(MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN) - Sad News Out of Milwaukee: Spanish Train-Maker Talgo is Vacating its Factory in the City, Four Years After Republican Governor Scott Walker Rejected Millions in Federal Stimulus Money to Create a Milwaukee-to-Madison Commuter Line.

The Funding, Which Was Part of the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Was Meant to Create High-Speed Rail Links Across the Country, Which Would Have Modernized America’s Industrial Infrastructure, Creating Good Jobs in the Process.

Soon After Taking Office in 2010, Walker Turned Down the $810 Million in Federal Rail Funds. The Monies, Already Budgeted for the State, Went to Illinois Instead.

Talgo Had Set Up its North American Headquarters in Milwaukee Shortly Before Walker’s Election, With Plans to Make the City a Hub for Rail Manufacturing in the Midwest.  The Project Was Also Expected to Create Tens of Thousands of Construction and Manufacturing Jobs.  “Walker ‘Turned His Back’ on a Lot of Jobs,” Milwaukee International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 494 Business Manager John Bzdawka said. “Not’ Just for’ Electricians, But ‘All’ the Trades, Plus Manufacturing Jobs at the Talgo Plant.”

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett Told Reporters in Late April the Plant Closing Means Lost Jobs and Opportunities in a Neighborhood That Needs Them: “It’s Tragedy to the People Working Here.”

Just in Case You Didn’t Know: Republican Governors John Kasich of Ohio and Rick Scott of Florida Also Turned Down Federal Rail Money.

You Can Directly Access This Labor News Story at: http://www.ibew.org/articles/14daily/1405/140505_spanish.htm