The giant medical technology corporation located in Verona, Wis., Epic Systems, made a statement today that it will drop vendors who agree with the political views of the conservative business group Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce.
As we say in Wisconsin, holy cow!
Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce is a statewide business group with a long, storied history of supporting conservative political candidates and screaming about high tax burdens, fighting the closure of corporate tax loopholes, backing polluters, etc.
Their actions are viewed by progressives, and other reasonable citizens, as damaging to state business growth and our fine Midwestern state "brand."
In the past few years, WMC has bankrolled the election of right wing State Supreme Court Judges - and won - in very nasty, shameful, ways.
And now, the founder of Epic Systems, the unabashedly liberal, Judy Faulkner, whom WMC recently dismissed as "that computer lady," and her management team have laid it on the line!!
In a statement to the State Journal, the company cited concern over Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce's spending this year on behalf of state Supreme Court candidate Michael Gableman, estimated at $1.8 million, as a reason for working only with vendors whose officials oppose WMC's agenda.
"We believe that what we tolerate is what we stand for, and as corporate citizens, we stand for the preservation of the foundation of the judicial system," said the statement, attributed to the Epic Management Team. "... After careful consideration, we made a decision to try to work only with vendors that do not support WMC with its current management. This was not a decision we made lightly, but believe it is the right thing to do."
Epic's stand could set the stage for some awesome netroots action!
Howard Schweber, a professor of law and political science at UW-Madison, said he's never heard of another situation in which a business threatens not to work with another company based on an election campaign.
UPDATE: The first Epic vendor has pulled its membership from WMC! Holy cow!