http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/foxconn-mount-pleasant-s5.jpgDiversion of road funding delays completion of statewide road projects.

MADISON, WI – After earlier reports exposed Republican plans to divert up to $90 million from state highway maintenance to fund Foxconn related projects, the Walker administration is doubling down on their transportation fund raid to subsidize the massive foreign corporation. Republican lawmakers on the Joint Finance Committee voted to shift millions more in transportation funds to projects associated with the Foxconn site rather than addressing the state’s massive backlog of road rehabilitation projects.

“It seems like every day, Republicans come up with a new scheme to shift more taxpayer dollars to Foxconn at the expense of local schools, roads and businesses across our state,” said Senate Democratic Leader Jennifer Shilling. “Families and businesses in Wisconsin are furious that our roads are among the worst in the nation. The condition of our state highways are a national embarrassment. It’s costing everyone more in car repairs and traffic delays, not to mention the ongoing risk drivers face when traveling over dangerous roads and bridges.”

“Foxconn is the poster child for everything that the public detests about corporate tax giveaways,” added Shilling. “Republicans are selling out Wisconsin families in order to funnel billions of state taxpayer dollars to a foreign corporation with a terrible track record of workplace abuses and broken promises. Rather than delaying projects and diverting more transportation dollars to Foxconn, we should be working toward a long-term funding solution to fix Wisconsin’s crumbling roads, highways and bridges.”

Foxconn is the largest state taxpayer giveaway to a foreign corporation in U.S. history. In less than a year, the public cost of this project has increased from an original estimate of $3 billion to over $4.5 billion.