The 8 Lessons of Foxconn
Political leaders looking for what not to do could learn so much from Foxconn deal.
September 18 marked the one-year anniversary of the bill authorizing massive subsidies for a Foxconn plant in southeast Wisconsin. Although we still don’t know many specifics about the plant that will be built and the new jobs that will result, we have learned a lot in the last year, and the current picture is considerably different than what we had been led to believe a year ago.
Here are eight significant things we have learned since the Governor pushed the huge subsidies through the legislature in great haste last year:
1) The plant will be very different from what the Walker administration and Foxconn described to legislators and the public a year ago. – A year ago, Hon Hai Precision (Foxconn) was planning to construct a 21.5-million square foot manufacturing complex (“big enough to hold 11 Lambeau Fields”) for the production of Generation 10.5 LCD screens using thin-film transistor fabrication. The contract signed by state and Foxconn officials incorporates this plan in its description of the Project. The Gen 10.5 plants are the largest and most expensive in the display industry, producing very large panels, such as 65- or 75-inch television screens. The glass for such large panels must be manufactured at or near a Gen 10.5 plant to hold down transportation costs.
Foxconn was unable to lure a manufacturer of the large glass screens to the Racine area, where such a facility would have cost an additional $1 billion or more. As a result of this, as well as market forces, Foxconn recently acknowledged that it would first build a much smaller Generation 6 plant, to manufacture smaller display panels cut from smaller pieces of glass. The Gen 6 plant has a much smaller footprint and is far more automated than the Gen 10.5 plant, employing fewer people overall and fewer lower-skilled workers.
2) Economic forces make Foxconn plans much more fluid than most people anticipated. – The changes in the Foxconn plans that emerged over the last month or two illustrate that Foxconn must adjust to shifting economic circumstances. That should come as no surprise to anyone, but it flies in the face of the types of concrete assurances state and corporate officials were making in 2017 about Foxconn’s intentions.
The recently announced changes also illustrate that Foxconn’s assurances about its plans should not be relied on. After a newspaper reported in May that the corporation would build a smaller Wisconsin plant than initially planned, Foxconn representatives flatly denied that for a couple months before finally conceding that the story was correct.
3) The total subsidies for Foxconn are much greater than the $3 billion that lawmakers focused on during debate on the bill. – Foxconn will receive direct payments for 15% of their costs of construction and 17% of their costs of payroll for individuals’ pay up to $100,000, provided the company meets certain benchmarks in the number of people employed and the average wage per employee. These subsidies (not tax refunds, because Foxconn will pay virtually no tax under Wisconsin law) could amount to $2.85 billion over the course of the 15-year contract.
Foxconn is also receiving a variety of other assistance from the state and local governments. A January 4, 2018 Legislative Fiscal Bureau memo estimated this assistance could increase the total subsidies by more than $1.6 billion dollars, or almost 57%:
- Local Government Assistance $763.8 million
- Expedited I-94 Project (plus debt service) $408.3 million
- Utility Costs $140 million
- Sales and Use Tax Exemption $139 million
- State and Local Road Improvements $134 million
- DWD Worker Training and Employment $20 million
- Grants to Local Governments $15 million
- Economic Development Liaison $361,000
Total Additional Costs: $1,620,461,000
The Foxconn legislation also creates a large potential cost for state and local governments. It authorizes municipalities to issue Tax Incremental Financing (TIF) revenue bonds, backed by the Department of Administration’s “moral obligation” pledge, to finance the costs related to development occurring in or for the benefit of the Foxconn manufacturing zone. If the revenues from the TIF districts fall short of the amount needed to cover the cost of the bond and interest, the state would be on the hook for up to 40% of the shortfall. The Village of Mount Pleasant has issued such TIF revenue bonds. Both Racine County and the Village of Mount Pleasant have had their bond ratings downgraded since taking on debt to finance improvements on behalf of Foxconn.
5) Whether the state and local governments eventually recover their subsidies remains unclear at best. – Even under the optimistic growth and employment scenarios laid out by Foxconn last year, it appeared that it would take at least 25 years of high levels of employment for the state to recoup the $2.85 billion cost of the new tax credits. The recently announced changes could potentially reduce the expenditures for those subsidies, but they will probably reduce the offsetting revenue collection even more – lengthening the time it will take to get a positive return on the huge expenditures.
For the same sorts of reasons that Foxconn’s plans have changed significantly in the last couple of months, the company’s future path will also change. In a field where technology is evolving so quickly, the Foxconn plant could easily become obsolete and the corporation might pull up stakes long before the new tax revenue offsets the costs of state and local subsidies. That risk will increase when the state cash payments end in 2032, since the economics of the plant seem to be dependent upon huge subsidies. A Foxconn exit at that point would almost certainly be well before the state and local governments can recoup the costs of those subsidies.
6) The billions of dollars allotted to Foxconn subsidies could produce far more jobs through other investments. – In the rush to pass the Foxconn legislation a year ago, legislators had no opportunity to consider and debate other potential uses of the billions of dollars slated to be used for the benefit of one employer. In a commentary released in May 2018, two economists – William Holahan, the former chair of the UW-Milwaukee Dept. of Economics, and Charles Kroncke, former professor and Dean of Business at UW-Madison – estimated that using the same amount of money for other subsidies would generate about 90,000 jobs instead of 13,000. Taking that lost opportunity into account, they concluded that the Foxconn deal will be a job loser for the state.
7) Awarding large subsidies to specific employers is a fiscally hazardous practice because it’s a slippery slope. – Some people foresaw this lesson, but the proposals this year to extend similar subsidies to Kimberly Clark make it clear that granting huge subsidies to a foreign corporation will make it very difficult for state policymakers to refuse to give comparable subsidies to Wisconsin-based corporations that claim to need that assistance to create or maintain jobs in the state. The bill the Assembly passed to help Kimberly Clark even went a step further by authorizing comparable subsidies for merely limiting the jobs cuts to 7% of the company’s local workers. The fiscal peril of facing numerous demands for similar subsidies should have been obvious to lawmakers a year ago when they succumbed to pressure to add a $12.5 million subsidy for Fiserv to the Foxconn bill, after that local corporation suggested it might move its headquarters. (Less than a year later, Fiserv announced it is buying the naming rights to the new Milwaukee Bucks arena, belying the company’s claim to need subsidies.)
8) The prospects for helping the Milwaukee area’s low-wage workers appear more remote. – One of the selling points for the Foxconn legislation was that the new plant would be a source of employment for low-wage workers in the Milwaukee area. The Department of Workforce Development touted the “transformational opportunity” of Foxconn for “those in the minority community facing barriers, particularly in the Milwaukee area.” Conservative commentator Mark Belling opined, “Milwaukee and Racine continue to have persistent problems of underemployment because many workers lack skills for higher-end jobs. Many of the positions Foxconn will create will be perfect for these people.” As recently as May of this year, a business reporter for the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel wrote that there would be jobs for “thousands of people who arrive at its gates with no special skills and no more education than a high school diploma.”
That employment scenario now seems considerably less likely, based on the changes in the type of plant that will be built. In an August 23 interview, a Foxconn representative said that the change of plans from a Gen 10.5 to a Gen 6 plant would significantly change the mix of employees. While the initial projections anticipated that 75% of the employees would be assembly workers and 25% engineers, Foxconn now projects an employee mix of 90% engineers, including sales and marketing employees, and fewer than 10% assembly workers.
In short, much has changed over the past year, and it is now clear that the proponents of the huge Foxconn subsidies package relied on flawed assumptions for the original sales pitch. Now that we can see that Foxconn’s plans are far more fluid than originally presented, we should not be surprised if Foxconn asks the state to renegotiate parts of the deal. If or when that happens, state and local policymakers need to be far more careful and deliberative than they were when proponents of the massive subsidy package rushed it through the legislature a year ago.
More about the Foxconn Facility
- Foxconn and UW-Milwaukee Host Send-off for Students Embarking on International Engineering Co-op - Foxconn Technology Group - Feb 15th, 2019
- 4 Forces Causing Foxconn Uncertainty - Will Cushman - Feb 13th, 2019
- Huge Water Project for Foxconn Continues - Will Cushman - Feb 12th, 2019
- Robin Vos Giving $500 an Hour Lawyers a Blank Check to Defend His Scheme to Rig the Rules for Foxconn - One Wisconsin Now - Feb 11th, 2019
- Why Foxconn’s Chinese Style Didn’t Translate - Willy Shih - Feb 8th, 2019
- Back in the News: Foxconn Project in “Chaos” - Bruce Murphy - Feb 7th, 2019
- State To Review Foxconn Air, Water Permits - Shawn Johnson - Feb 6th, 2019
- Joint Statement: Foxconn Developments - Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald - Feb 1st, 2019
- Foxconn No Longer Needs Lake Michigan Water? - Corri Hess - Feb 1st, 2019
- Evers, Foxconn Deny Project Is On Hold - Shawn Johnson - Feb 1st, 2019
- It’s Groundhog Day in the GOP Legislature - State Sen. Tim Carpenter - Feb 1st, 2019
- State Rep. David Bowen’s Statement on Latest Foxconn Flop - State Rep. David Bowen - Jan 31st, 2019
- Murphy’s Law: 12 Reasons The Foxconn Deal Is Dying - Bruce Murphy - Jan 31st, 2019
- Foxconn Played Walker and Republican Leadership - State Sen. Lena Taylor - Jan 30th, 2019
- Rep. Spreitzer statement on latest Foxconn news - State Rep. Mark Spreitzer - Jan 30th, 2019
- New Questions About Robin Vos, GOP’s Lame Duck Law Changes As Foxconn Scales Back Wisconsin Operation - One Wisconsin Now - Jan 30th, 2019
- Foxconn Breaks Promises Again - State Rep. Jimmy Anderson - Jan 30th, 2019
- Shilling Statement on Foxconn Fiasco - State Sen. Jennifer Shilling - Jan 30th, 2019
- Foxconn Won’t Build TVs in Wisconsin - Shawn Johnson - Jan 30th, 2019
- Foxconn Releases 2018 Wisconsin Project Highlights Including Creation of Over 1,000 Jobs - Foxconn Technology Group - Jan 18th, 2019
- Lawmakers Clash On Tracking Foxconn Jobs - Laurel White - Dec 21st, 2018
- Foxconn Reveals First-round Winners of “Smart Cities—Smart Futures” Competition - Foxconn Technology Group - Dec 14th, 2018
- 85% of Land Foxconn Needs Now Sold - Corri Hess - Dec 14th, 2018
- Podcast Shines Light on Mount Pleasant’s Rush to Win Foxconn Deal - A Better Mt. Pleasant - Dec 9th, 2018
- Foxconn’s investment in Wisconsin named ‘Deal of the Year’ by Mid-America Economic Development Council - Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation - Dec 6th, 2018
- Murphy’s Law: Foxconn Covets Intellectual Property Rights - Bruce Murphy - Dec 4th, 2018
- Village Improperly Wielded Eminent Domain Power - A Better Mt. Pleasant - Nov 28th, 2018
- Op Ed: Judge Extends Deadline on Foxconn Case - James Rowen - Nov 28th, 2018
- Murphy’s Law: Is Foxconn Contract Illegal? - Bruce Murphy - Nov 27th, 2018
- “Smart Cities—Smart Futures” Competition Draws Hundreds of Submissions, Supports Wisconsin Innovation - Foxconn Technology Group - Nov 27th, 2018
- Evers Doesn’t Think Foxconn Has Changed Plans - Shawn Johnson and Melissa Ingells - Nov 22nd, 2018
- Pocan and Doggett Request GAO Investigation into Economic Development Subsidies, Including Foxconn - U.S. Rep Mark Pocan - Nov 1st, 2018
- Foxconn and WEDC partner to showcase Wisconsin companies at the first China International Import Expo - Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation - Oct 31st, 2018
- Race for Governor: Evers Questions Foxconn Air Quality - Sarah Whites-Koditschek - Oct 29th, 2018
- Governor Walker: Foxconn’s Ripple Effect Continues to Grow with iMET Center Expansion - Gov. Scott Walker - Oct 22nd, 2018
- Foxconn Invites UW-Madison Students, Faculty, Alumni and Members of the Public to Foxconn Day Technology Showcase & Career Fair - Foxconn Technology Group - Oct 15th, 2018
- Op Ed: Our 1,000 Miles of Great Lakes Shoreline - State Sen. Kathleen Vinehout - Oct 10th, 2018
- Foxconn Issues Request for Proposal to Convert Downtown Racine Location into Smart City Co-Working Innovation Space - Foxconn Technology Group - Oct 9th, 2018
- Foxconn Purchases Downtown Racine Property to Support “Smart City” Initiatives across Wisconsin - Foxconn Technology Group - Oct 2nd, 2018
- Village of Mt. Pleasant Reneges on Agreement to Pay Relocation Benefits for Foxconn - A Better Mt. Pleasant - Sep 27th, 2018
- Connecting Milwaukee workers to Foxconn plant on agenda for tomorrow - Ald. Bob Bauman - Sep 25th, 2018
- Wisconsin Budget: The 8 Lessons of Foxconn - Jon Peacock and Joanne Brown - Sep 21st, 2018
- Foxconn Issues Request for Proposal for Design Enhancements to Foxconn Place Green Bay - Foxconn Technology Group - Sep 14th, 2018
- Foxconn Ramps Up Recruiting with Foxconn Day at UWM - University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee - Sep 13th, 2018
- Foxconn Committed to Hiring 3,000 Veterans; Begins Fall 2018 Military Veteran Recruitment Campaign - Foxconn Technology Group - Sep 12th, 2018
- Eyes on Milwaukee: Foxconn Hiring Real Estate Specialists - Jeramey Jannene - Sep 11th, 2018
- Campaign Cash: Foxconn Partners Are Big Walker Donors - Wisconsin Democracy Campaign - Sep 11th, 2018
- The Foxconn Effect: Mount Pleasant Bond Rating Downgraded - Democratic Party of Wisconsin - Sep 7th, 2018
- Runoff At Foxconn Site Raises Concerns - Ximena Conde - Sep 7th, 2018
- Murphy’s Law: More Foxconn Bells and Whistles - Bruce Murphy - Sep 5th, 2018
- Op Ed: Foxconn UW Funding Good News - Gregory Humphrey - Sep 4th, 2018
- Foxconn Bonus Continues: New $100 Million Wisconn Valley Venture Fund Created to Drive Innovation in Wisconsin - Gov. Scott Walker - Aug 28th, 2018
- Gov. Scott Walker Has Another Foxconn Fueled Campaign Announcement - One Wisconsin Now - Aug 28th, 2018
- $100 Million Foxconn Gift Launches Major New Partnership With UW–Madison - Foxconn Technology Group - Aug 27th, 2018
- 5 Questions Scott Walker Must Answer on Foxconn’s Broken Promises - Democratic Party of Wisconsin - Aug 27th, 2018
- Foxconn Moves the Goalposts…Again. Walker Says Nothing…Again - Democratic Party of Wisconsin - Aug 23rd, 2018
- Murphy’s Law: Foxconn’s Story Changes. Yet Again. - Bruce Murphy - Aug 23rd, 2018
- Governor Walker Visits Foxconn Construction Site to Discuss New Opportunities for Wisconsin Workers - Gov. Scott Walker - Aug 17th, 2018
- Could Foxconn Increase Downstream Flooding? - Scott Gordon - Aug 8th, 2018
- Foxconn Launches $1 Million “Smart Cities—Smart Futures” Competition - Foxconn Technology Group - Aug 7th, 2018
- Governor Walker Announces Initiative to Help Small Contractors Compete for Wisconn Valley Construction Work - Gov. Scott Walker - Aug 6th, 2018
- Wisconsin Receives National Award for Economic Development - Gov. Scott Walker - Aug 3rd, 2018
- DPW Response to Walker’s New Foxconn Ads: Walker Knows He’s In Trouble - Democratic Party of Wisconsin - Jul 31st, 2018
- Campaign Cash: Foxconn Bid Winners Donate $68,000 to Walker - Wisconsin Democracy Campaign - Jul 26th, 2018
- County Board Urges More Transit Options to Foxconn - County Board Chairman Theodore Lipscomb, Sr. - Jul 26th, 2018
- Murphy’s Law: Foxconn Plays Politics for Walker? - Bruce Murphy - Jul 26th, 2018
- Foxconn Issues Request for Proposals for Upgrades and Modernization of Company’s North American Corporate Headquarters in Downtown Milwaukee - Foxconn Technology Group - Jul 25th, 2018
- All bids completed for mainline I-94 North-South Project - Wisconsin Department of Transportation - Jul 24th, 2018
- More Donors to Gov. Scott Walker’s Campaign Get Foxconn Contracts - One Wisconsin Now - Jul 24th, 2018
- Foxconn Awards Contracts to 37 Companies with Wisconsin Operations for Construction of Multipurpose Building at Wisconn Valley Science and Technology Park - Foxconn Technology Group - Jul 24th, 2018
- WEDC Secretary Mark R. Hogan, DOA Secretary Ellen Nowak recognize Merrill Steel for role in Foxconn construction - Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation - Jul 23rd, 2018
- Murphy’s Law: Foxconn Deal Allows Low-Ball Wages - Bruce Murphy - Jul 17th, 2018
- Walker’s Foxconn Flop Tour Continues - State Sen. Jennifer Shilling - Jul 16th, 2018
- MKE County: Talks May Start on Bus to Foxconn - Graham Kilmer - Jul 12th, 2018
- Op Ed: Foxconn Will Be Major Source of Pollution - David H. Petering - Jul 9th, 2018
- Murphy’s Law: Is Foxconn Double Crossing Walker? - Bruce Murphy - Jul 3rd, 2018
- The State of Politics: Foxconn Deal Has Divided the State - Steven Walters - Jul 2nd, 2018
- Campaign Cash: Foxconn Winners Give Big to Walker - Wisconsin Democracy Campaign - Jun 29th, 2018
- Foxconn to Expand Wisconn Valley Innovation Center Network to Green Bay, Wisconsin - Foxconn Technology Group - Jun 29th, 2018
- Governor Walker Celebrates Wisconsin Winning the First LCD Manufacturing Facility in North America Foxconn breaks ground on $10 billion investment - Gov. Scott Walker - Jun 28th, 2018
- Op Ed: Foxconn Deal Will Help My City - Racine Mayor Cory Mason - Jun 28th, 2018
- Foxconn breaking promises before they’ve even broke ground - Democratic Party of Wisconsin - Jun 28th, 2018
- Op Ed: Foxconn Deal Already Paying Dividends - Mark R. Hogan - Jun 26th, 2018
- Village of Mount Pleasant to Certify Foxconn Redevelopment & Blight Resolution in Illegal Meeting - A Better Mt. Pleasant - Jun 19th, 2018
- Foxconn to Adopt World-Class Water Recycling Technology at Wisconn Valley Science and Technology Park - Foxconn Technology Group - Jun 19th, 2018
- Foxconn’s North American Headquarters Opening Downtown - Graham Kilmer - Jun 15th, 2018
- The Contrarian: Highways Issue Will Hurt Republicans - George Mitchell - Jun 15th, 2018
- Challenge to Diversion of Great Lakes Water for Foxconn Moves Forward Amidst an Upsurge of Support for the Compact - Midwest Environmental Advocates - Jun 14th, 2018
- GOP raids transportation fund for Foxconn (again) - State Sen. Jennifer Shilling - Jun 14th, 2018
- Matt Flynn Outlines Legal Strategy to Stop Foxconn - Matt Flynn - Jun 13th, 2018
- Eyes on Milwaukee: Could Foxconn Build Plants Elsewhere in Wisconsin? - Jeramey Jannene - Jun 11th, 2018
- Groups Challenge Legality of Foxconn’s Water Diversion - Chuck Quirmbach - May 29th, 2018
- Diversion of Great Lakes Water for Foxconn Challenged - Milwaukee Riverkeeper - May 25th, 2018
- Kelda Roys Releases Video Featuring Homeowners to be Evicted by Foxconn - Kelda Roys - May 25th, 2018
- Foxconn may break promises to Wisconsin before they even break ground - Democratic Party of Wisconsin - May 23rd, 2018
- Rep. Wachs Responds to News That Foxconn is Cutting Its Investment in Wisconsin - State Rep. Dana Wachs - May 23rd, 2018
- Op Ed: Crony Capitalism of Walker, Hammes, Foxconn - Matt Rothschild - May 22nd, 2018
- Op Ed: Why Democrats Should Embrace Foxconn - Gregory Humphrey - May 21st, 2018
- Roys Makes Foxconn Issue in Governor Race - Chuck Quirmbach - May 16th, 2018
- Follow The Money: Foxconn Edition - Andy Gronik - May 15th, 2018
- Foxconn ties to Walker campaign exposed - State Sen. Jennifer Shilling - May 15th, 2018
- Gov. Scott Walker Orders No Increases for Priorities Like Road Funding, Job Training in Next State Budget - One Wisconsin Now - May 15th, 2018
- Foxconn, Kwik Trip projects receive national acclaim - Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation - May 14th, 2018
- Rep. Wachs Says Walker is Using Taxpayer Money to Line the Pockets of His Donors - State Rep. Dana Wachs - May 14th, 2018
- Mount Pleasant Village Officials Threaten and Censor Foxconn Area Residents - A Better Mt. Pleasant - May 14th, 2018
- Op Ed: Foxconn Deal Will Actually Lose Jobs - William L. Holahan and Charles O. Kroncke - May 11th, 2018
- 2,900-Acre Plan for Foxconn Passed - Chuck Quirmbach - May 10th, 2018
- Flynn Statement on the Illinois Foxconn Lawsuit Against EPA - Matt Flynn - May 7th, 2018
- ICYMI: Illinois to sue EPA over Foxconn pollution - Democratic Party of Wisconsin - May 7th, 2018
- Foxconn Deal Proving Lucrative … For Donors to Gov. Walker’s Campaign - One Wisconsin Now - May 7th, 2018
- Governor Walker Tours State Touting Wisconsin’s Foxconn Bonus - Gov. Scott Walker - May 7th, 2018
- Evers Blasts Walker for Funneling More Tax Dollars to Foxconn - Gov. Tony Evers - May 3rd, 2018
- Back in the News: Pruitt Ruling Allows Foxconn Pollution - Bruce Murphy - May 3rd, 2018
- Shilling Statement on Foxconn - State Sen. Jennifer Shilling - Apr 26th, 2018
- The Contrarian Professor - Scott Gordon - Apr 26th, 2018
- Statement on DNR approval of Racine water diversion - Clean Wisconsin - Apr 25th, 2018
- DNR approves straddling community diversion application from city of Racine - Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources - Apr 25th, 2018
- Bryce Issues Statement on Walker’s Approval of Foxconn’s Air Pollution - Randy Bryce - Apr 24th, 2018
- Legality of Foxconn’s Water Use At Issue - Scott Gordon - Apr 22nd, 2018
- Murphy’s Law: The Full File on Foxconn - Bruce Murphy - Apr 17th, 2018
- Racine Diversion Request Raises Serious Questions; Compact Coalition Urges Regional Review - Compact Implementation Coalition - Apr 16th, 2018
- Foxconn to hold information session for Milwaukee contractors - Ald. Khalif Rainey - Apr 13th, 2018
- Eyes on Milwaukee: Will Foxconn Employ Any Milwaukeeans? - Jeramey Jannene - Apr 12th, 2018
- Ryan departure leaves Foxconn future in question - State Sen. Jennifer Shilling - Apr 12th, 2018
- Release of Council report to ramp up scrutiny of Foxconn development - Ald. Bob Bauman - Apr 11th, 2018
- Op Ed: Billions for Foxconn, Failure for Rural Wisconsin - State Sen. Jon Erpenbach - Apr 9th, 2018
- Where The Great Lakes Compact Ends and Wisconsin Law Begins - Scott Gordon - Apr 5th, 2018
- Murphy’s Law: How Foxconn Will Pollute Wisconsin - Bruce Murphy - Apr 3rd, 2018
- Eyes on Milwaukee: Commuter Rail to Foxconn Proposed - Jeramey Jannene - Mar 28th, 2018
- Op Ed: Journal Sentinel Promotes Phony Foxconn “Report” - Michael Rosen and Charlie Dee - Mar 28th, 2018
- Transit options for Foxconn plant on agenda for Public Transportation Review Board - Ald. Bob Bauman - Mar 27th, 2018
- Op Ed: Why Did MMAC Do Foxconn Study? - James Rowen - Mar 24th, 2018
- Foxconn Package Returns $18 in Economic Impact for Every $1 in State Incentive - Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce - Mar 23rd, 2018
- Petitioners Oppose Foxconn’s Great Lakes Raid - Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters - Mar 22nd, 2018
- Governor Walker Announces Process for Wisconsin Companies to Bid on Work Related to Foxconn Construction - Gov. Scott Walker - Mar 21st, 2018
- Rep. Dana Wachs Says Foxconn Contracts Already Going Out of State - State Rep. Dana Wachs - Mar 20th, 2018
- Matt Flynn Exposes the False Numbers of the Foxconn Fiasco, Vows to Terminate the Contract - Matt Flynn - Mar 15th, 2018
- Op Ed: Foxconn Water Request Violates Law - James Rowen - Mar 12th, 2018
- Work on WIS 20 set to begin March 15t - Wisconsin Department of Transportation - Mar 9th, 2018
- Bus Line to Foxconn Could Transport Workers - Graham Kilmer - Mar 7th, 2018
- Foxconn Water Raid Gets First Hearing - Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters - Mar 7th, 2018
- Murphy’s Law: Foxconn Deal Gets Even Worse - Bruce Murphy - Mar 6th, 2018
- New Marquette Law School Poll finds Wisconsin voters divided on benefits of Foxconn deal, but together in support of background checks for gun sales - Marquette University - Mar 5th, 2018
- City Hall: City Will Contest Foxconn Power Deal - Jeramey Jannene - Feb 27th, 2018
- Foxconn Seeks to Raid the Great Lakes - Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters - Feb 22nd, 2018
- Governor Walker Announces International Mold and Production Relocating Operations from Illinois to Wisconsin - Gov. Scott Walker - Feb 16th, 2018
- Dana Wachs Critiques Gov. Walker’s Photo Op with President Trump, Calls for Real Transportation Solutions - State Rep. Dana Wachs - Feb 12th, 2018
- Eyes on Milwaukee: Plan Provides Amtrak Service for Foxconn - Jeramey Jannene - Feb 8th, 2018
- Expanded Amtrak service for Foxconn plant on agenda for Public Transportation Review Board - Ald. Bob Bauman - Feb 7th, 2018
- Foxconn to replace 10,000 workers in Taiwan with robots - State Rep. David Bowen - Feb 7th, 2018
- Eyes on Milwaukee: Foxconn HQ In Downtown Milwaukee - Jeramey Jannene - Feb 6th, 2018
- Wisconsin’s Foxconn Bonus: Foxconn Purchases Building in Downtown Milwaukee from Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance - Gov. Scott Walker - Feb 6th, 2018
- The Contrarian: Foxconn Not Helping Walker? - George Mitchell - Feb 2nd, 2018
- Op Ed: Hire Local Unemployed at Foxconn - Michael Rosen - Feb 2nd, 2018
- Wisconsin Budget: $1.6 Billion of Foxconn Payout Won’t Create Jobs - Tamarine Cornelius - Jan 31st, 2018
- Foxconn’s investment in Wisconsin named ‘Deal of the Year’ by Business Facilities Magazine - Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation - Jan 25th, 2018
- Resolution seeks to spare Milwaukee We Energies ratepayers from huge Foxconn bill - Ald. Bob Bauman - Jan 17th, 2018
- Governor Walker Announces Wisconsin Career Creator Plan to Support Long-Term Workforce Development Needs - Gov. Scott Walker - Jan 17th, 2018
- Wisconsin State Director of Strategic Economic Initiatives, Matthew Moroney to speak on the FOXCONN Development at AGC Corporate Dinner - Associated General Contractors of Greater Milwaukee - Jan 16th, 2018
- WisDOT soliciting bids for WIS 20 road work in Racine County - Wisconsin Department of Transportation - Jan 10th, 2018
- Op Ed: Foxconn’s Low Return on State Investment - John Torinus - Jan 8th, 2018
- Matt Flynn Attacks Green Light Given to Foxconn to Pollute Wetlands - Matt Flynn - Jan 4th, 2018
- Eyes on Milwaukee: City May Contest Foxconn Electricity Deal - Jeramey Jannene - Jan 4th, 2018
- Public Works Committee to discuss rate hike to fund work at Racine’s Foxconn facility - Ald. Bob Bauman - Jan 2nd, 2018
- Eyes on Milwaukee: Will Milwaukeeans Pay for Foxconn Power? - Jeramey Jannene - Dec 27th, 2017
- Eyes on Milwaukee: Should City Buy 500 Acres in Racine County? - Jeramey Jannene - Dec 23rd, 2017
- Murphy’s Law: Foxconn Subsidy Now Exceeds $4 Billion - Bruce Murphy - Dec 21st, 2017
- Gov. Walker’s Foxconn Scam Already Starting to Unravel as News Breaks of Additional $134 Million Cost to Taxpayers - State Rep. Dana Wachs - Dec 16th, 2017
- Eyes on Milwaukee: Could Milwaukee Build A Foxconn City? - Jeramey Jannene - Dec 13th, 2017
- State Senator Janis Ringhand statement on Foxconn earnings report - State Sen. Janis Ringhand - Nov 15th, 2017
- Foxconn Signing Is a Love Fest - Graham Kilmer - Nov 13th, 2017
- Andy Gronik Statement on Gov. Scott Walker’s Re-Election Foxconn Hail Mary - Andy Gronik - Nov 10th, 2017
- Governor Walker, Foxconn Chairman Gou Sign Historic Agreement to Bring $10 Billion World-Class Advanced Manufacturing Campus, 13,000 Jobs to Wisconsin - Gov. Scott Walker - Nov 10th, 2017
- One Wisconsin Now Statements on Gov. Walker Signing Contract to Implement Largest State Giveaway to A Foreign Corporation in U.S. History - One Wisconsin Now - Nov 10th, 2017
- Gov. Walker’s re-election Hail Mary falls short - State Sen. Jennifer Shilling - Nov 10th, 2017
- The Art of a Desperate Deal - Democratic Party of Wisconsin - Nov 10th, 2017
- Walker Accepts $3 Billion Liability, Rejects Accountability - State Sen. Lena Taylor - Nov 10th, 2017
- Murphy’s Law: Walker Retreats From Foxconn Deal - Bruce Murphy - Nov 9th, 2017
- Top Ten Reasons Wisconsin Got Conned - State Sen. Tim Carpenter - Nov 8th, 2017
- Matt Flynn Statement on the Foxconn Contract - Matt Flynn - Nov 8th, 2017
- Back in the News: WEDC Shifts on Foxconn Contract - Bruce Murphy - Nov 8th, 2017
- Democrats Continue to Lead the Fight to Protect Taxpayers on Foxconn - State Rep. Dianne Hesselbein - Nov 7th, 2017
- Rep. Sargent’s Statement on Second Request for Public Review of Foxconn Contract, WEDC Board’s Two-Day Review - State Rep. Melissa Sargent - Nov 7th, 2017
- WEDC — Seeing Contract Today, A Good First Step, Taxpayer Protection Still Top Priority - State Sen. Tim Carpenter - Nov 6th, 2017
- WisDOT applies for federal Infrastructure For Rebuilding America Grant - Wisconsin Department of Transportation - Oct 31st, 2017
- Gov. Scott Walker’s Foxconn Deal Widely Unpopular Amongst Wisconsinites - Andy Gronik - Oct 26th, 2017
- Murphy’s Law: The Secrets of Foxconn - Bruce Murphy - Oct 26th, 2017
- Matt Flynn Makes Statement on the Corrupt Handling of the Foxconn Contract by Walker’s WEDC - Matt Flynn - Oct 25th, 2017
- Walker jobs agency leaves taxpayers in the dark - State Sen. Jennifer Shilling - Oct 25th, 2017
- Op Ed: Can WEDC Oversee Foxconn Deal? - State Sen. Kathleen Vinehout - Oct 25th, 2017
- The WEDC: As Transparent as Trump with his Tax Return - State Rep. Jimmy Anderson - Oct 24th, 2017
- WEDC Audit Poses New Concerns on Foxconn Deal - State Sen. Lena Taylor - Oct 24th, 2017
- Audit of Walker jobs agency intensifies Foxconn concerns - State Sen. Jennifer Shilling - Oct 24th, 2017
- New poll shows Milwaukee area’s divided feelings on Foxconn, views on other topics as Marquette Law School launches expanded public policy program - Marquette University - Oct 24th, 2017
- Walker Administration Keeps Details of Foxconn Deal Secret as Agency Entrusted With Overseeing Deal Subject of Another Critical Review - One Wisconsin Now - Oct 24th, 2017
- Andy Gronik Urges WEDC To Release Foxconn Contract Details Before Vote, Collect Public Feedback - Andy Gronik - Oct 23rd, 2017
- Wisconsin Can’t Afford Another Foxconn “Nuclear Bomb” - Democratic Party of Wisconsin - Oct 20th, 2017
- What are Walker and Foxconn hiding? - Democratic Party of Wisconsin - Oct 17th, 2017
- Foxconn gamble shrouded in secrecy - State Sen. Jennifer Shilling - Oct 16th, 2017
- Court Watch: Foxconn Law Transforms State Courts - Margo Kirchner - Oct 12th, 2017
- Walker and Forty-Fifth President Sweeten Deal for Foxconn - State Sen. Lena Taylor - Sep 28th, 2017
- Walker picks Foxconn over Wisconsin schools and roads - State Sen. Jennifer Shilling - Sep 18th, 2017
- Governor Walker Signs Wisconn Valley Special Session Bill into Law - Gov. Scott Walker - Sep 18th, 2017
- The State of Politics: Mr. Gou – Your Turn - Steven Walters - Sep 18th, 2017
- Governor Walker Applauds Legislature for Approving Wisconn Valley Special Session Bill - Gov. Scott Walker - Sep 14th, 2017
- Governor Walker Releases Statement on Bipartisan Senate Passage of Wisconn Valley Special Session Legislation - Gov. Scott Walker - Sep 12th, 2017
- WEDC’s Poor Jobs Accountability Record Makes Foxconn Deal a Scandal Waiting to Happen - Citizen Action of Wisconsin - Sep 11th, 2017
- Op Ed: Foxconn Deal Suspends Judicial Rules - Wisconsin Democracy Campaign - Sep 11th, 2017
- GOP Puts $3 Billion Foxconn Thumb on Scales of Justice - One Wisconsin Now - Sep 5th, 2017
- Op Ed: Foxconn Multiplier Overstates New Jobs - William L. Holahan and Charles O. Kroncke - Sep 2nd, 2017
- Walker administration misleads on environmental rollbacks for Foxconn - State Rep. Katrina Shankland - Aug 31st, 2017
- Murphy’s Law: Newest Deal Shows Foxconn Flaws - Bruce Murphy - Aug 29th, 2017
- The State of Politics: Would Democratic Governor Kill Foxconn Deal? - Steven Walters - Aug 28th, 2017
- Op Ed: Illinois Loves Our Foxconn Deal - State Sen. Kathleen Vinehout - Aug 26th, 2017
- Biking: Foxconn, Biking and State Roads - Dave Cieslewicz - Aug 25th, 2017
- Op Ed: Foxconn Should Embrace Green Goals - John Torinus - Aug 24th, 2017
- Washington State Representative Offers Warning for Wisconsin on Foxconn - One Wisconsin Now - Aug 24th, 2017
- Murphy’s Law: Paper Peddles Bogus Foxconn Report - Bruce Murphy - Aug 23rd, 2017
- Representative Lisa Subeck Calls on Joint Finance Committee Co-Chairs to Focus on Budget, Prioritize People over Profits - State Rep. Lisa Subeck - Aug 22nd, 2017
- Governor Walker Highlights Opportunities Foxconn Brings for Wisconsin’s Healthcare Industry - Gov. Scott Walker - Aug 22nd, 2017
- The State of Politics: Foxconn Biggest Deal in State History - Steven Walters - Aug 21st, 2017
- Statewide Online Tool Assists Wisconsin Companies Seeking to Do Business with Foxconn - Gov. Scott Walker - Aug 21st, 2017
- The Senate Must be The Grownups in the Room… Again. - State Sen. Tim Carpenter - Aug 21st, 2017
- Op Ed: The Many Broken Promises of Foxconn - State Rep. David Bowen - Aug 20th, 2017
- Rep. Goyke Statement on Foxconn Special Session Bill - State Rep. Evan Goyke - Aug 18th, 2017
- Wisconsin Budget: Foxconn Could Take Till 2058 To Pay Off - Jon Peacock - Aug 18th, 2017
- Governor Walker Releases Statement on Bipartisan Assembly Passage of Wisconn Valley Special Session Legislation - Gov. Scott Walker - Aug 18th, 2017
- Republican Agenda Puts Corporate Welfare Package for Taiwanese Company Ahead of our Public Schools - State Rep. Dianne Hesselbein - Aug 17th, 2017
- Rep. Sinicki Votes No on Foxconn Package - State Rep. Christine Sinicki - Aug 17th, 2017
- Statement from Rep. Barca on the Assembly Passage of Foxconn Bill - State Rep. Peter Barca - Aug 17th, 2017
- Facts on Foxconn Trump Proponents’ Protestations Deal Would Benefit Wisconsin - One Wisconsin Now - Aug 17th, 2017
- Foxconn Debate Cheat Sheet - State Rep. Gordon Hintz - Aug 17th, 2017
- $3 Billion Foxconn Boondoggle Sells Out Wisconsin’s Future to Foreign Corporation - State Rep. Lisa Subeck - Aug 17th, 2017
- Op Ed: How to Get a Better Deal From Foxconn - John Torinus - Aug 17th, 2017
- Data Wonk: Will Foxconn Deal Fight Poverty? - Bruce Thompson - Aug 16th, 2017
- Governor Walker Moderates Foxconn Roundtable Discussion in Green Bay - Gov. Scott Walker - Aug 16th, 2017
- Op Ed: Where Will Foxconn Find Workers? - State Rep. Gordon Hintz - Aug 16th, 2017
- Vukmir: The time is now for Foxconn - Assistant Majority Leader Leah Vukmir - Aug 15th, 2017
- Foxconn tax break could exceed $1 million per job - State Sen. Jennifer Shilling - Aug 14th, 2017
- Paul Ryan Challenger Opposes $3 Billion Corporate Handout to Foxconn - Cathy Myers - Aug 14th, 2017
- The State of Politics: 10 Tough Questions About Foxconn Deal - Steven Walters - Aug 14th, 2017
- Dana Wachs Announces Opposition to Foxconn Package - State Rep. Dana Wachs - Aug 13th, 2017
- Campaign Cash: Did Foxconn Lobby Illegally? - Wisconsin Democracy Campaign - Aug 12th, 2017
- Statement from Rep. Barca Regarding Republican Amendment to Foxconn Bill - State Rep. Peter Barca - Aug 11th, 2017
- Statement: Amendment to Special Session Assembly Bill 1 - Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Robin Vos - Aug 11th, 2017
- Op Ed: Renegotiate the Foxconn Deal - Matt Flynn - Aug 11th, 2017
- Murphy’s Law: Walker’s Desperate Deal With Foxconn - Bruce Murphy - Aug 10th, 2017
- Foxconn Deal Flounders in State Legislature - One Wisconsin Now - Aug 10th, 2017
- If ‘Ifs’ and ‘Buts’ Are Candies and Nuts We’ll Have Foxconn Deal Paid Off in 2043 - One Wisconsin Now - Aug 9th, 2017
- Rep. Shankland: Statement on Foxconn Analysis - State Rep. Katrina Shankland - Aug 8th, 2017
- Foxconn Fiscal Analysis Deeply Troubling for Wisconsin Taxpayers - State Rep. David Crowley - Aug 8th, 2017
- Statement from Rep. Barca on New Fiscal Analysis of Proposed Foxconn Deal - State Rep. Peter Barca - Aug 8th, 2017
- Rep. Hintz Statement on Foxconn Cost to Taxpayers - State Rep. Gordon Hintz - Aug 8th, 2017
- Campaign Cash: Bill Has $10 Million Giveaway to Fiserv - Wisconsin Democracy Campaign - Aug 8th, 2017
- Wisconsin Veterans Chamber of Commerce Calls For Foxconn Project to Include Disabled Veteran Owned Businesses - Wisconsin Veterans Chamber of Commerce - Aug 7th, 2017
- Wisconsin Budget: The High Cost of Foxconn - Jon Peacock - Aug 4th, 2017
- What Does the Foxconn CEO Say About His Employees? - One Wisconsin Now - Aug 4th, 2017
- Foxconn Hearing: Big Promises, Little Details, Lacks Transportation Plan - State Rep. David Crowley - Aug 3rd, 2017
- One Wisconsin Now Testimony on Foxconn Subsidy Legislation - One Wisconsin Now - Aug 3rd, 2017
- No Guarantees to Prevent Wisconsin Tax Dollars From Subsidizing Illinois Jobs in Foxconn Deal - One Wisconsin Now - Aug 2nd, 2017
- Unnecessary to Sacrifice Natural Resources for Foxconn - Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters - Jul 31st, 2017
- Statement from Rep. Barca on Foxconn Developments - State Rep. Peter Barca - Jul 28th, 2017
- The Contrarian: Walker’s Reelection Now A Certainty - George Mitchell - Jul 28th, 2017
- Eyes on Milwaukee: Foxconn Loves Wisconsin, Walker - Jeramey Jannene - Jul 27th, 2017
- Governor Walker, Foxconn Founder and CEO Terry Gou Sign Memorandum of Understanding in Milwaukee - Gov. Scott Walker - Jul 27th, 2017
- REALTORS® Welcome Foxconn - Greater Milwaukee Association of REALTORS® - Jul 27th, 2017
- MATC Statement on Foxconn - Milwaukee Area Technical College - Jul 26th, 2017
- Statement from Rep. Barca on Foxconn Economic Development Announcement - State Rep. Peter Barca - Jul 26th, 2017
- Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele Statement on Foxconn Announcement - County Executive Chris Abele - Jul 26th, 2017
- Global High-Tech Manufacturer Foxconn Announces $10 Billion Investment, Will Create 13,000 Jobs in New Wisconsin Campus - Gov. Scott Walker - Jul 26th, 2017
- Foxconn Frenzy: Proceed with Caution - State Sen. Chris Larson - Jul 26th, 2017
- Shilling cautious on Foxconn announcement - State Sen. Jennifer Shilling - Jul 26th, 2017
- Op Ed: Loss of Talgo Train Hurts Foxconn Deal - James Rowen - Jul 20th, 2017
- Mayor Barrett Supports Siting Foxconn Facility in Southeastern Wisconsin - Mayor Tom Barrett - Jul 17th, 2017
- On the Air: How Likely Is It Foxconn Will Create 10,000 Jobs? - Urban Milwaukee - Jul 13th, 2017
- Murphy’s Law: Walker Building Yesterday’s Economy - Bruce Murphy - Jul 13th, 2017
- Eyes on Milwaukee: Foxconn Lands in Milwaukee - Jeramey Jannene - Jul 10th, 2017
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Corporate Handouts Cut State Revenue
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Impact of Drivers Licenses for Immigrants
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19 States Just Raised the Minimum Wage
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