NONPARTISAN CANDIDATE GUIDE: 2018 WISCONSIN’S GOVERNOR’S RACE

Abortion: Mostly ban or mostly legal?

Evers – Legal. Supports lifting restrictions on abortions. “Government shouldn’t be making personal health decisions for women & we shouldn’t be treating physicians like criminals.”

Walker – Ban. “I’ve always been pro-life.” Signed ban after 20 weeks with no exceptions for rape or incest. Unclear on exceptions for life of mother. Required pre-abortion ultrasound & blocked UW Hospital from providing abortions.

 

Campaign Finance: Support Citizens United decision, allowing unlimited political donations from corporations & unions? Views on Wisconsin campaign finance rules?

Evers – Overturn Citizens United. Reverse Walker-supported law that limited political corruption investigations, doubled campaign contribution limits, & eased cooperation between candidates & outside groups.

Walker – No public statement on Citizens United. To avoid “political witch hunts,” he & allies pushed through a law to limit some corruption investigations. See defense & criticism of his approach to campaign finance limits and these investigations.

 

Climate Change: Consider climate change a serious threat? Should government limit levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere?

Evers – Yes. “This is a real, serious threat.“ Challenges deniers to find another issue “where political leaders in nearly every single country” recognize this “& have been able to work together & find compromise.” Early Paris Climate Accord supporter, & supports emissions regulations.

Walker – No. “There has not been any measurable warming in the last 15 or 20 years.” Sued Obama administration over emission regulations, calling them “a buzz saw to the nation’s economy.” Also cut budget of state scientists researching areas related to climate change.

 

Contraception: Allow employers to withhold contraceptive coverage from employees if disagree with it morally?

Evers – No stand found.

Walker – Yes. Stopped enforcement of state’s contraceptive coverage requirement for insurance companies.

 

Courts: Support President Trump’s Supreme Court nomination of Brett Kavanaugh?

Evers – No public statements found.

Walker – Called Kavanaugh a man “of integrity” who understands that the role of the judiciary is to uphold the Constitution.

 

Economy: Support Trump’s imposition of tariffs on Chinese steel & other products?

Evers – No.

Walker – No. Tariffs will harm Wisconsin companies. Asked Trump to reconsider.

 

Education: Increase funding for K-12 education?

Evers – Yes. Increase by $1.4 billion. Increased $ for special education, kindergarten for 4 year olds, & teachers who work in high-poverty districts.

Walker – Major cuts in 2011, more recent increases. Shifts from supporting low-income districts more to straight per-pupil support.

 

Education: Support expansion of charter schools & vouchers enabling parents getting public help for private school costs?

Evers – No. Would freeze enrollment in school choice programs & phase out unless public schools were fully funded.

Walker – Yes. Has expanded both charter schools & voucher programs.

 

Education: Increase state funding for higher education?

Evers – Yes. Will Increase investments in both our technical schools & University of Wisconsin (UW) system.

Walker – Froze UW tuition. Cut $500 million from higher ed support. Recently restored $100 million.

 

Elections: Support nonpartisan redistricting to address charges of partisan gerrymandering? 

Evers – Yes. “Politicians should not be picking their constituents, the people should be picking their politicians.”

Walker – No. Supported redistricting that was struck down as unconstitutional.

 

Gay Marriage: Support gay marriage?

Evers – Yes. Believes that “all Wisconsinites should be able to marry who they love – plain & simple.”

Walker – No. Called Supreme Court legalizing same-sex marriage a “grave mistake” & talked of constitutional amendment against it.

 

Gun Control: Support more restrictive gun control legislation? Restrict semi-automatic weapons?

Evers – Mostly yes. Universal background checks, 48-hour waiting period, ban bump stocks. Unclear on semi-automatic weapons.

Walker – No. “Honored to have an A+ rating” from NRA. Passed conceal carry legislation & protections for shooting intruders, ended 48-hour wait period.

 

Healthcare: Support or Repeal Affordable Care Act (ACA), known as Obamacare? Accept ACA’s Medicaid expansion to subsidize low-income participants?

Evers – Support ACA. Accept Medicaid expansion to “insure thousands more Wisconsinites who are struggling to find affordable health insurance.”

Walker – Repeal ACA. Suing to oppose Obamacare & rejected Medicaid expansion, but used Obamacare funding to help cover state costs. Also supports  work & drug screen requirements for Medicaid & state reinsurance program for high-need patients.

 

Healthcare: Let Planned Parenthood receive public funds for non-abortion health care?

Evers – Yes. Reverse Walker’s decision to defund it. Restore services like breast & cervical cancer screenings, physical exams, birth control & STD testing.

Walker – No. Eliminated all state funding, forcing closure of 4 rural health centers that had provided non-abortion services.

 

Immigration: Support “DACA” recipients or “Dreamers,” who grew up in the US after being brought here illegally as children?

Evers – Yes. Criticized Walker for supporting an end to DACA protections.

Walker – Stripped in-state tuition from DACA students.  “Should be no amnesty” for illegal immigrants.

 

Labor: Enact right-to-work law, eliminating the right of unions to mandate dues for workers they represent? Support or oppose union collective bargaining rights?

Evers – No. Repeal Walker’s right-to-work law & reinstate collective bargaining and prevailing wage for workers on state projects.

Walker – Eliminated collective bargaining for teachers & most public employees. Also signed right-to-work law for private unions. Ended prevailing wage law.

 

Marijuana: Legalize or decriminalize marijuana?

Evers – Legalize medical use. Determine recreational legalization through statewide referendum.

Walker – No. Opposes legalization of both medical & recreational use, except cannabis-based oil for seizure patients.

 

Minimum Wage: Raise the minimum wage?

Evers – Yes. Raise to $15/hr phased in over several years. Index for inflation.

Walker – No. Says “artificially” raising wage won’t help create family-supporting jobs.

 

Net Neutrality: Require internet providers to provide equal access to all users?

Evers – Yes. The internet “should be treated like a utility.”

Walker – No. “The guiding principle should be freedom.”

 

Renewable Energy: Support government subsidies for renewable energy?

Evers – Yes. Strong supporter including state incentives.

Walker – No. Slashed budget for major renewable energy research center.

 

Taxes: Increase taxes to pay for public services?

Evers – Yes. Open to raising taxes on wealthy to pay for public services.

Walker – No. Has cut $8 billion during two terms. Cuts skewed toward higher earners.

 

Voting Rules: Support voting rules that prioritize preventing even the possibility of fraud, even if limit access?

Evers – No. Will “close the chapter of voter suppression in Wisconsin.” Supports automatic voter registration.

Walker – Yes. Has implemented several stricter requirements, calling them necessary to prevent voter fraud.