TEST TEST
TEST TEST TEST TEST
TEST TEST TEST TEST TEST TEST
TEST TEST.
>> Announcer: THE FOLLOWING
PROGRAM IS A PBS WISCONSIN
ORIGINAL PRODUCTION.
>>> THE WISCONSIN ELECTIONS
COMMISSION DEADLOCKS ON DROP BOX
GUIDANCE.
OMICRON'S NEWVATORS ARE INVADING
IMMUNITY.
THE U.S. SENATE RATE HE'SES AND
UP THE HOLDING PATTERN OF
REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW," THE
NEW CHAIR OF THE WISCONSIN
ELECTIONS COMMISSION SPEAKS TO
UPCOMING ELECTION GUIDANCE.
EPDEEMIOLOGIST MICHAEL OSTERHOLM
ON THE BA.5 VARIANT.
U.S. SENATE CANDIDATES APPEAL TO
VOTERS AND WITH ABORTION IN
WISCONSIN, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN
FOR EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTIVES.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR JULY
15th.
? ?
>>> A WISCONSIN PRIMARY ELECTION
IS LESS THAN A MONTH AWAY.
AND THE AGENCY TASKED WITH
MAKING ELECTIONS GO IN THIS
STATE IS BUSILY TRYING TO
INTERPRET COURT RULINGS AND
OTHER GUIDANCE.
THE WISCONSIN ELECTIONS
COMMISSION REMAINS IN THE EYE OF
THE ELECTION FRAUD STORM, AS ALL
THREE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES FOR
GOVERNOR SUPPORT GETTING RID OF
THE COMMISSION FOLLOWING ITS
ELECTION GUIDANCE DURING THE
PEAK OF THE PANDEMIC.
ENTER NEW WISCONSIN ELECTIONS
COMMISSION CHAIR REPUBLICAN DON
MILLIS.
HE JOINS US NOW AND THANKS VERY
MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
>> MY PLEASURE TO BE HERE.
>> SO WHAT IS IT LIKE TO ENTER
AS THE NEW CHAIR WHEN PEOPLE IN
YOUR OWN PARTY WANT TO DO AWAY
WITH IT?
>> THERE'S A LOT OF CATCHING UP
TO DO.
WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE THE BEST OF
WHAT WE HAVE.
WHETHER OR NOT THE COMMISSION
GOES AWAY IS CERTAINLY A
CONTROVERSIAL ISSUE.
THERE ARE FOLKS WHO WANT TO GET
RID OF THE COMMISSION, THERE ARE
OTHERS WANT TO KEEP IT.
WHEN IT STAYS OR GOES IS BEYOND
MY PAY GREAT.
MY ROLE IS TO MAKE SURE THAT --
PAYGRADE.
MY ROLE IS TO MAKE SURE WE RUN
AN EFFICIENT AND HONEST ELECTION
IN AUGUST AND IN GENERAL.
THAT'S -- THAT'S REALLY ALL I
CAN DO.
I CAN'T LOOK BEYOND THAT.
>> SO WHAT DO YOU THINK, THOUGH?
WHAT IS YOUR POSITION ON THE
IDEA OF ABOLISHING THE ELECTIONS
COMMISSION?
>> WELL, I DON'T HAVE -- I
REALLY DON'T HAVE A -- I HAVEN'T
GIVEN IT MUCH THOUGHT.
I DO THINK, AND I WAS ON THE
RECORD IN 2016 WHEN I WAS FIRST
APPOINTED WHEN THE COMMISSION
WAS CREATED, THAT THE ELECTIONS
COMMISSION WAS A SERIOUS UPGRADE
OVER THE GOVERNMENT
ACCOUNTABILITY BOARD.
I ALSO SERVED ON THE PRIOR
AGENCY.
SO MY BIGGEST CONCERN ABOUT THE
COMMISSION IS THAT WE SEEM TO BE
DEADLOCKED ON ALL THE
IMPORTANT -- IMPORTANT ISSUES OF
THE DAY.
AND MY WARNING TO OTHER
COMMISSIONERS IS IF THERE'S A
CHANCE TO KEEP THE COMMISSION,
WE BETTER START WORKING
TOGETHER.
>> IN FACT, JUST THIS WEEK, THIS
ISSUE THAT YOU SPEAK TO OF THE
DEADLOCK BECAUSE THERE ARE THREE
DEMOCRATS AND THREE REPUBLICANS
ON THE COMMISSION, YOU END UP
WITH A DEADLOCK.
NOW, REPUBLICANS LIKE YOURSELF
WANTED TO OFFER GUIDANCE TO
CLERKS AFTER THE SUPREME COURT
RULED ABSENTEE BALLOT DROP BOXES
ARE ILLEGAL.
DEMS SAID THAT GUIDANCE WOULD
CONFUSE CLERKS MORE THAN HELP.
WHAT ABOUT THESE DEAD LOCKETS
ON -- DEBT LOCKS ON THE
COMMISSION?
DOES THAT RENDER IT INEFFECTIVE
IN YOUR MIND?
>> IT DOES.
I THOUGHT IT WAS OUTRAGEOUS THAT
THE COMMISSION COULDN'T AGREE TO
ISSUE A STAFF -- THESE ARE
CAREER CIVIL SERVICE STAFF WHO
TRIED TO DISPEL 141-PAGE
DECISION WITH TWO CONCURRENTS.
A DECISION THAT'S VERY
COMPLICATED, DISTILLED IT TO A
PAGE AND A HALF TO GIVE OUT TO
THE 1800-PLUS CLERKS, MOST OF
THEM WHO DON'T HAVE BEEN LAWYERS
TO GO TO CONSULT THEM.
AND THE VERY FACT WE COULDN'T DO
SOMETHING SO BASIC DOESN'T --
DOESN'T BODE WELL FOR THE FUTURE
OF THE COMMISSION.
>> WHY DID YOU IN PARTICULAR
WANT TO OFFER THAT GUIDANCE TO
CLERKS?
>> CLERKS, THE MAST MA -- VAST
MAJORITY OF CLERKS VERY HARD.
THEY HAVE A LOT OF ROLES.
THEY HAVE TO DEAL WITH OTHER
AGENCIES IN STATE GOVERNMENT.
ELECTIONS IS A VERY IMPORTANT,
PERHAPS THE MOST IMPORTANT PART
OF THEIR JOB.
BUT IT'S NOT THE ONLY PART OF
THEIR JOB.
AND THE ELECTION COMMISSION
EXISTS, ONE OF THE -- FOR A
PRIMARY REASON TO BROY
GUIDANCE -- PROVIDE GUIDANCE TO
CLERKS THIS.
WAS A WELL-RITTEN PAGE 1/2 MEMO
THAT WOULD HAVE DISPELLED WHAT
THEY CAN AND CANNOT DO WITH DROP
BOXES.
THERE'S A LOT OF INFORMATION,
NOT ALL OF IT GOOD.
THIS INFORMATION WAS ACCURATE
AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN PROVIDED TO
THE CLERKS.
>> WHAT WAS DID GUIDANCE?
>> THE GUIDANCES THAT --
COMMISSION INTERPRETED THE
DECISION THAT YOU CANNOT HAVE
UNSTAFFED DROP BOXES THAT --
STATUTE REQUIRE THAT ABSENTEE
BALLOTS BE RETURNED IN PERSON BY
THE ELECTOR.
THAT WAS THE GUIDANCE.
AND THAT'S -- BASICALLY WHAT THE
SUPREME COURT RULED.
AND WE TRIED TO MAKE IT CLEAR
AND SO THAT WE CAN ADDRESS THOSE
QUESTIONS.
>> WHAT ABOUT THE ISSUE RAISED
BY DISABILITY RIGHTS ADVOCATE
THAT IS FEDERAL LAW PROTECTS THE
RIGHT OF DISABLED PEOPLE TO GET
HELP MAILING THEIR BALLOT OR
DELIVERING IT TO THE CLERK?
>> WE AGREE.
IN FACT, THE REPUBLICANS OFFERED
TO ADD TO THE GUIDANCE A
PROVISION THAT WOULD REMIND
CLERKS OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF
THE FEDERAL LAW, THAT REQUIRES
THAT OVERRIDES STATE LAW, THAT
CLERKS MUST MAKE ACCOMMODATIONS
FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE ILL
ILLITERATE, BLIND, OR DISABLED.
THAT'S THE LANGUAGE OF THE
FEDERAL LAW.
AND THAT GUIDANCE WAS SHOT DOWN.
THREE DEMOCRATS WOULDN'T AGREE
TO PUT THAT INTO THE GUIDANCE.
>> AMONG THE REPUBLICANS ON THE
COMMISSION RIGHT NOW IS BOB
SPINNEDEL WHO WAS ONE OF THE
FALSE ELECTORS FOR TRUMP NOW
GETTING ATTENTION FROM THE
JANUARY 6th COMMITTEE AND
POSSIBLY THE U.S. JUSTICE
DEPARTMENT.
WHAT IS YOUR COMMENT ON
WISCONSIN'S LATE OF FALSE
ELECTORS?
>> WELL, I'M RELUCTANT TO TALK
ABOUT THAT.
THERE IS A LAWSUIT PENDING.
THERE WAS A COMPLAINT FILED WITH
THE COMMISSION.
THE COMMISSION DISMISSED THE
COMPLAINT ON A 6-0 VOTE.
THE COMPLAINANTS ARE SUING THE
COMMISSION INCLUDING
COMMISSIONER SPIN DEL IN --
SPINTELL IN COURT.
AND ONE OF THE UNPLEASANT DUTIES
I HAVE IS I AM QUARTERBACKING
THAT CASE AND THE OUTSIDE
ATTORNEYS ARE REPORTING TO ME.
SO I'M NOT GOING TO COMMENT ON
IT.
I DO AGREE, I WILL AGREE,
THOUGH, THAT I THOUGHT THE
COMMISSION'S DECISION WAS
CORRECT, THAT THE ULTIMATE SLATE
OF ELECTORS, AS FAR AS I CAN
TELL, DID NOT VIOLATE ANY
WISCONSIN LAW THAT WAS PRESENTED
IN THAT COMPLAINT.
>> WHAT ABOUT CALLS TO DECERTIFY
THE 2020 ELECTION?
>> THE -- EVEN THE COUNCIL
REPRESENTING THE PRE -- COUNSEL
REPRESENTING THE PREVAIL
PARTYING IN THE DROP BOX CASES T
COUNSEL HAVE CONCEDED THAT
THERE'S NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE
TO DECERTIFY THE 2020 ELECTION.
AS FAR AS I CAN TELL, THE
COMMISSION HAS NO ROLE AT THIS
POINT IN DEALING WITH THE 2020
ELECTION.
MY JOB HAS BEEN TO LOOK FORWARD.
WE HAVE -- SEEMS TO ME DESPITE
MANY ADVANCES IN ELECTION
TECHNOLOGY, OUR CONFIDENCE IN
ELECTION RESULTS IS AT AN
ALL-TIME LOW.
IN 2016 I WAS SUED BECAUSE,
AMONG OTHERS, BECAUSE OF THE
MANY PEOPLE ON THE LEFT FELT
THAT HILLARY CLINTON WON
WISCONSIN AND IN 2020 YOU HAVE
THE SAME THING WHERE PEOPLE ON
THE RIGHT BELIEVED DON'T TRUMP
WON.
RIGHT NOW THE COMMISSION HAS NO
ROLE IN THAT.
MY JOB IS TO LOOK FORWARD AND
TRY TO ENHANCE THE PUBLIC'S
CONFIDENCE IN ELECTIONS.
>> I TRUST THAT YOU DO BELIEVE
THAT JOE BIDEN LEGITIMATELY WON
THE PRESIDENCY?
>> I HAVE MY PERSONAL FEELINGS
ON THAT.
IT SEEMS THAT EVERY TIME I'M
ASKED ABOUT MY ROLE ON THE
COMMISSION, THAT'S ONE OF THE
QUESTIONS THAT IS ASKED OF ME.
CLEARLY, THE SUPREME COURT
DECIDED THAT THERE WERE
SOMETHING THAT -- THINGS THAT
WERE UNTOWARD REGARDING THE DROP
BOXES.
WHETHER THAT HAD AN IMPACT ON
THE ELECTION RESULTS -- I'M NOT
GOING TO SAY ONE CANDIDATE WON
OVER THE OTHER.
I'M TRYING TO LOOK FORWARD.
>> DON MILLIS, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>>> IN COVID-19 NEWS, MILWAUKEE
IS REINSTATING MASK GUIDANCE AND
DANE COUNTY IS EXTENDING THE
EMERGENCY HOTEL SHELTER PROGRAM
FOR THOSE EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS.
THESE MEASURES AS WISCONSIN
TOPPED 2,000 POSITIVE CASES OVER
ONE DAY THIS WEEK.
A NUMBER NOT SEEN SINCE EARLY
JUNE, ACCORDING TO THE WISCONSIN
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES.
THE STATE'S OFFICIAL POSITIVITY
RATE SITS AT OVER 13%.
BUT THAT'S CERTAINLY AN
UNDERCOUNT WITH AT-HOME TEST
RESULTS NOT APPEARING IN THESE
NUMBERS.
WHERE ARE WE HEADED WITH THIS
ENDURING PANDEMIC AT THIS POINT?
WE ASKED NATIONAL EXPERT MICHAEL
OSTERHOLM, DIRECTOR OF THE
CENTER FOR INFESTER DISEASE
RESEARCH AND POLICY, AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA.
HE JOINS US FROM MINNEAPOLIS.
AND THANKS FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> SO WHAT ARE THE ESTIMATES FOR
HOW BIG OF AN UNDERCOUNT IT IS
IN POSITIVE CASES CURRENTLY
POSTED ON PUBLIC DASHBOARDS?
>> WE JUST REALLY DON'T KNOW.
I WILL HAVE TO SAY, USING THAT
OLD RURAL WISCONSIN APPROACH TO
UNDERSTANDING LIFE WHERE YOU WET
YOUR FIGURER AND PUT IT UP IN
THE AIR AND THAT'S HOW YOU
DETERMINE WHICH WAY THE WIND IS
COMING, THAT'S PRETTY MUCH WHAT
WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW IN TERMS
OF LOOKING AT COVID CASES.
WE HAVE MAJOR UNDERCOUNTS
BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE NOT GETTING
TESTED, USING THE PCR TESTING
THAT WOULD GIVE YOU RESULTS THAT
GET REPORTED.
IF YOU NOTED, MANY PEOPLE WHO
ARE USING AT-HOME TESTING, THOSE
RESULTS, FIRST OF ALL, ARE
SOMEWHAT CHALLENGING AND WE KNOW
A LOT OF PEOPLE RIGHT NOW ARE
TESTING NEGATIVE WHEN IN FACT
THEY HAVE POSITIVE.
IN ADDITION, THEY'RE NOTE
GETTING -- THEY'RE NOT GETTING
REPORTED.
SO AT THIS TIME IT'S CLEAR THERE
ARE MANY, MANY MORE CASES
OCCURRING IN THE COMMUNITY.
I PERSONALLY KNOW OF MORE PEOPLE
IN MY OWN LIFE RIGHT NOW THAT
ARE INFECTED THAN I'VE SEEN AT
ANY TIME IN THE ENTIRE PANDEMIC.
SO THE ONE THING THAT WE ARE
USING RIGHT NOW AS A MEASURE
INDIRECTLY OF WHAT'S HAPPENING
IS HOSPITALIZATIONS AND DEATHS.
AND UNFORTUNATELY BOTH OF THOSE
ARE CREEPING UP QUICKLY
THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.
>> OUR STATE LAB SAYS THAT THE
BA.5 VARIANT HAS NOW THE
DOMINANT ONE.
WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THIS
VARIANT?
>> WELL, AS WE'VE BEEN TALKING
ABOUT, ON THIS VERY SHOW THE
BETTER PART OF THE LAST TWO
YEARS, THIS VIRUS CONTINUES TO
THROW 210-MILE-AN-HOUR
CURVEBALLS AT US.
BA.5 IS NOW ONE THAT CAN INVITED
THE IMMUNE PROTECTIONS OF THE
VACCINES BUT EVEN THOSE WHO HAD
BA1, THE EARLIER SUBVARIANT OF
OMICRON IN DECEMBER AND JAN, ARE
NOW GETTING INFECTED WITH BA.5.
SO THIS IS ONE OF THE ISSUES WE
HAVE WITH THE COVID SITUATION,
IS IN FACT THAT THE IMMUNE
INVASION OF THESE NEWER VARIANTS
IS A PROBLEM FOR US IN TERMS OF
JUST UNDERSTANDING JUST HOW MANY
NEW INFECTIONS WILL OCCUR, WHAT
WILL HAPPEN.
WE JUST DON'T KNOW AT THIS
POINT.
>> SO QUOTING FROM AN ATLANTA
ARTICLE, MORE VARIANTS MEAN MORE
INFECTIONS, MORE INFECTIONS MEAN
MORE VARIANTS.
HOW DOES THIS CYCLE LOOK MOVING
FORWARD, SAY, INTO THE FALL?
>> WELL, IT'S CLEAR THAT, YOU
KNOW, YOU CAN'T GET TO THE POINT
EVENTUALLY OF WHERE, YOU KNOW --
ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS LOOK AT
SOMETHING ACROSS THE FOOTBALL
FIELD AND YOU GET INFECTED.
THAT'S NOT GOING TO GOING TO
HAPPEN.
BUT EACH TIME THE VARIANT
EMERGES AND TAKES OVER, IT MEANS
THAT ARE NO, SIR INFECTIOUS AND
ABLE TO INFECT.
WE'LL CONTINUE TO SEE, AFTER
BA.5, WILL WE HAVE A BA7.
A 2.75 WHICH MAY HAVE THIS
ADDITIONALT PROS TO MAKE IT THE
DOMINANT -- PROPERTIES TO MAKE
IT THE DOMINANT VARIANT.
BUT WE HAVE TO BE CONCERNED
ABOUT PRIOR SIGMA.
WHAT'S NEXT?
WE DON'T KNOW.
AND SO I THINK WE HAVE TO EXPECT
AT THIS POINT THE UNEXPECTED.
WHEN WE TALKED ON THIS SHOW A
YEAR AGO, WHO COULD HAVE
IMAGINED YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN
CHRON?
WHO WOULD HAVE IMAGINED HOW IT
WOULD BE SO HIGHLY INFENCER AND
SPREAD THROUGH -- INFECTIOUS AND
THE LEAD THROUGH THE
COMMUNITIES?
WHAT WILL IT WILL BE IN THE WINT
OR FALL, WE DON'T KNOW.
THE U.S. IS DONE WITH THE
PANDEMIC.
WE'RE LOOKING ACROSS THE BOARDS.
THE CITIZENS ARE DONE WITH IT
BUT THE VIRUS ISN'T DONE.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO
RECONCILE.
>> IT SEEMS THAT FOLKS HAVE
PRETTY MUCH QUIT WEARING MASKS.
SHOULD WEB?
>> WELL -- SHOULD WE BE?
>> I STILL WEAR MINE IF I'M IN A
PUBLIC SETTING WHERE I MAY BE
EXPOSED TO SOMEONE ELSE'S AIR.
AND WE ARE SEEING MANY, MANY
CASES RIGHT NOW OCCURRING FROM
BEING IN PUBLIC SETTINGS WHERE
PEOPLE ARE NOT WEARING ANY KIND
OF RESPIRATORY PROTECTION.
EVEN THOSE WHO THINK IF I JUST
TAKE IT OFF FOR 45 MINUTES TO
EAT IN A RESTAURANT, I'M OKAY.
THAT'S NOT TRUE.
WE HAVE MANY CASES OCCURRING
THERE.
WHAT THE CHALLENGE IS RIGHT NOW,
IS IF THESE ARE MILDER
ILLNESSES, AS A NUMBER OF THEM
ARE, THAT'S THE PRICE I PAY TO
LIVE IN A WORLD OF COVID.
I WANT TO LIVE MY LIFE.
WE ALL UNDERSTAND THAT.
I WANT TO DO THAT.
BUT IF YOU'RE AT RISK FOR
SERIOUS ILLNESS,
HOSPITALIZATIONS, OR DEATH, YOUR
OLDER, YOU HAVE UNDERLYING
IMMUNE CRIMINAL PRI MILDS
CONDITIONS, YOU'RE --
COMPROMISED CONDITIONS, YOU'RE
OVERWEIGHT, ALL THOSE FACTORS
RIGHT NOW, YOUR BEST BET IS TO
ONE, BE AS VACCINATED AS YOU CAN
BE.
IF YOU CAN GET FOUR DOSES BY
ABLE GET IT OR THREE DOSES.
BUT IN ADDITION, PROTECT
YOURSELF IN THE PUBLIC SETTING,
YOU WANT TO GO OUT IN THE
PUBLIC, HAVE THAT N95
RESPIRATORY ON AND THAT CAN GO A
LONG BASIS IN ALLOWING YOU --
WAYS IN ALLOWING TO GO TO MOVIES
AND CONCERT.
IF YOU HAVE THAT PROTECTION ON,
THAT'S WHAT YOU NEED TO DO.
>> SHOULD WE HOLD OUT HOPE FOR A
VARIANT-SPECIFIC BOOSTER
REPORTEDLY COMING THIS FALL?
>> YOU KNOW, I AM NOT A BIG FAN
OF THE -- SUBVARIANT BOOSTERS IN
THE FACT -- THINK OF THE
FOLLOWING.
WE JUST DONE TALKING ABOUT BA.5
IS NOW INFECTING PEOPLE WHO HAD
BA.1.
SO THERE'S AN EXAMPLE OF THE
SUBVARIANT THAT IS NOT
SUCCESSFULLY PROTECTING YOU IF
THAT WERE A VACCINE.
NOW, IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT'S GOING
TO HAPPEN GOING FORWARD IN THE
NEXT FOUR TO FIVE WEEKS TO
SEVERAL MONTHS, SOMETHING IS
GOING TO REPLACE BA.5.
SO EVEN IF YOU HAVE A SUBVATOR
VACCINE -- SUBVARIANT VACCINE,
THERE'S NO INDICATION THAT WILL
PROTECT YOU MORE.
SO I THINK IF WE CHASE THIS
VIRUS BY JUST TRYING TO CATCH UP
WITH THE SUBVARIANT DEVELOPMENT
AND THEY MAKE NEW VACCINES,
WE'LL ALWAYS BE A DAY LATE AND A
DOLLAR SHORT.
THE STILL MOST IMPORTANT THING
IS GET THE REGULAR VACCINE WE
HAVE RIGHT NOW, KNOWING THAT IT
WON'T NECESSARILY PROTECT YOU
FROM GETTING INFECTED BUT IT CAN
GO A LONG WAYS IN PROTECTING YOU
SERIOUS ILLNESS,
HOSPITALIZATIONS, OR DEATHS.
>> DR. MICHAEL OSTERHOLM, THANKS
VERY MUCH FOR YOUR INFORMATION.
>> THANK YOU.
>>> TURNING TO "HERE AND NOW"
2022, ELECTION COVERAGE, TONIGHT
WE GIVE YOU A LOOK AT THE
CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR U.S.
SENATE IN WISCONSIN.
OVER THE WEEKS LEADING UP TO THE
AUGUST 9 PRIMARY, WE'RE SHARING
EXCERPTS OF INTERVIEWS REPORTER
STEVEN POTTER CONDUCTED.
WE START WITH CANDIDATE MANDELA
BARNES.
HE'S CURRENTLY LIEUTENANT
GOVERNOR OF WISCONSIN, ELECTED
TO THAT POSITION IN 2018.
BEFORE THAT HE SERVED TWO TEAMS
IN THE ASSEMBLY REPRESENTING HIS
MILWAUKEE DISTRICT.
>> CURRENTLY GONE'S LIEUTENANT
GOVERNOR -- WISCONSIN'S
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, PLEEFL A
STATE LAWMAKERS.
>> I'M RUNNING FOR THE U.S.
SENATE TO REBUILD THE
MIDDLE-CLASS, THAT SAME THAT
GIVE ME SO MUCH MOTHER.
MY MOTHER WAS A TEACHER.
AND MY DAD WORKED IN AN ASSEMBLY
LINE.
THOSE TICKETS ARE HARDER AND
HARDER FOUR PEOPLE TO COME BY.
WE'RE IN DESPERATE NEED OF
LEADERSHIP RIGHT NOW.
PEOPLE WHO HAVE A FIRSTHAND
UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT IS
ACTUALLY GOING ON.
PEOPLE LIKE RON JOHNSON HAVE
LEFT PEOPLE IN EVERY CORNER OF
THIS STATE BEHIND.
THAT IS A PROBLEM, ESPECIALLY AS
PEOPLE SEE RISING COSTS AT THE
GROCERY STORE, AT THE GAS PUMP.
WE SEE OUR INDUSTRIES IN CRISIS,
MANUFACTURING IS SUFFERING.
OUR SMALL FAMILY NORMTS FARMERS
ARE BEING SKIED OUT -- SQUEEZED
OUT.
WE HAVE AN OUT-OF-TOUCH U.S.
SENATE THAT'S BROKEN AND I ALSO
HEAR FROM PEOPLE, THAT IT IS A
MILLIONAIRE'S CLUB THAT THEY
WANT TO SEE BROKEN UP, BECAUSE
THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF
PEOPLE IN THIS STATE AND ACROSS
THE COUNTRY ARE NOT MILLIONAIRES
AND THAT'S WHY THE ISSUES
CONTINUE TO GET SWEPT UNDER THE
RUG.
SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE
OPPORTUNITY THAT I HAD GROWING
UP IS AVAILABLE TO EVERY PERSON
IN EVERY COUNTY AND EVERY ZIP
CODE ACROSS THE STATE.
>> IF ELECTED WHAT WOULD YOUR
PRIORITIES BE?
>> WE HAVE A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY
TO ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE AND
CREATING GOOD PAYING JOBS IN THE
PO SESSION.
WE HAVE TO BE AGGRESSIVE.
AND WE HAVE TO SAVE OUR
DEMOCRACY.
NOTHING ELSE MATTER PHYSICAL WE
DON'T PROTECT THE RIGHT TO VOTE,
THAT PEOPLE HAVE ACCESS TO THE
BALLOT AS THEY SHOULD.
AND WHAT'S TOP OF MIND FOR SO
MANY OTHER PEOPLE IS PROTECTING
THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE.
>> RON JOHNSON HAS WON ELECTION
TO THE SENATE TWICE.
WHY ARE YOU THE CANDIDATE, THE
DEMOCRAT WHO CAN BEAT HIM IN THE
GENERAL ELECTION IN NOVEMBER?
>> THERE'S AN IMMINENT THREAT
WITH SENATOR JOHNSON, A THREAT
TO OUR DEMOCRACY AND WAY OF
LIFE.
WE NEED TO SAY ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.
PUT AN END TO THESE PRACTICES
THAT HAVE MADE IT HARDER AND
HARDER FOR PEOPLE TO GET AHEAD.
WE HAVE TO CHANGE WASHINGTON AND
ONLY WHEN WE CHANGE WASHINGTON
IS WHEN WE CHANGE THE PEOPLE WE
SEND TO WASHINGTON.
>> NEXT UP IS ANOTHER CANDIDATE
FROM MILWAUKEE, ALEX LASRY,
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF THE
MILWAUKEE BUCKS.
PRIOR TO JOINING THE BUCKS, HE
WORKED IN VARIOUS ROLES FOR THE
OBAMA ADMINISTRATION.
>> CURRENTLY AN EXECUTIVE FOR
THE MILWAUKEE BUCKS.
WHY DO YOU WANT TO BE A U.S.
SENATOR?
>> I'M RUNNING BECAUSE I WANT
MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ABLE TO GET
THINGS DONE.
ONE OF THE BIGGEST FRUSTRATIONS
I'VE HAD WITH WASHINGTON, I
THINK ALL OF US HAVE HAD WITH
WASHINGTON OVER THE LAST COUPLE
OF YEARS, IS THE FACT THAT WE'VE
GOT A LOT OF PEOPLE IN OFFICE
WHO JUST AREN'T GETTING THINGS
DONE.
AND I THINK THAT'S WHERE A LOT
OF VOTERS' FRUSTRATION AND
THAT'S SOMETHING I'VE BEEN ABLE
TO DO MY ENTIRE CAREER, WHEN
IT'S RAISING WAGES, CREATING
THOUSANDS OF GOOD PAYING UNION
JOBS, BRINGING INVESTMENT TO
THIS STATE.
>> WHAT YOUR LEGISLATIVE
PRIORITIES BE?
>> I THINK THE TOP PRIORITY IS
MORE AFTER PROCESS ISSUE.
WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET
RID OF THE FILIBUSTER SO WE CAN
ACTUALLY GET THINGS DONE.
MAKE CODIFYING ROE V. WADE.
LIKE MAKING SURE THAT WE BAN
ASSAULT WEAPONS.
LIKE MAKING SURE THAT WE PASS
THINGS LIKE THE PRO ACT SO WE
CAN RAISE WAGES AND GIVE WORKERS
THEIR RIGHTS BACK.
I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS WE'VE
SEEN MANY ECONOMY -- ECONOMISTS
SAY IS ONE OF THE BEST THINGS WE
CAN TO DO MAKE SHOULD THAT YOU
ARE WE'RE MITIGATING INFLATION
IS GETTING RID OF THE TRUMP TAX
CUTS.
I WANT TO DO THAT SO WE AREN'T
CREATING THESE TAX BREAKS THAT
MAKE IT EASIER TO SHIP JOBS
OVERSEAS BUT WORKING ON
EDUCATION, JOB TRAINING,
BRINGING THOSE JOBS BACK HERE TO
WISCONSIN SO THAT WE CAN
ACTUALLY INVEST IN OUR WORKFORCE
AND BING HIGHER BRIDGES -- BRING
HIRE WAGES TO THE STATE.
>> RON JOHNSON HAS WON THIS
TWICE.
WHY ARE YOU THE CANDIDATE WHO
CAN BEAT HIM?
>> WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE LAST 12
YEARS, RON JOHNSON HAS DONE
NOTHING FOR THE STATE.
THE ONLY THING HE'S GONE IS PASS
A -- DONE IS PASS A TAX CUT TO
ENRICH HIMSELF AND HIS FRIENDS.
DO YOU WANT SOMETHING THAT'S
HURTING THE STATE?
OR SOMEONE WHO HAS BROUGHT JOBS,
RAISED WAGES, AND CREATED
INVESTMENT HERE SO THAT WE KNOW
THAT WHEN THEY GET TO
WASHINGTON, THEY'RE GOING TO BE
ABLE TO DO THAT SAME THING?
I THINK WITH WE MAKE THAT CHOICE
CLEAR, THE CHOICE WILL BE
SIMPLE.
>> FIND THE INTERVIEWS WITH
CANDIDATES RUNNING OWE OUR NEWS
PAGE ON PBSWISCONSIN.ORG.
>>> WE ALSO HAVE AN INVITATION
OUT TO INCUMBENT SENATOR RON
JOHNSON FOR AN INTERVIEW ON THIS
PROGRAM.
>>> TURNING TO ANOTHER NATIONAL
ISSUE, ILLEGAL ABORTION HAS LED
TO AN AN INCREASED DEMAND FOR
EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTIVES.
SOME PHARMACIES ARE STOCKING UP
ON THESE LARGELY
OVER-THE-COUNTER DRUGS.
MARISA WHOA CHICK -- WHOA CHECK
SPOKE WITH THE PHARMACIST.
>> ARE YOU CONCERNED THAT
EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTIVES COULD
BE BANNED OR SEVERELY LIMITED IN
ACCESS?
>> I DO HAVE THAT CONCERN.
I FEEL LIKE THE PO PERSONAL FOR
THAT TO OCCUR -- POTENTIAL FOR
THAT TO OCCUR IS POSSIBLE.
AS OF A FEW WEEKS AGO, I DIDN'T
THINK THAT -- LEGAL ABORTION
WOULD BE GONE AND IT IS NOW.
I KNOW THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO
BELIEVE THAT -- THAT THERE
SHOULDN'T BE ANY MEDICATION THAT
IS WOULD AFFECT A FETUS OR WOULD
AFFECT A EMBRYO.
SO I THINK THEY'RE AT RISK.
>> HAS THE DEMAND FOR EMERGENCY
CONTRACEPTIVES GONE UP?
>> WE HAVE SEEN IT GO UP.
WE PROBABLY SOLD ONE -- ONE
PACKAGE PROBABLY A MONTH PRIOR
TO THE DECISION.
WE HAVE SOLD SEVERAL PACKAGES A
DAY SINCE THE DECISION.
I THINK WE SAW THAT THERE'S A
TREND THAT THE -- THAT PEOPLE
ARE GOING TO BE WANTING TO GET
EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTIVE CARE FOR
THEMSELVES TO HAVE IT AROUND.
AND THAT CREATED AN INCREASE IN
DEMAND, WHICH CAN RESULT IN A
SHORT SUPPLY.
AND A SHORT SUPPLY CAN LEAD TO
INCREASED PRICE.
AND SO I THINK WE MADE A
DECISION TO TRY AND PURCHASE A
LARGE QUANTITY SO THAT WE COULD
HAVE IT ON HAND AND THEN DECIDED
TO MAKE IT BASICALLY SELL IT AT
OUR COSTS SO WE COULD MAKE SURE
THAT TO DAMPEN ANY RISK OF
INCREASED PRICE.
>> SO EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTIVES,
THOSE ARE DIFFERENT FROM
ABORTION MEDICATION, RIGHT?
>> CORRECT.
CORRECT.
THESE ARE MEDICATIONS.
THESE EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTIVORS
ARE MEDICATIONS THAT YOU TAKE IN
THE FIRST THREE DAYS.
SEXUAL EVENT THAT WAS NOT
PROTECTED.
AND SO YOU CAN USE THOSE WITHIN
THREE DAYS AFTER THAT TO BE
ABOUT 90 TO 95% EFFECTIVE.
>> WE'VE HEARD A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT POTENTIALLY PEOPLE WHO
HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO GET
PREGNANT ARE NO LONGER BEING
FREE SCRIBED SINCE -- PRESCRIBED
THINGS THAT COULD LEAD TO A
MISCARRIAGE OR HARMING THE
FEETUS.
HAS THAT BEEN AN ISSUE AT ALL?
>> WE HAVEN'T SEEN THAT HERE.
WE HAVE HEARD TALKING -- WE HAVE
HEARD OTHER PROFESSIONALS
TALKING ABOUT MEDICATIONS THAT
ARE USED FOR THE TREATMENT OF
ARTHRITIS, TREATMENT OF -- OF
OTHER MEDICAL CONDITIONS THAT
ARE NOT RELATED TO ABORTION.
AND THOSE DRUGS ARE NOT BEING
AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY CAN BE
USED IN ABORTION.
WE HAVEN'T SEEN THAT HERE.
IF WE GOT A PRESCRIPTION FOR ONE
OF THOSE MEDICATIONS AT THIS
POINT, I THINK IT WOULD BE OUR
POLICY WOULD BE TO CALL THE
PROVIDER WHO WROTE THE
PRESCRIPTION AND ASK FOR A
DIAGNOSIS AND WHY IT'S BEING
USED.
SO THAT WE CAN ENSURE THAT WE
WERE USING IT -- OUTSIDE OF THE
REASONS FOR -- THAT THEY'RE USED
FOR ABORTION.
>> HAS THIS CHANGED THE WAY YOU
HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH
PROVIDERS?
>> YEAH, I THINK THAT AS WE MOVE
FORWARD WITH MEDICATIONS THAT
HAVE MULTIPLE USES, AND THERE
ARE LEGAL RAMIFICATIONS ABOUT
USING THE SAME MEDICATION, IF
YOU USE THINK IT WAY, IT'S
ILLEGAL AND IF YOU USE IT THIS
OTHER WAY IT'S NOT ILLEGAL, I
THINK WE'LL SEE MORE
CONVERSATIONS BETWEEN PROVIDERS
AND PHARMACISTS TO DISCUSS
EXACTLY WHY THESE MEDICATIONS
ARE BEING USED SO THEY CAN BE
DOCUMENTED.
>> ARE THERE LIEBLES FOR --
4R50EUB89S -- 4R50EUB89S FOR YOU
PROVIDING THESE MET CASES?
>> I THINK -- MEDICATIONS?
>> I THINK THE LAW IN WISCONSIN
IF I WERE TO DISPENSE MEDICATION
THAT COULD BE USED TO ABORT A
FETUS.
SO, YEAH.
>> WHAT DO YOUSY GOING -- DO YOU
THINK IS GOING TO HAPPEN GOING
FORWARD?
>> I THINK WE'RE PROBABLY IN A
ELDHOING PATTERN AT THIS -- IN A
HOLDING PATTERN AT THIS POINT
AND I DON'T EXPECT MUCH TO
CHANGE F. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE
REVERSAL OF THE CURRENT LAW,
IT'S GOING TO HAVE TO COME FROM
THE FEDERAL LEVEL.
>> WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN HEARING
FROM CUSTOMERS SINCE ROE WAS
OVERTURNED AND JUST IN GENERAL
ABOUT THE NEED FOR THIS KIND OF
CARE?
>> SO WE'VE HEARD A LOT OF THANK
YOUS.
WE HAVE GOTTEN A LOT OF SUPPORT
FROM THE COMMUNITY.
>> AND DO YOU SEE THIS AS
PATIENT CARE FOR YOUR CUSTOMERS?
>> YES.
ACCESS TO -- ACCESS TO CARE IS
ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS
THAT WE THINK THAT WE CAN
PROVIDE.
AND SO, YES, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT
IT'S ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE WHO
NEEDS IT.
>> FOR MORE ON THIS AND OTHER
ISSUES FACING WISCONSIN, VISIT
OUR WEBSITE AT PBSWISCONSIN.ORG
AND THEN CLICK ON THE "NEWS"
TAB.
THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.
>> Announcer: FUNDING FOR "HERE
AND NOW" IS PROVIDED BY THE
FOCUSED FUND FOR JOURNALISM AND
FRIENDS OF PBS WISCONSIN.