WisconsinEye: Doyle, Green Outline Plans for Business

Gov. Jim Doyle and GOP challenger Mark Green laid out their visions for Wisconsin’s business community before 40 members of Competitive Wisconsin Inc. Sept. 13 in Milwaukee.

Green outlined his plan for creating the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp., which would unite the management of the state’s plethora of economic development programs under an appointed board led by the governor. Green credited the model, employed by Indiana, for bringing a Honda plant to that state. Green knocked Doyle for letting “the opportunity slip by,” saying Doyle refused to call Honda reps while they were deciding where to locate.

“We need to be in the fight,” Green said.

In his speech, Doyle stressed the importance that his administration has put on biomass and how he thinks it will develop Wisconsin into an economic powerhouse.

“Biomass has helped us move away from our dependence on Middle Eastern oil and has opened the way for a new industry in Wisconsin,” Doyle said. “We have been helping the UW schools get the funding for research into more bio technology.

“Soon people around the country will be focusing on getting Midwest energy instead.”