% >> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
% PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
% PRODUCTION.
% >> SO WHEN I SAY IT'S SLOPPY AND
% IRRESPONSIBLE LIES, I MEAN THAT
% IN EVERY POSSIBLE WAY.
% >> THAT DOESN'T SOUND TRUTHFUL
% TO ME.
% >> THE NATION IS WATCHING
% WISCONSIN AS THE CANDIDATES FOR
% THE STATE'S NEXT SUPREME COURT
% JUSTICE PARTICIPATE IN THEIR
% FIRST AND ONLY DEBATE.
% I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
% TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW," WE
% LOOK AT WHAT WENT DOWN AT THE
% WISCONSIN SUPREME COURT DEBATE
% AND THE ATTACK ADS HITTING THE
% AIRWAVES.%ZAC SCHULTZ REPORT
S ON ITS
% LESSER KNOWN RACE IN THE STATE'S
% EIGHTH SENATE DISTRICT.
% PLUS, A LOOK AT A G.O.P.-LED
% PROFESSIONAL EXPANDING ONE AREA
% OF MEDICAID.
% IT'S HERE AND NOW FOR MARCH
% 24th.
% >> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
% PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
% JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
% WISCONSIN.
% >> JANET PROTASIEWICZ AND DANIEL
% KELLY MET TUESDAY THIS WEEK FOR
% THEIR ONLY DEBATE OF THE SUPREME
% COURT ELECTION AND THEY SPENT
% MOST OF THE HOUR ACCUSING THE
% OTHER CANDIDATE OF BEING A LIAR
% AND A THREAT TO THE COURT.
% >> LIKE PRIZE FIGHTERS ENTERING
% THE RING, DANIEL KELLY AND JANET
% PROTASIEWICZ DESCENDED OPPOSITE
% SIDES OF A CURVED STAIRCASE ON
% THEIR WAY TO THE DEBATE STAGE
% AND THEN SPENT THE NEXT HOUR
% HITTING EACH OTHER WITH VERBAL
% BLOWS.
% >> I AM RUNNING AGAINST PROBABLY
% ONE OF THE MOST EXTREME PARTISAN
% CHARACTERS IN THE HISTORY OF
% THIS STATE.
% >> AGAIN, THIS IS YOU BEING
% QUICK TO LIE.
% >> THIS ELECTION WILL DETERMINE
% THE IDEOLOGICAL BALANCE OF THE
% WISCONSIN SUPREME COURT, AND AS
% IT BECAME THE MOST EXPENSIVE
% SUPREME COURT ELECTION IN UNITED
% STATES HISTORY, IT BECAME MORE
% AND MORE PARTISAN, WITH A HEAVY
% FOCUS ON TOPICS LIKE WISCONSIN'S
% 1849 ABORTION BAN.
% >> BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT IF MY
% OPPONENT IS ELECTED, WE CAN TELL
% YOU WITH 100% CERTAINTY THAT
% 1849 ABORTION BAN WILL STAY ON
% THE BOOKS.
% I CAN TELL YOU THAT TAKE A LOOK
% AT WISCONSIN RIGHT TO LIFE'S
% WEBSITE.%THERE'S A PICTURE OF
HIM AS
% THEIR ENDORSED CANDIDATE WITH
% THE LANGUAGE THAT HE HAS
% PLEDGED-PLEDGED-TO UPHOLD THEIR
% VALUES.%>> JUSTICE KELLY, YO
UR RESPONSE.
% >> THAT'S ABSOLUTELY NOT TRUE.
% ONCE AGAIN.
% SO THIS SEEMS TO BE A PATTERN
% FOR YOU, JANET, JUST TELLING
% LIES.
% SO YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M
% THINKING ABOUT THAT ABORTION
% BAN.%YOU HAVE NO IDEA.
% >> THE ACCUSATIONS OF LYING AND
% SLANDER COVER TOPICS LIKE WHAT
% PROMISES THEY MADE TO SPECIAL
% INTEREST GROUPS, WHETHER THEIR
% CAMPAIGN ADS ARE DISPORTIONS OF
% DISTORTIONS OF THE TRUTH AND
% WHETHER ELECTING THEIR OPPONENT
% WAS A THREAT TO DEMOCRACY.
% >> ANDREW HITT, THE HEAD OF THE
% REPUBLICAN PARTY, TESTIFIED IN
% THE JANUARY 6th HEARING THAT
% HE HAD EXTENSIVE CONVERSATIONS
% WITH MY OPPONENT.
% EXTENSIVE.
% EXTENSIVE CONVERSATIONS WITH HIM
% ABOUT THE FAKE ELECTORS.
% HE IS A TRUE THREAT TO OUR
% DEMOCRACY.
% >> JUSTICE KELLY, YOU HAVE 30
% SECONDS.%>> SURE.
% SO ONCE AGAIN, YOU'RE LYING.
% SO YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW THIS, BUT
% THE REPUBLICAN PARTY HAD
% MULTIPLE.%HIS TESTIMONY WAS
HE HAD
% EXTENSIVE CONVERSATIONS WITH HIS
% ATTORNEYS, PLURAL.
% >> THE DEBATE ENDED AS IT BEGAN
% WITH NO HANDSHAKE AND THE
% CAMPAIGNS ARGUING THAT THE OTHER
% SIDE WAS LYING.
% >> IT'S NOT JUST IN PERSON THAT
% THESE CANDIDATES SPAR.
% THE NEGATIVE CAMPAIGN ADS ARE
% FLYING FAST AND FURIOUS IN THIS
% HIGH STAKES, HIGH COST RACE.
% THE AIRWAVES ARE FLOODED WITH
% ADS FROM LIBERAL CANDIDATE JANET
% PROTASIEWICZ, WHO IS OUTSPENDING
% CONSERVATIVE CANDIDATE DANIEL
% KELLY, BUT ONE AD FROM KELLY
% HEARKENS BACK TO A PRESIDENTIAL
% ELECTION 35 YEARS AGO IN AN
% ADVERTISEMENT WELL KNOWN FOR ITS
% APPEAL TO RACIST FEARS OVER
% CRIME.
% >> BUSH AND DUKAKIS ON CRIME.
% BUSH SUPPORTS THE DEATH PENALTY
% FOR FIRST-DEGREE MURDERERS.
% DUKAKIS NOT ONLY OPPOSES THE
% DEATH PENALTY, HE ALLOWED
% FIRST-DEGREE MURDERERS TO HAVE
% WEEKEND PASSES FROM PRISON.
% ONE WAS WILLIE HORTON, WHO
% MURDERED A BOY IN A ROBBERY,
% STABBING HIM 19 TIMES.
% >> IT WAS THE WILLIE HORTON AD
% FROM THE GEORGE BUSH CAMPAIGN IN
% 1988 THAT SUNK CANDIDATE MICHAEL
% DUKAKIS OVER A PRISON FURLOUGH
% PROGRAM.
% NOW LOOK AT THIS AD FROM DANIEL
% KELLY.
% >> DANIEL KELLY AND JANET
% PROTASIEWICZ ARE CRIME.
% JUSTICE KELLY SUPPORTS ENFORCING
% THE RULE OF LAW AND KEEPING OUR
% COMMUNITIES SAFE.
% AS A MILWAUKEE JUDGE, JANET
% PROTASIEWICZ HAS A LONG HISTORY
% OF LETTING DANGEROUS CRIMINALS
% OFF EASY.
% >> THE 1988 KELLY'S AD DOES NOT
% INCLUDE THE MUGSHOT OF THE BLACK
% DEFENDANT.
% >> HERE TO TALK ABOUT THIS,
% LACROSSE POLITICAL SCIENCE
% PROFESSOR, ANTHONY CHERGOSKY.
% THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.
% >> THANK YOU.
% >> SO AS A POLITICAL SCIENCE,
% WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION WHEN YOU
% SAW THE SIMILARITIES BETWEEN
% KNOWS TWO ADS?
% >> I WAS VERY INTRIGUED BY IT,
% FREDERICA, BECAUSE THE WILLIE
% HORTON AD HAS BEEN EXTENSIVELY
% STUDIED BY POLITICAL SCIENTISTS.
% THERE'S EVIDENCE THAT THE WILLIE
% HORTON AD ACTIVATED RACIAL
% ATTITUDES.%IN OTHER WORDS, WH
EN THE HORTON
% AD RAN IN THE 1988 PRESIDENTIAL
% CAMPAIGN, IT MADE PEOPLE START
% TO THINK ABOUT RACE AND TAKE
% RACE INTO CONSIDERATION IN A WAY
% THAT WASN'T TRUE BEFORE THE AD
% RAN.
% AND SO FOR THAT REASON, THE
% WILLIE HORTON AD IS VIEWED AS
% ONE OF THE MOST INFAMOUS AD OF
% ALL TIME IN PRESIDENTIAL
% ELECTION HISTORY.
% >> WERE YOU SURPRISED WHEN YOU
% SAW THE PRODUCTION STYLE
% SIMILARITIES BETWEEN THE HORTON
% AD AND THE DANIEL KELLY AD?
% >> IT CERTAINLY FITS IN WITH
% KELLY'S EMPHASIS ON CRIME.
% WE KNOW THAT THE WILLIE HORTON
% AVID WAS ALL ABOUT CRIME AND
% TRYING TO CREATE THE SENSE THAT
% IF MICHAEL DUKAKIS WAS ELECTED,
% THEN THERE WOULD BE RAMPANT
% CRIME ALL OVER THE COUNTRY AND
% IT MADE PEOPLE FEARFUL OF CRIME.
% AND AGAIN, IT ACTIVATED THOSE
% RACIAL CONSIDERATIONS AND THOSE
% RACIAL ATTITUDES JUST AS IT
% ACTIVATED THOSE FEELINGS ABOUT
% CRIME.
% SO, TO ME, THE BIG DIFFERENCE IS
% THE LACK OF A MUGSHOT.
% THAT IS THE BIG STYLISTIC
% DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO ADS.
% ALSO, IT JUST FITS IN WITH THIS
% BROADER THEME ON CRIME.
% DAN KELLY WANTS TO ADVANCE THE
% NARRATIVE THAT JANET
% PROTASIEWICZ IS WEAK ON CRIME
% AND SO HE HEARKENS BACK TO THIS
% CLASSIC AD THAT REALLY MADE
% PEOPLE THINK ABOUT CRIME IN A
% VERY INTENSE WAY.
% >> AND YET THERE'S A WHOLE
% GENERATION AT LEAST OF PEOPLE
% WHO HAVE REALLY NEVER HEARD OF
% WILLIE HORTON OR THAT WILLIE
% HORTON AD.
% SO IS THIS APPEAL TO AN OLDER
% DEMOGRAPHIC?
% >> IT COULD BE, FREDERICA.
% IT COULD BE AN ATTEMPTS TO
% CREATE SOME BUZZ.
% IT COULD ALSO JUST BE AN EFFORT
% TO MEAN GET PEOPLE THINKING
% ABOUT POLITICS IN A WAY THAT
% THEY THOUGHT ABOUT POLITICS LONG
% AGO IN 1988.
% IN THE '80s, THINGS WERE MUCH
% DIFFERENT IN TERMS OF PEOPLE'S
% RACIAL ATTITUDES, HOW PEOPLE
% THOUGHT ABOUT RACE AND HOW
% PEOPLE THOUGHT ABOUT CRIME.
% IT WAS A DIFFERENT CONTEXT.
% SO THIS COULD BE KIND OF AN
% EFFORT TO RECAPTURE SOME OF THAT
% CONTEXT FROM THE '80s TO
% REMIND PEOPLE OF WHAT LIFE WAS
% LIKE IN THE 1980s AND TO MAKE
% PEOPLE SCARED OF GOING BACK TO
% THAT TYPE OF SITUATION, AND JUST
% TO CREATE BUZZ.
% WE KNOW THAT DAN KELLY HAS BEEN
% OUTSPENT BY JANET PROTASIEWICZ.
% DAN KELLY HAS NOT RUN NEARLY AS
% MANY COMMERCIALS AS JANET
% PROTASIEWICZ HAS.
% ONE WAY TO RESPOND IN THAT TYPE
% OF ENVIRONMENT, ONE WAY TO DEAL
% WITH THAT TYPE OF ENVIRONMENT IS
% TO TRY TO CREATE SOME BUZZ, SOME
% WORD OF MOUTH, AND THAT MIGHT BE
% WHAT HE'S TRYING TO DO IN THIS
% SITUATION.%>> SO WE KNOW THAT
THIS
% PARTICULAR DAN KELLY AD DOES NOT
% SHOW THE MUGSHOT OF THE BLACK
% DEFENDANT, BUT THERE ARE
% THIRD-PARTY GROUPS, OF COURSE,
% THAT ARE AIRING ADS ON HIS
% BEHALF THAT DO.
% THERE'S ONE SHOWING WHO SHADOWY
% MUGSHOTS OF BLACK DEFENDANTS.
% SO HAS THE WILLIE HORTON RACE
% CARD PLAYBOOK REEMERGED IN HIGH
% STAKES RACES IN WISCONSIN?
% >> IT'S INTERESTING, FREDERICA
% FREYBERG.%WHEN WE LOOK BACK
AT SOME OF THE
% RESEARCH ON THE WILLIE HORTON
% AD, WE KNOW THAT IT ACTIVATED
% PEOPLE'S RACIAL ATTITUDES IN THE
% CONTEXT OF THE 1988 CAMPAIGN,
% BUT WHAT IT WAS CALLED OUT FOR
% BEING RACIST, WHEN PEOPLE
% STARTED TO ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT
% THE WILLIE HORTON CAMPAIGN AD,
% THEN THE EFFECT OF THE WILLIE
% HORTON AD ACTUALLY DIMINISHED
% AND PEOPLE'S RACIAL ATTITUDES
% BECAME SOMEWHAT LESS RELEVANT IN
% HOW THEY THOUGHT ABOUT THE
% SITUATION.
% SO THIS COULD BE WHAT HAPPENS
% THIS TIME AROUND.
% AS PEOPLE ARE MAYBE
% SUBCONSCIOUSLY THINKING ABOUT
% RACE, IT HAS SOME PARTICULAR
% EFFECT.
% AS PEOPLE THINK ABOUT RACE IN A
% MORE CONCRETE MATTER, IT COULD
% HAVE A DIFFERENT EFFECT.
% WE KNOW THAT THAT IS EXACTLY
% WHAT PLAYED OUT IN 1988, WHERE
% RACIAL HAD THIS RACE -- RACIAL
% ATTITUDES HAVE THESE UNDERLYING
% ELEMENT OF PEOPLE'S
% CONSIDERATIONS AND THEN WHEN THE
% AD WAS CALLED OUT FOR BEING
% RACIST, THEN PEOPLE STARTED TO
% REJECT THE AD AND STARTED TO
% THINK ABOUT THE AD IN A
% DIFFERENT WAY.
% >> IN TERMS OF THIS DAN KELLY AD
% THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, WE
% WANTED TO DO JUST A LITTLE MINI
% FACTS CHECK.
% THESE ARE ONLY 30-SECOND ADS BUT
% THE AD SAYS THAT THIS DEFENDANT
% FACED 60 YEARS IN PRISON.
% IN FACT, THE DEFENDANT FACED
% FIVE YEARS IN PRISON AND FIVE
% YEARS ON PROBATION AFTER THE
% CHARGES WERE AMENDED DOWN.
% PROTASIEWICZ GAVE HIM ONE YEAR
% IN A MEDIUM SECURITY JAIL BUT
% THE FULL 10 YEARS IF HE WAS
% REVOKED AND THAT APPARENTLY NOW
% A REVOCATION IS IN PROCESS AND
% THIS DEFENDANT IS IN JAIL, SO
% THERE'S THE FULL STORY THAT YOU
% CAN'T GET INTO A COMMERCIAL.
% NOW, ONE PROTASIEWICZ AD ACCUSES
% KELLY OF CORRUPTION FOR STEPPING
% ASIDE FROM A CASE AND THEN
% JOINING BACK IN AFTER GETTING
% CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE
% FAMILY OF A PARTY IN THE CASE,
% BUT THE KELLY CAMPAIGN CALLS
% THIS ASSERTION OF CORRUPTION A
% LIE, SAYING HE ONLY REJOINED
% WHEN HE LOST THE 2020 ELECTION
% AND THEN HE DIDN'T GO ON TO RULE
% ON THE CASE.
% SO THESE ADS FROM THE CANDIDATES
% LEAVE OUT DETAIL, OF COURSE, BUT
% WHAT ARE VOTERS TO MAKE OF THESE
% ATTACK ADS ON BOTH SIDES?
% EXISTING RECORD FOR THE MOST
% EXPENSIVE JUDICIAL ELECTION EVER
% IN UNITED STATES HISTORY.
% WE KNOW THAT THE ATTACK ADS ARE
% GOING BACK AND FORTH AND WE KNOW
% THAT THOSE ADS LEAVE OUT A LOT
% OF CONTEXT.
% IT'S UP TO THE VOTERS TO MAKE AN
% INFORMED DECISION, KNOWING THAT
% THE 30-SECOND ADS ARE NOT THE
% MOST RELIABLE INDICATORS OF HOW
% A JUDGE MIGHT OPERATE WHEN THEY
% ARE IN OFFICE.
% YOU HAVE TO PUT THESE ADS INTO
% CONTEXT.%YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTA
ND THE FACTS
% ABOUT THESE ADS BECAUSE THE SPIN
% DOCTORS ARE OUT THERE TRYING TO
% INFLUENCE PEOPLE WITH THESE
% 30-SECOND COMMERCIALS.
% >> PROFESSOR CHERGOSKY, THANKS
% VERY MUCH.
% >> THANK YOU.
% >> ON APRIL 4th, WISCONSIN
% VOTERS WILL ELECT THE SUPREME
% COURT JUSTICE THAT WILL
% DETERMINE THE IDEOLOGICAL
% BALANCE OF THE COURT.
% ON THAT SAME DAY, VOTERS IN THE
% NORTHERN MILWAUKEE SUBURBS WILL
% ELECT A STATE SENATOR THAT COULD
% DETERMINE SOMETHING EQUALLY AS
% LARGE.%WHETHER REPUBLICANS IN
THE
% SENATE HOLD A TWO-THIRDS
% MAJORITY.
% SENIOR POLITICAL REPORTER, ZAC
% SCHULTZ, HAS THE STORY.
% >> HI.
% HOW ARE YOU?
% I'M JODI HABUSH SINYKIN.
% I'M RUNNING FOR WISCONSIN STATE
% SENATE.
% >> I'M DAN KNODL, STATE
% REPRESENTATIVE, RUNNING NOW FOR
% STATE SENATOR.% >> THE SPECI
AL ELECTION IN THE
% EIGHTH SENATE DISTRICT HAS THE
% POTENTIAL TO BE OVERLOOKED ON
% APRIL 4th.
% AFTER ALL, NO MATTER THE
% OUTCOME, REPUBLICANS WILL STILL
% CONTROL THE LEGISLATURE AND
% DEMOCRAT TONY EVERS WILL STILL
% BE GOVERNOR.
% IF DAN KNODL WINS, HE WILL
% BECOME THE 22nd REPUBLICAN IN
% THE SENATE, GIVING THEM A
% TWO-THIRDS MAJORITY.
% BUT REPUBLICANS WOULD STILL BE A
% COUPLE VOTES SHY OF TWO-THIRDS
% IN THE ASSEMBLY.
% SO THERE'S NO THREAT OF THEM
% BEING ABLE TO OVERRIDE A VETO
% FROM GOVERNOR TONY EVERS.
% >> WISCONSIN IS, IN FACT A
% TIPPING POINT.
% >> BUT DEMOCRAT JODI HABUSH
% SINYKIN IS TRYING TO CONVINCE
% VOTERS THE OUTCOME COULD IMPACT
% THE ENTIRE STATE.
% >> I HAVE SOME LITERATURE IF I
% COULD GIVE TO YOU AND JUST
% IMPRESS UPON YOU THE IMPORTANCE
% OF THE APRIL 4th SPECIAL
% ELECTION.%>> SURE.
% >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
% I APPRECIATE IT.
% >> THAT'S BECAUSE TWO-THIRDS
% MAJORITY IN THE SENATE WOULD
% GIVE REPUBLICANS IN THE
% LEGISLATURE THE POWER OF
% IMPEACHMENT, THE ABILITY TO
% REMOVE CIVIL OFFICERS OF THE
% STATE FROM OFFICE FOR REASONS OF
% CORRUPT CONDUCT.
% >> I WOULD HOPE VOTERS DO HAVE
% THAT IN THEIR MIND.
% I WILL PUT IT IN THEIR MIND
% BECAUSE IT IS IMPORTANT.
% >> DAN KNODL WOULD BE THE 22nd
% VOTE AND HE'S EAGER TO TEST OUT
% THE LEGAL LIMITS OF IMPEACHMENT,
% EVEN IF ANY ATTEMPT WOULD LIKELY
% BE CHALLENGED IN COURT.
% >> I THINK WE HAVE TO BE HONEST.
% THAT IS LIKELY I HAVE REQUESTS
% OUT RIGHT NOW FROM PEOPLE WHO
% ARE MORE CONSTITUTIONALLY
% SCHOLARLY THAN I AM TO TELL ME,
% WELL, GIVE ME AN OPINION ON WHAT
% THIS AUTHORITY MIGHT PROVIDE.
% >> BUT 2014 MEMORANDUM FROM THE
% LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MAKES CLEAR
% THE TERM "CIVIL OFFICERS" IS NOT
% DEFINED.%SO THE FIRST QUESTIO
N IS WHETHER
% THIS WOULD ONLY APPLY TO
% APPOINTING CABINET LEVEL
% OFFICIALS OR STATE BOARD MEMBERS
% OR WHETHER REPUBLICANS COULD TRY
% TO IMPEACH GOVERNOR EVERS OR
% JOSH KAUL OR A MEMBER OF THE
% WISCONSIN SUPREME COURT.
% >> THAT'S THE QUESTION, AND THAT
% WE MAY NOT KNOW THE ANSWER
% UNLESS WE TEST THAT AND USE THAT
% AUTHORITY AND SEE HOW IT SHAKES
% OUT, BUT I WILL INITIALLY LOOK
% AT IT.
% THAT COULD INVOLVE ANY ELECTED
% OFFICIAL, PARTICULARLY ELECTED
% OFFICIALS, GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS
% AS WELL.
% SO I WOULD THINK IT'S -- I VIEW
% IT INITIALLY AS ALL
% ENCOMPASSING.
% >> THOSE TYPE OF SHENANIGANS,
% THOSE GAMES OF IMPEACHMENT
% WHETHER THEY'RE TIED UP IN COURT
% OR NOT, IT'S NOT WHAT WE NEED IN
% WISCONSIN.
% >> A WIN BY JODI HABUSH SINYKIN
% WOULD TAKE IMPEACHMENT OFF THE
% TABLE, BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT SHE'S
% CAMPAIGNING ON.
% >> AND I JUST WANTED TO SEE IF
% YOU WERE SUPPORTIVE AND IF
% THERE'S ISSUES YOU ARE
% INTERESTED IN TALKING ABOUT.
% >> WELL, WHAT ISSUES ARE YOU
% RUNNING ON?
% >> I'M VERY MUCH RUNNING ON
% WOMEN'S RIGHT TO CHOOSE AND HAVE
% HEALTHCARE OPTIONS.
% >> LIKE DEMOCRATS ACROSS THE
% COUNTRY, SINCE THE FALL OF ROE
% VERSUS WADE, SHE'S CAMPAIGNING
% ON ABORTION.
% >> WHAT I AM CONTINUING TO HEAR
% THE GRAVEST CONCERN TO FOLKS IS
% WOMEN'S RIGHT TO CHOOSE AND
% WOMEN'S HEALTHCARE OPTIONS IN
% GENERAL.%THAT'S REALLY THE NU
MBER ONE.
% >> AND TO ME BEING PRO-LIFE IS A
% POSITIVE THING.
% >> KNODL HAS BEEN IN THE
% ASSEMBLY OR 14 YEARS AND HAS
% REPRESENTED LARGE PORTIONS OF%
THE SENATE DISTRICT OVER THAT
% TIME.
% HE SAYS THAT REPRESENTATION
% EXTENDS BEYOND THOSE ALREADY
% LIVING HERE.
% >> SO I BELIEVE I NEED TO BE THE
% VOICE OF NOT ONLY THOSE THAT ARE
% ADULTS, BUT YOUNGER PEOPLE AND
% THE UNBORN.
% THEY DON'T HAVE A VOICE.
% >> REPUBLICANS IN THE ASSEMBLY
% RECENTLY INTRODUCED A BILL THAT
% WOULD PROVIDE RAPE AND INCEST
% EXCEPTIONS FOR ABORTION IN THE
% FIRST TRIMESTER AND CLARIFIES
% WHEN AN ABORTION CAN BE
% PERFORMED TO SAVE THE LIFE OF A
% MOTHER.
% >> I DON'T THINK PEOPLE GIVE
% ENOUGH CREDENCE TO CURRENT LAW
% WHICH PROTECTS THE LIFE OF THE
% MOTHER, WHICH IS A MAIN FACTOR.
% SO -- BUT I AM ALSO -- I DO
% SUPPORT RAPE AND INCEST
% EXCEPTIONS.% >> THE BILL WI
LL GO NOWHERE AS
% GOVERNOR EVERS PROMISED A VETO
% AND SENATE REPUBLICANS SAID THEY
% WON'T EVEN TAKE IT UP.
% JODI HABUSH SINYKIN SAYS EVEN
% SUPPORTING THE ASSEMBLY BILL
% PUTS KNODL OUT OF LINE WITH MOST
% VOTERS.
% >> WHAT THEY DON'T APPRECIATE IS
% THAT KNODL, WHO IS MY OPPONENT,
% IS EXTREME ON ABORTION.
% >> THE EIGHTH SENATE DISTRICT
% HAS BEEN A SAFE REPUBLICAN SEAT
% FOR DECADES.
% REPUBLICAN ALBERTA DARLING HELD
% THE SEAT FOR 30 YEARS BUT SHE
% RESIGNED LAST FALL, SETTING UP
% THE SPECIAL ELECTION TO FILL OUT
% THE LAST TWO YEARS OF HER TERM.
% OVER THE LAST SIX YEARS, THE
% SEAT HAS FOLLOWED THE PATH OF
% SUBURBS ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND
% SHIFTED MORE DEMOCRATIC.
% >> I HAVE TO ADMIT, CERTAINLY
% THERE'S A SHIFT THAT HAS BEEN
% GOING ON.
% JUST LOOK AT THE ELECTION
% CYCLES.
% >> KNODL SAYS SOME OF THAT SHIFT
% HAS BEEN PEOPLE MOVING OUT OF
% MILWAUKEE TO GET AWAY FROM
% CRIME.
% >> AND NOBODY CAN DENY THAT
% THERE'S CRIME, RISING CRIME
% PROBLEM IN THE CITY OF MILWAUKEE
% AND THAT EXTENDS OUT INTO THE
% SUBURBS AND SO WE FEEL THAT.
% >> HA JODI HABUSH SINYKIN SAYS
% REPUBLICANS ARE TO BLAME FOR
% SHORT-CHANGING REVENUE,
% PREVENTING CITIES FROM HIRING
% ENOUGH POLICE OFFICERS.
% >> THIS LEGISLATURE REALLY UNDER
% MY OPPONENT'S WATCH, THEY ARE
% PART OF THIS PROBLEM.
% THEY ARE NOT PROVIDING OUR LAW
% ENFORCEMENT WITH WHAT THEY NEED
% TO KEEP US SAFE.
% >> KNODL HAS A DIFFERENT
% SOLUTION TO BATTLING CRIME IN
% MILWAUKEE.
% HE WANTS TO SEE THE SENATE USE
% ITS NEW IMPEACHMENT POWERS TO
% TARGET JOHN CHISHOLM.
% >> I'VE HAD STATEMENTS BEFORE
% CALLING FOR HIS RESIGNATION.
% JUST DON'T FEEL THAT -- AND WHEN
% WE SEE THE REVOLVING DOOR,
% THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS IN MILWAUKEE
% AND WE SEE THE COURT CASES AND
% THE AFTERMATH OF PEOPLE GETTING
% OUT WITHOUT -- WITH LOW BAIL,
% SPECIFICALLY AND CAUSING EVEN
% MORE HARM.
% THAT'S A PROBLEM AND THAT GOES
% TO THE PROSECUTOR.
% >> IT'S A CLASSIC MOVE TO POINT
% TO AN INDIVIDUAL, A
% REPRESENTATIVE TRYING TO KEEP
% OUR COMMUNITY SAFE AND BLAME
% THEM FOR THE VERY THINGS THAT
% THEIR POLICIES ARE CAUSING.
% >> REPORTING FROM GERMANTOWN,
% I'M ZAC SCHULTZ FOR "HERE AND
% NOW."
% >> REPUBLICAN AUTHORED BILL WITH
% A NUMBER OF CO-SPONSORS ON BOTH
% SIDES OF THE AISLE WOULD EXPAND
% POSTPARTUM MEDICAID COVERAGE
% FROM TWO MONTHS TO A FULL YEAR.
% UNDER CURRENT STATE LAW, MEDICAL
% ASSISTANCE, KNOWN AS BADGER CARE
% IN WISCONSIN, IS AVAILABLE TO
% THOSE WITH AN INCOME UP TO 300%
% OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL.
% THIS BILL, IF PASSED, WOULD SEEK
% PERMISSION FROM THE FEDERAL
% GOVERNMENT TO EXPAND THE SAME
% COVERAGE FOR 10 ADDITIONAL
% MONTHS.
% HERE AND NOW PRODUCER MARISA
% WOJCIK SPOKE WITH MAJORITY
% CAUCUSES VICE CHAIRMAN JOAN
% BALLWEG TO LEARN MORE.
% >> THANK YOU FOR DOING THIS.
% >> HAPPY TO BE WITH YOU.
% >> I FIRST WANT TO ASK, WHY IS
% IT NECESSARY TO EXPAND MEDICAID
% BENEFITS TO POSTPARTUM MOTHERS
% UP TO A YEAR AFTER GIVING BIRTH?
% >> ABSOLUTELY.
% SO WHAT WE'VE HEARD FROM THE
% ADVOCATES FOR THAT POPULATION OF
% FOLKS IS THAT THE CONTINUITY OF
% CARE IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE
% REALLY CONCERNED WITH.
% MANY TIMES THROUGH PREGNANCY,
% THERE ARE HEALTH CONDITIONS THAT
% INDIVIDUALS MAY SEE ARE
% EXACERBATED DURING THEIR
% PREGNANCY AND SO WE WANT TO
% CONTINUE TO HAVE THOSE FOLKS
% MONITORED AND THOSE CHANGES
% DON'T NECESSARILY GO AWAY AFTER
% 60 DAYS, WHICH IS WHAT CURRENT
% STATE LAW IS.
% ALSO, THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT
% CAN COME UP A LITTLE BIT LATER
% THAT ARE NEVER USUALLY IN THE
% FIRST 60 DAYS, SUCH AS
% DEPRESSION ISSUES, WHICH MANY
% TIMES AREN'T POPPING UP UNTIL
% EITHER THREE TO SIX MONTHS
% LATER.%THE OTHER THING WE WAN
T TO MAKE
% SURE IS THIS YOUNGSTER IS
% GETTING OFF TO A GOOD START
% BECAUSE THEY'RE BEING COVERED BY
% THAT FIRST YEAR.
% SO WE DON'T WANT NEW MOTHERS TO
% HAVE THE STRESS OF HAVING TO
% FIGURE OUT HOW TO CONTINUE THEIR
% CARE IF THEY ARE NO LONGER
% COVERED.%AND SO IT JUST CAUSE
S ADDITIONAL
% STRESS FOR THAT CARE AND WE WANT
% TO HAVE NEW MOMS IN THEIR FIRST
% YEAR TO BE THE BEST POSSIBLE
% PARENTS AND BE ABLE TO FOCUS ON
% THAT LITTLE PERSON.
% >> AND WHAT KIND OF BENEFITS
% WILL THIS GIVE BOTH PREGNANT AND
% POSTPARTUM MOTHERS?
% >> WELL, IT WILL MAKE ANY
% CHANGES FOR PREGNANT WOMEN OR
% THE FIRST 60 DAYS.
% BECAUSE IN WISCONSIN, WE DO HAVE
% A PRETTY RICH BENEFIT WITH
% COVERAGE OF 306% OF THE FEDERAL
% POVERTY LIMIT.
% YOU GO PAST THE 60 DAYS, THEN IT
% WOULD FALL BACK TO WHAT
% EVERYBODY ELSE IS AT 100%.
% SO WE HAVE THIS MORE GENEROUS
% MEANS OF TAKING CARE OF OUR
% POSTPARTUM MOMS.
% SO THAT WOULD BE THE BIGGEST
% DIFFERENCE SO THAT THEY WOULD BE
% ABLE TO CONTINUE WITH THE
% HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS AND THE
% PROGRAMS THAT THEY HAD SET UP
% DURING THE PREGNANCY AND NEXT
% COUPLE OF MONTHS POSTPARTUM.
% >> WISCONSIN REPUBLICANS
% GENERALLY HAVE NOT BEEN IN FAVOR
% OF ANY MEDICAID EXPANSION,
% TALKING ABOUT GROWING
% ENTITLEMENT PROGRAMS.
% DOES THIS HAVE BROAD REPUBLICAN
% SUPPORT IN THE SENATE AND
% ASSEMBLY?%>> IT DOES HAVE BR
OAD REPUBLICAN
% SUPPORT AND IT HAS BROAD SUPPORT
% OVERALL.%WE HAVE 66 CO-SPONSO
RS TO OUR
% LEGISLATION THIS YEAR.
% I THINK THIS HAS BEEN A BIT OF A
% LEARNING CURVE FOR SOME OF OUR
% MEMBERS TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT
% RELATIONSHIP IS AND HOW THIS CAN
% STRENGTHEN FAMILIES.
% IT'S SOMETHING THAT I'VE BEEN
% WORKING ON FOR MOST OF THE YEARS
% THAT I'VE BEEN IN THE
% LEGISLATURE, STRENGTHENING
% FAMILIES, STRENGTHENING THAT
% BOND, UNDERSTANDING THAT THE
% BEGINNING YEARS OF A CHILD'S
% DEVELOPMENT ARE SO IMPORTANT
% MOVING FORWARD.
% WE HAVE A VERY BROAD COALITION
% OF SPONSORS FROM NOT ONLY
% LEGISLATURE, FROM SPONSORSHIP
% AROUND WISCONSIN.
% IT'S JUST A VERY WIDE GROUP OF
% FOLKS THAT HAVE REALLY COME TO
% UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF THE
% LONG-TERM CARE OF MOMS.
% >> AND UNITED STATES AND
% WISCONSIN ARE NOT DOING A GREAT
% JOB WHEN IT COMES TO MATERNAL
% HEALTH.%THERE WAS JUST A NEW
C.D.C.
% REPORT THAT CAME OUT THAT UNITED
% STATES IS EVEN FALLING FARTHER
% BEHIND WHEN IT COMES TO
% DEVELOPED COUNTRIES, AND
% WISCONSIN IS IN THE SAME
% CONDITION.
% SO I THINK PEOPLE ARE STARTING
% TO REALIZE THAT IT'S TIME TO
% PROVIDE THIS HELP.
% >> THAT C.D.C. REPORT CAME OUT
% RECENTLY BUT SHOWED THAT IN
% 2021, THE UNITED STATES SAW THE
% WORST MATERNAL MORTALITY RATES
% IN THE COUNTRY'S HISTORY.
% SO WITHOUT THE ABILITY TO SEEK
% ABORTIONS FOR THE HEALTH OF THE
% MOTHER IN WISCONSIN, IS THIS
% LEGISLATION ENOUGH TO TAKE ON
% THESE SIGNIFICANT MORTALITY
% RATES?%>> WELL, WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT
% MORTALITY RATES FOR NEW MOMS,
% FOR PEOPLE THAT HAVE GONE
% THROUGH PREGNANCY, AND THAT'S
% OUR FOCUS.
% SO FOR THESE BABIES THAT ARE
% COMING ALONG, HOW DO WE KEEP
% THEIR FAMILIES STRONG?
% HOW DO WE KEEP MOM IN THE BEST
% HEALTH MEANS AS POSSIBLE MOVING
% FORWARD, AND TO AVOID SOME OF
% THOSE ISSUES THAT MAY HAVE BEEN
% EXACERBATED BY THE PREGNANCY:
% HYPERTENSION, CARDIAC ISSUES,
% ALL OF THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.
% WE HAVE WOMEN NOWADAYS THAT ARE
% INTERESTED IN STARTING THEIR
% FAMILIES A LITTLE BIT LATER IN
% LIFE THAN MAYBE WE HAVE BEFORE
% AND, OF COURSE, THOSE ARE FOLKS
% THAT HAVE MORE EXPERIENCE IN
% LIFE AND MAYBE HAVE A LITTLE BIT
% MORE HEALTH CONCERNS ALONG THE
% WAY, SO I THINK WE NEED ALL WE
% CAN DO TO SUPPORT THOSE FOLKS.
% >> WHAT DO YOU SAY TO YOUR
% REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES WHO AREN'T
% ON BOARD WITH THIS?
% >> MMM.
% WELL, THE NUMBER ONE THING I TRY
% TO POINT OUT IS THAT WE ARE
% PRO-LIFE, WE DO SEE THAT WE WANT
% TO SUPPORT NEW FAMILIES,
% ENCOURAGE FOLKS THAT WANT TO
% BUILD THEIR FAMILIES, AND HOW DO
% WE DO THAT IN A PRODUCTIVE WAY?
% BE ABLE TO HELP THOSE FOLKS THAT
% ARE A LITTLE BIT LOWER ON THE
% ECONOMIC STRATA, TO PROVIDE THEM
% WITH SOME HELP THAT THEY CAN
% GROW THEIR FAMILIES, GROW THEIR
% FINANCIAL SUPPORT, YOU KNOW,
% MOVING FORWARD.
% SO THIS IS A GOOD THING OVERALL
% FOR WISCONSIN, FOR FAMILIES.
% I JUST THINK IT'S THE RIGHT
% THING TO DO.
% >> 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.
% FUNDING FOR HERE AND NOW IS
% PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
% JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
% WISCONSIN.