MADISON, WI – Today, the Joint Legislative Audit Committee (JLAC) held a hearing on two politically motivated audits demanded by Legislative Republicans targeting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion efforts in state agencies and the Universities of Wisconsin. The hearing represented the latest iteration of a partisan campaign to discredit our public institutions, vilify our state employees, and sow division across our communities.
Representative Hong, ranking Democrat on JLAC, released the following statement:
“I am deeply disappointed that the Joint Legislative Audit Committee has once again chosen to waste valuable time and taxpayer resources questioning the legitimacy of diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, and by extension, the integrity and dedication of our state’s public employees.
Today, we heard from committed professionals at the Department of Administration and leaders from the Universities of Wisconsin—individuals who are not only doing their jobs with skill and care, but who are working every day to create respectful, inclusive workplaces and learning environments where everyone can thrive. Their testimony affirmed what the majority of Wisconsinites already understand: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are not political agendas, they are a set of values rooted in fairness, opportunity, and respect. They are about ensuring that everyone, no matter their background, has a right to reach their full potential.
Unfortunately, my Republican colleagues have shown time and again that they are not interested in improving belonging or advancing equity. Instead, they are chasing an extremist, Trump-era bogeyman—a cynical and baseless narrative that paints diversity as a threat and pits our communities against each other.
This is not leadership. It is fear-mongering. And it does a profound disservice to the people of Wisconsin, especially those who have long been marginalized or underrepresented. I will continue to stand with our public servants and with every Wisconsinite who believes that inclusion makes us stronger, not weaker, as a state.”
