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Scott Walker

stated on June 19, 2018 in a TV ad:

Says he made "a record investment in schools."

Gov. Scott Walker, appearing here at a middle school in Platteville in February 2017, is criticized for cutting aid to schools but nevertheless claims he has made a "record investment" in them. (Associated Press)

By Tom Kertscher August 3, 2018

Scott Walker's claim of 'record' state spending on schools doesn't account for inflation

Near the end of a TV ad that features an elementary school teacher from Racine, Gov. Scott Walker declares:

"With a record investment in schools … we’re putting students first."

The ad, released June 19, 2018, as part of Walker’s campaign to win a third term, has turned some heads. It’s a claim he essentially repeats on the official governor’s website.

In the run-up to the Aug. 14, 2018, primary election, which pits eight candidates seeking the Democratic nomination, Walker’s spending on schools has been an issue. And it’s likely to be debated ahead of the Nov. 6, 2018, general election, as well.

A record investment?

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That’s misleading.

What does ‘record’ mean?

In one of our latest fact checks, on a claim by Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mahlon Mitchell, we reported that Walker’s first two-year state budget, for 2011-’13, cut state funding to schools by nearly $800 million. Since then, Walker has gradually put back more than $1 billion.

But the initial cut certainly put him in the hole, in terms of achieving "record" school funding.

And what does Walker -- who has a history of using different phrasing to claim exceptional funding -- mean by "record," anyway?

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In the ad, as Walker begins to speak, words on the screen cite a February 2017 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel article for support.

We found it’s a news article reporting that Walker’s state budget for 2017-’19 proposed $11.5 billion over the two years for schools — a new high, before accounting for inflation, which of course is crucial in comparing dollars over time.

Walker’s campaign confirmed to us the $11.5 billion figure is what Walker relies on in making his "record investment" claim.

That figure rings a (school) bell.

All our fact checks in the governor’s race.

Prior fact check

When Walker introduced his 2017-’19 budget in February 2017, he made a claim very similar to the one in the new TV ad, saying: "We are investing more money into education than ever before in the history of Wisconsin."

We rated that claim Mostly False.

We found that the $11.5 billion is the largest two-year tally in state history -- in raw dollars, but not so when taking into account inflation, based on figures provided to us then by the nonprofit Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance.

The alliance, which has since merged to become part of the Wisconsin Policy Forum, did calculations for us dating back more than 25 years:

State budget

Inflation adjusted

2017-’19 (Walker)

$11.6 billion

2015-’17 (Walker)

$11 billion

2013-’15 (Walker)

$10.8 billion

2011-’13 (Walker)

$10.6 billion

2009-’11

$12 billion

2007-’09

$12.5 billion

Jay Rothman

stated on December 1, 2024 in TV interview

“The Universities of Wisconsin are 43rd out of 50 states in the nation, in terms of public support for our universities. The $855 million (budget request) gets us up to average.”

2005-’07

$12.9 billion

2003-’05

$12.7 billion

2001-’03

$12.9 billion

1999-’01

$12.6 billion

1997-’99

$11.8 billion

1995-’97

$9.9 billion

1993-’95

$7.78 billion

1991-’93

$7.08 billion

So, adjusting for inflation, the seven state budgets prior to Walker’s taking office spent more on schools than Walker’s current budget does.

But, as we found in the earlier fact check, Walker’s statement has only an element of truth, when considering the funding without regard to inflation.

His claim of a "record" suggests a new high mark in real terms. But with inflation, his current school funding is well below that of several other budgets.

Our rating

Walker says he made "a record investment in schools."

He refers to the $11.5 billion being spent on kindergarten-through-12th grade schools in his 2017-’19 state budget. In raw dollars, that is a record in Wisconsin.

But inflation, of course, is crucial in measuring dollars over time. On that score, seven state budgets spent more on schools than Walker’s current budget does.

The governor’s statement contains an element of truth, but ignores critical facts that would give a different impression, making it Mostly False.

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