>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS PART
OF OUR "HERE AND NOW" 2018
WISCONSIN VOTE ELECTION COVERAGE
COVERAGE.
>> I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW," A
FIRST LOOK AT LATEST POLL
NUMBERS FOR UPCOMING PRIMARY
ELECTIONS.
AFTER THAT, CAPITAL INSIGHT ON
THE HIGH COURT REDISTRICTING
REMAND.
A CLOSER LOOK AT DEMOCRATIC
CANDIDATE MATT FLYNN, AND AN
ELECTION SEASON FACT CHECK,
WISCONSIN VERSUS MINNESOTA.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW," FOR
JUNE 22.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED IN PART BY FRIENDS OF
WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISION.
?
>> A FIRST LOOK TONIGHT AT THE
LATEST STATEWIDE POLL ON PRIMARY
CANDIDATES AND ISSUES OF IMPORT.
THE LONG LIST OF DEMOCRATS
RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR HAVEN'T
PICKED UP MUCH TRACTION BY WAY
OF NAME RECOGNITION AND THE
PRIMARY IS LESS THAN TWO MONTHS
AWAY.
THIS WEEK, TWO OF THE DEMS
TROPED OUT OF THE RACE,
MILWAUKEE BUSINESSMAN ANDY
GRONIK AND DANA WACHS.
DIRECTOR OF THE MARQUETTE LAW
SCHOOL POLL CHARLES FRANKLIN
JOINS US NOW WITH MORE.
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
>> GOOD TO BE HERE.
>> WELL, SO GIVEN WHAT YOU KNOW
ABOUT POLLING AND CAMPAIGNS,
WOULD YOU EXPECT MORE TO DROP
OUT QUICKLY?
>> WELL, I THINK THE PROBLEM IS
WITH SUCH A LARGE DEMOCRATIC
FIELD, IT'S BEEN HARD FOR PEOPLE
TO GET TRACTION.
TONY EVERS HAS AN ADVANTAGE
HAVING BEEN ELECTED STATEWIDE
THREE TIMES ALREADY, SO IT'S
BEEN VERY HARD FOR THE REST OF
THE PACK TO BREAK OUT.
WE DIDN'T SEE ANYBODY BREAK OUT
IN THE WAKE OF THE DEMOCRATIC
PARTY CONVENTION IN JUNE, FOR
EXAMPLE, AND SO I THINK THOSE
LOW NUMBERS ARE AN EXAMPLE OF SO
MANY PEOPLE SPREADING THE
SUPPORT AROUND.
>> AND SO TONY EVERS BREAKS OUT
MORE THAN OTHERS AS YOU SAY, BUT
STILL, HE'S NOT KNOWN BY 61% OF
THE RESPONDENTS.
>> AND THAT'S THE BEST KNOWN OF
THE CABINETS, INCLUDING THE
REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES FOR SENATE
SENATE.
I THINK EVERS HAD AN ADVANTAGE
IN THE TEENS IN OUR MARCH POLL,
NOW IT'S UP IN THE 20s, BUT
THERE'S STILL 34% THAT SAY
THEY'RE UNDECIDED ABOUT WHO
THEY'D SUPPORT IN THE DEMOCRATIC
PRIMARY, SO THAT SHOWS THE
FLUIDITY THAT'S POSSIBLE BUT
ALSO SHOWS EVERS HAS A REALLY
SUBSTANTIAL ADVANTAGE AT THIS
POINT.
>> LET'S GO AHEAD AND TAKE A
LOOK AT THOSE SCREENS BECAUSE
YOU'VE JUST BEEN TALKING ABOUT
THE NUMBERS HERE.
THEY'RE SINGLE DIGITS EXCEPT FOR
TONY EVERS AND THE SAME HOLDS
TRUE ONLY LOWER FOR THE OTHER
CANDIDATES.
HOW UNUSUAL IS THE SIZE OF THIS
FIELD?
>> THE FIELD IS EXCEPTIONALLY
LARGE IN WISCONSIN POLITICS, IT
MAY BE A HISTORIC HIGH.
NATIONALLY WE SAW A VERY LARGE
FIELD IN THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY
IN 2015 AND '16, SO THAT WAS
SORT OF A PREVIEW OF WHAT WE'RE
SEEING NOW.
BUT THE REAL PROBLEM WITH SUCH A
BIG FIELD IS DIVIDED RESOURCES,
DIVIDED SUPPORT, AND THEN WHAT
DOES IT TAKE FOR SOMEONE TO GET
TRACTION AND MOVE UP?
IT'S POSSIBLE IN BIG FIELDS FOR
SOMEONE TO BREAK OUT AND
SUPPORTERS TO SUDDENLY COALESCE
AROUND THEM, BUT WE HAVEN'T SEEN
ANY EVIDENCE OF THAT YET.
>> LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THE
SENATE PRIMARY.
IN THAT RACE, YOUR POLLING SHOWS
THAT NICKEL SON SEES 37%, 30% OF
THE RESPONDENTS SAYING THEY
DON'T KNOW.
WHY NO BIG BUMP HERE FOR LEAH
VUKMIR AFTER THE REPUBLICAN
CONVENTION?
>> THAT'S REALLY INTERESTING
BECAUSE SHE GOT THE ENDORSEMENT
SOLIDLY, 72% OR 3%, I THINK, AT
THE CONVENTION.
WE MIGHT HAVE EXPECTED A BOOST
FOR HER, BUT HER NAME
RECOGNITION IS BETTER THAN IT
WAS IN MARCH, BUT SO IS
NICHOLSON AND HERS DIDN'T BOUNCE
UP A LOT MORE.
SAME THING ON THE DEMOCRATIC
SIDE, WON THE STRAW POLL AT THE
DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION YET SHE'S
STILL AT 2% IN OUR LATEST POLL.
>> TAKING A LOOK AT THE POSSIBLE
SENATE MATCHUPS, YOUR POLL FOUND
BALDWIN RECEIVES -- 7%
UNDECIDED, 4% SAYING THEY WOULD
VOTE FOR NEITHER.
AND THEN MATCHED AGAINST VUKMIR,
BOLEN RECEIVES 49% TO 40% FOR
VUKMIR.
ARE THESE STRONG NUMBERS FOR
TAMMY BALDWIN?
>> THESE ARE PRETTY GOOD NUMBERS
FOR HER.
50% IS SORT OF A MAGIC NUMBER,
49 IS STILL 49, BUT THE MARGIN
OF 9 OR 11 POINTS IS NOT SMALL,
THAT'S A PRETTY GOOD MARGIN.
IT IS STILL JULY, OR JUNE,
RATHER, AND WE STILL DON'T HAVE
NAME RECOGNITION FOR NICHOLSON
OR VUKMIR, BOTH OF THEM ARE UP
IN THE HIGH 60s, LOW 70s OF
NON-RECOGNITION.
SO YOU KNOW, I CAUTION THAT
WE'RE A WAYS AWAY FROM THE
PRIMARY AND CERTAINLY WAYS AWAY
FROM THE GENERAL.
>> IS ALL OF THIS KIND OF
NON-NAME RECOGNITION ANYTHING TO
DO WITH NOW NATIONAL HEADLINES
MIGHT BE STEALING THE SHOW?
>> I THINK THERE CERTAINLY IS A
COMPETITION THAT IF YOU'RE
FOLLOWING POLITICS CLOSELY,
YOU'RE OVERWHELMED BY NATIONAL
NEWS, AND THE LATEST THINGS FROM
THE TRUMP WHITE HOUSE, FOR
EXAMPLE.
IF YOU'RE A MORE CASUAL VIEWER,
THEN YOU TURN ON THE TV AND
THOSE THINGS TEND TO CROWD OUT
ANY LOCAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR
CANDIDATES AND NONE OF THE
CAMPAIGNS AS CAMPAIGNS HAVE
REALLY GONE UP ON THE AIR WITH A
MASSIVE AD CAMPAIGN.
WE'VE SEEN SOME OUTSIDE GROUPS
ADVERTISING AND THE CAMPAIGNS
ARE BEGINNING TO PUT SOME ADS
UP, BUT WE'RE STILL NOT AT THE
POINT WHERE THAT WOULD INFUSE
THE AIR WITH MESSAGING.
>> IT'S COMING.
SO WITH ABOUT A MINUTE LEFT, I
WANTED TO ASK YOU ABOUT
GOVERNOR, SCOTT WALKER FROM
44 TO 49% BUT DEM CANDIDATES
SUPPORT, YOU FOUND RANGE FROM 36
TO 44%.
ISN'T WALKER ARE BASICALLY
RUNNING PRETTY CLOSE TO THESE
UNKNOWN CANDIDATES?
>> HE IS, AND THAT REFLECTS HOW
STRONGLY DIVIDED THE STATE
REMAINS ABOUT SCOTT WALKER WITH
A SUBSTANTIAL PERCENTAGE
FAVORING HIM AND SUPPORTING BUT
A SUBSTANTIAL PERCENTAGE NOT.
I THINK THE TAKEAWAY HERE IS
THAT HE LEADS BY, LET'S CALL IT
4 PERCENTAGE POINTS ACROSS
SEVERAL OF THE CANDIDATES, DOES
A LITTLE BETTER, THERE'S A
2-POINT MARGIN WITH MIKE MCCABE,
A 4-POINT WITH TONY EVERS AND
COUPLE OF OTHER DEMOCRATS.
BUT THE BOTTOM LINE HERE IS,
WALKER VERSUS A DEMOCRAT IS
ROUGHLY A 4-POINT MARGIN RIGHT
NOW.
AND AS THE DEMOCRAT ENDS UP
GETTING THE NOMINATION, WE MIGHT
SEE THAT TIGHTEN MORE.
>> ALL RIGHT.
CHARLES FRANKLIN, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THE HIGHLY ANTICIPATED U.S.
SUPREME COURT RULING ON THE
WISCONSIN LAWSUIT OVER
JERRYMANDERING CAME OUT THIS
WEEK AND WAS UNDERWHELMING.
IN TONIGHT'S CAPITAL INSIGHT,
HOW THE COURT'S OPINION IS
SENDING GILL V. CHIT FORD BACK
DOWN TO A LOWER COURT HAD
EXPERTS CALLING IT A PUNT.
WISCONSIN PUBLIC RADIO'S CAPITAL
BUREAU CHIEF SHAWN JOHNSON IS
HERE.
THANKS FOR BEING HERE.
IT MAY HAVE BEEN A PUNT, THEY
DIDN'T DISMISS THIS THING
OUTRIGHT, LEAVING PLAINTIFFS IN
THE CASE SAYING THAT THEY FEEL
LIKE THEY CAN MAKE IT ANEW.
>> THE MORE I ADJUSTED IT, THE
MORE I REALIZED THAT THE PATH
FORWARD, IT WILL TAKE TIME, BUT
THE HURDLES THEY PUT UP ARE NOT
DIFFICULT FOR US TO MEET.
IT WILL HAPPEN.
>> SO THE HURDLES AS BILL
WHITFORD CALLS THEM INCLUDE
GOING BACK AND FINDING MORE
PLAINTIFFS IN MORE DISTRICTS TO
PROVE THEIR CASE
>> YEAH, BUT THE TOM LINE IS, I
GUESS, GOING INTO THIS CASE, A
LOT OF PEOPLE VIEWED THE
WISCONSIN CASE FOR THE CHANCE
THE COURT HAS TO ANSWER THE
QUESTION THEY'VE GRAPPLED WITH
FOR DECADES, CAN THERE BE A
POINT OF DRAWING DISTRICT LINES
CAN GET SO BIPARTISAN THAT A
VIOLATES PEOPLE'S CONSTITUTIONAL
RIGHTS.
THE COURT DIDN'T SAY YES OR NO
WITH WISCONSIN'S CASE, BUT IT
DID KEEP THE CASE ALIVE.
>> IN FACT, CHIEF JUSTICE JOHN
ROBERTS WROTE THE OPINION
STATING THAT THE PLAINTIFFS
LACKED STANDING TO BRING THE
LAWSUIT, WHILE EXPRESSING NO
VIEW ON THE MERITS.
HE SAID, IT IS A CASE ABOUT
GROUP POLITICAL INTERESTS, NOT
INDIVIDUAL LEGAL RIGHTS, BUT
THIS COURT IS NOT RESPONSIBLE
FOR VINDICATING GENERALIZED
PARTISAN PREFERENCES, THE
COURT -- IS TO VINDICATE THE
INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS OF THE PEOPLE
APPEARING BEFORE IT.
>> AND THE COURT'S UNANIMOUS
REMANDS TO THE LOWER COURT OVER
STANDING IS WHAT HAD WISCONSIN
ATTORNEY GENERAL BRAD SCHIMMEL
STATE THIS: "I AM PLEASED THAT
THE HIGHEST COURT IN THE LAND
HAS UNANIMOUSLY REVERSED THE
TRIAL COURT'S ERRONEOUS DECISION
IN VALIDATING WISCONSIN'S
ASSEMBLY MAP.
TODAY IS A WIN FOR THE RULE OF
LAW IN WISCONSIN AND A TESTAMENT
TO THE TALENTED ATTORNEYS AT THE
WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF
JUSTICE."
>> NOT SO FAST, THOUGH, BECAUSE
EVEN IN HER CONCURRENCE, JUSTICE
KAGAN OFFERED A ROAD MAP FOR
PLAINTIFFS IN A NEW CASE, SO
IT'S NOT NECESSARILY OVER HERE.
AND HER ROAD MAP AS I UNDERSTAND
IT INCLUDED FINDING MORE
PLAINTIFFS OR VIGOROUSLY ARGUING
AN INFRINGEMENT OF FIRST
AMENDMENT RIGHTS OF ASSOCIATION.
SO THOSE RIGHTS HELD BY PARTIES
OR POLITICAL ORGANIZATIONS AND
THEIR MEMBERS.
>> AND SHE GOES ON TO CITE
JUSTICE ANTHONY KENNEDY
EXTENSIVELY IN HER CONCURRENCE,
THAT HE IS THE SWING VOTE IN
THIS CASE, AND HIS OPINION WAS
WIDELY VIEWED TO BE CRITICAL TO
THE OUTCOME IN THE WISCONSIN
CASE, AND HE WAS SILENT ON THIS
ONE.
>> WE DIDN'T GET A COMMITMENT
FROM KENNEDY.
AND HE DIED MAKING A COMMITMENT.
AND THE WHOLE CASE WAS REALLY
ABOUT GETTING KENNEDY'S VOTE AND
THAT'S STILL OUT THERE.
>> AND ON THIS POINT, EXPERTS
WHO'VE WATCHED WISCONSIN'S CASE
WATCHED CASES LIKE THIS AROUND
THE COUNTRY, AND WATCHED JUSTICE
KENNEDY AGREED, HERE IS
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA IRVINE
ELECTION LAW PROFESSOR RICK
HASAN.
>> I THINK WHAT WE CAN READ IS
THAT AFTER A DECADE AND A HALF,
JUSTICE KENNEDY STILL CANNOT
MAKE UP HIS MIND ABOUT WHAT TO
DO WITH JERRYMANDERING.
THE COURT PUNTED, PUSH THE ISSUE
OFF FOR ANOTHER DAY, DIDN'T
DECIDE REALLY ANYTHING BIG ON
THE MERITS, AND DECIDED TO BOOT
THESE CASES ON A TECHNICALITY.
>> SO INTERESTINGLY, HE SAYS
JUSTICE KENNEDY STILL HASN'T
MADE UP HIS MIND BUT IT'S NOT AS
THOUGH THERE HANT BEEN A LOT OF
TIME TO DO THAT.
>> HE HAS BEEN WELL BRIEFED,
RIGHT?
KENNEDY WROTE SOMETHING IN 2004
THAT MADE EVERYBODY THINK AT
SOME POINT, WE'RE GOING TO
REVISIT THIS AND BRING A CASE
THAT MAYBE KENNEDY WON'T LIKE,
WE'LL BRING A METRIC THAT MAYBE
KENNEDY WILL LATCH ON TO, MAYBE
WISCONSIN HAS THAT.
SO NOT HEARING FROM JUSTICE
KENNEDY IN THIS CASE IS BIG.
THAT WAS ARGUABLY THE BIGGEST
THING TO HAPPEN IN THIS CASE, IS
THAT WE DIDN'T FIND OUT WHAT HE
THINKS ABOUT ALL THIS.
>> MEANWHILE PLAINTIFF WHITFORD
SAYS MAYBE WISCONSIN WON'T EVEN
BE THE VEHICLE FOR THE CASE THAT
DECIDES ALL OF THIS.
>> THAT'S ONE SCHOOL OF THOUGHT.
THERE IS ANOTHER REDISTRICTING
CASE OUT OF NORTH CAROLINA THAT
AS OF RIGHT NOW, THE COURT
HASN'T SAID WHETHER IT WILL
HEAR.
SO MAYBE NORTH CAROLINA IS THE
CASE THAT DECIDES ALL THIS.
HASA NSAID, NO, I THINK
WISCONSIN IS GOING TO BE THE
CASE, THAT THE WISCONSIN CASE IS
GOING TO END UP BACK BEFORE THE
U.S. SUPREME COURT AND THEY'RE
GOING TO HAVE TO DECIDE THIS
THING ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.
>> AND YET THE TIMELINE HERE IS
PRETTY CRITICAL.
WE'VE COME DOWN TO KIND OF THE
CRUNCH TIME OF 2020 ELECTIONS.
>> IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN IN
TIME FOR 2018 OBVIOUSLY, BUT
WHOEVER GETS ELECTED IN 2020,
THE LEGISLATURE THAT GETS
ELECTED THEN WILL BE THE
LEGISLATURE THAT DRAWS THE NEXT
REDISTRICT MAPS THAT ARE IN
PLACE IN WISCONSIN FOR THE NEXT
DECADE, SO THE 2020 ELECTION IS
CRITICAL.
>> EVERYBODY IS GOING TO BE
WATCHING ALL OVER AGAIN.
>> WATCH THAT COURT AGAIN,
THAT'S RIGHT.
>> SHAWN JOHNSON, THANKS VERY
MUCH.
>> YOU'RE WELCOME.
>> AS THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S
POLICY OF SO CALLED ZERO
TOLERANCE SEPARATED CHILDREN
FROM PARENTS COMING OVER THE
BORDER INTO THE U.S. CAUSED
NATIONWIDE UPSET THIS WEEK.
WISCONSIN GOVERNOR SCOTT WALKER
SENT TWO DOZEN NATIONAL GUARD
TROOPS TO ARIZONA ON MONDAY TO
HELP SECURE THE BORDER.
WISCONSIN'S TROOPS WILL ASSIST
THE ARIZONA NATIONAL GUARD AND
U.S. CUSTOM AND BORDER PATROL.
IMAGES OF IMMIGRANT CHILDREN IN
FEDERAL CUSTODY DOMINATED THE
NEWS CYCLE AND BY MID WEEK,
PRESIDENT TRUMP SIGNED AN
EXECUTIVE ORDER ENDING FAMILY
SEPARATIONS.
WE KNOW OF ONE FATHER AND SON
THAT WERE ON THEIR WAY TO
MILWAUKEE WHEN THEY WERE
DETAINED AT THE BORDER AND
SEPARATED.
MEANWHILE, IMMIGRANT ADVOCATES
SAYS THEY HAVE BEEN DEVASTATED
SINCE THE ZERO-TOLERANCE POLICY
WAS INSTITUTED.
>> SO THE SEPARATION OF FAMILIES
AT THE BORDER, IT IMPACTS THE
FAMILIES HERE BECAUSE ON ONE, WE
ARE SEEING THAT SEPARATION OF
FAMILIES HERE ALREADY, BUT ALSO
INCREASES THE FEAR IN PEOPLE'S
LIVES.
>> IN THE MIDST OF THE
IMMIGRATION UPROAR, PRESIDENT
TRUMP HELD A RALLY IN DULUTH MID
WEEK.
WISCONSIN PUBLIC RADIO'S
SUPERIOR BUREAU REPORTER
DANIELLE KAEDING WAS THERE.
SHE JOINS US WITH THAT AND AN
UPDATE ON FLOOD RECOVERY IN THE
NORTHWEST PART OF THE STATE.
DANIELLE, THANKS AFLORT BEING
HERE.
>> NO PROBLEM, FREDERICA.
>> SO EVEN AS PRESIDENT TRUMP
SIGNED AN ORDER ENDING THE
SEPARATION OF PARENTS AND
CHILDREN JUST BEFORE TRAVELING
TO DULUTH, HE MAINTAINED HIS
ZERO-TOLERANCE POLICY AT THIS
RALLY?
>> YES, HE TOUCHED JUST BRIEFLY
ON THE ACTUAL ORDER ITSELF AND
THE SIGNING OF IT, SAYING THAT
THEY WERE GOING TO KEEP FAMILIES
TOGETHER AT THE BORDER BUT THEY
WERE GOING TO BE AS TOUGH AS
THEY'VE ARE BEEN ON IMMIGRATION,
AND THEN HE REALLY TALKED TO HIS
SUPPORTERS IN TERMS OF REPEATING
OVER AND OVER AGAIN THAT THEY
WERE GOING TO BUILD THE WALL,
THAT THEY HAD ALREADY HAD
RESOURCES PUT TOWARDS THAT, AND
THAT THEY WERE GOING TO CONTINUE
DO THAT, DRAWING CHANTS FROM THE
CROWD, "BUILD THAT WALL, BUILD
THAT WALL," SO HE WAS DEFINITELY
SAYING THEY WERE GOING TO DO
MORE, NOT LESS, TO CONTROL
IMMIGRATION.
>> WHAT ELSE STOOD OUT AT THAT
RALLY?
>>
>> THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE, THERE
WERE MORE THAN 8,000 PEOPLE IN
THE ARENA, IT WAS A PACKED
HOUSE, PEOPLE CAME FROM ALL OVER
MINNESOTA AND WISCONSIN TO SEE
HIM SPEAK.
HE TALKED ABOUT A NUMBER OF
OTHER TOPICS INCLUDING HIS
RECENT VISIT WITH KIM JONG-UN,
THE NORTH KOREAN LEADER, AND
EFFORTS TO SHORE UP
DENUCLEARIZATION THERE, TAX CUTS
AND ALSO THE ECONOMY AND HOW
WELL IT'S DOING.
>> AS FOR FLOODING IN NORTHWEST
WISCONSIN, I KNOW THE GOVERNOR
DECLARED A STATE OF EMERGENCY IN
FIVE COUNTIES AND AT LEAST TWO
PEOPLE WERE KILLED IN THE HIGH
WATER.
WHAT'S THE SITUATION AND WEEK'S
END?
>> WELL, NOW THE WATERS ARE
BEGINNING TO SUBSIDE AND COUNTY
AND STATE ROAD CREWS ARE BEING
ABLE TO GET IN THERE AND SEE
EXACTLY WHAT THE DAMAGE IS.
THERE IS STILL SOME AREAS OF
NORTHERN WISCONSIN WHERE FLOOD
WATERS ARE STILL COVERING THE
ROAD INCLUDING U.S. HIGHWAY
63 NEAR THE BIPPEN SWAMP AREA IN
BAYFIELD COUNTY.
THEY'RE BEGINNING TO DEVELOP
PLANS TO REPAIR STATE HIGHWAYS
INCLUDING U.S. HIGHWAY 2 BY
NORTH FISH CREEK, NEAR INO,
WHERE THAT PROJECT COULD TAKE
SEVERAL MONTHS TO REPLACE A
BRIDGE THAT WAS ENTIRELY WASHED
OUT THERE.
AND ALSO ON U.S. HIGHWAY 53,
WHERE THEY'RE CURRENTLY
RESTRICTED TO ONE LANE
NORTHBOUND AND SOUTHBOUND ON
HIGHWAY 53 AS FAR AS TRAFFIC
GOES, THEY'RE GOING TO TRY AND
GET IN THERE NEXT WEEK AND BEGIN
REPAIR SO THEY CAN HAVE THAT UP
AND RUNNING FOR THE JULY 4TH
HOLIDAY.
>> OKAY.
TOUGH STUFF.
DANIELLE KAEDING, THANKS VERY
MUCH.
>> THANKS, FREDERICA.
>> A CLOSER LOOK NOW AT THE
GOVERNOR'S RACE AND OUR
CONTINUING SEAR EAVES INTERVIEWS
WITH DEMOCRATS RUNNING IN THE
PRIMARY.
TONIGHT, WE SPEAK TO MATT FLYNN.
FLYNN IS AN ATTORNEY IN
MILWAUKEE.
HE IS A U.S. NAVY VETERAN AND
FORMER CHAIR OF THE DEMOCRATIC
PARTY OF WISCONSIN.
MATT FLYNN JOINS US NOW.
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR DOING SO.
>> GOOD TO BE HERE.
THANK YOU.
>> SO TWO OF YOUR COMPATRIOTS
HAVE DROPPED OUT OF THIS RACE AS
OF TODAY.
WHAT WILL YOU DO?
>> I'M IN IT FOR THE LONG HAUL,
AND I THINK WE'RE IN PRETTY GOOD
SHAPE.
THE MARQUETTE FRANKLIN POLL THAT
JUST CAME OUT SHOWS ME IN SECOND
PLACE.
I'M TIED WITH TWO OTHERS IN THE
ROUNDING, BUT IN THE RAW DATA,
WE ACTUALLY ARE IN SECOND PLACE,
AND I THINK WE'RE DOING VERY
WELL.
>> AND YET THOSE NUMBERS IN THE
MARQUETTE POLL, WHAT IS IT, 7%
OF THE VOTE YOU GARNER, AND 77%
OF THOSE POLLED DON'T KNOW WHO
YOU ARE.
>> THE NAME RECOGNITION POLLS,
THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT THEY KNOW
ME A LOT BETTER THAN ALL THE
OTHERS EXCEPT MAYBE FOR TONY
EVERS, BUT WE HAVE A WAYS TO GO.
BUT WITH SEVEN WEEKS TO GO,
WHICH IS WHERE IT IS RIGHT NOW,
OUR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN ON
TELEVISION IS ABOUT TO START,
AND I'M WORKING HARD TO GET
AROUND THE STATE AND WE'RE
PICKING UP A LOT OF SUPPORT.
>> AMONG ALL THE OTHER
CANDIDATE, ALBEIT TWO FEWER, WHY
DO YOU THINK YOU SHOULD BE THE
PROGRESS OH IF VOICE FOR
WISCONSIN?
>> WELL, THERE'S A COUPLE OF
THINGS.
I WAS THE CHAIR OF THIS PARTY,
AND I KNOW THE STATE AND I KNOW
THE GOVERNMENT WELL.
I'M A NAVY VETERAN, THE ONLY
VETERAN IN THE RACE, GETTING
GOOD VETERAN SUPPORT AROUND THE
STATE AND I DIFFER FROM THEM ON
A NUNL BER OF ISSUES.
ONE IS FOX CON, I THINK IT'S A
CROCKED DEAL THAT I WILL STOP
THE LIT GAIGHTS, NONE OF THE
OTHERS SAY THEY WILL STOP IT.
TONY EVERS SAYS HE'LL MAKE THEM
PUT SOLAR PANELS ON AND THE
OTHERS COMPLAIN ABOUT IT.
I WILL STOP IT BECAUSE IT'S
GOING TO STRANGLE OUR BUDGET FOR
15 YEARS.
>> ON WHAT BASIS CAN YOU BEAT
SCOTT WALKER?
>> WELL, RIGHT NOW IN THAT POLL
THAT WE SAW, SCOTT WALKER LEADS
ME BUT I'M WITHIN THE MARGIN OF
ERROR, HE LEADS ME 46-42, AND I
COME TO IT WITH MUCH LESS NAME
RECOGNITION THAN HE DOES.
THERE'S A HUNGER TO REPLACE
SCOTT WALKER IN THIS STATE,
THERE REALLY IS, AND I THINK OUT
OF ALL THE CANDIDATES, I WAS A
LAWYER FOR A LONG TIME,
PRACTICING COMPLEX LITIGATION
WITH A LOT OF THE SAME ISSUES
THAT IT WILL TAKE TO STOP THE
FOX CONN DEAL.
IF I'M ON THE STAGE WITH HIM,
IT'S GOING TO BE A DIFFERENT
KIND OF DEBATE IT WAS THE LAST
COUPLE OF TIMES, SO I THINK
EVERY INDICATION IS WE CAN BEAT
HIM.
>> ON THE ECONOMY, ONE OF THE
THINGS YOU WANT TO DO IS REVERSE
ACT 10.
HOW DOES THAT HELP THE ECONOMY?
>> THE WAY IT HELPS THE ECONOMY
IS SEVERAL FOLD.
TEACHERS HAVE BEEN DEMORALIZED,
THEY REALLY HAVE.
ACT 10 WAS A TAUNTING DOCUMENT.
IF YOU READ THE ACTUAL ACT, THEY
DID IT TO BASICALLY INSULT AND
DEMORALIZE TEACHERS, AND THEY'VE
REDUCED THEIR WAGES.
NOW, THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS
THAT YOU COULD DO OUTSIDE OF AN
ACT 10.
I WILL REPEAL ACT TEP.
I WILL NOT COMPROMISE ON IT,
IT'S GOING TO BE TOTALLY
REPEALED.
I THINK TEACHERS' WAGES HAVE TO
GO UP.
NOW HOW TO PAY FOR THAT IN AN
ISSUE SUCH AS SHOULD THEY
CONTRIBUTE TO THEIR PENSION,
HEALTHCARE, MY VIEW IS IF
THEY'RE GOING TO CONTRIBUTE TO
THEIR PENSION AND HEALTHCARE,
THEY SHOULD BE PADE A WAGE THAT
PERMITS THEM TO DO THAT.
SO MY WIFE IS A SPEECH
PATHOLOGIST IN THE GERMANTOWN
PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR OVER 30 YEARS
AND I SAW THE DEVASTATION IT
DID, SO I WILL REPEAL ACT 10.
>> YOU ALSO WANT TO INVEST, YOU
SAY, IN ROADS AND
INFRASTRUCTURE.
HOW WOULD YOU PAY FOR IT?
>> REENACTING THE GAS TAX.
I THINK IT WAS A BIG MISTAKE 10,
13 YEARS AGO TO STOP DOING THAT.
RIGHT NOW OUR TRANSPORTATION
BUDGET IS 20% DEBT SERVICE, IN
OTHER WORDS, PAYING INTEREST
WHEN WE'VE ALREADY BORROWED AND
IT'S GOING UP, WE CAN'T HAVE
THAT.
SO WE'RE GOING TO PAY AS WE GO
AND REPAIR OUR ROADS AND ALSO
THERE ARE 13 EAST-WEST ROADS
FROM HIGHWAY 2 DOWN TO HIGHWAY
14.
MANY OF THEM, ONLY HIGHWAY 29 IS
REALLY FOUR-LANE.
I WANT TO MAKE THEM ALL FOUR
LANE AND AS SOON AS WE CAN DO
THAT, IT'S GOING TO REVITALIZE
RURAL AND WESTERN -- NORTHERN
WISCONSIN AS WELL.
>> ON EDUCATE, YOU CALL FOR FREE
TWO-YEAR PUBLIC COLLEGE OR
UNIVERSITY TUITION FOR EVERY
IN-STATE STUDENT.
HOW DO YOU DO THAT?
>> IN IN-STATE INSTITUTIONS, NOT
OUTSIDE.
THE REASON IS VERY SIMPLE.
MY PROPOSAL IS NOT K-12, IT'S
PRE-K-14.
I'LL PUT MORE INTO EARLY
EDUCATION -- CHILDHOOD, BUT FOR
THE FIRST TWO YEARS, THERE ARE A
LOT OF KIDS IN THE STATE WHEN
THEY TURN 18 THINK THEY CAN'T
AFFORD COLLEGE OR TRADE SCHOOL,
THEY GO TO DULUTH, MINNEAPOLIS,
CHICAGO, WE'RE LOSING A LOT OF
GOOD PEOPLE.
IF WE GET RID OF FOX CONN, IF WE
TAKE THAT BILLION DOLLARS IN
MEDICAID SUPPLEMENTS WALKER
TURNED DOWN, IF WE TAKE THE
$800 MILLION IN TRAIN MONEY HE
TURNED DOWN, IF WE GET RID OF
THE MANUFACTURERS' CREDIT AND
EXEMPTION, WHICH IS VERY
UNPRODUCTIVE AND IT'S COST US
ABOUT A BILLION DOLLARS, WE CAN
EASILY DO IT.
OTHER STATES HAVE DONE IT.
>> SO YOU JUST TOUCHED ON THE
MEDICAID MONEY.
WHAT ELSE WOULD YOU DO FOR
HEALTHCARE IN WISCONSIN?
>> WELL, LONG-RANGE, I THINK
FEDERALLY WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO
HAVE MEDICARE COVER EVERYBODY
FROM BIRTH TO DEATH.
AND IT'S THE CHEAPEST WAY TO DO
IT.
70% OF THE PEOPLE IN THIS
COUNTRY ALREADY GET SOME SORT OF
GOVERNMENT-RELATED MEDICAID,
MEDICARE, MILITARY, SO FORTH.
BUT WHAT I WOULD DO IN THE SHORT
RUN, BECAUSE I CAN'T MANDATE
THAT EVEN THOUGH MEDICARE IS A
REAL COST CUTTER, I WOULD OPEN
UP BADGERCARE.
IN ADDITION TO GETTING THE
BILLION DOLLARS BACK, OPEN UP
BADGERCARE TO ANYBODY WHO
DOESN'T HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE
AND WANTS TO BUY INTO IT FOR A
PREMIUM UNLESS THEY'RE INTD
JENT.
>> MEANWHILE, OBAMACARE, THE
AFFORDABLE CARE ACT IS BEING
SHIPPED AWAY AT AND MORE EFFORTS
ARE UNDERWAY TO DO AWAY WITH IT.
IF YOU BECAME OH GOVERNOR, YOU CAN
DECLARE THAT YOU WANT ALL OF
THESE THINGS BUT HOW DO YOU KIND
OF REVERSE WHAT HAS BEEN
HAPPENING TO THE AFFORDABLE CARE
ACT?
>> WE HAVE A PRESIDENT DONALD
TRUMP WHO IN MY VIEW IS
VANDALIZING OUR HEALTHCARE
SYSTEM AND BETRAYING US TO THE
RUSSIANS QUITE FRANKLY BUT IN
THE SHORT RUN, WHAT I WOULD DO
WITH HEALTHCARE WITH HIM, THE
AFFORDABLE CARE ACT MEANS A
BRIDGE BETWEEN AN OLD SYSTEM AND
WHAT I HOPE IS MEDICARE FOR
EVERYBODY.
SO WOULD HAVE TO OPEN THE
EXCHANGES, WE HAVE TO HAVE MORE
OPTIONS AND I WILL FULLY FUND
EVERYTHING THAT'S IN MY POWER TO
FUND.
>> MATT FLYNN, THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> GOOD TO BE HERE.
THANK YOU.
>> WE CONTINUE TO FOLLOW UP ON
STATEMENTS MADE ON "HERE AND
NOW" BY DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES
FOR WISCONSIN GOVERNOR.
THIS WEEK, MULTIMEDIA REPORTER
MARISA WOJCIK CIRCLES BACK TO
REMARKS MADE BY TONY EVERS ABOUT
HEALTHCARE.
>> WISCONSIN CAN'T GO VERY LONG
WITHOUT BEING COMPARED TO
MINNESOTA.
RECENTLY DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE
FOR GOVERNOR TONY EVERS TOLD US
WHICH IS LAGGING BEHIND ITS
WESTERN NEIGHBOR IN THE AREA OF
HEALTHCARE.
>> ALL THOSE THINGS THAT SCOTT
WALKER DIDN'T DO HAS CAUSED
MINNESOTA TO MOVE FORWARD AND
HAVE CHEAPER AND BETTER
HEALTHCARE THAN WE DO IN
WISCONSIN.
>> WHAT DOES CHEAPER AND BETTER
MEAN?
WE FOLLOWED UP WITH EVERS'
CAMPAIGN AND THEY REFERENCED A
2017 STUDY BY THE LIBERAL GROUP
"CITIZEN ACTION OF WISCONSIN."
THIS PARTICULAR STUDY LOOKED AT
2018 PREMIUMS AND FOUND THAT ON
AVERAGE, WISCONSINITES PAY 45%
MORE IN PREMIUMS.
A RECENT REPORT FROM THE URBAN
INSTITUTE SHOWS THAT FROM 2017
TO 2018, WISCONSIN PREMIUMS SAW
AN OVERALL INCREASE OF 43.5%.
MINNESOTA SAW A 15.1% DECREASE.
NOW NATIONALLY, MANY STATES SAW
PREMIUMS SPIKE AS FEDERAL
REIMBURSEMENTS FOR COST SHARE
REDUCTIONS WERE NO LONGER
AVAILABLE, AND OVERALL, FEWER
PEOPLE ENROLLED IN THE
INDIVIDUAL INSURANCE
MARKETPLACE.
FROM MINNESOTA, IT WASN'T UNTIL
RECENTLY THAT PREMIUMS
STABILIZED.
THE STATE'S 2016 PREMIUM RATES
WERE SET TO INCREASE BETWEEN 14
AND 49%.
MANY IN MINNESOTA ATTRIBUTE THE
NEW FOUND BALANCE IN THE STATE'S
MARKETPLACE TO THE STATE'S
RE-INSURANCE PROGRAM, WHICH USES
STATE AND FEDERAL MONEY TO
SUBSIDIZE INSURANCE COMPANIES TO
COVER EXCEPTIONALLY HIGH CLAIMS.
WISCONSIN IS HOPING TO ENACT A
SIMILAR RE-INSURANCE PLAN.
HAVING APPLIED FOR A FEDERAL
WAIVER BACK IN APRIL.
FOR THESE AND OTHER FAST FACTS,
VISIT WPT.ORG.
>> NOW FOR AN UPDATE AI WA FROM
THE STATE CAPITOL, THE FORMER
GENERAL MOTORS PLANT IN
JANESVILLE IS COMING DOWN TO BE
REBUILT FOR FUTURE USE.
THE WISCONSIN ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION THIS
WEEK ANNOUNCED IT IS PUTTING A
HALF MILLION DOLLARS TOWARD THE
DEMOLITION.
6 BUILDINGS IN THE FORMER
ASSEMBLY PLANT WILL BE RAISED.
THE DEMO IS EXPECTED TO BE
COMPLETED IN TWO YEARS.
REMEDIATION AND REDEVELOPMENT
WILL TAKE SEVERAL MORE YEARS.
A COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE COMPANY
THEN PLANS TO TURN THE PROPERTY
INTO ABOUT 1 MILLION SQUARE FEET
OF INDUSTRIAL AND WAREHOUSE
SPACE.
ALSO THIS WEEK, A NEW STATE
OFFICE BUILDING IN MILWAUKEE
WILL BE NAMED AFTER THE LATE
CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER VEL
PHILLIPS.
PHILLIPS PASSED AWAY IN APRIL AT
THE AGE OF 95.
SHE WAS THE FIRST
AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMAN ON THE
MILWAUKEE COMMON COUNCIL AND THE
FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMAN TO
HOLD STATE-WIDE OFFICE AS
SECRETARY OF STATE.
AND FINALLY TONIGHT, A LOOK
AHEAD TO NEXT WEEK, WHEN WE WILL
CONTINUE OUR INTERVIEWS WITH THE
DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES FOR
GOVERNOR.
FIREFIGHTER MAHLON MITCHELL WILL
JOIN US NEXT WEEK ON "HERE AND
NOW."
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.
?
[MUSIC]
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>> 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