Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Walker Takes Credit For The Tides

There was actually some good news in Ftizwalkerstan today. The Philadelphia Reserve Bank finally gave a positive note to the state's future.  Of course, Scott Walker took full credit for it;
The Philadelphia Federal Reserve Bank released a new economic growth forecast for states yesterday. The report forecasts Wisconsin to grow 1.95 percent over the next six months. It is the best economic forecast for the state since 2003. Wisconsin also experienced the most improved forecast in the nation. Wisconsin’s three-month change was 2.36 percentage points, moving to a forecast of solid gains.

Governor Scott Walker today released the following statement on the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia’s forecast of solid growth in Wisconsin over the next six months:

“Strong signals suggest we are turning things around for Wisconsin’s economy, and the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia’s newest report of state leading economic indexes provides yet one more indication that our pro-jobs policies are moving us in the right direction. Although there is much work left to be done, the forecast along with additional economic indicators such as our state’s lowest unemployment rate since 2008 indicate we are heading in the right direction.”

Democrats previously touted the now outdated Philadelphia Fed forecast as evidence that the Governor’s policies were hurting job growth in Wisconsin.
We'll overlook the fact that he used the governor's office to release a campaign press release for now.

But should Walker be taking credit for this "amazing" turnaround?

In a word: No.

 Not unless Walker changed his name to Barack Obama.

Fortunately for me, and for us, Jake has already skewered Walker's fallacious claims and points out a couple of important facts, including that Wisconsin is still doing worse than the majority of the country:
And Wisconsin's growth is nothing too special. It barely qualified for the dark green shade at 1.95%, and trails the rest of the nation, and is well behind most of the Midwest.

Forecast growth for the next 6 months- Philly Fed
Mich 3.21%
Ind. 3.20%
Ohio 2.96%
Ill. 2.52% (failures, right Scotty?)
U.S. 2.17%
Wis. 1.95%
Iowa 1.16%
Minn 0.88%

So credit Obama for the Wisconsin economy coming back, not Walker. This is especially true when you look at where we've been the last several months. Another big part of the Philly Fed survey is going over the last 3 months of economic performance. And as shown in prior months, Wisconsin remains a standout for the wrong reasons.
In other words, Walker is taking credit for the good ship State of Wisconsin starting to float.  What he won't admit is that the only reason it's floating at all is because the tide from Obama's economic recovery plan is finally able to float what he's been trying to scuttle with his faulty ideology.

And I would be remiss if I did not quote Jake's best lines, which he held for the end:
But Walker is hoping that you'll be as shallow as the average Milwaukee talk show listener and not notice the context that the next 6 months' growth is from a much lower point than it should be, and that it would be merely an effect of the U.S. economy continuing to gain strength under President Obama. Certainly Walker's backers at the Journal-Sentinel are willing to play stupid, giving prominence to Walker's side of the story on the projected growth while burying the fact that the U.S. and most other states are slated to grow faster.

And because you know the corporate mouthpieces at Journal Communications and the Wisconsin State Journal won't tell that truth, it's up to people like me to break these stats down and write about it. It's up to readers like you to call out this bullshit and continue to expose the economic failure that is the Scott Walker Administration to your friends and the public. We'll win if the truth gets out, we just have to do it.

12 comments:

  1. Thanks for the props, Capper. Now get to that Walkergate story, because it looks like that baby's close.

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    1. Jake, email me when you get a chance, please.

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  2. We need your take on the Rindfleich/Villa emails please. :)

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  3. Yup, this is as if the Badgers get beat by 30 in their game today, but in the post game interviews Bo Ryan is all happy with the outcome, because they shot 8-10 from the free throw line.

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  4. Your gonna miss quoting the Philadelphia Fed aren't you?

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  5. Nor does Walker ever admit that the state was already in recovery in the latter half of 2010 before he was elected and the first half of 2011, after he was elected but before the bulk of his own budget and fiscal policies were enacted. He took us a giant step backwards and, as you note, even with the Fed's forecast, we'll still be lagging the nation. I wouldn't exactly be thumping my chest if I were governor, but Walker seems to think he's He-Man.

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  6. When will this blog admit that it can't stand on it's philosophical merits, it can only denigrate it's opponents.

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  7. I'll give Walker credit when he does something right.

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  8. No you won't. Your obsession will not allow you to.

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    1. You need to understand Capper looks at government like it owes hims something, that it should solely make life easier and more fair. And that it should tax only the "lucky" rich people to accomplish this. Look through that lens and his logic starts to make sense.

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    2. Oh, good move! Ad hominem attacks are always convincing.

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    3. I'm glad to hear I am "way" off with that theory.

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