Great Lakes water diversion for Foxconn plant explained, debated

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has approved the diversion of 7 million gallons of water a day to be used primarily for the proposed Foxconn plant. Critics question whether the diversion complies with the Great Lakes Compact, which restricts use of Lake Michigan water outside of the lake’s basin.

Verified

Sen. Ron Johnson wants troops at the Mexican border. Do we need them?

Wisconsin U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson supports President Donald Trump’s move to add troops to the southern border with Mexico to intercept unauthorized immigrants and drugs. Johnson cited a shortage of U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents. The Observatory finds his claim that the Border Patrol does suffer from attrition Verified, but finds his claim about the need for more agents Unobservable.

Mostly True

Will some money generated by Foxconn leave Wisconsin?

Gov. Scott Walker announces a deal in July 2017 with Taiwanese manufacturer Foxconn to build an LCD manufacturing plant in Wisconsin. At far left is Terry Gou, chairman of Foxconn. Matt Flynn, one of Walker’s Democratic challengers for governor, says some of the state’s multi-billion taxpayer investment will flow to out-of-state companies. We check his claim.

Verified

Dem. challenger claims Wisconsin wages low under Gov. Scott Walker

In response to Gov. Scott Walker’s State of the State address in January, Milwaukee attorney and Wisconsin gubernatorial candidate Matt Flynn released a statement claiming that “Wisconsin still lags behind the rest of the country in wage growth. Adjusted for inflation, median wages today are lower than they were before (Walker) was elected.” The Observatory rates this claim as Verified.