By Urban Media News
Wisconsin families just can’t catch a break under Scott Walker. After three and a half years of his failed economic experiments, families struggling to keep their heads above water are not saying that they are better off now than they were four years ago. Not only are families not feeling a turnaround, the economic data doesn’t indicate things have improved either.
The most accurate and reliable jobs numbers show that over the last three years, the state continues to sit at dead last among its Midwestern neighbors and lags behind most of the nation in job creation.
According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Wisconsin reported more lackluster job creation numbers with the news that it gained just 28,753 private-sector jobs in the 12 months from March 2013 to March 2014.
Wisconsin only posted a growth of 1.2%, which is about half of the national average.
When Scott Walker ran for governor in 2010, he promised 250,000 new private-sector jobs by the end of his first term and sold the idea of economic resurgence to voters in every corner of the state. Nearly four years later, Scott Walker isn’t even halfway to his promised jobs goal and Wisconsin’s economic growth continues to lag behind the rest of the Midwest.
Since Walker took office in 2011, Wisconsin has fallen from 11th to 37th in the nation in terms of private- sector job creation. In his first term, we’ve fallen further and further behind, but what’s worse is there doesn’t seem to be any indication that things will improve with four more years with Walker as governor. From draconian budget cuts to crucial programs to big tax giveaways to those at the top and powerful special interests, Walker has justified nearly every policy decision as being crucial to encouraging job creation.
Not only does the data show the governor hasn’t created the jobs he promised, a new report from the Department of Revenue revealed a $281 million tax revenue shortfall in the recent fiscal year. The report is a telling look at the real effects of the Walker economy; the shortfall we now face demonstrates how wrong Walker’s top-down approach to governing has been in his first term. After being told for nearly four years the governor was focused on jobs and fiscal responsibility, our state is struggling to create jobs and faces a growing deficit on top of that.
Walker’s first term priorities have been misguided, fueled by political ambition instead of what’s best for the future of our state.
For families and small businesses already struggling in Walker’s “dead last” economy—who just want to get back on their feet, experience real economic security, and have a shot at the middle class—another four years of Scott Walker doesn’t look promising.
After nearly four years of stagnant economic growth due to Walker’s failed policies, the people of Wisconsin are ready for a new direction. Voters are excited about Democratic challenger Mary Burke, who leads Walker in the latest polling amongst likely voters. Burke’s jobs plan, “Invest for Success,” takes the opposite approach of Walker’s first term. Instead of slashing budgets in key areas like education and giving away tax breaks to the top, she’ll use her business experience to bring people together to come up with the best ways to transform our economy into a thriving top-ten juggernaut that can compete in the 21st century. She’ll also make sure individuals have the opportunity to gain a degree or learn crucial skills necessary to securing a job that can sustain a family.
Families can’t take another four years of Scott Walker’s failure. The latest double dose of dismal jobs numbers and a growing deficit reinforce that Mary Burke’s jobs plan, “Invest for Success,” is the thoughtful, forward-looking jobs plan Wisconsin needs right now.
