{"id":2508389,"date":"2025-11-08T18:59:02","date_gmt":"2025-11-08T23:59:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/evers-wedc-spent-more-than-160k-on-trade-trip-to-europe\/"},"modified":"2025-11-08T19:02:48","modified_gmt":"2025-11-09T00:02:48","slug":"evers-wedc-spent-more-than-160k-on-trade-trip-to-europe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/evers-wedc-spent-more-than-160k-on-trade-trip-to-europe\/","title":{"rendered":"Evers, WEDC spent more than $160K on trade trip to Europe"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fevers-wedc-spent-more-than-160k-on-trade-trip-to-europe%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2508389&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The article reports that Wisconsin spent over $160,000 on a trade trip to germany and France involving Governor Tony Evers, his wife, several staff members, security personnel, and former Wisconsin Economic Growth corporation (WEDC) CEO Missy Hughes along with WEDC staff. Expenses included limousine services, consulting fees, a group welcome dinner, VIP airport services, staff meals (including a lost receipt), and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ex-nyc-mayor-bill-de-blasio-hit-with-historic-fine-for-misuse-of-public-funds\/\" title=\"Former NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio fined heavily for misusing public funds.\">travel-related costs<\/a> such as upgraded seats and extra baggage. Despite repeated requests, Evers&#8217; office and the WEDC did not provide comments, and it took the WEDC nearly seven months to release trip records. Critics,including John Mozena from the Center of Economic Accountability,argue that such overseas economic development trips serve more as political tools promoting officials rather than effectively creating jobs or attracting businesses. Mozena highlighted that face-to-face meetings and state incentives rank low in importance for business site selection compared to factors like workforce and energy costs. The article also notes Missy Hughes has since resigned and is running for governor, promoting her economic development work despite controversies such as the troubled Foxconn deal, which Mozena calls a disaster. He further criticized subsidies for data centers, describing them as poor taxpayer investments.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Evers, WEDC spent more than $160K on trade trip to Europe<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2395678\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>(The Center Square) &ndash; <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/wisconsin\/\">Wisconsin<\/a> spent at least $160,000 to send Gov. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/tony-evers\/\">Tony Evers<\/a>, his wife, and several staff members and security, along with former Wisconsin <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/section\/policy\/economy\/\">Economic<\/a> Development Corp. Secretary and CEO Missy Hughes and WEDC staff, to <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/germany\/\">Germany<\/a> and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/france\/\">France<\/a> earlier this year, according to documents acquired through public records requests by The Center Square.<\/p>\n<p>The costs included $69,000 for a chauffeur and limousine service, nearly $19,000 to AHP International for consulting and printed materials related to the trip, and a nearly $3,200 group welcome dinner at the Zucker restaurant in Braunschweig, Germany.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/business\/3880261\/5000-flights-delayed-canceled-day-2-faa-cuts-duffy\/\">Over 5,000 flights delayed or canceled on second day of FAA cuts as Duffy threatens more reductions<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/3879783\/north-carolina-democrat-switches-to-gop-gerrymandering-campaign\/\">North Carolina Democrat switches to GOP for gerrymandering campaign against Moore<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/3880200\/trump-pitches-nuking-filibuster-to-end-left-wing-momentum\/\">Trump pitches nuking filibuster to end left-wing momentum: &lsquo;The Democrats are winning&rsquo;<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>The expenses also included $1,600 for a VIP service that greeted Evers and his wife during layovers at the Paris and London airports with a personalized name sign, luggage assistance, and moving through the airports and customs from a company called Fastrack.<\/p>\n<p>The expenses also included a $182 staff lunch that Hughes purchased, which didn&rsquo;t include a receipt and instead had a &ldquo;lost&rdquo; receipt for saying the expense was from a restaurant in Wiesbaden, Germany.<\/p>\n<p>The expenses included per diem food costs for trip participants, along with Madison airport parking, seat upgrades, and extra bags on the flights.<\/p>\n<p>Evers&rsquo; office and the WEDC did not respond to multiple attempts over multiple months to seek comment related to the trip, starting when WEDC produced a&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/wedc.org\/gov-evers-wedc-to-lead-trade-mission-in-europe\/\">press release<\/a>&nbsp;on the trip on April 1.<\/p>\n<p>The WEDC took nearly seven months to produce the records from the trip.<\/p>\n<p>John Mozena is the president of the Center of Economic Accountability and recently testified about the value of overseas economic development trips in a committee meeting discussing the topic in Michigan.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;These <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >economic development subsidy programs run<\/a> all too often not as economic tools but as political tools, a way for elected officials to essentially get taxpayers to fund re-election advertising on the cheap,&rdquo; Mozena said. &ldquo;These things aren&rsquo;t being done to create jobs; they&rsquo;re being done to make voters believe that you&rsquo;re responsible for creating jobs.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;These international trips are a way for governors and other elected or high-ranking officials to get a nice trip on the taxpayer dime but also to show how hard they&rsquo;re working, supposedly, when in fact the real issues that companies are &hellip; sitting back at home not being addressed.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Mozena noted that face-to-face meetings with governors and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/new-twist-on-nimby-no-factory-in-my-backyard\/\" title=\"No factory wanted in my backyard.\">economic development officials<\/a> are not an essential part of bringing businesses to states and cited a survey from&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.areadevelopment.com\/Corporate-Consultants-Survey-Results\/q1-2025\/39th-annual-corporate-21st-annual-consultants-surveys-what-business-leaders-and-consultants-are-saying-about-site-selection.shtml\">Area Development magazine<\/a>&nbsp;of U.S. business site selectors showing that state and local incentives were the ninth most important factor behind things such as energy availability and cost, workforce availability, available land, skilled labor, and regulatory environment.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;They don&rsquo;t do nearly as much as the folks that go on them would like to have everyone believe,&rdquo; Mozena said, noting that the trips always seem to be to nice places where he and tourists would also visi,t &ldquo;but I&rsquo;m paying for it and not letting the taxpayers do it.<\/p>\n<p>He also noted that meeting a governor isn&rsquo;t really a big or important meeting for a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/international-community-state-dept-condemn-chinese-sanctions\/\" title=\"International community, State Dept. condemn Chinese sanctions\">multi-national corporation<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Evers&rsquo; office and the WEDC did not respond to questions on how the trip was paid for, but the WEDC&rsquo;s budget plan summary includes $900,000 for trade missions and foreign direct investment that it says includes trips planned to Japan, Canada, Mexico, and Germany.<\/p>\n<p>Hughes has since resigned her post and is currently running for governor while touting her economic development work, including Foxconn in Pleasant Prairie, which is now set to be a pair of data centers within tax increment districts.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I had to come in and clean up that mess,&rdquo; Hughes&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/sbauerAP\/status\/1986460059832832227\">reportedly said<\/a>&nbsp;at a Thursday morning candidate forum.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I think Foxconn is the perfect example of the problems and dangers and limitations of this kind of thing,&rdquo; Mozena said. &ldquo;Foxconn is easily the highest profile international economic deal that Wisconsin&rsquo;s ever had, and it&rsquo;s a disaster.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3879781\/trump-doj-investigation-meatpacking-industry-price-gouging-affordability-agenda\/\">TRUMP ORDERS DOJ INVESTIGATION OF MEATPACKING INDUSTRY PRICE GOUGING<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Mozena said that he isn&rsquo;t sold that&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thecentersquare.com\/wisconsin\/article_73faf3f4-0d35-4426-88a3-737756df7631.html\">placing data centers<\/a>&nbsp;on&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thecentersquare.com\/wisconsin\/article_22a8f006-f866-4823-b263-86551195b7f9.html\">those properties<\/a>&nbsp;is a taxpayer win, either.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;If you were trying to design the dumbest possible thing to subsidize, it would be a data center,&rdquo; Mozena said. &ldquo;&hellip; They are these big, dark buildings where virtually nobody works. Most of the high-value work at those <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/report-600-veteran-appointments-rescheduled-due-to-l-a-riots\/\" title=\"Report: 600 Veteran Appointments &#039;Rescheduled&#039; Due To L.A. Riots\">facilities isn&#038;rsquo<\/a>;t being done by people on-site, it&rsquo;s being done by programmers in Silicon Valley or Shanghai or Mumbai or someplace like that.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Evers, WEDC spent $160K+ on Europe trade trip<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2869,"featured_media":2508390,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/AP25304696589618.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[8447,52425,32412,66731,66730],"class_list":["post-2508389","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-europe","tag-evers-2","tag-government-spending","tag-trade-trip","tag-wedc"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/AP25304696589618.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2508389","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2869"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2508389"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2508389\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2508393,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2508389\/revisions\/2508393"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2508390"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2508389"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2508389"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2508389"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}