Audio File of Radio Address.

MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers on Jan 23rd, shared excerpts from his 2025 State of the State address in his weekly radio address. The governor delivered his 2025 State of the State address on Wed., Jan. 22, at the Wisconsin State Capitol, where he highlighted the Evers Administration’s successes over the past year to bolster the state’s workforce and address the longstanding workforce challenges, make state government work smarter and more efficiently, and continue building an economy that works for everyone.

Gov. Evers also detailed his priorities for his upcoming 2025-27 Executive Budget and the year ahead to help lower everyday, out-of-pocket costs for Wisconsinites and working families. Gov. Evers’ plan will invest in reducing the cost of child care and lower the cost of life-saving medication, including removing the sales tax on over-the-counter medications, capping the cost of insulin copays, and protecting Wisconsinites from price gouging on prescriptions.

The governor’s State of the State address is available on his YouTube channel and Facebook page.

There are a lot of ways we can lower everyday, out-of-pocket costs to make sure Wisconsinites and working families can afford basic needs. So, I have good news. The plan I’m announcing tonight will support our economy and our workforce, lower out-of-pocket costs for working families and Wisconsinites, and help give folks a little breathing room in their household budgets.

No surprise—child care is too darn expensive. We have to make child care more affordable and accessible. This is as much about doing what’s best for our kids as it’s doing what’s best for parents in our workforce and in our economy, too.

Our state budget will–once again–include sustainable, ongoing funding to make our Child Care Counts Program permanent, including investing over $500 million aimed at lowering child care costs, supporting this critical industry, and investing in employer-sponsored child care.

And when we’re looking at everyday, out-of-pocket costs, child care is not the only thing folks are struggling to afford. The costs of prescriptions and life-saving medication like insulin are also too darn high. According to a 2023 national survey, more than a quarter of adults in America are having a hard time affording their prescription drugs.

No Wisconsinite should have to choose between paying bills and putting food on the table and getting their life-saving medication. Accessing healthcare and picking up basic prescriptions or insulin should not break the bank, folks.

So, let’s work to lower the costs of prescriptions and protect consumers from price gouging on life-saving medication. Through my “Less for Rx” plan, I will again ask Republicans and Democrats to work together to approve new state programs aimed at setting price ceilings for prescriptions and improving oversight of drug companies to make sure Wisconsinites are getting a fair shake. Let’s remove the sales tax on over-the-counter medications and cap the copay on insulin at $35 while we’re at it.