Scott Walker in Unintimidated, by Scott Walker
On Principles & Values:
Book "Unintimidated" isn't my biography, but about reforms
Q: Your new book, "Unintimidated: A Governor's Story and A Nation's Challenge": a book is almost mandatory for a presidential run. You got to lay out where you are and set out some beliefs--is that why you wrote it?WALKER: In our case, it's pretty
unique. People who want to know about my biography--how I became an eagle scout or what sports I did as a kid--they're going to be disappointed because this is really a book about the reforms that we did in Wisconsin, what we did, how we did it, most
importantly, why we did it. And then at the end, a little bit of a reaction is to how it can apply to other states and ultimately to our nation's capital. We went through some pretty big attention early in 2011. The recall election was the first ever
where a governor was successful and I think people wanted to know what, where and why. I hope actually more than just conservatives across the country read it, because I think they'll be surprised to see what they weren't seeing throughout the debate.
Source: CNN SOTU 2014 interview on "Unintimidated" by Scott Walker
Jan 5, 2014
On Budget & Economy:
Refused to participate in federal stimulus package
As Milwaukee County executive, I had refused to submit a wish list to Governor Doyle for items in the federal "stimulus" package. Like other politicians, Doyle had lined up at the federal trough begging for billions in "free" money to cover budget
deficits and to fuel new spending. He and others were outraged that I didn't join them--and that I didn't relent even after the president signed the stimulus bill into law.My explanation was simple. The "free" money from Washington wasn't free.
The stimulus was a classic bait-and-switch. Once the highways were built and social service caseloads had increased, the stimulus funds would disappear and Wisconsin taxpayers would be left with the new to maintain the new roads and services.
Moreover, the stimulus was also a bait-and-switch on employment. While stimulus spending might create a few construction jobs in the short term, when the federal money disappeard, so would the jobs.
Source: Unintimidated, by Scott Walker, p. 35
Nov 18, 2013
On Crime:
Use inmates to cut grass on state highway medians
In Racine County, when the state cut back on the amount it would pay to mow along state highways during the summer months in the past, officials had begun using inmates to cut the grass in medians. The inmates volunteered to do the work at no cost to
the taxpayers. The program not only saved money for the county, it also helped the prisoners by giving them skills and work experience they could carry with them once they returned to the community, which would ultimately help reduce recidivism.
Seems like a commonsense solution? Not to the union bosses. The county employee union filed a grieving declaring it was the right of government workers to cut the grass--even though there was no money available to pay for the work. The union argued that
the reduced sentences the inmates received were "compensation" and thus violated collective bargaining rules.
Later, thanks to Act 10, Racine officials were able not only to reinstate the inmate mowing program, they also expanded it to other areas.
Source: Unintimidated, by Scott Walker, p. 98-9
Nov 18, 2013
On Crime:
Pass "castle doctrine": defend home with deadly force
We restored truth in sentencing by repealing the early release program approved by the last administration, and passed "castle doctrine" legislation to protect homeowners
who defend themselves and their families with deadly force from intruders who break into their homes. A group of more than 600 criminal defense lawyers and academics rallied to oppose it.
Source: Unintimidated, by Scott Walker, p.216
Nov 18, 2013
On Education:
Liberate schools from the grip of the unions
If we liberated schools and local governments from the grip of the unions, they could save millions by bidding out their health insurance on the open market, eliminating ridiculous work rules, reining in overtime abuse, and implementing other commonsense
reforms that unions vetoed. And they could do it all without cutting jobs or public services.Someone had to pay if we were to close a $3.6 billion deficit. We could take the money from schools and local governments. We could take the money from
teachers and public workers through higher contributions to their health care and pensions. Or we could take the money from the unions.
I decided to take from the unions. We would cut about $1.25 billion in state aid, but the school districts and local
governments stood to save about $1.5 billion--if they fully used the tools we would give them to control their budgets. By taking on collective bargaining, we had found a way to make everyone whole--everyone, that is, except the union bosses.
Source: Unintimidated, by Scott Walker, p. 43-4
Nov 18, 2013
On Education:
Schools should choose teachers based on merit, not seniority
Perhaps the most compelling example of how collective bargaining hurt schools and students was the story of a Milwaukee high school teacher named Megan Sampson.In June 2010, Ms. Sampson was named the outstanding first-year teacher by the WI Council of
Teachers of English. A week later, she received another certificate--a layoff notice. My predecessor, Governor Doyle, had cut aid to schools without giving them any tools to offset reductions in state aid--which meant they had no choice but to lay off
teachers.
But why on earth would they get rid of a great new teacher like Ms. Sampson? Well, under the collective bargaining rules, when there were layoffs the last teachers hired were the first to be fired. It didn't matter that she was one of the
best new teachers in the state. She did not have seniority, so she was out. Our reforms eliminated these absurd rules. Now schools can choose whom to keep and whom to retain based on merit, not seniority.
Source: Unintimidated, by Scott Walker, p.100-1
Nov 18, 2013
On Education:
Breaking union monopoly saved schools $10M
My political fortunes changed at a precise moment: The first day of school. During the August senate recalls, the unions had run ads charging that I had "cut $800 million from the state's schools." But as kids in WI prepared for the start of a new school
year, stories started appearing in newspapers reporting that, thanks to our reforms, dozens of school districts were able to balance their budgets for the first time--and do so WITHOUT laying off teachers. Indeed, many were able to hire MORE teachers,
reduce class sizes, and make long-delayed improvements. News reports showed school districts saving millions thanks to our decision to break the union's near monopoly over the provision of health insurance to local school districts. This one reform
saved school districts millions--money they were able to put into classrooms instead of union coffers. One school board official said, "We've pretty much made up most of the [reduced state aid] through the tools that Gov. Walker is giving us."
Source: Unintimidated, by Scott Walker, p.141-3
Nov 18, 2013
On Education:
Expand options at charter schools and choice schools
Our reforms made WI's public schools better places to learn. That is important to me not just as a governor but as a father. Both my sons, Matt and Alex, attended traditional public schools--as do my nieces today. So for me, Act 10 was not simply
about saving money; it was also about improving education for my kids, my nieces, and all of the other children across WI.
I am a strong supporter of expanding options at charter schools and choice schools--and we have done both. But even with those changes, between 80 and 85% of students in our state will still be
educated in the traditional public schools for the foreseeable future. The reforms in Act 10 gave us a chance to make those traditional public schools better.
Source: Unintimidated, by Scott Walker, p.152
Nov 18, 2013
On Education:
Expand school choice from Milwaukee statewide
We dramatically expanded school choice in WI. We lifted the cap on the number of students eligible to participate in the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program so that children won't have to see their futures decided by a lottery.
We lifted the income limits on school choice eligibility, so that middle class families can escape failing schools as well.
Then we expanded school choice geographically from Milwaukee to Racine, the next most troubled school district in the state, then to a statewide program. Because students get report cards, we established report cards for schools so that parents can see
which schools are succeeding and which ones are failing their students. And we expanded charter schools by allowing any University of Wisconsin System 4-year campus to create a charter school.
Source: Unintimidated, by Scott Walker, p.216
Nov 18, 2013
On Education:
Expand vouchers statewide for low-income families
We are expanding school choice even further. After lifting the caps on size and income in Milwaukee and adding a voucher program in my first budget, we expanded vouchers statewide for low-income families. Expanding school choice gives students in
failing schools better options. It also strengthens traditional schools by giving officials in struggling schools an incentive to use the tools in Act 10.We gave every public school administrator in Wisconsin the same freedom and flexibility that
charter schools enjoy. They can now change the curriculum, expand the school day, reward good teachers, and get rid of failing ones.
School choice provides that incentive. If officials at weak or failing schools
have to compete for some students, perhaps they will summon the will to change. We gave these officials the tools they need to turn their schools around. Expanding school choice will give them the impetus to use them.
Source: Unintimidated, by Scott Walker, p.217-8
Nov 18, 2013
On Families & Children:
Stopped state funding for Planned Parenthood
In our 2011 budget, we stopped funding for Planned Parenthood. Instead, the state now contracts with less controversial organizations (like county governments) to promote health care for women. We also prohibited any health plan from covering abortion,
and a bill that requires that sex education stress abstinence as the only reliable way to prevent pregnancy and STDs. At any other time, these might have been huge fights--but because of the fight over Act 10, they received little notice.
Source: Unintimidated, by Scott Walker, p.216
Nov 18, 2013
On Government Reform:
Wisconsin "citizen filibuster" gave birth to Occupy movement
On Feb. 15, the longest budget hearing in the history of the State Legislature would soon claim a more ignominious place in history--as the moment that gave birth to the "Occupy" movement.Taking testimony from the public, opponents of Act 10 called
a "citizen's filibuster." Using social media, the unions put out a call for people to come to the capitol and testify. They turned out more people than had ever been seen at a bill hearing.
The Democrats moved to a new hearing room and continued to
hear "testimony" throughout the night and into the morning. And once the protesters had spent one night in the capitol, they figured they could do it again the next night, and the next. They never left. The occupation had begun.
On Feb. 16, more people
showed up and joined the camp that was forming in the rotunda. The ranks of the occupiers grew with each passing day. While protesters chanted "Kill the bill!" outside my office, I remarked to reporters gathered inside, "Everyone has a right to be heard.
Source: Unintimidated, by Scott Walker, p. 65-6
Nov 18, 2013
On Government Reform:
Prevent voter fraud: require voter ID at polls
We passed legislation to prevent voter fraud by requiring voters to show photo identifications at the polls--a bill Republicans had worked to pass since 2003. As I signed the bill into law, the protesters chanted "Shame!"
and "Recall Walker!" outside my office. They weren't there for the voter ID bill; they were the same union protesters who followed me everywhere to protest Act 10.
Source: Unintimidated(Walker) p.215: Wisconsin Voting Records Act 23
Nov 18, 2013
On Gun Control:
Allow concealed carry as part of right to bear arms
We enhanced public safety and the Second Amendment rights of our citizens. My predecessor, Jim Doyle, had repeatedly vetoed legislation to allow the carry of concealed firearms.
I signed it into law, transforming Wisconsin from one of the more restrictive to one of the freest states in the union when it comes to the right to bear arms.
Source: Unintimidated, by Scott Walker, p.216
Nov 18, 2013
On Health Care:
Passed tort reform & cut taxes on HSAs
In my predecessor's last term, WI lost 134,000 jobs, and the state's unemployment rate had reached 9.2%. We needed to start creating jobs again. So we cut taxes on health savings accounts (HSAs), cut taxes on job creators in WI, relieved unnecessary
regulation so we could enforce common sense--not excessive red tape--and passed tort reform to stop frivolous, job-killing litigation. Nearly every measure was passed with bipartisan support in both the assembly and senate. We were off to a great start.
Source: Unintimidated, by Scott Walker, p. 41
Nov 18, 2013
On Health Care:
Pushed ObamaCare for state choice on Medicaid expansion
Wisconsin joined the lawsuit challenging Obamacare. While I was disappointed that the US Supreme Court upheld the law, thankfully the Court did rule that the Obama administration cannot force states to accept the Medicaid expansion. It would have been
fiscally unsustainable and would have added thousands of people to the Medicaid rolls when my goal was to have FEWER people dependent on the government, not more. But I also wanted to reduce the number of uninsured people in our state. So instead of
just simply rejecting the Medicaid expansion, as some governors did, I looked for a way to achieve that goal without putting more people on government health care.
Under our plan, every person in WI who is living in poverty will be covered by Medicaid.
We removed the caps Gov. Doyle imposed on the number of participants, while moving some 87,000 people living ABOVE poverty into the private or exchange markets. With our reforms, we are reclaiming Medicaid for those for whom it was intended: the poor.
Source: Unintimidated, by Scott Walker, p.219-21
Nov 18, 2013
On Jobs:
Make union membership optional for government employees
"What if we talk about 'nuclear lite'?" Vos suggested that we keep collective bargaining in place, but place strict limits on it. It would be less controversial to reform collective bargaining than to eliminate it. The plan still need work, but the good
news was that we had moved from "Governor, you can't do this" to discussing how we were going to do it. The key elements were:- We would limit collective bargaining to base wages capped at the CPI.
- No other issues would be subject to bargaining
including benefits such as health insurance.
- Instead of barring the unions from negotiating with the government, we would require that they first demonstrate they had the support of a majority of all their members by holding an annual recertification
vote.
- We required teachers and other public employees to contribute at least 5.8% of their salaries toward the cost of their pensions, and to pay 12.6% of their health insurance premiums.
- Finally, we made union membership optional.
Source: Unintimidated, by Scott Walker, p. 49-50
Nov 18, 2013
On Jobs:
Union bosses donate to campaigns, then get sweetheart deals
The unions liked to paint collective bargaining as a civil "right," like free speech. But collective bargaining isn't a right, it's a racket. Here is how the scam works in the public sector:- The government automatically collects compulsory union
dues from the paychecks of public workers.
- The government then gives the money to the union bosses.
- The union bosses then give that money to pro-union politicians campaign contributions.
- The union-backed politicians use that money to get elected
- Once elected, the union-backed politicians then sit across the table from the union bosses to "negotiate"--purportedly on behalf of the taxpayers.
- But instead of representing the taxpayers, they do the bidding of the unions by providing excessive
wages, benefits, and pensions.
- They line the pockets of union bosses through sweetheart deals.
- Taxpayers lose tens of millions every year in higher costs.
- The cycle starts all over again.
Source: Unintimidated, by Scott Walker, p. 79-80
Nov 18, 2013
On Jobs:
When given the choice, employees don't choose union
Having failed to flip the state supreme court, the unions turned to the federal courts. They filed a lawsuit arguing that Act 10 was unconstitutional because our "paycheck protection" provision barring forced collection of union dues violated the First
Amendment and the Equal Protection Clause because they exempted police and firefighters--creating 2 classes of public employees.For unions, this was the core of their opposition. Paycheck protection gave government workers the right to choose whether
or not to join a union and pay union dues. The unions didn't want them to have that choice.
Once the WI supreme court upheld Act 10, and the paycheck protection provision went into effect, many public workers did in fact decide to keep the money. In
August 2011 "the statewide teachers union issued layoff notices to 42 employees, about 40% of its staff." In March 2011, when we passed our reforms, membership in AFSCME stood at 62,818. A year later, membership had fallen to 28,745.
Source: Unintimidated, by Scott Walker, p.128-9
Nov 18, 2013
On Jobs:
Federal employees have limited collective bargaining power
The president called our reforms "an assault on unions. But I had bent over backward to avoid criticizing public workers. Moreover, we were giving our public workers in WI a much better deal than President Obama gives most federal workers.Ever since
1978, when President Jimmy Carter signed into law the Civil Service Reform Act, collective bargaining for federal employees has been severely limited. Today, federal workers cannot bargain for benefits or wages, and cannot be compelled to join a union
or pay union dues. I don't recall President Obama suggesting that they were being abused in any way, or lifting a finger to right this supposed injustice. To the contrary, Obama unilaterally froze their pay--and he didn't have to get permission from a
union steward to do it. If limiting collective bargaining in WI constituted an "attack on unions," then why didn't the president champion giving collective bargaining powers to workers at the federal level?
Source: Unintimidated, by Scott Walker, p.168-9
Nov 18, 2013
On Tax Reform:
Tax increases reduce state revenues in the long run
After leaving the budget briefing, the situation was far worse than anything I'd seen in Milwaukee County.
And the more I learned, the more resolved I became to fix this once and for all. We had to find the money somewhere. There were only a few limited options:-
I could raise taxes, as the governor across the border in Illinois ended up doing. But I had promised on the campaign trail not to raise taxes. I knew that doing so would harm economic growth, reduce state revenues in the long run,
and hurt job creation when I had pledged to jump-start it. So tax increases were off the table.
- I could lay off thousands of public workers.
- I could cut Medicaid.
Source: Unintimidated, by Scott Walker, p. 29
Nov 18, 2013
On Technology:
Opposed high-speed rail line: $810M federal but $110M state
Not only had I refused to submit a stimulus wish list, I had also campaigned for governor on a promise to cancel a stimulus-funded program to build an expensive high-speed rail line between Madison and Milwaukee. While the Obama administration was
promising $810 million in federal funds for the project, I knew that the state would be on the hook for shortfalls, as well as the annual operating subsidies once the line was complete.
We estimated that the project was going to cost Wisconsin taxpayers $110 million. We were broke and just could not afford it.After my election, Governor Doyle canceled the project. "I could play brinksmanship with this issue and I could just plow
forward and put people out at job sites," Doyle said. "I don't think that's in anybody's best interest."
It was a major victory. We had saved Wisconsin taxpayers more than $100 million before even talking office.
Source: Unintimidated, by Scott Walker, p. 35-6
Nov 18, 2013
On Welfare & Poverty:
Public workers should contribute 18.4% to health & pension
The state legislature passed my budget repair bill, known as Act 10, that requires public workers to contribute 5.8% of their salaries to their pensions (up from 0 for most) and to pay 12.6% of their health insurance premiums (up from about 6%).
We ended collective bargaining for everything except base wages.
Today, thanks to these reforms, the $3.6 billion deficit we inherited has turned into more than a half-billion-dollar surplus. Unemployment is down.
Our bond rating is solid. For the first time in state history, we set aside money in 2 consecutive years for the rainy day fund. And WI's pension system is the only one in the country that is fully funded.
Seems like common sense, right?
Source: Unintimidated, by Scott Walker, p. 5
Nov 18, 2013
On Welfare & Poverty:
Able-bodied must work or train to get food stamps
Right now, the federal government has a requirement that able-bodied, childless adults of working age have to either work or get employment training in order to receive food stamps. But in the past, 46 of the 50 states have been granted a waiver from
that requirement--including Wisconsin. Not anymore.At the end of 2012,
I notified the federal government that Wisconsin would no longer be asking for that waiver. Instead, we established a training program for the 75,878 food stamp recipients in our state who are childless, able-bodied, working-age adults. Today, these
individuals need to be either working part-time or signed up for one of our employment training programs in order to receive food stamps.
The new program is part of a $100 million plan to expand and revitalize workforce development in Wisconsin.
Source: Unintimidated, by Scott Walker, p.221-2
Nov 18, 2013
Page last updated: Feb 26, 2019