Wisconsin Taxpayers are Subsidizing Scott Walkers Presidential Bidby Puddytat Follow
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This guy has no shame. I don't know why.
It cost Wisconsin taxpayers $138,200 for Scott Walkers trip to England recently. Promoted as a "trade mission", it was really about pumping up Walker's naked foreign policy resume.Instead of being a chest-thumping triumph, it turned out to be a huge embarrassment as Walker punted questions on evolution and generally made a fool of himself.
For any potential political candidate, a trip abroad requires substantial resources both in dollars and in staff time setting it up. When those resources can be provided by taxpayers, it frees up political staff and funds for other priorities."It's unconscionable that Scott Walker is spending ($138,000) in taxpayer funds on a trip abroad to promote his presidential campaign," state Democratic Party spokeswoman Melissa Baldauff said. "And he's headed overseas again. ... Since releasing his budget, Scott Walker has been seen in Wisconsin about as often as a warm sunny day."
In another sign of the rising importance of international issues for Walker, the governor met recently with the ambassadors of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Speaking to conservative commentator Sean Hannity on Fox News Wednesday, Walker said he had been talking with officials from the country's Arab allies about President Barack Obama's nuclear agreement with Iran.
(bolding is mine)And he's about to leave on yet another foreign trip, which will cost taxpayers plenty as he ramps up his Presidential campaign.
It's been Walkers entire history in elected office - using each position to set himself up for his next, higher political goal. When he was Milwaukee County Executive, he used taxpayer money to travel the state, ostensibly to "promote" Milwaukee County. Trust me, the only thing he was promoting was himself. He got that state-wide name recognition, too, at OUR expense. Using that taxpayer funded statewide name recognition helped him become Governor.
Now, he wants to be President. Guess who's going to be handed the bill for all of THAT travel to promote himself while pretending to be promoting Wisconsin. You only need one guess.
You'd think the union-busting, bigoted, misogynistic, "we're broke" Governator who has been on a rampage cutting food assistance, health care, gutting education spending, slashing wages and benefits for public employees, programs for seniors and the disabled would be more careful with his own massive spending. Like remodeling the Governors mansion including a new kitchen, giveaways to corporations, crony hires with massive pay increases over the previous incumbents, and his jet setting to meet with billionaire donors, but there always seems to be plenty of money, as always, for his own pet projects and providing a great return for his campaign "investors".
For his "special" projects and travels, he has the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp., an agency he created to replace the former Department of Commerce. To head that quasi private agency, he appointed ..... wait for it ..... himself! They'll be footing the bill for his foreign travels - well, it's actually we, the taxpayers, that will be paying the tab.
History is repeating itself. While the Milwaukee media ignored Walker spending Milwaukee County taxpayer money on his state travels, they shouldn't ignore his lavish spending of state taxpayer dollars on self-promotion. After all, this is a guy who skillfully plays the Politics of Resentment by pretending to care about "the hard working taxpayers" and repeatedly saying that "it's YUR MUNNEY".
When it comes to kids, college students, our seniors and disabled citizens, low wage workers with no benefits, struggling middle class folks, our lovely state filled with parks and lakes, somehow, we can't afford it. But when it comes to lavish travel in a Presidential bid, the taxpayer treasure chest provides plenty.
Scott Walker MUST become President. As we know from his history, he always leaves office for his next shiny new job before the bill comes due from his current political office. He's an experienced, career politician with a history of activity that tells us everything we need to know about him.
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ORIGINALLY POSTED TO PUDDYTAT ON FRI APR 10, 2015 AT 01:20 PM PDT.ALSO REPUBLISHED BY BADGER STATE PROGRESSIVE AND KOSSACKS AGAINST SCOTT WALKER. |
