Foxconn in Wisconsin Remains $Billion Ghost Ship with an Uncomprehending New Governor at the Helm

Updated - Madison, Wisconsin—Publication of a feature piece on the Foxconn catastrophe in The Capital Times has renewed questions about the passivity of Gov Tony Evers (D) and his refusal to research and commence a civil suit against Foxconn.

Defeated Gov Scott Walker (R) negotiated this lunacy, but Walker and Evers' policy on Foxconn is identical.

Telling in the piece by Lawrence Tabak is the description of Evers on hearing news that promised manufacturing jobs were not in Wisconsin's future. Evers released a bizarre statement that failed to address the news that 13,000 promised jobs had vanished.

Instead, Evers muttered words that related to Foxconn messaging.

Writes Tabak:

[Evers] cited Foxconn’s lack of transparency and consistency, and promised that 'we’ll continue to encourage it.' A touch of frustration came through when he added that there was 'no limit to the skepticism if the messaging isn’t consistent.'

So, even with 13,000 jobs at stake, Tony Evers offered reporters in late January an inane statement about encouraging clear messaging and promising to become skeptical in the absence of clear messaging.

Matt Flynn, a veteran litigator and frequent critic of Foxconn, is publicly pointing out the inadequacy of Walker and Evers' approach to the complex contract between Foxconn and Wisconsin.

why isn't the state suing to end the contract now for Foxconn's breach? Why should Wisconsin taxpayers foot the bill for billions in the budget going to Foxconn, when instead we could fund the @UWSystem and public education?

— Matt Flynn (@ForwardWFlynn) March 6, 2019

It's unclear if Evers is listening or even understands the Foxconn contract.

There is very little chance that Foxconn will build ANY plant in Wisconsin. But Racine and Mt. Pleasant are obligated to spend more than $900 MM on the project even if NO jobs result. Why? Why doesn't our State stop this immediately?https://t.co/D4D3jTr2ZQ

— Matt Flynn (@ForwardWFlynn) March 7, 2019

Gov Tony Evers Flacks for Foxconn, Trump and Wisconsin Republicans

Madison, Wisconsin — Gov Tony Evers (D) has finally spoken.

News yesterday that Donald Trump in a single phone call reanimated Foxconn Technology Group's commitment to site a $10 billion liquid-crystal-display manufacturing facility in southeast Wisconsin  strains the credulity of the most gullible (Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel).

The alleged new commitment by Foxconn follows a report earlier this week in Reuters that the same plans for building the manufacturing facility and hiring a large manufacturing workforce have been shelved.

Trump's assurance is good enough for Tony Evers. But the hard-boiled school bureaucrat did tell reporters that Foxconn's "communication" needs consistency.

"It’s just a matter of their communication strategy being more consistent," Evers said. "I’m comfortable that they’re still committed to the state, they’re committed to this Generation 6 technology, but that doesn’t mean that we (won’t) encourage them to be more transparent and consistent in their messaging." (Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel)

Evers' tardy response raises more questions.

Why is Tony Evers not protecting Wisconsin?

Why is Tony Evers reacting to a blockbuster report with comments that reduce a $ billion boondoggle to a "messaging" problem.

Reads the Reuters report:

Now, those plans may be scaled back or even shelved, Louis Woo, special assistant to Foxconn Chief Executive Terry Gou, told Reuters. He said the company was still evaluating options for Wisconsin, but cited the steep cost of making advanced TV screens in the United States, where labor expenses are comparatively high.

'In terms of TV, we have no place in the U.S.,' Woo said in an interview. We can’t compete.' ...

Rather than a focus on LCD manufacturing, Foxconn wants to create a 'technology hub' in Wisconsin.

'In Wisconsin we’re not building a factory. You can’t use a factory to view our Wisconsin investment,' Woo said. 

If readers are getting whiplash, consider that Trump claims Gou told Trump "off the record" in a private conversation in August 2017 that the real Foxconn investment was not $10 billion, but rather $30 billion (Associated Press).

Does anyone believe the Foxconn scam, as imprecise and amateurish as the agreement is?

Tony Evers sounds like he's making excuses for Republicans and Foxconn:

Reports the Wisconsin State Journal:

Evers, meanwhile, said he spoke to Woo Friday morning and came away 'comfortable' that they’re still committed to the state.

'But that doesn’t mean that we won’t continue to encourage them to be more transparent and consistent in their messaging,' Evers said. 'The economy is apparently changing from their worldview that they have to make some changes. That’s understandable, but we have to make sure the transparency is there.'

Asked if he’s confident that Foxconn will fulfill its original plans to create as many as 13,000 jobs in Wisconsin, Evers said, 'The 13,000 is not going to happen tomorrow.'

'We’ll monitor it,' he said. 'The good news is, as the Republicans continue to tell us, is the jobs are contingent on getting tax credits. So there’s some protections there.' 

The Associated Press reports:

Evers says he spoke with Foxconn executive Louis Woo on Friday and he’s comfortable that the company remains committed to Wisconsin. But he says there’s 'no limit to skepticism' if the company’s messaging isn’t coherent. He says his administration is stressing to the company that transparency is key in such a high-profile project.

State and local leaders have promised Foxconn an unprecedented $4 billion in incentives.

Tony Evers is confused.

Evers' job is protecting Wisconsin, not Trump, not Foxconn and not Republicans.

Wisconsin Democrats, meanwhile, are staying silent on Evers' piss-poor performance, instead offering whisper campaigns and character assassination directed toward critics of Foxconn.

Atty Matt Flynn Still Lighting up Foxconn, and Timid Democratic Party Response

 New Wisconsin Gov Tony
Evers (D) is still silent
after news of the Foxconn
jobs pull-out.

Madison, Wisconsin — Gov Tony Evers (D) maintains his pro-Foxconn position, but there is a conspiracy of silence among Wisconsin Democrats to avoid mentioning this betrayal.

Milwaukee attorney Matt Flynn didn't get the memo, or if he did, he doesn't give a shit, and puts people over Party.

Flynn, a private citizen who gets paid nothing, is spending hours warning about the Foxconn boondoggle, fielding questions from the Wisconsin people.

Evers avoids the media like a minus-50 degree night in Wisconsin.

News from Reuters that Foxconn is pulling out planned manufacturing jobs draws no public reaction from Tony 'Mush' Evers.

So, Flynn is drawing a roadmap on how to pursue litigation. It's unclear if Evers is listening.

From Matt Flynn this morning:

Credit rating agency Moody's issued a cautionary note on Racine & Mt. Pleasant Foxconn debt. These municipalities are on the hook for more than $900m. They have already borrowed $355m, and have spent $190m, mostly for land acquisition to benefit Foxconn. https://t.co/PYkEO4bnHQ

— Matt Flynn (@ForwardWFlynn) February 1, 2019

They have modest tax bases that can't support this kind of debt, especially if Foxconn bails as it did in Pennsylvania.

— Matt Flynn (@ForwardWFlynn) February 1, 2019

Foxconn initially promised 13k jobs at an average wage of $53K to manufacture TV screens. They said they would build a $10b plant. They now say it will only be a research park of 1,000 employees staffed mostly by engineers. Chinese engineers count as employees under the contract.

— Matt Flynn (@ForwardWFlynn) February 1, 2019

Foxconn will not build a $10 billion plant. https://t.co/BNbGxjvU97

— Matt Flynn (@ForwardWFlynn) February 1, 2019

They have demanded rights to the IP of Wisconsin companies who partner with them. They are a Chinese outfit that found a pigeon - @ScottWalker and the Republicans in the legislature - to spend $4.5 billion to subsidize their heist of Wisconsin IP. https://t.co/1f4viqxC0Y

— Matt Flynn (@ForwardWFlynn) February 1, 2019

The typical Madison feline, timid response will not be enough.

We should not "settle" this by giving Foxconn a slight haircut, say down to $3 billion, and thank them for it.

— Matt Flynn (@ForwardWFlynn) February 1, 2019

There is a duty of Good Faith and Fair Dealing implied by law in all Wisconsin contracts. Foxconn has breached both the contract and their duty of Good Faith and Fair Dealing.

— Matt Flynn (@ForwardWFlynn) February 1, 2019

1 final note: even if the ultimate result is a settlement, it will be at a trivial amount & only after litigation. I have never known of a company, even companies w/ better reputations than Foxconn, that agreed to pay or give up a lot of $ without going a few rounds in the ring.

— Matt Flynn (@ForwardWFlynn) February 1, 2019

Gov Evers Maintains Silence on Foxconn Pull-out as Atty Matt Flynn Blasts Republicans and Inaction

Wisconsin citizens need to
poke Gov Tony Evers (D)
with a stick because this
guy looks like he spent
the last week outside, lying
down, being bit by animals.
Did Evers read the news
about Foxconn's jobs pull-out?

Bait-and-Switch $Billion Boondoggle Draws Not One Word from New Wisconsin Governor

Madison, Wisconsin — Wisconsin State Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R) and Republicans are doing most of the talking following news Foxconn reneged on an agreement to site a manufacturing plant in southeastern Wisconsin.

What was hailed 18 months ago as the start of "a Midwestern manufacturing renaissance" (NYT) is now just another lie politicians and corporate execs tell the public when they take massive public subsidies.

Following the Reuters blockbuster exclusive on Foxconn, Republicans yesterday came out of the gate fast, repeating an old lie saying Foxconn's decision was made because of "uncertainty" with the new Gov Tony Evers (D) administration. But not even Foxconn touches that line.

What is certain is the silence from Tony Evers — dead silence. As in not one word from Evers.

No Evers appearing before a press conference, saying 'ask me anything.'

This asks the question, did Tony Evers spend the last 72 hours outside, lying down in the Wisconsin deep freeze? Someone should poke his body with a stick and see if we get any sign of life:

C'mon Tony. Wake up; you okay? Foxconn is pulling out the promised 1,000s of blue collar jobs, dude! What are your orders?

- Hold their feet to the fire! Make Foxconn good corporate citizens.

What Wisconsin has from Tony Evers is one tweet from the state Dept. of Administration reading:

In the coming weeks, the Evers Administration will continue to commit time, resources, and personnel to ensure that the interests of Wisconsin workers and taxpayers are protected and promoted by our approach to the Foxconn project.

In the coming weeks, the Evers Administration will continue to commit time, resources, and personnel to ensure that the interests of Wisconsin workers and taxpayers are protected and promoted by our approach to the Foxconn project. pic.twitter.com/3pBhRBTRfq

— Wisconsin DOA (@WisconsinDOA) January 30, 2019

These Tony Evers guys are on the case. The Associated Press reports also that a top Evers aide, Joel Brennan, says he was "surprised" by the Foxconn story.

That's little comfort for a state already on the hook for $100s of millions no matter what the Taiwanese corporation decides is best for its shareholders.

I asked Jake Edwards, a Wisconsin economic-political writer, how much Wisconsin was on the hook for. Edwards replied in rough calculations:

Depends if Foxconn gets 1,000 people working on the project by end of this year (not necessarily in Racine Co).

If they get that, my quick count is

15% of facility cost for 2/7 of total subsidy (estimated at $386 mil)

$28 mil for job credits
$912 mil in local subsidies and infrastructure
$400 mil in cost and debt for I-94
$130 mil to upgrade local roads into state highways (which took away $90 mil from other state projects)
$150 mil in sales tax cuts for construction materials

That comes close to $2 billion. And Foxconn says they can't make it even with all this help?

Tony Evers resembles an undulating mass that when taking shape congeals into a form indistinguishable from a hastily constructed snowball, the kind made from powdered snow, and just as revealing of the administration's position on the Foxconn-Wisconsin contract.

Who is defending Wisconsin's interest now that Tony Evers is out of commission?

Attorney Matt Flynn took to Resistance Radio yesterday, Jan 30, and offered a harsh assessment of Foxconn, Republicans and Tony Evers' performance thus far.

One Wisconsin Now is hitting every lie emitted by Republicans.

In the absence of Tony Evers, Matt Flynn's analyses, specific challenge to Republican
Speaker Vos and Evers on social media, and calling out Wisconsin Republicans for their numerous lies about Foxconn's siphoning of Wisconsin continue:

I've read the contract, but apparently you, @repvos, and @ScottWalker haven't - or you wouldn't continue to push it.

They've already benefited from infrastructure work at taxpayer expense. And why is there a clawback provision if they aren't getting money before they perform? https://t.co/Xm3C7Xgnup

— Matt Flynn (@ForwardWFlynn) January 31, 2019

To protect Wisconsin, Flynn is advocating a complex legal strategy against Foxconn in multiple courts by multiple parties that includes a private lawsuit on Constitutional grounds, and a public lawsuit by Wisconsin officials for breach of contract.

Flynn made his comments on Resistance Radio (Devil's Advocate radio) yesterday.

@ForwardWFlynn now on @devilradio:
What happens now? What options do #WI have to clean up the #Foxconn deal?
1) Private lawsuit on Constitutional grounds
2) State lawsuit based on breach of contract.

— AnonyMissBadger (@AnonyMissBadger) January 30, 2019

@ForwardWFlynn now on @devilradio:@ScottWalker wanted #Wisconsin to believe he was a businessman, making this deal as a businessman. He was not a businessman. He was a chicken walking into a negotiation with Colonel Sanders.#Foxconn #WI

— AnonyMissBadger (@AnonyMissBadger) January 30, 2019

Said Flynn in part, taking questions on Resistance Radio (Hour Two of two hours with Flynn on the Devil's Advocate) on the heavily criticized Foxconn contract that draws national ridicule:

This is not a precise [Foxconn-Wisconsin] contract. If you read it, the claw-back is very ambiguous: 'Use best efforts' and all this kind of stuff. And the political establishment is supporting them [Foxconn]. And I think that's wrong.

This is not a crisply worded contract. The people that negotiated it had no business doing it, and they didn't have the ability to do it.

Asked if to explain how the paucity of job creation and the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation's authority to amend the contract ought to concern the Wisconsin people, Flynn said:

The Republican Party and WEDC [Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation] don't have a clue on how to explain this contract because they got taken to the cleaners.

So, I'll explain it just right now. And that is that a very, very minimal production of jobs, that could be Chinese engineers, will trigger a large and disproportionate [public] payment. That's very concerning.

The second thing that I want to say is about the amendment. The reason for the lameduck session to take this out of Tony Evers' hands, until September, was precisely to manipulate and defend breaches of contract against us.

The Republican Party will injure this state to benefit their donors, and to appease their large donors so they don't run Primaries against them. ...

At some point somebody in this administration has got to get off the dime and start action for breach of contract. Period, end of story. ...

Mount Pleasant and Racine are on the hook for over $900-million, $900-million! The tax base down there can't support $90-million; it's a small tax base.

And the people of Racine; everybody says, 'oh, they want this thing, [Foxconn].' They don't want this thing. I saw the citizens at the Mount Pleasant Board meeting. I've spoken in Racine. And nobody wants this thing.

I think that the people down there that voted for it, Democrats, made a mistake thinking that that's what they wanted.

But we're all Americans, we 're all Wisconsinites. 

The Chinese come over here, try to get our intellectual property —  we're not putting up with it.

If Matt Flynn, a private citizen who gets paid nothing, is spending hours and hours warning about the Foxconn boondoggle, and fielding questions from the Wisconsin people, why in the hell is the sitting governor, Tony Evers, not out doing the same?

Attorney Matt Flynn on Foxconn: Give Me the Go-ahead, Have Firm Ready to Litigate Against Foxconn Contract

Madison, Wisconsin — News that Foxconn is backing out of its commitment to site manufacturing operations in Wisconsin is sparking outrage across the state already hostile to the Taiwanese corporation to which Wisconsin is obligated to gift massive public subsidies, (Reuters, Bloomberg, NBCNews).

Matt Flynn, a Milwaukee attorney, is an outspoken opponent of Foxconn in Wisconsin.

Flynn announced this afternoon he is ready to launch complex litigation against Foxconn as soon as Gov Tony Evers (D) gives the go-ahead.

Tony Evers should really listen to his betters at this point.

Democrats can stop this through immediate litigation. I have a firm lined up and ready as soon as @GovEvers says go.

I'll be on @NewsTalk1510am @devilradio at 2:30pm with @dominicsalvia to discuss more. #FoxCONned https://t.co/JoFRth5IcE

— Matt Flynn (@ForwardWFlynn) January 30, 2019

Our state Democratic leaders, both in the legislature and the Administration, are the only people who can stop this through immediate litigation.

Time for the membership of the Democratic Party to make this clear through contact, resolutions and social media.

— Matt Flynn (@ForwardWFlynn) January 30, 2019

Foxconn Always Was a Scam — Republicans and Gov Tony Evers Are Complicit Is Spectacular Scandal

Foxconn in Wisconsin is a
bi-partisan boondoggle. Tony
Evers joined Scott Walker
in the endgame: Foxconn stays,
Wisconsin loses. News that
Foxconn will build no
factories leaves pols gasping
for spin, lies.

Wisconsin pols are silent

Madison, Wisconsin — Foxconn won't be building any manufacturing centers in Wisconsin, reports Reuters in an exclusive, (Bloomberg, NBCNews).

"In Wisconsin we’re not building a factory. You can’t use a factory to view our Wisconsin investment," said Louis Woo, special assistant to Foxconn Chief Executive Terry Gou.

The news reveals a spectacular $Billion con that implicates every Republican in the state legislature, several Democrats including Gov. Tony Evers, and major Republican politicians including Paul Ryan and Donald Trump.

The political fall-out will be wide and unpredictable.

In June 2018 at the ceremonial groundbreaking in southeastern Wisconsin, Trump acclaimed the proposed Foxconn center as "the 8th wonder of the world," (CBS News). Foxconn CEO, Terry Gou, told Trump "off-the-record" that the company will triple its promised $10 billion investment in Wisconsin to $30 billion, Trump claimed, aka a lie (Associated Press).

Trump lied. Walker lied.

Tony Evers lied.

Evers ran a shameful pro-Foxconn campaign, implicitly promising to stick the state with $100s of millions of debt and repeatedly side-stepping questions about the legally dubious public subsidies and exemptions from state law for the pathologically dishonest Taiwanese corporation.

A typical Tony Evers mush position on Foxconn is from Sept 2018 in the Racine Journal-Times:

Evers did not say he would undo or change the agreement with Foxconn if elected governor.

'We can, and we should, compel them to be good corporate citizens,' Evers said. 

That worked out well.

Evers could not be reached for comment, reports Reuters.

Of course not. Evers is too busy holding Foxconn's feet to the fire, as he dishonestly termed his pro-Foxconn position.

Those families whose homes and land were stolen to benefit Foxconn?

It's likely Tony Evers will have nothing to say about them,; he never has before

From August 2018 on Wisconsin families who don't matter to Tony Evers and Scott Walker:

Rodney and Catherine Jensen have land.
Foxconn wants the Jensens' land.
Everyone from Scott Walker to Tony
Evers to the village of Mount Pleasant
sides with Foxconn. Who will
stand with the Jensens?

A Wisconsin couple is getting their land stolen from under them to benefit a foreign corporation.

The thieves are the village of Mount Pleasant acting on behalf of the Foxconn Technology Group.

The village is lying to residents, Rodney and Catherine Jensen, designating their land as blighted  — broadly defined as "'substandard' or 'deteriorated' land that is detrimental to public health or safety," (Beachy, Inside Track, State Bar of Wisconsin).

This deception is perpetrated to serve the Taiwanese corporation.

The Jensens think they have been wronged by Foxconn, and by their local municipality.

So the Jensens filed suit in August in their fight to keep their land against designs on their property by Foxconn.

Reports Michael Burke in the Racine Journal-Times:

The Jensens’ lawsuit, filed by Madison attorney Erik Olsen of Eminent Domain Services, states that the couple’s property is 'not blighted by any definition.'

It also contends the village is attempting to take their property in order to facilitate the Foxconn Technology Group project 'and for the direct benefit of Foxconn.' 

This attempted theft of land seems an outrage in an election year for governor.

Yet, the two major candidates, Tony Evers and Gov Scott Walker, house no mention of this theft in progress on their campaign websites.

Evers and Walker's position is Foxconn stays, Wisconsin families lose.

It appears in the political arena, families like the Jensens have no standing, and are not considered players.

When $billions of subsidies and special perks are granted Foxconn, who speaks for the Jensens?

Noone.

Excellent opp for @Tony4WI to put some light between @ScottWalker and @Tony4WI on #Foxconn. Get behind this couple. We should stand a 100-percent with these folks. #wisen #wiright #wipolitics #wiunion #wigov #wiresist @ACLU @peoplepower #wigov #mkedems #VoteBlueWI #BlueWave https://t.co/VOdg7PH9aC

— Michael Leon (@mal644) August 30, 2018

Tony Evers Is Hush on Foxconn and Astronomical Give-away of Public Dollars

Madison, Wisconsin — Wisconsin Republicans foisted a $multi-billion public subsidy in late Summer 2017 under cover of minimal public hearings to create what was subsequently dubbed "the 8th wonder of the world" by Donald Trump, (CBS News).

The political rogues announcing the boondoggle — led by Ryan, Walker and Trump — included Trump's extemporaneous assurance that Foxconn CEO Terry Gou told Trump "off-the-record" that the company will triple its promised $10 billion investment in Wisconsin to $30 billion, (Associated Press).

Good enough for Wisconsin Gov Tony Evers (D), (Mal Contends, The American Prospect).

Evers avoids policy positions on Foxconn, sticking to his ridiculous 'hold Foxconn's feet to the fire' line, a labored metaphor voiced with all the sincerity of Scott Walker professing his love for public education.

Even as experienced litigators point the way forward for Evers, the current policy of Evers on Foxconn is identical to Walker's.

Foxconn is also eyeing acquiring intellectual property rights from UW-Madison staff and students, (Urban Milwaukee).

Dan Kaufman, the author of the book The Fall of Wisconsin, offers an analysis on why the Walker-Evers-Foxconn fiasco may dominate Evers' first term and decimate the state for many decades, (New Yorker Radio Hour).

Tony Evers should tune in.

Absentee Voting Starts in a Week in Gov Campaign Clunking Forward

Scott Walker campaign ads are everywhere in Wisconsin.

Updated - Madison, Wisconsin — Absentee voting begins in less than a week, but a lack of urgency marks the gubernatorial election here between Gov. Scott Walker (R) and Tony Evers.

Still, perusing the Sunday papers, the political websites, and candidate TV spots, there is a one clear, issue-focused campaign for Wisconsin governor — Gov. Scott Walker (R). It's the truth.

Pro-Foxconn ads (Google ad at right) by Walker seem ubiquitous, while Tony Evers refuses a position on Foxconn.

A response TV spot featuring Walker's running mate, Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch (R), delivers a powerful and compelling message against healthcare corporations' not covering pre-existing conditions.

That Walker and Republicans are disingenuous and hostile to healthcare is not a message that appears to penetrate the casual Wisconsin voter.

Scott Walker is campaigning on issues Democrats used to
own. Above is a Google ad featuring Scott Walker
reaching out to college students. Walker is also
airing a similar TV spot.

No anti-Scott Walker voter who views the Rebecca Kleefisch ad does so without becoming worried, especially after looking up the clunky Tony Evers healthcare messages.

Healthcare is another issue that Democrats should own.

But Tony Evers is a disabled campaigner on issues and like Walker cannot offer political journalists informed, extemporaneous comment on healthcare.

"Election year promises won’t cover up Walker’s career of working to sabotage Wisconsinites’ health care and take us back to the days when insurance companies could deny you coverage if you got sick. He simply has no credibility on this issue, and Wisconsinites have no reason to believe he’d change with another term," said Tony Evers in a campaign statement, (Bauer, AP).

Evers cannot handle an issue like healthcare without his campaign formulating statements.

Scott Walker proclaims himself the champion of education, college students and working families.

Judges in purely marketing and communications messaging, Scott Walker is waxing Tony Evers.

Those concerned about democracy and the future of Wisconsin can take some solace in the heavy political winds against Walker and Republicans this campaign cycle.

Rural women are especially appalled by Republicans, inform anecdotes from two central and northern Wisconsin political field operations from Democratic Party nominees for the legislature.

Can citizen action lift a milquetoast Tony Evers over Scott Walker?

Yes, it can; but a call to Tony Evers' campaign and a kick in his ass are called for.

Foxconn in Wisconsin — Tony Evers Changes Position from 'No Comment' to Blather

Foxconn in Wisconsin is now a
bi-partisan boondoggle. Tony
Evers has joined Scott Walker
in the endgame: Foxconn stays,
Wisconsin loses.

Madison, Wisconsin — Tony Evers, the Democratic Party nominee for governor, favors the most massive state give-away to a foreign corporation in United States history — Foxconn.

Evers is quiet on the campaign trail on Foxconn, as many Democratic supporters who oppose Foxconn caution silence on Evers' support, lest anti-Foxconn supporters vote Green or Libertarian out of disgust with Evers.

Major elements of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin have abandoned open opposition to Foxconn, in effect siding with Gov. Scott Walker (R) and Republicans on this radical policy change, that even has towns in Illinois fearful of environmental damage.

The Foxconn public-funding initiative is spectacular, and would codify changes in how Wisconsin and numerous municipalities would operate for years.

Tony Evers continues his posture on Foxconn as Wisconsin has made a significant transformation on becoming a colonial agent of the Taiwanese corporation and other industrial special interests from 2011 - 2018. Evers rejects litigation in federal court against Foxconn as his campaign position remains: Wish Foxconn away, which is fantasyland, hence Foxconn stays.

Three days after the Primary election, Aug. 14,  a campaign piece appeared in BizTimes out of Milwaukee.

Arthur Thomas notes: "Evers’ campaign declined to comment on the election results in the context of Foxconn."

This is unusual for a major party candidate on a big campaign issue.

Evers has offered rhetoric on the obvious down side of funneling $billions to Foxconn, and exempting the corporation from Wisconsin environmental law, and changing (apparently illegally) how challenges can proceed in state court against Foxconn and only Foxconn.

But Evers has offered only vague drivel not befitting the gravity of Foxconn as public policy as Foxconn upped its PR offensive in August.

Days after Evers' inexplicable no comment in BizTimes, Thomas updated his piece:

After this story was published, Evers’ campaign provided a statement from the candidate, criticizing the size of the Foxconn support and incentives – $4.5 billion counting state and local packages and other infrastructure investments – and the estimated 25-year wait for the state to see a return on its investment.

'That’s a lousy investment,' Evers said. 'Foxconn has already backtracked on several of its promises and is not being held accountable by Walker. When I’m governor, we’ll hold Foxconn’s feet to the fire and make sure that Wisconsin is getting the best return on investment possible.'

So, Tony Evers will now hold Foxconn’s feet to the fire. What does this mean? Evers will make sure. What does this mean?

Evers didn't say and Thomas didn't report.

What it means is Foxconn stays, and Evers takes occasional shots at it, hoping noone notices what he is doing. It's call lip service.

The BizTimes statement exemplifies Evers' deceitful campaign posture: Emit negative messages on the unpopular Foxconn, and avoid any substantial comment on the enabling Foxconn legislation and the contract between Wisconsin and Foxconn.

Wisconsin has two scenarios in General Election voting beginning in three weeks.

1. Tony Evers changes his pro-Foxconn position and vows to oppose Foxconn in federal court.* Concomitant with this policy change, Evers makes specific pitches for votes from the Libertarian and Green parties, and grassroots clean water activists.
[*State court is out, unless part of a multiple-jurisdictional, multi-party litigation strategy in both federal and state court. Repeal of enabling legislation is out, unless improbably the gerrymandered firewall in the State Assembly is breached.]

Evers wins in a landslide.

2. Tony Evers maintains his current and deceitful pro-Foxconn posture and risks giving the election to Scott Walker as Wisconsinites abandon another weaselly corporatist Democrat, ala Hillary Clinton.

Foxconn Slithers Ahead as Tony Evers and Scott Walker Praise Slime Left for Wisconsin

Foxconn is keeping tabs on Wisconsin race for governor.

Madison, Wisconsin — Gov. Scott Walker (R) trumpeted the news about Foxconn gifting UW-Madison $100-million, (Twitter).

Seems too good to be true. It is.

Like most things involving Scott Walker, the latest Foxconn development is a scam to reward special interests at the expense of Wisconsin.

As 2018 is a mid-term election year, we can expect Democratic Party nominee Tony Evers to expose and campaign against the Foxconn lunacy? No.

Tony Evers' position remains: Foxconn stays, Wisconsin bleeds.

Evers' amen corner is becoming desperate as Evers' pro-Foxconn position becomes public the week before Labor Day.

For the hard corps Tony Evers supporters, Foxconn and $billion subsidies are the price of defeating Scott Walker.

For many others, the latest Scott Walker move to turn Wisconsin into a Taiwanese colony calls for a public statement from Tony Evers opposing Foxconn in federal court.

Tony Evers tells Wisconsin again, you will pay for Foxconn and you will like it.

Here are some numbers from the Wisconsin 2016 Presidential General Election that should concern the Democratic Party of Wisconsin today.

12,162 votes     .41% Constitution Party

106,674 votes  3.58% Libertarian Party

31,072 votes    1.04% Green Party

Tony Evers keeps up his ridiculous pro-Foxconn stance, it's likely we see similar percentages this Nov, enough to swing a close election.

Gov Candidate Tony Evers Remains Silent on Foxconn Contract

Updated - Madison, Wisconsin — Weeks from the absentee voting start in the Wisconsin mid-term General Election, is this the year we dump Gov. Scott Walker (R)?

Not if the Democratic Party nominee for governor, Tony Evers, gets his way.

Evers is avoiding questions about major policy more assiduously than Scott Walker dodges questions about Walker's historic cuts to education and health care.

This campaign season, instead of policy discussion, Wisconsin voters are treated to a non-stop smorgasbord of what Evers ate at McDonald's.

This steady diet of fluff from Evers includes no mention of the most massive corporate give-away in U.S. history — Foxconn, specifically the question of Evers litigating the Foxconn-Wisconsin contract in federal court.

The Foxconn-Wisconsin 29-page contract remained secret until after the deal was signed by Walker's administration and the Foxconn chair, WKOW reported last year.

Evers in his weaselly manner becoming common now-a-days retains his position amounting to Foxconn stays, Wisconsin bleeds, a position Evers is trying to keep secret.

Evers has not mentioned Foxconn since the Aug 14 Primary Election, going completely dark on a major issue on which Scott Walker continues to campaign.

Evers' past comments include a vague promise to try to convince Foxconn to give up its $ billion subsidies, its guarantees to flaunt local and state law on water protections, among other negotiated perks given to Foxconn in the contract approved November 2017, and enabling legislation.

Mal Contends will continue its effort to get an answer from Evers on opposing the Foxconn contract.

With each day that Tony Evers refuses questions on Foxconn comes new evidence the Foxconn scam is bi-partisan.

@Tony4WI Transparency is a laudable objective. Are you willing to publicly commit to litigating the lunatic Foxconn-Wisconsin contract in federal court? Be open, clear and transparent, pls. The courtesy of a reply? https://t.co/fWvqvE4LNm

— Michael Leon (@mal644) August 26, 2018

Tony Evers Is Silent on Foxconn Four Weeks from Absentee Voting Start

In Wisconsin, Gov. Scott
Walker's discredited claim
that 13,000 new jobs will
materialize with a $4 billion
public investment is meeting
with incredulity. Walker's 2018
campaign, Friends of Scott
Walker, is pitching the
scheme dubbed the
Fox Con. Dem Party
nominee for gov,
Tony Evers, refuses
to take a clear position.

Off your ass, Tony Evers

Madison, Wisconsin — We're four weeks out to the first absentee voters casting their ballots in the Gov. Scott Walker-Tony Evers race in the Wisconsin General Election.

Democratic Party nominee for governor, Tony Evers, still will not issue a public statement against the Foxconn-Wisconsin contract, negotiated by Republicans, for Republicans and against working families.

The Foxconn boondoggle does not play well among most voters. It ought not, it's lunacy.

Foxconn is a winner for Democrats but the Democratic Party nominee for governor, Tony Evers, retains his posture there is nothing to be done to stop the foreign company from polluting and depleting our water, and destroying our wetlands, saying we can only wish Foxconn to become good corporate citizens.

Meanwhile, Gov. Scott Walker (R) ballyhoos the $ billions in subsidies to Foxconn.

Reports Arthur Thomas in the BizTimes in mid-August: "Evers’ campaign declined to comment on the election results in the context of Foxconn."

We have the sitting Republican governor running for reelection, Donald Trump and legislative Republicans lying through their teeth about Foxconn. Evers won't say a word

Evers is spineless.

Walker is already up running Foxconn ads around the state and the internet.

Foxconn still polls badly, and a libertarian candidate, Phil Anderson, is drawing seven percent among registered voters who don't like the idea of $ billion subsidies to private, foreign interests, (Marquette Law School Poll).

Here's Phil Anderson on Foxconn and the Economy: "We oppose all efforts of State government to pick winners and losers in the economy."

Anderson is not going win seven percent in the general election.

But only an idiot or the Democratic Party nominee for governor believes Anderson is not capable of picking up enough votes to swing a close election.

Most every Democratic Party voter hates Foxconn and wants the contract torn up.

As Tony Evers silently runs away from Scott Walker's Soviet-style industrial planning, few are willing to speak up and urge Evers to do the right thing by Wisconsin families.

For the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, the go-to move on Foxconn is noone breathe, noone dare speak and fall in line behind milquetoast Tony — because when in the last eight years has the Democratic Party ever made a political miscalculation?

Here's some advice from Bloomberg on Foxconn from last August (2017), for the edification of Evers:

Such incentives [as $3 billion, (now $4 billion) in public funds] are generally an awful way to lure jobs -- expensive, inefficient and fraught with unintended consequences.

They can prompt costly bidding wars between states and impede other budget priorities. They have little effect on employment, growth or wages. They may induce unwise borrowing.

Companies often come back again and again, as blackmailers tend to, seeking yet more blandishments. And nothing stops them from walking away when times get tough.

States are also apt to loosen the rules. Among other perks, Foxconn won’t need to obtain the state permits ordinarily required to discharge dredged material into local wetlands.

Nor will it have to submit to standard environmental-impact studies. Such exceptions make for irrational public policy.

One might argue, as politicians often do, that even bad jobs underwritten by taxpayers are preferable to no jobs at all. But that’s wrongheaded: If those tax dollars were freed to find more productive uses, they’d boost efficiency and growth elsewhere in the economy -- and thus create more jobs.

Tony Evers, you're really screwing up, man.

Tony Evers Is Silent on Opposing Foxconn in Wisconsin

In Wisconsin, Gov. Scott
Walker's discredited claim
that 13,000 new jobs will
materialize with a $4 billion
public investment is meeting
with incredulity. Walker's 2018
campaign, Friends of Scott
Walker, is pitching the
scheme dubbed the
Fox Con. Dem Party
nominee for gov,
Tony Evers, refuses
to take a clear position.

Foxconn Is Not a Bad Actor; Can't Un-ring Bell Remains Position of Dem Nominee for Gov

Madison, Wisconsin — Talk to folks in the northern two-thirds of the state and ask how the Foxconn boondoggle plays. Not well.

Foxconn is a political winner for Democrats but the Democratic Party nominee for gov, Tony Evers, retains his posture there is nothing that can be done to stop the foreign company from polluting and depleting our water, saying in effect we can only wish Foxconn to become good corporate citizens.

Meanwhile, Gov. Scott Walker (R) maintains his position that ballyhoos the $ billions in subsidies to Foxconn.

Reports Arthur Thomasin the BizTimes: "Evers’ campaign declined to comment on the election results in the context of Foxconn."

Yes, because why would Tony Evers craft precise policy positions on the worst deal Wisconsin has ever negotiated, a massive giveaway on which the sitting Repulbican governor is running for reelection, and a lie that is hyped by Donald Trump.

Foxconn as fiscal and economic plutonium works as a metaphor. This scheme is deadly to economic development, fiscal health of the state, and the ability of local governments to protect their communities from corporate bad actors.

The economic and environmental scale and impact of Foxconn is immense.

But Walker in his Evangelical certainty knows Foxconn is what Jesus wants for Wisconsin, until he is called away to the private sector.

A problem for Wisconsin is Tony Evers' current position on Foxconn is a model of vacuity.

Keep up the great work, Tony.

One Gov Candidate Vows to Terminate Massive Foxconn Subsidy and Free-to-Pollute Guarantees

In Wisconsin, Gov. Scott
Walker's discredited claim
that 13,000 new jobs will
materialize with a $3 billion
public investment is meeting
with incredulity. Walker's 2018
campaign, Friends of Scott
Walker, is now pitching the
scheme dubbed the
Fox Con.

The election of Matt Flynn as Wisconsin governor would result in litigation against Foxconn placing Donald Trump and Republicans in an untenable Foxconn-first position against an elected state government

Analysis - Madison, Wisconsin — The election of the leading Foxconn foe running for the nomination for governor in the Democratic Party Primary would mean the greatest industrial-policy litigation against a foreign corporation in American history, Matt Flynn promises.

Such litigation would highlight the political vulnerability of pro-Foxconn policy that could potentially obliterate Trump's faux America-first appeal.

Alone among Wisconsin gubernatorial candidates, Matt Flynn has vowed to litigate the Foxconn-Wisconsin contract with an objective of terminating all public monetary subsidies and specific contractual exceptions to environmental and zoning state and local laws for Foxconn.

The latest public polling data on Wisconsin's $ 4-billion-plus subsidy to Foxconn shows strong plurality sentiment against the biggest give-away of state monies to a foreign corporation in American history, (Marquette University Law School Poll (July 18, 2018)).

Reads the poll analysis by Charles Franklin:

Views of [Wisconsin residents on] the Foxconn incentive package and the effects of the new manufacturing center are little changed from the June poll. Forty-six percent think the state is paying more than the Foxconn plant is worth, while 39 percent think the plant will provide at least as much value as the state is investing in the plant.

Gov. Scott Walker (R) and Donald Trump have hyped Foxconn [Foxconn Technology Co Ltd., aka Hon Hai Precision Industry Co Ltd.] in Wisconsin past the point of credulity.

Last month at the ceremonial groundbreaking in southeastern Wisconsin, Trump acclaimed the proposed Foxconn center as "the 8th wonder of the world," (CBS News). Last year, Foxconn CEO, Terry Gou, told Trump "off-the-record" that the company will triple its promised $10 billion investment in Wisconsin to $30 billion, Trump claimed, aka a lie (Associated Press).

Foxconn at the Ballot

Will this unprecedented public give-away to a Taiwanese corporation be able to pass muster at the ballot box?

Foxconn may indeed succeed in the mid-term general election voting because of the diffuse nature of grassroots opposition and the Democratic Party of Wisconsin.

One anti-Foxconn Facebook site, No to the Fox Con run by Madison resident Allen Ruff and boasting 100s of activist members, declares candidate positions of gubernatorial candidate are the same, a patently false statement. Ruff further declares that candidate positions on Foxconn should not inform analysis of anti-Foxconn commentary and public information, another ludicrous position.

But the site highlights a problem. Many residents would prefer to express anti-Foxconn sentiment, while ignoring the high-stakes strategy needed to produce the desired results.

Last Summer, Gov. Scott Walker (R) was able to jam Foxconn through the state legislature because so many people tuned out of the magnitude and costs of the project. No referendum was offered or demanded.

We can't now wish Foxconn away. Alone among Wisconsin candidates for governor, Matt Flynn proposes to terminate the contract through a complex litigation strategy. This is going to be the greatest Wisconsin industrial-policy case in state history pitting the Taiwanese corporation v. Wisconsin, if Flynn wins the nomination and the general election.

So would Donald Trump, the first cheerleader for Foxconn, then double-down on his support for the Wisconsin-Foxconn deal in favor of Taiwan?

This would be politically disastrous.  Unfortunately, inflicting political disaster onto Trump and Scott Walker is not always high on Wisconsin Democratic-progressive strategic missions or on a list of things to do.

Wisconsin Anti-Due Process Bill Is Unhinged

Update: Bizarre Republican amendment would still cut out appellate deliberation, but would allow clerical paperwork by appellate courts, (WisPolitics). Equal Protection and Due Process problems remain.
 ---
Madison, Wisconsin — Suppose you and friends in the legislature know someone from Taiwan and henceforth you would like $3 billion in public subsidies lavished onto your comrade.

Crazy, but legal.

But so enthralled are you with your Taiwanese friend, you propose special legal status of a class-caste power of privilege that would have made C. Wright Mills recoil in surprise.

And laws protecting the people and Wisconsin communities? Forget it, you say.

Equal playing-field in the marketplace. Cute.

The Wisconsin Republican-Peter Barca project in service to Foxconn Technology Co Ltd, aka Hon Hai Precision Industry Co Ltd., now proposes perverse and privileged legal status for this single corporate actor along the lines described above.

Putting aside the fiscal and macro-economic cat-five disasters being courted, not much objection is voiced publicly from Wisconsin on the proposed abandonment of settled Equal Protection and Due Process doctrine, and state Judicial power and discretion establishing guarantees under which all litigants are equal in the eyes of the Judicial branch.

Notes Matt Rothschild:

When the Joint Finance Committee voted, along party lines, to give Foxconn the right to directly appeal any lower court order straight to the Wisconsin Supreme Court and to have that order suspended until the high court rules on it, the legislature was entering very dubious legal waters.

First of all, there is a separation of powers problem. The legislature is letting Foxconn skip the entire appellate court process. Where does the legislature get off telling the judiciary how it will function?

Secondly, there is an equal protection problem. Why should other businesses, or individuals, have to go through the potentially costly appellate process when Foxconn doesn’t have to? And why can only Foxconn get an instant and automatic stay on any lower court’s decision when every other party in the lower courts has to ask a judge for a stay?

The reason why the Joint Finance Committee carved out the exception for Foxconn is pretty obvious: The Wisconsin Supreme Court is reliably in the hands of a conservative and business-friendly majority.

This judicial exemption that the GOP-dominated Joint Finance Committee has carved out for Foxconn puts in sharp relief the utter corporatization of Wisconsin politics.

We don’t have a democracy in Wisconsin today. We have corporate rule.

That this abandonment of equality before the law is openly mused is an embarrassment for Wisconsin, much less seriously proposed in the Wisconsin Legislature's 2017 Special Session, Assembly Bill 1.

I doubt this anti-Constitutional legislative initiative will be included in the final Foxconn bill.

Yet, so unhinged and uneducated about Constitutional protections are Republicans and a couple of Democratic Party bed-fellows that this latest proposal could ring unfair and unjust around the state and become a political scandal, if only the Wisconsin Dems will begin strategic communications to this effect.

In any event, federal litigation will predictably commence with Gov. Scott Walker signing this legislation into law, so what Walker and Republicans are doing is betting they can present this madness as productive public policy better than critics can point out its numerous defects.

Wisconsin Dems Legislator Out as Assembly Leader

Madison, Wisconsin — A Democratic legislative leader who betrayed Wisconsin working families for the proposed $3 billion corporate give-away to the Taiwanese giant, Foxconn, has resigned from his post as minority leader.

The Democratic State Assembly Minority Leader, Rep. Peter Barca, (D-Kenosha), voted in August for an unprecedented state subsidy dubbed the Fox Con, drawing public criticism from progressive Democratic Assembly members and the public.

The Foxconn subsidy is unpopular across the state.

Folks up-north in central and northern Wisconsin do not want and did not ask for a crippling $3 billion public subsidy to Hon Hai Precision Industry Co Ltd.

Barca will never understand this.

Foxconn Vote Looms as Wisc Republicans Block Release of Revenue Forecast

Madison, Wisconsin — The Wisconsin State Senate is expected to vote on a bill subsidizing Foxconn with $3 billion in public monies in mid-September, so Republicans are blocking the release of year-end revenue numbers, and still have not passed a budget, notes an economics and politics writer in Wisconsin.

What's going on?

What's going on is Wisconsin Republicans are retreating to secret, executive session in the Joint Committee on Finance, meaning Wisconsin citizens need not ask questions as Republicans cripple the fiscal health of the state for the foreseeable future.

The agenda today at Joint Finance is composed of the uncompleted budget and the Foxconn bill.

Noone knows when votes will occur of these two massive items, as such questions are Republican business and not the business of the Wisconsin people.

Foxconn Absurdity in Wisconsin Moves Ahead Fast and Quiet

Madison, Wisconsin — One thing is certain about the proposed $3 billion Wisconsin give-away to the Taiwanese giant, Foxconn Technology Co Ltd, aka Hon Hai Precision Industry Co Ltd.

Advocates of the legislation do not want the Wisconsin people looking closely at the deal.

The special Foxconn legislation is now before the State Senate, after having been passed by the State Assembly on August 17.

You can't blame the Foxconn conspirators for working in secret.

This is after-all the same boondoggle first announced by Donald Trump, Scott Walker and Paul Ryan whose governing philosophy is, say-and-promise-anything.

Last month, Trump couldn't resist embellishing the Foxconn deal by asserting the promised $10 billion investment in Wisconsin is really $30 billion, a fact Trump said the Foxconn CEO, Terry Gou, told Trump "off-the-record," (Associated Press).

The Foxconn CEO was silent on Trump's claim, (Associated Press), and to date has not offered public complaint about Trump breaking the secret convention under which Trump claimed the Gou-Trump conversation took place.

C'mon, does anyone really believe this Trump-Gou conversation took place?

Maybe Mr. Gou cares about the Wisconsin people so much, he just wants to surprise folks with a $20 billion gift to off-set the hike in property taxes.

After-all, Scott Walker said at the Wisconsin State Fair on August 8, "Really the payoff is from income taxes for the 13,000 people that will get on average $53,000/a year plus benefits," (Handelman, Fox 6, Milwaukee).

Consider as well Paul Ryan said "It's a really good deal for Wisconsin.

Jokes aside, the Foxconn give-away is about as popular as mosquitoes on a late Summer night.

For this massive, unprecedented gift of public money, the Wisconsin people should have their say.

And since Republicans propose extra-Constitutional gifting of public water resources, a statewide advisory referendum should be held.

If what has been dubbed the Fox Con is such a good deal, surly this once-in-a-generation deal will do well at the ballot box.