MADISON, Wis. (AP) - Wisconsin lawmakers have reintroduced a bipartisan proposal making it a felony to defraud the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp.
The Wisconsin State Journal reports (https://bit.ly/2mvXD8S) that the bill would make defrauding the state’s flagship job-creation agency a Class E felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison and five years of extended supervision and a $50,000 fine, or both. Offenders and their companies would also be ineligible for agency benefits for seven years and could be liable for damages.
A similar bill last session failed to receive a hearing in a Senate committee.
The problem came to light in May 2015 after a State Journal investigation revealed the agency gave a questionable $500,000 taxpayer loan to a struggling company owned by a top campaign contributor to Gov. Scott Walker.
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Information from: Wisconsin State Journal, https://www.madison.com/wsj
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