>> I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW,"
GOVERNOR EVERS PUTS HIS VETO PEN
TO THE STATE BUDGET.
HOW STATE FARMERS ARE FAIRG FARING
DURING THIS WET SUMMER SEASON.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR JULY 5.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
IS PROVIDED, IN PART, BY FRIENDS
OF WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISION.
>> A FIRST LOOK TONIGHT AT HOW
MIDWEEK GOVERNOR TONY EVERS
SHOWS HOW HE MADE 78 VETOES TO
THE STATE BUDGET, INCLUDING
ACTION THAT INCREASES SCHOOL
SPENDING BY $65 MILLION, SAYING
HE OBJECTS TO THE UNDERFUNDING
OF WISCONSIN'S PUBLIC SCHOOL
CHILDREN BUT SAYING EVEN HIS
HIKES DON'T GO FAR ENOUGH.
HE SAYS TD THE PLAN IS A DOWN
PAYMENT ON WHAT HE CALLS THE
PEOPLE'S BUDGET.
HE COULD HAVE VETOED THE ENTIRE
THING, BUT SAYS THAT WOULD HAVE
BEEN MORE OF THE SAME
DIVISIVENESS AND PETTY POLITICS.
FOR THEIR PARTS, REPUBLICAN
LEADERS DESCRIBE THE VETOES AS
MINIMUM, A REFLECTION OF A GOOD
REPUBLICAN-CRAFTED BUDGET.
- >> TODAY I AM SIGNING A MUCH
BETTER VERSION OF THE
LEGISLATURE'S BUDGET, WITH THE
UNDERSTANDING THAT WE ARE
NOWHERE NEAR WHERE WE SHOULD BE
AND THERE'S LOTS MORE WORK WE
NEED TO DO.
WE WORKED HARD TO MAKE THIS
BUDGET MORE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE
AND THAT INCLUDES ADDING A
RECORD NEARLY $300 MILLION TO
OUR STATE'S RAINY DAY FUND.
THE BILLS WE WILL SIGN TODAY
DELIVER ON MY CAMPAIGN PROMISE
TO DELIVER A 10% TAX CUT FOR
WORKING FAMILIES, INCLUDING $500
MILLION IN OVERALL TAX CUTS
TARGETED TO WORKING MIDDLE CLASS
PEOPLE IN OUR STATE.
[APPLAUSE]
>> THE BUDGET TARGETS STATE
INVESTMENTS MORE RESPONSIBLY AND
SPENDS $2 BILLION LESS THAN THE
GOVERNOR'S ORIGINAL PLAN.
I'M RELIEVED TO KNOW THAT
SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT THE STATE
WILL KNOW WHAT RESOURCES ARE
AVAILABLE TO THEM AS THEY BEGIN
PUTTING THEIR BUDGETS TOGETHER
FOR THE UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR,
INCLUDING A MASSIVE INCREASE IN
SPECIAL EDUCATION FUNDING.
>> WPR CAPITOL BUREAU REPORTER
LAUREL WHITE HAS COVERED THE
BUDGET FROM START TO FINISH AND
SHOW JOINS US NOW WITH DETAILS.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> FIRST OUT OF THE GATES, WHAT
WILL THE EVERS' VETO BOOST MEAN
TO SCHOOLS?
>> IT'S ABOUT $63 PER PUPILS IN
THE NEXT TWO YEARS OF THE STATE
BUDGET, WHICH IS A LITTLE BIT
MORE THAN EVEN THE WISCONSIN
ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL BOARDS
ASKED FOR EARLIER THIS WEEK.
THEY WANTED $25 MORE.
THEY SAID THAT WOULD HELP THEM
MEET THE RISING COST OF
INFLATION.
SO THE GOVERNOR WENT ABOVE AND
BEYOND FOR THEM.
>> WE HEARD MAJORITY LEADER
FITZGERALD APPLAUD THE CERTAINTY
FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS, ALMOST
LIKE HE WAS GLAD THE GOVERNOR
MADE THESE HIKES.
>> YES.
SO PART OF THE CONVERSATION
ABOUT POTENTIAL CHANGES TO THE
STATE BUDGET OR OVERALL VETO WAS
PUSHING NEGOTIATIONS INTO THE
FALL.
AND THE RAMIFICATIONS OF THAT
ARE SCHOOL DISTRICTS AREN'T
GOING TO KNOW WHAT MONEY THEY
HAVE, SO THE GOVERNOR TAKING THE
ACTION HE DID TODAY SET UP THAT
CERTAINTY AND I THINK THAT'S
WHAT FITZGERALD WAS NODDING TO.
>> AND EVEN THOUGH THE GOVERNOR
INCREASED THAT SPENDING TO K-12
EVEN ABOVE WHAT THE SCHOOL
BOARDS WANTED, HE STILL CALLS
HIS INCREASES INSUFFICIENT AND
CONTINUES, AS YOU KNOW, TO CALL
FOR WISCONSIN TO EXPAND MEDICAID
AND HE WANTS TO GAS TAX.
IN FACT, HE MADE A POINTED VETO
IN THE TRANSPORTATION BUDGET
AGAINST A STUDY ON TOLLING,
SAYING THAT ACTUALLY THAT STUDY
WOULD SIMPLY SHOW A TAX GAS IS
WHAT IS NECESSARY FOR FUNDING
FOR TRANSPORTATION.
WHAT ELSE DID THE GOVERNOR DO ON
TRANSPORTATION IN HIS VETOES?
>> SO THIS IS ONE THAT FOLKS
MIGHT REMEMBER KIND OF COMING UP
LATE IN BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS LAST
WEEK.
THERE WAS A PROVISION THAT WOULD
HAVE ALLOWED TEST TESLA VEHICLES TO
BE SOLD DIRECTLY TO CONSUMERS
OUT A CAR DEALER.
THAT WAS PEGGED TO ONE
REPUBLICAN STATE SENATOR WHO
MIGHT HAVE BEEN IFFY IN HIS VOTE
ON THE BUDGET.
THE GOVERNOR CLEARLY WASN'T
HAPPY WITH THAT ADDITION TO THE
BUDGET.
HE VETOED THAT.
HE SAID THAT HE DIDN'T THINK
THAT SORT OF POLICY CHANGE
SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET
WITHOUT MORE KIND OF DEBATE AND
DELIBERATION.
>> SO I WONDER WHAT THE SENATOR
THINKS ABOUT THAT, HAVING BEEN
OFFERED THAT, AMONG SOME OTHER
THINGS FOR HIS YES VOTE TO PUSH
THIS BUDGET THROUGH.
>> RIGHT.
>> SO ON THE WORK REQUIREMENTS
FOR FOODSHARE, THIS IS ANOTHER
AREA THAT THE GOVERNOR TOOK OUT
HIS VETO PEN ON.
HE CUT FUNDING FOR BASICALLY THE
ADMINISTRATION OF THAT PROGRAM,
PRESUMABLY MEANING THAT THE
ABILITY TO ENFORCE THAT PROGRAM,
THE PROVISIONS OF THAT, WOULD BE
STYMIED.
SPEAKER VOS TO THAT KIND OF
THING AND THAT VETO SAID, QUOTE,
GOVERNOR EVERS SEEMS INTENT ON
TRAPPING PEOPLE ON WELFARE.
HE SEEMS DECIDEDLY MORE UNHAPPY
WITH THIS BUDGET THAN SENATOR
FITZGERALD.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
I THINK SPEAKER VOS REALLY CAME
OUT WITH KIND OF AN AGGRESSIVE
AND POINTED COMMENT ON THAT
PARTICULAR ELEMENT OF THE
GOVERNOR'S VETOES.
YOU KNOW, HE ZEROED IN ON THAT
OF THE 78 VETOES AND REALLY
EXPRESSED SOME CONCERN.
NOW, I THINK IT'S INTERESTING TO
NOTE THAT THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE
SAID THAT THIS WON'T COMPLETELY
STYMIE IMPLEMENTATION OF THOSE
WORK REQUIREMENTS.
THERE WILL BE SOME STILL IN
PLACE.
IT TAKES AWAY MORE THAN $20
MILLION FROM IMPLEMENTING THOSE.
SPEAKER VOS IS CONCERNED.
ANOTHER HIGH-PROFILE REPUBLICAN
THAT'S CONCERNED, REPRESENTATIVE
JOHN NYGREN, WHO CO-CHAIRS THE
STATE BUDGET COMMITTEE.
>> AND SPEAKER VOS IS ONE THAT
HAS REPEATEDLY CALLED THE
EXPANSION OF MEDICAID THE
EXPANSION OF WELFARE.
SO THIS IS A PLACE WHERE HE, AS
YOU SAY, IS KIND OF FOCUSING
SOME OF HIS ATTENTION.
NOW, ALL THE DEMOCRATS IN THE
LEGISLATURE VOTED AGAINST THE
BUDGET, WHICH WAS, AGAIN, SIGNED
TODAY.
SCOTT FITZGERALD TWEETED, QUOTE,
I HAVE NEVER SEEN SO MANY NO
VOTES LINED UP AT A PODIUM FOR A
BILL SIGNING BEFORE.
IS THERE ANY LINGERING SENSE
AMONG ANY LEGISLATORS OR OTHERS
THAT GOVERNOR EVERS SHOULD HAVE
VETOED THE WHOLE THING?
>> I CERTAINLY HAVEN'T HEARD
THAT SINCE THE GOVERNOR RELEASED
HIS VETO MESSAGE.
I THINK DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKERS ARE
REALLY MORE IN THE CAMP NOW OF
SAYING LOOK AT WHAT WE WERE ABLE
TO ACCOMPLISH BECAUSE WE HAVE A
DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR.
THEY'RE SORT OF FRAMING THIS AS
THE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR MOVING
THE NEEDLE ON THE
REPUBLICAN-CONTROLLED
LEGISLATURE AND GETTING
REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS TO APPROVE
MORE FUNDING, DIFFERENT FUNDING
FOR DIFFERENT PROGRAMS, FOCUSING
ON AN INCOME TAX CUT ON
LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS, THINGS
LIKE THAT.
>> DOES THE REPUBLICAN
LEGISLATURE HAVE THE TWO-THIRDS
VOTES NEEDED TO OVERRIDE ANY OF
THESE VETOES?
>> NO, THEY DON'T.
WE KNOW THAT REPUBLICANS
OBVIOUSLY HAVE LARGE MAJORITIES,
PARTICULARLY IN THE ASSEMBLY,
BUT THEY DON'T HAVE THE
TWO-THIRDS MAJORITY TO OVERRIDE
THESE UNLESS DEMOCRATS COME
ONBOARD.
>> YEAH.
SO I KNOW THAT GOVERNOR EVERS
WAS SPEAKING TO THIS BEING AGAIN
KIND OF AN INSUFFICIENT BUDGET
IN HIS MIND AND LOOKING TOWARD
SEPTEMBER, LOOKING TOWARD HIS
NEXT PRIORITIES.
WHAT WERE SOME OF THOSE?
>> SOME GOVERNOR EVERS IS
ALREADY TALKING ABOUT
REINTRODUCING THE MEDICAID
EXPANSION AS STAND-ALONE
LEGISLATION.
OBVIOUSLY, THAT WOULD FACE A
REALLY STEEP CLIMB IN THE
LEGISLATURE.
HE'S ALSO TALKING ABOUT A
NONPARTISAN REDISTRICTING
COMMISSION IN WISCONSIN.
OBVIOUSLY THAT'S PARTICULARLY
TIMELY BECAUSE OF THE SUPREME
COURT DECISION LAST WEEK.
HE SAYS HE'S GOING TO PUSH
REALLY HARD FOR THAT.
AND HE ALSO MENTIONED MEDICAL
MARIJUANA.
THAT IS SOMETHING HE INCLUDED AS
WELL AS DECRIMINALIZING SMALL
AMOUNTS OF MARIJUANA.
SPEAKER VOS HAS SAID HE MIGHT BE
OPEN TO MEDICAL MARIJUANA IN
WISCONSIN.
SO I'M EXPECTING THAT TO BE A
BIG DEBATE IN THE FALL.
>> SO MEDICAL MARIJUANA MIGHT BE
A GO BUT I WOULD SUGGEST THAT
EXPANDED MEDICAID WOULD NOT OR
REDISTRICTING.
>> PROBABLY NOT.
I THINK THOSE FACE TOUGHER ODDS.
>> RIGHT.
>> LAUREL WHITE, THANKS VERY
MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> IN THE MIDST OF THE BUDGET
WORK GOVERNOR EVERS SIGNED A
BILL DELAYING CLOSING THE
LINCOLN HILLS PRISON.
HE SAYS MORE TIME IS NEEDED MORE
CONSTRUCTION OF REPLACEMENT
FACILITIES.
PRISON OVER-CROWDING IS THE
FOCUS OUT FROM WISCONSIN WATCH.
GOVERNOR EVERS PLEDGED TO CUT
PRISON POPULATION BY 50%, BUT
THERE ARE NUMEROUS CHALLENGES TO
THAT GOAL.
DEE HALL JOINS US NOW.
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT
YOUR REPORTER DESCRIBES IS THAT
THE EVERS' CAMPAIGN AGAIN
PROMISED TO CUT THE PRISON
POPULATION BY 50% WHILE AT THE
SAME TIME INCREASING THE
CORRECTIONS BUDGET TO INCREASE
PRISON BEDS BECAUSE OF
OVER-CROWDING.
SO BOTH THINGS ARE TRUE.
>> YES, THEY'RE TRUE AT THIS
MOMENT.
SO THE GOVERNOR HAS STATED THAT
HIS GOAL IS TO IMPROVE THE
CONDITIONS AND THE CONDITIONS
ARE OVERCROWDED.
THE PRISONS ARE ALSO
UNDERSTAFFED.
AND SO WHAT OUR REPORTER ON THIS
STORY FOUND IS THAT THEY ARE
TAKING SORT OF A LONG APPROACH,
WHICH STARTS WITH IMPROVING
CONDITIONS BOTH AT TAYCHEEDAH
AND JACKSON CORRECTIONAL, BUT
ALSO AT THE MILWAUKEE SECURE
DETENTION FACILITY, WHICH IS
GOING TO GET SOME OTHER UPGRADES
BECAUSE IT'S BEEN VERY
CONTROVERSIAL.
>> SO HOW OVERCROWDED ARE OUR
PRISONS AT THIS POINT?
>> ABOUT 33% ABOVE THEIR
DESIGNED CAPACITY RIGHT NOW.
THERE ARE TWO THAT AREN'T
OVERCROWDED.
BUT THEN REALLY THE REST OF
THEM, THE OTHER 18 ADULT PRISONS
ARE OVERCROWDED ANYWHERE FROM
JUST A FEW PERCENTAGE POINTS UP
TO 50% ABOVE THEIR CAPACITY.
>> SO WHAT ARE THE DETAILS AS TO
HOW GOVERNOR EVERS EXPECTS TO
REDUCE THE POPULATION?
>> HE HAS SOME MECHANISMS AT HIS
DISPOSAL AND SOME ARE NOT.
THE ONES AT HIS DISPOSAL INCLUDE
REDUCING OR ELIMINATING
SO-CALLED CLIMBLESS CLIMB CRIMELESS REVOCATIONS,
WHERE A PERSON VIOLATES
CONDITIONS OF THEIR RELEASE AND
IS SENT BACK TO PRISON.
THE OTHER THING WOULD BE TO
BOOST PAROLE.
IN RECENT YEARS WE'VE BEEN IN
SINGLE DIGITS IN TERMS OF THE
PERCENT OF PEOPLE WHO APPLY FOR
AND ARE GRANTED PAROLE.
HE CAN DO A SPECIAL ACTION
RELEASE PROGRAM.
THAT'S A RARELY, RARELY USED
MECHANISM.
WE DON'T KNOW WHEN IT WAS LAST
USED.
WE WEREN'T ABLE TO FIGURE THAT
OUT.
BUT IT IS A SPECIAL MECHANISM
ABOUT 30 YEARS OLD THAT ALLOWS
THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS'
SECRETARY TO RELEASE PRISONERS
IN THE EVENT OF AN OVER-CROWDING
INCIDENT.
>> AND THERE ARE SPECIAL
PROVISIONS, THOUGH, AS PART OF
THAT SPECIAL ACTION RELEASE
PROGRAM, RIGHT?
THESE CANNOT PEOPLE WHO ARE IN
PRISON FOR LIFE FOR MURDER, FOR
EXAMPLE?
>> RIGHT.
YOU CAN'T BE SERVING A LIFE
SENTENCE.
SO YOU HAVE TO BE WITHIN 18
MONTHS OF YOUR MANDATORY
RELEASE, WHICH IS AN OLD TERM
ACTUALLY UNDER THE OLD LAW, THE
PRETRUTH-IN-SENTENCING LAW.
THOSE WOULD BE THE FOLKS MOST
AFFECTED BY THIS.
YOU HAVE TO BE CLOSE TO BEING
RELEASED AND NO CONVICTIONS FOR
ASSAULTIVE BEHAVIOR OR ANY
HISTORY OF ASSAULTIVE BEHAVIOR
WITHIN THE PRISON SYSTEM.
>> AND SO THE
TRUTH-IN-SENTENCING LAW WENT
INTO EFFECT IN THE --
>> BEGINNING OF 2000.
>> SO IT WOULD ONLY BE INMATES
CONVICTED BEFORE THAT LAW WENT
INTO EFFECT?
>> THAT'S UNCLEAR TO ME RIGHT
NOW.
BUT, YES, THOSE ARE THE FOLKS
WHO WOULD MEET THE DEFINITION OF
WHAT WE'RE HEARING A SPECIAL
RELEASE INMATE MIGHT BE.
>> AND YET WHAT ARE THE NUMBERS
AS TO HOW MANY PEOPLE HE MIGHT
BE ABLE TO RELEASE UNDER THIS
SPECIAL ACTION PROGRAM?
>> THAT ONE I'M NOT SURE.
THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANY GOOD
ESTIMATES FOR US ON THAT ONE.
WE DO KNOW HUNDREDS IF NOT
THOUSANDS OF INMATES COULD BE
RELEASED IF THE CRIMLESS
REVOCATIONS WERE ELIMINATED.
THAT'S ACCOUNTING FOR 40% OF NEW
PRISON ADMISSIONS, ARE PEOPLE
NOT COMMITTING NEW CRIMES, BUT
ARE VIOLATING TERMS OF THEIR
RELEASE AND BEING SENT BACK TO
PRISON.
>> WHAT KIND OF MALL POLITICAL
REACTION IS THERE TO US?
>> WE HAVE SEEN SOME BIPARTISAN
MOVES IN THIS DIRECTION.
ONE THING THE LEGISLATURE CAN DO
BECAUSE THEY HOLD THE PURSE
STRINGS IS TO INCREASE THE
AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR TREATMENT
AND DIVERSION PROGRAMS.
THERE'S BEEN A LITTLE MORE PUT
INTO THE BUDGET.
THE AMOUNT EVERS WAS SEEKING WAS
DISAPPOINTING TO THE ADVOCATES.
RIGHT NOW IT'S $1 MILLION A YEAR
THAT THEY'LL INCREASE THE
CURRENT PROGRAM.
THAT'S ONE THAT THERE DOES SEEM
TO BE SOME BIPARTISAN BUY-IN.
THERE IS NOT BUY-IN ON THE ISSUE
OF CHANGING THE
TRUTH-IN-SENTENCING LAW AND THAT
HAS BEEN A MAJOR DRIVER OF OUR
PRISON POPULATION, WHICH IS
PROJECTED TO GET TO 25,000,
WHICH WOULD BE A RECORD HIGH IN
THE NEXT TWO YEARS.
>> DEE HALL, THANKS VERY MUCH
AND THANKS FOR YOUR WORK.
FORECASTS FOR RAIN MAY DAMPEN
WEEKEND PICNIC PLANS BUT IS A
MUCH BIGGER THREAT TO STATE
FARMERS.
A STATUS REPORT ON THE
CHALLENGING AND WET SPRING AND
EARLY SUMMER.
LAST WEEK THE STATE DEPARTMENT
OF AGRICULTURE ENCOURAGED
FARMERS WITH FIELDS STILL TOO
WET FOR GRANTING TO TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF A FEDERAL
CONVERSATION PROGRAM FOR LAND
TAKEN OUT OF PRODUCTION AND
CHANGED INTO GRASSLANDS AND
OTHER BUFFERS AGAIN FUTURE
FLOODING.
WE GET AN UPDATE WITH JIM TOLT HOLTE.
HOW ARE WISCONSIN FARMERS BEING
AFFECTED BY THE AMOUNT OF RAIN
WE'VE BEEN SEEING GOING BACK
INTO THE SPRING?
>> HONESTLY, IT VARIES FROM
PLACE TO PLACE DEPENDING ON YOUR
LIKELIHOOD OF GETTING RAIN AND
ALSO TYPES OF SOIL YOU HAVE.
IN GENERAL IT'S BEEN MUCH
DELAYED FROM NORMAL.
SO THERE'S BEEN FARMERS THAT
HAVE LAND THAT THEY HAVE NOT AND
PROBABLY WILL NOT PLANT
CURRENTLY IN THIS SEASON.
SO IT'S CHALLENGING.
YET EACH ONE OF US LIVES BY THE
WEATHER A LITTLE BIT.
I MEAN, FOR INSTANCE TODAY IT'S
KIND OF WARM AND MUGGY OUT AND
THAT IMPACTS US ALL.
BUT FOR US IN FARMING IT'S A BIG
DEAL.
WEATHER IS A BIG PART OF OUR
DAY.
>> IT ALWAYS IS.
DIFFICULT GROWING CONDITIONS ARE
A WAY OF LIFE FOR FARMERS.
BUT THIS COMES ON TOP OF
DEPRESSED MILK PRICES AND TRADE
WARS AND LABOR SHORTAGES.
WHAT ARE YOUR MEMBERS TELLING
YOU ABOUT HOW THEY ARE FARING AS
WE HIT WHAT SHOULD BE PEAK
GROWING SEASON?
>> WELL, YOU'RE EXACTLY RIGHT,
FREDERICA.
THIS IS ONE MORE CHALLENGE BUILT
ON TOP OF OTHER ONES THAT PLACES
A LITTLE MORE STRESS AND STRAIN
ON A LOT OF FARMERS.
I WISH I COULD SAY THERE'S AN
EASY, QUICK, SIMPLE SOLUTION.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S TRUE.
THE WEATHER CONTINUES TO BE A
PROBLEM NOT ONLY WITH THE
PLANTING SEASON, BUT NOW AS SOME
STRUGGLE TO MAKE DRY ENOUGH
WEATHER TO MAKE HAY AND THOSE
SORT OF THINGS.
SO THE CHALLENGES GO ON,
ALTHOUGH I WOULD SAY FARMERS
KNOW THE WEATHER CAN BE
DIFFERENT EVERY YEAR AND SO WE
KNOW WE HAVE TO ADJUST AND WE'LL
DO THE BEST WE CAN.
>> WITH 49 WISCONSIN FARM
BANKRUPTCIES LAST YEAR, THE
HIGHEST IN THE NATION, ARE
MARKET AND WEATHER CONDITIONS
RESULTING IN SOME FARMERS
OPTING, AS WE'VE SUGGESTED, FOR
PUTTING THEIR LAND INTO
CONSERVATION RESERVE PROGRAMS?
>> WELL, I THINK THOSE DIFFERENT
OPTIONS LOOK INVITING AT TIMES.
THERE'S CERTAIN INSURANCE
PROGRAMS AS WELL AS CERTAIN
GOVERNMENT LAND SET ASIDE
PROGRAMS THAT BECOME MORE OF AN
OPTION WHEN YOU FACE THESE
CHALLENGES.
AND EACH ONE OF US HAS TO MAKE
THAT DECISION FOR OURSELVES,
WHETHER IT FITS OUR CURRENT YEAR
AND LONG-TERM PLANS.
SO IT CERTAINLY IS A
CONSIDERATION.
>> WHAT ELSE CAN FARMERS DO TO
STAVE OFF FINANCIAL COLLAPSE?
WE KNOW IT'S BAD OUT THERE.
>> WELL, I WOULD SAY THAT TO BE
A FARMER YOU HAVE TO BE AN
OPTIMIST TO START OUT WITH
BECAUSE YOU SPEND QUITE A BIT OF
MONEY AND PUT A LOT OF THINGS IN
THE GROUND ASSUMING THEY'RE
GOING TO COME OUT AND COME
FORWARD FOR YOU FOR HARVEST IN
THE FALL.
SO I THINK AMONGST FARMERS
OURSELVES, WE NEED TO BE A
POSITIVE VOICE FOR OUR
NEIGHBORS.
WE NEED TO STOP AND HAVE A
CONVERSATION AT TIMES WHEN YOU
KNOW SOMEBODY IS STRUGGLING WITH
THE WEATHER OR WITH THE FACT
THEY MAY HAVE NOT PLANTED OR
HARVESTED THEIR CROP ON TIME.
SO A LOT TIMES IT GETS TO BE
A SOCIAL THING THAT WE CAN HELP
EACH OTHER WITH.
>> ARE FARMERS LOOKING FORWARD
TO GETTING THE NEW NAFTA
RATIFIED?
>> WELL, THE NEW NAFTA, AS
YOU'VE DESCRIBED IT, IS A TRADE
DEAL THAT'S BEEN NEGOTIATED
BETWEEN THE THREE COUNTRIES OF
MEXICO, CANADA AND THE U.S.
AND WHILE NEGOTIATIONS ALWAYS
HAVE UPS AND DOWNS AND THE
RESULTS ARE ALWAYS UPS AND
DOWNS, IN GENERAL WE WOULD LIKE
TO SEE IT COMPLETED THROUGH THE
PROCESS AND ACCEPTED BY
CONGRESS.
BECAUSE IT WILL PROVIDE SOME
MORE CERTAINTY, BOTH TO OUR
FARMERS AND TO OTHER BUSINESS
PEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
>> ALL RIGHT.
JIM HOLT AT THE, THANKSE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
IN ADDITION TO CAUSING CHAOS FOR
FARMERS, INCREASED RAIN AND
CLIMATE CHANGE ARE WREAKING
HAVOC ON MERCURY LEVELS IN THE
ENVIRONMENT ACCORDING TO THE
UW-MADISON CENTER FOR LIMNOLOGY
AND A NEW REPORT FROM
WHITES-KODISCHEK.
>> WHAT WE THOUGHT WAS REALLY
INTERESTING AND IMPORTANT ABOUT
HIS RESEARCH WAS THE CONNECTION
TO CLIMATE CHANGE AND THAT WAS A
SURPRISE TO US, THAT CLIMATE
CHANGE WAS ALSO CHANGING THE WAY
THAT A TOXIN LIKE MERCURY IS
ACTING IN OUR ENVIRONMENT.
SO HE WAS LOOKING FOR MERCURY
LEVELS IN FISH OVER TIME AND
JUST HAPPENED TO CORRELATE THAT
OVER THE COURSE OF 30 YEARS WITH
THE WATER CYCLE, WHICH HAS BEEN
AFFECTED BY CLIMATE CHANGE, AND
REALIZED THAT THE TWO WERE ON A
PARALLEL TRACK.
>> WE SPOKE TO SARAH ON NOON
WEDNESDAY, A WEEKLY ONLINE
FEATURE OF "HERE AND NOW."
A PIVOT NOW FROM WISCONSIN TO
WASHINGTON AND THE 2020 RACE FOR
PRESIDENT.
RIPPLES FROM THE FIRST DEBATE
ARE SURFACING IN NEW POLLS THIS
WEEK.
ALSO THIS WEEK, INCUMBENT
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP WALKED
THE LINE BETWEEN CAMPAIGNING AND
DIPLOMACY DURING INTERNATIONAL
TRIPS AS WELL AS A SPLASHY 4TH
OF JULY EVENT.
WE TURN NOW TO TWO PATRIOTS,
BILL MCCOSHEN AND SCOT ROSS.
THANKS FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING US.
>> SO JUMPING RIGHT INTO IT,
OVERALL IMPRESSION OF THE
DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES IN LAST
WEEK'S DEBATES?
>> I THINK IT WAS INCREDIBLY
IMPRESSIVE.
YOU SAW DEMOCRATS TALKING ABOUT
ECONOMIC ISSUES THAT MATTER TO
DEMOCRATIC VOTERS.
WE ARE IN A POLARIZED TIME.
I'M GOING TO SAY SAVE THE CANDIDATES
A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY.
DON'T SPEND YOUR MONEY TALKING
TO D.C. CONSULTANTS ABOUT THE
UNDECIDEDS.
MOTIVATE DEMOCRATS.
WHO ARE GOING TO ELECT
DEMOCRATS.
>> YOU THINK THOSE DEBATES
INSPIRED DEMOCRATS?
>> I THINK THEIR ENTIRE MESSAGE
WAS DEMOCRAT, DEMOCRAT, DEMOCRAT
AND SPECIFICALLY FAR LEFT.
15 MILLION VIEWERS ON THE FIRST
NIGHT, 18 ON THE SECOND NIGHT.
THISTHAT'S A PRETTY GOOD THING FOR
DEMOCRATS.
THERE WERE BIG WINNERS AND
LOSERS.
>> SPEAKING OF WHICH, WHAT DO
YOU THINK OF THE ASCENSION OF
KAMALA HARRIS AND ELIZABETH
WARNEN?
>> IT'S FANTASTIC TO HAVE WOMEN
LEADERS.
WE HAVEN'T HAD A WOMAN
PRESIDENT.
I MEAN, IT IS A TESTAMENT TO THE
DIVERSITY OF THE DEMOCRATIC
PARTY AND A TESTAMENT TO THE
WHITE MALE HOMOPHOBIC WAY IN
WHICH THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS
OPERATING RIGHT NOW.
THAT'S A CHALLENGE.
WE ARE A DIFFERENT AMERICA.
>> SHE KNOCKED TWO GUYS DOWN
SEVERAL PEGS.
JOE BIDEN LOST TEN POINTS IN
MOST POLLS.
SHE'S NOW IN SECOND, REPLACING
BERNIE SANDERS.
SHE OUT-SHINED THEM.
SHE HAD THE VARSITY DEBATE.
THE JV DEBATE, ELIZABETH WARREN
WON THAT.
>> DID THEY DO ANY DAMAGE TO
YOUR MIND TO DONALD TRUMP?
>> I DON'T THINK SO.
I THINK THEY HELPED HIM.
PEOPLE SEE THAT ALL 20 OF THESE
CANDIDATES WANT TO GIVE FREE
HEALTH CARE TO UNDOCUMENTED
IMMIGRANTS.
ALL 20 OF THESE CANDIDATES WITH
ONE EXCEPTION SAID THEY WANT TO
TAKE AWAY PRIVATE HEALTH
INSURANCE FOR 180 MILLION
PEOPLE.
THOSE ARE FAR LEFT, EXTREME
POSITIONS.
THOSE WILL NOT PLAY WITH THE
CENTER.
THEY HELPED DONALD TRUMP.
>> IS THERE A FRACTURE BETWEEN
THE ESTABLISHMENT DEMOCRATS AND
THE MORE LEFT-LEANING?
>> NO.
I DO NOT AGREE WITH THE IDEA OF
THE WAY HE'S CHARACTERIZING WHAT
THE POSITIONS OF THE PEOPLE IN
THE DEBATE WERE.
WE HAVE A PRESIDENT RIGHT NOW
WHO HAS CONCENTRATION CAMPS IN
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WHO
IS COW-TOWING TO DICTATORS LIKE
PUTIN AND JONG-UN.
HE HAS BEEN ACCUSED OF SEXUAL
ASSAULT.
WE HAVE A RACIST AND A RAPIST IN
THE WHITE HOUSE.
WE ARE BETTER THAN THAT.
>> DO YOU THINK DONALD TRUMP'S
BASE LIKES IT THAT HE'S MEETING
WITH KIM JONG-UN?
>> THEY DO.
HE'S A STRONG MAN.
THEY LIKE A STRONG MAN.
HE WENT TO WASH TO WASHINGTON TO SHAKE
THINGS UP.
HIS BASE LOVES IT.
HIS NUMBERS WITH REPUBLICAN
VOTERS ARE THE HIGHEST THEY'VE
EVER BEEN.
>> BUT THERE'S ONLY 38% ARE
REPUBLICANS.
>> THERE AGAIN I THINK THE
DEMOCRATS LEFT THE MIDDLE OPEN
FOR HIM.
>> OBAMA DIDN'T WIN BY 440 VOTES
IN WISCONSIN BECAUSE HE WAS
TALKING A CENTRIST MESSAGE.
HE INSPIRED PEOPLE TO GET TO THE
POLLS.
THAT'S WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN
WHEN THEY HAVE THE CHOICE
BETWEEN THE TWO.
>> IS DONALD TRUMP IMPERVIOUS TO
SCANDAL?
>> I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE IS,
BUT PEOPLE ARE WILLING TO LOOK
BEYOND SORT OF SMALL SKIRMISHES
AND FOCUS ON THE BIGGER PICTURE.
IN A LOT OF CASES THEY'RE
WILLING TO RALLY BEHIND HIM WHEN
HE'S ATTACKED.
IN MANY WAYS IT MAKES HIM
STRONGER EVERY TIME HE'S
ATTACKED.
>> I THINK IT'S A CHALLENGE
BECAUSE NOT TALKING ABOUT HERE,
BUT OUR CORPORATE MEDIA DOES
RELY ON REVENUE RATINGS AND HE
GETS RATINGS.
AND SO THAT WAS WHY WE SAW HIM
ON CABLE NEWS.
THAT'S A REAL CHALLENGE HERE.
BECAUSE IT CROSSES THAT LINE AS
TO WHAT IS BEING RESPONSIBLE AND
IRRESPONSIBLE.
>> IT ALSO GOES WAY BEYOND THE
USUAL KIND OF BENEFIT OF
INCUMBENCY, RIGHT, FOR DONALD
TRUMP?
>> HE KNOWS HOW TO USE THE
INCUMBENCY, WHETHER IT'S MEETING
WITH KIM JONG-UN IN THE DMZ LAST
WEEK, THAT'S HISTORIC, RIGHT?
HE'S GOING TO HAVE THIS MASSIVE
EVENT ON THE 4TH OF JULY AT THE
CAPITOL.
SO I THINK HE'S REDEFINING THE
PRESIDENCY LITERALLY ON EVERY
LEVEL.
>> BEING A FIRST-TIMER IS NOT
NECESSARILY A GOOD THING.
HERE'S MY QUESTION.
WHEN IT COMES TO KIM, BUSH W.
ENDED THE SANCTIONS FOR A PERIOD
OF TIME.
HE RELAXED SANCTIONS.
CLINTON RELAXED MILITARY
EXERCISES.
NEITHER THING DID ANYTHING TO
STOP WHAT KIM WAS DOING.
SO MY QUESTION IS WHEN TRUMP
ONCE AGAIN DOESN'T GET OUT OF
KIM IS HE GOING TO HAVE A
TANTRUM?
GOD HELP US THAT THEY BRING US
TO THE BRINK OF NUCLEAR WAR.
>> I'M WILLING TO LET THE CHARM
OFFENSIVE TAKE ITS COURSE.
IT'S HISTORIC.
SO FAR THEY'RE LESS OF A THREAT
THAN THEY WERE BEFORE.
BARACK OBAMA GOT THE NOBEL PRIZE
FOR BEING ELECTED.
THAT WAS A PHOTO OP.
TRUMP IS TRYING TO GET STUFF
DONE.
>> HOW ABOUT TRUMP'S
RELATIONSHIP WITH PUTIN ON
DISPLAY AGAIN?
>> AGAIN, THIS IS THE GUY WHO
HELPED HIM GET ELECTED.
TRUMP HAS REACHED OUT.
DO IT AGAIN, PLEASE.
DO WHATEVER YOU CAN TO SUBVERT
THE ELECTIONS IN THE UNITED
STATES OF AMERICA.
IT'S PATHETIC AND SAD AND HOIST
HISTORY BOOKS ARE GOING TO BE
VERY KIND.
>> THE ONE WHO GOT DONALD TRUMP
ELECTED WAS HILLARY CLINTON
BECAUSE SHE WAS SUCH A FLAWED
CANDIDATE.
>> WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT.
NEXT FRIDAY, GOVERNOR EVERS SITS
DOWN WITH US TO GO OVER HIS
STATE BUDGET VETOES.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED, IN PART, BY FRIENDS OF
WISCON