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As Gov. Tony Evers delivered his second State of the State address to lawmakers Wednesday, I positioned myself to the right of the Democrat’s podium, squeezing between a television camera and a cold marble wall.

Most members of the press arrived a few hours before the 7 p.m. speech to claim a perch. Mine offered a side view of the governor and a front-row view of the Legislature. Once there, I could not move for the duration of the speech in which Evers proposed to aid struggling dairy farmers and create a commission to redraw political maps free of gerrymandering.

As members of the Assembly and Senate entered the room, many hugged or shook hands with State Treasurer Sarah Godlewski, Attorney General Josh Kaul and State Superintendent Carolyn Stanford Taylor. They sat about eight inches in front of me. Republicans and Democrats hugged and glad-handed across the aisle at a time when they are struggling to find common ground in addressing Wisconsin’s biggest challenges.

I looked for moments that captured the spirit of the pomp and circumstance of the event and any camaraderie between all those lawmakers gathered in one place.

Here is what I saw.

The nonprofit Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism (wisconsinwatch.org) collaborates with Wisconsin Public Radio, PBS Wisconsin, other news media and the UW-Madison School of Journalism and Mass Communication. All works created, published, posted or disseminated by the Center do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of UW-Madison or any of its affiliates.

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Photo Essay: Pomp, circumstance and proposals as Gov. Tony Evers delivers State of the State

by Coburn Dukehart / Wisconsin Watch, Wisconsin Watch
January 23, 2020

<h1>Photo Essay: Pomp, circumstance and proposals as Gov. Tony Evers delivers State of the State</h1> <p class="byline">by Coburn Dukehart / Wisconsin Watch, Wisconsin Watch <br />January 23, 2020</p> <p>As Gov. Tony Evers delivered his second State of the State address to lawmakers Wednesday, I positioned myself to the right of the Democrat's podium, squeezing between a television camera and a cold marble wall.</p> <p>Most members of the press arrived a few hours before the 7 p.m. speech to claim a perch. Mine offered a side view of the governor and a front-row view of the Legislature. Once there, I could not move for the duration of the speech in which <a href="https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/2020/01/22/state-state-tony-evers-calls-gop-work-him-agenda/4541994002/">Evers proposed</a> to aid struggling dairy farmers and create a commission to redraw political maps free of gerrymandering.</p> <p>As members of the Assembly and Senate entered the room, many hugged or shook hands with State Treasurer Sarah Godlewski, Attorney General Josh Kaul and State Superintendent Carolyn Stanford Taylor. They sat about eight inches in front of me. Republicans and Democrats hugged and glad-handed across the aisle at a time when they are struggling to find common ground in addressing Wisconsin's biggest challenges. </p> <p>I looked for moments that captured the spirit of the pomp and circumstance of the event and any camaraderie between all those lawmakers gathered in one place.</p> <p>Here is what I saw.</p> <figure class="wp-block-image alignwide size-full is-style-default"><img src="https://wisconsinwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/state_of_the_state_2020_02-scaled.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-893261" /><figcaption>Attorney General Josh Kaul is seen with State Treasurer Sarah Godlewski and State Superintendent Carolyn Stanford Taylor before Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers delivered his second State of the State address on Jan. 22, 2020 at the State Capitol in Madison, Wis.</figcaption></figure> <figure class="wp-block-image alignwide size-full is-style-default"><img src="https://wisconsinwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/state_of_the_state_2020_03-scaled.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-893263" /><figcaption>Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Brian Hagedorn is seen before Gov. Tony Evers delivered his second State of the State address on Jan. 22, 2020 at the State Capitol in Madison, Wis.</figcaption></figure> <figure class="wp-block-image alignwide size-full is-style-default"><img src="https://wisconsinwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/state_of_the_state_2020_04a-scaled.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-893264" /><figcaption>Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes hugs State Treasurer Sarah Godlewski, while State Superintendent Carolyn Stanford Taylor looks on. They are seen before Gov. Tony Evers delivered his second State of the State address on January 22, 2020 at the State Capitol in Madison, Wis.</figcaption></figure> <figure class="wp-block-image alignwide size-full is-style-default"><img src="https://wisconsinwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/state_of_the_state_2020_05-scaled.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-893265" /><figcaption>Rabbi Hannah Wallick of the Milwaukee Jewish Federation offers a prayer before Gov. Tony Evers delivered his second State of the State address on Jan. 22, 2020 at the State Capitol in Madison, Wis.</figcaption></figure> <figure class="wp-block-image alignwide size-full is-style-default"><img src="https://wisconsinwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/state_of_the_state_2020_06-scaled.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-893268" /><figcaption>Legislators listen as Rabbi Hannah Wallick of the Milwaukee Jewish Federation offers a prayer before Gov. Tony Evers delivered his State of the State address on Jan. 22, 2020 at the State Capitol in Madison, Wis.</figcaption></figure> <figure class="wp-block-image alignwide size-full is-style-default"><img src="https://wisconsinwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/state_of_the_state_2020_06a-scaled.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-893269" /><figcaption>Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes is seen before Gov. Tony Evers delivered his second State of the State address on Jan. 22, 2020 at the State Capitol in Madison, Wis.</figcaption></figure> <figure class="wp-block-image alignwide size-full is-style-default"><img src="https://wisconsinwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/state_of_the_state_2020_07-scaled.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-893270" /><figcaption>Marlon WhiteEagle, president of the Ho-Chunk Nation, receives recognition before Gov. Tony Evers' State of the State address on Jan. 22, 2020 at the State Capitol in Madison, Wis.</figcaption></figure> <figure class="wp-block-image alignwide size-full is-style-default"><img src="https://wisconsinwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/state_of_the_state_2020_08-scaled.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-893273" /><figcaption>Gov. Tony Evers gives his second State of the State address at the State Capitol on Jan. 22, 2020 in Madison, Wis. He addressed a joint meeting of the Assembly and the Senate.</figcaption></figure> <figure class="wp-block-image alignwide size-full is-style-default"><img src="https://wisconsinwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/state_of_the_state_2020_09-scaled.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-893274" /><figcaption>From left: Speaker Pro Tem Rep. Tyler August, R-Lake Geneva, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, and President of the Senate Roger Roth, R-Appleton are seen during Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers' second State of the State address on Jan. 22, 2020 at the State Capitol in Madison, Wis.</figcaption></figure> <figure class="wp-block-image alignwide size-full is-style-default"><img src="https://wisconsinwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/state_of_the_state_2020_10-scaled.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-893275" /><figcaption>Gov. Tony Evers gives his second State of the State address in Madison, Wis., at the State Capitol on Jan. 22, 2020. Here, many members of the Legislature clap.</figcaption></figure> <figure class="wp-block-image alignwide size-full is-style-default"><img src="https://wisconsinwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/state_of_the_state_2020_11-scaled.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-893276" /><figcaption>Assembly Minority Leader Gordon Hintz, D-Oshkosh, claps during Gov. Tony Evers' second State of the State address on Jan. 22, 2020 at the State Capitol in Madison, Wis.</figcaption></figure> <figure class="wp-block-image alignwide size-full is-style-default"><img src="https://wisconsinwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/state_of_the_state_2020_12-scaled.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-893277" /><figcaption>Members of the UW Marching Band perform in the Assembly Chambers after Gov. Tony Evers' State of the State Address on Jan. 20, 2020 in Madison, Wis.</figcaption></figure> <figure class="wp-block-image alignwide size-full is-style-default"><img src="https://wisconsinwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/state_of_the_state_2020_12a-scaled.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-893278" /><figcaption>A member of the UW Marching Band plays the cymbals in the Assembly Chambers after Gov. Tony Evers' State of the State Address on Jan. 20, 2020 in Madison, Wis.</figcaption></figure> <figure class="wp-block-image alignwide size-full is-style-default"><img src="https://wisconsinwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/state_of_the_state_2020_13-scaled.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-893279" /><figcaption>Sen. Patrick Testin, R-Stevens Point, left, talks with Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, after Gov. Tony Evers' second State of the State address on Jan. 22, 2020 at the State Capitol in Madison, Wis.</figcaption></figure> <figure class="wp-block-image alignwide size-full is-style-default"><img src="https://wisconsinwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/state_of_the_state_2020_14-scaled.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-893280" /><figcaption>Second from left, State Treasurer Sarah Godlewski and Sen. Chris Larson, D-Milwaukee, talk with Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Rebecca Dallet after Gov. Tony Evers' second State of the State address on Jan. 22, 2020 at the State Capitol in Madison, Wis.</figcaption></figure> <p><em>The nonprofit Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism (<a href="https://wisconsinwatch.org">wisconsinwatch.org</a>) collaborates with Wisconsin Public Radio, PBS Wisconsin, other news media and the UW-Madison School of Journalism and Mass Communication. All works created, published, posted or disseminated by the Center do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of UW-Madison or any of its affiliates.</em></p> <p>This <a target="_blank" href="https://wisconsinwatch.org/2020/01/photo-essay-governor-evers-state-of-the-state/">article</a> first appeared on <a target="_blank" href="https://wisconsinwatch.org">Wisconsin Watch</a> and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.<img src="https://i0.wp.com/wisconsinwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/cropped-WCIJ_IconOnly_FullColor_RGB-1.png?fit=150%2C150&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1" style="width:1em;height:1em;margin-left:10px;"><img id="republication-tracker-tool-source" src="https://wisconsinwatch.org/?republication-pixel=true&post=893164&amp;ga4=G-D2S69Y9TDB" style="width:1px;height:1px;"></p> Copy to Clipboard

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