% >> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM
% IS A PBS WISCONSIN
% ORIGINAL PRODUCTION.
% >> I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
% TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW," I
% TALK ONE-ON-ONE WITH GOVERNOR
% TONY EVERS ABOUT COVID-19 AND
% THIS WEEK'S SPRING ELECTION.
% PLUS REACTION FROM THE
% REPUBLICAN SIDE.
% THAT'S NEXT ON "HERE AND NOW"
% FOR FRIDAY, APRIL 10.
% >> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
% PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
% JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
% WISCONSIN.
% >> YOU'LL NOTICE WE ARE COMING
% TO YOU FROM OUTSIDE THE PBS
% WISCONSIN STUDIOS.
% ENGINEERS AND SUPPORT STAFF ARE
% REMOTELY BRINGING YOU OUR
% PICTURE.
% OUR INTERVIEW GUESTS WILL APPEAR
% VIA VIDEO CONFERENCE.
% AND OUR REPORTERS ARE
% INGENIOUSLY PRODUCING STORIES
% OUT OF THEIR HOMES.
% OUR WEB NEWS EDITORS ARE TURNING
% ARTICLES FOR ONLINE READING.
% WITH THAT UNDERSTANDING OF HOW
% "HERE AND NOW" IS WORKING RIGHT
% NOW, WE BEGIN WITH A REPORT ON
% TUESDAY'S ELECTION FROM WHICH WE
% WILL NOT SEE RESULTS UNTIL
% MONDAY DUE TO AN EXTENSION FOR
% CLERKS TO COUNT ABSENTEE
% BALLOTS.
% ZAC SCHULTZ REPORTS ON THE
% POTENTIAL FALLOUT
% FROM OUR SPRING ELECTION.
% >> IT JUST MAKES NO SENSE TODAY.
% >> NO.
% >> WISCONSIN'S 2020 PANDEMIC
% ELECTION WILL BE REMEMBERED FOR
% MANY THINGS.
% >> WE ONLY HAVE FIVE POLLING
% PLACES IN THE CITY AND I'VE BEEN
% OUT HERE FOR ALMOST TWO HOURS.
% >> THERE WERE LONG LINES IN
% MILWAUKEE FULL OF VOTERS WEARING
% MASKS.
% >> YOU ARE INCREDIBLY SAFE TO GO
% UP.
% >> ASSEMBLY SPEAKER ROBIN VOS
% WORKED AS A POLL WORKER IN
% BURLINGTON.
% >> I SIGNED UP FOR AN ABSENTEE
% BALLOT TWO WEEKS AGO AND NEVER
% GOT THEM.
% >> VOTERS WERE ANGRY AT A
% SITUATION THAT REQUIRED THEM TO
% RISK CONTRACTING THE COVID-19 IN
% ORDER TO VOTE.
% >> IT WAS TRULY A TRAGEDY.
% HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF VOTERS
% WERE BASICALLY FORCED TO MAKE A
% VERY CRUEL DECISION.
% >> RICHARD SAKS FILED SUIT IN
% FEDERAL COURT TRYING TO DELAY
% THE ELECTION.
% JUDGE CONLEY RULED HE DIDN'T
% HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO STOP THE
% ELECTION, BUT HE DID SAY HE
% COULD REVIEW THE RESULTS.
% >> HE WAS AMENABLE TO REVIEWING
% WHETHER OR NOT WHAT WE WERE TOLD
% ACTUALLY HAPPENED.
% >> SAKS SAID HE HAS EVIDENCE OF
% HUNDREDS, LIKELY THOUSANDS OF
% CASES OF VOTER
% DISENFRANCHISEMENT WHERE VOTERS
% WERE NOT ABLE TO CAST A BALLOT
% DUE TO LONG WAIT TIMES OR AN
% INABILITY TO GET AN ABSENTEE
% BALLOT.
% >> THE ISSUE WE WOULD PRESENT TO
% HIM WOULD BE VERY SERIOUS
% EVIDENCE ABOUT VOTERS WHO WERE
% DENIED THE RIGHT TO VOTE AND HOW
% THE DENTAL OF THEIR RIGHT TO
% VOTE CHANGED THE COURSE OF THIS
% ELECTION.
% >> MY GUESS IS THERE WILL BE
% SOME LITIGATION.
% WHEN A GROUP IS UNHAPPY, THEY GO
% TO COURT.
% >> BARRY BURDEN IS A POLITICAL
% SCIENTIST PROFESSOR AT
% UW-MADISON.
% HE SAID SPRING ELECTIONS CAN BE
% VERY DIFFERENT DEPENDING WHAT IS
% ON THE BALLOT.
% SO IT CAN BE DIFFICULT TO PROVE
% VOTERS STAYED HOME DUE TO THE
% PANDEMIC.
% >> DISPARITIES BETWEEN RACIAL
% AND ETHIC GROUPS ARE AN
% IMPORTANT FACTOR.
% BUT IT'S HARD TO DO IN
% WISCONSIN.
% THE VOTER FILE, DATABASE,
% DOESN'T INCLUDE THE RACE OF THE
% VOTER.
% >> HE SAYS THEY'RE STUDYING
% TURNOUT NUMBERS IN
% AFRICAN-AMERICAN WARDS IN
% MILWAUKEE BECAUSE UNDER THE
% VOTING RIGHTS ACT, MINORITY
% VOTERS HAVE SPECIAL PROTECTIONS.
% >> AND IF IN FACT MINORITY
% VOTERS AS A GROUP WERE
% SUPPORTING A PARTICULAR
% CANDIDATE THAT THEY WANTED TO
% SEE ELECTED AND THAT CANDIDATE
% WASN'T ELECTED BECAUSE THE
% REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURE INSISTED
% UPON THOSE VOTERS COMING OUT TO
% VOTE IN THE MIDST OF A PANDEMIC,
% THAT WOULD BE IN MY MIND A VERY
% SERIOUS VIOLATION OF ALL THOSE
% VOTERS' RIGHT TO VOTE.
% >> THE QUESTION THEN IS WHAT
% COULD A JUDGE DO TO FIX THE
% PROBLEM AFTER THE ELECTION.
% >> IN TERMS OF WHAT REMEDY WE'D
% BE LOOKING FOR, I'M NOT CERTAIN.
% >> I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE REMEDY
% WOULD BE AT THIS POINT.
% IT SEEMS UNLIKELY THAT A JUDGE
% WOULD ORDER THAT AN ELECTION IS
% RERUN.
% >> PROFESSOR BURDEN SAYS ONE
% ANSWER IS TO LOOK TO THE NEXT
% ELECTION.
% >> THERE MAY BE SOME REMEDIES
% THAT GET PUT IN PLACE FOR FUTURE
% ELECTIONS, MAYBE MANDATES THAT
% ARE PLACED ON ELECTION
% AUTHORITIES FOR THE
% AUGUST PRIMARY OR THE
% NOVEMBER ELECTION.
% >> SAKS AGREES THIS WON'T BE
% LIMITED TO THIS SPRING.
% >> WE HAVE TO TAKE A VERY
% SERIOUS LOOK THAT THIS COULD BE
% SOMEWHAT OF A DRESS REHEARSAL
% FOR OBSTACLES IN THE
% NOVEMBER ELECTION.
% >> REPORTING FROM MADISON, I'M
% ZAC SCHULTZ FOR "HERE AND NOW."
% >> ONE DAY BEFORE TUESDAY'S
% ELECTION, GOVERNOR TONY EVERS
% ISSUED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER
% SUSPENDING IN-PERSON VOTING, BUT
% HIS MOVE FAILED IN THE COURTS.
% WHY DID HE WAIT?
% WHAT ARE HIS THOUGHTS AS
% WISCONSIN AWAITS ELECTION
% RETURNS ON MONDAY?
% WE ASK HIM THESE QUESTIONS AND
% MORE AS COVID-19 CASES CONTINUE
% TO MOUNT.
% HE HAS AGREED TO JOIN US EACH
% FRIDAY WITH THE LATEST UPDATES
% ON WHAT'S HAPPENING AND HE JOINS
% US NOW FROM THE CAPITOL.
% >> GOVERNOR, THANK VERY MUCH FOR
% JOINING US.
% WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
% >> THANK YOU, FREDERICA.
% >> WHAT DO YOU PROPOSE FOR
% NOVEMBER ELECTIONS GIVEN
% CONCERNS OVER POLLING PLACES AND
% BALLOTS IN THE SPRING ELECTION?
% >> WELL, CERTAINLY I THINK WITH
% A MILLION PEOPLE VOTING BY MAIL,
% OVER A MILLION PEOPLE VOTING BY
% MAIL, THAT'S SOMETHING WE HAVE
% TO CONSIDER.
% NOW, DO I THINK THE LEGISLATORS
% ARE GOING TO BE IN A POSITION OF
% DOING A MAIL-IN ONLY?
% I THINK THAT'S UNLIKELY.
% BUT THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS
% WE'VE HAD OVER A MILLION PEOPLE
% VOTING IN THIS PRIMARY ELECTION,
% WHICH IS A LOW TURNOUT PRIMARY,
% AND I'M GOING TO KEEP PUSHING
% PEOPLE TO TAKE THAT INTO
% NOVEMBER, THAT IT IS EASIER AND
% MORE EFFECTIVE AND IT CAN BE
% DONE.
% AND CERTAINLY WE HAVE TO BE, YOU
% KNOW, BETTER ORGANIZED AHEAD OF
% TIME TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
% BUT I THINK PEOPLE HAVE VOTED
% WITH THEIR FEET AND THEY'VE
% INDICATED THAT THEY PERSONALLY
% WANT TO DO THIS.
% >> WHAT ABOUT FOR THE MAY DATE
% IN THE 7TH CONGRESSIONAL?
% WILL YOU CALL TO DELAY THAT?
% >> WELL, WE'RE STILL -- THAT'S
% UNDER CONSIDERATION.
% WE'RE GOING TO FOLLOW THE
% SCIENCE.
% I KNOW PEOPLE ARE TIRED OF ME
% SAYING THAT.
% BUT IF INDEED WE FEEL THAT IT
% WILL ENDANGER PEOPLE
% HEALTH-WISE, THEN WE WILL LOOK
% AT A CHANGE.
% BUT WE'RE NOT AT THAT POINT NOW.
% >> WELL, WHEN YOU SAW IMAGES OF
% THOSE LONG LINES IN MILWAUKEE
% AND ELSEWHERE, WHAT DID YOU
% THINK?
% >> I THINK -- I THOUGHT THAT
% THIS IS A REASON I ORDERED THIS
% ELECTION TO BE PUSHED BACK AND
% WHY I WORKED HARD OVER SEVERAL
% WEEKS TO GET TO A DIFFERENT
% PLACE WITH LEGISLATIVE LEADERS.
% AND, YOU KNOW, IT DIDN'T HAVE TO
% HAPPEN.
% IT DID HAPPEN.
% AND SO IT WAS FORCING PEOPLE TO
% DECIDE WHETHER TO VOTE OR
% WHETHER TO BE UNSAFE.
% AND IT WAS JUST -- MADE PEOPLE
% HAVE A -- FORCED THEM INTO
% MAKING CHOICES LIKE THAT.
% I DIDN'T THINK THAT WAS FAIR,
% BUT THE COURT MADE THE RULING
% AND THAT WAS THAT.
% >> WHY DID YOU WAIT SO LONG TO
% TRY TO ORDER A DELAY IN
% IN-PERSON VOTING?
% >> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, IF I HAD
% DONE THAT ORDER TWO WEEKS
% EARLIER, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE
% SAME RESULT.
% THE SUPREME COURT MADE IT VERY
% CLEAR.
% BUT I FELT THAT I HAD TO GIVE
% THE LEGISLATURE -- THEY HAVE A
% ROLE IN THIS, THAT THEY HAD THE
% OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT CHANGING
% IT IN SOME WAY, AND WE OBVIOUSLY
% GOT NO PLACE WITH THAT.
% AND SO AT THE END OF THE DAY I
% KNEW I HAD TO DO THAT ORDER.
% >> WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE TO
% ABSENTEE BALLOT PROBLEMS THAT
% PREVENTED PEOPLE FROM GETTING
% ONE OR A CLERK FROM RECEIVING A
% COMPLETED BALLOT?
% >> THAT'S JUST IT.
% BEFORE I EVEN THINK ABOUT WHAT I
% SHOULD BE SAYING ABOUT THAT, I
% WANT TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT
% HAPPENED.
% AND WE ARE GOING TO FIND OUT.
% BUT, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT EVEN -- I
% DON'T EVEN FRANKLY KNOW WHETHER
% IT'S BALLOTS THAT HAVE NEVER
% BEEN DELIVERED TO VOTERS OR
% VOTERS SENDING BALLOTS TO THEIR
% MUNICIPALITY.
% THAT IS AN UNKNOWN YET.
% AND SO WE HAVE TO SORT THROUGH
% THAT.
% BUT CERTAINLY THAT ISN'T THE WAY
% WE WANT IT TO WORK NO MATTER
% WHICH WAY IT'S DONE.
% >> WHAT DO YOU SAY TO PEOPLE WHO
% MAY NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO VOTE
% BECAUSE OF ALL THESE ISSUES?
% >> WELL, IT IS COMPLEX TIMES AND
% IT WILL BE LITIGATED, I AM SURE.
% AND CERTAINLY THE FEDERAL COURT
% ACTIVITY CONTRIBUTED TO THAT
% MIGHTILY IN THAT WE HAD
% DIFFERENT TIMES AND DATES AND
% EXPECTATIONS AT ONE TIME, AND
% THEN AT THE LAST MINUTE THE U.S.
% SUPREME COURT MADE THEIR
% DECISION.
% AND SO THERE'S GOING TO HAVE TO
% BE SOME RECKONING WHAT HAPPENED
% THERE, TOO.
% BUT CLEARLY I'M SURE THERE ARE
% PEOPLE WHO FEEL DISENFRANCHISED
% BY THIS IN VERY REAL WAYS AND I
% ANTICIPATE THAT WE'LL HAVE COURT
% DECISIONS ON THIS FOR SOME TIME.
% >> I UNDERSTAND THAT THE
% DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES
% WILL STEP UP CONTACT TRACING TO,
% QUOTE, BETTER TRACK WISCONSIN
% RESIDENTS WHO MAY HAVE BEEN
% EXPOSED TO COVID-19 DURING
% TUESDAY'S ELECTION.
% WHAT WILL HEALTH OFFICIALS DO
% WITH THAT INFORMATION?
% >> YEAH.
% THE CONTACT TRACING IS REALLY
% IMPORTANT.
% AND IT'S IMPORTANT, AN IMPORTANT
% TOOL FOR PUBLIC HEALTH PEOPLE
% ANYWAY.
% BUT WE'LL BE -- I THINK THERE
% WILL BE 100 PEOPLE ON THE GROUND
% IN THE MILWAUKEE AREA AND OTHER
% AREAS OF THE STATE, I BELIEVE,
% TO ASK QUESTIONS OF -- ASK
% QUESTIONS OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE --
% WITHIN THE NEXT 14 DAYS OR SO,
% YOU KNOW, WHERE WERE YOU WHEN
% THIS HAPPENED, WHAT WERE YOU
% WITH, THAT SORT OF THING.
% AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO ZERO IT
% INTO WHERE THAT HAPPENED AND WAS
% IT A RESULT OF VOTING OR NOT.
% OR AT LEAST CERTAINLY A GOOD
% ESTIMATE, GUESSTIMATE.
% BUT THE CONTRACT TRACING IS
% REALLY IMPORTANT, NOT JUST FOR
% THIS ELECTION BUT FOR OTHER
% THINGS GOING FORWARD.
% WE HAVE TO HAVE THAT STUFF IN
% PLACE BECAUSE ONCE WE GET TO A
% POINT WHERE WE'RE BACK TO NORMAL
% AND THINGS ARE OPERATING, WE
% STILL HAVE TO BE PROTECTIVE OF
% IT.
% PUBLIC HEALTH IS GOING TO LOOK A
% LOT DIFFERENT IN THE FUTURE THAN
% IT DOES RIGHT NOW.
% >> WHERE ARE WE RIGHT NOW WITH
% THIS OUTBREAK?
% HAVE THE SAFER AT HOME ORDERS
% YET FLATTENED THE CURVE?
% >> NOT YET, BUT WE BELIEVE IT
% WOULD HAVE BEEN A MUCH WORSE
% SITUATION IF WE HADN'T HAD THE
% SAFER AT HOME ORDER.
% I THINK IT'S BEEN REALLY
% IMPORTANT AND AT THE END OF THE
% DAY IT'S GOING TO BE VERY
% EFFECTIVE.
% BUT WE ARE NOT YET AT THE POINT
% WHERE THAT CURVE IS FLATTENED,
% AND SO WE WILL CONTINUE TO
% MONITOR THIS ON A REGULAR BASIS
% AND THINK ABOUT WHAT WE SHOULD
% BE DOING GOING FORWARD.
% BUT IT IS THE RIGHT THING.
% PEOPLE OF WISCONSIN, FRANKLY,
% HAVE RESPONDED QUITE WELL.
% I KNOW RESTRICTIONS AREN'T
% EVERYBODY'S TOP OF THEIR LIST,
% BUT WE NEED TO DO THIS.
% >> DO YOU EXPECT TO EXTEND YOUR
% STAY AT HOME ORDER PAST
% APRIL 24?
% SOME AT THIS POINT SEEM TO BE
% CALLING FOR IT TO BE LIFTED EVEN
% AHEAD OF THAT.
% >> YEAH.
% THAT'S -- I THINK WE NEED TO
% REALLY THINK HARD ABOUT THOSE
% KIND OF RECOMMENDATIONS.
% THE LAST THING, WHETHER YOU'RE A
% BUSINESS OWNER OR SOMEBODY
% THAT'S UNEMPLOYED, THERE'S LOTS
% OF PEOPLE THAT ARE SUFFERING BY
% THIS.
% AND I'D SUGGEST THE ENTIRE STATE
% IS, IN RESPECT.
% BUT THE LAST THING WE WANT IS TO
% GO THROUGH ALL THIS WORK AND DO
% SOMETHING TOO SOON AND SUDDENLY
% HAVE A RECURRENCE AND THEN YOU
% AND I WILL BE SITTING HERE A
% YEAR FROM NOW TALKING ABOUT THE
% SAME THING.
% I'M GLAD TO COME BACK AND TALK
% ABOUT OTHER THINGS A YEAR FROM
% NOW.
% BUT THE LAST THING I WANT TO BE
% IS TALKING ABOUT THIS A YEAR
% FROM NOW.
% SO WE HAVE TO BE VERY CAUTIOUS
% VERY CAREFUL.
% >> WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT HOW
% COVID-19 IS DISPROPORTIONATELY
% AFFECTING THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN
% POPULATION?
% >> YEAH.
% IT'S A CRISIS WITHIN A CRISIS.
% THE CONTACT TRACING WE DO AROUND
% THE CONTENTION -- ELECTION,
% EXCUSE ME, IS REALLY IMPORTANT
% FOR ALL PEOPLE, AND ESPECIALLY
% WHEN WE UNDERSTAND THAT PEOPLE
% OF COLOR, ESPECIALLY OUR
% AFRICAN-AMERICAN FRIENDS AND
% NEIGHBORS, ARE BEING
% DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED BY
% THIS.
% AND SO THAT CONTACT TRACING IS
% REALLY IMPORTANT THERE, TOO, SO
% THAT WE UNDERSTAND WHAT WE NEED
% TO DO GOING FORWARD TO MAKE SURE
% THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN.
% >> LATE THIS WEEK, YOU ANNOUNCED
% THAT STATE FAIR PARK WILL BE
% TURNED INTO AN ALTERNATIVE CARE
% FACILITY.
% WHY IS THAT NEEDED AT THIS TIME?
% >> WELL, WE ANTICIPATE A SURGE
% IN PEOPLE THAT HAVE THE VIRUS
% AND ARE NEEDING HOSPITAL BEDS,
% AND SO THIS IS TO GET US TO THE
% POINT WHERE WE HAVE -- WE WILL
% ALWAYS HAVE MORE HOSPITAL BEDS
% THAN WE HAVE PEOPLE NEEDING
% THOSE BEDS.
% IF WE EVER GET THAT FLIPPED, IT
% WILL BE NEW YORK AND WE WILL BE
% IN A BAD PLACE.
% SO WE'RE WORKING WITH ARMY CORPS
% OF ENGINEERS AND NATIONAL GUARD
% AND FEMA TO CREATE THIS AT THE
% WISCONSIN STATE FAIR PARK.
% I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE
% KEEP AHEAD OF THAT CURVE.
% >> WHAT KIND OF CAPACITY WILL
% THAT FACILITY HAVE?
% >> WELL, I THINK THAT'S STILL
% BEING DECIDED, BUT WE ARE IN THE
% PROCESS OF USING THE EXPOSITION
% HALL, WHICH IS A LARGE FACILITY
% THERE.
% SO I THINK IT'S GOING TO GIVE US
% LOTS OF OPTIONS, BUT THE EXACT
% NUMBER OF BEDS YET ARE NOT -- TO
% MY KNOWLEDGE, IS NOT YET
% DETERMINED.
% >> YOU'VE ALSO JUST CLOSED 40
% STATE PARKS.
% WHY DID YOU TAKE THAT ACTION?
% >> THAT HURT.
% THAT HURT MIGHTILY.
% AS ONE THAT A COUPLE TIMES HAVE
% UTILIZED THE STATE PARKS IN THIS
% TRAUMATIC TIME.
% IT JUST BECAME TOO MUCH OF AN
% ISSUE OF PEOPLE -- FIRST OF ALL,
% THERE'S BAD ACTORS, VANDALISM,
% THINGS LIKE THAT.
% AND THEN THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE
% THAT WEREN'T APPROPRIATELY
% DISTANCING THEMSELVES, AND IT
% BECAME TOO MUCH OF A BURDEN TO
% KEEP IT OPEN AND, UNFORTUNATELY,
% WE HAD TO CLOSE DOWN MOST OF THE
% SYSTEM.
% >> HAS YOUR DEPARTMENT OF
% WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BEEN ABLE
% TO ADEQUATELY RESPOND TO THE
% HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF
% UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS?
% >> WELL, WE'RE SURE WORKING HARD
% AT IT.
% WE'VE ADDED MORE PEOPLE.
% WE'VE ADDED MORE TECHNOLOGY.
% WE ARE HOPING THAT IN THIS
% BUDGET DELIBERATIONS WITH THE
% LEGISLATURE WE CAN GET SOME
% RESOURCES FOR MORE PEOPLE.
% WE MOVED PEOPLE AROUND IN ORDER
% TO DO THIS.
% BUT PEOPLE ALSO HAVE TO REALIZE
% -- AND THIS IS NO EXCUSE, BUT
% ONCE PEOPLE ARE DONE TAKING THAT
% INPUT FROM SOMEBODY ON THE PHONE
% OR ONLINE, THEY ACTUALLY HAVE TO
% PROCESS ALL THAT INFORMATION
% INTO THE SYSTEM SO THAT THEY GET
% THEIR CHECKS.
% SO IT'S A 24-HOUR-A-DAY EVENT.
% WE JUST NEED MORE PEOPLE TO MAKE
% IT HAPPEN.
% WELL OVER 90% OF PEOPLE ARE
% COMPLETING THIS ONLINE.
% WE'RE CONTINUING TO WORK WITH ON
% THAT.
% ARE WE SATISFIED WITH OUR
% RESULTS YET?
% NO.
% BUT I THINK WE WILL BE IN A
% BETTER PLACE.
% >> WHEN CAN PEOPLE EXPECT THOSE
% ENHANCED BENEFITS THAT ARE PART
% OF THE FEDERAL STIMULUS PACKAGE?
% >> WELL, WE'RE STILL RECEIVING
% INFORMATION FROM THE FEDERAL
% GOVERNMENT ON THAT.
% I HEARD IT WAS GOING TO BE VERY,
% VERY SOON.
% TREASURY DEPARTMENT WHICH
% FRANKLY ISN'T A DEPARTMENT THAT
% HAS BEEN INVOLVED WITH PROVIDING
% GUIDANCE MATERIALS FOR
% SITUATIONS LIKE THIS, THEY WON'T
% BE GETTING THEIR FINAL GUIDANCE
% OUT UNTIL THE END OF NEXT WEEK.
% SO HOPEFULLY THAT MONEY THAT
% WILL BE GOING -- THE ADDITIONAL
% MONEY THAT WILL BE GOING TO
% UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WILL BE
% THERE VERY SOON.
% >> MEANWHILE, AS YOU WELL KNOW,
% LEGISLATIVE LEADERS ARE WORKING
% ON THEIR OWN COVID-19 RESPONSE
% PACKAGE AND ARE SET TO TAKE THAT
% UP NEXT WEEK.
% HOW WELL DOES THAT PACKAGE
% DOVETAIL WITH YOUR OWN
% PROPOSALS?
% >> WELL, WE'RE WAITING TO SEE.
% WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH THE
% REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP AND I KNOW
% THE DEMOCRATS AND THE
% LEGISLATURE HAVE.
% BUT UNTIL I GET A CHANCE TO SEE
% IT, IT'S HARD TO REACT TO.
% I KNOW AT ONE POINT IN TIME --
% AND I'M STILL VERY CONCERNED
% ABOUT IT, AND TO ME IT'S A
% POISON PILL TO HAVE -- GIVE SO
% MUCH AUTHORITY -- ONE OF THEIR
% PROPOSALS WAS TO GIVE SO MUCH
% AUTHORITY TO THE JOINT FINANCE
% COMMITTEE.
% AND THE ESSENCE OF THAT IS A
% SMALL GROUP OF FOLKS WOULD BE
% ABLE TO GUT THE BUDGET AND MAKE
% CUTS ON THEIR OWN VOLITION,
% WHICH COMPLETELY IS NOT
% ACCEPTABLE TO ME.
% SO I'M HOPEFUL THAT THAT PIECE
% IS NOT IN THE LEGISLATION
% BECAUSE I WOULD HATE TO VETO
% SOME VERY IMPORTANT THINGS
% BECAUSE OF THAT.
% >> WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT TO YOU
% TO BE IN ANY KIND OF PACKAGE
% LIKE THAT?
% >> WELL, CERTAINLY WE HAVE --
% THE ONE WEEK OF -- THAT THE
% FEDERAL GOVERNMENT -- AND
% UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE IS AN
% EXAMPLE.
% IT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT THAT THE
% FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SAID WE WON'T
% DELAY IT, WON'T BE THAT ONE-WEEK
% WAITING PERIOD.
% WE HAVE TO HAVE THE STATE
% GOVERNMENT SAY THE SAME AND ONLY
% OUR LEGISLATURE CAN MAKE THAT
% HAPPEN THROUGH A BILL.
% AND THIS HAS TO BE A PART OF IT.
% THAT'S A HUGE THING.
% THAT'S IMPACTING ALL SORTS OF
% PEOPLE IN THE STATE OF
% WISCONSIN.
% THERE'S OTHER THINGS WE NEED AS
% RELATES TO MAKING SURE THAT OUR
% LOCAL PUBLIC HEALTH WORKERS AND
% COUNTY HEALTH AGENCIES ARE IN A
% GOOD PLACE SO THAT THEY CAN
% CONTINUE TO DO GOOD WORK, BUT
% ALSO GOOD WORK GOING FORWARD.
% BUT ONE WEEK OF MAKING SURE THAT
% PEOPLE DON'T HAVE TO WAIT THAT
% ADDITIONAL WEEK IS THE MOST
% IMPORTANT THING FOR ME.
% >> ALL RIGHT.
% GOVERNOR EVERS, WE LEAVE IT
% THERE.
% WE THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR
% TIME TODAY AND WE LOOK FORWARD
% TO CHECKING IN WITH YOU EACH
% FRIDAY AS THIS PROGRESSES AND,
% AS YOU SAY, HOPEFULLY IN A YEAR
% OR SO WE'LL BE ON TALKING WITH
% YOU ABOUT OTHER MATTERS.
% THANKS VERY MUCH.
% >> THANK YOU, FREDERICA.
% >> DESPITE OBJECTIONS FROM THE
% GOVERNOR AND DEMOCRATS, THIS
% WEEK REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP
% FORGED AHEAD WITH VOTING ON
% ELECTION DAY.
% THEY FOUND SUPPORT IN THEIR
% EFFORTS FROM THE WISCONSIN
% SUPREME COURT AND THE U.S.
% SUPREME COURT.
% TONIGHT, ASSEMBLY MAJORITY
% LEADER JIM STEINEKE JOINS US
% WITH HIS INSIGHTS ON THE
% COVID-19 PANDEMIC.
% THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING
% HERE.
% >> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
% >> FORMER LONG TIME REPUBLICAN
% AND NEENAH MAYOR, DEAN
% KAUFERT, TOLD US THIS WEEK
% THAT HE BELIEVES TUESDAY'S
% VOTE DID SUPPRESS THE VOTE
% BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE
% OR POTENTIALLY MANY PEOPLE
% WERE AFRAID TO STAND IN LINE.
% WHAT'S YOUR REACTION TO THAT?
% >> WELL, I THINK THE BIGGEST
% THING IS WE KEPT THE CURRENT
% ELECTION PROCEDURES IN PLACE.
% WHETHER EVERYBODY WAS ABLE TO GO
% THROUGH THE ABSENTEE BALLOT
% PROCESS OR HAD TO APPEAR IN
% PERSON, THAT'S OUR REGULAR
% PROCESS.
% THE GOVERNOR AGREED WITH US FOR
% THREE WEEKS LEADING UP TO THE
% ELECTION.
% ONLY IN THE 11TH HOUR DID HE
% CHANGE HIS MIND WHEN IT WAS TOO
% LATE.
% WE HAD ALREADY HAD HUNDREDS OF
% BALLOTS CAST, HUNDREDS OF
% THOUSANDS MORE OUT THERE.
% TO CHANGE THE RULES IN THE
% MIDDLE OF THE GAME JUST DIDN'T
% MAKE SENSE AT THAT POINT.
% WE HAD 3,900 LOCAL RACES THAT
% WERE ON THE BALLOT THAT NEEDED
% TO BE FILLED.
% >> BUT YOU'RE NOT SUGGESTING
% THAT HAD THE GOVERNOR MADE THE
% DECISION TO DELAY THE IN-PERSON
% VOTING EARLIER, THAT THE
% MAJORITY WOULD HAVE GONE ALONG
% WITH THAT.
% >> NO.
% WHAT I'M SAYING IS THE GOVERNOR
% WAS RIGHT EARLY ON WHEN HE SAID
% WE COULD NOT DELAY IT BECAUSE IT
% WAS A GENERAL ELECTION.
% OTHER STATES THAT DELAYED THEIR
% ELECTIONS ALL HAD PRIMARIES.
% IF WE HAD ONLY HAD A PRIMARY IN
% PLACE, PRIMARY ELECTION, WE
% COULD HAVE DELAYED IT.
% BUT BEING THAT IT WAS A GENERAL
% ELECTION FOR OVER 3900 LOCAL
% SEATS IN THE STATE, WE JUST
% DIDN'T HAVE THAT OPTION.
% >> WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO
% MISSING ABSENTEE BALLOTS THAT
% ARE BEING REPORTED NOW, SOME
% POTENTIALLY FROM YOUR DISTRICT?
% >> YEAH.
% IT'S REALLY TROUBLING.
% I REALLY BELIEVE THAT IF
% SOMEBODY REQUESTS AN ABSENTEE
% BALLOT WITHIN THE TIME FRAME
% GIVEN, THEY SHOULD BE GUARANTEED
% TO GET THAT BALLOT BACK IN TIME
% TO VOTE IN THE REGULAR ELECTION.
% NOW, THIS FLIES IN THE FACE OF
% WHAT THE DEMOCRATS ARE PROPOSING
% RIGHT NOW, GOING TO AN
% ALL-MAIL-IN BALLOT ELECTION WITH
% NO IN-PERSON VOTING WHEN WE'RE
% SEEING ALL THE PROBLEMS WE HAD.
% IT'S A SYSTEM THAT DOESN'T MAKE
% SENSE RIGHT NOW.
% THE ONE WE CURRENTLY HAVE IN
% PLACE WE SAW WORK BY AND LARGE
% TO GET PEOPLE OUT THERE TO VOTE
% THROUGH THE ABSENTEE PROCESS.
% BUT WE DO HAVE TO TIGHTEN IT UP
% TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE
% REQUESTS ONE IN TIME GETS ONE IN
% TIME.
% >> WHAT IF ISSUES PERSIST INTO
% NOVEMBER?
% I MEAN, IS THE MAJORITY WILLING
% TO ACCEPT TRYING TO FIX WHATEVER
% ISSUES EXIST WITH THE ABSENTEE
% BALLOTS?
% >> YEAH.
% I MEAN, I THINK WE NEED TO DO,
% WORKING WITH THE ELECTIONS
% COMMISSION, WHATEVER WE CAN TO
% MAKE SURE THAT THE CURRENT
% PROCESS WORKS FOR EVERYBODY.
% WHAT THE DEMOCRATS ARE REALLY
% PROPOSING -- AND IT'S NO SECRET
% THAT THEY TEND TO USE CRISIS TO
% MOVE POLICY.
% THEY'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET RID
% OF VOTER I.D. FOR YEARS, EVER
% SINCE IT WENT INTO PLACE.
% THEY'RE TRYING TO USE THIS
% CRISIS IN ORDER TO DO THAT,
% PROPOSING SENDING OUT BALLOTS TO
% EVERY SINGLE REGISTERED VOTER,
% BUT THEN ELIMINATING THE VOTER
% I.D. REQUIREMENT AND THE
% SIGNATURE OF A WITNESS ON THAT
% BALLOT.
% SO THERE WOULD BE ABSOLUTELY NO
% PROTECTIONS IN PLACE TO MAKE
% SURE THAT THE VOTER SENDING IN
% THAT BALLOT IS WHO THEY SAY THEY
% ARE.
% >> MEANWHILE, LEGISLATIVE
% REPUBLICANS HAVE COME UP WITH A
% COVID-19 RESPONSE PACKAGE.
% WHAT ARE ITS MOST IMPORTANT
% PRONGS?
% >> REALLY WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO
% DO HERE -- AND WE'RE WORKING
% WITH LEADERSHIP ON THE DEMOCRAT
% SIDE TO PUT TOGETHER A PACKAGE
% THAT'S BIPARTISAN IN NATURE.
% WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS MAKE
% SOME CHANGES TO THE UNEMPLOYMENT
% PACKAGE TO SUSPEND THE ONE-WEEK
% DELAY SO WE CAN CAPTURE SOME
% FEDERAL MONEY THROUGH THE CARES
% ACT.
% WE HAVE TO MAKE MEDICAID CHANGES
% TO CAPTURE ADDITIONAL MONEY
% THROUGH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
% THEN WE'RE ALSO TRYING TO
% STREAMLINE SOME REGULATIONS TO
% MAKE SURE WE CAN GET AS MANY
% HEALTH CARE WORKERS INTO THE
% FIELD TO RESPOND TO THAT CRISIS.
% >> I UNDERSTAND IT WOULD ALLOW
% THE JOINT FINANCE COMMITTEE TO
% MAKE STATE SPENDING CUTS BECAUSE
% OF POTENTIAL LOSS OF REVENUE.
% THE GOVERNOR, AS YOU KNOW, TAKES
% GREAT EXCEPTION TO THAT.
% WHAT DO YOU SAY TO HIM ON THIS?
% >> WELL, WE'VE REMOVED THAT
% BECAUSE OF HIS OBJECTIONS.
% ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S
% FRUSTRATING FOR US IS WE'VE BEEN
% WORKING WITH OUR COLLEAGUES ON
% THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE OF THE AISLE
% TO PUT FORWARD A PACKAGE THAT WE
% CAN ALL AGREE ON.
% THE IMAGINE THAT THE GOVERNOR
% RAN OUT TO THE MEDIA AND
% RELEASED WAS JUST AN INITIAL
% DRAFT, SOMETHING THAT WE WERE
% GETTING INPUT FROM THE DEMOCRATS
% ON, TRYING TO FIND OUT WHERE WE
% CAN FIND SOME COMMON GROUND.
% AND INSTEAD OF COMING TO US AND
% LETTING US KNOW THAT HE HAD
% OBJECTIONS TO IT, THE GOVERNOR
% DECIDED TO GO STRAIGHT TO THE
% MEDIA.
% I'M NOT SURE WHY HE DID AND IT
% DOESN'T HELP OUR NEGOTIATIONS.
% WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO MOVE
% FORWARD TO TRY TO FIND A PACKAGE
% WE CAN ALL VOTE ON AND SEND TO
% THE GOVERNOR'S DESK.
% >> BUT, AGAIN, THAT PROVISION
% REGARDING JOINT FINANCE HAS BEEN
% REMOVED FROM THE PACKAGE.
% >> YES.
% THE IDEA HERE -- AND I THINK
% THERE'S UNIVERSAL AGREEMENT HERE
% THAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE REVENUE
% DECLINE COMING INTO STATE
% COFFERS.
% SO WE HAD A $800 MILLION
% PROJECTED SURPLUS BEFORE THIS
% WHOLE CRISIS STARTED.
% THAT'S GONE.
% AND THEN WE'RE WORRIED THAT THE
% NEW REVENUE PROJECTIONS WILL
% SHOW A SHORTFALL.
% SO WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS
% SLOW DOWN THE RATE OF SPENDING
% IN THE SECOND YEAR SO THAT WE
% DON'T HAVE TO MAKE MASSIVE CUTS
% GOING INTO THE NEXT BUDGET.
% >> ALL RIGHT.
% WELL, REPRESENTATIVE JIM
% STEINEKE, WE TRULY APPRECIATE
% YOU JOINING US AND GOOD LUCK TO
% YOU, THE LEGISLATURE AND THE
% EXECUTIVE BRANCH AS YOU WORK
% THROUGH THIS COVID-19 RESPONSE
% PACKAGE.
% >> THANK YOU.
% STAY SAFE, EVERYBODY.
% >> THAT IS OUR PROGRAM FOR THIS
% WEEK.
% BE SURE TO JOIN US ONLINE
% THROUGHOUT THE WEEK FOR UPDATES
% AT pbswisconsin.org AND THEN
% CLICK ON THE NEWS TAB.
% ALSO FOR ONGOING, IN-DEPTH
% COVERAGE OF THE COVID-19
% PANDEMIC IN WISCONSIN, VISIT
% wiscontext.org.
% STAY WELL, WISCONSIN, AND WE
% WILL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK FOR "HERE
% AND NOW."
% I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
% HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.
% >> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
% PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
% JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.