..TEST...
...TEST...
..TEST...
...TEST...
..TEST...
...TEST...
..TEST...
>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION.
>> I DO NOT SEE THIS AS A
BAIL-OUT FOR MILWAUKEE.
I SEE THIS AS GIVING THEM THE
TOOLS TO SOLVE THEIR OWN ISSUES.
>> MILWAUKEE TAKES CENTER STAGE
IN THE DEBATE OVER LOCAL
GOVERNMENT FUNDING.
NEW FEDERAL PROTECTIONS FOR
PREGNANT WORKERS ARE SET TO TAKE
EFFECT IN JUNE.
AND 'TIS THE SEASON FOR TICKS.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW," WHAT
PEOPLE OF MILWAUKEE THINK ABOUT
PLANS IN THE LEGISLATURE FOR THE
STATE'S LARGEST CITY.
WE LOOK AT DETAILS IN THE
PREGNANT WOMEN FAIRNESS ACT AND
AS YOU HEAD OUTDOORS, WHAT YOU
NEED TO KNOW ABOUT TICKS THIS
SEASON.
IT'S HERE AND NOW FOR MAY 26.
FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNAL AND I AM FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.
>> AT THE STATE CAPITOL THIS
WEEK, LAWMAKERS FROM THE SENATE
CONSIDERED THEIR VERSION OF THE
SHARED REVENUE BILL TO INCREASE
FUNDING TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AS
THE VERY SURVIVAL OF THE BILL
HANGS IN THE BALANCE.
THE TIPPING POINT, WHETHER OR
NOT TO BRING A REFERENDUM
QUESTION BEFORE MILWAUKEE VOTERS
TO INCREASE THE SALES TAX BY 2%
FOR THE CITY OF MILWAUKEE AND
BY.375% FOR THE COUNTY TO PAY
FOR OUTSTANDING PENSION
OBLIGATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN
GROWING FOR YEARS.
LAST WEEK, ASSEMBLY SPEAKER
ROBIN VOS SAID THEIR VERSION OF
THE BILL REQUIRES THE REFERENDUM
AND THEY ARE DONE NEGOTIATING.
SENATE MAJORITY LEADER DEVIN
LeMAHIEU TOOK ISSUE WITH THAT,
CONCERNED THAT THE REFERENDUM
COULD FAIL.
SPEAKING BEFORE THE SENATE
COMMITTEE THIS WEEK WAS
MILWAUKEE MAYOR KAVA A LOT OF CAVALIER
JOHNSON.
HE JOINS US.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> SO FROM YOUR UNDERSTANDING,
WHERE DOES THIS SHARED REVENUE
BILL STAND AS OF THIS MOMENT?
IS THERE ROOM FOR NEGOTIATION?
>> FREDERICA, I WOULD IMAGINE
THAT THERE IS ROOM FOR
NEGOTIATION.
LOOK.
I'VE NOT HAD THE ABILITY, THE
PRIVILEGE TO SERVE IN A
BICAMERAL LEGISLATIVE BODY SUCH
AS WE HAVE IN OUR STATE
LEGISLATURE, BUT MY
UNDERSTANDING, THOUGH, IS THAT
ONE HOUSE CREATES A BILL, AND IF
THERE'S ANY DIFFERENCE WITH THE
OTHER HOUSE, THEY COME TOGETHER,
THEY CONFERENCE THE BILL.
THAT'S NEGOTIATION.
AND SO I WOULD SUSPECT THAT
THERE STILL WOULD BE ROOM FOR
BOTH THE ASSEMBLY AS WELL AS THE
SENATE TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY
TO HAVE A CONVERSATION AND PUT
FORWARD A BILL THAT CAN PASS
BOTH HOUSES THAT CAN GET THE
SUPPORT THAT IT NEEDS IN THE
LEGISLATURE THAT CAN ALSO BE
SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR.
>> WHAT ARE YOU SPECIFICALLY
LOBBYING FOR?
>> LOOK.
IN THE BILL, THERE ARE A NUMBER
OF THINGS THAT I'VE BEEN
LOBBYING FOR.
YOU MENTIONED THE ISSUE ABOUT
WHETHER IT'S A REFERENDUM OR
WHETHER IT'S ENABLING
LEGISLATIVE ALLOWING FOR BOTH
MILWAUKEE COUNTY COUNCIL AS WELL
AS MILWAUKEE COUNTY BOARD TO
PASS LEGISLATION GOING TO BE
SIGNED BY THE EXECUTIVES IN
THOSE JURISDICTIONS, MYSELF
BEING ONE OF THEM.
LOOK.
I'D LIKE FURTHER TO BE
CONSISTENCY HERE.
WHEN THE STATE OF WISCONSIN
ALLOWS LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO
IMPLEMENT OR INCREASE A TAX,
WHETHER IT'S A COUNTY SALES TAX,
.5% SALES TAX, THAT'S 68 OF OUR
72 COUNTIES HAVE IMPLEMENTED,
THOSE HAPPEN BY A SIMPLE
MAJORITY OF THE LEGISLATIVE
BODY.
THEY ARE NOT SENT TO REFERENDUM.
WHEN STATE OF WISCONSIN ALLOWS
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO ENACT A
PLEA MERE RESORT AREA TAX,
PREMIER, THOSE ARE IMPOSED VIA A
BOAT OF THE LEGISLATIVE BODY.
THEY ARE NOT SENT OUT TO THE
MASSES VIA REFERENDUM.
SO I'M LOOKING FOR CONSISTENCY
HERE FROM THE STATE LEGISLATURE
IN ALLOWING US TO IMPLEMENT 2%
SALES TAX IN THE CITY OF
MILWAUKEE ALLOWING THE COUNCIL
TO BE ABLE TO VOTE ON THAT AND
THEN ME, AS THE EXECUTIVE OF
THIS GINGERBREAD, TO BE ABLE TO
SIGN THAT INTO LAW AND IMPLEMENT
IT.
THERE ARE SOME OTHER
MILWAUKEE-SPECIFIC ITEMS IN THE
BILL AND MY REQUEST HAS BEEN ON
THOSE THINGS TO ALLOW LOCAL
OFFICIALS TO MAKE THOSE
DECISIONS THAT PURELY AFFECT US
AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.
>> WHAT ARE YOUR CONCERNS ABOUT
TAKING THAT EXTRA 2% SALES TAX
TO VOTERS?
DO YOU THINK IT WOULDN'T PASS?
I HAVE GREAT CONCERNS ABOUT
WHETHER OR NOT A REFERENDUM
WOULD BE ABLE TO PASS IN
MILWAUKEE.
A NUMBER OF CONCERNS ABOUT IT.
THE QUESTION, I THINK, POSED
WOULD BE TOO LARGE, TOO OVERLY
CONFUSING, TOO OVERLY CUMBERSOME
FOR US TO BE ABLE TO EDUCATE THE
PUBLIC ABOUT THE DIRE NEED
THAT'S AVAILABLE HERE, AND THEN
THERE ARE A COUPLE OF OTHER
REASONS WHY.
I'VE GOT SEVERE CONCERNS.
IN THE CITY OF MILWAUKEE, IN
YEARS PAST, WHAT WE HAD DONE
BEFORE WE IMPLEMENTED A WHEEL
TAX, THAT'S 20 BUCKS A YEAR THAT
PEOPLE PAY WHEN THEY REGISTER
THEIR VEHICLE, WE ESSENTIALLY
HAD A REFERENDUM WHEN THE
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS WOULD
GO TO A PARTICULAR STREET IN THE
CITY TO RECONSTRUCT THAT STREET.
WE WOULD SENDS OUT A POSTCARD TO
THE RESIDENTS ON THAT BLOCK AND
SAY, HEY, WE'RE COMING TO
RECONSTRUCT THE STREET.
IT'S GOING TO COST YOU ROUGHLY
$3,000.
THAT WAS A REFERENDUM AND FOLKS
WOULD VOTE THOSE DOWN
CONSISTENTLY BECAUSE THEY
WOULDN'T WANT TO PAY THE
ADDITIONAL DOLLAR.
WHAT HAPPENED, THOUGH, WAS THEN
THAT WE WOULD HAVE A STREET AND
SEVERAL STREETS THROUGHOUT THE
CITY THAT WOULD BE REDUCED TO
GRAVEL.
SO THERE ARE THOSE SORT OF
CONCERNS ABOUT A REFERENDUM.
WE NEED THE MONEY TO BE ABLE TO
DO THESE THINGS, TO BE ABLE TO
PROVIDE CITY SERVICES, JUST LIKE
WE DID BEFORE WITH FIXING THE
STREET.
THE OTHER THING THAT I HAVE A
GRAVE CONCERN WITH IS THAT IN
MILWAUKEE, TALKING ABOUT ISSUES
AROUND PENSIONS, I THINK IT'S
TABOO.
FOLKS RECALL ABOUT TWO DECADES
AGO OR SO SOME OF THE CHALLENGES
THAT HAPPENED AROUND PENSIONS IN
MILWAUKEE, AND I DON'T WANT
THOSE BAD FEELINGS FROM THE PAST
TO BE INTERMINGLED WITH WHAT WE
NEED TO ACCOMPLISH HERE RIGHT
NOW IN TERMS OF GETTING MORE
REVENUES TO US AT THE LOCAL
LEVEL SO THAT WE CAN MAINTAIN
SERVICES HERE IN THE CITY OF
MILWAUKEE, INCLUDING MAKING SURE
THAT WE MAINTAIN AND INCREASE
POLICE SERVICE, THAT WE MAINTAIN
AND INCREASE FIRE SERVICE, AND
ALSO THAT WE MAINTAIN OUR
LIBRARY SYSTEM THAT MEANS SO
MUCH TO CITIZENS ALL ACROSS THE
CITY.
>> WHAT IS YOUR MESSAGE TO THE
PEOPLE OF THE STATE ABOUT HOW
DIRE THINGS ARE FISCALLY IN
MILWAUKEE RIGHT NOW IN THE
ABSENCE OF ANY KIND OF EVEN
OVERALL BOOST IN SHARED REVENUE
FROM THE STATE?
>> WELL, FREDERICA, WHAT HAPPENS
IN MILWAUKEE HAS AN OUTSIDE
IMPACT ON THE STATE OF
WISCONSIN.
IT REALLY, REALLY DOES.
YOU THINK ABOUT THE SERVICES
THAT WE PROVIDE HERE.
THEY ARE GOOD, NOT JUST FOR MY
CONSTITUENTS, THE RESIDENTS IN
THE CITY OF MILWAUKEE; THEY'RE
GOOD FOR OUR REGIONAL ECONOMY
AND WE'VE GOT, YOU KNOW,
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO DRIVE
INTO THE CITY EACH AND EVERY
SINGLE DAY FOR WORK AND FOR
DINING AND THE LIKE, AND FROM
THE WAUKESHA, WASHINGTON COUNTY
SUBURBS.
WE, IN THE CITY OF MILWAUKEE AND
MILWAUKEE GENERALLY, WE'RE THE
LARGEST TOURISM DESTINY IN THE
STATE OF WISCONSIN, ABOUT A
QUARTER OF ALL TOURISTS WHO
INTERFACE WITH OUR STATE AND
THEN THEREFORE PAY SALES TAX
THAT GO TO MADISON AND THEN ARE
DIVERTED TO OTHER COMMUNITIES
AROUND THE STATE.
THEY COME TO MILWAUKEE.
RIGHT?
AND EXPERIENCE THE HOSPITALITY,
THE TOURISM THAT WE HAVE HERE IN
THIS CITY.
AND THEN OF COURSE SOME OF THE
MOST ICONIC BUSINESSES IN THE
STATE OF WISCONSIN ARE LOCATED
RIGHT HERE IN THE CITY OF
MILWAUKEE.
NOW, IF WE'RE NOT ABLE TO
PROVIDE ALL OF THOSE CITY
SERVICES THAT ALL OF THOSE
CONSTITUENCIES DEPEND ON, THAT
WOULD PUT NEWS US IN A DIRE SITUATION
WHERE THOSE BUSINESSES DON'T
COME, WHERE THOSE BUSINESSES
DECIDE TO LEAVE, AND IF THOSE
THINGS WERE TO HAPPEN, THE
RIPPLE EFFECT DOESN'T JUST
HAPPEN IN THE CITY OF MILWAUKEE.
IT HAPPENS IN THE REGION AND IT
HAPPENS IN OTHER PARTS OF THE
STATE OF WISCONSIN AS WELL.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WE LEAVE IT THERE.
MAYOR CAVALIER JOHNSON, THANKS
VERY MUCH.
>> OKAY.
FREDERICA, THANK YOU FOR HAVING
ME.
>> OTHERS IN MILWAUKEE ARE AN
UNEQUIVOCAL HARD "NO" ON THIS
PROPOSAL.
OUR NEXT GUEST SAYS THIS DEAL IN
THE LEGISLATURE FAILS MILWAUKEE
BY OVERINVESTING IN POLICE AND
TAXING THE POOREST RESIDENTS.
DEVIN ANDERSON IS CAMPAIGN
DIRECTOR OF THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN
ROUNDTABLE.
THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> SO YOUR ORGANIZATION IS
HIGHLY CRITICAL OF THIS SHARED
REVENUE PLAN AS IT AFFECTS
MILWAUKEE.
IN YOUR MIND, WHAT IS THE WORST
OF IT?
>> YEAH.
ALL OF IT IS PRETTY BAD, BUT I
THINK IF YOU LOOK AT IT IN ITS
TOTALITY, THE PROVISIONS THAT IT
PLACES ON MILWAUKEE IN
PARTICULAR BRINGING COPS BACK
INTO SCHOOL, FRIENDS AT LEADERS
IGNITING STRONG ORGANIZING TO
GET COPS OUT OF SCHOOL IF YOU
LOOK AT JUST THE CONTINUED
INVESTMENT THAT MILWAUKEE WOULD
HAVE TO MAKE INTO POLICING, PART
OF THE REASON MILWAUKEE'S IN THE
PROBLEM, THE BUDGET PROBLEM THAT
IT HAS IS BECAUSE OF ITS
OVERINVESTMENT IN POLICING AND
SO THIS BILL DOUBLES DOWN ON
THAT INVESTMENT AND WE HAVEN'T
EVEN GOTTEN TO THE 2% SALES TAX.
THAT'S A REGRESSIVE TAX, AND A
REGRESSIVE TAX IMPACTS THE
POOREST RESIDENTS, AND IT'S
SOMETHING WHERE PEOPLE,
RESIDENTS OF MILWAUKEE ARE
ALREADY STRUGGLING TO MAKE ENDS
MEET AND ADDING A 2% SALES TAX
WHEN THEY'RE REALLY GETTING NO
INCREASE IN SERVICES IS A BAD
DEAL.
>> SO DO YOU THINK CITY
RESIDENTS WOULD CONSIDER VOTING
TO APPROVE A 2% SALES TAX THAT
GOES TO PAY FOR POLICE PENSIONS?
NO.
I THINK THE ANSWER IS NO AND I
THINK THAT'S WHY WE'VE SEEN THE
PIVOT FROM THE LEADERSHIP AT THE
CITY AND COUNTY ASKING FOR THIS
TO BE APPROVED VIA THE RESPECTED
LEGISLATIVE BRANCHES RATHER THAN
GOING TO REFERENDUM.
I THINK PEOPLE IN MILWAUKEE HAVE
AN UNDERSTANDING AND DON'T WANT
TO SEE ANY OF THEIR SERVICES
CUT, BUT WHAT THEY KNOW IS THEY
DON'T WANT TO BE FORCED TO PAY
ADDITIONAL REVENUE AND NOT SEE
ANY EXPANSION IN SERVICES.
>> WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE
BILL AS INTRODUCED, INCLUDING
THAT REFERENDUM, TAKING THE 2%
SALES TAX TO VOTERS, WHEREAS
THAT IS NOT REQUIRED ELSEWHERE?
>> YEAH.
I THINK OUR POSITION IS STILL
WE'RE GOING TO OPPOSE A 2% SALES
TAX.
ONE THING WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO
LIFT UP IS THAT WISCONSIN HAS A
$7 BILLION SURPLUS.
SO INSTEAD OF ASKING VOTERS IN
MILWAUKEE TO DIG DEEPER INTO
THEIR POCKETS TO PAY TO MAINTAIN
SERVICES, THE STATE SHOULD WRITE
THE CHECK.
OVER THE LAST YEAR, AND I KNOW A
LOT OF FOLKS HAVE TALKED ABOUT
IT, EVERYBODY ALWAYS SAYS
MILWAUKEE IS THE ECONOMIC ENGINE
OF THE STATE, BUT MILWAUKEE
DOESN'T RECEIVE ITS FAIR SHARE
OF SHARED REVENUE.
OUR FOGS AND WHAT WE'VE FIGURE
OUT FOR OVER THE LAST YEARS HAS
ALWAYS BEEN MORE INVESTMENT INTO
OUR COMMUNITIES.
SINCE WE LAUNCHED OUR CAMPAIGN
IN 2019, THAT'S BEEN CENTRAL TO
OUR DEMANDS, THAT OUR
COMMUNITIES NEED MORE.
THEY NEED MORE ACCESS TO PUBLIC
HEALTH, THEY NEED LONGER HOURS
AT THE LIBRARIES, THEY NEED
THEIR ROADS TO BE REPAIRED.
BUT OUR VISION OF HOW WE GET
THERE IS NOT TO INCREASE TAXES
ON THE POOREST PEOPLE OF
MILWAUKEE.
IT'S NOT TO SIGN DEALS THAT
CONTINUE TO ADD TO MORE POLICE.
AND INSTEAD, IT'S DEMANDING THAT
THE STATE GIVE ITS FAIR SHARE
BACK TO THE RESIDENTS OF
MILWAUKEE WHO PROVIDE SO MUCH TO
THE STATE OF WISCONSIN.
>> WHAT CONCERNS DO YOU AND
OTHERS HAVE THAT IN THE KIND OF
WRANGLING ABOUT THE PROCESS AND
THE SPECIFICS OF THIS BILL, THAT
THE WHOLE THING COULD GO DOWN
AND THEN MILWAUKEE AND OTHER
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS DON'T GET THIS
SORELY NEEDED BOOST?
>> YEAH.
I THINK OUR CONCERNS ALWAYS LIE
WITHIN OUR RESIDENTS.
FOR TOO LONG, THE RESIDENTS THAT
WE'VE TALKED TO HAVE NOTED THAT
THEY ALREADY DON'T SEE THE
IMPACTS OF CITY GOVERNMENT.
AND SO OUR CONCERNS IS LIKE
LIFTING UP THEIR VOICE AND
NAMING RIGHT NOW THAT WE CAN'T
SIGN THIS DEAL JUST BECAUSE IT'S
THE ONLY DEAL ON THE TABLE; WE
HAVE TO ASK FOR MORE.
WE HAVE TO DEMAND MORE.
OUR COMMUNITIES DESERVE SO MUCH
MORE FROM OUR GOVERNMENT AND WE
HAVE TO BE DEMANDING THAT HAVE
AND NOT ACCEPTING THE SCRAPS
LEFT ON THE TABLE FOR US.
>> ARE YOUR SPROISES BEING HEARD
VOICES BEING HEARD IN ALL OF
THIS?
>> NO.
NO, THEY AREN'T.
WE'VE MADE IT LOUD AND CLEAR THE
LAST YEARS THROUGHOUT THE CITY
BUDGET PROCESS THAT ACTUALLY
WHAT MILWAUKEE RESIDENTS WANT IS
THEY WANT TO SEE MORE
INVESTMENTS INTO PROGRAMS LIKE
PUBLIC HEALTH, THEY WANT TO SEE
THEIR LIBRARIES EXPANDED, THEY
WANT TO SEE LESS MONEY SPENT ON
POLICE.
BUT INSTEAD WE CONTINUE TO SEE
STATUS QUO BUDGETS, WE CONTINUE
TO SEE ELECTION OFFICIALS MAKING
EXCUSES AROUND WHY FOLKS --
ALWAYS TALK ABOUT HOW MILWAUKEE
IS GOING TOWARDS THIS FINANCIAL
CLIFF, BUT WE'VE NEVER SEEN ANY
CHANGES IN TERMS OF THEIR
INVESTMENT AND SUPPORT FOR
POLICE AND POLICING.
AND SO FOR US, IT'S LIKE, YOU
KNOW, CITY LEADERSHIP WILL TALK
ABOUT LIKE HOW PREVIOUS
ADMINISTRATIONS HAVE LED US TO
THIS MOMENT, BUT ACTUALLY, THEIR
ADMINISTRATION AND THE BUDGETS
THEY PASSED LAST YEAR HAVE
CONTINUED TO PUSH US TOWARDS
THIS MOMENT AND WE SHOULDN'T BE
ASKING MILWAUKEE'S X X X X POOREST
RESIDENTS TO BAIL US OUT IN THIS
MOMENT.
>> DEVIN ANDERSON, WE'LL LEAVE
IT THERE.
WE APPRECIATE HEARING YOUR
VOICE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING
ME.
>> LAST AUGUST, WAL-MART
EMPLOYEES IN WISCONSIN
REPRESENTED BY THE U.S. EQUAL
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
COMMISSION LOST A FEDERAL COURT
CASE THAT TRIED TO ARGUE
PREGNANT WORKERS, LIKE WORKERS
INJURED ON THE JOB, SHOULD
RECEIVE TEMPORARY LIGHT-DUTY
WORK.
NOW A NEW LAW REQUIRING
REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS FOR
PREGNANT WORKERS TAKES EFFECT
NEXT MONTH.
THE PREGNANT WORKERS FAIRNESS
ACT PASSED IN DECEMBER AS PART
OF-TRILLION-DOLLAR INFLATION
REDUCTION ACT.
FOR MORE ON WHAT'S BEING CALLED
A LANDMARK NEW WILL YOU TAKING
EFFECT JUNE 27th, WE TURN TO
SHARYN TEJANI, ASSOCIATE LEGAL
COUNSEL AT THE E.E.O.C.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING
US.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> SO IN YOUR MIND, HOW BIG OF A
GAME-CHANGER IS THIS FOR
PREGNANT WORKERS?
>> IT'S GOING TO BE AN IMPORTANT
CHANGE FOR PREGNANT WORKERS.
RIGHT NOW, UNDERS CERTAIN LAWS,
PREGNANT WORKERS CAN GET
ACCOMMODATIONS, BUT IT CAN BE
DIFFICULT.
THIS WEEK GIVES PREGNANT WORKERS
A DIRECT WAY TO GET AN
ACCOMMODATION.
OF COURSE WHAT THIS PROVIDES FOR
IS ACCOMMODATIONS AS LONG AS
THEY DON'T CAUSE AN UNDUE
HARDSHIP.
IT'S NOT AN AUTOMATIC THING THAT
A PERSPECTIVE WORKER WILL GET
PREGNANT WORKER WILL GET AN
ACCOMMODATION, BUT RATHER THAN
SOMETHING TO DISCUSS WITH THEIR
EMPLOYER AND SEE IF IT WORKS.
>> WHAT WILL THE PERSPECTIVE
FAIRNESS WORKERS ACT REQUIRE
SPECIFICALLY IN TERMS OF THOSE
ACCOMMODATIONS?
WHAT ARE SOME EXAMPLES THAT A
PREGNANT WOMAN COULD SEE?
>> SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT
CONGRESS WAS TALKING ABOUT WHEN
IT WAS PASSING THIS LAW, SOME OF
THE ACCOMMODATIONS THEY WERE
TALKING ABOUT WERE INCREDIBLY
SIMPLE THINGS, THINGS LIKE
CARRYING AROUND A BOTTLE OF
WATER, ADDITIONAL BREAKS TO GO
TO THE BATHROOM, A STOOL IF YOU
NORMALLY HAVE TO STAND DURING --
WHEN YOU'RE DOING YOUR JOB, AND
LEAVE TO RECOVER FROM CHILDBIRTH
AND OCCASIONALLY HAVING PARTS OF
YOUR JOB EXCUSED BECAUSE OF YOUR
PREGNANCY, YOU'RE UNABLE TO DO
THEM, SOMETHING LIKE HEAVY
LIFTING.
>> IT SEEMS KIND OF INCREDIBLE
THAT THERE WOULD NEED TO BE A
FEDERAL LAW TO HAVE THESE
ACCOMMODATIONS IN THE WORKPLACE.
>> WELL, YES, BUT THERE DID NEED
TO BE ONE.
SOME EMPLOYERS OBVIOUSLY PROVIDE
THESE KINDS OF THINGS TO THEIR
EMPLOYEES AS A MATTER OF COURSE,
AND IN CERTAIN TYPES OF JOBS,
YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE WORKING IN
AN OFFICE, FOR EXAMPLE, LAWYERS,
FOR EXAMPLE, WHO WORK IN A LAW
FIRM, THE IDEA THAT THEY WOULD
NEED A FEDERAL LAW IN ORDER TO
BE ABLE TO CARRY WATER AROUND
WITH THEM, OF COURSE NOT.
MOST PEOPLE WHO WORK IN OFFICES
ARE ABLE TO DO THAT.
BUT DIFFERENT KINDS OF JOBS HAVE
CERTAIN RULES AND FOR THOSE
KINDS OF JOBS, THIS IS GOING TO
BE A VERY IMPORTANT THING FOR
PERSPECTIVE WORKERS UP UNTIL NOW
DIDN'T HAVE A DIRECT PATH IN
ORDER TO GET THESSALONIANS KINDS
OF ACCOMMODATIONS THEN THESE
KINDS OF ACCOMMODATIONS.
>> HOW DOES A PREGNANT WORKER
PROVE LIMITATIONS REQUIRING
PREGNANCY?
IS PREGNANCY ITSELF A KNOWN
LIMITATION?
>> WELL, THE STATUTE SAYS THAT A
KNOWN LIMITATION IS A PHYSICAL
OR MENTAL CONDITION RELATED TO
ARISING OUT OF OUR AFFECTED BY
PREGNANCY, CHILDBIRTH OR ANY
RELATED MEDICAL CONDITIONS SO
THERE AREN'T SPECIFIC EXAMPLES
WITHIN THE STATUTE, BUT WHEN YOU
LOOK AT WHAT CONGRESS WAS
TALKING ABOUT, THEY WERE TALKING
ABOUT THINGS LIKE CARRYING
AROUND A BOTTLE OF WATER,
SOMETHING THAT YOU MIGHT NEED IN
ORDER TO KEEP HEALTHY WHILE
YOU'RE PREGNANT AND ALSO
SOMETHING THAT YOU MIGHT NEED,
FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOUR ANKLES ARE
SWELLING AND YOU NEED TO SIT
DOWN, SO IT COULD BE ANY OF
THOSE THINGS, BUT WHAT'S
IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT
IT SEEMS THAT THEY WERE AIMING
AT KIND OF SIMPLE THINGS THAT
SHOULDN'T BE A BIG CHANGE IN HOW
THE WORKPLACE IS FUNCTIONING
BUT, RATHER, WHAT WILL MAKE IT
EASIER FOR A PREGNANT WORKER TO
DO THEIR JOB.
>> ARE ALL PREGNANT WORKERS
COVERED UNDER THIS LAW?
>> THEY ARE COVERED IF THEY WORK
FOR A COVERED EMPLOYER, AND
THOSE ARE EMPLOYERS THAT HAVE AT
LEAST 15 EMPLOYEES AND THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
>> YOU SPOKE TO THIS EARLIER,
WHAT IF THE EMPLOYER SAYS THE
ACCOMMODATION CAUSES THEM UNDUE
HARD SMP?
WHAT CONSTITUTES UNDUE HARDSHIP
AND DOES THAT PRESENTLY A
LOOPHOLE WHERE WORKERS WOULD NOT
BE ABLE TO GET THESE
ACCOMMODATIONS?
>> I DON'T THINK IT'S A
LOOPHOLE.
IT'S A DEFENSE.
IF THE PLAYER CAN SHOW THAT
WOULD CAUSE SIGNIFICANT IS
DIFFICULTY OR EXPENSE, THEN THE
EMPLOYER DOES NOT HAVE TO
PROVIDE THE ACCOMMODATION, AND
SO IT BALANCES THE NEEDS OF THE
PREGNANT WORKERS AND THE NEEDS
OF THE EMPLOYERS OVER WHAT THE
EMPLOYER HAS TO SHOW IS A
SIGNIFICANT DIFFICULTY OR
EXPENSE IN GIVING SIMPLE
ACCOMMODATIONS THAT MIGHT BE
NECESSARY.
HOPEFULLY THAT WON'T BE WHAT THE
EMPLOYERS ARE SAYING.
>> HOW DOES AN EMPLOYEE ASSERT
THEIR RIGHT TO THESE
ACCOMMODATIONS UNDER THIS LAW?
>> WELL, THE EMPLOYER ONLY HAS
TO ACCOMMODATE THINGS THAT IT
KNOWS ABOUT.
SO IN THE FIRST STEP, IT'S THE
EMPLOYEE SAYING, I NEED AN
ACCOMMODATION AND THIS IS WHY.
THEN THE LAW TALKS ABOUT USING
SOMETHING CALLED THE INTERACTIVE
PROCESS, WHICH IS SOMETHING
THAT'S FROM THE AMERICANS WITH
DISABILITIES ACT, WHERE THE
EMPLOYER AND THE EMPLOYEE JUST
CAN TALK OR EMAIL OR SOMEHOW
COMMUNICATE ABOUT WHAT THE
EMPLOYEE NEEDS AND WHAT THE
EMPLOYER CAN GIVE.
>> WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO PREGNANT
WORKERS BEFORE THIS LAW THAT
REALLY REQUIRED IT TO BE PUT IN
PLACE?
SO PREGNANT WORKERS WERE OFTEN
FACED WITH A VERY DIFFICULT
CHOICE.
THEY COULD EITHER KEEP THEIR
PAYCHECK OR DO SOMETHING THAT
EITHER CAUSED THEM PAIN, THAT
THEY COULDN'T DO BECAUSE OF
THEIR PREGNANCY OR THAT THEY
THOUGHT PUT THEIR PREGNANCY OR
THEIR OWN HEALTH AT RISK, AND
WITH THIS LAW, ABSENT UNDUE
HARDSHIP, HOPEFULLY THAT WON'T
BE HAPPENING.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WELL, WE APPRECIATE YOUR
EXPERTISE ON THIS, SHARYN
TEJANI, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> IN OTHER NEWS, TICK
POPULATIONS IN WISCONSIN HAVE
BEEN GROWING SLOWLY FOR DECADES.
THIS SPRING, HOWEVER, NEW AND
EARLY ACTIVITY HAS THE ATTENTION
OF SCIENTISTS WHO STUDY THESE
TINY CARRIERS OF DISEASE.
MARISA WOJCIK TOOK A WALK IN THE
WOODS WITH DIRECTOR OF THE UPPER
MIDWESTERN CENTER OF EXCELLENCE
IS FOR VECTOR-BORNE DISEASE,
SUSAN PASKEWITZ, TO LEARN MORE.
>> WE'RE SEEING MORE TICKS IN
MORE PLACES.
>> SUSAN PASKEWITZ'S JOB IS TO
SEEK OUT THE CRAWLING CREATURES
THAT MAKE THE REST OF US CRINGE.
TICKS.
>> THEY'VE INVADED A LOT OF
LOCATIONS IN THE STATE WHERE WE
DIDN'T USED TO BE ABLE TO FIND
THEM AND THAT'S PARTICULARLY
DOWN IN THE SOUTHERN QUARTER AND
THEN THE EASTERN, SAY, QUARTER
TO THIRD OF THE STATE EXPERT
IMMATURE STAGES ARE GOING TO BE
REALLY LOW SO DOWN HERE IN THE
LEAF LITTER, THEY MAY BE UP ON
TOP OF THIS VEGETATION, AND OUR
RESEARCH REALLY FOCUSES ON WHAT
INCREASES PEOPLE'S RISK OF
EXPOSURE AND THEN, TWO, WHAT CAN
WE DO ABOUT IT.
>> SHE DRAGS HER WHITE CANVAS
OVER THE FOREST FLOOR TO FIND
THESE MINUTE EXILE MINUSCULE SPARE SIGHTS.
>> THEY ARE IN WOODED LOCATIONS.
>> AND THE RESEARCH POINTS TO A
GROWING POPULATION.
>> 10, 20 YEARS AGO, MAYBE 50 OF
THE 72 WISCONSIN COUNTIES HAD AN
ESTABLISHED POPULATION OF DEER
TICKS AND NOW THERE'S ONLY ONE
COUNTY WHERE WE DON'T FINDS
THEM.
>> WHILE THAT GROWTH HAS TAKEN
DECADES, THIS SPRING, THERE'S A
NEW DEVELOPMENT.
>> ONE NEW THING WE'VE SEEN THIS
YEAR IS EARLIER ACTIVITY OF THE
JUVENILE STAGE THAT WE CALL A
NYMPH.
>> OR, AS SHE REFERRED TO THEM,
TEENAGER TICKS.
>> THE NYMPHS ARE THE MOST
IMPORTANT STAGE IN TERMS OF
DISEASE TRANSMISSION AND WE
THINK THAT THAT'S BECAUSE
THEY'RE SO MUCH SMALLER THAN THE
ADULT DEER TICKS.
>> DEER TICKS ARE THE SMALLEST
AND MOST COMMONLY KNOWN TO
SPREAD LYME DISEASE.
>> ADULT DEER TICKS ARE BIG
ENOUGH SO THAT YOU'RE GOING TO
FEEL THEM WHEN THEY'RE CRAWLING
ON YOU, USUALLY, OR EVEN IF YOU
DON'T, WHEN YOU'RE CHECKING YOUR
BODY, YOU MAY FEEL A LITTLE LUMP
AND SO YOU RECOGNIZE AND YOU CAN
REMOVE THOSE QUICKLY.
THE NYMPHS, THOUGH, THEY REALLY
DON'T TRIGGER ANY KIND OF A
RESPONSE.
YOU DON'T FEEL THEM MOVING ON SO
YOU AND THEY'RE SO SMALL, LIKE
THE SIZE OF A POPPY SEED OR
SMALL FRECKLE, BUT THEY ARE
ACTUALLY HARD TO DETECT ON YOUR
BODY.
>> THE EARLIER ACTIVITY OF THE
NYMPH MEANS MORE CHANCES TO
SPREAD LYME.
>> THIS YEAR, WE SAW NYMPHS IN
MIDDLE MAY FOR THE FIRST TIME SO
A GOOD WEEK TO TWO WEEKS BEFORE
WE'D USUALLY BE ABLE TO PICK
THEM UP, AND THAT IS PROBABLY
RELATED TO WARMER SPRINGS,
WARMER TEMPERATURES AND THEY'RE
GETTING ACTIVE EARLIER.
>> IN TERMS OF LYME DISEASE,
WHICH IS THE DISEASE THAT WE SEE
THE MOST ANAHEIM CASES IN OUR
STATE -- HUMAN CASES IN OUR
STATE, WE'VE BEEN SEEING A
STEADY INCREASE.
I THINK LAST YEAR, IT WAS OVER
4,000 CASES THAT WERE REPORTED
TO THE STATE.
>> LYME DISEASE IS USUALLY
SPOTTED BY A TELLTALE SIGN.
>> FOR PEOPLE WHO GET A
BULL'S-EYE RASH AT THE SITE OF
THE TICK BITE OR DOESN'T ALWAYS
LOOK LIKE A BULL'S-EYE BUT A
LARGE RASH THERE, IT'S NOT HARD.
A DOCTOR WILL KNOW RIGHT AWAY
WHAT THAT IS AND HOW TO TREAT
IT.
>> TO HELP THE HUMAN TUSSLE WITH
TICKS, THEY'RE USING TECHNOLOGY.
>> THE TICK APP IS A RESEARCH
TOOL THAT WE DEVELOPED TO BOTH
EDUCATE PEOPLE AND LEARN MORE
ABOUT WHERE TICKS AND LYME
DISEASE ARE BEING FOUND.
>> YOU'D HAVE THIS OPTION, IF
YOU DID GET ANY TICKS ON YOU, TO
TAKE PICTURES, SEND THEM
DIRECTLY TO THE SCIENTISTS.
WE CAN IDENTIFY THEM, GIVE YOU
AN ESTIMATE FOR HOW LONG THE
TICK HAS BEEN FEEDING AND THEN
MAKE SOME SUGGESTIONS ABOUT WHAT
YOU MIGHT WANT TO DO AS YOUR
NEXT STEPS.
IT ALSO HAS SOME REALLY GREAT
INFORMATION IN IT THAT YOU CAN
USE TO IDENTIFY THE TICK
YOURSELF.
>> AND PERHAPS ONE DAY HARNESS
MACHINE LEARNING TO IDENTIFY
TICKS.
IN THE MEANTIME, RESEARCHERS
LIKE PASKEWITZ ARE ALSO LEARNING
ABOUT HUMANS.
>> SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE
LEARNED FROM OUR TICK APP TOOL
ARE THAT PEOPLE MAYBE DON'T
REALLY REALIZE WHERE THEY'RE
BEING EXPOSED TO TICKS.
AN ADULT TICK WOULDN'T BE ON YOU
FOR MORE THAN A WEEK, SEVEN
DAYS, AND YET WE HAVE PEOPLE
TELLING US THAT THEY PICKED UP
TICKS IN PLACES THAT THEY
VISITED A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO.
MANY PEOPLE ARE IMAGINING THAT
IT'S WHEN THEY GO TO THEIR
CABINS OR WHEN THEY'RE OUT IN
THE WOODS HIKING, INSTEAD OF IN
THEIR OWN YARDS.
IN SPITE OF ALL THIS, THAT
DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOU STILL
CAN'T GET OUTDOORS.
>> WE CERTAINLY WANT PEOPLE TO
BE OUT ENJOYING OUR BEAUTIFUL
WOODS IN WISCONSIN AND NOT TO BE
AFRAID TO DO THAT BECAUSE OF
TICKS, BUT THEY SHOULD JUST TAKE
THE PRECAUTIONS TO MAKE SURE
THAT THEY, THEIR KIDS, THEIR
PETS ARE PROTECTED.
WEARING LIGHT-COLORED CLOTHING
SO THAT IF YOU GET A TICK ON
YOU, YOU'D BE ABLE TO SEE IT
AGAINST THAT BACKGROUND.
IF YOU POTENTIALLY HAVE SOME
TICKS THAT ARE ON THE CLOTHING
THAT MAYBE YOU DON'T SEE, IF YOU
PUT THEM IN THE DRIER AT A HIGH
TEMPERATURE FOR 20, 30 MINUTES
THAT WILL TAKE CARE OF THAT.
WE ALSO RECOMMEND THAT PEOPLE
USE A REPELLANT AND THAT CAN BE
THE SAME KIND OF REPELLANTS THAT
YOU USE FOR MOSQUITO PREVENTION,
AND THEN DO A SHOWER WHERE
YOU'RE JUST REMOVING ANYTHING
THAT MIGHT BE ON EUROPE PERSON,
PERHAPS NOT -- YOUR PERSON,
PERHAPS NOT YET ATTACHED AND
TRYING TO FEED.
>> REPORTING FROM THE WOODS, I'M
MARISA WOJCIK FOR "HERE AND
NOW."
>> FOR MORE ON THIS AND OTHER
ISSUES FACING WISCONSIN, VISIT
OUR WEBSITE AT PBS WISCONSIN
DOT-ORG, AND THEN CLICK ON THE
NEWS TAB.
THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.
(CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY
RIVERSIDE CAPTIONING COMPANY)
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.