Amen! Wineke on WMC:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jason A. Stephany, Political Director

April 4, 2007

608) 260-2408
StephanyJ@dnc.org

WMC: Partisan Hacks, Job Killers

Unofficial Independent Expenditure arm of the Republican Party gathers in Madison today

MADISON – As Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce (WMC) kicks off their annual “business day” in Madison, Democratic Party Chairman Joe Wineke questioned what, exactly, the Republican front-group has accomplished for Wisconsin businesses.

“What has WMC done to grow the economy or create jobs in Wisconsin?” Wineke asked. “The answer is simple: nothing. WMC is too busy dragging our political process into the gutter and spending millions of dollars in negative campaign advertisements to worry about a positive business climate in our state.”

According to studies by several non-partisan watch-dog groups, Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce spent more than $4.5 million dollars in negative advertising in 2006 – targeting Democratic candidates for Attorney General, Governor, and the State Legislature. WMC continued its spending spree into 2007, buying the Supreme Court race with over $1.5 million worth of misleading attack ads against candidate Linda Clifford. Their spending on actual pro-business efforts pales by comparison.

“WMC’s spin-team will tell you that they’re not interested in campaigns, but the numbers don’t lie,” Wineke observed. “Nasty, negative campaigns are just about the only thing they’re interested in. If I was a WMC member, I’d start to wonder where my dues are going.”

By contrast, the Doyle Administration has worked with members of both parties, Chambers of Commerce, and business owners around the state to invest in our economy and bring thousands of family-family supporting jobs back to our communities.

“Given the choice between a bunch of Republican hacks who have done nothing to grow the economy and an Administration with a proven track record of job growth, I know which one I’d put my money on,” Wineke concluded.

Authorized and Paid For By the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, Joe Wineke, Chair