Walker Supported Transportation Bill That He Hits Neumann on in New Ad; Even Wrote Letter to Editor

Now, this is fun. Scott Walker caught again in a blatantly hypocritical position.

You read it before: Walker is too slick by half. What a blunder to make on a last-minute attack ad.

Take a closer look at Scott Walker via the Mark Neumann campaign:

WAUKESHA, Wis. - September 8, 2010 - A newspaper article and letter to the editor reveal that Scott Walker supported the transportation bill that he now attacks Mark Neumann for voting in favor of back in 1998.

The bill is at the heart of Walker's last-minute, negative attack ads on TV, radio and direct mail which attempt to link Neumann to Nancy Pelosi for voting to support the same transportation bill that Walker himself supported.

"Scott Walker is attempting to smear Mark Neumann's record as a true fiscal conservative with a desperate, negative attack campaign attempting to link Neumann to Nancy Pelosi," Neumann campaign manager Chip Englander said. "Yet, Scott Walker supported this bill as well. He said it would 'save Milwaukee County taxpayers money.'"

"What Walker calls pork today, in 1998 he said would save money."

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel article by Larry Sandler published May 30, 1998

And the state legislators agreed, in a letter saying, "We believe the taxpayers of Milwaukee County will benefit from not being forced to use these transportation funds on a light rail system that would cost hundreds of millions of dollars, or on (special) lanes that would tear up residential and commercial property in Milwaukee County."

The six state legislators, led by Rep. Scott Walker (R-Wauwatosa), said the money would be best spent on such projects as reconstruction of the Marquette Interchange and the Zoo Interchange, and increased support of the Milwaukee County Transit System.

Scott Walker Letter to the editor, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, published June 15, 1998
Scott Walker says: "Transit projects a good use of funds"

. . . Originally, $241 million of federal funds was set aside for use on the East-West Corridor. Specifically, the money could be used for a light rail system along the corridor or for the widening of I-94 to insert car pool and bus lanes…

. . . At that time, a group of Milwaukee County lawmakers objected to both proposals. Fast forward to May 1998. The same Milwaukee County lawmakers -- three Democrats and three Republicans -- applauded the change in the use of the $241 million and asked that the funds be used on local projects, including the reconstruction of the Marquette Interchange, the Zoo Interchange and on expanding support for the Milwaukee County Transit System.

In our opinion, supporting these projects is a better use of the funds and will ultimately save Milwaukee County taxpayers money.

Rep. Scott Walker
R-Wauwatosa

Englander concluded, "Mr. Walker, please take down your negative and hypocritical attack ads and run a positive campaign."

Please click here to read the articles in their entirety:

- Milwaukee Journal Sentinel article by Larry Sandler published May 30, 1998
- Scott Walker Letter to the editor, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, published June 15, 1998
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Download the Press Release (PDF)