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January 2012: Issue 1 WISCONSIN Official magazine of Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce Courage Under Fire An exclusive interview with Governor Scott Walker Inside: Manufacturers’ Tax Credit Democracy is a Fragile Institution Rep. Barca: Focus on Job Creation Tackling the Workforce Paradox OilRailAdWMC8.5x11 12/13/11 4:08 PM Page 1 Proud Member OilRailAdWMC8.5x11 12/13/11 4:08 PM Page 1 WISCONSIN Welcome to Wisconsin BUSINESS VOICE Business Voice As a business leader in Wisconsin, you know our state’s future success In this issue is dependent on job creators like Fiscal Sanity Begins or Ends in Wisconsin you. WMC shares that opinion and is committed to Kurt R. Bauer, WMC’s new president, talks about the high stakes of 2 intimidating politicians who show courage in the face of adversity. making Wisconsin the most competitive state in the nation for business and industry. The value of the WMC Welcomes Incoming Board Chair Todd Teske, Chairman, President & CEO of Briggs & Stratton free enterprise system, and its positive impact on 3 Corporation, shares his insights of the comparison between running a our collective quality of life, is a story that needs business and coaching a team. to be told with regularity to elected officials, the Democracy is a Fragile Institution media, and the general public. Business Voice is WMC Senior Vice President James Buchen talks about the real threat our latest vehicle for delivering that message. 4 of recall elections in Wisconsin today. You probably know WMC for our issue and political Business Day in Madison The 2012 Business Day in Madison event will be February 16. Energy advocacy efforts in support of pro-business, 5 expert Robert Bryce, economist Todd Buchholz, and communications free market ideals. WMC also runs programs consultant Frank Luntz headline this year’s event. that teach high school students and educators Competitive Edge: Wisconsin Takes Aim at Regulations about Wisconsin’s economy, we are the leader in Scott Manley, WMC’s Environmental and Energy Policy Director, workplace safety training, and we help advance 6 talks about the importance of the rulemaking reforms to Wisconsin’s economy. Wisconsin’s local chambers of commerce in their roles as community business leaders. Where are the Jobs? WMC Foundation President Jim Morgan dissects the workforce skills This new quarterly magazine aims to help 7 gap and introduces a new focus for WMC. businesses meet the challenges of our changing Manufacturers’ Tax Credit marketplace. We will update you on current issues WMC’s Director of Tax and Transportation Policy, Jason Culotta, at the state and federal levels, offer insight on what 8 details the newly passed Manufacturers’ Tax Credit. other businesses are doing to stay competitive, and WMC: 100 Years of Winning for Business provide strategy and trend analysis – all designed to WMC celebrated 100 years in 2011 and presented a U.S. Chamber help you stay ahead in this global economy. 9 of Commerce study that will help shape the future of business in Wisconsin. Drop me a note if there is something you would Wisconsin Manufacturer of the Year Award Nominees like to see covered in an issue of Business Voice or The 24th Annual Wisconsin Manufacturer of the Year award program if you have comments on anything you see in this 11 announces the 2011 nominees. magazine. I would love to hear your feedback! Feature: Governor Walker Walks the Line Governor Scott Walker has seen a tumultuous first year in office. 12 He talks candidly about the protests, the victories, and the potential for recall. Business Best Practices in Environmental Sustainability Springs Window Fashions in Middleton is one of Wisconsin’s Katy Ryder Pettersen 16 companies leading the way to environmental sustainability and saving Editor, Wisconsin Business Voice a lot of money by doing so. [email protected] WMC and UW: International Internship Program WMC’s intern program reaches across the ocean to work with 19 executives from China. STEMing Our Workforce Rebecca Hogan, WMC’s Director of Health and Human Resources 20 Policy, focuses on science, technology, engineering, and math to lead in recession recovery. Wisconsin Business Voice is the official publication of Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce. This publication is proudly The Importance of a Safety Audit printed on Wisconsin paper. Published quarterly by Wisconsin Many companies may have parts of safety programs in place, but a Manufacturers and Commerce with editorial and executive offices at 22 thorough safety audit will help to ensure those parts equal the whole. 501 E. Washington Avenue, Madison, WI 53703, (608) 258-3400. Postmaster: send address changes to Wisconsin Manufacturers and Job Creation and Job Training Demand Urgent Focus Commerce, P.O. Box 352, Madison, WI 53701-0352. State Representative Peter Barca (D-Kenosha), Assembly Minority Kurt Bauer, WMC President/CEO 24 Leader, shares his insights on Wisconsin’s focus on job creation. Katy Ryder Pettersen, Editor ([email protected]) Jane Sutter, Designer ([email protected]) Fiscal Sanity in the United States Begins or Ends in Wisconsin Kurt R. Bauer, WMC President/CEO he stakes in the effort to recall who voted for the reform. The second, and the TGovernor Scott Walker and reason national labor unions have gotten involved, Republican members of the state is to scare other politicians anywhere around senate are higher than most realize. the country who may have otherwise considered There is more to lose than reversing following Walker’s lead. the remarkable progress we have All but a handful of state governments face the made by balancing the state budget same budgetary shortfalls Walker confronted and improving Wisconsin’s business when he took office last January. And just like in climate. Wisconsin, the easy choices are gone. Politicians are left with only tough decisions that strike at the Don’t get me wrong. Protecting the heart of the ideological war being waged in the fiscally responsible and business- United States to decide the proper size and scope of friendly reforms enacted over the government. last 12 months is critical. But what is happening in Wisconsin has much broader implications The Tea Party was the opening salvo. Last winter’s for our nation. massive protest rallies in Madison, the Occupy movement, and now the Walker recall are the While the recall organizers claim a litany of inevitable counterattacks. trumped-up grievances against Governor Walker and GOP lawmakers, the real sin in their eyes was Cut government or increase taxes to protect it? The ending compulsory public sector union membership public sector unions and those who benefit from and state-administered dues collection. government’s largess want to take the former off the table by demonstrating what happens to those That reform was like Delilah cutting off Samson’s who try. hair. It removed the unions’ source of strength by eliminating the guaranteed revenue that was used That’s why the stakes are higher than simply to support the election of pro-union politicians. protecting the gains that have made Wisconsin Those grateful politicians then negotiated salary more competitive by eliminating chronic budget and benefit packages with the very union leaders deficits and encouraging businesses to stay, grow, who helped get them elected. and perhaps even relocate here. It was a cozy circular relationship. There was The federal government owes $15 trillion and that something in it for everyone, except taxpayers doesn’t even include the debt carried by state and who weren’t really represented at the negotiating municipal governments or their pension funds. The table, but were stuck with the tab for the rapid cost of bloated government at all levels and the debt expansion of government caused by the mutual it has incurred are a major drag to America’s global back-scratching. competitiveness and private sector job growth. Anyone who doesn’t recognize that has failed to Ronald Reagan, the patron saint of limited comprehend the lessons of the European debt government, advocated “starving the beast.” In crisis. other words, limit the growth of government by choking off its funding. Walker’s reform did We need elected leaders who can be bold and precisely that by taking money and power away courageous - two traits already not often associated from Big Government’s strongest ally; the public with politicians. Walker is the role model. But, the sector unions. recalls are designed to intimidate politicians into being obedient to the power of the public unions, No one should be surprised by the unions’ tantrum- which will make confronting our national debt like backlash. The recall effort has two objectives. crisis all the more difficult. BV The first is to punish Walker and the lawmakers Follow Bauer on Twitter @Kurt_R_Bauer 2 WMC’s New Coach: Todd Teske is Ready to Rally the Team By Becky Nelson riggs & Stratton Corporation times. “Being open and honest really BChairman, President and CEO helps us move forward as a team,” he Todd Teske has made many solid said. business decisions that have ensured his Like many Wisconsin companies, company’s success. Briggs & Stratton has remained Still, so much depends on the weather. conservative, building up reserves on the Last year’s snowfalls and hurricanes balance sheet. helped drive sales for the Wauwatosa- “There are a lot of CEOs, me included, junior, a swimmer named to the based producer of small gasoline who would love to see demand increase Wisconsin Scholastic All-America engines, generators and lawn and add capacity here in the United Team. Their son, C.J., is a freshman equipment. At the same time, a pro- States. The problem is, we are all who plays basketball and baseball. In business mindset in Wisconsin restored competing on a global platform, and addition to participating in sports, the hope for many manufacturers.