State Capitol Report: Foxcon Deal, New Agriculture Secretary, Constitutional Convention And More

It’s the State Capitol Report. The Foxconn contract is signed, Gov. Scott Walker names a new agriculture secretary, and Wisconsin calls for a constitutional convention. WPR’s state government reporter Laurel White brings us up to the speed on those and other stories in Wisconsin politics.

Walker and Foxconn Chairman Terry Gou sealed the deal Friday afternoon during a ceremony in Racine. It sets minimum job benchmarks for Foxconn to receive up to $2.85 billion in state tax credits. If the company fails to meet those job figures, it would pay the credits back. The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation board approved the contract last week by a vote of 8-2.

Republican State Senator Sheila Harsdorf became the first woman to lead the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. She takes over for Ben Brancel, who retired in August. Harsdorf, a dairy farmer from River Falls, had been a senator since 2001.

With the state Senate’s approval, Wisconsin joined the call for a convention of the states to add a balanced budget amendment to the U.S. Constitution. 27 other states have passed similar measures. A total of 34 are needed.

How do you feel now that the Foxconn deal has been signed? What do you think about the terms of the contract? What’s your reaction to Harsdorf being tapped as the new agriculture head? Do you support or oppose the idea of a constitutional convention? Call us at 1-800-642-1234 or email ideas@wpr.org. You can also tweet us @wprmornings or post on the Ideas Network Facebook page.