>> 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," WE'LL
SORT THROUGH NEW LANGUAGE IN THE
STATE SMOKING BAN, LANGUAGE THAT
HAS CREATED A CLOUD OF
CONTROVERSY.
THE GROWING LIST OF LEGISLATORS
WHO WILL NOT RUN FOR REELECTION
IN THE FALL IS THE FOCUS OF
TONIGHT'S "CAPITOL INSIGHT"
SEGMENT.
WE'LL HAVE PART TWO OF ART
HACKETT'S SERIES ON THE SEARCH
FOR JOBS IN BELOIT.
AND LATER, WISCONSIN VIETNAM
VETERANS, IN THEIR OWN WORDS.
WE'LL HAVE A SPECIAL SNEAK
PREVIEW OF THE WISCONSIN VIETNAM
WAR STORIES DOCUMENTARY.
BUT FIRST, GOVERNOR JIM DOYLE
SIGNED OFF ON NEW LANGUAGE IN
THE STATE'S NO-SMOKING LAW ON
TUESDAY.
SOME CITIES ALREADY HAVE SMOKING
BANS, BUT THE NEW STATEWIDE
MEASURE MAKES SMOKING IN PUBLIC
PLACES AND WORKPLACES, INCLUDING
RESTAURANTS AND BARS, ILLEGAL
ACROSS WISCONSIN.
NOW, ALLOWANCES ARE MADE FOR
BARS AND RESTAURANTS TO ALLOW
SMOKERS TO LIGHT UP IN
UNENCLOSED SPACES LIKE OUTDOOR
PATIOS.
IT'S THAT DEFINITION OF ENCLOSED
SPACES THAT SOME SAY GIVES
BUSINESS OWNERS CREATIVE LICENSE
TO ALLOW SMOKING.
AN ENCLOSED SPACE MUST HAVE A
ROOF AND AT LEAST TWO
SUBSTANTIAL WALLS, A WALL WITH
NO OPENING OR AN OPEN OPENING OR
WINDOW THAT TAKES UP NO MORE
THAN 25% OF THE WALL'S SPACE.
THE TAVERN LEAGUE OF WISCONSIN'S
ATTORNEY SAYS THIS MEANS SOME
WELL-PLACED WINDOWS ON A COUPLE
OF THOSE WALLS MEANS THAT THE
SPACE IS NO LONGER ENCLOSED AND
SMOKING COULD BE PERMITTED.
THE TAVERN LEAGUE WAS UNABLE TO
PROVIDE A SPOKESPERSON FOR
TONIGHT'S SEGMENT.
EARLIER TODAY, I TALKED WITH
MAUREEN BUSALACCHI, THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF SMOKE-FREE
WISCONSIN, WHO HAD HER OWN
OPINION ABOUT THIS SO-CALLED
LOOPHOLE.
>> I DON'T THINK IT'S NECESSARY.
28, 30 STATES HAVE ALREADY GONE
SMOKE-FREE ACROSS THE COUNTRY
AND A LOT OF THEM HAVE SNOW JUST
LIKE WISCONSIN AND THERE'S NO
NEED TO BUILD SOME OUTDOOR
STRUCTURE FOR SMOKERS.
IT'S FINE TO HAVE SOME SORT OF
PATIO, MAYBE AN AWNING, YOU
KNOW, TO HELP KEEP THE RAIN AND
SNOW OFF.
BUT THERE ISN'T A PROVEN NEED TO
DO ANY OF THAT KIND OF THICK.
IT'S SIMPLEST IF EVERYONE WENT
SMOKE-FREE.
>> IT WOULD BE, BUT WHAT ABOUT
BUSINESS OWNERS WHO THINK THEY
NEED TO ACCOMMODATE THEIR
CUSTOMERS THIS WAY AND THIS IDEA
THAT YOU COULD, QUOTE, GET
AROUND THIS LAW WITH ONE OF
THESE ROOMS THAT DOESN'T
CONSTITUTE AN ENCLOSED SPACE?
>> WELL, IF IT'S PART OF THEIR
MAIN STRUCTURE, IT WOULD SEEM
THAT THAT WOULD NOT QUALIFY
UNDER THE LAW BECAUSE THE LAW
TALKS ABOUT IT BEING AS PART OF
A STRUCTURE, AND SO YOU CAN'T
JUST BUILD SOME ROOM AND ALLOW
SMOKING IF IT'S ATTACHED TO
THEIR MAIN BUILDING.
SO I THINK BAR OWNERS WOULD NEED
TO BE CAUTIOUS ABOUT DOING THAT
KIND OF THING.
IT'S ALSO QUESTIONABLE WHETHER
THAT INVESTMENT WOULD BE REALLY
WORTH DOING.
IF YOU'RE PAYING $40,000 OR
$50,000 FOR A STRUCTURE, THAT'S
SENDING A LOT OF SMOKERS, YOU
KNOW, THROUGH YOUR BUSINESS IN
ORDER TO MAKE UP THAT INCOME.
>> WHAT'S YOUR EXPECTATION,
HAVING WORKED ON THIS FOR A LONG
TIME WITH PEOPLE ON THE OPPOSITE
SIDE OF THIS, WHAT'S YOUR
EXPECTATION AS TO WHETHER OR NOT
ANY BAR OWNERS OR MANY BAR
OWNERS OR RESTAURANT OWNERS
WOULD ACTUALLY TRY TO USE THIS
LOOPHOLE?
>> I THINK A FEW WILL, AND WE
FIND THAT IN EVERY STATE ACROSS
THE COUNTRY.
WHEN THEY'VE HAD THESE LAWS,
THERE'S ALWAYS A FEW THAT WANT
TO TRY TO GET AROUND THE LAW,
YOU KNOW, FROM ONE REASON OR
ANOTHER.
IN MINNESOTA, IT WAS A THEATER
PIECE.
EVEN IN WAUSAU, THERE WAS A
PRIVATE CLUB EXEMPTION, AND
SOMEONE TRIED TO TURN THEIR BAR
INTO A PRIVATE CLUB AND THAT
DIDN'T FLY EITHER.
SO IT'S -- THEY ALWAYS TRY TO
DO -- A FEW OF THEM ALWAYS TRY
TO DO SOMETHING.
BUT WE'VE ACTUALLY FOUND A LOT
OF SUPPORT AMONG BAR OWNERS AND
RESTAURANT OWNERS ACROSS THE
STATE WHO WANT TO SEE THIS LAW
HAPPEN AND THEY DON'T WANT ANY
SILLY LOOPHOLES OR ANYTHING LIKE
THAT.
THEY JUST WANT THE LAW TO BE
CLEAN, CLEAR AND FAIR.
>> AND THEY WANT IT TO BE FAIR
AND ACROSS THE BOARD.
HENCE THE STATEWIDE BAN AS
OPPOSED TO KIND OF A MATRIX OF
CITY ORDINANCES.
NOW, THE TAVERN LEAGUE TELLS ITS
MEMBERS IN SOME OF ITS
PUBLICATIONS THAT THEY REGARD
THIS AS ONE OF THE MOST
REASONABLE SMOKING BANS IN THE
COUNTRY.
HOW DOES IT FEEL FROM YOUR
PERSPECTIVE TO KIND OF PLEASE
THE TAVERN LEAGUE IN THIS WAY?
>> WELL, THAT CERTAINLY WASN'T
OUR OBJECTIVE.
OUR OBJECTIVE IS TO PROTECT THE
PUBLIC HEALTH AND WE ALL KNOW
HOW DANGEROUS SECONDHAND SMOKE
IS.
THERE HAVE BEEN CONTINUED
STUDIES THAT ARE COMING OUT
SHOWING HEART ATTACK RATES
FALLING THE FIRST YEAR AFTER
SMOKE-FREE LAW AND THEN FALLING
FURTHER AFTER THAT.
WE ALSO KNOW WITHIN 24 HOURS
BARTENDERS WHO AREN'T EXPOSED TO
SECONDHAND SMOKE HAVE LESS
RESPIRATORY DISTRESS SYNDROME.
SO SOME OF THEM EXPERIENCE
TIGHTNESS OF CHEST, WHEEZING,
ITCHY EYES, RUNNY NOSE.
ALL OF THOSE START TO DISAPPEAR
QUITE QUICKLY WHEN THE LAWS GO
INTO EFFECT.
SO THE LAW IS DESIGNED FOR THE
PUBLIC HEALTH BENEFIT.
SO ANY INDOOR SPACE NEEDS TO BE
SMOKE-FREE.
BASICALLY NO QUESTIONS ASKED.
IF THEY FEEL COMPELLED TO BUILD
SOMETHING OUTSIDE, I WOULD NOT
MAKE IT ELABORATE.
AGAIN, THERE'S NOT A BIG NEED
FOR IT.
IN OTHER STATES THERE'S NEVER
BEEN A RUN ON PATIOS.
SO -- AND PEOPLE REALLY ADJUST.
AND IT IS A LITTLE BIT OF A
PERIOD OF TIME WHERE IT'S HARD.
IT'S NOT ALL OF A SUDDEN ON
JULY 5 THEY'RE GOING TO OPEN
THEIR DOORS AND PEOPLE FLOOD IN.
IT TAKES A WHILE FOR PEOPLE TO
GET INTO THE NEW PATTERN OF
BEING ABLE TO GO TO PLACES THEY
WEREN'T ABLE TO GO TO BEFORE.
>> AND SO YOU'RE SUGGESTING THAT
AS OPPOSED TO THIS HURTING
BUSINESS, IT'S LIKELY TO DRAW
NEW BUSINESS.
>> EVERY ECONOMIC STUDY THAT'S
EVER BEEN DONE ON THIS ISSUE
SHOWS THAT BUSINESS EITHER STAYS
THE SAME OR GOES UP.
AND IN WISCONSIN WE'VE
EXPERIENCED THAT IN BOTH MADISON
AND APPLETON.
APPLETON'S HAD A WAITING LIST
FOR LIQUOR LICENSES EVER SINCE
THEIR SMOKE-FREE LAW PASSED.
THEY NEVER HAD ONE BEFORE.
SO WE SEE AN INCREASE.
MORE PEOPLE CAN GO OUT.
MORE PEOPLE CAN ENJOY PLAYING
GAMES AND SOCIALIZING WITH
FRIENDS.
>> BECAUSE WHAT ARE THE NUMBERS
ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT SMOKING
RATES ARE INCREASING OR
DECREASING?
>> WELL, IN WISCONSIN THEY HAVE
BEEN DROPPING, IN PART --
THERE'S MANY FACTORS THAT GO
INTO THAT.
I THINK THERE'S SOME GREAT
SERVICES FROM THE TOBACCO
CONTROL PROGRAMS, THROUGH THE
QUIT LINE IN ASSISTING SMOKERS.
A LOT OF BUSINESSES ARE GETTING
ON BOARD WITH THEIR HEALTH AND
WELLNESS PROGRAMS AND REALLY
SUPPORTING THEIR EMPLOYEES AS
THEY ATTEMPT TO QUIT.
AND THEN WE'VE ALSO SEEN SOME
TAX INCREASES, WHICH HAS
DEFINITELY HAD AN IMPACT AND
REALLY HAD AN IMPACT ON THE MOST
IMPORTANT AUDIENCE THAT WE'RE
FOCUSED ON, WHICH IS KIDS.
AND SO WE'RE SEEING DRAMATICALLY
LOWER SMOKING RATES AMONG
CHILDREN.
>> YOU SPOKE OF IT A LITTLE BIT
EARLIER, BUT THE NUMBER OF
STATES THAT ALREADY HAVE THESE
SMOKING BANS.
HOW DOES OUR LAW COMPARE
GENERALLY TO OTHER STATES?
IS IT TOUGHER, NOT AS TOUGH?
>> IT'S PROBABLY MIDDLE OF THE
PACK.
YOU KNOW, PARTS OF IT ARE VERY
CLEAR AND WELL-DONE AND THAT'S
DEFINITELY A GOOD THING.
LIKE LAMBEAU FIELD IS GOING TO
BE SMOKE-FREE.
I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE
GOING TO ENJOY THAT.
AND ALL THE STADIUMS WILL NEED
TO BE SMOKE-FREE UNDER THIS LAW.
AND IN TERMS OF MOST PEOPLE ARE
GOING TO INTERPRET IT THAT THEY
TAKE IT OUTSIDE AND THEY DON'T
REALLY WORRY ABOUT AN OUTSIDE
STRUCTURE.
SO IN THOSE WAYS I THINK IT'S A
PRETTY GOOD LAW.
IT PROBABLY COULD USE SOME
IMPROVEMENT.
AND IF THERE ARE PROBLEMS, I
WOULD EXPECT THAT, YOU KNOW, THE
TAVERN LEAGUE AND OUR SIDE WOULD
PROBABLY START WORKING AGAIN
WITH LEGISLATORS.
>> ALL RIGHT.
MAUREEN BUSALACCHI, THANK YOU
VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> WE SHIFT GEARS NOW AND RETURN
TO A TOPIC THAT IS SURE TO BE
FRONT AND CENTER IN THE COMING
ELECTION CYCLE, JOBS.
LAST WEEK ART HACKETT BEGAN A
SERIES OF REPORTS ON THE JOB
SCENE IN BELOIT.
TONIGHT, THE STORY OF ONE
EMPLOYER THERE WHO'S LOOKING FOR
WAYS TO EXPAND HIS BUSINESS BUT
AT LEAST FOR THE MOMENT CANNOT.
>> BELOIT'S ECONOMY IS NOT AN
ONE-WAY STREET OUT OF TOWN.
AFTER THE PAST FIVE YEARS, THE
CITY MANAGED TO ATTRACT SEVERAL
LARGE EMPLOYERS.
IN 2007 KETTLE FOODS OPENED A
POTATO CHIP FACTORY EMPLOYING
100 PEOPLE.
>> KETTLE'S ALL ABOUT GROWTH AND
WE'RE CONTINUING TO GAIN NEW
CUSTOMERS ALL THE TIME.
THE FACTORY SERVICING THE
MIDWEST AND THE EAST COAST
MARKETS AND I WOULD EXPECT WE'D
CONTINUE TO GROW.
>> IN 2009, THE KERRY
CORPORATION, WHICH MAKES FOOD
INGREDIENTS, LOCATED A RESEARCH
SEVENTEENCENTER ON THE CITY'S EDGE
EMPLOYING 550 PEOPLE.
>> WE BROUGHT PEOPLE INTO THE
COMMUNITY WHO ARE CURRENT
EMPLOYEES WORKING FROM OTHER
LOCATIONS.
AND WE'VE ALSO HIRED FOLKS TO
FILL THE NEEDS HERE AT THE
CENTER.
>> YET DURING THE PAST THREE
YEARS, BELOIT'S UNEMPLOYMENT
RATE HAS RISEN TO 18.4%.
>> DOESN'T SEEM TO HAVE MADE
MUCH DIFFERENCE.
>> DOESN'T SEEM TO HAVE MADE
MUCH DIFFERENCE WHEN YOU LOOK AT
THE PEER UNEMPLOYMENT NUMBERS.
>> LARRY IS THE CITY MANAGER.
>> YOU CAN IMAGINE HOW MUCH
WORSE THINGS WOULD BE IF THE
CITY HAD NOT BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN
THE '05 TO '07 TIME FRAME.
>> BUT THE SITUATION IS BAD
ENOUGH FOR DISPLACED WORKERS.
WE FOUND AT BLACK HAWK TECH.
THEY BEGAN A SPECIALIZED PROGRAM
FOR UP TO 125 DISPLACED WORKERS
BEGINNING THEIR SEARCH FOR NEW
PROBLEMS.
>> MANUFACTURING IS THE BIGGEST
PART OF IT.
WITH GM CLOSING, ALCOA'S ONE OF
THE BIGGEST ONE, BELOIT CORP.
CLOSING.
IT'S A TRICKLE-DOWN EFFECT.
>> ROB OVERSEES THE JOB CENTER.
HE SAYS THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN
DECADES IN THE MAKING.
>> WHAT HAPPENED IS PEOPLE WHO
WANTED TO STAY IN THE AREA BEGAN
TO LOOK AROUND AT WHAT SOME OF
THE OPTIONS ARE, AND BECAUSE OF
THE OVERALL ECONOMIC CLIMATE IN
THE MOST RECENT YEARS, THEY
FOUND THEMSELVES GOING FROM ONE
JOB TO THE OTHER.
AND WHEN THEY WERE SUCCESSFUL IN
LANDING A JOB, IT WAS ONLY A
SHORT PERIOD OF TIME BEFORE THAT
BUSINESS LEFT.
>> THE UNEMPLOYMENT PICTURE IN
BELOIT IS NOT JUST THE STORY OF
FACTORIES THAT LEAVE BEHIND
EMPTY BUILDINGS.
IT'S ALSO THE STORY OF AN
EXISTING MANUFACTURER WHICH
WOULD LOVE TO EXPAND, BUT CAN'T
FIND THE SPACE TO DO IT.
WE FIRST MET DONALD MEYERS IN
1981 WHEN HIS METAL FABRICATING
COMPANY WAS ONE OF THE FIRST
OCCUPANTS OF BELOIT'S NEW
INDUSTRIAL PARK.
MYERS WAS NOTABLE BECAUSE HE HAD
TURNED DOWN RECRUITERS TO WANTED
HIM TO MOVE HIS SHOP TO TEXAS.
>> YOU GET MORE HOURS OF WORK
PER MAN PER DAY THAN THEY DO IN
THE SOUTH.
>> NEARLY 30 YEARS LATER, AT AGE
81, MYERS IS STILL AT THE SAME
DESK.
HE SAYS BELOIT'S HIGH
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE PUZZLES HIM.
>> YEAH, IT DOES, BECAUSE I'LL
TELL YOU WHAT, WE'RE LOOKING FOR
WELDERS, TRUCK DRIVERS,
MACHINISTS.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
MYERS SAYS DM MANUFACTURING IS
HIRING.
>> TODAY IF YOU COULD GET THEM,
HOW MANY PEOPLE COULD YOU GIVE
JOBS TO WITH THE RIGHT SKILLS?
>> OH, WE COULD PROBABLY HIRE A
HALF A DOZEN.
BUT THE PROBLEM OF IT IS I'M
RUNNING OUT OF ROOM.
>> MYERS NOTES THAT FRITO-LAY
HAS EXPANDED ITS PLANT RIGHT UP
TO THE SIDE DOOR OF HIS
BUILDING.
HIS FACTORY FLOOR IS NOW CRAMMED
WITH PROJECTS IN THE WORKS,
EVERYTHING FROM GIANT PRESSES
FOR THE MINING INDUSTRY TO TANKS
FOR SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANTS.
TODAY, MYERS HAS HIS EYE ON FOUR
ACRES NOW OWNED BY THE NATIONAL
GUARD.
>> ARE YOU TALKING TO THEM ABOUT
THAT?
>> NO.
NO, BECAUSE NOBODY SEEMS TO BE
REALLY INTERESTED IN US, YOU
KNOW.
THAT'S SILLINESS.
>> CITY MANAGER LARRY ARFT SAYS
THE CITY DOES CARE ABOUT BASIC
MANUFACTURING.
IN FACT, THE CITY'S DEVELOPMENT
DIRECTOR HAD VISITED DM'S PLANT
WITHIN THE LAST YEAR.
>> WE VISITED WITH A LOT OF THE
MANUFACTURERS IN THE CITY TO SEE
HOW THEY WERE DOING, KIND OF
GAUGE HOW OUR GRAY METAL
INDUSTRIES WERE DOING AS OPPOSED
TO HOW THE FOOD CLUSTER FOLKS
WERE DOING.
>> THE CITY IS AWARE DM EXISTS.
THEY HELPED US TRACK DOWN THE
COMPANY, WHICH HAD CHANGED ITS
NAME SINCE WE VISITED 30 YEARS
AGO.
>> BASICALLY THEY STILL NEED TO
PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT'S ALREADY
HERE.
>> BUT THE THINGS THAT THEY'RE
BRINGING IN IS MORE THE FOOD
INDUSTRY OR THE POP INDUSTRY OR
THE POTATO CHIPS OR SOMETHING
LIKE THAT, YOU KNOW, NOT -- NOT
MANUFACTURING.
>> YOU FEEL KIND OF FORGOTTEN?
>> YEAH.
YEAH, I DO.
>> WE MENTIONED TO MYERS THAT WE
WOULD SOON BE GOING TO TALK TO
STUDENTS AT BLACK HAWK TECH.
HE SAID HE HADN'T HIRED ANYONE
FROM THERE RECENTLY.
SOME OF THE STUDENTS IN THE
GROUP WE INTERVIEWED WERE
PREPARING TO ENTER A WELDING
PROGRAM AND DM EMPLOYS WELDERS.
YET THE STUDENTS WERE UNAWARE DM
EVEN EXISTED.
>> WHO KNOWS ABOUT IT?
YOU KNOW ABOUT IT BECAUSE YOU
WERE THERE.
BUT WHO ELSE KNOWS ABOUT IT?
IS IT IN ANY OF THE PAPERS, JOB
CENTER?
HOW DO YOU FIND OUT ABOUT THESE
JOBS?
IF THEY DON'T LET NO ONE KNOW
THEY'RE HIRING, HOW DO YOU KNOW?
I'VE SENT OUT RESUMES.
IF YOU DON'T GET A CALL-BACK,
YOU DON'T KNOW.
>> MYERS SAYS HE LISTS JOBS ON
CRAIG'S LIST.
>> WE'LL LOOK THIS AFTERNOON.
TRUST ME.
>> I THINK HIS PROBLEM IS MORE
ADVERTISING.
AND THERE'S A CATCH-22, THOUGH,
BECAUSE IF YOU PUT ADVERTISEMENT
IN THE PAPER, YOU'RE PROBABLY
GOING TO GET 1,000 APPLICATIONS.
SO YOU KIND OF GOT TO PICK AND
CHOOSE WHAT YOU ADVERTISE.
>> ROB BORREMANS SAYS THERE'S NO
RECORD OF DM POSTING JOBS WITH
HIS AGENCY.
BUT HE SAID HE WOULD CONTACT
MYERS, SINCEE RECENTLY GAINED
ACCESS TO SOME FUNDS FOR
SPECIALIZED TRAINING.
IS THE CITY TRYING?
IS THIS A CASE OF AN EMPLOYER
WHO FEELS THREATENED BY CHANGE?
ARE DISPLACED WORKERS SO
DISCOURAGED THEY'RE GIVING UP?
BORREMANS SAYS IT'S HARD TO SAY.
>> I DON'T THINK THAT THERE'S
ANY INTENTIONAL EFFORT TO NOT
WANT TO ADDRESS PEOPLE.
AND SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, IT GOES
BOTH WAYS.
>> PERHAPS WHAT BELOIT NEEDS IS
NOT JUST COOL RANCH CHIPS, BUT
ADVICE FROM THE PAUL NEW MAN
MOVIE, "COOL HAND LUKE."
>> WHAT WE'VE GOT HERE IS
FAILURE TO COMMUNICATE.
>> SOMETIMES YOU NEED PEOPLE TO
STAND UP AND SAY, HEY, I HAVE
THIS NEED AND TO SEEK
ASSISTANCE.
IT BECOMES PART OF THE SOLUTION.
AND, AGAIN, A BUSINESS MAY WAIT
TOO LONG, JUST AS AN INDIVIDUAL
WAITS TOO LONG, BEFORE THEY GO
IN AND WANT TO SAY, HEY, I HAVE
A PROBLEM AND CAN YOU HELP IN
SOME FASHION.
>> FROM BELOIT, THIS IS ART
HACKETT REPORTING.
>> WE'LL HAVE MORE ON HOW ROCK
COUNTY IS TRYING TO BREAK OUT OF
THE RECESSION IN THE COMING
WEEKS.
OUR COVERAGE THERE IS PART OF A
COLLABORATION WITH WISCONSIN
PUBLIC RADIO NEWS AND THE
WISCONSIN CENTER FOR
INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM.
NOW BACK TO THE STATE CAPITOL IN
MADISON.
THEY'RE DROPPING LIKE FLIES
THERE.
INCUMBENTS, THAT IS.
IN TONIGHT'S CAPITOL INSIGHT,
REPORTER SHAWN JOHNSON AND I
TALK ABOUT THE WHYS AND
WHEREVERS OF THESE MOVES,
STARTING WITH A BIGGIE.
>> FREE AT LAST, FREE AT LEAST,
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.
>> SPEAKING OF LETTING SOMEBODY
ELSE HAVE A SHOT AT IT, IT LOOKS
LIKE JUST ONE PERSON IS LEFT
STANDING THAT MIGHT RUN FOR THAT
OFFICE AS A DEMOCRAT, THAT BEING
JULIE LASSA.
LOOKS LIKE THEY ALL GOT TOGETHER
IN A ROOM OVER THE PAST WEEKEND
AND MADE HEARD HER THE CHOSEN.
>> IT'S NOT COMPLETELY A DONE
DEAL.
THERE ARE A COUPLE LAWMAKERS
THAT COULD STILL DECIDE THEY
WANT TO RUN FOR THAT.
BUT OF THE STATE SENATE
CANDIDATES THAT WERE WEIGHING
IT, THEY WENT WITH THE LEAST
CONTROVERSIAL CHOICE IN TERMS OF
THE EFFECT IT WOULD HAVE ON THE
STATE LEGISLATURE.
RUSS DECKER WAS SAID TO BE A
POSSIBLE CANDIDATE, BUT HAVING
HIM RUN WOULD HAVE REALLY
DISRUPTED SENATE DEMOCRATS'
CAMPAIGN EFFORTS THIS FALL.
SAME WITH A SENATOR FROM THE
EAU CLAIRE AREA UP THERE.
HAD HE RUN, THAT'S A SEAT THAT
DEMOCRATS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE
TO HOLD IN THE STATE
LEGISLATURE.
SO JULIE LASSA IS NOT UP FOR
ELECTION THIS YEAR, MADE HER A
MORE INVITING CHOICE FOR THEM.
>> SO SPARING SOME ROGUE MOVES,
SHE LOOKS LIKE SHE WOULD BE THE
ONE.
THEY WOULD THEN AVOID A PRIMARY
IN THAT CASE AS WELL.
>> IF NOBODY ELSE JUMPS IN AND
THEY HAVEN'T REALLY TO THIS
POINT.
>> YEAH.
WELL, ANOTHER BOMBSHELL OUT OF
THE STATE CAPITOL.
LONG-TIME MADISON DEMOCRATIC
STATE SENATOR SPENCER BLACK
CALLS IT QUITS.
HIS ANNOUNCEMENT FOLLOWED REALLY
KIND OF A MAJOR DISAPPOINTMENT
FOR HIM IN THE CLEAN JOBS ACT
NOT BEING TAKEN UP AT ALL IN THE
LEGISLATURE.
LET'S LISTEN TO WHAT HE SAID
ABOUT THAT.
>> I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR
LEGISLATORS TO HAVE SOME
BACKBONE, TO LOOK TO THE FUTURE.
IN THIS STATE, WE IMPORT OVER
$20 BILLION OF FOSSIL FUELS
EVERY DAY.
THAT CAUSES AIR POLLUTION.
IT'S A TREMENDOUS HARM TO OUR
STATE ECONOMY.
AND IT CAUSES HIGHER UTILITY
RATES.
BY MOVING TO ENERGY EFFICIENCY,
ENERGY CONSERVATION AND COST
EFFECTIVE RENEWABLE ENERGY, WE
WILL CREATE MORE THAN 16,000
JOBS.
WE'LL CUT UTILITY RATES BY A
MINIMUM OF $1.4 BILLION FOR
CONSUMERS.
AND IN ADDITION IT WOULD REALLY
IMPROVE OUR ENVIRONMENT.
>> WHAT HE SAYS IT WOULD HAVE
DONE HAD IT HAPPENED.
HE WAS TRULY MIFFED ABOUT THAT
WHEN HE JOINED US ON THE AIR
THAT DAY.
AND IT SEEMS LIKE IF EVER THERE
WAS A TIME THAT HE COULD HAVE
GOTTEN SOMETHING BIG LIKE THAT
THROUGH, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE
TIME WHEN BOTH THE SENATE AND
THE ASSEMBLY AND THE GOVERNOR'S
OFFICE ARE HELD BY DEMOCRATS.
BUT IT JUST WASN'T HAPPENING.
>> RIGHT.
HE DIDN'T GET ANYTHING
ACCOMPLISHED EARLIER THIS
SESSION.
YOU LOOK AT SOME OF THE EARLIER
BILLS ON KEEPING PHOSPHORUS OUT
OF GROUNDWATER, A BILL ON
RECYCLING ELECTRONIC WASTE, A
COUPLE OF THOSE HE WAS ABLE TO
GET THROUGH AS CHAIR OF THE
ASSEMBLY ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE.
BUT SOME OF THE BIGGIES THAT HE
MISSED ON, THE BILL THAT WOULD
HAVE TAKEN THE SECRETARY OF DNR
OUT OF THE GOVERNOR'S HANDS, THE
CLEAN ENERGY JOBS BILL.
NEITHER HOUSE OF THE LEGISLATURE
EVEN TOOK UP A BIG BILL ON
GROUNDWATER PROTECTION THAT HE
INTRODUCED CLOSER TO THE END OF
THE SESSION.
SO YOU LOOK AT SOMEBODY LIKE
SPENCER BLACK WHO'S BEEN HERE
FOR A QUARTER OF A CENTURY AND
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME SINCE HIS
FRESHMAN TERM THAT HE'S HAD THE
ASSEMBLY, THE SENATE AND THE
GOVERNOR ALL IN DEMOCRATIC
CONTROL.
SO IF YOU CAN'T GET BILLS LIKE
THAT PASSED THIS SESSION, IT'S
NOT TO SAY THAT THE PARTY -- OR
THE POWER MAKEUP WON'T BE THE
SAME NEXT YEAR, BUT, YOU KNOW,
WHO'S TO SAY THAT THE OUTCOME OF
THESE BILLS WOULD BE ANY
DIFFERENT.
>> NOT TO BE.
HE IS JUST ONE OF THE
INCUMBENTS, OF COURSE, THAT HAS
DECIDED TO SAY BYE BYE TO THEIR
SEATS.
SO FAR WE KNOW THERE ARE 20
LEGISLATORS LEAVING, 17 IN THE
ASSEMBLY, SEVEN DEMS AND 12
REPUBLICANS, INDEPENDENT OF
COURSE JEFF WOOD, AND THREE SO
FAR IN THE SENATE, TWO
REPUBLICANS AND A DEMOCRAT.
BUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S THE DEAL?
WE KEEP ASKING OURSELVES IS THIS
UNUSUAL?
THERE ARE SOME POLLS OUT THERE
THAT SAY MAYBE VOTERS JUST DON'T
LIKE INCUMBENTS SO THESE
INCUMBENTS ARE JUMPING SHIP.
>> WELL, EACH PERSON'S CASE IS
GOING TO BE DIFFERENT.
SOME OF THESE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN
THERE FOR A LONG TIME.
I TALKED
TO ANOTHER FORMER LAWMAKER WHO
HAD TO MAKE THIS DECISION FOR
HIMSELF A COUPLE DECADES AGO,
UW-MILWAUKEE POLITICAL SCIENCE
PROFESSOR MORDECAI LEE, AND HE
SAID IT'S BECAUSE IT'S TURNED
INTO KIND OF A LOUSY JOB.
IT'S SO PARTISAN AND CONTROLLED
BY LEGISLATIVE LEADERS THAT,
QUOTE, I'M NOT SURE THERE'S A
LOT OF SATISFACTION IN THE JOB,
SO IT'S NOT NEARLY AS MUCH FUN
TO BE A LAWMAKER WHEN THE
STATE'S BROKE THAN WHEN YOU CAN
SPEND MONEY ON PROGRAMS YOU
BELIEVE IN.
THAT WAS MORDECAI LEE.
>> VERY COMMON SENSE TYPE
STATEMENT.
NOW, THERE ARE TWO SEATS WHERE
THE INCUMBENTS ARE RUNNING FOR
HIGHER OFFICE AND THIS
REPRESENTS A POTENTIALLY KIND OF
INTERESTING MIX-UP, AND THOSE
SEATS ARE REPRESENTATIVE BRETT
DAVIS IN THE 80TH FROM OREGON
AND DEMOCRATIC REPRESENTATIVE
TOM NELSON IN THE 5TH FROM
KAUKAUNA.
THEY'RE EACH RUNNING FOR
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR IN THEIR
RESPECTIVE PARTIES.
BUT THEIR SEATS IN THEIR
DISTRICT ARE KIND OF INTERESTING
BECAUSE BRETT DAVIS'S HERE IN
DANE COUNTY GENERALLY REGARDED
AS HELD BY DEMOCRATS AND NELSON
IS UP NEAR KAUKAUNA, WHICH IS
GENERALLY REGARDED AS BEING HELD
BY REPUBLICANS.
WHAT HAPPENS WITH THESE
ODDS-BEATERS?
>> YEAH.
THOSE ARE AREAS WHERE EITHER
PARTY COULD MAKE GAINS IN
NOVEMBER BECAUSE THESE ARE TWO
PEOPLE WHO CAME INTO THE
LEGISLATURE AT THE SAME TIME,
ARE LEAVING FOR THE SAME REASONS
AND HAVE BEEN ODDS-BEATERS OVER
THE YEARS.
SO THOSE ARE DEFINITELY GOING TO
BE COMPETITIVE SEATS.
>> SAWN, WE'LL THANKS.
WHAT WILL BE THE FATE OF THE
BILL TO LEGALIZE THE SALE OF RAW
MILK IN WISCONSIN?
RIGHT NOW, THE BILL, WHICH
PASSED THE LEGISLATURE, AWAITS
GOVERNOR JIM DOYLE'S SIGNATURE
OR HIS VETO.
LAST MONTH THE TKPWUFR SUGGESTED
HE -- GOVERNORSUGGESTED HE WOULD LIKELY SIGN
THE BILL.
NOW HE SAYS HE NEEDS MORE TIME
TO STUDY THE ISSUE.
HE HAS UNTIL THURSDAY TO ACT ON
IT OR IT BECOMES LAW WITHOUT HIS
SIGNATURE.
OPPONENTS CITE HEALTH CONCERNS
OVER THE SALE OF UNPASTEURIZED
MILK.
FINALLY TONIGHT, A HISTORIC
EVENT CONNECTED TO A TIME IN
HISTORY SOME AMERICANS MAY HAVE
FORGOTTEN, THE VIETNAM WAR.
NEXT WEEKEND, WISCONSIN PUBLIC
TELEVISION AND ITS PARTNERS WILL
BRING TOGETHER THOUSANDS OF
WISCONSIN VETERANS AND THEIR
FAMILIES AND FRIENDS IN GREEN
BAY.
LAMBEAU FIELD WILL BE THE SITE
OF A FORMAL WELCOME HOME SIR
MONEYNY FOR --CEREMONY FOR THE VETERANS, ALL
UNDER THE COLORFUL BANNER CALLED
LANDING ZONE LAMBEAU.
IN WEBGS WITH THIS CONNECTION WITH THIS EVENT,
WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISION WILL
LAUNCH SHOWS.
HERE'S A BRIEF EXCERPT FROM
WISCONSIN VIETNAM WAR STORIES.
? ?
>> THE VIETNAM WAR WAS A
HORRIBLE, HORRIBLE WEIGHT TO PUT
ON THE BACKS OF TEENAGERS.
WHAT DID YOU DO TO A GENERATION
OF PEOPLE?
BOY.
>> I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR
EVERYBODY TO TELL A STORY.
THE ONLY THING WE CAN TRULY GIVE
EACH OTHER IS OUR STORIES.
WE NEED TO SHARE THOSE.
>> THIS ATTITUDE THAT MEN AREN'T
SUPPOSED TO CRY, THERE'S PLENTY
TO CRY ABOUT, SO WHAT'S THE
ISSUE HERE.
>> YEAH.
>> ANYWAY, I DIDN'T CRY MYSELF.
I DIDN'T HAVE ANY EMOTIONS
EXCEPT ANGER.
I WAS EITHER NUMB OR PISSED OFF
FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS.
>> ONE THING ABOUT COMBAT IS
THAT YOU DON'T HAVE A CHOICE TO
LEARN, TO LIVE THROUGH IT, AND
ALSO YOU DON'T HAVE A CHOICE
WHEN YOU COME HOME TO LEARN NEW
WAYS.
YOU'RE DIFFERENT.
YOU'VE CHANGED.
ONE OF THE TRAGEDIES OF SRAOE ET VIETNAM
IS THAT EVEN TODAY THERE ARE A
LOT OF PEOPLE, INCLUDING A LOT
OF THE VETERANS THAT FOUGHT OVER
THERE, WHO DON'T FULLY
COMPREHEND THAT IT'S HARD TO
COME BACK OUT OF IT.
I MEAN, IT'S JUST TOO BIG.
>> THE WAR WAS ENTERING ITS
BLOODIEST YEAR, 1968.
PREDICTIONS THAT THE FIGHT FIGHTING
WOULD SOON BE OVER PROVED
MISGUIDED WHEN IN FACT IT HAD
NOT YET REACHED THE HALFWAY
POINT OF AMERICA'S LONGEST WAR.
AND THE STORIES OF WISCONSIN'S
MEN AND WOMEN WHO SURVIVED THAT
WAR IN THAT PIVOTAL YEAR ARE
HAUNTING.
WISCONSIN VIETNAM WAR STORIES.
>> WISCONSIN VIETNAM WAR
STORIES, PRODUCED BY MICK DURR.
THIS POWERFUL PROGRAM WILL AIR
ON THREE CONSECUTIVE NIGHTS THIS
MONTH, ON MAY 24, 25 AND 26 AT
8:00 P.M.
WPT'S PARTNERS IN NEXT WEEK'S
LAMBEAU EVENTS ARE THE WISCONSIN
HISTORICAL SOCIETY AND THE
WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS
AFFAIRS.
THE EVENT INCLUDES A MEMORIAL
MOTORCYCLE RIDE ACROSS THE STATE
FROM LA CROSSE TO GREEN BAY.
THE EVENTS RUN FROM MAY 21 TO
23.
WE WILL HAVE MORE COVERAGE OF LZ
LAMBEAU NEXT FRIDAY NIGHT.
UNTIL THEN, I'M FREDERICA
FREYBERG.
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.