MADISON, Wis. — On Tuesday night, Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers delivered his sixth State of the State address. 

On one side of the aisle, it was all cheers by fellow Democrats as Evers spoke on a number of topics including naming 2024 the year of the worker.

What You Need To Know

  • Democratic State Rep. Jodi Emerson shared her excitement about a focus on workers and the workforce in Wisconsin

  • State Rep. Loren Oldenburg, a Republican from the 96th district, says he’s looking forward to learning more about apprenticeship programs in 2024

  • The governor highlighted his top priorities as Fighting PFAS contamination, reproductive healthcare, mental health, forest conservation, and focus on the workforce in the Badger State

  • Speaker Robin Vos said he was hoping for more innovative ideas to focus on boosting the workforce and help keep more people in the state of Wisconsin

Democratic State Rep. Jodi Emerson shared her excitement about a focus on workers and the workforce in Wisconsin. She said she believes this will impact her constituents in Eau Claire.

“What I heard from him are some of the same things I am hearing from my constituents,” said Emerson. “Taking about workforce challenges and what people need to do to in order to get to work. Making sure that their children are taken care of, and making sure we have good quality affordable child care.” 

Gov. Evers also spoke of new teacher and nurse apprenticeship programs to boost the workforce across the state. This is something State Representative Loren Oldenburg, a Republican from the 96th district, says he’s looking forward to learning more about in 2024.

“I’m a great apprenticeship person,” Oldenburg said. “I’ve championed a lot of apprenticeship bills in this legislation and past legislation. I want to see what’s happening when he’s talking about nurse apprenticeship and teacher apprenticeship. All great things. I think that is something I am very excited to see and what comes out of it,”

The governor highlighted his top priorities as Fighting PFAS contamination, reproductive health care, mental health, forest conservation and focus on the workforce in the Badger State.

“It seems like the governor is confident,” said State Rep. Evan Goyke, a Democrat representing the 18th district. “The state’s in a good position, it’s a good opportunity and time for us to invest in these long-term challenges that we face.”

Meanwhile, Republican Speaker Robin Vos said he was hoping for more innovative ideas to focus on boosting the workforce and help keep more people in the state of Wisconsin.

“There really weren’t a lot of initiatives, it was mostly task forces and working groups of public employees,” said Vos. “That’s great, but it’s not what Wisconsin needs right now.”

Both sides of the aisle are preparing for a big political year ahead in Wisconsin.

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