Republican hopeful Walker would scuttle Iran on first day

In combative anti-Obama speech, Wisconsin governor says Tehran is no place for the US to do business

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker told a sympathetic crowd of state lawmakers from around the country Thursday that he would trash the nuclear deal with Iran on his first day as president, striking a combative tone on how he would govern on a range of domestic and foreign policy issues.

Walker addressed the annual meeting of the American Legislative Exchange Council, whose conservative agenda has made it a target for Democrats, organized labor and liberals.

Hundreds of protesters rallied Wednesday outside the downtown San Diego hotel where the meeting is being held, some carrying signs that read “Stop the Assault on Working People” and “Big $$$ Out of Politics.”

“I understand you had a few protesters yesterday. For us that’s just getting warmed up,” Walker said to applause before recalling his fierce battles with organized labor in Wisconsin.

The Republican governor touted efforts in Wisconsin to restrict access to abortions and require voters to present photo identification, pledging to pursue those efforts as president. He became most animated on the agreement with Iran to ease sanctions in exchange for concessions on the Islamic nation’s nuclear program.

“Iran is not a place that we should be doing business with,” he said to loud applause, drawing his only standing ovation during a 25-minute speech that stuck to familiar themes of a lightly regulated economy and muscular foreign policy.

Republican presidential candidate Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, center, talks with supporters before speaking at the American Legislative Exchange Council 42nd annual meeting Thursday, July 23, 2015, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy) — Republican presidential candidate Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (center) talks with supporters before speaking at the American Legislative Exchange Council 42nd annual meeting, in San Diego, July 23, 2015. (AP/Denis Poroy)

It was friendly territory for Walker, who belonged to the group as a young Wisconsin state legislator. He and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee were the only presidential contenders scheduled to appear. US Sen. Ted Cruz canceled a Friday appearance, citing a need to be in the Senate for votes.

ALEC, the acronym by which the group is known, promotes model legislation for state lawmakers on business-friendly issues, including “right-to-work” measures to prohibit companies and unions from requiring employees to be union members.

Opponents have pressured companies to break ties with ALEC over the group’s positions on the environment, criminal justice and other matters, and ALEC has suffered high-profile defections.

Bill Meierling, a group spokesman, said the “vast majority” of corporate departures occurred after Trayvon Martin, an unarmed 17-year-old, was fatally shot by neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman while walking home in Florida in 2012. Less than two months after the killing, ALEC ended its support of stand-your-ground self-defense laws, he said.

About 2,000 predominantly Republican state lawmakers belong to ALEC, along with about 300 corporations, policy advocates and others, Meierling said. Some 1,300 of them registered for the meeting, which kicked off Wednesday with workshops on governing higher education, criminal justice, electronic cigarettes and drug patents.