Gov. Walker vs. Wisconsin recall

This transcript is automatically generated

-- -- It is pretty sector to be with tonight's A tournament it was because we love being here you know that I found -- recall how's -- going.

It's going well -- -- the more we get the message out the more we get the truth out.

The more we compare herself -- and they see the failed policies down there don't work the better off we are but we got a long ways to go.

All right now so far you don't have any opponents official could happen to watch.

The recalled the certification will happen by the end of the month once they do people build the take -- signatures -- At least two or three candidates averted said there in the probably -- -- -- two more and it'll be interest in the city.

-- isn't the most serious -- among.

Among most people is it that Kathleen Falk -- they counting kids -- fought the former Dade County executive by far has the support of the big government unions out they're fully behind here.

The mayor Tom Barrett who ran against the couple years ago when 2010.

-- -- Milwaukee.

These credible candidates well I think.

The two of them will be fight it out the primary if if the mayor gets and.

All right how I describe this as a fierce I mean this a privilege that the third -- been recalled history there's an examination in the nation -- so is so it's a big deal to suspect a big deal to you understand the state of Wisconsin.

How -- why hasn't gotten so -- here.

Well I think what we saw last year about this time was when money can buy these came in front of the state certainly a lot of passion here you know that's the state.

His head big debates about political issues for for years -- decades.

But when the money came in from out of state when the people who were -- in and flown -- from state.

Who saw the big government your boss is pushing things and you continue to see that they're the ones that drove the money spent last year 44 million dollars.

We spent on the senate recall elections to take -- six Republican senators last year some of said it's as much as seventy to eighty million dollars -- -- be spent here against me.

And a good chunk -- that's gonna come from out of state big government unions give any regret how you handled the collective bargaining chip.

Yeah I think I look back and it's -- -- would spend more time if I could do it over again kind of laying the ground work making the case made a good example.

I think people last year in February before -- to reforms knew that the vast majority school districts or states.

Literally paid tens of millions of dollars more than they needed to in the past.

Because the old collective bargain system forced to by the health insurance for just one company that just -- to be affiliate the teacher's -- they demand change what we we traded that change.

Now we have to tell that story along with others after the fact.

But I think when people see the facts they see the results they made out of like every bit of the process but it's a lot better than what other states including states like Illinois.

I can understand a thing and the state of the state how I don't know what's your unemployment -- on -- point 9% below suspends its 2008 we had 151700.

New jobs in January you people leave the workforce to in the state we have although he -- you compares to the national average we're doing much better compares.

Illinois which raise taxes laid -- thousand employees shut down facilities cut Medicaid.

And then unemployment that's about 10% so really if people want to know what would you get out recall -- -- successful I should just look to the south of Springfield because those -- the same policies that failed to pass the Wisconsin they -- again here.

-- think this recall election is is -- checked on the national level mean that this can -- coming money coming in for the unions for whoever your opponent is.

And that for you to the B money Nicosia -- optical Brothers as the ones that day and that this -- finding new.

-- is is that have feared description of this that this has been hijacked to some degree by the -- on the national level.

Well you look at the way this started to be the out of state money even before there was a recall campaign clearly came from the big government -- -- special interest from Washington.

You're gonna see the vast majority of money coming and I believe from out of state in the end.

In dead the other people helping all across the country but our last report showed.

The more than 76% of our contributions.

Came from people gave us fifty dollars -- -- -- people going to Scott Walker -- -- are telling us.

They want us to have to help things out those 101520 dollar contributions really make a difference.

The national unions for them this is all about the money it's not just about the budget -- collective bargaining.

We gave nearly everywhere we gave every public employee of this state the freedom to choose.

Whether or not they -- be -- you you're -- and I think that's really why.

This is a Waterloo for the they've been invested everything possible to try and take the opposite message now -- other Republican governors.

I think to a number discerning Democrat governors and mayors who look at this and say you know what.

Maybe we can rein in our cost here and be able to balance your budget when it's responsible if we do some of the same things that they've done it was -- Is -- to know the how -- -- it's gotten so divided in this in -- has a -- -- torture political history mistake.

But that you -- you are the villain to the unions here the -- have done and I mean even during the -- in the coverage.

The collective bargaining if you know when I was in to interview you it didn't matter what I ask you this I would get the nasty emails now -- -- the villain with the horrified if I interviewed -- -- in the union side the Republicans are saying as a villain to.

Well again I think the what you saw was about a week after -- started when those fourteen senators left the state.

That opened the window for people to be brought in from other states that came from Illinois they came from Nevada they came from New Jersey and Washington DC New York.

When that survey -- when you see the buses but people come in the charter planes coming here and the Mondays and they don't fortified million dollars.

Even before he campaigns last year attacking me -- -- the process.

-- know that's been hard to recover from presenting a lot of people bought into that.

Over time as people see is that -- Paper sit here.

Not long -- the sky's not falling when they -- that our schools including the public schools my kids go to.

-- many -- crested at the same or better than they were before when they see the local governments from the same or better when they saw the property taxes.

Go down for the school tax revenues for the first time about a half a decade last year.

Think people see the results trump all the attacks all the that.

On civility that was going on at my hope is between now and election happened but this is as you know 52% as a big win in the state of Wisconsin.

-- so for us just to get fifty plus one is ultimately what we're aiming for.

Let this have a large number of people who signed that petition and they -- a million although again you look at just like in the senate recalls.

Significant number of those people are people -- never voted for our state to -- -- recall.

You don't actually have to be registered -- you just have to be eligible.

Which means -- eighteen not a felon and you've lived in the state for at least 28 days a lot of people on there have bullet in the past and may very well not vote this year but.

Again it does show -- pretty good -- to support upon which to Begin with.

I just -- to get the truth out when you compared -- Do we want to go back to the days of the double digit tax increases billion dollar budget deficits in the record job loss or.

Do we wanna build off the positive foundation we built for the state can really move Wisconsin towards greater freedom prosperity I think people want to go that route.

Governor could sustain this for a second because of an out of the other side of the recall -- Firefighter and union leader -- Mitchell -- Wisconsin's political climate in emergency and just today.

-- announcing he will run as a Democrat for lieutenant governor in the recall elections we spoke with mainland Mitchell earlier tonight.

It's -- great day because today for you you have made an announcement.

I did -- at 10:30 this morning that was good -- candidacy for lieutenant governor in the recall elections -- why why not run for governor.

That's a good question I think now envoy -- from beginning and I'm gonna do whatever it takes to move -- -- for.

And now -- my time to do.

I wanted to do help any governor comes on a democratic primary.

And I want to move our message board now move our state -- -- Iraq and -- -- we'll and make the mess it's better that's what I'm that's why I'm running for the time.

What's wrong the current governor the Republican lieutenant him.

She's a rubber stamps is a rubber stamp for all gonna -- -- policies we just can't have that we.

I was told this morning that one of lieutenant governor Clijsters didn't know what -- what's gonna -- so that's fine.

Not known as one thing but not reacting after knowing enough.

And we need someone as -- -- not just as rubber stamp when X is gonna fight for the middle class citizens of course they should be different with the governor let's say that you that you win that you become the lieutenant governor estimates that governor Scott Walker loses there -- democratic governor.

I -- -- -- the democratic governor if you disagree I will do that I think what there's there's a need to do that.

I don't think there's a democratic or Republican problem.

This sort of problem that we are same politicians not taking care of decent American values we give backs that Gigabeat taking care of all citizens.

Not just like you now you are in the -- you the president of the firefighters expect I am act now when.

Governor Walker Frist talked about changing collective bargaining.

The Republican state party says that you came out and execute -- -- said that that he was doing a good thing.

And now -- -- -- turnaround so what happened while I think the Republican Party -- -- and it's not just for that reason but.

I came out with the press release not a lot of personal -- Scott Walker's gonna press release.

Saying recognizing it.

Gonna -- for treating public safety as imports and making governor public safety importance in -- election.

Now my fault my -- I did that before actually learn the full ramifications of the bill.

So I -- a press release -- shortly after this press conference.

Friday afternoon.

After really reading the bill looking at the bills and in its entirety over the weekend talking to different local leaders and union leaders.

I realize that -- could not sit idly by and let this happen so we were -- out on the first day of the process.

And people that -- does no one can press press release also does what we did for next 78 months -- wants to fight back.

On the deployments that -- -- Now as I understand -- -- the government put into effect doesn't affect the firefighters and police sect practice other state employees were exempt from it from the basically -- exactly what is it that what's been the impact.

What he has enacted.

Vis a vis those other resting place was this taken away our money in your patience.

And state how much -- any idea Saint Louis.

Bill eighty Syverson.

Money from people's faces here so you're -- -- -- -- -- thousand dollars of income for people than in the time where.

There's no doubt that middle class these normally in their pocket.

It's very list and he says that these reforms are working -- we go back to not just the concessions but also trying to attack you.

And -- Christmas is -- some than he bargained on its last on -- he campaigned -- So we feel that in our state that we've been through it we've been -- we've been -- we've been misled -- -- that's -- you see the people fight that.

How should he handle the shortfalls or how would you handle the shortfalls budget.

I think you gotta bring people to detail and I think we've got to negotiate the -- -- watch them what Britney needed the money -- For instance the collective -- and -- city where I would -- in -- we're able to negotiate through collective bargaining process police and firefighters.

Coming to the table giving concessions to save the city over four million dollars over two years.

And -- city sitting down with the employees.

And doing what's best for community as well assistant sports we're save money we give concessions and health insurance and give concessions in the -- and that's the way things worked -- what mark.

I think there's a misnomer about what -- it's not unions going to the table now parliament this on the tables and we want these demands we're gonna strike.

That's not quite how it works.

It works by everybody sit at a table actually say this what we can do what can you provide we come to a consensus and what's best for me you -- don't wanna break what are you.

You don't -- -- -- this thing that that that hurts all of us.

Well -- you if I ain't saying that you think that.

Eight members of the union should contribute to helping these shortfall in the budget.

I think there's no doubt about that I don't think that in any union employee -- any state employees dollar.

They say we had three point six billion dollar deficit that's -- to say we can't keep kicking the can down a little.

We understands what would -- to -- -- a table and negotiate a little -- what we saw in January of last year was corporate -- So we had to do we -- open for business and we saw what we see in January.

Corporations getting tax cuts massive tax cuts to corporations if you come to the state of Wisconsin.

From Illinois from Iowa Minnesota.

You can -- two years and I don't pay any income tax -- income you make as a corporate as a corporate what's the current corporate what's the current corporate -- taxes that.

We'll ask the question I have to I think it's seven point 9%.

What we have this what we do -- next ten years.

We gave 2.3 billion dollars in tax cuts to corporations was that to bring them geared to generate jobs -- estimates that the government is -- and that's fine to bring hundreds of -- -- without.

There's no doubt in my mind that we need businesses to create jobs.

We need business pretty tough but you can in one breath say we're gonna give -- corporations tax cuts.

And an express say we need our state is broke and we need money when he shared sacrifice and and -- the budget on the backs of the hard working middle class citizens of our state.

They say when he shared sacrifice right now seems that we sacrifice and they share the -- So we need a balance.

I'm not saying that we we don't need to give these tax breaks to corporations.

But the days of giving tax breaks to corporations.

And not putting any onus on them to create jobs is over we -- six months of straight jobs lost in our state.

Six months -- He alienates you have that -- -- was six point 9% unemployment rate which to rest of us in the country envious of release and that's not that I'm wondering is did not that not that that's that don't -- I don't think any unemployment is good but your state is actually doing a little bit better -- employment than most other states.

And I certainly -- the national average of eight point three adult I don't think there's anything -- confuse anyone Republican -- Democrat -- can argue that we need to create jobs thing.

But it just to flip philosophical differences how to get that done and I think that's what you see the difference and that's why you're seeing people -- Coming Scott Walker still ask found governor your response that and let me just say that it hit it occurred to me talking to him -- -- Isn't he he wanted to work something out on all these tough issues is it's a good man a good firefighter but it like your method it that the tape you were.

So rolled over on the rolled him over look.

Not talking to them -- at the table.

Thank you good guy I think very reflective what you -- out of Madison and and considers like that where.

They believe that that that somehow they stand up for the middle class when they're really just standing up for the bigger reunions and I would look and say you know who's paid for the expansion of government in the past.

It's been the middle class taxpayers overwhelming number of state and finally we're putting them back in charge of our government both the state and local level and if we're sitting in the -- city of Milwaukee tonight.

Mayor Tom -- was able to save about 25 million dollars because of our reforms balanced budget not have to rely on gorge in the property taxpayers.

In places like Dane county and Madison the past though they've had a good towards the taxpayers because our reforms put in place we're actually protecting.

The hard working people varsity.

Today amber does with the union to stay union employees pay eight to 10% of their paychecks is that what was to -- what they do is they pay about five point 8% for the pension which is half of the -- -- under your new client under the new plan and then they paid twelve.

-- 6% of premium so.

For a lot of employees at the low end of of the spectrum in terms of of that type of health insurance like my -- it's it's a couple hundred dollars a month my brother works.

Not outside of government as a hotel banquet manager works part time as a bartender is -- sells appliances for -- department store.

How two beautiful kids in body the middle class my state.

He looked at all this last year and -- -- pay 800 dollars.

For the little bit I can pay and that's what I.

41 K he's like I loved to have -- deal you're putting on the table.

I think that's the difference is a lot of people and -- -- you don't get the people outside of government the people pay the tax bills the hard working people our state.

Pay a whole lot more even currently let alone what they did in the past this is about you getting enough so the taxpayers of the state and the ones who -- to have someone on -- side.

Well I think -- -- very fast they know every Curacao obviously can't -- -- the intellectual interest and it's that I do from afar we consider matters due to matters to let this fire fire fire and everybody else who runs an -- but.

It's really is gonna yes it's gonna send a big message one way or the other to this country of how Wisconsin a swing state -- like.

Clear made we will vote come November -- is political both about what happens November's presidential and even a key US senate race fine it's even more important I think long term -- the table.

For whether it's me and other governors are even people like my friend Paul Ryan -- the courageous things he's trying to do Washington.

When we prevail we'll send a powerful powerful message that when people complain about politicians who don't have the courage to stand -- the guts to take on the tough issues.

Our election we'll show we win.

The you know what voters do want people to take on the tough issues they do want people to stand up for the taxpayers they won't do want people to turn away the special interest and I think that's what we'll show.

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Too big games to make -- thank you governor could pretty.

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Gov. Walker vs. Wisconsin recall

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