Ordered to a third reading.
Senator Panzer, with unanimous consent, asked that the bill be considered for final action at this time.
Senate
Bill 8
Read a third time and passed.
Senator M. Meyer, with unanimous consent, asked to be added as a coauthor of Senate Bill 8.
Senator Robson, with unanimous consent, asked to be added as a coauthor of Senate Bill 8.
Senator Hansen, with unanimous consent, asked to be added as a coauthor of Senate Bill 8.
Senator Roessler, with unanimous consent, asked to be added as a coauthor of Senate Bill 8.
Senator Roessler, with unanimous consent, asked to be added as a coauthor of Senate Joint Resolution 13.
Senator Darling, with unanimous consent, asked to be added as a coauthor of Senate Joint Resolution 13.
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Assembly Joint Resolution 7
Relating to: celebrating March 1, 2003, as St. David's Day.
Read.
Concurred in.
Senator Panzer, with unanimous consent, asked that all action be immediately messaged to the Assembly.
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Senator Cowles, with unanimous consent, asked that when the Senate adjourns, it do so in honor of Green Bay lawyer and friend Gary Weidner who passed away recently.
Senator Schultz, with unanimous consent, asked that when the Senate adjourn, it do so in honor of George Porter a long time friend, constituent and a true advocate for Wisconsin's Agricultural Community.
Mr. George Porter, was not just a Farmer, he was a recognized leader in the Grant County community of Fennimore. George's life was dedicated first to his wife and four children, but his service to his community and his commitment to the preservation of Wisconsin's family based agriculture is to be commended.
Mr. Porter was a Veteran of the United State Marine Corp, and active member of the Grant County Farm Bureau for over 40 years, serving as that organizations president for two terms.
His advocacy for farm issues often carried George here to our state Capitol, where as an active citizen farmer he often lobbied this body on behalf of many important agriculture issues, including Farm Land Assessment, Milk Price supports and other issues. George worked tirelessly to improve the lives of our states most valuable commodity, its farms and it's farm families.
George was an inspiration to his family, neighbors and friends. His dedication and commitment to the important role agriculture plays in Wisconsin's history and economy and traditions should be an insporation to all the members of this body.
Senator Jauch, with unanimous consent, asked that when the Senate adjourn, it do so in honor of Jarrod Washburn who is a pitcher for the Anaheim Angels.
Senator Moore, with unanimous consent, asked that when the Senate adjourn, it do so in honor of Jessica Clark who is leaving her staff to serve as a policy advisor in the Governor's office.
Senator Wirch, with unanimous consent, asked that when the Senate adjourn, it do so in honor of his uncle Tom Riley Sr. a decorated World War II verteran from Kenosha who passed away recently.
Senator Kanavas, with unanimous consent, asked that when the Senate adjourn, it do so in honor of Mrs. Sophia Shane. She passed away last week and was a very well known and respected woman in the Greek Orthodox community. She was one of only two women in the United States to be named "Archronista," a title bestwoed upon an individual by the Ecumenical Patriarchate to honor their devotion and dedication to the Greek Orthodox Church.
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Sophia Shane spent countless hours at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, whether it was decorating the church for the Easter celebration, working on the Parish Council, or devoting time to the church's philanthropic organization, Philoptochos Society. In fact, whenever there was a need, Sophia Shane would be there to help.
She was an excellent example and role model to all of us. She brought people together and solved problems. She will be missed by her family, her church and her friends.
Senator Zien, with unanimous consent, asked that when the Senate adjourn, it do so in honor of all military personnel that are serving and have served this country in defending freedom.
Senator Zien, with unanimous consent, asked that when the Senate adjourn, it do so in honor of Kevin Shibilski former Senator and now the new Secretary of Tourism.
Senator Darling, with unanimous consent, asked that when the Senate adjourn, it do so in honor of Peace and Security and hope that it will prevail in these troubling times.
The Chair appoints Senators Panzer and Erpenbach to escort his excellency the Governor.
Senator Panzer, with unanimous consent, asked that the Senate adjourn pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1 upon the rising of the joint convention.
Senator Panzer, with unanimous consent, asked that the Senate recess until 6:45 P.M..
11:29 A.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 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:
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Mr. Speaker, Mr. President, Lieutenant Governor Lawton, Supreme Court justices, constitutional officers, members of the Cabinet, distinguished members of the Legislature and fellow citizens of Wisconsin:
In a spirit of deep honor and urgent purpose, I have come here today to fulfill my obligation under the Wisconsin Constitution to report to you on the condition of our state.
And I can summarize that condition simply. The state of our government is profoundly troubled. The State of Wisconsin is as vibrant as ever.
The state of our government and the condition of our people are, to be sure, inextricably intertwined. But the true measure of Wisconsin's health lies not in our fiscal deficit but in our families' determination -- not in red ink on the budget's bottom line, but in the green expanses of our farms and forests -- not in the halls of state government alone, but in the living rooms, classrooms and workplaces across our great state.
In those places and more, the vistas and values that define Wisconsin are thriving.
But here in Madison, we face a crisis -- a budgetary deficit that imperils state government -- one so severe it will, if we do not address it, imperil our people too.
The source of this problem was a departure from Wisconsin values -- and the only solution is a return to them.
Wisconsin's budget is complex. Wisconsin's beliefs are anything but.
We embrace, rather than avoid life's toughest tasks. We spend what we have, and if we have a little to spare, we share it with people who have less, or we put it away for a day when we might fall short. We don't take what belongs to others -- certainly not our children -- and use it to indulge ourselves.
And most of all, we tell it like it is.
I can't promise you'll be pleased with all I have to say today -- or with me for saying it. All I can promise -- and I do -- is that I'll level with you.
Our challenge -- here in this room -- is to prove Wisconsin's government worthy of Wisconsin's people.
Let that challenge begin today. And let it begin with me.
This won't be an ordinary State of the State Address. Speeches delivered from this podium on this occasion are typically a time for unveiling a litany of new programs, lists of new priorities and loads of new promises.
But this is a moment for protecting what's most important rather than launching a host of new undertakings. I wish that wasn't the case. This isn't the kind of speech I wanted to give, nor, I'm sure, is it the kind you wanted to hear.
There's a lot I'd like to do that we can't -- and a lot we'll have to do that I'd rather not -- and both of those circumstances trouble me greatly.
But we are going to get through this together. And Wisconsin will emerge a stronger state on the other side.
As I said in my inaugural address, it's a new day in Wisconsin. There's a can-do spirit shining across our state -- an ethic of relentless innovation and limitless possibility. All you and I need do is harness it. And harness it we will.
I want you to know the budget has occupied nearly every minute of my Administration, and it will be the subject of almost every minute of this address. In a few weeks, I'll return to present my proposals for the budget. In the interim, I hope to have the benefit of your ideas -- and somehow I feel pretty sure I will.
Today, though, I want to explain where we stand, how we got here, and the principles I believe we should follow on the road ahead.
The people of Wisconsin are entitled to know how this problem developed -- not so they can allocate blame; we need to pull together, not point fingers -- but so we can chart where we're going with a clear understanding of where we've been.
Right now, Wisconsin faces a $452 million deficit. For the next two years, we're looking at a shortfall of $3.2 billion. It is the worst deficit that any Wisconsin governor has ever faced.
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The economic slump hasn't helped this problem, but neither was it the sole cause. The simple fact is this: We're spending too much -- and we have been for a long, long time.
Over the last 15 years, state government spending more than doubled. The state workforce grew by more than 11,500 people.
We can no longer rely on the economic boom to mask spending growth. More than 166,000 of our people are out of work. Revenues to the state are down by more than $900 million. All the while, government has continued to spend more and promise more.
Other states have patched their shortfalls by tapping into rainy-day funds. The one I found upon taking office contained $201. Even at the height of the boom, Wisconsin was one of only five states that failed to set revenues aside for a rainy day. Now a storm has broken out, and we're left without an umbrella.
Wisconsin sold off its nearly $6 billion tobacco settlement for pennies on the dollar to plug a one year budget hole. As a result, we must now find an additional $600 million this year alone -- just to stay even.
That's a tragedy for our people -- and it's especially heart-breaking for me. We took the tobacco companies on when everyone said they were invincible. The settlement we won was Wisconsin's opportunity to invest in smoking prevention for kids -- health care for our people -- and so many other needs.
In this budget, the settlement would have provided $250 million in new revenue -- not a dime of it from taxpayers' pockets. Without it, services as basic as police and fire protection are in jeopardy.
Meanwhile, the combination of soaring spending and dubious bookkeeping resulted in our bonds being downgraded. Only two states' ratings are worse.
I wish we weren't in this mess. I believe firmly that we shouldn't be. But we are. We must get out of it. And we can.
The picture seems bleak. And our situation demands tough choices. But I'm bullish on Wisconsin.
I've looked this problem in the eye -- and I've looked each of you in the eye -- and I know we can solve it together.
