>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION.
>> WE WILL BE TAKING OUR
WISCONSIN STATE BUDGET PROCESS
BACK TO BASICS.
>> THE LEGISLATURE'S POWERFUL
BUDGET-WRITING COMMITTEE BEGAN
ITS WORK IN EARNEST THURSDAY TO
CARVE OUT THE STATE'S FISCAL
ROADMAP FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS.
THE STATE'S TOURISM INDUSTRY
EXPECTS A BOOMING SEASON, AS
MORE PEOPLE NO LONGER NEED TO BE
SAFER AT HOME.
AND RURAL COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE
TRADING IDEAS TO KEEP THEIR
COMMUNITIES THRIVING.
>> I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW,"
MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE JOINT
FINANCE COMMITTEE DESCRIBE THEIR
FIGHT TO DEFEND THEIR PARTY
PRIORITIES IN THE STATE BUDGET.
REPRESENTATIVE MARK BORN AND
SENATOR LATONYA JOHNSON ARE
HERE.
IT'S NATIONAL TRAVEL AND TOURISM
WEEK AND WE CHECK IN WITH
WISCONSIN DELLS VISITOR AND
CONVENTION BUREAU.
MARISA WOJCIK HEARS FROM EXPERTS
ABOUT HOW TRAVEL AND TOURISM
COULD BE IMPACTED BY SO-CALLED
VACCINE PASSPORTS.
AND WE HEAR FROM THE WISCONSIN
RURAL PARTNERS ABOUT AN ONGOING
SUMMIT THAT AIMS TO INCREASE
RURAL PROSPERITY.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR MAY 7.
>> FUNDINGFOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.
>> THE HEAVY LIFT OF CRAFTING
THE STATE TWO-YEAR BUDGET GOT
UNDERWAY IN THE LEGISLATURE IN
EARNEST THIS WEEK AND THE
REPUBLICAN MAJORITY VOTED TO
LIFT A LOT OUT OF THE GOVERNOR'S
EXECUTIVE BUDGET, MORE THAN 390
ITEMS, INCLUDING BIG-TICKET ONES
LIKE THE EXPANSION OF
BADGERCARE.
TONIGHT, WE TALK WITH TWO
MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE'S
BUDGET COMMITTEE.
IN A FEW MINUTES, A DEMOCRAT.
BUT FIRST REPUBLICAN CO-CHAIR OF
THE COMMITTEE, MARK BORN OF
BEAVER DAM AND THINKS VERY THANKS VERY MUCH
FOR BEING HERE.
>> GOOD TO BE WITH YOU AGAIN.
>> WHY DID YOU VOTE TO REMOVE SO
MUCH FROM THE EXECUTIVE BUDGET?
>> BECAUSE OF THE WAY IT WAS
BUILT, YOU KNOW?
IT WAS UNREALISTIC.
WE JUST COULDN'T MOVE FORWARD
WITH A BUDGET THAT WAS REALLY
BUILT ON SAND WITH A LOT OF
MASSIVE TAX INCREASES, WELFARE
EXPANSION, A LOT OF DIVISIVE
POLICY.
YOU MENTIONED ON YOUR OPEN THE
NUMBER OF THINGS WE TOOK OUT,
ALMOST 400 ITEMS.
DIRECTOR FROM THE NONFISCAL
BUREAU SAID IT WAS ONE OF THE
BIGGEST LIST EVER THAT THE
GOVERNOR PUT IN THE BUDGET.
WE ASKED THE GOVERNOR NOT TO
FILL <!0> WITH DIVISIVE POLICY
AND MAX MASSIVE TAX INCREASES.
WE'RE GOING TO START FROM THE
BASE BUDGET WE ALL CREED TO A -- AGREED TO
A LITTLE LESS THAN TWO YEARS
AGO.
WE'RE GOING <!24576> WORK FROM
THERE AND BUILD A BUDGET FROM
THAT.
>> A LOT OF IT COMES DOWN TO A
POLITICAL PHILOSOPHICAL DIVIDE.
GOVERNOR EVERS WOULD INCREASE
TAXES ON CAPITAL GAINS, FOR
EXAMPLE.
ONE DEMOCRAT CALLED YOUR BUDGET
ACTION, QUOTE, POLITICALLY
SELFISH, NOT HELPING THOSE WHO
CAN'T FEND FOR THEMSELVES.
HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO THAT?
>> I DON'T AGREE WITH THAT AT
ALL.
OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, WORKING ON
A BUDGET PROCESS LIKE THIS
THERE'S POLITICAL DIFFERENCES,
THERE'S DIFFERENCE OF OPINION,
THERE'S DIFFERENT WAYS TO
ACCOMPLISH THINGS.
AND WE'RE GOING TO FOCUS ON
INVESTING IN PRIORITIES FOR THE
STATE OF WISCONSIN THAT WILL DO
A LOT TO HELP PEOPLE AND HELP
BUSINESSES AND HELP US GROW OUR
STATE.
THAT'S THE TRACK RECORD WE HAVE
FOR THE LAST DECADE IN THE
REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURE AND THEY
HAVE DIFFERENT WAYS OF DOING T.
THE DEMOCRATS WANT TO MAKE
THINGS RELY ON GOVERNMENT AND
GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS AND TAX
PEOPLE MORE.
WE WANT TO SEND MONEY BACK TO
THE TAXPAYERS AND INVEST IN
THEIR PRIORITIES WITH THE LARGE
SURPLUSES THAT WE HAVE TO BUILD
THIS BUDGET NOW.
>> PERHAPS THE LARGEST BONE OF
CONTENTION, WHICH I DON'T HAVE
TO TELL YOU, IS THE GOVERNOR AND
DEMOCRATS WANT TO AGAIN EXPAND
MEDICAID IN WISCONSIN TO ALLOW
SOME 90,000 MORE LOW-INCOME
PEOPLE TO QUALIFY FOR
BADGERCARE.
WHY IS IT STRICKEN FROM YOUR
BUDGET DOCUMENT WHEN EXPANDING
IT WOULD MEAN AN INFUSION OF
$1.6 MILLION FROM THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT?
>> BECAUSE IT'S A MASSIVE POLICY
CHANGE.
WE'VE BEEN HAVING THIS DEBATE
FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW THAT
NOTHING HAS CHANGED.
IT'S ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE
DON'T BELIEVE YOU NEED TO EXPAND
WELFARE, THE GOVERNMENT-RUN
INSURANCE PROGRAM, TO INSURE
THESE FOLKS.
WE SET SOMETHING UP IN WISCONSIN
THAT ALLOWS PEOPLE TO HAVE
ACCESS.
WE DON'T HAVE THE COVERAGE GAPS.
PEOPLE THAT ARE CURRENTLY NOT
INSURED IS BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT
CHOOSING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF
THOSE OPPORTUNITIES.
WE HAVE FOLKS THAT ARE ON
PRIVATE INSURANCE THROUGH THE
EXCHANGES.
WE'VE SUB DA SIDES THAT AS A
STATE.
THE FEDS SUBSIDIZED THAT.
WITH THE CURRENT FEDERAL
LEGISLATION, IT SUBSIDIZED THE
PREMIUMS AT -- 100%.
IT'S JUST A DIFFERENCE OF THEY
WANT EVERYONE ON A GOVERNMENT
PROGRAM AND WE BELIEVE THERE ARE
BETTER WAYS TO DO THIS AND WE
DON'T HAVE COVERAGE GAPS IN
WISCONSIN BECAUSE OF THAT.
>> AS FOR THE $3.2 BILLION IN
FEDERAL COVID AID COMING INTO
WISCONSIN, THE GOVERNOR SEES
THAT MONEY AS SUPPLEMENTAL
FUNDING, NOT REPLACEMENT
FUNDING.
HOW DO YOU IN THE REPUBLICAN
MAJORITY SEE IT?
>> I THINK YOU CAN SAY IT'S
SUPPLEMENTAL, BUT IT STILL WORKS
WITH THE STATE FUNDS.
I MEAN, IF WE'RE ACCOMPLISHING
GOALS THAT WE NEED TO
ACCOMPLISH, WHETHER WE'RE USING
FEDERAL MONEY OR STATE BUDGET, A
LARGE PART OF THE STATE BUDGET
INCLUDES OTHER PROGRAM REVENUE.
IT'S NOT ALL STATE MONEY.
FEDERAL MONEY PLAYS IN A ROLE IN
THAT.
IF YOU SAY IT DOESN'T, YOU DON'T
UNDERSTAND HOW IT WORKS OR YOU
JUST DON'T WANT TO WORK WITH THE
LEGISLATURE ON IT.
IF THE GOVERNOR WANTS TO FIGURE
OUT HOW TO CRAFT THIS STUFF SO
WE CAN WORK TOGETHER AND SO THAT
THE FUNDS CAN WORK TOGETHER TO
DO THE BEST FOR WISCONSIN, WE
SHOULD CERTAINLY BE LOOKING AT
ALL OF THE MONEY, NOT JUST
CERTAIN POTTS OF IT.
>> YOU INTRODUCED TO MEET WITH
THE GOVERNOR TO NAIL IT DOWN,
BUT HE ASKED YOU TO COME WITH A
PLAN OF HOW YOU WOULD SPEND THE
$1.6 BILLION THAT WOULD COME
FROM EXPANDING MEDICAID.
IS THIS MEETING GOING TO HAPPEN?
>> WE'D BE HAPPY TO MEET WITH
HIM AND TALK ABOUT THE FEDERAL
FUNDING COMING INTO THE STATE.
I DON'T KNOW WHY WE WOULD COME
FORWARD WITH A PLAN FOR MONEY
WE'RE NOT GOING TO TAKE ON A
WELFARE EXPANSION.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S A GOOD USE
OF OUR TIME.
WE MADE THAT DECISION YESTERDAY,
AS WELL AS SEVERAL OTHER TIMES.
I DON'T SEE WHY WE CONTINUE TO
TALK ABOUT THAT.
>> ALL RIGHT.
ALL RIGHT.
WE LEAVE IT THERE.
WE WILL BE WATCHING, MASK.
REPRESENTATIVE MARK BORN, THANKS
VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> IN THE VOTING MINORITY ON THE
COMMITTEE, WE ARE JOINED BY
MILWAUKEE SENATOR LATONYA
JOHNSON.
AND, SENATOR, THANKS VERY MUCH
FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING
ME.
>> SO HOW DO YOU REGARD THE
ACTIONS OF THE FINANCE
COMMITTEE, WHICH IS CONTROLLED
12-4 BY MAJORITY REPUBLICANS?
>> IT WAS REALLY SO JUST
FRUSTRATING TO SEE SO MANY OF
THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET ITEMS
BEING PULLED OUT, ESPECIALLY
THOSE ITEMS THAT WERE EXTREMELY
POPULAR AMONG THE PUBLIC.
WE HEARD ABOUT THOSE ITEMS FROM
OUR LISTENING SESSIONS.
SO THAT WAS JUST REALLY
DISHEARTENING.
>> WELL, YOU TOLD A PERSONAL
STORY BEFORE THE PANEL OF WHY
EXPANSION OF BADGERCARE WOULD
HELP PEOPLE, DESCRIBING HOW YOU
WERE UNINSURED BEFORE YOU WERE
ELECTED TO THE LEGISLATURE AND
ONLY THEN DISCOVERED A LARGE
TUMOR FOR WHICH YOU UNDERWENT
SURGERY.
WHY IS YOUR STORY A CAUTIONARY
TALE ON THE EXPANSION OF
MEDICAID?
>> BECAUSE PEOPLE WHO CAN'T
AFFORD INSURANCE, THEY'RE JUST
GOING TO GO WITHOUT.
AND WHEN YOU GO OUT HEALTH
INSURANCE, YOU'RE GOING TO END
UP WITH COMPLICATIONS THAT'S
GOING TO BE MUCH MORE COSTLY TO
THE STATE.
IN MY CASE, I HAD TO HAVE MAJOR
SURGERY, AND IT DOESN'T JUST END
THERE.
I STILL HAVE AND WILL CONTINUE
TO HAVE LIFE-LONG COMPLICATIONS
FROM THAT.
AND SO MANY OF OUR WISCONSINITES
SUFFER THOSE SAME FATES EVERY
DAY.
AND IT'S JUST SO MUCH EASIER AND
CHEAPER TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE
HEALTH CARE LIKE SOMETHING AS
SIMPLE AS A CHECKUP ON AN
ONGOING BASIS THAN TO DEAL WITH
THOSE PROBLEMS THAT ARE
EXTREMELY COSTLY TO TAXPAYERS IN
THE END.
>> NOW, REPUBLICAN COMMITTEE
MEMBERS ASKED WHY PEOPLE WHO ARE
OF LOW INCOME CAN'T SIMPLY NOW
SIGN UP FOR OBAMACARE OR PLANS
ON THE MARKETPLACE.
WHY CAN'T THEY?
>> THEY CAN SIGN UP, BUT FOR
INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE STRUGGLING
TO MAKE ENDS MEET, THE MONEY'S
JUST NOT GOING TO BE THERE.
AND WHAT WE SAW WHEN THE
REPUBLICANS CHOSE TO KICK 90,000
PEOPLE OFF OF MEDICAID, A LOT OF
THOSE INDIVIDUALS WERE PARENTS.
AND SO DOCTORS AND, YOU KNOW,
THIRD-PARTY BILLING TALKED ABOUT
HOW CHILDREN WHO WERE RECEIVING
REGULAR CHECKUPS BECAUSE THEIR
PARENTS AND THEMSELVES WERE
COVERED WERE NOW MISSING THOSE
CHECKUPS BECAUSE THEIR PARENTS
WERE NO LONGER COVERED.
SO IT WASN'T AS CONVENIENT TO
TAKE A DAY OFF WORK AND TAKE
EVERYBODY TO THE DOCTOR VERSUS
JUST HAVING THE KID SEEN.
AND SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
WISCONSINITES ARE AS HEALTHY AS
POSSIBLE.
AND WE'RE LEAVING $1.6 BILLION
ON THE TABLE TO COVER LESS
PEOPLE.
AND THAT'S THE CONCERNING PART.
>> AS TO THAT KIND OF LOSS OF
$1.6 BILLION OF FEDERAL MONEY BY
NOT EXPANDING MEDICAID, WHAT
ABOUT THE ARGUMENT THAT
EXPANDING IT JUST FOSTERS THE
GROWTH OF WELFARE PROGRAMS?
>> THAT MAKES ABSOLUTELY NO
SENSE BECAUSE THESE ARE HUMAN
BEINGS.
THESE ARE INDIVIDUALS WHO JUST
CAN'T AFFORD HEALTH CARE.
AND WE'RE LEAVING $1.6 BILLION
ON THE TABLE WHEN THIS STATE HAS
SO MANY NEEDS, SUCH AS COMMUNITY
INVESTMENT PROGRAMS, HEALTH
EQUITY GRANTS.
THAT COULD HELP BOTH THE INNER
CITY AND AS WELL AS THE RURAL
AREAS TO STAFF THEMSELVES WITH
DOCTORS.
THE EXPANSION OF A WELFARE
PROGRAM HOLDS NO WATER BECAUSE
THESE ARE INDIVIDUALS THAT NEED
COVERAGE.
AND I THINK THAT COMES FROM A
PLACE OF PRIVILEGE.
FOR SO MANY OF THOSE ELECTED
OFFICIALS, THEY SEE THINGS THAT
WAY BECAUSE WE OURSELVES ARE
BEING COVERED MEDICALLY BY THE
STATE SO WHY SHOULDN'T WE EXPECT
OUR CONSTITUENTS TO BE ABLE TO
DO THE SAME.
>> ONE OF THE OTHER 390 ITEMS
REMOVED FROM THE BUDGET BY
REPUBLICAN VOTE THIS WEEK, 190
OF THEM WERE DEEMED POLICY ITEMS
BY THE FISCAL BUREAU AND THOSE
ARE REGULARLY STRIPPED OUT.
BUT OF THEM, WERE THERE PRIORITY
ITEMS IN THERE FOR YOU AND YOUR
CONSTITUENTS?
>> THERE WERE.
ONE OF THOSE PRIORITY ITEMS FOR
ME WAS BEING ABLE TO ALLOW
STUDENTS TO GO TO ANY OF THE UW
SYSTEM SCHOOLS FOR FREE IF THEIR
PARENTS EARNED UNDER $60,000 A
YEAR.
WE HAVE A SHORTAGE CRISIS IN
THIS STATE OF TEACHERS, NURSES,
SOCIAL WORKERS, PSYCHIATRISTS
AND PSYCHOLOGISTS.
AND GIVING THOSE STUDENTS THE
OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO PURSUE
A COLLEGE EDUCATION IS PIVOTAL
TO BEING ABLE TO CHANGE THINGS
IN THIS STATE.
AND FOR SO MANY OF THOSE
STUDENTS, THE PARENT PORTION IS
THE MOST DIFFICULT PIECE TO COME
UP WITH.
AND TO JUST BE DENIED THAT TYPE
OF EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY
BECAUSE YOUR PARENTS CAN'T
AFFORD IT, I DON'T UNDERSTAND
WHEN THE STATE HAS SUCH A GREAT
NEED.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WE LEAVE IT THERE.
SENATOR LATONYA JOHNSON, THANKS
VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US.
>> THANK YOU.
>> PEOPLE OF WISCONSIN ARE
REALLY RESILIENT.
YOU KNOW, WE FIGHT OVER WHETHER
TO WEAR A MASK OR NOT WEAR A
MASK AND ALL THAT STUFF.
BUT SETTING ALL THAT KIND OF
POLITICAL STUFF TO THE SIDE,
PEOPLE IN WISCONSIN ARE REALLY
RESILIENT AND THE PEOPLE THAT
WORK IN THE TOURISM INDUSTRY,
OBVIOUSLY THEY HAVE TO BE.
THEY'VE BEEN KNOCKED DOWN, BUT
THEY'RE STANDING BACK UP.
THEY'RE RESILIENT.
THEY'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE
SUMMER.
>> GOVERNOR EVERS VISITED DOOR
COUNTY WEDNESDAY.
NEWLY-RELEASED DATA FROM THE
WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM
SHOWS VISITOR SPENDING AND TAXES
WERE DOWN NEARLY 30% IN 2020.
DESPITE THIS HIT, THE TOURISM
INDUSTRY IS OPTIMISTIC THAT THE
2021 SEASON WILL LOOK BETTER
WITH MORE PEOPLE VACCINATED
EVERY DAY AND MANY ANXIOUS TO
TAKE VACATIONS THAT WERE
POSTPONED LAST YEAR.
TO TALK ABOUT THIS, WE ARE
JOINED BY THE PRESIDENT AND CEO
OF THE WISCONSIN DELLS VISITOR
AND CONVENTION CENTER BUREAU,
ROMY SNYDER, AND THANKS VERY
MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
>> IT'S MY PLEASURE.
>> SO THE GOVERNOR JUST
DESCRIBED WISCONSIN AND ITS
TOURISM INDUSTRY AS RESILIENT.
HOW HARD, THOUGH, WAS THE LAST
YEAR FOR TOP-TIER TRAVEL SITES
LIKE THE WISCONSIN DELLS?
>> THE TOURISM INDUSTRY, AND
CERTAINLY STATEWIDE, BUT
NATIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY,
PROBABLY TOOK THE BIGGEST HIT
FROM THE RESULTS OF THE
PANDEMIC.
YOU KNOW, WHEN WE -- WHEN
WISCONSIN WENT TO THE "SAFER AT
HOME" ORDERS, OUR BUSINESSES
WERE SHUT DOWN, THE NONESSENTIAL
ONES.
SO SOME HOTELS WERE ABLE TO STAY
OPEN, BUT RESTAURANTS, RETAIL
WERE ASKED TO SHUT DOWN.
SO THEY USED THAT TIME TO REALLY
LOOK AT THEIR SAFETY PROTOCOLS,
THEIR MEASURES AND WERE ALREADY
THINKING WHEN WE CAN OPEN AGAIN,
HOW WILL WE DO IT SO THAT WE CAN
ENSURE A SAFE EXPERIENCE FOR
BOTH OUR GUESTS AND OUR
VISITORS.
AND THAT'S BASICALLY THE FRAME
OF MIND THEY'VE HAD NOW FOR THE
PAST YEAR, IS CONSTANTLY
ASSESSING, PIVOTING AND
RETOOLING THEIR OPERATIONS.
BUT THEY ARE VERY RESILIENT AND
WE'RE READY TO GO THIS YEAR.
>> NOW, THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT
SURVEYS SHOW THAT 87% OF PEOPLE
PLAN TO TRAVEL IN THE NEXT SIX
MONTHS.
ARE YOU SEEING EVIDENCE OF THAT
WITH BOOKINGS AND INTEREST?
>> SO WE ACTUALLY SURVEYED OUR
OWN DATABASE.
SO THESE ARE VISITORS WHO EITHER
ORDERED LITERATURE FROM US OR
WHO ASKED TO BE ON OUR RESEARCH
DATABASE.
AND WE KNOW THAT 84% OF OUR
DATABASE WILL BE TRAVELING
BETWEEN NOW AND THE END OF
AUGUST.
SO THAT'S AN INCREDIBLE NUMBER,
VERY OPTIMISTIC FOR US.
BUT ABSOLUTELY.
WE HAD A RECORD SPRING BREAK
THIS YEAR.
FOR THE FIRST THREE MONTHS OF
2021, WE'RE ALREADY UP 9% FROM
2019.
SO WE'RE NOT GOING TO COMPARE
MONTH-TO-MONTH OVER LAST YEAR,
BUT THE LAST NORMAL YEAR WE HAD
WE'RE ALREADY ALMOST 10% AHEAD
OF LAST YEAR.
>> PEOPLE REALLY WANT TO GET
OUT.
WHAT ROLE DO YOU THINK AN UPTICK
IN VACCINES PLAYS IN GETTING
PEOPLE OUT AND SPENDING THEIR
MONEY?
>> NO QUESTION.
I THINK AS WE CONTINUE TO SEE
THE PERCENTAGES OF INDIVIDUALS
WHO HAVE HAD THE FIRST VACCINE
AND THEN THE SECOND VACCINE, I
THINK THAT WILL PLAY A HUGE PART
IN PEOPLE FEELING COMFORTABLE
AND GETTING OUT TO TRAVEL.
NO DOUBT.
>> I UNDERSTAND THAT ONE MAJOR
STICKING POINT, THOUGH, IS THAT
IT IS HARD TO FIND EMPLOYEES.
WHAT IS THAT SITUATION IN THE
DELLS?
>> SO THIS YEAR, BECAUSE THE
DEMAND FOR TRAVEL WILL BE SO
HIGH, WE WOULD ALREADY FEEL SOME
SORT OF A PINCH TO GET AN
ADEQUATE NUMBER OF LABOR, WHICH
IN PAST YEARS HASN'T BEEN AN
ISSUE.
THIS YEAR WE HAVE THE ADDED
SITUATION WHERE OUR J1 VISA
CULTURAL EXCHANGE STUDENTS,
THERE'S A VARIETY OF WAYS THAT
DIFFERENT -- THE COUNTRIES AND
THE EMBASSIES ARE HANDLING THE
ISSUING OF THE VISAS.
SO WE ARE OPTIMISTIC THAT WE ARE
SEEING MORE AND MORE EMBASSIES
ISSUE VISAS.
BUT WE ABSOLUTELY ARE DOING AN
EXTRA PUSH TO RECRUIT SEASONAL
STAFF FOR THE WISCONSIN DELLS
SUMMER SEASON, JUNE, JULY AND
AUGUST.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE JOB FAIRS
AND WE HAVE A WEBSITE THAT
PEOPLE CAN GO TO TO APPLY FOR
JOBS RIGHT ONLINE.
SO THERE WILL BE A LOT OF JOB
OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE FOR
ANYONE WHO WANTS ONE.
>> AT THIS POINT, DOES A LACK OF
WORKERS MEAN SOME RESERVATIONS
NEED TO BE TURNED AWAY AT ALL?
>> NOT THAT I'VE HEARD OF.
HOTELS PROBABLY HAVE THE MOST
FLEXIBILITY IN TERMS OF HOW THEY
MANAGE THEIR OPERATIONS WITH
GUESTS.
CERTAINLY IN THE CASE OF
RESTAURANTS, WHERE THERE ARE
CAPACITY LIMITS, WE ARE HOPEFUL
THAT THAT WILL NOT BE THE CASE.
BUT THEY MAY -- I KNOW IN THE
EARLY YEAR WE'VE SEEN
RESTAURANTS THAT HAD MAYBE ONE
SECTION CLOSED.
AGAIN, WE ARE HOPING THAT THAT
IS NOT THE SITUATION.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO ACTIVELY
RECRUIT WORKERS.
AND OUR GOAL, OF COURSE, IS TO
HAVE A SUFFICIENT SUPPLY SO THAT
WE CAN ENSURE A REALLY HIGH
LEVEL OF GUEST EXPERIENCE.
>> WELL, GOOD LUCK AS THE SUMMER
CRUSH COMES YOUR WAY.
ROMY SNYDER, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH.
>> YOU'RE VERY WELCOME.
>> IN ANTICIPATION OF GETTING
BACK TO ACTIVITIES THAT RESEMBLE
LIFE BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, LIKE
TRAVELING, CONCERTS AND
RESTAURANT DINING, QUESTIONS ARE
BEING RAISED AS TO WHETHER OR
NOT PEOPLE HAVE TO SHOW IF
THEY'VE BEEN VACCINATED AGAINST
COVID-19.
SOME CALL THESE VACCINE
PASSPORTS.
OTHERS SAY IT'S MORE OF A HEALTH
CERTIFICATION.
MARISA WOJCIK SPOKE WITH JOSH
MICHAUD, A GLOBAL HEALTH POLICY
EXPERT FROM THE KAISER FAMILY
FOUNDATION AND LAURA ALBERT, A
RESEARCHER FROM UW-MADISON,
ABOUT THE PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS
OF A VACCINE CERTIFICATION.
>> WHAT DIFFERENT PEOPLE MEAN BY
THE PASSPORT CAN BE BROKEN INTO
I THINK TWO MAIN CATEGORIES.
ONE IS SORT OF THIS IDEA THAT
THERE IS SOME KIND OF
CERTIFICATION OR PASS THAT
PEOPLE CAN GET TO SHOW THAT
THEY'VE BEEN VACCINATED WHICH
ALLOWS THEM TO TRAVEL MORE
EASILY FROM ONE COUNTRY TO
ANOTHER.
BUT ANOTHER WAY THAT THIS IDEA
OF A CERTIFICATION OR PASSPORT
CAN BE USED -- AND SOME PLACES
ARE ALREADY USING IT THIS WAY --
IS AS A WAY TO ACCESS CERTAIN
ACTIVITIES.
I DON'T THINK THAT WE'RE GOING
TO GET TO THE POINT WHERE YOU'RE
GOING TO NEED TO SHOW THIS KIND
OF VACCINATION CERTIFICATE TO
ACCESS SORT OF EVERYDAY
ACTIVITIES.
BUT THERE WILL BE EMPLOYERS,
VOCATIONS AND ACTIVITIES THAT
MIGHT NEED IT.
>> IS THIS SOMETHING THAT COULD
HELP JUMP-START OR JUST KIND OF
GET SOME LIFE BACK INTO A BIG
PART OF OUR ECONOMY, AND
ESPECIALLY IN THE TOURISM
INDUSTRY, IF PEOPLE ARE EITHER
TOURING AROUND THE STATE OR
COMING FROM OUT-OF-STATE INTO
WISCONSIN?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
I THINK LAST SUMMER WE LOOKED AT
WHETHER OR NOT TO TRAVEL AND NOT
TRAVELING WAS THE RIGHT DECISION
BASED ON WHAT WE KNEW LAST YEAR.
AND NOW IT'S HOW WE TRAVEL.
THIS VIRUS IS GOING TO BE AROUND
FOR A LONG, LONG TIME.
AND SO THERE IS GOING TO BE
ONGOING CHALLENGES TO MANAGE IT.
BUT AS WE POINTED OUT, WE'RE IN
TRANSITION.
WE'RE GOING TO DEVELOP SOME
THINGS.
THERE'S A LOT OF NUANCE IN THE
CONVERSATION.
AND WHERE WE WILL BE IN A MONTH
OR TWO FROM NOW IS NOT GOING TO
BE THE SAME PLACE WHERE WE'LL BE
A YEAR FROM NOW OR EVEN FIVE
YEARS FROM NOW.
>> YOU'VE NO DOUBT HEARD THAT
THE HOUSING HOUSING MARKET IS ON FIRE
AND ALONG WITH THAT THE COST OF
HOUSING.
IT'S BECAUSE DEMAND OUT STRIPS
SUPPLY.
THAT'S ESPECIALLY SO FOR
AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
THIS YEAR THE ANNUAL RURAL
SUMMIT PUT ON BY WISCONSIN RURAL
PARTNERS KICKED OFF ITS FIVE
SESSIONS, TALKING ABOUT HOUSING
AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT THE LACK OF
IT.
SPECIFIC TO THE RURAL HOUSING
LANDSCAPE.
WE'RE JOINED BY STEVE PETERSON
FROM WISCONSIN RURAL PARTNERS
AND HE JOINS US FROM KENDALL AND
THANKS A LOT FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> SO I HEARD IN THIS WEEK'S
SESSION OF YOUR SUMMIT THAT
SINCE THE GREAT RECESSION, JUST
NOT ENOUGH HOUSES WERE BEING
BUILT TO MEET DEMAND.
SO THIS IS A LONGSTANDING
PROBLEM.
HOW BIG OF A PROBLEM IS THIS
LACK OF HOUSING AND AFFORDABLE
HOUSING IN RURAL AREAS?
>> WELL, THE ONE THING WE'VE
SEEN IN THE RURAL AREAS IS IT'S
MULTIFACETED AS FAR AS WHERE ALL
THE SHORTAGES ARE COMING FROM.
ONE IS NOT ENOUGH HOUSES BEING
BUILT.
WE ALSO SEE THE BOOMERS THAT
WOULD GO INTO TRANSITIONAL
HOUSING AND DON'T WANT TO LEAVE
THEIR HOMETOWNS, SO THEY'RE
RETROING AIR HOUSES SO THEY HAVE
RAMPS AND EVERYTHING.
THEY'RE NOT MOVING.
SO THAT'S A PROBLEM.
AND THEN PRICES OF HOUSES ARE
JUST GOING CRAZY.
AS YOU KNOW, YOU LIST A HOUSE
AND YOU'LL HAVE FIVE OR SIX
OFFERS AND A LOT OF TIMES MORE
THAN WHAT YOU WERE LOOKING TO
GET FOR IT.
AND THAT'S CAUSING AN ISSUE TOO.
AND BIDDING BUILDING COSTS ARE HIGH.
THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS
ATTACKING THE MARKET FROM
DIFFERENT AREAS.
>> SO HOW WOULD MORE HOUSING
HELP CIEWRL ECONOMIES?
>> WELL, BECAUSE OF THE COVID
PANDEMIC WE FOUND YOU CAN BE
PRETTY PORTABLE WHEN IT COMES TO
WORKING FROM HOME.
WE THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE
LEAVING THE URBAN AREAS AND
WANTING TO MOVE INTO THOSE RURAL
AREAS.
THEY WANT TO BE CLOSER TO LAKES
AND THE GREAT OUTDOORS.
WE'RE SEEING SMALL TOWN
COMMUNITIES, IF THEY CAN HAVE
BROADBAND IN PLACE, YOU'LL SEE
PEOPLE WANTING TO MOVE FROM THE
BIG CITIES TO THE RURAL AREAS.
I THINK THE RURAL AREAS HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO GROW QUICKLY IF
THEY CAN KEEP THE INFRASTRUCTURE
GOING TO KEEP UP WITH DEMAND.
RIGHT NOW WE GOT TO GET HOUSING
STARTED AND BUILT.
WE DON'T HAVE THE DEVELOPERS WE
USED TO HAVE.
THAT NEVER CAME BACK FROM THAT
2008 BUBBLE BURST.
>> IT WAS ALSO INTERESTING TO
UNDERSTAND THE IMPLICATION OF
HOW SECOND HOMES AND THE
CONVERSION OF EXISTING HOMES TO
SHORT-TERM RENTALS PULLS EVEN
MORE UNITS OUT OF THE HOUSING
STOCK IN IEWRL IEWRL AREAS.
YOU TALKED ABOUT PEOPLE COMING
BACK TO THE LAKES, BUT HOW DOES
OUT-MIGRATION OF YOUNG PEOPLE IN
RURAL WISCONSIN EXACERBATE THIS
PROBLEM OF MAINTAINING VIBRANT
COMMUNITIES?
>> WELL, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU'RE
LOOKING AT THE YOUNGER
GENERATION OF YOUR WORKFORCE,
THEY'RE NOT LOOKING FOR THE BIG
HOUSES.
YOU KNOW, THEY'D LIKE TO HAVE A
LOFT.
THEY'D LIKE TO LIVE UP ABOVE A
BUILDING, A STOREFRONT.
SO YOU'VE GOT THAT COMPONENT TO
WORK WITH.
BUT WE'RE SEEING THE COMEBACK OF
SOME OF OUR YOUNGER GENERATION
THAT LEAVE.
THEY WANT TO SEE WHAT LIFE IS
REALLY ABOUT, BUT THEN ALL OF A
SUDDEN THEY WANT TO SETTLE DOWN
BACK IN THEIR HOME AREAS.
WE'RE SEEING THAT EFFECT WHERE
PEOPLE HAVE LEFT AND THEY'VE
MAYBE GOTTEN A TASTE OF LIFE AND
NOW WANT TO GO BACK HOME WHERE
THEY HAVE ALL THE GOOD MEMORIES.
IF WE CAN GET THE BROADBAND AND
GET COMPANIES THAT ARE
COMFORTABLE HAVING PEOPLE LIVE
IN RURAL AREAS, I THINK THEY
HAVE TREMENDOUS POTENTIAL IF WE
CAN JUST GET THE DEMAND COVERED
BY GETTING SOME OF THESE HOMES
BUILT.
WE'RE WORKING HARD ON THAT
THROUGH WISCONSIN RURAL
PARTNERS.
>> WHAT OTHER TOPICS ARE COMING
UP IN YOUR SERIES?
>> IT'S ALL DOVETAILING TOGETHER
ON HOW CAN WE MAKE RURAL
COMMUNITIES STRONGER?
HOW CAN THEY RECOVER FROM THE
PANDEMIC AND WORK TOGETHER IN
CLABCOLLABORATION?
WE'RE SEEING MORE REGIONS
COLLABORATING, SHARING RESOURCES
AND REVENUE STREAMS.
SO WE'RE PUSHING THAT A LOT
MORE.
WE'RE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT
HOW TO MAKE YOUR COMMUNITY MORE
IDEA-FRIENDLY.
HOW CAN YOU WORK TOGETHER AS
GROUPS AND QUIT HAVING MEETINGS
TO HAVE MEETINGS AND HOW ABOUT
IF WE ROLL OUR SLEEVES UP AND
ACTUALLY MAKE THINGS HAPPEN.
OUR BIGGEST SESSION WILL BE
COMING UP ON MAY 19 AND THAT'S
BROADBAND IN YOUR BACKYARD.
WE ANTICIPATE A HUGE AMOUNT OF
ATTENDEES AND WE'RE COVERING
BROADBAND IN THAT SESSION.
>> WE'LL BE DOING SOME REPORTING
AROUND THAT COMING UP LATER THIS
MONTH.
STEVE PETERSON, THANK YOU SO
MUCH AND THANKS FOR YOUR WORK.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE SUPPORT AND
HELPING RURAL PARTNERS GET THE
WORD OUT.
LET'S GET OUR RURAL COMMUNITIES
BACK ON TRACK AND SEE THIS STATE
REALLY GROW.
>> LET'S.
THANK YOU.
>> THE ONEIDA NATION HELD A
HEALING AND BLESSING CEREMONY
WEDNESDAY AFTER A SHOOTING AT
THE TRIBE'S CASINO LEFT TWO
PEOPLE DEAD AND ONE IN THE
HOSPITAL.
THEY BURNED TOBACCO AND OFFERED
PRAYERS DURING THE OUTDOOR EVENT
AND CALLED THE SMUDGING CEREMONY
A RESPONSIBILITY OF THE ONEIDA
PEOPLE TO CARE FOR THE RECOVERY
AND SPIRITUAL NEEDS OF THE
COMMUNITY.
>> OUR THOUGHTS ARE WITH THE
FAMILIES OF THOSE TAKEN FROM US
AND OUR COLLEAGUES WHO REMAIN
HOSPITALIZED.
WE GAIN SOLACE FROM THE FACT WE
NEED TIME TO PRIVATELY GRIEVE
FROM THIS LIFE-CHANGING EVENT.
>> THE INVESTIGATION INTO THE
SHOOTING IS STILL ONGOING.
NEXT TUESDAY, LAC DU FLAMBEAU
TRIBAL PRESIDENT PRESENTS THE
ANNUAL STATE OF THE TRIBES
ADDRESS AT THE STATE CAPITOL.
WISCONSIN PUBLIC RADIO WILL
BROADCAST THE EVENT LIVE WITH
COVERAGE STARTING AT 1:00 P.M.
STREAMING COVERAGE CAN ALSO BE
FOUND ON OUR WEBSITE.
FOR MORE FROM "HERE AND NOW" AND
THE PBS WISCONSIN NEWS TEAM,
VISIT pbswisconsin.org AND
THEN CLICK ON THE NEWS TAB.
AND THAT IS OUR PROGRAM FOR
TONIGHT.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.