Doyle signs bill to require contract work in U.S.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Gov. Jim Doyle has approved a law that will require state agencies to make sure their contractors are performing the work in the United States, with certain exceptions.

Doyle signed the bill Wednesday. One sponsor, Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Madison, said it “is one more tool to help our economy and our workers.”

He said he introduced the plan after the Department of Workforce Development contracted with a company to provide food stamp debit cards and had employees in India and Mexico answer customers’ questions about them.

According to the Department of Administration, most services provided for the state are already performed in the U.S.

The requirement would not apply if the services sought cannot be performed in the U.S. or in a few other circumstances.