UP: Public safety. Gov. Scott Walker scraps plans to remove fire safety requirements from the state's building code. Firefighters and building inspectors from around the state had criticized the plan, which the Wisconsin Builders Association had lobbied for. Although Walker backed down, state Rep. Fred Clark (D-Sauk City) says it's a curious way for him to govern: "Wisconsin citizens...should continue to ask why well-connected individuals have enough influence in the executive office to generate these kind of proposals to begin with."
DOWN: Wisconsin. A federal audit finds that the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (a private-public group formed by Gov. Walker) and the Department of Administration are mishandling economic development money. The state agencies have failed to check the financial soundness of companies getting money, forgiven 11 of 20 loans (a practice that state policy reserves for special cases) and awarded twice as much state aid per job as policies allow.
