Let’s talk about tonight’s debate between Gov. Scott Walker and his Democratic challenger Mary Burke.
11 thoughts on “The Scott Walker/Mary Burke debate open thread”
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Let’s talk about tonight’s debate between Gov. Scott Walker and his Democratic challenger Mary Burke.
Comments are closed.
In defending Voter ID, Walker raises a 2004 Milwaukee Police Department “report” that suggested serious voter fraud in the city, which turned out not only to be an authorized report, but merely a freelance piece by one officer, the contents of which were later discredited.
Walker is slick as usual, if his syntax is sometimes fractured. Burke is a little nervous, which is understandable, but she’s making her points with some forcefulness.
Burke: If state’s economy had just kept pace with rest of nation, it would now be four billion dollars bigger. She scores a big pledge by saying we need to increase college enrollment while reducing tuition and financial aid. It’s to be her priority. Also: We shouldn’t be doubling down on job-creation policies that haven’t worked.
Here’s the exchange re raising the minimum wage. Does Burke believe workers can live on that wage? Nope. Raise it to $10.10, reducing the need for public assistance in the process. Additional money that will be spent right back in the state economy. Walker: Doesn’t answer directly, even when asked a second time. Says he worked at McDonald’s in college for mini-wage and didn’t expect that to always be his wage. Tells anecdote about older woman going back to school, claims his “investments” in tech education made that possible. “We don’t have a jobs problem in this state we have a work problem” His plan: “Learn more to earn more.” I.e., ignore the mini-wage, because he’s going to create jobs that make 2-3x mini-wage. Burke notes in retort that Walker actually made voc school cuts. Not realistic that all people now in low-wage jobs can take better paying welding jobs.” Walker typically in the debate overruns his allotted time and keeps going even after being told time is up.
They actually cut his mic on that one!
Was that the same McD’s where Paul Ryan spent a summer doing dishes? Or does Walker actually have some credibility on this “back when I was a boy and gas was only 89 cents a gallon” job claim? Minimum wage would buy you more back then, by the way, and very few people were trying to support a family on it, unlike now. That was what union jobs were for.
Burke comes on strong against Walker’s total anti-abortion stance, even in cases of rape and incest. “That’s wrong.”
On serving out a full term, Burke says not only one term but several. Walker claims he’ll serve a full four years. SO much for that presidential bid, apparently. Unless he’s lying, of course.
Walker would like to repeal “Obamacare” because it’s “failed.” Claims that not taking 100 percent federal aid to expand BadgerCare would have been more expensive, even though he mentions adding to the state budget to add some people to the rolls.
Burke: Says she’s focused on bringing down the cost of health care. When Walker turned down the expansion, it was irresponsible. Costing us a couple of hundred million just this round alone. People still get sick, but we’re not getting help to pay for it. Wis taxpayers holding the bag for his poor decision.
Walker: “Thanks to God and the glaciers,” Wisconsin has lots of frac sand. Well, governor: glaciers, mostly! In any event, he’s dismissive of the need for greater DNR review or tougher regulation. Burke: We haven’t been able to find that balance between jobs and protecting the environment, and local control is important. And “we shouldn’t be selling out our natural resources.”
Projected state deficit:
Burke notes a projected $1.8 billion deficit. Among other decisions, she’ll stop the $30 million “entitlement” program giving wealthy residents tuition subsidies to send their kids to private schools, and statewide private school vouchers that are draining money from public schools.
Walker says the next budget actually is on track to have a half billion surplus. The $1.8 billion figure was based on no changes in spending and requests from agencies (which was the standard he himself used to run in the first place against an earlier deficit projection).
By the way, earlier, Walker said that Act 10 saved the state $3 billion. Uh, not really.
Walker says his tax reduction (averaging 11 bucks a month) will mean a lot of new tires for drivers. Huh? Oh, and he still eats a brown bag lunch and drives his ’98 Saturn. Good to know. You might disagree with some of his policies, he said, but “I hope you’ll see our motives were pure.”
Burke’s strongest moment was her closing statement. Walker policies are “not the Wisconsin way.” Big-shot special interests shouldn’t be running this state. She alludes to the Gogebic Taconite $700,000 campaign donation that came to Walker backers in apparent exchange for loosening regulations for the proposed Penokee Hills strip mine. Build the middle class and Wisconsin will be stronger, healthier, more wealthy. Giving tax breaks to big business and millionaires doesn’t achieve that.
closing comments – Walker talks about his sons. Honestly? Be a preacher like your dad, scooter, if that is your utmost concern. Mary gets it, you get elected if you stand for your constituents … Which is many, many more folks than your offspring!!!
W/R/T Walker’s “We don’t have a jobs problem in this state. We have a work problem.”
It opens the door for Ms. Burke to start with criticism from the right, “Neumann accuses Walker of working part time so he can campaign” in 2010.
“…Citing records obtained under the state’s open records law, Neumann said Walker has taken 17 hours of personal leave a week on average over the past 60 weeks.
In a statement, Neumann said: “Politicians get elected to one office then start running for the next, then the next, then the next. And somewhere along the way all their good intentions get lost along with any concern for taxpayers. There are no workers in the state of Wisconsin that can take an average of 17 hours personal time in a 40-hour workweek.”…”
http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/93965284.html
And then she can ask to see his daily calendar from the four years he spent as Governor. Doyle, like any good public servant, made his available. Walker has not.