Gov. Tony Evers renews call for abortion access, marijuana legalization in inauguration speech
Gov. Tony Evers in his inaugural address Tuesday called for increased collaboration with his Republican colleagues, who hold strong majorities in the state Legislature and have largely rejected his more liberal proposals to legalize marijuana, overturn the state’s near-complete ban on abortions and expand Medicaid coverage.
The results of the Nov. 8 general election — which included the most expensive gubernatorial race in the country last year as well as in state history between Evers and Republican business executive Tim Michels — left Wisconsin’s split government largely unchanged. The Democratic governor secured a second term in office while Republicans built on their strong majorities in the state Senate and Assembly.
The governor’s inauguration speech was a prelude to his State of the State address on Jan. 24. In February, he will unveil his 2023-25 biennial budget proposal.
Speaking in the Capitol rotunda, Evers, a former educator and state schools superintendent who was first elected governor in 2018, said those who supported his second term in office voted to reject “a return to the bitter politics of resentment.”
https://madison.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/gov-tony-evers-renews-call-for-abortion-access-marijuana-legalization-in-inauguration-speech/article_b3d2f700-18b2-5fa7-bbf3-dee1591f3569.html
