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| Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker |
Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker’s final budget contains necessary
reforms, like removal of prevailing wage rules from government contract
projects, which frees up the bidding process, saving taxpayer dollars. The
budget cuts the University of Wisconsin budget by $250 million to allow more
freedom in administration. The budget lays off 700 public workers, whose
salaries, pensions, and benefits create heavy costs on taxpayers. More voucher
funding will expand school choice, and grant students greater access to private
or parochial education.
One controversial element of the budget, a series of
amendments to limit public access, raised concerns from lawmakers, media
outlets, and interest groups left and right. The
Chicago Tribune detailed that those amendments to Wisconsin’s open
records law would have limited public access to the state legislative process.
One lawmaker defended the changes to allow state agencies
and public workers to engage in free discussion of policy. Besides, cities and
school boards routinely resort to closed executive sessions to conduct real
estate purchases and labor negotiations. Lawmakers also justifiably faulted the need to
control rising, onerous (politically motivated) records requests. To the
governor’s credit, his office announced their connection with this unpopular proposal
and acquiesced to its removal.
This controversy cannot hide the governor’s successes for
this legislative session: expedited production for a tarsands pipeline,
loosened restrictions on payday lenders, expanded school vouchers, respect for
gun rights, labor reforms, an in-state college tuition freeze, and ongoing tax
and spending cuts.
Walker’s legislative successes are the perfect launchpad for
his Presidential campaign.
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