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Job Killing Facts
Wisconsin debt rising faster than federal debt
While the national debt will double by 2020, according to US Budget Office estimates, the Wisconsin state debt is rising faster than the federal debt according to the Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance. Wisconsin is losing ground to other states in terms of wages, job growth, per capita income and competitiveness (http://www.wistax.org/news_releases/2010/1005.html).
Instead of saving like families do, Governor Doyle and Senate Democrats increased budget spending last year $3.6 billion, or 6.2%, while they increased taxes and fees by $4.7 billion.
Wisconsin is losing jobs while other states grow jobs
Wisconsin is “losing ground to other states in wages, job growth, per capita income and competitiveness” (http://www.jsonline.com/business/96193314.html). Between June 2009 and June 2010, Wisconsin lost 18,100 nonfarm jobs. 20 other states saw increases in employment during the same period of time. Wisconsin is losing its competitive edge to draw businesses here.
Wisconsin ranks worst in the nation for job growth
Wisconsin ranked 51 out of the 50 states plus the District of Columbia in job growth with a forecasted 0.1% growth in the next year, according to the economic consulting firm Moody’s Economy.com.
Wisconsin has poor job and economic outlook rankings
- Wisconsin ranked 44th in job growth, the 6th worst state in the country, reported by the Business Journal of Milwaukee.
- 7th worst state for employment according the Corporation for Enterprise Development, 2007 Development Report Card for the States
- 3rd worst state to grow jobs according to Forbes, The Best State for Business 2009
- 2nd worst for Economic Freedom according to the Pacific Research Institute, US Economic Freedom Index 2008
- Top 10 states facing fiscal collapse because of bad budgeting and overspending according to the PEW Center- Beyond California: States in Fiscal Peril 2009
All of this means no job growth, no businesses moving to Wisconsin, no prosperity. But worst yet, it means more jobs lost as small businesses struggle to cope, moving and laying off workers like the following companies:
- Gardner Denver, Inc., a leading company in the technology for compressed air, gas, and fluid transfer. Gardner Denver Inc., moved 230 manufacturing jobs out of Sheboygan to Monroe, Louisiana in 2009
- Polaris announced recently the closing of its Osceola plant, moving jobs to Iowa, Minnesota and Mexico.
- JohnsonDiversey Inc., announced the closing of its facility in Sturtevant because it was moving jobs to Wyandotte, Michigan.
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Harley-Davidson
In April 2010 Harley-Davison announced it would need to cut $54 million in costs in Wisconsin or it would relocate jobs to other states. Negotiations continue with the two unions, hoping to find a place of agreement and stave off the worse-case scenario: Harley-Davidson leaving Wisconsin.
But Harley-Davidson’s consideration to leave Wisconsin validates the state's terrible business climate and over- taxation to pay for wasteful government spending. In 2009 Governor Doyle and the Democrat- controlled legislature punished Harley-Davidson with a $22.5 million tax. They call it “tax fairness”, or accuse Harley of “not paying their fair share.” Democrats kill jobs with they tax businesses. Icons like Briggs & Stratton, Polaris and Harley-Davidson and forced to look at moving to business-friendly states.
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In Recent News: Briggs & Stratton moving out of Wisconsins
Briggs & Stratton Power Products Group LLC has been manufacturing motors and generators for generations. Headquartered in Wauwatosa, the company has been a backbone of the economy. It provides good paying manufacturing jobs across the state. In 1989 Briggs & Stratton employed 12,000 people in the Milwaukee area alone. In 2007 Briggs & Stratton announced the closing of its Simplicity Port Washington plant, moving hundreds of jobs to Georgia. In 2009 the Jefferson plant was closed, resulting in 530 jobs lost, moving them to Georgia and Alabama. In Wisconsin, a vast majority of former Briggs & Stratton workers were laid of permanently. A fraction was given the opportunity to transfer to other facilities.
As a large company spanning many borders, Briggs & Stratton is subject to the same tax as Harley-Davidson, punishing an already struggling company.
Companies like Briggs & Stratton are being forced to move to more business friendly states, eliminating good paying jobs in Wisconsin. There is something drastically wrong with the way we treat businesses when companies born in Wisconsin flee to other states, leaving nothing but a memory of the prosperity they brought. Briggs & Stratton closed plants in Wisconsin and are now investing $35.5 million in its Kentucky plant and retain 640 full time jobs.
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Committee to Elect a Republican Senate
Who We Are
Committee to Elect A Republican Senate (CERS) CERS is a Legislative Campaign Committee, registered with the Government Accountability Board, tasked with securing a Republican majority in the Wisconsin
Please support pro-jobs candidates by signing our petition, or contributing to pro-jobs candidates who will vote the right way to grow and create jobs in Wisconsin. |
