Gov. Jim Doyle criticized the state Legislature Tuesday for not focusing this week’s agenda on economic development.

Doyle described how Wisconsin residents are losing jobs every day as manufacturers close their doors and let people go. He added that elected representatives have an obligation to do “everything they can to save and create jobs” for people in the state, instead of getting bogged down on extraneous side issues.

Doyle urged the Legislature to reevaluate its agenda for this week to focus on the economic plan he proposed in September, which include such initiatives as raising the state minimum wage, investing more in job training, creating a $300 million fund to invest in venture capital and launching a new program to commercialize research, utilizing resources at the University of Wisconsin in particular.

“I have presented a detailed, comprehensive plan of action on economic development–‘Grow Wisconsin’–yet unfortunately the republican legislative leadership seems more interested in playing political games or passing bills that have nothing to do with creating jobs,” Doyle said.

The state Senate spent Tuesday’s entire floor session debating a Republican-authored resolution, which would allow the Senate president to remove a senator from the floor for a day if the member causes a disturbance or acts disorderly.

“It is simple, it is straightforward and it speaks to how to maintain order in this body,” said Senate Majority Leader Mary Panzer, R-West Bend.

After a six-hour debate, the state Senate closed the floor until Wednesday. Panzer and state Assembly leader John Gard, R-Peshtigo, said economic development in the state is a priority.

“Economic development is job one, for this Legislature,” Panzer said. “We have worked extremely hard with job creators all across the state to create a comprehensive, consensus package of reforms that will jump start Wisconsin’s economic engine and keep it strong for the long run.”

Panzer and Gard unveiled a comprehensive legislation on Thursday to create jobs in Wisconsin, known as the “Job Creation Act of 2003,” which is intended to pass before the end of the fall legislative session.

However, this week’s legislative agenda is not expected to change in order to meet Doyle’s request for economic emphasis.

“The sad fact is, nothing on the Legislative calendar for the Senate and Assembly this week has the slightest thing to do with getting our economy going again,” Doyle said. “This week, the Republican legislative leadership has decided to focus on letting concealed weapons into Little League games and passing redundant laws restating the definition of marriage.”

Doyle said that both Democrats and Republicans in the state Capitol should focus on creating jobs. He specifically stated the importance of legislation introduced by state Rep. Terry Van Akkeren, D-Sheboygan, and state Sen. Bob Wirch, D-Pleasant Prairie, that would expand youth apprenticeship.