search
Sections List
American Journal News

GOP lawmaker promised jobs for people that really went to robots

Wisconsin state Rep. Dale Kooyenga promised that giving away billions to Foxconn would bring in jobs and innovation. But the deal is already turning out to be a boondoggle — just like his Democratic rival warned.

By Oliver Willis - November 01, 2018
Share
Dale Kooyenga

Wisconsin gave away billions to FoxConn thanks to support from Republican state Representatives like Dale Kooyenga. But now it’s clear that Wisconsin Republicans sold their taxpayers a bill of goods that won’t create the jobs promised — a scam that will take decades to pay off.

Kooyenga was a key vote in Gov. Scott Walker’s drive to secure an eye-popping $4.1 billion in cash subsidies and tax credits for Foxconn, the Taiwanese electronics giant, supposedly in exchange for thousands of new manufacturing jobs.

After he gave Foxconn the green light, Kooyenga said the deal was part of an effort to “develop a generation of engineers, managers and workers” and “create additional careers” in Wisconsin.

But as The Verge reports, instead of a factory filled with workers building televisions, FoxConn will instead have “most of the manufacturing done by robots.”

Thanks to this scam, Wisconsin taxpayers are now on the hook for a staggering $1,774 per household. And it will take until at least 2050 for taxpayers to recoup the losses.

The disastrous deal also “exposes a lie we’ve been told over and over that the cupboard is bare, that we don’t have enough money for our schools or our roads or our health care,” Matthew Rothschild, executive director of the good government group Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, told the Verge. “But then when a company from Taiwan comes knocking, all of a sudden there’s $4 billion of taxpayer money to shell out. We could have helped a whole lot of small businesses for that kind of money.”

Walker and his fellow Republicans like Kooyenga should have known better, since FoxConn has a history of failing to deliver on its promises to governments about creating new jobs.

Instead, they bought the scam hook, line, and sinker. Kooyenga even sent out a special note to his constituents hyping the deal.

But once the deal was exposed as a dud, Walker didn’t even mention it when he announced his re-election bid.

Tony Evers, who is challenging Walker for governor, now has a slight lead on him in the polls.

If this pattern persists, the embattled Kooyenga could also lose his race for state Senator.

Kooyenga’s Democratic opponent, Julie Henzsey, offered prescient warnings back in March about the dangers of the deal.

“FoxConn is being prioritized over important road and infrastructure repairs all over the state,” Henzsey said.

Rather than the likes of Kooyenga and Walker, she added, “We need leaders that will use our tax dollars to benefit Wisconsinites, not foreign companies.”

In a later post referring to the deal, Henszey pointed out that “taxpayers are left on the hook for the governor’s gamble.”

And Kooyenga bears blame for this. He was so eager to make the deal that he ignored numerous red flags about it that were visible from the start.

And now that he’s indebted his constituents for decades, he has the nerve to ask them to reward him with a promotion to the state Senate.


AJ News
Subscribe to our newsletter.
Read More
AJ News
Latest
Megadonor embroiled in ethics scandal gave thousands to Winsome Earle-Sears

Megadonor embroiled in ethics scandal gave thousands to Winsome Earle-Sears

By Jesse Valentine - April 21, 2025
“I Was Terrified To Get Pregnant Again After Having to Flee Tennessee for a Life-Saving Abortion”

“I Was Terrified To Get Pregnant Again After Having to Flee Tennessee for a Life-Saving Abortion”

By Bonnie Fuller - April 21, 2025
Goldman Sachs: Trump’s tariffs will lead to job losses

Goldman Sachs: Trump’s tariffs will lead to job losses

By Jesse Valentine - April 17, 2025
Democrats take stand for wrongly deported Maryland man

Democrats take stand for wrongly deported Maryland man

By Jesse Valentine - April 16, 2025
North Carolina law would make it illegal for Democratic AG to sue Trump

North Carolina law would make it illegal for Democratic AG to sue Trump

By Jesse Valentine - April 11, 2025
Older Americans suffer under Republican slash and burn policies

Older Americans suffer under Republican slash and burn policies

By Jesse Valentine - April 09, 2025
Scott Brown got Trump’s tariff plans for New Zealand very wrong

Scott Brown got Trump’s tariff plans for New Zealand very wrong

By Jesse Valentine - April 08, 2025
Trump admin canceled Social Security contracts to punish Maine governor

Trump admin canceled Social Security contracts to punish Maine governor

By Jesse Valentine - April 03, 2025
Senate Republicans vote to eliminate cap on overdraft fees

Senate Republicans vote to eliminate cap on overdraft fees

By Jesse Valentine - April 03, 2025
Forced to carry a dying baby, this Texas mother of four says she didn’t think it could happen to her

Forced to carry a dying baby, this Texas mother of four says she didn’t think it could happen to her

By Bonnie Fuller - March 28, 2025
Despite pleas from women and doctors, Texas may implement even more abortion restrictions

Despite pleas from women and doctors, Texas may implement even more abortion restrictions

By Bonnie Fuller - March 28, 2025
Trump’s antiwar claims don’t hold up in leaked group chat

Trump’s antiwar claims don’t hold up in leaked group chat

By Jesse Valentine - March 28, 2025
Frontline Republican governors cheer on Department of Ed closure

Frontline Republican governors cheer on Department of Ed closure

By Jesse Valentine - March 26, 2025
GOP-led legislatures ramp up abortion restrictions

GOP-led legislatures ramp up abortion restrictions

By Jesse Valentine - March 18, 2025
HHS slashes vaccine research, amplifies misinformation

HHS slashes vaccine research, amplifies misinformation

By Jesse Valentine - March 11, 2025
Senate Republicans scrap consumer protections for payment apps

Senate Republicans scrap consumer protections for payment apps

By Jesse Valentine - March 10, 2025
Rep. Don Bacon admits he voted for Medicaid cuts

Rep. Don Bacon admits he voted for Medicaid cuts

By - February 28, 2025
Trump admin cracks down on affordable weight-loss treatments

Trump admin cracks down on affordable weight-loss treatments

By Jesse Valentine - February 27, 2025
Republican lawmakers are lying about Medicaid fraud

Republican lawmakers are lying about Medicaid fraud

By Jesse Valentine - February 26, 2025
Trump’s education pick: schools may lose funds for teaching Black history

Trump’s education pick: schools may lose funds for teaching Black history

By Jesse Valentine - February 13, 2025
JD Vance defends DOGE staffer who promoted eugenics 

JD Vance defends DOGE staffer who promoted eugenics 

By Jesse Valentine - February 10, 2025
Texas’ abortion ban has OB-GYNs working in an environment of ‘extreme fear’

Texas’ abortion ban has OB-GYNs working in an environment of ‘extreme fear’

By Bonnie Fuller - February 04, 2025