>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS IS
PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION.
>> I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW," WE
ASK CONGRESSMAN RON KIND HOW
HE'LL VOTE ON THE IMPEACHMENT OF
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP AND CHECK
IN WITH HIM ON THE NEW NAFTA
TRADE DEAL.
STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL JOSH KAUL
SPEAKS TO THE FEDERAL
INVESTIGATION OF THE WISCONSIN
NATIONAL GUARD.
AND AN INSIDE LOOK AT THE
RESULTS OF THE NEW STATESIDE
MARQUETTE LAW SCHOOL POLL.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR
DECEMBER 13.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
IS PROVIDED, IN PART, BY FRIENDS
OF WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISION.
>> A FIRST LOOK TONIGHT AT THE
LATEST ON THE EXPECTED
IMPEACHMENT OF PRESIDENT DONALD
TRUMP.
TODAY, THE HOUSE JUDICIARY
COMMITTEE VOTED ALONG PARTY
LINES TO FORWARD TWO ARTICLES OF
IMPEACHMENT FOR A FULL VOTE.
THE FIRST CHARGES HIM WITH ABUSE
OF POWER, THE SECOND WITH
OBSTRUCTION OF CONGRESS.
THERE IS SOMETHING CONGRESS
AGREES ON ACROSS THE PARTISAN
DIVIDE AND THAT IS THE NEW
NAFTA, THE U.S./MEXICO/CANADA
AGREEMENT.
THE TRADE DEAL COULD GET A
THUMBS-UP VOTE FROM THE U.S.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IN
COMING DAYS.
WISCONSIN DAIRY FARMERS ARE
HOPING FOR SWIFT PASSAGE.
WISCONSIN 3rd DISTRICT U.S.
REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRAT RON KIND
IS A MEMBER OF THE HOUSE WAYS
AND COMMITTEE SUBCOMMITTEE ON
TRADE AND ROLLED UP HIS SLEEVES
TO GET THIS PACT UP TO SNUFF FOR
DEMOCRATS.
HE JOINS US NOW FROM LA CROSSE
AND CONGRESSMAN, THANKS VERY
MUCH FOR DOING SO.
>> MERRY CHRISTMAS, FREDERICA.
>> THANK YOU.
FIRST, YOUR REACTION AND
RESPONSE TO THE TWO ARTICLES OF
IMPEACHMENT HOUSE DEMOCRATS ARE
LODGING AGAINST PRESIDENT TRUMP.
>> WELL, FRED, WE KNEW THESE
WERE VERY SERIOUS ALLEGATIONS.
AND AS A FORMER SPECIAL
PROSECUTOR I WANTED THIS TO BE
FACT AND EVIDENCE-BASED.
BUT I ALSO WANT BORN HERE IN
THIS COUNTRY BELIEVING NO PERSON
IS ABOVE THE LAW, INCLUDING THE
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES,
AND THE ALLEGATIONS ARE SERIOUS,
THAT HE WAS WITHHOLDING $400
MILLION WORTH OF MILL MILITARY AID
FROM ONE OF OUR ALLIES IN ORDER
TO GET THEM TO DO A POLITICAL
INVESTIGATION FOR HIS OWN
BENEFIT IN THE 2020 CAMPAIGN.
HE WAS ALSO WITHHOLDING WHITE
HOUSE PHONE CONVERSATIONS AND A
WHITE HOUSE MEETING WITH THE
NEWLY-ELECTED PRESIDENT.
IT'S ILLEGAL TO SOLICIT FOREIGN
COUNTRIES' HELP FOR YOUR OWN
BENEFIT IN AN ELECTION.
IT'S ALSO AN UNCONSTITUTIONAL
ABUSE OF POWER.
BUT HERE'S THE POINT.
WE'VE BEEN ASKING THIS PRESIDENT
AND HIS ADMINISTRATION IF THEY
HAD ANY OTHER EVIDENCE, ANY
OTHER FACTS THAT COULD SHOW THAT
THEY'RE INNOCENT IN THESE
ALLEGATIONS TO COME FORWARD.
BUT INSTEAD OF DOING THAT,
THEY'VE DONE JUST THE OPPOSITE.
THEY BLOCKED PEOPLE FROM
TESTIFYING.
THEY BLOCKED RECORDS AND
DOCUMENTS FROM BEING TURNED OVER
BASED ON VALID SUBPOENA
REQUESTS.
AND THAT'S BEEN UNFORTUNATE.
AND NOW WE'RE MOVING FORWARD.
>> HOW WILL YOU VOTE WHEN IT
COMES TO THE FLOOR NEXT WEEK?
>> WELL, THE PRESIDENT STILL HAS
A FEW DAYS TO OFFER ANY
INFORMATION TO SHOW THAT HE IS
NOT GUILTY OF THESE ALLEGATIONS,
THAT HE WASN'T WITHHOLDING $400
MILLION WORTH OF MILITARY AID TO
GET A FOREIGN GOVERNMENT TO
METTLE IN OUR ELECTION PROCESS.
HE HAS TIME TO SUBMIT THAT
DURING A SENATE TRIAL TOO IF IT
COMES TO THAT POINT AND WE'RE
ASKING HIM TO PARTICIPATE AND
OFFER INFORMATION THAT MIGHT
SHOW HIS INNOCENCE IN THIS
MATTER.
BUT, AGAIN, THEY'VE BEEN
STONEWALLING, BLOCKING,
OBSTRUCTING A LEGITIMATE REQUEST
BY CONGRESS TO GET TO THE BOTTOM
OF ALL THIS.
>> SO ARE YOU SAYING THAT YOU
ARE AS YET UNDEHE UNDECIDED AS TO HOW
YOU WILL VOTE?
>> UNLESS THE CIRCUMSTANCES
CHANGE, THIS LOOKS PRETTY
PROBLEMATIC FOR THE PRESIDENT.
THEY'VE OFFERED NOTHING TO
REFUTE THE MULTITUDE OF
WITNESSES WHO HAVE COME FORWARD,
HONORING A VALID CONGRESSIONAL
SUBPOENA, AND CORROBORATING THE
WHISTLE-BLOWER REPORT THAT CAME
OUT OF THE WHITE HOUSE.
DEMOCRATS DIDN'T INITIATE THIS.
THIS WAS BASED ON A NONPARTISAN
CAREER INTELLIGENCE OFFICER
WORKING IN THE WHITE HOUSE,
WORKING FOR THIS PRESIDENT, WHO
SAW HIM ABUSING THIS POWER AND
THEREFORE FILED A WHISTLE-BLOWER
REPORT.
THAT HAD TO BE TURNED OVER TO
CONGRESS AND WE HAD TO LOOK INTO
IT.
THEY'VE HAD A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY
TO REFUTE THE ALLEGATIONS BEHIND
THESE ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT
BUT HE HAS CHOSEN NOT TO DO THAT
AND INSTEAD CREATE POLITICAL
WARFARE IN OUR COUNTRY OVER IT
>> .
THE LATEST WISCONSIN POLLING
SHOWS BY A 12-POINT MARGIN THIS
WEEK MOST PEOPLE DON'T SUPPORT
THIS.
>> LET ME SAY THIS.
I'M THE ONLY MEMBER OF CONGRESS
IN THE HISTORY OF OUR COUNTRY
THAT DID SUPPORT TWO IMPEACHMENT
INQUIRIES, ONE AGAINST PRESIDENT
CLINTON AND NOW ONE WITH
PRESIDENT TRUMP BECAUSE I DO
TAKE MY ARTICLE ONE
CONSTITUTIONAL RESPONSIBILITY
SERIOUSLY.
CONGRESS IS THE ONLY INSTITUTION
THAT CAN STAND UP TO THE
EXECUTIVE BRANCH SHES THE, THE PRESIDENT,
ARCHEDAND HOLD HIM ACCOUNTABLE.
WE HAVE TO CHOOSE AT THE END OF
THE DAY DO WE WANT TO LIVE IN
THAT DEMOCRACY OR DO WE WANT
SOMEONE WHO LIVES ABOVE THE RULE
OF LAW.
WHAT TYPE OF DEMOCRACY DO WE
WANT AT THE END OF THE DAY?
>> HOW WILL YOU VOTE?
>> UNLESS THE PRESIDENT COMES
FORWARD WITH FACTS THAT WOULD
CHANGE THE EVIDENCE THAT'S
BEFORE US RIGHT NOW, I THINK WE
AS AN INSTITUTION, CONGRESS, HAS
TO HOLD HIM ACCOUNTABLE TO THE
UNCONSTITUTIONAL ABUSE OF POWER,
THE UNLAWFUL ACTIVITIES IN
TRYING TO SOLICIT A FOREIGN
GOVERNMENT TO METTLE IN OUR
ELECTION.
IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT DONALD
TRUMP.
IT'S ABOUT FUTURE PRESIDENTS TOO
AND WHAT TYPE OF SIGNAL WE SEND
THAT'S ACCEPTABLE IN OUR
DEMOCRACY.
AND IT MAY BE A DEMOCRATIC
PRESIDENT THE NEXT TIME TRYING
TO ABUSE THAT OFFICE.
>> LET'S MOVE TO TRADE.
I DON'T HAVE TO TELL YOU THERE
IS A DEAL BETWEEN THE
ADMINISTRATION AND DEMOCRATS IN
THE USMCA.
DONALD TRUMP CAMPAIGNED ON
RIPPING UP NAFTA.
IS THIS THEN A WIN/WIN?
>> I THINK IT IS.
THIS IS A GOOD TRADE AGREEMENT.
I WAS INVOLVED INTIMATELY IN THE
NEGOTIATIONS.
IT WAS HARD NEGOTIATIONS THE
LAST FEW MONTHS.
BUT I THINK WE GOT A GOOD TRADE
AGREEMENT AND IT'S IMPORTANT.
MEXICO, CANADA ARE OUR TWO
BIGGEST EXPORT MARKETS.
WHAT THIS WILL MEAN FOR
WISCONSIN FARMERS, WE'RE GOING
TO GET GREATER DAIRY ACCESS TO
THE CANADIAN MARKET.
WE TIGHTENED UP SANITARY
STANDARDS SO CANADA AND MEXICO
CAN'T BLOCK OUR PRODUCTS LIKE
THEY HAVE IN THE PAST.
I THINK WE HAVE A STRONG WORKER
RIGHTS CHAPTER IN IT,
UNPRECEDENTED, AND EL ELEVATED
ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS TO LEVEL
THE PLAYING FIELD SO WE CAN
COMPETE.
PERHAPS MOST IMPORTANTLY, A
STRONG ENFORCEMENT CHAPTER NOW
SO IF CANADA AND MEXICO CHOOSES
NOT TO ABIDE, WE CAN PERHAPS HIT
THEM WITH SANCTIONS FOR ANY
VIOLATIONS OF THIS AGREEMENT.
AND THAT WAS IMPORTANT BECAUSE
YOU COULD HAVE A GREAT TRADE
AGREEMENT ON PAPER BUT UNLESS
YOU CAN ENFORCE IT, IT'S
MEANINGLESS.
I'M EXPECTING STRONG BIPARTISAN
SUPPORT.
WE'RE HOPING TO BRING THIS UP
NEXT WEEK IN CONGRESS AND THEN
SEND IT TO THE SENATE FOR THEIR
CONSIDERATION.
>> WHAT WILL IT MEAN
SPECIFICALLY FOR STATE DAIRY
FARMERS?
>> WELL, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE
GREATER CLASS SEVEN ACCESS IN
CANADA RIGHT NOW.
CANADA WAS BLOCKING THE ULTRA
FILTERED MILK UP THERE.
THERE WILL BE A SLIGHT
IMPROVEMENT FOR THAT AND I THINK
THAT'S IMPORTANT.
ALSO THE SPS STANDARDS I TALKED
ABOUT ARE IMPORTANT.
IT HAS TO BE BASED ON SOUND
SCIENCE AND NOT ARBITRARY
BLOCKING OF OUR EXPORTS.
>> HOW WILL ANY BENEFITS BE FELT
BY WISCONSIN FARMERS A YEAR FROM
NOW?
>> HOPEFULLY THROUGH INCREASED
EXPORTS WE CAN CLEAR SOME OF THE
SURPLUS THAT EXISTS THAT'S
DRIVING PRICES DOWN.
LISTEN, MEXICO, CANADA ALONE
CAN'T SOLVE THE FARM CRISIS.
THE PRESIDENT HAS DECLARED A
TRADE WAR AGAINST EVERYONE
ACROSS THE GLOBE.
THAT MEANS WE'RE LOOKING MARKET
ACCESS WITH AGRICULTURE,
MANUFACTURED PRODUCTS.
THAT NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED, TOO.
I'M IN CONSTANT COMMUNICATION
WITH THE TRADE TEAM TO FIND A
LANDING ZONE FOR THIS TRADE WAR
WITH CHINA AND OTHER COUNTRIES
ACROSS THE GLOBE THAT'S HURTING
OUR FARMERS AND MANUFACTURERS,
BUT ALSO DRIVING UP PRICES FOR
US CONSUMERS.
BECAUSE TARIFFS ARE TAXES ON THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE.
FOR SOME REASON, THE PRESIDENT
CAN'T FIGURE THAT OUT.
AND IT'S INCREASING OUR COSTS
WHEN WE HAVE TO PURCHASE
SOMETHING.
>> CONGRESSMAN RON KIND, THANKS
VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS.
>> YOU TOO.
>> NOW TO STATE NEWS.
THE LONG-SERVING ADJUTANT
GENERAL OF THE WISCONSIN
NATIONAL GUARD IS OUT.
IN THE WAKE OF A SCATHING
FEDERAL REPORT SHOWING THE
GUARD'S INVESTIGATIONS OF SEXUAL
ASSAULT AND HARASSMENT VIOLATED
THE LAW.
GOVERNOR TONY EVERS THIS WEEK
CALLED FOR DONALD DUNBAR'S
RESIGNATION WHEN THE REPORT
SHOWS AMONG OTHER THINGS THAT
THE GUARD FAILED TO PROPERLY
REPORT OR TRACK SEXUAL ASSAULT
ALLEGATIONS THAT VICTIM
ADVOCATES WERE UNDERSTAFFED AND
UNDER TRAINED EVEN RESULTING IN
ONE VICTIM BEING INVESTIGATED
FOR SEXUAL MISCONDUCT.
IT SHOWED THE GENERAL WAS
RUNNING HIS OWN INVESTIGATIVE
ARM RATHER THAN REFERRING CASES
OUT AS REQUIRED.
THE REPORT SAYS OVERALL THE
WISCONSIN NATIONAL GUARD'S
PROGRAM AND SYSTEMS FOR HANDLING
ALLEGATIONS OF WORKPLACE OR
SERVICE-RELATED MISCONDUCT WERE
NONCOMPLIAN WITH FEDERAL LAW
AND REGULATION AND IN VARIOUS
RESPECTS DEFICIENT OR FAILING.
>> THE FEDERAL NATIONAL GUARD
BUREAU CONDUCTED THE REVIEW,
LOOKING AT 35 REPORTS OF SEXUAL
ASSAULT FROM 2009 TO 2019.
TONIGHT, WE GET THE REACTION OF
WISCONSIN ATTORNEY GENERAL JOSH
KAUL TO THIS AND CHECK IN ON
OTHER MATTERS.
HE JOINS US NOW FROM THE STATE
CAPITOL AND THINKS VERY MUCH FOR
DOING SO.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> AS ATTORNEY GENERAL,
WISCONSIN'S TOP COP, AS IT WERE,
WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO THAT
NATIONAL GUARD REPORT?
>> WELL, FIRST I'M GLAD THAT
GOVERNOR EVERS AND SENATOR
BALDWIN AND FITZGERALD CALLED
FOR THIS INVESTIGATION.
THERE WAS A THOROUGH REPORT DONE
BY THE OFFICE OF COMPLEX
INVESTIGATION AND IT UNCOVERED
SOME REALLY BEING SHOCKING
DETAILS ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING ON
AT THE NATIONAL GUARD.
I SUPPORT THE WAY GOVERNOR EVERS
RESPONDED TO THIS BY CALLING FOR
GENERAL DUNBAR'S RESIGNATION AND
WE ARE WORKING WITH GOVERNOR
EVERS TO ASSESS HOW BEST TO
ADDRESS ANY OTHER ISSUES MOVING
FORWARD.
>> ACCORDING TO THAT REPORT, THE
PRIOR ADMINISTRATION AT JUSTICE
ENTERED INTO A MEMORANDUM OF
UNDERSTANDING WITH THE WISCONSIN
NATIONAL GUARD ON SEXUAL ASSAULT
INVESTIGATIONS TO MINIMIZE THE
USE OF FEDERAL NATIONAL GUARD
INVESTIGATORS ACCORDING TO THAT
REPORT.
WHAT'S THE STATUS OF THAT
AGREEMENT WITH JUSTICE UNDER
YOUR ADMINISTRATION?
>> WE ARE ASSESSING THAT
AGREEMENT AND HOW TO MOVE
FORWARD WITH IT RIGHT NOW.
>> WHAT'S IMPORTANT FOR
SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT,
WHETHER THE NATIONAL GUARD
BUREAU OR ELSEWHERE TO KNOW, IS
THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE IS
COMMITTED TO GETTING
ACCOUNTABILITY WHEN THERE ARE
CASES INVOLVING SEXUAL ASSAULT.
SO REGARDLESS OF WHAT WE DO WITH
THAT MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
GOING FORWARD, THE DEPARTMENT OF
JUSTICE IS GOING TO CONTINUE
WORKING WITH LOCAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT AROUND THE
CURRENT STATUS OF THE RAPE KIT
TESTING AT THE STATE CRIME LAB
WHICH IS UNDER YOUR
JURISDICTION?
>> WE HAVE COMPLETED THE TESTING
OF KITS IN THE BACKLOG 6789
THERE.
THERE WERE OVER 300 KITS FROM
CASES INVOLVING CONVICTIONS THAT
HADN'T BEEN TESTED BUT WE HAD
AGREED TO TEST BEFORE I TOOK
OFFICE.
TESTING HAS BEEN COMPLETED AND
NOW WE'RE JUST AWAITING
CONFIRMED TESTING RESULTS ON
THOSE.
WE'RE ALSO MOVING FORWARD WITH
CASES THAT HAVE RESULTED FROM
THAT TESTING.
THERE HAVE NOW BEEN TWO
CONVICTIONS AND ONE PERSON WAS
SENTENCED.
A SERIAL SEX OFFENDER RECEIVED A
SENTENCE OF 35 YEARS.
WE NEED TO CONTINUE PURSUING
JUSTICE IN THESE CASES.
WE'RE MOVING ON LEGISLATION
DESIGNED TO PREVENT OTHER
THAT HE WILL SOON AND THAT THAT
LEGISLATION WILL BECOME LAW.
>> ON THE LAME DUCK LAWS THAT
MEAN YOU HAVE TO GET APPROVAL
FROM THE REPUBLICAN-HELD JOINT
FINANCE COMMITTEE ON SETTLEMENT,
IS THERE YET AGREEMENT ON HOW TO
HANDLE CONFIDENTIAL SETTLEMENT
AGREEMENTS BEFORE THAT PANEL?
>> WE HAVEN'T, UNFORTUNATELY.
THE REPUBLICANS IN THE
LEGISLATURE TOOK ACTION DURING
THAT LAME DUCK SESSION TO CHANGE
WAY IT HAD WORKED FOR DECADES
PREVIOUSLY.
I THINK THEY HAVE A
RESPONSIBILITY TO COME UP WITH A
SOLUTION THAT'S GOING TO HELP US
RESOLVE CASES.
WE'VE MADE SUGGESTIONS AS TO HOW
WE CAN MOVE FORWARD.
THE REPUBLICANS ON THE JOINT
FINANCE COMMITTEE HAVE NOT
AGREED TO THOSE.
BUT I'M HOPEFUL THAT THEY WILL
STEP UP AND COME FORWARD WITH A
SOLUTION SOON SO THAT WE CAN
MOVE CASES FORWARD.
THESE ARE CASES THAT COULD
INVOLVE ENVIRONMENTAL VIOLATIONS
OR CONSUMER PROTECTION
VIOLATIONS.
AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE'VE
GOT A PROCESS IN PLACE FOR
RESOLVING THOSE CASES.
BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT'S IN THE
BEST INTEREST OF WISCONSINITES.
>> SO VIRTUALLY NO MOVEMENT ON
HOW TO DEAL WITH THAT ISSUE OF
CONFIDENTIALITY?
>> UNFORTUNATELY NOT.
JOINT FINANCE HAS ONLY APPROVED
ONE SETTLEMENT PURSUANT TO THAT
NEW LEGISLATION.
WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO
ENCOURAGE THEM MOVING FORWARD.
EVERY DAY THAT GOES BY THE RISK
INCREASES OR CONTINUES THAT
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO SETTLE SOME CASE
THAT WE WON'T BE ABLE TO SETTLE
BECAUSE THE JOINT FINANCE
COMMITTEE HASN'T COME UP WITH A
PROCESS.
YOU KNOW, I REALLY THINK THEY
NEED TO ACKNOWLEDGE AT THIS
POINT THAT THE LAW IS NOT
WORKING, THAT WE NEED TO REFORM
IT AND AT THE VERY LEAST PUT A
PROCESS IN PLACE THAT'S GOING TO
HELP US MOVE FORWARD.
>> HOW WAS IT THAT THAT ONE
SETTLEMENT ABLE TO GO FORWARD?
WAS THAT BECAUSE THERE WASN'T
ANYTHING CONFIDENTIAL ABOUT IT?
>> THERE WE HAD A PROPOSED
SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT AND THE
OTHER SIDE DIDN'T OB OBJECT TO
HAVING THAT AGREEMENT SHARED
WITH THE JOINT FINANCE
COMMITTEE.
IN A LOT OF CASES, A PARTY
DOESN'T WANT TO MAKE A
SETTLEMENT OFFER PUBLIC, SO THAT
MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT TO
FIGURE OUT A WAY TO SETTLE THOSE
CASES WITH THE JOINT FINANCE
COMMITTEE, WHICH RIGHT NOW HAS
NOT COME UP WITH A PROCESS THAT
MAINTAINS CONFIDENTIALITY.
THE OTHER THING ABOUT THAT
RESOLUTION WE HAD IS THE JOINT
FINANCE COMMITTEE DIDN'T GET ANY
INPUT MY OFFICE ON THE PROS
AND THE CONS OF THAT SETTLEMENT,
THE LEGAL MERITS OF THE CASE.
THAT'S INFORMATION THAT WOULD BE
KEPT CONFIDENTIAL.
THEY JUST MOVED FORWARD WITH IT.
SO IF WE'RE GOING TO HAVE
SIGNIFICANT CASES THAT ARE GOING
TO GET RESOLVED, WE'RE GOING TO
NEED TO GET A PROCESS IN PLACE.
>> SPEAKING OF SIGNIFICANT
PLACES, WISCONSIN HAS SUED
OPIOID MANUFACTURERS.
WHERE DOES THAT CASE STAND AFTER
YOU REFUSED TO ENTER INTO A
SETTLEMENT WITH PURDUE PHARMA?
>> WE FILED A SUIT EARLIER
AGAINST PURDUE AND THE FORMER
PRESIDENT AND CO-CHAIR OF THE
BOARD OF PURDUE PHARMA.
THAT CASE IS IN THE BANKRUPTCY
RIGHT NOW.
PURDUE PHARMA HAS DECLARED
BANKRUPTCY.
WE'RE CONTINUING TO WORK TO HOLD
PURDUE PHARMA ACCOUNTABLE.
WE ALSO JOINED MULTISTATE
INVESTIGATIONS INTO OPIOID
DISTRIBUTORS EARLIER THIS YEAR.
OUR GOAL IS TO MAKE SURE WE GET
ACCOUNTABILITY TO THE EXTENT
THAT COMPANIES ENGAGED IN FALSE
AND DECEPTIVE PRACTICES THAT
CONTRIBUTED TO THIS EPIDEMIC AND
TO GET FUNDS TO WISCONSIN SO
THAT THEY CAN HAVE ADDITIONAL
FUNDING TO SUPPORT TREATMENT,
PREVENTION AND ENFORCEMENT
EFFORTS.
>> IS THERE KIND OF A BOTTOM
LINE IN TERMS OF THE DOLLAR
FIGURE FOR ANY SETTLEMENT THAT
YOU'D BE LOOKING AT SO THAT YOU
COULD PUT THOSE BACK INTO THE
COMMUNITIES?
>> PART OF THE GOAL HERE IS TO
MAKE SURE WE MAXIMIZE OUR
FINANCIAL RECOVERY.
I CERTAINLY DON'T WANT TO GIVE
AWAY OUR NEGOTIATING POSITION,
BUT WE'RE GOING TO WORK TO
MAXIMIZE WHAT WE CAN RECOVER FOR
COMMUNITIES.
I ALSO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT
WE HOLD THESE COMPANIES
ACCOUNTABLE AND THAT WE SEND A
CLEAR MESSAGE THAT THE KIND OF
FALSE AND DECEPTIVE PRACTICES
THAT CONTRIBUTED TO THIS
EPIDEMIC ARE HARMFUL AND HAVE
CAUSED REAL DEVASTATION IN
COMMUNITIES ACROSS WISCONSIN.
WE'RE GOING TO KEEP WORKING ON
THESE CASES.
>> ATTORNEY GENERAL JOSH KAUL,
THANKS FOR JOINING US.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> IN WISCONSIN ELECTION NEWS,
AN OZAUKEE COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT
JUDGE THIS AFTERNOON SIDED WITH
CONSERVATIVES AND RULED TO
DEACTIVATE THE REGISTRATIONS OF
MORE THAN 200,000 VOTERS FLAGGED
AS HAVING MOVED AND CHANGED
ADDRESS.
THE COURT RULING COMES AS THE
STATE ELECTIONS COMMISSION IS
FIGHTING A LAWSUIT THAT CALLS
FOR REMOVING THE VOTERS.
THE COMMISSION INSTEAD WANTED TO
GIVE THEM UNTIL 2021 BEFORE
REMOVING THEM FROM THE BOOKS AND
SAYS IT WILL APPEAL THE RULING.
>> NOW TO AN INSIDE LOOK AT THE
RESULTS OF THE NEW MARQUETTE LAW
SCHOOL POLL.
EARLIER IN THE PROGRAM WE ASKED
CONGRESSMAN RON KIND ABOUT THE
POLL NUMBERS ON TRUMP
IMPEACHMENT EFFORTS.
WE GET ANALYSIS ON THOSE RESULTS
AS WELL AS OTHER TOPICS FROM
CHARLES FRANKLIN.
BEFORE WE START WITH YOUR
NUMBERS, AS A POLITICAL
SCIENTIST, WHAT IS YOUR REACTION
TO THE IMPEACHMENT VOTE TODAY?
>> WELL, IT DOESN'T COME ALONG
VERY OFTEN.
IT'S EXTRAORDINARY.
MAYBE WE'RE NOT TREATING IT
QUITE AS EXTRAORDINARY AS IT
MIGHT BE.
YOU KNOW, LONG STRETCH BETWEEN
THE 1800s AND JOHNSON AND THEN
NIXON AND THEN CLINTON AND NOW
THIS ONE.
SO THEY'RE A LITTLE CLOSER
BUNCHED TOGETHER THAN THEY'VE
EVER BEEN.
I THINK IT'S ACTUALLY HAMILTON
IN THE FEDERALIST PAPERS WROTE
THAT IMPEACHMENT WOULD ALWAYS BE
A POLITICAL PROCESS AND A BATTLE
BETWEEN PARTISANS.
AND I THINK WE'VE SEEN THAT
REALLY IN ALL THREE OF THIS
RECENT PERIOD'S IMPEACHMENT
EFFORTS.
AND THE QUESTION IS DOES IT MOVE
THE PUBLIC AT ALL?
DOES THE PUBLIC COME AWAY FROM
THESE THINGS WITH SOME DIFFERENT
UNDERSTANDING THAN THEY HAD
BEFORE?
IN THE NIXON CASE WITH
WATERGATE, I THINK THAT WAS
TRUE, BUT IN THE CLINTON AND AT
LEAST SO FAR IN THE TRUMP CASE,
DOESN'T SEEM THAT OPINIONS HAVE
MOVED MUCH.
>> WELL, IN FACT THEN, LET'S
TAKE A LOOK AT OUR FIRST SCREEN
OF YOUR POLLING RESULTS THAT
SHOWS THAT THE NUMBERS HAVE NOT
MOVED MUCH, BUT CONSIDERING THE
DEMOCRATS' EFFORTS, THIS SEEMS
INTERESTING.
>> IT IS INTERESTING IN A COUPLE
OF WAYS.
SO 40% PRO IMPEACHMENT, 52
OPPOSED.
IT WAS 40/53 A MONTH AGO.
THAT'S HOW LITTLE IT HAS MOVED.
AND THAT IS OVER THE COURSE OF
TWO WEEKS OF PUBLIC TESTIMONY
THAT SPOKE DIRECTLY TO ISSUES
AND CLAIMS ABOUT WHAT THE
PRESIDENT HAD DONE AND SIMPLY
DIDN'T MOVE PEOPLE'S OPINIONS.
WHAT'S MORE, PEOPLE'S BELIEFS IN
WHETHER PRESIDENT TRUMP ASKED
UKRAINE TO DO AN INVESTIGATION
OR WHETHER HE WITHHELD MILITARY
AID TO PRESSURE THEM TO DO THAT
INVESTIGATION, NEITHER OF THOSE
NUMBERS MOVED VERY MUCH.
AND SO THE TESTIMONY DIDN'T
PERSUADE PEOPLE.
THEY STAYED WHERE THEY HAD
STARTED.
>> WHAT DOES THAT TELL YOU?
>> WELL, IT SAYS WE'RE LOCKED
INTO OUR PREEXISTING OPINIONS.
PRESIDENT TRUMP IS A DEEPLY
POLARIZING FIGURE AND PEOPLE SEE
HIM THAT WAY AND THEY'RE FOR HIM
OR AGAINST HIM.
BUT IF THIS WAS NEW INFORMATION
FROM THE TESTIMONY, AND I THINK
IT BROADLY WAS, IT DIDN'T
PROVIDE PEOPLE WITH A REASON TO
CHANGE THEIR MINDS.
>> AS TO THE HORSE RACE NUMBERS,
AND WE HAVE SOME IN OUR NEXT
SLIDE, IT LOOKS LIKE A
STATISTICAL TIE BETWEEN DONALD
TRUMP BETWEEN HIM AND BIDE ANDEN AND
THE OTHERS.
>> MOST IMPORTANT THING TO
NOTICE HERE IS NOT ONLY IS THERE
NOT MUCH VARIATION IN TRUMP'S
NUMBERS.
THERE'S NOT MUCH VARIATION
ACROSS THESE DEMOCRATS EITHER
AND THAT'S REFLECTING THE POWER
OF PARTISAN DIVISIONS OVER TRUMP
AND FOR THE DEMOCRATS THAT -- WE
INCLUDED CORY BOOKER IN PART
BECAUSE HE'S NOT A FRONT-RUNNER
IN THE PRIMARIES, BUT YOU SEE HE
DOES JUST AS WELL AS THE
FRONT-RUNNERS DO.
THAT SHOWS PARTISAN ATTACHMENT
AND ANTIPATHY TO TRUMP AMONG
DEMOCRATS.
>> BUT AMONG DEMOCRATS IN
WISCONSIN?
BECAUSE HE DOESN'T EVEN QUALIFY
FOR NEXT WEEK'S PBS DEBATE,
POLLING AT 2% NATIONALLY.
WHAT IS UP WITH CORY BOOKER IN
WISCONSIN?
>> I THINK WE COULD ASK OTHER
CANDIDATES AND SEE A SIMILAR
KIND OF EFFECT.
I THINK LAST MONTH WE HAD ASKED
BOOKER ON ONLY HALF THE SAMPLE.
KLOBUCHAR DIDN'T DO SO WELL.
WITH WANTED TO SEE WITH A FULL
SAMPLE WOULD WE GET A SIMILAR
RESULT AND WE DO.
>> THE OTHER THING THAT STRUCK
ME OT KIND OF MATCH-UP
POLLING WAS THAT JOE BIDEN HAS
TAKEN A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT SLIDE
SINCE YOUR LAST POLL IN OCTOBER.
>> IT HAS TIGHTENED A BIT.
BIDEN HAD BEEN UP BY SIX AND
THEN WAS DOWN BY THREE LAST
MONTH AND NOW UP BY ONE.
SO THERE'S SOME WOBBLE IN THERE.
HE WAS UP A LITTLE MORE IN
AUGUST, AS A MATTER OF FACT.
SO THERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF A
TIGHTENING ON BIDEN.
THE OTHERS, THOUGH, ARE MOSTLY
HAVE BEEN TIGHT AND STAY TIGHT.
AND WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN THIS
KINDS OF A TOSS-UP RACE IS LAST
MONTH IT WAS TRUMP A BIT AHEAD,
MOSTLY INSIDE THE MARGIN OF
ERROR.
THE MONTH BEFORE THAT IT WAS THE
DEMOCRATS SLIGHTLY AHEAD IN THE
MARGIN OF ERROR.
THIS TIME WE'RE RIGHT IN THE
MIDDLE, ALMOST DEAD EVEN ACROSS
THE BOARD.
>> SPEAKING OF RIGHT IN THE
MIDDLE, ONE GROUP WE HAVEN'T
TALKED ABOUT ARE INDEPENDENTS.
OBVIOUSLY IMPORTANT IN THESE
KINDS OF MATCH-UPS.
>> INDEPENDENTS ARE ONLY ABOUT
10% OF WISCONSIN VOTERS, BUT
WHEN YOU HAVE A RACE THIS CLOSE,
THEY'RE REALLY IMPORTANT.
ON BALANCE, THEY'RE OPPOSED TO
IMPEACHMENT, NOT ENORMOUSLY, BUT
ON BALANCE THEY'RE OPPOSED.
AND ON BALANCE, THEY DISAPPROVE
OF PRESIDENT TRUMP.
SO YOU CAN SEE THAT THEY ARE
POTENTIALLY A SWING GROUP HERE.
NOT THRILLED WITH THE
IMPEACHMENT EFFORT, BUT ALSO
POTENTIALLY GETABLE BY DEMOCRATS
GIVEN THAT THEY'RE NOT THAT
APPROVING OF THE PRESIDENT.
>> LET ME GET TO ONE LAST SLIDE
AND THAT IS APPROVAL NUMBERS FOR
GOVERNOR TONY EVERS.
50% APPROVAL, 38% DISAPPROVAL.
BOTH NUMBERS HAVE GROWN.
HOW SHOULD HIS SUPPORTERS FEEL
ABOUT THESE KINDS OF NUMBERS?
>> WELL, THIS IS A PRETTY GOOD
PERFORMANCE.
I THINK MOST IMPORTANTLY HE HAD
BEEN OVER 50 WITH NET APPROVAL
IN THE HIGH TEENS, LOW 20s.
LAST MONTH THAT FELL TO A NET
PLUS FIVE.
FIVE POINTS MORE APPROVED THAN
DISAPPROVED.
SO IT WAS AN OPENING QUESTION OF
WHETHER IT WAS BEGINNING TO
SLIP.
THIS BIT OF A REBOUND THIS TIME
SLIPS THAT WHATEVER LAST MONTH
WAS DIDN'T GIVE US AN INDICATION
THAT HE'S ON HIS WAY DOWN AND
THIS BIT OF A REBOUND PUTS HIM
NOT QUITE AS WELL AS HE WAS IN
OCTOBER, BUT STILL UP FROM WHERE
HE WAS LAST TIME.
THIS BIG OF A NET APPROVAL, PLUS
12, IS BETTER THAN WALKER HAD
DURING MOST OF HIS TERM, WHICH
SIMPLY REFLECTS HOW STRONG THE
BALANCE WAS IN GOVERNOR WALKER'S
CASE.
>> FOR SURE.
CHARLES FRANKLIN, THANKS VERY
MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THE FIRST OF THREE PROPOSALS
TO CHANGE ELIGIBILITY FOR FOOD
STAMPS, OR THE SUPPLEMENTAL
NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM,
HAS BEEN FINALIZED BY THE TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION.
IN TONIGHT'S LOOK AHEAD, MARISA
WOJCIK BRINGS US THESE FAST
FACTS ON THE FINALIZED RULE AND
WHAT IT MEANS FOR WISCONSIN.
>> CHANGES IN ELIGIBILITY RULES
FOR FEDERAL FOOD ASSISTANCE,
KNOWN AS THE SUPPLEMENTAL
NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, OR
SNAP, ARE NOW SET TO GO INTO
EFFECT IN APRIL OF NEXT YEAR.
THESE CHANGES WOULD LIMIT SNAP
BENEFITS BASED ON TITLE WORK
REQUIREMENTS.
THE SNAP PROGRAM REQUIRES
ABLE-BODIED ADULTS WITHOUT
DEPENDENTS TO WORK 80 HOURS PER
MONTH IN ORDER TO RECEIVE FOOD
ASSISTANCE.
HOWEVER, SOME GEOGRAPHICAL AREAS
HAVE BEEN ABLE TO WAIVE THIS
RULE FOR ECONOMIC AND EMPLOYMENT
IN THAT AREA.
THE RULE WILL LIMIT THESE AREAS
TO GET THIS WAIVER.
IT COULD TAKE AWAY FOOD
ASSISTANCE FOR ALMOST 700,000
PEOPLE.
IN WISCONSIN, IT'S NOT YET KNOWN
WHO OR HOW MANY WILL BE
IMPACTED.
CURRENTLY, THE COUNTIES OF
ADAMS, ASHLAND, BAYFIELD,
FOREST, IRON AND MENOMINEE, AS
WELL AS SOME TRIBAL LANDS, ARE
EXEMPTED FROM FOOD ASSISTANCE
WORK REQUIREMENTS.
THE WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF
HEALTH SERVICES SAYS IT WILL
ATTEMPT TO REAPPLY FOR WORK
REQUIREMENT EXEMPTIONS IN THESE
AREAS BUT IT'S UNCLEAR WHERE IT
COULD BE LIFTED.
THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF
AGRICULTURE SAYS THE RULE
CHANGES WILL PROMOTE WORK DURING
A TIME WHEN UNEMPLOYMENT IS LOW
AND THE ECONOMY IS STRONG.
IT WILL CODIFY THE ORIGINAL
INTENT OF THE PROGRAM AND COULD
SAVE THE GOVERNMENT $5 BILLION
OVER FIVE YEARS.
U.S. AGRICULTURE SECRETARY SONNY
PER
PERDO SAYS WE NEED TO ENCOURAGE
PEOPLE BY GIVING THEM A HELPING
HAND, BUT NOT ALLOWING IT TO
BECOME AN INDEFINITELY GIVING
HAND.
FOR THESE AND OTHER FAST FACTS,
VISIT PBS WISCONSIN.ORG.
>> THAT WAS MARISA WOJCIK
REPORTING.
TWO MORE RULES THAT COULD
FURTHER REDUCE FOOD STAMP
ELIGIBILITY ARE PENDING.
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.