Gov. Scott Walker called for combining government agencies in the first State of the State address of his second term Tuesday.
MORE: Text, highlights and video of every governor's annual address.
The Republican governor also promoted school vouchers and accountability, even as it became clear Senate and Assembly Republicans had stark differences in their accountability proposals. And he jabbed the Common Core State Standards but stopped short of his past statements calling for their repeal.
Walker delivered the fast-paced, 24-minute speech amid speculation that he is preparing to launch a 2016 presidential bid. He touted the accomplishments of his first term -- including property tax cuts -- and pledged to further reduce property taxes over the next four years.
Walker's speech had few details and did not address the projected $2.2 billion budget hole facing his administration. Next week, the nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau is expected to provide an updated snapshot of state finances.
The speech focused largely on Wisconsin and had fewer references to national themes that peppered his election night victory speech and last week's inaugural address.
Walker is expected to provide details of his financial proposals in his Feb. 3 address on the 2015-17 budget.
"If you remember nothing else, remember this: more people are working, while fewer are unemployed," Walker said. "State government is more effective, more efficient and more accountable, and the state's financial condition has improved."
Senate Minority Leader Jennifer Shilling, D-La Crosse, said she felt short-changed by the brevity of the speech and the lack of details, particularly for how Republicans will address the $2.2 billion budget deficit.
"The Green Bay Packers have had offensive drives that were longer than the governor's speech," Shilling said, taking a page from Walker, who referenced the team several times Tuesday.
Walker called for merging two state agencies focused on economic development -- the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp., a public-private entity he created four years ago to replace the former state Commerce Department, and the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority.
"Our plan will put an even greater emphasis on working at the grassroots level with local, regional, and private-sector partners on economic development," Walker said.
He also called on lawmakers to combine the state Department of Financial Institutions and state Department of Safety and Professional Services into a "one-stop shop for professional and financial services."
Walker said he would call for other consolidations within existing agencies.
"I believe that government has grown too big and too intrusive in our lives and must be reined in, but the government that is left must work," Walker said. "We should demand a government that is more efficient, more effective and more accountable to the public."
Sen. Rob Cowles, R-Green Bay, said Walker downplayed the state's looming budgetary challenges "a little bit." He said merging agencies will help some, but "it's not going to save us from the difficult cuts that are coming."
"It's a challenging budget, and I think he'll admit that when he has a budget speech in a few weeks," Cowles said. "There's going to be a lot of painful cuts."
On schools, Walker said he trusts parents to choose schools for their children, foreshadowing what is expected to be his planned expansion of the taxpayer-funded voucher program. He called for a bill making it "crystal clear" no school districts should be forced to use the Common Core State Standards for math and English language arts, which they already have the discretion not to do.
Walker spoke out against "top-down regulations and mandates from the federal government" and said he was working with Attorney General Brad Schimel on a lawsuit aimed at challenging federal energy regulations.
Walker made a number of references to the Packers.
"Forgive me tonight if I'm a bit hoarse, but like most of the state, we spent a fair amount of time cheering on Sunday," Walker said. "I had plenty of fun hugging owners in the stands at Lambeau," a reference to New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's awkward hug of Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones.
The jab at Christie was one of the few nods toward Walker's growing national profile amid his consideration of a 2016 presidential bid. Another came when he referenced the recent terrorist attacks in France and promoted free speech principles.
"We need to proclaim that an attack against freedom-loving people anywhere is an attack against us all," he said.
Democrats held their applause as Walker touted the accomplishments of his first term, including his tax cuts and his controversial measure to all but end collective bargaining for most of the state's public workers.
"The Wisconsin comeback is working," Walker said. "The citizens of Wisconsin are decent and smart and hard-working -- and they are strong. Over the past four years, we put the power back into their hands."
Walker unveiled his union limits shortly after taking office in early 2011. The proposal, which came to be known as Act 10, drew tens of thousands of protesters to the Capitol. It also spurred recalls, including one targeting Walker, which he won in June 2012 -- becoming the first governor in U.S. history to survive a recall.
Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, said his caucus is "100 percent committed" to balancing the budget without raising taxes. Vos added that many of the state's agencies are decades old and can be streamlined to be more efficient and responsive to the public.
"I think the state of the state is exciting," Vos said. "I think we are poised for so many good things that are happening."
Walker is scheduled to attend a Republican National Committee event in California later this week, and he will speak at an event featuring high-profile conservatives, the Iowa Freedom Summit, later this month.
Reporter Matthew DeFour contributed to this report.
(c)2015 The Wisconsin State Journal (Madison, Wis.)
