MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Gov. Scott Walker has appointed a former lobbyist for the Wisconsin Bankers Association to head the state agency that regulates the banking industry. Walker announced Thursday that he was appointing Jay Risch to head the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions. Risch currently serves as deputy secretary of the department. He is replacing Lon Roberts whom Walker appointed to serve on the Public Service Commission. Risch will begin his new job on March 6. Risch was a lobbyist for the bankers group for four and a half years before joining the state Department of Financial Institutions in February 2015. The department regulates banks, credit unions and various other operations of the securities industry. Risch formerly worked in the Legislature as an aide to Republican state senators.
