For years Wisconsin has been known for its over regulation and harsh business climate.  Today came another confirmation that Wisconsin is steering in the right direction and our efforts have been noticed nationally.  Chief Executive Magazine released a ranking of the best and worst states for business based on a survey of more than 500 CEOs.  When completing this survey they considered a range of criteria, from taxation and regulation to workforce quality and living environment.  This ranking is released annually; in 2010 Wisconsin was ranked 41^st out of 50. With the legislation passed in the last four months, Wisconsin has climbed the ranking by 17, more than any other state.  With this most recent survey Wisconsin is now the 24^th most business friendly environment. 

According to Chief Executive Magazine: 

Wisconsin and Louisiana posted the two biggest gains since 2010…By contrast, Illinois has dropped 40 places in five years and is now in a death spiral. Its bond ranking is 49th, ahead of only California. The state may play host to fugitive state senators from nearby Wisconsin and Indiana who avoid voting in their home legislatures, but businesses are heading for the exits. Doug Oberhelman, CEO of Peoria-based Caterpillar, is raising the specter of moving the heavy equipment maker out of Illinois. In a letter to Gov. Pat Quinn, he wrote, “The direction that this state is headed in is not favorable to business, and I’d like to work with you to change that.” 

Business leaders graded the states on a variety of categories grouped under taxation and regulation, workforce quality and living environment. “Do not overtax business,” offered one CEO. “Make sure your tax scheme does not drive business to another state. Have a regulatory environment and regulators that encourage good business—not one that punishes businesses for minor infractions.” 

Not surprisingly, states with punitive tax and regulatory regimes are punished with lower rankings, and this can offset even positive scores on quality of living environment. While state incentives are always welcome, what CEOs often seek are areas with consistent policies and regulations that allow them to plan, as well as intangible factors such as a state’s overall attitude toward business and the work ethic of its population…

Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels slowed state government payrolls to the point where Indiana has the nation’s fewest state employees per capita. In addition, while at least 35 states raised taxes during the recession, Indiana cut them. 

These are some of the actions that encourage business leaders. As another CEO respondent remarked, “We need some political backbone to control spending, address out-of-control debts, and use common sense on environmental and other governmental regulations. Quit demonizing businesses. Who do they think provide real jobs?”

The entire article can be accessed at: http://chiefexecutive.net/best-worst-states-for-business 

This is just the beginning of moving our state forward, more work must be done to build an environment where family businesses can flourish.  I remain focused in keeping government spending inline with people’s ability to pay and I look forward to working with my colleagues on improving Wisconsin’s economy.

As in the past I would continue to encourage you to contact my office with ideas for this next legislative session and on individual pieces of legislation.  Now more than ever your ideas and opinions need to be heard, so we can begin to get Wisconsin back to work.  As before I will continue to work across the aisle to find common ground and move legislation forward.  Please do not hesitate to contact my office at (608) 266-3404, or Rep.Ripp@legis.wisconsin.gov. 

Please share this update with your friends and neighbors within the 47th Assembly District and if there is anybody you know who would like to be included please respond to this email with their email address. 

I want to remind everyone that my door is always open and you can always visit me at my Madison office in the Capitol (223 North).   Please do not hesitate to contact me with any issues you maybe facing.  You can call my office at 608-266-3404 or email me at Rep.Ripp@legis.wisconsin.gov.  I look forward to hearing from you.