Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce Softens Image, TABOR Lives

Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce (WMC) is trying to change its image. While it has no plans to back off the kind of vicious television attack ads it used against Linda Clifford, in its effort to unseat Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Louis Butler, WMC does wish us to think of it as kinder and gentler.

The most recent WMC press release February 4, 2008 concluded with, "WMC’s mission is to make Wisconsin the most competitive state in the nation for economic growth and job creation."

In a prior press release, introducing the new board of directors, WMC said, "... Since its inception in 1911, WMC has been dedicated to making Wisconsin the most competitive state in the nation."

WMC may have roots going back to 1911 but it has not dedicated itself to making Wisconsin competitive, since the organization has little use for public education, workforce development, or for that matter, any form of investment in human capacity or public infrastructure.

Supporting TABOR is inconsistent with being competitive. Remember WMC Vice President of Government Relations James A. Buchen said:

"...The voters of Wisconsin want tax relief, and this issue will continue to dominate the political debate in the years to come. This is the beginning of the debate; not the end.”

Comments

[nonheroicvet]

WMC is to promoting Wisconsin what Jethro Bodine is to promoting scholarship.