Recall Roundup May 15, 2012

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Politifact on Walker: "No Movement So Far on Promise to Add 10,000 Businesses"

During Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker's 2010 campaign, he made two related promises. One was to bring 250,000 new jobs to Wisconsin by the end of his term, and the other was to create 10,000 new businesses in Wisconsin. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel took a look at the number. Politifact found that "the numbers have gone backwards." One year into Walker's term there were 9,485 fewer businesses. As of April the numbers had improved slightly, but Wisconsin was still down 4,338 businesses from when Walker took office. The paper goes on to say that on the campaign trail Walker has been using numbers that only represent newly registered businesses, not taking into account businesses that have failed or ceased to operate. "In sum, Walker has made no movement so far on his promise to add 10,000 businesses."

Legislator Cites Wolf Hunting Bill as Job Creation Tool

Greater Wisconsin Political Fund, an independent expenditure group that does not disclose its funders, released a new television ad today containing embarrassing video of Senator Terry Moulton (R-Chippewa Falls), one of the three Wisconsin Senators targeted for recall by state Democrats. The video shows Moulton at a town hall forum, hosted by the Eau Claire Chamber of Commerce, being asked what the Wisconsin legislature did to create jobs in the past year. Moulton visibly struggles to come up with an answer then says: "this may be strange but bear with me," before launching into a description of a new bill to allow wolf hunting in the state of Wisconsin.

Walker Ads Blame Barrett for Milwaukee Jobs Situation

The Walker camp has brushed off an old theme against Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, who is challenging Wisconsin Governor Walker in the recall campaign scheduled for June 5. "Tom Barrett has failed in Milwaukee for eight years," states the grave announcer. "Don't let him take Wisconsin backwards." The ad seeks to blame the Mayor for the lack of jobs and rising poverty in Wisconsin's largest city. It follows on Walker's April 30 pledge to invest $100,000,000 in an economic development plan targeting Milwaukee's inner city. Yet this aid was not included in the governor's budget bill, but came in the form of proposed loans (bonding and borrowing) 36 days before the recall election. Ironically, Walker has been in charge of the two budgets with a far larger capacity to aid Milwaukee's inner city had he wished to do so, the Milwaukee County budget and the Wisconsin biennial budget. Jon Peacock director of Wisconsin's Council on Children and Families points out that Walker's biennial budget drove Milwaukee families deeper into poverty. For example, a family of four with an income of $32,500 whose kids are insured through state medicaid would see its income drop by more than $1,200 this year due to increased BadgerCarePlus health premiums and a reduction in the state Earned Income Tax Credit. Jack Norman, research director of the Institute for Wisconsin's Future, estimates that Walker's budget cuts account for 4,800 lost jobs in Milwaukee County alone in 2011-2012, fueling Wisconsin's plunge into the last place in job creation in the country. Wisconsin was the only state with statistically significant job loss over the last year shedding some 23,900 jobs from March 2011-2012.

New, Unofficial Jobs Numbers Anticipated from Governor's Office

Governor Scott Walker announced that new jobs numbers from his first year as governor would be revised and released by his office later this week. Official sources show that Wisconsin lost 23,900 jobs between March 2011 and March 2012. According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "the 23,900 loss was the largest among all states. No other state lost more than 3,500 for the period." The Walker proposal to come up with his own jobs numbers have opponents crying foul. Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett predicted that Walker will "cook the books."

The Center for Media and Democracy does not endorse or oppose any candidate for office. Since 1993, CMD has been reporting on corporate spin and government propaganda, exposing public relations tactics, and debunking PR campaigns.