Doyle praises state workers
11:31 PM 1/05/04
Marv Balousek Business reporter

A highly skilled and productive work force is Wisconsin's best asset for attracting and retaining businesses, Gov. Jim Doyle said Monday. <

"My vision for Wisconsin is that we are going to compete at the higher end," Doyle said. "We'll lose any competition for low-wage jobs." <

The state has lost about 84,000 manufacturing jobs in the past three years including some due to competition from lower-cost overseas manufacturers. <

After exactly a year in office, the governor spoke to about 70 employees of Mead & Hunt, a Madison architectural and engineering firm. His appearance was requested by the firm's employees as part of a series of meetings with public officials. <

Rajan Sheth, Mead & Hunt president, said Wisconsin's government is the 103-year-old firm's largest client. <

While other states have ocean breezes or mild climates, Doyle said Wisconsin can offer a more important incentive to businesses. <

"What we have is the best work force found anywhere in this country," he said. "At the forefront, we stand for quality." <

He said Wisconsin workers are the most productive and best educated of any state in the nation. <

The governor told the Mead & Hunt employees that they are Wisconsin ambassadors when they travel for projects in other cities. <

"You are representatives of this state and I know the quality of work that you do reflects well on the state," he said. <

Although he has pledged to reduce the number of state employees, Doyle said that doesn't mean the state will be hiring private firms more often. <

"I just think you need to have a very good balance," he said. "I don't think we should in a major way be upsetting that balance." <

The governor said Wisconsin schools must have the resources to stay current with computer technology. <

"I believe Wisconsin should become a real leader in distance learning for communities and business," he said. "A student in Rhinelander should be able to study Japanese (through the university)." <

Wisconsin hasn't received as much homeland security money as more populous states, but the governor said the money is needed more in larger cities. <

Mead & Hunt is especially active in airport projects and Doyle said preserving the quality of air travel is important to the state's infrastructure. <