Wisconsin Republican lawmakers order audit of state's Department of Safety and Professional Services
The Republican-controlled Legislature’s Joint Audit Committee was scheduled to meet Tuesday to consider a proposed audit of the department's license processing.
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An audit of the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services has been ordered by the state's Republican lawmakers. The department is known for taking weeks to issue professional licenses.
Ahead of the meeting, Democrats sent a letter to the committee's Republican co-chairs saying the proposed audit would only further burden the staff responsible for issuing licenses.
Republicans made license delays a campaign issue during Democratic Gov. Tony Evers' reelection bid last fall, accusing him of hamstringing Wisconsin's workforce. But the department has blamed the backlog on inadequate staffing.
Republicans lawmakers have rejected Evers' requests to fund staff positions to address delays.
In its budget request, the department asked for 70 new full-time positions. Gov. Tony Evers will release his budget on Feb. 15, which the Republican-controlled Legislature will then rewrite over the coming months.