The Hill News

A liberal blogger's prank telephone call to Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) has become the focal point of a new television ad criticizing the governor.

Walker's opponents pounced on the prank call by a blogger posing as billionaire Republican businessman David Koch. The Wisconsin AFL-CIO-sponsored ad released Thursday accuses Walker of pushing his budget repair bill, which includes provisions that limit collective bargaining rights for public employees.

{mosads}"He tells us it's for the taxpayers of Wisconsin," the ad says. "But to wealthy GOP funders like David Koch, it's a different story."

The ad quotes Walker during the call, saying he plans to issue layoff notices to public work! ers to "ratchet up the pressure."

The spot is the latest salvo in the standoff between Walker and Republicans and Democrats and union supporters, who have demonstrated against the GOP plan for over a week.

The protests have captured the attention of the national media, which has drawn a parallel to the situation on Capitol Hill, where both parties are in a standoff over the federal budget and spending.

Walker on Wednesday brushed aside the prank call, saying he said nothing during it that has has not said in public. 

The ad will be mixed into a standing buy of statewide broadcast and cable television airtime, according to AFL-CIO spokesman Eddie Vale.