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As I See It

Vote on corporate welfare should come before election

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The deadline has passed, but Governor Walker still hopes to be able to provide more corporate welfare. Kimberly Clark announced it would be closing its plant in the Fox Valley, putting some 500 people out of work. They told the state they would consider staying open, if our elected officials would agree to give them $100 million. The deadline for making that deal came and went over the weekend, but now Walker says he will call the legislature back for an extraordinary session, on November 12th. Extraordinary indeed, given that the vote is scheduled for the week after the coming election. How convenient for lawmakers running for re-election, who won’t be forced to cast a vote on whether to give away taxpayer money prior to election day. Even if they are voted out of office in the November 6 election, these lawmakers could still vote to give away our money. If our lawmakers really wanted to do a deal with Kimberly Clark, they would do so now. Holding public hearings and scheduling votes, so when we go to the polls in a few weeks we know whether those on the ballot believe in this corporate welfare. And now we are learning that while Kimberly Clark is eager to cash a big check from the state, they haven’t written one in return for awhile. Records show Kimberly Clark has paid a total of just $1 in state income tax since 2013. It seems they want quite a lot from taxpayers, without providing much in return.

Scott Robert Shaw serves as WIZM Program Director and News Director, and delivers the morning news on WKTY, Z-93 and 95.7 The Rock. Scott has been at Mid-West Family La Crosse since 1989, and authors Wisconsin's only daily radio editorial, "As I See It" heard on WIZM each weekday morning and afternoon.

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