Focusing on Jobs

As our economy continues to struggle along and our statewide unemployment rate hovers around 10 percent, I have been working to help grow our area job base and change the attitude in the State Capitol to one that is appreciative and respectful of private sector investment and employment.

Over the past couple of months I have enjoyed working to connect Sheboygan-based Eclipse Manufacturing Co. with our state Department of Commerce in an effort to develop an economic support package that would ensure the company’s long-term operation in Wisconsin. Eclipse is a custom manufacturer of complex metal components and assemblies, one that has maintained facilities in both Sheboygan and Pikesville, Tenn. Like many businesses trying to survive in this down economy, the Eclipse management team was exploring whether to consolidate their operation into one location. I am pleased to report that, thanks in part to support offered from the state of Wisconsin, Sheboygan County and the city of Sheboygan, Eclipse will be consolidating their operations into Sheboygan; maintaining 57 good jobs and creating an additional 50 new jobs over the next couple of years.

This decision, of course, could not have been made without the cooperative relationship between the employees and the management at Eclipse. Eclipse has been doing business in Sheboygan for over 80 years and we can all be excited that they have decided to stay in Wisconsin.

I have also enjoyed working with the people at Morgan Aviation. This company offers an awesome job opportunity for our area and our state and I am excited that plans are moving forward for the company to make a major capital investment at the Sheboygan County Airport.

On the legislative front, I am in the final stages of drafting an exciting “job-creation” bill that I plan to introduce for consideration within the next couple of weeks. Modeled after the Kentucky Rural Economic Development Act, this proposal would allow an employer seeking to grow, relocate or retain at least 15 fulltime jobs in Wisconsin to retain a portion of the individual income tax revenue generated as a result of the creation of the jobs. This would provide a cash infusion to companies currently providing – or looking to locate – jobs in Wisconsin. The company could invest the money in employee training, technology upgrades or capitol expansions. It is a win-win program because both the business and the state will share and benefit from the new income tax created because of the new jobs.

I am also pleased to serve as a co-sponsor of a legislative bill that will help create jobs in our area and help us all save energy. Under current law, Wisconsin’s Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) requires regulated utilities to obtain at least 10 percent of the electricity sold to customers from renewable-energy resources by Dec. 31, 2015. These renewable energy sources could be solar, bio-fuel or wind. The bill I am co-sponsoring would allow solar tube light devices, like Orion Energy Systems' Solar Light Pipe, to be a part of the renewable-energy resources portfolio. The main goal of the bill is to promote an energy efficient lighting option for area homes and business. A result of this will be increased job opportunities at businesses like Orion and other manufacturers of light tube devices.

As your Senator, I strongly believe that one of the best and smartest things we can do as a government is to support business development and the creation of good-paying private sector jobs. When there are jobs, people can be employed, they can support themselves and their families and be less reliant on taxpayersubsidized entitlement programs. I am hopeful that the efforts mentioned above will help us accomplish this important goal.

As always, it has been a pleasure communicating with you. Please remember to communicate with me and share your input by calling (888) 295-8750, writing to me at P.O. Box 7882, Madison, WI 53707-7882, or by e-mailing me at Sen.Leibham@legis.wi.gov. You can also log on to the 9th Senate District on-line office at www.leibhamsenate.com. It is an honor representing the residents of the 9th District in the State Senate.