>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION.
>> THE WISCONSIN VACCINATION
PROGRAM ON PARTIAL PAUSE THIS
WEEK.
STATE HEALTH OFFICIALS FOLLOW
THE CDC RECOMMENDATION TO
TEMPORARILY STOP THE JOHNSON &
JOHNSON VACCINE.
THIS IS THE BATTLE TO CONTROL
FORTHCOMING FEDERAL COVID MONEY
CONTINUES AT THE STATE CAPITOL.
AND AS TENSIONS MOUNT THROUGHOUT
THIS WEEK, THE MINNESOTA TRIAL
OF DEREK CHAUVIN.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW," THE
FIGHT FOR CONTROL OF FEDERAL
COVID DOLLARS AT THE STATE
CAPITOL.
PARTY LEADERS ARE HERE.
THE PUSH TO GET CHILDREN
VACCINATED.
AND THE TRAUMA IMPACT OF THE
DEREK CHAUVIN TRIAL.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR
APRIL 16.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.
>> SAY HIS NAME.
>> DAUNTE WRIGHT.
>> DEMONSTRATIONS THROUGH THE
WEEK OVER ANOTHER BLACK MAN SHOT
AND KILLED BY A POLICE OFFICER
IN A MINNEAPOLIS SUBURB, THE
SAME WEEK TESTIMONY IN THE
CRIMINAL TRIAL OF DEREK CHAUVIN
WRAPPED UP, AFTER WEEKS OF
EVIDENCE, INCLUDING THE REPEATED
REPLAY OF VIDEO DETAILING THE
DEATH OF GEORGE FLOYD, WHO
SUCCUMBED AFTER THE POLICE
OFFICER HELD HIM DOWN WITH HIS
KNEE.
HOW TRIGGERING ARE THESE EVENTS?
HOW OPPRESSIVE IS THE FEELING
THAT BLACK LIVES DON'T MATTER?
WE CHECK IN WITH DR. ALVIN
THOMAS, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF
MEDICINE AT THE SCHOOL HUMAN
ECOLOGY GLMENT THANK
ECOLOGY.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> HOW ARE THE CHAUVIN TRIAL AND
KILLING OF DAUNTE WRIGHT
AFFECTING THE HEALTH OF BLACK
MEN AND BOYS IN PARTICULAR RIGHT
NOW?
>> I THINK YOU PUT YOUR FINGER
ON THE PULSE IN THAT WE'VE HAD
THESE REPEATED EXPERIENCES OF
BLACK DEATH BEING STREAMED INTO
PUBLIC SPACES AND PRIVATE SPACES
FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE.
AND WHETHER IT'S GEORGE FLOYD OR
DAUNTE WRIGHT OR COUNTLESS
OTHERS BEFORE AND PROBABLY AFTER
THIS, WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS THIS
REPEATED EXPOSURE TO IMAGES LIKE
THIS AND IN SOME CASES VIDEO
LIKE THIS AND IN OTHER CASES
JUST HEARING ABOUT IT.
THIS REPEATED EXPOSURE
CONSTITUTES SOME KIND OF
POTENTIAL TRAUMA, IN SOME CASES
DIRECT TRAUMA FOR THE FAMILY
MEMBERS, BUT FOR OTHERS WHO ARE
NOT DIRECTLY RELATED, THAT
EXPERIENCE OF VIE VICARIOUS TRAUMA.
THESE THINGS DIRECTLY AND
INDIRECTLY HAVE VERY STARK
NEGATIVE IMPACT ON OUR PSYCHE
AND ABILITY TO FUNCTION NORMAL.
>> WE SEE PROTESTS AND
DEMONSTRATIONS OVER WHAT
HAPPENED TO GEORGE FLOYD AND
DAUNTE WRIGHT AND SO MANY
OTHERS.
YOU HAVE SAID, QUOTE, BLACK
PEOPLE ARE CRYING OUT AND
AMERICA IS NOT LISTENING AND NOT
RESPONDING BECAUSE IT HEARS THE
NOISE AND NOT THE PAIN."
WHAT IS THIS DISCONNECT?
>> I THINK THE DISCONNECT IS
OFTEN THAT WE SEE PEOPLE FIRST
AT SOCIAL RULES AND DESIGNATIONS
BEFORE WE SEE THEM AS HUMAN
BEINGS.
AND BECAUSE WE'RE DISCONNECTED
FROM THAT HUMAN CONNECTION, THAT
JOINS ALL OF US, THAT COLLECTIVE
HUMANITY, IT'S A LOT EASIER TO
DISMISS SOMETIMES WHAT'S
HAPPENING WITH ANOTHER
INDIVIDUAL.
THAT SUDDEN LOSS OF INNER SENSE,
THAT SUDDEN CHANGE IN OUR
WORLDVIEW, THAT THE WORD HAS
OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL, THAT THE
WORLD IS A PLACE THAT'S FULL OF
PLUF.
LOVE.
THAT IS TRANSFORMED INTO A
WORLDVIEW OF THE WORLD AS AN
UNSAFE, SCARY, DANGEROUS,
UNPREDICTABLE SPACE.
>> SOME DECRY THE PROPERTY
DESTRUCTION OF PROTESTS.
BUT IS THAT EXPRESSION OF ANGER
AMONG THOSE PROTESTING WRONG?
>> I THINK WE GET INTO A WEDGE
IECE WHEN WE START TO LEGISLATE
WRONG AND RIGHT WITH REGARD TO
AN INDIVIDUAL'S RIGHT TO ATTEMPT
SOMETHING THAT'S NOT BEING
HEARD.
IF I BRING IT BACK TO JUST HOW A
CHILD WOULD REACT, FOR INSTANCE,
IF A CHILD IS REACTING TO
SOMETHING THAT'S HAPPENING
INSIDE OF THEM OR SOME PERCEIVED
MISMATCH BETWEEN THE NEEDS THAT
THEY HAVE AND THE SOCIETY OR THE
FAMILY'S ATTEMPT TO MEET THOSE
NEEDS, IF THAT MISMATCH
CONTINUES TO GO ON AND THE CHILD
IS NOT SEEN, THERE'S A
FRUSTRATION IN MEETING THOSE
NEEDS, EVENTUALLY THE INDIVIDUAL
STARTS TO ACT IN DIFFERENT WAYS
TO ATTRACT ATTENTION TO THE
ISSUE.
AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT I'M
TALKING ABOUT WHEN I SAY WE HEAR
ABOUT THESE CRIMES, PROTESTS,
DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY, BUT
UNDERLYING THAT IS THAT CRY THAT
SAYS I AM HUMAN AND YOU'RE NOT
HEARING ME.
>> THE CDC JUST DECLARED RACISM
IS SERIOUS PUBLIC HEALTH THREAT
AND YOU WROTE ONCE AGAIN THAT AS
WE SPEAK THE BLACK COMMUNITY IS
BEING DEVASTATED BY CALF CATASTROPHIC
LOSSES IN A FATAL EPIDEMIC.
HOW OVERWHELMING IS THIS
VULNERABILITY?
>> I THINK THE VULNERABILITY IS
FAR MORE THAN WE ARE SEEING.
I THINK WHAT WE ARE SEEING ARE
THE THINGS THAT ARE ON THE
SCREEN.
IN LINE WITH THE CDC
RECOMMENDATION, THERE WAS A
SIMILAR DECLARATION IN 2019 AND
2020 ADDRESSING A NUMBER OF
DIFFERENT ELEMENTS OF THE
PROBLEMATIC RELATIONSHIP THAT
OUR INSTITUTIONS HAVE WITH BLACK
COMMUNITIES.
WHAT WE ARE AREA SEEING, THOUGH, IS A
GROWING AWARENESS OF THE
SYMPTOMS OF THE LARGER ISSUE,
BUT WITHOUT THE DETERMINATION TO
ADDRESS THE UNDERLYING ISSUES,
WHICH IS HISTORICAL AND DEEPLY
ENTRENCHED MARGIN MARGINALIZATION OF
CERTAIN GROUPS, ONE OF THEM
BEING THE BLACK COMMUNITY.
>> WHAT IS YOUR MESSAGE TO
PEOPLE STRUGGLING WITH MENTAL
HEALTH TRIGGERED POINTEDLY RIGHT
NOW?
>> LOOK AT THE PEOPLE AROUND YOU
TO SEE WHETHER OR NOT YOU'RE
SEEING A CHANGE, A DRASTIC
CHANGE IN THEIR BEHAVIOR.
THAT'S THE FIRST SIGN THAT
SOMETHING IS HAPPENING FOR THE
INDIVIDUAL, THAT THEY'RE
HARBORING, THEY'RE DEALING WITH
SOMETHING ON THE INSIDE THAT
THEY CAN'T YET FIND SPACE TO
EXPLORE IT.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT A FEW OF
MY COLLEAGUES AND I FROM THE
URBAN LEAGUE OF MADISON AND FROM
REBOUNDS LIKE WELLNESS WITH SOME
MONIES FROM THE WPP PARTNERSHIP
HAVE DONE IS TO DO SOME WORK
SPECIFICALLY WITH BLACK MEN AND
BLACK BOYS, TRYING TO SUPPORT
THEM AND TO ENGAGE IN MENTAL
HEALTH CONVERSATIONS.
AND THAT IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE
FIRST STEPS.
GIVING PEOPLE THE SPACE TO BE
ABLE TO SHARE THEIR STORIES,
UNFETTERED AND UNJUDGED AND
SUPPORTED IN SHARING THEIR
STORIES AND GETTING THE SUPPORT
THAT THEY NEED.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WE LEAVE IT THERE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANKS FOR YOUR INSIGHTS,
DR. ALVIN THOMAS.
>> YOU'RE WELCOME.
THAWF VERY MUCH.
>> REPUBLICAN MAJORITIES IN BOTH
HOUSES OF THE STATE LEGISLATURE
PASSED A NUMBER OF BILLS THIS
WIEK INCLUDING CHANGES TO STATE
ELECTION PROCEDURES.
THE HOTTEST DEBATE WAS WITH
REGARD TO HOW TO SPEND THE OVER
$3 BILLION FEDERAL STIMULUS
MONEY.
ONE PLAN DIRECTS 10% OF THEIR
LAST PROPERTY BILL TO PROPERTY
OWNERS.
THAT WOULD ACCOUNT FOR OVER $1
BILLION.
REPUBLICANS APRUDE A APPROVED A PLAN TO
PAY OFF STATE DEBT, $310 MEN TO10 MILLION
TO SHORE UP UNEMPLOYMENT AND
COMMUNICATIONS UPGRADE AND A
MENTAL HEALTH CENTER IN NORTHERN
WISCONSIN.
DEMOCRATS SAY USING THE FUNDS IN
THOSE WAYS IS NOT ALLOWED BASED
ON FEDERAL GUIDELINES AND AS
INTERPRETED BY THE FISCAL
BUREAU.
THE BILLS MAY HAVE THE WORD
"VETO" WRITTEN ALL OVER THEM.
GOVERNOR EVERS SAID LEGISLATIVE
OVERSIGHT WOULD ONLY SLOW DOWN
THE RELEASE OF THE MONEY.
>> I CAN'T IMAGINE HAVING THE
JOINT FINANCE COMMITTEE BEING IN
CHARGE OF THAT, WHERE ONE
SENATOR CAN RAISE HIS HAND AND
-- HIS OR HER HAND AND SAY,
SORRY, I DON'T LIKE THAT.
WHERE DO YOU GO?
YOU DO NOTHING.
>> GOVERNOR TONY EVERS SPEAKING
IN LA CROSSE ON THURSDAY.
EARLIER, I SPOKE WITH SENATE
MAJORITY LEADER DEVIN LEMAHIEU.
>> WHY DO YOU WANT THE
LEGISLATURE TO CONTROL HOW THE
FEDERAL COVID STIMULUS IS SPENT?
>> THE LEGISLATURE HAS AN
IMPORTANT JOB THAT WE'RE WORKING
ON, THE BUDGET, GOING FORWARD.
AND WITH THIS LAST ROUND OF
SPENDING BY THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT, $1.9 TRILLION
NATIONALLY, WITH OVER $5.7
BILLION COMING INTO THE STATE OF
WISCONSIN, WE FEEL THAT IT'S
IMPORTANT FOR THE LEGISLATURE TO
HAVE A VOICE IN HOW THAT $3.2
BILLION THAT THE GOVERNOR HAS
SOLE DISCREFTION OVER DISCRETION IS OVER TO
SPEND.
IT'S IMPORTANT AS WE ENTER THE
BUDGET PROCESS GOING FORWARD.
WITHOUT A FRAMEWORK OR A
ROADMAP, WE'RE SORT OF FLYING
BLIND GOING INTO THE BUDGET
BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW IF THE
GOVERNOR IS SITTING THERE WITH
ALL KINDS OF FEDERAL MONEY IN
ITS POCKETS.
IT'S GOING TO BE HARD TO DEVELOP
A BUDGET.
>> DO YOU NOT THINK THAT
GOVERNOR EVERS IS SPENDING THE
FEDERAL FUNDS IN THE RATE RIGHT WAY?
>> WE DON'T KNOW HOW HE'S GOING
TO SPEND THE FUNDS.
WE DON'T KNOW.
SO WE CHOSE -- THE GOAL BEHIND
OUR 11-BILL PLAN IMPORTANT
SPENDING THIS FEDERAL FUNDS IS
TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S INVESTING
IN ONE-TIME ITEMS TO MAKE SURE
THAT IT'S NOT CAUSING A FUTURE
DEFICIT BY USING IT FOR ONGOING
EXPENSES AND MAKING SURE WE'RE
INVESTING IN INFRASTRUCTURE IN
THE STATE OF WISCONSIN AND SMALL
BUSINESSES, IN FAMILIES WHO ARE
PAYING PROPERTY TAXES.
SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN
HARDEST HIT FOR SOME OF THE
PERSONAL RELIEF.
AND ALSO INVESTING LONG-TERM
INTO INFRASTRUCTURE SO CAN HAVE
LONG-TERM EFFECTS, SUCH AS
BROADBAND, LOCAL ROADS, THINGS
LIKE THAT.
>> THERE IS SOME CROSSOVER
BETWEEN THE GOVERNOR AND
MAJORITY REPUBLICANS ON THINGS
LIKE BROADBAND, SMALL BUSINESS
AND TOURISM.
WHY NOT KIND OF WORK TOGETHER SO
THAT YOU CAN WORK ON THIS
ROADMAP TOGETHER?
>> YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHAT WE
WANTED TO DO.
THAT'S WHY WE CAME IN LAST MONTH
IN THE LEGISLATURE AND PASSED
THE LEGISLATIVE OVERSIGHT BILL
GIVING APPROVAL OVER HOW THIS
MONEY IS SPENT IN THE STATE OF
WISCONSIN.
THE GOVERNOR VETOED THAT THE
MINUTE IT CAME TO HIS DESK.
IT APPEARS THAT THE GOVERNOR HAS
NO DESIRE TO INCLUDE US IN THIS
PROCESS.
WE FEEL THAT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO
JUST PUT THAT ROADMAP OUT THERE
ON HOW WE THINK IT SHOULD BE
BEST SPENT.
>> WHAT HAPPENS WHEN GOVERNOR
EVERS VETOES THE BILLS?
>> THEN I GUESS WE'RE STARTING
FROM SCRATCH AGAIN, AND LIKE I
MENTIONED EARLIER, IT MAKES IT
VERY TOUGH TO DEVELOP A BUDGET.
THE GOVERNOR HAS, YOU KNOW,
BROADBAND SPENDING IN THE
BUDGET.
BUT WE DON'T KNOW IF HE'S GOING
TO SPEND MONEY ON BROADBAND WITH
THE FEDERAL MONEY.
SO HOW CAN WE PUT THAT IN THE
BUDGET?
HE HAS REPLACING LEAD PIPES IN
MILWAUKEE IN THE BUDGET.
WE HAD THAT IN ONE OF OUR BILLS.
IF HE VETOES IT, HOW DO WE PUT
THAT IN THE BUDGET?
THAT'S THE DPLEAM WE'RE THE DILEMMA WE'RE FACING.
>> WHAT IS SOME OF THE SPENDING
IN YOUR BILLS THAT'S NOT ALLOWED
UNDER THE FEDERAL BILL?
>> WE DON'T KNOW THAT FOR
CERTAIN AT THIS POINT.
THERE ARE FISCAL BUREAU PAPERS
PUT OUT THAT ARE SPECULATING ON
WHAT THE FEDERAL GUIDANCE MIGHT
BE.
BUT THE U.S. TREASURY HASN'T
ISSUED THAT GUIDANCE YET.
BUT WE FEEL THAT IT'S IMPORTANT
TO PUT THOSE PRIORITIES OUT
THERE.
HOPEFULLY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
GIVES A BROADER, BROADER -- IN
THEIR GUIDANCE BROADER USE OF
THAT FUNDS TO MAKE SURE WE CAN
INVEST IN INFRASTRUCTURE.
SOME OF THE BILLS WE THINK FOR
SURE WILL BE COVERED UNDER THIS
AND SOME MIGHT NOT BE, THEY
MIGHT BE, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO
PUT THOSE PRIORITIES OUT THERE.
>> ON A DIFFERENT MATTER BUT
RELATED, WHAT'S YOUR RESPONSE TO
THE EVERS' ADMINISTRATION MAKING
KIND OF A SAVING CONSTRUCTION TO
GET THE ENHANCED FOODSHARE
FEDERAL FUNDING?
IS THAT A GOOD THINGN YOUR THING, IN YOUR
MIND?
>> THAT WAS A FIX THAT WE HAD IN
AB 1 THAT THE GOVERNOR VETOED,
SO WE THOUGHT IT WAS A PRIORITY
TO GET THE EXPANDED FEDERAL
ACCESS GOING FORWARD.
THERE'S STILL PROBABLY SOME
QUESTIONS LEGALLY IF THE
GOVERNOR HAS THE AUTHORITY TO DO
THAT AFTER SOME OF THE RECENT
SUPREME COURT RULINGS.
BUT -- SO WE'RE CHECKING INTO
THAT.
BUT I THINK IT'S DEFINITELY
BENEFICIAL FOR THE STATE FOR
THAT FUNDING TO BE CONTINUED
GOING FORWARD.
YOU KNOW, APPARENTLY THE BIDEN
ADMINISTRATION IS WILLING TO
PROVIDE SOME PRETTY BROAD, BROAD
INTERPRETATION OF FEDERAL LAW TO
THE GOVERNOR IN THIS INSTANCE
AND HOPEFULLY, HOPEFULLY THE
U.S. TREASURY CAN PROVIDE SOME
OF THAT BROAD GUIDANCE TO US AS
WE SPEND FEDERAL MONEY TO MAKE
SURE WE KNOW WHAT'S BEST FOR THE
STATE OF WISCONSIN AND THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MAY NOT KNOW
WHAT'S BEST FOR THE STATE OF
WISCONSIN.
>> WHAT IS YOUR POSITION ON
REQUIRING PEOPLE TO GET A COVID
VACCINE?
>> I DON'T THINK PEOPLE SHOULD
BE REQUIRED TO GET A COVID
VACCINE.
IF A PRIVATE BUSINESS MAKES THAT
DETERMINATION, I GUESS THAT'S UP
TO THE PRIVATE BUSINESS.
BUT I DEFINITELY DON'T THINK
GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE MANDATING
THAT INDIVIDUALS GET A COVID
VACCINATION.
>> WHAT IS YOUR MESSAGE TO
PEOPLE ABOUT GETTING A VACCINE?
>> YOU KNOW, WE'RE OVER A YEAR
INTO THE PANDEMIC.
PEOPLE HAVE LEARNED A LOT ABOUT
THE PANDEMIC.
THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF
INFORMATION LEARNED.
AND IT'S DEFINITELY UP TO THE
INDIVIDUAL.
HOPEFULLY A LOT OF PEOPLE DO GET
VACCINATED TO MAKE SURE WE GET
UP TO THAT HERD IMMUNITY.
SO I'D ENCOURAGE VACCINATION FOR
ALL PEOPLE, BUT I UNDERSTAND
SOME PEOPLE MAY NOT FEEL
COMFORTABLE.
BUT IT'S GREAT THAT WISCONSIN IS
-- SEEMS TO BE AHEAD OF THE
CURVE WORKING WITH, YOU KNOW,
WALGREENS AND THE HOSPITAL
ASSOCIATION AND CLINICS TO GET
THE VACCINES OUT.
SO THAT'S GREAT FOR THE STATE OF
WISCONSIN AND HOPEFULLY PEOPLE
CONTINUE TO GET VACCINATED.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.
SENATOR LEM A HUE, THANKS VERY
MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> WE TURN NOW TO THE OTHER SIDE
OF THE AISLE AND HEAD TO
OSHKOSH.
THAT'S WHERE WE ARE JOINED BY
ASSEMBLY MINORITY LEADER
DEMOCRAT GORDON HINTZ.
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
>> HAPPY TO BE HERE.
>> YOU SAID THE REPUBLICAN BILLS
TO TAKE CONTROL OF HOW TO SPEND
SOME $2.7 BILLION OF THE
STIMULUS MONEY IS DESIGNED TO,
QUOTE, SCORE POLITICAL POINTS.
HOW SO?
>> WELL, FIRST OFF, I THINK
GOVERNOR EVERS HAS DONE A
TREMENDOUS JOB, A NONPOLITICAL
JOB, TRYING TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS
OF OUR STATE, BOTH DURING THE
HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC, COMING
OUT OF THE PANDEMIC AND BY
INTRODUCING A BUDGET THAT REALLY
TRIES TO TURN THE CORNER BOTH ON
THE PUBLIC HEALTH SIDE AND THE
ECONOMY.
AND WITH THE AMERICAN RESCUE
PLAN ACT, WE EXPECT MORE OF THE
SAME.
IT'S THAT KIND OF DISCRETION
THAT I THINK WE NEED WHERE WE
DON'T NEED THE MICROMANAGING AND
POLITICIZING EACH OF THESE
DECISIONS.
LEGISLATIVE REPUBLICANS REFUSE
TO ACT FOR THE LAST NINE MONTHS
HEADING UP INTO THIS SYTION SESSION
STARTING AND A WEEK AGO
INTRODUCED THESE BILLS THAT WHEN
YOU LOOK AT THEIR TRACK RECORD
SINCE GOVERNOR EVERS HAS BEEN
ELECTED, THEIR PRIORITY SEEMS TO
BE TO TRY TO THWART, SUE, STOP,
MAKE THE GOVERNOR LOOK BAD.
I DON'T THINK THE PUBLIC HAS ANY
APPETITE FOR THIS AT A TIME WHEN
WE SHOULD BE MANAGING THE
CRISIS.
>> WHAT ABOUT THE ARGUMENT THAT
REPUBLICAN BUDGET WRITERS NEED
TO KNOW WHERE THIS MONEY CAN BE
PLUGGED IN AS THEY TRY TO
RECRAFT THE BUDGET?
>> WELL, I MEAN, I THINK A LOT
OF US HAVE THOSE QUESTIONS AS
WELL, BUT REMEMBER SOME OF THE
REPUBLICAN ATTEMPTS THAT WERE
INTRODUCED MAY NOT ACTUALLY BE
COMPLIANT WITH WHAT THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT IS ASKING FOR IN
TERMS OF WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO
ALLOW.
THIS IS ONE-TIME MONEY.
I THINK THE GOVERNOR IS SLOAFLY
RELEASING VERY DELIBERATE
CONSIDERATIONS ON WHAT CAN BEST
HELP ADDRESS COVID AND BUILD
BACK OUR ECONOMY.
THE RECENT ANNOUNCEMENT OF $100
MILLION FOR THE ECONOMY IS
SOMETHING.
I THINK THERE WILL BE
DISCUSSIONS ABOUT
INFRASTRUCTURE, BROADBAND, SOME
OF THOSE THINGS.
I THINK WE WILL KNOW A LOT THAT
PRIOR TO THE DELIBERATIONS THE
FINANCE COMMITTEEMENT BUT I
DON'T THINK THAT'S WHAT WAS
GOING ON WITH THE PROPOSAL BY
THE REPUBLICANS.
THIS WAS JUST SORT OF MORE OF
THE SAME, TRYING TO COME AT
GOVERNOR EVERS POE LITALLY.
>> WOULDN'T THIS REQUIRE WORKING
ACROSS THE IEFL
ACROSS THE AISLE AS WISCONSIN
TRIES TO RECOVER?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
ONE OF THE MOMENTS WE HAD WAS
LAST APRIL WHERE WE HAD A NEAR
UNANIMOUS COVID PACKAGE THAT WE
WERVEGD HARD ON TOGETHER, SIGNED
INTO LAW BY GOVERNOR EVERS.
I THINK THERE WAS HOPE OVER THE
LAST YEAR THAT THAT WOULD
SOMEWHAT CONTINUE.
AND I THINK IT'S POSSIBLE NOW.
AND THAT'S WHAT I MEAN.
IF THERE ARE IDEAS OR QUESTIONS
OR SUGGESTIONS, WHY REACH OUT TO
THE ADMINISTRATION OR THE
AGENCIES.
BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO
UNDERSTAND JUST LIKE THE CARES
ACT RESOURCES LAST YEAR, YOU
KNOW, YOU WANT TO HAVE SOME
FLEXIBILITY AS WE HOPE WHERE
WE'RE GOING TO BE IN A FEW
MONTHS.
WE DON'T NECESSARILY KNOW.
SO TYING UP THOSE RESOURCES
ISN'T NECESSARILY THE BEST IDEA.
IT'S NOT PRUDENT.
BUT WE'LL HAVE TO SEE HOW IT
IMPACTS THE BUDGET OVERALL.
>> THERE ARE SOME SHARED
INTERESTS BETWEEN THE GOP AND
GOVERNOR EVERS, NAMELY, SPENDING
MONEY ON BROADBAND, SMALL
BUSINESSES AND TOURISM.
BUT WHEN GOVERNOR EVERS VETOES
THE REPUBLICAN BILLS, AS HE HAS
AS MUCH AS PROMISED, HOW DOES
THAT SET HIM UP FOR CRITICISM
FOR REJECTING THAT SPENDING?
>> WELL, ON THE BILLS THAT HAVE
BEEN INTRODUCED, THEY HAVEN'T
EXACTLY BEEN INTRODUCED WITH THE
GOVERNOR'S INPUT AND THERE'S
ALWAYS BEEN A CLEAR POISON PILL.
THAT'S A PART OF ALL OF THESE
THINGS.
IF YOU'RE GOING TO REPEAL THE
MASK MANDATE, IF YOU'RE GOING TO
INTRODUCE OVERSIGHT WHERE YOU
CAN MICROMANAGEMENT THE
GOVERNOR'S SPENDING DECISIONS,
THOSE ARE PROBABLY THINGS THAT
ARE PRETTY CLEAR THE GOVERNOR IS
NOT GOING TO SIGN, WHICH I THINK
MAKES IT CLEAR THAT THIS IS MORE
POLITICAL.
THERE ARE AREAS OF AGREEMENT.
I MENTIONED BROADBAND,
TRANSPORTATION, INFRASTRUCTURE.
GIVEN THAT A LOT OF THE FEDERAL
MONEY IS ONE-TIME, I THINK WE
REALLY NEED TO LOOK AT WHAT ARE
THE THINGS THAT WE CAN REALLY
CATCH UP ON.
THE GOVERNOR HAS MADE A PRIORITY
OF LEAD PIPE REPLACEMENT,
GROUNDWATER, A LOT OF THINGS
THAT IMPACT COMMUNITIES
THROUGHOUT THE STATE THAT WE
COULD MAKE SIGNIFICANT HEADWAY
ON.
AND A BUDGET THAT I THINK HAS
THE RESOURCES TO MAKE A
DIFFERENCE AS PROPOSED BY
GOVERNOR EVERS.
SO I THINK WE'RE OPEN.
BUT, YOU KNOW, WE GOT TO LET GO
OF THE FACT THAT GOVERNOR EVERS
IS GOVERNOR.
IF ANY OF THEM WANTS TO BE
GOVERNOR, THEY CAN RUN.
>> RIGHT.
WE LEAVE IT THERE.
REPRESENTATIVE GORDON HINTZ,
THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> TO PRIORITIZE THE HEALTH AND
SAFETY OF OUR RESIDENTS AND TO
PROVIDE ENOUGH TIME TO LEARN
MORE AND MAKE EVIDENCE-BASED
DECISIONS ABOUT THE EFFECT OF
THIS NEWS ON THE VACCINE
ROLL-OUT, WE HAVE PAUSED THE USE
OF JOHNSON & JOHNSON VACCINE IN
WISCONSIN.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT
THESE REACTIONS, WE CALL THEM
ADVERSE EVENTS, REPRESENT SIX
ADVERSE EVENTS OUT OF 6.8
MILLION DOSES OF JOHNSON &
JOHNSON VACCINE.
THAT MEANS THAT NEARLY 6.8
MILLION AMERICANS HAVE RECEIVED
THEIR SHOTS OF JOHNSON & JOHNSON
WITHOUT EXPERIENCING THIS
ADVERSE REACTION.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU
UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS VERY RARE
AND THAT WE ARE TAKING THIS
ACTION OUT OF AN ABUNDANCE OF
CAUTION.
>> EVEN WITHOUT THE JOHNSON &
JOHNSON VACCINE STILL IN THE MIX
FOR NOW, ABOUT A QUARTER OF
PEOPLE IN WISCONSIN ARE NOW
FULLY VACCINATED.
THE FOCUS HAS MOSTLY BEEN ON
ADULT VACCINATIONS, BUT OUR NEXT
GUEST SAYS MAKING SURE YOUNGER
CHILDREN ARE ABLE TO GET
VACCINATED IS IMPORTANT TO END
THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.
DR. JIM CONWAY, PROFESSOR OF
PEED
PEDIATRICS AT UW-MADISON.
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
>> HAPPY TO BE HERE.
THANK YOU.
>> FIRST, ON THE JOHNSON &
JOHNSON VACCINE, WHAT SHOULD
PEOPLE WHO HAVE RECEIVED IT
KNOW?
>> I THINK FOR PEOPLE THAT HAVE
RECEIVED IT RECENTLY, THEY NEED
TO JUST BE AWARE OF REPORTING
SIDE EFFECT SYMPTOMS THAT THEY
CONSIDER PARTICULARLY SEVERE.
SO FOR ABOUT THE TWO, THREE
WEEKS AFTER THEY GET THE VACCINE
ANY KIND OF HEADACHE,
RESPIRATORY PROBLEMS OR PAIN
NEED TO BE REPORTED AND
EVALUATED BY A MEDICAL
PROFESSIONAL.
>> HOW MIGHT THIS EXACERBATE
VACCINE HESITANCY?
>> I THINK THIS SHOWS HOW
SERIOUSLY WE TAKE SAFETY AND
EVEN JUST A HANDFUL OF CASES IS
ENOUGH TO TRIGGER THE SYSTEM TO
SAY LET'S PAUSE AND TAKE A
SECOND AND LOOK AT THIS AND MAKE
SURE WE'RE NOT MISSING ANYTHING.
MESS POSITIVE OFMOST OF THE VASKS TRIALS VACCINE TRIALS ARE
DONE ON 50,000 PEOPLE.
AT 6 OR 7 MILLION DOSES, THIS IS
VERY EARLY IN THE GAME.
>> WHY DO YOU SAY THAT IT IS
VITAL THAT CHILDREN GET COVID-19
VACCINATIONS AS SOON AS THEY ARE
CLEEFERRED TO DO SO?
>> YEAH.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT
PEOPLE REALIZE THAT EARLY ON IN
THIS PANDEMIC WE UNDERSTOOD TWO
THINGS.
ONE IS KIDS DON'T SEEM TO GET
VERY SEVERE DISEASE AND DIDN'T
SEEM TO BE MAJOR DRIVERS OF
TRANSMISSION.
THAT WAS PARTIALLY RELATED TO
THE FACT THAT SCHOOLS HAD ALL
GONE VIRTUAL AND EVERYBODY WAS
BEING CAREFUL AND MITIGATING AND
KIDS WERE BEING KEPT IN BUBBLES.
WHAT WE STARTED TO REALIZE IS
THAT AS WE'VE OPENED THINGS UP
AND KIDS ARE MORE ENGAGED WITH
OTHERS, THAT THEY CERTAINLY CAN
BE INFECTED.
WHILE THEY STILL DON'T SEEM TO
DO POORLY WITH THE INFECTION,
THEY CAN TRANSMIT TO OTHERS AND
CAN CAUSE SMALL OUTBREAKS AND
TRANSMISSION WITHIN THEIR PEER
GROUPS, BUT ALSO BACK INTO THEIR
FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES.
IF WE WANT TO GET RID OF THIS,
WE NEED HERD IMMUNITY ACROSS ALL
AGE GROUPS AND NOT HAVE A
RESERVOIR OF VULNERABLES
CIRCULATING THE DISEASE.
>> I UNDERSTAND TRIALS WITH
YOUNG CHILDREN ARE WELL
UNDERWAY.
WHEN MIGHT WE BE EXPECT TO BE
CLEARED FOR USE OF THOSE?
>> THEY'RE DOING THESE IN A
STEP-WISE MANNER.
THEY FIFTEEN FINISHED UP TO THE 12 TO
15-YEAR-OLDS.
APPROVAL SHOULD BE SOMETIME IN
EARLY SUMMER.
AND THEN THEY'RE GRADUALLY
WORKING THEIR WAY INTO THE SIX
TO 11-YEAR-OLDS AND THREE TO
FIVE-YEAR-OLDS AND FINALLY THE
SIX MONTH OLDS TO TWO YEEFERLDS.
THOSE GROUPS WILL BE MORE TOWARD
THE END OF 2021.
YOUNGEST KIDS IN EARLY 2022.
>> PFIZER VACCINE IS CLEARED FOR
16 AND OLDER NOW.
HOW IMPORTANT IS IT FOR THAT AGE
GROUP TO GET VACCINATED?
>> I THINK WHILE THERE IS
VACCINE AVAILABLE AND WHILE
PEOPLE HAVE THE CAPACITY TO
ACCOMMODATE THOSE GROUPS, IT'S
IMPORTANT TO START VAKS NAILING
AS MANY OF THOSE PEOPLE AS
QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
THE GOAL SHOULD BE IF WE CAN GET
THROUGH MOST OF THOSE GROUPS IN
TIMES THAT WHEN THE UAU FOR
PFIZER AMENDMENT, THAT WILL BE
THE NEXT GROUP WE CAN TACKLE.
WE WANT TO AVOID BOTTLENECKS
WHERE A LARGE GROUP OF PEOPLE
ARE ELIGIBLE AND OTHER PEOPLE
ARE STRAGGLING ALONG.
YOUNG ADULTS NEED TO GET MOVING
AND GET THEMSELVES IMMUNIZED AND
THEN THE 16 AND 17-YEAR-OLDS, SO
WE CAN CLEAR THE CAPACITY SO
WHEN 12 TO 15-YEAR-OLDS ARE
APPROVED, WE CAN GET THEM MOVING
OVER THE SUMMER.
>> SO WISCONSIN IS AT JUST MORE
THAN 25% FULLY VACCINATED.
ARE WE WINNING THIS RACE AGAINST
THE VARIANTS?
>> YEAH.
IT'S OPTIMISTIC, BUT THERE'S
STILL A LITTLE TOUCHINESS OVER
THESE NESKS NEXT FEW MONTHS.
THE VARIANTS ARE SURROUNDING US.
WE'RE STARTING TO SEE
TRANSMISSION IN VARIOUS AREAS
AROUND WISCONSIN.
WE DO NEED TO BE AGGRESSIVE
ABOUT GETTING MORE OF THE
POPULATION IMMUNIZED AS QUICKLY
AS POSSIBLE.
WHILE WE'RE IN THIS RAMP-UP, WE
NEED PEOPLE TO BUCKLE DOWN AND
BE PATIENT SO WE DON'T SEE MUCH
MORE SPRID.
WE'VE BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL IN
OLDER INDIVIDUALS IN WIFS, ONE
OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL STATES IN
THAT GROUP.
WE HAVE PROABLGHTED PROTECTED THE MOST
VULNERABLE.
BUT NOW WE NEED BUY-IN.
WE ARE STARTING TO SEE A BUMP-UP
IN HOSPITALIZATIONS.
THESE NEXT TWO MONTHS ARE
CRITICAL.
>> WE WILL BE WATCHING.
DR. CONWAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> THAT IS OUR PROGRAM FOR
TONIGHT.
FOR ONGOING COVERAGE, GO TO
pbswisconsin.org AND CLICK ON
THE NEWS PAGE.
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.