I don’t know about you, but I’m headed west—well, Midwest.
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker has completely changed the “state of the state” and Wisconsinites are reaping the benefits.
In 2011, Wisconsin had a whopping deficit of $3.6 billion dollars. But a cooperate tax cut and collective bargaining reforms invigorated the state economy. Now, the state is boasting a $911 million surplus, credited to “good stewardship of the taxpayers’ money.”
And what will Walker do? Buy his wife a $19,000 dress? Increase his paycheck? Go on vacation?
Nope. He’s proposing $800 million in tax cuts.
“What do you do with a surplus? Give it back to the people who earned it. It’s your money,” Walker said.
Of course, there were plenty of Democrats who rolled their eyes at Walker’s State of the State address, but they can’t ignore the facts. Walker’s cuts and reforms have worked a miracle in Wisconsin, and I doubt liberals will be complaining when more of their money stays in their pockets.
Walker claims his suggested entitlement reforms are not “making it harder to get government assistance,” but “making it easier to get a job.” It’s hard to argue with that when you look at the numbers:
When I spoke about our jobs goal more than four years ago, I also made a pledge to help the people of Wisconsin create 10,000 new businesses by 2015. Tonight, I am proud to announce we exceeded that goal with nearly 13,000 new businesses created so far.
Helping people find jobs, giving hard-working citizens a tax deduction, and pulling the state out of a quicksand of debt makes Walker a real team player.
He chose to honor blue-collar workers by saying he wants to “remind our young people about the valuable careers available in our skilled trades.”
It means valuing our sons and daughters, who are high skilled welders and machinists and tool and die operators, as much those who are doctors and lawyers.
As in all states, the work is never finished. But after Bob McDonnell’s indictment, it’s refreshing to see there are still some All-Stars on our team.
