Preview of Doyle’s State of the State speech from The Wheeler Report, 1/6/06
DOYLE ENDORSES HIGHER MATH, SCIENCE GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
MERRILL, WI — Gov. Doyle last night endorsed higher math and science requirements for high school graduation during a town hall meeting set up to preview his January 17 State of the State Message to the Legislature.
Doyle focused on education, health care and environmental proposals during the session. “I want to make sure every kid in Wisconsin gets a quality education,” he said, pointing to his vetoes in the current budget to restore twothirds funding for public schools. He said three years of science and three years of math should be required in Wisconsin high schools.

With “Wisconsin Values” emerging as the theme of his upcoming speech, Doyle told a crowd of about 100 at the T. B. Scott Library here, “Trust Wisconsin values and they’ll take you in the right direction.” He concluded his hourlong session with the admonition that “we need to sell our quality of life.”
“We’ve got to brag about who we are and what we have to offer,” he said, again emphasizing his “Wisconsin Values” which included “hard work,” a “commitment to education,” and “looking out for each other.”
On health care, Doyle said there was “no doubt” the current system is directed to “treatment rather than prevention.” He said Medicare is the fastest growing segment of the state budget and is so because of “deeply misguided policies in Washington (DC).”
“I want a more flexible system,” he said. “I want to reach more people than now in BadgerCare and SeniorCare.”
Doyle also said there needs to be more emphasis on early childhood development. He said children are going to school without a good breakfast and added, “We could double the amount we’re spending (on school breakfasts) and still be 50th in the nation in spending.”
In addition to expanding the breakfast program, Doyle said “really good exercise and physical education programming should be built into the course of the school day.” And, “If I could do one thing,” he said. “It would be that no kid started smoking cigarettes until after the age of 21.”
On the environment, Doyle said forests in Wisconsin are under “great pressure” and the state must take steps to protect them. He said it is vital to maintain the Stewardship Fund, look for creative ways to help the paper industry (such as buying forest lands and obtaining lifetime easements), and improve the quality and quantity of the Great
Lakes water system.
Doyle also said the opportunities for small business in the state are “enormous” because of the Internet and high speed access to it. He said his goal is to get 100% high speed access to the Internet statewide over the next couple of years.
On the high cost of energy, he said he hopes Congress will take action to allow the states to deal with natural gas rates, called again for oil companies to contribute some of their post-Katrina profits to low income heating assistance, and noted the PSC has cut rate increase requests by electric utilities.
Doyle continues his pre-State of the State town hall meetings today at noon in Oshkosh. (END)