News Release Contact: Dana Hartenstein dana@hungertaskforce.

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Nepotism in State Office

State Department of Health Services under fire for promoting under-skilled relatives. Milwaukee, WI June 12, 2013 A state run Milwaukee food stamp program has been charged with nepotism. State employees working at the Coggs Human Services Center on Vliet Street are speaking out about managers who have hired relatives, promoted them and recently offered them a bonus. Employees receiving promotions had less than two years of experience and were promoted over those with many more years working for the state. Hunger Task Force Executive Director Sherrie Tussler said, Why would state employees get a bonus? Bonuses are for the private sector. This just doesnt make sense. Our state budget proposes requiring work for food stamps. That same $2.5 million dollars spent on bonuses could supply the Milwaukee County food pantry network for a full year. I thought we were trying to cut the costs of running these entitlement programs. News of the nepotism comes on the heels of the state being at odds with Milwaukee County over use of the Coggs Center, a public facility. Hunger Task Force was asked to stop using rolling computer carts to help non-English speaking residents of Milwaukee sign up for FoodShare benefits. The story first appeared in an article in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Hunger Task Force seeks a well run Food Stamp Program for people in need in Milwaukee. The staff of the Coggs Center should be treated fairly and the program should be administered properly. There are customers in urgent need of emergency food. said Tussler. The story went public in an article in the Shepherd Express. On Thursday, June 12 at 12:30 p.m., David Eisner will drop off additional copies of the paper at the Coggs Center. Eisner is a contract administrator for District Council 48 and is representing four employees who have filed appeals with the Wisconsin Employment Relations Commission over the questionable promotions.
Hunger Task Force believes that every person has the right to adequate food obtained with dignity. We work to prevent hunger and malnutrition by providing food to people in need today and by promoting social policies to achieve a hunger free community tomorrow. For more information visit HungerTaskForce.org. 30