The truth is most Wisconsin businesses are decent companies run by decent people. They do not manufacture products that injure or kill people. They do not maintain unsafe work environments that put the lives and health of their employees at risk.

Scores of terrible companies are not waiting across the border for Wisconsin to reduce the penalties for killing or injuring human beings so they can open up shop here. Those companies can find plenty of 8-year-olds to work for them in Thailand.

The idea that state businesses are hampered by expensive lawsuits is a fraud perpetrated by the right-wing Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce business lobby. According to a recent study by the conservative Pacific Research Institute, which advocates making it harder to sue businesses, Wisconsin is among the states where plaintiffs filing lawsuits against business have the least chance of success.

Besides, lawsuits against companies that do bad things are actually healthy for the free enterprise system. When doing bad things starts costing a company money, good companies make higher profits.

One of Walker’s bills would make it virtually impossible for plaintiffs to collect punitive damages from businesses that irresponsibly cut corners.