Wednesday, January 12, 2005
1:49 P.M.
Ninety-Seventh Regular Session
The Senate met.
The Senate was called to order by Senator Alan Lasee.
The Chair, with unanimous consent, asked that the roll call, prayer, and pledge of the special session be applied to the regular session.
The Chair appointed Senators Reynolds and Miller to escort his excellency, the Governor.
Senator Schultz, with unanimous consent, asked that the Senate Adjourn until 10:00 A.M. Thursday upon the rising of the Joint Convention.
Senator Schultz, with unanimous consent, asked that the Senate recess until 6:45 P.M.
2:30 P.M.
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6:45 P.M.
The Senate reconvened.
Senator A. Lasee in the chair.
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The Chair, with unanimous consent, asked that the Senate recess for the purpose of awaiting the Governor's State of the State Address in Joint Convention in the Assembly Chambers at 7:00 P.M.
The Senate Stood recessed.
6:50 P.M.
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The Senate proceeded in a body to the Assembly Chamber to meet in Joint Convention to receive the State of the State Message.
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The President of the Senate in the Chair.
The Committee to await upon the Governor appeared with his excellency the Governor, who delivered his message as follows:
Speaker Gard, Majority Leader Schultz, President Lasee, Speaker Pro Tem Freese, Members of the Legislature, Lieutenant Governor Lawton, Constitutional Officers, Supreme Court Justices, Members of the Cabinet, Tribal Leaders, and fellow citizens of Wisconsin.
It is my honor to stand before you tonight and report that the State of Wisconsin is on the move.
On the move creating jobs, growing the economy, returning fiscal sanity to state government, embracing new education and health initiatives ... while standing firm against raising taxes.
After years of job losses, we came together and took aggressive action ... investing in manufacturing, streamlining regulations, giving farmers tax credits to grow their businesses, and passing a balanced budget without raising taxes.
And perhaps even more important than what we did under this dome ... the people of Wisconsin used their own determination and hard work to propel this state forward. To every small businessperson ... to every worker who didn't give up ... to all the students who pushed a little harder ... to each farmer who got up a little earlier ... here's what we've accomplished together:
Over the past year, we've created nearly 70,000 jobs.
For 11 straight months, we've led the Midwest in job growth.
We've created twice as many jobs as Minnesota - and six times as many as Iowa.
As the new issue of Inc Magazine reports: Wisconsin has experienced -- quote -- a remarkable turnaround ... with the nation's largest surge in manufacturing job creation -- unquote.
Manufacturing is up.
And personal income is up.
And homeownership is up.
And ACT scores are up - the highest in the nation.
You should also know a few things are going down.
Like crime. It's down. We're 25 percent below the national average.
Alcohol-related deaths ... down 14 percent, thanks to a tougher law on drunk driving.
And teen smoking ... down ... to the lowest level ever recorded.
From cutting back on state contracts to reducing the number of state cars, we're making state government smaller, smarter, more efficient, and more accountable.
With new jobs, new ideas, and growing confidence that our brightest days lie ahead, Wisconsin is on the move.
In a speech like this, it's tempting to cover every aspect of the agenda -- from the environment to corrections policy to campaign finance to welfare reform. And our plans for Wisconsin's future are as broad and diverse as the state itself. I'll discuss many of these important issues next month when I introduce the budget. But since the clock is also on the move tonight, I'd like to focus on four areas:
Growing Wisconsin's economy. Putting kids first. Expanding access to health care. And restoring fiscal discipline.
Let me start with the economy.
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Since I took office, my Administration has invested almost $300 million in economic development projects, helping to attract, retain, and provide training for nearly 50,000 jobs.
We've helped great Wisconsin companies expand, from Bay Shipbuilding to Johnsonville Sausage ...
... from GE to GM ... from Promega to Georgia Pacific.
The results can be seen all across the state. Madison was recently rated as the best city in America for business by Forbes Magazine, with La Crosse, Wausau, and Green Bay ranking in the top third. Milwaukee has gained more jobs than any metro area in the Upper Midwest and is one of the fastest growing job markets in the nation.
Tonight, I have yet another announcement to make, and this is a big one - 1,000 new, good jobs coming to the Milwaukee area. We are providing economic development assistance to Kohl's, helping them greatly expand their corporate headquarters and create jobs over the next few years -- from entry level to management level -- and solidifying the future of this great company in Wisconsin.
I want to thank Senators Kanavas, Darling, and Taylor for working with my Administration to get this done.
This is part of a new, strategic focus we are bringing to economic development. We made a choice to compete at the high end by fighting for Wisconsin's rightful place producing the best products, with the most highly skilled and educated workforce anywhere in the world.
Last session, I unveiled an ambitious action plan called "Grow Wisconsin." We worked together - Democrats and Republicans - and passed into law nearly every bill I requested. No matter which side of the aisle you're on, you stood with Wisconsin's workers and families, and for that, I thank you.
We passed the most sweeping regulatory reform effort in the Midwest - cutting red tape, but protecting our environmental standards. We passed a major financial modernization bill to make new capital available to investors. We created tax credits to spur more than $250 million in angel and venture capital investment. We provided tax relief to offset the high cost of energy for manufacturers. We strengthened agriculture with a livestock siting bill, and a tax credit to help dairy producers modernize. And because we passed the single sales tax reform, this year, Wisconsin businesses won't suffer a tax penalty for every job they create.
We are on the move - and we are not stopping.
In the last few months, I have announced a series of new initiatives that will build on the momentum of "Grow Wisconsin."
With the help of Senators Robson, Hansen, and Roessler, and Representative McCormick, we will increase our investment in our state's manufacturing extension partnerships by $1.3 million.
We are creating a Wisconsin Entrepreneurs' Network that will help innovative new companies succeed.
We are launching a new effort to recruit more angel investors who provide early-stage capital for emerging businesses.
And led by our Lieutenant Governor, my Administration is opening a statewide dialogue on advancing the economic status of women.
But despite the progress we've made, the economic news isn't all good. Some areas haven't had the same economic expansion as the rest of the state. Many workers must depend on two jobs to make ends meet. And for many families, the rising cost of living - from a doctor's visit to a gas fill up - has eroded any gains they've made.
Tonight, let me outline the next steps to ensure that Wisconsin continues to lead, innovate, and create jobs:
First, let's complete the unfinished business of the last session: pass a meaningful worker training bill. We can give workers the skills they need to raise their incomes, and give businesses the trained workers they need to compete. Let's work together, and get this done.
Second, we must ensure that our energy supply is both adequate and environmentally responsible.
Under my Administration, we've made the greatest strides in years to increase our energy capacity - not only power production, but power transmission. We've given incentives to communities that site power plants or transmission lines, and we've cut by half the time it takes to get new facilities approved.
I want to thank Senators Risser and Cowles and Representatives Black and Jensen for serving on my Task Force on Energy Efficiency and Renewables. You've developed good energy policy, good economic policy, and good environmental policy all rolled into one.
By the year 2010, at least 20 percent of the energy that state government uses will come from renewable sources, and by 2015, we'll set a standard for homes and businesses of 10 percent.
In my budget, I'll also have a major new initiative on biofuels. It's time to reduce our dependence on foreign oil. When it comes to our energy future, let's rely on the Midwest - not the Mideast.
The last session has been called the most productive for agriculture in 25 years, and that wouldn't have been possible without the partnership of Majority Leader Schultz and Representatives Ott, Ward, Vruwink and Gronemus. One success was the Dairy Investment Tax Credit. In my budget, I'll ask for your help to create a similar credit for livestock producers -- providing up to $50,000 to help them modernize and expand.
In Wisconsin we've shown that we can have a strong environment and a strong economy. We're working to protect the Great Lakes, combat invasive species, and lower mercury emissions to protect our air, land, and water. And under my Administration, we've permanently protected more than 42,000 acres of pristine natural areas through the Stewardship program.
Democrats and Republicans agree on many things. But we have an honest disagreement when it comes to raising the minimum wage.
I'm for it. Most of you on the Republican side are not. Even though most other workers - including you in the Legislature - have had pay raises in the past seven years, those working for the minimum wage have not. I believe going from $5.15 to $6.50 an hour for people who haven't had a raise in seven years is reasonable.
The Legislature has the power to block this increase for the next two years without ever having a vote. In fact, it's already been five months since you first objected to the minimum wage, but you've never had a vote on the floor.
All over Wisconsin, I see people who are working so hard to support themselves. And they deserve a chance to get ahead.
It's time to approve a higher, statewide minimum wage of $6.50 an hour.
Every month you delay, minimum wage workers lose $100. It's time to take a vote - do it this month.
