As predicted, Scott Walker is now OK with some federal stimulus aid, as long as it adhears to an “old formula”. Good to know. How’s that for princples?!

Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker said today he’d welcome an infusion of federal stimulus aid for transit, despite his refusal to actively seek any of the aid.

Walker  drew a distinction between the transit aid, which would be funneled through existing transit programs, and other types of stimulus funding he’s rejecting. He said he had no objection to the transit funding because it would be distributed through an old formula. – jsonline.com

I’m looking forward to all my right wing talk show host friends dedicating as much time to talking about County Exec. Walker’s new definition of “principles” as they did his old definition of “principles” a few weeks ago.

I posted something a bit earlier about this on twitter, but thought I’d follow it up with something a bit more substantive after a few people asked…

I’m very excited and honored to join the Board of Directors for The Park People of Milwaukee County.

I’ve been a vocal advocate for the wonderful park system we have here in Milwaukee County for a long time now and am really looking forward to continuing that advocacy in a more official role as a Director of the Park People.

As many people know, Milwaukee County  used to be one of, if not the, top park systems in the Country. Unfortunately that isn’t the case anymore, but I look forward to continuing to work through the Park People and with the 50+ “Friends of” citizen park groups throughout the County to make sure our public spaces enhance the quality of life for generations to come.

The Wisconsin Policy Research Institute applauds County Executive Scott Walker for taking “a political risk” by refusing federal stimulus money for Milwaukee County, but like myself, disagree with his “tax cuts are the only answer” reasoning.`

Walker, however, has his own idea for stimulating economic growth: tax cuts. Unfortunately, this prescription is wrongheaded on several different levels.

First, consumers and businesses are sitting on their money because they are uncertain about the future. Putting (or, more accurately, leaving) more money in their pockets is unlikely to address that uncertainty.

The entire piece is here. It’s a interesting piece from a generally conservative group and should also be applauded for calling it like they see it, regardless of politics.

First off the bad news. Milwaukee’s own Harley-Davidson is cutting over 1,000 jobs. No word yet on who will be cut or from where.  The economic downturn affecting the entire Country needs immediate action, not just to save the fat cats or the investment firms on Wall Street, but to stimulate the entire economy through a “rising tide that will raise all boats”.

Getting people out of the unemployment line and back to the assembly line is what is going to get us out of this mess and get those motorcycles moving again.

So there’s a pragmatic and serious view of what needs to be done to create jobs, and then there’s Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker who see’s an opportunity to push out a press release and hit the conservative talk radio shows to make sure everyone knows he has a plan to create jobs in Milwaukee and get the economy back on track!

Tax cuts.

Yes, tax cuts are what could get those 1,100 folks back to work according to Walker.

If his ‘solution’ sounds familiar, well, that’s because you’ve heard it before from County Exec. Walker. He has a simplistic solution to every problem this City, County, State and Country face or will ever face. Tax cuts!

Stock market tumbling? Tax cuts! Economy in the tank? Tax cuts! People losing jobs? Tax cuts! Bridges falling apart? Tax cuts!

I’d make a reference here to nails and hammers, but I think you get the point. No matter what the problem may be, our County Executive sees a tax cut as the solution.

While his remedy is entirely predictable, it’s not completely practical.

After all, didn’t we have a massive handout of cash just last spring? Those $600 or $1200 checks to every tax payer didn’t seem to help out the economy much then, so why would cutting the payroll tax, which is one of Scott Walkers proposals, fare any better?  If a huge infusion of cash didn’t help, why would a few dollars a month make a difference?

Not to mention that payroll or FICA taxes pay for critical services like MEDICARE and social security, two programs which are more critical than ever in these hard times. Unemployment taxes are also part of those nasty payroll taxes Walker is advocating cutting or removing as part of his “tax cut” solution.

How many people would argue that now is the time to cut unemployment benefits? Apparently, Scott Walker. I wonder how those 1,100 people who are now forced to draw the unemployment checks they paid for through payroll taxes would respond to a plan to cut those benefits they’re now reliant on until they can find another job?

While Walker may envision his “one solution for every problem” approach to fixing the problems facing America and Milwaukee today as a positive for his run at Governor this year, the fact is that the solutions required are more complex than a simplistic campaign slogan like “tax cuts!“.

The unfortunate news from Vliet Street, just blocks from my house, today only reinforces that point.

Milwaukee’s most influential leaders agree: the Obama stimulus plan will work and help Milwaukee.

The BizTimes has a collection of thoughts from some of Milwaukee’s most influential business leaders that may surprise some.

The Obama economic stimulus plan will help revive the economy, but improvements are not likely to begin occurring until late in 2009 or 2010.

That was the consensus viewpoint among the top executives of some of the Milwaukee region’s most significant companies, according to an informal survey by Greater Milwaukee Committee president Julia Taylor.

Isn’t it amazing how common sense prevails when politically motivated “principles” aren’t involved?