>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS PART OF OUR "HERE AND NOW"
2018 WISCONSIN VOTE ELECTION COVERAGE.
>> 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 LEGISLATURE.
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 BURDEN, 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 SENSELESS 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 O
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 -- E
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 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..
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.
>> 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
WETLANDS.
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. -- JUSTIF.
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 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 WETLANDS, 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 APPROPRIATELY.
>> 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 MICHAL 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 CANDIDAE 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 LEGISLATORS.
>> 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 LOOMISS HAS MORE LOOMIS NOAKS
NEXT WEEK.
NEXT WEEK WE WILL HAVE ELECTION RESULTS.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" S PROVIDED, IN PART, BY FRIENDS OF
WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISION.
>> FOR MORE INFORMATION ON "HERE AND NOW'S" 2018 ELECTION
COVERAGE, GO TO WISCONSIN VOTE DOT ORG.