Response to Governor Walker’s State of the State Address
“Over the past year, Governor Walker and Republican legislators made it clear that special interest handouts and political power grabs were their top priorities – not the people of Wisconsin.”
MADISON – Following Governor Walker’s 2016 State of the State address, Rep. Katrina Shankland (D-Stevens Point) released the following statement:
“Over the past year, Governor Walker and Republican legislators made it clear that special interest handouts and political power grabs were their top priorities – not the people of Wisconsin. Now, with Republican legislators’ approval ratings at 31%, they are attempting a Hail Mary pass to get their poll numbers up. But they are not Aaron Rodgers, and the people of Wisconsin can see right through this plan.
“Governor Walker should have used the State of the State to address the 10,000 layoffs in 2015 and tackle the student loan debt crisis. But instead of providing real solutions, like allowing people to refinance their loans like they can a car loan or mortgage, the governor laid out meager crumbs. The Republican proposal would benefit just 6,500 people a year, whereas refinancing would provide relief to over one million student loan borrowers in Wisconsin.
“If Republicans want to get serious about workforce development, they should fairly fund our public education system. Governor Walker and legislative Republicans have cut $2 billion from our public schools, technical colleges, and universities – the very institutions responsible for educating and preparing Wisconsin’s future workforce. Republicans also helped cause the student debt crisis by keeping need-based financial aid today at 2011 levels and denying 36,000 technical college and UW students access to financial aid that they already qualified for.
“Assembly Democrats have proposed real solutions to address the student loan debt crisis and match workers with family-supporting jobs, but legislative Republicans have rejected our proposals at every turn. Wisconsin families deserve real action – not a fourth quarter failure.”
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.
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