Are the Recalls killing jobs like Walker and the Fitzgerald brothers claiming?

The numbers don't lie.

Here’s proof that shows Scott Walker took credit for jobs created under Gov. Doyle and the Democratic legislature, and...

...here’s proof that shows the protests in the first 3 months of the Walker administration didn’t stop private sector businesses from hiring, like Republicans are complaining now.

First; how can Walker supporters go along with the claim he created jobs in January 2011, when he just took office?

Politifact: The state jobs tally started out in an encouraging fashion for Walker, beginning with the report on January 2011 job growth, issued on March 9, 2011, that showed the state added a total of 11,300 jobs that month. Walker took credit. Walker said, "Adding over 10,000 private sector jobs in January shows that Wisconsin is on the right track toward fulfilling that important goal."

Second; after the protests and just before the Republican and Democratic senate recalls, the Wisconsin economy was roaring along:

Five months of job increases followed, concluding with a report for June … the largest single month increase in jobs since 2003.  

The recalls ended, and the governors recall was still not decided, the state started losing jobs. And on the month the Walker recall started, the state lost the most jobs.  

Then on Dec. 15, 2011, the state report said Wisconsin lost 11,700 jobs in November, the steepest decline in more than two years.

So can we believe Scott Walker, the Fitzgerald brothers and now businesses who are repeating the lie that political unrest and uncertainty is killing jobs?

Of course not!

Jobs charts...How Obama is Doing.

Big Brother Business calling shots with Walker administration, Sen. Scott Fitzgerald, over recall "discord!!" Getting welfare payments to hang around.

There is so much to laugh at in the ridiculous press release from Sen. Scott Fitzgerald below.

Fitzgerald suggest the main thrust of the recall from this moment forward will be to blame the loss of jobs in Wisconsin on civil unrest and the recall elections. It’s not Walker’s failed recycled policies everybody knew wouldn’t work that’s at fault, it’s the citizens of the state.  

The question is, are conservative voters stupid? They are if they believe one word of the following rant that plays on every Republican fear; wasting taxpayer money, and business uncertainty. The “uncertainty hurts business” excuse actually gave corporate CEO’s the idea that they could squeeze the state for more money to stay, instead of fleeing the civil unrest and political fight ahead. 

  

WTDY’s Curt Baron and reporter Dylan Brogan shine a bright spotlight on a relatively buried story, that only now is proving to be very timely.  Zack Stein dug up this dirt on Spectrum Brands recent fleecing of the Walker administration for $4 million, over the states “apparent community discord.” Not only is this corporate blackmail, but it appears Spectrum Brands would prefer the public shut its trap, or they’ll leave. 

Get ready for brain numbing partisan tripe, from the meanest snake in the senate, Scott Fitzgerald (highlights my emphasis):

Wisconsin Democrats are forcing taxpayers to pay between $9 million and $17 million for recall elections, but the final price tag is more than just your tax money. Recall elections and political uncertainty are bad for jobs in Wisconsin, according to the state's largest business group.

"It's surprising that the Democrats think there's $9 million just lying around, but it's shameful that they're willing to intentionally hurt Wisconsin's job climate like this. Getting Wisconsin back to work should be more important than getting even with Scott Walker," said Sen. Scott Fitzgerald (R‐Juneau).

Earlier this month, a statewide survey by the Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce found that business leaders are increasingly worried about the real‐world effect of the Democrats' unnecessary recall elections. Reporting on the results, WMC President/CEO Kurt Bauer said: "Uncertainty inhibits job creation, and the constant threat of recalls undermines not only our democracy but our economy."

Note: Business leaders did not think the political unrest in Wisconsin is hurting their business. Consumer spending, demand, were front and center. Removing Walker is a first step in the Democratic plan to create jobs:

"The fact that the Democrats would push ahead with this recall, even though it's bad for business, means two things: the Democrats are too short‐sighted to see that politics is bad for business, and the they care less about creating jobs than they do about winning an election," Fitzgerald said.

An amazing statement, and lie, when the state has seen a half year of jobs losses.

Walker's "It's working" lie gets bigger; Private Sector Lost 11,700 jobs in November, add to it the Public Sector = 14,600.

 And the Walker thugs continue to defend his record?

jsonline: Wisconsin lost private-sector jobs for the fifth consecutive month in November, the same months that the nation has been adding private-sector jobs, according to a report Thursday from the state Department of Workforce Development. The state lost an estimated 11,700 private-sector jobs in November from October, the deepest since April 2009 when the nation was in the throes of the recession, according to the agency's data.

The government sector, meanwhile, continued to lose jobs at the city and county level … All told, the state lost an estimated 14,600 non-farm jobs when the losses in the private sector are combined with the losses in the public sector.

The unemployment rate showed an improvement to 7.3% in November from 7.7% in October.

The losses continue…

Associated Bank plans to close 21 branches in its three-state territory of Wisconsin, Illinois and Minnesota within the next few months, the bank said Thursday. 

Obama comes up with Office of Manufacturing Policy to boost Jobs. What have the Republicans done?

It may be a little late, but finally, a manufacturing plan. What in god’s name took so long…and the idea didn’t come from supposed business friendly Republicans. Their foe Barack Obama, the “socialist” destroyer of America, decided it was time we gave manufacturing the kind of attention it deserved.  

jsonline: At a time when economists say U.S. manufacturing policy is in "disarray," the Obama administration on Monday said it has created a new Office of Manufacturing Policy. Wisconsin leads the nation with the highest share of its workforce employed in manufacturing.

"At this make or break time for the middle class and our economy, we need a strong manufacturing sector that will put Americans back to work.

The new office expands on a previous appointment … no fewer than three such "manufacturing czars" installed as White House advisers in the course of two administrations. One of the two co-chairs will be Commerce Secretary John Bryson, giving the position cabinet-level influence for the first time. His co-chair will be National Economic Council Director Gene Sperling.

Last week, the Washington, D.C.-based Council on Competitiveness became the latest business group to issue a report on the need for a manufacturing policy, saying policy is in "disarray" … manufacturing accounts for more than half of all U.S. exports 

Walker takes Credit for June Seasonal Jobs Jump, Republicans Criticize Obama for December Seasonal Jobs Jump.

The recall elections in summer worried the Walker administration so much, they bragged about an increase in job numbers in June that they knew were “very questionable” and “suspect.” Scott Walker touted the numbers anyway.

In fact;

jsonline; The federal Bureau of Labor Statistics in Washington, D.C., said the monthly statewide jobs numbers in Wisconsin are subject to a margin of error of plus or minus 9,500 jobs - about the same amount as the net increase in total public and private jobs that was reported for June.

But still the Walker administration used the numbers, claiming they accounted for almost all of the jobs created in nation. Conservative radio talk host oozed praise, even though the job numbers were an average of all jobs lost and gained nationwide, with a few states beating Wisconsin handily. But this was a ploy to help those poor Republican senators up for recall.

Walker’s jobs in June came in higher, but… 

…Werwie from Walker's office pointed out that the preliminary private-sector jobs figure for June was actually revised upward the following month by almost 2,000 jobs. But in the meantime, the next installment of the monthly survey showed that the number of jobs in July dropped by 10,800 - almost as many positions as were created in June.

The report said the increase in jobs was "questionable" because most of the jobs were created in tourism industries that "rarely lead employment growth…"

Walker was right about one thing, when it comes to BS, “it’s working.”

Walker Brags about his Open for Business Scam by using former Gov. Doyle's Numbers.

We already know Gov. Scott Walker took credit for former Gov. Jim Doyle’s job creation efforts in his first 6 months in office, which conservative voters swallowed hook, line and sinker. Well it looks like Scotty is taking credit again for more Democratic Party influenced statistics, since they have little else to show for their corporate sellout.

Thanks to Badger Democracy for uncovering the obvious for all the other news media outlets throughout the state:

Scott Walker stated he would defend himself in a recall election by showing the people of Wisconsin “how well his programs have worked” … the DWD website, and a “marketing” page titled “How Wisconsin Stands Apart.”

Upon review of the tables, it became evident that Governor Walker is engaging in a campaign of pure propaganda … The data displayed in the graphs pre-date Scott Walker’s time in office – the Labor Force Participation rate being from 12/07 – 12/10; the Tax Rates on Capital Investment survey from 2009. 

Great job Scott Walker?

If you have the time, check out the following interview:

 Sly In The Morning: Scott Wittkopf: Badger Democracy Campaign: Badger Democracy wondered exactly what economic measures the Governor was talking about, and emailed Cullen Werwie to find out. 

Democrats Flunk Messaging, again.

The Democrats have their own plan to create jobs, but true to form, they seem to have made the effort as unappealing as possible. No wonder they're in the minority and not exactly revving up state voters. Get a load of the PDF of their plan below:

Democrats Announce “Make Wisconsin Work” Jobs Package Package would help connect workers with jobs and provide much-needed training.

As you can see on the left, it's about as concise and easy to explain as the back of your credit card statement.

Its not a great way to sell a jobs plan, and lousy way to frame your message.

Like during the recall election debates, Democratic candidates were completely unprepared to answer the simple question, "what would you have done?"

Recalls don't mean anything if there isn't a simple message.

State Cuts to Public Employees Feeds Unemployment Rate, Lack of Economic Spending.

I went on a little trip to Green Bay and Door County, and had a chance to read through a free copy of the Wall Street Journal. Besides the obvious right wing slant of the editorial section, the actual stories often tell a completely different story about the economy. Especially when it comes to the word "certainty."

It’s won't be a big surprise when history looks back and wonders why Republicans answered the Great Recession with massive reductions in pubic employment and wage reductions, instead of counting on their salaries as a way to boost local economies and create consumer certainty. Tax increases were off the table on the wealthy, who by the way, didn’t create jobs and still haven’t.

But what about business “uncertainty?” Republicans have reminded us endlessly how their uncertainty is killing us. It’s been the biggest lie.

WSJ: A spurt of spending by businesses on equipment and software, which surged 17.4% in the period, signaled companies aren't paralyzed by uncertainty. Spending by consumers also climbed … If consumers cut back on spending—which constitutes about 70% of economic activity—it would hurt growth.

But this really hit me:

Amid an uneven recovery, companies have been more willing to spend on equipment than on people. Rich Gimmel, president of the Louisville, Ky., equipment maker (said) sales are coming from businesses that want to replace old equipment rather than expand. “It's more of a begrudging, 'Demand may come back but I'm not sure how sustainable it's going to be, so I'm going to spend just enough to keep up.' "

The the reason for the slow job growth...

But budget cuts by state and local governments signal more gloom for employment as well as economic growth. State and local governments subtracted 0.16 of a percentage point from growth last quarter. The government of Maryland's Baltimore County is offering employees early retirement packages in a bid to trim 200 jobs. 

Department of Workforce Development can't keep Walker Appointees. What, no jobs?

Scott Walker promised jobs in a near jobless recovery, and got elected based on that promise. The same can be said for the Republican legislature. No jobs and rising unemployment numbers.

Walker gets a big fat F. He's failing (thanks to his fellow Republican in Congress). And things aren’t looking up.

The Department of Workforce Development is spinning its wheels and going nowhere. This is bad news for Scott Walker, who can’t keep appointees in the department.

Biztimes: Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker today made his third appointment in nine months to the position of Secretary of the Department of Workforce Development. Today, the governor’s office received Scott Baumbach’s resignation letter and announced that former DWD Deputy Secretary and Department of Transportation Executive Assistant, Reggie Newson has been appointed Secretary of DWD. Baumbach resigned after being in the position just four months. He replaced Walker's first appointee, Manny Perez, who resigned in May after only five months at the post.

It should be no surprise business isn't looking to expand or relocate if demand for their service or product is none existent. No jobs!!! Voters wanted the kind of change that created jobs. It didn't happen, and the only jobs created in Walker's first 6 months were those put in place under Gov. Doyle.

Baumbach’s departure comes three days after an economic forecast by Walker's own administration predicted that Wisconsin will fall far short of adding the 250,000 new private-sector jobs by 2015 that the governor promised as a key part of his successful election campaign. The state’s unemployment rate has risen from 7.4 percent when Walker took office in January to 7.8 percent.

Again, we knew jobs were almost nonexistent, but Walker promised his policies would create jobs and attract business. It's not happening. No jobs but a dramatic ideological change in state policy. Empty promises coupled with no jobs…and a recall election to end the Walker mistake. 

Here's WKOW 27 News:

Tea Party Nation Tells Members not to hire Employees!!!

This pretty much says it all about the tea party and the Republican efforts to take back the presidency by killing jobs. 


Thanks to Stephen Colbert for the heads up:

The Tea Party Nation asks its members to pledge not to hire employees.

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
Tip/Wag - Tea Party Nation Pledge & Spirit Airlines' Ad Revenue
www.colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor & Satire Blog Video Archive

From Right wing watch: Tea Party Nation sent to their members today a message from activist Melissa Brookstone urging businesspeople to “not hire a single person” to protest the Obama administration’s supposed “war against business and my country.” Brookstone writes:

Resolved that: The Obama administration and the Democrat-controlled Senate, in alliance with a global Progressive socialist movement, have participated in what appears to be a globalist socialist agenda of redistribution of wealth, and the waging of class warfare against our constitutional republic's heritage of individual rights, free market capitalism, and indeed our Constitution itself, with the ultimate goal of collapsing the U.S. economy and globalizing us into socialism.

Resolved that: President Obama has seized what amount to dictatorial powers to bypass our Congress, and that because the Congress is controlled by a Progressive socialist Senate that will not impeach one of their kind, they have allowed this and yielded what are rightfully congressional powers to this new dictator.

Resolved that: By their agenda and actions, those in our government who swore oaths to protect and defend our Constitution have committed treason against the United States.

Resolved that: The current administration and Democrat majority in the Senate, in conjunction with Progressive socialists from all around the country, especially those from Hollywood and the left leaning news media (Indeed, most of the news media.) have worked in unison to advance an anti-business, an anti-free market, and an anti-capitalist (anti-individual rights and property ownership) agenda.

Resolved that: Our President, the Democrats-Socialists, most of the media, and most of those from Hollywood, have now encouraged and supported "Occupy" demonstrations in our streets, which are now being perpetrated across the globe, and which are being populated by various marxists, socialists and even communists, and are protesting against business, private property ownership and capitalism, something I thought I'd never see in my country, in my lifetime.

I, an American small business owner, part of the class that produces the vast majority of real, wealth producing jobs in this country, hereby resolve that I will not hire a single person until this war against business and my country is stopped.

Republicans Halt Creation of 400,000 Jobs for a Half Cent Tax that would fix Temporary Problem.

What's wrong with fixing a temporary jobs problem? Follow me on this:

This is a temporary jobs problem, right? Or are Republicans saying we have a long term, perhaps permanent, jobs problem, and a temporary fix isn't good enough?

It's not complicated. Obama's is trying to fix a temporary problem with a temporary fix, paid for by taxing incomes above $1 million.

But the question posed by Ezra Klein goes to heart of the argument; Republicans are preventing a fix because Obama's plan is only "temporary."  Ed Schultz explains:



Joe Biden explains the half cent tax on incomes above $1 million in a way even a tea party voter can understand.

Biden: "There's nothing temporary about saving somebody's life, there's nothing temporary about giving a kid a chance."

900 Private Sector Jobs Gone!! Open for business?

Oddly, the unemployment percentage went down to 7.8% from 7.9%.

Let’s face it, the massive give-a-ways to business and loss of consumer protections have done squat, nothing, except lose jobs since Walker took office. And government jobs, in which Wisconsin had fewer of then most states, plummeted. What a way to get to an economic recovery!!!!

jsonline: Private-sector employment fell in September in Wisconsin for the third consecutive month, according to the latest report released Thursday by the state Department of Workforce Development.

The state lost an estimated 900 jobs among private-sector employers, it said. The manufacturing sector alone lost 3,000 jobs.

But employment in the government sector - particularly the state and local sector - continued to plummet, losing an estimated 11,700 jobs at public-sector agencies. The government sector has been shedding jobs for two years.

Walker’s Jobs Plan Working? Johnson Control Closes Hudson Plant Losing 51 Workers.

Is it fair to blame Scott Walker for every closing and job loss? Well, Mr. Open for Business wasn’t exactly fair blaming Gov. Doyle for the state job losses after the Great Recession, but he did with panache.

So with the same amount of energy and irony, here’s the bad news I wish I didn’t have post:

Hudson Patch: According to Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) notice issued by the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD), the Johnson Controls plant in Hudson will close this winter. An estimated 51 employees will be affected by the plant closure … separations are expected to begin in mid-December and continue through February. DWD is working with the West Central Workforce Development Board to provide rapid response services for the displaced workers.

The news release section of the Johnson Controls website makes no mention of the plant closure or layoffs. In fact, the company's latest news release was issued less than a week ago, and it touts "$44 Billion in Sales with Double-Digit Earnings Improvements in Fiscal 2012" in its headline. 

Wake for Jobs held in Utopian Fitzwalkerstan.

In Eau Claire, a wake for jobs was held to bring attention to the worsening jobs problem Scott Walker refuses to take responsibility for. Unemployment is up, and for some reason, its not his fault.

The only encouraging thing about the recent attacks on unions and labor in general, is the coming together of working Americans to one common cause-saving the middle class. It's a populist message and a simple gut level issue most people can get behind.

WEAU: Local union members held a mock wake and vigil for jobs Wednesday night in Phoenix Park. The workers and other community members say the event is designed to highlight President Obama's jobs plan and the need to get millions of Americans back to work. They also want reforms for Wall Street and extended unemployment benefits. Alec Kirby, a History Professor at UW-Stout said "we're mourning the loss of manufacturing jobs. We're mourning the loss of middle class opportunities. We're mourning the loss of affordable healthcare. So we're calling attention to the loss and hopefully, trying to reverse things in the future."

Of course before we see how devastating Walker's policies will be on state's economy, we're going to fed the rosy "look what we've done already" line. That's not saying much when we already know road maintenance and Medicaid are already running deficits, and schools districts will be in trouble a few years down the road. Hey, but things are great right now?

But local republicans say Wisconsin is much better off than other state's … Republican State Senator Terry Moulton says lawmakers at the capitol will start debating a number of jobs proposals to get people back to work next week. "I'm kind of excited about it because it's a bipartisan effort. There are democrat proposals on the table, as well as proposals from our side of the aisle. So, I'm excited about that fact."

Union organizers say events similar to the wake for jobs were going on in cities all over Wisconsin, and around the country.

Congress, not the President, responsible for Jobs, Jobs, Jobs. Isn’t that why Republicans Ran?

This silly one note response from the Republican Party, that the president hasn’t done anything to create jobs, must finally be put to rest. It’s the Houses job.

U.S. Rep. F. James Sensenbrenner wrote this in the Brookfield Patch:

Where Are the 5 Million Jobs, Mr. President? It's clear that giving subsidies to 'green energy' companies is not the way to boost employment.

Nice try Jim, but didn't your party just say that “government doesn’t create jobs?"

And Mr. Sensenbrenner, the House has the nation’s purse strings, and must take the lead in job creation…not the president.

It’s not the presidents job, it’s congresses. 

Democrats Propose Jobs Bill that trains people for jobs.

Scott Walker's "Open for Business" policy has one big short coming; you can't just ask companies to plop their business here without the thought of a trained workforce. You can of course if you're Walker.

That's why the Democrats have a more sound alternative, and a requested sacrifice for our state's nearly 3,000 millionaires to help get people back to work. Think the elite rich will go for it, or feel penalized for their success? I think we know the answer.

According to Republicans, leading means making decisions no ones going to like. Well, Democrats can do that too, for our selfishly wealthy.

State Rep. Cory Mason and State Sen. Chris Larson introduced the Wisconsin Jobs Initiative … will provide job skills training and education to at least 35,000 Wisconsin workers through a significant investment in Wisconsin’s Technical College System (WTCS). The bill would replace the $34.2 million cut from the WTCS in the biennial budget. It also allocates $35.8 million in grants to provide skill training and education, assist dislocated workers, and expand capacity at technical colleges statewide. Preference for the grants will be given to areas of the state with high unemployment.

Rep. Mason said, “Wisconsin’s employers have joined the chorus of voices calling for a skilled workforce.” "Governor Walker's cuts to education forced Wisconsin's technical colleges to scale back important job training. As a result, companies like Caterpillar have family-supporting jobs available but lack the right skilled workers to fill them," said Sen. Larson.

"The bill proposes that this investment be paid for by the creation of a new top income tax rate for those tax filers whose annual incomes exceed $1 million. The nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau estimates that there are approximately 2,900 Wisconsin tax filers who would be impacted by this change, which would generate at least $70 million in new revenue in its first year. 

Rep. Mason; “This bill asks Wisconsin’s wealthiest individuals to share a small amount of that sacrifice in order to train and educate at least 35,000 Wisconsin workers.” 

The Republican Idea of Job Creation, by Anita Perry!!

We never asked our Republican counterparts "What kind of jobs do you want to create?"

Thank's to Rick Perry's wife, Anita, for cluing us all in on their idea of the workforce under Republican rule. The kind of jobs "people are hungry for."

Walker Advocates Job Training in Schools, but that doesn't do a lot for the older Unemployed.

Since the U.S. decided to outsource most of our manufacturing jobs, skilled factory workers are no longer able to get the kind of jobs Gov. Scott Walker says are out there to be filled. Even in the olden days, high schools didn't have classes that trained people for the kind of jobs they eventually moved into, because many were trained on the job. But apparently, not anymore. In Milwaukee:

WTMJ4: Governor Scott Walker joined business leaders from the Milwaukee area for what he calls a job-creation forum, but dozens of his opponents protested … begging for more jobs, local business leaders begged for more workers.

More than two dozens business leaders from Johnson Controls, Harley-Davidson, North Shore Bank and other companies joined Walker … they are searching for workers right now, particularly in manufacturing. Walker admitted that the message is not getting out there, while protesters outside said they couldn't find work because of the Governor's policies. "One of the biggest concerns is a lack of skilled workers," said Walker. "One of the things we're hoping to do is get that message out.  There are jobs available.  The key is, we have to have people willing to go into those categories."

Walker seems to think 40, 50 and 60 year old job seekers need to make up a few missed high school courses to get back into the workforce.

Walker pushed inside the forum for better skills learned in our schools. He plans to hold more forums like this, including one in Green Bay.

Walker Promised Jobs During these Difficult times. That means...no excuses.

The title says it all for me, and should not be forgotten when lousy job numbers trickle out each and every month. Breaking even doesn't count either, since voters sent a loud and clear message they wanted jobs created in Wisconsin. That was the promise Gov. Scott Walker made, and blaming D.C. for the jobs slowdown doesn't cut it. Walker knew how bad the economy was when he grabbed power and still promised jobs. Well, we're waiting.

In the meantime, Walker might have failed to mention a number of jobs listed at the Jobs Center were out of state. Ooops:

PostCrescent: Nearly one-in-five of the jobs listed on a state website touted by Gov. Scott Walker as a resource for unemployed Wisconsin residents are actually located in neighboring states, according to an analysis by The Associated Press. More than 32,000 job openings were posted on the Job Center, but about 18 percent of them were in Illinois, Minnesota, Iowa and Michigan. It was unclear how many of those roughly 6,000 jobs could be filled through telecommuting, though many appeared to require on-site work.