TESTING
"HERE & NOW."
EVEN AS LATE AS JUNE UNDECIDED.
PRIMARY UNTIL AUGUST 9TH.
I WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED IT STILL
SAY HIGH EVEN IN JUNE.
>> YOUR POLL WENT INTO THE
FIELD, IS MICHAELS GOING TO
BENEFIT OR ELECTORATE'S MEMORY
SHORT?
>> PRIOR RACE WAS A LONG TIME
AGO IN POLITICAL TIME.
HE ENTERED THE RACE AFTER WE
FINISHED OUR POLL.
OBVIOUSLY WASN'T INCLUDED.
FIRST WE DON'T SEE ANY SHIFT
APPRECIABLY IN REMEMBER CAR
GUBERNATORIAL FEBRUARY UNTIL
NOW.
CHANGE OF TWO POINTS FOR BOTH
TOP CANDIDATES.
...
EYE EYE...
"THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A PBS
WISCONSIN ORIGINAL PRODUCTION.
>> REPUBLICANS STILL DOUBTING
2020 ELECTION MOST EXCITED TO
VOTE IN 2020.
WITH SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF
COVID-19 FUNDING LEFT IN ITS
COFFERS
WISCONSIN SPENDS SOME OF IT
ADDRESSING COURT BACKLOGS.
AND THE PERSISTENT SWELL OF THE
HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS BA.2 VARIANT
HAS PUBLIC HEALTH CONCERNED, AS
THE GENERAL PUBLIC RESOLVES TO
BE DONE WITH THE PANDEMIC.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG. TONIGHT
ON HERE AND NOW.... MILWAUKEE
COUNTY CHIEF JUDGE MARY
TRIGGIANO ON THE PANDEMIC-LEGACY
COURT BACKLOG. HOW WISCONSIN
ONE-TIME BORROWERS CAN NEARLY
DOUBLE THEIR DEBT. HEALTH
COMMISSIONER KIRSTEN JOHNSON
URGES THE PANDEMIC IS NOT OVER.
AND CHARLES FRANKLIN'S LATEST
POLITICAL POLL. IT'S HERE AND
29TH.
FUNDING FOR HERE AND NOW FRIENDS
FOR PBS WISCONSIN.
>> NOW FOR APRIL
VOTERS GROW MORE UNHAPPY AND
PRIMARY CANDIDATES AIM TO MAKE
THEIR MARK, ACCORDING THE LATEST
MARQUETTE LAW SCHOOL POLL.
POLLSTER CHARLES FRANKLIN JOINS
US TO OVER HIS LATEST RESULTS.
THANKS FOR BEING HERE.
>> GOOD TO BE HERE.
LET'S LOOK AT DEMOCRATIC U.S.
SENATE.
MANDELA BARNES HAS SLIPPED SINCE
YOUR LAST POLL IN FEBRUARY BY
FOUR POINTS AND ALEX LASRY AND
SARAH GODLEWSKI HAVE GAINED A
LITTLE. BARNES HAS NAME
RECOGNITION AS LT. GOV. BUT
LASRY AND GODLEWSKI ARE ALL OVER
THE AIR-WAVES WITH TV ADS. DO
YOU SUSPECT AS THE MONEY POURS
IN THIS WILL BE THE TREND? MIGHT
BE EXPECTED NEARLY HALF OF
THEY ARE THE TWO ON-AIR BARNES
AND NELSON HAVE NOT BEEN
ADVERTISING YET.
I DO THINK THIS IS A GOOD
ADVERTISEMENT FOR THE POWER OF
IT WASV TIEZING.
>> YOUR POLLING SHOWS NEARLY
HALF WERE UNDECIDED, WHEN DO
PEOPLE GET SERIOUS?
>> I THINK THAT IS ANOTHER PART.
SO MANY VOTERS SITTING OUT THERE
TO BE PICKED UP BY ANYBODY.
WE SAW THIS IN 2018 WHEN WE HAD
A BIG GUBERNATORIAL FIELD.
AS LATE AS JUNE A LOT UNDECIDED.
PRIMARY NOT UNTIL AUGUST 9TH.
I WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED STILL
HIGH IN JUNE.
REBECCA KLEEFISCH HOLDS HER
LEAD...BUT YOUR POLL WENT INTO
THE FIELD BEFORE TIM MICHELS
ANNOUNCED HIS RUN. IS HE GOING
TO BENEFIT FROM NAME RECOGNITION
FROM HIS LAST RUNS FOR OFFICE,
OR IS THE ELECTORATE'S MEMORY
SHORT?
>> I THINK THE MEMORY IS SHORT.
HE ENTERED THE RACE AFTER WE
FINISHED OUR POLL.
OBVIOUSLY WASN'T INCLUDED.
ONE GOOD THING FIRST, WE DON'T
SEE ANY SHIFT APPRECIABLY IN THE
REMEMBER CAN GUBERNATORIAL
FEBRUARY TILL NOW.
CHANGE OF TWO POINTS FOR BOTH
TOP CANDIDATES.
WE DO HAVE ONE VIRTUE, THIS
SHOWS WHERE THINGS STOOD BEFORE
MICHAELS ENTERED.
IN JUNE WE'LL SEE THE IMPACT.
REPUBLICAN RACE HAS HALF
UNDECIDED.
MICHAELS IN A POSITION TO TELL
US WHERE HE PICKS UP UNDECIDED
AND VOTES SHIFT AMONG THE
ACCOUNTS.
>> THAT WILL BE INTERESTING TO
SEE.
HEARKENING BACK TO THE 2020
ELECTION -- AS THE G-O-P IS
KEEPING THAT ALIVE WITH
DIRECTION FROM THE TOP AND
DONALD TRUMP -- A MAJOR PARTISAN
SPLIT AS ALSO MIGHT BE EXPECTED
HERE. !5-PERCENT OF REPUBLICANS
ARE VERY CONFIDENT IN THE
RESULTS COMPARED TO 85-PERCENT
OF DEMOCRATS. I'M SURPRISED
THERE ARE 15-PERCENT OF
REPUBLICAN VOTERS SURVEYED THAT
ARE THAT CONFIDENT?
>> CERTAINLY THE RHETORIC IS
AWFULLY STRONG.
WHEN YOU PUT CONFIDENT AND SOME
WHAT CONFIDENT ON ONE HAND AND
NOT TOO CONFIDENT ON THE OTHER,
TWO-THIRDS CONFIDENT, ONE-THIRD
NOT CONFIDENT.
IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, MIRROR
IMAGE.
TWO-THIRDS CONFIDENT, ONE-THIRTY
NOT CONFIDENT.
>> ANOTHER OF YOUR POLL QUESTIONS
FOUND THAT NEARLY TWO-THIRDS OF
REPUBLICAN RESPONDENTS HAVEN'T
HEARD ENOUGH ABOUT THE MICHAEL
>> WITH TWO-THIRDS OF
REPUBLICANS LACK CONFIDENCE AND
ALL THE ATTENTION REMEMBER CANS
HAVE GIVEN TO THE GABE LMAN
INVESTIGATION, STUNNING
TWO-THIRDS OF REPUBLICANS AREN'T
EVEN ABLE TO SAY THEY KNOW
ENOUGH TO HAVE AN OPINION OF THE
INVESTIGATION.
50% OF DEMOCRATS DON'T HAVE AN
OPINION.
STILL MORE LACK OF ATTENTION TO
THE MOST PROMINENT, CURRENT
INVESTIGATION OF THE ELECTION
AND THE FOLKS IN GENERAL MOST
WORRIED ABOUT THE ELECTION
GENERALLY AREN'T PAYING MUCH
ATTENTION.
>> THERE IS SOME HIGHER AMONG
THOSE MOST SKEPTICAL OF THE
ELECTION.
THAT MAKES SENSE.
I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T
UNDERSTAND THE TERM "DESERT FIE"
THEY MIGHT REASONABLY WANT TO
DESER
DESERTY FIE.
AS IT HAD BEEN COVERED IN THE
NEWS.
THAT TERM MAYBE JUST NOT CLEAR
ENOUGH AND PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE
DEFINED THE TERM IN THE CONTEXT.
>> THAT EXPLAIN AS LITTLE BIT.
HERE IS A HEADLINE, TOO.
THOSE LEAST CONFIDENT
GABLEMAN EIN THE ACCURACY OF THE
2020 ARE MORE ENTHUSIASTIC TO
--
>> THOSE LEAST CONFIDENT ARE
LIKE 20 POINTS MORE ENTHUSIASTIC
ABOUT VOTING THAN REPUBLICANS
WHO ARE CONFIDENT IN THE
ELECTION OUTCOME.
THAT PROBABLY MEANS THE PRIMARY
VOTERS ARE GOING TO BE MORE
HEAVILY TILTED TO THOSE
SKEPTICAL OF THE ELECTION.
YOU SEE CANDIDATES HAVING TO
DEAL WITH THAT IN THEIR
CAMPAIGNS.
MAYBE THOSE REPUBLICANS WHO
DON'T AGREE THE ELECTION WAS
STOLEN, MAY NOT BE AS
ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT SUPPORTING AN
ELECTION SKEPTICAL CANDIDATE WHO
CARRIES THAT INTO THE NOVEMBER
ELECTION THIS IS SOMETHING WORTH
WATCHING ABOUT HOW THIS DIVISION
WITHIN THE PARTY AND ONE-THIRD
OF REPUBLICANS ARE PRETTY
CONFIDENT.
DOES THAT HURT THEM IN THE FALL
EVEN IF IT MEANS IN THE PRIMARY?
SKEPTICS HAVE THE UPPER HAND.
>> CHARLES, THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> NEW COVED -- COVID CASES
TRIPLED AND GROWING NORTHWEST
REGIONS OF THE STATE.
ALL AS MITIGATION CONTINUE TO
COLLAPSE.
KRISTEN JOHNSON JOINS US.
THANKS FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> STATEWIDE CASES HAVE TRIPLED.
WHAT IS HAPPENING IN MILWAUKEE
IS THIS
>> WE HAVE SEEN SIGNIFICANT
INCREASE.
>> HOW CONCERNING SHOULD THIS BE
FOR PEOPLE MOST OF WHOM SEEMS
LIKE ARE OVER THIS PANDEMIC?
>>
>> I THINK IT WAS MOST IMPORTANT
TO REALIZE COVID IS HERE WITH
US, THERE ARE RISKS, YOU HAVE TO
EVALUATE ALL RISKS, ALSO
COMPARING TO WHAT WE EXPERIENCED
IN DECEMBER AND JANUARY, IT IS
NOTHING COMPARED TO WHAT WE SAW
IN THE OMICRON SURGE.
>> IS THIS NEW VARIANT, DOES IT
EFFECT PEOPLE, LESS SEVERELY, IS
THAT WHAT IS HAPPENING?
>> THAT IS A GOOD QUESTION.
IT IS MORE CONTAGIOUS.
IT IS EARLY TO DETERMINE THE
HOSPITALIZATIONS.
THEY ARE EXPERIENCING THEM IN
THE STATE.
HERE WE HAVEN'T SEEN INCREASE IN
HOSPITAL VAIGSS RELATED TO COVID
SPECIFICALLY.
IT IS SOMETHING WE ARE WATCHING
CLOSELY.
TRAJECTORY IS INCREASING.
>> WHAT ARE VACCINATION RATES
LIKE RIGHT NOW IN MILWAUKEE?
>> SO WE ARE OVER 60% OF ADULTS
FULLY VACCINATED IN CITY OF
MILWAUKEE.
IT HAS BEEN AN EMPHASIS LOOKING
FORWARD.
MOST CRITICALLY OVER THE COURSE
OF THE SUMMER.
>> WHAT ABOUT THE UPTICK OF THE
BOOSTERS, WHEN YOU SAY FULLY
VACCINATED IS THAT THE TWO KIND
OF SHOTS OR INCLUDE BOOSTERS?
>> SO FULLY VACCINATED IS JUST
THE TWO.
BOOSTERS LOWER NUMBER.
UP TO DATE IS PEOPLE WHO HAVE
HAD BOOSTERS AND FULLY
VACCINATED.
>> HOW VULNERABLE IS THE
POPULATION YOU SERVE?
>> THAT IS A REALLY GOOD
QUESTION.
IT IS HARD TO KNOW.
VACCINATION RATES IN
NEIGHBORHOODS, THOSE ARE THE
DOOR TO DOOR CAMPAIGN TO BRING
BACK STATES WHERE PEOPLE ARE.
I DO THINK THERE ARE INCREASED
RISKS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT
VACCINATED.
THAT VARIES AND TRYING TO
ADDRESS IT.
>> YOU DESCRIBED HOW
HOSPITALIZATIONS AND DEATHS ARE
NOT RISING WITH THE NEW KIND OF
INCREASE IN POSITIVE CASES, BUT
COULD THAT BE A LAGGING KIND OF
INDICATOR?
OR JUST THIS VARIANT IS JUST NOT
DOING THAT AT THIS POINT?
>> HOSPITALIZATION DATA LAGS BY
A FEW WEEKS.
I DON'T ANTICIPATE WE ARE GOING
TO SEE, THAT WE WERE
EXPERIENCING.
>> AND YET MILWAUKEE SCHOOLS
MAKE MASKS MANDATORY AFTER
DETERMINING A SIGNIFICANT
TRANSMISSION OF THE VIRUS WITHIN
THE CITY OF MILWAUKEE.
IT JUST SEEMS LIKE THERE ARE SO
MANY MIXED MESSAGES, WHAT ABOUT
THE NEW MASK MANDATE IN THE
SCHOOLS, SOUNDS ALARMING?
>> I THINK IT IS LESS ALARMING
AND MITIGATION MEASURES TO
INSURE KIDS STAY IN SCHOOL.
FOR MILWAUKEE PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND
MY ROLE, WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT
IS OUR CHILDREN ARE ABLE TO
CONTINUE INPERSON.
I THINK USING THE MASKS IS
CRITICAL TO MAKE SURE THAT
CONTINUES TO HAPPEN.
WE KNOW COVID IS HERE AND
SPREADING AND MASKS WORK.
IT IS A GREAT MITIGATION TOOL.
OUR KIDS CAN STAY IN SCHOOL.
>> IS THERE MORE THAT NEEDS TO
BE DONE OR AT WE AT THIS POINT
WE ARE LIVING WITH IT?
>> I THINK WE ARE LIVING WITH
IT.
I THINK THE MESSAGE IS WE KNOW
HOW.
WE HAVE LEARNED A TREMENDOUS
AMOUNT OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS.
IF YOU ARE AT HIGHER RISK, BE
MORE CAUTIOUS. PEOPLE KNOW THEIR
LEVEL OF RISK.
WE KNOW THERE ARE CHILDREN THAT
HAVEN'T BEEN ELIGIBLE FOR
VACCINE AND COMING OVER THE
SUMMER: I THINK IT IS
IDENTIFYING YOUR LEVEL OF RISK
AS AN INDIVIDUAL, FOR YOUR
FAMILY AND MEASURING THAT
AGAINST THE ACTIVITIES AND
KNOWING THERE ARE MITIGATIONS.
WE CAN PUT OUT A MASK.
WE CAN SOCIALLY DISTANT.
WE CAN TEST BEFORE WE GATHER
WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY.
WE HAVE TOOLS WE DIDN'T HAVE
PREVIOUSLY.
>> ALL RIGHT.
KRISTEN JOHNSON, THANK YOU FOR
JOINING US.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> THE PANDEMIC CREATED A
BACKLOG OF CRIMINAL COURT CASES
ACROSS THE STATE BIGGEST CRIMES
IN MILWAUKEE COUNTY COURT.
ACCORDING TO COURT RECORDS,
STATE SITS AT A FELONY CASE BAG
LOG, 17,000 CASESES AS OF THIS
WEEK, MILWAUKEE HAS 1600.
CHIEF JUDGE MARY TRIGGIANO IS
GETTING A BOOST FROM 14.5
MILLION DOLLARS AND 50 MILLION
STATEWIDE GOING TO POLICE AND
COURTHOUSES.
JUDGE, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
>> HAPPY TO JOIN YOU.
>> HOW BAD IS IT?
SO, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING REALLY,
REALLY HARD TO MAKE SURE OUR
BACKLOG WASN'T AS BAD AS SOME
PLACES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
WE KNEW IN THE EARLY PART OF THE
PANDEMIC.
BEGINNING PHASE, MARCH, APRIL,
MAY WE NEEDED TO COME BACK AS
QUICKLY, AS E EFFICIENTEDLY AS
WE COULD SO OUR BACKLOG WOULDN'T
EXPAND MORE THAN IT IS TODAY.
WE WORKED REALLY HARD IN THE
BEGINNING EVEN STARTING JURY
TRIALS, SUMMER 2020.
NO ONE ACROSS THE STATE OR
COUNTRY WAS DOING IT.
WE DID THAT BECAUSE WE KNEW THAT
A BACKLOG COULD HAVE
CONSEQUENCES.
AND SO I THINK WE ARE BACKLOG IS
GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
IT IS GOING DOWN.
WE REALLY NEED THAT EXTRA PUSH,
THAT EXTRA UMPH TO ADDRESS THIS
IN RECORD TIME.
>> DESCRIBE HOW THE PANDEMIC
CONTRIBUTED TO THE BACKLOG.
>> FELONY DIVISION HAS SERIOUS
CASES.
UM, WHAT A JUDGE WANTS TO DO IS
MAKE SURE THEY ARE DISPOSING OF
ENOUGH CASES SO THAT WHEN THEY
GET OTHERS IN, KEEPING A
BALANCE, RIGHT?
WHATEVER GOES OUT COMES IN.
HAVING THE SAME AMOUNT OF CASES
OR TRYING TO REDUCE THAT.
WHEN THE PANDEMIC HIT AND WE
SHUT DOWN, CASES STARTED TO GO
UP.
EACH JUDGE AS ONE-THIRD TO 50%
MORE CASES ON THEIR CALENDAR
THAN THEY DID BEFORE.
THAT CREATES REALLY, PROBLEMS IN
TRYING TO RESOLVE AND DISPOSE OF
CASES OUT THE DOOR.
YOU HAVE THE CRUSH OF CASES
CONSTANTLY ON THE CALENDAR.
>> WHEN YOU HAVE SHORTAGE OF
EMPLOYEES THAT STAFF COURT CASES
IS THAT RIGHT?
>> EVERY STAKEHOLDER IS
EXPERIENCING A LABOR SHORTAGE.
NOT UNLIKE THE HEALTH CARE
INDUSTRY AND OTHER INDUSTRIES
ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
WHICH MAKES IT PROBLEMATIC
GETTING AT THE BACKLOG WHEN YOU
NEED TO RESOLVE MORE CASES YOU
NEED MORE PEOPLE.
WE DON'T HAVE THAT.
WE ARE WORKING TO BUILD CAPACITY
TO INSURE WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO
GET THAT BACKLOG DONE IN RECORD
TIME.
>> WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS OF THESE
BACKLOGS ON DEFENDANTS, VICTIMS
AND COMMUNITY SAFETY?
>> SURE BACKLOG UNTENABLE AND
UNINTENDED AND INTENDED
CONSEQUENCES.
YOU HAVE DEFENDANTS MIGHT BE
WAITING IN CUSTODY FOR LENGTHY
PERIODS OF TIME TO HAVE A JUDGE
COME IN FOR A TRIAL.
VICTIMS WAITING FOR THEIR DAY IN
COURT TO RESOLVE A CASE AND WAIT
TO SEE THAT HAPPEN.
THAT CAN CAUSE ITS OWN STRESS
AND TRAUMA.
DELAY OF JUSTICE.
IT HAS A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON
EVERYONE IN THE SYSTEM.
>> HOW WILL YOU USE 14 MILLION
DOLLARS PLUS TO KIND OF RESOLVE
THE BACKLOG?
>> OUR INTENTIONS ARE SEVERAL
FOLD, RIGHT.
WE BELIEVE BASED ON DATA, NUMBER
OF CASES WE CAN RESOLVE IN A
YEAR AND A HALF, WE NEED FIVE
ADDITIONAL COURTS.
WE ARE LOOKING TO SET UP THREE
FELONY COURTS ONE DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE AND ONE MISDEMEANOR
COURT TO ADDRESS THE BACKLOG IN
THOSE DIVISIONS.
WE HAVE TO CREATE FIVE COURTS.
WE HAVE TO HAVE ENOUGH STAFF TO
BE ABLE TO CONDUCT ANY KIND OF
HEARING OR TRIAL TO RESOLVE
CASES AND REDUCE THE BACKLOG.
ALSO LOOKING AT POTENTIAL PILOT
DOING SOME OF OUR CASES IN THE
EVENING HOURS TO TRY TO REDUCE
MISDEMEANOR BACKLOG.
>> SO A NIGHT COURT AND HIRING
BLITZ, I WOULD THINK IF YOU ARE
ALREADY KIND OF DOWN EMPLOYEES.
NOW YOU HAVE TO STAFF FIVE NEW
COURTS.
>> IT IS A HIRING BLITSZ.
MOST OF THE AGENCIES THAT WORK
IN THE COURTS HAVE BEEN TRYING
TO HIRE.
THIS ADDITIONAL MONEY THIS WILL
ALLOW TO CREATE PROJECTS,
SOMEONE MIGHT WANT TO HANDLE
CASES OR SHIFTING BODIES IN
DIFFERENT AREAS TO BE ABLE TO
MAKE SURE WE HAVE ENOUGH
CAPACITY TO DO THESE CASES.
>> IN THE COURTHOUSE, HOW
WELCOME ARE THESE COVID-19
RELIEF FUNDS AND NEW COURT?
>> THAT IS A GOOD QUESTION.
PROVIDES SOME LEVEL OF HOPE.
EVERYONE KNOWS WE WANT TO
PROVIDE FAIR, EQUITABLE AND
TIMELY JUSTICE.
BAG LOG -- BACKLOG IS WEIGHING
HEAVY ON EVERYONE.
PROSECUTORS, PUBLIC DEFENDERS,
COURT REPORTERS, ALL PITCHING IN
TO HELP MOVE CASES AS QUICKLY AS
POSSIBLE.
HAVING THIS INVESTMENT GIVES US
OPPORTUNITY TO RESTORE SOME
EQUILIBRIUM TO OUR COURT SYSTEM
SO THAT WE CAN ADVANCE JUSTICE
AT A PACE THAT IS REASONABLE.
>> JUDGE, THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> SURE, THANK YOU, APPRECIATE
IT.
>> IN OTHER NEWS WHEN SOMEONE
NEEDS A QUICK SHORT-TERM LOAN,
THEY CAN TURN TO PAYDAY LENDERS.
WISCONSIN BORROWERS END UP
PAYING MORE ON THE BACK END
BECAUSE OF HIGH INTEREST RATES
AND FEES.
ACCORDING TO NEW POLICY BRIEF.
WHERE SHOULD YOU TURN IF YOU
NEED QUICK CASH?
MELANIE, PROFESSOR JOINS US,
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
I WANT TO SET THE TABLE, PEW
FOUND WISCONSINITES PAY AN
AVERAGE OF 395 FEES WHEN
REPAYING 500 LOANS OVER THE
COURSE OF FOUR MONTHS AN
INTEREST RATE OF 338%.
WISCONSIN DOESN'T CAP THOSE
RATES.
A PERSON WOULD HAVE TO BE
DESPERATE.
IS THAT WHO IS BORROWING?
>> IN TERMS OF CONSUMER BASE FOR
PA LOANS, THEY ARE GENERALLY
MORE CREDIT CONSTRAINED ON
AVERAGE.
RESEARCH HAS SHOWN CONSUMERS
TURN TO PAYDAY LOANS AFTER
EXPLORING OTHER CREDIT OPTIONS
INCLUDING PLAUSIBLE, AVAILABLE
FUNDS
FUNDS.
THERE IS A CREDIT CONSTRAINT
ELEMENT AS WELL AS YOU KNOW,
PAYDAY LOAN CONSUMERS TEND TO BE
LOWER INCOME ON AVERAGE.
BOTH INCOME AND CREDIT
CONSTRAINTS PLAY A ROLE.
>> SO IF A PERSON IS CASH
STRAPPED IN THIS WAY, HOW DO
THEY PAY THESE PAYDAY LOANS
BACK?
>> AND SO, ON PRINCIPLE, PAYDAY
LOANS ARE DESIGNED TO BE SHORT
TERM
TERM.
SO SOMETHING THAT ONE WOULD RELY
ON IN BETWEEN PAY PERIODS AND
THIS IS ALSO CHARACTERIZED AND
TEND TO BE SMALL LOANS.
IT IS AVAILABLE FOR A FEW
HUNDRED DOLLARS AS OPPOSED TO
SAY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS THAT
ONE MAY USE A PERSONAL LOAN FOR
AT A BANK OR CREDIT UNION.
AND SO GIVEN THE SMALL DOLLAR
AMOUNTS, WE WOULD LIKE TO
BELIEVE ONE WOULD BE ABLE TO
REPAY THOSE IN A ONE OR TWO-WEEK
TIME FRAME.
AND AND OTHER THINGS LIKE
RESULTS UNABLE TO PAY THE LOAN.
>> YOU DESCRIBE ROLLING OVER THE
LOAN, I AM ASSUMING IF THAT
HAPPENS AND PEOPLE UNABLE TO PAY
FEES JUST KIND OF KEEP ACCRUING
THERE?
>> RIGHT, SO THERE IS THAT
CAPITALIZATION ELEMENT.
SO IF YOU ARE ROLLING OVER A
PAYDAY LOAN, YOU ARE EFFECTIVELY
BORROWING NOT ONLY FOR THAT
INITIAL PRINCIPLE, BUT ALSO THE
INTEREST IN FEES CHARGED THAT
WERE ACCRUED FROM THAT INITIAL
BORROWING OF THE LOAN.
>> TWO QUESTIONS, ARE THESE
LOANS PREDATORY OR A PLACE FOR
PAYDAY LOANS?
>> SO THAT IS A MAJOR DEBATE
OCCURRING RIGHT NOW.
SO WE DON'T FULLY KNOW WHAT THE
WELFARE IMPLICATIONS OF THESE
LOANS ARE AT THIS TIME.
AND SO WHEN IT COMES TO EVEN
SUBSTITUTION FOR EXAMPLE, PLENTY
OF PAPERS SHOW THAT AN EVENT
THAT PAYDAY LOAN, HIGHEST
OCCURS, SOME CONSUMERS MAY TURN
TO OTHER LOANS, AS WELL AS EVEN
RESORT TO BANK OVERDRAFTS.
AND DEPENDING ON HOW MUCH ONE
MAY OVERDRAFT FROM A BANK
ACCOUNT, THAT COULD PROVE MORE
EXPENSIVE IN BORROWING A PAYDAY
LOAN.
SO MUCH OF IT TENDS TO BE
CIRCUMSTANTIAL.
>> YEAH.
QUICKLY WITH HALF MINUTE LEFT,
YOU KNOW WISCONSIN LEGISLATURE A
YEAR AGO TRIED TO PASS 36% CAP
ON PAYDAY INTEREST RATES.
THAT DID NOT PASS.
IS THAT THE RIGHT MOVE IN YOUR
MIND?
>> SO THE 36% CAP IS CERTAINLY
THE MOST COMMON FORM OF PAYDAY
LOAN WE SEE GIVEN THAT NUMBER
HAS SHOWN TO BE IN UNPROFITABLE
RATES FOR LOANS TO OPERATE.
ANOTHER OPTION COULD BE MIMIC
MIMICKING THE MODELS, HAWAII,
COLORADO, VIRGINIA HAVE
IMPLEMENTED CONCERTING SINGLE
USE PAYDAY LOANS INTO THE LOWER
COST INSTALLMENTS THAT CONSUMERS
CAN USE INSURING THEY CAN GET
THE SMALL DOLLAR LOAN AS WELL AS
HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO PAY THEM
BACK AT AN AFFORDABLE RATE.
>> OKAY.
PROFESSOR HARVEY, THANK YOU FOR
YOUR INFORMATION ON THIS.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
VOTE IN 2022. WHAT'S THEFOR MORE
ON THIS AND OTHER ISSUES FACING
WISCONSIN, VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT
P-B-S WISCONSIN DOT ORG AND THEN
CLICK ON THE NEWS TAB. [ FRED ON
CAM ] THAT IS OUR PROGRAM FOR
TONIGHT. I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND
FOR MORE INFORMATION
WWW.PBSWISCONSIN.ORG/NEWS
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