Tony Evers in 2023 Governor's State of the State speeches
On Budget & Economy:
$150M for small business & Innovation Grants
I'm excited to announce we're going to continue our Main Street Bounceback program in my biennial budget with a $50 million investment to provide as many as 5,000 eligible businesses with grants up to
$10,000 to help afford building repairs and improvements, lease and mortgage payments, and defray other expenses that can be a barrier to someone's dream becoming a successful business.
We're going to continue harnessing our local ingenuity through the Workforce Innovation Grant program with a $100 million investment to keep developing new, innovative ideas and locally-based projects that will support
our workforce and economic development based on what those communities need. We're going to invest $10 million in an initiative led by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation to collaborate with industries to retain and attract talented workers.
Source: 2023 State of the State Address to the Wisconsin legislature
Jan 24, 2023
On Budget & Economy:
Repaired over 5800 miles of roads, nearly 1600 bridges
When we began our work together four years ago, our roads and bridges were in disrepair. I'm proud to say that the state of our state is much different today. We've gotten to work fixing the darn roads--I even helped fill some of those potholes
myself, by the way. And as I stand here tonight, I'm proud to report we've worked together to repair and improve over 5,800 miles of roads and nearly 1,600 bridges across our state.
Source: 2023 State of the State Address to the Wisconsin legislature
Jan 24, 2023
On Education:
Invest $20 million to increase literacy-related programming
We're going to make targeted investments to improve reading and literacy outcomes and expand financial literacy curriculum across our state. We're going to invest $20 million to increase literacy-related programming and implement
evidence-based reading practices across Wisconsin. And our "Do the Math" initiative will help ensure our kids have the tools and skills to make smart budgeting and financial decisions to prepare for their future.
Source: 2023 State of the State Address to the Wisconsin legislature
Jan 24, 2023
On Environment:
More than $100M to take a three-pronged approach on PFAS
I'm proposing to invest more than $100 million to take a three-pronged approach to confront PFAS across our state. We're going to increase PFAS testing, sampling, and monitoring statewide so we can find these contaminants and get them out of our water.
We're going to make more resources available to on-the-ground partners to respond to PFAS contamination when it happens. And we're going to work to increase awareness about the dangers of PFAS so folks can take steps to keep safe.
Note from CDC.gov: The per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of chemicals used to make fluoropolymer coatings and products that resist heat, oil, stains, grease, and water. Many PFAS are a concern because they:
- do not
break down in the environment,
- can move through soils and contaminate drinking water sources,
- build up (bioaccumulate) in fish and wildlife.
Source: 2023 State of the State Address to the Wisconsin legislature
Jan 24, 2023
On Families & Children:
54% of Wisconsinites today live in a child care desert
54% of Wisconsinites today live in a child care desert--where there are few to no high-quality options for child care in their neighborhood or community. The first thing I'm going to do is deliver on my promise to expand the Child and Dependent
Care Credit, which will provide nearly $30 million in tax relief to more than 100,000 Wisconsinites. We'll also be investing more than $22 million into the Partner Up! program to expand partnerships between employers and child care providers.
Source: 2023 State of the State Address to the Wisconsin legislature
Jan 24, 2023
On Health Care:
New resources to expand school-based mental health services
Over the last year, we doubled our investment in our "Get Kids Ahead" initiative--investing $30 million of our federal pandemic relief funds to provide every Wisconsin public school district with new resources to expand school-based
mental health services. Tonight, I'm announcing we're going to make "Get Kids Ahead" a permanent state program, and we're investing more than $270 million to ensure every student has access to mental health services.
Source: 2023 State of the State Address to the Wisconsin legislature
Jan 24, 2023
On Tax Reform:
Big tax breaks for wealthiest 20% of earners is reckless
I want to work together on a budget provision that will send a total of up to 20% of the state's sales tax revenue back to our local communities for shared revenue. It means more than half a billion dollars more per year in new resources
to invest in key priorities like EMS, fire, and law enforcement services, transportation, local health and human services, and other challenges facing our communities.
So, cutting taxes is part of our agenda, just as it has been for the past four years. We've kept more money in Wisconsinites' pockets and delivered the largest tax cut in state history--and we can do more. But I also want to be clear tonight:
splurging $3.5 billion to hand out big breaks to the wealthiest 20 percent of earners isn't responsible, folks; it's reckless. Spending billions on a flat tax isn't a workforce plan or an economic development plan.
Source: 2023 State of the State Address to the Wisconsin legislature
Jan 24, 2023
On Technology:
More than $340 million into expanding high-speed internet
We've also gotten back on track preparing our state, our workforce, and our economy for this century. Over the last four years, we've allocated more than $340 million into expanding high-speed internet--more than any administration in state history.
More than 387,000 homes and businesses will have new or improved access to reliable, high-speed internet, and I want to double that number by the end of this term. And together we will.
Source: 2023 State of the State Address to the Wisconsin legislature
Jan 24, 2023
Page last updated: Apr 02, 2023