CONTACT: Jennifer Amundson, associate director for media advocacy Jennifer.Amundson@Cancer.org 651-255-8137 Madison, Wisc. (Feb. 9, 2017) – Gov. Scott Walker released his proposed budget yesterday. Sara Sahli, Wisconsin government relations director for American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), issued the following statement in reaction:   “The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network is pleased that the governor’s proposed budget maintains funding for important cancer prevention and early detection programs. Wisconsin’s Well Woman Program provides free breast and cervical cancer screenings to low-income, uninsured women across the state. The Tobacco Prevention and Control Program, which funds the Quit Line, has

Contact: Tom McCarthy, DPI Communications Director, (608) 266-3559 MADISON — State Superintendent Tony Evers issued a statement today on Gov. Scott Walker’s proposed 2017-19 budget for education. “A renewed funding commitment for K-12 education is good news. Many of the items Governor Walker outlined in his proposed budget are a direct result of local advocates and school leaders calling for a change of course and a reinvestment in our schools. They also reflect the priorities of my budget request, which include funding mental health supports for all kids, helping rural schools keep the lights on, and providing more spending authority

CONTACT:  Linda A. Hall, lhall@wafca.org 608.257.5939 Moving Forward on Mental Health School-based mental health. The commitment of $6 million in new resources for school-based mental health will enable additional schools across the state adopt proven, effective models for increasing access to preventive and treatment services. Bringing mental health professionals into schools gives teachers greater access to mental and behavioral expertise to improve the learning environment and promote success for all.    Building Strong Youth and Families Home visiting. Evidence-based home visitation programs across the state are delivering real dividends. The Governor’s commitment of $3.9 million will sustain existing services and lay the

Contact: Tom Evenson, (608) 266-2839 Madison – Governor Scott Walker released his Weekly Radio Address today titled “We Are Working and Winning for Wisconsin.” Hi. This is Scott Walker. More people were employed last year in Wisconsin than at any point in history. We have one of the highest percentages of people working of any state in the nation. And our unemployment rate is the lowest it’s been, well, since Tommy Thompson was Governor back in January of 2001.  We are Working and Winning for Wisconsin.   The rainy day fund, with our increased deposit in this new state budget,

WIWinning.com spreads word on major budget initiatives, mobilizes voters   [Madison, WI]— The Republican Party of Wisconsin launched a digital ad campaign following Governor Walker’s Budget Address, unveiling a microsite that will target Wisconsinites in key areas of the state and mobilize support for the governor’s agenda. The site calls on supporters to engage on one of five issues in the governor’s budget address, and over the course of the next several months will encourage a range of grassroots activity – starting with a letter to the editor campaign this week. It will target viewers on a range of social media

Contact: Sen. Jon Erpenbach (D-Middleton) 608-266-6670 Madison – Senator Jon Erpenbach (D-Middleton) offered the weekly Democratic radio address today. The audio file of this week’s address can be found here: http://media2.legis.wisconsin.gov/multimedia/Sen27/erpenbachradio020817.mp3 A written transcript of the address is below: “Hi, this is State Senator Jon Erpenbach. The Wisconsin Legislature has received Governor Walker’s biennial budget. As we move forward in the budget process Wisconsin democrats remain committed to work for fairer state funding for our public schools, develop policies that build strong family supporting jobs and finding a way, and a long-term solution to our state’s transportation crisis. “Wisconsin is

Contact: Tom Evenson, (608) 266-2839 Milwaukee – Governor Scott Walker highlighted Wisconsin’s strong economy today during remarks at the 22nd Annual Governor’s Conference on Economic Development, which was held in Milwaukee. The theme for this year’s conference is “Creating Communities of Content.” “Our economic reforms are working,” Governor Walker said. “We’ve lowered the burden on Wisconsin’s hard-working taxpayers and put that money back into our economy. More people are employed than ever before, our rainy day fund is 178 times larger than it was when we first took office, and our budgets continue to end with surpluses. On top of

State law requires parts of ESSA to go through rule-making, review by Legislature February 7, 2017 – Milwaukee, WI – The Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty (WILL) sent a letter to State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Evers, warning him that he is at risk of violating state law which could jeopardize hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funds for Wisconsin’s K-12 schools. A recently enacted federal law, the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), requires Wisconsin to submit a state plan to the U.S. Department of Education by September 18, 2017 to qualify for several types of federal

WASHINGTON – Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) issued the following statement Wednesday after voting to confirm Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) as U.S. Attorney General:   “I know Senator Sessions to be a man of integrity with a deep commitment to justice and the rule of law. I was pleased to support his confirmation today, and I look forward to working with him as our next attorney general.”