Press Releases

Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Congresswoman Gwen Moore (D-Milwaukee) and leaders from public interest groups spoke out against Governor Walker’s testimony before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.

Committee Chairman Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) invited Walker to testify on a hearing about state budgets.  Chairman Issa titled the hearing, “State and Local Government Spending Cuts:  Choice or Necessity?”

Congresswoman Moore said, “We know that Governor Walker’s push to eviscerate workers rights and cut services to seniors, children and low-income Wisconsinites isn’t about balancing the budget.  It’s about ideology.  This hearing proved that.”

Although not a member of the committee, Moore questioned Walker during his appearance earlier today.  Her questioning can be seen here.  Unfortunately, the hearing was gaveled to a close when Moore concluded, and Walker was unable to respond.

Common Cause President Bob Edgar said, "Chairman Issa opted today for political posturing, rather than a serious look at tough budget choices faced by state governments. His lead witness, Gov. Scott Walker, forced his state into tough but false choices, engineering $140 million in tax giveaways for his corporate supporters which he then "offset" by stripping away bargaining rights of public employees."

Nick Nyhart, president and CEO of Public Campaign said, “Our political system has turned into a bizarro Robin Hood story in which the politicians take campaign cash from the rich just to give it right back, many times over, in the form of tax breaks, earmarks, and special deals.  This is nothing more than political payback to big donors done on the backs of nurses, teachers, and firefighters.”

Marge Baker, Executive Vice President of People for the American Way said, “It's time to end the political theatre.  It's time to end the shameful and dangerous effort to use our real economic problems as an excuse to shift the burden of our country's debt to working Americans, while shielding billionaires and powerful corporations from paying their fair share.”