Wisconsin State AFL-CIO President: A plan to rebuild Wisconsin's middle class

[Scuba]

http://www.jsonline.com/news/opinion/a-plan-to-rebuild-wisconsins-middle-class-132280823.html

The Wisconsin AFL-CIO has put forth a plan called Rebuild Wisconsin's Middle Class.

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A main point of the agenda is strengthening "Buy Wisconsin" and "Buy American" requirements for the state. When the State of Wisconsin purchases products or contracts services, it should first look to Wisconsin companies and then to American companies for their goods. If we don't support our state and country's small businesses and manufacturers, who will? Let's Buy Wisconsin, Buy American and start making things here again.

Another aspect of the agenda aims to close the gap between skills workers have and skills businesses need. Walker foolishly cut the technical college system budget by 30% despite the fact that manufacturers are clamoring for skilled workers.

The Wisconsin State AFL-CIO calls for an immediate restoration of those funds. We can train the next generation of machinists, craft workers and technicians while supplying business with the workforce they need to be able to compete in a global economy. A highly trained and skilled workforce is not only good for business, it is an essential step to rebuilding a strong middle class.

An absolute must is corporate accountability to taxpayers for any venture capital investment scheme, loan, grant, tax incentive or tax break that is given to companies under the guise of job creation.



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Other points include:

--Rebuilding our infrastructure

--investing in energy efficiency

--restoring tax fairness

--raising Wisconsin's minimum wage


More on the plan here: http://www.wisaflcio.org/index.cfm?action=article&articleID=8ac62b5e-5c98-4ef8-aba5-7cf7747846ec


Thanks AFL-CIO; we appreciate your leadership!!!


Beware the blog comments; the hate is strong. They can be found here: http://www.jsonline.com/news/opinion/a-plan-to-rebuild-wisconsins-middle-class-132280823.html?page=1



edited for carelessness