Walker Turns Back on Struggling Constituents,
Walks Away from 12,500 New Jobs
MADISON – Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker is against the American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan that would create 74,000 new jobs for Wisconsin, according to new White House data, including an estimated 12,500 jobs for Walker’s own constituents in MilwaukeeCounty.
“By walking away from more than 12,500 new jobs, Scott Walker is sending a slap in the face to his struggling constituents,” said Joe Wineke, Chair of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin. “With MilwaukeeCounty’s budget in fiscal shambles and county unemployment at 6.5 percent, it is appalling that Scott Walker wants to ship these jobs out to other states, instead of pushing for new jobs here at home.”
The White House this week released state-by-state data detailing the jobs impact of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan. The jobs include 74,000 new jobs for Wisconsin, which would break down to an estimated 12,500 jobs for MilwaukeeCounty. (Source: White House report, 2.3.09, http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/state_by_state_employment_impact/)
In Wisconsin, the stimulus plan will deliver immediate, tangible impacts, including:
* Creating 74,000 jobs over the next two years.
* Providing a work pay tax cut of up to $1,000 for 2,220,000 workers and their families.
* Making 63,000 families eligible for a Tax Credit to make college affordable.
* Offering an additional $100 per month in UI benefits to 553,000 workers in Wisconsin.
* Providing funding sufficient to modernize at least 138 schools in Wisconsin.
(Source: White House state-by-state estimates: http://www.whitehouse.gov/assets/documents/White_House_Releases_Additional_State1.pdf.)
Unfortunately for struggling families in Wisconsin and MilwaukeeCounty, Scott Walker is against any federal dollars for new jobs. When asked about the potential to use the American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan to create new jobs in MilwaukeeCounty, Walker recently said, “I’m not asking for any new projects or things to be done here.” (Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 1/6/09.)
“Now more than ever, our economy needs a shot in the arm, not more of the same failed Bush economic policies that Walker is advocating,” said Wineke.
