Governor Delivers State of the State Message 

This week, Governor Jim Doyle delivered his annual State of the State address in the Assembly Chamber of the State Capitol.  The primary focus of his address centered on the current status of the state’s economy and how the government intends to initiate the process of rebuilding and getting people back to work. “We need to put a higher priority on family budgets than the state budget,” said Doyle.  “We need to stop spending more than we are taking in…This is not a time for big new programs.”

With a $5.4 billion budget deficit that is expected to grow and a loss of more than 62,000 jobs in the past year, Doyle warned that the condition of Wisconsin’s economy “will remain challenging” throughout at least the short-term future.  As a first step toward economic recovery, Doyle intends to utilize the estimated $2.4 billion Wisconsin is expected to receive from the $819 billion federal stimulus package passed by the U.S. House of Representatives shortly before he delivered his speech.  He is also counting on the proposed hospital tax to bring in at least $70 million over 2 ½ years should it pass the Legislature this session.  The latter amount of revenue, however, will be used to expand the state’s Badger Care Plus program to provide insurance coverage to at least 41,000 uninsured childless adults.  Last, but not least, Doyle said, “What isn’t needed will be cut.  And unfortunately, some of what is needed will be cut, too.”

In addition to the economy, Doyle briefly addressed a few other priorities for both his administration and the Legislature during the current session. These priorities include: reducing mercury emissions by 90% by making utilities cleaner,  mandating insurance coverage for autism treatment, passing a statewide smoking ban, setting up sobriety check points to curb drunken driving and making a third offense for drunk driving a felony (see drunk driving article below), and changing the school funding formula to encourage the hiring and retention of quality teachers.  He commended the Legislature for its role in making Wisconsin #2 in the nation for health insurance coverage and for removing our state from the list of the top ten highest taxed states in the nation.  We are currently #11.

I fully agree with our governor that Wisconsin is faced with unprecedented challenges that will not be resolved in the near future.  It is my hope that my colleagues and I can work together and focus on the business community’s efforts to re-evaluate, redevelop, and grow in strength, thus creating more jobs and putting people back to work.  I believe that job growth should be the Legislature’s #1 priority as we work to get Wisconsin back on the right economic track as soon as possible, rather than increasing taxes and creating additional government programs.  Only when people have jobs that provide them with a source of income will they be inclined to purchase goods and services that will improve the economy and move Wisconsin forward.

Supreme Court Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson with Samantha and
Chad Kerkman in the Assembly Chambers recently.

Proposed Drunk Driving Legislation

As I’ve visited with district residents over the past several months, the problem of drunk driving and how best to address it has been a recurring theme.  I think it’s safe to say that this is an issue that has touched all our lives in one way or another.  Many of you may be familiar with the series that ran this fall in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel entitled “Wasted in Wisconsin”.  It seems clear that this is a concern on the minds of many, so I want you to know about some of the proposals that are currently being circulated in the legislature.  

In the wake of a tragic accident that took the lives of Jennifer Bukosky, her unborn daughter, and her ten-year-old daughter when they were struck by a drunk driver in Oconomowoc last year, Representative Joel Kleefisch has proposed making a third-time conviction of Operating While Intoxicated (OWI) a felony in Wisconsin.  Should this bill become law, it will require that upon conviction for a third drunk driving offense, the convicted driver will immediately go to jail and their vehicle will be impounded and either sold or destroyed at the driver’s expense.   

Senator Neal Kedzie is planning to introduce a bill that will prohibit a person whose driver’s license has been suspended or revoked for a drunk driving offense from purchasing a motor vehicle.  Violators of this law would be guilty of a Class I Felony, which is punishable by a maximum fine of $10,000 and up to 3 years, 6 months in prison.   

Senator Kedzie is also planning to introduce a bill pertaining to eligibility for an occupational license.  Currently, Wisconsin law allows an individual whose driver’s license has been suspended or revoked as a result of a drunk driving offense to apply for and receive an occupational license.  With this type of license, they are given restricted driving privileges, such as to and from work.  Those who repeatedly violate this law must wait at least 15 days to become eligible for an occupational license.  For first-time offenders under 21 years of age who violate Wisconsin’s Absolute Sobriety law, along with those who receive an administrative suspension, they are immediately eligible for an occupational license.  Senator Kedzie’s proposed bill would remove the immediate eligibility provision and replace it with the 15-day waiting period. 

I’ve been in contact with Rep. Kleefisch and Sen. Kedzie to co-sponsor these measures, and you can be sure I will be doing what I can to see that they advance through the legislative process.   Additional proposals aimed at drunk driving will likely be forthcoming in the weeks and months ahead.   I welcome your input on this important issue.  Please feel free to contact my office at any time.