>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION.
>> I HAVE THE HIGH PRIVILEGE AND
DISTINCT HONOR TO PRESENT TO YOU
THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED
STATES.
>> IN HIS FIRST ADDRESS TO A
JOINT SESSION OF CONGRESS,
PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN DETAILED
BIG, AND REPUBLICANS SAY COSTLY,
ECONOMIC PLANS FOR A NATION IN
RECOVERY.
ECONOMIC POLICY TAKES PLACE IN
WASHINGTON WHILE NEW ATTENTION
IS PAID TO THE FOXCONN DEAL, NOW
UNDER CONSIDERATION BY THE TONY
EVERS' ADMINISTRATION.
I'M MARISA WOJCIK SITTING IN FOR
FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT CONGRESSIONAL REACTION
TO PRESIDENT BIDEN'S ADDRESS.
THE SECRETARY AND CEO OF THE
WISCONSIN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
CORPORATION IS HERE AS WELL.
SECRETARY MISSY HUGHES HAS THE
LATEST ON THE CONTRACT
DEVELOPMENT.
"HERE AND NOW'S" WILL CUSHMAN
REPORTS ON THE WEEK'S COVID-19
NEWS.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR
APRIL 30.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.
>> 12 YEARS IS NO LONGER ENOUGH
TODAY TO COMPETE WITH THE REST
OF THE WORLD IN THE 21ST SUN
ARCHITECTURERY.
THAT'S -- CENTURY.
THAT'S WHY MY PLAN GUARANTEES
FOUR YEARS OF ADDITIONAL
EDUCATION IN AMERICA STARTING AS
EARLY AS WE CAN.
THE GREAT UNIVERSITIES OF THIS
CONDUCT HAVE CONDUCTED STUDIES
OVER THE LAST TEN YEARS THAT
SHOWS THAT ADDING TWO YEARS OF
UNIVERSAL HIGH-QUALITY PRESCHOOL
FOR EVERY THREE-YEAR-OLD AND
FOUR-YEAR-OLD NO MATTER WHAT
BACKGROUND THEY COME FROM PUTS
THEM IN A POSITION TO BE ABLE TO
COMPETE.
>> PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN TALKS
ABOUT HIS PLAN TO EXPAND FREE
PUBLIC EDUCATION IN HIS FIRST
ADDRESS TO A JOINT SESSION OF
CONGRESS.
SO WHAT IS THE REACTION FROM
WISCONSIN'S CONGRESSIONAL
REPRESENTATIVES TO THE ROBUST
AGENDA?
WE FIRST TURN TO DEMOCRATIC U.S.
CONGRESSWOMAN GWEN MOORE AND
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING
HERE.
>> OH, IT'S SO GREAT TO BE WITH
YOU.
>> AS A FEMALE LEGISLATOR THAT
HAS MARKED MANY TITLES OF BEING
THE FIRST, WHAT DID IT MEAN TO
YOU TO HEAR PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN
TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT FOR THE
FIRST TIME TWO WOMEN WERE BEHIND
HIM AND THAT, QUOTE, NO
PRESIDENT HAS EVER SAID THOSE
WORDS FROM THIS PODIUM AND IT'S
ABOUT TIME?
>> IT IS AN UNBELIEVABLE
DEVELOPMENT AND I THINK THAT
THOSE TWO WOMEN SITTING THERE IS
A MANIFESTATION OF WHERE WE HAVE
COME.
IN TERMS OF THE KIND OF PUBLIC
POLICY THAT WE'RE SEEKING.
YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE
CONTROVERSIAL PARTS OF HIS
RESCUE PLAN AND FAMILY PLAN IS
TO BUILD INFRASTRUCTURE FOR
CHILD CARE.
AND WHY IS THIS JUST NOW AS
URGENT AS IT IS?
AND I'VE HAD VERY NICE GENTLEMEN
SAY, WELL, YOU KNOW, I CAN SEE
TALKING ABOUT LEAD PIPES AND
BROADBAND AS INFRASTRUCTURE, BUT
CHILD CARE, YOU KNOW?
THE PROBLEM OF CHILD CARE IS A
PROBLEM FOR WOMEN WHO NEED THE
SERVICES AND IT'S A PROBLEM FOR
THE WORKERS WHO DON'T GET PAID
WELL.
IT'S A PROBLEM FOR BUSINESS
OWNERS OF CHILD CARE CENTERS WHO
ARE ENTREPRENEURIAL WOMEN.
AND I THINK IT'S AN EQUAL
PROTECTION CLAUSE THAT THIS
PRESIDENT HAS LEANED INTO.
I THINK HAVING LOST HIS WIFE AND
CHILD AND BECOMING A SINGLE
PARENT OF TWO BOYS IS REALLY
CREATED A LEVEL OF SENSITIVITY
TO THESE KINDS OF ISSUES AS A
PRESIDENT THAT IS UNPRECEDENTED.
>> AND AS WE HEARD A MOMENT AGO,
THE PRESIDENT UNVEILED THE
AMERICAN FAMILIES PLAN WEDNESDAY
NIGHT, WHICH INCLUDES FREE
PRESCHOOL AND COMMUNITY COLLEGE,
PAID FAMILY LEAVE, SUBSIDIZED
CHILD CARE AND PROTRACT THE
EXPANDED CHILD TAX CREDIT OF
MONTHLY PAYMENTS TO LOW AND
MIDDLE-INCOME FAMILIES.
WHY ARE THESE FOUR INITIATIVES
NEEDED RIGHT NOW, AT A COST OF
$1.9 TRILLION?
>> WELL, YOU GET A MUCH BETTER
RETURN ON THIS $1.9 TRILLION
THAN YOU DID THE $1.9 TRILLION
IN TAX CUTS AND JOBS ACTS WHERE
83% WENT TO RICH PEOPLE.
JUST EXPANDING THE CHILD TAX
CREDIT WILL TAKE 50% OF
AFRICAN-AMERICAN CHILDREN OUT OF
POVERTY.
I MEAN, THINK ABOUT THE RETURN
ON THAT INVESTMENT.
CHILD CARE, WE'VE ALREADY
DISCUSSED THE DERTH OF THAT.
AND EVEN WOMEN WHO ARE DOING
WELL IN THE WORKFORCE CAN'T
AFFORD THE COST OF GOOD DAY
CARE.
GOOD DAY CARE CAN ALMOST COST AS
MUCH AS COLLEGE TUITION OR
PRIVATE SCHOOLING.
PRESCHOOL, THE SCIENCE IS IN.
BIRTH THROUGH THREE IS WHERE
IT'S AT.
WE CAN'T AFFORD TO NOT MONETIZE
THE NEED TO GET AHOLD OF THESE
BRAINS AND START TEACHING
CHILDREN SOMETHING EARLIER THAN
THAT.
I THINK THE EDUCATIONAL GAPS WE
SEE HAVE COME FROM THE LACK OF
EARLY LEARNING, WHEN THE BRAIN
IS MORE ACTIVE AND READY TO
ENGAGE.
AND SO THESE ARE IDEAS WHOSE
TIME HAS COME.
AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE POLLS,
YOU CAN SEE THAT ALTHOUGH
THERE'S A LOT OF OPPOSITION FROM
REPUBLICANS TO THE PRESIDENT'S
AGENDA, HE'S GETTING LIKE 63%,
65% APPROVAL FOR THESE
PROPOSALS.
AND SO WE'RE MOVING FROM JUST
SORT OF RESCUING THE ECONOMY TO
REALLY BUILDING BACK BETTER SO
THAT PEOPLE ARE BETTER OFF THAN
WHERE THEY WERE BEFORE.
>> AND THE PRESIDENT LAID OUT A
LENGTHY POLICY WISH LIST DURING
HIS SPEECH AND SAID HE WANTS TO
WORK WITH REPUBLICANS IN.
IN THE REPUBLICAN RESPONSE
SENATOR TIM SCOTT CALLED THE
SPEECH EMPTY PLATITUDES.
DEMOCRATS HAVE A THIN MAJORITY
AND IS BIDEN SOWING MORE
DIVISION THAN UNITY WITH THESE
REALLY PROGRESSIVE AND COSTLY
PLANS?
>> WELL, I JUST THINK IT'S
INTERESTING THAT REPUBLICANS
ONLY CARE ABOUT DEBTS AND
DEFICITS AND SPENDING WHEN
DEMOCRATS ARE IN CHARGE.
I MEAN, OUR DEFICIT AND SPENDING
GREW UNDER, BELIEVE IT OR NOT,
RONALD REAGAN, ULTRA CONSERVE
TESTIFY.
IT GREW UNDER GEORGE W. BUSH.
CERTAINLY TRUMP SPENT ALL HE
WANTED AND REPUBLICANS SPENT.
I MEAN, THEY HAD THE TAX CUT
JOBS ACT, WHICH BENEFITED THE
TOP, YOU KNOW, 1% OF AMERICANS,
CREATED BILLIONAIRES.
AND SO NOW INVESTING IN PEOPLE,
INVESTING IN EDUCATION,
INVESTING IN OUR INFRASTRUCTURE
IS WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO WITH
THOSE MONIES INSTEAD OF JUST
POURING INTO FOLKS WHO WANT TO
BUY BACK THEIR STOCKS.
THIS IS WHY DONALD TRUMP USED TO
DRAG ABOUT THE STOCK MARKET ALL
THE TIME.
BUT THE STOCK MARKET IS NOT THE
ECONOMY.
THE ECONOMY IS ME BEING ABLE TO
GO AND BUY MY SON OR DAUGHTER A
-- NEW SCHOOL CLOTHES.
THAT'S THE ECONOMY.
>> REPRESENTATIVE GWEN MOORE, WE
NEED TO LEAVE IT THERE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING
US.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> WE NOW HEAR FROM ACROSS THE
AISLE, WHERE FEEDBACK HAS BEEN
LESS FAVORABLE OF BIDEN'S PLANS.
REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN MIKE
GALLAGHER JOINS US NOW FROM
GREEN BAY, AND REPRESENTATIVE
GALLAGHER, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
BEING HERE TODAY.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> YOU RELEASED A STATEMENT
YESTERDAY SAYING THE PRESIDENT'S
AGENDA WAS TOO EXPANSIVE AND THE
PEOPLE OF WISCONSIN WANT, QUOTE,
LESS NOT MORE GOVERNMENT
INTERVENTION IN THEIR LIVES.
IS THAT WHAT YOU HEARD FROM
CONSTITUENTS?
>> YEAH.
I THINK THE BIGGEST THING I'VE
HEARD AT LEAST ECONOMICALLY
GOING AROUND NORTHEAST WISCONSIN
AND TALKING TO BUSINESSES OF ALL
SIZES, GIVEN THE UNIQUE ECONOMIC
POSITION WE'RE IN TRYING TO COME
OUT OF CORONAVIRUS STRONG IS
JUST THAT WE NEED WORKERS.
EVERY BUSINESS IN WISCONSIN IS
STRUGGLING TO FIND PEOPLE TO
WORK.
AND THAT'S GOING TO BE A REAL
CONSTRAINT TO GROWTH IN
WISCONSIN GOING FORWARD.
AND SO THAT'S KIND OF THE
BIGGEST ECONOMIC ISSUE.
AND MY CONCERN IS THE LONGER WE
EXTEND THE GOVERNOR PLUS UP OF
UNEMPLOYMENT OR GIVE PEOPLE
CHECKS WE MIGHT CREATE A
DISINCENTIVE TO WORK.
I THINK WE'RE ALL UNITED ON
MAKING A SMART INVESTMENT IN
INFRASTRUCTURE, BUT WE HAVE TO
BE DILIGENT AND DISCIPLINED IN
HOW WE SPEND THAT MONEY AND
RAISE MONEY FOR INFRASTRUCTURE
GOING FORWARD.
>> AND YOU HAVE CRITICIZED THE
PRICE TAG OF PRESIDENT BIDEN'S
PLANS BUT HE SAID HE'LL PAY FOR
IT BY TAXING THE WEALTHIEST 1%,
CITING AMERICAN BILLIONAIRES
INCREASED THEIR WEALTH DURING
THE PANDEMIC WHILE THE REST OF
THE COUNTRY STRUGGLED.
WHY COULDN'T THIS SOLUTION FUND
HIS PLAN?
>> THERE ISN'T ENOUGH MONEY FROM
THE SO-CALLED 1% TO FUND THESE
VERY EX EXPANSIVE PLANS.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TRILLIONS OF
DOLLARS, DOUBLING THE SIZE OF
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN TERMS
OF SPENDING AFTER WE JUST SPEND
UPWARDS OF $4 TRILLION.
WE ALLOCATED THAT MUCH MONEY
WHICH HAS NOT BEEN SPENT YET AT
THE STATE LEVEL.
SO AT A TIME WHEN STATE, LOCAL
AND COUNTY GOVERNMENTS ARE
TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW DO THEY
SPEND THE MONEY THEY JUST GOT
FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO
HELP WISCONSINITES, I'M NOT SURE
IT MAKES SENSE TO TAX MORE
WISCONSINITES IN ORDER TO FUND
FORFUND-- MORE SPENDING WHEN WE'RE NOT
DONE WITH THE LAST ROUND.
I WORRY ABOUT THE IMPACT ON
ECONOMIC GROWTH BECAUSE OF THE
PENT-UP DEMAND THAT WE'VE HAD
FROM CORONAVIRUS.
AND OVER THE LONG TERM, I'LL
ABOUT GETTING AMERICAN JOBS BACK
HERE IN AMERICA, GROWING
WISCONSIN JOBS AND IF WE HAVE AN
UNCOMPETITIVE TAX CODE RELATIVE
TO OUR INTERNATIONAL COMPETITORS
LIKE CHINA AND BIDEN WOULD RAISE
THE TAX RATE HIGHER THAN CHINA,
WE'RE GOING TO SEE JOBS GET
OUTSOURCED TO OVERSEAS.
WE NEED TO BE BRINGING THOSE
JOBS BACK TO AMERICA,
INCENTIVIZING AMERICAN
MANUFACTURING.
WE WANT WISCONSIN TO EMERGE AS
THE HUB FOR THAT NEXT GENERATION
OF HIGH-TECH MANUFACTURING.
A BIG PART OF THAT IS OUR TAX
CODE, MAKING SURE IT'S
COMPETITIVE.
>> IN HIS AMERICAN FAMILIES
PLAN, BIDEN IS PROPOSING
EXPANDING EDUCATION TO INCLUDE
FREE PRESCHOOL AND TWO YEARS OF
COMMUNITY COLLEGE SAYING THIS IS
HOW THE UNITED STATES IS GOING
TO WIN.
YOU'VE USED THIS LANGUAGE OF
WINNING AND USING IN REFERENCE
TO CHINA.
DO YOU SUPPORT BIDEN'S EXPANDED
INVESTMENT IN EDUCATION?
>> I DON'T.
BUT I DO THINK THIS IS A KEY
POINT, THAT K-12 EDUCATION
REALLY USED TO BE AMERICA'S BIG
ADVANTAGE, RIGHT?
WE USED TO BE TOP IN THE WORLD
AND MEASURED BY THE
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY, AMERICA
HAS BEEN SLIDING INTO
MEDIOCRITY.
WE WERE KNOWN AS AN EDUCATION
POWERHOUSE.
BUT OUR RANKING HAS SIMILARLY
FALLEN INTO MEDIOCRITY.
BEFORE WE SPEND TRILLIONS MORE
ON EXPANDING EDUCATION, WE NEED
TO FIGURE OUT HOW DO WE GET K-12
BACK TO THE TOP OF THE HEAP?
OUR GOAL SHOULD BE TO HAVE THE
NUMBER ONE K-12 SYSTEM IN THE
COUNTRY BY 2030.
AND COMMON SENSE TO ME DICTATES
THAT WE NEED TO FOCUS ON THE
SYSTEM AS IT EXISTS NOW, BEFORE
WE DRAMATICALLY EXPAND IT.
AGAIN, I'M NOT SURE ALLOWING
PEOPLE TO GO TO COLLEGE FOR FREE
IS THE RIGHT WAY.
IN FACT, I THINK THE BIG THING
WE'VE LEARNED OVER THE LAST TWO
DECADES THROUGH PAINFUL TRIAL
AND ERROR IS NOT EVERY KID NEEDS
TO GO TO COLLEGE.
IN FACT, I THINK THE MESSAGE IS
YOU CAN GO RIGHT INTO THE
WORKFORCE, WORK FOR MARINETTE
MARINE, OSHKOSH TRUCK AND EARN A
HECK OF A LIVING AND SAVING.
YOU'LL HAVE A HOUSE BEFORE YOU
WENT TO COLLEGE AND ARE DROWNING
IN A MOUNTAIN OF DEBT.
I ALMOST THINK THAT'S THE
OPPOSITE DIRECTION WE NEED TO BE
GOING IN.
>> WITH UNDER A MINUTE LEFT, YOU
DO SEE EYE TO EYE ON THE ENDLESS
FRONTIER ACT TO INVEST IN
TECHNOLOGY AND MANUFACTURING.
BIDEN'S PROPOSAL ALSO PUTS
BILLIONS INTO NEW TECHNOLOGY.
DO YOU SUPPORT THAT AND THINK IT
WILL LEAD TO MORE AND BETTER
JOBS?
>> I SUPPORT CARVING OUT AN AREA
OF BIPARTISAN AGREEMENT WHERE WE
CAN INVEST IN THE TECHNOLOGY OF
THE FUTURE.
WHAT WE LEARNED IN CORONAVIRUS
IS WE'RE TOO DEPENDENT ON A
HOSTILE FOREIGN POWER IN CHINA
FOR LIFE-SAVING DRUGS.
I HAD A BILL WITH MARK POCAN ON
HOW TO BRING THAT MANUFACTURING
BACK TO THE UNITED STATES,
SEMICONDUCTORS, ROBOTICS.
I CO-CHAIR A TASK FORCE.
WE ARE TO GO TO HAVE TO INVEST
TO BRING THAT TECHNOLOGY BACK TO
THE UNITED STATES TO MAKE SURE
WE ARE THE GLOBAL HUB FOR
INNOVATION AND FUTURE TECHNOLOGY
AND THAT EVERYONE STILL WANTS TO
COME TO AMERICA BECAUSE WE'RE
THE GREATEST COUNTRY IN THE
WORLD.
>> WE NEED TO LEAVE IT THERE.
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE GALLAGHER,
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING
US.
>> THANK YOU.
>> WE SHIFT NOW FROM WASHINGTON
TO WISCONSIN NEWS, INCLUDING A
NEW STATE INITIATIVE LAUNCHED
THIS WEEK BY ATTORNEY GENERAL
JOSH KAUL.
IT'S AN UPDATED EVIDENT TO
REVIEW REPORTS OF CLERGY ABUSE
IN WISCONSIN.
THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE WORKED
TOGETHER DRAFTING THE PLAN WITH
DISTRICT ATTORNEYS, SURVIVOR
GROUPS AND CRIME VICTIM SERVICE
WORKERS.
>> IT WILL CONSIST OF TWO
PRINCIPAL PARTS.
FIRST, REQUESTING AND REVIEWING
DOCUMENTS FROM DIOCESE AND
RELIGIOUS ORDERS.
WE ARE ASKING ANYBODY WITH
KNOWLEDGE OF ABUSE, INCLUDING
THE INSTITUTIONAL RESPONSE TO
THAT ABUSE, TO CONTACT US.
I WANT TO STRESS THAT WE
STRONGLY ENCOURAGE ANYONE WHO
KNOWS ANYTHING TO REPORT.
NO DETAIL IS TOO SMALL.
IF YOU'VE REPORTED BEFORE, WE
WOULD LIKE YOU TO CONTACT US.
IF YOU HAVEN'T REPORTED BEFORE,
WE WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO CONTACT
US.
AND IF YOU KNOW ABOUT ABUSE
INVOLVING SOMEBODY WHO CAN'T
REPORT, WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU
TO REPORT THAT ABUSE.
>> IN 2018, IT WAS ADVERTISED BY
THE SCOTT WALKER ADMINISTRATION
AS A TRANSFORMATIVE AND
INNOVATIVE BUSINESS ENTERPRISE,
BRINGING FOXCONN TO WISCONSIN
PROMISED A NEW ERA OF
MANUFACTURING IN THE FIELD OF
ELECTRONICS AND THE DESIRE TO
POSITION WISCONSIN AS THE
SILICON VALLEY OF THE MIDWEST.
TODAY THE STATE'S CONTRACT WITH
THE TECH GIANT HAS BEEN SCALED
BACK, RENEGOTIATED BY THE
WISCONSIN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
CORPORATION FROM A HISTORIC
$2.85 BILLION TO $80 MILLION.
WE'RE JOINED BY THE CEO AND
SECRETARY OF THE WEDC, MISSY
HUGHES.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING
US.
>> GOOD MORNING.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> SO WHAT IS IN THE NEW
CONTRACT AND HOW DOES IT DIFFER
FROM THE JOBS AND INVESTMENT
PROMISES ORIGINALLY MADE BY
FOXCONN?
>> SO THE ORIGINAL CONTRACT WAS
AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE STATE
AND FOXCONN TO INCENTIVIZE
FOXCONN TO BUILD A MASSIVE
FACTORY, $10 BILLION WORTH OF
INVESTMENT, CREATING 13,000
JOBS.
AND IT WAS ACTUALLY A VERY
PRESCRIPTIVE CONTRACT IN THAT IT
REQUIRED FOXCONN TO BUILD THESE
LARGE LCD SCREENS.
AND WHEN IT CAME TIME FOR
FOXCONN TO DO THAT, THE MARKET
HAD CHANGED, IT WAS MUCH LESS
COM PETCOMPETITIVE AND IT DIDN'T MAKE
SENSE FOR FOXCONN TO BUILD THOSE
IN THE UNITED STATES.
AND SO WHAT WE'VE DONE IS WORKED
WITH FOXCONN TO RIGHT SIZE THE
CONTRACT, TO MAKE IT MAKE SENSE
FOR FOXCONN'S BUSINESS, BUT MORE
IMPORTANTLY TO MAKE IT MAKE
SENSE FOR THE WISCONSIN
TAXPAYERS.
>> THE WISCONSIN CONTRACT
INCORPORATED CLAWBACKS FOR THAT
PURPOSE BUT FOXCONN WAS STILL
TRYING TO GET PAYMENT FROM THE
STATE AND BLAMING MARKET FORCES
FOR THESE DEFICIENCIES.
SO WHAT CHANGED?
>> WELL, WE WERE ABLE TO
CONTINUE TO WORK WITH FOXCONN
TO, YOU KNOW, DEMONSTRATE TO
THEM THAT THE CONTRACT WAS BASED
ON THIS MASSIVE FACILITY.
YOU'RE NOT BUILDING THIS MASSIVE
FACILITY.
WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING
DIFFERENT.
I THINK ULTIMATELY WEDC'S
DECISION TO TELL FOXCONN THAT
THEY WERE NOT EL ELIGIBLE FOR TAX
CREDITS LAST FALL REALLY HELPED
TO KIND OF SAY, OKAY, YOU KNOW,
IT'S TIME TO GET TO THE TABLE
AND GET TO WORK ON RIGHT SIZING
THIS CONTRACT.
>> SO WHAT EXACTLY IS FOXCONN
GOING TO MAKE OR DO ON THE MOUNT
PLEASANT CAMPUS?
>> WELL, FOXCONN'S EXPERTISE IS
IN WHAT'S CALLED CONTRACT
MANUFACTURING.
THEY'RE REALLY GOOD AT BUILDING
THINGS FOR OTHER PEOPLE.
SO WHAT THEY'RE DOING RIGHT NOW,
WHAT I'VE BEEN ABLE TO SEE
FIRSTHAND, IS BUILDING HIGH-TECH
DATA SERVERS, AND THEY HAVE PUT
IN ASSEMBLY LINES TO DO THAT.
THEY ARE BUILDING THOSE FOR A
NUMBER OF DIFFERENT COMPANIES.
AND THEY WILL CONTINUE TO BE
ABLE TO BE FLEXIBLE AND BUILD
OTHER TYPES OF PRODUCTS FOR
OTHER COMPANIES AND REALLY USE
THEIR EXPERTISE.
SO WHAT WE'VE DONE IS GIVEN THEM
THE OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND TO
MARKET FORCES AND REALLY SCALE
BACK THE EXPOSURE FOR WISCONSIN
TAXPAYERS.
>> NOW, THE LAST NUMBERS THAT WE
SAW OF EMPLOYMENT DATA SHOWED
THAT FOXCONN WAS SHORT OF WHAT
THE 2020 TAX CREDITS ARE GOING
TO REQUIRE.
IS FOXCONN GOING TO FIND ITSELF
OVER-PROMISING OVER AND OVER?
>> YOU KNOW, WE'VE WORKED -- ONE
OF THE THINGS WE REALLY WORKED
WITH FOXCONN WAS TO FIND -- YOU
KNOW, LET'S FIND WHAT'S A
CONSERVATIVE ESTIMATE OF WHAT
YOU'RE GOING TO BE DOING SO WE
CAN GET SOME WINDS, MOVE PAST
THE OLD CONTRACT.
SO I'M CONFIDENT THAT FOXCONN IS
GOING TO MEET THE PERFORMANCE
REQUIREMENTS WHEN WE GET THEIR
REPORT, WHICH IS NOW DUE ON
JULY 1.
WE WILL GO THROUGH THE PROCESS
OF VERIFYING THAT THE WAY WE DO
WITH ALL OF OUR CONTRACTS.
AND THEN I'M CONFIDENT THAT
WE'LL BE ABLE TO AWARD FOXCONN
SOME TAX CREDITS FOR THEIR WORK.
>> SOME ECONOMISTS SAY
INCENTIVES LIKE THIS JUST DON'T
WORK.
SO IS THIS SOMETHING THE WEDC IS
GOING TO CONTINUE AS A PRACTICE
GOING FORWARD?
>> WELL, I THINK WHAT'S REALLY
IMPORTANT TO KEEP IN MIND IS
BUSINESSES ARE LOOKING FOR MANY
COMPLICATED THINGS WHEN THEY'RE
MAKING A DECISION WHERE TO
EXPAND OR LOCATE THEIR BUSINESS.
THEY'RE LOOKING AT WORKFORCE,
EDUCATION OF THAT WORKFORCE.
THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE
COMMUNITY IS FRIENDLY TO THE
BUSINESS AND THE STATE IS
FRIENDLY TO THE BUSINESS.
AND THEN THEY ARE INTERESTED IN
INCENTIVES.
YOU KNOW, SOME OF OUR WORK SHOWS
THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S MAYBE A 10%
DECISION-MAKER FOR THEM.
SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE AT WEDC
THAT WE'RE COVERING THE 90%,
THAT WE'VE GOT THE WERG FORCE
FOR THE COS THAT COMPANIES THAT WANT TO
COME HERE, THAT WE'VE GOT THE
INFRASTRUCTURE.
SO THERE'S A WHOLE LOT OF
DECISIONS TO BE MAKING.
WE'LL CONTINUE TO OFFER
INCENTIVES BUT MAKE SURE WE DO
THE WORK TO MAKE SURE THIS IS
THE RIGHT PLACE FOR THEM.
>> ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT PRESIDENT
BIDEN LAID OUT AMBITIONS FOR
TECH RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.
DESPITE FOXCONN'S SETBACKS, DOES
WISCONSIN STILL HAVE POTENTIAL
TO GROW ITS FOOTPRINT IN BIG
TECH OVERALL?
>> I'M SO EXCITED ABOUT
WISCONSIN'S OPPORTUNITY GIVEN
THE NEW CONVERSATIONS ABOUT
INFRASTRUCTURE, THE NEW ENERGY
ECONOMY.
WE ARE A POWERHOUSE OF
MANUFACTURING.
SO WITH THE ADDITION OF
COMPANIES LIKE FOXCONN, BUT
WE'VE ALSO GOT POWERHOUSES LIKE
JOHNSON CONTROLS AND ROCKWELL.
WE'RE READY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF
ALL OF THIS ENERGY THAT'S COMING
INTO THE ECONOMY AND I'M SO
EXCITED FOR THE NEW
OPPORTUNITIES, WHETHER IT'S
BUILDING BATTERIES OR SOLAR
PANELS, ELECTRIC VEHICLES.
THERE'S JUST ALL SORTS OF
CONVERSATIONS RIGHT NOW, AND
WISCONSIN'S POISED TO JUMP ON
THOSE OPPORTUNITIES.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WE NEED TO LEAVE IT THERE.
SECRETARY MISSY HUGHES OF THE
WEDC.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING
US.
>> THANK YOU.
>> COVID-19 VARIANTS CONTINUE TO
SPREAD IN NEIGHBORING STATES,
BUT HAVE THEY YET BREACHED
WISCONSIN'S BORDERS IN SIMILAR
NUMBERS?
AND HOW WELL IS WISCONSIN DOING
IN ITS CAMPAIGN TO VACCINATE
EVERYONE 16 AND OLDER?
FOR THE LATEST ON THE CONDITION
OF COVID-19 IN THE STATE, WE
TURN TO OUR OWN "HERE AND NOW"
REPORTER WILL CUSHMAN.
AND, WILL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
BEING HERE TODAY.
>> THANKS, MARISA.
>> SO CAN YOU GIVE US AN OVERALL
UPDATE ON WHERE THE STATE IS
WITH COVID CASES,
HOSPITALIZATIONS AND DEATHS?
>> SURE.
SO CURRENTLY THE SEVEN-DAY AFTER
FOR NEW DAILY CASES <!0>
HOVERING BETWEEN 6030 600 AND 650.
THAT'S 25% LOWER THAN IT WAS A
COUPLE WEEKS AGO BUT NEARLY
TWICE AS HIGH AS IT WAS IN
MARCH.
AT THE SAME TIME, IT'S STILL A
LOT LOWER THAN THE SURGE IN
NOVEMBER WHEN THE SEVEN-DAY
AVERAGE TOPPED 6,500.
THE SEVEN-DAY AVERAGE FOR DEATHS
IS CREEPING UP THIS WEEK.
IT'S AT ABOUT A DOZEN.
LAST WEEK IT WAS HOVERING AROUND
FOUR OR FIVE.
THE SEVEN-DAY AVERAGE FOR NEW
HOSPITALIZATIONS IS 60, HOVERING
THERE FOR A WEEK OR TWO.
>> AND WHERE DO VACCINATION
RATES TOTAL CURRENTLY STAND?
>> SURE.
CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW ABOUT 43% OF
WISCONSINITES HAVE RECEIVED AT
LEAST ONE DOSE OF A COVID-19
VACCINE.
SO THAT'S ABOUT 2.5 MILLION
WISCONSINITES.
NOW WITHIN THE LAST DAY OR SO,
FULLY OVER ONE-THIRD OF
WISCONSINITES ARE FULLY -- OR AT
LEAST HAVE COMPLETED THEIR
VACCINE SERIES.
SO THAT'S NEARLY TWO MILLION
WISCONSINWISCONSINITES.
>> WHY DO VACCINATION RATES LOOK
DIFFERENT ACROSS WISCONSIN?
>> THAT'S A REALLY GOOD
QUESTION, AND THE VACCINATION
RATES ARE REALLY KIND OF
STARTING TO DIVERGE AT THE
COUNTY LEVEL.
DANE COUNTY IS NOW LEADING THE
WAY, WITH NEARLY 60% OF
RESIDENTS RECEIVING AT LEAST ONE
DOSE.
A COUPLE OTHER COUNTIES ARE
CLOSE BEHIND.
THOSE ARE SOME KIND OF SMALLER
COUNTIES WITH A LOT OF RETIREES.
THAT WOULD BE DOOR COUNTY AND
BAYFIELD COUNTY.
AND THEN THERE'S A LARGE SWATH
OF THE STATE THAT'S PRETTY CLOSE
TO THE STATE AVERAGE, AROUND
40%.
BUT THEN THERE'S A GROUP OF
COUNTING OUTSIDE OF EAU CLAIRE
WHERE VACCINATION RATES ARE
LAGGING.
THAT INCLUDES TAYLOR COUNTY AND
CLARK COUNTY, WHERE NOT EVEN A
QUARTER OF RESIDENTS HAVE
RECEIVED ONE DOSE.
SO THERE ARE A WHOLE LOT OF
REASONS WHY VACCINATION RATES R
VARYING, BUT ANY MORE -- OR
EARLIER IN THE VATION VACCINATION
CAMPAIGN IT HAD TO DO WITH WHO
WAS ELIGIBLE AND WHETHER A
COUNTY HAS A LOT OF OLDER
RESIDENTS OR HEALTH CARE WORKERS
MADE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT.
NOW IT HAS A LOT MORE TO DO WITH
WHO WANTS TO GET A COVID-19
VACCINE NOW THAT WE'RE NEARLY A
MONTH INTO UNIVERSAL ELIGIBILITY
FOR ADULTS.
SO WE'RE SEEING PARTS OF THE
STATE WHERE PEOPLE ARE CLAMORING
FOR VACCINE, INCLUDING DANE
COUNTY AND OTHER SUBURBAN AREAS,
LA CROSSE COUNTY, EAU CLAIRE
COUNTY.
AND THEN SOME PREDOMINANTLY
RURAL PARTS OF THE STATE PEOPLE
ARE NOT CLAMORING FOR VACCINES
QUITE AS MUCH.
THOSE PATTERNS KIND OF REFLECT
THE ANNUAL FLU VACCINES AROUND
THE STATE.
THERE'S A LOT OF REASONS WHY
PEOPLE ARE KIND OF HESITANT TO
GET A VACCINE.
THERE HAS BEEN NATIONWIDE
ANALYSIS BY THE NEW YORK TIMES,
SHOWED THAT COUNTY THAT WENT FOR
PRESIDENT TRUMP AND HAVE A LOT
OF REPUBLICAN VOTERS ARE KIND OF
LAGGING IN VACCINATION RATES.
SIMILAR, ANALYSIS BY MILWAUKEE
JOURNAL SENTINEL FOUND SOMETHING
SIMILAR IN WISCONSIN.
>> WILL CUSHMAN, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> WILL'S REPORTS CAN BE FOUND
AT pbswisconsin.org.
THEN CLICK ON THE NEWS PAGE.
AND THAT'S ALL FOR OUR PROGRAM
TONIGHT.
FREDERICA FREYBERG WILL RETURN
NEXT FRIDAY.
I'M MARISA WOJCIK.
HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.