MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers Thursday delivered the Democratic Radio Address on his Badger Bounceback plan to help families, businesses, and the state bounce back and better from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Audio file of radio address.

Hello, Wisconsin. Governor Tony Evers here.

Right now Wisconsin is at a critical point in time. With COVID-19 affecting our state and the world, we have to face the problems this pandemic has brought to the forefront and not only put this virus behind us, but get beyond the pandemic so that we can move our state forward.

That is what my 2021-23 biennial budget proposal is all about. It provides the blueprint to ensure our state can bounce back and better than before.

And that starts by making unprecedented investments in the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation to help support our small businesses and economic development in our state.

Our Badger Bounceback plan makes a larger state investment into the WEDC than in the past three budgets combined. We’re putting $200 million into helping small businesses affected by the pandemic--including helping them retain and rehire the jobs they’ve lost. And we’re investing $100 million into a venture capital program to jumpstart innovation and startups in Wisconsin.

I was also proud today to sign AB 2 into law which will provide about $450 million in tax relief for Wisconsin businesses and $30 million in relief for Wisconsin’s low-income families.

After the year we’ve been through, we aren’t going to apologize for wanting more for each other—for our neighbors, for our kids, our parents and grandparents, and our state’s future.

Our Badger Bounceback agenda has bold solutions to address the urgent crisis we face, while investing in the future we want to build for our state, and many of our proposals have bipartisan support!

Let’s go forward together, let’s bounce back together, and let’s get this done. Thank you.