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Tony Evers

Public Education in Wisconsin
As a former educator, principal, district administrator and now as Wisconsin’s State Superintendent of Schools, Tony has dedicated his life to helping our kids. Our public schools are the heart and soul of so many Wisconsin communities but they also are essential to sustainable, innovative and long-term economic growth and workforce development.

From “Divide and Conquer” with our educators to cutting over $800 million from our schools, Scott Walker has not been a friend of public education. Since 2011, over 1 million Wisconsinites have voted to raise their own property taxes because Scott Walker and the Republican legislature have not adequately funded our public schools.

Tony believes what’s best for our kids is what’s best for our future.

As Governor, Tony will:

Increase investments in early childhood education and quality childcare, which also includes helping Wisconsin families with skyrocketing childcare costs
Increase funding for our public schools and restore respect and professionalism towards all our hardworking educators
Increase investments in both our technical schools and UW System
Support and reward research and innovation from student and faculty alike, and after graduation we must do everything we can to keep these young people in Wisconsin
Allow Wisconsinites to refinance their student loans at a lower interest rate, just like a home mortgage

As a member of the Board of Regents, Tony has seen firsthand the damage Scott Walker has inflicted on higher education in Wisconsin, cutting hundreds of millions from our UW System. When other states began reinvesting in higher education, Wisconsin chose not to and it’s resulted in fewer classes and quality educators for our kids. Our possibilities are only limited by our own willingness to take no for an answer – it’s time we look to the future.

Infrastructure and Transportation
As Governor, Tony will focus on solving problems, not picking fights. One of Tony’s first priorities will be to solve Wisconsin’s transportation crisis. Our road quality ranks 44th in the country; towns and villages are returning to gravel and we’re borrowing so much money that Tony’s three-year-old grandson will be paying for our roads when he’s grown-up. Our local roads have been so inadequately funded, five counties and 18 cities have passed vehicle fees and taxes since 2011 to help cover road maintenance costs because the state has fallen down on the job.

There are bipartisan long-term solutions for Wisconsin’s transportation system, however Scott Walker hasn’t shown the political will to get it done. Drawing a line in the sand is not leadership.

Not only do we need to improve Wisconsin’s roads, but we need to make strong investments in Wisconsin’s ports, airports and railways. A strong infrastructure is more than just patching potholes. This is key for successful economic development – both in terms of drawing new businesses to Wisconsin, expanding existing businesses in Wisconsin and creating good-paying Wisconsin jobs.

As Governor, Tony will:

Work with both Democrats and Republicans alike to implement a sustainable, long-term fix for how we fund our roads
Invest more in local road maintenance
Increase funding for public transit
Ensure our highways and bridges are no longer a liability, but an asset for bringing new industries and businesses to Wisconsin
Repeal changes made to Wisconsin’s prevailing wage laws that simply take money out of Wisconsin’s workers pockets

Healthcare
Too few people have access to affordable health insurance and the cost of healthcare in Wisconsin continues to be too high. Period.

One reason that folks in Wisconsin pay nearly 50 percent more than Minnesotans do when purchasing individual health insurance is because Minnesota accepted the Medicaid expansion dollars and Wisconsin did not.

Minnesota also made important changes to stabilize the market and control costs. Under Governor Scott Walker, premiums in Wisconsin have spiked, while DC Republicans peddle Walker-endorsed plans that would repeal critical protections for Wisconsin families and drive up costs.

As Governor, Tony will:

Take immediate action to accept the federal Medicaid expansion dollars which would insure thousands more Wisconsinites who are struggling to find affordable health insurance
Do everything in his power to stabilize health insurance markets and bring down costs – including prescription drug prices
Invest in preventive health programs, especially for Wisconsin women, that have been defunded over the last seven years. Having to drive four hours round-trip for a mammogram, simply isn’t acceptable.
Extend protections for Wisconsinites with pre-existing health conditions. It is estimated that half of Wisconsinites have some kind of pre-existing health condition like cancer, diabetes, a heart condition, obesity or depression.

We cannot afford to return to the days where health insurance companies held all the power and could cut off patients who simply cost them too much money.

Protecting Our Natural Resources
Wisconsin is at a dangerous crossroads. Our lands and natural resources are being auctioned off to the highest bidder, our lakes and streams are disappearing and our wetlands are being destroyed. Too often, our drinking water is unsafe making our kids sick. We must restore balance and commonsense to our natural resources management.

From our state parks to the Great Lakes to the Knowles Nelson Stewardship Program – Scott Walker has stopped investing in the very things that make Wisconsin great. Enough is enough. It’s time we reinvest in our future. We can grow our economy and increase our national security by producing renewable energy here at home rather than buying our energy from foreign countries and hostile nations. We can create new jobs and boost existing industries in Wisconsin, like logging and small-scale agriculture, by increasing the innovation, sustainability and value of their products.

As Governor, Tony will:

Make sure Wisconsin families have clean water to drink and clean air to breathe
Ensure our kids learn the critical thinking skills to help them make informed, science-based decisions for our future
Return Wisconsin’s rich legacy of conservation by restoring independence to the DNR, so decisions are based on facts and public input – not on catering to campaign donors, politicians and special interests
Invest in our natural resources to create new outdoor recreation opportunities for hunters, snowmobilers and silent sports enthusiasts alike, while also protecting these resources for our future generations to use and enjoy
Pledge Wisconsin’s support of the Paris Climate Change Accords

Economic Development
For eight years, Walker has focused on corporate subsidies to international companies and tax breaks for his political donors.

The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) has been a constant source of controversy, inefficiency and ineffectiveness. Moreover, Walker’s $4.5+ billion Foxconn giveaway costs taxpayers $200+ million annually, pulling resources from the rest of the state to subsidize a broken political deal.

Meanwhile, more than 800,000 Wisconsin families cannot afford basic necessities, western Wisconsin led the nation in farm bankruptcies in 2017, and Wisconsin ranks dead last for new business startups, which are crucial for job creation and innovation.

As a career politician, Walker failed to meet his 2010 promise of growing 250,000 private sector jobs, instead using taxpayer funds to pick winners and losers among mega-corporations. Throughout his time in office, Walker has turned down billions in federal money for Medicaid, broadband, and rail expansion, hamstringing the economy and giving funds away to other states.

Tony will fight for working families and invest in an economy that creates higher wages and better jobs.

As Governor, Tony will:

Disband WEDC, replace it, and return the majority of economic development dollars to local communities and regional organizations. We shouldn’t make businesses come to Madison to beg for help – we should work within our communities and local chambers of commerce to rebuild our main streets and grow our existing businesses.
Ensure access to high speed broadband in every Wisconsin home and business
Invest in our roads, bridges, ports and airports, which not only brings new businesses and industries to Wisconsin, but leads to more good paying Wisconsin jobs
Increase our investment in education, includes starting kids off right with strong early childhood programs, fully funding well-rounded k-12 public schools and returning to the Wisconsin Idea that values higher education, research and a commitment to making our community a better place.

Racial Equity
Advancing racial equity and increasing opportunities for children, families and communities of color across the state is imperative to Wisconsin’s healthy and sustainable future. Tony believes that building upon the strengths of these communities and the shared values of all Wisconsinites we can collectively address the existing disparities in poverty, unemployment, incarceration rates, graduation rates and infant mortality that have disproportionately impacted communities of color and in particular the African American community.

Facing the challenge of being the state with the worst ranking for black child well-being in the nation is one Tony is willing to take head on, unlike Gov. Walker who continues to ignore these realities while pushing punitive policies that hurt not help Wisconsin families rebuild and grow.

We have to invest in people, not prisons, to meet these challenges.

As State Superintendent, Tony has worked to make every child a graduate and address the racial disparities and inequities in our schools, but Wisconsin needs all its leaders committed to this work. We need to make investments in local neighborhoods and ensure government decision-makers, corporate leaders, and educators reflect the growing diversity of our state.

We must address the grievous problems in corrections system, expand alternatives to incarceration and reform the criminal justice system – especially for juveniles. We should empower local communities and ensure our workforce – from classroom educators to local law enforcement to health care providers – is more diverse and reflects our changing communities. Finally, we must reject the hateful rhetoric and division that’s consuming our country. Tony will use all resources at his disposal to ensure equality, opportunity, justice and fairness to all Wisconsinites.

As Governor, Tony will:

Treat all Wisconsinites with respect and dignity, giving a seat at the table to voices that too often are unheard
Reform the criminal justice system (see more below), including specialty courts, diversion programs and restorative justice strategies as alternatives to incarceration for non-violent offenders
Make diverse appointments drawn from strong community leaders across Wisconsin to lead state agencies, fill judicial vacancies, and serve on boards and commissions
Prioritize equity and local communities in state budget decisions
Repeal controversial drug testing requirements and adopt health and welfare policies that improve quality of care and strengthen families, rather than punish them

Criminal Justice Reform
According to The Sentencing Project, African Americans are more than five times more likely than whites to be in imprisoned. However, here in Wisconsin, that ratio is doubled (10:1). From education to health care to criminal justice – bold reforms must be made.

The fact Wisconsin spends more on Corrections, than the entire UW System speaks volumes about our priorities as a state.

There are a number of policies that we as a state must change.

As Governor, Tony will support:

Ending crimeless revocations
Banning the box
Eliminating mandatory minimums
Ending the use of solitary confinement (especially with juveniles)
Investing in drug courts, Treatment and Diversion (TAD) programs and restorative justice strategies
Increased transparency, accountability and communication within policing
Fixing our broken parole and supervision system which only contributes to our high incarceration levels while also keeping families apart
Increasing access to affordable housing, employment with good wages, and other needed support for a successful re-entry for those who have completed their sentence

Voting Rights
Over the last seven years, Scott Walker and the Republican legislature have chipped away at Wisconsin’s fair elections laws. They’ve changed our voting dates, kicked hundreds of thousands off our voting rolls, implemented Voter ID with no evidence of credible voter fraud, made intimidation at the polls easier and gerrymandered our legislative maps to secure their power.

We shouldn’t be making it harder for Wisconsinites to vote, we should be making it easier! Wisconsin should be following the lead of states like Oregon that have automatic voter registration for their residents. As Governor, Tony will work to make sure every single vote counts and increase opportunities for all Wisconsinites to participate in our democracy.

Women's Health
The health decisions that a woman makes should reside with her, her family and her physician – not the politicians who represent her. These are individual choices that we should trust women to make. While Wisconsin’s politicians think they know what’s best, there’s no question that Wisconsin women really know what’s best for themselves.

As Governor, Tony will:

Trust women, not politicians, to make their own health care decisions
Invest in life-saving preventive health programs that keep Wisconsin women healthy
Reverse Governor Walker’s decision to defund Planned Parenthood and thus ensure that thousands of Wisconsin residents are still able to access important health services like breast and cervical cancer screenings, physical exams, birth control and STI testing

LGBTQ Rights
Tony believes that all Wisconsinites should be able to marry who they love – plain and simple. Even with our recent victories on this front, there are still important LGBTQ protections we need on the books here in Wisconsin to ensure fairness and equality for all. Our work is not done.

Tony is a strong ally who will continue to fight back against clandestine legislation that discriminates against LGBTQ people. He opposes attempts by the Legislature to outlaw local non-discrimination ordinances that protect people’s basic rights. He also has been a vocal opponent of the so-called “bathroom bills” and other attacks on LGBTQ youth.

Worker's Rights
It’s no secret Scott Walker has made his career by attacking Wisconsin’s workers time and time again. This ends in an Evers Administration. It’s time we started treating all Wisconsin workers – including our public employees – with respect and compassion.

Tony is committed to filling his appointments with people who actually have expertise and knowledge in their respective fields, not simply filling government with more political hacks who will rubberstamp his policies. We must give our workers a seat at the table – listening to their concerns and hearing their ideas. We can do this on day one and don’t need to pass a bill to treat Wisconsinites with the dignity they deserve.

Tony opposes Act 10, Right-to-Work and changes made by the GOP to Wisconsin’s prevailing wage laws. He also would support repealing legislation that eliminates the opportunity for local communities to pass living wages and other pro-worker protection policies.

Minimum Wage
In 2014, voters in 13 Wisconsin counties and cities had the opportunity to vote on a referendum asking lawmakers to raise the minimum wage. Every one of the referendums passed including places like Wood County, where Scott Walker won with 57% of the vote and the minimum wage referendum passing with 56% of the vote.

Tony supports raising the minimum wage to $15/hour and indexing to inflation. However, like Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) Tony also believes that this should be phased in over multiple years.

Marijuana Legalization
Tony believes it’s time for Wisconsin to join nearly 30 other states and the District of Columbia in legalizing medical marijuana. As a cancer survivor himself, Tony is all too familiar with the side effects of a major illness that can make everyday tasks, like making your bed or even showering, a challenge.

This is an evolving issue. For many Wisconsinites, medical marijuana will alleviate chronic pain, which is why organizations like the American Legion support legalization because of the documented health benefits for our veterans. It’s no secret that Wisconsin, like red and blue states across the country, is battling an opioid and painkiller crisis that is killing thousands of Americans every year. The fact remains that states that have legalized medical marijuana have observed double digit decreases in both opioid abuse and overdose related hospitalizations.

Tony would support and sign medical marijuana legalization legislation. In regard to full legalization – Tony believes this is a decision that should reside with Wisconsin residents and would support a statewide referendum on the issue.

Non-Partisan Redistricting
Tony is strongly in-favor of non-partisan redistricting reform. Politicians should not be picking their constituents, the people should be picking their politicians.

Campaign Finance Reform
From Waukesha to Osceola to Reedsburg, more than 130 communities across Wisconsin have expressed their support for overturning the 2010 Citizen’s United court decision. Our elections should not be awarded to the highest bidder.

In 2015, Scott Walker and legislative Republicans overhauled Wisconsin’s campaign finance laws that resulted in them banning political corruption investigations, allowing for more cooperation between candidates and special interest groups, and doubling the amount of money candidates can accept.

It’s time we returned power to the people of Wisconsin. As Governor, Tony would support legislation overturning Citizens United and other commonsense campaign finance reform that would clean up Wisconsin’s elections.

Revitalizing Rural Wisconsin
The farms and forests of rural Wisconsin are a core part of our identity. The prosperity of rural Wisconsin is directly tied to the health of agriculture and working forests and the dollars they circulate in local economies. When farm families suffer, our rural communities also suffer.

Under Scott Walker’s eight years in office prospects for rural Wisconsin have gone down by every measure. From 2009 to 2014 more than thirty of our rural counties lost population – the highest trend of population loss in decades. Wisconsin is now losing more than one dairy farm every day. In parts of Wisconsin the rate of farm bankruptcies is the highest in the nation. Rural schools are on the brink of closing and suffering from woefully inadequate funding.

While we’re on a spending spree to build more highways for Foxconn, our rural roads are falling apart. And far too many communities still lack broadband internet, which limits economic development and education opportunities just as much as the lack of electricity did in rural areas one hundred years ago.

Tony Evers has seen first-hand the impacts of failure to invest in rural communities in every part of Wisconsin. And he knows how important is to restore healthy, vibrant rural communities, not just in our cities but in every part of Wisconsin.

Diversified Agriculture
Wisconsin’s farms are a tremendous asset with more than 68,000 farms occupying 14.3 million acres of farmland. To keep our farm economy strong Wisconsin needs to re-invest in diversified agriculture, value added farm products and food processing, and farm product marketing.

As Governor Tony will:

Convene a blue ribbon commission to advance agriculture and economic opportunities in rural Wisconsin
Re-orient our economic development agencies to increase incentives to support agriculture and rural businesses through training, labor attraction, market development and business support
Provide additional support for business investment in value added processing for farm products
Ensure that our farm marketing labels support Wisconsin-grown farm products (Ex: Something Special from Wisconsin)
Strengthen our support for forest owners and protecting jobs in our $26 billion forest products sector
Work across the globe to increase international export development initiatives

Renewable Energy
Our farms and working lands should be producing the energy to power our state. We need to restore incentives and policies to produce more solar, wind, biomass, and other renewable energies here in rural Wisconsin. Wisconsin citizens pay some of the highest rates in the nation for electricity. We can become more energy independent, and keep more of our energy dollars here at home by producing our own renewable energy – generating year-round income to help diversify operations for farms of all sizes.

As Governor Tony will:

Support policies to encourage farm operators and third-party system operators to invest in small and mid-scale producer-owned solar and wind
Strengthen state incentives for renewable energy and adopt consistent rules on utility rates for customer-produced power
Increase our investment in research, development and installation of renewable energy power sources through our UW System and UW-Extension

Supporting Agriculture
Wisconsin farmers are in a crisis as prices within the farm economy have been below production costs for more than three years. Farm families are enduring bankruptcy, health issues, and even suicides as rural Wisconsin loses more than one dairy farm every day. Farm policies have encouraged over production which has resulted in financial stress to dairy farm families, causing many of them to have to exit the industry.

As Governor Tony will:

Convene a blue-ribbon commission to advance economic opportunities in rural Wisconsin
Strengthen our State University Extension system to offer support and market assistance to help farmers navigate brutal commodity markets. Extension was key to building up agriculture in Wisconsin – they need to again be a part of finding solutions.
Work with Governors and farm leaders in neighboring states to find regional solutions, led by farmers, to maintain a strong dairy economy

Rural Broadband Internet
Broadband internet is an essential resource for schools, businesses, and homes. Without fast internet rural communities, farms, businesses, and students will always be at a disadvantage. Barely a month into his governorship, Scott Walker’s administration returned $23 million in federal stimulus money that would have built broadband connections for 380 Wisconsin communities — including 385 libraries and 82 schools. Tony Evers knows how important broadband internet is for everyone in rural Wisconsin and he’ll make it a priority to re-invest in internet access for everyone. Every home, school and business in Wisconsin should have access to 100 MB of high speed internet. Internet is the interstate of the 21st Century, we must begin treating it like a utility that all Wisconsinites deserve access to.

As Governor Tony will:

Call for a complete analysis of broadband needs in rural communities.
Internet should be treated like a utility and through robust investments and partnerships we can dramatically improve broadband internet access in underserved areas.
Advance policy to allow Wisconsin’s successful and efficient BadgerNet internet system to become a hub for internet access in underserved rural communities.^[15]