State of the State address quotes
1/23/2008

Today, we are reaping the consequences of Washington’s failures. States across the country -- from Florida to California, Minnesota to Arizona -- all are facing budget deficits. In Wisconsin we used conservative estimates from the Fiscal Bureau to develop our budget, but because of the national economic slowdown, we too will face a very difficult fiscal situation. We will have to delay some of the things we all agreed on. We will have to make deep cuts and hard sacrifices.
- Gov. Jim Doyle, sounding an ominous tone for the state’s economy in the introduction to his State of the State address.


What I have seen from the national economy, what I have been reading in the papers and hearing on news reports, is that there is some downward turn in money coming into the government so we have to be sensitive to that. I think the main focus should be putting people to work and putting them to work now.
- Senate Majority Leader Russ Decker, D-Wausau, striking a cautious tone on economic development. He said he wanted to see details on the governor’s plans and an analysis by the Legislative Fiscal Bureau. Listen to Decker's comments: http://www.wispolitics.com/1006/080123DeckerSOSA.mp3


There is a number of pieces of his agenda that we knew about and knew they were coming. The legislation is drafted, authors are moving it forward, and I am very optimistic we will get a number of these issues to his desk.
- Assembly Speaker Mike Huebsch, R-West Salem, on the prospects of the agenda in the Assembly. Huebsch said he promised the governor after the speech that his chamber would work with him on his economic development efforts. Listen to Huebsch's comments: http://www.wispolitics.com/1006/080123HuebschSOSA.mp3


In my discussions with the speaker, there’s a number of these business assignments that we’re going to be able to work on together and support out of this house.
- Assembly Minority Leader Jim Kreuser, D-Kenosha, on the potential of some of the Governor’s economic development initiatives to move through the GOP-controlled Assembly. Listen to Kreuser's comments: http://www.wispolitics.com/1006/080123KreuserSOSA.mp3


He basically came in and pirated all that stuff from Kanavas and didn’t even give him credit for it, which is a real kick in the butt.
- Senate Minority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, saying that the governor sounded like a Republican, lifting many of his economic initiatives from Sen. Ted Kanavas, R-Brookfield. Listen to Fitzgerald's comments: http://www.wispolitics.com/1006/080123FitzgeraldSOSA.mp3


Given the recent barrage of headlines and stories forecasting a pending economic downturn, I am encouraged by Governor Doyle’s focus on directed tax cuts aimed at energizing Wisconsin’s economy. At the same time, like families across the state, we must prepare for this softening of our economy by looking at ways to further reduce government spending.
- Rep. Kitty Rhoades, R-Hudson, co-chair of the Joint Finance Committee, encouraging fiscal restraint as well as some aspects of the Grow Wisconsin initiative.

With the specter of economic slowdown looming nationally, these initiatives are exactly the kind of investments Wisconsin should be making to keep our state economy strong.
- Tim Sheehy, president of the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce, urging the legislature to support the Grow Wisconsin proposals. See the MMAC statement: http://www.wispolitics.com/index.iml?Article=116345

We have a system that’s not working. … A system that allows insurance companies to cherry-pick who they’ll cover. … A system that too often puts insurance companies and drug companies ahead of small businesses and ordinary families. It’s time for a change, and it’s called BadgerChoice -- a one-stop shop for small businesses where there’s real competition among insurance companies and real choice for consumers.
- Gov. Jim Doyle introducing his plan to increase health coverage for small businesses.

One size does not fit all. I agree with that. ... I think that this potentially has some merit.
- Sen. Neal Kedzie, R-Elkhorn, on the consumer-driven aspects of the Governor’s BadgerChoice health care proposal. Listen to Kedzie's comments: http://www.wispolitics.com/1006/080123KedzieSOSA.mp3


I love the guy. He’s my governor, but he’s in a position to be much more bold than he’s being on health care.
- Sen. John Erpenbach, D-Middleton and author of the Senate’s universal health care plan, on the lack of universal health care policy in the Doyle’s speech. Listen to Erpenbach's comments: http://www.wispolitics.com/1006/080123ErpenbachSOSA.mp3



It’s good that we’re still talking about health care and health insurance and keeping the momentum going.
- Sen. Judy Robson, D-Beloit, on the governor’s health care proposals.

I’m telling ya, if Ireland and California and New York and Illinois and Minnesota can do it, Wisconsin can do it, and it is time to do what’s right and make all workplaces completely smoke free.
- Doyle, again urging lawmakers to approve a ban on smoking in workplaces that includes bars and restaurants.

We are pleased that passing a Great Lakes Compact with strong protections and adopting global warming solutions are two of the Governor’s highest environmental priorities.
- Keith Reopelle, Program Director for Clean Wisconsin, commending Doyle’s environmental policies in the State of the State. See the press release: http://www.wispolitics.com/index.iml?Article=116336