Sen Wirch on WI Budget

Wisconsin State Senator Robert Wirch speaks during debate on the 2012-2013 Wisconsin State Budget. He argues that the cuts to education are counterproductive to economic development and job creation in Wisconsin.

Thank you Mr. President.

About 2 years ago, under the Doyle administration we had a great corporation come into Pleasant Prairie: Uline. Uline came in from Illinois with about 1200 good jobs, $40-60,000 jobs. They spent $200 million in our area on construction, on a corporate headquarters, a million-square-foot warehouse—and by the way, they're planning another one right now. They gave $8 million for an olympic-sized pool for the community. Just a wonderful success story. So I had a chance to get a tour of this beautiful facility. And of course, when I had a chance I asked a corporate spokesman, I said "Did you have any concerns about coming into Wisconsin. Hearing the rhetoric around the state capitol, did you have any concerns about coming into Wisconsin?" The guy though for a minute and he said "Yes, we were worried if we could get enough qualified workers so we could operate in this area, but we were assured by other businesses we could get enough qualified workers." That, I would suggest, is the key to economic development: getting good qualified workers. Yet this administration says the state is "open for business" and shuts the door on education. How does that help economic development? Taking a billion dollars out of K-12, cutting our tech schools when we have a 9% unemployment rate and people need to be retrained, and cutting 30% out of our tech schools. No, I learned the lesson from Uline. The corporations told us: "we need good, quality workers." We are in worldwide competition out there. The worst thing you can do for economic development is slam the door on education, and that's this what this budget does.