..TEST...
WORKFORCE PLAN.
TWICE.
ANYONE ON EITHER SIDE OF THE
AISLE HAS A BETTER PLAN THAN
MINE THAT NOT ONLY PREVENTS THE
COLLAPSE OF OUR STATE'S
CHILDCARE INDUSTRY, BUT ALSO
HELPS US COMPLETE -- COMPETE
AGAINST OUR NEIGHBORING STATES
FOR TALENT AND INVESTS IN PUBLIC
EDUCATION AT EVERY LEVEL TO
PREPARE OUR KIDS FOR THE FUTURE.
LET'S HEAR IT.
I WILL WORK WITH ANY LEGISLATOR,
ANY PARTNER, ANY STAKEHOLDER WHO
IS WILLING TO ENGAGE IN
MEANINGFUL CONVERSATIONS ON
THESE ISSUES TO DO THE RIGHT
THING FOR WISCONSIN.
[APPLAUSE]
>> THE LEGISLATURE RELEASED A
PLAN TODAY THAT WOULD CUT TAXES
FOR THE MIDDLE CLASS.
IT WOULD EXEMPT RETIREMENT
INCOME FROM STATE INCOME TAXES.
IT WOULD INCREASE THE MARRIED
COUPLE CREDIT AND INCREASE THE
CHILD AND INDEPENDENT CARE TAX
CREDIT.
DEMOCRATS SAY STATE SURPLUSES AS
AN OPPORTUNITY TO GROW
GOVERNMENT ENTITLEMENT ON THE
BACKS OF HARD-WORKING TAXPAYERS.
LEGISLATIVE REPUBLICANS HAVE A
DIFFERENT VERSION.
>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION.
>> YOU'RE WATCHING "HERE AND
NOW" 2024 ELECTION COVERAGE.
PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN VISITS
SUPERIOR TO TOUT INFRASTRUCTURE
AND THE ECONOMY, WHILE WISCONSIN
REPUBLICANS BLAST THE PRESIDENT
ON INFLATION AND IMMIGRATION.
AND GOVERNOR EVERS DELIVERS HIS
STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW," THE
LATEST FROM THE STATE
LEGISLATURE AND MOVEMENT ON
VOTING MAPS.
THEN WHEN A REPUBLICAN
NEVER-TRUMPER THINKS OF THE
FORMER PRESIDENT'S VICTORY IN
NEW HAMPSHIRE.
WHAT HAPPENS NOW AS 19 CLINICS
AND TWO HOSPITALS CLOSE IN WEST
CENTRAL WISCONSIN, AND NEW
GUIDANCE FOR LEAD TESTING IN
CHILDREN.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR JANUARY
26.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.
>> A BUSY WEEK AT THE STATE
CAPITOL.
GOVERNOR TONY EVERS DELIVERED
HIS STATE-OF-THE STATE ADDRESS
AS THE REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURE
PROPOSED AND PASSED HEADLINING
BILLS.
>> I'VE INTRODUCED A
COMPREHENSIVE WORKFORCE CLAN
TWICE.
ANYONE ON EITHER SIDE OF THE
AISLE HAS A BETTER PLAN THAN
MINE THAT NOT ONLY PREVENTS THE
COLLAPSE OF OUR STATE'S
CHILDCARE INDUSTRY BUT ALSO
HELPS US COMPETE AGAINST OUR
NEIGHBORING STATES FOR TALENT
AND INVESTS IN PUBLIC EDUCATION
AT EVERY LEVEL TO PREPARE OUR
KIDS FOR THE FUTURE, LET'S HEAR
IT.
I WILL WORK WITH ANY LEGISLATOR,
ANY PARTNER, ANY STAKEHOLDER WHO
IS WILLING TO ENGAGE IN
MEANINGFUL CONVERSATIONS ON
THESE ISSUES TO DO THE RIGHT
THING FOR WISCONSIN.
[APPLAUSE]
>> THE LEGISLATURE RELEASED A
PLAN TODAY THAT WOULD CUT TAXES
FOR THE MIDDLE CLASS.
IT WOULD EXEMPT RETIREMENT
INCOME FROM STATE INCOME TAXES.
IT WOULD INCREASE THE MARRIED
COUPLE CREDIT.
DEMOCRATS SEE STATE SURPLUSES AS
AN OPPORTUNITY TO GROW
GOVERNMENT ENTITLEMENT ON THE
BACKS OF HARD-WORKING TAXPAYERS.
LEGISLATIVE REPUBLICANS HAVE A
DIFFERENT VERSION.
WE STAND FOR LIMITED GOVERNMENT,
LOW TAXES, SAFE COMMUNITIES, AND
A STRONG ECONOMY.
>> IN ADDITION TO THE TAX CUT
PROPOSAL AND A BILL BANNING
ABORTIONS AFTER 14 WEEKS,
LEGISLATIVE REPUBLICANS PASSED A
NEW REDISTRICTING PLAN, MAPS
THAT MIRROR THE ONE SUBMITTED BY
GOVERNOR EVERS WITH CHANGES TO
PROTECT INCUMBENTS.
UNDER THE EVERS MAP, REPUBLICAN
WOULD HAVE A MAJORITY IN THE
ASSEMBLY AND A 17-16 EDGE IN THE
SENATE BUT VOS SAID UNDER THOSE
MAPS, 30 REPUBLICANS WOULD BE
PAIRED AGAINST ONE ANOTHER
COMPARED WITH JUST TWO
DEMOCRATS.
>> UNDER THE MAP THAT WE'RE
VOTING ON TODAY, WITH THE SMALL
TWEAKS FOR FIVE MEMBERS, THE
GOVERNOR IS GETTING 99% OF WHAT
HE ASKED FOR.
99%.
AND ACTUALLY THE MAP THAT WE'RE
VOTING ON TODAY DISENFRANCHISES
FEWER PEOPLE THAN THE GOVERNOR'S
MAP BECAUSE WE REUNITE A COUPLE
OF THE LEGISLATORS WITH THEIR
COMMUNITIES AND UNDO THE MOST
EGREGIOUS POLITICAL GERRYMANDERS
IN THIS MAP.
>> LACROSSE POLITICAL SCIENCE
PROFESSOR ANTHONY CHERGOSKY WAS
AT THE CAPITOL AS ALL OF THIS
WAS UNFOLDING.
HE JOINS US NOW FOR HIS TAKE.
PROFESSOR, THANK YOU FOR BEING
WITH US.
>> THANK YOU.
>> SO AS WE'VE SAID, SINCE WE
LAST TALKED, BOTH THE SENATE AND
THE ASSEMBLY PASSED THIS NEW
REDISTRICTING PROPOSAL THAT
MIRRORS GOVERNOR EVERS' MAPS
WITH WHAT THEY CALL MINUSCULE
CHANGES TO PROTECT SOME OF THE
INCUMBENTS IN THE STATEMENT
DISTRICTS.
WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THE
REPUBLICANS' MOVE HERE?
>> WELL, I THINK IT'S PRETTY
SIGNIFICANT CHANGES WHEN THE
MAPS ARE BEING ADJUSTED TO
PRACTICALLY INCUMBENTS.
PART OF THIS IS ABOUT
SELF-PRESERVATION.
IF TWO INCUMBENTS ARE RUNNING
AGAINST ONE ANOTHER, THEN ONLY
ONE INCUMBENT CAN WIN AND THAT
MEANS THAT A SUBSTANTIAL NUMBER
OF INCUMBENTS COULD BE LEFT OUT
OF A JOB AFTER THE 2024 ELECTION
CYCLE IS COMPLETED.
SO I THINK THE ABILITY TO REMAIN
IN OFFICE IS CERTAINLY TOP OF
MIND FOR LEGISLATORS.
IN ADDITION, THE INCUMBENCY
ADVANTAGE STILL MATTERS.
THE INCUMBENCY IS NOT WHAT IT
USED TO BE, BUT STILL,
INCUMBENTS DO HAVE CERTAIN
ADVANTAGES IN TERMS OF
FUNDRAISING, IN TERMS OF NAME
RECOGNITION, IN TERMS OF THE
CONNECTIONS AND THE
INCREDIBILITY THEY'VE BUILT WITH
VOTERS.
SO THE MORE INCUMBENTS ARE ON
THE BALLOT FOR REPUBLICANS, THE
BETTER THE PARTY AS A WHOLE
COULD DO.
I'M NOT SURPRISED THAT
REPUBLICAN LEADERS WANT TO
PROTECT THEIR INCUMBENTS AND
ENSURE THAT AS MANY OF THEIR
INCUMBENTS AS POSSIBLE CAN BE ON
THE NOVEMBER BALLOT.
>> BUT MEANWHILE, EVERS SAYS HE
WILL ALMOST CERTAINLY VETO THE
LATEST REPUBLICAN PROPOSAL AND
THAT HAD TO BE EXPECTED ON THE
PART OF THE LEGISLATIVE
REPUBLICAN LEADERS.
SO KIND OF WHY GO THROUGH THAT
EXERCISE?
>> I THINK FOR EVERS, HE
UNDERSTANDS THAT THESE CHANGES
ARE INDEED SUBSTANTIAL.
ALLOWING MORE INCUMBENTS TO RUN
FOR OFFICE IN 2024 COULD HAVE
SIGNIFICANT EFFECTS ON THE
ELECTION OUTCOMES.
MEANWHILE, REPUBLICANS
UNDERSTAND THAT AS WELL.
THEY WANT TO PROTECT THEIR
INCUMBENTS.
THEY KNOW THAT THE MORE
INCUMBENTS ON THE BALLOT, THE
BETTER THEIR PARTY IS TO DO.
IF REPUBLICANS DON'T HAVE MANY
INCUMBENTS WHO ARE ABLE TO RUN
IN NOVEMBER 2024 DUE TO NEW
MAPS, THEN IT'S GOING TO TAKE A
LOT OF WORK FOR CANDIDATE
RECRUITMENT, IT'S GOING TO TAKE
A LOT OF FUNDRAISING EFFORT,
IT'S GOING TO TAKE A LOT OF WORK
TO BUILD NAME RECOGNITION FOR A
NEW BATCH OF CANDIDATES.
REPUBLICANS UNDOUBTEDLY WANT
INCUMBENTS TO BE ABLE TO RUN IN
NOVEMBER 2024.
OF COURSE, CERTAIN INCUMBENTS
WILL NOT BE ABLE TO RUN, BUT THE
MORE INCUMBENTS REPUBLICANS CAN
HAVE ON THE BALLOT, THE BETTER
FOR THEM.
>> SO SPEAKER VOS DESCRIBED THIS
AS MINUSCULE CHANGES AND 99% OF
WHAT THE GOVERNOR WANTED IN HIS
MAPS THINKING PERHAPS HE WOULD
SIGN THEM.
IS THERE PROPOSAL A HEDGE
AGAINST SUPREME COURT CHOOSING A
MAP THAT'S EVEN MORE
ADVANTAGEOUS TO DEMOCRATS OR ONE
OF ITS OWN, WHICH IS KIND OF
UNKNOWN AT THIS POINT?
>> YOU'RE RIGHT.
RIGHT NOW, I THINK UNKNOWN IS
THE KEY WORD.
WE'RE DEALING WITH A PERIOD OF
UNCERTAINTY REGARDING THE
ONGOING COURT CHALLENGE TO THE
MAPS BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW HOW
THE CONSULTANTS HIRED BY THE
WISCONSIN STATE SUPREME COURT
ARE GOING TO COME DOWN ON THE
MAPS THAT HAVE BEEN PROPOSED,
THE CONSULTANTS COULD PICK ONE
OF THE MAPS, THEY COULD DRAW
THEIR OWN MAPS.
RIGHT NOW THERE'S A LOT OF
UNCERTAINTY HANGING OVER THE
CAPITOL WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE
LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT MAPS FOR
2024 AND UNCERTAINTY MAKES
POLITICIANS NERVOUS BY DRAWING
THE MAPS THEMSELVES, THEY CAN
BRING SOME CERTAINTY BACK INTO
THE EQUATION, BUT IF THIS
CONTINUES TO WORK ITS WAY
THROUGH THE COURTS, THE NAME OF
THE GAME IS GOING TO BE
UNCERTAINTY AT LEAST UNTIL THE
WISCONSIN STATE SUPREME COURT
SETTLES ON A MAP AND UNTIL ALL
LEGAL CHALLENGES HAVE BEEN
EXHAUSTED.
>> BRIEFLY, ALL OF THIS WAS
HAPPENING KIND OF AT THE SAME
TIME THAT GOVERNOR EVERS WAS IN
THE SPOTLIGHT FOR HIS
STATE-OF-THE STATE ADDRESS.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT GOVERNOR
EVERS DID NOT DISCUSS THERE WAS
TAX CUTS AT THE SAME TIME THAT
THE REPUBLICANS CAME OUT WITH
THIS TAX CUT PROPOSAL THAT WOULD
SEEM TO BE MORE AMENABLE TO WHAT
THE GOVERNOR MIGHT WANT.
WHY TRY TO WORK WITH HIM ON THAT
NOW, OR IS THAT WHAT'S
HAPPENING?
>> REPUBLICANS WANT THINGS TO
RUN ON IN NOVEMBER OF 2024.
THEY NEED THINGS TO PUT ON THEIR
CAMPAIGN BROCHURES, THEY NEED
THINGS TO MENTION WHEN THEY'RE
KNOCKING ON DOORS.
SO REPUBLICANS ARE LOOKING TO
RACK UP SOME ACHIEVEMENTS AND
THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO MEET THE
GOVERNOR HALFWAY ON TAXES.
WE'LL HAVE TO SEE HOW THAT PANS
OUT.
THE GOVERNOR DID NOT MENTION
TAXES IN HIS STATE OF THE STATE
BUT I THINK COMPROMISE ON THAT
ISSUE IS POSSIBLE.
COMPROMISES ON OTHER ISSUES LIKE
ABORTION, NOT SO POSSIBLE.
>> THAT'S FOR SURE.
PROFESSOR ANTHONY CHERGOSKY,
THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE DONALD
TRUMP BEAT HIS LAST REPUBLICAN
CHALLENGER STANDING IN THE NEW
HAMPSHIRE PRIMARY THIS WEEK.
NIKKI HALEY VOWS TO CONTINUE HER
CAMPAIGN, BUT WHERE ARE WE WITH
THE PRESIDENTIAL CONTEST?
WE TURN TO POLITICAL
COMMENTATOR, CHARLIE SYKES, WHO
KNOWS WISCONSIN POLITICS AS
FORMER HOST OF A POWERFUL
CONSERVATIVE TALKRADIO SHOW OUT
OF MILWAUKEE FOR MORE THAN 20
YEARS AND THE COFOUNDER OF
PODCAST.
HE'S ALSO A WELL-KNOWN
NEVER-TRUMPER.
CHARLIE, THANK YOU FOR BEING
WITH US.
>> GOOD TO BE BACK WITH YOU.
>> SO NOT W STANDING WHAT NIKKI
HALEY IS SAYING, IS IT A
FOREGONE CONCLUSION THAT THE
REPUBLICAN PRIMARY RACE IS OVER
AND THE GENERAL ELECTION RACE
BETWEEN DONALD TRUMP AND JOE
BIDEN IS ON?
>> I THINK YOU HAVE TO ASSUME
THAT THAT'S THE CASE.
THIS IS DONALD TRUMP'S PARTY.
I THINK THAT THAT'S BEEN EVIDENT
FOR SOME TIME, AND I THINK THAT
THE FACT THAT SO MANY ELECTED
REPUBLICANS ARE COALESCING
AROUND HIM SO QUICKLY IS AN
INDICATION THAT THEY'RE
EXPECTING A CORONATION THIS
SUMMER HERE IN MILWAUKEE.
>> WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THAT?
>> WELL, IT IS EXTRAORDINARY HOW
QUICKLY THE REPUBLICAN PARTY HAS
CAPITULATED TO DONALD TRUMP ONCE
AGAIN.
I MEAN, THINK ABOUT ALL OF THE
OFF-RAMPS THEY COULD HAVE TAKEN.
THEY COULD HAVE TAKEN OFF-RAMPS
AFTER HE WAS DEFEATED.
THEY CERTAINLY COULD HAVE TAKEN
OFF-RAMPS AFTER JANUARY 6th,
AFTER THE INDICTMENTS, AND YET
AT EACH TURN, THERE'S BEEN A
FAILURE OF WILL, THERE'S BEEN A
FAILURE TO COALESCE AROUND
SOMEBODY ELSE, AND HERE WE ARE,
THREE YEARS AFTER THE ATTEMPTED
OVERTHROW OF THE FREE AND FAIR
ELECTIONS OF 2020, AND DONALD
TRUMP IS POISED TO WIN THE
REPUBLICAN NOMINATION DESPITE
THE FACT THAT HE IS FACING 90
FELONY CHARGES, A CASE STEMMING
FROM A SEXUAL ASSAULT OF A WOMAN
BACK IN THE 1990s AND FRAUD
CASES IN NEW YORK, AND YET THE
REPUBLICAN PARTY IS NOT BLINKING
AT THE PROSPECT OF RUNNING UNDER
HIS BANNER.
>> IN FACT, EXPERTS HAVE TOLD US
THAT CRIMINAL CHARGES AGAINST
DONALD TRUMP MAKE HIM MORE
POPULAR AMONG HIS BASE, NOT
LESS.
WHAT IS HAPPENING?
>> WELL, I THINK TWO THINGS ARE
HAPPENING.
I MEAN, NUMBER ONE, CLEARLY THE
REPUBLICAN PARTY, THE BASE, HAS
RALLIED AROUND HIM.
HE HAS EFFECTIVELY PLAYED THE
VICTIM CARD, HE HAS EFFECTIVELY
MADE THE CASE THAT HE IS BEING
TARGETED.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, IT IS HARD
TO IMAGINE THAT AS THE CRIMINAL
CHARGES UNFOLD OVER THE NEXT
YEAR, THAT THERE ARE GOING TO BE
VERY MANY SWING VOTERS WHO MIGHT
HAVE ABANDONED HIM IN 2020 WHO
ARE GOING TO SAY, YOU KNOW, THIS
TIME AROUND, WE THINK WE'RE
GOING TO GO WITH HIM.
SO I THINK THERE'S TWO
NARRATIVES THAT I THINK ARE
PARALLEL AT THE SAME TIME.
NUMBER ONE, HE IS DOMINANT IN
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, BUT I
THINK THAT YOU'RE ALSO SEEING
THAT HE'S VULNERABLE IN A
GENERAL ELECTION, HE'S
VULNERABLE AMONG MODERATES,
AMONG SOFT REPUBLICANS AND AMONG
INDEPENDENTS, AND I THINK YOU
SAW THAT IN BOTH IOWA AND NEW
HAMPSHIRE AND I THINK THAT
THAT'S GOING TO BE -- THAT
THAT'S GOING TO BE MORE EVIDENT
AS WE GO THROUGH THE YEAR.
>> HOW DO YOU THINK THOSE
DYNAMICS PLAY WITH THE WISCONSIN
ELECTORATE?
>> WELL, IN WISCONSIN,
EVERYTHING IS ON A KNIFE'S EDGE.
THESE ELECTIONS HAVE BEEN
DECIDED BY 20,000 VOTES.
AND DONALD TRUMP LAST IN 2020.
LARGELY BECAUSE HE WAS -- HE
DIDN'T DO AS WELL AS HE NEEDED
TO DO IN THE SUBURBS.
HE HAD A MASSIVE DEMOCRATIC
TURNOUT, BUT YOU ALSO HAD A
NUMBER OF REPUBLICANS, QUITE A
FEW REPUBLICANS WHO VOTED FOR
REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES FOR THE
STATE LEGISLATURE AND FOR
CONGRESS BUT DID NOT VOTE FOR
DONALD TRUMP.
NOW, I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THEY
VOTED FOR JOE BIDEN, BUT THERE
WAS CLEARLY AN UNDERVOTE, AND I
THINK THAT -- THERE'S TWO BIG
QUESTIONS ABOUT WISCONSIN.
NUMBER ONE, WILL DEMOCRATS BE
ABLE TO ONCE AGAIN BE ABLE TO
HAVE THE ENTHUSIASM TO HAVE A
MASSIVE TURNOUT, PARTICULARLY IN
DANE COUNTY AND, NUMBER TWO IS
DONALD TRUMP GOING TO CONTINUE
TO UNDERPERFORM IN THE WILD
COUNTIES, WAUKESHA, OZAKE AND
WASHINGTON COUNTIES, AND I
SUSPECT THAT HE PROBABLY WILL.
BUT AGAIN, EVERY ELECTION IN
WISCONSIN IS CLOSE AND THIS ONE
PROBABLY WILL BE AS WELL.
>> SO YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT
SOFT REPUBLICANS AND
INDEPENDENTS.
DO YOU THINK THEY'LL VOTE FOR
JOE BIDEN?
>> I DON'T KNOW AT THIS POINT,
BUT I THINK THAT THERE IS --
THERE'S EVIDENCE, THERE'S A LOT
OF THOSE VOTERS THAT ARE JUST
NOT GOING TO VOTE FOR DONALD
TRUMP.
THE MAGA BASE IS GOING TO STICK
WITH HIM, THERE'S NO QUESTION
ABOUT IT.
I THINK THE HARD CORE REPUBLICAN
VOTERS ARE GOING TO TURN OUT.
NOTHING IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO
CHANGE THERE, BUT I THINK THAT
THERE IS A SEGMENT OF THE
ELECTORATE THAT MAY NOT AGREE
WITH JOE BIDEN'S POLICIES, MAY
HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT HIS AGE, MAY
HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT WHERE HE'S
TAKING THE COUNTRY, BUT ALSO
RECOGNIZE, AS LIZ CHENEY HAS
SAID, ONLY ONE OF THE CANDIDATES
ON THE BALLOT IS GOING TO SHRED
THE CONSTITUTION, AND SO THE
QUESTION IS, WHAT WILL THEY
PRIORITIZE?
WILL THEY PRIORITIZE CERTAINLY
IDEOLOGICAL ISSUES OR WILL THEY
STEP BACK AND SAY WE CANNOT HAVE
A CONVICTED FELON IN THE WHITE
HOUSE, WE CANNOT HAVE A
SEDITIONIST, WE CANNOT HAVE
SOMEBODY WHO IS AS ERRATIC AS
DONALD TRUMP RETURN TO THE
PRESIDENCY.
>> OR MAYBE PEOPLE JUST STAY
HOME.
CHARLIE SYKES, THANKS VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> IN A GUT-PUNCH TO RURAL
HEALTHCARE IN NORTHWEST
WISCONSIN, MEDICAL CLINICS IN 10
COMMUNES AND TWO HOSPITALS HAVE
ANNOUNCED THEY ARE SHUTTING
DOWN, RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF
MORE THAN 1,400 STAFF AND
PHYSICIANS.
ONE STATE LEGISLATOR FROM THE
REGION CALLED IT DEVASTATION.
THE HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS SAID
THE DECISION WAS THE RESULT OF
FINANCIAL STRESS RELATED TO
THINGS INCLUDING LINGERING
IMPACTS OF THE PANDEMIC,
INFLATION AND WORKFORCE
SHORTAGES.
ONE OF THE CLINICS AND ST.
JOSEPH'S HOSPITAL IN CHIPPEWA
FALLS WILL CLOSE.
THAT CITY'S MAYOR, GREG HOFFMAN,
SAYS HE WAS NOT GIVEN NOTICE OF
THE CLOSURES.
HE JOINS US NOW.
MAYOR, THANKS VERY MUCH FOR
BEING HERE.
>> YES, GOOD MORNING.
>> SO WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION
WHEN YOU LEARNED OF THESE
CLOSURES?
>> WELL, THE HISTORY -- I KNEW
THAT ST. JOE'S HOSPITAL HAD BEEN
HAVING SOME FINANCIAL ISSUES AND
THEY WERE LOOKING TO MARKET IT,
AND SO THAT WASN'T A COMPLETE
SHOCK.
IT'S JUST THE FACT THAT THERE
WAS NO ADVANCE NOTICE.
ALL OF A SUDDEN, I GET AN EMAIL
SENT TO ME ABOUT 11:30, 12:00,
INFORMING HE OF ALL THE CLOSURES
AND I WAS, YEAH, VERY, VERY
SHOCKED BY THE WHOLE EVENTS.
AND REALLY, THE THING THAT
SHOCKED ME THE MOST WAS THAT
SACRED HEART AND PERVEYA CLINICS
WERE SHUTTING DOWN.
WE WERE TRYING TO COME UP WITH
SOMETHING AROUND ST. JOE'S, BUT
HAVING THESE OTHER CLINICS, IT
IS -- IT'S JUST DEVASTATING TO
THE COMMUNITY.
>> BECAUSE WHAT WILL IT MEAN FOR
YOUR COMMUNITY?
>> WELL, YOU KNOW, RIGHT NOW,
WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE
WE GO.
SACRED HEART HOSPITAL AND
ST. JOE'S ACCOUNTED FOR
APPROXIMATELY 40% OF THE BEDS
AND THE MEDICAL CARE IN THE
CHIPPEWA VALLEY.
SO WHERE DO YOU GO WITH 40%?
I MEAN, WE HAVE MARSHALL CLINIC
YET, WE HAVE OAK LEAF SURGICAL
AND THEN YOU MAYO LUTHER, BUT
THEY ONLY HAVE SO MUCH CAPACITY.
AND SO THAT, TO ME, IS THE REAL
QUESTION, IS WHAT DO WE DO?
CHIPPEWA FALLS IS BLESSED WITH
AN EXTREMELY LARGE SENIOR
POPULATION.
WE HAVE ABOUT 30% OF OUR
POPULATION IS OVER THE AGE OF
65, AND, OF COURSE, COMING WITH
THAT OVER 65 IS HEALTH ISSUES,
AND THAT'S WHAT WAS NICE ABOUT
SACRED HEART AND ST. JOE'S.
SO WHERE DO WE GO NOW?
AND THEN IN ADDITION TO THAT,
YOU'VE GOT ALL THE EMPLOYEES,
THE ECONOMY.
I MEAN, IT'S JUST A RIPPLE
EFFECT.
>> HOW FRIGHTENING IS THIS FOR
YOU AND THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN
THE REGION?
>> WELL, YOU KNOW, FRIGHTENING
IS MAYBE A STRONG WORD.
RIGHT NOW, WE'RE TRYING TO
PROCESS ALL THIS.
I'VE HAD NUMEROUS CONVERSATIONS
WITH MEDICAL, A NUMBER OF PEOPLE
OUTSIDE OF THE MEDICAL FIELD OF
WHAT DOES THIS LOOK LIKE AND IS
IT A STRONG CONCERN?
YES.
AND WE NEED TO WORK THROUGH THIS
TO SEE WHAT IT'S GOING TO LOOK
LIKE WHEN WE GET TO THE OTHER
SIDE.
HOW MUCH CAN MAYO LUTHER HANDLE,
HOW MUCH CAN MARSHALL HANDLE?
RIGHT NOW, WE MAY HAVE TO GO TO
THE LOOMER HOSPITAL, WHICH IS 15
MILES NORTH OR THE ASPIRE
STANLEY.
IT'S REALLY HARD TO SAY.
AND SO THERE'S A LOT OF UNKNOWNS
AT THIS TIME THAT WE'RE TRYING
TO GET OUR ARMS AROUND AND NOT
LET OUR IMAGINATION GO DOWN THE
ROAD TOO FAR.
>> HOW DOES MEDICAID AND
MEDICARE REIMBURSEMENT FACTOR
INTO THESE CLOSURES, DO YOU
THINK?
>> WELL, I WAS JUST VISITING
WITH SOMEONE FROM THE HOSPITAL
BOARD AND THAT IS PART OF OUR
PROBLEM.
SOME OF THESE FACILITIES, I
WOULDN'T SAY THEY'RE HAD BEEN
THEY TOOK A LARGER SHARE OF THE
MEDICARE AND MEDICAID AND MAYBE
SOME OF THE OTHER FACILITIES IN
THE AREA AND AS YOU KNOW,
MEDICAID AND MEDICARE PAYMENT ON
THAT IS CONSIDERABLY LESS THAN
PRIVATE INSURANCE.
SO THAT HAS DEFINITELY FIGURED
INTO THE EQUATION AND THAT I
WOULDN'T SAY THAT WAS THE ONLY
REASON, BUT IT HAD A PORTION OF
WHAT HAPPENED TO THESE
FACILITIES.
>> YOU SAID THAT RIGHT NOW
YOU'RE TRYING TO WORK THROUGH
THESE THINGS WITH LESS THAN A
MINUTE LEFT.
HAVE YOU BEEN GETTING THE
ANSWERS OR THE SUPPORT YOU NEED
TO WORK THROUGH THIS AND COME
OUT THE OTHER END, AS YOU SAID?
>> YES.
EVERYBODY HAS BEEN VERY
COOPERATIVE, EVERYBODY IS, YOU
KNOW, WE'RE ALL LOOKING FOR
SOLUTIONS TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO.
THE UPPER EAST CHIPPEWA VALLEY
IS A VERY RESILIENT COMMUNITY
AND I'M VERY CONFIDENT THAT
WE'LL FIND -- GET TO THE OR
SIDE.
IT'S JUST GETTING THERE IS WHERE
THERE'S OTHER PAIN AND
FRUSTRATION AT THIS MOMENT.
>> YEAH.
WELL, MAYOR HOFFMAN, THANKS VERY
MUCH AND GOOD LUCK.
>> THANK YOU.
>> WISCONSIN PHYSICIANS HAVE NEW
RECOMMENDATIONS TO TEST ALL
CHILDREN FOR ELEVATED LEVELS OF
LEAD IN THEIR BLOOD.
THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
SERVICES IS CALLING FOR
UNIVERSAL LEAD TESTING FOR ALL
ONE AND TWO-YEAR-OLDS AND UP TO
AGE 5 IF NOT PREVIOUS TESTED.
THE NUMBER OF WISCONSIN CHILDREN
WHO WERE TESTED DROPPED 75% FROM
APRIL 2019 TO APRIL 2020,
ACCORDING TO D.H.S..
DR. BETH NEARY IS A RETIRED
PEDIATRICIAN, ADJUNCT ASSISTANT
CLINICAL PHYSICIAN OF PEDIATRICS
AND COPRESIDENT OF A WISCONSIN
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH NETWORK.
SHE JOINS US TO DETAIL WHY THESE
RECOMMENDATIONS ARE NEEDED.
DOCTOR, THANKS FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME.
>> HOW IMPORTANT IS IT THAT
YOUNG CHILDREN BE TESTED FOR
BLOOD LEAD LEVELS?
>> IT IS CRITICAL, AND I'M
REALLY SO PROUD OF OUR STATE FOR
TAKING THIS STEP.
RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE WHAT'S CALLED
TARGETED TESTING, AND AS A
RESULT OF THAT, WE MISS A LOT OF
CHILDREN.
I DON'T THINK WE HAVE A GOOD
HANDLE ON HOW MANY CHILDREN IN
THIS STATE ARE BEING POISONED BY
LEAD.
>> HOW CONCERNING IS IT AS THE
D.H.S. THAT THE NUMBER OF
CHILDREN BEING TESTING HAS
FALLEN OFF?
>> THAT'S EXTREME CONCERNING.
PART OF IT IS COVID, BUT WHEN
YOU HAVE TARGETED SCREENING,
YOU'RE GOING TO MISS SOME
CHILDREN.
WHEN WE GO TO UNIVERSAL, WE'LL
BE ABLE TO FIND ALL OF THE
CHILDREN WHO ARE AFFECTED BY
LEAD.
>> AND WHAT IS TARGETED
SCREENING?
>> TARGETED MEANS YOU HAVE A
QUICK AND EASYAIRE, AND IF ANY
OF THE -- QUESTIONNAIRE, AND IF
ANY OF THE ANSWERS TO THE
QUESTION ARE POSITIVE, THEN YOU
DO A LEAD SCREEN.
OUR PREVIOUS TARGETED TESTING
WAS BASED ON THE AGE OF THE
HOUSING.
SO WE WOULD CAPTURE, HOPEFULLY,
CHILDREN WHO LEAD POISONED BY
PAINT, BUT WE WOULD MISS
CHILDREN IF IT WAS LEAD PIPES.
IF IT WAS OTHER THINGS, SUCH AS
LIVING NEAR A SMALL AIRPORT THAT
STILL USES LEADED GASOLINE IN
SMALL AIRCRAFT, WE MIGHT MISS
CHILDREN WHO HAD FOOD THAT WAS
CONTAMINATED, AS WITH THIS LAST
CASE WE SAW IN NOVEMBER 2023.
>> WHAT HAPPENS TO A CHILD IF
THEY HAVE LEAD IN THEIR BLOOD?
>> WELL, LEAD IS A TOXIC.
IT AFFECTS EVERY ORGAN IN THE
SYSTEM, BUT IT IS AWFUL FOR THE
HUMAN BRAIN.
AND IF YOU THINK OF CHILDREN
FROM THE AGES OF ZERO TO FIVE,
THAT BRAIN IS STILL DEVELOPING,
IT'S CREATING THESE PATHWAYS,
AND IT'S THEIR FUTURE.
SO WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT IT
INTERRUPTS THESE CIRCUITS IN THE
BRAIN SO THE RESULT IS WE SEE
CHILDREN WHO HAVE LOWER I.Q., IT
AFFECTS WHAT WE CALL EXECUTIVE
FUNCTION, AND THAT MEANS THE
ABILITY TO SIT STILL IN CLASS,
TO REGULATE YOUR EMOTIONS, TO
REASON THROUGH THINGS.
SO WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT A CHILD
WHO BE CAN'T DO THAT, AND IN
KINDERGARTEN, MAYBE THEY CAN'T
SIT STILL AND THEY CAN'T FOCUS,
THEY CAN'T LEARN, AND SO WHAT WE
DISCOVER IS THAT IF WE HAD
ELEVATED LEAD LEVELS IN
CHILDREN, IT AFFECTED THEIR
THIRD GRADE READING AND MATH
SCORES, IT AFFECTED HIGH SCHOOL
GRADUATION RATES AND ITS LINKED
TO INCARCERATION, SO IT'S AWFUL
FOR THE CHILD, BUT IT HAS
SOCIETAL IMPLICATIONS FOR ALL OF
US.
>> IS THERE ANY WAY TO TREAT IT
IF A CHILD HAS ELEVATED LEVELS?
>> THAT'S VERY DIFFICULT
QUESTION.
SO ONCE IT'S IN THE BODY, THE
BODY SEES LEAD AS CALCIUM, AND
SO IT GETS STORED IN THE BONES.
THE ONLY TIME WE ACTUALLY TREAT
A CHILD FOR LEAD POISONING IS IF
THEIR LEVEL GETS UP TO 45
MICROGRAMS, AND THAT'S VERY
HIGH, AND THEN THEY GO THROUGH A
PROCESS OF WHAT'S CALLED
KEYLATION, THEY HAVE TO BE
HOSPITALIZED.
IT'S QUITE EXTREME, BUT THE
DANIEL HAS ALREADY BEEN --
DAMAGE HAS ALREADY BEEN DONE,
IT'S ALREADY HIT THE BRAIN.
EVERYTHING WE SHOULD BE DOING IS
TO PREVENT CHILDREN FROM BEING
LEAD POISONED.
>> SPEAKING OF DOING THINGS,
SHOULD WISCONSIN BE DOING MORE,
PARTICULARLY IN MILWAUKEE, WHERE
TWO-THIRDS OF ELEVATED LEAD
LEVELS ARE FOUND?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
SO WHAT WE DO WITH BLOOD TESTING
IS WHAT'S CALLED SECONDARY
PREVENTION.
WHAT WE REALLY WANT TO DO IS
PRIMARY PREVENTION.
AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS PREVENT
THE CHILD FROM EVER BEING
EXPOSED TO LEAD.
SO WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING IS
TAKING THE LEAD OUT OF THE
ENVIRONMENT, OKAY, AND SO WE ARE
DOING SOME OF THOSE THINGS.
GETTING RID OF THE LEAD SERVICE
LINES ACROSS THIS STATE, ACROSS
THE COUNTRY, MAKING SURE THAT WE
HAVE WHAT WE CALL LEAD-SAFE
HOMES.
MAYBE NOT LEAD-FREE, BUT
LEAD-SAFE, THE PAINT IS IN GOOD
REPAIR.
WE HAVE DONE WONDERFUL THINGS.
WE TOOK THE LEAD OUT OF
RESIDENTIAL PAINT IN 1978.
WE TOOK IT OUT OF AUDIT MOTIVE
GASOLINE -- AUTOMOTIVE GASOLINE
IN THE '70s AND THAT WAS THE
BIGGEST LEAD LEVELS FOR
CHILDREN.
WHAT I WOULD LOVE TO SEE IS
MILWAUKEE TO SAY TO ALL OF THE
LANDLORDS, SHOW ME THAT YOUR
PROPERTY IS LEAD SAFE BEFORE YOU
RENT IT.
DO YOU KNOW WHAT WE DO NOW?
WE WAIT UNTIL A KID IS POISONED,
THEN WE GO INTO THE HOUSE AND
SAY, OKAY, NOW CLEAN IT UP.
THAT'S BACKWARDS.
WE SHOULD BE PREVENTING THOSE
CHILDREN FROM BEING EXPOSED, BUT
WE HAVE A STATE WHAT YOU LAW THAT LIMITS
IT.
ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, HAS
LEGISLATION LIKE THAT.
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, HAS.
WE NEED TO DO THAT IN MILWAUKEE.
>> DOCTOR, THANKS VERY MUCH.
THANKS FOR YOUR PASSION.
>> THANK YOU.
>> IN OTHER HEALTH UPDATES, THE
JN1 VARIANT OF COVID HAS TAKEN
HOLD AS THE MOST PREVALENT
STRAIN, HAVING BEEN FIRSTS
DETECTED IN NOVEMBER THIS AS
R.S.V. HAVE BEEN SWIRLING.
HEALTH OFFICIALS ARE HOPING THE
WORSE ISWORST IS OVER, BUT STILL SUGGEST
GETTING VACCINATED AND TESTED.
>> WHAT YOU'RE SEEING IS
EVOLUTION IN ACTION WITH THESE
VIRUSES.
VIRUSES ADAPT AND THEY CHANGE
OVER TIME.
SO THE FACT THAT WE'RE SEEING A
NEW VIRAL STRAIN SHOULDN'T BE
SURPRISING.
AND I WOULD ENFORCE THAT
DISCUSSION WITH YOUR PROVIDER.
THERE'S A LOT OF MISINFORMATION
OUT THERE ABOUT VACCINES, WHAT
THEY DO AND WHAT THEY DON'T DO.
ABSOLUTELY, THERE'S A LOT OF
OVERLAP IN TERMS OF SYMPTOMS
BETWEEN R.S.V., COVID AND
INFLUENZA.
SO I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE
REALLY DIFFICULT FOR PATIENTS TO
FIGURE OUT WHICH ONE OF THE
THREE THEY HAVE.
I WOULD ENCOURAGE THEM IF
THEY'RE NOT FEELING WELL, TO
REACH OUT TO THEIR PROVIDER AND
GET TESTED.
>> 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 WEEKENDS. WEEKEND.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.