Scott Walker’s empty promises and lip service to important issues know no bounds. Even the men and women who bravely defend our country’s freedoms are subject to the governor’s political games.
Walker routinely makes a point to take pictures with veterans and use them as props for his own political purposes, but his record shows that’s where his commitment ends.
Scott Walker’s Real Record on Veterans Issues
- One of Walker’s first acts as governor was signing AB 96 into law in 2011, a massive power grab that allowed the governor to appoint the state’s VA Secretary, powers once held by the Board of Veterans Affairs. The move essentially regulated the VA to another political weapon for Walker to wield instead of an agency suited to help veterans. Three members of the board retired as a result of Walker’s clear overreach.
- Just this last legislative session Scott Walker did a grave disservice to veterans when he signed into law AB 19, making it harder for people to pursue legal remedies and compensation for illnesses related to repeated exposure of asbestos, including mesothelioma – a rare form of cancer that disproportionately affects veterans.
- Adding insult to injury, a key policy advisor in Walker’s administration reportedly told veterans groups like Military Order of the Purple Heart, Wisconsin American Legion, and Wisconsin Veterans of Foreign Wars to “back off” from trying to persuade Walker into vetoing the bill because it would “only irritate him.”
- Walker piled on veterans in the last legislative session by signing voter suppression bills that disproportionately affect the veteran community.
- The governor continued his ill-will towards veterans when he denied a pardon to Eric Pizer, a decorate Marine Corps veteran who served two tours of duty. Even after dozens of Republicans and veterans pored in letters of support for Pizer, Walker picked politics over compassion and doubled down on his no pardon policy.
- The governor’s job creation failures are known all too well. At 35th in the nation and dead last in the Midwest in job creation, Wisconsin is lagging behind. Veterans feel the pain along with the rest of Wisconsinites, post-Sept. 11 veterans have a staggering 10.9% unemployment rate in our state.
“There’s no end to the political games when it comes to Scott Walker,” Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chair Mike Tate said on Monday. “The men and women who risk their lives to keep this country free deserve more than a photo-op with the governor. They deserve someone who is truly working for them. In November, Veterans in all corners of our state will vote for Mary Burke, a leader who will work for them.”
