John Wiley, who will retire in September as chancellor of the University of Wisconsin, is shaking things up in Madison as he goes out the door.
Wiley has written a controversial column in the September issue of Madison Magazine, where he issues a warning to Wisconsin citizens about partisan bickering at the expense of the state's future. Wiley also takes a parting shot at the Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce (WMC), which bills itself as the state's largest business advocacy group.
In the column, Wiley said he wants to send "a wake-up call to the citizens of Wisconsin" regarding the state's economy and educational system.
"The ailing economy poses a serious threat to our schools and colleges and unless we act now to protect funding for education, the state's future will be bleak … Still, the hyper-partisan political environment at the state capitol is toxic. The first priority seems to be to repudiate, damage or block any proposal or position of the other party. The second priority is to push their own party's proposals and positions in unaltered form. The far distant third priority - to be avoided if at all possible - seems to be addressing any genuine state need that requires compromise … All of this is pretty obvious to most Wisconsinites. In every corner of the state, I hear complaints about partisanship from corporate executives, average Joes and everyone in between," Wiley wrote.
Wiley said the WMC has been "hijacked by highly partisan, ideologically driven" staff, and he said many former WMC board members agree with him.
"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," Wiley said.
Wiley's remarks are another glancing blow for the WMC.
Judy Faulkner, CEO of Epic Systems Corp. in Verona, the largest homegrown tech company in the state, has called for a boycott of companies that support the WMC.
In June, J.P. Cullen & Sons Inc. in Janesville withdrew from the WMC, and David Cullen, the company's chief executive officer, resigned from the WMC board of directors,
Earlier this year, David Wittwer, president and chief executive officer of TDS Telecom, the Madison-based parent company of TDS Metrocom, resigned from the WMC board. Wittwer had received a letter from a Waukesha customer who expressed outrage at the WMC's antics.
Paul Linzmeyer, the former president of Bay Towel in Green Bay, told Isthmus magazine that he is hearing growing dissatisfaction from business executives about the partisan mission of WMC, which pumped millions of dollars into recent attorney general and Supreme Court justice races.
"I'm starting to hear it more and more. Why is Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce speaking for all businesses when it's probably only speaking for a small portion of its membership?" Linzmeyer said.
In a written response to Wiley's column, the WMC stated, "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."
To read the full WMC response, visit WisPolitics.com, a media partner of Small Business Times.
Steve Jagler is executive editor of Small Business Times.
9 Comments
It is understandable that Mr. Wiley regards a business organization as a threat to the state of Wisconsin. His business is on the dole, his business could not survive without the massive subsidies that WMC members' and regular taxpayers' provide…A few realities.
Education funding in this state is beyond adequate.
UW systems has 26 campuses with overlapping services and excessive spending throughout.
The public school systems spend more per pupil than in most states.
The Technical College system spends like drunken sailors without elected boards and thus accountability in most locations.
"It's the spending stupid"
Perhaps Mr. Wiley should question the motives, stances and partisan bickering of WEAC, or MTEA or any other Union in this state?
With few exceptions the members of WMC survive without subsidized budgets from any government body. How would Mr. Wiley balance his budget without the state of Wisconsin providing its massive subsidy? He would not. WMC businesses must do it daily, weekly, monthly, yearly.
I was recently in Madison for business and had reason to travel throughout the UW campus. It is needless to say that Mr. Wiley and his colleagues have done a masterful job at spending as evidenced by all the new construction around the University. Education funding in this state is beyond adequate.
I did find it interesting however, that when walking through one of the Graduate Schools I observed a faculty directory for that school posted on the wall.
Of the 100 or so names and pictures listed, more than 75 of the graduate student faculty was Asian, most of which appeared to be Chinese based on their sir names. Multicultural influences in education are important; however this suggests to me that, knowing that it is the Chinese Economy that has the most growth in world economics, we are subsidizing our competition at the expense of all Wisconsin students, business and Taxpayers.
In addition, where is the business investment in this state to employ the professionals we educate?
The answer lies in the confiscatory taxes and excessive regulations that business contends with daily, weekly, monthly yearly. Business is accountable 24/7/365 in a way that Mr. Wiley does not understand.
WMC is the strongest business advocacy organization in the state and is dwarfed by the influence of unions; state, county, local, trade and other.
It is understandable that Mr. Wiley regards a business organization as a threat to the state of Wisconsin.
It is also understandable that his bias shines through.
"Fortunately for serious minds, a bias recognized is a bias sterilized."
Benjamin Haydon
Ted. You are so naive. Like a sheep. If you check out the WMC board, you will find that about companies represented by half the board members pay absolutely NO state taxes whatsoever. None!!!!!!!!!! That's because, contrary to the lies the WMC puts out there all the time, Wisconsin has one of the lowest corporate tax rates in the entire nation. It is those companies that are subsidized by the rest of us, including us small business owners. The WMC does not represent me, nor my company, no my employees. They are a drain on our economy and on Wisconsin's ability to compete. It's great that the light is finally shining on their phony agenda!
Talk about Naive and Biased, Mr. Wiley and the education establishment PAY NO TAXES WHATSOEVER. So according to John, at least 1/2 of the companies represented by WMC board members do pay taxes and all deal with excessive regulatory expenses.
Where is their accountability on the issue? There is none for Mr. Wiley or the education establishment. They only spend, we must pay before we spend.
My business pays plenty in taxes, and regulatory expenses.
Where is large scale private sector business investment in Wisconsin, John?
The answer is… not in Wisconsin John.
"Being naive simply means that we reject received wisdom that something is a problem. We are always naive relative to some definition of the situation, and if we try to become less so, we may accept a definition that confines the definition of small wins to narrower issues than is necessary."
-Karl Weick,
Thank you for proving my point sir. I'm sure your company DOES play plenty in taxes, just like mine does. But the WMC board members' companies do not. And you just play right into their agenda like a sheep being led to slaughter.
As for our university system ... Yes, it does cost money. Every single strong economic region in the country is anchored by a strong educational system. It costs money. But the return is a smart workforce, higher wages, more available capital to be spent on goods and services and a good quality of life. In the end, I'll take what we've got over what someplace like Mississippi, Alabama or Arkansas has every day of the week.
Thank you John for proving my point, that you and Mr. Wiley are more interested in the bloated education machine than in taxpayers. You must have a regular drink of the tax and spend Kool-Aid.
Mr. Wiley exports jobs; if there is no business in state to employ our highly educated graduates, they will go where the jobs are. Illinois, Minnesota, Iowa and China to name a few places.
Therefore, we subsidize our competition.
Business does not operate in a vacuum. The national business community looks Wisconsin businesses and taxpayers as suckers, not because of the WMC but because of taxes and regulations.
Interesting to remember that the "slaughter" started many years ago in our German Socialist roots in the 1800's and is perpetuated today by both sides of the isle.
All business will reduce or illuminate taxes in every legal way possible. I'm sure you do.
I don't belong to WMC. I fend for myself, but every year it gets harder for me, a small business to justify staying in a state that is addicted overregulation and to runaway spending.
"ITS THE SPENDING STUPID"
Mr. Wolters, Do you have any information to back up your claim about at least half of the companies of WMC board members don't pay state taxes.
Having put 2 through the UW system and listening to their experiences there it appears that the system exists today for the benefit of the faculty and staff. I find it hard to see the justification of the UW system budget rising at a faster rate than inflation or the growth of the economy. Ted is right a very large number of graduates go out of state for employment. I'm not sure but I'd guess that Wisconsin has a net loss of college grads especialy in the manufacturing, technical and scientific fields.
Yes I can prove it. See this http://www.instituteforonewisconsin.org/page/content/WMCast/boardofdirectors/
John, 9 of 36 listed is not half and based on some very quick research; they are not paying 'Wisconsin' corp tax but they are paying in their incorporation state. More importantly, their employees are paying our ridiculous taxes. Making Wisconsin less attractive than other states in this area. Simply economics.
I'm glad we have a strong education system in Wisconsin. I spent today moving my daughter back to Madtown for her Senior year. However, having experienced UW-Mad first hand for 3 plus years, we 'literally' have the dumbest smart people working this campus. The strength of the education is certainly 'in spite' of senior staff running the campus.
I could possibly excuse this as the failings of purely academic minds but the lack of follow through by senior staff and the blatantly stupid spending have but one core issue. Extremely poor leadership. Honestly, if Wiley can create this type of mess, we should probably take note of those he decries and give them our support.
One added thought, given the sublime mess of UW-Mad, I wonder if Wiley is merely sending our focus elsewhere to reduce the already glaring spotlight on the UW-Mess.... food for thought.
The Institute for One Wisconsin's WMCWatch.org gives you the chance to write directly to the Board of Directors at WMC. (http://www.instituteforonewisconsin.org/page/speakout/wmcads). By clicking here, you can send an email message directly to every member of the WMC board of directors to share your thoughts and weigh in with your opinions.
Take action today and talk directly to the decision-makers at WMC. You can make a difference!