Here & Now

On the Issues: Economy

Shawn Johnson:
From schools to jobs, let’s switch gears now and hear from the candidates’ on their plans to grow Wisconsin’s economy.

Scott Walker:
We’ve got big things as part of our plan to keep Wisconsin working for generations to come. Like helping working families, many of whom when they first have children find it challenging to get back into the work force, so we’re providing a childcare tax credit to make it a little bit easier to afford childcare if either spouse wants to get back in the work force. We’re doing more things for people seeking public assistance, to get them employability training, and for those who might potentially be suffering from addiction, get them the health care and the rehabilitation they need to get back up on their feet again. We can find a job for everyone in the state but it doesn’t happen if you’re going to raise taxes like Tony Evers is talking about.

Tony Evers:
First of all, we need to make sure that we invest in Wisconsin companies. That’s — that is absolutely critical. Clearly the Foxconn issue has been a high profile issue in the state. I’m sure every one of your viewers that are watching this program would suggest that they could have cut a better deal than Scott Walker did for Foxconn. We have to stop the Hail Mary passes. We have to invest in those young start-ups that are real important in the state. That not only keeps them in the state, but it also gives other young people hope that the state can play a positive role in helping them become productive workers and part of the Wisconsin society instead of moving out of state.

Frederica Freyberg:
One thing that comes to mind about jobs and the economy is that Wisconsin’s economy right now is humming along. Unemployment at about 3%. And so it makes you wonder how this race is so tight at this point with the economy, which is usually a major issue, the number one issue, is so good.

Shawn Johnson:
It’s just a reminder that you just don’t know what ever election’s going to be about going into it. Any governor would love to run with 3% unemployment rate or thereabouts, but this is, by all indications, a close race and seems like there may be other things at play in this one.

Frederica Freyberg:
Tony Evers, as we just saw, referenced Foxconn. But you were noting that that didn’t come up in their first debate.

Shawn Johnson:
Not one mention of Foxconn in that debate for all the talk that we have given it, seems like the biggest thing maybe that happened certainly in the last few years of the governor’s administration. And it didn’t come up in the debate. And you haven’t seen it in a big way in the ad war either between Tony Evers and Scott Walker.

Frederica Freyberg:
What do we make of that?

Laurel White:
I think what we make of that is neither party thinks that it’s going to be a good issue for them, necessarily. It’s not something that’s going to benefit them if they bring it up. It’s kind of a tricky issue. Walker has run positive ads about Foxconn. Especially early on in the race saying it had a statewide impact and things like that. But it’s certainly something that there are pros and cons on, and the state is pretty divided. So I think they want to stay away from it.

Shawn Johnson:
Risky, maybe.

Laurel White:
Yeah, risky.

Frederica Freyberg:
How do we think Walker’s former CEO of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation coming out opposed to him plays in these final days?

Shawn Johnson:
I don’t know. I mean, it does — because he is the fourth cabinet secretary, former Walker cabinet secretary who has criticized the governor. It does create — for Democrats, that’s a good narrative. People who worked for Scott Walker don’t like him. Three of those cabinet secretaries have said that they oppose the governor in this election. They’ll support Tony Evers. Walker said, “Hey, it shows that I have a diversity of opinions within my cabinet” and he’s ok with that.