U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson visited SGI in Chippewa Falls Monday to tour the facility and see the company’s latest product, due to be shipped out in about a month.

Johnson received a first-hand look at SGI’s newest technology: a high-performance computer server which SGI Vice President Dick Harkness  said allows for better speed and interconnectivity in systems.

Harkness said the company spent 18 months developing the server and has already seen a substantial demand for it.

“It will test our production capability,” Harkness said.

Johnson said he chose to tour SGI Monday because of its growth and success in Wisconsin, despite not being a native company.

“It’s a positive sign,” Johnson said. “It’s a company ... headquartered in California that is growing (in Wisconsin).”

Johnson highlighted the need for government to decrease regulations on companies and create a more attractive business climate.

To help with his goal of reduced government, the Republican said he is currently working on a bill that would place a moratorium on new federal regulations on companies — at least until the monthly unemployment rate drops below 7.7 percent.

“We need to take the burden off of job creators,” Johnson said.

Another bill in the works for Johnson is aimed at reducing the federal workforce. For every three federal employees retiring from a position, there will only be one new rehire.

This adds into his overall goal of reducing federal government spending and resolving the country’s mounting national debt. He said every program and agency can and should be looked at for cuts, even the Department of Defense, though he added that proper national security should still be maintained.

Johnson did not specifically say if his quest to reduce federal spending would include decreased government contracts with SGI or other Chippewa County companies, but he did say companies should not focus on government funding as a business model.

Despite 2012 being a year of high-profile elections, Johnson declined to give an endorsement to either a Republican presidential candidate or anyone in the race to replace outgoing U.S. Sen. Herb Kohl.

“I’ll let voters decide,” Johnson said. “My first priority is ... people that don’t want to be “president” or “senator” but will seriously work for solutions.”

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