Gov. Jim Doyle announced the formation of a task force at a press conference Friday that will look into issues surrounding the state’s sex offender registry and DNA fingerprint database.
The task force will begin looking into the missing DNA of between 3,000 and 4,000 convicted felons.
While some of these samples may be missing due to incorrectly matching names, Doyle said whatever the number is, “we have to go out and find them.”
Doyle called for the implementation of improved communication between state and local agencies, saying the Wisconsin Department of Justice is, in some cases, the only agency that has the information counties and cities need. He also proposed a change in the collection process that would focus on people on probation and beginning the collection process upon the sentencing of a convict.
The Wisconsin Shares childcare program was also addressed at the press conference, which became a source of controversy recently after an audit showed some Milwaukee County parents and childcare providers defrauded the social welfare program. Last week, Sen. Alan Lasee, R-De Pere, called for the resignation of Department of Children and Families Secretary Reggie Bicha.
Responding to calls for Bicha’s resignation, Doyle said he is angry about the problems with Wisconsin Shares but does not think it means Bicha should resign. He pointed to the recent resignation of Wisconsin Shares administrator Dan Harris as a positive step toward justice.
“I think it’s ridiculous. … [Bicha] is the one who’s really working night and day trying to take care of this,” Doyle said. “Secretary Bicha has worked very hard to bring some order to what is really a disorderly situation.”
Sen. Robert Jauch, D-Poplar, said he is also disappointed with calls for Bicha’s resignation.
“It is predictable for politicians with 3-year-old mentalities to simply look for someone’s head because they can’t think of anything better to do,” Jauch said. “[Bicha] should be given a raise for his extraordinary leadership in moving us in the right direction to protect kids.”
Lasee said he maintains his position on the matter, saying Harris’s resignation is still not sufficient.
“Apparently it looks like they’ve decided to throw someone under the bus, and it’s an undersecretary as opposed to Secretary Bicha,” Lasee said. “Why did Harris resign? Obviously there’s something going on here. I think it’s only fair that he be responsible and say, ‘Well, I think somebody else could do a better job.'”
On the subject of his recent trip to Asia, Doyle said he is confident Wisconsin can cooperate with Japan and China — the two Asian economic powers he visited this month — to stimulate economic growth within the state while providing benefits for the environment and populations of both Asian nations.
He cited China’s need for clean water and developing demand for dairy products due to an increasing urban population as areas in which Wisconsin can succeed.
