% >> SO TONIGHT I'M DECLARING 2023
% THE YEAR OF MENTAL HEALTH.
% >> GOVERNOR TONY EVERS DELIVERS%
HIS STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS.
% REPUBLICANS RESPOND.
% AND ABORTION RIGHS SUPPORTERS
% COMMEMORATE 50 YEARS SINCE THE
% LANDMARK CASE OF ROE V. WADE.
% I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
% TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW."
% IN THE YEAR OF MENTAL HEALTH, A
% LOOK AT HOW CHILDREN ARE FARING.
% WISCONSIN FOOD BANKS READY FOR
% AN END TO EXPANDED FOOD SHARE
% BENEFITS.
% AND THE NEXT IN OUR SERIES OF
% INTERVIEWS WITH CANDIDATES FOR
% THE STATE SUPREME COURT.
% THIS WEEK, JANET PROTASIEWICZ.
% IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR
% JANUARY 27.
% FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS%
PROVIDED BY THE FCUS FUND FOR%JO
URNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS% WISCON
SIN.
% >> THIS WEEK, GOVERNOR TONY
% EVERS DELIVERED HIS FIFTH STATE
% OF THE STATE ADDRESS BEFORE THE
% FULL LEGISLATURE, COVERING A
% WIDE RANGE OF PRIORITIES FROM
% MENTAL HEALTH AND FOREVER
% CHEMICALS, TO TAX RELIEF AND
% SHARED REVENUE.
% ALL OF WHICH FORESHADOW WHAT WE
% CAN EXPECT TO SEE IN HIS
% FORTHCOMING BUDGET, WHICH THE
% GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATURE
% WILL HAVE A WHOPPING PROJECTED
% $7.1 BILLION SURPLUS TO WORK
% WITH.
% >> WE CAN CONTINUE OUR PROGRESS
% MAKING THE WISE INVESTMENTS
% WE'VE LONG NEEDED TO DO, AND NOT
% BECAUSE ANYONE WANTS TO MAKE
% GOVERNMENT BIGGER, BUT BECAUSE
% WISCONSINITES WANT A GOVERNMENT
% THAT WORKS AND WORKS BETTER.
% WE HAVE ROADS AND BRIDGES TO
% FIX, SCHOOLS TO FUND, KIDS TO
% SUPPORT, COMMUNITIES TO KEEP
% SAFE, WATER TO KEEP CLEAN AND A
% FUTURE WE BUILD TOGETHER AFTER
% YEARS OF NEGLECT THAT TODAY WE
% MUST WORK TO PROTECT.
% >> WISCONSIN REPUBLICANS WILL
% NOT RAISE YOUR TAXES, AND WE
% WON'T PASS A BUDGET THAT DOESN'T
% HAVE SIGNIFICANT TAX REFORM.
% WE WILL NOT GROW THE SIZE OF
% GOVERNMENT BEYOND OUR ABILITY TO
% PAY.
% WE WILL FIGHT TO EXPAND CHOICES
% FOR PARENTS IN EVERY ZIP CODE IN%
WISCONSIN.
% WE WILL MAKE SURE OUR NEIGHBORS
% GET A HAND UP AND NOT A%PERM
ANENT HANDOUT.
% AND WE WILL INVEST IN OUR
% PRIORITIES TO MAKE SURE THAT
% GOVERNMENT AT EVERY LEVEL CAN
% OPERATE EFFICIENTLY.
% >> IN DECLARING 2023 "THE YEAR
% OF MENTAL HEALTH," EVERS TUESDAY
% ANNOUNCED SPENDING $270 MILLION
% TO ENSURE EVERY STUDENT HAS
% ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH
% SERVICES.
% BECAUSE AMONG CHILDREN, ANXIETY,
% DEPRESSION AND SUICIDE REPORTS
% ARE UP.
% AND A THIRD SAY THEY FEEL SAD OR%
HOPELESS EVERY DAY.
% THIS IS ACCORDING TO THE OFFICE
% OF CHILDREN'S MENTAL HEALTH.
% TO UNDERSTAND MORE ABOUT STUDENT
% STRUGGLES, WE TURN TO CINDY
% BOURGET, AN ACADEMIC COUNSELSOR%
AT ELK MOUND MIDDLE SCHOOL.
% SHE'S BEEN NAMED COUNSELOR OF
% THE YEAR BY THE WISCONSIN SCHOOL
% COUNSELOR ASSOCIATION, AND HER
% SCHOOL HAS ALSO RECEIVED THE
% PROGRAM OF PROMISE AWARD FOR
% THEIR WORK WITH STUDENTS.
% SHE JOINS US NOW.
% AND CINDY, THANKS VERY MUCH FOR
% BEING HERE.
% >> OF COURSE.
% THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
% >> SO HOW WELCOME IS THE
% ATTENTION AND POTENTIAL FUNDING
% FOR STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH?
% >> IT'S VERY WELCOME AND VERY
% NEEDED.
% WE'RE VERY EXCITED THAT PEOPLE
% ARE STARTING TO PAY ATTENTION TO
% THE NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS, AND
% WHEN I SAY PEOPLE, OUR COMMUNITY
% HAS ALWAYS KNOWN THAT OUR
% STUDENTS NEED SUPPORT, AND IT'S
% JUST NICE TO GET THE VALIDATION
% THAT EVERYONE IS STARTING TO
% NOTICE THAT.
% >> BECAUSE HOW BIG IS THE NEED
% AND WHAT ARE YOU SEEING ON THE
% GROUND WITH YOUR STUDENTS?
% >> THE NEED IS GROWING.
% I WOULD SAY THAT THE CONCERNS
% AND ISSUES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN
% THERE, BUT THE STRESSORS THAT
% THE PANDEMIC BROUGHT HAS REALLY
% BROUGHT THAT SPOTLIGHT TO THOSE
% NEEDS.
% SO FOR EXAMPLE, WE AS SCHOOL
% COUNSELORS FOCUS ON ACADEMICS,
% SO THEIR ACHIEVEMENT, WE FOCUS
% ON THEIR ATTENDANCE AND WE FOCUS
% ON THEIR BEHAVIOR.
% AND HERE IN ELK MOUND, WE HAVE
% BEEN FOCUSING ON ABSENTEEISM,
% BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN SEEING AN
% INCREASE OF SCHOOL AVOIDANCE AND
% ANXIETY SINCE GOING VIRTUAL AND
% COMING BACK.
% >> AND SO SCHOOL AVOIDANCE GOES
% TO ANXIETY.
% HOW SO?
% I MEAN, WHAT ARE STUDENTS MORE
% ANXIOUS ABOUT?
% >> AND I THINK WE ALL, AS
% PEOPLE, HAVE FELT THAT URGE WHEN
% WE'RE ANXIOUS TO AVOID
% SOMETHING.
% AND SO STUDENTS TEND TO BE
% WORRIED ABOUT THINGS LIKE
% GRADES, THEY GET WORRIED ABOUT
% THINGS LIKE HOW THEY'RE GOING TO
% INTERACT WITH THEIR FRIENDS, BUT
% THERE'S ALSO THAT ADDED WORRY OF
% I'M NOT WITH MY PARENT, AND I'VE
% BEEN WITH MY PARENT FOR THE LAST
% TWO YEARS AND WHAT'S HAPPENING
% WHEN I'M NOT WITH THEM?
% AND TO BE QUITE HONEST WITH YOU,
% A LOT OF OUR STUDENTS ARE NOT
% ABLE TO IDENTIFY WHY THEY'RE
% ANXIOUS.
% IT'S JUST THERE.
% AND SO WHAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING
% IS FOCUSING ON BUILDING UP THE
% RESILIENCY TO BE ABLE TO
% OVERCOME THAT ANXIETY.
% >> HOW DO YOU BUILD RESILIENCY?
% WHAT ARE THE STEPS, WHAT ARE THE
% TOOLS?
% >> IT'S MULTIFACETED, REALLY.
% BUT AS THE SCHOOL COUNSELOR, THE
% BEAUTY OF BEING ABLE TO USE
% DATA, WHICH WE ARE USING
% ABSENTEEISM, LIKE THE RATES OF
% ABSENCES, TO BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY
% WHICH STUDENTS NEED ONE ON ONE
% SUPPORT AND WHAT STUDENTS NEED
% GENERAL SUPPORT.
% SO FOR ME AS THE SCHOOL
% COUNSELOR, I DO PROGRAMMING WITH
% SMALL GROUPS, I DO A GROUP WHERE
% WE TALK ABOUT GROWTH MINDSET,
% HOW TO SIT IN THE UNCOMFORTABLE
% AND THOSE FEELINGS OF WANTING TO
% BE AWAY.
% BUT MY STAFF HAS ALSO BEEN
% WONDERFUL BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN
% IMPLEMENTING PROGRAMMING IN
% THEIR HOME ROOMS SO ALL STUDENTS
% ARE GETTING INSTRUCTION ON HOW
% TO DEAL WITH ANXIETY AND BUILD
% THE RESILIENCY BACK.
% >> AND HAVE YOU SEEN A CHANGE IN
% EITHER ATTENDANCE OR BEHAVIOR OR
% OVERALL KIND OF A SENSE OF
% WELL-BEING AMONGST THE STUDENTS?
% >> I WOULD SAY YES.
% OUR DATA IS SHOWING THAT OUR
% STUDENTS WITH THE HIGHEST RATES
% OF ABSENTEEISM HAVE GONE FROM
% 85% OF DAYS TO 90% OF DAYS.
% SO IT'S A 5% INCREASE
% SPECIFICALLY AMONG OUR HIGHEST
% RATES, AND THEN OVERALL, OUR
% RATES OF STUDENTS FEELING
% CONNECTED TO THEIR BUILDING AND
% THEIR STAFF HAS INCREASED 15% AS
% WELL.
% SO IT CAN REALLY HAVE SOME
% SIGNIFICANT CHANGES AND SOME
% SIGNIFICANT ATTITUDE CHANGES
% WITH OUR STUDENTS.
% >> AND HOW DO YOU BRING THE
% FAMILIES INTO THIS KIND OF MIX
% OF WELLNESS?
% >> YOU MAKE A WONDERFUL POINT,
% BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST THE SCHOOL
% BUILDING WHERE THESE FEELINGS
% COME FROM.
% AND EVERYONE IN A STUDENT'S LIFE
% IS REACTING DIFFERENTLY TO THE
% STRESS, AND THAT'S KIND OF THE
% NATURE OF LIFE TOO, BECAUSE
% THERE'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE
% STRESS.
% SO WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING WITH
% FAMILIES IS TEACHING THEM HOW TO
% SUPPORT THEIR CHILD WHEN THEY'RE
% STRESSED, QUICK LITTLE THINGS ON
% HOW TO BE ABLE TO RESPOND WHEN A
% STUDENT DOESN'T WANT TO COME TO
% SCHOOL, BUT ALSO WE USE A
% PROGRAM CALLED CARE SOLACE,
% WHERE ANYONE IN THE CRICK DISTR,
% YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE A STUDENT
% IN THE BUILDING, YOU DON'T HAVE
% TO WORK HERE, CAN USE THIS
% SERVICE TO BE ABLE TO BE
% CONNECTED TO OUTSIDE COUNSELING
% SERVICES SO WHEN THE PROBLEMS
% GET TOO BIG, WE HERE AT THE
% SCHOOL ARE CONNECTING YOU TO
% RORESOURCES YOU NEED.
% >> YOU HAVE A MENTAL HEALTH
% COORDINATOR.
% HOW MEANINGFUL HAS THAT BEEN
% TOWARD HELPING THE SCHOOL
% COMMUNITY?%>> IT HAS BEEN A G
AME CHANGER,
% REALLY.
% BECAUSE AS SCHOOL COUNSELORS,
% WE'RE HERE TO HELP STUDENTS
% WITHIN THE SCHOOL DAY AND WITHIN
% THE SCHOOL BUILDING WITH THEIR
% ACADEMICS, THEIR ATTENDANCE AND
% THEIR BEHAVIOR.
% BUT ANXIETY AND MENTAL HEALTH
% DOESN'T JUST AFFECT THAT.
% SO WHEN WE HAVE A STUDENT WHO
% HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS HAVING A
% HIGHER NEED, AND SO WHAT THAT
% MEANS IS THAT THEY'VE BEEN
% MEETING WITH ME PRETTY
% CONSISTENTLY, WE AREN'T SEEING
% IMPROVEMENT IN GRADES OR
% ATTENDANCE, THEN IT'S MAYBE TIME
% TO CONNECT THEM WITH SOME
% OUTSIDE SERVICES.
% THAT'S WHAT OUR MENTAL HEALTH
% COORDINATOR IS ABLE TO DO, AND
% THEY'RE ABLE TO HELP THE FAMILY
% MANEUVER THAT SYSTEM BECAUSE AS
% WE ALL KNOW, IT CAN BE KIND OF
% TRICKY.
% AND SO WHAT BETTER WAY TO HAVE
% THE SCHOOL HELP THAN TO HELP
% THEM MANEUVER THAT PROCESS.
% >> I DO UNDERSTAND THAT
% COORDINATOR IS A GRANT-FUNDED
% POSITION AND SO IF THERE WERE
% ANY KIND OF SUSTAINABLE FUNDING
% GOING FORWARD, THAT WOULD BE
% VERY WELCOME AS WELL.
% >> I WOULD AGREE.
% SO LISTENING TO THE STATE OF THE
% STATE ADDRESS AND ALL THE
% WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITIES AND
% FUNDINGS THAT WE'RE BEING
% PROVIDED ARE VERY WELCOMED AND
% VERY APPRECIATED, BUT AS YOU'RE
% WORKING WITH A STUDENT WHO IS
% WITH YOU FROM K-12, SO UP TO 15
% YEARS, BEING ABLE TO HAVE A
% CONSISTENT SOURCE OF INCOME TO
% MAKE SURE THAT THOSE SUPPORTS
% ARE THERE THEIR ENTIRE SCHOOL
% CAREER IS REALLY ESSENTIAL.
% SO AS WE MOVE FORWARD AND AS WE
% REALLY LOOK AT THOSE CONCERNS,
% CONSIDERING CONSISTENT FUNDING
% WOULD BE APPRECI APPRECIATED.
% >> WE LEAVE IT THERE.
% CINDY BOURGET, THANK YOU VERY
% MUCH.%>> THANK YOU.
% >> FOR 24-HOUR HELP, THE CRISIS
% LIFE LINE CAN BE REACHED BY
% CALLING 988.
% IN OTHER STATE NEWS, FEBRUARY
% WILL BE THE LAST MONTH THAT
% PEOPLE IN WISCONSIN WILL RECEIVE
% EXPANDED FOODSHARE BENEFITS
% UNDER A FEDERAL PROGRAM THAT
% BEGAN DURING THE PANDEMIC.
% SOME 400,000 HOUSEHOLDS IN THE
% STATE STRUGGLE TO AFFORD FOOD
% AND RECEIVE FOODSHARE.
% UNDER THE FORMULA FOR
% INCOME-ELIGIBLE PARTICIPANTS, A
% HOUSEHOLD OF ONE PERSON, FOR
% EXAMPLE, RECEIVES $281 PER MONTH
% IN REGULAR FOODSHARE BENEFITS
% PLUS THE EXTRA $95, UNTIL THAT
% EXTRA AMOUNT ENDS MARCH 1ST.
% THE FEED MY PEOPLE FOOD BANK IN
% EAU CLAIRE HAS ALREADY SEEN
% INCREASED DEMAND, WITH 2 1/2
% TIMES THE NUMBER OF CARS COMING
% TO A POP-UP DISTRIBUTION SITE
% AFTER FAMILIES WERE NOTIFIED
% THAT THE EXTRA BENEFITS ARE
% ENDING.
% WE GO NOW TO THEIR EXECUTIVE
% DIRECTOR, SUZANNE BECKER, FOR%
MORE.
% AND THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING
% HERE.
% >> I'M HAPPY TO BE HERE.
% >> SO IN ADDITION TO PEOPLE
% TRYING TO PREPARE FOR THE END OF
% THIS EXTRA BENEFIT, DESCRIBE HOW
% BUSY YOU'VE BEEN OVER THE PAST
% SEVERAL YEARS.
% >> I CAN TELL YOU THAT RIGHT NOW
% AS WE'RE SPEAKING, WE HAVE --
% WE'RE DOING A DISTRIBUTION AND
% WE HAVE A LINE LONGER THAN WE
% HAVE SEEN SINCE THE HEART OF THE
% PANDEMIC.
% A LOT OF FOLKS -- AND WE'VE
% TALKED TO A LOT OF THESE FOLKS
% AND THEY'RE CONCERNED, THEY'RE
% AFRAID.
% THE HIGHER FOODSHARE BENEFITS
% HAVE BEEN A GAME CHANGER FOR
% MANY PEOPLE, NOT ONLY THROUGH
% THE PANDEMIC BUT ALSO THROUGH
% INFLATION AND THE HIGH COST OF
% LIVING RIGHT NOW, SO THIS IS
% GOING TO BE VERY DIFFICULT, VERY
% DIFFICULT TO MANY.
% >> AND YET THAT EXPANDED BENEFIT
% IS JUST A MAX OF $95, BUT STILL
% YOU SAY A GAME CHANGER?
% >> OH, YEAH.
% YES.
% IT HAS BEEN.
% AND WE KNOW THAT, THAT SENIORS
% AND FAMILIES, WORKING FAMILIES,
% IT'S JUST BEEN WHAT THEY NEEDED
% TO KEEP PAYING THE BILLS, TO
% KEEP PROVIDING FOR THEIR
% FAMILIES, AND THIS IS GOING TO
% BE DIFFICULT.
% >> BECAUSE WHAT KIND OF STRAIN
% HAVE PRICES OF FOOD PUT ON YOUR
% FOOD BANK?
% >> YEAH, VERY TRUE.
% YOU KNOW, THE FOOD SUPPLY, WHEN
% YOU DON'T SEE FOOD ON YOUR
% GROCERY SHELVES, IT'S CERTAINLY
% NOT HITTING THE FOOD BANK.
% SO WHAT IT'S CAUSED IS FOOD
% BANKS ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO
% SPEND A LOT MORE MONEY ON
% PURCHASING FOOD TO MAKE SURE
% THAT WE HAVE ENOUGH AS OPPOSED
% TO THE DONATED FOOD.
% AND OF COURSE THAT COSTS A LOT
% OF MONEY.
% AND THEN WHEN WE SEE HIGHER
% COSTS, AND OF COURSE HIGHER GAS
% PRICES AFFECT OUR TRUCKS, HIGHER
% UTILITY COSTS, ALL OF THAT
% AFFECTS THE FOOD BANK AS WELL,
% BUT YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO DO
% WHATEVER WE CAN TO FILL THE GAP
% FOR FOLKS.
% >> HAVE YOU BEEN ABLE TO KIND OF
% KEEP PACE WITH THE DEMAND, WITH
% ALL OF THOSE THINGS THAT YOU
% WERE JUST DESCRIBING?
% >> WE HAVE.
% WE HAVE.
% YOU KNOW, WE WORK -- WE'RE STILL
% FEEDING AMERICA, AND OUR
% COMMUNITY STEPS UP AND THEY HAVE
% DONE, YOU KNOW, TREMENDOUS
% THINGS.
% WE JUST HAVE TO DO WHAT WE CAN.
% WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO DO IT
% AND, YOU KNOW, WE JUST HOPE THAT
% FOLKS WILL COME FOR HELP.
% WE KNOW THAT THERE'S A LOT OF
% PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO HAVE NOT
% HAD TO DO THIS BEFORE, COME TO
% OUR DISTRIBUTION, OR COME TO A
% DISTRIBUTION IN THEIR COMMUNITY,
% AND WE REALLY HOPE, WE REALLY
% ENCOURAGE THAT ANYBODY LISTENING
% WILL ENCOURAGE THAT THEY DO
% THAT.
% THERE IS HELP THERE.
% WE WILL DO WHAT IT TAKES UNTIL
% THIS -- UNTIL THIS -- YOU KNOW,
% UNTIL WE'RE ABLE TO COME BACK TO
% A PLACE THAT FOLKS CAN DO WHAT
% THEY CAN DO.
% >> SO WE KNOW THAT PEOPLE ARE
% KIND OF TRYING TO PREPARE FOR
% THE END OF THAT EXTRA BENEFIT,
% BUT WHAT HAVE FOLKS SAID TO YOU
% ABOUT HOW THEY WILL WEATHER LESS
% OF A FOOD BUDGET COME MARCH?
% >> WE DID A SURVEY NOT THAT LONG
% AGO, AND IT WAS BASED AROUND
% INFLATION BUT IT'S THE SAME TYPE
% OF THING, AND THERE WAS A LOT OF
% DISCUSSION OF, YOU KNOW, WE'RE
% KEEPING OUR EAT VERY, -- KEEPIT
% VERY, VERY LOW, THAT PARENTS ARE
% GOING WITHOUT SO THEIR KIDS CAN
% HAVE WHAT THEY NEED.
% WE'RE WORRIED ABOUT SENIORS.
% SENIORS IS AN AREA OF FOLKS THAT
% STRUGGLE TO GET TO A FOOD
% PANTRY, STRUGGLE TO GET OUT
% BECAUSE OF TRANSPORTATION, AND
% ALSO THERE'S SUCH A PRIDE FACTOR
% WITH SENIORS THAT WE FEEL LIKE
% WE REALLY NEED TO BE PROACTIVE
% IN TRYING TO REACH THEM.
% SO THERE'S A LOT OF WAYS THAT
% PEOPLE WILL, YOU KNOW, FIGURE IT
% OUT.
% IT JUST NOT -- YOU KNOW, IT
% TRICKLES DOWN TO OUR KIDS.
% I HAD A MOM TELL ME THAT THEY
% WERE DOING EVERYTHING THEY COULD
% TO HIDE IT FROM THEIR KIDS
% BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T WANT THEIR
% KIDS TO UNDERSTAND THAT THEY
% WERE STRUGGLING, AND AS A MOM OF
% 2, THAT JUST HURTS MY HEART.
% WE NEED TO -- WE NEED TO PROVIDE
% THE SUPPORT THAT THEY NEED.
% >> IN TERMS OF HELPING SENIORS
% WHO MIGHT EVEN BE HOME-BOUND,
% ARE THERE EXTRA STEPS BEING
% TAKEN THERE?
% >> WE DO WORK WITH
% MEALS-ON-WHEELS, AND WE PROVIDE
% SUPPLEMENTAL FOOD BAGS TO THEM,
% AND THOSE ARE MEANT TO BE
% SUPPLEMENTAL, JUST SO THEY HAVE
% MORE, AND ALSO, YOU KNOW,
% BECAUSE WE LIVE IN WISCONSIN AND
% THERE'S WINTER, AND SO WHEN
% MEALS-ON-WHEELS CAN'T DELIVER,
% THAT PROVIDES FOOD FOR THEM.
% WE HAVE JUST DONE A DISTRIBUTION
% AND WE HOPE TO DO ANOTHER ONE
% SOON.
% WONDERFUL TO BE ABLE TO WORK
% WITH MEALS-ON-WHEELS, WHO CAN
% ALREADY IDENTIFY WHO THOSE FOLKS
% ARE.%>> ABSOLUTELY.
% WELL, SUZANNE BECKER, THANK YOU
% FOR YOUR WORK.
% >> THANK YOU.
% THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
% >> AS THE NATION AND WISCONSIN
% MARKED THE 50-YEAR ANNIVERSARY
% OF THE ROE V. WADE DECISION THIS
% WEEK, WE TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO
% HEAR FROM YOUNG PEOPLE ACROSS
% STATE AS DOBBS V. JACKSON HAS
% NOW REVERTED ABORTION LAW TO THE
% STATES.
% WHEN ASKED WHAT ISSUES ARE MOST
% IMPORTANT TO THEM, MANY YOUNG
% VOTERS SAID ABORTION RIGHTS.
% >> I THINK WOMEN, A WOMAN'S%
RIGHT TO CHOOSE, IS VERY% IMPORTANT.
% >> BY OVERTURNING ROE, AFFLUENT
% WOMEN WILL ALWAYS BE ABLE TO GET
% ABORTIONS.
% THEY'LL ALWAYS BE ABLE TO GET
% SAFE ABORTIONS.
% BUT WOMEN IN UNDERSERVED
% COMMUNITIES, WOMEN OF COLOR,
% WOMEN WHO LIVE BELOW THE POVERTY
% LINE OR JUST AT THE POVERTY
% LINE, THEIR LIVES WILL BE PUT IN
% DANGER BECAUSE THEY WON'T BE
% ABLE TO GET SAFE ABORTIONS.
% >> IT TOOK AWAY OUR ABILITY TO
% HAVE THE SAY WHETHER WE WANT TO
% BE A PARENT OR NOT.
% >> IT ALMOST FEELS LIKE GUNS
% HAVE MORE RIGHTS THAN WOMEN.
% >> IT'S IMPORTANT TO ME BECAUSE
% AS A YOUNG GIRL WHO STILL HAS
% LIKE THE REST OF HER LIFE AHEAD
% OF HER, KNOWING THAT A CHOICE
% LIKE THAT HAS KIND OF BEEN
% STRIPPED AWAY, IT'S SCARY.
% LIKE KNOWING THAT IF I COULDN'T
% AFFORD IT OR IF IT WAS LIKE IF I
% GOT SEXUALLY ASSAULTED OR
% SOMETHING LIKE THAT, LIKE I%
WOULD STILL HAVE TO CARRY THE% BABY
.
% AND EVEN IF I COULD DIE IN THE
% PROCESS, OR IF I KNEW THE BABY
% WOULDN'T MAKE IT, I WOULD STILL
% HAVE TO HAVE IT.
% >> I THINK IT WILL CAUSE A LOT
% MORE NEGATIVE SIDE EFFECTS DOWN
% THE ROAD THAN WHAT PEOPLE THINK.
% >> IN "HERE AND NOW" 2023
% ELECTION REPORTING, THE SECOND
% IN OUR SERIES OF INTERVIEWS WITH
% THE CANDIDATES RUNNING IN THE
% FEBRUARY 21 PRIMARY FOR THE%
WISCONSIN SUPREME COURT.
% THERE ARE FOUR PRIMARY
% CANDIDATES VYING FOR TWO SPOTS
% MOVING TO THE APRIL 4 GENERAL
% ELECTION, TWO CONSERVATIVES AND
% TWO LIBERALS, AND WHOEVER WINS
% WILL DETERMINE THE IDEOLOGICAL
% BALANCE OF THE COURT.
% MILWAUKEE COUNTY CIRCUIT JUDGE
% JANET PROTASIEWICZ IS ONE OF THE
% LIBERALS IN THE RACE.
% SHE WAS A MILWAUKEE COUNTY
% ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY FOR
% 26 YEARS BEFORE BEING ELECTED TO
% THE MILWAUKEE COUNTY CIRCUIT
% COURT IN 2014.
% HERE'S SENIOR POLITICAL REPORTER
% ZAC SCHULTZ WITH JUDGE
% PROTASIEWICZ.%>> WHAT WERE S
OME OF THE REASONS
% THAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO WANT TO
% ENTER THE RACE?
% >> HOW CRITICALLY IMPORTANT THE
% RACE IS.
% AND HOW CRITICALLY HIGH THE
% STAKES IN THIS RACE ARE.
% I WAS AT A PRETTY COMFORTABLE
% POSITION IN MY LIFE, QUITE
% FRANKLY, AND I SAT ABOUT BACK BD
% STARTED THINKING ABOUT THIS RACE
% LAST SPRING.
% THE MORE I THOUGHT ABOUT IT, THE
% MORE I COULDN'T SIT BACK AND LET
% PARTISAN FAR RIGHT EXTREMISTS
% HIJACK OUR SUPREME COURT.
% BECAUSE EVERYTHING WE CARE ABOUT
% IS ON THE LINE.
% EVERYTHING I CARE ABOUT IS ON
% THE LINE.
% I THINK THAT EVERYTHING MANY,
% MANY PEOPLE CARE ABOUT IS ON THE
% LINE.
% I'VE HAD CONTESTED RACES.
% I LIKE TO CAMPAIGN.
% I LIKE PEOPLE.
% THE ISSUES ARE SO ABSOLUTELY
% CRITICAL.
% I DECIDED TO GET INTO THE RACE.
% >> HOW DID YOU COME TO THE
% DECISION ON HOW YOU WOULD TALK
% TO VOTERS ABOUT WHAT YOU CARE
% ABOUT VERSUS SOME OTHER
% CANDIDATES IN THIS ELECTION WHO
% ARE TRYING TO KEEP EVERYTHING
% PRETTY PLAIN, TALKING ABOUT THE
% LAW AND THE CONSTITUTION?
% >> WELL, RIGHT, AND, I MEAN, I
% THINK THAT WE PRETTY MUCH KNOW
% HOW MUCH PEOPLE CARE ABOUT
% CERTAIN ISSUES.
% WE PRETTY MUCH KNOW.
% SO MY POSITION REALLY IS PEOPLE
% WHO ARE JUST TALKING ABOUT THE
% CONSTITUTION AND THE LAW, THAT'S
% A PERSONAL CHOICE OF THEIRS, I
% SUPPOSE.%ON THE OTHER HAND, T
HEY MAY NOT
% WISH TO SHARE WHAT THEIR VALUES
% OR IDEAS ARE ON SOME OF THE
% ISSUES THAT ARE REALLY, REALLY
% IMPORTANT TO VOTERS.
% SO WHEN I TALK TO VOTERS, I SAY
% I CAN TELL YOU WHAT MY VALUES
% ARE.
% I CAN'T TELL YOU WHAT I WILL DO
% ON ANY PARTICULAR CASE.
% BUT I'LL TELL YOU WHAT MY VALUES
% ARE, I TELL YOU WHAT I THINK IS
% IMPORTANT.
% AND THAT'S REALLY HOW I FRAME IT
% WHEN I TALK TO PEOPLE, BECAUSE
% OBVIOUSLY I HAVE TO FOLLOW THE
% CONSTITUTION.
% OBVIOUSLY I HAVE TO FOLLOW THE
% LAW.
% BUT PEOPLE ARE VERY, VERY
% CONCERNED ABOUT A WIDE VARIETY
% OF ISSUES.
% THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT WOMEN'S
% RIGHT TO CHOOSE.
% THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT FAIR
% MAPS.
% THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT
% COMMUNITY SAFETY.
% THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT CLEAN
% WATER.
% THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT MARRIAGE
% EQUALITY.
% SO WE TALK ABOUT THOSE ISSUES IN
% TERMS OF WHAT MY VALUES ARE.
% >> SO HOW DO YOUR VALUES THEN
% TRANSLATE TO DECISIONS FROM THE
% BENCH?
% >> WELL, I STILL HAVE TO FOLLOW
% THE CONSTITUTION.
% I HAVE TO FOLLOW THE LAW.
% BUT I THINK WE ALL KNOW THAT
% THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT ABILITY
% TO INTERPRET THE LAWS.
% THERE'S SIGNIFICANT THINGS THAT
% CAN BE EXHIBIT PRI INTERPRETED T
% WAYS AND YOU CAN TELL THAT JUST
% BASED ON HOW COURTS SPLIT ON
% THEIR DECISIONS AND HOW THERE
% CAN BE A VERY WELL REASONED
% OPINION AND A VERY WELL REASONED
% DISSENT, RIGHT?
% SO YOU CAN TELL THAT THERE ARE,
% YOU KNOW, WELL-THOUGHT-OUT
% DECISIONS ON BOTH SIDES, WITH BT
% IT'S PRETTY CLEAR TO ME, IT'S
% VERY, VERY CLEAR TO ME, THAT
% WOMEN AND MEN IN THIS STATE ARE
% VERY, VERY CONCERNED ABOUT A
% WOMAN'S RIGHT TO CHOOSE.
% VERY, VERY CONCERNED ABOUT IT.
% AND SO I TELL THEM, YOU KNOW,
% YOU SHOULD KNOW MY VALUE.
% AND MY VALUE IS THAT BOTTOM LINE
% IS, YOU KNOW, DISCUSS THE ISSUE
% WITH YOUR CLERGY, DISCUSS IT
% WITH YOUR MEDICAL CARE PROVIDER,
% DISCUSS IT WITH YOUR FAMILY OR
% YOUR SIGNIFICANT OTHER, BUT IN
% THE END, THAT DECISION IS REALLY
% YOUR DECISION.
% THAT'S WHAT MY VALUE IS.
% WHERE WOULD YOU COME DOWN ON IF
% A CASE WAS BROUGHT IN FRONT OF
% THE COURT?
% THAT'S A SEPARATE EVALUATION.
% >> ALONG THIS PATH TOWARDS
% ANNOUNCING AND RUNNING, DID
% ANYONE SAY, WELL, MAYBE YOU
% SHOULDN'T BROADCAST THOSE VALUES
% SO LOUDLY.
% IN THIS KIND OF CAMPAIGN, MAYBE
% THIS IS -- YOU SHOULD CODE YOUR
% LANGUAGE A LITTLE MORE SO THE
% VOTERS KNOW, WITH A WINK, WHAT
% YOU INTEND BUT YOU DON'T SAY IT
% SO PLAINLY.
% >> I DON'T KNOW WHY I WOULD DO
% THAT.
% I MEAN, I CERTAINLY HEAR FROM
% THE FAR RIGHT, SHE'S TELLING YOU
% WHAT SHE'S GOING TO DO.
% THE CRITICISM IS, IF SHE'S
% TELLING YOU WHAT HER VALUES ARE,
% SHE'S TELLING YOU WHAT SHE'S
% GOING TO DO.
% CERTAINLY I'VE HEARD THE
% CRITICISM.
% BUT I THINK VOTERS WANT TO KNOW.
% I MEAN, THESE ISSUES ARE REALLY,
% REALLY ON THE FOREFRONT.
% THEY WANT TO KNOW WHAT KIND OF
% VALUES A SUPREME COURT JUSTICE
% IS GOING TO BRING.
% SO HERE'S WHAT I SAY TO THAT.
% WE HAVE HAD SO MUCH EXTREMISM,
% WE HAVE HAD SO MUCH OF A THUMB
% ON THE SCALE, WE HAVE HAD SO
% MUCH WHERE YOU CAN KIND OF
% PREDETERMINE WHAT THE OUTCOME OF
% A CASE IS GOING TO BE, AND
% THAT'S JUST ABSOLUTELY WRONG.
% YOU NEED A SUPREME COURT JUSTICE
% WHO'S GOING TO FOLLOW THE LAW,
% AND UPHOLD THE CONSTITUTION.
% THAT'S WHAT YOU NEED.
% AND SO YOU NEED TO, LIKE, LET
% PEOPLE KNOW WHAT YOU'RE
% THINKING.
% COMMON SENSE DOESN'T CHANGE.
% TRYING TO GET AWAY FROM ALL OF
% THE EXTREMISM AND BRING COMMON
% SENSE AND CHANGE TO OUR SUPREME
% COURT.
% AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT I KEEP
% GOING BACK TO, COMMON SENSE AND
% CHANGE.
% AND THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE WANT.
% THEY'RE TIRED OF THE DYSFUNCTION
% ON THE SUPREME COURT.
% PEOPLE TELL ME THAT THEY THINK
% THE COURTS SHOULD BE DIFFERENT,
% WHOLLY DIFFERENT, THAN THE
% LEGISLATURE AND FROM TIME TO
% TIME THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH.
% THEY SHOULD BE STEPS ABOVE.
% THEY SHOULD BE PLACES OF
% INTEGRITY.
% AND IT IS SO DIFFERENT, THE ROLE
% OF THE SUPREME COURT, AND THE
% WAY THE SUPREME COURT
% DISTINGUISHES ITSELF, FROM THE
% LEGISLATURES AND SOMETIMES FROM,
% YOU KNOW, THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH.
% IT'S VERY DIFFERENT.
% AND YOU WANT TO BRING THAT BACK.
% YOU WANT TO BRING BACK THAT
% CHANGE, THAT COMMON SENSE, THAT
% DECORUM, THAT DIGNITY, THAT
% INTEGRITY TO THE SUPREME COURT.
% >> WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE OTHER
% CANDIDATES RUNNING IN THIS
% PRIMARY, OBVIOUSLY I'M SURE YOU
% WOULD SAY YOU ARE THE BEST
% CHOICE FOR VOTERS, BUT DO YOU
% THINK THE OTHER CANDIDATES ARE
% ALSO QUALIFIED FOR THE SUPREME
% COURT?%>> I DON'T.
% I THINK YOU HAVE TWO PEOPLE ON
% THE RIGHT WHO ARE VERY SIMILARLY
% ALIGNED THAT ARE VERY EXTREME,
% THAT DON'T REFLECT THE PEOPLE IN
% THIS STATE.
% I HAVE A FRIENDLY OPPONENT ON
% THE LEFT.
% MY OPINION IS I HAVE LONGER,
% BROADER, DEEPER EXPERIENCE THAN
% HE HAS.
% SO, YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHERE I
% COME DOWN.
% >> WHEN YOU HEAR FROM SOMEONE
% LIKE DAN KELLY SAYING THAT,
% WELL, WE CAN PREDICT HOW YOU
% VOTE, YOU'RE SIGNALING TOO MUCH
% BECAUSE OF WHERE YOUR BACKGROUND
% IS, BUT HE CLAIMS THAT HE'S
% COMPLETELY INDEPENDENT, AND NO
% ONE WILL BE ABLE TO TELL, BUT
% HE'S APPEARED AT TRUMP RALLIES,
% HE'S BEEN ENDORSED BY
% REPUBLICANS, HE WAS APPOINTED BY
% A REPUBLICAN.
% IS IT BETTER TO BE OUT AND OPEN
% ABOUT WHERE YOUR SUPPORT IS OR
% TO PRETEND THAT YOU'RE IN A
% LANE?%>> WELL, PRETENDING YO
U'RE IN A
% LANE IS SO DISINGENUOUS.
% I LOOK AT DAN KELLY, HE WAS
% RECENTLY TOURING THE STATE WITH,
% OF ALL PEOPLE, OF ALL PEOPLE,
% MICHAEL GABELMAN ON AN ELECTION
% INTEGRITY TOUR.
% WHAT WERE THEY TRYING TO DO?
% PEDDLE THE BIG LIE THAT THE 2020
% ELECTION WAS STOLEN.
% WE ALL KNOW THAT ELECTION WASN'T
% STOLEN.
% WE KNOW IN HIS LAST RACE, HE WAS
% DOING SOME OF IF NOT ALL OF HIS
% CAMPAIGNING OUT OF THE
% REPUBLICAN PARTY HEADQUARTERS,
% RIGHT?
% SO, YOU KNOW, WHEN HE MADE THE
% COMMENTS THAT HE MADE AT THE
% FORUM, THEY'RE QUITE FRANKLY
% LAUGHABLE.
% THAT THOSE COULD COME OUT OF HIS
% MOUTH.
% WITH A STRAIGHT FACE.
% >> ANOTHER OPPONENT IN THIS RACE
% IS JENNIFER DOROW, AND SHE
% GAINED FAME THROUGH APPEARING AS
% A JUDGE WITH A LOT OF CELEBRITY
% STATUS.%HOW MUCH SHOULD WE P
UT INTO
% THAT, PUSHING HER NAME
% RECOGNITION FORWARD AND
% ROCKET-FUELING HER CAMPAIGN?
% IS THAT WHAT SHOULD QUALIFY HER
% FOR THE BENCH?
% >> NO, ABSOLUTELY NOT.
% NOW, DARRELL BROOKS, A VERY
% DIFFICULT, SO TO SPEAK,
% DEFENDANT WHO COMMITTED SOME
% VIOLENT, ATROCIOUS CRIMES, NO
% DOUBT ABOUT IT, I'VE TOLD YOU
% I'VE SPENT THREE YEARS IN
% HOMICIDE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT
% COURT, TWO YEARS WITH THOSE DRUG
% DEALERS, A YEAR WITH THOSE
% DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OFFENDERS.
% DARRELL BROOKS' PERSONALITY IS
% NOT A UNIQUE PERSONALITY.
% I'VE SEEN HIS PERSONALITY IN
% COURT OVER AND OVER AND OVER
% WITH THE TYPES OF CASES THAT
% I'VE HANDLED.
% THAT'S OUR JOB AS A JUDGE, TO
% HANDLE THAT TYPE OF PERSONALITY
% AMONGST MANY OTHERS.
% YOU KNOW, MY HOUSE HAS BEEN
% UNDER SURVEILLANCE ON NUMEROUS
% OCCASIONS BECAUSE OF THE TYPES
% OF PEOPLE THAT I DEAL WITH,
% BECAUSE OF THE DEATH THREATS
% THAT, YOU KNOW, I HAVE HAD, YOU
% KNOW, THAT AFFECT MYSELF, MY
% FAMILY, MY NEIGHBORHOOD.
% SO PROPELLING SOMEBODY INTO
% RUNNING DUE TO ONE PARTICULAR
% CASE, I THINK IS WHOLELY
% INAPPROPRIATE.%>> WHAT HAVE Y
OU FELT IN TERMS
% OF THE NATIONAL ATTENTION, GIVEN
% THIS RACE, AND THAT WISCONSIN
% SUPREME COURT RACES USED TO BE
% RELATIVELY SLEEPY, SO TO SPEAK,
% AND NOW WE'VE GOT "NEW YORK
% TIMES" ARTICLES TALKING ABOUT
% THE MOST IMPORTANT RACE YOU
% HAVEN'T HEARD.
% >> YEAH, IT'S REALLY
% INTERESTING, I HAVE TO SAY QUITE
% FRANKLY I WAS SURPRISED,
% BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I SHARE THAT
% ASSESSMENT.
% USUALLY THESE SUPREME COURT
% RACES ARE KIND OF SLEEPY AND
% IT'S A LITTLE BIT CHALLENGING TO
% GET OUT THE VOTE AND IT A SPRING
% ELECTION, AND IN WISCONSIN WE
% KNOW THAT SPRING ELECTION IS A
% PRIMARY IN FEBRUARY, WHICH IS
% RIGHT IN THE HEART OF WINTER.
% SO YES, I WAS, I WOULD HAVE TO
% SAY, SOMEWHAT SURPRISED BY THE
% NATIONAL ATTENTION.
% >> NEXT WEEK ON THIS PROGRAM,%
ZAC SITS DOWN WITH LIBERAL%CANDID
ATE JUDGE EVERETT MITCHELL
% 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 WEEK END.
% FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
% PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
% JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
% WISCONSIN.