>> I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW," THE
LATEST ON THE DUSTUP BETWEEN THE
STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND
MEMBERS OF THE JOINT FINANCE
COMMITTEE.
AA CLOSER LOOK AT THE 7TH
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT AS
CONGRESSMAN SEAN DUFFY ANNOUNCES
HIS DEPARTURE.
A LOOK AT THE PRICE DIABETICS
ARE PAYING TO STAY HEALTHY.
A NEW REPORT ON THE STATUS OF
WISCONSIN WORKFORCE.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW."
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED, IN PART, BY FRIENDS OF
WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISION.
>> A FIRST LOOK TONIGHT AT THE
PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS OF THE
LAME DUCK LAWS LIMITING THE
AUTHORITY OF THE GOVERNOR AND
THE STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL AS
THEY CAME INTO VIEW THAT WEEK
WHEN JOSH KAUL APPEARED BEFORE
THE JOINT FINANCE COMMITTEE
SEEKING TO GET APPROVAL AS
REQUIRED TO RESOLVE OR REACH
SETTLEMENTS IN STATE LAWSUITS OF
WHICH THERE ARE SOME 15 AWAITING
JFC APPROVAL.
THE PROCESS BROKE DOWN WHEN
LEGISLATORS REFUSED TO SIGN
CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENTS.
BY WEEK'S END THE CO-CHAIRS
HIRED A LAWYER TO SIGN THE
SECRECY ORDER ON THE COMMITTEE'S
BEHALF AND SAID THEY STOOD READY
TO APPROVE ANY SETTLEMENTS THAT
ARE IN THE STATE'S INTEREST, ALL
OF THIS UNFOLDING AS KAUL TOLD
LAWMAKERS HE HAD A CASE OF
TREMENDOUS IMPORTANCE TO THE
STATE THAT DEMANDED QUICK
ATTENTION.
ONE POBLGHT POSSIBILITY ON THAT?
PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES ARE IN
SETTLEMENT TALKS RELATED TO THE
OPIOID CRISIS.
KAUL'S OFFICE SAID A HURRY-UP
DEADLINE TO ACT WAS NO LONGER IN
PLAY.
HERE'S WHAT REPUBLICAN CO-CHAIRS
SAID ABOUT ALL OF THIS LATE
THURSDAY.
DESPITE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S
OBVIOUS EFFORTS TO UNDERMINE
STATE LAW.
THE COMMITTEE ON JOINT FINANCE
HAS AUTHORIZED COUNSEL TO SIGN
THE CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT
PROPOSED BY THE ATTORNEY
GENERAL.
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S DEMAND IS
CONTRARY TO HIS PRIOR PRACTICE,
INCLUDING WHEN DISCUSSING
SETTLEMENTS WITH THE GOVERNOR,
AND IS AN OBVIOUS EFFORT TO
UNDERMINE THE LAW BY DELAYING
THE COMMITTEE'S WORK.
ATTORNEY GENERAL KAUL RESPONDED
THAT, QUOTE, WE ARE ASSESSING
THE CO-CHAIRS' PROPOSED
CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT.
WE WILL CONTINUE ATTEMPTING TO
REACH AGREEMENT ON THIS ISSUE AS
WE BEGAN ATTEMPTING TO DO MORE
THAN SIX MONTHS AGO.
OUR INTEREST REMAINS IN ENSURING
THAT WISCONSINITES ARE
REPRESENTED AS EFFECTIVELY AS
POSSIBLE AND THAT THE
ENFORCEMENT OF OUR
ENVIRONMENTAL, CONSUMER
PROTECTION AND OTHER LAWS IS NOT
IMPEDED BY PARTISAN
GAMESMANSHIP.
WISCONSIN PUBLIC RADIO CAPITOL
REPORTER LAUREL WHITE HAS
COVERED THIS DEVELOPING STORY
AND SHE JOINS US NOW FROM THE
STATE CAPITOL.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> SO DOES THIS STRIKE OBSERVERS
AND REPORTERS THAT JOSH KAUL IS
PUSHING THE PARTISAN ENVELOPE TO
HIGHLIGHT HIS DISFAVOR WITH THE
NEW RULES?
>> SO I THINK IT'S DIFFICULT FOR
SOME FOLKS TO FORGET THAT
ATTORNEY GENERAL KAUL HAS BEEN
VERY VOCAL IN HIS OPPOSITION TO
THIS LAW SINCE IT WAS PASSED.
HE'S TALKED ABOUT HOW IT'S
UNCONSTITUTIONAL, HOW IT GIVES
LAWMAKERS TOO MUCH POWER OVER
SOMETHING THE ATTORNEY JOURNAL
IN THE PAST HAS SEEN SORT OF
UNILATERALLY CONTROL OVER.
SO LAWMAKERS AND OTHERS ARE KIND
OF POINTING TO THE ATTORNEY
GENERAL HIGHLIGHTING SOME OF
THESE PRACTICAL ROADBLOCKS AS
THEY MAY BE RELATED TO THAT KIND
OF OVERARCHING AGAINST THE LAW
IN PRINCIPLE.
>> AND YET ON THE OTHER SIDE
COULD IT BE VIEWED AS THE
OPPOSITE, THAT REPUBLICANS ARE
PLAYING THE PARTISAN POWER CARD?
>> REPUBLICANS CERTAINLY HAVE A
LOT OF POWER IN THIS SCENARIO.
THEY PASSED THIS LAW BECAUSE OF
THEIR STRONG MAJORITIES IN BOTH
CHAMBERS OF THE STATE
LEGISLATURE AND IT'S THE LAW OF
THE LAND.
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL DOESN'T
HAVE A CHOICE IN WHETHER HE
FOLLOWS IT UNLESS IT'S APPEALED
OR STRATEGIC DOWN BY A COURT.
>> THIS COULD BE THE PRACTICAL
OUTCOME THAT REQUIRE LEGISLATIVE
APPROVAL TO RESOLVE CASES WHICH
ARE DYNAMIC.
>> WE HEARD ABOUT THE CASE THIS
WEEK.
THE REASON THE COMMITTEE WAS
CALLED IN ON SUCH SHORT NOTICE
WAS A TIGHT DEADLINE IN A
PARTICULAR CASE.
THAT DEADLINE IS GONE NOW.
THAT'S NOT TO SAY THAT ANOTHER
DEADLINE MIGHT EMERGE IN THIS
CASE OR A SIMILAR CASE OR OTHER
CASES DOWN THE ROAD.
SO LAWMAKERS AND THE ATTORNEY
GENERAL CERTAINLY NEED TO COME
UP WITH A PROCESS FOR HANDLING
THESE LAWSUITS BECAUSE THEY
SOMETIMES REQUIRE QUICK ACTION.
>> YEAH.
SO IF IN THIS CASE THE URGENCY
IS OFF, AS THE JUSTICE
DEPARTMENT NOW SAYS, WHAT'S LEFT
IS FOR IT TO BE DETERMINED
WHETHER A REPUBLICAN LAWYER CAN
SIGN A CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT
ON BEHALF OF THE COMMITTEE
MEMBERS.
WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT WHETHER
THIS PASSES MUSTER?
>> SO WE KNOW THAT CERTAINLY
REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS THAT HIRED
THE PRIVATE LAWYER BELIEVE THAT
THIS IS GOING TO BE SUFFICIENT
TO MEET THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S
CONFIDENTIALITY REQUIREMENTS.
WE ALSO KNOW THAT A MEMO CAME
OUT FROM THE LEGISLATIVE
REFERENCE BUREAU, WHICH IS THE
LEGISLATURE'S NONPARTISAN
RESEARCH OFFICE, THAT KIND OF
CALLS THAT INTO QUESTION.
SO WHAT WE'RE WAITING FOR NOW IS
AN OFFICIAL OPINION FROM THE
ATTORNEY GENERAL, WHO OF COURSE
HAS MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE
SORT OF BINDING LEGAL AGREEMENT
HE'S ENTERED INTO WITH THE
DIFFERENT PARTIES THAT HE'S
NEGOTIATING SETTLEMENT
AGREEMENTS.
SO WHETHER OR NOT HE FINDS THESE
-- YOU KNOW, THIS NEW PROVISION
FROM REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS, THIS
HIRING OF A PRIVATE LAWYER,
SUFFICIENT TO MEET HIS NEEDS.
>> YES.
AS YOU SAY, ATTORNEY GENERAL
KAUL SAYS HE'S NOW REVIEWING
THIS SITUATION, BUT IT SOUNDS
LIKE WE'RE GOING TO SEE
EVERYTHING RIGHT BACK IN JOINT
FINANCE, WITH MAYBE SOME OF THE
SAME DISPUTES.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
WE KNOW THAT, AS YOU MENTIONED
SHES JOINT FINANCE IS FACING
MORE THAN A DOZEN OF THESE
CASES.
THERE'S A BACKLOG OF CASES
WAITING APPROVAL FROM LAWMAKERS.
AGAIN ANOTHER URGENT DEADLINE
CAN EMERGE.
THESE CASES ARE DYNAMIC AND
SOMETIMES MOVE VERY QUICKLY.
SO WE COULD BE BACK HAVING THE
SAME CONVERSATION VERY SOON.
>> MEANWHILE, THE LAME DUCK LAWS
THEMSELVES ARE IN THE COURTS.
WHAT'S THE STATUS OF THOSE
CASES?
>> SO THERE ARE FOUR LAME DUCK
LAWSUITS THAT ARE OUT THERE.
ACTUALLY, ONE OF THEM HAS
ALREADY BEEN RESOLVED, A STATE
LEVEL LAWSUIT THAT RECEIVED A
RULING FROM THE WISCONSIN
SUPREME COURT EARLIER THIS
SUMMER.
THEY RULED IN FAVOR OF
REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS.
THERE'S ANOTHER THAT'S AWAITING
ARGUMENTS IN FRONT OF THE
SUPREME COURT.
THERE ARE TWO FEDERAL CASES THAT
ARE BOTH IN STAGES OF OPINIONS
BEING ISSUED BY JUDGES ANY DAY.
SO WE COULD HEAR ON THOSE SOON.
>> ALL RIGHT.
LAUREL WHITE, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH AND THANKS FOR YOUR
REPORTING ON THIS.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> IN MAJOR ELECTION NEWS IN
WISCONSIN, REPUBLICAN
CONGRESSMAN SEAN DUFFY ANNOUNCED
THIS WEEK HE IS STEPPING DOWN
EFFECTIVE SEPTEMBER 23.
DUFFY MADE HIS ANNOUNCEMENT IN A
FACEBOOK POST SAYING, IN PART,
RECENT WE HAVE LEARNED THAT OUR
BABY, DUE IN LATE OCTOBER, WILL
NEED EVEN MORE LOVE, TIME AND
ATTENTION DUE TO COMPLICATIONS,
INCLUDING A HEART CONDITION.
WITH MUCH PRAYER, HE SAYS, I
HAVE DECIDED THAT THIS IS THE
RIGHT TIME FOR ME TO TAKE A
BREAK FROM PUBLIC SERVICE IN
ORDER TO BE THE SUPPORT MY WIFE,
BABY AND FAMILY NEED RIGHT NOW.
DUFFY WAS FIRST ELECTED TO
REPRESENT WISCONSIN'S 7TH
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT IN 2010.
HE BECAME A STAUNCH REPORTER OF
PRESIDENT PRESIDENT TRUMP.
WE CHECK IN WITH UW-SUPERIOR
POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSOR
ALISA VON HAGEL TO DISCUSS THE
IMPLICATIONS.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF HIS
DEPARTURE ARE DIFFICULT FOR HIM
PERSONAL LE, BUTPERSONALLY, BUT YOU BELIEVE IT'S
PART OF A TREND.
HOW SO?
>> SO YOU SEE THAT PRIOR TO THE
2018 MIDTERM ELECTIONS AND
FOLLOWING, THERE'S BEEN A WAVE
OF REPUBLICANS RESIGNING,
RETIRING, LEAVING OFFICE OR
DECLARING THAT THEY WILL NOT
SEEK PUBLIC OFFICE AGAIN IN THE
FUTURE.
AND SO PART OF THIS IS JUST
THEIR LOOKING TO THE FUTURE,
SEEING -- OR AT LEAST IN 2018,
LEADING UP TO THE MIDTERMS,
THERE WASN'T OBVIOUSLY HIGH
HOPES FOR THE REPUBLICANS TO
HOLD ONTO THE MAJORITY IN THE
HOUSE.
AND SO BEING IN THE MINORITY AND
SORT OF SEEING THAT VISION OF
BEING IN THE MINORITY IN THE
FUTURE IS NOT FUN FOR
LEGISLATORS OR IS NOT SOMETHING
THAT ALLOWS THEM TO REALLY
ACCOMPLISH THE GOALS THAT THEY
SET OUT TO DO.
SO YOU JUST SEE A WAVE OF
REPUBLICANS ACROSS THE COUNTRY
THAT HAVE BEEN RESIGNING OR
RETIRING SINCE THEN.
>> DO YOU FEEL AS THOUGH THE
TURBULENCE OF THE TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION HAS ANYTHING TO
DO WITH THE REPUBLICAN KIND OF
MINI EXODUS?
>> IT CERTAINLY HAS PLAYED A
ROLE, NO DOUBT.
EVEN THOSE WHO ARE STAUNCH
ALLIES OF THE PRESIDENT OR
SUPPORT ON THE ADMINISTRATION'S
AGENDA, YOU KNOW, THERE'S JUST
ALWAYS A CONTROVERSY OR SOME
GAFFE, SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS,
AND LEGISLATORS ARE OFTEN
HOUNDED BY NEWS REPORTERS TO BE
ASKED ABOUT THE LATEST TWEET OR
WHATNOT.
AND IT'S JUST A LOT OF MORE
TENSION, MORE CONFLICT THEY HAVE
TO DEAL WITH, EVEN IF THEY ARE
STILL VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THE
PRESIDENT AND HIS GOALS.
>> THE FIRST THOUGHT MANY HAD ON
HEARING THAT SEAN DUFFY WAS
RESIGNING WAS HE'D BE THROWING
HIS HAT IN THE RING FOR U.S.
SENATE OR EVEN GOVERNOR.
WHAT'S YOUR SENSE OF THAT?
>> YEAH.
THAT SPECULATION HAS BEEN MADE
EVEN BEFORE THIS RESIGNATION AT
THIS TIME.
THERE WAS TALK OF HIM RUNNING
FOR CHALLENGING TAMMY BALDWIN IN
2018 FOR HER SEAT, BUT IT WAS
SORT OF DETERMINED THAT HER
SUPPORT WAS JUST TOO STRONG IN
THE STATE AND IT WOULDN'T BE
WORTH IT.
THERE'S TALK OF HIM RUNNING FOR
RON JOHNSON'S SEAT IN THE
FUTURE.
AND WHETHER OR NOT THIS TIME OFF
WILL HELP OR HINDER HIS ABILITY
TO DO THAT, HE LEFT OFFICE WITH
ABOUT 2.4 MILLION IN HIS WAR
CHEST, DOES SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF
MONEY CERTAINLY, BUT AT LEAST TO
MYSELF, BUT IT IS FOR -- RUNNING
FOR PUBLIC OFFICE, ES ESPECIALLY
RUNNING FOR SENATE AT THAT LEVEL
OF OFFICE IS REALLY NOT NOWHERE
NEAR ENOUGH TO REALLY START
MAKING A SOLID RUN TOWARDS THAT
OFFICE.
AND SO IT'S HARD TO SAY.
IT'S HARD TO SAY.
>> WHAT KIND OF SCRUM DO YOU
EXPECT THERE TO BE AS POTENTIAL
CANDIDATES TO REPLACE AND LINE
UP AND JUMP INTO THE RACE?
>> THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF
CANDIDATES, STATE REPS, THAT
HAVE ALREADY BEEN THROWING THEIR
HAT INTO THE RING.
I'VE HEARD JAMES, JANET BIEWLY,
TOM TIFFANY A REPUBLICAN THAT
RIGHT AWAY JUMPED INTO THE RACE
OR THAT AT LEAST STATED HIS
INTENTION IN RUNNING.
AND SO THERE WILL NO DOUBT BE
MORE AND MORE CANDIDATES COMING
FORWARD AS WE HAVE THE SPECIAL
ELECTION DATE ESTABLISHED AND WE
GET CLOSER LEADING UP TO THAT
DATE.
>> NOW, SEAN DUFFY WON THAT
DISTRICT BY 20 PERCENTAGE POINTS
LAST YEAR, THE SAME MARGIN
PRESIDENT TRUMP WON IT BY IN
2016.
SO IS IT A SUPER SOLID
REPUBLICAN DISTRICT FOLLOWING
REDISTRICTING?
>> WELL, YOU KNOW, IT'S HARD TO
SAY.
SO THE DISTRICT HAS CERTAINLY
MOVED TO A MORE CONSERVATIVE
BENT SINCE SEAN DUFFY HAS BEEN
IN OFFICE, AND DESPITE THAT,
WHEN HE RESIGNED, THE DAY AFTER
HE RESIGNED, HIS DISTRICT IN THE
COOK'S CLINICAL REPORT WAS
CLASSIFIED AS SOLIDLY
REPUBLICAN, WAS TRANSFERRED TO
LEANING REPUBLICAN.
AND SO THERE'S ALREADY SIGNS
THAT GIVEN THE LARGER NATIONWIDE
TRENDS OF THE CONTROVERSY WITH
THE ADMINISTRATION, WITH THE
CONTINUED PRESENCE OF THE
DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY IN CONGRESS,
THAT THIS MAY NOT BE A GOOD
UPCOMING YEAR FOR REPUBLICANS.
AND SO IT CERTAINLY IS GOING TO
BE A TOUGH BATTLE FOR WHOEVER
DECIDES TO RUN.
>> OKAY.
MIGHT BE IN PLAY.
ALISA VON HAGEL, THANKS VERY
MUCH.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THIS MONTH, THE GOVERNOR
SIGNED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER
CREATING A TASK FORCE ON
REDUCING PRESCRIPTION DRUG
PRICES IN WISCONSIN.
TONIGHT, WE HAVE AN INSIDE LOOK
AT HOW FOR DIABETICS THE COST OF
LIFE-SAVING INSULIN HAS GONE
THROUGH THE ROOF.
FOR PATIENTS IN WISCONSIN, NEW
LEGISLATION, EVEN APART FROM THE
TASK FORCE, COULD PROVIDE HOPE
FOR CURBING THOSE COSTS.
AS MARISA WOJCIK REPORTS FROM
APPLETON, THAT WOULD BE WELCOME
NEWS FOR A WOMAN THERE WHO
CANNOT AFFORD THE HIGH PRICE OF
INSULIN SOLD IN THE UNITED
STATES.
>> I WOULD DO 267 MINUS 125
WHICH IS WHERE I LIKE TO BE AND
DIVIDE BY 35.
>> 25-YEAR-OLD JULIA FLARE FLAHERTY
HAS BECOME GOOD AT MATH.
>> I'M A LITTLE HIGH RIGHT NOW.
>> SHE CALCULATES WHAT'S IN THE
FOOD SHE'S ABOUT TO EAT AND HOW
MUCH FAST-ACTING INSULIN SHE'LL
NEED TO GIVE HERSELF.
SHE HAS TYPE 1 DIABETES, A
DISEASE SHE'S BEEN LIVING WITH
SINCE SHE WAS TEN YEARS OLD.
>> I REALIZED THAT EVEN AT TEN I
WAS GOING TO HAVE TO BE VERY
RESPONSIBLE AND VERY AWARE OF MY
BODY.
>> SHE LIVES IN APPLETON AND
WORKS AS A DIGITAL MARKETING
SPECIALIST, A STEADY JOB THAT
INCLUDES HEALTH INSURANCE
BENEFITS.
EVEN SO, THE PRICE OF LIVING
WITH DIABETES ADDS UP.
>> I GO TO SEE MY ENDOCRINE NOL
LIST.
THAT'S ABOUT $500 EACH TIME.
>> THERE'S A DIFFERENT KIND OF
MENTAL MATH.
>> 300, 200, 315, 75.
>> BY FAR THE MOST COST
PROHIBITIVE IS THE LIFE-SAVING
DRUG THAT REGULATES HER
DIABETES: INSULIN.
>> IT WOULD COST ABOUT $1800 IN
THE U.S. FOR 90 DAYS WHERE THE
SAME EXACT MEDICATION FROM
CANADA IS ABOUT $315 FOR ME.
THERE'S NO PREMIUM INSULIN.
THERE'S NO GENERIC.
>> IN THE UNITED STATES THE COST
OF INSULIN HAS TRIPLED SINCE
2002.
WHILE JULIA GETS SOME HELP FROM
HER INSURANCE, SHE HAS A VERY
HIGH DEDUCTIBLE, WHICH MEANS
MOST COSTS COME OUT OF HER
POCKET.
>> WE DON'T HAVE A CHOICE.
WE HAVE TO BUY IT OR WE DIE.
>> DIABETICS NEED INSULIN.
WITHOUT IT THEY FACE SERIOUS
HEALTH RISKS, INCLUDING DEATH.
BUT DESPITE THE SERIOUS DANGERS,
A RECENT STUDY SAYS ONE IN FOUR
PATIENTS REPORTED RATIONING
THEIR INSULIN DUE TO HIGH COSTS.
THEY'RE TURNING TO CANADA FOR
CHEAPER PRESCRIPTION DRUG
PRICES.
>> I WAS KINDS OF SKEPTICAL
ABOUT IT FOR A WHILE.
I WAS LOOKING INTO IF THERE WAS
ANY LEGAL IMPLICATION THAT COULD
COME BACK AT ME.
>> IT WASN'T AN EASY PROCESS.
>> I HAD TO GO THROUGH A LOT OF
FORMS AND BACK AND FORTH WITH
THE NURSES AND MY DOCTOR, BUT
THEY WERE WILLING TO WORK WITH
ME ON THAT.
SO I WAS VERY APPRECIATIVE.
BUT THAT'S NOT A SOLUTION, YOU
KNOW.
IT'S A WORK-AROUND.
>> BUT NEW STATE LEGISLATION IS
HOPING TO CHANGE THAT.
MODELED AFTER A BILL IN
COLORADO, A WISCONSIN DEMOCRATIC
BILL AIMS TO PLACE A CAP ON THE
TYPE OF INKS INSULIN CO-PAYS AT $100
A MONTH.
THE WISCONSIN ASSOCIATION OF
HEALTH PLANS HAS SAID THEY'RE
STILL REVIEWING THE PROPOSAL,
BUT SAID DRUG MANUFACTURERS ARE
RESPONSIBLE FOR SETTING AND
REGULARLY INCREASING THE HIGH
LIST PRICE FOR INSULIN.
THIS PROPOSAL DOES NOTHING TO
ADDRESS THE ACTUAL AND
UNSUSTAINABLE PRICE OF INSULIN.
BUT JULIA IS STILL ENCOURAGED
SHE IS USING HER DIGITAL
MARKETING BACKGROUND TO BRING
AWARENESS ONLINE.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO SEE COSTS BE
MORE AFFORDABLE AND ACCESSIBLE
DESPITE YOUR SOCIOECONOMIC
STATUS, NOT JUST IN WISCONSIN,
BUT ACROSS THE UNITED STATES.
THERE ARE PETITIONS GOING OUT
STATE BY STATE EVERY DAY ON
WEBSITES LIKE CHANGE.ORG.
I'M HAPPY THAT THE CONVERSATION
IS STRONGER AROUND IT.
BUT THIS IS REALLY JUST THE
BEGINNING.
>> REPORTING FROM APPLETON, I'M
MARISA WOJCIK.
>> TO DIG INTO THE CHALLENGES
PEOPLE WITH DIABETES FACE, AS
WELL AS HOW LEGISLATION MIGHT
CURB THE COST OF INSULIN, WE
TURN TO DR. LASHAWN GIVEER.
HOW CONCERNING IS IT TO YOU THAT
PEOPLE MIGHT BE RATIONING THEIR
INSULIN BECAUSE OF THE HIGH
COST?
>> IT'S EXTREMELY CONCERNING.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE HEAR
NOW ALMOST ON A WEEKLY BASIS,
THAT PEOPLE HAVE HAVING TO
RATION THEIR INSULIN, GO WITHOUT
THEIR INSULIN OR MAKE HARD LIFE
CHOICES REGARDING UTILITIES AND
HOUSING EXPENSES AND OTHER
EXPENSES FOR DAILY LIVING
BECAUSE OF THE HIGH COST OF
INSULIN.
IN ADDITION, THERE ARE
LIFE-THREATENING CONSEQUENCES
ASSOCIATED WITH A PERSON NOT
TAKING THEIR MEDICATION AS
PRESCRIBED.
>> WHY IS THE PRICE OF INSULIN
INCREASING SO MUCH?
>> SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE
AMERICAN DIABETES ASSOCIATION
TOOK A VERY LONG LOOK AT.
IN 2017, OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS
COMMISSIONED A WORK GROUP TO
STUDY AND EXAMINE WHAT ARE THE
ISSUES DRIVING THE HIGH COST OF
INSULIN.
AND FROM THAT PROJECT, WE
LEARNED THAT THERE ARE MANY
THINGS THAT ARE CONTRIBUTING TO
IT, BUT ONE OF THE BIG ISSUES WE
WALKED AWAY FROM OR CONCLUSIONS
IS THAT THERE'S A LACK OF
TRANSPARENCY IN THE INSULIN
SUPPLY CHAIN.
WHAT WE DO KNOW IS THE HIGH LIST
PRICE FOR INSULIN INFLUENCES THE
SUPPLY CHAIN.
THE HIGHER THE LIST PRICE, THE
MORE THAT'S SHARED THROUGHOUT
THE SUPPLY CHAIN.
SO WE ARE HOPEFUL THAT THE STATE
AND FEDERAL BILLS THAT ARE
ADDRESSING INSULIN PRICING WILL
HELP BRING TRANSPARENCIES TO THE
ISSUE AND REDUCE THE COST FOR
PEOPLE WITH DIABETES.
>> AS FOR THE HIGH COST,
INSURANCE COMPANIES ARE KIND OF
POINTING THE FINGER AT DRUG FFER
ERS.
SHOULD THE DRUG MANUFACTURERS BE
THE ONES HELD ACCOUNTABLE?
>> YOU KNOW, WHEN WE DID OUR
PROJECT, WHAT WE FOUND IS THAT
THERE'S A LACK OF TRANSPARENCY,
SO EVERY STAKEHOLDER WITHIN THE
INSULIN SUPPLY CHAIN SAID
ANOTHER ENTITY WAS RESPONSIBLE
FOR THE HIGH COST.
BUT, AS I SAID, THERE'S AN
INCENTIVE FOR A HIGH LIST PRICE,
WHERE THAT BENEFIT IS SHARED
THROUGHOUT.
SO WE'RE HOPING THROUGH
TRANSPARENCY WE CAN UNDERSTAND
WHERE ARE AREAS THAT WE CAN PUT
FORTH LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS TO
REDUCE THE PRICE OF INSULIN.
>> JULIA SAID WHILE SHE BUYS HER
INSULIN FROM CANADA, SHE
BELIEVES IT'S NOT A LONG-TERM
SOLUTION.
WHY WOULDN'T THAT BE?
>> SO NOT EVERYONE HAS ABILITY
TO TRAVEL OUTSIDE THE COUNTRY TO
TRY AND SOLVE THIS ISSUE.
WHAT WE'RE FOCUSED ON AT THE
AMERICAN DIABETES ASSOCIATION IS
SOLVING THIS PROBLEM WITHIN OUR
COUNTRY.
COLORADO AND NOW WISCONSIN ARE
LOOKING AT SOLUTIONS THAT WOULD
LOWER THE COST OF INSULIN FOR
PEOPLE WITH DIABETES AND THAT'S
WHAT WE WANT TO FOCUS ON, IS HOW
CAN WE MAKE INSULIN MORE
AFFORDABLE FOR PEOPLE IN THE
UNITED STATES.
>> ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME,
DR. MELVER.
>> THANK YOU.
>> NOW TO ECONOMIC NEWS AND THE
NEW REPORT ON THE STATUS OF
WORKERS IN WISCONSIN.
AS WE LOOK AHEAD TO LABOR DAY,
THE CENTER OFFERS WHAT IT CALLS
ITS FACTS AND FIGURES REPORT ON
THE STATE OF WORKING WISCONSIN.
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR AT COWS LAURA
DRESSER JOINS US NOW.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> SO YOUR REPORT SAYS THERE IS
GOOD NEWS.
>> YES.
THERE IS GOOD NEWS.
AND THIS IS THE FAMILIAR NEWS OF
THE KIND OF THE GREAT CLOUD OF
THE GREAT RECESSION OF 2007 HAS
REALLY LIFTED.
WE'VE HAD LONG-TERM, SUSTAINED
UNEMPLOYMENT AT LOW LEVELS,
STEADY JOB GROWTH.
AND SO THAT PICTURE I THINK IS
REALLY CLEAR IN PEOPLE'S HEAD
RIGHT NOW.
>> THERE IS BAD NEWS.
>> YES.
SO WE SORT OF START WITH THAT,
BUT I THINK ONE OF THE BIG
MYSTERIES OF THIS MOMENT IS
GIVEN ALL THAT GOOD NEWS, WHY
ARE THESE KIND OF QUESTIONS OF
ECONOMIC INSECURITY STILL SO
SALIENT FOR PEOPLE.
SO WE TRIED TO FOCUS THIS REPORT
ON THESE VERY LONG-TERM TRENDS,
30 AND 40 YEARS LONG, THAT HAVE
UNDERMINED PEOPLE'S SENSE OF
SECURITY, WORKING WISCONSIN'S
SENSE OF SECURITY.
THAT'S THE FOCUS OF THE REPORT.
>> AS TO THAT FOCUS, YOU TALK
ABOUT WAGE STAGNATION, THAT THE
MEDIAN WAGE IS ONLY 73 CENTS
HIGHER THAN IT WAS IN 1979.
>> SO.
SO WE'RE BASICALLY AT 18 BUCKS
AN HOUR NOW.
AND THAT'S JUST BARELY, LIKE 63
CENTS AN HOUR HIGHER THAN IT WAS
IN 1979 ONCE YOU ADJUST FOR
INFLATION.
THAT STANDS OUT AS A COMPLETE
BREAK FROM THE WAY THE ECONOMY
WORKED, FROM THE POST WORLD
WAR II INTO 1979, WHEN THE
ECONOMY GREW, WAGES GREW.
THEY WERE SORT OF LOCKED
TOGETHER AND WORKERS SAW THE
BENEFITS OF GROWTH.
WHAT WE'VE HAD IN THE 2000s IS
THIS WAIG WAGE STAGNATION IN THE
CONTEXT OF GROWTH, SO WORKERS
DON'T SEE AS MUCH GOOD NEWS FROM
LOW UNEMPLOYMENT AS THEY USED
TO.
>> WHAT EXPLAINS THE STAGNATION?
>> I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE SPEND
A LOT OF TIME, BUT THERE'S
CERTAINLY THINGS, THERE ARE
CERTAINLY INSTITUTIONAL FACTORS
THAT MATTER A LOT IN MY ANALYSIS
OR THINKING THE WAY I THINK
ABOUT WHAT WE COULD DO WITH
POLICY.
THE STATE'S MINIMUM WAGE IS
$7.25 AN HOUR, THE WAY IT WAS A
DECADE AGO.
THAT'S ONE THING THAT KEEPS
WAGES DOWN.
OUR LABOR MOVEMENT, WHICH HAS
OFTEN SERVED BOTH THROUGH POLICY
APPROACHES AND THROUGH ITS OWN
BARGAINING TO KEEP WORKERS'
WAGES HIGHER, HAS BEEN DECIMATED
BY PUBLIC POLICY IN THIS STATE.
SO I THINK WE CAN SEE THINGS
WHERE POLICY -- YOU KNOW, HOW DO
YOU MAKE THAT BETTER OR WHY DID
THIS HAPPEN.
WE'VE MOVED AWAY FROM SOME
POLICIES THAT ACTUALLY HELD
WORKING PEOPLE KIND OF CLOSER TO
ECONOMIC GROWTH.
>> YOU DESCRIBE HOW PRODUCTIVITY
HAS GROWN BY 70% DURING THE SAME
PERIOD.
WHAT IS THE IMPLICATION OF THAT?
>> ONE TIME TO THINK ABOUT IT,
ACROSS THE POST-WAR PERIOD, IF
THE ECONOMY GREW BY 70%, WE'D
SEE WAGES UP BY 70%.
THAT WOULD PUT THE MEDIAN WAGE
TODAY, WHICH IS $18 AN HOUR,
WOULD BE WELL OVER $25 AN HOUR
TODAY IF WAGES WERE STILL LOCKED
INTO PRODUCTIVITY THE WAY THEY
WERE.
AND YOU SEE THAT'S SORT OF THIS
GAP THAT'S GROWING, THAT IF
WORKERS ARE MAKING, YOU KNOW,
WITH AN HOUR OF LABOR THEY'RE
MAKING 70% MORE GOODS AND
SERVICES AND IF THEY AREN'T
BRINGING HOME MORE IN WAGES,
THEN THOSE WAGES ARE -- THAT
VALUE IS GOING AND, AS WE KNOW,
IN THIS ECONOMY THEY'RE GOING TO
THE TOP END, TO OWNERS AND
MANAGERS.
>> SPEAKING OF THE TOP END, YOU
ALSO POINT IN THIS REPORT TO
INCOME INEQUALITY.
IS IT NEARLY A MILLION DOLLARS,
THE REST OF THE 99% AT $51,000.
THAT IS QUITE A GAP.
>> IT IS.
ON ONE OF THE MEASURES WE ARE
BACK TO LEVELS THAT WE HAVEN'T
SEEN SINCE 1928.
INEQUALITY FELL ACROSS FROM
BASICALLY 1929 THROUGH THE
1970s, BUT HAS BEEN ON
DECLINE.
AND THE REWARDS OF ECONOMIC
GROWTH CONTINUE TO ACCRUE AT THE
VERY TOP.
SO YOU SEE A MILLION VERSUS
$50,000 AND THAT GAP IS JUST
GROWING.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WE LEAVE IT THERE.
THANKS FOR YOUR WORK, LAURA
DRESSER.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> NOW FOR THIS UPDATE ON ON A
JOB TRANSITION FOR A WALKER
ADMINISTRATION AGENCY HEAD WHO
HAD CONTINUED TO SERVE UNDER
GOVERNOR TONY EVERS.
WISCONSIN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
CORPORATION CEO AND SECRETARY,
MARK HOGAN, WILL STEP DOWN NEXT
WEEK.
UNDER LAME DUCK LAWS, EVERS WAS
NOT AUTHORIZED TO APPOINT HIS
REPLACEMENT UNTIL SEPTEMBER.
HOGAN SAYS HE IS PROUD OF THE
SUCCESSES ACHIEVED WITH GOVERNOR
EVERS AND THAT HE WANTS TO HELP
MAKE THE TRANSITION AS SEAMLESS
AS POSSIBLE.
DURING HOGAN'S FOUR-YEAR TENURE,
HE BECAME INSTRUMENTAL IN
SECURING THE FOXCONN DEAL.
EVERS IS NOW CONSIDERING HOGAN'S
SUCCESSOR.
>> NEXT WEEK, HEALTH SERVICES
SECRETARY DES IG DESIGNEE ANDREA PALM
WILL BE HERE, AS WELL MARQUETTE
LAW SCHOOL POLLSTER CHARLES
FRANKLIN.
THAT'S ALL FOR TONIGHT'S
PROGRAM.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.
>> FUNDS FUNDING