Walker To GOP Convention: Wisconsin Better Off Than Four Years Ago

Gov. Scott Walker told Republican activists at the state GOP convention that the real issue in this year’s election is whether Wisconsin is better off now than it was four years ago.

Four years ago, when Walker was still a candidate for governor, Wisconsin’s economy was already improving, adding jobs after massive job losses during the recession. But the unemployment rate was still high at around nine percent. Walker contrasted that with where the state stands now.

“Today, some four years later, the unemployment rate is 5.9 percent and it continues to drop,” Walker said. “Our goal is to get it it to 5.5 percent by the middle of this year and continue to drop it so that more people can go back to work. Wisconsin is back on.”

The 5.5 percent goal is likely doable this year. It’s roughly in line with a recent economic forecast by the state Department of Revenue.

Walker made no mention at the convention of his much bigger promise from four years ago to help the state create 250,000 jobs during his first term. The state Democratic Party said Walker was “desperate to hide the truth about his failure to create jobs,” noting Wisconsin recently ranked ninth out of 10 Midwest states on job creation.