Watchdog reporter
Tom Kertscher worked for newspapers in Oklahoma, Illinois and California before joining the Journal Sentinel in 1998. He has been a reporter for 25 years. At the Journal Sentinel, he has covered a variety of local government and courts beats. A Cedarburg native, he has a bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a master's degree from Ohio State University.
The latest Truth-O-Meter items from Tom Kertscher
A 0.05 standard for drunken driving means having a glass of wine at dinner could make a person drunk.
"The State of Wisconsin thinks you should have to" wash your hands "at least 28 times to make one peanut butter-and-jelly sandwich."
A Wisconsin bill to limit use of food stamps for junk food would also "prevent -- or limit -- the extent to which" food stamps could be used for organic foods.
University of Wisconsin System's reserves are in the "mid- to low-range" of comparable university systems.
"Not one dime gets added to the deficit because of Social Security."
Says Abraham Lincoln supported an agreement that allowed slavery in New Mexico "and a law to return runaway slaves to their owners."
Wisconsin education agency "urged white students to wear white wristbands ‘as a reminder about your (white) privilege.’ "
Says she has bipartisan support, including "53 sheriffs throughout the state, Democrats and Republicans."
The United States spends "$2.2 billion on free cell phones, $27 million on Moroccan pottery classes" and pays for "the travel expenses for the watermelon queen in Alabama."
"Taxes and fees amount to about 20 percent of a typical $300 round-trip domestic ticket. That’s higher than taxes on products like alcohol, tobacco and firearms."
Recent stories from Tom Kertscher
Turning it over to readersWe hear regularly from PolitiFact Wisconsin readers, so we decided it's time to give them some space. Here's the debut of our Mailbag.
In Context: Hillary Clinton's 'What difference does it make' commentWith the attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya, back in the news, we take an In Context look at what Hillary Clinton said about the attack back in January. Benghazi is the subject of another congressional hearing today.
In Context: Hillary Clinton's 'What difference does it make' commentWith the attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya, back in the news, we take an In Context look at what Hillary Clinton said to U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson about the attack, which is the subject of a hearing on May 8, 2013.
The UW System's "slush fund" -- $1 billion, $207 million or what?The amount of excess cash in the University of Wisconsin System’s bank account is: A) "Nearly $1 billion" B) $648 million C) $207 million Everyone has a different view on how much extra money the UW System has. We dig into the various numbers being tossed about.
In Context: Lawmaker explains food stamps, junk food planWhen Wisconsin state Rep. Dean Kaufert, R-Neenah, proposed restricting the use of food stamps for junk food, 84 percent of more than 700 people answering an online poll expressed support and more than 200 people liked it on a Facebook page. Critics of the proposal, which made news from Atlanta to San Francisco, lit up Kaufert on Twitter.
Would expanding Medicaid be good for jobs?Gov. Scott Walker announced Feb. 13, 2013 that he would reject an expansion of Medicaid offered as part of Obamacare, saying he has a better idea for helping more people get health insurance. Some advocates of making more people eligible for Medicaid say the expansion would create jobs. Is the picture that clear?
In Context: Gov. Scott Walker's "from dependence to independence" speechWhen Gov. Scott Walker proposed reforming Medicaid, food stamps and unemployment compensation, all in one speech, the howls from the left were sharp. But what did Walker, who increasingly is viewed as a presidential candidate in 2016, actually say? We explore with our In Context feature.
Fact-checking claims on guns and gun violenceWhen it comes to guns and gun violence, the rhetoric includes both fact and fiction.
Fact-checking claims on guns and gun violenceWhen it comes to guns and gun violence, the rhetoric includes both fact and fiction.
Rounding up claims from the 2013 State of the StateDuring his 2013 State of the State speech, Republican Gov. Scott Walker made a few familiar claims. So did Democratic leaders in response. Here’s a look at how those past statements fared when we first looked at them.
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