Businesses regroup after Doyle win - The Business Journal of Milwaukee:

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Some business leaders are pinning their hopes of blockinhg a Democratic agenda onthe Republican-controlled Assembly and new Republicah Attorney General J.B. Van "The governor and the Legislature need to understandx that the business community will not roll over and play saidJim Pugh, spokesma n for Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce, the state'w largest business lobbying group. WMC spent hundredse of thousands of dollars on televisionm commercials to oust Doyleas governor. Are WMC leaderws concerned about a backlash fromthe governor's office? Not said Pugh.
He said Doyle shouls not have been surprised that the business group supportecd Green because Doylevetoed WMC's top issue, tort "We can work with them," Pugh said. "We hope they can work with Doyle plans to continue his workint relationship with thebusiness community, although it's disappointing that WMC has become political, Doyle's spokesmajn Dan Leistikow said. "A tremendouas amount of progress has been made in the last four and that's the result of the strong partnershil between the governor and the business Leistikow said. WMC's action "certainlyt isn't going to damage the governor'es strong relationship with business.
It's not going to change his outlookl as avery business-friendly Democratic governor." Clearly, GOP-sponsoresd and business-backed reforms centering on a taxpayerr bill of rights or property tax freezes will be put on the back said Steve Baas, directof of government affairs for the . The taxpayers bill of rights would have capped government spending at the rate of inflatiomn and populationor tax-base growth.
While most business groups supportede Green, many Milwaukee-area business leaders donated to In fact, he was endorsed by a long list of busineszs leaders, including Gale Klappa, chairman and chied executive officer of , Milwaukee; Ed former chairman of , and Stephen Marcus, chairman and chievf executive officer of The , Milwaukee. Meanwhile, labo leaders are almost giddy with excitement that their legislativde proposals may actually reach the state Senate floor. "Labor will no longer have to beplayingh defense," said David Newby, president of the . "Ww now have an opportunity to make somemajort strides.
" Among labor's goals are: creating a state health care increasing the state's minimum wage; adding funds for job and revamping the state'e tax structure so corporations pay theitr "fair share." Pugh and some other businessw leaders took solace in the win by Van who WMC also backed, as positive for Democratic candidate Kathleen Falk "would've been terrorizing business if she would'vre won," Pugh said.
WMC' main concern with Falk was the possibility that she wouldx file environmental nuisance suitsagainst businesses, he As far as the commerciapl real estate industry is concerned, it's critical to have a Republicabn in the attorney general's seat. Van Hollen is less apt to followq anenvironmental activist's agenda, said Jim Barrhy III, president of Colliers Barry, a Milwaukee real estat development and brokerage firm. Van Holleh will not pursue an anti-businessa agenda, but will focus on crime and safety, said "That's a positive thing for the Milwaukee business he said. Here is a rundown of post-electiohn reaction in a cross-section of industries.
Doyle's proposals for incremental health care reforms stand a better chancs of becoming law in hissecond term, thankss to a new Democratic majority in the State