Walker is my second choice behind Cruz and his actions and the validity of that statement are the main reasons.
Posted by Linda Richter on March 24, 2015
State
Wisconsinites got the disturbing news last week that our state, which has been lagging the nation in job creation during Gov. Walker's tenure, had fallen from a rank of 31st to 40th among the 50 states.
The Associated Press report ( published by Wisconsin State Journal on March 19) conveys:
"Wisconsin added jobs at half the national average, ranking it 40th in private-sector job growth for the 12-month period that ended in September, according to figures released Thursday by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics."
"The latest jobs number, based on a survey of nearly every employer in the state, were down from the previous quarterly report in which Wisconsin ranked 31st in job growth."
"The numbers show that private-sector jobs grew 1.16 percent in Wisconsin during the 12-month period, while the national growth rate was twice as high at 2.3 percent. "
"All other neighboring states grew at a higher rate than Wisconsin."
"When public sector jobs are included, Wisconsin ranked 38th in growth."
"Walker last week signed a right-to-work law, which he and supporters said would help increase jobs in the state. But critics say the fact that Wisconsin lags other states in job creation shows Walker's policies, including the 2011 law that nearly eliminated collective bargaining for most public workers, are hindering the state's growth."
Also---
If you feel like you're working harder for less money, it's not your imagination says The Capital Times.
Today's ( March 24) The Cap Times informs us:
According to a new report, Wisconsin ranks worst in the nation in terms of a shrinking middle class, with real median household incomes here falling 14.7 % since 2000.
"The Pew Charitable Trust report showed Wisconsin with the largest decline in the percentage of families considered "middle class, or those earning between 67 and 200 percent of their state's median income."
"in 2000, 54.6 percent of Wisconsin families fell into the middle class category but that has fallen to 48.9 percent in 2013, according to U.S. Census figures compiled by Pew. All other states showed some decline but none as great as Wisconsin's 5.7 percent figure."
"In addition, many Wisconsin families are now paying a higher percentage of their income to cover housing costs. In 2000, only 24 percent of state families were spending more than the 30 percent of their income on rent or a mortgage but that has increased to 31 percent."
"In most states, the growing percentage of households paying 30 percent (the federal standard for housing affordability) or more of their income on housing illustrates that it is increasingly difficult for many American families to make ends meet," said the Pew report."
"the median household income in Wisconsin was $60,344 in 2000 but now stands at just $51,467 after adjusting for inflation. That’s a dip of 14.7 percent. Nationally, median household incomes fell from $55,987 to $51,939 over the period, a decline of 7.2 percent."
" Put another way, Wisconsin incomes were well above the national average in 2000 but are now below the national average, according to the data."