Jason Stein

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

MADISON – Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker's campaign is launching digital ads Monday to seek support for his budget, the latest in a series of signals that's he'll run for a third term next year.

The digital ads encourage citizens to write to lawmakers to tell them to approve the proposals in Walker's budget such as nearly $600 million in tax cuts over two years, an additional $649 million for K-12 schools and a 5% cut to in-state tuition for the University of Wisconsin System.

The increases in education funding themselves — a priority that Walker cut during a difficult budget in 2011 — are widely interpreted as another sign that the governor is running for re-election.

"I intend to fight so working families are the ones who benefit, and I hope Wisconsinites will join me," Walker said in a statement.

State Democratic Party spokesman Brandon Weathersby said Walker's education increases didn't do enough to make up for the 2011 cuts to schools and that the tuition cut wouldn't help college graduates who already have debt.

"Gov. Walker has a history of governing with his next election in mind, so it's no surprise that he's attempting to distract the public from the real issues concerning his budget proposal," Weathersby said.