Contact: State Representative Mike Rohrkaste
(608) 266-5719
Madison, WI – State Representative Mike Rohrkaste (R-Neenah) issued the following statement after the State of the State Address given by Governor Scott Walker on Wednesday afternoon to a Joint Session of the Wisconsin State Legislature.
“Wisconsin Republicans are continuing to move our great state forward,” said Rep. Rohrkaste. “Our unemployment rate is at 3%, a historic low and well below the national average. At the same time, our labor force participation rate is approaching 69%, which is an all-time high for Wisconsin.
“More people are working in Wisconsin than ever before, which has increased the fiscal stability of the state. Because of our reforms, Wisconsin is projected to have a budget surplus, which will enable us to spend more money on the priorities of hard-working Wisconsin families. We have already begun to do this by providing a historic increase to K-12 education, eliminating the state portion of the property tax, and holding the line on income taxes.
“Governor Walker is right, Wisconsin has had a historic year, but there is always more work to be done. I am glad to hear that the Governor is committed to focusing on workforce development and workforce readiness. Wisconsin has a huge workforce shortage, which means we must continue to make sure that any able-bodied adult in Wisconsin that needs a job can find a job, and that includes making sure they can pass a drug test. The proposed welfare reforms, as well as workforce attraction and retention efforts, are exactly what we need to make sure Wisconsin continues to have a 21st century workforce.
“The Governor’s continued focus on the workforce, K-12 and higher education, and decreasing healthcare costs will directly benefit the people of the Fox Cities. I look forward to working with the Governor and my fellow legislators to ensure these priorities become a reality.”
Click the following link for a video clip from Rep. Rohrkaste on his reaction to the address.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_9GA9z3SUY&feature=youtu.be
