Last night’s state senate recall elections where the GOP held its majority in the face of a $20 million union and left-wing assault demonstrates that standing for lower taxes, less spending and reform of outrageous public union pensions is a winner with the people.
Fed up with years of failed big government, last fall Wisconsin citizens took their state in the direction of economic prosperity by rejecting the Left and electing an entire slate of free market GOP candidates from state assembly to governor.
Earlier this year, Gov. Walker and Republican legislators followed through on their promises by introducing a truly bold Budget Repair Bill that dramatically cut the state’s bloated spending, held the line on taxes and reformed the outlandish public employee pensions and health benefits. These pensions and benefits were far beyond anything folks in the private sector receive.
The unions responded with massive disruptive protests, Republican state senators were physically threatened, the airwaves were flooded with millions of dollars of negative advertising against the governor’s plan, national media led by the ever-embarrassing MSNBC stayed in full attack mode for months. Democrat state senators fled the state to avoid a vote and protect their union allies.
President Obama even weighed in, attacking the Walker bill and sending his campaign operatives into Wisconsin. Their message: The GOP’s budget repair bill was really “union busting” and the bill would literally end civilization as we know it.
Walker and his GOP legislative allies stayed the course and passed the bill.
The result: jobs are being created faster in Wisconsin than anywhere else in the nation, localities are saving millions of tax dollars now that the stifling top-down collective bargaining for public unions is gone, and basic state services are still doing just fine.
The lesson from Wisconsin is just as important. Elected leaders who want genuine private sector job creation and limited government with balanced budgets can win on the policy front and they can win politically IF they are bold in their proposals, steadfast in their leadership and willing to take their case to the people.
Yes, the public employee unions will spend millions attacking you to defend their special interests. Yes, the national media will often come after you aggressively.
Yes, there may be recall elections and disruptive protests. But, if you want to change your state, if you want real prosperity, if you want your citizens to have the opportunity to achieve the American Dream you can do it.
Americans for Prosperity launched our Wisconsin chapter in January of 2005 and I’ve been on the ground there dozens of times over the years including several times this year holding events and building grassroots strength.
Wisconsin citizens have shown they will support their elected leaders who stand and fight for a better, more prosperous future.
Let’s hope the political “leaders” in Washington, D.C. are watching and taking note.
Tim Phillips is president of Americans for Prosperity.
