Contact: Rep. Joel Kitchens, (608) 266-5350

MADISON, Wis. – State Rep. Joel Kitchens (R-Sturgeon Bay) released the following statement regarding Gov. Tony Evers’ State of the State Address:

“It was reassuring to hear Gov. Evers spend a good portion of his speech encouraging bipartisanship and reaching across the aisle to better the lives of all Wisconsin residents,” Kitchens said. “I completely agree that, with a divided government, both Republicans and Democrats will have to work together to get things done.

“I am entirely committed to finding common ground whenever possible, and I believe the Assembly’s decision earlier today to amend the Pre-Existing Condition Guaranteed Coverage Act to address the governor’s concerns demonstrates that we are willing to compromise. It appears that people on both sides of the political spectrum agree on most of the issues. Where we tend to disagree is how to find solutions to those issues. But I view that as a good place to be because it means we both share common objectives and want to see the state succeed. It’s just a matter of how we get to the finish line.

“As co-chairman of the bipartisan Blue Ribbon Commission on School Funding, I was also extremely excited to see the governor shares my passion for education. I look forward to collaborating closely with the governor to implement the many recommendations made by the commission to better educational opportunities for students throughout the state. I am hopeful Gov. Evers will be supportive of most of the proposals since they seem to be similar to what he is going to be asking for in the state budget. Although the governor has called for a more ambitious education spending plan, the commission’s recommendations tackle many of the same issues while staying within the fiscal capabilities of the state.

“I was also pleased when the governor declared 2019 to be ‘the year of clean drinking water.’ As chairman of the Assembly Environment Committee, I pledge to work with Gov. Evers and his administration to protect our ground and surface water without economically hurting the state. I will also continue to bring the agriculture and conservation communities together to keep moving toward that common goal.”

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