Contact:
Ethnie Groves, Office of the Governor, 608-261-2156
On Party Line Vote, JFC Hurts Job Creation in Wisconsin
Governor Jim Doyle today released the following statement regarding action taken by the Joint Committee on Finance:
“I am deeply disappointed by the actions taken today by members of the Joint Finance Committee that will jeopardize Wisconsin’s economic recovery. They eliminated and gutted important investments I proposed to create jobs and spur economic growth.
“My budget invested more than $13 million in job creation and created two innovative economic development programs. In less than 10 minutes, the Republicans eliminated these investments and turned their back on Wisconsin workers and businesses. Their cuts included eliminating a program to help attract companies to areas that need new jobs, cutting funding for manufacturing, and for the second time, eliminating a common sense worker training proposal.
“Since taking office, I’ve made job creation one of my top priorities through my economic plan, ‘Grow Wisconsin.’ I presented a balanced budget that freezes property taxes responsibly, and makes strategic investments in education, health care, and job creation.
“Our efforts are paying off. We have passed landmark economic growth legislation including tax credits to stimulate investment and nationally recognized regulatory reform. Nearly 100,000 jobs have been added to Wisconsin’s payrolls since I took office.
“Unfortunately, today’s Committee action jeopardizes our economic momentum and risks leaving some of the areas hardest hit by the 2001 recession behind.
“My budget proposed creating a $5 million Super Employment and Economic Development Zone (SEEDZ) program that would help attract companies to high unemployment areas of Wisconsin that need new jobs. Today, the Republicans killed this program and turned their backs on unemployed Wisconsin citizens who want to work.
“I understand that budgets are about making tough choices. I was up front about my choices, and the Legislature should be as well. I made it clear that education, health care, and job creation were my top priorities – but the actions they took today show that their priorities are elsewhere.”
