Scott Walker's Record on
Agriculture
When It Comes to Actually Supporting Our Home State Agriculture Industry Scott Walker Is Largely Absent
As Governor of “America’s Dairyland” Scott Walker will wager a block of cheese on that our state’s sports teams will beat yours. But when it comes to actually supporting our home state agriculture industry Scott Walker is largely absent. In fact he’s pushed for massive, budget busting tax breaks for corporate mega-farms and to make it easier for foreign corporations to buy up massive tracts of family farmland.
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Dairy group uses behind-the-scenes influence with Gov. Scott Walker to shift regulation of large livestock farmsAgriculture interests are working behind the scenes with the administration of Gov. Scott Walker as he mounts a major change in the way large livestock farms are regulated in Wisconsin. The Republican governor introduced a wide-ranging rural agenda on Oct. 26 that included a proposal to shift oversight of large dairy farms and other livestock […] [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 07/07/2018]
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Detour: Wisconsin farmers cope with new bridge restrictionsNew weight restrictions were placed on nearly 200 Wisconsin bridges — most on county and town roads in the western part of the state — this spring as highway engineers try to account for the strain from newer trucks that use tightly-spaced axles to carry more weight in a smaller frame. As a result, farmers […] [La Crosse Tribune, 05/30/2018]
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Governor Scott Walker, FSA director tour Wisconsin farms hit by blizzard damageGov. Scott Walker said Wednesday he anticipates asking the U.S. Department of Agriculture for federal disaster assistance for farms damaged in the April 13-16 blizzard… “I think, from what we’ve seen, we’re on track to be able to do that,” Walker said after visiting two southern Oconto County dairy operations owned by brothers Mike and […] [Green Bay Press-Gazette, 04/25/2018]
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Scott Walker praises Donald Trump’s ‘aggressive action’ in U.S.-Canada dairy disputeWisconsin Gov. Scott Walker is hopeful President Donald Trump’s “aggressive negotiating style” will lead to a positive resolution of a dispute between the U.S. and Canada over the northern country’s dairy policies. “While we appreciate the interest and the focus and certainly the aggressive action (from the federal government) — I think much more aggressive […] [Capital Times, 04/26/2017]
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Gov. Walker pro-cheeseGov. Scott Walker has signed into law the first bill to pass the Legislature this session, a measure designed to help Wisconsin’s cheese industry. Walker on Thursday signed the bill making it possible for tax incentives to be extended to help finance construction of a $30 million cheese packaging and distribution plant in the village […] [Associated Press, 02/16/2017]
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Sweeping manufacturing and ag tax credit reaches full force“Walker’s slashed public education and higher education funds… to pay for these trickle down policies,” said Scot Ross, One Wisconsin Now. [Capital Times, 05/16/2016]
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Walker policies cited as factor in increase rise of EPA polluted water listings in WisconsinThe proposed EPA Impaired Waters List for 2016 in Wisconsin contains 1,694 listings, more than double the 761 approved for the list in 2004.The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has recommended an additional 209 waterways for the 2016 list … Critics of Gov. Scott Walker blame the increased pollution in many agricultural counties like […] [Green Bay Press-Gazette, 02/24/2016]
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Walker’s factory & farm owner tax cuts cost $275 million more — twice original projectionsA measure tucked into Gov. Walker’s 2011 budget that effectively eliminated state income taxes on owners of factories and farms in Wisconsin is costing way more than predicted and contributing mightily to the current budget shortfalls. The Manufacturing and Agriculture Tax Credit was hailed at the time as a job-creating effort that would let businesses […] [Capital Times, 03/06/2015]
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Realtors asked for budget provision expanding foreign ownership of state landWisconsin Realtors look to be next in line to benefit from Gov. Scott Walker’s “Wisconsin is open for business” vow. While there has been no shortage of speculation behind what is driving Walker’s proposal to loosen restrictions on land purchases by buyers from outside the U.S., Thomas Larson, vice president of legal and public affairs […] [Capital Times, 03/10/2013]
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Budget provision to lift ban on foreign ownership of land criticizedGov. Scott Walker’s budget proposes lifting a longtime prohibition on foreign ownership of large tracts of land in Wisconsin — a change that some legislators believe will allow other countries to gain too much control over some of the world’s best farmland. The current law, enacted in 1887 and upheld by the state Supreme Court in […] [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 02/28/2013]
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Windfall! Rich will get richer from new tax creditSlipped into Gov. Scott Walker’s 2011-2013 budget at the last moment, the domestic production tax credit will cost the state $360 million in revenue over the next four years and some $130 million each year thereafter, according to the non-partisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau. Critics warn the impact could be even greater, a key point in […] [Capital Times, 05/23/2012]
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Critics say budget proposal axing farmland preservation gives developers upper handFarmland in western Wisconsin would be hit particularly hard by changes to a new farmland preservation program in Gov. Scott Walker’s proposed state budget, the leader of a state agriculture organization said…The farmland provision in the 2011-13 state budget would eliminate the Purchase of Agricultural Conservation Easement, or PACE, program, which permanently leases development rights […] [Eau Claire Leader-Telegram, 03/27/2011]
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