Wisconsin-Report

Walter: “From 1977 To 2013, Wisconsin Middle-Class Families Have Seen Their Share Of Income Fall More Than
12% As The Rate Of Union Membership In The State Has Decreased” While “The Share Of Income Going To The
Top 20% Of Households Increased By Nearly 20% During This Time Period.” According to an opinion by Center for
American Progress Action Fund’s American Worker Project associate director Karla Walter for the Milwaukee Journal
Sentinel, “From 1977 to 2013, Wisconsin middle-class families have seen their share of income fall more than 12% as the rate
of union membership in the state has decreased. Meanwhile, the share of income going to the top 20% of households
increased by nearly 20% during this time period. Yet anti-union policy groups and lawmakers in states across the country are
attacking an already weakened labor movement by advancing so-called ‘right-to-work’ laws that inhibit workers from
collectively bargaining for better wages, benefits and protections, under the guise of ‘choice.’ These laws allow some workers
to receive a free ride, getting the advantages of a union contract — such as higher wages and benefits and protection against
arbitrary discipline—without paying any fee associated with negotiating on these matters.” [Karla Walter – Milwaukee Journal
Sentinel, 8/20/15]
• Walter: Wisconsin’s Right-To-Work Law Stood “To Further Harm Working Families” Since “Estimates By
Marquette University Economist Abdur Chowdhury Suggest That Wisconsin Workers And Families Will Lose
Between $3.89 Billion And $4.82 Billion In Direct Income Annually Due To Effects Of The Law.” According to
an opinion by Center for American Progress Action Fund’s American Worker Project associate director Karla Walter for
the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, “In reality, Wisconsin’s right-to-work law stands to further harm working families.
Estimates by Marquette University economist Abdur Chowdhury suggest that Wisconsin workers and families will lose
between $3.89 billion and $4.82 billion in direct income annually due to effects of the law.” [Karla Walter – Milwaukee
Journal Sentinel, 8/20/15]
Walter: Research Showed That Right-To-Work Laws Did “Not Boost Job Creation.” According to an opinion by
Center for American Progress Action Fund’s American Worker Project associate director Karla Walter for the Milwaukee
Journal Sentinel, “And research shows that these laws do not boost job creation. Oklahoma is a perfect example of the
negative impacts of these laws; the number of companies relocating to the state and the state’s total number of manufacturing
jobs fell by about one-third after a right-to-work law went into effect in 2001.” [Karla Walter – Milwaukee Journal Sentinel,
8/20/15]
AFP-WI WAS A LEADING VOICE AGAINST PREVAILING WAGE LAWS EVEN
THOUGH REPEALING THEM WOULD PROVIDE NO REAL BENEFIT TO
WISCONSIN
AFP Pushed To “Protect” Wisconsin Taxpayers From The “Indefensible” Prevailing Wage…
AFP-Wisconsin State Director Eric Bott: AFP-WI Supported Repeal Of The State’s Prevailing Wage Law. According
to WISN 12 News, “Bott said his group also supports repeal of the state’s prevailing wage law, either included in the budget,
or as stand-alone legislation.” [WISN 12 News, 6/22/15]
Bott: “In Wisconsin, We’ve Been Freeing Workers With Right-To-Work, Protecting Taxpayers By Fighting For
Prevailing Wage Reform, And Expanding Economic Freedom To Every Corner Of The State.” According to a press
statement by Americans for Prosperity Wisconsin state director Eric Bott, “‘While the President is here, I hope he gets the
chance to see firsthand the positive impact that free market reforms can have on an economy. In Wisconsin, we’ve been
freeing workers with right-to-work, protecting taxpayers by fighting for prevailing wage reform, and expanding economic
freedom to every corner of the state. The President has been doing the exact opposite.’” [Americans For Prosperity Wisconsin
Press Release, 7/2/15]
Bott: Wisconsin’s Prevailing Wage Was “Indefensible.” According to a press release from Americans for Prosperity
Wisconsin, “State Director Eric Bott released the following statement: ‘We’re disappointed by Speaker Vos’s plan to leave
Wisconsin’s indefensible prevailing wage requirement largely intact.’” [Americans For Prosperity Wisconsin Press Release,
6/29/15]
AFP-WI Announced The Launch Of “A New Mail And Radio Campaign Thanking Legislators” For “Repealing
The Prevailing Wage Requirement” And For “Passing A Responsible State Budget.” According to a web post by
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