— An overhaul of Milwaukee Tool’s trade compliance program has saved the equipment manufacturer both time and money.
That’s according to Susie Schroeder, the company’s trade compliance director who was hired in 2019. She spoke yesterday at a Madison International Trade Association event held at the Fluno Center in Madison.
Schroeder discussed her work with the company’s engineering group and others to enact operational changes aimed at improving compliance.
One of those changes was to establish two product development review milestones, one at the start of a product’s conception and another before mass production. She said this move was relatively easy to implement and “very well-received” by the company’s engineers.
Schroeder also touched on efforts to “redefine” the company’s audit program, which found “a lot of over-declared products that we paid too much tariffs on, and so we were able to see some money back” on those goods.
And she highlighted her work with the company’s sourcing team to obtain tariff exclusions for certain products. Tariff exclusion requests go through the office of the U.S. Trade Representative, according to a Congressional Research Service report from earlier this year.
“When I came into the company, they were paying those tariffs. We worked on getting the exclusions, which was a huge cost savings,” she said. “My ask to them was, ‘when you guys are signing contracts with vendors, I want to be involved in those. Because if there’s implications for us from a trade compliance standpoint, we need to be aware of them.’”
In the last several years, Milwaukee Tool has also automated aspects of its customs and vendor operations, she explained. Through this and other changes, the business has reduced its outside legal spending to about a fourth of what it was before she started, Schroeder explained.
“Overall with our company, proving that we could save time, that we could get faster response times, that we were saving money for the company while also being compliant, just really went far and it was recognized by all of our leaders at Milwaukee Tool,” she said. “It’s kind of enforced top-down, and so I think it’s made a great impact.”
— A new Wisconsin Policy Forum study found it may be “increasingly difficult” to enforce state and federal laws against marijuana use as more marijuana dispensaries set up shop near the state’s borders.
Recreational and medical marijuana are illegal in Wisconsin, but bordering states Michigan and Illinois have both legalized the drug for recreational use. Minnesota has legalized medical marijuana and state lawmakers are poised to legalize recreational use.
The data show three out of 10 Wisconsinites live within an hour drive of a legal, recreational marijuana dispensary, while half of Wisconsinites live within a 75-minutes drive of a dispensary, including Milwaukee and Madison residents. As much as one-third of Illinois’ marijuana sales came from other states, including Wisconsin, since it was legalized in January, 2020.
“While the law in Wisconsin has not changed greatly, the market for marijuana in the state undeniably has through the actions of neighboring states,” the study notes. “Each side in the legal and ideological debate – both supporters and opponents of legalization – should factor these on-the-ground changes into their future deliberations.”
Democrats have largely pushed for full legalization, while Wisconsin Republicans remain skeptical about legalizing even medical marijuana due to concerns it could be the first step toward recreational use. Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu, R-Oostburg, said his caucus was closer to supporting medical marijuana earlier this year, but Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, last month said lawmakers are “not that close” to agreeing on the issue.
The most recent statewide Marquette law School Poll found 64 percent of respondents favor legalization, while 30 percent said marijuana should not be legalized. That includes 82 percent of Democrats who approve legalization, compared to 43 percent of Republicans.
Some areas of the state have eased restrictions, including Green Bay, Oshkosh and Eau Claire. Madison allows possession of up to 28 grams of cannabis, though it is still illegal to buy or sell, while the Milwaukee County Board has lowered the fine for marijuana possession under 25 grams to just a dollar.
The study notes evidence of the impacts of legalizing marijuana is “mixed,” but there is some evidence legalizing the drug could increase the number of car crashes and fatalities.
See the report: https://www.wispolitics.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/230214WPF.pdf
— GOP legislative leaders are knocking Gov. Tony Evers for proposing $290 million in one-time state money for the Milwaukee Brewers ballpark without consulting them first.
The money in Evers’ budget plan would send the money to the board that oversees the stadium to pay for maintenance. The team’s lease ends in 2030 with an option to extend it to 2040. Under Evers’ proposal, the team would sign an agreement to remain in Milwaukee through at least December 2043.
But Republicans didn’t outright dismiss Evers’ plan. Some also pledged to look for ways to ensure the Brewers remain in Milwaukee.
“The governor’s Brewers proposal, like all of the other things he has leaked before his budget address, is just an idea,” said Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu, R-Oostburg. “The Legislature will write the budget and we will work with our colleagues throughout the state to explore our options and build a budget that makes sense for everyone in Wisconsin.”
Assembly Co-chair Mark Born, R-Beaver Dam, said it was disappointing that Evers chose to go alone rather than working with the Legislature.
“I want to see the Brewers stay here in Wisconsin, and I am committed to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to identify solutions,” he said.
Senate Minority Leader Melissa Agard, D-Madison, praised the idea.
“It is clear that the Brewers are part of the fabric that makes up our state,” she said. “The plan Governor Evers created alongside Brewers’ leadership ensures that the team will remain in Milwaukee and is a responsible way to utilize our historic surplus.”
Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce, which often aligns with Republicans on state issues, praised Evers’ “leadership to find a path forward to extend the current lease until 2043.” Andrew Davis, the group’s vice president government affairs, noted in a statement yesterday that MMAC helped lead the effort to pass legislation to fund then-Miller Park with a 0.1 percent sales tax covering a five-county area.
“We look forward to working with the Legislature and Governor as this proposal takes shape,” Davis said.
See more reaction in the WisPolitics.com press release section: https://www.wispolitics.com/press-releases
<br><b><i>Top headlines from the Health Care Report …</b></i>
— Only Wisconsin’s northern region continues to see moderate levels of flu activity, while the rest of the state is now below baseline, according to the latest DHS report.
<i>For more of the most relevant news on COVID-19, reports on groundbreaking health research in Wisconsin, links to top stories and more, sign up today for the free daily Health Care Report from WisPolitics.com and WisBusiness.com.</i>
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#TOP STORIES#
# Panel discussion looks at solutions for shortage of health care workers
# Evers budget includes $2.6 billion in new Wisconsin K-12 school funding
# Business execs weigh in on proposal to invest $290 million in American Family Field
#TOPICS#
# AGRIBUSINESS
– Wisconsin Corn Growers elects new board members, officer team
http://wisconsinagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=180&yr=2023
– FarmFirst Dairy Cooperative Board elects officers
http://wisconsinagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=181&yr=2023
# CONSTRUCTION
– Top bidders: The biggest recent winning bids around the state
– ABC of Wisconsin to celebrate apprentice competition winner at Lyons Electric
# EDUCATION
– Students invited to attend World Food Prize Wisconsin Youth Institute
http://wisconsinagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=182&yr=2023
# ENTERTAINMENT
– Hilldale movie theater to reopen for Wisconsin Film Festival
# FOOD AND BEVERAGE
– Ever eaten a sturgeon roll? Local spearers share their favorite recipes
# LEGAL
– Delta workers’ lawsuit over Lands’ End uniforms narrowed to property damage claims
# MANAGEMENT
– The BrandLab names new CEO
# POLITICS
– Republican leaders criticize Evers but pledge to explore stadium district funding
# REAL ESTATE
– Milwaukee real estate investor-turned-entrepreneur among winners of $10K startup grant
– County distributes $100K grants to housing developments in Rockland, La Crosse
# REGULATION
– Madison family-zoning change advances, despite opposition
– Report: Half of Wisconsinites 21 and older live within 75 minutes of marijuana dispensary
# SPORTS
– Evers wants to give Brewers nearly $300M to repair stadium
– Gov. Tony Evers to propose $290M for improvements to Milwaukee Brewers’ stadium
– Evers wants to give Brewers nearly $300M to repair stadium
– $290 million for Brewers ballpark included in state budget proposal
– ‘Incredible’ Fox Cities Stadium renovation on schedule for start of baseball season
# TECHNOLOGY
– Northwestern Mutual names new chief technology officer
# PRESS RELEASES
<i>See these and other press releases:
https://www.wisbusiness.com/press-releases/ </i>
Fast Fund: Will receive $250,000 thanks to Congresswoman Moore
