>> I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW" THE
LATEST ON THE STATE BUDGET FROM
JOINT FINANCE COMMITTEE
CO-CHAIR ALBERTA DARLING.
THEN MORE CAPITOL INSIGHT FROM
WPR'S SHAWN JOHNSON AND A
CLOSER LOOK AT THE DEMOCRATIC
PROPOSALS TO HELP THE HOMELESS
IN WISCONSIN AND AN INTERVIEW
WITH A HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL
WHO BANNED THE USE OF SOCIAL
MEDIA APPS IN HIS BUILDING.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR MAY
12th.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW"
IS PROVIDED IN PART BY FRIENDS
OF WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISION.
>> A FIRST LOOK TONIGHT AT THE
UNFOLDING WORK OF THE
LEGISLATURE'S JOINT FINANCE
COMMITTEE AS IT FASHIONS A
STATE BUDGET IN THE MIDST OF
DISAGREEMENT WITH THE GOVERNOR
OVER KEY ASPECTS OF IT.
THIS WEEK BUDGET COMMITTEE
CO-CHAIRS SAID THEY'LL REJECT
SCOTT WALKER'S PLAN TO GO TO
SELF-INSURANCE FOR STATE
EMPLOYEES.
BUT THEN THEY'RE LEFT WITH
MAKING UP THE $60 MILLION THE
GOVERNOR SAYS DOING SO WOULD
SAVE AND THAT HIS BUDGET PUTS
TOWARD K-12 EDUCATION.
WE'RE JOINED NOW BY REPUBLICAN
SENATOR AND JOINT FINANCE
CO-CHAIR ALBERTA DARLING.
BEFORE WE GO TO THE SENATOR WE
SHOULD MENTION THAT EMPLOYEES
AT WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISION
ARE COVERED UNDER STATE
INSURANCE PLANS.
SENATOR, THANK YOU VERY MUCH
FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> DESCRIBE WHY YOU DON'T WANT
TO SWITCH TO STATE
SELF-INSURANCE.
>> WELL, IN ORDER TO SWITCH ARE
WE GOING TO GET SOMETHING THAT
IS BETTER?
THAT'S THE KEY QUESTION.
LESS EXPENSIVE AND GOOD QUALITY.
WE CAN'T ASSURE OURSELVES THAT
THAT'S TRUE.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE PREMIUMS
THEY'RE PROJECTED OUR PREMIUMS
WILL BE 1.6%.
AND THE SELF-INSURANCE PLAN IS
SUPPOSED TO SAVE US 2%.
SO WE'RE ALREADY SAVING MONEY
IN THE CURRENT PLAN AND OUR
PLAN IS VERY ROBUST.
IT CAN BE IMPROVED TO HAVE MORE
INCENTIVES AND DISINCENTIVES
FOR BETTER CHOICES THAT WE'RE
HEALTHIER.
WE COULD BE A HEALTHIER
POPULATION.
IN GENERAL, WE'D BE THROWING
OUT A PLAN THAT'S HAVE ROBUST
AND IT REALLY AFFECTS THE FREE
MARKETPLACE.
THAT'S ONE OF MY BIGGEST
CONCERNS THAT IF WE SHIFT
THOUSANDS OF PUBLIC EMPLOYEES
TO A SELF-INSURANCE PLAN THAT
WE AREN'T SURE ABOUT WE'LL
CREATE A CHANGE IN OUR FREE
MARKET SYSTEM OF HEALTHCARE.
AND IF YOU TALK TO PEOPLE
NATIONWIDE, THEY SAY WISCONSIN
HAS ONE OF THE BEST HEALTHCARE
DELIVERY SYSTEMS IN THE COUNTRY.
SO WE HAVE A LOT TO LOSE, A LOT
TO GAIN PERHAPS IN THE END, BUT
RIGHT NOW WE'RE NOT SURE THERE
IS ENOUGH TO GAIN TO OFFSET
WHAT WE COULD LOSE.
YOU KNOW WHAT?
WHAT WE CAN DO IS WORK WITHIN
THE SYSTEM TO SAVE THE MONEY BY
HAVING EVENTS-BASED APOACHES,
BY HAVING MORE EMPHASIS ON
WELLNESS AND MORE INCENTIVES
FOR OUR EMPLOYEES TO MAKE
BETTER CHOICES.
>> SO YOU FEEL AS THOUGH WITH
THOSE KINDS OF CHANGES AROUND
WELLNESS, INCENTIVES AND
DISINCENTIVES YOU COULD SAVE
THE $60 MILLION THAT THE
GOVERNOR SAYS GOING TO
SELF-INSURANCE WOULD BRING?
>> WE THINK WE CAN.
AND OUR PROVIDERS HAVE SAID IN
SUPPORT OF OUR NOT SHIFTING
THAT THEY CAN PROVIDE THOSE
CHANGES AND WE CAN HAVE THE
SAVINGS.
NOW, I THINK WITH THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT IN DISARRAY RIGHT
NOW OVER OBAMACARE AND MANY
INSURANCE COMPANIES ARE LEAVING
STATES.
IN FACT, IOWA WILL HAVE MAYBE
ONE INSURANCE COMPANY LEFT AT
THAT.
AND WE HAVE A ROBUST HEALTHCARE
SYSTEM WITH INSURERS BEING VERY
COMPETITIVE AND HAVING VERY
GOOD PACKAGES, ALBEIT TOO
EXPENSIVE BUT AGAIN WE'RE
PROJECTING A 1.7% INCREASE.
IF YOU COMPARE US OVER THE PAST
10 YEARS, WE WERE AT ABOUT 3%
INCREASE VERSUS THE 7% NET
NATIONWIDE.
I THINK WE HAVE A VERY GOOD
PRODUCT AND WE AREN'T CONVINCED
WE CAN GET A BETTER ONE WITH
SELF-INSURANCE ESPECIALLY AT
THIS TIME OF OUR HISTORY.
>> REPRESENTATIVE NYGREN SAID
ETF HAD RESERVES.
CAN YOU USE THAT AND WHERE DID
IT COME FROM?
HAVE YOU DETERMINED THAT?
>> WE'LL HAVE A MEETING WITH
THE SECRETARY AND FIND OUT
WHERE IT CAME FROM FOR THE ETF.
THEY'VE BEEN SAVING MONEY IN
PREPARATION OF THIS SHIFT AND
IF THEY CAN SAVE MONEY IN THIS
ENVIRONMENT WE CAN CONTINUE TO
SAVE MONEY WITH THE
EVIDENCE-BASED WELLNESS
INCENTIVES AND DISINCENTIVES
APPROACH THAT I MENTIONED
EARLIER.
WE COULD DO IT.
WE HAVE A VERY DYNAMIC
HEALTHCARE SYSTEM AND OUR
PROVIDERS HAVE SAID THEY COULD
DO EVEN BETTER.
>> TRANSPORTATION, WHERE ARE
YOU AND OTHER REPUBLICANS STAND
ON THE REPUBLICAN ASSEMBLY
TRANSPORTATION PLAN THAT IS A
FLAT TAX AND SALES TAX AND GAS
AMONG OTHER CHANGES?
>> I GIVE THEM A LOT OF CREDIT
FOR PUTTING AN ALTERNATIVE ON
THE TABLE.
IN THE SENATE THERE IS NOT A
LOT OF SUPPORT FOR IT BECAUSE
THEY FEEL THERE ARE TOO MANY
INCREASES ON FEES AND TAXES
ALBEIT HE IS SHIFTING TO A
POSSIBLE FLAT TAX FOR INCOME
TAX, WHICH WOULD BE HIGHLY
DESIRABLE.
BUT PEOPLE ARE FEELING THERE
ARE TOO MANY INCREASES IN FEES
AND IT'S NOT WORTH THE EFFORT
TO DO THAT.
AND I THINK THAT WHAT WE HAVE
TO DO IS SAY LOOK, LET'S WORK
TOGETHER WITH THE GOVERNOR AND
THE ASSEMBLY AND COME UP WITH A
SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM
SOLUTION.
WE CAN'T KEEP KICKING THE CAN
DOWN THE ROAD.
AND MY CONCERN IS SOUTHEAST HAS
MANY PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN
STARTED.
WE'VE INVESTED MILLIONS OF
DOLLARS IN THESE PROJECTS AND
LET'S FINISH THEM.
IN FACT, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
HAS SAID FINISH YOUR PROJECTS.
AND IF WE DON'T -- IF WE STICK
WITH THE CURRENT BUDGET, THE
NORTH LEG OF THE ZOO WILL NOT
BE COMPLETED UNTIL MAYBE FOUR
YEARS DOWN THE ROAD IF THAT.
AND THAT WILL BE A DISASTER FOR
ALL WE'VE GONE THROUGH.
AND WE WON'T HAVE ACCESS TO AN
ON AND OFF RAMP TO THE MEDICAL
REGIONAL CENTER WHICH IS A HUGE
ATTRACTION AND WORKFORCE FOR US.
WE CAN'T LEAVE THOSE PEOPLE
HANGING OUT THERE.
I THINK IT'S NOT JUST FOR
SOUTHEAST WISCONSIN BUT FOR THE
WHOLE ECONOMY OF OUR STATE THAT
WE FINISH THE PROJECTS IN THE
SOUTHEASTERN WISCONSIN.
I TALKED TO FRANK ABOUT HOW DID
YOU DO THE MARQUETTE ON TIME
AND UNDER BUDGET?
HE SAID THEY MADE A LOT OF
CHANGES TO THE DESIGN AND THEY
MADE SOME CUTS BUT THE PROJECT
WENT REALLY WELL AND IT IS
SERVING OUR REGION VERY WELL.
WE CAN MAKE BETTER DECISIONS
AND WE NEED TO DO THAT.
WE CAN'T JUST DELAY EVERYTHING.
IT WILL GET MORE EXPENSIVE AND
OUR ECONOMY WILL BE AFFECTED.
>> WE NEED TO LEAVE IT THERE.
SENATOR ALBERTA DARLING.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR JOINING
US.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
>> SEEMS RARE THAT MAJORITY OF
REPUBLICANS IN WISCONSIN ARE AT
ODDS WITH EACH OTHER OVER MAJOR
BUDGET EYE TEMTION.
IN TONIGHT'S CAPITOL INSIGHT
WE'RE JOINED BY WISCONSIN
PUBLIC RADIO BUREAU CHIEF SHAWN
JOHNSON TO UNPACK THE DISCORD.
THE MAJORITY IN THE SENATE AND
ASSEMBLY ARE AT ODDS WITH EACH
OTHER OVER ROAD FUNDING AND TAX
CHANGING PROPOSALS.
WHERE ARE WE WITH ALL OF THIS
AT WEEK'S END?
>> THE GULF BETWEEN THEM HAS
GROWN OVER THE PAST WEEK
LOOKING AT IT FROM A DISTANCE.
WE SHOULD PREFACE THIS BY
SAYING THEY'RE ALL REPUBLICANS
AND ALL DONE BUDGETS TOGETHER
BEFORE.
THEY'LL GET THERE EVENTUALLY
BUT RIGHT NOW THEY ARE NOWHERE
NEAR EACH OTHER WHEN IT COMES
TO TRANSPORTATION.
THERE ARE A COUPLE IDEAS THAT
GOT FLOATED THIS WEEK THAT WERE
ALMOST IMMEDIATELY OBJECTED TO.
>> LIKE?
>> LIKE FOR EXAMPLE ONE WAS
SENATOR FITZGERALD SAID HERE IS
A WAY WE CAN SOLVE THE
TRANSPORTATION ISSUE.
WE BORROW MORE ONLY WE DON'T DO
IT AND BACK IT UP WITH THE
TRANSPORTATION FUND BUT WITH
THE GENERAL FUND THAT PAYS FOR
SCHOOLS, PRISONS, MEDICAID, GET
THIS MONEY FROM SALES TAXES.
HE THOUGHT THAT MIGHT BE MORE
PALATABLE TO LEGISLATORS.
IT WAS NOT.
ASSEMBLY SPEAKER OR CO-CHAIR OF
THE BUDGET COMMITTEE SAID NO,
WE STILL DON'T WANT TO BORROW
MORE FOR ROADS.
WE'RE BORROWING TOO MUCH.
>> DOES IT SUGGEST THIS IS A
REALLY, REALLY DIFFICULT
PROBLEM?
>> WHEN THEY START LOOKING AT
THESE -- THEY'RE KIND OF
THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX A
LITTLE BIT ON THESE.
YOU HEARD THE CO-CHAIRS OF THE
BUDGET COMMITTEE DO ANOTHER ONE
OF THOSE THIS WEEK AND SAY HEY,
LET'S TAKE THE TRANSPORTATION
BUDGET AND PASS IT AS A STAND
ALONE BILL.
GET THE REST OF THE BUDGET DONE
ON ITS OWN AND THE
TRANSPORTATION BUDGET ON ITS
OWN AND MAYBE GET DEMOCRATIC
VOTES.
THAT WAS SHOT DOWN IMMEDIATELY
BY GOVERNOR WALKER'S OFFICE AND
FITZGERALD'S OFFICE.
THEY DON'T WANT TO GO THERE.
>> BACKING UP A LITTLE BIT FROM
WHAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW, THE
LEGISLATURE'S BUDGET COMMITTEE
REJECTED THE GOVERNOR'S
TRANSPORTATION PLAN AND WHY
THEY'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT
THEIR OWN.
WHAT WERE THE BIG STICKING
POINTS WITH THE GOVERNOR'S
TRANSPORTATION BUDGET?
>> BY AND LARGE THEY VIEWED IT
AS ANOTHER BUDGET THAT DIDN'T
COME UP WITH A LONG-TERM
SOLUTION TO TRANSPORTATION.
THE STATE HAS LONG-TERM ISSUES
WHEN IT COMES TO TRANSPORTATION
FUNDING.
THERE ARE A LOT OF BIG PROJECTS
THAT LAWMAKERS WANT TO MOVE
FORWARD WITH BUT OVER THE LAST
DECADE OR SO, THEY HAVEN'T COME
UP WITH NEW MONEY, REALLY, TO
MOVE FORWARD WITH THOSE
PROJECTS.
THEY'VE CONTINUALLY BORROWED.
THAT BORROWING HAS ADDED UP TO
THE POINT THAT, YOU KNOW, AT
THE END OF THIS BUDGET, 22
CENTS OF EVERY DOLLAR OF
TRANSPORTATION REVENUE WOULD BE
GOING TO PAY OFF OLD DEBT.
THAT'S LIKE PAYING OFF INTEREST
ON A CREDIT CARD.
IT'S A LOT OF MONEY.
THOSE ARE THE BIG ISSUES WITH
THE PROBLEMS.
IT DOESN'T FUND ALL THE
PROJECTS AND THEY CONTINUE TO
BORROW.
>> IS THIS ONE OF THOSE BUDGETS
THAT GOES WELL INTO THE SUMMER?
>> IT COULD.
THE LAST TIME THEY SPLIT OFF
THE TRANSPORTATION BUDGET WAS
1995 OR AT LEAST THAT WAS ONE
OF THE TIMES THEY DID IT AND
LOOKING BACK IN THE
LEGISLATURE'S RECORDS LOOKED
LIKE THEY WRAPPED IT UP AROUND
NOVEMBER.
AGAIN, THEY HAD THE BIGGEST
REPUBLICAN MAJORITIES IN
DECADES HERE.
THEY COULD REACH A DEAL ANY DAY
NOW.
BUT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE IT.
>> ON ANOTHER OF THE GOVERNOR'S
PROPOSALS, THE IDEA OF GOING TO
SELF-INSURANCE.
HOW SURPRISING IS IT TO YOU AND
OTHER KIND OF CAPITOL OBSERVERS
THAT REPUBLICAN BUDGET WRITERS
ARE OUTRIGHT REJECTING THAT?
>> NOT SURPRISING IN THE SENSE
THEY'VE SENT SIGNS THEY DIDN'T
LIKE IT FOR QUITE A WHILE NOW.
THEY ARE NOT SURE THAT THE
SAVINGS THAT THE GOVERNOR'S
OFFICE HAS LATCHED ONTO WOULD
BE THERE AND YOU'RE CHANGING A
PRETTY HUGE INSURANCE MARKET TO
TRY TO GET THAT $60 MILLION
OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS.
NOT A HUGE PAYOFF FOR
DISRUPTING THE ENTIRE SYSTEM.
>> NOW, THE JOINT FINANCE
COMMITTEE AND THE BUDGET
WRITERS HAVEN'T EVEN GOTTEN TO
THE UNIVERSITY BUDGET AND ALL
THOSE THINGS HAVING TO DO WITH
TUITION CUTS AND PERFORMANCE
METRICS AND THAT KIND OF THING.
HOW GNARLY IS THAT GOING TO BE?
>> I THINK THAT THE UNIVERSITY,
ANYONE ELSE WOULD BE WATCHING
THE BUDGET PRETTY CLOSELY.
IF YOU PULL OUT THE MONEY THAT
WAS GOING TO BE THERE THROUGH
THAT PROJECTED SAVINGS ON
SELF-INSURANCE, FOR EXAMPLE.
THAT MONEY WON'T BE THERE.
WHERE WILL IT COME FROM?
THERE ARE A LOT OF AREAS THAT
COULD BE TARGETS TO FIND THAT
EXTRA MONEY IF THE LEGISLATURE
WANTS TO SPEND MORE MONEY ON
K-12 PUBLIC EDUCATION.
>> WE'LL LEAVE IT THERE, SHAWN,
THANKS.
>> YOU'RE WELCOME.
>> AT THIS TIME LAST WEEK WE
HEARD FROM LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
REBECCA KLEEFISCH ON HER NEW
ROLE AS THE CHAIR OF AN
INTERAGENCY COUNCIL ON
HOMELESSNESS.
IT IS CALLED FOR IN ONE OF FOUR
BILLS PASSED -- BILLS DESIGNED
TO HELP THE HOMELESS POPULATION
IN WISCONSIN.
IN TONIGHT'S CLOSER LOOK,
ANOTHER PACKAGE OF BILLS TO AID
THE HOMELESS IS BEING
INTRODUCED BY A DEMOCRATIC
STATE LAWMAKER.
THESE BILLS WOULD INCREASE
GOVERNMENT VOUCHERS TO PAY FOR
HOUSING, FUND A PROGRAM TO HELP
PREVENT HE VICK SHUNS IN CASES
OF A TEMPORARY FINANCIAL CRISIS.
ACCORDING TO THE AUTHOR HER
BILLS WOULD TRIPLE SPENDING IN
WISCONSIN FOR THE HOMELESS TO
$10 MILLION.
REPRESENTATIVE LISA SUBEK IS
HERE.
I KNOW THAT YOU WORKED WITH THE
HOMELESS POPULATION IN YOUR
ROLE AT THE YWCA.
WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE TO THE
REPUBLICAN BILLS?
>> THE REPUBLICAN PACKAGE OF
BILLS THAT CAME BEFORE US SADLY
JUST DIDN'T REALLY GET AT THE
PROBLEM OF HOMELESSNESS.
THEY CREATE A COUNCIL, WE HAD A
COUNCIL.
IT WROTE A PLAN.
THE PLAN SAT ON A SHELF FOR THE
LAST ALMOST 10 YEARS NOW.
NOW WE HAVE ANOTHER COUNCIL AND
MY FEAR IS THIS COUNCIL WILL
WRITE ANOTHER PLAN THAT WILL
SIMPLY SIT ON A SHELF.
IT'S EASY TO DO FEEL-GOOD
PROPOSALS LIKE THIS BUT A LOT
HARDER TO ACTUALLY SAY LET'S
PUT THE RESOURCES BEHIND IT AND
DO WHAT WE KNOW WORKS.
WE HAVE THE ADVANTAGE OF
KNOWING WHAT WORKS NOW.
MUCH RESEARCH HAS BEEN DONE.
WE KNOW WHAT THE EVIDENCE-BASED
BEST PRACTICES ARE AND ROOTED
IN HOUSING FIRST.
THE PACKAGE OF BILLS THAT I'VE
BROUGHT FORWARD REALLY FOLLOW
THAT HOUSING FIRST STRATEGY OF
HELPING PEOPLE GET INTO HOUSING
AND THEN ONCE THEY'RE IN
HOUSING, WRAPPING THE SERVICES
AROUND THEM TO ENSURE THAT
THEY'RE ABLE TO STAY THERE.
>> ISN'T THAT SUPER EXPENSIVE,
THOUGH?
>> IT IS A COST EFFECTIVE
APPROACH BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT
WE'RE ALREADY SPENDING.
ON THE ISSUE OF HOMELESSNESS.
WHEN YOU CONSIDER THAT SOMEBODY
WHO IS CHRONICALLY HOMELESS,
BEING ON THE STREETS, OFTEN
UPWARDS OF 12 MONTHS, SOMETIMES
OVER A PERIOD OF YEARS IN
VARIOUS INTERVALLS.
THE AMOUNT WE PAY IN LAW
ENFORCEMENT AND THE AMOUNT THAT
WE PAY FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL
CARE TO SERVE THAT POPULATION
IS SO MUCH GREATER THAN WHAT IT
WOULD COST TO GET THEM IN
HOUSING THE WRAP THE SERVICES
AROUND THEM AND MOVE THEM
TOWARD SELF-SUFFICIENT I CY.
>> HOUSING FIRST SHE SAID WORKS
BEST WITH PEOPLE WITH MENTAL
ILLNESS AND ADDICTION PROBLEM.
IS THAT TRUE
>> HOUSING FIRST IS A CONCEPT
IN MILWAUKEE AND WE'VE SEEN
SIMILAR PROGRAMS IN MADISON.
WE HAVE A BUILDING ON THE EAST
SIDE AND OTHER PARTS IN THE
STATE AND OTHER STATES.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT BECAUSE
YOU NEED AN INTENSE LEVEL OF
SERVICES THE FULL HOUSING FIRST
MODEL REALLY WORKS.
ACTUALLY PROVIDING THE HOUSING.
MY BILLS ACTUALLY TAKE A LITTLE
BIT OF AN EXPANDED APPROACH ON
THAT.
WE INCLUDE SOME MONEY FOR
HOUSING FIRST PROGRAMS.
IN FACT, A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT
CURRENTLY THE STATE GETS
$300,000 IN HOUSING GRANTS AND
WE WOULD INCREASE THAT BY $2
1/2 MILLION IN ORDER TO INVEST
IN HOUSING.
AND RAPID REHOUSING.
THAT'S OFTEN FOR PEOPLE WITHOUT
QUITE AS HIGH OF NEED BUT TO
GET THEM OUT OF SHELTERS
QUICKLY AND INTO NEW HOUSING,
YOU INFUSE THE HOUSING FIRST
SERVICES DURING THIS FIRST
COUPLE MONTHS AFTER A PERIOD OF
HOMELESSNESS.
>> IT SOUNDS LIKE PEOPLE LIKE
YOU, PEOPLE LIKE THE LIEUTENANT
GOVERNOR, MANY PEOPLE REALLY
WANT TO WORK ON THIS ISSUE AND
I KNOW THAT OF THE FOUR BILLS
THAT WERE PASSED IN THE
ASSEMBLY YOU VOTED IN FAVOR OF
TWO OF THEM.
SO IS THERE AN EFFORT OR CAN
THERE BE AN EFFORT TO WORK IN A
BIPARTISAN WAY ON THIS?
>> I THINK THERE CAN BE.
THE SAD THING ABOUT THE
REPUBLICAN BILLS.
THEY DIDN'T TAKE THE NEXT STEP
OF PUTTING RESOURCES INTO
SOLVING THE PROBLEM OF
HOMELESSNESS.
WE'VE SPENT ENOUGH YEARS WITH
PILOT PROGRAMS AND COUNCILS AND
THINGS THAT CERTAINLY ADDRESS
THE PROBLEM BUT THEY ADDRESS IT
BY TALKING ABOUT IT AND WE NEED
TO START ADDRESSING IT BY DOING
SOMETHING.
THE BILLS THAT I'VE PUT FORWARD
WOULD START TO MAKE THAT
CRUCIAL INVESTMENT.
THE COUNCIL TO END HOMELESSNESS
IN WISCONSIN, THE COUNCIL THAT
HELPED FORM -- THE GROUP THAT
HELPED FORM THIS GOVERNMENT
COUNCIL HAS ADVISED US
WISCONSIN NEEDS TO AT A VERY
STARK TRIPLE ITS INVESTMENT IN
HOMELESSNESS AND THAT'S WHAT
WE'RE DOING.
WE'RE SAYING WE HAVE TO STOP
THE BLEEDING.
WE CAN'T PUT BAND-AIDS ON
GAPING WOUNDS.
>> IT PALES IN COMPARISON TO
WHAT NEIGHBORHOOD STATES ARE
SPENDING.
>> STATE OF MINNESOTA SPENDS
$45 MILLION ON ADDRESSING
HOMELESSNESS.
THE STATE OF MINNESOTA, THE
LATEST DATA WE HAVE FOR THEM
HAS REDUCED THEIR HOMELESS
POPULATION BY ALMOST 10%.
HERE IN WISCONSIN, OUR HOMELESS
POPULATION INCREASED BY DOUBLE
DIGITS DURING THAT TIME.
>> WHAT DO YOU THINK THE
APPETITE IS IN THE FULL
LEGISLATURE AND ADMINISTRATION
FOR PUTTING THESE KINDS OF
RESOURCES TOWARD THIS ISSUE
WHEN WE'RE ALREADY DEALING WITH
TRANSPORTATION FUNDING PROBLEMS
AND K-12 AND THE UNIVERSITY,
ETC.
>> YOU KNOW, IT'S ABOUT
PRIORITIES.
I THINK THAT WE NEED TO MAKE
HOMELESSNESS A PRIORITY.
IT IS COSTING US MORE RIGHT NOW.
IT IS COSTING US MORE TO PAY
FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT TO DEAL
WITH HOMELESS PEOPLE ON OUR
STREETS AND COSTING US MORE TO
KEEP HOMELESS CHILDREN IN OUR
SCHOOLS AND GET THEM TAXI CABS
OR OTHER TRANSPORTATION
DAY-TO-DAY AS THEY MOVE FROM
NIGHT TONIGHT.
IT IS COSTING US SO MUCH MORE
NOT TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM THAN
TO ACTUALLY ADDRESS THE PROBLEM.
THE APPETITE SHOULD BE THERE.
>> THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> FOUR MADISON SCHOOLS THIS
MONTH TURNED OFF WIFI TO SOME
30 POPULAR SOCIAL MEDIA PHONE
APPS USED BY STUDENTS DURING
THE DAY.
TRYING TO PREVENT WHAT ONE HIGH
SCHOOL PRINCIPAL CALLS THE
ZOMBIE WALK.
IT'S A PILOT EVERY TO SEE
WHETHER DISCONNECTING FROM
SOCIAL MEDIA HELPS STUDENTS'
GRADES, BEHAVIOR AND SAFETY.
MADISON EAST HIGH SCHOOL
PRINCIPAL MIKE HERNANDEZ JOINS
US WITH MORE.
YOU'RE THE ONE WHO COINED THE
ZOMBIE WALK.
WHAT DO YOU SEE?
>> WHEN STUDENTS ARE WALKING
DOWN THE HALL HEAD DOWN, NOT
ACKNOWLEDGING OR INTERACTING
WITH ANYBODY JUST STARING AT
THEIR PHONE.
>> ARE STUDENTS USING THEIR
PHONES AND ACCESSING THESE APPS
DURING CLASS?
>> I'M SURE IT HAPPENS, YES.
>> AND IT WASN'T VERY LONG AGO
-- I'LL SAY FOUR YEARS AGO WHEN
MY KIDS WERE IN HIGH SCHOOL,
THERE WAS A THING THAT WAS TAG
IT AND BAG IT.
THEY WEREN'T ALLOWED TO HAVE
THESE CELL PHONES IN THE SCHOOL
DURING THE DAY AT ALL.
THEY WERE CONFISCATED.
THE SCHOOLS LOST THAT BATTLE IN
A BIG WAY?
>> I WOULDN'T SAY IT WAS A
BATTLE.
IT IS MORE ALONG THE LINES OF
SAFETY UNFORTUNATELY IN TODAY'S
TIME.
IF SOMETHING UNFORTUNATE
HAPPENED PARENTS WOULD LIKE THE
ABILITY TO GET IN TOUCH WITH
THEIR KIDS.
IT IS NOT A TAG IT OR BAG IT.
IT IS STUDENTS WE WANT IT OFF
AND PUT AWAY.
>> AND HAVE YOU SEEN, SINCE
THIS WENT INTO EFFECT, A CHANGE
IN THE STUDENTS AND THEIR
BEHAVIOR AND ENGAGEMENT?
>> IT HAS BEEN TWO WEEKS SINCE
WE STARTED THE PILOT AND WE
HAVE BEEN MONITORING IT PULLING
IN STUDENTS AND TALK ABOUT IT.
YES, WE'VE SEEN A BIG CHANGE.
IN BOTH CLASSES AS WELL AS IN
THE HALLWAYS.
>> WHAT ABOUT THE STUDENTS'
REACTION?
>> SO BEFORE WE DID THIS, WE
PREPPED STUDENTS.
WE TALKED WITH ADVISORY GROUPS.
SPOKE WITH DIFFERENT GROUPS OF
STUDENTS AND THEY KIND OF
TALKED TO THEIR PEERS.
I THINK THAT STUDENTS
UNDERSTOOD THE RATIONALE OF WHY
WE WANTED TO DO THIS AND WHY I
PUSHED HARD TO HAVE THIS DONE.
THERE ARE SOME THAT WERE UPSET
AND AT THE END OF THE DAY I
THINK PEOPLE UNDERSTOOD WHY I
WANTED TO TRY THIS.
>> WHAT ABOUT THE PARENTS?
>> I HAVE HAD MUCH SUPPORT OF
THE PARENTS.
THEY ASK QUESTIONS AND ASK US
HOW ARE WE GOING TO QUANTIFY
THE DATA THAT WE'RE COLLECTING.
BUT I THINK PRETTY SUPPORTIVE.
>> OTHER THAN THE ZOMBIE WALK
AND BEING KIND OF DISENGAGED IN
THE SCHOOL DAY, WHAT ARE HARMS
OF USING THESE APPS?
>> WELL, WHAT WE WERE FINDING
IS SOMETIMES WHEN STUDENTS
WOULD MAKE -- A FEW STUDENTS
WOULD BE MAKING POOR CHOICES.
THEY WOULD GET ONTO CERTAIN
APPS OR CERTAIN SITES AND THEY
COULD SET UP A TIME TO HEY,
WE'RE ALL GOING TO MEET AT THIS
POINT OR THIS.
FACEBOOK LIVE, IF STUDENTS DID
GET INTO AN ALTERCATION OR AN
ARGUMENT IT WAS ON SOCIAL MEDIA
AND IT WAS BLOWN UP.
THERE WAS JUST SOME POOR
CHOICES MADE WITH IT.
>> ALL RIGHT, THOUGH, I'VE READ
THAT STUDENTS HAVE KIND OF
DEFEATED THIS AND THEY ARE NOW
ABLE TO GET ON THESE APPS WITH
A DIFFERENT KIND OF PRIVATE
NETWORK OR SOMETHING?
>> SO IT'S -- I LOOK AT IT AS
THIS.
A GAME OF CHESS, RIGHT?
YES, IMMEDIATELY THERE WAS --
WE STARTED IT ON MONDAY,
TUESDAY AFTERNOON SOME STUDENTS
FIGURED OUT WHAT THE PASSWORD
WAS.
SO THEN WE THEN SET UP A SYSTEM
IN WHICH IT CHANGED THE
PASSWORD.
A FEW STUDENTS HAVE LOOKED AT
DIFFERENT WAYS TO MIRROR OR TO
BE ABLE TO LOG IN FROM HOME.
AT THE END OF THE DAY THERE IS
SOME ENERGY BEING SPENT ON THIS.
FOR THE MAJORITY OF THE
STUDENTS RIGHT NOW WE HAVE THEM
A LITTLE BIT MORE OR MORE
ENGAGED IN SCHOOL.
>> STUDENTS COULD ALSO, THOUGH,
ON THE TECHNOLOGY SIDE OF THIS,
THEY COULD -- COULDN'T THEY
ACCESS THESE APPLICATIONS USING
DATA AS OPPOSED TO WIFI?
>> YES, MA'AM.
>> THAT HAS TO BE A CONCERN FOR
PARENTS WHO PAY FOR THESE PLANS?
>> YES, IT'S WHY I SENT A
LETTER HOME A WEEK BEFORE JUST
FORESHADOWING THIS WAS
HAPPENING AND THEN ENCOURAGED
PARENTS TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS
WITH THEIR STUDENTS OR THEIR
CHILDREN TO TALK ABOUT USING
DATA WISELY.
BECAUSE WHAT I DON'T WANT TO
HAPPEN IS AT THE END OF THE
MONTH HAVE A $300 OR $400 BILL.
THERE WILL BE ANGER THERE.
THERE MIGHT BE AT THE CHILD BUT
IT WILL ALSO BE AT THE SCHOOL.
I JUST HAD TO AGAIN FORESHADOW
THIS WITH THE PARENTS AND TELL
THEM THE REASON WHY I WANTED TO
GO DOWN THIS PATH.
>> HOW LONG WILL THIS PILOT
LAST?
>>
>> UNTIL THE END THE SCHOOL
YEAR JUNE 9th.
WE'VE BEEN TALKING WITH
STUDENTS AND STAFF AS WELL,
I'LL DO SOME SIMILAR OVER THE
SUMMER AND WE'LL MAKE A
DECISION WILL THIS CONTINUE FOR
NEXT YEAR?
>> WILL YOU BE LOOKING AT
MEASURING THE CHANGES IN
BEHAVIOR AND ENGAGEMENT AS WELL?
>> WE HAVE BEEN.
THE BEHAVIOR COMPONENT IS A
LITTLE EASIER, THE ENGAGEMENT
COMPONENT, ATTENDANCE, TARDY,
BEING TARDY OR NOT.
THOSE ARE -- IT WILL BE MORE OF
THE -- MY HOPE IS AND AGAIN A
THEORY IS AS THEY ARE MORE
ENGAGED IN CLASS, THE CREDIT
ATTAINMENT WILL GO UP.
NOW GRANTED IT IS ONLY SIX
WEEKS.
2/3 OF THE FOURTH QUARTER.
IT MIGHT NOT CHANGE EVERYTHING
NOW BECAUSE WE START EVIDENCE
SO LATE IN BUT YOU HAD TO START
SOMETIME.
MY HOPE IS THAT WE AGAIN START
IT NEXT YEAR.
>> GREAT.
PRINCIPAL HERNANDEZ, THANK YOU
VERY MUCH.
>> NO PROBLEM.
>> NOW NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
AT WISCONTEXT.
JOURNALISTS THERE CONTINUE
THEIR EXTENSIVE REPORTING ON
THE USE AND TRACKING OF
SYNTHETIC OPIOIDS.
POWERFUL DRUGS INCLUDING THE
LARGE ANIMAL TRANQUILIZER.
MILWAUKEE SAW SEVERAL DEATHS
FROM IT LAST MONTH.
USERS GO UNKNOWINGLY INGEST
THESE SYNTHETICS AND OVERDOSE.
TOXICOLOGY LABS LIKE THE
WISCONSIN STATE LABORATORY OF
HYGIENE ARE WORKING TO KEEP UP
WITH THE NOVEL COMBINATION SO
LAW ENFORCEMENT AND HEALTH
OFFICIALS CAN UNDERSTAND AND
PREVENT THEIR SPREAD.
>> WISCONSIN IS SEEING MORE
OVERDOSE DEATHS THAT INVOLVE
CAR FEN NIL AND FEN NALL AND
SEEING MORE SYNTHETIC OPIOIDS
WITH A CHEMICAL STRUCTURE
SIMILAR TO FENTANYL AND
DIFFERENT ENOUGH THAT MIGHT
CIRCUMVENT THE USUAL LAB TESTS
FOR FENTANYL.
WHEN PEOPLE ARE DOING
TOXICOLOGY TESTS THEY GO IN
KNOWING THEY'RE LOOKING FOR A
SPECIFIC SET OF THINGS.
THE THING THAT'S TYPICAL ABOUT
SOME OF THESE SYNTHETIC OPIOIDS
THEY'RE BEING ILLICITLY
MANUFACTURED AND THERE ISN'T A
GOOD FRAME OF REFERENCE FOR HOW
MUCH SHOULD BE IN A PERSON'S
SYSTEM BECAUSE THEY'VE NEVER
BEEN USED IN NORMAL MEDICAL
CONTEXT.
AND THEY CAN BE REALLY POTENT
IN TRACE ELEMENTS THAT MAKES IT
HARD FOR PEOPLE TO KEEP UP WHEN
THEY ARE DOING TOXICOLOGY
TESTING AND TRYING TO TRACK THE
IMPACT OF DIFFERENT DRUGS
AROUND THE STATE.
>> NOW FOR ELECTION-RELATED
NEWS AT THE STATE CAPITOL.
AN ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE VOTED TO
SEND A MEASURE TO THE FULL
ASSEMBLY THAT WOULD LIMIT WHEN
PRESIDENTIAL, STATE AND LOCAL
RECOUNTS COULD TAKE PLACE.
UNDER THE NEW BILL ONLY
CANDIDATES WHO TRAIL BY 1% OR
LESS WOULD BE ABLE TO REQUEST A
RECOUNT.
UNDER THE CURRENT LAW ANY
CANDIDATE WITH REQUEST A
RECOUNT REGARDLESS OF THE
MARGIN OF LOSS.
THE BILL WOULD ALSO LIMIT THE
AMOUNT OF TIME AFTER A VOTE
THAT A CANDIDATE HAS TO REQUEST
A RECOUNT.
AND FINALLY TONIGHT, HOLLYWOOD
COMES TO UW-MADISON THIS
WEEKEND FOR ITS COMMENCEMENT
CEREMONIES.
STEVE LEVITAN, CO-CREATOR AND
PRODUCER OF THE HIT TELEVISION
SHOW MODERN FAMILY IS THE
KEYNOTE SPEAKER AT CAMP RANDALL.
HE RECEIVED HIS B.A. FROM
UW-MADISON IN 1984.
THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW"
IS PROVIDED IN PART BY FRIENDS
OF WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISION.