As he campaigns in the Wisconsin recall, Gov. Scott Walker has been answering questions about a promise he made in 2010 to create 250,000 private-sector jobs during his first term — the state lost 9,700 private-sector jobs in 2011, and even after a partial recovery this year is only at plus-5,900 jobs since Walker took office.
At the state GOP convention on Saturday, Walker reiterated his pledge, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports: “It’s a commitment I made in 2010 and it’s a commitment I make today.”
Walker campaigned at a business in Waukesha County, and chalked up the state’s sluggish job growth (which could potentially cost him his job in the recall election) to … the recall itself.
The Associated Press reports:
Walker blamed the state’s employment woes on the recalls, saying employers are hesitant to add jobs during times of political uncertainty but that there would be a “dramatic turnaround” after June 5.
“There is a tremendous enthusiasm built up for additional jobs,” he said. “I think you’re going to see a tremendous takeoff.”
Walker also noted that revised figures for 2011 will be coming out on Wednesday, and predicted they will reveal the state’s job situation was actually “brighter” than initially reported.
