Now, Wisconsin RepublicanGovernor Scott walker delivers the faith date of the state address and focus on new Child Tax Credit, funding for rural schools and Small Businesses commit changes to the welfare system and Health Care Coverage for those with existing conditions. [applause] speaker ross, speaker pro tem august, president ron, majority leader fitzgerald, majority leader schilling, minority leader has come a Supreme Court stays, car additional officers, tribal leaders, members of the cabinet, members of the legislator, distinguished guests and most importantly fellow citizens of wisconsin, and it is an honor to come before you this afternoon to report on the state of our great state. Before we start come i want to recognize the first lady wisconsin, my wife. Net and our two sons, scotty and alex. [applause] last year as you might remember, join me at this podium to talk about her groundbreaking work called fostering fugitives could she and her team continued their efforts with tribal councils, county government, nonprofits, colleges and universities and employers from across wisconsin. State agencies trained on how to incorporate trauma, and foreign care into their daily routines. She brought together a group of first thousand cents after wisconsin to talk about the important work and went to washington to get the federal government more involved in this area. I want to thank you for your leadership that will change the lives of children, adults and families oliver wisconsin. [applause] next to my wife is Major GeneralDonald Dunbar of the 10,000 strong men and women of the Wisconsin National guard. Thank you for your service, general dunbar. [applause] next to him, a great treat this year is Major General mark andersen. It was my privilege to administer the oath earlier this month to our second two star general. What an honor for wisconsin. Congratulations, general andersen. [applause] in september, general dunbar, Master Sergeant and i had the opportunity to visit members of the 115 fighter right here in madison while they were deployed in pusan air force base. Bedroom who is with us, well actually have the chance to find with another 16 years ago, he and 255 arab men were deployed to one of the most intense spots in the world, south korea. While we were there, i met the commander of the seventh air force, Lieutenant General thomas ferguson. By the way, 1981 graduate of Wisconsin Rapids high school. [applause] he told me of the incredible skill of our era men and women and as if that wasnt enough, the commander of the 115th Eric Peterson in many remarkable men and women of the Wisconsin National guard joined me last month as we announced that wisconsin had been a good host the brandnew s. 35 lightning fighter jets right here. Out of all the states in america, we had the number one location. Im looking forward to hearing the f35 take off because you know why, that is the sound of freedom. Congratulations to be a winning men and women come in many who are here today. [applause] today i am proud to declare that this state of our state, well, it is historically strong. [applause] in wisconsin, employment is at historic highs and unemployment is at historic lows. We invested more in actual dollars into schools than ever before in our history. The state property taxes gone. Wisconsins have received a bond rating grade from three National Agencies. Our Health Care Systems are ranked number one in the nation for quality and we announced the Largest Economic Development project in state history. It has been an amazing year, and historic year. [applause] we are getting positive things done for the people of what im saying. As mentioned, more people employed in wisconsin than ever before in the history of first day. Just last week, the department of work Worst Development announced that the Unemployment Rate had dropped to 3 . [applause] the only other time it was that low was in may, june and july of 299 when Tommy Johnson was our governor. Things are pretty good acting. They are pretty good now and they are only going to get better. [applause] we are getting positive things done for the people of wisconsin. Students in our schools had the highest ac tu scores and high scratcher we should rates in the country and we just invested more actual dollars into k12 education than ever before. An extra 200 for every student in every school in every part of our state. This year and another 204 increasing every student on top of that next year. Our children deserve a great education that prepares them for college, careers in real life. We are getting positive things done for the people of wisconsin. [applause] to make college more affordable for students and working families, we froze university of wisconsin tuition for all undergraduates for a state for six years in a row. [applause] we are partnering with Financial Institutions of graduates refinance loans and Financial Assistance for students in need left at an alltime high, making Higher Education possible for thousands of students at colleges and universities across the state. We are getting positive things done for the people of wisconsin. [applause] we were able to make record investments in education while still continuing to reduce the burden on Hardworking Taxpayers. According to the Nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau, both property and income taxes will be lowered in 2018 and they were in 2010. [applause] and we eliminated, thats right, we eliminated the state property tax. Thats right, 100 of the property taxpayers in ours they saw a 100 reduction in the day property tax bills. We are getting positive things done for the people of n. [applause] wisconsin. [applause] Health Care Systems in our state ranked one in the nation for quality. [applause] plus, everyone living in poverty is now covered under badger care for the first time in the history of our state. According to the u. S. Systems bureau, the percentage of people with access to Health Coverage in wisconsin is now one of the best in the nation. We are getting positive things done for the people of wisconsin. [applause] wisconsin is number one in cheese, cranberries milk, corn, soybeans, beef, cherries, potatoes, vegetables. Im just getting hungry thinking about it. Agriculture is a big part of our economy. More than that its a way of life. We are getting positive things done for the people of wisconsin. [applause] no state in the nation provides more benefits for veterans and wisconsin. We offer 23 benefits for veterans while the next closest date offers 21. We can attend College Tuition free and we expanded eligibility so more of our veterans can do. They report our veterans homes are among the best in the country. We are getting positive things done for the people of wisconsin. Unemployment is at historic lows. Record investment in our kids education. More help for colleges and universities. Lower tax is, Quality Health care, growing agriculture and industry, it taken care of veterans. We are getting things done. We are getting things done for the people of wisconsin. [applause] but as you might recall, that wasnt always the case. Eight years ago, as are much different. This state was headed in the wrong direction. Instead of going forward, as he was going backwards. Eight years ago january 2010, the Unemployment Rate was 9. 2 . Today, the Unemployment Rate is down to 3 . That is well below the National Rate of four by 1 and as i mentioned before, it is time for the lowest Unemployment Rate in the history of wisconsin. [applause] in fact, more people are working than ever before. People like broken cliffs and sarah in whitewater all became employed for wisconsin fastforward Worker Training Program during the past year. [applause] eight years ago the State Government created a 3. 6 billion budget deficit. The previous governor and legislature raided for the transportation fund. The patient compensation fund. They even missed a payment to minnesota. Today the state and in the last fiscal year with more than half a billion dollars surplus in the Nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau just predict good they would win the current budget with an even larger surplus than first projected. [applause] our pension is fully funded in the Rainy Day Fund is 168 times bigger than when we took office. Wisconsins longterm mean that is one of the lowest, best in the nation. We are paying off our obligations faster than we take on that and three National Agencies upgraded our bond rating this past year. For movies, and i was the First Time Since 1973. It is the first time ever. That historic is more proof that our Financial Management is working. [applause] we invested more than 6 billion in the Transportation System in a recent state budget, which brings our total investment to 24 billion over eight years. That is 3 billion more than what former governor jim doyles and Fund Transportation over the same period time. You were that way. We invested in 3 billion more into transportation in jim doyle did during the same amount of time. In our budget, the increases we gave the local government to fix roads, repair bridges and fill potholes in some of the largest in 20 years a large amount into the diligent work of secretary dave ross and his team who found savings, we are able to move our projects like interstate 3990 and wisconsin for 41 while still keeping Major Projects on time. [applause] over outcome of these will move up 26 projects like highway 18 from dodgeville, highway 45, highway 16 from across an highway 172 in brown county. [applause] eight years ago according to the nonpartisan legislative bureau the previous governor and legislature actually cut some of thats right, cut funding for schools and local governments. I remember well because i was a county official at the time in the state did not give us tools to deal with the reduction in state aid. Many local leaders have been laid off workers or cut irises. Today we made the largest investment in actual dollars in the k12 education in history in increments of 200 for every student in every school in every part of the state this year and another 204dollar increase on top of that next year. Plus they give schools the resources to cover transportation costs and Health Services and put new technology in the classroom. [applause] in the reforms we passed years ago have save school districts, local and State Government more than 5 counting according to an independent review. Most importantly, they allow School Leaders to staff based on merit and pay based on requirements. That means they can put the best and the brightest in the classroom and pay them to be there. [applause] ec, putting more money in the schools is good, then making sure it goes to improving the quality of education for students in classrooms, that is priceless. Im proud to say that is what we are doing right here in wisconsin. [applause] only 1000 user partnerships. Today the number of youth apprenticeship students has more than doubled as has Financial Support for this day. The state funding for High Technology workshops doubled in the past budget. [applause] we are giving our students they had started on a tanning careers. Eight years ago tuition went up in the university of wisconsin system. During the decade before our freeze, tuition went up a whopping 118 . Today we froze tuition for all undergraduates from them for six years in a row. We did that to make college more affordable for units and working families. The nonpartisan estimates the average student saved more than 6000 over four years thanks to the freeze. That is real money. [applause] eight years ago there were actually People Living in poverty on a waiting list for action under badger care. Today for the first time in his three of the state everyone living in poverty is covered under badger care. Because of our unique wisconsinbased solution, we had according to the Kaiser Family foundation, no gap in coverage and we rank as one of the top states in the nation for access to Health Care Coverage according to the u. S. Systems bureau. [applause] hard to believe, eight years ago there were about 4000 people with disabilities including children and adults on a waiting list for longterm Care Services with many counties were not included in the longterm care programs. We are extending to every options for people with disabilities to allow them to live. Im happy to to report by the end of this year, we will eliminate weight less for children with longterm Care Services in every county in the state. [applause] in the moments for longterm Care Services means children like 14yearold molly of kenosha finally gets the support they need. Malik was a Cerebral Palsy and autism and has limited mobility. After two years on the wait list, today gets inhome therapy in the modified bathroom timor independence and his family gets muchneeded respite services. His mother says all of this has been a game changer. [applause] malik and his mother are here tonight. [cheers and applause] access to longterm Care Services read on for people like nick in green bay. Nick fell and broke his leg, but he was able to return home to his life of 70 years thanks to the services and equipment he receives under family care. The woman who comes to their apartment to help it daily task for visiting angel. [applause] anyway it was for longterm care house to collect melissa and fox v. Melissa was born with a disorder that affected her Cognitive Development and after high school landed her dream job. She doesnt drive and transportation was an issue. Through her longterm care is, melissa gets help in transportation and other home Care Services which has helped improve her life. [applause] people like molly, nick and alyssa should not have to put their lives on hold to get the help that they need to be independent and to live their best lives. These are Success Stories and i am glad that these services will be available all over the state. [applause] since 2011, wisconsin has been recognized as a National Leader in helping people disabilities enter the workforce. Today according to the handheld disability statistics, we rank in the top 10 states for hiring people with disabilities. [applause] thats good news for people like marquez. He was one of the first intern at the childrens hospital, with constant. Marcus was hired fulltime by the hospital. Helping students with disabilities prepare to enter the workforce and i love going to graduation. One of the most original things you can do. The success rate for project search and wisconsin is 88 , which makes it one of the best in the entire country. [applause] eight years ago there was one program versus when School Starts in the fall, there will be 27 sites across the state of wisconsin. [applause] eight years ago, and closing all eight of the Visitor Centers around the state. Today, weve seen a 351st inning great Economic Impact of tourism. A marketing focused not on his logan, but the fun people have in wisconsin. We partnered with local visitor bureaus and chambers of commerce to open Visitor Centers all across the state. Check out travel wisconsin. Com for more details. Travel wisconsin. Com. [applause] the State Government did not have any Grant Programs for broadband infrastructure. Today we do and in the fussbudget we invested 41. 5 billion, an increase of 35 million to connect communities across the state, and highspeed Internet Connections as well as schools access to the latest technology and training. Over the next two years. In 2007 the Economic Impact estimated at 922 billion. Today report estimates of agriculture has been 88 billion impact on wisconsin economy. [applause] lower property not for cloture practices. Limits on lawsuits and expanded export opportunities will help our family armors continue to grow in 2018 and beyond. [applause]