% >> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
% PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
% PRODUCTION.
% >> SURROUNDED BY DEMOCRATS AND
% REPUBLICANS, GOVERNOR TONY EVERS
% SIGNS THE SHARED REVENUE BILL
% INTO LAW.
% MEANWHILE, REPUBLICANS UNVEIL
% THEIR BIG PLANS FOR TAX CUTS.
% AND DESPERATE FOR RAINFALL.
% MORE HEAT AND DRY WEATHER PUTS
% FARMERS ON EDGE.
% I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG, TONIGHT
% ON "HERE AND NOW," WE PREVIEW
% THE 2023 FARM BILL WITH
% CONGRESSMAN DERRICK VAN ORDEN,
% AND ONE FARMER SHARES HIS
% STRUGGLES WITH THE CURRENT
% GROWING SEASON.
% A CHILDCARE PROVIDER BRACES FOR
% A FUNDING GAP, AND A LOOK AT
% WHETHER SUMMER SCHOOL ATTENDANCE
% HAS REBOUNDED.
% IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR JUNE 23.
% >> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
% PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
% JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
% WISCONSIN.
% >> THE QUESTION TONIGHT, COULD
% GOVERNOR TONY EVERS VETO THE
% ENTIRE STATE BUDGET OVER CUTS
% MADE TO THE UNIVERSITY OF
% WISCONSIN BUDGET.
% >> THE JOINT FINANCE COMMITTEE
% LATE THIS WEEK VOTED TO CUT $32
% MILLION FROM THE UW SYSTEM
% OPERATING BUDGET ALONG WITH 188
% POSITIONS TO TARGET DIVERSITY,
% EQUITY AND INCLUSION EFFORTS.
% GOVERNOR EVERS HAD THREATENED TO
% VETO THE BUDGET IN THE EVENT OF
% SUCH CUTS.
% BUDGET WRITERS ALSO VOTED TO
% APPROVE A $3.5 BILLION TAX CUT,
% THE LARGEST REDUCTIONS FOR
% PEOPLE IN HIGHER INCOME BRACKETS
% LIKE MARRIED JOINT FILERS MAKING
% MORE THAN $405,000 OF INCOME.
% EVERS HAS SAID HE OPPOSES THE
% TOP BRACKET TAX CUT.
% REPUBLICANS HERALD THE CUTS AS
% THEY WRAPPED UP BUDGET WORK
% SENDING IT ON TO THE
% LEGISLATURE.
% >> WE BELIEVE THIS IS A HISTORIC
% BUDGET.
% WE INVEST HISTORIC AMOUNTS OF
% MONEY IN OUR CORE PRIORITIES
% WHILE ALSO PROVIDING FOR A
% HISTORIC TAX CUT, LARGEST TAX
% CUT IN HISTORY.
% >> IT IS MISGUIDED PRIORITIES
% ENTIRELY THAT WE'VE SEEN UP AND
% DOWN THIS BUDGET AND THE FACT
% THAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO LOSE
% THEIR JOBS AND
% MULTI-MILLIONAIRES ARE GOING TO
% MAKE AN ADDITIONAL $1.8 MILLION
% BECAUSE OF THIS IS AN ABSOLUTE
% SHAME.
% >> IN WASHINGTON AND OF
% IMPORTANCE TO WISCONSIN,
% CONGRESS IS WORKING ON THE FARM
% BILL, AND OMINOUS MULTI-YEAR
% BILL THAT FOCUSES ON FARM
% COMMODITY SUPPORT PROGRAMS AND
% MOST ESPECIALLY ON NUTRITION
% ASSISTANCE FOR LOW INCOME PEOPLE
% LIKE THE S.N.A.P. OR
% SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION%ASSIST
ANCE PROGRAM.
% WISCONSIN THIRD DISTRICT
% CONGRESSMAN DERRICK VAN ORDEN
% SITS ON THE HOUSE AGRICULTURE
% COMMITTEE AND HAS HELD LISTENING
% SESSIONS ON THE 2023 FARM BILL.
% WE TALKED WITH HIM EARLIER THIS
% WEEK AND STARTED BY ASKING WHAT
% FARMERS ARE TELLING HIM ARE
% THEIR PRIORITIES.
% >> ACROSS THE DISTRICT AND
% ACROSS THE NATION, BECAUSE WE'VE
% BEEN AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE
% AROUND THE COUNTRY, TEXAS,
% CALIFORNIA, OREGON, FLORIDA, NEW
% YORK STATE, UPSTATE NEW YORK,
% AND WE'LL BE BRINGING COUNSEL TO
% THE DISTRICT, THE CHAIRMAN OF
% THAT COMMITTEE COMING UP HERE
% NEXT MONTH.
% WE HEAR THE SAME THING ACROSS
% THE BOARD, THAT INPUT COSTS ARE
% HAVING A DEVASTATING EFFECT ON
% OUR FARMS.
% PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT BEING
% ABLE TO TURN THEIR FARMS OVER TO
% THE NEXT GENERATION OF FARMER
% AND WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT IF
% WE WANT FAMILY FARMS, THAT'S
% WHAT THAT MEANS, PASSING A FARM
% FROM ONE GENERATION TO THE NEXT.
% THEY'RE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT
% LABOR ALSO.
% THOSE ARE THE TOP THREE THINGS.
% >> SO WHEN YOU SAY INPUT COSTS,
% YOU MEAN THE COST OF GROWING THE
% THINGS THAT FARMERS ARE
% PRODUCING.%>> DIESEL, FERTILI
ZER, SEED, AND
% THEN IF YOU WANT EQUIPMENT COSTS
% IN THERE ALSO BECAUSE SPARE
% PARTS HAVE GONE UP A TREMENDOUS
% AMOUNT ACROSS THE BOARD.
% ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE TO DO
% IS GET BACK TO BEING ENERGY
% INDEPENDENT.
% >> BY FAR THE LARGEST
% EXPENDITURE IN THE FARM BILL IS
% THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION%AS
SISTANCE PROGRAM FOR LOW
% INCOME HOUSEHOLDS.
% ABOUT 80%, I UNDERSTAND, OF A
% POTENTIALLY TRILLION-DOLLAR 2023
% FARM BILL.
% WHAT CHANGES WOULD YOU LIKE TO
% SEE AROUND FOOD STAMPS OR FOOD
% SHARE, AS WE CALL IT HERE IN
% WISCONSIN?
% >> WELL, IT'S ACTUALLY 81%, AND
% I VOLUNTEERED TO BE ON THE
% SUBCOMMITTEE FOR S.N.A.P.
% BECAUSE I WAS RAISED IN ABJECT
% RURAL POVERTY BY A SINGLE MOTHER
% AND WE WERE ON WHAT WAS THEN
% FOOD STAMPS.
% IT'S NO LONGER -- YOU DON'T HAVE
% A STAMP ANYMORE.
% IT'S THE S.N.A.P. PROGRAM.
% SO I USED THOSE PROGRAMS AS A
% CHILD AND WE HAD SUBSIDIZED
% SCHOOL LUNCHES, HAD GOVERNMENT
% CHEESE.
% WHEN I WAS BEING SHOT AT AS AN
% ACTIVE DUTY NAVY S.E.A.L., MY
% WIFE AND I USED WI W.I.C. TO HEP
% FEED MY CHILDREN.
% I WANTED TO BE ON THE S.N.A.P.
% COMMITTEE BECAUSE PEOPLE NEED TO
% UNDERSTAND THAT THESE ARE VITAL
% PROGRAMS AND THEY'RE DESIGNED TO
% BE A HAND UP, NOT A HAND OUT,
% BECAUSE YOU WANT PEOPLE TO GET
% BACK ON THEIR FEET AGAIN AND
% THERE ARE TIMES WHEN AMERICANS
% NEED THIS ASSISTANCE.
% SO ONE OF THE THINGS WE GOT
% THROUGH THAT THE BIDEN%ADMINI
STRATION SAID WAS A
% NON-STARTER WAS THE WORK
% REQUIREMENTS, AND WHO THOSE
% APPLIED TO ARE ABLE-BODIED
% ADULTS WITHOUT DEPENDENTS.
% WANT 79.5% OF WISCONSINITES
% VOTED FOR WORK REQUIREMENTS IN
% APRIL.
% 80% OF THE THIRD CONGRESSIONAL
% DISTRICT VOTED FOR THOSE WORK
% REQUIREMENTS, AND I THINK IT'S
% REALLY IMPORTANT THAT PEOPLE
% UNDERSTAND THE DIGNITY OF LABOR.
% I REMEMBER GETTING MY FIRST
% PAYCHECK FROM A GUY NAME RALEIGH
% BEVANS.%HE HANDED IT TO MY,
AND I WAS SO
% PROUD BECAUSE I KNEW THAT I HAD
% EARNED THAT MONEY AND THAT
% STARTED A SYSTEM FOR ME OF
% WORKING AND BEING MORE
% INDEPENDENT.%SO WHEN PEOPLE A
RE ABLE TO
% SUPPORT THEMSELVES AND THEIR
% FAMILIES, IT GIVES US A GREAT
% FEELING OF PRIDE.
% ONCE YOU CAN TAKE PRIDE IN YOUR
% WORK, YOU TEND TO DO BETTER
% THROUGHOUT SOCIETY, AND THAT'S
% WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO, MAKE
% SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE IN A PLACE
% WHERE THEY CAN BECOME PRODUCTIVE
% MEMBERS OF ASSOCIATED AND THAT'S
% WHY I WANTED TO BE ON THE
% S.N.A.P. COMMITTEE, TO SEE HOW
% WE CAN SHAPE THE POLICIES TO
% MAKE THE MOST SENSE OF THAT.
% >> ONE THING I DON'T UNDERSTAND
% IS THAT ALREADY THE NEW DEBT
% CEILING LAW IMPOSES NEW WORK
% REQUIREMENTS FOR OLDER PEOPLE
% WHO GET FOOD SHARE OR THE
% SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION
% ASSISTANCE.% WOULD BOTH THI
NGS BE HAPPENING
% AT THE SAME TIME, THEN?
% >> THEY'LL HAVE TO BE RECTIFIED.
% THE LAW HAS TO BE CONGRUENT.
% RAISING THE DEBT LIMIT, I'M 53
% YEARS OLD.
% I WORK PROBABLY 16 HOURS A DAY
% WHEN I'M HERE IN WASHINGTON,
% D.C.
% WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 20 HOURS A
% WEEK, 20 HOURS A WEEK EITHER
% WORKING, LOOKING FOR WORK,
% SEEKING JOB TRAINING OR BEING
% KATY FOR A JOB.
% THAT'S 20 HOURS A WEEK.
% AND AS I SAID, 79.5% OF
% WISCONSINITES AND 80% OF THE
% THIRD CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
% VOTED FOR WORK REQUIREMENTS.
% SO WE ARE NOT OUT OF LINE WITH
% THE THINKING OF THE VAST
% MAJORITY OF THE STATE OF
% WISCONSIN.
% I WON BY 3.8 POINTS.
% I DIDN'T WIN BY 80%.
% THAT MEANS A LOT OF DEMOCRATS IN
% MY DISTRICT WANT THESE WORK
% REQUIREMENTS, AND I WAS SENT
% HERE TO WASHINGTON, D.C. TO
% REPRESENTED THEM ALONG WITH THE
% REPUBLICANS THAT VOTED FOR ME.
% >> IS THE INFERENCE THERE THAT
% PEOPLE WHO MIGHT BE ACCEPTING
% FOOD SHARE DOLLARS TO BUY FOOD
% BECAUSE THEY ARE LOW INCOME ARE
% JUST LAZY?
% >> NO, AND I REALLY THINK THAT'S
% WHOLLY INAPPROPRIATE THAT YOU
% WOULD EVEN ASK ME THAT QUESTION.
% THAT IS JUST SILLY.
% I TOLD YOU I GREW UP ON FOOD
% STAMPS, AND MY MOTHER WAS NOT
% LAZY, BY ANY MEANS, SO THAT IS
% DOG WHISTLE UNFORTUNATELY THAT
% LIBERAL MEDIA TRIES TO ENTICE A
% REPUBLICAN INTO SAYING SOMETHING
% STUPID.%I VOLUNTEERED TO BE
ON THE
% S.N.A.P. PARAMETER ON PURPOSE
% BECAUSE THESE PROGRAMS ARE
% VALUABLE, AND MY MOTHER, CAROL
% ANN MULLIGAN, WAS NOT LAZY.
% SHE WAS FIRE TWO AND HARDER THAN
% WOOD PECKER LIPS AND SHE WORKED
% AS MUCH AS SHE COULD TO TAKE
% SCARE OF ME AND MY BROTHER, SO I
% DON'T APPRECIATE THAT QUESTION.
% >> I WOULD SUGGEST THAT I AM NOT
% SAYING THAT YOU OR YOUR MOTHER
% OR YOUR FAMILY WERE LAZY, BUT
% THAT IS SOMETHING THAT
% GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE TIM
% MICHAELS SPOKE TO IN HIS
% CAMPAIGN RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR.
% >> TEA IT'S 2023, MA'AM, AND I'A
% MEMBER OF THE UNITED STATES
% CONGRESS.%I DIDN'T RUN FOR G
OVERNOR.
% >> ACROSS THE AISLE, TAMMY
% BALDWIN WOULD LIKE TO SEE
% FUNDING FOR FARMER MENTAL HEALTH
% ASSISTANCE.%HOW NEEDED IS TH
AT FROM YOUR
% PERSPECTIVE?
% >> THE NUMBER ONE FACILITY IN
% EACH ONE OF MY 19 COUNTIES THAT
% HOUSES PEOPLE IN MENTAL HEALTH
% CRISES ARE COUNTY JAILS, AND
% THAT'S TERRIBLE.
% IT'S NOT JUST OUR FARMERS.
% IT'S ACROSS THE BOARD.
% THE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES THAT
% HAVE SPIKED AFTER THESE
% INCREDIBLY HORRIFIC INSTANCES OF
% SHUTTING PEOPLE OUT OF
% EVERYTHING DURING COVID, THEY'VE
% JUST SKYROCKETED AND WE NEED TO
% GET MONEY FOR MENTAL HEALTH.
% HOW THAT LOOKS, YOU KNOW, I'M
% NOT QUITE SURE, BUT I WENT OVER
% TO MARK POCAN'S OFFICE TO SPEAK
% ABOUT THIS.
% WE DISAGREE PROBABLY 98% OF THE
% TIME.%THAT MEANS WE AGREE 2%
OF THE
% TIME.
% PEOPLE SENT ME TO WASHINGTON,
% D.C. TO FIND THAT 2% OF THE TIME
% THAT I AGREE WITH PEOPLE, AND I
% HAVE ACTIVELY SUITING OUT MY
% DEMOCRAT COLLEAGUES TO SOLVE
% SOME OF THESE VERY IMPORTANT
% ISSUES EXPECTED.
% >> CONGRESSMAN DERRICK VAN
% ORDEN, THANKS VERY MUCH.
% >> YOU'RE WELCOME.
% HAVE A GOOD DAY.
% >> YOU CAN WATCH THE FULL
% INTERVIEW ON OUR WEBSITE AT PBS
% WISCONSIN DOT-ORG/NEWS.
% MANY FARMERS ARE WORRIED ABOUT
% THEIR CROPS AS DRY CONDITIONS
% CONTINUE THROUGHOUT MUCH OF THE
% STATE.
% THIS PAST MAY WAS THE FOURTH
% DRIEST ON RECORD AND JUNE ISN'T
% PROVIDING THE MUCH-NEEDED
% RAINFALL SO FAR.
% THIS MAP SHOWS HOW MUCH RAIN THE
% STATE HAS GOTTEN IN JUNE
% COMPARED TO PREVIOUS YEARS, WITH
% LARGE SWATHS RECEIVING 25% OR
% LESS THAN AVERAGE, AND THE U.S.
% DROUGHT MONITOR SHOWS THE
% MAJORITY OF THE STATE IN
% MODERATE DROUGHT WITH THE
% NORTHWEST AND SOUTHWEST CORNERS
% NEWLY DESIGNATED AS SEVERE
% DROUGHT.%MARISA WOJCIK SPOKE
WITH A
% FARMER AND A UW EXTENSION
% EDUCATOR TO FIND OUT HOW PARCHED
% CROPS ARE FARING.
% >> I RUN ABOUT 450 ACRES.
% WE FARM CORN, BEANS, AND HAY.
% >> DAN TURNER IS A CASH CROP
% FARMER IN THE ROLLING HILLS OF
% MONTICELLO.%>> IT STARTED OU
T GREAT AND
% EVERYTHING GOT PLANTED WHEN IT
% WAS SUPPOSED TO AND EVERYTHING
% TOOK OFF GOOD, AND THE BRAKES
% GOT PUT ON BECAUSE OF THE DRY
% WEATHER.%IT'S GETTING REALLY,
REALLY DRY
% RIGHT NOW.
% AND IF WE DON'T GET SOME RAIN
% HERE PRETTY SOON, WE DON'T KNOW
% HOW BAD IT'S GOING TO BE FOR
% SURE BECAUSE NOW WE'RE GOING
% INTO THE DRIEST PART OF THE
% SUMMER ON A NORMAL YEAR, JULY
% AND AUGUST, AND WE'RE ALREADY
% DRY.
% SO IT'S KIND OF -- IT'S GETTING
% VERY CONCERNING.
% THE NEXT 10 DAYS IS REALLY GOING
% TO BE CRITICAL FOR THIS CORN AND
% BEANS AND THE HAY, ESPECIALLY,
% BECAUSE THE HAY TAKES A LOT OF
% MOISTURE.
% SO IT'S VERY CONCERNING RIGHT
% NOW.
% I'VE NEVER SEEN IT LIKE THIS.
% I'VE FARMED MY WHOLE LIFE.
% IN 2012, WE HAD QUITE A DROUGHT,
% BUT THAT WAS LATER IN THE YEAR,
% BUT TO BE THIS DRY THIS EARLY IS
% KIND OF UNHEARD OF.
% >> WE HAD DECENT WINTER
% MOISTURE, AND OUR SOILS WERE IN
% REALLY GOOD SHAPE THIS SPRING,
% SO THE CROPS ARE STILL TAKING
% ADVANTAGE OF SOME OF THAT GOOD
% EARLY SPRING MOISTURE, BUT WE
% JUST HAVEN'T HAD THE MOISTURE
% REPLENISHED IN THE SOIL JUST YET
% THIS YEAR.
% >> JOSH KAMPS IS THE REGIONAL
% CROPS AND SOILS EDUCATOR FOR UW
% EXTENSION IN SOUTHWEST
% WISCONSIN.%TURNER CALLED THE
LOCAL TENSION
% OFFICE.%>> THAT'S QUITE A DI
FFERENCE.
% >> FOR HELP.
% >> THIS PLANT, ACTUALLY, IF IT'S
% GOING TO GROW WELL, IT'S GOING
% TO OPEN UP SO THAT IT HAS ALL
% THIS SURFACE AREA FOR
% PHOTOSYNTHESIS, BUT SINCE IT'S
% SO DRY, IT'S TRYING TO ROLL UP
% TO CONSERVE THE MOISTURE TO NOT
% TRANSPIRE ANY EXTRA OUT OF THE
% PLANT.
% >> WE REALLY ARE JUST NEEDING TO
% BE PATIENT FOR SOME MORE
% RAINFALL TO HELP OUR CROPS TAKE
% THE NEXT STEP.
% >> HOW MUCH LONGER CAN THEY HOLD
% OUT?%>> THAT'S A REALLY GOOD
% QUESTION.%I'M GOING TO BE OP
TIMISTIC UNTIL
% WE CELEBRATE THE FOURTH OF JULY.
% AT THAT POINT, I THINK WE'RE
% HITTING KIND OF A REAL MILESTONE
% WITH THE FACT THAT SOME CROPS
% MAY NOT BE ABLE TO REVERSE
% COURSE.
% I KNOW WE'RE VISITING HERE ABOUT
% ALFALFA ON THIS PARTICULAR FARM,
% AND ALFALFA IS AN INTERESTING
% CROP IN THAT IT CAN ACTUALLY GO
% DORMANT AND IT CAN MAINTAIN ITS
% LIFE AND THEN IT COULD ACTUALLY
% COME BACK OUT OF DORMANCY AND
% PRODUCE LATER IN THE SEASON.
% MORE OF OUR TRADITIONAL ANNUAL
% CROPS WILL NOT DO THAT.
% CORN, SOYBEAN, FOR INSTANCE.
% ONCE THEY'VE REACHED THAT
% PERMANENT WILTING POINT, THEY
% REALLY WON'T BE ABLE TO REBOUND
% THE SAME AS SOME OF OUR
% PERENNIAL FORAGES WILL.
% >> THEY KEEP TELLING US WE'RE
% GOING TO GET RAIN IN JULY, SO
% THAT'S ALL WE CAN PRAY FOR RIGHT
% NOW, BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO NEED
% QUITE A BIT OF IT.
% THERE'S NOTHING YOU CAN DO.
% I THOUGHT ABOUT STARTING TO CUT
% HAY.%A LOT OF GUYS ARE STARTI
NG TO
% CUT THEIR SECOND CROP HAY.
% I DECIDED I'M GOING TO HOLD OFF
% BECAUSE IT'S JUST -- THE HAY IS
% UNDER SUCH STRESS AND IF WE
% DON'T GET RAIN, WILL IT COME
% BACK?%I MEAN, THERE'S A LOT
OF IFs
% IN THE EQUATION, AND I SELL A
% LOT OF HAY AND I DON'T WANT TO
% LOSE MY HAY CROP.
% THE CORN AND BEAN, THEY HAVE AT
% LEAST ANOTHER 10 DAYS THAT
% THEY'LL BE ABLE TO SURVIVE THIS
% PRETTY DECENTLY, I THINK, IN
% MOST AREAS, BUT WITHIN THE NEXT
% 10 DAYS, IF THEY DON'T GET RAIN,
% THEY'RE GOING TO BE IN A WORLD
% OF HURT.
% I MEAN, WE'VE ALREADY -- I'M
% ASSUMING WE'VE ALREADY LOST SOME
% OF THE YIELD.
% >> WHAT ARE YOU MOST CONCERNED
% ABOUT AT THIS POINT?
% >> I'M MOST CONCERNED ABOUT
% BEING ABLE TO HAVE SOME ANSWERS
% WHEN GROWERS CALL, BEING ABLE TO
% HELP THEM STAY POSITIVE, HELP
% THEM THINK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT
% ARE THE NEEDS THAT THEY HAVE
% IMMEDIATELY.%THERE MAY BE A C
HANCE THAT WE
% COULD PLANT A SECOND CROP IF WE
% DO GET SOME LATE SEASON RAIN, SO
% MAYBE MIDDLE OF JULY TO
% BEGINNING OF AUGUST.
% WE'LL HAVE TO WORK WITH OUR CROP
% INSURANCE AGENT TO MAKE SURE
% THAT WE DON'T AFFECT THE CROP
% INSURANCE COVERAGE ON OUR FIRST
% DROUGCROP, BUT THERE MAY BE A CE
% TO GROW A SECOND CROP.
% WE DON'T HAVE 100% INSURANCE
% COVERAGE, BUT IT WILL DEFINITELY
% HELP COVER THE INPUT SIDE OF
% MOST FARMS AND THEN GIVE THEM
% THAT CHANCE TO BE ABLE TO
% PARTICIPATE AGAIN NEXT YEAR.
% >> I DO HAVE CROP INSURANCE.
% SO YOU ALMOST HAVE TO, AND THIS
% DAY AND AGE, BECAUSE THE INPUT
% COSTS ARE SO HIGH THAT YOU JUST
% CAN'T AFFORD NOT TO HAVE IT.
% I MEAN, IF YOU HAVE A TOTAL
% LOSS, YOU COULD BE IN BIG
% TROUBLE.
% I MEAN, IT'S NOT EASY.
% >> ARE CROPS IN GENERAL
% PREPARED -- OR ARE FARMERS
% PREPARED TO HANDLE THIS KIND OF
% BACK-AND-FORTH OF EXTREMES?
% >> A LOT OF IT STARTS WITH HOW
% WE MANAGE OR SOIL.
% WHEN WE'RE IN MORE OF A WEATHER
% RISK SITUATION, YOU KNOW, WHAT
% DOES THAT DO TO OUR CHANCE OF
% HAVING A CROP?
% SO I THINK WE'RE STARTING TO
% LEARN ALL THAT AND TRY TO FIGURE
% OUT HOW THOSE ALL FIT TOGETHER.
% I KNOW THERE'S CLIMATE SMART
% WORK BEING DONE AT U.S.D.A., SO
% HOPEFULLY THAT HAS IN MIND THE
% GOALS OF FARMERS FOR THEIR LAND
% MANAGEMENT, TOO, BECAUSE
% ULTIMATELY, THAT REALLY IS WHERE
% WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE BIGGEST
% RESULTS, IS WHAT OUR PRIVATE
% LANDOWNERS HAVE THE POWER TO
% MAKE THE DECISIONS THAT ARE BEST
% FOR THEM.
% WE HAVE EXPERIENCE IN THE PAST
% OF OTHER DROUGHTS OR OTHER TIMES
% THAT HAVE BEEN REALLY STRESSFUL
% ON OUR FARM AND ON OUR FAMILY.
% I THINK GOING IN AND SAY HI TO
% YOUR NEIGHBORS, ASK THEM HOW
% THEY'RE DOING, THIS CAN REALLY
% CAUSE HAVOC ON THE PSYCHE OF OUR
% FARMERS.
% >> YOUR MIND IS GOING A HUNDRED
% MILES AN HOUR, HOW CAN YOU DO
% SOMETHING DIFFERENT TO TRY TO
% OFF-SET THIS EXPENSE IF YOU'RE
% NOT GOING TO MAKE THIS AMOUNT OF
% MONEY BECAUSE YOUR CROPS ARE
% GOING TO BE DOWN.
% YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF THINGS GOING
% ON.%I MEAN, IT KEEPS YOU UP
AT
% NIGHT.
% >> REPORTING FROM MO MONTICELLO,
% I'M MARISA WOJCIK.
% >> FINDING AND AFFORDING
% CHILDCARE IN WISCONSIN IS
% DIFFICULT FOR MANY FAMILIES AND
% NOW STATE BUDGET ACTION THIS
% WEEK DE-FUNDED A PANDEMIC
% SUBSIDY PROGRAM THAT GOVERNOR
% TONY EVERS WANTED TO MAKE
% PERMANENT.
% THE CHILDCARE PROGRAM AND
% HUNDREDS OF MVMENTDZ IN FEDERAL
% SUPPORT TO CHILDCARE PROVIDERS
% FOR STAFFING AND TO MAINTAIN
% COSTS FOR PARENTS.
% THE DOLLARS GO AWAY IN FEBRUARY
% BUT ARE STEEPLY REDUCED FOR
% PROVIDERS STARTING THIS MONTH.
% WE CHECK IN WITH ONE CHILDCARE
% PROVIDER IN RICHLAND CENTER FOR
% HER REACTION TO THE END OF THE
% CHILDCARE COUNTS PROGRAM.
% WE'RE JOINED BY JENNIE.
% THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.
% >> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
% >> SO YOU HAVE SOME STAFF
% INTENSIVE CARE BECAUSE YOU
% PROVIDE INFANT CARE, I
% UNDERSTAND, THE ONLY SUCH CENTER
% WHERE YOU ARE.
% WHAT WILL THE LOSS OF THE
% FEDERAL DOLLARS MEAN TO YOUR
% CENTER AND THE FAMILIES THAT YOU
% SERVE?
% >> I'M GOING TO HAVE TO RAISE
% FEES FOR THE FAMILIES BECAUSE
% I'M NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO
% BUDGET CORRECTLY TO GIVE THE
% TEACHERS THAT I HAVE THE QUALITY
% PAY THAT THEY NEED TO KEEP THE
% QUALITY TEACHERS.
% I WILL HAVE TO CUT MY BUDGETS,
% MY SUPPLIES, WE WON'T BE ABLE TO
% UPDATE ANY EQUIPMENT.
% I MEAN, IT'S GOING TO BE A TIGHT
% GO OF IT WITHOUT THIS MONEY.
% >> DO YOU EXPECT THAT, GIVEN
% THAT YOU HAVE TO RAISE FEES,
% THAT SOME FAMILIES WILL MAKE THE
% CHOICE TO FOREGO CHILDCARE AS A
% RESULT AND YOU WILL THEREFORE
% LOSE FAMILIES?
% >> I DO.
% I DO.
% I FEEL PEOPLE WILL NOT BE ABLE
% TO AFFORD IT, THEY WILL NOT BE
% ABLE TO WORK.
% IT'S GOING TO BE A DOMINO
% EFFECT.
% >> SO YOU WERE DESCRIBING THAT
% UNDER THE PROGRAM, YOU WERE
% GETTING ABOUT $10,000 A MONTH.
% WHAT WERE YOU ABLE TO DO WITH
% THAT EXTRA FEDERAL MONEY COMING
% TO YOU THROUGH THIS PROGRAM?
% >> THAT MONEY WAS PAYING THE
% PAYROLL TAXES THAT I HAVE TO PAY
% FOR HAVING MY STAFF, AND ALSO I
% WAS UPDATING THINGS.
% I RECENTLY OPENED THIS RICHLAND
% CENTER AREA AND PROVIDED THREE
% MORE ROOMS FOR INFANT CARE, BUT
% THAT WAS WITH CHILDCARE COUNTS
% MONEY HELPED PAY FOR THE TAXES
% AND THEN WE ALSO HAD TO PARTNER
% UP, AND THAT HELPED PAY FOR THAT
% THREE EXTRA DOORS.
% PARTNER UP IS STILL GOING
% THROUGH I BELIEVE -- I DON'T
% REMEMBER.
% ONE MORE YEAR.
% THROUGH NEXT YEAR.
% AND WITH THIS CHILDCARE COUNTS
% CUTS OFF IN FEBRUARY.
% >> HOW DIFFICULT IS IT TO
% MAINTAIN STAFFING LEVELS EVEN
% WITH THE FEDERAL SUBSIDY?
% >> IT'S HARD.
% IT'S HARD.
% I DON'T PAY NEAR WHAT I WOULD
% LIKE TO BECAUSE OF -- I MEAN, I
% HAVE VERY, VERY GOOD STAFF, VERY
% GOOD GIRLS THAT LOVE THEIR JOBS,
% THEY LOVE THE KIDDOS, BUT I
% CAN'T PAY THEM WHAT A FACTORY
% WOULD PAY OR SOMEBODY DOWN THE
% ROAD, THE HOSPITALS CAN PAY, BUT
% THEY LOVE THEIR JOBS AND THEY
% LOVE WHAT THEY DO.
% IT'S HARD TO COMPETE WITH THE
% OUTSIDE.
% >> WHAT YOU DO IS SO VITAL AND
% SO IMPORTANT AND SUCH HARD WORK.
% WHAT IS YOUR MESSAGE TO THE
% LEGISLATURE ABOUT THIS PROGRAM
% AND ITS IMPORTANCE?
% >> I'M REALLY HOPING THAT THEY
% CAN REVISIT IT AND, YOU KNOW,
% FIND A WAY TO PUT IT INTO THE
% BUDGET.
% IT'S SOMETHING THANKFUL HAS
% HELPED FAMILIES, I MEAN, THE
% FUNDS -- WE'VE OPENED UP 200
% SLOTS WITHIN THE LAST TWO YEARS
% JUST WITH THESE FUNDS AND THE
% HELP OF THESE FUNDS, WE'RE
% HELPING LOTS OF FAMILIES GET
% BACK TO WORK.
% WE ARE IN THE BROOKLYN CENTER
% AREA.%THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO
FIND
% CHILDCARE.% WE'RE MOVING PEO
PLE FROM OTHER
% STATES UP TO WISCONSIN BECAUSE
% OF THIS CHILDCARE.
% I JUST HAD A FAMILY SIGN UP FROM
% GEORGIA, SOMEONE MOVED FROM
% TEXAS.
% SO, I MEAN, THIS PROGRAM, I
% DON'T RELY ON FEDERAL MONEY, BUT
% IT IS VERY HELPFUL TO KEEP MY
% DOORS OPEN AND KEEP THE HIGH
% QUALITY CARE THAT WE GIVE HERE
% AT SUNSHINE.
% >> ONE OF THE REPUBLICAN
% CO-CHAIRS OF THE BUDGET
% COMMITTEE SAYS THEY WILL BE
% BANKING $MAKING $45 MILLION
% AVAILABLE NOR LOW INCOME
% FAMILIES AND $15 MILLION FOR A
% REVOLVING LOAN FUND FOR
% CHILDCARE CENTER UPGRADES.
% IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU THINK
% SOUNDS WOULD BE HELPFUL?
% >> THE LOW INCOMES FAMILIES,
% YES, BUT YOU'RE REALLY MISSING
% THE MIDDLE INCOME FAMILIES OR
% THE -- OR THE MIDDLE INCOME
% FAMILIES THAT DON'T QUALIFY FOR
% THOSE PROGRAMS, AND THAT'S WHERE
% I CAN KEEP MY FEES AT A DECENTLY
% LEVEL FOR THOSE -- DECENT LEVEL
% FOR THOSE FAMILIES.
% >> WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME,
% JENNIE.%GOOD LUCK.
% >> THANK YOU.
% >> SCHOOL IS OUT FOR SUMMER AND
% NOW SUMMER SCHOOL BEGINS, BUT
% WHO IS GOING AND HOW MIGHT EXTRA
% CLASS TIME HELP MAKE UP FOR
% LEARNING LOSS SUFFERED DURING
% THE PANDEMIC?
% SARA SHAW SPECIALIZES IN
% EDUCATION AS SENIOR RESEARCHER
% FOR THE WISCONSIN POLICY FORUM.
% SARA, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH
% US.%>> MY PLEASURE.
% >> SO WE KNOW ACCORDING TO THE
% DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION
% THAT THE ACTUAL ENROLLMENT
% NUMBERS FOR SUMMER SCHOOL THIS
% SUMMER DON'T COME OUT UNTIL
% OCTOBER.
% BUT WHAT DO TRENDS FROM RECENT
% PRIOR YEARS OF SUMMER SCHOOL
% ATTENDANCE ACROSS THE STATE TELL
% US?%>> SO PRIOR TO THE PANDE
MIC,
% SUMMER SCHOOL ENROLLMENT HAD
% GENERALLY BEEN INCREASING.
% THEN THE PANDEMIC HIT AND SUMMER
% 2020, IT SAW A 57% DECREASE.
% THE QUESTION WAS WHAT WAS GOING
% TO HAPPEN STARTING IN SUMMER
% 2021 AND WHAT WE SAW IN THAT
% YEAR WAS THAT ENROLLMENT WAS
% BACK UP TO 88.3% OF 2019
% ENROLLMENT, SO WHAT WE SCRIBAL
% AS A PARTIAL RECOVERY.
% A LOT OF THE DISTRICTS FULLY
% RECOVERED AND MANY DID NOT.
% THEN WE LOOKED RECENTLY TO SEE
% WHAT HAPPENED FOR SUMMER 2020.
% SO LAST YEAR AT THIS TIME.
% AND THE NUMBERS BARELY BUDGED,
% SO IT'S ONLY UP BY HALF A
% PERCENTAGE POINT.
% WE'RE AT 88.8% OF WHAT THE
% NUMBERS WERE IN 2019.
% AND THESE NUMBERS ARE RELEVANT
% BECAUSE WHILE SUMMER SCHOOL
% ISN'T EVERYTHING TO EVERYONE, IT
% WAS SERVING A PURPOSE PRIOR TO
% THE PANDEMIC AND THE QUESTION
% IS, HAS IT BEEN ABLE TO REGAIN
% THAT ORIGINAL PURPOSE, MUCH LESS
% BE ABLE TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL
% SUPPORT TO HELP LEARNING
% RECOVERY.
% >> SO WHY WOULDN'T ENROLLMENT
% MOSTLY HAVE REBOUNDED AFTER THE
% WORST OF COVID?
% >> THERE ARE A LOT OF
% HYPOTHETICALS.%I THINK IN THA
T 2021, THAT FIRST
% YEAR BACK, THERE WERE CONCERNS
% OF STAFF BURN-OUT, OF CONTINUED
% COVID HESITANCY, EVEN WITH THE
% VACCINES, DISTRICTS GETTING
% THEMSELVES GOING AGAIN.
% AS WE GET FURTHER OUT, I THINK
% THE EXPLANATIONS BECOME TRICKIER
% TO PIN DOWN, AND IT IS A TIGHT
% LABOR MARKED, SO TEACHERS HAVE A
% LOT OF OPTIONS OR HAD A LOT OF
% OPTIONS, AT LEAST, OF WHAT THEY
% COULD BE DOING OVER THE SUMMER
% AND BUDGETS AT THE STATE AND
% LOCAL LEVEL WERE FAIRLY
% CONSTRAINED.%BUT AT THE SAME
TIME, MANY
% DISTRICTS HAD ACCESS TO FEDERAL
% RELIEF FUNDS THAT COULD HAVE
% HELPED FUND THAT SUMMER SCHOOL.
% SO PROBABLY MOST RELATED TO
% STAFFING, BUT ALSO QUESTIONS
% ABOUT SCHOOL BUDGETS AND
% PARENTAL INTEREST, OR PARENTS
% AND GUARDIANS THINKING ABOUT HOW
% DID THEY WANT THEIR KIDS
% EXPECTED THE SUMMER.
% >> YOU WROTE A TALE OF TWO
% DISTRICTS, ONE BEING MILWAUKEE,
% WHICH DID NOT REBOUND
% SIGNIFICANTLY AT ALL, AND ONE
% BEING GREEN BAY, WHICH DID AND
% REALLY LEANED INTO THIS KIND OF
% SUMMER SCHOOL ENGAGEMENT.
% WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
% THESE TWO DISTRICTS?
% >> WELL, IT'S A LITTLE DIFFICULT
% TO JUST LOOK AT SUMMER SCHOOL
% BECAUSE EACH OF THESE DISTRICTS
% ARE TAKING ON SO MANY DIFFERENT
% EFFORTS OF WHICH SUMMER SCHOOL
% IS A PIECE, BUT GREEN BAY REALLY
% MADE THE STRATEGIC INVESTMENT TO
% SAY SUMMER SCHOOL IS THE LEVER
% WE ARE GOING TO PULL, OR ONE OF
% THE MAJOR LEVERS WE ARE GOING TO
% PULL TO GET OUR TEACHERS BACK IN
% PERSON, GETTING OUR STUDENTS
% USED TO BEING BACK IN PERSON.
% THEY SWITCHED FROM A PART-DAY
% PROGRAM TOE A FULL-DAY PROGRAM
% BECAUSE IT GAVE THAT EXTRA TIME
% WITH KIDS TO NOT ONLY HELP THEM
% CATCH UP ACADEMICALLY AND
% ACCELERATE THEIR LEARNING, AND
% ALSO REESTABLISH SOME OF THOSE
% SOCIAL TIES THAT REALLY WERE
% FRAYED OR EVEN BROKEN FROM THE
% PANDEMIC AND IT WAS A RESPONSE
% TO PARENTS WHO WERE ASKING FOR
% FULL-DAY CHILDCARE, SUMMER
% SCHOOL FOR ALL OF ITS BENEFITS
% FOR STUDENTS IS ALSO CHILDCARE
% FOR PARENTS AND GUARDIANS, SO
% THAT WAS A BIG INVESTMENT, THAT
% IN MANY RESPECTS FROM ENROLLMENT
% SEEMS LIKE IT WAS VERY
% SUCCESSFUL, BUT ALSO BROUGHT
% BUDGETARY CHALLENGES FOR THE
% DISTRICT.
% NPS HAS BEEN PUTTING ITS
% INVESTMENTS ELSEWHERE, SO SUMMER
% SCHOOL AS PART OF THEIR RECOVERY
% EFFORTS.
% >> JUST SUPER QUICKLY, WE KNOW
% THAT THE COVID RELIEF FUNDS
% EXPIRE IN 2024, FUNDS THAT HAD
% HELPED DISTRICTS KIND OF DO
% THESE SUMMER SCHOOL PROGRAMS.
% WHAT'S ON THE HORIZON AFTER
% THAT?
% >> AFTER THAT, DEPENDS A LOT ON
% WHAT HAPPENS AT THE STATE
% LEGISLATURE.% THE QUESTION I
S TO WHAT EXTENT
% COULD DISTRICTS PULL ON STATE
% AND LOCAL DOLLARS TO HELP SMOOTH
% THAT TRANSITION AWAY FROM THE
% FEDERAL FUNDS.
% >> ALL RIGHT.
% SARA SHAW, THANKS FOR YOUR
% EXPERTISE.
% >> MY PLEASURE.
% THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.%>> F
OR 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.
% (CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY
% RIVERSIDE CAPTIONING COMPANY)
% >> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
% PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
% JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
% WISCONSIN.