LETTER: Falk’s record speaks volumes

To the Telegram:

Former Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk is the union anointed Democrat candidate who will likely face Gov. Scott Walker in a recall election. Falk is a savvy politician, and with the help of a Democrat-friendly media watch as she does amazing contortionist feats in her attempt to appear fiscally conservative.

Don’t fall for her hype. Falk is a dyed-in-the-wool, Madison-Isthmus liberal and she has budget-busting fiscal credentials to prove it.

A January 2011 article in the Wisconsin State Journal explained how Falk rushed to negotiate a three percent pay increase and continued funding 100 percent of retirement benefits through 2014. The article said: “Seeing troubles on the horizon, unions reach tentative deals with Dane County.”

During a period of unprecedented economic crisis, with knowledge unions would soon need to concede on excessive benefits due to collective bargaining reforms established by Gov. Scott Walker, Falk not only provided a 3 percent pay increase, but also locked in 100 percent pension funding for four years.

This was a blatant act of defiance against cash-strapped taxpayers. She knew extravagant benefits were on the chopping block and she rushed to save her union cronies.

Falk also locked in gold-plated health benefits and the ability to accrue 1,700 hours sick leave and banked sabbatical/vacation time for an early retirement with premium paid benefits at age 55 — 50 for protective services.

Falk evidently thought nothing of future generations left with the county’s $210 million tab of outstanding bonds and notes, according to Fitch Ratings.

The “spin” from Falk has started as she crows about $9.4 million in union concessions from nibbling on health benefits and requiring furlough time over three years in her $498,909,530 annual budget. She cut 0.0063 percent of the annual budget. Big deal.

We need Gov. Scott Walker.

Dave Wood,

Eau Claire, Wis.

Tags: opinion, letters