Bill would spare Wisconsin Kimberly-Clark plant from closure, but not Arkansas plant

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Kimberly-Clark vice president John Deitrich said a Wisconsin tax break bill would keep the company's plant open in the state and a plant in Arkansas would close.

The comments came during a public hearing on the measure Wednesday, during which a Wisconsin state senator raised concerns about the $100 million tax break bill for the paper products giant. Republican Sen. Luther Olsen said he's "not convinced that this is the right thing for the state to do."

The Assembly passed the bill in February but it's stalled in the Republican-controlled Senate due to lack of votes. Three other Republicans have previously publicly opposed the bill.

Olsen peppered Kimberly-Clark vice president John Deitrich with questions about why the company was looking to close the plant in Fox Crossing to begin with and why the tax breaks being considered would be enough to change its mind.

Deitrich called the bill a "game changer."

Arkansas leaders have been trying to save a Kimberly-Clark plant in Conway from being shut down. About 350 jobs could be lost.

The company is eliminating 5,000 jobs worldwide.