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State-of-the-state address planned for this week
State-of-the-state address planned for this week
MADISON -- Last year, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker successfully defended his policies in a recall election -- and this week, Gov. Walker will deliver a state-of-the-state address.
Last year, Gov. Walker's state-of-the-state address was repeatedly interrupted by protesters in the charged atmosphere that would soon spawn the recall movement against him. Democrats and labor supporters were upset over the elimination of most collective bargaining powers from most public workers.
Gov. Walker spent much of 2012 defending his policies, and eventually won the recall election.
Now, Tuesday's state-of-the-state address will serve as a sort of pep rally for those policies.
In Tuesday's address, Gov. Walker will likely highlight some of the accomplishments in office -- primarily balancing the budget. When he came into office, Gov. Walker's number one issue was clear: jobs. Gov. Walker made a promise to create 250,000 jobs for Wisconsin.
That remains a huge challenge for a state recently ranked 42nd in private sector job creation.
Gov. Walker's address to a joint session of the Legislature sets the stage for the coming debate over the state budget. Gov. Walker will lay out his budget priorities -- something he has been traveling around the state doing in town hall meetings where he is able to listen to concerns from the state's workforce.
Gov. Walker has laid out his broad strokes agenda in five points: job creation, workforce development, education reform, government waste elimination and transportation investment.
In his third year, Gov. Walker is boasting a budget surplus of more than $340 million.
Gov. Walker faces a friendly Legislature: Republicans hold a 69-39 seat majority in the Assembly and an 18-15 advantage in the Senate.
The state Democratic party plans to make a "pre-buttal" to Gov. Walker's speech on Monday.