Highlighting Fraud in FoodShare

As I indicated in my previous issue of Capitol Insight, the Joint Audit Committee recently held a public hearing on a proposed audit of FoodShare Wisconsin.  During the hearing on April 12th, we heard testimony delivered by State Auditor Janice Mueller, the Deputy Secretary of the Department of Health Services, Kitty Rhoades, and the Executive Director of the Hunger Task Force, Sherrie Tussler.  It was a very informative hearing and I appreciated the insight offered by everyone who testified. 

My colleagues on the committee and I voted unanimously in support of launching the audit, which is expected to be completed in approximately six months.  According to the Legislative Audit Bureau, the scope of the audit includes: analyzing trends in the number of benefit recipients (which has more than doubled over the last decade); trends in program costs; the frequency with which replacement cards have been requested and provided; efforts undertaken by state and local agencies in identifying and addressing fraud and abuse; and identifying best practice measures for preventing future fraud and abuse.

Last Friday, I appeared on Vicki McKenna's talk radio shows on WISN out of Milwaukee, and WIBA out of Madison, to discuss the FoodShare audit.  During McKenna's afternoon show on WIBA, a couple of listeners called in to share what they've witnessed while waiting in line at the grocery store behind certain recipients of FoodShare benefits.  These recipients used their QuestCards to purchase items such as steak, lobster, Red Bull, Mountain Dew, and candy bars.  Even before appearing on McKenna's show, I had been made aware of recipients using their benefits to purchase items such as wedding cakes and deli platters.

I've also alluded to the ongoing investigation reported in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel in regards to nine state workers who are suspected of running a food stamp fraud scheme that has cost taxpayers at least $290,000.  The scheme is believed to have lasted from 2005 through the fall of 2010.  Since the ring was discovered, eight of the nine state workers either resigned or were terminated from their positions.

Many of you have contacted me to share your concerns with the FoodShare abuses that you have witnessed, and I very much appreciate those concerns that have been brought to my attention.  I continue to welcome feedback on this issue as I monitor the latest developments concerning FoodShare throughout the duration of the auditing process.  Once the audit is completed, I intend to work both with my legislative colleagues and the US Department of Agriculture in identifying ways of eliminating fraud in FoodShare.

Claiming Unclaimed Property

The Office of the State Treasurer recently announced that the 2010 Unclaimed Property lists are currently being printed in newspapers around the state.  This process began on April 1st in Waukesha County and will end on June 11th in Juneau County.  The lists will appear in the newspaper with the highest circulation within each of Wisconsin's 72 counties. 

According to State Treasurer Kurt Schuller, his office received 330,478 unclaimed "properties" (cash, stock, and safe deposit boxes) worth more than $38 million in 2010.  The lists that he publishes in newspapers statewide serve as a reminder to folks about properties they may have forgotten about.  In just one day, Mr. Schuller's office returned more than $461,000 in unclaimed properties.

In the event you are not able to access the list published in the newspaper, you can visit the Office of the State Treasurer's website at www.statetreasury.wisconsin.gov 24 hours per day, seven days per week to see if you have any unclaimed property waiting for you to claim. 

Kenosha County Hazardous Waste Collection Day

Have you accumulated a collection of household cleaning products, vehicle fluids, batteries, bug spray cans, cans of paint, or anything else intended for maintaining your home?  If so and if you no longer have any use for some or all of these items, you may wish to dispose of them during Kenosha County's Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day that was recently announced by County Executive Jim Kreuser.

Please bring the household items you would like to dispose of to the Kenosha County Center located at 19600 75th Street in Bristol on Saturday, May 7th between 8:00am and 1:00pm.  For a complete list of accepted items or for more general information, please call 262-605-7900.  Happy Spring Cleaning!

I-94 North-South Freeway Project

As the weather gradually becomes warmer and we (hopefully) leave winter behind, it's time to look forward to construction season.  Among the projects scheduled to take place throughout the state is the I-94 North-South Freeway Project which runs from the Illinois state line up through the Mitchell Interchange in Milwaukee County.  The Wisconsin Department of Transportation began reconstructing the I-94 corridor in 2009 and expects to complete the project by 2016.

For the latest updates on the project and to learn about closures, detour routes, length of commute time, and simply planning ahead for your trip, please visit the project website at http://www.plan94.org/.  You can also call the project hotline at 262-548-8721 for more information. 

Happy Easter!  

Happy Easter from the Kerkman family!  We recently visited the Easter Bunny at the Village of Paddock Lake.  I would like to extend a big thank you to Trustees Karen Harris, Chris Bucko, and Pat Warner for organizing such a wonderful event.