Earlier today, President Barack Obama visited Lorain County Community College in Elyria, Ohio to highlight how job training funding through the federal Workforce Investment Act, which benefits thousands of Wisconsin job-seekers each year with training and job search assistance, is providing critical services for unemployed workers and helping them to get jobs in high-demand, high-growth industries.
At the same time, however, we learned today how the draconian education cuts by Scott Walker will weaken the job outlook for the state’s children by cutting thousands of educators from classrooms. And furthermore, we’re reminded how the Romney-Ryan budget plan would cut programs that focus on job training and community colleges that focus on educating the workforce in areas like manufacturing.
If made law, the Romney-Ryan budget would slash funding to programs like the Workforce Investment Act, which would directly impact more than 5,000 Wisconsin residents who need training and employment services and 25,000 residents who need job search assistance next year. And in 2014, those cuts would affect more than 15,000 residents seeking job training and 63,000 residents who need help finding work.
“It’s clear the budgets by Scott Walker, Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan have one thing in common: they want to strip away the tools and opportunities afforded job-seekers through education and continued training,” said Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chair Mike Tate. “Cuts to education, job training and job search assistance will only cost us more in the long-run. We need these programs and a strong education base to grow our workforce now and in the foreseeable future. These three just don’t understand the relationship between education — no matter the level — and family-sustaining jobs. Thankfully, this is something Wisconsin voters will rectify at the ballot box soon.”
