Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

riversedge

(69,537 posts)
Mon Mar 9, 2015, 09:39 AM Mar 2015

What is Walker hiding? #WEDC "again failed to follow state la"





@GovWalker's #Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. fails to track how companies used incentives http://www.jsonline.com/business/wisconsin-economic-development-corp-fails-to-track-how-companies-used-incentives-b99455371z1-295556961.html … #wipolitics @wisgop



Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. fails to track how companies used incentives
Jobs agency sent past-due notices to 67 companies


By Kathleen Gallagher and Jason Stein of the Journal Sentinel
March 9, 2015 4:00 a.m.


After saying repeatedly last year that they had shored up their shaky financial controls, officials at Wisconsin's flagship jobs agency have disclosed that they again failed to follow state law and track how recipients of state loans and grants were spending tens of millions of dollars of taxpayers' money.

The Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. sent reminders and past-due notices to award recipients in January 2014, but it did not follow up on them until more than a year later, according to a letter written by Hannah Renfro, WEDC's top lawyer, to its board of directors late last month. The notices said recipients needed to provide schedules prepared by an accountant that detailed their expenditures.

WEDC discovered the delay in December during an internal review, said Mark Maley, a spokesman. The agency's risk management staff "immediately began investigating to find the root of the problem and involved other staff to create a solution," Maley said.

The staff presented "preliminary results" to agency management in late January, and 77 past-due notices regarding the expenditures were sent to 67 companies on Feb. 13, Maley said. The value of the loans and grants reflected in those notices was $43.3 million, Maley said. There were no delays in sending out notices for loan payments or performance measures such as job creation and retention, he added.

Gov. Scott Walker and lawmakers created the quasi-public WEDC in July 2011 as a replacement for the state Department of Commerce. The agency promotes economic development in part by giving incentives to encourage companies to expand and create jobs.

State Sen. Julie Lassa (D-Stevens Point), a WEDC board member, said she was worried to see that the agency had not enforced the law and the contracts involving the companies receiving taxpayer funds, particularly after the agency had been sharply criticized in 2013 for giving some incentives to ineligible companies and failing to track the performance of businesses that had received incentives.
...............



6 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies

Erich Bloodaxe BSN

(14,733 posts)
1. They really need to nail that weasel for his crimes
Mon Mar 9, 2015, 09:52 AM
Mar 2015

but it doesn't seem too likely with their courts packed with partisans to cover for him.

 

Scuba

(53,475 posts)
3. Walker's Economic Disaster Corporation (WEDC) is his personal slush fund, beyond the reaches ...
Mon Mar 9, 2015, 10:03 AM
Mar 2015

... of legal scrutiny.

ewagner

(18,964 posts)
6. Agree....
Tue Mar 10, 2015, 10:23 AM
Mar 2015

The "Board" can't really govern the agency at all....the agency does as they damned well please.

lutefisk

(3,974 posts)
4. Is it really fair to hold WEDC accountable for these little slip ups?
Mon Mar 9, 2015, 02:59 PM
Mar 2015

I mean, they must be working at 110% over there preparing for Walker's campaign trips to Canada, France, Germany, Israel, and Spain. That must take a lot of attention for an agency that has never really put much effort into anything! Let's cut them some slack.

riversedge

(69,537 posts)
5. So far the national media has not vetted Walker's economic poop.....
Mon Mar 9, 2015, 04:13 PM
Mar 2015

So, they have already cut him lots of slack.

Latest Discussions»Region Forums»Wisconsin»What is Walker hiding? #W...