Conservatively Speaking
State Senator Mary Lazich (R-New Berlin) represents parts of four counties: Milwaukee, Waukesha, Racine, and Walworth. Her Senate District 28 includes New Berlin, Franklin, Greendale, Hales Corners, Muskego, Waterford, Big Bend, the town of Vernon and parts of Greenfield, East Troy, and Mukwonago. Senator Lazich has been in the Legislature for more than a decade. She considers herself a tireless crusader for lower taxes, reduced spending and smaller government.
Another audit request being stonewalled
As a member of the Legislative Joint Committee on Audit, I have been frustrated at the continuing refusal of the committee co-chairs to schedule an audit of the massive Medical Assistance (MA) program.
Here is another deserving audit that is being stonewalled. The Marshfield News-Herald reports, “A Gannett Wisconsin Media analysis in March found that only 14 of 98 state agencies, schools and boards listed on the Contract Sunshine site had posted any contract information, as required by a 2006 law. The site is supposed to disclose to the public all spending on contracts worth $10,000 or more. The state Government Accountability Board, which oversees the site, has cited technical issues, a lack of resources and limited enforcement power as reasons the site was missing information. On April 30, Reid Magney, a spokesman for the board, told Gannett the agency actively is working to improve the site.”
More than six weeks ago, my colleague on the Legislative Joint Audit Committee, state Senator Rob Cowles (R-Allouez) requested an audit of the website. The Marshfield News-Herald reports, “As recently as April 28, lawmakers leading the state’s Legislative Joint Audit Committee declined to bring the request to the table for consideration.”
I found this item in the article revealing. The paper writes, “(Committee co-chair, Representative Peter) Barca said the state does not have the resources to conduct every requested audit.” The state Legislative Audit Bureau has published a scope statement for an audit of MA. That means the Bureau has the wherewithal to conduct a thorough MA review. Yet the Legislative Audit Committee co-chairs refuse to take action.
There needs to be an MA audit and an audit of the Contract Sunshine website.
Read more in the Marshfield News Herald.
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