Republican Candidate Continues Attack on Economic Security of Wisconsin Families
MADISON — Senate candidate Ron Johnson takes his attack on Wisconsin families to Door County today, Friday. After eight years of failed Republican economic policies and the economic collapse led to layoffs and job loss across Wisconsin, Johnson will no doubt highlight his opposition to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
Though the Recovery Act created and saved 63,000 jobs in Wisconsin and 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]
“Ron Johnson opposed tax cuts for 95 percent of working families in Wisconsin in the Recovery Act, but he has no problem pushing to extend the Bush tax cuts for people like himself – the top 1 percent,” said Mike Tate, Chair of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin. “Ron Johnson is completely out of touch with the needs of working families.”
The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office found that the Recovery Act raised gross domestic product (GDP) by 1.7 to 4.5 percent, and increased the number of people employed by between 1.4 million and 3.3 million. [Source: “Estimated Impact of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act on Employment and Economic Output from April 2010 through June 2010,” August 2010]
What’s more, Johnson has also made an unapologetic defense of eight years of unfair trade practices under Republicans, saying that free trade practices that ship Wisconsin jobs overseas “have been successful for our economy.” [WPR – Here and Now, 7/26/10]
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]
Door County received $4.66 million in funding through the Recovery Act to prevent layoffs, 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 near Sturgeon Bay, where Johnson will appear:
$810,525 to the Women’s Project Inc in Sturgeon Bay, funding that was used to reduce energy costs for low-income families, in particular for the elderly. Similar funding is credited for creating or saving 632 jobs across Wisconsin, according to the Wisconsin Office of Recovery and Reinvestment.
$751,815 to the Sturgeon Bay School District to support elementary and secondary school education, and help retain jobs for teachers, education aides, bus drivers, principals, and librarians, among others. Similar funding is credited with creating or saving 7,391 jobs across Wisconsin, according to the Wisconsin Office of Recovery and Reinvestment.
$546,116 to the Southern Door County School District to support elementary and secondary school education, and help retain jobs for teachers, education aides, bus drivers, principals, and librarians, among others. Similar funding is credited with creating or saving 7,391 jobs across Wisconsin, according to the Wisconsin Office of Recovery and Reinvestment.
$299,984 to the Sturgeon Bay School District to improve education for children with disabilities, including helping improve life skills for students who need helps with daily living. Similar funding is credited with creating or saving 1,225 jobs across Wisconsin, according to the Wisconsin Office of Recovery and Reinvestment.
$238,298 to the Southern County School District to improve education for children with disabilities, including helping improve life skills for students who need helps with daily living. Similar funding is credited with creating or saving 1,225 jobs across Wisconsin, according to the Wisconsin Office of Recovery and Reinvestment.
– 30 –
