>> I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW," THE
LATEST RESULTS FROM THE
MARQUETTE LAW SCHOOL POLL.
THE NEW CEO OF THE WISCONSIN
ECONOMIC DEPARTMENT CORPORATION
MISSY HUGHES IS HERE.
AND AN INSIDE LOOK AT THE IMPACT
OF CHINA TRADE TARIFFS.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR
OCTOBER 25.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED ON, IN, IN PART, MY FRIENDS OF
WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISION.
>> IMPEACHMENT HEARS, U.S.
FOREIGN A NEW LOOK AT THE
MARQUETTE POLL.
CHARLES FRANKLIN JOINS US NOW
FOR RESULTS AND ANALYSIS.
SO NEWS OUT OF THE IMPEACHMENT
HEARINGS IN WASHINGTON IS
DIZZYING, BUT YOU ASKED ABOUT
THIS.
LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT HOW
WISCONSIN IS RESPONDING
ACCORDING TO YOUR POLLING.
46% OF THOSE SURVEYED SAYS THERE
IS ENOUGH CAUSE TO HOLD THE
HEARINGS.
49% SAYS THERE IS NOT ENOUGH
CAUSE.
5% SAYING THEY DON'T KNOW.
BUT THERE HAS BEEN A DEFINITE
UPTICK SINCE YOU POLLED ON THIS
IN APRIL.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
IN APRIL, WE WERE IN THE CONTEXT
OF THE END OF THE MUELLER REPORT
AND SUPPORT WAS 17 POINTS LOWER
FOR HOLDING HEARINGS THEN THAN
IT IS NOW.
SO THAT'S BEEN A BIG CHANGE.
AND THE CONTEXT OF WHAT THE
SUBJECT MATTER IS HAS SHIFTED
FROM THE MUELLER INVESTIGATION
TO THE UKRAINE SITUATION, THE
PHONE CALL AND SO ON.
AND THE KIND OF EVIDENCE THAT'S
ALREADY PUBLIC ON UKRAINE
INCLUDES THE WHITE HOUSE
TRANSCRIPT OF THE PHONE CALL
BETWEEN PRESIDENT TRUMP AND THE
PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE.
>> STILL ONLY 46% OF THOSE
SURVEYED SAYS THERE IS ENOUGH
CAUSE NOTWITHSTANDING TO WALL TO
WALL COVERAGE.
>> DEMOCRATS ARE POSITIVE ABOUT
HEARINGS, REPUBLICANS NOT SO
MUCH.
SO I THINK IT'S EARLY IN THE
PROCESS.
I THINK ONE POINT ABOUT THE
HEARINGS BEING BEHIND CLOSED
DOORS IS THAT WHILE WE HAVE
HEARD BITS AND PIECES FROM
OPENING STATEMENTS AND THINGS
LIKE THAT, THE PUBLIC REALLY HAS
NOT SEEN THE SORT OF PACKAGE OF
THOSE THINGS.
REPUBLICANS SAY THEY ARE
UNCONVINCING.
DEMOCRATS SAY THEY'RE UTTERLY
CONVINCING.
I THINK WE NEED TO SEE THAT LAID
OUT FOR THE PUBLIC TO SEE THE
EVIDENCE AND PRESUMABLY THAT'S
COMING FAIRLY SOON.
>> ON INTERNATIONAL FAIRS IT
DOES SEEM THE PRESIDENT IS
UPSIDE DOWN ON THIS MATTER.
ACCORDING TO YOUR POLL, 59%
DISAPPROVE OF PRESIDENT TRUMP'S
HANDLING OF FOREIGN POLICY,
WHILE 30% APPROVE.
IN YOUR MIND, DID THE
ADMINISTRATION'S PULL-OUT OF
TROOPS FROM NORTHEASTERN SYRIA
TIP THE SCALES ON THIS?
>> I THINK THAT'S PART OF THIS.
THIS IS ALSO WHERE THE UKRAINE
MATTER INCLUDES SOME FOREIGN
POLICY OF HOW ARE WE DEALING
WITH AN ALLY, AS WELL AS A THE
SYRIAN SITUATION OF HOW DO WE
NEED WITH THE KURDS, WHO HAVE
BEEN SUCH A STRONG ALLY IN THE
FIGHT AGAINST ISIS.
AND YOU'VE SEEN REPUBLICAN
MEMBERS OF CONGRESS PUSH BACK IN
THE SYRIAN SITUATION WITH THE
KURDS.
IT MEANS THERE'S A SET OF ISSUES
NOW WHICH THE PRESIDENT IS
UNIQUELY RESPONSIBLE FOR AND
ACTIVE IN EACH OF THESE
DECISIONS.
AND THAT'S QUITE DIFFERENT FROM
THINGS LIKE BUILDING THE BORDER
WALL TO THE EXTENT THAT THAT'S A
BIG POLICY DIFFERENCE, BUT IT'S
BEEN THERE FROM THE BEGINNING OF
HIS ADMINISTRATION.
THIS IS NEW MATERIAL.
>> ON THE HONESTY OF THE
PRESIDENT, YOUR POLLING SAYS
THAT 65% OF THE RESPONDENTS SAY
TRUMP IS SOMEONE THAT IS NOT
HONEST OR HONESTY DOES NOT
DESCRIBE HIM, WHILE 30% SAY IT
DOES DESCRIBE THEM.
IN JUNE THOSE NUMBERS WERE
BETTER.
WHAT'S HAPPENED?
>> THEY'RE A LITTLE BETTER.
HE'S MAYBE COME DOWN FIVE POINTS
OR FOUR POINTS ON THE HONESTY,
SO IT'S NOT A BIG CHANGE.
BUT MAYBE A LITTLE BIT LOWER.
BUT THAT'S AN EXAMPLE OF I THINK
-- PRESIDENT TRUMP'S HONESTY
RATINGS WERE PRETTY LOW, VERY
LOW, IN 2016 BEFORE THE ELECTION
AS WELL.
BUT THAT WAS A CASE WHERE
HILLARY CLINTON ACTUALLY GOT
LOWER RATINGS ON HONESTY THAN HE
DID.
THIS IS A PER EPTION IS OF THE
PRESIDENT -- PERCEPTION OF THE
PRESIDENT THAT'S BEEN BAKED IN
FROM THE BEGINNING AND YOU
EITHER LIKE HIM REGARDLESS OF
THAT OR YOU DISLIKE HIM BECAUSE
OF IT.
BUT IT HASN'T CHANGED.
AGAIN, THAT'S WHAT'S SO
DIFFERENT WITH UKRAINE AND
SYRIA.
THESE ARE NEW DEVELOPMENTS THAT
HE'S RESPONSIBLE FOR AS OPPOSED
TO THE KIND OF PERSON HE IS AND
PEOPLE HAVEN'T CHANGED THEIR
PERCEPTION ON THOSE GROUNDS.
>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE
DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES RUNNING
FOR PRESIDENT.
POLL LIKES BIDEN MORE.
THOSE THREE ARE AHEAD OF TRUMP
IN THE CASE OF SANDERS AND
WARREN.
WHERE DOES TRUMP STAND IN
COMPARISON TO THESE PEOPLE?
>> JOE BIDEN HAS A SIX-POINT
LEAD OVER TRUMP, BUT ALL ARE
INSIDE THE MARGIN OF ERROR.
FOR WARREN AND SANDERS, THEIR
NUMBERS MOVE JUST A LITTLE
BETWEEN THE AUGUST POLL AND NOW.
BIDEN IS NOW THREE POINTS FROM A
NINE-POINT LEAD IN AUGUST.
I WOULD STRESS THESE ARE SMALL
MOVES.
>> SUPER QUICKLY, YOU ADDED PETE
BUTTIGIEG.
WHY?
HE'S BEEN POLLING IN FOURTH
PLACE IN NATIONAL POLLS.
WE ASKED ABOUT KAMALA HARRIS,
BUT SHE HAS SLIPPED DOWN INTO
FIFTH PLACE IN NATIONAL.
SO WE TRIED HIM THIS TIME.
>> LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT GOVERNOR
EVERS'S POLLING.
JOB APPROVAL NUMBERS, 52%
APPROVE, 34% DISAPPROVE, 13% NO
OPINION.
HE CITES YOUR POLLING ON HIS
SPECIAL SESSION.
DO YOU THINK THAT'S GOING TO
HELP OR HURT HIM HERE?
>> I DON'T THINK THE POLLS HAVE
MUCH TO DO WITH HOW LEGISLATORS
REACT TO OUR PROPOSALS.
EVERS IS NET POPULAR.
HE WAS PLUS 20 IN AUGUST, UP
FROM PLUS TEN BEFORE THE BUDGET
IN THE SPRING.
BUT THINGS LIKE GUNS ARE A BIG
RANGE.
SO YOU GET A BIG MAJORITY THAT
THE GOVERNOR LIKES TO CITE FOR
BACKGROUND CHECKS AND RED FLAG
LAWS, OVER 80%.
AND OVER 70% OF REPUBLICANS
SUPPORT THOSE ON.
BUT THERE ARE MORE THAN
CONTROVERSIAL GUN PROPOSALS,
LIKE MANDATORY BUYBACKS OF
ASSAULT WEAPONS.
ONLY 13% OF REPUBLICANS SUPPORT,
70 SOMETHING OF DEMS DO, AND NET
MAJORITY OPPOSE THAT.
GUNS ARE NOT A SINGLE ISSUE AND
THEY DIVIDE THE PARTIES IN
DIFFERENT WAYS ON DIFFERENT
ASPECTS OF THE GUN ISSUE.
>> ALL RIGHT.
CHARLES FRANKLIN, THANKS A LOT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> A MARQUETTE LAW POLL IN
AUGUST FOUND 80% APPROVAL FOR
UNIVERSAL BACKGROUNDS CHECKS AND
RED FLAG LAWS IN WISCONSIN.
BEARING THAT IN MINDS, GOVERNOR
TONY EVERS THIS WEEK CALLED A
SPECIAL SESSION FOR NOVEMBER 7
TO TAKE UP BOTH GUN CONTROL
MEASURES.
BUT REPUBLICAN LEGISLATIVE
LEADERS IMMEDIATELY THREW COLD
WATER ON THE IDEA.
FOR MORE ON THIS SPECIAL SESSION
TUG-OF-WAR, WE GO TO THE STATE
CAPITOL, WHERE CAPITOL REPORTER
LAUREL WHITE JOINS US.
THANKS FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> IN FAIRNESS, SPEAKERS VOS AND
SENATE MAJORITY LEADER
FITZGERALD DID MORE THAN JUST
THROW COLD WATER ON THIS
SESSION.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
SO GOVERNOR EVERS HAS BEEN
TALKING ABOUT THESE TWO SPECIFIC
PROPOSALS HE WANTS TO SEE
DEBATED DURING A SPECIAL
SESSION.
BECAUSE OF THAT, REPUBLICAN
LEADERS SAY THEY KNOW THEY'RE
CONFIDENT THEY DON'T HAVE THE
VOTES TO PASS EITHER OF THOSE
BILLS.
SPECIFICALLY, SCOTT FITZGERALD
SAID HIS MEMBERS HAVEN'T BEEN
ABLE TO COME UP WITH ANY
ALTERNATIVE PLAN THAT THEY WOULD
RATHER VOTE ON.
SO HE SAYS THEY'RE GOING TO
CONVENE THE SPECIAL SESSION AND
THEN IMMEDIATELY END IT WITHOUT
HAVING ANY DEBATE OR HOLDING ANY
VOTES.
>> SO GAVELING IN AND GAVELING
OUT?
AND THAT IS ALLOWED, I TRUST?
>> IT IS.
SO WHEN THE GOVERNOR CALLS A
SPECIAL SESSION, HE CAN'T COMPEL
THEM TO VOTE ON ANYTHING IN
PARTICULAR OR TAKE ANY VOTES AT
ALL.
THE ONLY THING HE CAN COMPEL
THEM TO DO IS BEGIN AND END THAT
SPECIAL SESSION.
>> NOW, REPUBLICANS SAY THAT
THESE MEASURES ARE TANTAMOUNT TO
CONFISCATING GUNS.
ONE OF THE MEASURES WOULD ALLOW
SOMEONE'S GUNS TO BE REMOVED.
>> UNDER THE RED FLAG PROPOSAL,
A JUDGE COULD TEMPORARILY REVOKE
SOMEONE'S GUN RIGHTS IF THEY ARE
FLAGGED BY SOMEONE WHO KNOWS
THEM, A FRIEND OR FAMILY MEMBER,
AS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS TO
THEMSELVES OR OTHERS.
UNDER ANOTHER PROPOSAL, THE
BACKGROUND CHECK PROPOSAL,
BACKGROUND CHECKS FOR GUN SALES
IN WISCONSIN WOULD BE EXPANDED
TO PRIVATE SALES.
THOSE SALES CURRENTLY AREN'T
SUBJECT TO BACKGROUND CHECKS.
AND PRIVATE SALES AT GUN SHOWS
AS WELL.
>> EVERS SAID, QUOTE, AT THE END
OF THE DAY, HOW MANY TIMES CAN
YOU GO AGAINST 80% OF THE PEOPLE
OF THE STATE OF WISCONSIN AND
ESSENTIALLY TELL THEM TO GO TO
HELL AND AT THE SAME TIME EXPECT
TO BE REELECTED.
THIS DOES NOT SENSE TO ME.
SCOTT FITZGERALD IN PARTICULAR
WOULD SEEM AT THIS MOMENT CANNOT
CONSIDER GUN CONTROL
POLITICALLY.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
SO THE SENATE MAJORITY LEADER
SAYS THAT HE'S VERY CONFIDENT
THAT HE KNOWS WHAT HIS
CONSTITUENTS WANT HIM TO DO
REGARDING GUN CONTROL.
HE SAYS HE HAS PRETTY PROFOUND
CONCERNS ABOUT SECOND AMENDMENT
RIGHTS AND DUE PROCESS RIGHTS,
ABOUT THESE TWO PROPOSALS, AND
HE SAYS THERE JUST ISN'T THE
SUPPORT THERE IN A
REPUBLICAN-CONTROLLED
LEGISLATURE.
>> AND HE HAS THROWN HIS HAT IN
THE RING FOR THE FIFTH
CONGRESSIONAL RACE?
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
HE IS THE FIRST REPUBLICAN AND
ONLY REPUBLICAN AS OF RIGHT NOW
TO ANNOUNCE FOR THAT RACE.
>> ALL RIGHT.
LAUREL WHITE, THANKS VERY MUCH.
AND WE'LL BE TALKING WITH YOU
SOON.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> SPECIAL SESSIONS HAVE
HISTORICALLY PLAYED A UNIQUE
ROLE IN THE LEGISLATURE.
MARISA WOJCIK BRINGS US THESE
FAST FACTS ON SPECIAL SESSIONS.
>> THIS EK WEEK, GOVERNOR EVERS
CALLED ON THE LEGISLATURE TO
HOLD A SPECIAL SESSION TO
ADDRESS TWO BILLS ON GUN
CONTROL.
TYPICALLY, THE CALENDAR AND
AGENDA OF REGULAR LEGISLATIVE
SESSIONS ARE SET BY THE
LEGISLATURE ITSELF.
BUT WHAT MAKES A SPECIAL SESSION
SO SPECIAL?
A SPECIAL SESSION IS CALLED BY
THE GOVERNOR.
AND IT MUST ADDRESS NEW ISSUES
NOT ALREADY BEING CONSIDERED.
THE WISCONSIN LEGISLATURE HAS
CONVENED 97 OF THESE SPECIAL
SESSIONS SINCE 1848 WHEN THE
STATE WAS FOUNDED.
THE FIRST SPECIAL SESSION WAS IN
1861, AND THE MAIN PURPOSE WAS
TO ADDRESS CIVIL WAR POWERS.
THE SECOND WAS IN 1862, AND IT
COVERED MILITIA ORGANIZATION,
SOLDIERS' RIGHT TO VOTE, INDIAN
UPRISING AND PAYMENT TO MILITARY
OFFICE EMPLOYEES.
SOME TOPICS COME UP OVER THE
YEARS, LIKE COLLECTIVE
BARGAINING AGREEMENTS,
UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION OR
CONFIRMATION OF APPOINTMENTS.
OTHER TOPICS ARE A LITTLE MORE
UNIQUE, SUCH AS WAR ECONOMY,
INDEMNITIES FOR CATTLE WITH
TURBERCULOSIS, URBAN PROBLEMS,
STUDDED TIRES AND CORPORATE
HOSTILE TAKEOVERS.
IN THE STATE'S EARLY HIS TOARKS
THE LECTURE DIDN'T CONVENE AS
OFTEN AS IT DOES NOW AND SPECIAL
SESSIONS BEGAN TO GET LAWMAKERS
TO COME BACK TO THE CAPITOL TO
ADDRESS EMERGENCIES.
TODAY, SPECIAL SESSIONS HAPPEN
MORE FREQUENTLY, WITH THE
MAJORITY OF THEM HAVING BEEN
CALLED IN THE LAST SEVERAL
DECADES.
THIS HAS LESS TO DO WITH THE
URGENCY OF THE MATTERS BEING
ADDRESSED.
BECAUSE GOVERNORS CAN SELECT THE
TIME AND SET THE AGENDA OF THE
CALL, A SPECIAL SESSION ALLOWS
THEM TO HIGHLIGHT POLICY
PROBLEMS AND PROPOSE SOLUTIONS.
THE LEGISLATURE MUST RESPOND.
AND IN THIS WAY, THE SPECIAL
SESSION POWER GIVES THE GOVERNOR
AN ENHANCED ROLE IN SETTING THE
LEGISLATIVE AGENDA.
FOR THESE AND OTHER FAST FACTS,
VISIT wpt.org.
>> NOW TO THE ECONOMY AND NEW
LEADERSHIP AT THE WISCONSIN
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
CORPORATION.
MISSY HUGHES IS THE NEW CEO,
FORMALLY GENERAL COUNSEL FOR
ORGANIC VALLEY, A NATIONAL COOP
FARM ORGANIZATION.
SHE TAKES THE REINS FROM MARK
HOGAN WHO WAS APPOINTED IN 2015
AND STEPPED DOWN IN SEPTEMBER.
HOE DPANHOGAN OVERSAW THE $3 BILLION
FOXCONN CONTRACT WITH THE STATE.
WE TALK NOW ABOUT THE FUTURE OF
THAT PROJECT AS WELL AS OTHER
AGENCY PRIORITIES WITH NEW WEDC
HEAD MISSY HUGHES.
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> TELL ME HOW YOUR BACKGROUND
INFORMED HOW YOU WILL WORK AS
CEO AT WEDC.
>> I CAME FROM A CORPORATION OF
2,000 FAMILY FARMERS.
AND MY BACKGROUND THERE IS
REALLY BRINGING ALL OF THESE
DIVERSE STAKEHOLDERS TOGETHER.
THEY'RE THE OWNERS OF THE
BUSINESS AND BRINGING THEM
TOGETHER TO UNDERSTAND WHERE ARE
WE GOING, HOW ARE WE GOING TO
MARKET AND WHAT ARE WE TRYING TO
DO TO SUCCEED.
SO I THINK THAT THAT EFFORT OF
COLLABORATION IS GOING TO SERVE
ME REALLY WELL AS I WORK AT WEDC
WITH ALL THE DIFFERENT
STAKEHOLDERS INVOLVED IN
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN
WISCONSIN.
>> NOW, YOU HAVE TOURED THE
STATE EVEN IN YOUR SHORT TENURE
AS CEO.
WHAT DID YOU FIND AND WHAT WILL
BE YOUR PRIORITIES?
>> I FOUND THAT THERE'S A LOT
GOING ON ALL AROUND THE STATE AS
FAR AS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
GOES.
AND WHAT I WAS REALLY IMPRESSED
WITH IS THE PUBLIC/PRIVATE
PARTNERSHIP THAT I SAW
THROUGHOUT THE STATE IN PLACES
LIKE GREEN GREEN BAY OR EAU CLAIRE,
BUSINESSES THAT WERE TAKING
ADVANTAGE OF BEING IN A STRONG
COMMUNITY AND WORKING WITH THE
COMMUNITY TO MOVE THINGS
FORWARD.
>> WHAT IS THE SITUATION WITH
FOXCONN RIGHT NOW?
>> SO FOXCONN IS UNDER A WHOLE
GAMBIT OF CONSTRUCTION AND
THERE'S A TON HAPPENING THERE.
WE JUST BRIEFED THE WEDC BOARD
ON THE CONSTRUCTION THAT'S
HAPPENING THERE.
WHERE I'M LEARNING ABOUT IT, I'M
MEETING WITH THE LEADERSHIP
SOON.
THERE'S BEEN A WHOLE TRANSITION
OF DIFFERENT FOLKS.
THERE'S A DIFFERENT
ADMINISTRATION, A DIFFERENT ME
AND A DIFFERENT FELLOW IN CHARGE
OF AMERICA'S PROJECTS FOR
FOXCONN.
SO I'M GOING TO BE MEETING WITH
HIM AND REALLY LEARNING MORE
ABOUT HOW DO WE MAKE THIS
PROJECT SUCCEED, BOTH FOR FOR
EXAMPLE CON AND FOR THE STATE.
>> HOW IMPORTANT IS
ACCOUNTABILITY?
>> HOW IMPORTANT IS
ACCOUNTABILITY?
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT ACROSS
THE BOARD FOR FOXCONN OR ANY OF
THE PROJECTS THAT WEDC IS
INVOLVED IN.
AND SO MARK HOGAN HAS PUT IN A
GREAT FOUNDATION OF
ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO REALLY
BUILDING ON THAT.
BUT ALSO REALLY THINKING ABOUT
WHAT ARE THE OTHER PROJECTS THAT
WEDC CAN BE INVOLVED IN, WHETHER
IT'S COMMUNITY BUILDING OR SMALL
MINORITY BUSINESSES, HOW ARE WE
HELPING THEM.
I THINK THERE'S A WHOLE GAMBIT
BEYOND FOXCONN.
AS CEO OF WEDC I HOPE WE'RE
TALKING A LOT MORE ABOUT THOSE
PROJECTS AND A LOT LESS THAN
FOXCONN.
>> WE READ THAT MANUFACTURING
HAS SLIPPED IN WISCONSIN.
WHAT IS YOUR PLAN TO MAKE SURE
THAT THE STATE'S LARGEST
EMPLOYMENT SECTOR THRIVES GOING
FORWARD?
>> I THINK THAT THERE'S A NEW
DAY FOR MANUFACTURING IN
WISCONSIN.
AND AS PART OF MY TOUR, I
VISITED A NUMBER OF
MANUFACTURING FACILITIES.
AND I SAW AMAZING ROBOTICS.
I SAW AMAZING NEW TECHNOLOGY
THAT'S BEING IMPLEMENTED.
AND JUST SIMPLE IDEAS.
PRINT PACK IN RIEN RHINELANDER HAS A
GREAT NEW IDEA FOR SIMPLE THINGS
LIKE PRINTING FILMS THAT GO
AROUND CANDY BARS.
I THINK THERE'S ALL SORTS OF NEW
THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO BE
HAPPENING AND THE FUTURE OF
WISCONSIN IS MANUFACTURING AND
THE FUTURE OF WISCONSIN'S
WORKFORCE IS WORKING IN THAT
MANUFACTURING.
>> WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE
MANUFACTURING AND AG TAX CREDIT
AS A JOB CREATION TOOL?
>> I THINK THAT THAT OFFERS THE
ABILITY FOR MANUFACTURING AND AG
BUSINESSES TO LOCATE IN
WISCONSIN WITH VERY LITTLE TAX
IMPACT.
AND SO THEN THEY'RE ABLE TO
SPEND THEIR MONEY ON THE
WORKFORCE AND ON DEVELOPING
JOBS.
SO IT'S A REGENERATIVE EFFORT.
I THINK WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND IS
THAT WHY COMPANIES ARE STAYING
IN WISCONSIN AND WHY THEY'RE
COMING TO WISCONSIN AND
UNDERSTANDING THE IMPACT OF IT,
AS WE NEED TO BE DOING WITH ALL
OUR TAX CREDITS.
>> WHAT ARE OTHER KINDS OF JOB
CREATION TOOLS THAT YOU WOULD
LIKE TO MAKE USE OF?
>> I THINK ONE OF THE REALLY
MOST IMPORTANT THINGS IN JOB
CREATION IS HAVING THE
FOUNDATION FOR FOLKS TO WANT TO
COME AND STAY IN WISCONSIN.
SO STRONG COMMUNITIES, A STRONG
QUALITY OF LIFE, HOUSING,
BROADBAND.
THERE'S A GAMBIT OF ALL
DIFFERENT TOOLS IN THE TOOLBOX
IN ORDER TO CREATE JOBS.
IT'S NOT JUST TAX CREDITS.
IT'S NOT YUS JUST THE STATE GIVING
AWAY INCENTIVES.
BUT IT'S WORKING WITH ALL MY
PARTNERS IN THE AGENCIES.
I JUST CAME FROM MY FIRST
CABINET MEETING AND MEETING ALL
THE FOLKS I'M GOING TO BE
WORKING WITH IS REALLY EXCITING.
>> ONE THING THAT I KNOW THAT
THE PREVIOUS CEO HAS EMBARKED
UPON WAS THIS KIND OF AD BLITZ
TO KIND OF ATTRACT EMPLOYEES TO
WISCONSIN.
HOW IS THAT GOING?
ARE WE DOING WELL ON THAT?
>> WELL, I THINK WE HAVE A GREAT
CAMPAIGN.
AND WHAT I ALWAYS SAY, COMING
FROM A MARKETING COOPERATIVE,
YOU HAVE TO HAVE A GREAT PRODUCT
AND THEN YOU CAN MARKET THAT
GREAT PRODUCT.
SOICSO MAKING SURE WE HAVE STRONG
COMMUNITIES, STRONG BUSINESSES,
PLACES THAT KIDS WANT TO GO AND
WORK AT, THAT PARENTS WANT THEIR
KIDS TO GO WORK AT AND THEN
WE'LL MARKET THAT PRODUCT AND BE
ABLE TO RETAIN TALENT AND BRING
FOLKS IN.
>> ALL RIGHT.
MISSY HUGHES, THANKS SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> NOW TO MORE ECONOMY-RELATED
NEWS AND A TRADE VISIT TO
WISCONSIN BY VICE PRESIDENT MIKE
PENCE.
THE VICE PRESIDENT APPEARED AT
U-LINE, A DISTRIBUTOR OF
PACKAGING MATERIALS IN PLEASANT
PRAIRIE.
HE USED THE OCCASION TO
ENCOURAGE SUPPORT FOR THE
U.S./MEXICO/CANADA TRADE
AGREEMENT.
THE PLAN AWAITS CONGRESSIONAL
APPROVAL.
MEANWHILE, THE U.S. TRADE WAR
WITH CHINA IS HITTING WISCONSIN
GINSENG PRODUCERS IN A BIG WAY.
TONIGHT, HOW CHINA'S RETALIATORY
TARIFFS AND VALUE-ADDED TAXES
HAVE ROCKETED TO A 41% ADDED
FEE, MAKING THE COVETED PRODUCT
MORE EXPENSIVE FOR BUYERS, MANY
OF WHOM SAY THE FARMERS SHOULD
ABSORB THE INCREASED COST.
SO WHERE DOES THIS LEAVE
WISCONSIN GINSENG GROWERS WHO
EXPORT 85 BERS% OF THEIR CROP TO
CHINA.
WE CHECK IN WITH WILL HSU WHO
OPERATES A GINSENG FARM NORTH OF
WAUSAU.
SO WHAT HAS BEEN THE EFFECT OF
THE U.S. TRADE WAR WITH CHINA ON
YOUR GINSENG FARM?
>> WELL, I THINK FOR THE OVERALL
INDUSTRY, WHAT IT'S MEANT IS THE
PROCESSORS AND PURCHASERS IN
CHINA HAVE REALLY ASKED THOSE OF
US HERE IN CENTRAL WISCONSIN TO
ABSORB THE BRUNT OF THE TARIFF,
MEANING THE PRICES THAT FARMERS
ARE RECEIVING HERE ARE ABOUT 30%
TO 40% LOWER THAN THEY WERE THE
LAST COUPLE YEARS.
>> SO WHAT KIND OF LOSSES DOES
THAT REPRESENT?
>> FOR OUR INDUSTRY, A 30% TO
40% PRICE DECREASE PROBABLY
MEANS THAT THE LOCAL ECONOMY
HERE IS LOSING SOMEWHERE BETWEEN
$10 AND $15 MILLION THAT'S
INFUSED DIRECTLY TO THE FARMERS.
AND THOSE FARMERS BUY A LOT OF
THEIR EQUIPMENT LOCALLY.
WE BUY VEHICLES, TRUCKS,
TRACTORS AND WE EMPLOY A LOT OF
PEOPLE HERE IN CENTRAL
WISCONSIN.
AND SO IT DOES MEAN THAT WE'VE
HAD TO FIND WAYS TO MAYBE TRIM
COSTS AND NOT USE AS MUCH LABOR
OR NOT HIRE AS MANY PEOPLE.
>> WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE U.S.
TRADE POLICIES THAT BROUGHT YOU
TO THIS PLACE?
>> I THINK MOST OF THE FARMERS
HERE IN CENTRAL WISCONSIN,
REGARDLESS IF YOU'RE TALKING
ABOUT GINSENG FARMERS OR OTHER
PRODUCERS, UNDERSTAND THE NEED
TO HAVE FAIR TRADE, AND THEY MAY
SUPPORT THE REPUBLICAN
ADMINISTRATION IN TERMS OF WHAT
THEY'RE TRYING TO DO TO LEVEL
THE PLAYING FIELD WITH CHINA.
I THINK THE DIFFICULT PART OF
THAT IS HOW IT IS IMPACTING US
PERSONALLY AND FINANCIALLY.
I THINK A LOT OF FARMERS FEEL
THAT PINCH.
THEY FEEL THE BRUNT OF THE TRADE
WAR.
AND THEY'RE HAVING TO TAKE IT IN
THE POCKETBOOK BECAUSE OF OUR
BROADER NATIONAL POLICY AND
TRADE STRATEGY.
>> NOW, PRESIDENT TRUMP
ANNOUNCED A TRADE DEAL WITH
CHINA EARLIER THIS MONTH.
HOW OPTIMISTIC ARE YOU THAT THAT
MIGHT BRING SOME RELIEF HERE?
>> I GUESS IT'S HOPEFUL
OPTIMISM.
WE'VE HEARD IT BEFORE.
I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN
NECESSARILY COUNT ON IT AND BANK
ON IT.
I THINK, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE A
DIFFERENCE IN REGIME.
YOU HAVE CHINESE PREMIERE, WHO
FOR LACK OF BETTER WORD DOESN'T
HAVE TO FACE REELECTION AND YOU
HAVE A PRESIDENT THAT'S GOING TO
HAVE TO FACE REELECTION NEXT
YEAR.
SO IF YOU LOOK AT THE SHORT TERM
VERIZONSHORT TERMVERSUS THE LONG TERM WE'RE
LOOKING AT TWO DIFFERENT GAMES.
>> HOW DOES THE CROP LOOK?
>> THIS YEAR BECAUSE OF THE
WEATHER, WHICH NO ONE CAN
CONTROL, THE CROP YIELD IS NOT
AS GOOD AS IT HAS BEEN IN RECENT
YEARS.
THE OVERALL POUNDAGE MAY BE DOWN
A LITTLE BIT.
YOU'RE SEEING MORE FARMERS SAVE
ROOTS FOR AN ADDITIONAL ROOT,
MEANING SAVING THREE-YEAR-OLD
ROOTS YOU WOULD NORMALLY
HARVEST, WITH THE HOPE THAT A
TRADE DEAL IS DONE AND THAT
PRICES ARE BETTER AND RECOVER
NEXT YEAR.
>> HAVE YOU SOLD YOUR GINSENG
CROP?
>> MOST OF THE CROP THAT WE
HARVEST OURSELVES IS USED
INTERNALLY WITHIN OUR OWN
OPERATION FOR OUR OWN CUSTOMERS.
I WOULD SAY THAT THERE ARE A FEW
FARMERS THAT STILL HAVE CROP
LEFT OVER FROM LAST HARVEST, SO
2018 HARVEST, AND SOME OF THE
NEW CROP IS JUST STARTING TO
COME ON THE MARKET.
AND WE ARE SEEING SOME SOFTNESS
AND WEAKNESS IN PRICE AS THE
TRADE WAR DRAGS ON AND IT
CONTINUES TO HAVE A DOWNWARD
PRESSURE ON THE OVERALL MARKET
PRICE FOR GINSENG, ES PECIAL LYL
FORESPECIALLYFOR THE NEW 2019 CROP.
>> I KNOW FOXCONN SIGNED AN
AGREEMENT WITH THE GINSENG BOARD
AND YOURSELF TO PROMOTE
WISCONSIN GINSENG IN FOREIGN
MARKETS AND PRODUCE THE
COMPANY'S OWN BRAND OF GINSENG.
WHAT HAS BEEN THE OUTCOME OF
THAT AGREEMENT?
>> SO I THINK IN SOME REGARDS TO
THE TRADE WAR, WHAT WE'RE SEEING
WITH FOXCONN IS THAT THEY ARE
DOING THAT AGREEMENT IN TAIWAN.
SO THEY ARE PURCHASING PRODUCT
FROM US, EITHER HERE IN
WISCONSIN OR FROM OUR OPERATIONS
IN TAIWAN, AND MARKETING AND
SELLING THAT ROOT IN TAIWAN.
BUT BECAUSE OF THE IMPACT OF THE
TARIFFS ON ON ON IMPORTS INTO CHAIN
THAT, THEY AREN'T PURSUING IT IN
CHINA, ONE OF THE BIGGEST
MARKETS.
SO IT IS A MISSED OPPORTUNITY
WITH THAT TRADE AGREEMENT WITH
FOXCONN BECAUSE OF THE TRADE
WAR.
BUT IT'S A SIDE EFFECT OF WHAT'S
GOING ON NATIONALLY.
>> DID FOXCONN END UP INVESTING
IN HIGH-END INSPECTION
TECHNOLOGY AT YOUR FARM TO
PRODUCE ITS GINSENG?
>> NO.
THEY HAVE NOT.
TO DATE, THEY HAVE NOT.
AND I THINK PART OF IT IS JUST
BECAUSE THE VOLUME THAT THEY
NEED TO SATISFY THE TAIWAN
MARKET IS VERY SMALL VERSUS HOW
BIG THEY EXPECTED THE CHINESE
MARKET TO BE.
>> JUST VERY BRIEFLY, SHOULD THE
TRADE DEAL WITH CHINA BE
REALIZED, CAN YOUR LOSSES AND
MARKETS BE RECOVERED?
>> I THINK SOME OF THE MARKET
LOSSES WILL BE RECOVERED
IMMEDIATELY, BUT THE LONG-TERM
EFFECT IS PRETTY DAMAGING.
IT TOOK US 20 YEARS TO DEVELOP
THE CHINA MARKET.
THEY ARE STILL OUR PRIMARY
CONSUMER.
THEY WILL STILL COME BACK.
BUT WHAT IT HAS ALLOWED IS THE
PRODUCERS OF AMERICAN GINSENG IN
CHINA AND CANADA TO REALLY STEP
IN WITH WHAT ISN'T NECESSARILY
LOWER COST, BUT IT'S LOWER COST
TO THE CONSUMER.
MEANINGMEANING BECAUSE OF THE
ADDITIONAL 40% TARIFF IT GIVES
THEM A MARKET TO OPERATE BECAUSE
THEY DO NOT HAVE TO PRICE
COMPETE WITH US.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WE NEED TO LEAVE IT THERE.
WILL HSU, THANKS VERY MUCH AND
GOOD LUCK.
>> THANK YOU.
>> NOW FOR A LOOK AT OTHER STATE
NEWS, INCLUDING THE RETIREMENT
OF U.S. SYSTEM PRESIDENT RAY
CROSS.
CROSS HAS LED THE UW SYSTEM
SINCE 2014.
BEFORE THAT, HE WAS CHANCELLOR
AT UW COLLEGES.
HE'LL CONTINUE TO SERVE UNTIL A
SEARCH COMMITTEE DETERMINES HIS
REPLACEMENT.
ALSO THIS WEEK, THE WISCONSIN
SUPREME COURT HEARD ARGUMENTS IN
A LAWSUIT CHALLENGING LAME DUCK
LAWS.
THE CASE WAS FILED BY A
COALITION OF UNIONS THIS PAST
FEBRUARY, INCLUDING THE SERVICE
EMPLOYEES INTERNATIONAL.
THE UNIONS CONTEND THAT THE
STATE'S LAME DUCK LAWS ARE
SHIFTING POWERS FROM THE
EXECUTIVE BRANCH TO THE
LEGISLATIVE BRANCH AND THEREFORE
ARE UNCONSTITUTIONAL.
MUCH OF THE HEARING FOCUSED ON
THE REDUCED POWER OF ATTORNEY
GENERAL JOSH KAUL, WHO UNDER THE
NEW LAW MUST CONFER WITH
LAWMAKERS BEFORE LEAVING FEDERAL
LAWSUITS OR SETTLING CASES FOR
THE STATE.
THE SUPREME COURT HAS YET TO
RULE ON THIS CASE.
AND THAT IS OUR PROGRAM FOR
TONIGHT.
I'M F FREDERICA FREYBERG.
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED, IN PART, BY FRIENDS OF