>> I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW,"
GOVERNOR TONY EVERS SAYS THE
FOXCONN CONTRACT NEEDS SOME
TWEAKS.
WE'LL HEAR WHAT A TECH INDUSTRY
SPECIALIST IN BEIJING HAS TO
SAY.
THEN A CLOSER LOOK AT THE MOST
STUBBORN PROBLEM IN DAIRYLAND:
MILK PRICES.
AND A NEW EFFORT TO IMPROVE THE
WAY SEXUAL ASSAULT IS PROCESSED
INTO THE STATE CRIME LAB.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR
APRIL 19.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED, IN PART, BY FRIENDS OF
WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISION.
>> FOXCONN'S RECENT
ACKNOWLEDGMENT THAT THEIR RACINE
COUNTY OPERATION WILL BE SCALED
DOWN FROM THE ORIGINAL PROPOSAL
CONVINCED GOVERNOR TONY EVERS
THAT THEY WILL NOT COME THROUGH
WITH THE 13,000 JOBS THE TECH
GIANT PROMISED.
THE GOVERNOR IS SO CONVINCED
HE'S CONSIDERING REGORK RENEGOTIATING
THE STATE'S CONTRACT WITH THE
TAIWANESE COMPANY.
THE ANNOUNCEMENT SPARKED A SHARP
REACTION FROM REPUBLICAN
LEADERSHIP, INCLUDING SENATE
MAJORITY LEAD SCOTT FITZGERALD,
WHO SAID:
>> WE CHECKED IN WITH
BEIJING-BASED POLITICAL AND
ECONOMIC AFFAIRS COMMENTATOR
EINAR TANGEN.
HE FORMERLY LIVED IN AND WORKED
ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ISSUES
IN WISCONSIN.
WHEN ASKED ABOUT THE PLAN TO
RENEGOTIATE WITH FOXCONN, HE
SAID, THAT PLAN WOULD BE, QUOTE,
DEAD ON ARRIVAL, GIVES TERRY
COVER TO EITHER SUE OR BACK OUT
OF THE DEAL.
HE WENT FURTHER.
TANGEN SAID IN THE EVENT THE
STATE STARTS LEGAL ACTION
AGAINST FOXCONN FOR ANY REASON,
FOXCONN HAS THE PERFECT EXCUSE
TO WITHDRAW FROM A PROJECT WHICH
WAS MORE POLITICAL IN NATURE
THAN ECONOMIC.
AS FOR THE POLITICAL OPTICS AND
ALL OF THIS IN WISCONSIN, TANGEN
HAD THIS TO SAY.
IF FOXCONN BACKS OUT, TRUMP AND
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY WILL USE
THE ISSUE TO PORTRAY DEMOCRATS
AT INEPT BUMBLERS WHO SNATCHED
VICTORY FROM THE JAWS DEFEAT.
IT NEVER PENCILLED OUT.
NOW TO ANOTHER STORY, THE
SHRINKING NUMBER OF DAIRY FARMS
IN OUR STATE.
THE CRISIS IN WISCONSIN IS
PERHAPS BEST UNDERSTOOD BY
HEARING FROM THE PEOPLE LIVING
IT.
TONIGHT WE SHARE AN EXCERPT FROM
REPORTER ANDY SOTH'S DOCUMENTARY
PORTRAITS FROM RURAL WISCONSIN.
FOURTH GENERATION DAIRY FARMER
WESTON PATNODE SHARES WHAT IT'S
LIKE TO LOSE THE HERD.
>> THE FINANCIAL PART WAS THE
BIG PROBLEM.
MILK PRICES ARE THE SAME AS THEY
WERE IN THE '70s AND '80s.
THINGS GOT REALLY TIGHT AND WE
PAID THE BILLS WHEN WE COULD AND
HOPED WE COULD CONTINUE TO PAY
THEM AND THEN WE STARTED TO FALL
BEHIND AND IT JUST GOT TO WHERE
WE WEREN'T GAINING GROUND.
>> THEY TALKED TO BANKERS ABOUT
EXPANDING AND CAME CLOSE TO
SIGNING FOR A $2 MILLION LOAN,
BUT DIDN'T WANT TO RISK LOSING
THEIR LAND OR BURDENING THEIR
CHILDREN WITH DEBT.
>> THEY'RE NINE AND FIVE, SO I
DON'T WANT TO TIE THEM DOWN
RIGHT NOW.
>> YEAH.
>> THAT WAS PART OF IT, TOO,
WHEN WE WERE ASKED TO EXPAND, IS
THAT THEY'RE NINE AND FIVE.
THEY CAN'T MAKE THAT DECISION.
IF THEY WERE 20 AND THEY SAID,
YEAH, WE WANT TO GO ALL IN, WE
PROBABLY COULD HAVE.
BUT WHATEVER THEY DECIDE TO DO,
THEY'RE JUST RESPONSIBLE AND
KIND, CARING PEOPLE AT THE END
OF THE DAY.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HOPING FOR.
?
>> IT'S BEEN ONLY A FEW WEEKS
SINCE THEY MADE THE DECISION TO
GET OUT.
THE MEMORIES ARE STILL RAW AND
IT'S HARD TO TALK ABOUT THAT
LAST MILKING AND SAYING GOODBYE.
>> I'LL TALK.
I'LL TALK.
IT WAS HARD.
IT WAS SOMETHING THAT WE KNEW
WOULD BE HARD, BUT WE DIDN'T
REALIZE IT WOULD BE AS HARD AS
IT WAS.
AND WE DIDN'T REALIZE HOW HARD
IT WOULD STILL BE.
>> SO I WROTE A BLOG, KIND OF TO
JUST TELL EVERYBODY FOR OUR
FAMILY AND FRIENDS TO KNOW.
TOMORROW MORNING THE ALARM CLOCK
WILL GO OFF EARLY, 4:30 A.M. TO
BOARD OUR DAIRY COWS FOR THEM TO
LIVE ON OTHER FARMS.
THERE ISN'T A BOOK FOR THIS.
THERE PROBABLY SHOULD BE, BUT NO
ONE WROTE ABOUT WHAT TO DO NEXT
WHEN YOU SELL YOUR FOURTH
GENERATION FAMILY FARM.
NO ONE WROTE A BOOK ABOUT HOW TO
GET THROUGH THAT LAST MILKING.
TEARS NEVER SEEMING TO END AS
YOU HOLD EACH OTHER TIGHT WITH
NO WORDS TO BE SPOKEN.
NO ONE WROTE A BOOK ABOUT WHERE
TO GO FROM HERE OR HOW TO GET
OVER THE EMOTIONS OF THE LOSS
YOU FEEL IN THE PIT OF YOUR
STOMACH, THE HEARTBREAK.
NO ONE WROTE A BOOK THAT TELLS
YOU HOW TO GET OVER THAT FEELING
OF FAILURE EVEN THOUGH YOU KNOW
YOU GAVE IT YOUR BEST THROUGH
THE END.
>> THE POST WAS SHARED THOUSANDS
OF TIMES.
>> OUR PHONES WERE BLOWING UP
THAT NIGHT, FOR THE NEXT WEEK,
JUST TEXT MESSAGES, PHONE CALLS.
LIKE YOU SAID, MESSAGES ONLINE
FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY AND
THE WORLD.
IT WAS QUITE AMAZING.
I MEAN, THE OUTPOURING OF
SUPPORT.
>> YEAH.
>> THE WIDESPREAD INTEREST IN
THEIR STORY, THEY SAY THAT MUCH
MORE THAN THE DAIRY HERD WAS
BEING LOST.
>> I THINK WE'RE LOSING THE
CULTURE OF AMERICA.
I MEAN, REALLY, THEY SAY LIKE
WISCONSIN, AMERICA'S DAIRY LAND.
>> GROWING UP, THE FAMILY
HELPING THE NEXT FAMILY DOWN THE
ROAD, THE RESPONSIBILITIES WE
LEARNED AS KIDS, THE WORK ETHIC.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU SEE THAT AS
MUCH.
>> WHILE WESTON LOOKS AT HIS
WORK OPTIONS, THEY ENJOY THE
FAMILY TIME TOGETHER.
>> EVEN IF OUR KIDS AREN'T GOING
TO GROW UP MILKING COWS, IT'S
IMPORTANT THEY GET THAT SAME
WORK ETHIC.
>> I STILL WANT TO BE ABLE TO
RAISE MY BOYS IN THE 400 ACRES
WE HAVE HERE TUCKED BACK IN THE
VALLEY.
GET DOWN.
THERE YOU GO.
>> OUR PARTNERS AT WISCONTEXT
ORG HAVE BEEN REPORTING ON THE
DAIRY CRISIS AND SPECIFICALLY
LOW MILK PRICES.
WE TALKED WITH REPORTER WILL
CUSHMAN ON LOCATION ABOUT THE
CURRENT STATE OF PRICES FOR
MILK.
>> HEY, WILL.
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US.
>> OF COURSE.
>> SO THE PATNODES CLEARLY ARE
NOT ALONE.
WHAT ARE THE NUMBERS OF DAIRY
FARMERS GOING OUT OF BUSINESS IN
WISCONSIN?
>> SURE.
WISCONSIN'S LOST ABOUT 750 DAIRY
HERDS IN THE LAST YEAR.
THAT EQUATES TO A LITTLE OVER 8%
OF THE STATE'S DAIRY HERDS.
WISCONSIN'S BEEN LOSING DAIRY
HERDS FOR QUITE A NUMBER OF
YEARS NOW, BUT THE NUMBER IS
USUALLY CLOSER TO 3% TO 4% LOSS
PER YEAR, SO THIS IS QUITE A BIT
HIGHER THAN USUAL.
>> WE HAVE A MAP OF SEVEN
COUNTIES IN WISCONSIN WHICH HAVE
LOST MORE THAN 20% OF THEIR
DAIRY HERDS OVER THE LAST TWO
YEARS.
WHERE IS THIS MOST ACUTE?
>> THE MOST -- IT'S BEING MOST
ACUTELY FELT IN EAU CLAIRE
COUNTY, IT LOOKS LIKE.
EAU CLAIRE HAS LOST OVER 25% OF
OF THEIR DAIRY HERDS IN THE LAST
TWO YEARS.
SO YEAH.
IT'S PARTICULARLY HARD HIT
AROUND THAT REGION.
>> WHAT ARE THE SPECIAL
CONDITIONS THAT MAKE EAU CLAIRE
THE HARDEST HIT IN THE STATE?
>> SURE.
I TALKED TO AN EXTENSION AGENT
UP THERE, AND HE TOLD ME THAT
EAU CLAIRE COUNTY HAS A LOT OF
SMALLER DAIRY FARMS.
A LOT OF THOSE HAVE LESS
FINANCIAL WIGGLE ROOM WHEN TIMES
GET TOUGH.
AND ALSO THERE ARE A NUMBER OF
FARMERS WHO ARE APPROACHING
RETIREMENT AGE WHO ARE DECIDING
TO GET OUT OF THE BUSINESS
RATHER THAN RISK THEIR
RETIREMENT.
>> AND KIND OF THE WHOLE WESTERN
PART OF THE STATE SEEMS TO HAVE
THOSE COUNTIES WITH THAT HIGH
PERCENTAGE OF DAIRY FARMERS
GOING OUT OF BUSINESS OR AT
CULLING THEIR HERDS.
WHAT IS THE CURRENT STATUS OF
MILK PRICES?
>> SURE.
YEAH.
THE MILK PRICES RIGHT NOW ARE AT
ABOUT $15.60 PER HUNDREDWEIGHT
IN WISCONSIN.
THAT'S SLIGHTLY ABOVE THE
NATIONAL AVERAGE, WHICH IS
$15.30.
AND IT'S QUITE A BIT BELOW THE
ALL-TIME HIGH THAT WE HIT IN
2014, WHICH WAS AT ABOUT $24.
>> WHY DID THE BOTTOM DROP OUT
OF PRICES JUST FROM 2014 TO
TODAY?
>> RIGHT.
YEAH.
IT REALLY STARTED FALLING IN
2015 AND IT IT'S BEEN HOVERING
AROUND $16 OR SO PRETTY MUCH
SINCE THEN.
I TALKED TO SOME ECONOMISTS HERE
IN WISCONSIN WHO SAY THAT A LOT
OF THAT HAS BEEN DRIVEN BY DAIRY
EXPORT MARKETS.
IN 2005 AMERICAN MILK PRICES
ALIGNED WITH THOSE OF THE
WORLD'S MAJOR DAIRY EXPORTERS,
INCLUDING THE EUROPEAN UNION AND
NEW ZEALAND.
AND IN 2015 THE EU EASED A RULE
THAT HAD SET MILK QUOTAS ON
MEMBER COUNTRIES, SO A LOT OF
MEMBER COUNTRIES RAMPED UP MILK
PRODUCTION, FLOODED EXPORT
MARKETS.
AT AROUND THE SAME TIME,
NEW ZEALAND HAD A GREAT YEAR FOR
MILK PRODUCTION THAT FURTHER
FLOODED DAIRY EXPORT MARKETS.
AND SINCE THEN ONGOING TRADE
WARS WITH SOME OF OUR MAJOR
TRAIFDINGTRADING PARTNERS HAVE NOT BEEN
HELPING.
>> WHAT IS THE EXPECTATION ABOUT
WHEN PRICES MIGHT REBOUND?
DOES ANYBODY KNOW THAT?
>> YEAH.
IT'S REALLY HARD TO FORECAST.
ESSENTIALLY BECAUSE MILK PRICES
SEEM TO BE SO CLOSELY LINKED
WITH DAIRY EXPORT DEMAND,
ESSENTIALLY EXPORT DEMAND WOULD
HAVE TO KICK BACK UP, GET SOME
OF THE SURPLUS DAIRY PRODUCTS
OUT, FLUSH THEM OUT OF THE
MARKET AND THEN HOPEFULLY WE'D
SEE A REBOUND IN PRICES.
>> IN WISCONSIN, WHICH DAIRY
OPERATIONS ARE DOING WELL IN
THIS CLIMATE?
>> SURE.
I TALKED TO A PROFESSOR AT UW
PLATTEVILLE, WHO'S DONE SOME
RESEARCH RELATED TO THIS, AND
HE'S ACTUALLY FOUND THAT HERDS
OF ALL SIZES, THERE ARE SOME
FARMS THAT ARE ABLE TO REMAIN
PROFITABLE EVEN IN THESE TOUGH
TIMES.
EVEN THE REALLY SMALL HERDS,
ABOUT 20% OF ALL HERDS ARE ABLE
TO MAINTAIN A CASH FLOW RIGHT
NOW.
>> AND --
>> BUT GENERALLY THE LARGER
FARMS ARE ABLE TO MAKE IT WORK A
LITTLE BIT MORE EASILY.
>> AND I KNOW THAT IN YOUR
REPORTING YOU TALK ABOUT THAT,
AND YET THIS PROFESSOR YOU SPOKE
WITH, I BELIEVE YOU SAID AT
PLATTEVILLE, SAID THAT THERE ARE
FARMS OF ALL SIZES THAT ARE
STILL ABLE TO MAINTAIN THEIR
PROFITABILITY.
BUT WHAT KIND OF OPERATIONS ARE
MOSTLY NOT ABLE TO HOLD ON RIGHT
NOW?
>> YEAH.
IT'S -- THE FARMS THAT HAVE A
HIGH DEBT BURDEN, ONES THAT ARE
UNABLE TO MAINTAIN THAT CASH
FLOW, A LOT OF TIMES THAT IS THE
SMALLER FARMS.
OFTENTIMES THE LARGER OPERATIONS
JUST HAVE MORE CAPITAL TO WORK
WITH.
>> AND THEN AS YOU WERE
SUGGESTING EARLIER, TOO, MANY
FARMERS ARE JUST AGING OUT.
I MEAN, THEY'RE GETTING TO
RETIREMENT AGE.
AND SO THE DEMOGRAPHICS HAVE
SOMETHING TO DO WITH IT AS WELL.
JUST BRIEFLY, WITH LESS THAN A
MINUTE LEFT, WHAT ARE PEOPLE
TRYING TO DO TO TRY TO REMEDY
THIS CRISIS?
>> YEAH.
IN THE STATE OF WISCONSIN,
THERE'S A DAIRY TASK FORCE 2.0,
IS WHAT IT'S BEING CALLED.
FORMER GOVERNOR SCOTT WALKER PUT
THAT TOGETHER LAST YEAR, I
BELIEVE.
AND A BUNCH OF EXPERTS FROM
AROUND THE STATE, INCLUDING
EXTENSION AGENTS AND OTHER
PEOPLE FROM THE DAIRY INDUSTRY,
ARE ERK WORKING ON SOLUTIONS.
THIS IS ALSO SLIEWDING PEOPLE INCLUDING PEOPLE
FROM THE UW SYSTEM WORKING ON IT
LOCALLY.
I ALSO KNOW THAT THE USDA IS
THINKING ABOUT GOING TO HEARINGS
THIS YEAR OR NEXT TO SEE ABOUT
TWEAKS TO HOW IT DOES ITS MILK
PRICING.
>> WILL CUSHMAN, THANKS VERY
MUCH AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR
REPORTING.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THE SERIES OF REPORTS AND
CHALLENGES IN DAIRYLAND CAN BE
FOUND AT WISCONTEXT CORG.
AND THIS RELATED NEWS.
THE WISCONSIN PUBLIC SERVICE
COMMISSION HAS APPROVED ONE OF
THE LARGEST SOLAR PROJECTS IN
THE COUNTRY.
LANDOWNERS ARE LEASING THEIR
LAND TO RENEWABLE ENERGY
COMPANIES TO PLACE PANELS ON
THEIR FIELDS.
WILL KENEALLY REPORTS.
>> WHOEVER SAID WISCONSIN'S
WEATHER IS PREDICTABLE?
NO ONE EVER.
BUT IT MAY BE MORE STEADY THAN
THE FARM MARKETS WHICH HAVE BEEN
MOSTLY CLOUDY.
>> IN 1980 THE PRICE WE GOT FOR
OUR MILK, AND THIS LAST JANUARY,
FEBRUARY, WE WERE GETTING
$13.80.
SO THE PRICE IS THE SAME.
>> SO KEN WONDERLIN SOLD HIS
DAIRY HERD LAST SUMMER EVEN
THOUGH IT WAS HIS LIFE.
>> OH, YEAH.
YEP.
STARTED RIGHT OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL
ON MY OWN AND BEEN DOING IT FOR
NEAR 50 YEARS NOW.
>> UW-EXTENSION AG AGENT GENE
SCHRIEFER DESCRIBES THE MARKET
FORCES FACING FARMERS.
>> OFTEN WE'D SEE MILK PRICES
WHERE CROP FARMERS WERE HAVING A
HARDER TIME.
BUT NOW YOU'VE GOT A PRETTY
BROAD SWATH OF THE RURAL
ECONOMIC ECONOMY OUT HERE AS FAR
AS AGRICULTURE GOES ALL BEING
HIT AT THE SAME TIME.
IT'S JUST THE COMMODITIES HAVE
TAKEN A BEATING.
>> NOW, SOME, LIKE KEN
WONDERLIN, ARE TURNING TO THE
SUN.
>> IT'S JUST ANOTHER FORM OF AG
PRODUCTION OR CROP PRODUCTION.
WE'RE GOING TO PRODUCE ENERGY
INSTEAD OF CORN.
>> TURNING TO A FIELD OF BEAMS
TO MAKE A GO OF IT, WONDERLIN IS
ONE OF MORE THAN A DOZEN RENTING
THEIR LAND TO THE INVENERGY
COMPANY TO PLACE SOLAR PANELS IN
WISCONSIN.
IT WOULD BE THE LARGEST PROJECT
IN THE MIDWEST, ONE OF THE
LARMING ESLARGEST IN THE U.S.
>> WE SETTLED IN IOWA COUNTY
BECAUSE IT'S A GOOD SPOT FOR
SOLAR DEVELOPMENT.
>> DANIEL LITCHFIELD IS DIRECTOR
OF DEVELOPMENT.
>> WE NEED FLAT, OPEN LAND.
THERE'S AN AREA HERE WE'VE BEEN
ABLE TO LEASE FOR OUR SITE THAT
IS VERY CONSTRUCTABLE FOR SOLAR,
FLAT AND OPEN.
AND THEN THE COMMUNITY AND THE
LANDOWNERS BEING INTERESTED AND
WILLING TO HOST.
>> RENEWABLE NRK ENERGY ADVOCATES
SAY THIS PUTS WISCONSIN ON THE
MAP.
>> WISCONSIN HAS LAGGED IN
RENEWABLE ENERGY FROM ANOTHER
STATES LIKE IOWA AND MINNESOTA,
SO THIS IS A REAL OPPORTUNITY TO
GET US BACK IN THE RACE.
>> WONDERLIN SAYS IT WILL BE A
RELIEF TO HAVE A SECURE SOURCE
OF INCOME.
>> AGREED-UPON RATE.
IT IS MUCH LEART BETTER PRICE, MORE
THAN 2.5 TIMES THAN CROPLAND
WOULD SELL FOR.
WITH COST OF LIVING INCREASE
INTO THAT RENT EVERY YEAR.
AND SO IT JUST MADE SENSE TO
TAKE THE GAMBLE OUT OF FARMING.
>> BUT NOT EVERYONE'S ONBOARD.
SOME LOCAL FARMERS ARE CRITICS
OF THE PLAN.
THEY WORRY SOLAR PANEL FIELDS
WILL CHANGE THE LANDSCAPE THAT
SOUTHWESTERN WISCONSIN WILL
STRAY FROM ITS TRADITIONAL
FARMING ROOTS.
SUPPORTERS SAY IT WILL BE
LONG-TERM, BUT NOT FOREVER.
>> THE GREAT THING ABOUT THAT IS
WHEN IT'S TIME, WHEN THIS
PROJECT HAS REACHED ITS END OF
LIFE AND IT'S NO LONGER ECONOMIC
OR PRODUCING ENOUGH ENERGY, YOU
CAN PULL THAT OUT AND YOU'RE
BACK TO FARMLAND.
IT'S NOT A PERMANENT STRUCTURE.
YOU'RE NOT CHANGING TO A BIG
COMMERCIAL BUILDING.
IT IS REALLY TEMPORARY.
IT'S LONG-TERM, 30 TO 40 YEARS.
BUT IT ULTIMATELY IS TEMPORARY.
>> WONDERLIN SAYS WHETHER THE
LAND IN THE FUTURE IS PLANTED
FOR CROPS OR LAID WITH PANELS,
HE JUST WANTS IT TO WORK FOR HIM
AND OTHERS LIKE HIM.
>> THE WAY I SEE IT, THAT THE
FARMERS CAN STAY FARMING IF THEY
CAN'T MAKE A PRODUCTION -- OR
PROFIT, I MEAN.
AND SO IT'S ONE WAY FOR MAYBE WE
CAN IN THE FUTURE MAKE IT SO
FARMING IS PROFITABLE.
>> REPORTING FROM IOWA COUNTY,
THIS IS WILL KENEALLY.
>> THE IOWA COUNTY SOLAR PROJECT
IS EXPECTED TO BE OPERATIONAL AS
EARLY AS NEXT YEAR.
NOW FOR AN UPDATE ON THE ONGOING
COURT BATTLE REGARDING THE LAME
DUCK LAWS.
YOU MAY REMEMBER A DANE COUNTY
COURT ORIGINALLY RULED THE LAWS
PASSED IN THE FINAL DAYS OF THE
WALKER ADMINISTRATION WERE
UNCONSTITUTIONAL.
THIS WEEK THE STATE SUPREME
COURT ISSUED AN ORDER TO BYPASS
THE APPEALS COURT IN ORDER TO
CONSIDER THE DANE COUNTY
DECISION ON THE HIGH COURT ON.
LAME DUCK LAWS INCLUDED TAKING
AUTHORITY AWAY FROM THE GOVERNOR
AND ATTORNEY GENERAL, INCLUDING
SOME POWER OVER APPOINTING
AGENCY HEADS.
THE SUPREME COURT ALSO DENIED
OPTIONS TO RESTORE APPOINTMENTS
THAT GOVERNOR EVERS RESCINDED
AFTER THE DANE COUNTY RULING.
AT LEAST ONE OTHER OPTION TO
RESTORE APPOINTMENTS IS STILL
BEING CONSIDERED.
THE COURT SET ORAL ARGUMENTS TO
BEGIN MAY 15.
>> IN TONIGHT'S INSIDE LOOK, A
NEW LEGISLATIVE PROPOSAL THAT
HAS BIPARTISAN SUPPORT AIMS TO
PREVENT A BACKLOG OF SEXUAL
ASSAULT KITS.
FOUR YEARS AGO, WISCONSIN HAD A
BACKLOG OF 6,000 UNTESTED RAPE
KITS.
THAT HAS SINCE BEEN CLEARED.
UNDER THE PROPOSED BILL, A
HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL MUST
NOTIFY LAW ENFORCEMENT WITHIN 24
HOURS OF COLLECTING THE KIT IF
THE VICTIM CHOOSES TO REPORT THE
SEXUAL ASSAULT TO POLICE.
LAW ENFORCEMENT THEN MUST SUBMIT
THE KIT AND IT MUST BE TESTED BY
THE STATE CRIME LAB WITHIN TWO
WEEKS.
IF A VICTIM DOES NOT WANT TO
REPORT THE CRIME, THE KIT MUST
STILL BE SENT TO THE STATE CRIME
LAB WITHIN THREE DAYS FOR
STORAGE, WHERE IT IT WILL BE HELD
FOR THREE YEARS.
WE'RE JOINED BY IAN HENDERSON
WITH THE WISCONSIN COALITION
AGAINST SEXUAL ASSAULT FOR HIS
TAKE ON THE MEASURE.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> HOW IS THIS DIFFERENT FROM
HOW IT HAD BEEN DONE IN
WISCONSIN?
>> IN SOME WAYS IT'S NOT THAT
DIFFERENT.
WHAT THIS LEGISLATION DOES IT
REALLY CODIFY THE WORK THAT A
MULTIDISCIPLINARY GROUP OF
PROFESSIONALS CONVENED BY THE
ATTORNEY GENERAL A FEW YEARS AGO
DEVISED TO GIVE SEXUAL ASSAULT
SURVIVORS UNIFORM OPTIONS
REGARDING THEIR CARE AND THE
COLLECTION OF FORENSIC EVIDENCE
WHEN THEY PRESENT AT A HOSPITAL.
SO BASICALLY A SURVIVOR PRESENTS
AT A HOSPITAL HAS THREE OPTIONS.
THEY COULD JUST GET THEIR HEALTH
CARE NEEDS TAKEN CARE OF.
THEY COULD HAVE A FORENSIC
SEXUAL ASSAULT KIT COLLECTED AND
TENT FOR TESTING IF THEY WANTED
TO REPORT TO LAW ENFORCEMENT.
THIRD, FOR A SURVIVOR WHO WAS
UNSURE ABOUT REPORTING TO LAW
ENFORCEMENT, THEY COULD HAVE A
KIT COLLECTED THAT WOULD BE SENT
TO THE CRIME LAB FOR STORAGE.
THOSE PROTOCOLS WERE ALREADY IN
PLACE.
THIS LEGISLATION CODIFIES THAT
INTO STATUTE AND PUTS THOSE
CLEAR TIME FRAMES INTO PLACE FOR
LAW ENFORCEMENT AND HOSPITALS TO
SEND THOSE KITS TO THE CRIME LAB
FOR TESTING.
>> BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENS TO
VICTIMS AND THEIR CASES WHEN
THERE IS THE KIND OF BACKLOG
THAT WE HAD?
>> I THINK FOR SURVIVORS WHAT WE
HEARD WAS MANY DIDN'T EVEN KNOW
THAT THE KITS HAD NEVER BEEN
TESTED, RIGHT?
THEY HAD HAD THE KIT COLLECTED
AND BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF
UNIFORMITY IN THE PAST, WE DON'T
REALLY KNOW WHAT SURVIVORS WERE
TOLD WHEN THEY HAD THE KIT
COLLECTED.
SOME MAY HAVE BEEN TOLD YOUR KIT
WON'T BE TESTED UNLESS YOU WANT
TO REPORT.
OR WE WON'T TEST THE KIT UNLESS
YOU GIVE THAT AFFIRMATIVE
CONSENT.
OR IT WILL BE TESTED RIGHT AWAY.
SO WE DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT
SURVIVORS WERE TOLD AT THE TIME.
AND THIS LEGISLATION PROVIDED
THAT CERTAINTY AROUND WHAT WILL
HAPPEN AS OPPOSED TO THAT LACK
OF CERTAINTY AND THEN SURVIVORS
NOT KNOWING WHAT HAPPENED.
>> NOW, YOU'RE SAYING THAT THIS
IS KIND OF BEST PRACTICES AND
UNDER THIS BILL, UNDER THESE
BEST PRACTICES, VICTIMS DO HAVE
THE CHOICE WHETHER TO REPORT
THEIR SEXUAL ASSAULT TO POLICE.
WHY IS THAT IMPORTANT?
>> EL WITH, WELL, THERE'S A VARIETY OF
REASONS THEY MAY NOT WANT TO
REPORT.
ONE OF THOSE WOULD BE A FEAR OF
NOT BEING BELIEVED.
COULD BE CONCERNS FOR THEIR
PRIVACY.
WE ALSO KNOW FOR SURVIVORS OF
COLORS AND THOSE FROM OTHER
MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES, THEY
MISTRUST LAW ENFORCEMENT.
SO THIS LEGISLATION PRESERVES
THE RIGHT TO ENGAGE WITH LAW
ENFORCEMENT WITH THAT SURVIVOR
WHILE AT THE SAME TIME ALLOWING
THEM TO HAVE FORENSIC EVIDENCE
COLLECTED AND STORED AT THE
CRIME LAB SHOULD THEY DECIDE ONE
WEEK, TWO WEEKS OR FIVE YEARS
LATER.
>> SPEAKING OF STORAGE, PART OF
IT WOULD REQUIRE STORING KITS
FROM VICTIMS WHO CONSENT TO
ANALYSIS FOR 50 YEARS.
WHY SO LONG?
>> AS I UNDERSTAND, THAT'S ABOUT
KITS THAT HAVE BEEN TESTED
ALREADY.
AND SO I THINK SOME OF THE
REASONS WHY WE WANT TO HAVE KITS
TESTED WOULD BE A LENGTH OF TIME
THAT SOMEONE MIGHT BE SERVING A
SENTENCE.
I THINK JUST ALSO TO HAVE THE
KITS NOT DESTROYED SO THAT IF
THERE WERE QUESTIONS ABOUT
WANTING TO TEST ADDITIONAL
EVIDENCE REGARDING PERPETRATORS
WHO MAY BE IDENTIFIED LATER,
THIS PRESERVES THAT EVIDENCE FOR
A LENGTHY PERIOD OF TIME.
>> NOW, BECAUSE THIS BILL SETS
OUT STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS AS
YOU'VE DESCRIBED FOR THIS
COLLECTION AND PROCESSING OF
SEXUAL ASSAULT KITS, WON'T THERE
BE MANY MORE KITS THEN SENT FOR
TESTING AND WHAT ASSURANCES DO
PEOPLE HAVE THAT THE STATE CRIME
LAB HAS THAT CAPACITY?
>> WELL, THAT'S A REALLY GOOD
QUESTION.
I THINK THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING
WE DEFINITELY WOULD NOT WANT TO
SPEAK FOR THE CRIME LAB OR THE
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THE
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE DID IN
THEIR BUDGET REQUEST PUT IN
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR THE
CRIME LAB.
BUT YOU'RE RIGHT.
I MEAN, I THINK THIS WILL ENSURE
THAT WE DON'T HAVE A BACKLOG OF
KITS SITTING IN LAW ENFORCEMENT.
WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE
CRIME LAB HAS THE RESOURCES THEY
NEED THEN TO TEST THE KITS ONCE
THEY ARE SENT TO THEIR LABS FOR
TESTING.
>> HOW IS THIS PROPOSED BILL
BEING MET BY VICTIMS AND THEIR
ADVOCATES?
>> WELL, I THINK BECAUSE THESE
PROTOCOLS HAD BEEN DEVELOPED
WITH A REAL MULTIDISCIPLINARY
GROUP OF PEOPLE, INCLUDING
COMMUNITY ADVOCATES WHO HAD THE
OPPORTUNITY TO RUN THESE KIND OF
IDEAS AND CONCEPTS BY SURVIVORS,
I THINK THIS IS IN SOME WAYS,
LIKE I SAID, NOTHING REALLY NEW.
I THINK WHAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT,
THOUGH, IS THAT IT'S GIVING
SURVIVORS CHOICES AND CONCRETE
INFORMATION.
ANYTIME THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE
SYSTEM CAN PROVIDE OPTIONS,
CHOICES AND INFORMATION, I THINK
THAT'S A REALLY POSITIVE THING.
>> IT SOUNDS LIKE A DIFFICULT
THING TO ACHIEVE REALLY, THAT
YOU HAD SOMETHING CODIFIED IN
LAW AND YET VICTIMS AGAIN HAVE
THIS CHOICE.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
WHAT'S GOING TO BE CRITICAL IS
THEN THOSE PEOPLE, COMMUNITY
ADVOCATES, THE NURSE EXAMINERS
WHO ARE DOING THE KITS, WILL
HAVE THIS INFORMATION AND CAN
GIVE THAT CLEAR INFORMATION TO
SURVIVORS WHEN THEY'RE
PRESENTING FOR AN EXAM.
>> IAN HENDERSON, THANKS VERY
MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THE TESTING BILL IS EXPECTED
TO BE FORMALLY INTRODUCED IN THE
LEGISLATURE IN THE COMING DAYS.
NOW TO A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT
TOPIC AND AN EXCERPT FROM OUR
WEEKLY DIGITAL SERIES "NOON
WEDNESDAY."
MARISA WOJCIK INTERVIEWS
NEWSMAKERS, SCHOLARS AND EXPERTS
TO PROVIDE A DEEPER
UNDERSTANDING OF CURRENT EVENTS.
MARISA'S GUESTS TALK ABOUT
ISSUES THAT RANGE FROM THE VERY
LOCAL LIKE SCHOOL FUNDING TO
GLOBAL MATTERS, WHICH WAS ON TAP
THIS WEEK.
THE SUBJECT ON THE TABLE WAS HOW
DOES UNITED STATES LAW DIFFER
FROM ISLAMIC SHARIA LAW.
HERE'S UW-MADISON LAW PROFESSOR
ASIFA QURAISHI-LANDES.
>> IN THE WEST WE TEND TO THINK
OF LAW AS SOMETHING THAT THE
GOVERNMENT DOES.
IT'S NOT LAW IN THAT SENSE.
WHEN WI WE TALK ABOUT SHARIA, IT'S
GUIDELINES FOR LIVING THEIR
LIFE, HOW TO WORK AND PRAY, WHO
TO LEAVE YOUR MONEY TO WHEN YOU
DIE.
SOME OF THEM WE WOULD CALL LAW,
LIKE DIVORCE LAW.
BUT OTHER STUFF IS MANNERS AND
ETHICS.
SO THAT'S REALLY WHAT SHARIA IS
TO MUSLIMS.
>> THAT IS A TASTE OF OUR WEEKLY
ONLINE SERIES WITH MARISA
WOJCIK.
THAT IS ALL FOR TONIGHT'S
PROGRAM.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED, IN PART, BY FRIENDS OF
WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISION.