It's sound fiscal management.
It's our sacred obligation as public servants.
Despite the challenging budget picture . . . I am recommending major new financial investments in the following areas:
$540 million more for public schools . . . to help fund school costs and continue to provide much-needed property tax relief.
$206 million more for corrections . . . for a more compassionate and effective approach to rehabilitation and making sure that our citizens are more secure.
$201 million more for medical assistance . . . to provide more medical services to the neediest in our state.
There is also new money to grow and build Wisconsin's economy and to help create more high-skill . . . high-wage jobs. In other words . . . more opportunities for our citizens to improve their lives by moving up the economic ladder.
⋅ Twenty technology development zones will be created to help develop high-tech . . . high-skill . . . high-wage jobs.
⋅ An airport hub property tax incentive will be provided to encourage airlines to create high-paying jobs in Wisconsin.
⋅ The single sales factor approach to apportionment of corporate taxes will be phased in . . . so that Wisconsin is more competitive with our neighboring states when it comes to locating new plants and creating new jobs.
⋅ A "Rural Initiative" to reinvigorate Wisconsin's historic commitment to small towns and farms by providing grants and start-up assistance to small business owners and family farmers.
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⋅ Funding for the TechStar program . . . which will provide grants to a consortium of southeastern Wisconsin universities to help turn their research efforts into marketable products.
⋅ Funding for the "Milwaukee Idea" . . . which will increase the number of faculty and students enrolled at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in high-demand occupational areas. This money will also provide for creation of the "Academy of Excellence" honors program on the Milwaukee campus . . . which is an initiative aimed at keeping Wisconsin's best and brightest students learning . . . and, hopefully, working . . right here at home . . . in Wisconsin.
⋅ Another $11.8 million for the "Madison Idea" . . . which focuses on increasing educational options for students at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and for enhancing economic development.
⋅ Funding will be provided to the Wisconsin Technical College System to create a 17th campus. But this one will be a virtual technical campus . . . on-line.
⋅ The gross receipts tax on wholesale power transactions will be cut in half to help increase the supply of energy and reduce the cost.
⋅ We will begin the process of reconstructing the Marquette Interchange in Milwaukee. This is a crucial . . . indeed indispensable . . . link for commerce flowing throughout the entire state of Wisconsin.
⋅ Ten million dollars will be earmarked for the Canal Street project in Milwaukee to help facilitate redevelopment in the Menomonee Valley.
⋅ $9.1 million will be provided for infrastructure improvements around the soon-to-be-refurbished Lambeau Field in Green Bay.
Technological changes are also having a big effect on state government . . . and in defining the way we provide services to the people of Wisconsin.
That is why I am proposing creation of a new Wisconsin Department of Electronic Government . . . to be headed by a state Chief Information Officer . . . and which will be responsible for technology planning and project implementation.
This new department . . . which will be formed from existing divisions within DOA . . . will help incorporate emerging technologies into the workplace . . . and will help us provide better and more efficient services . . . and at a lower cost.
And when we speak of "efficiency" . . . we must take a moment to speak of Don Kettl . . . one of Wisconsin's most valuable resources.
In January . . the Kettl Commission presented its report on State-Local Partnerships and this budget includes the commission's recommendations on municipal shared revenue.
These recommendations seek to eliminate incentives to spend money and . . . instead . . . put in place incentives to encourage more cooperation and efficiency. As additional savings are realized through a move to regionalized "economies of scale" . . . taxpayers can look forward to lower tax burdens.
This is not the first time Don Kettl has stepped forward to take on a difficult assignment and I know it won't be the last. Don . . . please stand up . . . and let a grateful state say "Thank you!"
We must also reaffirm our commitment to public education. Not just in terms of the state's funding responsibility . . . but also by endorsing initiatives to improve performance. Education is the most critically important component in building a successful and comfortable life . . . regardless of whatever endeavor one may chose to pursue . . . and the state has a responsibility to ensure that all of our children are reaching their highest potential.
That's why this budget provides funds for . . .
⋅ Promoting site-based management.
⋅ New school improvement teams.
⋅ Restructuring under-performing schools.
⋅ An independent Board of Educational Accountability to manage assessment programs and provide information to parents and taxpayers on how schools are performing.
⋅ A pay-for-performance initiative for teachers who excel.
⋅ More charter schools.
⋅ Smaller class sizes in the elementary grades.
⋅ Alternative certification options for qualified teachers.
In building academic programs around the needs of students . . giving parents and policy makers better information . . improving subject area knowledge and student outcomes . . our schools will be better able to focus on performance rather than on compliance.
The author George Eliot wrote . . . "What do we live for . . . if it is not to make life less difficult for each other?"
The budget I present to you today makes life less difficult for the neediest in Wisconsin in these ways.
⋅ New funding to maintain Early Childhood Excellence Centers . . . which will provide high quality childcare to low-income families.
⋅ An additional $84 million for direct child care . . . to significantly improve access for families who need this help.
⋅ Creation of a "Kids Cabinet" to ensure better coordination of programs for children.
⋅ Maintenance of funding for the Community Options Program.
⋅ Additional funds to address caseload needs in the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation.
⋅ Funds to expand the Women's Health Program . . . and for treatment of breast and cervical cancer.
⋅ More money for BadgerCare . . . which will help add approximately 20,000 families to the program.
⋅ A Prescription Drug Assistance Program which could cover over 80,000 of Wisconsin's senior citizens who currently do not have any prescription drug benefits.
It's my hope . . . as we come to some agreement on what the state can afford to do in extending prescription drug benefits . . . that we don't lose sight of the fact we all want more of our senior citizens covered. On that point . . . there is no disagreement.
We must also reaffirm our commitment to environmental protection and wise use of our natural resources.
Commenting on the prediction that the world's population could double in the next 30 years, the Archbishop of Canterbury recently said . . . "We will have to learn to live more simply so that others may simply live."
We must not take more from this world than we need and we must make sure we preserve as much of God's beauty for those who will follow us.
We are all custodians of the land . . . the water . . . our state and national forests . . . our beautiful state parks . . . the shorelines . . . the natural habitat . . . the wildlife . . . and . . . the wetlands.
This is a part of Wisconsin's heritage I will not allow to be un-made.
In my proposed budget, you will find:
⋅ A Green Tier Initiative which will strengthen the partnerships between businesses and the Department of Natural Resources . . . and provide for a more effective level of environmental management.
⋅ An additional $130 million in bonding authority to invest in water quality improvement.
⋅ Three million dollars for ethanol production to help the environment and to help Wisconsin farmers.
⋅ Two million dollars for "brownfield" clean-up in the Menomonee Valley.
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⋅ Nearly two million dollars will be directed towards the Agricultural Stewardship Initiative to fund research which will help reduce agricultural pollution.
⋅ Creation of the Fox River Navigational System Authority to rehabilitate, repair, operate and maintain the lock system on the Fox River.
⋅ A $300,000 program to better control invasive aquatic plants which threaten Wisconsin's aquatic habitat and water-based recreation.
In closing . . . there can be no doubt this will be a difficult budget process and I am sure the debates will sometimes be fierce . . . but there is no need for our political differences to spill over into our personal relationships.
There's an old French proverb that says . . . "To speak kindly does not hurt the tongue."
Let's fight as hard as we can for what we believe . . . but let's also treat each other with respect and kindness and courtesy.
As I said in my inaugural address . . .
Let's be proud of what we do and say here.
Let's leave a legacy our children can look back on with pride when we are gone.
Shakespeare wrote . . . "If I lose my honor . . . I lose myself."
Let's be sure we hold both honor and self securely in our hands as this important budget debate unfolds.
Thank you.
The Joint Convention arose at 2:36 P.M.
4:16 P.M.
The Senate reconvened.
Senator George in the chair.
The Chair, with unanimous consent, asked that the proper entries be made in the journal.
__________________
Read and referred:
Senate Joint Resolution 22
Relating to: the life and public service of Daniel T. "Tom" Kelley.
By
Senator
Robson
; cosponsored by Representative Schooff
.
To committee on Senate Organization.
Senate Joint Resolution 23
Relating to: the life and public service of Helmar A. Lewis.
By
Senators
Schultz, Cowles, Farrow, Baumgart and Darling; cosponsored by Representatives Loeffelholz, Freese, Johnsrud, Albers, Gunderson, Ladwig, Turner, Vrakas, Wade, Gronemus, Owens, Krawczyk and Petrowski.
To committee on Senate Organization.
__________________
Read first time and referred:
