Democratic Gubernatorial Candidate Mitchell Embraces Walker’s Kimberly-Clark Plan

Democratic candidate for governor Mahlon Mitchell says he supports Republican Gov. Scott Walker’s proposed tax credits for Kimberly-Clark Corporation.

Walker’s tax credits would mirror the incentive deal the state gave tech giant Foxconn last year to land a manufacturing plant in southeast Wisconsin. Under the plan, Kimberly-Clark’s payroll tax credits would increase from 7 percent to 17 percent.

The proposal is in response to Kimberly-Clark’s announcement last week that it plans to close plants in Neenah and Fox Crossing, which would eliminate about 600 jobs in Wisconsin.

Speaking at a WisPolitics event in Madison, Mitchell said he supports the proposed deal.

“Yes, we should help keep 600 family-sustaining, generational jobs here in the state,” he said.

But Mitchell also criticized the governor for failing to help more Wisconsin-based companies while in office.

“You know, it’s good now that the governor is finally starting to care about Wisconsin,” Mitchell said. “I think because he’s running for re-election, he’s going to take care of Kimberly-Clark.”

Mitchell pointed out that other major employers, like Oscar Meyer, weren’t offered state tax breaks after their closure announcements.

Oscar Meyer announced its Madison plant’s closure, and about 1,000 layoffs, in 2015.