February 20, 2018


Welfare to Work package

This week's e-update, the third in a series of articles focusing on legislative and budgetary accomplishments from the current session, focuses on the Welfare to Work package. Last week, the legislature approved a series of special session bills relating to welfare reform. I was proud to join my colleagues in supporting these important legislative initiatives.

The welfare-to-work initiatives were aimed at improving the current system in four key ways: getting people off of government assistance and back into the workforce; preventing fraud and abuse; promoting accountability; and encouraging personal responsibility. These reforms build upon actions the legislature has taken in previous sessions. I proudly supported all of the bills in the legislative package.

As it relates to welfare reform, the legislature passed legislation that:

  • Directs the Wisconsin Department of Health Services to request a waiver from the federal government to include a work and training program for childless adults enrolled in Medical Assistance

  • Requires parents who are not meeting child support payment obligations to perform job searches and attend job skills training

  • Requires substance abuse screening, testing, and treatment as a condition of eligibility for W-2 employment positions and state housing program

  • Requires photo identification for FoodShare recipients

  • Requires able-bodied adults to work at up to 30 hours per week to receive FoodShare benefits

  • Creates an asset limit for participating in FoodShare--limiting to those with less than $25,000 in liquid assets

  • Establishes an asset limit on homes owned by those on public assistance (value cannot exceed 200 percent of statewide median value)

  • Expunges unused FoodShare balances on accounts that are inactive for six months

  • Modifies the Wisconsin Shares exit threshold so that families are not unfairly punished for obtaining a pay raise or promotion (now set at 85 percent of the state's median income)

  • Mandates child support compliance as a condition of Medicaid and FoodShare benefits

  • Establishes a new reporting requirement for the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families to ensure work participation rate targets are being met and to monitor performance of other TANF funding programs

Like many of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, I believe that welfare should be temporary assistance, not a permanent way of life for able-bodied adults. With more than 90,000 job listings on the Job Center of Wisconsin website, it is evident that jobs are available for those who want them.

 


Wisconsin Merit Scholarship


Last week, the Wisconsin State Assembly approved legislation authored by Representative Tyler August (R-Lake Geneva) and Senator Steve Nass (R-Whitewater), establishing a Wisconsin Merit Scholarship program. The scholarships, according to Representative August, "set at $5,000, will be available based solely on merit to Wisconsin residents to attend UW System schools."

This new scholarship provides the University of Wisconsin System a new tool to ensure the state's best and brightest remain in Wisconsin, following commencement. The scholarship will help the University of Wisconsin system schools compete with other higher educational systems across the country.

Scholarship amounts will be determined by the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents, based on university admission test scores and high school GPA. Currently, the only other state-funded merit-based program is the Wisconsin Excellence Scholarship, set at $2,000--this scholarship is awarded to the top graduate in each high school. 

The scholarships will come from the Board of Commissioners of Public Lands, which is constitutionally required to benefit the University of Wisconsin System.

Rather than simply provide the University of Wisconsin System with a blank check, the legislature sought to afford them with another mechanism for retaining Wisconsin's best and brightest students.


Learn to Hunt


The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources "Learn to Hunt" coordinator says the early winter weeks of February and March are ideal times to plan spring turkey "Learn to Hunt" events for youths, adults, and families interested in nature and health eating.

Those planning their own spring hunt outings can be among the most effective mentors for those interested in learning about safe and effective hunting, and its role in conservation and harvesting healthy foods. I believe that setting aside time to educate the next generation of hunters is of utmost importance for the future of our wildlife conservation programs and unique hunting culture in Wisconsin.

Spring turkey season offers an excellent opportunity for novice hunters of all ages to harvest their first animal. A conservation success story, wild turkeys abound in the state and their population continues to grow, in part because of a well-managed hunting season.

For more information regarding the "Learn to Hunt" program or to schedule an event, please visit the following website: http://dnr.wi.gov/education/outdoorSkills/lth.html

Have a great week,


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State Capitol Room 309 North-PO Box 8952, Madison, WI 53708

(608) 267-2369

Email: Rep.Rob.Brooks@legis.Wisconsin.gov