>> 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," FEMA
ARRIVES IN MILWAUKEE TO TOUR THE
FLOOD DAMAGE.
WE'LL FIND OUT WHAT IT WILL TAKE
FOR WISCONSIN TO GET FEDERAL
DISASTER RELIEF.
PLUS, THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY
ELECTION IS JUST OVER A MONTH
AWAY.
THIS WEEK, WE ARE OUT ON THE
CAMPAIGN TRAIL WITH
GUBERNATORIAL HOPEFUL SCOTT
WALKER.
AND LOOKING IN THE REARVIEW
MIRROR ONE YEAR AFTER THE CASH
FOR CLUNKERS INITIATIVE.
DID IT WORK IN WISCONSIN?
AND IS THERE ANY RESIDUAL FOR
AUTO-RELATED JOBS IN OUR STATE?
PLUS A CHECKUP ON WISCONSIN'S
YOUTH.
HOW DID WE FARE IN THE LATEST
KIDS COUNT TEST?
BUT FIRST MILWAUKEE CONTINUES TO
WRING OUT THE COSTLY DAMAGE OF
LAST WEEK'S FLOODING.
OFFICIALS ARE TOURING THE AREA
THIS WEEK.
THE DAMAGE ASSESSMENT COMES AS
WISCONSIN SEEKS A FEDERAL
DISASTER DECLARATION AND THE
RELIEF FUNDS THAT COME ALONG
WITH IT.
FLOOD DAMAGE IN MILWAUKEE COUNTY
IS ESTIMATED TO EXCEED $50
MILLION, SOME 9600 HOMES ARE
DAMAGED, THE RESULT OF MAJOR
FLOODING WHEN A STORM ONE WEEK
AGO DUMPED UP TO EIGHT INCHES OF
RAIN IN SOME AREAS.
FOR THE VERY LATEST ON THE
CLEAN-UP AND THE CHANCES FOR
FEDERAL HELP, WE TURN TO LORI
GETTER WITH THE WISCONSIN
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> SO WE KNOW THERE WAS A LOT OF
DAMAGE IN MILWAUKEE COUNTY AND
ELSEWHERE ACROSS THE STATE, BUT
WHAT ABOUT INJURIES AND DEATHS
AS A RESULT OF THE FLOODING IN
MILWAUKEE?
>> AS A RESULT OF THE FLOODING
WE HAD ONE DEATH, A YOUNG BOY
THAT DROWNED.
WE HAD TWO PEOPLE THAT WERE
STRUCK BY LIGHTNING.
IN NORTHERN WISCONSIN WE HAD
THREE CAMPERS THAT WERE TAKEN TO
THE HOSPITAL BECAUSE OF
INJURIES.
A LOT OF INJURIES, FORTUNATELY
JUST ONE DEATH, THOUGH.
>> WHAT HAPPENED IN MILWAUKEE?
JUST TORRENTIAL RAINS ALL AT
ONCE?
>> 48 INCHES OF RAIN IN A
12-HOUR PERIOD.
THERE'S NO PLACE FOR THAT WATER
TO GO.
SO WHAT ENDED UP HAPPENING WAS A
NOT OF FLOODED HOMES AND
BASEMENTS.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH,
IS THE CLEAN-UP.
>> AND FEMA HAS BEEN IN THE
STATE TOURING MILWAUKEE COUNTY
IN PARTICULAR THIS WEEK AND MAY
BE HERE INTO THE WEEKEND.
WHAT KINDS OF THINGS ARE THEY
INSPECTING?
>> THEY'RE LOOKING AT TWO
DIFFERENT AREAS.
FIRST, HOMES AND BUSINESSES TO
SEE THE EXTENT OF DAMAGE NOT
ONLY OF THE FLOODING, HOW FAR IT
WENT, IS IT A BASEMENT, UP TO
THE FIRST FLOOR, BUT ALSO
WHETHER THEY HAD INSURANCE.
AND UNFORTUNATELY WITH
INSURANCE, MOST PEOPLE DO NOT
HAVE FLOOD INSURANCE.
THEY'RE ALSO LOOKING AT THE
ECONOMIC IMPACT THESE FLOODS
HAVE CAUSED.
THEY'RE ALSO LOOKING AT DAMAGE
TO THE INFRASTRUCTURE, TO PUBLIC
FACILITIES, ALSO TO ROADS,
BRIDGES AND ALSO THE OVERTIME
EMERGENCY COSTS.
SO THEY'RE GATHERING ALL THAT
INFORMATION.
HOPEFULLY LATER TONIGHT OR
TOMORROW WE'LL BE PRESENTING IT
TO GOVERNOR DOYLE WHO WILL USE
THAT INFORMATION TO REQUEST A
FEDERAL DISASTER DECLARATION
MEAN?
>> WHAT WOULD THAT MEAN?
>> SHOULD WE GET ONE, IT WOULD
MEAN POSSIBLY LOW-INTEREST LOANS
OR GRANTS FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO
SUSTAINED DAMAGE AND FOR LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS IT WOULD HELP RECOUP
SOME OF THEIR COSTS TO REPAIR
DAMAGES.
>> IS IT HARD TO GET THIS KIND
OF DECLARATION?
>> THAT'S THE REASON WE'RE DOING
PRELIMINARY DAMAGE ASSESSMENTS
THIS WEEK.
WE WANT TO HAVE A CLEAR,
ACCURATE PICTURE TO PRESENT TO
THE GOVERNOR WITH THE NUMBERS
THAT HE NEEDS IN ORDER TO
REQUEST THAT DECLARATION.
>> WHAT KIND OF STATE AID,
GOVERNMENTAL AID, MIGHT BE
AVAILABLE IN THIS CIRCUMSTANCE?
>> UNFORTUNATELY WE DON'T HAVE
ANY STATE AID OR VERY LITTLE FOR
INDIVIDUALS.
THERE ARE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
BLOCK GRANTS THAT COULD HELP
SOME AREAS, BUT MOSTLY WE HAVE A
STATE DISASTER FUNDS AND THAT'S
JUST USED FOR LOCAL TKPWOFRTS.
RIGHT NOW THAT TPUFPBD HAS GOT
$800,000 IN IT, BUT IT WILL BE
DISPERSED THROUGH MANY STORMS
STARTING WITH THE EAGLE TORNADO
IN JUNE.
WE'VE HAD FLOODING IN OUTAGAMIE
COUNTY AND FOX VALLEY AREA AS
WELL AS STORMS IN NORTHERN
WISCONSIN.
THERE WON'T BE A LOT OF MONEY TO
GO AROUND.
>> WHAT SHOULD HOMEOWNERS KNOW
ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THEY WOULD
BE LIKELY TO BE MADE WHOLE BY
ANY KIND OF GOVERNMENT
ASSISTANCE?
>> WELL, FOR ANY DISASTER WHEN
WE DO HAVE FEDERAL DISASTER
ASSISTANCE, IT'S NOT DESIGNED TO
MAKE YOU WHOLE.
IT'S NOT GOING TO CLEAN UP YOUR
BASEMENT OR MAKE THINGS THE WAY
THEY WERE PRIOR TO THE FLOOD.
IT WILL PROVIDE ASSISTANCE AND
NECESSITIES, MAYBE REPLACE A FUR
MACE, A WATER -- FURNACE, WATER HEATER.
THAT INFORMATION WILL COME OUT
IF WE GET A DECLARATION.
PEOPLE NEED TO CONTINUE THAT
THEY NEED TO CONTINUE TO CLEAN
UP.
DON'T WAIT FOR ASSISTANCE.
CONTINUE TO CLEAN UP.
MAKE SURE THEY REPORTED THEIR
DAMAGE TO THEIR COUNTY OR CITY
MUNICIPALITY.
AND KEEP RECORDS OF THE DAMAGES
THEY HAVE SO IN THE EVENT THAT
WE DO GET A DECLARATION, THE
FEMA INSPECTORS WILL THEN COME
TO THEIR HOME AND LOOK AT THAT
DAMAGE AND MAKE A DETERMINATION
AMOUNT THEY COULD QUALIFY FOR.
>> MEANWHILE, THERE ARE STILL
PEOPLE IN SHELTERS?
>> THERE'S ABOUT 20 PEOPLE IN
SHELTERS IN MILWAUKEE COUNTY.
THE RED CROSS AND OTHER
VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATIONS ARE
WORKING TO PROVIDE THEM WITH
HOUSING AT THIS TIME.
>> WHAT'S THE SITUATION IN GRANT
COUNTY, ALSO HARD HIT?
>> GRANT COUNTY AGAIN HAS
TORRENTIAL RAINS THAT OCCURRED
NOT THURSDAY NIGHT, BUT ACTUALLY
FRIDAY, SATURDAY NIGHT.
AND MANY SMALL COMMUNITIES HAVE
HAD FLOODING, LOTS OF DAMAGES TO
ROADS.
SO WE'VE BEEN WORKING CLOSELY
WITH THE COUNTY EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT OFFICE AS WELL AND
THE FEMA TEAMS WERE THERE
EARLIER THIS WEEK LOOKING AT
DAMAGES.
>> VILAS COUNTY, LOTS OF TREES
DOWN, AND AGAIN THOSE THREE
INJURIES THAT YOU SPOKE OF, BUT
MOSTLY THERE JUST A LOT OF
PROPERTY DAMAGE?
>> A LOT OF PROPERTY DAMAGE AND
ACTUALLY IT WENT ACROSS NORTHERN
WISCONSIN TUESDAY NIGHT CAUSING
LOTS OF DOWNED TREES.
POSSIBLE TORNADOES.
LOTS OF DOWNED TREES ESPECIALLY
ON CABINS AND SOME HOMES AS
WELL.
>> ALL RIGHT.
LORI GETTER, THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> THANKS.
>> THE GOVERNOR DECLARED A STATE
OF EMERGENCY IN MILWAUKEE
COUNTY.
THE DECLARATION FREES UP STATE
AGENCIES TO WORK WITH LOCAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT AND TO PETITION THE
OBAMA ADMINISTRATION TO DECLARE
MILWAUKEE COUNTY A FEDERAL
DISASTER AREA, ALLOWING FOR THAT
DISASTER AID.
NOW, MILWAUKEE COUNTY EXECUTIVE
SCOTT WALKER WILL HAVE TO
RESPOND TO THE MILWAUKEE
FLOODING ALONGSIDE HIS
DEMOCRATIC RIVAL IN THE
GOVERNOR'S RACE, MILWAUKEE MAYOR
TOM BARRETT.
WE MOVE NOW INTO THE RACE FOR
GOVERNOR.
THIS SEPTEMBER, THE ELECTION
SEASON KICKS INTO HIGH GEAR.
IN THE WEEKS TO COME, "HERE &
NOW" WILL FOCUS ON THE
CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR AND U.S.
SENATE.
THIS WEEK I WAS ON THE CAMPAIGN
TRAIL WITH REPUBLICAN
GUBERNATORIAL HOPEFUL SCOTT
WALKER.
HE TELLS ME HE'S COMMITTED TO
ADDING 250,000 JOBS IN WISCONSIN
IN HIS FIRST TERM.
>> YOU KNOW, THE BUSINESS
LEADERS I TALK TO, THE SMALL
BUSINESS OWNERS ALL ACROSS THE
STATE, ARE TALKING ABOUT THE
CHALLENGES THEY FACE REALLY
BEING ABLE TO DO BUSINESS IN
THIS STATE.
LOWER TAXES, FEWER REGULATIONS,
FEWER LITIGATION COSTS,
SERPBLGLY ACERTAINLY A GREAT EDUCATION
SYSTEM AND A GREAT
INFRASTRUCTURE SYSTEM.
THAT MEANS COST EFFECTIVE POWER
AND GOOD TRANSPORTATION.
THOSE ARE THE THINGS PEOPLE NEED
HELP WITH.
>> NOW, ON THE ISSUE OF CUTTING
TAXES, I'VE ALWAYS WONDERED
WHETHER CUTTING TAXES CAN HELP
CREATE JOBS AND I ACTUALLY ASKED
AN ECONOMIST AND A TAX POLICY
EXPERT, AND HE SUGGESTED THAT
ACTUALLY TAX CUTS DON'T CREATE
JOBS MEANINGFULLY.
>> WELL, THEY DON'T -- TWO
FORMS.
ONE, A REBATE CHECK DOESN'T DO
IT.
JUST GIVING SOMEONE AN ONE-TIME
CHECK AS WE SAW IN THE PAST,
PEOPLE DON'T GO OUT AND MAKE
LONG-TERM ECONOMIC DECISIONS
BASED ON THAT.
BUT IF YOU CUT THE MARGINAL TAX
RATE, SOME OF THE LEADING STATES
HAVE LOWERED THEIR TAX BURDEN AS
WELL AS OTHER COSTS OF DOING
BUSINESS IN THE LAST SEVERAL
YEARS, WHAT WE DID A GENERATION
AGO NATIONALLY, WHEN PRESIDENT
REAGAN PUT INTO PLACE TAX CUTS,
WE SAW THE LARGEST BOOM IN
AMERICAN HISTORY, 21 MILLION NEW
JOBS.
BUT IT'S GOT TO BE PART OF A
LARGER PACKAGE.
THAT'S WHAT WE'VE LINED OUT.
WE'VE GOT A WHOLE PACKAGE, AN
ECONOMIC PLAN TO GET THE STATE
WORKING AGAIN.
>> CLEARLY THE BIGGEST HURDLE
FOR ANYONE BEING GOVERNOR IN THE
NEXT ELECTION IS THE BUDGET
DEFICIT, $2.5 BILLION.
WHAT DO YOU DO ABOUT THAT?
>> WELL, AGAIN, IT'S SOMETHING
THAT IS VERY, VERY CHALLENGING,
BUT IT'S SIMILAR TO WHAT I FACED
HERE EIGHT YEARS AGO.
I MEAN, WE CAME INTO MILWAUKEE
COUNTY GOVERNMENT AS A
PERCENTAGE, THE CHALLENGES WE
FACED WITH THE BUDGET, WITH THE
PENSION, WITH OUT OF CONTROL
TAXES WERE VERY SIMILAR.
PEOPLE WERE HURTING VERY
SIMILAR.
YEARS OF FRUSTRATION WITH THE
BUDGET GOING OUT OF CONTROL,
WITH TAXES GOING OUT OF CONTROL,
REALLY BLEW THE LID OFF WHEN
THAT PENSION SCANDAL HIT EIGHT
YEARS.
A LOT OF THAT IS IS THE SAME
KIND OF FEELING.
I SEE IT FROM SUPERIOR DOWN TO
DELAVAN AND EVERYWHERE IN
BETWEEN.
WE'RE READY TO TACKLE THE
CHALLENGE.
WE'VE GOT A PLAN TO BALANCE THE
BUDGET, EVERYTHING FROM ASKING
STATE EMPLOYEES TO MAKE THEIR
OWN EMPLOYEE CONTRIBUTION TO THE
PENSION SYSTEM.
THAT'S SOMETHING NEARLY EVERY
OTHER WORKER IN THE STATE DOES.
THAT ONE ITEM ALONE IS PART OF A
MULTITUDE OF THINGS WE'VE LAID
OUT SAVES US $360 MILLION.
>> OTHER IDEAS, I KNOW THAT
PEOPLE ARE SAYING TO EFFECTIVELY
GET AT THIS DEFICIT IT WOULD
REQUIRE A 10% CUT, BASICALLY
ACROSS THE BOARD.
BIG IDEAS.
WOULD YOU ANTICIPATE MORE
FURLOUGHS, FOR EXAMPLE?
>> WELL, FURLOUGHS ARE KIND OF A
LAST DITCH EFFORT.
IN THE PAST WHEN THE GOVERNOR,
MAYOR OF MILWAUKEE AND OTHERS
HAVE DONE THOSE, WE'VE SHIED
AWAY FROM THAT.
IT'S REALLY NOT ABOUT PUNISHING
EMPLOYEES.
IT'S ABOUT TRYING TO BALANCE A
BUDGET.
SO WE TRIED TO KEEP THOSE FAIRLY
LIMITED.
BUT I DO THINK WE NEED TO MAKE
STRUCTURAL WAGES TO WAGE AND
BENEFIT REFORM MUCH LIKE I GOT
THROUGH AT THE COUNTY LEVEL AND
SAVED THE COUNTY $10.3 MILLION
JUST BY SIMPLE CHANGES LIKE
FREEZING SALARIES, STEP
INCREASES, ASKING PUBLIC
EMPLOYEES TO PAY $30 MORE FOR
HEALTH CARE PLANS AND MAKING A
SLIGHT CHANGE IN TERMS OF THE
PENSION MULTIPLIER SO IT WAS IN
LINE WITH THE STATE.
THOSE WERE THINGS THAT HELPED US
SAVE A SIZABLE AMOUNT OF OUR
COUNTY BUDGET.
AT THE STATE LEVEL IT WILL HELP
US BALANCE OUR $2.7 BILLION WHEN
YOU ADD IN THE PATIENTS
COMPENSATION FUND MONEY, THOSE
ARE THINGS WE'RE GOING TO NEED
TO BALANCE THIS BUDGET AND
FUTURE BUDGETS.
>> PRETTY DIFFICULT TO GET AT
THOSE PENSIONS GIVEN THAT THAT'S
A BARGAINING ISSUE.
>> THE ALTERNATIVE IS TO GO DOWN
THE PATH, MORE FURLOUGHS, MORE
LAYOFFS, MORE JOB REDUCTIONS.
I THINK FOR PEOPLE WORKING
WITHIN STATE GOVERNMENT -- THEY
ARE GREAT PUBLIC SERVANTS.
WHEN I TALK ABOUT CHANGES,
SOMETIMES THOSE ON THE LEFT TRY
TO CHARACTERIZE THAT AS AN
ATTACK ON PUBLIC EMPLOYEES.
IT'S NOT AT ALL.
PUBLIC EMPLOYEES, MANY GREAT
PUBLIC SERVANTS DO GOOD WORK FOR
US.
BUT YOU CAN'T HAVE WAGES AND
BENEFITS HERE AND THE PEOPLE
WORKING TO PAY THE BILLS HAVING
BENEFITS HERE.
THERE'S GOT TO BE A BALANCE.
>> HOW DO YOU AVOID BIG CUTS IN
EDUCATION?
>> IRONICALLY, THE GOVERNOR, WHO
CALLS HIMSELF THE PRO EDUCATION
GOVERNOR, CUT MILLIONS OF
DOLLARS OUT OF EDUCATION.
AND
TOOK AWAY THE LARGEST TOOL THAT
LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAVE TO
CONTROL, A QEO.
FOR ME IT'S NOT ABOUT POURING
MORE MONEY IN.
IT'S ABOUT ALLOWING SCHOOL
DISTRICTS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL TO
BETTER SPEND THE MONEY THEY
HAVE.
GIVING THEM BACK REASONABLE CAPS
ON WAGE AND BENEFIT COMPENSATION
FOR EMPLOYEES, MAKING SURE THAT
THERE'S NO MORE STATE MANDATES
THAT ARE UNFUNDED OR UNDERFUNDED
AND PULLING BACK ON THOSE THERE
ARE THERE AND THEN ALLOWING AN
IDEA I PROPOSED, ALLOWING LOCAL
SCHOOL BOARDS AND DISTRICTS TO
BUY INTO THE STATE EMPLOYEE
HEALTH CARE PLAN WHICH WOULD
SAVE SCHOOL DISTRICTS $68
MILLION.
>> DOES THAT PREVENT CUTS, IN
YOUR MIND, TO PUBLIC ELD
INDICATION?
ELD --
EDUCATION?
>> I THINK IT ALLOWS US TO KEEP
ON TRACK.
THERE'S COSTS THAT CONTINUE AND
MANY DISTRICTS POINT TO THAT.
BUT THAT ALLOWS US TO KEEP
INTACT THE PLEDGE WE HAVE MADE
ACROSS THE STATE OF WISCONSIN.
BUT THE REAL KEY HERE IS IT'S
NOT THE MONEY.
YOU GOT TO HAVE MONEY,
OBVIOUSLY, BUT IT'S HOW THAT
MONEY IS BEING USED.
IT'S GIVING RELIEF TO SMALL
SCHOOL DISTRICTS AROUND THE
STATE.
IT'S ENABLING SCHOOL DISTRICTS
TO BETTER USE THE TECHNOLOGY
THEY HAVE TO SHARE THOSE
SERVICES FROM ONE DISTRICT TO
ANOTHER.
THOSE ARE THINGS THAT HAVEN'T
HAPPENED IN THE PAST AND WE NOW
MORE THAN EVER HAVE TO DO IT.
>> REPUBLICAN PRIMARY CANDIDATE
FOR GOVERNOR, SCOTT WALKER.
WE HEARD FROM HIS PRIMARY
OPPONENT, MARK NEUMANN,
PREVIOUSLY ON "HERE & NOW."
BOTH CANDIDATES HAVE BEEN
INVITED TO JOIN US IN A JOINT
APPEARANCE ON THE SEPTEMBER 10
EDITION OF "HERE & NOW" SAOEUPL SHOW.
WE ASKED TOM BARRETT TO JOIN US
ON NEXT WEEK'S PROGRAM.
PUBLIC EDUCATION WILL BE A BIG
ISSUE THROUGHOUT THE GOVERNOR'S
RACE.
THIS WEEK WISCONSIN'S HOPE FOR
BIG FEDERAL SCHOOL MONEY WAS
DASHED FOR THE SECOND TIME WHEN
THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
DECLINED OUR STATE'S APPLICATION
FOR THE SO-CALLED RACE TO THE
TOP FEDERAL AID.
18 OTHER STATES AND THE DISTRICT
OF COLUMBIA DID MAKE THE CUT FOR
A SHARE OF THE MULTIBILLION
DOLLAR AWARD.
WELL, ONE YEAR AGO THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT SET ASIDE $3 BILLION
TO JUMPSTART THE AUTO INDUSTRY
IN A PROGRAM CALLED CASH FOR
CLUNKERS.
THE GOAL?
TO STIMULATE THE ECONOMY AND GET
MORE FUEL EFFICIENT VEHICLES.
WAS IT A ROADMAP TO SUCCESS?
WHAT WAS THE ECONOMIC IMPACT IN
WISCONSIN?
JOINING US, DEBORAH MITCHELL
FROM THE UW SCHOOL OF BUSINESS,
WHO IS AN EXPERT ON THE AUTO
INDUSTRY.
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> SO ONE YEAR LATER A THUMBS UP
OR A THUMBS DOWN ON THIS
PROGRAM?
>> A THUMBS UP FROM THE
PERSPECTIVE OF STIRRING UP A LOT
OF EXCITEMENT, SELLING A LOT OF
VEHICLES DURING THE PROGRAM.
NEARLY 680,000 VEHICLES WERE
SOLD DURING THAT PARTICULAR.
GIVING PEOPLE A LOT OF HOPE AND
MOMENTUM.
>> AND LONG-TERM?
>> LONG-TERM NOT SO MUCH.
BIG HANGOVER.
WHEN WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS A
YEAR AGO, I SAID THIS COULD BE A
PARTY THAT TPHRULTS A RESULTS IN A BAD
MORNING AFTER.
BY SEPTEMBER SALES WERE DOWN
35%.
SO HUGE DROP-OFF.
BIG SPIKE, BIG DROP-OFF.
NOW, SALES SO FAR THIS YEAR FOR
THE FIRST SIX MONTHS ARE UP
COMPARED TO THE FIRST SIX MONTHS
OF 2009.
BUT AS FAR AS AN ONGOING
INCREASE IN ECONOMIC ACTIVITY,
REALLY A LONG-LASTING BUMP FOR
THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY, WE HAVE
NOT SEEN THAT.
>> I GUESS IT COULD BE SAID THAT
SOMETHING IS BETTER THAN NOTHING
IN TERMS OF AT LEAST A MOMENTARY
SPIKE.
YEAH.
WHAT ABOUT WISCONSIN DEALERS
THEMSELVES?
DID WE DO COMPARABLELY WELL?
>> WISCONSIN PATTERNS WERE
SIMILAR TO WHAT WE SAW
NATIONWIDE.
THIS IDEA OF THE SPIKE AND THE
UGLY MORNING AFTER IS A COMMON
PROBLEM WITH ALL THESE KINDS OF
PROBLEMS.
ONE THING THAT'S BEEN SUCCESSFUL
ABOUT CASH FOR CLUNKERS IS IT
HAS SPAWNED COPY CATS, CLUNKER
APPLIANCES, CASH FOR CAULKERS IS
WAITING FOR SENATE APPROVAL.
I'M SURE LOWE'S AND HOME DEPOT
WILL LOOK AT THAT VERY
CAREFULLY.
IN AUSTRALIA THEY'RE EVEN
RUNNING AN AUTOMOTIVE CASH FOR
CLUNKERS PROGRAM MODELED AFTER
THE U.S.
BUT WITH EVERY ONE OF THESE, YOU
SEE A BIG DROP IN ECONOMIC
ACTIVITY THE MINUTE THE PROGRAM
ENDS.
>> WHAT ABOUT ANY SPIN-OFF
ECONOMIC ACTIVITY AFTER THE CASH
FOR CLUNKERS IN AUTO PARTS, FOR
EXAMPLE?
>> YOU KNOW, IT HASN'T REALLY
BEEN REPORTED.
I MEAN, WHAT WE'VE SEEN, AT
LEAST FROM THE REPORTS THAT HAVE
COME IN, EVEN FROM DEMOLITION
AND OTHER KINDS OF RELATED
ACTIVITIES OR INDUSTRIES IS
THERE WASN'T ANY KIND OF
LONG-TERM UPTICK.
SO A LOT OF ACTIVITY DURING THE
PROGRAM AND THEN BACK TO NORMAL
OR EVEN LOWER THAN NORMAL.
>> WE NOTED THIS WEEK THAT A
SHEBOYGAN AUTO PARTS COMPANY IS
CLOSING ITS PLANT TAKING 167
JOBS WITH IT.
SO IF THERE WAS ANY UPTICK AT
ALL, IT HAS PASSED.
>> RIGHT.
AND THIS IS A BIG DEAL FOR
WISCONSIN.
ONE OUT OF FIVE STATES IN THE
U.S. ARE CONSIDERED TO BE
HEAVILY RELIANT ON THE
AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY IN TERMS OF
JOBS.
WISCONSIN IS DEFINITELY ONE OF
THOSE STATES.
THE HIGH PROFILE KINDS OF
INCIDENTS LIKE JANESVILLE AND
THE PLANT CLOSING THERE EVERYONE
NOTICES.
BUT IN GENERAL WHEN AUTOMOTIVE
STALLS OUT IT AFFECTS MANY
PEOPLE AT MANY DIFFERENT LEVELS.
>> SPEAKING OF JANESVILLE, WHAT
DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THAT PLANT AND
WHETHER OR NOT ANYTHING WILL GO
BACK INTO THAT?
>> IT DEPENDS AND THE ANSWER IS
COMPLICATED BECAUSE WE'VE SEEN
DEMAND FOR EBG SOME GM VEHICLES
WHICH WOULD LEND THEMSELVES TO
BEING BUILT IN JANESVILLE.
GENERALLY DEMAND FOR TRUCKS AND
SUVs IS HIGHER THAN WE
EXPECTED.
BUT THE LEVEL OF DEMAND WOULD
HAVE TO INCREASE SO MUCH.
RIGHT NOW IT'S A MIXED BAG.
THEY ARE ESTIMATED WE'LL HAVE
BETWEEN 11 AND 12 NIL I DON'T
KNOW IN -- MILLION INSALES THIS YEAR.
>> SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
DEMAND.
WHAT ABOUT CONSUMER CONFIDENCE
OVERALL?
>> WELL, THAT'S PART OF WHAT
MAKES THIS A TRICKY THING,
BECAUSE IN JUNE THE CONFERENCE
BOARD RELEASED THEIR CONSUMER
CONFIDENCE INDEX DATA, AND IT
WAS VERY SHOCKING, PARTICULARLY
TIED TO AUTOMOTIVE, BECAUSE IN
GENERAL CONSUMER CONFIDENCE IN
THIS COUNTRY IS DOWN.
BUT WHEN ASKED IN PARTICULAR HOW
MANY FOLKS OR ARE YOU LIKELY TO
BE BUYING A NEW CAR THE NEXT SIX
MONTHS, ONLY 1% OF AMERICANS
ANSWERED YES, I WILL BE SHOPPING
FOR A NEW CAR IN THE NEXT SIX
MONTHS AND THAT IS THE LOWEST
IT'S EVER BEEN SINCE 1967.
>> AND I SUPPOSE CARS ARE A
MARKER FOR OTHER CONSUMER
SPENDING AS WELL.
>> YES.
PARTICULARLY FOR FOLKS WHO ARE
LOOKING AT AUTOMOTIVE AS A
SECTOR, THIS DOES NOT BODE WELL.
>> ALL RIGHT.
DEBORAH MITCHELL, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH FOR YOUR EXPERTISE.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> NEARLY 700,000 CARS WERE SOLD
IN THE CASH FOR CLUNKERS
PROGRAM.
TOYOTA 19.4% OF SALES.
ANALYSTS SAY IT LED TO A GAIN IN
SHARE BUT NOT FOR AMERICAN
AUTOMAKERS.
THE 21ST ANNUAL KIDS COUNT DATA
BOOK PROFILES IS BEING RELEASED
THIS WEEK WITH A STATE BY STATE
RANKING ON THE STATUS OF
CHILDREN IN THE U.S.
STATES ARE RANKED IN TEN
CATEGORIES INCLUDING EDUCATION,
ECONOMY, FAMILY, HEALTH AND
SAFETY.
THIS YEAR, WISCONSIN RANKED 10TH
IN THE NATION FOR OVERALL CHILD
WELLWELL-BEING.
HERE WITH MORE INFORMATION IS
MARTHA CRANLEY, DIRECTOR OF
WISCONSIN KIDS COUNT.
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
>> MY PLEASURE.
>> WELL, RANKING 10TH IN THE
NATION MAKES WISCONSIN A PRETTY
GOOD PLACE TO BE A KID.
WHAT ARE OUR STRENGTHS?
>> IT SURE DOES.
WISCONSIN RANKS PER REPB TPHALLY
PRETTY HIGH, AS YOU KNOW, AND IT
RANKS HIGH BECAUSE WE'VE MADE
SOME LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS IN
THINGS LIKE QUALITY EDUCATION.
WE HAVE A RELATIVELY LOW POVERTY
RATE HERE.
WE HAVE A RELATIVELY HIGH RATE
OF EMPLOYMENT.
AND ALL THOSE THINGS SORT OF
COMBINE TO HAVE GOOD OUTCOMES
FOR KIDS.
>> AND WE HAVE RELATIVELY HIGH
NUMBERS OF PEOPLE THAT ARE
INSURED, HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
HEALTH CARE IS OBVIOUSLY
CRITICAL.
>> WHAT ABOUT OUR WEAKNESSS?
>> WELL, OUR WEAKNESSES HAVE
BEEN THAT IN THE PAST MAYBE
WE'VE TAKEN SOME THINGS FOR
GRANTED AND WE SEE THAT SOME OF
OUR TRENDS IN THE REPORT, WE'RE
TRENDING UPWARD IN THE AREA OF
POVERTY AND CHILDREN IN SINGLE
PARENT FAMILY, ALSO IN THE AREA
OF LOW BIRTH WEIGHT BABIES.
SO THOSE ARE SORT OF MARKERS TO
LOOK FOR.
WE NEED TO WORK ON THAT IN THE
PUBLIC POLICY ARENA.
>> AND INFANT MORTALITY IS AN
INDICATOR THAT'S INCLUDED IN THE
REPORT AND WHEREAS WE'RE KIND OF
TRENDING DOWN IN THAT REGARD,
YOU'VE CALLED THAT A CANARY IN
THE COAL MINE.
WHY?
>> RIGHT.
BECAUSE IT'S SUCH AN IMPORTANT
MARKER IN HOW A COMMUNITY IS
DOING.
INFANT MORTALITY REALLY IN A LOT
OF WAYS IS A FAILURE OF A
COMMUNITY TO SUPPORT A WOMAN AS
SHE IS GETTING READY, GOING INTO
HER CHILDBEARING YEARS AND
REALLY HER LIFE EXPERIENCE AND
IN THOSE FIRST MONTHS, THAT
FIRST YEAR OF A BABY'S LIFE.
WHAT INFANT MORTALITY TELLS US
WHEN IT'S HIGH IS THERE'S
SOMETHING IN THE COMMUNITY WE
NEED TO BE LOOKING AT.
THERE IS SOME REALLY POSITIVE
THINGS IN THIS AREA IN
WISCONSIN.
THE UNIVERSITY HAS BEEN STUDYING
THIS FOR A WHILE, REALLY
SPECIFICALLY, AND THERE'S ALSO A
STUDY COMMITTEE BY COUNCIL, A
SPECIAL STUDY COMMITTEE,
BRINGING TOGETHER A BUNCH OF
EFFORTS TO LOOK AT INFANT
MORTALITY IN WISCONSIN.
>> SO OUR INFANT MORTALITY RATE
COMPARATIVELY, THOUGH, NO NUMBER
OF INFANT DEATHS IS GOOD, BUT
OURS COMPARATIVELY IS LOW.
>> RIGHT.
IT IS LOW.
IT'S A LITTLE BIT LOWER THAN
EVEN THE NATIONAL RATE.
BUT IT ALSO HASN'T DROPPED
SIGNIFICANTLY EITHER.
IT'S REALLY SORT OF BEEN FLAT
FOR QUITE A LONG TIME.
AND SO I THINK THE THINKING IS
THAT THERE'S SOME ROOM FOR
IMPROVEMENT HERE.
>> NOW, ONE INDICATOR OF
CHILDREN LIVING IN POVERTY IS
TRACKED BY THE NUMBER OF FREE
AND REDUCED LUNCHES AND WE HAVE
A MAP THAT SHOWS THAT.
IT SHOWS POCKETS OF POVERTY IN
MILWAUKEE AND PARTICULARLY IN
THE NORTHWEST PART OF THE STATE.
BUT THERE IS ALSO AN INDICATOR
THAT YOU'VE ALERTED ME TO AND
THAT IS THE JUMP IN FOOD STAMP
PARTICIPATION FROM 2000 TO 2009.
WHAT DOES THAT SHOW?
>> WELL, I THINK IT SHOWS WHAT
WE'VE ALL SUSPECTED, WHICH IS IN
THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS BECAUSE
OF THE RECESSION, PEOPLE HAVE
REALLY NEEDED TO RELY MORE ON
PUBLIC ASSISTANCE, AND FOOD
STAMPS IS FORTUNATELY A GREAT
SAFETY NET PROGRAM.
AND SO WHEN YOU SEE A JUMP LIKE
THAT, I THINK YOU HAVE TO THINK
THERE'S CLEARLY MORE NEED IN THE
STATE.
>> ANOTHER INDICATOR THAT YOU
TOLD ME ABOUT WAS PEOPLE --
RENTERS NOT BEING ABLE TO AFFORD
THEIR RENT.
NOW, THAT SEEMS HIGH.
44%?
>> RIGHT.
AGAIN, IT'S PEOPLE THAT ARE
NORMALLY RENTERS AND AS WE WERE
TALKING ABOUT BEFORE, WHEN WE
THINK OF RENTERS IN MADISON, WE
NORMALLY THINK OF COLLEGE
STUDENTS.
BUT RENTERS ARE ALSO YOUNG
FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN BEFORE
THEY'RE ABLE TO BUY A HOUSE,
WHEN THEY'RE IN THOSE EARLY
YEARNING YEARS.
AND SO THAT IS ANOTHER MARKER OF
AN ECONOMY THAT'S NOT GONE WELL
FOR PEOPLE, THAT THEY ARE UNABLE
TO EVEN AFFORD THE FAIR MARKET
RENT, WHICH IS A NUMBER REALLY
SET BY THE HOUSING AND URBAN
DEVELOPMENT.
>> NOW, IF IT STANDS AT 44% IN
THIS LATEST BOOK, CONCERNS THAT
THINGS WILL LOOK WORSE WHEN YOU
COUNT IN THIS YEAR BECAUSE OF
THE ECONOMIC RECESSION.
>> RIGHT.
WELL, THAT'S CERTAINLY POSSIBLE.
YOU KNOW, WE KNOW THAT
UNEMPLOYMENT IS UP, ALTHOUGH
WISCONSIN'S FARED RELATIVELY
WELL, AND SO WHAT WE HOPE TO SEE
IS THAT THERE'S CONTINUING
INVESTMENT IN ALL OF THESE AREAS
THAT BOOST FAMILIES AND SO WE
DON'T SEE A BIG DROP LIKE OTHER
STATES ARE CERTAINLY GOING TO.
>> BECAUSE WHAT IS THE POINT OF
YOUR KIDS COUNT?
>> REALLY THE POINT OF KIDS
COUNT IS TO TRACK MARKERS OF
CHILD WELL-BEING OVER TIME AND
TO HAVE THAT INFORM POLICY AND
TO HAVE POLICYMAKERS LOOK AT
THAT AND BE INFORMED BY IT.
WE'RE AT A LITTLE BIT OF A
DISADVANTAGE IN THE DATA GAME
BECAUSE IT IS A LITTLE BIT
BEHIND.
CHILD INDICATORS ARE A LITTLE
BIT BEHIND SAY UNEMPLOYMENT
WHICH IS TRACKED MONTHLY OR
HOUSING STARTS WHICH ARE TRACKED
MONTHLY.
WE HAVE TO LOOK BACK A COUPLE OF
YEARS TO SEE CHILD WELL-BEING
DATA.
>> WELL, I CERTAINLY HOPE THAT
THE POLICYMAKERS DO PAY
ATTENTION.
THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> FOR ALL THE KIDS COUNT
RESULTS, VISIT THE "HERE & NOW"
PAGE BY GOING TO WPT.ORG.
AND WE CLOSE TONIGHT WITH A
FAREWELL TO TWO OF OUR ESTEEMED
COLLEAGUES HERE.
YOU'VE CERTAINLY SEEN THE WORK
OF HUSBAND/WIFE TEAM STEVE AND
SHIRWIL LUKES.
AFTER TONIGHT'S SHOW, THEY WILL
WALK OUT OF THE BUILDING
TOGETHER AND INTO RETIREMENT.
THE CULL MAIN NATION OF CULMINATION OF CAREERS
COMBINED OF NEARLY 70 YEARS HERE
AT THE STATION.
THEIR FINGERPRINTS COVER NEARLY
EVERY ORIGINAL PRODUCTION WPT
HAS CREATED DURING THAT TIME.
IF YOU ENJOYED THE 12-YEAR RUN
OF THE WEEKEND PROGRAM, FOR
EXAMPLE, THAT SETSCAPE WAS THE
WORK OF STEVEN SHIRWIL.
OVER THE YEARS THEY DESIGNED
SETS FOR PROGRAMS THAT RANGED IN
SCOPE FROM POLITICAL DEBATES TO
OUR CURRENT MUSIC SERIES.
ALONG THE WAY, STEVE AND SURE
WILL HAVE -- HISWIFE HAVE TRAINED HUNDREDS OF
STUDENTS.
THEY'VE HAD A RITUAL THESE PAST
THREE DECADES WALKING TOGETHER
MOST EVERY MORNING FROM THEIR
NEAR WEST SIDE MADISON HOME TO
OUR STUDIOS ON THE UW CAMPUS.
[ APPLAUSE ]
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] [CHEERS
AND
>> THIS IS THE SCENE THAT
AWAITED THEM AT THE ENDS OF
THEIR WALK YESTERDAY MORNING.
COWORKERS GATHERED TO WITNESS
THEIR ARRIVAL FOR THEIR LAST
FULL DAY AND TO PAY TRIBUTE, A
VERY PUBLIC SHOW OF AFFECTION
FOR TWO TALENTED,
BEHIND-THE-SCENES PROFESSIONALS.
AND SPEAKING OF BEAUTIFUL
DESIGNS, THEIR "HERE & NOW" SET
SHOULD HOLD US IN GOOD STEAD
EVEN AS STEVEN AND HIS WIFE MOVE
ON.
CONGRATULATIONS AND OUR DEEPEST
THANKS TO YOU BOTH.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
HAVE A GREAT WEEKENDS.
BUT BEFORE WE GO, WED AOE LIKE -- WE'D LIKE TO
ASK IF STEVE WOULD BE SO KIND AS
TO GIVE US ONE LAST LIGHT FADE.
CAPTIONS PRODUCED BY
RIVERSIDE CAPTIONING COMPANY
WWW.CLOSED-CAPTIONING.COM
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> 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.