>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS PART
OF OUR "HERE AND NOW" 2018
WISCONSIN VOTE ELECTION C
OVERAGE.
>> I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW," THE
AFTERMATH OF THE SCHOOL SHOOTING
TRAGEDY IN FLORIDA, INCLUDING A
CLOSER LOOK AT FUNDING FOR
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IN
WISCONSIN.
A LOOK AHEAD TO A WETLANDS
DEREGULATION BILL HEADED TO THE
STATE SENATE NEXT WEEK.
THEN MORE CAPITOL INSIGHT WITH
WPR'S SHAWN JOHNSON, A WEEK OF
HEAVY LIFTING AT THE L
EGISLATURE.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR
FEBRUARY 16.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED, IN PART, BY FRIENDS OF
WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISION.
>> 17 DEAD, 14 WOUNDED.
GRIM NUMBERS IN THE AFTERMATH OF
THE HORRIFIC SCHOOL SHOOTING IN
FLORIDA ON WEDNESDAY.
PRESIDENT TRUMP SPOKE TO THE
TRAGEDY ON THURSDAY.
>> TO EVERY PARENT, TEACHER AND
CHILD WHO IS HURTING SO BADLY,
WE ARE HERE FOR YOU, WHATEVER
YOU NEED, WHATEVER WE CAN DO TO
EASE YOUR PAIN.
WE ARE ALL JOINED TOGETHER AS
ONE AMERICAN FAMILY.
AND YOUR SUFFERING IS OUR B
URDEN, ALSO.
NO CHILD, NO TEACHER, SHOULD
EVER BE IN DANGER IN AN AMERICAN
SCHOOL.
>> HERE'S WHAT WISCONSIN'S U.S.
SENATORS HAD TO SAY ABOUT THE
PARKLAND SCHOOL SHOOTING,
STARTING WITH DEMOCRAT TAMMY
BALDWIN, WHO SAID MY HEART
BREAKS FOR THE VICTIMS OF S
ENSELESS GUN VIOLENCE IN
BROWARD COUNTY.
THIS IS ANOTHER TRAGEDY OUR
NATION MUST CONFRONT.
REPUBLICAN RON JOHNSON TWEETED,
HORRIFIED BY THE SENSELESS ACT
OF VIOLENCE IN FLORIDA TODAY.
MY PRAYERS GO OUT TO ALL THE
FAMILIES A I
FAMILIES AFFECTED.
>> IN THE AFTERMATH OF THIS W
EEK'S SHOOTING IN FLORIDA, THE
DEBATE OVER GUNS AROSE AGAIN, AS
IT DOES WITH EACH SUCCESSIVE
MASS SHOOTING AND LOSS OF LIFE.
MANY POLITICIANS PIVOTED TO THE
ROLE OF MENTAL HEALTH IN SUCH
CRIMES.
IN TONIGHT'S CLOSER LOOK WE TALK
ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH AND WHETHER
THERE ARE GAPS IN FUNDING OR
ACCESS.
WE ARE JOINED BY NATE SCHORR,
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE
NATIONAL ALLIANCE ON MENTAL
ILLNESS, WISCONSIN.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> IT WAS POLITICIANS INCLUDING
PRESIDENT TRUMP, SENATOR RYAN
AND GOVERNOR WALKER TALKING
ABOUT THEIR REACTION TO THIS
SCHOOL IN PARTICULAR.
HOW DOES WISCONSIN FARE IN TERMS
OF ITS FUNDING FOR MENTAL H
EALTH?
>> WELL, IT'S A COMPLICATED
QUESTION WHICH WILL HAVE SORT OF
A COMPLICATED ANSWER.
AND I THINK THAT MENTAL HEALTH
IS SOMETHING THAT THERE'S NO ONE
TREATMENT OR THERE'S NO ONE
SPECIFIC THING THAT WE'RE
PUSHING FOR OR THAT'S GOING TO
MAKE THE PEOPLE OF WISCONSIN
THAT ARE AFFECTED BY MENTAL
ILLNESS, THAT'S GOING TO SOLVE
THAT FOR THEM.
SO I THINK THAT THERE ARE
CERTAINLY THINGS THAT WISCONSIN
IS DOING WELL AND THERE'S
CERTAINLY THINGS THAT WISCONSIN
DOES ALLOCATE MONEY TOWARD THAT
DOES MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE FOR
THE PEOPLE OF WISCONSIN THAT ARE
AFFECTED BY MENTAL ILLNESS.
BUT I THINK WHAT IT REALLY COMES
DOWN TO IS ULTIMATELY THERE'S SO
MUCH MORE THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE
AND THERE'S SO MUCH MORE THAT WE
DO WANT TO FOCUS ON AND ALLOCATE
MONEY AND TIME AND ENERGY
TOWARDS AND ALSO RESHAPE
PEOPLE'S PERSPECTIVE OF WHAT IT
MEANS TO BE AFFECTED BY MENTAL
ILLNESS.
>> I'VE READ THAT FLORIDA IN
PARTICULAR HAS A REAL FUNDING
GAP IN TERMS OF SPENDING FOR
MENTAL HEALTH INITIATIVES.
DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW
WISCONSIN COMPARES?
>> I DON'T HAVE AS MUCH OF A
PERSPECTIVE -- I'M OBVIOUSLY A
LITTLE BIT MORE FOCUSED ON
WHAT'S GOING ON HERE IN
WISCONSIN.
WHEN I DO SPEAK TO COLLEAGUES IN
OTHER STATES, I KNOW THAT THERE
ARE CERTAIN THINGS THAT
WISCONSIN IS DEFINITELY A LEADER
IN.
THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS THAT
WISCONSIN DOESN'T DO AS WELL.
BUT I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, A
LOT OF MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCACY
WAS REALLY CHAMPIONED HERE IN
WISCONSIN.
MY ORGANIZATION, NAMI, WAS
FOUNDED HERE IN MADISON 40 YEARS
AGO.
WHEN YOU COMPARE TO THAT OTHER
STATE ORGANIZATIONS WITHIN NAMI,
YOU'LL SEE IN GENERAL NAM I
-WISCONSIN REALLY BENEFITS FROM
A COMMUNITY THAT AT LEAST
COMPARATIVELY IS INVESTED IN THE
MENTAL HEALTH OF ITS COMMUNITY.
>> I KNOW THAT RECENT STATE
BUDGETS HAVE INCREASED FUNDING
FOR MENTAL HEALTH, BUT WHERE
WOULD YOU REGARD THIS KIND OF
FUNDING IS NEEDED MOST IN
WISCONSIN?
>> YEAH.
AND THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT
DIRECTIONS THA THAT YOU COULD GO
WITH THAT.
THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT
WISCONSIN HAS BEEN DOING REALLY
WELL.
ONE THING IN PARTICULAR THAT
WE'RE ONLY GOING TO SEE MORE AND
MORE INVESTMENT IN AND I THINK
THAT IS CERTAINLY IMPORTANT FOR
US IS CRISIS INTERVENTION
TRAINING, WHICH IS A 40-HOUR,
WEEK-LONG TRAINING FOR LAW
ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS TO BETTER
UNDERSTAND HOW TO INTERACT AND
WORK WITH PEOPLE THAT ARE
EXPERIENCING SOME SORT OF MENTAL
HEALTH CRISIS OR SOME SORT OF
MENTAL HEALTH EPISODE.
>> I KNOW THAT THE SHERIFF IN
BROWARD COUNTY WAS QUOTED AS
SAYING IT'S A PRETTY GOOD
ASSUMPTION THAT THE SHOOTER HAD
UNSPECIFIED MENTAL HEALTH I
SSUES.
HOW COULD MENTAL HEALTH
TREATMENT HELP PREVENT WHAT
HAPPENED IN FLORIDA?
>> I THINK AN IMPORTANT WAY FOR
US TO MAYBE FRAME THAT
CONVERSATION OR LOOK AT THAT
CONVERSATION IS THAT WOMEN -- PEOPLE
WITH MENTAL ILLNESS ARE NO MORE
LIKELY TO PERPETRATE VIOLENT
CRIMES THAN THE GENERAL
POPULATION AND IN FACT PEOPLE
WITH MENTAL ILLNESS ARE
SIGNIFICANTLY MORE LIKELY TO BE
VICTIMS OF VIOLENT CRIMES, AND
PARTICULARLY WITH GUN VIOLENCE
AS IT RELATES TO SUICIDE
ATTEMPTS.
AND SO I THINK WHEN IT COMES TO
A SITUATION LIKE WHAT JUST
HAPPENED, THESE ARE TERRIBLE
EVENTS, BUT WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE
TRY TO DO IS TO TRY TO MAKE
SENSE OF THE SITUATION, YOU TRY
TO LOOK FOR -- TO PUT PEOPLE IN
A BOX AND TRY TO PUT THINGS IN A
WAY THAT MAKES SENSE TO THEM,
WHEN IT'S OBVIOUSLY A LOT MORE
COMPLICATED THAN A SPECIFIC
PERSON'S DIAGNOSIS.
SO I THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT
TO FRAME THE CONVERSATION A WAY
THAT ISN'T DEMONIZING PEOPLE
WITH MENTAL ILLNESS.
>> SURE, BUT THERE WERE RED
FLAGS IN TERMS OF BEHAVIOR THAT
ARE LEARNED IN HINDSIGHT IN THIS
KIND OF SITUATION AS IN FLORIDA.
>> RIGHT.
>> SO WHO IS IT INCUMBENT UPON
TO GET SOMEONE HELP BEFORE THAT
KIND OF THING HAPPENS?
>> AND, AGAIN, THERE'S A LOT
THAT GOES INTO THAT QUESTION.
I THINK THAT ONE OF THE THINGS
THAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO HERE IN
WISCONSIN IS THERE IS A HUGE
PUSH FOR EARLY INTERVENTION WITH
PEOPLE THAT ARE EXPERIENCING
MENTAL HEALTH.
THERE IS A LOT OF MONEY IN OUR
-- AN INCREASE IN FUNDING IN OUR
MOST RECENT STATE BUDGET
ALLOCATED TOWARD MENTAL HEALTH
INTERVENTION AND SCREENING IN
SCHOOLS, WHICH IS VERY I
MPORTANT.
I THINK THAT THERE'S A LOT OF
YOUNG CHILDREN, A LOT OF YOUTH
AND A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE STATE
OF WISCONSIN AS A WHOLE THAT ARE
AFFECTED BY MENTAL ILLNESS THAT
AREN'T GETTING ACCESS TO THE
TREATMENT THAT THEY NEED WHEN
THEY ARE CERTAINLY EXPERIENCING
SOME SORT OF, YOU KNOW, MENTAL
HEALTH CONDITION.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WE LEAVE IT THERE.
DIFFICULT DISCUSSIONS.
NATE SCHORR, THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> HEY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
HAVING ME.
>> IT'S A SPRINT TO THE FINISH
FOR LAWMAKERS AS THEY TRY TO
PASS MAJOR PIECES OF LEGISLATION
BEFORE THE SESSION ENDS IN M
ARCH.
IN TONIGHT'S CAPITOL INSIGHT WE
CHECK IN WPR'S SHAWN JOHNSON W
HO'S BEEN RUNNING AS FAST AS HE
CAN TO COVER THE BILL PASSING
DASH.
SO DESCRIBE WHAT THAT BILL
PASSING DASH IS LIKE UP THERE.
>> IT'S KIND OF CRAZY.
THERE WAS A DAY LAST WEEK WHEN
YOU TAKE EXECUTIVE SESSIONS OF
COMMITTEES, THE TIMES WHEN THEY
VOTE ON BILLS, PUBLIC HEARINGS,
WHEN THEY TAKE PUBLIC TESTIMONY
ON BILLS, THERE WERE LIKE 30 OF
THOSE IN ONE DAY LAST WEEK.
SO PRETTY MUCH IMPOSSIBLE TO
KEEP TRACK AT ALL OF THEM.
LOOK AT THE THURSDAY SESSION D
AY, THEY HAD ONE COMMITTEE
WHERE THEY FORMALLY INTRODUCED A
BILL, HELD A PUBLIC HEARING ON
IT AND VOTED ON IT IN THE
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE.
THEN THEY DASHED OFF TO THE
FLOOR AND THEY RIPPED THROUGH
THE ASSEMBLY CALENDAR THERE AND
A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT TOPICS.
THAT'S CIEFNED WHAT
THAT'S KIND OF WHAT IT'S LIKE.
>> YOU JUST MENTIONED THE
LINCOLN HILLS BILL.
WHAT ELSE ARE THEY DOING?
>> YOU'VE GOT THE GOVERNOR'S
WELFARE SPECIAL SESSION BILLS.
THE ASSEMBLY WENT THROUGH TEN OF
THOSE.
THE SENATE HASN'T TAKEN THOSE UP
YET.
BUT THEY'RE OUT OF THE ASSEMBLY
NOW.
A BUNCH OF FOSTER CARE BILLS
THAT HAD BIPARTISAN SUPPORT A
LSO.
YOU HAD A BIG WETLANDS BILL THAT
WOULD MAKE IT EASIER FOR
DEVELOPERS TO FILL STATE
WETLANDS.
THAT'S PRETTY CONTENTIOUS AS
WELL.
THAT PASSED THE ASSEMBLY.
>> THE JUVENILE CORRECTION BILL
CALLS FOR CLOSING LINCOLN HILLS
AND COPPER LAKE CORRECTIONAL
FACILITIES AND REPLACING THEM
WITH FACILITIES IN COUNTIES
ACROSS THE STATE.
THE PLAN IS BIPARTISAN.
IT WAS ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK BY
ASSEMBLY SPEAKER RUSS FEINGOLD. -- ROBIN VOS.
EVAN GOYKE WORKED ON THAT BILL
AND WAS THERE FOR THE
ANNOUNCEMENT AS WELL.
>> THE BASIC IDEA IS TO SAY THAT
WE NEED TO HAVE A FACILITY THAT
CONTINUES TO TAKE CARE OF THE
WORST OF THE WORST BUT OUR GOAL
HAS ALWAYS BEEN TO MAKE SURE
THAT ANY JUVENILE WHO COMMITS AN
OAFS AN
OFFENSE HAS A CHANCE TO
REHABILITATE THEMSELVES.
>> WE'RE AT THE END OF THE
SESSION, SO TIME IS OF THE
ESSENCE TO GET THIS SIGNED INTO
LAW BEFORE WE RECESS.
THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT WE CAN GET
THIS DONE.
THE ONLY DOUBT IS IF WE WILL GET
IT DONE.
IT TAKES THE POLITICAL WILL OF
THE MAJORITY PARTY.
YOU SAW TODAY THE ASSEMBLY HAS A
BIPARTISAN GROUP PUSHING THIS.
WE NEED TO GET IT THROUGH THE
ASSEMBLY, SENATE AND SIGNED BY
THE GOV.
>> AND AS TO WHETHER IT WILL GET
DONE, LEADER SCOTT FITZGERALD
THREW A LITTLE COLD WATER ON
THAT THIS WEEK.
WHEN HE WAS ASKED ABOUT LINCOLN
HILLS, HE SAID THAT WOULD BE A
BIG LIFT.
>> I MEAN, IN CONCEPT I AGREE
WITH IT.
IT'S JUST A MATTER OF CAN YOU --
THAT'S A BIG LIFT BEFORE THE END
OF SESSION.
AND WE'VE HAD THESE DISCUSSIONS
DURING THE BUDGET ABOUT JUST NOT
JUST JUVENILE, BUT ALSO DOC AND
NEW FACILITIES.
>> ADD TO THAT SPEAKER VOS THREW
A A LITTLE OF HIS OWN SHADE.
>> EVERY MAJOR PROPOSAL IS A BIG
LIFT.
THAT WAS THE WHOLE POINT.
FOR US, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON
IT FOR A WHILE.
WE'VE HAD AUTHORSHIP.
I GUESS IN MY EXPERIENCE IF YOU
HAVE THE BUY-IN FROM ALL FOUR
CAUCUSES, IT SEEMS LIKE IT
SHOULD MAKE IT A LIFT, BUT MAYBE
NOT AS BIG.
>> AND THEN YOU HAD THIS FROM
THE GOVERNOR, WHO WANTS THIS
DONE THIS SESSION AND BEFORE THE
ELECTION.
>> I THINK SO FAR THE RESPONSE
HAS BEEN POSITIVE, BUT I WANT TO
MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S ENOUGH
TIME TO GET THIS THROUGH NOT
JUST THE ASSEMBLY, BUT THE
SENATE, AND IT'S SOMETHING WE
STRESS TO SENATOR FITZGERALD AND
OTHERS.
WE WANT TO GET THIS DONE.
WE THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO GET
THIS DONE YET THIS SESSION.
>> FOR HIS PART, THE ASSEMBLY
MINORITY LEADER DESCRIBED THE
BREEK
BREAKNECK PACE OF TRYING TO PASS
A BUNCH OF LEGISLATION IN THE
GOVERNOR'S AGENDA, LIKE THE $100
CHILD TAX CREDIT.
HE CALLED THIS PART OF THE
REPUBLICAN 2018 REGRET AGENDA.
AND YET IS THE MINORITY BEING A
LITTLE BIT MARGINALIZED NOW
BECAUSE THEY HAVE THESE PRETTY
MAJOR BILLS, THE FOSTER CARE
BILL AND THE JUVENILE
CORRECTIONS REFORM BILL, THAT
ARE BIPARTISAN.
WHERE DOES THAT LEAVE KIND OF
THE MINORITY WHEN THAT'S THEIR
ROLE, TO KIND OF NOT LIKE THE
STUFF IN THE GOVERNOR'S AGENDA?
>> YEAH.
ESPECIALLY WITH THE LINCOLN
HILLS, THE JUVENILE CORRECTIONS
BILL, THAT IS ABOUT AS
BIPARTISAN OF ANY BILL THAT
WE'VE SEEN UP THERE IN SOME TIME
IN THE ASSEMBLY.
YOU LOOK AT THE PUBLIC HEARING
ON THAT ISSUE.
THAT IS A POTENTIAL POLITICAL
LIABILITY FOR THE GOVERNOR IN AN
ELECTION YEAR AND YET POLITICS
REALLY DID NOT SEEP INTO THAT
PARTICULAR HEARING.
THEY'RE DEFINITELY ONBOARD WITH
THAT.
THAT SAID, WE COULD GO THROUGH
PROBABLY A MUCH LONGER LIST OF
BILLS WHERE THE MINORITY PARTY
HAS BEEN MARGINALIZED, THEIR
VOICE HASN'T BEEN HEARD AND THEY
CAN SAY WE ARE AT ODDS WITH
REPUBLICANS ON THIS STUFF.
>> IN TERMS OF THE GOVERNOR'S
AGENDA, WHETHER THE ASSEMBLY AND
THE SENATE CAN PASS THIS IN THE
REMAINING DAYS, DOES IT MATTER
ALL THAT MUCH POLITICALLY?
BECAUSE THE GOVERNOR COULD
ALWAYS SAY, WELL, I WANTED THIS,
RIGHT?
IF IT DOESN'T GET TO HIS DESK
AND HE DOESN'T GET TO SIGN IT,
POLITICALLY MAY NOT BE AS
IMPORTANT AS KNOWING HE WAS
PUSHING FOR IT.
>> YEAH.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT BEFORE.
HE PLANTED THAT FLAG, SAID THIS
IS MY AGENDA.
WHETHER OR NOT THE LEGISLATURE
GOES ALONG, SO WHAT.
THIS IS WHAT GOVERNOR WALKER
STANDS FOR.
IT KIND OF DEPENDS ON ISSUES,
RIGHT?
WHEN IT COMES TO THE LINCOLN
HILLS ISSUE, YOU KNOW, IF THEY
DON'T DO ANYTHING ON THAT, WE
LOOK AT RECENT HISTORY THERE,
AND THERE HAVE BEEN YEARS OF
REPORTS OF ABUSE THERE.
THEY DON'T KNOW THAT THAT'S NOT
GOING TO STOP.
THAT'S A FACILITY THAT'S BEEN
UNDER INVESTIGATION.
>> RIGHT.
>> SO JUST SAYING YOU WANT TO DO
SOMETHING THERE IS NOT GOING TO
FIX A PROBLEM.
WHEN IT COMES TO SAY THE TAX
CREDIT, THOUGH, THE GOVERNOR HAS
SAID HE WANTS A CHILD TAX C
REDIT, HE'D LIKE TO SEE A SALES
TAX HOLIDAY ALSO, BUT SEEMS TO
BE ALLUDING THAT THAT'S NOT
GOING TO HAPPEN.
BUT IF HE WANTS TO GET $100
CHECKS INTO THE HANDS OF PARENTS
IN AUGUST IN AN ELECTION YEAR,
THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO PASS
SOMETHING THERE.
>> YEAH.
SO WHAT ABOUT NEXT WEEK?
WHAT'S UP?
>> MORE CHAOS.
THE SENATE IS IN FOR THEIR ONLY
DAY IN FEBRUARY.
YOU GOT THE ASSEMBLY COULD
POTENTIALLY BE IN THREE DAYS
NEXT WEEK AND BASICALLY WRAP UP
THE REST OF THEIR JOAND. AGENDA UP.
>> SHAWN JOHNSON, THANKS A LOT.
THE STATE OF TRIBES ADDRESS TOOK
PLACE TUESDAY BEFORE THE STATE
LEGISLATURE AND GUESTS.
FORMER CHAIR GARY BESAW
DELIVERED THIS YEAR'S SPEECH, A
TALK THAT INCLUDED TRIBAL
CONCERNS ABOUT MINING AND THE
ENVIRONMENT.
>> WHEN THE MINING MORATORIUM
LAW WAS PASSED IN 1998, OR THE
PROVE IT FIRST LAW, AS IT WAS
KNOWN, IT INCLUDED A COMMON
SENSE PROVISION THAT ANY
METALLIC SULFITE MINING ATTEMPTS
IN WISCONSIN MUST FIRST PROVE
THAT THE SAME TYPE OF MINING WAS
OPERATED FOR TEN YEARS, THEN
CLOSED FOR TEN YEARS AND THERE
WAS NO ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION
OR POLLUTION EMANATING FROM IT.
SO BASICALLY WHEN TECHNOLOGY
CAUGHT UP WITH MINING AND COULD
PROVE IT COULD HAPPEN AND IT
WOULDN'T HURT US OR THE
ENVIRONMENT, WISCONSIN WOULD
AGREE TO MONITOR IT AND ALLOW I
T.
MADE SENSE.
BUT THIS YEAR, THE MINING
MORATORIUM LAW WAS REPEALED.
THIS REVERSAL OF MUCH OF THE
PROTECTIONS OF THE PROVE IT
FIRST LAW GOES AGAINST ALL OUR
KNOWLEDGE AND COMMON SENSE.
BUT AS WE SAID, WE'RE NOT
LUDDITES.
WE UNDERSTAND THE CERTAIN AMOUNT
OF RISK MIGHT BE TOLERATED IN
EXCHANGE FOR CERTAIN MINERALS
THAT HELP SOCIETY.
WE GET IT.
BUT WE DON'T THINK THAT
TECHNOLOGY DAY AS HAS COME YET.
WE AREN'T ALLOWED ETHICALLY TO
PUT OUR FUTURE BABIES' WORLD AT
HIGH RISK.
WE'RE NOT ALLOWED TO.
WE MUST LOOK AT ALTERNATIVES
SUCH AS RECYCLING OR NO MINES
NEAR WATER.
WE GOT TO FIND AN ALTERNATIVE.
WE HAVE NO CHOICE.
THAT'S OUR MORAL ETHICS AS
TRIBAL NATIONS.
AND PLEASE, WE ARE NO ONE'S
ENEMY WHEN WE OPPOSE THIS LAW
CHANGE.
WE'RE NOT DOING THIS TO ARGUE OR
MAKE ENEMIES.
THIS IS OUR MORAL GROUNDS AND WE
HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO STAND AND
HOLD THEM.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> GARY BESAW ALSO VOICED
CONCERNS OVER REDUCING STATE
REGULATION OVER CERTAIN W
ETLANDS.
WE MOVE NOW TO THE CONTROVERSIAL
BILL THAT ALLOWS DEVELOPERS TO
FILL SOME WISCONSIN WETLANDS
WITHOUT A PERMIT, WHICH IS
EXPECTED TO PASS IN THE STATE
SENATE NEXT WEEK AFTER ASSEMBLY
PASSAGE THIS WEEK.
THE MEASURE THEN HEADS TO THE
GOVERNOR'S DESK.
UNDER THE BILL, BUILDERS COULD
FILL URBAN WETLANDS WITHOUT A
PERMIT AND FILL UP TO THREE
ACRES OF RURAL WETLANDS.
DEVELOPERS COMPLAIN WISCONSIN'S
REGULATION OF WISCONSIN LANDS IS
ONEROUS.
ENVIRONMENTALISTS SAYING
ALLOWING BUILDERS TO FILL
WITHOUT PERMITS WOULD HURT WATER
QUALITY AND WORSEN FLOODING.
TONIGHT WE CHECK IN WITH AN
EXPERT, UW-MADISON PROFESSOR OF
GEOGRAPHY MORGAN ROBERTSON.
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
I UNDERSTAND THE AREA OF
WETLANDS IN WISCONSIN AT ISSUE
AS WE'VE DISCUSSED IS LIKE A
MILLION ACRES BUT THEN THE FEDS
REGULATE ANOTHER FOUR MILLION
ACRES THAT ARE CONNECTED TO
NAVIGABLE WATERWAYS.
WHY ARE WETLANDS PROTECTED?
>> WETLANDS PROTECTION HAS TWO
MAJOR JOWFIFICATIONS. -- JUSTIFICATIONS.
THEY ARE FOCUSED ON RECREATIONAL
VALUES AND THE LANDSCAPE.
THAT'S GENERALLY WHAT PEOPLE
FOCUS ON WHEN THEY TALK ABOUT
THE ENVIRONMENTAL PURPOSE OF
WETLANDS CONSERVATION.
BUT THERE'S THE PUBLIC HEALTH
FUNCTION OF WETLANDS, THAT THEY
CONCENTRATE AND SEQUESTER AND
SOMETIMES TREAT THE LANDSCAPE OF
CONTAMINANTS THAT FLOWS INTO
THEM AS LOW POINTS IN THE
LANDSCAPE.
SPECIFICALLY, THE NUTRIENT
PROBLEM THAT WE'RE FACING IN
WISCONSIN.
BECAUSE WETLANDS ARE FOCUSED
PLACES WHERE SURFACE WATER
BECOMES GROUNDWATER.
THEY'RE AN ESSENTIAL PART OF
SOLVING THE PROBLEM OF MY NITRATE
POLLUTION THAT'S AFFECTING OUR
GROUNDWATER.
>> SO THERE'S THAT.
THERE'S THEIR KIND OF CLEANING
EFFECT ON DRINKING WATER.
>> YES.
>> WHAT ABOUT HOW WETLANDS
PROTECT AGAINST FLOODING?
>> WETLANDS ARE SORT OF THE
NATURAL DETENTION BASINS IN THE
LANDSCAPE.
AS WE HAVE SEEN AN INCREASE IN
EXTREME PRECIPITATION EVENTS IN
THE STATE OVER THE RECENT
DECADES, WE'RE SEEING THE NEED
FOR GREATER DETENTION AND
GREATER ABILITY TO STORE THAT
STORMWATER ESPECIALLY IN URBAN
AREAS.
TO REDUCE FLOOD PEAKS.
IT'S A VERY CLEAR PART OF NOT
ONLY PUBLIC HEALTH, BUT PUBLIC
SAFETY AND INFRASTRUCTURE
ELEMENT.
AS YOU LOSE THOSE SMALL W
ETLANDS, YOU LOSE THE
PROTECTION AGAINST FLOODING.
>> SO WHAT COULD THAT LOOK LIKE,
SAY IF THERE WERE MANY ACRES OF
WETLANDS FILLED IN?
>> YOU'D SEE AN INCREASE IN
STORM PEAKS AND YOU WOULD SEE
THAT WATER NOT BEING ABSORBED
INTO THE GROUNDWATER AND BEING
DIRECTED INTO THE STORM SEWER
SYSTEM.
IT WOULD RESULT IN THE NEED FOR
UPGRADED SYSTEMS AND ECOLOGICAL
IMPACTS DOWNSTREAM.
>> THE BILL REQUIRES MITIGATION
BY BUILDING NEW WETLANDS OR
PAYING INTO I UNDERSTAND A DNR
WETLAND RESTORATION FUND.
WOULD THESE MEASURES MITIGATE
THE FILLING IN OF WETLANDS?
>> POTENTIALLY.
COMPENSATION FOR PERMITTED
IMPACTS HAS BEEN ALLOWED SINCE
THE LATE '70s AND THERE'S BEEN
A LONG TRACK RECORD OF EXAMINING
HOW THIS WORKS.
WISCONSIN WAS IN THE FOREFRONT
OF SKEPTICISM THAT COMPENSATION
COULD ACHIEVE THE GOAL OF
APPROPRIATELY REPLACING THE LOST
FUNCTIONS AND VALUES.
BUT SINCE 2001 WISCONSIN HAS
BEEN SORT OF IN THE BUSINESS OF
OVERSEEING COMPENSATION, THE DNR
HAS OVERSEEN COMPENSATION.
SO IT'S POSSIBLE.
I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT
THIS BILL DOES IS TO ESTABLISH A
STUDY TEAM THAT DOES HAVE THE
MISSION OF THINKING CAREFULLY
ABOUT HOW TO DO THAT A
PPROPRIATELY.
>> COULD YOU FILL IN A WETLAND
IN ONE PLACE AND MITIGATE BY
REBUILDING A MANMADE WETLAND IN
ANOTHER PLACE?
>> WELL, THAT'S BEEN THE
LONG-TERM CONVERSATION.
THERE'S SOME SKEPTICISM ABOUT
THAT.
YOU CAN IF YOU ARE VERY CAREFUL
ABOUT WHERE THAT REPLACEMENT
GOES.
YOU CAN REPLACE SOME OF THE
FUNCTIONS AND VALUES THAT HAVE
BEEN LOST.
YOU ALWAYS DO LOSE SOMETHING BY
LOSING THE WETLAND IN THAT P
LACE.
NOT EVERYTHING CAN BE REPLACED.
BUT OF COURSE TO PREVENT ALL
WETLANDS IMPACTS ALSO HAS ITS
OWN SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC COSTS.
>> HAVE OTHER STATES ALLOWING
THE FILLING OF WETLANDS TO THE
EXTENT THAT THIS WISCONSIN LAW
WOULD ALLOW?
>> YEAH.
TO GO BACK TO THE SUPREME COURT
CASE THAT OPENED UP THESE
WETLANDS IN 2001 FOR D
EVELOPMENT, THAT IS THE SUPREME
COURT CASE SAID THESE ARE NO
LONGER COVERED BY THE CLEAN
WATER ACT.
WISCONSIN JUMPED ON THE SORT OF
PATCHING THAT GAP IN COVERAGE
AND IMMEDIATELY IN SENATE BILL 1
UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THIS SYSTEM
OF PROTECTING THEM.
OTHER STATES FOLLOWED SUIT, BUT
OHIO AND INDIANA ONLY WHERE
THESE ISOLATED WETLANDS ARE
COMMON.
GETTING DATA ON WHETHER OR NOT
THESE WETLANDS HAVE UNDULY BEEN
TARGETED IN THE STATES THAT
HAVEN'T PROTECTED THEM IS VERY
DIFFICULT.
IT IS ONLY ANECDOTAL.
IT IS VERY HARD TO SAY.
>> AND SO IF OTHER STATES HAVE
GONE KIND OF FULL BORE WITH
FILLING IN THEIR WETLANDS WITH
VERY LITTLE TIME LEFT, ABOUT 30
SECONDS, ARE THERE SOME STATES
THAT EXPERTS LIKE YOURSELF HAVE
SEEN THAT YOU SAY, WELL, THAT'S
WHAT HAPPENS IF DEVELOPERS AND
BUILDERS FILL IN THESE WETLANDS.
>> WELL, ONE COULD LOOK AT
ILLINOIS, I THINK.
BUT RECOGNIZE ALSO THAT I
LLINOIS, COUNTIES AND
MUNICIPALITIES HAVE THE POWER TO
REGULATE THAT FILLING, SOMETHING
THAT THIS BILL TAKES AWAY FROM
COUNTIES IN WISCONSIN.
SO THAT'S A DIFFERENCE THAT
MEANS THIS ISN'T SOMETHING WE'VE
SEEN BEFORE.
>> MORGAN ROBERTSON, THANKS VERY
MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> LOOKING AHEAD NOW TO NEXT
WEEK AND THE SPRING PRIMARY
ELECTION ON TUESDAY.
THAT'S WHEN THE FIELD OF
CANDIDATES RUNNING TO FILL THE
SEAT OF RETIRING JUSTICE MICHAEL
GABLEMAN WILL BE NARROWED TO T
WO.
WE TALKED TO THE CANDIDATES IN
PREVIOUS WIEKS IN ANTICIPATION
OF THE PRIMARY.
HERE THEY ARE ON WHY THEY THINK
THEY ARE THE BEST FIT FOR THE
HIGH COURT AND THEIR JUDICIAL
PHILOSOPHY.
>> I'M THE MOST LIKELY CANDIDATE
TO STAND UP TO SCOTT WALKER AND
THE LEGISLATURE WHEN THEY ACT
OUTSIDE THE LAW.
>> I BELIEVE STRONGLY IN THE
RULE OF LAW AND I BELIEVE THAT
THE ROLE OF THE COURT IS TO
INTERPRET AND TO APPLY THE LAW,
BUT NOT TO REWRITE THE LAW OR TO
TRY TO LEGISLATE FROM THE BENCH.
>> I PROSECUTED SEXUAL PREDATOR
CASES IN TWO COUNTIES AND NOW AS
A JUDGE FOR ALMOST A DECADE, I
HAVE HEARD 10,000 CASES, 230
JURY TRIALS, EXPERIENCE THAT IS
REALLY UNPARALLELED BETWEEN ME
AND MY OPPONENTS.
AND EXPERIENCE MATTERS.
>> I HAVE STRONG OPINIONS AND IN
FACT NO ONE WHO SERVES ON THE
SUPREME COURT IS A BLANK SLATE.
YOU EXPECT PEOPLE TO COME TO
THAT POSITION, HAVING INFORMED
THEMSELVES OF THE LAW AND OUR
POLITICAL SYSTEM.
>> AND IT'S NOT UNUSUAL FOR ME
TO HAVE A CASE IN FRONT OF ME
THAT I HAVE A PERSONAL FEELING
ABOUT OR AN EMOTIONAL ATTACHMENT
ABOUT ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.
AND I MUST SET ASIDE THOSE
FEELINGS, PERSONAL OPINIONS AND
EMOTIONS AND NOT LET THEM GET IN
THE WAY OF MY ROLE AS A JUDGE IN
APPLYING THE LAW TO THE FACTS AS
THEY COME TO ME.
>> WE HAVE OUR ROLES AS JUDGES.
WE ARE NOT A LEGISLATURE.
BUT WE ALSO HAVE A DUTY TO
UPHOLD THE CONSTITUTION OF BOTH
THE UNITED STATES AND WISCONSIN.
AND WHEN THAT CONSTITUTION HAS
BEEN VIOLATED, THAT'S WHEN WE
ARE A CHECK ON THOSE L
EGISLATORS.
>> NOW FOR AN UPDATE AWAY FROM
THE STATE CAPITOL AND A LOOK AT
THE OLYMPICS, WHERE WISCONSIN
ATHLETES HAVE COMPETED
THROUGHOUT THE WEEK.
AS OF TODAY, THE MEN'S CRURLG
MEN'S CURLING
TEAM IS 2-2.
WOMEN'S TEAM ARE 2-1.
BOTH HAVE MATCHES THIS WEEKEND.
WISCONSIN HAS SENT THREE WOMEN'S
TEAM HOCKEY MEMBERS.
THE WOMEN LOST TWO AND ONE WON
AND WILL PLAY ON MONDAY.
ANOTHER WISCONSIN ATHLETE, MATT
ANTOINE, PLACED 14TH IN THE
SKELETON.
NITA ENGLUND MISSED THE FINAL BY
ONE SPOT.
BEN LOOM MASS HAS MORE LOOMIS HAS MORE TO COME
NOAKS NEXT
WEEK.
NEXT WEEK WE WILL HAVE ELECTION
RESULTS.
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