Hard Work and Perseverance Makes Champions

On Sunday, the Green Bay Packers became Super Bowl Champions, bringing the Vince Lombardi Trophy back home to Wisconsin after 14 years. Their 31-25 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers was the culmination of an incredible team comeback in a season filled with injuries to key players and plenty of adversity. Do you remember how the team was left for dead by national pundits after back-to-back losses to the Detroit Lions and New England Patriots?

In a way, the Packers’ season of perseverance gives us, as a state, a window into what could be in store for our own future if we are willing to make the sacrifices and put in the work needed to make it happen. Without question, Wisconsin is facing tough economic times with unemployment and underemployment remaining unacceptably high. The resulting economic downturn has had a huge impact on state tax collections and our budget is in a major crisis.

Like the Packers, however, we need to take it one play at a time and work gradually to turn things around. The first step was to work with Governor Scott Walker to pass a series of Special Session bills that will have a positive impact on Wisconsin’s job creation climate. Just as the Packers’ big win at home against the New York Giants in week 16 was just an early step on the road to the Super Bowl, so also the recent Special Session is just an initial step in laying the groundwork for a strong Wisconsin economic rebound.

The second step on Wisconsin’s path to recovery is getting our state budget in order. With the current budget facing a deficit of $136.7 million – not counting the $200 million owed to the Patient’s Compensation Fund as a result of an illegal fund raid – I am anticipating that Governor Walker will soon propose a repair bill that seeks to make the state financially solvent in the remaining months of this fiscal year.

Shortly after the current budget is fixed, attention will turn to the Governor’s 2011-13 state budget proposal, which is estimated to have a deficit exceeding $3 billion. In the past, our state “balanced” budgets by demanding more from taxpayers, running up the state credit card, or using gimmicks and tricks to make the budget look balanced. Rest assured that I will be aggressively working to ensure that our next budget is balanced honestly and doesn’t simply kick the problem down the road.

Third, we must re-evaluate our state regulatory framework and look closely at how it impacts job creation in Wisconsin. As your Assembly representative, I have become far too familiar with stories of small businesses that have not been able to expand or grow due to state government red tape that is blocking their way. We have made some progress in this regard by passing administrative rules reform as a part of the recent Special Session, but more needs to be done.

The Packers’ Super Bowl championship did not happen overnight. It was built upon a foundation of leadership, sacrifice, team unity and a season-long commitment to hard work. In the end, it paid off with one of the biggest honors in professional sports.

Likewise, if we work hard to reform our government and build a solid foundation for economic recovery, it will pay off down the road with more quality jobs and a robust economy providing the revenues needed for a solvent state budget. Like the Packers, we just have to take it one play at a time.

To contact me with any questions or comments or to sign up for my regular e-updates, please send an e-mail to Rep.Knodl@legis.wi.gov or call me at (608) 266-3796.