YEAR IN REVIEW
TOPof TEN
2012 With the recall of Wisconsin’s governor behind us, another vicious presidential campaign in the books, and most critical economic indicators pointing upward once again, 2012 might be considered to be the beginning of a period of recovery and healing. Industry is investing in plant expansions and equipment enhancements at a near decade-high mark, new skilled worker training programs were rolled out across the region, and major transportation infrastructure projects are at or near completion. The developments from the past year have set the stage for tremendous opportunity for northeast
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By Sean Fitzgerald, New North B2B publisher
Wisconsin business in 2013. As we have done each of the past 10 years at New North B2B magazine, we’ve compiled a list of the top state and local news stories affecting the business community in northeast Wisconsin during the past 12 months. These are the topics discussed around the office water cooler, in the break room or at board meetings, and are the issues that are likely to impact the business landscape of the region for years to come. Without further delay, the following is our list of the Top Ten business stories in the B2B coverage area for 2012.
Our top business story of the region for 2012, and perhaps the top story of any statewide, is the failed effort to recall first-term Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker. Organizers of the recall effort delivered more than 1 million signatures to the state Government Accountability Board in mid-January, just a year after Walker had taken office. Four Democrats threw their hats into the ring for the right to challenge Walker in the recall, forcing a primary on May 8 which was won by Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, who squared off against Walker in the November 2010 race that the current governor won by 5 percentage points. In capturing 53 percent of the vote on June 5, Walker not only earned the right to finish out his first term through 2014, but essentially won a statewide referendum supporting the highly controversial measures in Act 10 which required higher contributions from public employee unions toward their health insurance premiums and retirement funds. Walker’s victory over his recall – coupled with a strong showing from Republicans in the state Legislature during November general elections – lead to definitive Republican control of Wisconsin’s executive and legislative branches and an indication from voters that they support a business-friendly agenda.
Failed Recall of Gov. Walker
28 l NEW NORTH B2B l JANUARY 2013
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