Gov. Walker’s Campaign Launches Political Attack on a Successful International Corporation Based in Wisconsin that Provides 1,000 Jobs

MADISON, Wis. — In his latest negative television ad, Gov. Scott Walker’s campaign attacks Trek Bicycles – an international company, headquartered in Wisconsin and employing 1,000 state residents. According to One Wisconsin Now Executive Director Scot Ross, this is just the latest example of the Governor putting his political self-interest before progress on Wisconsin jobs.

“Career politician Scott Walker has shown time and again that his first, second and last thought is, what do I need to do to win my next election?” said Ross. “There is no other reason why he’s on TV attacking a home-grown, successful international company that’s based in Wisconsin, employing 1,000 state residents and is the only major bike manufacturer in the world still making bikes in the U.S.”

“We’re last in the Midwest on jobs because @GovWalker is working for himself, not the people of Wisconsin.”

This is not the first time that politics and progress have clashed when it comes Gov. Walker, and that politics has won. A recent report from One Wisconsin Now found that owners or employees of 30 percent of businesses receiving assistance from Gov. Walker’s semi-private Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) contributed to Gov. Walker’s campaign or the Republican Governors Association. Meanwhile these same businesses received almost 60 percent of WEDC economic development funds – $570 million in total.

Among the other key findings of the report were that WEDC economic development dollars are not resulting in promised job creation and WEDC fund recipients include companies engaged in health and safety violations, mass layoffs and conflicts of interest.

In addition, a report by WKOW-TV uncovered how WEDC doled out millions of dollars in special state tax breaks for two corporations that turned around and shipped jobs out of Wisconsin overseas to places like China, Eastern Europe and Mexico. Persons closely associated with the businesses have reportedly donated nearly $20,000 to Gov. Walker’s campaign.

“Turning his WEDC into a fundraising vehicle for himself, doling out state resources to job outsourcers who contribute to his campaign and now attacking a successful state business for purely partisan political purposes – this is what Gov. Walker’s economic agenda comes down to. We’re last in the Midwest and lagging most of the nation on jobs because Gov. Walker is working for himself, not the people of Wisconsin,” concluded Ross.