Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker
MADISON, Wis.—The proposal to merge the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions (DFI), Office of Credit Unions (OCU) and the Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) into one regulatory agency has been withdrawn by Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker.
The DSPS has oversight for the cemetery board, family therapists, hydrogeologists, bodywork therapists, perfusionists, home inspection, mixed martial arts and cosmetology.
The proposal, which is identical to language included in the governor's budget bill, would have created the Department of Financial Institutions and Professional Services.
Walker also is asking lawmakers to pull back on standalone bills to carry out the mergers.
Walker told the BizTimes he withdrew the proposal after hearing concerns from stakeholders and agency boards.
That withdrawal was announced hours after Walker announced he also is withdrawing his proposal to merge the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. (WEDC) with the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA) and the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) into one authority focused on housing and economic development.
"Governor Walker and lawmakers should be applauded for their ongoing efforts to review the organization and operations of state government in search of potential efficiencies and savings,” senior vice president of advocacy Tom Liebe at Wisconsin Credit Union told the newspaper. "The Governor’s Budget Bill merger proposal – along with the two stand-alone bills – offered stakeholders the opportunity to engage public officials and share their satisfaction with the effective, efficient and accountable operations at the OCU and DFI."