>> I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW," A
"FIRST LOOK" AT TWO GUEST TOUGH
ON JUVENILE CRIME BILLS AT THE
STATE CAPITOL.
AFTER, THAT A "CLOSER LOOK" AT A
FIRE-FILLED WEEK IN WASHINGTON
AND A BETWEEN THE STATE
CONVENTIONS LOOK AT WISCONSIN
PARTY POLITICS.
THEN A "LOOK AHEAD" INTO WEEKEND
CLEAN-UP ACTIVITIES IN
TORNADO-RAVAGED BARRON COUNTY.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR MAY 19.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED, IN PART, BY FRIENDS OF
WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISION.
>> A "FIRST LOOK" TONIGHT AT TWO
JUVENILE CRIME BILLS MAKING
THEIR WAY THROUGH THE CAPITOL.
BOTH PERTAIN TO MINORS WHO ARE
PART OF THE SERIOUS JUVENILE
OFFENDER PROGRAM.
THE PROGRAM IS FOR JUVENILES WHO
COMMIT A LIMITED NUMBER OF VERY
SERIOUS FELONIES FOR WHICH AN
ADULT OFFENDER WOULD BE SUBJECT
TO LIFE IN PRISON.
THE FIRST BILL WOULD EXTEND THE
TIME A JUVENILE OFFENDER CAN BE
INCARCERATED.
THE SECOND EXPANDS THE LIST OF
OFFENSES FOR WHICH A JUVENILE
CAN BE SENT TO A CORRECTIONS
FACILITY.
REPUBLICAN STATE REPRESENTATIVE
JOE SANFELIPPO IS THE PRIMARY
SPONSOR OF THE BILLS.
HE JOINS US FROM WAUKESHA AND
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR DOING SO.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME ON.
I APPRECIATE IT.
>> SO TAKING THESE BILLS
SEPARATELY, WHAT DO YOU
SPECIFICALLY CALL FOR IN TERMS
OF EXTENDING THE TIME THAT A
JUVENILE CAN BE INCARCERATED?
>> SO UNDER OUR PRESENT STATUTE,
A JUVENILE CAN BE INCARCERATED
UP TO AGE 25, BUT THERE'S A
THREE-YEAR CAP ON THE AMOUNT OF
TIME FOR INCARCERATION.
SO LET'S SAY WE HAVE A JUVENILE
THAT'S 15 YEARS OLD, COMMITS A
VERY SERIOUS CRIME, ENDS UP IN
THE SOJP PROGRAM.
BY THE TIME THEY'RE 18,
REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT THE
SYSTEM FEELS THAT THEY STILL
POSE A DANGER TO SOCIETY, THEY
HAVE TO BE LET OUT.
AND SO WHAT THIS BILL WOULD DO
IS TAKE THE THREE-YEAR CAP OFF
AND ALLOW THEM TO BE ABLE TO
STAY IN INCARCERATION LONGER IF
THE SYSTEM DETERMINES THAT THEY
STILL ARE POSING A GRAVE THREAT.
BUT IT ALSO DOES ANOTHER THING
IN THAT SOMETIMES THESE
JUVENILES ARE LET OUT BUT THEY
-- YOU KNOW, BEFORE THEY'VE
SPENT THREE HE YEARS IN CRIME --
THREE YEARS IN INCARCERATION.
AND WHAT WE'RE HEARING THEN FROM
THE PEOPLE WHO MONITOR THEM AND
PUT THEM ON SUPERVISION IS THAT
IF THEY KNOW THAT THEY CAN'T GO
BEYOND THE THREE YEARS, IT JUST
TAKES AWAY AN INCENTIVE FOR THEM
TO TRY TO BEHAVE A LITTLE BETTER
ONCE THEY'RE IN SOCIETY BECAUSE
THEY KNOW NO MATTER WHAT DO THEY
CAN'T BE SENT BACK FOR THAT
CRIME.
>> INTERESTING.
THE OTHER BILL EXPANDS THE LIST
OF CRIMES THAT COULD LAND A
JUVENILE IN A CORRECTIONAL
FACILITY OR SECURE RESIDENTIAL
CARE CENTER FOR ANY ADULT FELONY
CRIME.
SO LIKE FELONY THEFT?
>> THAT'S CORRECT.
NOW, AGAIN, IN CONJUNCTION WITH
THE CRIME THAT THEY ARE
ADJUDICATED, THE JUDGE ALSO HAS
TO DETERMINE THAT THE JUVENILE
POSES A VERY SERIOUS THREAT OR
GRAVE DANGER TO SOCIETY.
SO A JUVENILE WHO WOULD BE
CONVICTED OF FELONY THEFT, IF
THE JUDGE DOESN'T FEEL THAT THEY
DON'T POSE A GREAT THREAT TO
SOCIETY, THEY WOULDN'T GO IN THE
SLOP PROGRAM.
SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT VERY
SERIOUS OFFENDERS, HABITUAL
OFFENDERS, THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE
MAYBE GONE THROUGH THE SYSTEM A
COUPLE TIMES BEFORE, GONE
THROUGH SOME REBILL REHABILITATIVE
PROGRAMS THAT HAVEN'T WORKED.
THE CURRENT JUVENILE CODE IS
ABOUT 40 YEARS OLD.
I THINK ONE OF THE POLICE CHIEFS
THAT WE SPOKE WITH WHILE WE
SPENT THE LAST TWO YEARS
INVESTIGATING THIS SUMMED IT UP
BEST.
HE SAID OUR JUVENILE CODE WAS
WRITTEN FOR WALLY AND THE
BEAVER, BUT THOSE AREN'T THE
KIDS WE'RE DEALING WITH THOAD.
THEY'RE INVOLVED IN MORE VIOLENT
CRIMES THAN WE THOUGHT THEY
WOULD BE 40 YEARS AGO.
THAT'S WHY THE LIST OF FELONIES
THAT CAN LAND THEM IN THE
PROGRAM RIGHT NOW IS A VERY,
SMALL LIMITED GROUP, LIKE
FIRST-DEGREE HOMICIDE.
SO WE'RE ADJUSTING THAT TO FIT
THE TREND THAT WE'RE SEEING MUCH
MORE VIOLENT CRIMES THAT
JUVENILES ARE TAKING PART OF.
>> ARE THERE SPECIFIC KINDS OF
CASES OR IS THERE SPECIFIC
MOTIVATION FOR THESE BILLS?
>> SO I THINK IF YOU TAKE A LOOK
OVERALL, JUST THE SERIOUSNESS OR
THE ESCALATION AND THE VIOLENCE
OF THE CRIMES THAT ARE BEING
COMMITTED.
YOU KNOW, 40 YEARS AGO IF A
JUVENILE STOLE A CAR, MOST
LIKELY THEY TOOK ONE OUT OF
SOMEBODY'S DRIVEWAY WHO HAD LEFT
THE KEYS IN THE CARING ON SMIK
ALLOWCAR OR SOMETHINGLIKE THAT.
TODAY WE SEE 13, 14, 15-YEAR-OLD
KIDS WITH GUNS STICKING THEM IN
THE FACE OF MOTHERS WHO HAVE
CHILDREN IN THE BACK SEAT OF
THEIR VEHICLES AND THEY'RE
FORCIBLY TAKING THEM FROM THEIR
CARS.
THEY'RE ROBBING STORES WITH
GUNS.
THEY'RE INVOLVED IN MUCH MORE
VIOLENT CRIME THAN THEY WERE IN
THE PAST.
QUITE FRANKLY, WHEN YOU TALK TO
EVERYBODY INVOLVED IN THE
CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, NO
MATTER WHAT SIDE OF THE SPECTRUM
THEY'RE ON, EVERYBODY AGREES
WITH ONE THING, THAT THE
JUVENILE CODE IS OUTDATED AND
THE ENTIRE CODE NEEDS TO BE
UPDATED.
THAT'S A LARGE UNDERTAKING.
THIS DEALS WITH ONE SMALL
SEGMENT OF IT.
>> JUVENILE PRISONS ARE UNDER
INVESTIGATION FOR ABUSE.
DOES IT CONCERN YOU TO HAVE MORE
INMATES WITH LONGER SENTENCES?
>> SO NOBODY WANTS TO SEE THE
PROBLEMS THAT ARE ALLEGED TO
HAVE OCCURRED AT LINCOLN HILLS
CONTINUE INTO THE PAST.
I THINK OUR NEW SECRETARY HAS
DONE A GREAT JOB OF MAKING SOME
IMPROVEMENTS.
WE'RE GOING TO BE GETTING A
REPORT BACK FROM THE FBI THAT
TELLS US IF MORE IMPROVEMENT IS
NEEDED AND EXACTLY WHAT HAS TO
BE DONE AND WHATEVER HAS
HAPPENED THERE WE HAVE TO FIX.
BUT WE HAVE TO REMEMBER, OF THE
THOUSANDS OF JUVENILES THAT GO
THROUGH THE JUVENILE JUSTICE
SYSTEM EVERY YEAR, LAST YEAR WE
AVERAGED 158 JUVENILES IN THIS
SYSTEM.
SO IT'S NOT A LARGE NUMBER OF
PEOPLE.
NOW, THAT'S NOT TO MINIMIZE THE
PROBLEMS THAT MAY HAVE OCCURRED
THERE IN THE PAST.
BUT THE PEOPLE OR THE KIDS THAT
WE'RE SENDING THERE ARE SERIOUS,
HARD CORE CRIMINALS THAT THE
AGE, WHETHER THEY'RE 15 OR 25,
THEY HAVE COMMITTED SOME REALLY
SERIOUS, HEINOUS CRIMES, ENOUGH
THAT A JUDGE HAS DETERMINED THEY
POSE A GRAVE THREAT TO SOCIETY,
WHICH IS WHAT LANDED THEM IN
THERE IN THE FIRST PLACE.
SO WE CAN'T ONLY FOCUS ON THE
FACILITY ITSELF.
WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE WE HAVE A
DUTY TO PROTECT INNOCENT
CITIZENS FROM BECOMING VICTIMS
OF THESE VIOLENT OFFENDERS AND
IN MANY CASES REPEAT VIOLENT
OFFENDERS.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WE LEAVE IT THERE.
REPRESENTATIVE, THANKS VERY
MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> ASSEMBLY DEMOCRATIC EVAN
GOYKE IS A FORMER PUBLIC
DEFENDER WHO SITS ON THE
COMMITTEE.
WE ASKED HIM HIS REACTION TO
THESE BILLS.
>> THEY ARE ADDRESSING A CRIME
PROBLEM IN THE REVERSE ORDER.
SO LINCOLN HILLS, WHICH IS THE
ONLY TYPE ONE, SECURE LOCATION
FOR JUVENILES IN THE STATE OF
WISCONSIN, IS A BROKEN
INSTITUTION.
IT'S STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION.
THERE ARE LAWSUITS PENDING.
AND EVEN ASIDE FROM THAT,
EVIDENCE TELLS US THAT THAT
MODEL, ONE BIG INSTITUTION FAR
AWAY FROM THE POPULATION CENTERS
OF THE STATE, IS LESS
PRODUCTIVE, IT HAS LESS
REHABILITATIVE ABILITY AND WE
HAVE TO FIX THAT SETTING, FIX
OUR JUVENILE INCARCERATION
SYSTEM BEFORE WE START SENDING
MORE KIDS TO PRISON.
SO I THINK THAT THERE ARE, YOU
KNOW -- DETERRING CRIME IS A
LAUDABLE GOAL, BUT IF YOU'RE NOT
FIXING THE INSTITUTION THAT WE
NOW KNOW IS BROKEN, YOU SHOULD
STOP SENDING KIDS THERE BEFORE
YOU FIX THAT PROBLEM.
>> WHAT ABOUT THE INTENT OF THE
BILLS, WHICH IS TO COMBAT CRIME
PERPETRATED BY WHOM THE AUTHORS
CALL HABITUAL, VIOLENT
OFFENDERS?
>> SO I THINK THERE IS A NUGGET
OF TRUTH IN THAT LANGUAGE, THAT
THERE ARE A VERY SMALL NUMBER OF
PEOPLE, YOUNG PEOPLE OR OLD
PEOPLE, THAT COMMIT A LOT OF
CRIME.
AND TARGETING THOSE INDIVIDUALS,
WHETHER THAT'S THROUGH TREATMENT
OR THROUGH INCARCERATION, IS
SMART.
BUT THE BILLS THAT WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT DON'T DO THAT.
THEY CAST A VERY WIDE NET, AND
THEY WILL NOT HAVE THE DETERRENT
EFFECT THAT THE AUTHOR IS
PROMISING.
AND I THINK YOU AND
PROBABLY AGREE 15-YEAR-OLDS AND
16-YEAR-OLDS PROBABLY AREN'T
WATCHING THIS PROGRAM, AREN'T
WATCHESWATCHING US DEBATE THESE BILLS.
SO WHETHER SOMETHING HAS TEN
YEARS OR FIVE YEARS ISN'T
SINKING INTO THE MINDS OF YOUNG
PEOPLE.
SO OUR APPROACH NEEDS TO BE
DIFFERENT.
>> SO YOU DON'T THINK THAT
PEOPLE, QUOTE, ON THE STREET
KNOW THAT ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY
CAN GET A LOT MORE TIME AND THEY
MIGHT RETHINK THEIR ACTIONS?
>> SOME MAYBE.
SOMETIMES I'M SURE THAT HAPPENS.
BUT I CAN TELL YOU JUST IN MY
NEIGHBORHOOD THAT THAT -- IF I
STOP THE RANDOM PERSON WALKING
DOWN THE STREET IN MY
NEIGHBORHOOD AND ASK THEM WHAT'S
THE GOING PENALTY FOR X, Y AND
Z, THEY WON'T KNOW.
>> AUTHORS CALL THESE BILLS A
VICTIM PREVENTION PACKAGE.
YOU REPRESENT MILWAUKEE.
WHAT BETTER WAY THEN TO PUNISH,
DETER AND REHABILITATE JUVENILE
OFFENDERS?
>> SURE.
WELL, FIRST ON THE LABEL, THAT
THESE ARE A VICTIM PACKAGE.
PAY ATTENTION THE BILLS DO
NOTHING FOR CRIME VICTIMS.
THEY DON'T ADD SERVICES, ACCESS
TO TREATMENT, DOESN'T IMPROVE
THE CRIME VICTIM FUND IN THE
STATE OF WISCONSIN.
SO THE PROMISE OF THESE BILLS
BEING VICTIM-CENTRIC IS THAT
THEY'LL DETEAR DETER CRIME THROUGH
HEIGHTENED CRIMINAL PENALTIES.
SINCE I'VE BEEN ELECTED IN 2012,
THE LEGISLATURE HAS PASSED 50
BILLS THAT HAVE EITHER INCREASED
CRIMINAL PENALTIES OR CREATED A
NEW CRIME, AND WE'VE PASSED ZERO
THAT REDUCE THOSE PENALTIES.
THE BUT CRIME IS GOING UP.
SO IT SIMPLY DOESN'T WORK.
SO WHAT IS THE ALTERNATIVE?
THE ALTERNATIVE IS EARLY
INTERVENTION.
AND THIS IS GOING TO SOUND MAYBE
A LITTLE BIT HARD FOR SOME
PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND, BUT EARLY
CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, ZERO TO
THREE, FOLLOWING THESE KIDS
THROUGH THE SYSTEM, WRAPPING
THEM WITH SERVICES AND WITH LOVE
AND SUPPORT AS THEY AGE THROUGH
EDUCATIONAL SYSTEMS IS THE BEST
WAY TO DETER CRIME.
IF YOU GO TO LINCOLN HILLS TODAY
AND YOU DID A SURVEY OF ALL OF
THE KIDS THAT ARE THERE, HOW
MANY OF THOSE YOUTH HAD A CHIPS
CASE, A CHILD IN NEED OF
PROTECTION AND SERVICES, THE
WARDEN TELLS ME IT'S SOMEWHERE
BETWEEN 80% AND 90%.
THAT MEANS SOMETIME IN THEIR
LIFE THEY HAD NEGLECT OR ABUSE,
SOME TRAUMA HAPPENED WHEN THEY
WERE YOUNGER, AND WE SEE OFTEN
VERY RISKY, BAD BEHAVIOR AS A
RESULT OF SOME TRAUMA THAT THAT
YOUNG PERSON CAN'T PROCESS.
SO FIXING THE TRAUMA IS HOW YOU
DETER THE BEHAVIOR.
>> A CERTAIN NUMBER OF JUDGES,
AS YOU KNOW, ARE RELUCTANT IF
NOT REFUSING ALTOGETHER TO
SENTENCE JUVENILES TO LINCOLN
HILLS.
IF THESE BILLS BECAME LAW, WHAT
KIND OF PRESSURE DOES THAT PUT
ON THIS SYSTEM?
>> IT SENDS A CLEAR MESSAGE TO
JUDGES THAT THE LEGISLATURE, THE
ELECTED OFFICIALS OF THE STATE
OF WISCONSIN, WANT JUDGES TO
SEND MORE YOUTH TO LINCOLN
HILLS.
IT'S VERY DANGEROUS.
AND IF YOU GIVE THEM THAT NUDGE,
THEY'LL SEND THE KIDS THERE.
AND THE BILLS GREATLY BROADEN
THE NUMBER OF CRIMES THAT WOULD
BE CALLED SERIOUS JUVENILE
OFFENDER PROGRAM.
THAT'S A PROGRAM CURRENTLY
RESERVED FOR VERY RISKY, VERY
VIOLENT KIDS.
AND UNDER SOME OF THESE
PROPOSALS, WE WOULD POTENTIALLY
LUMP A RETAIL THIEF OR A DRUG
PROCESSOR INTO THE SAME CATEGORY
AS AN ARMED ROBBER.
AND THAT'S NOT RIGHT.
LINCOLN HILLS IS NOT DESIGNED
FOR THAT TYPE OF CHILD.
AND IT SHOULDN'T BE USED.
IT'S AN OVERREACTION TO THEIR
BEHAVIOR.
THIS IS AGAIN SOMETHING THAT'S
KIND OF HARD FOR PEOPLE TO
UNDERSTAND, BUT SOMETIMES
INCARCERATION MAKES A KID WORSE.
SO WE KNOW THAT IF A GOOD KID
WHO'S LOW-RISK AND MAYBE DOES
SOMETHING IMPULSIVE BUT HAS A
GOOD FOUNDATION, IF WE PUT HIM
IN A CELL WITH A KID THAT IS
VERY HIGH-RISK, THE GOOD KID IS
NOT MAKING THE BAD KID BETTER.
IT'S THE OTHER WAY AROUND.
AND THAT'S WHY PARENTS WORRY
ABOUT WHO THEIR KIDS HANG OUT
WITH.
AND THAT'S WHY MY MOM MADE ME
CALL FROM MY SLEEP OVER WHEN I
WAS 12 TO VERIFY I WAS WHERE --
SHE DIDN'T WANT ME HANGING
AROUND THE WRONG CROWD.
THESE BILLS HAVE THE POTENTIAL
OF SENDING LOW, NONRISKY KIDS
INTO A PRISON.
>> WE NEED TO LEAVE IT THERE.
THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> THANKS.
>> DAILY HEADLINES OUT OF
WASHINGTON ON THE INVESTIGATIONS
INTO THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN'S
RELATIONSHIP WITH RUSSIA.
MIDWEEK THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT
APPOINTED FORMED ER FBI DIRECTOR
ROBERT MUELLER AS SPECIAL
COUNSEL TO LEAD INVESTIGATIONS
INTO QUESTIONS OF TRUMP-RUSSIA
TIES.
THE MOVE SPARKED REACTION FROM
CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS, INCLUDING
WISCONSIN CONGRESSMAN HOUSE
SPEAKER PAUL RYAN.
>> I BELIEVE OFFICIALS NEED TO
DO THEIR JOB OBJECTIVELY AND
THOROUGHLY.
I BELIEVE THE SPECIAL COUNSEL,
HELPS THEM DO THAT.
>> FROM WASHINGTON POLITICS TO
WISCONSIN POLITICS AND SOME
"CAPITOL INSIGHT," AS THE
PARTISAN FIRESTORM RAGES IN
WASHINGTON, PARTY POLITICS IN
WISCONSIN GETS DOWN TO THE STATE
PARTY CONVENTIONS.
LAST WEEKEND REPUBLICANS
GATHERED IN WISCONSIN DELLS.
EARLY NEXT MONTH DEMS CONVENE IN
MADISON.
BETWEEN THE CONVENTIONS WE
THOUGHT IT WAS A GOOD TIME TO
TAKE STOCK OF THE PARTIES'
STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES.
HERE TO HELP WITH THAT, CAPITOL
CONSULTANT'S BILL MCCOSHEN.
SCOT ROSS IS THE EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF ONE WISCONSIN NOW.
THANKS FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING US.
>> OUR LEAD DESCRIBES WHAT'S
GOING ON IN WASHINGTON AS A
FIRESTORM.
WHAT DO YOU GUYS MAKE OF
EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON?
FIRST TO YOU.
>> I DON'T THINK WE'VE EVER SEEN
-- AS BAD AS WE THOUGHT THINGS
WOULD BE, I THINK THAT THEY'RE
EXPOEXPONENTIALLY WORSE.
YOU ASK YOURSELF THIS HAS GONE
ON, THIS HAS GONE ON, THIS HAS
GONE ON.
WAIT.
IT'S ONLY TUESDAY AFTERNOON.
IT'S BEEN A DISASTER.
MOST IMPORTANTLY FOR THE
REPUBLICANS, THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO
GET THEIR AGENDA GOING.
THEY CAN'T GET AND EXECUTE THE
AGENDA THEY PROMISED THEIR BASE
AND INDEPENDENTS THAT THEY'D BE
ABLE TO DELIVER.
>> I WOULD AGREE WITH SCOT ON
THAT.
I'D CALL IT A SIGNIFICANT
DISTRACTION.
THE ONE THING WE LEARNED ABOUT
DONALD TRUMP DURING THE ELECTION
LAST YEAR IS HE'S UNORTHODOX AND
UNPREDICTABLE.
THERE WERE TIMES WHERE GUYS LIKE
ME PREDICTED HE WAS DONE IN THE
PRIMARY PROCESS AND PROVED TO BE
WRONG TIME AND TIME AND TIME
AGAIN.
SO THAT STRATEGY OR MODEL WORKED
FOR HIM AS A CANDIDATE.
I'M NOT SO SURE IT'S GOING TO
WORK GOVERNING.
IT'S BEEN A SIGNIFICANT
DISTRACTION.
>> BUT IS THIS AS BAD AS ALL OF
THAT OR IS THIS AS MUCH ABOUT
THE 24-HOUR NEWS CYCLE FLOGGING
THIS EVERY MINUTE?
>> IF YOU LOOK AT THE SS TRUMP,
WHICH, REALLY, THE ONLY
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN IT AND THE
TITANIC IS THERE WERE LIFE BOATS
ON THE TITANIC.
LOOK AT WHAT'S HAPPENED TO THE
GOLDEN GOD OF WISCONSIN
POLITICS, PAUL RYAN.
THIS IS A GUY WHO WAS
UNCHALLENGED BY OPPONENTS OR
DEMOCRATS IN HIS OWN DISTRICT,
BUT A GUY CONSIDERED THE
INTELLECTUAL FIRESTORM, GIANT OF
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.
HE'S NOW CONSIDERED --
>> MISTAKES DEMOCRATS HAVE MADE
IN THE FIRST 120 DAYS OF THE
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS
EVERYTHING IS A FEVER PITCH
AGAINST HIM.
AND IT RALLIES TRUMP SUPPORTERS.
THEY GOT TO CHOOSE THEIR BATTLES
MORE CAREFULLY TO MAKE SOME
INROADS.
>> WHAT ABOUT THE WAY, THOUGH,
THAT WISCONSIN CONGRESSIONAL
PEOPLE ARE HAVING TO RESPOND TO
THIS?
LIKE PAUL RYAN.
THIS PUTS PEOPLE IN A REALLY
DIFFICULT SPOT.
>> I THINK THEY'VE LEARNED NOT
TO RESPOND.
THEY'VE SAID I'M GOING TO WAIT
AND SEE WHAT THE FACTS ARE.
THAT'S THE BETTER MODEL.
CONGRESSMAN RYAN, GROTHMAN,
OTHERS DID HAVE COMMENTS ON
EVERY ISSUE OF THE DAY.
IT'S JUST NOT A GOOD STRATEGY.
YOU MIGHT AS WELL WAIT FOR ALL
THE FACTS TO COME OUT AND BE
SURE BEFORE YOU MAKE A
STATEMENT.
>> I THINK THAT -- AGAIN, I
THINK YOU SAY SOME SALIENT
THINGS, BUT THERE ARE THREE
POLITICIANS IN WISCONSIN TIED TO
TRUMP.
SCOTT WALKER IS ON THE BALLOT IN
2018, AS IS PAUL RYAN.
THAT'S WHERE THE REAL CHALLENGE
IS.
HOW DO THEY DISTANCE THEMSELVES
IN A WAY THAT DOESN'T ALIENATE
THE BASE, BUT RECOGNIZES THAT
THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO
HAVE REAL CONCERNS ABOUT WHAT'S
GOING ON EVERY DAY IN WASHINGTON
D.C.?
>> TYPICALLY THE PARTY IN POWER
LOSES SEATS DURING THE MIDTERMS.
THAT'S BEEN THE HISTORIC
PRECEDENT.
WHETHER THAT HAPPENS IN 2018
REMAINS TO BE SEEN.
IF THEY GET HEALTH CARE DONE AND
A MAJOR TAX PACKAGE DONE, I'M
NOT SURE THEY COULDN'T ADD SEATS
ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE.
>> YOU THINK THIS KIND OF
CONTROVERSY IN WASHINGTON WOULD
BE IN THE REAR VIEW IF THAT WERE
TO HAPPEN?
>> HE'S GOT TO GET HIS AGENDA
DONE.
IF THEY CAN GET HEALTH CARE
DONE, TAX REFORM DONE THIS FALL,
I THINK 2018 COULD BE A VERY
GOOD YEAR FOR REPUBLICANS.
>> AND YET THOSE INVESTIGATIONS
WILL KEEP ON GOING, RIGHT?
>> HOPEFULLY, YOU KNOW, I WASN'T
A COMIE FAN WHEN HE CAME OUT
AGAINST CLINTON WITH EIGHT DAYS
TO GO IN THE ELECTION, RIGHT?
SO I THINK IT'S PROBABLY GOOD
THAT HE'S GONE.
ROBERT MUELLER IS ABOVE
REPROACH.
WHATEVER THE FACTS ARE, THEY
ARE.
>> SO WHAT ABOUT THAT?
AS A DEMOCRAT YOU DIDN'T LIKE
HIM AND YOU STILL DON'T LIKE
HIM?
>> I THOUGHT IT WAS OUTRAGEOUS.
BUT WHAT DONALD TRUMP DID IS
UNPRECEDENTED.
THE DEMOCRATS CAN DO A LEVEL
FOUR AND DONALD TRUMP DOES A
LEVEL 13.
THAT'S WHERE I THINK THAT'S
WHERE -- YOU KNOW, THE
COMPARISON LEVEL FOR
ALTERNATIVES DO NOT EXIST AT
THIS POINT.
120 DAYS INTO AN ADMINISTRATION
IN AMERICAN HISTORY.
>> WE'VE NEVER HAD A PRESIDENT
THAT'S THIS ACCESSIBLE TO THE
PRESS EITHER.
HE'S HAD HOW MANY PRESS
CONFERENCES IN THE FIRST 120
DAYS?
AT LEAST ONE A WEEK.
IT'S STUNNING.
AND IT CREATES PROBLEMS FOR HIS
STAFF, FRANKLY.
THEY'RE OUT THERE SAYING ONE
THING AND THEN HE OFTENTIMES
CONTRADICTS THEM.
>> AS FOR STATE PORT PARTY POLITICS,
I'M GOING TO ASK YOU TO
DESCRIBE, BILL MCCOSHEN, THE
STATE OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY?
>> I'D SAY IT'S IN DISARRAY.
THEY LACK LEADERSHIP, AN AGENDA
AND THEY'RE LOSING WORKING
PEOPLE.
THIS IS A PARTY THAT MY MOM AND
DAD GREW UP IN.
THE THEY COULDN'T IDENTIFY WITH
IT TODAY.
THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY TODAY IS
ALL ABOUT IDENTITY POLITICS.
THEY NEED A DIFFERENT FORMULA TO
BE SUCCESSFUL MOVING FORWARD.
>> LET ME HAVE THAT RESPOND TO
THAT, YOUR OWN PARTY.
>> AS A DEMOCRAT I HAVE CONCERNS
ABOUT WHAT'S BEEN THE DECT ECONOMIC
MESSAGE OVER THE LAST 25 YEARS.
SOCIAL SECURITY, MEDICARE, IS MY
EMPLOYER-PROVIDED PENSION UNDER
THREAT.
THOSE DON'T EXIST FOR
POST-BABYBOOMERS.
STUDENT LOAN DEBT IS WHERE THE
DEMOCRATS CAN MAKE THEIR
INROADS.
43 MILLION PEOPLE HAVE STUDENT
LOAN DEBT IN THE UNITED STATES.
ONE MILLION IN WISCONSIN.
THEY'RE REGULAR VOTERS.
SO IF THE DEMOCRATS WHO HAVE
EMBRACED STUDENT LOAN REFORMS
CAN GET INTO THE CAMPAIGN
DEBATE, I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO
HAVE A GOOD TIME ON 2018.
>> HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE
STATE OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IN
WISCONSIN?
>> WELL, I MEAN, AGAIN, THEY'RE
TIED TO THAT TRUMP THING, WHICH
IS A REAL PROBLEM.
AND I JUST LOOK AT WHERE SCOTT
WALKER IS NOW COMPARED TO WHERE
HE WAS AT THIS TIME IN THE 2014
CYCLE.
HE'S NINE POINTS DOWN IN TERMS
OF POPULARITY FROM THE FRANKLIN
POLLS AT THE SAME TIME AND HE'S
GOT A HECK OF A LOT LESS MONEY
AND HE HAS TO MAKE THE CASE -- I
THINK -- MAYBE I'M WRONG ON
THIS.
WOULD BE THE ONLY GOVERNOR TO
EVER SERVE MORE THAN TWO TERMS.
HOW DOES HE MAKE THAT CASE?
WISCONSIN DESERVES THE BEST.
IF YOU DON'T FEEL YOU'RE GETTING
THE BEST, SCOTT WALKER IS TO
BLAME.
>> TOMMY THOMPSON WAS ELECTED
GOVERNOR FOUR TIMES.
SCOTT WALKER HAS BUILT PROBABLY
THE STRONGEST GAS GRASSROOTS GOP IN
SUPPORT.
EVEN THOUGH POLL NUMBERS ARE NOT
GREAT, HE'S GOT A LOT TO IMPROVE
THOSE AND I'D SAY HE'S THE
FAVORITE IN 2018.
>> ALL RIGHT.
THANKS.
ALSO THIS WEEK, ANOTHER ROUGH
AUDIT FOR THE STATE'S FLAGSHIP
AGENCY IN CHARGE OF JOB
CREATION.
THE LEGISLATIVE AUDIT BUREAU
REPORTED THAT IN THE LAST SIX
MONTHS OF 2016 THE WISCONSIN
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
CORPORATION, OR THE WEDC, DID
IMPROVE ITS GRANT AND LOAN
CONTRACTS BY INCLUDING
PROVISIONS REQUIRING REPAYMENT
OF LOANS, BUT DID NOT REQUIRE
RECIPIENTS TO DETAIL WHETHER
JOBS WERE CREATED OR RETAINED.
THE AUDIT ALSO SHOWED THE AMOUNT
OF LOANS MADE TO BUSINESSES THAT
MAY GO UNCOLLECTED WENT FROM
$1.3 MILLION IN 2014 TO $11
MILLION BY THE END OF LAST YEAR.
SAYING OPERATIONS HAD IMPROVED,
THE LEGISLATURE'S JOINT FINANCE
COMMITTEE LAST WEEK LIFTED A BAN
AND ACTED IN THE LAST STATE
BUDGET THAT PROHIBITED WEDC FROM
ISSUING NEW LOANS BECAUSE OF THE
AGENCY'S PROBLEMS.
THEY DID NOT REVISIT THAT
DECISION IN LIGHT OF THIS WEEK'S
AUDIT.
>> AND DOZENS OF PEOPLE ARE
STILL RECOVERING TONIGHT AFTER A
DEADLY EF2 TORNADO RIPPED
THROUGH A MOBILE HOME PARK IN
NORTHWEST WISCONSIN ON TUESDAY.
THE TORNADO REACHED WIND SPEEDS
OF 130 MILES PER HOUR.
IT TOUCHED DOWN JUST AFTER 5:30
TUESDAY NIGHT IN THE SMALL CITY
OF CHETEK IN BARRON COUNTY.
ONE OF THE HARDEST HIT AREAS WAS
A MOBILE HOME PARK.
SEVERAL MOBILE HOMES WERE
DESTROYED AND A LOCAL RESIDENT,
46-YEAR-OLD ERIC GAVIN, WAS
KILLED DURING THE STORM.
AT LEAST 25 OTHERS WERE INJURED.
>> AND NOW TO BARRON COUNTY AND
A LOOK AHEAD INTO THE WEEKEND
CLEAN-UP THERE.
FOR THAT, WE TURN TO BARRON
COUNTY SHERIFF CHRIS FITZGERALD.
THANKS FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE
TORNADO, WHAT IS GOING ON THERE
RIGHT NOW?
>> YEAH.
JUST AN UPDATE.
WE JUST GOT OUR PROPERTY AND WE
HAVE 231 PROPERTIES IN BARRON
COUNTY DAMAGED IN THIS STORM.
IT STRETCHES ABOUT A TEN-MILE
STRETCH HERE.
WE'RE IN THE RECOVERY CLEAN-UP
EFFORT AS WE SPEAK TODAY.
WE HAVE OVER -- AS OF NOW, OVER
300 OR 400 VOLUNTEERS ON OUR
DIFFERENT SITES, CLEANING UP,
HELPING PEOPLE CLEAN DEBRIS UP.
WE BUSSED THEM IN FROM OUR
VOLUNTEER RESOURCE CENTER.
WE'RE HELPING PEOPLE TRY TO GET
BACK GOING ON WITH THEIR LIVES.
>> WOW.
SO TAKING YOU BACK TO TUESDAY
EVENING, WHEN YOU AND OTHER LAW
ENFORCEMENT FIRST ARRIVED, WHAT
WAS THAT LIKE AND WHAT WAS THE
FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS?
>> THE FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS,
I ARRIVED ON SCENE, I WAS
ACTUALLY ON DUTY AND ARRIVED ON
SCENE DURING THE INCIDENT.
WE HAD SEVERAL PEOPLE TRAPPED IN
TRAILERS, WALLS ON TOP OF THEM,
TOTAL DEVASTATION.
IT'S A MIRACLE -- IT'S SAD THAT
ONE PERSON DIED, BUT IT'S A
MIRACLE THAT ONLY ONE PERSON
DIED AND WE HAD 25 INJURED.
IT'S A MIRACLE BECAUSE IT'S
TOTAL DEVASTATION UP HERE, NOT
ONLY IN THE TRAILER COURT, BUT
ACROSS BARRON COUNTY.
>> AND SO DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE
STATUS IS OF THOSE WHO WERE
INJURED?
I MEAN, ARE THERE PEOPLE STILL
IN THE HOSPITAL?
>> I'VE GOT CONFLICTING REPORTS
THIS MORNING THAT A PERSON IN
THE HOSPITAL MIGHT HAVE BEEN
RELEASED.
BUT THERE'S ONLY ONE OR TWO LEFT
IN THE HOSPITAL AS FAR AS I KNOW
OR ZERO.
IT'S SOMEWHERE BETWEEN ZERO AND
TWO PEOPLE LEFT IN THE HOSPITAL.
AGAIN, IT'S A MIRACLE.
IT'S JUST A MIRACLE.
IT'S NOTHING LIKE I'VE EVER SEEN
IN MY 20 YEARS OF LAW
ENFORCEMENT.
IT'S TOTAL DEVASTATION.
BR THERE'S SUPPOSED TO BE HOUSES
AND TRAILERS, THERE'S ABSOLUTELY
NOTHING.
>> NOW, THREE DAYS LATER, HOW
ARE PEOPLE COPING?
>> YOU KNOW, WE'RE STARTING TO
SEE SOME OF THE EFFECTS OF THE
TRAUMA THAT IT'S CREATED.
FIRST RESPONDERS AND EVERYTHING,
PEOPLE HAVE BEEN WORKING 24/7
SINCE THE INCIDENT AND TRYING TO
GET PEOPLE HELP.
BUT THERE'S A LOT OF HOPE.
THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE GIVING
US FOOD, WATER, DONATIONS AND
MONETARY AND ALL THAT STUFF IS
BUILDING HOPE AND REBUILDING
DREAMS.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE RUNNING ON
RIGHT NOW.
WE'RE RUNNING ON FUMES, BUT
WE'RE RUNNING ON HOPE, AND IT'S
BEEN AWESOME.
IT'S UNBELIEVABLE.
AND WE'RE GOING TO PUT PEOPLE'S
LIVES BACK TOGETHER EVEN
STARTING RIGHT NOW IN THE ROOM
RIGHT NEXT TO ME.
>> ALL RIGHT.
SHERIFF CHRIS FITZGERALD, THANKS
VERY MUCH AND GOOD LUCK.
>> THANK YOU.
>> PEOPLE INTERESTED IN
VOLUNTEERING THIS WEEKEND IN
BARRON COUNTY SHOULD REPORT TO
THE VOLUNTEER RECEPTION CENTER
SATURDAY AND SUNDAY BETWEEN THE
HOURS OF 8:00 IN THE MORNING AND
5:00 P.M.
THE CENTER IS SET UP AT
ST. PETER'S CATHOLIC CHURCH AT
HIGHWAY 8 AND 53.
FINALLY TONIGHT, A LOOK "LOOK
AHEAD" TO NEXT WEEK, WHEN WE'LL
HAVE AN UPDATE ON THE EXPANSION
OF SCHOOL CHOICE IN WAUSAU,
WHERE PRIVATE SCHOOLS ARE
THINKING ABOUT EXPANSION AND
PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE ANGRY THEY
HAVE TO RAISE TAXES TO PAY FOR
IT.
UNTIL THEN, I'M FREDERICA
FREYBERG.
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED, IN PART, BY FRIENDS OF
WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISION.