% >> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
% PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
% PRODUCTION.
% >> STATE SUPREME COURT
% ADVERTISEMENTS SATURATE THE
% AIRWAVES.
% NEW VACCINE REQUIREMENTS GET
% STALLED IN A LEGISLATIVE
% COMMITTEE, AND OFFICIALS WORK TO
% ADDRESS CHILD LABOR VIOLATIONS.
% I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
% TONIGHT ON HERE AND NOW, SUPREME
% COURT CANDIDATES APPRAISE
% PREVIOUS DECISIONS BY THE HIGH
% COURT.
% A PEDIATRICIAN IMPARTS THE
% CONSEQUENCE OF DECLINING VACCINE
% RATES AND WEAKENED MANDATES.
% LAWMAKERS AND THE DEPARTMENT OF
% LABOR TARGET UNDERAGE WORKER
% VIOLATIONS, AND WE SPEAK WITH
% THE AUTHOR OF ANOTHER COMPLAINT
% AGAINST FORMER SPECIAL COUNCIL
% MICHAEL GABLEMAN.
% IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR MARCH
% 10th.
% >> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
% PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
% JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
% WISCONSIN.
% >> THE FIELD FOR THE UPCOMING
% SUPREME COURT ELECTION HAS BEEN
% NARROWED DOWN TO TWO CANDIDATES,
% AND THEY ARE A STUDY IN
% CONTRASTS.% ONE OF THE BIGGE
ST DIFFERENCES
% IS HOW THEY VIEW PAST DECISIONS
% BY THE COURT.
% OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS,
% "HERE AND NOW" POLITICAL
% REPORTER ZAC SCHULTZ WILL TAKE
% US THROUGH SOME OF THE MOST
% SIGNIFICANT CASES OF THE PAST
% FEW YEARS AND SHOW US WHETHER
% THESE CANDIDATES AGREED WITH THE
% DECISIONS.
% TONIGHT, WE LOOK AT THE ISSUE OF
% REDISTRICTING.
% >> ON APRIL 4th, VOTERS WILL
% CHOOSE BETWEEN JANET
% PROTASIEWICZ AND DANIEL KELLY
% AND DETERMINE THE FUTURE
% IDEOLOGICAL BALANCE OF THE
% WISCONSIN SUPREME COURT.
% BUT THAT SAME ELECTION WILL
% DETERMINE WHETHER THE COURT WILL
% LOOK BACKWARDS AS WELL.
% >> SO THAT'S WHEN I SAY, YES,
% THOSE MAPS ARE RIGGED.
% >> PROTASIEWICZ HAS MADE CLEAR
% SHE BELIEVES WISCONSIN'S
% LEGISLATIVE MAPS ARE
% GERRYMANDERED IN FAVOR OF
% REPUBLICANS AND SAID THE
% WISCONSIN SUPREME COURT ERRED
% TWICE ON ITS PATH TO APPROVING
% THOSE MAPS.
% THE FIRST ERROR CAME IN 2021
% WHEN COURT'S CONSERVATIVE
% MAJORITY ANNOUNCED THEY WOULD
% NOT DRAW NEW LEGISLATIVE
% BOUNDARIES BUT WOULD INSTEAD
% CHOOSE FROM MAPS SUBMITTED BY
% GOVERNOR TONY EVERS AND THE
% REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURE.
% THE BEST MAP, ACCORDING TO THE
% COURT, WAS ONE THAT KEPT THE NEW
% BOUNDARIES AS CLOSE TO THE
% CURRENT BOUNDARIES AS POSSIBLE
% SO IS TO HAVE THE FEWEST NUMBER
% OF VOTERS SWITCH LEGISLATIVE
% DISTRICTS.%IT WAS CALLED THE
LEAST CHANGED
% METHODOLOGY, A NEW PRECEDENT
% INVENTED BY THE COURT.
% >> THERE'S NO LEGAL PRECEDENT.
% THERE'S NOTHING IN THE
% CONSTITUTION.%THERE'S NOTHIN
G IN CASE LAW.
% YOU GET THIS LEAST CHANGE RULE
% THAT, QUITE FRANKLY, IF YOU TALK
% TO AN UNEDUCATED VOTER ABOUT IT,
% THEY MIGHT SAY, "YOU KNOW, IT
% SOUNDS LIKE IT KIND OF MAKES
% SENSE, KIND OF ON ITS FACE MAKES
% SENSE, KEEPING THE DISTRICTS
% TOGETHER."%>> HOWEVER, LEAST
CHANGE ONLY
% EXPECTED IN THE ADVANTAGE
% REPUBLICANS DREW FOR THEMSELVES
% 10 YEARS AGO.
% EVEN THE LEAST CHANGE MAP
% SUBMITTED BY GOVERNOR EVERS
% STILL CREATED DISTRICTS THAT
% ENSURED REPUBLICAN MAJORITY IN
% THE LEGISLATURE.
% >> THIS IS WHERE I SAY DEMOCRACY
% IS ON THE LINE.
% YOU LOOK AT THE FACT THAT THE
% MAPS WERE, YOU KNOW, 10 YEARS
% AGO, A PROBLEM.
% I WOULD SAY THAT THE MAPS ARE A
% BIGGER PROBLEM.
% YOU'LL HEAR PEOPLE ARGUE THAT
% THE REPUBLICANS USED VERY, VERY
% SOPHISTICATED COMPUTER
% TECHNOLOGY TO DRAW THOSE MAPS
% AND TO DRAW THOSE MAPS IN A WAY
% THAT ARE ABSOLUTELY THE MOST
% FAVORABLE TO THEM, SO THAT'S
% WHEN I SAY, YES, THOSE MAPS ARE
% RIGGED.
% >> DANIEL KELLY SERVED ON THE
% COURT FROM 2016 UNTIL HE LOST
% RE-ELECTION IN 2020 AND WAS NOT
% ON THE BENCH WHEN THE COURT
% DECIDED THE REDISTRICTING CASE.
% HOWEVER, HE SAYS THEIR DECISION
% MAKES SENSE.
% >> AND SO THE PHRASE, LEAST
% CHANGE, IS MEANT TO ENCOMPASS
% THE IDEA THAT WE TAKE THE MAPS
% AS THEY'RE WRITTEN AND THEN WE
% LOOK FOR THE LEGAL ERRORS AND WE
% FIX THE LEGAL ERRORS AND WE
% LEAVE EVERYTHING ELSE THE SAME.
% >> PAST REDISTRICTING CASES WERE
% DECIDED IN FEDERAL COURT BUT
% REPUBLICANS WANTED THIS CASE
% BEFORE THE WISCONSIN SUPREME
% COURT.
% KELLY SAYS THE IDEA OF FAIRNESS
% IN THE MAPS IS A POLITICAL
% QUESTION, SOMETHING THE COURT
% MUST AVOID.
% >> THE MEMBERS OF THIS COURT
% HAVE NOT BEEN ENTRUSTED WITH
% MAKING POLITICAL DECISIONS, ONLY
% LEGAL DECISIONS.
% AND SO THEIR JOB IS JUST TO
% ADDRESS THOSE LEGAL
% IMPERFECTIONS IN THAT MAP, AND
% WHEN THEY'RE DONE ADDRESSING
% THOSE, IT IS TO STEP ASIDE AND
% THEN WAIT FOR THE PEOPLE OF
% WISCONSIN TO WORK ON THEIR
% LEGISLATURE AND THEIR GOVERNOR
% TO GET TO A MAP THAT IS
% POLITICALLY ACCEPTABLE TO THE
% STATE.
% >> IN THE SPRING OF 2022, USING
% THE LEAST CHANGE CRITERIA,
% JUSTICE BRIAN HAGEDORN JOINS THE
% THREE LIBERALS ON THE COURT TO
% CHOOSE TONE TO THE EAS TO TONYH
% INCLUDED AN ADDITIONAL ASSEMBLY
% SEAT IN THE MILWAUKEE AREA,
% SOMETHING THEY ARGUED WAS
% REQUIRED UNDER THE VOTING RIGHTS
% ACT.
% REPUBLICANS APPEALED TO THE
% UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT,
% WHICH STRUCK DOWN THE MAPS,
% SAYING THERE WASN'T ENOUGH
% EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT INVOKING THE
% V.R.A.
% HAGEDORN DISWHROIND THE
% CONSERVATIVES IN PICKING THE
% REPUBLICAN DRAWN MAPS WHICH
% PROTASIEWICZ SAYS WAS THE
% COURT'S SECOND MAJOR ERROR AND
% SOMETHING SHE EXPECTS THE COURT
% TO REVISIT IF SHE WINS.
% >> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS IN
% THE DISSENT FROM THE SUPREME
% COURT REGARDING REDISTRICTING
% CASE, ESPECIALLY AFTER IT CAME
% BACK FROM THE SUPREME COURT, WAS
% THEY FELT THAT THE COURT COULD
% HOLD A TRIAL TO ACTUALLY
% DETERMINE WHETHER IT WAS
% WARRANTED TO ADD AN ADDITIONAL
% DISTRICT UNDER THE VOTING RIGHTS
% ACT IN MILWAUKEE OR NOT.
% IS THAT AN ISSUE YOU WOULD
% EXPECT TO COME BACK BEFORE THE
% COURT GIVEN THAT THE DISSENT
% ALMOST ENVISIONED IT?
% >> I WOULD THINK SO.
% I WOULD THINK SO.
% >> REPORTING FROM MADISON, I'M
% ZAC SCHULTZ FOR "HERE AND NOW."
% >> A FEDERAL JUDGE IN MADISON
% HAS DENIED THE REQUEST OF
% NON-TRIBAL RESIDENTS ON THE
% RESERVATION TO REMOVE BARRICADES
% BLOCKING ROADS THAT ACCESS THEIR
% PROPERTIES.
% THE ROADS HAVE BEEN BLOCKED TO
% MORE THAN 50 HOMES SINCE LATE
% JANUARY OVER AN EASEMENT
% DISPUTE.
% THE JUDGE GAVE THE HOMEOWNERS
% UNTIL NEXT TUESDAY TO EXPLAIN
% UNDER WHAT JURISDICTIONAL
% AUTHORITY THE COURT COULD ISSUE
% SUCH A TEMPORARY RESTRAINING
% ORDER.
% TRIBAL PRESIDENT SAID, QUOTE, WE
% FEEL FOR THE IMPACTED PROPERTY
% OWNERS AND HOPE THIS RULING
% ENCOURAGES ALL PROPERTY OWNERS
% TO PRESS FOR IMMEDIATE ACTION BY
% THE TOWN, THE TITLE INSURANCE
% COMPANIES, AND THE BUREAU OF
% INDIAN AFFAIRS TO RESOLVE THIS
% MATTER.
% >>> AT THE CAPITOL THIS WEEK,
% THE REPUBLICAN LED RULES
% COMMITTEE HEARD TESTIMONY ABOUT
% UPDATED IMMUNIZATION
% REQUIREMENTS FOR CHILDREN WHO
% ATTEND SCHOOL AND DAYCARE.
% AMONG THE UPDATES, THE
% DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES
% CHANGED OR ADDED RULES FOR
% VACCINES THAT PREVENT MENINGITIS
% AND CHICKENPOX.
% OFFICIALS TESTIFYING WERE MET
% WITH HOSTILITY FROM SOME
% COMMITTEE MEMBERS WANTING TO
% REHASH MANDATES MADE DURING THE
% COVID-19 PANDEMIC.
% >> SO WHEN WE LOOK AT THAT PAST
% HISTORY, AND A NUMBER OF THINGS
% THAT WERE JUST FLAT OUT WRONG
% AND KIDS HAVE BEEN HARMED
% BECAUSE OF THE SCHOOL
% SHUT-DOWNS, HOW DO WE TRUST YOU,
% AND HONEST TO GOD, THAT MADE ME
% SO ANGRY BACK THEN, AND EVEN
% NOW, I'LL BE HONEST, WHEN I SEE
% YOU, I REFER TO YOU AS
% WISCONSIN'S DR. FAUCI.%>> TO
UNDERSTAND MORE ABOUT
% THESE VACCINE CHANGES, WE TURN
% TO DR. DeMURI AT UW HEALTH, A
% PEDIATRICIAN.%THANK YOU FOR
BEING WITH US,
% DOCTOR.
% >> MY PLEASURE TO BE HERE.
% >> STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT
% CANNOT REQUIRE A MENINGITIS
% VACCINE IN THE UP SEVENTH GRADE
% AND A BOOSTER IN THE 12th
% GRADE.
% WHAT'S YOUR REACTION TO THAT AS
% AN INFECTIOUS DISEASE DOCTOR?
% >> WELL, IT'S QUITE CONCERNING.
% WE KNOW THESE ARE SAFE VACCINES.
% THESE TWO ILLNESSES CAN BE
% DEVASTATING.
% MENINGITIS, OR MORE
% APPROPRIATELY, MENINGOCOCCAL
% DISEASE, CAN RESULT IN DEATH,
% CAN RESULT IN AMPUTATION OF THE
% LIMBS AND, YOU KNOW, ALL OF US
% IN INFECTIOUS DISEASE HAVE SEEN
% THAT AS PART OF OUR CAREER.
% KNOWING THERE'S A WAY TO PREVENT
% THIS AND MAKE OUR SCHOOLS SAFE
% AND KEEP OUR SCHOOLS SAFE IN
% THIS, IT'S REALLY DISHEARTENING
% TO HEAR THIS.
% >> HOW CONTAGIOUS, ALSO, IS
% MENINGITIS?%>> IT'S QUITE CO
NTAGIOUS.
% I BELIEVE THERE'S AN OUTBREAK
% RIGHT NOW IN VIRGINIA.
% WE'VE HAD OUTBREAKS IN
% WISCONSIN.% IT CAN GO THROUG
H UNIVERSITIES
% AND COLLEGE CAMPUSES, BARRACKS
% AND MILITARY INSTALLATIONS, SO
% IT'S ONE OF THOSE VERY TIELY
% CONTAGIOUS, HIGHLY INFECTIOUS
% DISEASES.%>> DO MOST FAMILIE
S GO AHEAD AND
% GET IT REGARDLESS OF KIND OF
% WHAT THE RULES ARE?
% ARE PEDIATRICIANS RECOMMENDING
% IT?
% >> IT'S BEEN STRONGLY RECOMMEND
% FOR QUITE SOME TIME NOW AND MOST
% FAMILIES, FORTUNATELY, DO GO
% AHEAD AND GET IT, ALTHOUGH
% THERE'S NOT QUITE AS MUCH
% AWARENESS OF THIS VACCINE AND
% SOME OF THE OR VACCINES.
% WE ALSO KNOW THAT SCHOOL
% REQUIREMENTS INCREASE AND
% IMPROVE OUR IMMUNIZATION RATES
% IN COMMUNITIES.
% THOSE STATES THAT HAVE THE MOST
% ROBUST SCHOOL REQUIREMENTS HAVE
% THE HIGHEST IMMUNIZATION RATES.
% AND HERE, EVEN IN WISCONSIN,
% WE'VE SEEN WHEN WE IMPLEMENT
% THIS RULE FOR SCHOOLS, OUR
% IMMUNIZATION RATES GO UP AND THE
% DISEASE RATES GO DOWN.
% >> SO THE LEGISLATURE ALSO
% REMOVED A NEW REQUIREMENT THAT
% HEALTHCARE PROVIDER CONFIRMED
% THAT A CHILD HAD CHICKENPOX TO
% NOT HAVE TO HAVE THE VACCINATION
% AND IT REVERTS BACK TO KIND OF
% THE CURRENT RULE WHERE A PARENT
% CAN COME IN AND SAY, OH, YES, MY
% CHILD HAD CHICKENPOX AND SO I'D
% LIKE THE TO BE EXEMPT FROM
% HAVING TO PROVE THAT
% VACCINATION.% IS THAT ENOUGH
IN YOUR MIND TO
% HAVE PARENTS BE ABLE TO ATTEST
% TO THAT?
% >> IT'S NOT.
% I THINK THIS WAS A GOOD RULE
% CHANGE.%IT'S BEEN MY EXPERIE
NCE THAT
% IT'S BECOME VERY DIFFICULT FOR
% PARENTS TO DIAGNOSE CHICKENPOX.
% EVEN YOUNG PHYSICIANS SOMETIMES
% HAVE TROUBLE DOING IT.
% OF THOSE THAT WERE AROUND BEFORE
% 1990, THE EARLY '90s WHEN THIS
% VACCINE CAME OUT, HAD CERTAINLY
% SEEN PLENTY OF CHICKENPOX, BUT
% SINCE THAT TIME, MANY PARENTS
% AND EVEN YOUNG PHYSICIANS
% HAVEN'T SEEN IT AND WE NEED TO
% GET SOME MORE CONFIRMING TESTING
% TO DO IT.
% >> DECLINING RATE OF CHILDHOOD
% VACCINATIONS IN CHILDREN,
% DROPPING FROM 92% IN 2020 TO
% JUST UNDER 89% IN THE LAST YEAR.
% HOW CONCERNING IS THIS FOR
% PEDIATRICIANS?
% >> WE'RE VERY CONCERNED.
% AGAIN, THIS IS A DISTURBING
% PHENOMENON.
% IT'S CERTAINLY SOMETHING THAT I
% THINK PARALLELED COVID AND
% MISINFORMATION THAT WAS OUT
% ABOUT COVID-19 VACCINATION AND
% ALSO ABOUT COVID DISEASE ITSELF.
% SO SOME OF THE ANTI-SCIENCE,
% MISINFORMATION THAT'S OUT THERE
% HAS NOW CARRIED OVER TO OTHER
% VACCINES AND THAT'S QUITE
% CONCERNING FOR THE POSSIBILITY
% OF NEW OUTBREAKS OF INFECTIOUS
% DISEASES THAT HAVE BEEN QUIETED
% FOR YEARS.
% >> DO YOU SEE PATIENTS AND
% FAMILIES THAT KIND OF HOLD ONTO
% THAT MISINFORMATION AND DECLARE
% THAT, NO, THEY DON'T WANT
% VACCINES?
% >> WE DO.
% UNFORTUNATELY, WE DO.
% THIS ATTITUDE IS CERTAINLY
% BECOME MORE PREVALENT SINCE
% COVID, AND IT'S SOMETHING WE TRY
% TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ABOUT,
% PROVIDE THE LATEST SCIENTIFIC
% AND BEST SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION
% WE HAVE, AND OUR EXPERIENCE.
% MANY OF US, PEDIATRICIANS,
% FAMILY DOCTORS IN THE COMMUNITY,
% HAVE SEEN MANY OF THESE
% ILLNESSES AND CAN PROVIDE THAT
% EXPERIENCE TO THEIR FAMILIES.
% >> STILL OUT THERE ALSO IS THE
% MISINFORMATION ABOUT VACCINES
% CAUSING AUTISM.
% WHAT IS YOUR MESSAGE ON THAT?
% >> YOU KNOW, THIS HAS BEEN
% DEBUNKED NOW OVER AND OVER
% AGAIN.%INITIAL CONCERN WAS FO
R MEASLES
% VACCINE AND SOME OTHER VACCINES
% AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT JUST
% ISN'T SPECIFICALLY ESTABLISHED
% OR PROVEN.
% IN FACT, THE OPPOSITE HAS BEEN
% SHOWN, THAT THERE'S NO LINK
% BETWEEN VACCINES AND AUTISM.
% PARENTS CAN BE VERY ASSURED OF
% THAT AND VERY CONFIDENT IN THE
% SAFETY OF THE VACCINES.
% >> IN A BROADER SENSE, IN YOUR
% MIND, SHOULD LAWMAKERS BE MAKING
% DECISIONS ON CHILDHOOD VACCINES
% OR SHOULD IT BE PUBLIC HEALTH
% OFFICIALS?
% >> IT SHOULD BE PUBLIC OFFICIALS
% IN CONSULTATION WITH PHYSICIANS
% AND SCIENTISTS USING THE BEST
% SCIENCE WE HAVE, THE BEST
% EPIDEMIOLOGY AND SCIENTIFIC
% INFORMATION WE HAVE.
% HERE IN WISCONSIN, OUR STATE
% GOVERNMENT HAS DONE THAT, TAKEN
% INPUT OF LOCAL AND NATIONAL AND
% REGIONAL LEADERS IN MAKING THOSE
% DECISIONS.
% >> WE LEAVE IT THERE, DR. GREG
% DeMURI.
% THANKS VERY MUCH.
% >> MY PLEASURE.
% THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
% >> IN NOVEMBER, WE REPORTED ON
% AN INVESTIGATION INTO CHILD
% LABOR VIOLATIONS BY
% WISCONSIN-BASED COMPANY, PACKERS
% SANITATION SERVICES.
% IN FEBRUARY, THE U.S. DEPARTMENT
% OF LABOR REPORTED MORE THAN 100
% CHILDREN WERE WORKING ILLEGALLY
% FOR THE COMPANY ACROSS EIGHT
% STATES.
% THE MINORS WERE WORKING
% OVERNIGHT SHIFTS AS WELL AS
% WORKING WITH HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS
% AND DANGEROUS MEAT PROCESSING
% EQUIPMENT.
% THE 1.5 MILLION DOLLARS IN
% PENALTIES TO BE PAID BY THE
% COMPANY MAKES IT ONE OF THE
% LARGEST CHILD LABOR CASES IN THE
% DEPARTMENT'S HISTORY.
% CHILD LABOR HAS INCREASED BY
% NEARLY 70% SINCE 2018, LEADING
% TO A CALL FOR INCREASED
% PENALTIES AND OTHER MEASURES TO
% CURB ILLEGAL CHILD LABOR.
% WE GO NOW TO MICHAEL LAZZERI,
% THE REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR OF
% THE WAGE AND HOUR DIVISION AT
% THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR.
% THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.
% >> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
% >> SO ACCORDING TO DATA FROM
% YOUR AGENCY, WISCONSIN HAS THE
% SECOND MOST CHILD LABOR
% VIOLATIONS OF OUR SURROUNDING
% STATES, AVERAGING ABOUT 99 PER
% YEAR SINCE 2018.
% ONLY MICHIGAN WAS HIGHER.
% WHY HAS CHILD LABOR EXPLODED ON
% THE NATIONAL LEVEL?
% >> OUR FOCUS IS ALWAYS TO
% IDENTIFY INSTANCES WHERE
% EMPLOYERS ARE EXPLOITING
% VULNERABLE WORKERS.
% KIDS ARE VULNERABLE UNDER ANY
% CIRCUMSTANCE.
% THEY'RE FRIGHTENED TO COMPLAIN,
% THEY'RE AFRAID OF LETTING THEIR
% FAMILIES AND THEIR COMMUNITIES
% DOWN AND, HONESTLY, THEY THEY
% THEY'RE GOING TO BE IN TROUBLE,
% AND THAT VULNERABILITY
% TRANSLATES TO THEM BEING MORE
% PRONE TO INJURIES IN THE
% WORKPLACE, AND IN SETTINGS THAT
% ARE ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS, LIKE A
% MANUFACTURING FACILITY OR A MEAT
% PROCESSING PLANT.
% THOSE VULNERABILITIES ARE EVEN
% FURTHER AMPLIFIED.
% >> BUT WE DO KNOW THAT THE
% NUMBER OF UNACCOMPANIED MINORS
% ENTERING THE UNITED STATES
% CLIMBED TO A HIGH OF 130,000
% LAST YEAR, THREE TIMES WHAT IT
% WAS FIVE YEARS EARLIER.
% IS THAT A DEM GRAPHIC OF
% CHILDREN THAT IS BEING EXPLOITED
% AND THE RESULT OF THESE CHILD
% LABOR LAW VIOLATIONS, MIGRANTS
% COMING IN?
% >> WELL, ONE THING I CAN SAY IS
% THAT EXPLOITATION IS
% EXPLOITATION, REGARDLESS OF WHO
% THE CHILD IS AND WHAT THEIR
% BACKGROUND IS, AND WHEN WE ARE
% LOOKING AT INVESTIGATIONS, OUR
% PRIMARY PURPOSE IS TO LOOK AT
% WHO THE EMPLOYER IS AND WHO THE
% EMPLOYEE IS, SO WE LOOK AT IT
% NOT WITH A BLIND EYE, BUT NEW
% NEUTRALLY.
% WE DON'T ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT
% STATUS OR BACKGROUND.
% WE DO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT
% THE CHILD IS IN A SAFE
% ENVIRONMENT AND WE ARE TRAINED
% TO IDENTIFY INSTANCES OF
% TRAFFICLING, IF THAT'S
% APPROPRIATE.
% HOWEVER, IT'S NOT OUR PRIMARY
% PURPOSE.% WE INVESTIGATE THE
CHILD LABOR
% STANDARDS WITH THE FAIR LABOR
% STANDARDS ACT AND THAT ACT
% DEFINES THE EMPLOYEE AND THE
% EMPLOYER WITHOUT REGARD TO
% STATUS OR BACKGROUND.
% >> IN YOUR MIND, COULD THE
% NUMBER OF VIOLATIONS ACTUALLY BE
% UNDERCOUNTED?
% >> I HAVE NO DOUBT.
% ACROSS 10 STATES IN THE MIDWEST,
% WE HAVE LESS THAN 150
% INVESTIGATORS THAT ARE COVERING
% HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF
% EMPLOYERS OVER HUNDREDS OF
% THOUSANDS OF MILES AND WE DO
% EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN TO TARGET
% INDUSTRIES THAT ARE MOST LIKELY
% TO EMPLOY MINORS AND WE DO A
% SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF OUTREACH
% TO COMMUNITIES, TO EMPLOYERS, TO
% SCHOOLS, AND WE RECEIVE A LOT OF
% INFORMATION FROM THE PUBLIC AND
% FROM THE COMMUNITY AND WE HAVE
% AN OBLIGATION TO ACT ON THAT
% INFORMATION VERY QUICKLY, BUT
% WHEN YOU'RE DEALING WITH
% INDUSTRIES THAT ARE BEHIND WALLS
% AND FENCES, THE PUBLIC CAN'T SEE
% THEM, AND THEY CAN'T SEE WHAT'S
% HAPPENING INSIDE THOSE FOUR
% WALLS.%AND SO IT REQUIRES A L
OT MORE
% WORK FOR US AND, YOU KNOW, WE
% RELY ON THE PUBLIC AND WE RELY
% ON EMPLOYERS AND WE DO OUR BEST
% TO TARGET INVESTIGATIONS AS WELL
% INTO CERTAIN INDUSTRIES WHERE WE
% THINK THERE ARE GOING TO BE
% KIDS, BUT WITH LESS THAN 150
% INVESTIGATORS, THERE'S ONLY SO
% MUCH GROUND WE CAN COVER.
% >> GIVEN THE INDUSTRIAL MIX, HOW
% FERTILE IS A STATE LIKE
% WISCONSIN FOR CHILD LABOR
% VIOLATIONS?
% >> WELL, I THINK ACROSS THE
% MIDWEST, THE SITUATION IS
% ESPECIALLY DIRE WHEN YOU'RE
% TALKING ABOUT MANUFACTURING,
% WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE
% TYPES OF INDUSTRIES.
% MEAT PROCESSING, WHERE WE WERE
% JUST DOING INVESTIGATION OF
% P.S.S.I., YOU KNOW, WE LOOKED
% ACROSS MULTIPLE STATES, NOT JUST
% ACROSS THE MIDWEST, BUT ACROSS
% THE ENTIRE COUNTRY, BUT THE
% GREATER CONCENTRATION OF PLANTS
% THAT WE SAW WAS DEFINITELY HERE.
% >> WHAT KINDS OF JOBS ARE MINORS
% WORKING AND WHAT KIND OF HOURS?
% >> GENERALLY, I THINK IT'S
% IMPORTANT TO MAKE A DISTINCTION
% BETWEEN CHILD LABOR, WHICH WE
% TYPICALLY SEE, WHICH IS IN, FOR
% EXAMPLE, IN FAST FOOD, WHERE
% YOUR ISSUES WITH MINORS WOULD BE
% KIND OF CONFINED TO HOURS
% WORKED, USE OF EQUIPMENT, SO IF
% THEY'RE WORKING PAST 9:00 DURING
% A SCHOOL NIGHT OR DURING THE
% WEEK OR THEY'RE WORKING TOO MANY
% HOURS, THAT'S ONE TYPE OF
% VIOLATION.%WHEN YOU'RE TALKIN
G ABOUT
% MANUFACTURING AND SOME OF THESE
% OTHER INDUSTRIES, NOW YOU'RE
% TALKING ABOUT THE TYPES OF
% EQUIPMENT THAT MINORS ARE USING,
% AND SO FOR EVEN 16,
% 17-YEAR-OLDS, THEY'RE PROHIBITED
% FROM USING OR CLEANING THINGS
% LIKE A HEAD SPLITTER, BONE SAWS,
% EQUIPMENT THAT COULD CAUSE
% SERIOUS INJURY, THEY CAN'T
% USE -- THEY CAN'T BE DOING
% CONSTRUCTION.
% ROOFING.
% THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.
% SO I THINK IT JUST DEPENDS ON
% WHICH TYPE OF CHILD LABOR WE'RE
% TALKING ABOUT, THE TYPE THAT WE
% TYPICALLY SEE OR THE MORE
% RECENTLY, WHICH IS CONFINED TO
% VERY DANGEROUS TYPES OF WORK.
% >> WHAT DO YOU TO COMPANIES
% EMPLOYING CHILDREN IN VIOLATION
% OF THE LAW?
% >> WELL, IT'S THEIR
% RESPONSIBILITY AS AN EMPLOYER
% WHEN THEY'RE HIRING OR EVEN
% BRINGING IN STAFFING AGENCIES,
% SO PUT WORKERS IN THEIR
% FACTORIES OR IN THEIR
% FACILITIES, IT'S REALLY UP TO
% THEM TO BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY.
% I MEAN, WE LOOKED AT P.S.S.I.
% AND WE LOOKED AT THE TYPES OF
% MINORS OR THE NUMBER OF MINORS
% THAT WERE BEING EMPLOYED ACROSS
% THE COUNTRY AND YOU SEE PICTURES
% OF THESE KIDS AND THERE IS NO
% WAY A REASONABLE PERSON WOULD
% LOOK AT THESE KIDS AND SAY THAT
% THAT IS A 30-YEAR OLD OR
% SOMEBODY WHO IS OVER 18, EVEN IN
% THEIR 20s.
% SO EMPLOYERS HAVE TO NOT RELY
% ON, YOU KNOW -- THEY HAVE TO BE
% ABLE TO SEE WHAT THESE AND BE
% ABLE TO TAKE ACTION TO BE ABLE
% TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE MINORS
% ARE NOT BEING EMPLOYED IN
% DANGEROUS WORK.
% >> ALL RIGHT.
% MICHAEL LAZZERI FROM THE U.S.
% DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, THANK YOU
% VERY MUCH.
% >> THANK YOU.
% >> LAST AUGUST, REPUBLICAN
% ASSEMBLY SPEAKER FIRED MICHAEL
% GABLEMAN, A FORMER SUPREME COURT
% JUSTICE, FROM HIS JOB AS SPECIAL
% COUNSEL I INVESTIGATING OF THE
% 2020 ELECTION.
% HIS WORK HAS RISEN TO NEARLY
% $2.5 MILLION INCLUDING COURT
% COSTS ARISING FROM LAWSUITS OVER
% PUBLIC RECORDS FROM THE PROBE
% AND NOW ATTORNEYS AT LAW FORWARD
% HAVE FILED A 108-PAGE COMPLAINT
% WITH THE OFFICE OF LAWYER
% REGULATIONS SAYING GABLEMAN
% VIOLATED SUPREME COURT RULES OF
% PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT DURING HIS
% ELECTION INVESTIGATION.
% ATTORNEY JEFF MANDEL FILED THE
% COMPLAINT.%THANK YOU FOR BEIN
G WITH US.
% >> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
% >> SO MICHAEL GABLEMAN WAS
% FIRED, AS WE JUST SAID, AND
% CALLED AN EMBARRASSMENT BY
% SPEAKER ROBIN VOS.
% ISN'T THAT ENOUGH?
% WHY FILE A COMPLAINT AGAINST HIM
% NOW?
% >> WELL, THE GOAL HERE IS NOT TO
% PILE ON.
% THE GOAL IS NOT TO EMBARRASS MR.
% BUT IF WE HAVE A RULE OF LAW, IF
% WE HAVE A SYSTEM WHERE EVERYONE
% PLAYS BY THE SAME RULES, THOSE
% RULES NEED TO BE ENFORCED.
% THE COMPLAINT IS AS LONG AS IT
% IS BECAUSE MR. GABLEMAN BROKE SO
% MANY RULES OF ETHICAL CONDUCT.
% IT WAS QUITE A TASK TO CATALOG
% THEM ALL.
% >> SO YOU -- YOUR COMPLAINT
% ALLEGES IN DETAIL HOW GABLEMAN
% VIOLATED PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT
% FOR AN ATTORNEY, STARTING WITH
% HIS COMPETENCY.
% HE'S CERTAINLY HELD HIGH OFFICE
% AS A FORMER JUSTICE AND D.A.
% WHY DO YOU SAY HE WAS
% INCOMPETENT HERE?
% >> WELL, FOR A COUPLE OF
% REASONS.
% FIRST, AN ATTORNEY CAN BE HIGHLY
% COMPETENT AT ONE THING AND NOT
% COMPETENT AT SOME OTHER AREA OF
% THE LAW, AND THE ETHICAL RULES
% REQUIRE ATTORNEYS TO BE MINDFUL
% AND SELF-CONSCIOUS OF THIS AND
% TO ACCEPT THOSE REPRESENTATIONS
% THAT THEY ARE PREPARED TO CARRY
% OUT.
% MR. GABLEMAN, AFTER ACCEPTING
% HIS CHARGE AS SPECIAL COUNSEL,
% PUBLICLY STATED THAT HE KNEW
% ALMOST NOTHING ABOUT ELECTION
% LAW.%SO THAT IN ITSELF IS SAY
% COMPETENCE ISSUE.
% NOW, AN ATTORNEY MAY TAKE ON
% SOMETHING WHERE THEY NEED TO
% LEARN SOMETHING NEW.
% WE'RE ALL CAPABLE OF LEARNING
% NEW THINGS, BUT MR. GABLEMAN
% THEN DID NOT UNDERTAKE THE KINDS
% OF STEPS THAT YOU WOULD EXPECT
% TO LEARN SOMETHING NEW.
% YOU DON'T GET TO CHARGE THE
% TAXPAYERS OR THE STATE OR YOUR
% CLIENT FOR LEARNING THESE NEW
% THINGS AND YOU HAVE TO BE
% PREPARED TO DO IT.
% MR. GABLEMAN SPENT THE FIRST
% SEVERAL WEEKS OF HIS JOB TRYING
% TO LEARN THESE THINGS AT A
% PUBLIC COMPUTER TERMINAL, AT THE
% NEW BERLIN PUBLIC LIBRARY.
% EVEN AS HE TOLD THE PUBLIC THAT
% HIS INVESTIGATION WAS GOING TO
% BE HIGHLY SECURE AND SECRETIVE
% AND HE NEEDED TO MAKE SURE THAT
% NO ONE KNEW WHAT HE WAS DOING.
% HE WAS DOING THIS ALL AT A
% PUBLIC COMPUTER TERMINAL AND HE
% WAS NOT LEARNING ELECTION LAW IN
% THE WAY YOU WOULD EXPECT A
% DILIGENT ATTORNEY TO DO BUT
% INSTEAD WAS CONSULTING WITH
% CONSPIRACY THEORISTS AND FRINGE
% ACTORS TO BRING HIMSELF UP TO
% DATE ON THE LATEST CRAZY
% THEORIES.
% >> YOU ALSO SAY THAT HE CAUSED
% MALICIOUS INJURY TO THOSE LIKE
% THE MAYORS THAT HE SUBPOENAED AS
% PART OF HIS INVESTIGATION.
% HOW SO?
% >> WELL, HE ASKED A JUDGE IN
% WAUKESHA COUNTY TO THROW THE
% MAYORS OF GREEN BAY AND MADISON
% úIN JAIL AND HE DID SO ON
% ENTIRELY FALSE PRETENSES, THAT
% HE KNEW WERE FALSE, AND HE DID
% SO ALSO ASKING THE JUDGE TO DO
% IT WITHOUT EVEN HEARING FROM THE
% DEFENDANTS OR LETTING THOSE
% MAYORS KNOW THAT HE WAS TRYING
% TO DO IT.
% SO HE MISREPRESENTED THE FACTS
% IN THE LAW, TRIED TO HIDE WHAT
% HE WAS DOING TO MAKE SURE THAT
% THEY WOULDN'T GET THEIR DAY IN
% COURT TO DEFEND THEMSELVES.
% IT WAS ENTIRELY MALICIOUS, AND
% WHEN WE POINTED THOSE FAULTS
% OUT, AT NO POINT DID
% MR. GABLEMAN OR ANY OF THE
% ATTORNEYS WORKING WITH HIM
% ATTEMPT TO FIX THAT OR CORRECT
% THE RECORD.
% THEY WERE DELIBERATELY LYING
% ABOUT THESE PUBLIC OFFICIALS.
% >> HAVE ATTORNEYS INVOLVED IN
% TRYING TO UNDO THE RESULTS OF
% THE 2020 ELECTION FACED
% PROFESSIONAL MISCONDUCT
% DISCIPLINE IN THIS WAY?
% >> QUITE A FEW HAVE.
% MAYOR GIULIANI HAS BEEN
% SANCTIONED AND A LAWYER HERE IN
% WISCONSIN, ERIC CARDOLL, WHO WAS
% TIED INTO MR. GABLEMAN'S
% INVESTIGATION, THOUGH HE WAS NOT
% OFFICIALLY WORKING FOR THE
% STATE.
% MR. GABLEMAN WAS SHARING
% INFORMATION AND SHARING OFFICE
% SPACE WITH HIM IN WAYS THAT ARE
% THEMSELVES ETHICALLY
% PROBLEMATIC.
% HEBREHE HAS BEEN REFERRED IN
% WASHINGTON, D.C. BECAUSE A CASE
% HE FILED HAS BEEN SO BASELESS.
% >> WHY, IN YOUR MIND, IS IT
% IMPORTANT TO FILE THESE KINDS OF
% THINGS?%>> WELL, YOU KNOW, W
E HAVE
% COURTS AND WE USE OUR LAWS TO
% RESOLVE SERIOUS DISPUTES, AND
% THAT'S AN IMPORTANT THING, BUT
% WHEN PEOPLE BREAK THE BASIC
% RULES AND THEY BRING CASES THAT
% ARE FRIVOLOUS AND THAT THEY KNOW
% ARE FRIVOLOUS WHEN THEY'RE
% SEEKING TO ADVANCE A PURELY
% POLITICAL AGENDA THAT HAS NO
% BASIS IN LAW, WE HAVE TO UPHOLD
% THE RULES AND MAKE SURE THAT
% THEY CAN'T DO IT.
% OTHERWISE, WE WILL DEVOLVE INTO
% CHAOS.
% >> WHAT OUTCOME WOULD YOU LIKE
% TO SEE FOR MICHAEL GABLEMAN
% HERE?
% >> I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE
% OFFICE OF LAWYER REGULATION TAKE
% A REALLY CAREFUL AND THOROUGH
% LOOK AT THIS.
% IT IS REALLY NOT FOR US TO SAY
% WHAT THE ULTIMATE PUNISHMENT
% SHOULD BE.
% THAT'S FOR THE SUPREME COURT OF
% WISCONSIN TO DECIDE.
% THEY'RE THE ONES WHO PATROL THE
% BAR AT THE END OF THE DAY.
% THEY'RE THE COPS ON THE BEAT FOR
% THIS.% BUT MY HOPE IS THAT
THE OFFICE
% OF LAWYER REGULATION WILL
% THOROUGHLY INVESTIGATE THIS AND
% GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS AND
% TREAT MR. GABLEMAN THE SAME WAY
% THEY WOULD TREAT ANY OTHER
% LAWYER IN THE STATE OF
% WISCONSIN.
% >> AND SO IT DOESN'T CONSTITUTE
% ANY KIND OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST
% GIVING THAT HE WAS A SUPREME
% COURT JUSTICE GIVEN IT IS AN ARM
% OF THE SUPREME COURT?
% >> REST OF THE SUPREME COURT DID
% DEAL WITH.
% IT'S COMPLICATED AND MAYBE
% UNCOMFORTABLE, BUT IT'S PART OF
% THEIR JOB.
% >> JEFFREY MANDEL, THANK YOU
% VERY MUCH.
% >> THANK YOU.
% >> 9:00 GABLEMAN IS NOW SENIOR
% COUNSEL AT THE THOMAS MOORE
% SOCIETY, A CONSERVATIVE PUBLIC
% INTEREST LAW FIRM BASED IN
% CHICAGO.
% FOR MORE ON THIS AND OTHER
% ISSUES FACING WISCONSIN, VISIT
% OR WEBSITE AT WITNESS WISCONSIN
% DOT-ORG AND THEN CLICK ON THE
% NEWS PROGRAM.
% THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT,
% I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
% HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.