Gov. Scott Walker in his third State of the State speech Tuesday night called for a middle-class income tax cut, declared mining the state’s top priority and talked about removing “unnecessary, obsolete, and burdensome regulations” for state businesses.
He pushed lawmakers to quickly approve an overhaul of mining regulations, saying it would be one of the best ways to show the public state government is focused on jobs and calling a proposed mine in northwestern Wisconsin a lifeline to people in the region.
He urged lawmakers to take the Joint Finance Committee’s version of the mining bill from last session, make “reasonable modifications” and send it back to him so he can sign it into law by early this year. The call drew the longest and loudest applause of the speech.
In his speech, Walker also pledged to build on improvements to the state’s business climate, holding up a copy of his administration’s review of administrative rules. He said it found over 300 recommended rules modifications that he said would make it easier to do business in the state while “maintaining the health and safety of our citizens.”
Walker said the state needs a way to accurately measure employment in real-time and identify trends in workforce needs, promising to work with the Legislature to develop such a system. He touted efforts to improve workforce development, including a flexible degree program being offered through the University of Wisconsin System.
He also talked about improving the amount of investment capital available to help start-ups and other small businesses grow new jobs in Wisconsin.
Noting his 2010 campaign pledge to create 250,000 new jobs in Wisconsin by the end of his first term, the guv said he was going to “double down” on improving the state’s business climate.
Dems have taken to knocking Walker on his progress toward that goal, accusing him of pursuing policies that have failed to adequately improve the state’s jobs picture.
Dem legislative leaders said the speech neglected specifics on how to put more people to work.
“It was high on theatrics but low on substance,” said Senate Minority Leader Chris Larson, D-Milwaukee.
Assembly Minority Leader Peter Barca said the state should take immediate legislative action on the jobs front, saying Dems “do not want to wait six more months for a budget to pass.”
“I agree with the governor in one respect: no more excuses,” the Kenosha Dem said. “The time for action is now. No more delays.”
GOP legislative leaders said Walker laid out an aggressive agenda with his budget coming next month.
“I think he was clear tonight in saying we want to focus on regulatory reform, cutting taxes, making sure our very best teachers are being paid more than they earn today, and lastly that we have a mining bill brought to be signed sometime hopefully in the spring,” said Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester.
Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, said the guv is on the same page with GOP lawmakers.
“I thought he reiterated a lot of things that I know the Republican Legislature has been talking about, which is that the state’s on the right track, and I think it’s hard to argue with that when looking the Midwest, looking nationwide that we’re definitely on the right track right now,” Fitzgerald said.
See complete coverage of the speech and reaction from WisPolitics.com
