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Madison, Wisconsin — Gov. Tony Evers will deliver his fifth state address on Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. The annual address is an opportunity for the Governor to update Wisconsinians and to outline his priorities for his second term.
As far as what you can expect to hear, there are two basic types of problems. social and financial. The governor is likely to cover both Tuesday night in his second term, which is officially underway.
Overview of budget priorities
Wisconsin projects a $6.6 billion surplus, so the governor could spend a good deal of time outlining how he wants to use those funds for Wisconsinians.
His formal budget speech is due in February, but three major financial issues will most likely be part of his speech.
- Increase funding for K-12 education
- Increased shared income for local governments
- Middle class tax reform
Increasing funding for public schools is a position Republicans are open to as long as governors agree to universal school choices instead.
Stock income is another opportunity for common ground between Democrats and Republicans. Both parties agree that something needs to be done about the amount the state provides to local governments. However, the disagreements are mostly about how best to fine-tune the funding scheme.
Gov. Tony Evers poses for a photo with supporters at his watch party on Election Day. (Spectrum News 1/Mandy Hague)
As with two other key fiscal issues, both parties want to use some of the surplus to cut taxes. But this is the area where both parties disagree the most, so any kind of reform will require many compromises.
Republicans recently announced a 3.5% flat tax, but the governor may reject it in favor of a 10% tax cut for the middle class.
Keeping Promises From the Trail
Tuesday night will also be the first big opportunity for Gov. Evers to explain how he plans to deliver on promises made during the campaign, including abortion rights.
Governor Evers attends an abortion rights rally on the steps of the Capitol in Madison, Wisconsin. (Spectrum News 1/Mandy Hague)
By November, the governor had much to say about repealing the state’s abortion ban from 1849.
Gov. Evers and Attorney General Josh Cowl have submitted new outlines in a lawsuit challenging the law, and Democrats have called for an advisory referendum on the ballot.
Following Sunday’s 50th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, it would be surprising if Governor Evers didn’t take the opportunity to call on Republican leaders to take action on the state’s abortion ban from 1849. .
Watch the state’s speech live on Spectrum News 1 and the Spectrum News app on Tuesdays at 7:00 pm.
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