THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
WBEs WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION.
KEEP GOING UNTIL O.C. CONFIRMS.
DEADLINES LOOM AS PARTIES RUSH
TO SUBMIT THEIR PROPOSED VOTING
MAPS TO THE WISCONSIN SUPREME
COURT.
AND THE STATE MEDICAL MARIJUANA
PROPOSAL USHERS IN A NEW
LEGISLATIVE SEASON.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW," WE
HEAR THE LATEST ON EXPECTED
REMEDIAL VOTING MAPS AND HOW.
MURPHY SEYMORE MURPHY SOUTHMORE
>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION.
>> YOU'RE WATCHING HEAR AND NOW
2024 ELECTION COVERAGE.
DEADLINES LOOM AS PARTIES RUSH
TO SUBMIT THEIR PROPOSED VOTING
MAPS TO THE WISCONSIN SUPREME
COURT.
AND THE STATE MEDICAL MARIJUANA
PROPOSAL USHERS IN A NEW
LEGISLATIVE SEASON.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW," WE
HAR THE LATEST ON EXPECTED
REMEDIAL VOTING MAPS AND HOW TO
GET THEM IN PLACE IN TIME FOR
THE 2024 ELECTIONS.
PLUS, PREDICTIONS FOR THE
UPCOMING ELECTION SEASON WITH
OUR POLITICAL PANELIST, BILL
McCOSHEN AND SCOTT ROSS.
A REPORT ON SOLUTIONS FOR
SURVIVING IN TODAY'S DAIRY
FARMING INDUSTRY AND REMEMBERING
HERB KOHL.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR JANUARY
12.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.
>> THE WISCONSIN SUPREME COURT
ORDERED BOTH PARTIES IN THE
LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS CASE
SUBMIT THEIR OWN REMEDIAL MAPS
BY TODAY, ALONG WITH EVIDENCE TO
BACK WHY THEIRSELF COMPORTS WITH
THE OPINION RULED ON BY THE
COURT LAST MONTH.
THE LIBERAL SIDE WHICH BROUGHT
THE CASE BEFORE THE COURT CALLED
IT A FANTASTIC DECISION, WHILE
THE SIDE DEFENDING THE STATE'S
G.O.P.-DRAWN MAPS CALLED THE
CASE PREDECIDED.
THE STATE'S HIGH COURT RULED
WISCONSIN'S LEGISLATIVE MAPS ARE
UNCONSTITUTIONAL BECAUSE HALF OF
ALL DISTRICTS ARE NOT
CONTIGUOUS, HAVING ISLANDS OF
TERRITORY NESTLED INSIDE AN
ADJACENT DISTRICT.
IN A MOTION TO RECONSIDER, THE
PARTIES BACKING THE
REPUBLICAN-DRAWN MAPS SAID THE
ACCELERATED TIME LINE NEEDED TO
HAVE NEW REMEDIAL MAPS IN PLACE,
QUOTE, FAILED TO GIVE THE
LEGISLATURE A REASONABLE
OPPORTUNITY TO REDISTRICT AND
APPLY THE COURT'S NEWFOUND
CONTIGUITY RULES AND LEAVES
INSUFFICIENT TIME BEFORE THE
2024 ELECTION DEADLINES
COMMENCE.
THEY ALSO ACCUSE THE COURT OF
BEING LARGELY QUIET ON RESPOND
DENT'S ARGUMENTS AND NOT GIVING
THEM' FULL AND FAIR OPPORTUNITY
TO LITIGATE THIS CASE OR BE
HEARD ON PROPOSED REMEDIES.
MARK GABER, ATTORNEY FOR THE
CAMPAIGN LEGAL CENTER, THE
LEADING GROUP BRINGING THIS
LAWSUIT, PUSHES BACK ON THESE
ARGUMENTS.
>> STATES ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY
HAVE THESE ANNEXATIONS THE SAME
WAY THAT WISCONSIN DOES AND THEY
DON'T HAVE ANY PROBLEM HAVING
THAT ARE FULLY CONTIGUOUS.
THE WISCONSIN SUPREME COURT IS
NOT ORDERING A QUICKER SCHEDULE
THAN WHAT WE SEE IN A NORMAL
REDISTRICTING CASE.
THIS IS JUST THE WAY THEY ALL
ARE AND CERTAINLY THE PARTIES
ARE HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO
BRIEF ISSUES AND HAVE ARGUMENT
AND SUBMIT MAPS.
THERE'S A PROCESS WITH
INDEPENDENT EXPERTS AND SO IT'S
REALLY A ROBUST PROCESS THAT THE
COURT PUTS IN PLACE.
THE WISCONSIN SUPREME COURT HAS
DONE IS ADHERED TO THE LETTER OF
THE LAW AND SAID THAT WHEN IT
IMPOSES A PLAN, A NEW MAP, IT'S
GOING TO BE DONE IN A WAY THAT
DOES NOT PUT A THUMB ON THE
SCALE IN FAVOR OF CERTAIN
WISCONSINITES OVER OTHER
WISCONSINITES.
>> THE WISCONSIN SUPREME COURT
JUST REJECTED THE MOTION FOR
RECONSIDERATION.
FOR MORE ON THE PROCESS MOVING
FORWARD, WE TURN TO BARRY
BURDEN, PROFESSOR OF POLITICAL
SCIENCE AT UW-MADISON AND
DIRECTOR OF THE ELECTIONS
RESEARCH CENTER.
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
>> GLAD TO BE WITH YOU.
>> SO, AS WE'VE MENTIONED, THE
DEADLINE FORCE SUBMITTING NEW
MAPS WAS TODAY.
THERE ARE THE LEGISLATURE'S MAPS
AND THE GOVERNOR'S MAPS.
WHAT HAPPENS NOW?
>> WELL, PARTIES WILL HAVE
SUBMITTED THE MAPS AND THEN
THOSE PARTIES CAN OFFER
RESPONSES TO THE MAPS FROM THE
OTHER SIDE OVER THE NEXT WEEK,
SO THOSE REPLY BRIEFS WILL COME
IN IN THE NEXT SEVEN DAYS AND
THEN ESSENTIALLY ALL OF THAT
MATERIAL GETS HANDED TO THE TWO
CONSULTANTS THAT THE COURT
DECIDED WOULD EVALUATE THE
MATERIAL AND THEY HAVE UNTIL
FEBRUARY 1 TO DO THEIR WORK.
>> SO AT WHAT POINT WOULD THE
GOVERNOR, FOR EXAMPLE, HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO VETO THE
LEGISLATURE'S MAPS?
>> YEAH, THAT'S A LITTLE UNCLEAR
TO ME.
THE PARTIES IN THE CASE MAY
SUBMIT PROPOSALS TODAY, BUT IT
SEEMS VERY UNLIKELY THAT THERE
WOULD BE A FULL LEGISLATIVE
PROCESS.
SO I THINK WE'LL JUST HAVE TO
WAIT AND SEE WHAT GETS
SUBMITTED.
MY GUESS IS THAT THE EXECUTIVE
BRANCH AND THE LEGISLATIVE
BRANCH WILL HAVE DIFFERENT IDEAS
AND WILL SUBMIT MAPS ESSENTIALLY
SEPARATELY WITHOUT BOTHERING
WITHOUT MUCH OF THE LEGISLATIVE
PROCESS.
>> AND YET THIS IS ON A MAJOR
FAST TRACK.
>> IT IS MOVING VERY QUICKLY.
THE DECISION CAME DOWN ON
DECEMBER 2nd JUST BEFORE THE
CHRISTMAS WEEKEND.
THE COURT HOPES AND THE
WISCONSIN ELECTIONS COMMISSION
HOPES TO HAVE EVERYTHING DONE BY
MID-MARCH SO THAT MAPS ARE IN
PLACE BEFORE THE AUGUST
PRIMARIES LATER IN THE SUMMER.
SO IT IS MOVING AT A GOOD CLIP.
>> IS IT EXPECTED, IN YOUR
MINDS, THAT THE COURT'S
CONSULTANTS WILL ACTUALLY DRAW
THESE VOTING MAPS FROM SCRATCH
IN THE END HERE?
>> I THINK THAT'S LIKELY, BUT
THERE IS A LOT OF AMBIGUITY IN
THE COURT'S ORDER.
IT SAID THAT THE CONSULTANTS
SHOULD EVALUATE THE MAPS THAT
ARE PROPOSED BY THE PARTIES IN
TERMS OF WHETHER THEY MEET ALL
OF THE TRADITIONAL CRITERIA PLUS
THE ADDITIONAL CRITERIA OF
HAVING NO PARTISAN IMPACT.
THE COURT HAS NOT DEFINED WHAT
THEY MEAN BY THAT.
I THINK THAT CONSULTANTS HAVE
SOME GOOD CONCEPTS TO RELY ON
FROM WORK THEY'VE DONE IN OTHER
STATES AND ACADEMIC WORK ON
MEASURING THE BIAS IN MAPS, BUT
THEY WILL HAVE TO COME UP WITH
STANDARDS ESSENTIALLY TO
EVALUATE WHETHER THOSE CRITERIA
ARE MET.
IT SEEMS UNLIKELY THAT ANY ONE
MAP WOULD MEET ALL OF THE
CRITERIA IN A CLEAR BLACK AND
WHITE WAY AND SO THE CONSULTANTS
WILL PROBABLY BE LED TO PRODUCE
SOME KIND OF MAPS OF THEIR OWN.
>> SO AS TO THE CRITERIA, WHAT
WILL THE MAPS HAVE TO LOOK LIKE
FOR THE COURT'S APPROVAL HERE?
>> WELL, THEY WILL MEET THE
CRITERIA THAT THE MAPS HAVE MET
IN THE PAST.
FOR EXAMPLE, HAVING EQUAL
POPULATIONS IN EACH DISTRICT
COMPLYING WITH THE FEDERAL
VOTING RIGHTS ACT TO ENSURE THE
VOTING RIGHTS OF RACIAL AND
ETHNIC MINORITIES, TRYING NOT TO
SPLIT COUNTIES AND
MUNICIPALITIES UNNECESSARILY.
THIS TIME AROUND, IT WILL ALSO
HAVE TO MAKE SURE THERE AREN'T
ANY SEPARATED PIECES OF
TERRITORY.
ALL THE DISTRICTS NEED TO BE
CONTIGUOUS IN A KIND OF LITERAL
FASHION ON THE MAP AND THEN THIS
ADDITIONAL CRITERIA THEY'VE
ADDED OF NO PARTISAN IMPACT,
MEANING THE MAN LOOKS SORT OF
NEUTRAL OR THE WAY AN
UNINTERESTED PARTY WOULD HAVE
PRODUCED THE MAPS.
SO MY GUESS IS THE DISTRICTS
WILL LOOK SOMEWHAT DIFFERENT
THAN THE ONES WE HAVE TODAY.
THEY WILL CERTAINLY SHAKE UP
WHERE INCUMBENTS END UP BECAUSE
THAT'S NOT PART OF THE
CONSIDERATION FOR THE
MAP-MAKERS.
>> SO THROWN OUT WAS THIS
REQUIREMENT OF LEAST CHANGE FROM
THE LAST GO-AROUND.
>> YEAH FELT THAT WAS A
MAJOR STATEMENT IN THE COURT'S
OPINION THAT THEY DIDN'T WANT TO
ESSENTIALLY REAFFIRM THE
EXISTING BIASES IN THE MAP AND
THEY DEMANDED THAT THE MAPS BE
DRAWN FROM SCRATCH IN A WAY THAT
IS POLITICALLY NEUTRAL, SO NOT
ADVANTAGING ONE SIDE OR THE
OTHER AND ADOPTING A LEAST
CHANGED APPROACH THEY VIEWED AS
ESSENTIALLY LOCKING IN EXISTING
BIASES IN FAVOR OF REPUBLICANS.
>> WHAT IS THE EXPECTATION THAT
THE REMEDIAL VOTING MAPS WILL,
IN FACT BE IN PLACE IN TIME FOR
THIS YEAR'S ELECTIONS?
>> I THINK IT CAN HAPPEN.
THIS IS A NEW PROCESS FOR THE
STATE SUPREME COURT.
THEY'VE NOT PRODUCED MAPS IN
THIS WAY BEFORE.
IT'S AN ACCELERATED TIME
SCHEDULE SO IT NEEDS TO TO BE
DONE WITHIN THE MONTH OF
FEBRUARY TO HAVE EVERYTHING IN
PLACE IN EARLY MARCH.
I THINK IT'S VERY POSSIBLE FOR
CONSULTANCE TO DO THAT.
I THINK IS THAT QUESTION OF HOW
FAST THE COURT CAN ACT WHEN IT
GETS THE MAPS FROM CONSULTANTS,
BUT GIVEN THE TECHNOLOGY AND THE
FAMILIARITY WITH ALL OF THE
INTERESTED PARTIES HERE, I THINK
MAPS CAN COME TOGETHER PRETTY
QUICKLY.
>> IN THE END, HOW MIGHT
REMEDIAL MAPS CHANGE THE
POLITICAL LANDSCAPE IN
WISCONSIN?
>> I THINK THE NUMBER ONE EFFECT
WILL BE SHAKING UP INCUMBENTS.
DISTRICTS TODAY ARE DRAWN WITH
INCUMBENTS IN MIND.
THEY ARE PLAYERS IN THE PROCESS
AND THE STATE LEGISLATURE -- IN
THE STATE LEGISLATURE SO THEY
HAVE THEIR OWN INTEREST IN MIND.
THERE ARE SOME PARTS OF THE
STATE WHERE ADDRESSES ARE VERY
CLOSE TO ONE ANOTHER AND YET THE
DISTRICTS HAVE BEEN DRAWN TO
ENSURE THAT THEY'RE IN DIFFERENT
DISTRICTS, SO WE SHOULD EXPECT
OFTS PLACES WHERE INCUMBENTS
GET THROWN INTO TOGETHER TO THE
SAME DISTRICTS OR FORCED TO MAKE
HARD DECISIONS.
I THINK THE BAD IMPACT WILL BE
BIGGER THAN THE PARTISAN IMPACTS
WHICH WILL BENEFIT DEMOCRATS,
BUT PROBABLY NOT PUT BOTH
CHAMBERS IMMEDIATELY UP FOR
GRABS FOR BOTH PARTIES.
>> ALL RIGHT.
BARRY BURDEN, THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR YOUR EXPERTISE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> AND THEN THERE WERE TWO
CANDIDATES LEFT TO GO UP AGAINST
DONALD TRUMP IN THE REPUBLICAN
PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY, AS NIKKI
HALEY AND RON DeSANTIS DEBATED
THIS WEEK AND TRUMP HELD HIS OWN
TOWN HALL.
FOR SOME 2024 ELECTION SEASON
PREDICTIONS, WE TURN TO OUR
POLITICAL PANEL, REPUBLICAN BILL
McCOSHEN AND DEMOCRAT SCOTT
ROSS.
THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US,
BOTH.
>> GREAT TO BE HERE.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.
>> BILL, I'M GOING TO START WITH
YOU AND ASK ABOUT DONALD TRUMP.
HE CONTINUES TO DOMINATE.
WHAT IS THAT ALLURE ON THE PART
OF DONALD TRUMP EVEN AS HE FACES
SO MANY CRIMINAL CHARGES?
>> HONESTLY, I THINK THE
CRIMINAL CHARGES HAVE HELPED HIM
WITH HIS OWN BASE OVER THE
COURSE OF 2023, HE GOT STRONGER,
NOT WEAKER.
12 MONTHS AGO, RON DeSANTIS
WAS WITHIN STRIKING DISTANCE OF
THEM AND TODAY, TRUMP IS UP BY
20 OR 30 POINTS, DEPENDING ON
THE POLL YOU'RE LOOKING AT.
SO WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR ON
MONDAY NIGHT, FRED, IS
EXPECTATION.
SO TRUMP IS UP ON THE DES MOINES
REGISTER POLL BY OVER 20 POINTS.
HE RELEASED HIS OWN POLL THIS
WEEK THAT HAS HIM UP BY 30.
I'M NOT SURE I WOULD HAVE DONE
THAT IF I WERE HIM BECAUSE IF HE
COMES IN LESS THAN THAT, HE
DOESN'T MEET EXPECTATIONS.
DESCENDANTSDeSANTIS HAS TO WIN IOWA TO
EXCEED EXPECTATIONS.
COMING IN A CLOSE SECOND IS
OKAY, BUT IT'S TOUGH TO FIGURE
OUT THE CHESS BOARD FOR HIM WHAT
HIS NEXT MOVE IS AFTER THAT.
FOR HAYLEY TO GET MOMENTUM, IF
SHE BEATS DeSANTIS AND TAKES
SECOND, SHE MIGHT POTENTIALLY
WIN NEW HAMPSHIRE.
>> SCOTT, WHAT DO YOU THINK
DONALD TRUMP'S ALLURE IS?
>> HE IS UNSTOPPABLE WITHIN THE
REPUBLICANS.
HE'S UP 50% OVER ALL THE
CHALLENGERS AND SO WHAT I THINK
IS IT IS HE IS HOLDING THE PARTY
HOSTAGE.
THEY HAVE READILY ACCEPTED THAT.
STOCKHOLM SYNDROME.
THAT CAN WIN HIM A PRIMARY, BUT
IT AIN'T GOING TO WIN HIM IN
NOVEMBER BECAUSE DEMOCRATS AND
INDEPENDENTS HAVE REJECTED HIM
TIME AND TIME AGAIN,
PARTICULARLY IN THE BATTLEGROUND
STATE OF WISCONSIN.
>> DO YOU THINK, BILL, THAT
DONALD TRUMP WILL CARRY
WISCONSIN IN THE PRIMARY?
>> IT'S HARD TO SAY.
HE DIDN'T WIN THE PRIMARY HERE
IN' 16.
TED CRUZ DID.
HE WON THE GENERAL BUT LOST HERE
IN 20.
I DON'T KNOW THAT HE'S DONE
ENOUGH IN THE SUBURBAN AREAS TO
BRING SUBURBAN WOMEN BACK TO HIS
COALITION.
THERE'S WOK TO BE DONE.
PART OF THAT MIGHT BE WHO HE
PICKS AS HIS RUNNING MATE IF
HE'S STILL THE NOMINEE.
IF IT'S STILL A COMPETITIVE RACE
WHEN HE GETS TO WISCONSIN, MY
MONEY WOULD BE ON HIS OPPONENT.
>> SCOTT, DO YOU FEEL THAT
YOUNGER DEMS ARE DISENCHANTED
WITH JOE BIDEN?
>> ABSOLUTELY NOT.
THEY KNOW WHAT HAS HAPPENED WITH
TRUMP BEING IN CHARGE OF THE
GOVERNMENT.
ABORTION RIGHTS ARE GONE.
THERE'S AN ATTACK OVER AND OVER
AGAIN ON LGBTQ PEOPLE.
PRESIDENT BIDEN IS THE ONLY
PRESIDENT WHO HAS TRIED TO
REALLY DO SOMETHING ABOUT
STUDENT LOAN DEBT.
THEY ALSO APPRECIATE THE FACT
THAT THEY HAVE ACCESS TO
HEALTHCARE AS A RESULT OF JOE
BIDEN.
SO, NO, I DON'T THINK THERE'S
ANY SORT OF -- I DON'T THINK --
THE ALTERNATIVE IS SO FAR WORSE
AND I THINK THAT STUDENTS ARE
SMART ENOUGH TO KNOW THAT AND I
THINK IN PARTICULAR WE'RE GOING
TO SEE THAT IN THE THIRD C.D.
WHERE THEY'VE GOT SIX CAMPUSES,
A BUNCH OF TWO-YEAR CAMPUSES.
I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE THE
THING THAT TAKES NOT ONLY
DERRICK VAN ORDEN DOWN, BUT ALSO
DONALD TRUMP.
>> WHY DO YOU THINK, BILL, YOUNG
VOTERS STAND BETWEEN DONALD
TRUMP AND JOE BIDEN?
>> I THINK THE WAR IN ISRAEL IS
DIVIDING THEM.
RIGHT?
YOU'VE GOT LAODICEA A LOT OF
PRO-PALESTINIAN VOTERS WHO WOULD
SHOWING UP AT TAMMY BALDWIN
EVENTS, SHOWING UP AT OTHER
EVENTS AND SHOWING UP AT JOE
BIDEN EVENTS.
THAT'S GOING TO BE PROBLEMATIC
FOR HIM.
I'M NOT SURE THERE WILL BE AS
MUCH ENERGY WITH YOUNG VOTERS IN
NOVEMBER OF THIS YEAR AS THERE
HAS BEEN IN AT LEAST LAST
NOVEMBER'S ELECTION.
WE'LL SEE, BUT THEY'RE
DISENFRANCHISED WITH WHERE THIS
ADMINISTRATION IS HEADING, WHICH
COULD BE GOOD NEWS FOR
REPUBLICANS IF WE HAVE THE RIGHT
MESSAGE TO ATTRACT THEM.
>> SCOTT, IS DEMOCRATIC SENATOR
TAMMY BALDWIN UNBEATABLE?
>> WOW.
WELL, SHE HAS BEEN SO FAR,
THAT'S FOR SURE, AND THERE ISN'T
A REAL CHALLENGER TO HER YET.
IT'S BECAUSE OF HER RECORD.
IT'S HER RECORD OF
ACCOMPLISHMENTS, BIPARTISAN
AGREEMENTS ON THINGS LIKE, YOU
KNOW, MANUFACTURING, BUY IN
AMERICA.
SHE IS A LEADER ON REPRODUCTIVE
FREEDOMS, WHICH IS GOING TO BE
HUGE FOR HER IN A SENATE RACE,
ESPECIALLY WHEN SHE'S PAIRED
AGAINST POSSIBLY THE MOST
ANTICHOICE CANDIDATE THAT WE'LL
EVER SEE IF WE GOT HOVDE OR
CLARK.
REPUBLICANS ARE IN DISARRAY
BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE ANYBODY
TO GO UP AGAINST A SITTING
SENATOR.
>> DO YOU THINK THAT TAMMY
BALDWIN IS FORMIDABLE, BILL?
>> NO QUESTION HE'S FORMIDABLE.
SHE'S TOUGH.
ANYONE WHO THINKS OTHERWISE ON
OUR SIDE ISN'T LOOKING AT HER
ELECTORAL HISTORY.
SHE WORKS HARD, SHE DOES
PHENOMENAL ON CONSTITUENT
SERVICES.
I THINK HE HAS TWO
VULNERABILITIES.
NUMBER ONE IS JOE BIDEN AT THE
TOP OF THE TICKET.
IS SHE RUN AHEAD OF JOE BIDEN IF
SHE NEEDS TO?
MAYBE.
RON JOHNSON RAN UP AHEAD OF
TRUMP IN 2016, BUT IT'S RARE FOR
A U.S. SENATE CANDIDATE TO RUN
AHEAD OF TOP THEIR TICKET.
SHE MAY NEED TO DO THAT IN ORDER
TO WIN.
SECONDLY, I THINK THE BORDER IS
A REAL ISSUE FOR DEMOCRATS AT
LARGE.
IF THEY DON'T SOLVE THAT BETWEEN
NOW AND OCTOBER, FOR EXAMPLE, I
THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE A
STRONG VULNERABILITY FOR HER.
>> WHAT ABOUT THAT ISSUE OF
IMMIGRATION?
>> I THINK THAT IT IS A RED
HERRING THAT'S DESIGNED TO
DIVIDE PEOPLE, WHITE PEOPLE
AGAINST PEOPLE OF COLOR.
IT'S SOMETHING THE REPUBLICANS
HAVE DONE FOR DECADES AND
DECADES.
WHILE I DO AGREE WITH WHAT BILL
SAID, SENATOR BALDWIN HAS BEEN
AT THE TOP OF THE TICKET BEFORE,
SHE WON BY 11 POINTS IN 2018 AND
GOVERNOR EVERS HAD WON BY JUST
ONE POINT, SO I THINK SHE HAS AN
ENTIRE POSSIBILITY OF BEING THE
LEAD OF THE TICKET.
THE PROBLEM IS THAT -- THE THING
WE HAVE TO DO IS REMEMBER WHAT
HAPPENED IN 2016.
HILLARY CLINTON'S CAMPAIGN GAVE
UP IN WISCONSIN, THEY GAVE UP ON
MICHIGAN, THEY DID A
HALF-HEARTED JOB IN
PENNSYLVANIA.
THAT AIN'T EVER GOING TO HAPPEN
AGAIN.
DEMOCRATS ARE GOING TO HAVE THE
RESOURCES AND I THINK IT WILL BE
A GOOD DEMOCRATIC VICTORY IN
NOVEMBER.
>> SO I WANT TO --
>> WELL, THE THING TO REMEMBER
IS ONLY ONE INCUMBENT IN AMERICA
BOSSE IN 2020, THE GOVERNOR OF
NEVADA.
LEADING A STATEWIDE INCUMBENT --
BEATING THEM IS VERY DIFFICULT,
REGARDLESS OF PARTY.
>> I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE
RECALL EFFORT AGAINST ROBIN VOS
LAUNCHED THIS WEEK FOR HIS
OPPOSITION OF DONALD TRUMP AND
FAILING TO IMPEACH MEAGAN WOLFE.
WHAT DOES THIS SAY ABOUT THE
SCHISM IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY
IN THIS STATE?
>> I THINK IT'S A SMALL FACTION
IN THE 63rd ACCEPTABLE ASSEMBLY'S
DISTRICT WHO DISLIKED THE
SPEAKER FOR ONE REASON OR
ANOTHER.
IT'S DESTRUCTIVE.
ANYONE WHO IS WATCHING THIS
PROGRAM WHO LIVES IN THAT
DISTRICT SHOULD NOT SIGN THOSE
RECALL PAPERS.
REPUBLICANS SHOULDN'T BE
FIGHTING REPUBLICANS.
THEY SHOULD HAVE THEIR AIM
FOCUSED AT DEMOCRATS.
THEY'RE GOING TO BE RUNNING ON
NEW MAPS THIS FALL.
THERE'S A PRESIDENTIAL RACE.
IT WILL BE COMPETITIVE
CONGRESSIONAL RACE.
WE DON'T NEED TO BE WASTING
RESOURCES FIGHTING OUR OWN TEAM
BEFORE THEN.
>> SCOTT, 30 SECONDS LEFT.
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE VOS
RECALL EFFORT?
>> I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT THE
REPUBLICAN PARTY WOULD REJECT A
THRICE MARRIED REAL ESTATE GUY
WHO IS IN COURT ALL THE TIME.
SO IT'S SHOCKING TO ME.
IT'S TERRIBLE FOR DEMOCRACY.
VOS HASN'T DONE ANYTHING THAT'S
RECALLABLE AND THE CHALLENGE
WILL BE SWATTED AWAY LIKE BILL
SAYS.
BUT, AGAIN, DIVISION ON THE
REPUBLICAN SIDE.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WE LEAVE IT THERE.
THANKS VERY MUCH, BILL
McCOSHEN, SCOTT ROSS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> IN AGRICULTURE NEWS, A SMALL
BUT GROWING NUMBER OF WISCONSIN
DAIRY FARMERS ARE EMBRACING
ROBOTIC MILKERS AMID
DIFFICULTIES MAIN TAKING A
WORKFORCE, ONGOING MARKET SWINGS
AND UNCERTAINTIES OVER AN
UPDATED FARM BILL.
"HERE AND NOW" REPORTER ADITI
DEBNATH HAS MORE ON WHAT THIS
TECHNOLOGY MEANS FOR THE FUTURE
OF WISCONSIN DAIRY FARMS.
>> IT HAS BEEN LIFE-CHANGING
EVER SINCE.
>> THIS DECEMBER MARKED FIVE
YEARS SINCE THE HINCHLEY FAMILY
MOVED THEIR HERD OF NEARLY 300
COWS TO A NEW BARN WITH ROBOTIC
MILKING MACHINES.
>> SO IT'S BEEN LIFE-CHANGING
BECAUSE BEING ABLE TO GO IN AND
JUST CHECK ON WHAT COWS WE NEED
TO FOCUS ON AND NOT HAVE TO
FOCUS ON EVERY SINGLE COW HAS
BEEN SO BENEFICIAL TO MY
PHYSICAL HEALTH, BUT ALSO MY
MENTAL HEALTH.
>> IN ADDITION TO A FEW
PART-TIME STUDENT EMPLOYEES, THE
HINCHLEYS HAVE JUST ONE
FULL-TIME STAFFER SINCE
AUTOMATING PROCESSES LIKE
MILKING AND FEEDING.
>> TYPICALLY, WE END UP WITH
HIGH SCHOOL OR COLLEGE STUDENTS
BECAUSE WE ARE CLOSE ENOUGH TO
MADISON, BUT THERE HAS BEEN
TIMES WHEN IT'S BEEN DIFFICULT.
>> HOPEFULLY, SHE'S GOING TO BE
AN AMAZING MILK GIRL.
>> NO LONGER TIED TO MILKING
COWS TWICE A DAY HERSELF, BOTH
SHE AND HER COWS ARE HAPPIER
WITH THE ROBOTIC MILKERS
OPERATING 24 HOURS A DAY.
>> IT'S NOT NECESSARILY
SOMETHING YOU WOULD HAVE TO DO
IN ORDER TO STAY IN THE DAIRY
BUSINESS.
>> MADISON PROFESSOR OF ANIMAL
AND DAIRY SCIENCES, CHUCK
NICHOLSON, SAYS ONLY ABOUT 8% OF
WISCONSIN'S DAIRY FARMERS HAVE
IMPLEMENTED THE NEW TECHNOLOGY.
TYPICALLY FAMILY FARMS THAT WANT
TO SAVE ON LABOR COSTS.
>> THE LABOR SHORTAGE IS
DEFINITELY A KEY MOTIVATING
FACTOR.
>> THE HIGH TECH COLLARS FITTED
TO EACH COW SEND ABOUT 130
DIFFERENT DATA POINTS ABOUT EACH
ANIMAL DIRECTLY TO HINCHLEY'S
SMART PHONE.
>> THERE ARE OTHER BENEFITS THAT
FARMS GET FROM ADOPTING THESE
ROBOTIC MILKING SYSTEMS, BETTER
MILK PRODUCTION, BETTER ANIMAL
HEALTH, IMPROVED MILK QUALITY.
>> Reporter: WHILE MANY
WISCONSIN FARMERS ARE
CONSIDERING THE IMPACT A.I. MAY
HAVE ON THEIR DAIRY PRODUCTION,
NICHOLSON SAYS 75% OF WISCONSIN
FARMERS SAID THEY HAVE NOT AND
WILL NOT IMPLEMENT ROBOTICS ON
THEIR FARM.
>> I TOLD THE PEOPLE THAT WERE
DESIGNING IT AND STUFF THAT I
DON'T WANT ANY MOVING PARTS.
YOU'RE ALWAYS HERE THIS TIME OF
YEAR.
YOU KNOW THAT?
>> Reporter: JOHN ROSENOW
MANAGES A 600-COW HERD.
>> IT'S OUR KITCHEN WINDOW.
WHEN WE WERE HIRING PEOPLE, I
HAD TO SEE THE PARKING LOT, AND
SEE WHO WOULDN'T SHOW UP AND
THEN I HAD TO COVER FOR HIM.
>> HE HIRED HIS FIRST IMMIGRANT
EMPLOYEE NEARLY 25 YEARS AGO.
>> SINCE WE'VE HIRED MEXICANS, I
NEVER HAVE TO DO THAT ANYMORE.
I COULD LIVE IN TOWN, BECAUSE
THEY ALWAYS COME ON TIME AND
THEY'RE HERE ON TIME.
>> Reporter: ROSENOW FOUNDED
THE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION
PUENTES WHICH BRIDGES THE GAP
BETWEEN FARMERS AND THEIR
IMMIGRANT EMPLOYEES BY SENDING
THEM BOTH TO MEET THE EMPLOYEES'
FAMILIES IN MEXICO.
HE SAYS HE'S NEVER CONSIDERED
ROBOTICS BECAUSE OF HIS
COMMITMENT TO HIS HUMAN
RESOURCES.
>> I LIKE SEEING -- IN MEXICO,
THE DIFFERENT HOMES AND STUFF
THAT THEY'VE BUILT AND THEY'VE
EDUCATED THEIR CHILDREN, THEY'RE
GETTING HEALTHCARE, THINGS THAT
THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO GET BEFORE.
WHEN I LOOK AT BOTH SIDES, THE
BUSINESS SIDE AND THE
HUMANITARIAN SIDE, IT LEANS REAL
STRONGLY TO THE HUMAN SIDE OF
IT.
>> Reporter: ROSENOW THAT SAYS
THE SALESMAN THAT HAVE PITCHED
HIM THEIR TECHNOLOGY ARE CLEVER.
THEY CAPITALIZE ON OLD FARMERS
AND CONVINCE THEM THAT THEY'RE
OUT OF TOUCH.
>> A LOT OF IT IS, WHEN THIS
FIRST STARTED, I WOULD FEEL BAD,
AM I AN OLD FUDDY DUDDY?
YOU QUESTION YOURSELF.
>> Reporter: ROSENOW'S HERD
WOULD REQUIRE ABOUT EIGHT
AUTOMATED MILKERS AT ABOUT A
HALF MILLION DOLLARS A PIECE AS
WELL AS A NEW BARN.
HE SAYS MODERN FARM EQUIPMENT
ALSO REQUIRES MORE EXPENSIVE AND
SPECIALIZED LABOR TO DO THE
REPAIRS.
>> DOESN'T MATTER IF IT'S NEW OR
OLD OR WHATEVER.
IT'S GOING TO BREAK.
>> Reporter: AND WITH THE
VOLATILE NATURE OF THE DAIRY
ECONOMY, HE SAYS OLD EQUIPMENT
THAT YOU CAN FIX IS BETTER THAN
NEW EQUIPMENT YOU CAN'T, LIKE
THIS FRONT END LOADER.
>> IT ONLY COST YOU ARE $25,000
40 YEARS AGO AND SIMILAR TO THAT
NOW, I'D BE LOOKING AT 200,000
AND THEN WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO
FIX IT.
WE'D HAVE TO HAVE THE DEALER FIX
IT.
>> NICHOLSON SAYS THAT FOR THE
PAST NINE MONTHS IN PARTICULAR,
ALL DAIRY FARMERS HAVE BEEN
LOSING MONEY.
>> THE CIRCUMSTANCES WE'RE IN
ARE REALLY UNUSUAL RIGHT NOW.
>> Reporter: THAT'S BECAUSE
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MORE THAN
20 YEARS, THE U.S.D.A. IS
HEARING PROPOSALS TO AMEND THE
SYSTEM THAT DETERMINES HOW MILK
IS PRICED.
NICHOLSON SAYS THE SYSTEM,
CALLED THE FEDERAL MILK
MARKETING ORDERS, DOESN'T HAVE A
MECHANISM TO ADAPT TO ECONOMIC
OR TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGES OVER
TIME.
>> THERE IS A LENGTHY AND
SOMETIMES EXCRUCIATING PROCESS
TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
>> Reporter: ON WISCONSIN
FARMS, HOWEVER, PRODUCERS CAN'T
AFFORD TO FOLLOW THE LENGTHY
DISCUSSIONS TAKING PLACE IN
WASHINGTON.
>> WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE
GOING TO GET.
WE HAVE NO IDEA WITH COMMODITIES
THAT WE ARE PRODUCING, WE'RE IN
A GLOBAL SCALE.
WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON
WITH CHINA UNTIL IT HAPPENS.
WE DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH BRAZIL IS
PRODUCING.
ALL OF THAT AFFECTS OUR BOTTOM
LINE.
>> Reporter: AND SO WHETHER BY
MACHINE OR BY HAND, WISCONSIN
FARMERS PRESS ON MILKING THEIR
HERDS.
FOR "HERE AND NOW," I'M ADITI
DEBNATH.
>> TODAY, PEOPLE PACKED THE
FISERV FORUM ARENA IN MILWAUKEE
TO CELEBRATE THE LIFE AND
CONTRIBUTIONS OF FORMER U.S.
SENATOR AND PHILANTHROPY PITTS
HERB KOHL WHO PASSED AWAY TWO
DAYS AFTER CHRISTMAS.
SPECIAL PROJECTS JOURNALIST MURV
SEYMORE HAS MORE.
>> SINCE HIS PASSING, THE FLAG
AT THE STATE CAPITOL AND OTHER
BUILDINGS FLY AT HALF-STAFF IN
MEMORY OF HERB KOHL.
>> THE BUCKS SUGGESTED HONORING
HER W STATUE OUTSIDE THE ARENA.
MY UNCLE DECLINED SAYING I'M
JUST NOT A STATUE KIND OF GUY.
>> FROM INSIDE THE ARENA HE
HELPED FUND, ENTER THE STREET
THAT SHARES HIS NAME, HIS
MEMORIAL SERVICE.
>> SAYING GOOD-BYE TO HERB AFTER
MORE THAN 80 YEARS OF SAYING
HELLO AND SO MANY MORE WELCOMING
AND POSITIVE WORDS WAS REALLY
DIFFICULT.
>> IT'S FITTING THE TRIBUTE TO
COALE IS OPEN TO ALL OF
MILWAUKEE AND WISCONSIN, THE
CITY WHERE HE GREW UP AND THE
STATE HE SERVED.
PEOPLE PROUDLY REMEMBER THE
FOUR-TIME U.S. SENATOR WITH THE
LEGENDARY SLOGAN, NOBODY'S
SENATOR BUT YOURS.
FOLLOWING HIS FATHER'S FOOTSTEPS
IN THE 1970s, COALE AND HIS
BROTHER LED THE BOOMING GROWTH
OF COALE'S GROCERY STORES WHICH
BEGAN IN MILWAUKEE AND GREW INTO
A BRAND OF OVER 1,100 DEPARTMENT
STORES IN EVERY STATE BUT
HAWAII.
HE'S BEEN A FAMILIAR FACE HERE
ON OUR POLITICAL PROGRAMMING.
>> TONIGHT, WE'LL INTERVIEW
SUSAN ENGELEITER AND HERB KOHL.
>> NEVER HEARD AND WITH NO KIDS,
THE FORMER LEADER OF THE
DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF WISCONSIN
NEVER LOST AN ELECTION, NEVER
TOOK CONTRIBUTIONS FROM
POLITICAL COMMITTEES OR SPECIAL
INTEREST GROUPS.
>> I SPENT MY ENTIRE LIFE
HELPING TO ENHANCE THE ECONOMY
OF WISCONSIN.
>> ONE OF HIS BIGGEST INTERESTS,
BUYING AND SAVING THE MILWAUKEE
BUCKS IN IS THE 85 WORTH AT THE
TIME AN UNHEARD OF $18 MILLION.
HE SOLD THE PEOPLE IN 2014 FOR
$550 MILLION, DONATING $100
MILLION OF IT TOWARD BUILDING A
NEW ARENA TO HELP ONCE AGAIN
KEEP THE TEAM FROM EVER LEAVING
HIS HOMETOWN.
>> YOU DID IT WITHOUT THE TENS
AND ONES.
>> HIS SPIRIT TO GIVE LIVES ON.
HIS TIME, HIS EFFORTS, HIS
MILLIONS OF TOWARD FUNDING
TEACHERS, STUDENTS, AND VARIOUS
AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS AT PLACES
LIKE THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB.
HE PUT HIS FOOT DOWN AND FORCED
MORE FUNDING FOR ENFORCEMENT TO
FIGHT DRUG TRAFFICKERS AND
JUVENILE JUSTICE.
HE LED BIPARTISAN SUPPORT
FORCING SAFETY LOCKS TO BE SOLD
WITH GUNS.
HE HELPED LOWER THE PRICE OF
PRESCRIPTION DRUGS AND PASSED
LAWS FOR BETTER BACKGROUND
CHECKS AT NURSING HOMES TO
BETTER PROTECT SENIORS.
IN WASHINGTON, HE PROUDLY FOUGHT
FOR FARMERS, ESPECIALLY
WISCONSIN FARMERS.
>> HAVING SAFETY NETS THAT GO TO
PRODUCERS SO THAT WHEN TIMES
REALLY GET BAD, THROUGH NO FAULT
OF THEIR OWN, THEY'RE NOT ALL
FORCED TO GO UNDER.
>> AT THE UNIVERSITY OF
WISCONSIN IN MADISON, HIS ALMA
MATER, COALE'S $25 MILLION
DONATION HELPED BUILD THE
76-MILLION-DOLLAR KOHL CENTER,
AND THE LARGEST DONATION EVER,
HERB KOHL SMILES DOING WHAT HE
MIGHT HAVE LORD LOVED DOING MOST:
GIVING.
REPORTING FOR HEAR AND NOW, I'M
MURV SEYMORE.
>> HERB KOHL WAS 88.
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.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.