LETTER: Governor doesn’t represent workers

To the Editor:

Dear educators, students, public service workers, veterans, farmers, smaller business owners, seniors, women and others of the 98 percent. Gov. Scott Walker and the Republicans are not the friends of people who work for a living. They are aligned with the national Tea Party and Koch brothers agenda and others of the 1-2 percent who control the wealth in this country.

Tax breaks for the rich do not create jobs. Dishonesty and phony numbers do not change the fact that Wisconsin still has the worst job loss in the nation.

According to the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development, Wisconsin lost 6,200 jobs between March and April, and 21,400 since April 2011. The state has added only 12,200 jobs.

Walker rejected federal support for high speed rail and broadband service, and cut resources for wind and solar energy. He eliminated the “green jobs” initiative and abolished the Office of Energy Independence and rejected federal funds that could help create jobs.

Walker doesn’t represent or respect Wisconsin citizens and here's why. He and his cronies have: reduced funds for public education, technical colleges, universities, apprenticeship programs, BadgerCare, Medicaid, Family Care and women’s health care.

He repealed equal pay for equal work. Eliminated legal remedies for women and minorities who are harassed or discriminated against. Restricted and reduced benefits for families and the most vulnerable. Eliminated or reduced environmental protections for state parks, clean water and other natural resources.

While he decries “big government,” he favors state-level mandates over local control and increasing power of the governor’s office. And lastly, Scott Walker is the first governor in Wisconsin history to hire a criminal defense team. Several of his top aides have already been indicted.

All this and more has been reported in the mainstream media -- Wisconsin State Journal, Cap Times, and Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Check it out. Even committed Republicans will be amazed and chastened by what they read about their feckless (ineffective; incompetent; having no sense of responsibility) and dishonest leader.

We need a governor who represents the people of Wisconsin, not the powerful special interests who pull his strings like ALEC and billionaire funders. We need honesty and transparency and common sense. Vote for Tom Barrett for governor and Maylon Mitchell for lt. governor on June 5.

Rick Hall

Osceola

Tags: letters to the editor, opinion