By Brian E. Clark
WisBusiness.com
MADISON – The re-election of Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle to a second term and a state Senate controlled by Democrats means Doyle will be freer to push his economic agenda, which includes strong support of human embryonic stem cell research and its commercial applications.
“In general, Doyle’s win means a number of programs now in place — especially his Grow Wisconsin agenda and his backing for biotech advancements — will continue,” said Tom Still, president of the Wisconsin Technology Council. Still also said he believes Doyle will push the Legislature to cut capital gains taxes if those returns are invested in Wisconsin companies.
Rep. Mark Green, Doyle’s opponent in the governor’s race, had said that he could do a better job stimulating the economy. But the electorate supported Doyle, who argued that the state had added more than 175,000 new jobs and had bounced back during his tenure.
Doyle’s support of stem cell research, highlighted by campaign help from actor Michael J. Fox, also appeared to have won him backing from Wisconsinites.
Many in Wisconsin’s biotech and scientific community said they were uncomfortable with Green’s votes to limit human embryonic stem cell research. Doyle is all but certain to ask for more money for start-ups in that field.
Still said with Democrats running the state Senate, Doyle probably won’t see any bills restricting stem cell research reaching his desk. Doyle vetoed one such bill last year, labeled a “human cloning ban” by proponents, but biotech leaders said the fact that it was passed by the Legislature caused venture capitalists to have second thoughts about investing in Wisconsin.
Likewise, some UW-Madison stem cell scientists said they would leave the state if restrictions were passed.
“The likelihood of anything like that getting to Doyle’s desk any time soon has gone way down,” he said.
Mary Burke, the state’s commerce secretary, said the Doyle administration will keep pushing technological advancements across the board – from the dairy industry to biofuels to stem cells.
“We are just skimming the surface in some of those sectors,” she said. “We also will push to train skilled workers in areas where there are shortages. That is one obvious way to grow our economy.”
Jim Mohrbacher, business development manager for Madison Gas & Electric, said he expects the Republican-controlled Assembly to work with Doyle and the Senate on job creation initiatives.
“I think we will see more of the same,” he said. “I also hope that Act 255, which gives tax credits to those who invest in start-ups, will be expanded. (Brookfield Republican) Sen. Ted Kanavas, who pushed that, was re-elected and Doyle has said he supports building on it.”
Even Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce, which campaigned hard for Green, is prepared to work with Doyle and the Senate to help Wisconsin add jobs and companies.
“At the end of the day, they are a pragmatic group,” Still said. “I don’t see any reason why they can’t find common ground.”
Tom Haney, president of the WMC, said his group will continue to push for tax relief and regulatory and litigation reform.
“We would have preferred Green because he was more sympathetic to our agenda,” Haney said. “And we think we have challenges to improve. But if the governor is sincere, we will work with him.”
Haney said one bright spot in the election for WMC was the election of J.B. Van Hollen as attorney general over Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk. “He wants to be the state’s top cop,” he said. “I don’t think he wants to use the position to promote a political platform.”
Some business interests have criticized current Democratic AG Peg Lautenschlager as being anti-business, pursuing enforcement actions against businesses that broke no laws.
Overall, Haney said there a many positive signs that the state’s economy is doing well.
“Our factory expansion is not as fast as neighboring states, but I think things are going to get better,” he said. “I’m an optimist.”
