No longer a reason to retain office of State Treasurer

It has been part of the Wisconsin state constitution since 1848. But if voters approve in the April 3 election, Wisconsin would no longer have an office of State Treasurer. After years of debate in the legislature, lawmakers have agreed to put forth a referendum to voters statewide asking if the office should be eliminated. For decades, there was little controversy over the position, but in recent years, some in Madison who prefer hardball politics got enough votes to put the issue on the ballot. At this point, it has become hard to defend the idea of keeping the position. Legislators playing politics stripped the office of most of its duties. Now the only duties of the office is to promote the state’s unclaimed property program. The office used to have a staff of 24 and a budget of more than $4 million. Now that has been reduced to a budget of just $227,000 and a staff of one. That must make for some lonely staff meetings. Some say keeping the office of Wisconsin State Treasurer is important, that it serves as a check and balance on the executive branch. Former State Treasurer Jack Voight argues for voting no on the April referendum, saying the Governor should not serve as the chief executive officer and the chief financial officer. He is right, but that ship has sailed. There is no work left to do thanks to power-hungry politicians. Unless they are going to restore the duties of this office, and give it the power it once had, there is little reason to maintain the office.