>> PRESENTATION OF "HERE AND
NOW" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE
ANIMAL DENTAL CENTER OF
MILWAUKEE AND OSHKOSH, A
VETERINARY SPECIALISTS WORKING
WITH PET OWNERS AND FAMILY
VETERINARIANS THROUGHOUT
WISCONSIN, PROVIDING CARE FOR
ORAL DISEASE AND DENTAL PROBLEMS
FOR SMALL COMPANION ANIMALS.
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FOR "HERE AND
NOW" IS PROVIDED BY THE LE
PHILLIPS FAMILY FOUNDATION.
>> I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW," THE
DEBATE OVER WHO SHOULD HAVE THE
POWER TO HIRE AND FIRE OUR
STATE'S SECRETARY OF NATURAL
RESOURCES.
ALSO TONIGHT, ALARMING NEW
STATISTICS REGARDING SUICIDE IN
WISCONSIN.
WE'LL TELL YOU THE TOP 10
HEALTHY COUNTIES IN WISCONSIN
AND PETER LEIDY HAS A NEW SONG
ABOUT LOVE AND PAYDAY LOANS.
FIRST, WHO SHOULD PICK THE DNR
SECRETARY?
LAST YEAR LEGISLATORS DECIDED
THAT THE DNR BOARD SHOULD.
AND THAT IT SHOULD HAVE FIRING
POWER, TOO.
SO THEY PASSED A LAW THAT SAID
SO AND SENT IT TO GOLF DOYLE.
DOYLE VETOED IT.
NEXT WEEK, THE ASSEMBLY WILL
TAKE A VOTE TO OVERRIDE THE
VETO.
THEY WILL TAKE OVERRIDE VOTES
FROM 2/3'S OF THE MEMBERS.
WE'RE JOINED IN MADISON BY
GEORGE MEYER.
WELCOME.
>> GOOD TO SEE YOU.
>> GREAT TO BE HERE.
>> FOR YOU, GEORGE.
FIRST, HAVING SERVED BOTH WAYS,
WHY DO YOU THINK THE DNR BOARD
SHOULD APPOINT THE SECRETARY?
>> THERE'S SEVERAL REASONS.
THERE'S BEEN A REVOLVING DOOR OF
SECRETARIES.
EVERY THREE YEARS WE HAVE A NEW
SECRETARY.
THE LAST COUPLE SECRETARIES HAVE
HAD NO EXPERIENCE IN NATURAL
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT.
AND WE HAVE SEEN SITUATIONS
WHERE THERE'S SOME SERIOUS
POLITICAL DIRECTION INTO
DECISION-MAKING.
>> I WANT TO GET BACK TO ONE OF
THOSE POINTS ON NO EXPERIENCE.
BUT NOW, YOU SERVED AS
GOVERNOR-APPOINTED SECRETARY.
WERE YOU POLITICALLY MOTIVATED
WHEN YOU WERE THE SECRETARY?
>> I WAS IN A TRANSITION
SITUATION.
I WAS FIRST A POINTED BY THE
BOARD AND GOVERNOR THOMPSON
APPOINTED ME FOR TWO TERMS.
WE HAD -- WHEN HE RE-APPOINTED
ME, WE SAT DOWN AND THERE WAS AN
AGREEMENT THAT I WOULD FUNCTION
LIKE I HAD AS A BOARD-APPOINTED
SECRETARY.
THAT WAS AN AGREEMENT.
THINGS HAVE CHANGED SINCE THEN.
>> NOW, TONY EARL CAME IN.
HE DID NOT HAVE APPRECIABLE KIND
OF ENVIRONMENTAL EXPERIENCE, DID
HE?
>> HE DID.
HE WAS BOARD APPOINTED
SECRETARY.
>> AND REPRESENTATIVE LeMAHIEU,
TELL US WHERE YOU STAND ON THIS
POSITION.
>> AS YOU STARTED IN THE
INTRODUCTION, I'M OPPOSED TO THE
CHANGE THAT -- ONE OF THE MAIN
REASONS FOR THE CHANGE IS WE
NEED TO TAKE POLITICS OUT OF THE
PROCESS.
THE BILL THAT THE GOVERNOR
VETOED ACTUALLY PUTS POLITICS
BACK IN.
THE ORIGINAL BILL GIVES THE DNR
BOARD THE AUTHORITY TO MAKE THE
APPOINTMENT BUT THEN THE SENATE
AMENDED IT TO ADD SENATE
APPROVAL.
SO WHAT WE DID IS WE TOOK THE
POWER, THE POLITICAL POWER, AWAY
FROM THE MOST POWERFULLY ELECTED
OFFICIAL IN THE STATE AND GAVE
TO IT THE SECOND MOST POWERFUL,
THE SENATE MAJORITY LEADER WHO
CONTROLS THE CALENDAR.
WE PUT THE POLITICS BACK IN.
>> DOESN'T THE GOVERNOR APPOINT
THE MEMBERS OF THE DNR BOARD
ANYWAY?
>> YES, HE DOES.
THAT'S ANOTHER ARGUMENT THAT --
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE OVERRIDE
AND WHAT WE'RE OVERRIDING RIGHT
NOW.
BUT YES, THE GOVERNOR DOES
APPOINT THE BOARD ANYWAY AND
THAT -- SO THE PRESSURE WOULD BE
ON THE BOARD TO APPOINT THE
GOVERNOR'S PERSON ANYWAY.
>> GEORGE, GO AHEAD.
>> THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING THE
BOARD IS IN FACT YOU HAVE SOME
INSULATION ON DAY-TO-DAY
OPERATIONS SO YOU DON'T HAVE
POLITICAL INTERVENTION.
SECRETARY HASSETT WAS FIRED FOR
TAKING ENFORCEMENT ACTION.
THAT WOULDN'T HAPPEN UNDER A
BOARD-APPOINTED SYSTEM.
IF I COULD ADDRESS DAN'S
COMMENTS ABOUT SENATE
CONFIRMATION.
THERE'S A BIG DIFFERENCE ON
HAVING THE SECRETARY TO CONFIRM
ONCE EVERY FOUR YEARS IN TERMS
OF POLITICAL INVOLVEMENT AND THE
SITUATION WHERE YOU HAVE A
GOVERNOR'S OFFICE CONTACTING THE
SECRETARY AND HIS STAFF ON A
DAILY BASIS MAKING POLITICAL
DECISIONS.
>> LET ME SAY ON THE SCOTT
HACKETT SITUATION SAYING PEOPLE
TEND TO LINK HIS DEPARTURE WITH
POLITICS TOO CLOSELY.
I WANT TO SAY THAT BEFORE I MOVE
BOTH OF YOU WHAT THE GOVERNOR
TELLS US ON THIS.
THE GOVERNOR GAVE A STATEMENT
TODAY WHERE HE SAYS THE PEOPLE
IN NATURAL RESOURCES OF
WISCONSIN ARE BEST SERVED WITH A
SECRETARY APPOINTED BY THE
GOVERNOR ENSURING A DIRECT LINE
OF ACCOUNTABILITY FOR CITIZENS
CONCERNED ABOUT NATURAL
RESOURCES.
WE HAVE UNDERTAKEN SIGNIFICANT
MEASURES TO IMPROVE OUR
ENVIRONMENT MEASURES THAT COULD
NOT HAVE BEEN ACHIEVED BY A
BOARD-APPOINTED SECRETARY ALONE.
WE HAVE TAKEN THE MOST EFFECTIVE
STEPS TO STREAMLINE REGULATIONS
WHILE MAINTAINING HIGH
STANDARDS.
TO GO BACK TO THE OLD
BUREAUCRACY WOULD GO BACKWARDS.
>> AND THE GOVERNOR, I SUPPORTED
HIS SYSTEM FOR 14 YEARS.
SO IT'S BEEN A VERY LIGHT
CHANGE.
THERE'S A BOOM IN JOB CREATION
IN THE 1980s AND 1990s UNDER A
BOARD-APPOINTED SECRETARY.
THE MAJOR PIECES OF
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY IN THIS
STATE ARE CREATED WHEN THERE'S
A -- OR A SECRETARY WORKING WITH
A GOVERNOR.
AS FAR AS POLITICAL
INTERFERENCE, SENATOR HACKETT
HAS TOLD SEVERAL OF US WHAT HAS
HAPPENED IN TERMS OF HIS BEING
TERMINATED FOR TAKING
INAPPROPRIATE ENFORCEMENT
ACTION.
>> AND REPRESENTATIVE LeMAHIEU,
WHAT DOES THE GOVERNOR SAY ABOUT
THIS ACCOUNTABILITY BACK TO
DECOLLECTED GOVERNOR?
>> THE COMMENT THAT HE MADE THAT
I'D LIKE TO COMMENT ON IS THE
JOB CREATION.
WE HAVE A DNR BOARD THROUGH THE
REGULATORY PROCESS.
IT MAKING IT HARD FOR BUSINESSES
TO CREATE JOBS.
WE HAVE A NEW BOARD CHAIRMAN
THAT IS A FORMER MEMBER AND
LEADER OF THE SIERRA CLUB.
I DON'T SEE A LOT OF BRIGHT
FUTURE FOR JOB CREATION IF WE
CONTINUE DOWN THE ROAD OF
OVERREGULATING BUSINESSES
THROUGH THE PROCESS OF DNR.
>> WHAT ABOUT THE STREAMLINING
OF REGULATIONS, WHICH I KNOW WAS
IMPLEMENTED.
THAT DIDN'T HELP?
>> IT HELPS SOMEWHAT BUT WE
STILL HAVE THE REGULATIONS THAT
ARE TAKING MUCH LONGER FOR A
BUSINESS TO ADD A NEW LINE OF
EQUIPMENT IN OTHER STATES.
IN SOME CASES, IT'S EASIER TO
MOVE YOUR PLANT IN OTHER STATES
INSTEAD OF ADDING ON IN
WISCONSIN.
>> AND REPRESENTATIVE LeMAHIEU,
EVEN THOUGH YOU DON'T LIKE
POLITICS ON THE PROCESS, HOW DO
YOU EXPECT TO VOTE ON THE
OVERRIDE?
>> I'M GOING TO VOTE AGAINST THE
OVERRIDE.
YOU'RE VOTING -- I WILL SUPPORT
THE GOVERNOR ON THE VETO OF THIS
BILL.
>> GEORGE, THIS IS SOMEWHAT OF
AN UPHILL FIGHT TO GET THE
OVERRIDE BECAUSE THERE WEREN'T
THAT MANY VOTES FOR IT IN THE
FIRST PLACE.
HOW MANY DO YOU THINK YOU HAVE
TO HAVE?
>> WELL, WE NEED A 2/3s VOTE.
IT'S GOING TO BE CLOSE.
WE'RE ALMOST AT 2/3s BEFORE.
SO WE'RE VERY CLOSE.
>> YOU HAVE A COUPLE AT LEAST.
>> AND THE VOTE ON THE BILL THAT
THE GOVERNOR VETOED WAS 49-47 IN
THE ASSEMBLY.
WHEN THE MINOR AMENDMENT THAT
GEORGE TALKS ABOUT, WENT UP FROM
61 POSITIVE TO 49 POSITIVE.
>> WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.
THANKS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> LAST WEEK WE TOLD YOU HOW
GREATER FUEL EFFICIENCY HAS LED
TO THE SHORTAGE IN THE GAS TAX
THAT PAYS FOR THE STATES OLDER
ROADS.
AS POTHOLE SEASON NEARS, THE
IDEA IS HOW TO FIND THE PROBLEM,
THIS IS OUR HACKETT REPORT.
THERE'S A DISCONNECT OVER THE
ROADS THAT CONNECT US.
>> LAST WEEK WE TOLD YOU ABOUT
WORK ON THE ZOO INTERCHANGE IN
MILWAUKEE.
BECAUSE SEVERAL OF THE ZOO'S
BRIDGES ARE DANGEROUSLY DECAYED.
THE WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION IS IN THE MIDST
OF A $15.3 MILLION EMERGENCY
PROJECT TO REPLACE THEM.
>> NOT SOMETHING WE LOOK FORWARD
TO DOING OBVIOUSLY.
IN THIS CASE, THIS IS AN
EMERGENCY BRIDGE REPLACEMENT.
WE ALWAYS WOULD LIKE TO HOPE
THAT THINGS, THE DETERIORATION
FOR LARGE INTERCHANGES WOULD BE
RIGHT WHEN WE REBUILD.
>> BUT THIS TIME THE TIMING
DIDN'T WORK OUT.
WHEN THE ENTIRE INTERCHANGE IS
REBUILT, WHICH IS SCHEDULED FOR
THE NOT TOO DISTANT FUTURE, THE
BRIDGES WILL BE REPLACE.
EVEN IF THE STATE HAD THE MONEY
TO DO THE WHOLE PROJECT NOW, THE
PLANS JUST AREN'T READY.
BUT CRITICS OF THE STATE'S
HIGHWAY HABIT SAY THE MONEY FOR
THE ZOO WOULD HAVE BEEN THERE
TODAY IF THE DOT HADN'T
OVERBUILT OTHER PROJECTS LIKE
THE MARQUETTE INTERCHANGE NEAR
DOWNTOWN.
>> IT'S KINDS OF LIKE WANTING TO
LOSE WEIGHT BUT NOT WANTING TO
GO ON A DIET OR EXERCISE.
SOMEHOW, SOMETHING WILL HAVE THE
MAGIC PILL FOR US.
>> WHY IS THAT?
>> IT'S THE POLITICAL WILL.
I MEAN, WE'LL LET SOMEBODY ELSE
RAISE THE TAXES AND LET THEM
TAKE THE HEAT.
SO YOU GET SOMEBODY IN THE STATE
LEGISLATURE SAYING WE'RE NOT
GOING TO RAISE THE TAXES.
THAT'S UP TO CONGRESS.
CONGRESS IS SAYING WE'RE NOT TO
TO RAISE TAXES, THIS IS A LOCAL
PROBLEMS.
>> BUT SEVERAL LEGISLATORS ARE
TAKING A LOOK AT HOW WE PAY FOR
HIGHWAYS OR AT LEAST ASK THE
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TO DO IT.
SENATOR JIM FROM WAUWATOSA KNOWS
THE OPTIONS ARE FEW.
>> STATES SHOULD CONSIDER THE
GAS TAX.
JUST A STRAIGHT UP GAS TAX
INCREASE WILL BE AN UNPOPULAR
THING AS WELL.
THE MEANTIME, I THINK TOLLS --
FRANKLY FOR ME FOR THIS
LEGISLATOR, IT'S SOMETHING THAT
I'D CONSIDER.
>> ONE THING TO DO IS TAKE
SERIOUS CONSIDERATION TO TOLL
ROADS.
>> REPRESENTATIVE TOWNSEND SAYS
THE STATE SHOULD ALSO EXPLORE A
MILEAGE BASED TAX USING
GPS-BASED SYSTEMS.
THINK OF YOUR ELECTRONIC TOLLWAY
PASS COMBINED WITH YOUR
NAVIGATION SYSTEM.
>> WHEN I READ, IF YOU REALLY
WANT TO IMPLEMENT THIS, MAYBE
YOU CAN ABOLISH THE FUEL TAX ALL
TOGETHER, PAY BASED UPON MILES.
AND YOU COULD ALSO VERY EASILY
TIE THAT IN IN TERMS OF THE
VEHICLE.
>> AND NOT EVERYONE AGREES THE
STATE NEEDS MORE MONEY FOR
ROADS.
STEVE HINIKER OF THE
ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP 1000 FRIENDS
OF WISCONSIN SAYS THE SYSTEM MAY
BE BROKEN, BUT FEW HAVE SHOWN
INTEREST IN FIXING IT.
>> IF WE CONTINUE WITH THE
PROJECTS THAT ARE IN THE BOOKS,
THE PUBLIC WILL HAVE TO HAVE THE
APPETITE FOR A HUGE TAX
INCREASE.
I DON'T THINK IT'S THERE.
>> THE PROBLEM WITH HIGHWAY
FUNDING AND SPENDING IS IT'S
VERY COMPLEX.
THE PEOPLE THAT KNOW IT CAN GAIN
IT.
WHETHER THE ROAD BUILDERS OR
ENGINEERS, ALL THESE FIRMS ARE
GETTING VERY RICH OFF OF OUR
SYSTEM.
AND IT'S SO COMPLEX THAT ANYBODY
THAT JUST WANTS TO GO IN AND FIX
IT QUICKLY GETS LOST.
>> THE WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION'S LATEST LONG
RANGE PLAN SAYS THE GASOLINE TAX
MAY NOT BE A VIABLE SOURCE OF
REVENUE INTO THE FUTURE.
BUT IT MAKES NO RECOMMENDATION
FOR AN IMMEDIATE INCREASE IN THE
GAS TAX.
THE DOT IS ALSO ON RECORD
AGAINST TOLLS.
THE DOT DECLINED TO PROVIDE A
SPOKESMAN TO BE INTERVIEWED FOR
THIS SEGMENT.
>> I'M NOT TELLING YOU THAT --
TO KNOCK THE DOT, BUT WHAT I
FOUND IN TERMS OF SIX TERMS I'VE
BEEN ELECTED IN THE STATE
ASSEMBLY
ASSEMBLY, THE BUREAUCRACY
DOESN'T WANT TO ROCK THE BOAT.
THEY TAKE A CAUTIOUS APPROACH TO
THIS.
>> I THINK THE DOT IS PROBABLY
REACTING TO THE FACT THAT WE ARE
IN -- BETWEEN PROVERBIAL ROCK
AND A HARD PLACE.
PEOPLE WANT THE TRANSPORTATION
INFRASTRUCTURE AND PEOPLE WANT
TO MAKE SURE -- I'VE BEEN
PUSHING THIS INTERCHANGE ISSUE A
LONG TIME.
PEOPLE WANT THE INFRASTRUCTURE,
THEY WANT THE ROADS.
THEY NEED THAT.
HOWEVER, NOBODY WANTS TO PAY FOR
IT.
>> IF OUR NEEDS ARE MORE THAN
WHAT WE HAVE, THEN IT'S UP TO
THE POLICY MAKERS TO SELL THAT
TAX INCREASE.
RIGHT NOW, I THINK THAT'S A
PRETTY TOUGH GAME.
IT'S -- PEOPLE DON'T BELIEVE WE
DON'T HAVE ENOUGH.
WE'RE SPENDING BILLIONS EVERY
YEAR ON ROADS IN THE STATE.
SOMEHOW WE HAVE TO INCREASE
TAXES?
>> THE PROBLEM IS THE MAIN
SOURCE OF REVENUE, THE GAS TAX,
IS RUNNING OUT OF GAS.
>> THE PROBLEM IS OBVIOUSLY
YOU'LL START TO HAVE PEOPLE
DRIVING IN PLUG-IN ELECTRIC
VEHICLES THAT DON'T PAY ANY GAS
TAX.
VEHICLES ARE GENERALLY MUCH MORE
FUEL EFFICIENT.
SO LONG-TERM, I THINK MOST
PEOPLE ARE -- IT'S NOT
SUSTAINABLE.
>> EVERY TIME A NEW PRIUS HITS
THE STREETS, A ROAD BUILDER
CRIES.
>> THAT WAS ART HACKETT
REPORTING.
NOW MENTAL HEALTH NEWS IN OUR
STATE.
THIS WEEKEND, WISCONSIN CENTER
FOR INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM
WILL RELEASE A REPORT ON SUICIDE
RATES HERE.
THERE WERE 6,513 PEOPLE THAT
TOOK THEIR OWN LIVES IN
WISCONSIN FROM 1999 THROUGH
2008.
THE CENTER FOUND THE RATE OF
SUICIDE HERE CONTINUES TO RISE.
AND EXCEEDS THOSE OF OUR
NEIGHBORING STATES.
WISCONSIN'S RATE HAS REMAINED
HIGHER THAN THE NATIONAL RATE
FOR ABOUT A DECADE.
THE CENTER ALSO FOUND FACTORS
THAT MAY HELP EXPLAIN THESE
RATES INCLUDING WISCONSIN'S
ECONOMY AS WELL AS OUR STATE'S
BINGE DRINKING RATE.
IN ANTICIPATION OF NEWSPAPERS
AROUND THE STATE PUBLISHING
THESE FINDINGS ON SUNDAY, WE
ASKED ERIC GARLAND TO JOIN US.
MR. GARLAND VOLUNTEERS AND
S.U.V.s ON SEVERAL SUICIDE
PREVENTION BOARDS INCLUDING
HOPES AND THE NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION OF MENTAL ILLNESS
WISCONSIN.
HIS SON, BRANDON, TOOK HIS OWN
LIFE FOUR YEARS AGO THIS WEEK.
HE WAS 18.
MR. GARLAND, THANKS FOR BEING
HERE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> LET ME EXPRESS OUR SORRY FOR
YOUR LOSS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> SO YOU'VE BEEN HELPING OTHERS
SINCE
>> YES.
>> WHAT DO YOU DO?
>> THERE'S A HUGE STIGMA
ASSOCIATED WITH SUICIDE.
THE STIGMA IS REAL, IT EXISTS.
I BELIEVE I PERSONALLY WAS PART
OF THAT STIGMA.
WHEN OUR SON DIED, I HAD TO MAKE
A DECISION IMMEDIATELY.
WE HAD TO MAKE A DECISION AS
SOON AS WE WROTE HIS OBITUARY.
DO YOU SAY HE DIED BY SUICIDE?
DO YOU SAY HE DIED UNEXPECTEDLY?
WHAT DO YOU SAY?
WE CHOSE TO BE OPEN.
WE SHARED THAT HE SUFFERED FROM
DEPRESSION AND DIED BY SUICIDE.
AT THAT POINT, YOU HAVE A
FUNERAL.
YOU GO HOME.
YOUR NORMAL IS NOT THERE
ANYMORE.
THE NORMAL WE HAD NO LONGER
EXISTED.
WHAT DO YOU DO WITH THIS
FEELING, THIS INFORMATION?
THIS GRIEF?
AND THE MISSION WE SET OUT UPON
WAS TO DO WHATEVER TO MAKE SURE
OTHERS THAT DIDN'T GO THROUGH
THE SAME TRAGEDY THAT HAPPENED
IN MY HOME.
>> YOU TALKED ABOUT THE STIGMA.
WHY DO YOU THINK THERE IS THE
STIGMA?
>> BECAUSE MENTAL HEALTH CAN'T
BE SEEN.
THAT'S MY OWN PERSONAL OPINION.
WE CAN SEE A BROKEN ARM, WE CAN
SEE A BROKEN LEG, WE CAN SEE A
SCAR.
BUT WE CAN'T SEE A HURT THAT IS
INSIDE OF SOMEONE.
MENTAL ILLNESS IS AN ILLNESS
THAT IS INSIDE OF US.
IT'S AS REAL AS CANCER, DIABETES
OR ANYTHING ELSE.
BUT IT'S NOT ABLE TO BE SEEN.
AND THEREFORE MANY PEOPLE DON'T
LIKE TO TALK ABOUT IT.
>> SO WHAT SHOULD WE DO ABOUT
THAT?
IS AWARENESS IMPORTANT TOWARDS
PREVENTION?
>> TO ME, THE KEYS TO PREVENTION
ARE EDUCATION AND AWARENESS.
THAT SIMPLE.
THE MORE PEOPLE KNOW, THE MORE
THE STIGMA GOES AWAY.
>> THE STATISTICS THAT WILL BE
RELEASED SUNDAY FROM THIS
COMPREHENSIVE SURVEY, DOES IT
SURPRISE YOU?
>> YES AND NO.
THEY'RE VERY DISHEARTENING.
WE PUT A GREAT DEAL OF TIME AND
WORK INTO SUICIDE PREVENTION.
IN SPITE OF OUR BEST EFFORTS,
SOME OF THE NUMBERS CONTINUE TO
RISE.
ALARMINGLY, IT'S THE SECOND
LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH IN
WISCONSIN FOR HIGH SCHOOL AND
COLLEGE-AGE STUDENTS.
MY SON WAS A HIGH SCHOOL
STUDENT.
TO ME, IT'S SCARY.
SCARY TO BE A PARENT AND KNOW
THAT THE SECOND LEADING CAUSE OF
DEATH BEHIND AUTOMOBILE
ACCIDENTS!
SO YEAH, IT'S ALARMING,
CONCERNING THAT THE MEMBERS DO
CONTINUE TO RISE WHAT DO WE DO
TO GET THEM TO GO DOWN?
>> WHAT DO YOU THINK?
ALL OF THESE ARE SCARED.
WHAT SHOULD WE AS A COMMUNITY,
AS PARENTS, AS INDIVIDUALS DO?
>> WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT THE
WARNING SIGNS ARE.
IF WE SEE THEM, WE NEED TO GET
THE PERSON THE TREATMENT THEY
NEED.
IF IT'S OURSELVES, WE DON'T HAVE
TO FEEL THAT WAY.
THERE'S HELP AVAILABLE.
IF WE HAVE A BROKEN LEG, WE GO
TO THE DOCTOR.
IF WE'RE BROTHER INSIDE, WE
SHOULD SEE THE DOCTOR, TOO.
IN MY SON'S CASE, WE SUFFERED
DEPRESSION.
HE DIDN'T WANT TO BE BROKEN.
HE TREATED FOR A WHILE, HE
STOPPED.
HE LOST HIS LIFE BECAUSE HE
STOPPED TREATMENT.
>> YOU JUST SUGGESTED THAT WE
SHOULD BE AWARE OF THE WARNING
SIGNS.
WHAT ARE THEY?
>> THERE'S SO MANY WARNING
SIGNS.
THEY'RE VERY DIFFICULT TO
IDENTIFY ESPECIALLY WHEN WE TALK
WITH TEENAGERS.
MANY CAN BE CONSIDERED NORMAL
TEENAGE TENDENCIES.
THERE CAN BE MINOR THINGS LIKE A
CHANGE IN SLEEPING HABITS.
WHETHER SLEEPLESSNESS.
COULD BE A CHANGE IN EATING
HABITS WHERE SOMEONE THAT ATE A
LOT NOW EATS NOTHING.
VICE VERSA.
COULD BE A CHANGE IN SCHOOL
HABITS.
GO FROM As TO Ds.
COULD BE A CHANGE IN RELIGION.
SOMEONE THAT WAS NOT RELIGIOUS
ALL OF A SUDDEN IS VERY
RELIGIOUS OR VICE VERSA.
SOMEONE THAT TURNS THEIR BACK ON
THEIR FAITH.
ANGER CAN BE A HUGE WARNING
SIGN.
WHAT WE DO KNOW IS MOST PEOPLE
THAT DIE BY SUICIDE SUFFER FROM
MENTAL ILLNESS OR SUBSTANCE
ABUSE.
60% OF THE SUICIDES ARE
ASSOCIATED WITH DEPRESSION THAT
IS EITHER UNTREATED OR IN THE
PROCESS OF BEING TREATED.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO SEEK OUT AND
GET THE HELP AND CONTINUE WITH
THE HELP.
>> ALL RIGHT.
SO THAT WOULD BE THE INFORMATION
FOR PEOPLE THAT RIGHT NOW ARE IN
THAT PLACE?
WHO ARE FEELING AS THOUGH THEY
HAVE SUICIDAL THOUGHTS?
>> FEELING SUICIDAL, YOU NEED TO
REACH OUT, GET THE HELP, ACCEPT
THE HELP.
THE PROBLEM IS MANY PEOPLE WHO
MAY BE SUFFERING DEPRESSION
DON'T ALWAYS REALIZE THEY'RE
DEPRESSED.
THEY DON'T REALIZE.
>> VERY DIFFICULT.
ERIC, THANK YOU.
>> YOU'RE WELCOME.
>> WE WANT TO LEAVE YOU NOW WITH
ONE MORE LOOK AT THE NATIONAL
SUICIDE HOT LINE PHONE NUMBERS.
ALSO LOOK FOR THESE NUMBERS AS
WELL AS LINKS TO WISCONSIN AND
NATIONAL SUICIDE MENTAL HEALTH
AGENCIES ON THE "HERE AND NOW"
WEB PAGE AT WPT.ORG.
NOW MORE HEALTH NEWS.
ANOTHER NEW CITY DID TAKES A
LOOK AT THE OVERALL HEALTH OF
OUR STATE.
THE INSTITUTE RANKED ALL 72
WISCONSIN COUNTIES FROM MOST TO
LEAST HEALTHY.
HERE WHAT THEY FOUND.
OZAUKEE IS THE MOST HEALTHY
FOLLOWED BY ST. CROIX,
WASHINGTON, WAUKESHA, PORTAGE,
CALUMET AND AQUA AND BUFFALO AND
TAYLOR AND DANE.
JULIE, THANKS FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> WE TALKED ABOUT THE TOP 10
AND THE NUMBER 1.
WHAT PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW IS WHAT
THE THE LEAST HEALTHY COUNTY IS
IN WISCONSIN.
>> THE LEAST HEALTHY IS IN THE
NORTH CENTRAL PART OF THE STATE.
AND THE SECOND LEAST COUNTY IS
MILWAUKEE COUNTY.
>> HEALTH WISE, WHAT IS THE
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE MOST
HEALTHY, THAT BEING OZAUKEE?
>> IT'S THE PREMATURE DEATH
RATES.
WE BELIEVE THIS IS A RESULT OF A
NUMBER OF HEALTH FACTORS.
WE DO A SECOND SET OF RANKINGS
THAT LOOK AT FACTORS THAT LEAD
TO PREMATURE DEATH AND CHRONIC
DISEASE.
THOSE INCLUDE HEALTH BEHAVIORS,
SOCIOECONOMIC FACTORS, THE
PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT AND ACCESS
AND QUALITY TO CLINICAL CARE.
>> AND DID YOU FIND SUBSETS OF
COUNTIES ACROSS THE STATE THAT
WERE BY AND LARGE MORE HEALTHY
THAN OTHERS?
LIKE WHERE CITIES, WERE PEOPLE
IN CITIES MORE LIKELY EXCEPT FOR
MILWAUKEE?
>> YES.
THE HEALTHIER PLACES TEND TO BE
SUBURBAN AREAS AND SMALLER
CITIES.
SUBURBAN AREAS LIKE MINNEAPOLIS
ON THE WESTERN SIDE OF THE
STATE.
SUBURBAN AREAS OF MILWAUKEE AND
DANE COUNTY AS WELL.
>> WHAT IS THE MOTIVATION BEHIND
PUTTING OUT THESE RANKINGS?
>> THIS IS AN IMPORTANT REPORT
TO HELP BRING ATTENTION TO THE
MANY, MANY DIFFERENT FACTORS
THAT INFLUENCE HEALTH.
MANY TIMES PEOPLE THINK ABOUT
HEALTH AS PRIMARILY IN THE HANDS
OF YOUR DOCTOR.
BUT REALLY, WHILE MEDICAL CARE
IS VERY IMPORTANT, THE OTHER
ISSUES LIKE HOW WEALTHY PEOPLE
ARE, HOW WELL EDUCATED PEOPLE
ARE, WHAT THEIR HEALTH BEHAVIORS
ARE, WHAT KIND OF PHYSICAL
ENVIRONMENT THEY LIVE IN, HOW
SOCIALLY CONNECTED THEY ARE IN
THEIR COMMUNITIES ALL HAVE A
VERY IMPORTANT IMPACT ON HEALTH.
SO WE WANT TO RAISE AWARENESS
AND BRING MANY, MANY PARTNERS TO
THE TABLE TO TALK ABOUT HOW TO
IMPROVE HEALTH.
>> IN FACT, THE RANKINGS HAVE
PROVED MOTIVATIONAL FOR SOME
COUNTIES THAT DIDN'T DO SO WELL.
>> ABSOLUTELY, A COUPLE YEARS
AGO, JUNO COUNTY WAS THE LOWEST
IN THE STATE.
THEY DIDN'T LIKE THAT VERY MUCH,
SO A VARIETY OF LEADERS IN THAT
COMMUNITY INCLUDING ELECTED
OFFICIALS, PHYSICIANS, EDUCATION
LEADERS, PUBLIC HEALTH LEADERS,
CAME TOGETHER AND HAVE WORKED ON
A PLAN TO ENHANCE HEALTH
PROGRAMS AND POLICIES IN JUNO
COUNTY.
>> THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT YOU
WANTED I'M SURE.
BUT THIS YEAR THE SURVEY WENT
NATIONWIDE.
WHAT'S BEEN THE REACTION TO
THAT?
>> WE PUBLISHED COUNTY HEALTH
RANKINGS IN ALL 50 STATES.
IT HAS BEEN OUTSTANDING.
THE MEDIA HAS COVERED THIS
EXTENSIVELY.
WE'VE HAD OVER 900 STORIES
THROUGHOUT THE NATION.
WE WORKED CLOSELY WITH STATE AND
LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS AND
WE'RE HOPING FOR THE SAME KIND
OF ACTION THAT WE SAW IN JUNO
COUNTY.
>> JULIE, THANK YOU.
>> FINALLY, OUR SINGING
COMMENTATOR PETER LEIDY.
THE ASSEMBLY PASSED THE PAYDAY
LOAN BILL THIS WEEK.
THE FLOOR ACTION ON THIS BILL
GOES ALMOST AS MUCH ATTENTION AS
THE OFF-THE-FLOOR ACTION.
THAT'S BECAUSE OF ATTENTION PAID
TO SPEAKER MIKE SHERIDAN AND
HEAD FORMER RELATIONSHIP WITH A
LOBBYIST FOR THE PAYDAY LOAN
INDUSTRY.
HERE'S PETER LEIDY PLAYING THE
PART OF THE SPEAKER IN TONIGHT'S
MUSICAL COMMENTARY.
?
? HELLO WISCONSIN ?
? I'M SPEAKER MIKE SHERIDAN ?
? THIS IS MY THIRD TERM ?
? THE VOTERS DECIDED ?
? BACK TO MADISON I SHOULD BE
SENT ?
? I'M SORRY IF YOU THOUGHT I
WAS TRYING TO MISLEAD YOU ?
? THAT WAS SURELY NOT MY
INTENT ?
? I DO SEE THAT COULD HAVE BEEN
YOUR PERCEPTION OF ME ?
? I THINK I'LL GIVE UPDATING
LOBBYISTS FOR LENT ?
? I'M ONLY HUMAN ?
? NEVER SAID I WAS PERFECT.
? THINK BUT THIS WHOLE THING IS
NOT WHAT IT APPEARS ?
? I'M A HARD WORKER ?
? A BLUE COLLAR BACKGROUND ?
? WORKED IN A FACTORY 31
YEARS ?
? HEY, I DIDN'T TAKE BRIBES ?
? I'M IS NOT A CRIMINAL ?
? I DON'T HAVE MULTIPLE DUIs ?
? I'M A STRAIGHT-FORWARD MAN ?
? I DON'T WRITE CRIB NOTES ON
MY HAND ?
? AND WITH THE PAYDAY LENDERS
I'VE SEVERED MY TIES ?
? YES, I DATED THAT WOMAN ?
? AT FIRST I DENIED IT ?
? SHE WORKED FOR THE PAYDAY
LOAN INDUSTRY ?
? NOW I SEE THE PERCEPTION ?
? BUS TRAVELING TOGETHER ?
? CAST A SUSPICIOUS LIGHT ON
ME ?
? BE ASSURED IT DID NOT
INFLUENCE MY VIEWS ?
? ABOUT NEEDED RESTRICTIONS OF
THAT INDUSTRY ?
? THOUGH AT FIRST I DID STATE
WE NEED TO CAP THAT INTEREST
RATE ?
? I CHANGED MY MIND SO YOU CAN
ALL SHUT UP NOW ?
? I DON'T CARE WHO DID WHAT AND
WHO DID IT WHEN ?
? I SPENT 31 YEARS ON AN
ASSEMBLY LINE ?
? OUR NUMBER 1 JOB IS TO CREATE
MORE JOBS ?
? SO LET PUT THIS BEHIND US
ALREADY AND GET BACK TO THE WORK
WE NEED TO DO NOW ?
>> THANK YOU.
>> PETER LEIDY.
HAD HE BEEN, HIS SONGS ARE
COMMON TEARIES OR OPINIONS.
NEXT WEEK, WE'LL HAVE EXCEPTS
FROM THE ANNUAL STATE OF THE
TRIBES ADDRESSED FOR TUESDAY AT
THE STATE CAPITOL AND WE'LL
BEGIN A NEW SERIES OF REPORTS
THAT LOOKS INTO WHAT IS BEING
DOWN TO CURB FRAUD IN THE
WISCONSIN'S SHARES CHILD
PROGRAM.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.
>> PRESENTATION OF "HERE AND
NOW" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE
ANIMAL DENTAL CENTER OF
MILWAUKEE AND OSHKOSH, A
VETERINARY SPECIALISTS WORKING
WITH PET OWNERS AND FAMILY
VETERINARIANS THROUGHOUT
WISCONSIN, PROVIDING CARE FOR
ORAL DISEASE AND DENTAL PROBLEMS
FOR SMALL COMPANION ANIMALS.
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FOR "HERE AND
NOW" IS PROVIDED BY THE LE
PHILLIPS FAMILY FOUNDATION.