Lawmaker says Wisconsin Shares program is ‘out of control’

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Rep. Mark Gundrum, R-New Berlin, says he’s working on a bill to stop serious criminals from being child-care providers, and getting state tax money to care for children of the working poor.

On Sunday, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that almost 500 providers in the program have criminal records – some are child abusers – and they’ve gotten almost $9 million in state funding this year.

Last week, the Legislative Audit Bureau said it found that more than $18 million tax dollars were spent on fraudulent child care claims in the Wisconsin Shares program in 2008.

Rep. Peter Barca, D-Kenosha, wants state auditors to check out the reports of criminals getting care money.

Beverly Anderson of the Milwaukee Child Care Alliance said she’s “beyond shocked” that criminals are in the state program.

She says it’s harder to get a liquor license than a child-care license.

Rep. Tamara Grigsby, D-Milwaukee, calls the system “completely broken.”

Gundrum’s bill would permanently ban child care licenses for those convicted of child abuse, financial crimes, some drug offenses and other serious crimes.

He says tax money for child care should only go to “the best of our citizens.”

Tags: wisconsin shares, wisconsin, criminals