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Scott Walker vs. Reality

Governor paints artificially rosy picture of economy in State of the State address.

MADISON –This evening, Governor Scott Walker presented his annual State of the State address. In his address, Walker painted a rosy picture of the current state of affairs in Wisconsin, contradicting recent economic indicators and jobs numbers.

Most recently, Wisconsin dropped to a rank of 42nd in the nation on private-sector job growth.

“It has been 2 years since Scott Walker promised the voters of Wisconsin 250,000 new jobs, yet our state’s economy has taken steps backward and now ranks among the worst in the nation for job creation and economic development. Tonight, Scott Walker ignored reality, painting an artificially rosy picture in his 2013 ‘State of the State’ address,” said United Wisconsin Executive Director Lisa Subeck.

Walker’s statement, “With bold vision and bright hope for the future, we are turning things around. We are heading in the right direction. We are moving Wisconsin forward,” is patently false. The non-partisan fact-checking organization PolitiFact reports that only 37,011 jobs have been created in Wisconsin under Scott Walker’s leadership, making it evident that Walker will not come close to his campaign centerpiece promise of creating 250,000 jobs in the state.

Adding to this bleak economic picture, a recent comment made by Lisa Johnson, vice president of entrepreneurship and innovation with Walker’s scandal-ridden Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) makes it clear Wisconsin is failing under Scott Walker’s leadership.

Johnson, speaking candidly with The Capital Times, stated “We suck. We’re bad,” in response to a question about Wisconsin’s ranking of 47th in the nation on Information Technology and Innovation Foundation’s New Economy Index.

“The divide between Scott Walker’s reality and the reality experienced by most Wisconsinites has grown so large that even 250,000 jobs could not bridge it,” Subeck concluded. “Walker’s brand of hyper-partisan and ideologically driven leadership has failed the people of Wisconsin at every turn. Instead of moving our state forward, Walker has made Wisconsin a laboratory for extreme right-wing policies at the expense of our great state.”

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United Wisconsin is an independent, grassroots organization of citizens restoring the Wisconsin tradition of democracy in action. For more information, visit our website at www.unitedwisconsin.com.

Jenna March 27, 2013 at 06:50 pm
That $154 million surplus that you were told about by the Secretary of the Department of Administration, Mike Huebsch?
The one which includes $78 million of kicking the can down the road by taking on new debt? The one that includes $26 million of raided mortgage settlement funds? How much does that leave of actual surplus? $50 million. How much is the statutory minimum amount that the general fund needs to have in it at the end of each fiscal year? $65 million. Oops.
Jenna March 27, 2013 at 06:54 pm
Thank Bush for the huge deficit Steve.
Jenna March 27, 2013 at 06:56 pm
The state took three actions in the past year to avoid making debt payments coming due…
In the past year, the administration has issued additional debt to avoid payments on approximately $558.3 million in principal that would have otherwise been paid off. Refinancing these debt payments to simply avoid making the payments has added $714,398,748 additional principal and interest to the debt load in coming years. This new debt is not expected to be paid off until 2030-31…. There is no budget surplus. Busted. ---
Jenna March 27, 2013 at 06:57 pm
Baaaa...Steve the herd is calling you
CowDung March 27, 2013 at 07:00 pm
Are you claiming that there cannot be a budget surplus until all debts are paid off?
Jenna March 27, 2013 at 07:04 pm
Steve...quit wasting everyone's time...you do not know what you are talking about. In Walker's Wizard of Oz, the Tin Man gets a heart, the Lion gets courage and you get a brain.
Jenna March 27, 2013 at 07:09 pm
CowDung...I know where you are going with this but it isn't that simple. Yes, businesses run with acceptable amounts of debt and a state can as well. However, Walker has not been transparent about debt...that is the issue. The vast majority of WI has NO idea how much debt in interest payments Walker has taken on. Nor do I think Wisconsinites would agree with the amount, especially since Walker will not agree to finish his term should he win 2014 - meaning someone else will have to clean up Walker's mess just like they are still doing in Milwaukee County.
Jenna March 27, 2013 at 07:12 pm
That is dishonest. Walker us making bad fiscal decisions, which he criticized Doyle for. He also runs with the think if the next generation in regards to debt, yet he is accumulating big amounts of debt. Walker is a hypocrite...that is the problem.
Jenna March 27, 2013 at 07:17 pm
Steve - Is Walker borrowing $1 Billion moving forward? Especially when he won't be here to clean up the mess? Brookfield is now just starting to get a clue to Walker's failure. A big deficit with a dose of fees or tax increases or both. And Walker can go on his I am bold tour, claiming he didn't raise taxes. Brookfield did. Wow...that is courageous.
Steve ® March 27, 2013 at 07:39 pm
Bush was running around a manageable $500 billion deficit. Obama added $1 trillion to that number to make it $1.5 trillion per year, and kept it around there since.
The blaming bush boat has sailed, nice try though lie informed.
CowDung March 27, 2013 at 07:44 pm
According to your 'sunshine' report you keep posting, the FY2013 state debt total is less than the prior year's approximately debt total of $81,154,800,000. We are heading in the correct direction...
Read more: http://sunshinereview.org/index.php/Wisconsin_state_budget#ixzz2Om7CUsxs
Jenna March 27, 2013 at 08:05 pm
Still a huge amount of debt and growing. If you like debt, don't call yourself a fiscal conservative.
CowDung March 27, 2013 at 08:06 pm
If the debt for FY 2013 is smaller than the debt for FY 2012, how can it be growing?
Jenna March 27, 2013 at 08:08 pm
The Bush wars were unfunded. Nice try Greg. Obama has created some economic recovery, unemployment is down. Good indicators. Far better than Bush. The best by far was Clinton. Would love to get Hillary. She will kick Walker's butt the way she schooled Dumb Ron Johnson. Can't wait!
Jenna March 27, 2013 at 08:11 pm
The debt projections for FY2015 are significantly higher. Granted, FY2013 is lower than FY2012, but not by much.
FY2015 is when the Walker reforms will come crashing down.
Jenna March 27, 2013 at 08:14 pm
Cow, why do you defend bad fiscal policy? I've read some of your comments on unions...have to say you are wrong. I just to think removing unions leads to rewarding performance but it doesn't when the money isn't there to begin with.
Jenna March 27, 2013 at 08:18 pm
And Greg...I never responded to your rants about me...get over yourself. You are not special. Just another hick trying to turn WI into a hillbilly state. Good luck with that. I'll keep the great teachers and education we have. If you don't like it...move.
Jenna March 27, 2013 at 08:19 pm
Cow, do you have a better report????
WEACHATER March 27, 2013 at 08:44 pm
Jenna You need to take your ADHD meds. You are a complete wack job.
Steve ® March 27, 2013 at 09:30 pm
Don't do drugs kids.
CowDung March 27, 2013 at 09:39 pm
There's a much better chance of performance being rewarded than with the union system. How did you determine that the money isn't there? They currently have the money to give across the board raises in accordance to union contracts, they likely can find the money to give bonus pay or bigger raises to those who are deserving.
CowDung March 27, 2013 at 09:40 pm
Let's wait until they actually pass the budget before we discuss the projections. Things can change pretty drastically before everyone agrees on a budget...
Greg March 27, 2013 at 10:59 pm
What the hell are you on? I haven't posted on this blog since January 18th.
So you move, stoner! Your're the one that bitches about everything.
Greg March 27, 2013 at 11:30 pm
Run Forrest run!!!
Keith Best March 28, 2013 at 11:45 am
Fallone??? Is this the best you got? Hahahahahahaha
Keith Best March 28, 2013 at 11:49 am
Jenna sounds like she is another paid poster for OFA ,which used to be "Obama for America", then "Organizing for America", then "Obama for America" again and now "Organizing for Action".
It's all the same group of Socialists/ Marxists.
Born Free March 30, 2013 at 05:53 pm
Nationally, 26,000,000 people getting food stamps in '08
Nationally, 48,000,000 people getting food stamps in '12 under Obama and his ilk. So, how's that public union Progressivism working in the U.S.? Like sh*t, obviously. So, how's that public union Progressivism working in Europe? Like sh*t, obviously. 'FRAUD IS DISENFRANCHISING"!
The Anti-Alinsky March 30, 2013 at 07:09 pm
Uh Jenna, it's the other way around. Deficit is the difference when spending is greater than revenues. Accumulated deficits are added to debt.
The Anti-Alinsky March 30, 2013 at 07:11 pm
After 4 years, B.O. has accumulated more debt than Bush 43 did in 8.
Never underestimate the ability of a Liberal to take a bad idea and make it worse.
The Anti-Alinsky March 30, 2013 at 07:17 pm
Jenna, that $558.3 million was left over debt from Jim Doyle's budget. Basically Diamond Jim contracted services that should have been paid for in 2009-2010 and passed the payment onto the 2011-2012 budget.

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Donna Price June 17, 2013 at 08:08 am
Why not let the poor start their own gardens as a community type setting. This way they can startRead More doing things for themselves Help them to be independent form others as in "self sufficient".
Walker celebrates after defeating the liberal unionista blue fisters
Eilene Stevens June 6, 2013 at 04:56 pm
Dave, thank you for a thoughtful comment, "...privatize the gains and socialize theRead More losses" gives a lot to think about. I also wish we had looked at restructuring the tax code to cover two unfunded wars.
John Wilson June 15, 2013 at 02:02 pm
“The state is only a year out of the recall mess that stalled any real change and any outsideRead More investment.” [WI = Mississippi II] What real change has been stalled? The “Love” Gov. Walker of yours has had his way with passing austerity, Neanderthal budgets, disenfranchising voters, repealing fair wages for women, Act 10, marginally crippling unions, because they invariably support the middle class and Democratic party, putting Billions on the credit card, and then, disingenuously claiming to have “balanced the budget” and created a huge surplus as well, and now – think small government here – is moving forward with ultrasounds for all women contemplating abortion, and we cannot forget the “mine” which, will create 700 low paying permanent jobs for Wisconsinites… all of these masterful initiatives have one thing in common: they are all tied up in the courts, and will not be resolved for years, and, the taxpayers of Wisconsin are all paying for Steve’s love affair with the “Love” Gov. Walker and his serial abortions… What will you say on June 5, 2014, when WI is the same as it is today or worse? I know. “Well, it is only 2-years out of the recall mess…”
Steve ® June 15, 2013 at 06:07 pm
Cry more. Your liberal propaganda is falling on deaf ears.
Sarah Worthman (Editor) June 3, 2013 at 11:53 am
Hey there - thanks for posting! Hopefully we can find you a game! :)