>> -- REJECTED CALLS TO
DECERTIFY PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN'S
WIN IN WISCONSIN AFTER MEETING
PRIVATELY WEDNESDAY WITH
ADVOCATES FOR SUCH
DECERTIFICATION.
>> THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WE
THINK THAT THE LEGISLATURE HAS
THE UNILATERAL ABILITY TO
OVERTURN THE ELECTION.
WE DO NOT.
CONSTITUTION SCHOLARS LIKE RIS
ES -- SAID WEDO NOT HAVE THAT POWER, I STILL
BELIEVE THAT TODAY.
[CAPTION TEST]
ALSO THIS WEEK, REPUBLICAN
ASSEMBLY SPEAKER ROBIN VOS
AGAIN -- AFTER MEETING PRIVATELY
WEDNESDAY WITH ADVOCATES FOR
SUCH DECERTIFICATION.
>> THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WE
THINK THAT THE LEGISLATURE HAS
THE UNILATERAL ABILITY TO
OVERTURN THE ELECTION.
WE DO NOT.
CONSTITUTIONAL SCHOLARS LIKE
RICK ESSENBERG, SAID WE DO NOT
HAVE THAT POWER.
I STILL BELIEVE THAT TODAY.
>> WE ALSO HAVE BREAKING NEWS AT
THIS HOUR FROM THE U.S. SUPREME
COURT.
THE NATION'S HIGHEST COURT
DECLINES TO PLACE A HOLD ON
WISCONSIN'S NEW ELECTION MAPS,
SAYING IT WAS TWO CLOSE TO THE
NEXT ELECTION.
>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION.
>> I NEED TO DO SOMETHING WITH
THIS ANGER.
I WANT TO DO SOMETHING TO HELP.
>> THIS WEEK, A WISCONSIN WOMAN
FINDS A UNIQUE WAY TO AID HER
HOMELAND.
PLUS, TOMMY THOMPSON LEAVES THE
UW SYSTEM.
WE GET HIS TAKE ON EVERYTHING
FROM THE REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURE
TO HIS FUTURE IN POLITICS.
AND TWO COMPANIES STAND ACCUSED
OF POLLUTING SOIL, GROUNDWATER
AND AIR AROUND MARINETTE.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
THOSE STORIES THIS WEEK ON "HERE
AND NOW," ALONG WITH A RULING
REGARDING REPUBLICAN ELECTORS
WHO CERTIFIED A DONALD TRUMP WIN
IN WISCONSIN.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR
MARCH 18.
FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM.
AND FRIENDS OF PBS WISCONSIN.
>> DECLARING TWO COMPANIES THAT
DISCHARGE CANCER-CAUSING
CHEMICALS INTO THE AIR AND WATER
FAILED TO REPORT IT BETWEEN 2013
AND 2016 AND FAILED TO CLEAN IT
UP.
THIS WEEK, THE WISCONSIN
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE FILED A
LAWSUIT AGAINST JOHNSON CONTROLS
AND TYCO.
THE DOJ SEEKS MONETARY PENALTIES
OVER PFAS CONTAMINATION AT THE
COMPANY'S FIREFIGHTING FOAM TEST
SITE IN MARINETTE.
PFAS ARE A GROUP OF CHEMICALS
THAT HAVE BEEN USED FOR DECADES
IN PRODUCTS LIKE NON-STICK
COOKWARE, FAST FOOD WRAPPERS,
STAIN-RESISTANT SPRAYS AND
CERTAIN TYPES OF FIREFIGHTING
FOAMS.
ACCORDING TO THE COMPLAINT,
JOHNSON CONTROLS, INCORPORATED
AND TYCO VIOLATED THE STATE
SPILLS LAW WHEN THEY FAILED TO
NOTIFY THE WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT
OF NATURAL RESOURCES OF A PFAS
DISCHARGE AND FAILED TO
REMEDIATE PFAS CONTAMINATION AT
AND AROUND THE FIRE TECHNOLOGY
CENTER IN MARINETTE, WISCONSIN.
FOR ITS PART, TYCO RELEASED A
STATEMENT TO WISCONSIN PUBLIC
RADIO SAYING, QUOTE, WE STAND
BEHIND THE YEARS OF WORK AND
CONSIDERABLE RESOURCES WE HAVE
INVESTED IN INVESTIGATING AND
REMEDIATING PFAS RELATED TO
HISTORIC OPERATIONS AT OUR FIRE
TECHNOLOGY CENTER IN MARINETTE.
>> THIS IS MY HOME HERE, AND I'M
IN THE CENTER OF THE PLUME.
I HAVE ISSUES WITH MY WATER.
THEY WERE CONTAMINATED, THIS
HOME IS CONTAMINATED.
THESE PEOPLE ARE CONTAMINATED.
>> IN 2013, TYCO BECAME AWARE OF
PFAS ON THEIR PROPERTY, AT THEIR
FIRE TRAINING FACILITY WHERE
THEY USED FIREFIGHTING FOAMS
THAT CONTAINED THE FOREVER
CHEMICAL.
>> ONCE THEY DO THEIR TRAINING,
THEY HOSE ALL THE FOAM DOWN INTO
THE ADJACENT DITCHES AND THE
DITCHES CARRY IT INTO THE LAKE.
>> THE MAN IN THAT VIDEO FROM A
REPORT WE DID IN 2019 IS OUR
NEXT GUEST.
JEFF LaMONT IS A RETIRED
HYDROLOGIST AND PERSONAL EXPERT
IN THIS PFAS CONTAMINATION.
HE JOINS US NOW FROM JUST
OUTSIDE MARINETTE IN THE TOWN OF
PESHTIGO.
JEFF, THANKS A LOT FOR BEING
HERE.
>> THANK YOU.
AND I APPRECIATE THE TIME.
>> DO YOU STILL HAVE
CONTAMINATED WATER WHERE YOU
ARE?
>> I DO.
SOME OF THE HIGHEST
CONTAMINATION.
I'M IN THE CENTER OF THE PLUME.
SO MY HOME HAS WELL OVER CLOSE
TO 140 OR 150 PARTS PER
TRILLION.
>> AND SO YOU'RE DRINKING
BOTTLED WATER, OF COURSE?
>> YES, FOR THE LAST ALMOST
4 1/2 YEARS NOW.
>> WERE YOU PART OF LAST YEAR'S
SETTLEMENT WITH TYCO TO SOME 270
HOUSEHOLDS?
>> YES, I AM PART OF THAT
SETTLEMENT.
ALTHOUGH NOTHING HAS BEEN PAID
OUT TO DATE AT THIS POINT.
>> WAS IT VALIDATING FOR THE
FAMILIES INCLUDED TO BE PART OF
THAT?
>> UH, SOMEWHAT.
KIND OF A DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD IN
THAT THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT
WAS APPROPRIATED AND DEEMED
REASONABLE BY THE JUDGE, ONCE
YOU TAKE AWAY THE ATTORNEYS'
FEES, LEAVES ABOUT $12 MILLION
FOR THOSE 200-PLUS HOMES AND,
YOU KNOW, I GOT TO MEET ONE OF
THE GENTLEMEN THAT ENDED UP A
YOUNG MAN WITH TESTICULAR CANCER
IN OUR AREA, AND SO, YOU KNOW,
I'M NOT SURE HOW YOU PUT A VALUE
ON THAT, $12 MILLION FOR
270 HOUSEHOLDS.
>> AND, IT'S SUPPOSED TO
PRESUMABLY GO TO MAYBE REPLACING
YOUR WELL?
>> IT COULD BE USED IN THAT.
THEY'RE PUSHING NEW DEEP WELLS
IN THIS AREA, WHICH WAS AN
OPTION THAT WAS REALLY NEVER
CONDONED OR BLESSED BY THE
DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
BECAUSE YOU COULD JUST END UP
PULLING THE CONTAMINATION
DEEPER.
SO WHAT DO YOU DO THEN?
>> WHAT'S YOUR REACTION, THEN,
TO THE DOJ LAWSUIT AGAINST TYCO
AND JOHNSON CONTROLS?
>> IT'S VERY VALIDATING FOR US.
I MEAN, I WAS ONE OF THREE
PEOPLE THAT ACTUALLY MET WITH
ATTORNEY GENERAL JOSH KAUL AND
ROBERT BIL.
LET, ONE OF THE
ATTORNEYS INVOLVED IN THE
DU PONT SETTLEMENT IN WEST
VIRGINIA.
>> AS WE'VE REPORTED, TYCO HAS
DONE SOME REMEDIATION AROUND THE
SITE AND THEY MENTIONED THAT IN
THEIR STATEMENT.
HAS THAT RESULTED IN GOOD
CLEAN-UP THERE?
>> NO, NOT YET.
IT WAS ONLY WHAT I WOULD CALL
TWO INTERIM MEASURES SO FAR.
SO THEY PUT -- THEY'RE TREATING
SURFACE WATER FROM TWO DITCHS
THAT LEAVE THE PROPERTY, AND ONE
OF THEM WAS ONLY CLEANING UP 25%
OF THE FLOW IN THAT CREEK.
AND THOSE CONCENTRATIONS WERE IN
THE THOUSANDS PARTS PER TRILLION
AND ARE DISCHARGING DIRECTLY TO
GREEN BAY OF LAKE MICHIGAN.
AND I THINK THIS SPRING THEY'RE
DOING A SMALL SOIL REMOVAL, AND
THEY STARTED THE CONSTRUCTION OF
A LONG-TERM GROUNDWATER
EXTRACTION SYSTEM.
BUT OVER A 50-YEAR PERIOD, THAT
ONLY CLEANS UP A PORTION OF IT.
SO THIS IS A DECADES-LONG
GENERATIONAL ISSUE THAT WILL BE
WITH US FOR A LONG, LONG TIME.
>> THE FEDERAL INFRASTRUCTURE
SPENDING THAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE
SENDING TENS OF MILLIONS OF
DOLLARS OUR WAY TO TRY TO CLEAN
THIS UP ACROSS THE STATE, I
IMAGINE IT FEELS LIKE A TINY
DROP IN THE BUCKET, BUT IT'S
SOMETHING, RIGHT?
>> OH, IT IS.
AND YOU KNOW, SOME OF THOSE
FUNDS, WE LOBBIED VERY HEAVILY
WITH SENATOR BALDWIN'S OFFICE
AND HAVE BEEN VERY INVOLVED WITH
THEM OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS
ABOUT THIS.
SHE CAME TO VISIT OUR TOWN.
SHE ACTUALLY FACED SOME OF THE
TYCO EXECUTIVES AND MORE OR LESS
SHAMED THEM.
>> WITH ABOUT A MINUTE LEFT, THE
DNR BOARD ADOPTED LIMITS FOR
PFAS IN DRINKING AND SURFACE
WATER LAST MONTH BUT NOT FOR
GROUNDWATER, CITING A CONCERN
OVER THE COST TO REMEDIATE
PRIVATE WELLS.
WHAT'S YOUR REACTION TO THIS?
>> WELL, I ACTUALLY TESTIFIED AT
THAT MEETING, AND I PARTICIPATED
IN IT FOR MOST OF THE DAY.
FRANKLY, WHEN THEY CAME BACK AND
STARTED THE VOTES, IT WAS A
THREE-RING CIRCUS.
YOU HAD THE SECRETARY OF THE DNR
YELLING AT THE BOARD MEMBERS
BECAUSE THE BOARD MEMBERS SAID
THEY COULDN'T BELIEVE THE
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH'S NUMBERS.
AND IT JUST FELT VERY SCRIPTED.
THREE OF THESE PEOPLE THAT WERE
GOVERNOR WALKER APPOINTEES, IT
SEEMED VERY OBVIOUS, HAD BEEN
INVOLVED WITH THE LOBBYISTS ON
THIS.
AND ONE OF THE GENTLEMEN DECIDED
TO ABSTAIN, HE WOULDN'T SAY WHY
HE ABSTAINED BUT THAT WENT TO A
3-3 TIE, AND THAT'S WHY THERE
WAS NO STANDARDS SET FOR
GROUNDWATER, WHICH A THIRD OF
THE PEOPLE IN WISCONSIN RELY ON.
>> WE NEED TO LEAVE IT THERE,
JEFF LaMONT.
THANKS VERY MUCH, AND GOOD LUCK.
>> THANK YOU.
>> AS TO FEDERAL INFRASTRUCTURE
FUNDING COMING IN TO WISCONSIN,
NEARLY $143 MILLION WILL GO
TOWARD WATER PROJECTS IN 2022.
THE MONEY WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE
FROM THE U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION AGENCY IN LOAN
PROGRAMS TO FUND WATER
INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS.
THE FUNDING INCLUDES A MINIMUM
OF $95 MILLION IN GRANTS TO
ADDRESS PFAS WITH THE FINDINGS
THAT MORE THAN 50 COMMUNITIES IN
WISCONSIN, LIKE PESHTIGO, HAVE
BEEN FOUND TO HAVE THE FOREVER
CHEMICALS IN THEIR DRINKING
WATER.
ON THE WAR FRONT, IT HAS BEEN
THREE WEEKS SINCE THE RUSSIANS
INVADED UKRAINE.
THE PERSONAL STORIES OF
BRUTALITY AND SURVIVAL GET WORSE
AS THE ONSLAUGHT CONTINUES.
THE DEATH TOLL FOR CIVILIANS IS
RISING.
IT CAN BE HEARTBREAKING TO
WATCH, ESPECIALLY FOR ONE DOOR
COUNTY FAMILY WITH DEEP
UKRAINIAN ROOTS.
AS MARISA WOJCIK SHOWS US, THEY
ARE HEART BROKEN, BUT NOT
HELPLESS.
>> I REMEMBER SITTING AND
WATCHING THE NEWS TWO WEEKS AGO,
I WAS SO MAD, I WAS HURT, UPSET,
VERY HELPLESS.
>> CHRISTIANA GORCHYNSKY TRAPANI
WANTED TO TAKE ACTION AS SHE SAW
IMAGES OF RUSSIAN FORCES
BRUTALLY ATTACK UKRAINE AND ITS
PEOPLE.
>> I KNEW I WANTED TO DO
SOMETHING TO HELP SO I FIGURED,
WELL, I KNOW HOW TO MAKE CANDLES
WITH A CANDLE COMPANY BE, LET'S
USE THIS.
>> OWNER OF A SMALL ARTISAN SHOP
CALLED DOOR COUNTY CANDLE
COMPANY, SHE BEGAN MAKING
CANDLES WITH BLUE AND YELLOW
WACHS, THE COLORS OF THE
UKRAINIAN FLAG.
>> SO I WROTE A POST ON FACEBOOK
AND I WAS LIKE, I JUST DID A
LITTLE PREVIEW THAT I'M GOING TO
BE LAUNCHING A FUNDRAISER
TOMORROW, STAY TUNED.
WOKE UP AND WE'RE LIKE, OH, MY
GOD, A THOUSAND, OKAY, 2,000,
OKAY, 3.
>> THE ORDERS HAVE NOW REACHED
20,000.
>> THAT'S LIKE WHAT WE TYPICALLY
WOULD SELL IN A YEAR.
>> 20,000 CANDLES THAT ARE MADE
BY HAND, IN THIS SMALL SHOP IN
STURGEON BAY.
>> I THINK I CRY EVERY DAY JUST
HEARING, LIKE, THE STORIES AND I
COULD CRY NOW.
IT MEANS SO MUCH, AND IT MEANS
THAT SO MANY PEOPLE WANT TO
HELP, AND SO MANY PEOPLE WERE
FEELING HELPLESS AND JUST DIDN'T
KNOW HOW TO HELP.
>> MOVED BY THE NEWS AND CHRIS
CHRISTIANA'S ENERGY, VOLUNTEERS
IN THE COMMUNITY HAVE TURNED OUT
IN SUPPORT, INCLUDING THE SHOP'S
FOUNDER, WHO SOLD THE BUSINESS
TO CHRISTIANA JUST LAST SUMMER.
>> WE SAW SHE SOLD 3,000 CANDLES
IN A DAY.
I SAID, WHAT?
I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO NEED A
LITTLE HELP.
>> HE WAS LIKE, CAN I HELP?
I'M LIKE HE Y WHEN CAN YOU BE
HERE?
>> HE'S INDEFINITELY OUT OF
RETIREMENT FOR NOW.
>> I'VE NEVER EXPERIENCED
ANYTHING QUITE LIKE THIS.
I'VE MADE A LOT OF CANDLES IN MY
DAY, BUT NEVER ANYTHING LIKE
THIS.
>> TO HANDLE THE NEW VOLUME OF
ORDERS, MIKE IS HELPING
IMPLEMENT NEW WAYS TO STREAMLINE
THE LABOR AND TIME-INTENSIVE
PROCESS.
>> I FIND IT HEARTWARMING,
THE DEGREE OF SUPPORT THAT WE'VE
GOTTEN.
IT'S AMAZING.
I'VE SEEN A LOT OF GOOD THINGS
IN THIS COMMUNITY, BUT THIS TYPE
OF SUPPORT HAS BEEN JUST UTTERLY
AMAZING.
>> THIS PROJECT MEANS A LOT TO
ANOTHER VOLUNTEER: CHRISTIANA'S
FATHER.
>> I HAVE TO BE HERE.
I HAVE TO HELP.
>> WHEN HE'S NOT DOING 12-HOUR
SHIFTS AS AN E.R. PHYSICIAN,
HE'S DOING 12-HOUR SHIFTS
HELPING HIS DAUGHTER.
>> I'M FIRST GENERATION
UKRAINIAN, MY PARENTS EMIGRATED
FROM UKRAINE AS WORLD WAR II.
I WAS RAISED UKRAINIAN, IN FACT,
I SMOKE UKRAINIAN UNTIL FIRST
GRADE.
>> HE AND CHRISTIANA'S MOTHER
PASSED THE LANGUAGE ON TO THEIR
CHILDREN.
>> IT WAS THE FIRST LANGUAGE I
LEARNED BEFORE I LEARNED ENGLISH
AND THAT'S HOW I TALKED TO MY
GRANDPARENTS, ONLY IN UKRAINIAN.
IT'S KEPT ME REALLY CLOSE TO MY
CULTURE AND HERITAGE.
>> HER MATERNAL GRANDMOTHER TOOK
THE NEWS OF THE RUSSIAN
INNOVATION HARD.
>> MY GRANDMA WAS BORN IN
UKRAINE SO SHE IS MY ONLY
GRANDPARENT LEFT.
WE WERE SITTING WITH HER, AND
SHE JUST STARTED TO CRY AND
SHAKE AND JUST RELIVED WAR WHEN
SHE WAS A KID.
I NEVER THOUGHT THAT SOMETHING
LIKE THAT COULD HAPPEN IN 2022.
>> IT'S HEARTBREAKING.
IT'S AN ABSOLUTE CATASTROPHE,
WHAT'S GOING ON.
IT'S WORLD WAR II ALL OVER
AGAIN.
THAT'S WHAT IT IS.
AND IN FACT, MY WIFE'S MOM HAS
MEMORIES OF, YOU KNOW, THINGS
THAT HAPPENED DURING THE WAR AND
AS A CHILD, AND SHE WAS THERE.
AND IT'S JUST BROUGHT TEARS TO
HER EYES.
SHE'S IN TOTAL DISBELIEF.
SHE'S AT HOME RIGHT NOW HERE,
AND SHE'S STICKERING BAGS AND
DOING THINGS.
SHE'S 82 YEARS OLD AND SHE'S
HELPING OUT AS WELL.
SO IT'S ALL HANDS ON DECK.
>> ALL OF THE PROFIT MADE FROM
SELLING THE UKRAINE CANDLE ARE
BEING DONATED TO A UKRAINIAN
NON-PROFIT.
>> IT'S CALLED RAZOM FOR
UKRAINE.
SO IT'S HELPING PROVIDE
BANDAGES, TURN CATS AND TOURNIQUETS AND
MEDICAL IS PLIES TO THOSE WHO
NEED IT MOST.
OUR FIRST DONATION WAS ON MONDAY
FOR $125,000.
A LOT OF TEARS WERE FLOWING
AFTER THAT.
THAT'S THE FIRST OF MANY
INSTALLMENTS THAT WE'RE GOING TO
MAKE.
>> AT THE ONSET OF THE PROJECT,
CHRISTIANA'S GOALS WERE MODEST.
>> I REALLY THOUGHT WE'D ONLY
SELL LIKE 100.
I REALLY DIDN'T THINK WE'D SELL
MORE.
>> I STILL LAUGH WHEN SHE SAID,
YOU KNOW, IF I COULD SELL 300
CANDLES, I'D BE SO HAPPY.
WELL, THAT SHIP HAS SAILED.
>> GOOD JOB!
>> I COULDN'T BE MORE PROUD OF
HER IF SHE WERE MY OWN DAUGHTER.
I'VE MENTORED HER, BUT NOW SHE'S
TAKING THIS TO ANOTHER LEVEL.
I'LL TELL HER SHE'S GOT A TIGER
BY THE TAIL.
SHE KNOWS -- NOW SHE HAS TO
FIGURE OUT HOW TO BRING THAT
UNDER CONTROL AND I'M HERE TO
HELP HOWEVER I CAN.
>> WE'RE SO PROUD OF HER.
WE NEVER EXPECTED THIS KIND OF A
RESPONSE.
NEVER.
>> A LOT OF GOOD COMES OUT OF
EVIL, IN MANY WAYS.
>> JUST SAYING, WE'RE STANDING
WITH UKRAINE AND PROVIDING LIGHT
IN THE DARKNESS.
>> SLA VO UKRAINE.
>> GLORY TOITY HEROS.
>> FOR "HERE AND NOW," I'M
MARISA WOJCIK IN DOOR COUNTY.
>> THIS WEEK, FORMER GOVERNOR
TOMMY THOMPSON STEPS DOWN AS UW
SYSTEM PRESIDENT.
WHEN HE ACCEPTED THE POSITION IN
JULY 2020, THOMPSON SAID HE DID
SO KNOWING TWO THINGS: THAT HE
WAS NEEDED, AND THAT IT WOULD BE
TEMPORARY.
I SAT DOWN WITH TOMMY THOMPSON
THIS WEEK TO GET HIS TAKE ON THE
STATE OF THE UW SYSTEM AND HIS
OWN POLITICAL FUTURE.
WE SHOULD NOTE, PBS WISCONSIN IS
PART OF THE UW.
SO AS YOU LEAVE YOUR SERVICE AS
PRESIDENT OF THE UW SYSTEM, WHAT
WOULD YOU SAY HAS BEEN YOUR MOST
SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION?
>> I THINK OPENING UP THE
UNIVERSITY.
WHEN I CAME IN, FREDERICA, IN
JULY OF 2020, YOU KNOW, THE
UNIVERSITY WAS IN FINANCIAL
TROUBLE, A LOT OF THE CAMPUSES
WERE IN REAL FINANCIAL TROUBLE,
THEY DIDN'T KNOW IF THEY WERE
GOING TO BE ABLE TO OPEN UP IN
FALL, AND THEY DID NOT OPEN UP.
I CAME IN, HAD A TWO-HOUR
MEETING WITH THE CHANCELLORS AND
AT THE END OF THE TWO-HOUR MEET,
I ASKED THEM WHAT THEIR DECISION
WAS.
THEIR DECISION WAS THEY WANT
ANOTHER MEETING.
I SAID, NO, I'M MAKING THE
DECISION, WE'RE OPENING UP
SEPTEMBER 3RD.
ONE-THIRD WAS OPPOSED, ONE-THIRD
DIDN'T -- WE OPENED IT UP AND
THEN I KNEW I HAD TO MAKE SURE
THAT IT WAS SAFE.
AND IN ORDER TO BE SAFE, WE HAD
TO WEAR MASKS, AND HAD TO
INCULCATE A CULTURAL
RESPONSIBILITY WITH THE
STUDENTS.
THE STUDENTS WERE FANTASTIC.
THE FACULTY WAS FANTASTIC.
SO WE OPENED UP, AND THEN WE
DECIDED WE NEEDED A TESTING
PROGRAM, TESTING PROGRAM WAS ONE
OF THE BEST IF NOT THE BEST IN
THE COUNTRY, AND THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT GOT WIND OF IT AND
THEY CAME OUT HERE AND THEY
ASKED IF I COULD EXPAND IT INTO
THE COMMUNITY, SO I SAID SURE,
IF YOU GAVE US THE MONEY.
THEY GAVE US $50 MILLION TO SET
IT UP.
SO WE BECAME THE PROBLEM
SOLVERS.
AND THEN WE OPENED UP AND THEN
WE HAD A SHORTAGE OF NURSES, AND
I ASKED THE NURSING DEANS IF WE
COULD USE THEIR STUDENTS TO HELP
TEST AND HELP VACCINATE, AND
THEY JUMPED AT IT, YOU KNOW,
TREMENDOUS SUPPORT.
AND SO WE GOT THESE YOUNG NURSES
THAT ARE STUDENTS GO OUT AND
HELP DO THE VACCINATION AND THE
TESTING AND ENROLLING OF PEOPLE.
IT WAS FANTASTIC.
IT WAS A PARTNERSHIP FROM
STUDENTS ALL THE WAY UP THROUGH
THE FACULTY UP THROUGH THE
CENTRAL ADMINISTRATION HERE, IT
WAS WONDERFUL.
AND IT WAS A GREAT
ACCOMPLISHMENT.
>> IN THE MIDST OF SOME OF THAT,
YOU STOOD UP TO REPUBLICAN
LAWMAKERS WHO WANTED TO HAVE YOU
GET THEIR PERMISSION TO
IMPLEMENT SOME OF THESE COVID
POLICIES.
WHY DID YOU STAND UP THAT WAY?
>> WELL, BECAUSE I HAD TO.
I MEAN, MY JOB WAS TO OPEN THE
UNIVERSITY AND KEEP IT OPEN.
IF I HAD TO GO AND GET
PERMISSION FROM THE LEGISLATURE
TO DO IT, I COULDN'T MOVE FAST
ENOUGH.
SECONDLY, THEY WANTED ME TO NOT
HAVE A MASKING POLICY.
IF I DIDN'T HAVE A MASKING
POLICY, THE PROFESSORS WERE NOT
GOING TO TEACH.
THE PROFESSORS DON'T TEACH, I
DON'T HAVE CLASSES, I DON'T HAVE
THE UNIVERSITIES OPEN.
SO I HAD TO MAKE SURE THAT I
KEPT THE UNIVERSITY OPEN.
I HAD TO STAND UP TO THE
LEGISLATURE AND TELL THEM,
PLEASE, UNDERSTAND, WE'RE
RUNNING THIS UNIVERSITY.
WE'RE GOING TO RUN IT AND WE'RE
GOING TO KEEP IT OPEN.
THAT'S MY PLEDGE, AND THAT'S
WHAT I DID.
AND IN ORDER FOR ME TO
ACCOMPLISH THAT, I COULDN'T GO
BY AND START PASSING RULES THAT
THEY COULD SUSPEND, BECAUSE I
KNEW IF THEY DID THE SUSPENSION
ON THE MASKING, PROFESSORS
WOULDN'T HAVE TAUGHT AND WE
WOULD NOT HAVE HAD THE
UNIVERSITIES OPEN.
SO IT WAS A SIMPLE DECISION FOR
ME.
I STOOD UP, GOT SOME CRITICISM,
BUT I GOT ALSO A LOT OF SUPPORT.
>> IN YOUR MIND, HOW HAS THE
LEGISLATURE AND ITS
BUDGET-WRITERS TREAT THE UW?
>> NOT AS GOOD AS THEY SHOULD.
AND I HAD TO TELL THEM, YOU
KNOW, YOU'VE GOT TO SUPPORT THE
UNIVERSITY, BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE
THE SOLUTIONS TO OUR PROBLEMS
ARE.
WHEN YOU GOT A SHORTAGE OF
NURSES, ENGINEERS, TEACHER,
WHICH WE HAVE IN THIS STATE,
WHO'S GOING TO TURN THEM OUT?
IT'S THE UNIVERSITY.
SO GIVE US THE DOLLARS NECESSARY
TO DO IT.
THEY WERE NOT GOOD FOR US IN THE
BUDGET, BUT THIS PART OF THE
SESSION, THE SECOND PART, IN
JANUARY, THEY'VE BEEN VERY GOOD
TO US.
VERY COOPERATIVE, VERY
SUPPORTIVE.
AND I THINK THAT TREND IS GOING
TO COME AND I THINK I HELPED
FOSTER THAT TREND.
>> SO WHAT IS YOUR FORECAST FOR
THE HEALTH OF THE UW SYSTEM,
GIVEN ENROLLMENT AND BUDGET?
>> ENROLLMENT IS A BIG PROBLEM.
AND IT'S NOT ONLY THE FACT THAT
OUR POPULATION HAS NOT GROWN AS
RAPIDLY, I THINK WE'RE 27TH IN
THE COUNTRY, BUT IT'S ALSO THE
FACT THAT PARENTS AREN'T HAVING
AS MANY CHILDREN, THEREFORE,
WE'RE NOT GRADUATING AS MANY,
AND THE BIGGER PROBLEM,
FREDERICA, IS THIS, THAT WHEN
YOU AND I, WHEN I WENT AND YOU,
ABOUT 35% OF THE STUDENTS WERE
GOING ON TO COLLEGE.
33 TO 35%.
THAT'S FALLEN DOWN TO 27%.
AND THAT'S ON ITS WAY TO 25%.
SO YOU'VE GOT A DECLINING
POPULATION, A PERCENTAGE DECLINE
OF THOSE STUDENTS THAT ARE GOING
ON TO SCHOOL, AND ALL THIS
INDICATES TO ME, WE HAVE A HUGE
ENROLLMENT PROBLEM STARING US
RIGHT IN THE FACE.
SO WE'VE GOT TO DO A MUCH BETTER
JOB OF GETTING FIRST-GENERATION
FAMILIES MORE DIVERSITY IN OUR
CAMPUSES, AND MORE STUDENTS, AND
WE'VE GOT TO DO SOME MORE
SPEAKING ABOUT WHY THE
UNIVERSITY IS SO IMPORTANT.
YOU KNOW, YOU WENT TO THE
UNIVERSITY, ALL YOUR CAMERA
PEOPLE WENT TO THE UNIVERSITY.
WE'VE GOT TO GET THAT BACK TO
THE YOUNG PEOPLE.
UNIVERSITY EDUCATION IS
EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.
AND IF WE'RE GOING TO SOLVE THE
PROBLEMS OF WISCONSIN, WE NEED A
STRONG UNIVERSITY SYSTEM, AND WE
ARE THE PROBLEM SOLVERS FOR THE
STATE OF WISCONSIN.
>> WHAT IS YOUR ADVICE TO THE
INCOMING PRESIDENT?
>> I AM TELLING HIM TO BE
STRONG, BE FORCEFUL, AND DO NOT
BE AFRAID TO GET OUT AND BRAG
ABOUT THIS UNIVERSITY, AND ALL
OF HIS SPEECHES, WHEREVER THEY
MAY BE AND HOWEVER BIG OR SMALL
THE AUDIENCE IS, TALK ABOUT THE
IMPORTANCE OF A
UNIVERSITY DEGREE.
I DO THAT ALL OVER.
IT'S IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO
REALIZE THAT THIS IS AN
INVESTMENT IN YOUR SONS AND
DAUGHTERS' FUTURE, AND IT'S AN
INVESTMENT BY THE STATE OF
WISCONSIN TO SOLVE THE PROBLEMS
AND MAKE WISCONSIN STRONGER.
WE ARE THE ECONOMIC ENGINE AND
WE'VE GOT TO SAY THAT.
HERE ARE THE PROBLEMS.
IT'S NOT ONLY ENROLLMENT.
IT'S THE FACT WE HAVE TOO MANY
BUILDINGS, WE NEED TO HAVE A
BLUE RIBBON TASK FORCE, WHICH IS
NOT GOING TO COME UNTIL AFTER
THE ELECTION.
WE'VE GOT TO DO A BETTER JOB OF
ADVERTISING OUR UNIVERSITY
SYSTEM, ESPECIALLY IN DISTANCE
LEARNING.
WE'RE WAY BEHIND THE PURDUES AND
WESTERN GOVERNORS AND ARIZONA
STATE AND THE UNIVERSITY OF
SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE.
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN
NEW HAMPSHIRE IS SPENDING
$100 MILLION ON PUBLICITY, IN
WISCONSIN, TAKING OUR STUDENTS
OUT THERE.
THESE ARE PROBLEMS THAT WE'VE
GOT TO SOLVE.
>> I WANT TO ASK YOU WHETHER OR
NOT YOU DO, IN FACT, WANT TO GET
BACK IN THE GAME, AND RUN FOR
GOVERNOR.
>> THAT'S GOING TO BE IN APRIL.
I'LL MAKE THAT DECISION AND I'M
GOING TO LOOK AT IT, FREDERICA,
I'M GOING TO LOOK AT -- YOU
KNOW, I'M GOING TO WAIT AND SEE
WHAT PEOPLE WANT ME TO DO.
YOU KNOW, MY FAMILY, MY FRIENDS.
THERE'S SOME BUSINESSES THERE
THAT ARE OUT THERE THAT WOULD
LIKE TO HAVE ME EITHER ON THEIR
BOARD OR IN SOME SORT OF A
CONSULTANT CAPACITY.
I'M WAITING TO SEE WHAT'S
AVAILABLE, AND WHAT I SHOULD DO.
I'VE NEVER TAKEN THE TIME,
FREDERICA, IN ALL MY LIFE, YOU
KNOW, WHAT'S GOOD FOR TOMMY,
WHAT SHOULD HE DO, AND REALLY
THINK ABOUT IT.
I'VE ALWAYS JUMPED INTO
SOMETHING BEFORE I REALLY
THOUGHT IT THROUGH, AND I'M
GOING TO SPEND THE MONTH OF
APRIL SKIING, GOING TO FLORIDA,
AND TALKING TO PEOPLE LIKE YOU
THAT HAVE BEEN FRIENDS OF MINE
FOR A LONG TIME AS TO WHAT THEY
THINK I SHOULD DO.
>> WHAT DRAWS YOU TOWARD THAT,
THOUGH?
WHAT DRAWS YOU TOWARD MORE
SERVICE?
>> PUBLIC SERVICE.
50 YEARS.
I WAS STATE LEGISLATOR FOR 20
YEARS.
I WAS GOVERNOR FOR OVER 14
YEARS.
I WAS IN THE CABINET FOR FOUR
YEARS.
AND I WAS -- EXCUSE ME.
I WAS PRESIDENT HERE, THE EIGHTH
PRESIDENT OF THE UNIVERSITY FOR
ALMOST TWO YEARS.
THAT'S A LONG TIME.
AND OVER 40-SOME YEARS, I'VE
BEEN IN THE PUBLIC ARENA.
IT'S HARD TO CHANGE.
IT'S HARD TO SAY, YOU KNOW, I
DON'T GET UP IN THE MORNING AND
READ THE NEWSPAPERS, HEAR THE
NEWS, AND LISTEN TO YOU ON
TELEVISION AND SO ON.
I'M -- I LOVE TO SERVE.
I'M AN INDIVIDUAL THAT BELIEVES
IN CIVIC SERVICE AND EVERYTHING
I'VE DONE IS, HOW DO I MAKE
WISCONSIN, MAKE WISCONSIN
BETTER?
HOW DO I MAKE IT STRONGER?
HOW DO I MAKE THIS UNIVERSITY,
YOU KNOW, RESPOND TO THE NEEDS
OF THE YOUNG STUDENTS?
THAT'S WHY WE HAVE THESE
UNIVERSITIES, FOR OUR STUDENTS.
HOW DO WE BUILD THAT?
YOU KNOW, THAT'S A CLOCK INSIDE
OF ME THAT GOES OFF EVERY HOUR,
AS TO HOW DO I SERVE AND MAKE
THINGS BETTER.
I HATE THE STATUS QUO.
I'VE ALWAYS BEEN ONE OF THOSE
INDIVIDUALS, IF YOU BELIEVE IN
THE STATUS QUO, YOU GO
BACKWARDS.
AND I WANT TO MOVE FORWARD.
I'M ALWAYS LOOKING FORWARD.
HOW DO I ADVANCE WISCONSIN?
HOW DO I MAKE WISCONSIN BETTER?
HOW DID I MAKE THE HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT BETTER
WHEN I WAS THERE?
AND IF I DON'T LEAVE IT BETTER
AT THE END, WHEN I LEAVE, I HAVE
REALLY WASTED MY TIME.
EVERY PLACE I'VE GONE, I CAN
LOOK BACK AND SAY, I'VE
IMPROVED.
WHETHER IT WAS IN THE
LEGISLATURE, WHETHER IT WAS
GOVERNOR, WHETHER IT WAS
SECRETARY, OR NOW AS UNIVERSITY
PRESIDENT.
I CAN LOOK BACK AND IN MY MIND,
IN MY OPINION, I HAVE MADE IT
STRONGER AND BETTER, MORE
EFFICIENT, AND THAT, TO ME,
DRIVES ME, AND THAT'S WHY -- YOU
ASKED ME WHY?
IT DRIVES ME, SOMETHING INSIDE
OF ME THAT I'VE ALWAYS BEEN
ATTRACTED TO.
>> TOMMY THOMPSON, THANKS VERY
MUCH.
>> YOU'RE WONDERFUL.
THANK YOU.
>> IN ELECTION NEWS RELATED TO
2020, THE STATE ELECTIONS
COMMISSION THIS WEEK DISMISSED A
COMPLAINT FILED OVER REPUBLICAN
ELECTORS WHO CERTIFIED TO THE
U.S. SENATE THAT DONALD TRUMP
WON WISCONSIN.
THE W.E.C. RULED THE REPUBLICAN
ELECTORS DID NOT ACT ILLEGALLY
BUT WERE LEGITIMATELY TRYING TO
PRESERVE TRUMP'S LEGAL STANDING.
ALSO THIS WEEK, REPUBLICAN
ASSEMBLY SPEAKER ROBIN VOS AGAIN
REJECTED CALLS TO DECERTIFY
PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN'S WIN IN
WISCONSIN AFTER MEETING
PRIVATELY WEDNESDAY WITH
ADVOCATES FOR SUCH
DECERTIFICATION.
>> THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO
THINK THE LEGISLATURE HAD THE
UNILATERAL ABILITY TO OVERTURN
THE ELECTIONS.
WE DO NOT.
CONSTITUTIONAL SCHOLARS LIKE
RICK ESENBERG, JIM TROUPIS,
DONALD TRUMP'S OWN ATTORNEY IN
WISCONSIN SAID WE DO NOT HAVE
THAT POWER.
I STILL BELIEVE THAT TODAY.
>> HEARINGS FOR SUPREME COURT
NOMINEE KETANJI BROWN JACKSON'S
NOMINATION BEGIN NEXT WEEK AT
THE U.S. CAPITOL.
PBS WISCONSIN WILL BROADCAST
THOSE HEARINGS ON THE WISCONSIN
CHANNEL STARTING MONDAY AT 10:00 A.M. AND AT 9:00 ON
TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY MORNINGS.
THE PBS NEWS HOUR SPECIAL REPORT
WILL PROVIDE LIVE COVERAGE OF
THE SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE
HEARING.
FOR CONTINUING COVERAGE ON THAT
STORY AND NEWS FROM ACROSS THE
STATE, CHECK OUT THE
PBSWISCONSIN.ORG.
THANK YOU FOR WATCHING "HERE AND
NOW."
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
[MUSIC]
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>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.