>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM
IS A PBS WISCONSIN
ORIGINAL PRODUCTION.
>> I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
THIS WEEK ON "HERE AND NOW,"
ONE-ON-ONE WITH GOVERNOR TONY
EVERS ABOUT EXTENDING THE "SAFER
AT HOME" ORDER.
ASSEMBLY MAJORITY LEADER JIM
STEINEKE WEIGHS IN ON THAT.
AND WISCONSIN'S NEW COVID-19
LEGISLATION.
PLUS, UW HEALTH IS ON THE FRONT
LINES TREATING PANDEMIC
PATIENTS.
AND AN IN-DEPTH INTERVIEW WITH
WISCONSIN SUPREME COURT JUSTICE
ELECT JILL KAROFSKY.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR
APRIL 17.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.
>> GOVERNOR TONY EVERS THIS WEEK
EXTENDS THE "SAFER AT HOME"
ORDER UNTIL TUESDAY, MAY 26, AND
ALSO SIGNED INTO LAW A BILL THAT
WILL ALLOW THE STATE
TO BETTER RESPOND
TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.
"HERE AND NOW" SENIOR POLITICAL
REPORTER ZAC SCHULTZ EXPLAINS
HOW REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS
CAME TOGETHER TO PASS A BILL
WITH BIPARTISAN SUPPORT, EVEN
WHILE SAYING THE BILL
DOESN'T DO ENOUGH.
>> THE CLERK WILL OPEN AND CALL
THE ROLL.
>> ALLEN?
>> AYE.
>> THE LEGISLATURE'S PASSAGE
OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
RESPONSE BILL WAS HISTORIC
IN MANY WAYS.
FIRST, THE ASSEMBLY AND SENATE
MET VIRTUALLY FOR THE FIRST TIME
IN STATE HISTORY.
>> THESE ARE EXTRAORDINARY TIMES
AND THESE DECISIONS ARE
GUT-WRENCHING AS WE
MOVE THROUGH THEM.
>> THE SOONER WE CAN MANAGE THE
HEALTH CRISIS, THE SOONER WE CAN
ADDRESS THE ECONOMIC CRISIS.
>> ASSEMBLY BILL 1038 PASSED
97-2, WITH TWO DEMOCRATS FROM
MILWAUKEE OPPOSED.
THE SENATE CONCURRED 32-0, AND
GOVERNOR EVERS SIGNED THE BILL
INTO LAW JUST A FEW HOURS LATER.
THE TWO BIGGEST ELEMENTS
OF THE BILL ALLOW WISCONSIN TO
CAPTURE MORE FEDERAL DOLLARS.
FIRST, THE STATE WILL RECEIVE
ADDITIONAL FEDERAL MEDICAID
REIMBURSEMENT DOLLARS.
SECOND, LAID-OFF WORKERS WON'T
HAVE TO WAIT A WEEK TO CLAIM
UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS, WITH THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PICKING UP
THE COST.
WISCONSIN IS ALREADY EXPECTING
TO RECEIVE AROUND $2.3 BILLION
FROM THE FEDERAL CARES ACT,
MOST OF WHICH GOVERNOR EVERS
WILL BE ABLE TO SPEND AT HIS
DISCRETION.
THIS BILL ALLOWS THE
REPUBLICAN-CONTROLLED JOINT
FINANCE COMMITTEE TO TRANSFER AN
ADDITIONAL $75 MILLION
BETWEEN STATE AGENCIES.
>> THIS BILL IS IMPERFECT AND IT
MIGHT BE THE FIRST BILL OF A
NUMBER THAT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE
TO PASS IN THE LEGISLATURE.
>> I'M GOING TO BE FORCED TO
VOTE FOR IT, AND IT'S GOING TO
PASS, BUT THERE IS FAR MORE,
FAR MORE THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.
>> HERE.
>> THE LEGISLATURE IS ADJOURNED
UNTIL NEXT JANUARY, BUT SENATE
PRESIDENT ROGER ROTH ENDED
THE SESSION BY
ORDERING THE ROOM SHOULD NOT BE
TOUCHED, WITH THE INFRASTRUCTURE
KEPT IN PLACE,
IN CASE THE SENATE HAS
TO COME BACK IN VIRTUAL SESSION
AGAIN.
REPORTING FROM MADISON, I'M ZAC
SCHULTZ FOR "HERE AND NOW."
>> GOVERNOR TONY EVERS THIS WEEK
EXTENDED HIS "SAFER AT HOME"
ORDER UNTIL MAY 26.
EVEN THOUGH, HE SAYS REOPENING
THE STATE WON'T BE LIKE FLIPPING
A SWITCH.
IT WOULD LIKELY BE GRADUAL AND
DEPENDS ON HAVING ENOUGH
TESTING, PERSONAL PROTECTIVE
EQUIPMENT AND BEEFED UP CONTACT
TRACING.
GOVERNOR EVERS HAS AGREED
TO JOIN US EACH FRIDAY.
THIS AFTERNOON, HE JOINED US
FROM THE EXECUTIVE RESIDENCE.
GOVERNOR EVERS, THANK YOU SO
MUCH FOR BEING WITH US.
>> WELCOME, FREDERICA.
THANKS SO MUCH.
>> WELL, I DON'T HAVE TO TELL
YOU THAT YOUR EXTENSION OF THE
"SAFER AT HOME" ORDER
IS CONTROVERSIAL.
WE HAVE PROTESTS PLANNED FOR
AROUND THE CAPITOL NEXT WEEK.
WE'VE GOT MAJORITY REPUBLICAN
LEGISLATORS SAYING THAT THEY'RE
TALKING ABOUT FILING A LAWSUIT.
WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO THE
UPSET AROUND THIS?
>> WELL, MY REACTION IS WE NEED
TO CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THE
SCIENCE.
I MEAN, WE'VE ALWAYS TALKED
ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE NEEDED TO
REDUCE THE NUMBER OF CASES THAT
WE HAVE AND IT HASN'T HAPPENED.
I MEAN, THE FIRST ORDER, AND
PEOPLE DID FOLLOW IT, SAFE AT
HOME, THEY'RE DOING IT, WE SAVED
LIVES BY DOING IT, BUT WE STILL
HAVEN'T REACHED THAT POINT WHERE
WE CAN SAY IT'S HEADED IN THE
OPPOSITE DIRECTION.
SO WE -- FRANKLY, FROM A SCIENCE
POINT OF VIEW, WE HAD NO CHOICE.
AND THE SECOND THING IS -- AND I
THINK SOME PEOPLE FORGET ABOUT
THIS, BUT WHEN I TALK ABOUT THIS
ORDER, THIS ORDER IS ABOUT
MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE GETTING
TO A BETTER PLACE HEALTH-WISE,
BUT WE'RE ALSO TALKING ABOUT HOW
THIS GETS US TO THE POINT WHERE
WE CAN START TO REOPEN PARTS OF
OUR ECONOMY.
SO IT'S BOTH THESE THINGS
HAPPENING AT THE SAME TIME.
SO PEOPLE, POLITICIANS HAVE TO
DO WHAT THEY HAVE TO DO.
I'M FOCUSED ON MAKING SURE THAT
WE DO THE RIGHT THING
HEALTH-WISE FOR OUR STATE AND
THE RIGHT THING FOR OUR ECONOMY.
>> NOW, YOU SAY THAT THREE
THINGS ARE NEEDED TO REOPEN THE
STATE: MASSIVE EXPANSION OF
TESTING CAPACITY, SUFFICIENT
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
FOR HEALTH CARE WORKERS AND
GREATLY EXPANDED CONTACT
TRACING.
DESCRIBE WHY HAVING THESE THINGS
MET WILL MEAN THAT IT IS SAFE
THEN TO GO ABOUT OUR BUSINESS.
>> YEAH.
AND I'LL JUST HAVE TO SAY THOSE
ARE THE SAME THINGS THAT WE SAW
PRESIDENT TRUMP TALK ABOUT IN
HIS COMMENTS AND THE CDC'S
COMMENTS THE OTHER DAY.
SO THESE AREN'T NEW THINGS.
BUT WHY THEY'RE IMPORTANT IS
THIS:
AT SOME POINT IN TIME, WE WILL
HAVE A CHANCE TO RAPIDLY REDUCE
THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT ARE
STILL POSITIVELY IMPACTED -- OR
HAVE A POSITIVE TEST.
BUT WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IS BE
READY FOR THOSE -- UNTIL WE HAVE
A VACCINE, THAT VIRUS IS NOT
GOING AWAY, SO WE NEED TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE HAVE EVERYTHING IN
PLACE SO THAT WHEN WE DO FIND
SOMEONE, WE HAVE THE TESTING,
WE'LL DO MUCH MORE TESTING THAN
WE DO NOW, THEN WE CAN USE THOSE
CONTACT TRACERS TO FOLLOW UP
WITH THAT PERSON, FIND OUT WHO
THEY'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH AND
TALKING TO AND EXPOSING, AND GET
THOSE PEOPLE 14 DAYS ISOLATION
SO THAT WE CAN START TO DO THIS
IN A WAY THAT'S IMPORTANT.
NOW, THE EQUIPMENT IS THE SAME
THING.
WE NEED THAT FOR TESTING, PEOPLE
THAT DO THE TESTS.
BUT WE ALSO NEED THAT SUPPLY OF
EQUIPMENT FOR OUR BUSINESS
COMMUNITY, BECAUSE WHEN THEY
REOPEN, THEIR WORKPLACE IS GOING
TO LOOK A LOT DIFFERENT THAN IT
DOES NOW AND THEY'RE GOING TO
NEED SOME OF THAT EQUIPMENT
ALSO.
>> BACK TO TESTING.
WE CONTINUE TO HAVE A PROBLEM
WITH HAVING ENOUGH TESTS TO GET
TO THIS PLACE WHERE YOU AND THE
HEALTH SECRETARY-DESIGNEE WANT
US TO BE.
WHY DO WE HAVE THAT PROBLEM WITH
NUMBER OF TESTS?
>> WELL, THERE'S SOME
COMMUNICATION ISSUES HERE BUT WE
ARE RAMPING THAT UP AS WE SPEAK.
WE SENT 2,000 TESTS TODAY TO
GREEN BAY.
WE'RE RAMPING IT UP ON OUR
NATIVE AMERICAN AND NATIONS
ACROSS THE STATE ALSO.
SO WE'RE GETTING IN A GOOD
PLACE.
CERTAINLY WE HAD TROUBLE GETTING
THE TESTING MATERIALS, BUT WE
HAVE TO USE WHAT WE HAVE WISELY
AND SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING
RIGHT NOW.
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE
AND THE OTHER STATES THAT WE'RE
WORKING WITH ABSOLUTELY NEED
MORE TESTING MATERIALS.
I THINK WE HAVE THE TESTING LABS
IN PLACE.
IT'S THE MATERIALS THAT ARE THE
PROBLEM.
>> AS YOU SAY, YOU HAVE ENTERED
INTO A PARTNERSHIP WITH OTHER
MIDWEST GOVERNORS ON WAYS TO
REOPEN THE ECONOMY.
WHY THIS REGIONAL APPROACH?
>> WELL, CERTAINLY IT SENDS A
MESSAGE TO PEOPLE THAT WE'RE ALL
ABOUT THE SAME THING: HAVING
THESE CONTACT TRACERS IN PLACE,
MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE ENOUGH
EQUIPMENT AND TESTING MATERIALS.
AS A GROUP, WE REPRESENT
MILLIONS OF PEOPLE AND IT'S A
BIPARTISAN THING AND SO HAVING
THAT UNIFIED VOICE.
AND THEN, FRANKLY, THE WHITE
HOUSE AND THE CDC FOLLOWED IN
OUR FOOTSTEPS OR VICE VERSA, BUT
WE'RE ALL TOGETHER ON MAKING
SURE THAT THOSE ISSUES ARE FRONT
AND CENTER.
AND I SEE THAT FROM BUSINESS
PEOPLE, TOO, AND BUSINESS
ORGANIZATIONS, MAKING THE SAME
KIND OF PRE-CONDITIONS FOR
GETTING WHERE WE NEED TO BE.
SO IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO
SPEAK IN ONE VOICE AND, FRANKLY,
I THINK IT TELLS PEOPLE THAT
WE'RE SERIOUS ABOUT THIS AND
IT'S A BIPARTISAN THING AND NOT
JUST A BUNCH OF DEMS FIGURING
THIS OUT.
>> ALL RIGHT.
GOVERNOR TONY EVERS, AGAIN, WE
GREATLY APPRECIATE YOU JOINING
US, JOINING US EACH FRIDAY HERE
ON "HERE AND NOW."
THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
APPRECIATE IT.
>> SOME PEOPLE ARE UNHAPPY WITH
LONG-TERM "STAY AT HOME" ORDERS,
ESPECIALLY BECAUSE OF THE IMPACT
ON CLOSED BUSINESSES AND JOB
LOSS.
THIS WEEK, WE CHECKED IN WITH
WISCONSIN ASSEMBLY MAJORITY
LEADER JAMES STEINEKE FOR HIS
TAKE.
REPRESENTATIVE STEINEKE, THANKS
VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
GOOD TO BE HERE.
>> SO WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO
THE EXTENSION OF THE "SAFER AT
HOME" ORDER?
>> DISAPPOINTED AND, FRANKLY,
CONFUSED, BECAUSE WE'VE SEEN
OTHER STATES THAT ARE PREPARING
TO RELAX SOME OF THESE
REGULATIONS COME MAY 1,
INCLUDING SOME OF OUR
SURROUNDING STATES, AND THEN YOU
LOOK AT NEW YORK, WHO DID AN
EXTENSION OF THEIR "SAFER AT
HOME" RESTRICTIONS, BUT THEY
ONLY WENT TO MAY 15.
GOVERNOR EVERS DECIDING ON
MAY 26, WE JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND
WHERE HE GOT THAT DATE FROM AND
WHAT HE'S USING AS HIS BASIS TO
MAKE THAT DECISION, BECAUSE IT
SEEMS TO FLY IN THE FACE OF WHAT
OTHER STATES ARE DOING,
INCLUDING OTHER STATES LIKE
MICHIGAN AND NEW YORK, THAT HAVE
MUCH MORE SERIOUS PROBLEMS THAN
WHAT WE DO.
>> SO WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE
HAPPEN?
>> I'D LIKE TO SEE A MUCH MORE
MEASURED APPROACH.
HE HAS THE AUTHORITY UNDER THE
EMERGENCY DECLARATION UNTIL
MAY 12.
I WOULD HAVE PREFERRED TO SEE
THE EXTENSION GO, YOU KNOW, TO
MAY 12, IF THAT.
YOU KNOW, GOING FORWARD,
OBVIOUSLY, WE HAVE TO LOOK AT
THE DATA AND MAKE SURE WE'RE
MAKING DECISIONS THAT ARE IN THE
BEST HEALTH OF OUR CITIZENS.
BUT I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY
REASON, GIVEN THE FACT THAT,
LIKE IN THE FOX VALLEY, THERE'S
SEVEN CASES, SEVEN PEOPLE
HOSPITALIZED WITH THIS VIRUS IS
13 HOSPITALS.
SO OTHER AREAS OF THE STATE
OUTSIDE OF MILWAUKEE AND MAYBE
MADISON AREN'T SEEING AS BIG OF
AN ISSUE AND TO RELAX
REGULATIONS IN THOSE PLACES
SEEMS TO MAKE A LITTLE BIT MORE
SENSE.
>> YOU AND THE MAJORITY, I
UNDERSTAND, ARE GOING TO PURSUE
LEGAL AND LEGISLATIVE OPTIONS.
ON WHAT BASIS?
>> WELL, AGAIN, THE EMERGENCY
DECLARATION IS GOOD FOR 60 DAYS.
THAT GOES UNTIL MAY 12.
WHAT THE GOVERNOR IS USING AS
HIS BASIS TO EXTEND THIS IS
AUTHORITY THAT THEY SAY THAT THE
SECRETARY OF THE DHS HAS TO
EXTEND THIS INDEFINITELY.
I DON'T KNOW HOW IF THE STATUTES
GIVE THE LEGISLATURE THE ABILITY
TO END AN EMERGENCY DECLARATION
OR, IN THE ABSENCE OF ENDING IT,
NOT EXTENDING IT, HOW AN
APPOINTEE OF THE GOVERNOR CAN
UNILATERALLY EXTEND IT FOR AS
LONG AS SHE WANTS.
THAT FLIES IN THE FACE OF WHAT
THE LAW SAYS AS FAR AS THE
LEGISLATURE'S CAPABILITY.
>> YOU HAVE YET FILED OR
FORMULATED YOUR REMEDIES?
>> NO, WE HAVEN'T.
WE'RE STILL WORKING THROUGH
THAT.
I'M STILL HOPEFUL THAT THE
GOVERNOR WILL ACTUALLY COME TO
US WITH A PLAN.
I THINK THE THING THAT
WISCONSINITES ARE REALLY
FRUSTRATED BY IS THAT THE
GOVERNOR HAS NEVER ALIGNED --
LAID OUT THE CRITERIA THAT HE'S
USING TO MAKE THESE DECISIONS.
SO WHEN HE SAYS WE NEED MORE
PPE, WELL, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK
LIKE?
WHAT NUMBER DO WE HAVE TO HIT?
HOW MANY WEEKS OF PPE DO WE
NEED?
HE SAYS, WE NEED MORE TESTING.
OKAY.
WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE?
HOW MANY TESTS DO WE HAVE TO BE
ABLE TO DO PER DAY OR WEEK TO
HIT THAT BENCHMARK?
HE'S KIND OF PATTING EVERYBODY
ON THE HEAD SAYING YOU'RE DOING
A GREAT JOB WHILE WE HAVE
BUSINESSES THROUGHOUT THE STATE
THAT ARE FAILING MORE, MANY MORE
THAT ARE GOING TO BE FAILING
OVER THE NEXT WEEK OR TWO.
AND THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM
THAT WE HAVE TO TRY TO ADDRESS
AND HAVE TO GIVE SOME PEOPLE
SOME IDEA OF WHEN THIS IS GOING
TO END.
>> WHAT ABOUT THE MODELS FROM
THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
SERVICES THAT SAY WITHOUT THE
"SAFER AT HOME" ORDER, SOMEWHERE
BETWEEN 300 AND 1400 LIVES WOULD
ALREADY HAVE BEEN LOST TO
CORONAVIRUS?
>> WELL, I THINK THE MODELS HAVE
BEEN CONSISTENTLY OFF, SO I
THINK THAT'S A BIG PART OF THE
PROBLEM.
AND I GET IT.
YOU KNOW, MODELING SOMETHING
LIKE THIS, A VIRUS THAT WE'VE
NEVER SEEN BEFORE, IS VERY
DIFFICULT, VERY DIFFICULT TO
UNDERSTAND THE IMPACTS.
WE SAW NATIONALLY THE MODEL SAID
EVEN WITH RESTRICTIONS WE ARE
GOING TO SEE HUNDREDS OF
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE DIE.
WE NOW KNOW THAT THAT'S NOT
LIKELY TO BE THE CASE.
SO WE HAVE TO MAKE DECISIONS
BASED ON THE DATA FROM THE
MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS, BUT WE
ALSO HAVE TO MAKE SURE IN AREAS
WHERE THIS ISN'T AS BIG OF AN
ISSUE THAT WE CAN START TO RELAX
THE REGULATIONS HERE PRETTY SOON
SO BUSINESSES CAN SURVIVE AND
PEOPLE CAN GET BACK TO WORK.
>> HOW DO YOU, THOUGH, HOW DO
YOU POSSIBLY RECONCILE LOST
BUSINESSES AND JOBS WITH LOSS OF
LIFE?
>> IT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE
OBVIOUSLY STRUGGLE WITH.
BUT THIS WAS ALWAYS ABOUT
BENDING THE CURVE, RIGHT?
SLOWING THE SPREAD.
IT WAS NEVER ABOUT GETTING DOWN
TO ZERO.
THE MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS AREN'T
SAYING THAT WE'RE SOMEHOW GOING
TO STAY SAFER AT HOME UNTIL
WE'RE DOWN TO ZERO INFECTIONS.
THAT'S NEVER BEEN THE CASE.
THIS IS ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT
THE HOSPITALS ARE PREPARED AND
HAVE ADEQUATE RESOURCES TO HELP
DEAL WITH THE PATIENTS THAT ARE
COMING IN.
AND AS WE SEE ACROSS THE STATE,
HOSPITALS BY AND LARGE ARE
EMPTY.
THEY ARE HEMORRHAGING TENS AND
HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS
RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOW
CANCELLED ALL ELECTIVE
PROCEDURES WAITING FOR THIS
INFLUX OF PATIENTS THAT HASN'T
COME IN THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE
STATE.
>> REPRESENTATIVE JAMES
STEINEKE, WE NEED TO LEAVE IT
THERE.
THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> FOR MANY, MEMORIAL DAY
WEEKEND IS THE BEGINNING OF
SUMMER AND A TRIP TO THE CABIN
OR SECOND HOME.
EVEN PRIOR TO THE "SAFER AT
HOME" EXTENSION DUE TO COVID-19,
COUNTIES WERE URGING PEOPLE TO
STAY HOME.
TREVOR KELLER SHOWS US HOW AN
INFLUX OF PEOPLE COULD HAVE A
BIG IMPACT ON HEALTH CARE IN
THOSE AREAS.
>> BEAUTIFUL SCENERY IN ITS
ISOLATED SETTING MAKE DOOR
COUNTY AN ENTICING GET AWAY FROM
THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.
BUT LOCAL OFFICIALS ARE URGING
PEOPLE TO AVOID THE PENINSULA.
>> I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD ASK
PEOPLE NOT TO COME TO DOOR
COUNTY.
IT'S VERY CONCERNING TO US.
IT'S JUST NOT IN OUR NATURE TO
DO THAT.
>> THE COUNTY IS ASKING PEOPLE
TO STAY AWAY.
THE WORRY IS AN OLDER POPULATION
AND LIMITED HEALTH CARE STAFF.
DOOR COUNTY MEDICAL CENTER IS
THE COUNTY'S ONLY HOSPITAL.
THEY'VE TRIPLED THEIR INTENSIVE
CARE CAPACITY, BUT THAT'S 12 TO
15 ICU BEDS FOR A COUNTY OF
27,000 PEOPLE.
>> TYPICALLY IF WE HAVE A
CRITICALLY-ILL PATIENT, THAT
PERSON WOULD BE TRANSFERRED TO
GREEN BAY.
>> THE WHITE GULL INN IS CLOSED.
THEY'RE ALREADY GETTING SUMMER
CANCELLATIONS AND SENDING OUT
REFUNDS.
>> WE'RE ACTIVELY GIVING --
SENDING MONEY OUT THE DOOR EVERY
DAY AND NOT BRINGING ANY IN,
WHICH IS DEFINITELY UNUSUAL FOR
THIS TIME OF YEAR.
>> AL JOHNSON'S RESTAURANT IS
FAMOUS FOR ITS GOATS ON THE
ROOF, BUT RIGHT NOW THEY'RE MORE
CONCERNED ABOUT CUSTOMERS
THROUGH THE DOOR.
>> THOSE MONTHS ARE WHAT CARRY
US THE ENTIRE YEAR.
WE'RE KIND OF IN A HOLDING
PATTERN.
>> ANXIETY IS HIGH, BUT BUSINESS
OWNERS ALL AGREED VISITORS
SHOULD STAY HOME.
THEY JUST HOPE A ROCKY SPRING
CAN STILL TURN INTO A MORE
TYPICAL DOOR COUNTY SUMMER.
>> IT'S A TOSS-UP BETWEEN BEING
ANXIOUS TO OPEN OUR DOORS AS
SOON AS WE POSSIBLY CAN, BUT NOT
WANTING TO PUT US OR OUR STAFF
OR OUR VISITORS AT RISK.
>> FOR "HERE AND NOW,"
I'M TREVOR KELLER.
>> THIS WEEK SOME POSITIVE NEWS
IN THE FIGHT AGAINST COVID-19.
THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN HAS
JOINED A NATIONWIDE EFFORT TO
HELP PEOPLE HOSPITALIZED WITH
CORONAVIRUS.
AS "HERE AND NOW" REPORTER
MARISA WOJCIK SHOWS YOU, THEY
ARE TAKING PLASMA FROM A MADISON
PATIENT WHO HAS RECOVERED TO
BENEFIT PEOPLE STILL SERIOUSLY
ILL WITH THE DISEASE.
>> I STARTED HEARING ABOUT IT
AND I THOUGHT THAT WOULD BE COOL
IF WE COULD TURN THIS INTO A
POSITIVE.
>> THE PLASMA IN HIS BLOOD
CONTAINED SOMETHING SPECIAL.
>> THE INDIVIDUAL THAT YOU TAKE
IT FROM, THAT PERSON HAS ALREADY
FOUGHT OFF THE VIRUS, SO THEY
HAVE AN EFFECTIVE ANTIBODY IN
THEIR SYSTEM.
>> DR. WILLIAM HARTMAN IS THE
LEADING INVESTIGATOR TO BRING
THE PLASMA OF RECOVERED COVID-19
PATIENTS TO THOSE WHO ARE
CURRENTLY SUFFERING FROM THE
DISEASE.
>> SO THIS IS A TECHNIQUE THAT
ACTUALLY DATES BACK OVER 100
YEARS.
IT WAS USED TO TREAT DIPHTHERIA,
SPANISH FLU.
IT'S BEEN USED IN OTHER
CORONAVIRUSES, LIKE MERS AND
SARS.
>> GARY DONATED HIS PLASMA LAST
WEEK.
>> WHAT WE'RE DOING IS GIVING
THE PATIENT AN IMMUNE BOOST.
>> STUDYING THE EFFECTS OF HIS
IMMUNE BOOST WITHIN OTHERS WILL
HELP THE MEDICAL WORLD
UNDERSTAND THE POTENTIAL OF THIS
TREATMENT.
>> CAN WE PREVENT PATIENTS FROM
GOING ON TO VENTILATORS?
CAN WE PREVENT THEM FROM GOING
INTO THE ICU?
>> THE PROJECT HAS GROWN TO 800
HOSPITALS NATIONWIDE.
>> THIS, BECAUSE IT'S A
MEANINGFUL STUDY, I THINK REALLY
WILL ALLOW US TO COME TO A
CONCLUSION AS TO WHETHER OR NOT
IT'S EFFECTIVE AND SAFE AND THEN
WE CAN SPREAD WORLDWIDE TO TREAT
AS MANY PEOPLE AS WE CAN.
>> HUNDREDS MORE HAVE CALLED,
ASKING IF THEY QUALIFY TO DONATE
PLASMA.
>> THE FACT THAT THE COMMUNITY
HAS BEEN SO TREMENDOUS AND
FORTHCOMING WITH THEIR DONATIONS
MEANS THAT WE SHOULD HAVE PLASMA
AVAILABLE TO ANY PATIENT THAT
NEEDS IT.
>> THERE IS SO LITTLE THAT WE
REGULAR PEOPLE CAN DO.
>> WE'VE BEEN SITTING HERE IN
THE HOUSE FOR FIVE WEEKS AND
WATCHING ALL THE HEROIC THINGS
THAT OTHERS ARE DOING OUT THERE
AND FEELING JUST TOTALLY
HELPLESS.
AND THIS WAS A CHANCE FOR US TO
DO SOMETHING.
>> FOR "HERE AND NOW," I'M
MARISA WOJCIK.
>> THE RESULTS OF THE
CONTROVERSIAL SPRING ELECTION IN
WISCONSIN GRABBED HEADLINES THIS
WEEK, MOST NOTABLY AN UPSET WIN
IN THE WISCONSIN SUPREME COURT
RACE.
DANIEL KELLY BECAME ONLY THE
THIRD INCUMBENT JUSTICE TO LOSE
HIS SEAT ON THE COURT SINCE 1967
AND THERE COULD BE REPERCUSSIONS
FOR THE NOVEMBER ELECTIONS.
DANE COUNTY JUDGE JILL KAROFSKY
RODE A WAVE OF DEMOCRATIC
SUPPORT TO WIN A TEN-YEAR TERM,
CUTTING THE CONSERVATIVE
MAJORITY IN THE TOP COURT.
IT NOW STANDS AT 4-3.
SHE JOINED US FROM HER HOME IN
MADISON.
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANKS SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.
IT'S WONDERFUL TO BE WITH YOU.
>> AND I SUPPOSE WE SHOULD SAY
CONGRATULATIONS.
>> THANK YOU.
I'M VERY, VERY HUMBLED, AND I'M
HONORED THAT I'M GOING TO BE THE
NEXT JUSTICE ON THE WISCONSIN
SUPREME COURT.
>> NOW, ON ELECTION RETURN DAY,
YOU DECLARED VICTORY LONG BEFORE
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS CALLED THE
ELECTION FOR YOU.
WHAT WERE THE EARLY INDICATORS
THAT YOU HAD WON?
>> WE KNEW THAT WE WERE HOLDING
OUR OWN AS FAR AS THE MARGINS IN
THE "WOW COUNTIES" OF WAUKESHA,
OZAUKEE AND WASHINGTON.
WE KNEW THAT WE WERE WINNING IN
WINNEBAGO, THAT WE WERE WINNING
IN BROWN, AND THAT WE'RE WINNING
IN OUTAGAMIE, WHICH I GUESS NOW
ARE CALLED THE "BOW COUNTIES."
SO WE WERE DOING -- HOLDING OUR
MARGINS IN THE "WOW COUNTIES,"
AND WE WERE DOING WELL IN THE
"BOW COUNTIES."
WE ALSO KNEW THAT THE VOTES IN
MILWAUKEE, IN THE COUNTY OF
MILWAUKEE AND THE CITY OF
MILWAUKEE AND DANE COUNTY, AND
PARTICULARLY MADISON, HAD NOT
COME IN YET.
AND THEN WE WERE ALSO STARTING
TO SEE REALLY STRONG RETURNS
FROM SOUTHWESTERN WISCONSIN,
ESPECIALLY IN PLACES LIKE
LA CROSSE.
>> DO YOU FEEL AS THOUGH YOUR
VICTORY OVER THE INCUMBENT, WHO
WAS ENDORSED BY DONALD TRUMP, IS
A BELLWETHER FOR LIBERALS IN
NOVEMBER?
>> I THINK OUR ELECTION IS AN
INDICATOR THAT PEOPLE IN THE
STATE OF WISCONSIN HEARD THE
MESSAGE OF OUR CAMPAIGN AND THAT
THEY WANT STATE SUPREME COURT
JUSTICES WHO ARE COMMITTED TO
FOLLOWING THE RULE OF LAW.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO
HAPPEN IN NOVEMBER OR BEYOND,
BUT I KNOW THAT IN THIS ELECTION
THAT DESPITE EFFORTS TO SUPPRESS
THE VOTE, PEOPLE VOTED AND THEY
CAME OUT STRONG.
WE WON BY OVER 10 POINTS.
THE MESSAGE WAS LOUD AND IT WAS
CLEAR THAT PEOPLE WANTED A
CHANGE ON THE COURT.
>> NOW, AS YOU'VE JUST SAID,
PEOPLE CAME OUT TO VOTE IN
PLACES LIKE MILWAUKEE, EVEN IN
THE FACE OF COVID-19.
WHAT IS YOUR KIND OF LINGERING
RESPONSE TO THAT?
>> FIRST OF ALL, WE NEVER SHOULD
HAVE HAD AN ELECTION ON APRIL
7TH.
PEOPLE NEVER SHOULD HAVE BEEN
PUT IN THE POSITION WHERE THEY
HAD TO CHOOSE BETWEEN THEIR OWN
HEALTH AND SAFETY AND VOICING
THEIR VOTE, HAVING THEIR VOICE
HEARD IN THIS ELECTION.
BUT PEOPLE WERE WILLING TO DO
THAT.
PEOPLE BRAVED COVID-19.
THEY WORE MASKS AND THEY WORE
GLOVES AND THEY WENT TO THE
POLLING PLACES.
AND LOOKING AT THOSE PICTURES
MADE ME CRY.
THINKING ABOUT THOSE PICTURES
RIGHT NOW MAKES ME FEEL VERY,
VERY EMOTIONAL
FOR WHAT THOSE PEOPLE DID.
IT IS CLEAR THAT WHAT PEOPLE
WANT ON THIS IS -- IN THIS STATE
IS A COURT THAT IS NOT PARTISAN,
BUT A COURT THAT HAS JUSTICES ON
IT WHO ARE COMMITTED TO
FOLLOWING THE LAW.
>> IN THE MIDST OF THIS
PANDEMIC, WOULD YOU SUPPORT
MOVING TO MAIL-IN VOTING IN LIEU
OF IN-PERSON GOING FORWARD?
>> I THINK, AND I'VE SAID THIS
IN THE CAMPAIGN, THAT WE NEED TO
DO WHATEVER WE CAN TO TRY TO
MAKE IT EASIER FOR PEOPLE TO
PARTICIPATE IN ELECTIONS AND NOT
MORE DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE TO
PARTICIPATE IN ELECTIONS.
AND, LIKE I SAID, WE SHOULDN'T
HAVE HAD AN ELECTION ON APRIL
7TH.
WE SHOULD HAVE HAD AN ELECTION
WHERE PEOPLE COULD EXERCISE
THEIR RIGHT TO VOTE IN A WAY
THAT WOULD BE SAFE FOR THEM AND
SAFE FOR MEMBERS OF THEIR
FAMILY, AND WE DIDN'T HAVE THAT.
>> HOW DO YOU EXPECT TO GROW
COLLEGIALITY ON THE COURT,
ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE ANIMOSITY
BORN OF THIS PAST ELECTION?
>> I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO
BE A PROBLEM.
SEVERAL OF THE JUSTICES HAVE
ALREADY REACHED OUT TO ME.
I THINK, LIKE I HAVE SAID
BEFORE, THERE ARE GOING TO BE
AREAS WHERE WE AGREE, THERE ARE
GOING TO BE AREAS WHERE WE
DISAGREE, BUT I'M LOOKING
FORWARD TO THE SOCIAL DISTANCING
BEING OVER SO I CAN SIT DOWN
WITH EACH OF MY COLLEAGUES OVER
A CUP OF COFFEE OR A GOOD
WISCONSIN BEER AND WE CAN PUT
OUR DIFFERENCES ASIDE SO WE CAN
DO THE WORK THAT THE PEOPLE OF
WISCONSIN ELECTED US TO DO.
>> THIS QUESTION ON YOUR
CAMPAIGN, THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY
GAVE YOU $1.3 MILLION.
DO YOU BELIEVE YOU WOULD HAVE TO
RECUSE IN ANY CASE THAT CAME
BEFORE THE COURT
INVOLVING THE PARTY?
>> I HAVE SAID, AND I WILL KEEP
THIS PROMISE, THAT IF THE
DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF WISCONSIN IS
A LITIGANT, IS A PARTY IN A CASE
THAT COMES TO THE WISCONSIN
STATE SUPREME COURT, I WILL NOT
SIT ON THAT CASE.
>> EVEN WITH YOUR ELECTION TO
THE SUPREME COURT, CONSERVATIVES
STILL HOLD A MAJORITY.
WHAT DOES A MORE EVEN SPLIT
MEAN, IF ANYTHING, FOR DECISIONS
TO COME?
>> I THINK THAT THE COURT, WITH
THE WAY THINK THAT IT'S
STRUCTURED NOW, WITH THE
JUSTICES ON IT, THAT THERE COULD
BE LOTS OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR US
TO HAVE SOME INCREDIBLY
MEANINGFUL AND IMPORTANT
CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHAT THE LAW
SAYS, WHAT THE LAW MEANS, AND
WHAT OUR OPINIONS OUGHT TO SAY.
AND I AM REALLY LOOKING FORWARD
TO HAVING THOSE DISCUSSIONS AND
TO BEING PART OF THOSE OPINIONS
FROM THE COURT.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WELL, JUSTICE-ELECT JILL
KAROFSKY, THANKS SO MUCH FOR
JOINING US.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
STAY WELL.
>> THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR THIS
WEEK.
BE SURE TO JOIN US ONLINE
THROUGHOUT THE WEEK FOR UPDATES
ON THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AT
pbswisconsin.org.
THEN CLICK ON THE NEWS TAB.
ALSO FOR ONGOING IN-DEPTH
COVERAGE ON THE COVID-19
RESPONSE IN WISCONSIN WITH,
VISIT OUR PARTNER NEWS SITE AT
wiscontext.org.
THIS WEEK, A LOOK AT CHANGING
GUIDELINES FOR FACE MASKS.
THAT'S wiscontext.org.
>> THANK YOU FOR WATCHING "HERE
AND NOW."
STAY WELL, WISCONSIN, AND WE
WILL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.
? ?
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.