While agency appointees in Wisconsin are afforded the same powers as someone who is confirmed, their job security is much less stable. Going years without being confirmed undercuts the legitimacy of agency leaders, said Barry Burden, a political science professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
“I think there’s a kind of public confidence or clout that gets associated with someone who’s been through that (confirmation) process,” Burden said. “They have gotten the stamp of approval from the Legislature, even if the powers don’t change the day that happens. There’s a perception I think that makes them more effective in their jobs.”