>>> PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP AND
THE FIRST LADY TEST POSITIVE FOR
COVID-19.
LEADERS ACROSS THE WORLD AND
HERE AT HOME ARE WISHING THEM
WELL.
CANDIDATE JOE BIDEN HAS TESTED
NEGATIVE.
AND POLITICALLY WHAT DOES THIS
MEAN FOR VOTERS IN WISCONSIN,
NOW EXPERIENCING ONE OF THE
SHARPEST SPIKES IN THE VIRUS IN
THE STATION?
WE TURN FIRST TO -- IN THE
NATION?
WE TURN FIRST -- THANKS TO YOU
BOTH FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING US.
>> SEEMS TO ME THAT THE
PRESIDENTVAN COLDS FEELS BOTH
FRIGHTENING AND DESTABILIZING,
ESPECIALLY AS THE VIRUS IS
RUNNING RAMPANT AROUND US IN
WISCONSIN.
BUT IS IT INPOLITICK TO BLAME
HIS BEHAVIOR FOR IT, BILL?
>> I THINK, FIRST OF ALL,
THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS TO THE
PRESIDENT AND THE FIRST LADY FOR
THEIR SPEEDY RECOVERY, AND
FRANKLY ANYONE WHO HAS COVID.
WE EXPERIENCED IT IN MY FAMILY.
MY YOUNGEST SON GOT IT ON HIS
24th BIRTHDAY.
SO IT CAN HAPPEN TO ANYBODY.
I THINK IT'S A WAKE WAKE-UP CALL
FOR EVERYONE THAT WE NEED TO DO
CERTAIN THINGS.
PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY.
YOU HAVE TO WASH YOUR HANDS, USE
GOOD HYGIENE.
YOU NEED TO SOCIAL DISTANT.
AND YOU NEED TO WEAR A MASK.
I THINK THOSE THREE THINGS ARE
ESSENTIAL.
AND THE FACT THAT THE PRESIDENT
OF THE U.P.S. AND THE FIRST LADY
COULD CONTRACT IT WHILE EVERYONE
AROUND HAS TO BE TESTED, IT'S
SOMEWHAT FRIGHTENING.
>> I LIKE WHAT BILL IS SAYING.
I HOPE HIS REPUBLICAN FRIENDS
ARE LISTENING, BECAUSE THE
REPUBLICANS HAVE IGNORED SIGNS.
THEY'VE MOCKED THE WEARING OF
MASKS.
THEY'VE LEFT WORKERS AND
FAMILIES ON THEIR OWN.
AND THEY'VE SUED AND GONE TO
COURT A SECOND TIME NOW TO
PREVENT GOVERNOR EVERS'
SCIENCE-BASED EFFORTS TO PROTECT
US.
THAT'S WHAT WE NEED.
WE NEED TO LET SCIENCE RULE THE
DAY, NOT PARTISAN POLITICS.
AND I THINK THE PRESIDENT HAS
ALLOWED PARTISAN POLITICS TO
RULE THE WAY AND TO IGNORE
SCIENCE.
AND IT HAS BEEN DISASTROUS IN
WISCONSIN.
AS YOU POINTED OUT, WE'RE NOW
THE LAST TWO WEEKS, THIRD IN THE
NATION IN PER CAPITA IN TERMS OF
NEW CASES.
AND WE'VE GOT EIGHT OF THE 20
CITIES IN THE ENTIRE
UNITED STATES INCLUDING THE
NUMBER ONE CITY OSHKOSH,
WISCONSIN, THE HOME OF SENATOR
RON JOHNSON, WHO PERMANENTLY HAS
HELPED BLOCK AID FROM GETTING TO
WISCONSIN WORKERS.
IT'S UNBELIEVABLE -- IT'S MORE
THAN A WAKE-UP CALL.
IT'S SOMETHING WHERE WE ARE ALL
GOING TO HAVE TO COME TOGETHER
AND THAT MEANS REPUBLICANS HAVE
TO JOIN US IN COMING TOGETHER.
>> SO HOW DO YOU THINK THE
PRESIDENT AND FIRST LADY TESTING
POSITIVE WILL EFFECTIVELY CHANGE
THE MESSAGING, ESPECIALLY WHEN
THE DISEASE ITSELF AND
PRECAUTIONS AROUND IT HAVE
BECOME SO POLITICAL?
IS IT POSSIBLE IN THE DIVIDED
LANDSCAPE THAT WE CAN DO THAT,
EVEN AROUND THIS?
>> I THINK YES --
[OVERLAPPING SPEAKERS]
>> BECAUSE, I'M SORRY.
THE REASON I THINK SO IS BECAUSE
HERE IN THE STATE OF WISCONSIN,
REPUBLICANS HAVE BEEN CONCERNED
WITH NOTHING BUT POWER.
THEY'VE TAKEN AWAY THE
GOVERNOR'S TOOLS.
THEY HAVE USED THEIR POWER TO
TAKE AWAY THE GOVERNOR'S TOOLS.
I THINK THE MOST POWERFUL MAN ON
PLANET EARTH GETTING THIS
CORONAVIRUS WHEN HE HAS EVERY
OPPORTUNITY TO BE PROTECTED FROM
IT WILL CHANGE THAT DYNAMIC IN
SHOWING THAT ANYBODY WHEN I
HAVER IN, ANYTIME CAN GET --
ANYWHERE, ANYTIME CAN GET THIS
DISEASES.
>> BILL?
>> I THINK IN SOME RESPECTS,
THERE MAY BE PANDEMIC FATIGUE,
RIGHT?
AND PEOPLE STARTED TO LET THEIR
GUARD DOWN WAY TOO SOON.
WE'RE ALL HOPEFUL THAT THERE
WILL BE A VACCINE SOONER RATHER
THAN LATER, BUT WE CAN'T LOSE
SIGHT OF THE BASIC FUNDAMENTALS
OF HOW TO AVOID THIS, WASHING
YOUR HANDS, WEARING THE MASK,
AND SOCIAL DISTANCING.
I DON'T THINK ANYTHING HAS
CHANGED TO THOSE THREE ITEMS.
>> SCOTT, YOU MENTIONED BUT HERE
IN WISCONSIN, REPUBLICANS FORGE
AHEAD WITH THAT LAWSUIT AGAINST
THE GOVERNOR'S MASK MANDATE.
HOW DO THOSE ARGUMENTS STACK UP
RIGHT ABOUT NOW?
THOSE LEGAL ARGUMENTS?
>> WELL, REMEMBER --
>> I'M NOT AN ATTORNEY.
BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT FROM A
PUBLIC PERCEPTION T IDEA THAT
REPUBLICANS IS NOT COME TO WORK
IN 170 DAYS WHILE PEOPLE HAVE
SUFFERED AND INSTEAD OF DOING
NOTHING THEY'RE TRINK TO PREVENT
GOVERNOR FROM DOING THE RIGHT
THING.
I THINK THAT'S INCREDIBLE.
AND IT WAS SUMMED UP BEST WHERE
A HEALTH PROFESSIONAL SAID IF
THE LEGISLATURE WAS PRACTICING
MEDICINE, IT WOULD BE CHARGED
WITH MALPRACTICE.
>> BILL?
>> IT'S NOT REPUBLICANS.
IT'S THE WISCONSIN INSTITUTE FOR
LAW AND LIBERTY AND THERE'S A
LEGAL QUESTION OF WHETHER OR NOT
THE GOVERNOR HAS THE AUTHORITY
TO DO THIS.
I MEAN, TIMING OF THE LAWSUIT
PROBABLY IS MORE UNFORTUNATE
TODAY THAN IT WAS A FEW DAYS AGO
FOR SURE.
SO IT'S NOT THE REPUBLICANS WHO
ARE CHALLENGING THIS.
I THINK REPUBLICANS NOW
UNDERSTAND THAT MASKS ARE A KEY
CRITERIA FOR BATTLING THE
PANDEMIC.
>> LOW JIGSICALLY, STAY --
LOGISTICALLY, STAYING WITH YOU
BILL, IF THE PRESIDENT IS IN
QUARANTINE FOR TWO WEEKS, IN THE
HOSPITAL, THERE GOES HALF HIS
CAMPAIGNING TIME.
NOT TO MENTION POTENTIALLY THE
NEXT DEBATE.
WHAT DOES THIS DO?
>> IT'S TRICKY, ESPECIALLY FOR
HIM, BECAUSE HE'S AN ENERGETIC
GUY.
HE WANTED TO BE ON THE ROAD.
HE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE IN
WISCONSIN TWICE THIS WEEKEND.
FIRST IT WAS LA CROSSE AND
GREEN BAY, THEN JANESVILLE AND
GREEN BAY.
THAT'S HALF THE CAMPAIGN.
32 DAYS LEFT IN THIS RACE.
WE ALL HOPE FOR HIS SPEEDY
RECOVERY.
BUT THE REALITY IS HE PROBABLY
WON'T BE BACK OUT ON THE TRAIL
ANYTIME SOON.
I THINK WHO PEOPLE ON THE RIGHT
AND IN THE CENTER ARE LOOKING
FOR FROM HIM IS SORT OF THAT
STATEMENT.
SOMETIME OVER THE WEEKEND WE
WANT HIM TO -- YOU KNOW,
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT HE AND HIS WIFE
CONTRACTED IT, THAT IT IS A
SERIOUS DISEASE, AND WE ALL NEED
TO TAKE CERTAIN MEASURES IN
ORDER TO AVOID IT.
>> SCOLTS, FINAL WORD?
>> SURE.
ONE THING THE REPUBLICANS DID
TIME A BRIEF IN FAVOR OF THE
LAWSUIT TODAY.
SECOND, I AGREE WITH BILL, THAT
DONALD TRUMP NEEDS TO COME OUT
AND MAKE A STATEMENT.
IT WOULD BE GOOD IF RE-REFUTED
HIS STATEMENT IN FEBRUARY, THAT
LIKE A MIRACLE, IT'S GOING TO GO
AWAY.
>> THANKS VERY MUCH, GENTLEMEN.
>> THANK YOU.
>> GOOD TO BE WITH YOU.
>>> WORDS LIKE CRISIS, MAXED
OUT, ALARMING.
THAT'S WHAT WISCONSIN OFFICIALS
ARE SAYING THIS WEEK ABOUT THE
SURGECH -- SURGE OF COVID-19
CASES IN THE STATE, NOW
DESIGNATED A RED ZONE BY THE
CDC.
WE'LL HEAR FROM A DOCTOR IN
GREEN BAY, ONE OF THE STATE'S
HOT SPOTS, AND WHERE THE
PRESIDENT HAD BEEN SCHEDULED TO
APPEAR AT A RALLY SATURDAY.
WE TURN NOW TO THE DEPARTMENT OF
HEALTH SECRETARY DESIGNEEE
ANDREA PALM FOR THE LATEST.
THANKS FOR BEING HERE AGAIN.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
GOOD TO SEE YOU.
>> YOU DO.
THIS QUESTION, IS THE PRESIDENT
POSITIVITY AN ABJECT LESSON IN
MASK WEARING?
>> SO I THINK, FIRST OF ALL, I
WANT TO WISH THEM BOTH A SPEEDY
RECOVERY.
I THINK RIGHT AS THE DEPARTMENT
OF HEALTH, OUR GOAL IS TO
PREVENT EVERYBODY FROM GETTING
INFECTED AND SO -- WE REALLY
HOPE FOR THEIR SPEEDY RECOVERY.
I THINK MORE BROADLY, WHAT WE
ALL NEED TO DO NOW, CONSIDERING
WHAT WE'RE SEEING HERE IN
WISCONSIN, IS THE MASK WEARING,
IS THE SOCIAL DISTANCING, IS THE
STAYING HOME AS MUCH AS
POSSIBLE.
WE'RE AT A CRITICAL MOMENT AND
WE REALLY NEED TO TAKE THOSE
STEPS TOGETHER.
>> WHAT IS THE LATEST IN
WISCONSIN RIGHT NOW IN TERMS OF
CASE SURGE, HOSPITALIZATIONS,
AND DEATHS?
>> SO TODAY, WE ADDED ANOTHER
2700-PLUS CASES AND WE HAVE FIVE
DEATHS TODAY, WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY
A LITTLE BETTER THAN YESTERDAY
AND THE DAY BEFORE.
BUT OBVIOUSLY, ANY DEATH IS A
DEATH TOO MANY.
AND AGAIN, NOW IS THE TIME TO DO
WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO STOP THE
SPREAD.
>> IN WISCONSIN ARE WE IN THE
MIDST OF THE FEARED WORST CASE?
>> UH-HUH.
SO I THINK WHAT WE'VE LEARNED,
RIGHT, THROUGHOUT THIS PANDEMIC
IS YOU NEED TO -- YOU NEED TO
ACT BEFORE YOU HIT THAT PLACE OR
YOU WAITED TOO LONG.
AND SO NOW -- NOW WE'VE GOT AN
OPPORTUNITY TO TURN THE CORNER,
TO CHANGE COURSE.
AND PREVENT US FROM GETTING TO
THE PLACE WHERE WE NEED TO PULL
THE CORD ON THAT ULTIMATE
INSURANCE POLICY, WHICH IS THAT
ALTERNATE CARE FACILITY, THE
SURGE HOSPITAL THAT WE HAVE AT
THE READY.
BUT NOW IS THE TIME.
>> WHY IS WISCONSIN SO BAD
COMPARED TO OTHER STATES?
>> UH-HUH.
SO I THINK RIGHT, WHAT WE HAVE
SEEN SINCE MID MAY WITH THE
LIFTING OF SAFER-AT-HOME, A SLOW
RISE IN THE EPIDEMIC HERE IN
WISCONSIN.
AND YOU KNOW, THERE WAS A SURGE
IN JULY THAT LOCAL COMMUNITIES,
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS MANAGED WITH
THE MITIGATION TOOLS THAT THEY
HAD.
BUT THEN, YOU KNOW, WE SAW
STARTING IN SEPTEMBER, THIS RISE
IN -- AMONG THE 18- TO
24-YEAR-OLDS, PARTICULARLY IN
CITIES AND TOWNS WITH COLLEGE
AND UNIVERSITY CAMPUSES.
BUT NOW WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS
INTENSE COMMUNITY SPREAD ACROSS
ALL AGE GROUPS.
AND THAT TELLS US THAT THIS IS
REALLY IN EVERY COMMUNITY IN
WISCONSIN.
AND AGAIN, IT'S REALLY TIME FOR
US TO DO THE THINGS WE NEED TO
DO TO STOP THE SPREAD.
>> AND SO IT ALSO TELLS US THAT
PEOPLE ARE NOT TAKING ADEQUATE
PRECAUTIONS?
>> UH-HUH.
YEAH, I THINK -- AND IT'S WHY WE
HAVE BEEN WORKING SO HARD THIS
WEEK AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO GET
OUT THE MESSAGE ABOUT HOW
SERIOUS THIS IS.
AND PEOPLE -- PEOPLE DO NEED TO
DOUBLE DOWN.
MAKE CHOICES TO WEAR THE MASK,
MAKE CHOICES TO NOT GO TO
GATHERINGS, MAKE THE CHOICE TO
DO A VIRTUAL HAPPY HOUR INSTEAD
OF GO TO THE BAR, ET CETERA,
WHILE WE REALLY DO EVERYTHING WE
CAN TO PROTECT OUR HOSPITALS AND
OUR HEALTH CARE WORKERS.
>> NOW THERE'S AN EMERGENCY
ORDER TO EXPAND THE HEALTH CARE
WORKFORCE THAT INCLUDES ALLOWING
OUT-OF-STATE DOCTORS TO PRACTICE
HERE.
DESCRIBE WHY THAT IS NEEDED.
>> UH-HUH.
SO WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE
INTENSE COMMUNITY SPREAD THAT
WE'RE SEEING, WE ARE SEEING
INCREASING NUMBERS OF OUR HEALTH
CARE WORKERS BE EXPOSED TO OR
INFECTED WITH COVID OUTSIDE OF
THE WORKPLACE.
IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.
AND THOSE FOLKS CAN'T COME TO
THE HOSPITAL TO WORK.
AND SO THE STRESS WE ARE SEEING
ON OUR HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS, IT'S
NOT ONLY THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN
BEDS WHO NEED CARE, BUT IT IS
THE FACT THAT WE ARE DOWN MEN
AND WOMEN WHO CAN WORK IN
THOSE -- IN THOSE FACILITIES
BECAUSE THEY HAVE CONTRACTED OR
BEEN EXPOSED TO COVID OUTSIDE OF
WORK.
AND SO THESE FLEXIBILITIES WILL
ALLOW HEALTH CARE TO BRING IN
ADDITIONAL WORKERS FROM OTHER
STATES OR OTHER SYSTEMS TO HELP
FILL THAT GAP.
BUT AGAIN, IT SPEAKS TO THE NEED
FOR ALL OF US TO WEAR A MASK, TO
STAY HOME AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE,
TO DO THE THINGS WE NEED TO DO
TO PROTECT THOSE HEALTH CARE
WORKERS AND OUR HOSPITAL SYSTEM.
>> ANDREA PALM, THANKS VERY
MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>>> THE SPIKE IN COVID CASES IN
GREEN BAY IS PUSHING HOSPITALS
THERE TOWARD CAPACITY.
WITH THE SURGE AND COMMUNITY
SPREAD MAKING THAT CITY A HOT
SPOT, WITHIN THE WISCONSIN RED
ZONE FOR THE VIRUS.
BROWN COUNTY WITH 3,777 POSITIVE
CASES PER 100,000 PEOPLE IS THE
HIGHEST RATE IN THE STATE.
AND THE PRESIDENT HAD PLANNED TO
TRAVEL TO GREEN BAY FOR A RALLY
TOMORROW.
UNTIL HE TESTED POSITIVE FOR THE
CORONAVIRUS.
TONIGHT WE TALK WITH DR. RYE.
HE'S THE HEALTH PRESIDENT AND
C.E.O.
HE JOINS US FROM GREEN BAY AND
DOCTOR, THANKS VERY MUCH FOR
BEING HERE.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME TODAY.
>> SO FIRST OFF, FOR ANY PEOPLE
IN YOUR COMMUNITY WHO MIGHT HAVE
CONTRIBUTED TO THE SPREAD BY NOT
TAKING PRECAUTIONS SERIOUSLY, IS
THE PRESIDENT'S POSITIVE TEST
RESULT A WAKE-UP CALL THERE?
>> YOU KNOW, I WOULD HOPE SO.
I THINK WHAT GOES FORWARD NOW IS
HOW THE PRESIDENT ACTS PUBLICLY
IN THE NEXT FEN DAYS WHILE HE'S
IN ISOLATION.
BECAUSE YOU KNOW, PART OF OUR
SPREAD ISSUE IS EVEN PEOPLE WHO
KNOW THEY'RE POSITIVE NOT TAKING
IT SERIOUSLY GOING INTO PUBLIC
AND CONTRIBUTING THAT SPREAD,
ESPECIALLY EVENT-TYPE
SITUATIONS, WHETHER IT'S A
WEDDING OR A GATHERING TO WATCH
A FOOTBALL GAME.
THAT'S REALLY WHERE OUR SPREAD
IS COMING FROM AND WE NEED TO BE
ABLE TO EDUCATE AROUND THAT.
>> BEING ON THE FRONT LINES, AND
ALL OF YOUR PEOPLE ON THE FRONT
LINES, HOW FRUSTRATING IS THAT?
>> YOU KNOW, IT'S VERY
FRUSTRATING BECAUSE, I THINK A
COLLEAGUE IN MONTANA SAID IT
BEST.
IN THE SPRING, YOU KNOW, WE WERE
VERY SCARED OF THE VIRUS BUT WE
DIDN'T HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF
VIRUS.
NOW WE HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF VIRUS
AND NOT A LOT OF FEAR.
AND THAT'S FRUSTRATING TO US
RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE THERE'S --
VIRUS HASN'T DISSIPATED AT ALL.
IF ANYTHING, IT'S STRENGTHENED
ITS ABILITY TO SPREAD FROM
PERSON TO PERSON.
AND I'M NOT ASKING EVERYBODY TO
BE SCARED, BUT LET'S NOT FORGET
THE KNOWLEDGE THAT GOT US TO
THIS POINT.
WE KNOW THERE ARE VERY FEW TOOLS
AND VERY FEW THINGS WE CAN DO.
SOCIAL DISTANCING, WEARING A
MASK, GETTING TESTED, AND
STAYING HOME IF YOU HAVE
SYMPTOMS, WASHING YOUR HANDS.
VERY SIMPLE THINGS TO DO, BUT
IT'S HARD TO GET PEOPLE TO EVEN
COMPLY WITH THAT.
>> THE FOX FAMILY IN GREEN BAY
IN -- AFFECTION VALLEY AND
GREEN BAY HAVE SEEN FRIGHTENING
SPIKES.
YOU HAVE CALLED IT A NIGHTMARE
SITUATION.
HOW DOES THAT LOOK?
>> YOU KNOW, THE NIGHTMARE FOR
US IS YOU THINK ABOUT HEALTH
CARE IN GENERAL.
WE'RE NOT DESIGNED -- OUR
HOSPITALS OUR CLINICS ARE
DESIGNED TO TAKE CARE OF THE
DISEASES WE KNOW, THE HEART
ATTACKS, THE CAR ACCIDENTS,
STROKES.
SO OUR HOSPITALS ARE GENERALLY
BUSY WITH ALL OF THAT.
IT'S NOT LIKE YOU DESIGNED A
SYSTEM TO HAVE THREE EXTRA
FLOORS IN CASE A PANDEMIC HITS.
YOU TAKE 20, 30, UP TO 90 NEW
PATIENTS THAT ARE COVID-19
ACROSS THE FOUR HOSPITALS IN
GREEN BAY.
THAT'S ON TOP OF EVERYTHING ELSE
WE'RE DEALING.
SO YOU MAY NOT THINK THAT THE
VIRUS IS GOING TO PUT YOU IN THE
HOSPITAL.
IT PROBABLY WON'T STATISTICALLY.
BUT YOU MAY NEED THAT HOSPITAL
BED IF YOU'RE IN A CAR ACCIDENT
OR A MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT OR
HAVING CHEST PAIN.
AND THAT'S THE PROBLEM.
THAT'S THE NIGHTMARE SITUATION.
AND WE HAVE OTHER THINGS TO TAKE
CARE OF, PLUS ALL OF OUR
COVID-19 PATIENTS.
THE TWO COMBINED, ESPECIALLY
GOING INTO THE FLU SEASON, IS A
NIGHT MAR FOUR -- NIGHTMARE FOR
US.
>> YOU KNOW THE STATE IS
STANDING UP THESE ALTERNATIVE
CARE FACILITIES.
IS IT YOUR EXPECTATION THAT
HOSPITALS IN YOUR AREA WOULD
HAVE TO KIND OF TAKE POTENTIALLY
COVID PATIENTS AND PUT THEM IN
THOSE FACILITIES?
>> YOU KNOW, AND WE'VE TALKED
ABOUT THE ACFs LOCALLY.
I THINK SOME PEOPLE ARE IF FAVOR
OF IT.
OUR BIGGEST QUESTION IS WHO'S
GOING TO STAFF IT.
SO IT'S OUR PHYSICIANS THAT NEED
TO SEE THE PATIENT.
NOW YOU'RE TAKING THEM OUT OF
THE HOSPITAL WHERE THEY'RE
NEEDED.
IT'S NOT LIKE THESE ACFs ARE
BEING PUT NEXT DOOR TO US.
AND THE NURSES, WHERE ARE THEY
GOING TO COME FROM?
THE NURSING STAFF IS COMING FROM
US.
SO WE DON'T REALLY HAVE THE
ABILITY TO STAFF IT.
SO BUILDING WITH A BUNCH OF COTS
AND A COUPLE I.V. POLES IS NOT
WHAT WE NEED.
WE NEED COMMUNITY COOPERATION
AND MORE STAFF.
>> MORE THAN 8,000 HEALTH CARE
WORKERS HAVE TESTED POSITIVE.
NOW THE STATE EMERGENCY ORDER
ALLOWS FOR EXPANDING THE HEALTH
CARE WORKFORCE.
HOW MUCH DO YOU NEED THAT KIND
OF RELIEF?
>> WE NEED IT BIG TIME.
SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THE STATE
DOING THAT.
NOW WE CAN GO TO ILLINOIS,
MICHIGAN, MOMENT, AND SEE WHAT
NURSES WE CAN PULL FROM THERE.
THAT'S THE KIND OF DESPERATE
SITUATION HERE IN GREEN BAY.
OUR STAFF IS GETTING SICK.
WE'RE TESTING THEM EVERY DAY.
MUST HAVE ORDERED HALF A DOZEN
TESTS SINCE 8:00 THIS MORNING.
AND OUR STAFF -- THAM GROW
THROUGHOUT THE DAY AND NIGHT.
WE ARE IN A GOOD POSITION WHERE
WE CAN TEST OUR OWN STAFF AND
MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION.
NOT EVERYBODY IS IN THAT
POSITION.
BUT STAFF IS OUR BIGGEST
CONCERN.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WE LEAVE IT THERE.
THERE, WE WISH YOU AND YOUR
STAFF WELL.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>>> ELECTIONS THIS FALL WILL
HAVE A DRAMATIC IMPACT ON WHAT
HAPPENS THE NEXT TWO YEARS AT
THE STATE CAPITOL, INCLUDING
ISSUES LIKE REDISTRICTING,
POLICE REFORM AND THE STATE
GRAND JURY.
16 OF WISCONSIN'S 33 STATE
SENATE DISTRICTS ARE ON THE
WEATHER.
IT'S NOT WHETHER DEMOCRATS WITH
WIN ENOUGH SEATS BUT WHETHER
THEY CAN PREVENT REPUBLICANS
FROM GAINING A SUPER MAJORITY.
HERE ARE NOW SENIOR POLITICAL
REPORTER ZAC SCHULTZ WHO SHOWS
US THREE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT
RACES.
>> YOU KNOW WHO I AM?
>> WOW.
>> RUNNING FOR SAY SENATE.
>> HE'S BEEN RUNNING FOR OFFICE
IN THE LACRO AREA FOR 20 YEARS.
>> YOU CAN VOTE FOR ME, SIR?
>> GIVE IT SOME THOUGHT.
>> I APPRECIATE THAT.
>> THIS WILL BE HIS SIXTH TIME
ON THE BALLOT TO REPRESENT THE
THINK 2nd SENATE DISTRICT --
32nd SENATE DISTRICT.
>> GIVING PEOPLE A CHOICE.
>> HE LOST DEVICE THE LAST TIME
2016.
>> I WON THIS DISTRICT.
I'VE LOST THIS DISTRICT.
IT'S AGAIN VERY COMPETITIVE.
SO YOU HAVE TO WORK VERY, VERY
HARD.
LACROSS TRENDS BLUE.
AND YOU KNOW, I'VE GOT TO PICK
UP THE SURROUNDING AREAS.
>> 2020 WILL BE DIFFERENT.
IN PART BECAUSE THE INCUMBENT,
DEMOCRAT JENNIFER SCHILLING, IS
NOT RUNNING.
>> I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS
ELECTION.
>> THE DEMOCRAT IS BRAD PFAFF OF
WHO BRINGS HIS OWN POLITICS TO
THE RACE.
>> PEOPLE WHO KNOW ME KNOW WHEN
I GO TO WORK, I WORK FOR
EVERYONE.
>> HE RAN WAY BACK IN 2004 AND
LOST.
BUT MOST RECENTLY, PFAFF OF WAS
SERVING ARGOVERNOR EVERS'
SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF
AGRICULTURE TRADE.
>> MILK PRICES ARE A LITTLE
BETTER.
GRAIN PRICES ARE LOW.
SO THEY'RE NOT EXCITED ABOUT
THAT.
>> WHILE SENATE REPUBLICANS
STALLED HIS NOMINATION VOTE,
PFAFF OF GOT INTO A FIGHT OVER
WHEN THE REPUBLICANS WOULD
RELEASE MONEY EARMARKED FOR
FARMERS SUICIDE PREVENTION.
>> THEY DECIDED THAT THEY WERE
GOING TO SEND ME HOME.
>> REPUBLICANS KILLED HIS
NOMINATION.
EFFECTIVELY FIRING HIM.
>> I NEVER TOOK THIS PERSONAL.
BECAUSE I DON'T BELIEVE THIS WAS
EVER ABOUT ME.
I THINK THIS IS JUST STRAIGHT
PARTISAN POLITICS.
>> DESPITE HIS HISTORY AS A
CANDIDATE, HE SEES THIS AS A
RACE BETWEEN HIMSELF AND A
BUSINESSMAN AND PFAFF OF AS A
PUBLIC EMPLOYEE.
>> I'VE WORKED IN THE PRIVATE
SECTOR MY WHOLE LIFE.
HE'S BEEN IN PUBLIC SECTOR.
THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY BAD, BUT
IT'S A CONTRAST.
>> PFAFF OF SAYS THE DIFFERENCE
IS HE WAS RECALLED FOR HIS VOTE
ON ACT 10 WHILE HE LOST HIS JOB
WHILE STANDING UP FOR FARMERS.
>> I STEPPED FORWARD TO HELP
INDIVIDUALS, REGARDLESS OF THEIR
POLITICAL PERSUASION, IN TIMES
OF NEED.
I NEVER HAVE BEEN PART OF THE
EXTREME PARTISANSHIP THAT TOOK
PLACE IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE.
>> THIS IS SENATOR PATTY
SHOCKNER CALLING.
I JUST WANTED TO TOUCH BASE WITH
YOU.
>> FARTHER NORTH DEMOCRAT PATTY
SHOCKNER REPRESENTS THE 10th
SENATE DISTRICT.
>> COMMUNICATING TO DISTRICT 10
ABOUT WISCONSIN POLITICS CAN BE
A CHALLENGE.
>> THE 10th IS BORDER COUNTRY.
MOST OF THE AREA GETS THEIR
LOCAL NEWS FROM MOANGTS.
AND MOST OF THE -- MINNESOTA.
AND MOST OF THE POPULATION
GROWTH IS COMING FROM PEOPLE WHO
WORK IN MINNESOTA.
>> FOR MOST PEOPLE IN DISTRICT
10, WE DON'T LIVE IN HIGHLY
POPULATED AREAS.
OUR BIGGEST CITIES ARE NOT LIKE
THE BIG CITIES.
>> SHE SAYS THAT'S A PROBLEM
WHEN THINGS WANT THINGS LIKE
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.
>> SO IF YOU'RE ON BADGERCARE
AND YOU KNOW, NEED MENTAL HEALTH
RIGHT AWAY, EVEN THOUGH IT'S
ONLY 20 MINUTES AWAY, YOU CAN'T
GO THERE.
>> SHOCKNER CAME INTO OFFICE BY
WINNING A SPECIAL ELECTION IN
JANUARY OF 2018.
>> WHEN I RAN, MOST PEOPLE KNEW
ME AS THE MEDICAL EXAMINER AND
MY WORK I'VE DONE IN SUICIDE
PREVENTION AND MENTAL HEALTH.
>> HER OPPONENT IS ROB, WHO
SERVES IN THE ASSEMBLY.
HIS CAMPAIGN WOULD NOT AGREE TO
AN INTERVIEW.
THE 32nd AND TETH ARE TWO OF
THE SEATS REPUBLICANS THINK THEY
CAN WIN IN FALL.
IF THEY PICK UP THREE SEATS, THE
GOP WOULD HAVE VETO-PROOF
MAJORITY HEADING INTO THE NEXT
SESSION AND THE NEXT ROUND OF
PREDICTING.
>> IF THEY GET THREE MORE SEATS
IN EACH CHAMBER, THEY'LL HAVE
CONTROL OF THE LEGISLATURE FOR
ANOTHER DECADE, BECAUSE THEY'LL
BE ABLE TO REJERRIY MANDER THE
MAP.
>> HE SAYS THEY'RE NOT EVEN
TRYING TO CONVINCE VOTERS THEY
HAVE A SHOT AT WINNING
MAJORITIES.
>> WE DON'T WANT TO BLOW SMOKE.
REPUBLICANS REALLY RIGGED THE
WAY THAT STATE ELECTIONS WORK IN
WISCONSIN.
>> THE IDEA BEHIND THEIR SAVE
THE VETO PUSH IS FOR GOVERNOR
TONY EVERS TO VETO
REPUBLICAN-DRAWN MAPS NEXT YEAR.
AND HOPE THE COURTS DRAW
BOUNDARIES THAT ARE MORE
FAVORABLE TO DEMOCRATS FOR THE
NEXT DECADES.
>> IT'S AN INTERESTING STRATEGY.
IT'S A -- I UNDERSTAND, THOUGH,
THAT YOU KNOW, THEY'RE VERY MUCH
CONCERNED ABOUT HOW
REDISTRICTING WOULD GO IF WE
WOULD -- IF REPUBLICANS WOULD
ACHIEVE THAT VETO-PROOF
MAJORITY.
>> ANDREW HINT IS CHAIRMAN OF
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY OF
WISCONSIN.
HE DOESN'T THINK THE SAVE THE
VETO MESSAGE WILL RESONATE WITH
VOTERS.
>> PEOPLE ARE GOING TO VOTE ON
MORE KITCHEN TABLE TYPE ISSUES
THAN SORT OF THIS KIND OF VAGUE
POLITICAL ISSUE OF
REDISTRICTING.
>> DESPITE THE DEFENSIVE
APPROACH FOCUSED ON SAVING THE
VETO, DEMOCRATS ARE LOOKING TO
FLIP SEATS.
>> THIS IS THE BEST PICK-UP
OPPORTUNITY FOR DEMOCRATS
ANYWHERE IN THE STATE.
>> DEMOCRAT PAUL PE TRUSKY IS A
FORMER POLICE OFFICER AND CITY
CLERK RUNNING IN THE 24th
SENATE.
I'M PAUL.
>> THIS WAS A LODGES TEAM
DEMOCRATIC SEAT BUT IT FLIPPED
RED IN 2016.
>> 2016 WAS A VERY BAD YEAR FOR
DEMOCRATS.
TURN OUT WAS DOWN AND PEOPLE
FLIPPED AND -- PEOPLE WHO VOTED
FOR OBAMA VOTED FOR TRUMP AND
THEY MAY FOLLOW SUIT DOWN THE
BALLOT.
>> HE'S HOPING THE MODERATES AND
INDEPENDENTS WILL PUT HIM OVER
THE TOP.
>> THIS IS ONE OF THE FEW
DISTRICTS IN THE STATE WHERE YOU
DON'T HAVE AN EXTREME PARTISAN
ADVANTAGE ON EITHER SIDE, SO
BOTH OF US HAVE TO APPEAL TO
MODERATES.
>> HEY, HOW IS IT GOING?
>> GOOD, HOW ARE YOU?
>> I'M PAT, YOUR STATE SENATOR.
>> WE SURPRISED A LOT OF FOLKS
BACK IN 2016 BECAUSE I'M THE
FIRST REPUBLICAN THAT WAS
ELECTED TO THIS DISTRICT SINCE
1968.
>> HE SAYS HE SAW THE SWING
COMING FOUR YEARS AGO WHEN HE
WAS TALKING WITH VOTERS.
>> THAT'S WHAT I HEARD QUITE A
BIT AT THE DOORS, WAS THAT THEY
FELT AS THOUGH THE NATIONAL
DEMOCRATIC PARTY HAD KIND OF
LEFT RURAL WORKING-CLASS FOLKS
BEHIND.
AND THAT'S WHERE INDIVIDUALS
LIKE DONALD TRUMP AND MYSELF
KIND OF HELPED FILL THAT VOID.
>> THE IMPACT OF THE
PRESIDENTIAL RACE DOWN BALLOT
CANNOT BE OVERSTATE.
>> ANYTIME YOU HAVE A
PRESIDENTIAL YEAR, THERE'S GOING
TO BE AN IMPACT AND IT'S GOING
TO HAVE A RIPPLE EFFECT DOWN
BALLOT.
>> TRUMP PERFORMED WELL IN ALL
THREE SENATE DISTRICTS FOUR
YEARS AGO AND REPUBLICANS HOPE
THE SWING VOTERS DON'T SWING
BACK.
>> EVEN MORE THAN IN 2016,
BECAUSE TRUMP IS NOW
PRESIDENT -- NOW IS NOW A KNOWN,
WHERE IN 2016 A LOT OF US
SAYING, WELL, IS HE REALLY A
CONSERVATIVE OR WHERE DOES HE
HAND ON FRO LIFE AND WHERE --
PRO-LIFE AND WHERE IS HE?
NOW WE KNOW.
I THINK MORE PEOPLE ARE MORE
CONFIDENT PUTTING A YARD SIGN
THAN IN 2016.
>> MATTERS A TON HOW JOE BIDEN
IS DOING IN WISCONSIN.
THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT
WHATSOEVER.
AND IT'S ALSO THE CASE THAT THE
STATE LEGISLATIVE RACES ARE
OFTEN WON OR LOST ON THE BASIS
OF LOCAL ISSUE.
>> PERHAPS MORE CONFUSING THAN
THE SWING VOTER IS THE TICKET
SPLITTER.
>> I DON'T QUITE UNDERSTAND IT.
IT'S HARD TO GET YOUR HEAD
WRAPPED AROUND IT EXCEPT YOU
HAVE TO, BECAUSE THAT HAPPENS
TIME AND TIME AGAIN ALL ACROSS
THE STATE OF WISCONSIN, WHERE
PEOPLE WILL SPLIT THE TICKET.
>> BUT WILL THERE BE TICKET
SPLITTERS THIS TIME?
>> I'M CONFIDENT THERE ARE.
WE'RE INDEPENDENT PEOPLE.
>> WHO'S MORE LIKELY?
>> I WOULD HOPE THAT OUR BODY OF
WORK OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS
WILL HELP I KNOW SLATE US FROM
ANY -- INSULATE US FROM THE
TURMOIL AT THE TOP OF THE
TICKET.
>> ALL THEY CAN CONTROL IS THEIR
CAMPAIGN.
>> I'M TALKING ABOUT WHAT I'M
BRINGING TO THE TABLE.
I DON'T KNOW HOW IT'S GOING TO
GO, BUT I KNOW THAT CERTAINLY
PEOPLE ARE ENGAGED.
>> REPORTING FROM LACROSS,
STEVENS POINT, AND SUMMERSET,
I'M ZACH CONSULTS.
>>> YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED SOME OF
THE CANDIDATES IN THIS STORY
GOING DOOR TO DOOR WITHOUT A
MASK.
AND WONDERED ABOUT HOW THESE
CAMPAIGNS ARE DEALING WITH THE
COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND HOW THEY
MIGHT GOING FORWARD.
OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL WEEKS,
ZAC SCHULTZ WILL CONTINUE HIS
REPORTING FROM AROUND THE STATE,
INCLUDING A SPECIAL REPORT HOW
THE CANDIDATES ARE CAMPAIGNING
IN THE COVID ERA.
THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT.
HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.