MADISON, Wis. (AP/WTMJ) - Republican state lawmakers are meeting privately to discuss a three billion dollar incentive package for Taiwan-based Foxconn to build a new display panel manufacturing plant in Wisconsin.
?
Republican and Democratic lawmakers can both agree on one thing: This is a huge deal for Wisconsin.
?
"This is a big bill but its a really big project," said Representative Tod Ohnstad, (D) Kenosha.
?
"It's the biggest story wherever you go in Wisconsin," said Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, (R) Rochester.
?
Governor Scott Walker called a special session that officially began on Tuesday, but no legislative action was expected until later in the week when the incentive bill was likely to get a public hearing.
?
Instead, Republicans who control the Senate and Assembly planned to meet privately to discuss the bill.
?
"We want to make sure we're ahead of it so that people don't start to believe untruthful rhetoric," said Vos.
?
Concerns have been raised both about the cost to taxpayers. Representative Ohnstad of Kenosha still wants to study the terms of the deal.
?
"Make sure that the taxpayers in Wisconsin are protected," said Ohnstad.
?
"Foxconn doesn't get anything if they don't produce," said Senator Van Wanggaard, (R) Racine.
?
Concerns also continue with other provisions designed to accommodate Foxconn, like the waving of numerous environmental permitting requirements and other regulations.
?
"They're not gonna come in as a corporate entity and dump into things into our environment that will hurt our environment. They're going to put ten billion dollars into their complex," said Wanggaard.
?
Representative Ohnstad says he is concerned simply over how fast the bill may go through.
?
"I wish there was more time but it is what it is," said Ohnstad.
?
Walker and other backers have pointed to the economic benefit of the proposed plant that could employ up to 13,000 people.
?
A public hearing on the Foxconn bill is scheduled for Thursday.
?
A vote in the full Assembly is expected mid-August.
?
The deal requires the state legislature to pass the incentive package no later than Sept. 30.
