GOP Front Groups Launch Effort to Kill Jobs
and Economic Recovery
MADISON – Two big-oil funded interest groups, acting as fronts for the GOP, recently launched attacks aimed at derailing transportation investments that will create thousands of new jobs and generate hundreds of millions of dollars in new economic activity in Southeastern Wisconsin
The Washington D.C.-based groups, ironically named “Americans for Prosperity” and “Club for Growth,” have joined forces with local Republican leaders in an attempt to kill new rail infrastructure investments that are estimated to create 4,300 new jobs and generate more than $530 million in economic activity for Wisconsin, while opening new markets to Wisconsin businesses.
Over the past weeks these groups have spent tens of thousands of dollars on deceptive telemarketing and radio advertising against legislators supportive of the plan, and are holding tea-party rallies aimed at killing the new jobs and economic investment once and for all.
The out-of-state groups, funded by some of the nation’s biggest oil magnates, have consistently tried to derail any attempts to establish modern transportation systems – systems that might cut into their windfall profits of recent years. In contrast to these big special interests, the new rail plans have been supported by an extraordinary coalition of business and community leaders, including representatives of some of the largest and most successful employers in the Southeastern Wisconsin.
“We call on the state’s Republicans and their special interest allies to stop this assault on Wisconsin’s working families,” Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chair Mike Tate said. “Democrats in the State legislature are working to create jobs and build this state’s economy –It’s well past time that the GOP got on board.”
