tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6621691715090523319.post8009169943857972391..comments2023-10-08T04:12:46.273-05:00Comments on The Political Environment: Walker's U-Turn On Stimulus Money Continues Political ComedyJames Rowenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10203270946492159686noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6621691715090523319.post-83715166122115044562009-02-09T13:10:00.000-06:002009-02-09T13:10:00.000-06:00What Walker said was that he would not apply for a...What Walker said was that he would not apply for any funding. <BR/><BR/>It was thanks, but no thanks to revenue, but yes to tax cuts.<BR/><BR/>So if some revenue falls into his lap, or supports an ongoing program, he's OK with that.<BR/><BR/>That's the hair-splitting.James Rowenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10203270946492159686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6621691715090523319.post-85495946105821205532009-02-09T12:09:00.000-06:002009-02-09T12:09:00.000-06:00Thanks for posting the article. I want you to rea...Thanks for posting the article. I want you to read this part very closely:<BR/><BR/>"Though he doesn't categorically reject the idea of federal money going for local infrastructure projects, Walker said he won't ask the federal government for anything."<BR/><BR/>Walker didn't reject the stimulus package. End of story.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6621691715090523319.post-13630804090256777552009-02-09T11:18:00.000-06:002009-02-09T11:18:00.000-06:00Well, we'll let readers decide who's spinning/hair...Well, we'll let readers decide who's spinning/hair-splitting and whos's not.<BR/><BR/>Here is the full text of the initial Journal Sentinel story on the matter:<BR/><BR/>Walker says no thanks to federal stimulus dollars <BR/>By Steve Schultze of the Journal Sentinel <BR/><BR/>Posted: Jan. 6, 2009<BR/><BR/>Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker says thanks but no thanks to any federal economic stimulus money for county projects.<BR/><BR/>Unlike Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, who sent the federal government a $599 million wish list, or Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle, who asked for $3.7 billion from what could be an $800 billion to $1 trillion federal shot in the arm, Walker said Tuesday the county and the country are better off without the spending.<BR/><BR/>The only federal economic stimuli Walker endorses are tax cuts, and he credited President-elect Barack Obama for recommending $300 billion in such cuts as part of a much larger stimulus plan. <BR/><BR/>Walker said federal aid for ongoing state or local operations would only put off the day of reckoning for unbalanced budgets. <BR/><BR/>Though he doesn't categorically reject the idea of federal money going for local infrastructure projects, Walker said he won't ask the federal government for anything.<BR/><BR/>"All we are asking for is 'do no harm,' " the county executive said. "I'm not asking for any new projects or things to be done here."<BR/><BR/>Milwaukee County has some huge funding dilemmas, including $300 million in backlogged repairs for parks, annual shortfalls of up to $43 million in transit and some $300 million needed to rebuild its mental health complex. <BR/><BR/>"The last thing you want to do is put money in hands of government," if the goal is to pull the economy from recession, Walker said.<BR/><BR/>Walker's stance fits with his conservative ideology and the turf he's begun to stake out for himself as a potential Republican candidate for governor in 2010, said County Board Chairman Lee Holloway. Rejecting a federal helping hand makes no sense given the severity of the recession, Holloway said.<BR/><BR/>"I support any stimulus package that puts Milwaukee County residents back to work and improves our infrastructure," he said.<BR/><BR/>At Doyle's request, the Wisconsin Counties Association has asked all counties to quickly submit lists of potential projects that might be funded by a federal stimulus plan. Walker said he won't submit one and was critical of that approach to determining what projects get funded.<BR/><BR/>Some county supervisors may forward their own lists, said County Board spokesman Harold Mester.<BR/><BR/>Walker said he'll announce his plans on the 2010 governor's race in the next month or two.James Rowenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10203270946492159686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6621691715090523319.post-82875472193368170512009-02-09T10:58:00.000-06:002009-02-09T10:58:00.000-06:00Zeus is not hair splitting. Walker never said he ...Zeus is not hair splitting. Walker never said he was against a stimulus package. You liberals create a straw man argument and beat it down like it's Walker's real position.<BR/><BR/>Walker stated that he opposed a stimulus package that had strings attached or continual operational costs for the tax payer. Only liberals can take a county executive who is watching out for the tax payer and demonize him like he's some buffoon.<BR/><BR/>The real buffoon is our governor who has not curbed his spending habit, thus producing a record state deficit. Lo and behold, I don't hear you liberals nailing Doyle to the stake. Hmmm . . . I wonder why?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6621691715090523319.post-36547059474386806002009-02-09T10:47:00.000-06:002009-02-09T10:47:00.000-06:00To Zeus: Nice hair-splitting prose.To Zeus: Nice hair-splitting prose.James Rowenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10203270946492159686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6621691715090523319.post-16778171731094384152009-02-09T10:25:00.000-06:002009-02-09T10:25:00.000-06:00Ridiculous analysis, Walker never suggested that h...Ridiculous analysis, Walker never suggested that he would be fundamentally against funding an existing program.<BR/><BR/>You are trying to combine two different issues on the same subject.Zeushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09143870946417817989noreply@blogger.com