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We’ve demonstrated time
and time again that making higher education more affordable and accessible in
Wisconsin is a top priority for us.
In 2013, we put in
place a historic UW tuition freeze – the first in our state’s history – and we kept
that freeze in place through our most recent budget. Last year, we also
introduced our college affordability legislative package, which provides students
and families in Wisconsin with even more resources to save their hard-earned
dollars.
Yesterday, we announced
that we’re working with the UW Credit Union to make sure college students in
our state have every option available to them when it comes to paying their
student loans. In addition to past and present UW students, now, any Wisconsin
resident who has taken classes or is currently enrolled at an accredited higher
education institution can bank with the UW Credit Union and apply to get
competitive rates to refinance their loans.
We also announced the
launch of the new “Look Forward to Your Future” website, which provides
resources to help students and families keep their debt burden more manageable and
educates them about the importance of planning ahead for college.
The website is run by
our new Student Debt Specialist, a new position we recently created at the Department
of Financial Institutions that works with higher education institutions in our
state to help make college more affordable.
This is yet another
giant step towards making college more affordable here in Wisconsin, and these
efforts can help students and families make informed decisions to choose the
higher education path that is right for both their dreams and their budgets.
Be sure to check out
the “Look Forward to Your Future” website below!
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Last week, we announced
the creation of the Governor’s Task Force on Opioid Abuse, which will be
co-chaired by Lieutenant Governor Rebecca Kleefisch and Representative John
Nygren. The task force will meet to further the work that’s already being done
throughout the state to fight opioid abuse as well as identify additional ways
to end the opioid crisis in Wisconsin.
Here are a few facts
that highlight the severity of the opioid epidemic in Wisconsin:
- More Wisconsin citizens died as a result of drug overdose deaths in 2014 than from motor vehicle crashes
- Drug overdose deaths doubled from 2004 to 2014
- Prescription opioid pain relievers such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, and methadone contributed to 47 percent of 843 drug overdose deaths in 2014 and heroin contributed to 32 percent
It’s safe to say this is a serious health concern for us in
Wisconsin. The bottom line is this has become an epidemic, and every year we
see more people dying from opioid overdose.
We’ve taken serious steps in the past to combat opioid abuse
in Wisconsin, including signing the Heroin Opiate Prevention and Education
(H.O.P.E.) legislation into law last spring and issuing a standing order
allowing naloxone, a life-saving drug, to be dispensed without individual
prescriptions. These efforts are saving lives and helping people get the
support they need to recover.
Creating the Governor’s Task Force on Opioid Abuse last week
demonstrates our unified efforts and brings us closer to our goal of ending
opioid abuse and overdose in Wisconsin.
To view Executive Order #214, which creates the Governor’s
Task Force on Opioid Abuse, click below.
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Several Wisconsin counties dealt with widespread flooding and
mudslides last week following torrential rains. As always, our primary goal is
to ensure the people of Wisconsin are safe.
That’s why we issued Executive
Order #215 declaring a State of Emergency for 13 counties in western
Wisconsin, including Buffalo, Chippewa, Clark, Columbia, Crawford, Eau Claire,
Jackson, La Crosse, Monroe, Richland, Sauk, Trempealeau, and Vernon.
According to Wisconsin Emergency Management, more than 10
inches of rain fell last week, which caused severe flooding and mudslides
throughout western Wisconsin. Numerous roads in the area were closed as a
result of washouts.
I’d like to thank all of the first responders and local
officials who continue their diligent work to manage the situation. With our
State of Emergency declaration, I instructed the Wisconsin National Guard and
all state agencies to provide assistance to those affected by this natural
disaster.
Our thoughts and prayers remain with the citizens of western
Wisconsin affected by the storms as they recover.
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Join me for my first ever Facebook Live Q&A this Friday, September 30 at 8:15 AM.
I'll be taking questions on the proposed Department of Transportation (DOT) budget, student debt refinancing plans, and more! Submit your questions in the comment section here.
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We enjoy sharing all the great news about our state with you. It is an honor to serve as your Governor and represent the people of Wisconsin.
Sincerely,
Governor Scott Walker
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