FACT CHECK: Howard Marklein Voted to Give Billions to Foxconn While Shorting Our Roads and Schools Print
Elections, Elected Officials, Political Parties
Written by Democratic Party of Wisconsin, Courtney Beyer   
Friday, 05 October 2018 16:44

Howard MarkleinReedsburg Republican sets Foxconn, big business first.


MADISON - Howard Marklein’s latest re-election ad makes several glaring omissions from his time in the legislature. A quick look behind the curtains makes the facts clear: Howard Marklein voted to give billions of taxpayer dollars to a foreign corporation while shorting priorities for hardworking Wisconsinites.

CLAIM: Howard Marklein “kept [his] word to look after your tax dollars

REALITY: Marklein voted to give $4.5 billion of taxpayer money to Foxconn, a Chinese corporation with a history of broken promises. This $4.5 billion giveaway is the largest state taxpayer handout to a foreign corporation in U.S. history. Under the best-case scenario, it will be at least 25 years until Wisconsin taxpayers could potentially break even on their investment, if at all.

CLAIM: “We’ll be spending more on things that matter here at home: education…

REALITY: One of Marklein’s first acts in public office was to vote to slash $800 million in funding for Wisconsin’s classrooms. Seven years later, funding for public education remains below what it was in 2009. Wisconsin spends about $1,000 less per pupil than before Marklein took office and ranks below six other Midwest states.

CLAIM: “We’ll be spending more on things that matter here at home:…transportation

REALITY: As part of Republicans’ $4.5 billion taxpayer giveaway to Foxconn, Marklein voted to divert $90 million in funding for local road projects to Foxconn. Thanks to the neglect of Republicans like Marklein, the financial burden of Wisconsin’s crumbling roads has fallen to Wisconsin taxpayers -- local government “wheel taxes” have nearly tripled, and Wisconsinites in some parts of the state are paying upwards of $2,100 on car repairs because of the poor conditions of Wisconsin’s roads.

The facts couldn’t be clearer: Howard Marklein has neglected and short changed Wisconsin priorities while doling out billions of taxpayer dollars to a foreign corporation.