Two weekends ago, Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley visited Madison to help campaign for Mary Burke, the Democratic challenger to governor. This is not the first time Burke welcomed a prominent out-of-state Democrat to try and influence Wisconsin voters. The governor’s visit came not even a week after Burke declined a campaign appearance with President Barack Obama, opting instead to meet with him in private. Despite this, Burke’s ties to Obama and his failed liberal agenda are evident. When asked recently to name an issue that she differs on with Obama, she paused for 12 seconds until her communications director stepped in.
As Burke welcomed the liberal O’Malley to our state, we are reminded just how supportive he is of this same failed agenda. O’Malley said he would “lead the nation” in implementing the Affordable Care Act and he was one of 14 states to set up its own healthcare marketplace. However, this exchange faced so many problems that the state had to nix its original exchange and announce a rebuilding of the exchange that will cost the taxpayers of Maryland nearly $40 to $50 million. These are the same problems that the Minnesota health care exchange is facing.
Just as O’Malley has championed Obama’s failed policies, Burke looks to do the same. Burke has said numerous times that she supports healthcare exchanges similar to the ones in Maryland and Minnesota, and that she would want to bring programs like these to Wisconsin. Burke should know better than to risk millions of taxpayers’ dollars like O’Malley did. It’s time for Burke to re-evaluate her stance on these issues, and it’s time for Wisconsin citizens to know that they deserve more than a candidate who will just keep promoting Obama’s failed policies.
There is one thing that Mary Burke is making very clear to the people of Wisconsin. She will be the rubber stamp for national Democrats and their programs, and she will do whatever it takes to promote their failed liberal policies. Bottom line, Burke equals more of the failed Obama policies.
Ben Giles (wicrexecutivedirector
