Chancellor Wiley On WMC; WMC On Tilt

For the September issue of Madison Magazine University of Wisconsin Chancellor John Wiley provided a thoughtful article,From Crossroads to Crisis.He reviewed the impact Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce (WMC) had on the state's economy and learning environment in recent years:

...I believe (and many former WMC board members agree) that WMC has, somehow, passively allowed itself to be hijacked by highly partisan, ideologically driven staff. WMC has evolved from being a strategically focused business organization to being a partisan political lobbying organization. This, combined with WMC's wealth and undeniable political influence and effectiveness, has made WMC the single biggest driver of our toxic political environment and, thus, the single biggest obstacle to the recovery of Wisconsin's economy.

John Wiley is not inclined to speak without thoughtful reflection and analysis.

In turn WMC immediately provided a response. Or at least Jim Buchen did.

In typical WMC style it is glib, juvenile, and very inaccurate.

The response, (the full statement appears at the bottom of this post since it is not yet available on the WMC website)asserts that WMC works with labor, protects the University of Wisconsin, and sidesteps Wiley's assertion that "WMC has, somehow, allowed itself to be hijacked by highly partisan, ideologically driven staff.”

In future days and weeks we will get into the WMC response and its inaccuracies, distortions, and lies.

Right now it is time to demand a higher level of accountability from the WMC board and its members.

When we launched the Original WMC Watch a year ago, the program was designed to maintain a civil and constructive discourse. In my discussion with WMC board members, the conversations were responsible and honest.

I know there are WMC members trying to reform the organization. Clearly they are wasting their time. The 4000 members have no influence on the WMC board. The WMC board has no influence on the elected officers. The WMC officers have no influence on the staff.

TO: Wisconsin Editors

FROM: James A. Buchen, Vice President, Government Relations

RE: Former UW Chancellor Wiley column

DATE: August 20, 2008

Former University of Wisconsin Chancellor John Wiley’s column in the September issue

of

Madison Magazine

contains a number of factual errors regarding Wisconsin

Manufacturers & Commerce that need to be corrected.

A thorough “sifting and winnowing” in search of the truth that is part of the UW tradition

would show that in the last budget, WMC supported the University of Wisconsin’s

budget as supported by Governor Jim Doyle and passed by both houses of the

Legislature. WMC actively lobbied for final passage of the UW budget.

The WMC legislative agenda calls upon the legislature and the Governor to “Establish

appropriate priorities for spending limited government resources that recognize the

significant economic development benefits of the University of Wisconsin …”

However, Wiley’s commentary contains factual misstatements that need immediate

correction.

Wiley’s Commentary and WMC Rebuttal

Wiley --

“Apparently, the organization’s definition of being competitive is being among

those states with the lowest taxes, lowest wages and least regulations.”

WMC –

WMC has a broad public policy agenda established by the WMC board and full

membership. WMC’s policy agenda calls for establishing pro-growth policies that will

allow businesses to flourish, and even calls for protecting funding for the University of

Wisconsin system as a means to foster a strong economy.

Wiley –

“Wisconsin currently has the 11th highest per capita state revenues in the nation

and WMC cites the statistic as evidence that Wisconsin is a ‘tax hell.”’

WMC –

Actually, the Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance reported that Wisconsin has the 11th highest state and local tax burden in the nation as a percentage of personal income, and WMC issued a press release hailing that development as tremendous progress in lowering the state’s traditionally high tax burden.

Wiley – “WMC routinely opposes most measures favored by labor unions, and most

measures aimed at improving the lot of entry-level workers and low-income workers.”

WMC – WMC routinely works with organized labor to develop reforms to the workers’

compensation program and unemployment insurance programs. Additionally, WMC

supported the last two state increases in the minimum wage and supports raising the state

minimum wage to be consistent with the federal minimum wage.

Wiley – “Where in WMC’s political agenda is there any acknowledgement of the

singular importance of creating more high income jobs. . . .?”

WMC – See page 4 of the WMC legislative public policy agenda.

“The creation of meaningful, well-paying jobs provides economic security and

dignity to Wisconsin citizens. A strong economy provides the tax base necessary

to support government’s role in educating, building infrastructure, protecting the

environment, and caring for the needy. Economic growth and job creation combat

social problems such as unemployment, poverty and crime.”

Wiley – “Their unconscionably scurrilous personal attacks on Justice Louis Butler.”

WMC – WMC Issues Mobilization Council, Inc. aired television ads critical of Justice

Butler’s record on the court. WMC did not engage in personal attacks, and that is simply

false. All of WMC IMC ads regarding Justice Butler dealt with his term on the court, his

rulings and his public statements.

Wiley – “WMC has, somehow, allowed itself to be hijacked by highly partisan,

ideologically driven staff.”

WMC – WMC’s ideology is the ideology of the WMC board of directors and the WMC

members. The staff represents the members. Period. The policy agenda was approved

unanimously by the WMC board, and the WMC board unanimously has recommended

that WMC continue to engage in the political debate in our state.

We appreciate Chancellor Wiley’s comments and we wish him well.

On, Wisconsin!

 

Comments

[John]

A look at the State Journals coverage and the political firestorm.

http://democurmudgeon.blogspot.com/2008/08/rep-mark-pocan-afraid-to-take-stand.html