MADISON (WKOW) – Less than 24 hours after announcing he wants to see the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) merged with the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA), Governor Scott Walker (R-Wisconsin) told employees at both agencies he envisions them being overseen by a future board consisting of no elected officials.
“He felt it was important to reinforce to employees he wants them to be a part of the transition over the next year, as well as the new entity,” Governor Walker’s spokesperson Laurel Patrick said in a media release put out Wednesday afternoon.
Gov. Walker told the employees he wants the merger to take effect on January 6, 2016.
The release also made note of Governor Walker’s preference that the new entity’s board would be made up entirely of private sector appointees. Those people would be appointed by the Governor himself and confirmed through the Senate.
I understand why Barca and some other Democrats are complaining that Walker wants the board to be 100% appointees from the private sector and to exclude legislators, but is it a problem? It would be another department in the executive branch headed by a governor’s appointments who are confirmed by the Senate. It is still accountable to the Governor, who is elected. I’d be more concerned with it being more effective than with whether or not Peter Barca is helping to run it.
I have no problem with this. I think a Gubernatorial appointment and Senate confirmation makes sense. After all, if these were still State agencies, the Governor would get to appoint the secretary anyways.
I think Peter Barca finds something new daily to complain about and this is just today’s complaint.