On Tuesday, the Legislative Audit Bureau heard testimony regarding the recently-released audit of the State Highway Program within the DOT. During the four hour hearing, we discovered significant issues after issue with how the program is administered.

Here are a couple examples of the negligence that was discovered. First, 16% of construction projects were awarded to the sole bidder for that project; a competing bid was not even obtained. Second, in conducting the review, the Audit Bureau found that much of the information they were looking for was not even available to the DOT. Where the department should have had records to track efficiency, the auditors had to travel to field offices to track down vital information that the DOT should have had easy access to. And third, roads that required minimal maintenance were often ripped out and replaced rather than making affordable, targeted repairs.

The hearing revealed that we haven't even begun to scratch the surface of the problems at the DOT. We must further investigate practices at DOT ranging from how they select projects for construction to ensuring they have a competitive bidding process. We should not begin discussing revenue increases until the DOT can prove it can be more transparent and accountable to the taxpayers of Wisconsin.

Following the hearing, I spoke with WISN talk show host Vicki McKenna about the state of the DOT. Click here to listen to my interview with Vicki (interview begins at 7:50). 

One component of the proposed 2017-19 budget proposed by Governor Walker creates sunrise and sunset review commissions for occupational licensing. One hundred sixty-six professions in Wisconsin are required to receive permission from the government to work in their field. While many of these licenses are necessary to protect health and safety, many others do nothing more than fence out competition and drive up prices.

The reforms in the budget proposal are two-pronged. First, it creates a sunrise review commission to conduct cost-benefit analysis when new licenses are proposed. Seventy-three occupational licenses have been created in Wisconsin in just the last 20 years, and oftentimes the legislation regulating the profession was not properly vetted taking into consideration the increased costs to consumers. This proposal will ensure that a cost-benefit analysis is conducted before any new licenses are created.

The second reform creates a temporary sunset commission. Recognizing that many of the licenses that currently exist place undue burdens on workers and drive up prices, this commission will conduct a cost-benefit analysis on every occupational license in Wisconsin. Once the commission finishes its work, it will make recommendations to the Legislature, which will utilize the commission's input to decide which licenses to reform.

These are just two of many provisions in the budget proposal. As the Joint Finance Committee continues to deliberate the budget, my staff and I will be hard at work ensuring that every dollar spent goes to work for the taxpayers who pay for it.