>> IN THE GOVERNOR'S RACE,
INDEPENDENTS ARE LEANING JUST A
LITTLE BIT TO TONY EVERS.
PARTISANS ARE VERY STRONGLY
ALIGNED WITH BOTH PARTY
CANDIDATES.
TEST.
>> WITHIN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY,
77% HAVE A FAVORABLE VIEW OF
DONALD TRUMP, SO IT'S CERTAINLY
AN ASSET WITHIN THE PARTY.
BUT TWO-THIRDS MAJORITY, MORE OR
LESS, HAVE AN UNFAVORABLE VIEW
OF TRUMP IN THE PUBLIC AT LARGE,
SO SHIFTING FROM A VERY POSITIVE
EFFECT IN THE PRIMARY TO A
POTENTIALLY NEGATIVE EFFECT IN
THE GENERAL IS AN INTERESTING
PROBLEM AND TRADEOFF FOR
TRUMP-SUPPORTED CANDIDATES.
>> A LOT GOING ON RIGHT NOW IN
REGARD TO THE FORMER PRESIDENT
SO THAT COULD SHAPE THINGS GOING
FORWARD, OR MAYBE NOT.
BUT IN THE U.S. SENATE RACE,
DEMOCRAT MANDELA BARNES IS UP
SEVEN POINTS ON REPUBLICAN
INCUMBENT RON JOHNSON.
BUT JOHNSON HAS WEATHERED THIS
POLLING BEFORE.
CLUB CLUB
PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION.
>> PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN SIGNS
MONUMENTAL LEGISLATION INTO LAW.
THE PRIMARIES ARE OVER, AND
CANDIDATES ARE OUT OF THE GATES
ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL TO
NOVEMBER.
AND CLASSROOMS COULD BE
SHORT-HANDED IN THE FALL WITH
SCHOOL DISTRICTS STRUGGLING WITH
STAFFING SHORTAGES.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE & NOW," CHARLES
FRANKLIN SHARES HIS LATEST
MARQUETTE LAW SCHOOL POLL.
ABC FOR HEALTH DETAILS THE
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE HEALTH
PROVISIONS IN THE INFLATION
REDUCTION ACT.
A SUPERINTENDENT FROM ARCADIA ON
THE CRISIS LEVEL TEACHER
SHORTAGE AND OUR FIRST INTERVIEW
WITH THE CANDIDATES FOR
SECRETARY OF STATE.
"HERE & NOW" FOR AUGUST 19TH.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE & NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.
>> FRESH OFF THE PRIMARY
ELECTION, VOTERS ARE TURNING
THEIR ATTENTION TOWARD THE
CANDIDATES AND ISSUES THAT WILL
MOTIVATE THEM TO GET TO THE
POLLS IN NOVEMBER.
CHARLES FRANKLIN, DIRECTOR OF
THE MARQUETTE UNIVERSITY LAW
SCHOOL POLL, JOINS US NOW WITH
HIS LATEST RESULTS AND THANKS
FOR BEING HERE, CHARMS.
>> THANKS, THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> STARTING WITH THE RACE FOR
GOVERNOR, INCUMBENT DEMOCRAT
TONY EVERS HAS A TWO-POINT LEAD
ON MICHELS, NOW TIM MICHELS IS
REFUTING YOUR NUMBERS AND IS
QUOTED AS SAYING HE BELIEVES
HE'S ACTUALLY UP 5 TO 10 POINTS
ON EVERS.
WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE TO THAT?
>> WELL, I STAND BEHIND OUR
POLL.
FIRST OF ALL, WE ARE
TRANSPARENT, ALL OF OUR
QUESTIONS, ALL OF OUR RESULTS,
ALL OF OUR METHODOLOGY ARE
ONLINE, ANYONE IS WELCOME TO
LOOK AT IT AND BELIEVE IT OR
NOT, BELIEVE IT OR REFUTE IT.
BUT CAMPAIGNS ARE ABSOLUTELY
FREE TO SAY WHATEVER THEY WANT
ABOUT THE POLLING RESULTS.
SO I WELCOME MR. MICHELS'
COMMENTS AS I WELCOME THE
COMMENTS OF ANY CANDIDATE, BUT I
DO MY BUSINESS AND I'M
TRANSPARENT ABOUT IT AND UPFRONT
ABOUT IT.
>> ALL RIGHT.
BY YOUR POLLING, IT IS PRETTY
TIGHT.
HOW DOES THE INDEPENDENT VOTE
FACTOR IN THIS RACE?
>> WELL, IN THE GOVERNOR'S RACE
IN
INDEPENDENTS ARE LEANING A BIT
TOWARD TONY EVERS, PARTISANS ARE
FOR BOTH CANDIDATES, THAT HAS
NOT CHANGED.
TIM MICHELS SEEMS TO HAVE GOTTEN
A FIVE-POINT BOUNCE UP AFTER THE
PRIMARY.
IT WAS A SEVEN-POINT EVERS' LEAD
IN JUNE AND NOW IT'S ONLY A
TWO-POINT LEAD, SO MICHELS HAS
BENEFITTED BY FIVE POINTS ON
THAT MARGIN FROM JUNE 'TIL NOW.
IT'S AN GOOD EXAMPLE OF HOW EVEN
A HARD FOUGHT PRIMARY CAN
ACTUALLY HELP A CANDIDATE.
>> YEAH.
HOW MIGHT DONALD TRUMP'S
ENDORSEMENT OF MICHELS HELP OR
HURT HIM, DO YOU THINK?
>> WELL, THAT'S HARD TO SAY.
WITHIN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, 77%
HAVE A FAVORABLE VIEW OF DONALD
TRUMP, SO IT'S CERTAINLY AN
ASSET WITHIN THE PARTY.
BUT TWO-THIRDS MAJORITY, MORE OR
LESS, HAVE AN UNFAVORABLE VIEW
OF TRUMP IN THE PUBLIC AT LARGE.
SO SHIFTING FROM A VERY POSITIVE
EFFECT IN THE PRIMARY TO A
POTENTIALLY NEGATIVE EFFECT IN
THE GENERAL IS AN INTERESTING
PROBLEM AND TRADEOFF FOR
TRUMP-SUPPORTED CANDIDATES.
>> AND THERE IS A LOT GOING ON
RIGHT NOW IN REGARD TO THE
FORMER PRESIDENT, SO THAT COULD
SHAPE THINGS, I WOULD IMAGINE,
GOING FORWARD AS WELL.
OR MAYBE NOT.
BUT IN THE U.S. SENATE RACE,
DEMOCRAT MANDELA BARNES IS UP
SEVEN POINTS ON INCUMBENT
REPUBLICAN RON JOHNSON.
BUT AS YOU KNOW, JOHNSON HAS
WEATHERED THIS KIND OF POLLING
BEFORE AND THEN WON.
WHAT ABOUT THAT?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
ALSO, LET ME POINT OUT THAT
BARNES WAS LEADING BY TWO BEFORE
AND NOW BY SEVEN.
HE ALSO GOT A FIVE-POINT BOUNCE
FROM THE PRIMARY, SO BOTH THE
REPUBLICAN AND THE DEMOCRATIC
PRIMARY WINNERS BENEFITTED, I
THINK, FROM THEIR PRIMARIES.
AS FOR SENATOR JOHNSON, YES, HE
WAS BEHIND IN 2016, BUT HIS
CAMPAIGN STEADILY IMPROVED OVER
THE SPRING AND THEN CLOSED THE
GAP THROUGHOUT THE FALL SO A
GREAT EXAMPLE OF EFFECTIVE
CAMPAIGN THAT ACCOMPLISHED ITS
GOALS.
THE QUESTION IS, CAN HE DO IT
AGAIN.
>> ANYTHING ELSE STAND OUT ABOUT
THE RACE AND THE POLL NUMBERS?
>> HERE AGAIN, THE PARTISANS ARE
SUPER STRONGLY ALIGNED BUT
BARNES IS VERY POSITIVE WITH
INDEPENDENTS, GETTING A BIGGER
SHARE OF THE VOTE WITH
INDEPENDENTS THAN EVERS IS IN
THE GOVERNOR'S RACE.
SO, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
BARNES IS SEVEN-POINT LEAD AND
EVERS' TWO, COMING PRIMARILY
FROM THE INDEPENDENTS MORE PRO
BARNES.
TROUBLE FOR BARNES, 41% DON'T
KNOW MUCH ABOUT HIM.
34% DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT
MICHELS.
BOTH OF THOSE CANDIDATES STILL
HAVE TO INTRODUCE THEMSELVES TO
A FAIR CHUNK OF THE VOTERS.
>> JOHNSON'S FAVORABLES ARE
UPSIDE DOWN, BARNES MORE
FAVORABLE THAN UNFAVORABLE.
ANY KIND OF AN INDICATOR AT THIS
POINT?
>> IMPORTANT INDICATOR IN THAT
SENATOR JOHNSON HAS BEEN
UNDERWATER MORE UNFAVORABLE THAN
FAVORABLE FOR MANY MONTHS, OVER
A YEAR, MORE THAN THAT.
AND HAS NOT SEEN MUCH UPWARD
MOVEMENT.
ALSO, ONLY 15% SAY THEY LACK AN
OPINION OF JOHNSON, SO IT'S A
SMALLER POOL OF VOTERS FOR HIM
TO MOVE.
IT'S A MUCH BIGGER POOL FOR
BARNES TO MOVE BUT THAT'S A
DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD.
HE COULD MOVE THEM IN HIS FAVOR
OR HAVE THEM MOVED AGAINST HIM
BY THE JOHNSON CAMPAIGN, SO STAY
TUNED FOR THAT ACTION.
>> SO YOU'VE SAID ONE OF THE
MORE STRIKING RESULTS IN YOUR
POLL IS HOW DEMOCRATS AND
REPUBLICANS ASSIGN VERY
DIFFERENT PRIORITIES TO ISSUES.
TAKE, FOR EXAMPLE, ON THE ISSUE
OF CLIMATE CHANGE, IT'S
DEMOCRATS TOP ISSUE AND
REPUBLICANS LEAST IMPORTANT
ISSUE.
DOES THIS AGAIN SHOW THE
ENTRENCHED PARTISAN
POLARIZATION?
>> IT ABSOLUTELY DOES AND IT'S
THE VERY DIFFERENT EMPHASIS
THAT'S BEING GIVEN.
CLIMATE CHANGE STANDS OUT
BECAUSE IT REALLY WAS THE NUMBER
ONE ISSUE FOR DEMOCRATS AND THE
DEAD LAST OF NINE AMONG
REPUBLICANS SO THERE IS A HUGE
DIFFERENCE IN EMPHASIS ON THAT.
BUT THERE ARE OTHERS WHERE THERE
IS A SUBSTANTIAL DIFFERENCE AS
WELL.
>> SO, ON THE ISSUE OF
OVERTURNING ROE, FOR EXAMPLE, IT
STANDS OUT TO ME THAT 28% OF
REPUBLICANS OPPOSE THAT AND 62%
OF INDEPENDENTS OPPOSE IT?
HOW DOES THAT PLAY IN EVENTUAL
VOTES FOR CANDIDATES?
>> I THINK ON THE ABORTION
ISSUE, YOU SEE A SOLID MAJORITY
IN THE STATE THAT WISHES THE
COURT HAD NOT OVERTURNED ROE.
YOU ALSO SEE THIS NEAR MIRROR
IMAGE BETWEEN REPUBLICANS AND
INDEPENDENTS, 62% OF REPUBLICANS
FAVOR THE OVERTURNING, 62% OF
INDEPENDENTS OPPOSE THAT
OVERTURNING.
DEMOCRATS ARE NEARLY UNANIMOUS
ON THE ISSUE IN OPPOSITION.
>> SO INFLATION TOUCHES
EVERYONE, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO
91% OF REPUBLICANS AND JUST 42%
OF DEMOCRATS.
IS THIS BECAUSE IT'S THE NUMBER
ONE
ONE CAMPAIGN ISSUE HITTING JOE
BIDEN?
>> I THINK IT'S THE NUMBER ONE
ISSUE, TAILOR MADE FOR ANY
INCUMBENT PRESIDENT, BLAME THEM
FOR INFLATION NO MATTER WHAT THE
PARTY IS.
IT'S BEEN THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE
IN EVERY POLL WE HAVE DONE SINCE
LAST AUGUST.
>> IT'S PRETTY EASY TO
UNDERSTAND AND GLOBALLY
EXPERIENCED, I GUESS.
ON PARENTAL LEAVE, IT'S ALSO
SURPRISING TO ME THAT 65% OF
REPUBLICANS FAVOR IT.
WHAT DO YOU SURMISE THAT'S
ABOUT?
>> I WAS SURPRISED BY THIS.
IN THE REPUBLICAN GUBERNATORIAL
DEBATE, ALL THREE TALKED ABOUT
PARENTAL LEAVE BUT NOT IN
SPECIFIC DETAIL, I THOUGHT IT
WAS IMPORTANT TO ASK ABOUT IT,
GENERALLY REPUBLICANS HAVE
OPPOSED REQUIRING BUSINESSES TO
OFFER PAID PARENTAL LEAVE.
BUT SOLID MAJORITIES OF EVERY
PARTISAN GROUP ARE IN FAVOR, I
HOPE WE WILL SEE MORE OF THAT IN
THE CAMPAIGN AND AFTER IT'S
DEBATED.
>> BACK TO THE CANDIDATES AND
THEIR CAMPAIGNS, HOW ROUGH AND
TUMBLE ARE THESE TWO STATEWIDE
RACES GOING TO BE, DO YOU THINK?
>> OH, I THINK EXTREMELY SO.
BOTH THE SIZE OF THE PEOPLE THAT
DON'T KNOW EITHER TIM MICHELS OR
MANDELA BARNES IS AN INVITATION
FOR THE OTHER CAMPAIGN TO TRY TO
PAINT A NEGATIVE PICTURE.
AND A STRUGGLE FOR THE CANDIDATE
TO MAKE THEMSELVES LOOK POSITIVE
WHILE ALSO CRITICIZING THE
INCUMBENT THAT THEY ARE RUNNING
AGAINST.
NEGATIVE CAMPAIGNING IS HARDLY
ANYTHING NEW, BUT I THINK WE ARE
LOOKING AT TWO HARD-FOUGHT
BATTLES ON BOTH SIDES.
>> HERE IT COMES.
CHARLES FRANKLIN, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> DEMOCRATS HAIL THE INFLATION
REDUCTION ACT AS LIFE CHANGING
LEGISLATION.
CONGRESSIONAL REPUBLICANS ALL
VOTED AGAINST IT, CALLING IT
RECKLESS SPENDING.
IT'S NOW LAW AND THE HEALTHCARE
PRESCRIPTIONS WILL CAP
PRESCRIPTION DRUG COSTS FOR
NEARLY 900,000 PEOPLE ON
MEDICARE IN WISCONSIN AS WELL AS
EXTEND PANDEMIC ASSISTANCE
SUBSIDIES FOR MORE THAN 200,000
PEOPLE IN THE STATE ON
MARKETPLACE HEALTH PLANS.
BOBBY PETERSON IS EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF ABC FOR HEALTH, A
NON-PROFIT PUBLIC INTEREST LAW
FIRM THAT HELPS HEALTHCARE
CONSUMERS NAVIGATE THE PROGRAMS.
AND BOBBY, THANKS VERY MUCH FOR
BEING HERE.
>> GLAD TO BE HERE, FRED.
>> SO, SPECIFIC TO PEOPLE ON
MEDICARE, THE LAW CAPS
PRESCRIPTION DRUG COSTS AT
$2,000 A YEAR, ALSO CAPS INSULIN
AT $35 A MONTH FOR NEARLY 60,000
ON MEDICARE IN WISCONSIN WHO USE
THAT DRUG.
HOW BIG OF A CHANGE IS THIS?
>> IT'S A BIG CHANGE.
I THINK IT HELPS TO REDUCE SOME
OF THE COSTS PEOPLE ARE FACING.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO
REMEMBER, THOUGH, THAT NOTHING
IN HEALTHCARE IS SIMPLE, AND
NOTHING IN THE INFLATION
REDUCTION ACT IN HEALTHCARE IS
SIMPLE EITHER, SO IT'S IMPORTANT
THAT WE DISTINGUISH THAT THIS IS
PRIMARILY GOING TO BE HELPING
PEOPLE THAT HAVE MEDICARE PART D
COVERAGE.
SO THAT'S A SUBSET OF MEDICARE
FOLKS, IT'S GOING TO BE FOLKS
GETTING MEDICARE PART D, AND A
LOT OF THESE CHANGES DON'T
UNFOLD FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS OR
SO.
THE $2,000 CAP DOES NOT START
UNTIL 2025.
>> DON'T EXPECT THAT KIND OF
RELIEF ANY TIME SOON.
HOW ARE OLDER PEOPLE ON A FIXED
INCOME EVEN ABLE TO AFFORD THE
OUT OF POCKET COSTS OF
PRESCRIPTIONS?
>> WELL, IT'S ALWAYS A STRUGGLE
AND IT'S ALWAYS, YOU KNOW,
FAMILY MEETINGS WITH, YOU KNOW,
KIDS, PARENTS, GRANDPARENTS,
TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW CAN WE
MAKE THIS WORK.
THIS IS GOING TO MAKE THE
PROCESS A LITTLE BIT EASIER, BUT
IT'S STILL COMPLEX.
STILL THE FAMILY MEETINGS TRYING
TO UNDERSTAND THE CHANGES THAT
ARE COMING, THE OPPORTUNITIES TO
GET SOME ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE I
THINK IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
I WOULD ENCOURAGE FAMILIES, YOU
KNOW, WORKING TOGETHER TO WORK
WITH YOUR LOCAL AGING AND
DISABILITY RESOURCE CENTER
BECAUSE THEY CAN, YOU KNOW, IT'S
DIFFERENT -- THERE ARE SO MANY
NUANCES, IT'S GOOD TO HAVE THE
LOCAL LEVEL OF ASSISTANCE AND
THE AGING AND DISABILITY
RESOURCE CENTERS IN THE COUNTY
CAN HELP YOU.
YOU ALSO MIGHT WANT TO GET SOME
HELP FROM THE PART D HELP LINE,
WHICH IS A STATEWIDE 800 NUMBER
RUN BY THE FOLKS OVER AT
DISABILITY RIGHTS WISCONSIN.
THAT NUMBER IS 800-926-4862.
AND THEY ALSO CAN HELP YOU WITH
SOME OF THE QUESTIONS THAT
EMERGE, BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO BE
A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT FOR ALL
THE FOLKS OUT THERE.
WE DID NOT GET A CHANCE TO TALK
ABOUT THE INSULIN, WHICH IS A
BIG DEAL, BECAUSE THAT WAS A
HUGE PRICE GOUGING -- ANOTHER
EXAMPLE OF FREE MARKET IN
HEALTHCARE WHERE IT'S NOT FREE
MARKET IF THERE ARE THREE PEOPLE
CONTROLLING THE PROCESS AND
RAISING PRICES BECAUSE PEOPLE
NEED IT TO LIVE.
SO, THAT'S A BIG DEAL FOR PEOPLE
THAT ARE INSULIN-DEPENDENT ON
MEDICARE PART D, THAT ONE STARTS
RIGHT AWAY IN 2023, SO THAT'S
IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE THAT NEED
INSULIN, IT WAS REALLY GETTING
BAD.
>> ANOTHER PRONG OF THE LAW
WOULD ALLOW THE FEDS TO
NEGOTIATE DRUG PRICES.
IS THAT MEANINGFUL?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
I THINK WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT
FOLKS THAT ADVOCATE FOR FREE
MARKET HEALTHCARE, YOU KNOW,
NEGOTIATION AND OPPORTUNITIES TO
LEVERAGE PRICING IS ALWAYS A
PART OF THAT, AND FOREVER THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS HAD THEIR
HANDS TIED BEHIND THEIR BACK IN
TERMS OF NEGOTIATING PRICES WITH
THE PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY.
THIS LETS THE GOVERNMENT USE ITS
SIZE TO AN ADVANTAGE TO SAY WE
ARE GOING TO BE NEGOTIATING
THESE PRICES AND TRYING TO GET
THE BEST DEAL FOR OUR MEDICARE
RECIPIENTS.
AFTER ALL, THESE COSTS ARE
SOMETIMES BORNE BY THE
RECIPIENTS OR IT'S OUT OF THE
TRUST FUND SO IT'S IMPORTANT TO
MAKE SURE WE GET THE BEST DEAL
AND ALONG WITH THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT TO NEGOTIATE IS
REALLY AN IMPORTANT FEATURE OF
THE BILL.
AGAIN, IT NOT GOING TO HAPPEN
RIGHT AWAY.
THIS IS A SLOW UNWINDING OF THE
PROCESS, NOTHING IS GOING TO
HAPPEN FOR SEVERAL YEARS BEFORE
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT STARTS A
SLOW PROCESS OF NEGOTIATING WITH
TEN DRUGS AND RAMPS UP THROUGH
2030.
>> SO ASIDE FROM FOLKS ON
MEDICARE, THE LAW EXTENDS
EXPANDED PREMIUM TAX CREDITS FOR
PEOPLE ON AFFORDABLE CARE ACT
MARKETPLACE PLANS, EXTRA
SUBSIDIES THAT WERE SUPPOSED TO
GO AWAY AFTER 2022.
BREAK THAT DOWN FOR US.
WHAT WILL THAT EXTENSION MEAN?
>> YEAH, THAT'S GOING TO BE A
REALLY BIG DEAL FOR MIDDLE
INCOME FOLKS THAT WERE FACING A
POTENTIAL BENEFITS CLIFF WHO
WERE NOT GOING TO BE ELIGIBLE
FOR ADVANCED PREMIUM TAX CREDITS
ANYMORE AFTER THE OPEN
ENROLLMENT AND NOW THAT'S
EXTENDED.
THAT'S REALLY GREAT NEWS.
ONE OF THE REMARKABLE THINGS
THAT'S HAPPENED IS WE HAVE
LOWERED THE OVERALL RATE OF
PEOPLE THAT LACK HEALTH
INSURANCE IN THIS COUNTRY TO 8%.
IT'S NEVER BEEN THAT LOW.
SO THIS MODEL OF GETTING AS MANY
PEOPLE COVERED AS POSSIBLE IS
REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE THAT
BENEFITS US ALL.
THE TAX SUBSIDIES ARE GOING TO
EXTEND COVERAGE TO MORE PEOPLE,
MORE BENEFITS, AND IT WILL
ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO MAINTAIN
THEIR HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE,
WHICH IS REALLY A GOOD THING SO
THAT WE ARE ALL COVERED AND WE
ARE GETTING THE SERVICES WE NEED
AND DESERVE.
>> ALL RIGHT.
BOBBY PETERSON, THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK.
>> THANK YOU.
GLAD TO HELP.
>> EVEN WITH THE START OF SCHOOL
RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER, A CHECK
OF HIRING PORTALS SHOWS
DISTRICTS ACROSS THE STATE ARE
HUNDREDS OF TEACHERS SHORT AND
THE NEED FOR SUPPORT STAFF IS
EVEN HIGHER.
NEARLY 70% OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS
IN WISCONSIN ARE CONSIDERED
RURAL AND THE NEED CAN BE
ESPECIALLY ACUTE IN THOSE
SCHOOLS.
OUR NEXT GUEST IS THE ARCADIA
SCHOOL DISTRICT ADMINISTRATOR.
LANCE BAGSTAD KNOWS THE STRUGGLE
TO FIND STAFF FIRSTHAND AND
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> SO, WHAT ARE THE NUMBERS
RIGHT NOW IN YOUR DISTRICT FOR
HOW SHORT YOU STILL ARE FOR
TEACHERS AND STAFF?
>> YEAH, ACTUALLY WE ARE -- WE
HAVE OUR CLASSROOMS FILLED BUT
DO NOT HAVE THEM ALL FILLED WITH
TEACHERS CERTIFIED IN SOME OF
THE AREAS.
WE HAVE HAD TO FILL SOME OF OUR
CLASSROOMS, AT LEAST
TEMPORARILY, WITH LONG-TERM
SUBS.
ALL ACROSS THE DISTRICT, SO WE
HAVE ELEMENTARY POSITIONS THAT
WE ARE STILL LOOKING FOR
CERTIFIED STAFF, WE HAVE MIDDLE
SCHOOL POSITIONS AND WE HAVE
HIGH SCHOOL POSITIONS.
SO PRETTY COMMON ACROSS RURAL
SCHOOLS ACROSS WISCONSIN RIGHT
NOW, ONLY A FEW WEEKS AWAY FROM
THE START OF SCHOOL THAT
CLASSROOMS ARE NOT FULLY STAFFED
YET.
>> SO, WHAT DO YOU SAY TO
FAMILIES WITH STUDENTS IN THE
DISTRICT ABOUT THAT, AND WHETHER
OR NOT THE CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION
WILL BE GOOD THIS YEAR?
>> YEAH, CERTAINLY THAT'S
SOMETHING WE HAVE HAD TO DISCUSS
ADMINISTRATIVELY ACROSS OUR
DISTRICT.
THE POSITIVE WE HAVE FOR US IS
WE DO HAVE THREE INSTRUCTIONAL
COACHES ACROSS THE DISTRICT THAT
ACTUALLY WORK WITH TEACHERS ON
COACHING CYCLES, WHETHER THAT'S
AN ELEMENTARY TEACHER, MIDDLE
SCHOOL TEACHER OR HIGH SCHOOL
TEACHER ON BEST PRACTICES, AND
WE ARE ALSO A PROFESSIONAL
LEARNING COMMUNITY SCHOOL
DISTRICT SO OUR TEACHERS HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO GET TOGETHER WITH
EITHER SIMILAR SUBJECT AREAS OR
GRADE LEVEL TEACHERS TO WORK ON
ASSESSMENTS, ON COMMON
STANDARDS, AND BEST PRACTICES IN
THE CLASSROOM.
SO WITH THOSE TEACHERS THAT MAY
NOT BE, OR MAY BE LONG-TERM
SUBS, WE ARE ABLE TO SURROUND
THEM WITH A LOT OF GOOD PEOPLE
TO ASSIST WITH THEIR INSTRUCTION
AS WELL AS THEIR PRACTICES.
>> IN TERMS OF STAFF SHORTAGES,
HAVE YOU EVER SEEN IT LIKE THIS
BEFORE COMING INTO THIS SCHOOL
YEAR?
>> NOT ANYTHING CLOSE TO THIS.
I'VE BEEN A DISTRICT
ADMINISTRATOR NOW IN MY FIFTH
YEAR, I WAS A PRINCIPAL FOR 12
YEARS PRIOR TO THAT.
I HAVE NEVER SEEN SHORTAGES LIKE
THIS.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S ALWAYS BEEN
CERTAIN AREAS WHERE THERE'S BEEN
SHORTAGES.
FOR EXAMPLE, SPECIAL EDUCATION,
CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION
AREAS, WORLD LANGUAGES, BUT WE
ARE NOW SEEING THOSE SAME
SHORTAGES HIT US AT THE
ELEMENTARY LEVEL AS WELL AS
THOSE AREAS I JUST MENTIONED.
FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAD 3 OR 4
OPENINGS AT OUR ELEMENTARY THIS
YEAR.
WE HAD LESS THAN 15 APPLICANTS
FOR POSITIONS.
WE HAD A 4-K POSITION OPEN, ONLY
HAD TWO APPLICANTS FOR THAT
POSITION.
THAT'S REALLY UNUSUAL.
IN THE PAST ELEMENTARY POSITIONS
YOU WOULD GET 40, 50, 60, EVEN
SOMETIMES 100 APPLICANTS.
THEY ARE JUST NOT OUT THERE AT
THIS TIME.
>> WHY ISN'T ARCADIA OR OTHER
SMALL RURAL DISTRICTS ABLE TO
ATTRACT TEACHERS?
>> YOU KNOW, I THINK PART OF IT
IS THE RURALNESS OF OUR
DISTRICTS.
YOU KNOW, I'VE OFTEN SAID IN
CONVERSATIONS WITH OTHERS THAT A
LOT OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE THAT ARE
IN PRESERVICE TEACHER PROGRAMS
AT COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES GET
USED TO THE AMENITIES THAT A
LARGER CITY OFFERS, YOU KNOW.
THINGS THAT ARE AVAILABLE IN A
LARGE CITY THAT MAY NOT BE AS
ACCESSIBLE IN RURAL WISCONSIN.
BUT I WOULD ALSO ARGUE THAT THE
TEACHER SHORTAGE, WHILE IT'S
IMPACTING RURAL WISCONSIN PRETTY
GREATLY, IT'S ALSO IMPACTING
EVEN OUR URBAN DISTRICTS ARE
STRUGGLING TO HAVE A LOT OF
CANDIDATES APPLYING FOR JOBS.
>> WHAT DO YOU DO TO TRY TO
COMPETE WITH THE GEOGRAPHICAL
LOCATION THAT YOU HOLD?
>> YEAH, YOU KNOW, FOR US IT IS
A LITTLE DIFFICULT.
WE ARE BASICALLY LOCATED HALFWAY
BETWEEN THE CITY OF LA CROSSE
AND THE CITY OF EAU CLAIRE, AND
35 MINUTES FROM WINONA,
MINNESOTA, LARGER CITIES THAN WE
ARE.
WE ARE LOOKING AT HAVING TO
CHANGE OUR PAY SCALE, INCREASE
PAY, FIND WAYS TO OFFER OTHER
BENEFITS TO TEACHERS.
WE HAVE DONE SOME THINGS IN OUR
DISTRICT, ESPECIALLY IN HIGH
NEED AREAS BY OFFERING
INCENTIVES TO HELP WITH TUITION
AND TUITION REIMBURSEMENT IN
SOME AREAS, ESPECIALLY SPECIAL
EDUCATION, WHEN THAT'S BEEN THE
CASE.
SO WE ARE REALLY LOOKING AT A
NUMBER OF DIFFERENT THINGS THAT
WE ARE ABLE TO DO.
THE OTHER THING WE ARE ABLE TO
DO IN OUR AREA, THE SCHOOL
DISTRICTS OF ARCADIA,
INDEPENDENCE, BLARE, TAYLOR AND
WHITEHALL, WE HAVE A FOUR-SCHOOL
CO-OP, TREMPEALEAU VALLEY
COOPERATIVE, AND WE ARE IN
CONSTANT DISCUSSION HOW WE CAN
SHARE STAFF, HOW WE CAN
INCENTIVIZE SOME OF OUR TEACHERS
BY, FOR TEACHING REMOTELY TO OUR
FOUR DISTRICTS AS WELL AS
POTENTIALLY INCENTIVIZING
TEACHERS WITH ADDITIONAL PAY IF
THEY ARE WILLING TO TRAVEL FROM
DISTRICT TO DISTRICT TO HELP
WITH THE SHORTAGES.
>> WOW, A LOT OF WORK.
LANCE BAGSTAD, THANKS VERY MUCH
AND GOOD LUCK WITH THE NEW
SCHOOL YEAR.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
APPRECIATE THE TIME.
>> TONIGHT WE BRING YOU THE
FIRST OF TWO INTERVIEWS WITH THE
GENERAL ELECTION CANDIDATES FOR
THE WISCONSIN SECRETARY OF
STATE.
FIRST INCUMBENT SECRETARY
DEMOCRAT DOUG LA FOLLETTE.
HE'S HELD THE OFFICE FOR MORE
THAN FOUR DECADES AND ALSO
SERVED BRIEFLY IN THE STATE
SENATE.
LA FOLLETTE WON LAST TUESDAY'S
PRIMARY ELECTION AND NOW FACES
REPUBLICAN CHALLENGER
REPRESENTATIVE AMY LOUDENBECK IN
THE GENERAL.
THE DUTIES OF THE SENT OF STATE
INCLUDE AFFIXING THE STATE SEAL
TO ACTS OF THE GOVERNOR AND
PRESERVATION OF MUNICIPAL
RECORDS, BLUE BOOKS AND STATE
STATUTES.
SECRETARY OF STATE IS ALSO A
MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF
COMMISSIONERS OF PUBLIC LANDS.
DOUG LA FOLLETTE JOINS US NOW.
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
>> YES, GOOD EVENING, WONDERFUL
TO BE ON TV AND TALK TO
EVERYBODY IN WISCONSIN.
>> YOU'VE HELD THIS OFFICE FOR A
LONG TIME.
WHY SHOULD YOU KEEP IT?
>> WELL, AT THE MOMENT THERE IS
A SPECIAL REASON AND THAT'S
BECAUSE THE TRUMPITE REPUBLICANS
ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE TRYING TO
TAKE CONTROL OF SECRETARY OF
STATE OFFICES SO THEY CAN MAYBE
FIDDLE WITH THE ELECTION IN
2024.
IF THEIR HERO RUNS AGAIN.
AND IN WISCONSIN WE HAVE THE
SAME SITUATION.
MY OPPONENT'S MAIN REASON FOR
RUNNING IS TO BE ABLE TO MOVE
THE ELECTION FUNCTION FROM AN
INDEPENDENT COMMISSION TO HER IN
THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE.
>> AND WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT
MOVING THE ADMINISTRATION OF
ELECTIONS AND OVERSIGHT OF
ELECTIONS TO THE SECRETARY OF
STATE'S OFFICE AS OPPOSED TO
WHERE IT CURRENTLY RESIDES?
>> I THINK IT'S A HORRIBLE IDEA.
MORE THAN 50 YEARS AGO WE
DECIDED TO TAKE POLITICS OUT OF
OF THE ELECTION PROCESS AND WE
CREATED AN ELECTION BOARD OF I
BELIEVE FIVE RETIRED JUDGES, AND
THEY DID A GOOD JOB FOR MANY
YEARS.
THEN THE REPUBLICANS GOT UPSET
DURING THE WALKER RECALL AND
THEY ABOLISHED THE BOARD AND SET
UP A COMMISSION, WHICH HAS BEEN
OK.
BUT CERTAINLY BETTER THAN HAVING
AN ELECTED POLITICIAN.
NOW SHE WANTS TO BE ABLE TO TAKE
CONTROL OF THE ELECTION PROCESS
AS AN ELECTED PARTISAN
POLITICIAN.
THAT'S A BAD IDEA.
WE NEED INDEPENDENCE TO PROTECT
THE INTEGRITY OF THE VOTES IN
OUR STATE.
>> IN TERMS OF YOUR TENURE AS
SECRETARY OF STATE OVER THE
YEARS, WHAT WOULD YOU DESCRIBE
AS YOUR BEST RESULTS IN OFFICE?
>> WELL, I HAVE TO SAY THAT THE
WORST THING IS WHAT HAPPENED TO
THE OFFICE BECAUSE OF
REPUBLICANS.
TWO REPUBLICAN GOVERNORS DECIDED
THEY WANTED MORE CONTROL AND
MORE POWER SO THEY TOOK MANY
IMPORTANT DUTIES AWAY FROM THE
OFFICE AND PUT THEM UNDER THE
CONTROL OF THE GOVERNOR.
ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY SECRETARY
OF STATES DO CERTAIN IMPORTANT
BASICALLY BUSINESS-RELATED
FUNCTIONS, CORPORATIONS AND
TRADEMARKS, SO FORTH.
THOSE SHOULD BE PUT BACK IN THE
OFFICE.
I'VE TRIED SEVERAL TIMES TO DO
THAT.
GOVERNOR EVERS, HIS CREDIT,
TRIED TO RESTORE SOME OF THEM.
BUT THE REPUBLICANS SLICED IT
FROM THE BUDGET.
SO IT'S TIME FOR THEM TO WISE UP
AND MAKE WISCONSIN LIKE THE REST
OF THE COUNTRY SO WE CAN COMPETE
FAIRLY AND HAVE THE SAME SYSTEM
FOR SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE.
>> YOU'VE STATED THAT YOU WANT
TO HIGHLIGHT YOUR BULLY PULPIT
ROLE.
HOW SO?
>> WELL, IT'S IMPORTANT FOR
PEOPLE TO KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON
IN TERMS OF THE EFFORT TO
MANIPULATE THE ELECTION PROCESS,
NOT ONLY IN WISCONSIN BUT ACROSS
THE COUNTRY, AND I'LL TALK ABOUT
IT WHENEVER I HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY.
THEY ARE MAKING PROGRESS IN
ARIZONA, IN MICHIGAN, THE
GOVERNOR OF PENNSYLVANIA IS
WORKING ON IT, SO THEY WILL BE
ABLE TO ACTUALLY OVERTURN THE
VOTES IN THEIR STATES IF THEY
CHOOSE TO.
THAT IS A HORRIBLE IDEA AND
WISCONSIN NEEDS TO KEEP THE
INDEPENDENT NATURE OF OUR
ELECTION ADMINISTRATION.
>> WHY DO YOU BELIEVE YOU CAN
BEAT YOUR REPUBLICAN CHALLENGER?
>> WELL, BECAUSE I'VE DONE A
CAMPAIGN AND I'VE BEEN ELECTED
MANY TIMES.
I THINK PEOPLE TRUST ME.
I'VE BEEN AROUND A WHILE, THEY
KNOW ME AND THEY TRUST ME AND
THIS BECOMES PARTICULARLY
IMPORTANT IN THIS ELECTION
BECAUSE AS I'VE SAID, IT'S ALL
ABOUT THE INTEGRITY OF THE
ELECTION PROCESS AND WHEN I SAY
WHAT I'VE SAID THIS EVENING
ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF KEEPING
PARTISAN POLITICS OUT OF THE
ELECTION PROCESS THEY WILL
LISTEN.
THEY WILL BELIEVE DOUG LA
FOLLETTE.
THERE ARE A LOT OF LIES, A LOT
OF, YOU KNOW, FAKE FACTS GOING
ON NOW THE LAST FEW YEARS IN
POLITICS.
BUT PEOPLE, I THINK, TRUST DOUG
LA FOLLETTE TO BE A STRAIGHT
SHOOTER AND TELL IT LIKE IT IS.
THAT'S WHAT I'M GOING TO DO.
>> ALL RIGHT.
SECRETARY DOUG LA FOLLETTE,
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US.
>> IT'S BEEN A GREAT PLEASURE.
I WISH YOU GOOD EVENING.
>> NEXT WEEK WE HEAR FROM LA
FOLLETTE'S CHALLENGER,
REPUBLICAN AMY LOUDENBECK.
FOR MORE OF OUR COVERAGE ON
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.
?
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FOR JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF
PBS WISCONSIN.