A legislative column by Senator Mary Lazich (R-New Berlin)

 

One year ago, I sat in the Assembly chamber and listened to Governor Scott Walker give his first State of the State address.  It was a somber speech, a speech that acknowledged the very real, very large problems facing Wisconsin.  After years of fiscal mismanagement and government largess, the state was facing a budget shortfall of more than $300 million that needed to be addressed before the end of the fiscal year in four months.  The next budget was already facing a structural deficit of $3.6 billion.  Far too many Wisconsinites were out of work, and businesses did not feel the state was an especially welcoming place to grow and create jobs.

 

What a difference a year makes.

 

Governor Walker’s second State of the State address was in the same room, before the same audience of state legislators and dignitaries.  That was about all that was the same.  As I sat in the Assembly chamber, I experienced a sense of awe for the first time in my government service. The second State of the State was hopeful, taking stock of all that was accomplished during the last 12 months and looking forward to a brighter future.

 

The accomplishments are many.  Considering it was achieved during a chaotic time of obstructionist maneuvering by Democrats and unprecedented politically-motivated recall elections, the list of accomplishments is even more impressive.

 

Republicans eliminated the $3.6 billion structural deficit without raising taxes or affecting core programs like public schools or Medicaid.  In fact, the state’s medical assistance programs received a staggering $1.2 billion funding increase.  State aid to school districts was reduced, but the reduction was offset by school district employee contributions to pension and health insurance.  School districts are healthy, and some, like Muskego, are even expanding elective offerings for students.

 

For the first time since 2008, Wisconsin added jobs.  The state added nearly 22,000 net jobs during 2011, and the current 7.1 percent unemployment rate is the lowest since 2008.  Wisconsin businesses are excited about the future of the state.  A poll of Wisconsin job creators during 2010 revealed just 10 percent of business leaders felt the state was on the right track.  Just two short years later, that same poll reveals 94 percent of business leaders believe Wisconsin is headed in the right direction.

 

We are making progress in the areas necessary to make Wisconsin a better place to live and work.  Unfortunately, too many Wisconsinites are still without work, and our students’ reading scores are falling behind the rest of the country.  The Wisconsin Working Plan introduced by Governor Walker is the next building block in Republicans’ jobs-centric economic recovery agenda.  The Wisconsin Working Plan will help bridge the gap between employers and job seekers.  Recommendations by the bipartisan Read To Lead Task Force will help ensure every third grader can read proficiently, and help Wisconsin reclaim it’s rightful role as a national education leader.

 

While achieving those results may prove difficult in the current recall-fueled environment, legislators must address unemployment and reading proficiency head-on.    Republicans proved we were up to the task last year.  I expect nothing less in the coming year.