Continuing to Make College More Affordable in Wisconsin

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Continuing to Make College More Affordable

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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!

Look Forward to Your Future >


Ending Opioid Abuse and Overdose in Wisconsin

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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.

Executive Order #214 >


State of Emergency Declared in 13 Counties Following Damaging Floods

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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.


Join Me on Facebook Live!

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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.


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 signature

Governor Scott Walker

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