Create 250,000 new jobs
Will "get government out of the way of employers ... who will then help Wisconsin create 250,000 jobs by 2015, and as we create those new jobs, we will be able to add 10,000 new businesses.”
Replace Department of Commerce with development-focused agency
"Working with the legislature and through executive order, I will replace ( Department of Commerce) with a true economic development agency. I will hire an experienced economic development professional as Executive Director. All regulatory functions will be transferred to other agencies. Existing economic development functions of state agencies, like the Department of Workforce Development, and state affiliated entities, like the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority, will be consolidated within the new agency."
Appoint "Whitetail Deer trustee" to review deer counting system
Will "appoint a Whitetail Deer Trustee, an outside independent expert to revise our deer counting system."
Change to hunter-friendly chronic wasting disease strategy
Will push "policymakers in Madison (to) recognize that our Chronic Wasting Disease efforts aren’t working and shift to a strategy that makes sense for our hunters."
Create new panel to provide advice on hunting and environmental matters
Will "create Governor Advisory Groups consisting of everyday sportsmen, conservationists, business owners and rank-and-file DNR employees to advise me on new and existing regulations and practices."
Reduce taxes on employers
"I want to lower the tax on employers, lower the tax on income, freeze property taxes and phase out retirement income taxes. States that have a lower tax burden have more jobs and better budgets, and its time Wisconsin was a better state to do business.”
End social promotion for third-graders who cannot read
Will end social promotion for third-graders who cannot read. "Today, 33% of Wisconsin fourth graders cannot read at even a basic level – proof that Wisconsin’s educational system is failing our children. To turn things around, we have to put an end to social promotion for students who cannot read at the end of third grade."
Create A-to-F grading scale for school quality
Will create A-to-F grading scale for school quality. "Schools should be graded just like students on a scale of A to F. Grades awarded under this rating system will be based on objective criteria such as graduation rates, passing rates, enrollment in Advanced Placement courses, standardized test scores, and teacher and administrator evaluations. Schools that fail for three consecutive years must select an alternate model."
Create "turnaround task force" to help school districts with failing schools
Will create a "state funded 'Turnaround Taskforce'" to "provide needed guidance to school districts ensuring that they don’t drain financial resources from Wisconsin’s many successful schools."
Establish teacher evaluation system
Will establish teacher evaluation system: "Under my plan, teachers will be evaluated based on the following five criteria: planning and preparation, classroom environment, quality of instruction, professional responsibilities, and yearly student progress. Teachers will receive an overall rating of 'ineffective,' 'needs improvement,' 'satisfactory,' or 'exemplary.' Teachers who are rated 'ineffective' two years in a row will lose their teaching license, while all teachers rated as 'satisfactory' or 'exemplary' will be eligible for bonuses."
Reopen tourism visitor centers closed under Gov. Jim Doyle
Will "use my experience as (Milwaukee) County Executive to work with the private sector to reopen these centers and make them self-sufficient. During my tenure, we were able to partner with the private sector to increase support for our parks and attractions."
Identify $300 million in waste, fraud and abuse in state budget and eliminate it
Will -- through Commission on Waste, Fraud and Abuse -- identify $300 million in savings. "By also taking advantage of savings that have already been publicly identified such as $22.5 million per year in Wisconsin Shares fraud and $66 million per year in excessive overtime, we can save at least $300 million per year."
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