>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION.
>> I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE & NOW," THE
WISCONSIN SUPREME COURT WEIGHS
IN ON THE EXTENDED "SAFER AT
HOME" ORDER.
WE HAVE REACTION FROM GOVERNOR
TONY EVERS IN OUR WEEKLY
ONE-ON-ONE INTERVIEW.
PLUS, REPUBLICAN ASSEMBLY
MAJORITY LEADER JIM STEINEKE.
ALSO, A PREVIEW OF NEXT WEEK'S
SPECIAL ELECTION IN WISCONSIN'S
7TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.
IT'S "HERE & NOW" FOR MAY 8.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE & NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.
? ?
>> THIS WISCONSIN'S SUPREME
COURT ENTERED THE BATTLE BETWEEN
REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS IN THE
COVID-19 PANDEMIC.
AT ISSUE, WHETHER HEALTH
SERVICES SECRETARY DESIGNEE
ANDREA PALM EXCEEDED HER
AUTHORITY BY ORDERING AN
EMERGENCY EXTENSION OF "SAFER AT
HOME."
THOSE OPPOSED TO THAT EXTENSION
SAY IT HAS WRECKED THE STATE'S
ECONOMY.
THOSE IN FAVOR COUNTER THAT
WISCONSIN'S CORONAVIRUS
INFECTION RATE AND THE NUMBER OF
DEATHS WILL SOAR SHOULD THE
ORDER BE LIFTED.
>> IN THE MIDST OF THIS
PANDEMIC, THE LEGISLATURE ASKS
THIS COURT TO HANDCUFF DHS'S
POWER TO COMBAT INFECTIOUS
DISEASE.
>> I'LL DIRECT YOUR ATTENTION TO
ANOTHER TIME IN HISTORY AND THE
KOREMATSU DECISION, WHERE THE
COURT SAID "THE NEED FOR ACTION
IS GREAT AND THE TIME IS SHORT"
AND THAT JUSTIFIED ASSEMBLING
TOGETHER AND PLACING UNDER GUARD
ALL THOSE OF JAPANESE ANCESTRY
IN CENTERS DURING WORLD WAR II.
>> WE MAY PERSONALLY THINK
THINGS MAKE SENSE, BUT WE HAVE
TO APPLY CONSTITUTIONAL
PRINCIPLES AND THE LANGUAGE OF
THE STATUTES AND THE LAW TO MAKE
SURE WHETHER IT DOES MAKE SENSE.
>> WE CAN'T ISSUE A DECISION
THAT'S TOO BROAD BECAUSE PEOPLE
WILL DIE.
THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT WILL
HAPPEN.
>> THE STATE SPENT THE WEEK
WAITING TO LEARN HOW THE
WISCONSIN SUPREME COURT WOULD
RULE IN THE LEGISLATURE'S
LAWSUIT AGAINST THE EVERS'
ADMINISTRATION OVER THE
EXTENSION OF THE "SAFER AT HOME"
ORDER THAT LASTS THROUGH
MEMORIAL DAY.
PERHAPS NO ONE IS MORE INVESTED
IN THAT DECISION THAN THE
GOVERNOR HIMSELF.
LATE FRIDAY AFTERNOON AND AHEAD
OF THAT RULING, I TALKED WITH
GOVERNOR TONY EVERS IN OUR
WEEKLY ONE-ON-ONE INTERVIEW.
AND, GOVERNOR, THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR JOINING US.
>> THANKS, FREDERICA.
APPRECIATE THAT.
>> SO WHAT ARE YOU PREPARED FOR
WITH THE SUPREME COURT DECISION?
>> WELL, I BELIEVE THAT -- I
BELIEVE WE'LL WIN.
I THINK IF YOU LOOK AT THE STATE
STATUTES, IF YOU LOOK AT
PRECEDENT, IF YOU LOOK AT THE
FACTS IN THE CASE, I THINK WE
WIN.
NOW, THE COURT MAY DECIDE TO NOT
USE THOSE SAME CRITERIA, BUT I
THINK WE HAVE A GOOD CHANCE OF
WINNING.
THE PROBLEM AROUND THE ISSUE OF
IF WE LOSE, THERE ARE SO MANY
MOVING PARTS.
I MEAN, THERE'S THE CASE THAT
THE REPUBLICANS BROUGHT AGAINST
ME, AND THEN THERE'S ANOTHER
CASE THERE THAT HAS BEEN BROUGHT
FORTH BY A COUPLE WISCONSIN
CITIZENS ON A FREEDOM OF
RELIGION APPROACH OR ISSUE.
SO IF THEY COMBINE THOSE TWO,
THERE'S JUST SO MANY MOVING
PARTS.
IT IS ABSOLUTELY IMPOSSIBLE TO
SAY IF THIS HAPPENS THIS IS THE
DIRECTION WE'RE GOING TO GO,
THIS IS GOING TO GO.
WE'LL WAIT TILL THE DECISION
COMING DOWN AND THEN WE'LL
FIGURE OUT A WAY TO MOVE
FORWARD.
>> I KNOW ONE APPROACH THAT HAS
SOME TRACTION ON THE PART OF THE
BUSINESS COMMUNITY IS KIND OF A
REGIONAL REOPENING.
DO YOU THINK THAT CAN WORK?
>> WELL, I THINK IT PROBABLY
CAN, BUT I THINK THERE'S ALSO
THINGS WE CAN DO ON THE
STATEWIDE AREA.
DOING THINGS IN SMALL GROUPS IN
DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE STATE,
THERE'S SOME DOWNSIDES TO THAT.
I'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE IN
DIFFERENT VENUES, BUT THE
ABILITY FOR SMALLER COUNTIES AND
SMALLER REGIONS, RURAL REGIONS
OF THE STATE TO, IF THERE'S A
SURGE IN THE VIRUS COMING
FORWARD, THEY DON'T HAVE THE
PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEM THAT OTHER
COUNTIES DO AND OTHER REGIONS
DO.
SO THERE'S DOWNSIDES TO IT, AND
I'M MORE THAN WILLING TO LOOK AT
THAT.
BUT THAT IS NOT A WHOLE PLAN.
A WHOLE PLAN WILL LOOK A LOT
DIFFERENT.
SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO
FINALLY SEEING A PLAN.
REPUBLICANS SAID WHEN THEY FILED
THE SUIT THAT THEY HAD A PLAN.
AND THE ONLY THING I'VE HEARD SO
FAR IS ABOUT DOING THINGS BY
REGION AND THAT'S SOMETHING TO
LOOK AT, BUT THAT IS NOT AN
ENTIRE PLAN.
>> I KNOW THAT THE REPUBLICAN
LEADERSHIP IS SEEKING WHAT THEY
CALL A "COLLABORATIVE APPROACH,"
THEY TO WANT WORK WITH YOU ON
THIS, AND YOU DID MEET WITH
LEADERSHIP THIS WEEK.
HOW DO YOU EXPECT THAT TO GO?
>> WELL, I THINK IT WILL BE FINE
GOING FORWARD.
IF THEY HAVE A PLAN, I WELCOME
THAT.
WHEN WE MET, WE TALKED ABOUT
REGIONAL APPROACH AND WE BOTH
TALKED ABOUT THE DIFFERENT WAYS
OF DOING THAT.
BUT THAT IN AND OF ITSELF ISN'T
A PLAN.
I'M MORE THAN WILLING TO HEAR
ANY PLAN THAT THEY HAVE.
AND GOING FORWARD AFTER THE
SUPREME COURT DECISION, WE'LL
FIGURE OUT WHAT WE HAVE TO DO TO
MOVE FORWARD.
BUT IT WILL DEPEND ON HOW THAT
DECISION IS WRITTEN, AND THERE
ARE MANY, MANY MOVING PARTS THAT
WE DON'T KNOW HOW THAT'S GOING
TO BE RESOLVED.
>> WELL, WOULD THERE BE ANY KIND
OF NONSTARTERS FOR YOU IN TERMS
OF ANY PLAN DIFFERENT FROM THE
EXTENDED "SAFER AT HOME" OR THE
BADGER BOUNCE BACK PLAN?
>> WELL, I THINK WE ARE LOOKING
TOWARDS DIALING -- MOVING THE
DIAL AT ANY POINT IN TIME.
IN FACT, WE DID JUST A COUPLE
WEEKS AGO.
SO THERE AREN'T THINGS I'M NOT
WILLING TO LISTEN TO, BUT LET'S
HAVE A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, WHICH
WE HAVEN'T HAD YET.
>> ONE THING THAT HAS PEOPLE
ASKING WHETHER OR NOT YOU'RE
EDGING TOWARD A SOONER REOPENING
THAN POTENTIALLY AFTER MEMORIAL
IS THIS NEW GUIDANCE FROM THE
WEDC ABOUT HOW BUSINESSES CAN
PREPARE TO REOPEN.
WHAT KINDS OF THINGS ARE IN THAT
GUIDANCE?
AND IS IT A MEASURE THAT YOU'RE
MOVING CLOSER TO THAT?
>> WELL, CERTAINLY IT'S A
MEASURE THAT WE HAVE -- YOU
KNOW, AS WE'VE FOCUSED ON
TESTING AND THE THINGS IN THE
PUBLIC SECTOR OR PUBLIC HEALTH
SIDE, WE'VE REALLY BROUGHT A LOT
TO THE TABLE ALREADY AND WE'RE
MEETING A LOT OF THE METRICS.
THEY'RE GETTING CLOSER TO THE
METRICS THAT WE SET OUT.
SO CLEARLY WE DO BELIEVE WE'RE
GOING TO BE OPENING SOME ASPECTS
OF THE BUSINESS WORLD IN A SAFE
AND ORDERLY AND THOUGHTFUL WAY.
AND, YES, I THINK THAT'S AN
INDICATION OF THAT.
BUT IT'S ALSO AN INDICATION THAT
WE BELIEVE THAT PEOPLE NEED TO
START THINKING ABOUT WHAT THEIR
BUSINESSES WILL LOOK LIKE AFTER
THEY'RE OPEN.
>> WHAT CONTINUES TO CONCERN YOU
AROUND COVID-19 IN WISCONSIN?
>> WELL, CERTAINLY THE SURGES
WE'RE HAVING ACROSS THE STATE IN
BROWN COUNTY IS A GOOD EXAMPLE.
AND, FRANKLY, I'M ALSO CONCERNED
ABOUT THE FACT THAT PEOPLE THAT
DISPROPORTIONATELY HAVE
DIFFICULT HEALTH OUTCOMES
BECAUSE OF THEIR LIVING IN
POVERTY, POOR HOUSING.
ALL THOSE THINGS ARE PLAYING OUT
AGAIN IN THIS INSTANCE.
AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE VERY
INSISTENT THAT WE MAKE SURE WE
HAVE THESE COMMUNITY TESTING
OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE ALL
ACROSS THE STATE, BUT ESPECIALLY
WHERE WE HAVE BAD OUTCOMES.
WE NEED THAT DATA TO MOVE
FORWARD.
>> WITH JUST ABOUT A HALF A
MINUTE LEFT, WHAT IS ENCOURAGING
FOR YOU ON THIS COVID-19 FRONT?
>> WELL, WE'RE UP TO 14,000
TESTS A DAY.
I THINK THE LAST COUPLE DAYS
WERE ABOUT 14,000.
THAT'S HUGE.
THE MORE TESTS WE DO -- AND
WE'RE ALSO HIRING -- LOTS OF
PEOPLE ARE INTERESTED IN DOING
THE CONTACT TRACING.
ALL THE THINGS THAT REALLY HELP
US TAKE CARE OF SURGES AND MAKE
SURE THAT WE DIMINISH THE ROLE
OF THE VIRUS IN OUR LIFE.
THOSE THINGS ARE IN PLACE.
AND SO I FEEL VERY GOOD ABOUT
THAT.
AND PEOPLE MAKING SURE THAT
THEY'RE SOCIALLY DISTANT FROM
PEOPLE AND STAYING HEALTHY.
>> ALL RIGHT.
GOVERNOR TONY EVERS, WE NEED TO
LEAVE IT THERE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANKS, FREDERICA.
>> WHAT WOULD A
REPUBLICAN-CONTROLLED
LEGISLATIVE RESPONSE TO THE
COVID-19 CRISIS LOOK LIKE?
THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS CAN
SOMETIMES TAKE WEEKS OR MONTHS.
THAT'S A TIME LINE THAT IS
PROBLEMATIC FOR BOTH SIDES.
REPUBLICANS SAY THEY PLAN TO
MOVE QUICKLY.
AS OF FRIDAY AT NOON, NO RULING
FROM THE STATE SUPREME COURT.
WISCONSIN ASSEMBLY MAJORITY
LEADER JIM STEINEKE WAS ABLE TO
JOIN US EARLY THIS AFTERNOON.
AND, REPRESENTATIVE, THANKS VERY
MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> WELL, SO DETAIL FOR US,
PLEASE, WHAT THE REPUBLICAN
LEGISLATIVE LEADERSHIP PLAN TO
REOPEN THE STATE LOOKS LIKE.
>> YEAH.
SO I APPRECIATE THE QUESTION.
I KNOW THAT'S ONE OF THE
QUESTIONS WE'VE BEEN GETTING A
LOT, IS WHAT IS THE REPUBLICAN
PLAN FOR REOPENING THE STATE.
WE'VE REALLY TRIED TO STEER
CLEAR OF THAT BECAUSE WE DON'T
THINK THAT THERE SHOULD BE A
DEMOCRATIC PLAN.
WE DON'T THINK THERE SHOULD BE A
REPUBLICAN PLAN.
WE THINK THAT THERE SHOULD BE A
PLAN THAT WE WORK ON TOGETHER
THAT SUITS ALL OF WISCONSIN AND
THAT ALL OF US CAN SUPPORT.
SO WE DIDN'T WANT TO DO
NEGOTIATIONS THROUGH THE MEDIA
ON ANY PARTICULAR IDEAS OTHER
THAN WE THINK THAT THE PLAN
SHOULD BE REGIONAL AND
INCORPORATE SOME OF THOSE
ASPECTS AS FAR AS BEING ABLE TO
OPEN IN AREAS WHERE THERE'S LESS
SEVERE INFECTIONS.
WE REALLY JUST WANT TO SIT DOWN
WITH THE GOVERNOR AND FIGURE IT
OUT TOGETHER.
>> I WANT TO GET TO THAT
SO-CALLED "WISCONSIN PLAN" IN
JUST A MOMENT, BUT IN TERMS OF
KIND OF A REGIONAL REOPENING
PLAN, WHAT ABOUT CONCERNS THAT
YOU JUST SPREAD THE VIRUS AS
PEOPLE GET OUT ACROSS THE STATE,
SAY, TO VACATION HOMES OR
CAMPSITES?
>> SURE.
I MEAN, WE LIVE IN A FREE
COUNTRY, RIGHT?
SO PEOPLE ARE GOING TO HAVE
FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT NO MATTER
WHEN WE OPEN, WHETHER IT'S THE
WHOLE STATE OR WHETHER IT'S
REGIONS OF THE COUNTRY.
WE'RE STARTING TO SEE DEMOCRATIC
GOVERNORS IN OTHER STATES LIKE
ILLINOIS, MICHIGAN AND NEW YORK
WHO HAVE HAD MUCH MORE SEVERE
PROBLEMS WITH THE VIRUS THAN
WISCONSIN HAS, THEY'RE
INCORPORATING THE REGIONAL
ASPECTS INTO THEIR PLAN.
WE SIMPLY CAN'T AFFORD TO ALLOW
THE ENTIRE STATE TO BE SHUT DOWN
WHEN THERE'S VERY FEW PROBLEMS
IN THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE
COUNTIES OF THE STATE.
>> IF CASES WERE TO INCREASE --
AND PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY
THEY ALMOST CERTAINLY WOULD IF
YOU KIND OF REOPEN THE STATE,
BUT IF CASES WERE TO INCREASE,
WOULD YOU CALL OR WOULD YOU BE
IN FAVOR OF REINSTATING STRICTER
"STAY AT HOME" ORDERS AT THAT
POINT?
>> YEAH.
I THINK ANY PLAN GOING FORWARD
SHOULD HAVE SOME KIND OF A
THROTTLE, WHERE YOU CAN
GRADUALLY OPEN THE ECONOMY UP,
BUT THEN IF THERE ARE SEVERE
CASES WHERE THE HOSPITAL SYSTEM
IS OVERRUN, THAT YOU CAN START
TO THROTTLE THAT BACK.
THAT'S THE IMPORTANT THING FOR
US TO REMEMBER.
THIS WAS NEVER ABOUT GETTING TO
A POINT WHERE WE HAVE ZERO
INFECTIONS.
IT'S GETTING TO THE POINT WHERE
OUR HOSPITALS ARE NOT
OVERWHELMED.
THANKFULLY, OUR HOSPITALS ARE
NOT BEING OVERWHELMED WITH THE
VIRUS, SO IT IS TIME IN THE VAST
MAJORITY OF THE STATE TO START
TO REOPEN.
BUT, AGAIN, IF THERE ARE ISSUES
WHERE THERE BECOMES A CRISIS,
THEN WE CAN START TO THROTTLE
BACK.
>> WELL, SPEAKER VOS IN FACT
SAYS WHENEVER WE REOPEN, IT IS
NOT GOING TO BE POSSIBLE TO
PREVENT ALL DEATHS.
IS THAT JUST THE PRICE TO PAY
HERE?
>> WELL, YEAH.
I MEAN, SO THIS WHOLE IDEA OF A
SHUTDOWN, OF "SAFER AT HOME,"
WAS, AGAIN, ABOUT SLOWING THE
SPREAD.
THE NATURE OF THE VIRUS IS
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO STOP IT.
EVEN IN NEW YORK YOU'RE SEEING A
LOT OF CASES COMING OUT OF
NEW YORK WHERE THE PEOPLE WERE
SHELTERED AT HOME AND STILL GOT
THE VIRUS.
SO WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO
COMPLETELY STOP THE SPREAD.
BUT WE ALSO CAN'T WAIT FOR IT TO
BECOME -- TO GET DOWN TO ZERO
BEFORE WE START TO OPEN UP THE
ECONOMY AGAIN.
IT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT OUR
FAMILIES CAN'T AFFORD TO HANG ON
FOR THE NEXT EIGHT, 12 MONTHS
BEFORE WE GET A VACCINE.
>> SO AS YOU DESCRIBED EARLIER,
LEADERSHIP MET WITH GOVERNOR
EVERS THIS WEEK AND SPEAKER VOS
AGAIN SAID THAT HE WAS
INTERESTED IN NOT A REPUBLICAN
PLAN OR A DEMOCRATIC PLAN, BUT A
WISCONSIN PLAN.
BUT I READ THAT HE SAID THAT IT
DOESN'T HAVE TO BE ADVERSARIAL.
BUT HOW ADVERSARIAL WAS THAT
LAWSUIT?
>> WELL, AND THAT'S -- I
APPRECIATE YOUR BRINGING UP THIS
POINT, BECAUSE I'VE HEARD THIS
BEFORE, WHERE REPUBLICANS IN THE
LEGISLATURE ARE BEING ACCUSED OF
BEING PARTISAN THROUGH THIS
PROCESS, WHICH IS REALLY KIND OF
STRANGE TO ME, BECAUSE THE ONLY
PERSON BEING -- THAT I WOULD SAY
BEING PARTISAN IN THIS IS THE
GOVERNOR IN THAT HE IS INSISTING
ON HAVING FULL CONTROL OVER THIS
WITH NO INPUT FROM THE
LEGISLATURE.
HE IS INSISTING THAT THEY HAVE
THE UNILATERAL ABILITY TO IMPOSE
THESE RESTRICTIONS WITH NO
LEGISLATIVE OVERSIGHT.
AND ACCORDING TO THEM, THEY CAN
DO THIS INDEFINITELY.
SO WHAT WE'RE SAYING, THE
LAWSUIT REALLY IS ABOUT GETTING
US TO WORK TOGETHER.
NOT SAYING WE HAVE TO HAVE OUR
WAY.
THAT'S NOT HOW THE LEGISLATIVE
PROCESS WORKS.
BUT SAYING WE SHOULD ALL BE AT
THE TABLE SO THE PEOPLE OF
WISCONSIN THROUGH THEIR ELECTED
REPRESENTATIVES CAN HAVE A VOICE
IN THIS PROCESS.
CURRENTLY, THEY DON'T.
>> SO WHEN YOU WERE ALL AT THE
TABLE THIS WEEK, HOW DID THAT
GO?
>> WELL, I WASN'T THERE, SO IT
WAS SPEAKER VOS AND MAJORITY
LEADER FITZGERALD ALONG WITH THE
TWO DEMOCRATIC LEADERS OF EACH
HOUSE.
BUT I THINK IT WENT FAIRLY WELL.
I DON'T THINK ANYBODY DREW ANY
LINES IN THE SAND, SAID
ABSOLUTELY "NO" TO ANYTHING THAT
WAS PROPOSED.
BUT THAT BEING SAID, WE HAVE TO
START HAVING MORE REGULAR
COMMUNICATIONS AND MORE REGULAR
NEGOTIATIONS AS WE GO FORWARD,
ESPECIALLY AS THIS SUPREME COURT
DECISION LOOMS OVER US.
IF THAT COMES DOWN IN THE
LEGISLATURE'S FAVOR, WE'RE GOING
TO HAVE TO ACT QUICKLY.
AND I THINK WE SHOULD BE
PREPARING FOR THAT BY
CONTINUALLY HAVING MEETINGS.
I KNOW THE GOVERNOR DIDN'T WANT
TO HAVE ANOTHER MEETING UNTIL AT
LEAST NEXT WEEK.
I STILL THINK WE SHOULD BE
MEETING AT LEAST EVERY OTHER DAY
TO TRY TO COME TOGETHER AROUND A
PLAN THAT CAN WORK FOR
EVERYBODY.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WE NEED TO LEAVE IT THERE.
MAJORITY LEADER JIM STEINEKE,
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR JOINING
US.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> AS DEBATE RAGES ON HOW AND
WHEN TO REOPEN WISCONSIN, THE
STATE IS NEARING 10,000 CASES
AND 400 COVID-19 DEATHS.
ANDREA PALM OVERSEES WISCONSIN'S
HEALTH CARE RESPONSE TO THE
PANDEMIC.
SECRETARY-DESIGNEE PALM, THANK
YOU FOR JOINING US ON THIS.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME BACK.
>> SO YOUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT
RELEASED ITS GATING CRITERIA IN
THE FORM OF A DASHBOARD THIS
WEEK TO SHOW PROGRESS ON AREAS
NEEDED, ACCORDING TO THE
ADMINISTRATION, TO RESTART THE
STATE.
ACCORDING TO THAT DASHBOARD, OF
SIX MEASURES, WE'RE GOOD TO GO
ON JUST ONE, THE DOWNWARD
TRAJECTORY OF FLU-LIKE SYMPTOMS.
WHERE WE STILL HAVE NOT MET THIS
CRITERIA TO OPEN, IT INCLUDES A
14-DAY DOWNWARD TRAJECTORY IN
POSITIVE CASES AND PEOPLE
REPORTING SYSTEMS OF COVID-19.
WHERE DO WE STAND ON THAT AT
WEEK'S END?
>> SO AS WE HAVE EXPANDED
TESTING PRETTY DRAMATICALLY,
BOTH OUR -- AND WORKING ON THE
NUMBER OF TESTS ON A DAILY
BASIS, WE CERTAINLY ARE SEEING
THIS LEVEL OFF IN A WAY THAT I
THINK GIVES US SOME HOPE THAT WE
ARE CERTAINLY MOVING IN THE
RIGHT DIRECTION.
OUR PERCENTAGE YESTERDAY WAS
5.7%, WHICH IS CONSIDERABLY
LOWER THAN ABOUT THE 10% WE'VE
BEEN SEEING AS SORT OF A FLAT
LINE.
AND SO WE ARE HOPEFUL THAT AS WE
RAMP UP TESTING AND START TO
REALLY UNDERSTAND THE OUTBREAK
HERE IN WISCONSIN, THAT WE WILL
SEE THE NUMBERS GOING IN THE
RIGHT DIRECTION.
BUT IT ALSO SPEAKS TO OUR NEED
TO CONTINUE TO STAY SAFER AT
HOME.
>> SO ON THAT 14-DAY DOWNWARD
TRAJECTORY, WE HAVE BEEN ON A
DAY-BY-DAY DOWNWARD TRAJECTORY
AND WHAT ARE WE AT NOW, ABOUT
FIVE OR SIX DAYS ON THAT?
>> YEAH.
YEAH.
IT'S SOMEWHERE BETWEEN FIVE AND
SEVEN, YEAH, THAT WE'RE SEEING
SOME DOWNWARD MOVEMENT.
SO THAT'S GOOD.
>> SO YOU SPOKE TO RAMPING UP
TESTING, AND I KNOW THE CAPACITY
RIGHT NOW IS TO TEST ABOUT
15,000 PEOPLE A DAY.
WHERE ARE WE ON ACTUAL NUMBER OF
TESTS THAT ARE BEING DONE?
>> SO WE HIT A HIGH NUMBER
YESTERDAY, OUR HIGHEST EVER, AT
OVER 5500 TESTS, AND SO THAT IS
-- THAT SPEAKS TO OUR
PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NATIONAL
GUARD, WHO HAVE REALLY HELPED
DRIVE A NUMBER OF COMMUNITY
TESTING SITES AROUND THE STATE
TO HELP US UNDERSTAND
PREVALENCE, BUT UP THOSE NUMBERS
SO THAT WE'RE REALLY STARTING TO
REACH OUR GOALS OF TESTING FOR
THE STATE OF WISCONSIN AND WE'LL
CONTINUE TO DO THAT IN THE
COMING WEEKS.
>> IS IT STILL THE CASE THAT
POTENTIALLY HEALTH CARE
PROVIDERS ARE NOT ENCOURAGING
PEOPLE UNDER, YOU KNOW, FAIRLY
RECENT GUIDANCES TO GO AHEAD AND
GET A TEST?
>> SO I THINK WE'RE WORKING
HARD.
WE JUST A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO,
IF YOU HAVE SYMPTOMS, STAY HOME,
RIGHT?
THAT WAS OUR MESSAGE.
AND SO THIS IS A MAJOR SHIFT, TO
ENCOURAGING PEOPLE, EVEN WITH
THE MILDEST OF SYMPTOMS, TO GO
AND GET TESTED.
AND SO I THINK THAT'S SOME OF
WHY YOU'RE SEEING THIS LAG IN
THE NUMBER OF TESTS WE'RE DOING
ON A DAILY BASIS.
BUT OPENING UP ACCESS, BEING
CLEAR THAT THE GUIDANCE IS
LOOSENED, MAKING THESE
DRIVE-THROUGH TESTING SITES
AVAILABLE, AGAIN, FOR EASY
ACCESS FOR PEOPLE.
WE REALLY DO HOPE TO SEE A
RAMPING UP OF THE NUMBER OF
TESTS WE'RE DOING EVERY DAY.
>> IS IT ACCURATE THAT YOU ARE
NOW TESTING EVERYONE IN
LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES?
>> SO PART OF OUR STRATEGY OF
THIS COMMUNITY TESTING, OUTBREAK
TESTING AND LONG-TERM CARE
TESTING ARE CRITICAL PIECES OF,
AGAIN, HELPING US UNDERSTAND THE
EPIDEMIC HERE.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE'VE TALKED
ABOUT FROM THE VERY BEGINNING IS
THE VULNERABILITY OF PEOPLE WHO
LIVE IN LONG-TERM CARE.
THEY'RE MOST SUSCEPTIBLE TO
SEVERE DISEASE AND DEATH AND
SPREAD CAN HAPPEN QUICKLY.
SO OUR DESIRE TO TEST EVERYONE
IN FACILITIES ACROSS THE STATE
WILL HELP US FIND CASES THAT
WERE PREVIOUSLY UNDETECTED SO WE
CAN WRAP QUICKLY AND HELP
PROTECT THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE
THERE.
>> IF WE ARE DOING THOSE KIND OF
TESTS IN LONG-TERM CARE
FACILITIES, WHAT ARE THE RESULTS
YOU ARE SEEING?
>> WE HAVE BEGUN TO HAVE
CONVERSATIONS WITH LONG-TERM
CARE, ABOUT 50 OR 60 SO FAR, AND
ARE CONTINUING TO WORK THROUGH
THE PROGRESSION OF OUR TEAMS
GOING OUT AND DOING THAT
TESTING.
WE HAVE ON AN OUTBREAK BASIS
DONE SOME TESTING IN LONG-TERM
CARE AND HAVE MADE THAT
INFORMATION PUBLIC ON OUR
WEBSITE.
AND SO IF THERE'S ONE CASE,
EITHER STAFF OR RESIDENT IN
LONG-TERM CARE, WE WANT -- WE
PREVIOUSLY HAD WANTED TO BE
THERE AND DO TESTING AND HELP
WITH THAT TESTING.
AND SO FAR WE HAVE HAD GOOD
PARTNERSHIPS AND BEEN ABLE TO DO
THE WORK NECESSARY IN THOSE
LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES, BUT
WE WANT TO DO THAT MORE BROADLY
AND MORE STRATEGICALLY MOVING
FORWARD.
>> WHAT'S THE CURRENT STATUS OF
OUTBREAKS AT MEAT-PACKING PLANTS
AND LATEST NUMBERS CONNECTED TO
THOSE OUTBREAKS?
>> SO ONE OF THE TRANSPARENCY WE
HAVE TRIED TO ADD TO THE WEBSITE
ARE WHERE ARE THE OUTBREAKS,
WHAT KINDS OF PLACES ARE THEY
AND THEN TO BE HELPING WITH THE
TESTING AND CONTACT TRACING
AROUND THOSE.
AND SO OF THE ABOUT 235 RIGHT
NOW, SOME ARE IN LONG-TERM CARE,
SOME ARE IN BUSINESSES.
MEAT-PACKING IS ONE, BUT THERE
ARE OTHER TYPES OF BUSINESSES
THAT ARE HAVING OUTBREAKS.
YOU CAN SEE WHERE THOSE ARE AND
WHAT TIMES OF PLACES WE'RE
SEEING THOSE OUTBREAKS AND WE
THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT
INFORMATION FOR PEOPLE.
>> WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE TO
THOSE WHO HAVE SAID THAT YOU DID
NOT HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO EXTEND
THE "SAFER AT HOME" ORDER AND
SOME WHO EVEN WANT YOU FIRED
OVER IT?
>> THROUGHOUT THIS PANDEMIC, WE
HAVE DONE AT THE DEPARTMENT OF
HEALTH SERVICES AND WITH OUR
PARTNERS ACROSS THE STATEWIDE
RESPONSE, DONE WHAT WE FELT WAS
NECESSARY TO PROTECT THE PEOPLE
OF WISCONSIN, TO PROTECT OUR
HEALTH AND SAFETY.
AND WE'VE SEEN THE "SAFER AT
HOME" IS WORKING.
WE ARE FLATTENING THE CURVE.
WE HAVE SAVED LIVES.
AND WE ARE TAKING THE TIME THAT
WAS GIVEN TO US THROUGH "SAFER
AT HOME" TO BUILD UP OUR TESTING
CAPACITY, OUR CONTACT TRACING
CAPACITY AND OUR PARTNERSHIPS
WITH LOCAL COMMUNITIES TO HELP
FIGHT THIS VIRUS ON THE GROUND
MOVING FORWARD.
AND SO I THINK WE FEEL VERY,
VERY GOOD ABOUT THE FACT THAT
THE STRATEGIES WE HAVE DEPLOYED
HAVE HELPED US DO THE THINGS WE
NEED TO DO HERE IN WISCONSIN TO
PROTECT THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE.
>> WE NEED TO LEAVE IT THERE.
SECRETARY-DESIGNEE PALM, THANKS
VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> NEXT TUESDAY, VOTERS IN 26
COUNTIES IN NORTHERN WISCONSIN
WILL GO TO THE POLLS FOR THE
SECOND TIME DURING THE COVID-19
HEALTH CRISIS.
THIS TIME, IT'S THE 7TH
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT SPECIAL
ELECTION TO REPLACE SEAN DUFFY,
WHO RESIGNED LAST YEAR.
"HERE & NOW" SENIOR POLITICAL
REPORTER ZAC SCHULTZ TELLS US
THE RACE IS IMPACTED BY BOTH THE
CORONAVIRUS AND THE SHIFTING
ALLEGIANCE OF VOTERS IN THAT
DISTRICT.
>> FOR THE LAST DECADE,
WISCONSIN'S 7TH CONGRESSIONAL
HAS BEEN A SAFE SEAT FOR SEAN
DUFFY.
HE NEVER FACED MUCH OF A
CHALLENGE IN FIVE RACES.
AFTER REDISTRICTING HE NEVER
RECEIVED LESS THAN 60% OF THE
VOTE.
BUT FOR 40 YEARS BEFORE THAT,
WISCONSIN'S 7TH WAS BLUE, HOME
TO DEMOCRATIC DAVE OBEY.
SO WHAT HAPPENED?
AND WHAT DOES THAT SAY ABOUT
TUESDAY'S SPECIAL ELECTION
BETWEEN REPUBLICAN TOM TIFFANY
AND DEMOCRATIC TRICIA ZUNKER.
>> WELL, THERE'S A LITTLE THING
CALLED GERRYMANDERING THAT
OCCURRED IN 2010.
>> MOST BLAME THE REDISTRICTING
PLAN WHICH REMOVED PORTAGE
COUNTY AND ADDED IN MORE OF
WESTERN WISCONSIN, WHICH
TYPICALLY VOTES MORE REPUBLICAN.
>> BUT THE MAIN THING THAT'S
CHANGED IS THE DEMOCRAT PARTY.
I TALKED TO SO MANY PEOPLE WHO
ARE JOHN F. KENNEDY DEMOCRATS
WHO ARE LIKE I DON'T RECOGNIZE
MY COUNTY ANYMORE.
>> REPUBLICANS SAY RURAL VOTERS
DON'T FEEL AT
HOME IN A MULTICULTURAL
DEMOCRATIC PARTY.
MOST CONCEPTS HOLD SOME TRUTH,
BUT NEITHER TELLS THE WHOLE
STORY.
RURAL DISTRICTS ACROSS THE
NATION HAVE BEEN SHIFTING AWAY
FROM DEMOCRATS FOR THE LAST
DECADE.
BUT WE DON'T HAVE TO LOOK FAR TO
SEE DEMOCRAT RON KIND IN WESTERN
WISCONSIN, WHICH IS ALMOST AS
RURAL AS THE 7TH.
AND WHILE DEMOCRATIC CERTAINLY
MADE THE 7TH MORE REPUBLICAN,
THAT DOESN'T EXPLAIN DUFFY'S
VICTORY.
OBEY NEVER LOST ONE OF THESE
COUNTIES FROM 2002 TO '08.
BUT FROM 2010 TO '18 THE VOTERS
MOVED TOWARD THE REPUBLICANS BY
169%.
IN FACT, MARATHON COUNTY SHIFTED
BY 295%, A 22,000-VOTE SWING
FROM DEMOCRATS TO REPUBLICANS.
>> I GUESS A COUPLE OF THINGS
HAPPENED.
>> KATIE ROSENBERG IS THE
NEWLY-ELECTED MAYOR OF WAUSAU.
>> YOU'RE SEEING A LOT OF
POPULATION SHIFTING.
YOU'RE SEEING OUR POPULATIONS
GET A LOT OLDER.
>> THE SHIFT IN THE 7TH STARTED
HAPPENING LONG BEFORE SEAN
DUFFY.
>> YOU PROBABLY WOULD HAVE BEEN
SEEING SOME OF THE CULTURAL
CHANGES MOVING ALONG DURING DAVE
OBEY'S TIME.
BUT HE WASN'T SEEING A LOT OF
SERIOUS CHALLENGES.
>> WHAT THIS SHOWS IS THE POWER
OF INCUMBENCY.
THE SAME HAPPENED WITH DUFFY.
HE FACED UNKNOWN DEMOCRATIC
OPPONENTS.
>> THE 7TH CONGRESSIONAL IS
HUGE, CURRENTLY SPANNING 26
COUNTIES AND THREE DIFFERENT
TELEVISION MARKETS.
POLITICAL NEWCOMERS FACE A HUGE
CHALLENGE IN GETTING THEIR NAME
OUT THERE AND RAISING MONEY.
AND ONCE YOU'RE IN OFFICE, YOU
CAN CEMENT YOUR NAME IN VOTERS'
MINDS.
>> ONCE YOU ESTABLISH
IN-DISTRICT OFFICES, THEY HAVE A
DIRECT CONDUIT.
IT'S THAT NAME RECOGNITION OVER
AND OVER AGAIN.
>> WHICH IS WHY THIS SPECIAL
ELECTION IS SO IMPORTANT.
THE HISTORY OF THE 7TH SAYS THE
WINNER MAY HOLD THIS SEAT FOR A
LONG TIME.
I'M ZAC SCHULTZ FOR "HERE &
NOW."
>> THAT IS OUR PROGRAM FOR THIS
WEEK.
BE SURE TO JOIN US ONLINE FOR
UPDATES ON THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
AT pbswisconsin.org AND THEN
CLICK ON THE NEWS TAB.
THAT'S WHERE YOU WILL ALSO FIND
THE LATEST INFORMATION REGARDING
THE STATE SUPREME COURT'S
DECISION ON EXTENDING "SAFER AT
HOME."
ALSO FOR ONGOING COVERAGE OF THE
CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE IN
WISCONSIN, VISIT OUR PARTNER
NEWS SITE AT wiscontext.org.
THIS WEEK TRACKING TEST
POSITIVITY RATES AS COVID-19
SPREADS IN WISCONSIN.
THAT'S wiscontext.org.
THANK YOU FOR WATCHING "HERE &
NOW."
STAY WELL, WISCONSIN, AND WE
WILL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE & NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.