Give Wisconsin State Treasurer something to do

It remains a job without any duties. Sounds like a typical government job. But the job of Wisconsin State Treasurer literally has no duties. Lawmakers in recent years have stripped all the duties away from the office, in an effort to eliminate the position. But voters in April rejected the call to amend the state constitution and eliminate the office. So the position remains, but still has no responsibilities. Current State Treasurer Matt Adamczyk ran on the platform of eliminating the office, and will not run for re-election. There are a handful of candidates running for the position. And why not? It pays a cool $70,000 a year for killing time and trying to look busy. One of the declared candidates, Sarah Godlewski, is running campaign ads, claiming if she is elected she will work to double-check the state legislature, and to make sure Foxconn holds up its end of the bargain. If only that were true. The fact is, whoever holds the position holds no power, and although it would make sense, she would have no authority to do what she claims. It doesn’t have to be that way. The legislature should work to restore the duties of the office of State Treasurer so that taxpayers are actually getting something in return for that $70,000 salary.