On Tuesday, May 14, His Holiness the Dalai Lama addressed a joint gathering of the Senate and Assembly. The Tibetan spiritual leader emphasized the values of compassion and cooperation. As both our state and federal governments are seeing increasing partisanship, his message could not have come at a better time. While we may have heated debates and disagreements, at the end of the day we all want the best for Wisconsin and share a common goal – we simply have different means of realizing that goal.

“Despite some drawbacks and mistakes ... America is truly a democratic country and ruled by law and freedom of expression,” the Dalai Lama said. “These are great, wonderful things.” And indeed they are. The fact that we can have such heated debates, while frustrating, is a testament to the true freedoms we as Americans enjoy. I am grateful that His Holiness was able to take some time to share his words of wisdom with us.

I want to remind you that I will be holding a constituent listening session this Monday, May 20 with Sen. Terry Moulton. We will be at the Elk Mound Village Hall at 10:00 a.m. and the Sand Creek Public Library at 12:30 p.m. Each session will be 1.5 hours and will be informal drop-in sessions, so please feel free to come and go at any time. For those of you unable to attend, we will also be holding another round of listening sessions on Friday, May 31.

On Monday, May 13, I, along with several Democrat and Republican colleagues, visited several choice schools in Milwaukee. We got a chance to see what these schools were all about, and spent time talking directly with students and parents impacted by the programs at these schools. The progress some of these young children have made is inspiring. I think every child, regardless of family income, deserves a quality education. As the Legislature debates the budget, Assembly Bill 40, the issue of charter school expansion is one I continue to discuss and review. I appreciate all the input I have received from constituents, and have not yet made a final decision on whether I support further expansion. I think the issue of voucher expansion would be better debated as its own, separate legislation. Unfortunately, once the Joint Finance Committee introduces its own version of AB 40 as a substitute amendment, it is very difficult to make further changes. At the final vote, legislators cannot pick or choose which budget priorities they will vote for or against – it’s an all-or-nothing package. Each legislator will have to decide whether the good in the budget as a whole outweighs the bad. If the answer is yes, I will vote for the budget even if I have concerns about specific provisions. If the answer is no, I will vote against it even if I like certain parts.

A recent audit of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) has raised concern among many legislators, myself included. As you may know, the Legislative Audit Bureau’s (LAB) May audit revealed insufficient policies to accomplish WEDC goals and statutory violations. I find this lack of accountability alarming, and I wanted to give you an update on the Joint Finance Committee’s (JFC) deliberations over WEDC funding in the budget.

Economic development marketing activities will be funded over the biennium, but with strings attached. These funds will not go directly to WEDC, but instead into a JFC general purpose revenue (GPR) supplemental appropriation. To receive this money, WEDC will have to submit a plan to JFC detailing the extent to which these activities could be financed using existing funds, and the extent to which additional appropriation money would be needed.

Operations and programs appropriations for WEDC will be reduced over the biennium. Again, receiving these funds will be contingent upon WEDC proving to JFC that it is complying with recommendations made in the audit. Additionally, an annual independent audit will be conducted. WEDC must submit a report each year to the Joint Legislative Audit Committee to account for actual job creation under their programs, the tax benefits which have been allocated, and the recipients of those benefits.

The WEDC Board of Directors is made up of legislators from both sides of the aisle, as well as private citizens, and this is clearly an issue we must come together on to fix. Incidents like this cannot continue to occur within our state government. The people of Wisconsin are depending on WEDC to increase jobs in our state, and the Legislature – both Democrats and Republicans – must hold them accountable.

This past week, JFC held two executive sessions discussing a wide range of issues from various state agencies. This coming week, JFC will hold two more executive sessions, and you can view the topics to be discussed on May 21 and May 23. As always, if you have any budget concerns, you may call or email my office, or contact JFC directly at BudgetComments@legis.wi.gov.