Walker promises to help people find jobs, bolster education

“For too long, government programs have entrapped individuals … into extended dependency”, the Republican governor said Tuesday in laying out his executive blueprint, which promises to be somewhat muted by election-year inertia. “He talked a little bit about helping 6,500 people a year with a tax reduction, when we see over a million people in Wisconsin have the average of $28,810 of debt per person”, added Democratic Rep. Katrina Shankland of the 71st Assembly District.

Spiros says there are more jobs available now and the challenge remains fitting available workers into those jobs.

As Wisconsin continues on this prosperous path, I look forward to working with Governor Walker and fellow legislators to ensure all Wisconsinites have access to quality education and job training program that will help them achieve true independence.

“Tonight, I commit to investing every penny of savings to the general fund from these specific reforms to support public education”, Walker said. The state had $517 million in reserves at the end of the previous year. He says property taxes and income taxes are down since 2010.

Of course, Democrats do not share in that assessment.

Walker’s absence previous year more than likely has contributed to his flagging poll numbers, and that of the Republican-led Legislature. “We made enormous progress, and the governor’s message tonight demonstrates more clearly than ever that Wisconsin is moving in the right direction”.

Rep. Amanda Stuck of Appleton says thousands of people were laid off in Wisconsin past year, but Majority Republicans haven’t tried to deal with the problem.

While democrats say Walker’s plan is inadequate and his opposition to allowing the refinancing of student loans will continue to impact the economy and attribute to the brain drain, Republicans say refinancing wouldn’t work for Wisconsin and tout his four year tuition freeze at the state secondary schools. And, at least based on monthly employment data (which is volatile at best), the Badger State in October posted its largest monthly jobs gain since April of 1992. At 67.8 percent, that’s 5.3 percentage points higher than the national rate, ranking Wisconsin in the top 10 states in America.

Walker also announced his 2020 vision project.

Walker also said he planned to hold listening sessions around the state throughout the year to learn what Wisconsin residents want to see over the next 20 years. “They come from empowering people to live their own lives through the dignity that comes from work”.