In 2010, folks across Wisconsin cast their ballots in favor of Scott Walker because they shared his vision for a smaller, more fiscally responsible government—a government that treats balanced budgets and economic growth as standard practice and not just campaign slogans.

Almost two years later, we’ve gotten exactly what we asked for: smaller government, pro-growth policies and a home state that actually has its fiscal house in order.  

The decisions Governor Walker had to make to put Wisconsin on sound financial footing were not easy, but they were right. Years of out-of-control spending and short-sighted policies by both parties—state government spending grew by 81 percent in the 1990’s and 60 percent in the 2000’s—left Wisconsin on the brink of an economic collapse.

Had our governor failed to act, there is no telling where we would be today. Or, maybe there is. Just look at Illinois and California.

Today, Congress is staring down the same problems we faced in Wisconsin just 18 months ago. Reckless spending from both Republicans and Democrats has brought the American economy to its knees, and Washington needs leaders with Walker-like courage who will make the tough decisions that are necessary to keep us from going over the same economic cliff we just avoided in Wisconsin.

I am running for the United States Senate because I am willing to make those decisions, and I have a plan to right America’s financial ship. After spending more than two decades in the private sector building businesses and putting people to work, I fully understand that the government cannot create jobs—only the private sector can.

What the government can and should do is promote pro-growth policies that give job creators the confidence and certainty they need to start hiring again, and Washington needs more folks from the private sector who understand these principles.  

Moreover, Washington needs citizen legislators who will do what’s right for future generations, not future elections.

When Scott Walker did what was needed to save Wisconsin from bankruptcy and provide our children and grandchildren with a better and brighter future, he did so knowing that it might cost him his job.

It didn’t matter, because he knew he was doing the right thing. That’s the sort of courage and leadership that’s lacking in statehouses across America and in our nation’s capitol.

I have faith that the people of Wisconsin will band together on June 5th to reward Scott Walker by doing the right thing themselves and keeping one of our nation’s boldest and most principled leaders in office.