>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS PART
OF OUR "HERE AND NOW" 2018
WISCONSIN VOTE ELECTION
COVERAGE.
>> I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW," A
FIRST LOOK AT STRATEGIES TO KEEP
TWO KIMBERLY-CLARK PLANTS OPEN
IN WISCONSIN.
AFTER THAT, A CLOSER LOOK AT
STATE HOSPITALS COPING WITH
UNPRECEDENTED SHORTAGES OF IV
SOLUTION.
OUR PARTNERS AT WISCONTEXT SHARE
A NEW REPORT ON SPECIAL
ELECTIONS IN WISCONSIN.
AND CAPITOL INSIGHT ON A BILL
THAT COULD CUT FUNDS TO STATE
SCHOOL PUBLIC LIBRARIES.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR
FEBRUARY 9.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED, IN PART, BY FRIENDS OF
WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISION.
>> A FIRST LOOK TONIGHT AT
RESPONSE TO THE ANNOUNCEMENT
THAT KIMBERLY-CLARK WILL CLOSE
TWO WISCONSIN MILLS IN THE
NEENAH AREA, MILLS THAT EMPLOY
MORE THAN 60 PEOPLE.
KIMBERLY-CLARK MAKES MANY
FAMILIAR ITEMS INCLUDING
DISPOSABLE DIAPERS AND PAPER
TOWELING AND IS CURRENTLY BASED
IN TEXAS, BUT WAS FOUNDED IN
WISCONSIN IN 1872.
LAST MONTH THE COMPANY ANNOUNCED
IT WOULD LAY OFF MORE THAN 5,000
WORKERS GLOBALLY, CORPORATE
OFFICIALS SAYING THEY WOULD USE
PROCEEDS FROM THE FEDERAL TAX
CUTS TO HELP PAY FOR PLANT
CLOSINGS.
GOVERNOR SCOTT WALKER RELEASED A
STATEMENT THAT READS IN PART,
QUOTE, RETAINING OUTSTANDING
WISCONSIN COMPANIES LIKE
KIMBERLY-CLARK IS JUST AS
IMPORTANT AS ATTRACTING NEW
COMPANIES TO OUR STATE, WHICH IS
WHY I'M PROPOSING WE OFFER
LARGER TAX CREDITS TO ENSURE THE
COMPANY KEEPS THOSE 600 JOBS
WHERE THEY BELONG, IN WISCONSIN.
THE GOVERNOR SAYS HE WANTS TO
GIVE KIMBERLY-CLARK THE SAME
LEVEL OF JOB RETENTION TAX
CREDITS AS WERE OFFERED FOXCONN,
17% OF COMPANY PAYROLL.
U.S. SENATOR TAMMY BALDWIN
RESPONDED SAYING, IN PART,
QUOTE, THIS WEEK GOVERNOR SCOTT
WALKER HAS PROPOSED ASKING
WISCONSIN FAMILIES TO PAY FOR
TAXPAYER SUBSIDIES TO
KIMBERLY-CLARK AT A TIME WHEN
PERMANENT CORPORATE TAX BREAKS
ARE BEING USED FOR A JOB LAYOFF
PLAN.
THE PEOPLE I WORK FOR ARE ASKING
HOW MANY TAX BREAKS DO YOU NEED?
THE NEWS OF THE KIMBERLY-CLARK
LAYOFFS COMES AS A BLOW TO THE
MYOR OFMAYOR OF NEENAH, DEAN KAUFERT.
I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN IN
CONVERSATIONS WITH THE
GOVERNOR'S OFFICE ON THIS.
WHAT CAN YOU TELL US TONIGHT
ABOUT KIMBERLY-CLARK COULD IN
FACT DECIDE TO KEEP THOSE
WISCONSIN PLANTS OPEN?
>> YEAH.
NEWS LIKE THIS IS NEVER GOOD FOR
ANY COMMUNITY.
THIS IS REALLY KIND OF A PUNCH
IN THE GUT FOR ME PERSONALLY AS
THE MAYOR OF THE COMMUNITY, WITH
SO MANY FRIENDS AND FAMILY.
THIS IS A TOUGH ONE BECAUSE THIS
IS THE BIRTHPLACE OF
KIMBERLY-CLARK.
I HAVE A -- A FEW HOURS AFTER THE
ANNOUNCEMENT I SPOKE WITH THE
GOVERNOR PERSONALLY, FIRST THE
GOVERNOR'S STAFF AND THEN THE
GOVERNOR CALLED ME.
AND WE TALKED ABOUT, YOU KNOW,
FINDING A WAY, DEVELOPING A
PLAN, LOOKING AT A WAY THAT WE
CAN, YOU KNOW, -- WE GOT TO STOP
THE BLEEDING.
WE GOT TO LOOK AT JOB RETENTION
IN THIS STATE AND WE GOT TO SAY,
YOU KNOW WHAT, RETAINING JOBS
ARE JUST AS IMPORTANT AS
BRINGING JOBS IN FROM OTHER
STATES AND PARTS OF THE COUNTRY.
BECAUSE THESE ARE THE BACKBONE
OF YOUR COMMUNITY.
>> WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THE
RESPONSE FROM KIMBERLY-CLARK
ITSELF AS TO WHETHER OR NOT
THOSE KINDS OF INCENTIVES WOULD
IN FACT KEEP THOSE PLANTS OPEN?
>> YEAH.
I BELIEVE THAT THERE'S A CRACK
IN THE DOOR.
AFTER TALKING TO KIMBERLY-CLARK
EXECUTIVES, AFTER TALKING TO THE
GOVERNOR, WE BELIEVE THAT -- FOR
SURE -- IF YOU READ
KIMBERLY-CLARK'S STATEMENT, IT
SAYS IN IT -- IT SAYS IN IT THAT
ONE OF THE PLANTS, THE DECISION
-- THE FINAL DECISION HAS NOT
BEEN MADE UNTIL CONSIDERATIONS
AND NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE UNION
LABOR.
WE BELIEVE THIS WILL HELP THEM
IN THEIR DECISION.
THEY'RE STILL GOING TO HAVE
THOSE DISCUSSIONS WITH THE LABOR
PEOPLE, BUT WE THINK ADDING
THESE TAX INCENTIVES FOR JOB
RETENTION, TIEING THE DOLLARS TO
JOBS IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
AS I READ SENATOR ROTH'S BILL,
THERE'S A FLOOR, I THINK IT'S
$18.
SO THESE ARE REALLY GOOD JOBS.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE UNDERSTAND
AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A
SLIPPERY SLOPE.
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO LOOK AT
THE ENTIRE PAPER INDUSTRY MAYBE
WHEN THE LEGISLATURE COMES BACK.
FOR RIGHT NOW IT'S IMPORTANT TO
STOP THE BLEEDING.
YOU GOT 600 SKILLED WORKERS,
TRAINED PEOPLE WHO ARE MAKING A
PRODUCT THAT IS USED WORLDWIDE
AND WE NEED TO DO WHAT WE CAN TO
HELP THIS PARTICULAR INDUSTRY.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT?
IF WE TIE THEM TO JOB RETENTION,
THE OFFSET, THE MONEY THAT
THEY'RE GOING TO BE SPENDING IN
THE COMMUNITY, THE CAPITAL THAT
THEY'RE GOING TO PUT INTO HOMES
AND BUYING POWER IS HOPEFULLY
GOING TO COME BACK TO THE STATE
MORE THAN TWOFOLD.
AND THE ONE THING THAT I'M
WORRIED ABOUT AND I TOLD THE
GOVERNOR, IT'S NOT JUST THE 600
JOBS.
IT'S THE SUPPLY CHAIN.
THINK ABOUT ALL THE COMPANIES
THAT SUPPLY KIMBERLY-CLARK AND
OTHER COMPANIES THAT HAVE SHUT
DOWN.
THEY'RE IMPACTED JUST AS MUCH.
>> BUT IF THE CLOSINGS WERE A
BUSINESS DECISION BASED ON
SALES, WHICH THE COMPANY SAYS
ARE CHALLENGING, IN PART BECAUSE
FEWER BABIES ARE BEING BORN TO
WEAR THEIR HUGGIES, WOULD
WISCONSIN TAX INCENTIVES MAKE UP
FOR THAT?
>> WELL, I THINK IT WILL.
AND IT'S JUST COMPETITION AND
GLOBAL COMPETITION, FOREIGN
COMPETITION.
YOU CAN GO ON amazon.com NOW
AND DIE BUY DIAPERS CHEAPER.
KIMBERLY-CLARK, MAYBE THIS
LITTLE BIT OF HELP WILL HELP
THEM DIVERSIFY THEIR COMPANY
ALSO AND LOOK INTO OTHER AREAS
THAT AREN'T REFLECTIVE OF THE
MARKET RIGHT NOW AS A DOWNSIZING
OF THE MARKET.
SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT.
CLEARLY KIMBERLY-CLARK IS
STABLE.
IT'S A GOOD COMPANY.
THEY NEED TO MAKE A PROFIT FOR
THEIR SHAREHOLDERS.
THEY NEED TO SHOW A PROFIT.
AND I THINK THEY NEED TO RETOOL
THEMSELVES A LITTLE BIT AND
BECOME A MORE DIVERSIFIED
COMPANY AND HAVING THESE SKILLED
WORKERS WILL ALLOW THEM TO DO
THAT.
>> DID THIS ANNOUNCEMENT FROM
KIMBERLY-CLARK COME AS A
SURPRISE TO YOU OR THE STATE?
>> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.
I THINK IT REALLY CAME AS A
SURPRISE TO ME.
WHEN THE INITIAL ANNOUNCEMENT OF
5,000 JOBS, I DIDN'T THINK THAT
THERE WAS ANY WAY THAT THE --
WHAT'S REFERRED TO AS THE COLD
SPRING FACILITY, IT'S JUST
OUTSIDE OF THE BOUNDARIES OF
NEENAH, BUT MOST OF THE PEOPLE
LIVE IN NEENAH.
THAT FACILITY WAS BUILT IN I
BELIEVE 1998.
IT'S HAD UPGRADES OF $19
MILLION.
IT'S A MODERN, STATE-OF-THE-ART
TECHNOLOGY.
THE OTHER PLANT IS IN THE CITY
LIMITS.
THAT FACILITY IS HOME TO ABOUT
110 EMPLOYEES, WHO THEY'VE KNOWN
FOR SOME TIME UNFORTUNATELY THAT
THEIR PRODUCT THAT THEY MADE WAS
STRUGGLING AND THAT THEY WERE
LOOKING AT A POSSIBLE
DOWNSIZING.
BUT THE COLDSPRING ROAD, THERE
IS JUST -- IT BEE FUDDLES ME A
LITTLE BIT ON WHY A FACILITY
THAT'S SUCH STATE-OF-THE-ART
TECHNOLOGY, HAS A WORKFORCE THAT
CAN -- YOU KNOW, IS SECOND TO
NONE IS BEING CONSIDERED FOR A
SHUTDOWN.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WE NEED TO LEAVE IT THERE, BUT
OBVIOUSLY WE WILL BE FOLLOWING
THIS.
MAYOR DOMESTICMAYOR DEAN KAUFERT, THANKS VERY
MUCH.
THE PAPER INDUSTRY AND INDUSTRY
SYNONYMOUS WITH THE FOX VALLEY
HAS BEEN IN DECLINE FOR DECADES,
LOSING 20,000 JOBS SINCE 2001.
NOW THIS NEWS FROM UW-MADISON.
CHANCELLOR REBECCA BLANK HAS
ANNOUNCED THAT IN-STATE STUDENTS
FROM FAMILIES WITH INCOMES UNDER
$56,000 WILL BE OFFERED FREE
TUITION AND FEES.
MORE THAN 80 STUDENTS 800 STUDENTS WILL BE
COVERED.
THE COST WILL BE $3.3 MILLION
COVERED BY UNIVERSITY FUNDS AND
PRIVATE DONORS.
>> NOW TO THE STATE CAPITOL AND
NEW LEGISLATION THAT WOULD
CHANGE HOW SCHOOL LIBRARIES GET
THEIR FUNDING.
SOME SCHOOL LIE LIBRARIANS ARE
SOUNDING THE ALARM OVER
POTENTIAL LOSS OF THE STATE
DOLLARS, WHILE AUTHORS SAY IT
WILL GIVE SCHOOLS MORE
FLEXIBILITY AND CONTROL.
MARIS WOJCIK TAKES A LOOK AT
FUNDING CHANGING TO ALLOWING THE
MONEY TO BE USED WHERE A
DISTRICT MAY NEED IT MOST.
>> THESE ARE THE BOOKS WE HAVE
HERE RIGHT NOW.
>> A PAIR OF BILLS INTRODUCED IN
THE STATE LEGISLATURE LAST MONTH
WOULD STATE THE WAY STATE PUBLIC
SCHOOL LIBRARIES HAVE BEEN
FUNDED FOR 170 YEARS.
UNDER CURRENT STATE LAW, DOLLARS
FROM WHAT'S KNOWN AS THE COMMON
SCHOOL FUND ARE GENERATED BY
INCOME FROM STATE TRUST FUNDS,
MONEY THAT GOES SPECIFICALLY TO
WISCONSIN SCHOOL LIBRARIES.
THE ONLY SOURCE OF STATE AID
THEY RECEIVE.
THE FUNDS ARE MANAGED BY THE
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF PUBLIC
LANDS, OR BCPL.
>> RIGHT NOW BCPL IS TO GENERATE
MONEY FOR THE SCHOOLS AND
SPECIFICALLY FOR THE LIBRARIES
IN THE SCHOOLS.
AND NOW WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT
DOING IS -- THAT WAS A MANDATE
FROM THE STATE.
IT'S BEEN THERE A LONG TIME.
WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS LET'S
ALLOW LOCAL OFFICIALS THE
ABILITY TO DECIDE HOW BEST TO
SPEND THAT MONEY.
>> HOW MUCH MONEY IS IT?
IN 2017, MORE THAN $32 MILLION
WERE DISTRIBUTED TO WISCONSIN
SCHOOL LIBRARIES BASED ON THEIR
NUMBER OF STUDENTS.
SCHOOL LIBRARIANS STRATEGIZE HOW
TO USE THE FUNDS.
WAWWAUSAU EAST HIGH SCHOOL'S PAULA
HASE USED THE MONEY FOR
I-PADS, DIGITAL DRAWING
SOFTWARE OR SMART MUSIC, AN
ARCHIVE OF DIGITAL MUSIC SCORES.
FOR SOME WISCONSIN LIBRARIANS
THE CHANGES TAKE AWAY THE
GUARANTEE OF FUNDS THAT USED TO
BE SUPPLEMENTAL BUT ARE NOW
FUNDAMENTAL.
IN RESPONSE TO SENATOR
STROEBEL'S ASSERTION THAT
DISTRICTS WOULD STILL FUND
LIBRARIES, MANDY MELOY SAYS IT'S
STILL NOT A GAIER RAN TEE.
>> THIS IS A STATEWIDE COMMON
SCHOOL FUND, SO EVEN IF MY
SCHOOL BOARD PUT THESE FUNDS
INTO THE LIBRARY, IT LEAVES IT
WIDE OPEN THAT OTHER SCHOOL
BOARDS MAY NOT.
THIS IS A STATE FUND THAT
PROTECTS ALL STATE PUBLIC SCHOOL
LIBRARIES IN THE STATE OF
WISCONSIN.
>> FOR SOME DISTRICTS THE
CHANGES AREN'T SO ALARMING.
AT THE ELMBROOK SCHOOL DISTRICTS
LOCATED WEST OF MILWAUKEE, THEY
ARE CONFIDENT LITERACY WILL
REMAIN A PRIORITY.
>> HAVING THE FLEXIBILITY TO
SPEND THE DOLLARS ON RESOURCE RS
WE PRIORITIZE UNDER A PLANNING
PROCESS, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE'RE
VERY CAM FORTHABLE COMFORTABLE AS WE ALWAYS
HAVE EVEN WITH THE CHANGES
PROPOSED IN THE BILL.
>> WHILE THERE IS DISAGREEMENT
OVER HOW LIBRARIES ARE FUNDING.
MANY RECOGNIZE MAINTAINING
FUNDING IS IMPORTANT.
>> THE STATE OF WISCONSIN, WE
HAVE -- BECAUSE OF THE COMMON
SCHOOL FUNDS, WE'VE BEEN IN A
SITUATION WE HAVE SOME OF THE
BEST SCHOOL LIBRARIES IN THE
WORLD.
AND A LOT OF IT HAS TO DO WITH
THIS STEADY FUNDING SOURCE THAT
WE HAVE.
>> WITH INCREASED FLEXIBILITY IN
HOW THE COMMON SCHOOL FUNDS CAN
BE USED, SCHOOL DISTRICTS UNDER
TIGHTER BUDGETS COULD CHOOSE TO
TAKE THE MONEY OUT OF THE
LIBRARIES AND PUT IT INTO OTHER
AREAS DEEMED MORE URGENT.
LONG-TERM, LIBRARIANS WANT TO
PROTECT THE INTEGRITY OF THE
INFORMATION THEY'RE PROVIDING TO
STUDENTS.
>> IF WE WERE TO PULL BACK THE
RESOURCES, P OUR OUR STUDENTS ARE
ACCESSING AND THE ELECTRONIC
RESOURCES WE HAVE, THEY WILL NOT
HAVE ACCESS TO THOSE FROM THE
PUBLIC LIBRARY AND THEY WILL NOT
BE ABLE TO GET THAT FROM SURFING
-- DOING A GOOGLE SEARCH OR
SEARCHING THE JOB.
>> FOR LIBRARIAN PAULA TONN
ACCESS TO KEY.
SHE SAYS LIBRARIES ARE SUPPOSED
TO BE THE GREAT DEMOCRATIC
EQUALIZERS.
>> THE SCHOOL LIBRARY IS
CHANGING.
IT IS NO LONGER JUST A PLACE IN
A BUILDING.
IT'S ANYWHERE, IN THE BUILDING
AND AT HOME.
AND SO WE'VE SPENT MANY, MANY
YEARS TRYING TO INTEGRATE THE
LIBRARY WITH THE STUDENTS' DAILY
EXPERIENCE, BOTH IN SCHOOL AND
OUT OF SCHOOL.
>> THAT WAS MARIS WOJCIK
REPORTING.
THE LEGISLATION WOULD SEEK TO
INVEST DOLLARS LESS CONSERVATIVE
AND ELIMINATE A STATE LOAN
PROGRAM FOR GOVERNMENTS AND
SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
GOVERNOR SCOTT WALKER HAS
DECLINED TO WALL A SPECIAL
ELECTION IN TWO DISTRICTS WHERE
LEGHTLEGISLATORS LEFT OFFICE LATE
LAST YEAR.
DISTRICTS 1 AND 42 WILL HAVE TO
VOTE UNTIL NOVEMBER OF THIS YEAR
TO FILL THE SEATS.
WHOEVER WINS WON'T BE SWORN IN
UNTIL JANUARY.
IN TONIGHT'S WISCONTEXT
REPORTING THAT LOOKS BACK OVER
NEARLY 50 YEARS OF 105 SPECIAL
ELECTIONS IN WISCONSIN, FINDS
SCOTT WALKER'S DECISION IS
UNPRECEDENTED.
REPORTER SCOTT GORDON IS HERE.
THANKS A LOT FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> SO IN YOU RORGT YOU SAY REPORTING YOU SAY
IT'S NORMAL FOR GOVERNORS TO
CALL SPECIAL ELECTIONS QUICKLY.
IT REALLY SEEMS LIKE HE'S NOT
JUST CHALLENGING THAT NORM.
HE HAS SET A NEW RECORD IN THIS
REGARD.
DESCRIBE HOW.
>> WELL, THAT'S WHAT IT SEEMS
LIKE BASED ON ALL THE DAT DATA THAT
WE COULD PULL TOGETHER ON WHEN
LEGISLATIVE SEATS HAVE BEEN
VACATED AND WHEN GOVERNORS HAVE
DECIDED TO CALL AN ELECTION OR
NOT TO FILL IT.
TYPICALLY SPEAK ONING, SPEAKING, GOING BACK
TO THE EARLY 1970s, PEOPLE
HAVE ACTED PRETTY QUICKLY ABOUT
THIS.
THE GOVERNOR HAS SOME DISCRETION
UNDER STATE LAW, BUT GENERALLY
THEY'VE DONE THIS REALLY FAST,
YOU KNOW, WITHIN A FEW WEEKS,
SOMETIMES CALLING IT, YOU KNOW,
THE DAY ON OR BEFORE A
LEGISLATOR'S RESIGNATION BECOMES
EFFECTIVE IF THEY'VE HAD ADVANCE
NOTICE OF THAT.
SO LEAVING A LEGISLATIVE SEAT
OPEN FOR EFFECTIVELY MORE THAN A
YEAR, WE COULDN'T FIND AN
EXAMPLE OF THAT.
AND WE ALSO ASKED THE GOVERNOR'S
OFFICE IF THEY KNEW OF A
PRECEDENT OF THAT AND THEY
DECLINED TO OFFER ONE.
>> WHAT DID THE GOVERNOR'S
OFFICE SAY WAS THE RATIONALE FOR
NOT CALLING THESE TWO SPECIAL
ELECTIONS IN A MORE TIMELY
FASHION?
>> WELL, THEY'VE GOT A FEW
TALKING POINTS THAT WE'VE STUCK
TO PRETTY CONSISTENTLY
THROUGHOUT THIS STORY AS IT'S
PLAYED OUT IN DIFFERENT OUTLETS.
ONE IS THAT TECHNICALLY THEY
BELIEVE THE STATE STATUTE
GOVERNING SPECIAL ELECTIONS
ALLOWS THEM TO DO THAT AND
THAT'S HIGHLY DEPENDENT ON HOW
YOU INTERPRET THE WORDING OF THE
STATUTE.
THEY ALSO ARGUE THAT THEY CAN'T
JUSTIFY SPENDING PUBLIC FUNDS ON
HAVING SPECIAL ELECTIONS.
AND THEY'VE ALSO POINTED OUT
THAT THE LEGISLATIVE STAFF WILL
STILL BE WORKING IN THOSE
DISTRICTS.
>> ONE THING THAT BRINGS TO MIND
IS HOW EXPENSIVE IS IT TO DO A
SPECIAL ELECTION?
>> WELL, THE THING IS WE
COULDN'T FIND A REALLY GOOD,
SOLID FIGURE ON THAT BECAUSE
ACCORDING TO THE WISCONSIN
ELECTIONS COMMISSION, IT TURNS
INTO A VERY APPLES AND ORANGES
THING DEPENDING ON THE TURNOUT
AND CIRCUMSTANCES OF AN
ELECTION.
WE WERE BASICALLY TOLD CERTAINLY
IT COST A FEW THOUSAND DOLLARS,
BUT IT'S GOING TO DEPEND ON
WHERE THAT IS AND THE STATE
DOESN'T ALWAYS GATHER THAT DATA.
>> SO THAT'S WHAT THE GOVERNOR'S
OFFICE TELLS YOU.
WHAT ARE OTHER PEOPLE SAYING
ABOUT WHY THE GOVERNOR MIGHT NOT
HAVE CALLED FOR THESE SPECIAL
ELECTIONS?
>> WELL, THERE'S OBVIOUSLY A LOT
OF SPECULATION ABOUT ARE THE
REPUBLICANS WORRIED ABOUT A
DEMOCRAT COMING IN AND FLIPPING
EITHER OF THESE SEATS, WHICH IS
WHAT HAPPENED WITH DISTRICT 10
JUST EARLIER THIS MONTH.
AND SO THERE'S -- YEAH.
THERE'S THE CONCERN THAT IT'S
BASED MORE ON PARTISAN POLITICS
THAN ANYTHING ELSE.
>> AND YET THAT SENATE ELECTION
IN DISTRICT 10 HAPPENED AFTER
THIS, RIGHT?
HAPPENED AFTER HIS DECISION TO
ALLOW THIS TO GO UNTIL THE
NOVEMBER 6 ELECTION.
>> RIGHT.
THEY HAD STAKED OUT THEIR
POSITION ON THIS BEFORE THAT
ELECTION HAPPENED.
BUT OBVIOUSLY IN OTHER STATES
THERE HAVE ALREADY BEEN SIGNS
THAT IT'S A POLITICAL CLIMATE
WHERE THESE UPSETS CAN HAPPEN.
>> LIKE VIRGINIA.
>> YEAH.
CAN'T TELL.
BUT, YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY IN THE
ATMOSPHERE THERE.
>> IN YOUR HISTORICAL LOOK BACK,
YOU DID FIND THREE OTHER
EXAMPLES WHERE SEATS WERE HELD
VACANT IN THE 200-DAY RANGE.
DID YOU FIND A POLITICAL
COMPONENT TO THOSE?
>> I WASN'T REALLY SURE.
SOME OF THEM SEEMED LIKE
INSTANCES WHERE THE LEGISLATIVE
SEASON WOULD HAVE BEEN WRAPPING
UP BY THE TIME THEY WERE ABLE TO
GET A NEW PERSON IN OFFICE.
AND THAT'S ANOTHER JUSTIFICATION
THAT'S BEEN OFFERED IN THIS CASE
AS WELL.
MOST OF THE ACTUAL VOTING AND
STUFF WILL BE OVER FOR THE YEAR
BEFORE YOU COULD LEGALLY ELECT
AND SEAT NEW PEOPLE IN THESE
DISTRICTS NO MATTER HOW YOU DID
IT.
BUT WE DIDN'T REALLY GET A
CHANCE TO DELVE TOO MUCH INTO
WHAT THE MOTIVATIONS WOULD HAVE
BEEN FOR THOSE PARTICULAR CASES.
BUT THOSE WERE OUTLIERS, AND THE
VACANCY THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE
NOW IN THESE TWO SEATS IS AN
OUTLIER TO THOSE.
>> RIGHT.
IN DISTRICTS 1 AND 42, THEY'RE
VACANT UNTIL JANUARY OF 2019.
WHO'S REPRESENTING THE VOTERS'
INTEREST IN THOSE?
>> FOR THE PEOPLE WHO FAVOR
LEAVING THOSE SEATS OPEN FOR THE
TIME BEING, THE LINE IS THAT
LEGISLATIVE STAFF ARE TAKING
CARE OF THAT.
OF COURSE, LEGISLATIVE STAFF ARE
OFTEN VERY CAPABLE, BUT IT'S NOT
THE SAME AS HAVING AN ACTUAL
ELECTED REPRESENTATIVE.
>> ALL RIGHT.
AND YOU HAVE A LITTLE COMPANION
REPORTING ON THIS, KIND OF
BEHIND-THE-SCENES OF HOW YOU
GATHERED ALL THIS INFORMATION.
>> THAT'S CORRECT.
>> AND PEOPLE CAN LOOK FOR THAT
AT wiscontext.org.
LOOK FOR SCOTT'S COMPLETE REPORT
AT wiscontext.org.
>> NOW FOR A CLOSER LOOK AT A
WISCONSIN STORY THAT HAS ITS
ROOTS IN PUERTO RICO.
SPECIFICALLY, THE DAMAGE DONE IN
PUERTO RICO IN THE WAKE OF
HURRICANE MARIA LAST FALL, WHEN
MAJOR MANUFACTURERS OF IV BAGS
WERE DESTROYED, HALTING THE
EXPORT OF THOSE FROM PUERTO RICO
TO THE U.S. AND WORLD.
SUPPLIES ARE STILL LIMITED.
STATE HOSPITALS ARE TAKING STEPS
TO CONSERVE IV SOLUTION.
THE WISCONSIN HOSPITAL
ASSOCIATION REPORTS THAT SOME
HEALTH CARE FACILITIES ARE NOW
RATIONING IV SOLUTIONS BAGS.
AN SOARCHGANN ZENK IS AN RN.
THANKS FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> THIS HURRICANE HAPPENED IN
SEPTEMBER AND THERE HAVE BEEN
SHORTAGES SINCE THEN, GETTING
WORSE BIER THE DAY.
WHAT IS IT LIKE RIGHT NOW?
>> RIGHT NOW HOSPITALS ARE
CONTINUING TO BE ABLE TO COPE IN
WISCONSIN WITHOUT IT IMPACTING
DIRECTLY ON PATIENT CARE.
BUT THAT MEANS THEY'RE GOING TO
MAKE A LOT OF CONSERVATION
EFFORTS.
>> AND SO IT'S DESCRIBED AS
CONSERVATION EFFORTS AND
RATIONING.
WE KIND OF TAKE IT FOR GRANTED
THAT HOSPITALS ARE GOING TO HAVE
ALL OF THE MEDICAL SUPPLIES THAT
ARE NEEDED.
BUT HAVE HOSPITALS EVER SEEN
ANYTHING LIKE THIS?
>> WE'VE SEEN MEDICATION AND IV
FLUID SHORTAGES IN THE PAST.
I THINK THE DIFFERENCE IN THIS
SHORTAGE IS IT'S BEEN OF SUCH
LONG DURATION.
>> HAS THE FLU SEASON MADE
THINGS WORSE?
>> IT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO.
IT HASN'T SEEMED TO HAVE
IMPACTED IT YOAT.
YET.
BUT JUST LIKE THIS SHORTAGE HAS
BEEN GOING ON FOR A LONG
DURATION, IF FLU SEASON IS
EXTENDED, THAT COULD IMPACT IT.
>> THE CONSERVING.
WHAT ARE HOSPITALS DOING AS
ALTERNATIVES TO IV SOLUTIONS?
>> THE ORIGINAL SHORTAGE STARTED
WITH IV MINI BAGS, THOSE LITTLE
BAGS YOU SEE HANGING FROM THE IV
POLE THAT WE PUT THE MEDICATION
IN.
HOSPITALS AREN'T USING THOSE.
THEY'RE USING SYRINGES INSTEAD
OR THEY'RE USING BIGGER BAGS.
>> AND SO WHAT IS THAT LIKE FOR
BOTH THE PROVIDERS AND THE
PATIENTS?
>> SURE.
SO FOR THE PROVIDERS IT'S MUCH
MORE LABOR INTENSIVE.
INSTEAD OF HANGING A BAG AND
THEN GOING TO CHECK ON OTHER
PATIENTS, PERHAPS, A NURSE HAS
TO REMAIN BY THE BETCIDE.
FOR PATIENTS THEN THEY WOULD
EXPERIENCE IT AS STAFF BEING AT
THEIR BEDSIDE FOR LONGER
PERIODS.
IF YOU'RE A CANCER PATIENT WHO'S
GETTING CONTINUED CARE, INSTEAD
OF A NURSE COMING IN AND HANGING
THE BAG, YOU MAY HAVE QUESTIONS
ABOUT WHY ARE YOU DOING WITH A
SYRINGE INSTEAD?
>> IT'S GOT TO BE DIFFICULT IN
BUSY HOSPITAL CARE CENTERS WHERE
THE NURSES AND STAFF ARE REALLY
HAVING TO SPEND SO MUCH MORE
TIME.
WHAT'S THAT LIKE ON THE FLOOR?
>> YEAH.
ON THE FLOOR WHAT WE'VE
EXPERIENCED IS THAT, YOU KNOW,
NURSE MANAGERS MAYBE HAVE TO
SCHEDULE DIFFERENTLY, SCHEDULE
MORE NURSES ON A SHIFT.
IN OUR PHARMACIES, THE PHARMACY
TECHNOLOGIST AND THE PHARMACIST
MAY HAVE TO WORK LONGER HOURS,
USE DIFFERENT SUPPLIES.
IT'S BEEN LABOR AND
SUPPLY-INTENSIVE.
>> HAS IT GOTTEN TO THE . WHERE
PEOPLE HAVE TO RESCHEDULE
PROCEDURES OR GO TO DIFFERENT
HOSPITALS OR FACILITIES?
>> NO.
I THINK OUR HOSPITALS HAVE DONE
A GREAT JOB PREVENTING THAT FROM
HAPPENING.
>> YET WHAT ARE THEY SAYING?
>> THEY'RE SAYING WE SURE HOPE
THIS IS OVER SOON.
THE CONSERVATION STRATEGIES --
AND THAT'S PART OF THE REASON
THAT WE DID DO THIS SURVEY.
WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR
HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS ARE
BEING ABLE TO COPE WITH THOSE
SHORTAGES WITHOUT HAVING TO
DELAY TREATMENT OR RESCHEDULE
CARE.
AND SO FAR WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO
COPE.
>> MEANWHILE, WHAT CAN BE DONE
ABOUT THIS?
>> RIGHT.
RIGHT.
AT A LOCAL LEVEL, AT THE BEDSIDE
LEVEL, WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE
THOSE CONSERVATION STRATEGIES TO
MAKE SURE PATIENTS GET THE CARE
THEY NEED.
KIND OF AT THE NEXT LEVEL UP,
WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE DOING
WHAT WE ALWAYS DO IN WISCONSIN,
AND THAT'S HELPING OUR
NEIGHBORS.
SO HOSPITALS SHARE SUPPLIES TO
MAKE SURE THAT LASTS.
>> WHAT ABOUT THE FOOD AND DRUG
ADMINISTRATION AT THE FEDERAL
LEVEL?
ARE THEY DOING ENOUGH, IN YOUR
MIND?
>> RIGHT.
THE FDA CONTROLS THE IV SUPPLIES
AND WHO CAN MANUFACTURE THEM.
AND WE ARE SEEING KIND OF THE
END IN SIGHT BECAUSE THE FDA HAS
APPROVED ADDITIONAL
MANUFACTURERS OUTSIDE OF PUERTO
RICO AND NOW THOSE MANUFACTURERS
EITHER AS WE SPEAK OR VERY SOON
ARE GOING TO START SHIPPING
THOSE SUPPLIES.
>> COULDN'T COME SOON ENOUGH,
I'M ASSUMING.
SO WHAT HAPPENS IF THE SHORTAGE
GETS WORSE?
>> AS THE SHORTAGE GETS WORSE, I
THINK THAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE
HOSPITALS CONTINUE TO BE
CREATIVE, HOSPITALS AND HEALTH
CARE PROFESSIONALS CONTINUE TO
BE CREATIVE ABOUT THE MITIGATION
STRATEGIES THAT THEY USE.
I THINK THAT IN THAT CASE, YOU
KNOW, WE MAY URGE ADDITIONAL
ACTIONS BY THE FDA TO NOT JUST
SOLVE THIS CURRENT SHORTAGE, BUT
ALSO WE NEED TO STABILIZE THIS
FOR THE FUTURE AND MAKE SURE
THAT WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, IN THE
GREAT HEALTH CARE THAT WE HAVE
IN WISCONSIN, THAT WE ALSO HAVE
READY SUPPLIES IN A RELIABLE
FASHION.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
ALL RIGHT.
ANN ZENK, THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> THIS FOLLOW-UP NOW ON
LANDOWNERS IN RACINE COUNTY AND
REPORTING WE DID LAST SUMMER
ABOUT THEIR OPTIONS TO SELL TO
FOXCONN.
>> THEY DID APPROACH, ASKED IF I
WOULD BE INTERESTED IN SELLING.
>> THIS WAS FARMER TOM FLIESS IN
JULY.
THIS WEEK IT'S REPORTED FLIESS
DID SELL, 380 ACRES IN MOUNT
PLEASANT TO FOXCONN.
PRICE TAG?
$18 MILLION.
HIS SON ALSO SOLD 147 ACRES TO
FOXCONN FOR $7 MILLION.
THE COMPANY WAS OFFERING $50,000
AN ACRE, WAY OVER THE FORMER
MARKET VALUE.
ALSO THIS WEEK, FOXCONN
ANNOUNCED IT HAD PURCHASED AN
OFFICE BUILDING IN DOWNTOWN
MILWAUKEE FROM NORTHWEST MUTUAL.
>> FOXCONN SAYS IT WILL SERVE AS
ITS CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS IN
WISCONSIN.
>> NOW TO A DIFFERENT ECONOMIC
STORY.
ACCORDING TO THE U.S. GEOLOGIC
SURVEY PRODUCTION OF FRAC SAND
HAS INCREASED MORE THAN 36% IN
THE PAST YEAR AND FOR A SECOND
YEAR IN A ROW WISCONSIN LEADS
THE NATION IN PRODUCTION OF THE
SAND USED TO HYDRAULIC DRILLING
FOR OIL.
IN 2017, WISCONSIN PRODUCED $1.5
BILLION WORTH OF MINERALS, MOST
OF WHICH WAS INDUSTRIAL SAND.
WISCONSIN IS LOOKING OVER ITS
SHOULDER AS A FRAC SAND BOOM IS
NOW TAKING SHAPE IN WEST TEXAS.
FINALLY TONIGHT, A LOOK AHEAD TO
NEXT WEEK, WHEN WE WILL BRING
YOU HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE STATE OF
THE TRIBES ADDRESS.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED, IN PART, BY FRIENDS OF
WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISION.
>> FOR MORE INFORMATION ON "HERE
AND NOW'S" 2018 ELECTION
COVERAGE, GO TO
wisconsinvote.org.