>> I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW," IN
OUR "FIRST LOOK" SEGMENT, WE
EXAMINE THE POLICY AND POLITICS
OF THE U.S. SENATE HEALTH CARE
BILL.
SENATOR RON JOHNSON IS HERE.
AFTER, THAT A "CLOSER LOOK" AT A
MAN WHO VISITS THE WISCONSIN
JUVENILE CORRECTIONS FACILITY
EVERY WEEK, TRYING TO IMPART A
POSITIVE MESSAGE.
LATER, THE LATEST APPROVAL
RATINGS IN WISCONSIN FOR
PRESIDENT TRUMP AND GOVERNOR
WALKER.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR JUNE 30.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED, IN PART, BY FRIENDS OF
WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISION.
>> WISCONSIN REPUBLICAN SENATOR
RON JOHNSON PUT THE BRAKES ON A
VOTE THIS WEEK ON HIS CHAMBER'S
VERSION OF THE OBAMACARE REREAL
AND REPLACE BILL BECAUSE HE
NEEDED MORE TIME TO STUDY IT.
THE ARDENT APOA IN APOA IN OPT
SAYS HE DOESN'T THINK THE BILL
GOES FAR ENOUGH.
THANKS FOR JOINING US.
I WANTED TO ASK YOU YOUR
POSITION ON REPEALING THE ACA
NOW AND REPLACING IT SOMETIME
LATER.
>> LET ME FIRST EXPLAIN.
I DON'T THINK I'VE EVER SAID
GOES FAR ENOUGH.
IT DOESN'T FIX THE PROBLEM.
I CERTAINLY THOUGHT A WEEK AFTER
A DISCUSSION DRAFT WAS PRESENTED
TO THE PUBLIC AND ALSO TO CBO,
IT WAS WAY TOO SOON TO REALLY
TAKE A VOTE ON IT.
SO I WANTED THE EXTRA TIME.
WE HAD INTENSE DISCUSSIONS.
I THINK THERE WILL BE
IMPROVEMENTS MADE TO THE BILL.
NOTHING WILL BE PERFECT, BUT THE
ARCHITECTURE OF OBAMACARE
PARTICULARLY IN THE INDIVIDUAL
MARKETS HAS FAILED.
PREMIUMS ON A NATIONAL AVERAGE
HAS INCREASED 105%, DOUBLED,
TRIPLED AS WELL.
WE HAVE TO FIX THE PROBLEM.
>> YOUR POSITION ON REPEALING
THE ACA AND THEN REPLACING IT
LATER.
>> WELL, I'D RATHER DO IT AT THE
SAME TIME.
NOW, I THINK WHAT'S ABUNDANTLY
CLEAR, WE DON'T HAVE THE VOTES
FOR TOTAL REPEAL.
I WOULD LIKE TO DO THAT BECAUSE
I THINK IT'S A WHOLE LOT EASIER
TO REPLACE WITH SOMETHING THAT
WOULD ACTUALLY WORK.
OVER THE COURSE OF TIME, AFTER
THE ELECTION, IT WAS PRETTY
OBVIOUS THAT WE PROBABLY DIDN'T
HAVE THE VOTES FOR FULL REPEAL,
SO I STARTED TALKING ABOUT LET'S
FOCUS ON REPAIRING THE DAMAGE
DONE IN THE INDIVIDUAL MARKETS.
WE CAN TRANSITION TO A SYSTEM
THAT ACTUALLY WORKS.
FROM MY STANDPOINT, IT IS
BRINGING IN MORE CONSUMER-DRIVEN
FREE MARKET COMPETITION TO
RESTRAIN PRICES, IMPROVE QUALITY
AND CUSTOMER SERVICE.
>> SO ALTOGETHER WHAT'S IT GOING
TO TAKE FOR YOU TO VOTE YES?
>> FIRST OF ALL, I NEVER SAID I
WAS NO ON ANY BILL.
>> RIGHT.
>> IT HAS TO BE AN IMPROVEMENT.
I GUESS THAT'S MY MANUFACTURING
BACKGROUND.
I DO NOT EXPECT PERFECTION.
THIS IS SUCH A MESS.
IT IS SO COMPLEX.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO COME CLOSE TO
PERFECTION.
BUT I WILL EVALUATE ANYTHING I
AM GOING TO HAVE TO VOTE ON IN
THE END.
IS IT GOING TO PUT US IN A
BETTER PLACE TOMORROW THAN WE
ARE TODAY.
THAT'S A PRETTY LOW BAR.
BUT I THINK GOING IN SO MANY OF
US HAVE SAID WE DON'T WANT TO
PULL THE RUG OUT FROM ANYONE.
I DON'T THINK WE ARE.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE
FOCUSING ON THE GROSS PRICE OF
PREMIUMS, BECAUSE IF WE CAN
BRING THOSE DOWN, RECOGNIZING
WHAT CAUSED PREMIUMS TO
INCREASE, WE CAN SOLVE SO MANY
PROBLEMS.
THAT'S BEEN MY PRIMARY FOCUS.
>> A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE FOCUSING
ON MEDICAID.
DO YOU THINK THE MEASURE SHOULD
REDUCE FUNDING FOR MEDICAID BY
MORE THAN 25% IN OUT YEARS?
>> FIRST OF ALL, WHAT WE'RE
FOCUSING ON IS ELIMINATING THE
ADDITIONAL EXPANSION OF MEDICAID
EXPANSION, WHICH WISCONSIN IS
NOT PARTICIPATING IN.
>> RIGHT.
>> IN 2008, WE SPENT ABOUT $200
BILLION ON MEDICAID.
LAST YEAR, NINE YEARS LATER, WE
SPENT $400 MILLION.
IT'S NOT LIKE MEDICAID HAS BEEN
SOLVED.
I'D LIKE TO DISSOLVE THE
MANAGEMENT OF CORE MEDICAID BACK
TO THE STATES.
WE DO A FAR BETTER JOB.
WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS STOP
THE MEDICAID EXPANSION WHICH IS
GOING TO THREATEN THE STABILITY
OF CORE MEDICAID.
WHEN EVERYBODY IS TALKING ABOUT
HOW MUCH WE'RE CUTTING MEDICAID,
WHAT WE ARE DOING IS PUTTING
MEDICAID EXPANSION ON A GLIDE
PATH SO WE CAN FOCUS ON CORE
MEDICAID SO PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES, YOUNG, ELDERLY,
THAT THOSE POPULATIONS ARE
PROTECTED.
>> A LOT OF PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW
HOW DO YOU PROTECT STATES LIKE
WISCONSIN FROM BEING HURT
BECAUSE THEY DID REJECT THE
MEDICAID EXPANSION?
>> WELL, THAT'S ONE OF THE
THINGS I'VE BEEN FIGHTING FOR,
IS THERE'S A DISPARITY.
THERE'S ALWAYS BEEN A DISPARITY.
SOME STATES GET MORE FEDERAL
FUNDING THAN WISCONSIN.
AND WHAT'S REALLY UNFAIR ABOUT
IT IS RESPONSIBLE STATES, STATES
THAT HAVE HIGH-QUALITY HEALTH
CARE AT A RELATIVELY AFFORDABLE
COST, WE GET PENALIZED IN THE
DOLING OUT OF FEDERAL FUNDS.
ONE OF THE REASONS DEVOLVING THE
ADMINISTRATION OF MEDICAID WOULD
BE UNFAIR, BUT I DON'T WANT TO
LOCK INTO A SYSTEM THAT IS
UNFAIR.
IT'S NOT GOING TO BE COMPLETELY
FAIR, BUT THAT'S ONE OF THE
THINGS I'M FIGHTING FOR.
>> DO YOU THINK ANY BILL SHOULD
INCLUDE PROTECTIONS FOR
PREEXISTING CONDITIONS?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
BUT OBAMACARE PUTS THE BURDEN,
THE COST BURDEN OF THAT, ON A
VERY SMALL SLICE OF THE AMERICAN
PUBLIC.
THAT'S WHY PRICES HAVE DOUBLED
AND TRIPLED ON THE INDIVIDUAL
MARKET.
WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS SEPARATE
THAT POPULATION OUT.
THOSE WITH HIGH-COST AND
PREEXISTING CONDITIONS.
WE NEED TO SUBSIDIZE THOSE.
WE CAN DO THAT, KEEP PREMIUMS AT
A REASONABLE LEVEL WITHOUT
PENALIZING THE PEOPLE BILL
CLINTON TALKED ABOUT, THOSE
BUTTS OUT THERE BUSTING IT.
THEY'VE BEEN PRICED OUT OF THE
INSURANCE MARKET.
I'LL COME BACK TO I WANT TO
FOCUS ON BRINGING DOWN THE GROSS
PRICE OF PREMIUMS.
IT SOLVES SO MANY PROBLEMS.
BUT NO.
I THINK OUR COUNTRY HAS DECIDED
WE WANT TO PROTECT PEOPLE WITH
PREEXISTING CONDITIONS IN A
MANNER THAT DOESN'T COLLAPSE
THESE INDIVIDUAL MARKETS AND PUT
THE COST BURDENS ON A VERY SMALL
SLICE OF THE AMERICAN
POPULATION.
>> HOW DO YOU DO IT?
>> THROUGH THINGS LIKE MAINE
PASSED GUARANTEED ISSUE.
THAT'S WHAT THE INSURANCE POLICY
IS CALLED TO PROTECT PEOPLE WITH
PREEXISTING CONDITIONS.
IN OTHER WORDS, YOU GUARANTEE
THAT ANYBODY CAN BUY INSURANCE
AT JUST ABOUT ANY POINT IN TIME.
THAT COLLAPSES INSURANCE
MARKETS.
WHO WOULD BUY AUTO INSURANCE IF
YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO BUY UNTIL
AFTER YOU CRASHED YOUR CAR?
THAT WOULD CRASH THE INSURANCE
MARKET?
THE SAME THING HAPPENS IN HEALTH
CARE.
WHEN MAINE PASSED GUARANTEED
ISSUE, THEIR PREMIUMS
SKYROCKETED.
SO WITHOUT EVEN REPEALING
GUARANTEE ISSUE THEY SUPPLANTED
IT WITH AN INVISIBLE HIGH-RISK
POOL.
A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN
WISCONSIN.
WISCONSIN'S HIGH-RISK POOL ISN'T
PERFECT, BUT IT WORKED PRETTY
WELL.
SO WE SHOULD TAKE A LOOK AT BEST
PRACTICES EXAMPLE.
THAT'S THE PATH TOWARD
GUARANTEEING PEOPLE COVERAGE
WITH PREEXISTING CONDITIONS
WITHOUT COLLAPSING MARKETS AND
CAUSING PREMIUMS TO SKYROCKET.
>> YOU'VE SAID THIS WEEK THAT
YOU COULD SUPPORT MAINTAINING
SOME OF THE TAX INCREASES IN
OBAMACARE?
WHICH ONES?
>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, AGAIN,
WE'RE NOT REPEALING OBAMACARE.
WE'RE KEEPING AN AWFUL LOT OF
THE ARCHITECTURE AND CERTAINLY A
LOT OF THE BENEFITS.
AGAIN, 20 MILLION AMERICANS GOT
HEALTH CARE.
WE DON'T WANT TO TAKE THAT AWAY
FROM THEM.
SO WHEN YOU'RE GOING TO BE
BASICALLY CARRYING ON ABOUT $430
BILLION WORTH OF OBAMACARE
FORWARD, I THINK WE OUGHT TO
MAINTAIN WHATEVER REVENUE FLOW
TO FUND THOSE BENEFITS.
I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE
FACT WE'RE $20 TRILLION IN DEBT.
OVER THE NEXT 30 YEARS, $129
TRILLION OF ADDITIONAL DEFICITS.
I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.
SO IF WE'RE GOING TO OFFER
GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS, WE OUGHT TO
BE ABLE TO PAY FOR IT.
THE FIRST ONE UNDER DISCUSSION
IS THE INVESTMENT TAX.
THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH
PREMIUMS, HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH
COST OF HEALTH CARE.
THAT WOULD PROBABLY BE THE FIRST
ONE NOT TO REPEAL.
>> WE NEED IT LEAVE IT THERE.
SENATOR RON JOHNSON, THANKS VERY
MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> FOR HER PART, WISCONSIN
DEMOCRATIC U.S. SENATOR TAMMY
BALDWIN HAD THIS TO SAY ABOUT
THE PLAN.
THE PEOPLE OF WISCONSIN DID NOT
SEND ME TO WASHINGTON TO TAKE
PEOPLE'S HEALTH CARE AWAY.
WE SHOULD BE WORKING TOGETHER TO
MAKE THINGS BETTER, NOT WORSE.
AND THE CBO MAKES CLEAR THAT THE
SENATE REPEAL PLAN WILL LEAVE
MILLIONS OF FAMILIES BEHIND.
HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS AND
PHYSICIAN GROUPS IN WISCONSIN
HAVE BEEN VOCAL ABOUT THEIR
CONCERNS OVER POSSIBLE NEGATIVE
IMPACT OF THE SENATE HEALTH CARE
BILL.
CONCERNS FOR BOTH PROVIDERS AND
FOR PATIENTS.
FOR MORE PERSPECTIVE ON THE
SENATE HEALTH CARE BILL WE TURN
TO BOBBY PETERSON, EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF ABC FOR HEALTH,
WHICH HELPS CONNECT WISCONSIN
FAMILIES TO HEALTH CARE COVERAGE
PLANS.
RIGHT NOW, OUT OF WASHINGTON
THERE IS THIS DISCUSSION OF JUST
REPEALING THE ACA AND NOT
REPLACING IT.
WHAT'S YOUR REACTION TO THAT?
>> SHORT-TERM, MAYBE IT'S A WIN,
BUT IT'S A LOT FOR THE PEOPLE, I
THINK.
WE DON'T GET TO A SITUATION
WHERE WE ACTUALLY MAKE THINGS
BETTER.
JUST REPEALING THE AFFORDABLE
CARE ACT DOESN'T GET US TO THE
RIGHT PLACE.
>> ON THE SENATE BILL, THERE ARE
MANY CONSTITUENCIES, AS YOU
KNOW, SOUNDING THE ALARM OVER
THE PROPOSED REDUCTION IN
MEDICAID FUNDING.
WHO IN YOUR MIND WOULD THIS HIT
THE HARDEST?
>> WELL, THERE'S 1.2 MILLION
PEOPLE IN WISCONSIN ON MEDICAID.
IT AFFECTS A LOT OF PEOPLE.
SO SENIORS IN LONG-TERM CARE,
CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES,
YOUNG CHILDREN THAT NEED HEALTH
CARE COVERAGE, LOW-INCOME
ADULTS, PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES.
SO IT HAS A BROAD IMPACT.
AND I THINK THAT'S WHY THERE'S
BEEN SUCH VOCAL OPPOSITION.
THESE MEDICAID CHANGES ARE
SIGNIFICANT AND ALARMING FOR A
LOT OF FOLKS.
>> NOW, IS WISCONSIN HURT MORE
THAN STATES THAT EXPANDED
MEDICAID BECAUSE IT WOULD BE
CAPPED TO WHAT WAS SPENT IN
2016?
>> SADLY, YES.
I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE BAD
OUTCOMES OF THE BILL BECAUSE
WISCONSIN IS PENALIZED.
A LOT OF US THOUGHT WISCONSIN
SHOULD EXPAND MEDICAID AND WE'VE
LOST A LOT OF MONEY.
WE'VE LEFT A LOT OF FEDERAL
MONEY ON THE TABLE THAT WE COULD
BE USING, REPLACING GPR FUNDS.
WE COULD FIX A LOT OF ROADS AND
IMPROVE K-12 EDUCATION WITH
THOSE FUNDS.
MISSOURI HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION
CAME OUT WITH A REPORT THAT SAID
UNTIL 2026 IT'S OVER $30 BILLION
THAT WISCONSIN LOSES OUT ON.
>> AND YET HERE WE SIT AND
HAVING PERHAPS THE GOVERNOR WAS
RIGHT WHEN HE SAID, WELL, I
DON'T WANT TO EXPAND MEDICAID
BECAUSE I'M AFRAID THE FEDS
WON'T BE GOOD FOR THAT MONEY AND
KIND OF HERE WE ARE.
>> RIGHT.
BUT YOU ALWAYS -- THE FEDS -- WE
TAKE $12 BILLION A YEAR IN
FEDERAL MONEY, SO WHAT CATEGORY
ARE WE GOING TO SAY THEY'RE GOOD
FOR AND NOT GOOD FOR.
SO THAT ARGUMENT DIDN'T CARRY A
LOT OF WEIGHT WITH ME BECAUSE
WE'RE HEAVILY DEPENDENT ON
FEDERAL MONEY IN THE STATE OF
WISCONSIN FOR OUR ROADS, OUR
EDUCATION SYSTEM.
SO IT WAS A BAD DECISION AND I
THINK MOST PEOPLE AGREE WITH
THAT.
>> WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM
CLIENTS THAT YOU HELP WITH
HEALTH CARE COVERAGE ABOUT ALL
OF THIS?
>> WELL, THE VOLATILITY, THE
DYNAMIC OF WHAT'S GOING TO
HAPPEN.
AM I GOING TO LOSE PREEXISTING
CONDITIONS COVERAGE THAT I'VE
HAD.
ARE WE GOING TO GO BACK TO
HIGH-RISK POOLS.
THOSE ARE SOME REAL CONCERNS
PEOPLE HAVE.
ARE THEY GOING TO CAP MEDICAID?
IS IT GOING TO LEAD TO HEALTH
CARE RATIONING.
THAT COULD BE AN OUTCOME.
>> DO YOU FEEL AS THOUGH THE
POLICYMAKERS IN WASHINGTON ARE
HEARING ALL OF THESE CONCERNS?
>> I THINK THEY WILL OVER THE
BREAK.
I THINK THEY NEED TO GET OUT OF
WASHINGTON TO GET BACK AND TALK
TO THEIR CONSTITUENTS AND
REALIZE I THINK FOR A LONG TIME
MEDICAID HAS BEEN CONSIDERED A
WELFARE PROGRAM FOR POOR PEOPLE,
BUT IT HAS A MUCH BROADER
IMPACT.
IT HAS EXPANDED ITS SPREAD AT
SOME POINT.
IT'S A FUNDAMENTAL CORE OF OUR
SOCIETY AND CARES FOR A LOT OF
PEOPLE.
>> ISN'T THAT ONE OF THE ISSUES,
THOUGH, THAT IT'S JUST EXPANDED
SO MUCH AND IT'S SO EXPENSIVE?
>> WELL, IT'S EXPENSIVE, BUT IN
SOME WAYS IT CAN BE MORE
EFFICIENT THAN SOME OF THE OTHER
PROGRAMS OUT THERE.
IT DEPENDS ON HOW IT'S OPERATED.
BUT WISCONSIN RUNS A VERY
EFFICIENT MEDICAID PROGRAM IN
MANY RESPECTS.
WE HAVE PUBLIC/PRIVATE
PARTNERSHIPS WITH BADGERCARE
THAT EXTEND COVERAGE THROUGH
MANAGED CARE ORGANIZATIONS, PLUS
COMMERCIAL COVERAGE.
I THINK THERE'S SOME INNOVATIONS
IN WISCONSIN THAT ARE WORTH
LOOKING AT THAT MAKE THE PROGRAM
RUN MORE EFFICIENTLY.
>> SO LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT A
POTENTIAL MEDICAID RECIPIENT.
YOU CHOOSE WHOM THAT MIGHT BE.
WHAT ARE THEY LOOKING AT?
I MEAN, THEY'RE NOT LOOKING AT
IMMEDIATELY LOSING THEIR
COVERAGE.
>> NO.
AND I THINK IT'S TIME TO SPEAK
UP AND SAY HOW IMPORTANT YOUR
COVERAGE S. B IS.
BUT I THINK THE PEOPLE WE
REPRESENT, NAVIGATING SYSTEMS,
DIFFICULT COVERAGE SITUATIONS,
THE FEAR IS THAT THEY'RE GOING
TO LOSE COVERAGE OR SERVICES
THAT THEY HAVE THAT HAVE HELPED
THEM STAY IN THEIR COMMUNITY,
STAY IN THEIR HOME, WORK,
TRANSITION INTO JOBS.
SO THOSE ARE THINGS THAT PEOPLE
ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THAT
WE'RE HEARING FROM.
>> NOW, FRAMERS OF REPEAL AND
REPLACE TALK ABOUT WISCONSIN
GOING BACK TO ITS HIGH-RISK KIND
OF INSURANCE PLANS AND YOU
MENTIONED THAT IT WAS CALLED
HIRSP.
WHAT'S YOUR REACTION TO PUTTING
PEOPLE WITH PREEXISTING
CONDITIONS INTO THAT HIGH-RISK
PLAN?
>> YEAH.
IT'S GOING BACKWARDS.
IN WISCONSIN WE LOOK TO MOVE
FORWARD.
THIS IS NOT THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
WE'RE SEGREGATING PEOPLE WITH
PREEXISTING CONDITIONS.
IT'S DIFFICULT TO MANAGE IN SOME
WAYS BECAUSE SELF-FUNDED PLANS
DON'T HAVE TO PAY INTO THE POOL.
IT'S A SMALL GROUP OF INSURANCE
COMPANIES THAT HELP SUPPORT THE
POOL.
AND PREMIUMS WERE VERY HIGH FOR
PEOPLE.
YOU HAD A SIX-MONTH WAITING
PERIOD TO GET INTO IT, SO PEOPLE
END UP DYING BEFORE THEY BECOME
ELIGIBLE.
IT'S A ANACHRONISM OF THE PAST.
MOST PEOPLE HAVE MOVED ON FROM
THAT TO FIND A BETTER WAY TO
COVER PEOPLE WITH PREEXISTING
CONDITIONS.
>> BOBBY PETERSON, THANKS VERY
MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> IN TONIGHT'S "CLOSER LOOK," A
FEDERAL JUDGE IN MADISON HAS
ORDERED CHANGES IN USE OF
SOLITARY CONFINEMENT AND PEPPER
SPRAY AT WISCONSI WISCONSIN'S JE
PRISON LAST WEEK AS A RESULT OF
LAWSUITS FILED ON BEHALF OF
INMATES.
AS A FEDERAL INVESTIGATION INTO
THE OPERATION OF THE INSTITUTION
CONTINUES, ONE MADISON MAN TAKES
HIS SKILLS BOTH PROFESSIONAL AND
PERSONAL ON THE ROAD EACH WEEK,
TRAVELING MORE THAN FIVE HOURS
ROUND TRIP TO THE INSTITUTION IN
NORTHERN WISCONSIN.
>> AS DAWN BREAKS, LAMAR SKINNER
PACKS UP FOR THE LONG TRIP
NORTH.
EVERY WEEK, SKINNER TAKES HIS
SKILLS ON THE ROAD TO IRMA.
HE'S BEEN HIRED AS A BARBER AT
THE LINCOLN HILLS COPPER LAKE
SCHOOL, WISCONSIN'S JUVENILE
DETENTION CENTER.
>> THERE'S A GUY THAT'S BEEN
WORKING THERE FOR 30 YEARS.
HE'S LIKE I'M GLAD YOU'RE HERE.
THEY JUST DIDN'T UNDERSTAND.
YOU GOT TO HAVE AN
AFRICAN-AMERICAN TO CUT THESE
KIDS' HAIR.
>> YOU DON'T WANT IT CUT OFF?
>> SKINNER CAME TO TAKE THE JOB
AFTER ONE OF HIS REGULARS SAW A
NEED.
>> WHO COMES IN?
WELL, WE GOT EVERETT MITCHELL.
WE GOT REVEREND LARRY JACKSON.
>> IT WAS DANE COUNTY JUDGE
EVERETT MITCHELL WHO THOUGHT OF
HIS OWN BARBER BACK IN MADISON.
>> WELL, HE JUST TOOK A VISIT
AND HE SAW SOME KIDS THAT NEEDED
SOME HAIRCUTS.
>> SKINNER'S ADULT CLIENTELE IS
A WHO'S WHO OF COMMUNITY
LEADERS.
>> WE BUILD DURING THESE TIMES.
WE JOKE A LITTLE BIT.
THAT'S WHAT IT'S ABOUT FOR ME.
IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO HAVE AN
ELDER AROUND.
I CAN PICK LARRY'S BRAIN ALL
DAY.
>> THOSE ELDERS APPROVE OF THEIR
BARBER'S WORK AT THE YOUTH
PRISON.
>> BY LAMAR BEING THERE AS AN
AFRICAN-AMERICAN, HE ENCOURAGES
A LOT OF THEM JUST BY HIM BEING
AFRICAN-AMERICAN IN THERE DOING
SOMETHING POSITIVE.
>> JUST LIKE HE SAID, I'M JUST
LIVING PROOF THAT YOU CAN
ACTUALLY ACHIEVE SOMETHING
WITHOUT BEING NEGATIVE ABOUT IT.
>> FOR HIS PART, SKINNER SAYS 30
HAIRCUTS A DAY IS HARD WORK.
IT'S EMOTIONALLY DRAINING, TOO.
>> THEY'RE FAR AWAY FROM HOME,
FAR AWAY FROM EVERYTHING THEY
KNOW AND LOVE.
SO I KNOW IT'S BITTERSWEET, I
GUESS IS THE BEST WAY TO
DESCRIBE IT.
YOU GOT YOUNG PEOPLE, SOME OF
THEM ARE FACING A LOT OF TIME.
AND SOME OF THEM ARE GOING TO
GET A CHANCE TO GO HOME.
>> SKINNER SAYS HE TRIES TO BE A
ROLE MODEL AS A BUSINESSMAN, A
PARENT FOR THE YOUNG PEOPLE
SITTING IN HIS CHAIR INSIDE THE
FACILITY.
>> I JUST TRY TO PUT A LITTLE
POSITIVITY IN THERE, SHED A
LITTLE LIGHT ON SOMETHING THAT
THEY COULD BE DOING, MAYBE GET
THEM TO THINK IN A DIFFERENT
WAY.
IT'S ABOUT ALL I CAN DO.
I'M PRETTY MUCH THERE FOR THE
HAIRCUT, BUT IF I CAN INSERT
LITTLE BITS AND PIECES OF THINGS
THEY CAN USE, I DO THAT.
>> AS SKINNER PLIES HIS TRADE
WITH A DIFFERENT CLIENTELE WEEK
BY WEEK, HAIRCUT BY HAIRCUT, HE
HOPES HE'S MAKING A DIFFERENCE
IN SOME YOUNG LIVES.
HE SAYS THERE IS A CONNECTION:
RESPECT.
>> WHEN I'M THERE, THEY THANK
ME, SHAKE MY HAND, THEY'RE
POLITE.
YOU KNOW, JUST REGULAR KIDS.
THEY GOT IN SOME TROUBLE.
I DIDN'T KNOW I WAS GOING TO
LIKE IT THAT MUCH UNTIL I GOT
INTO IT.
JUST SEEING THE KIDS SMILE, YOU
KNOW.
THAT'S GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME.
>> STILL, ON THE LONG ROAD TRIP
BACK TO MADISON AND HIS PARK
STREET BARBERSHOP, SKINNER
REFLECTS ON HIS OWN FORTUNES
COMPARED TO THOSE HE LEAVES
BEHIND THE GATES.
>> IT CAN BE SAD, NOT FOR ME,
BECAUSE I GET TO GO HOME, YOU
KNOW.
I GET TO GO HOME.
SO FOR THEM, I CAN KIND OF SEE,
YOU KNOW, WHERE THEY CAN HAVE
SOME DAYS WHERE IT'S FRUSTRATING
AND IT'S NOT -- YOU KNOW, IT'S
NOT THE PLACE THEY WANT TO BE.
>> THE FEDERAL JUDGE IN MADISON
GAVE PARTIES IN THE LINCOLN
HILLS LAWSUIT UNTIL JULY 7 TO
CULL UP WITH A PLAN REDUCING THE
USE OF SOLITARY CONFINEMENT AND
PEPPER SPRAY AT THE FACILITY.
A NEW MARQUETTE LAW SCHOOL POLL
OUT THIS WEEK SHOWS WHAT
WISCONSIN THINKS OF DONALD
TRUMP, HEALTH CARE LAW CHANGES
AND SCOTT WALKER AND TAMMY
BALDWIN.
WE GET RIGHT TO IT WITH THE
DIRECTOR OF THE POLL, CHARLES
FRANKLIN.
SO ON PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP THE
FIRST LOOK WE'RE GOING TO TAKE,
51% OF RESPONDENTS DISAPPROVE OF
WHAT HE'S BEEN DOING, 41%
APPROVE, 7% DON'T KNOW.
IS HE SLIPPING OR RISING?
>> HIS APPROVAL IS EXACTLY THE
SAME AT 41 THAT IT WAS THREE
MONTHS AGO IN MARCH.
BUT THE DISAPPROVAL HAS RISEN
FOUR POINTS FROM 47% TO 51% AND
WE STILL HAVE A FEW MORE DON'T
KNOWS THAN MOST NATIONAL POLLING
IS SHOWING.
WE'VE SEEN THAT IN THE NATIONAL
DATA AS WELL, THAT THE
DISAPPROVE HAS MOVED UP FASTER
THAN APPROVAL HAS COME DOWN, AS
THOSE INITIAL UNDECIDED HAVE
BEGUN TO MAKE UP THEIR MIND.
>> NOW, THE PARTISAN DIVIDE IS
AS STRONG AS EVER THOUGH,
COMPARING WHO LIKES HIS WORK TO
WHO DOESN'T.
>> IT'S AT LEAST AS STRONG AS
EVER.
85% OF REPUBLICANS APPROVE OF
THE JOB HE'S DOING.
FOR CONTEXT, THAT'S ABOUT WHERE
DEMOCRATS WERE ABOUT PRESIDENT
OBAMA AT RELATIVELY HIGH LEVELS.
SO PARTY LOYALTY.
BUT WHAT'S REALLY JAW-DROPPING
IS ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE, ONLY
3% OF DEMOCRATS APPROVE AND 95%
DISAPPROVE.
THAT IS WORSE FOR DEMOCRATS AND
TRUMP THAN IT WAS FOR
REPUBLICANS AND OBAMA, WHERE
REPUBLICANS CONSISTENTLY GAVE
OBAMA ABOUT A NINE OR TEN-POINT
APPROVAL RATING.
>> ALSO WHERE IN WISCONSIN IS
DONALD TRUMP'S APPROVAL RATING
THE HIGHEST?
>> HE'SESPECIALLY STRONG IN
GREEN WAY AND APPLETON, THAT
MEDIA MARKET THAT CONTAINS THE
GREEN BAY AND SURROUNDING AREA.
HE'S ONLY 50% APPROVAL THERE.
THE ONLY STATE OF THE AREA THAT
HE'S SOLIDLY OVER 50%.
BUT IN THE NORTH AND THE WEST,
WAUSAU AND OVER TO THE
MISSISSIPPI RIVER AND DOWN A
BIT, HE'S NET POSITIVE IN HIS
EVALUATIONS.
SO THOSE ARE AREAS THAT IN MOST
COUNTIES HE DID ESPECIALLY WELL
IN IN THE VOTE AND I THINK
TELLINGLY IN MILWAUKEE HE'S JUST
A LITTLE UNDERWATER.
IN THOSE SUBURBS DONALD TRUMP
WON THE AREA IN NOVEMBER, BUT HE
DID NOT DO AS WELL AS MITT
ROMNEY DID.
IT LOOKS LIKE THOSE SUBURBS HAVE
SOME RESERVATIONS.
>> I WANT TO JUMP AHEAD TO THE
HEALTH CARE LAW AND WHAT PEOPLE
THINK OF THAT IN YOUR SURVEY.
ON THE CHANGING GUIDES OF THE
HEALTH CARE LAW, 54% WANT TO
KEEP IT AND IMPROVE IT, BUT 6%
-- 6% WANT TO KEEP IT AS IS, 27%
REPEAL AND REPLACE, 7% REPEAL
AND NOT REPLACE.
TELL ME WHAT YOU MAKE OF THESE
NUMBERS.
>> WELL, THE TWO ENDS ARE ABOUT
THE SAME, KEEP IT AS IT IS
ORTHROOR THROW THE WHOLE THING .
TWICE AS MANY WOULD KEEP AND
IMPROVE AS OPPOSED TO THE 27%
THAT WOULD REPEAL AND REPLACE.
THAT REALLY RAISES A QUESTION OF
WHAT KIND OF CHANGES TO THE LAW
ARE REALLY REPEALING AND
REPLACING AND WHAT LON CHANGES O
THE LAW ARE REALLY JUST
INCREMENTAL CHANGES AND
IMPROVEMENTS.
CLEARLY THE PUBLIC IS VERY
CONCERNED, THOUGH, ABOUT DUMPING
THE LAW ALTOGETHER.
WE ASKED AND PEOPLE THOUGHT
FEWER PEOPLE WOULD BE COVERED
AND IT WOULD COST MORE FOR A
REPLACEMENT.
SO PEOPLE ARE SKITTISH ABOUT A
REPLACEMENT.
>> SO IT MAKES IT DIFFICULT FOR
THE REPUBLICANS IN WASHINGTON
WHO ARE MOVING AHEAD ON THIS.
>> IT DOES.
BUT REPUBLICANS IN THE STATE ARE
IN FAVOR OF REPEAL AND REPLACE
OR OUTRIGHT REPEAL.
SO THE REPUBLICAN BASE STILL
FAVORS SOMETHING LIKE REPEAL.
>> I GOT TO BUZZ RIGHT THROUGH
THESE NOW.
ON SCOTT WALKER, IT'S THE
PERFECT PARTISAN DIVIDE.
GOVERNOR WALKER COMES IN WITH AN
EVEN 48% APPROVAL, 48
DISAPPROVAL.
HOW HAS THIS CHANGED?
>> HE'S BEEN CREEPING UP SINCE
JANUARY OF 2015 WHEN HIS
APPROVAL RATING CRASHED INTO THE
30s AND STAYED THERE.
HE HAS STEADILY EDGED UP OVER
THE LAST YEAR OR SO AND THIS IS
HIS BEST SHOWING SINCE THE WEEK
BEFORE HE WAS REELECTED.
>> ON TAMMY BALDWIN, YOUR
NUMBERS SHOW THAT SHE ALSO GETS
AN EVEN SPLIT, FAVORABLE TO
UNFAVORABLE.
THAT'S A SLIP FROM YOUR LAST
POLL.
>> IT'S A SMALL SLIP.
IT'S JUST A COUPLE OF POINTS ON
EACH SIDE.
BUT IT'S -- AS WE SEE WITH HER
AND, FOR THAT MATTER, WITH
SENATOR JOHNSON AND PAUL RYAN,
FAIRLY EVEN DISTRIBUTIONS OF
OPINION THAT HAVEN'T TRENDED
SHARPLY UP OR DOWN, UNLIKE THE
GOVERNOR'S APPROVAL RATING,
WHICH HAS BEEN TRENDING UP.
SO STEADILY FOR THE PAST YEAR.
>> FINALLY, ON THE STATE BUDGET
WITH THE REPUBLICAN MAJORITY AT
A SEEMING KIND OF IM PAS OVER
IT, YOU YO SURVEYED RESPONDENTS
ABOUT SPENDING.
37% ON K-12 SCHOOLS, 25% HEALTH
COVERAGE AND 23% ROADS.
INTERESTINGLY TO ME, YOU ALSO
FOUND THAT 61% WOULD BE WILLING
TO PAY HIGHER TAXES ON THESE
PRIORITY ITEMS WHILE 35% WOULD
NOT.
>> AND THESE ITEMS ARE THE MOST
IMPORTANT OUT OF SIX ITEMS THAT
WE GAVE THEM AS OPTIONS.
BUT INTERESTINGLY FOR THOSE ON
K-12 EDUCATION, THE TOP
PRIORITY, 75% SAID THEY WERE
WILLING TO PAY MORE.
WHEN WE DROP DOWN TO HEALTH CARE
IT'S IN THE 50s.
WHEN WE DROP DOWN TO ROADS, IT'S
ACTUALLY A 48% WOULD PAY, 51%
WOULD NOT PAY MORE, EVEN THOUGH
THOSE ARE PEOPLE THAT PICKED
ROADS AS THEIR TOP PRIORITY.
SO THE SAME STRUGGLES THE
LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR ARE
HAVING BETWEEN PAYING FOR
SOMETHING BUT WANTING IT IS ALSO
REFLECTED IN PUBLIC OPINION ON
THIS.
>> INTEREST.
WELL, CHARLES FRANKLIN, THANKS
VERY MUCH FOR YOUR WORK.
>> THANK YOU.
>> NOW FOR AN UPDATE FROM THE
STATE CAPITOL.
ON WEDNESDAY, HUNDREDS OF
IMMIGRANT SUPPORTERS PROTESTED
IN MADISON OVER A PROPOSED BILL
THAT WOULD HAVE LOCAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT ACT LIKE IMMIGRATION
AGENTS.
UNDER THE REPUBLICAN MEASURE,
MUNICIPALITIES COULD FACE LOSS
OF SHARED REVENUE PAYMENTS FOR
FAILING TO COMPLY.
PROTESTORS FEAR THIS WILL LEAD
TO IMMIGRANTS BEING HARAS HARASD
DEPORTED.
IN WASHINGTON, THE HOUSE VOTED
THURSDAY TO CRACK DOWN ON
SO-CALLED SANCTUARY CITIES BY
WITHHOLDING FEDERAL FUNDS.
HOUSE SPEAKER PAUL RYAN.
>> BY FLAGRANTLY DISREGARDING
THE RULE OF LAW, SANCTUARY
CITIES ARE PUTTING LIVES AT RISK
AND WE CANNOT TOLERATE THAT.
EVERY DAY SECRETARY KELLY LEADS
PROFESSIONALS AROUND THE COUNTRY
WHO ARE CHARGED WITH KEEPING OUR
HOMELAND SAFE.
THEY MAKE INCREDIBLE SACRIFICES.
OUR JOB HERE IS TO MAKE SURE
THAT THOSE PROFESSIONALS HAVE
THE TOOLS AND RESOURCES THEY
NEED TO CARRY OUT THEIR WORK AND
PROTECT OUR COMMUNITIES.
>> THAT WAS SPEAKER RYAN ON
THURSDAY.
THAT IS ALL FOR TONIGHT'S
PROGRAM.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED, IN PART, BY FRIENDS OF
WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISION.