Now to the future. As we set a course for the next decade, we must keep investing in the
Four Ts. As always, I have a plethora of ideas on exactly how to do that.
First and foremost, it is important that Wisconsin maintain its aggressive attitude on economic development by investing in the new economy. Our competitors are no longer Illinois and Minnesota. They are also California, Colorado, Washington, Europe and the Pacific Rim nations.
Wisconsin stands to become America's Biotech Prairie and we mustn't let one high tech company escape our state in search of a better climate. We must nurture cutting-edge biotech companies like Third Wave Technologies, which is about to go public. Third
Wave exemplifies the great potential for this industry in Wisconsin. I'd like to thank Rocky Ganske and Stephanie Vavra for joining us tonight.
We must aggressively pursue more venture capital so the ambitious high-tech and biotech entrepreneurs have the resources to bring their discoveries to market.
We must continue investing wisely in our universities: Keep the Biostar program on pace.
Double the number of information technology graduates. And create a Master's degree in biotechnology at UW-Madison.
And, as best you can give available resources, move forward with the Madison Initiative, Milwaukee Idea and Chippewa Valley Initiative. All are strategic plans geared toward developing the jobs and workers of tomorrow through public-private partnerships in their regions. I'd like to introduce UW-Eau Claire Chancellor Donald Mash, UW-Madison Chancellor John Wiley and UW President Katherine Lyall and thank them for their leadership.
We can't afford to waste the newfound synergy between our universities and private sector if we want to grow the technology industry in Wisconsin.
And keep looking to cut taxes. While tax cuts may be hard to come by this session, it doesn't mean you shouldn't try. If money is found, a priority must be placed on stimulating new economic growth – just as we did in 1987.
A hub exemption is vital to the competitiveness of our Wisconsin-based airlines. Modern commerce demands easy access to air travel, which makes Midwest Express an economic jewel that gives us a leg up on our competitors.
If possible, find a way to create tax-free Technology Zones in regions of the state. They can set the Biotech Prairie on fire by providing a tremendous financial incentive for high-tech companies to locate and grow in Wisconsin. The payoff will be thousands of new jobs and taxpayers.
And single factor should be another priority, so our businesses aren't tempted to move to a neighboring state.
Then don't forget the importance of transportation. Even in the new economy, moving commerce will demand a strong road system.
No road project is more important than the Marquette Interchange, through which a majority of our state's commerce travels. This Legislature must commit itself to getting this project off the ground promptly, or commerce in our state will suffer.
Vital to the Marquette project is repairing the Hoan Bridge, which is to serve as a major relief valve for traffic while the Marquette is closed. We're working closely with the federal government to get emergency funds to fix the northbound lanes. And I have instructed the Department of Transportation to get the southbound lanes ready for traffic by mid-February, a target that can be met safely.
And I'm looking for some lawmakers to take up the charge of high-speed passenger rail in Wisconsin. We need to get a high-speed route established from Chicago to Milwaukee and Madison, ultimately going to other areas as well. It simply doesn't pay anymore to drive from Madison or Milwaukee to Chicago. Trains are a fast and cheap alternative.
The state recently purchased the Milwaukee Amtrak station and plans to remodel it into a beautiful intermodel facility. And if we build an Amtrak stop at Mitchell Field, we will quickly establish Milwaukee as the third airport serving the Chicago region.
Finally, our commitment to education must never waiver. Therefore, this budget will maintain the state's commitment to two-thirds local school funding.
And let's move beyond the fear of accountability. Challenge our kids to meet the high standards we set for them. Make the state graduation test mandatory.
Tonight I challenge the state to solve another one of society's unsolvable problems.
Let's eradicate illiteracy in Wisconsin.
We're setting up reading academies to train teachers in the best ways to teach children to read. And we're developing web-based reading methods for elementary school teachers.
Eliminating illiteracy will require the dedicated effort of us all – from parents to teachers to employers and churches. It'll take more people like Tori Rader of the Brown County
Literacy Council, Dottie Heitke of the Stateline Literacy Council, and Barbara Manthei who leads the state's literacy effort. Let's come together and make Wisconsin the first state where everyone can read. There's no greater legacy we can leave our next generation.
Finally, I would like to add to the equation for future success, two Es: energy and efficiency.
We must make sure the trails we blaze tomorrow are well lit and capable of powering commerce in Wisconsin. This means producing enough energy.
Let me be clear: There is no issue more crucial or critical to Wisconsin's future right now than energy. We're running out of it. Plain and simple. And Wisconsin is not alone, for
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Alan Greenspan warned last week of a national crisis in energy production.
In Wisconsin, we simply don't have enough power plants and transmission lines.
Just presuming a very modest 3 percent growth in demand for electricity, Wisconsin's electricity needs will exceed its generating capabilities in just two short years. But our economy keeps growing at a 5 to 6 percent pace. And what happens if an existing power plant goes down for maintenance or repairs?
Ladies and gentlemen, we have no margin for error.
We've built some plants in the last few years, and our deregulation efforts have been hailed nationally as among the smartest – in stark contrast to California. But this has only allowed us to get by.
We need to immediately pursue a balanced course of building more power plants and erecting more transmission lines. And we need a natural gas pipeline to make our supply more reliable. We can do all of these without harming the environment, despite what the fear mongers claim. We've proven this in the past.
Without enough energy, not only will our existing businesses suffer; all those high-tech companies we want to attract will go elsewhere. High-technology runs on raw power not wood stoves.
Even the Wall Street Journal wrote a few days ago that states are aggressively using energy as a powerful new tool in recruiting business.
The stakes are high: If this chamber does not heed this clarion call to action, it will put the economic future of this state at great peril.
Next, we must become more efficient. At every level of government, we need to do a better job of delivering the services our people demand at a price we can all afford.
And there's no better time to start than this budget when revenues will be lower than expected.
Thanks to the hard work of Don Kettl and his commission, we now have a road map to smaller, more efficient government – from Elroy to Juneau County to Madison. The commission's recommendations, including how we better distribute revenue between state and local government, will be included in the upcoming budget. Don is with us here tonight after completing another thankless task for our state.
Tonight, I want to focus on the five most "radical and bold" ideas -- the catalysts for truly modernizing our government for a new century.
1.) Create incentives to collaborate. In our forefathers' zeal for strong local control, they created too much government. And this has led to overlapping services.
By engaging in regional collaboration for the delivery of services, governments can reap significant savings without sacrificing quality. For example, do neighboring communities really need separate mass transit systems? Or separate waste collection services?
I can tell you right now, that the amount of money the state can send back to communities and spend on programs isn't going to grow in this budget. The economic windfall isn't there. So there's no better time for local governments to collaborate and develop savings.
2.) Demand performance and accountability. We would improve harmony and performance by more clearly defining the roles of state and local government.
For example, the state might assume responsibility for providing human service programs and contract with local government to deliver them. The state would pay local government based on its performance. The more efficient the delivery, the greater the financial reward.
The result would be greater accountability, better service and less friction.
3.) Performance-based education. There is no area that state and local government spends more money on than schools. But we need to do a better job of making sure that money gets directly into the classroom by giving greater operating flexibility to every local school building. And we must demand high performance. We must also continue to breakdown barriers to our seamless system of schools.
4.) A Top-To-Bottom Scrub of Government. If we are serious about reforming government, we need to dig deep and determine what we do well and what we do poorly at all levels.
We need to search and destroy regulations and programs that have outlived their usefulness; share the best practices of government; and establish performance-based management for state government.
5.) Expand e-government. Web portals for all levels of government will make it easier for citizens to access services and reduce the cost of goods the government buys.
Tonight, state government is unveiling its new, one-stop web site:
www.wisconsin.gov.
Once on-line, an array of state services will be at your fingertips. You can renew your vehicle registration, reserve a campsite, look for a job, begin building a new business, learn how to get social services in your community, see how your child's school grades out compared to others, or plan a family trip. Every state agency is making its programs and services accessible online.
And by using the portal to buy products on-line, we will save taxpayers money.
Through reverse auctions, we can get the products we need at the lowest price possible.
In a recent auction to purchase textiles, you can see that the longer the auction went on, the lower the price dropped. We finally bought the textiles for 33 percent below the market price.
Our e-portal underscores the great efficiencies we can accomplish in government if we're bold enough to change.
Reforming government doesn't just mean making it more efficient, however.
Perhaps the area where government needs the greatest reform is in the political system.
The fall elections brought a new level of attack ads, record spending and reports of smokes-for-votes and felons voting.
Thus, it is time to quit the political posturing and pass the first Kettl Commission Report -- the comprehensive campaign finance reform. It's the only bipartisan reform out there.
And let's take it a step further: Develop stronger regulations on independent ads. The
Constitution makes speech free but last-minute attack ads are costing our democracy too much. We need to strike a better balance.
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Next, pass a bipartisan package of voting reforms that include: requiring a photo ID to register and vote; the training of election observers; creation of a statewide voter list; a new position at the Elections Board to help local governments conduct elections properly; and a task force to study the use of technology to increase voter participation.
We are America's good government state. The integrity of our polls must never be questioned again.
Tonight, I am pleased to announce a new project that will help increase public participation and reduce cynicism.
It's called The WisconsinEye Public Affairs Network. It will be Wisconsin's version of C-SPAN.
These small, discreet cameras will be mounted in the Assembly and Senate Chambers, providing the public with straightforward coverage of legislative proceedings. This represents the very latest in miniature digital technology.
WisconsinEye will cover hearings, press conferences and other happenings in state government and around the state. And students and educators will have a real-time window on the State Capitol.
A more formal announcement on this project is coming soon. But let me tell you now that this network will not cost the taxpayers any money. WisconsinEye will be supported by a private not-for-profit company, and Charter Communications is contributing as well.
Please welcome the network's president Jeff Roberts, its vice president Jon Henkes and Chris Fenger and Tim Vowell of Charter Communications.
And I would like to give credit to the Assembly and Senate for openly welcoming WisconsinEye into their chambers. It's a bold and courageous move.
So there you have it. Another ambitious agenda for the future. And you thought you'd get off easy tonight with me just talking about the past.
Believe me, I would love to keep going because I still have hundreds of ideas for this state.
But now it is time to pass the torch and say goodbye.
Tomorrow at noon, Scott McCallum will become the 43 rd Governor of this great state. A new era of leadership and government will begin.
Already, Scott is showing the strong decision-making that will be necessary to keep Wisconsin on a sound path. As you know, there is no budget windfall this year. The failure to heed warnings about the structural deficit and a bigger rainy day fund will make this a difficult budget session. But the lieutenant governor is one of the few people in this room not responsible for this predicament.
Thus, I encourage you to give him your full support. Being governor is not easy. But Scott McCallum is more than up to the challenge. He's a good man and I wish him well.
As for me, well, I've spoken so long tonight because deep down I really don't want this night to end. For I know tomorrow brings a new beginning.
But how do you say goodbye to a place you love so much?
I'll begin by thanking you, the people of Wisconsin, for all the courtesies and friendships you have extended my family. You have warmly given us your home and made us your neighbors. I want to thank my children: Kelli, Tommi and Jason for standing by me. It's not easy being the governor's children, but they always carried themselves with grace and dignity.
In fact, of every success I spoke about tonight, there is nothing I am more proud of than my children. They have grown to be warm, caring adults. And the credit goes to my wife Sue Ann.
Sue and I have been through so much together, and she is such a great part of my success.
Without a doubt, I would not be standing here today without her. So please welcome my wife, who would like to say a few words of thanks.
(MRS. THOMPSON)
Thank you, for the opportunity to serve as Wisconsin's first lady for these last 14 years. It has been an honor and a privilege.
Thank you, also for supporting Tom, our family and myself. The kindness of the people of Wisconsin has been a great source of strength for all of us. We will always treasure our moments as governor and first lady.
We have developed many wonderful friendships, visited many beautiful communities and learned so much about our state.
