Hello and welcome back to the newest edition of my E-Update!  A lot has happened here at the Capitol since my last E-update that I would like to share with you. 

Public Benefit Reform

This week, the Assembly passed several bills aimed at reducing fraud, waste, and abuse in our public benefit programs. These reforms will help assure that these benefits go only to our citizens who are in need. Independent audits have shown that fraud and abuse waste tens of millions of tax dollars in our state. While opponents will claim that these bills are meant to punish the poor, examination of each bill will show that they are simply common sense measures that will cause no inconvenience to any deserving participant.

AB 188 will allow expungement of unused FoodShare (formerly food stamps) accounts. A hold will be placed on accounts that have seen no activity for six months. These benefits can be restored by the account holder if they contact an administrator. After 12 months of inactivity, benefits will be removed from the account. These benefits are granted on a need-based basis. If they are not being used, why allow them to be horded? An investigation by Fox 11 News found numerous inactive accounts in our area holding up to $15,000 in benefits each.

AB 200 limits the number of replacement FoodShare cards that a recipient can receive. After losing four cards in one year, recipients will be warned that they may be investigated for fraud. After five losses in one year they will be investigated. These cards are frequently being sold or traded. A Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel investigation found that 60 people last year reported losing their card more than 12 times. Obviously mistakes happen and cards are lost, but these excessive losses need to be investigated.

AB 222 adds a photo to benefit cards. This measure will promote the integrity of the card and help reduce sale or trading of cards.

AB 212 penalizes Unemployment Insurance recipients who intentionally defraud the system. If a recipient is found to have intentionally received fraudulent benefits twice, they will no longer receive benefits for a period of seven years. It is important to note that very often people mistakenly make unemployment claims. In fact, 90 percent of the overpayments in a Legislative Audit Bureau audit were found to be caused by an honest mistake. These people will not be penalized. This bill targets those who have deliberately stolen from the system. The LAB audit found that $54.4M was paid out over the last two budget cycles to people who deliberately provided false information.

As you can see, these are hardly draconian measures. If we are to be able to continue to provide a safety net to our most vulnerable citizens, it is vital that we assure that only those who are truly in need receive these benefits. Our taxpayers deserve to know that their tax dollars are being safeguarded from fraud, waste, and abuse.

Timber Harvesting in Peninsula State Park

Our office has received numerous calls from people concerned about the timber harvest at Peninsula State Park. 72 acres of Pine and Scotch Pine will be harvested from the park in an effort to promote the health of the forest. This is part of a long-term forest management plan and it is being done in a very strategic and targeted fashion. Clearing away these older trees will improve the local habitat for wildlife and will give younger and healthier trees the opportunity to grow. It not only promotes clean air and water, but provides recreational and View-shed development as well.

This project was put out to bid and $15,000 will be received for the timber. While this number may seem low, bidders had to consider supply and demand for the type of timber harvested as well as the costs for the logger to transport the timber to market and a reduced number of potential buyers due to its location in Northern Door. It was initially erroneously reported that the money received would go into the state’s General Fund. It will actually go into the State Parks Account in the Conservation Fund, where it will support the upkeep of all our state parks. Individual parks do not have their own accounts but are operated through a common fund.

The State of Wisconsin is blessed with an incredible variety of beautiful state parks. They contribute greatly to our local economies as well as to our quality of life. No place in our state benefits more from these parks than Door County. I take it as my solemn responsibility to support and protect them in any way that I can. In my next e-update, I will provide an update on the efforts to save Eagle Tower.

Go Bo Foundation

While the monetary donations go towards the research and treatment of pediatric cancer, the foundation’s message remains consistent, “pay it forward” and care for others. In their efforts to “pay it forward,” the funds raised by the foundation continue to support research for life-threatening conditions as well as supporting families while their child undergoes treatment. Their current goal is to guarantee at least $25,000 in annual donations over the next few years!

Rural Schools Superintendent of the Year

Blue Books Available

If you would like a complimentary copy of the 2015-2016 Wisconsin State Blue Book, please follow the proved link:

          http://legis.wisconsin.gov/assembly/01/kitchens/constituent-services/ 

The 2015-2016 Blue Book is also available online:

          http://legis.wisconsin.gov/lrb/publications/wisconsin-blue-book/

In Closing...

Thank you for taking the time to read over my E-Update. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact my office.

Representative Joel Kitchens