>> 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,"
TEMPERATURES RISE AS THE SUMMER
CAMPAIGN SEASON GETS UNDERWAY.
A POLITICAL EXPERT WEIGHS IN ON
OUR "CAPITOL INSIGHT" SEGMENT
THAT CHECKS OUT ROGUE MOVES.
ALSO TONIGHT, SCHOOL'S OUT, BUT
ALARM BELLS ARE RINGING IN
MILWAUKEE OVER TEACHER LAYOFFS
AND CONTRACTS.
THE SCHOOL BOARD PRESIDENT AND
TEACHER'S UNION DIRECTOR ARE
HERE.
WE INTRODUCE YOU TO CANDIDATES
FIGHTING TO REPLACE DAVE OBEY IN
WASHINGTON.
FIRST, SHRINKING SCHOOL BUDGETS
HAVE CAUSED DOWNSIZING ALL OVER
THE STATE.
MILWAUKEE'S SCHOOL BUDGET LED TO
432 TEACHER LAYOFF NOTICES.
THAT'S 12% OF THE TOTAL
WORKFORCE.
MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD
POINT TO WHAT THEY SAY IS A
BETTER MONEY-SAVER THAN LAYOFFS,
LESS EXPENSIVE HEALTH PLANS FOR
TEACHERS.
THIS IS WHERE THINGS GET STALLED
BETWEEN MICHAEL BONDS AND PAT
O'MAHAR.
THEY JOIN US FROM MILWAUKEE AND
THANKS TO BOTH OF YOU FOR DOING
IT.
>> THANKS FOR INVITING ME.
>> FIRST TO YOU, DR. BONDS.
THE TOTAL NUMBER OF LAYOFFS IS
CLOSE TO 700 WHEN YOU COUNT IN
TEACHER ASSISTANTS AND THIS IS
THE FIRST TIME I FURTHER
UNDERSTAND THAT TEACHERS HAVE
BEEN LAID OFF SINCE 1982.
>> THAT'S ACTUALLY --
>> GO AHEAD.
>> THE TOTAL NUMBER OF TEACHER
LAYOFFS IS 482 AND THE TOTAL
NUMBER OF JOBS IS 900.
>> WOW.
THAT IS A TRULY LARGE NUMBER OF
LAYOFFS.
WAS THERE NOWHERE ELSE TO CUT?
>> AT THIS POINT, WE DON'T HAVE MAJOR
STRUCTURAL ISSUES THAT NEED TO
BE CHANGED.
WHILE WE HAVE SEVERAL FACTORS
INFLUENCING OUR REVENUE STREAM,
DECLINING ENROLLMENT, LESS STATE
AID, ONE OF THE BIGGEST DRIVERS,
HEALTH CARE EXPENSES, WE CANNOT
SUSTAIN THE CURRENT HEALTH CARE
SYSTEM WE HAVE AT THIS POINT.
>> HOW MUCH ARE YOU SAVING IN
ALL OF THESE LAYOFFS?
>> IF WE WAS TO HAVE THE UNION
AGREE TO SWITCH TO A LOWER PLAN,
WE COULD SAVE AN ESTIMATED $48
MILLION PER YEAR.
>> HOW MUCH DO YOU SAVE IN THE
LAYOFFS?
>> IF I COULD JUST --
>> GO AHEAD, MR. O'MAHAR.
>> THE FIGURE OF $48 MILLION IS
NOT CORRECT, AT LEAST ACCORDING
TO THE BOARD'S DOCUMENTS.
I HAVE THE MAY 13 BUDGET
DOCUMENT, AMENDMENT INTRODUCED
BY DR. BONDS, THAT SAYS THAT THE
HEALTH CARE SAVINGS, IF EVERYONE
SWITCHED TO THE LOWER COST HMO,
WOULD BE $7MILLION, WHICH
TRANSLATES TO 50 TEACHER JOBS
AND 50 TEACHER JOBS FOR
EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANTS AND
PARAPROFESSIONALS.
I THINK WE SHOULD GET ON THE
RECORD THE CLEAR INFORMATION
THAT THERE IS, ACCORDING TO THE
BOARD'S OWN DOCUMENTS, A $7
MILLION SAVINGS.
>> NO.
THE SPECIFIC BUDGET AMENDMENT
WHICH THEN BRING BACK ALL
TEACHERS.
IN THAT BUDGET AMENDMENT WE TALK
ABOUT A PORTION OF THE TEACHERS
COMING BACK IN THE SECOND PART
OF THE SEMESTER.
BUT THE ACTUAL NUMBER IS $48
MILLION.
>> SO IF EVERY TEACHER SWITCHED
TO THE LOWER COST PLAN, IT WOULD
BE $48?
>> YES, $48 MILLION A YEAR.
THAT'S THE EQUIVALENT OF 480
TEACHERS WE COULD SAVE.
>> WELL, I GOTTA DISAGREE AGAIN
BECAUSE WE HAVE NO INFORMATION
THAT SUPPORTS THAT.
WE'VE ASKED FOR IT AT THE
BARGAINING TABLE.
IT'S NEVER GOTTEN TO THE
BARGAINING TABLE.
AND I THINK THAT WE OUGHT TO
DEAL WITH THE FACTS HERE AND
NOT --
>> WELL, MR. O'MAHAR, LET ME ASK
YOU THIS.
DR. BONDS.
>> EVEN THE REPORT INDICATED THE
$48 MILLION SAVINGS.
>> MR. O'MAHAR, I WANT TO ASK
YOU THIS.
IF THIS -- YOU SAY IT HASN'T
GOTTEN TO THE BARGAINING TABLE,
BUT IF IT DID GET TO THE
BARGAINING TABLE, WOULD YOUR
MEMBER SIP ACCEPT ACCEPT CONCESSIONS IN
THEIR HEALTH CARE PLAN TO TAKE A
LESS EXPENSIVE PLAN?
>> WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING AT THE
BARGAINING TABLE FOR YEARS IS
WORKING WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD TO
KEEP COSTS DOWN.
FOR EXAMPLE, A FEW YEARS BACK WE
INTRODUCED A HEALTH AND
PRODUCTIVITY MANAGEMENT WELLNESS
PLAN THAT IN ITS FIRST YEAR OF
OPERATION SAVED THE DISTRICT
OVER A MILLION DOLLARS.
SO WE HAVE YEAR IN YEAR OUT
WORKED WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD AT
THE BARGAINING TABLE TO SEEK
SOLUTIONS.
THE PROBLEM THIS TIME, THE
BARGAINING THAT THE SCHOOL BOARD
IS DOING IS IN THE NEWSPAPER,
NOT AT THE TABLE.
>> AND I WOULD DISAGREE.
WHAT WE DOING, WE MAKING PEOPLE
AWARE OF THE FACTS.
THE FACTS IS THAT WE LAID OFF
480 TEACHERS.
AND THOSE WERE UNAVOIDABLE
LAYOFFS.
I BELIEVE WITH A STROKE OF A PEN
THOSE 480 JOBS COULD BE SAVED IF
THE UNION AGREED TO A LOWER
HEALTH CARE PLAN.
CURRENTLY WE HAVE TWO PLANS,
AETNA AND UNITED.
THE AETNA FAMILY PLAN IS
$21,000.
THE UNITED FAMILY PLAN IS
$14,000.
YOU GOT OVER $7,000 GAP THERE.
THE UNITED HEALTH PLAN IS OVER
$10,000, AND A SINGLE FAMILY
PLAN IS $6,000, SO A $4,000 GAP
THERE.
BASED ON ALL THE NUMBERS, IF
THEY WAS TO SWITCH WITH THE
LOWER PLAN, WE SAVE $48 MILLION.
I THINK IT'S VERY UNFORTUNATE
THAT WE HAVE 482 TEACHERS BEING
LAID OFF AND IN MY OPINION THOSE
WERE AVOIDABLE LAYOFFS.
>> MR. O'MAHAR, WOULD YOUR
MEMBERSHIP ACCEPT THE LOWER
PRICED HEALTH PLAN IN RETURN FOR
NOT HAVING THE LAYOFFS?
>> I DON'T BELIEVE OUR MEMBERS
SHOULD EVER BE ASKED THAT
QUESTION IN THE CONTEXT OF
HAVING NO CHOICE.
WHAT WE HAVE IN THE CONTRACT NOW
FOR TEACHERS IS THE TWO
DIFFERENT CHOICES, AND OVER 80%
OF OUR MEMBERS CHOOSE THE MORE
TRADITIONAL PPO PLAN THAN THE
HMO.
THE 20% THAT CHOOSE THE HMO,
THAT'S THEIR CHOICE, BUT WE KNOW
FROM OUR SURVEYS, FROM BARE --
BARGAINING, OUR MEMBERS ARE JUST
LIKE THE OTHER TEACHERS IN THE
REST OF THE STATE.
NO DISTRICT HAS ONLY AN H MO
OPTION FOR TEACHERS.
AND I DON'T BELIEVE GOING
FORWARD THAT THIS DISTRICT
SHOULD NOT PROVIDE THE BENEFITS
THAT ALL THE OTHER TEACHERS IN
THE STATE HAVE, ESPECIALLY WHEN
OUR SALARIES ARE AT THE BOTTOM
OF THE SURROUNDING DISTRICTS.
>> SO YOU'RE WILLING TO TAKE THE
LAYOFFS INSTEAD OF THAT?
I MEAN, AREN'T THE DAYS OF THESE
FULL BORE CADILLAC PLANS LONG
PAST?
>> THEY ARE AT MPS AND IT'S VERY
UNFORTUNATE BECAUSE I RECEIVE
NUMEROUS CALLS FROM TEACHERS
COMPLAINING ABOUT THEY HAVEN'T
HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE IN
THEIR UNION LEADERSHIP HAS NOT
CONTACTED THEM RELATIVE TO
GIVING THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO
VOTE.
BUT THE REALITY IS --
>> LET ME LET MR. O'MAHAR JUMP
IN ON THIS.
>> LET ME FINISH.
THE REALITY, WE CAN'T SUSTAIN
THE CURRENT FRINGE BENEFIT
PACKAGE.
WE ONE OF THE FEW ENTITIES IN
THE NATION THAT PROVIDE THIS
HIGH LEVEL AND THERE'S NO
COPAYMENT ON A LOT OF STUFF AND
WE CAN'T SUSTAIN IT.
>> WHAT ABOUT THAT, YOUR MEMBERS
NOT BEING GIVEN THE CHOICE TO
MAKE THIS DECISION?
>> THE CHOICE THAT OUR MEMBERS
MAKE GOES LIKE THIS.
FIRST, WHEN WE SURVEYED THEM
GOING INTO BARGAINING AND THE
CHOICE THEY'VE CLEARLY STATED,
ALL OF OUR UNITS, IS THAT THEY
WANT TO MAINTAIN THE SAME
HIGH-QUALITY BENEFITS THAT ALL
OF THE OTHER TEACHERS HAVE IN
THIS STATE.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE, NO
MORE, NO LESS.
AND SECONDLY, WHEN WE GO THROUGH
THE PROCESS OF BARGAINING AND WE
REACH AN AGREEMENT, THERE IS A
VOTE AND THAT IS THE
RATIFICATION VOTE.
WE AS A UNION WON'T GO BACK TO
OUR MEMBERS WITHOUT GETTING THE
BEST POSSIBLE BARGAIN THAT WE
CAN AT THE TABLE AND WE HAVE NOT
YET SEEN ANY INDICATION, ANY
DATA, THAT SAYS THE HYPED-UP
NUMBER HERE IS --
>> THE NUMBER IS NOT HYPED.
THE NUMBER IS NOT HYPED.
THOSE ACTUAL NUMBERS AND YOU
KNOW THAT.
BUT THE REALITY, ALONG WITH THE
UNION MAINTAIN THE POSITION AND
NOT BUDGING ON HEALTH CARE
BENEFITS THERE WILL CONTINUE TO
BE LAYOFFS AND IT'S UNFORTUNATE.
>> I GOT TO SAY, IT'S VERY
DIFFICULT TO DO ANY KIND OF
MOVEMENT WHEN THE SCHOOL BOARD
PUTS OUT ALL THIS INFORMATION IN
THE MEDIA, BUT DOESN'T COME TO
THE BARGAINING TABLE TO TRY TO
SOLVE PROBLEMS MUTUALLY.
THAT IS VERY UNFORTUNATE.
>> WE NEED TO --
>> PERSONALLY AS BOARD PRESIDENT
CALL IT UNION AND ADMINISTRATION
TOGETHER LAST SUMMER AND WE MET
ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS TO DEAL
WITH THESE ISSUES.
>> I'M AFRAID THIS IS
EXTRAORDINARILY CONTENTIOUS AND
WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME FOR
IT, BUT WE DO APPRECIATE THE
TIME WE DO HAVE WITH US.
DR. BONDS AND MR. O'MAHAR, THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> WE SHIFT NOW TO POLITICS AND
THE FALL CAMPAIGNS.
BY ANY MEASURE, OUTGOING
WISCONSIN CONGRESSMAN DAVID OBEY
WAS A BIG PRESENCE IN WASHINGTON
AND THE 41-YEAR VETERAN LEAVES
SOME VERY BIG SHOES TO FILL.
IN A FEW MINUTES, WE'LL
INTRODUCE YOU TO THE REPUBLICAN
WHO HAS HIS EYE ON THE OPEN 7TH
CONGRESSIONAL SEAT.
BUT FIRST WELCOME TO DEMOCRAT
JULIE LAST SARBGS THEJULIE LASSA, THE CURRENT SENATOR
FROM STEVENS POINT.
SHE JOINS US FROM MILWAUKEE.
THANKS FOR DOING SO.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
IT'S NICE TO BE WITH YOU.
>> THESE ARE SOME PRETTY BIG
SHOES TO FILL.
WHY ARE YOU THE CHOSEN TO
REPLACE THE DEAN OF CONGRESS?
>> WELL, I WOULDN'T SAY THAT I'M
THE CHOSEN CANDIDATE, BUT I AM
LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING ALL
ACROSS THE 7TH CONGRESSIONAL
DISTRICT OVER THE NEXT FEW
MONTHS TALKING TO VOTERS ABOUT
THE CONCERNS AND THE HOPES AND
THE DREAMS THAT THEY HAVE FOR
THEMSELVES AS WELL AS THEIR
FAMILIES.
BUT THE REASON WHY I'M RUNNING
FOR THE 7TH CONGRESSIONAL
DISTRICT IS BECAUSE I BELIEVE
THAT THE HARD-WORKING MEN AND
WOMEN OF THIS DISTRICT REALLY
DESERVE AND NEED A STRONG AND
INDEPENDENT VOICE WHO'S GOING TO
BE WILLING TO FIGHT FOR THEM OUT
IN WASHINGTON D.C. AND TO TRY TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THINGS
WORKING OUT THERE.
>> NOW, CLEARLY THE 7TH
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT IS LARGER
THAN YOUR SENATE DISTRICT AND
YOUR REPUBLICAN CHALLENGER HAS A
BIG HEADSTART IN THE CAMPAIGN,
BUT YOUR CAMPAIGN WEBSITE WE'VE
NOTICED, SENATOR, IS KIND OF
NOTICEABLY BARE OF CONTENT.
WHAT IS THAT ABOUT AND HOW CAN
THE VOTERS IN THIS LARGER
DISTRICT GET TO KNOW YOU?
>> WELL, YOU ARE RIGHT.
MY LIKELY REPUBLICAN OPPONENT
HAS HAD ALMOST A 12-MONTH START.
BUT THE FACT IS IS THAT MY
CAMPAIGN HAS BEEN UP AND RUNNING
FOR A LITTLE BIT LESS THAN A
MONTH AND A HALF, AND SO WE ARE
ACTIVELY WORKING ON PUTTING
TOGETHER AND HAVE PUT TOGETHER A
REALLY STRONG FOUNDATION TO HAVE
A WINNING CAMPAIGN WHEN THE
NOVEMBER ELECTION COMES AROUND.
SO WHAT I'VE BEEN REALLY
FOCUSING ON DOING IS GETTING
OUT, TALKING TO PEOPLE ALL
ACROSS THIS DISTRICT, WHETHER
IT'S IN MARSHFIELD OR CHIPPEWA
FALLS, SUPERIOR OR RHINELANDER
AND PARK FALLS.
SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I'M
GETTING OUT THERE AND REALLY
TALKING TO PEOPLE, FINDING OUT
WHAT THEY THINK ARE THE
IMPORTANT ISSUES IN THIS RACE.
>> FACE-TO-FACE.
NOW, WHAT AMOUNT OF CAMPAIGN
MONEY HAS BEEN PLEDGED TO YOU
FROM CONGRESSMAN OBEY'S CAMPAIGN
COFFER?
>> WELL, THE FEDERAL LAWS ARE
FAIRLY RESTRICTIVE, BUT THE FACT
IS THAT I THINK THAT THERE'S
THIS BELIEF OUT THERE THAT
CONGRESSMEN CAN WRITE A LARGE
CHECK TO SUPPORT MY CAMPAIGN.
>> NOT TO YOU SPECIFICALLY, BUT
HE COULD GIVE IT TO THE PARTIES
IN AN UNLIMITED KIND OF WAY AND
IS THAT YOUR EXPECTATION?
>> WELL, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT
WOULD PROBABLY BE A BETTER
QUESTION TO ASK CONGRESSMAN
OBEY.
ALL I KNOW IS THAT I'VE BEEN
GOING AROUND TALKING TO PEOPLE
AND I HAVE RECEIVED A LOT OF
SMALL DONATIONS FROM ALL ACROSS
THIS DISTRICT, PEOPLE WHO ARE
REALLY INTERESTED AND EXCITED
ABOUT THE RACE.
>> NOW, NOTWITHSTANDING THE
VOTING HISTORY IN THE 7TH BEING
SOLIDLY DEMOCRATIC, A NEW NPR
POLL SHOWS THAT IT NOW LEANS
REPUBLICAN BECAUSE OF
DISAPPROVAL OF PRESIDENT OBAMA'S
JOB PERFORMANCE.
HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO THAT?
>> WELL, THE DISTRICT I THINK IS
A GOOD, SOLID DEMOCRATIC
DISTRICT.
BUT I THINK THAT THE POLL
REFLECTS INDIVIDUALS' CONCERNS
ABOUT THE FUTURE.
THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT NOT ONLY
THEMSELVES AND THEIR ABILITY TO
GET A JOB OR KEEP THEIR JOB, BUT
WHAT IS GOING TO BE THE FUTURE
FOR THE 7TH CONGRESSIONAL
DISTRICT AND THE REST OF THE
STATE.
AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IN
BOTH MY WORK IN THE PUBLIC AND
PRIVATE SECTOR I REALLY FOCUSED
ON JOB CREATION, ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT.
AND I'M HOPING THAT WITH THE
VOTER SUPPORT I'LL BE ABLE TO GO
TO WASHINGTON D.C. AND REALLY
FOCUS ON THOSE POLICIES THAT
WILL HELP TO CREATE GOOD-PAYING,
FAMILY-SUPPORTING JOBS IN THE
7TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.
>> LIKE WHAT POLICIES?
>> WELL, IN THE STATE
LEGISLATURE WHAT I'VE REALLY
FOCUSED ON IS HELPING
ENTREPRENEURS ACHIEVE THE DREAM
OF BECOMING THEIR OWN SMALL
BUSINESS OWNER, POLICIES THAT
HAVE HELPED TO RETAIN AND EXPAND
BUSINESSES THAT CURRENTLY EXIST
IN THE STATE OF WISCONSIN, AS
WELL AS WORKER TRAINING.
THIS SESSION GOVERNOR DOYLE
SIGNED MY WISCONSIN CORE JOBS
ACT INTO LAW.
IT WAS A COMPREHENSIVE JOB
CREATION BILL THAT HAD 18
DIFFERENT COMPONENTS IN IT THAT
REALLY RUNS THE GAMUT FROM HELP
FOR ENTREPRENEURS, ASSISTANCE
FOR SMALL AND MEDIUM WEUZ
BUSINESSES IN ADDITION TO GREEN
TO GOLD AND SOME OF THE OTHER
BILLS AND POLICIES I'VE WORKED
ON IN TERMS OF GOVERNMENT
ACCOUNTABILITIES AND
TRANSPARENCY.
>> YOUR OPPONENT IS LITERALLY A
LUMBERJACK, A DISTRICT ATTORNEY
AND A MTV STAR, PART OF THE
ANTI-STIMULUS, ANTIBAIL OUT, AN
ST*EU HEALTHANTI-HEALTH CARE REFORM.
>> WELL, I THINK THERE IS A LOT
TO COUNTER THERE.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, IN
WISCONSIN RAPIDS THERE IS A
BUSINESS.
IT'S ENERGY COMPOSITES.
THEY'RE LOOKING AT BUILDING A
FACTORY IN ORDER TO BUILD WIND
MILL BLADES FOR THE CLEAN ENERGY
SECTOR OF OUR ECONOMY.
AND WHAT I WAS ABLE TO DO IS
TAKE RECOVERY ZONE FACILITY
BONDS THAT WERE ALLOCATED TO THE
STATE OF WISCONSIN, BE ABLE TO
POOL THOSE UNALLOCATED BONDS TO
CREATE GOOD-PAYING,
FAMILY-SUPPORTING JOBS IN
PROJECTS ALL ACROSS THE STATE,
INCLUDING IN WISCONSIN RAPIDS,
WHICH HAS THE POTENTIAL OF
CREATING 600 NEW JOBS AND THAT
IS SOMETHING THAT WHEN MY LIKELY
REPUBLICAN OPPONENT WAS IN
WISCONSIN RAPIDS A FEW WEEKS
AGO, HE WAS OPPOSED TO.
AND HERE WE HAD JUST DOWN THE
ROAD A PAPER FACILITY THAT
CLOSED A FEW YEARS AGO AND PUT
SEVERAL HUNDRED PEOPLE OUT OF
WORK.
SO I THINK THAT THERE ARE A
NUMBER OF ISSUES THERE THAT
WE -- WE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT
DURING THE CAMPAIGN.
>> VERY QUICKLY AND REALLY THE
LAST COUPLE OF SECONDS, IF
ELECTED WOULD YOU VOTE FOR A
SECOND OR SUBSEQUENT STIMULUS
PACKAGE?
>> WELL, I AM CONCERNED ABOUT
THE STATUS OF OUR NATIONAL DEBT.
I DO BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE TO
START REINING IN FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT SPENDING.
BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE PRIORITIZE THOSE
PROGRAMS THAT WILL BE HELPING TO
CREATE GOOD-PAYING,
FAMILY-SUPPORTING JOBS IN THE
7TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT AND
IN THE REST OF THE STATE.
SO NOT ONLY DO WE HAVE TO GET
AHOLD OF THE NATIONAL DEBT,
BRING THAT DOWN, BUT ALSO TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE INVESTING
IN PROGRAMS THAT WILL HELP
CREATE PRIVATE SECTOR JOBS.
>> SO THAT'S A MAYBE ON THAT.
SENATOR LASSA --
>> WELL, IT DEPENDS WHAT THAT
PACKAGE LOOKS LIKE.
>> RIGHT.
>> IT'S HARD BECAUSE I'M NOT IN
WASHINGTON D.C. NOW.
>> AND WHERE WE'RE AT AT THE
TIME ECONOMICALLY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING
TIME OUT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
FREDERICA.
>> NOW TO WAUSAU, WHERE WE MEET
REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE AND ASHLAND
COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY SEAN
DUFFY.
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME ON.
>> WELL, NOW DAVE OBEY DID NOT
GET ELECTED AND REELECTED FOR 41
YEARS BECAUSE VOTERS IN YOUR
DISTRICT WERE LOOKING FOR A
REPUBLICAN LIKE YOURSELF, BUT
NOW HAS THE ELECTION CHANGED NOW
THAT HE'S LEAVING OFFICE?
>> DAVE OBEY HAS BEEN THERE FOR
4 1 YEARS.
HE'S GOT GREAT NAME RECOGNITION.
I THINK WE HAVE BEEN RUNNING A
COMPELLING CAMPAIGN THAT'S BEEN
FOCUSED ON FISCAL
RESPONSIBILITY.
RIGHT NOW WE HAVE A $13 TRILLION
DEBT.
IF YOU BREAK THAT DOWN, IT'S
ROUGHLY $40,000 FOR EVERY MAN,
WOMAN AND CHILD.
AND PEOPLE HAVE A CONCERN ABOUT
THAT.
WE'RE LOSING JOBS IN WISCONSIN
AND MR. OBEY WAS THE AUTHOR OF
THE 787 BILLION STIMULUS PACKAGE
AND HE TOLD US THAT THAT WAS
GOING TO BE THE ROAD TO
RECOVERY, NOT ONLY FOR
WISCONSIN, BUT FOR OUR COUNTRY.
AND FRANKLY THAT HASN'T BEEN THE
CASE.
WE'VE CONTINUED TO LOSE JOBS AND
THE ECONOMY HAS CONTINUED TO
SPUTTER.
A LOT OF FOLKS HAVE SAID SINCE
DAVE OBEY'S GOTTEN OUT OF THE
RACE THAT I WOULD HAVE TO RETOOL
WHAT I'M DOING IN THE CAMPAIGN
AND FRANKLY THE MESSAGE STILL
DOESN'T CHANGE BECAUSE I'M NOW
RUNNING AGAINST JULIE LASSA,
WHO'S A STATE SENATOR.
ALSO SHE'S A MOTHER.
I'M A FATHER.
I DO LUMBERJACK SPORTS.
SHE'S BORN AND RAISED ON A FARM.
THERE'S A LOT OF SIMILARITIES
THAT THE TWO OF US HAVE.
BUT IN REGARD TO FISCAL
RESPONSIBILITY, WE GREATLY
DIFFER.
DOWN IN MADISON, SHE'S BEEN ONE
WHO HAS SUPPORTED GOVERNOR
DOYLE'S BUDGET, WHICH HAD $2
BILLION PLUS IN TAX AND FEE
INCREASES, EXPANDING THE SIZE OF
WISCONSIN GOVERNMENT.
I DON'T THINK PEOPLE WANT THAT
MADISON BIG GOVERNMENT MENTALITY
IN WASHINGTON.
FOLKS ARE LOOKING FOR FISCAL
RESPONSIBILITY.
SO FRANKLY SINCE OBEY'S BEEN
OUT, I'M STILL TALKING ABOUT THE
SAME ISSUES AND I STILL HAVE THE
SAME MESSAGE.
>> LET'S TALK ABOUT STIMULUS
SPENDING.
OBVIOUSLY, YOU'RE OPPOSED.
BUT WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED TO
WISCONSIN WITHOUT IT?
BECAUSE, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, IT
DID MAINTAIN THE JOBS OF MORE
THAN -- OR THOUSANDS OF TEACHERS
AND OTHER FIREFIGHTERS AND
POLICE OFFICERS AND THINGS LIKE
THAT.
WOULD YOU HAVE BEEN PREPARED TO
LET THOSE PEOPLE LOSE THEIR
JOBS?
>> I THINK WE HAVE TO LOOK AT
THE BIGGER PICTURE HERE.
WHAT HAPPENS IS WE PUT A
BAND-AID ON A LARGER PROBLEM.
WE NEED A TAX BASE IN OUR
COMMUNITIES THAT CAN SUPPORT OUR
POLICE OFFICERS AND OUR
FIREFIGHTERS AND OUR SCHOOL
TEACHERS.
AND WE SEE RIGHT NOW THERE'S
ANOTHER BAILOUT PROPOSED FOR OUR
STATE SYSTEMS AND OUR -- OUR
STATE GOVERNMENTS AND OUR LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS BECAUSE WE DIDN'T
FOCUS ON STIMULATING THE ACTUAL
ECONOMY.
WHEN YOU HAVE GROWTH IN
ECONOMIES, YOU CREATE JOBS.
WHEN YOU CREATE JOBS, YOU HAVE
AN ECONOMIC BASE THAT SUPPORTS
SCHOOLS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT.
THEY TOOK THEIR EYE OFF THE
BALL.
WITH HEALTHY ECONOMIES COME
HEALTHY SCHOOLS AND POLICE
FORCES.
SO NO.
I SUPPORT OUR SCHOOLS.
I'M THE DA OF MY COUNTY.
I SUPPORT MY LAW ENFORCEMENT AND
FIREFIGHTERS.
BUT WE NEED TO HAVE A TAX BASE
TO SUPPORT THEM AND THAT'S WHERE
THE FOCUS SHOULD HAVE BEEN.
>> LET ME ASK YOU THIS.
JULIE LASSA SAYS THAT IT'S HER
BELIEF THAT YOU WERE OPPOSED TO
THIS PROJECT IN WISCONSIN RAPIDS
THAT WOULD HAVE USED HR-L 45 -- $45
MILLION IN STIMULUS FUNDS TO
START A COMPANY THAT WOULD BUILD
WIND TURBINE BLADES AND EMPLOY
600 PEOPLE.
YOU WOULD BE OPPOSED TO THAT
KIND OF USE OF STIMULUS FUNDING?
>> I THINK WHAT SHE'S TALKING
ABOUT IS SHE'S THE AUTHOR OF
THIS CORE JOBS ACT.
AND YOU HAVE TO TAKE A LOOK AT
THIS IN PERSPECTIVE.
SHE VOTED FOR $2 BILLION IN TAX
INCREASES AND FEE INCREASES IN
THE STATE OF WISCONSIN.
AND THEN SHE GAVE BACK $15
MILLION IN TARGETED TAX BREAKS
FOR BUSINESSES.
I THINK THAT'S A POSITIVE THING,
BUT IF YOU BREAK IT DOWN, IT'S
LIKE EACH INDIVIDUAL IS TAXED
$2,000 OR THEY GET TAX INCREASES
OF $2,000.
THEN THEY GET $15 BACK IN
STIMULUS MONEY.
IT DOESN'T WORK AND DOESN'T MAKE
SENSE.
>> IN FAIRNESS, HAVING COVERED
THE BUDGET, I CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT
I MIGHT HAVE DONE BEING A
LEGISLATOR OF EITHER PARTY WITH
A $7 BILLION DEFICIT GOING INTO
THAT PROCESS.
BUT LET ME JUST ASK YOU THIS.
>> BUT ON THAT POINT -- I'M
SORRY TO INTERRUPT YOU.
WE CAN'T -- THIS IS
UNSUSTAINABLE.
WE LOOK AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL,
WE'RE LOOKING AT BORROWING OVER
A TRILLION DOLLARS EVERY YEAR
FOR THE NEXT TEN YEARS.
PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WE CAN'T
CONTINUE ON THIS COURSE.
WE HAVE TO BALANCE OUR BUDGET.
WE HAVE TO REDUCE THE SIZE OF
OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
AND IF WE DON'T, WE ARE GOING TO
BE A GREASE.
I THINK THAT'S WHY THERE'S A
CALLING OUT FROM REPUBLICANS AND
INDEPENDENTS AND DEMOCRATS FOR
FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY IN MADISON
AND IN WASHINGTON.
>> YES.
I THINK VOTERS WOULD AGREE WITH
THAT.
BUT A NEW GALLOP POLL JUST OUT
SUGGESTS THAT 60% OF AMERICANS
FAVOR ADDITIONAL STIMULUS
SPENDING COMPARED TO 38% THAT
OPPOSE IT.
SO HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN THAT?
>> WELL, I HAVEN'T SEEN THE POLL
THAT YOU REFERENCE.
MY ONLY POLL IS I'M
CRISSCROSSING OUR DISTRICT IN
NORTHERN WISCONSIN TALKING TO
VOTERS AND THE MAIN CONCERN IS
THE ECONOMY AND JOB GROWTH.
BUT RIGHT UNDER THAT IS THIS
DEBT.
I THINK WHEN WE LOOK AT THE $50
BILLION OF STIMULUS SPENDING
THAT'S NOW BEING PROPOSED BY
MR. OBEY AND IT'S GOING TO BE
TARGETED TOWARD TEACHERS, I
THINK THAT'S A POSITIVE THING IN
THE SENSE THAT WE WANT TO KEEP
OUR TEACHERS EMPLOYED.
I'M A FATHER OF SIX.
I BELIEVE IN THAT.
BUT WE HAVE TO PAY FOR IT.
WE CAN'T PASS THE BILL OFF FOR
THEIR SCHOOLING TO OUR 6 AND
7-YEAR-OLDs WHEN THEY GET TO
BE IN THEIR 30s.
WE CAN'T PASS THIS DEBT OFF TO
THEM.
THIS PROPOSAL RIGHT NOW DOES
THAT.
LET'S FIND CUTS ELSEWHERE TO PAY
FOR OUR TEACHERS.
>> HOW DO YOU CREATE JOBS IN
YOUR DISTRICT?
>> WELL, I THINK WE NEED A
POSITIVE BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT.
WHAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IS
AN UNCERTAINTY NOT IN THE
ECONOMY, BUT IN GOVERNMENT.
THE BUSINESS LEADERS I'VE SPOKE
WITH, THEY SAID LISTEN, WE HAVE
A VERY MANY WHERE WE DON'T KNOW
WHAT IT'S GOING TO COST TO HIRE
A NEW EMPLOYEE BECAUSE WE DON'T
KNOW WHAT IT'S GOING TO COST FOR
HEALTH CARE.
I BELIEVE IN THE ENVIRONMENT.
I DRIVE A DIESEL.
I GET 50 MILES TO THE GALLON.
I BELIEVE IN PERSONAL
RESPONSIBILITY.
BUT TO TAX OUR BUSINESSES THAT
ARE ALREADY SUFFERING DOESN'T
MAKE SENSE.
AT THE START OF 2011 WE'RE
INCREASING TAXES.
SO BECAUSE OF THIS POLITICAL
UNCERTAINTY, OUR BUSINESSES
AREN'T EXPANDING AND GROWING AND
WE'RE ALSO SEEING BUSINESSES
THAT HAVE LAID FOLKS OFF.
THEY'RE NOT COMING BACK TO
WISCONSIN.
THEY'RE GOING TO OTHER STATES OR
THEY'RE GOING TO CHINA OR INDIA
OR MEXICO.
WE NEED A POSITIVE BUSINESS
ENVIRONMENT TO BRING OUR JOBS
AND OUR BUSINESSES BACK TO
WISCONSIN.
>> I NEED TO LEAVE IT THERE, BUT
SEAN DUFFY, THANKS VERY MUCH FOR
JOINING US.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME ON.
>> AS THE SUMMER TAKES SHAPE,
CAMPAIGN SEASON THROTTLES INTO
HIGH GEAR.
TONIGHT IN OUR "CAPITOL INSIGHT"
SEGMENT, SHAWN JOHNSON AND I
TALK POLITICAL STRATEGY.
THE SENSE THAT REPUBLICAN
CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR MARK
NEUMANN SEEMS TO BE GOING ROGUE.
>> DEFINITELY TRYING TO STAND
OUT IN THE CROWD, PERHAPS BY
NECESSITY AS MUCH AS ANYTHING,
ESPECIALLY SINCE HE DIDN'T GET
THE PARTY ENDORSEMENT AND
DEFINITELY ISN'T THE PARTY
FAVORITE, THAT PERSON BEING HIS
REPUBLICAN OPPONENT SCOTT
WALKER.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
TALK ABOUT TRYING TO STAND OUT
IN A CROWD.
LAST WEEKEND HE CRASHED THE
DEMOCRATIC PARTY CONVENTION
MAKING AN APPEARANCE THERE.
HE WAS THERE TO BLAST TOM
BARRETT'S SPENDING.
THEY TRIED TO SHOUT HIM DOWN,
BUT THEN DEMURED AS NEUMANN
ANSWERED REPORTERS' QUESTIONS.
>> HE ALSO TOOK QUESTIONS FROM
TOM BARRETT SUPPORTERS IN THE
CROWD, WHICH IS SOMETHING YOU
DON'T SEE EVERY DAY, AND WE WERE
ONE OF THE MANY MICROPHONES AND
T.V. CAMERAS THERE WHO GOT TO
SEE IT.
>> I'M IN THIS RACE BECAUSE I
BELIEVE IN LOWER TAXES, LESS
SPENDING, SMALLER GOVERNMENT,
MORE PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY.
I RESPECT ALL THESE GREAT PEOPLE
AROUND ME, BUT RESPECTFULLY THEY
CANNOT AFFORD TOM BARRETT TO BE
OUR NEXT GOVERNOR.
>> AND THAT'S JUST THE LATEST
ROGUE MOVE IF YOU WANT TO CALL
IT ON MARK NEUMANN'S PART.
A COUPLE WEEKS AGO HE WENT AFTER
SCOTT WALKER ON THE ISSUE OF
FISCAL CONSERVATISM, SAYING THAT
WALKER WASN'T FISCALLY
CONSERVATIVE ENOUGH AND THAT HIS
BUDGETS AS COUNTY EXECUTIVE HAD
GONE UP FASTER THAN THOSE OF JIM
DOYLE.
>> OUCH.
>> HITTING HIM RIGHT IN HIS
BASE.
>> YEAH.
EXACTLY.
>> WELL, THEN A WEEK AGO NEUMANN
TURNED OUT TO A PRESS CONFERENCE
IN THE GREEN BAY AREA ACTUALLY
TOTING A GUN, HIGHLIGHTING WHAT
HE CALLED SCOTT WALKER'S
FLIP-FLOP ON CARRYING CONCEALED
WEAPONS LEGISLATION.
HE POINTED OUT WALKER POINTED
AGAINST THE LEGISLATION WHILE HE
WAS IN THE LEGISLATURE.
WALKER SAYS HE ONLY VOTED
AGAINST IT BECAUSE THE VOTE CAME
REALLY LATE AT NIGHT.
WELL, WE ASKED UW-MADISON
POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSOR
CHARLES FRANKLIN FOR HIS TAKE ON
NEUMANN'S STRATEGY.
>> NEUMANN HAS PUT -- IS IN THE
POSITION OF BEING THE DARK HORSE
IN THIS RACE.
SCOTT WALKER'S BEEN RUNNING FOR
THE NOMINATION FOR A LONG TIME,
WON THE OVERWHELMING SUPPORT OF
THE REPUBLICAN CONVENTION.
SO NEUMANN HAS TO APPEAL TO GOP
PRIMARY VOTERS DIRECTLY.
HE CAN'T DO IT FLEW THROUGH THE PARTY
OPERATION, THE PARTY
ESTABLISHMENT.
WHAT AT ONE POINT LOOKED LIKE A
CAKE WALK TO THE NOMINATION
BECAME A CONTESTED PRIMARY WHEN
SOME FORMER GOP OFFICIALS
ENCOURAGED NEUMANN TO GET INTO
THE RACE AND HE DID.
NOW MANY OF THOSE OFFICIALS ARE
ENCOURAGING HIM TO DROP OUT AND
HE WON'T AND SO WE'RE PROBABLY
GOING TO HAVE A PRETTY TOUGH
PRIMARY THROUGH THE LATE PART OF
THE SUMMER INTO THE
SEPTEMBER PRIMARY.
>> WELL, AND THAT KEEPS IT
INTERESTING FOR THE LIKES OF US,
ANYWAY.
>> YEAH.
AND THERE ARE PROS AND CONS TO
NEUMANN'S APPROACH HERE.
ON ONE HAND, WHEN HE DOES STUFF
LIKE THIS, IT GETS ATTENTION.
ON THE OTHER HAND, HE PUTS
HIMSELF IN A TRADITIONAL THAT HE
MIGHT NOT IF HE WERE RUNNING A
MORE TRADITIONAL CAMPAIGN.
HE SAID SOMETHING LAST WEEK THAT
A NUMBER OF CONSERVATIVES DIDN'T
LIKE.
>> IT GOES BOTH WAYS.
SHAUN, THANKS VERY MUCH.
THAT IS OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
HAVE A GREAT FATHER'S DAY
WEEKEND.
GOOD NIGHT.
>> 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.
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