WQOW: Sen. Johnson Tours Chippewa Falls business, holds jobs roundtable during visit
On Monday, Sen. Ron Johnson visited SGI in Chippewa Falls. The company is currently producing a new type of computer server and Johnson wanted to learn more about the product.
In December, the national unemployment rate dropped to eight and a half percent.
"Sure it's good news, it's better than having a net decrease in jobs," says Sen. Ron Johnson, (R) Wisconsin.
However, Johnson says the numbers come with caution.
"Part of the bad news in the numbers is we've lost 170,000 people to the workforce," says Johnson. "They've been so discouraged by economic progress they just dropped out of the workforce."
Another topic Johnson weighed in on was the payroll tax holiday extension approved by lawmakers at the end of 2011. Johnson voted against the measure. He believes the tax holiday has had little impact on the economy.
"We can target tax relief for middle and low income families, that would be a better approach, it wouldn't cost that much, we wouldn't have to find as many cost off-sets, but I think we need to restore the payroll tax to where it should be long-term so we actually fund America's retirement program," says Johnson.
As for the 2012 presidential race, Johnson says he isn't throwing his support behind a specific Republican candidate just yet.
"I've been watching the debates and over time, the Republican candidates are honing their message and they're listening to people, that's kind of a natural progression of campaign," says Johnson. "I think I'm happy to give these candidates a little more time, I will say that any Republican candidate will be a vast improvement over President Obama."
While in the area, Johnson also visited the veterans homeless shelter in Chippewa Falls, spoke with high school students in Eau Claire and held a roundtable on job creation with the Eau Claire Chamber of Commerce.
