..TEST...
THE OUTCOMES WHEREVER THEY CAN.
FOR "HERE & NOW," I'M NATHAN
DENZIN.
NEXT WEEK ON OUR PROGRAM, "HERE
& NOW" REPORTER, ADITI DEBNATH,
BRINGS US THE FIRST OF TWO
STORIES SPEAKING WITH WISCONSIN
RESIDENTS WITH FAMILY AND
FRIENDS NOW IN ISRAEL AND GAZA.
HEAR THEIR FEARS AND HOPES IN
THE MIDST OF HEIGHTENED VIOLENT
RHETORIC AND SOCIAL MEDIA
MISINFORMATION.
ALSO, WHAT LED TO THIS POINT AND
WHAT PEOPLE ARE DOING TO HELP.
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.
>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION.
>> WISCONSIN'S DEMOCRATIC
GOVERNOR IS SUING THE STATE
LEGISLATURE AFTER YEARS OF POWER
GRABS FROM REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS.
AND THE UNITED AUTO WORKERS
STRIKE COMES TO AB END.
HOW WILL THE DEAL IMPACT LOCAL
WORKERS?
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE & NOW," DETAILS
OF THE GOVERNOR'S LAWSUIT
AGAINST THE STATE LEGISLATURE.
THEN WE CHECK IN WITH A LOCAL
U.A.W. PRESIDENT ON HIS WAY TO
RATIFY A NEW CONTRACT.
A TOWN SUPERVISOR DETAILS LIFE
FOR RESIDENTS WITHOUT CLEAN
WATER, AND THE NEXT IN OUR
SERIES "WISCONSIN IN BLACK AND
WHITE: HEALTH DIVIDES."
IT'S "HERE & NOW" FOR NOVEMBER
3. >> FUNDING FOR "HERE & NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.
>> DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR TONY
EVERS SAYS HE'S HAD ENOUGH AND
SO THIS WEEK HE FILED A SUIT
AGAINST THE LEGISLATURE SAYING
REPUBLICANS ARE HOLDING HOSTAGE
PAY RAISES FOR TENS OF THOUSANDS
UW STATE EMPLOYEES.
WE SHOULD NOTE PBS WISCONSIN IS
PART OF UW-MADISON.
SENIOR POLITICAL REPORTER, ZAC
SCHULTZ, HAS MORE.
>> EARLIER THIS MONTH, THE
REPUBLICAN LED JOINT COMMITTEE
ON EMPLOYMENT RELATIONS
COCHAIRED BY ASSEMBLY SPEAKER
ROBIN VOS, SIGNED OFF ON RAISES
FOR ALL STATE WORKERS EXCEPT
EMPLOYEES OF THE UNIVERSITIES OF
WISCONSIN.
IT WAS THE LAST STRAW FOR
DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR TONY EVERS.
>> THE REPUBLICANS DECIDED THAT
35,000 PEOPLE THAT WORK FOR THE
UW SYSTEM SHOULDN'T GET A RAISE
WITHOUT HAVING ANY LEGISLATION
THAT GIVES THEM THAT AUTHORITY.
THAT'S JUST [BLEEP], AND SO THAT
WAS THE DEFINING MOMENT RIGHT
THERE.
>> Reporter: THE RAISES WERE
ALREADY APPROVED IN THE STATE'S
BIENNIAL BUDGET.
THE LAWSUIT, BROUGHT BY ATTORNEY
GENERAL JOSH KAUL ON BEHALF OF
THE GOVERNOR ALLEGES THIS AND
OTHER ACTIONS BY G.O.P.-LED
COMMITTEES ARE VIOLATING THE
WISCONSIN CONSTITUTION AND
INTRUDING INTO EXECUTIVE POWERS.
EVERS FURTHER SAYS REPUBLICAN
LEGISLATORS ARE
UNCONSTITUTIONALLY OBSTRUCTING
BASIC FUNCTIONS OF GOVERNMENT.
>>> OTHER ALLEGED VIOLATIONS
FROM REPUBLICAN CONTROLLED
COMMITTEES INCLUDE THE JOINT
COMMITTEE ON FINANCE HAS
REPEATEDLY BLOCKED CONSERVATION
PROJECTS, SELECTED UNDER THE
KNOLLS-NELSON STEWARDSHIP
PROGRAM AND THE JOINT COMMITTEE
FOR ADMINISTRATIVE RULES IS
BLOCKING UPDATES TO THE STATE'S
COMMERCIAL BUILDING STANDARDS
AND ETHICS STANDARDS FOR
LICENSED PROFESSIONALS.
>> THERE'S NOTHING IN LAW OR THE
BUDGET THAT WAS PASSED, WHICH IS
LAW, TO SAY THAT THE SPEAKER OR
THE REPUBLICANS IN GENERAL,
LEADERSHIP CAN SAY, WELL, THAT
4%, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET IT
OR YOU MIGHT GET IT IF YOU DO X,
Y AND Z.
NONE OF THAT IS IN LAW AND SO
THAT IS AN ILLEGALLY ACT.
THAT PUSHED ME OVER THE EDGE.
THE OTHER ISSUES, I DO BELIEVE
IT'S JUST A FURTHER EFFORT THAT
STARTED BEFORE I BECAME GOVERNOR
AND ALL THE THINGS THAT THEY'VE
DONE, NOT APPROVING MY
APPOINTEES OR NOT -- YOU KNOW,
ALL OF THAT.
IT'S ALL PART OF IT.
BUT WHEN YOU MESS WITH 35,000
PEOPLE AT ONE TIME, THAT'S
ENOUGH.
>> Reporter: ARE YOU LOOKING
FOR THE SUPREME COURT, IF THEY
TAKE THIS CASE, TO MAKE A BROAD
RULING?
OR WOULD YOU BE SATISFIED IF
THEY ISSUED A NARROW RULING,
SPECIFIC ON UW EMPLOYEES OR ANY
OF THE OTHER COMMITTEES?
>> I THINK THE LEGISLATURE -- IT
WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR THE
LEGISLATURE TO HAVE A BROAD IDEA
OF WHAT THEIR AUTHORITY IS AND
WHAT'S MINE.
THAT WOULD BE THE BEST
ALTERNATIVE, BUT AT THE END OF
THE DAY, WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE PAY PEOPLE WHAT THEY
SHOULD BE PAID.
SO I THINK THE BEST ALTERNATIVE
WOULD BE A BROAD SWEEPING OF
THINGS SAYING THIS IS WHAT YOUR
JOB IS, THIS IS WHAT THE
GOVERNOR'S JOB IS.
START BEHAVING.
>> Reporter: YOU MENTIONED THE
LAME DUCK LAWS AND SOME OF THESE
ACTIONS YOU'RE REFERRING TO CAME
OUT OF THE LAME DUCK LAW.
SO IS THIS IN EFFECT ANOTHER
LAWSUIT ATTEMPT TO RE-LITIGATE
SOME OF THOSE ISSUES THAT WERE
PASSED INTO LAW UNDER THE
PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION?
>> YEAH.
I MEAN, BECAUSE OF ACTIONS,
WE'VE ALWAYS FELT THAT THEY ARE
WRONG, AND SO IF WE HAVE TO MAKE
SOME CHANGES, THAT'S FINE.
I THINK, BROADLY SPEAKING, THE
WAY THE REPUBLICANS HAVE
ESSENTIALLY TAKEN MORE AND MORE
POWER OVER TIME FROM THE
EXECUTIVE BRANCH, WE HAVE TO
STOP THAT AND WE HAVE TO
UNDERSTAND THAT THEY'RE COEQUAL
PARTS OF GOVERNMENT, JUDICIAL
EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE, AND
THAT'S THE WAY IT'S SUPPOSED TO
WORK.
IT'S NOT WORKING THAT WAY NOW.
>> WOULD YOU HAVE FILED THIS
LAWSUIT UNDER A DIFFERENT MAKEUP
OF THE SUPREME COURT?
>> OH, YES.
GOSH, YES.
OH GOSH, YES.
I THINK WE'RE GOING TO GET MORE
THAN FOUR VOTES ON THIS ONE.
I MEAN, PEOPLE SHOULD BE ABLE TO
UNDERSTAND THAT IS THERE IS
BROAD AUTHORITY IN ALL THREE
BRANCHES.
SO ABSOLUTELY.
THIS RECENT THING, WHETHER NEW
JUDGES OR NOT, THAT'S IRRELEVANT
TO THIS.
WE WOULD HAVE FILED THAT
REGARDLESS.
>> Reporter: SPEAKER VOS SAID
IN A STATEMENT, TODAY'S LAWSUIT
BY GOVERNOR EVERS AND ATTORNEY
GENERAL CALL IS AN EAMPT TO
ELIMINATE THE 4% RAISES GIVE TO
ALL STATE EMPLOYEES GIVEN BY THE
STATE LEGISLATURE AND DEVIN
LEMAHIEU SAID THE GOVERNOR IS
WORKING TO DIMINISH THE VOICE OF
WISCONSINITES BY LIMITING THE
AUTHORITY OF THE LEGISLATURE AND
UNDULY STRENGTHENING HIS OWN
ADMINISTRATION.
YOU HAVE DEALT WITH THE
LEGISLATURE RULES EVEN AS YOUR
TIME AS SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC
INSTRUCTION.
HOW LONGSTANDING ARE SOME OF
THESE ISSUES WHEN IT COMES TO
THE BALANCE OF POWER BETWEEN THE
EXECUTIVE AND THE LEGISLATURE?
>> I'D SAY IT ACCELERATED WITH
MY ELECTION.
I THINK IT'S ALWAYS A LITTLE BIT
OF AN ISSUE GOING FORWARD, BUT
BECAUSE IT'S JUST KEPT GETTING
BIGGER AND BIGGER AND BIGGER, IT
BECAME A THING AND WE HAVE TO
DEAL WITH IT.
SO I'M GLAD WE FILED THIS SUIT
AND WE ANTICIPATE WINNING THIS
SUIT.
>> A YEAR AGO, YOU WERE TALKING
ABOUT A RESET WITH REPUBLICANS
IN THE LEGISLATURE.
SINCE THEN, THEY HAVE VOTED DOWN
YOUR APPOINTEES AND YOU FILED
THIS LAWSUIT.
WAS AID RESET EVER REALISTIC?
WAS IT EVER GOING TO BE LIMITED,
OR IS IT JUST THE CURRENT STATE
OF POLITICS?
>> IT'S THE CURRENT STATE OF
POLITICS, BUT WE SIGNED THE
BUDGET.
WE BROUGHT SHARED REVENUE TO
MILWAUKEE AND OTHER PLACES
ACROSS THE STATE, EVERY
MUNICIPALITY.
SO WE'VE HAD SOME SUCCESSES.
BUT WE CAN'T STAND FOR IS PEOPLE
NOT FOLLOWING THE LAW AND
FOLLOWING WHAT WE'VE AGREED TO,
AND WE DID NOT AGREE TO WHAT THE
SPEAKER IS DOING NOW.
>> ALL RIGHT.
GOVERNOR TONY EVERS, THANKS FOR
YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU OF APPRECIATE IT.
>> AFTER STRIKING FOR NEARLY SIX
WEEKS, THE UNITED AUTO WORKERS
UNION HAS SETTLED WITH THE BIG
THREE CAR MAKERS.
VOTES TO RATIFY THE DEAL ARE
UNDERWAY, INCLUDING BY UNION
MEMBERS FROM WISCONSIN AT GM AND
THE FORMER CHRYSLER.
THE GM CONTRACT DEAL WITH THE
COMPANIES INCLUDES A 70%
STARTING WAGE HIKE TO $30 AN
HOUR AND THE ABILITY TO REACH
THE TOP PAY SCALE OF $42 AN
HOUR.
FOR MORE ON THE UNION BATTLE TO
RECOUP LOSSES WORKERS TOOK IN
CONCESSIONS TO HELP THE
COMPANIES STAVE OFF BANKRUPTCY,
WE TURN TO STEVE FRISQUE, U.A.W.
LOCAL 722 PRESIDENT AT GM IN
HUDSON WHO IS IN DETROIT RIGHT
NOW FOR THE VOTE.
STEVE, THANKS VERY MUCH FOR
BEING HERE.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> SO WHAT IS IT LIKE TO HAVE
SETTLED AND BE OFF TO VOTE TO
RATIFY?
>> WELL, IT'S EXCITING.
JUST ABOUT 39 DAYS THIS TIME
AFTER BEING OUT 42 FOUR YEARS
AGO, SO IT WAS A LONG TIME OUT
AND, YOU KNOW, IT TAKES A TOLL,
ESPECIALLY ON A LOT OF OUR
YOUNGER MEMBERS WHO JUST STARTED
WORKING HERE AND DON'T MAKE THE
TOP WAGE.
IT TAKES A HUGE AMOUNT OF
SACRIFICE AND DEDICATION TO BE
OUT THERE ON THAT PICKET LINE,
WHICH WE WERE 24 HOURS A DAY,
SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
IT'S EXCITING THAT WE HAVE A
TENTATIVE CONTRACT.
WHAT I'M HEARING AND READING
SOUNDS VERY FAVORABLE.
WE WILL BE ROLLING THAT OUT FOR
ALL MEMBERS OF THE DEPARTMENTS
ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND THEN WE
WILL TAKE A VOTE ON WHETHER TO
SEND IT TO THE MEMBERSHIP FOR
RATIFICATION VOTE.
SO THAT'S WHAT WE WILL BE DOING
THIS AFTERNOON.
>> WOULD YOU EXPECT THIS TO BE
RATIFIED BY MEMBERS?
>> WHAT I'VE SEEN SO FAR, YES, I
REALLY DO.
IT'S A HUGE INCREASE, ESPECIALLY
FOR OUR YOUNGER MEMBERS.
IT'S BRINGING THEM UP TO THE
WAGES THAT THE LEGACY EMPLOYEES
THAT HAVE BEEN HERE FOR A LONG
TIME ARE AT.
IT'S GETTING RID OF THE TIERS,
WHICH WE HAVE BEEN ARGUING AND
FIGHTING FOR SINCE THEY WERE
IMPLEMENTED BACK AFTER THE NEAR
BANKRUPTCY IN 2008 AND 2009.
UNIONS WERE BASED ON EQUAL PAY
FOR EQUAL WORK.
THAT'S OUR BELIEF.
WE BELIEVE THAT THESE YOUNGER
PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE A PATH TO GET
TO THE FULL WAGE AND MAKE THE
SAME AS THE PEOPLE THAT THEY'RE
WORKING NEXT TO, AND THIS
CONTRACT ALLOWS THAT TO HAPPEN.
COST OF LIVING IS BACK IN THE
CONTRACT, WHICH WE HAD SUSPENDED
SINCE THE BANKRUPTCY TIME FRAME.
SO I REALLY EXPECT THIS CONTRACT
TO PASS.
WE OBVIOUSLY NEED TO GO OVER
SOME STUFF YET BECAUSE WE
HAVEN'T SEEN EVERYTHING IN THAT
CONTRACT YET, BUT I'M VERY
HOPEFUL THAT WE WILL PASS IT AND
SEND IT TO THE MEMBERSHIP FOR
RATIFICATION.
>> WHAT DOES THE CONTRACT BORNE
OF THE U.A.W. STRIKE SAY ABOUT
THE NEW MIGHT OF THE UNION?
>> IT'S A TOTALLY DIFFERENT
LEADERSHIP, AS I'M SURE YOU
KNOW.
THERE'S A LOT OF CORRUPTION IN
THE U.A.W. AND THE
ADMINISTRATIVE CAUCUS THAT WAS
IN THERE SINCE BASICALLY SINCE
THE UNION STARTED HAS NOW BEEN
REPLACED WITH A ONE MEMBER, ONE
VOTE.
SO SEAN FEIGN HAS ONLY BEEN IN
OFFICE SINCE FEBRUARY OF THIS
YEAR.
THEY HAD OBVIOUSLY A DIFFERENT
APPROACH TO THE STRIKE.
NORMALLY, THEY PICK A COMPANY
AND A TARGET COMPANY AND GO
AFTER THAT TO TRY AND GET AN
AGREEMENT AND THEN THE OTHER TWO
COMPANIES, WE CALL IT PATTERNED
BARGAINING, WILL BASICALLY GO ON
THE SAME TYPE OF CONTRACT PRETTY
CLOSE TO THE PATTERN BARGAINING
THE ORIGINAL PLACE WAS.
THIS TIME, HE PITTED ALL THREE
AGAINST EACH OTHER AND TO SEE
WHO WOULD GET OUT THE BEST
DEALS, AND I THINK IT KEPT THE
COMPANIES ON THEIR TOES, THEY
DID NOT KNOW WHAT PLANTS WERE
GOING TO BE MAYBE STRUCK NEXT
AND THEY COULDN'T PREPARE FOR IT
AND I THINK IT WAS VERY
SUCCESSFUL AND THAT'S WHY I
THINK WE ALL THREE AGREEMENTS
ARE PROBABLY GOING TO BE
RATIFIED AND BECAUSE I THINK
IT'S THE BIGGEST GAINS THAT
WE'VE GOTTEN IN MY LIFETIME
SINCE I'VE WORKED HERE.
>> SPEAKING OF BIG GAINS, DO
INCREASED LABOR COSTS JEOPARDIZE
AUTO MAKERS AS THEY TRANSITION
TO ELECTRIC VEHICLES?
>> THAT'S WHAT THE COMPANY WOULD
LIKE YOU TO BELIEVE.
LABOR COSTS ARE VERY MINUTE
PORTION OF WHAT A VEHICLE COSTS.
IT'S TYPICALLY IN THE 5 TO 7%
RANGE.
THEY LIKE TO SAY THAT, BUT THESE
COMPANIES HAVE BEEN MAKING
REGARD PROFITS FOR THE LAST --
MAKING RECORD PROFITS FOR THE
LAST 10 YEARS.
THE LAST DECADE, THEY'VE MADE
OVER 250 BILLION IN PROFITS
BETWEEN THE THREE OF THEM.
C.E.O. PAY HAS WENT UP 40% IN
THE LAST FOUR YEARS.
THE COST OF VEHICLES HAVE GONE
UP 30% IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS.
INFLATION HAS GONE UP OVER 19%
AND OUR WAGES HAVE GONE UP 6%,
SO IF THEY WANT TO BLAME IT ON
OUR WAGES, IT'S JUST NOT
FACTUAL.
THEY DON'T WANT TO SHARE THE
MONEY THAT THEY MAKE WITH THEIR
WORKERS.
THAT'S NOT JUST A PROBLEM WITH
THE BIG THREE; THAT'S A PROBLEM
ACROSS EVERY BUSINESS, THEY
DON'T WANT TO SHARE PROFITS WITH
THE PEOPLE THAT ACTUALLY MAKE
THEM THE PROFITS AND THAT'S
THEIR WORKERS.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WE NEED TO LEAVE IT THERE.
STEVE FRISQUE IN DETROIT, THANKS
VERY MUCH.
>> THAT YOU HAVETHANK YOU FOR HAVING US.
>> CAMPBELL RESIDENTS FILED A
$42 MILLION LAWSUIT AGAINST THE
NEIGHBORING CITY OF LACROSSE FOR
CONTAMINATION FROM THE CANCER
CAUSING FOREVER CHEMICALS, OR
P.F.A.S.
RED DOTS ON THIS DNR MAP SHOW
AREAS WHERE WATER SAMPLES ON THE
ISLAND EXCEEDED HAZARD LEVELS.
THE AGENCY HAS NAMED THE CITY OF
LACROSSE AS THE RESPONSIBLE
PARTY FOR THE WIDESPREAD
CONTAMINATION RELATED TO
FIREFIGHTING FOAM THAT WAS USED
FOR DECADES AT THE CITY'S
AIRPORT.
P.F.A.S. WERE FIRST DISCOVERED
IN LACROSSE MUNICIPAL WELLS AND
THEN IN PRIVATE WELLS.
MORE THAN 2,000 RESIDENTS THERE
ARE RECEIVING BOTTLED WATER FROM
THE DNR AS A RESULT.
FOR AN UPDATE ON THE TOWN OF
CAMPBELL'S WATER WOES, WE TURN
TO LEE DONAHUE, A MEMBER OF THE
TOWN'S BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
AND AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
BEING HERE.
>> YES.
THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME.
>> HOW LONG HAVE RESIDENTS BEEN
USING BOTTLED WATER AND WHAT
KIND OF HARDSHIP IS THAT?
>> SO RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN USING
BOTTLED WATER THAT HAS BEEN PAID
FOR BY THE DNR SINCE SPRING OF
2021.
WE WERE FIRST NOTIFIED THAT
THERE WAS A POSSIBILITY THAT
THERE WAS CONTAMINATION IN OUR
WATER IN OCTOBER OF 2020, SO
WE'RE COMING UP ON THREE YEARS.
AND THE HARDSHIP IS IMAGINE
TRYING TO MOVE A 5-GALLON JUG OF
WATER.
THEY'RE UNWIELDY, THEY'RE HEAVY.
YOU HAVE TO FIND A PLACE THAT
YOU CAN STORE THEM THAT IS
CLIMATE CONTROLLED.
YOU CAN'T LEAVE THEM IN YOUR
GARAGE OR YOUR FRONT POMP OR
BACK PORCH OR YOUR BREEZEWAY
BECAUSE THEY WILL FREEZE DURING
THE WINTERTIME, SO IT'S A
TREMENDOUS HARDSHIP FOR PEOPLE
TO FIND PLACES TO STORE THEM AND
FOR PEOPLE TO JUST HEFT THEM
AROUND AND DEAL WITH THE
PHYSICALITY OF USING LARGE
BOTTLES OF WATER.
>> HOW LONG BEFORE THE DNR
STARTED SUPPLYING BOTTLED WATER
WAS P.F.A.S. SEEPING INTO THE
WELLS?
>> WELL, TRUTHFULLY, THE
P.F.A.S. COULD HAVE BEEN SEEPING
INTO THE WELLS AS EARLY AS 1970.
THAT IS THE PERIOD OF TIME THAT
THE CITY OF LACROSSE AIRPORT WAS
USING THE AFFF, AND IT'S LIKELY
THAT IT'S BEEN THERE FOR 40 TO
50 YEARS.
WE REALLY DON'T KNOW.
IT WAS ONLY DISCOVERED FIRST IN
2014 IN ONE OF THE ISLANDS IN
THE CITY AND THEN FOUND IN A
SECOND WELL IN 2016 AND THEN WE
WERE NOTIFIED IN 2020.
>> SO WHAT IS IT LIKE FOR PEOPLE
LIVING THERE TO HAVE THIS
DANGEROUS CONTAMINATION PART OF
THEIR EVERYDAY LIVES?
>> YOU CHANGE EVERYTHING THAT
YOU DO, FROM WHEN YOU WAKE UP IN
THE MORNING AND YOU BRUSH YOUR
TEETH, YOU HAVE A LITTLE BOTTLE
OF WATER AT YOUR SINK.
YOU CAN'T GROW FOODS THAT YOU
EAT IN THE SOIL.
YOU CAN'T USE YOUR SPRINKLER TO
WATER FOODS THAT YOU WOULD GROW
IN YOUR BACKYARD.
I HAVE A RASPBERRY PATCH THAT'S
PROBABLY 50 FEET LONG AND 10
FEET WIDE.
I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO EAT A
RASPBERRY FOR YEARS.
IT'S HARD.
IT CHANGES EVERYTHING THAT YOU
DO.
>> HOW WILL THE 402 MILLION
DOLLARS DIRECTED FROM THE
GOVERNOR AND THE 125 MILLION IN
THE SATAN PEJA FOR P.F.A.S. MITIGATION HELP THE
TOWN OF CAMPBELL?
>> WELL, A LOT OF THAT REALLY
DEPENDS ON SENATE BILL 312 AND
HOW THAT BILL IS STRUCTURED TO
BE ABLE TO HELP SMALL
COMMUNITIES THAT ARE ON PRIVATE
WELLS ACCESS THAT P.F.A.S. TRUST
FUND.
IT'S UNCLEAR WHETHER THAT BILL
WILL PASS IN ITS CURRENT FORM.
I KNOW IT'S ALREADY BEEN AMENDED
ONCE AND NOW THERE'S DISCUSSION
ABOUT FURTHER AMENDMENTS THAT IT
MIGHT COME TO THE FLOOR NEXT
WEEK.
>> DO PEOPLE WANT TO STAY ON
FRENCH ISLAND?
OR ARE PEOPLE HESITANT TO LOCATE
THERE?
>> WELL, I WOULD SAY IF IT
WASN'T THE WATER PROBLEM, IT'S A
GLORIOUS PLACE TO LIVE OF WE'RE
A SMALL ISLAND.
WE HAVE OUR OWN FIRE DEPARTMENT
AND POLICE DEPARTMENT AND WE'RE
HUGGED BY TWO RIVERS.
IT'S BEAUTIFUL.
IT'S LOVELY.
IT'S A SMALL TOWN COMMUNITY, BUT
WHEN YOU CAN'T DRINK THE WATER
OUT OF YOUR TAP AND YOU HAVE TO
MANEUVER THESE VERY HEAVY LARGE
BOTTLES SO THAT YOU HAVE A SAFE
ALTERNATIVE SOURCE, IT'S A
STRUGGLE FOR MANY PEOPLE AND
MANY PEOPLE HAVE CHOSEN TO MOVE
ELSEWHERE.
>> WHAT WOULD BE YOUR ADVICE TO
OTHERS IN THE STATE SUFFERING
THE SAME KIND OF THING?
>> WELL, I THINK THE MOST
IMPORTANT THING IS TO MAKE
CERTAIN THAT THE WATER YOU ARE
DRINKING IS, IN FACT SAFE.
>> SUPERVISOR LEE DONAHUE,
THANKS VERY MUCH AND GOOD LUCK
WITH THIS.
>>> TURNING NOW TO OUR SERIES OF
SPECIAL REPORTS ON RACE, WITH
WISCONSIN IN BLACK AND WHITE, IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NEHEMIAH
CENTER FOR URBAN LEADERSHIP
DEVELOPMENT.
LAST WEEK, REPORTER NATHAN
DENZIN EXPLORED THE SOCIAL
DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH AND WHY
THEY ARE SO IMPORTANT TO HEALTH
OUTCOMES.
TONIGHT, WE TAKE A LOOK AT
MATERNAL AND INFANT HEALTH,
WHERE WISCONSIN'S DISPARITIES
ARE STARK.
HERE'S THE NEXT INSTALLMENT OF
WISCONSIN IN BLACK AND WHITE:
HEALTH DIVIDES.
WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
SERVICES.
>> THERE'S NO ONE ANSWER.
WE COULD TALK ABOUT THIS FOR
HOURS AND HOURS.
IT'S MULTIFACTORIAL.
>> ADVOCATES SAY ONE POTENTIAL
REAP WE SEE DISPARITIES IS
BECAUSE HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS CAN
CARRY IMPLICIT BIASES INTO THE
CLINIC.
>> SO A LOT OF TIMES WHEN WE
TALK ABOUT IMPLICIT SIT BIAS AND
TALK ABOUT RACISM IN OUR
HEALTHCARE SYSTEM, A LOT OF
PEOPLE THINK ABOUT, LIKE, DIRECT
INTERPERSONAL RACISM, WHERE
SOMEBODY WOULD COME UP TO ME AND
SAY, "I DON'T WANT YOU TO TREAT
ME BECAUSE YOU'RE BLACK."
THAT'S NOT WHAT WE SEE.
A LOT OF IT IS UNINTENTIONAL.
>> BECAUSE OF THOSE
UNINTENTIONAL BIASES, ZAPATA
SAYS BLACK PEOPLE ARE LESS
LIKELY TO GO TO A DOCTOR WHEN
SOMETHING IS WRONG, WHICH CAN
LEAD TO WORSE HEALTH OUTCOMES.
>> THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE,
ESPECIALLY IN THE MATERNAL AND
CHILD HEALTH FIELDS, THAT HAVE
ACCESS, THAT HAVE INSURANCE, AND
THEY'RE STILL NOT ATTENDING
THEIR HEALTHCARE APPOINTMENTS.
JUST BECAUSE YOU HAVE INSURANCE
AND YOU CAN PHYSICALLY MAKE AN
APPOINTMENT, IS IT SOMEWHERE
THAT YOU FEEL SAFE AND
COMFORTABLE.
>> BUT WHILE ACCESS TO QUALITY
HEALTHCARE CAN BE A LARGE DRIVER
IN OUTCOMES, NATIONAL DATA SHOWS
THAT EVEN THE INFANTS OF THE
RICHEST BLACK MOTHERS SUFFER
WORSE HEALTH OUTCOMES THAN THE
BABIES OF THE POOREST WHITE
MOTHERS.
>> I THINK WE FOCUS A LOT ON
HOSPITALS AND DOCTORS BECAUSE
THAT IS WE CAN EASILY WRAP OUR
HEADS AROUND, BUT THE REALITY IS
THERE ARE A LOT OF REASONS, AND
I THINK THEY HAVE A LOT MORE TO
DO WITH THE SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT.
>> IN THE SOCIETAL ENVIRONMENT
FOR BLACK WISCONSINITES IS ONE
DEFINED BY RACISM.
WHEN IT COMES TO WHERE BLACK
WISCONSINITES LIVE, ONLY A
QUARTER OWN THEIR OWN HOME.
THEY FACE ONE OF THE HIGHEST
INCOME GAPS IN THE COUNTRY AND
ARE FIVE TIMES MORE LIKELY TO
LIVE IN A FOOD DESERT THAN WHITE
PEOPLE.
>> A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE LINKED
THINGS LIKE SEGREGATION, THINGS
LIKE THE RESOURCE, THE
ENVIRONMENTS TO POOR, TO THE
RISK OF PREMATURITY, AND THOSE
THINGS MATTER.
>> DR. ZAPATA SAYS SHE
EXPERIENCED THIS DIFFERENCE IN
OUTCOMES FIRSTHAND WHEN SHE HAD
HER SECOND CHILD.
>> I GOT PREGNANT WITH MY SECOND
CHILD, A LITTLE BABY GIRL.
I WAS SO EXCITED.
AND SHE WAS DUE ON JANUARY
2nd, BUT ON SEPTEMBER 20, I
HAD A SHARP PAIN IN MY LOWER
ABDOMEN.
>> WHEN IT HAPPENED, SHE WAS IN
CLASS FOR MEDICAL SCHOOL AND
KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG.
DOCTORS TOLD HER THAT IT WAS
JUST FALSE LABOR, BUT WHEN SHE
SAW BLOOD A FEW MINUTES LATER,
SHE WENT TO THE HOSPITAL.
>> ULTIMATELY, WITHIN TWO HOURS,
I WAS IN AN EMERGENCY C-SECTION
AND I DELIVERED A 1st-POUND
BABY WHO DIDN'T CRY WHEN SHE
CAME OUT.
WE KNOW BABIES COME OUT, THEY'RE
SUPPOSED TO BE KICKING,
SCREAMING, CRYING.
IT WAS COMPLETELY SILENT.
>> Reporter: HER DAUGHTER WAS
TAKEN TO THE NEO NATAL INTENSIVE
CARE UNIT TO START HER
BREATHING.
>> IT WAS SO HARD FOR ME AT THAT
MOMENT BECAUSE I KNEW ALL OF THE
STATISTICS ABOUT BLACK BIRTH
OUTCOMES.
>> Reporter: AFTER THREE WEEKS
IN THE N.I.C.U., ZAPATA'S BABY
WAS ABLE TO THRIVE AND IS NOW A
VERY HEALTHY TEENAGER, BUT
ZAPATA KNEW THE OUTCOME COULD
HAVE BEEN MUCH DIFFERENT.
>> I KNEW THAT IT WAS AN HONOR
THAT SHE WAS THERE WITH ME
BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER
BIRTHING PEOPLE AND FAMILIES,
PARTICULARLY BLACK WOMEN, BLACK
BIRTHING PEOPLE, WHO DO NOT HAVE
THAT SAME OUTCOME.
THERE ARE REASONS ABOVE AND
BEYOND IS OFFER THESE INDIVIDUAL
LEVEL CHARACTERISTICS THAT DON'T
EXPLAIN WHY WE ARE SEEING THESE
DISPARITIES.
>> BUT THERE IS WORK BEING DONE
TO BRING PAIRITY FOR BLACK
MOTHERS AND INFANTS.
GOVERNOR TONY EVERS ANNOUNCED
DRIVER'S LICENSE 16 MILLION IN
ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR D.H.S. TO
WORK ON CLOSING THOSE GAPS.
>> WE'RE CURRENTLY WORKING ON
THIS WITH INTENSITY AND PASSION.
>> Reporter: DR. ZAPATA SAYS
THERE ARE THREE BIG THINGS THAT
MONEY IS GOING TOWARD:
INCREASING ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE
FOR BLACK MOTHERS AND INFANTS,
EDUCATING CURRENT HEALTHCARE
PRACTITIONERS ABOUT THE ISSUES,
AND INCREASING THE NUMBER OF
BLACK DOCTORS AND NURSES.
>> WE WILL HAVE A BIGGER IMPACT
IF WE CAN GO UPSTREAM AND FOCUS
ON HOW CAN WE ELIMINATE SOME OF
THE VERY FACTORS AND SOCIAL
DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH THAT
CAUSE SOME OF THESE HEALTH
OUTCOMES IN THE FIRST PLACE.
>> ALONG WITH THE $16 MILLION,
HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS IN DANE
COUNTY HAVE ANOTHER EFFORT TO
IMPROVE THE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS
OF HEALTH CALLED CONNECT RX, A
PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES SUPPORT TO
PREGNANT BLACK PEOPLE AT RISK.
>> MAKING SURE FAMILIES AT RISK
OF LOSING THEIR PLACE ARE
GETTING HOUSING, MAKING SURE
THAT THEY ARE GETTING FOOD.
I'VE BEEN PRIVILEGED TO HEAR
STORIES ABOUT PEOPLE GETTING
EMPLOYMENT THAT THEY NEED.
>> Reporter: THE PROGRAM ALSO
CONNECTS MOTHERS WITH DOULAS IF
THEY CHOOSE AND WITH AN
INDIVIDUAL COMMUNITY HEALTH
WORKER, BOTH DURING FREE AGENCY
AND AFTER.
>> I'M JUST -- DURING PREGNANCY
AND AFTER.
>> I'M JUST STUNNED AT THE WORK
THAT THEY'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO
THAT ADDRESSES THESE SOCIAL
DETERMINANTS.
>> Reporter: BUT EVEN WITH
THESE PROGRAMS, GREEN SAYS MORE
NEEDS TO BE DONE.
>> WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THINGS
LIKE MEDICAID EXPANSION, WHICH
WE HAVE REFUSED TO DO IN OUR
STATE, DESPITE THE FACT THAT
LACES LIKE GEORGIA AND
MISSISSIPPI HAVE EXPANDED
POSTPARTUM MEDICAID FOR UP TO A
YEAR.
>> Reporter: THE WISCONSIN
LEGISLATURE REMOVED MEDICAID
EXPANSION FROM THE GOVERNOR'S
BUDGET AGAIN IN 2023, MAKING
WISCONSIN ONE OF ONLY A FEW
STATES WHICH HAS NOT EXPANDED
POSTPARTUM COVERAGE.
>> IF WE LIVE IN A WISCONSIN
WHERE EVERYBODY IS ABLE TO REACH
THEIR HIGHEST POTENTIAL,
EVERYBODY NEEDS ACCESS TO A
PROVIDER.
>> Reporter: WELL, EXPANDED
COVER REMAINS ELUSIVE, HEALTH
OFFICIALS LOOK TO FILL THE GAPS
AND IMPROVE THE OUTCOMES
WHEREVER THEY CAN.
FOR "HERE & NOW," I'M NATHAN
DENZIN.
>> NEXT WEEK ON OUR PROGRAM,
"HERE & NOW" REPORTER, ADITI
DEBNATH, BRINGS US THE FIRST OF
TWO STORIES SPEAKING WITH
WISCONSIN RESIDENTS WITH FAMILY
AND FRIENDS NOW IN ISRAEL AND
GAZA.
HEAR THEIR FEARS AND HOPES IN
THE MIDST OF HEIGHTENED VIOLENT
RHETORIC AND SOCIAL MEDIA
MISINFORMATION.
ALSO, WHAT LED TO THIS POINT AND
WHAT PEOPLE ARE DOING TO HELP.
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 BY RIVERSIDE
CAPTIONING COMPANY.
))
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE & NOW" ISPROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.