Happy Independence Day

Now that the budget process has come to a close, we can reflect on how far Wisconsin has come in such a short time. With so many states struggling with mountains of debt, the future of Wisconsin looks bright indeed. For the first time in over a decade, our state will be in the financial black. We made difficult choices and refused to pass our debt onto future generations.

This type of responsibility seems rare these days, and as we’ve seen in the past few months, standing up and making these hard choices is not easy.  But with the Fourth of July right around the corner, we must remember that our intentions should not be to make things easy, but to make things right. When our Founding Fathers created this nation they did not take the easy route. The Revolutionary War was fought with valor and courage, and much was sacrificed to get to where we are today.  Our great nation exists today because early Americans were not willing to let things continue the way they were.  They saw a better future, and they knew that achieving that future was worth the struggle.

In Wisconsin, we faced struggles of our own. We experienced over a decade of fiscal irresponsibility. Year after year, our deficit ballooned as we spent and borrowed far beyond our means.  It is easy to see where this road leads, and it is not to prosperity.  As we know, there was no easy fix for getting back on track.  There were no silver bullets because debt doesn’t go away on its own. 

Now, we have finally changed course, and have taken hold of our future.  The solution wasn’t easy, but we can lead this state back to prosperity.  We can stand tall knowing that we’ve put away the credit cards and gotten down to business.  Although our adversary is different than that of our forefathers, our goal is still freedom.  By taking responsibility, making every dollar count, and honestly balancing our budget, we are free from our mountain of bills.  Instead of passing hardship onto our children, we have started on the path to opportunity and possibility.

This Fourth of July, and every day, I am proud to live in this great country and proud to be a Wisconsinite.  America is the country it is today because of the sacrifices of many.  I am grateful to all of our service men and women throughout the years for their contributions to this nation, and for their willingness to fight for what they know is right.  Their conviction and dedication is truly admirable.  As we celebrate freedom and liberty this weekend, we can do so knowing that Wisconsin is on solid ground.  Happy Independence Day.