Scott Walker's Record on
Working Families Issues
Scott Walker’s Policies Have Been a Disaster for Working Families in Wisconsin
Scott Walker’s policies have been a disaster for working families in Wisconsin, consistently favoring tax breaks that benefit the wealthy and corporations at the expense of Wisconsin families.
Walker’s strategy has been to reward campaign donors and special interests while cutting millions and imposing additional burdens on Wisconsinites who rely on public programs, such as Badgercare and unemployment compensation.
Walker has also opposed an increase in the minimum wage, rolled back enforcement of equal pay protections, and kicked thousands of Wisconsinites off of the state’s Badgercare health insurance program. Meanwhile, in his most recent budget, Walker has proposed making recipients of public aid submit to drug testing for eligibility, a move that has been ruled unconstitutional elsewhere but will play to the extremists in the governor’s base as he ramps up his bid for the presidency.
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Child care subsidy bill Born wrote signed into lawGov. Scott Walker signed Assembly Bill 924 into law Tuesday, increasing the state’s investment in the Wisconsin Shares program, assisting the child care industry and Wisconsin families across the state. Wisconsin Shares is a program for low-income families that subsidizes a portion of the cost of child care while the parents or caregivers are working […] [Daily Citizen, 04/03/2018]
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Walker: Increase tax credit for working poorGov. Scott Walker wants to increase a tax credit for Wisconsin’s working poor that he cut in 2011, which could help 130,000 families. “Families are the foundation of our society,” Walker said Wednesday in announcing the proposal. He called it a “vital component to move children out of poverty” and to ensure that work is […] [Wisconsin State Journal, 02/02/2017]
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Gov. Walker to propose increase in tax credit he had previously cutGov. Scott Walker is reversing course on a key tax credit for the working poor, proposing to raise incomes for more than 130,000 state families by returning the more than $20 million a year he cut from the program in 2011. The Republican governor will unveil the proposal at the Wauwatosa Rotary Club Wednesday as […] [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 02/01/2017]
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Gov. Walker: Workforce development now state’s top jobGov. Scott Walker declared in his seventh State of the State address Tuesday that workforce development will be his top priority going forward, a shift that comes after he failed to fulfill his signature job-creation promise and as he considers seeking a third term…Walker used the 35-minute State of the State speech to tout the […] [St. Paul Pioneer Press, 01/10/2017]
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5 years after Walker’s Act 10 union membership falls in WisconsinIn the five years since Act 10 was signed by Gov. Scott Walker, union membership in Wisconsin has plummeted. In 2015, the number of union members fell well below the national average for the first time since lawmakers passed measures that all but eliminated collective bargaining for public workers. The percentage of Wisconsin public and […] [Wisconsin State Journal, 02/11/2016]
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Walker has repeatedly refused to accept federal Medicaid expansion in Wisconsin, hurting low-income workers and women“The state would stay the course and turn down federal money to expand Wisconsin’s health programs for the needy, under Gov. Scott Walker’s 2015 budget proposal….In 2013, the Republican governor rejected taking federal incentives to expand the state’s Medicaid programs, saying the deal risked entangling the state in exponentially growing future costs. Democrats say that […] [Governing.com, 02/19/2015]
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As paid sick leave battles continue in states, Wisconsin’s law was singled out as “most notable”Arguably, the most notable preemption law was passed in Wisconsin in 2011, when legislators approved legislation that repealed Milwaukee’s sick leave law—even though it had passed by ballot initiative in 2008 with 69% support—and prohibited local ordinances from requiring businesses to provide paid sick leave to employees. Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker said the law would […] [Fortune, 02/11/2015]
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Gov Walker has failed to support a state bill allowing refinancing of student loansRecent graduate Teri Crabb, 50, stood outside the building where Walker spoke with signs decrying high student loan debts and a low minimum wage. Crabb graduated in May with more than $50,000 in debt and has not been able to find a job. She said she returned to college as an adult because she was […] [Green Bay Press Gazette, 09/10/2014]
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Walker called minimum wage hike a “political stunt”Gov. Scott Walker lashed out Thursday against Democratic proposals to raise the minimum wage, calling them a “political grandstanding stunt” that will kill jobs. Walker was addressing a friendly crowd at a meeting of the Wisconsin Grocers Association, a group that opposes increasing the minimum wage. Democrats both nationally and in Wisconsin and other states […] [Associated Press, 01/23/2014]
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Walker opposes a common sense raise in the minimum wage“Gov. Scott Walker opposes increasing the federal minimum wage, fearing it would prompt employers to do less hiring. In making his case, Walker paints a picture of low-wage workers as people working the counter at fast-food restaurants”. [Politifact, 01/13/2014]
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Walker’s Health Care Plan Kicked 77,000 adults off the Badgercare ProgramLegislation approved by Walker and GOP lawmakers requires some 77,000 adults in BadgerCare with incomes above the poverty line — $23,550 for a family of four — to be dropped from that state Medicaid coverage….Democrats note that some GOP governors have extended Medicaid coverage more broadly in their states by taking extra federal money available […] [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 01/09/2014]
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Scott Walker: Eliminating income tax, raising sales tax on the tableOne Wisconsin Now deputy director Mike Browne questioned why Walker would continue with trickle-down economic policies… “You’re increasing a tax burden on those least able to pay,” Browne said of raising sales taxes. “I’m not quite sure what that helps in terms of having a tax code that treats everyone in Wisconsin fairly.” [Wisconsin State Journal, 12/19/2013]
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Nearly 15,000 Sign Up to Tell Gov. Walker and Big Business Lobby: “Respect Wisconsin Women”Nearly 15,000 individuals have voiced their opposition to the anti-woman agenda of Gov. Walker and the state big business lobby, Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce. [One Wisconsin Now, 11/09/2013]
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While Gov. Scott Walker Jets to New York to Hob Nob With Billionaires to Pursue Presidential Ambitions, Low Income Wisconsinites Getting Notices They’re Losing Their HealthcareGov. Scott Walker “jets” to New York for a fundraiser hosted by billionaire owner of the New York Jets, for the benefit of the Republican National Committee. [One Wisconsin Now, 09/22/2013]
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On 50th Anniversary of Dr. King’s ‘I Have a Dream Speech’ Message of Racial Harmony and Economic Justice For All Under Attack by Gov. Walker’s Divide and Conquer PoliticsOne Wisconsin Now Executive Director Scot Ross noted how the “divide and conquer” politics of Gov. Walker and the policies he and the GOP-led legislature have pursued are universally antithetical to Dr. King's message. [One Wisconsin Now, 08/27/2013]
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Walker claimed his “boldest” reform of 2013 budget was forcing food stamp recipients to attend work trainingWalker went on to say, however, that the “biggest, boldest reform” in the budget was new work requirements for people on food stamps. Able-bodied adults must spend at least 20 hours a week working or getting trained for a job, or they will be limited to three months of benefits over three years. Walker described […] [Associated Press, 07/01/2013]
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Walker’s Choice: Millionaires or the Middle ClassAs Gov. Scott Walker ponders his vetoes to the 2013 state budget, a $30 million tax break with no income limits, worth up to $10,000, for parents already sending their children to private schools should be on the list. [One Wisconsin Now, 06/25/2013]
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Wisconsin Working Families and Middle Class Lose Big as Top GOP Legislative Leaders Flip-Flop Way to Budget DealMADISON, Wis. — In his 2010 campaign, Gov. Walker signaled support for a bill to ban the legislature from voting after 10pm because, “… nothing good happens after midnight. That’s even more true in politics.” According to One Wisconsin Now Executive Director Scot Ross it’s too bad for the middle class and working families of […] [One Wisconsin Now, 06/04/2013]
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GOP Budget Plan: Another Massive Tax Giveaway to the WealthyMADISON, Wis. — One Wisconsin Now Executive Director Scot Ross released the following statements regarding Rep. Dale Kooyenga’s announcement of a new GOP tax scheme doling out over $400 million in new tax breaks that overwhelmingly benefit the wealthiest in the state: “Another state budget under Gov. Walker and the GOP controlled legislature, another massive […] [One Wisconsin Now, 05/27/2013]
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Wis. Republicans gather as party seeks to growAnd Scot Ross, director of the liberal group One Wisconsin Now, said Walker and the Republican-controlled Legislature have focused on an agenda that benefits the rich and hurts the middle class. [San Antonio Express, 05/02/2013]
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Advocates said Walker’s 2013-15 budget harmed working families’ child care access“Scott Walker’s proposed $273 million budget for Wisconsin Shares, the child-care subsidy program for low-income families, threatens to make it even harder for providers to give quality care to the children most in need of a good start preparing for school, say child-care providers and quality care advocates. Under Walker’s proposed 2013-2015 budget, the Department […] [Capital Times, 03/26/2013]
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Walker Rejected Federal Expansion of Medicaid, Costing Taxpayers More for LessIf the federal government keeps its current commitments, Gov. Scott Walker’s plan for avoiding a full expansion of the BadgerCare program under the federal health care law would cost Wisconsin taxpayers roughly $250 million more through 2020, under preliminary estimates by the Legislature’s nonpartisan budget office. In addition to lower state costs, the full expansion […] [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 02/16/2013]
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Gov. Walker Slashes Health Care for Working Families to Appease Big Biz LobbyMADISON, Wis. — One Wisconsin Now Executive Director Scot Ross released the following statements regarding reports that Gov. Walker will announce he will reject an expansion of federal Medicaid coverage in Wisconsin and a radical roll back of state health insurance assistance at the state big business lobby day: “As Gov. Walker seeks to pass […] [One Wisconsin Now, 02/12/2013]
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Walker failed to support a plan to address the growing student loan debt crisisThe “Higher Ed, Lower Debt” bills, 2013 SB 376 & 2013 AB 498, were introduced 10/29/13 in the Senate & 11/8/13 in the Assembly. The bills called for the creation of a state student loan refinancing authority. Every single Democrat in the legislature co-sponsored the bills. No Republicans co-sponsored the bills. A public hearing was […] [Legislative Journal, 01/01/2013]
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Walker’s 2013-15 Budget Included Provisions Hurting Workers, Creating More Tax BreaksWalker’s 2013-15 Budget included Provisions that: Made it harder for workers to access unemployment compensation benefits by reducing the number of allowable reasons to quit a job from 18 to 9. Expanded the junk mail sales tax exemption created an income tax break for private school tuition (up to $10,000 per pupil), which is estimated […] [2013 Assembly Bill 40, 01/01/2013]
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Walker Signed a Bill That Benefited Wealthy Instead of Providing Tax Relief for the Middle ClassProvisions of the measure included: For purposes of the state individual income tax, reduces the rate of taxation on the bottom income tax bracket from 4.4% to 4.0%. Replaces the levy limit applicable to technical college districts with a revenue limit, and appropriates $406 million in 2014-15, and an annual sum based on a calculation […] [2013 SB 1 January 2014 Special Session, 01/01/2013]
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Supporters of the equal pay enforcement provisions said they had been effective in addressing Wisconsin’s gender pay inequity“The Equal Pay law wasn’t just about women—it also offered protection from discrimination based on race, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, and other factors. But it was enacted largely in response to a large gap between men and women’s compensation, one that was worse than average in Wisconsin—in 2009 the state ranked 36th in the […] [Daily Beast, 04/07/2012]
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Walker Signed Equal Pay Repeal and Abortion Restriction Bills In Private and Released Them on Good FridayWalker, a Republican, signed the bills Thursday but didn’t announce the move until midday Friday, when his office released a list of more than 50 bills he signed Thursday and Friday…Walker also signed a bill that prohibits workers from collecting damages in employment discrimination cases. Under current state law, employees who prevail in discrimination lawsuits […] [Wisconsin State Journal, 04/07/2012]
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Scott Walker Quietly Repeals Wisconsin Equal Pay LawA Wisconsin law that made it easier for victims of wage discrimination to have their day in court was repealed on Thursday, after Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) quietly signed the bill. The 2009 Equal Pay Enforcement Act was meant to deter employers from discriminating against certain groups by giving workers more avenues via which […] [Huffington Post, 04/06/2012]
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On April 5, 2012 Scott Walker signed SB 202 that repealed the Equal Pay Enforcement ActThe Equal Pay Enforcement Act gave victims of wage discrimination the ability to sue in state courts for punitive and compensatory damages. By repealing the law, Walker made it easier for corporations to discriminate because the adverse financial consequences were lessened if they were caught. In addition, filing suit in state courts is often cheaper […] [2011 SB 202, 04/05/2012]
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Research shows that since the law was passed Wisconsin has been one of a handful of states that has seen the gap between women’s and men’s pay narrowAccording to the non-partisan Legislative Reference Bureau:“Median female earnings as a percentage of median male earnings rose by 3.0% in Wisconsin between 2009 and 2010. Only four states had larger increases.Wisconsin jumped 12 spots in the gender earnings parity ranking between 2009 and 2010, from 36th to 24th.” The LRB posted the information on Twitter […] [Sen. Dave Hansen press release, 02/16/2012]
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Walker Created Waiting Period for Unemployment InsuranceEffective January 1, 2012, there will be a one-week waiting period before an unemployed worker can collect benefits. The inclusion of this change in the State Budget was made unilaterally by Republicans in the Legislature. Despite a veto request by all labor and management representatives on the Unemployment Insurance Advisory Council, Governor Walker signed this […] [2011 WI Act 32, 06/26/2011]
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Walker Raised Taxes on Working Families & PoorWalker’s first state budget included two tax increases on working families: changing the Earned Income Tax Credit program (EITC) and removing the indexing of inflation from the homestead property tax relief program. The change to the EITC totals $56 million over the biennium: “The cuts to the earned income credit would total $56.2 million over two […] [2011 WI Act 32, 06/26/2011]
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Walker signed law pre-empting sick day ordinance and voiding a Milwaukee ordinance that had been passed by votersGov. Scott Walker signed into law Thursday a measure that voids Milwaukee’s paid sick leave ordinance that was passed by voters in a referendum and upheld recently by the state Court of Appeals. Walker, in Milwaukee on Thursday for the annual Governor’s Prayer Breakfast at the Italian Community Center, went to offices of the Metropolitan […] [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 05/05/2011]
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