% >> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
% PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
% PRODUCTION.
% >> I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
% TONIGHT ON "HERE & NOW," THE
% WISCONSIN SUPREME COURT WEIGHS
% IN ON THE EXTENDED "SAFER AT
% HOME" ORDER.
% WE HAVE REACTION FROM GOVERNOR
% TONY EVERS IN OUR WEEKLY
% ONE-ON-ONE INTERVIEW.
% PLUS, REPUBLICAN ASSEMBLY
% MAJORITY LEADER JIM STEINEKE.
% ALSO, A PREVIEW OF NEXT WEEK'S
% SPECIAL ELECTION IN WISCONSIN'S
% 7TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.
% IT'S "HERE & NOW" FOR MAY 8.
% >> FUNDING FOR "HERE & NOW" IS
% PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
% JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
% WISCONSIN.
% ♪ ♪
% >> THIS WISCONSIN'S SUPREME
% COURT ENTERED THE BATTLE BETWEEN
% REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS IN THE
% COVID-19 PANDEMIC.
% AT ISSUE, WHETHER HEALTH
% SERVICES SECRETARY DESIGNEE
% ANDREA PALM EXCEEDED HER
% AUTHORITY BY ORDERING AN
% EMERGENCY EXTENSION OF "SAFER AT
% HOME."
% THOSE OPPOSED TO THAT EXTENSION
% SAY IT HAS WRECKED THE STATE'S
% ECONOMY.
% THOSE IN FAVOR COUNTER THAT
% WISCONSIN'S CORONAVIRUS
% INFECTION RATE AND THE NUMBER OF
% DEATHS WILL SOAR SHOULD THE
% ORDER BE LIFTED.
% >> IN THE MIDST OF THIS
% PANDEMIC, THE LEGISLATURE ASKS
% THIS COURT TO HANDCUFF DHS'S
% POWER TO COMBAT INFECTIOUS
% DISEASE.
% >> I'LL DIRECT YOUR ATTENTION TO
% ANOTHER TIME IN HISTORY AND THE
% KOREMATSU DECISION, WHERE THE
% COURT SAID "THE NEED FOR ACTION
% IS GREAT AND THE TIME IS SHORT"
% AND THAT JUSTIFIED ASSEMBLING
% TOGETHER AND PLACING UNDER GUARD
% ALL THOSE OF JAPANESE ANCESTRY
% IN CENTERS DURING WORLD WAR II.
% >> WE MAY PERSONALLY THINK
% THINGS MAKE SENSE, BUT WE HAVE
% TO APPLY CONSTITUTIONAL
% PRINCIPLES AND THE LANGUAGE OF
% THE STATUTES AND THE LAW TO MAKE
% SURE WHETHER IT DOES MAKE SENSE.
% >> WE CAN'T ISSUE A DECISION
% THAT'S TOO BROAD BECAUSE PEOPLE
% WILL DIE.
% THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT WILL
% HAPPEN.
% >> THE STATE SPENT THE WEEK
% WAITING TO LEARN HOW THE
% WISCONSIN SUPREME COURT WOULD
% RULE IN THE LEGISLATURE'S
% LAWSUIT AGAINST THE EVERS'
% ADMINISTRATION OVER THE
% EXTENSION OF THE "SAFER AT HOME"
% ORDER THAT LASTS THROUGH
% MEMORIAL DAY.
% PERHAPS NO ONE IS MORE INVESTED
% IN THAT DECISION THAN THE
% GOVERNOR HIMSELF.
% LATE FRIDAY AFTERNOON AND AHEAD
% OF THAT RULING, I TALKED WITH
% GOVERNOR TONY EVERS IN OUR
% WEEKLY ONE-ON-ONE INTERVIEW.
% AND, GOVERNOR, THANK YOU SO MUCH
% FOR JOINING US.
% >> THANKS, FREDERICA.
% APPRECIATE THAT.
% >> SO WHAT ARE YOU PREPARED FOR
% WITH THE SUPREME COURT DECISION?
% >> WELL, I BELIEVE THAT -- I
% BELIEVE WE'LL WIN.
% I THINK IF YOU LOOK AT THE STATE
% STATUTES, IF YOU LOOK AT
% PRECEDENT, IF YOU LOOK AT THE
% FACTS IN THE CASE, I THINK WE
% WIN.
% NOW, THE COURT MAY DECIDE TO NOT
% USE THOSE SAME CRITERIA, BUT I
% THINK WE HAVE A GOOD CHANCE OF
% WINNING.
% THE PROBLEM AROUND THE ISSUE OF
% IF WE LOSE, THERE ARE SO MANY
% MOVING PARTS.
% I MEAN, THERE'S THE CASE THAT
% THE REPUBLICANS BROUGHT AGAINST
% ME, AND THEN THERE'S ANOTHER
% CASE THERE THAT HAS BEEN BROUGHT
% FORTH BY A COUPLE WISCONSIN
% CITIZENS ON A FREEDOM OF
% RELIGION APPROACH OR ISSUE.
% SO IF THEY COMBINE THOSE TWO,
% THERE'S JUST SO MANY MOVING
% PARTS.
% IT IS ABSOLUTELY IMPOSSIBLE TO
% SAY IF THIS HAPPENS THIS IS THE
% DIRECTION WE'RE GOING TO GO,
% THIS IS GOING TO GO.
% WE'LL WAIT TILL THE DECISION
% COMING DOWN AND THEN WE'LL
% FIGURE OUT A WAY TO MOVE
% FORWARD.
% >> I KNOW ONE APPROACH THAT HAS
% SOME TRACTION ON THE PART OF THE
% BUSINESS COMMUNITY IS KIND OF A
% REGIONAL REOPENING.
% DO YOU THINK THAT CAN WORK?
% >> WELL, I THINK IT PROBABLY
% CAN, BUT I THINK THERE'S ALSO
% THINGS WE CAN DO ON THE
% STATEWIDE AREA.
% DOING THINGS IN SMALL GROUPS IN
% DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE STATE,
% THERE'S SOME DOWNSIDES TO THAT.
% I'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE IN
% DIFFERENT VENUES, BUT THE
% ABILITY FOR SMALLER COUNTIES AND
% SMALLER REGIONS, RURAL REGIONS
% OF THE STATE TO, IF THERE'S A
% SURGE IN THE VIRUS COMING
% FORWARD, THEY DON'T HAVE THE
% PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEM THAT OTHER
% COUNTIES DO AND OTHER REGIONS
% DO.
% SO THERE'S DOWNSIDES TO IT, AND
% I'M MORE THAN WILLING TO LOOK AT
% THAT.
% BUT THAT IS NOT A WHOLE PLAN.
% A WHOLE PLAN WILL LOOK A LOT
% DIFFERENT.
% SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO
% FINALLY SEEING A PLAN.
% REPUBLICANS SAID WHEN THEY FILED
% THE SUIT THAT THEY HAD A PLAN.
% AND THE ONLY THING I'VE HEARD SO
% FAR IS ABOUT DOING THINGS BY
% REGION AND THAT'S SOMETHING TO
% LOOK AT, BUT THAT IS NOT AN
% ENTIRE PLAN.
% >> I KNOW THAT THE REPUBLICAN
% LEADERSHIP IS SEEKING WHAT THEY
% CALL A "COLLABORATIVE APPROACH,"
% THEY TO WANT WORK WITH YOU ON
% THIS, AND YOU DID MEET WITH
% LEADERSHIP THIS WEEK.
% HOW DO YOU EXPECT THAT TO GO?
% >> WELL, I THINK IT WILL BE FINE
% GOING FORWARD.
% IF THEY HAVE A PLAN, I WELCOME
% THAT.
% WHEN WE MET, WE TALKED ABOUT
% REGIONAL APPROACH AND WE BOTH
% TALKED ABOUT THE DIFFERENT WAYS
% OF DOING THAT.
% BUT THAT IN AND OF ITSELF ISN'T
% A PLAN.
% I'M MORE THAN WILLING TO HEAR
% ANY PLAN THAT THEY HAVE.
% AND GOING FORWARD AFTER THE
% SUPREME COURT DECISION, WE'LL
% FIGURE OUT WHAT WE HAVE TO DO TO
% MOVE FORWARD.
% BUT IT WILL DEPEND ON HOW THAT
% DECISION IS WRITTEN, AND THERE
% ARE MANY, MANY MOVING PARTS THAT
% WE DON'T KNOW HOW THAT'S GOING
% TO BE RESOLVED.
% >> WELL, WOULD THERE BE ANY KIND
% OF NONSTARTERS FOR YOU IN TERMS
% OF ANY PLAN DIFFERENT FROM THE
% EXTENDED "SAFER AT HOME" OR THE
% BADGER BOUNCE BACK PLAN?
% >> WELL, I THINK WE ARE LOOKING
% TOWARDS DIALING -- MOVING THE
% DIAL AT ANY POINT IN TIME.
% IN FACT, WE DID JUST A COUPLE
% WEEKS AGO.
% SO THERE AREN'T THINGS I'M NOT
% WILLING TO LISTEN TO, BUT LET'S
% HAVE A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, WHICH
% WE HAVEN'T HAD YET.
% >> ONE THING THAT HAS PEOPLE
% ASKING WHETHER OR NOT YOU'RE
% EDGING TOWARD A SOONER REOPENING
% THAN POTENTIALLY AFTER MEMORIAL
% IS THIS NEW GUIDANCE FROM THE
% WEDC ABOUT HOW BUSINESSES CAN
% PREPARE TO REOPEN.
% WHAT KINDS OF THINGS ARE IN THAT
% GUIDANCE?
% AND IS IT A MEASURE THAT YOU'RE
% MOVING CLOSER TO THAT?
% >> WELL, CERTAINLY IT'S A
% MEASURE THAT WE HAVE -- YOU
% KNOW, AS WE'VE FOCUSED ON
% TESTING AND THE THINGS IN THE
% PUBLIC SECTOR OR PUBLIC HEALTH
% SIDE, WE'VE REALLY BROUGHT A LOT
% TO THE TABLE ALREADY AND WE'RE
% MEETING A LOT OF THE METRICS.
% THEY'RE GETTING CLOSER TO THE
% METRICS THAT WE SET OUT.
% SO CLEARLY WE DO BELIEVE WE'RE
% GOING TO BE OPENING SOME ASPECTS
% OF THE BUSINESS WORLD IN A SAFE
% AND ORDERLY AND THOUGHTFUL WAY.
% AND, YES, I THINK THAT'S AN
% INDICATION OF THAT.
% BUT IT'S ALSO AN INDICATION THAT
% WE BELIEVE THAT PEOPLE NEED TO
% START THINKING ABOUT WHAT THEIR
% BUSINESSES WILL LOOK LIKE AFTER
% THEY'RE OPEN.
% >> WHAT CONTINUES TO CONCERN YOU
% AROUND COVID-19 IN WISCONSIN?
% >> WELL, CERTAINLY THE SURGES
% WE'RE HAVING ACROSS THE STATE IN
% BROWN COUNTY IS A GOOD EXAMPLE.
% AND, FRANKLY, I'M ALSO CONCERNED
% ABOUT THE FACT THAT PEOPLE THAT
% DISPROPORTIONATELY HAVE
% DIFFICULT HEALTH OUTCOMES
% BECAUSE OF THEIR LIVING IN
% POVERTY, POOR HOUSING.
% ALL THOSE THINGS ARE PLAYING OUT
% AGAIN IN THIS INSTANCE.
% AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE VERY
% INSISTENT THAT WE MAKE SURE WE
% HAVE THESE COMMUNITY TESTING
% OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE ALL
% ACROSS THE STATE, BUT ESPECIALLY
% WHERE WE HAVE BAD OUTCOMES.
% WE NEED THAT DATA TO MOVE
% FORWARD.
% >> WITH JUST ABOUT A HALF A
% MINUTE LEFT, WHAT IS ENCOURAGING
% FOR YOU ON THIS COVID-19 FRONT?
% >> WELL, WE'RE UP TO 14,000
% TESTS A DAY.
% I THINK THE LAST COUPLE DAYS
% WERE ABOUT 14,000.
% THAT'S HUGE.
% THE MORE TESTS WE DO -- AND
% WE'RE ALSO HIRING -- LOTS OF
% PEOPLE ARE INTERESTED IN DOING
% THE CONTACT TRACING.
% ALL THE THINGS THAT REALLY HELP
% US TAKE CARE OF SURGES AND MAKE
% SURE THAT WE DIMINISH THE ROLE
% OF THE VIRUS IN OUR LIFE.
% THOSE THINGS ARE IN PLACE.
% AND SO I FEEL VERY GOOD ABOUT
% THAT.
% AND PEOPLE MAKING SURE THAT
% THEY'RE SOCIALLY DISTANT FROM
% PEOPLE AND STAYING HEALTHY.
% >> ALL RIGHT.
% GOVERNOR TONY EVERS, WE NEED TO
% LEAVE IT THERE.
% THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
% >> THANKS, FREDERICA.
% >> WHAT WOULD A
% REPUBLICAN-CONTROLLED
% LEGISLATIVE RESPONSE TO THE
% COVID-19 CRISIS LOOK LIKE?
% THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS CAN
% SOMETIMES TAKE WEEKS OR MONTHS.
% THAT'S A TIME LINE THAT IS
% PROBLEMATIC FOR BOTH SIDES.
% REPUBLICANS SAY THEY PLAN TO
% MOVE QUICKLY.
% AS OF FRIDAY AT NOON, NO RULING
% FROM THE STATE SUPREME COURT.
% WISCONSIN ASSEMBLY MAJORITY
% LEADER JIM STEINEKE WAS ABLE TO
% JOIN US EARLY THIS AFTERNOON.
% AND, REPRESENTATIVE, THANKS VERY
% MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
% >> ABSOLUTELY.
% THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
% >> WELL, SO DETAIL FOR US,
% PLEASE, WHAT THE REPUBLICAN
% LEGISLATIVE LEADERSHIP PLAN TO
% REOPEN THE STATE LOOKS LIKE.
% >> YEAH.
% SO I APPRECIATE THE QUESTION.
% I KNOW THAT'S ONE OF THE
% QUESTIONS WE'VE BEEN GETTING A
% LOT, IS WHAT IS THE REPUBLICAN
% PLAN FOR REOPENING THE STATE.
% WE'VE REALLY TRIED TO STEER
% CLEAR OF THAT BECAUSE WE DON'T
% THINK THAT THERE SHOULD BE A
% DEMOCRATIC PLAN.
% WE DON'T THINK THERE SHOULD BE A
% REPUBLICAN PLAN.
% WE THINK THAT THERE SHOULD BE A
% PLAN THAT WE WORK ON TOGETHER
% THAT SUITS ALL OF WISCONSIN AND
% THAT ALL OF US CAN SUPPORT.
% SO WE DIDN'T WANT TO DO
% NEGOTIATIONS THROUGH THE MEDIA
% ON ANY PARTICULAR IDEAS OTHER
% THAN WE THINK THAT THE PLAN
% SHOULD BE REGIONAL AND
% INCORPORATE SOME OF THOSE
% ASPECTS AS FAR AS BEING ABLE TO
% OPEN IN AREAS WHERE THERE'S LESS
% SEVERE INFECTIONS.
% WE REALLY JUST WANT TO SIT DOWN
% WITH THE GOVERNOR AND FIGURE IT
% OUT TOGETHER.
% >> I WANT TO GET TO THAT
% SO-CALLED "WISCONSIN PLAN" IN
% JUST A MOMENT, BUT IN TERMS OF
% KIND OF A REGIONAL REOPENING
% PLAN, WHAT ABOUT CONCERNS THAT
% YOU JUST SPREAD THE VIRUS AS
% PEOPLE GET OUT ACROSS THE STATE,
% SAY, TO VACATION HOMES OR
% CAMPSITES?
% >> SURE.
% I MEAN, WE LIVE IN A FREE
% COUNTRY, RIGHT?
% SO PEOPLE ARE GOING TO HAVE
% FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT NO MATTER
% WHEN WE OPEN, WHETHER IT'S THE
% WHOLE STATE OR WHETHER IT'S
% REGIONS OF THE COUNTRY.
% WE'RE STARTING TO SEE DEMOCRATIC
% GOVERNORS IN OTHER STATES LIKE
% ILLINOIS, MICHIGAN AND NEW YORK
% WHO HAVE HAD MUCH MORE SEVERE
% PROBLEMS WITH THE VIRUS THAN
% WISCONSIN HAS, THEY'RE
% INCORPORATING THE REGIONAL
% ASPECTS INTO THEIR PLAN.
% WE SIMPLY CAN'T AFFORD TO ALLOW
% THE ENTIRE STATE TO BE SHUT DOWN
% WHEN THERE'S VERY FEW PROBLEMS
% IN THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE
% COUNTIES OF THE STATE.
% >> IF CASES WERE TO INCREASE --
% AND PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY
% THEY ALMOST CERTAINLY WOULD IF
% YOU KIND OF REOPEN THE STATE,
% BUT IF CASES WERE TO INCREASE,
% WOULD YOU CALL OR WOULD YOU BE
% IN FAVOR OF REINSTATING STRICTER
% "STAY AT HOME" ORDERS AT THAT
% POINT?
% >> YEAH.
% I THINK ANY PLAN GOING FORWARD
% SHOULD HAVE SOME KIND OF A
% THROTTLE, WHERE YOU CAN
% GRADUALLY OPEN THE ECONOMY UP,
% BUT THEN IF THERE ARE SEVERE
% CASES WHERE THE HOSPITAL SYSTEM
% IS OVERRUN, THAT YOU CAN START
% TO THROTTLE THAT BACK.
% THAT'S THE IMPORTANT THING FOR
% US TO REMEMBER.
% THIS WAS NEVER ABOUT GETTING TO
% A POINT WHERE WE HAVE ZERO
% INFECTIONS.
% IT'S GETTING TO THE POINT WHERE
% OUR HOSPITALS ARE NOT
% OVERWHELMED.
% THANKFULLY, OUR HOSPITALS ARE
% NOT BEING OVERWHELMED WITH THE
% VIRUS, SO IT IS TIME IN THE VAST
% MAJORITY OF THE STATE TO START
% TO REOPEN.
% BUT, AGAIN, IF THERE ARE ISSUES
% WHERE THERE BECOMES A CRISIS,
% THEN WE CAN START TO THROTTLE
% BACK.
% >> WELL, SPEAKER VOS IN FACT
% SAYS WHENEVER WE REOPEN, IT IS
% NOT GOING TO BE POSSIBLE TO
% PREVENT ALL DEATHS.
% IS THAT JUST THE PRICE TO PAY
% HERE?
% >> WELL, YEAH.
% I MEAN, SO THIS WHOLE IDEA OF A
% SHUTDOWN, OF "SAFER AT HOME,"
% WAS, AGAIN, ABOUT SLOWING THE
% SPREAD.
% THE NATURE OF THE VIRUS IS
% YOU'RE NOT GOING TO STOP IT.
% EVEN IN NEW YORK YOU'RE SEEING A
% LOT OF CASES COMING OUT OF
% NEW YORK WHERE THE PEOPLE WERE
% SHELTERED AT HOME AND STILL GOT
% THE VIRUS.
% SO WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO
% COMPLETELY STOP THE SPREAD.
% BUT WE ALSO CAN'T WAIT FOR IT TO
% BECOME -- TO GET DOWN TO ZERO
% BEFORE WE START TO OPEN UP THE
% ECONOMY AGAIN.
% IT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT OUR
% FAMILIES CAN'T AFFORD TO HANG ON
% FOR THE NEXT EIGHT, 12 MONTHS
% BEFORE WE GET A VACCINE.
% >> SO AS YOU DESCRIBED EARLIER,
% LEADERSHIP MET WITH GOVERNOR
% EVERS THIS WEEK AND SPEAKER VOS
% AGAIN SAID THAT HE WAS
% INTERESTED IN NOT A REPUBLICAN
% PLAN OR A DEMOCRATIC PLAN, BUT A
% WISCONSIN PLAN.
% BUT I READ THAT HE SAID THAT IT
% DOESN'T HAVE TO BE ADVERSARIAL.
% BUT HOW ADVERSARIAL WAS THAT
% LAWSUIT?
% >> WELL, AND THAT'S -- I
% APPRECIATE YOUR BRINGING UP THIS
% POINT, BECAUSE I'VE HEARD THIS
% BEFORE, WHERE REPUBLICANS IN THE
% LEGISLATURE ARE BEING ACCUSED OF
% BEING PARTISAN THROUGH THIS
% PROCESS, WHICH IS REALLY KIND OF
% STRANGE TO ME, BECAUSE THE ONLY
% PERSON BEING -- THAT I WOULD SAY
% BEING PARTISAN IN THIS IS THE
% GOVERNOR IN THAT HE IS INSISTING
% ON HAVING FULL CONTROL OVER THIS
% WITH NO INPUT FROM THE
% LEGISLATURE.
% HE IS INSISTING THAT THEY HAVE
% THE UNILATERAL ABILITY TO IMPOSE
% THESE RESTRICTIONS WITH NO
% LEGISLATIVE OVERSIGHT.
% AND ACCORDING TO THEM, THEY CAN
% DO THIS INDEFINITELY.
% SO WHAT WE'RE SAYING, THE
% LAWSUIT REALLY IS ABOUT GETTING
% US TO WORK TOGETHER.
% NOT SAYING WE HAVE TO HAVE OUR
% WAY.
% THAT'S NOT HOW THE LEGISLATIVE
% PROCESS WORKS.
% BUT SAYING WE SHOULD ALL BE AT
% THE TABLE SO THE PEOPLE OF
% WISCONSIN THROUGH THEIR ELECTED
% REPRESENTATIVES CAN HAVE A VOICE
% IN THIS PROCESS.
% CURRENTLY, THEY DON'T.
% >> SO WHEN YOU WERE ALL AT THE
% TABLE THIS WEEK, HOW DID THAT
% GO?
% >> WELL, I WASN'T THERE, SO IT
% WAS SPEAKER VOS AND MAJORITY
% LEADER FITZGERALD ALONG WITH THE
% TWO DEMOCRATIC LEADERS OF EACH
% HOUSE.
% BUT I THINK IT WENT FAIRLY WELL.
% I DON'T THINK ANYBODY DREW ANY
% LINES IN THE SAND, SAID
% ABSOLUTELY "NO" TO ANYTHING THAT
% WAS PROPOSED.
% BUT THAT BEING SAID, WE HAVE TO
% START HAVING MORE REGULAR
% COMMUNICATIONS AND MORE REGULAR
% NEGOTIATIONS AS WE GO FORWARD,
% ESPECIALLY AS THIS SUPREME COURT
% DECISION LOOMS OVER US.
% IF THAT COMES DOWN IN THE
% LEGISLATURE'S FAVOR, WE'RE GOING
% TO HAVE TO ACT QUICKLY.
% AND I THINK WE SHOULD BE
% PREPARING FOR THAT BY
% CONTINUALLY HAVING MEETINGS.
% I KNOW THE GOVERNOR DIDN'T WANT
% TO HAVE ANOTHER MEETING UNTIL AT
% LEAST NEXT WEEK.
% I STILL THINK WE SHOULD BE
% MEETING AT LEAST EVERY OTHER DAY
% TO TRY TO COME TOGETHER AROUND A
% PLAN THAT CAN WORK FOR
% EVERYBODY.
% >> ALL RIGHT.
% WE NEED TO LEAVE IT THERE.
% MAJORITY LEADER JIM STEINEKE,
% THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR JOINING
% US.
% >> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
% >> AS DEBATE RAGES ON HOW AND
% WHEN TO REOPEN WISCONSIN, THE
% STATE IS NEARING 10,000 CASES
% AND 400 COVID-19 DEATHS.
% ANDREA PALM OVERSEES WISCONSIN'S
% HEALTH CARE RESPONSE TO THE
% PANDEMIC.
% SECRETARY-DESIGNEE PALM, THANK
% YOU FOR JOINING US ON THIS.
% >> THANKS FOR HAVING ME BACK.
% >> SO YOUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT
% RELEASED ITS GATING CRITERIA IN
% THE FORM OF A DASHBOARD THIS
% WEEK TO SHOW PROGRESS ON AREAS
% NEEDED, ACCORDING TO THE
% ADMINISTRATION, TO RESTART THE
% STATE.
% ACCORDING TO THAT DASHBOARD, OF
% SIX MEASURES, WE'RE GOOD TO GO
% ON JUST ONE, THE DOWNWARD
% TRAJECTORY OF FLU-LIKE SYMPTOMS.
% WHERE WE STILL HAVE NOT MET THIS
% CRITERIA TO OPEN, IT INCLUDES A
% 14-DAY DOWNWARD TRAJECTORY IN
% POSITIVE CASES AND PEOPLE
% REPORTING SYSTEMS OF COVID-19.
% WHERE DO WE STAND ON THAT AT
% WEEK'S END?
% >> SO AS WE HAVE EXPANDED
% TESTING PRETTY DRAMATICALLY,
% BOTH OUR -- AND WORKING ON THE
% NUMBER OF TESTS ON A DAILY
% BASIS, WE CERTAINLY ARE SEEING
% THIS LEVEL OFF IN A WAY THAT I
% THINK GIVES US SOME HOPE THAT WE
% ARE CERTAINLY MOVING IN THE
% RIGHT DIRECTION.
% OUR PERCENTAGE YESTERDAY WAS
% 5.7%, WHICH IS CONSIDERABLY
% LOWER THAN ABOUT THE 10% WE'VE
% BEEN SEEING AS SORT OF A FLAT
% LINE.
% AND SO WE ARE HOPEFUL THAT AS WE
% RAMP UP TESTING AND START TO
% REALLY UNDERSTAND THE OUTBREAK
% HERE IN WISCONSIN, THAT WE WILL
% SEE THE NUMBERS GOING IN THE
% RIGHT DIRECTION.
% BUT IT ALSO SPEAKS TO OUR NEED
% TO CONTINUE TO STAY SAFER AT
% HOME.
% >> SO ON THAT 14-DAY DOWNWARD
% TRAJECTORY, WE HAVE BEEN ON A
% DAY-BY-DAY DOWNWARD TRAJECTORY
% AND WHAT ARE WE AT NOW, ABOUT
% FIVE OR SIX DAYS ON THAT?
% >> YEAH.
% YEAH.
% IT'S SOMEWHERE BETWEEN FIVE AND
% SEVEN, YEAH, THAT WE'RE SEEING
% SOME DOWNWARD MOVEMENT.
% SO THAT'S GOOD.
% >> SO YOU SPOKE TO RAMPING UP
% TESTING, AND I KNOW THE CAPACITY
% RIGHT NOW IS TO TEST ABOUT
% 15,000 PEOPLE A DAY.
% WHERE ARE WE ON ACTUAL NUMBER OF
% TESTS THAT ARE BEING DONE?
% >> SO WE HIT A HIGH NUMBER
% YESTERDAY, OUR HIGHEST EVER, AT
% OVER 5500 TESTS, AND SO THAT IS
% -- THAT SPEAKS TO OUR
% PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NATIONAL
% GUARD, WHO HAVE REALLY HELPED
% DRIVE A NUMBER OF COMMUNITY
% TESTING SITES AROUND THE STATE
% TO HELP US UNDERSTAND
% PREVALENCE, BUT UP THOSE NUMBERS
% SO THAT WE'RE REALLY STARTING TO
% REACH OUR GOALS OF TESTING FOR
% THE STATE OF WISCONSIN AND WE'LL
% CONTINUE TO DO THAT IN THE
% COMING WEEKS.
% >> IS IT STILL THE CASE THAT
% POTENTIALLY HEALTH CARE
% PROVIDERS ARE NOT ENCOURAGING
% PEOPLE UNDER, YOU KNOW, FAIRLY
% RECENT GUIDANCES TO GO AHEAD AND
% GET A TEST?
% >> SO I THINK WE'RE WORKING
% HARD.
% WE JUST A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO,
% IF YOU HAVE SYMPTOMS, STAY HOME,
% RIGHT?
% THAT WAS OUR MESSAGE.
% AND SO THIS IS A MAJOR SHIFT, TO
% ENCOURAGING PEOPLE, EVEN WITH
% THE MILDEST OF SYMPTOMS, TO GO
% AND GET TESTED.
% AND SO I THINK THAT'S SOME OF
% WHY YOU'RE SEEING THIS LAG IN
% THE NUMBER OF TESTS WE'RE DOING
% ON A DAILY BASIS.
% BUT OPENING UP ACCESS, BEING
% CLEAR THAT THE GUIDANCE IS
% LOOSENED, MAKING THESE
% DRIVE-THROUGH TESTING SITES
% AVAILABLE, AGAIN, FOR EASY
% ACCESS FOR PEOPLE.
% WE REALLY DO HOPE TO SEE A
% RAMPING UP OF THE NUMBER OF
% TESTS WE'RE DOING EVERY DAY.
% >> IS IT ACCURATE THAT YOU ARE
% NOW TESTING EVERYONE IN
% LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES?
% >> SO PART OF OUR STRATEGY OF
% THIS COMMUNITY TESTING, OUTBREAK
% TESTING AND LONG-TERM CARE
% TESTING ARE CRITICAL PIECES OF,
% AGAIN, HELPING US UNDERSTAND THE
% EPIDEMIC HERE.
% ONE OF THE THINGS WE'VE TALKED
% ABOUT FROM THE VERY BEGINNING IS
% THE VULNERABILITY OF PEOPLE WHO
% LIVE IN LONG-TERM CARE.
% THEY'RE MOST SUSCEPTIBLE TO
% SEVERE DISEASE AND DEATH AND
% SPREAD CAN HAPPEN QUICKLY.
% SO OUR DESIRE TO TEST EVERYONE
% IN FACILITIES ACROSS THE STATE
% WILL HELP US FIND CASES THAT
% WERE PREVIOUSLY UNDETECTED SO WE
% CAN WRAP QUICKLY AND HELP
% PROTECT THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE
% THERE.
% >> IF WE ARE DOING THOSE KIND OF
% TESTS IN LONG-TERM CARE
% FACILITIES, WHAT ARE THE RESULTS
% YOU ARE SEEING?
% >> WE HAVE BEGUN TO HAVE
% CONVERSATIONS WITH LONG-TERM
% CARE, ABOUT 50 OR 60 SO FAR, AND
% ARE CONTINUING TO WORK THROUGH
% THE PROGRESSION OF OUR TEAMS
% GOING OUT AND DOING THAT
% TESTING.
% WE HAVE ON AN OUTBREAK BASIS
% DONE SOME TESTING IN LONG-TERM
% CARE AND HAVE MADE THAT
% INFORMATION PUBLIC ON OUR
% WEBSITE.
% AND SO IF THERE'S ONE CASE,
% EITHER STAFF OR RESIDENT IN
% LONG-TERM CARE, WE WANT -- WE
% PREVIOUSLY HAD WANTED TO BE
% THERE AND DO TESTING AND HELP
% WITH THAT TESTING.
% AND SO FAR WE HAVE HAD GOOD
% PARTNERSHIPS AND BEEN ABLE TO DO
% THE WORK NECESSARY IN THOSE
% LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES, BUT
% WE WANT TO DO THAT MORE BROADLY
% AND MORE STRATEGICALLY MOVING
% FORWARD.
% >> WHAT'S THE CURRENT STATUS OF
% OUTBREAKS AT MEAT-PACKING PLANTS
% AND LATEST NUMBERS CONNECTED TO
% THOSE OUTBREAKS?
% >> SO ONE OF THE TRANSPARENCY WE
% HAVE TRIED TO ADD TO THE WEBSITE
% ARE WHERE ARE THE OUTBREAKS,
% WHAT KINDS OF PLACES ARE THEY
% AND THEN TO BE HELPING WITH THE
% TESTING AND CONTACT TRACING
% AROUND THOSE.
% AND SO OF THE ABOUT 235 RIGHT
% NOW, SOME ARE IN LONG-TERM CARE,
% SOME ARE IN BUSINESSES.
% MEAT-PACKING IS ONE, BUT THERE
% ARE OTHER TYPES OF BUSINESSES
% THAT ARE HAVING OUTBREAKS.
% YOU CAN SEE WHERE THOSE ARE AND
% WHAT TIMES OF PLACES WE'RE
% SEEING THOSE OUTBREAKS AND WE
% THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT
% INFORMATION FOR PEOPLE.
% >> WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE TO
% THOSE WHO HAVE SAID THAT YOU DID
% NOT HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO EXTEND
% THE "SAFER AT HOME" ORDER AND
% SOME WHO EVEN WANT YOU FIRED
% OVER IT?
% >> THROUGHOUT THIS PANDEMIC, WE
% HAVE DONE AT THE DEPARTMENT OF
% HEALTH SERVICES AND WITH OUR
% PARTNERS ACROSS THE STATEWIDE
% RESPONSE, DONE WHAT WE FELT WAS
% NECESSARY TO PROTECT THE PEOPLE
% OF WISCONSIN, TO PROTECT OUR
% HEALTH AND SAFETY.
% AND WE'VE SEEN THE "SAFER AT
% HOME" IS WORKING.
% WE ARE FLATTENING THE CURVE.
% WE HAVE SAVED LIVES.
% AND WE ARE TAKING THE TIME THAT
% WAS GIVEN TO US THROUGH "SAFER
% AT HOME" TO BUILD UP OUR TESTING
% CAPACITY, OUR CONTACT TRACING
% CAPACITY AND OUR PARTNERSHIPS
% WITH LOCAL COMMUNITIES TO HELP
% FIGHT THIS VIRUS ON THE GROUND
% MOVING FORWARD.
% AND SO I THINK WE FEEL VERY,
% VERY GOOD ABOUT THE FACT THAT
% THE STRATEGIES WE HAVE DEPLOYED
% HAVE HELPED US DO THE THINGS WE
% NEED TO DO HERE IN WISCONSIN TO
% PROTECT THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE.
% >> WE NEED TO LEAVE IT THERE.
% SECRETARY-DESIGNEE PALM, THANKS
% VERY MUCH.
% >> THANK YOU.
% >> NEXT TUESDAY, VOTERS IN 26
% COUNTIES IN NORTHERN WISCONSIN
% WILL GO TO THE POLLS FOR THE
% SECOND TIME DURING THE COVID-19
% HEALTH CRISIS.
% THIS TIME, IT'S THE 7TH
% CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT SPECIAL
% ELECTION TO REPLACE SEAN DUFFY,
% WHO RESIGNED LAST YEAR.
% "HERE & NOW" SENIOR POLITICAL
% REPORTER ZAC SCHULTZ TELLS US
% THE RACE IS IMPACTED BY BOTH THE
% CORONAVIRUS AND THE SHIFTING
% ALLEGIANCE OF VOTERS IN THAT
% DISTRICT.
% >> FOR THE LAST DECADE,
% WISCONSIN'S 7TH CONGRESSIONAL
% HAS BEEN A SAFE SEAT FOR SEAN
% DUFFY.
% HE NEVER FACED MUCH OF A
% CHALLENGE IN FIVE RACES.
% AFTER REDISTRICTING HE NEVER
% RECEIVED LESS THAN 60% OF THE
% VOTE.
% BUT FOR 40 YEARS BEFORE THAT,
% WISCONSIN'S 7TH WAS BLUE, HOME
% TO DEMOCRATIC DAVE OBEY.
% SO WHAT HAPPENED?
% AND WHAT DOES THAT SAY ABOUT
% TUESDAY'S SPECIAL ELECTION
% BETWEEN REPUBLICAN TOM TIFFANY
% AND DEMOCRATIC TRICIA ZUNKER.
% >> WELL, THERE'S A LITTLE THING
% CALLED GERRYMANDERING THAT
% OCCURRED IN 2010.
% >> MOST BLAME THE REDISTRICTING
% PLAN WHICH REMOVED PORTAGE
% COUNTY AND ADDED IN MORE OF
% WESTERN WISCONSIN, WHICH
% TYPICALLY VOTES MORE REPUBLICAN.
% >> BUT THE MAIN THING THAT'S
% CHANGED IS THE DEMOCRAT PARTY.
% I TALKED TO SO MANY PEOPLE WHO
% ARE JOHN F. KENNEDY DEMOCRATS
% WHO ARE LIKE I DON'T RECOGNIZE
% MY COUNTY ANYMORE.
% >> REPUBLICANS SAY RURAL VOTERS
% DON'T FEEL AT
% HOME IN A MULTICULTURAL
% DEMOCRATIC PARTY.
% MOST CONCEPTS HOLD SOME TRUTH,
% BUT NEITHER TELLS THE WHOLE
% STORY.
% RURAL DISTRICTS ACROSS THE
% NATION HAVE BEEN SHIFTING AWAY
% FROM DEMOCRATS FOR THE LAST
% DECADE.
% BUT WE DON'T HAVE TO LOOK FAR TO
% SEE DEMOCRAT RON KIND IN WESTERN
% WISCONSIN, WHICH IS ALMOST AS
% RURAL AS THE 7TH.
% AND WHILE DEMOCRATIC CERTAINLY
% MADE THE 7TH MORE REPUBLICAN,
% THAT DOESN'T EXPLAIN DUFFY'S
% VICTORY.
% OBEY NEVER LOST ONE OF THESE
% COUNTIES FROM 2002 TO '08.
% BUT FROM 2010 TO '18 THE VOTERS
% MOVED TOWARD THE REPUBLICANS BY
% 169%.
% IN FACT, MARATHON COUNTY SHIFTED
% BY 295%, A 22,000-VOTE SWING
% FROM DEMOCRATS TO REPUBLICANS.
% >> I GUESS A COUPLE OF THINGS
% HAPPENED.
% >> KATIE ROSENBERG IS THE
% NEWLY-ELECTED MAYOR OF WAUSAU.
% >> YOU'RE SEEING A LOT OF
% POPULATION SHIFTING.
% YOU'RE SEEING OUR POPULATIONS
% GET A LOT OLDER.
% >> THE SHIFT IN THE 7TH STARTED
% HAPPENING LONG BEFORE SEAN
% DUFFY.
% >> YOU PROBABLY WOULD HAVE BEEN
% SEEING SOME OF THE CULTURAL
% CHANGES MOVING ALONG DURING DAVE
% OBEY'S TIME.
% BUT HE WASN'T SEEING A LOT OF
% SERIOUS CHALLENGES.
% >> WHAT THIS SHOWS IS THE POWER
% OF INCUMBENCY.
% THE SAME HAPPENED WITH DUFFY.
% HE FACED UNKNOWN DEMOCRATIC
% OPPONENTS.
% >> THE 7TH CONGRESSIONAL IS
% HUGE, CURRENTLY SPANNING 26
% COUNTIES AND THREE DIFFERENT
% TELEVISION MARKETS.
% POLITICAL NEWCOMERS FACE A HUGE
% CHALLENGE IN GETTING THEIR NAME
% OUT THERE AND RAISING MONEY.
% AND ONCE YOU'RE IN OFFICE, YOU
% CAN CEMENT YOUR NAME IN VOTERS'
% MINDS.
% >> ONCE YOU ESTABLISH
% IN-DISTRICT OFFICES, THEY HAVE A
% DIRECT CONDUIT.
% IT'S THAT NAME RECOGNITION OVER
% AND OVER AGAIN.
% >> WHICH IS WHY THIS SPECIAL
% ELECTION IS SO IMPORTANT.
% THE HISTORY OF THE 7TH SAYS THE
% WINNER MAY HOLD THIS SEAT FOR A
% LONG TIME.
% I'M ZAC SCHULTZ FOR "HERE &
% NOW."
% >> THAT IS OUR PROGRAM FOR THIS
% WEEK.
% BE SURE TO JOIN US ONLINE FOR
% UPDATES ON THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
% AT pbswisconsin.org AND THEN
% CLICK ON THE NEWS TAB.
% THAT'S WHERE YOU WILL ALSO FIND
% THE LATEST INFORMATION REGARDING
% THE STATE SUPREME COURT'S
% DECISION ON EXTENDING "SAFER AT
% HOME."
% ALSO FOR ONGOING COVERAGE OF THE
% CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE IN
% WISCONSIN, VISIT OUR PARTNER
% NEWS SITE AT wiscontext.org.
% THIS WEEK TRACKING TEST
% POSITIVITY RATES AS COVID-19
% SPREADS IN WISCONSIN.
% THAT'S wiscontext.org.
% THANK YOU FOR WATCHING "HERE &
% NOW."
% STAY WELL, WISCONSIN, AND WE
% WILL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.
% I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
% HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.
% >> FUNDING FOR "HERE & NOW" IS
% PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
% JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
% WISCONSIN.