Vos: WEDC missteps hurt Republicans, but agency performing well
- Rich Kirchen[1]
- Senior Reporter- The Business Journal
- This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.[2] | Twitter[3]
Some of the missteps and negative audits[4] of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp[5]. — an initiative of Gov. Scott Walker[6] — hurt Republicans politically, but the agency ultimately will fulfill its promise of generating job growth, said Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos[7] (R-Burlington).
“On the political side, I think it’s hurt us,” Vos said in a meeting with Business Journal reporters and editor Mark Kass[8] June 27. “I think if you look at where the Democrats have been, they have done everything they can to try to do what the minority (party) does: To show that the people in charge stink. That’s their job. I respect that.”
However, Vos said his discussions with development officials in his district of Racine County that the WEDC is “head and shoulders” above the work performed by its predecessor the Wisconsin Department of Commerce. He cited an expansion by Cree Inc.’s[9] Ruud Lighting subsidiary in Sturtevant and projects in Franksville.
“From my perspective in Racine County, they are doing much more in the two years that I’ve been working with them than in the six years I worked with the Department of Commerce,” Vos said.
Rep. Jeff Stone[10] (R-Greendale), who recently was appointed to the WEDC board, said the new agency had problems in its transition from the Department of Commerce, but blamed most of the problems that arose in audits [11] were for loans the commerce department issued.
“I’ve been a critic of things going too slow — not following guidelines and statutory limits,” Stone said. “ They didn’t have all the policies and procedures in place.”
Rich Kirchen is The Business Journal's senior reporter. He covers health care, insurance, politics, media and marketing/advertising.
References
- ^ Rich Kirchen (feeds.bizjournals.com)
- ^ This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (feeds.bizjournals.com)
- ^ Twitter (twitter.com)
- ^ audits (www.bizjournals.com)
- ^ Wisconsin Economic Development Corp (www.bizjournals.com)
- ^ Scott Walker (feeds.bizjournals.com)
- ^ Robin Vos (feeds.bizjournals.com)
- ^ Mark Kass (feeds.bizjournals.com)
- ^ Cree Inc.’s (www.bizjournals.com)
- ^ Jeff Stone (feeds.bizjournals.com)
- ^ audits (www.bizjournals.com)