CRANES & TRAINS
LET’S BUILD A BETTER WISCONSIN
Tax breaks for data center construction are set to cost the state more than $2 billion over the next few years. That’s a gigantic bill that won’t help a single Wisconsinite make rent, get a good education, breathe fresh air, or afford the cost of living. Amid problems with aging infrastructure and spiking energy costs, throwing billions of dollars at AI data centers is an irresponsible waste of public money. We should use that money and hire the same union workers to build things that actually help our state. Fran’s already laid out her plans for how to handle data centers with CONTROL-ALT-DELETE and FIREWALL—here’s how she’ll put Wisconsin to work and put that money to better use.
The CRANES & TRAINS plan also totals $2 billion. But instead of lining tech moguls’ pockets for one-off gain, Fran will make sure Wisconsin money supports Wisconsin workers and infrastructure. State-funded construction projects will use local, union labor.
Build Homes People Can Afford
We’re in a cost-of-living crisis, and much of that comes from housing being so damn expensive. Housing is expensive because construction is expensive, and one reason construction is expensive is the administrative cost of putting projects together. Through her public bank proposal, Fran can commit $250 million and copious administrative services to an affordable housing fund. This means developers who follow strict affordability criteria will have an easier time building homes that Wisconsinites can actually live in. And with an affordable housing zoning overlay, Fran can simplify the redundant processes that prolong permitting processes by months or years – meaning Wisconsin workers can put shovels in the ground soon.
BUILD A GREENER GRID
In 2019, Tony Evers set the goal of a 100% carbon-free power grid by 2050. As energy costs surge, we know that transitioning to sustainable power sources is an urgent need. But Wisconsin lags behind its peers when it comes to renewables. To fix our grid, Fran will:
- invest $750 million in new Wisconsin union labor projects that expand solar and wind power in the state, and improve the safety and reliability of the power grid, and
- Work directly with unions to make sure state-funded apprenticeship programs train the next generation of Wisconsin workers for newly created positions in emerging green industries.
Build The Cornerstones Of Our Communities
Libraries, community pools, and local affordable housing make our communities stronger. That’s why Fran will expand the Non-State Grant Program with an additional $250 million investment, supporting much-needed projects across the state.
Build Schools for Next Generation of Wisconsinites
Years of austerity funding have left Wisconsin public schools with aging buildings that fail to serve student needs. In fact, Wisconsin is one of just five states that doesn’t offer dedicated financial support to education facilities. As governor, Fran will support a statewide survey to evaluate the condition of Wisconsin public school buildings, along with $500 million in new funding to cover the most urgent school renovations and improvements.
Build Transit That Works For Everyone
Amtrak was set to build a much-needed passenger line connecting Milwaukee and Madison before Scott Walker killed the deal. The bustling Borealis line shows that there’s a demand for mass transit in Wisconsin. A new plan to build a high-speed rail connection between the two cities is projected to cost $250 million, with the state putting up about $50 million of that. It’s a bargain that will generate 200 permanent and local union jobs.
In addition, Fran supports $200 million in funding for bike and bus infrastructure, expanded sidewalks, and incentives to create electric vehicle (EV) charging ports.
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Join team Hong
Get email updates from Fran and the campaign team.
By submitting this form, you consent to receive donation asks, voter contact, and informational emails from Francesca Hong. Email frequency varies. You may unsubscribe at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link in any email. Privacy Policy & Terms.