By The Associated Press
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Reaction to the news Wednesday that Taiwanese manufacturer Foxconn planned to build its first U.S. plant in Wisconsin, a $10 billion investment that could lead to the creation of 13,000 jobs over 15 years:
___
“This is a once-in-a-century opportunity for our state and our country, and Wisconsin is ready. We are calling this development ‘Wisconn Valley,’ because we believe this will have a transformational effect on Wisconsin, just as Silicon Valley transformed the San Francisco Bay Area.” Gov. Scott Walker
___
“This decision will create thousands of good jobs, and I’m excited for all the Wisconsinites who will benefit. … This is an exciting day for our community, and we look forward to working further with Foxconn as we begin a new era of manufacturing here in Wisconsin.” House Speaker Paul Ryan
___
“The University of Wisconsin System has been engaged in these discussions from early in the process. … Powered by a collaboration of industry, education, and government, the UW System and Wisconsin are fully prepared to support a global enterprise like Foxconn.” University of Wisconsin System President Ray Cross
___
“This is a day to remember in Wisconsin; this is a huge opportunity for our state. The selection of Wisconsin will impact generations of families. The manufacturing plant will provide thousands of new, good paying jobs and spur economic growth throughout our state.” Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos
___
“It’s an exciting opportunity. … We want to make sure it’s a fair deal for everybody. We want a win, win, win.” Assembly Democratic Minority Leader Peter Barca
___
“While I welcome new businesses to the state, I want to ensure any state-subsidized private sector jobs offer a living wage and safe working conditions. … I am cautious of committing taxpayers to decades of economic costs and liabilities.” Democratic state Senate Minority Leader Jennifer Shilling
___
“I have said repeatedly that Wisconsin is the best kept secret in the Midwest. Today, the secret is out.” Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce President Kurt Bauer
___
“Today’s announcement … is a great example of what can happen when we all work together. It’s also a testament to the strength and appeal of our workforce and the commitment from many levels of government to devote the resources needed to invest in the kind of infrastructure that will attract and retain global talent.” Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele
___
“This is awesome. It is not only a regional and national victory for southeastern Wisconsin, it is an international game changer for our region and state. FoxConn could have located anywhere in the world, and chose Wisconsin.” Republican state Sen. Van Wanggaard
___
“I welcome new business and jobs to Wisconsin. … While we are all thrilled at the prospect of new jobs coming to the state, it is entirely reasonable to be cautious of a scandal-plagued job creation agency handing over taxpayer funds to foreign investors that could potentially leave Wisconsinites with the bill decades into the future.” Wisconsin Democratic Party Chairwoman Martha Laning
___
“Foxconn’s announcement allows thousands of Wisconsinites opportunity and the chance at success. Wisconsin is working and winning, thanks to Governor Walker.” Wisconsin Republican Party Chairman Brad Courtney
___
“It is with good reason that Wisconsinites are not yet willing to blindly put their faith, and money, in a feeble jobs promise. We’ve been deceived by Walker’s rose-tinted glasses before.” Democratic state Sen. Chris Larson
___
“10,000 good-paying, family sustaining jobs for Wisconsin is a great thing for our state — period. This should not be a partisan issue.” Democratic candidate for governor Andy Gronik

10 replies on “Lawmakers, leaders react to Foxconn news”

  1. I have not been following this particularly close, but this seems like a cool thing. Is this more complicated than the state worked hard to get a company to come?

      1. Sorry. You lost me when you linked a story from the freaking Washington Compost. I wonder if they’ll also do a “story” on how many companies in the CONUS have a “record of mistreating workers”? Yeah, I won’t hold my breath. To some people and probably 98+% of the media, anything Scott Walker or Donald Trump touches is either corrupt, illegitimate, racist……oh hell, I could go on and on.

  2. call1911 wrote: “Sorry. You lost me when you linked a story from the freaking Washington Compost.”
    .
    Not sure what media sources are acceptable to you,call1911, not that I really care. How about Journal-Sentinal: “MADISON – A plan to bring a massive Foxconn Technology Group plant to Wisconsin could cost $1 billion to $3 billion in local, state and federal incentives over coming years — a stunning sum for a project that backers say could transform the state’s economy.” I’m not a big fan of corporate welfare at public expense – no matter the political machinations and affiliations of the politicians trying to rip me off. As for how Foxconn has treated workers over the years, that’s an open sore that I don’t think requires documentation, since it’s been covered by numerous news sources.

    1. JS is another libtard rag. What media sources are acceptable to me? Pretty much NONE. Jesus, there will be roughly 13 thousand jobs created and wages earned by Wisconsinites and the sky is going to fall? I assure you that if Foxconn has such an egregious record regarding how they treat their workers, there would be Republicans AND Democrats by the droves screaming their freaking heads off. What exactly do they do? Deprive them of food and water? Caning? I didn’t realize it was a sweatshop from Taiwan that was being relocated. Lastly, I honestly don’t know (nor do I flippin’ care) how a Taiwanese company treats their workers IN TAIWAN. I can assure you they won’t be “mistreated” the same way here in the United States.
      SMH

  3. Thanks Guys. I assume at this point its a done deal, and I am not going to work there, so this will be a thing I do not either get upset about, or feign upset about. But, I will google some more things.

  4. call1911 wrote: “JS is another libtard rag. What media sources are acceptable to me? Pretty much NONE.”
    .
    Based on your comments about the media I have to wonder why you are persistent commentator here at Wausau Pilot and Review? I hope you make a donation now and again 😉
    .
    I also have to wonder about your political thinking, it seems inconsistent to me. For example, you seem to approve of giving BILLIONS of dollars of taxpayer money to a foreign corporation, Foxconn – arguing, among other things, that Walker and Trump favour the move, but when Wausau wants to spend a few million on a public project you have argued, “the city [Wausau] continues to spend like a drunken sailor (with no disrespect to drunken sailors) and spending other people’s money just continues to get easier and easier. Can’t have it both ways dude, either you support a “free market” or you back government subsidies for some private businesses.
    https://wausaupilotreview-launch.newspackstaging.com/2017/07/09/wausau-assigned-negative-credit-outlook/

    1. Pull up a chair, son….and listen. You might learn something.
      Where and how I comment and what I chose to donate to is none of your concern or business.
      You wonder about my political thinking? Well, it’s pretty simple. Even you may understand.
      Giving BILLIONS of dollars of taxpayer money to any company that provides steady, consistent income to an estimated 13 THOUSAND Wisconsin workers is worth it. Furthermore, if you’d done some research yourself, you’d realize that those billions of dollars of taxpayer money are dependent on Foxconn meeting specific employment levels and maintaining them. You’d also maybe find out that Foxconn is spending an estimated 10 billion of their own money while the state of WI is spending approximately 3 billion. Again, the money the state is giving is based on Foxconn meeting employment levels.
      Now let us do some comparing, shall we?
      The braintrust of the city of Wausau spends upward of $500k to purchase the old Sears building. In turn, they sell it for a whopping $1 dollar to Micron Cinema Corp. I believe this downtown cinema was supposed to be breaking ground by now and opening in late 2017. Last time I checked, it’s pretty much NOW “late 2017” and not one thing has been done. How many local teenagers do you think this cinema will employ……IF it ever gets built? Furthermore and again, a big IF it gets built, how long do you honestly think a downtown cinema will last? Oh, that’s right…..our downtown is SO lively and active…. It’s a freaking ghost town after 3 pm. I’m sure Oz will greatly benefit from added night traffic in that area tho, right? But wait!!! Do we even know WHO just purchased the grandiose Wausau Center Mall? I didn’t realize this sale was evidently a CIA covert operation. I’m sure the former bug sprayer and his trusty sidekick Mr. Schmuck are on top of things tho, right? Sure makes me sleep well at night. You too?
      I won’t even start with the hundreds of thousands of dollars the mental midgets also want to spend on relocating existing businesses from the glorious waterfront area. All in the name of progress, ‘eh?
      So “dude”, I’d love to hear your insightful wisdom as to just how beneficial, frugal and wise our city govt. is with our local taxpayer money. Don’t know about you, but I own a house and pay a good sum of property taxes each year. Yup, I have an interest in this game. Do you?

  5. I’ll pass on your folksy irony, 1911, and try to keep this simple [Pull up a chair, son….and listen. You might learn something.]
    .
    [Giving BILLIONS of dollars of taxpayer money to any company that provides steady, consistent income to an estimated 13 THOUSAND Wisconsin workers is worth it]
    .
    Really, I think your selling a load of “hooey” and would hope that media, both left and right will expose flaws in the Foxconn “give away.” Let’s see, using what seems to be the current advertised expected cost, from multiple sources, Wisconsin taxpayer money that is expected to be used to subsidize the Foxconn deal (exluding additional Federal subsidies for Foxconn): $3,000,000,000 / 13,000 workers = $230,769 per job created. You must be thrilled that Wisconsin taxpayers are so generous 🙂

    Assuming that the average wage at Foxconn’s Wisconsin facility matches Wisconsins per capita average wage of about $30,000/year and given a nominal state tax rate of 6.7% taxpayers will see $2010/year from the 13,000 workers at Foxconn Wisconsin plant. At that rate it will only take $3,000,000,000/(2010*13,000) = 114.81 years to recover the expenses for the average Wisconsin income tax payer. Sweet deal you wing nuts have worked out for the rest of us!

    1. Since you’re a folksy irony fan, how about YOU start your own little libtard protest and camp out at the site where the Foxconn building will be? Maybe bring 3 or 4 of your friends and don’t forget the drums to bang on and a few tie die shirts, just in case you spill some ramen noodles on them. Oh, and please don’t forget the incense!
      Nice of you to conveniently forget about opining about our local brain trust. Then again, since you probably still camp out in mom’s basement, I guess it’s not too important.
      “Wing nuts”? Thanks for confirming.
      Toodles, chump.

Comments are closed.