% PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL %PROD
UCTION.
% >> PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN SIGNS
% MONUMENTAL LEGISLATION INTO LAW.
% THE PRIMARIES ARE OVER, AND
% CANDIDATES ARE OUT OF THE GATES
% ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL TO
% NOVEMBER.
% AND CLASSROOMS COULD BE
% SHORT-HANDED IN THE FALL WITH
% SCHOOL DISTRICTS STRUGGLING WITH
% STAFFING SHORTAGES.
% I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
% TONIGHT ON "HERE & NOW," CHARLES
% FRANKLIN SHARES HIS LATEST
% MARQUETTE LAW SCHOOL POLL.
% ABC FOR HEALTH DETAILS THE
% SIGNIFICANCE OF THE HEALTH
% PROVISIONS IN THE INFLATION
% REDUCTION ACT.
% A SUPERINTENDENT FROM ARCADIA ON
% THE CRISIS LEVEL TEACHER
% SHORTAGE AND OUR FIRST INTERVIEW
% WITH THE CANDIDATES FOR
% SECRETARY OF STATE.%"HERE &
NOW" FOR AUGUST 19TH.
% >> FUNDING FOR "HERE & NOW" IS
% PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
% JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS %
WISCONSIN.
% >> FRESH OFF THE PRIMARY
% ELECTION, VOTERS ARE TURNING
% THEIR ATTENTION TOWARD THE
% CANDIDATES AND ISSUES THAT WILL
% MOTIVATE THEM TO GET TO THE
% POLLS IN NOVEMBER.
% CHARLES FRANKLIN, DIRECTOR OF
% THE MARQUETTE UNIVERSITY LAW
% SCHOOL POLL, JOINS US NOW WITH
% HIS LATEST RESULTS AND THANKS
% FOR BEING HERE, CHARMS.
% >> THANKS, THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
% >> STARTING WITH THE RACE FOR
% GOVERNOR, INCUMBENT DEMOCRAT
% TONY EVERS HAS A TWO-POINT LEAD
% ON MICHELS, NOW TIM MICHELS IS
% REFUTING YOUR NUMBERS AND IS
% QUOTED AS SAYING HE BELIEVES
% HE'S ACTUALLY UP 5 TO 10 POINTS
% ON EVERS.
% WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE TO THAT?
% >> WELL, I STAND BEHIND OUR
% POLL.%FIRST OF ALL, WE ARE
% TRANSPARENT, ALL OF OUR
% QUESTIONS, ALL OF OUR RESULTS,
% ALL OF OUR METHODOLOGY ARE
% ONLINE, ANYONE IS WELCOME TO
% LOOK AT IT AND BELIEVE IT OR
% NOT, BELIEVE IT OR REFUTE IT.
% BUT CAMPAIGNS ARE ABSOLUTELY
% FREE TO SAY WHATEVER THEY WANT
% ABOUT THE POLLING RESULTS.
% SO I WELCOME MR. MICHELS'
% COMMENTS AS I WELCOME THE
% COMMENTS OF ANY CANDIDATE, BUT I
% DO MY BUSINESS AND I'M
% TRANSPARENT ABOUT IT AND UPFRONT
% ABOUT IT.
% >> ALL RIGHT.
% BY YOUR POLLING, IT IS PRETTY
% TIGHT.
% HOW DOES THE INDEPENDENT VOTE
% FACTOR IN THIS RACE?
% >> WELL, IN THE GOVERNOR'S RACE
% INDEPENDENTS ARE LEANING A BIT
% TOWARD TONY EVERS, PARTISANS ARE
% FOR BOTH CANDIDATES, THAT HAS
% NOT CHANGED.
% TIM MICHELS SEEMS TO HAVE GOTTEN
% A FIVE-POINT BOUNCE UP AFTER THE
% PRIMARY.
% IT WAS A SEVEN-POINT EVERS' LEAD
% IN JUNE AND NOW IT'S ONLY A
% TWO-POINT LEAD, SO MICHELS HAS
% BENEFITTED BY FIVE POINTS ON
% THAT MARGIN FROM JUNE 'TIL NOW.
% IT'S AN GOOD EXAMPLE OF HOW EVEN
% A HARD FOUGHT PRIMARY CAN
% ACTUALLY HELP A CANDIDATE.
% >> YEAH.
% HOW MIGHT DONALD TRUMP'S
% ENDORSEMENT OF MICHELS HELP OR
% HURT HIM, DO YOU THINK?
% >> WELL, THAT'S HARD TO SAY.
% WITHIN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, 77%
% HAVE A FAVORABLE VIEW OF DONALD
% TRUMP, SO IT'S CERTAINLY AN
% ASSET WITHIN THE PARTY.
% BUT TWO-THIRDS MAJORITY, MORE OR
% LESS, HAVE AN UNFAVORABLE VIEW
% OF TRUMP IN THE PUBLIC AT LARGE.
% SO SHIFTING FROM A VERY POSITIVE
% EFFECT IN THE PRIMARY TO A
% POTENTIALLY NEGATIVE EFFECT IN
% THE GENERAL IS AN INTERESTING
% PROBLEM AND TRADEOFF FOR
% TRUMP-SUPPORTED CANDIDATES.
% >> AND THERE IS A LOT GOING ON
% RIGHT NOW IN REGARD TO THE
% FORMER PRESIDENT, SO THAT COULD
% SHAPE THINGS, I WOULD IMAGINE,
% GOING FORWARD AS WELL.
% OR MAYBE NOT.
% BUT IN THE U.S. SENATE RACE,
% DEMOCRAT MANDELA BARNES IS UP
% SEVEN POINTS ON INCUMBENT
% REPUBLICAN RON JOHNSON.
% BUT AS YOU KNOW, JOHNSON HAS
% WEATHERED THIS KIND OF POLLING
% BEFORE AND THEN WON.
% WHAT ABOUT THAT?
% >> ABSOLUTELY.
% ALSO, LET ME POINT OUT THAT
% BARNES WAS LEADING BY TWO BEFORE
% AND NOW BY SEVEN.
% HE ALSO GOT A FIVE-POINT BOUNCE
% FROM THE PRIMARY, SO BOTH THE
% REPUBLICAN AND THE DEMOCRATIC
% PRIMARY WINNERS BENEFITTED, I
% THINK, FROM THEIR PRIMARIES.
% AS FOR SENATOR JOHNSON, YES, HE
% WAS BEHIND IN 2016, BUT HIS
% CAMPAIGN STEADILY IMPROVED OVER
% THE SPRING AND THEN CLOSED THE
% GAP THROUGHOUT THE FALL SO A
% GREAT EXAMPLE OF EFFECTIVE
% CAMPAIGN THAT ACCOMPLISHED ITS
% GOALS.%THE QUESTION IS, CAN H
E DO IT
% AGAIN.
% >> ANYTHING ELSE STAND OUT ABOUT
% THE RACE AND THE POLL NUMBERS?
% >> HERE AGAIN, THE PARTISANS ARE
% SUPER STRONGLY ALIGNED BUT
% BARNES IS VERY POSITIVE WITH
% INDEPENDENTS, GETTING A BIGGER
% SHARE OF THE VOTE WITH
% INDEPENDENTS THAN EVERS IS IN
% THE GOVERNOR'S RACE.
% SO, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
% BARNES IS SEVEN-POINT LEAD AND
% EVERS' TWO, COMING PRIMARILY
% FROM THE INDEPENDENTS MORE PRO
% BARNES.
% TROUBLE FOR BARNES, 41% DON'T
% KNOW MUCH ABOUT HIM.
% 34% DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT
% MICHELS.
% BOTH OF THOSE CANDIDATES STILL
% HAVE TO INTRODUCE THEMSELVES TO
% A FAIR CHUNK OF THE VOTERS.
% >> JOHNSON'S FAVORABLES ARE
% UPSIDE DOWN, BARNES MORE
% FAVORABLE THAN UNFAVORABLE.
% ANY KIND OF AN INDICATOR AT THIS
% POINT?
% >> IMPORTANT INDICATOR IN THAT
% SENATOR JOHNSON HAS BEEN
% UNDERWATER MORE UNFAVORABLE THAN
% FAVORABLE FOR MANY MONTHS, OVER
% A YEAR, MORE THAN THAT.
% AND HAS NOT SEEN MUCH UPWARD
% MOVEMENT.
% ALSO, ONLY 15% SAY THEY LACK AN
% OPINION OF JOHNSON, SO IT'S A
% SMALLER POOL OF VOTERS FOR HIM
% TO MOVE.
% IT'S A MUCH BIGGER POOL FOR
% BARNES TO MOVE BUT THAT'S A
% DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD.
% HE COULD MOVE THEM IN HIS FAVOR
% OR HAVE THEM MOVED AGAINST HIM
% BY THE JOHNSON CAMPAIGN, SO STAY
% TUNED FOR THAT ACTION.
% >> SO YOU'VE SAID ONE OF THE
% MORE STRIKING RESULTS IN YOUR
% POLL IS HOW DEMOCRATS AND
% REPUBLICANS ASSIGN VERY
% DIFFERENT PRIORITIES TO ISSUES.
% TAKE, FOR EXAMPLE, ON THE ISSUE
% OF CLIMATE CHANGE, IT'S
% DEMOCRATS TOP ISSUE AND
% REPUBLICANS LEAST IMPORTANT
% ISSUE.
% DOES THIS AGAIN SHOW THE
% ENTRENCHED PARTISAN
% POLARIZATION?
% >> IT ABSOLUTELY DOES AND IT'S
% THE VERY DIFFERENT EMPHASIS
% THAT'S BEING GIVEN.
% CLIMATE CHANGE STANDS OUT
% BECAUSE IT REALLY WAS THE NUMBER
% ONE ISSUE FOR DEMOCRATS AND THE
% DEAD LAST OF NINE AMONG
% REPUBLICANS SO THERE IS A HUGE
% DIFFERENCE IN EMPHASIS ON THAT.
% BUT THERE ARE OTHERS WHERE THERE
% IS A SUBSTANTIAL DIFFERENCE AS
% WELL.
% >> SO, ON THE ISSUE OF
% OVERTURNING ROE, FOR EXAMPLE, IT
% STANDS OUT TO ME THAT 28% OF
% REPUBLICANS OPPOSE THAT AND 62%
% OF INDEPENDENTS OPPOSE IT?
% HOW DOES THAT PLAY IN EVENTUAL
% VOTES FOR CANDIDATES?
% >> I THINK ON THE ABORTION
% ISSUE, YOU SEE A SOLID MAJORITY
% IN THE STATE THAT WISHES THE
% COURT HAD NOT OVERTURNED ROE.
% YOU ALSO SEE THIS NEAR MIRROR
% IMAGE BETWEEN REPUBLICANS AND
% INDEPENDENTS, 62% OF REPUBLICANS
% FAVOR THE OVERTURNING, 62% OF
% INDEPENDENTS OPPOSE THAT
% OVERTURNING.
% DEMOCRATS ARE NEARLY UNANIMOUS
% ON THE ISSUE IN OPPOSITION.
% >> SO INFLATION TOUCHES
% EVERYONE, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO
% 91% OF REPUBLICANS AND JUST 42%
% OF DEMOCRATS.
% IS THIS BECAUSE IT'S THE NUMBER
% O
% ONE CAMPAIGN ISSUE HITTING JOE
% BIDEN?
% >> I THINK IT'S THE NUMBER ONE
% ISSUE, TAILOR MADE FOR ANY
% INCUMBENT PRESIDENT, BLAME THEM
% FOR INFLATION NO MATTER WHAT THE
% PARTY IS.
% IT'S BEEN THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE
% IN EVERY POLL WE HAVE DONE SINCE
% LAST AUGUST.
% >> IT'S PRETTY EASY TO
% UNDERSTAND AND GLOBALLY
% EXPERIENCED, I GUESS.
% ON PARENTAL LEAVE, IT'S ALSO
% SURPRISING TO ME THAT 65% OF
% REPUBLICANS FAVOR IT.
% WHAT DO YOU SURMISE THAT'S
% ABOUT?
% >> I WAS SURPRISED BY THIS.
% IN THE REPUBLICAN GUBERNATORIAL
% DEBATE, ALL THREE TALKED ABOUT
% PARENTAL LEAVE BUT NOT IN
% SPECIFIC DETAIL, I THOUGHT IT
% WAS IMPORTANT TO ASK ABOUT IT,
% GENERALLY REPUBLICANS HAVE
% OPPOSED REQUIRING BUSINESSES TO
% OFFER PAID PARENTAL LEAVE.
% BUT SOLID MAJORITIES OF EVERY
% PARTISAN GROUP ARE IN FAVOR, I
% HOPE WE WILL SEE MORE OF THAT IN
% THE CAMPAIGN AND AFTER IT'S
% DEBATED.
% >> BACK TO THE CANDIDATES AND
% THEIR CAMPAIGNS, HOW ROUGH AND
% TUMBLE ARE THESE TWO STATEWIDE
% RACES GOING TO BE, DO YOU THINK?
% >> OH, I THINK EXTREMELY SO.
% BOTH THE SIZE OF THE PEOPLE THAT
% DON'T KNOW EITHER TIM MICHELS OR
% MANDELA BARNES IS AN INVITATION
% FOR THE OTHER CAMPAIGN TO TRY TO
% PAINT A NEGATIVE PICTURE.
% AND A STRUGGLE FOR THE CANDIDATE
% TO MAKE THEMSELVES LOOK POSITIVE
% WHILE ALSO CRITICIZING THE
% INCUMBENT THAT THEY ARE RUNNING
% AGAINST.
% NEGATIVE CAMPAIGNING IS HARDLY
% ANYTHING NEW, BUT I THINK WE ARE
% LOOKING AT TWO HARD-FOUGHT
% BATTLES ON BOTH SIDES.
% >> HERE IT COMES.
% CHARLES FRANKLIN, THANK YOU VERY
% MUCH.
% >> THANK YOU.
% >> DEMOCRATS HAIL THE INFLATION
% REDUCTION ACT AS LIFE CHANGING
% LEGISLATION.
% CONGRESSIONAL REPUBLICANS ALL
% VOTED AGAINST IT, CALLING IT
% RECKLESS SPENDING.
% IT'S NOW LAW AND THE HEALTHCARE
% PRESCRIPTIONS WILL CAP
% PRESCRIPTION DRUG COSTS FOR
% NEARLY 900,000 PEOPLE ON
% MEDICARE IN WISCONSIN AS WELL AS
% EXTEND PANDEMIC ASSISTANCE
% SUBSIDIES FOR MORE THAN 200,000
% PEOPLE IN THE STATE ON
% MARKETPLACE HEALTH PLANS.
% BOBBY PETERSON IS EXECUTIVE
% DIRECTOR OF ABC FOR HEALTH, A
% NON-PROFIT PUBLIC INTEREST LAW
% FIRM THAT HELPS HEALTHCARE
% CONSUMERS NAVIGATE THE PROGRAMS.
% AND BOBBY, THANKS VERY MUCH FOR
% BEING HERE.
% >> GLAD TO BE HERE, FRED.
% >> SO, SPECIFIC TO PEOPLE ON
% MEDICARE, THE LAW CAPS
% PRESCRIPTION DRUG COSTS AT
% $2,000 A YEAR, ALSO CAPS INSULIN
% AT $35 A MONTH FOR NEARLY 60,000
% ON MEDICARE IN WISCONSIN WHO USE
% THAT DRUG.
% HOW BIG OF A CHANGE IS THIS?
% >> IT'S A BIG CHANGE.
% I THINK IT HELPS TO REDUCE SOME
% OF THE COSTS PEOPLE ARE FACING.
% I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO
% REMEMBER, THOUGH, THAT NOTHING
% IN HEALTHCARE IS SIMPLE, AND
% NOTHING IN THE INFLATION
% REDUCTION ACT IN HEALTHCARE IS
% SIMPLE EITHER, SO IT'S IMPORTANT
% THAT WE DISTINGUISH THAT THIS IS
% PRIMARILY GOING TO BE HELPING
% PEOPLE THAT HAVE MEDICARE PART D
% COVERAGE.%SO THAT'S A SUBSET
OF MEDICARE
% FOLKS, IT'S GOING TO BE FOLKS
% GETTING MEDICARE PART D, AND A
% LOT OF THESE CHANGES DON'T
% UNFOLD FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS OR
% SO.
% THE $2,000 CAP DOES NOT START
% UNTIL 2025.
% >> DON'T EXPECT THAT KIND OF
% RELIEF ANY TIME SOON.
% HOW ARE OLDER PEOPLE ON A FIXED
% INCOME EVEN ABLE TO AFFORD THE
% OUT OF POCKET COSTS OF
% PRESCRIPTIONS?
% >> WELL, IT'S ALWAYS A STRUGGLE
% AND IT'S ALWAYS, YOU KNOW,
% FAMILY MEETINGS WITH, YOU KNOW,
% KIDS, PARENTS, GRANDPARENTS,
% TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW CAN WE
% MAKE THIS WORK.
% THIS IS GOING TO MAKE THE
% PROCESS A LITTLE BIT EASIER, BUT
% IT'S STILL COMPLEX.
% STILL THE FAMILY MEETINGS TRYING
% TO UNDERSTAND THE CHANGES THAT
% ARE COMING, THE OPPORTUNITIES TO
% GET SOME ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE I
% THINK IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
% I WOULD ENCOURAGE FAMILIES, YOU
% KNOW, WORKING TOGETHER TO WORK
% WITH YOUR LOCAL AGING AND
% DISABILITY RESOURCE CENTER
% BECAUSE THEY CAN, YOU KNOW, IT'S
% DIFFERENT -- THERE ARE SO MANY
% NUANCES, IT'S GOOD TO HAVE THE
% LOCAL LEVEL OF ASSISTANCE AND
% THE AGING AND DISABILITY
% RESOURCE CENTERS IN THE COUNTY
% CAN HELP YOU.
% YOU ALSO MIGHT WANT TO GET SOME
% HELP FROM THE PART D HELP LINE,
% WHICH IS A STATEWIDE 800 NUMBER
% RUN BY THE FOLKS OVER AT
% DISABILITY RIGHTS WISCONSIN.
% THAT NUMBER IS 800-926-4862.
% AND THEY ALSO CAN HELP YOU WITH
% SOME OF THE QUESTIONS THAT
% EMERGE, BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO BE
% A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT FOR ALL
% THE FOLKS OUT THERE.
% WE DID NOT GET A CHANCE TO TALK
% ABOUT THE INSULIN, WHICH IS A
% BIG DEAL, BECAUSE THAT WAS A
% HUGE PRICE GOUGING -- ANOTHER
% EXAMPLE OF FREE MARKET IN
% HEALTHCARE WHERE IT'S NOT FREE
% MARKET IF THERE ARE THREE PEOPLE
% CONTROLLING THE PROCESS AND
% RAISING PRICES BECAUSE PEOPLE
% NEED IT TO LIVE.
% SO, THAT'S A BIG DEAL FOR PEOPLE
% THAT ARE INSULIN-DEPENDENT ON
% MEDICARE PART D, THAT ONE STARTS
% RIGHT AWAY IN 2023, SO THAT'S
% IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE THAT NEED
% INSULIN, IT WAS REALLY GETTING
% BAD.
% >> ANOTHER PRONG OF THE LAW
% WOULD ALLOW THE FEDS TO
% NEGOTIATE DRUG PRICES.
% IS THAT MEANINGFUL?
% >> ABSOLUTELY.
% I THINK WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT
% FOLKS THAT ADVOCATE FOR FREE
% MARKET HEALTHCARE, YOU KNOW,
% NEGOTIATION AND OPPORTUNITIES TO
% LEVERAGE PRICING IS ALWAYS A
% PART OF THAT, AND FOREVER THE
% FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS HAD THEIR
% HANDS TIED BEHIND THEIR BACK IN
% TERMS OF NEGOTIATING PRICES WITH
% THE PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY.
% THIS LETS THE GOVERNMENT USE ITS
% SIZE TO AN ADVANTAGE TO SAY WE
% ARE GOING TO BE NEGOTIATING
% THESE PRICES AND TRYING TO GET
% THE BEST DEAL FOR OUR MEDICARE
% RECIPIENTS.%AFTER ALL, THESE
COSTS ARE
% SOMETIMES BORNE BY THE
% RECIPIENTS OR IT'S OUT OF THE
% TRUST FUND SO IT'S IMPORTANT TO
% MAKE SURE WE GET THE BEST DEAL
% AND ALONG WITH THE FEDERAL
% GOVERNMENT TO NEGOTIATE IS
% REALLY AN IMPORTANT FEATURE OF
% THE BILL.
% AGAIN, IT NOT GOING TO HAPPEN
% RIGHT AWAY.
% THIS IS A SLOW UNWINDING OF THE
% PROCESS, NOTHING IS GOING TO
% HAPPEN FOR SEVERAL YEARS BEFORE
% THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT STARTS A
% SLOW PROCESS OF NEGOTIATING WITH
% TEN DRUGS AND RAMPS UP THROUGH
% 2030.
% >> SO ASIDE FROM FOLKS ON
% MEDICARE, THE LAW EXTENDS
% EXPANDED PREMIUM TAX CREDITS FOR
% PEOPLE ON AFFORDABLE CARE ACT
% MARKETPLACE PLANS, EXTRA
% SUBSIDIES THAT WERE SUPPOSED TO
% GO AWAY AFTER 2022.
% BREAK THAT DOWN FOR US.
% WHAT WILL THAT EXTENSION MEAN?
% >> YEAH, THAT'S GOING TO BE A
% REALLY BIG DEAL FOR MIDDLE
% INCOME FOLKS THAT WERE FACING A
% POTENTIAL BENEFITS CLIFF WHO
% WERE NOT GOING TO BE ELIGIBLE
% FOR ADVANCED PREMIUM TAX CREDITS
% ANYMORE AFTER THE OPEN
% ENROLLMENT AND NOW THAT'S
% EXTENDED.
% THAT'S REALLY GREAT NEWS.
% ONE OF THE REMARKABLE THINGS
% THAT'S HAPPENED IS WE HAVE
% LOWERED THE OVERALL RATE OF
% PEOPLE THAT LACK HEALTH
% INSURANCE IN THIS COUNTRY TO 8%.
% IT'S NEVER BEEN THAT LOW.
% SO THIS MODEL OF GETTING AS MANY
% PEOPLE COVERED AS POSSIBLE IS
% REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE THAT
% BENEFITS US ALL.
% THE TAX SUBSIDIES ARE GOING TO
% EXTEND COVERAGE TO MORE PEOPLE,
% MORE BENEFITS, AND IT WILL
% ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO MAINTAIN
% THEIR HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE,
% WHICH IS REALLY A GOOD THING SO
% THAT WE ARE ALL COVERED AND WE
% ARE GETTING THE SERVICES WE NEED
% AND DESERVE.
% >> ALL RIGHT.
% BOBBY PETERSON, THANK YOU.
% THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK.
% >> THANK YOU.
% GLAD TO HELP.
% >> EVEN WITH THE START OF SCHOOL
% RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER, A CHECK
% OF HIRING PORTALS SHOWS
% DISTRICTS ACROSS THE STATE ARE
% HUNDREDS OF TEACHERS SHORT AND
% THE NEED FOR SUPPORT STAFF IS
% EVEN HIGHER.
% NEARLY 70% OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS
% IN WISCONSIN ARE CONSIDERED
% RURAL AND THE NEED CAN BE
% ESPECIALLY ACUTE IN THOSE
% SCHOOLS.
% OUR NEXT GUEST IS THE ARCADIA
% SCHOOL DISTRICT ADMINISTRATOR.
% LANCE BAGSTAD KNOWS THE STRUGGLE
% TO FIND STAFF FIRSTHAND AND
% THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
% >> ABSOLUTELY.
% THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
% >> SO, WHAT ARE THE NUMBERS
% RIGHT NOW IN YOUR DISTRICT FOR
% HOW SHORT YOU STILL ARE FOR
% TEACHERS AND STAFF?
% >> YEAH, ACTUALLY WE ARE -- WE
% HAVE OUR CLASSROOMS FILLED BUT
% DO NOT HAVE THEM ALL FILLED WITH
% TEACHERS CERTIFIED IN SOME OF
% THE AREAS.
% WE HAVE HAD TO FILL SOME OF OUR
% CLASSROOMS, AT LEAST
% TEMPORARILY, WITH LONG-TERM
% SUBS.
% ALL ACROSS THE DISTRICT, SO WE
% HAVE ELEMENTARY POSITIONS THAT
% WE ARE STILL LOOKING FOR
% CERTIFIED STAFF, WE HAVE MIDDLE
% SCHOOL POSITIONS AND WE HAVE
% HIGH SCHOOL POSITIONS.
% SO PRETTY COMMON ACROSS RURAL
% SCHOOLS ACROSS WISCONSIN RIGHT
% NOW, ONLY A FEW WEEKS AWAY FROM
% THE START OF SCHOOL THAT
% CLASSROOMS ARE NOT FULLY STAFFED
% YET.
% >> SO, WHAT DO YOU SAY TO
% FAMILIES WITH STUDENTS IN THE
% DISTRICT ABOUT THAT, AND WHETHER
% OR NOT THE CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION
% WILL BE GOOD THIS YEAR?
% >> YEAH, CERTAINLY THAT'S
% SOMETHING WE HAVE HAD TO DISCUSS
% ADMINISTRATIVELY ACROSS OUR
% DISTRICT.%THE POSITIVE WE HA
VE FOR US IS
% WE DO HAVE THREE INSTRUCTIONAL
% COACHES ACROSS THE DISTRICT THAT
% ACTUALLY WORK WITH TEACHERS ON
% COACHING CYCLES, WHETHER THAT'S
% AN ELEMENTARY TEACHER, MIDDLE
% SCHOOL TEACHER OR HIGH SCHOOL
% TEACHER ON BEST PRACTICES, AND
% WE ARE ALSO A PROFESSIONAL
% LEARNING COMMUNITY SCHOOL
% DISTRICT SO OUR TEACHERS HAVE AN
% OPPORTUNITY TO GET TOGETHER WITH
% EITHER SIMILAR SUBJECT AREAS OR
% GRADE LEVEL TEACHERS TO WORK ON
% ASSESSMENTS, ON COMMON
% STANDARDS, AND BEST PRACTICES IN
% THE CLASSROOM.
% SO WITH THOSE TEACHERS THAT MAY
% NOT BE, OR MAY BE LONG-TERM
% SUBS, WE ARE ABLE TO SURROUND
% THEM WITH A LOT OF GOOD PEOPLE
% TO ASSIST WITH THEIR INSTRUCTION
% AS WELL AS THEIR PRACTICES.
% >> IN TERMS OF STAFF SHORTAGES,
% HAVE YOU EVER SEEN IT LIKE THIS
% BEFORE COMING INTO THIS SCHOOL
% YEAR?
% >> NOT ANYTHING CLOSE TO THIS.
% I'VE BEEN A DISTRICT
% ADMINISTRATOR NOW IN MY FIFTH
% YEAR, I WAS A PRINCIPAL FOR 12
% YEARS PRIOR TO THAT.
% I HAVE NEVER SEEN SHORTAGES LIKE
% THIS.
% YOU KNOW, THERE'S ALWAYS BEEN
% CERTAIN AREAS WHERE THERE'S BEEN
% SHORTAGES.
% FOR EXAMPLE, SPECIAL EDUCATION,
% CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION
% AREAS, WORLD LANGUAGES, BUT WE
% ARE NOW SEEING THOSE SAME
% SHORTAGES HIT US AT THE
% ELEMENTARY LEVEL AS WELL AS
% THOSE AREAS I JUST MENTIONED.
% FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAD 3 OR 4
% OPENINGS AT OUR ELEMENTARY THIS
% YEAR.
% WE HAD LESS THAN 15 APPLICANTS
% FOR POSITIONS.
% WE HAD A 4-K POSITION OPEN, ONLY
% HAD TWO APPLICANTS FOR THAT
% POSITION.%THAT'S REALLY UNUS
UAL.
% IN THE PAST ELEMENTARY POSITIONS
% YOU WOULD GET 40, 50, 60, EVEN
% SOMETIMES 100 APPLICANTS.
% THEY ARE JUST NOT OUT THERE AT
% THIS TIME.
% >> WHY ISN'T ARCADIA OR OTHER
% SMALL RURAL DISTRICTS ABLE TO
% ATTRACT TEACHERS?
% >> YOU KNOW, I THINK PART OF IT
% IS THE RURALNESS OF OUR
% DISTRICTS.%YOU KNOW, I'VE OFT
EN SAID IN
% CONVERSATIONS WITH OTHERS THAT A
% LOT OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE THAT ARE
% IN PRESERVICE TEACHER PROGRAMS
% AT COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES GET
% USED TO THE AMENITIES THAT A
% LARGER CITY OFFERS, YOU KNOW.
% THINGS THAT ARE AVAILABLE IN A
% LARGE CITY THAT MAY NOT BE AS
% ACCESSIBLE IN RURAL WISCONSIN.
% BUT I WOULD ALSO ARGUE THAT THE
% TEACHER SHORTAGE, WHILE IT'S
% IMPACTING RURAL WISCONSIN PRETTY
% GREATLY, IT'S ALSO IMPACTING
% EVEN OUR URBAN DISTRICTS ARE
% STRUGGLING TO HAVE A LOT OF
% CANDIDATES APPLYING FOR JOBS.
% >> WHAT DO YOU DO TO TRY TO
% COMPETE WITH THE GEOGRAPHICAL
% LOCATION THAT YOU HOLD?
% >> YEAH, YOU KNOW, FOR US IT IS
% A LITTLE DIFFICULT.
% WE ARE BASICALLY LOCATED HALFWAY
% BETWEEN THE CITY OF LA CROSSE
% AND THE CITY OF EAU CLAIRE, AND
% 35 MINUTES FROM WINONA,
% MINNESOTA, LARGER CITIES THAN WE
% ARE.%WE ARE LOOKING AT HAVING
TO
% CHANGE OUR PAY SCALE, INCREASE
% PAY, FIND WAYS TO OFFER OTHER
% BENEFITS TO TEACHERS.
% WE HAVE DONE SOME THINGS IN OUR
% DISTRICT, ESPECIALLY IN HIGH
% NEED AREAS BY OFFERING
% INCENTIVES TO HELP WITH TUITION
% AND TUITION REIMBURSEMENT IN
% SOME AREAS, ESPECIALLY SPECIAL
% EDUCATION, WHEN THAT'S BEEN THE
% CASE.%SO WE ARE REALLY LOOKI
NG AT A
% NUMBER OF DIFFERENT THINGS THAT
% WE ARE ABLE TO DO.
% THE OTHER THING WE ARE ABLE TO
% DO IN OUR AREA, THE SCHOOL
% DISTRICTS OF ARCADIA,
% INDEPENDENCE, BLARE, TAYLOR AND
% WHITEHALL, WE HAVE A FOUR-SCHOOL
% CO-OP, TREMPEALEAU VALLEY
% COOPERATIVE, AND WE ARE IN
% CONSTANT DISCUSSION HOW WE CAN
% SHARE STAFF, HOW WE CAN
% INCENTIVIZE SOME OF OUR TEACHERS
% BY, FOR TEACHING REMOTELY TO OUR
% FOUR DISTRICTS AS WELL AS
% POTENTIALLY INCENTIVIZING
% TEACHERS WITH ADDITIONAL PAY IF
% THEY ARE WILLING TO TRAVEL FROM
% DISTRICT TO DISTRICT TO HELP
% WITH THE SHORTAGES.
% >> WOW, A LOT OF WORK.
% LANCE BAGSTAD, THANKS VERY MUCH
% AND GOOD LUCK WITH THE NEW
% SCHOOL YEAR.
% >> ABSOLUTELY.
% APPRECIATE THE TIME.
% >> TONIGHT WE BRING YOU THE
% FIRST OF TWO INTERVIEWS WITH THE
% GENERAL ELECTION CANDIDATES FOR
% THE WISCONSIN SECRETARY OF
% STATE.
% FIRST INCUMBENT SECRETARY
% DEMOCRAT DOUG LA FOLLETTE.
% HE'S HELD THE OFFICE FOR MORE
% THAN FOUR DECADES AND ALSO
% SERVED BRIEFLY IN THE STATE
% SENATE.
% LA FOLLETTE WON LAST TUESDAY'S
% PRIMARY ELECTION AND NOW FACES
% REPUBLICAN CHALLENGER
% REPRESENTATIVE AMY LOUDENBECK IN
% THE GENERAL.
% THE DUTIES OF THE SENT OF STATE
% INCLUDE AFFIXING THE STATE SEAL
% TO ACTS OF THE GOVERNOR AND
% PRESERVATION OF MUNICIPAL
% RECORDS, BLUE BOOKS AND STATE
% STATUTES.
% SECRETARY OF STATE IS ALSO A
% MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF
% COMMISSIONERS OF PUBLIC LANDS.
% DOUG LA FOLLETTE JOINS US NOW.
% THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
% >> YES, GOOD EVENING, WONDERFUL
% TO BE ON TV AND TALK TO
% EVERYBODY IN WISCONSIN.
% >> YOU'VE HELD THIS OFFICE FOR A
% LONG TIME.
% WHY SHOULD YOU KEEP IT?
% >> WELL, AT THE MOMENT THERE IS
% A SPECIAL REASON AND THAT'S
% BECAUSE THE TRUMPITE REPUBLICANS
% ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE TRYING TO
% TAKE CONTROL OF SECRETARY OF
% STATE OFFICES SO THEY CAN MAYBE
% FIDDLE WITH THE ELECTION IN
% 2024.
% IF THEIR HERO RUNS AGAIN.
% AND IN WISCONSIN WE HAVE THE
% SAME SITUATION.
% MY OPPONENT'S MAIN REASON FOR
% RUNNING IS TO BE ABLE TO MOVE
% THE ELECTION FUNCTION FROM AN
% INDEPENDENT COMMISSION TO HER IN
% THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE.
% >> AND WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT
% MOVING THE ADMINISTRATION OF
% ELECTIONS AND OVERSIGHT OF
% ELECTIONS TO THE SECRETARY OF
% STATE'S OFFICE AS OPPOSED TO
% WHERE IT CURRENTLY RESIDES?
% >> I THINK IT'S A HORRIBLE IDEA.
% MORE THAN 50 YEARS AGO WE
% DECIDED TO TAKE POLITICS OUT OF
% OF THE ELECTION PROCESS AND WE
% CREATED AN ELECTION BOARD OF I
% BELIEVE FIVE RETIRED JUDGES, AND
% THEY DID A GOOD JOB FOR MANY
% YEARS.
% THEN THE REPUBLICANS GOT UPSET
% DURING THE WALKER RECALL AND
% THEY ABOLISHED THE BOARD AND SET
% UP A COMMISSION, WHICH HAS BEEN
% OK.
% BUT CERTAINLY BETTER THAN HAVING
% AN ELECTED POLITICIAN.
% NOW SHE WANTS TO BE ABLE TO TAKE
% CONTROL OF THE ELECTION PROCESS
% AS AN ELECTED PARTISAN
% POLITICIAN.%THAT'S A BAD IDE
A.
% WE NEED INDEPENDENCE TO PROTECT
% THE INTEGRITY OF THE VOTES IN
% OUR STATE.
% >> IN TERMS OF YOUR TENURE AS
% SECRETARY OF STATE OVER THE
% YEARS, WHAT WOULD YOU DESCRIBE
% AS YOUR BEST RESULTS IN OFFICE?
% >> WELL, I HAVE TO SAY THAT THE
% WORST THING IS WHAT HAPPENED TO
% THE OFFICE BECAUSE OF
% REPUBLICANS.%TWO REPUBLICAN G
OVERNORS DECIDED
% THEY WANTED MORE CONTROL AND
% MORE POWER SO THEY TOOK MANY
% IMPORTANT DUTIES AWAY FROM THE
% OFFICE AND PUT THEM UNDER THE
% CONTROL OF THE GOVERNOR.
% ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY SECRETARY
% OF STATES DO CERTAIN IMPORTANT
% BASICALLY BUSINESS-RELATED
% FUNCTIONS, CORPORATIONS AND
% TRADEMARKS, SO FORTH.
% THOSE SHOULD BE PUT BACK IN THE
% OFFICE.
% I'VE TRIED SEVERAL TIMES TO DO
% THAT.
% GOVERNOR EVERS, HIS CREDIT,
% TRIED TO RESTORE SOME OF THEM.
% BUT THE REPUBLICANS SLICED IT
% FROM THE BUDGET.
% SO IT'S TIME FOR THEM TO WISE UP
% AND MAKE WISCONSIN LIKE THE REST
% OF THE COUNTRY SO WE CAN COMPETE
% FAIRLY AND HAVE THE SAME SYSTEM
% FOR SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE.
% >> YOU'VE STATED THAT YOU WANT
% TO HIGHLIGHT YOUR BULLY PULPIT
% ROLE.
% HOW SO?
% >> WELL, IT'S IMPORTANT FOR
% PEOPLE TO KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON
% IN TERMS OF THE EFFORT TO
% MANIPULATE THE ELECTION PROCESS,
% NOT ONLY IN WISCONSIN BUT ACROSS
% THE COUNTRY, AND I'LL TALK ABOUT
% IT WHENEVER I HAVE AN
% OPPORTUNITY.
% THEY ARE MAKING PROGRESS IN
% ARIZONA, IN MICHIGAN, THE
% GOVERNOR OF PENNSYLVANIA IS
% WORKING ON IT, SO THEY WILL BE
% ABLE TO ACTUALLY OVERTURN THE
% VOTES IN THEIR STATES IF THEY
% CHOOSE TO.
% THAT IS A HORRIBLE IDEA AND
% WISCONSIN NEEDS TO KEEP THE
% INDEPENDENT NATURE OF OUR
% ELECTION ADMINISTRATION.
% >> WHY DO YOU BELIEVE YOU CAN
% BEAT YOUR REPUBLICAN CHALLENGER?
% >> WELL, BECAUSE I'VE DONE A
% CAMPAIGN AND I'VE BEEN ELECTED
% MANY TIMES.
% I THINK PEOPLE TRUST ME.
% I'VE BEEN AROUND A WHILE, THEY
% KNOW ME AND THEY TRUST ME AND
% THIS BECOMES PARTICULARLY
% IMPORTANT IN THIS ELECTION
% BECAUSE AS I'VE SAID, IT'S ALL
% ABOUT THE INTEGRITY OF THE
% ELECTION PROCESS AND WHEN I SAY
% WHAT I'VE SAID THIS EVENING
% ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF KEEPING
% PARTISAN POLITICS OUT OF THE
% ELECTION PROCESS THEY WILL
% LISTEN.%THEY WILL BELIEVE DO
UG LA
% FOLLETTE.%THERE ARE A LOT OF
LIES, A LOT
% OF, YOU KNOW, FAKE FACTS GOING
% ON NOW THE LAST FEW YEARS IN
% POLITICS.%BUT PEOPLE, I THIN
K, TRUST DOUG
% LA FOLLETTE TO BE A STRAIGHT
% SHOOTER AND TELL IT LIKE IT IS.
% THAT'S WHAT I'M GOING TO DO.
% >> ALL RIGHT.
% SECRETARY DOUG LA FOLLETTE,
% THANKS VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US.
% >> IT'S BEEN A GREAT PLEASURE.
% I WISH YOU GOOD EVENING.
% >> NEXT WEEK WE HEAR FROM LA
% FOLLETTE'S CHALLENGER,
% REPUBLICAN AMY LOUDENBECK.
% FOR MORE OF OUR COVERAGE ON
% 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.
% ♪
% >> PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND
% FOR JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF
% PBS WISCONSIN.