If we’re going to have a State Treasurer, we ought to give her something to do

If the state of Wisconsin is going to employ someone, they ought to make sure they have something to do. But that isn’t the case with Wisconsin’s State Treasurer. State Treasurer Sarah Godlewski works in a small office in the Capitol. Her office is in the basement, with no windows. She has no wi-fi, uses a flip-phone, and is a staff of one. That is because in recent years, lawmakers have stripped the office of most of its funding, and most of its duties. The office used to administer the college savings program, Edvest, and running the unclaimed property department. Both have been shifted to other agencies. Godlewski’s only remaining duty is to serve on the Board of Commissioners of Public Lands. But Godlewski is appealing for more money, and more power. Governor Evers has proposed an increase in the annual budget for the Treasurer’s office, and today the Legislature will consider removing that proposal from the budget. That is despite the fact that when voters statewide were asked whether the office should be retained, an overwhelming 62% said yes. Still, leaders in Madison seemingly have no interest in restoring funding or duties to the office. That makes no sense. There could be plenty the Treasurer’s office could do, like ensuring our lawmakers spend our hard-earned money wisely. Paying a state department head to do nearly nothing is not spending our money wisely.