Today, I just got a report from the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation showing that Wisconsin has slipped rankings overall for how we are developing 21st Century jobs in Wisconsin.
Wisconsin has slipped to 33rd in America in developing a 21st Century Economy in Wisconsin. However, there were some positives as Wisconsin was rated high in
* The Development of e-government
* Health information technology development
* Industry investment in research and development.
Also, the New Economy Index shown Wisconsin had top 25 ratings in:
- E-government, 10th.
- Health information technology, 12th.
- Industry investment in R&D, 15th.
- Value-added manufacturing, 21st.
- Technology in schools, 19th.
- Broadband/telecommunications, 24th.
- Scientists and engineers, 24th.
- Non-industry investment in R&D, 24th.
- Workforce education, 25th.
But, because of failed economic leadership in Madison we are rated poorly in gazelle jobs which are fast-growing jobs, where it ranked 27th in 2008 after placing 23rd in 2007 and entrepreneurial activity (creting new businesses) where it ranked 43rd after placing 18th in 2007. Wisconsin’s ratings fell considerably in terms of online population, where it dropped from 15th to 34th.
When you look at these ratings they reflect failed economic leadership we have in Madison in which Wisconsin has been going through five commerce secertaries in nearly five years is unacceptable. Also, you can blame this on a horrible business climate as the Tax Foundation has Wisconsin rated #38 on our business climate. Now, with Wisconsin facing a five billon dollar budget deficet and now the prospects of higher taxes and fees, and government run health care Wisconsin cannot afford to slip no more.
In 2009, the North Shore Exponent will press for a multi-step economic agenda in which creates jobs and return on investment the right way in Wisconsin without raising taxes or fees.
This article puts in context a couple arguements that if we will develop the new jobs of tomorrow. First, we need to lower taxes and control state spending. Second, Wisconsin must have a JOBZ (job oppurtunity building zones) program like Minnesota. Cities like Janesville, and Milwaukee are prime examples. We must have incentives to get the new information economy to come to manufacturing clad cities like Janesville and Milwaukee by giving businesses tax credits for creating jobs and keeping jobs in Wisconsin that pay good wages and have excellent benefits. When cities like Chicago are taxing the heck out its people, there is no excuse Wisconsin stands mute and does not do something. Take a look at the report below, and once you read it, this will convince you in 2010 we need a change in Madison.
With all the great companies we have in Milwaukee It should be a no-brainer to get large information companies in Milwaukee and rural areas. In MN and ND there are many large information companies in the rural areas. They come there for the work ethic those states have. Which I believe is also true for Wisconsin. Chicago is not even in the game.
By: Madison on November 20, 2008
at 4:56 am
Wisconsin has a strong work ethic, no doubt, but our business climate is turning away good jobs and we need to change the way our business climate is.
By: Kyle Maichle on November 20, 2008
at 8:01 pm
[...] North Shore Exponent, a blog of the North Shore Strategy and Consulting Group, mentions that Wisconsin is #38 in our State Business Tax Climate Index, declaring that "with Wisconsin facing a five billon dollar budget deficet and now the prospects of higher taxes and fees, and government run health care Wisconsin cannot afford to slip no more."Dan Kennedy, Assistant Professor at the Northeastern School of Journalism and writer for the Guardian (UK), e3!>CommonWealth Magazine, and the Boston Phoenix, points out in his Media Nation blog that Massachusetts is 23rd in our State-Local Tax Burden ranking in rebutting a point made by Boston Globe columnist Yvonne Abraham. Terry Johnson’s BizIdeas blog makes mention of a previous study on who at certain income levels pays what amount of income taxes, saying that "the top 1 percent of taxpayers paid 40% of the federal income taxes," the "top 5 percent paid 60 percent of federal income taxes," and "the bottom 33% of wage earners contributed 0% to the federal income taxes."Linen DeFiller spoke with our own Gerald Prante, Senior Economist, about Obama’s tax plan and writes on the Million Face blog that President-Elect Obama’s economically-related cabinet appointments "may give a clue about whether the new president ‘will be more hawkish on the deficit, or whether he will be more Keynesian and focus on short-run economic stimulus.’" [...]
By: Forex Trading News » Best of the Blogosphere: From Wisconsin to Massachusetts to Obama on November 21, 2008
at 7:04 pm