You're watching...
Will jobs numbers give Gov. Scott Walker momentum in Wisconsin's recall election?
Also in this playlist...
Auto-advance: ON
Auto-advance
This transcript is automatically generated
Numbers will those new numbers convince Wisconsin voters to keep their governor governor -- walker.
Governor Walker faces a recall election just nineteen days and today.
Governor Walker releasing new employment figures they show Wisconsin actually added jobs during his first year in office 23000.
Jobs.
Governor Walker's opponents argue he hurt the State's economy with a law stripping the collective bargaining rights of some public workers.
So the new jobs numbers disarm his political opponents.
Governor Walker joins us -- -- -- Good evening -- to do it to Greta.
Nice to see is there aren't these job numbers your quick to release a name technically would they make -- sent to the Bureau of Labor Statistics and be released by the federal government sometime -- it and that too but you're getting -- now obviously because.
They showed that favorable numbers you are you pleased with the point 3000.
Well absolutely it is literally a 57000.
Plus increase for where my opponents are claiming the numbers were last year.
Their numbers were based on a sample hole about three and a half percent of our employers in the state they showed job loss instead these are actual numbers.
Taken from surveys of over a 150000.
Plus employers -- across the state.
That's 96%.
Plus of all the employers -- Wisconsin.
And that shows real bad that those are the real numbers they showed we -- more than 23000 jobs last year 33000 since I've been elected.
And that's good news for everyone who cares about Wisconsin's academy because we're moving for.
But it was not sad I'm reading most my information of Wisconsin the Milwaukee journal sentinel and it's it's a it's a bigger pool from which the numbers showing that you had a gain of twin net gain of -- 3000.
As opposed the older numbers which shuttle lost a 33 -- and but when you ran for office and even as recently as last weekend Republican Convention Wisconsin.
You promised 250000.
Jobs for the state it was got -- point three thousands right direction.
But that's not to have 50000 -- not over but what -- say about that.
Well we we -- why we promised it to not we would create about the people Wisconsin that we create a better environment for the people because people great job not the government.
We so we -- -- 2015 by changing the business environment.
And we have done that and it's gonna compounded you can appreciate this -- as a great -- of the Green Bay Packers would Vince Lombardi took over the Packers.
Year before they were 110 -- one they didn't go to the world championship the first year he was the coach they went after several years of him setting a foundation for success.
That's exactly what we've done here we've lowered the tax for property taxes went down for the first time in twelve years in this state.
But we change the high cost of litigation regulation -- we've done things to create a better business environment in fact.
Our chamber of commerce -- why did a survey two years ago just 10% of our employers thought we had the right direction.
Now 94%.
-- had that right direction today in 2012 and 87% of them.
So they're gonna add more jobs in 2012 the biggest single concern they have.
Comes up in a couple weeks since the recall.
They don't wanna go backwards to the days we had double digit tax increases billion dollar budget deficits and record job loss they want to take our foundation we built.
And move this state forward that's what we're gonna do.
And -- -- that's -- a -- reference being an owner of one share of the Green Bay Packers are right now you have a about what mayor Tom Barrett who is your opponents -- this recall election was your opponent in 2010 when he ran for governor is what he studies at today's senate go announcement.
Isn't about the best way to calculate job growth in Wisconsin this is about skywalker.
Pulling political stunts to save his own job -- -- he doesn't agree with you.
This is a desperate statement from a desperate campaign.
They're behind in the polls because that people have seen when they said our reforms wouldn't work we save more than a billion dollars for the taxpayers.
When they said we couldn't lower property -- -- -- -- for the first time in twelve years when they said we couldn't balance the budget we now have a 154.
Million dollar surplus it.
Two consecutive years of putting money aside in the rainy day fund the first time ever.
And now what jobs they said that we didn't have a net gain in jobs in 2011 we have it's a 57000.
Plus -- turnaround.
And the facts are the facts of the -- and -- others supporters.
Can say anything they want about the process that they cannot undermine the fact that more than a 150000.
Employers by law.
Are required to provide that information to the state and then we in -- are provided the required to provide it.
To the federal government's Bureau of Labor Statistics that was what we've done per deadline today.
And the numbers are good for Wisconsin.
And I should note the numbers also been a recent poll for you you're nineteen days -- at least -- one of the most two most recent polls have you had a six point lead over the mayor of Milwaukee.
Yeah I think is actually interest -- poll.
One that was in the Milwaukee journal sentinel about the intensity gap.
It said 91% of Republicans said they are certain to vote for you in recall.
83%.
Democrats say they're certain to vote.
And I thought after watching all the protests in Wisconsin and a protest -- -- collected Barney and an odd number of people who are appearing in Madison had taken it kept up.
I'm surprised that the intensity gap.
Between what's that Republican voters and democratic voters is even as it is.
Well I think part of its recall fatigue I think there's a lot of at least discerning Democrats on the market out there who realize.
It's a big waste of time and money and this is.
Sixteen almost seventeen million dollars of the taxpayers' pockets.
That could otherwise be spent lowering taxes are providing relief for seniors are needy families in the state -- education.
And instead we've seen it wasted.
By the folks who want to rehash the last election instead we're willing we're ready to move this state move on and move forward.
And I think the people who came out even in the primary when I largely had to essentially -- non competitive primary -- numbers match that of the top two vote getters on the Democrat side.
He's I think there's a lot of people out there who for the last year and a half had been sitting on the sidelines.
But now said you know what I don't need a -- -- protest site I could have my voice be heard at the ballot box and they're showing them my hope is.
They'll join -- is Scott Walker died -- get help get the word out between now and June 5 so we can win again on that election just like we did in November 2010.
Has the recall process changed you in anyway in a sense have you -- had decided to be more conciliatory on certain issues or are -- and Israelis are responding to this different in anyway.
Oh no doubt about it I -- back in time I wouldn't change the product what I did was right did and we see -- ultimately the results have been positive for the hardworking taxpayers of our state.
But I think it's also -- -- important to make sure you've got a good process and if I had it to do over again I I would probably spend more toward building the the foundation for support if I told voters taxpayers last year that.
You know most school districts and our state had to -- their health insurance before our reforms.
Without being debated out and instead because of that had to say it had to literally cost them.
Tens of -- about our reforms -- that they're now put more money in the classroom and making those savings by getting on health insurance.
I think most voters -- -- said yeah governor you need to do that I tried to fix it then I talked about it.
Most politicians talk about it but never fix it.
I'll pick fixing it every time but I understand process why you need to talk about and fiction to get the two -- together.
Started 08 President Obama won the state of Wisconsin by about twelve or fourteen points a significant margin -- in this state going Democrat two years later.
You win at as a Republican governor and then about a year and a half later there's a recall vote you're leading by six points but there's a presidential election in November.
I'm curious if you see this Wisconsin process -- anyways sort of reflective of what's going -- -- than the national picture.
Number one and is -- and is this June 5 election gonna tell us a little bit about which way it was -- is gonna go.
Come come November.
Was sickened many ways was -- as much like the country we have to decide do we believe the success in government.
Is how many more people are signed up for government benefits particularly -- and unemployment benefits or do we believe as I do.
That the true sign of success is how many people do you get off of unemployment how many people are no longer dependent on the government.
Instead control their own destiny to have freedom of prosperity and -- -- for themselves but for the children and their grand -- that that's what the difference it's a difference we see here with stats.
It's the difference we see nationally it's a real difference between taking our state backwards -- the days when the government called the shots of the handful of special interest.
Or whether the hard working taxpayers -- control -- shots and move our state forward and ultimately I think in many ways truly move our country for.
I'd done the lab wrote a little bit and James does that word the home congressman Paul Ryan lots of people -- talk about the possibility that.
That governor -- choose him as a running mate and it was a friend of -- but I thought would -- be a good choice and why.
Ladies detective thought I grew up down -- -- and I grew up in this small town -- delve into.
Janes who was a spot we went on Friday night step to watch movies and thought he did shake he's a hang -- the ball as they actually had a ball like art down.
But Paul is the salt of the earth he's a good midwestern guy.
And -- Smart as can be easy I think is a sharp this guy congress out there.
He would be a great addition not just for those of us for Wisconsin I think for all of us across America who appreciate courage.
Paul probably more and anybody in our nation's capital has exhibited courage and smarts and he's exactly the kind of person I think would be a great addition any time.
Governor thank you have you can not done before the recall of course we've made the same offer to your opponent mayor -- -- LP takes up but take us up front as well thank you governor.
Thanks.
And don't forget the book for Donald Driver to keep -- on dancing.
I need a packer would -- to -- you know I just exercise it with me with the tech is I confess anyway thank you governor.
