Gov. Scott Walker
Governor Scott Walker says a report that his Democratic opponent’s jobs plans includes text copied from proposals offered by candidates for governor in other states “doesn’t change much” about the real discussions of the campaign.
Democrat Mary Burke’s campaign says a consultant who worked on the jobs plan is responsible for the text, which was the same or similar to paragraphs found in campaign plans offered by Delaware Governor Jack Markell in 2008, Ward Cammack of Tennessee in 2009, and John Gregg of Indiana in 2012. The consultant, Eric Schnurer, had also worked with those candidates. Burke’s campaign says it has cut all ties with Schnurer, following the revelations.
During a stop in the Green Bay area on Friday, Governor Walker said “it was disappointing to hear” about the situation. Still, Walker said he would rather be “talking about the positives of our plan, rather than who may or may not have been involved in writing our opponent’s plan.”
AUDIO: Gov. Scott Walker (:11)
Burke’s campaign notes that she worked with a variety of experts in putting together her jobs plan. Walker admitted that’s it not unusual to use ideas from other politicians, but said it’s typically to give those individuals credit. He pointed to his “Better Bottom Line” proposal announced in his State of the State Address, which originated with Governor Jack Markell. Walker says he asked Markell in advance about using the term and acknowledged its origins in his speech.
WTAQ