>> I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW":
THE CARDINAL-HICKORY CREEK
TRANSMISSION LINE GOT A GREEN
LIGHT FROM THE PUBLIC SERVICE
COMMISSION.
WE'LL HEAR FROM BOTH SIDES OF
THAT DECISION.
OUR SERIES OF INTERVIEWS WITH
MEMBERS OF GOVERNOR TONY EVERS'
CABINET CONTINUES.
TONIGHT I TALK WITH CORRECTIONS
SECURITY-DESIGNEE KEVIN CARR.
AND WE HEAR FROM A REPUBLICAN
CO-SPONSOR OF A BILL THAT WOULD
ALLOW PHARMACISTS TO PRESCRIBE
BIRTH CONTROL.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR
AUGUST 23.
FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED IN PART BY FRIENDS OF
WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISION.
>> OVER STIFF OPPOSITION, THE
STATE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION
VOTED UNANIMOUSLY THIS WEEK TO
APPROVE A NEARLY 100-MILE LONG
HIGH VOLTAGE TRANSMISSION LINE
FROM IOWA THROUGH SOUTHWEST
WISCONSIN.
THE CARDINAL-HICKORY CREEK LINE
WILL START IN DUBUQUE AND HEAD
THROUGH WISCONSIN TO JUST WEST
OF MADISON.
RATE PAYERS IN WISCONSIN WILL
PAY ABOUT $67 MILLION OF THE
$500 MILLION PROJECT.
THE VOTE CAME AMID OPPOSITION
FROM LAND OWNERS IN THE REGION
AND CONSERVATION GROUPS, AS WELL
AS SEVERAL STATE LEGISLATORS
WHOSE DISTRICTS ARE LOCATED
ALONG THE POWER ROUTE.
THE PSC CHAIR, A GOVERNOR TONY
EVERS APPOINTEE, SAID THE
DECISION WAS DIFFICULT, BUT HAS
LONG-TERM VALUE.
>> THIS APPROACH IS NOT ONLY FOR
THE TYPES OF ENERGY TO BE
PRODUCED BUT WHERE THE CLEAN
ENERGY COMES FROM.
WE NEED CLEAN ENERGY RESOURCES
BUILT RIGHT HERE IN WISCONSIN,
BUT WE ALSO NEED ACCESS TO BOTH
RESOURCES FROM OTHER STATES.
THE ONLY WAY TO ACCESS CLEAN
SOURCES OF POWER OUTSIDE OF
WISCONSIN IS WITH TRANSMISSION.
THE RISKS OF NOT BUILDING THIS
LINE AND BEING WRONG ARE JUST
TOO GREAT.
I'M VOTING FOR THE PROJECT TO
ENSURE ENERGY RELIABILITY IN
ORIGIN AND ACCESS TO LOWER COST
CLEAN ENERGY CAN BE ACHIEVED.
>> THE CHAIR'S VIEW THAT NEW
LINES CAN BE A LINK TO CLEAN
ENERGY IS SHARED BY RENEW
WISCONSIN, A NON-PROFIT
ORGANIZATION THAT PROMOTES
RENEWABLE ENERGY IN THE STATE.
TYLER HUEBNER IS THE EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF RENEW AND HE JOINS
US NOW.
THANKS A LOT FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.
>> SO TELL US WHY YOU AND REVIEW
ARE IN FAVOR OF THIS
HIGH-VOLTAGE LINE.
>> I GO AROUND THE STATE AND
GIVE TALKS ABOUT THE RAPIDLY
CHANGING LANDSCAPE OF RENEWABLE
ENERGY.
AND WE'RE REALLY SEEING THESE
REVOLUTIONS BOTH ON THE
DISTRIBUTED RENEWABLE SIDE,
SOLAR ON ROOFTOPS OF HOMES AND
BUILDINGS, BUT ALSO IN OUR
UTILITIES, AND UTILITY SCALE
RENEWABLES.
WHERE WE'VE SEEN THE COSTS OF
SOLAR COME DOWN ABOUT 88% IN A
DECADE, THE COST OF UTILITY
SCALE WIND COME DOWN 69% IN A
DECADE, AND THERE IS JUST
TREMENDOUS MOMENTUM BEHIND THIS
TRANSITION AWAY FROM COAL AND
TOWARDS CLEAN RENEWABLE ENERGY,
BUT IN WISCONSIN, WE'RE STILL
55% COAL-FIRED POWER PLANTS FOR
OWRL ELECTRICITY ASOUR ELECTRICITY AS OF 2017 SO WE
SEE THIS LINE AS A LINK FOR MORE
RENEWABLE DEVELOPMENT NOT ONLY
IN THE MIDWEST BUT ACTUALLY IN
WISCONSIN.
>> SO YOU THINK THAT THIS
TRANSMISSION LINE WILL HELP
WISCONSIN BECOME CARBON-NEUTRAL
BY 2050 AS IS THE DECLARED GOAL
ABOUT THE THE EVERS'
ADMINISTRATION?
>> EXACTLY.
GOVERNOR TONY EVERS HAS JUST
REINSTATED THIS GOAL WITH HIS
EXECUTIVE ORDER LAST WEEK FOR
THE STATE TO BE 100% CARBON-FREE
ELECTRICITY BY 2050.
WE VIEW THIS LINE AS A LINK TO
HELP MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
WE THINK A LOT MORE NEEDS TO
HAPPEN BESIDES THAT, CLEARLY,
AND WE UNDERSTAND THE
COMPLEXITIES OF REACHING THAT
GOAL.
WE THINK DISTRIBUTED ENERGY HAS
A THANK YOU HUMONGOUS ROLE TO PLAY IN
THAT, BUT WE ALSO THINK THE
SCALE OF TRANSITIONING OUR GRID
AWAY FROM COAL AND TO LARGE
SCALE WIND AND LARGE SCALE SOLAR
IS GOING TO REQUIRE AN
INVESTMENT LIKE CARDINAL-HICKORY
CREEK.
>> BUT WILL THE WIND ENERGY FROM
IOWA, MINNESOTA AND THE DAKOTAS
JUST PASS THROUGH THIS WISCONSIN
LINE HEADED FOR OTHER STATES
THAT ARE EAST OF US?
>> NO, WISCONSIN IS -- YOU KNOW,
WE'VE GOT THE MADISON AREA AND
WE'VE CERTAINLY GOT MILWAUKEE.
THOSE AREAS ARE WELL CONNECTED
BY TRANSMISSION TODAY, AND THIS
IS REALLY THE FINAL LINK OF 17
LINES THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE
MIDWEST, AND THIS ENERGY IS
GOING TO COME INTO WISCONSIN.
WE THINK IT'S VERY EXCITING
BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT IT'S VERY
LOW COST.
AS I SAID, THE COST OF WIND
POWER HAS COME DOWN ALMOST 70%.
THE WAY THAT THE MIDWEST MARKET
WORKS IS THE LOWEST COST
RESOURCES GET DEPLOYED FIRST.
AND SO THAT WIND IS GOING TO
COME IN FIRST AND THEN MORE
EXPENSIVE STUFF IS GOING TO GET
LAYERED OP TOP OF IT, AND WE
THINK OVER TIME, IT'S ACTUALLY
GOING TO DISPLACE MORE OF OUR
COAL POWERED GENERATION IN THE
STATE.
>> ISN'T THIS TRANSMISSION LINE
ALSO FOR FOSSIL FUEL?
>> WELL, IT IS PART OF THE
ENDIRE MIDWEST GRID, AND SO IT'S
GOING TO -- YOU KNOW, THE POWER
PLANTS THAT ARE ON TODAY ARE
GOING TO BE ABLE TO USE THAT
LINE, THAT'S TRUE, BUT WE ALSO
HAVE TO LOOK AT WHAT IS THAT
FUTURE MIX GOING TO LOOK LIKE
AND HOW DO WE GET THERE, AND IN
OUR VIEW, THIS IS THE TYPE OF
LINE THAT'S GOING TO ALLOW LOWER
COST WIND AND LOWER COST SOLAR
TO ACTUALLY DISPLACE HIGHER
COST, SPECIFICALLY COAL POWER
PLANTS AS TIME GOES ON.
>> NOW I KNOW THAT AMERICAN
TRANSMISSION COMPANY IN THE PSC
SAID THIS LINE WAS NEEDED TO
PROVIDE RELIABILITY IN ENERGY,
AND YET I UNDERSTAND THE OTHER
EXPERTS SAY THAT THERE'S A
SURPLUS OF ELECTRICITY SUPPLY IN
WISCONSIN, AND RELIABILITY ISN'T
AN ISSUE.
WHAT ABOUT THAT?
>> YEAH, SO THIS PROJECT WAS ONE
OF 17 PROJECTS CALLED THE
MULTIVALUE PROJECT PORTFOLIO, OR
MVP PORTFOLIO THROUGHOUT THE
REGION.
ALL 17 OF THOSE WERE STUDIED
TOGETHER, BUT EACH LINE HAD TO
PROVIDE NET POSITIVE BENEFITS TO
THE WHOLE REGION IN TERMS OF
INCREASING RELIABILITY, IN TERMS
OF ALLOWING LOWER COST ENERGY TO
FLOW, AND REDUCING CONGESTION
BETWEEN DIFFERENT AREAS, AND
THIRD, TO HELP US AS OUR STATES,
TO HELP OUR STATES MEET
INCREASING RENEWABLE ENERGY
TARGETS.
NOW THAT WAS BACK IN 2011.
IN THAT TIME WHEN THEY STUDIED
IT ORIGINALLY, THEY PREDICTED BY
2025, WE WOULD HAVE ABOUT 13,000 MEGAWATTS OF WIND IN THE
MIDWEST.
THAT WOULD BE ABOUT 7% OF MISO,
THE INDEPENDENT SYSTEM OPERATORS
ELECTRICITY.
SO THEIR PREDICTION WAS 13,000
BY 2025.
WE'RE ALREADY OVER 16,000 MEGA
WATTS TODAY, WITH ABOUT -- AND
WE WILL SOON, IN 2020, BE AT
ABOUT 24,000 MEGAWATTS.
SO WE'RE GOING TO BE MORE THAN
TWICE THE AMOUNT OF WIND THAT
THEY PREDICTED FOR 2025, WE'RE
GOING TO HIT THAT BY 2020.
THERE'S ANOTHER 20,000 MEGAWATTS
BEYOND THAT, AND THEN THERE'S
ABOUT 20,000 MORE IN EARLIER
STAGES.
SO WE COULD BE, BY 2025, 2030
TIME FRAME, 6 TO 10 TIMES MORE
WIND IN RENEWABLES THAN WHAT
THEY HAD STUDIED PREVIOUSLY.
SO THAT MARKET JUST CHANGING SO
DRAMATICALLY, AND IT'S ACTUALLY
FORCING THE CONVERSATION BACK TO
THE MIDWEST TO THE INDEPENDENT
SYSTEM OPERATOR.
YOU HAVE TO PLAN FASTER BECAUSE
THIS REVOLUTION IS HERE.
>> ALL RIGHT.
TYLER HUEBNER, THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> YOU BET.
>> MORE NOW ON THE
CARDINAL-HICKORY CREEK
TRANSMISSION LINE AND ANOTHER
VIEW.
THE DRIFTLESS AREA LAND
CONSERVANCY IS DEDICATED TO THE
PRESERVATION OF THE NATURAL
LANDSCAPE OF SOUTHWEST
WISCONSIN.
THE CONSERVANCY OPPOSES THE NEW
TRANSMISSION LINE AND IS
REPRESENTED BY HOWARD LEARNER,
AN ATTORNEY WITH THE
ENVIRONMENTAL LAW AND POLICY
CENTER OUT OF CHICAGO.
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
>> GOOD TO JOIN YOU.
>> SO I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU DO
ANTICIPATE FILING A LAW SUES
OVER THE PSC RULING.
>> THE DRIFTEST AIR LAND
CONSERVANCY AND THE WISCONSIN
FEDERATION WHO SAID THE
COMMISSION GOT IT WRONG IS A
MATTER OF LAW, AS A MATTER OF
FACT AND AS A MATTER OF POLICY,
IF THEY TRY TO DO AN INTERIM
ORDER THAT REFLECTS THE
DISCUSSION EARLIER THIS WEEK.
IF SO, THEY SAID WE'RE GOING TO
APPEAL.
>> ON WHAT SPECIFIC GROUNDS DID
THEY GET IT WRONG?
>> FIRST OF ALL, THE LAW IN
WHICH IS, YOU HAVE TO
DEMONSTRATE THAT THE
TRANSMISSION LINE IS NEEDED FOR
RELIABILITY.
THIS ONE ISN'T.
WISCONSIN HAS A SURPLUS OF
POWER, THE STAFF OF THE
COMMISSION TESTIFIED THAT IT
WASN'T NEEDED, THERE'S EXTENSIVE
EVIDENCE IN THE RECORD.
THE COMMISSION ALSO HAS TO LOOK
AT THE IMPACT ON THE
ENVIRONMENT, AND WHEN IT COMES
TO THE ENVIRONMENT, THIS IS A
HUGE TRANSMISSION LINE WITH 17
STORY HIGH TOWERS GOING THROUGH
THE HEART OF THE DRIFTLESS AREA,
KIND OF A WIDE SWATH RIGHT
THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF THE
DRIFTLESS AREA.
COMMUNITIES, FARMS, NATURAL
RESOURCES GO THROUGH THE BLACK
EARTH CREEK WATERSHED AS WELL,
AND ON THAT, COMMISSION DIDN'T
GIVE ENOUGH WEIGHT TO IT.
THEY SAID WE THINK THIS LINE
SHOULD GO FORWARD, SO THE
ENVIRONMENTAL PIECE OF IT,
THAT'S JUST GOT TO GO.
AND FINALLY, THIS IS A
TRANSMISSION LINE THAT FACED
UNPRECEDENTED PUBLIC OPPOSITION.
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE TURNING OUT
AT PUBLIC HEARINGS, AND THE
LEGISLATORS, BOTH REPUBLICANS
AND DEMOCRATS FROM THE AREA, THE
DANE COUNTY BOARD, THE IOWA
COUNTY BOARD ALL SAYING TO THE
COMMISSION, DON'T DO THIS.
AND THE COMMISSION HAS
DISRESPECTED THE PEOPLE IN
SOUTHWEST WISCONSIN AND THE
PUBLIC OFFICIALS IN SOUTHWEST
WISCONSIN.
>> GIVEN THAT OPPOSITION, WERE
YOU SURPRISED BY THE VOTE?
>> YOU KNOW, I WAS SURPRISED
THAT THE COMMISSION SEEMED TO
KNOW WHAT THEY WANT TO DO, THEY
DIDN'T LOOK AT THE TESTIMONY
THAT WAS PUT IN BY THE IPT
VEENERS HERE, THE HEAD OF THE
FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY
COMMISSION DURING THE PRIOR
ADMINISTRATION, THE TOP ENERGY
EXPERTS IN THE COUNTRY, THE HEAD
OF THE WISCONSIN WILDLIFE
FEDERATION, FORMER SECRETARY OF
WISCONSIN DNR.
A WHOLE TEAM OF EXPERTS.
AND INDEED THE COMMISSION
IGNORED AND IN EFFECT REFUTED
ITS OWN STAFF'S TESTIMONY.
WE EXPECTED BETTER FROM THE
COMMISSION.
WE'RE VERY DISAPPOINTED.
>> WHAT ABOUT THE ARGUMENT FROM
SUPPORTERS THAT THIS
TRANSMISSION LINE WILL BE A
CORNERSTONE IN THE TRANSITION
FROM FOSSIL FUELS TO A CLEAN
ENERGY GRID?
>> WELL, YOU'VE GOT TO GO TO THE
TESTIMONY IN THE RECORD.
THAT SOUNDS NICE, BUT MARY NEIL,
WHO IS THE EXPERT WITNESS FOR
THE CITIZENS UTILITY BOARD
EXPLAINED THIS TRANSITION LINE
IS GOING TO CARRY TO SIEL FUEL
AND AS MUCH IF NOT MORE SO THAN
WIND.
SO THIS IS NOT ONLY A WIND-ONLY
LINE, THERE'S NOBODY WHO CAN
SERIOUSLY MAKE THAT CASE.
THIS LINE ACCORDING TO THE
UTILITY BOARD TESTIMONY AND
OTHER TESTIMONY IN THE RECORD IS
GOING TO CARRY FOSSIL.
SO IT'S NOT A LINE THAT SOLVES
THOSE PROBLEMS, AND THERE ARE
BETTER WAYS TO DEVELOP THE CLEAN
ENERGY ECONOMY IN WISCONSIN.
>> WHAT SHOULD WISCONSIN BE
DOING TO GET TO CARBON NEUTRAL
IN IS
>> HERE'S WHAT WISCONSIN COULD
BE DOING THAT WOULD BE MUCH
BETTER.
AND IT WOULD AVOID THAT SORT OF
IMPACT ON THE DRIFTLESS AREA.
TERRIBLE DAMAGE THIS WILL
CREATE.
FIRST OF ALL, CONTINUED
AGGRESSIVELY RENEWABLE ENERGY.
THERE'S 4500 WATTS OF SOLAR
ENERGY IN WISCONSIN, MORE THAN
ANY OTHER STATE IN THE MIDWEST.
THAT'S REALLY BIG TIME PROGRESS
AND THERE'S SOME WIND PROJECTS
THAT ARE GOING FORWARD TOO.
SECONDLY, WE NEED TO BE MUCH
SMARTER ON ENERGY EFFICIENCY.
ENERGY EFFICIENCY SAVES
CONSUMERS, SAVES BUSINESSES
MONEY, BEST, THE FASTEST, THE
CHEAPEST SOLUTION TO OUR CLIMATE
CHANGE PROBLEMS.
AND FINALLY, AS THE STAFF AND
NUMBER OF THE PROBLEMS TALKED ,
THERE'S SOME EXISTING
TRANSMISSION LINES THAT ARE OLD
AND NOT AS EFFICIENT AS THEY MAY
HAVE BEEN.
UPGRADE THEM, MAKE THEM BETTER.
USE THE SWORD OF MODERN THAT ARE
MORE EFFICIENT, DELIVER MORE
BANG FOR THE BUCK.
WHEN ALL SAID AND DONE HERE,
THERE ARE MUCH BETTER
ALTERNATIVES, MUCH BETTER WAYS
TO MEET WISCONSIN'S ENERGY
NEEDS.
WE'RE HERE JUST BEING A
PASSTHROUGH FOR SOMEBODY WHO
WANTS TO SELL FROM POWER FROM
OUT WEST TO SOMEWHERE OUT EAST.
>> SO IN TERMS OF THE LINE,
LET'S SAY THE PSC RULING STICKS
AND WE'VE GOT THIS ROUTE.
WOULD YOU EXPECT TO CHALLENGE
THE ROUTE BECAUSE OF THE CONCERN
ABOUT IT CUTTING THROUGH THE
DRIFTLESS AREA?
>> THERE ARE CONCERNS ABOUT THE
ROUTE AND CONCERNS ABOUT THE
NEED AND AS I SAID, THERE'S AN
UNPRECEDENTED NUMBER OF
INTERVENERS WHO HAVE BEEN IN
THIS CASE, SO DIFFERENT PARTIES
MAY CHALLENGE IT ON A DIFFERENT
BASIS.
WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DOB, THIS
ISDONE, THISIS LIKE A HUGELY EXPENSIVE
INVESTMENT IN LANDLINE TELEPHONE
WIRES AND POLES WHEN CELLULAR
TECHNOLOGY IS READY TO MOVE
FORWARD RAPIDLY, WE CAN DO
BETTER HERE.
>> WE NEED TO LEAVE IT HERE.
HOWARD LEARNER, THANKS MUCH.
>> GOOD TO JOIN YOU.
>> THANKS.
WISCONSIN PRISONS ARE BUSTING AT
THE SEAMS.
NEARLY 6,000 INMATES OVER
CAPACITY.
WITH POPULATION STEAD LEA ON THE
RISE.
AT THE SAME TIME, THE MOST
RECENT STATE BUDGET FUNDS A 14%
INCREASE IN STARTING PAY FOR
CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS IN EFFORTS
TO FILL VACANCIES AMONG GUARDS.
ADD TO THAT WORK TO REPLACE THE
TROUBLED WISCONSIN YOUTH
PRISONS, AND IT'S A FULL PLATE
FOR THE NEW DEPARTMENT OF
CORRECTIONS SECRETARY-DESIGNEE
KEVIN CARR.
WE TALKED WITH HIM AT HIS
OFFICE.
IN TERMS OF PRISON POPULATION,
WHAT BLAMES THE PRISON SYSTEM
OVER INMATE CAPACITY?
>> I THINK THERE'S A NUMBER OF
FACTORS THAT GO INTO OUR CURRENT
PRISON POPULATION.
MOST NOTABLY, THE CURRENT
SENTENCING STRUCTURE IN THE
STATE OF WISCONSIN, TRUTH IN
SENTENCING HAS PUT US IN A
POSITION WHERE MANY OF THE
PEOPLE THAT ARE CURRENTLY
SERVING 16 TEPSES IN PRISON
DON'T HAVE -- SENTENCES IN
PRISON DON'T HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY FOR PAROLE, AND
THAT, I THINK, IS ONE OF THE
MORE SIGNIFICANT FACTORS THAT
HAS LED TO OUR INCREASED
POPULATION.
>> BUT AT THE SAME TIME, YOU
NEED MORE CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS.
HOW MANY MORE?
>> WELL, RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE
ABOUT 760 VACANCIES IN THE
DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS.
OUR OVERALL VACANCY RATE
INCLUDING MEDICAL STAFF,
TEACHERS, SOCIAL WORKERS,
ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF AND
SECURITY STAFF IS ABOUT 16%.
>> AND WHAT IS THAT NUMBER LIKE?
IS THAT A CRISIS?
>> WELL, YOU KNOW, IT'S
CERTAINLY A CHALLENGE FOR US
EVERY DAY.
I WOULD DESCRIBE IT NOT AS A
CRISIS BUT CERTAINLY A SERIOUS
SITUATION.
>> HOW WELL HAVE OVERALL RAISES
AND INCENTIVE PAY TO WORK AT THE
MAX SECURITY INSTITUTIONS WORKED
TO ATTRACT OFFICERS?
>> WELL, IT HAS WORKED IN OUR
OPINION VERY WELL TO ATTRACT NEW
OFFICERS IN THE DOOR.
WE CURRENTLY -- OUR LAST TWO
ACADEMY CLASSES HAVE HAD
APPROXIMATELY 70 INDIVIDUALS IN
THE CLASSES, AND THAT IS MORE
THAN THERE HAD BEEN FOR ANY OF
THE CLASSES IN THE PREVIOUS FEW
YEARS.
AND THE MAJORITY OF THOSE FOLKS
HAVE APPLIED TO WORK AT THE
MAXIMUM SECURITY INSTITUTIONS
THAT WERE IMPACTED BY THE $5
ADD-ON.
>> IN TERMS OF OVERCROWDING AND
UNDERSTAFFING, HOW DANGEROUS
DOES IT MAKE FOR BOTH INMATES
AND STAFF?
>> IT CERTAINLY DOES MAKE THINGS
LESS SAFE TO HAVE STAFF
SHORTAGES, AND IT IMPACTS THE
ABILITY FOR US TO PROVIDE
SERVICES AND PROGRAMMING TO
THOSE WE CARE FOR OUR
FACILITIES, BUT I HAVE TO CREDIT
THE STAFF AT OUR FACILITIES, OUR
CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS AND STAFF
THERE DO A TERRIFIC JOB UNDER
VERY TRY CIRCUMSTANCES, AND
ALTHOUGH WE HAVE A GREAT
INVESTMENT IN OUR STAFF MADE BY
THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET WHERE HE
PUT IN $36 MILLION OF NEW MONEY
TOWARDS PAYING THE WAGES OF
SECURITY STAFF AT OUR
FACILITIES, IT'S A STEP IN THE
RIGHT DIRECTION, BUT THERE'S
MORE WORK TO BE DONE IN THAT
AREA IN ORDER TO PAY OUR FOLKS
WHAT THEY DESERVE TO BE PAID.
>> ON THE ISSUE OF RISING
NUMBERS OF INMATES, SEVERAL
REPORTS FOCUS ON WHAT ADVOCATES
CALL CRIMELESS REVOCATION, THOSE
BEING REVOCATIONS WITH NO NEW
CONVICTIONS THAT REPRESENT MORE
THAN 35% OF ALL NEW PRISON
ADMISSIONS TO REDUCE THE NUMBERS
AS YOU KNOW, GOVERNOR EVERS SAID
HE WOULD LOOK AT POSSIBLY
HALTING REINCOURSE RANGE OF
MOTION FOR RULE VIOLATIONS.
HOW COMPLICATED COULD THAT BE?
>> WELL, IT IS COMPLICATED AND
FROM THE DAY THAT I WAS
APPOINTED AS THE SECRETARY OF
CORRECTIONS, MY VERY FIRST DAY
ON THE JOB, I TASKED MY DIVISION
OF COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS TO COME
UP WITH A PLAN TO ADDRESS THAT
SPECIFIC AREA OF CRIMELESS
REVOCATIONS AND HOW WE CAN DO
MUCH BETTER IN THAT AREA.
>> WOULD IT TAKE A DIFFERENT
KIND OF METHOD FOR REINTEGRATION
FOLLOWING PRISON -- YOU KNOW,
GETTING OUT OF PRISON?
>> WELL, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT
RE-ENTRY EFFORTS, I THINK, AND
THE GOVERNOR HAS PUT IN OUR
BUDGET ADDITIONAL DOLLARS FOR
RE-ENTRY PROGRAMS SUCH AS OUR
OPENING AVENUES FOR RE-ENTRY
SUCCESS PROGRAM AND JOB CENTERS
THAT ARE LOCATED IN OUR
FACILITIES THAT HELP MAKE THOSE
THAT WE CARE FOR IN OUR
FACILITIES READY TO BE EMPLOYED
UPON RELEASE FROM OUR
FACILITIES.
BUT I WOULD ALSO ADD, THE
GOVERNOR AND I BOTH BELIEVE VERY
STRONGLY THAT IN ORDER FOR US TO
HAVE THE MAXIMUM EFFECTIVENESS
IN REDUCING RECIDIVISM, WE HAVE
TO PROVIDE MORE PROGRAMS AND
SUPPORTS FOR THOSE THAT ARE ON
SUPERVISION IN OUR COMMUNITIES,
NOT ONLY ON THE BACK END WHEN
THEY COME OUT OF OUR FACILITIES,
BUT THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE
PROGRAMMING IN GENERAL IN MENTAL
HEALTH, DRUG TREATMENT AND JOB
TRAINING ON THE FRONT END THAT
WOULD KEEP PEOPLE FROM COMING IN
TO THE SYSTEM IN THE FIRST
PLACE.
>> IS THERE ANY WAY TO REDUCE
THE PRISON POPULATION BY 50%,
WHICH GOVERNOR EVERS SAYS HE IS
STILL COMMITTED TO?
>> WELL, THE GOVERNOR HAS NOT
SPECIFIC TOLD ME, KEVIN, HERE'S
THE KEYS, LET 50% OF THE PEOPLE
OUT, IN A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF
TIME.
THE GOVERNOR AND I HAVE HAD MANY
CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HOW TO
REDUCE THE PRISON POPULATION.
THE FIRST AND FOREMOST THING
THAT GOVERNOR EVERS HAS INSISTED
ON IS THAT WE KEEP PUBLIC SAFETY
FIRST AND FOUR MOST IN OUR
LINES.
ANY INMATE POPULATION REDUCTIONS
THAT WILL OCCUR WILL OCCUR IN A
VERY THOUGHTFUL MANNER.
>> WHAT IS THE STATUS OF WHEN
THOSE WILL CLOSE AND BE REPLACED
WITH THESE REGIONAL FACILITIES?
>> WELL, THERE WAS A TRAILER
BILL THAT WAS JUST PASS IN THE
BUDGET FOR ACT 185 THAT EXTENDED
THE DEADLINE TO JULY 1ST, 2021
AS TO WHEN IT WILL BE CLOSED.
WE'RE GOING TO DO EVERYTHING
THAT WE CAN TO MEET THAT
DEADLINE, BUT OF COURSE THE GHOF
GOVERNOR AND I ARE COMMITTED TO
CLOSING LINCOLN HILLS AS SOON AS
POSSIBLE AND WHEN WE HAVE
APPROPRIATE PLACES TO PLACE OUR
YOUTH.
>> IN THE OVERALL PRISON
POPULATIONS, HOW KERPING IS THE
INKRARS RANGE OF MOTION RATE --
PUTTING WISCONSIN SECOND IN THE
NATION FOR RACIAL DISPARITY?
>> IT'S VERY CONCERNING TO THE
GOVERNOR AND WE ARE LOOKING AT
WAYS THAT WE CAN INCREASE THE
LEVEL OF FAIRNESS FOR ALL
PERSONS IN THE STATE OF
WISCONSIN THAT ARE INVOLVED IN
THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.
>> ALL RIGHT.
KEVIN CARR, THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> YOU'RE WELCOME.
>> A SLATE OF MORE THAN 40
REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS IN
WISCONSIN HAVE BROKEN WITH
ANTI-ABORTION GROUPS BY
INTRODUCING A BILL ALLOWING
BROADER ACCESS TO BIRTH CONTROL.
IN TONIGHT'S LOOK AHEAD, A BILL
SUPPORTED BY THE LEGISLATURES
INCLUDING SPEAKER ROBIN VOS
WOULD ALLOW PHARMACISTS TO
PRESCRIBE BIRTH CONTROL PILLS
AND HORMONAL CONTRACEPTIVE
PATCHES.
LEAD SPONSOR REPUBLICAN
REPRESENTATIVE MARY FELZKOWSKI
JOINS US BY PHONE.
THANK YOU FOR DOING SO.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVEING ME ON.
>> SO WHY DO YOU AND OTHERS
THINK WOMEN SHOULD BE ABLE TO
GET CON ACCEPT TIFS FROM CONTRACEPTIVES FROM A
PHARMACIST AND NOT THEIR DOCTOR?
>> WHEN YOU NEED A DOCTOR TO
PRESCRIBE IT, THERE'S CERTAIN
CRITERIA THAT GOES IN THERE AS
WELL IN THE SAFETY OF THE DRUG.
OVER THE YEARS SINCE THE BIRTH
CONTROL BILL WAS FIRST
INTRODUCED, BACK IN THE 60s,
IT HAD A HIGH LEVEL OF HORMONES
AND THERE WERE SIDE EFFECTS TO
IT.
BUT OVER THE YEARS AS SCIENTISTS
HAVE COME FARTHER, THERE'S VERY
LOW LEVEL OF HORMONES INVOLVED
IN IT.
IF I GO TO THE DOCTOR FOR THE
FIRST TIME FOR BIRTH CONTROL,
THEY'RE GOING TO TAKE MY BROTHER
AND DO A HEALTH FITTING.
THEY'RE GOING TO LOOK AT WHAT
OTHER DRUGS I'M ON AND THEN
THEY'RE GOING TO RECOMMEND
WHETHER OR NOT I SHOULD BE ON
THE BIRTH CONTROL PILL OR ORAL
CONTRACEPTION.
PHARMACISTS ARE TRAINED TO DO
THE EXACT SAME THING.
THEY KNOW HOW DRUGS INTERACT
WITH EACH OTHER, THEY KNOW IF
SOMEBODY HAS HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE
THEY MIGHT NEED TO HAVE SOME
FURTHER EXAM AND STUFF ON THAT.
SO WE LOOKED AT THIS AND SAID --
I MEAN THERE'S RISK WITH
EVERYTHING WHENEVER YOU TAKE A
DRUG BUT IF THEY'RE WAITING FOR
WOMEN TO ACCESS THIS AND EASILY
ACCESS IT, FAR OUTWEIGHS THE
CHALLENGES THAT ARE OUT THERE.
AND KEEP IN MIND THE PLAN B OR
THE MORNING AFTER PILL HAS SEVEN
TIMES THE HORMONE LEVEL THAT
MOST ORAL CONTRACEPTIONS HAVE
AND YET YOU DON'T EACH HAVE TO
GO THROUGH THE PHARMACIST, YOU
CAN WALK IN AND BUY IT OFF THE
SHELF.
SO IT JUST MAKES SENSE TO MAKE
THIS AVAILABLE FOR WOMEN A LOT
EASIER THROUGH THE HELP OF A
PHARMACIST.
>> SO WHAT ARE THE SPECIFIC
RULES AROUND THIS FOR A
PRESCRIBING PHARMACIST?
>> SO IT'S NOT A MANDATE FOR
PHARMACISTS.
THIS IS OPTIONAL IF THEY WANT TO
OFFER THE SERVICE, SO IF I COME
IN THERE, THEY WOULD HAVE TO DO
A HEALTH SCREENING ON ME, A
QUESTIONNAIRE, AND THEN BLOOD
PRESSURE BEFORE THEY WOULD BE
ABLE TO GIVE TO ME, THE
PRESCRIPTION.
>> SOME CONSERVATIVES AND
ANTIABORTION GROUPS, AS YOU
KNOW, OPPOSE BROADENING
CONTRACEPTIVE ACCESS INCLUDING
WISCONSIN FAMILY ACTION WHICH
SAYS, QUOTE, INCREASING THE
AVAILABILITY OF CERTAIN
CONTRACEPTIVES WILL NOT
NECESSARILY REDUCE UNINTENDED
PREGNANCIES BUT COULD DEFINITELY
INCREASE UNWANTED SEXUAL
ACTIVITY A SITUATION NOT IN THE
INDIVIDUAL'S BEST INTEREST OR
THE STATE'S.
IN ADDITION, SOME
CONTRACEPTIVES -- WHICH CAUSES A
PRETERM CHEMICAL ABORTION
KILLING THE UNBORN HUMAN BABY.
WE DO NOT SUPPORT SUCH
CONTRACEPTIVES.
WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THAT?
>> SO WE HEARD TESTIMONY,
SCIENTIFIC TESTIMONY AND REPORT,
YOU KNOW, THAT WHAT THE BIRTH
CONTROL PILL DOES IS IT THICKENS
THE MUCUS LINING ON THE UTERINE
WALL, OKAY, WHICH PREVENTS A
SPERM FROM ACTUALLY REACHING THE
EGG AND FROM CONTRACEPTION TO
TAKE PLACE.
AND IF THIS IS TRUE, AND THIS
WAS POINTED OUT BY ONE OF THE
SCIENTISTS THAT TESTIFIED, SO IF
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING IS TRUE, WE
WOULD HAVE MORE ECTOPIC OR
TUBULAR PREGNANCIES, SO IT'S NOT
TRUE.
LET ME JUST CLARIFY, I AM 100%
PRO-LIFE.
100%.
100 OTHER DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
HAVE DONE THIS.
OTHER STATES HAVE DONE THIS.
AND ONE OF THE EXAMPLES THAT WAS
GIVEN IS THE UNPLANNED PREGNANCY
RATE IN DENVER, COLORADO SINCE
THEY HAVE GONE TO THIS HAS
DROPPED BY 50%.
SO IN MY MIND, IT GIVES YOUNG
WOMEN, ESPECIALLY YOUNG WOMEN IN
POVERTY, IT GIVES THEM MORE
CONTROL ABOUT PLANNING ON WHEN
THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE THEIR
CHILD.
AND BY ALLOWING THAT, IF WE CAN
GET KIDS THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL,
LET THEM GET THEIR DEGREE,
HOPEFULLY MAYBE GET SOME
SECONDARY EDUCATION AND OUT IN
THE WORKFORCE BEFORE THEY PLAN
TO HAVE THEIR CHILDREN, WE TAKE
THEM OUT OF THAT LIFETIME OF
POVERTY.
YOUNG WOMEN UNDER THE AGE OF 20
THAT HAVE CHILDREN OUT OF
WEDLOCK ARE 75% MORE LIKELY TO
LIVE THEIR LIFE IN POVERTY THAN
OUT OF POVERTY.
>> WITH JUST ABOUT 30 SECONDS
LEFT, CAN I ASK WHETHER YOU
CONSIDER THIS A BREAK WITH
GROUPS LIKE PRO-LIFE WISCONSIN
AND WISCONSIN FAMILY ACTION?
>> NO, I PERSONALLY DON'T.
BUT THEY DO.
SO EVERYBODY'S ENTITLED TO THEIR
OPINION.
SO NO, OUR CAUCUS IS
PREDOMINANTLY 100% PRO-LIFE AND
THIS IS SUPPORTED BY OUR CAUCUS.
>> ALL RIGHT.
I KNOW THAT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
REPRESENTATIVE MARY FELZKOWSKI
OF IRMA, THANKS FOR JOINING US.
>> YOU BET.
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.
>> YOU TOO.
WITH THE FALL SEMESTER JUST A
FEW WEEKS AWAY, U.W. MADISON'S
FAMOUS CAMP RANDALL RECEIVES A
NEW LOOK AT ITS FRONT GATE.
THE "NAILS TAILS" STATUE, WHICH
HAS DOMINATED THE STADIUM'S
FACADE SINCE 2005, WAS TAKEN
DOWN THIS WEEK.
THE STATUE RECEIVED CRITICISM
FOR ITS "UNIQUE" LOOK, AND WILL
BE REPLACED BY A BRONZE BADGER.
THE NEW INSTALLATION APTLY NAMED
"THE BADGER" WAS SCULPTED BY
WISCONSIN ARTIST HARRY
WHITEHORSE AND WAS UNVEILED
OUTSIDE CAMP RANDALL THIS WEEK.
"THE BADGER" SEASON HOME OPENER
AT CAMP RANDALL IS AGAINST SOUTH
FLORIDA, A WEEK FROM TONIGHT.
AND THAT IS OUR PROGRAM FOR
TONIGHT.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.