Oct. 22, 2014

By Alexandria Zamecnik

Job growth and the economy took the stage as Gov. Scott Walker and Mary Burke squared off one last time before the 2014 Wisconsin Gubernatorial elections take place on Nov. 4.

The incumbent, Walker, and Democratic candidate, Burke, debated at 7 p.m. on Oct. 17 at the Milwaukee Public Television Studio on issues that affect the state of Wisconsin. It included the budget, unemployment in Milwaukee, a casino proposal in Kenosha, the possible removal of the Milwaukee Bucks and drunken-driving laws.

Burke highlighted the fact that the average family income has seen a drop of over $3,000 in the last four years.

“That is a jobs problem,” Burke said. “It is not fair and that is not good for the economy.”

While Burke said Wisconsin is dead last in the Midwest in terms of job-growth, Walker said 8,400 new jobs were created last month alone.

“That is the best September we’ve had for private sector job creation in more than a decade,” Walker said. “On top of that, unemployment is down to 5 percent, the lowest since October of 2008.”

The Legislative Fiscal Bureau of Wisconsin released a report last week saying Wisconsin will end the year with a $517 million surplus, but at the same time, reports predict there will be a $1.8 billion budget shortfall.

Burke cleared up the budget inconsistency.

“If you have a lot of bills that you have, that have not come due yet or you haven’t paid them yet, it may look like you have more money,” Burke said. “But if you owe a lot of bills, you don’t really have that much.”

Burke said there are UW-System colleges putting projects on hold in order to inflate budget numbers.

Walker responded by saying the $1.8 billion deficit is based on the assumption that Wisconsin will have zero-growth the following year and is nearly impossible.

Walker focused on the positives since he has taken office.

“Four years ago, we inherited a $3.6 billion dollar deficit that we turned into a surplus,” Walker said. “We did it the old-fashioned way. We actually paid our bills off.”

The debate switched tracks when a reporter asked, “What Burke and Walker would to do to create a thriving Milwaukee area?”

“Wisconsin cannot have a thriving economy without a Milwaukee economy that is thriving as well,” Burke said. “The Milwaukee economy hasn’t come back at the same rate the rest of the state has.”

Burke said if she was governor she would invest in the local neighborhoods and communities  and also give locals the business skills and capital they need to be successful.

Walker said his administration has already invested over $100 million to improving the Milwaukee economy but is looking for more ways to improve.

“We need capital investments here in the city of Milwaukee,” Walker said.

To watch the entire debate go to www.c-span.org/video/ and search “Wisconsin Governors Debate.”