% >> Announcer: THE FOLLOWING
% PROGRAM IS A PBS WISCONSIN
% ORIGINAL PRODUCTION.
% >>> THE WISCONSIN ELECTIONS
% COMMISSION DEADLOCKS ON DROP BOX
% GUIDANCE.
% OMICRON'S NEWVATORS ARE INVADING
% IMMUNITY.%THE U.S. SENATE RA
TE HE'SES AND
% UP THE HOLDING PATTERN OF
% REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH.
% I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
% TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW," THE
% NEW CHAIR OF THE WISCONSIN
% ELECTIONS COMMISSION SPEAKS TO
% UPCOMING ELECTION GUIDANCE.
% EPDEEMIOLOGIST MICHAEL OSTERHOLM%
ON THE BA.5 VARIANT.
% U.S. SENATE CANDIDATES APPEAL TO
% VOTERS AND WITH ABORTION IN
% WISCONSIN, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN
% FOR EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTIVES.
% IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR JULY
% 15th.
% ♪
% >>> A WISCONSIN PRIMARY ELECTION
% IS LESS THAN A MONTH AWAY.
% AND THE AGENCY TASKED WITH
% MAKING ELECTIONS GO IN THIS
% STATE IS BUSILY TRYING TO
% INTERPRET COURT RULINGS AND
% OTHER GUIDANCE.
% THE WISCONSIN ELECTIONS
% COMMISSION REMAINS IN THE EYE OF
% THE ELECTION FRAUD STORM, AS ALL
% THREE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES FOR
% GOVERNOR SUPPORT GETTING RID OF
% THE COMMISSION FOLLOWING ITS
% ELECTION GUIDANCE DURING THE
% PEAK OF THE PANDEMIC.
% ENTER NEW WISCONSIN ELECTIONS
% COMMISSION CHAIR REPUBLICAN DON
% MILLIS.
% HE JOINS US NOW AND THANKS VERY
% MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
% >> MY PLEASURE TO BE HERE.
% >> SO WHAT IS IT LIKE TO ENTER
% AS THE NEW CHAIR WHEN PEOPLE IN
% YOUR OWN PARTY WANT TO DO AWAY
% WITH IT?
% >> THERE'S A LOT OF CATCHING UP
% TO DO.
% WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE THE BEST OF
% WHAT WE HAVE.
% WHETHER OR NOT THE COMMISSION
% GOES AWAY IS CERTAINLY A
% CONTROVERSIAL ISSUE.
% THERE ARE FOLKS WHO WANT TO GET
% RID OF THE COMMISSION, THERE ARE
% OTHERS WANT TO KEEP IT.
% WHEN IT STAYS OR GOES IS BEYOND
% MY PAY GREAT.
% MY ROLE IS TO MAKE SURE THAT --
% PAYGRADE.
% MY ROLE IS TO MAKE SURE WE RUN
% AN EFFICIENT AND HONEST ELECTION
% IN AUGUST AND IN GENERAL.
% THAT'S -- THAT'S REALLY ALL I
% CAN DO.
% I CAN'T LOOK BEYOND THAT.
% >> SO WHAT DO YOU THINK, THOUGH?
% WHAT IS YOUR POSITION ON THE
% IDEA OF ABOLISHING THE ELECTIONS
% COMMISSION?
% >> WELL, I DON'T HAVE -- I
% REALLY DON'T HAVE A -- I HAVEN'T
% GIVEN IT MUCH THOUGHT.
% I DO THINK, AND I WAS ON THE
% RECORD IN 2016 WHEN I WAS FIRST
% APPOINTED WHEN THE COMMISSION
% WAS CREATED, THAT THE ELECTIONS
% COMMISSION WAS A SERIOUS UPGRADE
% OVER THE GOVERNMENT
% ACCOUNTABILITY BOARD.
% I ALSO SERVED ON THE PRIOR
% AGENCY.
% SO MY BIGGEST CONCERN ABOUT THE
% COMMISSION IS THAT WE SEEM TO BE
% DEADLOCKED ON ALL THE
% IMPORTANT -- IMPORTANT ISSUES OF
% THE DAY.
% AND MY WARNING TO OTHER
% COMMISSIONERS IS IF THERE'S A
% CHANCE TO KEEP THE COMMISSION,
% WE BETTER START WORKING
% TOGETHER.%>> IN FACT, JUST T
HIS WEEK, THIS
% ISSUE THAT YOU SPEAK TO OF THE
% DEADLOCK BECAUSE THERE ARE THREE
% DEMOCRATS AND THREE REPUBLICANS
% ON THE COMMISSION, YOU END UP
% WITH A DEADLOCK.
% NOW, REPUBLICANS LIKE YOURSELF
% WANTED TO OFFER GUIDANCE TO
% CLERKS AFTER THE SUPREME COURT
% RULED ABSENTEE BALLOT DROP BOXES
% ARE ILLEGAL.
% DEMS SAID THAT GUIDANCE WOULD
% CONFUSE CLERKS MORE THAN HELP.
% WHAT ABOUT THESE DEAD LOCKETS
% ON -- DEBT LOCKS ON THE
% COMMISSION?
% DOES THAT RENDER IT INEFFECTIVE
% IN YOUR MIND?
% >> IT DOES.
% I THOUGHT IT WAS OUTRAGEOUS THAT
% THE COMMISSION COULDN'T AGREE TO
% ISSUE A STAFF -- THESE ARE
% CAREER CIVIL SERVICE STAFF WHO
% TRIED TO DISPEL 141-PAGE
% DECISION WITH TWO CONCURRENTS.
% A DECISION THAT'S VERY
% COMPLICATED, DISTILLED IT TO A
% PAGE AND A HALF TO GIVE OUT TO
% THE 1800-PLUS CLERKS, MOST OF
% THEM WHO DON'T HAVE BEEN LAWYERS
% TO GO TO CONSULT THEM.
% AND THE VERY FACT WE COULDN'T DO
% SOMETHING SO BASIC DOESN'T --
% DOESN'T BODE WELL FOR THE FUTURE
% OF THE COMMISSION.
% >> WHY DID YOU IN PARTICULAR
% WANT TO OFFER THAT GUIDANCE TO
% CLERKS?
% >> CLERKS, THE MAST MA -- VAST
% MAJORITY OF CLERKS VERY HARD.
% THEY HAVE A LOT OF ROLES.
% THEY HAVE TO DEAL WITH OTHER
% AGENCIES IN STATE GOVERNMENT.
% ELECTIONS IS A VERY IMPORTANT,
% PERHAPS THE MOST IMPORTANT PART
% OF THEIR JOB.
% BUT IT'S NOT THE ONLY PART OF
% THEIR JOB.
% AND THE ELECTION COMMISSION
% EXISTS, ONE OF THE -- FOR A
% PRIMARY REASON TO BROY
% GUIDANCE -- PROVIDE GUIDANCE TO
% CLERKS THIS.
% WAS A WELL-RITTEN PAGE 1/2 MEMO
% THAT WOULD HAVE DISPELLED WHAT
% THEY CAN AND CANNOT DO WITH DROP
% BOXES.
% THERE'S A LOT OF INFORMATION,
% NOT ALL OF IT GOOD.
% THIS INFORMATION WAS ACCURATE
% AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN PROVIDED TO
% THE CLERKS.
% >> WHAT WAS DID GUIDANCE?
% >> THE GUIDANCES THAT --
% COMMISSION INTERPRETED THE
% DECISION THAT YOU CANNOT HAVE
% UNSTAFFED DROP BOXES THAT --
% STATUTE REQUIRE THAT ABSENTEE
% BALLOTS BE RETURNED IN PERSON BY
% THE ELECTOR.
% THAT WAS THE GUIDANCE.
% AND THAT'S -- BASICALLY WHAT THE
% SUPREME COURT RULED.
% AND WE TRIED TO MAKE IT CLEAR
% AND SO THAT WE CAN ADDRESS THOSE
% QUESTIONS.%>> WHAT ABOUT THE
ISSUE RAISED
% BY DISABILITY RIGHTS ADVOCATE
% THAT IS FEDERAL LAW PROTECTS THE
% RIGHT OF DISABLED PEOPLE TO GET
% HELP MAILING THEIR BALLOT OR
% DELIVERING IT TO THE CLERK?
% >> WE AGREE.
% IN FACT, THE REPUBLICANS OFFERED
% TO ADD TO THE GUIDANCE A
% PROVISION THAT WOULD REMIND
% CLERKS OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF
% THE FEDERAL LAW, THAT REQUIRES
% THAT OVERRIDES STATE LAW, THAT
% CLERKS MUST MAKE ACCOMMODATIONS
% FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE ILL
% ILLITERATE, BLIND, OR DISABLED.
% THAT'S THE LANGUAGE OF THE
% FEDERAL LAW.
% AND THAT GUIDANCE WAS SHOT DOWN.
% THREE DEMOCRATS WOULDN'T AGREE
% TO PUT THAT INTO THE GUIDANCE.
% >> AMONG THE REPUBLICANS ON THE
% COMMISSION RIGHT NOW IS BOB
% SPINNEDEL WHO WAS ONE OF THE
% FALSE ELECTORS FOR TRUMP NOW
% GETTING ATTENTION FROM THE
% JANUARY 6th COMMITTEE AND
% POSSIBLY THE U.S. JUSTICE
% DEPARTMENT.%WHAT IS YOUR COM
MENT ON
% WISCONSIN'S LATE OF FALSE
% ELECTORS?%>> WELL, I'M RELUC
TANT TO TALK
% ABOUT THAT.
% THERE IS A LAWSUIT PENDING.
% THERE WAS A COMPLAINT FILED WITH
% THE COMMISSION.
% THE COMMISSION DISMISSED THE
% COMPLAINT ON A 6-0 VOTE.
% THE COMPLAINANTS ARE SUING THE
% COMMISSION INCLUDING
% COMMISSIONER SPIN DEL IN --
% SPINTELL IN COURT.
% AND ONE OF THE UNPLEASANT DUTIES
% I HAVE IS I AM QUARTERBACKING
% THAT CASE AND THE OUTSIDE
% ATTORNEYS ARE REPORTING TO ME.
% SO I'M NOT GOING TO COMMENT ON
% IT.%I DO AGREE, I WILL AGREE
,
% THOUGH, THAT I THOUGHT THE
% COMMISSION'S DECISION WAS
% CORRECT, THAT THE ULTIMATE SLATE
% OF ELECTORS, AS FAR AS I CAN
% TELL, DID NOT VIOLATE ANY
% WISCONSIN LAW THAT WAS PRESENTED
% IN THAT COMPLAINT.
% >> WHAT ABOUT CALLS TO DECERTIFY
% THE 2020 ELECTION?
% >> THE -- EVEN THE COUNCIL
% REPRESENTING THE PRE -- COUNSEL
% REPRESENTING THE PREVAIL
% PARTYING IN THE DROP BOX CASES T
% COUNSEL HAVE CONCEDED THAT
% THERE'S NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE
% TO DECERTIFY THE 2020 ELECTION.
% AS FAR AS I CAN TELL, THE
% COMMISSION HAS NO ROLE AT THIS
% POINT IN DEALING WITH THE 2020
% ELECTION.%MY JOB HAS BEEN TO
LOOK FORWARD.
% WE HAVE -- SEEMS TO ME DESPITE
% MANY ADVANCES IN ELECTION
% TECHNOLOGY, OUR CONFIDENCE IN
% ELECTION RESULTS IS AT AN
% ALL-TIME LOW.
% IN 2016 I WAS SUED BECAUSE,
% AMONG OTHERS, BECAUSE OF THE
% MANY PEOPLE ON THE LEFT FELT
% THAT HILLARY CLINTON WON
% WISCONSIN AND IN 2020 YOU HAVE
% THE SAME THING WHERE PEOPLE ON
% THE RIGHT BELIEVED DON'T TRUMP
% WON.%RIGHT NOW THE COMMISSION
HAS NO
% ROLE IN THAT.
% MY JOB IS TO LOOK FORWARD AND
% TRY TO ENHANCE THE PUBLIC'S
% CONFIDENCE IN ELECTIONS.
% >> I TRUST THAT YOU DO BELIEVE
% THAT JOE BIDEN LEGITIMATELY WON
% THE PRESIDENCY?
% >> I HAVE MY PERSONAL FEELINGS
% ON THAT.
% IT SEEMS THAT EVERY TIME I'M
% ASKED ABOUT MY ROLE ON THE
% COMMISSION, THAT'S ONE OF THE
% QUESTIONS THAT IS ASKED OF ME.
% CLEARLY, THE SUPREME COURT
% DECIDED THAT THERE WERE
% SOMETHING THAT -- THINGS THAT
% WERE UNTOWARD REGARDING THE DROP
% BOXES.
% WHETHER THAT HAD AN IMPACT ON
% THE ELECTION RESULTS -- I'M NOT
% GOING TO SAY ONE CANDIDATE WON
% OVER THE OTHER.
% I'M TRYING TO LOOK FORWARD.
% >> DON MILLIS, THANK YOU VERY
% MUCH.%>> THANK YOU.
% >>> IN COVID-19 NEWS, MILWAUKEE
% IS REINSTATING MASK GUIDANCE AND
% DANE COUNTY IS EXTENDING THE
% EMERGENCY HOTEL SHELTER PROGRAM
% FOR THOSE EXPERIENCING
% HOMELESSNESS.%THESE MEASURES
AS WISCONSIN
% TOPPED 2,000 POSITIVE CASES OVER
% ONE DAY THIS WEEK.
% A NUMBER NOT SEEN SINCE EARLY
% JUNE, ACCORDING TO THE WISCONSIN
% DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES.
% THE STATE'S OFFICIAL POSITIVITY
% RATE SITS AT OVER 13%.
% BUT THAT'S CERTAINLY AN
% UNDERCOUNT WITH AT-HOME TEST
% RESULTS NOT APPEARING IN THESE
% NUMBERS.
% WHERE ARE WE HEADED WITH THIS
% ENDURING PANDEMIC AT THIS POINT?
% WE ASKED NATIONAL EXPERT MICHAEL
% OSTERHOLM, DIRECTOR OF THE
% CENTER FOR INFESTER DISEASE
% RESEARCH AND POLICY, AT THE
% UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA.
% HE JOINS US FROM MINNEAPOLIS.
% AND THANKS FOR BEING HERE.
% >> THANK YOU.
% >> SO WHAT ARE THE ESTIMATES FOR
% HOW BIG OF AN UNDERCOUNT IT IS
% IN POSITIVE CASES CURRENTLY
% POSTED ON PUBLIC DASHBOARDS?
% >> WE JUST REALLY DON'T KNOW.
% I WILL HAVE TO SAY, USING THAT
% OLD RURAL WISCONSIN APPROACH TO
% UNDERSTANDING LIFE WHERE YOU WET
% YOUR FIGURER AND PUT IT UP IN
% THE AIR AND THAT'S HOW YOU
% DETERMINE WHICH WAY THE WIND IS
% COMING, THAT'S PRETTY MUCH WHAT
% WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW IN TERMS
% OF LOOKING AT COVID CASES.
% WE HAVE MAJOR UNDERCOUNTS
% BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE NOT GETTING
% TESTED, USING THE PCR TESTING
% THAT WOULD GIVE YOU RESULTS THAT
% GET REPORTED.
% IF YOU NOTED, MANY PEOPLE WHO
% ARE USING AT-HOME TESTING, THOSE
% RESULTS, FIRST OF ALL, ARE
% SOMEWHAT CHALLENGING AND WE KNOW
% A LOT OF PEOPLE RIGHT NOW ARE
% TESTING NEGATIVE WHEN IN FACT
% THEY HAVE POSITIVE.
% IN ADDITION, THEY'RE NOTE
% GETTING -- THEY'RE NOT GETTING
% REPORTED.%SO AT THIS TIME IT
'S CLEAR THERE
% ARE MANY, MANY MORE CASES
% OCCURRING IN THE COMMUNITY.
% I PERSONALLY KNOW OF MORE PEOPLE
% IN MY OWN LIFE RIGHT NOW THAT
% ARE INFECTED THAN I'VE SEEN AT
% ANY TIME IN THE ENTIRE PANDEMIC.
% SO THE ONE THING THAT WE ARE
% USING RIGHT NOW AS A MEASURE
% INDIRECTLY OF WHAT'S HAPPENING
% IS HOSPITALIZATIONS AND DEATHS.
% AND UNFORTUNATELY BOTH OF THOSE
% ARE CREEPING UP QUICKLY
% THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.
% >> OUR STATE LAB SAYS THAT THE
% BA.5 VARIANT HAS NOW THE
% DOMINANT ONE.
% WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THIS
% VARIANT?%>> WELL, AS WE'VE BE
EN TALKING
% ABOUT, ON THIS VERY SHOW THE
% BETTER PART OF THE LAST TWO
% YEARS, THIS VIRUS CONTINUES TO
% THROW 210-MILE-AN-HOUR
% CURVEBALLS AT US.
% BA.5 IS NOW ONE THAT CAN INVITED
% THE IMMUNE PROTECTIONS OF THE
% VACCINES BUT EVEN THOSE WHO HAD
% BA1, THE EARLIER SUBVARIANT OF
% OMICRON IN DECEMBER AND JAN, ARE
% NOW GETTING INFECTED WITH BA.5.
% SO THIS IS ONE OF THE ISSUES WE
% HAVE WITH THE COVID SITUATION,
% IS IN FACT THAT THE IMMUNE
% INVASION OF THESE NEWER VARIANTS
% IS A PROBLEM FOR US IN TERMS OF
% JUST UNDERSTANDING JUST HOW MANY
% NEW INFECTIONS WILL OCCUR, WHAT
% WILL HAPPEN.
% WE JUST DON'T KNOW AT THIS
% POINT.
% >> SO QUOTING FROM AN ATLANTA
% ARTICLE, MORE VARIANTS MEAN MORE
% INFECTIONS, MORE INFECTIONS MEAN
% MORE VARIANTS.
% HOW DOES THIS CYCLE LOOK MOVING
% FORWARD, SAY, INTO THE FALL?
% >> WELL, IT'S CLEAR THAT, YOU
% KNOW, YOU CAN'T GET TO THE POINT
% EVENTUALLY OF WHERE, YOU KNOW --
% ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS LOOK AT
% SOMETHING ACROSS THE FOOTBALL
% FIELD AND YOU GET INFECTED.
% THAT'S NOT GOING TO GOING TO
% HAPPEN.
% BUT EACH TIME THE VARIANT
% EMERGES AND TAKES OVER, IT MEANS
% THAT ARE NO, SIR INFECTIOUS AND
% ABLE TO INFECT.
% WE'LL CONTINUE TO SEE, AFTER
% BA.5, WILL WE HAVE A BA7.
% A 2.75 WHICH MAY HAVE THIS
% ADDITIONALT PROS TO MAKE IT THE
% DOMINANT -- PROPERTIES TO MAKE
% IT THE DOMINANT VARIANT.
% BUT WE HAVE TO BE CONCERNED
% ABOUT PRIOR SIGMA.
% WHAT'S NEXT?
% WE DON'T KNOW.
% AND SO I THINK WE HAVE TO EXPECT
% AT THIS POINT THE UNEXPECTED.
% WHEN WE TALKED ON THIS SHOW A
% YEAR AGO, WHO COULD HAVE
% IMAGINED YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN
% CHRON?
% WHO WOULD HAVE IMAGINED HOW IT
% WOULD BE SO HIGHLY INFENCER AND
% SPREAD THROUGH -- INFECTIOUS AND
% THE LEAD THROUGH THE
% COMMUNITIES?%WHAT WILL IT WIL
L BE IN THE WINT
% OR FALL, WE DON'T KNOW.
% THE U.S. IS DONE WITH THE
% PANDEMIC.%WE'RE LOOKING ACRO
SS THE BOARDS.
% THE CITIZENS ARE DONE WITH IT
% BUT THE VIRUS ISN'T DONE.
% THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO
% RECONCILE.%>> IT SEEMS THAT F
OLKS HAVE
% PRETTY MUCH QUIT WEARING MASKS.
% SHOULD WEB?
% >> WELL -- SHOULD WE BE?
% >> I STILL WEAR MINE IF I'M IN A
% PUBLIC SETTING WHERE I MAY BE
% EXPOSED TO SOMEONE ELSE'S AIR.
% AND WE ARE SEEING MANY, MANY
% CASES RIGHT NOW OCCURRING FROM
% BEING IN PUBLIC SETTINGS WHERE
% PEOPLE ARE NOT WEARING ANY KIND
% OF RESPIRATORY PROTECTION.
% EVEN THOSE WHO THINK IF I JUST
% TAKE IT OFF FOR 45 MINUTES TO
% EAT IN A RESTAURANT, I'M OKAY.
% THAT'S NOT TRUE.
% WE HAVE MANY CASES OCCURRING
% THERE.
% WHAT THE CHALLENGE IS RIGHT NOW,
% IS IF THESE ARE MILDER
% ILLNESSES, AS A NUMBER OF THEM
% ARE, THAT'S THE PRICE I PAY TO
% LIVE IN A WORLD OF COVID.
% I WANT TO LIVE MY LIFE.
% WE ALL UNDERSTAND THAT.
% I WANT TO DO THAT.
% BUT IF YOU'RE AT RISK FOR
% SERIOUS ILLNESS,
% HOSPITALIZATIONS, OR DEATH, YOUR
% OLDER, YOU HAVE UNDERLYING
% IMMUNE CRIMINAL PRI MILDS
% CONDITIONS, YOU'RE --
% COMPROMISED CONDITIONS, YOU'RE
% OVERWEIGHT, ALL THOSE FACTORS
% RIGHT NOW, YOUR BEST BET IS TO
% ONE, BE AS VACCINATED AS YOU CAN
% BE.
% IF YOU CAN GET FOUR DOSES BY
% ABLE GET IT OR THREE DOSES.
% BUT IN ADDITION, PROTECT
% YOURSELF IN THE PUBLIC SETTING,
% YOU WANT TO GO OUT IN THE
% PUBLIC, HAVE THAT N95
% RESPIRATORY ON AND THAT CAN GO A
% LONG BASIS IN ALLOWING YOU --
% WAYS IN ALLOWING TO GO TO MOVIES
% AND CONCERT.
% IF YOU HAVE THAT PROTECTION ON,
% THAT'S WHAT YOU NEED TO DO.
% >> SHOULD WE HOLD OUT HOPE FOR A
% VARIANT-SPECIFIC BOOSTER
% REPORTEDLY COMING THIS FALL?
% >> YOU KNOW, I AM NOT A BIG FAN
% OF THE -- SUBVARIANT BOOSTERS IN
% THE FACT -- THINK OF THE
% FOLLOWING.
% WE JUST DONE TALKING ABOUT BA.5
% IS NOW INFECTING PEOPLE WHO HAD
% BA.1.
% SO THERE'S AN EXAMPLE OF THE
% SUBVARIANT THAT IS NOT
% SUCCESSFULLY PROTECTING YOU IF
% THAT WERE A VACCINE.
% NOW, IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT'S GOING
% TO HAPPEN GOING FORWARD IN THE
% NEXT FOUR TO FIVE WEEKS TO
% SEVERAL MONTHS, SOMETHING IS
% GOING TO REPLACE BA.5.
% SO EVEN IF YOU HAVE A SUBVATOR
% VACCINE -- SUBVARIANT VACCINE,
% THERE'S NO INDICATION THAT WILL
% PROTECT YOU MORE.
% SO I THINK IF WE CHASE THIS
% VIRUS BY JUST TRYING TO CATCH UP
% WITH THE SUBVARIANT DEVELOPMENT
% AND THEY MAKE NEW VACCINES,
% WE'LL ALWAYS BE A DAY LATE AND A
% DOLLAR SHORT.
% THE STILL MOST IMPORTANT THING
% IS GET THE REGULAR VACCINE WE
% HAVE RIGHT NOW, KNOWING THAT IT
% WON'T NECESSARILY PROTECT YOU
% FROM GETTING INFECTED BUT IT CAN
% GO A LONG WAYS IN PROTECTING YOU
% SERIOUS ILLNESS,
% HOSPITALIZATIONS, OR DEATHS.
% >> DR. MICHAEL OSTERHOLM, THANKS
% VERY MUCH FOR YOUR INFORMATION.
% >> THANK YOU.
% >>> TURNING TO "HERE AND NOW"
% 2022, ELECTION COVERAGE, TONIGHT
% WE GIVE YOU A LOOK AT THE
% CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR U.S.
% SENATE IN WISCONSIN.
% OVER THE WEEKS LEADING UP TO THE
% AUGUST 9 PRIMARY, WE'RE SHARING
% EXCERPTS OF INTERVIEWS REPORTER
% STEVEN POTTER CONDUCTED.
% WE START WITH CANDIDATE MANDELA
% BARNES.%HE'S CURRENTLY LIEUT
ENANT
% GOVERNOR OF WISCONSIN, ELECTED
% TO THAT POSITION IN 2018.
% BEFORE THAT HE SERVED TWO TEAMS
% IN THE ASSEMBLY REPRESENTING HIS
% MILWAUKEE DISTRICT.
% >> CURRENTLY GONE'S LIEUTENANT
% GOVERNOR -- WISCONSIN'S
% LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, PLEEFL A
% STATE LAWMAKERS.
% >> I'M RUNNING FOR THE U.S.
% SENATE TO REBUILD THE
% MIDDLE-CLASS, THAT SAME THAT
% GIVE ME SO MUCH MOTHER.
% MY MOTHER WAS A TEACHER.
% AND MY DAD WORKED IN AN ASSEMBLY
% LINE.
% THOSE TICKETS ARE HARDER AND
% HARDER FOUR PEOPLE TO COME BY.
% WE'RE IN DESPERATE NEED OF
% LEADERSHIP RIGHT NOW.
% PEOPLE WHO HAVE A FIRSTHAND
% UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT IS
% ACTUALLY GOING ON.
% PEOPLE LIKE RON JOHNSON HAVE
% LEFT PEOPLE IN EVERY CORNER OF
% THIS STATE BEHIND.
% THAT IS A PROBLEM, ESPECIALLY AS
% PEOPLE SEE RISING COSTS AT THE
% GROCERY STORE, AT THE GAS PUMP.
% WE SEE OUR INDUSTRIES IN CRISIS,
% MANUFACTURING IS SUFFERING.
% OUR SMALL FAMILY NORMTS FARMERS
% ARE BEING SKIED OUT -- SQUEEZED
% OUT.%WE HAVE AN OUT-OF-TOUCH
U.S.
% SENATE THAT'S BROKEN AND I ALSO
% HEAR FROM PEOPLE, THAT IT IS A
% MILLIONAIRE'S CLUB THAT THEY
% WANT TO SEE BROKEN UP, BECAUSE
% THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF
% PEOPLE IN THIS STATE AND ACROSS
% THE COUNTRY ARE NOT MILLIONAIRES
% AND THAT'S WHY THE ISSUES
% CONTINUE TO GET SWEPT UNDER THE
% RUG.
% SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE
% OPPORTUNITY THAT I HAD GROWING
% UP IS AVAILABLE TO EVERY PERSON
% IN EVERY COUNTY AND EVERY ZIP
% CODE ACROSS THE STATE.
% >> IF ELECTED WHAT WOULD YOUR
% PRIORITIES BE?
% >> WE HAVE A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY
% TO ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE AND
% CREATING GOOD PAYING JOBS IN THE
% PO SESSION.
% WE HAVE TO BE AGGRESSIVE.
% AND WE HAVE TO SAVE OUR
% DEMOCRACY.
% NOTHING ELSE MATTER PHYSICAL WE
% DON'T PROTECT THE RIGHT TO VOTE,
% THAT PEOPLE HAVE ACCESS TO THE
% BALLOT AS THEY SHOULD.
% AND WHAT'S TOP OF MIND FOR SO
% MANY OTHER PEOPLE IS PROTECTING
% THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE.
% >> RON JOHNSON HAS WON ELECTION
% TO THE SENATE TWICE.
% WHY ARE YOU THE CANDIDATE, THE
% DEMOCRAT WHO CAN BEAT HIM IN THE
% GENERAL ELECTION IN NOVEMBER?
% >> THERE'S AN IMMINENT THREAT
% WITH SENATOR JOHNSON, A THREAT
% TO OUR DEMOCRACY AND WAY OF
% LIFE.
% WE NEED TO SAY ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.
% PUT AN END TO THESE PRACTICES
% THAT HAVE MADE IT HARDER AND
% HARDER FOR PEOPLE TO GET AHEAD.
% WE HAVE TO CHANGE WASHINGTON AND
% ONLY WHEN WE CHANGE WASHINGTON
% IS WHEN WE CHANGE THE PEOPLE WE
% SEND TO WASHINGTON.
% >> NEXT UP IS ANOTHER CANDIDATE
% FROM MILWAUKEE, ALEX LASRY,
% SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF THE
% MILWAUKEE BUCKS.
% PRIOR TO JOINING THE BUCKS, HE
% WORKED IN VARIOUS ROLES FOR THE
% OBAMA ADMINISTRATION.
% >> CURRENTLY AN EXECUTIVE FOR
% THE MILWAUKEE BUCKS.
% WHY DO YOU WANT TO BE A U.S.
% SENATOR?
% >> I'M RUNNING BECAUSE I WANT
% MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ABLE TO GET
% THINGS DONE.
% ONE OF THE BIGGEST FRUSTRATIONS
% I'VE HAD WITH WASHINGTON, I
% THINK ALL OF US HAVE HAD WITH
% WASHINGTON OVER THE LAST COUPLE
% OF YEARS, IS THE FACT THAT WE'VE
% GOT A LOT OF PEOPLE IN OFFICE
% WHO JUST AREN'T GETTING THINGS
% DONE.%AND I THINK THAT'S WHE
RE A LOT
% OF VOTERS' FRUSTRATION AND
% THAT'S SOMETHING I'VE BEEN ABLE
% TO DO MY ENTIRE CAREER, WHEN
% IT'S RAISING WAGES, CREATING
% THOUSANDS OF GOOD PAYING UNION
% JOBS, BRINGING INVESTMENT TO
% THIS STATE.
% >> WHAT YOUR LEGISLATIVE
% PRIORITIES BE?
% >> I THINK THE TOP PRIORITY IS
% MORE AFTER PROCESS ISSUE.
% WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET
% RID OF THE FILIBUSTER SO WE CAN
% ACTUALLY GET THINGS DONE.
% MAKE CODIFYING ROE V. WADE.
% LIKE MAKING SURE THAT WE BAN
% ASSAULT WEAPONS.
% LIKE MAKING SURE THAT WE PASS
% THINGS LIKE THE PRO ACT SO WE
% CAN RAISE WAGES AND GIVE WORKERS
% THEIR RIGHTS BACK.
% I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS WE'VE
% SEEN MANY ECONOMY -- ECONOMISTS
% SAY IS ONE OF THE BEST THINGS WE
% CAN TO DO MAKE SHOULD THAT YOU
% ARE WE'RE MITIGATING INFLATION
% IS GETTING RID OF THE TRUMP TAX
% CUTS.
% I WANT TO DO THAT SO WE AREN'T
% CREATING THESE TAX BREAKS THAT
% MAKE IT EASIER TO SHIP JOBS
% OVERSEAS BUT WORKING ON
% EDUCATION, JOB TRAINING,
% BRINGING THOSE JOBS BACK HERE TO
% WISCONSIN SO THAT WE CAN
% ACTUALLY INVEST IN OUR WORKFORCE
% AND BING HIGHER BRIDGES -- BRING
% HIRE WAGES TO THE STATE.
% >> RON JOHNSON HAS WON THIS
% TWICE.
% WHY ARE YOU THE CANDIDATE WHO
% CAN BEAT HIM?
% >> WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE LAST 12
% YEARS, RON JOHNSON HAS DONE
% NOTHING FOR THE STATE.
% THE ONLY THING HE'S GONE IS PASS
% A -- DONE IS PASS A TAX CUT TO
% ENRICH HIMSELF AND HIS FRIENDS.
% DO YOU WANT SOMETHING THAT'S
% HURTING THE STATE?
% OR SOMEONE WHO HAS BROUGHT JOBS,
% RAISED WAGES, AND CREATED
% INVESTMENT HERE SO THAT WE KNOW
% THAT WHEN THEY GET TO
% WASHINGTON, THEY'RE GOING TO BE
% ABLE TO DO THAT SAME THING?
% I THINK WITH WE MAKE THAT CHOICE
% CLEAR, THE CHOICE WILL BE
% SIMPLE.%>> FIND THE INTERVIE
WS WITH
% CANDIDATES RUNNING OWE OUR NEWS
% PAGE ON PBSWISCONSIN.ORG.
% >>> WE ALSO HAVE AN INVITATION
% OUT TO INCUMBENT SENATOR RON
% JOHNSON FOR AN INTERVIEW ON THIS
% PROGRAM.
% >>> TURNING TO ANOTHER NATIONAL
% ISSUE, ILLEGAL ABORTION HAS LED
% TO AN AN INCREASED DEMAND FOR
% EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTIVES.
% SOME PHARMACIES ARE STOCKING UP
% ON THESE LARGELY
% OVER-THE-COUNTER DRUGS.
% MARISA WHOA CHICK -- WHOA CHECK
% SPOKE WITH THE PHARMACIST.
% >> ARE YOU CONCERNED THAT
% EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTIVES COULD
% BE BANNED OR SEVERELY LIMITED IN
% ACCESS?%>> I DO HAVE THAT CO
NCERN.
% I FEEL LIKE THE PO PERSONAL FOR
% THAT TO OCCUR -- POTENTIAL FOR
% THAT TO OCCUR IS POSSIBLE.
% AS OF A FEW WEEKS AGO, I DIDN'T
% THINK THAT -- LEGAL ABORTION
% WOULD BE GONE AND IT IS NOW.
% I KNOW THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO
% BELIEVE THAT -- THAT THERE
% SHOULDN'T BE ANY MEDICATION THAT
% IS WOULD AFFECT A FETUS OR WOULD
% AFFECT A EMBRYO.
% SO I THINK THEY'RE AT RISK.
% >> HAS THE DEMAND FOR EMERGENCY
% CONTRACEPTIVES GONE UP?
% >> WE HAVE SEEN IT GO UP.
% WE PROBABLY SOLD ONE -- ONE
% PACKAGE PROBABLY A MONTH PRIOR
% TO THE DECISION.
% WE HAVE SOLD SEVERAL PACKAGES A
% DAY SINCE THE DECISION.
% I THINK WE SAW THAT THERE'S A
% TREND THAT THE -- THAT PEOPLE
% ARE GOING TO BE WANTING TO GET
% EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTIVE CARE FOR
% THEMSELVES TO HAVE IT AROUND.
% AND THAT CREATED AN INCREASE IN
% DEMAND, WHICH CAN RESULT IN A
% SHORT SUPPLY.
% AND A SHORT SUPPLY CAN LEAD TO
% INCREASED PRICE.
% AND SO I THINK WE MADE A
% DECISION TO TRY AND PURCHASE A
% LARGE QUANTITY SO THAT WE COULD
% HAVE IT ON HAND AND THEN DECIDED
% TO MAKE IT BASICALLY SELL IT AT
% OUR COSTS SO WE COULD MAKE SURE
% THAT TO DAMPEN ANY RISK OF
% INCREASED PRICE.
% >> SO EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTIVES,
% THOSE ARE DIFFERENT FROM
% ABORTION MEDICATION, RIGHT?
% >> CORRECT.
% CORRECT.%THESE ARE MEDICATION
S.
% THESE EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTIVORS
% ARE MEDICATIONS THAT YOU TAKE IN
% THE FIRST THREE DAYS.
% SEXUAL EVENT THAT WAS NOT
% PROTECTED.
% AND SO YOU CAN USE THOSE WITHIN
% THREE DAYS AFTER THAT TO BE
% ABOUT 90 TO 95% EFFECTIVE.
% >> WE'VE HEARD A LITTLE BIT
% ABOUT POTENTIALLY PEOPLE WHO
% HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO GET
% PREGNANT ARE NO LONGER BEING
% FREE SCRIBED SINCE -- PRESCRIBED
% THINGS THAT COULD LEAD TO A
% MISCARRIAGE OR HARMING THE
% FEETUS.
% HAS THAT BEEN AN ISSUE AT ALL?
% >> WE HAVEN'T SEEN THAT HERE.
% WE HAVE HEARD TALKING -- WE HAVE
% HEARD OTHER PROFESSIONALS
% TALKING ABOUT MEDICATIONS THAT
% ARE USED FOR THE TREATMENT OF
% ARTHRITIS, TREATMENT OF -- OF
% OTHER MEDICAL CONDITIONS THAT
% ARE NOT RELATED TO ABORTION.
% AND THOSE DRUGS ARE NOT BEING
% AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY CAN BE
% USED IN ABORTION.
% WE HAVEN'T SEEN THAT HERE.
% IF WE GOT A PRESCRIPTION FOR ONE
% OF THOSE MEDICATIONS AT THIS
% POINT, I THINK IT WOULD BE OUR
% POLICY WOULD BE TO CALL THE
% PROVIDER WHO WROTE THE
% PRESCRIPTION AND ASK FOR A
% DIAGNOSIS AND WHY IT'S BEING
% USED.%SO THAT WE CAN ENSURE
THAT WE
% WERE USING IT -- OUTSIDE OF THE
% REASONS FOR -- THAT THEY'RE USED
% FOR ABORTION.
% >> HAS THIS CHANGED THE WAY YOU
% HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH
% PROVIDERS?
% >> YEAH, I THINK THAT AS WE MOVE
% FORWARD WITH MEDICATIONS THAT
% HAVE MULTIPLE USES, AND THERE
% ARE LEGAL RAMIFICATIONS ABOUT
% USING THE SAME MEDICATION, IF
% YOU USE THINK IT WAY, IT'S
% ILLEGAL AND IF YOU USE IT THIS
% OTHER WAY IT'S NOT ILLEGAL, I
% THINK WE'LL SEE MORE
% CONVERSATIONS BETWEEN PROVIDERS
% AND PHARMACISTS TO DISCUSS
% EXACTLY WHY THESE MEDICATIONS
% ARE BEING USED SO THEY CAN BE
% DOCUMENTED.%>> ARE THERE LIE
BLES FOR --
% 4R50EUB89S -- 4R50EUB89S FOR YOU
% PROVIDING THESE MET CASES?
% >> I THINK -- MEDICATIONS?
% >> I THINK THE LAW IN WISCONSIN
% IF I WERE TO DISPENSE MEDICATION
% THAT COULD BE USED TO ABORT A
% FETUS.
% SO, YEAH.
% >> WHAT DO YOUSY GOING -- DO YOU
% THINK IS GOING TO HAPPEN GOING
% FORWARD?%>> I THINK WE'RE PRO
BABLY IN A
% ELDHOING PATTERN AT THIS -- IN A
% HOLDING PATTERN AT THIS POINT
% AND I DON'T EXPECT MUCH TO
% CHANGE F. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE
% REVERSAL OF THE CURRENT LAW,
% IT'S GOING TO HAVE TO COME FROM
% THE FEDERAL LEVEL.
% >> WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN HEARING
% FROM CUSTOMERS SINCE ROE WAS
% OVERTURNED AND JUST IN GENERAL
% ABOUT THE NEED FOR THIS KIND OF
% CARE?
% >> SO WE'VE HEARD A LOT OF THANK
% YOUS.%WE HAVE GOTTEN A LOT O
F SUPPORT
% FROM THE COMMUNITY.
% >> AND DO YOU SEE THIS AS
% PATIENT CARE FOR YOUR CUSTOMERS?
% >> YES.
% ACCESS TO -- ACCESS TO CARE IS
% ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS
% THAT WE THINK THAT WE CAN
% PROVIDE.
% AND SO, YES, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT
% IT'S ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE WHO
% NEEDS IT.
% >> FOR MORE ON THIS AND OTHER
% ISSUES FACING WISCONSIN, VISIT
% OUR WEBSITE AT PBSWISCONSIN.ORG
% AND THEN CLICK ON THE "NEWS"
% TAB.
% THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT.
% I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
% HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.
% >> Announcer: FUNDING FOR "HERE
% AND NOW" IS PROVIDED BY THE
% FOCUSED FUND FOR JOURNALISM AND
% FRIENDS OF PBS WISCONSIN.