Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker won his election in 2010 on a promise to create 250,000 new jobs. Walker created his flagship Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation in 2011 and named himself Chairman. Now, as allegations of cronyism and corruption engulf WEDC, Walker has been removed as Chairman.
Now that the Wisconsin GOP and its allies have rammed though an American Legislative Exchange Council "right to work" (RTW) bill, the same cast of characters is back pushing another ALEC model: repeal of the state’s prevailing wage laws. These laws require public construction projects to support local wage standards instead of undercutting them.
Backed by big corporate dollars from McDonalds and others, the International Franchise Association is using legal maneuvers and back room lobbying to try to undermine workers in the fast food industry.
The fossil fuel barons, Charles and David Koch, have long advocated for "economic freedom" and a smaller government. They have slammed "collectivism" and market distorting subsidies.
ALEC allies promote economist-for-hire while blasting respected in-state academics.
In the multi-pronged corporate attack on working people, two public relations and lobbying campaigns have appeared, taking aim at the National Labor Relations Board.
Two trade organizations affiliated with corporate bill mill ALEC have filed a suit against the City of Los Angeles to block an ordinance passed last September to raise the wages for hotel employees.
"When large corporations controlled by billionaires are given lavish taxpayer subsidies, the rest of us get stuck footing more of the bill"
Democratic state legislators in Illinois are mulling an effort to thwart Chicago's effort to raise its minimum wage, even as they raise the state wage above the national average. And the state National Restaurant Association affiliate is eating it up.
Leaked documents expose a plan by Edelman for TransCanada to launch an "aggressive" American-style PR campaign to get controversial tar sands oil to refineries in eastern Canada for export.
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