Listen To WPR online Live Streaming Page Archive Streaming Page Click here to support WPR! Return to the WPR Home Page
Explore WPR
WPR Home
Support WPR!
Support WPR's Online Community!
Contact Us
About WPR
Newsletters and Reports
Studios, Stations and Program Schedules
Station Coverage Maps, Reception and Technical Issues
WPR Program Index
The Ideas Network
The NPR News and Classical Network
WPR News
Internet Webcasting
WPR's National SHows
The Radio Store
Related Links

WPR Programs
Search wpr.org
This Month's Featured Stories
NEWS LINKS: WPR News Home | Bureaus | Reporters | Awards
FEATURES: Specials, Series & Documentaries | Wisconsin Vote | Wisconsin Life | StoryCorps
GOV. WALKER TO DISCUSS ECONOMY IN STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS WPR News - Gov. Walker To Discuss Economy In State Of The State Address
Tuesday January 15, 2013 by Shawn Johnson

Governor Scott Walker will deliver his third annual State of the State address Tuesday, during which the governor has hinted he'll outline his ideas for growing the economy.

While the governor may only speak generally about his economic agenda in his State of the State address, he's likely to call for some kind of state venture capital bill. Venture capital was one of the rare legislative priorities that eluded the governor last session. Walker says he's not sure what form a venture capital law should take, but wants it to prioritize startup companies who have trouble finding capital elsewhere. A simple tax credit, the governor says, is not enough for a business just getting off the ground: “A tax credit doesn't pay your rent, doesn't pay your lease, doesn't pay your employees for the first year or two, and so if we've got people coming out of our University of Wisconsin system with great ideas that could lead to great employment in the future, we've got to have a way to bridge that and get them going and we've very much interested in a plausible way to do that.”

Walker is also likely to use his speech to call for an income tax cut, but details of that will wait until his budget address next month.

Democrats say they'll be listening for what the governor doesn't say. In last year's State of the State, Walker did not mention his campaign promise to help the private sector create 250,000 jobs during his first term. State Democratic Party Chair Mike Tate says that's because everyone knows the governor won't hit his number: “Everyone knows he's not going to make it there. The question is who will he blame? He'll likely blame Jim Doyle. He'll blame the Greeks. He'll blame the protesters. He'll blame Obamacare. He'll blame Washington. But he will take no responsibility.”

Walker will also likely talk about a rewrite of Wisconsin's mining laws, an effort that Republican legislative leaders have said will be their top priority this session.

You can also listen to this story or download it now! (1:36)



Support for WPR provided by

Shop Now!



Support WPR!


HOME | ABOUT | PROGRAM INDEX | MEMBERSHIP | SPONSORSHIPS | WPR NEWS
IDEAS NETWORK | NEWS & CLASSICAL NETWORK | RADIO STORE
LIVE STREAMS | AUDIO ARCHIVES

For questions or comments about our programming, call Audience Services
at 1-800-747-7444, email us at listener@wpr.org, or use our Online Feedback Form.
View our Privacy Policy.   Send comments about our website to webmaster@wpr.org.

©2013 by Wisconsin Public Radio - a service of the
Wisconsin Educational Communications Board
and University of Wisconsin - Extension.