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Since January 2011, '''Scott Walker''' has been is currently the national finance chair of the [[The National Republican Redistricting Trust]], the national honorary chair of the [[Center For State-Led National Debt Solutions]]'s [[Balanced Budget Amendment Campaign]], and a podcast host. Walker is the former Republican Governor of Wisconsin. He was defeated in his 2018 bid for re-election. In February 2011, Walker eliminated collective bargaining rights for most public employees putting an end to 50 years of Wisconsin law and tradition. He also proposed steep cuts to the state budget. These changes prompted massive protests which received national and international coverage.
According to his former Financial Institutions secretaryOn Thursday, June 28, Gov. Walker has instructed his subordinates to "avoid creating electronic records," in order to not create any material which would have to be turned over was joined by Trump and the CEO of Foxconn in a public records request. The former Walker aide, Peter BildstenMount Pleasant, told the ''Wisconsin Journal Sentinel,'' “I thought Scott Walker was different, but he’s just another politician looking out for himselfa groundbreaking ceremony for the factory. Estimates say that it took $4.” Bildsten's claims are substantiated by another "former top aide 5 billion dollars in incentives to Walker" according bring Foxconn to the ''Wisconsin Journal Sentinel.''<refname=wprfc>Patrick Marley WPR Staff and The Associated Press [ Second former Scott Walker aide criticizes governor on public records, makes ad for opponent Tony Evershttpshttps://www.jsonlinewpr.com/story/news/politicsorg/elections/2018/08/20/secondtrump-formercomes-scottwisconsin-walkerfoxconn-aidegroundbreaking-slamswalker-governorprotesters-ad-tony-evers/1036411002/tow] Trump Comes To Wisconsin For Foxconn Groundbreaking With Walker, Protesters In Tow] Wisconsin Journal SentinelPublic Radio, Aug 20June 27, 2018</ref>
In "This will make us a bookbrain gain state, Former not a brain drain state Department ," Walker said of Corrections Secretary Ed Wall alleges that Walker and Attorney General [[Brad Schimel]] intentionally neglected to see through an investigation into inmate abuse at Wisconsin's youth prisons. Wall claims that he asked Schimel and Walker for more resources for the investigation, but was repeatedly denieddeal. <ref name=wprfc> Walker has said he sees "no value" referenced Foxconn as a noteworthy accomplishment of his in visiting state prisons. Walker and Schimel's offices deny Wall's allegationsthe lead up to the election.<ref> Laurel White Rick Romell, [Former Corrections Secretary: Walker, Schimel Neglected Youth Prison For Political Reasons https://www.wprjsonline.orgcom/story/money/business/2018/07/15/former-corrections-secretaryfoxconn-walker-schimelunveil-neglectedmajor-youtheconomic-prisondevelopment-politicaleau-reasonsclaire/786824002/Foxconn Walker will unveil 'major economic development' in Eau Claire] Wisconsin Public Radio''Journal Sentinel'', Aug 10July 15, 2018.</ref>
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{{Scott Walker Latest News}}
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In 2016, Walker ran for president of the United States, but quit before the primary.
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==News and Controversies==
==="Scottwalker.com" and "You Can't Recall Courage"===
On June 21, 2019, Walker tweeted out links to the inaugural episode of a podcast which he tweeted was about how "[Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez] wants a raise, while the US debt skyrockets & WI Dema [sic] push for higher taxes while they can’t pay their own" and the website Scottwalker.com. The podcast is titled "You Can't Recall Courage."<ref>Scott Walker [https://twitter.com/ScottWalker/status/1142080889788207105 Our new podcast is You Can’t Recall Courage with Scott Walker. Today: AOC wants a raise, while the US debt skyrockets & WI Dema push for higher taxes while they can’t pay their own] Twitter, June 21, 2019</ref> The website includes a narrative about Walker's impact on Wisconsin and a sign-up for an email list.<ref>[https://www.scottwalker.com/ ScottWalker.com] accessed June 21, 2019</ref> Scottwalker.com is registered to Scott Walker's Campaign Committee.<ref>ICANN WHOIS[https://whois.icann.org/en/lookup?name=www.scottwalker.com Scottwalker.com profile] Domain Lookup, accessed June 21, 2019</ref>
===Chairman Positions Announced in March of 2019===
Walker joined two groups in March of 2019: [[The National Republican Redistricting Trust]] (NRRT) as the national finance chair<ref name=NRRT>Scott Bland [https://www.politico.com/story/2019/03/21/scott-walker-gop-redistricting-1230489 Scott Walker joins GOP redistricting group as finance chair] ''Politico'' March 21, 2019</ref>and the [[Center for State-led National Debt Solutions]]'s [[Balanced Budget Amendment Campaign]] (BBAC) as national honorary chair.<ref>Center for State-led National Debt Solutions [He's in] organizational website, accessed March 21, 2019</ref><ref name=art5mr>Matthew Rothschild [https://urbanmilwaukee.com/2019/03/20/op-ed-scott-walker-has-a-new-job/ Scott Walker has a new job!] ''Urban Milwaukee'' March 20, 2019</ref>
Walker's job at NRRT is to raise money for court battles over political maps. "Walker made clear that he sees redistricting as a fight that could tilt the next decade of national politics" saying that he saw that "first hand."<ref name=NRRT/> There is currently a case set to go before the Supreme Court in July of 2019 about what was once ruled to be an "unconstitutional partisan gerrymander" that took place under Walker's tenure.<ref>Brennan Center [https://www.brennancenter.org/legal-work/whitford-v-gill Whitford V Gill] accessed March 21, 2019</ref>
According to Matthew Rothschild of the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, "corporate interests" including the Koch brothers back BBAC. For them, "tying the hands of government is a great thing. It means there would be less money for government regulation, so that corporations could pollute our environment with impunity, and break the labor laws with impunity, and engage in financial fraud with impunity. Which makes it a perfect job for Walker."<ref name=art5mr/>
==="Back in the news" for meeting with alleged Russian spy===
The Wisconsin Democracy Campaign published a data set in early February 2019 asserting that Walker received $1.75 million from a company with ties to Russian oligarchs, 250,000 of which went to the "Our American Revival" fund -- a group supporting Walker's 2016 bid for the presidency. The quarter-million-dollar donation came "just days" after Walker's meeting with an alleged Russian spy, Maria Butina. According to Joanna Beilman-Dulin of Onew Wisconsin Now, "The timing of this quarter-million dollar contribution sure looks like Scott Walker’s non-meeting meant something to somebody.”<ref name=btn/>
==2018 Gubernatorial Election==
===Loss to Tony Evers===
Walker conceded to State School Superintendent Tony Evers on November 7 2018, after serving as Wisconsin's chief executive for two terms.<ref>AP [http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-pol-midterm-election-day-updates-wiscongov-scott-walker-concedes-to-1541624453-htmlstory.html Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker concedes to Democrat Tony Evers] The Associated Press, Nov 7 2018</ref>
According to CMD's [https://www.exposedbycmd.org/2018/11/07/wisconsin-nice-beats-the-politics-of-hate-and-the-scott-walker-money-machine/ Mary Bottari], the end of Walker's enure may lead to the end of "Wisconsin’s role as a national petri dish for right-wing policies promulgated by the Koch brothers and the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), including austerity budgeting, union-busting, voter ID and the systematic denial of Medicaid assistance to the state’s residents."<ref>Mary Bottari [https://www.exposedbycmd.org/2018/11/07/wisconsin-nice-beats-the-politics-of-hate-and-the-scott-walker-money-machine/ Wisconsin Nice Beats the Politics of Hate and the Scott Walker Money Machine] Nov. 7 2018</ref>
===$9.2 million dollars in TV ads===
From August to October, Walker and like-minded groups spent $9.2 million on broadcast TV advertising, making Walker "much better funded than [his Democratic opponent] Evers." $5.4 million came from outside GOP groups, with "most active GOP group," [[Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce]], spending $2.6 million. According to ''The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel,'' the outside spending breakdown is as follows:<ref>Craig Gilbert and Patrick Marley [https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/elections/2018/10/10/outside-groups-key-gop-outspends-dems-wisconsin-governors-race/1575647002/ As GOP outspends Democrats on TV in race for Wisconsin governor, outside groups play an out-sized role] ''The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel'' Oct. 10 2018</ref>
* [[Americans for Prosperity]]- $1,431,590
* [[Republican Governors Association]]/[[Right Direction Wisconsin]]- $1,314,670
* [[Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce]] Issue Mobilization Council- $2,654,450
===Walker's Frequent Flights===
''The Wisconsin State Journal'' reports that Walker took 322 taxpayer-funded flights in 2017. In 2016, he took 351. Those flights took place while Walker was campaigning for president in 2016, and then as his re-election campaign for Governor approaches in late-2018. "He held dozens of invite-only feedback sessions with local officials and residents, met with local news outlets and toured schools, health care facilities and businesses." Yet few of the flights, "only about a dozen" in 2016/2017, were reimbursed by the campaign. One Wisconsin Now, the advocacy group which first reported the frequency of Walker's flights, claims that Walker is subsidizing his political activities using public funds.<ref name=ffwsj>Matthew DeFour [https://madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/scott-walker-took-more-flights-last-year-than-scrutinized-new/article_2c350f7f-363b-5604-86db-ef44d40ace9c.html Scott Walker took 127 more flights last year than scrutinized New York governor] '''Wisconsin State Journal''' Sept. 10</ref>
“I don’t see how the governor can fly to the Green Bay media market each of the six days leading up to a special election where his party is defending a seat it’s held since 1977 and claim none of it is campaign[-]related,” One Wisconsin Now Executive Director Scot Ross said. “After 25 years in office, Scott Walker has become the most dangerous kind of politician, the one who thinks he’s entitled to use our tax dollars for whatever he wants.”<ref name=ffwsj/>
===Criticism from Former Aides===
Walker's former Secretary of the Department of Transportation alleges that the governor boss is not telling the truth about road projects, according to the ''Associated Press''.<ref name=aproads>Scott Bauer [http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/midwest/ct-wisconsin-scott-walker-campaign-20180910-story.html Wisconsin's Scott Walker tries to alter conversation amid bad news] ''Associated Press,'' Sept 10. 2018</ref> Mark Gottlieb, a Republican appointed by Walker himself, told ''The Cap Times,'' “We got to a place where the facts were being ignored in favor of political spin." Gottlieb claims that Walker has been spreading untrue information about how choices are made about which transportation projects are funded by the state.<ref name=aproads/>
According to his former Financial Institutions secretary, Gov. Walker has instructed his subordinates to "avoid creating electronic records," in order to not create any material which would have to be turned over in a public records request. The former Walker aide, Peter Bildsten, told the ''Wisconsin Journal Sentinel,'' “I thought Scott Walker was different, but he’s just another politician looking out for himself.” Bildsten's claims are substantiated by another "former top aide to Walker" according to the ''Wisconsin Journal Sentinel.''<ref>Patrick Marley [https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/elections/2018/08/20/second-former-scott-walker-aide-slams-governor-ad-tony-evers/1036411002/ Second former Scott Walker aide criticizes governor on public records, makes ad for opponent Tony Evers] ''Wisconsin Journal Sentinel'', Aug 20, 2018</ref>
In a book, Former state Department of Corrections Secretary Ed Wall alleges that Walker and Attorney General [[Brad Schimel]] intentionally neglected to see through an investigation into inmate abuse at Wisconsin's youth prisons. Wall claims that he asked Schimel and Walker for more resources for the investigation, but was repeatedly denied. Walker has said he sees "no value" in visiting state prisons. Walker and Schimel's offices deny Wall's allegations.<ref> Laurel White [Former Corrections Secretary: Walker, Schimel Neglected Youth Prison For Political Reasons https://www.wpr.org/former-corrections-secretary-walker-schimel-neglected-youth-prison-political-reasons] Wisconsin Public Radio, Aug 10, 2018</ref>
===Campaign Fundraising===
Walker raised 5.5 million dollars in the first half of 2018.<ref> Molly Beck and Patrick Marley {https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/2018/07/16/candidates-governor-report-fundraising/787565002/ Scott Walker raises millions more in 2018 than Democratic challengers] Milwaukee Sentinel, July 16, 2018</ref> In addition to that he had raised 7.2 million dollars in the year of 2017.<ref>Matt Defour [https://madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/scott-walker-has-nearly-four-times-more-cash-than-the/article_81de84db-9bf1-5f6e-afae-d3931e7c1474.html Scott Walker has nearly four times more cash than the Democratic field] Wisconsin State Journal, Jane 17, 2018</ref> Historically, much of the money Walker has received has come from "Retired/Homemakers/Non-Income earning" people.<ref>Campaign Finance Database[http://www.wisdc.org/index.php?module=wisdc.websiteforms&cmd=searchcandidatesummary&id=102575 Scott Walker] Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, Accessed July 2018</ref>
One out of every three dollars Walker raised in 2017 came from an out of state donor. Individuals giving directly to Walker include [[Reince Priebus]] who gave $2,000, [[Walter W. Buckley]], [[Richard Colburn]], [[Brian Follett]], [[Edward Levy]]
[[Barry MacLean]], [[Timothy J. Roberts, Chicago]] and [[Diane Smith]] who all gave the maximum legal amount of $20,000.<ref>Wisconsin Democracy Campaign [https://urbanmilwaukee.com/2018/01/29/campaign-cash-1-in-3-of-walkers-donations-from-out-of-state/ 1 in 3 of Walker’s Donations from Out of State] Urban Milwaukee, Jan 29 2018</ref>
According to ''The Milwaukee State Journal'', [[The Koch Brothers]] announced a plan in early 2018 to help finance Walker's campaign.<ref>Steve Peoples [https://madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/koch-brothers-target-wisconsin-senate-governor-s-races/article_57b3ba3a-8fa2-5969-9493-78fb362b0e14.html Koch brothers target Wisconsin senate, governor's races]''The Milwaukee State Journal'' Jan 30, 2018</ref>
In April 2018, the [[Republican Governors Assoication]] promised to spend $5.1 million of television ads for Walker.<ref>Scott Bauer [http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/sns-bc-wi--governor-wisconsin-20180409-story.html Republican Governors Association books $5M for Walker ads] The Associated Press, April 12, 2018</ref>
According to One Wisconsin Now, Scott Walker has raised $100 million for his gubernatorial campaigns over the past 25 years. “No Wisconsin politician has raised more campaign cash for himself or been more willing to sell us out for a campaign contribution than Scott Walker. Scott Walker is the literal poster child for obscene campaign spending,” Executive Director of One Wisconsin Now Scot Ross said.<ref>One Wisconsin Now [https://www.wisconsingazette.com/news/scott-walker-has-raised-over-m-for-his-gubernatorial-campaigns/article_b82ef196-8b66-11e8-bf9b-3350f1dca74b.html Scott Walker has raised over $100M for his gubernatorial campaigns]Wisconsin Gazette, July 19, 2019</ref>
===2015 Photo with Alleged Russian Spy===
[[File:Walker-Butina.jpg|thumb|right|Scott Walker with Maria Butina]]
In July of 2018, Maria Butina was charged with as a "covert Russian agent" working for the Kremlin to gather "intelligence on American officials and political organizations and worked to establish back-channel lines of communications," according to the Associated Press. A photo of Walker and Butina with [[Alexander Torshin Butina]], deputy head of the Russian Central Bank and her alleged handler, at a [[National Rifle Association]] convention in 2015 emerged, sparking controversy. Walker maintains that the interaction was just a photo-op, but some decry a more nefarious story line.<ref>Scott Bauer [https://madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/scott-walker-downplays-interaction-with-indicted-russian/article_32902db3-5946-53ab-9879-d923d0a1db6f.html Scott Walker downplays interaction with indicted Russian] Associated Press, July 19, 2018</ref>
One Wisconsin Now Executive Director Scot Ross said about the photo that the NRA donations precluding the photo were also important. "The $3.5 million that (the NRA) doled out to support Scott Walker since then paved the way not only for him to spend 25 years in public office but also for an accused Russian spy to gain personal access to him.”<ref>Mike Browne [https://onewisconsinnow.org/press/the-rest-of-the-picture-3-5-million-in-nra-support-paved-the-way-for-accused-spy-to-get-personal-access-to-scott-walker/ The Rest of the Picture: $3.5 Million in NRA Support Paved the Way for Accused Spy to Get Personal Access to Scott Walker] One Wisconsin Now, July 18, 2018</ref>
As more information came to light, such as data by the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, reports assert that Walker received $1.75 million from a company with ties to Russian oligarchs, 250,000 of which went to a fund supporting Walker's 2016 bid for the presidency. That donation came "just days" after Walker's meeting with Butina. According to Joanna Beilman-Dulin of Onew Wisconsin Now, "The timing of this quarter-million dollar contribution sure looks like Scott Walker’s non-meeting meant something to somebody.”<ref name=btn>Bruce Murphy [https://urbanmilwaukee.com/2019/02/12/back-in-the-news-walker-and-the-russian-connection/ BACK IN THE NEWS Walker and the Russian Connection] Urban Wisconsin, Feb 12, 2019</ref>
===4 Billion Dollar Foxconn Deal===
Alongside President Trump, Governor Walker unveiled a plan to bring factory of the Taiwanese tech giant, Foxconn to Eau Claire and Milwaukee. Walker and Foxconn say that the factories will bring as much as 10 million dollars into the Wisconsin economy and create thousands of jobs. Humans rights, environmentalist, and budget watchers object to the plan on the grounds that Foxconn is infamous for employee suicides,<ref>Brian Merchant [https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/jun/18/foxconn-life-death-forbidden-city-longhua-suicide-apple-iphone-brian-merchant-one-device-extract Life and death in Apple’s forbidden city] the Guardian, June 18, 2017</ref> river pollution,<ref>Ivan Moreno [http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-foxconn-wisconsin-plant-environmental-issues-20170826-story.html What are the environmental concerns surrounding the Wisconsin Foxconn plant?] The Chicago Tribune August 26, 2017</ref> and expecting tax incentives.<ref>Annie Lowry [https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2017/07/foxconned/535170/ Foxconned] The Atlantic, July 2017</ref>
===Walker's 2018 Reelection Team===
