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MADISON – Today, joined by a handful of out-state Republicans, members of the Assembly Democratic caucus voted against Special Session Assembly Bill 1 which gives up to $3 billion in taxpayer dollars and guts countless environmental regulations to lure Taiwanese manufacturer, Foxconn, to Southeast Wisconsin. Since existing corporate handouts most likely negate any potential state income tax liability, Foxconn could receive upwards of $3 billion in cash from state taxpayers for building a manufacturing plant exempt from significant environmental protections in southeastern Wisconsin and creating an unspecified number of jobs that do not have to be filled by Wisconsin workers.
Rep. Chris Taylor (D-Madison), Rep. Jimmy Anderson (D-Fitchburg), Rep. Jonathan Brostoff (D- Milwaukee), Rep. Melissa Sargent (D-Madison), Rep. Sondy Pope (D-Mount Horeb), Rep. Lisa Subeck (D-Madison), Rep. Terese Berceau (D-Madison) and Rep. Amanda Stuck (D-Appleton) released the following statement:
“Today, we proudly stood united for Wisconsin communities, Wisconsin small businesses, Wisconsin public schools and Wisconsin families in voting against a $3 billion massive corporate tax giveaway to a foreign corporation. Under the Foxconn scheme, millions of dollars in each budget for the next fifteen years will be drained from our schools, from our roads and bridges, and from our local small businesses to pad the pockets of a Taiwanese billionaire with a history of polluting rivers and abusing workers.
“There is no guarantee Wisconsinites will ever receive one dime in return. About the only guarantee Wisconsinites have received is that this corporation will be allowed to pollute our wetlands and streams with little environmental oversight.
“We all want to create good paying, long-lasting, family-supporting jobs. Unfortunately, this ‘deal’ feeds the profits of a foreign corporation from the kitchen tables of every Wisconsinite. We will continue to advance policies which actually invest in the people of our state, rather than a foreign corporation.”
