Assembly OKs $3 Billion Foxconn Incentive Package

Wisconsin is one step closer to getting America’s first factory to make screens for smartphones and T-Vs. After six hours of debate Thursday, the state Assembly voted 59-30 to give three-billion dollars of incentives to Foxconn, which would spend ten-billion to build its plant in Racine or Kenosha counties. Democrats voted no except for three members who represent the area where the plant will most likely go — Peter Barca and Tod Ohnstad of Kenosha, and Cory Mason of Racine — and the package now goes to the Senate. Mason, a candidate for Racine mayor, said it’s harder for Americans to make it if “America doesn’t make anything they way they used to.” Republicans Todd Novak of Dodgeville and Adam Jarchow of Balsam Lake jumped ship from their party line and voted no — but most Republicans cited the thousands of jobs Foxconn would create while Democrats said the state’s deal does not protect taxpayers enough and would take money away from schools and health care.