For Immediate Release
June 13, 2017
Contact: Brandon Weathersby, brandonw@wisdems.org, 608-260-2409

Assembly Leader Peter Barca, Rep. Katrina Shankland, American Federation of Teachers Local 212 President Denounce Hypocritical Trump Visit, Call For More Investment in Technical College Schools and Worker Training

MADISON — Today, Assembly Leader Peter Barca and Rep. Katrina Shankland joined the American Federation of Teachers Local 212 President Mike Rosen to denounce President Trump's cuts to technical college schools and apprenticeship programs. 

It's fitting President Trump is meeting with Gov. Scott Walker in Wisconsin today, as his agenda follows the Governor's note for note by prioritizing huge tax giveaways to the wealthy and leaving hard-working families behind.  

“We’re very concerned that President Trump, much like Governor Walker, wants to give tax giveaways to the very wealthy ahead of Wisconsin workers and investing in rural communities,” said Assembly Leader Peter Barca. “Trump, also just like our Governor, is pulling a bait and switch on the American public by saying he cares about workers when in fact his budget is gonna take away desperately needed resources from programs that train manufacturing workers, which we hear from business owners all the time are desperately needed.” 

“What we see is real hypocrisy in the photo-op show that’s going on with President Trump and Governor Walker today. In President Trump’s budget, he has proposed a 40% cut in job training—that’s $2 billion cut nationwide in job training funds. If you’re really interested in promoting apprenticeships, you have to invest in that skills training,” said Michael Rosen. “And then Governor Walker. Not only did he cut technical college funding by 30% in 2011 when he got in, returning it to levels we haven’t seen since the 1980s and that money has not been restored to the colleges, but he also, in his current budget proposal, has proposed eliminating licensure for skilled trades: for electricians, for plumbers, for steam fitters, etc. You can’t promote apprenticeships and promote eliminating the exact training that creates apprenticeship programs.” 

“Trump, just like Walker, is pulling a bait and switch on the American people. He is saying he cares about workers, but in fact his budget takes away money and resources from the very programs that train manufacturers, workers, nurses, the programs that support our small business owners, and that create and spur economic growth, especially in rural communities. It’s time for these cuts to stop.” said Rep. Katrina Shankland. “So one of the ways to do that is what Joint Finance Committee Democrats tried recently to improve college affordability and increase access to opportunities. Joint Finance Committee Democrats introduced a motion to institute free tuition at Wisconsin technical colleges. A budget is about priorities and if we care about workers, if we care about our economy, we need to ensure that everyone has access to our technical colleges and to those good paying jobs.”

Listen to the entire press call here. 
Read this release on WisDems.org