Gov. Walker campaigning in Onalaska today, as Dems denounce his Foxconn deal

The governor will be in Onalaska at 8:40 a.m. 

Wisconsin votes for governor again one year from today.

Incumbent Republican Scott Walker campaigns in La Crosse County today and so do several Democrats wanting to unseat him.
State Democratic leaders claim Walker’s polling is not good and believe his policy choices make him vulnerable.

Assemblyman Gordon Hintz of Oshkosh says Walker now has to defend his own record over two terms as governor, rather than blaming previous Gov. Jim Doyle for past mistakes.

“He keeps doubling down on these plans,” Hintz said of deals like a $2.85 billion incentive package for Foxconn. “I mean, no amount of giving away taxpayer dollars, giving away our environmental protections seems to be working in either attracting people to our state or attracting the types of jobs we’d like to see.”

Along with the $2.85 billion in refundable tax credits, Foxconn will also be exempt from another $150 million in sales taxes, be eligible for lower utility rates and be exempt from certain environmental regulations. Wisconsin won’t break even from the investment until at least 2043.

“You know what we would be able to do with even a quarter of that ($2.85 billion) over 20 years?” Hintz asked. “To be able to help small businesses develop, add new jobs, grow the economy, make the capital investments to expand.”

La Crosse Senator Jennifer Shilling agreed with Hintz in a recent conference call with reporters that schools and road improvements would go a long way to make Wisconsin better.

State Democratic Party chair Martha Laning says so many people in her party hope to challenge Walker because they have plans for helping education and the economy in Wisconsin.

As he often does, Walker will go to a local factory for his campaign rally…in this case, a printing company in Onalaska.