Foxconn, Electric Vehicle Fee On Finance Panel’s Plate

The Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee begins what could be its final work on the next state budget this (Tuesday) afternoon. The panel will consider separate bills for the three-billion-dollar incentive package to have Foxconn put its first U-S smartphone and T-V screen plant in either Racine or Kenosha counties. It will then act on a number of budget measures — including a proposed 100-dollar fee for owners of electric and hybrid vehicles to help cover a large road funding shortfall. The budget was supposed to take effect July first, but majority G-O-P lawmakers have disagreed on how to pay for road work — and various borrowing levels remain on the table. It also remains to be seen whether the finance panel would create a package of last second surprises. Some lawmakers raised doubts about that, after a late Republican plan to close certain public records was quickly shot down two years ago amid heavy criticism.