Wisconsin

May 06, 2009 -- MADISON – Wisconsin Governor Doyle today made the following statement about an agreement to a statewide smoking ban.

"I am pleased that an agreement has been reached in response to my call for a statewide smoking ban.

“Throughout my entire career in public life, I’ve fought to protect our kids and our citizens from the scourge of tobacco. For years, I have called on the Legislature to pass a statewide smoking ban in order to help prevent Wisconsin children from starting to smoke and help motivate adults in our state to quit smoking. I wish the ban would be implemented sooner but today we are one step closer to a statewide smoking ban that is fair and equitable.    » read more »

May 05, 2009 -- MADISON – Wisconsin Governor Doyle today announced that Wisconsin is receiving more than $587 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds for education. Wisconsin will be eligible to apply for another $289 million this fall from the ARRA State Stabilization Fund.    » read more »

April 28, 2009 -- MADISON – Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle today announced the bids for the first road and bridge projects in Wisconsin funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act came in 7.2% lower than expected for a savings of $8,910,690. The total engineering estimate for the 26 state and 19 local road and bridge projects let out for bid today was $123,559,853. The low bids submitted totaled $114,649,163.    » read more »

April 27, 2009 -- MADISON – Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle today announced that more commodities will be made available through The Emergency Food Assistance program (TEFAP) as a result of $2 million included in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The funding will go directly to 16 organizations that administer the distribution of commodities to local food pantries, soup kitchens and homeless shelters.

“This money comes at a time we expect services will be in demand at an unprecedented level,” said Governor Doyle. “These funds make it easier for this program to provide food to people who have been affected by this difficult economy.”    » read more »

April 24, 2009 -- WEST ALLIS - Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle today announced $111,877,624 million for Milwaukee-area schools which will be used for special education and for schools with a high percentage of low-income students. The funding is part of $366 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding released yesterday by the Governor and State Superintendent Elizabeth Burmaster for Wisconsin school districts. The Governor made the announcement at Irving Elementary School in West Allis.    » read more »

April 27, 2009 -- MADISON - Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle today announced the opening of bids for the first road and bridge projects in Wisconsin to benefit from funds provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Bids will be opened tomorrow, Tuesday, April 28, for 26 state and 19 local road and bridge projects.    » read more »

April 23, 2009 -- MADISON - Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle and State Superintendent Elizabeth Burmaster today announced $366 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding for Wisconsin school districts which will be used for special education and for schools with a high percentage of low-income students. The Governor and Superintendent made the announcement at Thoreau Elementary School in Madison. Madison schools will receive about $11.7 million of the allocation.    » read more »

April 22, 2009 -- GREEN BAY — Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle announced today that Green Bay would benefit from approved proposals for transit projects in 14 small urban areas and 32 non-urbanized areas around Wisconsin. Approval is a major step in securing the portion of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding that has been appropriated for the state. The projects total nearly $34.5 million.    » read more »

April 21, 2009 -- KENOSHA — Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle announced today that Kenosha would benefit from approved proposals for transit projects in 14 small urban areas and 32 non-urbanized areas around Wisconsin. Approval is a major step in securing the portion of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding that has been appropriated for the state. The projects total nearly $34.5 million.

“Investments that make travel safer, easier and more affordable will not only improve our quality of life, they will help get our economy back on track,” Governor Doyle said. “Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, we have the opportunity to make strategic improvements to our infrastructure that will help get people to work and will add lasting value to our economy.”    » read more »

April 21, 2009 -- MADISON - Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle today announced $1.7 million in grants to protect and enhance Wisconsin’s coastal communities. The Governor awarded 37 grants that will be used by nonprofit organizations, as well as local, state, and tribal governments to assist with projects totaling nearly $4 million.

“The Great Lakes are an important economic, cultural and natural resource in Wisconsin,” Governor Doyle said. “Caring for Lake Michigan and Lake Superior is essential to the well-being of the state. The support to these local organizations will help us to protect our coastal resources. Because of their efforts, the integrity of our lakes will be maintained for future generations.”    » read more »

April 20, 2009 -- MADISON -- Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle announced today that he has approved proposals for transit projects in 14 small urban areas and 32 non-urbanized areas around Wisconsin. Approval is a major step in securing the portion of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding that has been appropriated for the state. The projects total nearly $34.5 million.

“Investments that make travel safer, easier and more affordable will not only improve our quality of life, they will help get our economy back on track,” Governor Doyle said. “Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, we have the opportunity to make strategic improvements to our infrastructure that will help get people to work and will add lasting value to our economy.”    » read more »

April 17, 2009 -- MADISON – Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle today announced Wisconsin has received $38 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds to help dislocated workers, youth and people with disabilities find jobs and join in revitalizing Wisconsin’s economy.

“With these funds, we will expand existing job services and take new steps to help our unemployed workers get back on their feet,” Governor Doyle said. “In these difficult times, the Recovery Act provides hope and opportunity for Wisconsin’s working families hard hit by the prolonged national recession. We can better serve youth, putting them on career paths to jobs of the future.”    » read more »

April 14, 2009 -- MADISON – Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle today announced $1.73 million in economic recovery funds to support clean diesel projects, stimulating the state’s economy, creating jobs, reducing diesel emissions and protecting human health.

“With wise use of funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Wisconsin will continue to build upon the successes of our clean energy efforts,” Governor Doyle said. “These clean diesel funds will help create jobs, boost the economy, increase fleet efficiencies and help battle ozone issues – making our air cleaner. Providing technologies to fleets will help stabilize the budgets of local businesses and provide opportunities to create jobs for vendors and manufacturers.”    » read more »

Phase I of proposed projects would link Chicago, St. Louis

April 14, 2009 -- JEFFERSON CITY - Missouri Governor Jay Nixon and the governors of seven other Midwestern states have joined in support of high-speed passenger rail projects to link cities in their region, with Chicago as the hub. The governors, along with Chicago Mayor Richard Daley, have sent a letter to U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood asking him to support plans that have been in place for several years for key rail corridors between cities in their states, including St. Louis to Chicago.    » read more »

Bipartisan Group Supports Milwaukee to Madison Route in First Phase of Project

April 13, 2009 -- MADISON – In a letter to U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle, seven other Midwestern governors and Chicago Mayor Richard Daley joined in bipartisan support of a high-speed rail network that links cities around the region builds the economy and introduces a new vision for intercity passenger rail. Milwaukee would be connected to Madison and Chicago as part of the first phase of the system.    » read more »