Moving Wisconsin Forward Governor Jim Doyle 2002-2010 JIM DOYLE GOVERNOR STATE of WISCONSIN
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MOVING WISCONSIN FORWARD Governor Jim Doyle 2002-2010 JIM DOYLE GOVERNOR STATE OF WISCONSIN December 2010 My Fellow Citizens: For the past eight years, I have had the honor and privilege of serving the people of Wisconsin as Governor. Over the course of our lives, Jessica and I have dedicated ourselves to working for others, first as Peace Corps volunteers, then on a Navajo Indian Reservation, and finally as Governor and First Lady. We have been blessed with many opportunities and responsibilities – but none has been as great as serving the people of this state. Serving as Governor has been fulfilling, hard work that would not have been possible without the support of many people who love this state. I have been blessed with a wonderful family and a great team – all of whom care deeply about Wisconsin and have been working every bit as hard as I have to move Wisconsin forward. The following pages are a record of that work. When I took office, I had to confront two major, immediate challenges – the largest budget deficit in the state’s history and an economy that had been hit hard by a national recession. The situation demanded hard decisions. So we tightened our belts, made tough cuts, but didn’t give an inch on the things that matter most, protecting schools, creating jobs, and making sure more people could afford the health care they need. That’s the way we do things here in Wisconsin. And it’s the approach that guided me through two terms as your Governor. The past eight years have been challenging. But time and again, we have risen to meet our state’s challenges and seize opportunities for future growth. Throughout it all, I have gained inspiration, strength and pride from Wisconsin families. In every corner of our great state are hardworking, innovative, courageous and optimistic people. Like the generations before, the people of Wisconsin continue to get up every day and work to make this a stronger, safer, and more vibrant state. Together, we’ve made Wisconsin the very best place to live, work and raise a family. We have accomplished much to be proud of over the past eight years and I could not have done it without the support and the guiding spirit of Wisconsin families. Thank you for the honor of serving you. On Wisconsin! Sincerely, Jim Doyle Governor 4 GE OV RNOR JIM DOYLE Governor Jim Doyle was elected Wisconsin’s governor in 2002 and was reelected in 2006 with more votes than any candidate for governor in Wisconsin history. During his time in office, Governor Doyle has focused on creating opportunity through education, growing the economy, and making health care affordable and available to all. In 1976, Doyle was elected Dane County district attorney and served three terms from 1977 to 1982. Doyle then spent eight years building his own private law practice prior to being elected Wisconsin attorney general in 1990. Doyle was reelected as attorney general in 1994 and 1998, making him the second-longest serving attorney general in Wisconsin history. Governor Doyle and his three sisters grew up in Madison. Governor Doyle’s parents were founding members of the modern Democratic Party in Wisconsin and he credits them for instilling in him a passion for public service and a commitment to improving people’s lives. Governor Doyle attended Stanford University for three years and spent his senior year at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is a 1972 graduate of Harvard Law School. Inspired by John F. Kennedy’s call to public service, after college, the Governor and First Lady Jessica Doyle worked for two years as teachers in Tunisia, Africa in the Peace Corps. After graduating from law school, the Governor and First Lady moved to the Navajo Indian Reservation in Chinle, Arizona to work as an attorney and teacher, respectively. Governor and First Lady Doyle have two adult sons, Gus and Gabe. I make one pledge above all others: That I will do everything in my power to unite the people of Wisconsin and to help shape a government that focuses on the issues that matter most in our daily lives … Security for our families … Better lives for our children … A comfortable and healthy retirement for our seniors … And a commitment to Wisconsin values. —Governor Jim Doyle Inaugural Address, January 6, 2003 5 TABE L OF CONTENTS HEALTH CARE: Improving the Health of All Wisconsinites 4 EDUCATION: Giving Every Child the Opportunity to Succeed 7 JOBS: Growing Wisconsin’s Economy 14 ENVIRONMENT: Protecting Our Natural Resources for Generations to Come 22 ENERGY: From Improving Infrastructure to Building a Clean Energy Future 27 AGRICULTURE: Reclaiming Our Farming Heritage 29 VETERANS & MILITARY: Honoring Wisconsin Servicemen and Women 32 TRANSPORTATION: Investing in Wisconsin’s Infrastructure 34 GOVERNMENT: Making Government Work Better 37 http://www.movingwiforward.wi.gov/ 6 HAT E L H CARE | Improving the Health of All Wisconsinites H EALTH CARE: Improving the Health of All Wisconsinites … [I]n Wisconsin, health care should be a birthright—not a ticket to bankruptcy. —Governor Jim Doyle, State of the State address, 2006 Through some of the most turbulent economic times in Wisconsin history, Governor Doyle has never wavered in his commitment to providing affordable health care to all Wisconsinites. During his time in office, Wisconsin residents have experienced the most substantial increase in access to health care in state history. Under Governor Doyle’s leadership, Wisconsin is now America’s health care leader, ranking first for health care quality, second in access to coverage, and providing health care access to every child. Nearly 98 percent of all residents, including all Wisconsin children, have access to affordable health insurance. Wisconsin currently has the second lowest uninsured rate in the country. Nearly 400,000 more people have health insurance since 2002. BadgerCare Plus—Governor Doyle’s signature health care initiative—has given 250,000 additional Wisconsinites access to health care services. E xpanding Access for All In February 2008, BadgerCare Plus – Health Care for All Kids – was launched. BadgerCare Plus was a complete program redesign that merged three separate programs into one and streamlined the eligibility system to reduce health care applications from multiple pages to just one. BadgerCare Plus was so successful that 44,000 people became eligible for the program on its first day. All kids now have access to affordable health care in Wisconsin. About 450,000 kids are covered under BadgerCare Plus. Following the success of BadgerCare Plus – Health care for All Kids, Governor Doyle directed the implementation of BadgerCare Plus – Core Plan for adults without dependent children. The Core Plan was approved and then initially implemented in January 2009 with statewide enrollment opening in June 2009. 2002 2003 JAN. 6 Sworn into office as the 44th NOV. 5 Governor of Wisconsin. Appoints Governor Jim Doyle most diverse Cabinet in Wisconsin elected. history. 7 HAT E L H CARE | Improving the Health of All Wisconsinites Governor Doyle also led the effort to ensure that every Wisconsin senior and person with disabilities has access to home and community-based long term care services. In the past, these individuals were told the only affordable help was a nursing home, which was neither cost effective nor in the best interest of the individual. Governor Doyle expanded the successful Family Care program statewide. Family Care continues to save money, improve health outcomes, and enable people to stay in their homes and communities. S trides in Public Health During Governor Doyle’s tenure, Wisconsin has made important strides in improving public health through initiatives such as reducing the smoking rate, curbing teen pregnancy, and addressing disparities in birth outcomes. S eniorCare: Expanding Access to Prescription Drugs Perhaps the most significant improvements came in tobacco use. Governor Doyle led a statewide effort SeniorCare, a nationally recognized prescription to enact a comprehensive smoking ban that prohibits drug program in Wisconsin has helped more than smoking in workplaces in Wisconsin. As a result, the 100,000 senior citizens gain access to life-saving smoking rate has fallen below 20 percent for the first prescription drugs. The key to its success: under time in state history. Smoking rates have dropped by 65 SeniorCare Wisconsin negotiates drug pricing with percent for middle-school students, 38 percent for high drug companies. But when Congress passed its own school students, and 17 percent for adults. prescription drug plan, the Bush Administration started to pressure states like Wisconsin to dissolve programs Governor Doyle also made reducing teen pregnancy like SeniorCare, even after a study sponsored by AARP rates a top public health priority. During his tenure, showed that 94 percent of SeniorCare participants were the teen pregnancy rate fell by seven percent. Governor better off under Wisconsin’s program than the new Doyle made key policy changes such as the enactment federal initiative. of the Family Planning Waiver Program, which provides 50,000 uninsured or under-insured women Governor Doyle took on Washington and fought to access to services to prevent unwanted pregnancies. This protect SeniorCare, testifying before Congress and program will also be expanded to provide men with pushing the Secretary of Health and Human Services to family planning services in 2010. issue Wisconsin a waiver that would allow SeniorCare 2003 MAR. 18 Creates the Homeland Security Council to coordinate and direct the state’s efforts to prevent and respond to potential attacks in Wisconsin. 8 HAT E L H CARE | Improving the Health of All Wisconsinites to survive. Through Governor Doyle’s efforts, P rotecting Medicaid SeniorCare was saved and now stands as the only When Governor Doyle took office in 2003, financial program of its kind in America.