GOP Pushes Tax Giveaway Plan That Pays More for Fewer Jobs
Kimberly-Clark Paid $1 in Net State Income Tax Since 2013, Wants $100 Million Windfall to Close Plant, Cut Over 100 Jobs
MADISON, Wis. — The Republican-controlled Joint Committee on Finance will convene today to consider legislation to potentially give over $100 million in state tax dollars to the Kimberly-Clark corporation, which has, according to state records, paid $1 in net state income tax since 2013. One Wisconsin Now Executive Director Scot Ross blasted the plan that could see Wisconsin taxpayers giving money to a company for closing a factory and cutting jobs.
“How much less than zero state income taxes does Kimberly-Clark think they ought to pay,” asked Ross. “It’s outrageous that Republicans in the legislature are trying to put state taxpayers on the hook for $100 million or more for a corporation whose plan is to close a factory and fire workers.”
According to state tax records, since 2013 Kimberly-Clark has paid $1 in net state income taxes. Records for tax year 2017 were unavailable. Because the tax giveaway being proposed by Republicans includes refundable credits, state taxpayers would literally be writing checks to the corporation, which in exchange has said they will close a factory and fire over 100 current employees.
As reported by the Associated Press, it appears a contract lobbyist retained by Kimberly-Clark tried to help sell this bad deal for taxpayers with some sleazy tactics:
“A new Kimberly-Clark lobbyist and his wife gave Republican legislators and their supporters more than $4,000 in late August … The donations came just weeks before Fitzgerald and Vos ordered the Legislature to reconvene in a lame-duck session following the Nov. 6 elections to consider a $100 million tax incentive bill for Kimberly-Clark.”
The proposal passed the Republican-controlled State Assembly in early 2018, but the Republican-controlled Senate did not take up the bill. While the bill has been revived as part of a lame duck legislative session, it faces bipartisan opposition.
One Wisconsin Now is a statewide communications network specializing in effective earned media and online organizing to advance progressive leadership and values.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
More about the Kimberly-Clark Plant Closings
- Op Ed: Growing Wealth Gap Hurts Wage Earners - Tamarine Cornelius - Jan 20th, 2019
- This Isn’t an Economic Development Strategy, This is an Extortion. - State Sen. Chris Larson - Dec 14th, 2018
- Kimberly-Clark to Keep Cold Spring Facility Open in Wisconsin - Gov. Scott Walker - Dec 13th, 2018
- Governor-elect Tony Evers Statement on Kimberly-Clark Announcement - Gov. Tony Evers - Dec 13th, 2018
- Kimberly-Clark Subsidy Stalled in Senate - Laurel White - Nov 28th, 2018
- Kimberly-Clark, Unions, Push for Subsidy - Laurel White - Nov 15th, 2018
- AFP-Wisconsin to Legislators: Reject Corporate Welfare - AFP Wisconsin - Nov 14th, 2018
- MacIver Institute Reminds Wisconsin Why Kimberly-Clark Bailout Is a Bad Idea - MacIver Institute - Nov 14th, 2018
- GOP Pushes Tax Giveaway Plan That Pays More for Fewer Jobs - One Wisconsin Now - Nov 14th, 2018
- Republican Opposition to Kimberly-Clark Bill Intensifies - Democratic Party of Wisconsin - Oct 4th, 2018
Read more about Kimberly-Clark Plant Closings here