Councilwoman Melissa Mark Viverito (Photo: Twitter)
Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, who is facing a possible recall after widespread protests over his perceived anti-union proposals, will be in New York tonight for a fundraiser sponsored by the state Republican Party. Councilwoman Melissa Mark-Viverito released a statement expressing her “grave disappointment” with the GOP for hosting “the poster child for the austerity movement in the United States” in the five boroughs.
“Tonight, New York State Republicans will hold a fundraiser for Scott Walker, the union busting Governor of Wisconsin,” Ms. Mark-Viverito said. “At a time when people across Wisconsin prepare to submit petitions for the recall of Governor Walker, it is disheartening that Republican New Yorkers would gather to support him in an effort to subvert the democratic process.”Councilwoman Mark-Viverito said Governor Walker’s push to strip unions of collective bargaining rights made him the “poster child for the austerity movement in the United States.” She also blamed him being the type of politician who inspired the anger among some citizens that led to the Occupy Wall Street protests.
“It is officials like Governor Walker that have inspired the kind of historic push back from communities across the United States – from the protests in Madison to the Occupy movements that emerged around the country, and continue to organize and galvanize around issues of income disparities,” she wrote.
Ms. Mark-Viverito was arrested last November while participating in an act of civil disobedience in support of the Occupy protests. She closed her statement on the fundraiser by expressing solidarity with Governor Walker’s opponents.
“I express my grave disappointment that our state’s Republican Committee is bolstering the governor’s attempts to stifle the voices of Wisconsin residents and raise my voice in solidarity with those who seek to fight Governor Walker’s anti-union agenda,” Councilwoman Mark-Viverito wrote.
Read the full text of Ms. Mark-Viverito’s statement below.
COUNCIL MEMBER MELISSA MARK-VIVERITO RESPONDS TO NEW YORK FUNDRAISER FOR WISCONSIN GOVERNOR SCOTT WALKER
New York – “Tonight, New York State Republicans will hold a fundraiser for Scott Walker, the union busting Governor of Wisconsin. At a time when people across Wisconsin prepare to submit petitions for the recall of Governor Walker, it is disheartening that Republican New Yorkers would gather to support him in an effort to subvert the democratic process. Governor Walker’s efforts to strip public sector unions of their collective bargaining rights, which were infamously bankrolled by the Koch Brothers, have made him the poster child for the austerity movement in the United States.
“While Governor Walker claims to have created ‘thousands’ of new jobs as a result of his economic policies, the Los Angeles Times reports today that ‘Non-farm employment grew by 4,500 jobs between November 2010 and November 2011, up just 0.2% — one of the worst performances among the states.’
“It is officials like Governor Walker that have inspired the kind of historic push back from communities across the United States – from the protests in Madison to the Occupy movements that emerged around the country, and continue to organize and galvanize around issues of income disparities.
“I express my grave disappointment that our state’s Republican Committee is bolstering the governor’s attempts to stifle the voices of Wisconsin residents and raise my voice in solidarity with those who seek to fight Governor Walker’s anti-union agenda.”
Follow Hunter Walker on Twitter or via RSS. hwalker@observer.com
The New York GOP hasn’t figured out how to raise money for their own idiots, good luck finding any money for an idiot from another state.
Mark-Viverito ROCKS!!! Mayor Mark-Viverito has a wonderful ring to it.
You wouldn’t put an ‘X’ beside Scott Walker’s name if it was a high school vote. His lack of intelligence and offensive way of ‘leading’ should offend most people’s sensibilities. WI has had 0.2% job growth under Walker – pathetic. So much for creating 250,000 in 4 years (well, maybe lawyer and federal investigator jobs…).
You wouldn’t put an ‘X’ beside Scott Walker’s name if it was a high school vote. His lack of intelligence and offensive way of ‘leading’ should offend most people’s sensibilities. WI has had 0.2% job growth under Walker – pathetic. So much for creating 250,000 in 4 years (well, maybe lawyer and federal investigator jobs…).
Wow, lots of jealous people here. If Walker is so stupid, why is he governor and the rest of you people are hanging around here?
Probably because he lied about what he said he would do when elected and got folks who were fooled by him to vote him in. The collection of approximately 1,000,000 recall signatures in two months’ time says a whole lot to us outsiders. He’s not a friend to the average Wisconsin citizen. I couldn’t be less jealous. I actually FINISHED college. AND grad school. AND I haven’t given up what integrity I might have to take billionaire dollars and eff the people of my state.
Probably because he lied about what he said he would do when elected and got folks who were fooled by him to vote him in. The collection of approximately 1,000,000 recall signatures in two months’ time says a whole lot to us outsiders. He’s not a friend to the average Wisconsin citizen. I couldn’t be less jealous. I actually FINISHED college. AND grad school. AND I haven’t given up what integrity I might have to take billionaire dollars and eff the people of my state.
He won’t be a full term governor per the million plus recall petition signers and I am one of them.
He won’t be a full term governor per the million plus recall petition signers and I am one of them.
@badgerlvr hes not governor because hes smart, he’s governor because hes easily manipulated by special interest groups.
Gov. Walker turned down 800 million for high speed rail in Wisconsin….he is not interested in creating jobs he is interested in big business at the expense of low and middle income people. While cutting earned income tax credit and home stead credit for low income and elderly homeowners he gave huge corporate tax breaks. His most recent blunder was giving back 37 million in Medicaid dollars for the state of Wisconsin, while 50,000 low income adults will lose Badger Care Health insurance coverage. One really good thing he did do is wake up people who were never involved in politics and make them advocates. I am a Wisconsinite and recall petition signer.
Gov. Walker turned down 800 million for high speed rail in Wisconsin….he is not interested in creating jobs he is interested in big business at the expense of low and middle income people. While cutting earned income tax credit and home stead credit for low income and elderly homeowners he gave huge corporate tax breaks. His most recent blunder was giving back 37 million in Medicaid dollars for the state of Wisconsin, while 50,000 low income adults will lose Badger Care Health insurance coverage. One really good thing he did do is wake up people who were never involved in politics and make them advocates. I am a Wisconsinite and recall petition signer.
no one likes this Turd. he is pond scum…