MADISON – Today Assistant Assembly Democratic Leader Katrina Shankland (D-Stevens Point) offered the Democratic Weekly Radio Address. The topic this week is the importance of removing non-fiscal policy items from the state budget, especially more harmful items like proposed dramatic changes to long-term care and the taxpayer-funded private voucher school program.

"Democrats and even some Republicans have pushed for these non-budget policy issues to be debated as separate legislation. Governor Walker himself campaigned on stripping policy from the budget," Rep. Shankland said. "There should be a full debate of these issues that will impact so many people across Wisconsin. Democrats are again calling for pulling all these non-fiscal items from the budget so they can receive the public scrutiny they deserve."

The audio file of this week’s address can be found here and a video version can be viewed here.

A written transcript of the address is below and attached here:

Assembly Democrats have held listening sessions all over the state, from Wausau to Dodgeville and Oshkosh to Eau Claire. We’ve heard overwhelmingly from the people of Wisconsin: this budget isn’t good for the middle class, and it doesn’t help people get ahead.

Even though the Republican budget is still weeks from being passed, it is already leading to severe economic consequences for our state.

We recently learned that GeminiCares, a long-term care organization with 11 locations across Wisconsin, is closing its doors due to a massive proposed upheaval of Wisconsin’s successful long-term care system. More than 700 people – including 92 people in my community of Stevens Point – will lose their jobs. It also means that GeminiCares’ clients, who are some of our most vulnerable citizens, will have to find new caregivers for their personal and long-term care needs.

Sadly, this dramatic change to long-term care is one of many harmful non-fiscal policy items the governor included in his budget. And while I’m encouraged that Republicans are removing some of the damaging proposals, far too many non-fiscal provisions remain that would have devastating effects for our citizens.

This budget also includes significant changes to the unaccountable taxpayer-funded private voucher school program, a drastic overhaul to the operations of our universities, and a new county-based property assessment system that infringes on local control.

Democrats and even some Republicans have pushed for these non-budget policy issues to be debated as separate legislation. Governor Walker himself campaigned on stripping policy from the budget.

There should be a full debate of these issues that will impact so many people across Wisconsin. Democrats are again calling for pulling all these non-fiscal items from the budget so they can receive the public scrutiny they deserve.