WMC Chair’s company lays off 450 workers despite Wisconsin being “open for business”

“Ask a chamber of commerce executive in Wisconsin how the business climate is today, and you’re likely to hear “Wisconsin is open for business.”

So starts a puff piece written by Shelley Nelson of the Superior Telegram. Said puff piece gushes about how great the business climate is here in Wisconsin, citing an annual economic outlook survey compiled by Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce, a staunch defender of all things conservative.

The business climate here in Wisconsin may be great according to Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce, but try telling that to the 450 employees of the Wausau Paper Corp. in Brokaw, who found out on Wednesday that their jobs will be eliminated by March 31, 2012.

In an interesting twist, the President & CEO of Wausau Paper Corp. is Thomas Howatt, who coincidentally happens to be Chairman of the Board of Directors for Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce. According to the “WMC Victories” section of the WMC website, “WMC’s leadership drove the jobs agenda at the Capitol” this year but I’m not sure how much of a victory that claim is, considering Wisconsin’s had five consecutive months of job losses, putting Wisconsin near the bottom of the nation in job creation/job losses during the past year.

If Wisconsin really is “open for business” and the WMC-led legislature was so successful at creating jobs in Wisconsin, where are all the jobs?