Contact: Amy Hasenberg, (608) 266-2839
MADISON – Governor Scott Walker released his Weekly Radio Address today titled, “We are Getting Positive Things Done for Wisconsin’s Children and Families.”
Hi, Scott Walker here.
We are getting positive things done for Wisconsin’s children and families.
Because our children are our state’s future, we want to make sure that every student has the tools to succeed. In this state budget, we are investing more actual dollars into K-12 education than ever before with an increase of $200 per student this year and another $204 per student next year. These additional resources benefit every student in every school across our state. Plus, we provided more help for our rural schools to address their unique challenges.
We are also giving money directly back to Wisconsin’s hardworking parents and grandparents through our $100-per-child tax rebate and back-to-school sales tax holiday. This is more money back in the hands of parents and grandparents that can be used for things like backpacks, new shoes, or activity fees. It is another way we are delivering on our promise to send the state’s budget surplus back to hardworking taxpayers.
We also increased funding for the Wisconsin Shares child care program and eliminated the eligibility cliff. This will provide much needed assistance for low-income families to cover the costs of child care.
Earlier this week, I was proud to sign into law several bills on foster care that will provide additional support to children and families. Over the past year, the Speaker’s Task Force on Foster Care worked to develop ideas to improve the child welfare system here in Wisconsin. We will continue to work to improve outcomes for children in the foster care system and do our best to keep them from entering the system in the first place.
To improve the health and well-being of children and families, we eliminated wait lists for children who need long-term care across the state. Thanks to these efforts, more than 2,200 children will now have access to long-term care services. This is outstanding news for families who need this vital care.
All of these accomplishments are a part of our efforts to make Wisconsin a better place for all who call it home. But we’re not done yet. Together, let’s keep moving Wisconsin Forward.
