Gov. Scott Walker announced the second biennial budget of his governorship in an official address Wednesday in which he highlighted initiatives ranging from education development to statewide economic and health-care reforms.
The address, which comes after opponents heavily criticized his 2011-’13 budget for the severe cuts it forced on various state institutions, was in many ways a chance for Walker to release proposals that he said could continue to put the state back on track.
Early in his budget speech, Walker compared the state’s economic situation two years ago with its current situation, saying the state is in a better place now because of his last budget’s emphasis on “moderation” and “frugality.”
Wisconsin had a $3.6 billion budget deficit and an unemployment rate of 7.8 percent at the time Walker proposed his last budget. The state now has a budget surplus and the unemployment rate has decreased to 6.6 percent in the two years since the Legislature passed his budget, Walker said.
“It wasn’t easy,” Walker said, “But we’re turning Wisconsin around.”
The governor added the state’s improved situation allowed renewed investments in important state issues, such as education and workforce development, which received limited funding in the last biennial budget.
“This allows us to invest in our priorities,” Walker said. “Creating jobs, developing the workforce, transforming education, reforming government and investing in our infrastructure.”
But Democrats say Walker’s initiatives fall short of supporting the middle class, contrary to what the governor promised.
In a joint response prior to the governor’s address Wednesday, Democrats addressed what they perceive as shortcomings of Walker’s budget, specifically his performance-based education funding and private school voucher system, as well as his impending healthcare coverage changes.
“A true middle class budget would not throw millions of dollars to an unproven, unaccountable voucher experiments on our state’s children,” state Senate Minority Leader Chris Larson, D-Milwaukee, said.
Of his priorities, Walker said improving the economy tops his list. He laid out a multi-faceted plan to push economic development, ranging from education initiatives focused on skills development and school flexibility to cutting income taxes to give citizens more money to spend.
“These reforms will help transition people from government dependence to true independence,” Walker said.
