With a recall primary set for tomorrow, Gov. Scott Walker’s potential Democratic opponents faced off in a debate held at Vilas Hall Friday night, addressing the issues of rising student loan debt and improving the state’s economy.
Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, former Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk, Sen. Kathleen Vinehout, D-Alma, and Secretary of State Doug La Follette took part in the debate hosted by Wisconsin Public Television, Wisconsin Public Radio, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and WTMJ.
All four candidates criticized Walker’s job creation record and emphasized bridging the gap between Democrats and Republicans in the state. They also vouched for the reinstatement of collective bargaining, and Barrett said he would hold a special legislative session this summer to address the issue if elected.
“What we find with Gov. Walker is everything is part of this national ideological civil war, and that’s what I want to end,” Barrett said.
The candidates also spoke about amending BadgerCare, protecting the environment and rising student debt.
Barrett, who trailed Walker by 1 percent in a poll conducted last week by Marquette University Law School, took aim at Walker’s national campaigning.
“The first promise I’ll make is I will not try to become a rock star to the far-right conservative movement and travel around the country giving fundraising speeches talking about how successful I’ve been in attacking workers’ rights,” Barrett said. “Because that’s what we have right now: a governor who doesn’t seem to even want this job.”
Falk touted her budget management experience as a former Dane County executive. She said budgets are “moral documents” and discussed the programs she introduced as executive that have improved infrastructure and protected the environment.
Falk said she would work to close the loopholes that currently exist in Wisconsin tax codes. She also praised Wisconsin’s leadership in water pollution research, stem cell research and forestry management.
“I was a county executive for 14 years. I’ve balanced more budgets than any of my friends on the stage here, and I’ve balanced a budget far longer than Scott Walker, and I love doing it,” Falk said.
Vinehout said she was concerned over the increasing burden of student debt and the diminishing number of youth able to afford a secondary education.
“An investment in higher education is a great investment not only for the family member and the student, but also for the entire state,” Vinehout said. “We’re falling behind in Wisconsin.”
La Follette was the only candidate who supported a potential raise on the state sales tax to increase funding for education. The other candidates said they would not support raising taxes, but instead offered other ways to increase state aid for schools.
La Follette, a former University of Wisconsin-Parkside professor, said an investment in research is necessary to help state businesses.
“We don’t need an out-of-state, right-wing agenda sponsored by the Koch brothers and the [American Legislative Exchange Council] group to tell Wisconsin how we can do it,” La Follette said. “This is Wisconsin, and we know a better way.”
The Democratic primary will take place May 8, with the winner taking on Walker June 5.
