Representative Lisa Subeck Response to State of the State

January 19, 2016

MADISON – Representative Lisa Subeck (D-Madison) made the following statement in response to Governor Walker’s State of the State address:

“Governor Walker and legislative Republicans have spent the last year pushing a special interest agenda, from making Wisconsin a right-to-work state to adopting new campaign finance rules that open the floodgates to election spending by special interests, corporations, and billionaires. Now, as we head into an election year, Governor Walker’s State of the State address offered only watered down solutions to the challenges facing working families in Wisconsin.

The agenda Governor Walker put forward tonight cannot combat the massive cuts to education and job training that he has already signed into law. Since gaining control in 2011, Governor Walker and legislative Republicans have cut more than $2 billion from our neighborhood schools, public universities and technical colleges in Wisconsin. Providing economic opportunity starts with investing in education and strong public schools, yet Republicans have gone the other way.

In 2015, Wisconsin racked up more than 10,000 layoff notices and was dead last in the Midwest in job creation over the last four years. Wisconsinites who remain out of work are looking for action from the state. Unfortunately, Republicans have taken no significant action to promote job growth in our state.

Governor Walker’s plan provides no substantial relief for most Wisconsinites with student loan debt and barely scratches the surface for others. Under the Democrats “Higher Ed, Lower Debt” bill, the 1 million Wisconsinites with student loan debt would be allowed to refinance student loans at lower rates, putting more money back into the pockets of hardworking Wisconsin families.

Instead of paying lip service to the middle class while doing little to help struggling families in Wisconsin, the Governor and Republicans should be looking to Democratic proposals to help grow Wisconsin’s economy. Providing relief and creating opportunity is fundamental to building strong communities, which is why we must put Wisconsin families first as this legislative session comes to a close. Governor Walker’s failure to propose real relief and new opportunities for struggling Wisconsinites is truly disappointing.”

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