>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION.
>> 2021 STARTS UNDER THE SHADOW
OF THE CORONAVIRUS, AS PEOPLE
CONTINUE TO LINE UP FOR TESTING.
STAY BEHIND FACE MASKS AND STAY
APART FROM EACH OTHER AND FROM
FAMILY.
BUT THE NEW YEAR PAVES WAY FOR
HOPE AS COVID-19 VACCINATIONS
BEGIN.
AND IN WASHINGTON, CHANGES
AHEAD, WITH THE ANTICIPATION OF
A NEW ADMINISTRATION.
>> I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW," A
LOOK AHEAD TO 2021 WITH GOVERNOR
TONY EVERS.
A MILWAUKEE PHYSICIAN SPEAKS TO
CONCERNS IN UNDERREPRESENTED
COMMUNITIES ABOUT THE SAFETY OF
THE CORONAVIRUS VACCINE.
THE BAYFIELD MAYOR JOINS US TO
TALK ABOUT THE CHALLENGING
FISCAL YEAR AHEAD FOR HIS CITY.
AND ROSS AND MCCOSHEN GAZE INTO
THE POLITICAL CRYSTAL BALL.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR
JANUARY 1.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.
>> WHAT A YEAR IT'S BEEN.
AND WHAT WILL THE NEW YEAR
BRING?
THE WORLD OF POLITICS AND POLICY
IN 2020 BECAME INEXTRICABLY
LINKED TO THE HEALTH AND WELFARE
OF PEOPLE STRICKEN BY COVID-19.
WISCONSIN HAS WEATHERED MORE
THAN ITS SHARE OF HARDSHIP AND
CONTENTION.
TONIGHT WE SPEAK WITH GOVERNOR
TONY EVERS TO LOOK AHEAD TO 2021
AND TAKE A LOOK BACK.
AND, GOVERNOR, THANKS ONCE AGAIN
FOR JOINING US.
>> THANKS, FREDERICA.
GOOD TO BE BACK.
>> AT THE HELM OF STATE RESPONSE
TO COVID-19 OVER THE LAST YEAR,
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE WHAT
THAT'S BEEN LIKE AS CHIEF
EXECUTIVE TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR
THE PEOPLE OF WISCONSIN?
>> YEAH.
IT'S BEEN AN HONOR AND, FRANKLY,
GIVEN THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT WE
DEALT WITH, THE PANDEMIC ITSELF
AND THEN THE POLITICAL
ATMOSPHERE AROUND IT AND THE
DEFEATS WE HAD IN THE SUPREME
COURT, I AM REALLY PROUD OF THE
PEOPLE OF WISCONSIN.
YOU KNOW, IT WASN'T EASY.
IT SHOWED THE RESILIENCE OF THE
PEOPLE.
YOU KNOW, I'M SO PLEASED THAT
OUR ADMINISTRATION WORKED 24/7
TO GET FEDERAL MONEY OUT TO
PEOPLE THAT WERE STRUGGLING ALL
ACROSS THE STATE, SMALL BUSINESS
OWNERS, FARMERS.
NATIONAL GUARD WORKED -- YOU
KNOW, THEY BECAME JUST
INVALUABLE PARTNERS.
AND YOU THINK ABOUT YOUR FRIENDS
AND NEIGHBORS FROM THE GUARD AND
FROM YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
THOSE PEOPLE DESERVE OUR --
ALWAYS OUR THANKS.
AND SO IT WAS AN EXTRAORDINARY
YEAR.
I WAS PROUD OF THE RESILIENCE
THAT WE'VE SEEN.
AND OUR ABILITY UNDER REALLY
DIFFICULT SITUATIONS AS A
GOVERNMENT, AS A STATE
GOVERNMENT, TO MOVE BEYOND,
FRANKLY, THE MISTAKES THAT THE
SUPREME COURT MADE IN OUR
INABILITY TO MITIGATE LIKE OTHER
GOVERNORS COULD DO TO GET THE
CONTACT TRACING DONE, GET THE
THINGS IN THE FIELD AROUND
TESTING, PPE, ALL THOSE THINGS.
WE DID AN AMAZING JOB AND I'M SO
THANKFUL FOR ALL THE PEOPLE IN
THE STATE AND IN STATE
GOVERNMENT THAT DID THAT GREAT
WORK.
>> ANYTHING YOU WOULD HAVE DONE
DIFFERENTLY?
>> CERTAINLY THIS LAST YEAR AS
IT RELATES TO THE PANDEMIC, YOU
KNOW, LIKE I SAID, I WISH WE HAD
MORE ABILITY TO MITIGATE LIKE
OTHER GOVERNORS HAD.
AND FRANKLY I THINK THAT
INABILITY ACTUALLY DID COST US
LIVES AND NUMBERS OF PEOPLE THAT
GOT THE DISEASE.
BUT I'M DISAPPOINTED THAT WE
WERE UNABLE TO CONVINCE THE
LEGISLATURE TO COME IN AND TALK
ABOUT POLICING AND
ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY
IN THAT SPECIAL SESSION.
THAT WAS REALLY NEEDED.
IT WAS NEEDED TO SEND A MESSAGE
TO THE STATE THAT THIS IS
IMPORTANT WORK.
AND, FRANKLY, EVEN BEFORE THE
PANDEMIC, ON THE AG SPECIAL
SESSION WE GOT NO HELP THERE.
THOSE ARE DISAPPOINTMENTS AND
HOPEFULLY WE CAN CORRECT THOSE
GOING FORWARD.
>> NOW, DIRECT AID TO STATE AND
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS WAS LEFT OUT
OF THE LATEST COVID STIMULUS
PACKAGE OUT OF WASHINGTON.
YOU'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT THAT
NEED OVER THE MONTHS.
HOW IMPORTANT IS THAT DIRECT AID
TO GOVERNMENTS?
>> IT'S CRITICAL.
AND I'LL PINCH HIT HERE FOR OUR
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.
OBVIOUSLY AT THE STATE
GOVERNMENT, THE REVENUES THAT WE
WOULD NORMALLY GET ARE NOT
THERE.
BUT AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, IT'S
EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.
I DON'T CARE THE SMALLEST COUNTY
OR THE MOST POPULATED COUNTY.
THEY HAD COSTS THAT THEY NEVER
EXPECTED TO HAVE.
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S THE ONLY
WAY THAT THEY CAN BE MADE WHOLE.
SO I KNOW THAT PRESIDENT-ELECT
BIDEN KNOWS THESE THINGS AND
HE'LL BE PUSHING FOR THAT IN THE
NEXT STIMULUS PACKAGE.
>> NOW, ANY NEW FUNDS FROM THE
FEDS FOR THINGS LIKE COVID
VACCINES WILL HELP BUFFER THE
TOUGHEST STATE BUDGET SINCE
2011.
HOW ACCURATE IS THAT DESCRIPTION
OF THE STATE BUDGE?
>> IT'S DIFFICULT.
I'M HOPEFUL WE CAN WORK ON
PRIORITIES THAT WERE ALWAYS MY
PRIORITIES AND FRANKLY THE
PEOPLE OF WISCONSIN AND THAT'S
MAKING SURE HEALTH CARE IS AS
BUOYANT AS POSSIBLE, MAKING SURE
WE HAVE A GREAT EDUCATION
SYSTEM, MAKE SURE WE HAVE GOOD
ROADS AND OTHER INFRASTRUCTURE
INCLUDING BROADBAND.
THE WORLD DIDN'T END WITH
COVID-19.
WE STILL HAVE LOTS OF NEEDS IN
THIS STATE AND WE WILL -- WE'LL
PUSH HARD TO ADDRESS THOSE IN A
REALLY FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE WAY.
>> CAN YOU AND REPUBLICAN
LEADERS POSSIBLY FIND A WAY TO
WORK TOGETHER ON A DIFFICULT
BUDGET AND COVID RESPONSE?
>> I HOPE SO.
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE
HAVE TO COME TO SOME AGREEMENT.
LAST TIME, IT TOOK THE -- WE PUT
OUR PROPOSAL OUT THERE, THEY HAD
THEIR PROPOSAL, AND EVENTUALLY
IT ENDED UP SOMEPLACE IN BETWEEN
BECAUSE THEY KNEW THAT THEY HAD
TO AGREE TO SOME OF THE THINGS
WE WERE TALKING ABOUT IN THE
EDUCATION AND SO ON.
SO REGARDLESS, WE'RE GOING TO
HAVE TO HAVE A BUDGET AND WE
WILL HAVE A BUDGET NO MATTER HOW
WE NEGOTIATE OR, FRANKLY, DON'T
NEGOTIATE.
AND I'M HOPEFUL.
WE WILL GET THERE.
I'M AN OPTIMIST ABOUT THESE
THINGS AND BOTH THE LEADER --
BOTH LEADERS IN THE SENATE AND
THE ASSEMBLY UNDERSTAND THAT WE
HAVE TO HAVE GOOD GOVERNMENT IN
ORDER TO MOVE FORWARD AND WE
HAVE TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE
PEOPLE TO MOVE FORWARD.
SO WE'LL -- THERE WILL BE
BATTLES.
THERE WILL BE SHOTS SHOT ACROSS
THE BOW ALL THE TIME.
I UNDERSTAND THE POLITICS OF IT.
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE
HAVE TO HAVE A BUDGET.
>> ALL RIGHT.
GOVERNOR TONY EVERS, THANK YOU
VERY MUCH.
>> THANKS SO MUCH, FREDERICA.
>> HOW TO KEEP THE POTHOLES
FILLED, THE PARKS CLEAN AND THE
STREETS SAFE UNDER TOUGH BUDGET
CONDITIONS HAS CITIES ACROSS
WISCONSIN CUTTING SPENDING AND
DIPPING INTO SAVINGS TO KEEP THE
LIGHTS ON.
SUCH IS THE CASE IN THE CITY OF
BAYFIELD, ALONG THE SHORES OF
LAKE SUPERIOR, WHERE THE WORST
CASE UNDER DISCUSSION HAS BEEN
DISSOLVING THE CITY.
BUT IT'S NOT JUST THE PANDEMIC
THAT ADDED TO COSTS AND TOOK
AWAY FROM REVENUE.
GORDON RINGBERG JOINS US FROM
BAYFIELD TO TELL US WHAT'S
HAPPENING THERE AND, MAYOR,
THANKS A LOT FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANK YOU, FREDERICA.
>> SO WHAT DOES YOUR 2021 BUDGET
LOOK LIKE AND THERE ARE THOSE
PAIN POINTS IN TERMS OF CUTS AND
DEPLETION OF YOUR SAVINGS?
>> WE DID GET THE 2021 BUDGET
BALANCED THIS YEAR ALTHOUGH IT'S
ABOUT 10% LESS THAN LAST YEAR
AND WE'RE DIPPING INTO SAVINGS.
WE'RE DIPPING -- ABOUT $TOO $200,000
IS COMING OUT OF SAVINGS WHICH
WE WOULD HAVE PREFERRED TO USE
FOR NEW INFRASTRUCTURE.
OUR BIGGEST CONCERN IS
EMPLOYEES.
THAT'S PROBABLY OUR LARGEST
EXPENSE IN ANY PART OF OUR
BUDGET, IS EMPLOYEE SALARIES,
EMPLOYEE BENEFITS.
WE DON'T HAVE THAT MANY
EMPLOYEES.
WE'VE GOT ABOUT 14 EMPLOYEES IN
THE CITY AND THEY ALL WORK VERY
HARD AND WE WANT TO KEEP THEM
AROUND.
SO THAT WAS OUR BIGGEST CONCERN
WHEN WE PUT THIS BUDGET
TOGETHER, HOW DO WE KEEP THEM
ON, OUR STAFF.
>> OF COURSE.
AS WE JUST MENTIONED, TORQUES -- TOO,
THE PANDEMIC DIDN'T HELP.
HOW HAS IT AFFECTED YOUR CITY?
>> IT WAS VERY INTERESTING.
WE WEREN'T SURE IF WE WERE GOING
TO HAVE TOURISTS COMING IN ALL
SUMMER LONG OR NOT.
MATTER OF FACT, WE WERE VERY
BUSY.
THERE WERE HOURISTS TOURISTS IN TOWN
EVERY DAY.
SOME BUSINESSES WERE VERY BUSY,
THE BOAT OPERATORS WERE EVERY
DAY ALL SUMMER LONG AND MAYBE
HAD THEIR BEST SUMMER YET.
BUT OUR BARS, RESTAURANTS AND
LODGING, THEY'RE DOWN.
SOME BARS DIDN'T OPEN AT ALL
BECAUSE THEY WERE AFRAID THEY
WERE GOING TO PASS THE PANDEMIC
ALONG.
IT VARIES WHO YOU TALK TO.
WE'RE STILL WAITING ON THE FINAL
NUMBERS AS FAR AS ROOM TAX AND
SOME OF THE OTHER TAXES THAT WE
GET.
BUT I THINK WE'RE DOWN FROM LAST
YEAR, BUT NOT AS MUCH AS WE WERE
EXPECTING.
>> SO A MIXED BAG.
NOW, THE GOVERNOR JUST SPOKE TO
THE NEED ON THE PART OF NOT JUST
THE STATE, BUT LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
TO SEE DIRECT FEDERAL AID OUT OF
WASHINGTON.
IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU'D
LIKE TO BE ABLE TO COUNT ON?
>> IT WOULD BE.
YOU KNOW, IN OUR COVID-19 DIRECT
COSTS WERE VERY SMALL.
WE GOT ABOUT $7,000 FROM THE
CARES ACT, THROUGH THE GOVERNOR,
THAT WE USED FOR OUR EMTs AND
POLICE OFFICERS AND FIRE
DEPARTMENT AND GENERAL CLEANING
SUPPLIES.
REALLY, THOUGH, I NEED MORE HELP
FROM THE GOVERNOR LONG-TERM
FINANCING FOR THE CITY.
YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD A REDUCTION
IN SHARED REVENUE OVER THE
YEARS, REDUCTION IN -- ACTUALLY
LIMITATIONS ON HOW WE CAN
INCREASE OUR LEVIES TO PAY FOR
THE THINGS THAT WE NEED.
AND OUR LEVY HAS NOT KEPT UP
WITH INFLATION.
>> AND SO THE REVENUE THAT YOU
HAVE COMING IN, EITHER FROM
PROPERTY TAXES OR SHARED
REVENUE, IS NOT KEEPING PACE
WITH YOUR COSTS.
AND THIS IS NOT UNIQUE TO YOUR
CITY.
THIS IS ACROSS THE STATE, I
TRUST.
>> JUST ABOUT EVERY MAYOR THAT I
TALK TO IS GOING THROUGH THE
SAME PROBLEMS, FROM US BEING THE
SMALLEST CITY IN THE STATE TO
MILWAUKEE BEING THE LARGEST CITY
IN THE STATE.
WE'RE ALL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT
HOW WE'RE GOING TO GET INTO THE
FUTURE AND MAKE IT WORK.
>> AND YET THESE HAVE BEEN
LONGSTANDING KIND OF ISSUES,
THIS IMBALANCE AS DESCRIBED
BETWEEN INCOMING REVENUE AND
RISING COSTS.
WHAT MAKES YOU BELIEVE THAT THE
STATE WILL COME FORWARD AT THIS
POINT AND FIX THIS?
>> I'M NOT REALLY SURE.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE AND
OTHER CITIES HAVE BEEN ASKING
THE PEOPLE IN MADISON TO HELP US
WITH FOR A LONG TIME.
THERE SEEMS TO BE A -- YOU KNOW,
JUST A REALLY HARD POINT ON
RAISING TAXES, WHICH I
UNDERSTAND WE DON'T WANT TO PUT
ANY BURDEN ON OUR TAXPAYERS THAT
WE DON'T NEED TO.
BUT WE HAVE TO BE REALISTIC.
LIKE ANY FAMILY, WE HAVE
EXPENSES THAT GO UP AND WE HAVE
TO FIND WAYS TO INCREASE
REVENUE.
THE STATE HAS RELIED ON PROPERTY
TAX TO FUND CITIES AND VILLAGES
FOR A LONG TIME AND THAT JUST
DOESN'T SEEM TO BE REALISTIC
ANYMORE.
WE HAVE TO LOOK FOR MORE
CREATIVE WAYS TO BRING MONEY
INTO OUR CITIES AND
MUNICIPALITIES.
>> WE JUST HAVE ABOUT 30 SECONDS
LEFT, BUT I WANT TO ALLOW YOU TO
RESPOND TO THE WORST CASE
SCENARIO THAT HAD BEEN KINDS OF
FLOATING OUT THERE AS DISCUSSION
OF DISSOLVING THE CITY.
THAT'S NOT PARTICULARLY
REALISTIC.
AM I RIGHT?
>> NO.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT POPPED UP
IN A BRAINSTORMING SESSION.
IF IT'S ON THE TABLE, IT'S
BOTTOM OF THE LIST.
I WOULD HATE FOR THAT TO HAPPEN.
BUT IF WE CAN'T FIGURE SOMETHING
OUT IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS, IT
MIGHT BE OUR LAST RESORT.
>> WOW.
WE DON'T WANT TO HEAR ABOUT
THAT.
BUT GOOD LUCK TO YOU AND YOUR
CITY.
MAYOR GORDON RINGBERG, THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANKS FOR HAVING ME ON YOUR
SHOW.
>> THE COVID-19 VACCINES BROUGHT
NEW HOPE AS WE RANG OUT THE YEAR
2020.
AND WHILE MANY CAN'T WAIT FOR
THEIR NUMBER TO BE CALLED TO GET
THE SHOT IN COMING MONTHS, SOME
PEOPLE IN UNDERREPRESENTED
COMMUNITIES ARE RELUCTANT.
BUT WHY?
WE TURN TO DR. TITO IZARD,
PRESIDENT AND CEO OF MILWAUKEE
HEALTH SERVICES, A HEALTH CENTER
WORKING TO IMPROVE HEALTH
OUTCOMES AND IMPROVE DISPARITIES
AMONG RACIAL AND ETHNIC
COMMUNITIES.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> DESCRIBE TO US HOW YOUR
PARENTS ARE RESPONDING TO THE
POSSIBILITY OF GETTING THE
COVID-19 VACCINE.
>> WELL, I THINK OUR PARENTS ARE
RESPONDING JUST LIKE ALL
AMERICANS.
WHEN WE SAY ALL AMERICANS, WE
CLEARLY HAVE A DIVIDE IN HOW
WE'RE INTERPRETING THE RESULTS.
SOME PEOPLE ARE EXTREMELY
EXCITED ABOUT THE FACT THAT THE
VACCINE IS HERE AND READY TO GET
THEIR SHOT YESTERDAY.
AND OTHERS ARE A LITTLE BIT MORE
HESITANT AND RELUCTANT, FOR A
NUMBER OF DIFFERENT REASONS THAT
ARE PRETTY COMPLEX.
>> WELL, I WANTED TO ASK YOU
ABOUT THOSE.
WHAT ARE THOSE KINDS OF CONCERNS
ON THE PART OF PEOPLE WHO MIGHT
BE RELUCTANT?
>> SO THE COMMUNITY I SERVE IS
85% AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND OF THE
POPULATION HERE IN WISCONSIN AND
IN THE CITY OF MILWAUKEE, MOST
HAVE HISTORICAL TIES TO SLAVERY.
WHEN WE THINK ABOUT HEALTH CARE,
HEALTH CARE HAS ACTUALLY NEVER
BEEN IN PARITY WITH THE MAJORITY
OF SOCIETY.
WE'VE ALWAYS EXPERIENCED HEALTH
DISPARITIES.
AT THE BEGINNING THE
DR. /PATIENT RELAIB SHIP IT WAS
NOT ONE OF ALTRUISM OR THE
HIPPOCRATIC OATH.
SLAVES WERE USED TO ADVANCE
SCIENCE BUT NOT AT THE
BETTERMENT OF THE INDIVIDUAL
PERSON.
AND EVEN DR. MARION SIMMS, WHO
WAS KNOWN AS THE FATHER OF
MODERN GYNECOLOGY, ACTUALLY
PERFORMED OVER 30 SURGERIES ON A
17-YEAR-OLD SLAVE WOMAN WITHOUT
ANESTHESIA.
BETWEEN THAT AND EVEN UP TO THE
1970s WHERE YOU HAD A LOT OF
DOCTORS PERFORMING HIS TER
RECKMIES ON BLACK WOMEN WITHOUT
FULL EXTENT, THE EXPERIMENT
REGARDING SYPHILIS.
THERE'S A LONGSTANDING HISTORY.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE BLACK
COMMUNITY AND OTHER MINORITY
COMMUNITIES, NOT HAVING
CONTINUITY OF CARE WITH A
PROVIDER WHERE YOU CAN DEVELOP
THESE LONG-TERM RELATIONSHIPS,
THEN YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE
DEALING WITH.
YOU DON'T KNOW IF THEY HAVE YOUR
BEST INTEREST BECAUSE
RELATIONSHIPS ARE ACTUALLY
DEVELOPED OVER TIME WITH TRUST.
>> SO HOW DO YOU GET PAST THAT
DEVELOPING OF TRUST?
>> WELL, UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S
WHAT EVERYBODY WANTS TO KNOW.
HOW DO YOU GET PAST THAT?
I LOVE THE STATEMENT ALWAYS BE
CAUTIOUS OF WEARY OF A SIMPLE
SOLUTION TO A COMPLEX PROBLEM.
THE REALITY IS IN ORDER TO GET
PAST THAT, WE HAVE TO ADDRESS
THE HISTORICAL HEALTH
DISPARITIES THAT HAVE EXISTED.
FOR NATIVE BLACKS, BEING A
DESCENDANT OF SLAVERY IS HOW WE
HAVE HEALTH DISPARITIES, WHETHER
IT'S IN IMPLEMENTING, WHETHER
IT'S WITH COVID-19, WHETHER IT'S
CANCER RATES OR CARDIOVASCULAR
DISEASE.
ALL THESE THINGS LINK BACK TO
THE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF
HEALTH COMPONENTS, CONSEQUENCES
OF BEING ECONOMICALLY EXCLUDED
FROM AMERICAN SOCIETY.
SO IN ORDER TO TRULY GET PAST
IT, WE ACTUALLY WOULD HAVE TO
CREATE A COMPREHENSIVE
REPARATIONS PROGRAM, RESTORATIVE
HEALTH EQUITY.
>> WHAT ARE YOU ADVISING AT THIS
MOMENT TO YOUR PATIENTS AROUND
THE VACCINE?
>> YEAH.
AND THAT'S A GREAT POINT,
BECAUSE IT IS -- IT'S VERY
DIFFICULT AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT
IT FOR ETHNIC MINORITY
POPULATIONS VERSUS THE GENERAL
POPULATION, MANY PEOPLE WOULD
CONSIDER GETTING THE VACCINE
OVER A PERIOD OF TIME.
SO WHAT I AM RECOMMENDING AT
THIS POINT IN TIME, BECAUSE THE
VACCINE -- WE HAVE TO REALIZE
WHAT DO WE REALLY KNOW AND WHAT
ARE WE MAKING ASSUMPTIONS ON.
RIGHT NOW THE VACCINE HAS BEEN
PROVEN TO REDUCE MORE SEVERE
SYMPTOMS.
IT HAS NOT BEEN PROVEN YET --
AND WE HOPE IT WILL -- TO REDUCE
ACTUAL DEATHS.
SO AT THIS TIME FOR THOSE
PATIENTS WHO A LITTLE BIT MORE
LEERY OF GETTING THE VACCINE,
I'M NOT TRYING TO DENIGRATE THEM
OR MAKE THEM FEEL BAD.
WHAT I WOULD SAY IS IF YOU ARE
60 OR OVER OR IF YOU HAVE ANY
UNCONTROLLED CHRONIC HEALTH
CONDITION OR THREE OR MORE
CHRONIC HEALTH CONDITIONS, I
WOULD SAY YOU REALLY SHOULD
CONSIDER GETTING THE VACCINE
RIGHT NOW.
IF YOU ARE SOMEONE WHO IS
BETWEEN 40 TO 59 AND YOU MAY
HAVE TWO CHRONIC HEALTH
CONDITIONS BUT THEY'RE PRETTY
STABLE, THEN I WOULD SAY IF YOU
WANTED TO WAIT, YOU KNOW, THREE
UP TO SIX MONTHS, THAT MAY BE
REASONABLE FOR YOU.
AND IF YOU'RE SOMEONE WHO'S
UNDER 40 AND YOU HAVE NO CHRONIC
HEALTH CONDITIONS, I THINK IT'S
COMPLETELY REASONABLE FOR THAT
PERSON TO WAIT SIX MONTHS IF
THEY DECIDED TO ALLOW THE
SCIENCE TO BETTER ASSESS WHETHER
THE OUTCOMES ARE ACTUALLY GOING
TO REDUCE MORTALITY OR NOT.
AND SO I THINK THAT WE DON'T
HAVE TO HAVE THIS ONE SIZE FITS
ALL.
IT CAN BE A CONVERSATION WITH
OUR PATIENTS.
CLEARLY THOSE THAT HAVE HIGH
RISK, YOUR RISK OF DYING OR
HAVING SEVERE ILLNESS FROM THE
COVID-19 VIRUS, IT MAY MAKE YOU
DECIDE, YEAH, I'D RATHER GET THE
VACCINE RIGHT NOW.
BUT IF YOU'RE 27 AND HEALTHY,
THE REALITY IS WITH THE SYMPTOMS
RIGHT NOW THAT WE KNOW, 63% HAVE
FATIGUE, 55% HAVE HEADACHES,
ALMOST 14%, 15% WILL HAVE FEVER.
SO I THINK IT'S REASONABLE FOR
THAT PERSON TO WAIT SIX MONTHS.
>> ALL RIGHT.
THAT IS GREAT AND REASONED
ADVICE.
DR. TITO IZARD, THANK YOU SO
MUCH AND GOOD LUCK.
>> WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU.
>> OUT WITH THE OLD AND IN WITH
THE NEW.
BUT THE YEAR NOW IN THE REAR
VIEW CAN NEVER BE FORGOTTEN AND
WILL BE FELT TO 2021 AND BEYOND.
FOR PREDICTIONS OF WHAT'S AHEAD
WE TURN TO OUR POLITICAL
PONLISTS TO REVISIT WHAT THEY
SAID LAST YEAR AT THIS TIME AND
WHAT THEY SAY IN THIS YEAR'S
CRYSTAL BALL.
REPUBLICAN BILL MCCOSHEN AND
DEMOCRAT SCOT ROSS.
SO THIS TIME LAST YEAR YOU BOTH
MADE PREDICTIONS BEFORE THE
WHOLE WORLD TURNED UPSIDE DOWN
BECAUSE OF COVID.
YOU PREDICTED, BILL, AT ODDS
WITH WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.
LET'S LISTEN.
>> TRUMP WINS WISCONSIN.
HE TAKES THE TEN ELECTORAL
VOTES.
DEMOCRATS ARE ON THEIR WAY TO
NOMINATING WHO WILL KEEP A
PORTION OF THEIR PARTY HOME JUST
LIKE HILLARY CLINTON DID.
>> SO WHOOPS.
BILL, WHY IN THE END DO YOU
THINK BIDEN DID BECOME
PRESIDENT-ELECT?
>> WELL, HE'S MORE CENTRIST AND
HE HAD APPEAL TO WISCONSINITES.
UNION FOLKS LIKED HIM HERE AND
HE WAS ABLE TO TURN OUT THE
SECOND HIGHEST VOTE TURNOUT FOR
A DEMOCRAT IN WISCONSIN
ELECTORAL HISTORY.
NOW, IN FAIRNESS TO ME,
PRESIDENT TRUMP TURNED OUT THE
HIGHEST FOR A REPUBLICAN
CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENT IN
WISCONSIN HISTORY.
HE HADED 205,000 VOTES TO HIS
LAST TOTAL.
HE CAME OUT 20,600 VOTES SHORT.
>> SCOT, I'M GOING TO GO TO YOUR
LAST YEAR'S PREDICTION NOW.
YOU SAID WISCONSIN WOULD ELECT
THE DEMOCRAT.
>> DEMOCRATS ARE NOT GOING TO
TAKE WISCONSIN FOR GRANTED THIS
TIME.
THEY'RE ALREADY DOING
COMMUNICATIONS, ATTACKING TRUMP
ON A DAILY BASIS IN THE LOCAL
AND STAYED MEDIA, IN DIGITAL AND
AT THE DOOR.
WISCONSIN WILL BE A DEMOCRATIC
STATE IN 2020.
>> THERE YOU GO.
YOU WON THAT ROUND.
BUT DID YOU EVER EXPECT THAT THE
TRANSITION WOULD BE QUITE THIS
FRAUGHT?
SCOT?
>> NOT EXACTLY.
I MEAN, WHAT ARE WE AT EIGHT
LAWSUITS THE REPUBLICANS HAVE
LOST HERE IN THE STATE OF
WISCONSIN TRYING TO OVERTURN THE
WILL OF THE PEOPLE.
TRUMP MAY BELIEVE THAT HE DIDN'T
WIN, BUT EVERYBODY ELSE ON THE
PLANET BASICALLY KNOWS THAT HE
LOST THIS ELECTION.
HE LOST WISCONSIN.
LIKE I SAID, WISCONSIN DEMOCRATS
DID NOT TAKE THIS STATE FOR
GRANTED.
THEY DID A GREAT JOB.
BIDEN WAS A GREAT CANDIDATE.
TRUMP IS GOING TO HAVE TO INVENT
THINGS TO MESS UP AND THAT'S WHY
WISCONSIN WENT BLUE.
>> SO, BILL, DID YOU EVER
PREDICT THAT THIS TRANSITION
WOULD BE QUITE THIS FRAUGHT?
>> WELL, REMEMBER, TEN WEEKS
AFTER WE MADE THOSE PREDICTIONS
COVID HIT AMERICA AND THE WORLD.
NOBODY COULD HAVE IMPACTED THAT
AND HOW THAT IMPACTED POLITICS.
I THINK THAT HAD AN IMPACT FOR
SURE.
AS IT RELATES TO THE TRANSITION,
I THINK THE PRESIDENT'S GREATEST
LEGACY WILL BE OPERATION WARP
SPEEFD
SPEED AND THE ABILITY TO GET
VACCINES, TWO OF THEM APPROVED
IN THE SAME YEAR THAT THE
PANDEMIC HIT THIS COUNTRY.
THAT'S NEVER BEEN DONE IN
HISTORY AND THAT WILL ULTIMATELY
BE HIS GREATEST LEGACY.
>> SO I WANTED TO TALK A LITTLE
BIT MORE ABOUT LAST YEAR, BUT AT
THIS POINT I'M GOING TO MOVE
FORWARD INTO THE CURRENT YEAR
AND TALK ABOUT YOUR PREDICTIONS
FOR 2021.
YOU SAY, BILL, YOU HAVE THIS
PREDICTION.
GERMANTOWN SUPERINTENDENT DEB
KERR WILL BE ELECTED
SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC
INSTRUCTION IN APRIL WITH STRONG
SUPPORT FROM EDUCATION REFORM
GROUPS FROM ACROSS THE NATION.
SO THAT ONE KIND OF CAME OUT OF
THE BLUE TO ME.
MAYBE MY HEAD JUST WASN'T THERE
QUITE YET.
WHO ELSE IS IN THE RUNNING?
>> THERE'S A DPI SENIOR STAFF
MEMBER AND THEN ONE OTHER PERSON
IN THE RACE.
DEB KERR HAS ACTUALLY BEEN
SUPERINTENDENT AT BROWN DEER,
WHICH IS ONE OF THE MOST DIVERSE
SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THE STATE.
80% OF THE STUDENTS ARE OF
COLOR.
50% ARE IN POVERTY.
SHE HAPPENS TO BE WHITE.
SHE'S A SCHOOL REFORMER.
THERE'S NO OTHER STATEWIDE RACE
ON THE BALLOT IN APRIL.
THIS IS ONE WHERE DEMS ARE GOING
TO MISS AN OPPORTUNITY.
SHE'S GOING TO BE OUR FIRST
NONTEACHER CANDIDATE TO WIN THAT
SEAT IN OUR LIFETIME.
>> WHAT DO YOU THINK, SCOT?
>> IT'S VERY CLEAR WHO THE BEST
CANDIDATE IS.
THE WORD REFORM IS JUST ANOTHER
WORD FOR PRIVATIZATION.
AND I THINK THAT PROGRESSIVES
HAVE HAD A REALLY GOOD TRACK
RECORD IN TERMS OF GETTING OUT
THE VOTE FOR DPI.
AND BY VIRTUE OF THE FACT THAT
OUR GOVERNOR WAS THE FORMER DPI
SECRETARY.
I THINK THAT DEMOCRATS HAVE
FIGURED OUT HOW TO GET PEOPLE
OUT TO THE VOTE IN THE SPRING
ELECTIONS.
AND EVEN THOUGH THERE WON'T BE A
HUGE INTEREST IN IT BECAUSE
THERE'S NO SUPREME COURT RACE,
THERE'S NO PRIMARY RACES, IT'S
JUST THIS RACE.
I THINK THAT GIVEN THE WAY THAT
PROGRESSIVES HAVE PERFORMED IN
GETTING OUT THE VOTE, USING
ABSENTEE, I THINK THIS SEAT WILL
REMAIN IN PROGRESSIVE HANDS.
>> WE'LL SEE.
OKAY.
SCOT, HERE'S YOUR PREDICTION FOR
2021.
QUOTE, THE REPUBLICANS WILL
PRODUCE AN IMMORAL BUDGET THAT
ATTACKS EDUCATION, HEALTH CARE,
CITIES, THE ENVIRONMENT AND
VOTING RIGHTS, CREATING THE
LONGEST BUDGET STALEMATE IN
STATE HISTORY.
SO HOW LONG DO YOU THINK THAT
STALEMATE WILL LAST?
>> THE LONGEST ONE WAS IN 1971.
IT WENT TO OCTOBER 28.
THE THIRD LONGEST ONE WAS WHEN
THE REPUBLICANS WERE IN CHARGE
IN 2017.
IT WENT TILL NEARLY OCTOBER.
I THINK THAT THE REPUBLICANS
WITH VOS ARE GOING TO CREATE A
BUDGET THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE.
THE ATTACKS ARE GOING TO BE ON
EDUCATION, HEALTH CARE,
CERTAINLY ON VOTING RIGHTS.
GOVERNOR EVERS IS GOING TO HAVE
A REAL DECISION WHETHER OR NOT
TO PROCEED WITH FINDING A WAY TO
MAKE THIS BUDGET EVEN TOLERABLE
OR VETOING IT ALL IN TOTAL.
>> SO WE ONLY HAVE A MINUTE
LEFT.
SO, BILL, I'M GOING TO SKIP YOUR
NEXT PREDICTION.
IT WAS GOOD.
NEXT TIME WE HAVE YOU ON WE'LL
TALK ABOUT IT.
AND GO DIRECTLY TO SCOT'S, WHICH
WAS THAT DEMOCRATS WILL WIN BOTH
GEORGIA U.S. SENATE RACES.
TALK ABOUT THAT FOR A MINUTE.
YOU GO AHEAD, SCOT.
>> I WILL.
YEAH.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S TWO INCUMBENT
REPUBLICANS WHO ARE CROOKS WHO
USED THEIR OFFICE AND
INFORMATION IN ORDER TO PROFIT
AND TRADE STOCKS WHEN THEY WERE
TELLING THE PUBLIC THAT NOTHING
WAS WRONG WITH THE PANDEMIC.
I THINK THE DEMOCRATS HAVE A
HUGE ADVANTAGE IN NEW
REGISTRATION.
I THINK THAT THE WIN IS FOR THE
DEMOCRATS ON THIS ONE.
>> WE GOT TO GIVE BILL THE LAST
WORD.
>> REPUBLICANS WILL TURN OUT.
VOTERS IN GEORGIA UNDERSTAND AND
LIKE DIVIDED GOVERNMENT.
WE WILL LIKELY HAVE A DEMOCRATIC
PRESIDENT.
WE CERTAINLY WILL HAVE A
DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS.
THEY LIKE THE CHECKS AND
BALANCES.
BOTH REPUBLICANS WILL BE
REELECTED AND COME BACK TO 52
SEATS.
>> WE WILL SEE.
BILL AND SCOT, THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
HAPPY NEW YEAR.
>> THANKS.
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THAT IS OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT.
HAPPY NEW YEAR.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
HAVE A SAFE HOLIDAY WEEKEND.
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