Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Scott Walker’s Announcement Speech

Here it is in full:  

Wisconsin is facing considerable challenges,—- challenges that cannot simply be dismissed as the product of a failing national economy.

Our troubles come largely from leaders who repeatedly put the interests of government before the interests of the people they are supposed to serve.

Wisconsin’s five billion dollar budget deficit is the worst in history - and one of the largest in the country. The state unemployment rate is now higher than the national rate. In the last year, Wisconsin lost 112,000 private sector jobs and we’re likely to see even more losses in the coming months.

After six years in office, Governor Jim Doyle says he’s not responsible for our current problems.

I disagree. Our budget troubles started long before the national economic meltdown.

For years, too many of the politicians in Madison ignored the looming crisis so they could continue to spend more and more taxpayer dollars.

Now their solution to soaring budget deficits and record job losses is to call for more government spending—-paid for with higher taxes on Wisconsin families and employers.

Wisconsin is facing considerable challenges,—- challenges that cannot simply be dismissed as the product of a failing national economy.

Our troubles come largely from leaders who repeatedly put the interests of government before the interests of the people they are supposed to serve.

Wisconsin’s five billion dollar budget deficit is the worst in history - and one of the largest in the country. The state unemployment rate is now higher than the national rate. In the last year, Wisconsin lost 112,000 private sector jobs and we’re likely to see even more losses in the coming months.

After six years in office, Governor Jim Doyle says he’s not responsible for our current problems.

I disagree. Our budget troubles started long before the national economic meltdown.

For years, too many of the politicians in Madison ignored the looming crisis so they could continue to spend more and more taxpayer dollars.

Now their solution to soaring budget deficits and record job losses is to call for more government spending—-paid for with higher taxes on Wisconsin families and employers.Wisconsin is facing considerable challenges,—- challenges that cannot simply be dismissed as the product of a failing national economy.

Our troubles come largely from leaders who repeatedly put the interests of government before the interests of the people they are supposed to serve.

Wisconsin’s five billion dollar budget deficit is the worst in history - and one of the largest in the country. The state unemployment rate is now higher than the national rate. In the last year, Wisconsin lost 112,000 private sector jobs and we’re likely to see even more losses in the coming months.

After six years in office, Governor Jim Doyle says he’s not responsible for our current problems.

I disagree. Our budget troubles started long before the national economic meltdown.

For years, too many of the politicians in Madison ignored the looming crisis so they could continue to spend more and more taxpayer dollars.

Now their solution to soaring budget deficits and record job losses is to call for more government spending—-paid for with higher taxes on Wisconsin families and employers.  While people all across the state tighten their belts to make it through this recession, Governor Doyle wants to increase state spending by nearly 10%.

Governor Doyle’s tax increases have already contributed to the loss of hundreds of good paying jobs.

A week ago, Wisconsin’s own Harley-Davidson announced that they will lay off up to 400 more workers. One major reason for these layoffs is a tax increase approved by the Governor earlier this year.

But it’s not just higher taxes that are costing us jobs. When Governor Doyle demonstrates a lack of interest in the problems facing employers, it sends a clear message that Wisconsin is not the best place to do business.

Recently, Thomas Industries was deciding whether to stay in Sheboygan or move their workforce to Louisiana. Governor Doyle couldn’t find the time to fight for good paying jobs right here in Wisconsin. Instead, he left the final presentation to a low level bureaucrat while he took a trip to Spain.

In contrast, Louisiana’s Governor personally worked with the company and put together an incentive package that convinced officials to move some 280 jobs out of Wisconsin to Louisiana.

These job losses are devastating for a place like Sheboygan which already has one of the highest unemployment rates in the state.

And while families, retirees and employers are barely able to get by, Governor Doyle wants to raise our taxes by nearly $3 billion.

His budget will significantly increase the cost of living for people of all income levels; raising property taxes, gas taxes, hospital stays, car insurance rates and even nursing home costs. These are increases that working families, seniors and employers cannot afford.

I remember the last time Wisconsin faced a similar situation. It was the early 1980s. We were in a recession and the state had a huge budget deficit.

Then, as now, the Governor believed in balancing the budget with big tax increases - and it made things worse. In fact, so many jobs left the state that the Governor of Illinois put up billboards that read, “When the last business leaves Wisconsin, please turn off the lights.”

History doesn’t have to repeat itself. I’ve traveled thousands of miles around this state and I’ve seen hard working people, decent employers and outstanding natural resources. I know we can build a better Wisconsin.

That’s why today I am announcing my candidacy for Governor of the great State of Wisconsin. I believe in Wisconsin.

I believe in a state that places the education of its children above the needs of the special interests and a state where parental involvement in a child’s education is celebrated.

I want to build a Wisconsin where students are given affordable options for learning beyond high school.

I want to live in a state where hardworking families can access quality and affordable healthcare – not through big government bureaucracy – but through market-based solutions like competition, transparency, and tax incentives.

I see a state that attracts hard working people and new entrepreneurs – instead of going back to the days when Wisconsin was a magnet for welfare migration and a haven for frivolous lawsuits.

It is not enough to tinker around the edges of failed public policies that drive jobs, qualified workers and retirees from our state.

I believe in change that will take our state in a new direction, change that is founded on the principles of limited government, economic growth and personal freedom.

These are simple principles - simple, but not easy. There have been countless times during my tenure as County Executive, when it might have been easier to abandon these principles in favor of a more politically expedient solution, but I campaigned on a pledge to spend the taxpayers’ money as if it were my own. I kept that pledge and I will do it again if given the chance to serve as your Governor.

For the next year and a half, I plan to travel our state and share my message of a better future with the voters. But more importantly, I plan to listen. Because this campaign isn’t about me. It’s about all of us. And it’s about the conversation that we should be able to have with our elected officials. I want to hear your stories. I want you to share with me what you expect from your government.

I encourage everyone to visit my website, www.scottwalker.org to share your ideas for rebuilding our economy, creating a first class education system, making Wisconsin attractive to retirees and putting an end to wasteful spending. Throughout this campaign, my website will be a virtual town hall, where voters have an opportunity to share their stories and hold our leaders accountable.

Real leadership means sticking to your principles even when it’s not politically popular. That’s exactly the kind of leadership we need to get our great state working again.

Governor Doyle’s policies will turn back the clock to the hopelessness of the past. I am running for governor because I’m not satisfied with the direction our state is headed - and neither are the people of Wisconsin.

Thankfully, the problems we face are not entirely out of our control. With the right leadership, we can build a better and brighter future for Wisconsin.

I am running for Governor because I believe in a better Wisconsin and I know that you do too.

Today, I ask you to join with me as we build a Wisconsin we can believe in again.

(11) Comments
Posted by Owen at 1208 hrs
Politics + Politics - Wisconsin

  1. Got my first Walker robocall at 9:34AM today.  And the election is a year and a half away?

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on April 28, 2009 at 1301 hrs


  2. Walker will bow out of the race by this time next year.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on April 28, 2009 at 1511 hrs


  3. Basic question.  Can he still keep the Country Executive seat while campaigning and fall back on it if he loses the primary to Mark N.?  Or if he loses the general election to Doyle?

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on April 28, 2009 at 1751 hrs


  4. Yes.  In fact, I believe he could be Governor AND County Executive if he wanted to be.

    Posted by Owen on April 28, 2009 at 1831 hrs


  5. MHT I got one from him last Friday already reminding me of his announcement stops around the state today.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on April 28, 2009 at 1956 hrs


  6. Steve Austin, did you ask the same question to Obama?  Yeah right, didn’t think so.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on April 29, 2009 at 0006 hrs


  7. Scott Walker has never held a real job outside of elected office.  Never finished college.  Comes from Milwaukee -despised by the outlier counties around the state.

    That’s a pile of baggage.

    Mark Neuman’s going to cream him.

    Posted by Swamp Gas on April 29, 2009 at 0849 hrs


  8. Scott Walker has never held a real job outside of elected office.

    Was he elected to his jobs at IBM and the Red Cross?

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on April 29, 2009 at 1013 hrs


  9. Was he elected to his jobs at IBM and the Red Cross?

    Yeah - you’re right.

    He did those very short stints before spending most of his life running for various offices.

    I should have said:  Career Politician

    I’m just saying that outside of Milwaukee County folks don’t harbor the same fuzzy feelings for Scott.

    Besides - Neuman’s got a better resume.

    Posted by Swamp Gas on April 29, 2009 at 1330 hrs


  10. Maybe, but way outstate it’s not an issue of people hating Walker/Milwaukee, it’s an issue of them not knowing who he is.

    He was in Hudson a month of so ago, and the comments on the local article were filled with “who?” questions.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on April 29, 2009 at 1614 hrs


  11. I like Scott, but if he couldn’t beat Mark Green 4 years ago, how’s he gonna beat Doyle? Answer: I don’t think he will.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on April 29, 2009 at 1957 hrs


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