Friday March 29, 2024

An Independent Progressive Media Outlet

FacebookTwitterYoutube
Newsletter
News Feeds:
Articles for State & Local

State and local news category



Walker Response to Student Loan Debt Inadequate PDF Print E-mail
News - Articles for State & Local
Written by GBP Staff   
Thursday, 12 January 2017 11:57

student-loansGov. Walker dodged the student loan debt crisis Tuesday by offering up only a meaningless "tuition cut" for current students. Wisconsin would be better served if the Governor would work with Democrats to pass the Higher Ed/Lower Debt bill.

Last Updated on Thursday, 12 January 2017 12:33
Read more...
 
Green Bay's Hansen Responds to Walker's SOS PDF Print E-mail
News - Articles for State & Local
Written by GBP Staff   
Wednesday, 11 January 2017 17:34

walker-no-jobsThe Governor made a lot of promises in his speech Tuesday, talks a good game, but we are a road to nowhere.


GREEN BAY - Senator Dave Hansen (D-Green Bay) released the following statement about Governor Scott Walker's State of the State (SOS) address on Tuesday.

dave-hansen“The Governor made a lot of promises in his speech today not unlike the promise he made in his 2010 campaign to create 250,000 jobs—a promise that remains unfulfilled to this day.

"The upcoming budget should be watched closely. As we have seen over the years, nearly every promise made by this Governor has a catch—just as the 77 listening sessions he mentioned in his speech were by invitation only.

"Under his watch billions of tax cuts have gone largely to the rich and corporate elite while average families have seen pennies by comparison.

"Under this Governor we have seen the rich get rich while the average family has continued to struggle more and more.

"Governor Walker talks a good game, but like the old adage “the devils is in the details.”

"We will see soon enough if he is serious about helping average families or if his promises, like his jobs promise, are a road to nowhere.”

****

Jay Wadd contributed this story.

 
Walker State of the State Out of Touch with Wisconsin Reality PDF Print E-mail
News - Articles for State & Local
Written by Peter Barca, Assembly Democratic Leader, District 64   
Wednesday, 11 January 2017 17:06

scott-walkerAs the Governor begins his seventh year and delivers his rosy State of the State, the majority of Wisconsin believes we are on the wrong track.


MADISON – Six years ago, Gov. Walker spoke before an audience in the Assembly chamber and made a lot of promises. He said Wisconsin would lead the economic recovery. He said we would stop kicking the can down the road on funding transportation. He said we can’t rely on short term fixes, and we can’t borrow excessively anymore.

Yet here we are, as the Governor begins his seventh year and delivers the State of the State, we have a $700 million budget deficit, an economy that is lagging significantly behind the rest of the nation, the 3rd worst roads and the most diminished middle class in the nation.

The primary driver for a better workforce would be supporting our world-class education system. K-12, technical colleges and the UW system are the pride of our state—despite relentless attacks and budget cuts administered by Gov. Walker and the Republican legislature. We need quality education and bold, vibrant worker training.

school-closedIt’s clear education is not a priority when the tech schools have lost $203 million in state aid, last session alone the UW system was gutted by a quarter of a billion dollars, and k-12 schools have lost $1 billion in state aid since 2011. The governor also discussed college affordability, how he froze tuition without properly funding the university, and yet there is no relief for the skyrocketing student loan debt most Wisconsin students graduate with, despite other states allowing for refinancing of debt, including Minnesota.

If we want to fill jobs and have skilled workers, funding education, worker training and making higher education accessible for all is the most basic thing we can do, and Democrats have drafted bills to take exactly those steps.

The governor indicated he will continue to kick the can down the pothole-filled road with no sustainable, long-term plan to fund transportation in sight. Instead, we continue to put more money on the credit card, delay projects that drive up costs, all the while commuters are paying the cost of deteriorating roads. Wisconsin drivers are now paying $6 billion a year due to congestion-related delays, crashes and vehicle repairs.

Of course, with our roads and bridges suffering alongside our state’s middle class, the governor does have one solution—get rid of prevailing wage. The Fiscal Bureau has already said this wouldn’t save us money, and it would punish our road and bridge construction workers who are completing each mile of roadwork 43% more cost-effectively than the national average.

The governor has bragged about his tax policies, while neglecting to mention that his cuts have largely benefitted the wealthy of our state. Not to mention, many local schools have had to pass referendums to make up for state aid shortfall—this unfairly places the tax burden on the backs of Wisconsin families and small businesses who are struggling to make ends meet.

Democrats in the Assembly will continue to put forward bold ideas that have been proven effective in order to fund our schools, fix our roads and rebuild the middle class. This is why the majority of Wisconsin believes we are on the wrong track. They deserve better.

Last Updated on Wednesday, 11 January 2017 17:32
 
Walker's Rosy State of State Misses the Facts PDF Print E-mail
News - Articles for State & Local
Written by Kathleen Vinehout, State Senator 31st District   
Wednesday, 11 January 2017 16:07

walker-state-denialEconomy, jobs, schools and wages have lagged while State debt grows and rural residents suffer with poorer schools and crumbling roads.

Last Updated on Wednesday, 11 January 2017 16:24
Read more...
 
Democratic Leader Reacts to Walker's State of the State PDF Print E-mail
News - Articles for State & Local
Written by Wisconsin Senate Democrats   
Wednesday, 11 January 2017 15:29

scott-walkerShilling urges politicians to take off blinders and focus on helping working families.


MADISON, WI – Senate Democratic Leader Jennifer Shilling (D-La Crosse) released the following statement in response to Gov. Walker’s State of the State address Tuesday afternoon:

jennifer-shilling“It's no secret, Wisconsin families are struggling and our middle class is shrinking. The majority of residents continue to say our state is headed in the wrong direction. It’s time for Republican politicians to take off the blinders and focus on helping working families – not just the wealthiest one percent.

“State cuts to local schools have driven up property taxes and shifted a greater burden onto homeowners. Health care costs continue to rise, and women in particular are finding it more difficult to access preventive care and family planning services. Our roads are ranked as some of the worst in the nation, and in too many communities, drinking water contaminated by lead pipes and manure runoff is more dangerous than in Flint, Michigan.

“For years, wages have declined, our middle class has shrunk and poverty in Wisconsin recently hit a 30 year high. We’ve trailed the national job creation average for 20 consecutive quarters. Meanwhile, the wealthiest one percent in our state continue to reap record profits at our expense.

“After years of struggles, I hope we can work together to lower property taxes, strengthen local schools and give Wisconsin children the best possible education by restoring the $1 billion in state aid cut by Republicans. I want to grow our economy from the ground up by raising wages, expanding access to paid sick leave and making child care more affordable for working families. And I am committed to jump starting small business development, investing in 21st century infrastructure by fixing our crumbling roads and bridges and targeting $100 million to expand and improve high-speed broadband internet access.

“These goals are all within our reach, but we need to find new ways to work together, invest in our communities and expand opportunities for everyone – not just the wealthiest one percent.”

***

Tony Palese contributed to this story.

Last Updated on Wednesday, 11 January 2017 15:41
 
<< Start < Prev 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 Next > End >>

Page 132 of 139
Copyright © 2024. Green Bay Progressive. Designed by Shape5.com