Audit: Unusual spending in Wis. food stamp program

MADISON, Wis. — A nonpartisan audit is raising suspicions about unusual out-of-state spending in Wisconsin’s food stamp program.

The Legislative Audit Bureau reports Friday that a portion of recipients on the Wisconsin FoodShare program spent almost $33 million outside the state last year.

Program participants are legally allowed to purchase food anywhere in the country. But the report shows some FoodShare cards were used for purchases in Wisconsin on the same day the card’s account number was manually entered for purchases in another state.

Rep. Samantha Kerman, co-chair of the Joint Audit Committee, says she’s not surprised with the report. She says more background checks on recipients are needed.

The bureau is expected to release a more comprehensive report on the FoodShare program this spring.