High 5 — our most-clicked in December
Here’s a look at the PolitiFact Wisconsin items that got the most page-views during December 2018.
The High Five included four items that centered on the final days in office of two prominent Wisconsin Republicans — Scott Walker as governor and Paul Ryan as speaker of the U.S. House.
1. Scott Walker on taking major actions in a lame-duck session.
As he prepared to take office in 2011, Walker asked the Democratic lame-duck administration he was succeeding to hold off on a series of major actions.
But as he prepared in late 2018 to leave office, Walker made numerous appointments — in some cases to positions that had been open for months — and signalled his support for changes passed by the GOP Legislature to curtail the power of his Democratic successor, Tony Evers.
That’s a full reversal of his position.
2. GOP legislative leaders on how much power the governor should have.
In early 2011, the Republican-controlled Legislature moved to give Walker more authority. In late 2018, it took actions to limit the powers of Evers.
Another full reversal.
3. Walker on the Truth-O-Meter.
This article reviewed highlights of Walker’s PolitiFact record.
4. Alberta Darling: “Democrats flip flop on pre-existing conditions.”
Darling is a Republican state senator from suburban Milwaukee. She was referring to all Democrats in the Senate voting against a Republican bill on pre-existing medical conditions.
Democrats pointed out that the bill would not have provided the same protections to people with pre-existing conditions as Obamacare does, and to the likelihood that some health insurance premiums would skyrocket. Meanwhile, they did vote for an amendment to the GOP bill, pushing more protections for pre-existing conditions, but that failed.
Moreover, on the same day the GOP bill came up for a vote, Darling and her fellow Senate Republicans voted for a separate bill that would sustain GOP efforts to overturn Obamacare — and with it, the protections for people with pre-existing conditions.
In short, Democrats’ votes against what they considered to be an inferior bill is not a flip flop on protecting people with pre-existing conditions.
5. Paul Ryan on the Truth-O-Meter.
This article reviewed highlights of Ryan’s PolitiFact record.
Our Sources
PolitiFact Wisconsin items as noted
