Contact: Joe Fadness
[email protected]

Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle vote in favor of family-supporting jobs made possible by bold reforms

[Madison, Wis.] – In case you missed it, the Wisconsin State Assembly voted with bipartisan support in favor of Foxconn Technology Group’s plan to bring thousands of family-supporting jobs to Wisconsin as part of the largest economic development project in state history.

Foxconn’s historic investment will bring tens of thousands of jobs to Wisconsin and spur economic activity across the entire state. The project will create up to 45,000 jobs when including construction, indirect and induced jobs. This investment was made possible by the bold reforms led by Gov. Walker and is part of a major comeback that has more people working than ever before and near record-low unemployment.

Read WISC-TV News 3’s coverage here or find excerpts below:

State Assembly passes $3B Foxconn bill
WISC-TV News 3
August 17, 2017

The Wisconsin state Assembly has passed a $3 billion tax break package for Taiwan-based electronics giant Foxconn Technology Group.

The bipartisan vote Thursday now sends the bill to the Senate, where it must also pass in identical form before it goes to Republican Gov. Scott Walker.

The Assembly passed the measure on a 59-30 vote, with three Democrats joining 56 majority Republicans in support. Twenty-eight Democrats and two Republicans voted against it.

Democratic state Rep. Cory Mason, D-Racine, said during debate Thursday that he intends to vote for the bill. He is the first Democrat to publicly say he will back the measure that is being championed by Gov. Scott Walker and fellow Republicans. …

Republicans have argued the bill is an opportunity for major economic growth in the state.

“What we’re doing here is investment in brand new technology,” said Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Burlington.  “We’re investing in creating an entire new segment of our economy, so we are taking bold action. This is bold, something we haven’t done in Wisconsin.  We have not shot for the stars like we are today.”

Walker released a statement Thursday night after the Assembly vote.

“As the world’s largest electronics manufacturer, Foxconn’s $10 billion investment and 13,000 new jobs will be transformational. Today’s vote in the Assembly was the next big step in bringing a high-tech ecosystem to Wisconsin. I thank all the Republicans and Democrats who supported this bill and made the right call. We are ready to take advantage of this historic opportunity for our state and build a long-lasting partnership with Foxconn. We look forward to the bill passing the Senate soon,” he said.

Foxconn Technology Group also issued a statement Thursday.

“We appreciate the support state lawmakers have shown to bringing thousands of jobs, a world-class manufacturing facility with a full supply chain, and an 8K+5K ecosystem to Wisconsin. As the largest electronics manufacturer in the world, Foxconn Technology Group understands the value of strong partnerships and has committed to making Wisconsin a part of our family. Today, Wisconsin lawmakers showed the same level of commitment, and we look forward to continuing to work with them to transform Wisconsin’s economy and make it a center of worldwide high-tech manufacturing.”

A hearing is likely in the Joint Finance Committee next week.

###

Print Friendly, PDF & Email