Senate Republican Session Agenda: More Cronyism and Corruption, Less Health Care
Wisconsin would be ill-served by more of the Walker administration’s cronyism and corruption and less access to comprehensive health care services for families.
Jobs & the Economy
Walker administration won’t explain what happened to WEDC text messages
Jenni Dye, research director for One Wisconsin Now, said she doesn’t believe the police logs meet the definition of “transitory” records. [Capital Times]
Walker slammed for ‘shaking down’ donors amid layoffs
The liberal group One Wisconsin Now suggested the governor should be focusing his attention on the state's economic problems rather than "shaking down" his donors. [WSAU-FM]
Walker asks for help paying off $1 million in Presidential campaign debt
Liberal group One Wisconsin Now director Scot Ross said Friday that instead of “shaking down donors” to pay off campaign debt, Walker should be focusing on Wisconsin’s economic problems. [Associated Press]
Gov. Walker, Unable to Dial Phone to Try to Save 1,000 Wisconsin Jobs, Hits Send on Fundraising Solicitation to Pay Off Presidential Campaign Debt
Families are being thrown into chaos and losing their jobs because Scott Walker was more focused on chasing his own presidential ambitions than doing his job.
Scott Walker asks supporters for help in paying off campaign debt
The liberal group One Wisconsin Now slammed Walker for doing fundraising rather than focusing on economic problems in the state, such as the announcement this week that the Oscar Mayer plant in Madison would be shuttering, resulting in the loss of 1,000 jobs. [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]
Scott Walker looking for $1,000 donations to pay back presidential campaign debt
"Wisconsin families are being thrown into chaos and losing their jobs because Scott Walker was more focused on chasing his own presidential ambitions than doing his job as governor," said One Wisconsin Now executive director Scot Ross. [Capital Times]
Spurning Wisconsin offer, Ashley Furniture Industries takes jobs and safety issues to N.C.
“Pay-to-play certainly comes to my mind and I know I’m not alone,” said Scot Ross, executive director of the progressive group One Wisconsin Now. [Wisconsin Gazette]
Scott Walker says he’ll be a stay-at-home governor
State employees lost civil service protections when WEDC was created, and it has been plagued with cronyism, corruption and incompetence ever since. [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]
Rearranging the Deck Chairs Won’t Save Gov. Walker’s Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation
The centerpiece of Scott Walker’s economic agenda has been a prime example of his administration’s cronyism, corruption and incompetence. Now it's looking for yet another new head.
In light of Scott Walker’s China comments, aides defend Wisconsin’s trade relationship
Scott Walker desperately wanted to change the media focus on his three positions in a week as he tries to chase Donald Trump's race to the sewer. [La Crosse Tribune]
G.O.P. Candidates Take Aim at China as U.S. Markets Tumble
He’s paying so little attention to Wisconsin he probably doesn’t know about it, so it would be fun to hear his response. [New York Times]
Scott Walker, Crony Capitalist
A report by One Wisconsin Now found that since 2009 the governor’s campaign organization had received more than $2.1 million from individuals linked to WEDC awards. [Politico]
Walker’s dystopian vision will push the threat of economic isolation, military feet on the ground and “steal in the face of our enemies.”
One Wisconsin Now made an important point. In fact, if anybody needs a backbone it's Scott Walker, Walker was once drooling over the possibility of trade with China. [Democurmudgeon]
Scott Walker Is Two-Faced on China
“In his desperate attempt to out-Trump Trump, Scott Walker has out-Palined Palin.” [Daily Beast]
Lawmakers Continue to Tinker with Walker’s Job Creation Agency
There is a lot of money being spent through this agency to try to create a lot of jobs in Wisconsin, and it has been a complete and utter failure. [WUWM-FM]
Column: Sen. Rick Gudex reveals himself as politician, not leader
Gudex and his fellow Republicans need to remember they’re supposed to be working for us, not covering Walker’s backside, and resist the temptation to allow partisanship to overcome common sense. [Capital Times]
Sen. Rick Gudex Reveals Himself as a Politician, Not a Leader
Sen. Gudex and his fellow Republicans need to remember they’re supposed to be working for us, not covering Scott Walker’s backside, and resist the temptation to allow partisanship to overcome common sense.
ICYMI: One Wisconsin Institute Report Details Continuing Failures of Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation
Updated research by One Wisconsin Institute analyzes four years of failure by the quasi-private Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, created by Gov. Scott Walker and supported by state legislative Republicans.
The Reality of Scott Walker’s Record on the Economy & the Middle Class
Scott Walker’s signature promise was to create 250,000 jobs in Wisconsin in his first term. He fell nearly 50% short of that goal, an abysmal failure at the one major promise he made to voters.
Report alleges Scott Walker’s WEDC has failed, WEDC says it’s improving
The report from One Wisconsin Institute, the research arm of One Wisconsin Now, shows close ties between donors to Walker's campaigns and recipients of awards from WEDC — the quasi-public agency Walker launched to replace the state Department of Commerce shortly after he took office in 2011. [Capital Times]
WEDC Record in Wis. Has Been a Scandal-Wracked Failure
Much of the cash flowed to Walker’s political allies. According to a new report by the left-leaning One Wisconsin Institute, 60 percent of the $1.14 billion given out by the WEDC went to firms connected to Walker’s campaign contributors—that includes more than $2.1 million those donors have given Walker’s election campaigns directly. [In These Times]
Wisconsin’s Economic Cautionary Tale
According to a new report by the left-leaning One Wisconsin Institute, 60 percent of the $1.14 billion given out by the WEDC went to firms connected to Walker’s campaign contributors — that includes more than $2.1 million those donors have given Walker’s election campaigns directly. [San Francisco Chronicle]
Invitation Accepted, Governor Walker
While we are often at odds with Walker, on this we can agree: He most certainly should be evaluated by the company he keeps and his record in office.
New Research: WEDC is Four Years of Failure
A report released today by One Wisconsin Institute analyzes four years of failure by the quasi-private Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC), created by Gov. Scott Walker.
WEDC: Four Years of Failure
Time has proven WEDC to be an abject failure at job creation, and, some argue, a symbol of the cronyism, corruption, and incompetence of the Scott Walker administration.
Wisconsin swindled by Scott Walker’s jobs scam
What is more, the amount of cash available for the WEDC to carelessly dispense has grown. By the end of 2013, the state had awarded over $970 million in tax credits, loans and grants, according to the watchdog group One Wisconsin Now. [Al Jazeera]
Scott Walker’s Jobs Program Didn’t Work
The bottom line is that Scott Walker said when he came into office, this is my blueprint for making good on my promise to create 250,000 jobs. [Daily Beast]
Jobs & the Economy
Scott Walker’s signature promise was to create 250,000 jobs in Wisconsin in his first term. He fell nearly 50% short of that goal.
Gov. Scott Walker taking heat from both right and left over WEDC
Meanwhile, one of the governor’s loudest critics on the left, Scot Ross of One Wisconsin Now, is saying there will be no improvement at WEDC unless politics can be taken out of the equation. [Capital Times]
Final Numbers Show Gov. Walker Fell Nearly 50 Percent Short on First Term Jobs Promise
The final jobs numbers from the federal government covering the first term of Gov. Scott Walker released today confirm the utter failure of his administration to deliver on his job creation promise.
Gudex Needs to Get Serious About WEDC’s Continuing Cronyism, Corruption, Incompetence
Sen. Rick Gudex's chief of staff called requests for an investigation of the latest instance of WEDC cronyism, corruption and incompetence a “knee-jerk reaction.”
Transparency and Gov. Walker’s Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation Don’t Go Together
Gov. Walker is in the hot seat over revelations that his top aides successfully lobbied for a risky state loan to the business of a major Walker campaign donor through WEDC.
Watchdog groups have long warned against WEDC practices
Last year, a report from One Wisconsin Now cited figures showing that nearly 60 percent of some $975 million in assistance distributed by WEDC went to firms that had contributed to Walker or the RGA. [La Crosse Tribune]
Privatization Fail: Scott Walker’s WEDC in Full Meltdown
This new audit confirms that WEDC is the embodiment of the cronyism, corruption and incompetence of the Walker administration. [PR Watch]
Scott Walker’s Wisconsin is no model to follow
Those who read Gov. Scott Walker’s recent column deserve to know the truth about his record on the economy. There are three critical pieces of information you need to know. [The Gazette]
Gov. Scott Walker’s Economic Development Agency Under the Microscope
Walker has come under scrutiny by media for a $62 million-plus award of state funds to the retail outlet Kohl's doled out under his watch as chair WEDC.
Wisconsin Walker’s shopping tale doesn’t mention taxpayer millions
“If you look at the Walker record, it has been cuts to infrastructure like public education to fund a trickle-down economic agenda that hasn’t worked,” said Mike Browne, deputy executive director of One Wisconsin Now. [Bloomberg News]
Scott Walker opponents question his WEDC role after Menard report
"It’s so bad that after almost four years, every time WEDC comes out of his mouth, you know an excuse is on its way." [Capital Times]
ICYMI: WEDC Funds Have Consistently Gone to Businesses of Gov. Walker’s Political Boosters Since Agency Inception
The synergy between Gov. Scott Walker’s Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation and his political fortunes is making headlines again.
Report: John Menard gave $1.5 million to conservative group tied to Scott Walker
Is Walker going to get away with telling people that he has nothing to do with the allocation of WEDC dollars? [Associated Press]
Reaction to Walker’s State of State speech
“We see Wisconsin as a state in need of improvement,” said Scot Ross, director of the liberal group One Wisconsin Now. “Our schools and workforce are among the best in the nation. But the facts show Scott Walker has failed to deliver, leaving us with lagging job growth and stagnant wages.” [Associated Press]
Gov. Walker’s Math Problem Much Bigger Than Spelling Woes
We agree with Scott Walker and his sycophantic friends in the right-wing media that we can now move past his embarrassing ‘molotov’ gaffe. But an analysis of Gov. Walker’s abysmal math is much more explosive.
Is Scott Walker Already Breaking Another Campaign Promise?
Gov. Walker says anything to get elected and now he and his Republican front groups are ready to launch a frontal assault on Wisconsin's middle class working women and men.
Mentions of ‘Washington’ Equal ‘Wisconsin’ in Gov. Walker’s Election Night Speech
Walker's eleven-minute speech mentioned Wisconsin ten times, Washington nine times and America twelve times. A stunning display that Wisconsin's Governor has already moved on to his next electoral objective.
Gov. Walker’s Student Loan Horror Show Premieres at ‘TheWalkerDead.com’
One Wisconsin Now is using Halloween to debut a new graphic depiction of the horrors of Gov. Scott Walker’s opposition to common sense student loan reforms for hundreds of thousands of Wisconsinites.
#TBT 2006-2010: The Stunning Hypocrisy of Scott Walker
Running for office on a platform of transparency in contracting while working surreptitiously to manipulate a contract for the benefit of a political crony is at the top of the list.
One Wisconsin Now Calls for Central Figures in Attempted Milwaukee County Bid Scheme to Resign State Positions
New documents reveal how individuals participated in providing inside info to try to help a political crony of then-County Executive, and now Walker win a lucrative publicly-funded contract.
Walker Ad Can’t Hide Failing Record on Higher Ed, Student Loan Debt
In a deceptive new ad, the flailing campaign of Gov. Scott Walker is trying to whitewash his disastrous record on student loan debt and higher education.
Mary Burke Repeats Call for Student Loan Reform to Aid Borrowers
During an editorial board visit with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, today, Democratic candidate for governor Mary Burke reiterated her call for student loan reform.