HARLAN RICHARDS

December 27, 2011

Gov. Scott Walker Backpedals
On Funding Rollbacks For
Victims of Sexual Assault

A while back I commented on how Scott Walker's mandatory across-the-board funding cuts were going to devastate programs intended to help victims of sexual assault. Gov. Walker has now exempted those programs from any further budget cuts along with restoring funding to some programs for children and seniors living in poverty.

What's going on? Do I think the governor has turned over a new leaf? Nope. Do I think he would have restored this funding if he was not facing a recall? Nope- I would speculate that the millions he is spending to thwart the recall effort are having no effect on public opinion and his advisors are telling him he has to back off from his conservative ideology - at least until the recall election is over. It was reported in the media that Gov. Walker raked in over $5 million in contributions since the recall started. Need I remind you that one of his supporters filed a bogus recall petition weeks ahead of the legitimate filing in order to permit Walker to start collecting money sooner? Or that about half of his money was donated by out-of-state entities?

A leopard doesn't change its spots and Walker hasn't changed his agenda. He just stepped back from implementing it until the recall process is completed - a calculated move no doubt prompted by astute political advisors bought with those out- of-state millions. Rest assured, if Walker survives the recall, he will go forward with his ideological agenda - balancing the state budget on the backs of the poor while he enriches his cronies through tax breaks, sweetheart deals and corporate welfare.

The only way to stop a true believer like Scott Walker is to remove him from office. I urge everyone to go forward with the recall and remove this blight from Wisconsin politics.