New Public Assistance Fraud and Abuse Hotline

The new Office of the Inspector General of the Wisconsin Department of Health Services has created a new hotline where concerned citizens can report suspected fraud and abuse in public assistance programs. Governor Walker has made eradication of fraud and abuse of state resources a priority in his administration, and this new hotline will help in this effort. Everyone who has information concerning public assistance fraud in health and nutrition programs is encouraged to report it to the hotline free of charge at 1-877-865-3432. The Office of the Inspector General will review all tips collected from the hotline and take appropriate action working with the Department of Justice and local law enforcement. Examples of programs managed by the Department of Health Services are Medicaid, FoodShare, the Women Infants and Children (WIC) supplemental food program, and the state portion of Supplemental Security Income (SSI). I encourage anyone who suspects or witnesses fraud or abuse in these programs to call the hotline so we can ensure that state resources are being utilized in an appropriate and legal fashion.

State Capitol Christmas Tree

Last week, the 2011 Capitol Christmas Tree was set up in the rotunda of the State Capitol here in Madison. This year's tree is a 36-foot Balsam Fir from the Brule River State Forest in Douglas County, WI. Schools from throughout the state donated handmade ornaments that adorn the tree, and it is covered in 2,000 multi-colored lights. I encourage you to come by and admire the tree if you find yourself in Madison. It is a beautiful representation of different aspects of our state!

Help Out a Local Charitable Organization this Holiday Season

This is the season of giving and in that spirit, I'd encourage all of you who are able to make a donation to a charitable organization here in our community. Donating a gift card or practical item will make a big difference to the people served by these groups. A number of organizations in our area have published "wish lists" of items that they need for their day-to-day operations.  Requests range from household items to art supplies, from media devices to toys. Here is a short list of organizations in our area. I encourage you to contact them at the phone numbers listed to obtain a specific list of items they need. Let's all share in the season of giving and support organizations that do so much here in our own communities year round.

• Westosha Community Center, Bristol- 262-843-3828      Needs: household items, CD's

• Kenosha Area Family and Aging Services, Kenosha- 262-658-0237     Needs: household items, gift cards

• Kenosha Literacy Council, Kenosha- 262-654-7323     Needs: office supplies, cleaning products

• Twin Lakes Area Food Pantry, Twin Lakes- 262-877-3004     Needs: non-perishable food, toiletries

• Special Olympics Wisconsin-SE Region, Racine- 262-598-9507 ext. 2     Needs: specific sports equipment

• First Step Services, Kenosha- 262-605-8859     Needs: household items, cleaning products

• Library Square School, Kenosha- 262-656-1957     Needs: art supplies, storage items

• Pitter Patter Animal Rescue, Silver Lake- 262-758-6143     Needs: pet items, cleaning supplies, volunteers

• Kenosha Human Development Services, Kenosha- 262-657-7188     Needs: furniture, household items

• Kenosha Special Olympics, Kenosha- 262-657-7188     Needs: specific sports equipment

• ELCA Urban Outreach Center, Kenosha- 262-652-5545     Needs: food, household items, toiletries

• Every Child's Place, Kenosha- 262-564-3270     Needs: gift cards, toys, children's items

Session Update

As this calendar year is nearing its end, I've been reflecting on everything that my colleagues and I have accomplished thus far this legislative session. It has been our priority to focus on putting forth legislation that will help stimulate job creation and improve our economy, rein in spending, and set our state on the right track for the future. Legislators on both sides of the aisle have been working together to accomplish similar goals. As of November 10, 60 bills had been signed into law, 54 of which received bipartisan support. Also, after months of planning and extensive work with officials in both Iron County and Madison, a bill to establish a permit application process for iron mining in Wisconsin is now ready for introduction. If passed, the bill will create thousands of jobs and $2 billion in short term economic impact in our state. This will be a great thing for our state and I am optimistic about continuing our legislative work in 2012. As always, please don't hesitate to contact me about state issues.

Rep. Kerkman meets with legislative colleagues in the Assembly Parlor.

If you are interested in tracking the progress of legislation introduced this session, please visit http://legis.wisconsin.gov/ and click on the Notification Service link found on the homepage.