6-12-13 wisconsin economic development corporation

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The Wisconsin Senate has passed a bill that would ban Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. employees from negotiating contracts that might benefit them.  The bill would ban WEDC board members and employees with a monetary interest in a contract from participating in the deals or exercising any discretion on it.  The Assembly passed the bipartisan bill last month. The Senate approved it on a voice vote Tuesday. It now goes to Gov. Scott Walker, who supports the bill.  The governor and the Republican-controlled Legislature created WEDC in 2011 to help the governor meet his campaign promise to create 250,000 private-sector jobs. But the agency is reeling after an audit revealed it hasn't followed state law, adequately tracked loans and sometimes gave money to companies that didn't qualify.