Scott Walker visits UWM in campaign for governor (UWM Post)

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By Marlyn Fink

Milwaukee County Executive and Republican gubernatorial candidate Scott Walker visited UW-Milwaukee Tuesday, April 6 to discuss higher education and various related topics.

The event was part of Fireside Chats, which feature three gubernatorial candidates answering questions in the UWM Union Alumni Fireside Lounge.

Walker's Republican competition, Mark Neumann, stopped by UWM on Monday, April 5 and Democratic candidate and current Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett will be on campus Monday, May 3.

After a short introduction by Tom Luljak, UWM's vice chancellor of university relations and communications, Walker took the stage. He proceeded to answer three prepared questions from a four-person panel dealing with UW system tuition, compensation for state employees, and research cooperation among UW campuses.

The panel consisted of Professor and Chair of the UWM Political Science Department Marcus Ethridge, John Bartel of the UWM Alumni Association, Maura Metz of UWM College Democrats and Dan Pesch of UWM College Republicans. Ethridge acted as the moderator.

In his opening remarks, Walker discussed his plan to create jobs in Wisconsin, especially for college graduates. He also spoke about his six-step plan if elected governor: lower taxes, reduce regulation, end frivolous lawsuits, improve education and health care, and create a strong infrastructure. Walker envisions that his plan will create a minimum of 250,000 jobs in Wisconsin by the end of his first term in 2015.

"There are some politicians who think the government creates jobs," Walker said. "I tend to think that people and employers create jobs. It's a real difference, a philosophical difference."

Walker, who grew up in Delevan, described himself as a fiscal conservative and said the government can balance the budget and provide core government services at the same time.

Regarding UW system tuition, Walker said that increases in the cost of tuition need to remain reasonable and that financial aid availability must remain on pace with those rises in tuition.

Walker answered a slew of additional audience questions during the forum on topics such as healthcare reform, the state smoking ban and the state budget.

The UWM Panther Advocates hosted the event, which was co-sponsored by UWM's Student Association, Political Science Department, College Republicans, College Democrats, and the Academic Staff Legislative Subcommittee.

"I'm running for governor because I believe in this state," Walker said. "I love this state. My view is that the best way for us to move forward is to get government out of the way. It's worked before. It can work again."

http://www.uwmpost.com/2010/04/12/scott-walker-visits-uwm-in-campaign-fo...