Audit reveals WEDC broke state law (Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation)

[Ellipsis]

Source: MADISON (WKOW)

MADISON (WKOW) -- The public/private agency Governor Scott Walker created to grow 250,000 new jobs in Wisconsin is in violation of state law.

That's what an audit of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) shows. The non-partisan Legislative Audit Bureau released a detailed report of its audit Wednesday.

The report shows that from July 2011 to December 2012, WEDC failed to follow a number of state statutes in their financial and job creation reporting, awarded loans and grants to ineligible projects and failed to keep track of spending within the organization itself.

"We've never uncovered any fraud or willful deceit. Inadequate documentation, yes," said Reed Hall, who took over as interim WEDC Chief Executive Officer in Nov. 2012 and then on a permanent basis in January 2013.

The LAB report states WEDC never kept track of the job creation efforts for a group of companies it awarded money to, which in turn prevented the agency from presenting legislators with accurate information on its job creation efforts last November. Both are required of the agency under state law.

Read more: http://www.wkow.com/story/22130632/2013/05/01/audit-details-several-problems-with-wedc

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"The audit also shows 56 percent of the agency's credit card purchases were put on expense reports with no description of their purpose. That included money spent on alcohol, ITunes gift cards and six Badgers football season tickets."


Cool, when in Rome...

[okaawhatever]

1. I hope Wisconsin voters demand accountability nt

[Ellipsis]

2. Video

http://www.wkow.com/story/22130632/2013/05/01/audit-details-several-problems-with-wedc#WNPoll129107

[Arctic Dave]

3. If it is required by law and they didn't do it, isn't that "breaking the law".

Sounds like kickbacks and slush funding.

[Ellipsis]

4. Between this and the redistricting debacle due to hit the fan May 10th, not a good month for Scotty

http://www.truth-out.org/news/item/15901-creatures-of-the-dark-wisconsin-gop-caught-deleting-records-again

[Arctic Dave]

5. We are in a similar situation as you guys.

They have destroyed union bargaining, pushed through a billion dollar give away, stand your ground, relaxed environmental codes and cut funding for people in need.

We have become a third world republican country and no one even noticed or cared.

[Ellipsis]

6. "A Kansas City Shuffle is when everybody looks right, you go left." - Mr. Goodkat

I think the honeymoon is over... there's some pissed off republicans too.

Scott fucked us good and he ain't done.

[Arctic Dave]

7. Hopefully you guys can boot him and right the damage.

Good luck.

[Ellipsis]

8. Thanks, you too.

[tofuandbeer]

12. Wow! This guy's a crook!

How is it that he's still governing a state?
This is scary stuff.

[freshwest]

9. And the 250,000 jobs created? Where are they? No records on that, either?

This is your government hooked on fascism...

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10. the tally stands at an increase of 65,400 private sector jobs since Walker took office.

http://www.politifact.com/wisconsin/promises/walk-o-meter/promise/526/create-250000-new-jobs/

[freshwest]

11. That company needs to refund the SOW for the difference, then.

[Half-Century Man]

14. Private sector Jobs?

Define job...is it full time with benefits or part time at Walmart? Can you raise a family or does owning a dog put you near the breaking point? Does it contribute to the common good or line the pockets of a billionaire with more money? Are you allowed to think or are you at the mercy of an asshole who is religiously stuck in a make believe world loosely based on real history at set in the 9th century? Do you have job security or are you subject to the whims of an idiot?

[hue]

13. No transparency here in Wisconsin!! It's unreal that some cling to supporting Walker!!

[bahrbearian]

15. "We've never uncovered any fraud or willful deceit.

Inadequate documentation, yes," said Reed Hall,
Of course you didn't ,You won't find fraud without documentation

[Ellipsis]

16. Firm involved in one Audit... client receieved $1.1 million in tax credits and 300,000 dollar grant.

This is the third audit that has examined WEDC's operations. The first two were ordered by WEDC and completed last year. One of those audits was done by accounting firm Schenck SC. The Audit Bureau discovered that while Schenck was working on that audit, it was also representing a firm and negotiated a financial award with WEDC. The Audit Bureau said WEDC awarded the firm represented by Schenck $1.1 million in tax credits and a $300,000 grant.

http://www.twincities.com/politics/ci_23147491/blistering-audit-faults-wisconsin-job-creation-agency