WMC: Gov hopefuls Barrett, Walker address Biz Day in Madison

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James S. Haney or James A. Buchen, (608) 258-3400

Dee Dee Myers, Dana Perino Face Off at Luncheon

MADISON — Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, a Democrat, and Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker, a Republican, will address nearly 1,000 business executives at Business Day in Madison on February 23.

The two are running for governor to succeed Democrat Governor Jim Doyle, who is not seeking re-election. Tickets are still available to the general public. (https://www.wischamberfoundation.org/events/source/Meetings/cMeetingFunctionDetail.cfm?PRODUCT_MAJOR=1001&FUNCTIONSTARTDISPLAYROW=1) The bi-partisan remarks will occur at 3 p.m. and are sponsored by Godfrey & Kahn law firm. Click here for the full schedule of Business Day in Madison 2010. (http://www.wmc.org/display.cfm?ID=1027)

“We are honored to be able to host two of the major candidates for governor at Business Day in Madison,” said James S. Haney, president of Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce. Business Day in Madison is hosted by 15 business groups, and more than 60 local chambers of commerce. It is the largest event of its kind in the state, annually attracting up to 1,000 business executives.

“Our business climate is in tough shape, and the candidates need to hear from the business community about competitiveness,” Haney said. “We need to partner with the next governor to restore Wisconsin’s competitiveness, and we look forward to their remarks.” Former U.S. Rep. Mark Neumann, a Republican governor candidate, was invited to speak, but unable to attend.

Business Day in Madison will also feature bi-partisan sparring as the only two women ever to serve as presidential press secretaries take the stage during the noon luncheon. Dee Dee Myers, of the Clinton administration, and Dana Perino, of the Bush administration, will provide commentary on the state of the nation, and keen insights into the upcoming mid-term elections. Perino is a Fox News contributor, and Myers is contributing editor to Vanity Fair and frequent television commentator. Their comments are sponsored by Johnson & Johnson and Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.

Political prognosticator Charlie Cook will open the day at 9 a.m. with his in-depth analysis of the future of American politics. Cook, who authors the Cook Political Report, recently predicted the stunning upset win of U.S. Senator-elect Scott Brown (R-Massachusetts) and upset GOP wins in New Jersey and Virginia governor races.

A health care reform panel discussion will feature Mary Grealy, president of Health Care Leadership Council; Wisconsin Health Services Secretary Karen Timberlake; and John Torinus, chairman, Serigraph, Inc. David Haynes, deputy editorial page editor with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel will moderate. The health care panel is sponsored by the Marshfield Clinic.

Business Day in Madison will be emceed by UW-Madison Journalism Professor James Baughman, and will be held at the Monona Terrace Convention Center.