Facing a recall starting in just a couple of weeks Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker has launched a shiny new website to tout his progress over the past year. The new website is being funded by taxpayer dollars.
A small article has even appeared in the RW leaning Milwaukee Journal and there has been reaction to the use of taxpayer dollars for the new propaganda outlet.
There has been a demand from the Democratic Party of Wisconsin that Walker pay for the new website from his own massive campaign war chest.
"Scott Walker is well-versed in using taxpayer money to promote his political career and the campaign website he launched today is a laughable example of what happens when politicians panic in the face of accountability," Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chair Mike Tate said. "If Wisconsin is so broke, it stands to reason that there is no money to pay for a website that papers over a terrible record of fewer jobs, more unemployment and fewer services for the people affected by his terrible budget. Scott Walker's campaign has money to spare-and they should reimburse they people of Wisconsin for the production and maintenance of this insulting propaganda."
Of course, the new website is completely about image polishing and not about information:
This has been a year of historic change in Wisconsin. Facing a $3.6 Billion deficit, Governor Scott Walker and state lawmakers got to work making the hard decisions to get the state's finances back on track. Their reforms gave local governments and school districts the tools they so badly needed to balance their own budgets without raising taxes.
Change is hard. As one school board member and small business owner recently told us, "It's not easy doing what you think is right."
The good news is, the reforms are working.
Am I alone is seeing that the deficit numbers being quoted are increasing with every statement by Walker?
Apparantly, Walkers official governors website isn't enough for his self promotion or ego so he needs another one. Considering the anger of Wisconsinites, he needs a thousand propaganda outlets to promote his lies.
The big problem is the use of taxpayer funds for this new website which was clearly launched only a couple of weeks before the recalls and reads like a campaign site.
Walker is, of course, touting all the "tools" he implemented to enable local and county governments to screw their workers. Currently, the Milwaukee County Board, having to deal with massive deficits Walker successfully hid (by delaying a budget report for several months) until after his election as Governor, is proposing to replace Milwaukee County employees and retirees health insurance with high deductable/high co-payment junk insurance because of the Walker "tools". I've been busy for a couple weeks organizing those who will be affected to lobby against this and prepare to attend an October 31 public hearing. Of course, they don't have to negotiate any of this with the unions anymore.
Scott Walker is running scared. One of the organizations that will be recalling, United Wisconsin is reporting 202,516 pledges for recall as of October 9, 2011. More are coming.
I don't deny Walker a website. This clown needs all the help he can get. I, like others, just think he should pay for it himself. He's been fundraising non stop and his current campaign war chest can well afford it. On top of this he's got a lot of wealthy friends like the infamous Koch Brothers. These monied interests had no problem funnelling tens of millions of dollars into our recent State Senate recall elections and, I'm certain, would be more than willing to kick in a few more bucks to save the hide of "their boy", Scotty Walker, who has served their interests so well.
If you are in Wisconsin, you can sign up for the recall at either the Wisconsin Democratic Party, through the union/community group United Wisconsin, or through the State Senate recall group. If you are outside of the state, the Wisconsin Democratic Party will accept your registration to help in the recall (the other groups are looking only for local folks). Of course, all of the organizations could use donations, as well, to help with office space, phones, and printing.
Tune to Scott Walker Watch for the latest news on this jerk.
Thanks for all of your support.
I look forward to your thoughts below.
12:49 PM PT: Added some information on the recall organizations and a link to Scott Walker Watch for the latest information.