Candidates for Governor spar over job numbers

MILWAUKEE -- The battle for Wisconsin continues as Governor Scott Walker and Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett talk jobs. Both candidates for governor are looking at new numbers that show job losses in April, and they're telling voters why they are the better job creator.

Walker talked jobs with a group of job creators at the Italian Community Center, then went to Copps Industries in Mequon. These visits came days after Walker released new jobs numbers showing the state added 23,000 jobs in the last year.

New numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicate the state lost 6,200 private sector jobs in April.

"Statistically, economist after economist points out it's very difficult, if not impossible, to get a good feel on a month's basis from three and a half percent of employers," Walker said.

Barrett lashed out at jobs numbers released by the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development. "Scott Walker can call those numbers statistically insignificant, but to every one of those people that has a family to support it is the most significant number in their life," Barrett said.

Walker says he has people working to compromise between environmental groups and business interests to revisit the iron mine issue in northern Wisconsin.

Barrett says Walker should have done it that way to begin with, instead of waiting until after the mine was voted down in the Legislature.