Capitol Report
By State Representative, Leon D. Young
Leon D. Young
It was just reported over the weekend that Wisconsin taxpayers won’t pay the travel costs for Scott Walker’s political trips. On its face, this would appear to be great news.
However, a more thorough analysis of Walker’s travel itinerary conjures up some more pressing concerns.
It’s no secret that Scott Walker has every intention of running for the White House.
His recent appearances in Iowa, New Hampshire and trade missions abroad all speak to this political reality.
But, in his thirst for national office, is Scott Walker neglecting his gubernatorial responsibilities?
To say that Walker’s 2015-2017 budget is draconian would be an understatement.
Here are but a few of lowlights:
• Reduces state support for education and forces local public schools to reduce per pupil spending by $150 on average in the 2015-16 school year.
• Cuts $300 million from UW schools and forces layoffs across the state.
• Fails to fully fund the Wisconsin GI Bill which provides veterans and active duty members of the armed services with an education at UW and technical college schools.
• Cuts $15 million from SeniorCare and forces seniors to enroll in the more costly and confusing Medicare Part D prescription drug program – a move that will cost seniors nearly $700 more per year in enrollment fees.
• Limits health care access and shifts $345 million in additional costs onto state taxpayers by rejecting federal funding for BadgerCare.
• Makes dramatic changes to Wisconsin’s long-term care programs (Family Care and Iris) leaving the elderly, individuals with disabilities and their families uncertain about future care options.
• Puts $1.3 billion in transportation spending on the state’s credit card shifting more debt onto Wisconsin’s future taxpayers. Under Walker’s misguided leadership, Wisconsin lags most of the nation in job and wage growth.
And, equally disturbing, Republicans have created one of the largest budget deficits in the country – a $2.2 billion self-inflicted hole. Scott Walker is a man on a mission.
He’s busy flying around the country like some self-appointed rock star – courting the likes of billionaires Sheldon Adelson and the Koch brothers, while Milwaukee and Wisconsin go up in smoke.