Gov. Tony Evers in his budget address called for expanding the state’s BadgerCare program, drawing a connection between health care access, the workforce and economic development.
“I wish we could all agree that expanding affordable health care will help our families, our farmers, our rural communities, our small businesses, our main streets, and our state’s biggest employers alike,” Evers said in his speech last night.
He also argued the state’s 1849 abortion ban means women in Wisconsin are “treated like second-class citizens,” noting it was enacted before they had the right to vote. He said the law strips them of their reproductive rights and makes it harder to recruit new workers to the state as well.
“We cannot expect more people to move here if they have to give up basic freedoms when they do,” he said. “Period.”
The budget address covered a wide range of proposals including a new family leave program for public and private sector employees, boosting the state’s transportation fund, additional funding for the Wisconsin Technical College System and more.
Evers’ budget plan now goes to the GOP-run Legislature, which likely will send him a revised budget around July 4.
See the full text of Evers’ speech: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/WIGOV/bulletins/347d65a
Watch the speech here: https://wiseye.org/2023/02/15/2023-budget-address/
See more coverage at WisPolitics.com: https://www.wispolitics.com/2023/evers-calls-for-family-leave-program-workforce-initiatives-in-budget-proposal
