Assembly Democrats say the biennial budget would re-segregate Racine-area schools by letting villages in the area vote to create their own school districts. But Republicans say the district has failed students with “embarrassing” test scores and graduation rates, adding that major changes are needed at the district. “What’s hurting [students]

Assembly Republicans are continuing to reject a series of Dem amendments to the biennial budget, with 10 rejected as of 2:20 p.m. today. But they also are criticizing Democrats for their strategy to offer amendments that individually touch on a wide range of topics. One amendment, for example, would have

The Assembly kicked off its debate on the biennial budget this afternoon, with Republicans shooting down Dem amendments on their proposed repeal of the prevailing wage. Democrats said the repeal, which would apply to state construction projects, would lower wages for Wisconsin workers and encourage out-of-state contractors to flood into

The Senate is now debating the overall Foxconn incentive package after rejecting a series of Dem amendments and approving two authored by Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau. One, which passed earlier today, would state WEDC “shall establish job creation thresholds” while tying capital expenditure tax benefits to those benchmarks. The

Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald introduced an amendment to the Foxconn bill that would maintain the appeals court’s role in any lawsuits filed over decisions related to the economic development zone where the project is located. But the amendment would still speed up the process compared to typical appeals. The

The state Senate approved an amendment that would tweak language in the Foxconn bill to state WEDC “shall establish job creation thresholds” and claiming capital expenditure tax benefits shall be tied to those benchmarks. Dems questioned the impact of the amendment, saying it did not include any mechanisms to ensure

Senate Dems today announced three amendments to the $3 billion Foxconn incentive package that they said would prioritize hiring Wisconsin workers, make the tax credits nonrefundable and nix all exemptions for the Taiwanese manufacturer from Wisconsin’s environmental regulations. Minority Leader Jennifer Shilling said the three amendments are geared toward ensuring

Local officials appearing at today’s hearing expressed support for the Foxconn bill, but asked for a few changes to address local impacts. Kenosha Mayor John Antaramian asked for several changes to language regarding TIFs to allow for investment in the water utility and to allow police and fire personnel hired

Cabinet officials fielded a variety of questions from JFC members, many focusing on the ability of the state to recoup its investment if Foxconn doesn’t fulfill its commitments, environmental concerns and workforce issues. Responding to several questions from JFC Dems about clawbacks, Hogan said those are not included in the

STURTEVANT — In opening statements before the Joint Finance Committee’s hearing on the Foxconn bill, DOA Secretary Scott Neitzel and WEDC Secretary Mark Hogan today stressed ways the planned $10 billion investment would reshape the state’s economy. Neitzel said Foxconn would transform the state’s economy by bringing electronics manufacturing back

The Assembly this evening green-lighted the $3 billion Foxconn incentive package, after rejecting a series of Dem amendments over more than six hours of debate. The 59-30 vote sends the bill to the Senate, which has already referred it to the Joint Finance Committee for another public hearing. Three Dems

Rep. Tod Ohnstad was the second Dem this evening to say he’d back the Foxconn bill when the full Assembly votes on it later today. Ohnstad, who worked with Assembly Committee on Jobs and the Economy Chair Adam Neylon on changes to the Foxconn bill, joined Dem Rep. Cory Mason

Rep. Cory Mason, who’s said he’ll run for mayor of Racine, said he would vote yes on the Foxconn bill today, adding while he still had concerns about the deal, the vote is about “the middle class in Racine, the future in Racine.” Mason, who many thought would support the

Shortly after debate kicked off this afternoon on the Foxconn bill, a Dem motion to send the incentive package to the Joint Finance Committee failed on a 57-32 party-line vote. The Senate is already set to take up the bill in JFC, likely next week. But Assembly Minority Leader Peter Barca,

The Assembly this afternoon adopted a resolution condemning the violence that occurred in Charlottesville, Va., over the weekend, along with the “racist, intolerable views that caused that deeply tragic day.” The resolution, adopted with bipartisan support, further condemns the “white supremacists, the Ku Klux Klan, neo-Nazis, and all those who

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said while he’s seen “some of the rhetoric from the other side,” he’s still hopeful the Foxconn bill will see bipartisan support once debate ends at 7 p.m. Still, when Vos, R-Rochester, was asked during a news conference prior to the floor vote why no Dems were

The Assembly will convene at 11:30 a.m. Thursday to take up the $3 billion Foxconn incentive bill, according to the office of Majority Leader Jim Steineke. Steineke’s office said leaders from both parties have agreed to 7.5 hours of debate Thursday.  

The Assembly Committee on Jobs and the Economy pushed through the $3 billion incentive package for Foxconn this evening over Dem objections. The bill passed following the party-line adoption of a GOP substitute amendment that would add $20 million for a worker training program and require that the final contract with