Evers calls for hope, bipartisan unity in inaugural address

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Gov. Tony Evers plans to outline a largely liberal agenda in his second inaugural address Tuesday, while calling for working together on issues that have long divided Republicans and Democrats — including protecting abortion rights, expanding Medicaid, legalizing marijuana and fighting water pollution.

Evers and other constitutional officers elected in November, along with members of the Republican-controlled Legislature, were slated to take their oaths of office Tuesday in a day filled mostly with pomp and little substance.

In his prepared remarks, Evers said that some voters cast their ballots “feeling the weight of a republic on the brink.”

“Given the opportunity to retreat into division and doubt, Wisconsinites chose a future of unity and faith,” Evers said in his prepared remarks. “Given the opportunity to further enable cynicism and hate, Wisconsinites chose kindness and they chose hope instead.”

Evers, who spent his career as a teacher and administrator in public schools before being elected state superintendent, and then governor first in 2018, said his win served as a rejection of “the bitter politics of resentment.”

He said his victory shows that voters want to make abortions legal, fully fund public schools, conserve natural resources and expand the state's Medicaid program known as BadgerCare Plus, which Republican lawmakers have consistently blocked for years. Also, Evers said voters want to attract more workers to the state, particularly in health care; expand job training and apprenticeship programs; fight water pollution from chemicals known as PFAS; legalize marijuana; and invest in public transit and transportation alternatives.

Many of the issues Evers highlighted could find bipartisan support. But one — undoing an 1849...