May 25, 2013

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Walker criticized for speaking engagements

May 24, 2013 By

Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chair Mike Tate says Governor Scott Walker is abandoning his current job as he campaigns for his next job and, he says, Walker’s denials about a potential bid for the White House is insulting.

“You know, look, I think that it is insulting to the average person’s intelligence for Scott Walker to pretend he’s not running for president. He’s traveling around the country; he’s spending time in early states like Iowa and South Carolina; he’s writing a book.”

Walker downplays speculation about a presidential bid in 2016, saying he’s focused on being governor — a job people elected him to do “not once, but twice.” That’s a reference to surviving a recall election.

Walker tells the crowd in Iowa Thursday night, “I think we need to be more optimistic,” he said. “I think we need to speak in terms that are more relevant and I think we need to be more courageous.”

Tate calls Walker’s high-profile speaking engagements “purely irresponsible” at a time when Wisconsin’s economy is hurting so badly. “His flagship agency, the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, is the cornerstone of his promise to create 250,000 jobs, but it’s rife with scandal and mismanagement. Rather than rolling up his sleeves and getting to work and addressing the problem, he’s off traipsing around the country.”

The most current federal jobs numbers show Wisconsin ranks 44th in the nation in job creation, which Tate points out is down from 11th when Walker took office. Tate says the more time Walker spends outside Wisconsin abdicating his responsibility just makes him more vulnerable to being beaten in the next gubernatorial election.

Walker was invited by Iowa’s governor to speak to party activists. Walker had said, “It’s an easy trip. I can still put a good day’s work in and get over to Iowa.”

The Democrats currently have no one in mind to run for governor in 2014 to challenge Walker, but Tate is confident they’ll have a great candidate, he says, whether it’s someone who is an elected official or someone working in the private sector creating jobs.

Filed Under: Budget, Elections, News, Politics & Government

Walker fuels speculation in Iowa

May 24, 2013 By

Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker fueled speculation about his presidential aspirations with a speech in Iowa Thursday night. Walker spoke of his childhood years in Iowa, made sure the audience knew he is among nation’s younger governors, touted his victory in that contentious recall election, and offered a “pathway” for his party in 2014 and beyond.

“I think we need to be more optimistic,” he said. “I think we need to speak in terms that are more relevant and I think we need to be more courageous.” According to Walker, that’s the best way to “contrast” the GOP message against Democrats.

“As much as I would have liked to have see a different president, I don’t get too caught up in just one election because I think the American people are bigger and greater than just what happens in one election,” Walker said. “I’m optimistic about the future because I think we can head down the right path.” And Walker suggested his ideas should be tried out “nationally.”

Craig Robinson, a long-time Iowa GOP insider, said last night’s full house shows there’s a lot of interest in Walker as a presidential candidate. “He’s gone through a political gauntlet that is very similar to a presidential campaign and none of the other candidates of 2016 have any experience in doing anything like that and so I think he’s a very formidable candidate should he choose to run,” Robinson says. About 600 Republicans from central Iowa gathered for the fundraiser. Walker, who spoke to the crowd for about 40 minutes, is the second potential Republican presidential candidate to make a trip to Iowa this month.

 O. Kay Henderson, Radio Iowa

Filed Under: Elections, News, Politics & Government

Coalition urges opposition for rent-to-own change

May 23, 2013 By
Rep. Hintz (PHOTO: WRN)

Rep. Hintz (PHOTO: WRN)

As the legislature’s Joint Finance Committee is set to take up a proposal today that would exempt rent-to-own companies from the state’s Consumer Act, a coalition of Democrats and activists gather to urge its removal from Governor Walker’s budget proposal. Rep. Gordon Hintz (D-Oshkosh) said, under the budget provision, rent-to-owns would no longer have to disclose their APRs or comply with a number of current transparency requirements.

“The rent-to-own industry largely preys on low-income consumers,” added Rep. Jon Richards (D-Milwaukee). “The proposal in the budget makes it easier for these corporations to trap people in a spiral of debt.” Richards is among JFC members who have promised to vote to remove the policy item from the budget.

Another finance committee member, Rep. Cory Mason (D-Racine), talked about rent-to-own changes being slipped into previous budgets under Governors Doyle and McCallum. Mason cited the “bi-partisan consensus” in removing it from past budgets. He said there is bi-partisan support this time around but the real test will be JFC’s vote later today.

The industry maintains that it provides a valuable service to consumers who have a hard time obtaining credit or who want to be able to opt out of making a purchase by using a lease.

Filed Under: Business, News, Politics & Government

Walker will get spotlight in Iowa

May 23, 2013 By

He insists he’s not running for president, but Governor Scott Walker will be in Iowa Thursday at an event that’s seen appearances by previous Republican presidential hopefuls. Walker will be featured – along with Iowa Governor Terry Branstad – at the annual Spring Dinner hosted by the Polk County Republican Party.

And while Walker has steered clear of any presidential speculation, event organizer Cam Sutton isn’t shy about his feelings. “Just speaking for myself and I guess speaking for a lot of other people in Iowa, we all think he would be a great conservative leader in Washington,” Sutton said. “The last real conservative we had was Ronald Reagan, and a lot of what Governor Walker talks about and does mirrors what Ronald Reagan did. So we would not be unhappy if he decides to throw his hat in the ring.”

Sutton said Walker will be in Iowa because Branstand is holding a fundraiser for him, and he agreed to attend the Polk County GOP event in West Des Moines afterwards. He doesn’t expect Walker will face any tough questions from fellow Republicans in West Des Moines – and he has a somewhat opaque view of Walker’s situation in Wisconsin. “My understanding is that Governor Walker’s done quite well with regards to creating jobs,” he said. “I think his promise was 250,000 or something like that when he took office. And I’m not sure where he’s at in the process, but I think he’s prevented a lot of jobs from leaving the state.”

Speculation about Walker’s presidential aspirations has intensified recently with Walker on the road. The governor was in Connecticut Monday night, addressing Republicans there on his efforts to remake government and take on public employee unions.

Republican presidential hopefuls have spoken at the dinner in the past, including 2012 GOP presidential prospects Newt Gingrich and Michele Bachmann.

 

Filed Under: Featured Story, News, Politics & Government

Petition pushes back on voucher expansion (AUDIO)

May 23, 2013 By
PHOTO WRN

PHOTO WRN

Expansion of the voucher school program continues to be the single most contentious issue within the state budget process, and Democrats in the legislature are continuing to push back on the proposal. On Wednesday opponents of the plan delivered more than 16,800 signatures, asking for removal of voucher school expansion from the state budget. Representative Sondy Pope and Lydia Oakleaf, a 7th grader at Madison’s Crestwood Elementary, pulled a red wagon laden with papers.

AUDIO: Lydia Oakleaf (:60)

Governor Scott Walker wants to expand voucher schools beyond Milwaukee and Racine, to nine urban districts. At a press conference to announce the petition effort, Pope warned that he could end up getting far more. “As written, the budget language leaves open the possibility that with a few strokes of his veto pen, the governor could make statewide voucher expansion reality,” she said.

One of the target districts is Green Bay, where Denise Gaumer Hutchison is a parent. “I’m here to tell you today, schools in Green Bay are not failing,” she said. “It is inappropriate and is wrong to be saying that.” Beloit Schools Superintendent Steve McNeil was pushing back against inaccurate characterizations of his district. “Just recently we touted a graduation rate increase from one year of 86.9, to last year of 94 percent,” he said. “Unlike that number that was misrepresented by Alberta Darling on the Charlie Sykes show, saying Beloit had 40 percent graduation rate. We found it atrocious, and we fired back.”

Pope indicated that, even if schools were allowed to increase revenue limits, she wouldn’t budge on opposition to voucher expansion. “I’m not willing to cut that compromise,” she said. “The voucher expansion has got to stop, and it has to stop here.”

The petition signatures went to the offices of the governor, and Republican leaders on the legislature’s budget committee. As more signatures are gathered, they’ll be delivered electronically.

 

 

Filed Under: Budget, Children & Families, Education, News, Politics & Government
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