- 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 CO 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 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.
--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
LOVMEPILOT.
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?
- 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 RAMO RAMONAD 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 POW 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.org.