Newly-minted Republican gubernatorial candidate Scott Walker outlined his plans to create 250,000 new jobs and attract 10,000 new businesses to the state while speaking in Madison on Thursday.

“(250,000) is not a number we picked out of thin air. Gov. (Tommy) Thompson 25 years ago…faced similar circumstances.” Walker said. “He helped create 258, 000 new jobs by the end of his first term in 1990. I know we can do it because we’ve done it before, and I know we have to do it.”

Walker, the current Milwaukee County Executive, wasted no time getting back out on the campaign trail after the primary election Tuesday, with other stops today in Milwaukee, Eau Claire and Green Bay and more visits scheduled for Friday.

Walker’s economic plan featured six key initiatives: Cut taxes for individuals and employers, simplify business regulations, stop frivolous lawsuits, reform the education system, make employer health care more affordable and improve roads and bridges.

For start-up businesses’ taxes in particular, Walker proposed a two-year tax freeze to provide incentive for new companies to come to the state.

In regard to education reform, Walker said he would like to see the University of Wisconsin system operate more autonomously from the state, much like a business, and with more accountability for performance.

Walker also said he would not raid the transportation fund to help balance the state’s budget, as current Gov. Jim Doyle has done in the past.

The use of transportation dollars in one of the past budgets, however, was approved by a Republican-controlled Legislature, Barrett spokesperson Phil Walzak said.

“These (facts) are the inconvenient items Walker doesn’t mention,” Walzak said.

Walzak also scoffed at Walker’s plan, saying his talking points are “tired clich?s” and “pure rhetoric.”

Barrett has a much more detailed plan to put Madison on a “diet” and get Wisconsin working again, Walzak said.

“Job creation is [Barrett’s] single most important goal. His candidacy has been centered around job creation,” Walzak said. “I guess Scott Walker is just beginning to realize that that’s important.”

Walzak added the campaign is not yet publicizing the details of upcoming campaign stops for Barrett.