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The company that Don Kendall built and Roger Enrico grew has an interesting PR problem. |
| Pepsico President Indra Nooyi delivered a controversial commencement speech at Columbia Business School. Pepsi has been backtracking ever since on their corporate website.
I wonder what would have happened to a local truck driver who might have given a similar speech to a High School’s graduating class, or perhaps a mid level manager speaking at a regional business conference? Somehow, I think they would be looking for something else to do. Background on her speech via google. BusinessWeek posted Nooyi’s remarks. Diane Brady refers to Nooyi’s inept analogy. Sugar Water…. |
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Madison Commons Project
Kristian Knutson on the UW Madison J School and Capital Newspapers Project (backed by a $12K grant):
The Madison Commons Project looks promising as a media literacy venture, but there are several questions are raised by its structure. These are asked below the fold.
Rarely do new initiatives result from a top down process. Knutson muses on generating “free content” for the newspaper world.
Dane101 on Local Newspapers Credibility
Two months after community controversy first surfaced over the ethics of Wisconsin State Journal-published Capital Region Business Journal and the advertiser membership of its accompanying advisory board, Madison’s largest newspaper is working to maintain its credibility.
Bush Seeks Tax Reform Input
Hmmm. I wonder what the odds of “public input” ending up in final tax legislation… Here’s the site.
IRS Income Statistics
New York Telecommuter Tax
Taxprof takes a look at New York’s Telecommuter tax efforts.
Berceau Introduces Bill to Force Big Box Stores to Reimburse State Health Care Costs
Therese BerceauPDF:
The bill would place a graduated 1% to 2% gross receipts tax on any store that exceeds $20 million in a
taxable year, and that allocates less than 10% of its payroll to health insurance for its employees. The
bill applies only if the retailer fails to pay full-time, entry-level employees at least $22,000 a year; or if more than 25% of the retailer’s workforce is part-time. The revenue would go into the state’s Medical Assistance trust fund.
“Wisconsin taxpayers are picking up the health care tab for the largest and one of the most profitable
corporations in the world, Wal-Mart,” said Rep. Berceau. “While Wal-Mart is banking about $7 billion a
year in pure profit, Wisconsin taxpayers are paying $4.75 million a year (through state and federal
taxes) to care for 1,175 Wal-Mart employees and relatives in state BadgerCare, and 1,952 in Medicaid,” she added.
10 Wisconsin Small Businesses & Investor Tax Credits
“I championed legislation to spur more venture capital investment, as it is essential to the state’s economic growth,” Governor Doyle said. “By encouraging investors through tax credits to make these crucial investments – we are helping to turn these great ideas into viable, job-creating businesses.”
The Angel Investor and Venture Fund Tax Credit Programs offer Wisconsin income tax credits to angel investors and investors in seed-stage venture capital funds. These programs are designed to increase the supply of both qualified angel investors and investors in qualified venture capital funds. The tax credits are available only for investments made in technology businesses qualified by Commerce. As Commerce qualifies businesses for investment, it will list them on the Commerce website.
President Visits Milwaukee Web News Firm
President Bush made an interesting choice during his visit to Milwaukee today, stopping to say hello to the folks at www.onmilwaukee.com. The legacy publication, the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel mentioned the visit and the domain!
School Referenda
In order to clarify what I said to the reporter in the May 18 story entitled Mayor Urges Yes Vote for Schools, I sent the following letter to the CapTimes:
Dear Editors,
I was quoted as saying the “world wouldn’t come to a screeching halt” if the referenda did not pass. Actually, what I said was there was plenty of time for the school board to prepare new referenda questions for a November election, when we would otherwise be voting. Thus, for those of us concerned that these items are not based on solid data, a ‘no’ vote now would not bring the district to its knees.
Why the rush, then? Because the outcome might change. For instance, by next fall, we might learn that the demographics in the district and Leopold neighborhood argue against a school there, perhaps that building there would mean certain school closures in the Isthmus area. Those following school issues know that another far West side elementary school is surely going to get built in addition to whatever happens at Leopold. Something’s got to give.
And as to the operating and maintenance questions, we need a closer look at the teachers’ contract and also the “untouchable” administrative staff arrangements. Actually, we need an overall transparent budget process. If the numbers are solid, let’s see the justifications and assumptions. I am happy to support these requests when I can trust the numbers. Right now, I don’t.
Joan M. Knoebel