For More Information, Contact:
Rep. Chris Taylor, 608-266-5342

MADISON – This evening, Governor Tony Evers delivered his 2020 State of the State Address in the Wisconsin State Capitol to thunderous applause and the energetic performance of the University of Wisconsin-Madison Marching Band.

In response, Representative Chris Taylor (D-Madison) released the following statement:

“I applaud all of the hard work that Governor Evers and Lieutenant Governor Barnes have done over the last year to prioritize the people of this state over politics. From the historic People’s Budget that funded the needs of communities throughout the state, to important executive actions like creation of the Office of Equity and Inclusion, to simply rebuilding morale among our state workers, we have seen firsthand how different state government can be when we have a Governor who puts kids, families, and communities first.

“Tonight’s speech highlighted one issue that I am particularly concerned about—the climate crisis. After the irresponsible policies of the previous administration, the Evers administration has moved our state forward in the last year by recognizing that climate change is real, and we must take it seriously. The Evers administration and Secretary Cole finally brought science back to the Department of Natural Resources, and Lieutenant Governor Barnes has led on the issue of sustainability as Chair of the Governor’s Task Force on Climate Change. We owe it to our children and future generations to find solutions to this crisis, and I appreciate all the Evers administration has done and will continue to do to protect our environment.

“And among the many initiatives the Governor unveiled tonight, including a Task Force on Student Debt, and several bill to reinvigorate our agricultural economy, perhaps the most important proposal was Governor Evers’ Executive Order to create the People’s Maps Commission so that we can finally bring fair, nonpartisan redistricting to our state. As the Governor stated, despite 70% support for Medicaid expansion and 80% support for medical marijuana legalization, universal background checks, and extreme risk protection orders, Republican lawmakers have failed to act. Wisconsin needs fair maps so the people of this state can actually choose their lawmakers and hold them accountable, not the other way around.

“We have made several strides forward in the last year, and I am excited to continue working with Governor Evers as he leads us toward a fairer, more just Wisconsin.”

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