TEST.
TESTING.
TEST.
TESTING.
TEST.
TESTING.
TEST.
TESTING.
TEST.
TESTING.
>> Frederica: TWO CANDIDATES FOR
THE WISCONSIN SUPREME COURT HEAD
INTO CAMPAIGNING FOR THE GENERAL
ELECTION SUPPORT APRIL 4.
PARTIES FOCUSSING ON THE PRIMARY
TOPIC AND LIKELY TO COME BEFORE
THE COURT, ABORTION.
AND I HAVE BEEN ABSOLUTELY CLEAR
ABOUT WHAT MY VALUES ARE.
AND THAT'S BECAUSE I BELIEVE THE
VOTERS OF THIS AND KNOW WHAT A
CANDIDATE VALUES ARE.
I VALUE A WOMAN'S FREEDOM TO
MAKE HER OWN REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH
CARE DECISIONS.
>> IT'S GOING TO BE AN ELECTION.
>> Frederica: RECORD TURNOUT IN
THE SPRING PRIMARY SELECTS TWO
GENERAL ELECTION CANDIDATES FOR
STATE SUPREME COURT.
DANGEROUS WINTER WEATHER STRIKES
THE STRAIGHT YET AGAIN.
RECENT INCIDENTS SEND A WARNING
THAT ANTI-SEMITISM IS ALIVE AND
WELL AND FLAGS FLY AT HALF STAFF
OVER THE STATE CAPITOL IN HONOR
OF TONY EARL.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
A FORMER SUPREME COURT JUSTICE
GIVES HER TAKE AND ANTI-SEMITIC
ACTS INCREASE AND PHYSICIANS SAY
PATIENT CARE WILL SUFFER IF
MEDICARE PAYMENTS WON'T IMPROVE.
IT'S "HERE & NOW" FOR FEBRUARY
24, 2023.
>> THIS IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY
FRIENDS OF PBS WISCONSIN.
>> Frederica: FOLLOWING
TUESDAY'S PRIMARY ELECTION, TWO
CANDIDATES FOR THE WISCONSIN
SUPREME COURT HEAD INTO
CAMPAIGNING FOR THE GENERAL
ELECTION SET FOR APRIL 4.
MILWAUKEE COUNTY CIRCUIT JUDGE
WON 45% AND DANNY KELLY GARNERED
24.2%.
THEY EACH SPOKE AT THE ELECTION
NIGHT PARTIES FOCUSSING ON THE
TOPICS AND LIKELY TO COME BEFORE
THE COURT, ABORTION.
>> I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW I'LL
RULE IN ANY CASE BUT THROUGHOUT
THIS CASE I HAVE BEEN ABSOLUTELY
CLEAR ABOUT WHAT MY VALUES ARE.
AND THAT'S BECAUSE I BELIEVE THE
VOTERS OF THIS STATE DESERVE TO
KNOW WHAT A CANDIDATE'S VALUES
ARE.
I VALUE A WOMAN'S FREEDOM TO
MAKE HER OWN REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH
CARE DECISIONS.
>> IT'S GOING TO BE AN ELECTION
LIKE NO OTHER.
TONIGHT WE JOIN THE FIGHT TO
PRESERVE OUR CONSTITUTIONAT
FORMS OF GOVERNMENT AGAINST A
NOVEL AND GRAVE THREAT.
THE PROMISE TO SET ASIDE OUR LAW
AND OUR CONSTITUTION WHETHER
THEY CONFLICT WITH HER PERSONAL
VALUES CANNOT BE ALLOWED TO
STAND.
>> Frederica: THY THE HIGH STAKE
RACE GETS MORE ATTENTION FROM
HERE.
WE TURN TO SENIOR POLITICAL
REPORTER ZAC SCHULTZ WHO JOINS
US FROM THE STATE CAPITOL WITH
MORE.
WAS THIS THE PRIMARY ELECTION
OUTCOME EXPECTED?
>> I DON'T THINK YOU CAN BE TOO
SURPRISED.
CERTAINLY NOT ON THE LIBERAL
SIDE.
JANET HAD THE MOST MONEY AND
FIRST COMMERCIAL AND
CONSOLIDATED A LOT OF DEMOCRATIC
SUPPORT AROUND HER CAMPAIGN
EARLY ON.
THE OTHER LIBERAL JUDGE EVERETT
MITCHELL TRIED HARD TO GET
SUPPORT AND HAD A FEW PEOPLE BUT
NEVER HAD THE MONEY TO GET HIS
NAME OUT THERE.
SEEING JANET ADVANCE IS NOT
SURPRISING.
MAYBE THE MARGINS FOR SOME MAY
HAVE BEEN SURPRISING.
ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE WE KNEW
IT WOULD BE A CLOSE MARGIN.
AND IT GOES AGAINST YOUR
CONVENTIONAL THINKING BUT THE
OUTCOME MAY FIT THOUGH JENNIFER
DOROW MAY HAVE BEEN PREFERRED
AHEAD OF TIME AND WE SAW OUTSIDE
INTEREST GROUPS AND OTHERS TRY
TO TAKE HER DOWN AND GETTING THE
SAME RESULT OF ADVANCING DANIEL
KELLY BECAUSE HE WANTED TO WIN.
ON THE LIBERALS' PART BECAUSE
THEY THOUGHT HE WOULD BE A
BETTER MATCH-UP IN THE GENERAL
ELECTION.
THIS OUTCOME IS NOT TERRIBLY
SURPRISING AND THE MARGIN IS SO
NARROW IT CAME DOWN TO THE END.
>> Frederica: TUESDAY'S ELECTION
SAW RECORD TURNOUT FOR SUPREME
COURT PRIMARY.
WHAT DID IT LOOK LIKE ACROSS THE
STATE?
>> IT VARIED ACROSS THE REGIONS.
IN SOME PARTS OF THE SOUTHERN
MORE POPULOUS AREAS THERE WAS
HIGH TURNOUT IN THE NORTHWEST
CORNER LOWER TURNOUT AND SOME
FITS WITH THE THINK HOW THE
CAMPAIGNS WORK.
WE'RE TALKING FEBRUARY 21,
MIDDLE OF WINTER.
GENERALLY THERE'S NOT A LOT OF
ATTENTION PAID AND IT'S DRIVEN
BY ADVERTISING.
HOW MUCH DID PEOPLE EVEN KNOW
THAT ONE, THERE WAS AN ELECTION,
AND TWO, IT WAS THIS IMPORTANT.
IT'S HARDER TO PENETRATE
NORTHERN WISCONSIN WITH
ADVERTISING DOLL THE WAY YOU CAN
BLANKET SOUTHEAST WISCONSIN AND
OTHER COUNTIES.
AND IN MADISON YOU HAD A
CONTESTED MAYORAL PRIMARY.
N NORTHERN MILWAUKEE YOU HAD A
CONTESTED PRIMARY REPUBLICAN
SIDE FOR A SPECIAL ELECTION IN A
SENATE DISTRICT.
ALL THOSE THINGS ARE DROVE
TURNOUT IN MORE POPULOUS
REGIONS.
>> Frederica: DID ANYTHING STAND
OUT IN PARTISAN VOTING PATTERNS?
>> THERE'S A SPLIT ACROSS THE
STATE IN REPUBLICAN VOTING
TRENDS.
WE'VE SEEN THIS TIME AND TIME
AGAIN OVER THE PAST 10 TO 15
YEARS WHERE SOUTHEASTERN
WISCONSIN ESPECIALLY WHERE
SOUTHEAST WISCONSIN TALK RADIO
DOMINATES HAS A DIFFERENT
OPINION WHO NAY THEY FAVOR IN A
PRIMARY VERSUS OUTSIDE RURAL
WISCONSIN AND USED TO BE
SOUTHEAST WISCONSIN WAS ENOUGH
TO DOMINATE.
THAT'S HOW SCOTT WALKER WON TO
BECOME THE GOVERNOR AND HOW
REBECCA CLAYFISH BECAME GOVERNOR
AND IT'S SHIFTED AND BEEN
PLAYING OUT MORE AND MORE THE
REST OF THE STATE, OUTSTATED
RURAL WISCONSIN FOR REPUBLICANS
CAN OUTNUMBER SOUTHEASTERN
WISCONSIN.
WE SAW JENNIFER DOROW'S AREA OF
SUPPORT WAS STRONG BUT WAS BEAT
HANDILY IN THE REST OF THE STATE
AND WON BY A COUPLE PERCENTAGE
POINTS.
>> Frederica: FORMER JUSTICE
LOST HIS LOST ELECTION FOR
SUPREME COURT.
IS HE VULNERABLE HERE?
>> DEMOCRATS CERTAINLY THINK SO.
THAT'S WHAT THEY WANTED TO SEE.
BUT IN REALITY WE'VE SEEN LOTS
OF CANDIDATES HISTORICALLY
ACROSS WISCONSIN RUN AFTER
LOSING AN ELECTION AND TRY
AGAIN.
THE MESSAGE THAT MAY OR MAY NOT
WIN THE SECOND TIME IS NOT THAT
THEY LOST AN ELECTION BUT PEOPLE
KNOW WHAT THEIR VULNERABILITIES
ARE BECAUSE THEY POLLED AGAINST
HIM IN THE PAST.
IN THIS CASE DANIEL KELLY WILL
SAY HE LOST BECAUSE BERNIE
SANDERS AND JOE BIDEN HAD A
CONTESTED PRIMARY AND DONALD
TRUMP WASN'T CONTEST AND SAYS
HATS THE MAJORITY OF THE MARGIN.
THIS IS A DIFFERENT RATE.
WE SHOULDN'T LOOK AT THAT AS THE
ROAD MAP BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE
THE SAME CIRCUMSTANCES.
>> Frederica: IS THERE THE SAME
INFIGHTING IN THE PARTY BETWEEN
DOROW AND KELLY?
>> THAT REMAINS TO BE SEEN AND
SOMETHING REPUBLICANS ARE
WATCHING AND DEMOCRATS WOULD
LIKE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IF
THEY CAN.
WE SAW A SIMILAR THING PLAY OUT
LONG THE SAME LINES LAST SUMMER
WHEN TIM MICHAELS WON THE
GUBERNATORIAL PRIMARY AND
ATTACKING CLAYFISH HEAVILY AND
SHE AND HER SUPPORTERS WEREN'T
HAPPY AND THERE WASN'T THE
UNIFYING MOMENT THAT CAME
AFTERWARDS.
THIS TIME WE SAW DANIEL KELLY
SAYING HE WOULD NOT SUPPORT
JENNIFER DOROW IF SHE WAS THE
ONE TO ADVANCE.
HE REFUSED TO ENDORSE HER AND
DOROW SAID SHE WOULD ENDORSE
KELLY AND SAID REPUBLICANS NEED
TO UNIFY BUT THERE ARE SOME
SUPPORTERS STILL MIFFED THAT
KELLY WOULDN'T SUPPORT THEIR
PERSON GOING FORWARD WHETHER
THAT FRACTURE MAINTAINS AND
EXISTS OR IF REPUBLICAN PARTIES
WANT TO MAINTAIN THE APRIL 4
PRIMARY IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN
FRACTURES THAT EXISTED BEFORE
AND SOMETHING TO BE AWARE OF
GOING FORWARD.
>> Frederica: SPENDING IN THIS
RACE IS EXPECTED TO BE
STRATOSPHERIC.
DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE PROJECTIONS
ARE AND WHO'S GIVING?
>> WE'RE LOOKING AT LEAST $20
MILLION TO $40 MILLION AND A LOT
OF OUT STATE AND SPECIAL
INTEREST MONEY.
>> Frederica: ZAC SCHULTZ THANK
YOU VERY MUCH.
>>> IT'S SAID WISCONSIN SUPREME
COURT ELECTION NON PARTISAN IN
NAME ONLY AND SEEMS MORE TRUE
NOW THAN EVER.
WHAT DOES A FORMER JUSTICE OF
THE HIGH COURT THINK OF THIS
TREND?
WE TURN TO JANNINE GESKE.
>> IT'S MY PLEASURE TO BE HERE.
WHAT DO I THINK?
>> Frederica: DO YOU THINK WE'VE
COME OUT OF THE GATES OF
PARTISAN POLITICS?
>> IT APPEARS THAT WAY FROM
ENDORSEMENTS TO THE MONEY BEING
PUT IN TO PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT
WHAT THEIR VALUES AND THEIR
BELIEFS ARE.
AND IT LOOKS LIKE AND TO THE
LEFT THAT PEOPLE ARE RUNNING ON
ISSUES HOW THEY'RE GOING TO
VOTE.
TO ME THAT'S MORE A LEGISLATIVE
PARTISAN RACE THAN A SUPREME
COURT RACE.
I FIND IT VERY DISTRESSING.
>> Frederica: I WANT TO TALK
MORE ABOUT AND REMIND THE VIEWER
THERE'S A SUPPORTER OF ABORTION
RIGHTS AND SAID THE LEGISLATIVE
MAPS ARE RIGGED AND MAINTAINS
VOTERS WANT TO KNOW WHERE PEOPLE
STAND BUT YOU DON'T THINK SO.
>> THE PROBLEM WITH THAT -- AND
I UNDERSTAND.
WE ALL HAVE OUR OWN BELIEFS.
THE PROBLEM IS WHETHER PEOPLE
BELIEVE IT'S A SIGNAL HOW SHE'LL
VOTE.
THAT'S FINE IF THAT'S YOUR
VALUES BUT IF YOU'RE TAKING AN
OATH YOU'LL FOLLOW THE LAW
REGARDLESS OF OPINION EVEN IF
IT'S INCONSISTENT WHAT YOU MIGHT
VOTE FOR THAT'S WHAT A JUDGE
SHOULD DO.
I THINK BOTH CANDIDATES ARE
DOING THAT IN DIFFERENT WAYS OF
ING INDICATING OR HINTING WHERE
THEY MIGHT VOTE BUT THE
ELECTORATE WILL BELIEVE THE
ISSUE IS ON THE BALLOT VERSUS
CANDIDATE AND WE WANT JUDGE TO
LOOK AT EACH CASE INDEPENDENTLY
AND WHETHER THEIR SUPPORTERS
LIKE IT OR NOT COME TO THE
CONCLUSION THEY BELIEVE IS
RIGHT.
>> Frederica: FORMER JUSTICE
KELLY ISN'T EXACTLY NON
PARTISAN.
HE'S WORKED FOR BOTH STATE AND
NATIONAL REPUBLICAN PARTIES
INCLUDING ADVISING ON THE FAKE
ELECTOR SCHEME HERE IN WISCONSIN
AND YET HE SAYS THIS VIRTUE
SIGNALLING, AS WE'VE DISCUSSED,
MAKES THE JUDGE NOT COMMITTED TO
THE CONSTITUTIONAL ORDER.
IS THAT -- DO YOU THINK THAT'S
FAIR.
>> NO, I THINK BOTH CANDIDATES
ARE DOING IT IN DIFFERENT WAYS
AND I THINK THERE ARE NOT PEOPLE
WHO ARE DOUBTING WHERE JUSTICE
KELLY INDICATES HE MIGHT BE ON
ISSUES.
HE'S DOING IT IN DIFFERENT WAYS
AND SHOWED IN DIFFERENT WAYS HOW
HE'S WORKED AND WHO HE'S
REPRESENTED AND WHAT ISSUES HE'S
TAKEN ON.
I THINK THE QUESTION WE HAVE TO
ASK IS IF YOUR LEGAL CONCLUSION
COMES TO A DIFFERENT RESULT THAN
WHAT YOU'RE ADVOCATING NOW, ARE
YOU WILLING TO DO THAT?
IF YOU CAN'T YOU SHOULDN'T SIT
THE CASES.
I THINK THEY'RE BOTH GIVING THE
FEELING ABOUT WHERE THEY ARE ON
ISSUES.
THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT
AS LONG AS VOTERS UNDERSTAND
THEIR OATH IS TO DECIDE
SOMETIMES INCONSISTENTLY WITH
WHAT THEY MIGHT BELIEVE.
>> Frederica: DOES IT SEEM LIKE
A CHARADE THEN TO SUGGEST
NEITHER SIDE WOULD QUOTE,
LEGISLATE FROM THE BENCH?
>> I'M NOT DOUBTING THE
INTEGRITY OF THE CANDIDATES.
WHAT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT IS HOW
THE CAMPAIGNS GET SHAPED SO
PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT'S WHAT WE'RE
ELECTED.
AN EXAMPLE OF THAT WE CAN POINT
TO JUSTICE KELLY'S VIEW TO
JUSTICE HAGEDORN AND WHEN HE
REFERS TO HIM HE TALKS ABOUT HIM
NOT BEING TRUSTWORTHY OR
RELIABLE BECAUSE HE WASN'T
RELIABLY CONSERVATIVE MEANING
JUSTICE HAGEDORN CAME TO A
DIFFERENT DECISION.
SOME PEOPLE CALL THEM TRAITORS
AND PROFOUNDLY DISAPPOINTED ON
JUSTICE HAGEDORN ON THE RESULTS
OF HIS CASES AND PEOPLE HAVE TO
UNDERSTAND YOU HAVE TO DO THAT
WHEN YOU'RE A JUDGE AND PEOPLE
MAY NOT ALWAYS BE HAPPY WITH THE
RESULT.
>> Frederica: WHAT HAPPENED TO
THE DAYS OF CANDIDATES FOR THE
SUPREME COURT SAYING THEY
COULDN'T TALK ABOUT THAT BECAUSE
THAT ISSUE MAY COME BEFORE THEM?
IT SOUNDS ALMOST QUAINT TODAY.
>> IT WASN'T QUAINT IT WAS TRUE.
THERE ARE TIMES I PUBLICLY
TALKED ABOUT CASES THAT MY VOTE
WAS NOT CONSISTENT WITH WHAT I
WOULD HAVE DONE IF I WERE VOTING
AT THE BALLOT BOX.
THERE ARE TIMES SOMETIMES I
WOULD WRITE A CONCURRENCE OR
ANOTHER OPINION SAYING I WISH
THE LEGISLATURE WOULD LOOK AT
THIS AND CHANGE THINGS BUT THIS
IS HOW I INTERPRETED IT AS A
JUDGE.
THE RISK IS PEOPLE WILL THINK
YOU'RE ELECTING PEOPLE ON A
DELIVERABLE IS UNFORTUNATE.
I'M ACTUALLY BECOMING AN
ADVOCATE FOR APPOINTMENT OF
JUDGES.
I THINK WE'VE GONE WAY OVER THE
LINE OF TRYING TO ELECT FAIR AND
IMPARTIAL JUDGES THAT PEOPLE CAN
HAVE CONFIDENCE IN.
>> Frederica: WHAT'S THIS MEAN
INCLUDING THE HIGH STAKES,
HIGH-SPENDING NATURE OF THIS
RACE REPORTEDLY PROJECTED TO BE
THE MOST EXPENSIVE JUDICIAL
ELECTION IN THE UNITED STATES?
WHAT DOES ALL THIS MEAN FOR THE
INTEGRITY IN YOUR MIND OF THE
COURT?
>> I THINK IT IMPACTS THE
INTEGRITY OF THE COURT AND FAITH
PEOPLE HAVE IN THE INDEPENDENCE
OF THE JUDICIARY.
IT RIPPLES DOWN TO THE TRIAL
COURTS.
IT'S NOT JUST THE SUPREME COURT
THAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO THINK
JUDGE RESPOND TO THEIR
SUPPORTERS AND THAT CERTAIN
PARTIES WILL WIN BECAUSE OF WHO
IS SITTING ON THE BENCH.
THIS IS NOT WHAT THE FOUNDERS
WANTED.
I THINK THEY WANTED JUDGE
INVOLVED IN THEIR COMMUNITIES
AND PEOPLE RESPECTED KNEW AND
COMMITTED THEIR LIVES TO PUBLIC
SERVICE AND NOW WE HAVE ADS AND
THINGS GIVING US THE SENSE WE'RE
ELECTING PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO
REPRESENT CERTAIN INTERESTS.
>> Frederica: WE LEAVE IT THERE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR THOUGHTS.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> Frederica: IN OTHER STATE
NEWS, ANTI-SEMITIC ACTS
INCREASED BY MORE THAN 450%
ACCORDING TO THE MILWAUKEE
JEWISH FEDERATION.
FOR ONE HOLOCAUST HISTORIAN ONE
ACT CAME DIRECTLY TO HER DOOR
STEP.
HERE'S OUR STUDENT JOURNALIST
WITH THE STORY.
>> IN THE MORNING AROUND 8:00
AND I LOOK DOWN AND SEE THIS
OBJECT AND PICKED IT UP AND I
WAS QUITE HORRIFIED AND SHOCKED.
>> HER SHOCK AND HORROR CAME
FROM DISCOVERING AN ANTI-SEMITIC
FLYER ON HER HOME IN KENOSHA.
>> DOWN THE STREET TO 75th
STREET.
>> THE FLYER CLAIMS JEWISH
PEOPLE CAUSED THE COVID-19.
IT WAS IN A PLASTIC BAG AND
WEIGHED DOWN BY ROCKS AND A
PENNY.
AS A HOLOCAUST HISTORIAN SHE'S
USED TO STUDYING ANTI-SEMITISM.
>> I CALLED THE POLICE AND
OFFERED THE INFORMATION AND
PROVIDED THE PAMPHLET AND SAID
THEY ALREADY HAD IT AND WERE
INFORMED OF IT.
>> THE KENOSHA POLICE DEPARTMENT
WERE ABLE TO FIND THE
PERPETRATOR AND FINE HIM JUST
OVER $4,000 NOT FOR A HATE CRIME
BUT LITTERING.
ANTI-SEMITICS INCREASED BY 450%
AND CONSPIRACY THEORIES THAT
SPREAD DURING THE COVID-19
CAUSED AN INCREASE IN CASUAL
ANTI-SEMITISM.
>> IT'S BECOME SO NORMALIZED AND
SO UBIQUITOUS AND PEOPLE ARE
COMFORTABLE EXPRESSING THOSE
FEELINGS AND THOUGHTS AND
ATTITUDES.
>> SHE SAYS AS THE PURPLE STATE,
WISCONSIN DEMONSTRATES HOW
POLITICAL DIVISIVENESS CAN
PERMEATE.
>> IT'S CREATED TUNNELLED VISION
TYPE OF THINKING AND HAS MADE IT
DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE TO BE ABLE
TO REACH ACROSS DIVIDES AND SEE
EACH OTHER AS HUMAN BEINGS.
>> JEWISH PEOPLE HAVE BEEN
VICTIMS OF HATE CRIMES.
>> YOU SEE AN INCREASING
RELUCTANCE OF PEOPLE TO CALL OUT
ANTI-SEMITISM WITHIN THEIR OWN
POLITICAL CAMP.
>> PROFESSOR GOLDBERG SAID
ANTI-SEMITISM STANDS OUT FOR
SUBTLETY AND PERVASIVENESS AND
SAID THERE'S TROPES THAT STILL
EXIST IN CULTURE.
>> IN THE MIDDLE AGES JEWS WERE
ACCUSED OF POISONING WELLS AND
BLAMED FOR THE PLAGUE.
THOSE MOTIFS BECAUSE THEY'D BEEN
AROUND A LONG TIME AND STILL
CIRCULATE ON SOME LEVEL MAKE
JEWS SUITED FOR THE SCAPE GOATS.
>> IT ALIENATES PEOPLE FROM
THEIR COMMUNITY.
HER EXPERIENCE IN KENOSHA HAS
MADE HER DISTRUSTFUL OF OTHERS.
>> MY FATHER WHO WAS A HOLOCAUST
SURVIVOR WARNED ME ANTI-SEMITISM
IS ALIVE AND WELL.
IT'S UNDER THE RADAR AND COVERS
BUT THERE.
ALWAYS BE CAREFUL.
IT'S GOING TO COME BACK.
>> FOR "HERE & NOW", I'M ADITT
FROM KEN OSHA.
>> Frederica: TALK OF CUTTING
BACK ON SOCIAL SECURITY AND
MEDICARE DOCTORS ARE CRYING FOUL
HOW PAYMENTS AREN'T KEEPING
PACE.
PHYSICIANS HAVE BEEN LOBBYING
CONGRESS SAYING PATIENT CARE
COULD BE AT RISK.
WE TALK WITH A PHYSICIAN AND
CHAIR OF THE BOARD OF THE
WISCONSIN SOCIETY THANK YOU FOR
BEING HERE.
DOCTORS HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT
HOW MEDICAL REIMBURSEMENT RATES
ARE TOO LOW.
WHAT'S THE STATUS?
>> WE'VE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THIS
20, 30 YEARS AND SOMETHING WE'D
GO TO CONGRESS AND TALK ABOUT
BECAUSE AS WE'LL TALK ABOUT IF
OUR PRACTICES RIGHT-HAND FUND SS AREN'T BEING
FUNDED WE WON'T BE AROUND AND WE
TALKED ABOUT PAYMENTS AND IT
HADN'T CHANGED IN 20, 30 YEARS.
UNFORTUNATELY THAT'S STILL NOT
ADEQUATE.
WE'VE BEEN THROUGH A DIFFICULT
TIME THE PAST THREE YEARS AND
WE'VE HAD PAYMENT CUTS THAT ARE
SET TO GO INTO PLACE THIS YEAR
ALREADY AND THIS IS WHEN WE'RE
ALREADY AT RATES BASICALLY 1980
TYPE OF RATES THAT HAD NOT BEEN
ADJUSTED.
LET ALONE ADJUSTED FOR THE
INFLATION THAT WE'VE HAD.
IF YOU LOOK AT REAL DOLLARS,
PHYSICIANS HAVE ALREADY HAD A
22% CUT IN THE PAST 20 YEARS.
>> Frederica: DESCRIBE HOW THAT
AFFECTS PATIENT CARE?
>> THAT ABSOLUTELY AFFECTS
PATIENT CARE.
OUR GOAL IS TO HAVE THE PATIENT
TO BE ABLE TO HAVE CHOICE AND
SEE THE DOCTOR CLOSE TO THEM.
THE DOCTOR THEY CHOOSE.
AND WHAT HAPPENS IS PARTICULARLY
IN RURAL AREAS OR UNDER SERVED
AREAS WE HAVE DOCTORS' OFFICE
WHO'S ARE BASICALLY SMALL
BUSINESSES AND THEY HAVE
PRIMARILY PATIENTS THAT ARE
MEDICARE THAT THE PAYMENT IS
UNDER WHAT THEY WOULD GET FOR
OTHER TYPES OF INSURANCE
PRODUCTS, YOU HAVE CHOICES.
YOU CAN TAKE LESS MEDICARE OR
ULTIMATELY SOMETIMES PHYSICIAN
HAVE TO CLOSE THEIR PRACTICES.
AND WHEN THEY CLOSE THEIR
PRACTICES THEY PROBABLY MOVE TO
LESS RURAL AREAS WHERE THEY CAN
BE BUSIER AND THAT CHOICE FOR
THOSE PATIENTS IS LOST AND WHAT
HAPPENS IS THE PATIENT HAS FEWER
CHOICES AND OFTEN TIMES THE
PATIENT HAS TO DRIVER FURTHER TO
GET THE CARE THEY NEED.
>> Frederica: CONGRESS GAVE TENS
OF BILLIONS TO PHYSICIANS DURING
THE PANDEMIC BUT THAT WAS ALL
USED DURING THE TIME?
>> THE PANDEMIC AS WE ALL
LEARNED HAS BEEN CHALLENGING.
WITH A LOT OF THE OTHER
INCREASES IN PAY THAT WE'VE SEEN
FROM THE GOVERNMENT, A LOT OF
THAT PAID FOR NEW REQUIREMENTS
OR NEW ADMINISTRATIVE BURDENS
THEY PUT IN OUR WAY.
REAL DOLLARS AS I SAID BEFORE
WE'VE PROBABLY CUT ABOUT 20% AND
WHEN YOU'RE TRYING TO KEEP A
PRACTICE OPEN, WHEN YOU'RE
HIRING NURSES AND OFFICE STAFF,
IT'S A SMALL BUSINESS, IT'S JUST
NOT SUSTAINABLE.
>> Frederica: HOW HARD IS IT TO
ENGENDER SYMPATHY FOR HIGHLY
PAID PHYSICIANS THOUGH THEY'RE
REGARDED AS THE HEALTH CARE
HEROES OF THE PAST SEVERAL
YEARS?
>> WE CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT
THIS BEING PATIENT OPTIONS.
IF THE PHYSICIAN ISN'T THERE AND
THE PHYSICIAN IS AN IMPORTANT
PART OF THE COMMUNITY OBVIOUSLY
THEY DELIVER HEALTH WHICH AS WE
LEARNED OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS
IS INVALUABLE.
IF THE PHYSICIAN AND PRACTICE IS
NOT THERE, THE PATIENTS SUFFER
AND AREN'T ABLE TO SEE THEIR
TRUSTED DOCTOR THEY'VE GOTTEN TO
KNOW OVER TIME AND HAVE TO DRIVE
FURTHER AND OFTEN TIMES IF YOU
MAKE CARE LESS CONVENIENT, CARE
DOESN'T HAPPEN.
PEOPLE DON'T GET CARE UNTIL IT'S
MORE CATASTROPHIC CARE WHERE
LESS IS ABLE TO HAPPEN THAT CAN
ARREST IT.
SO WHAT HAPPENS IS ONCE THE
PHYSICIANS GO, IF THAT'S WHAT
HAPPENS, PATIENTS PAY THE PRICE.
>> Frederica: SO APART FROM THE
SPECIFIC LOBBYING EFFORTS AROUND
THESE REIMBURSEMENT RATES LIKE
NW, WHAT IS THE FEELING AMONG
THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY AND THESE
PHYSICIANS ABOUT THESE
DISCUSSIONS IN WASHINGTON ABOUT
CUTTING ENTITLEMENTS AS THEY'RE
CALLED LIKE MEDICARE?
>> IT'S AN IMPORTANT WAY FOR
PATIENT TO GET GOOD CARE AND WE
WANT THEM TO HAVE CHOICES TO GO
TO THE HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL
THEY WANT TO IN A WAY THAT'S
CONVENIENT.
WHEN I THINK WITH THE NUMBERS
BEING CUT, OBVIOUSLY WE THINK
ABOUT THE RATES BEING CUT.
WE THINK ABOUT THE IDEA THAT
IT'S GOING TO BE MORE DIFFICULT
FOR PEOPLE TO GET TREATMENT AND
AS WE'VE SEEN PARTICULARLY EARLY
ON IN THE PANDEMIC, WHEN PEOPLE
PUT TREATMENT OFF, BAD THINGS
HAPPEN.
>> Frederica: HOW HAVE LOBBYING
EFFORTS BEEN MET BY
CONGRESSIONAL MEMBERS
PARTICULARLY WISCONSIN?
>> WE VISITED ALL THE OFFICES
THAT WERE OPEN TO US.
WE VISITED MOST OFFICES AND EVEN
IN A TIME SO CONTENTIOUS AS
THIS, THERE'S A LOT OF
AGREEMENT.
THERE'S A LOT OF AGREEMENT
MEDICARE SHOULD BE HELD SAFE.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE BEING TOLD.
WE'RE BEING TOLD THAT PATIENTS
SHOULD CONTINUE TO HAVE CHOICE.
WE'RE BEING TOLD PHYSICIANS
SHOULD BE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF
PATIENTS WITH MEDICARE WITHOUT
HAVING TO GO OUT OF BUSINESS.
WITHOUT WORRY OF KEEPING THE
LIGHTS ON.
WHETHER YOU'RE DEMOCRAT OR
REPUBLICAN YOU'RE AGREEING WITH
THIS THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE SAYING.
>> Frederica: THANK YOU VERY
MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> Frederica: AND FINALLY
TONIGHT WE REMEMBER FORMER
GOVERNOR TONY EARL WHO PASSED
AWAY THURSDAY AFTER SUFFERING
FROM A STROKE EARLIER THIS WEEK.
AS THE 41st GOVERNOR OF
WISCONSIN, THE FORMER DEMOCRATIC
LEADER LEAVES A LEGACY FOR HIS
WORK ON VARIETAL ISSUES AND
PROMOTING
PROMOTING LGBTQ RIGHTS AND HIS
PASSING SAY SIGNIFICANT LOSS FOR
OUR STATE AND ALL WHO THAT'D
FORTUNE OF MEETING AND SERVING
WITH HIM.
HE WAS FIRST ELECTED TO THE
STATE ASSEMBLY IN 1969 AND
SERVED UNTIL 1974.
FOLLOWING HIS TIME IN THE
LEGISLATURE, HE WAS A STATE
CABINET SECRETARY FOR TWO
DEPARTMENTS UNDER THREE
DIFFERENT ADMINISTRATIONS.
HE WAS ELECTED GOVERNOR IN 1983
AND SERVED ONE TERM.
AFTER ELECTED OFFICE HE WENT ON
TO SERVE ON MANY BOARDS
INCLUDING COMMON CAUSE WISCONSIN
ON FIRST NATION REFORM.
HIS DAUGHTERS SAID HE'D
ENCOURAGE ANYONE HE KNEW TO
ENGAGE IN POSITIVE CHANGE.
HE WAS 86.
FOR MORE ON THIS AND OTHER
ISSUES FACING WISCONSIN, VISIT
OUR WEBSITE AT PBSWISCONSIN.org
AND CLICK ON THE NEWS TAB.
THAT'S OUR NEWS FOR TONIGHT.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.