Gov. Walker: Wisconsin is open for business

Contact: Cullen Werwie, 608-267-7303

Madison–Tomorrow Governor Scott Walker will kickoff the morning by meeting with the leadership team of Rock County 5.0, a group aimed at regional job creation, then he will be touring Wisconsin’s border to debut the Open for Business road signs. The Open for Business road signs will be placed along the state roadway border crossings, where the state has traditionally touted the name of the current Governor.

“These signs proudly proclaim Wisconsin is open for business,” said Governor Walker. “Along with the symbolic nature of these signs, there are going to be substantive changes to the way our state government treats job creators. The pro-growth initiatives I support stand in stark contrast to those policies being discussed in our bordering states. These signs are aimed directly at job creators to make them aware that they are welcome here. As our neighbor states make it more difficult for private employers to create jobs, they can ‘Escape to Wisconsin.’”

The last administration spent $3,000 installing signs that contained a welcome message from Governor Doyle. The new Open for Business signs will cost taxpayers a total of $1,495 and will be printed by Traffic and Parking Control Co., a Wisconsin company based in Brown Deer. In total there will be 23 signs placed along different entry points into Wisconsin.

Governor Dayton of Minnesota recently made the following statement about his proposed budget, “To those who sincerely believe the state budget can be balanced with no tax increase — including no forced property tax increase — I say, if you can do so without destroying our schools, hospitals and public safety, please send me your bill, so I can sign it immediately.”

Illinois Governor Pat Quinn recently signed into law a budget bill that contained a 67% increase in the personal income tax, 46% business income tax increase, and new $4 billion loan to make an annual payment for public employee pensions.

Governor Walker will provide Wisconsin’s neighboring states with a framework for how to protect core government services without increasing taxes. While Illinois was enacting a massive tax increase, Governor Walker called a Special Session of the Wisconsin Legislature to lower taxes, reform the regulatory and litigation climate, and ensure Wisconsin has a business environment that allows the private sector to create 250,000 new jobs.

Governor Walker will be available to members of the media following the Rock County 5.0 meeting and will be joined by Tourism Secretary Klett at the sign unveilings along Wisconsin’s borders.