Posted on Thursday, 8th October 2009 by Roland_Melnick

Prior to President Obama’s big government power grab (aka “healthcare reform) and the Democrat Party bid to cripple the American economy (aka Cap and Trade), there was an active statewide debate here in Wisconsin over issues related to crime, prison overcrowding and racial profiling. These important issues have seemingly disappeared, largely due to downward crime trending and the flood of hot button issues inundating today’s political scene. In a recent interview, Scott Walker told Badger Blogger the issue of crime is an integral part of his agenda.

Staking out a clear contrast to the Doyle Administration, Walker’s approach starts with a focus on victim’s rights. A stance that hasn’t changed since he authored the “Truth-In-Sentencing” legislation passed in Wisconsin about a decade ago. Whereas Doyle appeared to be more concerned with early release for convicted felons, Scott Walker puts victim’s first.

“Early release and parole are offensive not just to the public, to the system, to the officers and to the prosecutors but most importantly the victims of the crime.

Those victims deserve to know the day of sentencing that that guy is going to be locked up for x number of years without getting out early. Yet for the sole purpose of balancing his budget, Doyle wants to let felons out early.”

Walker says he is willing to explore other options that save the State’s limited resources while respecting crime victims. One way to do that would be through privatizing some services. “In the past, we sent prisoners to Tennessee, Texas and Minnesota where the costs were around $42-44/day versus $60/day here in Wisconsin at that time.” A 25% cost savings per inmate. Walker says it makes more sense to look at moving these inmates elsewhere rather than building facilities here at the higher cost, particularly for inmates in for the long-term cycle.

Walker is no stranger to privatizing services previously run by government. Focused adjustments to County Parks laborers led to cost savings and improved efficiencies. Despite criticism, mainly from County workers and their unions, Walker demonstrated it’s possible to be fiscally responsible while providing award winning service to the taxpayers.

When asked how privatization as a governing strategy would be used in his administration, Walker said “…it would be a case by case basis. Remember when Governor Doyle came in claiming he would cut 10,000 jobs in 8 years? Well, one, he didn’t do that…secondly, he started out initially on a scale to do that….some engineering services in the Department of Transportation…some healthcare facilities in the Corrections system…but in both cases they ended up costing more than the people they replaced. I don’t have a rub against state employees. I’m not going to do it just for the sake of doing it. We want to do it where there’s real cost savings.

Posted in Diamond Jim Doyle, Scott Walker | Comments (0) |

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