The state Senate on Tuesday unanimously passed a reform bill for the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, the state’s jobs agency. A recent, scathing audit found the 2-year-old private/public entity did not follow state laws.
The bill from Sen. Rob Cowles (R-Allouez) calls for annual financial audits, requires WEDC employees follow state ethics laws and calls for quantifiable performance measures for job creation programs.
The bill also sets term limits for members of the WEDC board–of which Governor Walker is chairman–while creating a lead director position on the board. “In the private sector you have a lead director that tends to run things when the chairman’s not there and it’s person who simple knows more than any other board member,” says Cowles.
The WEDC reform package now heads to the Assembly.