Governor Evers Gives 2019-21 Biennial Budget Address

Tony Evers. Photo from the State of Wisconsin.

Today, February 28, 2019, Governor Tony Evers will give his 2019-21 Biennial Budget Address. Here are Gov. Evers’ remarks as prepared for delivery:

Honorable Supreme Court Justices, tribal nation leaders, Constitutional Officers, Major General Dunbar and the members of the Wisconsin National Guard as well as active and retired members of our armed forces, cabinet members, Senate President Roth, Majority Leader Fitzgerald, Minority Leader Shilling, Speaker Vos, and Minority Leader Hintz, legislators, distinguished guests, and, most importantly, people of Wisconsin: welcome, and thank you for being here.

My favorite pickleball player, Kathy, is also up there in the gallery tonight. My kids couldn’t be here, but I’m sure they’re watching at home. Thank you always for your love and support—I love you all.

Before we get started, I also want to mention someone else who’s with us in the gallery tonight. All of you know I talk a lot about connecting the dots. Karen is an operator for the Milwaukee County Transit System–she literally makes connections every day. While on her route one day, Karen noticed a boy alone in the freezing cold. She pulled over to make sure he was ok but noticed the boy wasn’t wearing any socks or shoes. So, Karen brought the boy onto her bus and kept him safe and warm while she called for help.

Folks like Karen embody our Wisconsin values like kindness, compassion, empathy, and respect. Karen, thank you for joining us tonight and for your exceptional work.

I’m Tony Evers, and I’m incredibly proud to be here as the 46th governor of Wisconsin announcing my first biennial budget for our state.

You know, I guess you might say I’ve spent some time in education for give or take a handful of years. And one of the most important lessons I took away from my time in the classroom is that you learn more from listening that you ever do from talking.

So, after Mandela and I were elected, we decided we wanted to do a listening session tour across Wisconsin. We wanted to hear directly from the people of our state about what they wanted to see in the budget I’m announcing here tonight.

But we didn’t want to show up months later with a budget in hand and say, “So, what do you think?”

We said we’d always put people first. That’s why we wanted everyone to be part of finding these solutions together.

So, what we did was we turned the standard listening session formula on its head. And, by golly, the darndest thing happened: people showed up from different backgrounds and different communities, and they sat and they talked to each other. And they listened to each other’s perspectives. And they had a dialogue about the problems our state is facing and the best way to fix them. And they ranged from Republicans to Democrats to the democratically disenfranchised to the politically apathetic. And sometimes they even disagreed, but they did so amicably. Never with elevated voices. Never out of spitefulness. And never with disrespect.

I know in today’s day and age, what I’m describing might sound like a unicorn phenomenon of sorts. But the good news is we managed to capture proof it actually happened, and I’d like to share that with you tonight.

[Gov. Evers’ Budget Listening Sessions Video]

Now, I showed you this tonight for a few reasons. The first, although I said it tongue-in-cheek, is to show that people really can get along. If Wisconsinites can come to a room armed with different ideas, listen to each other, and compromise on solutions, then we should be able to do that in this building, too.

Second, I want everyone to understand how we arrived here. At the end of the day, our budget is about putting people first. It’s about creating a Wisconsin that works for everyone–a Wisconsin for us. This isn’t the Tony Evers budget, the Democratic budget, the Speaker’s budget, or the Republican budget–this is The People’s Budget. And it’s one that we crafted together.

We heard from people like Maryann who lives in Coleman in Senator Tiffany and Representative Mursau’s district and Nancy who lives in Amherst in Senator Testin and Representative Shankland’s district. Both Maryann and Nancy came to our listening sessions and talked to us about water quality and water pollution issues across our state.

Because of people like Maryann and Nancy, we announced we’re making safe drinking water a top priority in Wisconsin. We’re authorizing nearly $70 million in bonding to address water quality, from replacing lead service lines to addressing water contamination across our state. I know Representative Shankland has been working with us closely on this issue. Thank you, Representative Shankland, and to Maryann and Nancy, who are here with us in the gallery tonight, for advocating on this important issue.

We also heard from people like Tony who lives in Senator Petrowski and Representative Snyder’s district in Wausau. Tony not only has a great first name, but he also came to one of our listening sessions and talked about why we need driver’s licenses for immigrants and persons who are undocumented, especially in communities where there’s limited access to public transportation.

Because of people like Tony, we’re announcing tonight that undocumented folks will be eligible to receive driver’s licenses and ID cards. This makes our roads and our communities safer, and helps strengthen our economy and Wisconsin families. I know Representative Zamarripa has worked on this issue, and Tony is here with us in the gallery tonight–thank you both for your work on this issue.

And finally, I shared that tonight so that everybody understands what’s at stake in choosing to play politics with this budget.

We have to be a better version of democracy than we have been in the past. At times, we’ve succumbed to the trivial pursuit of political outposturing. At times, we’ve let partisanship cloud the opportunity for compromise. And at times, we’ve let power be the enemy of the good.

So, tonight, I want to be clear: this cannot be one of those times. We cannot afford to play politics with this budget. Folks, the stakes are simply too high.

And as I told you in my inaugural address, I believe in leading by example. That’s why we’re going to begin tonight on the things about which we can all agree.

I’ve said all along that reforming our criminal justice system is an area where I know Republicans and Democrats can work together. So, earlier this week, I announced we’re going to return kids who are 17 to the juvenile justice system. And, I’m investing more than $200 million in additional funds so that we can get kids out of Lincoln Hills and get them closer to home as soon as we safely and responsibly can. I know there’s been bipartisan work on this issue in the past–thank you for your work on this issue, and I look forward to working together in the days ahead.

But juvenile justice is only part of a larger picture. We have to connect the dots in criminal justice by tackling this issue holistically. Starting the moment someone encounters the justice system to the moment they re-join our communities, we have to look at everything from alternatives to incarceration to equity in representation to substance abuse prevention to re-entry programming.

The criminal justice system starts in our communities. So we’re announcing tonight that we’re allocating $2 million over the next two years on a grant program for community policing through the Department of Justice in the 10 cities with the highest violent crime rates in Wisconsin.

But at the same time, we also need to come to terms with the fact that non-violent drug arrests are contributing to overcrowding and economic inequity, instability, and insecurity in our state. That’s why I announced a few weeks ago that our budget will decriminalize marijuana possession for 25 grams or less.

And we also have to ensure that once someone encounters our criminal justice system, they’re receiving adequate, fair, and vigorous representation.

So we’re increasing the private bar reimbursement rate to $70 per hour, and we’re providing more than 25 additional Assistant District Attorneys across our state. Under our plan, ADA positions will be the highest they’ve been since 2011. That will allow us to make sure the justice system is efficient and works for everyone. I know that Representative Born recently advocated for similar initiatives and that there’s been bipartisan support for this issue in the past. I’m hopeful these will receive bipartisan support in our budget.

Additionally, we need to make sure that while folks are incarcerated, they have the tools to be successful when they re-enter our communities. So, we’re expanding the Opening Avenues to Reentry Success program to all 72 counties, providing support to inmates who have mental health issues and are at risk of reoffending.

Finally, we have to make sure folks applying for jobs have the tools they need to maintain employment. So, we’re expanding the Windows to Work program by allowing the program in all minimum- and medium-security institutions, and that’s why we’re also announcing tonight that we will be “banning the box” statewide. We have to reduce employment barriers and empower the folks re-entering our communities with the skills and support they need to live a better life. I know Senator Taylor has been a tireless advocate on this issue–thank you for your work on this.

But fixing our criminal justice system is not the only area of this budget where we can find common ground.

Last session, Senator Darling and Majority Leader Steineke introduced and received unanimous, bipartisan support for legislation creating the Interagency Council on Homelessness. The Council was chaired by former Lieutenant Governor Kleefisch and offered recommendations for addressing homelessness in Wisconsin. I know that Republicans recently introduced legislation supporting portions of the Council’s ideas.

This is important work. That’s why just last week, I announced that I will be chairing the Council myself. And tonight, I’m proud to announce that we’re accepting each and every one of the Council’s recommendations and including them in our budget.

Homelessness and housing insecurity affects kids in the classroom, it affects our criminal justice system, and it affects economic development in our communities. We have to connect the dots on this issue, and it’s time we get serious about addressing this issue in Wisconsin.

Another area I think we can agree on and where we have to connect the dots is expanding access to broadband. Mary lives in Senator Wirch and Representative Neubauer’s district in Racine and came to one of our listening sessions this last December. She’s seen how businesses and schools are falling behind because of a lack of broadband and thinks this is a hindrance to advancing industries and technology. Mary told us, “Not having access to broadband flies in the face of any economic development.”

Mary is here with us in the gallery tonight–thanks for being here. Folks, Mary’s right. Lack of access to reliable broadband internet service affects families at home, and it also affects our classrooms, our hospitals, and building a strong economy. I know there has been bipartisan support on this issue in the past, and we absolutely have to double down on this critically important issue.

So, we’re setting a goal of attaining 25 megabits per second download and 3 megabit per second upload for all Wisconsin homes and businesses by 2025.

But we’re not just setting goals, we’re also going to make sure we actually have the means to achieve them. That’s why we’re making historic investments in broadband expansion grants, increasing total funding to more than $78 million over the biennium. That’s more than four times what was invested in broadband expansion grants during the last state budget. And we’re going to be targeting those grants to the unserved and underserved communities who need them most.

From broadband to homelessness to criminal justice reform, among many other things in this budget, there is much on which we can agree. I’ve said all along that I’m willing to work across the aisle to get things done. I’ve said all along that there’s more that unites us than divides us. We just have to choose to put people before politics. We have to do what’s best for the people of our state. And most importantly, we have an obligation to listen–truly listen–to what the people of Wisconsin need and what they are asking of us.

That starts with healthcare. I’ve said all along we need to expand Medicaid in Wisconsin, and according to a Marquette Law Poll, 62% of Wisconsinites agree. 82,000 more Wisconsinites will have access to affordable, quality healthcare coverage. And because we’re accepting these federal dollars, we have the opportunity to invest in programs that improve healthcare access and affordability across our state. It means that we can invest in programs to address infant mortality, and to encourage preventative care like cancer and STI screenings. It means we’re going to put our money where our mouths are–literally–to ensure Wisconsin isn’t among the worst states for dental care in the country. It means we can can expand access to substance abuse and mental health treatment, intervention, and stabilization, especially in our rural communities, for folks who are in crisis.

Additionally, the people of Wisconsin have asked us to fully fund our public schools. More than one million Wisconsinites have raised their own property taxes to support local schools in their communities. This is simply not sustainable. I’ve said all along that what’s best for our kids is best for our state, and investing in our kids will yield dividends for our future. So, we’re going to start with providing historic investments in K-12 education and returning to two-thirds funding at the state level.

In the past decade, we’ve not only cut public school funding, we’ve failed to fund programs for our kids with special needs. Erin is from St. Francis and lives in Senator Larson and Representative Sinicki’s district. Erin joined us for our listening sessions in December, and she talked about some of the gaps in our education system, and what more support and attentiveness would have meant for someone like her when she was growing up.

Erin said, “Special education is important to me because education itself is important, but sometimes students need extra support—for some students it’s a little, for some students it’s a lot. But if some of us don’t have the resources we need to access education, everyone loses in the end.”

Because of folks like Erin, we’re working to make sure kids like Mac and Abbey have the support and resources they need to be successful. So, as I told you during the State of the State Address, our budget includes an unprecedented $600 million increase in special education funding. We shouldn’t have to squeeze resources to make sure every kid can be successful. Erin, Mac, and Abbey are here with us in the gallery tonight. Thanks so much for being here.

We have to support our kids in the classroom, and we also have to make sure we’re supporting the educators who teach our kids, too. Wisconsin pays our public school teachers less than the national average, which makes it harder to recruit and retain talented educators. We need to do our part to make sure our educators know that the work they do is valued and to use these funding increases to do everything they can to keep our talented educators here in Wisconsin.

And we’re not just investing in K-12 education. We’re also going to get back into the business of funding public education at every level, including investing in higher education in Wisconsin. We announced this week that we’re increasing Technical Colleges funding by $18 million over the biennium and investing more than $150 million in our University of Wisconsin System. That means we’re able to freeze tuition for undergraduate residents in Wisconsin. But our universities shouldn’t have to sacrifice affordability for quality education. So, we’re not just going to freeze tuition, we’re also going to fund that freeze. And no one should have to struggle paying the bills because they pursued higher education. I’ve said all along that folks should be able to refinance their loans just like you can with a mortgage. That’s why I’m also bringing together State Treasurer Godlewski, DFI Secretary-designee Blumenfeld, and a member of the Higher Educational Aids Board, among others, to work on creating a Wisconsin-based strategy for student loan debt refinancing.

Finally, we’re going to make sure that, regardless of whether a kid was born in this country, if they went to a Wisconsin high school and have lived here for three years, they shouldn’t have to pay more for tuition like an out-of-state student–they should be treated like any other kid from Wisconsin.

In addition to funding public schools at every level, I believe everyone should have the opportunity to participate in our democracy. People should get to choose their elected officials, not the other way around. So, earlier this week, we announced that we’re creating a nonpartisan redistricting commission. And, as it turns out, the people of Wisconsin agree. According to a recent Marquette Law Poll, 72% of Wisconsinites want nonpartisan redistricting in Wisconsin. And not just Democrats. 63% of Republicans and 76% of Independents support nonpartisan redistricting, too. I know Senator Hansen has done extensive work on this–thank you for your leadership. Nonpartisan redistricting is only part of the democratic process and participation. So, we’re not only including nonpartisan redistricting in our budget, we’re also going to direct the Elections Commission and the Department of Transportation to work together on implementing automatic voter registration in Wisconsin. And I know Representative Crowley has been working on this issue–thank you.

Finally, we turn to transportation. I’ve said all along that our current approach to transportation is unsustainable. For years, we’ve kicked the can down the road on this issue, and we can’t afford to do it again. According to a 2018 TRIP report, industries like retail stores, tourism, agriculture, and manufacturing bolster about 1.4 million full-time jobs, and they depend on our roads, highways, and bridges. About $580 billion in goods are shipped across our state each year. Yet, our roads rank among the worst in the nation. And according to that same report, our infrastructure problems are costing Wisconsin taxpayers $6.8 billion annually in higher vehicle operating costs, traffic delays, and accidents.

That’s bad for our economy, and it’s bad for our pocketbooks.

It’s time to find a long-term solution to our transportation crisis, and that’s what I’m proposing to do here tonight. I said when I ran for governor that I’d get everyone to the table to find a solution that works for everyone. And that’s what we did.

And that’s why tonight, I’m proposing the largest biennial investment in transportation in Wisconsin state history. But this won’t be a one-time fix. We’re going to raise more than $600 million in new revenues to fix our roads, bridges, and highways and make sure that our transportation fund is sustainable for our future.

Now, I want to be clear: everyone is going to have to give a little to make this work. That’s compromise. We’re all going to have to share the burden so this is feasible for everyone, and to make sure we’re not passing the buck to the next generation. We’re going to be increasing fees for titles and heavy trucks, and we do have to raise the gas tax–but as I promised all along, we’re sure as heck not going to raise the gas tax by a dollar. We’re going to raise it $.08 a gallon–well below what they did over the river raising it by $.20 in Minnesota, or $.18 in Ohio. But the good news is, we’re also going to repeal a hidden tax that costs you $.14 a gallon on gas. That means our plan actually makes it possible for you to pay less at the pump than you do right now.

Because of all of this, we’re going to make sure local governments don’t have to rely on things like wheel taxes to make ends meet. So, we’re going to increase general transit and transportation aid to counties and local governments by 10% to repair local roads and local bridges. Those are the highest levels ever in Wisconsin history. And we’re going to do all of this without having to raid our general funds and without jeopardizing other budget priorities like expanding broadband, fully funding our public schools, and reforming our criminal justice system. Because of our long-term solution to this issue, Wisconsin’s highway bonding in our budget is the lowest it’s been in over 20 years. It’s time we pay our bills and stop kicking the can down the road.

At the end of the day, the people of Wisconsin expect and deserve for us to get to work on these pressing issues. From broadband to healthcare, education to justice reform, and roads to redistricting, these are the priorities of the people of our state. Their plight must be our purpose, their crises our cause, and their desires our demands.

You know, I’ve heard some remark that the people of Wisconsin chose divided government this November. I don’t think that’s the case. The people of Wisconsin didn’t choose for us to be divided, they chose for us to find it within ourselves to be united, not in party, but in promise–to serve our state, and to do what’s best for the people who sent us here.

Folks, let’s get to work.

Thank you, and On, Wisconsin!

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.

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