US Senate candidate Tommy Thompson launches his RESTORE America plan, which includes reforming budget process and cutting wasteful spending. At a Madison news conference Monday, Thompson was questioned on his fiscal record as governor, which included inheriting a state structural deficit and departing office with one.
“I balanced a budget every time I was governor, 14 years, but I took over 2/3 the cost of education and gave the people of the state of Wisconsin a property tax cut,” he replied.
Thompson also touted the building of Wisconsin prisons during his time as governor, which has “decreased the crime rate” since he was in office.
The Republican candidate’s emphasis was his three point energy policy: build the Keystone pipeline, open new sources of oil and natural gas drilling, and expanding natural gas production by protecting the “fracking” process.
“I will fight any attempt EPA to create new federal regulation on ‘fracking’ and protect our state’s authority over these operations,” he said.
AUDIO: Thompson details his energy plan (5:25)
Thompson said he plans on rolling out economic elements of his plan in the coming weeks.
The state Democratic Party sent out a release Monday saying Thompson has a personal, financial motivation in expanding off-shore oil drilling, including heavy oil investments.
“The recent revelations about Tommy Thompson’s big oil connections show he’s deeply in the tank for these companies – the oil tank,” said Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chair Mike Tate.
The release links to a financial report hosted by Club for Growth, a conservative group which has endorsed Thompson’s Republican opponent Mark Neumann.
Assembly Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald is another Republican in the race. House Democrat Tammy Baldwin is also running for the Senate seat being vacated by Herb Kohl.
