LARSON BI-WEEKLY REPORT - January 10, 2013

Dear Friend,

With Inauguration Day, the Legislature began the 2013-2014 session. This day was not only about recognizing new and returning members of the Senate and Assembly, but also about establishing our priorities for the next two years. Continue reading for more information about this special event and the upcoming session.

Sincerely,
Chris Larson
State Senator, District 7

Office Phone: (608) 266-7505
Toll-free Phone: (800) 361-5487
Email: Sen.Larson@legis.wi.gov
Web Site:
SenatorChrisLarson.com

2013-2014 Session Has Begun

This past Monday, the Legislature kicked-off its 101st legislative session. This included an inauguration ceremony to welcome new and returning legislators. It was an honor to have the opportunity to speak at this momentous event attended by my Senate colleagues, family and friends, and our Wisconsin neighbors.

The 2013-2014 Legislative Session gives us a tremendous opportunity to work together to move Wisconsin forward. As we embark on another journey together, we must acknowledge that Wisconsin faces a number of steep mountains we must scale. This includes disappointing job creation and economic development efforts, devaluation of our education system, and a lack of accountability and transparency measures for our tax dollars.

Click here for January 10, 2013 - Senator Larson concluding remarks on Inauguration Day.
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Refocusing on Jobs in Our State
We have a choice this session between more extreme ideology or real bipartisan solutions. Extremism has cost Wisconsin dearly. Despite jobs numbers growing nationally over the past 34 months, Wisconsin has stumbled by adding only 38,000 jobs during 2011 and 2012. Just last month, Forbes magazine dropped its ranking of Wisconsin to 42nd out of 50 on its list of best states for business. This has given us a costly reminder that putting up “Open for Business” signs is not enough to create real jobs. Wisconsin needs honest change, not just talk and political gimmicks.

By working together as Wisconsinites, we can reverse the failed policies that led to projections showing Wisconsin’s job growth will be second worst in the country through 2016. Without bipartisan efforts to move Wisconsin forward for all, working families from Menasha to Altoona, Beloit to Superior, will continue to go underemployed or unemployed. As we all know, Wisconsin’s working, middle class families are the key to creating a robust economy, and that is why they are the first priority for my colleagues and I this session.

Reinvesting in Our Next Generation of Workers
Wisconsin also faces the challenge of a growing values deficit. During recent visits to schools in each of our community's districts, I saw educators struggling to teach kids in overcrowded classrooms, with up to 44 students in each one. I also visited schools that no longer teach art and music. By continuing to steal from our children’s piggy bank, we are robbing them of their opportunity to live up to their full potential. We must not shy away from the challenge to reclaim a promising future for our next generation by fully restoring the devastating cuts to education.

If Wisconsin is going to be a pro-jobs state, it must also be pro-education. The fact is, there is a direct correlation between education and one’s ability to obtain a family supporting job. The 2011-2012 budget cut over $1 billion from K-12 and higher education, which was the largest cut to education in Wisconsin’s history. As a result, Wisconsin has ranked in the top five for cutting education spending per pupil while ranking 23rd on unemployment. On the other hand, states such as North Dakota, Wyoming, and Vermont that chose to increase investments in education have fared much better with unemployment, as they are all ranked in the top 10.

Monitoring Our State Agencies, Job Creation Efforts
We have another challenge this session. With real bipartisanship we can rip away the curtain of secrecy and let the light of accountability and transparency shine on our state programs. We recently saw what can happen when accountability and transparency are sacrificed by state agencies, like the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC). Tasked with creating much needed jobs, this hastily-created agency was handed $85 million in taxpayer dollars, but never given a rule book. As a result, we saw WEDC circumvent our fair and competitive bidding process, ignore federal and state laws when giving out grants, and lose track of $50 million in loans, including about $12 million overdue.

With Wisconsin still struggling economically, it is unacceptable to allow our job creation corporation to continue to play fast and loose with our tax dollars. It is important that we address these concerns immediately before we double down on a failed program.

Moving Forward Through Bipartisanship
Wisconsin voters spoke with one voice this fall. They voted for more jobs. They voted for a strong education system. They voted for more transparency. But most importantly, they voted for bipartisanship over the continuation of extremism. Neither political party has a monopoly on good, common sense ideas. My colleagues and I look forward to tackling these difficult but important issues with Republican legislators, as well as the governor, to move Wisconsin forward again.