Scott Walker Launches First Ad: "Salary"

I hope you can continue to help Wisconsin and aren't just another bag of hot air like so many of the previous. We need someone to take a brown bag and not be out to lunch when we are in such need of help.

if you want a template to reforming wisconsin, I suggest you take a look at what florida is proposing in terms of state pension reform. Without reform ,our state's finances are on a path to unsustainability.

http://market-ticker.org/archives/2122-And-Here-It-Comes-State-Pension-S...

For those who think that the state mess isn't going to have a big impact, you need to read this bill. This, incidentally, is from a state (Florida) that is allegedly one of the best in terms of its public-pension status - those of you in Illinois, New York, California and others are in much worse shape.

Let me recap what this bill does:

•Increases employee contributions for all future hires and many current employees by 1% to the pension plan.

•Actuarial disclosure (and public posting of same) must be regularly performed and corrective steps identified to halt and reverse any unfunded liabilities.

•Pensions are now computed based on the average compensation during the employee's term of employment, not the last five years, and explicitly exclude any and all overtime or other "cramming" attempts. Further, the pension paid is capped at that average compensation. All "hazard pay" riders (e.g. additive amounts for police, fire and similar employees) are ended. Lump sum payments, annual leave payments (for vacation not taken) and similar are excluded. In short, only your base salary counts, and the average across your entire term of service is used, ending the abuse of playing games in the last couple of years to "goose" pension returns.

•Retirement ages go up materially. The minimum retirement age is now typically 60, and with the exception of "special risk classes" (e.g. cops) you now need 33 years of creditable service. Pension payouts now cannot start before age 62 if retiring before July 1st 2011 and 65 thereafter. For "special risk" classes the prior 55 year age lifts to 60 as of July 1st, 2011.

•Municipalities can close their defined benefit plan, choosing instead to offer defined contribution plans (e.g. 401k equivalents.) An existing employee can transfer out of the pension system to that 401k-style system, but if they do they cannot transfer back to the pension system.

•Finally, there is no grandfathering - this applies to all current and future employees, without exception.
The language also appears to bar double-dipping and other forms of abuse, but I have not yet fully analyzed the impact of these provisions - and whether they can be gamed.

Nonetheless this is a dramatic change and the lack of grandfathering means that there will be much screaming from various "special interests", especially public employee unions. This bill is being kept VERY quiet around here - I've heard basically nothing in the media.

Frankly, I still think this plan is too generous on-balance - but the fact of the matter is that corrections like this have to happen. The abuses of public employees in this regard are well-known and endemic, and must be ended. So too much the common lies told about these funds - this bill forces public and accurate disclosure of the status of all of these plans, including their unfunded liabilities and the process to correct that deficiency.

You can bet this will be bitterly-fought by the public employee folks. Too bad. To those who are government employees and believe they should be able to abuse the pension system and stick the people with the bill, my view is that you should all be fired - and lose your pension benefits entirely.

I'm frankly tired of the view, held by many of these people, that the private sector should foot the entire bill for the profligacy and outrageous acts of government over the previous 30 years.

Government is directly responsible for the political policies that have led to this economic mess through the lack of law enforcement, the failure of government to regulate and control financial entities, county and state governments that have embraced "grow to the sky" fiscal policies that are mathematically impossible and public employees who believe they are God's Gift to the public and that we must provided whatever the demand.

It is time for these "government tit-suckers" to be held to account, and to bear the costs that have come from their actions. This bill is a good start, but it goes nowhere near far enough to actually address the issues.

What are your views on "Conceal Carry"?

Scott,
I think a great idea would be to stop all state spending on colleges and technical schools. There are plenty of private schools to provide educational opportunities. Good idea?

I support you all the way,

Ronald

Scott lets get these imposters that highjacked our country and hold them accountable to the highest degree. Stay on top of the corruption in big government in all parties who are killing this great land. Hold to your conservative values and you have my support. Thank you

Right on the money Scott.....maybe it's time for the "Brown Bag Bus Tour".
Go get 'em!

The caption on the bag cracks me up: "Wisconsin is tax hell". I call Wisconsin "Taxconsin". Living here for over twenty years has me split on my opinion; it's a great state to live in, but it's too expensive and now there aren't any jobs. We need fiscal sanity back in government, and somebody that doesn't feel tax money is free money that grows on trees.

Hi Scott,

I agree. Taxes are killing our economy. If a company has in international market, why would they manufacture in USA only to pay the outrageous taxes? The answer is simple for them. Set up off shore operations to supply the rest of the world. No new jobs here.

Really, who is getting all of that money? It isn't me. My families health care expenses seem like a bargain compared to my taxes. At least I get some benefit from my health care insurance.

If I had a choice, I would choose a different supplier.

Please work to reform election spending - cap total expenditures to allow the less financially endowed an opportunity to compete for public office.

Please eliminate lobbyists. It doesn't make sense to have someone trying to influence a public official to vote in any way other than for the benefit and true to the will of the constituents that elected that person.

The revenue limit can work but needs appropriate exemptions to allow schools to continue to be effective. However, teachers and administrators need to be accountable for their school's success or failures. The teacher's union is doing more damage to education than the economy could ever do.

Add 1% to sales tax only for deficit reduction.

Offer tax incentives to business' that can create and sustain WI jobs only if they offer some long term guarantees to stay in the state.

Tax incentives to community volunteers - ambulance/fire department/library

I agree with some of scotts opinions,however property taxes are illegal and immoral,so is income tax. This country started as a protection only government. Now the entire U.S government is filled with usurpers,living off the values produced and created by its people. I was a die hard republican,now an independent with honest,objective,and rational views,leading to Laissez faire capitalism only. Not initiatory force,coercion,and scare tactics to support the bogus livelihoods of politicians. I believe in individual & property rights,There is not 1 politician that would support these values Scott. Do you?

Way to go Scott, great and sensible ad. We need more people, not politicians, like you who have a proven track record and fortitude to stand up for what is right. Keep up the great work, you have my support.
Mark Snyder

This is a great ad! Powerful fact too. How many people in government can claim that? My guess is not too many!

Go Scott! You have my support.

Scott,

Impressive message it gets right down to the meat right off the bat. Our state government and also federal government are so out of control, they think the american people don't see and understand it. They are so wrong people are waking up all over the country to fix this mess.

We have a long road ahead but it's great to see someone that's got his head on straight running for Wisconsin Governor.

Rock on, Scott! Great ad! We will miss you in Milwaukee County, but it's worth it. You will be a terrific governor.

Finally, someone in politics who gets it. Thank you for spreading the message.

When Scott was first elected County Executive a newsman asked what I liked best about Scott. I said, "he says what he's going to do & then he does it."

Scott continues to prove me right every day.

Scott,
What about starting up "The Bank of Wisconsin" ?? North Dakota has one (the only state that does) AND a balanced budget AND over $ one billion surplus. The State of WI could create it`s own money....... just like the big banks do via "fractional reserve lending" Check out www.webofdebt.com by Ellen Brown. Please look into this ...... it will work, it just has to be done. Keep up the good work, Rick Mazol

Scott...this is suberb. Dials right down to the Reagan Democrats on the South Side! Hats off to your ad agency. Im on your side and will do whatever I can to help you win...for the sake of all of our families!

Keep up the great work!

Kelly Brown
Your friend in banking:)

Great ad, Scott! Governor Scott Walker and Lt. Gov Brett Davis would finally be a team that could reduce the size of government, cut taxes, and get our economy back on track!

Where do stand on the high speed rail system in southern Wi.? Will go public on your views? How would you spend the 850 million stimulus?
How are you going to fix the 6 billion deficit without making Wi the highest taxed state in the nation?

Hooray!!! Someone finally gets it!!!

Kudos to you, now if elected just do what you say you'll do and not lie to everyone like all the other politicians are doing.

Maybe we should be more concerned about what we get for the money that is spent rather than just cutting. One of the major contributors of big government, excessive taxation and over regulation is irresponsible capitalism and the conservatives and liberals that support it. We need responsible leadership that will get the most from the money and start "encouraging" individual citizens, businesses, corporations and institutions to be accountable for their actions rather than being receiving the the benefits of irresponsible politicians.

Scott, I must tell you that I like the platform you are running on. Please, please, please, do something different as a governor and follow through on it. You will be a hero.

Thanks

Ray Brunner

It's about time somebody paid attention to the overspending in this country. This is a great start. Now it is time to move this up to Washington!

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