% >> Frederica: RECORD TURNOUT IN
% THE SPRING PRIMARY SELECTS TWO
% GENERAL ELECTION CANDIDATES FOR
% STATE SUPREME COURT.
% DANGEROUS WINTER WEATHER STRIKES
% THE STRAIGHT YET AGAIN.
% RECENT INCIDENTS SEND A WARNING
% THAT ANTI-SEMITISM IS ALIVE AND
% WELL AND FLAGS FLY AT HALF STAFF
% OVER THE STATE CAPITOL IN HONOR
% OF TONY EARL.
% I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
% A FORMER SUPREME COURT JUSTICE
% GIVES HER TAKE AND ANTI-SEMITIC
% ACTS INCREASE AND PHYSICIANS SAY
% PATIENT CARE WILL SUFFER IF
% MEDICARE PAYMENTS WON'T IMPROVE.
% IT'S "HERE & NOW" FOR FEBRUARY %
24, 2023.
% >> THIS IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY
% FRIENDS OF PBS WISCONSIN.
% >> Frederica: FOLLOWING
% TUESDAY'S PRIMARY ELECTION, TWO
% CANDIDATES FOR THE WISCONSIN
% SUPREME COURT HEAD INTO
% CAMPAIGNING FOR THE GENERAL
% ELECTION SET FOR APRIL 4.
% MILWAUKEE COUNTY CIRCUIT JUDGE
% WON 45% AND DANNY KELLY GARNERED
% 24.2%.%THEY EACH SPOKE AT THE
ELECTION
% NIGHT PARTIES FOCUSSING ON THE
% TOPICS AND LIKELY TO COME BEFORE
% THE COURT, ABORTION.
% >> I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW I'LL
% RULE IN ANY CASE BUT THROUGHOUT
% THIS CASE I HAVE BEEN ABSOLUTELY
% CLEAR ABOUT WHAT MY VALUES ARE.
% AND THAT'S BECAUSE I BELIEVE THE
% VOTERS OF THIS STATE DESERVE TO
% KNOW WHAT A CANDIDATE'S VALUES
% ARE.
% I VALUE A WOMAN'S FREEDOM TO
% MAKE HER OWN REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH
% CARE DECISIONS.
% >> IT'S GOING TO BE AN ELECTION
% LIKE NO OTHER.
% TONIGHT WE JOIN THE FIGHT TO
% PRESERVE OUR CONSTITUTIONAT
% FORMS OF GOVERNMENT AGAINST A
% NOVEL AND GRAVE THREAT.
% THE PROMISE TO SET ASIDE OUR LAW
% AND OUR CONSTITUTION WHETHER
% THEY CONFLICT WITH HER PERSONAL
% VALUES CANNOT BE ALLOWED TO
% STAND.
% >> Frederica: THY THE HIGH STAKE
% RACE GETS MORE ATTENTION FROM
% HERE.
% WE TURN TO SENIOR POLITICAL
% REPORTER ZAC SCHULTZ WHO JOINS
% US FROM THE STATE CAPITOL WITH
% MORE.%WAS THIS THE PRIMARY E
LECTION
% OUTCOME EXPECTED?
% >> I DON'T THINK YOU CAN BE TOO
% SURPRISED.%CERTAINLY NOT ON T
HE LIBERAL
% SIDE.
% JANET HAD THE MOST MONEY AND
% FIRST COMMERCIAL AND
% CONSOLIDATED A LOT OF DEMOCRATIC
% SUPPORT AROUND HER CAMPAIGN
% EARLY ON.
% THE OTHER LIBERAL JUDGE EVERETT
% MITCHELL TRIED HARD TO GET
% SUPPORT AND HAD A FEW PEOPLE BUT
% NEVER HAD THE MONEY TO GET HIS
% NAME OUT THERE.
% SEEING JANET ADVANCE IS NOT
% SURPRISING.%MAYBE THE MARGIN
S FOR SOME MAY
% HAVE BEEN SURPRISING.
% ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE WE KNEW
% IT WOULD BE A CLOSE MARGIN.
% AND IT GOES AGAINST YOUR
% CONVENTIONAL THINKING BUT THE
% OUTCOME MAY FIT THOUGH JENNIFER
% DOROW MAY HAVE BEEN PREFERRED
% AHEAD OF TIME AND WE SAW OUTSIDE
% INTEREST GROUPS AND OTHERS TRY
% TO TAKE HER DOWN AND GETTING THE
% SAME RESULT OF ADVANCING DANIEL
% KELLY BECAUSE HE WANTED TO WIN.
% ON THE LIBERALS' PART BECAUSE
% THEY THOUGHT HE WOULD BE A
% BETTER MATCH-UP IN THE GENERAL
% ELECTION.
% THIS OUTCOME IS NOT TERRIBLY
% SURPRISING AND THE MARGIN IS SO
% NARROW IT CAME DOWN TO THE END.
% >> Frederica: TUESDAY'S ELECTION
% SAW RECORD TURNOUT FOR SUPREME
% COURT PRIMARY.
% WHAT DID IT LOOK LIKE ACROSS THE
% STATE?
% >> IT VARIED ACROSS THE REGIONS.
% IN SOME PARTS OF THE SOUTHERN
% MORE POPULOUS AREAS THERE WAS
% HIGH TURNOUT IN THE NORTHWEST
% CORNER LOWER TURNOUT AND SOME
% FITS WITH THE THINK HOW THE
% CAMPAIGNS WORK.
% WE'RE TALKING FEBRUARY 21,
% MIDDLE OF WINTER.
% GENERALLY THERE'S NOT A LOT OF
% ATTENTION PAID AND IT'S DRIVEN
% BY ADVERTISING.
% HOW MUCH DID PEOPLE EVEN KNOW
% THAT ONE, THERE WAS AN ELECTION,
% AND TWO, IT WAS THIS IMPORTANT.
% IT'S HARDER TO PENETRATE
% NORTHERN WISCONSIN WITH
% ADVERTISING DOLL THE WAY YOU CAN
% BLANKET SOUTHEAST WISCONSIN AND
% OTHER COUNTIES.
% AND IN MADISON YOU HAD A
% CONTESTED MAYORAL PRIMARY.
% !N NORTHERN MILWAUKEE YOU HAD A
% CONTESTED PRIMARY REPUBLICAN
% SIDE FOR A SPECIAL ELECTION IN A
% SENATE DISTRICT.
% ALL THOSE THINGS ARE DROVE
% TURNOUT IN MORE POPULOUS
% REGIONS.
% >> Frederica: DID ANYTHING STAND
% OUT IN PARTISAN VOTING PATTERNS?
% >> THERE'S A SPLIT ACROSS THE
% STATE IN REPUBLICAN VOTING
% TRENDS.%WE'VE SEEN THIS TIME
AND TIME
% AGAIN OVER THE PAST 10 TO 15
% YEARS WHERE SOUTHEASTERN
% WISCONSIN ESPECIALLY WHERE
% SOUTHEAST WISCONSIN TALK RADIO
% DOMINATES HAS A DIFFERENT
% OPINION WHO NAY THEY FAVOR IN A
% PRIMARY VERSUS OUTSIDE RURAL
% WISCONSIN AND USED TO BE
% SOUTHEAST WISCONSIN WAS ENOUGH
% TO DOMINATE.
% THAT'S HOW SCOTT WALKER WON TO
% BECOME THE GOVERNOR AND HOW
% REBECCA CLAYFISH BECAME GOVERNOR
% AND IT'S SHIFTED AND BEEN
% PLAYING OUT MORE AND MORE THE
% REST OF THE STATE, OUTSTATED
% RURAL WISCONSIN FOR REPUBLICANS
% CAN OUTNUMBER SOUTHEASTERN
% WISCONSIN.
% WE SAW JENNIFER DOROW'S AREA OF
% SUPPORT WAS STRONG BUT WAS BEAT
% HANDILY IN THE REST OF THE STATE
% AND WON BY A COUPLE PERCENTAGE
% POINTS.
% >> Frederica: FORMER JUSTICE
% LOST HIS LOST ELECTION FOR
% SUPREME COURT.
% IS HE VULNERABLE HERE?
% >> DEMOCRATS CERTAINLY THINK SO.
% THAT'S WHAT THEY WANTED TO SEE.
% BUT IN REALITY WE'VE SEEN LOTS
% OF CANDIDATES HISTORICALLY
% ACROSS WISCONSIN RUN AFTER
% LOSING AN ELECTION AND TRY
% AGAIN.
% THE MESSAGE THAT MAY OR MAY NOT
% WIN THE SECOND TIME IS NOT THAT
% THEY LOST AN ELECTION BUT PEOPLE
% KNOW WHAT THEIR VULNERABILITIES
% ARE BECAUSE THEY POLLED AGAINST
% HIM IN THE PAST.
% IN THIS CASE DANIEL KELLY WILL
% SAY HE LOST BECAUSE BERNIE
% SANDERS AND JOE BIDEN HAD A
% CONTESTED PRIMARY AND DONALD
% TRUMP WASN'T CONTEST AND SAYS
% HATS THE MAJORITY OF THE MARGIN.
% THIS IS A DIFFERENT RATE.
% WE SHOULDN'T LOOK AT THAT AS THE
% ROAD MAP BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE
% THE SAME CIRCUMSTANCES.
% >> Frederica: IS THERE THE SAME
% INFIGHTING IN THE PARTY BETWEEN
% DOROW AND KELLY?
% >> THAT REMAINS TO BE SEEN AND
% SOMETHING REPUBLICANS ARE
% WATCHING AND DEMOCRATS WOULD
% LIKE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IF
% THEY CAN.
% WE SAW A SIMILAR THING PLAY OUT
% LONG THE SAME LINES LAST SUMMER
% WHEN TIM MICHAELS WON THE
% GUBERNATORIAL PRIMARY AND
% ATTACKING CLAYFISH HEAVILY AND
% SHE AND HER SUPPORTERS WEREN'T
% HAPPY AND THERE WASN'T THE
% UNIFYING MOMENT THAT CAME
% AFTERWARDS.%THIS TIME WE SAW
DANIEL KELLY
% SAYING HE WOULD NOT SUPPORT
% JENNIFER DOROW IF SHE WAS THE
% ONE TO ADVANCE.
% HE REFUSED TO ENDORSE HER AND
% DOROW SAID SHE WOULD ENDORSE
% KELLY AND SAID REPUBLICANS NEED
% TO UNIFY BUT THERE ARE SOME
% SUPPORTERS STILL MIFFED THAT
% KELLY WOULDN'T SUPPORT THEIR
% PERSON GOING FORWARD WHETHER
% THAT FRACTURE MAINTAINS AND
% EXISTS OR IF REPUBLICAN PARTIES
% WANT TO MAINTAIN THE APRIL 4
% PRIMARY IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN
% FRACTURES THAT EXISTED BEFORE
% AND SOMETHING TO BE AWARE OF
% GOING FORWARD.
% >> Frederica: SPENDING IN THIS
% RACE IS EXPECTED TO BE
% STRATOSPHERIC.%DO YOU KNOW WH
AT THE PROJECTIONS
% ARE AND WHO'S GIVING?
% >> WE'RE LOOKING AT LEAST $20
% MILLION TO $40 MILLION AND A LOT
% OF OUT STATE AND SPECIAL
% INTEREST MONEY.
% >> Frederica: ZAC SCHULTZ THANK
% YOU VERY MUCH.
% >>> IT'S SAID WISCONSIN SUPREME
% COURT ELECTION NON PARTISAN IN
% NAME ONLY AND SEEMS MORE TRUE
% NOW THAN EVER.
% WHAT DOES A FORMER JUSTICE OF
% THE HIGH COURT THINK OF THIS
% TREND?
% WE TURN TO JANNINE GESKE.
% >> IT'S MY PLEASURE TO BE HERE.
% WHAT DO I THINK?
% >> Frederica: DO YOU THINK WE'VE
% COME OUT OF THE GATES OF
% PARTISAN POLITICS?
% >> IT APPEARS THAT WAY FROM
% ENDORSEMENTS TO THE MONEY BEING
% PUT IN TO PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT
% WHAT THEIR VALUES AND THEIR
% BELIEFS ARE.
% AND IT LOOKS LIKE AND TO THE
% LEFT THAT PEOPLE ARE RUNNING ON
% ISSUES HOW THEY'RE GOING TO
% VOTE.
% TO ME THAT'S MORE A LEGISLATIVE
% PARTISAN RACE THAN A SUPREME
% COURT RACE.
% I FIND IT VERY DISTRESSING.
% >> Frederica: I WANT TO TALK
% MORE ABOUT AND REMIND THE VIEWER
% THERE'S A SUPPORTER OF ABORTION
% RIGHTS AND SAID THE LEGISLATIVE
% MAPS ARE RIGGED AND MAINTAINS
% VOTERS WANT TO KNOW WHERE PEOPLE
% STAND BUT YOU DON'T THINK SO.
% >> THE PROBLEM WITH THAT -- AND
% I UNDERSTAND.
% WE ALL HAVE OUR OWN BELIEFS.
% THE PROBLEM IS WHETHER PEOPLE
% BELIEVE IT'S A SIGNAL HOW SHE'LL
% VOTE.%THAT'S FINE IF THAT'S
YOUR
% VALUES BUT IF YOU'RE TAKING AN
% OATH YOU'LL FOLLOW THE LAW
% REGARDLESS OF OPINION EVEN IF
% IT'S INCONSISTENT WHAT YOU MIGHT
% VOTE FOR THAT'S WHAT A JUDGE
% SHOULD DO.
% I THINK BOTH CANDIDATES ARE
% DOING THAT IN DIFFERENT WAYS OF
% ING INDICATING OR HINTING WHERE
% THEY MIGHT VOTE BUT THE
% ELECTORATE WILL BELIEVE THE
% ISSUE IS ON THE BALLOT VERSUS
% CANDIDATE AND WE WANT JUDGE TO
% LOOK AT EACH CASE INDEPENDENTLY
% AND WHETHER THEIR SUPPORTERS
% LIKE IT OR NOT COME TO THE
% CONCLUSION THEY BELIEVE IS
% RIGHT.
% >> Frederica: FORMER JUSTICE
% KELLY ISN'T EXACTLY NON
% PARTISAN.
% HE'S WORKED FOR BOTH STATE AND
% NATIONAL REPUBLICAN PARTIES
% INCLUDING ADVISING ON THE FAKE
% ELECTOR SCHEME HERE IN WISCONSIN
% AND YET HE SAYS THIS VIRTUE
% SIGNALLING, AS WE'VE DISCUSSED,
% MAKES THE JUDGE NOT COMMITTED TO
% THE CONSTITUTIONAL ORDER.
% IS THAT -- DO YOU THINK THAT'S
% FAIR.
% >> NO, I THINK BOTH CANDIDATES
% ARE DOING IT IN DIFFERENT WAYS
% AND I THINK THERE ARE NOT PEOPLE
% WHO ARE DOUBTING WHERE JUSTICE
% KELLY INDICATES HE MIGHT BE ON
% ISSUES.
% HE'S DOING IT IN DIFFERENT WAYS
% AND SHOWED IN DIFFERENT WAYS HOW
% HE'S WORKED AND WHO HE'S
% REPRESENTED AND WHAT ISSUES HE'S
% TAKEN ON.
% I THINK THE QUESTION WE HAVE TO
% ASK IS IF YOUR LEGAL CONCLUSION
% COMES TO A DIFFERENT RESULT THAN
% WHAT YOU'RE ADVOCATING NOW, ARE
% YOU WILLING TO DO THAT?
% IF YOU CAN'T YOU SHOULDN'T SIT
% THE CASES.
% I THINK THEY'RE BOTH GIVING THE
% FEELING ABOUT WHERE THEY ARE ON
% ISSUES.
% THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT
% AS LONG AS VOTERS UNDERSTAND
% THEIR OATH IS TO DECIDE
% SOMETIMES INCONSISTENTLY WITH
% WHAT THEY MIGHT BELIEVE.
% >> Frederica: DOES IT SEEM LIKE
% A CHARADE THEN TO SUGGEST
% NEITHER SIDE WOULD QUOTE,
% LEGISLATE FROM THE BENCH?
% >> I'M NOT DOUBTING THE
% INTEGRITY OF THE CANDIDATES.
% WHAT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT IS HOW
% THE CAMPAIGNS GET SHAPED SO
% PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT'S WHAT WE'RE
% ELECTED.
% AN EXAMPLE OF THAT WE CAN POINT
% TO JUSTICE KELLY'S VIEW TO
% JUSTICE HAGEDORN AND WHEN HE
% REFERS TO HIM HE TALKS ABOUT HIM
% NOT BEING TRUSTWORTHY OR
% RELIABLE BECAUSE HE WASN'T
% RELIABLY CONSERVATIVE MEANING
% JUSTICE HAGEDORN CAME TO A
% DIFFERENT DECISION.
% SOME PEOPLE CALL THEM TRAITORS
% AND PROFOUNDLY DISAPPOINTED ON
% JUSTICE HAGEDORN ON THE RESULTS
% OF HIS CASES AND PEOPLE HAVE TO
% UNDERSTAND YOU HAVE TO DO THAT
% WHEN YOU'RE A JUDGE AND PEOPLE
% MAY NOT ALWAYS BE HAPPY WITH THE
% RESULT.
% >> Frederica: WHAT HAPPENED TO
% THE DAYS OF CANDIDATES FOR THE
% SUPREME COURT SAYING THEY
% COULDN'T TALK ABOUT THAT BECAUSE
% THAT ISSUE MAY COME BEFORE THEM?
% IT SOUNDS ALMOST QUAINT TODAY.
% >> IT WASN'T QUAINT IT WAS TRUE.
% THERE ARE TIMES I PUBLICLY
% TALKED ABOUT CASES THAT MY VOTE
% WAS NOT CONSISTENT WITH WHAT I
% WOULD HAVE DONE IF I WERE VOTING
% AT THE BALLOT BOX.
% THERE ARE TIMES SOMETIMES I
% WOULD WRITE A CONCURRENCE OR
% ANOTHER OPINION SAYING I WISH
% THE LEGISLATURE WOULD LOOK AT
% THIS AND CHANGE THINGS BUT THIS
% IS HOW I INTERPRETED IT AS A
% JUDGE.
% THE RISK IS PEOPLE WILL THINK
% YOU'RE ELECTING PEOPLE ON A
% DELIVERABLE IS UNFORTUNATE.
% I'M ACTUALLY BECOMING AN
% ADVOCATE FOR APPOINTMENT OF
% JUDGES.%I THINK WE'VE GONE W
AY OVER THE
% LINE OF TRYING TO ELECT FAIR AND
% IMPARTIAL JUDGES THAT PEOPLE CAN
% HAVE CONFIDENCE IN.
% >> Frederica: WHAT'S THIS MEAN
% INCLUDING THE HIGH STAKES,
% HIGH-SPENDING NATURE OF THIS
% RACE REPORTEDLY PROJECTED TO BE
% THE MOST EXPENSIVE JUDICIAL
% ELECTION IN THE UNITED STATES?
% WHAT DOES ALL THIS MEAN FOR THE
% INTEGRITY IN YOUR MIND OF THE
% COURT?%>> I THINK IT IMPACTS
THE
% INTEGRITY OF THE COURT AND FAITH
% PEOPLE HAVE IN THE INDEPENDENCE
% OF THE JUDICIARY.
% IT RIPPLES DOWN TO THE TRIAL
% COURTS.
% IT'S NOT JUST THE SUPREME COURT
% THAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO THINK
% JUDGE RESPOND TO THEIR
% SUPPORTERS AND THAT CERTAIN
% PARTIES WILL WIN BECAUSE OF WHO
% IS SITTING ON THE BENCH.
% THIS IS NOT WHAT THE FOUNDERS
% WANTED.
% I THINK THEY WANTED JUDGE
% INVOLVED IN THEIR COMMUNITIES
% AND PEOPLE RESPECTED KNEW AND
% COMMITTED THEIR LIVES TO PUBLIC
% SERVICE AND NOW WE HAVE ADS AND
% THINGS GIVING US THE SENSE WE'RE
% ELECTING PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO
% REPRESENT CERTAIN INTERESTS.
% >> Frederica: WE LEAVE IT THERE.
% THANK YOU FOR YOUR THOUGHTS.
% >> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
% >> Frederica: IN OTHER STATE
% NEWS, ANTI-SEMITIC ACTS
% INCREASED BY MORE THAN 450%
% ACCORDING TO THE MILWAUKEE
% JEWISH FEDERATION.
% FOR ONE HOLOCAUST HISTORIAN ONE
% ACT CAME DIRECTLY TO HER DOOR
% STEP.
% HERE'S OUR STUDENT JOURNALIST %
WITH THE STORY.
% >> IN THE MORNING AROUND 8:00
% AND I LOOK DOWN AND SEE THIS
% OBJECT AND PICKED IT UP AND I
% WAS QUITE HORRIFIED AND SHOCKED.
% >> HER SHOCK AND HORROR CAME
% FROM DISCOVERING AN ANTI-SEMITIC
% FLYER ON HER HOME IN KENOSHA.
% >> DOWN THE STREET TO 75th
% STREET.
% >> THE FLYER CLAIMS JEWISH
% PEOPLE CAUSED THE COVID-19.
% IT WAS IN A PLASTIC BAG AND
% WEIGHED DOWN BY ROCKS AND A
% PENNY.
% AS A HOLOCAUST HISTORIAN SHE'S
% USED TO STUDYING ANTI-SEMITISM.
% >> I CALLED THE POLICE AND
% OFFERED THE INFORMATION AND
% PROVIDED THE PAMPHLET AND SAID
% THEY ALREADY HAD IT AND WERE
% INFORMED OF IT.
% >> THE KENOSHA POLICE DEPARTMENT
% WERE ABLE TO FIND THE
% PERPETRATOR AND FINE HIM JUST
% OVER $4,000 NOT FOR A HATE CRIME
% BUT LITTERING.
% ANTI-SEMITICS INCREASED BY 450%
% AND CONSPIRACY THEORIES THAT
% SPREAD DURING THE COVID-19
% CAUSED AN INCREASE IN CASUAL
% ANTI-SEMITISM.%>> IT'S BECOME
SO NORMALIZED AND
% SO UBIQUITOUS AND PEOPLE ARE
% COMFORTABLE EXPRESSING THOSE
% FEELINGS AND THOUGHTS AND
% ATTITUDES.%>> SHE SAYS AS THE
PURPLE STATE,
% WISCONSIN DEMONSTRATES HOW
% POLITICAL DIVISIVENESS CAN
% PERMEATE.%>> IT'S CREATED TU
NNELLED VISION
% TYPE OF THINKING AND HAS MADE IT
% DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE TO BE ABLE
% TO REACH ACROSS DIVIDES AND SEE
% EACH OTHER AS HUMAN BEINGS.
% >> JEWISH PEOPLE HAVE BEEN
% VICTIMS OF HATE CRIMES.
% >> YOU SEE AN INCREASING
% RELUCTANCE OF PEOPLE TO CALL OUT
% ANTI-SEMITISM WITHIN THEIR OWN
% POLITICAL CAMP.
% >> PROFESSOR GOLDBERG SAID
% ANTI-SEMITISM STANDS OUT FOR
% SUBTLETY AND PERVASIVENESS AND
% SAID THERE'S TROPES THAT STILL
% EXIST IN CULTURE.
% >> IN THE MIDDLE AGES JEWS WERE
% ACCUSED OF POISONING WELLS AND
% BLAMED FOR THE PLAGUE.
% THOSE MOTIFS BECAUSE THEY'D BEEN
% AROUND A LONG TIME AND STILL
% CIRCULATE ON SOME LEVEL MAKE
% JEWS SUITED FOR THE SCAPE GOATS.
% >> IT ALIENATES PEOPLE FROM
% THEIR COMMUNITY.
% HER EXPERIENCE IN KENOSHA HAS
% MADE HER DISTRUSTFUL OF OTHERS.
% >> MY FATHER WHO WAS A HOLOCAUST
% SURVIVOR WARNED ME ANTI-SEMITISM
% IS ALIVE AND WELL.
% IT'S UNDER THE RADAR AND COVERS
% BUT THERE.
% ALWAYS BE CAREFUL.
% IT'S GOING TO COME BACK.
% >> FOR "HERE & NOW", I'M ADITT
% FROM KEN OSHA.
% >> Frederica: TALK OF CUTTING
% BACK ON SOCIAL SECURITY AND
% MEDICARE DOCTORS ARE CRYING FOUL
% HOW PAYMENTS AREN'T KEEPING
% PACE.
% PHYSICIANS HAVE BEEN LOBBYING
% CONGRESS SAYING PATIENT CARE
% COULD BE AT RISK.
% WE TALK WITH A PHYSICIAN AND
% CHAIR OF THE BOARD OF THE
% WISCONSIN SOCIETY THANK YOU FOR
% BEING HERE.
% DOCTORS HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT
% HOW MEDICAL REIMBURSEMENT RATES
% ARE TOO LOW.
% WHAT'S THE STATUS?
% >> WE'VE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THIS
% 20, 30 YEARS AND SOMETHING WE'D
% GO TO CONGRESS AND TALK ABOUT
% BECAUSE AS WE'LL TALK ABOUT IF
% OUR PRACTICES RIGHT-HANDS AREN'
% FUNDED WE WON'T BE AROUND AND WE
% TALKED ABOUT PAYMENTS AND IT
% HADN'T CHANGED IN 20, 30 YEARS.
% UNFORTUNATELY THAT'S STILL NOT
% ADEQUATE.%WE'VE BEEN THROUGH
A DIFFICULT
% TIME THE PAST THREE YEARS AND
% WE'VE HAD PAYMENT CUTS THAT ARE
% SET TO GO INTO PLACE THIS YEAR
% ALREADY AND THIS IS WHEN WE'RE
% ALREADY AT RATES BASICALLY 1980
% TYPE OF RATES THAT HAD NOT BEEN
% ADJUSTED.%LET ALONE ADJUSTED
FOR THE
% INFLATION THAT WE'VE HAD.
% IF YOU LOOK AT REAL DOLLARS,
% PHYSICIANS HAVE ALREADY HAD A
% 22% CUT IN THE PAST 20 YEARS.
% >> Frederica: DESCRIBE HOW THAT
% AFFECTS PATIENT CARE?
% >> THAT ABSOLUTELY AFFECTS
% PATIENT CARE.
% OUR GOAL IS TO HAVE THE PATIENT
% TO BE ABLE TO HAVE CHOICE AND
% SEE THE DOCTOR CLOSE TO THEM.
% THE DOCTOR THEY CHOOSE.
% AND WHAT HAPPENS IS PARTICULARLY
% IN RURAL AREAS OR UNDER SERVED
% AREAS WE HAVE DOCTORS' OFFICE
% WHO'S ARE BASICALLY SMALL
% BUSINESSES AND THEY HAVE
% PRIMARILY PATIENTS THAT ARE
% MEDICARE THAT THE PAYMENT IS
% UNDER WHAT THEY WOULD GET FOR
% OTHER TYPES OF INSURANCE
% PRODUCTS, YOU HAVE CHOICES.
% YOU CAN TAKE LESS MEDICARE OR
% ULTIMATELY SOMETIMES PHYSICIAN
% HAVE TO CLOSE THEIR PRACTICES.
% AND WHEN THEY CLOSE THEIR
% PRACTICES THEY PROBABLY MOVE TO
% LESS RURAL AREAS WHERE THEY CAN
% BE BUSIER AND THAT CHOICE FOR
% THOSE PATIENTS IS LOST AND WHAT
% HAPPENS IS THE PATIENT HAS FEWER
% CHOICES AND OFTEN TIMES THE
% PATIENT HAS TO DRIVER FURTHER TO
% GET THE CARE THEY NEED.
% >> Frederica: CONGRESS GAVE TENS
% OF BILLIONS TO PHYSICIANS DURING
% THE PANDEMIC BUT THAT WAS ALL
% USED DURING THE TIME?
% >> THE PANDEMIC AS WE ALL
% LEARNED HAS BEEN CHALLENGING.
% WITH A LOT OF THE OTHER
% INCREASES IN PAY THAT WE'VE SEEN
% FROM THE GOVERNMENT, A LOT OF
% THAT PAID FOR NEW REQUIREMENTS
% OR NEW ADMINISTRATIVE BURDENS
% THEY PUT IN OUR WAY.
% REAL DOLLARS AS I SAID BEFORE
% WE'VE PROBABLY CUT ABOUT 20% AND
% WHEN YOU'RE TRYING TO KEEP A
% PRACTICE OPEN, WHEN YOU'RE
% HIRING NURSES AND OFFICE STAFF,
% IT'S A SMALL BUSINESS, IT'S JUST
% NOT SUSTAINABLE.
% >> Frederica: HOW HARD IS IT TO
% ENGENDER SYMPATHY FOR HIGHLY
% PAID PHYSICIANS THOUGH THEY'RE
% REGARDED AS THE HEALTH CARE
% HEROES OF THE PAST SEVERAL
% YEARS?%>> WE CONTINUE TO TALK
ABOUT
% THIS BEING PATIENT OPTIONS.
% IF THE PHYSICIAN ISN'T THERE AND
% THE PHYSICIAN IS AN IMPORTANT
% PART OF THE COMMUNITY OBVIOUSLY
% THEY DELIVER HEALTH WHICH AS WE
% LEARNED OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS
% IS INVALUABLE.
% IF THE PHYSICIAN AND PRACTICE IS
% NOT THERE, THE PATIENTS SUFFER
% AND AREN'T ABLE TO SEE THEIR
% TRUSTED DOCTOR THEY'VE GOTTEN TO
% KNOW OVER TIME AND HAVE TO DRIVE
% FURTHER AND OFTEN TIMES IF YOU
% MAKE CARE LESS CONVENIENT, CARE
% DOESN'T HAPPEN.
% PEOPLE DON'T GET CARE UNTIL IT'S
% MORE CATASTROPHIC CARE WHERE
% LESS IS ABLE TO HAPPEN THAT CAN
% ARREST IT.
% SO WHAT HAPPENS IS ONCE THE
% PHYSICIANS GO, IF THAT'S WHAT
% HAPPENS, PATIENTS PAY THE PRICE.
% >> Frederica: SO APART FROM THE
% SPECIFIC LOBBYING EFFORTS AROUND
% THESE REIMBURSEMENT RATES LIKE
% NW, WHAT IS THE FEELING AMONG
% THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY AND THESE
% PHYSICIANS ABOUT THESE
% DISCUSSIONS IN WASHINGTON ABOUT
% CUTTING ENTITLEMENTS AS THEY'RE
% CALLED LIKE MEDICARE?
% >> IT'S AN IMPORTANT WAY FOR
% PATIENT TO GET GOOD CARE AND WE
% WANT THEM TO HAVE CHOICES TO GO
% TO THE HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL
% THEY WANT TO IN A WAY THAT'S
% CONVENIENT.
% WHEN I THINK WITH THE NUMBERS
% BEING CUT, OBVIOUSLY WE THINK
% ABOUT THE RATES BEING CUT.
% WE THINK ABOUT THE IDEA THAT
% IT'S GOING TO BE MORE DIFFICULT
% FOR PEOPLE TO GET TREATMENT AND
% AS WE'VE SEEN PARTICULARLY EARLY
% ON IN THE PANDEMIC, WHEN PEOPLE
% PUT TREATMENT OFF, BAD THINGS
% HAPPEN.
% >> Frederica: HOW HAVE LOBBYING
% EFFORTS BEEN MET BY
% CONGRESSIONAL MEMBERS
% PARTICULARLY WISCONSIN?
% >> WE VISITED ALL THE OFFICES
% THAT WERE OPEN TO US.
% WE VISITED MOST OFFICES AND EVEN
% IN A TIME SO CONTENTIOUS AS
% THIS, THERE'S A LOT OF
% AGREEMENT.
% THERE'S A LOT OF AGREEMENT
% MEDICARE SHOULD BE HELD SAFE.
% THAT'S WHAT WE'RE BEING TOLD.
% WE'RE BEING TOLD THAT PATIENTS
% SHOULD CONTINUE TO HAVE CHOICE.
% WE'RE BEING TOLD PHYSICIANS
% SHOULD BE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF
% PATIENTS WITH MEDICARE WITHOUT
% HAVING TO GO OUT OF BUSINESS.
% WITHOUT WORRY OF KEEPING THE
% LIGHTS ON.
% WHETHER YOU'RE DEMOCRAT OR
% REPUBLICAN YOU'RE AGREEING WITH
% THIS THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE SAYING.
% >> Frederica: THANK YOU VERY
% MUCH.%>> THANK YOU.
% >> Frederica: AND FINALLY
% TONIGHT WE REMEMBER FORMER
% GOVERNOR TONY EARL WHO PASSED
% AWAY THURSDAY AFTER SUFFERING
% FROM A STROKE EARLIER THIS WEEK.
% AS THE 41st GOVERNOR OF
% WISCONSIN, THE FORMER DEMOCRATIC
% LEADER LEAVES A LEGACY FOR HIS
% WORK ON VARIETAL ISSUES AND
% PROMOT
% PROMOTING LGBTQ RIGHTS AND HIS
% PASSING SAY SIGNIFICANT LOSS FOR
% OUR STATE AND ALL WHO THAT'D
% FORTUNE OF MEETING AND SERVING
% WITH HIM.
% HE WAS FIRST ELECTED TO THE
% STATE ASSEMBLY IN 1969 AND
% SERVED UNTIL 1974.
% FOLLOWING HIS TIME IN THE
% LEGISLATURE, HE WAS A STATE
% CABINET SECRETARY FOR TWO
% DEPARTMENTS UNDER THREE
% DIFFERENT ADMINISTRATIONS.
% HE WAS ELECTED GOVERNOR IN 1983
% AND SERVED ONE TERM.
% AFTER ELECTED OFFICE HE WENT ON
% TO SERVE ON MANY BOARDS
% INCLUDING COMMON CAUSE WISCONSIN
% ON FIRST NATION REFORM.
% HIS DAUGHTERS SAID HE'D
% ENCOURAGE ANYONE HE KNEW TO
% ENGAGE IN POSITIVE CHANGE.
% HE WAS 86.
% FOR MORE ON THIS AND OTHER
% ISSUES FACING WISCONSIN, VISIT
% OUR WEBSITE AT PBSWISCONSIN.org
% AND CLICK ON THE NEWS TAB.
% THAT'S OUR NEWS FOR TONIGHT.
% I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
% HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.%