Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

I want to sincerely wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from me and my family.

I hope you are able to enjoy this special time of year with family and friends. The best to all of you in the new year!

Look for my next E-update on January 9th, 2012.

 Rep. Kerkman's children ready to decorate Christmas cookies

Audit Committee Update

As many of you know, I serve as co-chair of the Joint Legislative Audit Committee here at the legislature which is responsible for directing the Legislative Audit Bureau to investigate the efficiency of state agencies and programs that are funded through state dollars. The Audit Bureau recently released an audit of the Focus On Energy program, which encourages citizens to reduce energy consumption by providing incentives to consumers to purchase energy-efficient and renewable energy products. The audit found that the program is functioning well and that the benefits of Focus on Energy outweigh its costs by more than 2:1. Also, the Audit Committee recently voted to authorize the Legislative Audit Bureau to begin an audit of rehired annuitants in the Wisconsin Retirement System. This issue has generated a lot of attention recently, as some are concerned about state employees retiring and swiftly coming back to their old position, simultaneously earning a state paycheck and drawing their annuity from the Wisconsin Retirement System without continuing to contribute to it. My colleagues and I feel that it is best to gather more information about this issue before any conclusions are made; and we eagerly await the results of this audit next year to best determine how to proceed. To view the scope of what questions this audit will seek to answer, visit the Legislative Audit Bureau's site.

New Judge Sworn In

Last week, I was able to attend the investiture ceremonies of a new judge. I also was fortunate to attend the investiture ceremony of one of my friends and former legislative colleagues, Mark Gundrum, who was sworn in as a state Court of Appeals judge in Waukesha. Judge Gundrum is a former circuit court judge, and was appointed to the new post by Governor Walker.

Rep. Kerkman at the investiture of Mark Gundrum with legislative colleagues

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. If you have been considering making a donation to a local organization before Christmas but have not yet done so, here is a list of local philanthropies to consider supporting. Donating a gift card or practical item will make a big difference to the people served by these groups.  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.

The Sharing Center in Paddock Lake is an important organization that does much to help low income citizens of western Kenosha County. The center provides food and clothing to those in need, as well as holiday gift baskets this time of year. For more information contact 262-997-0783, or visit their website to donate online.

Love Inc. in Burlington provides a wide array important philanthropic services in the Burlington area. They accept donations of furniture, clothing, appliances, and household items, as well as monetary contributions to help those in need. Contact 262-763-6226 or check out their website to learn more.

• 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

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.