>> COMING FROM THE DEMOCRATIC
REPUBLIC OF CONGO.
?
>> FOR "HERE AND NOW" I'M ADITI
DEBNATH.
>> THE CHIPPEWA COUNTY BOARD OF
SUPERVISORS PASSED A RESOLUTION
THIS WEEK CALLING FOR A PAUSE ON
PLANS TO BRING REFUGEES TO THE
CHIPPEWA VALLEY.
WHILE THE RESOLUTION IS
NONBINDING, IT SENDS A MESSAGE
THAT MIRRORS SOME OF THE
DIVISION WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.
MARISA WOJCIK REPORTS.
>> IT'S AN EXPLORATORY PROCESS.
>> Reporter: LAST SPRING,
WORLD RELIEF BEGAN LOOKING FOR A
COMMUNITY WHERE REFUGEES COULD
FIND A NEW HOME.
>> AND WE BEGAN A PROCESS OF
CONSULTING WITH LOCAL LEADERS,
GOVERNMENTAL LEADERS, AS WELL AS
SCHOOL BOARDS, LAW ENFORCEMENT,
POTENTIAL EMPLOYERS,
APARTMENT -- LANDLORDS, LOCAL
CHURCHES AND NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATIONS AND REALLY CAME TO
THE CONCLUSION THAT THIS IS A
COMMUNITY THAT IS REALLY EAGER
TO WELCOME REFUGEES AND WE
PROPOSED THAT TO THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT, WHICH HAS THE
ULTIMATE AUTHORITY ON WHERE
REFUGEES ARE SETTLED.
>> IN THE FALL, THEY HELD A
PRELIMINARY HEARING AND LOCAL
NEWS BEGAN COVERING PLANS TO
RESETTLE ROUGHLY 75 REFUGEES IN
THE AREA.
>> I GOT MANY, MANY CALLS,
EMAILS, CALLS.
>> REPRESENTATIVE KAREN HERD'S
DISTRICT INCLUDES THE EAST EDGE
OF EAU CLAIRE.
>> ARE WE PREPARED?
DO WE HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN
PLACE?
ARE OUR CITY OFFICIALS GOING TO
BE ABLE TO EVALUATE IT?
>> SHE SAID NOT BEING AWARE OF
THE PLANS MADE HER UNPREPARED TO
ADDRESS QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS.
>> IT WAS JUST THAT THE PUBLIC
WASN'T AWARE OF IT.
BECAUSE 75 PEOPLE COMING IN FROM
MINNESOTA OR ANOTHER STATE,
THEY'RE COMING HERE ON THEIR
OWN.
THEY HAVE THE MONEY TO COME HERE
ON THEIR OWN.
THEY'RE MOVING THEIR FAMILIES
HERE AND THEY GET A JOB.
THEY'RE PEOPLE LIKE YOU AND I.
BUT THESE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE
MOST LIKELY GOING TO BE
DEPENDENT UPON SERVICES.
>> THAT'S TYPICALLY NOT THE
CASE,.
>> STRONG FOCUS ON THE
SETTLEMENT PROGRAMS TO HELP
REFUGEES FIND WORK WITHIN THE
FIRST 90 DAYS AFTER THEY ARRIVE
AND BE ECONOMICALLY
SELF-SUFFICIENT AS QUICKLY AS
POSSIBLE.
WESTERN WISCONSIN HAS A LOT OF
JOB NEEDS RIGHT NOW SO THAT WE
CAN PROVIDE PEOPLE WHO ARE
AUTHORIZED.
IT'S A WIN-WIN.
>> I AM SUPPORTIVE OF PEOPLE
COMING TO OUR COUNTRY AS LONG AS
THEY'RE COMING LEGALLY, SO, YES,
ABSOLUTELY, LET THEM COME.
>> HER ISSUE IS PROPER PUBLIC
NOTICE AND INPUT.
WORLD RELIEF SAYS THEY DID HAVE
CONVERSATION WITH LOCAL
STAKEHOLDERS, AS IS REQUIRED IN
THE FEDERAL REFUGEE ACT OF IS
THE 80.
-- 1980.
IT SAYS AGENCIES MUST WORK IN
CLOSE COOPERATION AND ADVANCED
CONSULTATION WITH STATE AND
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.
THE LAW ALSO OUTLINES CRITERIA,
ENSURING A REFUGEE IS NOT
RESETTLED IN AN AREA HIGHLY
IMPACTED.
>> BUT THIS DOESN'T GO FAR
ENOUGH FOR REPRESENTATIVE HERD.
SHE AUTHORED A BILL THAT
OUTLINES SPECIFICS FOR
CONTACTING LOCAL OFFICIALS.
>> IS WHAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR MIND
THE EQUIVALENT OF PERMISSION?
NOT AT ALL.
INPUT.
THAT'S ALL THIS IS.
COULD WE BE AT THE TABLE TOO?
>> THE REASON THAT WE'RE OPPOSED
TO THIS BILL IS THAT WE THINK IT
IS NOT NECESSARY.
WE THINK THERE'S ALREADY A
ROBUST PROGRAM FOR COMMUNITY
PROCESS.
?
>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION.
>> YOU'RE WATCHING "HERE AND
NOW," 2024 ELECTION COVERAGE.
>> I THINK OUR MEMBERS REALIZE
THAT WE HAVE BEEN DEALT A VERY
DIFFICULT HAND.
>> REPUBLICANS HEDGE THEIR BETS
AND PASS THE GOVERNOR'S
REDISTRICTING MAPS.
DEMOCRATS ARE SKEPTICAL, SURE
THAT THIS MUST BE A POLITICAL
MANEUVER.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW,"
CONGRESSWOMAN GWEN MOORE ON WHAT
SHE CALLS A SHAM IMPEACHMENT,
AND THE LATEST IN CLASHES OVER
BORDER SECURITY.
THE GOVERNOR'S REDISTRICTING
MAPS PASSED THROUGH THE
LEGISLATURE.
WE ASK SENATOR MARK SPREITZER
WHY DEMOCRATS VOTED AGAINST
THEM.
WHAT EL NIŅO WEATHER MEANS FOR
SPRING CROPS, AND HOW REFUGEE
RESETTLEMENT IS DIVIDING WESTERN
WISCONSIN COMMUNITIES.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR FEBRUARY
16.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.
>> LAST WEEK, WE TALKED WITH
WISCONSIN REPUBLICAN SENATOR RON
JOHNSON, WHO TOLD US HE WAS
STRONGLY OPPOSED TO BIPARTISAN
IMMIGRATION REFORM MEASURES THAT
WERE INCLUDED IN A BILL TO FUND
EMERGENCY AID TO UKRAINE AND
ISRAEL.
THAT BILL ULTIMATELY TANKED IN
THE SENATE.
THE AID FUNDING WAS SEPARATED
OUT AND JOHNSON ALSO VOTED
AGAINST THAT.
THIS WEEK, WE HEAR FROM
DEMOCRATIC U.S. REPRESENTATIVE
GWEN MOORE FROM MILWAUKEE FOR
HER TAKE ON ALL OF THIS.
CONGRESSWOMAN, THANK YOU FOR
BEING HERE.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> SO AT THIS TIME, AS YOU WELL
KNOW, IT HASN'T BEEN CALLED TO
THE HOUSE FLOOR, BUT WHAT IS
YOUR POSITION ON THE
95-BILLION-DOLLAR EMERGENCY AID
BILL PASSED OUT OF THE U.S.
SENATE?
>> WELL, I THINK THAT IT WAS
GIFT WRAPPED REPUBLICAN BILL, IN
MY OPINION.
MANY OF THE IMMIGRATION REFORM
ADVOCATES WERE OPPOSED TO IT
BECAUSE IT WAS VERY, VERY
STRIDENT.
IT WAS VERY HEAVILY BASED ON
ENFORCEMENT.
IT GAVE THE PRESIDENT -- NOT
JUST PRESIDENT BIDEN, BUT ANY
PRESIDENT, A GREAT DEAL OF
ENFORCEMENT POWERS, THE ABILITY
TO SHUT THE BORDER DOWN
COMPLETELY AFTER 5,000 FOLKS HAD
CROSSED DURING -- IN A DAY'S
PERIOD OF TIME AND KEEP IT SHUT
DOWN.
IT LIMITED ASYLUM CLAIMS,
PROHIBITED PEOPLE FROM SEEKING
ASYLUM A THIRD TIME, AND IT
SEEMED TO REALLY DISREGARD THE
WELFARE OF CHILDREN, WHICH I
THOUGHT WAS QUITE DISTURBING.
AND YET, IT WAS A BILL THAT
PRESIDENT BIDEN SAID HE WAS
WILLING TO SIGN.
IT ALSO REENGAGED THE UNITED
STATES IN THE MEXICO -- STAY IN
MEXICO POLICY, AND IT WAS A
GIFT.
IT WAS 3/4 OF WHAT REPUBLICANS
HAD WANTED IN THEIR HR2 BILL,
AND YET THEY REFUSED TO MOVE IT
FORWARD.
>> AND I WANT TO ASK YOU SOME
MORE ABOUT THAT IN A BIT, BUT I
ALSO WANT TO GET YOUR TAKE ON
THE EMERGENCY AID BILL THAT
WOULD GIVE $95 BILLION TO
UKRAINE, FOR EXAMPLE, AND ISRAEL
AND HUMANITARIAN AID TO GAZA.
WHAT ABOUT THIS MATTER OF GIVING
THIS FUNDING TO UKRAINE AT THIS
TIME?
WHAT IS YOUR POSITION?
>> SO I THINK THAT WHAT'S REALLY
AT STAKE IS PRESERVING DEMOCRACY
IN EUROPE.
AND SO I THINK IT'S REALLY
IMPORTANT TO FUND THE
INITIATIVES IN UKRAINE.
THEY'RE NOT A N.A.T.O. PARTNER
SO WE DON'T HAVE ANY BOOTS ON
THE GROUND.
AND THE LEAST WE COULD DO IS TO
PROVIDE THEM WITH THAT AID.
I JUST DON'T GET IT, WHY SENATOR
JOHNSON DOES NOT SEE THAT, DOES
NOT LEAN INTO THAT.
IT'S VERY PUZZLING.
>> WHAT ABOUT --
>> YOU KNOW, AND TODAY, WE JUST
HAD THE RUSSIAN OPPOSITION
LEADER DIE.
WE TALKED ABOUT IT A LITTLE BIT
DURING THE BREAK.
IT'S HARD TO DIE OF NATURAL
CAUSES WHEN YOU'RE 47 YEARS OLD.
>> INDEED.
WHAT ABOUT GIVING MONEY TO
ISRAEL AT THIS TIME?
WHAT'S YOUR POSITION ON THAT?
>> OH, I THINK IT WAS PART OF
THE LARGER PACKAGE.
THERE WERE DEFENSIVE WEAPONRY
THERE.
ISRAEL IN THE MIDDLE OF A WAR
AND IT'S BEING ATTACKED ON ALL
SIDES OF ITS BORDERS BY THE
HOUTHIS AND HEZBOLLAH AND ISIS,
AS WELL AS HAMAS.
AND SO I THINK THAT IT'S VERY
DIFFICULT TO DENY YOUR ALLY
ASSISTANCE AND AID WHILE THEY'RE
AT WAR.
BUT I DO WANT TO SAY THAT INK
JOE BIDEN HAS REALLY INDICATED
VERY CLEARLY THAT HE WANTS
BENJAMIN NETANYAHU TO SORT OF
LISTEN TO OUR COUNSEL A LITTLE
BIT MORE, AND IF WE PROVIDE THEM
WITH WEAPONS, THEY OUGHT TO BE
USED DEFENSIVELY AND THAT WE
OUGHT TO BE MORE STRATEGIC IN
SEEKING OUT HAMAS MILITANTS AS
OPPOSED TO CARPET BOMBING THE
ENTIRE POPULATION.
YOU KNOW, THE SITUATION IS VERY
DIRE.
ALL OF THE PALESTINIANS HAVE
BEEN FORCED INTO THE SOUTHERN
PART OF ISRAEL.
RAFAH, I DON'T KNOW IF PEOPLE
CAN FIGURE -- SEE THE MAP IN
THEIR MIND, BUT THERE'S NOWHERE
ELSE TO GO EXCEPT THE SINAI
DESERT.
AND, OF COURSE, EGYPT, VERY
CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR -- SAYING
THAT THEY COULD POSSIBLY RETREAT
FROM THE THAT THEY HAVE HAD WITH
ISRAEL.
I'M VERY DISTURBED THAT THIS HAS
TURNED INTO A REGIONAL WAR AND
VERY, VERY CONCERNED, AS WE ALL
OUGHT TO BE.
SO I DO THINK THAT ISRAEL IS OUR
ALLY, BUT I DON'T THINK THEY
SHOULD TAKE OUR FRIENDSHIP FOR
GRANTED.
I DO THINK THAT JOE BIDEN IS
VERY, VERY CLOSE TO SAYING THE
QUIET PART OUT LOUD, THAT WE'RE
REALLY GOING TO START
CONDITIONING OUR SUPPORT BECAUSE
THIS SHOULD NOT BE A REVENGE
CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE GAZA
PEOPLE.
>> TURNING BACK DOMESTIC,
CONGRESSWOMAN.
WE KNOW THAT REPUBLICAN
CONGRESSMAN FROM WISCONSIN, MIKE
GALLAGHER, VOTED AGAINST THE
IMPEACHMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
MAYORKAS, AS DID YOU.
WHAT'S YOUR COMMENT ON HIS HOUSE
IMPEACHMENT, THE SECRETARY'S?
>> WELL, YOU KNOW, ON T.V., I
CAN'T REALLY SAY WHAT I WOULD
LIKE TO SAY, BUT I THINK MIKE
GALLAGHER'S VOTE REALLY IS
INDICATIVE OF THE PRESSURE THAT
ALL OF REPUBLICANS ARE
EXPERIENCING TO DO WHAT DONALD
TRUMP WANTS THEM TO DO, AND MIKE
GALLAGHER IS SOMEONE WHO
APPARENTLY HAS AMBITIONS BEYOND
THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
DECIDED TO JUST TAKE AN EXIT.
HE VOTED AGAINST THE BIG LIE IN
NOT CERTIFYING THE ELECTION.
I NOTED THAT EARLIER IN THE
118th CONGRESS.
AND, YOU KNOW, HE'S THOUGHTFUL
AND HE HAS COURAGE AND I THINK
THAT IT DEMONSTRATES THAT GREAT
COWARDICE THAT WE'RE
EXPERIENCING HERE IN THE HOUSE.
>> ALL RIGHT.
GWEN MOORE, THANKS VERY MUCH FOR
JOINING US.
>> THANK YOU.
>> AT THE STATE CAPITOL THIS
WEEK, ANOTHER CURVE BALL IN THE
FIGHT OVER NEW VOTING MAPS.
WHILE AWAITING A DECISION FROM
THE WISCONSIN SUPREME COURT ON
WHICH DISTRICTS MAPS WILL BE IN
EFFECT FOR THE UPCOMING
ELECTIONS, REPUBLICANS IN THE
LEGISLATURE ONCE AGAIN PUT
FORWARD MAPS DRAWN BY DEMOCRATIC
GOVERNOR TONY EVERS, ONLY THIS
TIME WITHOUT ANY CHANGES.
EVEN MORE SURPRISING WAS THE
MAJORITY OF DEMOCRATS VOTING
AGAINST THE MEASURE, SKEPTICAL
OF REPUBLICAN INTENTIONS.
NOT ALL REPUBLICANS VOTED IN
LINE WITH THEIR CAUCUS, WHILE
OTHERS VOTED IN FAVOR WITH GREAT
RESENTMENT.
REPUBLICAN SENATOR VAN WANGGAARD
SAID OF THE VOTE REPUBLICANS
WERE NOT STUCK BETWEEN A ROCK
AND A HARD PLACE; IT WAS A
MATTER OF CHOOSING TO BE
STABBED, SHOT, POISONED, OR LED
TO THE GUILLOTINE.
WE CHOSE TO BE STABBED, HE SAID,
SO WE COULD LIVE TO FIGHT
ANOTHER DAY.
>> ONCE WE PASS THE MAPS, MORE
OR LESS THE LAWSUITS STOP,
THERE'S NO NEED FOR US TO TRY TO
DO AN APPEAL TO THE SUPREME
COURT BECAUSE THE LEGISLATURE
HAS ADOPTED A MAP, IT'S BEEN
SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR.
THERE'S NO NEED FOR US TO BE
ABLE TO GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS
TO SAY THAT JEANNETTE JANET PROTASIEWICZ
IS BIASED AND WE NEED A CAPERTON
DECISION BECAUSE SHE WON'T BE
VOTING ON THE MAPS.
THE POTENTIAL WE HAVE TO GO TO
THE SUPREME COURT AND WIN ARE NO
LONGER VIABLE, WHICH IS WHY, IF
THE GOVERNOR SIGNS THE MAP, I AM
SUPREMELY CONFIDENT THAT THAT IS
THE MAP THAT WE WILL RUN ON IN
NOVEMBER.
WHETHER I LIKE IT OR NOT, THAT'S
WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DEAL WITH.
>> GIVEN THE CIRCUMSTANCE THE
LEGISLATURE IS FACED WITH TWO
CHOICES: EITHER PASS THE MAPS AS
IS OR ALLOW THE LIBERAL MAJORITY
TO GERRYMANDER THE STATE AT THE
LAST MINUTE WITHOUT PUBLIC
INPUT.
WISCONSIN VOTERS DESERVE MORE
CERTAINTY THAN WISCONSIN SUPREME
COURT IS GOING TO PROVIDE THE
LEGISLATURE.
WE'RE GOING TO STEP UP, WE'RE
GOING TO END THIS SHAM
LITIGATION AND PASS THE
GOVERNOR'S MAP.
NOMINATION PAPERS WILL BE
CIRCULATED IN 62 DAYS FROM
TODAY.
THE 2024 ELECTION IS ALMOST
HERE.
PASSING THEY SAY MAPS AND HAVING
THEM SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR WILL
GIVE THE WISCONSIN VOTERS THE
CERTAINTY THAT THEY DESERVE.
>> AN I DON'T FEAR THE ELECTION
THAT I'M GOING TO BE FACED WITH
MY DELICATELY SLICED DISTRICT
NOW BASED UPON THE GOVERNOR'S
LAWYERS MUST HAVE PUT TOGETHER,
BUT I'M GOING TO VOTE FOR THESE
MAPS BECAUSE THE PROCESS THAT'S
UNDERWAY IN THE SUPREME COURT
CERTAINLY DOESN'T APPEAR THAT
IT'S GOING TO TAKE OUR ARGUMENTS
SERIOUSLY OR EVEN CONSIDER THEM.
SO WE KIND OF HAVE A GUN TO OUR
HEAD, FRANKLIN, IS HOW IT'S
LOOKING RIGHT NOW.
AND, I MEAN, I'M GOING TO GO OUT
ON A LIMB AND SAY THE GOVERNOR,
AS HE'S ALREADY INDICATED, SAYS
THAT HE DOES SIGN THESE MAPS
BECAUSE I REALLY DON'T THINK HE
WANTS TO BE SO HYPOCRITICAL OR
SO PARTISAN THAT HE WOULD VETO
HIS OWN EXACT MAPS THAT HE HAS
PUT FORTH.
>> I DON'T LIKE THIS BILL.
I DON'T LIKE WHAT WE'RE DOING
HERE TODAY.
I THINK IT WAS ALREADY SETTLED.
I THINK WE HAVE A DUTY AND A
RESPONSIBILITY, AND WE DID THAT.
THE DANGEROUS PRECEDENT THAT'S
BEING SET IS THAT A SUPREME
COURT JUSTICE CAN RUN MAKING
PROMISES OF THE OUTCOME OF A
CASE AND THEN RULE ON THAT CASE.
>> GOVERNOR TONY EVERS HAS UNTIL
NEXT TUESDAY TO DECIDE WHETHER
TO VETO HIS OWN MAPS.
HE HAS SAID HE WILL SIGN THEM
INTO LAW, BUT MANY FELLOW
DEMOCRATS SEE THE LEGISLATURE'S
MOVE TO PASS EVERS' MAPS AS A
TRICK.
AMONG THEM, DEMOCRATIC STATE
SENATOR MARK SPREITZER.
SENATOR, THANK YOU FOR BEING
HERE.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> SO ARE YOU AMONG THOSE WHO
WANTED THE GOVERNOR TO VETO HIS
OWN MAPS AND HOLD OUT FOR THE
SUPREME COURT'S CHOICE?
>> I TRUST THEM TO MAKE THIS
DECISION AND TO CONSULT WITH HIS
LAWYERS AND FIGURE OUT WHAT THE
BEST PATH TO FAIR MAPS IS.
OBVIOUSLY, HIS MAP IS ONE OF
FOUR FAIR MAPS THAT ARE PENDING
BEFORE THE STATE SUPREME COURT.
I DO TRUST THE STATE SUPREME
COURT TO MAKE THE DECISION ON
WHAT THE BEST MAP IS, WHETHER
THAT'S ONE OF THESE FOR OR
WHETHER TO MAKE ANY TWEAKS OR
ANYTHING TO ANY OF THOSE MAPS.
I ALSO TRUSS GOVERNOR EVERS TO
DECIDE IF SIGNING THIS MAP IS
THE BEST PATH TO GET FAIR MAPS
THAT WE CAN ALL HAVE GOING
FORWARD.
THERE WAS A QUESTION WITH WHAT
ACTUALLY CAME BEFORE THE STATE
ASSEMBLY AND THE STATE SENATE TO
VOTE ON, THAT ALTHOUGH IT WAS A
CLEAN VERSION OF THE GOVERNOR'S
MAP, WE HAD A QUESTION ABOUT
WHETHER THE BILL ITSELF WAS A
CLEAN BILL BECAUSE IT DOESN'T
CAUSE THE MAP TO TAKE EFFECT
UNTIL THIS FALL'S ELECTION.
AND RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE A MAP
THAT IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL, THAT
THE WISCONSIN SUPREME COURT HAS
SAID CAN'T BE USED FOR ANY
FUTURE ELECTIONS AND THERE'S A
RECALL EFFORT AGAINST SPEAKER
ROBIN VOS, THERE'S A SPECIAL
ELECTION THAT'S NEEDED IN THE
FOURTH SENATE DISTRICT, AND SO
THERE'S SOME UNANSWERED
QUESTIONS IF THIS BILL IS SIGNED
INTO LAW ABOUT WHAT MAP THOSE
ELECTIONS ARE HELD ON AND WHAT
MAP EXISTS BETWEEN NOW AND
NOVEMBER.
THOSE QUESTIONS COULD BE
ANSWERED BY GOING BACK TO THE
STATE SUPREME COURT AND TRYING
TO GET CLARITY, BUT THAT'S
SOMETHING I THINK GOVERNOR EVERS
NEEDS TO LOOK AT AS HE'S MAKING
THIS DECISION, AND THEN WE ALSO
JUST NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT
THERE'S NOT ANY REPUBLICAN
TRICKS THAT WOULD SOMEHOW MAKE
IT EASIER FOR THEM TO CHOOSE
WHAT COURT TO APPEAL TO AND
MAYBE GET A CONSERVATIVE FEDERAL
COURT TO INTERVENE HERE AND STOP
US FROM HAVING FAIR MAPS.
THOSE ARE ALL THE THINGS THAT
ARE ON MY MIND AND THAT I HOPE
ARE ON GOVERNOR EVERS' MIND AS
HE MAKES THIS DECISION.
>> SO ON THOSE TWO POINTS, DOES
IT MATTER TO YOU AT ALL THAT THE
LEGISLATIVE REFERENCE BUREAU
REPORTS THAT IT ADDED THE
LANGUAGE TO THE BILL SAYING THE
MAPS WOULD FIRST TAKE EFFECT FOR
THE NOVEMBER 2024 ELECTION?
>> I THINK THERE'S A QUESTION OF
INTENT AND THERE'S A QUESTION OF
EFFECT.
SO I TAKE THE LEGISLATIVE
REFERENCE BUREAU AT ITS WORD
THAT THEY ADDED THAT LANGUAGE
AND WEREN'T DIRECTED TO ADD IT
FOR ANY POLITICAL PURPOSE, BUT
THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT IT
DOESN'T HAVE A POLITICAL
OUTCOME, AND I THINK IT STILL
LEAVES OPEN THE QUESTION OF WHAT
MAPS SAY THE VOS RECALL SHOULD
BE HELD ON AND ANY FUTURE
SPECIAL ELECTIONS AND LRB IS
SAID THAT THIS IS SORT OF THE
NORMAL PROCEDURE, BUT WE'RE NOT
IN NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES.
WE NORMALLIANT DOING A
REDISTRICTING PROCESS MID-DECADE
BECAUSE THE STATE SUPREME COURT
HAS FOUND THE EXISTING MAP TO BE
UNCONSTITUTIONAL, SO I THINK
THERE'S STILL SOME QUESTIONS
BLIPTHERE AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT
CEMENTED MY "NO" VOTE WAS THAT
EVEN THOUGH REPUBLICANS
ANNOUNCED THE WEEK BEFORE THEIR
INTENTION TO VOTE ON THIS MAP,
THEY DIDN'T ACTUALLY PUT THE
AMENDMENT OUT TO THE PUBLIC OR
TO LEGISLATORS IN ADVANCE.
THEY DIDN'T GO THROUGH THE
NORMAL COMMITTEE PROCESS.
I'M THE TOP DEMOCRAT ON THE
COMMITTEE THAT THIS UNDERLINED
BILL WAS IN AND NORMALLY WE
WOULD VOTE IN COMMITTEE AND
MAYBE ADOPT THE AMENDMENT WITH
THE MAPS IN COMMITTEE, BUT
INSTEAD THE BILL WAS PULLED OUT
OF COMMITTEE WITHOUT A VOTE AT
ALL AND WE DIDN'T GET THE
AMENDMENT THAT PUT THE
GOVERNOR'S MAPS INTO PLACE UNTIL
WE WERE ACTUALLY ON THE SENATE
FLOOR.
THAT COULD HAVE BEEN PUT OUT ALL
WEEKEND FOR THE PUBLIC TO LOOK
AT AND FOR PEOPLE TO WEIGH IN,
BUT NO PUBLIC HEARING WAS HELD
AND THIS WAS REALLY SOMETHING
THAT WAS DECIDED IN CLOSE
REPUBLICAN CAUCUS AND BROUGHT
FORWARD AT THE LAST MINUTE.
AND MY QUESTION IS WHY.
IF THIS IS WHAT YOU WERE GOING
TO DO, WHY NOT JUST PUT IT OUT
FOR EVERYBODY TO SEE AND THEN WE
COULD HAVE RAISED THESE
QUESTIONS IN ADVANCE.
>> AS TO THE QUESTION OF WHETHER
OR NOT THE PASSAGE OF THE
GOVERNOR'S MAPS OPENS THE DOOR
TO FEDERAL LAWSUITS, SAY, SO
MANY EXPERTS SAY THAT THAT IS
JUST NOT AT ALL LIKELY.
>> I HAVE CERTAINLY HEARD FOLKS
SAYING THAT'S NOT LIKELY, AND I
HOPE IT'S NOT LIKELY.
I HOPE THAT IF THIS IS THE MAP,
THAT WE CAN ALL RUN ON IT AND
NOT RISK FURTHER LAWSUITS, BUT I
ALSO KNOW THAT THEY ARE VERY
CREDIBLE LAWYERS, LIKE MARK
AAHLIYAHIAS, WHO HAS WON
NUMEROUS CASES ON
ELECTED-RELATED ISSUES AROUND
THE COUNTRY WHO HAVE RAISED
CONCERNS HERE.
I HAVE NOT HAD A CHANCE TO TALK
TO HIM DIRECTLY, I'M NOT A
LAWYER, AND THAT'S SOMETHING
WHERE, YOU KNOW, I WANTED TO
TAKE THE CAUTIOUS APPROACH AND
SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT, THIS IS
MOVING REALLY QUICKLY, WE DON'T
HAVE ANSWERS TO THESE QUESTIONS,
I'M GOING TO VOTE NO, BUT THE
GOVERNOR HAS PLENTY OF LAWYERS
AROUND HIM THAT HE'S TALKING TO
AND I TRUST THAT IF HE DECIDES
THIS IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO,
HE'LL EITHER SIGN OR VETO THIS
ACCORDINGLY.
>> GOING ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE
BEGINNING AND REALLY WITH ONLY
ABOUT HALF A MINUTE LEFT, HOW
SURPRISED WERE YOU THAT THE
REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURE TOOK UP
AND PASSED THE EVERS MAPS?
>> I WAS SURPRISED.
REPUBLICAN LEGISLATORS JUST A
COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO WERE TALKING
ABOUT HOW TERRIBLE THESE MAPS
WERE, BUT I THINK THEY
ULTIMATELY DECIDED THAT THEY
WANT TO CONTROL THE PROCESS HERE
AND CONTROL THEIR OWN DESTINY,
AND THAT'S ANOTHER REASON I
VOTED NOW.
I DON'T THINK POLITICIANS SHOULD
BE CHERRY-PICKING MAPS.
I THINK WISCONSINITES SHOULD BE
PICKING THEY'RE ELECTED
OFFICIALS AND SO I DIDN'T WANT
TO BE IN A POSITION OF DECIDING
WHICH MAP WAS BEST FOR POLITICAL
REASONS.
LEAVE THAT TO THE GOVERNOR AND
THE COURT.
>> SENATOR SPREITZER, THANKS
VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> THIS WINTER HAS SEEN RECORD
HIGH TEMPERATURES CAUSED BY A
MIXTURE OF AN UNCOMMON WEATHER
EVENT CALLED EL NIŅO.
AND THE MORE COMMON CLIMATE
CHANGE.
THOSE WARM TEMPERATURES CAUSED A
SURPRISE TORNADO IN EVANSVILLE
LAST WEEK, CAUSING AN ESTIMATED
$2.4 MILLION WORTH OF DAMAGE.
"HERE AND NOW" REPORTER ADITI
DEBNATH HAS MORE ON WHAT A
WARMING CLIMATE MEANS FOR
WISCONSIN.
>> AT THE START OF THE NEW YEAR,
HEAVY WINTER STORMS HIT MUCH OF
WISCONSIN.
ALONG WITH BITTER COLD, STORMS
BROUGHT MORE SNOWFALL THAN THE
STATE SAW IN ALL OF DECEMBER
COMBINED.
ALTHOUGH THAT'S SNOWSTORM WAS
NOT ABNORMAL FOR A WISCONSIN
WINTER, THE SUBZERO COLD FELT
EXTREME BECAUSE TEMPERATURES
BEFORE AND AFTER THE STORMS WERE
ABOVE FREEZING.
FEBRUARY RETURNS BACK TO THE
UNUSUALLY WARM TEMPERATURES THAT
MARKED THE BEGINNING OF THIS
WINTER.
THE UNSEASONAL WARMTH IS LIKELY
DUE TO CLIMATE CHANGE AND A
WEATHER EVENT CALLED EL NIŅO,
WHEN RISING TEMPERATURES IN THE
PACIFIC OCEAN CAUSE A WARMER
WINTER AND LESS SNOWFALL.
IT ALSO MEANS A DRY WINTER.
A DRY EL NIŅO WINTER COULD
PROLONG THE EFFECTS OF DROUGHT
CONDITIONS IN A THIRD OF THE
STATE.
THIS HAS A PARTICULAR IMPACT ON
FARMERS.
ALTHOUGH THE SNOW IS MELTING
BECAUSE IT'S WARM DURING THE
DAY, AT NIGHT, IT'S BELOW
FREEZING SO THE SOIL STAYS
FROZEN.
THE FROZEN SOIL IS UNABLE TO
ABSORB THE SNOW MELT AND REMAINS
DRY UNTIL THE SPRING THAW, AT
WHICH TIME FARMERS NEED WET SOIL
TO GERMINATE YOUNG CROPS.
THIS DECEMBER MARKED WISCONSIN'S
WARMEST AND DRIEST ON RECORD,
WITH TEMPERATURES BETWEEN 5 AND
9° WARMER THAN AVERAGE.
ABOUT 740,000 WISCONSIN
RESIDENTS CURRENTLY LIVE IN
AREAS OF DROUGHT, PARTICULARLY
IN THE NORTHERN PART OF THE
STATE.
WHILE EL NIŅO COMES ALONG EVERY
THREE TO FIVE YEARS, THE EFFECTS
OF CLIMATE CHANGE COULD BRING
THESE CONDITIONS IN MORE
WISCONSIN WINTERS TO COME.
FOR "HERE AND NOW," I'M ADITI
DEBNATH.
>> TURNING TO WESTERN WISCONSIN,
THE CHIPPEWA COUNTY BOARD OF
SUPERVISORS PASSED A RESOLUTION
THIS WEEK CALLING FOR A PAUSE ON
PLANS TO BRING REFUGEES TO THE
CHIPPEWA VALLEY.
WHILE THE RESOLUTION IS
NONBINDING, IT SENDS A MESSAGE
THAT MIRRORS SOME OF THE
DIVISION WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.
MARISA WOJCIK REPORTS.
>> WE BEGAN JUST AN EXPLORATORY
PROCESS.
>> LAST SPRING, WORLD RELIEF
BEGAN LOOKING FOR A COMMUNITY
WHERE REFUGEES COULD FIND A NEW
HOME.
>> AND WE SEE BEGAN THE PROCESS
OF CONSULTING WITH LOCAL
LEADERS, GOVERNMENTAL LEADERS,
AS WELL AS SCHOOL BOARDS, LAW
ENFORCEMENT, POTENTIAL
EMPLOYERS, APARTMENT -- YOU
KNOW, LANDLORDS, LOCAL CHURCHES
AND OTHER FAITH AND NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATIONS AND REALLY CAME TO
THE CONCLUSION THAT THIS IS A
COMMUNITY THAT IS REALLY EAGER
TO WELCOME REFUGEES AND WE
PROPOSED THAT TO THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT, WHICH HAS THE
ULTIMATE AUTHORITY ON WHERE
REFUGEES ARE SETTLED.
>> IN THE FALL, THEY HELD A
PUBLIC HEARING AND LOCAL NEWS
BEGAN COVERING PLANS TO RESETTLE
ROUGHLY 75 REFUGEES IN THE AREA.
>> I STARTED TO GET MANY, MANY
CALLS, EMAILS, EMAILS, CALLS.
>> REPRESENTATIVE KAREN HERD'S
DISTRICT INCLUDES THE EAST EDGE
OF EAU CLAIRE.
>> ARE WE PREPARED?
DO WE HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN
PLACE?
WE WOULD LIKE OUR CITY OFFICIALS
TO BE ABLE TO EVALUATE IT.
>> SHE SAID NOT BEING AWARE OF
THE PLANS MADE HER UNPREPARED TO
ADDRESS QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS.
>> IT WAS JUST THAT THE PUBLIC
WASN'T AWARE OF IT, BECAUSE 75
PEOPLE COMING IN FROM MINNESOTA
AND ANOTHER STATE, THEY'RE
COMING HERE ON THEIR OWN.
THEY HAVE THE MONEY TO COME HERE
ON THEIR OWN.
THEY'RE MOVING THEIR FAMILIES
HERE AND GETTING A JOB.
THEY'RE PEOPLE LIKE YOU AND I.
THESE ARE PEOPLE THAT MOST
LIKELY ARE GOING TO BE DEPENDENT
UPON SERVICES.
>> WORLD RELIEF SAYS THAT'S
TYPICALLY NOT THE CASE.
>> THERE'S VERY STRONG FOCUS ON
THE FEDERAL REFUGEE SETTLEMENT
PROGRAMS TO HELP REFUGEES FIND
WORK WITHIN THE FIRST 90 DAYS
AFTER THEY ARRIVE AND BE
ECONOMICALLY SELF-SUFFICIENT AS
QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE AND WESTERN
WISCONSIN HAS A LOT OF JOB
NEEDS, ACTUALLY, RIGHT NOW SO
THAT WE CAN PROVIDE PEOPLE WHO
ARE AUTHORIZED TO WORK.
IT'S A WIN-WIN.
>> I AM SUPPORTIVE OF PEOPLE
COMING TO OUR COUNTRY AS LONG AS
THEY ARE COMING LEGALLY, SO,
YES, ABSOLUTELY, LET THEM COME.
>> SHE SAYS HER ISSUE IS PROPER
PUBLIC NOTICE AND INPUT.
WORLD RELIEF SAYS THEY DID HAVE
CONVERSATIONS WITH LOCAL
STAKEHOLDERS, AS IS REQUIRED IN
THE FEDERAL REFUGEE ACT OF 1980.
IT SAYS AGENCIES LIKE WORLD
RELIEF MUST WORK IN CLOSE
COOPERATION AND ADVANCE
CONSULTATION WITH STATE AND
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.
THE LAW ALSO OUTLINES CRITERIA,
ENSURING A REFUGEE IS NOT
SETTLED IN AN AREA HIGHLY
IMPACTED.
BUT THIS DOESN'T GO FAR ENOUGH
FOR REPRESENTATIVE HERD.
SHE AUTHORED A BILL THAT
OUTLINES SPECIFICS FOR
CONTACTING LOCAL ELECTED
OFFICIALS.
>> IS WHAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR MIND
THE EQUIVALENT OF PERMISSION?
>> NOT AT ALL.
INPUT.
THAT'S ALL THIS IS.
COULD WE BE AT THE TABLE TOO?
>> THE REASON WE'RE OPPOSED TO
THIS BILL IS WE THINK IT IS NOT
NECESSARY.
WE THINK THERE'S ALREADY A
ROBUST PROCESS FOR COMMUNITY
CONSULTATION.
WE WENT THROUGH THAT PROCESS
VERY CAREFULLY.
>> THE PROPOSAL SAYS IF A LOCAL
OFFICIAL CONNECTS WITH A FEDERAL
OR NONPROFIT AGENCY RELATING TO
REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT, IT MUST BE
REPORTED TO EVERY CITY, VILLAGE,
TOWN, COUNTY, AND SCHOOL
DISTRICT TOUCHING A 100-MILE
RADIUS FROM WHERE A PROPOSED
REFUGEE WOULD BE PLACED.
EACH LOCAL BODY CONTACTED MUST
TAKE IT UP AS A MEETING AGENDA
ITEM AND TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT.
>> IT'S VERY CONCEIVABLE THAT
EVERY SINGLE PRELIMINARY
CONVERSATION ABOUT THE
POSSIBILITY OF REFUGEE
SETTLEMENT WOULD NEED TO TRIGGER
MORE THAN A THOUSAND MEETINGS,
FOLLOWED BY FOLLOW-UP MEETINGS
THAT WOULD BE REQUIRED, FOLLOWED
BY POTENTIAL RESOLUTIONS IN
COMMUNITIES THAT ARE UNLIKELY
EVER TO SEE A REFUGEE RESETTLED
INTO THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD OR
COMMUNITY.
>> I DON'T THINK IT'S A BURDEN
AT ALL.
IT'S ACTUALLY VERY MINIMAL
BECAUSE THEY JUST HAVE TO BE
NOTIFIED AND IF THEY WANT TO BE
A PART OF THE DISCUSSION, THEY
CAN SEND A REPRESENTATIVE.
SO IT WOULD BE THOSE INTERESTED
PARTIES THAT WANT TO.
>> BUT REPRESENTATIVES IN
CONGRESS TAKE ISSUE WITH MORE
THAN JUST NOTICE.
IN A LETTER FROM CONGRESSMAN TOM
TIFFANIE TO THE EAU CLAIRE CITY
COUNCIL, HE WROTE, PLANS BY A
CONTROVERSIAL NGO TO RESETTLE A
LARGE NUMBER OF REFUGEES
POTENTIALLY FROM SOMALIA, SYRIA,
AND OTHER UNSTABLE COUNTRIES IN
THE EAU CLAIRE AREA HAVE RAISED
UNDERSTANDABLE CONCERNS AMONG
LOCAL RESIDENTS.
GIVEN THE DANGEROUS CONDITIONS
IN THESE CONDITIONS AND THE
BIDEN ADMINISTRATION'S ALARMING
TRACK RECORD WHEN IT COMES TO
VETTING NEWCOMERS, IT IS
INCONCEIVABLE THAT THE LOCAL
COMMUNITY WOULD BE KEPT IN THE
DARK IN THIS WAY.
>> THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF
QUESTIONS, WHAT COUNTRIES PEOPLE
ARE COMING FROM.
OUR VIEW IS THAT'S THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT'S JOB TO FIGURE OUT,
IS TO DETERMINE IF THESE PEOPLE
HAVE FLED FEAR OF PERSECUTION,
WHICH IS THE LEGAL DEFINITION OF
REFUGEE, IF THEY'RE VETTED BY
OUR GOVERNMENT.
A LOT OF THE CONCERNS PEOPLE
HAVE ARE BASED ON CONFUSION,
WHICH IS REALLY UNDERSTANDABLE
BECAUSE THE DYNAMICS AT THE
BORDER, WHICH ARE REALLY
IMPORTANT, ARE IN THE NEWS EVERY
SINGLE DAY.
>> AND REPRESENTATIVE HERD
AGREES.
>> I WOULD SAY THERE IS
CONFUSION, UNEQUIVOCALICALLY.
THERE IS A HUGE DIFFERENCE OF
REFUGEES VETTED BY OUR
GOVERNMENT AND IT'S A VERY
RIGOROUS PROCESS THEY GO THROUGH
THAT TAKES YEARS AND YEARS FOR
THEM TO FINALLY BE-APPROVED.
>> BECAUSE OF THIS AND OTHER
STEPS OUTLINED IN THE 1980
FEDERAL LAW, WORLD RELIEF
WORRIES ABOUT THE MESSAGE THIS
BILL SENDS.
>> IS IT STIGMATIZING REFUGEES?
IT IMPLIES THAT WE NEED THIS
NOTICE AND POTENTIAL RESOLUTION
PROCESS ABOUT THE ARRIVAL OF A
SMALL NUMBER OF PEOPLE FROM
THESE COUNTRIES.
>> THE NARRATIVE IN THE
COMMUNITY HAS BEEN DOMINATED BY
SMALL MINORITY OPPOSED TO THE
PLANNED REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT.
>> IN JANUARY, THE EAU CLAIRE
CITY COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY PASSED
A RESOLUTION AFFIRMING SUPPORT
OF REFUGEES MAKING EAU CLAIRE
THEIR NEW HOME.
>> I THINK THE VAST MAJORITY OF
PEOPLE IN EAU CLAIRE HAVE BEEN
VERY ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT THIS
IDEA OF WELCOMING A RELATIVELY
SMALL NUMBER OF REFUGEE FAMILIES
TO THE COMMUNITY.
>> EARLIER THIS MONTH, THE FIRST
FAMILY ARRIVED IN THE AREA,
COMING FROM THE DEMOCRATIC
REPUBLIC OF CONGO.
FOR "HERE AND NOW," I'M MARISA
WOJCIK.
>> 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.