>> 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," A
WISCONSIN PREME COURT RULING
SHOOTS A $200 MILLION HOLE IN
THE STATE'S BUDGET.
SO WHERE WILL THAT MONEY COME
FROM NOW?
NEW RULES FOR VETS SEEKING HELP
WITH POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS
DISORDER.
WE'LL TALK WITH A DOCTOR AT THE
VA HOSPITAL TO FIND OUT WHAT
THIS MEANS.
AND REMEMBERING A MAN DESCRIBED
AS A VISIONARY FOR WISCONSIN
AGRICULTURE AFTER HE ACCIDENTLY
DROWNS IN LAKE SUPERIOR.
PLUS THE FALL ELECTIONS MIGHT
SEEM LIKE A LONG WAY OFF, BUT
THE POLITICAL CLOCK IS TICKING.
FIRST, THIS WEEK, THE WISCONSIN
STATE SUPREME COURT RULED THAT
WHAT THE LEGISLATURE DID IN 2007
TO BALANCE THE BUDGET IS
UNCONSTITUTIONAL.
THE $200 MILLION TRANSFERRED
FROM THE MEDICAL MALPRACTICE
PATIENTS COMPENSATION FUND TO
FILL THE BUDGET GAP HAS TO BE
PAID BACK, WITH INTEREST.
THE WISCONSIN MEDICAL SOCIETY,
WHICH REPRESENTS DOCTORS, ARGUED
THAT TRANSFER AMOUNTED TO AN
ILLEGAL RAID ON A FUND THAT
HELPS WISCONSIN HEALTH CARE
PROVIDERS PAY MALPRACTICE
CLAIMS.
SO THE LOOMING QUESTION NOW,
WHERE WILL THE STATE MAKE UP
THIS $200 MILLION DEFICIT?
ONE OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAS TO
DEAL WITH THIS FALLOUT IN THE
DOYLE ADMINISTRATION IS
NEWLY-APPOINTED SECRETARY OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION,
DANIEL SCHOOFF.
SECRETARY, THANKS VERY MUCH FOR
BEING HERE.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
I APPRECIATE IT.
>> WELL, NOW YOU'VE HAD A COUPLE
DAYS TO CHEW ON THIS DECISION
FROM THE SUPREME COURT.
WHAT IS YOUR REACTION?
>> WELL, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT
FOR PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IT
IS.
A LOT OF THE MEDIA ATTENTION
AROUND IT QUOTED FROM ACTUARIAL
STUDIES, GETTING INTO THE WISDOM
OF THE POLICY CHOICE MADE BY THE
LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR.
THE BALANCE OF THE FUND IS $622
MILLION.
THIS WILL RESTORE $200 MILLION,
PLUS THERE'S A $100 MILLION
BACKSTOP.
IN OTHER WORDS, THE STATE
GUARANTEES ANOTHER $100 MILLION.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE
TOUGH CHOICES DUE TO THIS COURT
CASE AND THIS COURT DECISION IN
THE MONTHS AND YEARS AHEAD,
REALLY.
SO THAT WILL BE THE TOUGH
CHOICES FOR ALL OF US.
BUT THIS IS NOT IN DANGER OF
GOING INTO THE RED.
>> BUT, SECRETARY, I ALSO
CHECKED WITH THE AUDITORS FOR
THE STATE OF WISCONSIN ON THIS
VERY ISSUE, BECAUSE YOU AND THE
ADMINISTRATION IS SAYING, WELL,
THERE ARE ALL THESE HUNDREDS OF
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN THIS
FUND.
BUT IT IS TRUE THAT THEY SAY
THAT THERE ARE LIABILITIES
PENDING, ESTIMATED, PROJECTED
LIABILITIES FOR CASES THAT HAVE
YET TO COME TO FULL CONCLUSION,
WHICH PUTS THE BALANCE AT $109
MILLION IN THE RED.
>> THE BIG CLUNK OF THAT MONEY
IS WHAT'S CALLED INCURRED BUT
NOT REPORTED.
IT'S A THEORY THAT THERE ARE
LOTS AND LOTS OF DECISIONS OUT
THERE IN THIS CATEGORY OF
INCURRED BUT NOT REPORTED THAT
SOMEDAY WILL COME TO FRUITION.
PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW THAT THIS
FUND HAS BEEN THERE SINCE 1975.
IT'S PAID OUT AN AVERAGE OF $22
MILLION A YEAR.
AND NOW IT HAS THE EQUIVALENT OF
$922 MILLION IN IT.
SO I JUST WANT PEOPLE TO
UNDERSTAND THAT THE ACTED ACT STUDY WOULD
SUGGEST NO MONEY WAS PUT INTO
AND AGAIN TAKES THIS BROAD
CATEGORY.
THERE'S $922 MILLION IN THE FUND
TODAY.
>> PEOPLE DIFFERENT.
THE AUDIT BUREAU SAYS, YES, THAT
MONEY IS THERE, BUT THERE ARE
PENDING LIABILITIES.
I NEED TO MOVE ON FROM THERE,
HOWEVER.
OKAY.
SO THERE'S THIS $100 MILLION
BACKSTOP, BUT WE NO LONGER HAVE
A SUM SUFFICIENT FOR THAT THAN
WE DO $200 MILLION.
WHERE ARE WE GOING TO GET THE
$200 MILLION TO PAY THIS BACK AS
THE STATE SUPREME COURT REQUIRES
US TO DO?
>> RIGHT.
RIGHT.
WELL, IN THE NEXT MONTH THE
SUPREME COURT WILL REMANNED THIS
TO THE DANE COUNTY CIRCUIT
COURT.
AT THAT POINT SCHEDULES WILL BE
SET.
$200 WILL BE SCHEDULED TO BE
PAID BACK, ALONG WITH WHAT THE
INTEREST OWED WILL HAVE TO BE
FIGURED OUT.
AND THAT WILL BE THE QUESTION,
IS THIS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO
GET PAID BACK BEFORE THE END OF
THE FISCAL YEAR OR AFTER.
BUT YOUR QUESTION HOW WILL WE
PAY IT BACK?
THIS WILL -- THE CHOICE THAT
WE'LL HAVE TO MAKE WILL HAVE TO
BE TO MAKE CUTS IN STATE
SPENDING.
>> WHERE?
>> WHETHER THE MEDICAL -- HERE'S
OUR PLAN.
WE HAVE BEEN PLANNING FOR THIS
SINCE THE DAY THE MEDICAL
SOCIETY FILED THIS CASE AND WITH
THE CURRENT MAKEUP OF THE COURT
WE HAVE BEEN PLANNING FOR THIS.
WE HAVE AVOIDED CUTS, DEEPER
CUTS IN MEDICAL ASSISTANCE.
THIS WAS A TRANSFER INTO THE
MEDICAL ASSISTANCE FUND.
WE WILL HAVE TO CONTINUE TO HAVE
OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT LOOK AT
THOSE CUTS.
WE WILL HAVE TO CONTINUE TO HOLD
STATE VACANCIES.
WE WILL HAVE TO CONTINUE TO
RATCHET BACK STATE SPENDING.
AND IT IS A KEY QUESTION ON THE
SCHEDULE, BECAUSE IF THE COURT
SAYS ABSOLUTELY YOU HAVE TO GO
AND GET AN APPROPRIATION OF THE
LEGISLATURE AND YOU HAVE TO PAY
IT BACK BEFORE THE FISCAL YEAR
ENDS NEXT YEAR THAT'S DIFFERENT
THAN, NO, YOU HAVE TO PAY IT
BACK AND YOU CAN PAY IT BACK,
FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE NEXT STATE
BUDGET.
THAT QUESTION WILL BE ANSWERED
BY THE DANE COUNTY CIRCUIT
COURT.
>> JUST VERY QUICKLY, YOU SAID
THAT THE $200 MILLION
TRANSFERRED WAS USED TO LEVERAGE
$300 MILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDS.
WILL WE NOW HAVE TO PAY BACK THE
FEDERAL FUNDS?
>> NO, WE WON'T.
FOUR YEARS AGO WHEN THIS
DECISION WAS MADE, WE DID
LEVERAGE $300 MILLION OF FEDERAL
FUNDS, BUT WE DO HAVE TO PAY
THAT BACK.
>> THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THE JOINT FINANCE COMMITTEE
WILL DEAL DIRECTLY WITH
CORRECTING THIS BUDGET BACKLASH.
REPUBLICAN ROBIN VOS OF RACINE
IS ON THAT COMMITTEE.
HE JOINS US FROM MILWAUKEE.
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
SECRETARY SCHOOFF TALKED ABOUT
QUESTIONS REGARDING THE WISDOM
OF THIS POLICY CHOICE.
WHAT DID YOU THINK OF THE WISDOM
OF THIS POLICY CHOICE AT THE
TIME?
>> I DID NOT SUPPORT IT AT THE
TIME AND ANYBODY WHO RECALLS THE
DISCUSSION KNEW THAT THOSE OF US
WHO HAD SERIOUS CONCERNS NOT
ONLY RAISED THE ISSUE OF JUST
THE ACTUARIAL STUDY, BUT ALSO
THE CONSTITUTIONALITY OF DOING
THIS, BECAUSE IT'S REALLY THE
DOCTORS' PRIVATE PROPERTY THAT
THE STATE OF WISCONSIN DECIDED
TO STEAL.
SO WHEN WE WOEPBT WENT IN AND TOOK THAT
$200 MILLION, NOW WE HAVE TO PAY
IT BACK, NOT JUST INTEREST, BUT
ALSO WITH THE EARNINGS IT WOULD
HAVE GENERATED.
IT'S A BIG NUMBER.
>> WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE
FACT THAT ACCORDING TO SECRETARY
SCHOOFF THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN THIS FUND
AND IT'S NOT I THE RED, AS
ACTUARIALS WOULD SUGGEST?
>> YES.
I GUESS I TRUST THE ACTUARIES,
NOT PEOPLE WHO ARE POLITICAL
APPOINTEES.
SECRETARY SCHOOFF IS A GOOD GUY
AND I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT
HE'S TRYING TO SPIN AS BEST HE
CAN A BAD POLICY DECISION MADE
BY GOVERNOR DOYLE AT THE TIME.
BUT I WANT TO TRUST THE
ACTUARIES, BECAUSE IF THERE'S
EXCESS MONEY IN THAT FUND, WELL,
THEN WE SHOULD BE REDUCING
PREMIUMS WHICH INDIRECTLY WILL
HELP CONTROL THE COST OF HEALTH
CARE, NOT JUST SAY IF THERE'S
MONEY IN THERE TO BE TAKEN WE'RE
GOING TO STEAL IT AND FIGURE OUT
THE CONSEQUENCES LATER.
>> THIS MAY LAND IN YOUR LAP ON
JOINT FINANCE DEPENDING WHEN IT
LANDS THERE AND WHO MAKES UP
THAT BODY, BUT WHERE TO FIND
$200 MILLION IN THE MIDST OF THE
KIND OF BUDGET THAT WE'RE
LOOKING AT GOING FORWARD?
>> WELL, IT'S AN INTERESTING
TIME BECAUSE RIGHT NOW MY
FRIENDS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE
AISLE BEGIN TO TALK ABOUT
SPENDING CUTS AND THEY DO THAT
EVERY TIME WE GET CLOSE TO AN
ELECTION AND THEN AS SOON AS THE
VOTERS MAKE THEIR CHOICES THEY
GO RIGHT BACK TO THE TIRED OLD
RHETORIC OF WHICH TAXES THEY'RE
GOING TO SUPPORT AND WHICH FUNDS
THEY'RE GOING TO RAID.
HOPEFULLY IN THE FUTURE WE CAN
FOCUS ON THE WAY THE BUDGET
SHOULD BE BALANCED AND THAT'S BY
CUTTING SPEND.
>> WHAT ABOUT THE METHOD BY
WHICH THIS HAS TO BE PAID BACK?
DO YOU THINK THAT IT WOULD BE
BETTER TO HAVE TO PAY IT BACK
ALL AT ONCE WITH THIS INTEREST
AND OTHER MONEY THAT HAS TO GO
INTO IT?
OR KIND OF IN A PAYMENT PLAN?
>> WELL, I'M SURE THAT THE DOYLE
ADMINISTRATION IS GOING TO ARGUE
THEY WANT A PAYMENT PLAN,
BECAUSE IT PUSHES THE PROBLEM
OFF TO THE NEXT LEGISLATURE AND
THE NEXT GOVERNOR.
BUT AS I READ -- AND I AM NOT AN
ATTORNEY, BUT AS I READ THE
SUPREME COURT CASE, IT SAYS WE
HAVE TO PAY BACK NOT ONLY
INTEREST, BUT ALSO THE EARNINGS,
WHICH MEANS THAT WE COULD BE
PAYING SIGNIFICANT INTEREST AND
EARNINGS PAYMENTS ON THAT $200
MILLION OF PRINCIPAL.
SO IF WE'RE ABLE TO BORROW THE
MONEY OR CUT SPENDING IN A WAY
TPHATHAT GREATLY REDUCES THE IDEA,
I'D RATHER DO IT NOW AND DEAL
WITH THE SITUATION, NOT PUSH IT
OFF INTO THE FUTURE.
>> ANY BRIGHT IDEAS AT THIS
MOMENT WHERE TO GET THAT MONEY?
>> WELL, LET'S BEGIN BY SAYING
THAT IN THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS
THE FINANCE COMMITTEE IS GIVEN
GREAT POWER DURING A TIME OF
FISCAL EMERGENCY.
AND A COUPLE 6 IMPORTANT OF IMPORTANT FACTS
TO REALIZE.
SINCE GOVERNOR DOYLE HAS BEEN IN
OFFICE, SPENDING HAS GONE UP BY
ALMOST 50%.
THE SURPLUS AFTER ALL HIS TAX
INCREASES WAS ABOUT A $200
MILLION SURPLUS.
RIGHT NOW WE ARE AT MINUS $20
MILLION.
WE KNOW WE HAVE A SERIOUS
PROBLEM WITH SPENDING AND IT IS
NOT CREATING THE JOBS THAT WERE
PROMISED BY THOSE WHO SAID JUST
RAISE TAXES.
>> THAT'S NOT ANSWERING THE
QUESTION.
DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHERE YOU
WOULD GET THE $200 RIGHT NOW AND
ALSO, DID THAT SPENDING THAT
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, SOME OF
IT, COME FROM FEDERAL STIMULUS?
>> YEAH.
WELL, SOME OF THAT WAS FEDERAL
STIMULUS MONEY BUT IT'S STILL
SPENDING BECAUSE MOST OF IT
REPLACED STUFF THAT WAS DONE BY
THE STATE IN THE PAST.
ALL WE'VE DONE IS TAKE ONE-TIME
MONEY AND CONTINUE STATE
SPENDING.
WE NEED TO LOOK AT ALL AREAS OF
STATE GOVERNMENT AND LOOK AT
WHICH WAYS WE CAN REFORM THE
PROCESS.
WE NEED REAL REFORM.
>> JUST VERY BRIEFLY IN THE
REMAINING KIND OF HALF A MINUTE,
SO-CALLED RAISED ON OTHER RAIDS ON FUNDS, DO YOU
EXPECT LEGISLATIVE ACTION TO
CURTAIL THAT GOING FORWARD?
>> I HOPE SO.
SOME OF THOSE WHERE THERE IS A
STRONG PRINCIPLE IN THE PAST,
LIKE THE TRANSPORTATION FUND AND
THE PATIENTS COM COMPENSATION FUND,
THOSE SHOULD BE WALLED OFF FROM
RAIDS BY THE LEGISLATURE.
OTHERS WE SHOULD TAKE A LOOK AT,
BUT I DON'T WANT TO SAY IT'S A
HARD, FAST RULE.
>> ALL RIGHT.
REPRESENTATIVE VOS, THANKS VERY
MUCH FOR JOINING US.
>> ALWAYS GOOD TO TALK TO YOU.
>> THE STATE SUPREME COURT
DECISION THIS WEEK BARS THE
STATE OF WISCONSIN FROM TAKING
MONEY FROM THE FUND IN THE
FUTURE.
THE RULING DOES NOT COVER OTHER
FUNDS.
WISCONSIN'S SECRETARY OF
AGRICULTURE, TRADE AND CONSUMER
PROTECTION DIED WEDNESDAY,
DROWNING IN LAKE SUPERIOR DURING
A TRIP VOLUNTEERING FOR HABITAT
FOR HUMANITY.
62-YEAR-OLD ROD NIL SES TUNE
SERVED AS AG SECRETARY SINCE
2003.
HE RECEIVED MANY STATE AND
NATIONAL AWARDS.
THE GOVERNOR CALLING HIM ONE OF
THE MOST IMPORTANT AGRICULTURE
LEADERS IN WISCONSIN HISTORY.
HE GREW UP ON A DAIRY FARM NEAR
ARCADIA, GRADUATED FROM UW-RIVER
FALLS AND A LAW DEGREE FROM
UW-MADISON.
JOHN ROSENOW WAS A LONGTIME
FRIEND.
HE JOINS US FROM EAU CLAIRE.
JOHN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
JOINING US.
>> THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME.
>> WE'RE SO SORRY FOR THE LOSS
OF YOUR GOOD FRIEND.
HOW FAR DID YOUR FRIENDSHIP GO
BACK?
>> WE -- I FIRST KNEW HIM WHEN I
WREPBT TOWENT TO HIGH SCHOOL.
WE DID NOT GO TO GRADE SCHOOL
TOGETHER.
WE WENT TO COLLEGE TOGETHER.
AND WE WORKED PROFESSIONALLY
SINCE.
>> SO YOU'VE OBVIOUSLY KNOWN HIM
FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE HIM AS A
PERSON, AS A FRIEND?
>> HE WAS A VERY, VERY GOOD
FRIEND OF MINE.
I HAD A COUPLE TIMES IN MY LIFE
WHEN I HAD SOME MAJOR, MAJOR
ISSUES, AND HE WAS THE GUY I
TURNED TO TO HELP ME GET THROUGH
THOSE AND MAKE THE RIGHT
DECISIONS.
BUT HE WAS -- WHAT I LIKED ABOUT
ROD IS HE WAS ONE OF US.
HE WAS A FARMER AT HEART.
I MET HIS FATHER AT A MEAT
MARKET IN ARCADIA ONE DAY.
I KNOW ROD AND HIS YOUNGER
BROTHER RANDY.
AND I ASKED THE FATHER ABOUT
THOSE TWO.
AND HE SAID HE THOUGHT THAT
RANDY FARMS AND ROD BECAME A
LAWYER.
HE SAID I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE
THE OTHER WAY AROUND BECAUSE
WHENEVER AN ANIMAL OR SOMETHING
WOULD DIE ON THE FARM, ROD WOULD
BE THE ONE THAT WOULD BE IN
TEARS.
AND RANDY WAS ALWAYS READING
BOOKS.
AND SO HE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE
OTHER WAY AROUND.
BUT ROD WENT ON TO BE THE
LAWYER.
>> HOW WAS HE VIEWED BY MOST
WISCONSIN FARMERS THEN?
>> I THINK YOU CAN DIVIDE IT
INTO THREE THINGS.
, IHE WAS ONE OF US.
HE LOVED THE FARM.
HE MAINTAINED A RESIDENCE ON THE
HOME FARM, THE OLD FAMILY FARM.
AND HE ACTUALLY LOVED THAT.
SO HE WAS ONE OF US.
HE WAS A -- HE WAS A FARMER AT
HEART.
AND I THINK THE SECOND THING IS
HE LOVED THE LAND.
HE JUST HAD THAT ATTACHMENT TO
THE LAND THAT ALL OF US THAT
FARM HAVE, THAT WE WANTED TO --
IF WE HAD A DIFFICULT TIME IN
OUR LIFE, WE NEEDED TO BE IN AND
AMONGST OUR LAND.
THE THIRD THING THAT DEFINED ROD
IS HE THOUGHT WE COULD MAKE A
DIFFERENCE.
AND IF WE WERE SMART AND
INTELLIGENT AND WORKED HARD, WE
COULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN
SOCIETY.
AND IN THAT SENSE HE BELIEVED IN
HIS WORK AND HE BELIEVED IN
GOVERNMENT.
AND HE WAS VERY SUCCESSFUL AT
IT.
>> WHAT KIND OF LOSS IS HIS
DEATH TO WISCONSIN?
>> HE -- HE LAID THE GROUNDWORK,
AND WISCONSIN IS A VERY, VERY
STRONG STATE, AND AGRICULTURE'S
A VERY STRONG STATE AND MAINLY
BECAUSE OF A LOT OF THINGS HE
DID.
SO WE WILL SURVIVE.
WE WILL BUILD UPON WHAT HE
CREATED.
BUT I KNOW AMONGST THOSE OF US
THAT WERE ACTIVE IN TRYING TO
MAKE AGRICULTURE A BETTER PLACE,
WE'RE GOING TO MISS HIS
LEADERSHIP.
HE WAS ALWAYS THE ONE WE TURNED
TO.
HE WAS ALWAYS THE ONE THAT
DIRECTED US.
PERSONALLY I'LL MISS HIM AS A
FRIEND.
>> I KNOW THE GOVERNOR CALLED
HIM ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT AG
HRAOELD ERS IN WISCONSIN
HISTORY.
CONGRESSMAN OBEY CALLED HIS
CONTRIBUTIONS UNPARALLELED.
IF YOU HAD TO NAME A SINGLE,
GREATEST CONTRIBUTION TO
WISCONSIN AGRICULTURE THAT ROD
NILSESTUEN MADE, WHAT MIGHT THAT
BE?
>> THERE'S A WHOLE LIST OF
THINGS HE'S DONE, BUT THE ONE
THING HE DID IS HE TOOK PEOPLE
THAT HE IDENTIFIED OR WERE
IDENTIFIED WITH PEOPLE OF
PASSION AND HE GOT THEM TO COME
TO MADISON.
HE GOT THEM TO WORK HARD ON THE
ISSUES.
THAT WAS HIS STRENGTH.
HE COULD SPOT PEOPLE THAT
REALLY, REALLY WANTED TO DO
THINGS AND HAD PASSIONS FOR
THINGS, AND HE OPENED DOORS FOR
THEM.
AND HE PROVIDED VENUES FOR THEIR
WORK.
TO ME, THAT WAS HIS GREATEST
ACCOMPLISHMENT.
>> JOHN ROSENOW, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH FOR YOUR TIME, ADD, AGAIN,
WE ARE SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> NOW, THIS NEWS.
A MEDICAL PWRAUBG THRU THIS MEDICAL BREAKTHRU THIS WEEK.
THIS WEEK THE DEPARTMENT OF
VETERANS AFFAIRS TOOK A MAJOR
STEP TO MAKE IT EASIER TO GET
INSURANCE AND BENEFITS FOR
POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER.
NO LONGER REQUIRED IS THE
TIME-CONSUMING AND DIFFICULT
DOCUMENTATION TO PROVE THAT A
SPECIFIC EVENT CAUSED PTSD.
UNDER THE NEW RULES, A VETERAN
ONLY NEEDS TO DEMONSTRATE THAT
THEY SERVED IN A WAR ZONE.
THE LATEST FIGURES SHOW NEARLY
366,000 VETS WERE TREATED IN
2009 FOR PTSD AND THE NUMBERS
ARE RISING.
ONE REASON GIVEN FOR THE
INCREASE IS PROACTIVE SCREENING.
MORE THAN 3,700 VA HEALTH
PROFESSIONALS HAVE BEEN TRAINED
TO DEAL WITH PTSD.
ONE OF THOSE IS DR. TRACEY
SMITH.
WE SPOKE WITH HER AND STARTED BY
ASKING WHY THE NEW RULES ALLOW
FOR TREATMENT AND BENEFITS EVEN
WITHOUT A SPECIFIC COMBAT
INCIDENT.
>> THE CHANGE HAS TO DO WITH
WHERE YOU WERE, WHAT KIND OF JOB
YOU SERVEDN THE MILITARY.
I TREATED A VET WHO WAS A
PHOTOGRAPHER IN VIETNAM.
ONE DAY HE'D BE SHOOTING
GENERALS AND MOVIE STARS AND THE
NEXT DAY HE'S BEING FLOWN OUT IN
A HELICOPTER TO DOCUMENT, FOR
INSTANCE, DEAD BODIES.
SO HE'S SOMEBODY WHO WOULD HAVE
A JOB THAT YOU WOULDN'T NORMALLY
THINK OF AS HAVING A
MILITARY-RELATED STRESSOR, BUT
HE CLEARLY HAD PTSD FROM HIS
SERVICE.
THESE NEWER VETERANS WHO SERVED
IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN, THEY
MIGHT NOT HAVE ONE BIG EVENT,
BUT THEY'RE DRIVING TRUCK ALL
DAY AND AT ANY GIVEN TIME THERE
COULD BE AN IED EXPLOSION.
AND WHILE THEY MIGHT NOT BE NEAR
THE IED, THEY ARE DRIVING THAT
ROAD EVERY DAY AND THEY HAVE
SEEN OTHER PEOPLE DIE IN IED
EXPLOSIONS.
SO THEY DON'T HAVE A SPECIFIC
EVENT.
IT'S MORE LIKE THEIR ENTIRE
SERVICE WAS PRETTY STRESSFUL.
>> CAN YOU FAKE PTSD?
>> SOME PEOPLE TRY TO FAKE PTSD.
I THINK IF YOU'VE BEEN IN THIS
BUSINESS FOR A LONG TIME YOU
START TO GET A SENSE OF WHO IS
AND IS NOT ACCURATELY PORTRAYING
THEIR SYMPTOMS.
WE DON'T HAVE A TEST LIKE AN
X-RAY WHERE WE CAN SORT OF
DIAGNOSE PTSD, SO IT'S POSSIBLE.
I'D SAY MORE OFTEN THAN NOT YOU
CAN TELL IF SOMEBODY'S --
>> WHAT CONSTITUTES A DIAGNOSIS
OF PTSD?
>> WELL, THE FIRST ONE AND THE
ONE THAT WE'RE SORT OF TALKING
ABOUT IS THAT YOU HAVE WHAT WE
CALL A CRITERION A STRESSOR.
SO IT'S A STRESSOR WHERE YOUR
LIFE OR THE LIVES OF OTHERS'
LIFE OR LIMB REALLY IS
THREATENED.
SO IT'S QUITE A SEVERE STRESSOR.
THAT'S THE FIRST CRITERION.
AND THAT YOUR REACTION WAS ONE
OF HELPLESSNESS OR HORROR.
AND THEN THERE'S CRITERIA OF
RE-EXPERIENCING, WHICH IS
NIGHTMARES, INTRUSIVE THOUGHTS,
FLASHBACKS, EMOTIONAL NUMBING
AND AVOIDANCE, SO WORKING HARD
NOT TO THINK ABOUT THE EVENT,
AVOIDING CROWDS, AVOIDING
CERTAIN PEOPLE AND PLACES, HARD
TO FEEL POSITIVE EMOTIONS.
THE LAST ONE IS ALWAYS FEELING
LIKE YOU'RE ON GUARD, DURING
PERIMETER CHECKS AROUND YOUR
HOUSE, HAVING AN INCREASED
STARTLE RESPONSE, SO YOU HEAR A
CAR BACKFIRE AND YOU'RE ON THE
GROUND.
SO YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A CERTAIN
NUMBER OF EACH ONE OF THOSE TO
GIVE A DIAGNOSIS OF PTSD.
>> WHAT KINDS OF NEW TREATMENTS
ARE YOU UNDERTAKING HERE
SUCCESSFULLY?
>> WE OFFER BOTH COGNITIVE
PROCESSING THERAPY AND PROLONGED
EXPOSURE.
THEY'RE TWO VERY EFFECTIVE
TREATMENTS FOR POST-TRAUMATIC
STRESS DISORDER AND WE COLLECT
DATA LOCALLY IN OUR OWN CLINIC,
SO WE HAVE WHAT ARE CALLED LARGE
EFFECT SIZES, MEANING WHEN YOU
LOOK AT PEOPLE'S PTSD SYMPTOMS
BEFORE AND AFTER TREATMENT,
THERE'S QUITE A BIG IMPROVEMENT.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE OFFER GOOD
TREATMENTS.
REALLY THE HARD PART IS GETTING
VETERANS TO COME IN AND DO THE
TREATMENTS BECAUSE THE
TREATMENTS ARE CHALLENGING.
PART OF WHAT WE ASK PEOPLE TO DO
IS TALK ABOUT THEIR WORST
TRAUMATIC EVENT.
SO, YOU KNOW, MOST PEOPLE AREN'T
LIKE SIGN ME UP, THAT SOUNDS
GREAT, YOU KNOW.
SO IT'S A CHALLENGE GETTING
PEOPLE IN.
BUT IF THEY DO COME IN, IF THEY
GET TREATMENT, WE CAN BE HELPFUL
TO THEM.
AND THESE ARE TREATMENTS THAT WE
DIDN'T HAVE WAY BACK WHEN THE
VIETNAM VETERANS FIRST CAME
HOME.
SO EVEN NOW WE CAN DO THESE
TREATMENTS ON VIETNAM VETERANS,
EVEN THOUGH THEY'VE HAD PTSD FOR
A LONG TIME, CAN GET MARKEDLY
BETTER.
>> DR. SMITH, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH.
>> SURE.
>> THE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION
HAS CHOSEN MILWAUKEE AS ONE OF
TWO SITES IN THE COUNTRY TO
PILOT A WALK-IN CLINIC THAT MAY
MAKE IT EASIER FOR VETERANS TO
FILE COMPENSATION CLAIMS.
ONE CONGRESSIONAL ANALYSIS PUTS
THE COST OF THE NEW PTSD CHANGES
FOR VETS AT $5 BILLION.
WELL, TWO YEARS AFTER THE
CLOSING OF GM JANESVILLE THE
ECONOMIC RIPPLE EFFECT IS STILL
BEING FELT IN ROCK COUNTY AND
ACROSS THE STATE.
THIS WEEK, WISCONSIN PUBLIC
TELEVISION AND RADIO BEGIN A
COLLABORATIVE REPORTING PROJECT
WITH THE WISCONSIN CENTER FOR
INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM AND THE
JANESVILLE GAZETTE.
THE PROJECT WILL ECONOMIC ROCK
COUNTY'S ECONOMIC ROAD TO
RECOVERY AND HOW OTHER
COMMUNITIES CAN LEARN FROM ROCK
COUNTY'S EXPERIENCE.
TODAY WISCONSIN PUBLIC RADIO
REPORTS ON THE ROLE TECHNICAL
COLLEGES ARE PLAYING TO RETRAIN
AND RETOOL THE ROCK COUNTY
WORKFORCE.
THIS WEEKEND THERE'S A RELEASE
OF FINDINGS ABOUT FORMER GM
WORKERS.
NEXT WEEK "HERE & NOW" WILL
EXAMINE WHAT EFFECT THE CASH FOR
CLUNKERS PROGRAM HAD.
>> YOU CAN FIND THESE LINKS TO
THOSE REPORTS AS WELL AS THE
JANESVILLE GAZETTE REPORT ABOUT
HOW SOME FORMER GM WORKERS ARE
CHANGING CAREER PATHS BY GOING
TO wpt.org/hereandnow.
"HERE & NOW" IS ALSO THE PLACE
TO BE FOR ELECTION COVERAGE.
OUR AFFILIATED WEB RESOURCE,
wisconsinvote.org, HAS JUST
BEEN RELAUNCHED FOR THE 2010
ELECTION SEASON.
JOINING ME IS WISCONSIN VOTE WEB
EDITOR ANDY SOTH.
THANKS FOR BEING HERE.
WHY DON'T YOU SHOW US AROUND
YOUR NEW SITE.
>> I'LL BE GLAD TO.
SINCE IT LAUNCHED LAUNCHED IN IN 2000,
IT'S A AN ONE-STOP RESOURCE FOR
VOTING INFORMATION.
WE RELAUNCH IT EVERY ELECTION
SEASON WHEN CANDIDATES BECOME
OFFICIAL, THE STATE ELECTIONS
BOARD.
SO WE HAVE INFORMATION AND LINKS
TO CANDIDATES FROM THE STATEWIDE
OFFICES, LIKE GOVERNOR AND
ATTORNEY GENERAL, LIEUTENANT
GOVERNOR, PROBABLY MORE
CANDIDATES THAN YOU'VE BEEN
HEARING ABOUT.
AND THEN ALL -TD FEDERAL THE FEDERAL OFFICES
AND CONGRESS ALLEGE OFFICES CONGRESSIONAL OFFICES THAT
ARE UP AS WELL AS STATE SENATE
AND ALL 99 ASSEMBLY DISTRICTS.
>> JUST ASKING.
YOU PUT THEM ALL IN THERE.
>> YES.
YES.
STILL TRACKING DOWN PICTURES AND
WEB LINKS AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
YOU CLICK ON ONE OF THESE,
YOU'LL FIND A PICTURE, YOU'LL
FIND A LIST OF THE OPPONENTS SO
YOU CAN DO SOME COMPARISON
SHOPPING AND A LINK TO THE
CANDIDATE'S WEBSITE.
WE'LL ALSO BE HAVING CAMPAIGN
FINANCE INFORMATION.
>> ALL IN ONE PLACE LIKE THIS.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
ANOTHER THING THAT'S VERY
POPULAR IS OUR VOTING FREQUENTLY
ASKED QUESTIONS.
THERE YOU CAN LOOK UP YOUR
POLLING PLACE ON THE GOVERNMENT
ACCOUNTABILITY BOARD'S WEBSITE.
YOU SIMPLY PUT ON YOUR ADDRESS
AND IT TELLS YOU WHERE YOU VOTE.
AND YOU CAN CHECK YOUR
REGISTRATION STATUS.
AND IF YOU FIND YOU'RE NOT
REGISTERED, YOU CAN EVEN
DOWNLOAD A REGISTRATION
APPLICATION RIGHT FROM OUR SITE
AND FILL THAT OUT.
>> AND YOU SAY THAT RIGHT BEFORE
AN ELECTION REALLY LIKE
SOMETIMES EVEN THE NIGHT BEFORE
THIS GETS A LOT OF TRAFFIC.
>> OH, YEAH.
ABSOLUTELY.
IT REALLY, REALLY SPIKES.
A LOT OF LAST-MINUTE VOTERS OUT
THERE.
WE FIND THAT A GOOD HALF OF OUR
TRAFFIC COMES IN THE FEW DAYS
BEFORE AN ELECTION.
>> LET'S GO BACK TO THE HOME
PAGE BECAUSE YOU ALSO HAVE SOME
NEW THINGS ON HERE.
IN FACT, LIKE RADIO PROGRAMS AND
OF COURSE THE TV VIDEOS.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
WE'VE ALWAYS FEATURED PUBLIC
RADIO AND TELEVISION CONTENT,
BUT TO MAKE IT MORE ACCESSIBLE,
IN THIS COLUMN HERE, YOU ALWAYS
HAVE THE LATEST FROM WISCONSIN
PUBLIC RADIO NEWS.
THEY'RE COVERING ELECTIONS ON A
NEAR DAILY BASIS.
"HERE & NOW" PROGRAMS ARE
EMBEDDED IN THIS PLAYER HERE.
BUT YOU CAN ALSO GO TO OUR VIDEO
ARCHIVES TO LOOK FOR PROGRAMS
YOU MAY HAVE MISSED.
AND THIS IS SORT OF A NEW
SECTION WHERE YOU CAN ACTUALLY
DOWNLOAD TO PLAY ON YOUR iPOD
OR MP3 PLAYER THE FULL HOUR
PROGRAMS THAT ARE ON THE IDEAS
NETWORK.
>> THIS ONE WAS AN HOUR LONG
WITH SCOTT WALKER
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
PERFECT FOR THE ELECTION SEASON.
>> ALSO "NEWSHOUR," WE'LL SOON
BE ABLE TO CLICK IN THAT?
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
WE HAVE A FEED FROM COMES FROM
THE "NEWSHOUR."
THEY'LL BE LAUNCHING THEIR
ELECTION SITE SOON.
THEY'LL ALSO HAVE AN INTERACTIVE
MAP FEATURE OF CONGRESSIONAL
DISTRICTS WHERE YOU CAN SELECT
ANY CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT IN
WISCONSIN AND CLICK AND GET ANY
KIND OF DATA ABOUT IT, RACIAL
MAKEUP, RELIGION, ALL KINDS OF
DATA ORGANIZED BY CONGRESSIONAL
DISTRICT.
>> THAT'S GREAT.
AND THE WE THE PEOPLE PROJECT
WILL ALSO BE FEATURED ON HERE
AND THIS IS A PROJECT THAT IS
MADE UP OF PARTNERS WHICH
INCLUDES WISCONSIN PUBLIC
TELEVISION AND RADIO, WISC TV IN
MADISON AND THE WISCONSIN STATE
JOURNAL.
AS YOU'VE SAID, WE'RE KIND OF
KNOWN IN THAT PROJECT FOR OUR
DEBATES.
WILL THOSE END UP ON HERE AS
WELL?
>> YES.
YOU'LL DEFINITELY BE ABLE TO
CATCH UP ON THE DEBATES EMBEDDED
RIGHT HERE.
BUT WE'RE ALSO LAUNCHING A
FEATURE CALLED THE FACT FINDER.
ALL MEDIA ORGANIZATIONS ARE
GOING TO BE DOING TRUTH CHECKING
ON POLITICAL ADS OR CANDIDATES'
STATEMENTS AND THEY'LL BE
ACCESSED THROUGH THE SITE.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK
ON THIS AND THANKS FOR THIS
TOUR.
>> MY PLEASURE.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WELL, IF YOU WANT TO TAKE A LOOK
AT THE WISCONSIN VOTE WEBSITE,
YOU CAN AGAIN GO TO THE WEBSITE
ADDRESS, WHICH IS
wisconsinvote.org.
THAT'S FOR A COMPREHENSIVE LOOK
AT THE 2010 ELECTION AND THE
POLITICAL PLAYERS IN THE
SPOTLIGHT.
THAT IS OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT.
THANKS FOR JOINING US.
WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN NEXT WEEK.
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.