About contracts in WI; don't let GOP sidetrack the history

We know that Walker and his legislative henchmen are plotting against Tony Evers and the voters.

But before GOP leaders dislocate any fingers wringing their hands over the sanctity of the Foxconn agreement, let's remember a few things about Team Walker and its approach to keeping one's word.

*  Walker bragged about having turned back $810 in pledged federal funds which were already being spent on rail bridge upgrades to begin the return of Haiwatha line passenger service from Milwaukee to Madison to a midwest network to the Twin Cities to the Pacific Northwest on the historic Empire Builder run.

* The full federal grant was to upgrade existing rail, build new trains, and construct and operate an equipment assembly and maintenance plant in Milwaukee, all to kick-start and boosting a Wisconsin-based rail industry which would provide service and jobs for decades, perhaps generations.

Contracts were signed, but we came to learn that a deal wasn't really a deal if Walker and the GOP-run legislature decided to deal themselves out.

*  So there was this:

State kills maintenance contract with Talgo

State officials have canceled a $116 million maintenance contract with a Spanish-owned train manufacturer, escalating a political and legal dispute over two brand-new trains that already have cost the state $71.8 million.

*  Eventually, a settlement cost the state about $50 million because, as the train maker's lawyer put it:

"The state signed contracts with Talgo and then absolutely walked away from that," [Atty. Lester] Pines said.

 
*   Thus the trains were build, came and went, like this:

Oregon launches made-and-banned-in-Milwaukee trains

Made in Wisconsin, banned in Wisconsin -- but welcomed to Oregon - - while two other train sets sit in storage in Milwaukee, moth-balled by the ideologues. 

And a year later, this about that mothballed second set of trains: 

Wisconsin's high-speed trains ready to roll...in Michigan

Meanwhile, the two high-speed Talgo train sets originally built for high-speed rail service to connect Madison, Milwaukee and Chicago have finally found a home — in Michigan. The trains are part of improvements that are expected to shave two hours off the current Detroit-Chicago run. 

*  All put into context recently:

Alderman: Walker shows selective memory with Foxconn comments

Bauman: Governor had no problem canceling contract with international train maker

*  And a final thought: I don't know what's going to happen with the Foxconn deal, but I know we should pay attention to our history. 

*  And also to the news today that the state is facing a $2 billion funding shortfall.