>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION.
>> MORE SHOTS IN THE ARM,
ESPECIALLY HERE IN MILWAUKEE,
WHERE A CAMPAIGN TO VACCINATE
RESIDENTS IN UNDER-SERVED
NEIGHBORHOODS GETS UNDERWAY.
MORE VACCINE SUPPLY AND
ADDITIONAL FEDERAL RECOVERY
DOLLARS, MONEY COMING FROM
WASHINGTON TO WISCONSIN, WHERE
THIS WEEK REPUBLICANS VOTED FOR
THE LEGISLATURE TO TAKE CONTROL
OVER THE $3.2 BILLION COMING TO
STATE COFFERS AND AWAY FROM
GOVERNOR TONY EVERS.
>> I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW,"
RACINE'S NEW VASKS NATION CENTER
OPENS THE DOORS WIDE TO
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.
A STATE TAIWANESE AMERICAN
CONSIDERS HATE CRIME.
AND THE DEBATE OVER HOW
WISCONSIN ELECTIONS ARE RUN.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR MARCH
26.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.
>> THEY ARE 53204, 53205, 53206.
>> MILWAUKEE COUNTY EXECUTIVE
DAVID CROWLEY LISTS THE ZIP
CODES WHERE RESIDENTS ARE NOW
ELIGIBLE FOR THE VACCINE,
NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE DEFINED
AS MOST VULNERABLE IN THE CDC
HEALTH INDEX.
COUNTY EXEC CROWLEY RECEIVED HIS
VACCINE AT THE KOSCIUSZKO
COMMUNITY CENTER.
>> WE JUST WANT FOLKS TO KNOW WE
WANT FOLKS TO GET VACCINATED.
THIS IS SAFE AND THE EFFICACY IS
HIGH.
>> FROM MILWAUKEE TO RACINE.
THAT'S WHERE COMMUNITY LEADERS
GATHERED MONDAY TO ANTICIPATE
TUESDAY'S OPENING OF A NEW
VACCINATION CENTER IN THE
REGENCY MALCOM PLEX.
SPECIFICALLY, OFFICIALS CALLED
ATTENTION TO THE INEQUITIES
RELATED TO WHO'S GETTING THE
VACCINE AND WHO ISN'T.
JUST OVER 23% OF WHITE RESIDENTS
HAVE BEEN VACCINATED COMPARED TO
9.5% OF HISPANIC RESIDENTS.
FABI MALDONADO JOINS US.
>> SO THE STATE'S THIRD CLINIC
OPENED IN RACINE THIS WEEK.
HOW WELL ATTENDED IS IT BY FOLKS
COMING TO GET THEIR VACCINE?
HOW'S IT GOING?
>> YEAH.
SO ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES
WE HAD, THAT WE HAVE A HUGE
POPULATION HERE, COMMUNITY OF
COLOR AND IT DISPROPORTIONATELY
WAS AFFECTING OUR COMMUNITY.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH
COALITIONS, NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATIONS, COUPLE OTHER
GROUPS HAVE BEEN PARTICIPATING
AND PUSHING, YOU KNOW, --
HELPING THE COUNTY AND CITY
TARGET AREAS, HARD TO REACH
AREAS.
FOR MULTIPLE REASONS, YOU KNOW,
FOLKS DON'T GET THE SAME
INFORMATION AS OTHER PEOPLE AND
WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS NOT
ONLY SHARE INFORMATION IN THESE
AREAS, BUT ESSENTIALLY BRING
FOLKS INTO THESE FACILITIES TO
GET VACCINATED AND REALLY GET
PEOPLE TO SEE THAT VACCINATIONS
ARE HELPING IT WORK IN THE
COMMUNITY.
>> YEAH.
>> SO, YEAH.
ORIGINALLY I THINK THEY SAID
THEY WERE GOING TO DO 200
VACCINATIONS STARTING ON THAT
TUESDAY, MAYBE THE FIRST COUPLE
OF DAYS, MAYBE WEEK.
BUT THEN THE GOAL WAS TO GET TO
1,000 VACCINATIONS.
>> WELL, THAT'S GREAT NEWS.
IT CAN BE HARD TO NAVIGATE THIS.
WE WILL PUT UP THE WEBSITE AND
PHONE NUMBER FOR PEOPLE TO
REGISTER IN A MINUTE.
BUT HOW IMPORTANT IS IT FOR YOUR
COUNTY TO HAVE THIS CLINIC AND
AFFORD THAT ACCESS?
>> I THINK IT'S CRITICAL.
IT'S CRITICAL THAT THE STATE,
THE CITY AND THE COUNTY IS ON
THE SAME PAGE, WHEN WE'RE ALL
WORKING REALLY HARD TO MAKE SURE
THAT CONTINUES HAPPENING.
AND IT'S CRITICAL THAT FOLKS GET
VACCINATED AND TRY TO GET -- SO
WE CAN TRY TO GET BACK TO NORMAL
AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
AND WE HAVE -- THERE'S A LOT OF
ESSENTIAL WORKERS IN THE LATINX
COMMUNITY.
THERE'S PEOPLE WHO WORK IN
GROCERY STORES, HOSPITALS,
DRIVING BUSES.
THEY HAVE TO GET TO WORK.
THEY PICK YOUR PRODUCE.
THEY HELP AT THE GROCERY STORE.
THEY'RE AT THE RESTAURANTS.
AND FOLKS ARE WORKING EVERY
SINGLE DAY AND IT'S VERY
IMPORTANT THAT WE SPREAD THE
NEWS AND TRY TO GET AS MANY
PEOPLE INVOLVED AS POSSIBLE TO
SAVE LIVES.
>> IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE TRYING
TO ELIMINATE AS MANY BARRIERS AS
POSSIBLE FOR PEOPLE TO GET
VACCINATED, LIKE FREE BUS RIDES,
FOREIGN LANGUAGE TRANSLATION,
ACCESSIBILITY FOR PEOPLE WITH
VISUAL OR HEARING IMPAIRMENTS.
DO THESE THINGS MAKE A
DIFFERENCE IN TERMS OF BRINGING
PEOPLE IN?
HAVE YOU HEARD THAT?
>> NIGHT AND DAY.
ONE OF THE BARRIERS IS THE
LANGUAGE BARRIER.
FOLKS REACH OUT TO ME ALL THE
TIME WHEN THEY HAVE QUESTIONS
AROUND GOVERNMENT AID OR THEY
GET LETTERS IN THE MAIL FROM THE
CITY OR WHATNOT.
SAME THING FOR WHEN THEY GO TO
THE HOSPITAL.
IF THERE ISN'T BILINGUAL
SIGNAGE, FOLKS HELPING THEM STEP
BY STEP -- I WENT TO GO GET
VACCINATED ABOUT A WEEK AND A
HALF AGO AND THERE WERE SIGNS
THAT REALLY HELPED ME OUT.
BUT THEN THERE WAS A LOT OF
QUESTIONS THAT I HAD.
AND, YOU KNOW, I'M ONE OF THE
PRIVILEGED PEOPLE THAT CAN SPEAK
TWO LANGUAGES SO I WAS ABLE TO
NAVIGATE THAT EASIER.
FOR FOLKS WHO CAN ONLY SPEAK
SPANISH HAVE A HARD TIME.
>> THERE CAN BE SOME HESITANCY
FOR HISPANIC WHO MAY MISTRUST
GOVERNMENT.
WHAT IS THAT ABOUT AND WHAT ARE
YOU HAVE DOING ABOUT IT?
>> YEAH.
I FEEL LIKE GOVERNMENT HAS, YOU
KNOW, NOT ALWAYS GIVEN THE
LATINX POPULATION A FAIR SHAKE.
FOLKS DON'T ALWAYS FEEL WELCOME.
THEY ALSO HAVE SOME OTHER
EXPERIENCES WITH COUNTRIES WHERE
SOME FOLKS MIGHT COME FROM WHERE
THERE'S JUST A MISTRUST OF
GOVERNMENT IN GENERAL, FROM
MULTIPLE DIFFERENT FOSH -- FOR
MULTIPLE DIFFERENT REASONS.
ONE OF THE GOALS IS TO BRING
FOLKS INTO THE FOLD AND SAY THIS
IS WHAT -- SAFETY IS -- THIS IS
HOW WE GET BACK TO NORMAL.
THIS IS SAFETY.
FOLKS DON'T WANT TO -- FOLKS
WANT TO -- I THINK THE VAST
MAJORITY OF FOLKS WANT TO GET IN
LINE AND GET THIS VACCINATION
AND I THINK A LOT OF IT HAS TO
DO WITH US GETTING INFORMATION
OUT THERE.
>> YEAH.
AND JUST LASTLY, I UNDERSTAND
THAT YOU WERE ALSO MESSAGING
THAT PEOPLE WHO COME TO GET
VACCINATIONS, THEY DON'T HAVE TO
SHOW THEIR LICENSE, THEY DON'T
HAVE TO SHOW A SOCIAL SECURITY
CARD, THAT KIND OF THING.
>> CORRECT.
>> JUST ANOTHER WAY TO REDUCE
BARRIERS BECAUSE EVERYBODY WANTS
SHOTS IN ARMS.
WE APPRECIATE VERY MUCH,
SUPERVISOR.
THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING
ME.
I APPRECIATE IT.
>> AS PROMISED, THE WEBSITE FOR
REGISTERING IN RACINE IS
VACCINATE.W I..GOV OR YOU CAN
CALL 8 HAD 4-684-10-1064 TO
REGISTER.
>> AFTER THE SHOOTINGS IN PLANT,
MARISA WOJCIK SPOKE WITH WILL
HSU, A TAIWANESE-AMERICAN IN
WAUSAU, WHO HAS BEEN OUT SEASON
ABOUT DISCRIMINATION.
>> LAST WEEK'S SHOOTING WAS
HORRIFIC AND YET SOME
ASIAN-AMERICANS AREN'T SURPRISED
AND HAVE BEEN TRYING TO CALL
ATTENTION ABOUT THINGS THAT HAVE
HAPPENED TO THEM.
HAVE WE BEEN IGNORING THE
WARNING SIGNS?
>> SEE WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE
BLACK LIVES MATTER MOVEMENT.
YOU SEE THE STOP ASIAN HATE
MOVEMENT.
AND I THINK THESE MOVEMENTS ARE
HAPPENING NOW HERE BECAUSE WE
HAVEN'T HAD A REAL FRANK
DISCUSSION AND RECONCILIATION OF
WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A MINORITY
IN THE UNITED STATES, WHAT IT
MEANS TO BE AN IMMIGRANT AND OUR
DEFINITION OF IMMIGRANTS AND
CULTURE HAS GRADUALLY CHANGED
OVER THE YEARS.
AND THEN IN TODAY'S POLITICIZED
CLIMATE, WHERE THERE'S RIGHT AND
LEFT AND RIGHT AND WRONG AND
CANCEL CULTURE, PEOPLE I THINK
ARE REALLY STRUGGLING WITH HOW
DO WE HAVE MEANINGFUL DIALOGUE
ABOUT THE STATE OF RACE
RELATIONS.
THEN YOU HAVE A VIOLENT ACT SUCH
AS WHAT HAPPENED IN ATLANTA.
THAT BRINGS THINGS TO A HEAD,
DIFFERENT THAN IT DID IN
MINNEAPOLIS, A COMMUNITY I
WORKED IN FOR TEN YEARS.
YOU SEE WHAT HAPPENED THERE AND
YOU GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING
OF HOW SOMETHING LIKE THAT, JUST
AS HORRIFIC AS A SHOOTING AS IT
WAS, HOW THAT CAN KIND OF REALLY
BRING PEOPLE TO TALK ABOUT IT.
BUT WE'VE HAD THESE ISSUES HERE
IN WISCONSIN.
YOU SAW IT WITH THE SHOOTING IN
MILWAUKEE AT THE SIKH TEMPLE.
AND WE TALKED ABOUT IT.
AND THEN WE LET IT GO.
BECAUSE WE FELT LIKE IT WAS
OKAY.
WE HAD RESOLVED THE ISSUES.
THE ISSUES AREN'T RESOLVED.
THEY STILL SIMMER.
AND ALL IT TAKES IS SOMEONE TO
CRANK UP THE HEAT AND THEY
BUBBLE OVER.
AND SO WHAT YOU'RE SEEING TODAY
I THINK IS THAT LONG-SIMMERING
DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT DOES IT
MEAN TO BE ASIAN OR
ASIAN-AMERICAN IN THE UNITED
STATES AND IS THAT DIFFERENT, IS
THAT A DIFFERENT UNDERSTANDING
THAN MAYBE WHAT THE MAJORITY
CULTURE VIEWS ARE A MINORITY TO
BE.
>> YOU CAN SEE THAT FULL-LENGTH
INTERVIEW ONLINE AT
pbswisconsin.org AND THEN CLICK
ON THE NEWS TAB.
THERE HAS BEEN A JUMP IN THE
NUMBER OF UNACCOMPANIED CHILDREN
SEEKING ENTRY INTO THE U.S. FROM
ITS SOUTHERN BORDER WITH MEXICO,
WITH MORE THAN 16,000 MINORS
REPORTED IN FEDERAL CUSTODY.
PRESIDENT BIDEN THIS WEEK TASKED
VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS
WITH ADDRESSING THE ROOT CAUSES
THAT PROMPT MIGRATING PEOPLE TO
LEAVE THEIR HOME COUNTRIES.
THE DIRECTOR OF THE IMMIGRANT
JUSTICE CLINIC AT THE UW-MADISON
LAW SCHOOL IS AN EXPERT ON THE
ISSUE.
ERIN BARBATO JOINS US NOW AND
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE
AGAIN.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING
ME.
>> SO WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO
THE INFLUX OF PEOPLE SEEKING
ENTRY AT THE SOUTHERN BORDER,
ESPECIALLY THIS NUMBER OF
CHILDREN?
>> YOU KNOW, MY REACTION IS IT'S
HEART-BREAKING AND IT'S
HEART-BREAKING TO SEE HOW THIS
HAS BECOME SUCH A POLITICIZED
ISSUE, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE'RE
SPEAKING ABOUT CHILDREN.
THESE ARE CHILDREN THAT WE ARE
PERMITTING TO ENTER OUR COUNTRY
TO SEEK REFUGE HERE AND PEOPLE
ARE -- THEY'RE BEING DEMONIZED
EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE CHILDREN
FOR THEIR ACTIONS.
>> FROM WHAT YOU UNDERSTAND,
WHAT ARE THE CONDITIONS FOR
THESE CHILDREN?
>> THE CONDITIONS IN THE UNITED
STATES FOR WHERE THEY'RE BEING
PROCESSED, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE NOT
A STANDARD THAT YOU WOULD WANT
ANY CHILD TO BE IN.
THERE'S A LARGE NUMBER OF
CHILDREN THAT ARE ARRIVING AND
WE DON'T HAVE THE CAPACITY TO
HOLD THEM OR PROVIDE SHELTER FOR
THEM BEFORE THEY'RE BEING
REUNITED WITH FAMILY OR FRIENDS
OR IN A FOSTER CARE IN THE
UNITED STATES.
AND THE PANDEMIC HAS MADE IT
THAT MUCH MORE DIFFICULT BECAUSE
OF THE CONDITIONS THAT WE NEED
TO HAVE SOCIAL DISTANGSING IN
THERE AS WELL.
>> YEAH.
IN FACT, I'VE NOW READ THAT
HUNDREDS OF THE CHILDREN HAVE
TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID-19.
HOW CRITICAL IS THIS SITUATION
AND CAN IT BECOME?
>> YOU KNOW, IT'S OBVIOUSLY VERY
DANGEROUS.
THE PROCESS, THESE CHILDREN ARE
ALREADY FLEEING SOMETHING THAT
HAVE MADE THEM LEAVE THEIR
FAMILIES, THEIR FRIENDS, THEIR
HOMES TO COME INTO A SITUATION
WHERE THEY ARE AGAIN NOT
NECESSARILY SAFE.
I THINK THE ADMINISTRATION IS
WORKING REALLY HARD TO CORRECT
THE SITUATION, BUT IT'S
INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT.
>> IS THE WEST DOING ENOUGH TO
HOUSE AND CARE FOR THEM IN AN
ADEQUATE MANNER?
>> AT THIS POINT, I DON'T THINK
SO.
BUT THAT BEING SAID, I THINK
THERE'S AN EFFORT TO PROVIDE
SAFE HOUSING AND SHELTER TO
THESE CHILDREN.
BUT IT'S GOING TO TAKE SOME
TIME.
AND THEY'RE NOT GOING TO STOP
ARRIVING AT OUR BORDER UNTIL
THINGS ARE BETTER IN THEIR OWN
COUNTRY.
>> WELL, HAVE THERE BEEN POLICY
SHIFTS UNDER THE NEW
ADMINISTRATION THAT ARE EITHER
HELPING OR HURTING THIS
SITUATION?
>> WELL, I THINK THAT'S HARD TO
SAY WHAT IS HELPING OR HURTING
THE SITUATION.
THE SITUATION HASN'T CHANGED IN
THEIR COUNTRIES IN PARTICULARLY
THE NORTHERN TRIANGLE, CENTRAL
AMERICAN.
IT'S GOTTEN MORE DIFFICULT FOR
PEOPLE TO SURVIVE THERE DUE TO
NATURAL DISASTERS AS WELL AS THE
POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT AND THE
CONTROLLING GANGS THERE.
SO -- PRESIDENT BIDEN CHANGED
ONE POLICY, BUT IT'S THE LAW
THAT ALLOWS UNACCOMPANIED MINORS
TO ENTRY THE COUNTRY.
PRESIDENT TRUMP HAD BARRED
CHILDREN FROM DOING THAT EVEN
PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC.
WHEN WE LOOK AT THE NUMBERS THAT
ARE COMING, THE PRIOR
ADMINISTRATION ATTEMPTED TO
DETER PEOPLE FROM COMING AND
WHAT THEY DID IS JUST DELAY IT
AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE SEEING
NOW.
>> KAMALA HARRIS WILL BE
ADDRESSING THE ROOT CAUSES OF
WHY SO MANY PEOPLE ARE LEAVING
THEIR HOME COUNTRIES.
THIS IS A BIG GLOBAL QUESTION,
BUT WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE?
>> WE NEED TO START TREATING
PEOPLE SEEKING REFUGE WITH
HUMANITY AND ALSO FOLLOWING OUR
LAWS.
WE HAVE HAD SUCH AGGRESSIVE
DETERRENCE OVER THE PAST FOUR
YEARS THAT PEOPLE HAVE DIED,
PEOPLE HAVE HURT, PEOPLE --
WE'RE NOT FOLLOWING OUR
HUMANITARIAN POLICIES TO PROVIDE
PROTECTION TO PEOPLE IN THE
WORLD, ESPECIALLY CHILDREN.
IT'S COMPLICATED.
WE CAN'T DENY THAT.
WE ARE AN INCREDIBLY WEALTHY
COUNTRY THAT HAS THE RESOURCES
TO TREAT CHILDREN AND PEOPLE
SEEKING REFUGE WITH MUCH MORE
HUMANE POLICIES.
>> IS THERE SOMETHING THAT NEEDS
TO BE DONE IN THEIR COUNTRIES OF
ORIGIN THAT THE U.S. CAN
ACCOMPLISH?
>> WELL, THE OBAMA
ADMINISTRATION HAD STARTED TO
PROVIDE SYSTEMS AND SUPPORT TO
COMBAT SOME OF THESE PUSH
FACTORS BRINGING PEOPLE TO THE
UNITED STATES, BUT THOSE WENT
AWAY UNDER THE TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION.
THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION WANTS
TO CREATE POLICIES THAT MAKES
THINGS BETTER FOR PEOPLE IN
THOSE COUNTRIES.
>> WE LEAVE IS THERE.
ERIN BARBATO, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING
ME.
>> EVEN THOUGH COURTS THE FOUND
NO LEGAL BASIS LAST YEAR FOR
CLAIMS OF WISCONSIN ELECTION
FRAUD, A STATE PANEL WILL
INVESTIGATE ELECTION PROCEDURES
AND WILL GIVE LAWMAKERS SUBPOENA
POWERS OVER RECORDS AND
INDIVIDUALS.
THIS AS A RESULT OF REPUBLICANS
IN THE STATE ASSEMBLY PASSING A
RESOLUTION TO DIRECT A COMMITTEE
TO GET THE INVESTIGATION
UNDERWAY.
IT CLAIMS WISCONSIN ELECTION
OFFICIALS FAILED TO ADHERE TO
AND ENCOURAGED NONCOMPLIANCE
WITH ELECTIONS LAWS.
THE COMMITTEE IS INSTRUCTED TO
FOCUS ONLY ON ELECTIONS AFTER
JANUARY 1, 2019.
REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE JOE
SANFELIPPO IS THE VICE-CHAIR THE
COMMITTEE ON CAMPAIGNS AND
ELECTIONS.
I SPOKE WITH HIM EARLIER.
>> REPRESENTATIVE SAN PHILLIP
POE, THANKS VERY MUCH FOR
JOINING US ON THIS.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> SO MY FIRST QUESTION IS DO
YOU YET ACKNOWLEDGE THAT JOE
BIDEN WON THE ELECTION?
>> OH, YEAH.
I DON'T THINK THAT THAT'S, YOU
KNOW, IN QUESTION.
AND EVERYTHING WE'RE DOING
REALLY HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH
THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
PER SE.
IT HAS TO DO MORE WITH THE LOOK
AT HOW OUR ELECTIONS ARE
ADMINISTERED THROUGHOUT THE
STATE.
>> SO YOU WANT TO GATHER MORE
EVIDENCE TO SEE IF ELECTION LAWS
WERE BROKEN, BUT WASN'T THAT
KIND OF ASKED AND ANSWERED
SEVERAL TIMES IN COURTS OF LAW
IN WISCONSIN AND ACROSS THE
NATION WHEN BOTH THE TRUMP COM
PAIN AND HIS ALLIES SUED OVER
THESE ISSUES AND LOST?
>> WELL, I THINK THERE'S A
COUPLE DIFFERENT THINGS.
FIRST OF ALL, A LOT OF THOSE
COURT CASES NEVER EVEN GOT TO
THE POINT WHERE EVIDENCE WAS
PRESENTED AND SO THEY WERE JUST
DISMISSED BEFORE THEY GOT TO THE
EVIDENTIARY PROCESS.
THE OTHER THING IS THAT THE
TRUMP CAMPAIGN WAS FOCUSING
SOLELY ON HIS CAMPAIGN AND HIS
RESULTS.
AND I THINK THAT WHAT WE WANT TO
LOOK AT HERE, BECAUSE WE'VE SEEN
EVIDENCE AND WE HEARD STORIES
FROM VARIOUS AREAS AROUND THE
STATE THAT JUST ARE POINTING TO
THE FACT THAT OUR ELECTION LAWS
THAT ARE ALREADY ON THE BOOKS
MAY NOT BE BEING FOLLOWED.
AND THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY
MEAN THEY'RE NOT BEING FOLLOWED
FOR NEFARIOUS REASONS.
COULD BE THERE'S A LACK OF
PROPER TRAINING OR SOMEBODY JUST
DIDN'T TAKE THE TIME TO DO
SOMETHING THAT THEY WERE
SUPPOSED TO DO.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO
PROVIDE EQUAL PROTECTION UNDER
THE LAW.
AND THE WAY TO DO THAT FOR
ELECTIONS IS TO MAKE SURE THAT
IN ALL OF OUR JURISDICTIONS,
WHICH WE HAVE OVER 1800 OF THEM
IN THE STATE, WE WANT TO MAKE
SURE THAT THE ELECTION LAWS ON
THE BOOKS ARE BEING EVENLY
ADHERED TO THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE
STATE AND THAT'S WHAT OUR FOCUS
IS ON.
>> SO TELL ME, WHAT KINDS OF
ELECTIONS LAWS ARE YOU GOING TO
BE FOCUSING ON?
>> WELL, YOU KNOW, LAST WEEK OR
A COUPLE WEEKS AGO WE HAD A
HEARING AND WE LOOKED AT THINGS
IN PARTICULAR IN GREEN BAY THAT
TOOK PLACE AND THROUGH A SERIES
OF LOOKING AT EMAILS AND THINGS
THAT WERE PRESENTED TO THE
COMMITTEE AS EVIDENCE, I MEAN,
IT WAS CLEAR THAT WE HAD THIRD
PARTIES FROM OUTSIDE OF THE
ELECTION PROCESS IN CHARGE
RUNNING -- YOU KNOW, CALLING THE
SHOTS, RUNNING AT LEAST ONE
CENTRAL COUNT LOCATION.
THOSE ARE THINGS THAT ARE
AGAINST THE LAW THAT SHOULD NOT
BE BEING DONE.
WE KNOW THAT IN SOME AREAS
AROUND THE STATE WE HAD CLERKS
THAT WERE CURING BALLOTS ON
THEIR OWN, WHICH IS CONTRARY TO
LAW.
AND SO I THINK WE HAVE TO TAKE A
LOOK AT WHY THOSE PRACTICES NEED
TO BE DONE AND MAYBE WE NEED TO
-- IF WE HAVE TO UPDATE THE LAWS
TO ALLOW FOR SOME OF THESE
THINGS, WE SHOULD.
BUT THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS
ONLY THE LEGISLATURE CAN MAKE
ELECTION LAW AND WE SHOULDN'T
ALLOW CLERKS ON THEIR OWN TO BE
DECIDING WHAT LAWS THEY'RE GOING
TO FOLLOW, WHAT LAWS THEY'RE NOT
GOING TO FOLLOW, BECAUSE THAT'S
WHEN YOU GET INTO THIS
UNIFORMITY ISSUE.
>> WELL, I KNOW THAT IN COVERING
ALL OF THESE MATTERS THAT THE
STATE ELECTIONS COMMISSION WAS
GIVING GUIDANCE TO CLERKS AND
THAT THINGS LIKE CURING BALLOTS
WAS SOMETHING THAT CLERKS DO DO
AND IN GREEN BAY I KNOW THAT
OFFICIALS ARE SAYING WHAT YOU
PRESENTED AT THAT HEARING, IT
JUST DIDN'T HAPPEN.
>> WELL, I KNOW THAT'S WHAT THE
GREEN BAY TALK HAS BEEN,
ESPECIALLY FROM THE MAYOR.
BUT THE EMAILS TELL A COMPLETELY
DIFFERENT STORY.
FOR EXAMPLE, THERE IS ONE OF
THESE INDIVIDUALS WHO IS NOT
ASSOCIATED WITH THE CITY FROM A
THIRD-PARTY GROUP OUT OF STATE
AND THERE'S AN EMAIL THAT SAYS
HE AND ONLY HE SHOULD HAVE
ACCESS, THE KEYS AND ACCESS TO
THE CENTRAL COUNT LOCATION.
NOW, THAT IS STRICTLY AGAINST
THE LAW.
WHEN HE WAS ASKED WHAT HIS ROLE
WAS IN THE ELECTION, IF HE WAS
AN EMPLOYEE OF THE CITY OF GREEN
BAY OR A CONTRACTOR, HE JUST
SAID, NO, HE WAS AN ELECTION
OBSERVER.
WELL, ELECTION OBSERVERS AREN'T
GIVEN KEYS TO THE CENTRAL COUNT
LOCATIONS WITH ACCESS TO THE
TABULATING MACHINES.
IT'S THINGS LIKE THAT THAT WE
NEED TO DIG INTO FURTHER.
>> JUST REALLY BRIEFLY, YOUR
ELECTIONS COMMITTEE WAS GIVEN
THE AUTHORITY TO SUBPOENA PEOPLE
TO COME AND TESTIFY BEFORE YOU.
WHO DO YOU WANT TO SUBPOENA?
>> WELL, YOU KNOW, I'M ACTUALLY
HOPING THAT WE WON'T EVEN HAVE
TO GET THAT FAR WITH SUBPOENAS,
RIGHT?
BECAUSE OUR ELECTIONS -- WE HAVE
A HISTORY IN WISCONSIN OF HAVING
VERY OPEN AND TRANSPARENT
ELECTIONS AND I CAN'T IMAGINE
WHY ANY ELECTION OFFICIAL WOULD
NOT WANT TO COME AND SPEAK
OPENLY ABOUT HOW ELECTIONS ARE
ADMINISTERED IN THEIR
JURISDICTION.
NOW, THAT IS CORRECT SAID, WE
MAY HAVE TO RELY, BECAUSE THERE
ARE THESE THIRD PARTIES INVOLVED
THAT ARE NOT STATE EMPLOYEES OR
CITY OR LOCAL, COUNTY EMPLOYEES,
WE MAY HAVE TO SUBPOENA
DOCUMENTS, WE MAY HAVE TO
SUBPOENA PEOPLE TO GET THEM TO
COME IN AND TESTIFY.
AND SO WE'RE JUST KIND OF
SETTING THE PLATFORM IN PLACE IN
CASE WE NEED TO DO THAT.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WE NEED TO LEAVE IT THERE, BUT
WE THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR
TIME.
WE'LL SHALL WATCHING ALL OF
THIS.
>> YOU GOT IT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY.
IF YOU HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS
GOING FORWARD, PLEASE JUST REACH
OUT.
>> REPRESENTATIVE SAN PHILLIP
POE WANTS THE COMMITTEE TO DIG
FURTHER INTO THE ROLE OF OUTSIDE
CONSULTANTS LIKE THOSE WHO
WORKED IN GREEN BAY IN NOVEMBER.
HE ALLEGES ONE SUCH CONSULTANT
WAS RUNNING THE CENTRAL COUNT
LOCATION IN GREEN BAY.
THE CITY'S MAYOR REJECTS THE
ALLEGATIONS AND IN A STATEMENT
SAID THIS: THE CITY'S CONDUCT
OF THE ELECTION IN 2020 HAS BEEN
HEAVILY SCRT SCROOT SCRUTINIZED.
IN EACH CASE THE CITY'S ACTIONS
HAVE BEEN UPHELD.
NO BALLOTS WERE EVER IN THE CARE
OR CUSTODY OF THESE CONSULTANTS,
THE STATEMENT SAID.
WHY IS GREEN BAY A TARGET OF
LEGISLATIVE REPUBLICANS REPUBLICANS IN
INTENT OF RELITIGATEING ELECTION
FRAUD?
WE CHECK IN WITH DEMOCRATIC
REPRESENTATIVE KRISTIN SHELTON
OF GREEN BAY AND THANKS VERY
MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING
ME.
IT'S A GREAT DAY TO TALK ABOUT
VOTING RIGHTS AND ELECTION
INTEGRITY.
>> SO WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE TO
GREEN BAY'S ELECTION COUNT
PROCESS BEING A TARGET OF A
REPUBLICAN INVESTIGATION?
>> YOU KNOW, NO MATTER WHERE WE
COME FROM, OUR BACKGROUND, THE
COLOR OF OUR SKIN OR OUR ZIP
CODE, WE ALL WANT FAIR, FREE,
LEGITIMATE, TRANSPARENT
ELECTIONS THAT FOLLOW ELECTION
LAW AND UPHOLD OUR SHARED
VALUES.
AND WHAT I'VE SEEN IS MY FELLOW
REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES IN THE
WISCONSIN STATE LEGISLATURE SOW
DIVISION AND DIVIDE BASED ON NO
EVIDENCE AT THIS TIME.
I WOULD LIKE US TO GET BACK TO
WORK FOR WORKING FAMILIES AND
HELP PEOPLE NAVIGATE OUT OF THE
CORONAVIRUS.
AS TO THEIR INTENT, YOU KNOW,
I'M UNABLE TO ANSWER THEIR
INTENT BECAUSE THAT'S ON THEM.
BUT MY JOB IS TO LEGISLATE BASED
ON EVIDENCE AND I HAVE SEEN NO
EVIDENCE THAT WE SHOULD BE
TAKING THIS ANY FURTHER.
>> SO THE ELECTIONS COMMITTEE
CONDUCTING THIS PROBE WILL BE
ARMED WITH SUBPOENA POWER TO
BRING PEOPLE IN TO TESTIFY.
WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THAT?
>> WELL, I TALKED TO OUR MAYOR
HERE AND HE HAS ASSURED ME THAT
HE'S OPEN TO WORKING WITH THE
CAMPAIGN AND ELECTIONS COMMITTEE
TO TELL OUR STORY.
YOU KNOW, WITH THAT COMMITTEE
HEARING A FEW WEEKS AGO, IT WAS
VERY DISAPPOINTING.
I WAS NOT INVITED TO PARTICIPATE
AT ALL.
SO IT WAS A ONE-SIDED
PERSPECTIVE OF WHAT HAPPENED
HERE.
IT WAS VERY FRUSTRATING TO THE
PEOPLE OF GREEN BAY AND TO THE
90TH BECAUSE OUR STORY IS VERY
DIFFERENT.
PEOPLE FEEL VERY CONFIDENT ABOUT
OUR ELECTION AND THEY HAVE KNOW
THAT IT WAS LEGITIMATE AND
FOLLOWED ELECTION LAW.
>> STILL, GREEN BAY DID HAVE ITS
ISSUES IN THE LAST ELECTION
CYCLE.
THERE WERE LONG LINES AS ONLY
TWO OF 35 POLLING PLACES WERE
OPEN.
THE CITY DIDN'T ACCEPT THE HELP
OF THE WISCONSIN NATIONAL GUARD.
DOES GREEN BAY NEED CHANGES IN
THE ADMINISTRATION OF ELECTIONS,
IN YOUR MIND?
>> EVERY COMMUNITY AND
MUNICIPALITY FACED UNPRECEDENTED
CHALLENGES DURING THE ELECTIONS
OF 2020.
AND WHAT WE SAW WAS DIFFICULTY
IN THE APRIL ELECTION AND WE SAW
OUR CITY OFFICIALS PIVOT TO BE
ABLE TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL
POLLING LOCATIONS, ADDITIONAL
STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS TO BE ABLE
TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE COULD VOTE
AND STILL BE HEALTHY AND SAFE.
AND WITH THAT ADDITIONAL NEED
CAME ADDITIONAL COSTS.
AND SO WE SAW OUR COMMUNITY
REACH OUT TO AND APPLY FOR
GRANTS AMONG OTHER COMMUNITIES
HERE IN THE STATE.
HUNDREDS OF COMMUNITIES APPLIED
FOR AND RECEIVED FUNDING.
AND WHAT WE WOULD HAVE LIKED TO
HAVE SEEN IS A LEGISLATURE LAST
YEAR THAT WOULD HAVE DONE THEIR
JOB TO PROVIDE PUBLIC FUNDING
AND PUBLIC MONIES TO BE ABLE TO
DO SO.
WHEN THEY DIDN'T, COMMUNITIES
HAD TO LOOK ELSEWHERE.
>> SO THE LEGISLATURE AS YOU
WELL KNOW IS LOOKING TO CHANGE
LIKS LAW
ELECTION LAW IN WISCONSIN AROUND
TIGHTENING UP AB CENTRE ABSENTEE VOTING.
HOW DO YOU REGARD THE PROPOSED
BILLS?
>> WE HAVE A COORDINATED ASSAULT
ON VOTING RIGHTS NOT JUST IN
GREEN BAY AND WISCONSIN, BUT
AROUND THE COUNTRY.
OVER 250 BILLS.
THIS IS BASED ON A LACK OF ANY
EVIDENCE.
THIS IS AN ASSAULT ON VOTING
RIGHTS.
WE NEED TO ENGAGE PEOPLE IN
TELLING THE TRUTH AND STANDING
UP FOR OUR DEMOCRACY.
AGAIN, WE HAVE SO MUCH WORK ON
THE TABLE THAT WE NEED TO GET TO
FOR WORKING PEOPLE.
THAT'S WHERE MY PRIORITIES ARE
AND THAT'S WHAT I'M GOING TO
CONTINUE TO DO IN MY LEADERSHIP
IN THE ASSEMBLY.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME TODAY,
REPRESENT T KRISTIN SHELTON OF
REPRESENTATIVE KRISTIN SHELTON.
>> THANK YOU.
>> NEXT WEEK THE CANDIDATES
RUNNING FOR STATE SCHOOL
SUPERINTENDENT.
DEBORAH KERR AND JILL UNDERLY
WILL APPEAR TOGETHER.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS PBS
WISCONSINMENT
WISCONSINMENT.