Forum to create jobs draws new ideas

GREEN BAY - Business leaders sat elbow to elbow in Green Bay Tuesday, telling local Republican leaders what they need from government to grow.

"We hold the purse strings. We all produce jobs, all make revenue that makes government possible, but while we are doing that, they are coming up with more ways to penalize us," said Cap Wulf, owner of Wulf Brothers Inc.

Suggestions from the leaders include lower taxes, tax incentives for retaining and creating local jobs, and fewer rules or red tape from state government.

The roundtable was put together by the Wisconsin Jobs Now Taskforce. It is a group of state republicans who say local business leaders have been left behind by the political majority.

Representative John Nygren of Marinette says the meeting is chance to build business connections.

"So that when legislation comes forward that we are able to share those viewpoints on how it can affect the area and the job market," said Nygren.

Local Democrats support job creating techniques and say business leaders and their employees have not been overlooked.

"Business leaders as well as workers and lots of folks in the state have had a seat at the table and will continue to play an integral role in our state's economic recovery," said Representative Tom Nelson of Kaukauna.

Officials at Little Rapids Corporation in Green Bay and Shawano say support from both sides is going to be needed.

"The economic challenges are unsettling enough but when you have other regulations and changes happening on top of it, you start getting the sense of 'When will this all end?" said Ron Thiry, Vice President of Operations for Little Rapids Corporation.

While the concerns remain, business leaders say they feel more optimistic now that they have voiced their concerns.

The Wisconsin Jobs Now Taskforce is taking all the suggestion they get over the next few weeks, and will compile a Job Creation Report. They plan to submit that to the legislature soon.