PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION.
>> SURGING COVID 19 NUMBERS SNAP
ATTENTION FROM POLITICS EVEN AS
THE OFFICIAL ELECTION COUNT IS
UNDERWAY THIS WEEK IN WISCONSIN.
POSITIVE CORONAVIRUS CASE
NUMBERS SOAR TO ANOTHER RECORD
DAILY NUMBER NEARING 7800.
OFFICIALS SAY HOSPITALS ARE NEAR
THE TIPPING POINT FOR SAVING
CRITICALLY ILL PATIENTS.
AND GOVERNOR TONY EVERS TAKES TO
THE PRIME TIME AIRWAVES WITH
ANOTHER STATEWIDE HEALTH ORDER.
>> I'VE SIGNED EXECUTIVE ORDER
94 ADVISING WISITES TO STAY HOME
AND SAVE LIVES.
WE MUST GET BACK TO THE BASICS
OF FIGHTING THIS VIRUS JUST LIKE
WE DID LAST SPRING.
>> I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW," WE'LL
TALK WITH A UW INFECTIOUS
DISEASE EXPERT ABOUT THE
ACCELERATING COVID CRISIS IN
WISCONSIN.
WE'LL HEAR FROM GOVERNOR EVERS
ON HIS CALL TO ACTION.
ASSEMBLY SPEAKER ROBIN VOS IS
HERE.
HE'LL ALSO TALK ABOUT HIS CALL
TO INVESTIGATE THE WISCONSIN
ELECTION COUNT.
AND THE HEAD OF THE STATE
ELECTIONS COMMISSION, MEAGAN
WOLFE, HAS OFFICIAL VOTE
TALLIES.
SHE'LL ALSO SPEESK TO SPEAK TO THE
NEWLY-FILED LAWSUIT.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR
NOVEMBER 13.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.
>> RISING COVID 19 CASES IN
WISCONSIN CONTINUE AN ALARMING
SURGE.
DAILY POSITIVE CASES THIS WEEK
NEARLY 78 # 0 ON 0 WITH
HOSPITALS AND DEATHS STEAMING IN
BEHIND.
MANY HOSPITAL SYSTEMS ARE NEAR
CAPACITY WITH SOME IN NORTHWEST
WISCONSIN 100% FULL UP.
STATE PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS
DECLARE WE ARE NEARING THE
TIPPING POINT AT WHICH MEDICAL
PROVIDERS CANNOT SAVE EVERYONE
WHO GETS SEVERELY ILL.
WE CHECK IN NOW WITH DR. NASIA
SAFDAR, THE MEDICAL DIRECTOR OF
INFECTION CONTROL AT UW
HOSPITALS AND CLINICS.
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> SO AS WE SAID, THE STATE
EPIDEMIOLOGIST SAYS WISCONSIN
HOSPITALS ARE NEAR THE TIPPING
POINT WHERE THEY MAY NOT BE ABLE
TO SAVE SERIOUSLY ILL PATIENTS.
HOW TRUE IS THAT AT UW?
>> I THINK IT'S TRUE EVERYWHERE.
WE'RE SEEING AN INCREASE INCREASING
NUMBER OF PATIENTS.
WE HAVEN'T EXPERIENCED THIS KIND
OF IN PATIENT HOSPITALIZATION
RATE SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE
PANDEMIC.
IT BECOMES INCREASINGLY
CHALLENGING GIVEN THE SURGE.
>> HOW DIFFICULT IS THAT FOR
PEOPLE LIKE YOURSELF WHO ARE
PROVIDERS?
>> WELL, I THINK THESE DECISIONS
ARE NEVER EASY TO MAKE.
WE'RE ALL HUMANS.
SO WE WORRY ABOUT ARE OUR
DECISIONS GOING TO HAVE SOME
UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES.
YOU NEVER WANT TO BE ABLE TO SAY
TO A PATIENT I HAVE TO POSTPONE
A PROCEDURE THEY NEED BECAUSE OF
WHAT WE'RE EXPERIENCING.
BUT ULTIMATELY THAT'S WHAT
REALITY LOOKS LIKE AT THE
MOMENT.
>> TODAY U.S. SENATORS INCLUDING
TAMMY BALDWIN ARE CALLING ON
THELE FEDERAL THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO HELP WITH
MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS.
>> I THINK CAPACITY IN TERMS OF
STAFFING IS PROBABLY THE BIGGEST
CHALLENGE HOSPITALS ARE FACING
RIGHT NOW.
AS WE'RE SEEING RATES RISE IN
THE COMMUNITY ON, THE HEALTH
CARE WORKFORCE IS PART OF THAT
COMMUNITY.
WHILE IT'S RELATIVELY EASY TO
HAVE A NEW BED COME FROM
SOMEWHERE, YOU REALLY CAN'T
BRING A FULLY TRAINED HEALTH
CARE WORKER WITHOUT A LOT OF
CHALLENGES.
>> HAVE YOU SEEN ANY OF THAT
KIND OF INFUSION OF MEDICAL
PROFESSIONALS AS YET?
>> AT THIS POINT WE HAVE NOT
NEEDED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF
THAT.
>> AS ALL OF WISCONSIN IS
FEARFUL WITH THESE EXPLODING
NUMBERS OF COVID, WHAT IS IT
LIKE DAY IN AND DAY OUT FOR
THOSE HEALTH CARE WORKERS ON THE
FRONT LINES?
>> WELL, THERE'S A GREAT DEAL I
THINK OF EXHAUSTION, OF FEAR, OF
BURN-OUT.
I THINK THE HEALTH CARE WORKERS
AS A GROUP ARE VERY RESILIENT,
BUT THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON NOW
FOR SEVERAL MONTHS AND JUST LIKE
EVERYONE ELSE IN THE COMMUNITY,
SUSTAINING THIS KIND OF
CHALLENGE IS VERY DIFFICULT.
SO WE'RE STARTING TO FEEL IT.
>> ARE NEW TREATMENTS AND
METHODS OF CARE LEARNED OVER
THESE MONTHS INCREASINGLY
HELPING PATIENTS SERIOUSLY ILL
WITH COVID?
>> I THINK THEY HAVE.
I THINK SOME OF THE ADVANCES IN
SOME OF THE THERAPEUTICS, THE
SUPPORTIVE CARE IS MUCH BETTER,
THE PPE COMFORT, ALL OF THOSE
THINGS HAVE GREATLY IMPROVED
SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE
PANDEMIC AND WE'RE SEEING THAT
IN PATIENT OUTCOMES.
>> HOW HOPEFUL SHOULD WE BE NOW
THAT A VACCINE IS ON THE WAY?
>> I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS
POSSIBILITY.
WE WANT TO REVIEW THE DATA AS
SCIENTISTS WOULD WANT TO DO
THAT.
BUT I THINK IN TERMS OF HOPE AND
THE FACT THAT WE MAY BE TURNING
AN IMPORTANT CORNER IN THIS
PANDEMIC, IT'S PRETTY EXCITING
NEWS.
>> ONE OF THE MEMBERS OF THE
PRESIDENT-ELECT'S TASK FORCE
SAYS WE SHOULD CONSIDER A
NATIONWIDE LOCKDOWN TO GET THIS
UNDER CONTROL.
WHAT WOULD YOU WANT TO SEE?
>> I THINK THAT WE KNOW THAT THE
VIRUS TRAVELS WITH PEOPLE.
AND SO WHEN WE REMOVE -- WHEN
PEOPLE MOVE LESS, INTERACT WITH
FEWER PEOPLE, YOU WILL SEE A
DECLINE IN INFECTIONS.
I THINK IT'S A MATTER OF CAN WE
DO IT AT THIS POINT, CAN WE
SUSTAIN IT, BECAUSE IT REQUIRES
PRETTY DRASTIC BEHAVIOR CHANGE
AND EVERYONE IS TIRED.
I THINK IT IS LIKELY TO BE
EFFECTIVE AS AN INTERVENTION.
>> WHAT ARE YOU STEELING FOR AS
WE APPROACH THE HOLIDAY SEASON
AND FAMILY GATHERINGS?
>> I THINK IF THINGS GO AS THEY
CURRENTLY ARE, I THINK WE WILL
EXPECT TO SEE A BUMP IN
INFECTIONS AS A RESULT OF THIS
HOLIDAY WEEKEND COMING UP OVER
THANKSGIVING.
I HOPE THAT PEOPLE WILL LIMIT
THEIR INTERACTIONS AND I THINK
THAT'S THE MESSAGE THAT EVERYONE
IS TRYING TO SEND OUT.
THIS IS ONE THANKSGIVING WHERE
YOU DON'T WANT TO INTERACT IN
PERSON WITH PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF
YOUR IMMEDIATE HOUSEHOLD.
IT'S A HARD MESSAGE TO HEAR AND
FOLLOW.
BUT THERE WILL BE THANKSGIVING
NEXT YEAR BUT SOME OF THE LIVES
WE HAVE LOST DURING THIS
PANDEMIC WILL NOT BE HERE.
>> WE ARE NOW COLLIDING WITH THE
FLU SEASON.
HAVE YOU SEEN AN UPTICK IN FLU
CASES?
>> WE HAVE NOT AT THIS POINT.
THERE ARE ALWAYS SPORADIC
INFLUENZA INFECTIONS THROUGHOUT
THE YEAR.
FORTUNATELY, WE HAVEN'T SEEN
THAT YET.
>> WHAT IS YOUR MESSAGE TO
PEOPLE AS WE ENTER INTO WHAT ONE
EPIDEMIOLOGIST CALLED COVID
HELL?
>> I THINK IF WE CAN REACH A
POINT WHERE WE CAN DO ENOUGH
BEHAVIOR CHANGE TO MAKE THIS
TEMPORARY, WE CAN BEND THE CURVE
A LITTLE BIT UNTIL THERE'S AN
EFFECTIVE VACCINE THAT CAN BE
WIDELY DEPLOYED.
THERE IS LIGHT AT THE END OF
THIS TUNNEL.
WE JUST HAVE TO GET THROUGH IT
IN A WAY THAT'S MANAGEABLE.
>> DOCTOR NASIA SAFDAR, THANKS
VERY MUCH AND THANKS FOR YOUR
WORK.
>> THANK YOU.
>> GOVERNOR TONY EVERS TOOK TO
THE PRIME TIME AIRWAVES THIS
WEEK TO MAKE AN URGENT PLEA AND
AN EXECUTIVE ORDER TO ADVISE
PEOPLE TO STAY HOME.
>> WISCONSIN HAS BECOME A
NATIONAL HOT SPOT.
WE ONCE LED OUR REGION IN
CONTAINING OUR VIRUS, BUT NOW
SURGES IN OUR STATE RIFLE WHAT
WE SAW IN NEW YORK CITY THIS
LAST SPRING.
OUR CASE NUMBERS CONTINUE TO
CLIMB.
SINCE LAST FRIDAY WE'VE ADDED
MORE THAN 25,000 NEW CASES.
IT TOOK US SEVEN AND A HALF
MONTHS TO GET TO 100,000 CASES,
BUT IT ONLY TOOK 36 DAYS TO ADD
ANOTHER 100,000.
THE WAY THINGS ARE GOING, IT
WILL TAKE US ONLY 20 DAYS TO
REACH ANOTHER 100,000.
WE'VE NOW SURPASSED IN DEATHS
THE NUMBER OF LIVES WE PROJECTED
WE WOULD HAVE SAVED MONTHS AGO
IF WE WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO
KEEP SAFER AT HOME AND REOPEN
SAFELY.
2,395 WISCONSINITES, MOTHERS,
FATHERS, GRANDPARENTS, FRIENDS
AND CO-WORKERS HAVE LOST THEIR
LIVES AND I OFFER MY DEEPEST
SYMPATHY AND CONDOLENCES TO
THOSE WHO ARE MOURNING THE LOSS
OF THEIR LOVED ONES.
UNFORTHUNFORTUNATELY, THEY WILL NOT BE
THE LAST.
>> SINCE THE GOVERNOR'S ADDRESS
EARLIER IN THE WEEK THOSE
NUMBERS HAVE ONLY GROWN.
FOLLOWING EVERS' ADDRESS,
ASSEMBLY SPEAKER ROBIN VOS CALD
THE GOVERNOR, THIS AFTER SIX
MONTHS OF STALEMATE ABOUT HOW TO
DEAL WITH COVID 19 IN WISCONSIN.
HE ALSO CHARGED THE ASSEMBLY
COMMITTEE ON CAMPAIGNS AND
ELECTIONS TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGED
ELECTION IRREGULARITIES IN
WISCONSIN.
THEY TAKE UP THE INQUIRY NEXT
WEEK BY CALLING CLERKS TO
TESTIFY UNDER SUBPOENA.
SPEAKER VOS JOINS US NOW AND
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR DOING SO.
SO FIRST TO COVID.
WHAT PROMPTED YOU TO CALL THE
GOVERNOR FOLLOWING HIS STATEWIDE
ADDRESS WHERE HE TOLD EVERYONE
TO STAY HOME?
>> WELL, THE FIRST THING IS I
WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT NOW
THAT THE ELECTION IS BEHIND US,
WE KNOW THAT DEMOCRATS SPENT LIT
REAT
LITERALLY TENS OF MILLIONS OF
DOLLARS TRYING TO CREATE A
NARRATIVE THAT REPUBLICANS
DIDN'T TAKE COVID SERIOUSLY.
THE OPPOSITE IS ACTUALLY TRUE.
WE PASSED A VERY GOOD BIPARTISAN
BILL THAT ENCOURAGED GOVERNOR
EVERS AND REALLY EMPOWERED HIM
TO BE ABLE TO DEAL WITH THE
VIRUS IN ONE OF THE FIRST BILLS
THAT PASSED IN THE COUNTRY.
I NOW THINK AS THE VIRUS HAS
GOTTEN WORSE AND OF COURSE WE
KNOW THAT MORE CASES ARE RISING
EVERY DAY, WE DO WANT TO OFFER
AND SAY LET'S WORK TOGETHER AND
FIND AREAS OF COMMON GROUND THAT
DOESN'T REQUIRE A SHUTDOWN,
DOESN'T REQUIRE US TO CLOSE OUR
ECONOMY, BUT CERTAINLY GIVES
ADDITIONAL TOOLS THAT MIGHT BE
NECESSARY TO HELP ENSURE THAT
THE VIRUS SPREAD SLOWS AND
HOPEFULLY ONCE A VACCINE COMES
WE CAN GET OUR ECONOMY FULLY
OPERATIONAL.
>> THAT PACKAGE OF BILLS WHICH
YOU MENTIONED HAPPENED WHEN,
BACK IN APRIL?
AND SO THE REPUBLICAN-HELD
LEGISLATURE HAS COME UNDER
CRITICISM AS COVID 19 HAS SURGED
FOR NOT TAKING ANY ACTION SINCE
THEN.
WHAT ABOUT THAT?
>> IT'S REALLY A POLITICAL
ARGUMENT THAT'S BEEN MADE BY THE
LIBERALS AND THEIR ALLIES ALL
ACROSS THE STATE JUST TO TRY TO
WIN THE LEGISLATURE BACK.
THERE ISN'T A LAW THAT WE CAN
PASS THAT WILL OUT LAW THE
PANDEMIC, RIGHT?
THAT JUST ISN'T GOING TO HAPPEN.
WE PROVIDED RESOURCES, MADE IT
EASIER TO GET UNEMPLOYMENT.
WE GOT RID OF A LOT OF BARRIERS
AND REGULATIONS.
BUT LOOK.
I THINK THERE ARE AREAS WHERE WE
SHOULD CERTAINLY DO BETTER.
GOVERNOR EVERS HAS UNILATERAL
CONTROL OVER THE COURSE OF THE
SUMMER IN HOW TO SPEND OVER $2
BILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDING.
SOME AREAS HE SPENT IT WISELY.
OTHER AREAS LEAVES SOMETHING TO
BE DESIRED.
FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, I WANT TO
MAKE SURE WE HAVE MORE MONEY
GOING TO HELP THE SMALL
BUSINESSES THAT REALLY SUFFER
BECAUSE OF THE DECISIONS THAT
HAVE BEEN MADE.
WE COULD HAVE DONE A MUCH BETTER
JOB WITH CONTACT TRACING.
WE ONLY HAVE OVER 1,000
EMPLOYEES HIRED WHEN THEY SHOULD
HAVE HAD WAY MORE THAN THAT.
ON ISSUES AS SIMPLE AS RAPID
TESTING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
HAS PROVIDED OVER 1.7 MILLION
RAPID TESTS AND THOSE HAVE NOT
BEEN IEWT UTILIZED.
WE DON'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH THAT
GOING FORWARD.
THAT'S WHY WE WANTED TO BE
SINCERE IN SAYING, LOOK, I GOT
REELECTED, WATCHED HIS ADDRESS,
LET'S FIND AREAS WE CAN WORK
TOGETHER ON AND GET THAT DONE.
>> HAVE YOU TALKED WITH HIM
SINCE YOU LEFT THAT MESSAGE FOR
HIM ON AREAS WHERE YOU CAN WORK
TOGETHER?
>> YEAH.
WE'VE ACTUALLY PLAYED PHONE TAG.
BOTH OF OUR CHIEFS OF STAFF HAVE
BEEN IN REGULAR COMMUNICATION TO
SAY LET'S LOOK AT WHAT IDEAS
THEY HAVE.
MY GOAL WOULD BE TO HAVE AS GET
TOGETHER AS EARLY AS NEXT WEEK
SO WE CAN HAVE IDEAS FLESHED OUT
AND HOPEFULLY GET THINGS MOVING
AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE TO SEE
WHERE THERE'S COMMON GROUND.
>> YOU'VE TALKED ABOUT RELIEF
FOR SMALL BUSINESSES.
ARE THERE OTHER THINGS THAT
YOU'VE SEEN COME FROM THE OTHER
SIDE THAT YOU FEEL LIKE YOU
ACTUALLY COULD COME TOGETHER ON
SPECIFICALLY?
>> WE REALLY HAVEN'T SEEN ANY
SPECIFIC IDEAS FROM THEM AS OF
TODAY.
I AM CERTAIN THAT THEY HAVE
THEM.
THE ONLY ONE THEY'VE REALLY
TALKED ABOUT IS SOME KIND OF AN
ADDITIONAL LOCKDOWN.
I DON'T WANT TO DO THAT.
BUT I CERTAINLY BELIEVE THAT WE
ARE TOTALLY IN AGREEMENT ON
FOLLOWING THE CDC GUIDELINES.
WE'VE BEEN SAYING THAT FOR
MONTHS.
THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA CHOSE TO
FOCUS ON THE DEMOCRATS'
NARRATIVE THAT WASN'T TRUE.
YOU SHOULD WEAR A MASK, SOCIALLY
DISTANCE AND WASH YOUR HANDS AND
STAY AT HOME.
THOSE ARE THINGS WE ALREADY HAVE
COMMON GRUND GROUND ON.
WE SEE THAT AS THE CASES RISE,
WE NEED TO SEE IF THERE ARE
ADDITIONAL THINGS THAT THE
DEPARTMENT OR THE PUBLIC HEALTH
AGENCIES NEED.
I'VE BEEN IN REGULAR
COMMUNICATION WITH MY DEPARTMENT
OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND BY AND
LARGE THE LOCALS ARE DOING A
REALLY GOOD JOB.
A LOT OF TIMES IT COMES DOWN TO
RESOURCES.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE STATE
OF WISCONSIN CANNOT AFFORD TO DO
BY ITSELF, WHICH WE NEEDED THAT
CARES MONEY THAT WAS BEING
UTILIZED THIS YEAR AND WE'LL BE
ABLE TO SPEND THAT AS SMARTLY
AND WISELY AS WE CAN.
>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE
ELECTION.
WHY FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 50
YEARS ARE YOU ARMING AN ASSEMBLY
COMMITTEE WITH SUBPOENA POWERS
TO INVESTIGATE ELECTION
IRREGULARITIES?
>> BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE
THAT EVERY SINGLE PERSON WHO
VOTED HAS CONFIDENCE IN ITS
RESULTS.
THERE IS NO DOUBT AS WE HAVE
GOTTEN LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF
TELEPHONE CALLS, EMAILS,
FACEBOOK MESSAGES THAT PEOPLE
DOUBT THE ELECTION WAS RUN IN
THE WAY IT SHOULD BE.
I THINK IT'S UNLIKELY THAT WE'RE
GOING TO FIND ENOUGH
IRREGULARITIES TO OVERTURN THE
ELECTION.
BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE
COULDN'T FIND AREAS THAT NEED
IMPROVEMENT OR POTENTIALLY
THINGS THAT WOULD LEAD TO A
CHANGE IN THE OUTCOME.
AGAIN, I THINK IT'S UNLIKELY,
BUT I DON'T KNOW WHY WE WOULD
NOT WANT TO HAVE THE MOST
THOROUGH, ACCURATE COUNT SO
EVERY LEGAL VOTE IS COUNTED AND
PEOPLE HAVE ABSOLUTE CONFIDENCE
THAT WHOEVER WINS THE PRESIDENCY
DID IT LAWFULLY.
>> IT KIND OF SOUNDS LIKE YOU
DON'T TRUST THE ELECTION
OFFICIALS IN WISCONSIN WHEN THEY
SAY THAT THEY ARE FINDING NO
IRREGULARITIES.
>> WELL, I TRUST THE CLERKS.
I THINK THAT BY AND LARGE THEY
DO A GOOD JOB.
BUT THERE WERE INSTANCES ALL
ACROSS THE STATE WHERE
REPUBLICANS WEREN'T ALLOWED TO
BE IN THE COUNTING ROOM.
PEOPLE SAID THAT THEY WERE
INDEFINITELY CONFINED BECAUSE IT
WAS A WAY AROUND THE VOTER I.D.
LAW.
I HAVE A HARD TIME BELIEVING
THAT NONE OF THOSE PEOPLE HAVE
LEFT THEIR HOUSE DURING THE TIME
THAT THEY SAID THEY WERE
INDEFINITELY CONFINED ALL THE
WAY UNTIL THE ELECTION ON
NOVEMBER 3.
SO I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF
IRREGULARITIES THAT WE ARE GOING
TO INVESTIGATE.
AGAIN, WHETHER OR NOT THEY
OVERTURN THE ELECTION, I THINK
THAT'S UNLIKELY, BUT I CERTAINLY
BELIEVE IT'S GOING TO BE A
REASON THAT WE CONTINUE TO LOOK
AT OUR ELECTION LAWS TO MAKE
SURE THAT NO ONE DOUBTS THE
INTEGRITY OR THE SINCERITY OF
THOSE WHO RUN THE ELECTIONS OR
THE FINAL OUTCOME.
>> DO YOU ACCEPT THE RESULTS OF
THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION?
>> FROM MY PERSPECTIVE IN
WISCONSIN, IT SEEMS LIKE THE
ELECTION WAS FAIR WELL RUN.
I ONLY KNOW MY PERSPECTIVE OF
WHAT I SAW IN MY OWN AREA WHERE
OUR CLERKS DID A GOOD JOB.
I HAVE HAD REPORTS OF OTHER
PEOPLE WHO SAW THINGS THAT
LOOKED EFFICIENCY TO THEM.
I THINK WE SHOULD INVESTIGATE.
I WASN'T IN THOUSANDS OF POLLING
PLACES ALL ACROSS THE STATE.
I DIDN'T WITNESS ALL THOSE
INCIDENTS BEING REPORTED TO US.
WE OWE IT TO EVERY PERSON WHO
VOTES IN WISCONSIN TO DO A
THOROUGH INVESTIGATION AND
ENSURE THAT THE RESULTS ARE
ACCURATE, FAIR AND ABLE TO BE
JUSTIFIED TO EVERY SINGLE VOTER.
>> WE LEAVE IT THERE.
SPEAKER ROBIN VOS, THANKS VERY
MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE
WISCONSIN ELECTION COMMISSION IS
EXPECTED TO TESTIFY NEXT WEEK.
THIS WEEK, MEAGAN WOLFE HAS BEEN
PUBLICLY COUNTERING
MISINFORMATION BORNE FROM SOCIAL
MEDIA AND POLITICAL WEBSITES
THAT ALLEGE ALL KINDS OF VAST
ELECTION INTERFERENCE OR FRAUD.
AND BY WEEK'S END A LAWSUIT HAD
BEEN FILED SIMILAR TO ONES IN
MICHIGAN, PENNSYLVANIA AND JORNL
GEORGIA TO THROW OUT RESULTS
FROM MENOMINEE, DANE AND
MILWAUKEE COUNTIES.
WE TURN TO MEAGAN WOLFE FOR
RESPONSE.
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
>> WELL, GOOD MORNING.
THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> SO THE LAWSUIT BROUGHT BY
REPUBLICAN ATTORNEYS WANTS TO
THROW OUT ALL THOSE RESULTS FROM
THOSE THREE COUNTIES BASED ON
SUNDRY ALLEGATIONS OF FRAUD.
BY MY COUNT THAT'S NEARLY 8 # ON
# --
800,000 VOTES.
WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO THIS
LAWSUIT?
>> WELL, WE'LL OF COURSE WORK
WITH OUR LEGAL COUNSEL AND THE
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE THROUGH
THE LITIGATION PROCESS AND
PROCEED ANY DATA THAT IS
PRESENTED AS PART OF IT.
BUT AT THIS TIME, AGAIN, EVEN AS
PART OF THIS FILING, WE'RE NOT
AWARE OF THERE BEING ANY ACTUAL
EVIDENCE PRODUCED TO SHOW THAT
THERE WAS ANY LARGE SCALE FRAUD
OR ANYTHING THAT, YOU KNOW,
AMOUNTS TO MAJOR ISSUES IN
COUNTING OR OTHER JURISDICTIONS
IN COUNTING THEIR BALLOTS OR IN
ENSURING THAT ONLY ELIGIBLE
VOTERS WERE ABLE TO CAST THEIR
BALLOT.
>> NOW, THE LAWSUIT TARGETS,
AMONG OTHER THINGS, 200,000 PLUS
INDEFINITELY CONFINED VOTERS WHO
DON'T HAVE TO INCLUDE VOTER ON
ABSENTEE BALLOTS.
THE COMMITTEE IS ALSO
QUESTIONING THOSE VOTES.
WHY DO THOSE VOTES COUNT?
>> INDEFINITELY CONFINED IS
ACTUALLY A PROVISION OF THE
PHOTO I.D. LAW IN THE WISCONSIN
STATE STATUTES.
AND THE WISCONSIN STATE STATUTES
SAY THAT IF A VOTER CERTIFIES
THAT THEY ARE INDEFINITELY
CONFINED, AND THIS IS A
SELF-CERTIFICATION OF THE VOTER,
THAT THEY CAN APPLY INDEFINITELY
CONFINED FOR REASON OF AGE,
ILLNESS, INFIRMITY OR
DISABILITY.
AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THEY
HAVE TO CERTIFY TO.
AND IF THEY DO, THEY'RE EXEMPT
FROM THE PHOTO I.D. REQUIREMENT.
FOR OTHER VOTERS, THE FIRST TIME
THEY REQUEST AN ABSENTEE BALLOT
THEY HAVE TO PROVIDE A VOTER
I.D.
NO MATTER IF YOU'RE INDEFINITELY
CONFINED OR A REGULAR VOTER
CASTING AN ABSENTEE BALLOT, YOU
STILL MUST BE REGISTERED TO
VOTE, AT WHICH POINT YOU HAVE TO
PROVIDE PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE
INFORMATION LIKE A SOCIAL
SECURITY NUMBER OR DRIVER'S
LICENSE NUMBER.
ALL ABSENTEE VOTERS ARE ALL
REQUIRED TO SIGN THE
CERTIFICATION ON THEIR ABSENTEE
BALLOT CERTIFICATE ENVELOPE.
AND THEY'RE ALSO ALL REQUIRED TO
HAVE A WITNESS AS WELL.
AND SO THERE ARE VOTERS
HISTORICALLY THAT UTILIZE THAT
PROVISION AND WE'RE SEEING
CERTAINLY THERE'S A LARGER
NUMBER OF ABSENTEE BALLOTS IN
OUR STATE THIS YEAR.
BUT THE PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE
THAT CERTIFY THEY'RE
INDEFINITELY CONFINED REMAINS
RELATIVELY THE SAME.
>> WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO THE
LEGISLATIVE INVESTIGATION INTO
THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE
WISCONSIN ELECTION?
>> I AM ALWAYS GLAD TO COOPERATE
WITH PROVIDING ANY INFORMATION
THAT I CAN ABOUT THE ELECTIONS
PROCESS.
TALKING ABOUT ELECTIONS, ABOUT
THE MECHANICS, ABOUT HOW
ELECTIONS WORK, PRESENTING
ELECTION FACTS IS ONE OF THE
CORE MISSIONS OF AN AGENCY LIKE
OURS AND CERTAINLY MY POSITION.
I'M GLAD TO PRESENT ANY
INFORMATION I CAN TO THE
LEGISLATIVE BODY, TO THE
LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE IN MAKING
SURE THAT THEY HAVE THE
INFORMATION THAT THEY NEED SO
THAT VOTERS CAN HAVE EVEN MORE
FACTS ABOUT THE PROCESS AND HOW
THEY WORK AND CAN FEEL CONFIDENT
IN HOW OUR ELECTION WAS
CONDUCTED.
>> BECAUSE YOU HAVE PUBLICLY
COUNTERED THIS WEEK EIGHT TOP
RUMORS BEING DISSEMINATED ABOUT
THE ELECTION, INCLUDING THINGS
ABOUT WHETHER THE USE OF
SHARPIES ON BALLOTS RENDERED
THEM INVALID.
DOES THIS NEW LAWSUIT GIVE ANY
MORE TEETH TO THOSE KINDS OF
ALLEGATIONS OR RUMORS?
>> WE HAVE NOT BEEN PROVIDED
WITH ANY ADDITIONAL EVIDENCE OF
ANY TYPES OF ISSUES WITH OUR
ELECTIONS AND THIS SUIT DOES NOT
DO THAT EITHER.
SO, NO, I DO NOT THINK THAT THIS
CHANGES EVERYTHING AND I STILL
THINK THAT EVERYTHING WE'VE
PRESENTED TO ON COUNTER THE
RUMORS AND THE MISINFORMATION
THAT ARE PREVALENT ABOUT OUR
ELECTION STILL STAND.
>> IN THE 11 DAYS SINCE THE
ELECTION AND THROUGH THE
CANVASS, ARE ELECTION OFFICIALS
FINDING ANY MAJOR SWINGS?
>> THERE HAVE NOT BEEN ANY MAJOR
ISSUES OR SWINGS REPORTED TO OUR
OFFICE.
I SHOULD ALSO NOTE THAT THE
UNOFFICIAL ELECTION RESULTS ARE
POSTED BY REPORTING UNIT ON THE
COUNTY WEBSITES.
THEY WILL REMAIN THERE.
AS ARE THE COUNTY CERTIFIED
CANVASS RESULTS.
SO ANYBODY IS ABLE TO SEE ANY
CHANGES THAT HAPPENED BETWEEN
UNOFFICIAL RESULTS AND CERTIFIED
CANVASS RESULTS.
THOSE ARE PUBLICLY AVAILABLE.
YOU'LL SEE THAT THE COUNTIES
THAT HAVE REPORTED AND WERE
CLOSE TO 60 COUNTIES OUT OF THE
72 THAT HAVE NOW SUBMITTED THEIR
CERTIFIED CANVASS, THAT WE ARE
NOT SEEING ANY MAJOR CHANGES IN
ANY OF THOSE NUMBERS.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WE NEED TO LEAVE IT THERE.
MEAGAN WOLFE, THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> ONCE THE LAST COUNTY CANVASS
IS FILED BY NEXT TUESDAY, THE
TRUMP CAMPAIGN HAS ONE DAY TO
REQUEST A RECOUNT.
THE QUESTION OF WHETHER
OBAMACARE SHOULD CONTINUE TO
EXIST CAME FRONT AND CENTER THIS
WEEK WHEN THE U.S. SUPREME COURT
HELD ORAL ARGUMENTS OVER WHETHER
IT SHOULD BE REPEALED.
REPUBLICANS HAVE WORKED TO
OVERTURN THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT
SINCE ITS ENACTMENT TEN YEARS
AGO.
PRESIDENT-ELECT BIDEN HAS VOWED
TO EXPAND IT.
BUT THE ACA GOT ANOTHER TEST
BEFORE THE HIGH COURT WHEN IT
CONSIDERED WHETHER IT'S
PROVISIONS LIKE COVERAGE FOR
PREEXISTING CONDITIONS CAN
REMAIN EVEN IF THE INDIVIDUAL
MANDATE TO HOLD INSURANCE IS
STRUCK DOWN.
ALL OF THIS COMES AS THE ACA
ENROLLMENT WINDOW IS NOW OPEN.
BASKETBALLBOBBY PETERSON IS IN A PUBLIC
ACCESS LAW FIRM THAT HELPS
CONSUMERS NAVIGATE THE HEALTH
CARE SYSTEM.
THANKS FOR BEING HERE.
>> GLAD TO BE HERE.
>> WHAT WAS YOUR TAKE ON THE
DIRECTION OF THE HIGH COURT WHEN
IT COMES TO THIS QUESTION OF
WHETHER THE ACA SHOULD BE
REPEALED?
>> WELL, THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST
CHALLENGED ACTS IN MODERN
HISTORY BUT IT'S THE SEVENTH
TIME IN EIGHT YEARS THAT THE ACA
HAS BEEN CHALLENGED.
IT'S COMPLICATED LEGAL ARGUMENTS
THAT RELATE TO STANDING.
DO THE STATES THAT ARE
CHALLENGING THIS HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO CHALLENGE, HAVE
THEY SUFFERED A HARM?
THE NEXT PART OF IT IS DO THEY
HAVE -- IS THE CONSTITUTIONAL
ISSUE RELATED TO THE MANDATE, IS
IT CONSTITUTIONAL OR NOT NOW
THAT THEY'VE ZEROED ON YOU ZEROED OUT THE TAX.
ORIGINALLY THE ACA PASSED THE
SUPREME COURT REVIEW BECAUSE
THEY CONSIDERED IT A TAX.
ONCE THE TAX BECAME ZERO, IS IT
STILL VALID.
THE THIRD ISSUE THEN IS SEVERE
SEVEREABILITY AND THAT IS A BIG
ISSUE BECAUSE IF THE SUPREME
COURT FINDS THAT THE MANDATE IS
UNCONSTITUTIONAL, DOES THAT WIPE
OUT THE WHOLE ACA.
I WAS REALLY HEARTENED BY THE
CONVERSATIONS OF THE JUSTICES
AND LISTENING TO SOME OF THE
ORAL ARGUMENT THAT THEY HAD
SERIOUS DOUBTS ABOUT WHETHER
ELIMINATING THE MANDATE HAS
UNCONSTITUTIONAL COULD TAKE OUT
THE WHOLE ACA.
SO THE SEVERABILITY ISSUE
BECOMES REMOTE FROM LISTENING TO
THE ART.
ARGUMENT.
YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO
HAPPEN.
RIGHT NOW WE'RE IN OPEN
ENROLLMENT.
IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE
TO SIGN UP FOR HEALTH CARE
COVERAGE.
>> RIGHT.
SO YOU WERE JUST SAYING THAT ANY
DECISION IS NOT LIKELY TO COME
ON THIS UNTIL JUNE AND, AS YOU
SAY, THE ENROLLMENT WINDOW FOR
2021 ACA PLANS OPENED NOVEMBER 1
AND IS OPEN UNTIL DECEMBER 1.
WHAT SHOULD PEOPLE EXPECT THAT
MAY BE NEW OR DIFFERENT THIS
YEAR?
LIKE HOW DO PREMIUMS LOOK?
>> PREMIUMS LOOK PRETTY GOOD.
GENERALLY THERE'S A LOT OF
AVAILABILITY ON THE MARKETPLACE.
WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR
PEOPLE TO SHOP ON THE
MARKETPLACE.
I THINK A GOOD PLACE TO GO IS
THE WISCOVER.COM WEBSITE.
THE INSURANCE COMMISSIONER SET
UP A LOT OF GOOD INFORMATION,
HOW TO ACCESS.
THERE'S A FEDERAL POVERTY CAL
CALCULATOR.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF
OPPORTUNITIES TO SIGN UP FOR
COVERAGE FOR 2021.
IF YOU'RE FACING COVERAGE
CHALLENGES RIGHT NOW IF YOU'RE
LOOKING AT DECEMBER 1, YOU NEED
TO GET AN APPLICATION INTO THE
MARKETPLACE BEFORE THE 15TH OF
NOVEMBER.
SO THAT WINDOW IS CLOSING FOR
COVERAGE ON DECEMBER 1.
BUT THERE IS TIME TO LOOK AT
OPTIONS FOR 2021 ALL THE WAY
THROUGH DECEMBER 15.
>> ALL RIGHT.
BOBBY PETERSON, WE NEED TO LEAVE
IT THERE.
WE APPRECIATE YOUR EXPERTISE ON
THIS AND WE'LL OF COURSE BE
CHECKING BACK IN WITH YOU AS
THIS PROCESS PROCEEDS.
THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> YOU'RE WELCOME.
THANK YOU.
>> AND THAT IS OUR PROGRAM FOR
TONIGHT.
HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.