MADISON — A Republican lawmaker on the Legislature's audit committee is defending Governor Scott Walker's floundering job-creation agency during a hearing.
The panel met Wednesday, September 9th to discuss a May audit reviewing the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation's performance.
The audit noted that WEDC's contracts with grant and loan recipients haven't complied with state law and the agency hasn't demanded proof that award recipients are actually creating or retaining jobs. Documents WEDC released in June showed the agency handed out more than $124 million to companies without a proper review.
Rep. John Nygren of Marinette told his colleagues it's important to remember many of the agency's problems began with the state Department of Commerce. Walker transformed that agency into WEDC in 2011.
Assembly Democratic Leader Peter Barca (D-Kenosha), a representative on the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) Board testified about the WEDC audit before the Joint Legislative Audit Committee.
Barca issued the following statement: