SCOTT WALKER

So why am I facing a recall election? Simple: the big government union bosses from Washington want their money. They don't like the fact that I did something fundamentally pro-worker; something that's truly about freedom.

In education, they say either property taxes have to go up, or we'll have poor education - that's a false choice.

I think most of us in America understand that people, not the government, creates jobs.

Who is in charge? Is it taxpayers or is it the special interest groups?

We showed that when we say 'Wisconsin is open for business', we mean it.

The unions say 'last hired - first fired,', we say hire and fire based on merit. We want the best and brightest in the classroom.

There is international criminal organizations penetrating our southern based borders, and we need to do something about it. Secure the border, enforce the law, no amnesty, and go forward with the legal immigration system that gives priority to American working families and wages.

Let this be our time in history so that someday we can tell our children and grandchildren that we were there, that we changed the course of history for the better.

It is only fair to expect public employees like me and others in the public sector to pay something close to what our neighbors and our fellow citizens do in the private sector.

I have not made any plans for the future, and my wife would kill me if I announced anything before that.

We'll look to the fall and if there is a new president and a new Senate that's part of a Congress willing to change, that's the next step.

Now things have changed for the better. Our reforms end seniority and tenure so we can hire and fire based on merit and pay based on performance. That means we can put the best and the brightest in our classrooms - and we can keep them there.

What makes America amazing is that there have always been men and women of courage who were willing to think more about the future of their children and grandchildren than they did about their own political careers.

I think people across America want a leader who's actually going to listen to them.

Looking at America's history, ordinary people did something extraordinary. Leaders risked their lives for freedoms that we take for granted today. That's what instills confidence. That's us. We will move forward and prosper because that's who we are as Americans.

I still remember, as a kid, tying a yellow ribbon around a tree in front of my house during the 444 days that Iran held 52 Americans hostage. Iran is not a place we should be doing business with.

But I don't want massive layoffs of anyone - public or private. We are planning on shrinking government through attrition and reform, not through random pink slips.

I believe that smaller government is better government. But I also believe that in the areas where government does play a legitimate role, we should demand that it is done better.

Political leaders in Illinois kicked the can down the road, raised taxes, and ignored fiscal realities. Now, they're realizing the consequences of their actions: credit downgrades and negative outlooks.

I kept my promises.

We are the ones looking out for the middle class. Who do think pays for the endless expansion of government? Its middle class taxpayers. Our reforms protect middle class taxpayers.

I promised to empower the taxpayer - instead of a handful of big government union bosses.

Elections have consequences.

Like many places across the country, Wisconsin lost more than 100,000 jobs from 2008 to 2010. Unemployment during that time topped out at over 9%.

There could not be a more stark contrast between Wisconsin and Illinois.