Following newly elected Governor Tony Evers’ State of the State address Tuesday night, 12th District Senator Tom Tiffany (R-Minocqua) and 35th District Assembly woman Mary Felzkowski (R-Irma) released the following statements:
Tiffany-
“I look forward to working with Governor Evers and his administration in the 2019-2020 legislative session. There are a number of areas where we can find common ground, and his speech outlined some key issues. From supporting small businesses and broadband expansion to passing a middle class tax cut, these are issues that we can come together and pass in a bipartisan fashion.
“Governor Evers needs to remember that over the past eight years, Republicans have enacted several reforms to strengthen the state’s economy. Our economy is strong and does not need fixing. We need to keep working to make sure our focus remains on taxpayers and job creators. Our last fiscal year ended with a budget surplus of $588 million, our unemployment rate has been at a record low, and we lowered the tax burden for our state’s hard-working families. We cannot afford to go backwards, and the best thing Governor Evers can do is not reverse course.
“I look forward to working with Governor Evers and my legislative colleagues to continue building on our successes as we keep moving our state forward.”
Felzkowski-
“Over the last eight years, Wisconsin’s strong Republican leadership has given way to one of the lowest unemployment rates in history. Our state continues to serve as a national leader in manufacturing job growth, and new business growth is up almost 7% in the last year alone. We have been able to put record funding into education and provide health coverage to every person living in poverty, all while reducing the tax burden for Wisconsinites. The state of our state is strong.”
“While I appreciate Governor Evers’ sentiments in his address, we should not forget that actions speak louder than words. In his first three weeks in office, the Governor has already backed away from Republican plans to provide his middle-class tax cut to hard-working taxpayers, as well as our bipartisan efforts to protect Wisconsinites with pre-existing conditions. It is my hope that he will use his four years in office working with us to find common ground over these joint priorities. Our first and last responsibility is not to ourselves, but to our constituents who have endowed us with their trust to govern with humility and wisdom.
“Two weeks ago, I met with Governor Evers and emphasized the extreme importance of rural Wisconsin. Tonight, I did not hear our new Governor use the word ‘rural’ even once. I sincerely hope this lack of focus is not a sign of his leadership to come. I will continue to serve as a loud and vigorous voice for the hardworking people of my district. Urban areas will not, and cannot be the only emphasis of this state government.”