The year 2025 in Wisconsin will be “The Year of the Kid.”
Those were the words from Governor Tony Evers during his State of the State speech last night (January 23rd).
He started the speech recapping highlights for his administration last year including the passing of new district maps and how municipalities are seeing a record low tax burden.
Evers also said Wisconsin finished 2024 with the lowest unemployment rate and seven months of record-high employment.
In 2025, Evers says he again wants a historic investment in K-12 education.
He told the Wisconsin Legislature that $50 million was released with bipartisan support
“Folks, our kids and their futures are too important for petty politics,” he stated. “Republicans, release those investments so we can get to work improving reading outcomes statewide.”
Evers then talked about what he wants to do for kids this year and that includes introducing a program he’s wanted passed in previous sessions.
“Our kids should never go hungry, period, but especially not at school. In the Year of the Kid, the budget I will introduce next month will again include my “Healthy Meals, Healthy Kids” initiative,” Evers said. “Let’s end school meal debt and make sure every kid has a healthy breakfast and lunch at school with no stigma and at no cost.”
The Wisconsin governor also called for $300 million to provide mental health services in schools statewide.
The State of the State Address then turned to gun violence.
While crimes like homicides and burglaries are down, Evers said other gun deaths are up.
He wants to take guns out of the hands of dangerous people.
“Let’s ask everyone to play by the same set of rules,” he stated. “Let’s close the loophole so that everyone goes through a background check no matter what kind of firearm they are buying or where they are buying it. And the second thing we can do is pass a “red flag” law to give law enforcement and loved ones the tools they need to get guns out of the home when someone is a dangerous risk to themselves or others.”
Evers finished his speech talking about lowering costs for families and supporting women and the LGBTQ community.
