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A Cheerleader for Wisconsin
Send to friendScott Walker’s plan to aggressively market our state to job creators
“Tommy Thompson knew how to sell Wisconsin. But for eight years, Wisconsin has been without a true cheerleader for economic development. My plans to cut taxes and eliminate red tape will combine with our world class workforce to make Wisconsin a top state to start or expand a business. I will market Wisconsin aggressively to job creators inside and outside of our state to make sure everyone knows it.”
--Scott Walker
For years, Wisconsin was fortunate to have one of the best and most loyal cheerleaders, Governor Tommy Thompson. When a business was looking to relocate or expand, Governor Thompson was on the phone, touting Wisconsin’s workforce, our resources and our way of life. If a Wisconsin business felt they needed to leave, Governor Thompson got involved, identifying the problems and issues that caused that job creator to look out-state, and tackling the problems head-on.
That all changed with Governor Jim Doyle’s “hands-off” approach. Job creators in all parts of Wisconsin have told me time and again about difficulties they had getting Jim Doyle engaged in growing our economy. Viewing Wisconsin’s job creators as little more than bottomless piggy banks, the Doyle Administration has forfeited the state’s role in helping the private sector.
As we work to change Wisconsin’s anti-job reputation as a high-tax state, it is important that we create a long-term outreach plan to keep job creators informed of Wisconsin’s business climate changes.
Wisconsin needs an economic cheerleader now more than ever. As governor, I plan to aggressively promote our state and let job creators know that Wisconsin is open for business once again.
I will work closely with businesses, local governments, chambers of commerce and regional economic development organizations to help Wisconsin businesses expand and to encourage other businesses to relocate to our state. By simply changing Madison’s attitude to “how can we help you” I know that we can get Wisconsin back on track, generate 250,000 new jobs and create thousands of new businesses.
Wisconsin’s Marketer in Chief
Over the past eight years, Governor Doyle has taken a noticeably “hands-off” approach towards job creation and economic development. With the exception of his overseas junkets to China and Spain, Governor Doyle’s focus has been set on growing government and keeping the status quo. Therefore, when the nation fell into recession, the Doyle Administration lacked the ability, the credibility and the agenda to get Wisconsin’s economy turned around fast.
As governor, I will be focused on marketing the great benefits of our state, while changing the anti-job climate that Governor Doyle has left in Wisconsin.
As Wisconsin’s Marketer-In-Chief, I won’t outsource economic development to a government bureaucrat. I pledge to meet personally with any job creator thinking of creating at least 50 new jobs in Wisconsin to find out how the state can help. I will build relationships with Wisconsin’s job creators, small and large, to ensure my administration understands the issues facing Wisconsin’s economy.
In addition, I will create a “Jobs Hotline” so job creators have direct access to the governor’s office within 24-hours. No more unreturned calls, no more uninterested politicians. When job creators are looking to expand or relocate to Wisconsin, or if they are thinking of leaving, my office will be able to offer immediate action to bring new jobs to our state and save existing jobs.
Ready, Set, Build!
For too long, Wisconsin’s regulatory and permitting processes have slowed economic growth to a standstill. For entrepreneurs looking to start a new business or manufacturers looking to expand, the permitting delays from Madison bureaucrats mean money and time lost. But the real losses are felt by the tens of thousands of Wisconsin workers who remain unemployed.
As governor, a “Ready, Set, Build!” permitting process to ensure job creators can start expanding right away.
Currently, when a small business is looking to build or expand, they must work through numerous government agencies, filling out permits and waiting for approvals from state bureaucrats.
My “Ready, Set, Build!” permitting process takes a completely different approach in this process. Working with state departments, economic development experts, chambers of commerce and local governments, we will identify areas throughout the state ready for economic development. State regulators will then conduct state mandated tests and evaluations on the site. Once completed, the site location will be certified ready for job creators looking to build or relocate to Wisconsin.
Putting these pre-certified building sites on a state-of-the-art website will allow job creators in Wisconsin and around the world to find the perfect location for their expansion knowing they can begin building immediately.
No time wasted. No money lost. It is a win for our economy, a win for our families and a win for our environment.
Importing Jobs to Wisconsin for a Change
Without question, marketing Wisconsin and making it known that we are open for business is a top priority. However, just like our family budgets, job creators look at what is best for their own budgets. As we have seen for the past eight years, Wisconsin’s high tax burden and red-tape have sent job makers to other states like South Dakota and Oklahoma.
It is time to overhaul Wisconsin’s tax code and provide real incentives for business that create jobs in Wisconsin. As governor, I will propose eliminating the state’s income tax on any corporation that relocates to Wisconsin for their first two years of operation.
This proposal allows businesses to keep money in their budgets as they establish themselves in Wisconsin. It is an incentive that impacts the bottom line for businesses that are in the market for a new location and will make our state immediately competitive with other low-tax states.
For businesses that move to Wisconsin that are not subject to the corporate income tax, my proposal provides a relocation tax credit up to 50% of moving costs. This tax credit is deferrable for up to 10 years, providing new businesses plenty of time to establish roots and grow their workforce.
With these two simple incentives, we are sending clear signals to businesses across the nation that Wisconsin is serious about economic development and job creation.
Continuing Dialogue with Job Creators
While our efforts to jumpstart the economy are primarily driven by undoing the tax and spend mentality of the past eight years, our long-term economic success depends on open and honest communication. The speed of business is much faster than the speed of government, so it is vital that policy makers understand the changing needs of Wisconsin job creators and respond quickly and swiftly to meet these new challenges.
To ensure that the state and Wisconsin businesses have an open and ongoing dialog on the state of the economy, I will empower my Lieutenant Governor to head regular small business roundtables in all corners of the state. These meetings will establish a direct line of communication between my administration and our state’s job creators. In addition, it will provide valuable information on the state of Wisconsin’s economy, a better understanding of the needs of Wisconsin businesses in real time, and vital intelligence on businesses that are looking to relocate.
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