>> PRESENTATION OF "HERE AND
NOW" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART
BY THE ANIMAL DENTISTRY AND
ORAL SURGERY SPECIALISTS OF
OSHKOSH.
WORKING THROUGHOUT WISCONSIN
PROVIDING CARE FOR ORAL DISEASE
AND DENTAL PROBLEMS OF SMALL
COMPANION ANIMALS.
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FOR "HERE
AND NOW" IS FROM THE PHILLIPS
FOUNDATION.
>> I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
DON'T ON "HERE AND NOW" AN
UNEXPECTED ANNOUNCEMENT SENT
POLITICAL SHOCK WAVES FROM
WASHINGTON TO WISCONSIN.
SOON TO BE FORMER CONGRESSMAN
DAVID OBEY JOINS US IN A MOMENT.
ALSO A PRICE CHECK ON MILK AND
THE IMPACT ON CURRENT MILK
PRICES ON DAIRY FARMERS.
PART ONE ON HOW BELOIT IS
TRYING TO LOWER ITS
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE, THE HIGHEST
IN THE STATE.
WITH COMMENCEMENT RIGHT AROUND
THE CORNER WE'LL HEAR WHAT THE
JOB MARKET LOOKS LIKE FOR
COLLEGE GRADS.
ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL
MEMBERS OF CONGRESS ANNOUNCED
HE WOULD NOT SEEK REELECTION IN
THE FALL.
WAUSAU DEMOCRAT AND CHAIR OF
THE HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS
COMMITTEE DAVE OBEY ANNOUNCED
WEDNESDAY HE WAS BONE TIRED.
IT WAS SOMEONE ELSE'S TURN.
THE HARD CHARGING PROGRESSIVE
HAS REPRESENTED WISCONSIN'S 7th
DISTRICT SINCE 1969.
LESS THAN 24 HOURS AFTER HIS
ANNOUNCEMENT "HERE AND NOW"
REPORTER ART HACKETT TALKED
WITH OBEY VIA SATELLITE FROM
WASHINGTON
>> CONGRESSMAN OBEY, THANK YOU
FOR JOINING US.
WHAT'S IT LIKE THE MORNING
AFTER YOU MADE YOUR BIG
DECISION?
>> WELL, AS I SAID, FREE AT
LAST, FREE AT LAST, THANK GOD
I'M FREE AT LAST.
I'M GLAD THE DECISION IS MADE
AND AFTER 48 YEARS, I THINK
IT'S TIME TO LET SOMEBODY ELSE
HAVE A SHOT AT IT.
>> TELL US ABOUT THE MOMENT
WHEN THE DECISION CRYSTALLIZED
AND YOU SAID I'M GOING TO
RETIRE.
>> I DON'T THINK THERE WAS ANY
SUCH MOMENT.
I HAD WANTED TO RETIRE IN 2000
AFTER GEORGE BUSH WAS ELECTED.
AND THEN AFTER I SAW THE
ARROGANCE OF THAT
ADMINISTRATION ON THE WAR AND
ON A LOT OF OTHER THINGS I
CHANGED MY MIND.
AND AGAIN, I WANTED TO -- I'VE
TOLD PEOPLE FOR YEARS THAT I
WANTED TO LEAVE BUT I DIDN'T
WANT TO LEAVE BEFORE WE HAD
HEALTHCARE DONE.
HEALTHCARE IS NOW DONE.
I ALSO DIDN'T WANT TO HAVE TO
GO THROUGH ANOTHER
REAPPORTIONMENT CYCLE.
ANYONE WHO KNOWS ABOUT THAT
KNOWS IT TAKES HOURS A DAY.
I JUST DID NOT WANT TO DO THAT
ANYMORE.
>> MY NEXT QUESTION WAS GOING
TO BE HOW MANY TIMES DID YOU
TALK YOURSELF OUT OF IT?
IT SOUNDS LIKE THE ANSWER IS A
LOT.
>> YEAH.
I MEAN, YOU GO BACK AND FORTH.
I'M GOING TO MISS THE PEOPLE
HERE.
I'M GOING TO MISS THE
OPPORTUNITY TO DO THINGS THAT
I'VE ALWAYS BEEN ABLE TO DO FOR
THE STATE AND THE DISTRICT, BUT
SOONER OR LATER YOU JUST GET
WORN DOWN AND AS I SAID EARLIER
IN AN INTERVIEW YEARS AGO WHEN
I WAS ASKED HOW I THOUGHT A
GOOD POLITICIAN OUGHT TO DEAL
WITH CAREER CHOICES, I SAID
LOOK, YOU OUGHT TO JUST BE USED
UP IN THE THINGS THAT YOU
BELIEVE IN AND WHEN YOU'RE USED
UP, THEN YOU OUGHT TO STEP
ASIDE AND LET SOMEBODY ELSE
HAVE A SHOT AT IT.
AND AFTER 48 YEARS I FRANKLY
FEEL USED UP.
>> RIGHT AFTER YOU SAID
YESTERDAY I'M BONE TIRED, YOU
LET GO WITH A FLURRY OF PUNCHES
AGAINST WHOEVER THE REPUBLICAN
CANDIDATE IS GOING TO BE.
ARE YOU STILL ITCHING FOR A
FIGHT?
>> I DON'T ITCH FOR A FIGHT BUT
I CERTAINLY DON'T RUN AWAY FROM
THEM AND TO ME CAMPAIGNS ARE
SUPPOSED TO BE ABOUT POSITIVE
THINGS, POSITIVE DIFFERENCES.
UNFORTUNATELY THEY'VE
DEGENERATED INTO MUCH MORE
NASTY THINGS.
BUT I WILL CONTINUE TO SPEAK
OUT FRANKLY.
I DON'T -- I DIDN'T GO INTO
POLITICS TO MUSH MOUTH AROUND
AND I DON'T THINK PEOPLE WANT
YOU TO MUSH MOUTH AROUND.
IF YOU'RE GOING TO ASK SOMEBODY
FOR THEIR VOTE THEY OUGHT TO
HAVE A CLEAR IDEA OF WHERE YOU
STAND.
>> YOU ALSO SPOKE ABOUT YOUR
CONCERNS OVER THE LEGISLATIVE
PROCESS AND THAT THERE WERE A
LOT OF IMPEDIMENTS BUILT IN
THAT STOPPED CONGRESS FROM
GETTING THE JOB DONE THAT THE
PEOPLE ELECTED THEM TO DO.
HELP US UNDERSTAND THAT
FRUSTRATION.
>> WELL, WHAT I SPECIFICALLY
FOCUSED ON WAS THAT I WAS
SIMPLY TIRED OF HAVING TO
EXPLAIN TO PEOPLE DAY AFTER DAY
AFTER DAY THAT YES, THE HOUSE
PASSED THIS, THE HOUSE PASSED
THAT, BUT THE SENATE, BECAUSE
OF THEIR SILLY 60-VOTE RULE
WERE ABLE TO BLOCK VIRTUALLY
EVERYTHING.
I THINK THAT -- I THINK THE
FILIBUSTER -- THE ABUSE OF THE
FILIBUSTER AND THE ABILITY OF
SENATORS TO PUT HOLDS ON ALL
KINDS OF THINGS COMES CLOSE TO
MAKING THE U.S. SENATE A
NON-FUNCTIONING INSTITUTION.
>> DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW TO
FIX THAT?
I REALIZE IT IS NOT YOUR HOUSE.
>> YEAH, CHANGE THE RULES.
CHANGE THE RULES.
THEY HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO DO
THAT AT THE BEGINNING OF EVERY
SESSION.
I WOULD HOPE THEY WOULD DO IT.
BUT THAT'S NOT THE MAIN PROBLEM.
MY MAIN FRUSTRATION IS THAT --
IS THAT WE HAVE HAD GOVERNMENT
FOLLOW POLICIES OVER THE LAST
30 YEARS THAT HAVE PRODUCED THE
LARGEST TRANSFER OF INCOME UP
THE INCOME SCALE IN THE HISTORY
OF THE COUNTRY.
THAT'S THE WRONG DIRECTION.
WHEN YOU SEE THAT FOR SIX YEARS
UNDER GEORGE BUSH YOU HAD OVER
90% OF ALL THE INCOME GROWTH IN
THE COUNTRY GO TO THE
WEALTHIEST 10% OF PEOPLE IN
THIS COUNTRY THAT'S HAYWIRE AND
MY BIGGEST REGRET IS THAT WE
WERE NOT ABLE TO TURN THAT
AROUND.
I HOPE THAT PRESIDENT OBAMA AND
HIS ALLIES IN CONGRESS IN THE
YEARS TO COME WILL BE ABLE TO
DO THAT.
>> YOU HAVE PROBABLY HEARD THE
COMMENTS RECENTLY THAT SOME
REPUBLICANS IN PARTICULAR ARE
CONCERNED THAT PEOPLE AT THE
LOW END OF THE SCALE PERHAPS
AREN'T PAYING ENOUGH IN TAXES.
TOO MANY PEOPLE--
>> ABSOLUTE BULL--
>> ABSOLUTE BULL GRAVY.
PEOPLE AT THE LOW END OF THE
INCOME SCALE MAY NOT PAY INCOME
TAXES.
THEY PAY SALES TAXES, PROPERTY
TAXES, THEY PAY EXCISE TAXES.
THE FACT IS WHEN YOU'VE GOT THE
TOP 10% OF THE PEOPLE IN THIS
COUNTRY OWNING 50% OF THE
WEALTH, PARDON ME, BUT I'M NOT
GOING TO WORRY ABOUT HOW WE CAN
RAISE THE TAX LEVEL ON THE
POOREST PEOPLE IN THIS SOCIETY.
THAT'S JUST NUTS.
>> WITH THE LENGTH OF YOUR TIME
IN CONGRESS, YOU LISTED A WHOLE
BUNCH OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
DO YOU WANT TO SINGLE OUT ONE
THAT YOU MOST WANT TO HAVE DAVE
OBEY'S NAME ATTACHED TO?
>> I'D SAY THE THING I'M MOST
PROUD OF IS A LOSING FIGHT.
WHEN WE FOUGHT TO STOP THE
REAGAN BUDGETS IN THE 80s WHICH
STARTED THIS COUNTRY DOWN THE
ROAD TO FISCAL DRUNKENNESS.
THAT TO ME WAS THE BIGGEST
ECONOMIC DISASTER OF MY
POLITICAL CAREER.
AND I WISH THAT WE HAD BEEN
ABLE TO STOP IT.
I GUESS SECOND WOULD BE THAT
I'M PROUD OF THE FACT THAT I
HELPED SHEPHERD THROUGH THE
HOUSE, IN FACT, LED THE EFFORT
IN THE HOUSE, TO PASS THE
BIGGEST EXPANSION OF EDUCATION
BENEFITS FOR VETERANS SINCE THE
ORIGINAL G.I. BILL WAS PASSED
AND I'M FRANKLY PROUD OF THE
FACT THAT I WAS THE MAJOR
AUTHOR OF THE ECONOMIC RECOVERY
PACKAGE WHICH, DESPITE ALL OF
THE PARTISAN SNIPING AT IT, HAS
HELPED TURN THE COUNTRY AROUND
SO THAT INSTEAD OF LOSING
700,000 JOBS A MONTH, WE'RE NOW
GAINING ROUGHLY 200,000 JOBS A
MONTH.
THAT'S NOT ENOUGH BUT AT LEAST
WE'VE TURNED THE CORNER ON THE
BUSH RECESSION.
>> THE FLIP SIDE OF THAT IS
THERE MUST BE SOMETHING YOU'RE
LEAVING ON THE TABLE, A JOB YOU
DIDN'T GET DONE.
>> YEAH, THE JOB I DIDN'T GET
DONE IS TO REVERSE THE TREND
WHICH HAS PUT NINE OUT OF EVERY
$10 OF INCOME GROWTH IN THIS
COUNTRY OF THE POCKETS OF THE
PEOPLE WHO NEED IT LEAST, THE
TOP 10%.
I'M VERY UNHAPPY ABOUT THE FACT
I COULDN'T GET THAT DONE AND
I'M ALSO UNHAPPY ABOUT THE FACT
THAT WE'VE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO
ACHIEVE PUBLIC FINANCES OF
CAMPAIGNS.
CAMPAIGNS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE A
PUBLIC EVENT, NOT A PRIVATE
AUCTION AND THANKS TO, AGAIN,
TO THE MOST RECENT OUTRAGEOUS
DECISIONS ON THE PART OF THE
U.S. SUPREME COURT THEY'VE
TURNED OVER THE ELECTOR ALL
PROCESS TO THE CORPORATE GIANTS
OF THIS COUNTRY AND THAT'S A
CRYING SHAME.
>> YOU'RE LEAVING SOME BIG
SHOES TO FILL.
WHAT IS YOUR ADVICE TO THE
DEMOCRAT WHO IS GOING TO BE
RUNNING IN YOUR DISTRICT IN
NOVEMBER?
>> MY ADVICE IS TO REMEMBER
THAT YOU'VE GOT TO DEAL WITH
PEOPLE IN LIFE WHO HAVEN'T WON
EVERY DAY.
THIS ECONOMY DOES PRETTY WELL
BY PEOPLE WHO ARE CONSTANT
WINNERS.
BUT THERE ARE AN AWFUL LOT OF
PEOPLE WHO NEED SOME HELP.
THE OTHER THING I WOULD SAY IS
WISCONSIN ITSELF HAS A SERIOUS
PROBLEM.
WHEN I WAS IN THE LEGISLATURE
ABOUT 1,000 YEARS AGO,
WISCONSIN AND MINNESOTA WERE
VERY CLOSE TO EACH OTHER IN
TERMS OF PER CAPITA INCOME.
TODAY MINNESOTA HAS A VERY
LARGE LEAD.
ONE OF THE REASONS FOR THAT IS
THAT VIRTUALLY EVERY YEAR THE
PERCENTAGE OF POPULATION IN
MINNESOTA THAT IS COLLEGE
GRADUATE HAS INCREASED AND LEFT
WISCONSIN FAR BEHIND ON THAT
SCORE.
WISCONSIN IS NOT GOING TO HAVE
THE KIND OF HEALTHY ECONOMY IT
NEEDS TO HAVE UNLESS WE HAVE A
MUCH HARDER FOCUS ON THE NEED
TO EXPAND EDUCATIONAL
OPPORTUNITY FOR WORKING PEOPLE
OVER THE NEXT DECADE.
>> WE HAD AN EDITORIAL IN THE
LOCAL PAPER HERE IN MADISON
YESTERDAY SAYING YOU KNOW,
THERE ARE A LOT OF SEATS IN THE
LEGISLATURE WHERE THERE IS NOT
A CANDIDATE AND WE NEED TO GET
SOME GOOD PEOPLE TO STEP UP.
DAVE OBEY INTERESTED IN RUNNING
FOR A STATE HOUSE JOB?
>> YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING.
IF PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW WHY SO
FEW PEOPLE RUN FOR SOME OF
THOSE OFFICES, IT'S SIMPLY
BECAUSE I THINK POLITICS HAS
BECOME SO NASTY YOUR FAMILY
WILL SAY WHY ON EARTH DO YOU
WANT TO DO THAT?
WHY DO YOU WANT TO SUBJECT
YOURSELF AND US TO THAT?
IN MY OWN CASE I'VE HAD PEOPLE
ATTACK MY FAMILY.
THEY DIDN'T THINK THEY COULD
GET AT ME SO THEY TRY TO SCUFF
UP MY FAMILY.
THAT JUST SHOULDN'T HAPPEN AND
IT MAKES IT VERY HARD TO GET --
TO ENTICE PEOPLE TO RUN FOR
OFFICE AND BRING GOOD NEW BLOOD
INTO THE SYSTEM.
>> LAST QUESTION.
WHY DID YOU STAY?
>> BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT THERE
ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT NEED
DOING IN THIS SOCIETY.
I LOVE THE IDEA OF PUBLIC
SERVICE.
I MEAN, BOB LAFOLLETTE DEFINED
WHAT PUBLIC SERVICE WAS
SUPPOSED TO BE IN THE STATE OF
WISCONSIN.
AND HE BECAME A MODEL ALL
OVERBROAD SECTIONS OF THE
COUNTRY.
JUST BECAUSE SOME CLOWNS SCREW
UP THE PROCESS DOESN'T MEAN
THAT YOU SHOULDN'T TRY TO HANG
IN THERE AND MAKE IT RIGHT.
THAT'S WHAT I DID FOR 48 YEARS.
AND NOW I THINK IT'S TIME FOR
SOMEBODY ELSE.
>> CONGRESSMAN DAVE OBEY.
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US
AND CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR
RETIREMENT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> IN ECONOMIC NEWS FARMERS ARE
IN THE FIELDS NOW.
THE SEASONAL CYCLE OF PLANT AND
SOW STARTS ANEW.
WHAT ABOUT DAIRY FARMERS WHO
SAW MILK PRICES IN THE TANK.
THE BREAK EVEN MARK IS $15 PER
HUNDRED POUNDS OF MILK THEY
SELL.
PRICES WERE UP TO $20 BEFORE
SINKING TO $10 LAST YEAR.
THEY'RE BACK TO $14.
WE CHECKED IN A ONE DANE COUNTY
DAIRYMAN WHO A YEAR AGO WORRIED
HE'D HAVE TO SELL OFF COWS TO
STAY ABOVE WATER.
THIS SPRING THINGS ARE LOOKING
UP A LITTLE.
>> DAIRY FARMERS ARE STRUGGLING.
THE MILK PRICES HAVE BEEN LOW
FOR ABOUT 18 MONTHS AND THEY'RE
NOT UP WHERE THEY OUGHT TO BE.
THEY HAVE IMPROVED FROM LAST
YEAR, BUT IT'S REALLY
FRUSTRATING.
WE HAD A LITTLE PROBLEM GETTING
FINANCING.
WE DIDN'T GET FINANCED FULLY
LIKE WE HAD HOPED TO.
I THINK MOST DAIRY FARMERS ARE
A LITTLE BIT BEHIND PAYING
THEIR FEED BILLS AND THEIR
MONTH-TO-MONTH BILLS.
NOW COMES SPRING WHEN WE NEED
TO BUY INPUT SEED, FERTILIZER
AND HIRE SPRAYING DONE AND
WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO ACQUIRE A
CERTAIN LEVEL OF CAPITAL.
NOT AS MUCH AS WE HAD HOPED TO.
AND I THINK WE'RE IN THE SAME
BOAT AS A LOT OF DAIRY FARMERS
ARE.
>> WHEN YOU SAY THAT PRICES
HAVE IMPROVED SOME, HAVE THEY
IMPROVED TO THE POINT WHERE
FARMERS ARE ABLE YET TO BREAK
EVEN OR EVEN PROFIT A LITTLE?
>> I THINK IT DEPENDS ON YOUR
OPERATION.
EVERY FARM IS DIFFERENT.
IT DEPENDS ON THE DEBT LOAD
YOU'RE CARRYING.
AND SOME PEOPLE'S POINT OF
BREAK EVEN IS DIFFERENT THAN
OTHERS.
I KNOW OURS IS IN THE 16 TO $17
RANGE AND WE HAVEN'T SEEN THOSE
KIND OF PRICES YET.
OUR INPUT COSTS ARE DOWN.
THAT IS ONE THING THAT IS
DIFFERENT FROM A YEAR AGO.
FUEL COSTS ARE DOWN AND
FERTILIZER PRICES ARE DOWN AS
WELL.
SO I THINK SEED IS UP A LITTLE
BIT THIS YEAR AND WE'LL JUST
HAVE TO GO -- PUT ONE FOOT IN
FRONT OF THE OTHER.
GO A STEP AT A TIME.
>> BRIAN SAYS HE FEELS LIKE
WASHINGTON FORGOT ABOUT DAIRY
FARMERS WHEN IT CAME TO FEDERAL
HELP IN THE DOWNTURN CITING
BAIL-OUTS FOR BANKS AND
CARMAKERS.
TODAY THE FEDERAL LABOR
DEPARTMENT REPORTS THAT U.S.
EMPLOYMENT INCREASED BY 290,000
JOBS IN APRIL.
THAT FIGURE IS WELL ABOVE
PROJECTIONS.
THE JOB NUMBERS ARE LIKELY
WATCHED MORE CLOSELY IN BELOIT
THAN ANY OTHER WISCONSIN CITY.
THAT'S BECAUSE THE MOST RECENT
NUMBERS SHOW BELOIT'S
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE AT 18.2%.
THE HIGHEST IN THE STATE.
PUTTING THAT IN PERSPECTIVE,
FLINT MICHIGAN'S NUMBER IS 16.3.
ART HACKETT WENT TO BELOIT TO
ASK ONE BASIC QUESTION.
WHY?
>> WHEN BELOIT -- THE
OPPORTUNITY'S INDUSTRIALIZATION
CENTER WHO HAS ASSISTED THE
UNEMPLOYED SINCE 1990 HAS GONE
OUT OF BUSINESS AND IT IS NOT
BECAUSE ITS JOB IS DONE.
>> IT HURTS BECAUSE PEOPLE
STILL COME TO THIS PLACE THAT
HAS BEEN CLOSED AND THE DOORS
ARE CLOSED.
>> WALTER KNIGHT BECAME THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECT FOR FOLLOWING
A CAREER AS A MACHINIST
BUILDING ENGINES AT FAIRBANKS
MORRIS AND A STINT AS PRESIDENT
OF THE UNION LOCAL WHICH
REPRESENTS THAT COMPANY'S
WORKERS.
FAIRBANKS MORRIS ONCE EMPLOYED
OVER 5,000 PEOPLE.
THE CURRENT PAYROLL IS 350.
OIC IS PART OF A NATIONAL
ORGANIZATION WHICH DATES BACK
TO 1964.
OIC BEGAN DURING THE WAR ON
POVERTY AND OPERATED WITH
FEDERAL JOB TRAINING FUNDS AND
HELP FROM LOCAL CORPORATIONS.
BUT THE PLAQUE THANKING
CONTRIBUTORS OIC HELP THEM BUY
THEIR BUILDING IN 1990 TELLS
THE TALE.
MANY OF THE FIRMS HONORED HAVE
DOWNSIZED OR CLOSED COMPLETELY.
>> WHAT I SEE AGAIN IS CAUGHT
UP IN THE SIGNS OF THE TIME.
WE'VE LOST 100% OF NATIONAL,
FEDERAL AND STATE FUNDING.
99% OF CORPORATE-BASED SUPPORT
LOST.
AGAIN, DUE TO PLANT DOWNSIZING,
CLOSING AND IT JUST BECOME
FINANCIALLY IMPOSSIBLE FOR OIC
TO SURVIVE WITH THOSE KIND OF
LOSSES.
>> THE TIMES.
WALTER KNIGHT USES THAT PHRASE
A LOT.
>> I THINK WE JUST ARE PART OF
THE TIME.
AS I MENTIONED, THE GLOBAL
MARKET AND THE COMPETITION.
WHEN YOU CAN GET IT DONE
CHEAPER IN OTHER PLACES, THAT'S
THE TREND.
AND I THINK TECHNOLOGY HAS
PLAYED A BIG PART OF IT, TOO.
>> 39-YEAR-OLD ANDRE HAS WORKED
AT A NUMBER OF FACTORY JOBS.
HE WAS LAID OFF AT WARNER
ELECTRIC IN SOUTH BELOIT,
ILLINOIS, IN JANUARY.
>> THE TECHNOLOGY WORLD IS
GROWING SO MUCH THAT THOSE
SIMPLE JOBS ARE NOT DONE BY
INDIVIDUALS, THEY'RE MACHINES
OR TAKING THREE OR FOUR PEOPLE
OFF A JOB NOW.
SO THEY'RE DOWNSIZING A LOT OF
THE COMPANIES BECAUSE THEY HAVE
A LOT MORE MACHINEING DOING THE
WORK THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE USED
TO DO.
>> BELOIT'S PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN
IN THE WORKS FOR DECADES.
UNEMPLOYMENT SPIKED, THEN
RECOVERED IN THE 90s.
BUT THE CITY NEVER GOT BACK ON
ITS FEET AFTER THE RECESSION OF
2002.
THE JOBLESS RATE FOR THIS
YEAR-TO-DATE IS 18.4%.
CITY OFFICIALS SAY THERE IS ONE
BIG REASON WHY.
G.M.
>> AND THE BAD NEWS IS THAT THE
G.M. PLANT ISN'T COMING BACK.
>> ADAMS IS AN ECONOMICS
PROFESSOR AND HAS ASSISTED THE
CITY ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
ISSUES.
EVEN THOUGH G.M.'S PLANT WAS IN
JANESVILLE MANY OF ITS WORKERS
LIVED IN BELOIT AND BELOIT SAW
A DISPROPORTIONATE EFFECT.
>> THE CITY OF BELOIT IS A VERY
SMALL PLACE, 35,000.
WE'RE SANDWICHED BETWEEN LARGER
PLACES.
WHEN THAT AUTOMOBILE INDUSTRY
KIND OF ROLLS OVER WE ARE
AFFECTED.
IT IS THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM
AND YOU'RE ALWAYS AFFECTED BY
ELEPHANTS WHEN THEY ROLL OVER.
>> ADAMS POINTS TO ANOTHER
LOCAL IMPACT OF THE AUTO
INDUSTRY'S PROBLEMS.
BELOITS WHEEL PLANT THAT CLOSED
LAST YEAR.
PART OF BELOIT'S PROBLEM ITS
GROWTH IS LIMITED BY GEOGRAPHY.
IT IS CRAMPED RIGHT UP AGAINST
A STATE LINE.
BELOIT CITY HALL IS JUST ONE
BLOCK AWAY FROM BEING IN
ILLINOIS.
SOME JOBS WHICH ARE CREATED
AREN'T FULLY REFLECTED IN THE
STATISTICS.
ADAMS NOTES THAT WHEN CARRIE
FOOD INGREDIENTS OPENED A
RESEARCH CENTER IN BELOIT THE
FIRM BROUGHT IN 500 HIGHLY
TRAINED FOOD CHEMISTS AND
MANAGERS FROM ELSEWHERE.
>> IF WE WERE TO LOOK AT THE
GREATER BELOIT AREA THE
UNEMPLOYMENT RATES WOULD BE
LOWER BUT PART OF THE GREATER
BELOIT AREA IS IN ILLINOIS AND
WE DO KNOW THAT BECAUSE OF THE
TAX DIFFERENTIAL BETWEEN
WISCONSIN AND ILLINOIS MANY OF
THE SALARIED PEOPLE WHO ARE
LESS SUBJECT TO RECESSIONARY
MOVES LIVE IN ILLINOIS AND WE
TEND TO GET THE HOURLY PEOPLE
IN THE CITY OF BELOIT.
>> IT IS THE HOURLY WORKERS WHO
ARE SUBJECT TO A LOCAL
RECESSION THAT IS NOW NEARING A
DECADE IN LENGTH.
>> THE NUMBERS AREN'T THERE FOR
THE PEOPLE THEY'RE HIRING.
IT LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE BRINGING
IN PLACES BUT IF THEY'RE NOT
HIRING THE PEOPLE IT'S NOT
HELPING.
>> SAYING THEY'LL OPEN UP A
G.M. ELECTRIC MOTOR PLANT.
THEY'LL HIRE 30 PEOPLE.
THAT'S NOT EVEN A DROP IN THE
BUCKET WHEN YOU CONSIDER G.M.
HAD CLOSE TO 6,000 PEOPLE
WORKING.
>> SOME OF THE SERVICES ONCE
PROVIDED BY OIC ARE NOW OFFERED
THROUGH A NEW PROGRAM AT
BLACKHAWK TECH.
IF SOME OF THE DISPLACED
WORKERS ENROLLED IN THE PROGRAM
SOUND OVERWHELMED SO AT TIMES
IS THE SYSTEM TO HELP THEM GET
ON THEIR FEET.
BOB SAYS THAT'S WHERE A PROGRAM
WITH OIC IS MISSED.
>> IT BECOME A SAFE HAVEN FOR
PEOPLE TO GET ONE-ON-ONE
SUPPORT AS THEY WENT THROUGH
THEIR EDUCATIONAL PROCESS.
I THINK THAT'S A GOOD THING AND
I'M DISAPPOINTED THAT WE ARE
NOT ABLE TO GO BACK TO THAT.
>> THE STUDENTS WEREN'T LOOKING
FOR A JOB AT THIS POINT AS MUCH
AS THEY WERE LOOKING FOR AN
EDUCATION THAT WOULD PREPARE
THEM FOR A JOB AT SOME POINT
WHEN THE ECONOMY RECOVERS.
>> JUST TRY TO GET A GOOD,
STABLE JOB THAT IS GOING TO BE
GOOD FOR MY FAMILY AND BE ABLE
TO PROVIDE FOR THEM.
RIGHT NOW BEING ON UNEMPLOYMENT
YOU DON'T KNOW FROM DAY-TO-DAY
WHETHER YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE
THE MEANS TO TAKE CARE OF THAT.
AND BE ABLE TO GO TO SCHOOL.
>> ANDRE WAS A CLIENT OF OIC'S
EARLIER IN HIS LIFE.
HE'S NOW ENROLLED AT BLACKHAWK
TECH, TOO.
>> DO YOU KNOW WHERE YOU WANT
TO GO AT THIS POINT?
>> IT'S TOUGH TO KNOW.
RIGHT NOW I JUST WANT A JOB,
REALLY.
BUT, YOU KNOW, I REALLY WOULD
LIKE TO DO SOMETHING PERMANENT
AND NOT JUST THE WHOLE THING
WHAT CAN YOU DO SAY FOR THE
REST OF MY LIFE.
>> TOGETHER WITH OUR COLLEAGUES
AT WISCONSIN PUBLIC RADIO WE'LL
BE FILING REPORTS FROM ALL OVER
ROCK COUNTY IN THE COMING WEEKS.
STORIES HELPED TO FRAME LIFE
THERE POST GENERAL MOTORS.
NEXT WEEK ART HACKETT EXPLORES
SOLUTIONS TO UNEMPLOYMENT IN
BELOIT AND TALKS TO ONE
EMPLOYER WHO WANTS TO EXPAND
HIS OPERATION BUT CANNOT.
WHAT ABOUT THOSE NEW TO THE JOB
MARKET, FRESH OUT OF COLLEGE?
NEW GRADUATES ARE FLOODING THE
MARKET WITH RESUMES AND
APPLICATIONS.
WHAT ARE THE PROSPECTS THIS
YEAR COMPARED TO LAST.
WE TURN TO LESLIE KOHLBERG.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> WHAT ARE THE EMPLOYMENT
PROSPECTS?
>> THE NUMBERS ARE LOOKING GOOD
FOR GRADUATES.
THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR
COLLEGES AND EMPLOYERS WHO
TRACK PLACEMENT RATES ARE
SEEING A 5.3% INCREASE IN
HIRING, WHICH IS CONSIDERING
LAST SPRING WAS A NEGATIVE 22%,
THEY'RE FEELING VERY OPTIMISTIC.
WE'VE SEEN A NUMBER OF JOB
LISTINGS AND INTERNSHIP
POSTINGS AND THE EMPLOYERS ARE
FLOODING TO OUR CAREER FAIRS
YET THERE ARE SOME VERY REAL
CHALLENGES AND ALSO SOME
PERCEPTIONS ON THE PART OF
STUDENTS THAT TELL ANOTHER
STORY.
>> WHAT IS THAT STORY?
>> WELL, LAST SPRING WHEN WE
SAW A MAJOR CRASH, WE EXPECTED
STUDENTS TO BE FLOCKING INTO
OUR OFFICE AND IT WAS LITERALLY
A GHOST TOWN.
AND WE CHECKED WITH OUR
COLLEAGUES AND ALL AROUND THE
STATE AND ALL AROUND THE
COUNTRY THEY WERE SEEING THE
SAME PATTERN AND WHAT THEY WERE
SEEING WAS THAT STUDENTS FELT
THEY COULD NOT COMPETE IN THIS
MARKET.
THAT THEY WERE, YOU KNOW, THEY
MADE OTHER PLANS.
THEY ALREADY DECIDED TO
FORECLOSE ON THEIR OPTIONS AND
THEY EITHER DELAYED GRADUATION,
WENT TO GRAD SCHOOL, STAYED
WITH THEIR SURVIVAL JOB, AND
JUST -- A GAP YEAR EXPERIENCE.
MANY TAUGHT ENGLISH OVER SEAS.
TEACH FOR AMERICA AND THIS FALL
THEY'RE BACK AND IN ADDITION
WE'RE SEEING FRESHMEN SO I FEEL
LIKE STUDENTS HAVE AN IDEA --
AN OPTIMISTIC VIEW OF WHAT THE
JOB MARKET LOOKS LIKE BUT THE
COMPETITION IS TREMENDOUS.
AND THEIR EXPERIENCE IS VERY
DISHEARTENING AND WE'RE SEEING
STUDENTS DO EVERYTHING THEY CAN
AND NOT FINDING THAT FIRST-TIME
PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYMENT.
>> SO GIVEN THE COMPETITION,
WHAT IS THE BEST ADVICE TO
SOMEONE OUT THERE IN THAT WORLD
OF TRYING TO GET ONE OF THESE
JOBS?
>> I THINK THEY NEED TO FOCUS.
FIND A DIRECTION, BE VERY
FOCUSED AND FIND WAYS TO STAY
MOTIVATED AND KEEP THEIR
STAMINA UP BECAUSE THEY ARE
GOING TO EXPERIENCE A LOT OF
REJECTION.
WE'RE SEEING STUDENTS FROM LAST
YEAR WHO STOPPED LOOKING OR
DIDN'T HAVE A JOB OR MADE OTHER
PLANS.
THEY SEE THEIR COLLEAGUES AND
THEY HAVE EXPERIENCED WORKERS
THAT EVEN WITHIN NOT 20 PLUS
YEARS BUT EVEN JUST FIVE YEARS
EXPERIENCE AND EMPLOYERS SEE
THAT AS VERY DESIRABLE.
>> SO THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE
APPLYING WHO HAVE BEEN LAID OFF
AND NOW REENTERING THE JOB
MARKET ARE BETTER PROSPECTS FOR
EMPLOYERS THAN RECENT GRADS?
>> IT DEPENDS OB THE EMPLOYER.
EMPLOYERS WHO ARE SEEING
LOOMING RETIREMENTS EVEN THEY
SAY RETIREMENTS ARE DELAYED
FIVE TO SEVEN YEARS ON AVERAGE
THEY'RE INTERESTED IN NEW GRADS.
THEY NEED TO BUILD THE TALENT
PIPELINE.
>> WHAT ARE THE BEST FIELDS TO
BE LOOKING FOR WORK RIGHT NOW?
>> ACCOUNTING AND FINANCE,
INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH.
ENGINEERING, INSURANCE, RETAIL.
BUT YOU KNOW EVERYTHING IS VERY
SPECIFICALLY -- I DON'T THINK
PEOPLE SHOULD LOOK AT THE
NUMBERS AND LOOK AT THE HOT
CAREERS AND WHERE THE JOBS ARE.
THEY SHOULD REALLY DECIDE FOR
THEMSELVES WHERE THEY WANT TO
BE AND GET A FOOT IN THE DOOR.
DO ANYTHING TO GET IN.
DO AN UNPAID INTERNSHIP,
NETWORK, VOLUNTEER AND KEEP
DOING THAT.
>> WHAT ARE EXPERTS TELLING YOU
ABOUT WHEN THE PICTURE MIGHT
BRIGHTEN OR GET BACK, IF IT
EVER DOES, TO KIND OF
PRE-RECESSION LEVELS?
>> NUMBERS ARE INCREASINGLY
LOOKING GOOD BUT IT IS A VERY
SLOW.
UNEMPLOYMENT IS -- THAT'S A
DIFFERENT NUMBER THAN, SAY,
CONSUMER SPENDING.
OR THE REAL ESTATE MARKET.
SO THAT'S GOING TO TAKE A MUCH
LONGER TIME AND THEY MAY NOT
RETURN TO THE SAME LEVELS THAT
THEY WERE BUT THEY ARE -- THERE
ARE NEW INDUSTRIES BEING BUILT
AND PROJECTIONS, IN MY
EXPERIENCE, ARE NOT TO BE
BELIEVED.
PEOPLE NEED TO SET THEIR EYES
ON A GOAL AND KEEP THEIR EYES
ON THAT AND MOVE FORWARD.
>> WE WISH ALL OF THESE
GRADUATES AND ALL OTHERS
LOOKING FOR WORK GOOD LUCK.
THAT IS ALL FOR TONIGHT'S
PROGRAM.
NEXT WEEK ART HACKETT CONTINUES
HIS REPORTING FROM BELOIT ON
THE TOPIC OF JOBS.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.
CAPTIONS PRODUCED BY RIVERSIDE CAPTIONING COMPANY www.closed-captioning.com
>> PRESENTATION OF "HERE AND
NOW" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART
BY THE ANIMAL DENTISTRY AND
ORAL SURGERY SPECIALISTS OF
MILWAUKEE AND OSHKOSH.
THE VETERINARY TEAM WORKING
THROUGHOUT WISCONSIN PROVIDING
CARE FOR ORAL DISEASE AND
DENTAL PROBLEMS OF SMALL
COMPANION ANIMALS.
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FOR "HERE
AND NOW" IS PROVIDED BY THE
L.E. PHILLIPS FAMILY FOUNDATION.