Senator Carpenter's Letter to Governor Walker: Where Are the Jobs?

Editor's note: The following letter was sent to Governor Scott Walker by State Senator Tim Carpenter (D-Milwaukee), who has constituents in Greenfield.

Dear Governor Walker,

The Special Legislative Session that you called for job creation has adjourned and gone home. The bills passed by the legislature in this session appear notable in one respect: they are not crafted to create jobs. 

A bill passed that lowers the interest rate paid by a company that incurs a legal judgment against it; this bill does not create jobs. A bill passed that helps companies avoid paying taxes they owe; this bill does not create jobs. A bill passed that limits a consumer and small business owner’s ability to seek legal redress against a bad person or company; this bill does not create jobs.

Our work is not done; we still may have our jobs but folks back in my district do not, and I ask that you call the legislature back into Special Session to finish the job.

There are bills that have not been brought to a vote before the legislature that would increase access to capital for small businesses, providing additional tax credits to encourage investments in dairy manufacturing and meat and food processing, boosting funding for worker training bills to help retain existing businesses. These bills would create jobs and we should pass them.

Businesses say they want to hire workers, but can’t find enough skilled workers.  However, the leadership in the legislature has not acted on bills to create grants for technical colleges that enroll students for specific projects, such as welding work or infrastructure repair. Another proposal would create the Wisconsin Agriculture Corps, which would connect young people with farm work. These bills would create jobs and we should pass them.

I stand ready to return to the Senate to work to pass legislation that has as its purpose to get Wisconsin back to work.

Best Wishes,

Tim Carpenter

State Senator