Contact: TJ Helmstetter, tjh@wisdems.org

The following is a statement from the Democratic Party of Wisconsin in response to Scott Walker’s newest dishonest ad.

“Walker continues desperately trying to rewrite history in his ads. The fact remains that Scott Walker is the most anti-education, anti-healthcare governor in Wisconsin’s history, and he has chased his national ambition at the expense of addressing Wisconsin’s basic needs. The roads are literally crumbling under Walker’s non-leadership. Instead of lashing out with dishonest ads, Walker should just start doing his job. Just getting started? He’s been in office for eight years. Enough.” — TJ Helmstetter, DPW spokesperson for the 2018 gubernatorial election

CLAIM: “Wisconsin’s on a roll. Lower taxes, more money in education, record low unemployment. We’re just getting started.”

FACTS: 

  • State general aid funding for local schools will be lower in 2018-19 than it was in 2010-11.
  • Walker has still not restored schools funding to the levels they were before his record 2011-2013 cuts when adjusted for inflation.
  • Because of Walker’s failure to fund the schools, communities across the state have approved referendums to increase their own property taxes in order to maintain the schools.
  • School debt has skyrocketed to $1.35 billion under Scott Walker.
  • Wisconsin has trailed the national average in private sector job creation for more than seven straight years – every single quarter since Walker’s first state budget.
  • Wisconsin ranks dead last in the nation for start-up businesses, three years in a row.
  • Walker’s tax cuts have been “Slanted in Favor of those with Highest Incomes.”
  • Just getting started? He’s been in office for eight years.

CLAIM: “Our plan reduces student loan debt for graduates working high demand careers here in Wisconsin.”

FACTS:

  • Since 2011, Walker has cut $1 billion from higher education including $795 million from UW campuses and $203 million from Technical Colleges.
  • Nearly 1 million residents in Wisconsin carry a combined $24.4 billion in student loan debt.
  • The average student in Wisconsin graduates with $30,000 in debt.
  • Thousands of eligible UW and Technical College students are being denied financial aid and put on waitlists because Republicans refuse to fully fund need-based financial aid.
  • Scott Walker opposes a common sense plan to allow student loan borrowers to refinance their loans, just like you can a mortgage.

CLAIM: “It makes youth apprenticeship programs available to 7th and 8th graders.”

FACTS: 

  • Walker enacted the largest cuts to Wisconsin’s schools, technical colleges and public universities in state history.
  • Walker’s 2011-13 budget cut $71.6 million from Wisconsin’s technical colleges – about 30% of their funding.

CLAIM: “Our plan […] helps seniors stay in their home.”

FACTS: 

CLAIM: “Our plan […] makes it easier for working families to afford child care.”

FACTS: 

  • Wisconsin ranks 39th in the country in pre-K quality.
  • Walker’s first budget proposed cutting funds for 4-year-old kindergarten and Head Start.
  • The first budget Walker signed cut Head Start by 10%.
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