"Scott Walker Has Failed Wisconsin And Minnesota Is The Proof"

[midnight]

http://www.thedailycall.org/?p=65062


Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (10/22/14) article explains why.

"Minnesota Democrats balanced the budget while increasing investments in the state. They increased spending on public education by $485 million and college education by $250 million. They also increased the state’s economic development fund by $89 million, which allowed for more job training, and grew the transportation budget by $59 million. And by accepting the funds from the Affordable Care Act, the state reduced health care spending by $50 million without losing any health care services.

Let’s talk about health care real quick. While Wisconsin rejected the Medicaid expansion and refused to create a health care marketplace under the Affordable Care Act, Minnesota took the expansion and created a marketplace. The result? Minnesota currently has the lowest health insurance rates in the country, the number of uninsured Minnesotans fell 41% cutting the uninsured rate from 8.2% to 4.9%, and the state’s health care budget is sound. On the other hand, Wisconsin’s uninsured rate is double Minnesota’s, it’s health care budget has a deficit of $760 million, and thousands of lower income Wisconsinites lost their health insurance when Walker pushed them off Badgercare. In fact, by rejecting the Medicaid expansion, Wisconsin is paying $150 million more to cover 85,000 fewer Wisconsinites. Looking at these results, it’s becoming more and more obvious that the Walker administration’s rejection of the Affordable Care Act is more about ideology than common sense.

More jobs in Minnesota

Now, according to the conservative mantra, with Minnesota raising taxes on the wealthy, increasing spending, boosting the minimum wage, and implementing Obamacare, the state should have turned into a black hole of enormous deficits, huge job losses, and rampant unemployment. But that couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, during Walker’s tenure, Minnesota has blown Wisconsin out of the water when it comes to job growth. From March 2011 to March 2014, Minnesota has created 20,000 more jobs than Wisconsin. And the gap is widening even faster with Minnesota creating 14,000 more jobs than Wisconsinsince only July of this year. Minnesota’s unemployment rate, at 4.5%, is actually lower than it was before the recession and is currently a full point lower than Wisconsin’s."

[CrispyQ]

1. That's a fantastic title for a great article.

snip...

The truth is we are falling behind. Our transportation budget has a $750 million hole in it, our healthcare budget is $760 million in the red, and that’s all on top of a $1.8 billion general budget deficit. Add it up and Walker has essentially taken a balanced budget and turned it into a deficit nearly as large as the one created by the worst economic disaster since the Great Depression. That makes for a terrible bumper sticker.

[lastlib]

2. Excellent article!

I'm okay with Scott Walker and his Repuke allies digging their own graves in Wisconsin, except that they're taking too many good people with them. I strongly LOATHE those basturds!

[Voice for Peace]

3. kick and rec! I hope this gets read by Wisconsin voters

[MNBrewer]

4. MN is not just to the left of Wisconsin on the map...

[Mister Ed]

5. This should be sent to any undecideds in Minnesota or Wisconsin

Any Wisconsin voters who are still wondering whether to re-elect Governor Walker (or Minnesota voters wondering whether to re-elect Governor Dayton) need to read this. We've been doing great here in Minnesota these past couple of years. Business is thriving, schools are doing well, and the middle class is healthy.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

6. I sure hope this article is in the print edition of the Urinal-Sentinal

so my wingnut relatives in Wisconsin might read it. Here in Minnesota we are doing pretty well, over all. I've been seeing "help wanted" signs all over the place; there's lots of new construction going on; and there's even been a significant increase in good jobs, not just low-paying retail ones, in the Minneapolis-St.Paul area. And Wisconsin people are crossing the border to work in Minnesota restaurants. Scott Wanker's administration has been a disaster for Wisconsin (just like the previous administration of GOPer Tim Pawlenty was for Minnesota). I saw a lot of Mary Burke lawn signs and very few Walker signs in an excursion down the river last week. I hope WI gets smart and boots Wanker's sorry ass the hell out of Madison.

[Voice for Peace]

7. but but but they are taking money from the rich and giving it to the poor!

[aggiesal]

8. We all know that Republicans in general ...

tend to vote against their own best interests, but
Kansas and Wisconsin both have implemented the Kock brothers agenda
full bore, and both have shown that it doesn't work!

So, why are both Governor elections so tight?
Are people in both states really that stupid or ignorant, or are they that
stubborn that they HAVE to vote for anyone with an (R) next to their name?

What's it going to take for these states to see the light, full out depression?

[Lifelong Protester]

10. My questions exactly

I don't know what is more depressing, having Walker as a governor or knowing that half the state buys his BS.

[sammy750]

9. The Destruction of the Republican Governors.

All the Republicans Governors since 2010 have a program or mission to destroy the states. Take away the rights of the people. And beware because if they gain control, this nation and people will see even more. They plan to defund EPA, FDA, Education, AHC. It will be a program to destroy any energy programs. They will ban wind power, solar power. 2 states have already done that. The electric power company of this nation, are trying to get rid of solar power and wind power. Some states are even taxing those that use it.

[Enthusiast]

11. Kicked and recommended a whole bunch!

Too bad the idiots won't recognize it.

[Bozvotros]

12. I have said this before....this is no ordinary cognitive dissonance at work now..

Working people will keep voting for the Tea Party and Republicans just like the good people of Jonestown drank the kool aid. The more you invest in your folly and the longer you have been duped, the harder it is to admit it. I fear we will see this malignant cognitive dissonance in full display in a couple of weeks. PT Barnum ("There's a sucker born every minute.&quot and Jim Jones ("Bottoms up, everyone!) are the true spiritual leaders of the modern Republican Party with HL Mencken (Nobody ever went broke, underestimating the intelligence of the American public.&quot brought in as a consultant for campaign ads.