".... Even after billions in tax cuts under Walker, per capita state spending in Wisconsin is the highest of any state in the Midwest, including Illinois. In per capita terms, its state budget is twice as big as that of Texas.... National Review Jan 2015
Jan 2015: Walker budget to bar drug users from food stamps, Medicaid "Madison — With federal approval in doubt, Gov. Scott Walker is moving ahead with his campaign pledge to ensure that drug users aren't getting public health care, food stamp or jobless benefits.
As Walker explores a 2016 presidential bid, the proposal being included in the governor's Feb. 3 budget bill will help him sell himself to GOP primary voters as a leader committed to overhauling the core programs of government.
For the first time Thursday, Walker committed to drug testing recipients of BadgerCare Plus health coverage and also pledged free treatment and job training for those testing positive for drugs.
But the governor offered no details on how the state would cover the costs of that or the testing or whether he expected it to cost the state money overall, as a similar program did in Florida, or save tax dollars. The budget, he said in a statement, would also drop to four years from five the limit on how long a recipient could be in the Wisconsin Works, or W-2, program, the replacement in this state for traditional welfare.
"We know employers in Wisconsin have jobs available, but they don't have enough qualified employees to fill those positions," Walker said. "With this budget, we are addressing some of the barriers keeping people from achieving true freedom and prosperity and the independence that comes with having a good job and doing it well."
The governor said the drug-testing proposal would apply only to able-bodied adults, not the elderly or children, and would include transitional jobs initiatives. Walker wants to test all FoodShare and BadgerCare applicants but limit the drug testing for unemployment benefits to certain applicants.
The idea expands on another requirement passed by Walker and Republicans in 2013 to make able-bodied FoodShare recipients receive job training.".....
March 2015: Wisconsin tech schools might see an increase in performance-based funding "....This is not the first time Walker proposed an increase in performance-based funding for the 16 campuses. In the 2013-15 biennial budget, he attempted to increase performance-based funding for technical schools to 100 percent over six years, but the Joint Finance Committee put a cap at 30 percent. Walker then vetoed the cap before signing the final budget.
Gabriel said his organization supports performance-based funding to an extent. The colleges are for the most part performing at high standards and should be rewarded, Gabriel said.
He is concerned, however, with the magnitude of Walker’s proposal.".....
March 2015: Advocates: Walker's budget could hurt programs for disabled"...."....Claire Yunker, a spokeswoman for the Department of Health Services, said in a statement that Walker’s proposal is aimed at preventing fraud and abuse in the existing system and creating a more coordinated care regimen.
But Daniel Idzikowski, executive director of Disability Rights — a group that advocates for people with disabilities — said his organization was not consulted about Walker’s plan that the Legislature will debate over the next three months.
It would drastically restructure Family Care, which administers personal care and long-term care services to elderly, disabled and injured Wisconsinites through Medicaid, he said."....
March 2015: Scott Walker bid to end integration program [busing] has schools seeking answers "..."....[Scott Walker] has proposed eliminating the long-standing racial integration program, a move that could redirect $60 million in school funding and have a cultural and financial impact on Milwaukee, nearby suburban school systems and districts like Racine, Madison and Wausau...."
Dec 2010: High-speed rail funds scatter to other states "Wisconsin will keep only a fraction of the $810 million it won in federal high-speed rail money, while the rest will help fund train lines in California, Florida, Illinois and other states, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced Thursday.
Governor-elect Scott Walker had vowed to kill the planned 110-mph Milwaukee-to-Madison passenger train route that was to be funded with Wisconsin's share of $8 billion in federal stimulus dollars. Ohio Governor-elect John Kasich had issued a similar promise for a planned 79-mph line connecting his state's three largest cities, funded by $400 million in stimulus cash.
Now, almost all of the $1.2 billion from the two projects will be divided among other states. California is the big winner, with up to $624 million, followed by Florida, up to $342.3 million; Washington, up to $161.5 million; and Illinois, up to $42.3 million. Smaller amounts will go to New York, Maine, Massachusetts, Vermont, Missouri, Oregon, North Carolina, Iowa and Indiana.....
In a meeting with reporters in Waukesha, Walker called the decision a "victory" because he sees the rail line as a symbol of excessive government spending.
"That's the decision they've made and we're going to move forward," the Republican governor-elect said.
Even with the federal government paying all construction costs, Walker has said he didn't want state taxpayers to bear any of the operating costs. ......."
Nothing like a little bias in the article. I’ve long felt that merging all healthcare into one system such as Obamacare is wrong. To me, it would have been far cheaper to have private and public systems operating simultaneously. For the private system, tort reform and competition across state lines would be required. For the public system, enrollment for those not covered by private systems would be mandatory, augmented by a general sales tax to assist those lacking the means. Many city and counties have long run health clinics, thus ensuring that treatment is not denied. Put these clinics on a state basis and I suspect all citizens would receive reasonable care as opposed to the current rationale that all citizens are “entitled” to equal care, regardless of what premium is paid.
Our current system is robbing Peter to pay Paul’s premium. By increasing rates for everyone, the elderly in particular are being forced to support the young. My wife, involuntarily retired and not eligible for Medicare, was forced into a compliant healthcare plan that has cost us over $15,000 for the past two years (additional premiums plus higher deductibles). The good news is that she is covered for birth control despite having her tubes tied over 30 years ago and now being well above normal child bearing age. Because of the higher premiums, she will now have to draw her Social Security retirement early, thereby penalizing her income for the remainder of her life. Given the poor jobs being created by the economy, I foresee even higher rates on anyone having assets. In order to implement socialism, Obama has divided us by age, race, and income. I pray daily that Americans will wake up and oppose the power grabbing crooks in government.