Every year, state governors report on the condition of their state before both houses of the state legislature. They acknowledge the glories and woes their state encountered the previous year; they address the hopes and concerns for their state in the upcoming year.
Last night, Gov. Jim Doyle’s State of the State speech shed light on the woes Wisconsinites would encounter in 2008. From an inevitable economic plunge to a struggling health care system, there is plenty of work to be done in the state. However Doyle remained hopeful for Wisconsin, insisting that our innovative technology and wealth of natural resources would set us far ahead of the nation. This week’s blog will take a quick look at key points Doyle offered last night that could make or break Wisconsin in 2008. Take a look…
Economy
Gov. Doyle acknowledged, “The American economy is in great turmoil.” Though he insisted that Washington was largely responsible for America’s economic woes, he acknowledged that Wisconsin will have to “make deep cuts and hard sacrifices.” Doyle failed to elaborate any further, but the exact cuts and the extent of those sacrifices will be a contested partisan issue in weeks to come.
With Wisconsin’s minimum wage ranking 40th in the U.S. at $6.50 an hour, Doyle called for an increase in the wage. “Imagine trying to pay for college or buy groceries on $260 a week before taxes,” he said.
The governor also touted his Grow Wisconsin initiative and pointed out that Wisconsin is the leading Great Lakes state in job creation.
Technology
Technology seemed to be the governor’s plan to confront the growing national economic problem in Wisconsin. “Research and development is what keeps Wisconsin at the forefront of the changing global market place,” he said before applauding the efforts of Dr. James Thompson. The University of Wisconsin professor just made headlines furthering his embryonic stem cell research by using a less controversial skin cell method.
Doyle also encouraged the research of biofuel technology, segueing into Wisconsin’s drive for energy independence.
Energy
“Drilling our way out of this crisis is not the answer,” Doyle commented on the national oil crisis. Last night he introduced the Wisconsin Energy Independence Fund which he hopes will establish Wisconsin as a world leader in renewable energy and homegrown power. Through this plan Wisconsin would invest $150 million over the next 10 years to encourage businesses, foresters, farmers, and manufacturers to promote and provide renewable energy.
The plan would offer tax credits for biodiesel fuel producers, add 400 renewable fuel pumps, and designate a renewable fuel standard that requires oil companies to implement a minimum renewable source in their fuel.
These tax credits have not been without scrutiny on both political fronts. Some fear the tax credits may be misdirected in promoting ethanol production, a fuel source that often creates more pollution than it prevents. Others argue that an increased demand for corn-based ethanol could accentuate nitrogen levels in the already dying state lakes.
Great Lakes
Ironically enough, Doyle tackled the preservation of the Great Lakes. “From the majestic shores of Lake Michigan to the brutal and beautiful waters of Lake Superior, the Great Lakes are Wisconsin’s most precious natural resource,” he said. “But the Great Lakes face many new challenges. Regions of the country that have overbuilt look at our fresh water with an envious eye.”
Obviously this is a reference to water-pinched states like Arizona and countries like China that have mentioned their desire to essentially buy water from the Great Lakes states. As Chairman of the Council of Great Lakes Governors, Doyle announced a bipartisan plan to sign the Great Lakes Compact which insures water from the Great Lakes remain in the basin.
Health Care
a. Children
Though Wisconsin is a national leader in health care with 90% of residents covered, Doyle is hopeful that more can be accomplished. 600,000 Wisconsinites still lack health insurance and 98,000 of those people are children. “I think we can all agree, no child, no child should go without health care,” Doyle said. BadgerCare Plus is a child healthcare system set to begin on Feb. 1. The system offers health care to all children at “a price their family can afford,” according to Doyle. When BadgerCare Plus is fully implemented, he said, 98% of Wisconsin citizens will have access to affordable health insurance, thus making Wisconsin America’s leader in health care.
b. Small Businesses
With the nation’s economic woes, the health of small business is imperative to a strong middle class. Doyle mentioned that small businesses currently pay 18% more for health insurance than big companies, and that number can easily increase.
Doyle introduced Badger Choice, a state-run program intended to lower the health care burden on small businesses. This plan would essentially create an insurance marketplace for small businesses, thereby increasing competition and lowering prices.
Smoking
The Jan. 1 smoking tax might just be the beginning for Wisconsin’s attempts to minimize smoking. Doyle pointed to the efforts of Illinois and Minnesota as examples for Wisconsin. These two states have banned smoking in virtually all public venues.
Education
Doyle maintained the need to increase teacher salaries to compete with the rest of the nation. Teachers in Minnesota, Illinois, Missouri, and Iowa, he said, all make more than Wisconsin teachers. Starting teachers in 48 other states make more than starting teachers in Wisconsin. Additionally, nearly 1/3 of those that begin their career as teachers leave the profession within five years. In the next budget, Doyle promised to create a plan that would reward good teachers.
So in a nutshell there it is, just a taste of what’s come in Wisconsin politics this year. Stay informed, follow up on these issues. Find out just how many of these proposals made it to you, which ones didn’t, and most importantly… why.