6 WISCONSIN GROCER www.wisconsingrocers.com
PresidentLive to Fight Another DayFor many days and weeksafter the election, I receivedlots of calls and emails fromfolks upset over PresidentObama’s re-election. Manywere looking for a goodreason not to pull an AlecBaldwin and move toCanada.As we said the day after theelection, the outcome wasa mixture of success anddisappointment. Yes, youcould shut down the business,cash it in, pack up the pick-upand go, or you can do whatgrocers are known for: lift yourhead up, move forward andlive to fight another day.That’s not to say that thecourse the President has putus on is a good one. In fact,it’s not. Most grocers andsmall business owners werenot pleased with the electionknowing that they would soonbe faced with tax increasesand increased health carecosts and regulations.We will have another shotat turning this failing shiparound in four years, but inthe meantime we’ve got tomake some changes andfind some areas of commonground to make sure we don’tsummersault over the fiscalcliff and let our countrygo completely to hell in ahand basket.Unless we all find a way towork together, you’ll see moreand more of these headlines:• 48% Think New Tax MoneyWill Go to New Programs,Not Deficit Reduction• GOP Warns of Shutdownover Filibuster• Fiscal cliff: Will LiberalsJump?• CBO: Fiscal Cliff CouldTrigger Recession• Fiscal Cliff’ and Where toRaise TaxesAs we go to print, I’ve joinedthe <strong>Wisconsin</strong> SteeringCommittee for a groupcalled Fix the Debt(www.fixthedebt.org), anon-partisan movement toput America on a better fiscaland economic path knowingthat America’s growing federaldebt threatens our futureand that we must address it.The group comes out of theremnants of the Simpson-Bowles Commission andhas these lofty goals:• Develop a fiscal plan thatcan succeed both financiallyand politically, it must bebipartisan and reforms allareas of the budget.• Reform Medicare andMedicaid, improve efficiencyin the overall health caresystem, and limit futurecost growth.• Strengthen Social Security, sothat it is solvent and will bethere for future beneficiaries.• Include comprehensive andpro-growth tax reform, whichbroadens the base, lowersrates, raises revenues, andreduces the deficit.Will it work? I’m willing totry and be part of a solution.And I hope that as I reach outto you and other businessleaders, you’ll at least put yourname on the Citizen’s Petitionto Fix the Debt.Another ElectionYou might have thought thatyou reached the point where itwas safe to not think aboutpolitics, but not so fast.In April 2013, voters in<strong>Wisconsin</strong> will vote to electa Justice to the State SupremeCourt as well as local officesand possibly a couple ofreferendums.Frankly, this election is justas important as the recallelections and the Novemberelections. Should the currentmajority of the court bechanged and Justice PatRoggensack not be re-elected,it is certain that most if notall of the reforms passed bythe state legislature will beoverturned in the courts and<strong>Wisconsin</strong> will swimming ina regulatory mess and a taxcesspool.Don’t pass on theopportunity to make sure weavoid that quagmire becauseyou’re tired of elections.Remember, grocers live tofight another day.BrandonScholzWGAPresidentand CEO...this electionis just asimportantas the recallelections andthe Novemberelections.Welcome New Board MembersGreg Cross,DirectorGreg Cross is thenewly appointedSenior SalesManager for NashFinch located at the St Cloud, MNDivision. Prior to joining Nash-Finch, Greg spent five years inBermuda working for the island’slargest food retailer, MarketPlace,in store operations.WollersheimWinery welcomedthe WGA Board totheir facility for arecent boardmeeting.Toby Spangler,DirectorToby J. Spangleris Senior Director,Diageo StateGovernmentRelations. His duties includemanaging all state and localissues on behalf of Diageo inthe Midwest region. Spanglerserved on the WGA Board from2003 to 2008.2012 Fall WISCONSIN GROCER 7