Wisconsin GOP leader: Not enough votes now for plant bill

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A Republican leader in the state Senate says there aren’t enough votes yet to pass a tax break bill designed to keep open a pair of Kimberly-Clark Corp. plants in northeast Wisconsin.

The Dallas-based paper products company said last month it was open to saving the plants if the incentives are approved by the Legislature.

Sen. Alberta Darling said during a legislative forum Monday that “right now we probably don’t” have the votes to pass the bill. The Republican-controlled Assembly passed the bill earlier this year.

Republicans have a narrow 18-15 majority in the Senate and one Republican senator has already said he’s against the bill.

Darling says if the bill were up now, “I don’t think there would be the votes but I’m not saying there won’t be.”

She says talks are ongoing to reach a deal that can pass.