Walker’s no good, very bad, jobs record

MADISON, WI – Another dismal jobs report brings bad news for the state’s economy as wages fall and Wisconsin’s job deficit grows worse. The national ‘Gold Standard’ jobs report released this week shows wages dropping over 12 months and marked the 25^th consecutive quarter Wisconsin has trailed the nation in job creation; one of the longest periods of economic stagnation in Wisconsin history. Gov. Walker’s policies favoring corporations and the wealthy have slowed Wisconsin’s economy and resulted in 118,000 fewer jobs than what would have been created had the state kept pace with the national average.

“Wisconsin working families are paying the price for Gov. Walker’s dismal economic record as they struggle with rising student loan debt, child care costs and health care premiums,” said Senate Democratic Leader Jennifer Shilling (D-La Crosse). “Over the last seven years, Republicans have cut wages, outsourced jobs and stripped away worker rights. Rather than more tax giveaways to foreign corporations and the wealthy, we should be raising wages, expanding economic opportunities and creating new jobs.”

“If our Republican colleagues had simply kept pace with the rest of the nation, Wisconsin would have 118,000 more jobs,” said Assistant Senate Democratic Leader Janet Bewley (D-Delta).  “With each passing quarter, it’s becoming more and more clear why other states didn’t have to create a $4.5 Billion handout to Foxconn begging for – at best — 1/9 as many jobs.”

Job creation in Wisconsin has declined sharply since Gov. Walker took office. The state dropped below average for job creation in 2011 and has trailed the national rate in every economic quarter since the creation of Gov. Walker’s Economic Development Corporation and the historic Republican cuts to Wisconsin schools. The latest job numbers show Wisconsin’s sluggish economic performance over the past seven years has cost the state more than 118,000 jobs when compared with the national average.

By Senate Democratic Leader Jennifer Shilling (D-La Crosse) and Assistant Senate Democratic Leader Janet Bewley (D-Delta).

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.