>> THEY REPRESENT WESTERN AND
NORTHWESTERN WISCONSIN WHERE AT
THE TOP OF THE TICKET AT LEAST
THE ELECTORATE HAS SHIFTED MORE
REPUBLICAN.
SO THEY'RE COVERING UP FOR A
MORE CONSERVATIVE WHO IS KEEPING
THEM IN OFFICE.
THEY HAVE TO COVER THEIR BASE OF
WHO THEY HAVE AT HOME.
AND REMEMBER THERE'S NOT A LOT
OF NUANCE IN VOTING FOR A
BUDGET.
THIS BUDGET HAS LOTS OF THINGS
ANY LAWMAKER LIKES OR DOESN'T
LIKE, BUT YOU ONLY GET TO SAY
YES OR NO.
SO YOU HAVE TO BE PRETTY CLEAR
ON WHAT YOU WANT THE ULTIMATE
MESSAGE TO BE TO YOUR VOTERS
BACK HOME.
>> SO HOW DO REPUBLICANS
>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION.
>> REPUBLICANS AND A HANDFUL OF
DEMOCRATS MAKE QUICK WORK OF THE
STATE BUDGET THIS WEEK.
THE NEARLY $88 BILLION PLAN
CLEARS BOTH HOUSES AND LANDS ON
GOVERNOR EVERS' DESK, WHERE A
VETO PEN AWAITS.
AND EVEN AS STATE LAWMAKERS
MOVED ON THE BUDGET,A
PRESIDENTIAL VISIT IN LA CROSSE,
WHERE PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN TOUTED
HIS INFRASTRUCTURE PLAN.
>> I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW," ZAC
SCHULTZ DISSECTS THE BUDGET PLAN
NOW HEADED TO THE GOVERNOR'S
DESK.
U.S. REPRESENTATIVE GWEN MOORE
IS HERE TO TALK ABOUT
INFRASTRUCTURE MONEY AND EFFORTS
TO REPLACE LEAD PIPES IN
MILWAUKEE.
MARISA WOJCIK TALKS WITH AN
EPIDEMIOLOGIST ABOUT THE RISE OF
NON-COVID RESPIRATORY ILLNESSES
AMONG WISCONSIN CHILDREN.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR JULY 2.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.
>> THIS BUDGET HAD DRAMATIC
TRACKS INCREASES.
IT HAD MASSIVE INCREASES IN
SPENDING, EXPANSIONS OF WELFARE,
LEGALIZING MARIJUANA, ALL KINDS
OF SOCIAL POLICY ISSUE THAT THE
JOINT FINANCE COMMITTEE TOOK OUT
OF THE BUDGET AND RECONFIGURED
TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS REFLECTS
THE PRIORITIES OF ALL OF
WISCONSIN, NOT JUST LIBERAL
DEMOCRATS IN CERTAIN PARTS OF
THE STATE.
>> THE ONLY EXPLANATION FOR HOW
THE REPUBLICANS CRAFTED THEIR
BUDGET IN STARK CONTRAST TO
GOVERNOR EVERS IS THAT THE
BIGGEST PRIORITY, AS IT HAS BEEN
FROM WHEN GOVERNOR EVERS WAS
ELECTED, FROM THE LAME DUCK
SESSION TO OTHER THINGS, IS
THEIR GOAL IS TO TRY TO DO
EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO OBSTRUCT,
OPPOSE AND UNDERMINE GOVERNOR
EVERS.
>> AFTER THE PARTISAN
FINGER-POINTING, THE NEARLY $88
BILLION TWO-YEAR STATE BUDGET IS
NOW IN THE HANDS OF GOVERNOR
EVERS BECAUSE THE LEGISLATURE
PASS THEPASSED THE SPENDING PLAN THIS
WEEK AND NOW THE GOVERNOR EVERS
SCOURS THE DOCUMENT.
REPUBLICAN BUDGET WRITERS
INCLUDED MORE THAN $3 BILLION IN
TAX CUTS, WHILE NICKING ITEMS
LIKE EXPANDED MEDICAID AND MORE
MONEY FOR SCHOOLS.
ZAC SCHULTZ SHOWS US NOW FROM
THE CAPITOL WITH WHAT'S NEXT.
THANKS FOR BEING HERE.
>> MY PLEASURE.
>> UNLIKE PAST BUDGETS, SOME
ASSEMBLY DEMOCRATS VOTED FOR
THIS ONE.
WHAT WAS THAT ABOUT?
WAS IT ABOUT THE TAX CUTS?
>> I THINK YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT
THE GEOGRAPHY OF WHERE THOSE
DEMOCRATS ARE FROM.
THEY REPRESENT WESTERN AND
NORTHWESTERN WISCONSIN, WHERE AT
THE TOP OF THE TICKET, AT LEAST,
THE ELECTORATE HAS SHIFTED MORE
REPUBLICAN.
ONE OF THE MEMBERS IN THE
ASSEMBLY HAD JUST FLIPPED A
REPUBLICAN SUBURBAN DISTRICT IN
MILWAUKEE.
SO THEY HAVE TO COVER THEIR BASE
OF WHO THEY HAVE AT HOME.
THERE'S NOT A LOT OF NUANCE IN
VOTING FOR A BUDGET.
THIS BUDGET HAS LOTS OF THINGS
ANY LAWMAKERS LIKES OR DOESN'T
LIKE BUT YOU ONLY GET TO SAY YES
OR NO SO YOU HAVE TO BE PRETTY
CLEAR ON WHAT YOU WANT THE
ULTIMATE MESSAGE TO BE TO VOTERS
BACK HOME.
>> HOW DO REPUBLICANS REGARD
THIS SPENDING PLAN?
>> THEY LOVE IT.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT ALL
THE REPUBLICANS HAVE VOTED FOR A
BUDGET IN QUITE A WHILE.
IN PAST BUDGETS, YOU'VE SEEN
SOME OF THE CONSERVATIVE
REPUBLICANS SAY WE DON'T SUPPORT
IT BECAUSE IT DOESN'T GO FAR
ENOUGH.
REPUBLICANS BUILD THEIR BRAND
AROUND TAX CUTS AND THAT'S
WHAT'S IN THIS BUDGET.
>> AND DEMOCRATS AND BY
EXTENSION GOVERNOR EVERS?
>> THEY'RE FOCUSED MAINLY ON THE
EDUCATION SPENDING.
THEY'RE WORRIED THAT THEY'RE NOT
ENOUGH IN THERE, THAT THE
REPUBLICAN FOCUS WAS THE
REPUBLICAN REQUIREMENT THAT
ALLOWS THE FEDERAL RELIEF
DOLLARS TO COME IN, BUT NOT
PROVIDING ADDITIONAL STATE
SUPPORT AND HOW THAT MAY FALL
OUT IN THE ACTUAL SCHOOL
DISTRICT WHEN IT COMES TO
FUNDING THE OPERATIONS OF A
SCHOOL.
>> SO EVERS HAS THIS MIGHTY VETO
PEN.
WHAT CAN HE DO AND WHAT CAN'T HE
DO?
>> THERE HAVE BEEN RESTRICTIONS.
BACK IN THE THOMPSON AND DOYLE
ERA WE'VE USED AMENDMENTS TO
NARROW WHAT CAN BE STRUCK AND
WHAT CAN'T BE.
IT'S NOT AS BIG A PEN AS IT USED
TO BE.
HE CAN STILL REDUCE NUMBERS.
HE CAN STRIKE OUT SOME WORDS OR
LANGUAGE.
BUT REPUBLICANS HAVE BEEN
EXTREMELY CAREFUL TO MAKE SURE
THAT THEY DON'T PUT THE WORDS IN
THERE THAT HE COULD USE TO
STRIKE OUT.
THEY'VE TAKEN OUT REFERENCES TO
MAY NOT EXCEED JUST IN CASE
EVERS STRIKES OUT THE "NOT" AND
SAYS MAY EXCEED.
IT'S A CAT AND HOUSE GAME WHEN
IT COMES TO HOW THE BUDGET IS
WRITTEN AND THEN HOW EVERS AND
HIS TEAM VIEW THE BUDGET, WHAT
THEY CAN DO WITH THE VETO PEN.
>> THERE WAS SOME DISCUSSION OF
THIS EARLIER, BUT IF HE VETOED
THE WHOLE THING, WISCONSIN WOULD
LOSE, I UNDERSTAND, THAT MORE
THAN $2 BILLION IN FEDERAL
SCHOOL FUNDING, RIGHT?
>> YEAH.
THERE REALLY IS NO OPTION RIGHT
NOW FOR THE GOVERNOR TO VETO THE
WHOLE DOCUMENT BECAUSE
REPUBLICANS HAVE SAID THEY WON'T
COME BACK.
THEY WON'T GIVE HIM ANOTHER
BUDGET TO WORK WITH.
THIS IS IT.
REALLY IT WOULD BE PINNED ON THE
GOVERNOR IF THE SCHOOLS DIDN'T
GET THE FEDERAL FUNDING AND
STILL DIDN'T HAVE MORE STATE
SUPPORT IN THE MIX.
THERE WERE DEMOCRATS WHO
SUPPORTED THIS ON THE FLOOR IN
BOTH CHAMBERS.
THAT SHOWED THAT THEY REALIZE
THAT THE GOVERNOR WAS GOING TO
HAVE TO MAKE HIS CHANGES THROUGH
PARTIAL VETO.
>> MEANWHILE WISCONSIN SAW A
$4.4 BILLION TAX WINDFALL.
WHEN IS THE LAST TIME THERE WAS
THIS MUCH TO WORK WITH?
>> YOU HAVE TO GO BACK A COUPLE
DECADES AGO.
IN THE THOMPSON ERA THEY SENT
OUT SURPLUS CHECKS.
THAT WAS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
HOW WE'RE INSTRUCTING IT NOW AND
THEN.
BACK THEN THERE WAS A ONE-TIME
SURPLUS.
THESE TAX CUTS ARE PERMANENT.
SO THE PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX IS
GONE.
THESE TAX BRACKETS ARE LOWERED.
THOSE DON'T JUST COME BACK.
SO IF THIS MONEY CAME IN BECAUSE
OF INCREASED COVID SPENDING,
THOSE STIMULUS DOLLARS AND THE
INCREASED UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS
BEING SPENT AND SURGING THE
ECONOMY, THAT WON'T HAPPEN IN
THE NEXT BUDGET.
SO IT'S A BIG QUESTION OF WHAT
WILL THE BUDGET PICTURE LOOK
LIKE THEN.
>> WELL, ASIDE FROM KIND OF THE
PROCESS OF ALL OF THIS, WHICH,
YOU KNOW, PROBABLY MOST PEOPLE
DON'T CARE AS MUCH ABOUT, WHAT
STANDS OUT FOR HOW PEOPLE IN
WISCONSIN WILL BE IMPACTED BY A
TWO-YEAR STATE SPENDING PLAN?
>> WELL, THE MAIN THING IS IF
YOU'RE A MIDDLE INCOME OR
HIGHER, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE TAX
BENEFITS.
YOU'RE GOING TO ENJOY THOSE TAX
BENEFITS.
EVERYONE ELSE IT'S A QUESTION OF
HOW MUCH THEY ARE AND WHETHER IT
REALLY IMPACTS THEIR LIFE.
THE OTHER BIG FALLOUT IS GOING
TO BE IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
IF THAT FEDERAL MONEY ISN'T ABLE
TO REPLACE THE OPERATIONAL
SPENDING THEY DIDN'T GET FROM
THE STATE, WE'VE HEARD SCHOOLS
TALK ABOUT HAVING TO MAKE CUTS
OR POSSIBLY LAYOFFS, WHICH WOULD
SEEM INCONGRUOUS AT A TIME WITH
ALL THIS MONEY COMING IN.
THAT WILL DEFINITELY IMPACT THE
NEXT BUDGET AND ELECTION.
>> WELL, ZAC, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH FOR COVERING THIS.
APPRECIATE IT.
>> NOW TO FEDERAL DOLLARS, AND
PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN'S
INFRASTRUCTURE PLAN, A PLAN HE
TOUTED THIS WEEK IN LA CROSSE.
"HERE AND NOW" REPORTER WILL
KENNEALLY WAS THERE.
>> WE'RE HERE TO WELCOME
PRESIDENT BIDEN BACK TO THE
GREAT STATE OF WISCONSIN.
>> PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN VISITED
LA CROSSE TUESDAY TO PITCH HIS
PLAN FOR STRENGTHENING THE
COUNTRY'S INFRASTRUCTURE.
>> IN NOVEMBER, 2019 A SCHOOL
BUS IN ARREST ARCADIA TIPPED OVER GOING
AROUND A CURVE.
WASN'T BECAUSE OF SNOW OR ICE.
IT WAS JUST AN OLD COUNTRY ROAD.
IT WAS ROUGH CONDITIONS.
THANK GOD NOBODY WAS SERIOUSLY
INJURED AT THE TIME.
BUT THIS IS A DRAIN ON OUR
ECONOMY AS WELL.
>> ON TOP OF ROADS, BIDEN CITED
BROADBAND AS AN EXAMPLE OF WAYS
IN INVESTING IN INFRASTRUCTURE
COULD STRENGTHEN THE ECONOMY.
>> NO FARMER SHOULD LOSE
BUSINESS BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE
RELIABLE INTERNET.
YOU KNOW, BACK IN 1936, THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT BROUGHT
ELECTRICITY TO EVERY HOME AND
FARM IN AMERICA AND IT SET THE
STAGE FOR A MASSIVE, SUSTAINED
ECONOMIC BOON THAT WOULD FOLLOW
WORLD WAR II.
HIGH-SPEED INTERNET IS THE
EQUIVALENT OF THAT TODAY.
>> THE PLAN STILL FACES HURDLES
IN CONGRESS.
REPUBLICANS BALKED AT THE BILL
AFTER DEMOCRATS ATTEMPTED TO ADD
THEIR OWN PARTISAN PRIORITIES TO
THE PREVIOUSLY BIPARTISAN BILL.
SOME MODERATE REPUBLICANS SAID
THEY WERE ASSURED BY BIDEN THAT
HE WOULD NOT TIE UP THE BILL
OVER THOSE DEMOCRATIC
PRIORITIES.
THOSE OUTREACH EFFORTS WERE WELL
RECEIVED BY WISCONSINITES.
>> I THINK PRESIDENT BIDEN IS
TAKING HEAT FROM HIS OWN
CONSTITUENTS BECAUSE HE'S
WILLING TO WORK WITH THE
REPUBLICANS.
AND I THINK ON THE
INFRASTRUCTURE AND I THINK IN
THE LONG RUN THAT WILL PAY OFF
FOR HIM.
>> I THINK HE'S DOING A
WONDERFUL JOB OF MANAGING
EVERYTHING, EVEN WITH ALL OF THE
OBSTRUCTION.
I THINK HE REALLY UNDERSTANDS
FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES AND THE
IMPORTANCE OF THEM.
>> REPUBLICANS FIRED BACK,
HOWEVER, ACCUSING BIDEN OF BEING
OUT OF TOUCH WITH WHAT
WISCONSINITES NEED.
>> EVERYBODY WANTS
INFRASTRUCTURE, BUT WE WANT IT
TARGETED.
WE DON'T WANT THESE FAR LEFT
POLICIES MIXED INTO THE
INFRASTRUCTURE BILL.
HOPEFULLY HE COMES AND REALIZES
THAT'S WHAT WISCONSIN WANTS,
THAT'S WHAT MIDDLE RURAL AMERICA
NEEDS.
HOPEFULLY HE TAKES THAT BACK TO
D.C. WITH HIM.
>> UNDER THE CURRENT PLAN,
WISCONSIN WOULD BE THE
BENEFICIARY OF VARIOUS
IMPROVEMENTS, INCLUDING UPGRADES
TO ROUGHLY 1,000 BRIDGES IN THE
STATE.
ALSO IN THE INVESTMENTS,
TACKLING LEAD WATER LINES IN
MILWAUKEE.
>> MILWAUKEE HAS MORE THAN
160,000 WATER SERVICE LINES,
MORE THAN 70,000 OF THEM, NEARLY
HALF, HAVE LEAD SERVICE LINES.
THIS CONTAINS THE LARGEST
INVESTMENT IN WASTEWATER
INFRASTRUCTURE IN AMERICA.
>> REPORTING FROM LA CROSSE,
THIS IS WILL KENNEALLY FOR "HERE
AND NOW."
>> "HERE AND NOW" STUDENT
JOURNALIST KIM LEADHOLM ALSO
CRCTED THIS WEEK.
BIDEN IS EAGER FOR MONEY TO FIND
ITS WAY TO MILWAUKEE, WHICH
FACES LEAD PIPES IN DRINKING
WATER.
U.S. REPRESENTATIVE GWEN MOORE
IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE DANGER OF
LEAD PIPES AND PAINT.
SHE JOINS US NOW FROM
WASHINGTON.
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE
AGAIN.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME,
FREDERICA.
>> SO EVEN AS THE SENATE
GRAPPLES WITH AN IN STRA INFRASTRUCTURE
BILL, HOW KEENLY NEEDED IS THAT
IN MILWAUKEE?
>> WELL, FREDERICA, THANKS FOR
HAVING, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, SO
MANY PEOPLE TALK ABOUT THE
SITUATION IN FLINT, MICHIGAN.
BUT THIS IS A PROBLEM ALL OVER
THE COUNTRY, ESPECIALLY IN OLDER
CITIES.
IN THE CITY OF MILWAUKEE, WE
HAVE 2500 CASES A YEAR OF
CHILDREN WHO ARE POISONED BY
LEAD.
AND, AS YOU KNOW, THERE'S NO
SAFE AMOUNT OF LEAD.
IT LEADS TO ALL KINDS OF
COGNITIVE DISABILITIES, PERHAPS
EVEN VIOLENT BEHAVIOR.
IT'S A LIFE-LONG TRAGEDY FOR
KIDS.
AND THIS $45 BILLION OVER THE
NEXT TEN YEARS WILL TAKE EVERY
SINGLE LEAD PIPE IN THE COUNTRY
OUT.
AND IT WILL TAKE OUT THE -- THE
LEAD PIPES WE HAVE IN MILWAUKEE
AND IN WISCONSIN AND OF COURSE
AT THE RATE THAT WE'RE GOING AND
AT THE FUNDING LEVELS THAT WE
HAVE IN MILWAUKEE, IT WOULD TAKE
70 YEARS IN ORDER TO DO IT
WITHOUT THIS APPROPRIATION.
SO WE ARE VERY, VERY DELIGHTED.
>> SO WHAT SHARE OF FEDERAL
RELIEF AND INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDS
NEED TO BE AIMED AT YOUR CITY?
I UNDERSTAND REPLACING ALL THE
LEAD SERVICE LINES ALONE IN
MILWAUKEE WOULD RUN LIKE $800
MILLION.
WHAT SHARE WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE
GO TO MILWAUKEE FOR THAT?
>> $800 MILLION.
ACTUALLY, FREDERICA, THERE HAVE
BEEN -- I HAVE MADE EFFORTS
THROUGHOUT MY TENURE IN CONGRESS
TO PROVIDE MONIES FOR THESE LEAD
PIPES.
AND SO TO THE EXTENT THAT THERE
WOULD BE ANY SORT OF CITY MATCH,
WE HAVE BUILT THAT INTO -- THE
MAYOR HAS BUILT THIS INTO HIS
BUDGET.
SO WE HAVE BEEN PLODDING ALONG.
WE JUST HAVE NOT HAD ENOUGH
MONEY TO DO THEM ALL.
AND OF COURSE YOU HAVE HEARD THE
SCREAMING FROM COMMUNITY
ACTIVISTS, AND RIGHTFULLY SO,
ABOUT THE CRISIS THAT THIS IS
AND WANTING TO GET IT DONE.
SO WE'RE GOING TO USE THIS
FEDERAL MONEY TO REALLY LEVERAGE
WHAT WE'RE ALREADY DOING
LOCALLY.
>> SO IF THIS GETS TIED UP IN
WASHINGTON, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY
ABOUT ANOTHER GENERATION OF
MILWAUKEEANS GROWING UP UNDER
THE SPECTRE OF LEAD POISONING?
>> WELL, YOU KNOW, FREDERICA,
THANKS FOR ASKING THAT.
WE'VE KNOWN FOR A LONG TIME THAT
LEAD WAS NOT GOOD.
I MEAN, EVEN, YOU KNOW, BACK IN
ANCIENT TIMES.
IT'S JUST STUPID THAT WE HAVEN'T
DONE SOMETHING BEFOREHAND.
BUT AS WE SEE BRIDGES CRUMBLING,
BUILDINGS CRUMBLING, I THINK
THAT, YOU KNOW, WE ALL HAVE A
SHARED INTEREST AT THIS POINT TO
TAKE THIS STUFF VERY SERIOUSLY.
AND ANOTHER GENERATION OF
CHILDREN GROWING UP UNDER LEAD
IS GOING TO BE DEVASTATING TO
OUR ECONOMY.
THIS IS OUR FUTURE WORKFORCE.
YOU KNOW, WHEN I FOUND OUT THAT
MY SECOND GRANDDAUGHTER WAS
PREGNANT WITH MY FIRST GREAT
GRANDCHILD, I IMMEDIATELY
STARTED BUYING WATER.
THAT WAS MY -- THAT WAS MY
REACTION TO THAT.
YOU KNOW, AND NOT ONLY WILL IT
AMELIORATE ALL OF THESE HEALTH
PROBLEMS, BUT IT REALLY ADDS TO
OUR GDP.
YOU KNOW, ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES,
BRIAN HIGGINS, FROM BUFFALO ON
THE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE, IS
CONSTANTLY TALKING ABOUT THE
RETURN ON THESE DOLLARS.
I MEAN, FOR EVERY DOLLAR WE
SPEND ON INFRASTRUCTURE, WE GET
ABOUT $3.72 IN RETURN.
SO -- AND IT REALLY, REALLY ADDS
TO OUR GDP.
YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, ECONOMISTS
SAY THAT 28,000 JOBS WILL BE
CREATED FOR THIS -- WITH THIS --
WITH JUST $1 BILLION OF THESE
MONIES.
AND SO IT'S AN ECONOMIC BOON AND
IT REALLY MITIGATES THE HEALTH
RISKS THAT WE FACE.
WE CAN'T AFFORD -- YOU KNOW, WE
CAN'T DO THIS KNOWING BETTER.
IT WOULD BE DIFFERENT IF WE
DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THE TRA IMPACTS ARE
BUT WE KNOW BETTER.
<!32768> ON A RELATED MATTER,
YOU WERE JUST NAMED TO THE
SELECT COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC
DISPARITY AND FAIRNESS IN
GROWTH.
WHAT IS THE TASK OF THAT
COMMITTEE AND WHAT DO YOU BRING
TO THAT WORK?
>> WELL, THANK YOU.
I WAS SO HONORED TO BE SELECTED
BY SPEAKER PELOSI TO SERVE ON
THIS TASK FORCE.
IT HAS SOME OF THE BRIGHTEST AND
BEST MINDS IN OUR CONFERENCE ON
THE COMMITTEE.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE PEOPLE LIKE
ALEXANDER CORTEZ, WHO IS COMING
THERE TO SORT OF BRING THE
PERSPECTIVE OF DISPARITIES AND
INEQUALITY AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE,
THIS GENERATION, WHO'S BURDENED
WITH DISPARITIES.
LIKE HAVING MORE GRANT MONEY,
MORE LOAN MONEY FOR EDUCATION
RATHER THAN SOME OF THE GRANT
MONEY THAT PEOPLE IN MY
GENERATION WERE ABLE TO HAVE.
WE HAVE ANGIE CRAIG FROM
MINNESOTA, WHO'S GOING TO TALK
ABOUT THE KINDS OF DESPAIR THAT
EXISTS IN RULE AREAS.
WE HAVE SARAH JACOBS, GOING TO
TALK ABOUT THE FUTURE OF WORK.
AND FRAMALA, CHAIR OF THE
CONGRESSIONAL PROGRESSIVE
CAUCUS.
AND SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A LOT
OF DIFFERENT VOICES.
YOU KNOW, I'M GOING TO BRING THE
VOICE OF POVERTY AND THOSE LEFT
BEHIND AS A RESULT OF POVERTY TO
THE TABLE.
YOU KNOW, OUR CHAIRMAN, JIM
HEINTZ, FROM CONNECTICUT HAS
COMMISSIONED US TO BRING OUR
THINKING CAPS ON AND TO BRING
FACTS TO THE TABLE.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO SPEND A WHOLE
LOT OF TIME WITH ANECDOTES AND
SO FORTH.
WE'RE GOING TO -- THIS IS GOING
TO BE A SERIOUS CHARGE LOOKING
AT NOT JUST IDENTIFYING THE
PROBLEMS, BUT LOOKING FOR
SOLUTIONS.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WE NEED TO LEAVE IT THERE, BUT
WE WILL BE WATCHING THAT
INTERESTING AND IMPORTANT WORK.
REPRESENTATIVE GWEN MOORE, THANK
YOU VERY MUCH.
>> AND THANK YOU, FREDERICA.
>> IN JUST A MOMENT WE WILL HEAR
FROM A STATE EPIDEMIOLOGIST
ABOUT RESPIRATORY VIRUSES
HITTING CHILDREN AND THE
INTERPLAY WITH COVID-19 AND ALSO
ABOUT THE NEW DELTA VARIANT.
PEOPLE WHO ARE VACCINATED ARE
MOSTLY PROTECTED FROM THAT NEW
VARIANT, BUT AT A TIME WHEN
VACCINATIONS ARE NOT ONLY
PROTECTING PEOPLE, BUT LEADING
TO A BACK-TO-NORMAL LIFESTYLE,
WISCONSIN SENATOR RON JOHNSON IS
FOCUSING ON THE DOWNSIDE OF
VACCINES.
THIS WEEK HE INTRODUCED A GROUP
OF PEOPLE WHO EXPERIENCED
NEGATIVE SIDE EFFECTS FROM
GETTING THE SHOT.
>> NONE OF US ARE MEDICAL
DOCTORS.
NONE OF US ARE MEDICAL
RESEARCHERS.
WE'RE NOT PRETENDING TO BE.
BUT WE CAN SEE THE
PUBLICLY-AVAILABLE INFORMATION.
WE CAN LOOK AT THE NUMBERS.
WE CAN TAKE A LOOK AT THIS DATA
AND GO THIS IS CONCERNING.
THIS OUGHT TO BE TAKEN
SERIOUSLY.
THIS OUGHT TO BE LOOKED AT.
>> WISCONSIN MEDICAL
PROFESSIONALS GATHERED THIS WEEK
IN A ZOOM EVENT TO TAKE
EXCEPTION TO SENATOR JOHNSON'S
STAND ON VACCINATIONS, INCLUDING
A COMMUNITY HEALTH CLINIC
PHYSICIAN FROM MILWAUKEE.
>> SENATOR RON JOHNSON IS
EXTREMELY OUT OF PLACE IN TRYING
TO GIVE MEDICAL ADVICE.
NOT ONLY THAT, BECAUSE OF HIS
POSITION OF POWER, RON JOHNSON
IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS.
I WORRY THAT EVENTS LIKE THE ONE
SENATOR JOHNSON HELD YESTERDAY
WILL COST THE LIVES OF PEOPLE
HERE IN MILWAUKEE AND ACROSS OUR
STATE.
THAT'S WHY I'M HERE WITH MY
COLLEAGUES TODAY.
AS PHYSICIANS, WE CALL ON
SENATOR RON JOHNSON TO DO THE
RESPONSIBLE THING: SHARE WITH
PEOPLE THAT COVID-19 VACCINES
ARE DEMONSTRABLY SAFE AND
EFFECTIVE AND ENCOURAGE PEOPLE
TO PROTECT THEMSELVES AGAINST
COVID-19 BY GETTING VACCINATED.
>> THE STATE'S LARGEST NEWSPAPER
HAD SCATHING WORDS FOR SENATOR
JOHNSON IN AN EDITORIAL THAT
MALIGNED HIM.
THEY WROTE, QUOTE, HE IS THE
MOST IRRESPONSIBLE
REPRESENTATIVE OF WISCONSIN
CITIZENS SINCE JOSEPH R.
MCCARTHY IN THE 1950s.
MEANWHILE, HEALTH OFFICIALS
CONTINUE TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO
GET COVID-19 VACCINATIONS,
ESPECIALLY IN THE FACE OF NEW
VARIANTS.
THOSE SAME HEALTH PROVIDERS ARE
SEEING SOMETHING NEW IN CHILDREN
THIS SUMMER: AN UNEXPECTED RISE
IN NON-COVID VIRUSES THAT HAVE
SPENT UP TO 80 PEOPLE TO THE
HOSPITAL.
TDTHE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
SERVICES IS WARNING PEOPLE TO
STAY HOME IF THEY'RE SICK.
MARISA WOJCIK SPOKE WITH
EPIDEMIOLOGIST TOO MANY HAUPT TO
LEARN MORE.
<!32768> NOW, YOU REFER TO THESE
NON-COVID RELATED SEASONAL
VIRUSES AS RSVs.
THERE'S ALSO A RISE IN
PARAINFLUENZA CASES.
WHEN DO WE TYPICALLY SEE A RISE
IN THESE CASES?
AND WHY ARE THEY RISING RIGHT
NOW?
>> WELL, RSV, COMMONLY KNOWN AS
RSV, IS A WINTER VIRUS.
IT USUALLY FOLLOWS THE INFLUENZA
SEASON BY ABOUT A MONTH OR SO.
SO WE SHOULD BE OUT OF THE
SEASON BY NOW.
BUT WE SAW NOTHING DURING THE
WINWINTERTIME.
WE DID NOT SEE ANY RSV.
FOR SOME REASON IT'S STARTING TO
REAPPEAR RIGHT NOW.
THE REASON BEHIND IT, WE JUST
DON'T KNOW FOR SURE.
THERE'S THEORIES THAT IT'S BEEN
18, 19 MONTHS SINCE WE'VE HAD
RSV.
MAYBE IT'S JUST TIME THAT IT
REAPPEARED.
WE ARE SHOCKED THAT IT DID
REAPPEAR.
PARA IN FLEWPARAINFLUENZA USUALLY IS LATE
SPRING, EARLY SUMMER.
ANOTHER VIRUS WE'RE SEASONING IS
SEASONAL CORONAVIRUS, THE
NON-COVID CORONAVIRUSES.
THEY'RE WINTER VIRUSES AS WELL
AND WE SHOULD NOT BE SEEING THEM
AT THIS PARTICULAR TIME.
IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN WHY THIS
IS HAPPENING.
I MEAN, WE TALKED ABOUT IT ON A
NATIONAL LEVEL.
NOBODY HAS A REAL ANSWER FOR IT
AT THIS POINT.
>> NOW, WHY DOES THE RISE IN
THESE VIRUSES HAVE HEALTH
OFFICIALS LIKE YOURSELF
CONCERNED?
>> WELL, ONE THING WE'RE
CONCERNED ABOUT IS THAT PEOPLE
MIGHT BECOME COMPLACENT.
NOW THAT COVID IS AT VERY, VERY
LOW NUMBERS, WE ARE VERY
CONCERNED THAT PEOPLE MAY THINK
THAT THEY HAVE RESPIRATORY
SYMPTOMS, MAYBE A COUGH AND
SNEEZING AND IT'S JUST
ALLERGIES.
THEY THINK THEY'RE NOT
INFECTIOUS.
BUT THESE VIRUSES GOT INTRODUCED
INTO A SETTING LIKE A LONG-TERM
CARE FACILITY OR DAY CARE, IT
COULD BE DEFINITE STRAIGHTING.
IT COULD SPREAD LIKE WILDFIRE
AND CAUSE SEVERE ILLNESS.
WE HAVE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH A LOT
OF THE HOSPITALS THAT HAVE
PEDIATRIC UNITS AND THEY ARE ALL
TELLING US THAT THEY ARE SEEING
HIGHER THAN NORMAL NUMBERS FROM
VIRUSES OTHER THAN COVID,
INCLUDING RSV, INCLUDING
PARAINFLUENZA.
UNFORTUNATELY, SOME OF THESE
CHILDREN ARE SO SICK THAT THEY
HAVE TO BE ADMITTED TO THE
INTENSIVE CARE UNIT.
>> NOW, PEOPLE ARE BECOMING MORE
CONCERNED ABOUT THE MORE
CONTAGIOUS DELTA VARIANT OF
COVID-19 AND CHILDREN UNDER THE
AGE OF 12 ARE STILL UNABLE TO
GET VACCINATED.
IS IT DIFFICULT TO DECIPHER THE
SYMPTOMS OF THESE OTHER
RESPIRATORY VIRUSES FROM
COVID-19 AND ITS VARIANTS?
>> YOU MAKE A REAL GOOD POINT,
MARISA.
IT IS VERY DIFFICULT.
THE ONLY WAY TO KNOW WHAT VIRUS
YOU ARE CARRYING AND SPREADING
IS THROUGH TESTING, BECAUSE THE
SYMPTOMS ARE EXTREMELY SIMILAR.
SO REALLY CAN'T DISTINGUISH
BETWEEN ANY OF THEM, COVID,
INFLUENZA, ANY OF THESE
PARTICULAR VIRUSES, OTHER THAN
DOING SOME TESTING.
>> WHAT DO YOU FORESEE -- WE
HAVE SUMMER ACTIVITIES AND THE
AGE GROUP THAT YOU DESCRIBED AS
YOUNG CHILDREN ARE VERY ACTIVE
IN THE SUMMER.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR GOING BACK
TO SCHOOL IN THE FALL?
>> THE BIG THING IS USING GOOD
HYGIENE, REALLY GOOD HYGIENE,
RESPECT OTHERS WHO ARE AROUND
YOU, TRY TO LIMIT THE SPREAD AS
MUCH AS YOU POSSIBLY CAN.
BUT ANOTHER ISSUE IS DAY CARE.
THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF DAY CARE
OUTBREAKS.
FORTUNATELY WE HAVEN'T HAD ONE
IN WISCONSIN, BUT WE'RE
CONTINUING TO MONITOR IT.
OTHER STATES HAVE HAD LARGE
OUTBREAKS, 15 TO 20, 30 CHILDREN
WHO HAVE COME DOWN WITH THESE
VIRUSES.
PARENTS CANNOT SEND THEIR
CHILDREN TO DAY CARES.
YOU DON'T WANT TO GIVE THEM A
FEVER REDUCER JUST SO THEY CAN
GET INTO THE DAY CARE AND THEN
HAVE TO PICK THEM UP FOUR HOURS
LATER.
WE NEED TO HAVE GOOD COMPLIANCE
FROM ALL THE PARENTS AND JUST
PRACTICE OUR GOOD HYGIENE, KEEP
PUSHING IT.
>> FOR THOSE WHO ARE ELIGIBLE TO
GET A VACCINE, WILL GETTING A
VACCINE HELP DECIPHER BETWEEN
WHAT KIND OF VIRUS SOMEONE MIGHT
BE CONTRACTING?
>> IT COULD.
I MEAN, WE CERTAINLY ENCOURAGE
FLU AND COVID VACCINE, BUT AS
FAR AS THE OTHER VIRUSES, THE
SYMPTOMS ARE PRETTY MUCH THE
SAME.
SO AGAIN THE ONLY WAY YOU'RE
REALLY GOING TO KNOW IS TO TEST.
BUT THE BENEFIT OF BEING
VACCINATED AGAINST COVID,
AGAINST INFLUENZA, IS THAT YOU
DON'T HAVE ANY OF THESE -- YOU
WON'T HAVE ANY CO-VIRUSES, RSV
AND COVID TOGETHER, WHICH COULD
BE DEADLY FOR ANYONE, ANY
POPULATION TO HAVE MULTIPLE
DIFFERENT VIRUSES AT A TIME.
SO AGAIN WE ENCOURAGE VACCINE AS
QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
IF YOU HAVEN'T GOTTEN THE COVID
VACCINE, PLEASE CONSIDER IT FOR
YOURSELF AND THE PEOPLE WHO ARE
AROUND YOU.
>> HEALTH OFFICIALS ARE
ENCOURAGING ANYONE EXPERIENCING
THESE SYMPTOMS TO WEAR A MASK
AND SOCIALLY DISTANCE.
YOU CAN SEE THE COMPLETE
INTERVIEW BY GOING TO
pbswisconsin.org AND CLICKING
ON THE NEWS PAGE.
BEFORE WE LEAVE YOU TONIGHT, WE
RETURN TO THE STATE CAPITOL, THE
SITE WHERE ZAC SCHULTZ JOINED
US.
THAT PRETTY CAMERA SHOT WAS
COMPLIMENTS OF MIKE EACH EICHER.
TODAY IS HIS LAST DAY.
IF YOU HAVE WATCHED US FOR THE
PAST SEVERAL DECADES, YOU'VE
SEEN MIKE'S WORK MANY TIMES
OVER.
HIS CAMERA HAS TRAVELED THE
GLOBE WITH HIM DURING HIS TIME
WITH US, NOT TO MENTION
COUNTLESS HOURS OF COMMITTEE
HEARINGS AT THE STATE CAPITOL.
HE HAS A CABINET OF AWARDS FOR
HIS EFFORTS.
NOW, TELEVISION IS A VISUAL
MEDIUM AND PBS WISCONSIN IS
PROUD OF OUR LOOK.
MIKE EICHER IS A HUGE PART OF
OUR LOOK AND WE WILL MISS HIM.
AND SO TONIGHT AT OUR REQUEST
MIKE POINTS THE CAMERA AT
HIMSELF FOR ONCE.
MIKE, GIVE US A WAVE GOODBYE.
THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU HAVE GIVEN
US AND A VERY HAPPY RETIREMENT.
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 OF FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.