>> 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 FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE & NOW," HAVING
FIZZLED IN THE LEGISLATURE THIS
WEEK, WILL THE RENEWABLE ENERGY
BILL GET RENEWED?
THE BILL'S SPONSOR, SPENCER
BLACK, AS IS A MEMBER OF THE
PAPER INDUSTRY WHO'S GLAD TO SEE
THE MEASURE GO BY THE WAYSIDE.
LATER, MORE ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS.
WE LEARN ABOUT A PROPOSAL TO
BRING BACK THE YOUTH JOBS
PROGRAM, THE WISCONSIN
CONSERVATION CORPS.
WE'LL FINISH THIS EARTH DAY WEEK
PROGRAM WITH A TRIBUTE TO THE
FOUNDER OF EARTH DAY, THE LATE
U.S. SENATOR FROM WISCONSIN,
GAYLORD NELSON.
BUT FIRST, IT'S HARD TO KNOW
WHAT FORMER GOVERNOR NELSON
WOULD MAKE OF THE LATE NIGHT,
LAST-MINUTE VOTING AT THE STATE
LEGISLATURE THIS WEEK.
SOME BILLS ARE ON THEIR WAY,
JUST UNDER THE WIRE, TO THE
GOVERNOR.
SOME DID NOT BEAT THE CLOCK.
HERE ARE A FEW OF THE ITEMS THAT
PASSED.
A SCHOOL REFORM PLAN WILL GIVE
THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT MORE
POWER TO CREATE CHANGE IN
POOR-PERFORMING SCHOOL
DISTRICTS.
THE PAYDAY LENDING INDUSTRY WILL
FACE NEW REGULATIONS IN
WISCONSIN, INCLUDING HOW CAR
LOANS ARE FINANCED AND ENFORCED.
RAW MILK WILL BE LEGAL TO SELL
FARMER TO CONSUMER.
AND BADGERCARE BASIC, THE
NO-FRILLS HEALTH PLAN FOR ADULTS
WITH NO CHILDREN, PASSED TO THE
GOVERNOR'S DESK.
ONE OF THE PROPOSALS THE
GOVERNOR WAS THE MOST ANXIOUS TO
SIGN DID NOT GET A VOTE.
AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE
SO-CALLED CLEAN ENERGY JOBS ACT
WOULD HAVE REQUIRED THAT 25% OF
WISCONSIN'S POWER COME FROM
RENEWABLE SOURCES BY THE YEAR
2025.
REPRESENTATIVE SPENCER BLACK IS
THE AUTHOR OF THE BILL, AND HE
JOINS US NOW.
THANKS A LOT FOR DOING SO.
>> THANK YOU, FREDERICA.
>> THIS IS THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY
OF EARTH DAY.
IT WAS FOUNDED BY GAYLORD
NELSON, OUR OWN GOVERNOR AND
SENATOR, AND IT'S REALLY
SHAMEFUL THAT THIS IMPORTANT
LEGISLATION TO CLEAN UP OUR
ENVIRONMENT WAS KILLED ON EARTH
DAY, THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY.
WHAT COMPOUNDED THE INSULT IS
THIS LEGISLATION CAME OUT OF A
TASK FORCE CHAIRED BY GAYLORD
NELSON'S DAUGHTER, TIA.
>> WHO DO YOU BLAME?
>> STATE SENATE, RUSS DECKER,
THE ENERGY COMMITTEE CHAIR, JEFF
PLALE, GOING AGAINST THE WISHES
OF MOST OF THEIR DEMOCRATIC
SENATE COLLEAGUES, KILLED THIS
LEGISLATION, EVEN THOUGH WE HAD
MADE -- DONE THE COMPROMISES
THAT THEY HAD ASKED US TO DO.
>> SO WHAT'S THE EXPLANATION?
>> WELL, I THINK YOU'LL FIND A
LOT OF VERY POWERFUL SPECIAL
INTEREST GROUPS AT THE CAPITOL
AND THEY HAVE MORE INFLUENCE
THAN EVER.
YOU KNOW, MANY OF THESE GROUPS,
LIKE THE PAPER COUNCIL, STAND IN
THE WAY OF PROGRESS.
THEY'VE ALWAYS FOUGHT
ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS.
IF YOU GO BACK TO WHEN WE WERE
CONSIDERING CLEAN WATER LAWS IN
THE STATE, IF IT WAS UP TO THE
PAPER COUNCIL, THE FOX AND
WISCONSIN RIVERS WOULD STILL BE
OPEN SEWERS.
SO WEAR USED TO THIS.
BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO
LEGISLATORS TO HAVE SOME
BACKBONE.
IN THIS STATE WE IMPORT OVER $20
BILLION OF FOSSIL FUELS EVERY
DAY.
IT CAUSES AIR POLLUTION.
IT'S A TREMENDOUS HARM TO OUR
STATE ECONOMY AND IT CAUSES
HIGHER UTILITY RATES.
BY MOVING TO ENERGY EFFICIENT AOE --
EFFICIENCY, WE WILL CREATE
16,000 JOBS, CUT UTILITY RATES
BY A MINIMUM OF $1.4 BILLION FOR
CONSUMERS AND IN ADDITION IT
WOULD REALLY IMPROVE OUR
ENVIRONMENT.
>> AND I WANT TO GET TO SOME OF
THOSE POINTS IN A MOMENT.
I SHOULD SAY THAT WE DID INVITE
BOTH SENATORS DECKER AND PLALE
AND THEY DECLINED TO JOIN US.
>> I'M DISAPPOINTED.
I'D LIKE TO SEE THEM
FACE-TO-FACE.
>> WELL, WE UNDERSTAND THAT EVEN
UP TO THE LAST MOMENT, THERE
WERE NEGOTIATIONS TO TRY TO GET
THIS THING GOING AGAIN.
AND WHAT OF THOSE?
AND ANY EXPECTATION AT ALL FOR
THIS TO COME BACK IN SOME KIND
OF AN EXTRAORDINARY SESSION?
>> WELL, I'VE CERTAINLY ASKED
GOVERNOR DOYLE TO CALL A SPECIAL
SESSION, AND I THINK HE WILL IF
HE SEES SOME SIGN OF MOVEMENT ON
THE PART OF THE SENATE.
WE HAD THE VOTES IN THE STATE
ASSEMBLY.
IT WAS A TOUGH VOTE FOR MANY OF
OUR MEMBERS, BUT THEY WOULD HAVE
BEEN THERE TO APPROVE THIS
BECAUSE THEY UNDERSTAND THIS IS
ESSENTIAL TO OUR STATE'S FUTURE.
WE'RE DISAPPOINTED THAT THE
SENATE LEADERSHIP CAVED INTO THE
SPECIAL INTERESTS AND REFUSED TO
EVEN ALLOW THIS TO COME UP FOR A
VOTE IN THE SENATE.
>> THIS PARTICULAR BILL, THE ONE
THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN VOTED ON,
WAS ALREADY KIND OF WATERED
DOWN, WASN'T IT, IN COMPROMISE,
FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE?
>> OH, THERE WAS TREMENDOUS
COMPROMISES MADE.
IF I WERE THE ONLY LEGISLATOR IN
THE STATE, I WOULD HAVE WRITTEN
A MUCH STRONGER BILL.
EVEN AFTER WE MADE COMPROMISES,
WHAT EMERGED WAS A VERY STRONG
BILL, A BILL THAT WOULD HAVE
SIGNIFICANTLY CHANGED THE WAY WE
PROVIDE FOR ENERGY NEEDS IN
WISCONSIN, IN A WAY THAT KEPT
OUR ENERGY DOLLARS HERE IN
WISCONSIN AND KEPT JOBS HERE FOR
THE NEW CLEAN ENERGY ECONOMY
RATHER THAN SHIPPING THEM TO
CHINA.
>> IN A MOMENT, YOU CITED THE
PAPER COUNCIL.
WE'LL BE SPEAKING WITH THE
PRESIDENT OF THAT ORGANIZATION.
AND THEY SAY THE COST OF THIS
REALLY LITERALLY COULD RUN
ENTIRE COMPANIES OUT OF THIS
STATE.
>> YOU KNOW, THAT'S NOT BASED ON
FACTS.
ONE OF THE AGREEMENTS WE MADE
WAS THAT BEFORE WE ADVANCED
LEGISLATION, WE WOULD ASK THE
PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION, THEIR
EXPERT, NONPARTISAN STAFF, TO
RUN AN ANALYSIS OF THE
SUBSTITUTE AMENDMENT.
AND WHAT THEY FOUND WAS
STRIKING.
THEY FOUND THAT EVEN WITHOUT ANY
GOVERNMENT REGULATION OF
GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS, THIS
WOULD SAVE CONSUMERS $1.4
BILLION.
IF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DOES
AS WE EXPECT, REGULATE CARBON
EMISSIONS, THEN THE SAVINGS
COULD BE AS MUCH AS $6.4
BILLION.
>> THEIR COUNTER TO THAT IS,
YES, IT MIGHT SAVE CONSUMERS
THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY BECAUSE
THEY WILL BE USING LESS.
THE RATES ARE HIGHER, BUT THE
USE IS LESS.
>> WELL, IT WOULD SAVE
CONSUMERS, THE AVERAGE FAMILY,
AS MUCH AS $13 PER MONTH.
BUT THE BILL ALSO PROVIDED MAJOR
EUPB SEVENTEEN TEUFRS FOR THESE
COMPANIES TO INVEST IN THIS.
BACK IN THE 1970s WE
CONSIDERED CLEAN WATER
LEGISLATION F. YOU WERE TO GO
BACK TO THE NEWSPAPER ARCHIVES,
YOU WOULD FIND THE NATIONAL
PAPER COUNCIL SAYING THAT THIS
WILL RUIN THE PAPER INDUSTRY IF
YOU REQUIRE US TO STOP POLLUTING
THE FOX AND WISCONSIN RIVER.
YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENED?
THEY WERE REQUIRED TO DO THAT
BECAUSE FORWARD-LOOKING
LEGISLATORS SAID WE'RE NOT GOING
TO LISTEN TO YOU, WE'RE GOING TO
DO WHAT'S BEST FOR THE
ENVIRONMENT, AND THE PAPER
INDUSTRY THRIVED BECAUSE IT
FORCED THEM TO INVEST IN MORE
MODERN PROCESSES.
SAME THING WOULD HAPPEN WITH
THIS KIND OF LEGISLATION.
>> THEIR OTHER POSITION IS THAT
WHY KILL EXISTING JOBS FOR
POTENTIAL FUTURE JOBS?
>> THIS WOULD NOT KILL EXISTING
JOBS.
IN FACT, THAT WAS ANOTHER
REQUEST THAT WE HAVE AN
INDEPENDENT ANALYSIS OF THE JOB
IMPACT.
AND TWO UNIVERSITIES DID
SEPARATE, INDEPENDENT ANALYSES
OF THE JOB IMPACTS.
ONE FOUND IT WOULD CREATE 15,000
JOBS, ANOTHER 16,000 JOBS.
SO THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A JOB
CREATOR, AN IMPORTANT JOB
CREATOR FOR THE JOBS OF THE
FUTURE.
>> IF WE DON'T START ON THIS
NOW, THEN WHEN?
>> WELL, I DON'T KNOW, BECAUSE
IN WISCONSIN WE HAVE NO COAL
MINES.
WE SEND $20 BILLION A YEAR OUT
OF THE STATE.
THAT'S A GAPING HOLE IN OUR
STATE ECONOMY.
AND WE CANNOT PROSPER AS A STATE
IF WE CONTINUE TO SEND THAT MUCH
MONEY OUT OF THE STATE.
BUT THERE'S ALSO A NEW ECONOMY
COMING BASED ON CLEAN ENERGY
JOBS.
WE ARE STARTING TO SEE IT.
WE SEE PEOPLE GOING BACK TO WORK
IN A CLOSED PAPER MILL IN
WISCONSIN RAPIDS, 600 PEOPLE
MAKING THE BLADES FOR WIND
TURBINES.
WE SEE PEOPLE MAKING THE GLASS
FOR SOLAR, REPLACING OTHER JOBS
THAT HAVE BEEN LOST.
WE SEE THESE JOBS COMING.
BUT IF WE'RE GOING TO BE A
LEADER, WE HAVE TO SEIZE THE
OPPORTUNITY.
THE TRAGEDY OF WHAT HAPPENED
WITH THE STATE SENATE THIS WEEK
IS WE LOST THAT CHANCE TO SEIZE
THE OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE
WISCONSIN INTO A NEW, CLEAN
ECONOMY.
>> SPENCER BLACK, THANKS VERY
MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THIS CORRECTION.
I MENTIONED THAT WE INVITED BOTH
SENATORS DECKER AND PLALE TO
PARTICIPATE TONIGHT.
I MEANT TO SAY ONLY SENATOR
DECKER HAD BEEN INVITED.
THIS AFTERNOON GOVERNOR JIM
DOYLE SAID A SPECIAL SESSION IS
NOT LIKELY.
ONE WISCONSIN INDUSTRY NOT SORRY
TO SEE THE BILL DIE IS THE PAPER
INDUSTRY.
JEFF IS PRESIDENT OF THE
WISCONSIN PAPER COUNCIL.
HE JOINS US NOW FROM STEVENS
POINT AND THANKS VERY MUCH FOR
DOING SO.
>> PLEASURE TO BE WITH YOU
TONIGHT.
>> IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT
YOUR INDUSTRY WAS AMONG THOSE
LOBBYING VERY HARD AGAINST THIS
BILL.
WHY?
>> WELL, WE FELT THAT THE COST
OF THE LEGISLATION WOULD HAVE
BEEN VERY DIFFICULT FOR THE
PAPER INDUSTRY TO ABSORB.
WE ARE AN INDUSTRY THAT IS
FACING TREMENDOUS CHALLENGES.
IN THE LAST TEN YEARS WE'VE GONE
FROM 52,000 JOBS TO 30,000 JOBS.
THE BIGGEST ISSUES FACING PAPER
MILLS TODAY IS COST.
THE INCREASE IN THE RENEWABLE
PORTFOLIO STANDARD BY VARIOUS
ESTIMATES BY SEVERAL DIFFERENT
MILLS COULD COST $3 MILLION A
YEAR TO $36 MILLION A YEAR.
THAT'S NOT JUST THE RPS, BUT
ALMOST ALL COMPONENTS OF THE
LEGISLATION.
AND THAT COST IS SOMETHING THAT
THE MILLS COULD NOT ABSORB AND
STILL PROTECT THE GOOD-PAYING
JOBS THAT THEY HAVE.
>> WHAT ABOUT THE ARGUMENT BEING
MADE BY PEOPLE LIKE SPENCER
BLACK THAT THE PUBLIC SERVICE
COMMISSION DID THIS STUDY AND
SHOWED THAT PEOPLE WOULD PAY
LESS FOR THEIR ENERGY COSTS
UNDER THIS BILL?
>> WELL, ALL THE ANALYSIS THAT
I'VE SEEN AND THE NUMBERS THAT I
GET FROM MY MEMBERS SHOW THAT
THEIR COSTS WOULD RISE.
THE PAPER INDUSTRY IS A HEAVILY
ENERGY INTENSIVE INDUSTRY.
THEY HAVE UTILITY BILLS RANGING
IN MILLIONS OF DOLLARS A MONTH.
EVEN AN ONE CENT KILOWATT
INCREASE WOULD BE A TREMENDOUS
BLOW TO THE INDUSTRY.
I MEAN, THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS
STUDIES FROM BOTH SIDES THAT
COSTS WILL GO DOWN, COSTS WILL
GO UP.
THE NUMBERS I'VE SEEN FROM MY
MEMBERS AND THE ANALYSIS THEY
PROVIDED US AND WE PROVIDED TO
LEGISLATORS SHOW THAT THEIR
COSTS WOULD GO UP AND THAT IS
SOMETHING IN THIS ECONOMIC
ENVIRONMENT THEY JUST CAN'T DEAL
WITH.
>> FOR EXAMPLE, ONE OF YOUR
MEMBERS, NEW PAGE, REPORTS
SPENDING MORE THAN $6 MILLION
EACH AND EVERY MONTH IN
ELECTRICITY IN ITS WISCONSIN
PLANTS ALONE.
AND SO IF PAPERMAKING IS SO
ENERGY-DEPENDENT, WHY NOT WORK
WITH POLICYMAKERS TO TRY TO REAP
MORE OF IT FROM RENEWABLES IN AN
EFFORT TO SUSTAIN YOUR INDUSTRY
IN THE LONG RUN?
>> WELL, WE DO.
THE PAPER INDUSTRY HAS BEEN
GOING THROUGH SO MANY ENERGY
EFFICIENCY PROJECTS THAT THEY'RE
TOO NUMEROUS TO MENTION.
BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT THESE
MILLS ARE DOING EVERYTHING THEY
CAN, WORKING WITH FOCUS ON
ENERGY, TRYING TO FIND WAYS TO
MAKE THEIR OPERATIONS MORE
EFFICIENT.
THEY'VE REDUCED EMISSIONS,
REDUCED AMOUNT OF ENERGY PER TON
THAT IS NEEDED.
SOMETIMES WHEN YOU'RE DEALING
WITH ENERGY BILLS THAT ARE THAT
LARGE, IT'S DIFFICULT TO FIND
WAYS TO REDUCE THEM EVEN MORE.
NO MATTER HOW MUCH YOU MAKE THE
PAPERMAKING PROCESS MORE
EFFICIENT, THE COST WILL STILL
BE SIGNIFICANT.
>> LET ME EXPRESS TO YOU SOME OF
WHAT SPENCER BLACK SAID ABOUT
THE PAPER COUNCIL ITSELF.
HE SAID THEY STAND IN THE WAY OF
PROGRESS.
HE SAID IF IT WAS UP TO THE
PAPER COUNCIL, THE FOX RIVER AND
WISCONSIN RIVER WOULD STILL BE
OPEN SEWERS.
WHAT'S YOUR RESPONSE TO THAT?
>> I THINK THAT RHETORIC IS A
LITTLE HARSH.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S FAIR AT
ALL.
I THINK THE PAPER INDUSTRY IS
TAKING INCREDIBLE STEPS TO CLEAN
UP THE FOX RIVER.
THE PCBs ARE BEING REMOVED NOW
AND THEY'RE BEING PAID FOR BY
PAPER COMPANIES.
THE PAPER INDUSTRY HAS BEEN
WORKING VERY HARD ON A LOT OF
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES OVER THE
LAST FEW YEARS.
WE WERE INSTRUMENTAL IN THE
PASSAGE OF THE GREAT LAKES WATER
COMPACT.
WE WERE THE FIRST INDUSTRY GROUP
THAT WORKED AND ACTUALLY
SUPPORTED THAT PIECE OF
LEGISLATION.
I THINK THE RECORD OF THE PAPER
INDUSTRY IS BECOMING -- AS BEING
GOOD ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDS IS
STRONG.
WE DO SO MUCH IN THE FORESTRY
AREA AND WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING
WE CAN IN THE PRODUCTION SIDE IN
A RESPONSIBLE WAY TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE CAN MAINTAIN THE
GOOD-PAYING JOBS THAT WE HAVE IN
THIS STATE.
>> NOW, REPRESENTATIVE BLACK
ALSO SAYS THAT THE SAME KINDS OF
CLAIMS WERE BEING MADE IN THE
'70s, WHEN PEOPLE WERE TALKING
ABOUT THE POLLUTION INTO THE FOX
RIVER FROM THE PAPER INDUSTRY.
IN THE '70s PEOPLE WERE SAYING
THIS WILL BE THE RUIN OF THE
PAPER INDUSTRY IN WISCONSIN IF
WE HAVE TO GO ALONG WITH 24.
BUT IN FACT THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN.
>> WELL, THE FACT OF THE MATTER
TOO IS THE ENVIRONMENT HAS
CHANGED.
I DON'T MEAN THE PHYSICAL
ENVIRONMENT.
I MEAN THE COMPETITIVE
ENVIRONMENT HAS CHANGED.
THE PAPER INDUSTRY USED TO BE
ONE THAT THE NORTH AMERICAN
MARKET SERVED NORTH MARKET.
NOW WE HAVE GLOBAL COMPETITION.
SOMETIMES WE'RE FIGHTING SOME
UNFAIR COMPETITION FROM
OVERSEAS.
THE PAPER INDUSTRY HAS SEEN ITS
COSTS RISE, 70% JUST ON THE
ENERGY SIDE ALONE IN THE LAST
TEN YEARS.
WE CAN'T DO ANOTHER 70% IN THE
NEXT TEN YEARS.
WE'RE SEEING FIERCE COMPETITION,
EVEN MORE COMPETITION FROM
WITHIN THE UNITED STATES.
THE PAPER INDUSTRY OF THE '70s
IS A LOT DIFFERENT ANIMAL THAN
THE PAPER INDUSTRY TODAY.
WHEN YOU ADD REGULATION AND
PROPOSALS SUCH AS WHAT WAS IN
THE CLEAN ENERGY JOBS ACT, IT
WOULD MAKE THE ENVIRONMENT MUCH
MORE DIFFICULT.
TO COMPARE WHAT HAPPENED IN THE
'70s TO TODAY IS REALLY NOT A
VALID COMPARISON.
>> SPEAKING OF COMPARISONS, HOW
WOULD WISCONSIN HAVE COMPARED TO
OTHER STATES IN TERMS OF
RENEWABLE ENERGY REQUIREMENTS IF
THIS BILL HAD PASSED?
>> IT WOULD HAVE BEEN SIMILAR TO
OTHERS.
WE KNOW -- BUT WHAT I CAN TELL
YOU IS SOME OF THE STATES THAT
HAVE MORE SIGNIFICANT RPS
STANDARDS, SOME ON THE
NORTHEAST, EVEN SOME IN
MINNESOTA, WHERE WE'VE SEEN SOME
COSTS GO UP, THEY'VE BEEN LOSING
PAPER MILLS FAST AND FURIOUS.
A 30% RPS IN MAINE HAS CAUSED
THEM A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF
JOBS.
A LOT OF PAPER MILLS HAVE
CLOSED.
SO WHILE YOU MIGHT SAY THEY
MIGHT BE MOVING TOWARDS THE SAME
NUMBER, I WOULD ALSO ARGUE THAT
THAT NUMBER HAS BEEN DEVASTATING
IN INDUSTRY IN THE OTHER STATES.
WHAT WE HAVE ALWAYS SAID -- AND
WE HAVE NEVERREN AN INDUSTRY NEVERREN -- NEVER BEEN
AN INDUSTRY THAT HAS COME OUT
AND SAID ABSOLUTELY NOT, WE
WON'T SUPPORT ANYTHING.
WE ARE ONE OF THE INDUSTRIES
THAT ALWAYS WANT TO TALK AND BE
PROACTIVE AND PRODUCTIVE WITH
THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS.
BUT WE FELT THAT THE 25% RPS
STANDARDSSTANDARD, WE HAVE MORE THAN
ENOUGH POWER, TO JUST ADD MORE
AT MORE COST, IT WASN'T RIGHT.
WE DIDN'T THINK IT WAS
RESPONSIBLE AND WE DIDN'T THINK
IT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL TO THE
INDUSTRY AND THE ADDED COST WAS
NOT GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT
WE COULD TAKE.
>> SO IN THE LAST KIND OF MINUTE
HERE, WHAT IS IT THAT YOUR
INDUSTRY WOULD BE WILLING TO GO
ALONG WITH IN THIS REGARD?
>> WE KNOW THAT THERE'S -- THE
NEW ECONOMY IS COMING.
THE PAPER INDUSTRY IS ONE THAT
UTILIZES SO MANY RENEWABLE FUELS
NOW IS WE WERE ALMOST GREEN
BEFORE IT WAS POPULAR.
WE WANT TO SIT DOWN AND WORK
WITH LEGISLATORS, REGULATORS,
ANYONE WHO IS DEALING WITH THIS
ISSUE AND PUT FORWARD A WAY THAT
WE CAN TRANSITION THE EXISTING
ECONOMY IN THE STATE INTO THE
NEW ECONOMY.
WE ALL KEEP TALKING ABOUT ALL
THE NEW JOBS THAT WE CAN GET
FROM THIS BILL AND OTHER
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFORTS.
WE DON'T NECESSARILY DISAGREE
THAT THERE CAN BE JOBS -- THERE
ARE JOBS TO BE HAD, BUT AT WHAT
COST.
WHAT WE FEAR IS, AS I SAY, I'LL
SAY IT AGAIN, 32,000 PAPER
INDUSTRY JOBS IN THE STATE OF
WISCONSIN.
WE DON'T WANT TO LOSE ANY OF
THOSE.
WE THINK WE CAN WORK TOGETHER TO
BRING THE NEW ECONOMY AND NEW
GREEN JOBS AND NOT JEOPARDIZE
THE EXISTING MANUFACTURING BASE
THAT IS THE BEDROCK OF THIS
STATE.
WE THINK WE CAN DO BOTH AND WE
WANT TO BE PART OF THAT
DISCUSSION.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WELL, JEFF, THANK YOU VERY MUCH
FOR BEING PART OF THIS
DISCUSSION.
MORE ON THE ENVIRONMENT.
A CONSERVATION PROGRAM IN
WISCONSIN THAT WOULD HAVE PUT
LOW-INCOME ADULTS TO WORK IS
ALSO DEAD FOR THE SESSION.
THE BILL PASSED OUT OF THE
ASSEMBLY THIS MORNING, THE
WISCONSIN CONSERVATION CORPS.
WOULD HAVE BEEN REINSTATED.
WITH ONE HOUSE ADJOURNING BEFORE
ACTION, THE MEASURE QUIETLY
DIED.
REPRESENTATIVE FRED CLARK WAS A
LEAD SPONSOR OF THE BILL AND
JOINS US NOW.
THANKS FOR JOINING US.
SO ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST.
WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION TO THAT?
>> WE WERE CERTAINLY WHREU
DISAPPOINTED.
IT'S NOT UNCOMMON THIS KIND OF
YEAR WITH BILLS INTRODUCED THIS
TIME OF THE SESSION.
BUT THE GOOD NEWS IN THAT IS
THERE WERE A LOT OF GROUPS AND A
LOT OF INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE SO
SUPPORTIVE OF THIS IDEA THAT IT
COMPLETELY VALIDATED THE FACT
THAT WE DECIDED TO EXPLORE THIS
TO BEGIN WITH.
I THINK REPRESENTATIVE MAY MASON AND
I ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO WORK
TO BRING THIS PROGRAM BACK.
>> AND IN THE ASSEMBLY IT PASSED
EASILY.
>> ON A VOICE VOTE.
THERE WAS NO OPPOSITION.
>> HOWEVER, IN JOINT FINANCE
THERE WAS SOME MEASURE OF
OPPOSITION WITH AT LEAST ONE
REPUBLICAN ASKING WHY WOULD THE
STATE SPEND $400,000 ON THIS AT
THIS TIME, WHEN WE CAN ILL
AFFORD THAT.
>> SURE.
AND WE UNDERSTAND THE CONCERN
ABOUT THE FINANCES.
THE STATE IS IN A FISCAL CRISIS
TODAY.
AND WE WERE VERY CLEAR IN THE
BEGINNING THAT WE COULD NOT
RECREATE THE OLD WISCONSIN
CONSERVATION CORPS. AND HAVE THE
STATE COMPLETELY BANKROLL THAT
PROGRAM.
IT'S JUST NOT AFFORDABLE.
WHAT WE WERE PROPOSING TO DO WAS
TO USE A LIMITED AMOUNT OF STATE
RESOURCES TO LEVERAGE FEDERAL
MONEY THROUGH THE AMERICORPS.
PROGRAM TO REALLY BUILD A
PROGRAM BASED ON PARTNERSHIPS.
THAT $400,000 WAS A MAXIMUM, BUT
WE WERE ASKING THE DEPARTMENT OF
ADMINISTRATION TO REALLY
EVALUATE WHAT WILL IT TAKE FOR
WISCONSIN TO RUN A LEAN PROGRAM
BASED ON THESE PARTNERSHIPS.
>> THE AMERICORPS. FUNDING, DOES
THAT RUN OUT IN ANY WAY LIKE THE
STIMULUS FUNDING?
>> WELL, IT EBBS AND FLOWS.
WE SAW A WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY
BECAUSE IN THE COMING YEAR WE
WERE GOING TO SEE MORE THAN
TWICE THE TYPICAL AMOUNT OF
FUNDING AVAILABLE.
IT WOULD BE OVER $7 MILLION
POTENTIALLY AVAILABLE IN
WISCONSIN IN THE COMING YEAR.
WE WANTED TO TRY TO CAPTURE
THAT.
>> WHAT IS ENVISIONED FOR THIS
KIND OF RENEWED WISCONSIN
CONSERVATION CORPS. THEN?
>> WE WANT TO BRING BACK THE
BRAND.
WE WANT TO BRING BACK A PROGRAM
THAT TAKES YOUNG PEOPLE AND
AT-RISK YOUTH, YOUNG MEN AND
WOMEN WHO MAY HAVE BEEN IN
TROUBLE OR WHO MAY SIMPLY NEED
MORE OPTIONS THAN THEY HAVE
TODAY AND PUT THEM TO WORK IN
THE OUTDOORS.
THE ORIGINAL WCC WAS A VERY
SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM.
WCC PROJECTS INCLUDED
CONSTRUCTION OF A DOCK ON THE
APOSTLE ISLANDS, ON LITTLE SAND
BAY, THAT'S STILL USED TODAY BY
THE PARK SERVICE.
THEY REBUILT THE SETH PETERSON
COTTAGE DESIGNED BY FRANK LLOYD
WRIGHT IN MUIR LAKE STATE PARK.
THEY WORKED WITH FIRE CREWS.
THEY PLANTED TREES.
THEY CLEANED UP FROM TORNADOES.
WE WANT TO BRING THAT BACK, BUT
WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT IN A WAY
THAT INVOLVES MANY MORE
PARTNERS.
AND WE BELIEVE THAT THAT WILL
MAKE A STRONGER PROGRAM
ULTIMATELY.
>> HOW MANY PEOPLE COULD
POTENTIALLY BE EMPLOYED THROUGH
WISCONSIN CONSERVATION CORPS.?
>> WELL, THERE'S PROBABLY NO
UPPER LIMIT.
I WOULD LOVE TO SEE 500 OF THESE
GREEN HARD HATS SITTING ON THE
HEADS OF YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE
NEXT FEW YEARS.
WE HAD ORIGINALLY ENVISIONED
THAT 240 MIGHT BE A WORKABLE
NUMBER IN THE FIRST YEAR OR TWO
OF THE PROGRAM.
>> THE IDEA OF CONSERVATION
CORPS. DURING THESE ECONOMIC
TIMES WOULD BE SIMILAR TO THE
CIVILIAN CONSERVATION CORPS.
DURING THE DEPRESSION.
THE TIMING SEEMS EXTREMELY RIGHT
ECONOMICALLY.
BUT WHY DID THIS KIND OF WAIT SO
LONG TO GET THROUGH THE PROCESS
THIS SESSION?
>> WELL, WE HAD MANY PRIORITIES
THIS SESSION.
THE FIRST ONE WAS DEALING WITH A
HISTORIC STATE BUDGET DEFICIT,
WHICH WE DID.
IN THE LEGISLATURE WE'VE HAD A
VERY STRONG AGENDA FOR
REBUILDING JOBS, GETTING PEOPLE
BACK TO WORK, HELPING RESTORE
THE ECONOMY.
AND THIS WAS PART OF THAT.
UNFORTUNATELY, BRINGING THE
PARTNERSHIPS IN PLACE AND
DESIGNING THIS LEGISLATION
DIDN'T QUITE HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO
GET IT DONE THIS SESSION.
BUT WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK ON
THAT.
>> WHAT DOES HAPPEN TO THE IDEA
NOW?
>> WE'LL HAVE THE CHANCE TO
CONTINUE WORKING WITH THE
NONPROFIT AND THE AGENCY
PARTNERS WHO HAVE HAVE BEEN
SUPPORTIVE OF THIS.
WE'LL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO
REFINE THE PROPOSAL AND
ULTIMATELY REINTRODUCE
LEGISLATION IN THE NEXT SESSION.
MEANWHILE, THERE ARE SEVERAL
GROUPS TODAY IN THE NONPROFIT
WORLD WHO ARE RUNNING WCC-LIKE
PROGRAMS AND WE WANT TO SUPPORT
THEM AND ALLOW THEM TO CONTINUE
TO BUILD CAPACITY SO WHEN WE CAN
FINALLY BRING THIS PROGRAM BACK,
THEY'RE AVAILABLE TO BE PART OF
THAT.
>> FRED CLARK, THANKS VERY MUCH
FOR JOINING US.
>> THANKS, FREDERICA.
>> THE LEGISLATURE PASSED AND
PASSED BY BILLS THIS WEEK DURING
TWO DOWN TO THE LAST MINUTE
ALL-NIGHT ERS.
PETER LEIDY SAID IT REMINDED HIM
OF A SONG, "WAIT TILL THE
MIDNIGHT HOUR."
HERE'S TONIGHT'S "END INSIGHT"
AND PETER LEIDY.
? THEY HAD TO WAIT TILL THE
MIDNIGHT HOUR
? WHEN THE SESSION WAS ALMOST
DONE.
? STAYED UP WAY PAST THE
MIDNIGHT HOUR
? DID NOT GET TOO MUCH DONE.
? THAT LEGISLATURE, OOH,
? WHAT DID THEY DO FOR ME AND
YOU
? IN THE MIDNIGHT HOUR?
? ELECTION REFORM, CLEAN ENERGY
BILL
? HAD TO WAIT TILL THE MIDNIGHT
HOUR.
? THE DEMS CONTROL BOTH HOUSES
? BUT STILL COULDN'T PASS IT IN
THE MIDNIGHT HOUR.
? OR MAYBE THEY DON'T WANT TO.
? WHAT ARE WE PAYING THESE
PEOPLE TO DO
? IN THE MIDNIGHT HOUR?
? SOME SAY WE DID THE BEST THAT
WE COULD.
? WE GOT RAW MILK!
? WE CENSURED JEFF WOOD!
? GOT PAYDAY LENDER REGULATION.
? PASSED A BILL TO REFORM
EDUCATION.
? BUT SO MUCH WORK WAS LEFT
UNDONE.
? WHEN THEY ADJOURNED TO THE
RISING SUN
? IN THE MIDNIGHT HOUR.
? WHAT DID THEY DO FOR ME AND
YOU?
? SOMEBODY TELL ME 'CAUSE I
AIN'T GOT A CLUE.
? LET'S ORDER PIZZA, IT'S
QUARTER TO 2:00
? IN THE MIDNIGHT HOUR ?
? IN THE MIDNIGHT HOUR.
>> PETER LEIDY.
PETER MAY BE A SINGER, BUT HE IS
A COMMENTATOR.
HIS SONGS REFLECT HIS OWN
OPINION.
PETER WILL BE BACK NEXT MONTH
WITH A NEW TUNE.
SOME FINAL THOUGHTS THIS WEEK ON
THE MAN WHO STARTED EARTH DAY, A
FORMER WISCONSIN U.S. GOVERNOR
AND SENATOR, THE LATE GAYLORD
NELSON.
NELSON PASSED AWAY IN JULY OF
2005.
JUST A COUPLE WEEKS LATER, HIS
MANY FRIENDS, FAMILY AND FANS
FILLED THE CAPITOL ROTUNDA.
WHAT FOLLOWED WAS A TRIBUTE.
HERE'S U.S. REPRESENTATIVE DAVID
OBEY.
>> NELSON MADE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND
IT WAS NOT JUST ABOUT BIRDS AND
FISH AND WILDLIFE AND NATURAL
BEAUTY.
HE DROVE HOME THE POINT THAT THE
MOST FUNDAMENTAL BOND BETWEEN US
AS BIOLOGICAL CREATURES ON THIS
PLANET IS THROUGH THE COMMON AIR
WE BREATHE, THE WATER WE BRINK,
THE LAND WE WALK, AND THAT THE
MOST BASIC TEST OF OUR RESPECT
FOR ONE ANOTHER, FOR THOSE WHO
HAVE GONE BEFORE AND FOR THOSE
WHO WILL COME AFTER, IS IS THE
WAY WE MEET OUR STEWARDSHIP
RESPONSIBILITIES TO THE
ECOSYSTEM THAT SUSTAINS US ALL.
>> CONGRESSMAN DAVEY BYE
SPEAKING AT GAYLORD NELSON'S
MEMORIAL SERVICE.
THAT'S ALL FOR TONIGHT'S
PROGRAM.
THERE IS SOME ELECTION NEWS
BREWING FOR NEXT WEEK, AN
ANNOUNCEMENT SCHEDULED FOR
MONDAY BY A MAN WITH A FAMILIAR
NAME, LEINENKUGEL, WHO SAYS HE'S
READY TO TAP INTO THE RACE FOR
U.S. SENATE.
MONDAY BE SURE TO TUNE INTO A
PROGRAM, WHERE A FEDERAL
RESEARCH PROGRAM SAYS TOO MUCH
SALT IS BAD WITH YOUR HEALTH.
THAT IS THE TOPIC WITH PATRICK
REMINGTON, PROFESSOR AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON.
THAT'S WISCONSIN MORNING ON
WISCONSIN PUBLIC RADIO.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.
? ?
>> PRESENTATION OF HERE AND NOW
IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY THE
ANIMAL DENTAL CENTER 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
H&N IS PROVIDED BY THE LE
PHILLIPS FAMILY FOUNDATION.