Jobs, Economy Top Republican Agenda in Madison

After a rancorous spring and summer, Wisconsin lawmakers head back to Madison Tuesday to work on bills aimed at creating jobs and improving the economy.

At least that's what Republican legislators say. For the most part, they are relatively mum on specifics.

Not surprisingly, area Democratic lawmkers see it differently.

Despite Republican Gov. Scott Walker's call for both parties to work together, Democrats say they hold little hope that they will have influence on whatever legislation that is introduced during the 13 days the Legislature will be in session between now and the end of the year.

"I  don't know if there is anything on his agenda that I can support," said Rep. Fred Kessler (D-Milwaukee), whose district include parts of Wauwatosa. "If the jobs agenda requires tax cuts for the very wealthy, I can't support that."

Walker's call to work together is insincere, said Kessler, a sentiment echoed by many of his Democratic colleagues.

"He called for us to talk the day after signed the that is the worst in Wisconsin history," Kessler said. "It is terribly partisan."

The redistricting put Kessler's home in a district that is much more Republican. The redistricting map made other seats safer for many Republicans.

However, state Rep. Dale Kooyenga (R-Brookfield) said he believes lawmakers will work across the aisle.

"You will see more bipartisanship," said Kooyenga, who was elected a year ago and who also represents a portion of Wauwatosa. "On a personal level, I've never had a problem working with Democrats."

Education issues cross party lines, he said.

"There are many conservatives and Democrats alike who are not fans of 'No Child Left Behind,'" said Kooyenga. "We have one of the best educational systems in the U.S."

Spending money to maintain the high education standards needs to be supported by creating a business atmosphere that will create jobs for graduates of Wisconsin schools, he added.

"We are spending all of this money on education and then losing the best to other states," said Kooyenga.

Lawmaker wants to help businesses

He supports a measure that would provide tax credits and other financial incentives for small- and medium-size businesses.

A proposal to provide $400 million in venture capital was put on hold in June amid objections, including some from Republicans. A similar plan ran for a decade beginning in 1999 with questionable results.

"I think those concerns have been addressed," said Kooyenga. "I believe we will see a bill that has broader support."

While tax credits may provide incentive for mature industries such as manufacturing and agriculture, it does not for some of the newer enterprises.

"The biosciences industry is heavy in research and not paying taxes yet because it is not profitable," Kooyenga said. "We need the tools to encourage these growing industries." 

Sen. Glen Grothman (R-West Bend) believes the focus of the upcoming session will be "more pro-business legislation."

Grothman, who represents Port Washington and Saukville, said he expects to see legislation that will address inequities in unemployment compensation laws.

"We are way in the red," Grothman said of the unemployment compensation fund. "We need to find a way of dealing with people who are brazenly not showing up for work and collecting unemployment."

He also said that something need to be done to prevent people from bringing lawsuits and collecting punitive damages on discrimination claims.

Grothman said the Legislature needs to changes regulations that are preventing mining in northern Wisconsin. "The mining companies are operating in Minnesota and Michigan but not in Wisconsin because of regulations," he said.

Vukmir: Still a lot of work ahead

Sen. Leah Vukmir (R-Wauwatosa) proudly reels off the accomplishments made since January by the Republican-controlled Legislature.

"We've done an awful lot," said Vukmir, whose district also includes part of Brookfield. "Tort reform. Collective bargaining. Tax credits. Concealed carry.

"But we still have a lot of work to do in continuing to improve the business environment," she said.

Particularly important, Vukmir said, is to reform the business climate for small businesses.

"It's all the permits," she said. "We have to streamline the process so that businesses can expand or new ones can open.

She chairs the joint committee for the review of administrative rules. "We need to undo some of the things that are standing in the way of business development and job creation," Vukmir said.

Continuing education reform is critical, she said, adding that state standards for schools have not been reviewed since the 1990s and need revisiting. Merit pay for teachers is also on her agenda, Vukmir said.

Cullens sees GOP pushing social agenda

State Rep. David Cullen (D-Milwaukee) said he hopes that the Legislature focuses on unemployment, jobs and the economy, but added "that has not happened so far."

Cullen, whose district includes a portion of Wauwatosa, predicted Republicans would take on social issues, including a measure requiring women to get ultrasounds before abortions and another more stringent immigration bill.

He said he has surveyed his constituents on both measures and added that "both seem overly restrictive to me."

While the Democrats defeated two incumbent Republicans in the August recall elections and suffered no losses, they still are the minority in both chambers of the Legislature, he noted.

"We don't set the agenda," Cullen said. "I would hope that the message from the recall elections is heard - the public wants us to work together."

Reasonable tax incentives for business makes sense, he said, but not tax cuts for the wealthy. The Republican exact agenda for the session, said Cullen and the other Democrats, continues to be a mystery.

"They have kept us in the dark all along," Cullen said. "Now he (Walker) has waved a false olive branch and says he wants to talk. I see no evidence of that being true."

State Rep. Jim Ott (R-Mequon) said he doesn't believe that there are any particularly controversial items on the GOP agenda.

He serves on the joint committee for the review of administrative rules and sees that as a place where work can be done to encourage business development.

"We need to simplify and take some of the rules that regulate business," said Ott, whose district includes Bayside. "If a company wants to expand, they have to run their plans past the municipal and state building inspectors. If the municipality approves and the state doesn't, they have to resubmit the plans. That just doesn't make sense."

He and Sen. Alberta Darling (R-River Hills) have been working on an incremental change in the drunken driving law, he said. The law change would make a third offense a felony and criminalize the first offense.

Ott said another measure likely to come up is one that would protect a person who shoots an intruder during a home invasion.

"Right now you have to prove that you acted out of fear for your life," Ott said. "This would make it easier to protect yourself and your home without fear of prosecution."

Sen. Lena Taylor (D-Milwaukee) said it will be difficult for the minority party to have influence on legislation, but says there may be some common ground.

"A bill I proposed actually was adopted before the end of the session," said Taylor, whose district includes part of Wauwatosa. "It was for a boarding school for homeless children."

She said she also believes there can be bipartisan agreement on prison legislation.

"If we don't change it, it will bankrupt us," Taylor said.

But Walker ended the policy of early release from prison, something Taylor said is a misnomer.

"It's actually earned release," she said. "But he doesn't have to take it from me. Experts from the very red state of Texas say it needs to be done."

Taylor said not only should the two parties work together but the government should form partnerships with non-profit organizations in many areas, including business development.

"Government can't do it all alone," Taylor said. "The faith community is doing a lot of the same thing as government. They call it ministry."