?
>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION.
>> YOU'RE WATCHING "HERE AND
NOW" 2024 ELECTION COVERAGE.
7 TORNADOES AND HISTORIC POWER
OUTAGES UNDERSCORE THE EXTENT OF
THE STORMS ACROSS WISCONSIN AND
DAMAGE THEY CAUSED.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW," STATE
ATTORNEY GENERAL JOSH KAUL ON
THE MILLIONS IN FUNDING FROM THE
OPIOID SETTLEMENT, AND OUTBREAK
OF WHOOPING COUGH IN GREEN BAY
COULD BE FATAL FOR EXPOSED
INFANTS.
AND THE TRAINING RESERVES OF
SOCIAL SECURITY SPELLS
UNCERTAINTY FOR FUTURE RETIREES.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR MAY 24.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.
>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION.
>> YOU'RE WATCHING "HERE AND
NOW" 2024 ELECTION COVERAGE.
>>> SEVEN TORNADOES AND HISTORIC
POWER OUTAGES UNDERSCORE THE
EXTENT OF THE STORMS ACROSS
WISCONSIN AND DAMAGE THEY
CAUSED.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
AT&TTONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW," STATE
ATTORNEY GENERAL JOSH KAUL ON
THE MILLIONS OF FROM AN OPIOID
SETTLEMENT.
OUTBREAK OF WHOOPING COUGH IN
GREEN BAY COULD BE FATAL FOR
EXPOSED INFANTS AND THE DRAINING
RESERVES OF SOCIAL SECURITY
SPELLS UNCERTAINTY FOR FUTURE
RETIREES.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR MAY 24.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.
>> STARTING JULY 1st, $36
MILLION OF WISCONSIN'S SHARE OF
THE OPIOID SETTLEMENT FUNDS WILL
START TO BE DISBURSED FOR THE
YEAR.
WISCONSIN WILL RECEIVE A TOTAL
OF $750 MILLION OVER SEVERAL
YEARS FROM SETTLEMENTS REACHED
IN NATIONAL LAWSUITS AGAINST
PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES THAT
MADE OPIOID DRUGS.
ACCORDING TO THE CDC, WISCONSIN
SAW A 4% DECREASE IN OVERDOSE
DEATHS IN 2023, DOWN TO A STILL
STAGGERING 1,754 DEATHS.
FENTANYL AND DRUGS LACED WITH IT
ACCOUNT FOR MOST OF THE DEATHS.
HERE TO TALK ABOUT HOW THE
SETTLEMENT MONEY IS BEING PUT TO
WORK, STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL
JOSH KAUL.
THANKS FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> IS IT TOO EARLY TO SAY
WHETHER THE SETTLEMENT FUNDS ARE
HELPING DRIVE DOWN THE DEATHS?
>> IT'S HARD TO KNOW HOW THEY
LINK UP WITH THOSE NUMBERS, BUT
THOSE DOLLARS ARE MAKING A
DIFFERENCE.
SO WHEN WE PREPARED TO GET FUNDS
ALLOCATED FOR THE UPCOMING
FISCAL YEAR, THE DEPARTMENT OF
HEALTH SERVICES SECRETARY
DESIGNEE AND I MET WITH
STAKEHOLDERS FROM AROUND THE
STATE.
WE HELD ROUNDTABLE EVENTS AND WE
ASKED PEOPLE ON THE FRONT LINES
OF THE FIGHT AGAINST THE OPIOID
EPIDEMIC TO TELL US WHAT'S BEEN
WORKING AND WHERE DO WE NEED
MORE RESOURCES.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE
CONSISTENTLY HEARD FROM FOLKS IS
THAT THESE FUNDS ARE MAKING A
DIFFERENCE.
THEY'RE FILLING GAPS WHERE
THEY'RE NEEDED.
I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE.
MEDICAID REIMBURSES CERTAIN
ASPECTS OF TREATMENT FOR PEOPLE
WHO ARE STRUGGLING WITH
SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER, BUT
THERE ARE PARTS THAT AREN'T
COVERED LIKE HOUSING.
GETTING THOSE FUNDS HELP KEEP
PEOPLE IN TREATMENT AND CAN HELP
MAKE THEM MORE SUCCESSFUL.
THERE ARE NEVADA GOING TO BE
ENOUGH FUNDS TO ADDRESS ALL THE
NEEDS THAT WE HAVE, BUT THE MORE
DOLLARS WE CAN GET TO
COMMUNITIES, THE MORE THAT WE
CAN HELP KEEP PEOPLE SAFE AND
SAVE LIVES.
>> HOW HARD IS IT TO REVERSE THE
GRIP OF OPIOID DESMOND ON EPIDEMIC ON THIS
POPULATION?
>> THERE HAS BEEN SOME
MEANINGFUL PROGRESS MADE, AND
IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT.
THINGS LIKE THE PDMP AND
DISCOURAGE OVERPRESCRIPTION OF
OPIOIDS.
THOSE HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE AND
I THINK YOU'RE SEEING A REVERSAL
AND TRENDS OF OPIOID
PRESCRIPTIONS, WHICH HAD GONE UP
DRAMATICALLY OVER A FEW DECADES.
ON THE OTHER HAND, WE'RE DEALING
WITH THE IMPACTS OF THE PANDEMIC
AND SOCIAL ISOLATION.
MORE CARNEGIE, WE'RE DEALING
WITH THE EFFECTS OF FENTANYL,
WHICH IS LACED IN ALL SORTS OF
OF DRUGS AND IS INCREDIBLY
DANGEROUS.
>> CAN LAW ENFORCEMENT KEEP UP
WITH THE FLOW OF FENTANYL?
>> RIGHT NOW THE VOLUME COMING
IN IS ENORMOUS AND IT'S MIXED IN
ALL DIFFERENT SORTS OF DRUGS, SO
WE'VE GOT TO BE DOING A VARIETY
OF THINGS TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE.
ONE IS WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE ARE IS INVESTIGATING AND
PROSECUTING DRUG TRAFFICKERS WHO
ARE SHIPPING THESE DRUGS INTO
OUR COMMUNITIES.
THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WE DO
AT J.O.J..
WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THAT PEOPLE
ARE OVERDOSING, SOMETIMES NOT
EVEN REALIZING THAT THEY'RE
USING OPIOIDS, SO HAVING HARM
REDUX MEASURES IN PLACE, LIKE
NARCAN AND TEST STRIPS, WHICH
WILL BE ALLOCATED FROM THE
FUNDS, IS ALSO HELPING TO SAVE
LIVES.
>> HOW ANGRY DISW THIS SCOURGE
MAKE YOU?
>> IT MAKES ME REALLY UPSET.
THIS PROBLEM WOULD NOT HAVE
HAPPENED IF IT WASN'T FOR THE
PUMPING UP OF OPIOID
PRESCRIPTIONS THROUGH EFFORTS OF
PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES.
WHEN WE FILED OUR SUIT AGAINST
PURDUE PHARMA JUST MONTHS AFTER
I TOOK OFFICE AS AG, WE LAID OUT
OUR ALLEGATIONS IN OUR COMPLAINT
ABOUT HOW THIS WHOLE THING
STARTED.
IF YOU GO BACK DECADES, OPIOID
PRESCRIPTIONS WERE INCREDIBLY
LOW IN WISCONSIN AND NATIONWIDE,
BUT THROUGH EFFORTS OF COMPANIES
LIKE PURDUE PHARMA TO REALLY
PUSH OPIOIDS TO PROMOTE STUDIES
THAT WERE NOT ACTUALLY VALID, TO
ENCOURAGE DOCTORS TO PRESCRIBE
OPIOIDS, THERE'S BEEN A MAJOR
ADDICTION EPIDEMIC THAT'S
HAPPENED AND THE IMPACTS THAT
WE'RE SEEING ARE STILL TO THIS
DAY IN SIGNIFICANT PART BEING
DRIVEN BY THAT.
>> IN WISCONSIN, DO ANY OF THE
SETTLEMENT MONEYS GO TO
INDIVIDUALS IMPACTED?
>> THE WAY THE SETTLEMENTS WERE
STRUCTURED IS THAT THEY ARE
FOCUSED ON ABATING FUTURE HARM.
SO THERE HAVE BEEN SOME SEPARATE
LEGAL ACTIONS INVOLVING THE
INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE IMPACTED,
BUT THESE FUNDS, BASED ON THE
TERMS OF THE SETTLEMENT, ARE
MEANT TO BE FORWARD-LOOKING IN
TERMS OF PREVENTING HARM.
SO CERTAINLY IF THERE ARE PEOPLE
WHO ARE STRUGGLING WITH
SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER WHO WERE
IMPACTED PREVIOUSLY, THIS MIGHT
HELP THEM GET THE KIND OF
SUPPORT THAT THEY NEED, BUT IT'S
SEPARATE FROM PROVIDING THE KIND
OF COMPENSATION FOR SOMEBODY WHO
WAS INJURED.
>> ON ANOTHER SCORE, AS YOU WELL
KNOW, ARIZONA THIS WEEK
ARRAIGNED FALSE REPUBLICAN
ELECTORS ALLEGED TO BE PART OF A
FALSELY ELECTORAL -- FALSIFYING
ELECTORAL DOCUMENTS.
WHAT ABOUT WISCONSIN'S FALSE
ELECTORS WHO SETTLED A CIVIL
SUIT?
WILL YOU BE CRIMINALLY CHARGING
THEM?
>> I CAN IS SAY A FEW THINGS.
IT IS VITALLY IMPORTANT THAT
ANYBODY WHO COMMITTED A CRIME
WITH THE GOAL OF OVERTURNING THE
RESULTS OF AN ELECTION BE HELD
ACCOUNTABLE, AND THERE HAVE BEEN
SIGNIFICANT STEPS TOWARDS
ACCOUNTABILITY THROUGH THE
FEDERAL PROSECUTION OF FORMER
PRESIDENT TRUMP THAT'S ONGOING
RIGHT NOW, A NUMBER OF STATES
HAVE NOW BROUGHT CHARGES.
AT THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, WE
DON'T CONFIRM OR DENY THE
EXISTENCE OF ONGOING
INVESTIGATION AND CHARGING
DECISIONS THAT D.A.s
ULTIMATELY MAKE ARE ONLY
ANNOUNCED WHEN THEY'RE
HAPPENING.
AGAIN, IT'S CRITICAL THAT
ANYBODY WHO COMMITTED A CRIME TO
OVERTURN AN ELECTION IS HELD
ACCOUNTABLE.
>> WHAT CONCERNS DO YOU HAVE
HEADING INTO THE NOVEMBER
ELECTIONS ABOUT A REPEAT OF THE
AFTERMATH OF THE 2020 ELECTION?
>> I THINK IT'S SOMETHING WE
NEED TO BE VIGILANT ABOUT.
IN 2020, WE KNEW THAT THERE WERE
A NUMBER OF THREATS TO THE
SECURITY OF OUR ELECTIONS, AND
SO WE MADE SURE TO MAKE CLEAR TO
PEOPLE THAT IF THERE WAS VOTER
INTIMIDATION AT THE POLLS OR
VOTER FRAUD, THAT PEOPLE NEED TO
EXPECT TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.
FORTUNATELY, IN 2020, ELECTION
DAY WENT SMOOTHLY, I THINK A LOT
MORE SMOOTHLY THAN PEOPLE
ANTICIPATED.
OF COURSE WE THEN SAW
SIGNIFICANT LITIGATION IN THE
AFTERMATH OF THAT ELECTION.
I EXPECT THAT WE WILL SEE
LITIGATION AGAIN IN THE
AFTERMATH OF THIS ELECTION.
IN 2020, WE DEFENDED THE STATES'
VOTERS AND THEIR CHOICE FOR
PRESIDENT AND WE WON EVERY
SINGLE CASE.
BUT ONE OF THOSE CASES WAS 4-3
IN OUR STATE SUPREME COURT.
NOW, THIS YEAR, THE COMPOSITION
OF THE SUPREME COURT HAS CHANGED
A BIT AND WE'RE GOING TO BE
PRPARED TO ENSURE THE WILL OF
THE VOTERS IS UPHELD.
WE CONCEIVED IN 2020 AND I'M
CONFIDENT WE WILL AGAIN IN 2024
BUT WE'RE ALSO NOT GOING IN WITH
ANY MISUNDERSTANDING THAT WE'RE
NOT GOING TO POTENTIALLY BE IN
FOR A CHALLENGE AGAIN.
>> ALL RIGHT.
STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL JOSH
KAUL, THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> STORMS PUMMELED THE MIDWEST
THIS WEEK.
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
CONFIRMED SEVEN TORNADOES IN
WESTERN, CENTRAL, AND NORTHEAST
WISCONSIN, WITH WIND SPEEDS
RANGING FROM 90 TO 105 MILES PER
HOUR.
STATEWIDE, SEVERE STORMS AND
STRONG WINDS LEFT MORE THAN
40,000 WITHOUT POWER WITH THE
LARGEST NUMBER BEING IN DANE
COUNTY.
MADISON GAS AND ELECTRIC CALLED
THE OUTAGES HISTORIC, WITH
HUNDREDS OF LINES DOWN.
MADISON PUBLIC SCHOOLS WERE
CLOSED DUE TO UNSAFE CONDITIONS.
THOUGH QUICK PROGRESS HAS BEEN
MADE, FULL RESTORATION COULD
TAKE DAYS AS CLEAN UP OF
STRUCTURAL DAMAGE, DOWNED LINES
AND UPROOTED TREES CONTINUES.
>> THE GREEN BAY AREA IS SEEING
A WHOOPING COUGH OUTBREAK WITH
THE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS
INVESTIGATING MORE THAN 65 CASES
OF THE BACTERIAL DISEASE
PERTUSSIS SINCE THE BEGINNING OF
APRIL.
IT CAN BE ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS
IN INFANTS.
VACCINES FOR PERTUSSIS ARE PART
OF THE REGULAR SCHEDULE FOR
CHILDREN WITH BOOSTERS FOR
ADULTS, BUT RATES FOR REQUIRED
VACCINATION HAVE BEEN DROPPING.
STATE DATA SHOWS IN THE LAST
SCHOOL YEAR, 10% OF SCHOOL
STUDENTS WERE NOT MEETING
REQUIREMENTS.
JOINING US WITH MORE IS KATRINA,
DANE COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH
OFFICER.
THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> WHAT KIND OF CASES IN
PERTUSSIS COMPARED TO NORMAL
YEARS?
>> WELL, FOR EXAMPLE, HERE IN
BROWN COUNTY, WE HAVE 13
CONFIRMED CASES, MOSTLY SITUATED
IN THE MONTH OF APRIL.
AND FOR LAST YEAR, WE HAD ONE
FOR THE ENTIRE YEAR.
SO WE DID SEE AN OUTBREAK THIS
SEASON.
AS YOU MENTIONED, WE HAVE
INVESTIGATED OVER 65 CASES.
SO THAT MEANS THAT WE REACH OUT
TO THOSE WITH SUSPECTED CASES
AND DO CONTACT TRACING AND
CONTACT INVESTIGATION, SOME
EDUCATION, BUT THEN ALSO WORK
WITH CONFIRMED CASES AND, FOR
EXAMPLE, INSTITUTIONS TO PROVIDE
EDUCATION ON WHAT TO EXPECT AND
HOW TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO SEEK
TREATMENT OR STAY HOME IF
THEY'RE FEELING ILL.
>> BECAUSE HOW DANGEROUS IS
WHOOPING COUGH, ESPECIALLY FOR
BABIES?
>> WELL, WHOOPING COUGH, ALSO
KNOWN AS PERTUSSIS, IS CAUSED BY
BACTERIA.
IT'S VERY CONTAGIOUS.
IT'S SPREAD THROUGH THE AIR WHEN
A PERSON WITH IT SNEEZES,
COUGHS, TALKS, SINGS.
IT'S ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS FOR
INFANTS AS THEY HAVE
UNDERDEVELOPED AIRWAYS,
POTENTIALLY HAVEN'T BEEN
VACCINATED, AND ABOUT A THIRD TO
A HALF OF THOSE INFANTS CAN BE
HOSPITALIZED DUE TO
COMPLICATIONS FROM THE
PERTUSSIS.
WE ALSO SEE DANGERS WHEN YOU ARE
LOOKING AT PEOPLE WHO HAVE
IMMUNOCOMPROMISED OR PREGNANT
PERSONS.
>> AS WE'VE DISCUSSED,
VACCINATIONS FOR WHOOPING COUGH
ARE REQUIRED, STARTING IN
INFANCY WITH BOOSTERS EVEN FOR
ADULTS.
WHAT ARE YOU SEEING IN TERMS OF
A DROP-OFF IN PEOPLE GETTING
THESE REQUIRED VACCINATIONS?
>> WHAT WE HAVE SEEN A SLIGHT
DECREASE STATEWIDE IN VACCINE
COMPLETION UPTAKE ANYWHERE FROM
2 TO 5%.
HERE IN BROWN COUNTY, WE ARE
MEETING OUR GENERAL BENCHMARKS.
AND ALSO HAVE BEEN ACROSS THE
STATE STRATEGIZING AROUND HOW TO
CATCH PEOPLE UP.
SO THAT PEOPLE MAY HAVE FELL
BEHIND IN THEIR VACCINATION
DURING COVID AND SO WE ARE
STRATEGICALLY PLANNING HOW TO
CATCH PEOPLE UP.
WE HAVE TARGETED VACCINATION
CLINICS, EDUCATION AND
PROMOTION, AND WE'RE WORKING
WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO ALSO
HAVE VACCINATION CLINICS OUT IN
THE POPULATION.
>> IS THERE ANY SENSE THAT LOWER
RATES OF VACCINATIONS FOLLOW
CRITICAL MESSAGING AROUND THE
COVID VACCINE IN RECENT YEARS?
>> WELL, WE HAVE TO WONDER HOW
MUCH OF THAT SMALL DECLINE IN
UPTAKE IS DUE TO THE COVID-19
PANDEMIC, PEOPLE NOT BEING ABLE
TO GO IN TO THEIR PROVIDERS,
PEOPLE FALLING MIND ON JUST
GENERAL APPOINTMENTS, AND WOULD
MAYBE SOME QUESTIONS REMAINING
ABOUT THE ACTUAL COVID-19
VACCINATION, BUT WE ENCOURAGE
PEOPLE, PLEASE REACH OUT TO YOUR
MEDICAL PROVIDER AND ASK ANY
QUESTIONS YOU HAVE.
YOU CAN ASK THEM WHERE YOUR
VACCINATION STATUS IS AT FOR
YOUR LOVED ONES.
YOU CAN ALSO CHECK ON-LINE ON
THE WISCONSIN IMMUNIZATION
REGISTRY TO SEE WHAT VACCINES
YOU HAVE AND TALK TO YOUR
PROVIDER ABOUT VACCINES YOU MAY
NEED.
>> MEANWHILE, THERE ARE NEW
CHILD VACCINE REQUIREMENTS FROM
THE STATEMENT OF HEALTH FOR
MENINGITIS AND CHICKENPOX.
DO YOU EXPECT THAT TO BE
CONTROVERSIAL IN ANY WAY?
>> THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS
ACTUALLY AREN'T NEW.
THEY WERE PRESENTED LAST YEAR BY
THE CDC.
THEY WERE SUSPENDED UNTIL
RECENTLY.
AND THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE
FOR CHILDREN ENTERING CHILDCARE.
THEY'RE REQUIRED TO DEMONSTRATE
THAT THEY HAVE HAD THE
CHICKENPOX BY A CLINICAL
PROVIDER.
SO IT USED TO BE THAT PARENTS
COULD TESTIFY THAT THEIR CHILD
HAD ACTUALLY HAD CHICKENPOX AND
NOW THE REQUIREMENTS FOR
CHILDCARE IS THAT CLINICAL
PROVIDER NEEDS TO INCLUDE THAT
IN THEIR STATEMENT.
BUT THEN WHEN YOU'RE TALKING
ABOUT THE NEW SCHOOL
REQUIREMENTS FOR MENINGOCOCCAL,
THOSE REQUIRE THAT STUDENTS
ENTERING THE SEVENTH GRADE
RECEIVE THAT VACCINATION AND
THEN AGAIN ANOTHER BOOSTER WHEN
THEY'RE ENTERING THE 12th
YEAR.
SO C.D.C. HAS RECOMMENDED THOSE,
D.H.S. REVIEWED THOSE AND
IMPLEMENTED THOSE INTO THE
REQUIREMENTS FOR SCHOOL.
>> SO WHAT ARE OTHER DISEASE
OUTBREAKS OF CONCERN IN
UNVACCINATED OR UNDERVACCINATED
POPULATIONS RIGHT NOW?
>> WELL, WE HAVE REBUILT RECENTLY HEARD
ABOUT SOME MEASLES CONCERNS AND
EVEN SOME CASES REPORTED.
CASES HAVE BEEN REPORTED
NATIONALLY AND WE DID HAVE ONE
CASE REPORTED IN WISCONSIN.
WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT MEASLES IS
THAT IT'S HIGHLY, HIGHLY
CONTAGIOUS.
IT'S ONE OF THE MOST CONTAGIOUS
DISEASES, AND SO THEREFORE WE'RE
VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SPREAD.
WE ALSO KNOW THAT THE VACCINE IS
HIGHLY EFFECTIVE.
SO IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE MEASLES
VACCINE, TALK TO YOUR HEALTHCARE
PROVIDER.
IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE
SYMPTOMS OF THE MEASLES, REACH
OUT TO YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER
IMMEDIATELY AND IF YOU THINK
YOU'VE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH
SOMEBODY WITH MEASLES, YOU CAN
CONTACT YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER
AND THEY CAN PROVIDE
RECOMMENDATIONS ON NEXT STEPS
FOR YOU.
>> KATRINA, THANK YOU FOR YOUR
WORK RUNNING ALL THIS DOWN AND
PROVIDING THE PUBLIC WITH THE
INFORMATION AND EDUCATION.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THE LATEST OFFICIAL REPORT ON
THE SOLVENCY OF SOCIAL SECURITY
FORECASTS THE RETIREMENT AND
DISABILITY PROGRAMS WILL BE
INSOLVENT IN 2035.
IT'S NOT THAT THE PROGRAM WON'T
HAVE MONEY TO PAY ANY BENEFITS,
BUT IT'S WHEN THE SOCIAL
SECURITY TRUST FUND RESERVES OF
$2.78 TRILLION WILL BE DEPLETED.
WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT WITHOUT
ACTION BY CONGRESS, THE PROGRAM
WILL ONLY HAVE ENOUGH MONEY IN
2035 TO PAY 83% OF BENEFITS, NOT
100%.
NOW, THAT EVENTUALITY HAS
ADVOCATES FOR SENIORS SOUNDING
THE ALARM.
ALEX BROWER IS EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF THE WISCONSIN
ALLIANCE FOR RETIRED AMERICANS.
HE JOINS US NOW.
THANKS A LOT FOR BEING HERE.
>> YEAH.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME,
FREDERICA.
I APPRECIATE IT.
>> SO FOR PEOPLE LOOKING TO BE
OF RETIREMENT AGE IN 2035 AND
BEYOND, THE PROSPECT OF PAYING
INTO SOCIAL SECURITY FOR THEIR
WHOLE LIVES AND NOT GETTING
THEIR FULL BENEFIT SEEMS UNFAIR.
>> IT'S COMPLETELY UNFAIR,
HONESTLY.
WE BELIEVE THAT -- AND ACTUALLY,
THE WISCONSIN ALLIANCE AND OTHER
ADVOCACY ORGANIZATIONS, WE
BELIEVE THAT NOT ONLY SHOULD
PEOPLE BE RECEIVING THE BENEFITS
THAT THEY'RE ENTITLED TO, BUT
MORE BENEFITS AND THAT THE
AGENCY SHOULD BE EXPANDED,
MODERNIZED AND REMAIN SOLVENT
FOR YEARS TO COME.
>> YOU BELIEVE THAT CURRENT
BENEFICIARIES SHOULD BE
RECEIVING MORE IN THEIR SOCIAL
SECURITY BENEFITS?
>> THAT'S CORRECT, YEAH.
ORGANIZATION IS SUPPORTING A
BILL IN CONGRESS RIGHT NOW, THE
SOCIAL SECURITY FAIRNESS ACT
THAT'S BEEN INTRODUCED BY
SENATOR SANDERS AND ELIZABETH
WARREN THAT ACTUALLY EXPANDS BY
$200 PER MONTH BENEFITS RECEIVED
TO BENEFICIARIES AND ALSO
PROTECTS THE SOLVENCY OF SOCIAL
SECURITY BY ELIMINATING
SOMETHING CALLED THE
CONTRIBUTION AND BENEFITS BASE,
WHICH IS BASICALLY THE CAP ON
WHICH INCOME IS TAXED FOR SOCIAL
SECURITY PURPOSES TO HAVE THE
RICHEST AMERICANS PAY THEIR FAIR
SHARE TO HELP KEEP THE PROGRAM
SOLVENT.
>> DOES THAT PARTICULAR PIECE
EFFECTIVELY BECOME A TAX
INCREASE, THOUGH IN AND HOW WELL
WOULD THAT GO OVER?
>> WELL, IT IS -- WHAT WE'RE
ADVOCATING FOR, YES, IT WILL
INCREASE TAXES ON THE WEALTHIEST
AMERICANS, WHO WE NEED -- THEY
NEED TO CONTRIBUTE MORE TO PAY
THEIR FAIR SHARE.
MILLIONAIRES AND BILLIONAIRES IN
THIS COUNTRY EXIST BECAUSE OF
ALL THE WORK THAT WE'VE ALL DONE
TO CONTRIBUTE TO THEIR SUCCESS.
HE HAVE BEEN BUYS SOMETHING ON
AMAZON OR AT WAL-MART OR ANY OF
THE DEPARTMENT STORES, ON OUR
ROADS THAT WE PAY WITH TAXES
CONTRIBUTE TO THE MILLIONAIRES
AND BILLIONAIRES BEING ABLE TO
GET THEIR GOODS TO PEOPLE'S
HOMES, SO NO MILLIONAIRE OR
BILLIONAIRE IS CREATED IN A
VACUUM.
AND SO THOSE INDIVIDUALS OWE TO
OUR COLLECTIVELY COLLECTIVE SUCCESS, AND THAT
MEANS ANYBODY WHO IS A WORKER
CURRENTLY HAS A FULL AND
DIGNIFIED RETIREMENT.
SO, YES, WE ARE ASKING THE
RICHEST AMERICANS TO PAY THEIR
FAIR SHARE, BUT, REALLY, IT'S
PENNIES COMPARED TO THE WEALTH
THAT WE'VE CREATED FOR THEM BY
BEING AMERICAN CONSUMERS.
>> BECAUSE THAT CAP ON THE
WITHDRAWAL OF FICA TAXES IS
$168,000.
IS THAT ANYTHING OVER THAT,
THOSE PEOPLE DO NOT PAY IN?
THAT'S CORRECT.
WHEN YOU RECEIVE A PAYCHECK,
THERE'S A LINE CALLED FICA, AND
THAT CONTRIBUTION, THAT
DEDUCTION STOPS AT $168,600.
SO IF YOU MAKE MORE THAN THAT,
YOU DON'T RECEIVE A FICA TAX ON
THAT MONEY, SO IT'S PRETTY MUCH
A REGRESSIVE INCOME TAX, WHERE
THE POOREST AMERICANS PAY A
HUNDRED PERCENT OF THEIR INCOME
IS TAXED FOR THAT AND THEN THE
RICHEST AMERICANS DON'T.
THE SOCIAL SECURITY FAIRNESS ACT
KEEPS THAT CAP IN PLACE, BUT
RAISES IT AND LIFTS IT FOR THOSE
MAKING ABOVE $400,000 A YEAR.
>> SO WE KNOW THERE ARE ALSO
DISCUSSIONS OF RAISING THE
RETIREMENT AGE TO SHORE UP THE
PROGRAM AND THAT'S BEEN DONE
ONCE, I UNDERSTAND, BUT DOESN'T
THAT EFFECTIVELY SHORT PEOPLE
ALSO?
>> THAT IS CORRECT, YEAH.
AND THERE'S A STUDY THAT JUST
CAME OUT THAT SHOWED THAT
ACTUALLY THE RAISING OF THE
RETIREMENT AGE BACK IN THE
'80s IN THE REAGAN PRESIDENCY
ACTUALLY SHORTENEDLET LIFE
EXPECTANCY OF SENIORS.
SO NOT ONLY DOES IT LIMIT THE
NUMBER OF YEARS THEY'RE ELIGIBLE
TO RECEIVE BENEFITS, BUT IT
ACTUALLY LIMITS THEIR LIFE
EXPECTANCY BECAUSE, AS WE ALL
KNOW, THERE'S A POINT IN YOUR
LIFE WHEN YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO
REST AND RETIRE FROM WORKING.
RIGHT?
AND THAT IS A RIGHT THAT EVERY
AMERICAN SHOULD HAVE, NO MATTER
WHAT KIND OF JOB THEY HAD OR
WHAT PROFESSION THEY WORKED IN.
WE THINK EVERYBODY IS ELIGIBLE
AND DO THAT, SO RAISING THE
RETIREMENT ANAL AGE WOULD ONLY HURT
RETIRED AMERICANS AND SENIOR
AMERICANS.
>> HOW IMPORTANT IS SOCIAL
SECURITY TO THE MAJORITY OF
RETIREES, ALL OF ALL OF THOSE IN
WISCONSIN?
>> EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.
EVERY SINGLE RETIREE THAT I
PERSONALLY KNOW DEPENDS ON THEIR
SOCIAL SECURITY CHECK EVERY
MONTH AND EVERY RETIRED AMERICAN
WHO IS A MEMBER OF THE WISCONSIN
ALLIANCE FOR RETIRED AMERICANS
DEPENDS ON IT FULLY.
IT DRIVES OUR ECONOMY.
IT'S WHAT KEEPS SO MANY SENIORS
OUT OF POVERTY.
AWARE ARGUING THAT SOCIAL
SECURITY IS ONE OF THE LARGEST
ANTIPOVERTY PROGRAMS THAT'S EVER
BEEN CREATED IN THE UNITED
STATES.
WE HAVE A LOT OF CHOICES IN THIS
COUNTRY.
I MEAN, ALL THIS IS A POLITICAL
CHOICE.
RIGHT?
WE COULD CHOOSE TO ROLL BACK THE
CLOCK AND GO BACK TO THE DAYS
BEFORE SOCIAL SECURITY EXISTED,
BUT WE WOULD HAVE SENIORS IN
POVERTY, LIVING ON THE STREETS,
AND WE DON'T WANT THAT.
WE WANT EVERYBODY WHO HAS WORKED
HARD AND CONTRIBUTED TO THIS
COUNTRY TO LIVE A FULL AND
DIGNIFIED RETIREMENT.
>> ALEX BROWER, THANKS VERY
MUCH.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
>> THANKS FOR COVERING THIS
IMPORTANT ISSUE, FREDERICA.
>> THIS WEEK, A NEW AMTRAK
PASSENGER TRAIN MADE ITS DEBUT
IN WISCONSIN.
>> THE AMTRAK BOREALIS NOW RUNS
ROUND-TRIP DAILY BETWEEN CHICAGO
AND MINNEAPOLIS, WITH EIGHT
STOPS ALONG THE WAY IN
WISCONSIN.
IT JOINS THE EXISTING BUT SLOWER
AMTRAK EMPIRE BUILDER ALONG THE
SAME ROUTE THROUGH THE STATE.
>> IT'S BEEN 22 YEARS SINCE
WE'VE EXPANDED PASSENGER RAIL IN
WISCONSIN, AND THIS LONG-AWAITED
TRAIN WILL PROVIDE MORE
CONVENIENCE AND FLEXIBILITY FOR
COMMUTERS, FAMILIES, STUDENTS
AND TOURIST TO GET WHERE THEY
NEED TO GO.
>> FINALLY TONIGHT, WE END WITH
AN EXCERPT OF AN INTERVIEW
SPECIAL PROJECTS JOURNALIST MURV
SEYMORE CONDUCTED WITH THE FAMED
WHITE HOUSE PHOTOGRAPHER, PETE
SOUZA, WHO LIVED IN MADISON
FOLLOWING HIS TIME COVERING THE
OBAMA ADMINISTRATION AND WAS
BACK IN WISCONSIN WHEN HE SAT
DOWN IN OUR STUDIO WITH THIS
IN-FOCUS INTERVIEW WITH MURV
SEYMORE.
>> THIS IS THE DAY OF THE
BIN LADEN RAID.
>> THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN WHEN THE
S.E.A.L. TEAM WAS MAKING THE
RAID ON BIN LADEN'S --
>> YES.
YOU'VE GOT THE MOST POWERFUL
PEOPLE IN THE TEXAS TECH BRANCH
OF OUR GOVERNMENT,
DECISION-MAKERS, IN THAT ROOM.
BUT FOR THOSE 40 MINUTES, THEY
WERE -- THERE WAS NOTHING THEY
COULD DO TO AFFECT THE OUTCOME.
RIGHT?
IT WAS COMPLETELY UP TO THOSE
GUYS ON THE GROUND.
>> WHEN YOU'RE FRAMING THIS
PHOTOGRAPH, ARE YOU THINKING,
I'M GOING TO TAKE A PHOTOGRAPH
THAT SHOWS HOW POWERLESS THEY
ARE?
>> I GUESS I WASN'T INHERENTLY
THINKING THAT THOUGHT AT THE
TIME.
WHAT I WAS THINKING IS WHAT'S
THE MOOD THAT I SEE IN FRONT OF
ME.
AND TRYING TO CAPTURE THAT IN A
SINGLE FRAME.
>> AND DID THAT MOOD LAST FOR A
PERIOD OF TIME?
OR IS THAT JUST A MOMENT IN THAT
SPACE?
>> NO.
THAT MOOD LASTED FOR I THINK THE
ENTIRE 40 MINUTES WE WERE IN
THAT ROOM, AND SO WHEN I'M GOING
THROUGH MY PHOTOGRAPHS TRYING TO
CHOOSE THE BEST ONE, OBVIOUSLY
PHOTOGRAPHY IN MANY WAYS IS
SUBJECTIVE MEDIUM.
RIGHT?
BUT IT WAS -- I THINK INITIALLY,
MYSELF AND A PHOTO EDITOR, WE
ZEROED IN ON MAYBE FOUR FRAMES
FROM THE 40 MINUTES IN THIS ROOM
AND WE JUST TRIED TO COMPARE ONE
TO ANOTHER, LIKE WHICH DO YOU
THINK IS THE BEST?
AND THIS JUST SEEMED TO WORK THE
BEST, THE WAY EVERYBODY'S FACES
SORT OF EXPRESSED WHAT I FELT, I
THINK WHAT THEY ALL FELT.
>> YEAH.
NEXT PHOTO HERE.
I THINK THIS GETS INTO THE
TRANSITION.
WHAT WAS IT LIKE FOR YOU IN
TERMS OF NOT JUST A DIFFERENT
PRESIDENT COMING IN, BUT FOR
YOUR POSITION TO KIND OF --
>> I WAS CONCERNED THAT THE
COUNTRY HAD VOTED THIS GUY IN.
I DIDN'T FEEL HE UNDERSTOOD WHAT
IT MEANT TO RESPECT THE OFFICE
OF THE PRESIDENCY AND SO I'VE
GOT TO KIND OF PUT THOSE
FEELINGS ASIDE, BUT I'M ALSO A
HUMAN BEING.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, I TRIED TO, AS
BEST I COULD, TAKE THE HIGH ROAD
AS PRESIDENT OBAMA HAD TAKEN BY
INVITING HIM TO THE WHITE HOUSE
TWO DAYS AFTER THE ELECTION
BECAUSE HE WANTED TO TRY TO,
LIKE, CALM PEOPLE DOWN AS BEST
HE COULD.
BUT IT WAS VERY UNSETTLED
FEELING FOR ME THAT THIS IS THE
GUY THAT WAS GOING TO SUCCEED
BARACK OBAMA.
AND WE DIDN'T MAKE THIS PICTURE
PUBLIC, BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS A
GOOD PICTURE TO INCLUDE IN MY
BOOK AS, YOU KNOW, NOT HAVING
TOSSTONECESSARILY SHOW HIS FACE, YOU
KNOW WHO THAT IS JUST BY LOOKING
AT HIM.
>> WHAT'S HE PEEKING -- WHAT
DOOR --
>> THERE'S A LITTLE HALLWAY OFF
THE OVAL OFFICE THAT LEADS INTO
THE PRIVATE DINING ROOM, AND TO
THE LEFT IS LIKE WHAT'S CALLED
THE PRESIDENTIAL STUDY, WHICH
PRESIDENT OBAMA HARDLY EVER USED
THAT LITTLE ROOM.
SO IT HAD MOSTLY MEMENTOS IN
THERE.
THERE WAS A LITTLE DESK WITH A
COMPUTER, BUT IT WAS MOSTLY
PICTURES OF THE FAMILY ON THE
WALL AND THERE WAS A PICTURE OF
THURGOOD MARSHALL ON THE WALL,
AND HE WAS JUST GIVING --
PRESIDENT OBAMA'S ACTUALLY
INSIDE THE STUDY, AND HE'S JUST
SHOWING THE PRESIDENT ELECT, YOU
KNOW, THE STUDY, THE DINING
ROOM, SO THIS IS ON THEIR LITTLE
TOUR.
>> SO PRESIDENT OBAMA IS
ACTUALLY DOING THE TOUR?
>> YEAH, YEAH.
>> WOW.
NOW WHAT'S THIS ONE HERE?
>> AND THIS IS ON JANUARY 20,
2017.
I'M INSIDE THE HELICOPTER JUST
BEFORE PRESIDENT OBAMA AND
MICHELLE BOARD THE HELICOPTER,
AND HE'S SAYING GOOD-BYE TO NOW
PRESIDENT TRUMP.
THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN RIGHT AFTER
THE SWEARING-IN CEREMONY.
>> WOW.
>> YOU CAN FIND THE INFECTION
INTERVIEWS ON OUR WEBSITE ALONG
WITH OTHER ISSUES FACING
WISCONSIN.
GO TO 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.