Presidential campaign speech: Scott Walker promises to fight federal unions

EUREKA, Illinois — Scott Walker promises to tackle union power at the federal level just like he did as governor in Wisconsin. He said in a presidential campaign speech Thursday, September 10th that he wants to "wreak havoc" on Washington.

Walker effectively ended collective bargaining for most state workers. The governor spoke Thursday at Eureka College in Illinois, the alma mater of President Ronald Reagan.

"We've got a plan to wreak havoc on Washington and our plan starts on Day One. We need a new leader. We need someone from outside of Washington -- someone who's actually gotten things done. We need a leader who is going to wreak havoc on Washington and once and for all put the people of this great country back in charge of your government," Walker said.

"Scott Walker is trying to tap into that fervent anti-government sense that we get from some of the leading candidates and wreaking havoc is a very catchy phrase and I think one that we're going to be hearing a lot from him," Mordecai Lee, UW-Milwaukee professor said.

Walker is also trying to separate himself from the rest of the Republican presidential candidates by laying out what he'll do if elected.

"Every week starting next week we're going to lay out another one of our reforms -- our big, bold reforms that we're going to do starting on Day One," Walker said.

Walker says that starting his first day as president, he would prohibit the federal government from automatically deducting union dues from workers' paychecks.

"What we're going to do is take power out of the hands of the big government union bosses and put it firmly into the hands of the hard-working people of this country," Walker said.

Workers can already voluntarily choose not to have the money taken out, but Walker wants to do away with the automatic deductions altogether.

He didn't explain how federal workers who belong to unions would pay their dues. Walker says he'll have more details in a speech Monday.

Below are excerpts from the speech at Eureka College, as prepared for delivery, issued to FOX6 News by Walker's campaign:

Following his speech at Eureka College, Governor Scott Walker will hold a town hall event in Nevada on Monday. Walker's campaign officials say he'll reveal his plans to address labor issues nationally, as he successfully did in Wisconsin.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14

Gov. Scott Walker holds Nevada town hall

Time:
Town hall will begin at approximately 3:30 PM PDT

Location:
XTreme Manufacturing
Warehouse
1415 West Bonanza Road
Las Vegas, Nevada 89106