>> 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
MAYOR OF NEENAH, DEAN KAUFE.
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 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, TYING 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 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 BEFUDDLES 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 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 800 STUDENTS AND TRANSFERS 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 LIBRARIANS ARE SOUNDING THE ALARM OVER
POTENTIAL LOSS OF THE STATE DOLLARS, WHILE AUTHORS SAY IT
WILL GIVE SCHOOLS MORE FLEXIBILITY AND CONTROL.
MARISA 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.
WAUSAU EAST HIGH SCHOOL'S PAULA HAYES 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 GUARANTEE.
>> 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 RESOURCES
WE PRIORITIZE UNDER A PLANNING PROCESS, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE'RE
VERY COMFORTABLE 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, 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 MARISA 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 WHOSE LEGISLATORS LEFT OFFICE
LATE LAST YEAR FOR JOBS IN THE GOVERNOR'S ADMINISTRATION
DISTRICTS 1 AND 42 WILL HAVE TO WAIT 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 YOUR 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 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 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 THEY'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.
ANN 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 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 BEDSIDE.
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. org.