>> 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," STATE
REPUBLICANS GATHER IN MILWAUKEE
THIS WEEKEND FOR THEIR ANNUAL
CONVENTION.
WE TALK WITH ONE OF THAT PARTY'S
CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR AND
TRUTH CHECK THE NEW TV AD OF
ANOTHER.
MARATHON COUNTY GINSENG GROWERS
ARE REELING FROM A MOTHER'S DAY
STORM THAT HAS ALL BUT WIPED OUT
THIS YEAR'S HARVEST.
WE'LL GO TO WAUSAU TO TALK WITH
ONE OF THOSE FARMERS.
AND THE THUNDER YOU HEARD AROUND
THE STATE TODAY WASN'T A WEATHER
FRONT.
IT WAS THE SOUND OF 1,244
MOTORCYCLES HEADED TO GREEN
BAY'S LAMBEAU FIELD.
WE'LL TELL YOU WHY LATER IN THE
PROGRAM.
BUT FIRST, SOCIALIZING, BUFFET
TABLES AND CHEERS IN MILWAUKEE
THIS WEEKEND.
WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT A
BREWERS TAILGATE PARTY.
IT'S THE ANNUAL REPUBLICAN PARTY
OF WISCONSIN CONVENTION UNDERWAY
AS WE SPEAK.
THE PARTY CONVENTION TAKES ON
EXTRA LUSTER IN AN ELECTION YEAR
LIKE THIS ONE.
THAT'S WHEN CANDIDATES REAP
ENDORSEMENTS FROM FELLOW
MEMBERS, AND THE PARTY ITSELF.
LAST MONTH'S WISCONSIN PUBLIC
RADIO ST. NORBERT POLL ASKED
STATEWIDE VOTERS WHO THEY WOULD
VOTE FOR IN THE REPUBLICAN
PRIMARY FOR GOVERNOR,
FORMER CONGRESSMAN AND NASHOTAH
BUSINESSMAN MARK NEUMANN,
MILWAUKEE COUNTY EXECUTIVE SCOTT
WALKER OR ANOTHER.
REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE.
ABOUT HALF THE RESPONDENTS WERE
STILL UNDECIDED.
THOSE WILLING TO COMMIT TO
WALKER OR NEUMANN WERE ALSO
SPLIT IN HALF.
23% SAID THEY'D VOTE FOR
NEUMANN.
24% SAID THEY'D VOTE FOR WALKER.
EVEN IN WHAT APPEARS TO BE A
CLOSE RACE, LAST WEEK NEUMANN
ANNOUNCED HE WOULD NOT SEEK HIS
PARTY'S ENDORSEMENT AT THIS
WEEKEND'S CONVENTION.
THAT HASN'T PREVENTED HIM FROM
ATTENDING THE GATHERING IN
MILWAUKEE, WHERE HE JOINS US
NOW.
MR. NEUMANN, THANKS VERY MUCH
FOR DOING SO.
>> IT'S GREAT TO BE WITH YOU.
>> WHY AREN'T YOU SEEKING THIS
ENDORSEMENT?
>> WE FEEL AS WE HAVE DONE FOR
THE LAST 30 YEARS THAT THE
PRIMARY VOTERS ON SEPTEMBER 14
SHOULD SELECT THE NOMINEE.
IN FACT THAT'S HOW IT WILL BE
DONE.
WE FEEL A RESPONSIBILITY TO THE
VOTERS AND NOT THE PARTY
LEADERS.
WE PREFER TO SEE THE VOTERS ON
SEPTEMBER 14 MAKE THE DECISION.
>> I THINK IT'S FAIR TO SAY THAT
A LOT OF PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT THE
PARTY CHOSEN IS SCOTT WALKER AND
THAT PERHAPS IT'S EASIER FOR YOU
TO SAY YOU DON'T IT THAN TO GO
THROUGH THE PROCESS AND NOT GET
IT.
>> SURE.
AND LET'S BE UPFRONT ABOUT THAT.
THAT'S ABSOLUTELY THE CASE.
NO DENYING THAT.
SCOTT'S BEEN RECRUITING THESE
FOLKS AND WORKING WITH THEM
DURING THE LAST SIX YEARS.
DURING THOSE YEARS I'VE BEEN IN
THE BUSINESS WORLD TRYING TO
MAKE A PAYCHECK.
TOUGH WORLD OUT THERE.
THERE'S NO QUESTION HE'S BEEN
WORKING TO RECRUIT THESE FOLKS
TO VOTE FOR HIM AT THIS
CONVENTION.
WE RESPECT THAT.
I RESPECT THE PEOPLE.
AND I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT IF
WE'RE GOING TO TURN OUR STATE
AROUND WE NEED A SMALL BUSINESS
PERSON WHO COULD NOT HAVE SPENT
THAT AMOUNT OF TIME RECRUITING
THOSE FOLKS TO VOTE FOR HIM.
PEOPLE ARE GOING TO DECIDE IN
SEPTEMBER.
I'M VERY RELAXED ABOUT IT AND
HAVE GREAT CONFIDENCE IN THE
PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF
WISCONSIN.
>> WHAT DOES IT FEEL LIKE NOT TO
HAVE THE BACKING OF THE PARTY
UNDER WHOSE BANNER YOU ARE
RUNNING?
>> WHEN WE GO OUT TO MAIN
STREETS ALL ALONG WISCONSIN AND
VISIT THE SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS
AND THEIR EMPLOYEES, OUR SUPPORT
IS GREAT OUT THERE.
YOU'RE GOING TO SEE AT THE
CONVENTION, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE
BIG BANNERS SHOWING OUR ENDORSED
PEOPLE FROM PEOPLE WE MEET ALL
ACROSS THE STATE.
WE'RE COMFORTABLE.
WE'RE CONFIDENT.
WE'RE HUMBLE IN ACCEPTING THE
SUPPORT OF THESE FOLKS AND WE
VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THEM.
IT'S NOT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY
LEADERS THAT ARE GOING TO MEET
IN MILWAUKEE THIS WEEKEND THAT
ARE GOING TO DETERMINE OUR
NOMINEE.
IT'S THE VOTERS ON SEPTEMBER 14
AND THAT'S THE WAY IT SHOULD BE.
>> NOW, THIS RACE BETWEEN
YOURSELF AND SCOTT WALKER HAS
ALREADY GOTTEN KIND OF TOUGH.
SOME OBSERVES SAY THAT PERHAPS
TOM BARRETT IS SITTING BACK IN
DELIGHT WATCHING THE REPUBLICAN
CANDIDATES DEVOUR THEIR OWN.
IS THIS BATTLE GOING TO GIVE THE
DEMOCRATIC CONTENDER A LEADING
POSITION?
>> WELL, I THINK THAT DEPENDS ON
HOW MY OPPONENT TREATS IT AS WE
MOVE FORWARD.
WE HAVE CHALLENGED HIM, ASKED
HIM NICELY, ASKED HIM ANY WAY WE
CAN THINK OF TO JOIN US AT TOWN
HALL MEETINGS ACROSS THE STATE
OF WISCONSIN OR DEBATES IF HE'D
RATHER DO DEBATES.
I THINK THE REPUBLICANS THAT
WOULD BE IN THE RACE WOULD GET
TOGETHER, TRAVEL AROUND THE
STATE, DO TOWN HALL MEETINGS SO
PEOPLE CAN MEET US ALL OVER THE
STATE OF WISCONSIN, I THINK THE
PRIMARY IN THAT CASE WOULD BE
VERY, VERY GOOD.
IF ON THE OTHER HAND THERE ARE
NO TOWN HALL MEETINGS WITH JOINT
APPEARANCES, THERE ARE VERY FEW
DEBATES AND ALL THAT HAPPENS IS
IT BECOMES A SLUG FEST, THAT
WOULD BE VERY BAD.
WE INTEND TO STAY FOCUS ODD A
POSITIVE VISION --FOCUSED ON A POSITIVE VISION FOR
THE STATE OF WISCONSIN.
WE WILL TALK EX EXACTLY HOW TO GO
ABOUT DOING THAT.
>> HOW DIFFERENT IS YOUR
PLATFORM FROM SCOTT WALKER'S?
WHAT I HEAR IS WE WANT TO REDUCE
TAXES, REDUCE SPENDING AND GROW
JOBS.
>> WHEN FOLKS DECIDE WHO THEY
WANT TO BE THEIR NEXT GOVERNOR
IT'S THE RESUMES THEY SHOULD BE
LOOKING AT.
WE NEED TO CUT TAXES.
I'VE ALREADY DONE THAT ONCE WHEN
I WAS IN CONGRESS 12 YEARS AGO.
WE PASSED THE BIGGEST TAX CUT IN
AMERICAN HISTORY AT THE SAME
TIME WE GOT THE FEDERAL BUDGET
BALANCED FOR THE ONLY TIME IN A
GENERATION THAT IT'S BEEN DONE.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE RESUMES,
FOLKS HAVE GOT TO DECIDE IF THEY
WANT SOMEONE WHO HAVE MADE THEIR
CAREER IN TOO POLITICS.
BOTH HAVE SPENT THEIR CAREERS
REPRESENTING MILWAUKEE IN
POLITICS.
THAT'S NOT A SLAM.
IT'S VERY, VERY DIFFERENT
RESUMES.
WITH THE ECONOMY WHERE IT IS
TODAY, I AM VERY CONFIDENT THAT
THE PEOPLE OF OUR STATE ARE
GOING TO SELECT A SMALL PEOPLE
BUSINESS OWNER OVER THE PEOPLE
THAT HAVE SPENT THEIR LIVES IN
MILWAUKEE.
NOTHING NEGATIVE ABOUT THAT.
IT'S THE FACTS AND THEIR
RESUMES.
>> EXPERTS CONTINUALLY ASK WHY
WOULD ANYONE WANT TO BE GOVERNOR
IN THIS ECONOMIC CLIMATE?
THE BUDGET PICTURE LOOKS BLEAK
COMING INTO THE TERM OF NEXT
GOVERNOR.
WE'VE GOT THE SO-CALLED FUNDING
CLIFF, USING THE FEDERAL
STIMULUS MONEY THAT HELPED BOOST
US OVER THE PAST YEAR.
WHY SHOULD VOTERS EXPECT BY WAY
OF SPENDING CUTS THAT YOU TALK
OF AND TAX CUTS TOWARD SERVICES
IN THE STATE OF WISCONSIN?
>> WELL, LET ME START WITH WHY
ANYBODY WOULD WANT THIS JOB
GOING FORWARD.
FOR ME IT'S STRICTLY CONCERN FOR
THE FUTURE OF OUR STATE.
I'VE WATCHED HUNDREDS OF
THOUSANDS OF JOBS LEAVE THE
STATE OF WISCONSIN AND I'M
CONCERND THAT WHEN MY CHILDREN
AND GRANDCHILDREN REACH A POINT
WHERE IT'S TIME FOR THEM TO FIND
A JOB, I WANT THEM TO HAVE A JOB
OPPORTUNITY IN THE STATE OF
WISCONSIN.
IT'S A GREAT PLACE TO RAISE A
FAMILY.
MY WIFE AND I HAVE HAD A
WONDERFUL PRIVILEGE OF LIVING
THE AMERICAN DREAM IN THIS
STATE.
I WOULD HOPE TO BE A PART OF THE
SOLUTION.
I DON'T HAVE A WHITE HORSE, BUT
I WOULD HOPE TO ASSEMBLE A TEAM
OF PEOPLE THAT CAN BRING ABOUT
SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEMS YOU'RE
MENTIONING.
IN TERMS OF BUDGETING, IT IS
VERY CLEAR WE HAVE TO DO THE
SAME THINGS WE DID WHEN I WENT
TO WASHINGTON 16 YEARS AGO.
WHEN I WENT THERE, WE HAD HUGE
BUDGET DEFICITS, A GROWING DEBT
AND A TREMENDOUS LOSS OF JOBS IN
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
MANY LISTENERS WILL REMEMBER
ROSS PERROW TELLING US WE WERE
DOOMED.
WE UNDERSTOOD THAT WHEN THEY
KEPT MORE OF THEIR OWN MONEY,
THEY WOULD ONLY DO ONE OF TWO
THINGS.
THEY WOULD EITHER SEND IT AND
THAT WOULD PROVIDE JOBS OR THEY
WOULD SAVE IT AND THAT WOULD
THEN BECOME THE CAPITAL THAT OUR
BUSINESSES NEED TO GROW AND
EXPAND.
IT WORKED.
WHEN I LEFT CONGRESS, THE BUDGET
WAS BALANCED, WE HAD CUT TAXES
AND OUR ECONOMY WAS BOOMING.
THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO DO HERE
IN WISCONSIN.
>> LET ME ASK, DO YOU ANTICIPATE
THEN FOR THE STATE BUDGET
FREEZING SPENDING OR CUTTING
SPENDING?
>> I WOULD ENVISION THAT WE
INITIALLY START WITH A REAL
REDUCTION IN SPENDING AT A 1%
RATE.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT
SYSTEMICAL AND INCREMENTAL AS
OPPOSED TO ANYTHING RADICAL.
BUT I DO EXPECT TO SEE AT
LEAST -- AT LEAST -- AND AGAIN I
LIKE TO UNDER PROMISE AND
OVERPERFORM, BUT AT LEAST A
REDUCTION IN SCOPE OF GOVERNMENT
OF 1%.
>> VERY QUICKLY, THE BIGGEST
THICKTHING WE SPEND MONEY ON IS
SCHOOL AID.
WOULD YOU CUT SCHOOL AID?
>> THE EDUCATION DISCUSSION IS
SOMETHING WE NEED MORE TIME FOR.
I HAVE A MASTER'S, POST GRADUATE
WORK AT MADISON, TAUGHT IN THE
PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND THE UW
SYSTEM.
I HAVE A VERY WIDE BACKGROUND IN
THE FIELD OF EDUCATION.
WE ALSO RUN THREE CHOICE SCHOOLS
IN MILWAUKEE AND ONE IN PHOENIX
WITH 1,000 KIDS IN OUR SYSTEM.
>> LET ME ASK YOU, YES OR NO,
WOULD YOU CUT SCHOOL AID?
>> WELL, I'M GETTING TO THAT.
WHAT WE REALLY NEED TO DO IS
REDUCE THE MANDATES FROM MADISON
ON OUR SCHOOLS AND EMPOWER LOCAL
SCHOOLS TO RUN THEIR SCHOOLS IN
A MORE COST EFFECTIVE MANNER.
I HAVE A SPECIFIC STATEMENT FROM
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS THAT
SAYS HE CAN REDUCE HIS SPENDING
BY 25% IF MADISON GETS OUT OF
HIS WAY.
WE CAN PROVIDE A HIGHER QUALITY
EDUCATION TO OUR KIDS AT THE
SAME TIME WE REDUCE SPENDING IN
EDUCATION.
>> WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE
THAT ISSUE UP AT ANOTHER TIME.
I'M SORRY TO HAVE TO CUT YOU OFF
THAT WAY.
MARK NEUMANN, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH FOR JOINING US.
>> IT WAS GREAT TO BE HERE.
>> NOW, IN ADDITION TO NEUMANN
AND WALKER, THERE ARE THREE
OTHER REPUBLICANS RUNNING IN THE
PRIMARY RACE FOR GOVERNOR.
YOU'LL FIND LINKS TO ALL OF THE
REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES ON OUR WEB
PAGE, wpt.org/hereandnow.
NOW, PRIMARY ELECTION DAY IS
NEARLY FOUR MONTHS AWAY.
IN THE MEANTIME, WE CAN LOOK
FORWARD TO NEARLY FOUR MONTHS OF
POLITICAL ADS.
"HERE & NOW" REPORTER ART
HACKETT IS HERE WITH THE FIRST
ONE.
ART?
>> THANK YOU, FRED.
SOME POLITICAL ADS ARE NOTHING
BUT PLATITUDES.
THERE AREN'T ANY FACTUAL
ASSERTIONS THAT CAN BE CHECKED.
NOT SO WITH SCOTT WALKER'S
RECENT COMMERCIAL.
IT'S ENTITLED RESULTS.
>> IN 2002 A SCANDAL ROCKED
MILWAUKEE COUNTY.
>> IN THE ADD WALKER RECOUNTS
SOME OF HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS AS
MILWAUKEE COUNTY EXECUTIVE
>> IN FACT, THE FIRST I DID WAS
TO GIVE PART OF MY SALARY BACK
TO THE TAXPAYERS $37 0,000 OVER
EIGHT YEARS.
I INTRODUCED EIGHT BUDGETS
WITHOUT RAISING THE PROPERTIES
TAX LEVY FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
>> THE FIRST TWO STATEMENTS ARE
TRUE.
THE NEWSPAPER HEADLINE IN THE AD
DOESN'T TELL THE WHOLE STORY.
THE AD SHOWS ONLY THE FIRST HALF
OF THE HEADLINE, SCOTT WALKER
HAS KEPT HIS PLEDGE AGAIN.
THE SECOND HALF READS NOW IT'S
UP TO THE COUNTY BOARD TO CREATE
A MORE REALISTIC BUDGET.
THE MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL'S
EDITORIAL BOARD FELT A MODEST
TAX INCREASE WAS JUSTIFIED TO
PREVENT TRANSIT CUTS AND
FURLOUGHS FOR COUNTY WORKERS.
>> WHILE MILWAUKEE AND MADISON
RUN A DEFICITS WE HAD A SUR SURPLUS.
>> THERE ARE ANNUAL SURPLUSES
AND STRUCTURAL.
MORE ON STRUCTURAL DEFICITS
LATER ON.
BUT THE $8.9 MILLION WALKER
REFERS TO IS AN ANNUAL SURPLUS,
MONEY UNSPENT AT THE END OF THE
YEAR.
TO PUT THE NUMBER IN PERSPECTIVE
COMPARED TO MILWAUKEE COUNTY'S
TOTAL REVENUES IN THE 2010
BUDGET, THAT WORKS OUT TO ABOUT
7/10s OF 1%.
WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE
WISCONSIN TAXPAYERS APPLIANCE WE APPLY --
ALLIANCE WE COMPARED THAT WITH
THE STATE OF WISCONSIN.
THERE WILL BE A SURPLUS OF $303
MILLION.
THAT WORKS OUT TO JUST UNDER 1%.
THE BIG STATE DEFICIT WALKER
REFERRED TO IS A STRUCTURAL
DEFICIT.
A STRUCTURAL DEFICIT IS AN
EXPENSE TAXPAYERS WILL BE ON THE
HOOK FOR IN FUTURE BUDGETS
BECAUSE OF DECISIONS MADE
EARLIER.
THE STATE'S STRUCTURAL DEFICIT
IS ABOUT $2.4 BILLION.
BUT IT TURNS OUT MILWAUKEE
COUNTY HAS A STRUCTURAL DEFICIT
TOO.
THE NONPARTISAN PUBLIC POLICY
FORUM ESTIMATES WALKER'S 2010
RECOMMENDED BUDGET LEFT A $8
MILLION HOLE IN THE 2011 BUDGET.
>> THEY SAY YOU CAN'T CUT WASTE
WITHOUT SACRIFICING SERVICES.
THEY'RE WRONG.
OUR AIRPORT IS ADDING NEARLY
1,000 NEW JOBS.
>> WE CHECKED THE BIZ TIMES
WEBSITE AND THE ARTICLE REALLY
DOES SAY THAT.
WALKER SHOULD KNOW.
HE WROTE THE ARTICLE HIMSELF.
IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT
ACCORDING TO A 2008 ARTICLE IN
THE BUSINESS JOURNAL WALKER
SUPPORTED SELLING OR LEASING
MITCHELL FIELD TO A PRIVATE
OPERATOR.
>> WE ELIMINATED THE WAITING
LIST FOR LONG-TERM CARE FOR OUR
SENIORS.
>> THIS DEPENDS ON THE MEANING
OF THE WORLD WE.
WALKER IS REFERRING TO THE
FAMILY CARE PROGRAM FOR THE
ELDERLY.
MILWAUKEE COUNTY WAS ONE OF THE
PILOT COUNTIES FOR THAT PROGRAM.
MULTIPLE SOURCES TOLD US THE
WAITING LISTS FOR SENIORS WERE
CLEARED BY 2003, ABOUT A YEAR
AFTER WALKER WAS ELECTED COUNTY
EXECUTIVE.
BUT FAMILY CARE IS A STATE-RUN
PROGRAM ESTABLISHED BY THE 1999
STATE BUDGET, BEFORE WALKER
BECAME COUNTY EXECUTIVE.
THERE WAS PARTIAL COUNTY FUNDING
FOR THE FIRST FIVE YEARS, BUT
THAT LEVEL WAS SET BY STATE
STATUTE.
>> OKAY.
SO THE QUESTION IS DOES SCOTT
WALKER GET CREDIT FOR CLEARING
THESE WAITING LISTS?
>> WELL, AS WE SAID, DEPENDS.
HE DID VOTE FOR THE STATE BUDGET
BILL THAT DID CONTAIN FAMILY
CARE, BUT THAT WAS WHEN HE WAS A
STATE LEGISLATOR, NOT WHILE HE
WAS COUNTY EXECUTIVE.
>> ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU, ART.
>> THANKS, FRED.
>> A FORMER STATE ASSEMBLYMAN
WHOSE NAME USED TO BE MENTIONED
AMONG POSSIBLE CANDIDATES FOR
GOVERNOR WAS BACK IN THE NEWS
THIS WEEK.
SCOTT JENSEN WILL HAVE HIS
RETRIAL IN HIS HOMETOWN OF
WAUKESHA RATHER THAN IN DANE
COUNTY, WHERE HIS FIRST TRIAL
TOOK PLACE IN 2006.
JENSEN ASKED THE HIGH COURT FOR
THE VENUE CHANGE BASED ON A 2007
STATE LAW THAT SAYS POLITICIANS
CHARGED WITH ETHICS VIOLATIONS
WILL BE CHARGED IN THEIR HOME
COUNTIES, NOT THE COUNTY WHERE
THE ALLEGED MISCONDUCT OCCURRED.
IN OTHER CAPITOL NEWS THIS WEEK,
GOVERNOR JIM DOYLE VETOED THE
BILL THAT LEGALIZED SALE OF RAW
MILK ON DAIRY FARMS SAYING HE
WAS SIDING WITH THE SAFETY OF
THE DAIRY INDUSTRY.
THIS TODAY NEWS ITEM, BAD NEWS
FOR THE PEOPLE IN OSCEOLA.
THAT'S WHERE THE POLARIS PLANT
WILL CLOSE.
MUCH OF THE WORK WILL BE
TRANSFERRED TO MEXICO.
A PLANT SPOKESPERSON SAID THE
OPERATION WILL RAMP DOWN IN THE
NEXT 18 TO 24 MONTHS.
FOR MANY WISCONSIN GINSENG
GROWERS, THE SEASON MAY BE OVER
BEFORE IT GOT STARTED.
A SNOWSTORM WREAKED HAVOC ON
SEEDLING CROPS.
PLANTS FROZE BENEATH NETS THAT
PROTECT THE PLANTS FROM
SUNLIGHT.
WISCONSIN IS A GINSENG KING, THE
STATE IS THE NUMBER ONE EXPORT
ER.
95% OF WISCONSIN'S GINSENG IS
GROWN IN MARATHON COUNTY.
THAT'S WHERE A GROWER JOINS US
BY TELEPHONE.
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR DOING SO.
>> YOU'RE WELCOME.
>> NOW, I UNDERSTAND YOU'RE
JOINING US BY PHONE BECAUSE YOU
ARE IN THE FIELD HAVING TO TEND
TO THESE DAMAGED CROPS.
WHAT IS THE STATUS OF YOUR CROP
AND OTHERS IN THE AREA RIGHT
NOW?
>> WE SUSTAINED A HUGE LOSS.
RIGHT NOW WE'RE TRYING TO SET
OUR TARPS BACK UP.
DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE SNOW
HAS KNOCKED THEM ALL DOWN, WE
NEED TO GET THEM UP OFF THE
PLANTS SO WHAT IS THERE AS FAR
AS PLANTS WE CAN TRY TO SAVE.
TEMPERATURES ARE GOING TO BE HOT
THE NEXT COUPLE DAYS AND THAT'S
KIND OF JUST AS BAD AS THE COLD.
IF THE PLANT IS SUBJECT TO A
REAL WARM HEAT WITH THE FABRIC
ON THE PLANTS, WE'RE CONCERNED
IT'S GOING TO BURN THEM OFF.
>> WOW.
SO YOU'RE SCRAMBLING TO GET
THOSE NETS BACK UP.
HOW MUCH OF WISCONSIN'S GINSENG
CROP IS DAMAGED?
>> THE BULK OF ALL GROWERS HAD
DAMAGE, SOME MORE THAN OTHERS
DEPENDING ON THE SIZE OF THE
GARDENS.
WE'RE SEEING 80% TO 90% OF THE
CROP OR THE ROOF STRUCTURES WERE
KNOCKED DOWN.
>> WHAT'S THE TOTAL DOLLAR
DAMAGE ESTIMATE, DO YOU KNOW?
>> I'VE BEEN ASKED THAT MANY
TIMES AND IT'S REALLY TOUGH TO
PUT A DOLLAR AMOUNT AND QUANTIFY
WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.
WE DON'T KNOW HOW MANY OF THE
PLANTS WILL SURVIVE.
THEY GO INTO A DORMANCY.
SOME OF THEM MIGHT COME BACK
NEXT YEAR.
WE WOULD LOSE THE ONE YEAR
GROWTH ON THEM.
THAT'S THE UNKNOWN, HOW MANY OF
THEM PLANTS WILL REGROW NEXT
YEAR.
IF THEY DIE, THEN WE'RE GOING TO
HAVE TO RECEDE.
IF SOMERECEDE -- RESEED.
WE HOPE WE CAN SAVE SOME OF THEM
AND HAVE OUR CROP FOR THE NEXT
SEVERAL YEARS, EVEN IF IT'S A
LIGHTER CROP.
WE'RE HOPEFUL THAT THESE PLANTS
WILL COME BACK AND WE JUST LOSE
THE ONE-YEAR GROWTH.
>> SO I GUESS IT'S TOO LATE TO
REPLANT THIS YEAR THEN.
>> CORRECT BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE
THE SEED.
THE SEED WAS HARVESTED LAST FALL
OFF THE 3-YEAR-OLDS AND
4-YEAR-OLDS, SO THERE'S NO
ADDITIONAL SEED TO PLANT UNTIL
THIS FALL.
THE SEED WE HARVEST CAN THEN BE
PLANTED.
IF WE HAVE TO REPLANT GARDENS,
WE WILL NOT HAVE ENOUGH SEED TO
REPLANT NEW GARDENS.
IF THE 3s AND 4s ARE HURT
REALLY BAD, WHICH THEY ARE, THAT
MEANS WE WILL NOT GET A SEED
CROP TO REPLANT THE FOLLOWING
YEAR.
>> WHAT ARE PRODUCERS SEEKING IN
TERMS OF ANY KIND OF GOVERNMENT
RELIEF OR DISASTER RELIEF?
>> ONCE AGAIN, WE DON'T KNOW
EXACTLY WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN
THERE YET.
WE'VE BEEN TOLD THAT IT'S BEEN
ACCEPTED AND APPROVED, BUT WE'RE
NOT SURE HOW THAT'S GOING TO BE
COME THROUGH, IF IT'S GOING TO
BE IN THE FORM OF LOANS OR IF
THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME HELP TO
OFFSET THE LOSSES.
ONCE THE LOSS IS THERE, THERE'S
NO WAY OF GETTING THE MONEY BACK
OUT OF IT BECAUSE THERE'S
NOTHING LEFT.
SO THE LOANS WILL CERTAINLY
HELP.
WE'RE HOPING THAT THERE WILL BE
SOME OTHER DOLLARS THERE JUST TO
HELP OFFSET THE LOSS AND KEEP
PEOPLE IN BUSINESS.
>> YES.
WELL, WE HOPE FOR THAT AS WELL.
JOE, THANKS VERY MUCH, AND WE'LL
LET YOU GET BACK TO WORK.
>> THANK YOU.
>> FARMERS WORKING IN THEIR
FIELDS TODAY MIGHT HAVE HEARD
THE ROAR OF MOTORCYCLES.
HUNDREDS OF BIKES AND THEIR
OWNERS THUNDERED OUT OF
LA CROSSE THIS MORNING FOR A
STATEWIDE DESTINATION LAMBEAU
FIELD.
THEY ARE VETERANS AND THEY
ARRIVED AT LAMBEAU LATE THIS
AFTERNOON, JOINING UP WITH
RIDERS THAT LEFT FROM MILWAUKEE
AND EAU CLAIRE.
THEY NUMBERED 1,244.
THAT'S THE NUMBER OF WISCONSIN
SOLDIERS KILLED OR MISSING IN
ACTION DURING THE VIETNAM WAR.
THE HONOR RIDERS WILL JOIN
THOUSANDS OF OTHER WISCONSIN
VIETNAM VETERANS FOR A WEEKEND
OF REMEMBRANCE.
IT'S CALLED LZ LAMBEAU PRODUCED
BY WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISION
AND PARTNERS.
ONE OF THE HONOR RIDERS IS A
VIETNAM VETERAN AND
VIDEOGRAPHER.
MORE ON HIS WORK IN A MINUTE.
I CAUGHT UP WITH BUTCH SOETENGA
AT HIS HOME BEFORE HE LEFT FOR
TODAY'S HONOR RIDE.
>> WHY ARE YOU TAKING PART IN
THIS HONOR RIDE?
>> WELL, YOU KNOW, THE HONOR
RIDE IS ALL ABOUT HONORING THE
1,244 VIETNAM VETERANS THAT
DIDN'T MAKE IT HOME.
AND I THINK ALL VIETNAM VETERANS
HAVE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF
SURVIVOR GUILT.
I KNOW I CERTAINLY DO.
AND ANYTIME YOU CAN TAKE PART IN
SOMETHING LIKE THIS TO, YOU
KNOW, HONOR THOSE THAT DIDN'T
MAKE IT BACK, YOU KNOW, WE WANT
TO BE PART OF THAT.
>> HOW EMOTIONAL MIGHT THAT BE?
>> PRETTY EMOTIONAL.
THIS WHOLE PROJECT HAS BEEN VERY
EMOTIONAL.
YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE STORIES
THAT WE'VE HEARD HAVE JUST BEEN
VERY EMOTIONAL.
>> I WANT TO TALK WITH YOU A
LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT IN A
FEW MOMENTS, ABOUT YOUR WORK ON
YOUR PROJECT, THE VIETNAM WAR
STORIES.
>> SURE.
>> BUT I KNOW THAT FOUR OF YOUR
FIVE SONS WILL BE RIDING ALONG
WITH YOU.
HOW MEANINGFUL WILL THAT BE?
>> IT'S VERY MEANINGFUL.
I'M JUST SO GLAD THAT THEY CAN
PARTICIPATE IN IT.
AND I THINK, YOU KNOW,
ULTIMATELY I JUST WANT THEM TO
BE SURROUNDED BY OTHER VIETNAM
VETERANS.
AND I JUST WANT THEM TO KIND OF
HOPEFULLY EXPERIENCE THE KIND OF
CAMARADERIE THAT WE HAVE AS
VIETNAM VETERANS.
AND JUST BY IMMERSING THEM IN
THOUSANDS OF THEM, I'M HOPING
THAT HAPPENS.
I WANT THEM TO SEE THE KIND OF
PRIDE THAT WE HAVE IN OUR
SERVICE AND I WANT THEM TO SEE
HOW MUCH RESPECT WE HAVE FOR
THOSE THAT HAVE FALLEN.
>> WHAT MIGHT IT DO TO THE BOND
THAT YOU ALREADY SHARE WITH YOUR
SONS TO HAVE THEM IMMERSED IN
THAT?
>> I HOPE IT INCREASES THAT
BOND.
I MEAN, THEY'VE ALWAYS BEEN
INTERESTED IN MY SERVICE, YOU
KNOW, ALWAYS WANTING ME TO TELL
THEM WHAT TOOK PLACE.
MOST CASES THEY WERE TOO YOUNG
TO HEAR ABOUT THAT.
BUT NOW THEY'RE AT AN AGE WHERE
THEY'RE STILL ASKING ABOUT THOSE
STORIES, AND I'M TELLING THEM
SOME OF THOSE STORIES.
>> NOW, I KNOW THAT YOU'RE
TAKING PART OBVIOUSLY IN THE LZ
LAMBEAU EVENT, THE COMING HOME
EVENT.
IS THIS SOMETHING THAT YOU
WISHED FOR WHEN YOU DID COME
HOME AND NEVER GOT?
>> OH, ABSOLUTELY.
YOU KNOW, WE DIDN'T GET A
WELCOME HOME AT ALL.
NO ONE REALLY WANTED TO HEAR
ANYTHING ABOUT WHAT TOOK PLACE
OVER THERE.
WE WERE JUST SORT OF UNDER THE
IMPRESSION THAT WE SHOULD PUT
THAT EXPERIENCE IN A CUBBY HOLE
SOMEPLACE AND MOVE ON.
AND I THINK WE WANTED TO DO THAT
ANYWAY.
YOU WERE JUST THANKFUL TO HAVE
SURVIVED AND BE ABLE TO CONTINUE
YOUR LIFE HERE.
AND SO TO JUST PUT THOSE
EXPERIENCES ASIDE WAS SOMETHING
THAT WE WANTED TO DO TOO, BUT NO
ONE REALLY WANTED TO KNOW
EVERYTHING ABOUT IT AND THERE
CERTAINLY WASN'T ANY WELCOME
HOME.
SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS.
I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE GREAT.
I JUST HOPE -- A LOT OF VIETNAM
VETERANS HAVE STILL SOME REALLY
OPEN WOUNDS, AFTER 40 YEARS, YOU
KNOW.
AND I'M HOPING, YOU KNOW, THAT
THE LZ LAMBEAU AND THE
DOCUMENTARIES AND THE WHOLE
WEEKEND HELP PUT A LITTLE BIT OF
CLOSURE TO THAT.
IF THAT'S THE CASE, THEN I
REALLY -- WE'VE REALLY DONE OUR
JOB REALLY WELL.
>> SPEAKING OF HAVING DONE YOUR
JOB, YOU ARE THE VIDEOGRAPHER
AND EDITOR OF THE THREE-HOUR
DOCUMENTARY, IS IT?
>> YES.
PRO EDITOR.
NICK DID HALF OF THE EDITING.
>> YOU SPENT YEARS LITERALLY ON
THIS.
WHAT WAS THAT WORK LIKE FOR YOU?
>> WELL, IT WAS -- IT WAS GREAT.
I MEAN, TO -- I'VE SAID THIS
BEFORE AND I'LL SAY IT AGAIN
BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW HOW ELSE TO
SAY IT.
IT WAS JUST AN HONOR AND A
PRIVILEGE TO SIT DOWN WITH ALL
OF THESE VETERANS AND TO MEET
THEM AND, YOU KNOW, LOOK AT SOME
OF THEIR PHOTOGRAPHS, TO PHEPL
MA TPHEUS WITH THEM.
BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY TO SIT DOWN
WITH THEM AND LISTEN TO THEIR
STORY IN ITS ENTIRETY.
TYPICALLY THEY WENT TWO HOURS
PER INTERVIEW, AND THE STORIES
WERE AMAZING.
AND THERE WERE TIMES WHERE I
COULDN'T FOCUS BECAUSE OF THE
TEARS AND OTHER TIMES WHERE, YOU
KNOW, I'D KEEP THE CAMERA FROM
SHAKING FROM LAUGHTER.
IT WAS A REAL EMOTIONAL TIME,
BUT A REAL GREAT TIME AND A
HEALING TIME.
I THINK CERTAINLY FOR ME AND FOR
THEM.
>> WHAT DID YOU LEARN DOING
THAT?
>> JUST THAT I SHARE THIS
EXPERIENCE WITH SO MANY OTHER
INDIVIDUALS, SO MANY OTHER
VETERANS.
AND, YOU KNOW, I LEARNED THAT SO
MANY HAD IT SO MUCH WORSE THAN
I, AND I THINK YOU'LL HEAR THAT
FROM A LOT OF VETERANS WHO HEAR
OTHER VETERANS' STORIES.
THEY'LL SAY, I DIDN'T HAVE IT
THAT BAD, YOU KNOW.
SOME OF THESE INDIVIDUALS JUST
HAD HORRENDOUS TIMES OVER THERE,
JUST HEART-BREAKING TIMES.
>> WHAT DO YOU HOPE VIEWERS
LEARN?
>> WHAT THAT WAR WAS LIKE, HOW
DIFFICULT IT WAS, HOW DIFFICULT
IT WAS FOR THE VETERANS TO GO
OVER THERE AND HAVE TO FIGHT
THIS WAR, HOW DIFFERENT IT IS
THAN WHAT WE'RE INVOLVED IN
RIGHT NOW AND HOW WE TREAT OUR
VETERANS NOW.
I'M HOPING THAT THEY LEARN THAT
FROM IT.
>> BUTCH, THANK YOU.
>> YOU'RE WELCOME.
>> AS I MENTIONED IN THE
INTERVIEW, HE WAS A PRIMARY
VIDEOGRAPHER AND EDITOR IN THE
FORTHCOMING DOCUMENTARY SERIES
VIETNAM WAR STORIES.
THE SERIES WILL RUN MAY 24, 25
AND 26.
HERE'S A PREVIEW.
? ?
>> I JUST REMEMBER THE FIRST
TIME I GOT ASSIGNED TO B COMPANY
AND I WAS CONVINCED THAT THEY
WERE ALL CRIMINALS, JUST THE WAY
THEY ACTED, JUST THE THINGS THEY
WERE DOING.
WASN'T IN CONTACT WITH ANYBODY I
SERVED WITH UNTIL ABOUT 1990.
GOT A CALL FROM A FELLOW, ONE OF
MY FORMER LIEUTENANTS.
I ASKED WHAT HE WAS DOING.
HE TOLD ME.
HE SAID WHAT ARE YOU DOING NOW?
AND I SAID I'M A CIRCUIT COURT
JUDGE.
SAID, OH, THAT'S -- I WOULDN'T
HAVE THOUGHT THAT.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN?
HE SAID I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT
YOU'D BE IN PRISON.
HE GOT THERE LATE IN MY TOUR.
>> YOU ASK 15 PEOPLE WHAT DAY IT
IS.
THEY JUST DON'T KNOW.
YOU LOSE TRACK.
I CALLED BACK TO THE SHIP,
WHAT'S THE DATE TODAY?
AUGUST 16.
I HAVE TO BE BACK IN THE STATES
AUGUST 20.
OKAY.
FLEW BACK TO THE SHIP, GRAB MY
GEAR, GRABBED A FLIGHT AND COME
HOME.
FOR THREE DAYS I'M SITTING AT
HOME WITH MY MOM AND DAD.
THREE DAYS.
THEY SHOULD HAVE NEVER TURNED ME
LOSE ON THE CIVILIAN POPULATION
THREE DAYS WHEN I LEFT THERE.
YOU JUST CAN'T, YOU KNOW.
IT WOULD TAKE YOU THE REST OF
YOUR LIFE TO EVEN TRY TO COME TO
TERMS WITH THIS, YET ALONE, HERE
YOU GO, YOU'RE GONE.
? ?
>> YOUR COUNTRY ASKED THEM TO
SERVE AND THEY ANSWERED THE
CALL.
BUT WHEN THE MEN AND WOMEN OF
WISCONSIN WENT TO FIGHT IN
SOUTHEAST ASIA, THEY HAD NO IDEA
WHAT THE VIETNAM WAR WOULD BE
PART OF THAT FOR THE REST OF
THEIR LIVES.
WISCONSIN VIETNAM WAR STORIES.
? ?
>> WISCONSIN VIETNAM WAR STORIES
IS PRODUCED BY AND AIRS ON MAY 24,
25 AND 26 AT 8:00 P.M.
THE VIETNAM VETERAN GATHERING
THIS WEEKEND IN GREEN BAY IS
CALLED LZ LAMBEAU.
IT CULMINATES SATURDAY NIGHT
WITH AN OFFICIAL WELCOME HOME
CEREMONY.
THAT'S ALL FOR TONIGHT'S
PROGRAM.
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.