Sen. Dave Hansen (D-Green Bay)
Proposed legislation would penalize people who attempt to defraud the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation. A conviction for defrauding WEDC or misusing WEDC funding could result in 15 years years in prison along with thousands of dollars in fines.
State Senator Dave Hansen (D-Green Bay) said existing fraud laws don’t really cover defrauding the state’s jobs creation agency. “Those statutes primarily focus on bank fraud, and defrauding another person or business,” Hansen said.
Hansen said passing the legislation will send a message to anyone trying to defraud WEDC: “that they are going to pay a heavy price for it, including prison time.”
Those who intentionally defraud WEDC would also be ineligible for economic development benefits for 7 years. Similar legislation was introduced late in the last legislative session. It passed the state Assembly but not the Senate. The Assembly version of the measure has been introduced by Representative Samantha Kerkman (R-Powers Lake).