Walker Touts His ‘Blueprint For Prosperity’ At Economic Conference

Gov. Scott Walker continued to tout his plan to cut taxes and invest in job training programs at the Governor’s Conference on Economic Development in Madison on Wednesday.

Walker predicted his plan would result in a sizeable state budget surplus by the end of this budget cycle.

“We finished the last budget with a surplus,” said Walker. “We’re finishing this budget with a surplus. We’re going to have $700 million going forward even under the most conservative of estimates. This is good, prudent financial planning.”

The surplus prediction is based on a 3.5 percent growth in tax revenues despite Walker’s proposed tax cuts. Walker says his plan, which he is calling the “Blueprint for Prosperity,” is about creating jobs that pay a living wage and does not include recent proposals from Democrats to raise the minimum wage.

“I prefer to spend my time actually helping people create jobs that far exceed any discussion of a minimum wage, as opposed to spending time having the government fighting over what that level might be,” said Walker.

Walker’s income and property tax cut plan has not passed the state Senate yet and will likely be scaled back somewhat by members of his own party before it does.