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Scott Walker on Government Reform

Republican Wisconsin Governor

 


Reduce power of next attorney-general after losing election

Legislative Summary: SB884: Eliminate the Office of the Solicitor General in the Department of Justice, which represents the state in certain cases on appeal in state and federal courts.

Analysis by The Capital Times: This is the most controversial bill in the bunch altering the authority of the Department of Justice by stripping some powers from the office of the attorney general. One key change would allow legislators to hire their own attorneys at taxpayer expense if sued in their official capacity. That measure is something Republicans wanted so they could be represented by Republican-leaning private attorneys rather than a Democratic attorney general.

Legislative Outcome: Passed Senate 17-16-0 on Dec/4/18; Passed Assembly 57-26-12 on Dec/4/18; Signed by Governor Scott Walker on Dec/14/18

Source: The Capital Times on Wisconsin voting record SB884 , Dec 14, 2018

Avoid witch hunts: limit political corruption investigations

Q: Support Citizens United decision, allowing unlimited political donations from corporations & unions? Views on Wisconsin campaign finance rules?

Tony Evers (D): Overturn Citizens United. Reverse Walker-supported law that limited political corruption investigations, doubled campaign contribution limits, & eased cooperation between candidates & outside groups.

Scott Walker (R): No public statement on Citizens United. To avoid "political witch hunts," he & allies pushed through a law to limit some corruption investigations. See defense & criticism of his approach to campaign finance limits and these investigations.

Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Wisconsin Governor race , Oct 9, 2018

Supported redistricting, but struck down as unconstitutional

Q: Voting Rules: Support voting rules that prioritize preventing even the possibility of fraud, even if limit access?

Tony Evers (D): No. Will "close the chapter of voter suppression in Wisconsin." Supports automatic voter registration.

Scott Walker (R): Yes. Has implemented several stricter requirements, calling them necessary to prevent voter fraud.

Q: Support nonpartisan redistricting to address charges of partisan gerrymandering?

Evers: Yes. "Politicians should not be picking their constituents, the people should be picking their politicians."

Walker: No. Supported redistricting that was struck down as unconstitutional.

Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Wisconsin Governor race , Oct 9, 2018

No new absentee voting: make it harder to cheat

Excerpts from legislation: Excerpts from veto message: I am approving in-person absentee voting between Monday and Friday from 8 AM to 7 PM, and prohibiting in-person absentee voting on legal holidays. I am vetoing hiring individuals to assist with in-person absentee voting. I object to a new state expenditure for a function traditionally performed by local governments. We should all be focused on ensuring the integrity of the voting process by making it harder to cheat.

Legislative outcome: Bill passed Senate 17-16-0 on March 12; passed House 56-38-5 on March 20; vetoed by Governor Walker on March 27

Source: Wisconsin legislative voting records: SB 324 , Mar 27, 2014

Wisconsin "citizen filibuster" gave birth to Occupy movement

On Feb. 15, the longest budget hearing in the history of the State Legislature would soon claim a more ignominious place in history--as the moment that gave birth to the "Occupy" movement.

Taking testimony from the public, opponents of Act 10 called a "citizen's filibuster." Using social media, the unions put out a call for people to come to the capitol and testify. They turned out more people than had ever been seen at a bill hearing.

The Democrats moved to a new hearing room and continued to hear "testimony" throughout the night and into the morning. And once the protesters had spent one night in the capitol, they figured they could do it again the next night, and the next. They never left. The occupation had begun.

On Feb. 16, more people showed up and joined the camp that was forming in the rotunda. The ranks of the occupiers grew with each passing day. While protesters chanted "Kill the bill!" outside my office, I remarked to reporters gathered inside, "Everyone has a right to be heard.

Source: Unintimidated, by Scott Walker, p. 65-6 , Nov 18, 2013

Prevent voter fraud: require voter ID at polls

We passed legislation to prevent voter fraud by requiring voters to show photo identifications at the polls--a bill Republicans had worked to pass since 2003. As I signed the bill into law, the protesters chanted "Shame!" and "Recall Walker!" outside my office. They weren't there for the voter ID bill; they were the same union protesters who followed me everywhere to protest Act 10.
Source: Unintimidated(Walker) p.215: Wisconsin Voting Records Act 23 , Nov 18, 2013

Recall election rejected big government interests & spending

On June 5th, voters in Wisconsin were asked to choose between going backwards to the days of double-digit tax increases, billion dollar budget deficits and record job losses.

Or moving forward with reforms that lowered the tax burden, balanced the budget and helped small businesses create more jobs.

On June 5th, voters in my swing state were asked to decide if they wanted elected officials who measure success by how many people are dependent on the government.

Or if they wanted leaders who believe success is measured by how many people are not dependent on the government, because they control their own destiny in the private sector.

On June 5th, voters in Wisconsin got to determine who was in charge--was it the big government special interests in Washington? Or the hard-working tax payers of our state?

The good news is that--on June 5th--the hard-working taxpayers won.

Source: 2012 Republican National Convention speech , Aug 28, 2012

Cutting the cost of government enables us to save jobs

The Legislature helped us save 1,500 middle-class jobs by moving forward this week with the budget repair. The state will now be able to realize $30 million in savings to balance the budget and allow 1,500 state employees to keep their jobs. The reforms contained in this legislation, which require modest health care and pension contributions from all public employees, will help put Wisconsin on a path to fiscal sustainability.
Source: 2011 gubernatorial press release, "1500 jobs" , Mar 11, 2011

End tax on HSAs; reduce frivolous lawsuits

The first act I signed as governor eliminated the taxes on health savings accounts, making health care more affordable for small business owners and family farmers. This change was a long time coming for Wisconsin and brings us into line with the rest of the nation. Our second act reduced frivolous lawsuits in Wisconsin. The litigation environment in a state is one of the key drivers for business. Now, we've turned the page on lawsuit reform and offer one more sign that Wisconsin is open for business.
Source: 2011 Wisconsin State of the State Address , Feb 1, 2011

Other governors on Government Reform: Scott Walker on other issues:
WI Gubernatorial:
Bob Harlow
Jonathan Wichmann
Kathleen Vinehout
Kelda Helen Roys
Phil Anderson
Rebecca Kleefisch
Timothy Ramthun
Tony Evers
WI Senatorial:
Kathleen Vinehout
Leah Vukmir
Phil Anderson
Robert Lorge
Ron Johnson
Russell Feingold
Tammy Baldwin
Gubernatorial Debates 2021:
CA Recall:
S.D.Mayor Kevin_Faulconer(R)
vs.Former Gov. nominee John Cox(R)
vs.Former U.S.Rep Doug Ose(R)
vs.Laura Smith(R)
vs.Former Olympian Caitlyn Jenner(R)
vs.Radio Host Larry Elder(R)
vs.Kevin Paffrath(D)
vs.Gavin Newsom(D)
NJ: Incumbent Phil Murphy(D)
vs.State Rep. Jack Ciattarelli(R)
vs.Candidate Hirsh Singh(R)
vs.GOP Chair Doug Steinhardt(R)
VA: Incumbent Ralph Northam(D,term-limited)
vs.Former Governor Terry McAuliffe(D)
vs.CEO Glenn Youngkin(R)
vs.A.G. Mark Herring(D)
vs.State Sen. Amanda Chase(I)
vs.Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax(D)
vs.State Rep. Jennifer Carroll Foy(D)
vs.State Rep. Lee Carter(D)
vs.State Sen. Jennifer McClellan(D)
vs.State Rep. Kirk Cox(R)
vs.CEO Pete Snyder(R)

Gubernatorial Debates 2023:
KY: Incumbent Andy Beshear(D)
vs.Former Gov. Matt Bevin(? R)

vs.Senator Rand Paul(? R)
vs.State Auditor Mike Harmon(R)
LA: Incumbent John Bel Edwards(D,term-limited)
vs.Biden Adviser Cedric Richmond(? D)
vs.Senator John Neely Kennedy(? R)
MS: Incumbent Tate Reeves(R)
vs.Bill Waller(R)

Gubernatorial Debates 2022:
AK: Incumbent Mike Dunleavy(R)
vs.Bill Walker(I)
vs.Les Gara(D)
vs.Billy Toien(L)
vs.State Rep. Chris Kurka(R)
AL: Incumbent Kay Ivey(R)
vs.Chris Countryman(D)
vs.Stacy Lee George(R)
vs.Ambassador Lynda Blanchard(R)
vs.State Sen. Malika Sanders-Fortier(D)
vs.Challenger Tim James(R)
AR: Incumbent Asa Hutchinson(R,term-limited)
vs.Trump Adviser Sarah Huckabee Sanders(R)
vs.A.G. Leslie Rutledge(R,withdrew Nov.2021)
vs.Ricky Dale Harrington(L)
vs.Anthony Bland(D)
AZ: Incumbent Doug Ducey(R,term-limited)
Mayor Marco Lopez(D)
vs.Former news anchor Kari Lake(R)
vs.Secretary of State Katie Hobbs(D)
vs.State Treasurer Kimberly Yee(R)
vs.U.S.Rep.Matt Salmon(R)
vs.Steve Gaynor(R)
vs.State Rep.Aaron Lieberman(D)
vs.Jorge Rivas(R)
vs.Karrin Taylor Robson(R)
CA: Incumbent Gavin Newsom(D)
vs.S.D.Mayor Kevin_Faulconer(R)
vs.Former Gov. nominee John Cox(R)
vs.Kevin Paffrath(D)
vs.State Sen. Brian Dahle(R)
CO: Incumbent Jared Polis(D)
vs.Mayor Greg Lopez(R)
vs.Heidi Ganahl(R)
CT: Incumbent Ned Lamont(D)
vs.Bob Stefanowski(? R)
FL: Incumbent Ron DeSantis(R)
vs.Former Gov.Charlie Crist(D)
vs.Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried(D)
vs.Annette Taddeo(D)
vs.Brian Moore(G)
GA: Incumbent Brian Kemp(R)
vs.Minority Leader Stacey Abrams(D)
vs.Senate candidate Shane Hazel(L)
vs.State Rep.Vernon Jones(R)
vs.2020 candidate Kandiss Taylor(R)
vs.Senator David Perdue(R)
HI: Incumbent David Ige(D,term-limited)
vs.Marissa Kerns(R)
vs.Lt.Gov.Josh Green(D)
vs.Vicky Cayetano(D)
vs.Paul Morgan(R)
vs.State Rep.Kirk Caldwell(D)
vs.U.S.Rep.Kai Kahele(D)
IA: Incumbent Kim Reynolds(R)
vs.Deidre DeJear(D)
vs.State Rep.Ras Smith(D)
ID: Incumbent Brad Little(R)
vs.Stephen Heidt(D)
vs.Raul Labrador(R)
vs.Lt. Gov. Janice McGeachin(R)
vs.Ammon Bundy(R)
vs.Ed Humphreys(R)
IL: Incumbent J.B. Pritzker(D)
vs.State Sen.Darren Bailey(R)
vs.Paul Schimpf(R)
vs.Jesse Sullivan(R)
KS: Incumbent Laura Kelly(D)
vs.Jeff Colyer(R)
vs.State Sen.Derek Schmidt(R)
vs.Chase LaPorte(R)
Gubernatorial Debates 2022 (continued):
MA: Incumbent Charlie Baker(R)
vs.Lt.Gov.Karyn Polito(R)
vs.State Rep. Geoff Diehl(R)
vs.Harvard Professor Danielle Allen(D)
vs.State Sen.Ben Downing(D)
vs.State Sen.Sonia Chang-Diaz(D)
vs.Shiva Ayyadurai(I)
vs.A.G. Maura Healey(D)
MD: Incumbent Larry Hogan(R,term-limited)
vs.State Del.Robin Ficker(R) vs.State Del.Peter Franchot(D) vs.State Del.Kelly M. Schulz(R) vs.Secretary John B. King(D) vs.Ashwani Jain(D) vs.State A.G. Doug Gansler(D) vs.County Exec. Rushern Baker(D) vs.Secretary Thomas Perez(D) vs.Wes Moore(D) vs.Dan Cox(R)
ME: Incumbent Janet Mills(D)
vs.Former Gov. Paul LePage(R)
MI: Incumbent Gretchen Whitmer(D)
vs.Chief James Craig(R)
vs.Police Chief Tudor Dixon(R)
vs.Garrett Soldano(R)
vs.John E. James(? R)
MN: Incumbent Tim Walz(DFL)
vs.Mayor Mike Murphy(R)
vs.State Sen.Scott Jensen(R)
vs.Michelle Benson(R)
vs.Paul Gazelka(R)
NE: Incumbent Pete Ricketts(R,term-limited)
vs.U.S.Senator Bob Krist(R)
vs.Chuck Herbster(R)
vs.Jim Pillen(R)
vs.Brett Lindstrom(R)
vs.Carol Blood(D)
vs.State Sen. Theresa Thibodeau(R)
NH: Incumbent Chris Sununu(R)
vs.Dan Feltes(D)
vs.Karen Testerman(R)
NM: Incumbent Michelle Lujan Grisham(D)
vs.Commissioner Jay Block(R)
vs.State Rep.Rebecca Dow(R)
vs.Mark Ronchetti(R)
NV: Incumbent Steve Sisolak(D)
vs.A.G.Adam Laxalt(R)
vs.North Las Vegas Mayor John Lee(R)
vs.Dean Heller(R)
vs.Joe Lombardo(R)
vs.Mayor Michele Fiore(R)
NY: Incumbent Andrew Cuomo(D,resigned)
vs.Acting Gov.Kathy Hochul(D)
vs.Rob Astorino(R)
vs.Andrew Giuliani(R)
vs.US.Rep.Lee Zeldin(R)
vs.Tom Suozzi(D)
vs.Attorney General Letitia James(D)
OH: Incumbent Mike DeWine(R)
vs.Former Rep.Jim Renacci(R)
vs.Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley(D)
vs.Mayor John Cranley(D)
OK: Incumbent Kevin Stitt(R)
vs.State Sen. Ervin Yen(R)
vs.Connie Johnson(D)
vs.Joy Hofmeister(D)
vs.Natalie Bruno(L)
OR: Incumbent Kate Brown(D,term-limited)
vs.Gov. nominee Bud Pierce(R)
vs.Paul Romero(R)
vs.Casey Kulla(D)
vs.Kerry McQuisten(R)
vs.Tina Kotek(D)
vs.Nicholas Kristof(D)
vs.Tobias Read(D)
vs.State Rep. Christine Drazan(R)
PA: Incumbent Tom Wolf(D,term-limited)
vs.U.S.Rep. Lou Barletta(R)
vs.Commissioner Joe Gale(R)
vs.A.G.Josh Shapiro(D)
vs.William McSwain(R)
vs.U.S.Rep.Melissa Hart(R)
vs.State Sen.Scott Martin(R)
vs.State Sen. Scott Martin(R)
vs.State Sen. Doug Mastriano(R)
RI: Incumbent Gina Raimondo(D,to Cabinet)
vs.Gov. Dan McKee(D)
vs.Secy.Matt Brown(D)
vs.Mayor Allan Fung(R ?)
vs.Luis-Daniel Munoz(D)
vs.RI Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea(D)
vs.Seth Magainer(D)
vs.Helena Foulkes(D)
SC: Incumbent Henry McMaster(R)
vs.US.Rep.Joe Cunningham(D)
vs.State senator Mia McLeod(D)
SD: Incumbent Kristi Noem(R)
vs.State Rep. Billie Sutton(? D)
vs.Speaker Steven Haugaard(R)
TN: Incumbent Bill Lee(R)
vs.Carnita Atwater(D)
vs.J B Smiley(D)
TX: Incumbent Greg Abbott(R)
vs.Beto O`Rourke(D)
vs.Chad Prather(R)
vs.State Sen.Don Huffines(R)
vs.U.S.Rep. Allen West(R)
vs.Deidre Gilbert(D)
VT: Incumbent Phil Scott(R)
(no prospective opponents yet)
WI: Incumbent Tony Evers(D)
vs.CEO Jonathan Wichmann(R)
vs.Rebecca Kleefisch(R)
vs.State Rep. Timothy Ramthun(R)
WY: Incumbent Mark Gordon(R)
vs.Rex Rammell(R)
vs.Minority Leader Chris Rothfuss(? D)
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Page last updated: May 19, 2022