With the June 5 recall election quickly approaching, I wanted to take this opportunity to clear up some misunderstandings about Mr. Scott Walker’s accomplishments as governor.
First, Walker says he balanced the budget. Well, let’s hope he did, because he’s required to by law.
Section 5, Article VIII of the Wisconsin State Constitution requires a balanced budget for a fiscal biennium, or a two-year period. Every governor has submitted a balanced budget.
Second, Walker’s supporters claim that “Walker paid off Wisconsin’s debts without raising taxes.” For many, taxes did not increase, but we are not debt free.
Gov. Walker’s budget included several measures that “refinance and restructure” debt, including delaying – or not paying – debt payments coming due, according to Sen. Kathleen Vinehout in her May 16 column.
“The Walker administration delayed paying over $500 million in debt payments. The consequence is increased principal and interest payments over the next 20 years. This action helps raise immediate cash – and makes the check book look a little better – but costs us all more in the long run and puts the state in worse financial shape by adding to the long-term debt.” Vinehout states.
Gov. Walker claims to have worked wonders with our state budget and debt, but the truth is, he didn’t.
Instead of fixing the problem, he pushed it off to future generations. He slashed $800 million from our schools and students (not just the teachers), took money from Wisconsin citizens hurt by the mortgage crisis to pay down a $143 million budget shortfall earlier this year and repealed equal pay protection legislation for women.
His actions have hurt Wisconsin. We need to look at what’s best for the future, not just what will give us fifty bucks off of our taxes.