Republican Candidate Continues Attack on Economic Security of Wisconsin Families
MADISON – Senate candidate Ron Johnson takes his attack on Wisconsin families to La Crosse today, Tuesday, to attend a Republican Party fund-raiser.
After eight years of failed Republican economic policies and the economic collapse led to layoffs and job loss across Wisconsin, Johnson opposed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
Though the Recovery Act provided tax cuts to 95 percent of working families, Johnson opposes it saying, “We would have been far better off not spending any of the money and let the recovery happen as it was going to happen.” [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 5/15/10]
The Republican candidate also opposes the emergency aid to the jobless contained in the Recovery Act, saying: “When you continue to extend unemployment benefits, people really don’t have the incentive to go take other jobs, you know, they’ll just wait the system out until their benefits run out. [Wisconsin Public Television Here and Now, 6/11/10] I
In addition, Johnson said he would support cutting off help for out of work Wisconsinites by opposing an extension of unemployment insurance for people still looking for work. [Brookfield Chamber of Commerce Debate, 6/21/10]
Johnson has said that his priority is to repeal health insurance reform, which provided tax credits to over 77,000 Wisconsin small businesses so they don’t have to choose between health care and hiring. His repeal plan would also eliminate a fix to an unfair Medicare reimbursement formula that has punished medical providers that are focused on high quality care like the Gunderson Clinic.
La Crosse County received $42 million in funding through the Recovery Act to prevent layoffs and create jobs; invest in education and infrastructure and save the jobs of teachers, firefighters and law enforcement.
Johnson’s opposition to the Recovery Act includes opposition to the following projects in the City of La Crosse, where Johnson will appear:
—$5.79 million to the La Crosse School District to prevent cuts to education and retain teachers, education aides, custodians, bus drivers, principals and technology specialists. Similar funding is credited with creating or saving 4,082 jobs across Wisconsin, according to the Wisconsin Office of Recovery and Reinvestment.
— $2.25 million to La Crosse County to protect public safety by retaining staff such as Sheriff’s deputies, jailers and patrol officers. Similar funding is credited with creating or saving 2221 jobs across Wisconsin according to the Wisconsin Office of Recovery and Reinvestment.
— $1.81 million to the La Crosse School District to provide special education services to children with disabilities by teaching life skills for students who require assistance with daily living opportunities providing occupational therapy rooms with sensory equipment to assist with sensory issues and promote positive behavior, among other programs. Similar funding is credited with creating or retaining 762 jobs across Wisconsin, according to the Wisconsin Office of Recovery and Reinvestment.
—$1.1 million in funding to three Wisconsin design, construction and engineering firms to reconstruct Oak Avenue in La Crosse.
—$1.1 million to the La Crosse School District to improve teaching and learning for students who are most at risk of failing to meet state achievement standards. Similar funding is credited with creating or saving 354 jobs across Wisconsin, according to the Wisconsin Office of Recovery and Reinvestment.
—$453,343 for home meals for the elderly who are homebound so they can maintain their health. The program has delivered 154,505 meals to 6,035 Wisconsin seniors, according to the Wisconsin Office of Recovery and Reinvestment.
—$364,472 to help retrain dislocated workers.
