MADISON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Discussions are being held on an incentive package that would save a Kimberly Clark plant and hundreds of jobs.
Governor Scott Walker said he is working hard on a deal that would lead to the necessary votes needed to pass the Senate, but warned that it would take bipartisan support.
Republicans hold an 18-15 majority in the Senate, but it is not enough votes.
Walker said it may be easier to vote on an incentive package after the November election, but Kimberly Clark says they want something to be decided by the end of the month.
In a statement, the Kimberly Clark spokeswoman told FOX 11, “This allows us to finalize our project plans and minimize the uncertainty and distractions being felt at our various sites.”
About 110 jobs would be lost when the Neenah plant closes but keeping the Cold Springs plant in Fox Crossing open would preserve hundreds of jobs, and Neenah’s Mayor Dean Kaufert is calling the battle to offer an incentive package to keep Kimberly-Clark jobs in place a game.
“The Democrats want to play games and embarrass the governor and embarrass Roger Roth and Republicans by not passing this,” said Kaufert.
Sen. Roger Roth said there needs to be Democratic support of the incentives package to save the hundreds of Kimberly-Clark jobs in Fox Crossing.
“This is something I think we can all support, high paying union jobs, and family-supporting jobs,” Roth said.
Roth says because its just weeks from the general election, the voting should wait until after.
“I’m working at a feverish pace to make sure we can pull together the different areas, to get this done and I think it may take a little more time than the 30th,” said Roth.
He says he’s frustrated as to why Democrats won’t get behind this particular deal.
“Whether it be Mercury Marine down in Fond Du Lac, Foxconn, Fiserv, the Bucks Arena? All of these passed with bipartisan support. This should be no different.”
Appleton Democrat Representative Amanda Stuck says funding packages for businesses shouldn’t be the state’s first answer to every company closure.
“Really, it just throws money at a problem without really addressing why KC is looking at moving in the first place.”
She says there’s no guarantee that Kimberly Clark will stay once they get the funding.
“And we could have used that money to invest in our roads, in our environment, in our schools and all those other things that actually keep businesses here and attract businesses here.”
The company says funding from the state could save the 500 employee factory in Fox Crossing. They’re already planning the closure of their paper plant in Neenah.
