>> PRESENTATION OF "HERE & NOW"
IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY THE
ANIMAL DENTISTRY AND ORAL
SURGERY SPECIALISTS OF MILWAUKEE
AND OSHKOSH, A VETERINARY TEAM
WORKING WITH PET OWNERS AND
FAMILY VETERINARIANS THROUGHOUT
WISCONSIN, PROVIDING CARE FOR
ORAL DISEASE AND DENTAL PROBLEMS
OF SMALL COMPANION ANIMALS.
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FOR "HERE &
NOW" IS PROVIDED BY THE LE
PHILLIPS FAMILY FOUNDATION.
>> I'M ART HACKETT FILLING IN
TONIGHT FOR FREDERICA FREYBERG.
A FULL SLATE OF TOPICS ON "HERE
& NOW," INCLUDING THE POLITICAL
ZOO CALLED THE I94/I45
INTERCHANGE.
AN UPDATE ON THE ASIAN CARP.
A LAST TRY FOR CAMPAIGN FINANCE
REFORM AS THE LEGISLATIVE
SESSION CALLS TO A CLOSE.
ECONOMIST BILL DUDDLESTON IS
HERE WITH NEW JOB NUMBERS.
PETER LEIDY SINGS A SONG ABOUT
WISCONSIN'S RACE TO THE TOP.
THE ZOO INTERCHANGE WAS BACK IN
BUSINESS THIS MORNING.
THE RAMPS AND OVERPASSES JOINING
I94 AND US45 HAVE BEEN UNDER
RECONSTRUCTION FOR ABOUT MONTH
AFTER A BRIDGE SHOWED REPORTS OF
DETERIORATION.
WE REPORTED ON THE SITUATION A
FEW WEEKS AGO.
ABOUT A WEEK AGO, ONE OF THE
BRIDGES WHICH YOU SEE HERE WAS
DEEMED TO BE NEAR COLLAPSE FROM
OVERWEIGHT TRUCKS AND WAS CLOSED
TO ALL TRAFFIC.
BACKUPS ENSUED, BUT THE
TEMPORARY REPLACEMENT WAS
COMPLETED IN A WEEK, SEVERAL
MONTHS AHEAD OF SCHEDULE.
SO ALL IS BACK TO WHAT PASSES
FOR NORMAL.
BUT ALONG THE WAY, THE ISSUE
BECAME THE FIRST BIG ISSUE OF
THE GOVERNOR'S RACE.
HERE TO JOIN -- JOINING US TO
TALK ABOUT POLITICS AND PAVEMENT
ARE CRAIG THOMPSON.
HE'S WITH ME HERE IN MADISON.
AND ON THE PHONE FROM ALONG A
HIGHWAY IN ST. LOUIS WE HOPE IS
STEVE HINIKER OF THE
ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP 1,000
FRIENDS OF WISCONSIN.
GREETINGS TO BOTH OF YOU.
>> HI, ART.
>> HIGH, STEVE.
-- HI, STEVE.
THE GOVERNOR'S CAMPAIGN IS
UNDERWAY AND THEY'RE TALKING
ABOUT HIGHWAY FUNDING.
>> HOW ABOUT THAT, HUH?
IT'S NOT THE USUAL TOPIC TO KICK
OFF AS ONE OF THE FIRST HUT --
HOT BUTTON ISSUES FOR A TPHAOB --
GUBERNATORIAL RACE.
I AM HEARTENED BY THE FACT THAT
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IT, BECAUSE
THE CONVERSATION IS GOING TO
HAVE TO OCCUR.
>> IT'S IMPORTANT, STEVE?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
WE'VE BEEN HAVING A LOOMING
FUNDING CRISIS FOR YEARS AND I
THINK IT'S FINALLY COMING TO A
HEAD RIGHT NOW AND IT'S A GOOD
DIME FOR THISTIME FOR THIS DISCUSSION.
>> WHAT ARE THE LESSONS FROM THE
ZOO INTERCHANGE MESS IF YOU WANT
TO CALL IT THAT, PROBLEMS, TO
THE STATE AND TO THE PUBLIC?
>> WELL, I THINK ONE OF THE
FIRST LESSONS THAT EVERYBODY
COULD SEE AND FEEL IN THIS IS
JUST HOW IMPORTANT THAT
INTERCHANGE PARTICULARLY, BEING
THE BUSIEST IN THE STATE, BUT
OUR TRANSPORTATION IS TO JUST
EVERYDAY LIFE, THE COMMERCE THAT
GOES THROUGH AND THE PEOPLE
GETTING TO WHERE THEY NEED TO
GET TO.
AND WHEN YOU HAVE A DISRUPTION
LIKE THAT, YOU REALIZE JUST HOW
CRITICAL IT IS TO BOTH OF THOSE
THINGS.
>> STEVE, I THINK A LOT OF THE
DISCUSSION HAS INVOLVED WHETHER
THE ZOO INTERCHANGE WAS DONE IN
THE RIGHT ORDER WITH THE
MARQUETTE INTERCHANGE, THE
HIGHWAY BETWEEN CHICAGO AND
MILWAUKEE.
IS THAT A LEGITIMATE ISSUE, THE
SCHEDULING OF THESE THINGS?
>> WELL, I THINK, YOU KNOW, THE
SCHEDULING, OF COURSE, IS
IMPORTANT, AND WE CAN TAKE
ISSUES WITH THAT.
BUT I THINK MORE IMPORTANT THAN
THAT IS THE FUNDING QUESTION,
WHICH IS CAN WE AFFORD TO DO ALL
OF OUR PLANS, INCLUDING THE ZOO
INTERCHANGE, ON THE REVENUES
THAT WE'RE NOW RAISING?
AND IF WE CAN'T, WHAT IS THE
SOLUTION?
DO WE BUILD LESS?
OR DO WE TAX MORE?
AND THAT'S WHAT IT REALLY COMES
DOWN TO.
IT'S EITHER CUT BACK ON OUR
CONSTRUCTION AND OUR MAINTENANCE
OR RAISE TAXES, WHICH IS A HOT
BUTTON POLITICAL ISSUE.
>> THAT LEADS RIGHT INTO SOME
QUOTES THAT I HAVE GATHERED FROM
THE CAMPAIGNS.
THE FIRST COMES FROM JOE BADER
WITH SCOTT WALKER'S CAMPAIGN, IN
THE JOURNAL SENTINEL EARLIER
THIS WEEK.
SCOTT VOTED AGAINST RAISING THE
GAS TAX.
HE'S ALWAYS BEEN FOR FULLY
FUNDING THE TRANSPORTATION FUND.
PHIL FROM TOM BARRETT'S CAMPAIGN
SPEAKING, QUOTE, HE HAS RULED
THEM OUT.
IN MARK NEUMANN'S CAMPAIGN SAID
THAT THE PROBLEM IS WE'VE GOT TO
STOP THE RAIDS ON THE
TRANSPORTATION FORMULA.
AND THAT MEANS THE TRANSFERRING
MONEY FROM TRANSPORTATION
PROJECTS TO VARIOUS OTHER THINGS
THE STATE TPHAODZ NEEDS MONEY FOR.
WHAT DO THOSE THREE STATEMENTS
TELL YOU ABOUT THE AWARENESS
LEVEL OF THE CANDIDATES?
>> WELL, I'M NOT SURE IT'S SO
MUCH THE AWARENESS LEVEL
NECESSARILY, BUT I THINK IT IS
JUST SORT OF A TRUISM RIGHT NOW
THAT AS VOTERS WE'VE SENT
MESSAGES THAT OUR ELECTED
OFFICIALS THAT IF YOU STICK YOUR
NOSE OUT TO RAISE NEW REVENUE,
WE TEND TO PUNISH YOU FOR IT.
WE'VE GOT VERY CAUTIOUS
POLITICIANS OUT THERE RIGHT NOW.
I THINK THERE'S ELEMENTS OF
TRUTH TO WHAT ALL HAVE OF THEM SAID.
WE DO HAVE TO MAKE SURE THE
PUBLIC HAS CONFIDENCE THAT THE
TRANSPORTATION USER FEES ARE
GOING TO GO TO TRANSPORTATION AS
A FIRST STEP BEFORE THE PUBLIC
IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE WILLING
TO TALK ABOUT PUTTING IN MORE
FOR TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS.
THERE ARE OPTIONS THAT I KNOW
WALKER AND NEUMANN HAS PUT OUT
AND BARRETT HAS TALKED ABOUT
OTHER OPTIONS.
BUT RIGHT NOW IN WISCONSIN THAT
IS REALLY THE WORKHORSE THAT
FUNDS A GREAT MAJORITY OF OUR
TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS.
SO IF WE'RE NOT GOING TO LOOK AT
THAT, IT'S GOING TO TAKE A WHILE
FOR OTHER OPTIONS TO COME ON OR
YOU'D HAVE TO INCREASE THINGS
LIKE THE REGISTRATION FEE.
>> STEVE, YOU WANT TO REACT TO
THOSE QUOTES?
>> SURE.
TWO POLITICAL REALITIES IS GOOD
ROADS MAKE GOOD POLITICS.
NO TAXES MAKE GOOD POLITICS.
BUT THE TWO AREN'T COM PERIOD OF COMPATIBLE
RIGHT NOW.
THE TRANSPORTATION FUND FUNDS
THE CONSTRUCTION OF OUR
HIGHWAYS.
PROPERTY TAXES ARE A HUGE PART
OF WHAT FUNDS THE HIGHWAY
MAINTENANCE IN THE STATE OF
WISCONSIN.
SO IF THERE'S RULING OUT OF GAS
TAX INCREASES OR TOLLING THE
ROADS, THEN THE REALITY IS
PROPERTY TAXES ARE GOING TO GO
UP IF WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO
BUILD AT THE SAME LEVEL THAT
WE'RE PLANNING ON.
IT'S TIME I THINK TO STEP BACK,
TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT WE CAN
AFFORD AND WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO
BUILD AND PUT THE TWO TOGETHER
IN AN EQUATION.
I THINK IT'S A BAD TIME TO JUST
GO OUT THERE WITH RHETORIC,
WHICH IS SIMPLY GOING TO BE
BROKEN AFTER THE ELECTION,
ABSOLUTELY NO NEW TAXES ANYWHERE
ANYTIME WHEN IN FACT THE ROADS
WILL CRUMBLE IF WE DON'T DO
SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT
DIFFERENTLY.
AND THAT DIFFERENTLY MAY BE
SCALING BACK THINGS, BUT WE
CAN'T CONTINUE ON THE SAME
COURSE THAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT
NOW.
>> LAST QUICK QUESTION, ANSWER
FROM EACH OF YOU.
THE CANDIDATES ARE TRYING TO
BALANCE THE HIGHWAY FUNDING WITH
THE MONEY THAT'S POSSIBLY GOING
TO BE SPENT ON HIGH-SPEED RAIL.
ARE THOSE TWO INTERCHANGEABLE OR
ARE THOESZ TWO SEPARATE THOSE TWO SEPARATE THINGS?
>> THEY ARE SEPARATE.
THE FEDERAL MONEY WE RECEIVE FOR
HIGH-SPEED RAIL, IF WE CHOSE NOT
TO USE IT FOR THAT, WE SIMPLY
WOULDN'T GET THAT MONEY.
IT'S NOT TRANSFERABLE.
>> STEVE HINIKER?
>> I AGREE TOTALLY WITH CRAIG.
IT'S LIKE COMPARING LIBRARY
MONEY AND ROAD MONEY.
THEY'RE TWO ENTIRELY DIFFERENT
POTS OF MONEY.
THEY BOTH HAPPEN TO BE FORMS OF
TRANSPORTATION.
>> STEVE HINIKER, CRAIG
THOMPSON, THANKS FOR JOINING US.
STEVE, HAVE A SAFE TRIP BACK TO
MADISON.
>> THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> WE PUT THE ROAD DEBATE IN THE
REAR VIEW MIRROR NOW AND MOVE
OVER TO THE ECONOMY.
ACCORDING TO DATA RELEASED THIS
MORNING, THERE WERE 160,000
ADDITIONAL U.S. JOBS LAST MONTH.
THE NUMBERS WERE BELOW
EXPECTATIONS, BUT WITH NEAR 10%
UNEMPLOYMENT WE'RE THANKFUL FOR
SMALL FAVORS.
HERE'S THE UPDATED GRAPH YOU'VE
BEEN SEEING OVER THE PAST COUPLE
OF YEARS.
THE BIG SPIKE ON THE RIGHT SIDE
REPRESENTS THE BIGGEST GAIN IN
JOBS SINCE NOVEMBER OF 2007.
THAT'S 2.5 YEARS AGO.
JOINING US NOW TO TALK ABOUT
WHAT THIS MEANS IS EDGEWOOD
COLLEGE ECONOMICS PROFESSOR BILL
DUDDLESTON.
GOOD EVENING.
>> GOOD EVENING.
>> WELL, TODAY, AMAZINGLY
ENOUGH, IS THE BREWERS
EXHIBITION OPENER.
WE'VE HAD THIS DISCUSSION
RUNNING ABOUT THE ECONOMY.
WHAT INNING IS IT?
>> OUR STAFF IS DELIVERING KEY
PITCHING.
WE CROSS OUR FINGERS AND HOPE
FOR THE NEXT FEW MONTHS THAT
THIS WILL BE REPEATED.
BUT AT LEAST WITH 300,000 JOBS
INSTEAD OF 160,000 BECAUSE YOU
NEED 300,000 NOW TO MAKE A DENT
IN THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE.
UNEMPLOYMENT STAYED THE SAME.
IT'S NOT GOOD.
>> WHEN I TURNED ON THE RADIO
THIS MORNING AND THEY WERE
TALKING ABOUT WHAT THEY WERE
EXPECTING FROM THIS, THEY WERE
THROWING A LOT OF COLD WATER ON
THIS AND SAYING 160, 160,000
JOBS, NOT REALLY A BIG DEAL.
>> WELL, DEPENDS WHICH NEWS
GROUP YOU WATCH.
>> NPR.
>> WELL, NPR HAS A GOOD
REPUTATION.
40,000, 50,000 CENSUS BUREAU
JOBS, TEMPORARY JOBS, BUT
THEY'RE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE AND
THEIR UNEMPLOYMENT IS VERY HIGH.
SO THAT'S POSITIVE FOR THEM.
THE BIRTH/DEATH SORT OF
EXPECTATION ABOUT WHAT'S
HAPPENING WITH SMALL BUSINESSES
ADDED 84,000.
THAT MAY BE REVISED DOWNWARD IN
THE FUTURE.
BUT THE POSITIVE, I THINK REAL
POSITIVE, IS MANUFACTURING.
MANUFACTURING PLUS 15,000 FOR
MARCH.
AND FOR THE FIRST QUARTER ALMOST
50,000.
SO THAT'S A VERY IMPORTANT
TURN-AROUND IN THE MANUFACTURING
SECTOR AND THAT BODES WELL FOR
WISCONSIN, WHICH HAS HEAVY
MANUFACTURING JOB BASE.
>> WE'VE HAD THIS WEIRD
SITUATION WHERE LAST MONTH IT
WAS ACTUALLY NEGATIVE.
NOW IT'S DRASTICALLY POSITIVE.
IT'S ALMOST A WHIPLASH EFFECT.
WHAT'S CAUSING THAT?
>> WELL, THEY'LL BLAME THE
WEATHER.
THE WEATHER WAS A DESTABILIZING
FORCE IN FEBRUARY.
BASICALLY THE ECONOMY IS GAINING
TRACTION NOW AND I THINK THAT
THE NEXT MONTH'S FIGURES WILL BE
VERY, VERY IMPORTANT TO SHOW
WHAT HAPPENS IN CONSTRUCTION.
WE ONLY ADDED 15,000 JOBS IN
CONSTRUCTION.
BUT IF NEXT MONTH WE COME OUT
WITH 50,000, THAT WOULD BE A
REALLY POSITIVE SIGN THAT WE'RE
OUT OF THE REAL NEGATIVE
TERRITORY FOR CONSTRUCTION,
BECAUSE WE WERE LOSING 72,000
CONSTRUCTION JOBS A MONTH IN THE
LAST YEAR.
AND SO THAT'S A REAL -- THAT'S
BEEN A REAL DRAG ON THE ECONOMY.
>> YOU TALKED ABOUT
MANUFACTURING JOBS BEING UP.
THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO
WISCONSIN, ISN'T IT?
>> YES, BECAUSE WE HAVE ALMOST
20% OF OUR WORKERS IN
MANUFACTURING, THE HIGHEST IN
THE WHOLE COUNTRY.
AND SO IF WE CAN GET THOSE
EXPORTS GOING TO OTHER
COUNTRIES, CHINA, INDIA, BRAZIL,
THEN OUR ECONOMY WILL START TO
GROW BECAUSE THERE'S A POSITIVE
MULTIPLIER TIED TO THOSE JOBS.
SO I THINK THE WISCONSIN ECONOMY
NUMBERS FOR UNEMPLOYMENT SHOULD
COME IN GOING DOWN FOR MARCH.
AND I THINK RIGHT NOW WE'RE
ABOUT A FULL PERCENTAGE POINT
BELOW THE NATIONAL AVERAGE.
IF WE COULD GET DOWN BELOW TWO
PERCENTAGE POINTS, THAT WOULD BE
AN INDICATION THAT THE AMERICAN
ECONOMY IS REALLY TURNING
AROUND.
>> WE'VE GOT POLITICIANS, YOU
KNOW, LAYING CLAIM TO THIS AND
BLAMING THE OTHER GUY FOR THIS.
IS THERE ANYTHING THAT HAS
HAPPENED POLITICALLY THAT IS
CAUSING WHAT HAPPENED TODAY,
THIS SPIKE?
>> NO.
I THINK IT'S CUMULATIVE.
I WOULD RATHER STAY AWAY FROM
THE ENDSLESS ARGUMENTS ON THIS
GROUP SAID THIS, THE OTHER GROUP
SAID THAT.
WE WENT THROUGH A MAJOR
INVENTORY CORRECTION STARTING IN
2008 AND THAT INVENTORY
CORRECTION IS ENDING AND WE'RE
NOW STARTING TO REBUILD OUR
INVENTORIES IN ANTICIPATION OF
HIGHER SALES.
AND IF THAT WERE TO HAPPEN OVER
THE NEXT FEW MONTHS, THEN YOU'LL
SEE ALL THOSE DEBATES GO BY THE
WAYSIDE.
THE PRIVATE SECTOR IS CRITICAL
IN GETTING THIS ECONOMY BACK ON.
BUT THERE'S NO QUESTION THE
GOVERNMENT SECTOR SAVED JOBS AND
PROVIDED ENOUGH CUSHION TO STAY
AT LEAST AT 10.3.
10.3 WAS THE HIGHEST
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE WE'VE HAD
SINCE 1982.
>> BUT GETTING BACK TO THIS
FIGURE THAT CAME OUT TODAY, ONE
POSITIVE POINT WAS THERE WERE
QUITE A FEW PRIVATE SECTOR JOBS
IN THERE.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
THAT'S RIGHT.
IT'S A POSITIVE.
IT'S A GLIMMER OF HOPE.
BUT WE CAN'T REST ON OUR LAURELS
BECAUSE WE COULD GO INTO HEAD
WINDS.
I WORRY ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING
TO LONG-TERM INTEREST RATES.
THE BOND MARKET MAY REACT
NEGATIVELY TO THIS AND ACTUALLY
SELL OFF.
I THINK IT HAS A LITTLE BIT
ALREADY THIS MORNING.
YOU COULD SEE SHORT-TERM --
10-YEAR BONDS GO ABOVE 4% AND
THE 30-YEAR BOND GO UP AND THOSE
ARE CRITICAL FOR LONG-TERM
INTEREST RATES.
THAT'S GOING TO AFFECT THE
HOUSING MARKET.
THE HOUSING MARKET HAS TO COME
BACK TO GET THE AMERICAN ECONOMY
BACK ON TRACK.
>> WE JUST GOT TO HOPE THAT THE
RELIEF STAFF DOESN'T GET TIRED.
THANKS FOR JOINING US.
>> YOU'RE WELCOME.
>> WE SHIFT GEARS NOW AND MOVE
FROM THE ECONOMY TO THE
ENVIRONMENT.
REMEMBER ASIAN CARP?
WE WORRIED A LOT ABOUT THE
INVASIVE SPECIES THIS PAST
WINTER AS BIOLOGISTS TRACKED
THEIR MOVEMENT UP TOWARDS AN
ELECTRIC BARRIER.
A FEW WERE FOUND, BUT NOWHERE
NEAR THE NUMBER FEARED.
ON MONDAY OFFICIALS ANNOUNCED
THE RESULTS OF A SIX-WEEK SEARCH
FOR ASIAN CARP BEYOND THAT
ELECTRIC BARRIER.
NONE WERE FOUND.
PHIL MOY IS WITH THE UW SEA
GRANT INSTITUTE.
HE WAS ON THE CANAL THIS WINTER
DURING THAT INITIAL
INVESTIGATION AND HE JOINS US
NOW FROM SHEBOYGAN.
GOOD EVENING, MR. MOY.
>> GOOD EVENING.
>> SO NO FISH.
SURPRISED BY THAT?
>> NO, NOT REALLY.
THESE FISH ARE PRETTY TOUGH TO
CAMP AND THEY'RE NOTCATCH AND THEY'RE NOT IN ANY
ABUNDANCE ABOVE THE BARRIER, SO
I'M NOT SURPRISED.
>> ARE YOU RELIEVED THEY DIDN'T
FIND ANY?
>> YEAH.
IN A WAY I AM.
IT CONFIRMS THAT THE NUMBERS ARE
VERY, VERY LOW.
IT ALSO UNDERSCORES THE
SENSITIVITY OF THE EDNA TESTING
AND HOW RARE THE FISH CAN BE AND
THE EDNA CAN PICK THESE THINGS
UP.
>> SOME PEOPLE MAY LOOK AT THIS
AND SAY WE WERE WORRIED ABOUT
NOTHING.
IS THIS STILL A CONCERN?
>> OH, I THINK IT'S STILL A
CONCERN.
I MEAN, CERTAINLY THERE ARE
QUITE A NUMBER OF FISH
DOWNSTREAM OF THE ELECTRIC
BARRIER.
SOME ARE -- AND I THINK
UNDOUBTEDLY A HANDFUL AT LEAST
UPSTREAM OF THE ELECTRIC
BARRIER.
I DON'T THINK IT'S ANYTHING TO
SAY WE DON'T NEED TO WORRY ABOUT
IT AT ALL.
KEEPING THEIR NUMBERS LOW, OF
COURSE, KEEPS THEIR CHANCE OF
ESTABLISHING IN THE GREAT LAKES
QUITE LOW.
SO I THINK THAT'S ON OUR SIDE.
>> NOW, IN TERMS OF A LONG-TERM
STRATEGY, THEY'VE TALKED ABOUT
DO WE WANT TO TRY AND CLOSE THE
LOCKS?
DO WE WANT TO PUT IN MORE
BARRIERS?
DO WE KNOW WHAT OUR LONG-TERM
STRATEGY IS AT THIS POINT?
>> I THINK THE CORPS. OF
ENGINEERS AND THE OTHER FEDERAL
PARTICIPANTS ARE WORKING ON
THAT.
IN MY MIND, THE LONG-TERM
STRATEGY WILL INVOLVE SOME SORT
OF PHYSICAL SEPARATION OF THE
LAKE AND THE CANAL OR THE LAKE
AND THE TKES DES PLAINES RIVER.
IT'S GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT
CAN BETTER ADDRESS NAVIGATION
INTERESTS OR CARGO TRANSFER,
RECREATIONAL BOATING INTERESTS,
AS WELL AS THE STORMWATER AND
WASTEWATER ISSUES.
>> SO THE FACT THAT THEY ARE NOT
PRESENT ALREADY IN HUGE NUMBERS
BUYS US SOME TIME, GIVES US A
CHANCE TO BE A LITTLE MORE
THOUGHTFUL ABOUT THE SOLUTIONS?
>> EXACTLY.
AND THE POINT THAT THEY ARE NOT
IN LARGE NUMBERS, THAT'S VERY
IMPORTANT FOR US.
IT BUYS US SOME TIME, BUT WE
CAN'T JUST DILLYDALLY AND SAY WE
HAVE YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS.
THE OTHER THING IS WE'VE GOT TO
KEEP THAT ELECTRIC BARRIER
RUNNING.
THE BARRIERS DOWN THERE HAVE
BEEN SHUT OFF FOR ONE REASON OR
ANOTHER, FOR MAINTENANCE OVER
TIME.
PROBABLY THE FISH WERE PRESENT
BACK IN 2008 WHEN IT WAS TURNED
OFF FOR ABOUT A MONTH AND THEY
JUST SWAM UPSTREAM AT THAT
POINT.
IN MY MIND, THAT'S WHERE THESE
FEW FISH CAME FROM.
WE'VE GOT TO KEEP AN ELECTRIC
CURRENT IN THE WATER, SEPARATE
THOSE WATERSHEDS WE'VE TALKED
ABOUT IN THE PAST.
KEEP THOSE NUMBERS LOW.
AND THAT BUYS US SOME TIME TO
REALLY GET ON THIS PHYSICAL,
THIS ECOLOGICAL SEPARATION
BETWEEN THE LAKES AND THE DES
PLAINES RIVER.
>> THE ELECTRIC BARRIERS,
THERE'S TWO DIFFERENT ONES.
DO YOU GET A FEELING THAT THE
NEW BARRIER IS ACTUALLY MORE
EFFECTIVE THAN THE OLD ONE?
>> THE NEW BARRIER IS CERTAINLY
MORE EFFECTIVE ON SMALL FISH
THAN THE OLD ONE.
THE OLD ONE, YEAH, IT WAS A
DEMONSTRATION, RUNS AT ONE VOLT
PER INCH AND ABOUT FIVE PULSES
PER SECOND.
IT'S VERY EFFECTIVE ON LARGE
FISH, I'M CERTAIN.
BUT SMALL FISH WE KNOW, SAY
FOUR, FIVE INCHES COULD SWIM
THROUGH THAT WEAKER ELECTRIC
FIELD, ESPECIALLY NEAR THE
SURFACE.
THE NEW BARRIERS CAN OPERATE AT
TWO VOLTS PER INCH AND LONGER
PULSE DURATION.
SMALL FISH ARE NOT GOING TO GET
THROUGH THAT.
WE'VE ALREADY TESTED IT WITH
SMALL FISH ON TAO*EUT ON SITE AND THEY ARE
STUNNED IMMEDIATELY ONCE THEY
PASS INTO THE FIELD.
>> QUICK ANSWER ON THIS LAST
ONE.
WHAT'S THE NEXT THING TO WATCH
FOR IN THIS STORY?
>> I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE
TO SEE SOME -- PERHAPS SOME
DEPLETION OF THE POPULATION
DOWNSTREAM.
WE'VE FOCUSED ON THESE UPSTREAM
AREAS NEAR THE LAKE TO TRY AND
CAPTURE THE FEW FISH UP THERE.
MAYBE LET'S PULL BACK, GO
DOWNSTREAM, TRY TO REDUCE THE
NUMBERS DOWNSTREAM.
AT THE SAME TIME CERTAINLY CORP.
OF ENGINEERS HAS TO SEPARATE THE
RIVER FROM THE SHIPPING CANAL.
A LOT OF THINGS GOING ON RIGHT
NOW.
>> PHIL MOY, THANKS FOR JOINING
US.
>> THANK YOU.
>> IN JUST A FEW MINUTES PETER
LEIDY PERFORMS THE WORLD
PREMIERE OF A TUNE HE CALLS
"RACE TO THE TOP FLOP."
BUT FIRST WE HEAD TO THE STATE
CAPITOL WHERE THE SPRING SESSION
OF THE LEGISLATURE IS WINDING
DOWN.
OUR NEXT GUEST SAYS HE HOPE IT
DOESN'T END BEFORE NEW CAMPAIGN
FINANCE REFORM LEGISLATION
PASSES.
JAY HECK IS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
OF COMMON CAUSE OF WISCONSIN.
SO CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM, WE
HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT THAT FOR
QUITE A WHILE.
WHAT'S THE NEW LEGISLATION?
>> WELL, YOU KNOW, THE UNITED
STATES SUPREME COURT IN
JANUARY ISSUED A DECISION WHICH
CHANGES THE LANDSCAPE, NOT ONLY
IN WISCONSIN, BUT NATIONALLY,
AND BASICALLY WHAT THAT ALLOWS
CORPORATIONS AND UNIONS TO DO
NOW IS TO USE THEIR GENERAL
TREASURY MONEY TO BE ABLE TO
SPEND WHATEVER THEY WANT.
AND IN WISCONSIN WHAT THAT MEANS
IS THAT THESE GROUPS WILL BE
ABLE TO SPEND FREELY.
AND WE ANTICIPATE THERE WILL BE
MORE SPENDING.
>> GROUPS SUCH AS?
>> WELL, WISCONSIN MANUFACTURERS
AND COMMERCE, BUT REALLY ALMOST
ANY CORPORATION NOW, BECAUSE
PREVIOUSLY, SINCE 1905, THERE
HAD BEEN A BAN ON USING GENERAL
TREASURY MONEY FROM CORPORATIONS
IN CAMPAIGNS.
NOW THEY CAN SPEND IT.
BUT THERE WAS ONE SILVER LINING,
IF THERE WAS ANY SILVER LINING
IN THAT OTHERWISE HORRENDOUS
DECISION AND THAT WAS THAT WE
CAN NOW REQUIRE DISCLOSURE OF
THE GROUPS THAT RUN THOSE TYPES
OF ADS, WHAT WE USED TO CALL
PHONY ISSUE ADS.
AND WE HAD NOT BEEN ABLE TO DO
THAT BEFORE.
>> WHAT'S CHANGED?
>> THE U.S. SUPREME COURT SAID
THAT WHILE YOU CAN NO LONGER BAR
CORPORATE MONEY FROM BEING USED,
YOU DID REQUIRE DISCLOSURE.
EIGHT TO ONE THEY VOTED TO
REQUIRE THAT.
SO WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT IN
THE 60 DAYS PRIOR TO A GENERAL
ELECTION OR PRIMARY ELECTION, WE
CAN REQUIRE THESE GROUPS THAT
PREVIOUSLY WERE SHADOWING, WE
CAN REQUIRE THEM TO TELL US WHO
THEY ARE.
AND SO THAT IS ACTUALLY A VERY
GOOD THING.
IT DOESN'T OFFSET THE DAMAGE
DONE BY ALLOWING CORPORATIONS
AND UNIONS TO USE THEIR VAST
RESOURCES AND I'M HOPEFUL THAT
ONE DAY THAT DECISION WILL BE
OVERTURNED.
BUT THE GOVERNMENT
ACCOUNTABILITY BOARD TWO WEEKS
AGO PASSED A RULE AND WE HOPE
THAT THE LEGISLATURE WILL PASS
LEGISLATURE ENACTING THAT INTO
LAW BEFORE THEY GO HOME.
>> YOU MENTIONED WISCONSIN
MANUFACTURERS AND COMMERCE.
THERE ARE SORT OF ANALOGOUS
GROUPS THAT TEND TO SUPPORT
DEMOCRATS LIKE WMC IS GENERALLY
THOUGHT OF AS FAVORING
REPUBLICANS.
>> SURE.
>> ARE YOU GETTING GETTING PUSH-BACK
SAYING WE DON'T WANT TO GO
THERE?
>> ATTORNEYS FOR SPECIAL
INTEREST GROUPS OPPOSE THIS.
THEY WANT TO BE ABLE TO KEEP IT
SECRET.
NO.
I THINK WE'LL HAVE SUPPORT FROM
REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS.
IN FACT, TWO DAYS BEFORE THE
CITIZENS UNITED DECISION, THE
STATE SENATE 26-6 PASSED
LEGISLATION, REPUBLICANS AND
DEMOCRATS, SUPPORTING DISCLOSURE
AND REGULATION.
AGAIN, WE CAN'T REGULATE THE
MONEY ANYMORE.
THE SUPREME COURT HAS OPENED THE
FLOOD GATES OF THE MONEY TO
FLOW.
BUT WE CAN REQUIRE DISCLOSURE.
SO I ANTICIPATE WE'LL HAVE
BIPARTISAN SUPPORT IN BOTH
HOUSES OF THE HREGT THAOEUR LEGISLATURE AND
GOVERNOR DOYLE HAS SAID HE WILL
SIGN IT INTO LAW.
>> WHERE IS THIS IN THE
LEGISLATIVE PROCESS?
>> THEY'RE CLOSE TO REACHING
AGREEMENT.
THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY ALWAYS
HAVE DIFFERENT VIEWS ABOUT WHAT
OUGHT TO BE DONE.
I'M CONFIDENT THEY'LL REACH
CLOSURE ON THIS AND THAT WE'LL
HAVE THIS WITHIN THE LAST WEEK
WHEN EVERYTHING ELSE COMES
BEFORE THEY GO HOME FOR THE YEAR
IN APRIL.
>> JAY HECK, COMMON CAUSE OF
WISCONSIN, THANKS FOR JOINING
US.
>> THANKS, ART.
>> FINALLY TONIGHT THE RETURN OF
THE ONLY SINGING POLITICAL
COMMENTATOR IN THE COUNTRY THAT
WE KNOW OF.
"HERE & NOW"'S PETER LEIDY.
PETER LOOKED OVER WISCONSIN'S
REJECTED APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL
RACE TO THE TOP EDUCATION MONEY.
THAT'S THE TOPIC OF HIS SONG
TONIGHT.
HERE'SHERE'S PETER LEIDY.
? WELL, I HOPE WE'RE HIGH.
? WHETHER WE DID THE WHEN WE DID THE APPLICATION.
? RACE TO THE TOP STIMULUS
FUNDS.
? 4 BILLION BUCKS, ALL FOR
EDUCATION.
? WE WERE ALL WISHING WE'D BE
THE ONE.
? YEAH, RACING TO THE TOP.
? GONNA BE THE CREAM OF THE
CROP.
? HOPING THAT WE DON'T FLOP.
? RACING TO THE TOP.
? WHEN THE FEDS ANNOUNCED ALL
THE FINALISTS, WISCONSIN FAILED
TO MAKE THE CUT.
? GEORGIA, KENTUCKY AND
LOUISIANA, THE CAROLINAS AND
TENNESSEE ALL KICKED OUR BUTT.
? WELL, THE JUDGES PICKED
DELAWARE AND TENNESSEE.
? THEY GOT THEIR HOMEWORK DONE,
UNLIKE US.
? GIVE OUR APPLICATION A C
MINUS.
? GOVERNOR DOYLE THROW UNDER THE
BUS.
? YEAH, RACING TO THE TOP.
? WE LOST, BUT WE AIN'T GONNA
STOP.
? ROUND TWO WON'T BE A FLOP.
? THERE'S STILL MONEY IN THE
POT.
? RACING TO THE TOP.
? THE OTHER STATE'S GONNA DROP,
LIKE FLIES THAT WE WILL SWAT.
? CLEAN THEM UP WITH A BROOM AND
A MOP.
? WE'LL SHOW THEM WHAT WE GOT.
? TIE THEM UP IN KNOTS.
? THEY WON'T GET DILLY SQUAT.
? WE'RE GONNA WIN THE RACE TO
THE TOP ?
>> PETER LEIDY.
PETER'S COMMENTARIES MAY BE
MUSICAL, BUT THEY ARE INDEED
COMMENTARIES AND REFLECT HIS OWN
OPINIONS.
HIS WORK HAS ONCE AGAIN BEEN
NOMINATED FOR BEST COMMENTARY OF
THE YEAR BY THE WISCONSIN
BROADCASTERS ASSOCIATION.
PETER WILL BE BACK APRIL 23 WITH
A NEW SONG.
NEXT WEEK, FREDERICA FREYBERG
RETURNS, AS DOES WISCONSIN
PUBLIC RADIO'S SHAWN JOHNSON FOR
THEIR CAPITOL EUPB SAOEULGT
SEGMENT.
THEY'LL FORECAST SOME OF THE
FINAL ACTIVITY OF THE SPRING
SESSION OF THE LEGISLATURE.
THAT'S NEXT FRIDAY NIGHT.
I'M ART HACKETT.
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.
CAPTIONS PRODUCED BY
RIVERSIDE CAPTIONING COMPANY
WWW.CLOSED-CAPTIONING.COM
? ?
>> PRESENTATION OF "HERE & NOW"
IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY THE
ANIMAL DENTISTRY AND ORAL
SURGERY SPECIALISTS OF MILWAUKEE
AND OSHKOSH, A VETERINARY TEAM
WORKING WITH PET OWNERS AND
FAMILY VETERINARIANS THROUGHOUT
WISCONSIN, PROVIDING CARE FOR
ORAL DISEASE AND DENTAL PROBLEMS
OF SMALL COMPANION ANIMALS.
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FOR "HERE &
NOW" IS PROVIDED BY THE LE
PHILLIPS FAMILY FOUNDATION.