1 00:00:02,603 --> 00:00:07,274 The following program is a PBS Wisconsin original 2 00:00:10,444 --> 00:00:14,281 >> We're just looking to not have our ideas 3 00:00:14,348 --> 00:00:17,384 precluded from discussion. >> Tensions flare at the 4 00:00:17,451 --> 00:00:19,953 Capitol. >> This is to release the 5 00:00:20,020 --> 00:00:23,957 money so that we can finally get this project 6 00:00:24,024 --> 00:00:26,927 going. first step toward large 7 00:00:28,662 --> 00:00:32,366 scale prison reform. >> Our correction system is 8 00:00:32,432 --> 00:00:35,636 in a world of hurt right now. We need to move it 9 00:00:35,702 --> 00:00:37,738 forward. >> I'm Frederica Freyberg. 10 00:00:37,804 --> 00:00:41,308 Tonight on "Here& Now", what's on the table for 11 00:00:41,375 --> 00:00:44,344 plans to begin an overhaul of the state's troubled and 12 00:00:44,411 --> 00:00:48,448 outdated prisons, tariffs, labor shortages and 13 00:00:48,515 --> 00:00:51,952 increasing health care costs. The hits keep coming 14 00:00:52,019 --> 00:00:54,955 for Wisconsin farmers, but could there be some relief? 15 00:00:55,022 --> 00:00:58,025 [MUSIC] increased demand. It's 16 00:01:00,093 --> 00:01:02,162 "Here& Now" for October 31st. 17 00:01:02,229 --> 00:01:05,465 [MUSIC] >> Funding for "Here& Now" 18 00:01:05,933 --> 00:01:08,435 is provided by the Focus Fund for Journalism and 19 00:01:08,502 --> 00:01:12,973 Friends of PBS Wisconsin. >> A major overhaul of 20 00:01:20,314 --> 00:01:23,483 Wisconsin's prison system got off the starting blocks 21 00:01:23,550 --> 00:01:26,553 this week, when the State Building Commission voted 22 00:01:26,620 --> 00:01:30,557 to approve $15 million to start the planning phase, 23 00:01:30,624 --> 00:01:33,493 as Here and Now, reporter Steven Potter tells us. 24 00:01:33,560 --> 00:01:36,296 Governor Tony Evers six year, $500 million plan is 25 00:01:36,363 --> 00:01:39,600 wide ranging and touches multiple institutions 26 00:01:39,666 --> 00:01:43,270 across the state. >> We need to ensure that 27 00:01:43,337 --> 00:01:47,741 folks that are currently incarcerated need to have 28 00:01:47,808 --> 00:01:50,477 adequate conditions. At least that's the bare 29 00:01:50,544 --> 00:01:53,580 minimum. >> In a proposal from 30 00:01:53,647 --> 00:01:55,482 Governor Tony Evers. That's supported by his fellow 31 00:01:55,549 --> 00:01:58,185 Democrats in the state legislature. Several 32 00:01:58,252 --> 00:02:01,455 significant upgrades and changes would be made to 33 00:02:01,522 --> 00:02:03,790 the state prison system. >> We're the only path 34 00:02:03,857 --> 00:02:06,059 forward, and I certainly hope that we can still find 35 00:02:06,126 --> 00:02:10,497 a way forward is through bipartisan consensus. 36 00:02:10,564 --> 00:02:13,233 >> Recently, Evers again urged the State Building 37 00:02:13,300 --> 00:02:15,068 Commission, which met earlier this week, to 38 00:02:15,135 --> 00:02:18,272 approve spending $15 million to set in motion 39 00:02:18,338 --> 00:02:20,707 what he calls a comprehensive correctional 40 00:02:20,774 --> 00:02:23,310 facilities plan. The governor first unveiled 41 00:02:23,377 --> 00:02:27,381 this plan, which he calls a, quote, Domino series of 42 00:02:27,447 --> 00:02:31,185 projects across six dock facilities during the state 43 00:02:31,251 --> 00:02:33,153 budget process earlier this year. 44 00:02:33,220 --> 00:02:36,290 >> These steps are each a critical part, a crucial 45 00:02:36,356 --> 00:02:39,726 part of this comprehensive plan. And they have to 46 00:02:39,793 --> 00:02:42,062 happen together. >> Primary among these 47 00:02:42,129 --> 00:02:45,265 changes is closing the green Bay Correctional 48 00:02:45,332 --> 00:02:48,202 Institution 125 year old facility, which has seen 49 00:02:48,268 --> 00:02:51,939 severe understaffing and overcrowding issues, as 50 00:02:52,005 --> 00:02:55,342 well as inmate violence and lengthy prisoner lockdowns. 51 00:02:55,409 --> 00:02:57,444 Another change would be to transform the Waupan 52 00:02:57,511 --> 00:03:01,081 Correctional Institution into a, quote, vocational 53 00:03:01,148 --> 00:03:03,317 village that would create skills training and 54 00:03:03,383 --> 00:03:06,520 workforce readiness programs for inmates to 55 00:03:06,587 --> 00:03:09,122 help them land jobs after their release. Other 56 00:03:09,189 --> 00:03:11,925 changes include converting the Stanley Correctional 57 00:03:11,992 --> 00:03:15,362 Institution into a larger capacity maximum security 58 00:03:15,429 --> 00:03:18,131 facility, and converting the John Burke Correctional 59 00:03:18,198 --> 00:03:21,668 Center, also in Waupan, into a female institution 60 00:03:21,735 --> 00:03:26,073 and adding hundreds of more beds there. The Evers Plan 61 00:03:26,139 --> 00:03:29,209 also calls for adding more minimum security beds to 62 00:03:29,276 --> 00:03:31,778 the Sanger B. Powers Correctional Center in 63 00:03:31,845 --> 00:03:34,281 Outagamie County, and to convert the long troubled 64 00:03:34,348 --> 00:03:37,417 youth prisons of Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake in 65 00:03:37,484 --> 00:03:40,120 far northern Wisconsin into adult facilities. 66 00:03:40,187 --> 00:03:43,457 >> There's not an alternative to my plan that 67 00:03:43,524 --> 00:03:47,828 is safer, faster and cheaper. Period. Except for 68 00:03:47,895 --> 00:03:50,364 doing nothing. >> State Senator Dora Drake, 69 00:03:50,430 --> 00:03:53,367 who represents parts of and some suburbs of northern 70 00:03:53,433 --> 00:03:56,603 Milwaukee, wants to see the funding for the plan move 71 00:03:56,670 --> 00:03:58,305 forward. >> Put funding where it 72 00:03:58,372 --> 00:04:01,875 needs to go so we can close down some of our facilities 73 00:04:01,942 --> 00:04:05,579 that we know are severely for folks that are 74 00:04:05,646 --> 00:04:07,447 incarcerated, and the workers provide a different 75 00:04:07,514 --> 00:04:10,184 system where we are providing vocational 76 00:04:10,250 --> 00:04:12,352 opportunities. >> Separate. And aside from 77 00:04:12,419 --> 00:04:15,422 this push for Governor Evers new prison plans, 78 00:04:15,489 --> 00:04:17,324 there is already major change underway for where 79 00:04:17,391 --> 00:04:22,229 the state houses minors convicted of serious crimes. 80 00:04:22,296 --> 00:04:25,199 And that's through the construction of a brand new 81 00:04:25,265 --> 00:04:28,168 youth prison for boys in Milwaukee, being built in 82 00:04:28,235 --> 00:04:30,070 Senator Drake's district with money already 83 00:04:30,137 --> 00:04:32,506 allocated. The new youth prison in Milwaukee is 84 00:04:32,573 --> 00:04:36,443 expected to cost $78 million. It will include 85 00:04:36,510 --> 00:04:40,180 educational, vocational, counseling and recreational 86 00:04:40,247 --> 00:04:43,116 programs aimed at lowering the recidivism rate for 87 00:04:43,183 --> 00:04:45,419 young people in the juvenile justice system. 88 00:04:45,485 --> 00:04:48,155 >> It's needed is because our children need to be 89 00:04:48,222 --> 00:04:50,991 closer to home. If we're serious about uplifting our 90 00:04:51,058 --> 00:04:54,261 young people, then all of us have a part to play in 91 00:04:54,328 --> 00:04:56,230 that. Point blank period. >> Drake points out that 92 00:04:56,296 --> 00:04:58,365 the state corrections system needs all of these 93 00:04:58,432 --> 00:05:02,002 changes, and even more adjustments to better help 94 00:05:02,069 --> 00:05:05,305 the majority of prisoners who will ultimately be 95 00:05:05,372 --> 00:05:07,808 released. >> Whether you're a child 96 00:05:07,875 --> 00:05:11,245 or an adult, you are coming home. And so what are we 97 00:05:11,311 --> 00:05:13,680 doing to ensure that you get the wraparound services 98 00:05:13,747 --> 00:05:17,284 to not only come back home and have a fair shot at 99 00:05:17,351 --> 00:05:20,153 being successful, but what can we be doing as a state 100 00:05:20,220 --> 00:05:22,990 in being proactive? >> Reporting from Madison. 101 00:05:23,056 --> 00:05:26,159 I'm Steven Potter for "Here& Now". 102 00:05:26,226 --> 00:05:29,162 >> Despite the unanimous consensus to approve 103 00:05:29,229 --> 00:05:32,533 funding for this initial planning phase, it was not 104 00:05:32,599 --> 00:05:35,335 without friction between Republican members of the 105 00:05:35,402 --> 00:05:38,438 commission and its chair, Democratic Governor Tony 106 00:05:38,505 --> 00:05:42,342 Evers, over how these funds will be used and who will 107 00:05:42,409 --> 00:05:44,711 have input in this forthcoming planning 108 00:05:44,778 --> 00:05:47,281 process. >> And again, I think the 109 00:05:47,347 --> 00:05:50,117 $15 million was put forward with the idea that there 110 00:05:50,184 --> 00:05:53,420 could be a collaborative process that's not in what 111 00:05:53,487 --> 00:05:57,457 was brought forward to the building Commission. 112 00:05:57,524 --> 00:06:00,160 point because we never had a vote like this. This is 113 00:06:00,227 --> 00:06:04,431 important for the state of Wisconsin to understand 114 00:06:04,498 --> 00:06:08,535 that we are serious about this project. We will 115 00:06:08,602 --> 00:06:11,471 continue. You know, you have my word. I'm here for 116 00:06:11,538 --> 00:06:16,343 another year and several months, and you have my my, 117 00:06:17,511 --> 00:06:21,982 my promise to you is that this is one step of many, 118 00:06:23,250 --> 00:06:26,220 and that step will include all the legislators that 119 00:06:26,286 --> 00:06:30,791 want to be involved. We've tried to to do that in the 120 00:06:30,858 --> 00:06:35,629 past. What we have thus far didn't come just from us. 121 00:06:35,696 --> 00:06:38,098 It came from other legislators. And so we're 122 00:06:38,165 --> 00:06:41,068 hoping for that to happen going forward. 123 00:06:41,134 --> 00:06:44,438 >> State Senate President Mary Felzkowski is a 124 00:06:44,505 --> 00:06:47,407 Republican member of the Building Commission and, 125 00:06:47,474 --> 00:06:49,176 along with other Republicans, voted with 126 00:06:49,243 --> 00:06:53,480 reservations to fund the planning phase. We sat down 127 00:06:53,547 --> 00:06:56,383 with Senator Felzkowski at the Capitol following the 128 00:06:56,450 --> 00:06:59,820 vote. Thanks so much for doing this. 129 00:06:59,887 --> 00:07:03,156 >> So the $15 million that the commission unanimously 130 00:07:03,223 --> 00:07:06,793 approved is meant to start the planning process. And 131 00:07:06,860 --> 00:07:10,497 Governor Evers said, quote, state to know we are 132 00:07:10,564 --> 00:07:14,101 serious about this project. How serious are lawmakers 133 00:07:14,168 --> 00:07:17,504 taking this prison revamp project? 134 00:07:18,438 --> 00:07:21,842 lawmakers have been very serious about this since, I 135 00:07:21,909 --> 00:07:24,311 think it was 2018 when we passed the closure of 136 00:07:24,378 --> 00:07:29,349 Lincoln Hills and moving forward with the Sgaus. And 137 00:07:29,416 --> 00:07:32,586 if you look at it, we've had numerous council 138 00:07:32,653 --> 00:07:36,390 studies around revamping corrections. We've had 139 00:07:36,456 --> 00:07:39,159 legislators from the green Bay area trying to close 140 00:07:39,226 --> 00:07:42,429 the green Bay Correctional Institute for years and do 141 00:07:42,496 --> 00:07:44,198 other types of reforms. So this has been a forefront 142 00:07:44,264 --> 00:07:47,167 for a lot of us for a lot of years. 143 00:07:47,935 --> 00:07:50,137 >> But what concerns do you have even ahead of this 144 00:07:50,204 --> 00:07:54,208 planning process? corrections has been in 145 00:07:55,676 --> 00:07:58,345 disarray under many governors. And Governor 146 00:07:58,412 --> 00:08:00,781 Evers when he first ran against Governor Walker. 147 00:08:00,848 --> 00:08:04,418 What is that eight years ago now? Ran on corrections 148 00:08:04,484 --> 00:08:08,455 reform and has done really nothing. He's pushed for 149 00:08:08,522 --> 00:08:11,325 the closure of Lincoln Hills, but we've all been 150 00:08:11,391 --> 00:08:13,560 working towards a closure of Lincoln Hills, so that's 151 00:08:13,627 --> 00:08:17,231 not something special that he's been doing. And now 152 00:08:17,297 --> 00:08:21,869 all of a sudden, in 2025 budgetary cycle, he comes 153 00:08:22,769 --> 00:08:26,940 out with a proposal and he's kind of like shoving 154 00:08:27,007 --> 00:08:29,610 it down our throats. And he didn't include anybody in 155 00:08:29,676 --> 00:08:33,247 this proposal, not his own legislative Democrats. And 156 00:08:33,313 --> 00:08:36,483 he's kind of given us a take it or leave it 157 00:08:36,550 --> 00:08:39,219 proposal. I don't I don't think that's how this 158 00:08:39,286 --> 00:08:42,155 should work. Now he wants $15 million to move forward 159 00:08:42,222 --> 00:08:45,526 with that plan. There was a press release that 160 00:08:45,592 --> 00:08:48,395 doesn't even didn't even seem like he remembered 161 00:08:48,462 --> 00:08:51,632 putting out two weeks ago. That said, you have to 162 00:08:51,698 --> 00:08:54,034 release this money. Don't hold it up. 163 00:08:54,101 --> 00:08:57,905 >> Whatever. You took objection to that. 164 00:08:59,106 --> 00:09:03,277 >> How is that a bipartisan move forward and under his 165 00:09:03,343 --> 00:09:07,681 proposal? Because right now we have over 1100 medium 166 00:09:07,748 --> 00:09:12,052 security inmates that are housed in a maximum 167 00:09:12,119 --> 00:09:14,521 security institutions. And because of that, they're 168 00:09:14,588 --> 00:09:18,592 not receiving any programing to help them. 169 00:09:19,359 --> 00:09:22,396 They're not where they need to be. Under this proposal, 170 00:09:22,462 --> 00:09:25,432 he's releasing them into society in order to move 171 00:09:25,499 --> 00:09:28,202 forward with the building modifications that he wants 172 00:09:28,268 --> 00:09:31,638 to do. So you're going to take 700 people that have 173 00:09:31,705 --> 00:09:34,374 had no programing and release them under a 174 00:09:34,441 --> 00:09:38,412 program earned release that normally they would go 175 00:09:38,478 --> 00:09:41,415 through programing, mental health programing and other 176 00:09:41,481 --> 00:09:44,084 things and just release them into society. How is 177 00:09:44,151 --> 00:09:47,387 that good for the safety of constituents to release 178 00:09:47,454 --> 00:09:51,258 people out into society? And if you look at some of 179 00:09:51,325 --> 00:09:53,660 the crimes that have been committed by these people, 180 00:09:53,727 --> 00:09:57,531 it's not safe. It's not well thought out. And the 181 00:09:57,598 --> 00:10:01,802 sad part about it, we don't have to do that. We gave 182 00:10:01,869 --> 00:10:04,104 them alternatives yesterday where we could expand 183 00:10:04,171 --> 00:10:09,443 Jackson. We could expand to Chita, move people into 184 00:10:09,510 --> 00:10:14,548 those programs. Lincoln Hills can be converted. We 185 00:10:14,615 --> 00:10:19,453 can take over 500 inmates there. Close green Bay and 186 00:10:19,520 --> 00:10:24,591 expand on other areas. It's just not what he's doing is 187 00:10:24,658 --> 00:10:27,694 not well thought out. >> In the meantime, though, 188 00:10:27,761 --> 00:10:30,330 he said to you that you have my promise. This is 189 00:10:30,397 --> 00:10:35,068 one step of many, and the next step will include all 190 00:10:35,669 --> 00:10:37,404 legislators that want to be involved. Are you confident 191 00:10:37,471 --> 00:10:41,141 in that promise? >> I'm not going to use the 192 00:10:41,208 --> 00:10:44,444 term confident, cautiously optimistic. Cautiously 193 00:10:44,511 --> 00:10:47,748 optimistic. >> Is there danger of 194 00:10:47,814 --> 00:10:51,885 partisan politics kind of derailing this whole effort 195 00:10:51,952 --> 00:10:55,222 to redo the correctional system in Wisconsin? 196 00:10:55,289 --> 00:10:57,191 >> That's what's been happening so far. I'm 197 00:10:57,257 --> 00:11:00,327 hoping that with the governor's words yesterday, 198 00:11:00,394 --> 00:11:03,130 we get away from partisan politics and move towards 199 00:11:03,197 --> 00:11:05,399 doing what's right for the citizens for once. 200 00:11:05,465 --> 00:11:10,137 >> In terms of those 700 inmates and their release. 201 00:11:11,205 --> 00:11:14,575 Does does that skirt in your mind toward kind of 202 00:11:14,641 --> 00:11:18,478 prison reform policy, or do you think it's simply just 203 00:11:18,545 --> 00:11:21,114 to make the dominoes, as they're called, work in 204 00:11:21,181 --> 00:11:24,151 this project? >> There was things in the 205 00:11:24,218 --> 00:11:26,987 governor's proposal that I think every one of us could 206 00:11:27,054 --> 00:11:30,290 have gotten behind, because I think a lot some of his 207 00:11:30,357 --> 00:11:33,861 ideas were positive. That's why I think it would have 208 00:11:33,927 --> 00:11:37,397 been nice to include this doesn't have to be a 209 00:11:37,464 --> 00:11:40,801 Democrat or a Republican idea. Prison reform across 210 00:11:40,868 --> 00:11:43,337 the United States has been very nonpartisan. We can 211 00:11:43,403 --> 00:11:47,274 all work towards the same ideas. But when you when 212 00:11:47,341 --> 00:11:50,143 you give somebody a proposal and say, take it 213 00:11:50,210 --> 00:11:54,047 or leave it, here it is. This is what we're moving 214 00:11:54,114 --> 00:11:58,352 forward with. And even a good proposal. How 215 00:11:58,418 --> 00:12:01,588 do you think the other sides are going to react? 216 00:12:01,655 --> 00:12:03,824 >> Reiterate for me what the prongs of a good 217 00:12:03,891 --> 00:12:06,793 proposal would be in your mind. 218 00:12:07,361 --> 00:12:09,463 policy change where we need to look at the programing 219 00:12:09,530 --> 00:12:13,500 as it it's out there. Former Assemblyman Mike 220 00:12:13,567 --> 00:12:17,604 Schram had the idea around. I'll use Waupan, for 221 00:12:17,671 --> 00:12:20,474 example, of making that into more of an academy 222 00:12:20,541 --> 00:12:25,913 where medium and minimum security inmates could get 223 00:12:25,979 --> 00:12:28,248 programing education so that when they are entry 224 00:12:28,315 --> 00:12:32,085 into society, they are ready to go and they're 225 00:12:32,152 --> 00:12:35,355 educated and more into a work environment so they 226 00:12:35,422 --> 00:12:37,291 can become productive members of society. One of 227 00:12:37,357 --> 00:12:41,094 the things that we see around prisoner reentry, if 228 00:12:41,161 --> 00:12:45,065 they can have a home, have a job, and become 229 00:12:46,333 --> 00:12:49,603 productive, they are much less likely to re-offend. 230 00:12:49,670 --> 00:12:53,207 They become productive. Self esteem can take care 231 00:12:53,273 --> 00:12:56,476 of their families. That's a winning message in the 232 00:12:56,543 --> 00:12:59,246 corrections reform. Those are ideas that have worked 233 00:12:59,313 --> 00:13:01,582 in other states. Those are some ideas that could have 234 00:13:01,648 --> 00:13:04,451 been brought to the table. I hope we can count on the 235 00:13:04,518 --> 00:13:07,955 governor being true to his word, and that he brings 236 00:13:08,021 --> 00:13:10,858 all people together, and that we can put a plan 237 00:13:10,924 --> 00:13:14,394 together, because our world of hurt right now. We 238 00:13:14,461 --> 00:13:18,332 need to move it forward. >> In a sea of not great 239 00:13:18,398 --> 00:13:21,301 news, Wisconsin farmers could see a boost after 240 00:13:21,368 --> 00:13:25,506 President Donald Trump met with China this week. As a 241 00:13:25,572 --> 00:13:28,876 result of the talks, China promised to restart buying 242 00:13:28,942 --> 00:13:33,113 U.S. soybeans after halting such purchases. In May, 243 00:13:33,180 --> 00:13:36,617 Wisconsin farmers waylaid by trade disputes could at 244 00:13:36,683 --> 00:13:39,219 least see a better market for soybeans, but they're 245 00:13:39,286 --> 00:13:42,489 still facing trade trouble for beef, rising costs, and 246 00:13:42,556 --> 00:13:45,659 for the many farmers who, as small business owners, 247 00:13:45,726 --> 00:13:48,695 depend on Affordable Care Act health plans, hikes in 248 00:13:48,762 --> 00:13:52,499 premiums. We pick up now with Brad Olson, president 249 00:13:52,566 --> 00:13:55,569 of the Wisconsin Farm Bureau. And thanks a lot 250 00:13:55,636 --> 00:13:57,337 for being here. >> Thank you for having me. 251 00:13:57,404 --> 00:14:00,974 >> So, all told, what kind of headwinds are Wisconsin 252 00:14:01,041 --> 00:14:05,712 farmers facing right now? >> Well, just increasing 253 00:14:05,779 --> 00:14:08,515 costs, fertilizer, feed, all of those are increasing 254 00:14:08,582 --> 00:14:12,286 at a time when when other than the price of fat 255 00:14:12,352 --> 00:14:15,122 cattle, everything is is down, corner down, beans 256 00:14:15,189 --> 00:14:18,992 have been down. Milk is not good. So lots of lots of 257 00:14:19,059 --> 00:14:21,295 headwinds out there. On the other hand, farmers have 258 00:14:21,361 --> 00:14:25,232 faced this in the past and are resilient. 259 00:14:25,299 --> 00:14:29,603 >> Are the input costs for things like fertilizer and 260 00:14:29,670 --> 00:14:32,339 feed having to do with trade? 261 00:14:32,906 --> 00:14:36,577 >> Not so much. Certainly a little bit. I mean, if you, 262 00:14:36,643 --> 00:14:40,247 you know, from the potash side of things, 80% of 263 00:14:40,314 --> 00:14:43,350 potash comes from, from Canada. So we certainly 264 00:14:43,417 --> 00:14:46,353 want good stable trade with Canada on that side to keep 265 00:14:46,420 --> 00:14:49,323 potash prices normal. Normal. 266 00:14:50,424 --> 00:14:53,327 >> How welcome is the news that China will start 267 00:14:53,393 --> 00:14:57,297 buying soybeans again. >> Oh extremely welcome. I 268 00:14:57,364 --> 00:15:00,334 mean, a big deal not just in Wisconsin but across the 269 00:15:00,400 --> 00:15:03,570 nation to get China back. You know, maybe not this 270 00:15:03,637 --> 00:15:06,907 year, but the next two years of buying what they 271 00:15:06,974 --> 00:15:09,176 have in the past is exceptional. Good news for 272 00:15:09,243 --> 00:15:12,412 soybean farmers and all farmers across the nation. 273 00:15:12,479 --> 00:15:15,682 >> Is it expected that China will buy enough to 274 00:15:15,749 --> 00:15:20,420 kind of offset that country not buying since May? 275 00:15:20,487 --> 00:15:23,423 >> Well, they're going to buy roughly, you know, 12 276 00:15:23,490 --> 00:15:26,360 million metric tons this year, which isn't going to 277 00:15:26,426 --> 00:15:29,496 make up the difference. But at the end of the day, it's 278 00:15:29,563 --> 00:15:32,266 going to make a big difference. And moving 279 00:15:32,332 --> 00:15:36,170 forward to 26 and 27 with that promise to buy back to 280 00:15:36,236 --> 00:15:40,107 the, you know, the same level that they had been is 281 00:15:40,174 --> 00:15:42,042 certainly going to help agriculture out in the long 282 00:15:42,109 --> 00:15:44,611 run here. >> What about beef 283 00:15:44,678 --> 00:15:48,982 producers in Wisconsin with President Trump's plan to 284 00:15:49,049 --> 00:15:51,251 quadruple imports from significant impact in this 285 00:15:51,318 --> 00:15:54,321 state? >> I guess time will tell. 286 00:15:56,290 --> 00:15:59,193 You know, certainly it's the first time that beef 287 00:15:59,259 --> 00:16:01,828 producers have been profitable in a number of 288 00:16:01,895 --> 00:16:05,165 years. So we're certainly concerned and keeping an 289 00:16:05,232 --> 00:16:09,303 eye on that on a regular, very regular basis. 290 00:16:09,369 --> 00:16:14,408 >> As to this government shutdown and the Fight over 291 00:16:14,474 --> 00:16:16,476 Affordable Care Act, enhanced premiums or 292 00:16:16,543 --> 00:16:20,681 enhanced tax credits, how dependent are Wisconsin 293 00:16:20,747 --> 00:16:24,318 farmers on kind of marketplace plans? 294 00:16:24,785 --> 00:16:27,454 >> Somewhat fortunately, Wisconsin Farm Bureau is 295 00:16:27,521 --> 00:16:30,357 again this year going to try and get the Tennessee 296 00:16:30,424 --> 00:16:34,494 Health Plan passed here in Wisconsin, which would help 297 00:16:34,561 --> 00:16:37,531 farmers considerably that that are in that in-between 298 00:16:37,598 --> 00:16:41,134 maybe don't are not eligible for the Affordable 299 00:16:41,201 --> 00:16:44,137 Health Care Act, but at the same point, can't afford 300 00:16:44,204 --> 00:16:46,640 regular health care from, you know, companies across 301 00:16:46,707 --> 00:16:50,310 the state of the nation. So again, we're working on 302 00:16:50,377 --> 00:16:52,379 trying to to find that middle ground where we can 303 00:16:52,446 --> 00:16:55,249 where we can help members out. 304 00:16:55,649 --> 00:17:00,354 health plan offered by the Farm Bureau do? I mean, 305 00:17:00,420 --> 00:17:04,424 what what is that plan? >> It's just a health plan 306 00:17:04,491 --> 00:17:07,194 that not necessarily insurance, but a plan that 307 00:17:07,261 --> 00:17:11,231 is typically, like I say, it isn't for people who 308 00:17:11,298 --> 00:17:13,333 necessarily on the affordable health care, but 309 00:17:13,400 --> 00:17:16,336 also people who cannot necessarily afford it, 310 00:17:16,403 --> 00:17:19,072 finds them, them people that are in between. Right. 311 00:17:19,139 --> 00:17:22,042 >> And so that would require legislation from 312 00:17:22,109 --> 00:17:24,611 the state. >> It would require 313 00:17:24,678 --> 00:17:27,514 legislation from the state and being signed by the 314 00:17:27,581 --> 00:17:30,083 governor. 14 other states around the nation have it. 315 00:17:30,150 --> 00:17:32,953 >> And what are those prospects for that 316 00:17:33,020 --> 00:17:36,256 happening? >> A little better than 317 00:17:37,024 --> 00:17:40,561 5050, I think. >> Well, those aren't bad 318 00:17:40,627 --> 00:17:45,432 odds, really. But no, no. Another kind of hot topic. 319 00:17:46,333 --> 00:17:49,436 The 2025 farm bill, the largest piece of which is 320 00:17:49,503 --> 00:17:51,939 SNAP, which we're all talking about right now. 321 00:17:52,005 --> 00:17:54,741 How is work on that progressing? 322 00:17:54,808 --> 00:17:58,879 >> Well, there again, we need not not just for Snap 323 00:17:58,946 --> 00:18:01,148 benefits, but everybody across the nation, farmers, 324 00:18:01,215 --> 00:18:04,184 everyone in day to day businesses. We need to get 325 00:18:04,251 --> 00:18:06,453 the federal government back up and going again. You 326 00:18:06,520 --> 00:18:09,389 know, you go to the airport, the TSA people aren't 327 00:18:09,456 --> 00:18:12,793 necessarily being paid. We need those people to be 328 00:18:12,860 --> 00:18:16,363 paid. And hopefully here, hopefully this week we'll 329 00:18:16,430 --> 00:18:18,298 see some movement and get the government open again 330 00:18:18,365 --> 00:18:21,335 and get those people paid, as well as get recipients 331 00:18:21,401 --> 00:18:24,638 of federal programs taken care of. 332 00:18:26,807 --> 00:18:31,979 that has been discussed a labor and labor shortages. 333 00:18:32,045 --> 00:18:36,283 Is that something that Wisconsin farmers are 334 00:18:37,184 --> 00:18:39,853 with? >> Yeah, I think so. You 335 00:18:40,988 --> 00:18:46,260 know, it's agriculture is a labor dependent business. 336 00:18:46,326 --> 00:18:49,930 And so it has always been that and we've just, you 337 00:18:49,997 --> 00:18:52,633 know, rural America, rural Wisconsin is shrinking. So 338 00:18:52,699 --> 00:18:55,269 we don't have those those neighbors and those other 339 00:18:55,335 --> 00:18:59,573 farm kids to to necessarily fill those jobs. 340 00:18:59,640 --> 00:19:02,342 >> We leave it there. Brad Olson, thanks very much for 341 00:19:02,409 --> 00:19:05,712 your time. >> Thank you very much. 342 00:19:05,779 --> 00:19:10,284 >> As of tomorrow, SNAP or Foodshare benefits are due 343 00:19:10,350 --> 00:19:14,421 to run out because of the government shutdown. 344 00:19:14,488 --> 00:19:18,225 Wisconsin gets about $115 million a month from the 345 00:19:18,292 --> 00:19:22,329 feds to help some 700,000 people be able to buy 346 00:19:22,396 --> 00:19:25,465 groceries. State Attorney General Josh Kaul signed on 347 00:19:25,532 --> 00:19:29,236 to a multi-state lawsuit to tap contingency funds in 348 00:19:29,303 --> 00:19:32,773 the USDA to cover SNAP into November. 349 00:19:33,507 --> 00:19:36,243 >> A government shutdown has never stopped states 350 00:19:36,310 --> 00:19:38,412 from distributing these critical benefits to those 351 00:19:38,478 --> 00:19:41,481 who need them. So this lawsuit is about protecting 352 00:19:41,548 --> 00:19:44,184 Foodshare funding and preventing Wisconsinites 353 00:19:44,251 --> 00:19:46,720 and millions of others from around the country, from 354 00:19:46,787 --> 00:19:50,257 losing access to what can be life sustaining food 355 00:19:50,324 --> 00:19:52,092 assistance. As the government shutdown moves 356 00:19:52,159 --> 00:19:55,095 forward. >> Following a hearing in 357 00:19:55,162 --> 00:19:58,398 the lawsuit, the federal judge in Massachusetts 358 00:19:58,465 --> 00:20:01,201 indicated she would order the Trump administration to 359 00:20:01,268 --> 00:20:05,439 send Snap funds to states. So the familiar uncertainty 360 00:20:05,506 --> 00:20:09,343 persists. But adding to the federal snap cliff, some 361 00:20:09,409 --> 00:20:12,846 18,000 federal workers in Wisconsin are mostly going 362 00:20:12,913 --> 00:20:15,482 without a paycheck. Where to turn for help to feed 363 00:20:15,549 --> 00:20:19,186 the family in the midst of it, food banks and pantries 364 00:20:19,253 --> 00:20:22,723 are girding for a rush on their services. We turn to 365 00:20:22,789 --> 00:20:25,192 Jackie Anderson, executive director of Feeding 366 00:20:25,259 --> 00:20:27,895 Wisconsin, a statewide network of food banks. And 367 00:20:27,961 --> 00:20:30,998 thanks very much for being here. 368 00:20:31,064 --> 00:20:33,166 >> So what kind of trepidation do you have 369 00:20:33,233 --> 00:20:35,169 going forward with potential lapses or 370 00:20:35,235 --> 00:20:38,906 disruptions in food share benefits? 371 00:20:38,972 --> 00:20:42,109 about having enough food because we know that people 372 00:20:42,176 --> 00:20:45,612 already, in preparation for not being able to receive 373 00:20:45,679 --> 00:20:48,248 their Snap benefits in the month of November, they're 374 00:20:48,315 --> 00:20:50,717 starting to stock up. So across the state, we're 375 00:20:50,784 --> 00:20:53,487 really thinking about how can we ensure that 376 00:20:53,554 --> 00:20:56,223 everybody has the amount of food that they have until 377 00:20:56,290 --> 00:20:58,559 the government opens up again and Snap benefits 378 00:20:58,625 --> 00:21:02,429 will go back on EBT cards? >> You're saying with 379 00:21:02,496 --> 00:21:07,301 people kind of stocking up even ahead of any kind of 380 00:21:07,367 --> 00:21:11,038 cut of Snap funding, that you're having difficulties 381 00:21:11,104 --> 00:21:14,007 because the costs are going up? 382 00:21:15,509 --> 00:21:17,377 some vendors, because they know that there is pressure 383 00:21:17,444 --> 00:21:20,948 to make sure that we have food on our shelves. There 384 00:21:21,014 --> 00:21:23,617 are some significant increases that we're seeing 385 00:21:23,684 --> 00:21:27,654 in some parts of the state. So, you know, we're really 386 00:21:27,721 --> 00:21:29,590 trying to encourage people to use their Snap benefits 387 00:21:29,656 --> 00:21:33,327 in the month of November because there was some 388 00:21:33,393 --> 00:21:36,563 miscommunication saying that a person could not use 389 00:21:36,630 --> 00:21:38,365 their Snap benefits throughout the month of 390 00:21:38,432 --> 00:21:40,434 November, and that is inaccurate. The confusion 391 00:21:40,501 --> 00:21:43,604 was around whether or not stores would accept their 392 00:21:43,670 --> 00:21:47,274 EBT cards in the month of November, and the message, 393 00:21:47,341 --> 00:21:50,177 and that because of messaging that had come 394 00:21:50,244 --> 00:21:54,147 from on the federal level. And so we needed to be 395 00:21:54,214 --> 00:21:56,583 clear that everybody can use their benefits. So 396 00:21:56,650 --> 00:21:59,586 let's say you have a balance left over in 397 00:21:59,653 --> 00:22:01,255 October. You absolutely can use that in the month of 398 00:22:01,321 --> 00:22:04,458 November. >> How have food prices 399 00:22:05,025 --> 00:22:08,295 already taxed your services even ahead of all of this? 400 00:22:08,362 --> 00:22:12,065 The shutdown. numbers we were looking at 401 00:22:12,132 --> 00:22:15,636 were actually pre-COVID. So we know already because of 402 00:22:15,702 --> 00:22:20,340 inflation that people cannot keep food in their 403 00:22:20,407 --> 00:22:23,343 shelves like they had previously done. So we know 404 00:22:23,410 --> 00:22:26,647 we knew already that we didn't have enough food at 405 00:22:26,713 --> 00:22:30,150 the food bank and food pantry world to to keep 406 00:22:30,217 --> 00:22:33,187 everybody fed. And now this is just increased what we 407 00:22:33,253 --> 00:22:36,590 need to do. >> As to the lawsuit to tap 408 00:22:37,691 --> 00:22:40,093 USDA contingency contingency funds to cover 409 00:22:40,160 --> 00:22:43,730 SNAP through November, what's your response to the 410 00:22:43,797 --> 00:22:46,400 administration? can't do that? 411 00:22:46,466 --> 00:22:49,203 >> Yeah, it's frustrating because we know that there 412 00:22:49,269 --> 00:22:51,605 is funds on the federal level. We know that there's 413 00:22:51,672 --> 00:22:54,308 funds at the state level as well. The funding is there. 414 00:22:54,374 --> 00:22:57,177 It's just a matter of releasing it. And it is a 415 00:22:57,244 --> 00:23:00,380 political game at this point. And everybody needs 416 00:23:00,447 --> 00:23:03,250 to to come together because people are going to go 417 00:23:03,317 --> 00:23:06,587 hungry. And that is not something that anyone 418 00:23:06,653 --> 00:23:09,489 should play around with. We need to really take 419 00:23:09,556 --> 00:23:11,625 advantage of the funds that are there and release them. 420 00:23:11,692 --> 00:23:14,361 >> It does seem like a policy choice, because 421 00:23:14,428 --> 00:23:17,664 there are some lawmakers who believe that the Snap 422 00:23:17,731 --> 00:23:21,401 program is bloated or rife with abuse and fraud. What 423 00:23:21,468 --> 00:23:24,671 do you know about that? >> It's not we we see time 424 00:23:24,738 --> 00:23:27,941 and time again, and we know the vast majority of people 425 00:23:28,008 --> 00:23:30,344 who are using Snap benefits absolutely are working more. 426 00:23:30,410 --> 00:23:35,249 They work 1 or 2 jobs that it's not it's not fraud. 427 00:23:35,315 --> 00:23:38,418 It's not fraud, waste and abuse. We know that people 428 00:23:38,485 --> 00:23:41,455 who need it are 700,000 people throughout the state 429 00:23:41,522 --> 00:23:45,025 of Wisconsin. Of them, a large percentage are senior 430 00:23:45,092 --> 00:23:48,161 citizens and families with children. It's not people 431 00:23:48,228 --> 00:23:50,531 who are taking advantage of the system. 432 00:23:50,597 --> 00:23:54,234 >> Even with a court order, could recipients experience 433 00:23:54,301 --> 00:23:59,406 a lapse in food share? >> Absolutely. So even when, 434 00:23:59,473 --> 00:24:02,309 released and it goes back on their EBT cards, we know 435 00:24:02,376 --> 00:24:05,045 that there will be a slight delay just to get 436 00:24:05,112 --> 00:24:07,247 everything up and running again. So we're being 437 00:24:07,314 --> 00:24:09,216 really clear in the messaging around that, that 438 00:24:09,283 --> 00:24:12,686 even when the government opens up, it's not going to 439 00:24:12,753 --> 00:24:15,455 be a miraculous, you know, addition on their EBT cards. 440 00:24:15,522 --> 00:24:18,458 It's going to take a couple of days to get things up 441 00:24:18,525 --> 00:24:20,794 and running. >> So Feeding Wisconsin 442 00:24:20,861 --> 00:24:22,262 secures donations from retailers, food companies, 443 00:24:22,329 --> 00:24:25,032 local donors and ag producers. Have those 444 00:24:25,098 --> 00:24:28,569 donations kept pace with this demand? 445 00:24:28,635 --> 00:24:31,905 >> It's interesting. So our food banks, they collect a 446 00:24:31,972 --> 00:24:35,642 lot of donations. And what you just spoke about, I 447 00:24:35,709 --> 00:24:38,178 think where we're seeing the biggest lapse right now 448 00:24:38,245 --> 00:24:41,181 is corporate donors. And that could be because of 449 00:24:41,248 --> 00:24:43,684 tariffs. Like there's a lot of reasons why that's 450 00:24:43,750 --> 00:24:46,220 happening. But on the whole there is donations. So many 451 00:24:46,286 --> 00:24:49,489 people want to help out right now. We encourage 452 00:24:49,556 --> 00:24:52,292 anybody if they are interested in helping out, 453 00:24:52,359 --> 00:24:54,361 go straight to the food bank or the food pantries 454 00:24:54,428 --> 00:24:57,397 instead of doing individual food drives. That is where 455 00:24:57,464 --> 00:25:01,468 you can get the most for your money. Where they have 456 00:25:01,535 --> 00:25:03,203 purchasing power, they understand what their 457 00:25:03,270 --> 00:25:05,506 community needs. >> So for people who have 458 00:25:05,572 --> 00:25:08,141 never sought out food pantries, what should they 459 00:25:08,208 --> 00:25:11,211 know? that our food pantries are 460 00:25:12,846 --> 00:25:15,883 welcoming and that they are there to help the community. 461 00:25:15,949 --> 00:25:20,187 They try to communicate what is available most, not 462 00:25:20,254 --> 00:25:23,490 most all, food banks and food pantries. They are 463 00:25:23,557 --> 00:25:26,093 there. Times are listed on their websites and 464 00:25:26,159 --> 00:25:28,428 sometimes those change based on if it's a mobile 465 00:25:28,495 --> 00:25:32,299 pantry. Also, expect long lines we're seeing right 466 00:25:32,366 --> 00:25:35,169 now. You know where there used to be maybe an hour 467 00:25:35,235 --> 00:25:39,139 long line. Now it's 2 to 3 hours long, so expect a 468 00:25:39,206 --> 00:25:41,241 delay if you could get there during the 469 00:25:41,308 --> 00:25:44,545 distribution hours early. That will help ensure that 470 00:25:44,611 --> 00:25:48,248 there's enough food for you. >> Is it true that right 471 00:25:48,315 --> 00:25:51,385 now there are many first time users kind of of 472 00:25:51,451 --> 00:25:54,154 pantries? Especially in those 473 00:25:54,221 --> 00:25:56,557 military communities. We know that there are first 474 00:25:56,623 --> 00:25:59,092 timers. You know, anyone else who is a federal 475 00:25:59,159 --> 00:26:01,528 worker. If they're not getting paid, we know that 476 00:26:01,595 --> 00:26:04,331 they're going to be first timers as well as just 477 00:26:04,398 --> 00:26:07,267 people who are struggling to because of the cost of 478 00:26:07,334 --> 00:26:10,270 groceries right now. So, absolutely, the number of 479 00:26:10,337 --> 00:26:11,972 first timers is high. >> All right. Jackie 480 00:26:12,039 --> 00:26:14,241 Anderson, thanks very much. >> Thank you. 481 00:26:14,308 --> 00:26:17,177 >> For more on this and other issues facing 482 00:26:17,244 --> 00:26:20,581 website at PBS Wisconsin and then click on the news 483 00:26:20,647 --> 00:26:23,851 tab. That's our program for tonight I'm Frederica 484 00:26:23,917 --> 00:26:25,586 [MUSIC] 485 00:26:44,204 --> 00:26:48,175 >> Funding for "Here& Now" is provided by the Focus 486 00:26:48,242 --> 00:26:52,913 Fund for Journalism and Friends of PBS Wisconsin.