>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION.
>> STATE LAWMAKERS THIS WEEK
TURN THEIR SIGHTS TO HOW PEOPLE
CAN VOTE AND COME UP WITH A RAFT
OF BILLS THAT WOULD CHANGE HOW
ELECTIONS ARE RUN IN WISCONSIN.
REPUBLICANS SAY IT'S ABOUT
BALLOT INTEGRITY.
DEMOCRATS SAY IT'S ABOUT VOTER
SUPPRESSION.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW," NEW
BILLS AT THE STATE CAPITOL WOULD
CHANGE HOW WISCONSIN ELECTIONS
ARE RUN.
COVID-19, MAKING SURE VACCINE
GETS TO PEOPLE IN ALL
COMMUNITIES.
AND LATER, AN INTERVIEW WITH
SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT CANDIDATE
JILL UNDERLY.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR FEBRUARY
26.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.
>> SENATE REPUBLICANS UNVEIL THE
PACKAGE OF TEN BILLS THIS WEEK
THAT WOULD MODIFY HOW THE
WISCONSIN VOTE IS TAKEN.
THE MEASURES RANGE FROM A
PROPOSAL THAT WOULD CHANGE HOW
ABSENTEE BALLOTS CAN BE GATHERED
TO A WILL THAT WOULD REEF REDEFINE
WHO VOTERS WHO ARE INDEFINITELY
CONFINED.
THESE VOTERS CAST THEIR BALLOT
BY MAIL BECAUSE OF AGE,
DISABILITY OR OTHER PHYSICAL
BARRIERS.
CURRENTLY THEY CAN HAVE A
WITNESS SIGN THEIR BALLOT AS
PROOF OF IDENTITY, NO PHOTO I.D.
REQUIRED.
UNDER THE PROPOSED LAW I.D.
EXEMPTLE SHON FOR
INDEFINITELY-CONFINED VOTERS
WOULD BE ELIMINATED.
THESE VOTES WOULD HAVE TO SWEAR
UNDER OATH THAT THEY ARE
INDEFINITELY CONFINED.
VOTERS IN THIS CATEGORY UNDER
THE AGE OF 65 WOULD HAVE A
PROVIDE A HEALTH PROVIDER'S
DOCUMENTATION OF CONFINEMENT
STATUS.
THE MEASURE WOULD ELIMINATE THE
INDEFINITELY-CONFINED STATUS OF
VOTERS WHO ENROLLED AS SUCH
BETWEEN MARCH 12 AND NOVEMBER 6
OF LAST YEAR.
REPUBLICAN SENATOR KATHY BERNIER
IS THE CHAIR OF THE SENATE
COMMITTEE ON ELECTIONS AND SHE
JOINS US NOW FROM THE VILLAGE OF
LAKE HALLIE IN CHIPPEWA COUNTY
AND THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING
HERE.
>> IT IS MY PLEASURE.
THANK YOU.
>> SO THE INDEFINITELY CONFINED
PROPOSALS REALLY CLAMP DOWN ON
RULES IN PLACE LAST NOVEMBER.
WHY DO YOU THINK THAT'S
NECESSARY?
>> WELL, I DON'T AGREE WITH 100%
OF THE BILLS THAT CAME OUT IN
ALL THE DETAIL INVOLVED IN IT,
SO I DID HAVE A CONVERSATION
WITH SENATOR STROEBEL, DARLING
AND ALL OF OUR STAFF GOT
TOGETHER AND I SAID I HAVE SOME
CONCERNS.
I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE
DISABLED, DISABILITY COMMUNITY
AND THEIR ADVOCATES TO COME UP
WITH SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE
APPROPRIATE AND EASY TO NAVIGATE
FOR THE PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES.
AND THAT IS WHAT THAT PROVISION
REALLY WAS CREATED FOR.
IT WAS NOT CREATED FOR
ABLE-BODIED INDIVIDUALS WHO CAN
GO OUT SHOPPING OR CAMPAIGNING
OR WHATEVER TO USE INDEFINITELY
CONFINED.
AND SO WHAT PRECIPITATED IT IS
THERE WERE INDIVIDUALS WHO
ABUSED THAT PRIVILEGE THAT WAS
REALLY DESIGNED FOR THE DISABLED
AND ELDERLY.
>> WELL, LET ME ASK YOU WHAT
PROBLEMS YOU HAVE WITH IT THAT
YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE CHANGED.
>> WELL, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE
THAT INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE ABLE TO
LEAVE THEIR HOME AS DESIRED
DON'T HAVE THAT OPTION, BECAUSE,
ONCE AGAIN, WHEN YOU HAVE
ABSENTEE VOTING, THAT IS THE
AREA WHICH IS EASIER TO ABUSE.
AND SO IT IS INTENDED FOR
INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE ACTUALLY
INCAPABLE OF GETTING OUT OF
THEIR HOMES AS DESIRED.
>> RIGHT, BUT --
>> AND THAT DIDN'T INCLUDE --
THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE ME OR
SOMEONE LIKE ME.
>> SURE.
BUT DID YOU SAY THAT YOU HAD
ISSUES WITH THE WAY THE DRAFT OF
THE PROPOSED LAW LOOKS RIGHT
NOW, WITH SOME OF THE THINGS
THAT WE JUST LAID OUT?
OR DUE LIKE IT DO YOU LIKE IT THE WAY IT
STANDS?
>> I DO NOT LIKE IT THE WAY IT
STANDS.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME
CHANGES.
>> LIKE WHAT?
>> I WOULD LIKE TO SEE WHERE THE
WITNESS AND AFFIDAVIT -- AN
AFFIDAVIT IS AN OATH SO
ESSENTIALLY THEY SIGNED THAT
SAYING THEY ARE UNABLE TO LEAVE
THEIR HOME AS DESIRED, AND SO
THAT IS CLEAR.
AND TO REQUIRE MEDICAL
INFORMATION IS NOT REASONABLE.
I'M NOT EVEN SURE HIPPA WOULD
ALLOW FOR THAT OR WE CAN REQUIRE
THAT.
SO WE WANT IT TO HAVE THAT
OPPORTUNITY FOR THE INDIVIDUALS
WHO NEED IT, BUT WE DON'T WANT
THE IT ABUSED
IT ABUSED BY OAMPLETS I USE OTHERS.
PARKING IN A DISABLED PARKING
SPOT IS NOT MY RIEFT.
I AM NOT DISABLED.
I WILL PAY A FINE FOR T. THE
SAME PROVIDES FOR THIS PROVISION
IN THE LAW.
>> SO SENATOR STROEBEL LISTENING
TO YOUR CONCERNS AND DO YOU
EXPECT THEN THERE TO BE
MODIFICATIONS?
>> YES.
HE RECOGNIZED THAT MANY OF THESE
PROPOSALS WILL HAVE CHANGES MADE
TO THEM.
HE RECOGNIZED THAT.
>> BECAUSE THE BILL AS IT STANDS
NOW WOULD CLARIFY IN STATE LAW
THAT A PANDEMIC CANNOT BE USED
TO APPLY FOR INDEFINITELY
CONFINED STATUS.
IN YOUR MIND IS THAT WHAT CAUSED
THE NUMBER OF SUCH VOTERS TO
INCREASE BY NEARLY 150,000 IN
THE NOVEMBER ELECTION COMPARED
TO 2016?
>> IT DIDN'T INTUITIVETY INTUITIVELY CAUSE
THAT.
IT IS TWO COUNTY CLERKS THAT
TOOK IT UPON THEMSELF TO
INTERPRET STATE LAW AS THEY SO
CHOOSE, WHICH I BELIEVE THE
SUPREME COURT -- OR I KNOW THE
SUPREME COURT DID SEND A MESSAGE
TO THE COUNTY CLERK IN DANE
COUNTY THAT HE HAS NO AUTHORITY
TO DO THAT.
AND I SHARE THAT OPINION WITH
SCOTT McDONALD, THAT COUNTY
CLERKS DO NOT INTERPRET THE LAW
OR PROVIDE GUIDANCE.
THAT IS WHY WE HAVE THE
WISCONSIN ELECTION COMMISSION.
SO THAT IS I BELIEVE WHAT CAUSED
THE PROBLEM IN THE FIRST PLACE.
>> NOW, YOU WERE A LONG-TIME
ELECTION CLERK IN CHIPPEWA
COUNTY.
DO YOU THINK THE VOLUME OF
ABSENTEE BALLOTS OF ALL KIND
RESULTED IN VOTER FRAUD IN
WISCONSIN THAT FLIPPED THE
ELECTION TO JOE BIDEN?
>> NO.
I DO BELIEVE WE HAVE A MIGHT A HIGHER
PERCENTAGE OF VOTER FRAUD, THAT
WE WILL HAVE A HIGHER NUMBER,
BUT I HAVE TOLD LOTS ON LOTS OF
CONSERVATIVES STRAIGHT UP THAT
WE DO NOT HAVE 20,000 VOTER
FRAUD CASES IN THE STATE OF
WISCONSIN.
I AM CONFIDENT OF THAT.
BUT I ALSO POINT OUT THAT
INDIVIDUALS WHO THINK THAT WE
NEED NOT TWEAK OUR ELECTION
LAWS, WE DID IN 2016 WITH THE
ACCUSATIONS FROM DEMOCRATS THAT
RUSSIANS HACKED OUR ELECTIONS
AND WE DEALT WITH HOMELAND
SECURITY AND WE ADDED MORE IN
CRYP SHON AND DOUBLE
AUTHENTICATION FROM THE CLERKS
WHEN THEY'RE IN THE SYSTEM.
SO WE REACTED TO THOSE
ACCUSATIONS, JUST AS WE'RE GOING
TO REACT TO ACCUSATIONS MADE
DURING THIS ELECTION.
>> WELL, WE WILL WAIT TO SEE
WHAT THOSE MODIFICATIONS LOOK
LIKE.
SENATOR, THANKS VERY MUCH FOR
JOINING US.
>> YOU ARE WELCOME.
THANK YOU.
>> DEMOCRATS AT THE STATE
CAPITOL WERE JOINED IN
OPPOSITION TO THE BILL BY GROUPS
SUCH AS DISABILITY RIGHTS
WISCONSIN.
THE MILWAUKEE OFFICE DIRECTOR OF
THAT GROUP IS BARBARA BECKERT,
WHO JOINS US NOW FROM MILWAUKEE
AND THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING
HERE GLMENT THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY.
>> SO WHAT IS YOUR OR OR AUL OVERALL
REACTION TO THE PROPOSAL
>> WE WANT TO WORK WITH
POLICYMAKERS TO ADDRESS BARRIERS
TO VOTING AND PROTECT THE RIGHTS
OF VOTERS AND ALSO ENSURE WE
HAVE SECURE ELECTIONS.
AND WE AGREE THAT THERE ARE
OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVEMENT.
>> OF THE PRONGS OF IT,
CLIEWFDING
INCLUDING REQUIRING A DOCTOR'S
SIGNATURE FOR VOTERS UNDER 65,
WHICH PARTS OF IT STAND OUT AS
PROBLEMATIC FOR YOU AND WHY?
>> WELL, THESE VOTERS WOULD BE
REQUIRED TO PROVIDE STATEMENTS
UNDER OATH THAT THEY ARE
INDEFINITELY CONFINED.
WE'RE NOT SURE WHAT THAT MEANS,
BUT WE'RE CONCERNED.
THESE ARE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE A
LOT OF DIFFICULTY GETTING OUT
INTO THE COMMUNITY.
DOES IT MEAN THEY WOULD HAVE TO
GO TO A NOTARY?
THEY NEED TO HAVE A STATEMENT
SIGNED BY A DOCTOR.
THAT'S VERY CONCERNING.
THIS IS NOT COVERED BY
INSURANCE, SO IT'S VERY LIKELY
THE VOTER WOULD NEED TO PAY FOR
THE VISIT.
SOME PEOPLE FEEL IT'S A POLL
TAX.
THESE ARE LOW-INCOME PEOPLE IN
MANY CASES.
IN ADDITION, IF THE VOTER OR
DOCTOR MAKES A FALSE STATEMENT
IT'S A FELONY WITH A FINE AND
POSSIBLE PRISON TIME.
SO I THINK IT'S VERY UNLIKELY
THAT HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS
WILL BE WILLING GOING OUT ON THE
LINE AND SIGN THIS, ESPECIALLY
SINCE IT DOES NOT DEFINE WHAT
INDEFINITELY CONFINED MEANS.
>> NOW, WE ARE JUST AWFT AIR OFF THE AIR
WITH SENATOR BERNIER WHO SAYS
SHE TOO TAKES ISSUE WITH THOSE
KINDS OF ELEMENTS IN THE
PROPOSED BILL, SPECIFICALLY A
DOCTOR'S SIGNATURE AND AN OATH
TO SWEAR THAT YOU ARE
INDEFINITELY CONFINED.
AND SHE EXPECTS THERE TO BE
MODIFICATIONS TO THIS.
WHAT'S YOUR RESPONSE TO THAT?
>> YEAH.
WE'VE APPRECIATED THE DIALOGUE
WITH SENATOR BERNIER.
I THINK SHE'S BEEN VERY
CONCERNED ABOUT ENSURING THAT
THE RIGHTS OF VOTERS WITH
DISABILITIES AND OLDER ADULTS
ARE HONORED.
BUT ALSO SEEING THAT THERE'S
SOME OPPORTUNITIES FOR
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE WAY WE DO
BUSINESS WITH OUR ELECTION
SYSTEM HERE IN WISCONSIN.
AND WE WELCOME THE CHANCE FOR
CONTINUING CONVERSATION.
>> SO ARE THERE ANY CHANGES TO
CURRENT LAW AROUND
INDEFINITELY-CONFINED VOTERS
THAT YOU WOULD SUPPORT?
>> WELL, ONE THING THAT WE HAVE
SEEN IS THAT THE TERM IS
CONFUSING TO PEOPLE.
AT DISABILITY RIGHTS WISCONSIN,
WE HAVE A VOTER ASSISTANCE
HOTLINE, SO LAST YEAR, 2020, WE
ASSISTED HUNDREDS OF VOTERS WITH
DISABILITIES AND OLDER ADULTS
WHO HAD QUESTIONS.
AND MANY OF THEM, IN OUR
EXPERIENCE, THEY WANT TO FOLLOW
THE LAW.
AND WHEN THEY HEAR A TERM
INDEFINITELY CONFINED, IT MAKES
THEM ANXIOUS BECAUSE THEY SAY,
YES, I HAVE DIFFICULTY VOTING
AND GOING TO MY POLLING PLACE
BECAUSE OF AGE, DISABILITY OR
INFIRMITY OR MEDICAL CONDITION.
HOWEVER, I DO LEAVE MY HOUSE
SOMETIMES.
I, YOU KNOW, MAY BE ABLE ON A
GOOD DAY TO GO TO THE GROCERY
STORE.
I GO OUT FOR MEDICAL
APPOINTMENTS AND SO ON.
SO DO I QUALIFY FOR INDEFINITELY
CONFINED?
AND THE STATE SUPREME COURT HAS
AFFIRMED THAT, THAT THIS IS UP
TO THE VOTER TO DECIDE AND TO
CERTIFY.
BUT I DO THINK THAT THERE'S AN
OPPORTUNITY TO FURTHER CLARIFY
IT SO THAT PEOPLE ARE
COMFORTABLE.
BECAUSE IN OUR EXPERIENCE,
VOTERS WANT TO DO THE RIGHT
THING.
SO I THINK WE CAN HELP THEM WITH
THAT.
AND ALSO ENSURE THAT MUNICIPAL
CLERKS HAVE A CONSISTENT
UNDERSTANDING.
>> YEAH, BECAUSE IT IS TRUE THAT
THE USE OF THE
INDEFINITELY-CONFINED STATUS
JUMPED FROM UNDER 70,000 VOTERS
IN 2016 TO MORE THAN 200,000
VOTERS IN 2020.
IN YOUR ESTIMATION, WAS IT
OVER-USED BY PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT
IN FACT DISABLED OR CONFINED?
>> WELL, I GUESS FIRST I WOULD
PUT THAT IN THE CONTEXT OF THE
FACT THAT WE HAD A WORLDWIDE
PANDEMIC.
SO I THINK IT'S NOT AT ALL
SURPRISING THAT THE USAGE
INCREASED.
AND DID SOME PEOPLE DO THIS IN
AN EFFORT IN SOME WAY TO BE
FRAUDULENT AND DEFRAUD THE
SYSTEM?
THAT'S POSSIBLE.
I DON'T KNOW THAT.
THAT ISN'T THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE
CALLED US.
YOU KNOW, WE HAD INDIVIDUALS WHO
PERHAPS HAD NOT USED THAT
DEFINITION BEFORE, BUT THEY WERE
SCARED BECAUSE OF COVID AND THEY
WANTED TO RECEIVE ABSENTEE
BALLOTS FOR THE ELECTION IN 2020
AND DID NOT HAVE AN EASY WAY TO
PROVIDE A PHOTO I.D.
IT'S VERY INTERESTING THAT THE
DATA FROM THE ELECTION
COMMISSION SHOWED THAT THE
MAJORITY OF PEOPLE WHO USED
INDEFINITELY-CONFINED STATUS DID
HAVE A PHOTO I.D. REQUEST ON
FILE OR HAD SHOWN IT IN A PAST
ELECTION.
>> LIKE 80% OR SOMETHING, YEAH.
>> EXACTLY.
YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T
HAVE PRIVILEGE WHERE THEY HAVE
ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY OR THEY MAY
NOT KNOW HOW TO UPLOAD A PHOTO
I.D.
THAT'S THE CHALLENGE.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
BARBARA BECKERT, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH.
THANKS FOR YOUR WORK.
>> THANK YOU FOR THIS
OPPORTUNITY TO BE A VOICE FOR
VOTERS WITH DISABILITIES AND
OLDER ADULTS.
>> IN WASHINGTON, WISCONSIN
SENATOR RON JOHNSON RECEIVED
CRITICISM FOR HIS STATEMENTS AT
A HEARING LOOKING AT THE ATTACK
ON THE U.S. CAPITOL JANUARY 6.
HE STATED HE DIDN'T THINK THE
ATTACK COUNTED AS AN ARMED
INSURRECTION BECAUSE SO MANY OF
THE ATTACKERS WERE USING
FLAGPOLES AND STICKS INSTEAD OF
GUNS.
HE READ INTO THE RECORD AN
ACCOUNT OF THE ATTACK BY A
RIGHT-WING WRITER WHO CLAIMED
SOME IN THE CROWD WERE
ANTI-TRUMP PROTESTERS IN
DISGUISE.
>> ALTHOUGH THE CROWD
RECOMMENDED A WIDE CROSS-SECTION
OF AMERICANS, SOME PEOPLE STOOD
OUT.
A VERY FEW DIDN'T SHARE THE
JOVIAL, FRIENDLY, EARNEST
DEMEANOR OF THE GREAT MAJORITY.
SOME OBVIOUSLY DIDN'T FIT IN AND
HE DESCRIBES FOUR DIFFERENT
DESCRIBES OF PEOPLE: PLAIN
CLOTHES MILITANTS, PROK CA TO
YOURS, FAKE TRUMP PROTESTERS AND
ATTACKERS.
THESE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT
PROBABLY PLANNED THIS.
>> THE AUTHOR OF THE ARTICLE
WROTE HE DIDN'T SEE ANY OF THE
PEOPLE HE SUSPECTED OF BEING
FAKE TRUMP SUPPORTERS ACTUALLY
CAUSING TROUBLE.
BUT SENATOR JOHNSON DID NOT READ
THAT PART OF THE ACCOUNT INTO
THE RECORD.
JOHNSON WAS QUICKLY ACCUSED OF
SPREADING CONSPIRACY THEORIES.
WISCONSIN'S OTHER U.S. SENATOR
TAMMY BALDWIN TWEETED A MESSAGE
BLAMING THE INSURRECTION ON
DONALD TRUMP SAYING EVERY MEMBER
OF CONGRESS SHOULD TELL THIS
TRUTH INSTEAD OF PUSHING CON
CONSPIRACY THEORIES.
THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
SERVICES ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK
THAT MORE GROUPS WILL BE
ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE THE COVID-19
VACCINE BEGINNING MARCH 1.
THIS AS AS ACCESS TO THE VACCINE IS
LEAVING COMMUNITIES OF COLOR
SQUEEZED OUT OF ALLOCATIONS.
DR. ZENO FRANCO WITH THE MEDICAL
COLLEGE OF WISCONSIN HAS THESE
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CREATING
GREATER ACCESS AND TRUST TO
DISTRIBUTE THE VACCINE IN
MILWAUKEE.
>> WELL, I THINK SOME VERY
SIMPLE SOLUTIONS CAN GO A LONG
WAY.
ONE, WE REALLY NEED TO HAVE
VACCINATORS OF COLOR AT EVERY
VACCINE LOCATION, RIGHT?
SO THAT PEOPLE CLEARLY CAN TRUST
THE SITUATION.
THEY CAN TALK TO SOMEBODY FROM
THEIR OWN CULTURE WHO'S TAKEN
THE VACCINE.
IF THEY HAVE QUESTIONS THEY FEEL
COMFORTABLE IN ASKING.
AGAIN, IT'S VERY, VERY IMPORTANT
THAT WE MOVE FROM CENTRALIZED
DISTRIBUTION TO THE COMMUNITY
CLINIC MODEL.
BUT EVEN MORE THAN THAT, MAYBE
TO MOBILE VACCINE CLINICS THAT
ARE GOING BLOCK BY BLOCK IN
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR SO IF
SOMEBODY DOESN'T HAVE ACCESS
THEY CAN GET THE VACCINE.
WE NEED TO SLOW DOWN, RIGHT?
AND THIS IS FOR ALL THE
INSTITUTIONS IN THE REGION, THE
BIG AGENCIES, SLOW DOWN, HAVE A
CONVERSATION WITH THE COMMUNITY.
WHAT ARE YOUR WORRIES?
YOU KNOW, IT'S EASY FOR ME TO
SAY IT'S NOT GOING TO CHANGE
YOUR GENES,IT'S NOT GOING TO
TURN YOU INTO A ZOMBIE, YOU'RE
NOT GOING TO BE STERILIZED BY
THIS, BUT THOSE ARE GENUINE
WORRIES FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS
RIGHT HERE IN MILWAUKEE.
AND IT'S REALLY EASY TO GLOSS
OVER THEM AND SAY THAT'S JUST
DUMB, YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND THE
SCIENCE.
NO, THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND THE
SCIENCE, AND WE HAVE AN
OBLIGATION TO EXPLAINT EXPLAIN IT, RIGHT,
IN A WAY THAT'S EASY TO
UNDERSTAND, THAT'S CONSUMABLE
AND HELPS PEOPLE MAKE A DECISION
ABOUT THEIR HEALTH CARE.
>> ANOTHER DECISION IMPEDING
ACCESS, VACCINE TOURISM.
DHS ANNOUNCED A PARTNERSHIP WITH
WALGREENS TO DISTRIBUTE THE
VACCINE TO UNDER-SERVED
COMMUNITIES.
HOWEVER, PEOPLE FROM OUTSIDE THE
AREA CAN TAKE UP APPOINTMENTS AT
NEIGHBORHOOD PHARMACIES WHERE
THEY DON'T RESIDE AND THEN
EXPEND THE LIMITED VACCINE
SUPPLY.
DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSWOMAN GWEN
MOORE SPOKE TO MARISA ABOUT
THIS.
>> WHY IS THERE A LACK OF ACCESS
IN YOUR DISTRICT?
>> I WOULDN'T ATTRIBUTE TOURISM
TO THE ENTIRE PROBLEM?
MAYBE THE ENTIRE PROBLEM IS MANY
OF MY CONSTITUENTS, PEOPLE OF
COLOR, THE SYSTEM IS ALREADY
BUILT UP AND DESIGNED TO PROVIDE
VACCINE INADVERTENTLY TO WHITE
PEOPLE, PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THE
MEDICAL PROFESSION, PEOPLE WHO,
YOU KNOW, AS FIRST PRIORITY,
PEOPLE WHO ARE OVER 65.
THE MEDIAN AGE OF WHITE PEOPLE,
THE COST OF THE BABYBOOMER
GENERATION AFTER WORLD WAR II
ARE WHITE.
AND SO I THINK THAT MAKES
TOURISM SO MUCH MORE EGREGIOUS
IS THAT THE INEQUITIES ARE
ALREADY BUILT IN.
>> AND IN PARTICULAR TO VACCINE
TOURISM, WHAT WERE YOU PROPOSING
TO DHS AND TO WALGREENS IN ORDER
TO PREVENT THAT SPECIFIC ISSUE
FROM HAPPENING?
>> IF YOU ARE SAY A WALGREENS
SERVING AN AREA WHERE YOU KNOW
THAT THERE ARE HIGHER RATES OF
PANDEMIC OR LOW-INCOME PEOPLE,
IT'S VERY SIMPLE TO ASK FOR I.D.
AND ASK FOR ADDRESS, TO MAKE
SURE THAT YOU'RE MEETING THOSE
CLIENTS.
BUT MORE PARTICULARLY, WE ARE
ASKING WALGREENS TO USE THEIR
SAME SYSTEM WHERE THEY REACH OUT
TO PEOPLE TO REMIND THEM TO PICK
UP REFILL PRESCRIPTIONS, PEOPLE
WHO ARE ALREADY IN THEIR
DATABASE AND LIVE WITHIN THEIR
SERVICE AREA, TO REACH OUT TO
THEM, JUST TO NOTIFY THEM THAT
THE VACCINE IS AVAILABLE.
AND THEY WERE RECEPTIVE TO USING
TECHNOLOGY THAT'S READILY
AVAILABLE TO THEM.
JUST SORT OF THINKING OUT OF THE
BOXMENT IT'S
BOX.
IT'S VERY, VERY IMPORTANT TO PUT
EXTRA INITIATIVES INTO ALL
ELEMENTS OF VACCINE HESITATION,
TOURISM, LACK OF AVAILABILITY TO
CERTAIN COMMUNITIES BECAUSE OF
AGE DIFFERENCES.
THAT'S EVEN GREATER WHEN YOU GET
TO THE LATINX COMMUNITY, THAT
AGE DISPARITY, AND TO REALLY
CREATE A VACCINE SO THAT WE'RE
NOT IN THIS HUNGER GAMES
SITUATION.
>> TO SEE THE EXTENDED
INTERVIEWS WITH DR. FRANK FRANCO AND
U.S. REPRESENTATIVE MOORE VISIT
OUR WEBSITE.
NOW TO ELECTION NEWS.
THAT'S THE GENERAL ELECTION DAY
THAT WILL DETERMINE THE NEXT
SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT.
LAST FRIDAY WE INTRODUCED YOU TO
DEBORAH KERR.
TONIGHT, A CONVERSATION WITH HER
OPPONENT JILL UNDERLY, A FORMER
HIGH SCHOOL AND MIDDLE SCHOOL
SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHER.
SHE'S WORKED AS A LICENSING
SPECIALIST AT THE DEPARTMENT OF
PUBLIC INSTRUCTION AND FOR THE
PAST SIX YEARS UNDERLY HAS
SERVED AS THE SUPERINTENDENT OF
THE PECK CON CA SCHOOL DISTRICT.
SHE JOIFNS JOINS US NOW FROM
HOLLANDALE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> SO K-12 SCHOOLS THAT HAVEN'T
REOPENED, ARE ON THE PRECIPICE
OF DOING SO, WHAT ARE YOU
CALLING FOR TO FULLY AND SAFELY
OPEN TO IN-PERSON CLASSES?
>> YEF.
THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
I KNOW THE VALUE OF PERSONAL --
OR IN-PERSON LEARNING, I SHOULD
SAY.
IT'S BETTER FOR YOUR KIDS, OUR
ECONOMIES, OUR COMMUNITIES.
AND I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH
TEACHERS AND SCHOOL BOARDS TO
HAVE SCHOOLS OPEN.
SO WHAT WE NEED TO DO, I'M THE
ONLY CANDIDATE WHO IS LEADING A
SCHOOL DISTRICT DURING THE
PANDEMIC.
WE REALLY NEED TO WORK TOGETHER.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT
THERE'S BUY-IN FROM THE
TEACHERS, PARENTS AND THE BOARD
AS FAR AS REOPENING PLANS.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR
TEACHERS GET VACCINATED.
>> WHAT'S YOUR RESPONSE TO
GOVERNOR EVERS' BUDGET AND HIS
PROPOSALS FOR A MAJOR BOOST IN
K-12 FUNDING, CALLING FOR AN
INCREASE OF $1.6 BILLION OVER
THE NEXT TWO YEARS.
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THAT?
>> YEAH.
I THINK IT'S GREAT.
I HAVE A GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH
GOVERNOR EVERS.
I THINK THAT INVESTMENT IN OUR
PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS REALLY NEEDED.
WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT INEQUITIES
AND BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, WE
CERTAINLY HAVE HAD A LOT OF
FINANCIAL STRUGGLES.
YOU KNOW, ALSO WHEN YOU LOOK AT
THE NUMBER OF SCHOOLS THAT ARE
GOING TO REFERENDUM ON THE
BALLOT, YOU KNOW THAT WE NEED
THE FUNDING IN ORDER TO KEEP OUR
SCHOOLS OPEN AND INVEST IN
SAFETY MEASURES AS WELL.
>> SO THE BUDGET ALSO CALLS FOR
CAPS ON PRIVATE SCHOOL,
STATE-FUNDED VOUCHERS.
WHERE DO YOU STAND ON THAT?
>> I'M 100% PRO PUBLIC SCHOOLS,
SO I SUPPORT THE CAP.
RIGHT NOW WE SPEND $380 MILLION
PER YEAR ON PRIVATE SCHOOL
VOUCHERS AND THAT'S MONEY THAT
SHOULD BE IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
>> SO ANOTHER THING THE GOVERNOR
IS CALLING FOR IS ROLLING BACK
PARTS OF ACT 10 TO RESTORE UNION
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING RIGHTS,
FOR EXAMPLE.
AS THE CANDIDATE ENDORSED BY THE
STATE'S TEACHERS UNION, HOW DO
YOU THINK THAT, ROLLING BACK OF
ACT 10, WOULD HELP STUDENTS?
>> YEAH.
SO WHEN I LOOK AT ACT 10, HERE
WE ARE TEN YEARS OUT, AND I
THOUGHT ABOUT WE'RE NOT IN ANY
BETTER SHAPE THAN WHEN ACT 10
HAPPENED.
OUR BUDGETS ARE STILL BROKEN.
WE'VE ALSO NOW DESTROYED OUR
PIPELINE TO THE TEACHING
PROFESSION.
WE STRUGGLE RECRUITING AND
RETAINING TEACHERS.
ACT 10 CERTAINLY MADE IT AN
UNDESIRABLE PROFESSION.
SO I WOULD SUPPORT GOVERNOR
EVERS' ROLLBACK OF ACT 10
BECAUSE WHAT IT WILL MEAN IS IF
WE CAN PROFESSIONALIZE THE
PROFESSION AGAIN, THAT'S WHAT WE
NEED TO DO.
>> AND THIS IS A BIG QUESTION,
BUT WHAT IS YOUR PLAN FOR
NARROWING OR ELIMINATING THE
ACHIEVEMENT GAP BETWEEN STUDENTS
OF COLOR AND WHITE STUDENTS?
>> YEAH.
YOU KNOW, ACHIEVEMENT GAP IS
PRETTY MUCH THE POPULAR WORD
STATEWIDE, BUT I LIKE TO CALL
THEM OPPORTUNITY GAPS, BECAUSE
WHEN WE TALK THEM ABOUT BEING
ACHIEVEMENT GAPS WE'RE PUTTING
THE ONUS ON THE KIDS.
IT'S A COMBINATION OF A LOT OF
THINGS THAT THE KIDS HAVE NO
CONTROL OVER, LAWS AND POLICIES
AND PRACTICES.
REALLY WHAT WE FIND IS THE
WELL-RESOURCED SCHOOLS HAVE THE
MOST OPPORTUNITIES FOR THOSE
KIDS AND THOSE KIDS ARE MORE
LIKELY TO DO BETTER IN SCHOOL.
EARLY CHILDHOOD EXPANSION,
BRINGING THAT OPPORTUNITY TO
KIDS, RECRUITING AND RETAINING
PASSIONATE EDUCATORS FOR OUR
KIDS, EXPANDING MENTAL HEALTH
ACCESS AND FIXING OUR BROKEN
FUNDING FORMULA.
>> AND YET MANY OF THESE KINDS
OF IDEAS HAVE BEEN IN FORCE FOR
A WHILE AND THESE GAPS ARE SO
ENDURING.
WHAT ABOUT THAT?
>> YEAH.
I THINK, THOUGH, THAT A LOT OF
THE THINGS THAT I HAVE BEEN
PROPOSING ARE RESEARCH-BASED AND
THEY HAVEN'T BEEN IN PLACE FOR A
WHILE.
RIGHT NOW EARLY CHILDHOOD
EDUCATION IS ONLY REIMBURSED AT
60%.
WE NEED TO EXPAND ACCESS FOR ALL
KIDS SO THAT EVERY KID, NO
MATTER THEIR ZIP CODE, HAS
ACCESS TO A HIGH- HIGH-QUALITY
PRESCHOOL PROGRAM.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT TEACHER
RETENTION, THE HIGHEST POVERTY
SCHOOLS OFTEN HAVE THE LEAST
EXPERIENCED TEACHERS BECAUSE
WHEN TEACHERS GET MORE
EXPERIENCE, THEY OFTEN GO TO
WELL-RESOURCED SCHOOLS WHERE
THEY CAN EARN MORE MONEY.
IT'S RURAL SCHOOLS, TOO.
WE LOOK AT MENTAL HEALTH,
THERE'S A SHORTAGE OF PROVIDERS
IN THE STATE.
AND PREPANDEMIC IT WAS AN
EPIDEMIC.
POST-PANDEMIC WE NEED TO GET
MENTAL HEALTH AID TO OUR KIDS.
THESE IDEAS ARE PROVEN TO WORK.
SO GETTING THE FUNDING TO THE
KIDS IS MY HIGHEST PRIORITY.
>> JILL UNDERLY, THANK YOU JUROR FOR
JOINING US.
>> MY PLEASURE.
>> YOU CAN FIND MORE BY GOING
TO wisconsinvote.org AND THAT
IS OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.