• Home
  • News
    • Politics / Govt
    • Legislature
    • Crime / Courts
    • Health / Medicine
    • Archives
  • Sports
    • Badgers
    • Packers
      • Titletown Report
    • Brewers
  • Contact Us
    • Reporters
  • Affiliates
    • Affiliate Support

Wisconsin Radio Network

Wisconsin News and Sports

You are here: Home / News / HUD says state must repay loan mentioned in Walker campaign ad

HUD says state must repay loan mentioned in Walker campaign ad

July 9, 2014 By Andrew Beckett

On the same day that Governor Scott Walker’s campaign released a  TV ad criticizing his likely Democratic opponent over a stalled economic development deal, state officials released information indicating a $12.3 million grant never should have been awarded.

The ad focuses on a 2006 grant awarded by the state when Democrat Mary Burke was serving as Secretary of Commerce under then-Governor Jim Doyle. The grant used federal block grant dollars to support buy land in Kenosha County, as part of an effort to attract pharmaceutical company Abbott Laboratories to Wisconsin. Abbott had purchased about 500 acres of land, while the state grant was given to Pleasant Prairie to help purchase an adjoining 40 acres of land. The site remains undeveloped and Walker’s ad accused Burke of wasting taxpayer dollars on a plan that did not create any new jobs.

State officials revealed hours after the ad was released that the federal Housing and Urban Development office ruled in 2013 that the project was not eligible for the federal block grant dollars the state used to fund the plan. The agency said it was because there was no written commitment from Abbott to create jobs or build on the land. As a result, it ordered the state to pay back the money. State officials have said they disagreed with the finding, although the HUD order was not mentioned in Walker’s campaign ad.

Burke spokesman Joe Zepecki responded to the information released by the state in a statement, saying “Scott Walker and his administration were either lying when they defended this deal to HUD or are lying now to attack Mary Burke. Either way it’s another shameful move from career politician Scott Walker.”

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: News, Politics / Govt



Featured Stories

House passed gun purchase background check bills last year with no support from Wisconsin Republicans

Future of abortion in Wisconsin hinges on SCOTUS ‘Roe’ decision

Juvenile arrested in connection with death of Lily Peters

Missing Chippewa Falls girl found dead, police seek suspect

Medical marijuana legislation gets public hearing at Capitol

TwitterFacebook

Sports Headlines

Giannis breaks franchise scoring record, Bucks beat Nets in OT

Wisconsin’s Davis declares for NBA Draft

Badgers to face Arizona State in Las Vegas Bowl

Williams likely out for the season with broken hand

Packers releasing TE Jace Sternberger

More Sports

Tweets by @WRN

Get our news delivered to your inbox:

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Copyright © 2022 · Learfield News & Ag, LLC