%>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
%PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
%PRODUCTION.
%>> RESIGNATIONS MAKE WAY FOR NEW
%LEADERSHIP.
%AS THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS NEAR.
%MILWAUKEE SECURES THE BID FOR
%THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL
%CONVENTION.
%AND INFLATION HITS A NEW HIGH.
%I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
%TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW,"
%OUTGOING ASSEMBLY MAJORITY
%LEADER JIM STEINEKE ON THE
%PARTY'S FUTURE.
%MILWAUKEE MAYOR CAVALIER JOHNSON
%ON THE 2024 REPUBLICAN
%CONVENTION.
%CONSUMER INFLATION HITS HARD FOR
%FAMILIES ON A BUDGET.
%AND U.S. SENATE AND THIRD
%CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
%CANDIDATES CONTINUE APPEALS TO
%VOTERS.
%IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR
%JULY 22ND.
%FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
%PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
%JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
%WISCONSIN.
%>> AS THE SPEAKER OF THE
%WISCONSIN ASSEMBLY PERRIES BACK
%AND FORTH WITH DONALD TRUMP OVER
%THE 2020 ELECTION, THE SECOND IN
%COMMAND IS TAKING HIS LEAD.
%"HERE AND NOW" SENIOR POLITICAL
%REPORTER ZAC SCHULTZ SAT DOWN
%WITH ASSEMBLY MAJORITY LEADER
%JIM STEINEKE.
%>> MAJORITY LEADER STEINEKE,
%THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.
%>> ABSOLUTELY.
%>> SO YOU WERE ONE OF THE
%HIGHEST RANKING REPUBLICANS IN
%WISCONSIN TO BE A NEVER TRUMPER
%OR ANTI-TRUMP IN THIS TIME.
%THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE SAYING
%THAT'S WHAT'S PUSHING YOU OUT OF
%OFFICE.
%WHAT DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH
%YOUR TIME AND DECISION TO LEAVE?
%>> IT REALLY DOESN'T HAVE MUCH
%IF ANYTHING TO DO WITH MY
%DECISION TO LEAVE THE
%LEGISLATURE.
%REALLY, IT IS JUST KIND OF A
%NATURAL PROGRESSION.
%YOU COME IN AND I'VE SPENT NOW
%10 YEARS IN LEADERSHIP, EIGHT
%YEARS AS MAJORITY LEADER.
%AND I JUST FEEL LIKE IT'S TIME
%TO MOVE ON AND LET OTHER PEOPLE
%RISE TO THE TOP AND TAKE THEIR
%TURN AT THE HELM OF THINGS.
%>> DO OTHER ELECTED REPUBLICANS
%HAVE SIMILAR VIEWS TO YOU OF THE
%FORMER PRESIDENT OR ARE THEY
%JUST SCARED TO SPEAK THEIR MIND
%AS FREELY AS YOU DID?
%>> I'M SURE IT KIND OF RUNS THE
%GAMUT, RIGHT, JUST LIKE THE
%PUBLIC, THERE'S PROBABLY SOME
%REALLY HARD CORE TRUMP
%SUPPORTERS IN OUR CAUCUS AND
%THEN THERE'S THE OPPOSITE END
%WHERE I TEND TO BE, AND I THINK
%EVERYBODY IS SOMEWHERE IN THAT
%RANGE.
%EVERYBODY'S GOT TO MAKE THEIR
%OWN DECISIONS ON THAT, AND YOU
%KNOW, I WAS VOCAL IN THE
%BEGINNING AND TRIED TO SUPPORT
%THE PRESIDENT WHEN I THOUGHT HE
%WAS DOING GOOD THINGS, BUT ALSO
%BEING VOCAL WHEN I THOUGHT HE
%WASN'T.
%AND I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR
%EVERYBODY TO DO.
%YOU KNOW, JUST HAVE YOUR OWN
%PERSPECTIVE AND NOT ALWAYS JUST
%FOLLOW THE PARTY LINE, NO MATTER
%WHETHER WE THINK THINGS ARE
%GOING WELL OR NOT.
%>> WE'VE SEEN ASSEMBLY SPEAKER
%ROBIN VOS TRY TO PLACATE SOME OF
%THE TRUMP CROWD AND TRUMP
%HIMSELF, ESPECIALLY WITH MICHAEL
%GABLEMAN'S INVESTIGATION, IT'S
%RACKED UP A MILLION DOLLARS IN
%TAXPAYER FEES AND LOOKS TO BE
%MORE OF SOME SETTLEMENT ISSUES
%WITH THE COURTS RIGHT NOW WITH
%OPEN RECORDS LAWS.
%WHAT'S YOUR OPINION OF THAT
%INVESTIGATION?
%>> THE GABLEMAN INVESTIGATION, I
%THINK THE GRADE IS INCOMPLETE AT
%THIS POINT BECAUSE THERE ARE THE
%LAWSUITS OUT THERE THAT WE'VE
%GOT TO SETTLE ON SUBPOENAS AND
%OTHER THINGS, SO WE'LL HAVE TO
%WAIT UNTIL THAT'S COMPLETELY
%WRAPPED UP BEFORE WE STAMP A
%FINAL GRADE ON IT.
%>> WHAT INSIGHT CAN YOU GIVE US
%AS TO HOW MUCH THE SPEAKER HAS
%HAD TO MOVE BETWEEN TO TRY AND
%PLACATE THOSE WHO WANT MORE AND
%THOSE WHO UNDERSTAND THAT THE
%ELECTIONS WERE REAL AND VALID,
%BUT NOT TO THE LEVEL OF THE
%FRAUD THAT'S BEING ALLEGED?
%>> I THINK THAT'S A REALLY TOUGH
%POSITION TO BE IN, BECAUSE THERE
%ARE PEOPLE THAT TRULY BELIEVE
%THAT THE ELECTION WAS STOLEN.
%I THINK MOST PEOPLE UNDERSTAND
%THAT THAT'S NOT LIKELY TO BE THE
%CASE, BUT THERE WERE THINGS THAT
%HAPPENED IN THAT LAST ELECTION
%THAT SHOULDN'T HAVE.
%AND I THINK THIS EFFORT HAS
%ALWAYS BEEN ONE TO GET TO THE
%BOTTOM OF WHAT EXACTLY HAPPENED,
%WHAT LAWS WEREN'T FOLLOWED TO
%THE TEE, AND WHAT WE CAN DO TO
%CORRECT IT.
%AND THAT'S WHAT I THINK THE
%LEGISLATURE REALLY NEEDS TO DO,
%AND WHAT WE'VE TRIED TO DO IN
%THIS LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION IS
%PUT FORWARD BILLS TO CORRECT
%ISSUES THAT EVEN NON-PARTISAN
%LEGISLATIVE AUDIT BUREAU HAS
%FOUND IN THE LAST ELECTION.
%>> WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF A
%HEATED REPUBLICAN PRIMARY FOR
%GOVERNOR.
%AND THE CANDIDATES ARE -- SOME
%OF THEM ARE SEEMING TO TRY TO
%TREAD THE LINE OF PLACATING SOME
%OF THOSE TRUMP BELIEVERS THAT
%SAY THE LAST ELECTION WAS STOLEN
%AND THOSE THAT UNDERSTAND THAT'S
%PROBABLY NOT THE CASE.
%WHAT ARE YOU SEEING FROM YOUR
%PERSPECTIVE IN TERMS OF THEIR
%RHETORIC AND WHAT THAT MIGHT
%MEAN IF THEY COME INTO OFFICE
%AND HAVE TO STAND BEHIND THAT
%FOR THE NEXT PRESIDENTIAL
%ELECTION?
%>> YEAH, I THINK ANYBODY THAT'S
%FOCUSED ON 2020, THE 2020
%ELECTION, WHETHER IT'S IN THE
%PRIMARY OR IN THE GENERAL, IS
%PROBABLY DOING THEMSELVES A
%DISSERVICE BECAUSE I THINK A
%VAST MAJORITY OF PEOPLE HAVE
%MOVED ON FROM THAT ISSUE,
%ALTHOUGH THERE ARE, AS I SAID
%EARLIER, THERE ARE CONCERNS OVER
%HOW THE ELECTION WAS
%ADMINISTERED IN SOME WAYS.
%SO I THINK THOSE THINGS ARE
%APPROPRIATE TO LOOK AT.
%BUT IF WE'RE TALKING RIGGED OR
%STOLEN ELECTIONS, I DON'T THINK
%THAT'S GOING TO HELP ANYBODY
%RUNNING FOR OFFICE.
%>> BUT THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF
%LANGUAGE USED THAT HEDGED THE
%BETTS.
%EVEN YOU EARLIER JUST SAID
%"LIKELY WAS VALID."
%>> RIGHT.
%>> AS OPPOSED TO VALID, WHICH
%EVERY OTHER LEGITIMATE
%ORGANIZATION HAS SAID SO FAR.
%>> YEAH, AND I BELIEVE IT WAS
%VALID.
%I DO.
%I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY EVIDENCE AT
%THIS POINT TO PROVE OTHERWISE.
%>> ONCE THEY'RE IN OFFICE,
%THOUGH, WOULD YOU HAVE CONCERNS
%ABOUT WHETHER A REPUBLICAN
%GOVERNOR WOULD SIGN THE
%ELECTORAL VOTES IN 2024 IF THERE
%ARE UPROARS FROM REPUBLICAN BASE
%VOTERS SAYING IT'S RIGGED?
%>> NO, I DON'T BELIEVE ANY
%SITTING REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR
%WOULD SUBVERT THE WILL OF THE
%PEOPLE.
%I JUST -- I DON'T BELIEVE THAT'S
%THE CASE.
%WISCONSIN HAS ONE OF THE MOST
%SECURE SYSTEMS OF VOTING IN THE
%COUNTRY.
%THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO REMEMBER.
%EVEN WITH SOME OF THESE ISSUES,
%WITH DROPBOXES AND CLERKS
%FILLING OUT ABSENTEE BALLOT --
%PARTS OF ABSENTEE BALLOTS, THOSE
%ARE THE THINGS THAT ARE
%PROBLEMATIC, BUT I DON'T THINK
%THAT IT LEADS TO THE LEVEL OF,
%YOU KNOW, FRAUD THAT WOULD
%OVERTURN THE RESULTS OF AN
%ELECTION.
%>> YOU WON'T BE IN OFFICE NEXT
%YEAR, BUT WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO
%SEE THE LEGISLATURE DO WHEN IT
%COMES TO ABORTION?
%DOES THERE NEED TO BE A LAW
%UPDATING THE 1849 LAW?
%>> PERSONALLY I'VE ALWAYS BEEN
%IN THE PLACE WHERE -- I'M
%PRO-LIFE, I DO BELIEVE IN
%EXCEPTIONS FOR RAPE AND INCEST.
%I'VE GOT A 12-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER
%AT HOME AND IF, GOD FORBID,
%SOMETHING LIKE THAT WERE TO
%HAPPEN TO HER, I CAN'T IMAGINE
%FORCING HER TO CONTINUE THAT
%PREGNANCY FOR NINE MONTHS.
%IT WOULD BE A DECISION THAT I
%THINK SHE WOULD HAVE TO MAKE,
%BECAUSE THAT'S NOT SOMETHING
%SOMEBODY ENTERS INTO WILLINGLY.
%AND I THINK THAT'S THE
%DISTINCTION I MAKE.
%IF YOU MAKE THE CONSCIOUS CHOICE
%TO HAVE SEX WITH SOMEBODY AND
%YOU BECOME PREGNANT, WELL,
%THAT'S YOUR CHOICE.
%YOU MIGHT NOT HAVE WANTED THE
%PREGNANCY, BUT YOU UNDERSTAND
%THE RISKS.
%SOMEBODY THAT DOESN'T HAVE THAT
%CHOICE AND IS FORCED THROUGH
%RAPE OR INCEST, THEY'RE NOT
%MAKING THAT CHOICE.
%>> WHAT ABOUT MORE CLARITY FOR
%THE LIFE OF THE MOTHER?
%WE'VE ALREADY SEEN SOME EXAMPLES
%IN WISCONSIN ABOUT DOCTORS NOT
%KNOWING AT WHAT POINT THEY CAN
%INTERVENE IN THE CASE OF A
%MISCARRIAGE OR OTHER ILLNESSES.
%>> YEAH, I THINK THAT'S
%SOMETHING THAT THE LEGISLATURE
%IS GOING TO HAVE TO WRESTLE
%WITH.
%I'M NOT SAWYER EXACTLY!! SURE EXACTLY HOW THAT
%LANGUAGE WOULD BE DRAFTED TO
%MAKE SURE IT WASN'T SOMETHING
%THAT COULD BE USED IN JUST ABOUT
%ANY CASE.
%SO I'LL BE INTERESTED TO SEE
%WHAT THE LEGISLATURE DOES IN THE
%COMING SESSION.
%>> ALL RIGHT.
%REPRESENTATIVE STEINEKE, THANKS
%FOR YOUR TIME.
%>> THANK YOU.
%>> IN AN INTERVIEW WITH WISN IN
%MILWAUKEE, ASSEMBLY SPEAKER
%ROBIN VOS SAID FORMER PRESIDENT
%DONALD TRUMP CALLED HIM LAST
%WEEK, PRESSURING HIM AGAIN TO
%DECERTIFY WISCONSIN'S 2020! 2020
%ELECTION AFTER THE STATE HIGH
%COURT RULED ABSENTEE BALLOT
%BOXES ARE ILLEGAL.
%VOS SAYS HE, ONCE AGAIN, TOLD
%TRUMP, DECERTIFYING IS NOT
%LEGALLY POSSIBLE, AND THAT THE
%COURT RULING DOESN'T REACH BACK,
%BUT FORWARD.
%TRUMP SUBSEQUENTLY POSTED ON
%SOCIAL MEDIA: THE DEMOCRATS
%WOULD LIKE TO SINCERELY THANK
%ROBIN AND ALL OF HIS FELLOW
%REPUBLICANS AND NAME ONLY'S FOR
%LETTING THEM GET AWAY WITH
%MURDER.
%THAT'S WHO COULD BE COMING TO
%MILWAUKEE FOR THE 2024
%REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION,
%AFTER THE CITY GOT THE NOD OVER
%NASHVILLE FOR THE EVENT.
%THE REPUBLICAN CONVENTION
%REPRESENTS AN ECONOMIC WINDFALL
%FOR MILWAUKEE AND WISCONSIN.
%WE CHECK IN WITH MILWAUKEE MAYOR
%CAVALIER JOHNSON FOR HIS
%REACTION.
%AND THANKS FOR BEING HERE,
%MAYOR.
%>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
%>> SO WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO
%THE NEWS THAT MILWAUKEE IS
%ALMOST CERTAINLY A LOCK FOR THE
%RNC CONVENTION IN 2024?
%>> WELL, AS I'VE BEEN SAYING FOR
%WEEKS AND MONTHS PERHAPS, EVEN,
%I THINK THIS IS A WIN FOR
%MILWAUKEE FOR A HOST OF REASONS.
%ONE, WINNING THE SECOND
%PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATING CONTEST
%IN AS MANY PRESIDENTIAL CYCLES
%JUST SHOWS THE FACT THAT PEOPLE
%ARE STARTING TO PAY ATTENTION TO
%MILWAUKEE, BUT OF COURSE WE
%DIDN'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
%FULLY EXECUTE THE DEMOCRATIC
%NATIONAL CONVENTION.
%NOW WE'RE HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY
%TO EXECUTE THE REPUBLICAN
%NATIONAL CONVENTION.
%AND WHEN CONVENTION GOERS COME
%HERE WHEN AN EVENT ACTUALLY
%HAPPENS, I THINK IT WILL OPEN UP
%THE EYES OF THE COUNTRY AND THE
%WORLD TO THIS BEST KEPT SECRET
%IN THE MIDWEST THAT IS
%MILWAUKEE.
%IT WILL GENERATE
%OPPORTUNITIES -- I'M SORRY.
%>> WHAT KIND OF FINANCIAL
%WINDFALL DOES IT REPRESENT?
%>> CERTAINLY MILLIONS OF DOLLARS
%OF ECONOMIC IMPACT.
%YOU'LL HAVE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF
%INDIVIDUALS WHO DESCEND UPON
%MILWAUKEE, STAYING AT OUR
%HOTELS, EATING AT OUR
%RESTAURANTS, SO IT WILL BE A
%BOONE TO OUR CONVENTION AS WELL
%AS OUR TOURISM INDUSTRY HERE IN
%MILWAUKEE, PUTTING MONEY INTO
%THE POCKETS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE
%BEEN MOSTLY BATTERED OVER THE
%COURSE OF THE LAST TWO YEARS DUE
%TO THE PANDEMIC.
%>> IS THE INFRASTRUCTURE STILL
%IN PLACE FROM THE PLANNED DNC
%CONVENTION OF WHICH YOU JUST
%SPOKE THOUGH THAT WAS MOSTLY
%REMOTE?
%>> YEAH, THERE WERE PLANS
%OBVIOUSLY FOR TO BE IN PERSON
%BEFORE IT TURNED TO BE A
%REMOTE-MOSTLY EVENT, BUT THE
%POLICE DEPARTMENT DID ALL OF ITS
%PLANNING FOR THE EVENT, I FEEL
%THEY'RE STILL IN A STRONG
%POSITION TO BE ABLE TO WORK WITH
%THE PLANS THAT THEY PUT IN
%PLACE, BUILD OFF OF THOSE FOR
%2024 TO HAVE A SAFE EVENT.
%OBVIOUSLY WE'VE EXPANDED OUR
%CAPACITY FOR HOTEL SPACE SINCE
%2020, AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO
%SO LEADING UP UNTIL 2024 AS
%WELL.
%WE'RE IN A REALLY GOOD SPOT TO
%HOST THE CONVENTION.
%>> SO YOU'RE A DEMOCRAT AND
%MAYOR IN A DEMOCRATIC CITY THAT
%WON THE STATE FOR JOE BIDEN IN
%2020.
%DO YOU HAVE MISGIVINGS ABOUT
%HIGHLIGHTING THE OTHER SIDE OF
%THE AISLE, ESPECIALLY IN THESE
%EXTRAORDINARY CONTENTIOUS TIMES?
%>> NO, LOOK, I AM A DEMOCRAT,
%AND PROUDLY SO, AND I CAMPAIGNED
%VERY HARD FOR JOE BIDEN TO WIN
%THE PRESIDENCY IN 2020 AND WILL
%DO SO AGAIN IN 2024, WHEN HE
%RUNS FOR REELECTION THIS IS THE
%THING.
%WE CAN BE OPPOSING PARTIES BUT
%THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE DON'T HAVE
%TO BE WELCOMING.
%WE CAN PUT ON A GREAT
%CONVENTION, BRING ON, AGAIN, THE
%EYES OF THE COUNTRY, THE EYES OF
%THE WORLD TO MILWAUKEE, TO MOVE
%MILWAUKEE FROM BEST KEPT SECRET
%STATUS TO KNOWN COMMODITY AND A
%PLACE WHERE PEOPLE WANT TO GO
%AND DO BUSINESS CATEGORY, HAVING
%MILLIONS OF DOLLARS INVESTED
%INTO OUR LOCAL ECONOMY,
%PROVIDING RESOURCES TO THOUSANDS
%OF WORKERS IN OUR TOURISM AND
%HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY, AND STILL
%KEEP OUR PRINCIPLES.
%THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL
%CONVENTION COMING HERE PRESENTS
%DEMOCRATS HERE IN MILWAUKEE AND
%IN WISCONSIN WITH THE LARGEST
%STAGE IN THE WORLD TO COMBAT THE
%PLATFORM OF THE REPUBLICAN
%PARTY.
%SO I AM A DEMOCRAT, I WILL
%CONTINUE TO HOLD DEMOCRATIC
%PRINCIPLES, DEMOCRATIC VALUES,
%AND I'M GOING TO CAMPAIGN FOR
%JOE BIDEN TO WIN RE-ELECTION IN
%2024.
%THAT DOESN'T CHANGE A THING.
%>> WHAT IF DONALD TRUMP IS THE
%REPUBLICAN NOMINEE, WHAT WILL
%THAT BE LIKE FOR YOU?
%>> IF DONALD TRUMP IS THE
%REPUBLICAN NOMINEE, AND I DON'T
%KNOW IF DONALD TRUMP WILL BE THE
%REPUBLICAN NOMINEE OR NOT, THAT
%DOESN'T CHANGE ANYTHING.
%I THINK THAT PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN
%HAS PROVEN TO NOT JUST RESIDENTS
%OF THE STATE OF WISCONSIN, WHICH
%HE WON, BUT TO CITIZENS ACROSS
%THE UNITED STATES THAT HE IS THE
%PERSON TO LEAD THE COUNTRY.
%HE CHARACTERIZED HIS CAMPAIGN
%ABOUT THE SOUL OF AMERICA.
%AND IT WAS AGAINST DONALD TRUMP.
%AND OBVIOUSLY HE WAS VICTORIOUS
%IN THAT ELECTION AS WELL.
%THIS SAME THING WILL STAND TO
%HOLD TRUE IN THE 2024 ELECTION.
%AND SO I'LL BE CAMPAIGNING WITH
%THE PRESIDENT, WITH PRESIDENT
%JOE BIDEN, ON THAT SAME BASIS,
%AND I BELIEVE THAT WE'LL HAVE
%THE SAME RESULT WE HAD IN 2020,
%WHICH IS JOE BIDEN VICTORIOUS IN
%THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION AND
%WERE DONALD TRUMP TO BE THE
%NOMINEE, ANOTHER LOSS.
%>> I KNOW THAT THERE IS ONE MORE
%VOTE TO SECURE FOR SURE THE
%CONVENTION, AND I BELIEVE THAT'S
%IN EARLY AUGUST.
%DO YOU EXPECT THAT VOTE TO ALSO
%GIVE TO MILWAUKEE?
%GOOD NEWS.
%MAYOR, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
%JOINING US AND CONGRATULATIONS
%ON GETTING THE CONVENTION.
%>> ABSOLUTELY.
%THANK YOU SO MUCH, FREDERICA,
%FOR HAVING ME.
%>> LATEST NUMBERS SHOW INFLATION
%HAS HIT A 40-YEAR HIGH IN THE
%U.S., WITH INFLATION JUMPING TO
%9.1%.
%"HERE AND NOW" REPORTER NATHAN
%DENZIN HAS MORE ON HOW HIGH
%COSTS ARE HITTING WISCONSIN.
%>> PEOPLE IN THE MIDWEST HAVE
%GRAPPLED WITH HIGHER COSTS FOR
%EVERYTHING OVER THE LAST YEAR,
%AS PRICES INCREASED MORE THAN
%9%.
%LOW INCOME FAMILIES HAVE BEEN
%HIT HARDEST, AS THE PRICE OF
%ESSENTIAL PRODUCTS CONTINUES TO
%INCREASE.
%TAKE, FOR EXAMPLE, THE PRICE OF
%GROUND BEEF.
%THAT'S GONE UP FROM ABOUT $4 PER
%POUND A YEAR AGO TO 4.79 A POUND
%TODAY.
%THE PRICE OF A GALLON OF MILK
%HAS INCREASED FROM $4 TO OVER
%$5.
%GROCERIES IN GENERAL HAVE
%INCREASED 15 TO 18%, PRICE HIKES
%THAT TOGETHER TAKE A TOLL.
%BUT HIGH INFLATION HAS IMPACTED
%TRANSPORTATION AND ENERGY COSTS
%EVEN MORE.
%GAS PRICES HAVE INCREASED
%DRAMATICALLY IN THE LAST YEAR.
%UTILITY COSTS ARE ALSO UP
%BETWEEN 17 AND 36%.
%>> AS WE TALK ABOUT INFLATION, I
%THINK SOMETIMES WE HEAR ABOUT,
%YOU KNOW, THE PRICE OF HOUSES OR
%THE PRICE OF BIG THINGS, BUT
%IT'S LITTLE STUFF THAT REALLY
%HURTS LOW INCOME FAMILIES, AND
%YOU KNOW, IF YOU THINK ABOUT A
%EXTRA $2.50 FOR A GALLON OF GAS
%OR AN EXTRA DOLLAR FOR A GALLON
%OF MILK, THOSE THINGS START TO
%ADD UP BECAUSE YOU BUY THEM SO
%FREQUENTLY.
%>> J. MICHAEL COLLINS IS A
%PROFESSOR AT THE UW LA TO ALL
%RIGHT SCHOOL! SCHOOL OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS
%STUDYING CONSUMER
%DECISION-MAKING.
%HE SAYS EXPERTS AND THE PUBLIC
%HAVE BEEN SURPRISED THAT THE
%RAPID RATE OF INFLATION,
%ESPECIALLY COSTS CONSUMERS CAN'T
%AVOID LIKE GAS AND GROCERIES.
%>> THE PROBLEM FOR LOW INCOME
%PEOPLE'S BUDGETS IS THEY WERE
%REALLY GOOD AT MANAGING THEIR
%BUDGETS SO THEY WERE ALREADY
%SORT OF RIGHT ON THAT LINE SO IT
%USUALLY MEANS SOME NECESSITIES
%HAVE TO GO, NOT BUYING AS MUCH
%FOOD, NOT BUYING THE ORGANIC,
%THE FRESH FOOD.
%IT GOING TO BE ECONOMIZING IN
%DIFFERENT WAYS.
%>> VEHICLE PRICES HAVE RISEN
%OVER 15% IN THE LAST YEAR AS
%WELL.
%THAT CAN ADD EXTRA FINANCIAL
%STRAIN TO HOUSEHOLDS WHO NEED A
%VEHICLE FOR WORK, OR FOR DAY TO
%DAY ACTIVITIES.
%>> MADISON MAY SEEM LIKE A SMALL
%PLACE BUT IT KIND OF BIG.
%>> EDMOND SHOAT, JR. MOVED TO
%MADISON AND QUICKLY REALIZED HE
%WOULD NEED A VEHICLE TO HOLD A
%JOB.
%>> I'M SO USED TO THE CITY LIFE,
%SO I NEEDED A CAR TO MOVE
%AROUND.
%Y'ALL DON'T HAVE NO TRAINS OUT
%HERE OR NOTHING SO I'M LIKE,
%YEAH, I NEED TO GET A CAR.
%>> HOWEVER, SHOAT, JR. ALSO
%QUICKLY REALIZED ALMOST ALL THE
%VEHICLES AT LOCAL LOTS WERE
%UNAFFORDABLE.
%>> I WENT TO A FEW CAR LOTS,
%THEY TURNED ME DOWN, RAN MY
%CREDIT SCORE, MOST OF THEM
%WANTED RIDICULOUS PRICES FOR
%CARS SO I'M LIKE, WHAT AM I
%GONNA DO, I JUST MOVED OUT HERE.
%SO I NEED A CAR TO MOVE AROUND.
%>> AFTER SOME SEARCHING, SHOAT,
%JR. FOUND A PROGRAM CALLED
%WORK-N-WHEELS, WHICH OFFERS ZERO PERCENT LOANS FOR ELIGIBLE
%DRIVERS IN WISCONSIN.
%WITH THE LOAN MONEY AND HIS
%PERSONAL FUNDS COMBINED, SHOAT
%WAS ABLE TO FIND A CAR.
%>> SO I'M LIKE, THAT'S AWESOME,
%I NEVER IN MY LIFE EXPERIENCED
%BUT IT WAS LIKE A GOD SEND,
%BLESSING, BECAUSE I NEEDED MY
%CAR.
%>> WITH THE NEW VEHICLE, SHOAT
%HAS BEEN ABLE TO PICK UP
%MULTIPLE JOBS TO HELP TAKE CARE
%OF HIS YOUNG CHILD.
%>> IT WORKS WITH ME GETTING TO
%WORK, GETTING MULTIPLE JOBS TOO.
%JUST THE CITY TRANSIT, ABOUT A
%30 MINUTE WAIT OR 45 MINUTE
%WAIT, BUT IF YOU DRIVE, IT'S A
%10 MINUTE WAIT.
%>> WHILE SHOAT, JR. WAS ABLE TO
%FIND A CAR, OTHERS IN WISCONSIN
%DON'T HAVE THAT DISPOSABLE
%INCOME.
%>> THIS WINTER IS GOING TO BE A
%TOUGH ONE FOR LOW INCOME
%FAMILIES BECAUSE FOOD PRICES
%PROBABLY AREN'T GOING TO START
%COMING DOWN, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE
%PROBABLY NOT GOING TO EVER COME
%DOWN BUT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE
%GROWING AS FAST OVER THE WINTER
%PROBABLY, BUT HEATING PRICES IN
%A PLACE LIKE WISCONSIN IS GOING
%TO BE HARD.
%>> SO AS GOVERNMENTS STARE DOWN
%A WINTER THAT WILL BE DIFFICULT
%ON LOW INCOME FAMILIES, SOME
%TOOLS ARE BEING USED TO DRIVE
%DOWN INFLATION.
%THE FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM HAS
%IMPLEMENTED A HIKE IN INTEREST
%RATES ON LOANS WITH THE HOPES OF
%DRIVING DOWN CONSUMER SPENDING.
%HOWEVER, EXPERTS LIKE COLLINS
%WORRY ABOUT POTENTIAL
%STAGFLATION IN THE U.S. ECONOMY.
%>> STAGFLATION IS REALLY WHEN
%YOU HAVE TWO THINGS HAPPENING
%SIMULTANEOUSLY, HIGH PRICES AND
%HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT.
%RIGHT NOW WE HAVE REALLY LOW
%UNEMPLOYMENT, ALMOST RECORD LOW
%UNEMPLOYMENT, PEOPLE CAN GET
%JOBS IF THEY WANT THEM, BUT
%THAT'S RESULTING IN PRICES
%GETTING STIRRED UP.
%THE IDEA OF STAGFLATION IS THE
%FED OR THE GOVERNMENT TRIES TO
%BOTH REDUCE INEMPLOYMENT AND
%PRICES AT THE SAME TIME AND IT'S
%REALLY, REALLY HARD TO DO.
%>> TO FIGHT RISING GAS PRICES,
%WISCONSIN GOVERNOR TONY EVERS
%ISSUED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT
%BANNED PRICE GOUGING ON
%GASOLINE.
%PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN HAS ASKED
%CONGRESS TWICE TO SUSPEND 18
%CENTS PER GALLON FEDERAL GAS
%TAX, THOUGH THAT TAX IS STILL IN
%PLACE.
%DESPITE RELATIVELY LITTLE ACTION
%TAKEN, GAS PRICES HAVE DROPPED
%IN THE LAST MONTH AFTER THEIR
%PEAK AT $4.92 IN MID JUNE.
%AS FOR PRICES IN THE REST OF THE
%ECONOMY, TIME WILL TELL IF THE
%GOVERNMENT IS ABLE TO CURB
%INFLATION.
%>> WE DO EXPECT PRICES TO START
%COMING DOWN CLOSER TO WHAT WAGES
%ARE DOING, BUT THAT COULD TAKE A
%YEAR AND THAT COULD MEAN A TOUGH
%FALL AND A TOUGH WINTER WITH
%FUEL PRICES AND FOOD PRICES HIGH
%AND WAGES NOT KEEPING UP.
%>> FOR "HERE AND NOW," I'M
%NATHAN DENZIN IN MADISON.
%>> WITH PRICES CONTINUING TO
%RISE, THE FED IS EXPECTED TO
%RAISE INTEREST RATES AGAIN NEXT
%WEEK IN AN EFFORT TO FURTHER
%CONTAIN CONSUMER SPENDING.
%IN CONGRESSIONAL NEWS, THE U.S.
%HOUSE THIS WEEK PASSED THE
%RESPECT FOR MARRIAGE ACT,
%LEGISLATION THAT WOULD REQUIRE
%THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO
%RECOGNIZE THE VALIDITY OF
%SAME-SEX AND INTERRACIAL
%MARRIAGES.
%U.S. REPRESENTATIVE MARK POCAN
%OF WISCONSIN'S SECOND DISTRICT
%WAS A SPONSOR.
%>> THIS IS A SIMPLE BILL.
%WHETHER OR NOT YOU SUPPORT
%CURRENT LAW ON MARRIAGE IN THIS
%COUNTRY, WHICH INCLUDES FOR THE
%LGBT AND INTERRACIAL COUPLES
%ACROSS THE NATION.
%MY FRIEND FROM OHIO SAID THIS
%BILL IS UNNECESSARY.
%THIS BILL IS VERY NECESSARY,
%BECASE THE EXTREMIST PACKED
%SUPREME COURT RECENTLY TOOK AWAY
%A HALF A CENTURY OF LAW ON ROE
%AND IN THAT DECISION, JUSTICE
%CLARENCE THOMAS SAID THEY SHOULD
%REVISIT IT ON MARRIAGE EQUALITY.
%WE HAVE PEOPLE IN THE HOUSE AND
%SENATE LIKE SENATOR TED CRUZ WHO
%SAID THE EXACT SAME THING.
%HERE'S WHAT I WANT, MY
%HUSBAND -- I WANT TO MAKE SURE
%MY HUSBAND PHIL CAN VISIT ME IN
%THE HOSPITAL, I WANT TO MAKE
%SURE MY HUSBAND IS TAKEN CARE OF
%JUST LIKE YOUR SPOUSES ARE TAKEN
%CARE.
%IF I WAS THE ENTITY ON THE OTHER
%SIDE OF THE AISLE, I'D BE MORE
%CONCERNED WITH MY OWN MEMBERS
%ACCUSED OF HAVING COCAINE FUELED
%ORGIES THAN WORRYING ABOUT THE
%MORALITY OF MY MARRIAGE.
%I YIELD BACK.
%>> FIFTH DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE
%BRYAN STEIL WAS THE LONE
%WISCONSIN REPUBLICAN WHO VOTE
%THE IN FAVOR OF THE BILL, IT NOW
%GOES TO THE SENATE WHERE TAMMY
%BALDWIN IS A SPONSOR.
%IN "HERE AND NOW" 2022 ELECTION
%COVERAGE, INTERVIEWS WITH EIGHT
%DEMOCRATS AND ONE REPUBLICAN
%RUNNING AGAINST INCUMBENT U.S.
%SENATOR RON JOHNSON CAN BE SEEN
%ON THE NEWS PAGE OF
%PBSWISCONSIN.ORG.
%TONIGHT WE SHARE EXCERPTS OF TWO
%OF THOSE CANDIDATES STARTING
%WITH SARAH GODLEWSKI.
%SHE CURRENTLY SERVES AS THE
%WISCONSIN STATE TREASURER.
%SHE ALSO WORKED AS CONSULTANT
%FOR THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF
%DEFENSE.
%"HERE AND NOW" REPORTER STEVEN
%POTTER SAT DOWN WITH GODLEWSKI.
%>> SO YOU'RE CURRENTLY THE
%WISCONSIN STATE TREASURER.
%WHY DO YOU WANT TO BE A U.S.
% ENATOR?
%>> WHEN I WAS LOOKING AROUND
%WISCONSIN THIS PAST YEAR, I WAS
%SEEING WE WERE NUMBER ONE IN
%FARM BANKRUPTCIES FOR THREE
%YEARS IN A ROW, I WAS WATCHING
%OUR DEMOCRACY BE ATTACKED AND AT
%THE SAME TIME, FAMILIES WERE
%STRUGGLING TO PAY THEIR BILLS
%WHILE CORPORATIONS WERE MAKING
%RECORD PROFITS.
%IT'S CLEAR WORKING FAMILIES IN
%WISCONSIN NEEDS A VOICE AT THAT
%U.S. SENATE TABLE, SOMEONE WHO'S
%GOING TO FIGHT FOR WHETHER IT
%THE COST OF CHILD CARE OR
%LOWERING THE PRICE OF GAS OR
%MAKING SURE WE HAVE AFFORDABLE
%SENIOR CARE OR TAKING CARE OF
%THE ENVIRONMENT.
%AND THOSE THINGS ARE NOT
%HAPPENING WITH RON JOHNSON AND I
%WANT TO CHANGE THAT.
%>> IFFY ELECTED, WHAT WOULD YOUR
%LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES BE?
%>> WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE
%ECONOMY.
%YOU KNOW, WE'RE ONE OF THE WORST
%STATES WHEN IT COMES TO PERSONAL
%INCOME GROWTH.
%WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT
%FAMILIES ARE ABLE TO PAY THEIR
%BILLS, OWN HOMES, MAKE SURE THAT
%THEY CAN AFFORD CHILD CARE AND
%SENIOR CARE.
%WE CARE ABOUT OUR ENVIRONMENT.
%I MEAN, WE ARE THE STATE EARTH
%DAY.
%SENATOR GAYLORD NELSON STARTED
%THAT HOLIDAY HERE, AND YET WE
%ARE SEEING PFAS, THESE FOREVER
%CHEMICALS POISONING OUR LAKES
%AND OUR RIVERS.
%ONLY 20, 20% OF OUR STATE RUNS
%ON GREEN FLRG, THE REST RUNS ON
%BROWN ENERGY AND AS A LEADING
%STATE FOR MANUFACTURING, WE HAVE
%REAL OPPORTUNITIES TO CREATE
%JOBS AND ACTUALLY LEAD WHEN IT
%COMES TO THE CLEAN ECONOMY.
%>> RON JOHNSON HAS BEEN ELECTED
%TO THE SEAT TWICE.
%WHY ARE YOU THE CANDIDATE WHO
%CAN BEAT HIM IN NOVEMBER?
%>> I AM THE ONLY CANDIDATE IN
%THIS RACE THAT HAS RUN AND WON
%TWO SUCCESSFUL STATEWIDE
%CAMPAIGNS.
%THE FIRST CAMPAIGN I RAN WAS TO
%SAVE THE STATE TREASURER'S
%OFFICE, AND LED THAT
%CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT WHERE
%WE TOOK 62% OF THE VOTE.
%AND THEN WHEN I RAN IN 2018 FOR
%STATE TREASURER, I WAS A
%POLITICAL NOBODY FROM EAU
%CLAIRE.
%I HAD NEVER RUN BEFORE, AND
%EVERYBODY TOLD ME THERE WAS NO
%WAY I COULD WIN.
%BUT IN 2018, I ACTUALLY FLIPPED
%MORE TRUMP COUNTIES AND TOOK
%MORE OF THE VOTE CHAIR THAN THE
%GOVERNOR, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
%AND ATTORNEY GENERAL.
%SO JUST LIKE I'VE DONE MY ENTIRE
%LIFE SUPPORTING OUR STATE AND
%SERVING FOR THE PUBLIC GOOD,
%THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I WANT TO
%DO.
%AND WHY I WANT TO SERVE IN THE
%U.S. SENATE FOR WISCONSIN.
%>> NEXT UP IS A CANDIDATE FROM
%NORTHEAST WISCONSIN, TOM NELSON
%IS THE OUTAGAMIE COUNTY
%EXECUTIVE.
%BEFORE THAT, HE SERVED THREE
%TERMS IN THE STATE ASSEMBLY,
%SERVING DISTRICT 5 IN KAUKAUNA.
%>> YOU'RE CURRENTLY THE
%OUTAGAMIE COUNTY EXECUTIVE.
%PRIOR TO THAT YOU WERE A STATE
%LEGISLATOR.
%WHY DO YOU WANT TO BE A U.S.
%SENATOR?
%>> MY STORY IS A LOT LIKE MOST
%WISCONSINITES.
%I GREW UP IN A BLUE COLLAR
%NEIGHBORHOOD IN MY CASE ON
%CAROLYN DRIVE AND LITTLE CHUTE
%AND OND THAT BLOCK ALL THE DADS
%WORKED AT PAPER MILLS EXCEPT FOR
%MY DAD I LIKE TO SAY HE WORE THE
%WHITE COLLAR.
%HE WAS A LUTHERAN PASTOR.
%I LEARNED TWO LESSONS, THAT IT'S
%IMPORTANT TO SERVE YOUR NEIGHBOR
%AND ALSO THERE ARE A LOT OF
%PEOPLE WHO WORK HARD, PLAY BY
%THE RULES, PAY THEIR TAXES BUT
%THEY CAN'T GET AHEAD BECAUSE
%THERE'S TOO MUCH MONEY AND TOO
%MUCH POWER CONCENTRATED IN JUST
%A FEW HANDS.
%SO THAT'S BEEN MY GROUND IN THE
%STATE LEDGE STAY LURE AND AS
%COUNTY EXECUTIVE --
%>> LET ME ASK YOU THIS, IFFY
%ELECTED WHAT WOULD YOUR
%LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES BE?
%>> NUMBER ONE, I WOULD FOCUS ON
%ECONOMIC SECURITY.
%SPECIFICALLY RAISING THE MINIMUM
%WAGE OF $15 AN HOUR, PASSING THE
%PRO ACT, GETTING RID OF THE BAD
%TRADE DEALS THAT SHIP WISCONSIN
%JOBS OVERSEAS AND GET CORPORATE
%POWER UNDER CONTROL.
%AND THE SECOND AREA IS
%HEALTHCARE.
%I ALWAYS SAY THAT WHAT GOOD IS A
%GOOD JOB OR ECONOMY IF YOU DON'T
%HAVE YOUR HEALTH?
%AND SO I BELIEVE IN MEDICARE FOR
%ALL.
%I BELIEVE THAT EVERYONE NEEDS TO
%BE COVERED.
%I HAVE -- MY WIFE AND BEFORE MY
%MOM BOTH HAD CANCER, AND THE ONE
%THING THEY HAD IN COMMON IS THEY
%HAD ACCESS TO GOOD HEALTH
%INSURANCE.
%AND 30 MILLION AMERICANS CANNOT
%SAY THAT, AND THAT'S WRONG.
%AND THEN THIRD, CLIMATE CHANGE.
%I BELIEVE WE NEED AGGRESSIVE
%ACTION.
%I SUPPORT A GREEN NEW DEAL, AND
%THOUGH THOSE GOALS ARE QUITE
%BOLD AND AGGRESSIVE, WE HAVE NO
%CHOICE.
%>> YOU KNOW RON JOHNSON HAS BEAT
%RUSS FEINGOLD TWICE.
%WHY YOU ARE THE CANDIDATE WHO
%CAN BEAT HIM IN THE GENERAL
%ELECTION IN NOVEMBER?
%>> I'M THE ONLY CANDIDATE FROM A
%RED PART OF THE STATE WHO AS WON
%ELECTION AND RE-ELECTION SIX
%TIMES, THREE AS A LEGISLATOR,
%THREE AS A COUNTY EXECUTIVE.
%I THINK WHAT MAKES THE
%DIFFERENCE IN THIS CASE IS I
%COME FROM THE FOX VALLEY.
%ALL PARTS OF THE STATE ARE
%IMPORTANT, THOUGH, BUT IN
%PARTICULAR IT SEEMS LIKE A LOT
%OF STATEWIDE RACES COME DOWN TO
%WHO DOES WELL IN THE FOX VALLEY,
%AND NO ONE CAN MATCH MY RECORD
%OF WINNING THERE SIX TIMES.
%>> WE DO HAVE AN INVITE OUT TO
%INCUMBENT U.S. SENATOR RON
%JOHNSON FOR AN INTERVIEW.
%DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES FOR THE
%THIRD CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
%MADE THEIR CASE TO WEST CENTRAL
%WISCONSIN VOTERS THIS WEEK.
%DEBATE PARTNERS INCLUDED
%WISCONSIN PUBLIC RADIO.
%THE SEAT IS UP FOR GRABS
%FOLLOWING RON KIND'S
%ANNOUNCEMENT THAT HE'S STEPPING
%DOWN.
%TAKE A LISTEN TO MODERATOR
%ANTHONY CHERGOSKY EXPLAIN THE
%RACE.
%>> OUT OF ALL THE 435 SEATS IN
%THE U.S. HOUSE OF
%REPRESENTATIVES, THIS UPCOMING
%ELECTION IN THIS SEAT HERE IN
%WISCONSIN IS ABSOLUTELY ONE OF
%THE MOST CLOSELY WATCHED IN THE
%NATION.
%CONGRESSMAN RON KIND HAS
%ANNOUNCED HIS INTENTION TO
%RETIRE AT THE END OF HIS CURRENT
%TERM IN OFFICE, AND DEREK VAN
%ORDEN IS THE ONLY CANDIDATE IN
%THE RACE ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE
%TO BE HIS PARTY'S NOMINEE IN
%THIS NOVEMBER'S ELECTION.
%ALL OF THAT BRINGS US HERE TODAY
%TO THE CAMPUS OF THE UNIVERSITY
%OF WISCONSIN-LACROSSE.
%WE HAVE THE FOUR DEMOCRATIC
%PARTY CANDIDATES WITH US WHO ARE
%COMPETING IN THE UPCOMING
%PRIMARY ELECTION ON AUGUST 9TH.
%AND EACH CANDIDATE IS SEEKING TO
%BE THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY'S
%NOMINEE IN THE NOVEMBER
%ELECTION.
%THE CANDIDATES JOINING US ARE
%REBECCA COOKE, MARK NEWMAN, DEB
%MCGRATH, AND BRAD PFAFF.
%>> YOU CAN HEAR THE ENTIRE
%DEBATE AT WPR.ORG/ELECTON 22.
%FOR MORE OF OUR COVERAGE ON
%CANDIDATES 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.
%>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
%PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
%JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
%WISCONSIN.