>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS PART
OF OUR "HERE AND NOW" 2018
WISCONSIN VOTE ELECTION
COVERAGE.
>> I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW,"
APPROVAL TO TAKE LAKE MICHIGAN
WATER RESULTS IN LEGAL ACTION.
AND DEMOCRAT RUNNING FOR
GOVERNOR TONY EVERS IS HERE.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR JUNE 8.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED, IN PART, BY FRIENDS OF
WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISION.
>> A FIRST LOOK TONIGHT AT
FOXCONN AND ITS THIRST FOR
WATER.
AND WHY ENVIRONMENTALISTS SAY
FOXCONN SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO
TAKE SEVEN MILLION GALLONS OF
LAKE MICHIGAN WATER PER DAY TO
RUN ITS PLANT.
MIDWEST ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCATES
FILED LEGAL ACTION OPPOSING THE
DIVERSION OF THE WATER FOR USE
BY FOXCONN TECHNOLOGY GROUP.
THE STATE DNR APPROVED THE CITY
OF RACINE'S REQUEST TO DIVERT
THE SEVEN MILLION GALLONS OF
WATER PER DAY.
OPPONENTS SAY THE GREAT LAKES
COMPACT PROHIBITS SUCH A
DIVERSION.
JIMMY PARRA IS THE LEAD ATTORNEY
ON THE CASE FOR MIDWEST
ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCATES AND
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
WHY DOES THIS DIVERSION FOR
FOXCONN'S USE OF LAKE MICHIGAN
WATER VIOLATE THE GREAT LAKES
COMPACT?
>> SURE.
SO ONE OF THE KEY REQUIREMENTS
AND ONE OF THE ONLY REQUIREMENTS
FOR THIS TYPE OF DIVERSION OF
GREAT LAKES WATER IS THAT THE
DIVERSION BE FOR PUBLIC WATER
SUPPLY PURPOSES.
I THINK ON A SORT OF COMMON
SENSE LEVEL, MOST PEOPLE HAVE A
SENSE OF WHAT THAT MEANS AND
IT'S NOT TO SEND WATER TO ONE
PRIVATE INDUSTRIAL CUSTOMER FOR
THEIR EXCLUSIVE USE.
FURTHER THAN THAT, WE HAVE
LANGUAGE IN THE COMPACT WHICH
SAYS THAT PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY
PURPOSES IS DISTRIBUTING WATER
THROUGH A SYSTEM THAT SERVES
PRIMARILY RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS.
AND WHAT'S BEING PROPOSED BY THE
CITY OF RACINE AND WAS APPROVED
BY THE WISCONSIN DNR IS
TRANSFERRING WATER OUT OF THE
BASIN FOR EXCLUSIVELY
INDUSTRIAL/COMMERCIAL CUSTOMERS.
THERE'S NO AMOUNT OF WATER THAT
IS BEING SENT TO RESIDENTIAL
CUSTOMERS.
>> WE ASKED THE DNR, AS YOU SAY,
WHICH APPROVED THIS, FOR A
STATEMENT FOR THIS PROGRAM
TODAY, AND THEY DECLINED TO
PROVIDE THAT.
BUT THE MAYOR OF RACINE, CORY
MASON, DID PROVIDE ONE AND HE
SAYS THIS.
QUOTE, THE DECISION TO APPLY FOR
THE DIVERSION FOR MOUNT PLEASANT
WAS MADE BEFORE I CAME INTO
OFFICE.
THE QUESTION RAISED BY THE
LAWSUIT SEEMS TO QUESTION
WHETHER OR NOT THE AREA SERVED
IS FOR PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY OR
NOT.
THE GREAT LAKES COMPACT DEFINES
PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY AS WATER
DISTRIBUTED TO THE PUBLIC
THROUGH A PHYSICALLY-CONNECTED
SYSTEM OF TREATMENT, STORAGE AND
DISTRIBUTION FACILITIES SERVING
A GROUP OF LARGELY RESIDENTIAL
CUSTOMERS THAT MAY ALSO SERVE
INDUSTRIAL, COMMERCIAL AND OTHER
INSTITUTIONAL OPERATORS.
HE GOES ON TO SAY RACINE'S WATER
UTILITY CERTAINLY MEETS THAT
DEFINITION AND WOULD CONTINUE TO
MEET THAT DEFINITION IF A SMALL
PART OF MOUNT PLEASANT WERE
SERVED WITH GREAT LAKES WATER.
SO WHAT ABOUT ALL OF THAT?
>> YEAH.
SO THAT'S KIND OF THE HEART OF
THE DEBATE HERE.
BUT A COUPLE IMPORTANT THINGS TO
KEEP IN MIND.
THE CITY OF RACINE AND ALL OF
THE RESIDENTIAL USERS IT
CURRENTLY SERVES ARE IN THE
GREAT LAKES BASIN.
AND WHAT WE THINK THE COMPACT
SAYS IS YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THE
AREA OUTSIDE OF THE BASIN WHERE
THE WATER IS BEING SENT.
THERE'S LANGUAGE THAT SAYS ALL
THE WATER SO TRANSFERRED MUST BE
USED FOR PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY
PURPOSES.
AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE WATER
THAT'S BEING TRANSFERRED HERE,
IT'S CLEARLY NOT SERVING PUBLIC
WATER SUPPLY PURPOSES, AS THAT
TERM IS DEFINED IN THE COMPACT.
>> SO THOSE ARE YOUR LEGAL
ARGUMENTS, BUT WHAT ABOUT YOUR
OPINION AS TO THE HARM THAT THIS
DIVERSION OF WATER FROM LAKE
MICHIGAN WOULD CAUSE?
>> SURE.
SO -- AND THE WISCONSIN DNR HAS
MADE THIS POINT, WHICH IS THAT
THE VOLUME OF WATER WHEN YOU
COMPARE IT TO THE TOTAL VOLUME
OF WATER OF THE GREAT LAKES IS
NOT A PARTICULARLY SIGNIFICANT
AMOUNT.
BUT WHAT IT DOES IS OPENS THE
DOOR AND UNDERMINES A KEY
COMPONENT OF THE COMPACT TO
FURTHER DIVERSIONS IN STRADDLING
COMMUNITIES, WHICH ARE
COMMUNITIES THAT ARE PARTLY
WITHIN THE BASIN AND PARTLY
OUTSIDE THE BASIN.
SO THE COM COMPACT ITSELF IS A
FORWARD-LOOKING DOCUMENT, HOW DO
WE JOINTLY MANAGE AND PROTECT
THE GREAT LAKES FOR YEARS TO
COME.
AND THIS PROVISION, THE WAY THE
DNR HAS INTERPRETED THIS
PROVISION, OPENS THE DOOR.
THERE'S AN EXAMPLE I THINK OF
SORT OF WHAT TYPE OF IMPACTS IT
COULD HAVE ACROSS THE BASIN
THAT'S PARTICULARLY SALIENT.
SO IN MINNESOTA THERE'S A NUMBER
OF MINES OR MINERAL DEPOSITS
THAT ARE CLOSE TO THE BASIN LINE
IN THE IRON RANGE.
AND UNDER THE WISCONSIN DNR'S
INTERPRETATION IT'S POSSIBLE
THAT GREAT LAKES WATER COULD NOW
BE USED TO SUPPLY THAT VERY
WATER-INTENSIVE INDUSTRY.
SO IT'S NOT THIS PROJECT.
IT'S WHAT COMES NEXT.
>> IT'S THE PRECEDENT, IN YOUR
MIND, THAT IT SETS.
>> EXACTLY.
>> WHAT ABOUT THE ARGUMENT THAT
MOST OF THE WATER THAT IS
DIVERTED AND USED FOR INDUSTRIAL
PURPOSES IS RETURNED TO THE
LAKE?
>> YEAH.
SO A LOT OF THE WATER IS
RETURNED, BUT FOR THE WATER
THAT'S BEING SUPPLIED TO
FOXCONN, THE FIVE MILLION
GALLONS PER DAY, I THINK 38% OF
THAT WATER WILL BE CONSUMED AND
NOT RETURNED.
AND, AGAIN, THAT'S NOT AN ISSUE
THAT WE'VE RAISED IN OUR
LAWSUIT, BUT IT'S -- AGAIN, WHAT
WE'RE LOOKING AT IS THE
PRECEDENT IS SET AND OPENING THE
DOOR TOO WIDE AT THIS POINT.
>> I READ THAT PENNSYLVANIA
BELIEVES THAT THE WISCONSIN
APPROVAL OF THE DIVERSION
COMPLIES WITH THE COMPACT.
WHAT HAVE YOU HEARD FROM OTHER
GREAT LAKES STATE GOVERNORS?
>> SO A COUPLE OF STATES
SUBMITTED COMMENTS ON THE
APPLICATION THAT RACINE
SUBMITTED.
ILLINOIS AND MICHIGAN AND
NEW YORK.
AND MICHIGAN AND NEW YORK RAISED
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE DNR'S
INTERPRETATION.
THEY DIDN'T GO AS FOR TO SAY IT
WAS WRONG, BUT RAISED QUESTIONS
ABOUT HOW IT WAS BEING SUPPLIED,
THE PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY PURPOSES
WAS BEING APPLIED.
WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN FOLLOW-UP FROM
THOSE STATES TO SEE WHERE THEY
STAND AT THIS POINT, BUT THERE
IS CONCERN AROUND THE REGION.
>> GOING BACK TO THE WAUKESHA
WATER DIVERSION FROM LAKE
MICHIGAN, KIND OF SET THE STAGE,
SET A PRECEDENT FOR THIS?
>> WELL, THE CITY OF WAUKESHA,
THAT WAS FOR PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY
PURPOSES.
THAT ERVE SERVED THE COMMUNITY.
SO THIS WASN'T AN ISSUE IN THE
WAUKESHA DIVERSION SITUATION.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY
UNIQUE TO FOXCONN AND IS SORT OF
A PRECEDENT-SETTING SITUATION
THAT WE DON'T THINK SHOULD
STAND.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WELL, WE'LL BE WATCHING.
JIMMY PARRA, THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
APPRECIATE IT.
>> NEXT UP, POLITICS AND THE
RACE FOR GOVERNOR.
IN TONIGHT'S CLOSER LOOK, WE
CONTINUE A SERIES OF ONE-ON-ONE
INTERVIEWS WITH THE DEMOCRATS
RUNNING IN THE VERY CROWDED
PRIMARY RACE.
TONIGHT, TONY EVERS.
EVERS IS THE CURRENT STATE
SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT, FIRST
ELECTED TO THAT POST IN 2009, HE
WAS REELECTED IN 2013 AND AGAIN
IN 2017.
HE'S A FORMER CLASSROOM TEACHER
AND HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL.
EVERS IS ALSO THE FORMER
OAKFIELD AND VERONA SCHOOL
DISTRICT ADMINISTRATOR.
TONY EVERS JOINS US NOW AND
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR DOING SO.
>> THANKS, FREDERICA.
GOOD TO BE BACK.
>> SO WHY DO YOU BELIEVE YOU ARE
THE PROGRESSIVE VOICE FOR
WISCONSIN?
>> WELL, I THINK WE ARE IN A
POSITION IN THIS RACE TO REALLY
ARTICULATE WHAT PEOPLE ACTUALLY
BELIEVE, WHAT THEIR VALUE
SYSTEMS ARE, WHETHER IT'S AROUND
EDUCATION OR WHETHER IT'S
AROUND, FRANKLY, OUR NATURAL
RESOURCES, HEALTH CARE.
THOSE TYPE OF VALUES THAT HAVE
BEEN FRANKLY DECIMATED BY SCOTT
WALKER.
I BELIEVE THOSE ISSUES BRIDGE
THE GAP BETWEEN DEMOCRATS AND
REPUBLICANS.
WE HEAR ALL ACROSS THE STATE
WHEN WE GO THERE.
SO BEING A CAMPAIGN AROUND
VALUES, WE'RE GOING TO SPEND OUR
TIME HAMMERING SCOTT WALKER.
THAT'S PART OF THE DEAL.
BUT THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS IF
WE'RE NOT POSITIVE ABOUT THE
FUTURE, WE WILL LIVE IN THE
PAST, CONTINUE TO LIVE IN THE
PAST.
>> AMONGST ALL THE MANY
CANDIDATES RUNNING IN THIS
PRIMARY, WHY DO YOU THINK YOU'RE
THE ONE THAT COULD BEAT SCOTT
WALKER?
>> WELL, QUITE SIMPLY THIS.
I'M THE ONLY CANDIDATE THAT HAS
WON THREE TIMES AND WON.
LAST TIME I WON WAS 70% OF THE
VOTE.
I WON 70, 72 COUNTIES.
I HAVE NEVER LOST A COUNTY IN
NORTHERN AND CENTRAL WISCONSIN
IN MY WINNING RACES.
SO THAT'S IMPORTANT.
I'VE ALSO LIVED, MY FAMILY HAS
LIVED ALL ACROSS CENTRAL
WISCONSIN, WHERE I DID A LOT OF
MY WORK AS A SUPERINTENDENT OR
AS A TEACHER.
AND CENTRAL WISCONSIN HAS A LOT
OF VOTES, 70% -- OR 60% -- 40%
OF THE VOTES, EXCUSE ME, OF
PEOPLE THAT VOTE FOR GOVERNOR,
COME FROM THERE.
AND THE LAST THING IS I'VE
ACTUALLY RUN THINGS.
I MEAN, THAT'S IMPORTANT.
IF WE'RE GOING TO SERVE THE
PEOPLE OF WISCONSIN, WE HAVE TO
KNOW HOW GOVERNMENT WORKS.
I'M NOW IN CHARGE OF AN AGENCY
THAT'S ULTIMATELY RESPONSIBLE
FOR 860,000 KIDS AND 100,000
ADULTS THAT WORK IN THAT SYSTEM.
THAT COUNTS FOR SOMETHING.
WE HAVE TO HAVE A GOVERNMENT
THAT WORKS FOR THE PEOPLE OF
WISCONSIN.
>> I WANT TO GET TO SOME ISSUES.
ON THE ECONOMY ONE OF THE THINGS
THAT YOU CALL TO DO IS DISBAND
THE WISCONSIN ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.
WHY DO YOU WANT TO DO THAT?
>> BECAUSE THE ORIGINAL INTENT
HAS NEVER BEEN MET.
IT USED TO BE THE IDEA WAS GOING
TO BE SOME KIND OF
PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP.
WELL, IT'S NOT.
IT'S A PUBLIC ENTITY.
IT USES PUBLIC MONEY TO CREATE
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN THE
STATE AND, FRANKLY, IT HASN'T
DONE A VERY GOOD JOB OF THAT.
SO THE INITIAL IDEA BEHIND IT IS
GONE.
IT'S NEVER BEEN A PUBLIC/PRIVATE
PARTNERSHIP.
IN ADDITION, I THINK AS WE MOVE
FORWARD WITH ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT IN THE STATE, YOU
KNOW, WE'VE GONE DOWN TO FOXCONN
RAT HOLE, FRANKLY, AND WE NEED
TO MAKE SURE OTHER PARTS OF THE
STATE HAVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
MONEY.
WE NEED TO REINVEST ALL ACROSS
THE STATE, NOT JUST IN SOUTHEAST
WISCONSIN.
>> I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT ACT
10.
YOU OPPOSE IT, AND RIGHT TO
WORK.
BUT HOW WOULD YOU COUNTER SUCH
LAWS?
>> WELL, THE GRAND THEORY WOULD
BE TO HAVE A BILL THAT SAYS
WE'RE REDOING ACT 10.
AND WILL THAT HAPPEN?
UNLIKELY, IN THE VERY NEAR
FUTURE.
BUT WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
DO BUILDING BLOCKS AROUND THIS.
DO I THINK WE CAN REPEAL RIGHT
TO WORK?
THAT'S AN IMPORTANT PIECE.
YES, I THINK WE CAN.
CAN WE -- THE WHOLE ISSUE OF
PREVAILING WAGES THAT WAS PASSED
LAST TIME?
THERE ARE REPUBLICANS AND
DEMOCRATS THAT WILL SUPPORT
THAT.
IN ADDITION, I THINK THERE'S
SOME REALLY ONEROUS THINGS ABOUT
PREVENTING PUBLIC EMPLOYEES FROM
BARGAINING, SUCH AS MAKING --
RECERTIFYING EVERY YEAR, WHICH
IS REALLY DIFFICULT FOR ANY
UNION TO DO.
AND ALSO DUES DEDUCTION.
SO WE CAN START THE BUILDING
BLOCKS TO MAKE THAT INC. CHA.
I--CHANGE.
I WAS AGAINST ACT 10 FROM THE
BEGINNING.
I WOULD SUPPORT REPEALING IT.
BUT WE JUST CAN'T WAIT.
WE HAVE TO PUT THOSE BUILDING
BLOCKS IN PLACE.
>> CLEARLY YOU KNOW A LOT ABOUT
EDUCATION.
ONE OF THE THINGS YOU CALL FOR
IS INVESTMENT IN EARLY CHILDHOOD
EDUCATION.
WHAT WOULD THAT LOOK LIKE?
>> WELL, TO PUT IT IN A
NUTSHELL, THE MOST DIFFICULT
POVERTY-RIDDEN PART OF THE STATE
OF WISCONSIN IS ONE OF OUR URBAN
AREAS.
AND THERE IS NO HIGH
QUALITY-FIVE-STAR EARLY
CHILDHOOD PROGRAM IN THAT AREA.
I WOULD INVEST IN MAKING SURE
EVERY CHILD IN THAT -- AS A PIE
LOVMENT IPILOT.
EVERY CHILD THAT LIVES IN THAT
ZIP CODE HAS A RIGHT TO A
FIVE-STAR EARLY CHILDHOOD
PROGRAMMING.
WE START TO EXPAND THAT
STATEWIDE.
ALL DATA SHOWS THAT THAT'S WHERE
A CHANGE HAS TO HAPPEN.
>> YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT WHAT
CITY, WHAT DISTRICT?
>> N IN MILWAUKEE, 532 ON 6.
THINK OF THE CHILDREN THERE,
COME FROM EXTRAORDINARY POVERTY
AND THE TRAUMA THAT BRINGS WITH
WITH IT AND PARENTS WORKING TWO
OR THREE JOBS AND NOT HAVING
ACCESS TO FREE EARLY CHILDHOOD
PROGRAMMING IS FRANKLY A STAIN
ON OUR SOCIETY.
WE HAVE TO CHANGE THAT.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WITH JUST ABOUT A MINUTE LEFT,
WHAT'S THE SINGLE-MOST IMPORTANT
THING YOU THINK WISCONSIN COULD
DO AROUND HEALTH CARE?
>> TAKE THE MEDICAID MONEY.
THAT MONEY HAS BEEN SITTING IN
WASHINGTON D.C. FOR SCOTT
WALKER'S REIGN, AND WE CAN
CHANGE HOW HEALTH CARE IS
DELIVERED IN THE STATE OF
WISCONSIN BY TAKING THAT
MEDICAID MONEY.
THAT'S ABSOLUTELY IMPORTANT.
AND WE'LL DO THAT.
AND WE'LL ALSO SET UP EXCHANGES.
ALL THOSE THINGS THAT SCOTT
WALKER DIDN'T DO HAS CAUSED
MINNESOTA TO MOVE FORWARD AND
HAVE CHEAPER AND BETTER HEALTH
CARE THAN WE DO IN WISCONSIN.
OUR WISCONSIN FOLKS NEED TO HAVE
THAT SAME OPPORTUNITY.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WE LEAVE IT THERE.
TONY EVERS, THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> TONIGHT'S INSIDE LOOK, THE
BIG BIG FIELD OF TEN DEMOCRATIC
CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR
AND THE EFFORTS TO CULL THE
NUMBERS.
EFFORTS NOT WITHOUT CONTROVERSY.
THIS WEEK, THE WISCONSIN
BROADCASTERS ASSOCIATION
CANCELLED A PLANNED STATEWIDE
DEBATE AMONGST JUST FOUR OF THE
CANNED DATES.
THEY WERE SET TO USE POLLING AND
CAMPAIGN CASH TO DETERMINE WHO
GOT A SEAT AT THE TABLE.
THE PLAN WAS CRITICIZED BY MANY,
INCLUDING THE POLLSTER.
BUT ENTER WISCONSIN'S CHOICE, AN
EFFORT BY TWO PROGRESSIVE GROUPS
TO WHITTLE THE FIELD OF DEM
CANDIDATES.
HOW ARE THEY DOING IT?
WE TURN TO THE DIRECTOR OF ONE
OF THOSE GROUPS, MARINA
DIMITRIJEVIC, WITH THE WISCONSIN
WORKING FAMILIES PARTY.
THANK FOR BEING HERE.
>> HAPPY TO BE HERE.
>> SO WHAT IS YOUR METHOD?
>> SO OURS IS MORE
PEOPLE-POWERED.
IT'S ACTUALLY THE EXACT OPPOSITE
OF USING CAMPAIGN CASH, WHICH
HAS BEEN USED IN THE PAST, TO
HAVE THE PRIMARY CANDIDATE
DECIDED.
WE WANT IT TO BE PEOPLE-POWERED.
SO OUR WISCONSIN REVOLUTION,
WORKING FAMILIES PARTY, CAME
TOGETHER MONTHS AGO, HOSTED
FORUMS, 50 HOUSE PARTIES ACROSS
THE STATE.
AND JUST THIS WEEK NEARLY 4,000
PEOPLE VOTED.
EVERYONE CAN VOTE IN THE STATE
OF WISCONSIN.
SO IT'S A MUCH MORE TRANSPARENT
PROCESS THAT INCLUDES EVERYONE.
WE WILL BE CHOOSING THE FINAL
FOUR VERY SOON.
>> AND YOU HAVE THESE HOUSE
PARTIES AND THEN YOU ALSO KIND
OF TRIED TO EDUCATE VOTERS ABOUT
THE CANDIDATES.
HOW DOES THAT WORK?
>> YES.
THIS IS A REALLY UNIQUE MOMENT
IN WISCONSIN.
AND SOME PEOPLE HAVE DECIDED I'M
GOING TO WAIT AND SIT BACK AND
SEE WHO WINS THE PRIMARIES AND
ALL THESE DEMOCRATS SEEM THE
SAME.
WE CHALLENGE THAT.
THERE'S MAJOR DIFFERENCES AND
ISSUES.
WE'VE HAD NEARLY TEN FORUMS,
HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE ACROSS THE
STATE THAT HAVE BEEN TO THOSE
FORUMS.
ON WECHOOSE.ORG THERE'S
ISSUE-SPECIFIC VIDEOS, PEOPLE
SPEAKING AND THE CANDIDATES
RESPONDING.
WE AVERAGED 50 PEOPLE FOR A
HOUSE PARTY.
I HOSTED ONE.
TAKING THAT CONVERSATION THAT
WE'VE ALL HAD INFORMALLY AND
HAVING IT IN THE BACKYARD OR
KITCHEN TABLE.
>> I WENT ON YOUR WEBSITE AND
THERE WAS A PLACE TO PUNCH IN
THE ZIP CODE TO SEE ABOUT NEARBY
HOUSE PARTIES.
IN THE DANE COUNTY ZIP CODE THAT
I PUT IN, THE CLOSEST ONE WAS
WALWORTH COUNTY.
>> I BELIEVE THERE WAS ONE IN
PORTAGE, BUT YEAH.
THEY WERE ALL NEARBY.
THERE WAS MORE IN MILWAUKEE.
BUT THERE WAS A HUGE ONE THE
OTHER NIGHT IN SHEBOYGAN THAT
HAD NEARLY 60 PEOPLE.
>> YOU, YOU HAVE DONE THIS ALL
ALONG AND ONE OF YOUR STRAW
POLLS ALREADY CULLED THE
NUMBERS; THAT'S RIGHT?
>> CORRECT.
SO IT'S A THREE POINT PROCESS.
THERE'S NO PERFECT PROCESS HERE.
THIS IS A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE.
IT'S EXCITING.
THE FIRST ROUND OF VOTING TOOK
THE CANDIDATES DOWN TO NINE AND
NOW THE SECOND ROUND IS NINE TO
FOUR.
AND IN MID-JULY, WE'RE LOOKING
FOR THE PEOPLE'S CHAMPION.
AND IF SOMEONE OBTAINS FROM THE
FOUR 50% PLUS ONE, THEY'LL BE
THE PEOPLE'S CHAMPION.
>> WHICH CANDIDATES WERE
ELIMINATED ACCORDING TO YOUR
STRAW POLLING IN THE FIRST
ROUND?
>> I BELIEVE IT WAS RAMONE RAMONA AND
JEFFREY.
ALSO THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE VOTED
IN THAT.
NOW WE'RE GOING FROM NINE TO
FOUR AND THEN FOUR TO ONE.
>> WHAT IS THE REACTION ON THE
PART OF THE CANDIDATES TO THIS?
>> I THINK THAT THEY FEEL THAT
IT'S A MORE FAIR, TRANSPARENT
PROCESS.
CANDIDATES PAID FOR FACEBOOK ADS
ASKING FOR FOLKS TO VOTE IN OUR
POLL.
THEY SEND EMAILS OUT.
IT'S BEEN VERY CANDIDATE-DRIVEN
AS WELL.
THEY WANT TO BE THE PEOPLE'S
CHAMPION.
>> SO THE POLLING IN THIS SECOND
ROUND ENDED THURSDAY NIGHT AT
10:00 P.M.
WHEN ARE RESULTS COMING OUT?
>> MONDAY MORNING WE'LL HAVE THE
OFFICIAL RESULTS.
>> AND JUST BRIEFLY, WHY DO YOU
WANT TO NARROW THIS FIELD TO
THIS EXTENT?
>> WE WANT TO PUSH ON THE
ISSUES.
FOR TOO LONG IT HAS BEEN
FINANCIALLY-BASED, THAT THE
PERSON WHO CAN RAISE THE MOST
MONEY HAS GENERALLY WON THE
PRIMARY.
THAT HASN'T BEEN SUCCESSFUL FOR
DEMOCRATS.
WE WANT TO HAVE A MUCH-NEEDED
DISCUSSION OF THE ISSUES, ANY
ISSUE, WAGES, IMMIGRATION.
WE WANT TO HAVE THAT POWERFUL
CONVERSATION BECAUSE THAT'S THE
WAY TO BEAT SCOTT WALKER.
>> AND IF YOUR FINAL VOTE COMES
UP WITH THAT SUPER CANDIDATE,
THAT'S AHEAD OF THE PRIMARY.
>> RIGHT.
IT IS.
AND WHAT THAT ENDORSEMENT COMES
WITH IS THOUSANDS OF
PEOPLE-POWERED HOURS.
BECAUSE HERE'S THE KICKER.
IN THE FINAL ROUND WE'RE ASKING
FOLKS PRIOR TO VOTE TO COMMIT TO
TEN HOURS FOR THEIR CANDIDATE OF
CHOICE.
SO IT WILL BE A BANK OF
THOUSANDS OF HOURS TO PUT THAT
PERSON OVER THE EDGE.
>> INTERESTING.
WE'LL BE LOOKING FOR THE RESULTS
ON MONDAY.
THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> IN TONIGHT'S LOOK AHEAD, A
NEW INTERACTIVE TOOL DEVELOPED
BY THE UW-MADISON SCHOOL OF
MEDICINE AND PUBLIC HEALTH,
ALONG WITH OTHER PARTNERS, HAS
MAPPED THE STATE'S LEVELS OF
OBESITY DOWN TO THE ZIP CODE.
MULTIMEDIA REPORTER MARISA
WOJCIK EXPLAINS MORE.
>> HEALTH RESEARCHERS ARE
CALLING THE BIG PICTURE OF
OBESITY IN WISCONSIN AN
EPIDEMIC.
THE WISCONSIN HEALTH ATLAS IS A
NEW SEARCHABLE MAP THAT COMPILES
HEALTH DATA FROM SYSTEMS ACROSS
THE STATE.
IT SHOWS RATES OF OBESITY ACROSS
VIERS FACTORS, BUT MOST
IMPORTANTLY BY ZIP CODE.
RESEARCHERS ARE HOPING THAT THIS
DATA WILL LEAD TO TARGETING
RESOURCES TOWARDS THE AREAS THAT
NEED IT MOST.
WITHIN THE SAME COUNTY, THERE
CAN BE SHARP CONTRASTS BETWEEN
ZIP CODES THAT ARE RIGHT NEXT TO
ONE ANOTHER.
FOR EXAMPLE, IN EAU CLAIRE
COUNTY, THE ZIP CODE 54701 HAS
AN AVERAGE RATE OF OBESITY OF
ABOUT 40%.
BUT THE ZIP CODE RIGHT NEXT-DOOR
HAS AN AVERAGE RATE OF ABOUT
48%.
RESEARCHERS SAY THAT THERE IS
ALSO A CORRELATION BETWEEN
OBESITY AND RURAL ZIP CODES AND
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF FACTORS
THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THIS,
INCLUDING ACCESS TO FRESH,
HEALTHY FOOD, TIME SPENT
DRIVING, QUALITY HEALTH CARE AND
OLDER POPULATIONS.
STATEWIDE, THE HIGHEST RATES OF
OBESITY OCCUR IN PEOPLE AGE 65
TO 75, BUT IT CAN START AT
INFANCY.
10% OF WISCONSIN'S CHILDREN AGED
TWO TO FIVE ARE CONSIDERED
OBESE.
THIS MAP IS JUST A SNAPSHOT
DISPLAYING DATA FROM 2015 TO
2016.
HOWEVER, IT'S MORE ACCURATE THAN
PREVIOUS ESTIMATES BECAUSE IT'S
USING INFORMATION FROM OUR
ELECTRONIC MEDICAL RECORDS.
UNTIL NOW, MOST MAPS ONLY GO BY
NUMBERS ON A COUNTY LEVEL.
BUT THIS NEW MAP LOOKS AT
POCKETS WITHIN COUNTIES,
EQUIPPING HEALTH OFFICIALS,
GOVERNMENTS AND EVEN SCHOOL
DISTRICTS WITH A MORE DETAILED
PICTURE OF THEIR COMMUNITIES.
FOR THESE AND OTHER FAST FACTS,
VISIT WPT DORK.
>> THAT WAS "HERE AND NOW"
PRODUCER MARISA WOJCIK.
NOW TO AG NEWS.
SMALL DAIRY FARMS IN WISCONSIN
CONTINUE TO STRUGGLE AS MILK
PRICES REMAIN LOW, BUT DAIRY
FARMERS JUST GOT AN EXTENSION TO
SIGN UP FOR A FEDERALLY-RUN
INSURANCE PROGRAM DESIGNED TO
HELP WHEN MILK PRICES TAKE A
DIVE.
THAT EXTENSION, THOUGH, RUNS OUT
TONIGHT, JUNE 8.
ANDY SOTH HAS MORE ON THE MARGIN
PROTECTION PROGRAM.
>> TREMPEALEAU'S TOWN HALL
SHARES ITS FACILITY WITH THE
LOCAL CURLING CLUB.
BUT ON THIS AFTERNOON IT'S ALSO
HOSTING A MEETING OF DAIRY
FARMERS.
>> SO THE PAYMENTS THAT YOU'RE
DUE WILL BE COMING MORE QUICKLY.
>> THEY'VE GATHERED TO LEARN
MORE ABOUT RECENT CHANGES TO THE
MARGIN PROTECTION PROGRAM, THE
FEDERALLY-RUN INSURANCE PROGRAMS
THAT AIDS THEM WHEN MILK PRICES
ARE LOW.
>> IT'S 100% PROBABILITY THAT
WE'LL BE COVERED AT THESE
LEVELS.
>> THE SPEAKER IS THE DIRECTOR
OF THE UW'S CENTER FOR DAIRY
PROFITABILITY, MARK STEPHENSON,
WHO'S VERY FAMILIAR WITH EFFORTS
TO SUPPORT DAIRY.
>> WE'VE HAD DIFFERENT PROGRAMS
OVER TIME, GOING CLEAR BACK TO
THE 19 -- LATE 1930s, EARLY
'40s.
WE HAD A DAIRY PRICE SUPPORT
PROGRAM.
AND THE IDEA THERE WAS THAT THE
GOVERNMENT WOULD PURCHASE DAIRY
PRODUCTS OFF THE MARKETPLACE
WHEN MARKET PRICES WERE LOW.
AND THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT
AIMED TO IMPROVE MARKET PRICES
THEMSELVES.
IT WASN'T FOR AN INDIVIDUAL
FARMER.
IT WAS TO MOVE PRICES UP FOR
EVERYBODY.
>> WHEN THAT PROGRAM WAS JUDGED
TOO EXPENSIVE, IT WAS REPLACED
WITH THE MILK INCOME LOSS
PROGRAM.
>> THIS IS A DIRECT PAYMENT TO
DAIRY FARMS.
IF PRICES FELL TO A CERTAIN
LEVEL, WE WOULD WRITE YOU A
CHECK AND SAY HERE YOU GO.
>> THAT PROGRAM WAS REPLACED IN
THE 2014 FARM BILL BY THE MARGIN
PROTECTION PROGRAM.
TO COME UP WITH THE MARGIN,
ECONOMISTS WORKED WITH DAIRY
NUTRITIONISTS TO CALCULATE HOW
MUCH FEED IT TAKES TO PRODUCE
100 POWNS POUNDS OF MILK.
90% OF THE PRICE OF THAT FEED IS
SUBTRACTED FROM THE MARKETPLACE
FOR A HUNDREDWEIGHT.
THAT MAKES UP THE MARGIN.
WHEN THE MARGIN IS SMALL, AS IT
WAS IN THIS EXAMPLE FOR MARCH OF
THIS YEAR, ANY PROFIT IS
UNLIKELY.
THE MARGIN PROTECTION PROGRAM
KICKS IN WHEN THAT MARGIN IS $8
OR LESS, PROVIDING PAYMENTS FOR
PRODUCERS DEPENDING ON THE LEVEL
OF PROTECTION THEY'VE BOUGHT
INTO.
>> SO IT IS AN INSURANCE TYPE
PRODUCT.
FARMERS HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION
ABOUT HOW MUCH PROTECTION DO I
NEED, JUST LIKE WE WOULD FOR
AUTO INSURANCE OR FIRE
INSURANCE, AND YOU HOPE YOU
DON'T HAVE AN ACCIDENT, BUT IF
YOU DO, THEN IT SHOULD PAY.
>> RECENTLY, IT HAS PAID.
>> AND I'M HERE TO TELL YOU WE
NOW KNOW WHAT THE FIRST THREE
MONTHS ARE, AND TWO OF THOSE
MONTHS WOULD HAVE HAD PAYMENTS.
>> BUT MANY DAIRY PRODUCERS WERE
NOT ENROLLED.
SO CHANGES TO THE PROGRAM
ENACTED IN FEBRUARY AS PART OF
CONTINUING FEDERAL FUNDING
LEGISLATION ESSENTIALLY GAVE
SOME FARMERS A DO-OVER.
NOT ONLY WAS THE TIME FRAME TO
SIGN UP REOPENED, BUT BENEFITS
CAN BE CLAIMED EVEN FOR THE TIME
BEFORE FARMERS ENROLLED.
>> THIS IS UNUSUAL BECAUSE IT'S
RETROACTIVE.
WE GET TO GO BACK AND MAKE A
DECISION ABOUT THE ENTIRE YEAR
AND WE ALREADY KNOW THAT WE
WOULD BE RECEIVING PAYMENTS AT
SOME OF THESE LEVELS OF
PROTECTION.
THE NICKEL AND A HALF THAT IT
COSTS YOU TO BUY ADDITIONAL UP
TO THIS LEVEL OF COVERAGE IN
PREMIUMS IS COVERING UNDER 50
CENTS WORTH OF PAYMENTS, OKAY?
SO I SPEND A NICKEL, I GET 50
CENTS.
THAT'S THE ONE TIME THAT YOU
WON'T HEAR AN ECONOMIST GOING,
YOU KNOW, ON THE OTHER HAND.
NO.
THERE IS NO OTHER HAND HERE.
>> THE PROGRAM IS HARDLY A
PANACEA.
THERE ARE MANY FACTORS TROUBLING
THE DAIRY INDUSTRY.
BUT EVERY LITTLE BIT HELPS.
WHICH IS WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT
TO GET THE WORD OUT.
>> THERE'S BEEN A BIG
EDUCATIONAL EFFORT TO TELL
FARMERS ABOUT THAT AND THAT THEY
NEED TO GO BACK AND RETHINK
THEIR ENROLLMENT.
>> SUPPORT FOR ANDY SOTH'S
REPORT WAS PROVIDED BY THE
O'BRIEN FELLOWSHIP IN PUBLIC
SERVICE JOURNALISM.
NEXT WEEK WISCONSINITES WILL
TAKE TO THE POLLS.
VOTERS IN THE 1ST SENATE
DISTRICT WILL CHOOSE BETWEEN KAY
LOB FROSTMAN AND REPUBLICAN
ANDRE JACQUE.
FROSTMAN WAS THE HEAD OF THE
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
CORPORATION.
THE SEAT WAS VACATED BY FRANK LA
SEE, WHO JOIN THE WALKER
ADMINISTRATION IN DECEMBER.
VOTERS IN THE 40TH ASSEMBLY
DISTRICT WILL TAKE TO THE POLLS.
IN THAT RACE DEMOCRAT ANN GROVES
LLOYD AND REPUBLICAN JON PLUMER
ARE VYING FOR THE SEAT TO
REPLACE KEITH RIPP, WHO ALSO
TOOK A JOB WITH THE WALKER
ADMINISTRATION LAST DECEMBER.
THE ELECTION IS HELD NEXT
TUESDAY.
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
WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISION.
>> FOR MORE INFORMATION ON "HERE
AND NOW'S" 2018 ELECTION
COVERAGE, GO TO
wisconsinvote.