UW-Madison experts available to media to discuss State of the State

Gov. Scott Walker is scheduled to give his first State of the State address to the Legislature on Tuesday, Feb. 1. UW–Madison has a number of experts who can discuss the speech and some of the issues Walker has focused on in the first two months in office:

• Dennis Dresang, emeritus professor of political science, is an expert on Wisconsin politics and can discuss how Walker’s message compares with previous Wisconsin governors. Contact: dresang@lafollette.wisc.edu, 608-238-8714.
• Michael Flaherty, senior lecturer of life sciences communication and former state Capitol reporter in Wisconsin, is an expert on the media and public relations and its role in public dialogue and can discuss how Walker’s approach to delivering the speech differs from that of past Wisconsin governors. Contact info: mjflaher@wisc.edu, 608-332-5200.
• Charles Franklin, professor of political science, is an expert on public opinion and can discuss how the speech could affect Wisconsin voters and members of the state Legislature. Contact info: franklin@polisci.wisc.edu, 608-235-1960.
• Andrew Reschovsky, professor of public affairs and applied economics for the La Follette School of Public Affairs, can talk about the state budget and efforts to reduce the state’s estimated $3.1 billion deficit. Contact: reschovsky@lafollette.wisc.edu, 608-263-0447.
• Peter Carstensen, professor of law, is an expert on torts and insurance and can discuss Walker’s plans for tort reform in the state of Wisconsin. Contact info: pccarste@wisc.edu, 608-263-7416.
• Kathy Cramer Walsh, associate professor of political science and a faculty research scholar with Morgridge Center for Public Service, is an expert on civic engagement and political communication who can discuss the speech as a tool for communicating with the public. Walsh can also weigh in on the discussions about civility in public discourse sparked by the Arizona shooting of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. Contact: kwalsh2@wisc.edu, 608-265-3679. Note: Walsh is only available for comment in the days leading up to the speech, not after.