Reactions to Gov. Scott Walker's Victory in the June 5, 2012 Recall Election

Romney for President
MITT ROMNEY: “TONIGHT’S RESULTS WILL ECHO BEYOND THE BORDERS OF WISCONSIN”
 
Boston, MA – Mitt Romney made the following statement on Governor Scott Walker’s victory in the today’s Wisconsin recall election:
 
“I congratulate Scott Walker on his victory in Wisconsin. Governor Walker has demonstrated over the past year what sound fiscal policies can do to turn an economy around, and I believe that in November voters across the country will demonstrate that they want the same in Washington, D.C. Tonight’s results will echo beyond the borders of Wisconsin. Governor Walker has shown that citizens and taxpayers can fight back – and prevail – against the runaway government costs imposed by labor bosses. Tonight voters said ‘no’ to the tired, liberal ideas of yesterday, and ‘yes’ to fiscal responsibility and a new direction. I look forward to working with Governor Walker to help build a better, brighter future for all Americans.”

Republican Party of Wisconsin
Statement Regarding Tonight's Victory

[Madison, WI]- Republican Party of Wisconsin Chairman Brad Courtney released the following statement regarding the resounding victories of Governor Scott Walker and Lt. Governor Kleefisch:

“This is a great victory for Wisconsin families. Wisconsinites made it very clear they want to continue moving our state forward, and that’s why Wisconsinites returned to the polls once again and cast their vote for Governor Scott Walker and Lt. Governor Rebecca Kleefisch.

“A liberal minority of activists and out-of-state unions pushed this baseless recall on Wisconsin in order to move us backward; Wisconsin turned out once again and showed they will not have their voices drowned out by this liberal minority, and they were heard loud and clear.

“Tonight, courage was on the ballot, and voters showed they want a leader who can make the tough decisions necessary to move our state forward. Since Governor Walker and Lt. Governor Kleefisch were elected, Wisconsin has turned a $3.6 billion budget deficit into a $153 million surplus, we’ve created more than 30,000 jobs, our unemployment is the lowest it’s been since 2008, and property taxes were lowered for the first time in 12 years. These reforms are working, and our economy only continues to improve thanks to Governor Walker having the courage to do what was necessary to turn our state around.

“I congratulate Governor Walker and Lt. Governor Kleefisch on another resounding victory, and I look forward to joining all Wisconsinites in putting aside our differences and moving our state forward under their bold leadership.”


Republican Governors Association
RGA Congratulates Governor Scott Walker

Republican Governors Association Chairman Bob McDonnell congratulated Governor Scott Walker on his historic victory tonight in Wisconsin. The RGA spent close to $9 million in Wisconsin, including airing eight television ads and investing in an unprecedented ground game:

“Tonight, Wisconsin voters rewarded political courage. Upon taking office, Governor Walker fearlessly took on the staunch defenders of the status quo and tackled unsustainable entitlements and long-term fiscal liabilities. Governor Walker closed a $3.6 billion deficit without raising taxes; he ushered in the first property tax decrease in a dozen years; he strengthened schools; and he turned around the state’s economy. His actions have made Wisconsin stronger today, and tomorrow. And they have improved the lives of the citizens of Wisconsin.

Voters are ready for political leaders who are willing to follow Governor Walker’s lead and take on the toughest issues; governing with a greater focus on the next generation than the next election. That’s exactly what Governor Walker has done, and his executive leadership contrasts sharply with the absence of leadership in the White House.

While Governor Walker has reined in the state’s debt, dramatically improved the state’s fiscal outlook and helped the private sector create more than 30,000 new jobs, President Obama has added more than $4.7 trillion to the national debt and proposed more than $1 trillion in higher taxes, and the unemployment rate has exceeded 8 percent for 40 consecutive months.

Governor Walker is proof that voters recognize that the status quo is unacceptable and unsustainable.  He has shown there is a better way; a way that leads to prosperity and job creation. Tonight, the voters of Wisconsin have approved of that positive path forward.”


Richard A Viguerie
Richard Viguerie on Wisconsin: Reagan's Advice Wins Again--Romney Should Pay Attention

ConservativeHQ.com Chairman Richard A. Viguerie issued the following statement regarding the results of the recall election in Wisconsin: 

"The real reason Governor Scott Walker won is simple and something that Mitt Romney and his presidential campaign team should take to heart.  Walker won because he ran and governed as an unabashed principled, small government, constitutional conservative.

"The power of Walker's win could contribute greatly to a Romney victory in November if Mitt's campaign team can shake-off their moderate establishment Republican instincts and absorb its real lesson.

"Just as Ronald Reagan once described his vision of the Republican Party, Governor Walker's campaign was a campaign, not of pale pastels, but of bold conservative colors--encouraging jobs and economic development, balancing the budget, reducing taxes, and streamlining the state's bureaucracy.

"By standing for conservative principles, Scott Walker traveled the trail Reagan blazed to victory in 1980 and 1984, that Newt Gingrich followed to the Contract with America victory in 1994, and the Tea Party took to win the wave election in 2010.  These were big agenda-changing victories--not skin of your teeth wins, such as Bush's in 2000 and 2004, where we traded one set of establishment players for another.

"Victory always has 1,000 fathers, but no amount of money or organization could have helped Scott Walker if he had not stuck with his conservative principles. 

"Governor Walker's victory proves once again the lesson Republicans should have learned in 1980:  Reagan's bold colors win elections.  If Mitt Romney will adopt those bold conservative colors for his campaign and his administration, he will win, even in traditionally Democratic-leaning states like Wisconsin."

NOTE TO EDITORS:  Richard A. Viguerie pioneered political direct mail and has been called "one of the creators of the modern conservative movement" (The Nation) and one of the "conservatives of the century"(Washington Times).  He is the author of Conservatives Betrayed: How George W. Bush and Other Big Government Republicans Hijacked the Conservative Cause.


EMAIL from Americans for Prosperity
A Better Wisconsin

Tonight, Wisconsin voters made a critical decision for the future prosperity of the state. Their
decision to reject the government union-led effort to recall Governor Scott Walker provides some crucial insights for the rest of our nation.

First, elected leaders can take on and defeat the most powerful special interest group in the nation, government unions, if their reforms are truly bold.  Facing a $3.6 billion budget deficit, Walker tackled some of the most powerful government unions and saved over a $1 billion for Wisconsin taxpayers. And the result? Property taxes have decreased for the first time in 12 years, unemployment is falling, and school districts are flush with cash.

Remember when they said the sky would fall? Thanks to Governor Walker’s reforms, it’s sunnier than ever.

Despite the temper tantrums led by government unions, the truth is they are an entitled class with far bigger pensions, better health care, and far more job security than those who work in the private sector.  By requiring public employees to make a small contribution towards their generous taxpayer-subsidized health care and pensions — just like in the private sector — millions of taxpayer dollars have been saved in every corner of the state.

Tonight Wisconsinites made it clear they agree with Governor Walker and in order to stop the state from going bankrupt, it’s about time everyone chips in.

The real winners tonight are the citizens of Wisconsin. I'll never forget checking out of my hotel last Saturday in Racine as we headed to our final pro-reform event.  The lady behind the front desk grabbed my arm and said, "I'm sorry I can't make the rally today but I've got to work a double shift from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.  But just know I'm glad you guys are standing up for working people like me." 

From Hudson to Green Bay, from New Berlin to La Cross, Americans for Prosperity's grassroots activists, tea party members, local small business owners, and senior citizens took our message of support for Governor Walker's reforms to citizens from every walk of life. 

Americans for Prosperity launched our Wisconsin chapter in 2005. Since then, we’ve worked steadily to support policies that lift up everyone in the state. Those efforts are made successful by our amazing staff and volunteers across Wisconsin and the nation, who banded together and stood up for economic freedom.

Together, we’ve helped restore prosperity to the Badger State. Now, onto the rest of America.

Sincerely,

Tim Phillips
President
Americans for Prosperity

Americans for Prosperity® (AFP) is a nationwide organization of citizen leaders committed to advancing every individual's right to economic freedom and opportunity. AFP believes reducing the size and scope of government is the best safeguard to ensuring individual productivity and prosperity for all Americans. AFP educates and engages citizens in support of restraining state and federal government growth, and returning government to its constitutional limits. AFP has more than 2,000,000 members, including members in all 50 states, and 34 state chapters and affiliates. More than 90,000 Americans in all 50 states have made a financial investment in AFP or AFP Foundation. For more information, visit www.americansforprosperity.org
Freedom Works for America
FreedomWorks for America Congratulates Scott Walker on an Epic Wisconsin Recall Victory

Washington, DC- FreedomWorks for America activists and taxpayers celebrated Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker’s hard-earned recall election victory last night, which was launched by Wisconsin Democrats in response to Walker’s bold fiscal conservative public sector union reform. The reform bans collective bargaining for public employees (outside of law enforcement and fire-fighting) and allows for the payment of union dues to be voluntary.

“Governor Walker’s recall victory marks a monumental shift in the relationship between public sector unions and the Democratic Party,” commented FreedomWorks for America’s Campaign Manager Josh Eboch. “With union membership plummeting by the thousands thanks to Governor Walker’s voluntary due-payment policy, the Democratic Party can no longer rely on compulsory union money to win elections and cater to the corrupt special interests of union bosses.”

“We hope this victory will empower the Governors in other states who have been too timid to tackle serious reform on issues like collective bargaining and school choice. Scott Walker in Wisconsin is a lesson to Governors nationwide that if he can take on the entrenched public sector union political machine and prevail, so can they. Members of FreedomWorks for America and fiscal conservative voters around the country will support these reform leaders and make sure they get rewarded at the ballot box.”

Eboch continued, “Governor Walker’s recall battle in Wisconsin is without a doubt a litmus test for the presidential general election in November, and a tribute to a larger national political shift towards greater economic freedom and individual choice. The Walker reforms are working. Statewide property taxes have fallen, the reforms have saved taxpayers more than $1 billion so far, and 73% of employers in the state have predicted moderate to good growth at their companies. With the national unemployment rate at 8.2 percent and CBO predictions that the federal debt will double in 15 years, the President should be taking notes from Governor Walker.”

FreedomWorks for America activists were involved in the fight to protect Governor Walker’s reforms since day one, setting up 18 distribution centers across the state to circulate materials through their local networks. Over 5,000 yard signs, 3,500 bumper magnets, and 50,000 door hangers have been distributed to the homes of voters across the state to-date.

FreedomWorks for America organized the demand for materials on the micro-site, www.WalkerForJobs.com, where activists could request boxes of additional voter education materials and view several pro-Walker web videos.

For more information about FreedomWorks for America’s ‘Walker for Jobs’ campaign, please contact Press Secretary Jackie Bodnar at Jbodnar@FreedomWorks.org.



Democratic National Committee
DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz’s Statement on Results of Wisconsin Recall Election

Washington, D.C. – DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz released the following statement tonight on the results of the recall election in Wisconsin:

“Despite the disappointing outcome of tonight’s election, there is no question that over the past year this recall effort sent a message to Scott Walker that his brand of divisive politics is offensive and wrong. Thousands of Wisconsinites mounted this effort in the face of a flood of out of state, secret and corporate special interest money– amounting to a massive $31 million war chest for Governor Walker to just $4 million on our side.

“I want to thank Mayor Barrett, our other candidates on the ballot tonight and all the passionate, dedicated individuals on the ground who held conversations with their friends, family, neighbors and co-workers about the stakes of this election.  The Badger State’s progressive, grassroots tradition was on full display throughout this election, and it will remain front and center as we continue our important work to move Wisconsin forward for working families across the state as we head toward November."

"And as we turn our attention to the fall, we will not cede an inch in Wisconsin to Mitt Romney who has been behind in virtually every single recent poll and who wants to go back to the same failed policies of the past from which Wisconsin is recovering. And while we're not taking anything for granted, if Mitt Romney thinks he's going to be the first Republican to win Wisconsin since Ronald Reagan he's got another thing coming."  


Democratic Governors Association
Statement from DGA Chair Governor Martin O’Malley on Wisconsin Recall Election

Washington, DC – Governor Martin O’Malley, chair of the Democratic Governors Association, released the following statement tonight on the results of the Wisconsin recall election:

“Tonight, we fell just short of an historic upset. Despite our side getting outspent ten to one by Governor Walker and his extreme right-wing allies, Democrats worked together and were incredibly united behind the people of Wisconsin – allowing us to make the race close and keep it neck-and-neck. While the recall has always been led by the people of Wisconsin first and foremost, the Democratic Governors Association is proud to have worked with our allies at Greater Wisconsin, We Are Wisconsin, and labor to fully fund an aggressive operation on the air and the ground.

“We know that the battle in Wisconsin is part of an ongoing fight to restore states’ economies and create jobs across the country. Since Ohioans rejected Ohio Governor Kasich’s assault on workers late last year and Wisconsinites submitted over a million signatures in support of a recall and brought the fight to Scott Walker’s doorstep tonight, Republican governors across the country are on notice: the people of their states will not tolerate partisan overreach. We look forward to continuing to support and elect Democratic governors who will work to create jobs, expand opportunity, and move our country forward.”


AFL-CIO
Trumka: Wisconsin Forced Governor to Answer for His Divisive Tactics

Wisconsin “forced the governor to answer for his efforts to divide the state and punish hard-working people" in today's recall election,” AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka said tonight following predictions Gov. Scott Walker (R) would retain his seat.

“Tonight working families across the country recognize the courageous journey that nurses, teachers, firefighters, snowplow drivers and other Wisconsinites led for more than a year. Though a seemingly impossible task, they refused to allow their voices be taken away by an overreaching and partisan governor. Whether it was standing in the  snow, sleeping in the Capitol, knocking on doors or simply casting a vote, we admire the heart and soul everyone poured into this effort. Adding to this gargantuan challenge of recalling only the third governor in American history was the flood of secret corporate cash distorting our democracy – a dangerous example of a post-Citizens United America.”

Wisconsin working families' resolve has

“inspired a nation to follow their lead and stand up for the values of hard work, unity, and decency that we believe in. We hope Scott Walker heard Wisconsin: Nobody wants divisive policies. It’s time to work together to forge a new path forward. The challenge to solve a generation of economic policies and create an economy that celebrates hard work over a partisan agenda gained momentum today.”



The White House
June 6, 2012

Excerpt from Press Gaggle by Press Secretary Jay Carney en route California

Q    Jay, did the President have any reaction to the Wisconsin vote last night?  And what does he think it says about the mindset of voters right now and his own prospects in Wisconsin in November?

MR. CARNEY:  I didn’t have much of a conversation with the President about Wisconsin.  I think my observation is that what you had was an incumbent governor in a repeat election that he had won once, in which he outspent his challenger by a magnitude of 7 or 8 to 1, with an enormous amount of outside corporate money and huge donations, and you got essentially the same result. 

The President supported and stood by Tom Barrett, but I certainly wouldn't read much into yesterday's result beyond its effect on who's occupying the governor's seat in Wisconsin.  I certainly read in some of the analysis by you and your colleagues that even among the electorate that voted yesterday in Wisconsin, voters substantially approved of the President's positions when it comes to who they felt had the best vision for protecting and securing the middle class, and we certainly think -- I certainly think that the President's message about the steps we need to take to grow the economy and create jobs will resonate in Wisconsin.

WASHINGTON, June 5, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Former Presidential Candidate Gary Bauer congratulated Governor Scott Walker for his win in Wisconsin's recall election, calling it "another sign that taxpayers will award office holders ready to do the hard work of reigning in out-of-control government spending."

Bauer, the chairman of the Campaign for Working Families,  made the following statement:

"I congratulate Governor Scott Walker for his hard-fought victory tonight, and most especially for having the courage of his convictions to fight the good fight. But the victory in Wisconsin is not Scott Walker's alone.  It is a victory for the hard-working taxpayers of Wisconsin, who foot the bill year after year.  It is a victory for common sense over powerful special interests.  It is a victory that taxpayers in every state can celebrate.  It is a victory, yes, even for some union members.

"Since Gov. Walker's reforms were enacted, tens of thousands of state employees have opted to keep more of the money they earn rather than let the public employees union siphon off their hard-earned dollars.  In other words, once given the choice, more than half of the public employees union's members decided that they didn't need the union.  These reforms will pay real dividends for the taxpayers of Wisconsin.  They are the real winners tonight.

"The recall election is a sign of good things to come.  The power of the Big Labor bosses has finally been checked, not just in Wisconsin, but also in scores of other states across the country.  More governors, legislators and taxpayers will be inspired to stand up against the liberal labor unions and do what is truly in the best interests of their communities.  Wisconsin's 10 Electoral College votes are now in play, and the anti-tax, small government movement that swept the country in 2010 is about to sweep Barack Obama out of office in 154 days!"

Source: PR Newswire (http://s.tt/1drYR)