MILWAUKEE, Wis. – The Milwaukee County Labor Council, AFL-CIO today issued a
letter to state legislators announcing its opposition to AB 205, a bill that would require legislative
approval, in addition to the Governor’s signature, of any off-reservation Indian casino projects in
Wisconsin.
“As an organization representing 47,000 hardworking members and 135 locals in the
Milwaukee area, we are strongly opposed to AB 205, which we believe would restrict potential
economic growth across Wisconsin,” Sheila D. Cochran, secretary-treasurer and chief operating
officer for the Labor Council, wrote in a letter to the Assembly Committee on Urban & Local
Affairs.
“AB 205 would also almost certainly kill the currently proposed Kenosha entertainment
center and casino project being proposed by the Menominee Indian Tribe,” Cochran wrote. “We are
strong supporters of that project, which already has signed labor agreements in place that would
provide more than 3,000 jobs to hardworking women and men in our union workforce. The Kenosha
project alone would also create billions of dollars in economic impact and funding for our local and
state economies.
“In a time when good-paying jobs are sought after by all areas of our state, we should be
focusing on legislation that encourages job growth, not something like AB 205 that would throw an
obstacle in its way.”
Earlier this month, the Milwaukee Building & Construction Trades Council, which represents
more than 20,000 union members in metro Milwaukee, sent legislators a letter voicing strong
opposition to AB 205 and reaffirming its support for the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin’s
proposed Kenosha entertainment center and casino.
Cochran made her comments in a letter dated April 17. For more, please see the attached
letter.
