Gov. Scott Walker gave his eighth State of the State Address Wednesday afternoon. Speaking to the full Legislature, the Republican governor told lawmakers that 2017 was a "historic" year for Wisconsin, and that the state is in an amazing period of prosperity and promise.
"And you know what? We're just getting started. Foxconn, for example, will begin construction this year on a $10 billion campus," Walker said.
Last year, Walker shepherded a record $3 billion package of state aid and environmental rollbacks to lure the company to Wisconsin. In the State of the State speech, he restated the case he made during that process: that Foxconn will be good for all of Wisconsin.
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"This will require some 10,000 construction workers from all over the state. Earth movers from Hoffman Construction in the Black River Falls area already starting work on the infrastructure for this major project. Families, workers and companies from across the state will benefit from one of the largest economic developments in the history of America," Walker said.
In addition to playing up the state's successes, he urged lawmakers to help him keep Wisconsin moving forward, by overhauling welfare rules, and approving both a child tax credit, and a proposal to make health care affordable to all.
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Democrats were skeptical of how the governor portrayed the state, especially because Walker is running for reelection this fall. Democratic lawmakers remained seated during much of the speech, while GOP legislators frequently gave Walker standing ovations.
Here's part of the official Democratic response from Assembly Minority Leader Gordon Hintz of Oshkosh: "Gov. Walker has made a political career out of denying health care access, even endorsing an end to coverage for preexisting conditions. Now that he's in the political fight of his life, he's changed his mind."
