The Walker Budget Keeps On Working! Part XCCIV

Remember when Governor Jim Doyle invested in the University of Wisconsin so that it could be a world leader in the biotech field? Remember when Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk opened the door for biotech industries to take root and flourish, creating hundreds, if not thousands, of good paying jobs and putting Wisconsin on the map?

Man, I tell you, those were the days. The key word being "were."

In Fitzwalkerstan, Walker can't find two pennies to rub together for education, but can find over 200 million dollars to give to big businesses and big campaign donors. The results are predictable and they are not good for education or for business or for jobs:

Hologic Inc. will likely close its Madison facility 18 months or more after completing its pending acquisition of Gen-Probe Inc., according to a memo sent to employees.

Hologic, of Marlborough, Mass., gained a presence in Madison when it acquired Third Wave Technologies Inc., a maker of molecular diagnostic tests, in 2008. Hologic announced its $3.7 billion bid for Gen-Probe in April and has said it expects to complete the transaction in the third quarter.

Hologic has 150 employees in Madison, according to the 2012 Greater Madison area directory of high-tech companies published by Madison Gas & Electric Co.

Expense reductions will be completed during the next two months and would be implemented over an 18- to 24-month period after the acquisition closed, Rob Cascella, Hologic's chief executive, said in the memo, dated June 13.

All of the employees will be offered severance, the memo said.

"Through all of these extremely difficult times, I commit Hologic will be honorable and respectful," the memo said.

Hologic declined to comment about the memo or its plans for its Madison facility.

The article goes on to say that they hope some of the remaining companies pick up some of the workers. That will leave only 140 highly trained people to go on unemployment. Yay.