MADISON, WI (WSAU) — Democratic Governor Tony Evers will hold a series of a half-dozen listening sessions from Mid-March to mid-April regarding priorities in his proposed budget while allowing the public to share stories of how COVID-19 has impacted their year.
Sessions will be held virtually and will begin on Thursday, March 18th. Each session will focus on a different area of the Governor’s proposed budget.
Those who would like to participate are encouraged to register in advance. Information on how to join the session will then be delivered via email.
“Our Badger Bounceback agenda is all about making sure our state can bounce back from COVID-19 better than we were before this pandemic hit,” said Gov. Evers in a press release. “But as I said during my budget message, and as has been the case since before I took office, I’m not going to make decisions about you without you. These Badger Bounceback Live Sessions are key opportunities to listen and learn from the people of our state in hopes that we can pass a bold, bipartisan budget that will address the urgent challenges facing our state so we can bounce back from this crisis.”
The complete schedule along with topics for each session is as follows:
Badger Bounceback Live Session on Economic Recovery & Opportunity
Thurs., March 18, 2021, at 6 p.m. Register to attend here.
The Badger Bounceback Live Session on Economic Recovery & Opportunity will cover topics such as ensuring our economy can recover and bounce back from this pandemic, including investing in and support small businesses, kickstarting innovation and startups, ensuring tax fairness and providing tax relief for Wisconsin’s working families, and investing in our agricultural economy and rural prosperity.
Badger Bounceback Live Session on Accessible & Affordable Healthcare
Thurs., March 25, 2021 at 6 p.m. Register to attend here.
The Badger Bounceback Live Session on Healthcare will cover topics such as expanding access to quality, affordable healthcare, protecting people who have pre-existing conditions, investing in mental health services, Medicaid/BadgerCare expansion, caregiving, and long-term care for aging and older adults and folks with disabilities.
Badger Bounceback Live Session on Transportation & In
Tues., March 30, 2021, at 6 p.m. Register to attend here.
The Badger Bounceback Live Session on Transportation & Infrastructure will cover topics such as investments in transportation and infrastructure, fixing our roads and bridges, investing in transit and transportation alternatives, expanding access to broadband, and supporting local communities and government.
Badger Bounceback Live Session on What’s Best for Our Kids
Thurs., April 8, 2021, at 6 p.m. Register to attend here.
The Badger Bounceback Live Session on What’s Best for Our Kids will cover topics such as ensuring every kid has access to a high-quality, public education, providing mental health supports for students at schools, special education reimbursement rates, expanding access to early childhood education and childcare, and investing in our higher education institutions.
Badger Bounceback Live Session on Justice Reform & Marijuana Legalization
Wed., April 14, 2021, at 6 p.m. Register to attend here.
The Badger Bounceback Live Session on Justice Reform & Marijuana Legalization will cover topics such as addressing racial disparities in our justice system, legalizing medical and recreational marijuana, investing in treatment, rehabilitation, and other alternatives to incarceration, and programming to support safe community reentry.
Badger Bounceback Live Session on Climate Change & Our Environment
Wed., April 21, 2021, at 6 p.m. Register to attend here.
The Badger Bounceback Live Session on Climate Change & Our Environment will cover topics such as investing in stewardship and making public lands more accessible, addressing lead poisoning prevention, keeping our water clean, addressing climate change and the climate crisis, and protecting our state’s natural resources.
Sessions will also be archived on YouTube.
