Wisconsin Foxconn Costs Exposed: $One Million-plus per Job

Susan Hessel of Wisconsin comments on the Foxconn scam,
(Facebook)

Madison, Wisconsin — If the state of Wisconsin gave you $1 million could you create one job that would last at least 15 years?

That's the question facing Wisconsin in mid-August as state assembly Republicans have taken committee action to move forward Assembly Substitute Amendment 1, a bizarre scheme that would cost tax-payers "up to $1.5 million per job if the company creates and retains 1,000 jobs over a 15-year period," an analysis shows.

Walker and Republicans believe tax-payers have money to burn so Gov. Jobs Failure is happy to spend $3 billion and give it all to one Taiwanese corporation, Foxconn.

"As any fiscal conservative knows, the state simply can’t afford to hand over a $1 million check per job to every CEO in this state. That’s not how our private sector is supposed to work. If the bill doesn’t have stronger accountability provisions to ensure job creation targets are being met, taxpayers could be left subsiding a larger portion of this project than we’re being led to believe," said State Sen. Jennifer Shilling, (D-La Crosse).

As the gargantuan costs of the unprecedented give-away takes hold, many Wisconsinites are echoing the words of Susan Hessel, a small business manager in Dane County. "Shit! I'll create *25* jobs per million dollars. Give the money to me!," (Say No to the Fox Con, Facebook).

The state Assembly's machinations are regarded as less-than-decisive on whether the Foxconn bill passes the legislature.

The state Senate vote will be telling. That vote is expected in late August or early September.

Sen. Shilling's recent comments are reproduced below.

Foxconn tax break could exceed $1 million per job
Under GOP proposal, job costs could skyrocket if company falls short on promises

MADISON – State taxpayers could be on the hook for as much as $1.5 million per job under a newly released substitute amendment proposed by Assembly Republicans. According to the revised bill language, Foxconn could receive tax credits worth up to $1.5 million per job if the company creates and retains 1,000 jobs over a 15 year period. The high cost per job raises serious questions regarding the state’s break-even point as Assembly Republicans attempt to fast-track a vote with little public input.

"Rather than rushing through a $3 billion tax break for a foreign corporation, we need to make sure Wisconsin taxpayers aren’t being taken for a ride," said Senate Democratic Leader Jennifer Shilling (D-La Crosse). "As any fiscal conservative knows, the state simply can’t afford to hand over a $1 million check per job to every CEO in this state. That’s not how our private sector is supposed to work. If the bill doesn’t have stronger accountability provisions to ensure job creation targets are being met, taxpayers could be left subsiding a larger portion of this project than we’re being led to believe."

According to Substitute Amendment 1 introduced by Assembly Republicans, if Foxconn were to create 1,000 jobs and retain those positions over a 15 year period, the company could receive a check from the state for $1.49 billion – approximately $1.5 million per job created. Given the high volatility in the electronics industry, workforce shortage issues and the company’s stated desire to automate its manufacturing operation, it is unclear how many of the promised jobs will materialize.

Foxconn has a well-documented history of failing to meet promised job creation goals. The Washington Post and numerous media outlets have reported on several major projects in Pennsylvania, Indonesia, India, Vietnam and Brazil that failed to produce the number jobs that were promised. #

A state that is too broke to repair roads or support public education somehow
has piles of $ for an exploitative Taiwanese company? (Twitter)
Pictured above is a highway in Milwaukee in mid-August.