% >> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
% PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
% PRODUCTION.
% >> WHAT WE HAVE HERE ARE PEOPLE
% OF GOODWILL SAYING HERE IS
% SOMETHING THAT REPUBLICANS COULD
% MOVE ON TO BE ABLE TO UPDATE THE
% STATUTE.
% >> ASSEMBLY REPUBLICANS
% CIRCULATE A BILL ALLOWING
% ABORTIONS IN CASES OF RAPE OR
% INCEST, BUT THE SENATE SAYS
% NO-GO.%>>> A FEDERAL AGENCY R
ECOMMENDS
% STRICT STANDARDS FOR TOXIC
% FOREVER CHEMICALS, AND THE
% LEGISLATURE HOSTS THE ANNUAL
% STATE-OF-THE TRIBES ADDRESS.
% I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG, TONIGHT
% ON HERE AND NOW, SENATOR TAMMY
% BALDWIN ADDRESSES CLEAN WATER
% AND ABORTION.
% ZAC SCHULTZ REPORTS ON THE
% INTENSIFYING WISCONSIN SUPREME
% COURT RACE.
% TRIBAL LEADERS EXPLAIN BARRIERS
% TO HEALTHCARE, AND A LOOK AT A
% LAW CRIMINALIZING OVERDOSE
% DEATHS.%IT'S HERE AND NOW FO
R MARCH
% 17th.
% >> FUNDING PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS
% FUND FOR JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS
% OF PBS WISCONSIN.
% ♪
% >> IN WASHINGTON, THE
% ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
% JUST RELEASED RECOMMENDATIONS
% FOR DRINKING WATER STANDARDS
% CONTAMINATED WITH FOREVER
% CHEMICALS KNOWN AS P.F.O.S.,
% SETTING THEM AT FOUR PARTS PER
% PARTS PER TRILLION.
% WISCONSIN STANDARDS ARE
% CURRENTLY SET AT 70 PARTS PER
% PARTS PER TRILLION.
% THE NEW STANDARDS WILL REGULATE
% PUBLIC WATER SYSTEMS BUT NOT
% PRIVATE WELLS.
% EARLIER, WE SPOKE WITH WISCONSIN
% U.S. SENATOR TAMMY BALDWIN,
% WHOSE NEW BILL WOULD PROVIDE
% GRANTS TO HOUSEHOLDS DEALING
% WITH P.F.O.S.
% SENATOR FROM HORRYSENATOR TAMMIU
% FOR BEING WITH US.%>> THE NEW
E.P.A. RECOMMENDED
% STANDARDS AND REMEDIATION
% FUNDING UNDER THE INFRASTRUCTURE
% ACT COVERS PUBLIC WATER SYSTEMS
% ONLY.%IS THAT WHERE YOUR BIL
L COMES
% IN?
% >> YEAH.
% AS THE HEALTHY h2o ACT REALLY
% FOCUSES ON RURAL COMMUNITIES
% WHERE SO MANY HOUSEHOLDS DEPEND
% UPON PRIVATE WELLS FOR THEIR
% SOURCE OF WATER.
% AND RIGHT NOW, A LOT OF FOLKS
% WHO USE PRIVATE WELLS DON'T TEST
% THE WATER QUALITY ON A FREQUENT
% BASIS.
% IT'S ACTUALLY RATHER EXPENSIVE.
% AND SO THIS WILL ENCOURAGE,
% THROUGH USE OF GRANTS,
% COMMUNITIES TO UP THE LEVEL OF
% WELL TESTING THAT GOES ON AND
% WHAT'S REALLY PROMISING ABOUT
% THIS LEGISLATION IS THAT IF
% CONTAMINANTS ARE FOUND, LIKE
% P.F.O.S. OR OTHERS, THAT THE
% GRANTS ALSO, THEN, COVER THE
% COST OF FILTRATION SO THAT YOU
% CAN UNCOVER THE ISSUE AND
% ADDRESS THE ISSUE IN THE SAME
% PROGRAM.%>> BECAUSE HOW CONCE
RNING IS
% THIS KIND OF P.F.O.S.
% CONTAMINATION ACROSS THE STATE
% OF WISCONSIN FOR YOU?
% >> YOU KNOW, IT WASN'T SO MANY
% YEARS AGO I HAD NEVER EVEN HEARD
% THE TERM, P.F.O.S., AND THEN
% COMMUNITY AFTER COMMUNITY IS
% TESTING THEIR WATER, OFTENTIMES
% THE COMMUNITIES DOING THE
% TESTING HAVE A PUBLIC WATER
% UTILITY AND SO THEY'RE TESTING
% WATER THAT'S GOING TO BE
% DISTRIBUTED AMONG HUNDREDS IF
% NOT THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE, AND
% WE'RE SEEING P.F.O.S.
% CONTAMINATION IN COMMUNITIES
% ACROSS WISCONSIN.
% BUT I'M REALLY WORRIED ABOUT
% THOSE WITH PRIVATE WELLS WHO MAY
% ALSO HAVE CONTAMINATION BUT,
% AGAIN, BECAUSE OF THE HIGH COST
% OF TESTING, THERE'S NOT
% NECESSARILY AN UNDERSTANDING IN
% REAL TIME THAT FILTRATION OR
% OTHER REMEDIATION IS NECESSARY.
% >> SO ACCORDING TO THE BILL
% LANGUAGE, THE APPROPRIATION FOR
% THIS WOULD BE $10 MILLION
% NATIONALLY ANNUALLY UNTIL 2028.
% HOW FAR DOES THAT GO WHEN
% WISCONSIN ALONE HAS ONE MILLION
% PRIVATE WELLS?
% >> YEAH.
% SO NOT FAR ENOUGH, BUT WE HAVE
% TO START SOMEWHERE, AND RIGHT
% NOW, THERE'S VERY LITTLE, IF
% ANY, ASSISTANCE FOR THOSE WHO
% ARE DEPENDENT UPON WATER FROM
% PRIVATE WELLS.
% AND YET WE KNOW WE HAVE
% COMMUNITIES IN WISCONSIN RIGHT
% NOW WHO HAVE P.F.O.S.
% CONTAMINATION AND ARE SERVED BY
% PRIVATE WELLS.
% A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF THAT IS, ON
% FRENCH ISLAND, ADJACENT TO THE
% CITY OF LACROSSE, WHERE ALL THE
% WELLS HAVE DISCOVERED P.F.O.S.
% CONTAMINATION AND THEY'RE
% STRUGGLING AS A COMMUNITY OF
% HOMEOWNERS WITH EACH -- THEIR
% PRIVATE WELL OF HOW DO WE GO
% FORWARD.%WE NEED TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE'RE
% EQUIPPING AS MANY FOLKS AS
% POSSIBLE.%AND THESE GRANTS,
AS WE START UP
% THE PROGRAM, YOU KNOW, ASSUMING
% WE CAN GET IT PASSED IN THE FARM
% BILL OR AS FREESTANDING
% LEGISLATION, THESE GRANTS CAN
% COME TO COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS
% THAT CAN HELP ORGANIZE PRIVATE
% WELL TESTING AND THE
% FOLLOW-THROUGH IF CONTAMINANTS
% ARE FOUND.
% >> MOVING ON TO ANOTHER ISSUE,
% YOU'VE ALSO REINTRODUCED A BILL
% THAT INCLUDES PROVISIONS LIKE
% PROHIBITING STATES FROM LEARNING
% ABORTIONS IF THE HEALTH OF THE
% MOTHER IS IN DANGER.
% WHY IS THAT IMPORTANT TO YOU IN
% WISCONSIN NOW?
% >> WELL, THE WOMEN'S HEALTH
% PROTECTION ACT, WHICH WOULD
% INTRODUCE WITH A RECORD NUMBER
% OF SENATORS ON BOARD, WOULD,
% FIRST OF ALL, CODIFY ROE VERSUS
% WADE AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, BUT
% AS YOU SAY, GO ON TO TELL STATES
% AND OTHER GOVERNMENTAL UNITS
% THAT YOU CANNOT RESTRICT OR
% LIMIT ACCESS TO THESE FREEDOMS
% AND RIGHTS AT THE STATE LEVEL.
% AND IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR
% THOSE OF US IN WISCONSIN, WHERE
% AN 1849 CRIMINAL ABORTION
% STATUTE HAS NEARLY TOTALLY
% ELIMINATED ACCESS TO ABORTION
% CARE AND LEFT MANY IN CRISIS.
% >> EXACTLY WHAT WOULD THE BILL
% CALL FOR?
% >> PREVIABILITY.
% THE STATE CANNOT INTERFERE IN
% ANY WAY WITH ACCESS TO
% REPRODUCTIVE CARE, INCLUDING
% ABORTION CARE.
% BUT POST-VIABILITY, CONSISTENT
% WITH ROE VERSUS WADE, STATES CAN
% ACT AS LONG AS THEY'RE ACTING IN
% A WAY THAT IS CONSISTENT WITH
% PROTECTING THE HEALTH AND LIFE
% OF THE MOTHER.
% IN WISCONSIN, THESE RIGHTS HAVE
% DISAPPEARED IN AN INSTANT WHEN,
% LAST SUMMER, THE U.S. SUPREME
% COURT REVERSED ROE VERSUS WADE.
% >> WILL IT PASS?
% >> WE NEED TO RECOGNIZE THAT
% THIS SITUATION IS URGENT.
% 14 STATES, INCLUDING WISCONSIN,
% HAVE VIRTUAL BANS ON ABORTION
% CARE AND THAT'S NOT ACCEPTABLE,
% THAT WHOLE GENERATION IS LIVING
% WITH FEWER RIGHTS THAN THEIR
% MOTHERS AND GRANDMOTHERS.
% >> SPEAKING OF THE STATE OF
% WISCONSIN, THE WISCONSIN
% ASSEMBLY WAS CIRCULATING A BILL
% CALLING FOR EXEMPTIONS FOR RAPE
% AND INCEST AND IN SITUATIONS
% WHERE THE MOTHER'S HEALTH WAS IN
% SERIOUS JEOPARDY, THOUGH THE
% REPUBLICAN LEAD SENATE SAID THEY
% WOULDN'T TAKE IT UP.
% WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO ALL OF
% THIS ACTION THAT'S HAPPENING AT
% THE STATE LEVEL IN OUR
% LEGISLATURE?
% >> YEAH.
% WELL, ON ONE HAND, THERE NEEDS
% TO BE A RECOGNITION THAT THE
% STATUS QUO IN WISCONSIN IS
% UNACCEPTABLE.%WE HAVE A PRE-
CIVIL WAR ERA
% CRIMINAL ABORTION BAN, AND I
% CAN'T HELP BUT THINK THAT THAT
% WAS 70 YEARS BEFORE WOMEN GOT
% THE RIGHT TO VOTE.
% THERE WERE NO WOMEN IN THE
% WISCONSIN LEGISLATURE IN 1849
% PARTICIPATING IN THE DEBATE AND
% WE KNOW SO MUCH MORE IN TERMS OF
% SCIENCE AND MEDICINE TODAY.
% IT IS UNACCEPTABLE THAT THAT IS
% THE LAW OF THE LAND IN THE STATE
% OF WISCONSIN, BUT I DON'T THINK
% TWEAKING AROUND THE EDGES OF
% THIS 1849 LAW IS ACCEPTABLE AND
% I STAND WITH THE GOVERNOR,
% GOVERNOR TONY EVERS, WHO SAID
% THAT HE WOULD VETO SUCH TWEAKS
% AND, INSTEAD OF, WE NEED TO CALL
% FOR MODERNIZING AND, FRANKLY, TO
% ACT IN LINE WITH THE WOMEN'S
% HEALTH PROTECTION ACT, WHICH I
% LAID AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.
% >> SENATOR TAMMY BALDWIN, WE
% LEAVE IT THERE.
% THANK YOU SO MUCH.%>> THANK Y
OU.
% >> YOU CAN WATCH OUR EXTENDED
% INTERVIEW WITH SENATOR BALDWIN
% BY VISITING PBS DOT-ORG.
% >> WE ARE CONTINUING OUR LOOK AT
% PAST DECISIONS BY THE COURT, HOW
% THE CANDIDATES MIGHT HAVE RULED
% AND PERHAPS CHANGED THE OUTCOME.
% HERE AND NOW SENIOR POLITICAL
% REPORTER, ZAC SCHULTZ, HAS THIS
% STORY.
% >> IN MAY OF 2020, THE WORLD WAS
% IN LOCK-DOWN.
% THE COVID PANDEMIC WAS ONLY
% MONTHS UNDERWAY WITH THE VACCINE
% STILL EIGHT MONTHS AWAY.
% GOVERNOR TONY EVERS' EMERGENCY
% AUTHORITY ELAPSED AFTER 60 DAYS,
% AND WHEN ANDRE PALM, HIS
% SECRETARY DESIGNEE FOR THE
% DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, TRIED TO
% REISSUE EMERGENCY SAFER-AT-HOME
% ORDERS, THE REPUBLICANS IN THE
% LEGISLATURE FILED A LAWSUIT
% SAYING THE ORDERS WERE A RULE
% AND SHOULD GO THROUGH THE
% RULE-MAKING PROCESS, WHICH WOULD
% ALLOW REPUBLICANS TO 8-GAME%
WINKILL THEORDERS.
% >> AS YOU KNOW, THE OPINION OF
% THE COURT WAS THAT THE
% SAFER-AT-HOME ORDER DID NOT
% FOLLOW THE RULES FOR
% PROMULGATING A NEW RULE AND, AS
% A RESULT, IT WAS AN UNLAWFUL
% ORDER.%>> DANIEL KELLY WAS ON
THE COURT
% AT THE TIME.
% HE HAD LOST HIS BID FOR
% RE-ELECTION A MONTH EARLIER BUT
% HIS TERM WENT THROUGH AUGUST AND
% HE CAST THE DECIDING VOTE IN A
% FRACTURED 4-3 DECISION.
% JUSTICE REBECCA BRADLY AND I
% WROTE SEPARATELY TO ADDRESS THE
% CONSTITUTIONALITY PROBLEM AND SO
% THE WAY WE LOOK TATT IS WE SAW
% AN EXECUTIVE BRANCH AGENCY
% MAKING THE LAW AND THAT'S
% SOMETHING THAT OUR CONSTITUTION
% ONLY GIVES TO THE LEGISLATURE.
% >> PROTASIEWICZ WAS MUCH LESS
% WILLING TO STAKE OUT A POSITION,
% EVEN THOUGH THE LIBERAL DISSENT
% SAID THE MAJORITY RULING WOULD
% LIKE RESULT IN ADDITIONAL DEATHS
% IN WISCONSIN.
% >> I DON'T KNOW, AND I'LL TELL
% YOU THIS, OBVIOUSLY I'VE GOT A
% LOT OF CONCERNS ABOUT PUBLIC
% SAFETY, BUT EXECUTIVE ORDERS AND
% EXTENDING EXECUTIVE ORDERS,
% THOSE ARE INTERESTING,
% COMPLICATED, INTRICATE CASES.
% SO, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT JUST GOING
% TO PULL A RABBIT OUT OF THE HAT
% AND SAY ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER
% BECAUSE I REALLY AM
% CONTEMPLATIVE AND I LIKE TO
% THINK ABOUT THE LAW AND THINK
% ABOUT ALL OF THE ISSUES.
% >> SEVEN MONTHS LATER, ANOTHER
% SIGNIFICANT CASE CAME TO THE
% COURT.
% TRUMP V BIDEN, IN WHICH DONALD
% TRUMP'S CAMPAIGN SOUGHT TO
% OVERTURN THE RESULTS OF THE
% PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN
% WISCONSIN BY TOSSING OUT
% THOUSANDS OF ANT ANT ABSENTEE
% BALLOTS.%WITH KELLY OFF THE C
OURT, IT WAS
% RULED 4-3 THEY WOULD NOT HEAR
% THE CASE, SEALING TRUMP'S LOSS.
% KELLY WAS VAGUE ABOUT WHETHER HE
% WOULD HAVE TAKEN THE CASE.
% >> YOU KNOW, I THINK THERE WERE
% A COUPLE OF IMPORTANT QUESTIONS
% THAT WERE EMBEDDED IN THOSE
% CASES, THINGS ABOUT BALLOT DROP
% BOXES, BALLOT HARVESTING.
% THEY WERE SUBSEQUENTLY ANSWERED
% IN FOLLOWING CASES, BUT I DON'T
% THINK THERE WAS ANY REASON THEY
% SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ANSWERED IN
% THOSE CASES.
% I DON'T KNOW THAT IT WOULD HAVE
% CHANGED THE RESULT AT ALL, BUT
% HAS A QUESTIONABLE LAW, YOU
% KNOW, OBVIOUSLY THOSE QUESTIONS
% ARE GOING TO HAVE TO GET
% ANSWERED AT SOME POINT.
% >> RECENT REPORTING HAS SHOWN
% DURING THAT TIME, KELLY WAS
% ACTUALLY ADVISING THE REPUBLICAN
% PARTY OF WISCONSIN ON THEIR
% SLATE OF FAKE ELECTORS THAT
% WOULD HAVE COME FOR TRUMP ON
% JANUARY 6th IF HIS LAWSUIT WAS
% SUCCESSFUL.
% PROTASIEWICZ SAYS KELLY'S
% OBJECTIONS LEAVE LITTLE DOUBT
% ABOUT HOW HE WOULD HAVE VOTED.
% >> HE WAS RECENTLY TOURING THE
% STATE WITH, OF ALL PEOPLE, OF
% ALL PEOPLE, MICHAEL GABLEMAN, 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.% >> REPORTING FROM
MADISON, I'M
% ZAC SCHULTZ FOR "HERE AND NOW."
% >> AT THE CAPITOL THIS WEEK,
% CHAIRMAN ROBERT VAN ZILE OF THE
% SOKAOGON ADDRESSED THE ANNUAL
% STATE-OF-THE TRIBES ADDRESS, A
% TOP ISSUE FOR TRIBES ACROSS
% WISCONSIN IS AFFORDABLE AND
% ACCESSIBLE QUALITY HEALTHCARE.
% >> THE TRIBES FACE A HUGE
% BARRIER WITH RECRUITING AND
% RETAINING MEDICAL STAFF SINCE
% THE PANDEMIC.
% WAGES OF HEALTHCARE
% PROFESSIONALS HAVE SKYROCKETED.
% IT'S VERY DIFFICULT FOR A TRIBE
% TO COMPETE WITH THE WAGES FOR
% HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS AT THIS
% TIME.
% TRIBES WORK ON VERY LIMITED
% FUNDS FROM THE INDIAN HEALTHCARE
% SERVICES, WHICH BARELY COVERS
% WAGES.%>> TO UNDERSTAND MORE
OF THE
% HEALTH CHALLENGES WISCONSIN
% TRIBES ENCOUNTER, WE TURN TO
% DEBRA DANFORTH, DIRECTORS OF THE
% ONEIDA COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH
% DIVISION.%THANKS VERY MUCH F
OR BEING HERE.
% >> THANK YOU.
% >> SO ACCORDING TO YOUR LATEST
% COMMUNITY HEALTH ASSESSMENT, 26%
% OF RESPONDENTS SAID THAT THEY
% HAD TO DELAY CARE BECAUSE THEY
% COULDN'T BE SEEN SOON ENOUGH.
% SO IS HEALTHCARE ACCESS HINDERED
% BY THESE WAGE PRESSURES AND
% DIFFICULTY RECRUITING MEDICAL
% TALENT, AS WAS POINTED TO IN THE
% STATE OF THE TRIBES?
% >> MOST DEFINITELY.
% MANY OF THE TRIBES, PARTICULARLY
% FOR ONEIDA, WE HAVE A GREAT DEAL
% OF DIFFICULTY IN TERMS OF
% RECRUITING AND RETAINING
% PROVIDERS.%WE'VE HAD SOME POS
ITIONS THAT
% WE'VE HAD POSTED PROBABLY SINCE
% EVEN BEFORE THE PANDEMIC
% STARTED, SO IT WAS DIFFICULT
% PRIOR TO AND THEN WHEN THE
% PANDEMIC HIT, IT EVEN
% COMPLICATED THE MATTERS GREATLY.
% WE ARE NOT ABLE TO BE AS
% COMPETITIVE AS OUR PARTNERS IN
% HEALTHCARE IN THE SURROUNDING
% COMMUNITIES, AND FOR ONEIDA,
% WE'RE FORTUNATE IN THAT WE'RE IN
% A PRETTY POPULAR LOCATION IN
% TERMS OF OUR ACCESS TO OTHER
% HEALTHCARE FACILITIES AND OTHER
% HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS.
% HOWEVER, FOR THE TRIBES THAT ARE
% MUCH SMOLL SMALLER THAN US THATE
% LOCATED IN THE NORTHERN AREAS OF
% WISCONSIN AND THROUGHOUT THE
% OTHER AREAS OF WISCONSIN, IT IS
% EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TRY AND
% BE COMPETITIVE WITH SOME OF THE
% HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS IN THOSE
% AREAS.
% SO RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION HAS
% ALWAYS BEEN AN ISSUE, BUT IT HAS
% BEEN MAGNIFIED BY THE PANDEMIC
% SIMPLY BECAUSE WE CAN'T BE
% COMPETITIVE.% IT'S VERY DIFF
ICULT FOR PEOPLE
% TO GET ACCESS TO CARE, AND WITH
% THE LIMITATION OF FUNDING THAT
% WE RECEIVE, IT'S OFTEN -- MAKES
% IT EVEN MORE DIFFICULT FOR US.
% >> AS TO THE PEOPLE THAT YOU ARE
% CARING FOR, YOUR ANNUAL
% ASSESSMENT ALSO SHOWED THAT 85%
% OF THOSE ENROLLED IN THE ONEIDA
% ARE OVERWEIGHT OR OBESE AND 25%
% HAVE DIABETES.
% HOW MAJOR A TRA CHALLENGE ARE TE
% KINDS OF HEALTH PROFILES?
% >> THE WORK THAT WE'VE BEEN
% CONTINUING TO DO IN OUR
% COMMUNITY, AS HAS MANY OF THE
% OTHER TRIBES, AS A RESULT OF THE
% SPECIAL DIABETES PROGRAMS, THEY
% HAVE BEEN ABLE TO EDUCATE THE
% COMMUNITIES AND GIVE PEOPLE HOPE
% THAT, BY PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES
% FOR EXERCISE, PROVIDING
% OPPORTUNITIES FOR DIET AND
% EDUCATION, THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE
% TO MAKE IMPACTS INTO CONTROLLING
% DIABETES WITHIN OUR COMMUNITIES.
% STILL NOT TO WHERE WE NEED TO
% BE, BUT WE'RE HEADING IN THE
% RIGHT DIRECTION.
% IT'S INTERESTING THAT A FEW
% YEARS AGO, WE DID HAVE A NUMBER
% OF PEOPLE THAT WERE -- WE HAD A
% NUMBER OF HIGH RATES OF
% AMPUTATIONS AS A RESULT OF
% UNCONTROLLED DIABETES.
% WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SEE THAT
% IMPACT IMPROVE WHERE THERE'S
% VERY FEW AMPUTATIONS FROM OUR
% DIABETIC PATIENTS THAT THERE
% USED TO BE -- I MEAN, IT USED TO
% BE SOMETHING THAT WE DEALT WITH
% ON A REGULAR BASIS, AND WITH THE
% WORK THAT WE'RE DOING, WE CAN
% SEE THOSE IMPACTS.
% DOES IT TAKE A WHILE?
% YEAH.
% 25, 30 YEARS TO SEE THAT IMPACT
% IN OUR COMMUNITY, BUT WE'RE
% SEEING THAT IMPACT, AND THAT'S
% WHAT I THINK KEEPS ALL OF US AS
% HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS STRUGGLING
% AND FIGHTING TO MAKE SURE THAT
% OUR COMMUNITIES HAVE THAT ACCESS
% AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY CAN HELP
% TO CONTINUE TO IMPROVE OVERALL
% FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
% >> I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THIS
% NEXT POINT, TOO.
% THE NUMBER OF OPIOID DEATHS
% AMONG AMERICAN INDIANS IN
% WISCONSIN ACCORDING TO THE
% DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES IS
% REPORTED AS 2-1/2 TIMES HIGHER
% THAN THE STATEWIDE RATE.
% HOW CRUSHING IS THIS CRISIS
% WHERE YOU'RE?
% >> THIS CRISIS AFFECTS ALL OF
% THE TRIBES, NOT JUST IN
% WISCONSIN, BUT ACROSS THE
% COUNTRY.
% THE OPIOID CRISIS HAS BEEN VERY
% EVIDENT AND, YOU KNOW, WE'VE
% DONE A LOT OF WORK WITH TRYING
% TO ADDRESS EDUCATION IN THE
% COMMUNITY, DOING OUTREACH INTO
% THE COMMUNITIES, BUT MANY OF OUR
% TRIBES ARE FACING THE SAME LEVEL
% OF CRISIS WITHIN THEIR
% COMMUNITIES.%A LOT OF THAT IS
RELATED TO,
% AGAIN, ACCESS TO CARE.
% WE HAVE LIMITATIONS IN TERMS OF
% BEING ABLE TO GET ACCESS TO
% MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS.
% MANY TIMES IT'S NOT JUST THE
% DRUG OR THE ALCOHOL ITSELF; IT'S
% A COMBINATION.
% IT'S DUAL DIAGNOSES, IT'S MENTAL
% HEALTH ON TOP OF OPIOIDS ON TOP
% OF ALCOHOL, ON TOP OF WHATEVER
% OTHER DRUG IS THEIR DRUG OF
% CHOICE, AND THEN HAVING ACCESS
% TO CARE, YOU KNOW, COMPLICATES
% THAT.
% WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH OF THE
% MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS TO BE
% ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT SERVICE.
% WE DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO
% PROVIDE THE SERVICES LIKE
% IN-PATIENT CARE THAT'S NECESSARY
% TO TREAT THE DRUG ADDICTIONS AND
% THE ALCOHOL ADDICTIONS, AND SO
% MANY OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS
% HAVE TO BE SENT OUTSIDE OF OUR
% COMMUNITIES, THEY HAVE TO BE
% SENT OUT OF THE STATE TO BE ABLE
% TO GET THE SPECIFIC SERVICES
% THAT THEY NEED AND THEN WHEN
% THEY DO COME BACK, AGAIN,
% THEY'RE FACED WITH THE SAME
% KINDS OF COMPLEXITIES OF COMING
% BACK TO THE SAME COMMUNITY THEY
% LEFT, COMING BACK TO THE SAME
% TYPES OF TRIGGERS THAT THEY
% LEFT.
% >> YOU ARE DOING THE GOOD WORK.
% DEBRA DANFORTH, THANKS VERY
% MUCH.
% >> MM-HMM.
% >> GOVERNOR TONY EVERS TODAY
% APPOINTED FORMER STATE TREASURER
% SARA GADLUSKI TO SECRETARY OF
% STATE AFTER DOUG RESIGNED
% EFFECTIVE TODAY.
% LAFOLETTE HELD OFFICE FOR SEVEN
% EXECUTIVE YEARS SPANNING MORE
% THAN 40 YEARS.
% HE SAID HE WAS QUITTING AFTER
% MANY YEARS OF FRUSTRATION OVER
% TRYING TO RUN AN OFFICE WITHOUT
% ADEQUATE RESOURCES OR STAFFING
% LEVELS.
% HE SERVED AS STATE TREASURER
% FROM 2019 TO 2023 AND WILL FILL
% THE REMAINDER OF THE TERM ENDING
% IN JANUARY OF 2027.
% ALSO, AT THE STATE CAPITOL THIS
% WEEK, A SENATE COMMITTEE ON
% JUDICIARY AND PUBLIC SAFETY
% HEARD TESTIMONY ON A BILL THAT
% WOULD INCREASE PENALTIES FOR
% DRUG OVERDOSES THAT ARE TREATED
% AS HOMICIDES, SAYING WISCONSIN'S
% CURRENT LAW DOESN'T GO FAR
% ENOUGH AT TARGETING SUPPLIERS OF
% DRUGS LIKE OPIOIDS LACED WITH
% FENTANYL.
% BUT SOME EXPERTS SAY WHAT THESE
% LAWS SEEK IN THEORY IS NOT WHAT
% THEY TARGET IN PRACTICE.
% TO LEARN MORE, WE SPEAK WITH
% JOHN GROSS, A CLINICAL ASSOCIATE
% PROFESSOR OF LAW AT THE UW LAW
% SCHOOL AND DIRECTOR OF THE
% PUBLIC DEFENDER PROJECT.
% AND PROFESSOR, THANKS VERY MUCH
% FOR BEING HERE.
% >> MY PLEASURE.
% THANK YOU.
% >> SO CURRENT STATE LAW MAKES
% CAUSING THE DEATH IN AN OVERDOSE
% A 40-YEAR MAXIMUM PENALTY.
% THIS BILL WOULD MAKE IT A
% 60-YEAR.%WHAT'S YOUR REACTION
TO THAT
% PROPOSAL OUT OF THE CAPITOL?
% >> WELL, MY FIRST REACTION IS
% THAT I DON'T THINK IT'S
% NECESSARY TO INCREASE THE
% PENALTY HERE.
% WISCONSIN ACTUALLY HAS VERY HIGH
% PENALTIES RELATIVE TO SOME OTHER
% STATES FOR VARIOUS FELONY
% OFFENSES.%SO MOVING THIS FRO
M A 40-YEAR
% MAXIMUM TO A 60-YEAR MAXIMUM, I
% JUST DON'T THINK IT REALLY
% ADDRESSES ANY OF THE UNDERLYING
% ISSUES.%>> WELL, DOES IT SEE
M, GIVEN THE
% OPIOID CRISIS, THAT POLICY
% MAKERS ARE LOOKING TO USE KIND
% OF A TOUGH ON DRUGS HAMMER TO
% QUELL IT?
% >> I MEAN, I THINK THAT'S THE
% KNEE-JERK REACTION HERE, IS TO
% SAY THAT THEY'RE GOING TO APPEAR
% TO BE TOUGH ON CRIME BY
% INCREASING THE PENALTY, BUT WE
% HAVE GOOD DATA THAT SUGGESTS
% THAT THIS TYPE OF KNEE-JERK
% REACTION THAT JUST MAKE
% SOMETHING MORE PUNITIVE,
% INCREASE THE PENALTY ON IT, IS
% NOT REALLY GOING TO IMPACT WHAT
% DECISIONS PEOPLE ARE MAKING.
% PARTICULARLY IN THIS AREA WHEN
% WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE WHO
% HAVE OPIOID ABUSE DISORDERS.
% SO, AGAIN, IT'S AN ATTEMPT TO
% APPEAR HARSH ON CRIME, BUT IT'S
% REALLY IGNORING THE UNDERLYING
% ISSUES THAT ARE CAUSING THE
% OVERDOSES.%>> SO, AGAIN, YOU
DON'T THINK
% THAT IT DETERS OVERDOSE DEATHS?
% >> NO.
% THERE'S EVEN AN ARGUMENT TO SAY
% THAT INCREASING THIS TYPE OF
% PENALTY COULD CAUSE MORE
% OVERDOSE DEATHS, AND THE
% SCENARIO I'M IMAGINING IS A
% SITUATION WHERE PEOPLE ARE USING
% DRUGS, SOMEONE HAS GOTTEN DRUGS,
% SHARED THEM WITH SOMEONE ELSE,
% AND THAT THE PERSON OVERDOSES,
% AND WE WOULD HOPE THAT IN THAT
% MOMENT, THEY WOULD SEEK MEDICAL
% ATTENTION FOR THE PERSON, BUT IF
% THE MESSAGE FROM THE STATE IS IF
% YOU HAPPEN TO HAND THE PERSON
% THE DRUGS THAT THEY USED AND
% THEY ARE KNOW OVERDOSING, YOU
% COULD GO TO JAIL FOR 60 YEARS AS
% A DISTRIBUTOR OF THE NARCOTIC OR
% THE OPIOID?
% WELL, I MEAN, I DON'T THINK THAT
% NECESSARILY IS GOING TO PREVENT
% OVERDOSES.
% >> SO IN YOUR MIND, IS THERE A
% BETTER WAY?
% >> WELL, I THINK IF THE STATE IS
% INSERIAL CONCERNED AS WE ALL ARE
% ABOUT -- LOWER THE NUMBER OF
% OVERDOSE DEATHS, THEY'VE REACHED
% A HIGH POINT.
% HISTORICALLY WHAT YOU NEED IS TO
% REALLY ADDRESS THE UNDERLYING
% ISSUES OF ADDICTION.
% YOU NEED TO PROVIDE MORE
% OPPORTUNITIES FOR TREATMENT, AND
% YOU NEED TO CREATE, I THINK,
% SAFE SPACES FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE
% OVERDOSING TO HAVE OTHERS TRY TO
% GET THEM MEDICAL ATTENTION, AND
% THIS IS REALLY JUST THE OPPOSITE
% OF THAT.
% >> WELL, WHEN IT COMES TO
% CRIMINAL PENALTIES, SHOULD THERE
% BE A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN KIND OF
% A HIGH LEVEL DEALER SELLING
% OPIOIDS LACED WITH FENTANYL AND
% THOSE ADDICTED TO OPIOIDS USING
% WITH THEIR FRIENDS.
% I MEAN, IS THERE A PLACE FOR
% THIS KIND OF PENALTY FOR THE,
% QUOTE, DEALER?
% >> SO IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE
% THESE TYPES OF OFFENSES ARE
% USUALLY LABELED DRUG INDUCED
% HOMICIDES, AND LEGISLATURE
% STARTED TO CRIMINALIZE THAT AS A
% HOMICIDE BACK IN THE '80s WHEN
% WE WERE EXPERIENCING AN UPTICK
% IN CRACK COCAINE USE, AND THE
% THEORY BEHIND DOING THIS WAS TO
% REALLY TARGET PEOPLE WHO WERE
% SORT OF DRUG KINGPINS.
% RIGHT? TO HOLD PEOPLE
% ACCOUNTABLE IF THEY WERE
% DISTRIBUTING DRUGS THAT WERE
% KILLING FEMALE AND MAKING A
% PROPHET OFF OF IT.
% UNFORTUNATELY, THE WAY THE
% STATUTE IS WRITTEN, IT CREATES
% THE POTENTIAL TO CHARGE ANYBODY
% WHO DISTRIBUTES OR DELIVERS
% DRUGS TO SOMEONE ELSE.
% SO THERE ARE INSTANCES THAT --
% WHERE WE SEE FRIENDS USING DRUGS
% TOGETHER AND ONE PERSON
% OVERDOSES AND DIES AND THEN THE
% OTHER PERSON IS CHARGED UNDER
% THE STATUTE.
% SO ON THE FACE OF IT, WE'RE
% REALLY JUST HOPING THAT
% PROSECUTORS WILL USE THEIR
% DISCRETION TO ONLY CHARGE PEOPLE
% WHO ARE THE SUPPOSED DRUG
% KINGPINS, BUT WE HAVE CASES AND
% SIGNIFICANT EVIDENCE TO SHOW
% THAT THAT'S NOT WHAT'S
% HAPPENING.
% THEY'RE REALLY TARGETING OTHER
% PEOPLE WHO ARE CO-USERS, AND I
% THINK THAT'S REALLY PROBLEMATIC.
% >> AND YET, WHEN A FAMILY MEMBER
% OR CHILD DIES OF AN OVERDOSE,
% SHOULDN'T SOMEONE BE HEALTH
% CRIMINALLY LIABLE?
% >> I MEAN, I THINK THERE'S
% CERTAINLY AN ARGUMENT TO BE MADE
% THAT ANYBODY WHO HELPS PROCURE
% OR DISTRIBUTE A DRUG THAT IS
% ITSELF ILLEGAL AND DOES LEAD TO
% SOMEONE ELSE'S DEATH, THAT THAT
% CAN BE CRIMINALIZED.
% SHOULD WE BE CRIMINALIZING IT AT
% 40 YEARS AS A SENTENCE OR 60
% YEARS AS A SENTENCE?
% I MEAN, I THINK THOSE ARE
% EXTREMES AND I THINK, AGAIN, I
% THINK THE UNDERLYING ISSUE HERE
% IS THE ADDICTION AND THERE'S
% OTHER WAYS THAT THE STATE CAN DO
% TO HELP REDUCE OPIOID DEATHS AND
% OTHER OVERDOSES RATHER THAN THIS
% SORT OF PUNITIVE, LET'S JUST
% MAKE THE PENALTY LONGER
% APPROACH.
% >> PROFESSOR AT THE UW LAW
% SCHOOL, JOHN GROSS, THANKS VERY
% MUCH.
% >> THANK YOU.
% >> FOR MORE ON THIS AND OTHER
% ISSUES FACING WISCONSIN, VISIT
% OUR WEBSITE AT PBS WISCONSIN
% DOT-ORG AND THEN CLICK ON THE
% NEWS TAB.
% THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT.
% I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
% HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.
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% WISCONSIN.