Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker gave Florida business leaders a history lesson Monday night at the Florida Chamber of Commerce’s Future of Florida Forum at Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club in Orlando.

Walker, who survived a union-orchestrated recall election in June with a greater margin than in his original election in 2010, noted when first taking the oath of office in January 2011, he set the tone for his administration and his tenure in office:

He moved the ceremony to a portion of the Capitol rotunda away from a bust of Sen. Robert La Follette -- the father of the modern progressive movement -- so the event could be closer to the state Constitution.

The idea was that Walker could reference the Frugality Clause -- something that has been in the Wisconsin Constitution since May 1848.

“It’s never been altered, never been amended. It’s one of the few parts that have never been touched,” Walker said.  

“It was a guide to us from generations past. It talked to the proper role of government. It didn’t talk in terms of Republican or Democrat, liberal or conservative.  It simply said moderation and frugality in government leads to freedom and prosperity for our people.”

While not a political event, the forum continues Tuesday with breakout sessions on trade, renovating the foundation of Florida’s economy and privatization.

Chamber President Mark Wilson said the forum will look at the “forks in the road” at which the United States now finds itself: “One road leads to government taking a larger role in the economy and the other leads to government stepping back to allow you to create jobs.”



Reach Jim Turner at jturner@sunshinestatenews.com or at (772) 215-9889.