>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION.
>> THE RACE FOR WISCONSIN'S
3rd CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
HEATS UP, AS DEMOCRAT BRAD PFAFF
ENTERS THE CONTEST.
THE REPUBLICAN-LED ELECTION
INVESTIGATION INCITES CONFUSION
AND PARTISAN BICKERING.
ACROSS THE STATE, JOB LOSS TO
PANDEMIC CLOSURES MAY HAVE
RETURNED, BUT THERE'S STILL NO
SIGN WORKERS WILL RETURN TO FILL
THEM.
AND THE LATEST ON COVID-19 AS
HOSPITALIZATIONS CONTINUE TO
STRETCH HEALTH CARE CAPACITY,
WHILE A VACCINE FOR CHILDREN AGE
5 TO 11 IS ON THE HORIZON.
>> TONIGHT, AN INTERVIEW WITH
BRAD PFAFF.
A REPORT ON THE WORKER SHORTAGE
IN RESTAURANTS THROUGH THE LENS
OF TWO OWNERS WHO ARE STATE
LEGISLATLEGISLATOR ON HOSPI OPPF
THE AISLE.
AN INFECTIOUS DISEASE DOCTOR ON
WHERE WE STAND WITH COVID IN
WISCONSIN.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR
OCTOBER 8.
>> FUNDING IS PROVIDED BY THE
FOCUS FUND FOR JOURNALISM AND
FRIENDS OF WBS WISCONSIN.
>> THE RACE FOR AN OPEN SEAT IN
THE 3rd CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
HAS ALWAYS EYES ON WISCONSIN
SHES AS DEMOCRATS IN THE
HOUSEHOLD A SLIM MAJORITY IN
2022.
TD DEMOCRATIC INCUMBENT HELD ON
IN THE LAST ELECTION AND IS NOT
RUNNING AGAIN.
BUT HIS REPUBLICAN CHALLENGER IS
AND HAS NOT STOPPED CAMPAIGNING.
DONALD TRUMP WON THE 3rd AND
IT'S A FIRM SWING DISTRICT.
INTO THAT POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT
STEPS NEWLY-ANNOUNCED DEMOCRATIC
CANDIDATE FOR THE 3rd
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, STATE
SENATOR BRAD PFAFF.
HE HAS SERVED AS THE EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF THE U.S. DEPARTMENT
OF AGRICULTURE FARM SERVICE
AGENCY, HAS SERVED AS THE DEPUTY
CHIEF OF STAFF FOR THE OUTGOING
REPRESENTATIVE O OF THE 3rd, RON
KIND, AND ELECTED AS STATE
SENATOR IN THE 32nd IN 2020.
"HERE AND NOW" EXTENDED AN
INVITATION TO DERRICK VAN ORDEN,
WHO DECLINED FOR THIS WEEK.
TONIGHT WE TALK WITH BRAD PFAFF
AND THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING
HERE.
>> WELL, THANK YOU FOR HAVING
ME.
I GREATLY APPRECIATE THE
OPPORTUNITY.
>> GOOD.
SO HOW DO YOU COMPETE AGAINST
YOUR TRUMP-ENDORSED CHALLENGER
IN A DISTRICT THAT THE FORMER
PRESIDENT CARRIED?
>> OH, I FEEL VERY COMFORTABLE
WHERE WE ARE HERE.
I HAVE DEEP, DEEP ROOTS IN THIS
DISTRICT.
MY FAMILY HAS BEEN FARMING IN
THIS AREA SINCE THEY FIRST CAME
TO THIS COUNTRY IN THE 1800s.
I KNOW THE PEOPLE, THE
COMMUNITIES.
I UNDERSTAND THE VALUES OF WHAT
PEOPLE GO THROUGH EVERY SINGLE
DAY IN ORDER TO PUT FOOD ON
THEIR TABLE AND TO MAKE SURE
THAT THEY RAISE THEIR FAMILIES
AND MOVE FORWARD IN THEIR
CAREERS.
ALL POLITICS IS LOCAL.
A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE GOING TO TRY
AND NATIONALIZE THIS RACE, BUT
WE NEED TO RECOGNIZE THE FACT
THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY IT'S
THE PEOPLE HERE IN WEST CENTRAL
WISCONSIN WHO WILL MAKE THIS
DECISION.
THEY WANT A CANDIDATE THAT
UNDERSTANDS THEM, WHO THEY ARE,
WHAT THEY STAND FOR, WHAT IT
MEANS EVERY SINGLE DAY TO GET UP
AND GO TO WORK AND TO RAISE A
FAMILY AND THAT'S WHO I AM.
>> AS TO THAT, WHAT ARE YOUR TOP
PRIORITIES SHOULD YOU REPRESENT
THE 3rd CONGRESSIONAL
DISTRICT?
>> WELL, I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT
WASHINGTON MUST DO BETTER AND
IT'S OBVIOUS THAT WE NEED TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE AN
ECONOMY THAT WORKS FOR ALL OF
US.
REGARDLESS OF OUR BACKGROUND,
REGARDLESS OF OUR EDUCATION, WE
NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE
AN ECONOMY THAT CONTINUES TO
PROVIDE POSSIBILITIES AND
PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR
SMALL TOWNS AND OUR MAIN STREETS
AND OUR FAMILY FARMERS HAVE
OPPORTUNITIES TO SUCCEED.
WE ALSO NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT
WE STICK TO OUR VALUES, THE
VALUES OF HARD WORK, DEDICATION,
RESILIENCE.
AND WHEN TIMES ARE TOUGH, WE
COME TOGETHER AND WORK TOGETHER
TO GET THINGS DONE.
WHAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW IS
THERE'S BEEN A BREAKDOWN IN
SOCIAL DISCOURSE.
SADLY, WE SEE THAT AT SOME OF
OUR LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS.
WE RECOGNIZE THE CHATTER THAT'S
TAKING PLACE ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
AND HONESTLY, JANUARY 6, JANUARY
6 DOES NOT REPRESENT THE VALUES
OF THE PEOPLE OF WESTERN
WISCONSIN.
AND WE CAN DO BETTER AND WE NEED
TO PRIORITIZE THE PEOPLE HERE IN
THIS DISTRICT AND I'M STEPPING
FORWARD AND RUNNING.
>> ON INFRASTRUCTURE AND SOCIAL
SPENDING, NOW GRIPPING
WASHINGTON, WOULD YOU BE IN THE
CAMP LOOKING TO SPEND MORE OR
SPEND LESS?
>> WELL, I COME FROM A
BACKGROUND OBVIOUSLY THAT WE PAY
OUR BILLS.
YOUR KNOW, I COME FROM AN
AGRICULTURE BACKGROUND.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE HAVE
TO LIVE WITHIN OUR MEANS.
BUT I ALSO RECOGNIZE THE FACT
I'M HERE EVERY SINGLE DAY FOR MY
CONSTITUENTS IN THIS DISTRICT.
THE REAL NEED FOR IMPROVEMENT IN
ROADS AND BRIDGES SO WE CAN GET
OUR PRODUCTS TO MARKET.
THE NEED FOR CHILD CARE, FOR
BROADBAND, FOR LOWER
PRESCRIPTION DRUG COST PRICES.
ALL OF THAT IS VERY, VERY REAL.
I'M NOT IN WASHINGTON RIGHT NOW.
I CAN'T TELL YOU THE BACK AND
THE FORTH OF THE NEGOTIATIONS
THAT ARE TAKING PLACE, BUT WE
NEED TO RECOGNIZE THE FACT THAT
WE GOT TO GIVE OUR PEOPLE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO SUCCEED IN
TODAY'S ECONOMY.
AND THERE ARE RESOURCES THAT WE
NEED TO INVEST IN.
BUT WE ALSO NEED TO LIVE WITHIN
OUR MEANS.
AND WE'RE THRIFTY, HARD-WORKING
PEOPLE IN THIS PART OF THE
STATE.
WE RECOGNIZE THE VALUE OF A
DOLLAR.
AND THAT'S WHO I AM AND THAT'S
WHERE I COME FROM AND I WILL
ALWAYS, ALWAYS RECOGNIZE THAT
IT'S THE PEOPLE'S MONEY, IT'S
THE TAXPAYERS' MONEY.
AND SO ANY INVESTMENT THAT WE
MAKE WILL BE INVESTMENT THAT
WILL BE A GOOD RETURN ON ALL OF
OUR MONEY.
>> SO WISCONSIN REPUBLICANS, AS
YOU KNOW, ARE EMBARKING ON AN
INVESTIGATION INTO THE 2020
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION AND YOUR
CHALLENGER TRAVELED TO
WASHINGTON D.C. FOR JANUARY 6
BUT SAYS HE LEFT WHEN IT TURNED
INTO AN INSURRECTION.
FIRST, WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO
THE PERSISTENT DRUMBEAT THAT THE
ELECTION IN WISCONSIN COULD HAVE
BEEN RIFE WITH FRAUD?
>> WELL, THAT'S THE KEY WORD,
COULD BE.
IT WASN'T.
THEY DON'T HAVE ANY EVIDENCE OF
THAT.
I MEAN, THIS -- THEY'RE SPENDING
TAXPAYER MONEY THAT --
UNNECESSARILY HERE.
THEY'RE STOKING AND GETTING
PEOPLE EXCITED ABOUT SOMETHING
THAT DOES NOT EXIST.
WE HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO COME
TOGETHER, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
BEAT THIS GLOBAL HEALTH
PANDEMIC, TO MAKE SURE THAT, YOU
KNOW, WE PROVIDE JOBS AND
OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE PEOPLE OF
THIS STATE.
WE HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO
CONTINUE TO INVEST IN
TRANSPORTATION.
BUT INSTEAD, THERE'S SOMETHING
GOING ON HERE AS FAR AS
CONTINUING TO PERPETUATE, YOU
KNOW, THE BIG LIE ABOUT THE
ELECTION AND THAT IS SOMETHING
THAT OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, I'M
DISAPPOINTED IN THAT.
I SPEAK TO MY COUNTY CLERKS AND
CITY CLERKS ALL THE TIME.
SOME OF THEM ARE REPUBLICANS,
SOME ARE DEMOCRATS.
THEY'RE DOING THEIR JOB.
AND SO THERE'S NO EVIDENCE
THERE.
IN REGARDS TO MY OPPONENT,
REPUBLICAN OPPONENT, HE WAS IN
WASHINGTON D.C. ON JANUARY 6.
HE WAS ON THE CAPITOL GROUNDS.
WHY WAS HE THERE?
WHAT'S GOING ON?
THAT'S NOT WHO WE ARE HERE IN
WESTERN WISCONSIN.
THAT'S NOT OUR VALUES.
OUR VALUES ARE TO PUT OUR HEAD
DOWN AND WORK HARD AND GET
THINGS DONE.
AND WHEN TIMES ARE TOUGH, WE
COME TOGETHER TO HELP OUR
NEIGHBORS AND HELP OUT ONE
ANOTHER.
AS I LIKE TO SAY, YOU KNOW, I'M
FROM A FARM.
I GREW UP ON A FARM.
WE USED OUR PITCHFORKS TO LIFT
HAY, NOT TO TEAR DOWN CONGRESS.
AND THAT'S A DISAPPOINTING THING
THAT HAPPENED IN WASHINGTON ON
JANUARY 6.
>> WE NEED TO LEAVE IT THERE.
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US.
BRAD PFAFF, THANK YOU.
>> THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
>> REDISTRICTING COULD ALSO
AFFECT THE 3rd CONGRESSIONAL
DISTRICT.
THAT PROCESS IS CURRENTLY
UNDERWAY AND ALREADY IN THE
COURTS.
THE REPUBLICAN INVESTIGATION
INTO THE 2020 ELECTION IN
WISCONSIN SAW A DOUBLE FLIP-FLOP
BY LATE TODAY.
FORMER SUPREME COURT JUSTICE
MICHAEL GABLEMAN NOW REPORTEDLY
INSISTS HE WILL COMPEL OFFICIALS
TO TESTIFY AS PART OF HIS PROBE.
THIS, AFTER HIS OFFICE REPORTED
THURSDAY HE WAS PUTTING OFF SUCH
INTERVIEWS THAT AROSE FROM HIS
RECENT ISSUANCE OF SUBPOENAS TO
ELECTION OFFICIALS AND MAYORS
DEMANDING DOCUMENTS AND THEIR
TESTIMONY.
GABLEMAN'S INVESTIGATION HAD
SUBPOENAED OFFICIALS IN
WISCONSIN'S FIVE LARGEST CITIES
IN CONNECTION WITH THEIR
ELECTION HELP FROM A
FACEBOOK-AFFILIATED NONPROFIT.
ON THE ECONOMIC FRONT, PEW
RESEARCH SAYS NEARLY 10 MILLION
AMERICANS LOST THEIR JOBS AT THE
HEIGHT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.
AND WHILE MANY OF THOSE JOBS
HAVE RETURNED, THE WORKERS HAVE
NOT.
"HERE AND NOW" SENIOR POLITICAL
REPORTER ZAC SCHULTZ SHOWS US
WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE
RESTAURANT INDUSTRY AND WHY BOTH
REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS BLAME
THE GOVERNMENT'S RESPONSE BUT
FOR DIFFERENT REASONS.
>> ANYWHERE YOU TRAVEL IN
WISCONSIN, YOU'LL FIND "NOW
HIRING" SIGNS.
>> I'VE GOT AN AD IN THE PAPER
THAT IS REOCCURRING EVERY TIME
THE PAPER IS PUBLISHED.
I'M LOOKING FOR A COOK AND
WEIGHT STAFF.
>> ROB AND HIS WIFE OWN A DINNER
CLUB IN RHINELANDER.
HE'S ALSO A REPUBLICAN
REPRESENTATIVE IN THE STATE
ASSEMBLY.
>> DID YOU HAVE ANY PROBLEMS
GETTING HELP THIS YEAR?
>> NO.
>> FAMILY HELP.
OKAY.
>> HE SAYS THE PROBLEM STARTED
ON ST. PATRICK'S DAY OF 2020.
>> WE HAD THE CORN BEEF IN THE
OVEN.
>> THAT'S WHEN GOVERNOR EVERS
ISSUED THE FIRST "SAFER AT HOME"
ORDER AND SHUT DOWN MOST OF THE
STATE IN AN EFFORT TO STOP THE
SPREAD OF THE CORONAVIRUS.
>> WE HAD RESERVATIONS AND WE
WERE READY TO GO AND THE LIGHT
SWITCH WENT OFF AND IT STAYED
OFF FOR A LONG TIME.
>> THE SHUTDOWN MEANT LAYING OFF
BARTENDERS AND WAITSTAFF.
WHEN THEY WERE ALLOWED TO OPEN
UP IN A LIMITED CAPACITY, HE
FOUND MANY EMPLOYEES WEREN'T
COMING BACK.
>> IT'S BEEN A STRUGGLE SINCE
THEN TO TRY TO BRING THE STAFF
UP TO WHERE WE WERE PRE-COVID.
>> THERE IS NOT A SECTOR THAT I
KNOW THAT ISN'T SCRAMBLING FOR
STAFF.
>> KRISTINE HILLMER IS PRESIDENT
AND CEO OF THE WISCONSIN
RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION.
SHE SAYS A LOT OF WORKERS FOUND
JOBS OUTSIDE THE HOSPITALITY
INDUSTRY.
>> W WE LOST 22% OF OUR WORKFOR.
THEY WENT TO OTHER INDUSTRIES,
SPECIFICALLY HEALTH CARE,
MANUFACTURING, RETAIL.
SO A LOT OF THOSE FOLKS ARE NO
LONGER AVAILABLE TO COME BACK
AND WORK.
>> IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER
THAT WE HAD A PEOPLE SHORTAGE
AND A LABOR SHORTAGE IN THIS
STATE PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC.
>> FRANCESCA HONG IS CO-OWNER OF
A NOODLE SHOP IN MADISON.
SHE SAYS THE SHORTAGE GOES
BEYOND THAT.
GOVERNMENT HAS NOT ENACTED
POLICIES THAT WILL HELP PEOPLE
GET BACK IN THE WORKFORCE.
>> IF THERE WAS UNIVERSAL HEALTH
CARE, PAID SICK LEAVE,
AFFORDABLE, HIGH-QUALITY CHILD
CARE, WE WOULDN'T BE LOSING SO
MANY WOMEN IN THIS INDUSTRY.
>> WHEN HONG'S RESTAURANT CLOSED
DOWN, SHE DECIDED TO RUN FOR THE
ASSEMBLY AS A DEMOCRAT.
>> AND WE NEEDED A REALLY STRONG
WORKING CLASS VOICE WHO NOT ONLY
UNDERSTOOD THE NEEDS OF SERVICE
INDUSTRY WORKERS, BUT THOSE IN
COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE ALWAYS
BEEN MARGINALIZED.
>> THERE ARE A NUMBER OF
RESTAURANT AND BAR OWNERS IN THE
LEGISLATURE.
>> BUT LIKE SWEARINGEN, MOST OF
THEM ARE REPUBLICANS.
THEY FOCUSED ON ONE THING FOR
CAUSING THE WORKER SHORTAGE:
THE EXTRA $300 A WEEK IN
UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS PROVIDED
BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO
HELP WORKERS DISPLACED BY THE
PANDEMIC.
>> THE ONLY INCENTIVE THAT SOME
OF THESE PEOPLE HAD TO GET OFF
THE COUCH WAS TO GO TO THE
MAILBOX ONCE A WEEK.
>> GOVERNOR EVERS DIDN'T NEED
APPROVAL AND HE VETOED A BILL
THAT WOULD HAVE ENDED THE
PROGRAM DURING THE SUMMER.
REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE
MICHAEL SCHRAA WAS CONVINCED IT
WAS THE EXTRA $300 KEEPING
PEOPLE FROM WORKING AT HIS
CUSTARD SHOP.
>> I'LL PAY YOU $20 AN HOUR.
I'LL PUT YOU UP FOR THE WEEK.
I'M TEN EMPLOYEES SHORT.
>> DURING AN ATTEMPT TO OVERRIDE
THE VETO, HE SAID REPRESENTATIVE
HONG SHOULD SUPPORT ENDING THE
BENEFITS.
>> I KNOW THE GENTLELADY FROM
THE 76TH WHEN WE WERE ON THE
FLOOR A COUPLE WEEKS AGO, SHE
ACTUALLY CONFESSED TO ME THAT
SHE HAD TO BUS TABLES BECAUSE
SHE DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH WORKERS.
>> I DIDN'T CONFESS #### TO YOU.
>> HER RESPONSE GOT HER MIC GOT
OFF FOR A MOMENT.
>> IT'S NOT A SURPRISE THE
GENTLEMAN FROM THE 53rd IS
STRUGGLING TO RETAIN WORKERS.
I CERTAINLY WOULDN'T WANT TO
WORK FOR YOU.
IT IS AN HONOR TO BUS TABLES.
>> 17,459 PEOPLE ARE ON IT OUT
OF 3.1 MILLION PEOPLE.
THAT'S WHO YOU'RE GOING AFTER?
THIS IS POLITICAL THEATER.
>> 59 AYES, 37 NOS.
BILL 36 IS NOT PASSED.
>> THE VETO WAS UPHELD.
REPRESENTATIVE HONG HAS NO
REGRETS ABOUT THAT DAY.
>> SO IF ANYONE SHOULD BE
ATTACKING WORK ETHIC, IT'S THE
WORK ET ETHIC OF MY REPUBLICAN
COLLEAGUES.
>> THE SAME JOB GROWTH RATE WAS
SEEN OVER THE SUMMER.
THE EXTRA $300 IS WEEK IN
FEDERAL BENEFITS ENDED IN EARLY
SEPTEMBER.
>> HAVE I HAD AN INCREASE IN
APPLICATIONS?
NO.
ONE OR TWO.
>> THE WISCONSIN RESTAURANT
ASSOCIATION SUPPORTED THE MOVE
TO END THE BENEFITS EARLY.
>> DO I THINK THAT THE FEDERAL
UNEMPLOYMENT DOLLARS HAD AN
IMPACT ON RESTAURANT WORKERS AND
SO ON?
ABSOLUTELY.
I THINK IT WAS A FACTOR OUT OF
MANY FACTORS.
IS THE ELIMINATION OF IT GOING
TO COMPLETELY TAKE AWAY THE
TREND THAT WE CAN'T FIND
WORKERS?
ABSOLUTELY NOT.
>> HILLMER SAYS BIGGER FACTORS
INCLUDE BABYBOOMERS RETIRING AND
NOT TAKING A PART-TIME JOB AND
THE NUMBER OF TEENAGERS WHO
DON'T HAVE TIME FOR WORK.
AND OF COURSE WE'RE STILL IN THE
MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC.
>> WE KNOW THAT THERE'S A LOT OF
FOLKS THAT ARE CONCERNED ABOUT
COVID AND RETURNING TO WORK.
>> ALL OF THIS HAS LED TO
CHANGES IN THE INDUSTRY.
FIRST, YOU NEED TO KEEP THE
EMPLOYEES YOU DO HAVE.
>> ONE OF MY EMPLOYEES CAME IN
LATE TONIGHT.
HAD SOME STERN WORDS WITH HIM.
GET BACK TO WORK.
I HAD NOBODY TO REPLACE HIM.
>> THE RESTAURANT COMMUNITY IS
ABOUT CARING FOR ONE ANOTHER AND
THOSE ARE THE MOST SUCCESSFUL
RESTAURANTS, THE RESTAURANTS
THAT TAKE CARE OF THEIR STAFF,
BECAUSE THAT WILL ALLOW THE
STAFF TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR
CUSTOMERS.
>> REPORTING FROM RHINELANDER,
I'M ZAC SCHULTZ FOR "HERE AND
NOW."
>> ANOTHER EMPLOYER HANGING OUT
THE "NOW HIRING" SIGNS, SCHOOL
BUS COMPANIES.
IN WISCONSIN, MORE THAN 600,000
STUDENTS TAKE A SCHOOL BUS EVERY
DAY, WITH MORE THAN 15,000 OF
THE ICONIC YELLOW BUSES ON THE
ROAD.
BUT THERE REMAINS A SEVERE
SHORTAGE OF DRIVERS.
ONE WISCONSIN COMPANY THAT
OPERATES IN 45 SCHOOL DISTRICTS
IS CERTAINLY FEELING THE PINCH.
PAUL MENNEN IS STATEWIDE SCHOOL
BUS MANAGER FOR LAMERS BUS
LINES.
HE JOINS US NOW FROM GREEN BAY
AND THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING
HERE.
>> YOU'RE WELCOME.
>> SO HAVE YOU EVER SEEN
ANYTHING LIKE THIS IN YOUR
BUSINESS?
>> NO.
THERE'S ALWAYS BEEN A DRIVER
SHORTAGE IN THE PAST FEW YEARS,
BUT THIS IS ULTIMATELY -- HAS
BEEN THE WORST IN THE PAST YEAR
OR SO.
>> SO HOW SEVERE IS THE SHORTAGE
OF DRIVERS ACROSS THE STATE AND
THE NATION?
>> WELL, ACROSS THE NATION IN
MANY COMMUNITIES IT'S ACTUALLY
BEYOND CRITICAL.
YOU MAY HAVE SEEN ARTICLES WHERE
THEY SEEN HAVE THE NATIONAL
GUARD HELPING DRIVE KIDS TO AND
FROM SCHOOL USING THEIR SCHOOL
BUSES.
BUT AS A COMPANY AS A WHOLE,
SPEAKING FOR US, WE CAN EASILY
HIRE FOR THE STATE OF WISCONSIN
PROBABLY 300 DRIVERS TO FILL THE
POSITIONS THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE
AS A COMPANY JUST TO GET US BACK
TO WHERE WE WERE SAY TWO YEARS
AGO.
>> SO WHAT IMPACT DOES THIS
SHORTAGE HAVE THEN ON THE ROUTES
THAT YOU RUN AND GETTING
STUDENTS WHERE THEY NEED TO BE?
>> WE HAD TO GET PRETTY
CREATIVE, DOUBLE UP ROUTES.
SOME DISTRICTS HAVE CHANGED BELL
TIMES IN ORDER TO MAXIMIZE THE
USE OF BUS, OF THE BUSES AND/OR
DRIVERS.
AND WE'VE HAD TO JUST
CONSOLIDATE WHERE WE HAD TO AND
IN SOME CASES WE'VE HAD TO
NOTIFY THE SCHOOL THAT WE HAD A
DRIVER CALL IN SICK AND THAT
PARENTS MAY HAVE HAD TO TAKE
THEM TO SCHOOL THAT MORNING AND
ALL HANDS ARE ON DECK, OFFICE
STAR, ANY MAINTENANCE STAFF THAT
HAVE A CDL AND CAN DRIVE ARE
FILLING THOSE VACANCIES.
>> HOW STRESSFUL IS THIS FOR
SOMEONE LIKE YOURSELF IN CHARGE
OF THESE LOGISTICS?
>> WELL, IT'S VERY STRESSFUL.
I MEAN, WE'RE UP AT 4:00 A.M.,
NOT REALLY SURE, CHECKING TO SEE
WHO MAY NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO
COME IN.
WE'RE STILL IN THE MIDST OF A
PANDEMIC.
WE HAVE DRIVERS THAT WILL CALL
IN AND SAY I'M NOT FEELING WELL,
SO THEY -- WE CAN'T ALLOW THEM
TO DRIVE.
SO THAT CREATES A SHORTAGE
LAST-MINUTE.
IT DOES UPSET OUR CUSTOMERS.
WE'VE HAD TO SAY WE CAN'T
FULFILL ATHLETIC TRIPS BECAUSE
WE'RE PRIORITIZING THE HOME TO
SCHOOL ROUTES VERSUS SAY A
MIDDLE SCHOOL TRACK TEAM OR A
SPORTING EVENT AND PARENTS ARE
NOW FORCED TO EITHER BRING THEIR
STUDENTS, ATHLETES TO THOSE
GAMES, OR THE DESCRIE DISTRICTSE
LOOKING FOR ANY OTHER WAY TO GET
THE TEAMS TO THEIR EVENTS.
>> SUPER, SUPER DIFFICULT.
BUT IN A CITY LIKE MILWAUKEE,
WHERE SOMETHING LIKE 40,000
STUDENTS TAKE THE BUS, WHAT IS
THIS HARDSHIP LIKE IN A CITY
LIKE THAT?
>> I THINK IT'S PRETTY CHAOTIC.
I THINK IT'S DESTRUCTIVE TO THE
FAMILIES.
IT'S DISRUPTIVE TO THE SCHOOL
STAFF.
YOU KNOW, STUDENTS ARE LATE.
STUDENTS ARE NOT GETTING WHAT
THEY -- UNFORTUNATELY, WHAT THEY
DESERVE, YOU KNOW, TO BE TO
SCHOOL ON TIME AND TO
PARTICIPATE IN ACTIVITIES LIKE
THEY USED TO.
>> COULD THIS BE FIXED WITH MORE
PAY FOR THE DRIVERS OR WHAT
EXACTLY IS HAPPENING HERE?
>> IN ALL HONESTY, YOU KNOW,
WHAT THAT AMOUNT IS I'M SURE,
YOU KNOW, ALL COMPANIES,
INCLUDING OURSELVES, WE SEE IT.
EVERYONE IS INCREASING THE RATE
OF PAY.
SO IT'S NOT NECESSARILY FILLING.
IT'S JUST HOPEFULLY KEEPING
PEOPLE FROM LEAVING FOR OTHER
POSITIONS THAT MAY BE AVAILABLE
THAT ARE NOT INVOLVING DRIVING A
SCHOOL BUS.
SO WE'RE TRYING TO BE
COMPETITIVE WITH OTHER COMPANIES
SEEKING THE EXISTING WORKFORCE
THAT'S OUT THERE.
FRANKLY, I THINK THE ISSUE IS IS
THERE'S JUST NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE
ENTERING THE WORKFORCE AND WE
SEE THE GENERATION, THE
BABYBOOMER GENERATION, LEAVING.
AND THIS WAS PREDICTED MANY
YEARS AGO, THAT THERE'S GOING TO
BE A WORKER SHORTAGE.
THE PANDEMIC HAS JUST ADDED A
LITTLE EXTRA LAYER TO IT.
>> CAN YOU GIVE US A SENSE JUST
FOR FOLKS OUT THERE WHO MIGHT BE
LISTENING TO THIS AND THINKING I
COULD DRIVE A SCHOOL BUS.
WHAT IS KIND OF THE STARTING PAY
OR THE PAY?
>> WELL, IT VARIES A LITTLE BIT
AROUND THE STATE BUT, YOU KNOW,
FOR THE MOST PART YOU'RE LOOKING
ANYWHERE FROM $18 TO $24 AN
HOUR, DEPENDING -- FOR SCHOOL
ROUTES, DEPENDING ON WHAT MARKET
OR WHERE YOU LIVE.
THAT'S, YOU KNOW, THE GENERAL,
TYPICAL HOURLY RATE.
>> ALL RIGHT.
SO THOSE JOBS ARE CERTAINLY OUT
THERE, AS YOU SAY, RIGHT NOW.
YOU ARE LOOKING FOR ABOUT 300 IN
DRIVERS.
ALL RIGHT.
WELL, PAUL MENNEN, WE WISH YOU
WELL WITH THIS ISSUE.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> MENNEN SAYS MANY RETIREES WHO
PICKED UP WORK LEFT DURING THE
PANDEMIC BUT HE HOPES THEY
RETURN.
THERE'S NEW HOPE WITH EXPANDING
VACCINE ELIGIBILITY TO YOUNGER
CHILDREN.
THIS WEEK PFIZER REQUESTED ITS
COVID-19 VACCINE BE APPROVED FOR
CHILDREN AGES 5 TO 11.
THIS COMES AS SOME HOSPITALS AND
ICUs ARE AT THEIR PEAK
CAPACITY IN THE STATE.
MARISA WOJCIK SAT DOWN WITH
INFECTIOUS DISEASE SPECIALIST
DR. NASIA SAFDAR WITH THE U.S.
SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AND PUBLIC
HEALTH.
>> HAVE WE KIND OF HIT THIS PEAK
OF THE DELTA WAVE OR ARE WE
STILL GOING TO SEE THE WORST OF
IT IN THE FALL AND WINTER
MONTHS?
>> IT'S HARD TO PREDICT, BUT I
THINK WHAT'S HAPPENING IS IN
AREAS THAT HAVE HIGH LEVELS OF
VACCINATION, YOU'RE NOT SEEING
AS SHARP A PEAK.
SO THERE IS A SORT OF STUTTERING
EFFECT WHERE YOU ARE EITHER
HOLDING STEADY OR SEEING MORE
HOSPITALIZATIONS AND LEVELING
OFF.
IT WOULD BE GREAT TO HAVE FEWER
HOSPITALIZATIONS.
NO REGION EXISTS IN A VAKS
CIEWM.
HERE WE PROVIDE CARE TO PARENTS
ALL OVER THE STATE, SO OUR
HOSPITALIZATION RATES MAY GO UP
REGARDLESS OF LOCAL VACCINATION
RATES.
>> WITH SCHOOL HAVING BEEN IN
SESSION NOW FOR AT LEAST A
MONTH, NOT ONLY ARE WE IN PERSON
FOR THE UNIVERSITY, BUT ALSO FOR
K-12.
ARE WE SEEING MORE PEDIATRIC
CASES, CONSIDERING DELTA IS
CONSIDERED A WORSE VARIANT?
>> I THINK OVERALL PEDIATRIC
CASES HAVE INCREASED COMPARED TO
THE EARLIER DAYS OF THE
PANDEMIC.
I THINK THERE'S A BIG SPECTRUM
IN HOW SEVERE THE ILLNESS IS
FROM NO SYMPTOMS TO LANDING IN
THE HOSPITAL.
THERE'S A SYNDROME OF MASSIVE
INFLAMMATION THAT CAN HAPPEN
AFTER ONE HAS RECOVERED FROM
COVID THAT IS MORE COMMON FOR
CHILDREN THAT DOES LAND SOME OF
THEM IN THE ICU.
THE MITIGATING MEASURES THAT
PLACES SHOULD TAKE, SUCH AS
SCHOOLS, FOR INSTANCE, WITH
MASKS, TESTING, MONITORING AND
ALL THOSE, THOSE DO APPEAR TO BE
EFFECTIVE.
IT WON'T ERADICATE COVID.
WE'VE ALL REALIZED THAT
ERADICATION IS NOT A PRACTICAL
OPTION.
BUT LEARNING TO LIVE WITH IT AND
MANAGE IS IS THE NEXT GOAL.
>> ARE YOU WORRIED ABOUT THE
LONG COVID SYMPTOMS IN CHILDREN?
>> WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THOSE
BETTER IN CHILDREN AND ALSO
ADULTS.
THERE'S A BIG SPECTRUM OF
SYMPTOMS.
SOME OF IT HAS TO DO WITH HOW
SEVERE YOUR INITIAL COVID
ILLNESS WAS, PERSISTENT
SHORTNESS OF BREATH, FATIGUE, SO
ON THAT WILL IMPROVE OVER TIME.
OTHERS AREN'T RELATED WITH THE
INITIAL SEVERITY OF THE ILLNESS,
MEMORY ISSUES.
ALL SYMPTOMS ARE CONCERNING, BUT
THESE IN PARTICULAR BECAUSE WE
CAN'T PREDICT THEM.
OUR MAIN GOAL SHOULD STILL BE
VERY MUCH UPSTREAM PREVENTION.
>> EVEN NOW A NEW PILL FROM
MERCK IS SEEKING FEDERAL
APPROVAL, DESIGNED TO BE TAKEN
UPON A POSITIVE COVID DIAGNOSIS
AND SUPPOSEDLY IT WILL HELP
PREVENT MORE SEVERE SYMPTOMS.
DO YOU SEE THIS AND OTHER
SOLUTIONS THAT ARE NOT VACCINES
BEING PROMISING IN THE FIGHT
TOWARDS COMBATING COVID?
>> WELL, ABSOLUTELY.
YOU KNOW, THE VACCINES ARE
GREAT, BUT WE STILL DON'T HAVE
ONE FOR PEDIATRICS AND WE NEED
THAT AS THE FIRST ORDER OF
PRIORITY.
THERE WILL STILL BE SOME PEOPLE
WHO HAVE BREAKTHROUGH INFECTIONS
OR WON'T BE ABLE TO TAKE THE
VACCINE.
AND SO -- OR WON'T BE ABLE TO
TAKE THE BOOSTER.
SO TO MANAGE THE CASES THAT WE
DO GET, WE NEED A GOOD
OUTPATIENT REGIMEN.
RIGHT NOW WE HAVE THE MONOCLONAL
ANTIBODIES.
IT'S AN IV INFUSION AND NEEDS
MONITORING, SO IT GETS VERY
COMPLICATED.
BUT IF THERE WAS AN ORAL PILL
THAT YOU COULD TAKE IN THE
SAFETY OF YOUR HOME WITHOUT
HAVING TO GO OUT WITH SYMPTOMS,
I THINK THAT COULD BE, IF THIS
IS FOUND TO BE EFFECTIVE, REALLY
CHANGE HOW WE MANAGE COVID
CASES.
>> FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE
COVID CONDITION IN WISCONSIN, GO
TO pbswisconsin.org AND THEN
CLICK ON THE NEWS TAB TO SEE THE
LATEST INSTALLMENT OF STATEWIDE
COVID COVERAGE.
THAT IS ALL FOR TONIGHT'S
PROGRAM.
THANKS FOR JOINING US.
HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.