Scott Walker’s 'Alabama values' and European austerity

[hue]

http://host.madison.com/ct/news/opinion/editorial/scott-walker-s-alabama-values-and-european-austerity/article_58607467-efc2-580c-a01a-ba3fc3363dc0.html



The Alabama Republican Party has invited Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker to address its summer dinner. And Walker is going because he’s an all-but-announced candidate for the 2016 Republican nomination for president.

The Alabama Republicans say they’re excited because Walker and his wife, Tonette, are "strong conservative Christians with 'Alabama values' and not ashamed of it."

That sounds about right. Walker does have Alabama values.

Or, at the least, Alabama economics.

Under the governor’s austerity agenda, Wisconsin has fallen from a No. 11 ranking for job growth to a No. 44 ranking.

During the two years since Walker took office and began cutting investments in education, public services and infrastructure — following the European austerity model — Wisconsin has had a dismal 1.6 percent job growth rate.

That’s way worse than the national average, and way, way worse than neighboring states.