Epic Systems takes bold move against business lobby
Capital Times, June 28, 2008
By Jason Smathers
Two days after Verona-based health care tech company Epic Systems's decision to stop doing business with members or affiliates of the state's largest business lobby, the company is defending the move as politically neutral.
One Wisconsin Now used Epic's move as a jumping-off point Friday for a news re-lease that promoted a website it is launching to "raise awareness about WMC's conservative agenda." The group's press release on the website made passing reference to Epic founder Judy Faulkner, citing a WMC staffer who referred to her as "that computer lady."
In a press release sent out Friday, Epic's management team emphasized the company's "political neutrality" and said the decision was made after consulting management from across the political spectrum.
"Our decision-making process was thoughtful and deliberate," said a statement attributed to the Epic Management Team. "We discussed options with multiple management teams at Epic. It's important to note that members of Epic management that participated in our decision represented all political persuasions - from conservative to liberal, and everywhere in between."
Epic Systems Corp., which was founded in Madison in 1979, is the largest homegrown tech company in the state. Its statement Friday comes on the heels of revelations that CEO Judy Faulkner contributed money to liberal advocacy group One Wisconsin Now as well as the campaigns of Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk and Gov. Jim Doyle. Doyle is a Democrat, and though Falk's county position is non-partisan, she has run as a Democrat for other elected offices, including governor and attorney general.
One Wisconsin Now used Epic's move as a jumping-off point Friday for a news re-lease that promoted a website it is launching to "raise awareness about WMC's conservative agenda." The group's press release on the website made passing reference to Epic founder Judy Faulkner, citing a WMC staffer who referred to her as "that computer lady."
Epic stated on Wednesday that the company would no longer do business with vendors who have ties or membership with WMC. Epic management said that they could not support WMC's role in the Supreme Court race, which saw WMC pour approximately $1.8 million dollars into an ad campaign on behalf of Judge Michael Gableman. Gableman defeated incumbent Supreme Court Justice Louis Butler in April's election.
WMC's director of public relations Jim Pugh, said Epic's decision had actually rallied current WMC members.
"Our members are solid and they believe fully that the business community has an absolute right to speak out." Pugh said.
The status of some of Epic's vendors with ties to the lobby is uncertain. One vendor, M&I Bank, would not comment on the Epic situation and would only say that CEO Mark Furlong was "a member in good-standing of the Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce Board of Directors."
On Thursday, J.P. Cullen & Sons, a building contractor currently working on the expansion of Epic's Verona campus, announced that CEO David Cullen had resigned from WMC's board of directors on June 9, 2008. In the letter, Cullen announced his resignation from WMC's board of directors due to "corporate structuring and analysis."
"I continue to support the ideals of the organization to promote a healthy business climate for Wisconsin, and it is my intent to continue to advocate for sensible public policies that will benefit both the businesses and people in our great state," Cullen said in the letter.
Cullen refused to comment on the Epic situation, but emphasized that the decision to resign was his alone and based on his decision to focus on management of J.P Cullen & Sons.
Former Madison Mayor Paul Soglin, who worked for Epic until 2007 and has been openly critical of WMC, said he was "obviously pleased" with Cullen's decision.
"What we're doing is climbing a ladder," Soglin said. "We will not achieve our goal until we've reached the top. Cullen's withdrawal moves us up another couple of rungs. But WMC is perfectly capable of doing the same thing to legislative candidates next fall and (Supreme Court Chief Justice) Shirley Abrahamson next spring. The Cullen withdrawal is a significant blow, but it's not fatal."
Soglin said he had a conversation with Cullen in the fall where he expressed to Soglin that he played little role in the WMC ad campaign and wasn't committed to them.
Pugh noted that Cullen's statement indicated his "continued dedication" to the mission of WMC and said Soglin is "pedaling hearsay."
Soglin also says that Epic contacted him following Justice Butler's defeat, asking him for details on the lobbying group.
"I have provided them extensive detail about WMC's activities, and let's just say that from the tenor of the questions I got from Epic, I could see it coming," Soglin said.
Epic spokeswoman Barb Hernandez had no comment on Soglin's role in their deliberations, but said they consulted a wide array of community members from different political backgrounds before making their decision.
