A Wisconsin state legislator wants to withhold state funding from firms that outsource jobs. State Senator Dave Hansen (D-Green Bay) said it may not be possible to end outsourcing – but it may be possible to prevent subsidies to those that do. He’s proposing legislation that would prohibit companies from applying for or receiving taxpayer assistance for five years if they are found to have outsourced jobs from Wisconsin after receiving state aid.
“We may not be able to stop outsourcing altogether, but we can and should make sure that the hard-earned dollars of Wisconsin taxpayers don’t pay for it.”
Hansen said he decided to introduce the bill after news accounts of Eaton Corporation’s decision to outsource 93 jobs from Watertown – after receiving approximately $370,000 in tax credits from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation. Eaton, an international firm based in Ireland, reported quarterly net income of $466 million.
“They always talk about holding people accountable for welfare fraud, we would like to do the same with businesses that are applying for corporate welfare, and I would say fraudulently accepting money and sending our jobs overseas,” Hansen said.