Like the wintry winds howling outside on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week, the winds of change have been howling through Wisconsin for the past month. Since Inauguration Day in January we have passed a great set of job creation and economic development bills and more are on the way.

Look at what has passed up to this point. We have opened Wisconsin for business to the rest of the world with our business relocation tax credits. Every existing business has also been given significant job creation deductions. Businesses are sitting on cash reserves around the world and are looking for the right environment to invest in. Our time is now!

We have reduced bureaucratic influence on the permitting and administrative rules process; in other words, we have reduced the proverbial red tape that we all hear so much about. It is high time that we require government to start moving at the speed of business in order to create opportunities and jobs for all Wisconsin residents. In addition, we have reduced the worry of frivolous lawsuits as businesses operate in good faith once they do arrive here. The additional costs of litigation kills jobs, period. Employers can’t afford to hire more people when they have to worry about having funds to protect themselves against the inevitable silly lawsuit that will at some point pop up.

Speaking of costs related to business we also passed Health Savings Account reforms in Wisconsin. It is now the law in the land that we will not levy state taxes on accounts that individuals can set aside for their healthcare needs. That saves money for all involved and makes these plans a good alternative for employers to encourage their employees to use these accounts to manage their own healthcare and leave them some extra money in their pockets at the end of the day.

On the way to the Governor soon is the creation of our own specifically dedicated economic development agency called the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation. The creation of this agency separates regulation and job creation from the former Commerce Department. I will look to volunteer my service to this agency as each chamber will have one member from each side of aisle serving. My expertise and background in job creation and job development lend very well to this agency. The WEDC will be able to leverage everything we are working on now to create real jobs for real Wisconsin residents and soon.
It is my honest belief that if we had in place the new business climate that we have now adopted in Wisconsin, Energy Composites could be in operation here. Between 600 to 800 new jobs could have been created in our own backyard. This new environment provides incentives to create jobs. It creates incentives for investors to see that return on their money is more of a realistic venture. This is where the prior legislature failed and this is where we must not fail. Our work will continue on job creation for the next two years as well. It is why after an 18 month campaign that you sent me here and we will create 250,000 new jobs within the next four years.

As we continue to work on job creation and economic development we will also maintain our promise of frugality as the Governor reiterated during the State of the State address. To show how serious I am in this mission, I am turning down up to 20 percent of my own pay by declining the allowed per diem money for travel and lodging expenses. We all have to face the tough decisions in our own homes with decreasing budgets and increasing costs. Each legislator will face these tough decisions as well when we begin working on the next state budget this spring.

As a first step, we will pass consumer choice in auto insurance to allow consumers a fair chance to shop around for insurance policies that fit their needs rather than the state’s mandates. It only makes sense to allow flexibility to consumers and local governments as we move forward. Money may not always be there to do what is asked, but that flexibility is just as important. Removing unfunded mandates on consumers and units of governments will help ease the pain that a tough budget will bring.
With the state budget work looming as well as a budget repair bill for this year, we have two choices: we can do the heavy lifting and hard work now to fix the problem or we can kick the problem down the road for our kids and grandkids as the last legislature did in 2009 and as Illinois is doing right now. I take this very personally, as a father of five kids. I will not opt to pass this problem onto them. That means there are tough choices coming and the voters have demanded tough action be taken right now. I truly hope my colleagues across the aisle understand the meaning of the November 2nd elections that sent many of their colleagues and my predecessor home. Voters are tired of the massive spending and high taxes at all levels of government.

As we move ahead, your input is crucial. Please feel free to call me at (888)529-0072 or email me at rep.krug@legis.state.wi.us. Our door is always open here in Madison in room 316 North and we welcome all visitors. Finally, I have no problem taking your calls at home at (715) 459-2267.

Thank you all for the opportunity to serve,


Representative Scott Krug


 

McMillian Public Library
WI Rapids
All purpose room
9 am to 11 am
Feb. 25, 2011

Adams Cty Library - UW Extension
10 am to 12 pm
March 4, 2011

February 5, 2011.........    Representative Krug and his friends raised over a thousand dollars for the Special Olympics and took the Polar Plunge.  He did so in style by wearing a Packer jersey to support the team.  Good Job Rep Krug, keep up the good work.