UNSPUN: April 24, 2019
Tony Evers says Foxconn's promise to employ 13,000 people is "unrealistic," meanwhile the company insists it will uphold its promises. [WMTV-TV]
Jobs & the Economy
ICYMI: News Reports Reveal Foxconn Initiated Discussion on Possible Contract Changes
Media reports, based on a letter released by Tony Evers, indicate Foxconn has approached the state seeking changes to an agreement.
Foxconn initiated steps to change state contract, Gov. Tony Evers says
Analiese Eicher, executive director of One Wisconsin Now, said Tuesday's disclosure made Republican lawmakers look bad. [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]
Evers: Foxconn deal with state may need to be ‘downsized’
However, while Republicans were decrying Evers’ remarks, the progressive state group One Wisconsin Now welcomed them. [Racine Journal]
Gov. Tony Evers Calls for Renegotiation of Foxconn Deal
Today, Gov. Tony Evers announced he will seek to modify the terms of a contract with Foxconn.
Other Views: Let’s curb state manufacturing tax credit
One Wisconsin Now showed that, in the four years between 2013 and 2016, Kimberly-Clark paid a grand total of $1 in state income taxes. [Janesville Gazette]
Promises to Stick by Factory Plans in Wisconsin — Foxconn Damage Control
Speaker Robin Vos and Republican legislators took control of the agency in charge of the Foxconn deal and slashed accountability. [Global Engineering News]
Wisconsin legislators play blame game after Foxconn upends purpose of Mount Pleasant plant
Wwhat did they know about Foxconn’s plans to drastically cut back their end of the bargain, and when did they know it? [Milwaukee Independent]
Walker Foxconn Legacy in Shambles, Gov. Evers to clean up another mess.
Robin Vos and legislative Republicans grabbed control of the agency in charge of the Foxconn deal and slashed accountability. [DemoCurmudgeon]
New Questions About Robin Vos, GOP’s Lame Duck Law Changes As Foxconn Scales Back Wisconsin Operation
Taiwanese electronics manufacturer Foxconn intends to drastically scale back its proposed Wisconsin operation, again.
WEDC would use audit spot checks, business owners’ word to verify job creation under lame-duck bill
An outfit like Foxconn should have to do what they said they would before they get billions of our tax dollars. [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]
Foxconn-style subsidy for Kimberly-Clark up for hearing before legislative panel
Kimberly-Clark has paid almost no state income taxes ... which largely shields such businesses from tax liability, according to One Wisconsin Now. [Wisconsin State Journal]
GOP Pushes Tax Giveaway Plan That Pays More for Fewer Jobs
It’s outrageous that Republicans in the legislature are trying to put state taxpayers on the hook for $100 million or more for a corporation.
Absolute Fraud’: After Billions in Taxpayer Subsidies Championed by Trump, Ryan, and Walker, Foxconn to Import Chinese Workers for Wisconsin Jobs
As we predicted, @ScottWalker’s $4.5 billion taxpayer-funded election Hail Mary was more like punting to a foreign billionaire on second down. [Common Dreams]
Roger Roth Delivers for Owners of Professional Sports Franchise and Foreign Corporation, Not Fox Valley Workers
Roger Roth has voted to send billions of state tax dollars to Southeastern Wisconsin to help billionaire ballclub owners and a foreign corporation.
Desperate Scott Walker Wants to Hand Out More Election-Year Corporate Welfare
Scott Walker wants to write another election-year check for corporate welfare instead of investing Wisconsin tax dollars into Wisconsin.
The Best Governor Money Can Buy
One Wisconsin Now found that 60 percent of the money awarded by WEDC went to companies that donated $2.1 million to Walker. [Urban Milwaukee]
Kimberly-Clark Wants Wisconsin’s Commitment on Tax Incentives
One Wisconsin Now recently said that Kimberly-Clark is pressuring the state for tax incentives, even though it pays virtually no income taxes to Wisconsin. [Bloomberg]
Gov. Scott Walker’s Foxconn Effect Includes $56,000 in Taxpayer-Funded ‘Walker Air’ Fly Arounds
One Wisconsin Now has found the frequently flying Governor’s air travels to promote the Foxconn deal are adding over $56,000 to the taxpayer tab.
Gov. Scott Walker Has Another Foxconn-Fueled Campaign Announcement
Records Show Scott Walker Has Spent $33,000 Using the State Plane for Foxconn-Related Flying Days.
Scott Walker and GOP Senate candidates say they oppose a Harley boycott after avoiding the issue
Every time Scott Walker tries to thread the needle with Donald Trump, he looks like a career politician who's willing to be on all sides of an issue. [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]
Answer the Question, Scott Walker
Gov. Scott Walker has not responded directly when asked about his views on Trump’s boycott.
Walker donors nailing down more Foxconn contracts
One Wisconsin Now reports that more Foxconn contracts are being awarded to Walker campaign donors. [the Political Environment]
Tony Evers’ first ad promises to boost education; Gov. Scott Walker defends Foxconn deal
Walker’s campaign has booked $2.3 million in television ads across the state between May and mid-August, according to research by liberal group One Wisconsin Now. [Associated Press]
Scott Walker promotes Foxconn in four new ads as two of his top Democratic challengers hit the airwaves
“Scott Walker is so angry about his tanking poll numbers, he forgot he is the only candidate for governor who got his photo taken with an indicted Russian spy,” Scot Ross of the liberal group One Wisconsin Now said by email. [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]
MEMO: Where’s the Foxconn money?
The question of the 2018 election season is: how much Foxconn money is pouring into the outside groups who will be supporting Scott Walker and attacking his opponent?
More Donors to Gov. Scott Walker’s Campaign Get Foxconn Contracts
‘Those Who Give Keep Getting’ As Total of Donations to Scott Walker From Businesses Snagging Contracts Surpasses $582,000
Protests, revelations marred Foxconn photo op for Walker and Trump
Protesters, including activists affiliated with NextGen Wisconsin, Gaia Coalition Network, and One Wisconsin Now, continued demonstrating throughout the afternoon. [Wisconsin Gazette]
One Wisconsin Now Creates “Foxconndoms” to Raise Awareness for Controversial Plant
I spoke with Analiese Eicher, One Wisconsin Now’s Program Director, who created the custom condoms on our website. Analiese told me about the plant. [Medium]
Trump’s Attacks On Harley-Davidson Put Walker In Awkward Spot
"Donald Trump caused this crisis and career politician Scott Walker is too intimidated to call him out," said One Wisconsin Now Executive Director Scot Ross. [Wisconsin Public Radio]
Scott Walker Flies While Harley Davidson Flees
While Scott Walker campaigns in the air, Harley Davidson ships jobs overseas. Donald Trump caused this crisis, Scott Walker is too intimidated to call him out.
Foxconn taps Black River Falls company
One Wisconsin Now's review shows the owners and their families of the newly revealed subcontractors have donated at least $359,000 to Walker’s campaign. [Eau Claire Leader-Telegram]
Foxconn Deal Proving Lucrative … For Donors to Gov. Scott Walker’s Campaign
Companies Whose Owners and Families Have Given $359,000 Land No-Bid Contracts for $4.5 Billion Taxpayer-Subsidized Foxconn Project
Latest Crisis Shows the Only Job Scott Walker Cares About Is His Own
Gov. Scott Walker waited until nearly a week after an announcement 600 jobs would be lost to declare, via Twitter, he would consider doing something.
One Wisconsin Now Joins With Worker Advocates Opposing Efforts to Weaken Wisconsin Laws Protecting Wisconsin Families
One Wisconsin Now today joined with advocates for Wisconsin families in opposing measures that would undermine current protections in state law for workers.
Residents Forced to Move as Foxconn Incentives Hit $4 Billion
Mike Browne, deputy director of One Wisconsin Now, said the deal with Foxconn will take money directly out of the pockets of Wisconsinites. [Efficient Gov]
Stunning Special Election in Wisconsin Shows Scott Walker’s Foxconn Deal Isn’t the Political Winner It Was Sold as
One Wisconsin Now, a major progressive non-profit in the state, says the deal has “absolutely” become a liability for Walker electorally. [the Intercept]
One Wisconsin Now Statements on Gov. Scott Walker Signing Contract to Implement Largest State Giveaway to A Foreign Corporation in U.S. History
Scott Walker literally signed away our future, agreeing to a contract to send billions of our tax dollars to boost the bottom line of a foreign corporation.
Walker Retreats From Foxconn Deal
As One Wisconsin Now, told Stein, if Walker isn’t mentioning Foxconn, it’s because the governor’s internal polling is showing the deal isn’t popular. [Urban Milwaukee]
Before the Ink is Dry on the Contract, Gov. Scott Walker Running Away from His Foxconn Deal
Scott Walker Can Run From Deal, But Voters Won’t Let Him Hide From His Giveaway to Foreign Corporation
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker downplays Foxconn because deal not a sure campaign winner
Scot Ross, head of the liberal group One Wisconsin Now, noted Walker regularly gets polls of his own. [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]
Walker thanks Illinois Democrats for tax increases in ad for fellow GOP Gov. Bruce Rauner
Gov. Walker cutting an attack ad on jobs in Illinois is a bizarre move for a guy who broke his 2010 promise to create 250,000 jobs by 2014. [WITI-TV]
Walker Administration Keeps Details of Foxconn Deal Secret as Agency Entrusted With Overseeing Deal Subject of Another Critical Review
Another audit finds Gov. Scott Walker’s WEDC continues to fail to meet even basic standards of accountability and competence.
Amazon in the market for HQ2, angles for subsidies
“We saw from the Foxconn debacle Scott Walker is a terrible negotiator,” said Scot Ross of the statewide progressive group One Wisconsin Now. [Wisconsin Gazette]
‘Wisconn Valley’ T-Shirts Promoting Gov. Scott Walker Foxconn Deal Foreign-Made
Wisconsin taxpayers are on the hook for billions of dollars as part of the largest state subsidy for a foreign corporation in history.
Walker On Foxconn Bill Signing: Today Is One Of Those Days We Savor
Scott Walker, and the legislators that put the bill on his desk, are responsible for committing us to send billions to a foreign corporation. [Racine County Eye]
US state grants $3 billion in tax incentives to Foxconn
The governor and state legislators "are responsible for committing us to send billions to a foreign corporation instead of investing it here," said Scot Ross. [AFP]
Gov. Scott Walker to Sign Away $3 Billion of Our Money to Subsidize Foreign Electronic Manufacturer
Today, Gov. Scott Walker is set to sign into law the largest state subsidy given to a foreign corporation in history.
Foxconn Tax Incentives Clear Wisconsin Senate
One Wisconsin Now characterized A.B. 1 as the most costly state-funded tax credit package ever offered to a foreign corporation in U.S. history. [Bloomberg]
Private Jets, Private Schools and Private Equity Fund Managers Big Winners Under Republican Budget Scheme
Private jets, private schools and private equity fund managers win, the vast majority of Wisconsinites, especially student loan borrowers, lose.