Wisconsin Democrats Hit State Fiscal Bureau on Foxconn Incentives
The Wisconsin Assembly’s Democratic Caucus members pressed leaders of the nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau on ramifications of $3 billion in cash incentives Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) agreed to grant Foxconn to build a $10 billion plant near Kenosha (see…
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1708040060). Terms of the memorandum of understanding Walker signed with Foxconn CEO Terry Gou are incorporated in a bill pending in a special session of the Assembly that Walker called to consider the legislation. Though Republicans hold majorities in both chambers, Democrats made clear in Thursday's webcast hearing that they won't acquiesce quietly. “Treat me like an idiot and just give me the numbers,” said the most outspoken of these, Rep. Jason Fields (D). “What are we giving and what are we getting” in return? Fields asked Fiscal Bureau Program Director Rob Reinhardt. What the state pays out in payroll incentives depends on how many Wisconsin employees Foxconn actually hires and how much it pays them, said Reinhardt. What if the deal “goes to hell?” Fields asked. “How are we protected? That’s really what everybody wants to know.” Were Foxconn to “tell us next month, 'Sorry, we’re going to Ohio,' then we’ve wasted a lot of time here, but we didn’t give them any money,” responded Reinhardt.