Claims of bias against the state’s jobs agency are contained in a report from Citizen Action of Wisconsin, a progressive-leaning organization which looked at the work of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation.
“There’s a real question about what’s actually being done with public money, and whether or not the resources are being distributed fairly across the state” said Citizen Action’s Robert Kraig. The group’s analysis, Kraig suggested, shows districts represented by Republicans and those in leadership positions in the legislature are faring better under WEDC than other areas of the state.
That assertion is disputed by WEDC spokesman Mark Maley. “What we’re really focused on is economic development all over the state,” said Maley. “We absolutely do not make any political favorites or geographical favors, when it comes to granting awards.”
Citizen Action analyst Kevin Kane said they found Republican Assembly districts had almost twice as many jobs created, as those represented by Democrats.