Wisconsin: A Beacon of Light in a Henry VII/Carter-esque Age

Our national malaise continues under a Democratic president and Senate.  We are on the precipice of an authoritarian government.  It seems the Oval Office has devolved into a Star Chamber and our elected representatives are unable to stop a man who professes to have a phone and a pen, and is willing to use it.  Can anyone say, Hugo Chavez?

Despite the totalitarian policies of Barack Obama and the Democratic Party, there is one state, a blue state that has defied the odds of economic stagnation.  That state is Wisconsin.  Here is an excerpt from Governor Scott Walker’s state of the state address:

 During my predecessor’s last term, Wisconsin lost more than 133,000 jobs and lost more than 27,000 businesses.  In 2009, the unemployment rate peaked at 9.2%.

During that same year, Wisconsin’s ranking in Chief Executive Magazine’s best and worst states for business was 43rd.  In 2009, a survey of employers by the chamber of commerce showed just 4% thought our state was heading in the right direction.  Now, our ranking is up to 17th—one of the fastest jumps of any state in the country.  As of last month, 95% of the employers surveyed said Wisconsin is headed in the right direction.   That’s right, ninety-five percent.

 Another reason for our positive revenue numbers is our prudent fiscal management.  Three years ago, we inherited a state government with a $3.6 billion budget deficit.  The state had past due bills to Minnesota, owed more than $200 million to the patient compensation fund, and raided $1 billion from the segregated transportation fund.  At the same time, they only had $1.7 million in the rainy day fund.

 Sure, we had to make some tough decisions, but they paid off.  We ended our fiscal year in 2013 with a $759 million surplus; we paid back Minnesota, filled the fund to help injured patients of medical malpractice, and restored funding for transportation.  And the rainy day fund, well, it’s now 165 times bigger than it was when we took office.

Congratulations to Governor Walker, the republican legislature and the citizens of Wisconsin.  You are a beacon of light in a Henry VII/Carter-esque age.

Source: http://fox6now.com/2014/01/22/transcript-gov-scott-walkers-state-of-the-state-address/