>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION.
>> I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW,"
GOVERNOR TONY EVERS ORDERS A
STATEWIDE MASK MANDATE.
REPUBLICAN OPPOSITION IS QUICK
TO FOLLOW.
IT WAS A BUSY WEEK IN
WASHINGTON.
CORONAVIRUS RELIEF, A SHARP
ECONOMIC DOWNTURN AND DEBATE
OVER FEDERAL AGENTS IN U.S.
CITIES.
TOM TIFFANY AND MARK POCAN ARE
HERE.
AND MARISA WOJCIK REPORTS ON HOW
WISCONSIN TRIBAL NATIONS ARE
FIGHTING COVID-19.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR JULY 31.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.
>> GOVERNOR EVERS ANNOUNCES A
STATEWIDE MASK MANDATE TO TAKE
EFFECT SATURDAY AND THROUGH
SEPTEMBER.
BUT REPUBLICAN LEGISLATIVE
LEADERS SAY THEY ARE READY TO
CONVENE TO OVERTURN THE
EMERGENCY ORDER THAT INCLUDES
THE MASK RULE.
REPUBLICANS IN THE LEGISLATURE
AS WELL AS SOME LOCAL AND COUNTY
OFFICIALS AROUND THE STATE SAY
THE ORDER, LIKE THE
ADMINISTRATION'S "SAFER AT HOME"
MANDATE THAT WAS STRUCK DOWN BY
THE SUPREME COURT, IS ANOTHER
EXECUTIVE OVERREACH.
WE WILL HEAR FROM THE WASHINGTON
COUNTY EXECUTIVE IN A FEW
MINUTES.
BUT UNDER THE ORDER, STARTING
TOMORROW, MASKS ARE REQUIRED FOR
ANYONE FIVE YEARS OF AGE OR
OLDER WHILE IP INDOORS EXCEPT AT A
PRIVATE RESIDENCE.
SCHOOL STAFF AND STUDENTS ARE
ALSO REQUIRED TO RETURN MASKS.
VIOLATING THE ORDER COMES WITH
FINES OF UP TO $TOO 0.
>> I KNOW THERE HAVE BEEN THOSE
SHOULD HAVE DEMANDED A PIECE
MEAL RATHER THAN A STATEWIDE
APPROACH AND SAID WE DO NOT NEED
A STATEWIDE EFFORT TO RESPOND TO
THIS CRIES.
WE TRIED THEIR WAY.
IT'S NOT WORKING.
STATEWIDE EFFORTS TO COMBAT THIS
VIRUS HAVE WORKED BEFORE SO
THAT'S WHAT WE ANNOUNCED HERE
TODAY.
SO TODAY I DECLARED A NEW
STATEWIDE PUBLIC HEALTH
EMERGENCY AS WE BATTLE THE NEW
SURGE OF COVID-19 ACROSS OUR
STATE.
I ALSO ORDERED NEW FACE COVERING
ORDER THAT WILL GO INTO EFFECT
ON AUGUST 1, GIVE FOLKS ENOUGH
TIME TO GET FACE COVERINGS IF
THEY DON'T ALREADY HAVE THEM.
ALTHOUGH WE'RE FACING NEW AND
DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES THAN WE
WERE A FEW MONTHS AGO, THE ONE
THING THAT HASN'T CHANGED IS
WE'RE GOING TO LISTEN TO THE
SCIENCE AND PUBLIC HEALTH
EXPERTS TO GUIDE OUR
DECISION-MAKING.
FOLKSFOLKS AND SCIENCE EXPERTS ARE
TELLING US MASKS SAVE LIVES.
MY MASK PROTECTS YOU.
YOUR MASK PROTECTS ME.
OUR MASKS WORK BEST WHEN WE BOTH
WEAR THEM TOGETHER.
THIS VIRUS HAS SHOWN UP IN EVERY
COUNTY IN THE STATE OF
WISCONSIN, SO IT'S NOT LIKE IF
THERE'S A COUNTY LINE THERE THAT
THE VIRUS STOPS, NOR IS IT
STOPPING PEOPLE FROM GOING TO
WORK IN A DIFFERENT COUNTY OR
WHATEVER.
THIS SURGE IS A STATEWIDE SURGE.
ONE OF THE COUNTIES WE HAD VERY
FEW CASES JUST EXPLODED WITH A
NUMBER OF CASES THAT THEY NOW
HAVE.
AND SO A STATEWIDE EFFORT TO
WEAR A MASK IS REALLY IMPORTANT
BECAUSE THE VIRUS DOES NOT KNOW
BOUNDARIES, EVEN THOUGH WE DO A
LOT OF LOOKING AT DATA AROUND
DIFFERENT COUNTIES.
BUT EVERY COUNTY IN THE STATE OF
WISCONSIN IS IMPACTED BY THIS
VIRUS.
I KNOW FOLKS ARE WORRIED THAT
THE ORDER I'M ISSUING TODAY KEEP
PEOPLE -- TO KEEP PEOPLE HEALTHY
AND SAFE WILL IMMEDIATELY BE
CHALLENGED BY REPUBLICANS IN THE
COURT.
I KNOW FOLKS ARE WORRIED ANOTHER
RULING COULD JUST CREATE MORE
CHAOS AS WE RESPOND TO THIS
PANDEMIC.
I'M WORRIED ABOUT THAT, TOO.
BUT MY JOB AS GUFER IS GOVERNOR TO DO DO
WHAT'S BEST FOR THE PEL OF OUR
STATE AND DO EVERYTHING I CAN TO
KEEP PEOPLE HEALTHY AND SAFE.
>> REPUBLICANS AT THE STATE
CAPITOL IMMEDIATELY VOICED
OPPOSITION TO THE MASK ORDER
WITH LEADERS SAYING THEY ARE
READY TO CONVENE THE LEGISLATURE
TO OVERTURN THE ORDER.
PEOPLE LIKE THE WASHINGTON
COUNTY EXECUTIVE ARE OPPOSED AS
WELL, JOSH SCHOEMANN.
HE JOINS US FROM WEST BEND.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> YOU SAY THE PUBLIC HEALTH
EMERGENCY IS AN EXECUTIVE POWER
GRAB AND YOU CALL IT DANGEROUS.
HOW SO?
>> YEAH.
MY MAJOR CONCERN IS WITH THE
EMERGENCY ORDER ITSELF.
THE MASK MANDATE, YOU KNOW,
WE'VE BEEN URGING PEOPLE TO WEAR
MASKS FOR QUITE SOME TIME OVER
THE COURSE OF THE LAST SELF
WEEKS OUT OF LOVE FOR THEIR
NEIGHBORS AND WE FEEL THEY'VE
BEEN DOING THAT.
REALLY THIS EMERGENCY ORDER
ALLOWS FOR MUCH, MUCH MORE THAN
THAT.
IF YOU READ THE SPECIFICS, IT
GOES WELL BEYOND THAT, EVEN TO
THE AUGUST 11 ELECTION AND
THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
I'M CONCERNED WE'RE GOING BACK
TO THE SAME PLACE WE WERE IN
MARCH AND I'M NOT SURE THAT'S
APPROPRIATE AND I HOPE THE
LEGISLATURE HIEWR
LEGISLATURE STEPS?
>> DO YOU OPPOSE MANDATING
MASKS?
>> YEAH.
I THINK THAT PEOPLE REALLY HAVE
DONE A VERY NICE JOB OF GETTING
BETTER AT WEARING MASKS.
MYSELF INCLUDED.
IT'S CERTAINLY TAKING A BIT OF A
CHANGE CULTURALLY AND
PSYCHOLOGICALLY.
AND WE'VE SEEN BUSINESSES ACROSS
THE STATE AND ACROSS WASHINGTON
COUNTY WHO HAVE PUT THEIR OWN
RESTRICTIONS IN PLACE BASED ON
WHAT'S BEST FOR THEM.
I THINK THAT WAS WORKING.
AND NOW HAVING A MANDATE WITH A
FORFEITURE TIED TO IT IS NOT THE
RIGHT APPROACH.
>> WILL YOUR COUNTY SHERIFF BE
AMONG THOSE WHO WILL NOT ENFORCE
IT?
>> YES.
WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH
BOTH OUR DISTRICT ATTORNEY AND
OUR COUNTY SHERIFF AS WELL AS
OUR PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICER AND IT
WILL NOT BE ENFORCED BY COUNTY
OFFICIALS.
>> WHAT ABOUT HOW THE GOVERNOR
SAYS THAT HE IS FOLLOWING THE
SCIENCE AND THERE IS
UNCONTROLLED COMMUNITY SPREAD OF
COVID-19 AND HE JUST WANTS TO
PROTECT PEOPLE?
>> I UNDERSTAND HIS APPROACH.
I THINK WHAT HE'S ATTEMPT TO GO
DO WAS GETTING PEOPLE TO WEAR A
MASK.
I UNDERSTAND.
I JUST DON'T THINK THE ANGLE
HE'S TAKING WORKS APPROPRIATELY.
AND BY GO AHEAD AHEAD WITH AN
EMERGENCY ORDER, IT MAKES IT
MUCH BROADER THAN JUST MASKS AND
THAT'S THE REAL PROBLEM.
>> BECAUSE YOU SAY THAT OPENING
THE DOOR TO SCHOOL OR BUSINESS
CLOSURES LEADS TO ECONOMIC RUIN.
BUT THIS QUESTION.
CAN'T THE VIRUS ITSELF, IF
UNCONTROLLED, LEAD TO ITS OWN
RUIN?
>> THE VIRUS IS CERTAINLY
DANGEROUS AND VERY SERIOUS, NOT
A HOAX IN ANY WAY, SHAPE OR
FORM.
PEOPLE SHOULD TAKE IT SERIOUSLY.
WE URGE THEM TO FOLLOW NOT JUST
THE MASKS SUGGESTION, BUT ALL
GUIDANCE FROM THE CDC AND HEALTH
OFFICIALS.
BUT SHUTTING THINGS DOWN AS WE
DID IN MARCH, APRIL AND MAY CAN
HAVE EFFECTS THAT ARE
LONG-LASTING AND LONG PAST THESE
MONTHS, ESPECIALLY HAVING KIDS
OUT OF SCHOOL.
AND THE CDC AND THE AMERICAN
ASSOCIATION OF PEDIATRICIANS
HAVE SAID EX EXACTLY THAT ABOUT
CHILDREN IN SCHOOLS.
THAT'S WHAT I'M VERY CONCERNED
ABOUT.
>> WE NEED TO LEAVE THERE.
THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> NOW TO WASHINGTON, WHERE THE
DEMOCRATIC-LED HOUSE JUDICIARY
COMMITTEE GRILLED U.S. ATTORNEY
WILLIAM BARR TUESDAY.
TOM TIFFANY IS A REPUBLICAN
COMMITTEE MEMBER.
HE JOINED IN ON TOPICS INCLUDING
PROTESTS AND FEDERAL AGENTS IN
U.S. CITIES.
ALL OF THIS TAKES PLACE AS
CONGRESS DEBATES THE NEXT
CORONAVIRUS RELIEF BILL AND AS
THERE WAS A DECLINE IN ECONOMIC
GROWTH.
WE WILL TALK WITH U.S.
DEMOCRATIC REPRESENTATIVE MARK
POCAN.
WE ARE JOINED BY NOW REPUBLICAN
CONGRESSMAN TOM TIFFANY.
>> GOOD TO BE WITH YOU, FREED
REEK CA.
>> WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO THE
MASK MANDATE ORDERED BY GOVERNOR
EVERS?
>> I TRUST MY FRIENDS AND
NEIGHBORS TO DO THE RIGHT THING.
AND I THINK GOVERNOR EVERS
SHOULD TRUST THEM ALSO.
I THINK ABOUT SMALL BUSINESSES
AND OTHERS.
SOME OF THEM HAVE MASK MANDATES.
AND YOU GET TO CHOOSE WHETHER
YOU GET TO GO INTO THAT BUSINESS
OR NOT.
I JUST THINK GOVERNOR EVERS
SHOULD TRUST THE PEOPLE OF
WISCONSIN TO MAKE THE RIGHT
DECISION FOR THEMSELVES.
AND I THINK HE'S FOCUSING ON THE
WRONG ISSUES.
WHEN YOU HAVE STAT STATUES BEING TORN
DOWN AT THE CAPITOL, THE CAPITOL
NEARLY BEING HARMED, AS WELL AS
UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION CLAIMS
NOT BEING TAKEN CARE OF, SOME
PEOPLE HAVE NOT GOTTEN THEIR
CHECKS FROM MONTHS AGO,
FORECLOSURES, PEOPLE LOSING
THEIR VEHICLES.
I THINK GOVERNOR EVERS HAS MORE
IMPORTANT THINGS TO FOCUS ON.
>> DR. DEBRA BIRX TOLD STATES
THAT THEY SHOULD IMPOSE MASK
MANDATES ESPECIALLY IN THE MIDST
OF THESE SURGES.
SO WHAT ABOUT THAT KIND OF
MESSAGING FROM THE WHITE HOUSE?
>> I THINK GOVERNOR EVERS SHOULD
WORK WITH THE LEGISLATURE.
THEY'VE BEEN OFFERING TO WORK
WITH HIM THROUGHOUT THIS WHOLE
PROCESS, INCLUDING WHEN THE
SUPREME COURT INTERCEDED BACK IN
MAY.
AND THEY MADE IT CLEAR.
GO WORK WITH THE LEGISLATURE.
THAT'S WHAT GOVERNOR EVERS
SHOULD DO.
>> DO YOU PERSONALLY WEAR A MASK
INDOORS OR WHEN YOU CANNOT
DISTANCE?
>> I DO WEAR A MASK.
LIKE I'M OUT IN D.C. RIGHT NOW,
WHENEVER I'M WALKING THE HALLS,
GOING IN TO VOTE, I WEAR A MASK.
>> AS TO UNEMPLOYMENT, WHAT IS
YOUR POSITION ON WHETHER THE
EXTRA $600 A WEEK IN
UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS SHOULD BE
EXTENDED IN THE NEXT FEDERAL
CORONAVIRUS PACKAGE?
>> YEAH.
THAT'S ONE OF THE KEY QUESTIONS
THAT'S BEFORE US OUT HERE IN
CONGRESS AND I THINK YOU'RE
SEEING THE SENATE LEADERSHIP
ALONG WITH THE HOUSE LEADERSHIP
LED BY HOUSE SPEAKER PELOSI,
THAT'S REALLY WHAT THEY'RE
TALKING ABOUT.
AND SPEAKER PELOSI WANTS TO
EXTEND THE $6 # ON00 ADD-ON.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT UNEMPLOYMENT IN
WISCONSIN, BASE UNEMPLOYMENT IS
$9.25 AN HOUR.
WHEN YOU ADD THE $600 BONUS ON
TO THAT, THAT'S ANOTHER $15.
A PERSON WOULD BE MAKING NEARLY
$25 AN HOUR BEING ON
UNEMPLOYMENT.
NOW, I THINK MOST PEOPLE JUST
WANT TO GO TO WORK.
BUT I THINK UNEMPLOYMENT
SHOULDN'T BE THAT RICH.
IF YOU TAKE A LOOK AT A COUPLE,
IF A COUPLE IS BOTH ON
UNEMPLOYMENT, THEY'RE MAKING THE
EQUIVALENT OF $10 # ON,000 A
YEAR WITH THAT $600 ADD-ON.
EMPLOYERS ARE TELLING US WE NEED
EMPLOYEES.
AND IT'S TIME WE BUILT A BRIDGE
WITH THE ENHANCED UNEMPLOYMENT.
NOW IT'S TIME TO RATCHET THAT
BACK.
>> WHAT ABOUT AID TO STATE AND
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS?
DO YOU THINK THAT WISCONSIN
SHOULD SEE ADDITIONAL MONEY FROM
THE FEDS?
>> WELL, THEY'VE ALREADY
RECEIVED ADDITIONAL DOLLARS, SO
IN A CAIR FAIR PACKAGE TWO MONTHS
AGO, MONEY WAS ALLOCATED TO THE
STATE OF WISCONSIN.
GOVERNORS WERE GIVEN SOLE
AUTHORITY OVER IT AND WERE ABLE
TO DISTRIBUTE THOSE DOLLARS.
I THINK THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
WAS VERY GENEROUS IN GIVING THAT
$2 BILLION TO WISCONSIN.
>> LET'S TURN TO THIS.
AS A MEMBER OF THE HOUSE
JUDICIARY COMMITTEE YOU HAD
OCCASION TO QUESTION ATTORNEY
GENERAL BILL BARR.
YOU ASKED HIM TO STOP THE RIOTS
IN PLACES LIKE MADISON.
WOULD YOU SUPPORT BRINGING IN
FEDERAL POLICE AGENTS TO DO
THAT, INCLUDING THOSE THAT ARE
COMING INTO MILWAUKEE, FOR
EXAMPLE?
>> IT WOULD BE PREFERABLE THAT
FEDERAL AGENTS DO NOT COME IN.
HOWEVER, IF THERE'S FEDERAL
BUILDINGS, FEDERAL PROPERTY THAT
IS BEING DAMAGED, THEN THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS A DUTY TO
GO IN AND PROTECT THOSE
PROPERTIES.
IT'S LIKE PORT LAPPED.
AT THAT FEDERAL COURTHOUSE OUT
THERE, THEY HAVE A DUTY TO
PROTECT AND THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE
DOING OUT THERE.
IF IT'S FEDERAL ASSETS, THEY
SHOULD BE PROTECTED BY THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
>> REPRESENTATIVE GOHMERT TESTED
COVID POSITIVE FOLLOWING THAT
HEARING BY THE JUDICIARY
COMMITTEE.
DO YOU EXPECT TO BE TESTED
BECAUSE OF ANY CONTACT YOU HAD
WITH HIM?
>> YEAH.
I TALKED TO THE HOUSE PHYSICIAN
IN REGARDS TO THAT, AND I WAS
NOT WITHIN REPRESENTATIVE
GOHMERT FOR 15 MINUTES, WITHIN
SIX FEET FOR 15 MINUTES, SO THEY
SAID JUST CLOSELY MONITOR.
YOU DO NOT HAVE TO TEST.
I'D BE HAPPY TO TAKE A TEST
ANYTIME, BUT THE HOUSE PHYSICIAN
SAID IT'S PROBABLY NOT
NECESSARY, JUST MONITOR, AND
THAT'S WHAT I'M DOING.
>> WHAT'S IT LIKE TO BE IN THE
MIDST OF A BUSY CITY, CAPITOL
HILL, AND PEOPLE ARE GETTING
SICK AND YOU ALL ARE DOING YOUR
JOBS AND FLYING BACK AND FORTH.
WHAT I LIKE?
>> YOU MAKE SURE YOU KEEP
YOURSELF SAFE, DISTANCE AS
APPROPRIATELY.
THE AIRLINES HAVE TOUGH
RESTRICTIONS IN PLACE.
THEY REQUIRE MASKS WHENEVER
YOU'RE ON A PLANE, IN AN
AIRPORT.
THOSE THINGS ARE ALL HAPPENING
TO PROTECT OUR HEALTH.
I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT THING
IS WE ALL NEED TO BE AWARE.
WE AS INDIVIDUALS HAVE A
RESPONSIBILITY, AND THAT'S THE
MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT WE CAN
ALL DO, IS TAKE RESPONSIBILITY
FOR OUR HEALTH.
>> CONGRESSMAN TOM TIFFANY,
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US.
>> YEAH.
IT WAS GOOD TO BE ON TODAY,
FREDERICA.
>> THANK YOU.
NOW TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE
AISLE AND WISCONSIN'S 2nd
DISTRICT CONGRESSMAN MARK POCAN.
THANKS FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANK YOU.
GLAD TO BE HERE.
>> WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE TO THE
NEW STATEWIDE EMERGENCY ORDER
AND MASK MANDATE THAT GOES INTO
EFFECT TOMORROW?
>> WELL, I'M GLAD?
MAJORITY OF STATES ALREADY HAVE
THIS BECAUSE IT'S IN THE BEST
INTEREST OF THE PEOPLE.
FOR THE SHERIFFS THAT ARE SAYING
THEY'RE NOT GOING TO ENFORCE
THIS, I THINK IT'S PRETTY
RIDICULOUS.
THEY'RE TAKING POLITICS OVER
THEIR OATHS TO YOU HOLD THE LAW.
TO ANYBODY WHO THINKS THIS IS A
BURDEN ON THEIR FREEDOM, I HOPE
THAT THEY ARE CONSISTENT AND
THEY GO BAREFOOT AND SHIRTLESS
INTO EVERY STORE THAT THEY GO
INTO, BECAUSE THAT ALSO IS
AGAINST THOSE FREEDOMS THAT THEY
SEEM TO ESPOUSE AROUND MASKS.
THIS IS JUST COMMON SENSE, YOU
KNOW.
I'VE SEEN STUDIES THAT IF BOTH
PEOPLE HAVE A MASK, THE CHANCE
CAN BE AS LITTLE AS 1.5% CHANCE
OF SOMEONE GETTING THE VIRUS
WHEN YOU HAVE THAT SITUATION.
SO THERE'S REASONS WHY OVER 70%
OF PEOPLE SUPPORT THESE MASK
ORDERS.
IT'S A GOOD THING WE HAVE IT IN
WISCONSIN AND I CONGRATULATE THE
GOVERNOR FOR DOING IT.
>> DO YOU THINK THAT GOVERNOR
EVERS SHOULD HAVE ACTED SOONER
ON THIS?
>> WELL, I'M JUST GLAD WE HAVE
IT NOW.
MAJORITY OF STATES HAVE THIS.
RECENTLY THEY SHOWED SOME -- WE
HAVE SOME SPIKES IN WISCONSIN WE
NEED TO ADDRESS AND I THINK THIS
WILL CERTAINLY HELP US TOWARD
THAT SO WE CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT
TO DOTH DO THIS FALL WITH SCHOOLS AND
BUSINESSES.
IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE KEEP THE
NUMBERS DONE AND THE BEST WAY TO
DO THAT IS FOLLOWING THE MASK
ORDER.
>> IN WASHINGTON WE KNOW THAT
CONGRESS IS WORKING ON THE NEXT
CORONAVIRUS AID PACKAGE.
WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO THE
SENATE WANTING TO REDUCE
UNEMPLOYMENT FROM $600 A WEEK TO
$200?
>> FIRST OF ALL, FOR TWO AND A
HALF MONTHS -- TWO AND A HALF
MONTHS AGO WE PASSED A BILL AND
THEY DID NOTHING.
NOW THEY'RE FIRST COMING AROUND
TO DOING THEIR JOBS WHICH I
THINK IS AMAZING AND I'M SAYING
THAT WORD BECAUSE I'M NOT
ALLOWED TO SAY OTHER WORDS ON
TV.
THE FACT THAT THEY WOULD REDUCE
THAT EXTRA SUPPORT FOR
UNEMPLOYMENT, DON'T FORGET,
PEOPLE HAVE LOST THEIR JOBS AT
NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN, AS MANY
SMALL BUSINESSES HAVE LOST
DEMAND BECAUSE OF THE DISEASE.
RESTAURANTS AND BARS, TOURISM,
MEETING INDUSTRY, GO DOWN THE
LIST.
A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE SEVERELY
IMPACTED.
TO SAY SOMEHOW WE'RE GOING TO
PUNISH THOSE PEOPLE AND THEY'RE
GOING TO BE MAKING AS LITTLE AS
UNEMPLOYMENT OFFERS DOESN'T SEEM
TO MAKE SENSE.
WE WANT PEOPLE NOT TO BE
EVICTED, TO BE ABLE TO FEED
THEIR FAMILIES.
THAT EXTRA SUPPORT WAS DOING
THAT.
STUDIES HAVE SHOWN US THAT IT
WORKED.
$200 ISN'T NEARLY ENOUGH TO BE
ADDITIONAL.
WE'RE GOING TO FIGHT FOR THE
$600.
I THINK THE FACT THAT THAT'S A
PRIORITY AT THE SAME TIME
THEY'RE THROWING INTO THEIR
PACKAGE FUNDING FOR F-35s AND
BIGGER DEDUCTIONS FOR TWO
MARTINI LUNCHES JUST SHOWS HOW
AWFUL THEIR PRIORITIES ARE.
>> WHAT ABOUT THE ARGUMENT THAT
GIVING PEOPLE THAT EXTRA $600
PUTS THEM ABOVE THE PLACE WHERE
THEY WERE WHEN THEY WERE WORKING
AND SO IT'S A DISINCENTIVE TO
FIND WORK?
>> SO FIRST OF ALL IT'S NEVER
BEEN PROVEN.
MANY STUDIES SAY THIS IS NOT
WHAT HAS HAPPENED WITH THE EXTRA
MONEY.
IN THE FEW ANECDOTES WHERE IT
MAY BE TRUE, YOU WOULD HAVE TO
BE PAYING SOMEONE $10 OR $12 FOR
THAT TO BE TRUE.
YOU'RE NOT A JOB CREATOR AT THAT
POINT.
YOU'RE A POVERTY ENHANCER AT
THAT POINT.
THIS IS SHOWING THAT ON THOSE
REALLY LOW-PAID JOBS AT $10 AN
HOUR, FOR EXAMPLE, YOU'RE BELOW
THE POVERTY LINE WITH A FAMILY
WHEN YOU'RE MAKING A $10 AN HOUR
JOB.
MAYBE THAT'S PART OF THE JOB,
RIGHT?
SO WE NEED TO ADDRESS RAISING
MINIMUM WAGE AT A FUTURE TIME.
IN THIS PARTICULAR SITUATION,
YOU'D HAVE TO BE A REALLY
LOW-PAYING EMPLOYER FOR THIS TO
HAVE ANY IMPACT.
>> MEANWHILE, OUT OF WASHINGTON
WHAT OTHER KINDS OF HELP SHOULD
STATES LIKE WISCONSIN AND PEOPLE
LIVING HERE EXPECT AROUND
CORONAVIRUS AID?
>> SO I THINK SOME OF OUR
PRIORITIES HAVE BEEN THE
UNEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE FOR
PEOPLE WHO HAVE LOST THEIR JOB,
HELPING SMALL BUSINESSES WHO
LOST DEMAND, RESTAURANTS AND
BARS AND TOURISM.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT STATE
AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS HAVE
MONEY.
THEY'RE THE ONES PROVIDING THE
SERVICES RIGHT NOW AND YET
THEY'RE LAYING OFF PEOPLE
BECAUSE IT'S COSTING THEM SO
MUCH TO DO THAT.
WE HAVE TO SHORE UP THE TESTING
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE
CONTINUING IT DO THAT AND
CONTACT TRACING.
WE HAVE TO PROTECT THOSE FRONT
LINE WORKERS BECAUSE WE DIDN'T
DO THAT IN THE FIRST CARES ACT.
BUT IT'S STILL FOCUSED ON COVID.
IT'S JUST RIDICULOUS THAT
SOMEHOW THE REPUBLICANS IN THEIR
BILL PUT FUNDING FOR F-35s AND
TWO MARTINI LUNCH TAX DEDUCTIONS
IN WHEN WE SHOULD BE FOCUSING ON
PEOPLE AFFECTED.
>> THE U.S. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT
ANNOUNCES THAT IT WILL BE
SENDING FEDERAL AGENTS INTO
MILWAUKEE.
THEY SAY IT'S FOR VIOLENT CRIME
FIGHTING, BUT WHAT IS YOUR
REACTION TO WHAT'S CALLED
"OPERATION LEGEND" IN WISCONSIN?
>> OPERATION LEGEND IS NOTHING
MORE THAN THE PRESIDENT'S LAST
GASP AT TRYING TO SURVIVE BEFORE
DROWNING BEFORE THE
NOVEMBER ELECTIONS.
HE REALIZES HE'S NOT DOING WELL
IN THE POLLS, THE ECONOMY IS NOT
DOING WELL.
HIS RESPONSE TO COVID HAS BEEN
PATHETIC.
HE'S TRYING TO BRING THOSE
SUBURBAN VOTERS BACK IN AND HE
THINKS TO SCARE PEOPLE IS THE
WAY TO DO THAT.
THAT'S WHAT HE TRIED IN
PORTLAND.
IT DIDN'T WORK OUT.
NOW HE'S REMOVING PEOPLE FROM
THERE WITHOUT ANY RHYME OR
REASON.
NOW HE'S LANDING IN PLACES LIKE
MILWAUKEE.
IT'S A PATHETIC FINAL GASP TO
TRY TO SURVIVE AND I THINK
EVERYONE SEES IT AS JUST THAT.
>> CONGRESSMAN MARK POCAN,
THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> YEAH.
THANK YOU.
>> NOT EVERYWHERE IN WISCONSIN
IS FOLLOWING HEALTH GUIDANCE TO
SLOW THE SPREAD OF THE
CORONAVIRUS CONSIDERED
CONTROVERSIAL.
"HERE AND NOW" REPORTER MARISA
WOJCIK SPOKE WITH AREA TRIBAL
NATIONS ABOUT HOW THEIR
COMMUNITIES ARE TAKING A
DIFFERENT APPROACH IN RESPONDING
TO THE CONTINUED THREAT OF
COVID-19.
>> WE'VE BEEN KEEPING OUR EYE ON
THIS ISSUE AS IT AROSE AND WE
STARTED HEARINGS RUMBLINGS OF
COVID-19, CORONAVIRUS IN THE
EARLY PART OF THE YEAR.
>> IN MARCH WHEN COVID-19 HIT
WISCONSIN, RESPONSE FROM TRIBAL
NATIONS WERE IN LOCKSTEP WITH
THE STATE IF NOT AHEAD OF THE
GAME.
>> WE HAVE ALREADY CLOSED OUR
FACILITIES, PROBABLY ABOUT THREE
WEEKS TO THE STATE MAKING THAT
ORDER.
AND I THINK THAT HELPED IN
TERMS OF ASSURING THAT OUR
ELDERS AND OUR RESIDENCE WITHIN
THE NURSING HOMES STAYED SAFE.
>> THE RESPONSE WAS SWIFT TO
ENSURE THE VIRUS COULDN'T TAKE
HOLD.
>> WE TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN MAKING
SURE OUR COMMUNITY AND PUBLIC
SAFETY AND HEALTH IS A MAJOR
THING TO STRIVE FOR, AND SO
ESPECIALLY BEING OBVIOUSLY
NATIVE AMERICAN AND OUR HEALTH
DISPARITIES ARE WIDE AND SO ANY
TYPE OF DISEASE THAT HAS
POTENTIAL TO OUTBREAK AND BE A
PANDEMIC, AS THIS HAS TURNED OUT
TO BE, ARE POTENTIALLY
DEVASTATING, ESPECIALLY FOR
TRIBAL NATIONS LIKE OURS.
LIKE I MENTIONED, WE ONLY HAVE
ABOUT 17,000 MEMBERS AND THAT'S
IT.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, NOT TO SAY,
YOU KNOW, THAT A LIFE HAS A
HIGHER PRIORITY OR NOT, BUT WITH
US, WE'RE SO LIMITED THAT ANY
ACTION WE CAN TAKE TO SAVE A
LIFE, WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO DO
THAT.
>> THIS IS A VERY VULNERABLE
GROUP OF FOLKS, AND THE TRIBE,
THE MENOMINEE PEOPLE, THE
LEADERS ALL RECOGNIZED THAT
IMMEDIATELY AND KNEW THAT WE HAD
TO RESPOND QUICKLY AND AGLES
CIVIL TO KEEP THE VIRUS FROM
GAINING A FOOTHOLD BECAUSE IF IT
DOES, IT WILL REAP DEVASTATION.
>> OUR ELDERS, THOSE ARE OUR
NATIVE LANGUAGE SPEAKERS.
THEY -- SO WE VALUE OUR LANGUAGE
AND THE TRANSMISSION AND, YOU
KNOW, THE PRESERVATION OF OUR
LANGUAGE.
>> SOME NATIONS, LIKE THE
MENOMINEE IND INDIAN TRIBE OF
WISCONSIN, ENFORCED DIRECTIVES
SUCH AS A CURFEW TO TRY TO KEEP
PEOPLE FROM GATHERING AT NIGHT.
>> WE WANT PEOPLE TO COOPERATE.
>> THE DIFFERENCE FOR US IS THAT
THIS IS OUR COMMUNITY.
THIS IS OUR FAMILIES.
THIS -- YOU KNOW, THE DEATH
COULD HAVE BEEN A RELATIVE.
>> WHEN IT CAME TO WEIGHINGED
COST AND BENEFITS OF HEALTH AND
THE ECONOMY, IT WASN'T EVEN A
DEBATE.
>> KEEPING PEOPLE SAFE, KEEPING
PEOPLE HEALTHY, KEEPING PEOPLE
ALIVE, THAT'S WHAT'S IMPORTANT.
>> BUT EVEN A CLEAR DECISION HAS
ITS CONSEQUENCES.
>> IT WASN'T NECESSARILY HARD TO
MAKE, BUT JUST KNOWING WHAT THAT
ECONOMIC IMPACT WAS GOING TO BE
OF HAVING, YOU KNOW, SOME 90%,
95% OF OUR REVENUE COMING FROM
GAMING AND THEN SHUTTING THOSE
OPERATIONS DOWN, WE WERE ON PACE
FOR REVENUE GENERATION FOR THE
YEAR UNTIL WE SHUT DOWN IN
MARCH.
SO IT WENT FROM MEETING THOSE
PROJECTIONS TO ZERO.
>> IT WAS DEVASTATING FOR OUR
NATION.
>> AFTER MONTHS OF BEING SHUT
DOWN, THE ONEIDA NATION AND MANY
OTHER NATIONS WERE ABLE TO OPEN
THEIR CASINOS BACK UP.
>> SO IT'S ALL HANDS ON DECK
HERE.
RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE ABOUT 418
EMPLOYEES BACK, CALLED BACK.
SO WHEN YOU COME IN, EVERY
MORNING YOU HAVE TO COME THROUGH
THIS EMPLOYEE ENTRANCE AND YOU
GO THROUGH THE SAME PROCESS AS
THE CUSTOMER DOES.
YOU GET YOUR TEMPERATURE
CHECKED.
YOU HAVE TO HAVE A MASK.
YOU ARE ASKED ABOUT FIVE
DIFFERENT QUESTIONS REGARDING
YOUR HEALTH.
>> A RECENT UPTICK SEEN BOTH IN
STATE AND TRIBAL NUMBERS COULD
MEAN GOING BACK ON THE
DEFENSIVE.
>> WE'VE HAD A SMALL OUTBREAK ON
THE RESERVATION THAT WAS RELATED
TO A FAMILY GATHERING THIS WEEK.
THE TRIBAL LEADERSHIP MOVED VERY
QUICKLY TO RESPOND THAT.
WE HAVE NOW REVERSED OURSELVES
ON THE REOPENING PLAN.
>> DESPITE THIS SETBACK, THE
TOTAL NUMBER OF POSITIVE CASES
FOR MENOMINEE COUNTY SITS AT 15.
>> I THINK WE'RE STILL IN GOOD
SHAPE.
WE JUST WANT TO KEEP IT THAT
WAY.
>> OVERALL THE NUMBERS GENERALLY
PROVE OUT.
IN WISCONSIN, THE NUMBER OF
POSITIVE CASES ON OR NEAREST ER
VAITIONS IS NEARLY HALF THE RATE
OF THE REST OF THE STATE.
WHATEVER IT CAN BE ATTRIBUTED
TO, TRIBAL NATIONS CONTINUE TO
NAVIGATE BEST STEPS WITH
AUTONOMY AND EYE ON THE DATA AND
COMMUNITY RESPONSIBILITY:
>> SOME DAYS I'M TERRIFIED.
WE ALL UNDERSTAND THAT WHILE
WE'VE HELD THINGS OFF VERY WELL
SO FAR, IT COULD CHANGE IN A DAY
OR TWO AND COVID CAN CATCH LIKE
WILDFIRE.
>> IT'S GOING TO BE MORE ON THE
FRONT OF THE DISCUSSION RATHER
THAN WE'LL MAKE THIS PLAN FOR IN
CASE THIS HAPPENS.
NOW THAT WE'VE LIVED THROUGH IT,
WE KNOW IT CAN HAPPEN AND WHAT
IT LOOKS LIKE AND WHAT IT'S
GOING TO TAKE TO MOVE FORWARD.
>> FOR "HERE AND NOW," I'M
MARISA WOJCIK.
>> AFTER EARLIER CLOSING THEIR
CASINO AND THEN REOPENING AGAIN,
THE MENOMINEE ANNOUNCED TODAY
THAT RESORTS WILL ONCE AGAIN
CLOSE DOWN UNTIL AUGUST 11 DUE
TO A GROWING HEALTH THREAT POSED
BY COVID-19.
AND THAT IS OUR PROGRAM FOR
TONIGHT.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WI