A proposal to replace the state’s non-partisan Legislative Audit Bureau with investigative officials is meeting stiff opposition from a Green Bay-area lawmaker. Representative Dave Craig (R-Big Bend) wants to replace the nonpartisan Legislative Audit Bureau with inspectors general at all state agencies.
Senator Rob Cowles is the chair of the Legislature’s joint audit committee. He said the bureau is completely independent. The Allouez Republican is concerned that agency secretaries would have too much influence over individual inspectors.
Supporters of the change say the inspectors could react more quickly to cases of waste, fraud, and abuse. Cowles said the bureau already conducts yearly, or bi-annual, audits of most state agencies. Craig said it’s not soon enough.
The proposal appears to be falling flat with key state lawmakers on both sides of the political aisle. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester) said he would not support doing away with the audit bureau. Assembly Minority Leader Peter Barca (D-Kenosha) called it “outrageous” to even consider the plan.
WHBY
