OF YOU
HAS YOUR OWN GIFTS FROM GOD AND
WHEN YOU LOOK INTO THE EYES OF
OUR CHILDREN, IT'S NOT HARD TO
SEE THOSE GIFTS.
I BELIEVE WE HAVE A SACRED
OBLIGATION TO HELP EVERY CHILD
IN WISCONSIN REALIZE ALL THE
POTENTIAL THAT GOD HAS GIVEN
THEM.
[APPLAUSE]
RIGHT NOW WISCONSIN HAS A
CABINET-LEVEL DEPARTMENT
DEVOTED TO PRISONERS BUT NOT
ONE DEVOTED TO CHILDREN AND
THEIR FAMILIES.
INSTEAD WE HAVE A PATCHWORK OF
OVERLAPPING PROGRAMS DIVIDED
BETWEEN MANY AGENCIES.
TWO SEPARATE AGENCIES
RESPONSIBLE FOR CHILDCARE.
TWO SEPARATE AGENCIES
RESPONSIBLE FOR LOW INCOME
FAMILIES.
TWO SEPARATE AGENCIES
RESPONSIBLE FOR CHILD SUPPORT
AND CHILD WELFARE.
TWO SEPARATE SYSTEMS, TWO
SEPARATE BUER OCTOBER RAS SEE
THAT FAMILIES MUST GO THROUGH.
I PROPER MOST A MAJOR SHIFT.
WE WILL CREATE A SINGLE
DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND
FAMILIES WITH AN INTENSE AND
SINGULAR FOCUS ON THE SAFETY,
ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL WELL-BEING
OF OUR YOUNGEST CITIZENS.
[APPLAUSE]
WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT
BUREAUCRACY NEVER GETS IN THE
WAY OF DOING WHAT'S RIGHT FOR
OUR KIDS.
WHETHER YOU LIVE IN MILWAUKEE
OR MARINETTE THE FUTURE OF OUR
STATE'S LARGEST METROPOLITAN
AREA AFFECTS YOU.
FOR WISCONSIN TO THRIVE, WE
NEED A STRONG AND GROWING
MILWAUKEE.
[APPLAUSE]
IT IS A GREAT AND VITAL CITY.
OUR CENTER OF CULTURE AND
COMMERCE, THE HUB OF OUR
ECONOMY, YET MILWAUKEE ALSO
FACES SOME UNIQUE CHALLENGES.
UNLESS OUR ENTIRE STATE JOINS
TOGETHER TO HELP MEET THOSE
CHALLENGES, OUR ENTIRE STATE
WILL SUFFER.
NEXT WEEK I WILL JOIN WITH
LEADERS IN MILWAUKEE TO
ANNOUNCE A COMPREHENSIVE
STRATEGY TO HELP THE MILWAUKEE
METRO AREA.
HELP THIS AREA SUCCEED AND
THRIVE.
FROM SUPPORTING KIDS, TO
CRACKING DOWN ON VIOLENT CRIME,
TO CREATING JOBS AND INVESTING
IN INFRASTRUCTURE.
I'LL ASK YOU TO JOIN ME IN
MAKING AN INVESTMENT IN
MILWAUKEE FOR THE SAKE OF
WISCONSIN.
[APPLAUSE]
I HAVE SPOKEN TONIGHT OF
OPPORTUNITY AND THE
OPPORTUNITIES BEFORE US ARE
NEARLY LIMITLESS.
BUT WE ARE ALSO ENTRUSTED WITH
GREAT RESPONSIBILITY.
FROM THE QUIET WATERS OF THE
APOSTLE ISLANDS TO THE ABUNDANT
FORESTS OF NORTHERN WISCONSIN
TO THE MAJESTIC FARM VALLEYS OF
THE MISSISSIPPI WE HAVE BEEN
BLESSED WITH INCREDIBLE NATURAL
BEAUTY IN WISCONSIN.
AND AS ST. LUKE REMINDED US, TO
WHOM MUCH IS GIVEN, MUCH IS
REQUIRED.
SINCE THE DAYS OF GAYLORD
NELSON, MORE THAN A MILLION
ACRES OF PRISTINE WISCONSIN
LANDS HAVE BEEN PERMANENTLY SET
ASIDE FOREVER PROTECTED SO THAT
OUR GREAT HUNTING, FISHING AND
CONSERVATION TRADITIONS WILL
ALWAYS BE SAFE.
IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS WE HAVE
ADDED 160,000 ACRES TO THIS
LEGACY, INCLUDING THE LARGEST
PURCHASE IN HISTORY, THE WILD
RIVERS FOREST THAT SPANS MORE
THAN 100 SQUARE MILES IN
NORTHEAST WISCONSIN.
[APPLAUSE]
UNLESS THE LEGISLATURE ACTS,
THIS PROGRAM WILL EXPIRE AND
OUR PRESERVATION EFFORTS WOULD
COME TO AN END.
SO TONIGHT I'M CHALLENGING THE
LEGISLATURE TO REAFFIRM DECADES
OF BIPARTISAN SUPPORT AND
REAUTHORIZE THE STEWARDSHIP
PROGRAMS.
[APPLAUSE]
AND SPEAKING OF GOOD
STEWARDSHIP WE MUST ALSO LIVE
UP TO OUR RESPONSIBILITIES OF
PROTECTORS OF THE LARGEST BODY
OF FRESHWATER IN THE WORLD.
ONE YEAR AGO IN MILWAUKEE, TEN
GOVERNORS AND PREMIERS SIGNED
THE GREAT LAKES WATER RESOURCES
COMPACT TO PRESERVE THESE
WATERS FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.
TONIGHT, I URGE YOU TO RATIFY
THIS COMPACT.
[APPLAUSE]
BUT WE HAVE OTHER
RESPONSIBILITIES AS WELL.
OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, THE
WORLD HAS AWAKENED TO THE
GROWING, ACCELERATING THREAT OF
GLOBAL WARMING.
I KNOW SOME OF YOU DON'T
BELIEVE IT TODAY, BUT IT'S TRUE.
THERE IS NO QUESTION -- THERE
IS NO QUESTION THAT GLOBAL
WARMING DEMANDS IMMEDIATE
ACTION BY THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT.
IT IS A DISGRACE THAT SO MANY
NATIONAL LEADERS HAVE TURNED A
BLIND EYE TO WHAT IS A
SCIENTIFIC FACT.
[APPLAUSE]
YET THE SCOPE AND CONSEQUENCES
OF THIS PROBLEM ARE SO MASSIVE
THAT THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR
ACTIONS ARES NOT ONLY WITH OUR
LEADERS IN WASHINGTON, BUT WITH
ALL OF US.
WITH NEW TECHNOLOGY AND A
COMMITMENT TO RENEWABLE FUELS,
WE CANNOT ONLY REDUCE THE
CARBON EMISSIONS THAT CAUSE
GLOBAL WARMING, WE CAN AND WILL
HELP THIS NATION KICK ITS
ADDICTION TO FOREIGN OIL.
[APPLAUSE]
IN MY BUDGET, I'LL PROPOSE THE
NEXT MAJOR STEP FORWARD IN OUR
EFFORT TO BECOME AMERICA'S
LEADER IN ENERGY INDEPENDENCE,
A $40 MILLION INVESTMENT IN
RENEWABLE ENERGY, LIKE SOLAR,
WIND, HYDROGEN, BIODIESEL AND
ETHANOL.
WE'LL PROVIDE INCENTIVES TO
DRAMATICALLY INCREASE THE
AVAILABILITY OF E-85 AND WE'LL
MOVE FOUR UNIVERSITY CAMPUSES
OFF THE POWER GRID IN THE NEXT
FIVE YEARS.
[APPLAUSE]
AND NEXT YEAR WE'LL MORE THAN
DOUBLE OUR COMMITMENT TO ENERGY
CONSERVATION.
TONIGHT I'M ANNOUNCING A
GOVERNOR'S TASK FORCE ON GLOBAL
WARMING COMPRISED OF BUSINESS,
INDUSTRY, LABOR, ENVIRONMENTAL,
GOVERNMENT AND COMMUNITY
LEADERS TO DEVELOP A
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OF ACTION
THAT WE CAN ALL GET BEHIND.
OF COURSE, ONE STATE ACTING
ALONE CAN'T DO EVERYTHING.
BUT MY FELLOW CITIZENS, WE HAVE
A RESPONSIBILITY TO DO
EVERYTHING WE CAN.
AND I ASK YOU TO JOIN ME AND
MAKE A COMMITMENT THAT WHEN IT
COMES TO GLOBAL WARMING
SOLUTIONS, WISCONSIN WILL LEAD
THE WAY.
[APPLAUSE]
TONIGHT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT AN
AGGRESSIVE AGENDA OF CHANGE AND
REFORM.
AND SOME PRETTY BIG CHANGE
HAPPENED HERE JUST TODAY.
EARLIER THIS AFTERNOON,
REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS
JOINED TOGETHER TO AGREE ON THE
MOST SWEEPING ETHICS REFORM IN
30 YEARS CREATING A STRONG
GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY BOARD
THAT WILL HAVE THE POWER TO
ENFORCE OUR LAWS, INVESTIGATE
AND BRING PROSECUTIONS AGAINST
THOSE WHO VIOLATE THE PUBLIC
TRUST.
IT IS A MODEL FOR WHAT CAN
HAPPEN WHEN PEOPLE OF BOTH
PARTIES SET ASIDE DIFFERENCES,
COMPROMISE WHERE THEY HAVE TO
AND DO WHAT IS RIGHT.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SIGNING
THIS BILL INTO LAW.
[APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU, GOOD JOB.
THANK YOU.
BUT WE SHOULDN'T STOP THERE.
EVERY TWO YEARS OUR TV SETS ARE
BOMBARDED BY NASTY AND NEGATIVE
ADS FROM SHADOWY GROUPS THAT
DON'T PLAY BY THE SAME RULES AS
EVERYONE ELSE.
BUT WE CAN PUT A STOP TO IT.
TONIGHT I ASK YOU TO END THE
PHONY ISSUE ADS.
[APPLAUSE]
THIS IS ONE THING THAT TRULY
BRINGS US ALL TOGETHER.
WE HAVE ALL BEEN THE SUBJECT OF
THOSE ADS.
WE SHOULD REQUIRE THESE GROUPS
TO FOLLOW OUR CAMPAIGN FINANCE
LAWS.
THEY SHOULD DISCLOSE THEIR
DONORS, ABIDE BY CONTRIBUTION
LIMITS AND BE FORBIDDEN FROM
TAKING CORPORATE CONTRIBUTIONS
THAT WOULD OTHERWISE BE ILLEGAL.
LET'S PASS THIS VITAL REFORM
NOW AND CLEAN UP WISCONSIN'S
AIRWAYS.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
AND FINALLY, WE NEED TO IMPROVE
THE WAY CAMPAIGNS ARE FINANCED
IN WISCONSIN.
TODAY WE HAVE NEW LEADERSHIP
AND A NEW OPPORTUNITY TO
ACHIEVE CONSENSUS.
I HAVE ASKED SPEAKER HUEBSCH
AND SENATOR ROBSON TO WORK WITH
ME TO COME UP WITH A STRONG,
COMPREHENSIVE BILL THAT CAN WIN
THE SUPPORT OF BOTH PARTIES.
LET'S GET THIS DONE AND DO WHAT
IS RIGHT FOR THE PEOPLE OF
WISCONSIN.
[APPLAUSE]
I WOULD LIKE TO CLOSE TONIGHT
BY RECOGNIZING THREE YOUNG
PEOPLE WHO SUM UP WHAT THIS IS
ALL ABOUT.
PLEASE WELCOME MEMBERS OF THE
8th GRADE CLASS OF FRANKLIN
MIDDLE SCHOOL IN GREEN BAY,
JORDAN GILLIAM, SIDNEY LY AND
TYLER DESSELL.
THANKS FOR BEING HERE, KIDS.
[APPLAUSE]
THESE THREE STUDENTS HAVE
AGREED TO BE AMONG THE FIRST TO
SIGN THE WISCONSIN COVENANT.
LATER THIS YEAR, I WILL JOIN
THEM AS THEY PLEDGE TO STAY IN
SCHOOL, MAINTAIN A B AVERAGE,
BE GOOD CITIZENS AND TAKE THE
COURSES THAT PREPARE THEM FOR
COLLEGE.
[APPLAUSE]
NOTHING IS GOING TO BE GIVEN TO
THEM EASY.
OVER THE NEXT FOUR YEARS
THEY'LL HAVE TO WORK HARD IN
HIGH SCHOOL TO LIVE UP TO THAT
COMMITMENT AND WE ARE GOING TO
HOLD THEM TO VERY HIGH
EXPECTATIONS.
IN RETURN, WE'LL MAKE THE DREAM
OF AFFORDABLE COLLEGE A REALITY
FOR THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES.
[APPLAUSE]
I'VE SPOKEN OFTEN OF THE
WISCONSIN COVENANT, WHICH IS
REALLY PART OF A BROADER
PROMISE I BELIEVE WE MUST MAKE
TO ALL OF THE HARD WORKING
FAMILIES OF WISCONSIN.
TOGETHER WE MUST MAKE WISCONSIN
A PLACE WHERE ANYONE WHO IS
WILLING TO ROLL UP THEIR
SLEEVES AND WORK HARD CAN
AFFORD TO GET AN EDUCATION, BUY
A HOME, RAISE A FAMILY AND
ENJOY ALL THE GOOD THINGS THAT
LIFE IN OUR WONDERFUL STATE HAS
TO OFFER.
YES, WISCONSIN IS FILLED WITH
OPPORTUNITIES AND FILLED WITH A
DETERMINED PEOPLE READY TO
SEIZE IT.
NOW LET'S GET TO WORK.
THANK YOU AND ON WISCONSIN.
[APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU, EVERYBODY.
>> THAT CONCLUDES GOVERNOR JIM
DOYLE'S 2007 STATE OF THE STATE
ADDRESS.
WE WILL BE GETTING A REPUBLICAN
RESPONSE FROM ASSEMBLY SPEAKER
MIKE HUEBSCH IN A FEW MOMENTS
AS SOON AS HE CAN MAKE HIS WAY
DOWN FROM THE SPEAKER'S PODIUM
AND WE'LL BE HEARING FROM
ASSEMBLY SPEAKER HUEBSCH.
SHAWN JOHNSON FROM WISCONSIN
PUBLIC RADIO IS JOINING ME
AGAIN HERE.
I WONDERED, SHAWN, IF YOU HEARD
ANY SURPRISES TONIGHT?
>> NOT TOO MANY.
THE GOVERNOR HAS BEEN ROLLING
THIS OUT EVER SINCE THE
ELECTION, IN A WAY.
ESPECIALLY IN THE PAST COUPLE
OF WEEKS.
SOME OF THE BIG PIECES WE KNEW
GOING IN.
WE TALKED ABOUT THE HEALTHCARE
INITIATIVE CALLED BADGERCARE
PLUS WITH THE IDEA YOU OFFER
COVERAGE TO ALL WISCONSIN
CHILDREN.
THE GOVERNOR TALKED ABOUT THAT.
ONE PIECE OF THAT THAT YOU
HADN'T HEARD ABOUT BEFORE WAS
EXPANDING BADGERCARE COVERAGE
TO THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO, BY
THEIR INCOME, WOULD QUALIFY BUT
THEY DON'T GET IN BECAUSE THEY
DON'T HAVE CHILDREN.
THAT'S A NEW PIECE THAT YOU
HEARD THERE.
BUT OTHER PIECES, YEAH, A LOT
OF IT IS THE GOVERNOR'S
CAMPAIGN PLATFORM AND WHAT HE'S
BEEN TALKING ABOUT IN RECENT
WEEKS.
>> IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO
HEAR WHAT MIKE HUEBSCH HAS TO
SAY ABOUT ANY OF THIS.
AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS
ADDRESS THE GOVERNOR WAS SAYING
I THINK THIS IS A NEW ERA OF
BIPARTISAN RELATIONSHIPS.
WE HEAR THIS JUST ABOUT EVERY
YEAR, THAT THERE ARE THOSE
KINDS OF PROMISES MADE BUT
PERHAPS THIS TIME AROUND THAT
WILL STICK AND SOME OF THESE
VISIONS FROM THE TOP WILL MAKE
THEIR WAY THROUGH THE
LEGISLATURE.
BUT WE WILL AWAIT MIKE HUEBSCH
AND THE OTHERS FROM THE
OPPOSING PARTY TO THE TOP DOG
AND HEAR WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY.
I THINK SOME OF THE MOST HEART
FELT APPLAUSE AND CERTAINLY THE
LOUDEST APPLAUSE CAME FOR OUR
NATIONAL GUARD MEMBER WHOM THE
GOVERNOR POINTED OUT HAD BEEN
INJURED IN COMBAT AND CAME HOME
AND NOW WILL RETURN TO LIFE AND
WORK AND SCHOOL IN WISCONSIN.
>> TRUE TO FORM TO WHAT YOU
HEAR AT THE ASSEMBLY OR SENATE,
ANY TIME A GUARD MEMBER'S
FAMILY OR SERVICE MEMBER'S
FAMILY COMES HERE, YOU ALWAYS
HEAR STRONG SUPPORT.
>> AS WELL THERE SHOULD BE.
WE DO NOW HAVE, HAVING MADE HIS
WAY THROUGH THE CROWD VERY
QUICKLY FOR US, ASSEMBLY
SPEAKER MIKE HUEBSCH.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
WE WANTED TO ASK YOU YOUR
OVERALL IMPRESSIONS OF THE
GOVERNOR'S ADDRESS.
>> THE GOVERNOR HAS A GREAT
OPPORTUNITY NOW BECAUSE
WISCONSIN IS REALLY QUITE
STRONG.
THE STATE OF THE STATE IS VERY
GOOD AND HE CAME ACROSS WITH A
LOT OF THAT THIS EVENING.
THE PEOPLE OF WISCONSIN HAVE
BEEN VERY PRODUCTIVE.
WE HAVE A STRONG ECONOMY.
OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM IS ONE OF
THE BEST IN THE COUNTRY AND
THERE ARE A LOT OF GOOD THINGS
WE CAN PROUD OF.
THE GOVERNOR TOUTED SOME OF
THOSE THINGS THIS EVENING.
AT THE TOP OF THE SPEECH HE
MADE AN IMPORTANT RECOGNITION,
THE TAXPAYERS OF WISCONSIN AND
THE FACT THAT HE'S GOING TO
WORK TO CUT TAXES.
THAT THE FIRST STANDING OVATION
OF THE EVENING.
WE WANT TO WORK TOGETHER WITH
HIM TO MAKE SURE THAT HAPPENS.
OVERALL, I THINK THE SPEECH WAS
RATHER AMBITIOUS.
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF THINGS
HE'S OUTLINED THIS EVENING AND
WE'LL LOOK FORWARD TO FINDING
OUT WHAT IS IN HIS BUDGET AND
HOW TO PAY FOR A LOT OF THEM.
>> ARE YOU APPLAUDING WHEN HE
WAS TALKING ABOUT HEALTHCARE
REFORM, SOME OF THE IDEAS HE
INTRODUCED TONIGHT, WHAT STUCK
OUT TO YOU?
>> FIRST OF ALL THE RECOGNITION
THAT HEALTHCARE IS ONE OF THE
BIGGEST ISSUES THAT THE PEOPLE
OF THE STATE FACE AND IT
DOESN'T MATTER WHO YOU ARE WHAT
PART OF THE STATE YOU'RE FROM.
THE AFFORDABILITY OF HEALTHCARE
IS WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE
FACING.
WE NEED TO WORK WITH THE
GOVERNOR TO MAKE SURE WE CAN
GET HEALTHCARE AFFORDABLE AND
MAKE SURE IT'S ACCESSIBLE AND
WE'RE GOING TO WORK WITH HIM IN
DOING THAT.
WE BELIEVE, OF COURSE, WE WANT
PATIENTS AND DOCTORS MAKING
THEIR HEALTHCARE DECISIONS.
WAS A LITTLE CONCERNED WITH THE
GOVERNOR'S APPROACH.
IT SEEMS TO BE A MUCH GREATER
REACH FOR GOVERNMENT.
THAT GOVERNMENT IS GOING TO GET
MUCH MORE INVOLVED IN IT.
BADGERCARE PLUS WILL EXPAND.
NO RECOGNITION OF WHAT INCOME
YOU MAKE, WE'RE JUST GOING TO
HELP COVER YOUR CHILDREN.
A LOT OF THESE THINGS ARE
CONCERNING TO TAXPAYERS.
NOW HE'S ASKING A LOT OF THE
TAXPAYERS TO HELP FUND A LOT OF
OTHER PEOPLE.
>> THERE WAS A PRONG IN THERE
NEW AS WELL EXPANDING IT TO
PEOPLE WITHOUT CHILDREN.
>> RIGHT, YES.
OF COURSE, THAT IS A PROGRAM
THAT WE HAVE THAT IS FUNDED TO
A GREAT EXTENT THROUGH THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS NOT
ALLOWED US TO EXPAND IT TO
INDIVIDUALS WITHOUT CHILDREN.
WE'LL HAVE TO SEE WHETHER OR
NOT THEY'VE AGREED TO THAT.
AGAIN, THE GOAL IS THE SAME.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
HEALTHCARE IS AVAILABLE AND
ACCESSIBLE AND AFFORDABLE FOR
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF
WISCONSIN.
WE'LL WORK WITH HIM ON THAT.
>> YOU'RE NOT A BIG MAN FOR
INCREASING TAXES.
WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE TO
INCREASING THE CIGARETTE TAX.
>> YOU KNOW, THE REVENUE
ESTIMATES CAME OUT TODAY.
WISCONSIN ECONOMY IS STRONG.
DESPITE THE FACT THAT WE'RE
ABOUT TO TAKE SOCIAL SECURITY
TAXES OFF THE ROLLS.
WISCONSIN VOTED TO ELIMINATE
SOCIAL SECURITY TAXES FOR OUR
SENIORS.
DESPITE THE FACT WE'VE APPROVED
SOME OF THE CORPORATE TAXES AND
OTHER THINGS WE'RE STILL GOING
TO SEE 1.25 BILLION DOLLARS IN
ADDITIONAL MONEY IN THIS BUDGET
OVER THE LAST ONE.
$1.25 BILLION BECAUSE OF THE
STRENGTH OF THE ECONOMY.
AS I SAID FROM THE BEGINNING
WHEN THE GOVERNOR FIRST
PROPOSED THE CIGARETTE TAX
INCREASE BEFORE WE KNOW WHAT'S
IN THE BUDGET, BEFORE WE KNOW
WHERE HE WANTS TO SPEND IT HE'S
ALREADY SAYING WE NEED MORE
MONEY.
THAT'S I THINK PREMATURE.
LET'S FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN
FIGURE OUT HOW TO LIVE IN THE
TAXPAYERS MEANS AND HOPEFULLY
CUT TAXES FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE
STATE.
REMOVE THAT BURDEN FROM THEM
AND GET GOVERNMENT BACK IN LINE
WITH PEOPLE'S ABILITY TO PAY.
>> HOW ABOUT THE STATEWIDE
SMOKING BAN THE GOVERNOR WANTS?
HOW WILL REPUBLICANS COME DOWN
ON THAT?
>> THEY PASSED LEGISLATION IN
THE LAST SESSION THAT HAD A
STATEWIDE BAN ON SMOKING.
NOT AS COMPREHENSIVE AS THE
GOVERNOR WANTS.
HE WANTS TO GO ANY-- IT WOULD
BE PURE POLICY.
WE'LL ALLOW IT TO GO THROUGH
THE PUBLIC HEARING PROCESS AND
SEE WHAT THE PEOPLE OF THE
STATE HAVE TO SAY AND SEE WHEN
IT GOES TO THE FLOOR WHETHER OR
NOT IT HAS SUPPORT.
BUT RECOGNIZING THAT SMOKING IS
SOMETHING THAT IS A CONCERN FOR
PEOPLE ACROSS THE STATE WILL BE
-- IT'S OBVIOUSLY WHY THE
GOVERNOR HAS BROUGHT IT FORWARD
AND I'M LOOKING TO THE PUBLIC
DISCOURSE ON THAT ISSUE.
>> PERHAPS YOUR RESPONSE OF THE
NEWS OF THE DAY THE PASSAGE OF
THE ETHICS REFORM PACKAGE.
>> OBVIOUSLY I THINK WE'VE DONE
A TREMENDOUS STEP FORWARD IN
RESTORING THE FAITH THAT THE
PEOPLE OF THE STATE SHOULD HAVE
IN THE INTEGRITY OF THE SYSTEM
THAT OVERSEES ELECTED OFFICIALS
AND WHAT WE WANTED THE
ACCOMPLISH.
I COMMEND THE GOVERNOR ON THIS.
HIS OFFICE CAME TO ME SHORTLY
AFTER THE ELECTION AND SAID
LET'S WORK TOGETHER AND WE TOOK
THAT BALL AND RAN WITH IT.
THE SENATE DEMOCRATS, ASSEMBLY
REPUBLICANS.
GOVERNOR'S OFFICE WORKED HARD
OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS
TO COME TO A SOLUTION AND COME
TO LEGISLATION THAT TODAY
PASSED THE SENATE WITH A
UNANIMOUS VOTE.
PASSED HERE WITH 97 VOTES.
IT WAS A REAL VICTORY.
I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE
CAN ALL BE VERY PROUD OF.
IT IS AGAIN MY HOPE THAT WE
HAVE ESTABLISHED A SYSTEM WHERE
WE HAVE BIPARTISAN CONFIRMATION
OF A NONPARTISAN BOARD THAT
WILL OVERSEE ELECTED OFFICIALS
AND THAT SHOULD GO A LONG WAY
TO RESTORING THE PEOPLE OF THE
STATE TO THE INTEGRITY OF THE
SYSTEM.
>> WHAT DID YOU THINK ABOUT HIS
WISCONSIN COVENANT IDEA?
HE IS ALSO TALKING ABOUT
INCREASING FUNDING TO THE
UNIVERSITY TO EXPAND SOME
PROGRAMS IN ENROLLMENT.
>> AGAIN THE GOAL IS THE SAME.
FOR WISCONSIN STUDENTS WHO WANT
TO GO TO THE UNIVERSITY OF
WISCONSIN HAVE THE ABILITY AND
DESIRE TO BE THERE, WE WANT TO
HELP THEM GET THERE AS WELL.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY
HAVE SOME INVESTMENT IN IT AS
WELL.
THE FINANCIAL AID PACKAGES THAT
WE WANT TO PROVIDE FOR OUR LOW
INCOME STUDENTS WILL HAVE THE
QUALIFICATIONS AND THE ABILITY
AND DRIVE TO GET TO THE
UNIVERSITY SYSTEM IS SOMETHING |ç
WE'LL WORK WITH THE GOVERNOR TO
PROVIDE.
BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY
HAVE THE INCENTIVE.
WHEN WISCONSIN STUDENTS WANT TO
GO TO THE UNIVERSITY OF
WISCONSIN SYSTEM ASSEMBLY
REPUBLICANS AND REPUBLICANS
ACROSS THE HOUSES WANT TO MAKE
SURE THEY'LL HAVE THAT
OPPORTUNITY AND THAT WE'LL
EDUCATE SOME OF THE BEST AND
BRIGHTEST.
THE CHALLENGE IS KEEPING THEM
HERE IN THE STATE AFTER THEY
GRADUATE AND EXPANDING OUR
ECONOMY, MAKING SURE THERE ARE
JOBS AVAILABLE TO THEM IS
SOMETHING WE NEED TO WORK
TOGETHER ON AS WELL.
>> DOES MEAN THE GOVERNOR'S
PROPOSAL APPEALS TO YOU?
>> TO SOME EXTENT.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THERE IS
GOING TO BE SOME INCENTIVE AND
INVESTMENT BY THE STUDENT TO
MAKE SURE THEY HAVE A
COMMITMENT TO THAT EDUCATION.
WE'LL WORK WITH HIM TO TRY TO
MAKE SURE OUR STUDENTS WHO WANT
TO BE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF
WISCONSIN SYSTEM HAVE THAT
OPPORTUNITY.
>> THANK YOU.
WE APPRECIATE IT.
THAT DOES CONCLUDE OUR COVERAGE
FOR WISCONSIN PUBLIC
BROADCASTING OF THE 2007 STATE
OF THE STATE ADDRESS.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG FROM
WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISION.
JOINED, OF COURSE, BY SHAWN
JOHNSON FROM WISCONSIN PUBLIC
RADIO.
WANT TO REMIND YOU THAT THIS
ADDRESS WILL BE STREAMED ON
WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISIONS
WEBSITE AT WPT.ORG AND ON "HERE
AND NOW" WE'LL BE SPEAKING WITH
GOVERNOR DOYLE ABOUT MORE
SPECIFICS OF SOME OF THESE
PLANS.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND
GOOD NIGHT.