Alexandria, Va. (February 18, 2011) –After voters rejected their policies of raising taxes, increasing spending and catering to unions, Wisconsin voters overwhelmingly opted for new leadership in the state Assembly and Senate. Wisconsin Democrats, now given a blueprint for a balanced budget, ran from their constituents to Illinois rather than show up and do their jobs.

“While Wisconsin Republicans are making tough decisions and following through on promises to reduce government spending in order to balance the Wisconsin budget, Democrats abdicated their jobs and refused to govern,” said RSLC Chairman Ed Gillespie.

Following the takeover of both the Wisconsin Assembly and Senate, an effort strongly backed by the RSLC, the newly Republican led legislature took up a bill that would reign in government spending on state workers to help balance the state’s budget. Refusing to accept the reality of the Election Day results, Democrat legislators chose special interest fanned union protests and fled to Illinois rather than debate legislation. President Obama has since dispatched his political operation to support the protestors and obstruct the Governor and Legislature from meeting the commitment they made to voters and balance the budget.

“As Governor Walker has said, ‘the bottom line is we’ve got to balance the budget. Millions and millions of taxpayers of the state have a right to be heard.’ His proposals are reasonable, modest and necessary. Democrats in the Senate should show up for work and cast their vote,” Gillespie said.

About the RSLC

The RSLC is the largest caucus of Republican state leaders and the only national organization whose mission is to elect down ballot, state-level Republican office-holders. Since 2002, the RSLC has been working to elect candidates for the office of attorney general, lieutenant governor, secretary of state and state legislator. The RSLC has more than 100,000 donors in all 50 states. The RSLC raised more than $30 million for the 2009-2010 cycle as part of an effort that picked up 20 legislative chambers, six Attorneys General, three Lieutenant Governors and seven Secretaries of State.