Senate candidate talks industry, economy
U.S. Senate Candidate and Wisconsin State Assembly Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald made a stop in Rhinelander Monday, touring Superior Diesel’s facility and speaking with several area media representatives. The stop was just one of many Fitzgerald has made in the last few weeks, as he’s toured the state in an attempt to reach out to Wisconsin’s industries.
“Obviously everyone’s biggest concerns are jobs and the economy,” said Fitzgerald during his interview at the Star Journal offices Monday afternoon. “I’m talking to businesses that have a record of success, such as Superior Diesel, to find out what they need from us to help them grow and put more people to work.”
Fitzgerald said that talking with business leaders helps gives him a perspective on what parts of the reforms that Gov. Scott walker spearheaded within the last year are working to help business growth, and which need to be reexamined. He said his campaign for the U.S. Senate will focus on jobs and the economy.
“The same things people are worried about in Wisconsin are what they are worried about on the national level,” said Fitzgerald. “I think the work we’ve accomplished in the last year in Wisconsin can be a blueprint for what we need nationally. I want to bring those ideals to the U.S. Senate.”
Fitzgerald says his experience as the majority leader of the Assembly over the last year make him the ideal candidate for the U.S. Senate.
“I have a track record of helping bring about change,” said Fitzgerald. “Good candidates shouldn’t be worried about their next election, but making the right decisions to help their state. Sometimes that takes making some tough choices that not everyone will agree with.”
Fitzgerald pointed out that tax reform specifically needed to be looked at the on the national level.
“The U.S. now has the highest corporate tax rate in the industrialized world after Japan lowered theirs, which makes us not competitive,” said Fitzgerald. “We need to start making products in this country again to get people back to work.”
Fitzgerald is part of a large group that is interested in the Senate seat, which includes former Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson, former Congressman Mark Neumann, entrepreneur Eric Hovde and Rhinelander Physical Therapist Kip Smith. U.S. representative Tammy Baldwin is the lone democratic candidate. Fitzgerald said he would soon resign his Assembly seat and Speaker’s position to devote all his energy to his campaign.
“Yes, it’s a risk, but I wouldn’t do it if I wasn’t confident I could win,” said Fitzgerald. “I’ve always been the type that likes to go in and right the ship. I feel we’ve done that on the state level. Now I want the challenge on the national level.”
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