[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] [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] [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 ] [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] [ 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] [MUSIC]