OCPA’s 2012 Citizenship Dinner, held on April 11th at Oklahoma City’s National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, was a tremendous success.
Guests were treated to a powerful speech by Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, whose administration has enacted the most aggressive pro-jobs agenda in the country, lowered the overall tax burden, streamlined the regulatory process, and passed some of the most extensive tort reform in the country.
As part of Gov. Walker’s reforms, public employees were asked to pay more for some of their benefits. In return, he gave public employees the freedom to choose whether or not they wanted to be a public employee union member. Gov. Walker prohibited by law the ability of any union to automatically deduct dues from a paycheck. That act of liberation made him the target of national unions who favor big government.
As a result, more than 300 union protesters and members of the Occupy movement lined 63rd Street in front of the event entrance. (Some of the protesters were reportedly paid to be there.) While the protesters intended to disturb OCPA’s guests and shake their confidence, it was obvious that the protests had the exact opposite effect. After seeing them, our guests were more eager than ever to hear Gov. Walker’s message.
Gov. Walker’s administration has focused on long-term structural reforms, not budget gimmicks. One of the highlights of the evening was when he outlined his commitment to be “thinking about the next generation, not just the next election.” All who attended would agree that Gov. Walker is a true patriot.
For a copy of Gov. Walker’s remarks, please contact me at (405) 602-1667.
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