Rep. Vos: Statement on audit of the Dept. of Workforce Development

Madison…Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester) released the following statement regarding the Legislative Audit Bureau’s nonpartisan audit of the Unemployment Insurance processing problems at the Department of Workforce Development (DWD).

“Governor Evers and his administration have failed the tens of thousands of Wisconsinites who lost their jobs through no fault of their own. The latest audit gives the public a revealing look at the disastrous mismanagement in processing Unemployment Insurance claims. Many people have yet to receive their money because of the appalling lack of leadership by the administration.  

“DWD should have immediately extended call center hours, transferred state employees to assist as allowed by April’s COVID relief legislation or even required employees to work overtime. The lack of urgency to help the unemployed is inexcusable and unconscionable.

“Assembly Republicans are demanding change. We have proposed legislation to require the elimination of the backlog within 30 days, an increase in call center hours to 12 hours per day, 7 days per week, and a reduction of the salaries of DWD bureaucrats if these issues don’t get resolved.”