Jobs & the Economy

One Wisconsin Now Statements on Midwest High Speed Rail Initiative

MADISON, Wis. — One Wisconsin Now Executive Director Scot Ross released the following statements about today’s news regarding the Midwest High Speed Rail Initiative. “Scott Walker promised Wisconsin he would create 250,00 jobs, but instead he is determined to ship the thousands and thousands of jobs Midwest high speed rail would bring out of Wisconsin. […]

Broken Promises, Day 1: How Many Jobs Does Poll Tax ID Create?

Republican Leader Scott Fitzgerald took less than 24 hours to break the promise Republicans made to Wisconsin to focus on job creation - telling three media outlets the first bill the state will tackle is restricting the right to vote.

One Wisconsin Now Debuts ‘Moving in the Right Direction: Bringing High Speed Rail to Wisconsin’ Video

MADISON, Wis. — The overwhelming benefits of high speed rail set for Wisconsin, including 13,000 new jobs, billions of dollars in benefits and reduced dependence on foreign oil, are the subject of a new One Wisconsin Now video produced by University of Wisconsin-Madison senior William Barnes. The video is available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEwgv1fQDSQ. The video also […]

Will WMC Refuse Foreign Attack Funds from U.S. Chamber of Commerce?

MADISON, Wis. — With recent revelations the U.S. Chamber of Commerce is using contributions from foreign businesses to fund its partisan political attacks, One Wisconsin Now is calling on the U.S. Chamber’s state affiliate, Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce (WMC), to detail its own internal controls that prevent foreign funds from being used in attacks it […]

Walker’s Latest Corporate Tax Break: Massive Loophole or Empty Promise

MADISON, Wis. — Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker, as part of his three-page agenda, has called for making “Wisconsin a highly attractive place to start a business by eliminating corporate taxes for the first two years of operation.” Analysis by One Wisconsin Now shows the plan would either be a budget-busting corporate loophole or would […]

One Wisconsin Now Fact Checks ‘Facts-Free’ RPW Walker Ad

MADISON, Wis. — The first television advertisement for Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker’s campaign for governor paid for by the Republican Party of Wisconsin not only is full of distortions and exaggerations, but also ignores the impact of his policies which have been disastrous for Milwaukee, a fact-check conducted by One Wisconsin Now concludes. “The […]

Walker Ad Fact Check Shows Exaggerations, Falsehoods Throughout

MADISON, Wis. — Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker’s latest campaign ad is riddled with falsehoods, distortions and half-truths about his disastrous record for Milwaukee County, according to a fact check of the ad conducted by One Wisconsin Now. “Just last summer Scott Walker was repeating his call to abolish county government because he had made […]

Walker Ignores Elephant in the Room on Harley-Davidson

“In response to Harley’s news, Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker, a Republican candidate for governor, claimed that the state’s move to combined reporting for corporate taxation had hurt the company. But Harley officials have said in the past that combined reporting…had nothing to do with its cutbacks. [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 5/3/10] MADISON, Wis. — Milwaukee […]

One Wisconsin Now Members’ Message to the Tea Party: ‘I AM My Brother’s Keeper’

MADISON, Wis. — Citizens from across Wisconsin have joined One Wisconsin Now in sending a decisive message to the Tea Party and conservative elected officials who want less investment in the middle class and less support for children and working families: “I AM My Brother’s Keeper.” One Wisconsin Now will display responses of its members […]

Walker’s Record of Massive Spending Hikes Is in the Bag

MADISON, Wis. — Contrary to calls for fiscal restraint in his latest television advertisement, Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker voted to increase state spending 84 percent as a member of the state Assembly and has proposed 35 percent in increases to county spending since 2002. Walker voted for $200 billion in total state budget spending, […]

Will $2 Billion Buy Walker a Standing Ovation from WMC?

MADISON, Wis. — At Tuesday’s Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce lobbying luncheon Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker will likely find support from the corporate lobby for his $2-billion, budget-busting, deficit-doubling plan for tax breaks that mostly benefit corporations and the wealthiest Wisconsinites. What is less likely, is that Walker will explain which drastic cuts he would […]

One Wisconsin Now Statements on the Success, Anniversary of the Recovery Act

MADISON, Wis. — One Wisconsin Now released the following statements from Executive Director Scot Ross on the one-year anniversary of the successful America Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). ARRA has provided $2.76 billion to Wisconsin for job creation, schools, transportation, health care, energy and public safety among other critical needs. Over 44,000 Wisconsin jobs have […]

Walker’s Transit Record: The Road to Failure

MADISON, Wis. — Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker’s call for Wisconsin to reject federal Recovery Act funds for critical job creation and railway infrastructure needs reflects Walker’s long-time failure on transit issues, which have led to among other things, the nation’s highest transit fees for already-struggling Milwaukee County residents. “The train has passed on Scott […]

Walker Takes $120,000 from Health Industry, Opposes End to Health Insurance Stranglehold

MADISON, Wis. — Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker has strongly opposed measures to provide more Wisconsin children, pregnant mothers and uninsured adults have affordable health care, at the same time taking more than $120,000 in campaign contributions from the health care industry in just the last six months alone. “The health insurance industry knows they […]

Walker’s Plan for State’s $2 Billion Deficit: ‘Let’s Make It $4 Billion’

MADISON, Wis. — Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker wants to double Wisconsin’s projected $2-billion state budget deficit with a series of tax breaks that mostly benefit corporations and high-income people. The Legislative Fiscal Bureau reported Wisconsin faces a $2 billion deficit in 2011-13, making Walker’s budget-busting tax breaks for the rich a doubling of the […]

Why Would Walker Want to End Children’s BadgerCare Safety Net?

MADISON, Wis. — Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker’s recent call for limits on critical BadgerCare health benefits for low-income or displaced workers and repeated criticism of state spending raises concerns he may favor cuts to BadgerCare programs that cover children and expectant mothers. “Scott Walker’s message is that the nationally-recognized BadgerCare health care program for […]

One Wisconsin Now Launches Redesigned WMC Watch Website

MADISON, Wis. — One Wisconsin Now launched an update and redesigned version of its WMC Watch – a comprehensive watchdog website of Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce. Located at www.WMCWatch.org, the site includes new contributions, revenue and expenditure totals, as well as additional research and analysis of the influence of Wisconsin’s most powerful pro-corporate lobby. “Wisconsin […]

Constituents Call for Kind, Kagen, Petri to Vote for Clean Energy Bill Friday

MADISON, Wis. — Constituents from across the congressional districts of U.S. Reps. Ron Kind, Steve Kagen, and Tom Petri have signed a petition urging them to both strengthen and vote in favor of critical legislation on the House floor Friday to transform the economy into one harnessing the power of green technology. “Wisconsin and the […]

GOP Budget Architect Ryan Represents Wisconsin’s Three Highest Unemployed Cities

MADISON, Wis. — Despite representing the three cities in Wisconsin with the highest unemployment rates, Rep. Paul Ryan has offered a GOP Madison budget plan to continue the reckless Bush economic policies of tax cuts for the rich, privatization and ignoring investment in American infrastructure. “Paul Ryan represents the three cities with the state’s highest […]

Van Roy Twice Votes ‘No’ on Wisconsin Jobs

MADISON, Wis. — Rep. Karl Van Roy (R-Green Bay) broke a pledge made just this month to his constituents to assist job growth by voting against two critical job creation bills passed with bipartisan support in the State Assembly Tuesday. “It took Karl Van Roy one day on the State Assembly floor to return to […]

Leading Republicans to Wisconsin: ‘Yes We Can’t!’

Wisconsin Republican officials are responding to bipartisan overtures at the state and federal level by Democratic leaders by summarily rejecting efforts to create jobs, invest in infrastructure, reform health insurance and tackle the $5.4 billion deficit.

Wisconsinites Demand Gableman, Ziegler Recusal; OWN Delivers 2,400 Petitions

MADISON, Wis. — Citizens from across Wisconsin are calling for state Supreme Court Justices Annette Ziegler and Mike Gableman to recuse themselves from a case favored by Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce, the big-business lobby which spent over $4 million during their campaigns. Today, One Wisconsin Now delivered 1,200 petitions to both Justices, signed by citizens […]

Leaders Agree: McCain More of the McSame

As Sen. McCain and Gov. Palin come to Cedarburg to make their first stop together in Wisconsin, progressive leaders from across Wisconsin agree: McCain is more of the same.

OWN Fact Sheet – McSame Old, McSame Old

With each passing week, food and gas prices climb higher and higher, while thousands of Americans are losing their jobs and their homes. Seniors are still forced to choose between buying food or their prescription drugs. Gas prices across Wisconsin are topping $4 a gallon. After eight years of a Bush agenda that has been […]

Bush Agenda Finds Loyal Follower in McSame

MILWAUKEE — Senator John McCain has been a rubber stamp in the U.S. Senate for the failed agenda of George W. Bush. That’s the message behind the Stamporee event One Wisconsin Now (OWN) is holding outside the Wisconsin Republican Convention in Stevens Point today. “Whenever Bush has needed another rubber stamp in the U.S. Senate […]

McCain Brings Wisconsin Families No Change from Failed Bush Policies

MILWAUKEE, Wis. — Sen. John McCain comes to Wisconsin tomorrow offering no change from the failed economic policies of President George Bush. Despite the recession, housing and health care crises, McCain supports more tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations, more failed trade policies costing Wisconsin jobs. McCain also proposes a health care plan that […]

Gableman’s Shifting Answers Raise More Questions

MILWAUKEE — Mike Gableman’s newest explanation about how he leapt over two announced finalists to become a Burnett County judge is under scrutiny after documents obtained by One Wisconsin Now would appear to both contradict his latest claim and raise additional questions about whether Gableman is exaggerating his qualifications. At a Friday forum Gableman said […]