>> I'M FR.
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW," A
FIRST LOOK AT A NEW AD CAMPAIGN
DESIGNED TO LURE NUNG LURE YOUNG WORKERS
TO THE WISCONSIN STATE.
AN UPDATE ON WISCONSIN MEDICAL
SUPPLY SHORTAGES DUE TO
HURRICANE MARIA.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR
DECEMBER 8.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED, IN PART, BY TBRENDZ BY FRIENDS OF
WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISION.
>> IN OUR FIRST LOOK TONIGHT,
WISCONSIN WANTS TO BLITZ THE
NATION WITH A MARKETING CAMPAIGN
TO PERSUADE PEOPLE TO COME HERE
TO WORK.
GOVERNOR SCOTT WALKER SAYS IT'S
CRITICAL TO, QUOTE, "GET MORE
BODIES" IN WISCONSIN, SAYING THE
STATE PROJECTS THE NEED FOR
45,000 WORKERS IN SEVEN YEARS TO
FILL JOBS IN MANUFACTURING,
NURSING, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
AND SERVICES.
THE GOVERNOR IS CALLING ON THE
LEGISLATURE TO APPROVE FUNDING
FOR THE MARKETING, BUT WITH
FOXCONN COMING, A SEPARATE $1
MILLION CAMPAIGN TO LURE YOUNG
PROFESSIONALS IN CHICAGO TO
WISCONSIN KICKS OFF IN JANUARY.
>> "YOUR RAMEN OR OURS"?
IN MILWAUKEE, THE COST OF LIVING
IS 22% LESS IN CHICAGO.
>> THE SPOT IS ONE OF THE MANY
MARKETING MESSAGES ACROSS
PLATFORMS, INCLUDING EVEN A
CHICAGO COMMUTER TRAIN WRAP,
ESPOUSING THE BENEFITS OF MOVING
TO WISCONSIN.
THE TARGET?
YOUNG PROFESSIONALS, INCLUDING
THOSE WHO GRADUATED FROM
WISCONSIN COLLEGES.
>> WE'LL BE PUTTING ADS IN
PLACES THEY TEND TO FREQUENT,
COMMUTER TRAINS, IN HEALTH CLUBS
THAT THEY MIGHT BE EXERCISING IN
AND BARS, RESTAURANTS, ET CETERA
THAT THEY SPEND TIME IN.
>> BECAUSE THE WISCONSIN
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
IS TALENT SPOTTING TO FILL
EXISTING AND FUTURE JOBS.
>> WISCONSIN JUST DOESN'T DO AS
GOOD A JOB ATTRACTING WORKERS IN
THE STATE AS SOME OF OUR OTHER
STATES AROUND THE COUNTRY.
>> UW ECONOMIST TESSA CONROY
SAYS IT'S LIKELY TO BE AN UPHILL
BATTLE BECAUSE WORKERS AREN'T AS
MOBILE AS THEY WERE EVEN A
DECADE AGO.
PLUS, WISCONSIN COMPETES FOR
MILLENNIALS WITH STATES THAT
HAVE LARGER CITIES WITH A
SPECIAL PULL.
>> WORKERS GO TO MINNEAPOLIS AND
ST. PAUL AND CHICAGO.
WISCONSIN DOESN'T HAVE AN URBAN
CENTER QUITE LIKE THAT THAT HAS
THAT KIND OF EFFECT ON WORKERS.
>> MILL MILLENNIALS LIKE HIGH
AMENITIES.
>> WHERE THE CITIES ARE WITH
MUSIC, LOOKING FOR DEVELOPMENT
ACTIVITIES TO DO THAT ARE JUST
NOT BASIC LIKE A WALK IN THE
PARK.
LIKE CONCERTS, SPORTING EVENTS.
>> IN A QUICK SURVEY OF 20
SOMETHINGS ON CAMPUS IN MADISON,
WE ASKED, DO YOU WANT TO STAY IN
WISCONSIN AFTER GETTING YOUR
DEGREE?
>> I'D PREFER TO LEAVE, BUT IT
DEPENDS ON WHERE I'M ABLE TO GET
A JOB.
I'D PREFER TO GO BACK TO D.C. OR
LA.
>> A LOT OF PEOPLE WANT TO GO TO
CHICAGO.
NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE STICKING
AROUND.
>> MOST IN-STATE STUDENTS DO
WANT TO STAY AND WORK IN
WISCONSIN, AT LEAST EVENTUALLY.
>> I WANT TO START OUT IN A BIG
CITY, GET THE FEEL OF A
DIFFERENT KIND OF LIFESTYLE AND
SEE MORE THINGS THAN WISCONSIN
HAS AN OFFER.
I MEAN, BUT I WANT TO COME BACK
FOR SURE.
IT'S ALWAYS BEEN MY HOME.
>> DID YOU KNOW THAT ALMOST 80%
OF IN-STATE STUDENTS LIVE AND
WORK IN WISCONSIN IN THE YEARS
AFTER GRADUATION?
UW-MADISON, WORKING FOR
WISCONSIN.
>> AND UW SYSTEMS SCHOOLS REPORT
87% OF THEIR GRADS STAY IN
WISCONSIN.
THE PROBLEM IS NOT AS MUCH HOW
MANY PEOPLE LEAVE AS HOW FEW
PEOPLE COME.
>> I WOULDN'T SAY IT'S THE CASE
THAT PEOPLE ARE LEAVING THE
STATE AT UNUSUALLY HIGH RATES
COMPARED TO OTHER STATES IN THE
U.S.
IT'S REALLY THE IN-MIGRATION
THAT SEEMS TO BE ONE OF THE
POTENTIAL WEAKNESSES IN THE
STATE.
IT JUST ISN'T ENOUGH TO OFFSET
THE AVERAGE RATES OF
OUT-MIGRATION WE DO HAVE.
>> THE FIRST MARKETING BLITZ
GOES AFTER OUT-OF-STATE
GRADUATES.
>> INDIVIDUALS AND STUDENTS THAT
HAVE GONE TO ONE OF OUR
UNIVERSITIES ALREADY HAVE
EXPERIENCED THE STATE.
THEY HAVE A FEELING OF
CONNECTION WITH THEM.
REACHING OUT TO THE ALUMNI
POPULATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY,
ACROSS THE WORLD AND USING AND
LEVERAGING THE NETWORKS THAT
THEY ALREADY HAVE IN PLACE TO
TELL THE STORY SEEMS LIKE AN
OBVIOUS WAY TO GO.
>> GOVERNOR SCOTT WALKER WANTS
TO ADD TO THE "COME WORK IN
WISCONSIN" ADVERTISING BUDGET,
SEEKING NEARLY $7 MILLION FOR
TARGETED CAMPAIGNS, INCLUDING
TRYING TO ATTRACT MILITARY
VETERANS TO THE STATE.
>> VETERANS ARE A REALLY
IMPORTANT PART OF THE WORKFORCE
AND AS THEY'RE NEEDING TALENT
NOW, FOLKS TRANSITIONING OUT OF
THE MILITARY COME WITH A SET OF
SKILLS ALIGNED WITH OUR
INDUSTRIES AND THE JOB
OPPORTUNITIES THAT COMPANIES ARE
LOOKING TO FILL HERE IN THE
STATE.
>> BUT WHAT ARE THE QUESTION OF
WHETHER THE DEMAND FOR WORKERS
IN SHORT SUPPLY COULD COMMAND
HIGHER WAGES TO POSSIBLY
INCENTIVIZE A MOVE INTO THE
STATE?
>> I THINK A LOT OF THE STORY IN
WISCONSIN IS THAT WE'RE RAISING
WAGES.
WE STILL CAN'T FIND WORKERS.
THAT MIGHT BE THE CASE, BUT
MAYBE WHAT'S GOING ON HERE IS
THAT WE HAVE BEEN INCREASING BUT
THEY'RE STILL LOW COMPARED TO
JOBS IN ANOTHER SECTOR OR JOBS
IN ANOTHER CITY.
>> SO AS TO THAT QUESTION OF
WAGES IN WISCONSIN AND OTHER
MATTERS RELATING TO THE SHORT
SUPPLY OF WORKERS, WE TURNED TO
WORKFORCE POLICY SPECIALISTS AT
WISCONSIN MANUFACTURERS AND
COMMERCE CHRIS READER.
THANKS FOR BEING HERE.
WHAT ABOUT THAT QUESTION THAT
TESSA CONROY BRINGS UP IN OUR
STORY ABOUT LOW WAGES COMPARED
TO JOBS IN OTHER SECTORS AND
OTHER CITIES?
IS IT OUR LEADING SECTOR OF
MANUFACTURING THAT'S NOT ABLE TO
KEEP PACE WITH HIGHER-PAYING
SECTORS?
>> NO.
I THINK MANUFACTURING
CONSISTENTLY IS A HIGH-PAY
INDUSTRY IN WISCONSIN, ONE OF
THE TOP STATES FOR MANUFACTURING
IN COUNTRY.
IF YOU TAKE A LOOK AT WAGES OVER
THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS,
WISCONSIN HAS BEEN VERY STRONG
ON WAGE GROWTH.
11TH IN THE NATION SINCE 2010 IN
TERMS OF WAGE GROWTH.
KIND OF THE SITUATION THAT WE
HAVE NOW WHERE WE HAVE A
WORKFORCE OR WORKER SHORTAGE,
WHICH WE'RE ALL TRYING TO
ADDRESS, REALLY SHOULD CONTINUE
TO PUT UPWARD PRESSURE ON WAGES
AND BENEFIT PACKAGES AS
MANUFACTURERS, HEALTH CARE AND
OTHER INDUSTRIES TRY TO DRAW
TALENT NOT ONLY FROM OTHER
SOURCES IN WISCONSIN, BUT FROM
OTHER AREAS TO COME TO
WISCONSIN.
>> THERE HAS BEEN UPWARD
PRESSURE ALREADY ON WAGES, BUT
IS IT ACCURATE THAT MAYBE WE
AREN'T COMPETING WELL WITH OTHER
CITIES OR OTHER STATES?
>> NO.
I THINK WE DO COMPETE.
I THINK WHEN YOU TAKE A LOOK AT
WISCONSIN AND OUR COST OF LIVING
HERE, WE HAVE A VERY LOW COST OF
LIVING COMPARED TO CHICAGO OR
COMPARED TO SOME OTHER
COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE
COUNTRY.
SO WHEN YOU TAKE OUR COST OF
LIVING AND YOU TAKE OUR WAGES,
WE REALLY HAVE A GREAT STORY TO
TELL.
WE HAVE A PLACE THAT WORKERS IF
THEY DO ALL THAT CALCULATION
SHOULD WANT TO COME TO
WISCONSIN.
>> WHAT'S THE EXTENT OF THE
WORKER SHORTAGE IN WISCONSIN?
>> FOR OUR MEMBERS IT'S
SOMETHING THAT IS VERY TOP OF
MIND.
WE DO A SURVEY OF OUR CEO
MEMBERS EVERY SIX MONTHS.
WE'RE JUST GETTING THAT DATA IN
NOW FOR THE DECEMBER SURVEY.
AND IT'S VERY HIGH.
IT'S 80% OF OUR MEMBERS ARE
SAYING THAT THEY ARE HAVING A
HARD TIME RIGHT NOW FINDING
WORKERS THAT THEY NEED.
THAT'S UP FROM 77% LAST YEAR AND
UP FROM ONLY ABOUT 50% A FEW
YEARS BACK.
SO IT'S TOP OF MIND.
IT'S GROWING.
FOUR OUT OF FIVE EMPLOYERS
CANNOT FIND THE TALENT HE THIS THEY NEED
RIGHT NOW.
>> IS THIS ACROSS THE BOARD?
>> IT'S ALL OVER.
IT'S HEALTH CARE, MANUFACTURING,
ADVANCED MANUFACTURING, I.T.
IT'S REALLY ALL TYPES OF JOBS.
IT'S SOMEBODY TO WORK ON THE
FACTORY FLOOR, SOMETHING TO WORK
IN MANAGEMENT.
IT'S CROSS-SECTOR AND CROSS-JOB.
>> WHY IS THIS HAPPENING?
>> WELL, IF YOU TAKE A LOOK AT
THE PLAIN DEMOGRAPHICS, WE HAVE
IN WISCONSIN A BIRTH RATE THAT
IS SLIGHTLY BELOW THE NATIONAL
AVERAGE, A LITTLE BIT BELOW.
WE HAVE A SITUATION THAT WAS
ACCURATELY DISPLAYED IN THE
STORY OF PEOPLE FORTH MOST PART
STAYING IN WISCONSIN IF THEY GO
TO UW OR A PRIVATE COLLEGE IN
THE STATE.
THEY STAY HERE.
BUT WE'RE NOT DRAWING PEOPLE TO
WISCONSIN.
AND OTHER STATES ARE DRAWING
PEOPLE FROM OTHER STATES TO
THEIR AREA.
SO WE HAVE KIND OF A STAGNANT
POPULATION.
WE HAVE A POPULATION OF
BABYBOOMERS THAT ARE EXITING THE
WORKFORCE.
SO WE HAVE A VACUUM BEING
CREATED WITHOUT A NEW SECTOR --
SECTION OF WORKERS COMING INTO
IT.
>> WHAT'S THE RESULT FOR
EMPLOYERS OF THIS WORKER
SHORTAGE?
>> SURE.
WELL, IF WE CAN'T GET WORKERS TO
COME HERE, WHICH IS WHY IT'S SO
IMPORTANT THAT THIS CAMPAIGN
WORKS, IF WE DON'T GET WORKERS
TO COME HERE AND FAMILIES TO
MOVE HERE, WE'RE LOOKING AT
ECONOMIC STAGNATION.
IN ORDER TO KEEP OUR ECONOMY
MOVING FORWARD, WE REALLY NEED
TO SOLVE THIS ISSUE NOW AND GET
PEOPLE TO MOVE HERE IN ORDER SO
THAT WE CAN FILL OUR JOBS GOING
FORWARD.
>> THERE WAS DISCUSSION IN THE
STORY ABOUT HOW YOUNG
PROFESSIONALS LIKE THESE, QUOTE,
"THICK" LABOR MARKET WITH THESE
HIGH AMENITIES AND NOT MENTIONED
IN THE STORY, THINGS LIKE REALLY
ROBUST MASS TRANSIT SYSTEMS.
IS THERE ANY WAY THAT WISCONSIN
WITH ITS LARGEST CITY MILWAUKEE
CAN REALLY COMPETE WITH THOSE
THICK LABOR MARKETS?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
WE UNVEILED A DIFFERENT VIDEO
THIS WEEK.
IT'S A VIDEO WHERE WE
INTERVIEWED A COUPLE FROM
ENGINES VEILJANESVILLE TO USED TO LIVE IN
CHICAGO.
THEY MOVED BECAUSE THEY SAW THE
COST OF LIVING IN WISCONSIN, THE
LIFE CAWLT IN QUALITY IN WISCONSIN ONCE
THEY WERE IN THEIR CAREERS,
HAVING KIDS, THEY WANTED TO MOVE
BACK TO WISCONSIN.
THEY WERE ORIGINALLY FROM
WISCONSIN.
SO THEY MOVED BACK TO
JANESVILLE.
IF YOU STACK OUR QUALITY OF LIFE
UP WITH BIG CITIES, WE CAN
COMPETE I BELIEVE WITH ANYONE IN
THE COUNTRY.
AND MILWAUKEE, MADISON, GREEN
BAY, RACINE, THEY DO HAVE A LOT
OF GREAT AMENITIES FOR FOLKS
THAT WANT THAT PURELY URBAN LIFE
LIVING DOWNTOWN IN A HIGHRISE.
WE DO HAVE THAT.
IT'S NOT PLAYED UP AS MUCH AS IT
SHOULD BE IN MILWAUKEE, BUT WE
HAVE A GREAT QUALITY OF LIFE FOR
FOLKS THAT WANT THAT DOWNTOWN
LIFESTYLE.
>> ARE ALL EGGS KIND ARE IN THIS
MARKETING OUTREACH CAMPAIGN?
>> YEAH.
THIS IS WHERE IT'S AT RIGHT NOW
IN TERMS OF WHAT WE NEED TO DO
AS A STATE TO CONTINUE TO
PROSPER AND GROW, AGAIN, FROM
OUR MEMBERS, FOUR OUT OF FIVE
ARE HAVING A DIFFICULT TIME
FINDING THE WORKERS THAT THEY
NEED.
IT'S ACROSS SECOND SECTOR.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE OUR K-12
SYSTEM PRODUCES EDUCATION
RESULTS THAT LET OUR KIDS GET
INTO JOBS WISCONSIN WILL HAVE,
THAT PEOPLE IN HIGHER ED WANT TO
STAY HERE AND WE NEED TO BRING
FOLKS IN IN ORDER TO MEET THE
COMING NUMBERS CRUNCH.
>> CHRIS READER, THANKS VERY
MUCH.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> NOW TO NEWS OUT OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL RELEASED A
SCATHING REPORT REGARDING LEAKED
JOHN DOE DOCUMENTS.
AG BRAD SCHIMEL IS NOT
RECOMMENDING CRIMINAL CHARGES,
BUT ONLY, HE SAYS, BECAUSE IT'S
NOT POSSIBLE TO PROVE BEYOND A
REASONABLE DOUBT WHO LEAKED THE
DOCUMENTS.
AS INVESTIGATIVE RECORDS THAT
WERE PROBE OF THE PROBE IN
WALKER'S CAMPAIGN WERE GROSSLY
MISHANDLED BY BEING KEPT IN
UNLOCKED LOCATIONS WITHIN THE
OFFICE OF THE FORMER GOVERNMENT
ACCOUNTABILITY BOARD.
IT ALSO DISCOVERED A
PREVIOUSLY-UNKNOWN JOHN DOE III,
WHICH INVESTIGATED GOP OFFICIALS
SUSPECTED OF CAMPAIGNING ON
STATE TIME.
IT DIDN'T RESULT IN ANY CHARGES,
BUT THE PROBE INCLUDED PERSONAL
CORRESPONDENCE UNRELATED TO ANY
CAMPAIGNS.
SOME OF THOSE SUBPOENAED
MATERIALS WERE FOUND IN A FILE
LABELED "OPPOSITION RESEARCH."
DOJ IS DEEPLY CONCERNED BY THE
WEAPONIZING IN FURTHERANCE OF
POLITICAL GOALS.
THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
RECOMMENDS DISCIPLINARY ACTION
AGAINST AN ATTORNEY WHOSE HARD
DRIVE CANNOT BE FOUND.
JUSTICES ALSO ASKED THE JUDGE TO
INITIATE CONTEMPT PROCEEDINGS
AGAINST THAT LAWYER AND SEVERAL
OTHERS, CLIEWGD INCLUDING THE FORMER GAB
DIRECTOR AND PROSECUTOR FRANCIS
SCHMITZ.
TO THAT, HE SAYS ALL I CAN SAY
IS THAT I WAS COMPLETELY
SURPRISED TO HEAR ABOUT THIS.
I COOPERATED WITH OFFICIALS AT
THETHE OUTSET OF THE INVESTIGATION.
SCHIMEL'S REPORT READS LIKE A
PARTISAN HIT PIECE, ACCORDING TO
THE AP.
NOW A FOLLOW-UP ON REPORTING
FROM OUR PARTNERS AT WISCONTEXT
ON MEDICAL SUPPLY SHORTAGES
RESULTING FROM HURRICANE MARIA,
WHERE IV FLUID PRODUCTS FOR THE
U.S. ARE PRODUCED.
THE SUPPLY OF THESE PRODUCTS
THESE USED AT UW HOSPITAL IN
MADISON.
WE CHECK IN WITH PHILIP TRAF
SKIN, MANAGER OF PATIENT CARE
AND SERVICES, WHO JOINS US FROM
WASHINGTON, WHERE HE MET WITH
TAMMY BALDWIN AND PAUL RYAN TO
BRIEF THEM ON THIS PROBLEM.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING
US.
>> GREAT TO BE WITH YOU.
>> A LETTER TO CONGRESS LAST
MONTH SAID THAT THE HURRICANE IN
PUERTO RICO HEAVILY COMPROMISED
FARMPHARMACEUTICAL MANUFACTURING,
WHICH LEAVES US ON THE BRINK OF
A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS.
WHAT IS THE SITUATION NOW?
>> THE HURRICANE SHED LIGHT ON
VULNERABILITIES THAT EXIST
WITHIN OUR SUPPLY CHAIN.
SHORTAGES HAVE BEEN A PROBLEM
FOR MANY YEARS AND THE FACT THAT
ALL OF THESE FLUIDS WERE MADE ON
AN ISLAND THAT WAS PRONE TO --
OR THAT WAS POTENTIALLY AFFECTED
BY HURRICANES IS JUST ONE OF THE
MANY VULNERABILITIES THAT EXIST
TODAY.
>> AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT
VIRTUALLY ALL OF THESE PRODUCTS
COME FROM PUERTO RICO.
IS THAT RIGHT?
>> WELL, THERE'S THREE MAIN
MANUFACTURERS IN THE IV FLUID
MARKETPLACE, AND ONE OF THE
LINES OF FLUIDS, THE FLUIDS THAT
ARE USED TO MIX UP DRUGS THAT
PATIENTS NEED, THINGS LIKE
ANTIBIOTICS AND CHEMOTHERAPY
PAIN MEDICATIONS, THEY REQUIRE A
SMALLER BAG TO SAFELY ADMINISTER
THE DRUG.
ALL OF THE PRODUCTION OF THOSE
BAGS FROM ONE OF THE LARGEST
VENDORS WAS FROM PUERTO RICO.
>> DESCRIBE WHAT'S IN CRITICAL
SHORT SUPPLY AT YOUR HOSPITAL.
>> SO THE SMALLER BAGS THAT WE
MIX DRUGS IN, IT'S SOMETHING
THAT WE USE APPROXIMATELY 30,000
DOSES A MONTH.
WE NEEDED TO FIND AN ALTERNATIVE
FOR ALL 30,000 OF THOSE DOSES
WHEN PRODUCTION IN PUERTO RICO
STOPPED.
THE MARKETPLACE QUICKLY DRIED
UP, NO PUN INTENDED, TO MAKE
THOSE MEDICATIONS DIFFERENTLY.
AND SO WE USED A LOT OF
DIFFERENT MECHANISMS TO MAKE
THAT HAPPEN.
LUCKILY, NO ADVERSE OUTCOMES
HAVE HAPPENED WITH PATIENTS AT
UW, BEEN ABLE TO PROVIDE ALL THE
MEDICATIONS WE NEED.
BUT IT DOES PUT STRAIN ON THE
SYSTEM IN TERMS OF OPPORTUNITIES
FOR MEDICATION ERRORS WHENEVER
YOU QUICKLY IMPLEMENT NEW WORK
FLOWS WITHIN HEALTH CARE.
IT'S A LOT OF WORK.
IT'S A BIG TEAM.
IT INVOLVES THINGS LIKE THE
PHARMACIST AND THE PHARMACY
TECHNICIANS THAT WORK IN THE IV
ROOMS LEARNING AND RESEARCHING
WHAT DIFFERENT CONCENTRATIONS
CAN BE MADE.
WE NEEDED TO RENT EQUIPMENT TO
INSTEAD OF ADMINISTERING THINGS
VIA BAGS, WE ADMINISTERED THEM
THROUGH SYRINGES.
úTHERE'S TRAINING OF STAFF THAT
NEEDS TO HAPPEN.
THERE WERE OVER 1,000
MEDICATIONS THAT WE NEEDED TO
RECONFIGURE TO MAKE THEM FOR
PATIENTS AS PART OF THE
SHORTAGE.
>> IS IT THE SAME ACROSS
WISCONSIN AND IN OTHER STATES?
>> YES, IT IS.
THROUGH THE NETWORK THAT I HAVE
OF OTHER HOSPITAL PHARMACISTS
WITHIN WISCONSIN WE'VE DONE A
COUPLE SURVEYS, ONE SHORTLY WHEN
THE CRISIS STARTED AND ONE AS
RECENTLY AS THIS WEEK.
AND THEY HAD ALL SIMILAR STORIES
TO TELL ABOUT MEDICATIONS BEING
HARD TO GET.
OBVIOUSLY IV FLUIDS HAVE BEEN
ONE OF THE FOCUS.
ANOTHER MEDICATION THAT'S MADE
ON THE ISLAND THAT WAS DIFFICULT
TO COME BY IS INTRAVENOUS
POTASSIUM.
AND HOSPITALS RIGHT NOW ARE ALSO
CURRENTLY DEALING WITH SEVERE
SHORTAGES OF IV OIP PE OWE PE OPIOIDS LIKE
MORPHINE.
AND IT'S NOT A NEW PHENOMENON,
BUT ONE THAT PUTS STRAIN ON THE
SYSTEM.
>> RIGHT.
BECAUSE I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU
ABOUT YOUR SOUNDING THE ALARM ON
DRUG SHORTAGES EVEN IN GENERAL
APART FROM HURRICANES ON
ISLANDS.
WHY IS THAT HAPPENING?
>> WELL, GENERALLY, IF YOU THINK
ABOUT THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND
THINGS LIKE ROADS AND BRIDGES,
THEY NEED TO BE MAINTAINED OVER
TIME AND WHEN YOU WANT TO BUILD
ROADS OR BRIDGES IT TAKES A
LARGE INFUSION OF CAPITAL TO DO
SO.
BECAUSE MANY OF THESE
MEDICATIONS ARE GENERIC AND NOT
PROTECTED BY PATENTS, IT'S EASY
FOR PEOPLE TO GET INTO THE
MARKETPLACE, BUT THE AMOUNT
THEY'RE ABLE TO CHARGE FOR
MEDICATIONS IS MUCH LESS.
SO PLAYERS COME IN AND OUT OF
THE MARKET AND DON'T ALWAYS
MAINTAIN THEIR FACTORIES AS WELL
AS THEY COULD.
AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT
HAPPENS IS SOMETIMES THERE'S
SUPPLY INTERRUPTIONS BECAUSE OF
QUALITY ISSUES AT THE DIFFERENT
MANUFACTURERS.
ONE OF THE FLUID MANUFACTURERS
PRIOR TO THE HURRICANE NEEDED TO
SHUT DOWN TEMPORARILY BECAUSE OF
QUALITY ISSUES.
ALSO, JUST THE GENERAL CAPACITY
TO MAKE SOME OF THESE
MEDICATIONS CAN'T KEEP UP WITH
DEMAND.
SO THE FOLKS THAT MAKE THE IV
FLUIDS RUN THEIR FACTORIES
CONTINUOUSLY, 24 HOURS A DAY ALL
YEAR AND MAYBE SHUT DOWN FOR A
COUPLE WEEKS OF MAINTENANCE
AROUND CHRISTMASTIME.
SO WE'RE ACTUALLY NERVOUS GIVEN
THE WAY THE FLUIDS EXIST TODAY
THAT WE USUALLY SEE A DEMAND
RISE AROUND THIS TIME OF YEAR
WITH THINGS LIKE INFLUENZA AND
OTHER ILLNESSES THAT HAPPEN IN
THE WINTER AND THE FACT THAT THE
COMPANIES TYPICALLY TAKE A
BREAKS FROM PRODUCTION CAUSES
ADDITIONAL STRAIN ON THE SYSTEM.
>> WELL, YOU'RE IN WASHINGTON
TRYING TO DOOSH
>> THOSE ARE JUST A CAPITAL --
>> SORRY.
THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF DELAY.
BUT YOU'RE IN WASHINGTON TRYING
TO TELL PEOPLE ABOUT THIS ISSUE.
WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT IT?
>> WELL, IN 2012, WHEN THE
AUTHORIZATION THAT CONGRESS DOES
TO FUND THE FDA WENT THROUGH, A
NUMBER OF MEASURES WERE PUT IN
PLACE AND THOSE MEASURES HAVE
HELPED.
HOWEVER, WE FEEL LIKE MORE CAN
BE DONE AND REALLY WE'RE
BRINGING AWARENESS TO THE
WISCONSIN DELEGATION ABOUT THE
ISSUE AND THEN WORKING WITH THEM
TO BRAINSTORM IDEAS THAT MIGHT
HELP.
SOME THINGS THAT I PERSONALLY
THINK COULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE
WOULD BE FIGURING OUT IF THERE'S
WAYS TO BETTER INCENTIVIZE THE
PRODUCTION OF SOME OF THESE
CRITICAL MEDICATIONS THAT ARE
KIND OF THE BASELINE OR
ESSENTIAL MEDICATIONS THAT A
HOSPITAL NEEDS, THINGS LIKE
ANTIBIOTICS, IV FLEW IDZ WITH,
THINGS TO RESUSCITATE PEOPLE
WHEN THEY HAVE A CARDIAC ARREST AND
INCENTIVIZE THEM TO BE MADE HERE
IN QUANTITIES TO MEET DEMAND.
MANY OF THESE THINGS ARE
MANUFACTURED OVERSEAS IN
COUNTRIES LIKE CHINA.
SOME PEOPLE FEEL LIKE THERE
WOULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BRING
SOME OF THAT MANUFACTURING BACK
TO HELP WITH JOBS, BUT ALSO TO
PREVENT ANY POTENTIAL NATIONAL
SECURITY TYPE ISSUES THAT COULD
ARISE.
IF WE'RE TOO DEPENDENT ON ANY
ONE COMPANY THAT'S LOCATED
OUTSIDE OF THE U.S. TO RELY ON
THAT FOR OUR HEALTH SYSTEM.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WE NEED TO LEAVE IT THERE, BUT
THANK YOU FOR BRINGING AWARENESS
TO THIS REALLY CRITICAL ISSUE.
PHILIP TRAPSKIN, THANKS VERY
MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> POLICE ARRESTED NINE
PROTESTORS OUTSIDE SPEAKER PAUL
RYAN'S WASHINGTON THIS WEEK,
VOICING DISPLAY OVER TAX CHANGES
FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS.
TONIGHT WE TAKE AN A CLOSER LOOK AT
THE CHANGES THAT WOULD MAKE
TUITION WAIVERS TAXABLE INCOME.
ACCORDING TO THE AMERICAN
COUNCIL ON EDUCATION, ABOUT
145,000 U.S. GRADUATE STUDENTS
RECEIVE TUITION WAIVERS.
MICHAEL BELLECOURT IS A
UW-MADISON GRADUATE STUDENT WHO
REPRESENTS THE TEACHING
ASSISTANTS' UNION.
AS YOU KNOW, THE HOUSE VERSION
HAS TO BE SQUARED WITH THE
SENATE BILL, WHICH DOES NOT
INCLUDE THIS PROVISION, BUT WHAT
WOULD THIS TAX CHANGE MEAN TO
STUDENTS LIKE YOURSELF?
>> THE SITUATION IS REALLY
DIFFERENT FOR EVERY GRADUATE
STUDENT, SO I DON'T WANT TO GO
IN WITH ONE NUMBER AND SAY EVERY
GRAD WILL PAY THIS MUCH MORE.
BUT FOR A CHUNK THE TAX BURDEN
COULD GO UP BY SEVERAL THOUSAND
DOLLARS IF THIS BILL PASSES WITH
THE HOUSE'S LANGUAGE.
>> WOULD THOSE GRADS STUDENTS BE
ABLE TO PAY THAT?
>> MANY OF THEM WOULD HAVE TO
TAKE OUT ADDITIONAL LOANS JUST
TO PAY THEIR TAXES.
>> AND SO WHAT'S BEEN THE
REACTION ON THIS CAMPUS AND
OTHERS TO THIS PROPOSED TAX
CHANGE?
>> AMONGST GRAD STUDENTS THERE'S
A LOT OF DISBELIEF, A LOT OF
FEAR AND A LOT OF DISGUST ABOUT
THIS PROPOSED CHANGE.
AND IT'S MOTIVATED A LOT OF GRAD
STUDENTS TO SPEAK OUT.
>> YOU ARE A BIOCHEMISTRY PH.D.
CANDIDATE.
WHAT IS THE VALUE OF YOUR
TUITION WAIVER?
>> MY TUITION AS A SENIOR
GRADUATE STUDENT IS ACTUALLY
VERY LOW.
SO I HAVE A VERY LOW BURDEN,
ACCORDING TO THIS LANGUAGE.
BUT INCOMING BIOCHEMISTRY
GRADUATE STUDENTS HAVE A MUCH
HIGHER TAX BURDENS.
THEY WILL HAVE THAT SEVERAL
THOUSAND MORE DOLLARS TAX BILL.
>> SO FOR THOSE INCOMING GRAD
STUDENTS, WHAT IS TUITION FOR
GRAD STOOL THAT THEY SCHOOL THAT THEY GET WAVED?
>> THE MONETARY VALUE IS AROUND
$2500.
MOST OF US DON'T EVEN KNOW THAT
BECAUSE WE DON'T EVER SEE OUR
TUITION.
IT'S JUST MONEY THAT'S BEING
HANDED FROM ONE PART OF THE
UNIVERSITY TO THE OTHER.
SO THE FACT THAT THEY WANT TO
TAX US ON THAT MONEY THAT WE
NEVER EVEN REALLY SEE IS KIND OF
AMAZING.
A LOT OF GRAD STUDENTS DON'T
KNOW WHAT THEIR TUITION IS.
>> YOU SAID IT WAS $2500.
PER SEMESTER?
>> THAT'S PER YEAR.
IT IS AN APPROXIMATION.
I DON'T HAVE THE EX-AGENT NU ON EX -- EXACT
NUMBER ON ME.
IT'S BURIED SOMEWHERE ON THE WE
SITE.
>> DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW MANY
UW MAD SOP SOPUWUW-MADISON STOOPS ARE STUDENTS ARE GRANTED
THIS WAIVER?
>> MOST WAIVE IT.
IT MAY ALL.
>> I HEARD IT WOULD MEAN ONLY
THE WEALTHY COULD AFFORD
GRADUATE STUDENTS.
HOW REAL IS THAT IN YOUR MIND?
>> WE HAVE SO END OF THE MONEY
AT THE END OF THE MONTH BECAUSE
WE DON'T MAKE A LOT.
OUR STIPENDS ARE VERY LOW.
IF WE HAD TO THROW ADDITIONAL
MONEY AT TAXES, WE WOULD HAVE
NOTHING.
WE WOULD HAVE TO TAKE OUT LOANS
OR WE WOULD HAVE TO HAVE A
WEALTHY SOURCE FUNDING OUR
GRADUATE STUDENT CAREER.
>> WOULD THAT BE AN IMPACT ON
RESEARCH?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> HOW?
>> TAXING TUITION WOULD CAUSE
PEOPLE TO STAY AWAY FROM GRAD
SCHOOL.
WE WOULD HAVE SO MANY FEWER GRAT
STUDENTS.
THEY ARE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE
DOING RESEARCH.
WE HAVE THESE REALLY INTELLIGENT
PROFESSORS AND THEY'RE
INSTRUMENTAL TO THE PROFESSOR,
BUT THEIR ROLE IN RESEARCH IS
ADVISING OTHERS.
THEY'RE TELLING OTHERS WHAT TO
DO, HOW TO DO THE EXPERIMENTS,
WHAT TO RESEARCH.
AND OTHERS ARE DOING IT FOR
THEM.
WHETHER THAT'S A GRADUATE
STUDENT OR A POST DOC, YOU WOULD
SCIERSCARE AWAY GRAD STUDENTS AND THE
SYSTEM WOULD COLLAPSE.
>> MICHAEL BELLECOURT, THANKS
VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> TURNING NOW FROM EDUCATION TO
POLITICS AND ALLEGATIONS OF
SEXUAL MISCONDUCT AT THE STATE
LEGISLATURE.
REPRESENTATIVE JOSH ZEPNICK
FACES ALLEGATIONS BY TWO WOMEN,
BOTH OF WHOM SAY HE KISSED THEM
WITHOUT CONSENT.
HE WAS STRIPPED OF COMMITTEE
ASSIGNMENTS AND FACES CALLS TO
STEP DOWN.
HE APOLOGIZED FOR THE INCIDENTS
BUT SAYS HE WILL NOT RESIGN.
IN A STATEMENT RELEASED SATURDAY
HE SAYS I WILL NOT BE RESIGNING
AND WILL CONTINUE TO WORK HARD
ON BEHALF OF MY CONSTITUENTS.
AND THAT IS OUR PROGRAM FOR
TONIGHT.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED, IN PART, BY FRIENDS OF