Senate OKs Foxconn Incentives

A ten-billion dollar Foxconn smartphone and T-V screen plant is one step closer to being built in Racine County. The Wisconsin Senate approved a modified version of a three-billion dollar state incentive package Tuesday 20-13, and the Assembly will take up the changes tomorrow (Thursday). Bob Wirch, from the area near the plant, was the only Democrat in favor — and Green Bay’s Rob Cowles (coles) was the only Republican to vote no. The G-O-P tightened job requirements, and Green Bay area Republican Frank Lasee says the only way taxpayers are on the hook is if Foxconn creates up to 13-thousand jobs as promised — but Democrats said taxpayers could pay a lot and still not see the promised numbers of jobs, and Minority Leader Jennifer Shilling said Foxconn executives should have appeared before legislative panels to answer questions. The measure still lets Foxconn and its litigants bypass the appellate court, but the Supreme Court would have the choice of whether to take those cases.