State of the State Fact Sheet
The Economy
• Wisconsin is currently facing a budget gap that had been estimated at $5.4 billion, or 17 percent of our biennial budget. That figure is expected to grow by hundreds of millions of dollars when the Fiscal Bureau puts out their latest data.
• 45 states are facing budget deficits in the face of the national economic downturn, threatening the most essential functions of state government:
o Washington State has already cut 12,000 people from its basic health care program for low income adults and is proposing an additional 42 percent reduction.
o California is bracing to run out of cash in March, and is considering IOUs to cover its obligations – including tax returns.
o In Nevada, the governor is asking for a 36 percent cut to higher education funding.
o In Utah, they are talking about decreasing the number of school days and laying teachers off.
National Unemployment v. State Unemployment
• In the last year, the United States has lost about 2.8 million jobs
• The national unemployment rate has gone to 7.1 percent.
• On Monday alone, there were 71,000 jobs cut in the United States and around the world. Giants like Caterpillar announced 20,000 jobs cut. 8,000 jobs were lost at Sprint and 7,000 at Home Depot.
• From December 2007 to December 2008, Wisconsin lost 62,600 jobs and the unemployment rate went up to 5.8 percent. Flagship Wisconsin companies like Harley-Davidson, Kohler, Quadgraphics, and GE have been forced to lay people off.
Other Key Facts
• Autism coverage: Autism treatment services are already covered in 18 states, including Kentucky and Indiana who reported less than 1% percent bump in insurance premiums. States include: California, Indiana, Iowa, Connecticut, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Virginia, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, New York, Tennessee, South Carolina, and Arizona.
• Anti-tobacco initiative: 24 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico have passed laws making both restaurant and bars smoke-free. States include: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, and Washington.
• Governor Doyle’s “Quality Care for Quality Kids” initiative was introduced in 2005.
• Wisconsin is currently facing a budget gap that had been estimated at $5.4 billion, or 17 percent of our biennial budget. That figure is expected to grow by hundreds of millions of dollars when the Fiscal Bureau puts out their latest data.
• 45 states are facing budget deficits in the face of the national economic downturn, threatening the most essential functions of state government:
o Washington State has already cut 12,000 people from its basic health care program for low income adults and is proposing an additional 42 percent reduction.
o California is bracing to run out of cash in March, and is considering IOUs to cover its obligations – including tax returns.
o In Nevada, the governor is asking for a 36 percent cut to higher education funding.
o In Utah, they are talking about decreasing the number of school days and laying teachers off.
National Unemployment v. State Unemployment
• In the last year, the United States has lost about 2.8 million jobs
• The national unemployment rate has gone to 7.1 percent.
• On Monday alone, there were 71,000 jobs cut in the United States and around the world. Giants like Caterpillar announced 20,000 jobs cut. 8,000 jobs were lost at Sprint and 7,000 at Home Depot.
• From December 2007 to December 2008, Wisconsin lost 62,600 jobs and the unemployment rate went up to 5.8 percent. Flagship Wisconsin companies like Harley-Davidson, Kohler, Quadgraphics, and GE have been forced to lay people off.
Other Key Facts
• Autism coverage: Autism treatment services are already covered in 18 states, including Kentucky and Indiana who reported less than 1% percent bump in insurance premiums. States include: California, Indiana, Iowa, Connecticut, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Virginia, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, New York, Tennessee, South Carolina, and Arizona.
• Anti-tobacco initiative: 24 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico have passed laws making both restaurant and bars smoke-free. States include: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, and Washington.
• Governor Doyle’s “Quality Care for Quality Kids” initiative was introduced in 2005.
posted by Cheryl Hentz at 10:32 PM
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