The state has partnered with the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association to produce and distribute brief radio address from Gov. Scott Walker once a week. Audio files and a written transcript of this radio address can be accessed online. To download an mp3 file you can visit Walker's website, right click the radio address link and click “save link as.”
Here is the transcript from this Thursday’s radio address, which is titled Year of the Veteran.
Hi I’m Scott Walker.
As we commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, it is important to recognize the tremendous dedication - as well as sacrifice - given by so many members of the Armed Forces from Wisconsin.
Today, there are more than 400,000 veterans living in Wisconsin. Of that, about 56,000 live with disabilities. Since the Civil War, more than 26,000 Wisconsin servicemen and women have given the ultimate sacrifice for our nation. And more than 150 servicemen and women, with some connection to Wisconsin, gave the ultimate sacrifice to our country since Sept. 11. 2001.
In an effort to highlight the important role veterans play in all aspects of life in Wisconsin, I dedicated 2012 as the Year of the Veteran here in Wisconsin.
As part of the Year of the Veteran:
- State agencies will hold at least 15 veteran specific job fairs and four employer education symposiums to point out the benefits of hiring veterans;
- We launched www.yearoftheveteran.com to create a centralized resource of support for veterans and their families;
- I signed pro-veterans legislation into law this week, and have plans to sign many more bills over the next few weeks;
- We will hold numerous events this year honoring veterans and their families; and
- The Department of Tourism will create a travel list of veteran’s related sites such as museums and memorials.
By dedicating 2012 as the Year of the Veteran, we will focus our attention on connecting veterans to jobs—as well as to programs, benefits and services available to our veterans here in Wisconsin. On behalf of a grateful state, we say thank you to all of our veterans their families.
http://scottwalkerwatch.com/2012/01/09/tim-russell-charged-with-embezzling-money-from-military-vets-group-is-part-of-walkers-inner-circle/ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/18/scott-walker-wisconsin-board-of-veterans-affairs_n_1213855.html http://scottwalkerwatch.com/2012/02/22/walkers-voter-id-law-makes-sure-not-to-allow-veterans-to-be-able-to-vote-with-their-id/
Here's a report written by BNP Paribas economist Jean-Marc Lucas about US state and local government finances: http://economic-research.bnpparibas.com/applis/www/recheco.nsf/ConjonctureByDateEN/50295B95134B87D7C125786F00439852/$File/C1104_A1.pdf Page 3; The 2007-2009 recession significantly reduced the tax revenues of state and local governments. The 26% year-on-year drop in personal income tax revenues in the second quarter of 2009 was particularly severe. Sales tax revenues were also down 6% year-on-year in the second quarter of 2009. Page 4; State and local government revenues surged in the first half of 2009 as Congress approved the transfer of federal funds under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). This resulted in a 19% year-on-year increase in non-tax revenues in the second quarter of 2009. In just two quarters transfers from the federal government rose from 405 to 503 billion dollars in annualised terms (+24%).
It sounds like a measured and appropriate solution for an already high tax state like Wisconsin might be a mild reform of the collective bargaining process for state employees to enhance the sustainability of their lucrative benefit packages. Defined benefit plans (company paid pensions) have been cost prohibitive in the private sector for years. Why can't taxpayers demand the same frugality from our public servants? Before Scott Walker the answer is collective bargaining would never allow it. The fiscal reality for most states is revenue is down, expenses are up and most taxpayers including high income ones have less income and purchasing power. The options for states include raising revenues, cutting spending with meat cleaver methods like mass layoffs or adjusting the margins as Walker's reforms have done. To pretend nothing would have changed but for the evil Koch brothers/ALEC policies of Scott Walker is ignorant and most likely self-interested deceit.
And for those of us who are standing by the "cash register" watching what programs are being slashed and how money is being spent (not to mention the potential for disastrous environmental problems and cleanup if the mine goes ahead and the soil actually does contain sufficient quantities of pyrite as is now suggested), it has become clear that a full Scott Walker term will be far more costly to Wisconsin (at several levels) than if he remains in office.
"What was he supposed to do?" I believe he's doing precisely what the Koch brothers/ALEC want him to do--strip collective bargaining rights, corporate tax cuts, Big Business-friendly deregulation, etc. He's doing a great job of following that agenda. That's his priority, not Wisconsin. And, as I remind anyone who suggests that I should move somewhere else because I disagree with them, my family has been in this country since before it was a country, and my Revolutionary ancestors fought and risked everything so folks like you would have the luxuries of democracy, a strong military, and government representation. I honor them by keeping my eyes open and not falling for ideological arguments. I believe I'll stay in Wisconsin and work toward restoring balance, thank you.
What's funny, Alice is you think it's different when YOU do it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsLpWfcZ_ok
the term union boss was created by the tea party and americans for prosperity who by the way have their bosses the koch bros. and why are you so worried about the teamsters if your not a member? it's not your money! see you at the rallies this week! there will be many more then the measly tea party rallies a few weeks ago.
"Walker: The other thing is I've got layoff notices ready. We put out the at-risk notices. We'll announce Thursday and they'll go out early next week. And we'll probably get 5 to 6,000 state workers will get at-risk notices for layoffs. We might ratchet that up a little bit, you know." "Walker: And my sense is, hell, I'll talk to them. If they want to yell at me for an hour, you know, I'm used to that, I can deal with that. But I'm not negotiating."
If you do not like recalls, let's change the State Constitution! It is our Constitutional right as Wisconsin citizens! I do not hear about a Constitutional change though from Republicans, because they like the idea of recalling Democrats sometime too. Can't have it both ways.
Sometimes you actually make sense and have facts to bolster your views. But, what the hell does this bit of piffle mean? "Let's see, smears, ad hominen attacks and guilt by association, what does that remind me of? Oh yeah, 8 years of Bush Derangement Syndrome wherein anyone revolted by liberals womb to tomb socialist vision was obviously a raaacist." Aside from your not being able to spell, "racist", what are you ranting about?
You got to use some of that Chicago style fuzzy math that Obama and his cronies are selling in the government school system to figure it all out. Answer is: Obama + Unions = JUNK BONDS (not worth a dime)
"O"bama security + "U"nion security = THE JUNK BONDS AND SECURITIES O. U. NOTHING FUND (still worthless junk bonds) Democrat security + "U"nion security + "O"bama security = THE DEMOCRAT JUNK BOND AND SECURITIES "U". "O". US FUND (even less then worthless Chicago junk bonds) By the way union people how's the Obama/GM and China auto manufacturing "share the wealth" venture doing? UAW Corporate owns about 23% of Obama/GM stock now so it looks like China and the UAW Corporate are sharing that wealth off of every car that ships here. About 7,000 cars shipped here since last June is it? Bye bye unions...
your big mouth + church telling you how to vote = you have no brain of your own! and your posts make no sense. matbe you can go be roomates with rush after he loses his show and your wife gets sick of your telling her that she is to obey your every word!
If you didn't know about the CB changes....you weren't paying attention.
Shame, shame, shame!!!! Grow up already - if you can't get behind Walker on this issue just because of who he is, then there's something seriously wrong with your dedication to our country! There are several veterans in my family, including both my father and grandfather, and they all love and support the job that Governor Walker is doing to restore the state they call home to prosperity! On behalf of the veterans in my family, thank you Governor Walker! Keep up the fantastic work and you'll always have plenty of allies in our family!
Keep your foot in your mouth... Yes, my mother raised 3 kids alone on welfare for about 12 years because she booted our dead beat father out because he liked to engage in immoral affairs. She met a guy when I was about 13 and they got married, he adopted us and we no longer needed to be on welfare. Note: they got married, they didn't shack up. They stayed faithfully married 33 years until she died. No welfare lifers in the family! Back when we were on welfare during the '50s and early '60s the Democrats hadn't been buying votes, therefore, there was a huge insentive to better yourself because being on welfare was a tough tough way to live off of back in those days and my mother wasn't running around in bars nor did she drink. There was no money to buy a car, clothes and house hold furnishings were bought at Good Will or Salvation Army stores, we got our first b/w TV when I was about 4 from my uncle, we didn't have a phone until I was about 6, we put cardboard in the bottom of our shoes to cover the holes in the soles, health care was a bus ride to County Hospital, dental work was done for free by students at Marquette Dental School, tooth paste was baking soda, hair cuts were by mom, etc., etc. and we were always flat broke. The excuse the Democrats make that poverty leads to crime is total b/s, I'm living proof that it is b/s. Crime is done by choice. Me play the victim? No, I wanted more out of life, legally and morally. Fry's with that foot?