Gaining Young Families		Angel Investors Essential
Decline in Mortality Rates		Award Winners Named
Wisconsin News Briefs		Archives For More Stories

Lassa Promotes State Fiscal Responsibility

Senator Julie Lassa (D-Stevens Point) testified January 3rd before the Senate Committee on Veterans, Homeland Security, Military Affairs, Small Business and Government Reform in favor of legislation that she authored to create a fraud, waste and mismanagement hotline at the Legislative Audit Bureau. Senate Bill 80 requires the Legislative Audit Bureau to create a waste, fraud and mismanagement hotline where state employees and the general public can call anonymously 24 hours a day to report misuse of state funds. Lassa said that 14 other states have already adopted this type of hotline including the state of Ohio. The Ohio state government has received 639 reports of fraud in the first six years of its program, and reclaimed $16.1 million back for the state treasury.

McCallum Named Professor in China

Former Gov. Scott McCallum was recently named an Honorary Professor at Hunan University in Changsha, China. McCallum had concluded a week of teaching at Hunan University and also at Sun Yat-Sen University in Guangzhou, China. The program was part of a project in teaching marketing and branding principles to Executive MBA candidates. With Gov. McCallum were Dr. Clarke Caywood and Dr. Bobby Calder, both of Northwestern University. McCallum and Caywood are part of the U.S.-China Branding Company that teaches marketing, and provides consulting services between U.S. and China businesses. McCallum is President and CEO of the Aidmatrix Foundation based in Dallas, and has offices in Europe and Asia. Aidmatrix uses technology to match surplus product with charitable needs to serve humanity. Aidmatrix moves over $1 billion annually in food, medical, and disaster assistance. Aidmatrix is also in the process of doing work in China. McCallum continues to make his home in Madison.

Farm Bureau Says Health Care Is Priority

Following the Wisconsin Farm Bureau’s announcement that affordable health care is its number one priority in 2006, Senate Democratic Leader Judy Robson asked the group to endorse legislation that sets a timetable and targets for bringing down health care costs. “As a registered nurse and one of the authors of the Action Plan for Affordable Health Care, I have heard stories from Wisconsin farm families whose bottom lines are eroding due to skyrocketing insurance premiums and medical bills,” Robson said. “High health care costs are forcing some farm families to decide between dropping their coverage and selling their cows.” The Action Plan for Affordable Health Care (Senate Bill 416/Assembly Bill 834) requires the Legislature to develop a plan to bring down health care costs by 15 percent while ensuring that at least 98 percent of state residents have health insurance.  The bill establishes the goals and a timetable for achieving the goals, while leaving it to the Legislature to develop a plan that a majority of members can support.

Bankers See An Increase in Consumer Fraud

In a survey of 146 Wisconsin Bank CEOs conducted by the Wisconsin Bankers Association, 46% of the bankers are noticing a "slight increase" the number of financiql crimes committed against their customers.  26% of these crimes have "increased significantly" over the last six months.

Energy Help Hotline Available to Assist Citizens

The Department of Administration (DOA) Winter Heating Fuels Price Survey released today shows that heating fuel costs in Wisconsin have increased by as much as 34 percent compared to one year ago. As of January 3, the cost of heating oil is up 33.7 percent, propane 15.5 percent, and natural gas 28.6 percent.  Natural gas - the fuel that heats nearly 70 percent of the homes in Wisconsin - is projected to increase by as much as 50 percent this year. To help Wisconsin residents cope with their energy bills, Governor Jim Doyle launched his Energy Help Initiative in September 2005. The initiative created a single toll-free number (1-800-522-3014) and Web site (www.energyhelp.wi.gov) to assist citizens by connecting them to energy efficiency tips and low-income assistance programs.