Time to Address Those Nasty Rumors!

There have been some nasty rumors floating around the internet lately, all trying to influence the election.  Since this election is unique to us, they can not really call it an October surprise but maybe a May one.  Instead of pretending they do not exist, lets look at a few of the nastiest rumors with the least basis in fact and debunk them for you here.  

That way when you vote in the recall elections tomorrow you will be armed with the most relevant facts necessary!   

Rumor #1:  Scott Walker is doing exactly what he said he was going to do and what he campaigned on. 

False:   Scott Walker campaigned all over the state telling everyone he was going to work with the unions then the day after he won the election he started working to end all public unions.  Nowhere did he ever  say that he would take away collective bargaining rights for all public employees.    

Rumor # 2:  Recalls should be just for crimes and malfeasance in office.  These recalls are not being done in the vein they were written into the Wisconsin State Constitution.    We should let him serve out his term and then if we do not like him vote him out.

False:  As Professor Ed Fallone, from the Marquette University School of Law Points out: 

The recall provisions contained in the Wisconsin State Constitution were never intended to be limited in such a fashion. The original design of the right of recall is, in fact, intended to permit voters to recall elected officials for virtually any reason so long as the procedural mechanisms of the State Constitution are followed.

Rumor # 3:   According to the Walker campaign, the Bureau of Labor Statistics confirmed their new job numbers and Wisconsin has been adding jobs under the Walker administration.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics absolutely did NOT confirm Scott Walkers numbers:   

“I confirmed that the BLS has completed its process of reviewing and verifying the data. I did not verify or acknowledge any actual numbers or data to Wisconsin officials,” said Clayton.

And Wisconsin is dead last in job creation under Scott Walker!   

Rumor # 4  “Governor Walker Promised To Control State Spending And Eliminate The Historic $3.6 Billion Deficit Without Raising Taxes. The 2011-13 state budget signed by Governor Walker Eliminating the $3.6 billion deficit without raising taxes. (2011 Wisconsin Act 32)”


False:    As our friends at Badger Democracy point out: 


To say that he has balanced the budget without raising taxes, in light of this information, is a lie. No coincidence that $500 million is the amount the DOA estimate “found” to increase revenue from the previous LFB estimate. Over $500 million, and more in interest, charged off to future generations two decades distant – while Scott Walker insists his “reforms are working.”

Rumor # 5:  Scott Walker has reformed our education system and saved the taxpayers money.  

FALSE:   Scott Walker's ACT 10 has cost this state dearly and there has been NO reform of education! 


Rumor # 6:  Scott Walker has been a friend to the Military Veterans of our State.  

FALSE:  Nothing could be further from the truth!  Check out this facebook page and join the discussion. 


Rumor # 7: The "John Doe" investigation has no basis in fact, and it is just a partisan witch hunt.

FALSE:  Scott Walker is the target of the John Doe investigation and it looks like he will definitely be charged with crimes both local and federal within the next few months.   More Here!

Thanks for taking the time to put an end to these nasty rumors flying around the internet and make sure and share this with your friends, family and neighbors.   See you at the polls!!  

Blaska, Wigderson And Kleefisch All Agree: Monthly BLS Numbers Are The Ones To Use

On a tip from a reader, we find that some of the staunchest supporters of Scott Walker unanimously agree that the job numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics are the ones to use.

David Blaska:

The good news: Wisconsin added 12,900 private sector jobs in June -- the largest single-month gain (PDF) since September 2003. What's more, our Badger State accounted for half the new jobs created in the entire Obama-stricken nation, the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reported.

James Wigderson (and subsequently, MacIver Institute):

Wisconsin, you’re among workers.

According to the latest Labor Department statistics, Wisconsin added 9,500 net jobs last month using seasonally adjusted numbers. In the private sector, 12,900 jobs were created, the largest one-month gain since September 2003, the first year of former Governor Jim Doyle’s administration.

Manufacturing continued seeing job growth with 800 more jobs added in June.. That’s 14,100 new manufacturing jobs created this year.

Listening to some of Governor Scott Walker’s critics you would think the news is somehow bad news for the governor, or that these numbers from the federal Department of Labor are somehow made up.

And last, but least, Rebecca Kleefisch, Walker's lieutenant governor (even though she was no this first choice):

When Gov. Scot Walker told me what the new labor numbers would say, there was no mistaking the significance: Wisconsin is open for business and the numbers put an exclamation point on our omnipresent slogan.

The outrageously good news came on the heels of concern. Our Department of Workforce Development Secretary, Scott Baumbach, had warned us that the nation’s financial woes would almost certainly trickle into Wisconsin’s job growth numbers this summer: the tremendous pace with which Wisconsin was growing jobs might hit a speed bump, he said. The secretary didn’t want us to be disappointed if there was a minor setback on the road to success.

But then the numbers were released, and there were 12,900 net new jobs in Wisconsin last month. It was one more endorsement of the tough, smart decisions that have made Wisconsin uniquely attractive to job creators.

Walker should take note. If his biggest supporters, even his own second in command doesn't believe his numbers, he probably shouldn't have tried something so desperate.

And no, I don't believe these three would have changed their minds just because the numbers don't say what they'd like them to say. Why, that would make them almost as hypocritical as Walker!