Mark Pocan Guest Post: Wisconsin’s Governor Election Has National Consequences

Mark Pocan was elected to Congress from Madison, Wisconsin when Tammy Baldwin went on to the U.S. Senate. He beat his Republican rival 265,422 (68%) to 124,683 (32%). Since being elected he's had the best lifetime ProgressivePunch crucial vote score of any Member of Congress, 98.68. With George Miller retiring, Pocan is generally viewed as organized labor's go-to guy in Congress. He's accrued a lot of respect and admiration from his colleagues, especially for a freshman. He's widely considered a shoe-in for reelection and he's been spending his time and energy on helping other Democrats, particularly in Wisconsin. He wrote this guest post for us last night, having spent the day campaigning for Mary Burke.

I often get asked how does Wisconsin elect Ron Johnson and Scott Walker one year, and Tammy Baldwin and Barack Obama the next? Why is Wisconsin such a purple state? I tell them we aren’t a purple state because of our politics. In fact, when Wisconsinites get out to vote, we are a beautiful shade of indigo blue. But if we look purple, it’s because Scott Walker has bruised and damaged our reputation across the nation.

Shortly after being sworn in, Governor Scott Walker launched an all-out assault against collective bargaining rights for workers, followed by massive tax cuts for corporations and the wealthy. He also slashed education funding, passed up an opportunity to expand Wisconsin’s Medicaid program, BadgerCare, and gave taxpayer money to corporations that shipped Wisconsin jobs overseas. All while miserably failing to achieve his promise of creating 250,000 jobs in his first term-- he’s on track to barely reach half that goal. Wisconsin is dead last in the Midwest for job creation because Scott Walker’s too busy taking care of Scott Walker’s presidential ambitions to really care about creating jobs.

The failed "Walkernomics" austerity policies have put Wisconsin dead last behind our Midwest neighbors in economic growth and job creation. Wages in Wisconsin have remained stagnant and working class Wisconsin families have struggled under Scott Walker. What is clear to nearly everyone in Wisconsin is sharp cuts in state spending, the assault on public sector unions, and tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations have not meant better jobs and better wages for working folks-- they’ve been a boon for Scott Walker’s donors. Scott Walker has put his political ambitions ahead of helping Wisconsin’s middle class, time and time again.

But don’t think Scott Walker is merely Wisconsin’s problem. The entirety of Scott Walker’s first term as Governor has been about beefing up his Republican resume for his all but certain 2016 run for President. Wisconsin was the test lab for every single Republican dream policy from school vouchers to massive tax cuts-- and we can’t let this experiment out of the lab. If Scott Walker makes it to the White House, we’re all in big trouble. The best way to make sure Scott Walker does not take his failed conservative policies national is to elect Mary Burke in Wisconsin.

Mary Burke is running neck and neck with Scott Walker. The last poll had them dead tie at 47-47. We have a great ground game to get out the vote, but Scott Walker has the Koch brothers and Sheldon Adelson and every conservative group behind him. Any help in these remaining days will help ensure we don’t let big money beat out our grassroots efforts. If all goes well, Scott Walker will be the first GOP hopeful to fall for the 2016 cycle.

Rep. Mark Pocan
WI-02