Workload just increased sharply for Wisconsin legislators

They better get to work now. After putting off work on a new state budget, Wisconsin legislators find themselves with a plate full. In addition to still being far from finishing the budget, our representatives now need to figure out how to work the huge deal to woo Foxconn to the state. It is estimated the state will need to come up with $3 billion or more in subsidies in order for Foxconn to bring the new plant and thousands of jobs it promises. The deal calls for the state to pay up to $19,000 per job. Those are our tax dollars they are ready to give away. Of course, if done properly, this could be a huge windfall for Wisconsin. But that is far from a guarantee. Meanwhile, the state budget is three weeks late, lawmakers haven’t met in months, and there remains a divide over how to pay for road work in Wisconsin. The Foxconn deal heightens the need to get that done. A plant ten times the size of Lambeau Field will need new, and better roads. But already, because the budget is late, more state road work is being put on hold. State reps need to roll up their sleeves, and in a hurry, to put together smart and fair deals on the budget, and for Foxconn. With all this work ahead of them, maybe we will finally start getting our money’s worth from those we send to Madison.