>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION.
>> TODAY I'M ANNOUNCING THE
HOUSE OF REPRESENT REPRESENTATIVES IS
MOVING FORWARD WITH AN OFFICIAL
IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY.
>> HOUSE SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI
CALLS FOR ARTICLES OF
IMPEACHMENT.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW," A UW
EXPERT ON IMPEACHMENT PROVIDES
CONTEXT ON WHAT'S HAPPENING IN
WASHINGTON.
DUMPING PEOPLE WHO CHANGED
ADDRESS OFF THE VOTER ROLLS IN
WISCONSIN.
HOW LONG SHOULD REGISTRATIONS
REMAIN ACTIVE?
AND AN INSIDE LOOK AT A NEW SAFE
HOUSE FOR SURVIVORS OF SEX
TRAFFICKING, THE LARGEST IN THE
STATE.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR
DECEMBER 6.
>> UND IFING FOR "HERE AND.>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED, IN PART, BY FRIENDS OF
WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISION.
>> PRESIDENT DLT DONALD TRUMP IS
VERY LIKELY ON HIS WAY TO BEING
ITCH PEECHED BYBEINGISM PEECHEDBEINGIMPEACHED BY THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES.
WE TURN TO UW-MADISON POLITICAL
SCIENTIST DAVID CANON.
WHAT IS YOUR REACTION THAT HOUSE
DEMOCRATS WILL PROCEED IN
DRAWING UP ARTICLES OF
IMPEACHMENT?
>> WELL, I THINK THERE WAS NO
DOUBT SINCE THE DAY SHE
ANNOUNCED THE INQUIRY THIS IS
THE WAY WE WERE HEADED.
THE SURPRISE IS IN TERMS OF THE
TIMING BECAUSE ESPECIALLY AFTER
THE CONSTITUTIONAL EXPERT
TESTIFIED ON WEDNESDAY THAT YOU
NEED TO SLOW DOWN, GET TESTIMONY
FROM SOME OF THE OTHER KEY
WITNESSES, MAKE THIS AS STRONG A
CASE AS YOU CAN, THERE WAS SOME
DISCUSSION WITHIN THE DEMOCRATIC
PARTY ABOUT TRYING TO GET
TESTIMONY FROM THOSE WITNESSES
AND THAT WOULD MEAN SLOWING
THINGS DOWN A LOT BECAUSE YOU'D
HAVE TO GET THE COURT DECISION
THAT WOULD BASICALLY ORDER THOSE
PEOPLE TO FOLLOW THE SUBPOENAS.
AND SO YOU'RE LOOKING AT
PROBABLY LATE SPRING AT THE
EARLIEST IF THEY DID THAT.
SO I THINK THE SPEAKER PROBABLY
MADE THE CALCULATION THAT
THERE'S A DANGER THAT THE CLOCK
WOULD RUN OUT, YOU'D GET INTO
THE SUMMER.
THE DECISION WAS WE WANT TO DO
THIS RIGHT AWAY SO WE'RE
PROBABLY LOOKING AT A VOTE
BEFORE CHRISTMAS.
>> WHICH ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT
OR CHARGES ARE MOST LIKELY?
>> THIS IS THE ONE PLACE WHERE
THERE STILL IS INTERNAL DEBATE.
SPEAKER MET WITH THE CAUCUS ON
MONDAY.
THERE'S STILL A DIFFERENCE OF
OPINION OF DO WE JUST STICK WITH
UKRAINE AND ONE ARTICLE WOULD BE
ABUSE OF POWER, PROBABLY
NARROWLY DEFINED AS BRIBERY, THE
SECOND WOULD BE OBSTRUCTION OF
JUSTICE, THE REFUSAL OF THE
WHITE HOUSE TO GO ALONG WITH
COOPERATING AS MANY OF THE
WITNESSES.
SO THOSE WOULD BE THE TWO
ARTICLES.
AND THEN IF THEY DECIDE TO MAKE
IT BROADER, THEY COULD BRING IN
OBSTRUCTION FROM THE MUELLER
REPORT AS WELL.
THAT'S WHERE SOME PEOPLE ARE
ARGUING TO MAKE IT BROADER.
>> IN TERMS OF THAT EX TERRITORY
WHOTERRITORY-- EXPERT WHO TESTIFIED THIS WAS
BEING RUSHED, DO YOU AGREE WITH
THAT?
>> NOT REALLY.
THAT WAS JONATHAN TURLY, THE
EXPERT CALLED BY THE
REPUBLICANS.
HE SAID HE THEY NEED TO SLOW
DOWN TO GET THE STRONGEST
POSSIBLE CASE.
IN AN IDEAL WORLD, I AGREE WITH
THAT.
IT WOULD BE WONDERFUL TO HAVE
THE TESTIMONY FROM THOSE KEY
WITNESSES.
BUT WHEN YOU COMPARE IT TO OTHER
IMPEACHMENTS WE'VE HAD, ANDREW
JOHNSON'S, THE FIRST AFTER THE
CIVIL WAR, THAT WHOLE PROCESS
WAS ONE WEEK LONG FROM THE
BEGINNING TO THE END, ONE WEEK
TOTAL.
SO THAT ONE WAS LIKE A SPEED
RECORD COMPARED TO WHAT WE HAVE
RIGHT NOW, WHICH IS GOING TO BE
ABOUT THREE MONTHS FROM THE
BEGINNING OF SPEAKER PELOSI
ANNOUNCING THE INQUIRY TO THE
ANTICIPATED VOTE ON PROBABLY
DECEMBER 20.
SO IT'S AT LEAST SLOWER THAN
THAT ONE.
WATERGATE AND CLINTON
IMPEACHMENT LASTED LONGER.
>> IT WAS SAID THIS WAS AN
INCREDIBLY CLEAR CASE.
DO YOU AGREE WITH THAT?
>> YEAH.
ESPECIALLY IF YOU KEEP THE FOCUS
ON WHAT HAPPENED WITH UKRAINE, I
THINK THAT IT IS A CLEAR CASE OF
ABUSE OF POWER.
AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE
REPUBLICANS' MINORITY REPORT
THAT WAS ISSUED ON MONDAY FROM
THE HOUSE INTELLIGENCE
COMMITTEE, THEY TRIED TO ARGUE
THAT -- THEY DEFINITELY TRIED TO
ARGUE THIS WAS NOT A CLEAR CASE
AND THAT IT DOESN'T MERE RYT
IMPEACHMENT.
-- MERIT
IMPEACHMENT, THAT PRESIDENT
PRESIDENT TRUMP WAS JUSTIFIED IN
ASKING FOR THE INVESTIGATION OF
BIDEN AND UKRAINE'S INVOLVEMENT
IN THE 2016 ELECTION BECAUSE
THESE WERE LEGITIMATE CONCERNS
ABOUT CORRUPTION.
THAT WAS THE GENERAL FRAMEWORK.
THOSE ARGUMENTS DON'T STAND UP
TO A COUPLE OF KIND OF COMMON
SENSE REACTIONS TO WHAT WE KNOW
ARE THE FACTS ON THE GROUND.
LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE, IF THAT'S
TRUE AND IT WASES IT WAS JUST A GENERAL
CONCERN WITH CORRUPTION, THEN
WHY RELEASE THE MILITARY AID
AFTER THIS IS REVEALED.
WHY NOT STICK TO YOUR GUNS AND
SAY, NO, WE'RE TRYING TO PURSUE
CORRUPTION HERE.
SO WHY BACK DOWN?
WHY DENY THERE'S A QUID PRO QUO
WHERE IF THIS IS A LEGITIMATE
AIM, THEN QUID PRO QUOS ARE DONE
ALL THE TIME.
WHY NOT SAY YES, IT'S A QUID PRO
QUO.
>> REPUBLICANS ARE ALSO SAYING
THAT THIS REALLY IS JUST THE
EMBODIMENT OF DEMOCRATS' HATRED
FOR DONALD TRUMP.
WHAT ABOUT THAT?
>> THIS IS A LINE THEY PICKED UP
IN THEIR MINORITY REPORT AS
WELL.
THEY HAD QUOTES FROM PEOPLE THE
DAY AFTER THE ELECTION THAT WE
WANT TO IMPEACH PRESIDENT TRUMP.
THERE'S PLENTY OF HATRED FOR THE
PRESIDENT.
BUT NANCY PELOSI REACTED
STRONGLY AGAINST THAT YESTERDAY
AND SAID, NO, IT'S NOT ABOUT
HATRED AT ALL.
IT'S THEIR CONSTITUTIONAL DUTY
TO DO THIS.
AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT SHE
WAS VERY CLEAR EARLY ON THAT SHE
HAD NO DESIRE TO IMPEACH THE
PRESIDENT.
IT WAS ONLY AFTER THE PHONE CALL
WITH DISATHAT THEY HAD TO GO AHEAD WITH
THIS.
>> YOU CAME IN WITH A QUOTE FROM
THE FEDERALIST PAPERS.
DESCRIBE WHY YOU BROUGHT IT IN
AND READ IT FOR US.
>> THIS IS FROM ALEXANDER
HAMILTON THAT DEFINES WHAT THE
FOUNDERS MEANT BY IMPEACHMENT.
THEY DEFINED IT AS A POLITICAL
ACT THAT WOULD BE DEFINED BY
CONGRESS, NOT A LEGAL ONE, AND
AS AN ABUSE OF PUBLIC POWER BY
AN OFFICE HOLDER.
BUT THE PART THAT IS NOT REALLY
TALKED ABOUT AS MUCH -- SO
EVERYONE HAS BEEN QUOTING THOSE
LINES FROM HAMILTON.
WHAT HASN'T BEEN QUOTED IN THE
LAST WEEK OR SO WAS WHERE HE
CONNECTS THIS TO POLITICS TODAY
AND HOW DIVISIVE POLITICS COULD
LEAD TO UNDERMINING THE DUTY OF
SENATORS WHO ARE SERVING AS THE
JURORS IN THE TRIAL.
IN MANY CASES, WILL CONNECT
ITSELF WITH THE PREEXISTING
FACTIONS AND WILL ENLIST ALL OF
THE ANIMOSITIES, PARTIALTIES,
INFLUENCE ON ONE SIDE OR THE
OTHER.
THERE WILL ALSO BE THE GREATEST
DANGER THAT THE DECISION WILL BE
REGULATED MORE BY THE
COMPARATIVE STRENGTH OF THE
PARTIES THAN BY THE REAL
DEMONSTRATIONS OF INNOCENCE OR
GUILT.
SO HAMELL SON IS HAMILTON IS WARNING US BE
CAREFUL ABOUT PARTIES AND DON'T
GET STICK IN YOUR PARTISAN SIDE
OF THIS DEBATE, BUT BE REALLY
COMPELLED BY THE EVIDENCE OF
INNOCENCE OR GUILT.
I THINK THAT'S A STRONG REMINDER
NOT JUST TO THE SENATORS WHO
WILL BE SERVING AS JURORS IN
THIS CASE, BUT TO THE AMERICAN
PUBLIC AS WELL.
IT SEEMS TO BE SO LOCKED INTO
THEIR PARTISAN VIEWS ON THIS AND
DON'T NECESSARILY SEEM TO BE
PAYING ATTENTION TO THE EVIDENCE
BEFORE THEM.
>> PROFESSOR CANON, THANKS VERY
MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> NOW TO ELECTION NEWS AND A
CONTROVERSY OVER VOTING ROLLS.
NEARLY A QUARTER MILLION
WISCONSIN VOTERS THIS FALL GOT
LETTERS ASKING WHETHER THEY HAD
MOVED UNDER PROVISIONS OF THE
NATIONAL ELECTION REGISTRATION
INFORMATION CENTER, OR ERIC.
IF THOSE VOTERS DON'T RESPOND,
THEY GET REMOVED FROM THE VOTING
ROLLS.
THE STATE ELECTIONS COMMISSION
PLANS TO PURGE THE UNRESPONSIVE
VOTERS AFTER APRIL, 2021.
BUT A LAWSUIT FILED LAST MONTH
SEEKS TO REMOVE THE VOTERS 30
DAYS AFTER RECEIPT OF THE
MAILING.
IN THE MIDST OF ALL OF THIS, THE
COMMISSION IS ASKING THE STATE
LEGISLATURE TO ESTABLISH
SPECIFIC PROCEDURES OR GRANT
ELECTION OFFICIAL RULE-MAKING
AUTHORITY TO DECIDE.
THESE LEGAL QUESTIONS AROUND
VOTER ELIGIBILITY COME LESS THAN
A YEAR FROM THE PRESIDENTIAL
ELECTION THAT HAS WISCONSIN
PEGGED AS THE MOST IMPORTANT
ELECTORATE IN THE NATION.
THE CHAIR OF THE WISCONSIN
ELECTIONS COMMISSION IS DEAN
KNUDSON AND HE JOINS US NOW.
>> GLAD TO BE HERE.
>> SO, AGAIN, THE ELECTIONS
COMMISSION WOULD MAINTAIN THE
VOTERS UNTIL AFTER THE 2021
ELECTION.
WHY SO LONG?
>> WELL, THE 2015 LAW THAT MADE
WISCONSIN A MEMBER OF ERIC
PROVIDED NO SPECIFIC DIRECTION
OR AUTHORITY TO THE COMMISSION
FOR HOW WE WOULD HANDLE THESE
VOTERS THAT ARE IDENTIFIED AS
POSSIBLY MOVED.
THE MOVERS' LIST HAS BEEN NOW
HANDLED BY ADMINISTRATIVE POLICY
SET BY THE ELECTIONS COMMISSION.
WE'VE DECIDED THAT THIS YEAR WE
SENT THESE OVER 200,000
POSTCARDS.
IF ANYONE RECEIVED ONE OF THOSE,
THEY SHOULD GO TO MYVOTEWI GOFF
AND REVIEW AND CORRECT THEIR
REGISTRATION AS NEEDED.
BUT WITHOUT ANY STATUTORY
DIRECTION OR AUTHORITY, WE'VE
COME UP WITH A SYSTEM WHERE
AFTER THAT MAILING IS RECEIVED,
THESE VOTERS WILL STILL BE ABLE
TO COME TO THE POLLS, BUT WHEN
THEY ARRIVE TO VOTE, THEIR SPOT
ON THE POLL LIST WILL BE
DEMARCATED THAT SAYS THEY'RE ON
THAT MOVERS' LIST.
THEY'LL BE ASKED DID YOU AND
TOLD THAT BY SIGNING THAT POLL
LIST THAT THEY ARE AFFIRMING
THAT THEY HAVE NOT MOVED AND
THEY STILL LIVE AT THAT ADDRESS.
WE FEEL THIS COMPLIES WITH ALL
STATE LAWS.
VERY CONFIDENT IN THAT.
AND I THINK IT WILL PROVIDE
UNIFORMITY ACROSS THE STATE,
WHICH IS SOMETHING WE DIDN'T
HAVE IN 2017 WHEN SOME LOCAL
OFFICIALS USED THEIR LOCAL
CONTROL AND PREROGATIVE TO WANT
TO REACTIVATE THE VOTERS THAT
HAD BEEN INACTIVATED ON THE
MOVERS' LIST.
>> MEANWHILE, THIS LAWSUIT
AGAINST THE COMMISSION WOULD
DEACTIVATE SUCH VOTERS AFTER 30
DAYS.
IS THERE SOMETHING WRONG WITH
THAT, IN YOUR MIND?
>> WELL, I'M PRETTY CONFIDENT
THAT THE LAWSUIT -- THAT -- THAT THE
COMMISSION HAS FOLLOWED THE LAW.
THE WILL LAWSUIT CLAIMS THAT THE
COMMISSION HAS THE AUTHORITY AND
THE MANDATE TO INACTIVATE, BUT
WE DON'T FIND EITHER OF THOSE IN
THE STATUTES.
FOR FOUR-YEAR VOTER MAINTENANCE,
SECTIONS ONE AND TWO OF THE LAW
YOU REFERENCED DEAL WITH THAT
AND SPECIFICALLY SAY THAT THERE
WILL BE A MAILING AFTER 30 DAYS,
THEY'RE INACTIVATED.
SECTION THREE DOESN'T MENTION
THE ELECTIONS COMMISSION AT ALL.
IT ONLY GIVES THAT AUTHORITY TO
THE LOCAL CLERKS TO DO IN
ACTIVATION.
SO BECAUSE WE TRIED TO DO IT
THAT WAY IN 2017, IT WOULDN'T
HOLD UP.
WE NEED SOMETHING THAT'S
UNIFORM.
AND WE REALLY NEED GUIDANCE FROM
THE LEGISLATURE.
>> WELL, MEANWHILE, THE GROUP
THAT'S FILED THE LAWSUIT SAYS
THAT THE ELECTIONS COMMISSION IS
PUTTING WISCONSIN'S ELECTION
INTEGRITY AT RISK.
IS WHAT YOU'RE DOING LIKELY TO
LEAD TO FRAUDULENT VOTING?
>> SO EVERYONE THAT'S ON THAT
LIST IS A REGISTERED VOTER.
WHEN THEY ARRIVE AT THE POLL,
THEY WON'T VOTE UNLESS HE THEY
AFFIRM AND SWEAR BY SIGNING THAT
POLL LIST THAT THEY STILL LIVE
AT THAT ADDRESS WHERE THEY'RE
REGISTERED.
IN MOST CASES, THEY ACTUALLY DID
MOVE.
AND IN 2017, WE FOUND THAT THE
FALSE POSITIVE MATCH RATE RAN
AROUND 6% TO 7%.
THIS TIME, WE EXPECT MAYBE IT
WILL BE DOWN TO 3% OR SOMETHING
IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.
TIME WILL TELL.
SO FAR, SINCE THE MAILING WENT
OUT, ABOUT A HALF A PERCENT HAVE
GONE IN AND SAID, HEY, WE DO
ACTUALLY STILL LIVE HERE.
WE WERE A FALSE POSITIVE MATCH
ON THE ERIC LIST MATCH.
THIS IS WHY IT WOULD BE SO
HELPFUL TO HAVE SPECIFIC
STATUTORY GUIDELINES AND
AUTHORITY, WHICH WE DON'T HAVE.
THIS ISN'T THE ONLY AREA,
FREDERICA.
THE 2015 LAW ALSO DIDN'T DEAL
WITH ANOTHER PART OF ERIC, WHICH
DEALS WITH WHEN ERIC FINDS THAT
A VOTER MAY HAVE VOTED IN TWO
DIFFERENT STATES IN THE SAME
ELECTION, THE 2015 LAW WAS
COMPLETELY SILENT ON THAT AS
WELL.
THE ELECTIONS COMMISSION HAS
DECIDED THAT WHEN WE GET
EVIDENCE THAT THAT MAY HAVE
HAPPENED, WE'RE GOING TO LOOK
THROUGH THAT EVIDENCE AND MAKE
CRIMINAL REFERRALS WHEN THE
EVIDENCE SUPPORTS THAT.
WE WILL NOT TOLERATE VOTER FRAUD
IN WISCONSIN.
>> HAVEN'T YOU HEARD FROM THE
LEGISLATURE ON THIS AND THEY'VE
SAID, YEAH, GO AHEAD AND FOLLOW
THE STATUTE THAT THE LAWSUIT
CITES?
>> WELL, I RECEIVED A LETTER
YESTERDAY FROM THE TWO ORIGINAL
CO-AUTHORS OF THE 2015 BILL, TWO
STATE SENATORS, SAYING THAT,
WELL, YOU SHOULD FOLLOW THE
SECTION OF THE LAW THAT DEALS
WITH THE FOUR-YEAR LIST
MAINTENANCE.
THIS THIS ISN'T FOUR-YEAR LIST
MAINTENANCE.
AND SO WE REALLY DO NEED TO HAVE
THE LEGISLATURE GET INVOLVED.
IN ABSENCE OF THAT, I WELCOME
PERSONALLY -- NOT SPEAKING FOR
THE COMMISSION, BUT PERSONALLY
AS ONE MEMBER OF THE COMMISSION,
I WELCOME THE LAWSUIT IF IT WILL
HELP BRING CLARITY.
BUT I SUSPECT IT WILL NOT
BECAUSE I THINK THE JUDGE WILL
LOOK AT THE LETTER OF THE LAW
AND SAY YOU HAVE NO AUTHORITY
RIGHT NOW TO DO THAT IN
ACTIVATION.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WE NEED TO LEAVE IT THERE.
THERE IS A COURT HEARING ON THIS
NEXT FRIDAY.
DEAN KNUDSON, THANKS VERY MUCH
FOR JOINING US.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> AS MENTIONED, A LAWSUIT FILED
AGAINST THE ELECTIONS COMMISSION
LAST MONTH SEEKS TO REMOVE
UNRESPONSIVE VOTERS 30 DAYS
AFTER RECEIPT OF THE MAILING.
THE LAWSUIT WAS FILED BY THE
WISCONSIN INSTITUTE FOR LAW AND
LIBERTY.
RICK ESENBERG IS THE PRESIDENT
AND GENERAL COUNSEL OF THE
INSTITUTE.
HE JAINS JOINS US FROM UK MA.
WHY DID YOU FILE A LAWSUIT
AGAINST VOTERS WHO DON'T ACT
AFTER 30 DAYS?
>> THIS IS REALLY ABOUT
FOLLOWING THE LAW.
THE LEGISLATURE HAS DECIDED THAT
IT'S IMPORTANT FOR OUR VOTER
ROLLS TO BE ACCURATE, BOTH FOR
PURPOSES OF EFFICIENT ELECTION
ADMINISTRATION FOR THE
PREVENTION AND THE POSSIBILITY
OF FRAUD.
SO IT HAS TOLD THE WISCONSIN
ELECTION COMMISSION THAT IF IT
HAS RELIABLE EVIDENCE THAT
SOMEONE HAS MOVED FROM THE
ADDRESS AT WHICH THEY'RE
REGISTERED, THAT THERE'S A
PROCEDURE TO BE FOLLOWED.
THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE TO BE SENT
A POSTCARD.
IF THEY DON'T RETURN THE
POSTCARD WITHIN 30 DAYS, THEIR
REGISTRATION IS DEACTIVATED.
THIS DOESN'T MEAN THEY CAN'T
VOTE, BECAUSE HERE IN WISCONSIN,
OF COURSE, YOU HAVE SAME-DAY
REGISTRATION.
AND SO IF SOMEONE GOES TO THE
POLLS TO VOTE AND THEY'RE NOT
REGISTERED, THEY CAN REREGISTER
AND CAST THEIR BALLOT.
>> SO THE ELECTIONS COMMISSION,
AS WE KNOW, WANTED TO GIVE THESE
PEOPLE UNTIL APRIL, 2021.
WHAT'S THE DANGER OF KEEPING
VOTERS ACTIVE EVEN IF THEY HAVE
TO REREGISTER AT THE POLLS?
>> WELL, I THINK THERE ARE TWO
THINGS.
FIRST OF ALL, THE DETERMINATION
OF HOW YOU SHOULD GO ABOUT
MAINTAINING THE ROLLS AND WHEN
YOU SHOULD DEACTIVATE SOMEONE'S
REGISTRATION IS A DETERMINATION
FOR THE LEGISLATURE.
AND THE LEGISLATURE HAS PASSED A
LAW WHICH SPECIFIES THIS PERIOD
OF REMOVAL FOR FAILURE TO RETURN
A POSTCARD.
IF WE DON'T LIKE THAT,
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCIES LIKE THE
ELECTION COMMISSION CAN'T SIMPLY
IGNORE THAT.
THEY WOULD HAVE TO GO TO THE
LEGISLATURE AND ASK THEM TO
CHANGE THE LAW.
SO THE FIRST CONCERN IS RULE OF
LAW.
NOW, I THINK THE REASON THAT THE
LEGISLATURE HAS DONE THIS IS
THAT OVER TIME -- AND THIS IS
NOT A PROBLEM ONLY IN WISCONSIN,
BUT NATIONALLY -- OUR VOTER
ROLLS HAVE BECOME QUITE
INACCURATE.
YOU KNOW, THERE ARE ESTIMATES
THAT ONE IN EIGHT REGISTRATIONS
ARE OUTDATED.
THIS CREATES PROBLEMS WITH
ELECTION ADMINISTRATION, AND IT
ALSO CREATES THE POTENTIAL FOR
FRAUD, IN THE SENSE THAT THERE
ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE LISTED
AS BEING REGISTERED AT A
PARTICULAR ADDRESS WHO CAN
REQUEST ABSENTEE BALLOTS OR
ABSENTEE BALLOTS CAN BE
REQUESTED IN THEIR NAME.
SO OUR LEGISLATURE HAS
DETERMINED THAT WE OUGHT TO DO
WHAT WE CAN, TAKE REASONABLE
STEPS TO ENSURE THAT THE ROLLS
ARE ACCURATE.
>> LET ME TALK ABOUT THAT
STATUTE FOR A MINUTE, WHICH YOU
CITE, WHICH SAYS IF THE ELECTOR
NO LONGER RESIDES IN THE
MUNICIPALITY OR FAILS TO APPLY
FOR THE CONTINUATION OF
REGISTRATION WITHIN 30 DAYS OF
THE DATE THE NOTICE IS MAILED,
THE CLERK OR BOARD OF ELECTION
COMMISSIONERS SHALL CHANGE THE
REGISTRATION FROM ELIGIBLE TO
INELIGIBLE STATUS.
BUT THE COMMISSION TELLS ME THAT
THAT STATUTE APPLIES TO
MUNICIPAL CLERKS AND DOESN'T
DEFINE RELIABLE INFORMATION
ABOUT ADDRESS CHANGES.
WHAT ABOUT THAT?
>> THERE ARE TWO ISSUES.
ONE IS THE APPLICABILITY OF THE
STATUTE.
NOW, THE LEGISLATURE ENACTED AND
DEPUTIZED THE WISCONSIN ELECTION
COMMISSION TO MAINTAIN A
STATEWIDE REGISTRATION LIST A
NUMBER OF YEARS AGO.
AND IT IS NONSENSICAL TO SUPPOSE
THAT THE LEGISLATURE, HAVING
GIVEN THIS RESPONSIBILITY TO THE
WISCONSIN ELECTION COMMISSION,
DOESN'T INTEND THAT THE ELECTION
COMMISSION COMPLY WITH ALL THE
VARIOUS OBLIGATIONS THAT ARE
IMPOSED ON ELECTION OFFICIALS IN
MAINTAINING THAT ROLL.
SO ESSENTIALLY FOR THE ELECTION
COMMISSION TO SAY THAT THE LAW
DOESN'T APPLY TO THEM MEANS THAT
THEY HAVE SOMEHOW EXES EMPTIED
THEMSELVES FROM EVERYTHING THAT
THE STATUTE SAYS ABOUT HOW THOSE
ROLLS ARE TO BE MAINTAINED.
>> LET'S JUST CUT IN HERE A
MINUTE AND ASK WHAT YOU THINK OF
HAVING THE LEGISLATURE WEIGH IN
ON THIS NOW AND OFFER GUIDANCE
ON SPECIFIC PROCEDURES AS THE
ELECTIONS COMMISSION IS NOW
SEEKING IN THE MIDST OF ALL OF
THIS.
>> RIGHT.
IN THE MIDST OF ALL THIS THE
ELECTION COMMISSION HAS INFORMED
THE COURT THAT THEY'RE GOING TO
ASK THE LEGISLATURE FOR
GUIDANCE.
THE LEGISLATURE PROVIDED THAT
GUIDANCE AND TOLD THEM THE LAW
COULDN'T BE CLEARER, THAT THEY
OUGHT TO FOLLOW THE LAW AS IT'S
BEEN WRITTEN UNTIL SUCH TIME AS
THE LEGISLATURE CHANGED IT.
I DON'T THINK IT'S WRONG TO
IMPOSE SOME OBLIGATION ON VOTERS
TO RESPOND TO A NOTIFICATION
LIKE THIS.
AND, AGAIN, IF THEY DON'T
RESPOND IN THE NOTIFICATION,
BECAUSE WE HAVE SAME-DAY
REGISTRATION, THEY WON'T BE
DENIED THE OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE.
THEY'LL SIMPLY HAVE TO
REREGISTER AT THE POLLS.
BECAUSE WE HAVE PHOTO I.D. EVERY
VOTER WILL HAVE THE
DOCUMENTATION TO REREGISTER.
>> RICK ESENBERG, THANKS VERY
MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> WISCONSIN IS NOW HOME TO A
NATIONAL ORGANIZATION'S FLAGSHIP
SAFE HOUSE FOR SUFFER SURVIVORS OF SEX
TRAFFICKING.
WHY SUCH HOUSING IS SO BADLY
NEEDED.
WE CHECK IN WITH PRESIDENT AND
CEO, ELIZABETH MELENDEZ FISHER
GOOD.
THE MISSION OF HER ORGANIZATION?
TO END SEX TRAFFICKING AND WORK
ON AWARENESS, OUTREACH.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> ACCORDING TO YOUR WEBSITE,
CHICAGO IS IN THE TOP FIVE
CITIES FOR SEX TRAFFICKING AND
MILWAUKEE HAS BEEN DEEMED THE
"HARVARD FOR PIMPS."
WHAT DOES THAT MILWAUKEE
DESIGNATION MEAN?
>> ISN'T THAT CRAZY?
IT'S SOMETHING THAT WAS OUT
THERE THAT THIS IS A PLACE WHERE
PIMPS WILL COME TO LEARN BECAUSE
SOME CITIES ARE MUCH MORE
ADVANCED ON FINDING AND CLEARING
OUT TRAFFICKING OR SOME AREAS
THAT THEY SAY WE DON'T BRING
GIRLINGSGIRLS HERE.
LAW ENFORCEMENT IS ALL OVER US.
THE GREAT THING THAT WE CAN SAY
IS WE WERE EXCITED TO SEE THAT
STAT BECAUSE WE'VE OPENED THIS
AMAZING HOME AND WE WILL TURN
WISCONSIN INTO A SOLUTION
CENTER.
BECAUSE VULNERABLE CHILDREN ARE
EVERYWHERE.
I DON'T THINK PEOPLE REALIZE
THAT SEX TRAFFICKING IS NOT
TAKEN IN INDONESIA, BUT KIDS IN
OUR MIDWEST.
I GREW UP IN CHICAGO.
IT'S AMAZING WHAT'S HAPPENING
UNDER EVERYBODY'S NOSE.
>> YOU DESCRIBE TOO THAT THAT
CORRIDOR BETWEEN CHICAGO AND
MILWAUKEE IS PARTICULARLY KIND
OF DANGEROUS FOR EXPLOITATION
AND SEX TRAFFICKING.
>> WELL, WHAT HAPPENS IS IF YOU
HAVE A LITTLE GIRL AND IT ALWAYS
COMES FROM SOMEONE THAT WAS
KEEPING A SECRET OF CHILDHOOD
SEXUAL ABUSE.
THEY WERE LIED TO AND COERCED.
IF THEY RUN AWAY AND THEY'RE OUT
THERE LOOKING, RUN TO CHICAGO,
TRAFFICKERS ARE LOOKING FOR
VULNERABLE CHILDREN.
THEY SAY, HEY, I BET YOU'RE HUNG
RILL?
I'LL LOVE YOU.
I BET YOUR PARENTS DIDN'T LOVE
YOU.
THEY CALL THE PIMPS NOW ROMEO
PIMPS BECAUSE THEY LURE THEM IN.
THEY SELL THEM ONE NIGHT HERE
AND BACK AND FORTH FROM CHICAGO
TO MILWAUKEE.
THINK OF ALL THE ACTIVITIES AND
THE SPORTS AND THE VENUES THAT
WE HAVE.
>> SO MEANWHILE YOU HAVE REBUILT
THIS SAFE HOUSE AND YOU CALL IT
THE FLAGSHIP.
>> FLAGSHIP HOME.
>> DESCRIBE THAT FOR US.
>> IT'S AMAZING.
THERE WAS A GENEROUS GROUP THAT
DONATED THIS HOME TO US.
IT'S 7700 SQUARE FEED.
IT HAS 20 BEDS AND GIRLS ARE
HAVING SERVICES NOW AND IT'S
GOING TO BE FILLED UP IN THE
NEXT 30 DAYS.
AND LITERALLY IT WAS GIVEN
THINKING THIS WAS GOING TO BE A
QUICK TRANSFORMATION AND WE HAD
TO GUT IT DOWN TO STUDS.
SO THE PHOTOS YOU ARE SHOWING,
IT IS TRANSFORMED.
WE DO HAVE A COLOR PALATE
BECAUSE A GIRL FROM THE STREETS,
SHE WALKS IN AND SHE CAN'T
BELIEVE SHE GETS TO LIVE HERE.
ATMOSPHERE ELEVATES.
THEY CAN'T GO BACK TO THE
STREETS AND SEE THINGS THE SAME.
WE TRY TO MAKE A BIG IMPACT WHEN
THEY HIT US FOR THE FIRST TIME.
>> WHAT DO THEY NEED MOST?
>> THEY DON'T BELIEVE THEY'RE
WORTH IT.
RESIDENCE CHELRESIDENTIAL IS ONE PROGRAM.
EVEN THOUGH SHE'S BEEN ON THE
STREET SINCE SHE WAS 12 OR 14,
SOLD FOR SEX 15 TO 40 TIMES A
DAY, THESE 13, 14, 15-YEAR-OLDS
ARE SOLD.
THESE ARE AMERICAN GIRLS BOUGHT
BY OUR OWN MEN.
LITERALLY SHE IS TOLD THIS IS
ALL YOU'RE WORTH.
THIS IS YOUR VALUE.
SO OUR OUTREACH TEAM THAT'S ON
THE STREETS AND IN THE JAILS AND
IN THE COURTS BETWEEN HERE AND
MILWAUKEE AND ALL OVER THE STATE
ARE REACHING OUT TO THESE GIRLS.
WE WILL CHASE A GIRL FOR TWO
YEARS TO HELP HER BELIEVE
THERE'S MORE FOR YOU.
SHE DOESN'T BELIEVE IT.
SO COMING IN TO DREAM AND HOPE
AGAIN.
THEN WE HAVE EVENTS LIKE
RESTORING A CHILDHOOD THAT WAS
STOLEN.
>> HOW LONG CAN THEY STAY?
>> ONE TO THREE YEARS.
SUCH A BIG NUMBER OF OUR
GRADUATES ARE ON STAFF.
FIRST TIME IN A HEALTHY
COMMUNITY.
IT CHANGES EVERYTHING.
100% OF THEM GET THEIR GED.
WE DON'T GET THEM UNTIL THEY'RE
18.
SO THEY HAVE BEEN ON THE STREETS
AND ABUSED SINCE THEY WERE
CHILDREN.
AN 18-YEAR-OLD IS
DEVELOPMENTALLY STILL 12.
HORSE THERAPY, PUPPY THERAPY.
ONE GIRL IS LIKE I COULD SING.
I NEVER KNEW I WAS MUSICAL.
BEAUTIFUL.
>> WHILE YOU ARE IN WISCONSIN
YOU ARE MEETING WITH OUR
ATTORNEY GENERAL.
TO WHAT END?
>> TO SHARE THE LEGISLATION HAS
BEEN WAITING FOR OUR HOME TO
OPEN.
IT WAS GIFTED TO US ALMOST THREE
YEARS AGO.
NO ONE KNEW WE WERE GOING TO
HAVE TO GUT IT DOWN TO STUD.
WE MISSED THE LAST LEGISLATION.
NOW IT ALL TURNED OVER.
SO THIS IS OUR FIRST MEETING TO
SAY WE'RE HERE, WE'RE UP AND
RUNNING, JUST INTRODUCE HOW
COMMITTED WE ARE TO STANDING AND
TURNING WISCONSIN INTO THE
NATIONAL SOLUTION CENTER.
>> WAS THERE PARTICULAR
LEGISLATION OR WAS IT JUST --
>> EVERYONE TURNED OVER.
WE KNEW THE LAST GOVERNOR AND
ATTORNEY GENERAL AND THEY WERE
VERY EXCITED FOR OUR HOME TO
OPEN AND THEY TERMED OUT BEFORE
WE OPENED.
WE'RE HOPING THERE'S THE SAME
ENTHUSIASM TO GET INTO THE STATE
BUDGET.
WE NEED A LOT OF SUPPORT.
WE TYPICALLY HAVE 400 VOLUNTEERS
PER MARKET.
IT TAKES MILLIONS A YEAR TO RUN
ALL OF OUR PROGRAMS AND GETTING
IN THE STATE BUDGET WOULD BE
FANTASTIC.
>> IF PEOPLE NEED MORE
INFORMATION?
>> SAY SELAHFREEDOM.COM.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> RESPONDING TO GUN INCIDENTS
IN WISCONSIN SCHOOLS THIS WEEK,
GOVERNOR TONY EVERS SAID THE
STATE SHOULD PROVIDE MORE
FUNDING FOR MENTAL HEALTH
RESOURCES FOR STUDENTS.
HE ALSO TWEETED WE CAN'T JUST
ACCEPT THAT VIOLENCE IN OUR
SCHOOLS IS A FOREGONE CONCLUSION
AND WE HAVE TO WORK TO KEEP OUR
KIDS AND OUR COMMUNITY SAFE.
THE GOVERNOR'S COMMENTS CAME
AFTER OFFICERS SHOT AND INJURED
AN ARMED STUDENT AT A WAUKESHA
HIGH SCHOOL AS WELL AS ONE AT
OSHKOSH HIGH.
A RECENT SPECIAL SESSION OF THE
LEGISLATURE EVERS CALLED ON GUN
CONTROL WASES GAVELED IN AND OUT
BY REPUBLICANS WITHOUT ACTION.
>> AND FINALLY TONIGHT, NEWS AT
THE STATE CAPITOL WITH A HOLIDAY
TWIST.
THE HOLIDAY TREE WAS LIT UP AT
THE STATE CAPITOL THIS
AFTERNOON.
THE LIGHTS SHOWCASE DECORATIONS
SENT FROM STUDENTS AROUND THE
STATE AND HAVE A "CELEBRATE
SCIENCE" THEME.
THE TREE WILL BE ON DISPLAY
UNTIL JANUARY 2.
AND THAT IS OUR PROGRAM FOR
TONIGHT.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED, IN PART, BY FRIENDS OF
WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISION.