Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce (WMC) is an association of manufacturers, service businesses and chambers of commerce located in Madison, Wisconsin. WMC was formed from what was the Wisconsin State Chamber of Commerce, the Wisconsin Manufacturers Association, and the Wisconsin Council of Safety in 1975. WMC engages in earned media, advocacy, and business development. WMC came under fire in 1996 for an issue ad aimed at Democrats in the state. Initially, the ad was forced off the air but WMC sued to have the ad reinstated, citing free speech rights. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel referred to WMC as "the state's most influential business lobbying group".[1]
The Wisconsin Manufacturers Association, which merged with two other Wisconsin business organizations in 1975 to form Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce, was founded in 1911.[2] Paul Hassett was the first president of the newly formed organization, which had approximately 2,500 charter members.[3] Since its inception, WMC has lobbied for the passage of business-friendly legislation in the Wisconsin Legislature.[4] As of 2008, WMC claims over 4,000 charter members among the business community in Wisconsin. It publishes two annual directories: one of state manufacturers and the other a directory of service companies. It also claims to represent 500 000 employees.[5]
1996 electionedit
During the 1996 election, WMC sponsored a series of 'issue ads' against state democrats. The Wisconsin State Election Board blocked the ads, arguing that WMC violated state and federal election laws by running an election ad as group whose donor base was not divulged to the FEC and state election boards.[6] WMC sued, citing free speech concerns. After two appellate court rulings against WMC, the State Supreme Court ruled narrowly in WMC's favor.[7][8] State political leaders cited this supreme court case when preparing legislation in later years.[9]
WMC spent more than 1.2 million dollars in support of Michael Gableman's campaign for State Supreme Court Justice, successfully ousting sitting Justice Louis Butler.[10] Justice Louis Butler subsequently asserted that three cases in particular caused WMC to target him. One favored the families of three men killed when a giant crane collapsed during construction of Miller Park; another struck down the cap on medical malpractice damages for pain and suffering, and the third expanded the liability of paint manufacturers in cases of lead poisoning.[11] This spending and subsequent advertisement were criticized by members of the Madison press, the state bar and the Brennan Center, a non-partisan policy center at New York University.[12][13][14]
Activities and membershipedit
WMC does not disclose their issue advocacy donors list to the public.[15] WMC lobbies on behalf of its members "whenever the state legislature is in session"[5] According to the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board, WMC was responsible for 1.1 million dollars in lobbying efforts during the 2007-2009 session of the state legislature.[16] WMC also publishes ratings of Wisconsin legislators on a scale of 0 to 100.[17] In 1989, WMC helped block passage of Wisconsin's family leave act on behalf of their members.[18] In August 2008 the outgoing Chancellor of UW-Madison John Wiley has described the WMC as being "hijacked by highly partisan ideologically driven staff" and stating "WMC routinely opposes most measures favored by labor unions, and most measures aimed at improving the lot of entry-level and low-income workers who are essential to our economy. But this opposition is not a business or an economic position; it is a political position based on an era and an economy that no longer exist."[19]
Beyond lobbying efforts, WMC commissions annual surveys of business owners, directories and information, and—through their non-profit Wisconsin Council of Safety—workplace safety compliance information.[20] WMC works with the state Department of Workforce Development to secure federal grants to train workers in Wisconsin.[21]
^"Butler gets to break code of silence". Green Bay Press Gazette. August 10, 2008.
^ Garvey, Ed (2008-01-29). "Curtail WMC's Influence Before it owns Court" (PDF). Capital Times. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-03-25. Retrieved 2008-06-19.
^(PDF) (Press release). Brennan Center for Justice. 2008-03-20. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-05-11. Retrieved 2008-06-19.
^Basting, Thomas J. (May 2008). . Wisconsin Lawyer. 81 (5). Madison, Wisconsin: wisbar.org. Archived from the original on September 5, 2008. Retrieved 2008-06-19.
^ "Business Group's Donor List Remains Secret". St. Paul Pioneer Press. 1998-01-07. pp. 3B. Retrieved 2008-06-19.
^ "Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce: Lobbying by Organization". Government Accountability Board. Archived from the original on 2013-04-21. Retrieved 2008-06-19.
^ . Project Votesmart. 2006. Archived from the original on 2011-05-21. Retrieved 2008-06-19.
^ Wisensale, Steven K.; Allison, Michael D. (April 1989). "Family Leave Legislation: State and Federal Initiatives". Family Relations. 38 (2). National Council on Family Relations: 185. doi:10.2307/583673. JSTOR 583673.
^ . Archived from the original on 2008-09-17. Retrieved 2008-08-25.
^. wmc.org. 2006. Archived from the original on March 23, 2008. Retrieved 2008-06-18.
^ Klein, Mike (2003-12-15). "WTN Interview: Roberta Gassman". WTN News. Wisconsin Technology Network. Retrieved 2014-02-03.
External linksedit
Home Page at wmc.org
January 01, 1970
wisconsin, manufacturers, commerce, association, manufacturers, service, businesses, chambers, commerce, located, madison, wisconsin, formed, from, what, wisconsin, state, chamber, commerce, wisconsin, manufacturers, association, wisconsin, council, safety, 19. Wisconsin Manufacturers amp Commerce WMC is an association of manufacturers service businesses and chambers of commerce located in Madison Wisconsin WMC was formed from what was the Wisconsin State Chamber of Commerce the Wisconsin Manufacturers Association and the Wisconsin Council of Safety in 1975 WMC engages in earned media advocacy and business development WMC came under fire in 1996 for an issue ad aimed at Democrats in the state Initially the ad was forced off the air but WMC sued to have the ad reinstated citing free speech rights The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel referred to WMC as the state s most influential business lobbying group 1 Wisconsin Manufacturers amp CommerceCompany typePrivateFounded1975HeadquartersMadison WisconsinWebsitewww wbr wmc wbr org Contents 1 History and composition 1 1 1996 election 1 2 2008 election 2 Activities and membership 3 References 4 External linksHistory and composition edit nbsp Building in Madison The Wisconsin Manufacturers Association which merged with two other Wisconsin business organizations in 1975 to form Wisconsin Manufacturers amp Commerce was founded in 1911 2 Paul Hassett was the first president of the newly formed organization which had approximately 2 500 charter members 3 Since its inception WMC has lobbied for the passage of business friendly legislation in the Wisconsin Legislature 4 As of 2008 WMC claims over 4 000 charter members among the business community in Wisconsin It publishes two annual directories one of state manufacturers and the other a directory of service companies It also claims to represent 500 000 employees 5 1996 election edit During the 1996 election WMC sponsored a series of issue ads against state democrats The Wisconsin State Election Board blocked the ads arguing that WMC violated state and federal election laws by running an election ad as group whose donor base was not divulged to the FEC and state election boards 6 WMC sued citing free speech concerns After two appellate court rulings against WMC the State Supreme Court ruled narrowly in WMC s favor 7 8 State political leaders cited this supreme court case when preparing legislation in later years 9 2008 election edit Main article 2008 Wisconsin state elections Spring nonpartisan election WMC spent more than 1 2 million dollars in support of Michael Gableman s campaign for State Supreme Court Justice successfully ousting sitting Justice Louis Butler 10 Justice Louis Butler subsequently asserted that three cases in particular caused WMC to target him One favored the families of three men killed when a giant crane collapsed during construction of Miller Park another struck down the cap on medical malpractice damages for pain and suffering and the third expanded the liability of paint manufacturers in cases of lead poisoning 11 This spending and subsequent advertisement were criticized by members of the Madison press the state bar and the Brennan Center a non partisan policy center at New York University 12 13 14 Activities and membership editWMC does not disclose their issue advocacy donors list to the public 15 WMC lobbies on behalf of its members whenever the state legislature is in session 5 According to the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board WMC was responsible for 1 1 million dollars in lobbying efforts during the 2007 2009 session of the state legislature 16 WMC also publishes ratings of Wisconsin legislators on a scale of 0 to 100 17 In 1989 WMC helped block passage of Wisconsin s family leave act on behalf of their members 18 In August 2008 the outgoing Chancellor of UW Madison John Wiley has described the WMC as being hijacked by highly partisan ideologically driven staff and stating WMC routinely opposes most measures favored by labor unions and most measures aimed at improving the lot of entry level and low income workers who are essential to our economy But this opposition is not a business or an economic position it is a political position based on an era and an economy that no longer exist 19 Beyond lobbying efforts WMC commissions annual surveys of business owners directories and information and through their non profit Wisconsin Council of Safety workplace safety compliance information 20 WMC works with the state Department of Workforce Development to secure federal grants to train workers in Wisconsin 21 References edit Roesslein 1999 01 22 First Amendment no defense Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Retrieved 2008 06 18 dead link dead link Frank Sensenbrenner Paper Industry Hall of Fame Inductee Paper Industry Hall of Fame Archived from the original on November 11 2007 Retrieved 2008 06 18 Joanis Stevens officials of merged group Stevens Point Daily Journal 1976 01 16 Retrieved 2009 06 18 Shultze Steve 1993 03 14 Spending spree shapes up in capital Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Retrieved 2008 06 18 a b About Us Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce 2006 Retrieved 2014 02 03 WMC History WMCwatch Institute for One Wisconsin Archived from the original on 2016 03 04 Retrieved 2008 06 19 Wis Mfrs amp Commerce v State of Wis Elecs Bd 978 F Supp 1200 W D Wis 1997 Price Jenny 1999 07 08 Ruling WMC Didn t Break Campaign Finance Laws St Paul Pioneer Press pp 1B Retrieved 2008 06 19 Jones Richard 2001 01 13 Senate passes bill regulating issue ads Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Retrieved 2008 06 19 Report shows special interests dominate Wis Supreme Court race Wausau Daily Herald 2008 04 09 Retrieved 2008 06 19 dead link Butler gets to break code of silence Green Bay Press Gazette August 10 2008 Garvey Ed 2008 01 29 Curtail WMC s Influence Before it owns Court PDF Capital Times Archived from the original PDF on 2009 03 25 Retrieved 2008 06 19 Special Interests Dominate Wisconsin Airways in High Court Race PDF Press release Brennan Center for Justice 2008 03 20 Archived from the original PDF on 2008 05 11 Retrieved 2008 06 19 Basting Thomas J May 2008 President s Message Gutter Politics and the Wisconsin Supreme Court Wisconsin Lawyer 81 5 Madison Wisconsin wisbar org Archived from the original on September 5 2008 Retrieved 2008 06 19 Business Group s Donor List Remains Secret St Paul Pioneer Press 1998 01 07 pp 3B Retrieved 2008 06 19 Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce Lobbying by Organization Government Accountability Board Archived from the original on 2013 04 21 Retrieved 2008 06 19 Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce Ratings Project Votesmart 2006 Archived from the original on 2011 05 21 Retrieved 2008 06 19 Wisensale Steven K Allison Michael D April 1989 Family Leave Legislation State and Federal Initiatives Family Relations 38 2 National Council on Family Relations 185 doi 10 2307 583673 JSTOR 583673 From Crossroads to Crisis Madison Magazine Archived from the original on 2008 09 17 Retrieved 2008 08 25 WMC Products and Services wmc org 2006 Archived from the original on March 23 2008 Retrieved 2008 06 18 Klein Mike 2003 12 15 WTN Interview Roberta Gassman WTN News Wisconsin Technology Network Retrieved 2014 02 03 External links editHome Page at wmc org Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Wisconsin Manufacturers 26 Commerce amp oldid 1159779913, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
