>> 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.
THIS WEEK ON "HERE & NOW,"
MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND IS THE
UNOFFICIAL START OF THE CAMPAIGN
SEASON, AND THINGS ARE HEATING
UP.
SEE WHO'S STILL STANDING IN THE
RACE FOR THE REPUBLICAN PARTY'S
BID TO CHALLENGE DEMOCRAT RUSS
FEINGOLD.
AND A LOOK AT NEW POLL NUMBERS.
JUST IN TIME FOR SUMMER BREAK, A
PUSH TO HELP EASE CONTINUING
SCHOOL BUDGET PROBLEMS IN
WISCONSIN.
WE'LL ALSO TALK WITH MILWAUKEE
COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY JOHN
CHISHOLM ABOUT THE MOVE TO
RECHECK DNA RECORDS.
ALSO, PETER LEIDY IS HERE WITH
HIS SINGING COMMENTARY AS WE
HEAD INTO THE HOLIDAY WEEKEND.
BUT FIRST IT IS FIVE MONTHS AND
COUNTING UNTIL THE NOVEMBER 2010
ELECTION, AND THIS WEEK A NEW
POLL ON WISCONSIN'S U.S. SENATE
RACE.
THE JUST-RELEASED POLL SURVEYED
500 LIKELY WISCONSIN VOTERS.
IT SHOWS INCUMBENT DEMOCRAT RUSS
FEINGOLD WITH A SLIGHT LEAD OVER
REPUBLICAN RON JOHNSON.
JOHNSON IS COMING OFF LAST
WEEKEND'S ENDORSEMENT AT THE
STATE REPUBLICAN CONVENTION.
HE IS WIDELY UNKNOWN, BUT IN
THIS POLL IS RUNNING VIRTUALLY
EVEN WITH FEINGOLD.
DAVE WESTLAKE IS ANOTHER
REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE.
COMPARING THIS POTENTIAL
MATCH-UP, FEINGOLD GARNERS 47%
OF THE VOTE TO 38%.
DESPITE HAVING A LEAD, THE
NUMBERS DON'T BODE WELL FOR
FEINGOLD IN A YEAR WHEN MANY
INCUMBENTS HAVE A TARGET ON
THEIR BACK.
INCUMBENTS WHO EARN LESS THAN
50% ARE CONSIDERED POTENTIALLY
VULNERABLE.
THIS WEEK SAW TWO OF THE
BETTER-KNOWN REPUBLICAN
CHALLENGERS DROP OUT OF THE
RACE.
RICHARD LEINENKUGEL AND MADISON
REAL ESTATE DEVELOPER TERRENCE
WAHL.
AT THIS POINT, RON JOHNSON WILL
FACE WATERTOWN BUSINESSMAN DAVE
WESTLAKE IN THE PRIMARY.
WE INVITED BOTH OF THEM TO JOIN
US THIS WEEK.
HOWEVER, THE JOHNSON CAMPAIGN
DECLINED.
DAVE WESTLAKE JOINS US AND
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR DOING SO.
>> THANK YOU.
>> YOU USUALLY WEAR THE FULL
ORANGE SHIRT, BUT TODAY YOU'RE
IN THE DRESS --
>> FOR YOU, FREDERICA,
ABSOLUTELY.
>> YOU ARE STILL HANGING IN
THERE, BUT WHAT IS YOUR REACTION
TO JOHNSON'S OVERWHELMING
ENDORSEMENT?
>> WE WEREN'T GOING FOR THE
ENDORSEMENT.
IT'S NEVER BEEN ABOUT TRYING TO
WIN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY
NUMBERS.
IT'S ABOUT WINNING THE VOTE FROM
THE PEOPLE OF THIS STATE.
WE FOCUS ODD COMPLETELY -- FOCUSED ON DIFFERENT
ASPECTS OF OUR CAMPAIGN THAN
WAHL AND JOHNSON.
>> SPEAKING OF TERRENCE WAHL
DROPPING OUT AND DICK
LEINENKUGEL DROPPING OUT, WHAT
KIND OF TRACTION MIGHT THAT GIVE
YOUR CAMPAIGN?
>> WE ARE STILL DOING THE SAME
THING WE'VE DONE BEFORE, WHICH
IS GET OUT AND TALK TO PEOPLE
AND REALLY TAKE A GRASSROOTS
EFFORT THAT WE'VE BEEN BUILDING
ON THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS AND
ROLL IT INTO SOMETHING THAT'S
VERY SUCCESSFUL AS WE REALLY
PWERENTER THE HOT SEASON.
>> DOES IT STICK IN YOUR CRAW
RON JOHNSON DECIDES HE'S GETTING
IN AND SUDDENLY HE'S THE
FRONTRUNNER?
>> NO.
IT DOESN'T STICK IN MY CRAW AT
ALL.
I WELCOME HIM TO THE RACE.
I'VE KNOWN FOR A LONG TIME HE
WAS GOING TO GET IN.
IF I WAS TO SAY THIS SURPRISED
ME, I WOULD BE DISINGENUOUS.
>> YOU ARE HOLDING YOUR OWN, 38%
IN THIS LATEST POLL.
I'VE GOT TO SAY, SOMEONE LIKE
MYSELF WHO LISTENS TO, WATCHES,
READS A LOT OF POLITICAL AND
CAMPAIGN NEWS, YOUR NAME IS
HARDLY EVER MENTIONED IN THIS
MIX WITH RON JOHNSON AND RUSS
FEINGOLD.
>> THAT'S FINE.
IT'S NOT TO BE MENTIONED AS MUCH
AS RON JOHNSON BECAUSE I DON'T
HAVE THE PARTY ENDORSEMENT.
THE PARTY INSIDERS ARE DOING A
LOT OF WORK TO GET HIS NAME OUT
THERE.
WE'RE TALKING TO PEOPLE THE
PARTY IS IGNORING AND THE
TRADITIONAL APPROACH TO
CAMPAIGNING IS OVERLOOKING AND
WE'RE GETTING THOSE PEOPLE
ONBOARD WITH US.
THAT'S WHY OUR NUMBERS ARE SO
STRONG.
AND WE HAVEN'T HAD TO SPEND OR
RAISE A LOT OF MONEY TO DO THAT.
>> HOW MUCH MONEY DO YOU
ANTICIPATE SPENDING?
>> I DON'T KNOW.
AS MUCH AS WE BRING IN, I
SUPPOSE.
WE'VE GOT THRESHOLDING FOR
VICTORY.
WE KNOW WHAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE
TO WIN.
SO WE'RE NOT TIED TO A NUMBER.
WE'RE BEING CREATIVE IN HOW WE
DO THINGS AND IT'S PLAYING OUT
PRETTY WELL FOR US.
>> HOW MUCH OF YOUR MONEY MONEY?
>> WELL, I'VE PUT IN EVERYTHING
THAT I HAVE.
I DON'T PAY ATTENTION TO THE
REPORTS THAT COME OUT SHOWING
OUR TPURBL STANDING.
STANDING -- FINANCIAL
STANDING.
IT'S NOT IMPORTANT TO ME.
>> NOW, DO YOU TRY TO OUT TEA
PARTY KIND OF RON JOHNSON?
>> I'VE NEVER HEARD IT ASKED
LIKE THAT BEFORE, FREDERICA.
NO, I DON'T TRY TO.
I AM WHO I AM.
WHEN PEOPLE SEE ME AND THE
PEOPLE WATCHING HERE TODAY, I'M
NO DIFFERENT ON T.V. THAN I AM
OUT IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD TALKING
TO PEOPLE.
I'M DAVE.
SO THERE'S NOTHING TO TRY TO OUT
TEA PARTY ANYBODY.
>> ARE THOSE YOUR PEOPLE, ARE
THOSE YOUR VOTE ERS?
>> I HAVE A STRONG SUPPORT GROUP
FROM THE TEA PARTY.
I DO.
>> WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
WHO ARE THEY?
WHO ARE YOU?
>> I'M A GUY THAT WANTS SMALLER
GOVERNMENT.
I WANT LOWER TAXES.
I WANT EVERYBODY TO HAVE THE
SAME ACCESS TO THE AMERICAN
DREAM THAT PEOPLE LIKE RON
JOHNSON AND I HAVE HAD.
IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY -- THIS IS A
LAND OF OPPORTUNITY, UNLIKE
ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD.
AND WHEN GOVERNMENT GETS TOO
BIG, THAT DOESN'T SHRINKS.
I WANT TO FIGHT FOR THAT FOR
EVERYBODY, EVERY SOUL IN
WISCONSIN MATTERS.
IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU'RE
REPUBLICAN, DEMOCRAT,
INDEPENDENT, WHAT COLOR YOU ARE,
WHAT NATIONALITY YOU ARE.
YOU MATTER IN THIS COUNTRY.
>> LOOKS LIKE WE'LL GET MORE AT
ANOTHER TIME.
THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE RON
JOHNSON HAS AGREED TO APPEAR ON
"HERE & NOW" IN TWO WEEKS.
WE ALSO HOPE TO HAVE DEMOCRAT
RUSS FEINGOLD ON IN THE COMING
WEEKS.
THIS POLL WAS RELEASED ON
WISCONSIN'S RACE FOR GOVERNOR.
IT SHOWS SCOTT WALKER FAVORED BY
48% OF WISCONSIN VOTERS TO TOM
PHAEUR RECEIPT'SBARRETT'S 41%.
IN A HEAD TO HEAD MATCH-UP, 44%
TO 42%.
A LOT CAN HAPPEN BETWEEN NOW AND
ELECTION DAY.
"HERE & NOW" WILL KEEP YOU
POSTED ON ANY NEW DEVELOPMENTS.
CRIME TENDS TO BE A HOT BUTTON
POLITICAL ISSUE AND CONTROVERSY
CONTINUES OVER WISCONSIN'S DNA
DATA BAKE.
MISSING PROFILES, SWITCHED
PROFILES, WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS.
IT'S A LIVING NIGHTMARE FOR
PEOPLE ERRONEOUSLY SENT TO
PRISON.
LAST YEAR THE STATE DISCOVERED
MORE THAN 17,000 DNA PROFILES
MISSING FROM THE DATABASE.
IN ONE CASE A SUSPECTED SERIAL
KILLER IN MILWAUKEE GOT ANOTHER
INMATE TO GIVE A DNA SAMPLE IN
HIS PLACE.
AT LEAST THREE MEN CONVICTED OF
MURDER HAVE BEEN RELEASED FROM
PRISON BASED ON NEW DNA TESTS.
THIS WEEK THE MILWAUKEE COUNTY
DISTRICT ATTORNEY ANNOUNCED HIS
OFFICE WILL REVIEW MORE THAN
2,000 HOMICIDES TO IDENTIFY
CASES THAT DESERVE FURTHER DNA
TESTING.
D.A. JOHN CHISHOLM JOINS US FROM
MILWAUKEE.
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR DOING SO.
>> I'M HAPPY TO BE HERE.
>> SO WHY ARE YOU GOING ABOUT
DOING THIS?
>> WELL, I HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO
SEEK THE TRUTH AND MAKE SURE
JUSTICE IS DONE ON EVERY CASE.
THAT OBLIGATION DOESN'T END WHEN
WE SECURE A CONVICTION.
WE MAINTAIN THAT ANYTIME WE
PROSECUTE SOMEBODY, WE HAVE TO
BELIEVE WITH OUR ENTIRE HEARTS
AND OF COURSE THAT EVERYTHING WE KNOW ABOUT THE
CASE THAT THAT PERSON IS GUILTY.
WE USE ALL THE EVIDENCE
AVAILABLE AT THE TIME TO MAKE
THAT DETERMINATION.
THE PEOPLE THAT MAKE THE
DETERMINATION IN MY OFFICE ARE
SOME OF THE MOST SKILLED,
EXPERIENCED PROSECUTORS IN THE
ENTIRE STATE.
THEY HAVE THE HIGHESTETH THICK HIGHEST -- ETHICAL
REPUTATIONS.
WHEN WE FIND THIS INFORMATION
OUT, IT SHOCKS US.
AND IT PUTS THE OBLIGATION ON US
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN ASSURE
THE PUBLIC THE INTEGRITY OF OUR
CASES IS SOUND.
>> IT SEEMS FAIR TO SAY THAT YOU
HAVE LITTLE OR AT LEAST REDUCED
CONFIDENCE IN THE DNA DATABASE
MAINTAINED BY THE STATE.
>> YOU KNOW, I WOULDN'T PUT IT
THAT WAY.
I THINK PEOPLE HAVE TO REMEMBER
WHAT A POWERFUL TOOL THIS IS,
AND IT'S REALLY BEEN IN PLACE
EFFECTIVELY NOW SINCE ABOUT
1996.
NO QUESTION THAT WE WERE DEEPLY
CONCERNED WHEN WE DISCOVERED
THAT THE DATABASE WAS NOT AS
COMPLETE AS IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, THE THREE
EXONERATIONS OR THE THREE LIKELY
EXONERATIONS ARE ALL RELATED TO
INFORMATION THAT SHOULD HAVE
BEEN IN THAT DATABASE AND HAD IT
BEEN IN THE DATABASE, I AM
CONVINCED THAT BOTH
INVESTIGATORS AND PROSECUTORS
WOULD HAVE GONE IN A VERY, VERY
DIFFERENT DIRECTION AND PROBABLY
HELD SOMEONE TO ACCOUNT MUCH
SOONER.
BUT BECAUSE IT WAS NOT IN THERE
AND IN THE COURSE OF THAT WE
DISCOVERED THAT MANY, MANY
THOUSANDS OF SAMPLES WERE NOT IN
THERE, WE NOW HAVE AN OBLIGATION
FIRST TO FIX THAT PROBLEM AND
THEN, SECONDLY, TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE GO BACK IN A SYSTEMIC
WAY AND LOOK AT ALL OF OUR CASES
THAT WOULD BENEFIT FROM A SECOND
REVIEW AND MAKE SURE THAT WE
DIDN'T MISS ANYTHING.
AGAIN, WE BELIEVE IN THE
INTEGRITY OF OUR CASES.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME ONE PERSON
WRONGFULLY CONVICTED IMPINGES ON
PEOPLE'S FAITH AND TRUST IN THE
JUSTICE SYSTEM.
SO WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE DO
EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER TO
ASSURE PEOPLE THEY CAN RELY ON
THE SYSTEM.
>> WHAT'S YOUR WORST FEAR?
>> MY WORST FEAR QUITE FRANKLY
IS THAT PEOPLE STOP TRUSTING THE
SYSTEM.
WE HAVE AN ABSOLUTE OBLIGATION
TO DO TWO THINGS.
WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH VERY, VERY
SERIOUS PUBLIC SAFETY THREATS
AND WE HAVE TO BRING JUSTICE TO
VICTIMS.
WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
PRESERVE PEOPLE'S CONSTITUTIONAL
LIBERTIES AND RIGHTS.
THE WORST THING WE COULD EVER DO
IS CONVICT SOMEBODY AND NOTHING
CAN EXPRESS OUR PAIN BUT OUR
PAIN IS NOTHING COMPARED TO THE
PAIN OF A PERSON WRONGFULLY
CONVICTED.
WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT AND WE ARE
COMMITTED TO NOT ALLOWING THAT
TO HAPPEN.
>> NOW, SPEAKING OF WHICH,
WILLIAM AVERY IN PRISON FOR
CHARGES INCLUDING HOMICIDE WROTE
TO YOU PERSONALLY LAST MONTH
ASKING THAT THE VICTIM'S DNA BE
TESTED AGAINST HIS OWN AND IT
CAME BACK EXCLUDING THIS WILLIAM
AVERY.
WHEN THOSE RESULTS CAME IN, WHAT
WAS YOUR REACTION?
>> IT WAS THE SAME REACTION
WE'VE HAD ON EACH OF THE
EXONERATIONS AND THAT WAS, QUITE
FRANKLY, IT WAS SHOCK AND THEN
IT WAS THE URGENT NEED TO GET
HIM RELEASED FROM CUSTODY AS
SOON AS POSSIBLE.
SO WE CONTACTED THE PUB PUBLIC
DEFENDER'S OFFICE AND MADE SURE
HIS RIGHTS WERE REPRESENTED FROM
THAT POINT ON.
I REMIND PEOPLE AGAIN, THE
PROBLEM THAT OCCURS, AS DEEPLY
AS WE REGRET MR. AVERY'S
EXPERIENCE, IT NOW BECOMES AN
OPEN HOMICIDE INVESTIGATION AND
WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO THE
VICTIMS TO BRING THEM JUSTICE
AND HOLD THE PERSON RESPONSIBLE
WHO HAS NOW CREATED MORE THAN
ONE VICTIM.
>> HOW SATISFIED ARE YOU THAT
NEW RULES WILL MAKE SURE THAT
FELONS COMMIT DNA SAMPLES AND
THAT THE STATE CAREFULLY
MAINTAINS THEM?
>> NO SYSTEM IS PERFECT.
WHAT I BELIEVE IS WHEN ADVANCES
IN TECHNOLOGY IT BECOMES SUCH A
POWERFUL TOOL THAT WE'RE GOING
TO BE ABLE TO DO MORE AND MORE
WITH IT.
PEOPLE HAVE TO REMEMBER THIS IS
STILL A DEEPLY HUMAN SYSTEM.
OUR CASES DO NOT BY AND LARGE
RELY ON ADVANCES IN FORENSICS
AND SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY.
THEY'RE DONE BY HUMAN BEINGS
COMING FORWARD AND SPEAKING THE
TRUTH.
AND THAT'S OUR PROFESSION.
OUR OBLIGATION IS AGAIN WITH THE
INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO US TO
MAKE SURE JUSTICE IS DONE ON
EVERY SINGLE CASE.
>> JOHN CHISHOLM, THANKS VERY
MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU.
>> WELL, THIS WILL BE THE FIRST
MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND HOME FOR
SOME 3,200 WISCONSIN NATIONAL
GUARD MEMBERS.
THEY STARTED RETURNING FROM
ACTIVE DUTY LAST JANUARY.
BUT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE
TRANSITION HOME TURNS ROCKY
BECAUSE OF THEIR EXPERIENCES IN
THE WAR ZONE?
ONE ANSWER IS A VETERANS ONLY
COURT PROGRAM IN ROCK COUNTY.
? ?
>> BUILT TOUGH, TRAINED TO BE
AGGRESSIVE.
IT MEANS SURVIVAL IN THE WAR
ZONE.
BUT WHAT DO HAIR TRIGGER
REFLEXES MEAN ONCE BACK HOME?
A TRANSITION, NOT ALWAYS EASY.
>> I'VE HEARD VETERANS SAY THEY
SEE AN OBJECT ON THE SIDE OF THE
ROAD, THEY THINK THEY NEED TO
SERVE.
THAT'S NORMAL FOR THEM.
>> ANY RETURN TO NORMALCY CAN BE
IMPEDED BY POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS
AND ALCOHOL OR DRUG ABUSE TO
MASK IT.
IT'S A RECIPE FOR POLICE CALLS
AND ARRESTS FOR THINGS LIKE
DISORDERLY CONDUCT OR DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE.
IT'S ALSO THE RESUME OF THE
PERFECT CANDIDATE FOR VETERANS
COURT.
>> IT'S A RETURNING VETERAN WHO
SUFFERS A BREAK FROM REALLY
REALITY BECAUSE POST-TRAUMATIC
STRESS DISORDER IS MUCH LIKE
PARANOIA, ANXIETY ATTACK.
GETS IN TROUBLE, GETS DRUNK,
GETS IN A FIST FIGHT.
AND WE'LL COME INTO IT.
>> LIKE THIS MAN WHO SERVED IN
IRAQ AND WHO ONCE HOME WAS
ARRESTED OUTSIDE A TAVERN FOR
MISDEMEANOR BATTERY AND
DISORDERLY CONDUCT.
HE WAS THE FIRST TO ENTER THE
VETERANS DIVERSION COURT, WITH A
PROMISE THAT SUCCESSFUL
COMPLETION OF A 18-MONTH
TREATMENT PROGRAM WOULD MEAN
CHARGES WILL BE DISMISSED.
BUT HIS LATEST HEARING SHOWS
THERE'S BEEN A BACKSLIDE.
>> THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT
HAVE OCCURRED SINCE LAST WE
METHOD, MR. JOHNSON.
>> THAT WAS A TICKET FOR DRIVING
AFTER REVOCATION AND UNDER THE
TIGHT SCRUTINY OF THIS COURT,
THE JUDGE KNOWS MORE.
>> POSSESSION OR USE OF ALCOHOL.
NOW, OBVIOUSLY YOU'RE HERE
BECAUSE OF AN ALCOHOL PROBLEM.
DO YOU THINK THAT IN FACT THERE
IS A JUDGMENT ISSUE HERE?
I'M BEGINNING TO QUESTION YOUR
JUDGMENT BECAUSE THINGS ARE
STARTING TO PILE UP.
ISN'T THERE AN ISSUE ALSO ABOUT
PURCHASING A WEAPON?
>> YES, SIR.
>> HAVE YOU REVIEWED YOUR
CONTRACT YOU SIGNED IN THIS
MATTER?
>> YES, SIR.
>> I COULD REVOKE YOUR BOND; IN
OTHER WORDS, PUT YOU IN JAIL FOR
A DAY OR TWO.
>> HE COULD ALSO KICK HIM OUT OF
THE PROGRAM AND HAVE HIM PROCEED
DIRECTLY TO SENTENCING.
>> VETERANS COURT ISN'T A PASS.
OUR GOAL HERE IS TO GET THE
TREATMENT YOU NEED SO YOU DON'T
COMMIT THESE THINGS IN THE
FUTURE.
>> BECAUSE JUDGE JAMES DAILY
KNOWS WHAT DELAYED TREATMENT CAN
MEAN.
A VIETNAM VET HIMSELF, HE
WATCHED THOSE AROUND HIM SUFFER
IN SILENCE.
>> I SAW IT HAPPEN AFTER
VIETNAM, NOT ONLY TO -- I HAVE A
BROTHER WHO IS A VIETNAM
VETERAN, ALSO TO OTHER VETERANS
I KNEW, GREW UP WITH, BECAME
ACQUAINTED WITH AFTER I WAS IN
SERVICE.
I SAW THE PROBLEMS THEY
EXPERIENCED.
AND THEY WERE PROBLEMS WHICH
COULD HAVE BEEN AMELIORATED BY
TREATMENT.
>> EXPERTS SAY AS MANY AS ONE IN
FIVE VETERANS HAVE
POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER.
DAILY SAYS THE LONGER THE TIME
WITHOUT TREATMENT, THE LONGER
THE TREATMENT TAKES.
>> YOU'VE NOW BEEN ACCEPTED INTO
VETERANS COURT.
>> THIS MAN IS NEW TO VETERANS
COURT, BUT NOT NEW TO THE ISSUES
THAT LANDED HIM HERE.
HE TELLS THE JUDGE HE WAS AN
INFANTRY MAN IN VIETNAM AND FOR
THE PAST DECADE HE'S BEEN IN
TREATMENT FOR PTSD AND ADJUDGED
DISABLED BECAUSE OF IT.
RECENT CHARGES AGAINST HIM FOR
DISORDERLY CONDUCT ARE DEFERRED
PENDING SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF
THIS PROGRAM.
>> WE ARE TRYING TO HOOK INTO
YOUR SELF-DISCIPLINE THAT YOU
HAD TO EXHIBIT AS AN INFANT
TRIMAN AND ALSO YOUR ABILITY TO
WORK TOGETHER TO ACCOMPLISH
GOALS.
>> THE JUDGE AND LAWYERS AND
EVEN THE BAILIFF IN VETERANS
COURT HAVE SERVED IN THE
MILITARY.
THEY GET IT, LIKE NONVETERANS
COULD NO.
>>COULD -- COULD NOT.
>> DID YOU SERVE IN A COMBAT
ZONE?
>> YES.
>> WHO DID YOU SERVE WITH, 101?
>> THIS VETERAN SERVED 16 YEARS.
NOW TO AVOID JAIL HE MUST FOLLOW
THE JUDGE'S ORDERS.
THE VA PAYS FOR THE TREATMENT
AND ASSIGNS A SOCIAL WORKER.
>> THERE ARE A LOT OF NEEDS IN
TERMS OF MENTAL HEALTH,
SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND OTHER
MEDICAL NEEDS.
THEY'RE I WILL SKWREUBL FOR
CARE.
>> SO FAR JUST THREE VETERANS
ARE PART OF THIS COURT.
IT'S ACKNOWLEDGED SOME WOULD
RATHER JUST TAKE THEIR LUMPS IN
CRIMINAL COURT AND AVOID THE
STIGMA OF TREATMENT.
>> THEY WILL NOT ADMIT ANYTHING.
THEY'LL STONEWALL IT.
THEY'LL MAYBE BE THE MAN.
>> BUT DAILY SAYS THE LONGER
THEY WAIT, THE WORSE IT GETS.
AND SO THIS FORMER MARINE AND
BRIGADIER GENERAL'S LATEST
MISSION IS TO MAKE SURE THOSE
VETS WHO SURVIVED THE WAR ZONE
CAN NOW TRULY FLY BACK AT HOME.
THE JANESVILLE COURT REMAINS THE
ONLY ONE OF ITS KIND IN
WISCONSIN.
IN THE COMING WEEKS, "HERE &
NOW" WILL DELVE INTO THE
PROBLEMS FACING ROCK COUNTY AND
HOW IT MIRRORS THE WRES OF THE -- THE REST
OF THE STATE.
THIS WEEK, WISCONSIN CONGRESSMAN
DAVE OBEY WAS POISED TO ATTACH A
$23 MILLION EDUCATION BILL TO
THE WAR BILL.
BUT THE ELECTION YEAR CONCERNS
OVER DEFICIT SPENDING MAY HAVE
DOOMED THAT EFFORT.
WISCONSIN'S CUT COULD HAVE BEEN
ABOUT $415 MILLION.
IT'S MONEY THAT COULD HAVE
HELPED SCHOOL DISTRICTS
WRESTLING WITH NEXT YEAR'S
BUDGET AND MAY HAVE PRESREPBTDED PRE--
PREVENTED LAYOFFS.
I SAT DOWN WITH JOHN FORESTER TO
TALK ABOUT THOSE BUDGETS.
IN WISCONSIN WHAT IS THE
POTENTIAL AS YOU KNOW IT FOR
TEACHING POSITIONS TO BE CUT
NEXT SCHOOL YEAR?
>> OH, I THINK IT'S VERY REAL.
IN THE BUDGET THAT WAS ADOPTED
LAST SUMMER, THERE WERE CUTS
MADE IN GENERAL AID TO SCHOOLS,
ABOUT $294 MILLION OVER THE
BI-ENYUM.
THERE WAS A REDUCTION IN OUR PER
PUPIL INCREASE UNDER THE REVENUE
CAP FROM 275 DOWN TO 200.
AND THE BIGGEST PROBLEM AS IT
RELATES TO STAFF THIS COMING
YEAR WAS THAT THE BUDGET GOT
DONE LATE ENOUGH SO THAT SCHOOLS
COULD NOT MAKE THE KINDS OF
STAFFING REDUCTIONS THAT THEY
WOULD HAVE NEEDED TO MAKE
BECAUSE THEY HAVE LAYOFF
LANGUAGE IN THEIR CONTRACTS AND
SUCH.
THEY COULDN'T LAY OFF THE STAFF
NECESSARY IN ORDER TO BALANCE
THE BUDGET.
SO THEY'RE LOOKING AT I THINK AN
INORDINATE NUMBER OF STAFF
REDUCTIONS FOR THIS COMING
SCHOOL YEAR.
>> AND THE SITUATION THAT YOU'RE
SPEAKING OF WAS THE SITUATION
THE DISTRICTS WERE IN LAST FALL
AND NOW IN THE CURRENT SCHOOL
YEAR.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
>> AND SO WHERE DOES THAT LEAVE
DISTRICTS FOR NEXT YEAR?
>> WELL, I THINK THERE'S A LOT
OF DISTRICTS THAT ARE PROBABLY
IN SEVERE BUDGET-CUTTING MODE
RIGHT NOW, AND THE KINDS OF CUTS
THAT THEY'RE MAKING OF COURSE
WOULD BE STAFF REDUCTIONS
BECAUSE COMPENSATION IS
GENERALLY 80% TO 85% OF A NORMAL
SCHOOL DISTRICT'S BUDGET.
THEN WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT
PROGRAMMING REDUCTIONS,
INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAMMING
REDUCTIONS.
WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT DEFERRAL
OF MAINTENANCE ITEMS AGAIN AND
THAT'S ALWAYS UNFORTUNATE
BECAUSE IT'S ALWAYS A GOOD IDEA
TO MAINTAIN THE TAXPAYERS'
INVESTMENT.
>> NOW, YOU SUGGESTED THAT
DISTRICTS REALLY ACROSS THE
STATE ARE LOOKING MORE THAN EVER
AT CONSOLIDATION.
WHAT CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT THAT?
>> WELL, I'M HEARING MORE
CONVERSATION ABOUT CONSOLIDATING
THAN I'VE EVER HEARD, AND I'VE
BEEN IN THIS POSITION AS
GOVERNMENT RELATIONS DIRECTOR
FOR THE SAA FOR 8.5 YEARS.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF CONVERSATION
GOING ON OUT THERE.
AND REALLY THE BIGGEST CENTRAL
PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE IS THAT OUR
CURRENT SCHOOL FINANCE SYSTEM IS
UNSUSTAINABLE.
AND IT'S UNSUSTAINABLE BECAUSE
WE HAVE THIS IMBALANCE BETWEEN
OUR ALLOWABLE REVENUE GROWTH AND
WHAT OUR FIXED COST INCREASES
ARE.
OUR FIXED COST INCREASES WOULD
BE STAFFING, UTILITIES,
TRANSPORTATION.
THOSE ARE THREE OF THE BIGGEST
ONES.
BUT TYPICALLY FOR THE AVERAGE
SCHOOL DISTRICT, THEIR ALLOWABLE
REVENUE GROWTH WOULD BE
SOMEWHERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF
3% OR LESS, AND YET THEIR FIXED
COST INCREASES WOULD BE 4%, 4.5%
OR MORE.
WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT THAT KIND
OF IMBALANCE YEAR AFTER YEAR
AFTER YEAR UNDER REVENUE CAPS,
ULTIMATELY IT'S A PRESCRIPTION
FOR BANKRUPTCY.
AND I THINK THAT THAT'S WHY
THERE'S A NUMBER OF DISTRICTS
THAT ARE HAVING THE DISCUSSIONS
ABOUT CONSOLIDATION.
IT'S JUST A VERY DIFFICULT
SITUATION OUT THERE RIGHT NOW.
>> IS CONSOLIDATION NECESSARILY
A BAD THING?
BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE MIGHT
LOOK AT IT AS BEING MORE
EFFICIENT.
>> IN AND OF ITSELF, I DON'T
THINK CONSOLIDATION IS A BAD
THING.
WHAT I'D REALLY LIKE TO SEE IS
I'D LIKE TO SEE A CONVERSATION
OUT THERE ON THE PART OF THE
PUBLIC THAT POLICYMAKERS AND THE
PUBLIC HAVE ABOUT HOW MANY
SCHOOL DISTRICTS DO WE THINK WE
NEED TO HAVE HERE IN THE STATE
OF WISCONSIN AND WHERE DO WE
NEED TO HAVE THEM.
BUT I DON'T THINK A LOT OF
PEOPLE REALLY WANT TO HAVE THAT
CONVERSATION.
IF WE DO HAVE A THAT CONVERSATION,
THE PUBLIC SAYS I THINK WE OUGHT
TO HAVE 350 SCHOOL DISTRICTS
INSTEAD OF 425, YOU KNOW, THEN
THE PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN.
BUT IN ORDER TO ALLOWU ALLOW OUR
UNSUSTAINABLE SCHOOL FINANCE
SYSTEM TO JUST KIND OF
DETERMINE, YOU KNOW, THE
FINANCIALLY WEAKEST SCHOOL
DISTRICTS THAT ARE GOING TO GO
OUT OF BUSINESS, I DON'T THINK
THAT'S THE WAY A DEMOCRACY
SHOULD OPERATE.
>> WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT
THIS FOR YEARS, THE UNSUSTAIN
UNSUSTAINABILITY OF THE SCHOOL
FUNDING MECHANISM.
ARE LAWMAKERS HEARING?
>> I THINK THEY ARE, BUT IT'S
ALSO A POLITICALLY VERY
DIFFICULT AND FISCALLY VERY
DIFFICULT.
THE IMBALANCE THAT WE HAVE IS ON
SURFACE NOT A VERY -- IT'S NOT
ADVANCED CALCULUS.
IT'S NOT A DIFFICULT REKWAEUGS.
I MEAN, EITHER YOU HAVE TO
INCREASE THE REVENUES, YOU KNOW,
NECESSARY TO MEET THE FEDERAL
AND STATE REQUIREMENTS AND THE
EXPECTATIONS OF THE COMMUNITY,
YOU KNOW, OR YOU'RE GOING TO
HAVE TO WORK ON THOSE COST
INCREASES AND BRING THEM DOWN
SOMEHOW.
OR A COMBINATION OF BOTH.
IT'S JUST THAT POLITICALLY I
THINK ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE
VERY DIFFICULT.
IT'S VERY DIFFICULT RIGHT NOW IN
THIS ENVIRONMENT TO EVEN TALK
ABOUT RAISING REVENUES.
AND IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO TALK
ABOUT CUTTING VERY POPULAR
PROGRAMMING AS WELL.
>> THAT WAS JOHN FORESTER.
FINALLY TONIGHT, OUR SINGING
COMMENTATOR, PETER LEIDY.
THIS WEEK, PETER IS IN A
MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND ROAD TRIP
FRAME OF MIND.
TKES STA NATION?
WISCONSIN.
HERE'S TONIGHT'S "END INSIGHT"
AND PETER LEIDY.
? YOU FILL UP MY SENSES LIKE A
NIGHT IN WAUPACA.
? LIKE SHEBOYGAN IN SPRING TIME,
LIKE THE KETTLE MORAINE.
? SATURDAYS ON THE FLAMBEAU,
SUNDAYS AT LAMBEAU.
? YOU FILL UP MY SENSES.
? COME FILL ME AGAIN.
? WISCONSIN, YOU OWN ME.
? WISCONSIN, YOU'VE SHOWN ME.
? SOME OF THE STRANGEST THINGS I
EVER SAW.
? THE SUPREME COURT DECISION
GRANTING PERMISSION
? TO BRING SCOTT JENSEN'S TRIAL
HOME TO WAUKESHA.
? GIVE ME BADGERS AND COW HERDS.
? GIVE ME CHEESE PUFFS AND
CHEESE CURDS.
? LET ME EAT AT YOUR FISH FRIES.
? LET ME SAMPLE YOUR BEER.
? LET ME PADDLE THE KICKAPOO.
? LET ME ALWAYS BE WITH YOU.
? LET ME DREAM THAT THE BREWERS
WIN THE PENNANT THIS YEAR.
? YOU FILL UP MY SENSES LIKE A
DRIVE THROUGH KENOSHA.
? LIKE THE ORCHARDS IN GAYS
MILLS, LIKE A DAIRY IN DANE.
? LIKE THE DEEP-FRIED AROMA AT A
TRUCK STOP NEAR TOMAH.
? YOU FILL UP MY SENSES.
? COME FILL ME AGAIN.
>> AND CONGRATULATIONS TO PETER
LEIDY, HONORED BY THE WISCONSIN
BROADCASTERS ASSOCIATION THIS
MONTH FOR THE THIRD YEAR IN A
ROW AS THE STATE'S BEST COM MEN
TRAEURT.
WE ALSO WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT
TO THANK OUR INTERN, SARAH, WHO
GRADUATED FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF
WISCONSIN.
WE WISH SARAH THE VERY BEST OF
LUCK AND THANK HER FOR ALL OF
THE WORK THAT SHE HAS DONE TO
HELP BRING YOU "HERE & NOW."
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.