Talk:Jim Doyle
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Following written August 27, 2008, to be edited and merged with above
Jim Doyle, born November 23, 1945, is the 44th Governor of Wisconsin and a member of the Democratic Party. He took office in January 2003 and won reelection in 2006.
Personal Background
Jim Doyle was born in Washington, D.C. to James E. Doyle Sr and Ruth Bachhuber Doyle, founding members of the modern Democratic Party. Doyle and his three sisters were raised in Madison, Wisconsin. He attended Stanford University for three years, then returned to Madison to finish his degree at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Inspired by John F. Kennedy's call to public service, Doyle joined the Peace Corps right after college and worked as a teacher in Tunisia until 1969. In 1972, Doyle earned his Juris Doctor (J.D.) from Harvard University. He then worked in the federal legal services office in Arizona on the Navajo Indian Reservation.
In 1976, Doyle was elected as Dane County District Attorney where he served three terms. After, he spent eight years building a private practice until he was elected Attorney General in 1990. He was reelected in 1994 and 1998.
Doyle is married to to Jessica Laird Doyle and have two adopted sons, Gus and Gabe.
Governor
Doyle was sworn into office on January 6, 2003, becoming the first Democratic governor of Wisconsin since 1986.
When Doyle took office in 2003, he inherited the largest budget deficit in Wisconsin history of $3.2 billion. In his first term, Doyle balanced two straight budget while maintaining his campaign promise not to raise taxes. He also created 170,000 new jobs for Wisconsin workers and increased state exports by more than 50 percent. Wisconsin ended with a $2.15 billion deficit.
Doyle was reelected in 2006, becoming the first Democratic Governor in Wisconsin to be reelected in 32 years. He is up for reelection in 2010, and whether he will run again is still undecided.
Initiatives
Throughout his governorship, Doyle has focused on three main issues: education, health care, and state economy.
Education
Doyle is working to reduce class sizes in the early grades and expand four year old kindergarten throughout the state. He is fighting for fairer and more flexible reforms in the school funding formula. Doyle also wants to raise standards by making a third year of math and a third year of science mandatory for high school graduation.
Doyle has allowed families to deduct more of their college expenses and is on pace to triple financial aid in order to make higher education more affordable and available.
Doyle has also launched the Wisconsin Covenant, a partnership between the state, public and private higher education institutions, and students. Under the Wisconsin Covenant, every eighth grade student who agrees to stay in school, maintain a B average, and be a good citizen will be guaranteed a spot in college and a financial aid package that meets their family%u2019s needs.
As for teachers, Doyle hopes to invest in a compensation system to reward teachers who advance their skills and take on harder assignments in order to increase teacher salaries in Wisconsin which are currently the 49th lowest in the country.
Health Care
Doyle is working to make all health care premiums tax free. He has fought to save and expand SeniorCare, Wisconsin's model prescription drug program. He is also the one of the leading advocates for allowing citizens to buy safe, affordable prescription drugs from Canada. He is also expanding Family Care statewide, so that seniors and people with disabilities can get care in their own homes and communities instead of being forced into nursing homes.
In November of 2007, Doyle announced and supported federal approval given to BadgerCare Plus, a government program that grants federal health care to all children under the age of 19, as well as low income families and pregnant women in Wisconsin.
Also, in his 2008 State of the State address, Doyle also supported BadgerChoice, a health care program that will provide affordable health care to small business and their employees.
Doyle hopes to, though other reforms as well as expanding BadgerCare, make affordable health insurance available to 98 percent of Wisconsin citizens.
Economy
One of Doyle's focus throughout his two terms is job creation and boosting Wisconsin's economy.
Doyle is trying to move Wisconsin's economy toward the "high end" in agriculture, tourism, technology, and manufacturing. He has provided tax cuts and tax credits to encourage business development, expanded worker training, and implemented regulatory reformt.
Doyle hopes to attract new indusitries and jobs through investments in technology, stem cell research, and renewable energy.
Doyle also supports Majority Leader Decker's efforts to raise minimum wage, since Wisconsin is now ranked 40th in the nation.
