% PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL %PROD
UCTION.
% >> UP TO 20 MILLION AMERICANS
% CAN HAVE THEIR STUDENT LOAN DEBT
% COMPLETELY ERASED.
% AND MILLIONS MORE HAVE THEIR
% BURDEN EASED UNDER THE
% PRESIDENT'S STUDENT LOAN PLAN.
% UKRAINE CELEBRATES ITS
% INDEPENDENCE DAY ON THE SAME DAY
% IT MARKS SIX MONTHS OF WAR WITH
% RUSSIA.
% AND A MORE ACCESSIBLE LIFELINE
% SHOWS THE NEED FOR MENTAL HEALTH
% SUPPORT IN WISCONSIN.
% I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
% TONIGHT ON "HERE & NOW," THE
% SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDENT LOAN
% DEBT RELIEF, HOW THE WAR IN
% UKRAINE WEARS ON, 988 GIVES NEW
% HOPE TO A NOT SO NEW SERVICE AND
% HEAR FROM THE REPUBLICAN
% CANDIDATE FOR SECRETARY OF
% STATE.%IT'S "HERE & NOW" FOR
% AUGUST 26TH.
% >> FUNDING FOR "HERE & NOW" IS
% PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
% JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS %
WISCONSIN.
% >> IT'S NOT WITHOUT CONTROVERSY,
% BUT THIS WEEK BY EXECUTIVE ORDER
% THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
% WILL WIPE AWAY HUNDREDS OF
% BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF STUDENT
% LOAN DEBT FOR SOME 47 MILLION
% BORROWERS.%UP TO $20,000 OF D
EBT
% CANCELLATION WILL BE GIVEN TO
% PELL GRANT RECIPIENTS, THOSE ARE
% GRANTS GIVEN TO THOSE WITH
% EXCEPTIONAL FINANCIAL NEED.
% UP TO $10,000 OF FEDERAL STUDENT
% LOANS WILL BE FORGIVEN FOR OTHER
% BORROWERS.
% ONLY THOSE EARNING $125,000 OR
% LESS ARE ELIGIBLE.
% ADDITIONALLY, THE PAUSE ON
% FEDERAL STUDENT LOAN REPAYMENT
% REMAINS IN PLACE UNTIL THE END
% OF THIS YEAR.
% ANOTHER PRONG OF THE ORDER CAPS
% MONTHLY PAYMENTS FOR
% UNDERGRADUATE LOANS AT 5% OF A
% BORROWERS INCOME.
% IN WISCONSIN, ACCORDING TO THE
% U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION,
% MORE THAN 687,000 STUDENT LOAN
% BORROWERS OWE MORE THAN
% $21.4 BILLION.
% WITH AN AVERAGE STUDENT LOAN
% BALANCE OF JUST MORE THAN
% $31,000.%TO UNDERSTAND THE IM
PACT, WE GO
% TO NICK HILLMAN, PROFESSOR AT
% THE UW-MADISON SCHOOL OF
% EDUCATION AND DIRECTOR OF THE
% APPLIED RESEARCH LAB.
% THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
% >> MY PLEASURE, THANK YOU FOR
% THE INVITATION.
% >> CONTROVERSY COMES FOR THOSE
% WHO THINK IT'S TOO BIG A GIVE
% AWAY AND THOSE WHO THINK IT'S
% TOO LITTLE.
% AS AN EXPERT IN THE AREA, WHAT'S
% YOUR REACTION TO THE STUDENT
% LOAN ORDER?
% >> THAT'S RIGHT.
% POLITICS OF THIS, SO THE
% AGREEMENT OF WHETHER IT'S TOO
% BIG OR TOO SMALL CUTS ACROSS
% REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS, WHERE
% TYPICALLY REPUBLICANS ARE SAYING
% IT'S TOO BIG, SHOULDN'T BE DOING
% THIS AT ALL, EVEN IN THE
% DEMOCRATIC PARTY, BIDEN'S OWN
% PARTY THERE IS DISAGREEMENT ON
% WHETHER IT WAS BIG ENOUGH OR
% SMALL ENOUGH.
% AND SO CERTAINLY THAT IS DEBATED
% RIGHT NOW AND I THINK THE
% RESEARCH EVIDENCE SAYS $10,000
% IN CANCELLATION CAN DO A LOT OF
% GOOD FOR A LOT OF BORROWERS.
% >> SO YOU THINK THAT THIS COULD
% HELP WISCONSIN BORROWERS?
% >> YES, AND TWO REASONS.
% ONE IS THAT A LOT OF TIMES THE
% BORROWERS WHO HAVE SMALL LOANS,
% THEY HAVE SMALL LOANS BECAUSE
% THEY ONLY ENROLLED IN SCHOOL A
% LITTLE WHILE AND LEFT WITHOUT A
% DEGREE, AND STRUGGLE BECAUSE
% THEY NOW DON'T HAVE A DEGREE TO
% PAY OFF IN THE LABOR MARKET AND
% DEBTS ARE OFTEN LESS THAN
% $10,000, AND SO THAT COULD HAVE
% A DIRECT IMPACT FOR A LOT OF
% STRUGGLING BORROWERS WITH
% RELATIVELY SMALL LOANS AND A LOT
% OF BORROWERS WITH THAT SIZE
% DEBT, $10,000 THRESHOLD HAS A
% COUPLE DIFFERENT REASONS TO HAVE
% BEEN CHOSEN.
% >> THE WORST CASE OF THAT,
% THOUGH, IS A BORROWER WHO HAS
% JUST A WHOLE LOT OF DEBT AND
% DIDN'T GET THAT DEGREE.
% >> THAT'S RIGHT.
% THAT'S RIGHT.
% AND THAT'S A BIG PROBLEM THAT
% THIS CANCELLATION CAN HELP A
% LITTLE BIT BUT DOES NOT
% NECESSARILY PREVENT FROM
% HAPPENING IN THE FUTURE.
% >> HOW IS THE STUDENT LOAN DEBT
% LOAN BALLOONED OVER THE DECADES?
% >> PROBABLY TWO BIG FACTORS
% CONTRIBUTE AND THEY WORK
% TOGETHER.
% ONE IS THAT TUITION HAS RISEN,
% BUT IT'S NOT JUST TUITION, IT'S
% THE TUITION, THE FEES, THE ROOM
% AND BOARD, ALL THE OTHER
% EXPENSES THAT IT TAKES TO STAY
% IN COLLEGE HAVE BEEN RISING
% RAPIDLY.
% DOUBLING SINCE THE 1990S, EVEN
% ADJUSTED FOR INFLATION.
% THAT'S ONE SIDE.
% THE OTHER SIDE IS FAMILY INCOMES
% HAVE EITHER PLATEAUED OR
% DECLINED OR BARELY EVEN MOVED,
% AND THE INCOMES THAT WE HAVE
% JUST AREN'T KEEPING PACE WITH
% THE EXPENSES OF GOING TO COLLEGE
% AND AS A RESULT, MORE
% INDIVIDUALS ARE HAVING TO SHARE
% THAT RESPONSIBILITY OR CARRY
% THAT RESPONSIBILITY THEMSELVES
% THROUGH THE LOAN SYSTEM TO PAY
% FOR COLLEGE.
% >> IN YOUR MIND, IS THAT DEBT
% WORTH IT IN TERMS OF EDUCATIONAL
% OPPORTUNITY?
% >> IT IS WORTH IT ON AVERAGE.
% THERE ARE ALWAYS GOING TO BE
% SITUATIONS THAT JUST DON'T FIT
% THAT AVERAGE STORY, BUT ON
% AVERAGE, STRONG EVIDENCE THAT
% NOT ONLY FOR THE INDIVIDUAL DOES
% THE EDUCATION PAY OFF IN THE
% LABOR MARKET BUT FOR YOUR
% COMMUNITY, BETTER OFF WITH
% WELL-EDUCATED PLUMBERS OR %HE
ALTHCARE WORKERS OR YOU NAME
% IT.
% A NUMBER OF REASONS WHY THE
% PAY-OFF IS STILL THERE BUT THE
% VALUE PROPOSITION IS BEING
% QUESTIONED AND KIND OF TAPPING
% INTO THAT QUESTION RIGHT NOW.
% >> PEOPLE WE KNOW CAN TAKE
% DECADES TO PAY OFF SCHOOL LOANS.
% WHAT ROLE DO INTEREST PAYMENTS
% PLAY IN THE PAYMENT SCHEDULE.
% >> THEY MAKE IT MORE EXPENSIVE.
% TOOK OUT $10,000, IN SEVERAL
% YEARS MIGHT BE HIGHER THAN THAT,
% MIGHT OWE 12, 13,000, IF THE
% PAYMENTS ARE ONLY GOING TO
% INTEREST.%THE BIDEN ADMINIST
RATION IS ALSO
% PROPOSING TO CAP SOME OF THOSE
% INTEREST RATES ON, AND REPAYMENT
% PLANS AND THERE ARE SOME
% CONVERSATIONS AROUND HOW TO
% REMOVE SOME OF THOSE INTEREST
% RATES OR MAKE THEM LOWER, BUT
% THEY ARE STILL THERE, STILL PART
% OF THE NETWORK AND THE
% INFRASTRUCTURE OF OUR STUDENT
% LENDING SYSTEM.
% >> PART OF THE PLAN ALSO CUTS
% UNDERGRAD PAYMENTS TO 5% OF
% INCOME.
% HOW MEANINGFUL IS THAT FOR
% FOLKS?
% >> I THINK THAT SHOULD BE PRETTY
% MEANINGFUL.%THESE INCOME-DRI
VEN REPAYMENT
% PLANS, THEY ARE CALLED, AND MAY
% BE 7 OR 8 DIFFERENT ONES NOW AND
% BORROWERS ARE TAPPED INTO THEM,
% AND 5% OF DISCRETIONARY
% EARNINGS, BASICALLY THE INCOME
% YOU HAVE ABOVE THE POVERTY LINE,
% SO IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE A WAY TO
% JUST MAKE PAYMENTS, YOU KNOW,
% LESS BURDENSOME FOR INDIVIDUALS.
% >> WHAT KIND OF STUDENT GETS
% MOST HURT BY TAKING OUT BIG
% STUDENT LOANS?
% >> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
% YOU KNOW, THERE ARE SO MANY
% DIFFERENT STORIES AND SO MANY
% DIFFERENT PROBLEMS THAT HAPPEN
% IN OUR LOAN SYSTEM.
% AND IN MANY CASES, THE DEBT
% CANNOT BE DISCHARGED IN
% BANKRUPTCY OR DIFFICULT TO
% NAVIGATE THE REPAYMENT SYSTEM
% ITSELF AND THE PROCESSES YOU CAN
% BE HARMED, ADMINISTRATIVE
% PROCESSES, COMPLEXITY OF THE
% LOAN SYSTEM.
% AND OTHER WAYS IT HELPS STUDENTS
% STAY ENROLLED IN SCHOOL.
% IT'S A DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD,
% WITHOUT LOANS PEOPLE MIGHT NOT
% HAVE GONE TO COLLEGE IN THE
% FIRST PLACE AND NOW YOU HAVE
% THEM AND IT'S A HARD, HARD
% PUBLIC POLICY PROBLEM TO SOLVE.
% >> IN YOUR MIND, SHOULD PAYING
% FOR COLLEGE BE REENVISIONED?
% >> I THINK IT WILL BE
% REENVISIONED.%I THINK THIS I
S A BIG MOMENT IN
% THAT REIMAGINATION, AND I THINK
% THAT OUR LOAN-BASED SYSTEM, IT
% ORIGINATED IN THE 1950S AND
% 1960S AND IT WAS REALLY DESIGNED
% TO MEET A VERY SMALL NEED AT THE
% TIME, AND OVER THE YEARS WE KIND
% OF ACCEPTED THAT MODEL AND HAVE
% USED THAT MODEL AS OUR CURRENT
% MODEL, AND I THINK IT'S BEING
% QUESTIONED ON WHETHER THAT WORKS
% TODAY.
% >> YEAH, INDEED.
% NICK HILLMAN, THANKS VERY MUCH.
% THANKS FOR YOUR EXPERTISE.
% >> THANK YOU.
% >> THIS WEEK MARKS THE
% CELEBRATION OF UKRAINE'S
% INDEPENDENCE IN 1991.
% AND CAME ON THE SAME DAY THAT
% MARKED SIX MONTHS SINCE RUSSIA
% INVADED UKRAINE.
% IN GREEN BAY, DOZENS GATHERED TO
% SHOW SUPPORT AND SOLIDARITY.
% THE U.S. HAS SENT MORE THAN
% $10 BILLION OF MILITARY AID TO
% UKRAINE WITH BILLIONS MORE TO
% COME.
% BUT THE HUMAN TOLL IN DEATH AND
% DISPLACEMENT AND THE RAVAGING OF
% THE LANDSCAPE, WHEN AND HOW WILL
% IT END?
% WE CHECK IN WITH PROFESSOR
% ANDREY IVANOV, SPECIALTY IS
% RUSSIA AND THE SOVIET UNION IN
% UW-PLATTEVILLE, AND IS ALSO
% UKRAINIAN, AND HE AND HIS FAMILY
% MADE A HARROWING ESCAPE.
% HOW IS YOUR FAMILY DOING?
% >> THEY ARE FINE.
% SOME OF THEM ARE HERE, AND
% OTHERS ARE STILL WAITING TO COME
% FROM GERMANY, SO I'M -- I'M
% AWAITING THEIR ARRIVAL.
% >> WHAT IS IT LIKE FOR CIVILIANS
% STILL INSIDE UKRAINE AT THIS
% TIME?
% >> IT IS VERY DIFFICULT.
% THE ECONOMIC PART IS VERY
% DIFFICULT.
% LOGISTIC PART, THE
% TRANSPORTATION PART.
% THE PANIC OF FEBRUARY AND MARCH
% HAS LARGELY SUBSIDED IN PARTS OF
% WESTERN UKRAINE AND PARTS OF
% NORTHERN UKRAINE, BUT IN THE
% SOUTH AND IN THE EAST THE
% SITUATION HAS WORSENED
% CONSIDERABLY WITH A LOT OF
% DESTRUCTION AND SHELLING AND
% ACTIVE MILITARY CAMPAIGN THAT'S
% STILL GOING ON.
% SO WE ARE TALKING ABOUT
% ESSENTIALLY NOW THE SITUATION
% INSIDE UKRAINE, YOU HAVE KIND OF
% TWO UKRAINES.
% YOU HAVE UKRAINE THAT HAS
% LARGELY BEEN SORT OF NOT
% AFFECTED BY THE DESTRUCTION,
% IT'S STILL AFFECTED BY THE
% MISSILES, BUT THEN THE EAST AND
% IN THE SOUTH YOU HAVE PEOPLE
% LOSING THEIR HOMES, PEOPLE
% LOSING THEIR LOVED ONES, PEOPLE
% LOSING THEIR LIVES AND MASSIVE
% EVACUATIONS ARE STILL CONTINUING
% FROM THE EAST AND THE SOUTH AS
% WE SPEAK RIGHT NOW.
% >> I'VE READ THAT RUSSIA NOW
% OCCUPIES 20% OF UKRAINE.
% I THINK WHEN RUSSIA FIRST
% INVADED OBSERVERS THOUGHT THEY
% WOULD ROLL IN AND CAPTURE
% UKRAINE IN FULL.
% WHAT DID YOU THINK AT THE TIME?
% >> WELL, WHEN THE -- WHEN THE
% INVASION HAPPENED, I WAS -- I
% COULDN'T BELIEVE WHAT WAS GOING
% ON, FRANKLY.
% MY FAMILY WAS AFFECTED AND IN
% THE MIDST, THE AREA THAT
% SUFFERED BOMBARDMENT AND HAD TO
% ESCAPE.%SO FOR ME THIS WAS S
OMETHING
% THAT AFFECTED ME PERSONALLY, AND
% I EXPECTED UKRAINE TO PUT UP
% VERY FIERCE RESISTANCE, EITHER
% THROUGH KIND OF INSURGENCY
% GUERILLA CAMPAIGN IF RUSSIANS
% WERE TO TAKE PARTS OF THE
% TERRITORY OR ACTIVE WAR EFFORTS,
% AND IT'S BEEN A COMBINATION OF
% BOTH, AND I'M VERY GLAD THAT THE
% RESISTANCE CAMPAIGN HAS BEEN
% SUCCESSFUL IN MANY PARTS OF
% UKRAINE BUT I'M ALSO VERY
% DISHEARTENED THAT THE RUSSIANS
% WERE ABLE TO MAKE SO MUCH
% PROGRESS IN OTHER PARTS OF
% UKRAINE AND THE SOUTH AND THE
% EAST IN PARTICULAR.
% >> HOW DO YOU THINK THIS WILL
% PROGRESS?
% >> I DON'T HAVE A CRYSTAL BALL.
% I'M NOT A NOSTRADAMUS.
% IT'S HARD TO TELL.
% THE LONG-TERM SCENARIO WITH
% WESTERN SUPPORT, WITH WESTERN
% AND ESPECIALLY AMERICAN HELP
% LOOKS VERY GOOD FOR UKRAINE.
% AND IT LOOKS VERY BAD FOR
% RUSSIA.
% THE SHORT-TERM SCENARIO, TALKING
% ABOUT THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS
% WITH WINTER COMING AND THE GAS
% AND OIL CRISIS AND ENERGY
% CRISIS, THE SHORT-TERM SCENARIO
% LOOKS VERY DIFFICULT FOR
% UKRAINE, AND SORT OF FAVORS
% RUSSIA, AND SO WE HAVE A
% LONG-TERM AND A SHORT-TERM
% SCENARIO.%THE QUESTION IS CA
N THE WEST
% REMAIN STEADY IN ITS HELP TO
% UKRAINIAN FIGHT FOR
% INDEPENDENCE, AND FOR HOW LONG.
% AND THAT WILL REALLY DECIDE THE
% OUTCOME OF THE WAR.
% >> MORE BROADLY, WHY DOES
% VLADIMIR PUTIN WANT UKRAINE WHEN
% IT SO CLEARLY DOES NOT WANT HIM?
% >> WELL, IT'S KIND OF A POST
% IMPERIAL SYNDROME, YOU KNOW.
% EMPIRES COLLAPSE AND THEN YOU
% HAVE NEW ENTITIES EMERGE.
% I'M A HISTORIAN, SO I TALK LIKE
% THIS.
% SO YOU KNOW, THERE ARE A LOT OF
% PEOPLE IN RUSSIA WHO SUPPORT
% PUTIN'S NEOIMPERIAL AMBITIONS.
% THEY WANT THE EMPIRE BACK.
% WHETHER THIS IS THE OLD SOVIET
% UNION OR THE RUSSIAN EMPIRE, BUT
% THIS HAS HAPPENED BEFORE IN
% WORLD HISTORY, WITH GERMANY
% AFTER WORLD WAR I, OR HUNGARY
% AFTER WORLD WAR I AND SO ON, AND
% SO THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS ONE
% OF THE REASONING THAT I THINK
% THAT, YOU KNOW, PUTIN WANTS TO
% RECREATE AN EMPIRE OR IMPERIAL
% SPACE THAT WAS LOST AFTER 1991,
% AND SOME MAY ARGUE LOST AFTER
% 1917.
% >> SO, REPORTEDLY AT THIS POINT
% IN THE DESTRUCTION IT WILL COST
% $200 BILLION TO REBUILD
% UKRAINE'S INFRASTRUCTURE AND
% HOUSING.
% WHAT IS IT LIKE TO SEE THE
% DEVASTATION OF YOUR HOMELAND AND
% ITS PEOPLE?
% >> IT'S VERY -- VERY
% DISHEARTENING, VERY DIFFICULT TO
% SEE THE PICTURES.
% I'VE SEEN PICTURES OF HOUSE OF
% MY SISTER THAT RECEIVED A SHELL
% IN ONE OF THE AREAS OF THAT
% APARTMENT HOUSE, AND SO WHEN I
% SEE THAT, OF COURSE THIS IS
% SOMETHING THAT I, YOU KNOW, THAT
% RELATES PERSONALLY AND IT'S, YOU
% KNOW, A MIXTURE OF GRIEF AND
% ANGER AND QUESTIONS AND SO ON.
% BUT I -- I THINK THAT UKRAINE,
% WHICH HAS ENDURED DESTRUCTION
% DURING WORLD WAR I AND WORLD WAR
% II WILL RISE AGAIN LIKE A
% PHOENIX FROM THE ASHES AND FROM
% THE RUBBLE OF THIS HORRIBLE
% ASSAULT, THIS HORRIBLE INVASION.
% AND SO YES, IT WILL BE, YOU
% KNOW, THE DESTRUCTION IS THERE
% AND IT WILL TAKE A WHILE TO
% REBUILD UKRAINE, BUT YOU KNOW,
% SOMEBODY WHO HAS COME FROM THERE
% AND YOU KNOW, HEARING STORIES OF
% MY PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS AND
% GREAT GRANDPARENTS WHO ENDURED
% WORLD WAR II, YES, DESTRUCTION
% IS HORRIBLE BUT IT IS POSSIBLE
% TO REBUILD AFTER DESTRUCTION.
% >> PROFESSOR IVANOV, THANK YOU.
% THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR JOINING
% US.%>> YEAH, THANK YOU.
% >> SINCE IT LAUNCHED IN MID
% JULY, THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVE
% DIALED IN TO THE NEW SUICIDE AND
% CRISIS LIFELINE IN WISCONSIN
% REACHED BY CALLING 988.
% FAMILY SERVICES OF NORTHEAST
% WISCONSIN MANAGES THE CALL
% CENTER WITH COUNSELORS ON THE
% OTHER END OF THE LINE FOR PEOPLE
% DIALING 988 SEEKING HELP.
% SHELLY MISSALL IS THE PROGRAM
% MANAGER AND JOINS US FROM GREEN
% BAY.
% THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
% >> THANK YOU.
% >> SO, WHAT IS THE VOLUME OF
% CALLS RIGHT NOW AT THE 988 CALL
% CENTER?
% >> WE ARE SEEING ABOUT 4,000
% CALLS A MONTH COMING IN.
% >> AND HOW DOES THAT COMPARE TO
% PREVIOUS HOTLINES?
% >> SO PRIOR TO 988 LAUNCHING, IT
% WAS PRETTY SIMILAR.
% WE HAVE SEEN CONTINUED GROWTH
% OVER THE YEARS, SO WE LOOK BACK
% JUST ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF TO
% JANUARY OF 2021, WE WERE TAKING
% ABOUT 1100 CALLS A MONTH, AND SO
% THE LAST PROBABLY 3 OR 4 MONTHS
% WE HAVE BEEN AT THAT 4,000 MARK,
% SO WE HAVE JUST SEEN NATURAL
% GROWTH IN THE UTILIZATION OF THE
% LINE.%WE HAVE SEEN A LOT OF
GROWTH IN
% NEW CALLERS WITH THE LAUNCH OF
% 988.
% >> WHAT IS IT ABOUT THE NEW CALL
% LINE THAT PEOPLE ARE RESPONDING
% TO?
% >> I THINK IT'S AN AWARENESS AND
% A CURIOSITY.
% SOME OF THE CALLS ARE ABOUT
% PEOPLE JUST EXPLORING THAT
% SERVICE, MAYBE NOT BEING
% CONNECTED IN, NOT HAVING KNOWN
% WHAT THE SERVICE WAS OR THAT IT
% EXISTED PREVIOUSLY.
% AND A HUGE PART OF THAT IS THE
% EASY ACCESS TO OBVIOUSLY THAT
% THREE DIGIT DIALING WITH 988 IS
% A LOT EASIER TO ACCESS AND
% REMEMBER THAN THE TEN DIGIT 800
% NUMBER.
% ALTHOUGH THAT TEN DIGIT 800
% NUMBER STILL DOES EXIST AS A
% LEGACY AND WILL CONTINUE TO
% EXIST AND BE USABLE AS WELL.
% >> SO IN FACT, IT'S CALLED THE
% SUICIDE AND CRISIS LIFELINE BUT
% YOU HAVE TOLD US THAT FEWER THAN
% MAYBE A THIRD OF THE CALLS ARE
% THE EMERGENCY CALLS.
% WHAT ARE THEY MORE SO?
% >> ABSOLUTELY.
% MOST OF THE CALLS THAT WE ARE
% SEEING ARE FOLKS WHO ARE CALLING
% JUST BECAUSE THEY HAVE SOMETHING
% TO TALK ABOUT AN INDIVIDUAL
% CRISIS.
% IT COULD BE THEY ARE HAVING
% RELATIONSHIPS ISSUES, JOB
% ISSUES, FINANCIAL ISSUES, THEY
% ARE HAVING SOME ISSUES MANAGING
% THEIR MENTAL HEALTH, WHATEVER
% THAT INDIVIDUAL PERSONAL CRISIS
% IS THEY JUST NEED SOMEBODY TO
% TALK TO RIGHT NOW.
% >> YEAH, SO YOU'VE ALSO SAID
% THAT SOMETIMES IT'S HELPERS
% THEMSELVES THAT CALL WHO SEEK
% THE ANONYMITY OF THIS LINE.
% DESCRIBE THAT KIND OF CALLER.
% >> YEAH, SO ONE OF THE REALLY
% NICE THINGS ABOUT THE LIFELINE
% IS IT IS FREE AND ANONYMOUS, SO
% FOLKS DON'T EVEN NEED TO TELL US
% THEIR NAME WHEN THEY CALL IN.
% AND THAT CREATES A GREAT SPACE
% AND OPPORTUNITY FOR THOSE
% HELPERS THAT WE HAVE IN OUR
% COMMUNITY, THOSE FIRST
% RESPONDERS, THOSE FOLKS WHO ARE
% WORKING IN THE LOCAL CRISIS
% SYSTEMS, WHO ARE WORKING IN
% E.R., THINGS LIKE THAT, AND THEY
% ARE IMMERSED IN THIS, AND DON'T
% WANT TO REACH OUT TO A CO-WORKER
% FOR HELP OR SOMEBODY THAT WILL
% RECOGNIZE ME THAT I HAVE TO WORK
% WITH TOMORROW, AND SO WE ARE A
% GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR FOLKS LIKE
% THAT TO HAVE SOMEBODY TO TALK TO
% WITH A LITTLE MORE ANONYMITY AND
% LESS CONCERN ABOUT THAT
% RECOGNITION AND HOW THAT IMPACTS
% THEIR DAY-TO-DAY WORK
% RELATIONSHIPS.%>> BUT IN A LI
FE-THREATENING
% SITUATION YOU DO HAVE A
% MECHANISM FOR REFERRING ON TO
% EMERGENCY SERVICES?
% >> ABSOLUTELY.
% SO, WE COLLABORATE WITH LAW
% ENFORCEMENT ACROSS THE STATE OF
% WISCONSIN AS WELL AS THE PUBLIC
% SAFETY OR 911 DISPATCH CENTERS,
% SO WE ARE CONNECTING IN WITH
% THOSE IN THE IMMINENT RISK
% SITUATIONS WHEN THERE IS SERIOUS
% RISK OF HARM TO SELF OR OTHERS.
% HOWEVER, THAT IS A VERY SMALL
% AMOUNT OF THE CALLS THAT WE
% ACTUALLY TAKE, AND THAT WE NEED
% TO DO THAT SORT OF INTERVENTION
% WITH SO IT'S REALLY ABOUT 1% OF
% THE CALLS WE TAKE WHERE WE ARE
% GETTING INTERVENTION LIKE THAT
% HAPPENING.%>> SOME HAVE WONDE
RED WHETHER
% CALL VOLUME IS SO HIGH PEOPLE
% HAVE TO WAIT OR GET TRANSFERRED
% TO A NATIONAL HOTLINE.
% HOW WELL STAFFED UP IS THE 988
% CALL CENTER TO HANDLE THE LOAD?
% >> SO IN WISCONSIN WE ARE DOING
% REALLY WELL WITH OUR STAFFING
% AND WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MANAGE
% AND MAINTAIN THAT CAPACITY OF
% THE CALLS AND WE DO CONTINUE TO
% BUILD CAPACITY BY ADDING STAFF,
% I BELIEVE WE ARE ADDING ABOUT
% TWO POSITIONS A MONTH RIGHT NOW
% FOR THE ONGOING AND FORESEEABLE
% FUTURE, SO WE ARE CONTINUING TO
% HIRE ADDITIONAL COUNSELORS TO
% BUILD THAT STAFF AND PART OF
% THAT HAS BEEN STRATEGIC AT A
% NATIONAL LEVEL AND WITHIN
% WISCONSIN WITH THAT ROLL-OUT.
% WE DID SEE SOME MEDIA EARLY ON
% AND SO THERE WAS A LITTLE BIT OF
% SHARING, BUT IT'S BEEN A MORE OF
% A SOFT LAUNCH AND BUILDING
% CAPACITY ACROSS THE STATE TO
% SUPPORT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE
% REACHING OUT AND WE'LL SEE MORE
% COMING FACING THE PUBLIC AS FAR
% AS SHARING MORE INFORMATION
% ABOUT 988 NEXT YEAR.
% >> DOES THE POPULARITY OF 988
% HIGHLIGHT HOW MUCH PEOPLE NEED A
% LISTENING EAR AND JUST HELP
% FIGURING OUT WHERE TO GO OR WHAT
% RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE?
% >> I THINK THAT'S A REALLY GREAT
% OBSERVATION.
% YEAH, THERE'S A LOT OF FOLKS WHO
% COULD USE SOME ADDITIONAL
% SUPPORT BUT IF THEY'VE NEVER
% BEEN CONNECTED IN WITH THE
% RESOURCES THAT EXIST THEY MIGHT
% JUST NOT KNOW IT'S THERE.
% SO 988 IS GREAT, IT GIVES THEM
% AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLORE WHAT'S
% OUT THERE, IT GIVES THEM AN
% OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN MORE ABOUT
% THE MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES THAT
% EXIST, ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES AND
% PLACES THEY CAN GO TO IN A
% CRISIS, AND IT REALLY BUILDS
% UPON THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEM
% TO GET CONNECTED WITH THE
% RESOURCES THEY NEED IN A SAFE
% AND COMFORTABLE ENVIRONMENT.
% >> AND EASY NUMBER TO CALL AS
% WELL.
% SHELLY MISSALL, THANKS FOR THE
% CALL AND FOR YOUR WORK.
% >> THANK YOU, THANKS FOR HAVING
% ME.
% >> TONIGHT WE BRING YOU THE
% SECOND OF TWO INTERVIEWS OF THE
% CANDIDATES FOR SECRETARY OF
% STATE.
% LAST WEEK WE TALKED WITH
% DEMOCRATIC INCUMBENT, SECRETARY
% DOUG LA FOLLETTE.
% NEXT WE HEAR FROM REPUBLICAN
% REPRESENTATIVE AMY LOUDENBECK OF
% CLINTON.
% FIRST ELECTED TO THE STATE
% ASSEMBLY IN 2010 AND SERVES AS
% VICE CHAIR OF THE FINANCE
% COMMITTEE.
% AMY LOUDENBECK, THANKS FOR BEING
% HERE.%>> THANKS FOR HAVING M
E.
% >> FIRST, WHY DO YOU WANT TO BE
% SECRETARY OF STATE?
% >> WELL, THE OFFICE CAN BE
% IMPORTANT AND I BELIEVE IT'S
% BEEN NEGLECTED FOR TOO LONG.
% I'M EXCITED TO HAVE THE
% OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY RESTORE
% PURPOSE AND RESPECT TO AN OFFICE
% THAT IS CONSTITUTIONAL, DIRECTLY
% ACCOUNTABLE TO THE VOTERS AND I
% SEE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THAT
% OFFICE WORK AGAIN FOR THE
% PEOPLE.
% >> NOW, YOU WOULD LIKE TO MOVE
% ADMINISTRATION OF ELECTIONS TO
% THAT OFFICE.
% WHY?
% >> I HAVE SUGGESTED THAT AN
% ALTERNATIVE TO THE WISCONSIN
% ELECTION COMMISSION COULD
% INCLUDE A SECRETARY OF STATE.
% I'M SUPPORTIVE OF A NEW MODEL
% AND I THINK THAT WHEN YOU LOOK
% AT WHAT OTHER STATES DO,
% SECRETARIES OF STATE ARE
% RESPONSIBLE FOR CERTAIN DUTIES
% AND RESPONSIBILITIES WITH
% REGARDS TO ADMINISTERING
% ELECTIONS.%IT'S A MINISTERIAL
POSITION.
% I'M NOT ADVOCATING FOR COMPLETE
% POWER OR CONTROL OVER ELECTIONS.
% I AM ADVOCATING FOR A NEW MODEL
% THAT UTILIZES THIS
% CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICE IN ANY WAY
% THAT IT CAN ADD VALUE TO THAT
% ROLE.
% >> DOESN'T MOVING ELECTION
% ADMINISTRATION INTO THAT ELECTED
% OFFICE POLITICIZE THE FUNCTION,
% THOUGH?
% >> I'VE BEEN REALLY CLEAR AS
% I'VE BEEN CAMPAIGNING THAT I AM
% NOT TALKING ABOUT UNILATERAL
% POWER.
% I AM PROPOSING DUTIES AND
% RESPONSIBILITIES THAT ARE
% MINISTERIAL IN NATURE, THAT
% COULD BE TRANSFERRED TO THAT
% OFFICE.
% LOCAL CLERKS IN WISCONSIN RUN
% ELECTIONS.
% WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT IS
% TRAINING OR GUIDANCE OR
% MAINTAINING THE VOTER ROLLS.
% DUTIES THAT, LIKE I SAID, ARE
% MINISTERIAL IN NATURE AND NOT
% DISCRETIONARY.
% >> HERE'S WHAT THE INCUMBENT
% CHALLENGER SAID LAST WEEK
% "TRUMPITE REPUBLICANS ACROSS THE
% COUNTRY ARE TRYING TO TAKE
% CONTROL OF SECRETARY OF STATE
% OFFICES SO THEY CAN MAYBE FIDDLE
% WITH THE ELECTION," HE SAID, "IN
% 2024."
% >> PERHAPS IT'S HAPPENING IN
% OTHER STATES WHERE SECRETARY OF
% STATE HAVE MORE POWER THAN HERE,
% BUT THAT IS NOT THE CASE HERE.
% I AM RUNNING BECAUSE DOUG LA
% FOLLETTE DOES NOT THINK THE
% OFFICE IS IMPORTANT AND I DO.
% WE DON'T HAVE A SECRETARY OF
% STATE THAT TAKES HIS JOB
% SERIOUSLY, I WILL.
% THAT'S WHY I'M RUNNING.
% >> SO THE ONLY WAY TO MOVE
% ELECTIONS FUNCTIONS, I WOULD
% THINK, TO THE SECRETARY OF
% STATE'S OFFICE IS IF A
% REPUBLICAN IS ELECTED GOVERNOR.
% I ALSO SEE SPEAKER ROBIN VOSS
% HAS ENDORSED YOU.
% WOULD HE CEDE ANY KIND OF
% LEGISLATIVE OVERSIGHT OF
% ELECTIONS TO YOUR OFFICE SHOULD
% YOU BE ELECTED, HAVE YOU SPOKEN
% WITH HIM ABOUT THAT?
% >> HE HAS STATED HE IS NOT
% INTERESTING IN TRANSFERRING
% POWER TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE
% TO OVERSEE ELECTIONS, LIKE I
% SAID I'M TALKING ABOUT DUTIES
% AND I THINK MY RELATIONSHIP WITH
% THE REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURE IS,
% AND THE DEMOCRATS IN THE
% LEGISLATURE, IS THE STRONG ONE
% AND IT'S ONE THAT IS BORNE ON
% MUTUAL RESPECT AND RESULTS.
% WHEN WE HAVE THE CONVERSATIONS,
% LET'S NOT FORGET WE HAVE THE
% OFFICE TO ADD VALUE TO THE
% PROCESS OF ELECTION OVERSIGHT
% AND ADMINISTRATION.
% THAT'S THE FIRST STEP, I THINK
% FOR A LONG CONVERSATION THAT IS
% GOING TO BE PART OF THE NEXT
% LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
% BUT AT A MINIMUM, IF ELECTED, MY
% GOAL WOULD BE TO MODERNIZE THE
% OFFICE, TO BE RESPONSIVE TO
% REQUEST FOR AUTHENTICATION OF
% DOCUMENTS, TO BE A BILLION
% DOLLAR BOARD MEMBER FOR THE
% BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ABOUT
% PUBLIC LANDS AND ACTIVELY ENGAGE
% IN THE ROLE THAT CURRENTLY
% EXISTS FOR THE SECRETARY OF
% STATE THAT I SEE AS BEING
% NEGLECTED RIGHT NOW.
% >> WHAT WOULD YOU DESCRIBE AS
% YOUR BEST ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN
% YOUR CAREER IN THE LEGISLATURE?
% >> WELL, OF THE OVER 50 BILLS
% THAT I HAVE HAD PASSED AND
% SIGNED INTO LAW SINCE I'VE BEEN
% IN OFFICE, IT'S DIFFICULT, YOU
% CAN'T REALLY CHOOSE AMONG YOUR
% CHILDREN.%BUT I'VE DONE A LO
T FOR PUBLIC
% SAFETY, I'VE DONE A LOT IN
% REGARDS TO HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND
% CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.
% BEEN A REALLY DILIGENT MEMBER OF
% THE JOINT FINANCE COMMITTEE TO
% PRIORITIZE OUR EXPENSES BUT ALSO
% BE FISCALLY CONSERVATIVE AND
% TURN A SURPLUS THAT OUR STATE
% HAS NEVER SEEN BEFORE.
% WHEN I CAME INTO OFFICE WE HAD A
% SIGNIFICANT DEFICIT, A LOT OF
% THINGS I CAN BE PROUD OF.
% >> WHY SHOULD VOTERS ELECT YOU
% OVER THE LONG TIME INCUMBENT?
% >> BECAUSE I THINK THIS JOB IS
% IMPORTANT, I WANT IT TO BE
% IMPORTANT, I DON'T THINK HE
% TAKES THIS ROLE SERIOUSLY, I
% THINK HE'S BECOME COMPLACENT AND
% I THINK HE'S BECOME ARROGANT AND
% I THINK WE DESERVE A SECRETARY
% OF STATE THAT HAS RESPECT FROM
% BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE AND I
% INTEND TO DO THAT AND DO THAT
% WELL AND WITH A CONSISTENT WORK
% ETHIC AND DIPLOMACY THAT THE JOB
% REQUIRES.
% >> AMY LOUDENBECK, THANKS VERY
% MUCH.
% >> THANK YOU.
% >> FOR MORE ON THIS AND OTHER
% ISSUES FACING WISCONSIN, VISIT
% OUR WEBSITE AT WBSWISCONSIN.ORG
% AND CLICK ON THE NEWS TAB.
% THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT.
% I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
% HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.
% >> FUNDING FOR "HERE & NOW" IS
% PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
% JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS %
ISCONSIN.