Governor Scott Walker has kept his campaign promises thus far. Since the new law only took place five months ago, in July 2011, he has indeed achieved a great deal on behalf of Wisconsin’s financial welfare.
His plans are working, they’re saving Wisconsin tons of money, and without a tax increase. I consider this as a golden opportunity for me to share some other facts omitted by Kevin Schmoldt in the Dec. 1 County Post West. H
Some 18 Wisconsin school districts have expressed gratitude for Walker’s changes in public employee insurance health care participation, retirement participation and continued collective bargaining for only wages, and not benefits. Huge savings are being enjoyed by these 18 cities as a result of public employees paying for their benefits, nearing a par with the private sector. They are happy to be able to exercise free choice, and not be forced to participate in the union mandates in order to continue working.
One example of this is the Kaukauna school district, where class sizes are projected to decrease some 13 percent for elementary, middle and high school combined levels, and the district will move from a negative $400,000. to a positive $1.5 million. And, they will need to be hiring additional teachers as well.
As to Walker’s projected increase of 250,000 new jobs in his first term of office, he has achieved twice the national job growth in just five months. hould he not be allowed to continue this growth for the remainder of his four year term? Give him a chance to succeed.
He has extended Unemployment Compensation by 13 weeks.
Walker has turned a $3 billion deficit into a $300 Million surplus, and he cut bonding by some 20 percent.
He has protected our votes by passing photo ID.
He paid back over $60 million debt to Minnesota under the former tax reciprocity agreement with Wisconsin for college students.
Walker paid back over $200 million to Injured Patients and Families Fund.
These paybacks are money that Gov. Doyle unconstitutionally raided from the Patients’ Compensation and Transportation funds.
Walker expanded the prohibition against tax money being used to subsidize abortion.
There is surely more, but this sour grapes recall of our Governor is ridiculous. He was duly elected to serve four years. If people don’t agree with him, they should vote him out then, and not just five months into his term. In fact, I believe the recall law should be changed and limited to malfeasance and misfeasance or worse, and not for personal emotional grievances.
To be sure, I understand the old adage, “Not in my backyard” (i.e. cut costs elsewhere, but not mine), but Wisconsin was in such bad financial shape for so very many years, Governor Walker is an absolute Godsend at this time. We all need to tighten our belts and suffer a bit in order to turn this entitlement society of ours around.
Be sure to vote to keep Walker when and if the time comes next spring. Seek out the real facts before you vote.