>> I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW," A
FIRST LOOK AT THE FLAP OVER
ACCOMMODATIONS FOR A DISABLED
LEGISLATOR.
AFTER THAT, A CLOSER LOOK AT THE
FUTURE OF TUITION WITHIN THE UW
SYSTEM.
THEN, AN INSIDE LOOK IN INTO
WISCONSIN'S PLANS TO BOOST
OUTDOOR TOURISM.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR
AUGUST 2.
?
>> FUNDING FOR HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED IN PART BY FRIENDS OF
WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISION.
?
>> A DISABLED LEGISLATOR DOES
BATTLE WITH SPEAKER ROBIN VOS
OVER ACCOMMODATIONS AT
THE CAPITOL.
IN TONIGHT'S "FIRST LOOK," WE
TALK WITH DEMOCRATIC STATE
REPRESENTATIVE JIMMY
ANDERSON, WHO ALREADY MISSED A
VOTE ON THE LAME-DUCK LAW
BECAUSE HE COULDN'T STAY AT THE
CAPITOL OVERNIGHT.
HE NOW SEEKS TO BE ABLE TO
TELEPHONE IN TO PUBLIC HEARINGS.
VOS SAYS PHONING IN IS
DISRESPECTFUL AND ASSEMBLY RULES
DON'T ALLOW IT.
ANDERSON IS PARALYZED FROM A
CRASH CAUSED BY A DRUNK DRIVER.
WE REACHED OUT TO
SPEAKER VOS FOR CLARITY ON THIS
AND DIDN'T HEAR BACK.
HE DID, HOWEVER, SEND A LETTER
TO REPRESENTATIVE ANDERSON
CALLING WHAT HE'S DOING
"POLITICAL GRANDSTANDING."
WE STARTED BY ASKING THE
REPRESENTATIVE'S REACTION TO
THAT.
>> I'M SIMPLY ASKING FOR
ACCOMMODATIONS THAT ARE OWED TO
ME UNDER THE A.D.A., AND SPEAKER
VOS HAS BEEN AWARE OF MY
ACCOMMODATION REQUESTS ALL THE
WAY BACK IN JANUARY, AND HAS
IGNORED THEM FOR MONTHS, SO I
THINK THAT THE ONLY WAY I'VE
BEEN ABLE TO GET HIM TO PAY
ATTENTION TO THESE ISSUES IS
BEING ABLE TO TALK ABOUT THEM IN
THE MEDIA AND HAVE THE PEOPLE OF
WISCONSIN PUT PRESSURE ON HIM TO
DO THE RIGHT THING.
>> AND YET HE SAID THAT YOU DID
NOT GO DIRECTLY TO HIM OR H.R.
WITH YOUR REQUEST TO BE ABLE TO
PHONE IN TO PUBLIC HEARINGS, BUT
HE HEARD IT THROUGH THE MEDIA,
SAYING THAT CALLS INTO QUESTION
YOUR SERIOUSNESS.
WHAT ABOUT THAT?
>> I TAKE MY DISABILITY VERY
SERIOUSLY, SO I THINK IT'S --
HE'S COMPLETELY MISCONSTRUING
THE PROPER WAY IN WHICH WE'RE
GOING TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM.
YOU KNOW, WHENEVER I HAVE A
DISABILITY REQUEST RELATED TO
SOMETHING THAT'S LIKE PHYSICALLY
WITH THE BUILDING, WHETHER IT'S
VOICE RECOGNITION SOFTWARE FOR
MY LAPTOP OR CHANGES BEING MADE
TO MY DESK, FOR INSTANCE, I'VE
GONE TO THE SERGEANT'S OFFICE
AND THOSE ACCOMMODATIONS HAVE
BEEN PROVIDED.
THIS WAS A CHANGE TO THE
ASSEMBLY RULES THAT REQUIRES A
VOTE BY RESOLUTION, AND THE WAY
THAT WE CHANGE THESE RULES HAS
ALWAYS BEEN NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN
DEMOCRATIC AND REPUBLICAN
LEADERSHIP.
SO WHAT I DID WAS I WENT TO
DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP AND SAID,
THESE ARE THE ACCOMMODATIONS I
NEED, THIS IS THE PROPER
PROCESS, AND WE WENT THROUGH THE
PROPER PROCESS AND SPEAKER VOS
SAID NO, I'M NOT GOING TO
PROVIDE THOSE ACCOMMODATIONS.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH MORE CLEAR
HE COULD HAVE BEEN ON THE ISSUE.
>> HE DOES SAY, AND AS YOU
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT SOME
ACCOMMODATIONS WERE MADE,
INCLUDING A SPECIAL MICROPHONE,
SPECIAL VOTING EQUIPMENT AND CAB
FARE WHEN A STAFFER WOULD TAKE
YOU HOME.
DESCRIBE FOR US WHY YOU NEED
THIS ADDITIONAL ACCOMMODATION TO
BE ABLE TO CALL INTO HEARINGS?
>> I THINK PART OF THE PROBLEM
IS THAT SPEAKER VOS, WHEN HE
SAYS PEOPLE ARE DRIVING FOR
HOURS, WHY CAN'T YOU DRIVE IN,
JIMMY?
IT'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HAVING
YOUR AUTONOMETER GET YOU UP IN
THE MORNING AND WHAT ME AS A
QUADRIPLEGIC FACES.
I HAVE TO RELY ON OTHER PEOPLE
TO HELP GET ME IN AND OUT OF BED
OR TO GET ME DRESSED, FOR
INSTANCE, AND YOU KNOW, FOR
INSTANCE, MY MORNING HEALTHCARE
PROVIDER, SHE HAS A KID THAT
NEEDS TO GO TO DAYCARE AND AS
ANYONE WITH CHILDREN KNOWS,
SOMETIMES KIDS DON'T COOPERATE.
SO IF SHE'S 15, 20 MINUTES LATE,
THAT MEANS I'M 15 OR 20 MINUTES
LATE.
AND SO BEING ABLE TO CALL IN TO
THE MORNINGS, I HAVE ACCESS TO A
PHONE 24/7, SO IF SHE'S RUNNING
LATE, I CAN STILL CALL IN TO MY
COMMITTEE HEARINGS AND
PARTICIPATE.
AND YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHAT MY
CONSTITUENTS WANT.
THEY ELECTED ME, WHEELCHAIR AND
ALL, THEY UNDERSTOOD THIS WAS
GOING TO COME WITH CERTAIN
ACCOMMODATIONS BUT IF I'M NOT
ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE
PROCESS, I'M BEING
DISENFRANCHISED ESSENTIALLY.
>> AT THIS POINT, THE SPEAKER
SAYS HE WILL HAVE A VIDEOGRAPHER
AT PUBLIC HEARINGS IF YOU GIVE
HIM ADEQUATE NOTICE AND WILL
PROPOSE PAPER BALLOTS FOR VOTING
IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
HE SAYS HE HOPES YOU FIND THIS
SATISFACTORY.
DO YOU?
>> NOT AT ALL.
A VIDEOGRAPHER IS ESSENTIALLY
SAYING I CAN WATCH THE
PROCEEDINGS BUT I CAN'T
PARTICIPATE, I CAN'T ASK
QUESTIONS, I CAN'T PROVIDE
INSIGHT.
I MEAN, THE VERY POINT OF THESE
COMMITTEE HEARINGS IS SO WE CAN
ALL LEND OUR EXPERTISE AND
EXPERIENCES TO MAKE OUR
LEGISLATION BETTER FOR PEOPLE IN
OUR DISTRICTS IN THE STATE OF
WISCONSIN.
SO THE IDEA THAT I'M STILL NOT
ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE
COMPLETELY MISSES THE POINT.
AS FOR THE PAPER BALLOTING, I
THINK IT'S A FINE IDEA, IT'S NOT
SOMETHING I SPECIFICALLY ASKED
FOR, BUT IF IT MAKES THE
LEGISLATION OR IT MAKES THE
LEGISLATURE BETTER AND OTHER
MEMBERS WANT IT, I'M FULLY
SUPPORTIVE.
>> NOW AS YOU WELL KNOW, IN
2017, LEGISLATORS COULD APPEAR
BY WEB CAMERA, BUT RULE CHANGES
THAT YEAR ELIMINATED THAT
PROVISION, AND YOU VOTED FOR
THAT CHANGE.
WHY?
>> SO THAT WAS MY VERY FIRST
VOTE ESSENTIALLY OF THE
LEGISLATURE AND I'D NEVER SERVED
IN OFFICE BEFORE.
I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS LIKE,
WHAT THE EXPERIENCE WAS GOING TO
BE LIKE, WHAT I WAS GOING TO
NEED AS A DISABLED LEGISLATOR,
SO AS I WENT THROUGH THAT FIRST
YEAR, AFTER THAT TERRIBLE
LAME-DUCK SESSION, I UNDERSTOOD
WHAT THE ACCOMMODATIONS I WAS
GOING TO NEED, SO THAT'S WHY I
MADE THOSE REQUESTS.
KNOWING WHAT I LEARNED AFTER
THAT FIRST YEAR, I NEVER WOULD
HAVE SUPPORTED A SIMILAR RULE IN
THE FUTURE.
>> SPEAKER VOS, AND WE SHOULD
SAY AGAIN THAT HE DID NOT
RESPOND TO OUR REQUESTS FOR AN
INTERVIEW ON THIS OR COMMENT ON
IT, BUT HE DESCRIBES IT AS
DISRESPECTFUL TO HAVE ONE PERSON
APPEAR BY SPEAKERPHONE WHILE
CITIZENS TAKE TIME OUT TO
TESTIFY BEFORE COMMITTEE IN
PERSON.
WHAT ABOUT THAT IDEA OF IT BEING
DISRESPECTFUL?
>> I THINK IT'S DISRESPECTFUL,
WHAT HE'S DOING TO MY
CONSTITUENTS.
THE FACT THAT HE'S NOT ALLOWING
ME TO BE ABLE TO BE AS FULL A
LEGISLATOR AS HUMANLY POSSIBLE.
OUR SENATE ALREADY OPERATES THIS
WAY, THEY HAVE SPEAKERPHONES AND
FOR THE MOST PART, I'VE ALWAYS
BEEN ABLE TO ATTEND IN PERSON AS
LONG AS THINGS HAVE BEEN
REASONABLY SCHEDULED.
I'M HAPPY TO BE HERE, I ENJOY
BEING HERE, I LOVE DOING THIS
JOB, BUT THERE ARE THOSE SMALL
INSTANCES WHERE MY DISABILITY
REQUIRES THESE ACCOMMODATIONS.
SO TO DENY MEE THOSE
ACCOMMODATIONS IS WHAT I THINK
IS DISRESPECTFUL.
>> NOW YOU'VE TAKEN EXCEPTION TO
THE WAY THE LAME-DUCK SESSION
HAPPENED A VOTE AT 4:30 IN THE
MORNING, WHICH YOU MISSED.
WHY COULDN'T YOU BE THERE?
>> SO BEING IN THIS WHEELCHAIR,
I CAN'T BE IN THIS WHEELCHAIR
FOR EXTENDED PERIODS OF TIME.
IT'S DANGEROUS TO MY HEALTH, NOT
ONLY THAT, BUT AGAIN, I'M
RELYING ON OTHER INDIVIDUALS TO
HELP ME DURING THE DAY.
SO IN THAT INSTANCE, AT AROUND,
YOU KNOW, 9:00, 10:00, I STARTED
MESSAGING REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP
SAYING I NEED TO KNOW WHEN WE'RE
GOING TO BE ON THE FLOOR BECAUSE
I HAVE A HOME HEALTH AIDE I HAVE
TO SCHEDULE.
THEY BASICALLY SAID I DON'T
KNOW.
SO I HAD TO GO HOME BECAUSE IF I
DIDN'T GO HOME AT THAT HOUR, I
WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO GO TO BED, I
COULDN'T GET OUT OF MY CHAIR, IT
COULD HAVE BEEN REALLY DANGEROUS
FOR ME PERSONALLY.
SO THAT'S WHY I MISSED THE VOTE
THAT DAY.
>> AS TO THAT, YOU ASKED THE
ATTORNEY GENERAL, JOSH KAUL, TO
REVIEW THAT VOTE TO SEE IF IT
VIOLATED THE OPEN MEETINGS LAW.
WHAT'S THE STATUS OF THAT REVIEW
TO YOUR KNOWLEDGE?
>> SO WE'RE STILL WAITING.
OPEN MEETING LAWS SAY
SPECIFICALLY THAT IF ANY DULY
ELECTED MEMBER EXCLUDED FROM
A MEETING OF THE LEGISLATOR, THE
LAW IS THEY ARE INVALID.
MY ARGUMENT IS THAT SPEAKER VOS
AND THE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP
WERE AWARE OF MY DISABILITY,
KNEW THAT I HAD TO GO HOME
BECAUSE OF MY DISABILITY AND YET
CONTINUED TO HOLD THIS VOTE
ANYWAY.
SO WE'RE STILL WAITING TO HEAR
BACK FROM, YOU KNOW, ATTORNEY
GENERAL KAUL.
>> LASTLY, SPEAKER VOS SAYS HE
HAS ALWAYS MADE SURE THE
ASSEMBLY ABIDES BY THE AMERICANS
WITH DISABILITIES ACT.
HAVE YOU SOUGHT OUTSIDE OPINION
ON WHETHER ASSEMBLY RULES DO, IN
FACT, CONFORM TO THE ADA?
>> OTHER THAN WHAT SPEAKER VOS
IS CURRENTLY DOING, ABSOLUTELY
NOT.
THE D.O.J. HAS PUT OUT A PRIMER
EXPLAINING WHAT STATE LAW AND
GOVERNMENTS HAVE TO DO TO MEET
THE ADA AND THEY SPECIFICALLY
TALK ABOUT PROVIDING A
TELECONFERENCE SYSTEM FOR PEOPLE
WITH WHEELCHAIRS OR PEOPLE WHO
NEED THAT BECAUSE OF A
DISABILITY.
THEY'VE ALREADY SPOKEN ON THIS
ISSUE.
HE'S NOT FOLLOWING, HE'S IN FACT
BREAKING THE LAW RIGHT NOW.
>> REPRESENTATIVE ANDERSON,
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> FALL SEMESTER AT UW CAMPUSES
IS ABOUT A MONTH OFF, AND THE
NEW ACADEMIC YEAR HAS UNIVERSITY
LEADERS INCREASINGLY VOICING
CONCERNS ABOUT THE TUITION
FREEZE.
COMING INTO ITS SEVENTH YEAR.
THAT’S BECAUSE THE STATE BUDGET
DID NOT BACK-FILL THAT FREEZE.
INSTEAD THE UW SYSTEM
SAW A 58-MILLION DOLLAR INCREASE
OVER TWO YEARS.
LESS THAN HALF WHAT GOVERNOR
TONY EVERS HAD PROPOSED. SYSTEM
PRESIDENT RAY CROSS SAYS IT
WOULD TAKE 60-MILLION JUST
TO KEEP UP WITH INFLATION.
THERE ARE SEVERAL LEGISLATIVE
BILLS CIRCULATING RELATED TO
TEUATION AND A CAMPAIGN ON THE
PART OF THE SYSTEM TO HERALD THE
VALUE OF THE U.W. TO THE STAILT. STATE.
TO TALK ABOUT ALL THIS, WE’RE
JOINED NOW BY UW SYSTEM
PRESIDENT, RAY CROSS. BEFORE
WE BEGIN, WE SHOULD NOTE THAT
WPT IS PART OF THE UNIVERSITY.
SO AS THE UW PREPARES FOR
STUDENTS TO CONVERGE FOR FALL
SEMESTER, WHAT WILL YOUR
CONCERNS WITH THIS YEAR MARKING
THE SEVENTH OF THE TUITION
FREEZE?
>> WELL, WE BELIEVE, AND I THINK
YOU SEE THAT THE LEGISLATORS OF
BOTH PARTIES ARE INTRODUCING
BILLS THAT REFLECT THEIR DESIRE
TO INCREASE THE INVESTMENT IN
THE UNIVERSITY.
AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE
THINK IS NEEDED, AND THAT WE'RE
REALLY PLEASED TO SEE THAT
CONVERSATION TAKING PLACE.
THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS, TOO,
THAT WE ARE EMBARKING ON THIS
ALL IN WISCONSIN AS YOU CALL
HERALDING THE VALUE OF THE
UNIVERSITY.
WE THINK PEOPLE ACROSS THE STATE
NEED TO HAVE A BETTER SENSE OF
HOW THE UNIVERSITY IMPACTS THEIR
LIVES, THE VALUE IT BRINGS, THE
ADDITIONAL LIVING -- THE LIFT IN
THE LIVING WAGE THAT IT PROVIDES
ON AVERAGE OF A MILLION DOLLARS
A YEAR, SO -- AND THE INVESTMENT
ITSELF IS LIKE 23 TO 1 IN THE
UNIVERSITY, SO WE BRING A GREAT
RETURN TO THE STATE AND HELPING
PEOPLE UNDERSTAND NOT ONLY THE
ABSTRACT NUMBERS AT A HIGH LEVEL
BUT ALSO THE IMPACT IT DIRECTLY
HAS ON THEIR LIVES.
>> ARE YOU SPECIFICALLY TRYING
TO CONNECT THE DOTS BETWEEN THE
VALUE OF THE U.W. SYSTEM TO THE
STATE OF WISCONSIN AND
INCREASING TUITION?
I MEAN, YOU WANT THIS KIND OF
WHAT REALLY IS KIND OF A P.R.
BLITZ TO CONVINCE PEOPLE, YES,
THE TIME IS NOW TO DO THIS?
>> WELL, IT ISN'T JUST THAT
WE'RE SEEKING INCREASED TUITION,
WE'RE SEEKING AN INCREASED
INVESTMENT, WHATEVER FORM THAT
TAKES.
WE CANNOT MAINTAIN QUALITY
WITHOUT SUFFICIENT INVESTMENT IN
THE UNIVERSITY.
AND I THINK THAT'S OBVIOUS TO
MEMBERS OF BOTH PARTIES.
>> NOW, YOU HAVE SAID THAT THE
STATE BUDGET DOES NOT PROVIDE
ENOUGH FUNDING TO COVER
NECESSARY INVESTMENTS.
LIKE WHAT?
>> WELL, LET ME TAKE A COUPLE OF
THINGS.
FIRST OF ALL, THE COMPENSATION
THAT OUR EMPLOYEES RECEIVE.
THE UNIVERSITY HAS TO PAY 30% OF
THAT.
THAT TRADITIONALLY CAME FROM
TUITION.
SO OUR PORTION OF TUITION WOULD
COVER THAT COMPENSATION INCREASE
FOR OUR EMPLOYEES.
THAT'S NOT BEING COVERED AT THIS
POINT, SO THAT'S ABOUT
$16 MILLION OF THAT -- ACTUALLY
$45 MILLION THAT WE'RE GETTING
RIGHT OFF THE TOP.
SO THAT'S A PIECE OF IT.
THE OTHER ELEMENTS IN THIS
INCLUDE THE NORMAL COST OF
INFLATION FOR WHICH IS ROUGHLY
2.4%, FOR GOODS AND SERVICES WE
HAVE TO BUY, SO THAT'S AN
ADDITIONAL SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF
MONEY.
ON TOP OF THAT, THERE ARE A
NUMBER OF INVESTMENTS WE NEED TO
MAKE TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE
STATE, INCLUDING MORE NURSES,
MORE ENGINEERS, MORE DATA
SCIENTISTS AND MORE TEACHERS.
AND THOSE DIFFERENT FIELDS
REQUIRE INCREASED INVESTMENT.
NOW IT'S TRUE, WE HAVE
REALLOCATED FUNDS, THERE'S NO
QUESTION, IN ORDER TO SUPPORT
THOSE MORE STRONGLY.
BUT WE STILL CAN'T GROW IN THOSE
AREAS AS FAST AS WE NEED TO.
>> BUT MEANWHILE, WHAT ABOUT
CAMPUSES ALREADY STRUGGLING WITH
A BUDGET DRUN BUDGET CRUNCH LIKE UW STEVENS
POINT IN THIS BUDGET PICTURE YOU
PAINT?
>> THE DEMOGRAPHICS PARTICULARLY
IN THE NORTH CENTRAL PART OF
WISCONSIN AND STEVENS POINT IS
RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT, THE
DEMOGRAPHICS ARE SERIOUSLY
IMPACTING THEIR ENROLLMENT, AND
THAT'S A CHALLENGE.
ON TOP OF THAT WHEN YOU HAVE NOT
JUST FROZEN TUITION BUT REDUCED
INVESTMENT FROM THE STATE OVER
THE LAST EIGHT YEARS THAT
COMPLICATES THEIR FINANCIAL
PICTURE.
AND THEY'RE DEALING WITH THAT AS
AGGRESSIVELY AS THEY CAN, BUT
THE LACK OF STATE RESOURCES,
ADDITIONAL INVESTMENT OF STATE
RESOURCES COMPLICATES THEIR
SITUATION.
>> NOW ONE OF THE REPUBLICAN
LAWMAKERS IS ALREADY KIND OF
PREPARING FOR A LIFT OF THE
TUITION FREEZE WITH A PROPOSAL
THAT IF LIFTED, TUITION COULD
ONLY BE INCREASED AT THE MAXIMUM
MAXIMUM -- TO THE MAXIMUM OF THE
CONSUMER PRICE INDEX, WHICH IS
WHAT -- UNDER 2% LATELY.
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THIS
PARTICULAR PROPOSAL?
>> WELL, I THINK IT'S ABOUT
2.44% RIGHT NOW, BUT I THINK THE
CHAPTER 36 GIVES THAT
RESPONSIBILITY TO THE BOARD.
THE BOARD'S ROLE IS TO ANALYZE
THE NEEDS OF THE SYSTEM AND SET
TUITION, AND THAT'S THE
RESPONSIBILITY OF THE BOARD.
I THINK THERE ARE WAYS TO WORK
TOGETHER WITH THE LEGISLATURE SO
THE APPROPRIATE OVERSIGHT IS
POSSIBLE, BUT I THINK MANDATING
THAT IN STATUTORY LANGUAGE IS A
BIT TOO MUCH.
>> REPUBLICAN SENATOR STEVEN
NASS IS POINTED IN SUPPORT FOR A
CONTINUED TUITION FREEZE, BEING
AS I KNOW I DON'T HAVE TO TELL
YOU, AND CALLS INTO QUESTION HOW
CAREFUL THE U.W. IS WITH ITS
SPENDING.
WHAT DO YOU SAY TO HIM AND OTHER
LAWMAKERS WHO MIGHT FEEL
SIMILARLY?
>> WELL, WE'VE DONE A LOT TO
CONTROL OUR ECK EXPENSES, BUT THERE
COMES A POINT WHEN THERE NEEDS
TO BE AN INVESTMENT IN THE
UNIVERSITY.
WHAT HAVE WE DONE -- IF YOU
THINK ABOUT IT, THE
RESTRUCTURING PROCESS THAT WE'RE
GOING THROUGH, THAT WILL NOT
RECOUP OR SAVE US A TON OF MONEY
INITIALLY.
IT WASN'T INTENDED TO.
BUT OVER TIME, WE'VE ACTUALLY
ELIMINATED A WHOLE INSTITUTION
WITHIN THE SYSTEM.
WE'RE SHIFTING RESOURCES FROM
ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES
TO THE CLASSROOM.
WE'RE DOING THINGS LIKE THAT ON
AN AGGRESSIVE BASIS, BUT YOU CAN
ONLY GO SO FAR IN THAT PROCESS.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WE NEED TO LEAVE IT THERE,
PRESIDENT RAY CROSS, THANK YOU
VERY MUCH.
STATE LAWMAKERS ARE GRAPPLING
WITH HOW BEST -- ON MONDAY THE
SPEAKERS TASK FORCE ON SUICIDE
PREVENTION HEARD TESTIMONY FROM
THOSE WORKING TO HELP FARMERS
DEALING WITH CHRONIC STRESS,
DEPRESSION, AND THOUGHTS OF
SUICIDE.
IN A WEB INTERVIEW, MARISA
WOJCIK HEARD FROM U.W. EXTENSION
AGRICULTURAL HEALTH AND SAFETY
SPECIALIST JOHN LEESPECIALIST JOHN SCHUTSKE.
>> WE CARE DEEPLY ABOUT THE
PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITIES WITH
OUR CONNECTIONS AS PART OF THE
WISCONSIN IDEA, WE WANT TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE'RE DOING
PROGRAMMING THAT'S RESPONSIVE
NOT ONLY TO MENTAL HEALTH AND
STRESS MANAGEMENT AND FAMILY
RELATIONSHIPS, BUT WE ALSO NEED
TO GIVE PEOPLE KIND OF A PATHWAY
FORWARD SO WE'RE PUTTING A LOT
OF EFFORT INTO FINANCIAL TOOLS
FOR FARMERS AND FAMILIES AND
COMMUNITY MEMBERS SO THAT THEY
CAN BEGIN TO PLAN FOR A MORE
POSITIVE FUTURE.
>> TO SEE THAT FULL INTERVIEW,
YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT
WPT.ORG.
IN A FOLLOW-UP TO OUR STORY LAST
WEEK ABOUT CONTAMINATION OF PFAS
CHEMICALS IN WATER, WISCONSIN
ATTORNEY GENERAL JOSH KAUL HAS
SIGNED ON TO A LETTER URGING
CONGRESS TO LIST THE COMPOUNDS
AS HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES.
WITHOUT THIS DESIGNATION, THE
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
IS LIMITED IN ITS ABILITY TO
ENFORCE TESTING AND CLEAN-UP OF
CONTAMINATED SITES.
THE LETTER, SIGNED BY 22 STATE
ATTORNEYS GENERAL SAID, "PUBLIC
UNDERSTANDING ABOUT THE SERIOUS
RISKS THAT PFAS CONTAMINATION
POSES TO HUMAN HEALTH AND THE
ENVIRONMENT IS GROWING.
WITHOUT FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE
ACTION TO ASSIST STATES AND
COMMUNITIES THAT ARE RESPONDING
TO THIS BURGEONING THREAT, THE
PUBLIC MAY LOSE CONFIDENCE IN
THE SAFETY OF ITS DRINKING WATER
SOURCES, CONSUMER PRODUCTS AND
OTHER ROOTS OF ROUTES OF EXPOSURE TO
OTHER DANGEROUS LEVELS OF PFAS.
CURRENTLY NO FEDERAL -- THE
TIMELINE FOR PASSING
COULD BE YEARS AWAY.
TOURISTS IN WISCONSIN SPEND AN
AVERAGE OF $18 BILLION A YEAR ON
OUTDOOR PURSUITS.
THAT'S ACCORDING TO THE
DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM, WHICH IS
LOOKING TO EXPAND ON THAT IDEA.
IN TONIGHT'S INSIDE LOOK, ZAC
SCHULTZ SAT DOWN WITH TOURISM
DESIGNEE SARA MEANEY IN AN
ONGOING SERIES WHERE WE HEAR
FROM GOVERNOR TONY EVERS CABINET
MEMBERS, FIRST ASKING WHAT THE
OFFICE PLANS TO DO.
>> WHAT WE'VE SEEN AROUND THE
COUNTRY IS ACTUALLY A TREND OF
GREATER FOCUS ON OUTDOOR
RECREATION AND THE SAME IS TRUE
IN WISCONSIN.
WISCONSIN RELIES REALLY HEAVILY
ON OUTDOOR RECREATION AND OVER
$18 BILLION OF ECONOMIC IMPACT
IS DIRECTLY AS A RESULT OF
OUTDOOR RECREATION AND 168,000
JOBS IN THE STATE ARE DIRECTLY
RECREATION RELATED.
SO IT'S TAKING AN EXISTING
STRENGTH AND CONNECTING MORE
ENTITIES, ORGANIZATIONS AND
ACTIVITIES TOGETHER TO BUILD
UPON THAT STRENGTH AND BUILD
GREATER ECONOMIC ACTIVITY.
SO REALLY WE'RE LOOKING TO BUILD
MORE JOBS, ATTRACT MORE
BUSINESSES, INCREASE COMMUNITY
CONNECTIVITY AS A RESULT OF
OUTDOOR RECREATION AND OF COURSE
ATTRACT MORE VISITORS.
>> TOURISM ALREADY PROMOTED THE
OUTDOORS SO WHY DO YOU NEED A
NEW OFFICE TO DO THAT?
>> THIS IS TRUE.
OUTDOOR RECREATION HAS ALWAYS
BEEN A PART OF THE STORY WE'VE
BEEN TELLING COMING OUT OF
TOURISM.
THE OFFICE OF OUTDOOR RECREATION
DOESN'T EXIST SOLELY TO PROMOTE
OUTDOOR RECREATION, INSTEAD IT'S
ACTUALLY MEANT TO UPLIFT AND
CONNECT THE PARTIES THAT
ACTUALLY WORK TOGETHER TO ENSURE
THE SUCCESS AND GROWTH OF THE
OUTDOOR REC INDUSTRY, SO THINK
OF IT AS AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
ACTIVITY AS WELL AS A
PROMOTIONAL ACTIVITY, BUT
ULTIMATELY IT'S ABOUT BRINGING
MORE PEOPLE TO THE TABLE TO
SHARE GOALS.
>> SO IS THIS FOCUS MORE ON OUT
OF STATE OR IN-STATE PEOPLE?
>> ACTUALLY THE ANSWER IS BOTH.
SO WE KNOW ABOUT JUST UNDER 70%
OF WISCONSINITES PARTICIPATE IN
OUTDOOR RECREATION ACTIVITIES ON
A REGULAR BASIS BUT WE ALSO KNOW
IT'S THE NUMBER ONE REASON
PEOPLE COME TO THE STATE OF
WISCONSIN FROM OUT OF STATE.
SO THOSE TWO THINGS TOGETHER
ONLY MAKE SENSE THAT WE WANT TO
PUT AN ADDITIONAL FOCUS ON THAT
AND PUT OUR MONEY WHERE OUR
MOUTH IS, REALLY.
WE SHOULD BE USING MORE DATA, WE
SHOULD BE FOCUSING ON RESEARCH,
WE SHOULD BE LOOKING TO
OPPORTUNITIES TO HAVE MORE
COLLABORATION AMONG ENTITIES
THAT ARE ALREADY DOING SIMILAR
WORK, OR WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM
EACH OTHER'S EXPERTISE.
>> IS THERE A SHIFT IN
PHILOSOPHY FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF
TOURISM COMPARED TO THE LAST
EIGHT YEARS UNDER GOVERNOR
WALKER?
>> I MEAN, I THINK THAT'S HARD
TO COMMENT ON.
WHAT I CAN SAY IS ONE OF THE
THINGS WE'RE FOCUSING ON MOVING
FORWARD IS MAKING SURE THAT WE
HAVE THE BEST DATA AND THE BEST
INFORMATION WE CAN TO MAKE GREAT
DECISIONS ON BEHALF OF THE
TAXPAYERS OF THE STATE OF
WISCONSIN.
I MEAN, PRIMARILY THE WORK THAT
WE DO OUT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF
TOURISM IS DRIVE ECONOMIC
GROWTH, IT'S AN ECONOMIC ENGINE,
IT'S THE THIRD LARGEST INDUSTRY
WHEN YOU LOOK AT TOURISM AS A
COMPOSITE INDUSTRY, AND IT'S
NEARLY 200,000 JOBS.
SO WHAT IT REALLY IS, IS IT'S A
PLAY TO ENSURE THE SUCCESS AND
HEALTH OF A MAJOR INDUSTRY IN
OUR STATE WHILE AT THE SAME TIME
MUCH OF OUR ACTIVITY IS ABOUT
PROMOTING AWARENESS AND
PARTICIPATION AMONG TRAVELERS.
>> ACCORDING TO THE WISCONSIN
STATEWIDE COMPREHENSIVE OUTDOOR
RECREATION PLAN, WE NEED TO FIND
MORE PLACES FOR PEOPLE LIVING IN
OUR CITIES TO ENJOY THE
OUTDOORS.
IS THAT SOMETHING THAT THIS
OFFICE WILL LOOK AT OR IS THAT A
DIFFERENT AREA?
>> WELL, THE SCORE YOU'RE
REFERENCING CERTAINLY COMING OUT
OF THE DNR IS AN IMPORTANT PIECE
THAT WILL GUIDE THE OFFICE OF
OUTDOOR RECREATION.
THIS IS NOT MEANT TO ACTUALLY
DUPLICATION BUT INSTEAD WORK IN
COLLABORATION WITH AND IN
PARALLEL WITH THE PLAN THAT IS
ALREADY IN PLACE ON BEHALF OF
THE DNR.
SO THE WORK WILL NOT BE SO MUCH
OVERLAPPING AS IT WILL BE
BUILDING OFF OF ONE ANOTHER.
I WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH THE
SECRETARY OF THE DNR.
HE AND I ARE VERY MUCH IN
AGREEMENT THAT OUR WORK IS ABOUT
COLLABORATION, SO I'M LOOKING
FORWARD TO BEING ABLE TO TAKE
WHAT IS SUCH A STRENGTH OF DNR
AND THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF OUR LANDS
AND WATERS AND THEN ADDING TO
THAT A LAYER OF PROMOTION AND
ENGAGEMENT FROM AROUND THE
STATE.
GLL A LOT OFA LOT OF TOURISM ADS THAT WE'VE
SHOWCASED SEEMS TO BE DRIVING
PEOPLE TO THE OUTDOORS, THE
RURAL ENVIRONMENT, THE NORTH
WOODS.
DOES THERE NEED TO BE A SHOWCASE
MORE ON WHAT WE HAVE IN OUR
URBAN AREAS?
>> WELL, I MEAN, THAT'S ALWAYS
AN IMPORTANT BALANCE THAT WE
HAVE TO STRIKE,?
CERTAINLY THE TWO LARGEST
VISITATION CENTERS OF OUR STATE
ARE THE TWO LARGEST CITIES OF
OUR STATE, SIMPLY BY VOLUME.
HOWEVER, WE ALSO KNOW THAT --
RESEARCH TELLS US THAT THE
AWARENESS OF ESPECIALLY
NON-WISCONSINITES, THE AWARENESS
OF OUR CULTURAL HERITAGE,
MUSEUMS AND, YOU NO HE, FOOD AND
SORTKNOW, FOODAND CITY ATTRACTIONS IS ACTUALLY
LOWER THAN IT SHOULD BE.
THAT'S NOT TO SAY THAT THE
EFFORTS HAVEN'T BEEN THERE TO DO
THAT OR THAT THE FOCUS HAS ONLY
EVER BEEN ON OUTDOOR RECREATION.
WHAT'S IMPORTANT IS WE STRIKE A
BALANCE SO PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THE
FULL BREATH OF WHAT IT IS WE
HAVE TO OFFER.
HOW DOES THAT PLAY OUT?
NO ONE VISITOR GOES TO A NEW
PLACE TO DO ONE THING.
THEY WANT TO DO A VARIETY OF
THINGS, AND THE GOOD NEWS IS,
WISCONSIN HAS INCREDIBLE
ACTIVITIES BOTH INSIDE AND
OUTSIDE, AND ALL FOUR SEASONS OF
THE YEAR.
SO THAT'S WHAT OUR WORK IS GOING
TO BE FOCUSING ON.
CERTAINLY THAT MEANS MOVING
PEOPLE AROUND THE STATE, NOT
SIMPLY STAYING IN ONE AREA.
>> THE REPORT TALKED ABOUT THE
GROWING POPULATIONS IN BOTH THE
LA 10X AND AFRICAN-AMERICAN
COMMUNITIES IN WISCONSIN.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO REACH OUT
TO THOSE COMMUNITIES?
>> THAT'S GREAT.
SO WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO.
WISCONSIN IS ACTUALLY FALLING
BEHIND ITS NEIGHBORS IN TERMS OF
ATTRACTING VISITORS OF COLOR.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO
DO INTENTIONALLY AND WITH EYES
WIDE OPEN.
WE WILL BE SEEKING IN THE FUTURE
INPUT FROM A MUCH MORE DIVERSE
GROUP OF PEOPLE TO HELP ADVISE
US AND THE BEST WAYS TO DO THAT.
THAT'S THE RESPONSIBILITY OF OUR
ATTRACTIONS AND OUR REGIONS TO
ENSURE A WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT
BUT ALSO MAKE SURE WE'RE
OFFERING THE THINGS TO DO THAT
PEOPLE ARE LOOKING TO PARTAKE
IN.
AND AGAIN, DATA AND RESEARCH IS
HELPING US UNDERSTAND THAT EVEN
BETTER, AND THEN WE CAN ALIGN
HOW WE PROMOTE OURSELVES AND HOW
WE ACTUALLY DEVELOP OUR
ATTRACTIONS.
>> WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE TRAVEL
WISCONSIN WEBSITE, YOU SEE
MOSTLY WHITE PEOPLE AND WHITE
FAMILIES ENJOYING THINGS.
AND WHEN THERE ARE
REPRESENTATIONS OF PEOPLE OF
COLOR, IT'S OFTEN IN AN URBAN
ENVIRONMENT DOING URBAN THINGS.
WOULD YOU WANT PEOPLE OF COLOR,
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR TO GO
CAMPING, GO TO THE NORTH WOODS,
TAKE UP FISHING AND HUNTING?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
ABSOLUTELY.
WE ACTUALLY KNOW PEOPLE ALREADY
DO.
THE PARTICIPATION IN OUTDOOR
ACTIVITIES IS KIND OF WITHOUT
COLOR, BUT NOT IN ALL EQUAL
PARTICIPATION RATES.
SO WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IS KEEP IN
MIND THAT NOT EVERYONE DOES ALL
SAME THINGS AT THE SAME RATES,
AND YET OUR OFFERING IS
AVAILABLE TO ALL AND NEEDS TO BE
WELCOMING TO ALL, AND THAT WORK
IS STILL AHEAD OF US.
>> THE REPUBLICAN-CONTROLLED
SENATE HAS YET TO CONFIRM ANY OF
GOVERNOR EVERS' CABINET
SECRETARIES, YOU INCLUDED.
DOES THAT IMPACT HOW YOU'RE ABLE
TO DO YOUR JOB?
>> NO, FRANKLY IT DOES NOT.
I'M CERTAINLY EXCITED TO GET THE
STAMP OF APPROVAL WHEN THAT
COMES AROUND, BUT MY DAY IS
STILL EXACTLY WHAT IT WAS
INTENDED TO BE.
I'M STILL AT THE TABLE DOING THE
WORK I SAID I WAS HERE TO DO.
IT HASN'T CHANGED ANYTHING, AND
I THINK I'M REALLY PROUD OF THE
WORK WE'VE DONE IN BASICALLY
6 1/2 SHORT MONTHS.
WE'VE ACHIEVED QUITE A BIT AND I
THINK THE TOURISM INDUSTRY WOULD
AGREE WITH THAT.
SO LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.
>> DO YOU THINK THE LACK OF
CONFIRMATION GIVES THE SENATE
ANY MORE LEVERAGE OVER ANY
DECISION YOU MIGHT MAKE IS THIS
>> I DON'T BELIEVE SO, NO.
I THINK MY WORK STANDS FOR
ITSELF AND THE WORK OF THE
DEPARTMENT IS GUIDED BY A
STRATEGIC PLAN THAT RECEIVED
INPUT FROM, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF
PEOPLE FROM AROUND THE STATE
WITHIN THE TOURISM INDUSTRY SO
FRANKLY TOURISM IS NON-PARTISAN.
IT'S NOT RED, IT'S NOT BLUE,
IT'S GREEN.
IT'S ABOUT MONEY.
IT'S ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
AND THAT HELPS EVERYONE AND THAT
AFFECTS 72 COUNTIES OF OUR
STATE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR
TIME.
>> THANK YOU.
>> A FIFTH LAME DUCK LAWSUIT IS
TAKING SHAPE.
THE LATEST, STATE ATTORNEY
GENERAL JOSH KAUL IS BEING SUED
BY THE REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURE
OVER POWERS TO SETTLE LAWSUITS
AND WHERE SETTLEMENT PAYMENTS
CAN GO.
AND THE FIGHT CONTINUES OVER THE
STATE BUDGET.
THIS TIME OVER THE GOVERNOR'S
PARTIAL VETOES.
THE CONSERVATIVE WISCONSIN
INSTITUTE FOR LAW AND LIBERTY
FILED A LAWSUIT THIS WEEK
ALLEGING THAT THE GOVERNOR'S
POWERFUL VETO AUTHORITY ALLOWS
HIM TO WRITE NEW LAWS.
THE GROUP SAYS THIS VIOLATES THE
STATE'S SEPARATION OF POWERS.
EVERS CALLS THE SUIT PARTISAN,
SAYING THE STATE NEEDS TO MOVE
ON AFTER HIS VICTORY LAST
NOVEMBER.
THE CHALLENGE WILL BE HEARD BY
THE STATE SUPREME COURT, WHICH
RECEIVED ITS NEWEST MEMBER,
JUSTICE BRIAN HAGEDORN, WHO WAS
SWORN IN THURSDAY.
AND THAT IS OUR PROGRAM FOR
TONIGHT.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.
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>> FUNDING FOR HERE AND NOW" IS