Contact: Tom Evenson, (608) 266-2839 Madison – Governor Scott Walker met with members of the Governor’s Council on Workforce Investment (CWI) today to discuss workforce development in Wisconsin, including items in the governor’s 2017-2019 budget proposal. “More people were employed last year in Wisconsin than at any point in our state’s history,” Governor Walker said. “There’s still a lot of work to be done, however, and we won’t stop until everyone who wants a job can find a job. One of the best ways we can accomplish this goal is by equipping our citizens with the practical skills they need

Contact: Tom Evenson, (608) 266-2839 Madison – The State of Wisconsin Building Commission today approved Governor Walker’s Capital Budget recommendations. Governor Walker’s Capital Budget recommended $803 million in total projects with under $450 million in new bonding. Highlights of the Capital Budget include: $5 million in funding for a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Innovation Center in Green Bay; A $75 million replacement for the Department of Justice Milwaukee crime lab; Over $33 million to renovate and repair the north, south, and west resident towers in Sandburg Hall at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee; $5 million in funding for St.

Legislators must decide: Spend down surplus to fund increase, or trim spending MADISON—With Gov. Scott Walker (R) requesting an 8.3% spending increase in his 2017-19 state budget, lawmakers reviewing the tax-and-spending plan face a choice. They can spend most of a projected $453 million surplus to pay for new expenditures, as the governor proposes, or they can reserve a portion of the surplus to protect the state against recession, which requires scaling back the governor’s request. This choice is explained in a new report from the Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance (WISTAX), “Unwrapping the Governor’s Budget Proposal.” Now in its 85th year,

CONTACT: Zach Madden, 608-266-7521(office) 608-620-3884 (cell) Legislator urges women to #BeBoldForChange to work for gender equity MADISON – Today, Representative Lisa Subeck (D-Madison) joins women and allies from around the world in recognizing International Women’s Day. The theme for the 2017 International Women’s Day is “#BeBoldForChange,” “#BeBoldForChange is exactly what we need to do,” Rep. Subeck stated.  “International Women’s Day is a day on which we ought to be able to celebrate the achievements of women and a worldwide commitment to achieving gender equality.  Instead, women’s achievements are too often overlooked or ignored, and for every step or two we

Contact: Rep. Chris Taylor, 608-266-5342 MADISON – Today, the Legislative Fiscal Bureau released a memo outlining the details of Governor Walker’s tax proposal that were included in his 2017-19 state budget.  Under his proposal, Wisconsin families would see a $44 tax cut.  Last week, Taylor joined several of her Democratic colleagues in introducing legislation that would provide middle class families with targeted tax relief while also repealing the largest corporate tax giveaway in Wisconsin history that does not require the creation of one single job.  Under Taylor’s bill, a family of four making $45,000/year would receive an additional $607 for

Contact: Rep. Dana Wachs, 608.266.7461 MADISON – The state building commission’s decision to defer a host of vital building projects at university campuses statewide will further damage Wisconsin’s economy, Rep. Dana Wachs (D-Eau Claire) said today. Rep. Wachs, who is a member of the commission and the Higher Education Subcommittee, objected to the provisions, which were approved by the commission today. “Once again we are seeing opportunities for economic growth and job creation squandered by poor budgeting decisions made over the last six years by Governor Walker and the Republicans in the Legislature,” Wachs said. “There were a number of

For more information, contact: Lucas Ward, P.E., WisDOT airport development engineer (608) 266-2729, lucas.ward@dot.wi.gov Governor Scott Walker today announced funding totaling $1,938,607 to design and reconstruct Runway 8/26 at the Dodge County Airport. Lucas Ward, P.E., airport development engineer with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT), says these projects will improve safety and pavement conditions at Dodge County Airport. Construction should be completed by October 2018. Funds from the state, Dodge County and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will be used for this project. Funding Breakdown · State = $96,930 · Dodge County = $96,931 · FAA = $1,744,746 Airport improvement

Contact: press@baldwin.senate.gov (202) 224 – 6225 WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin today released the following statement on TrumpCare, the Congressional Republicans’ repeal plan: “President Trump promised ‘insurance for everybody’ but TrumpCare breaks that promise by putting millions of people at risk of losing health care coverage and forcing millions to pay more for less care. “The Congressional Republican repeal plan puts insurance companies back in charge and lets them raise deductibles and charge higher premiums. It cuts Medicaid, targets older Americans with higher health costs and puts Medicare on a quicker path to insolvency while giving tax breaks

Contact: Tom Evenson, (608) 266-2839 Madison – Governor Scott Walker spoke about his 2017-2019 Executive Budget Proposal, including transportation funding and support for nutrient management, today at “Ag Day at the Capitol” in Madison. “Every year, agriculture contributes more than $88 billion to Wisconsin’s economy,” Governor Walker said. “With over 68,700 farms, our agriculture sector provides 413,500 jobs annually, approximately 11.9 percent of the state’s employment. As we travel throughout Wisconsin, we consistently hear from farmers and other members of the agriculture community about the same concerns – an effective transportation system, and more effective ways to manage our land