Scott Walker

Governor, Wisconsin

On Wages
What he said: Asked about Wisconsin's $7.25an-hour minimum wage and whether he
supported it, Walker said, "I'm not going to
repeal it [minimum wage], but I don't think it
serves a purpose."
"I'm not going to
repeal it
[minimum wage],
but I don't think it
serves a
purpose."

Source: Mother Jones, Scott

Walker on the minimum wage, Oct 14, 2014

The Policy: Hidden within Wisconsins last

minute budget, besides eliminating retail and
factory workers right to one day off per week,
is the elimination of the states 100-year-old
definition of a living wage. According to the
Wisconsin statute, Every wage paid or agreed
to be paid by any employer to any employee
shall be not less than a living wage. A living
wage must provide minimum comfort,
decency, physical and moral well-being.
Under Walkers new rule, not only is the states
Department of Workforce Development
stripped of all power to investigate complaints
that an employee is not being paid a living
wage according to the Wisconsin labor
statute, Walker replaced all references to
living wage with minimum wage throughout
Wisconsins laws. Source: PoliticusUSA, Scott Walker says
poverty is a living wage, Jul 14, 2015

On Poverty
What he said: I think there are too many poverty pimps in our society. Too many government
officials who rely on poverty as a way, a means of political control, too many community-based
organizations who rely on their existence by perpetuating the cycle of dependency. Source:
BuzzfeedNews, Scott Walker in 2008: Too many poverty pimps use cycle of dependency for political control, May 5, 2015

The Policy: Poverty rates in Wisconsin actually rose between 2012 and 2013 under both the official
poverty measure and the Wisconsin Poverty Measure (WPM). The official poverty rate grew .6% from
2012-2103 and is still 3.2% higher than it was when the recession began. Source: Institute for Research on
Poverty, Wisconsin Poverty Report: Poverty Rises in 2013 Despite Growth in Jobs, April 2015

On Unemployment
What he said: As part of his re-election campaign platform, Walker vowed to require a drug test for
those requesting unemployment and able-bodied, working-age adults requesting food stamps from
the state. Source: Wisconsin State Journal, Walker wants jobless, food stamp recipients to face drug tests, Nov 10, 2014
The Policy: Walker signed into a law a requirement that unemployed workers wait one week before
regular benefits are paid out. The unemployment waiting period is a provision that is supposed to
help curtail the unemployment deficit in Wisconsin. The Department of Workforce Development
estimates that workers will lose between $41 million to $56 million in unemployment benefits due to
the waiting period. Source: AroundWaukesha.com, Wisconsin unemployment waiting perioda hidden provision by Governor
Walker, Jan 27, 201