Scott Walker always puts cuts ahead of public safety

When Scott Walker announced a plan to cut 4,000 jobs that are currently unfilled from the state budget, it was dismissed as a gimmick by AFSCME, bloggers and both the Neumann and Barrett campaigns, because cutting positions that do not exist won’t save money.

Not yet mentioned is Walker’s stated exemption of “public safety positions” from cuts. As Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker has proven that public safety personnel are not exempt from his perennial quest for privatization, no matter the cost to county coffers or public safety.

Earlier this year Walker canned 76 courthouse security guards, replacing them with private employees from the security firm Wackenhut. Several years ago Milwaukee County hired Wackenhut to provide bus security, and Wackenhut failed miserably. Worse, after Wackenhut employees took over courthouse security duties it was discovered their supervisor spent three months in jail because as chief of police in Manawa, WI he made;

“repeated unwanted sexual advances towards on-duty male officers after pressuring them to drink beer and watch pornography at his home.”

When Walker senses a politically advantageous cut, he makes it with no consideration of the consequences. Scott Walker did not put public safety first when firing courthouse security, when a chunk of the courthouse crashed to the ground, or at O’Donnell Park garage. He won’t put public safety first as governor either.

Will Pro-Life Wisconsin rescind Scott Walker endorsement after condom comments?

Today Scott Walker delivered his nomination papers to the Government Accountability Board. A reporter asked about his endorsement by Pro-Life Wisconsin (who also endorsed Walker challenger Mark Neumann), a group whose anti-choice position extends so far right as to oppose all forms of contraception.

Walker refused to comment on Pro-Life Wisconsin’s platform, referring to his legislative record as “pro-life” but when the reporter asked him if he opposed condoms (as PLW does) Walker said, “To me that’s not a position of the government.”

Bravo to Walker for actually taking a limited government position after all his rhetoric, but how will this bode for Pro-Life Wisconsin’s endorsement of Walker? Among the group’s extreme positions;

“We urge our elected officials to ban surgical abortion without exceptions for rape, incest, or the life and health of the mother.”

Walker’s statement that the government has no business intervening in condom use seems completely sane to most people, but when your policy is against terminating a pregnancy when the life of the mother is on the line?

Hypocrisy has always been rampant among the conservative base — limited government, except when the government should legislate morality — so I’m not holding my breath for the endorsement to be rescinded, but there is the chance Walker could “clarify” (retract) his statement.

Curiously, Wisconsin Right to Life’s Google ad calls its group “The most effective pro-life organization in Wisconsin,” perhaps an acknowledgement that Pro-Life Wisconsin’s extreme policy positions are counter-productive within the anti-choice movement.

Ron Johnson opposes Child Victims Act, Republican gov primary gets awesome

Check out Blogging Blue on Ron Johnson’s opposition to the Child Victims Act.

Jim Klauser wants his donation to Mark Neumann back, over Neumann’s statements on Walker’s Milwaukee County budget increases. Neumann says he’ll give Klauser’s money back if Klauser can prove the statements were false. So Neumann will be keeping his money. This primary is awesome!

Klauser is also calling on Neumann to quit the governors race. I wonder if Kyle over at the world’s new worst blog will be criticizing Klauser for subverting the electoral process and all that, like he’s done regarding the 7th congressional district seat being vacated by Obey. My guess? Unlikely.

Waiting Until November to Announce a Run Good for Barrett’s Campaign

Barrett announces he is in the race, and Republicans start slinging mud. Anyone surprised?

The Walker campaign hit first, charging “Tom the Taxer” with being a spend-happy Doyle Jr.

The Republican National Committee insults Wisconsin’s economy but doesn’t say much else.

The Republican Party of Wisconsin, in addition to the usual tax rhetoric, insinuates Barrett doesn’t really want to run for governor.

The “Doyle-as-reluctant-candidate” attack has been popular among the right. Republicans claim that Barrett waiting until a year before the election to declare his candidacy shows the Mayor isn’t really up for the job. Neumann and Walker have been at it for months, why didn’t Barrett enter the race earlier?

Immediately after Barrett declared himself a candidate, the Republican attacks began. Had Barrett announced his candidacy six months ago, six months of attacks would have been levied by GOP opponents. Barrett would have spent six months campaigning instead of governing, adversely affecting the citizens of Milwaukee.

More on governing…

A Journal-Sentinel article questions what an all-Milwaukee race would mean for governing in Milwaukee:

Patrick Curley, Barrett’s chief of staff, and Mordecai Lee, professor of governmental affairs at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, said they don’t expect either Barrett or Walker would let politics interfere with the relationship between the city and the county. Walker campaign spokeswoman Jill Bader said Walker’s governing style wouldn’t change.

True, as Walker has been running Milwaukee county like a candidate for governor for some time. Take yesterday’s effective veto of domestic partner benefits. Walker has the Republican base to consider in the primary, he can’t do anything that could be construed as supporting gay rights.

Barrett has plenty of time to convince the citizens of Wisconsin he is the best candidate for governor. Between that, taking care of Milwaukee and ducking the mud from Walker and RPW stuntmen Jefferson and Priebus  he’ll have his hands full. Good luck Mr. Mayor.