>> SO TONIGHT I'M DECLARING 2023
THE YEAR OF MENTAL HEALTH.
>> GOVERNOR TONY EVERS DELIVERS
HIS STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS.
REPUBLICANS RESPOND.
AND ABORTION RIGHS SUPPORTERS
COMMEMORATE 50 YEARS SINCE THE
LANDMARK CASE OF ROE V. WADE.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW."
IN THE YEAR OF MENTAL HEALTH, A
LOOK AT HOW CHILDREN ARE FARING.
WISCONSIN FOOD BANKS READY FOR
AN END TO EXPANDED FOOD SHARE
BENEFITS.
AND THE NEXT IN OUR SERIES OF
INTERVIEWS WITH CANDIDATES FOR
THE STATE SUPREME COURT.
THIS WEEK, JANET PROTASIEWICZ.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR
JANUARY 27.
FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.
>> THIS WEEK, GOVERNOR TONY
EVERS DELIVERED HIS FIFTH STATE
OF THE STATE ADDRESS BEFORE THE
FULL LEGISLATURE, COVERING A
WIDE RANGE OF PRIORITIES FROM
MENTAL HEALTH AND FOREVER
CHEMICALS, TO TAX RELIEF AND
SHARED REVENUE.
ALL OF WHICH FORESHADOW WHAT WE
CAN EXPECT TO SEE IN HIS
FORTHCOMING BUDGET, WHICH THE
GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATURE
WILL HAVE A WHOPPING PROJECTED
$7.1 BILLION SURPLUS TO WORK
WITH.
>> WE CAN CONTINUE OUR PROGRESS
MAKING THE WISE INVESTMENTS
WE'VE LONG NEEDED TO DO, AND NOT
BECAUSE ANYONE WANTS TO MAKE
GOVERNMENT BIGGER, BUT BECAUSE
WISCONSINITES WANT A GOVERNMENT
THAT WORKS AND WORKS BETTER.
WE HAVE ROADS AND BRIDGES TO
FIX, SCHOOLS TO FUND, KIDS TO
SUPPORT, COMMUNITIES TO KEEP
SAFE, WATER TO KEEP CLEAN AND A
FUTURE WE BUILD TOGETHER AFTER
YEARS OF NEGLECT THAT TODAY WE
MUST WORK TO PROTECT.
>> WISCONSIN REPUBLICANS WILL
NOT RAISE YOUR TAXES, AND WE
WON'T PASS A BUDGET THAT DOESN'T
HAVE SIGNIFICANT TAX REFORM.
WE WILL NOT GROW THE SIZE OF
GOVERNMENT BEYOND OUR ABILITY TO
PAY.
WE WILL FIGHT TO EXPAND CHOICES
FOR PARENTS IN EVERY ZIP CODE IN
WISCONSIN.
WE WILL MAKE SURE OUR NEIGHBORS
GET A HAND UP AND NOT A
PERMANENT HANDOUT.
AND WE WILL INVEST IN OUR
PRIORITIES TO MAKE SURE THAT
GOVERNMENT AT EVERY LEVEL CAN
OPERATE EFFICIENTLY.
>> IN DECLARING 2023 "THE YEAR
OF MENTAL HEALTH," EVERS TUESDAY
ANNOUNCED SPENDING $270 MILLION
TO ENSURE EVERY STUDENT HAS
ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH
SERVICES.
BECAUSE AMONG CHILDREN, ANXIETY,
DEPRESSION AND SUICIDE REPORTS
ARE UP.
AND A THIRD SAY THEY FEEL SAD OR
HOPELESS EVERY DAY.
THIS IS ACCORDING TO THE OFFICE
OF CHILDREN'S MENTAL HEALTH.
TO UNDERSTAND MORE ABOUT STUDENT
STRUGGLES, WE TURN TO CINDY
BOURGET, AN ACADEMIC COUNSELSOR
AT ELK MOUND MIDDLE SCHOOL.
SHE'S BEEN NAMED COUNSELOR OF
THE YEAR BY THE WISCONSIN SCHOOL
COUNSELOR ASSOCIATION, AND HER
SCHOOL HAS ALSO RECEIVED THE
PROGRAM OF PROMISE AWARD FOR
THEIR WORK WITH STUDENTS.
SHE JOINS US NOW.
AND CINDY, THANKS VERY MUCH FOR
BEING HERE.
>> OF COURSE.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> SO HOW WELCOME IS THE
ATTENTION AND POTENTIAL FUNDING
FOR STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH?
>> IT'S VERY WELCOME AND VERY
NEEDED.
WE'RE VERY EXCITED THAT PEOPLE
ARE STARTING TO PAY ATTENTION TO
THE NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS, AND
WHEN I SAY PEOPLE, OUR COMMUNITY
HAS ALWAYS KNOWN THAT OUR
STUDENTS NEED SUPPORT, AND IT'S
JUST NICE TO GET THE VALIDATION
THAT EVERYONE IS STARTING TO
NOTICE THAT.
>> BECAUSE HOW BIG IS THE NEED
AND WHAT ARE YOU SEEING ON THE
GROUND WITH YOUR STUDENTS?
>> THE NEED IS GROWING.
I WOULD SAY THAT THE CONCERNS
AND ISSUES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN
THERE, BUT THE STRESSORS THAT
THE PANDEMIC BROUGHT HAS REALLY
BROUGHT THAT SPOTLIGHT TO THOSE
NEEDS.
SO FOR EXAMPLE, WE AS SCHOOL
COUNSELORS FOCUS ON ACADEMICS,
SO THEIR ACHIEVEMENT, WE FOCUS
ON THEIR ATTENDANCE AND WE FOCUS
ON THEIR BEHAVIOR.
AND HERE IN ELK MOUND, WE HAVE
BEEN FOCUSING ON ABSENTEEISM,
BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN SEEING AN
INCREASE OF SCHOOL AVOIDANCE AND
ANXIETY SINCE GOING VIRTUAL AND
COMING BACK.
>> AND SO SCHOOL AVOIDANCE GOES
TO ANXIETY.
HOW SO?
I MEAN, WHAT ARE STUDENTS MORE
ANXIOUS ABOUT?
>> AND I THINK WE ALL, AS
PEOPLE, HAVE FELT THAT URGE WHEN
WE'RE ANXIOUS TO AVOID
SOMETHING.
AND SO STUDENTS TEND TO BE
WORRIED ABOUT THINGS LIKE
GRADES, THEY GET WORRIED ABOUT
THINGS LIKE HOW THEY'RE GOING TO
INTERACT WITH THEIR FRIENDS, BUT
THERE'S ALSO THAT ADDED WORRY OF
I'M NOT WITH MY PARENT, AND I'VE
BEEN WITH MY PARENT FOR THE LAST
TWO YEARS AND WHAT'S HAPPENING
WHEN I'M NOT WITH THEM?
AND TO BE QUITE HONEST WITH YOU,
A LOT OF OUR STUDENTS ARE NOT
ABLE TO IDENTIFY WHY THEY'RE
ANXIOUS.
IT'S JUST THERE.
AND SO WHAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING
IS FOCUSING ON BUILDING UP THE
RESILIENCY TO BE ABLE TO
OVERCOME THAT ANXIETY.
>> HOW DO YOU BUILD RESILIENCY?
WHAT ARE THE STEPS, WHAT ARE THE
TOOLS?
>> IT'S MULTIFACETED, REALLY.
BUT AS THE SCHOOL COUNSELOR, THE
BEAUTY OF BEING ABLE TO USE
DATA, WHICH WE ARE USING
ABSENTEEISM, LIKE THE RATES OF
ABSENCES, TO BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY
WHICH STUDENTS NEED ONE ON ONE
SUPPORT AND WHAT STUDENTS NEED
GENERAL SUPPORT.
SO FOR ME AS THE SCHOOL
COUNSELOR, I DO PROGRAMMING WITH
SMALL GROUPS, I DO A GROUP WHERE
WE TALK ABOUT GROWTH MINDSET,
HOW TO SIT IN THE UNCOMFORTABLE
AND THOSE FEELINGS OF WANTING TO
BE AWAY.
BUT MY STAFF HAS ALSO BEEN
WONDERFUL BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN
IMPLEMENTING PROGRAMMING IN
THEIR HOME ROOMS SO ALL STUDENTS
ARE GETTING INSTRUCTION ON HOW
TO DEAL WITH ANXIETY AND BUILD
THE RESILIENCY BACK.
>> AND HAVE YOU SEEN A CHANGE IN
EITHER ATTENDANCE OR BEHAVIOR OR
OVERALL KIND OF A SENSE OF
WELL-BEING AMONGST THE STUDENTS?
>> I WOULD SAY YES.
OUR DATA IS SHOWING THAT OUR
STUDENTS WITH THE HIGHEST RATES
OF ABSENTEEISM HAVE GONE FROM
85% OF DAYS TO 90% OF DAYS.
SO IT'S A 5% INCREASE
SPECIFICALLY AMONG OUR HIGHEST
RATES, AND THEN OVERALL, OUR
RATES OF STUDENTS FEELING
CONNECTED TO THEIR BUILDING AND
THEIR STAFF HAS INCREASED 15% AS
WELL.
SO IT CAN REALLY HAVE SOME
SIGNIFICANT CHANGES AND SOME
SIGNIFICANT ATTITUDE CHANGES
WITH OUR STUDENTS.
>> AND HOW DO YOU BRING THE
FAMILIES INTO THIS KIND OF MIX
OF WELLNESS?
>> YOU MAKE A WONDERFUL POINT,
BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST THE SCHOOL
BUILDING WHERE THESE FEELINGS
COME FROM.
AND EVERYONE IN A STUDENT'S LIFE
IS REACTING DIFFERENTLY TO THE
STRESS, AND THAT'S KIND OF THE
NATURE OF LIFE TOO, BECAUSE
THERE'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE
STRESS.
SO WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING WITH
FAMILIES IS TEACHING THEM HOW TO
SUPPORT THEIR CHILD WHEN THEY'RE
STRESSED, QUICK LITTLE THINGS ON
HOW TO BE ABLE TO RESPOND WHEN A
STUDENT DOESN'T WANT TO COME TO
SCHOOL, BUT ALSO WE USE A
PROGRAM CALLED CARE SOLACE,
WHERE ANYONE IN THE CRICK DISTR,
YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE A STUDENT
IN THE BUILDING, YOU DON'T HAVE
TO WORK HERE, CAN USE THIS
SERVICE TO BE ABLE TO BE
CONNECTED TO OUTSIDE COUNSELING
SERVICES SO WHEN THE PROBLEMS
GET TOO BIG, WE HERE AT THE
SCHOOL ARE CONNECTING YOU TO
RORESOURCES YOU NEED.
>> YOU HAVE A MENTAL HEALTH
COORDINATOR.
HOW MEANINGFUL HAS THAT BEEN
TOWARD HELPING THE SCHOOL
COMMUNITY?
>> IT HAS BEEN A GAME CHANGER,
REALLY.
BECAUSE AS SCHOOL COUNSELORS,
WE'RE HERE TO HELP STUDENTS
WITHIN THE SCHOOL DAY AND WITHIN
THE SCHOOL BUILDING WITH THEIR
ACADEMICS, THEIR ATTENDANCE AND
THEIR BEHAVIOR.
BUT ANXIETY AND MENTAL HEALTH
DOESN'T JUST AFFECT THAT.
SO WHEN WE HAVE A STUDENT WHO
HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS HAVING A
HIGHER NEED, AND SO WHAT THAT
MEANS IS THAT THEY'VE BEEN
MEETING WITH ME PRETTY
CONSISTENTLY, WE AREN'T SEEING
IMPROVEMENT IN GRADES OR
ATTENDANCE, THEN IT'S MAYBE TIME
TO CONNECT THEM WITH SOME
OUTSIDE SERVICES.
THAT'S WHAT OUR MENTAL HEALTH
COORDINATOR IS ABLE TO DO, AND
THEY'RE ABLE TO HELP THE FAMILY
MANEUVER THAT SYSTEM BECAUSE AS
WE ALL KNOW, IT CAN BE KIND OF
TRICKY.
AND SO WHAT BETTER WAY TO HAVE
THE SCHOOL HELP THAN TO HELP
THEM MANEUVER THAT PROCESS.
>> I DO UNDERSTAND THAT
COORDINATOR IS A GRANT-FUNDED
POSITION AND SO IF THERE WERE
ANY KIND OF SUSTAINABLE FUNDING
GOING FORWARD, THAT WOULD BE
VERY WELCOME AS WELL.
>> I WOULD AGREE.
SO LISTENING TO THE STATE OF THE
STATE ADDRESS AND ALL THE
WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITIES AND
FUNDINGS THAT WE'RE BEING
PROVIDED ARE VERY WELCOMED AND
VERY APPRECIATED, BUT AS YOU'RE
WORKING WITH A STUDENT WHO IS
WITH YOU FROM K-12, SO UP TO 15
YEARS, BEING ABLE TO HAVE A
CONSISTENT SOURCE OF INCOME TO
MAKE SURE THAT THOSE SUPPORTS
ARE THERE THEIR ENTIRE SCHOOL
CAREER IS REALLY ESSENTIAL.
SO AS WE MOVE FORWARD AND AS WE
REALLY LOOK AT THOSE CONCERNS,
CONSIDERING CONSISTENT FUNDING
WOULD BE APPRECI APPRECIATED.
>> WE LEAVE IT THERE.
CINDY BOURGET, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> FOR 24-HOUR HELP, THE CRISIS
LIFE LINE CAN BE REACHED BY
CALLING 988.
IN OTHER STATE NEWS, FEBRUARY
WILL BE THE LAST MONTH THAT
PEOPLE IN WISCONSIN WILL RECEIVE
EXPANDED FOODSHARE BENEFITS
UNDER A FEDERAL PROGRAM THAT
BEGAN DURING THE PANDEMIC.
SOME 400,000 HOUSEHOLDS IN THE
STATE STRUGGLE TO AFFORD FOOD
AND RECEIVE FOODSHARE.
UNDER THE FORMULA FOR
INCOME-ELIGIBLE PARTICIPANTS, A
HOUSEHOLD OF ONE PERSON, FOR
EXAMPLE, RECEIVES $281 PER MONTH
IN REGULAR FOODSHARE BENEFITS
PLUS THE EXTRA $95, UNTIL THAT
EXTRA AMOUNT ENDS MARCH 1ST.
THE FEED MY PEOPLE FOOD BANK IN
EAU CLAIRE HAS ALREADY SEEN
INCREASED DEMAND, WITH 2 1/2
TIMES THE NUMBER OF CARS COMING
TO A POP-UP DISTRIBUTION SITE
AFTER FAMILIES WERE NOTIFIED
THAT THE EXTRA BENEFITS ARE
ENDING.
WE GO NOW TO THEIR EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR, SUZANNE BECKER, FOR
MORE.
AND THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING
HERE.
>> I'M HAPPY TO BE HERE.
>> SO IN ADDITION TO PEOPLE
TRYING TO PREPARE FOR THE END OF
THIS EXTRA BENEFIT, DESCRIBE HOW
BUSY YOU'VE BEEN OVER THE PAST
SEVERAL YEARS.
>> I CAN TELL YOU THAT RIGHT NOW
AS WE'RE SPEAKING, WE HAVE --
WE'RE DOING A DISTRIBUTION AND
WE HAVE A LINE LONGER THAN WE
HAVE SEEN SINCE THE HEART OF THE
PANDEMIC.
A LOT OF FOLKS -- AND WE'VE
TALKED TO A LOT OF THESE FOLKS
AND THEY'RE CONCERNED, THEY'RE
AFRAID.
THE HIGHER FOODSHARE BENEFITS
HAVE BEEN A GAME CHANGER FOR
MANY PEOPLE, NOT ONLY THROUGH
THE PANDEMIC BUT ALSO THROUGH
INFLATION AND THE HIGH COST OF
LIVING RIGHT NOW, SO THIS IS
GOING TO BE VERY DIFFICULT, VERY
DIFFICULT TO MANY.
>> AND YET THAT EXPANDED BENEFIT
IS JUST A MAX OF $95, BUT STILL
YOU SAY A GAME CHANGER?
>> OH, YEAH.
YES.
IT HAS BEEN.
AND WE KNOW THAT, THAT SENIORS
AND FAMILIES, WORKING FAMILIES,
IT'S JUST BEEN WHAT THEY NEEDED
TO KEEP PAYING THE BILLS, TO
KEEP PROVIDING FOR THEIR
FAMILIES, AND THIS IS GOING TO
BE DIFFICULT.
>> BECAUSE WHAT KIND OF STRAIN
HAVE PRICES OF FOOD PUT ON YOUR
FOOD BANK?
>> YEAH, VERY TRUE.
YOU KNOW, THE FOOD SUPPLY, WHEN
YOU DON'T SEE FOOD ON YOUR
GROCERY SHELVES, IT'S CERTAINLY
NOT HITTING THE FOOD BANK.
SO WHAT IT'S CAUSED IS FOOD
BANKS ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO
SPEND A LOT MORE MONEY ON
PURCHASING FOOD TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE HAVE ENOUGH AS OPPOSED
TO THE DONATED FOOD.
AND OF COURSE THAT COSTS A LOT
OF MONEY.
AND THEN WHEN WE SEE HIGHER
COSTS, AND OF COURSE HIGHER GAS
PRICES AFFECT OUR TRUCKS, HIGHER
UTILITY COSTS, ALL OF THAT
AFFECTS THE FOOD BANK AS WELL,
BUT YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO DO
WHATEVER WE CAN TO FILL THE GAP
FOR FOLKS.
>> HAVE YOU BEEN ABLE TO KIND OF
KEEP PACE WITH THE DEMAND, WITH
ALL OF THOSE THINGS THAT YOU
WERE JUST DESCRIBING?
>> WE HAVE.
WE HAVE.
YOU KNOW, WE WORK -- WE'RE STILL
FEEDING AMERICA, AND OUR
COMMUNITY STEPS UP AND THEY HAVE
DONE, YOU KNOW, TREMENDOUS
THINGS.
WE JUST HAVE TO DO WHAT WE CAN.
WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO DO IT
AND, YOU KNOW, WE JUST HOPE THAT
FOLKS WILL COME FOR HELP.
WE KNOW THAT THERE'S A LOT OF
PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO HAVE NOT
HAD TO DO THIS BEFORE, COME TO
OUR DISTRIBUTION, OR COME TO A
DISTRIBUTION IN THEIR COMMUNITY,
AND WE REALLY HOPE, WE REALLY
ENCOURAGE THAT ANYBODY LISTENING
WILL ENCOURAGE THAT THEY DO
THAT.
THERE IS HELP THERE.
WE WILL DO WHAT IT TAKES UNTIL
THIS -- UNTIL THIS -- YOU KNOW,
UNTIL WE'RE ABLE TO COME BACK TO
A PLACE THAT FOLKS CAN DO WHAT
THEY CAN DO.
>> SO WE KNOW THAT PEOPLE ARE
KIND OF TRYING TO PREPARE FOR
THE END OF THAT EXTRA BENEFIT,
BUT WHAT HAVE FOLKS SAID TO YOU
ABOUT HOW THEY WILL WEATHER LESS
OF A FOOD BUDGET COME MARCH?
>> WE DID A SURVEY NOT THAT LONG
AGO, AND IT WAS BASED AROUND
INFLATION BUT IT'S THE SAME TYPE
OF THING, AND THERE WAS A LOT OF
DISCUSSION OF, YOU KNOW, WE'RE
KEEPING OUR EAT VERY, -- KEEPIT
VERY, VERY LOW, THAT PARENTS ARE
GOING WITHOUT SO THEIR KIDS CAN
HAVE WHAT THEY NEED.
WE'RE WORRIED ABOUT SENIORS.
SENIORS IS AN AREA OF FOLKS THAT
STRUGGLE TO GET TO A FOOD
PANTRY, STRUGGLE TO GET OUT
BECAUSE OF TRANSPORTATION, AND
ALSO THERE'S SUCH A PRIDE FACTOR
WITH SENIORS THAT WE FEEL LIKE
WE REALLY NEED TO BE PROACTIVE
IN TRYING TO REACH THEM.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF WAYS THAT
PEOPLE WILL, YOU KNOW, FIGURE IT
OUT.
IT JUST NOT -- YOU KNOW, IT
TRICKLES DOWN TO OUR KIDS.
I HAD A MOM TELL ME THAT THEY
WERE DOING EVERYTHING THEY COULD
TO HIDE IT FROM THEIR KIDS
BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T WANT THEIR
KIDS TO UNDERSTAND THAT THEY
WERE STRUGGLING, AND AS A MOM OF
2, THAT JUST HURTS MY HEART.
WE NEED TO -- WE NEED TO PROVIDE
THE SUPPORT THAT THEY NEED.
>> IN TERMS OF HELPING SENIORS
WHO MIGHT EVEN BE HOME-BOUND,
ARE THERE EXTRA STEPS BEING
TAKEN THERE?
>> WE DO WORK WITH
MEALS-ON-WHEELS, AND WE PROVIDE
SUPPLEMENTAL FOOD BAGS TO THEM,
AND THOSE ARE MEANT TO BE
SUPPLEMENTAL, JUST SO THEY HAVE
MORE, AND ALSO, YOU KNOW,
BECAUSE WE LIVE IN WISCONSIN AND
THERE'S WINTER, AND SO WHEN
MEALS-ON-WHEELS CAN'T DELIVER,
THAT PROVIDES FOOD FOR THEM.
WE HAVE JUST DONE A DISTRIBUTION
AND WE HOPE TO DO ANOTHER ONE
SOON.
WONDERFUL TO BE ABLE TO WORK
WITH MEALS-ON-WHEELS, WHO CAN
ALREADY IDENTIFY WHO THOSE FOLKS
ARE.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
WELL, SUZANNE BECKER, THANK YOU
FOR YOUR WORK.
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> AS THE NATION AND WISCONSIN
MARKED THE 50-YEAR ANNIVERSARY
OF THE ROE V. WADE DECISION THIS
WEEK, WE TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO
HEAR FROM YOUNG PEOPLE ACROSS
STATE AS DOBBS V. JACKSON HAS
NOW REVERTED ABORTION LAW TO THE
STATES.
WHEN ASKED WHAT ISSUES ARE MOST
IMPORTANT TO THEM, MANY YOUNG
VOTERS SAID ABORTION RIGHTS.
>> I THINK WOMEN, A WOMAN'S
RIGHT TO CHOOSE, IS VERY
IMPORTANT.
>> BY OVERTURNING ROE, AFFLUENT
WOMEN WILL ALWAYS BE ABLE TO GET
ABORTIONS.
THEY'LL ALWAYS BE ABLE TO GET
SAFE ABORTIONS.
BUT WOMEN IN UNDERSERVED
COMMUNITIES, WOMEN OF COLOR,
WOMEN WHO LIVE BELOW THE POVERTY
LINE OR JUST AT THE POVERTY
LINE, THEIR LIVES WILL BE PUT IN
DANGER BECAUSE THEY WON'T BE
ABLE TO GET SAFE ABORTIONS.
>> IT TOOK AWAY OUR ABILITY TO
HAVE THE SAY WHETHER WE WANT TO
BE A PARENT OR NOT.
>> IT ALMOST FEELS LIKE GUNS
HAVE MORE RIGHTS THAN WOMEN.
>> IT'S IMPORTANT TO ME BECAUSE
AS A YOUNG GIRL WHO STILL HAS
LIKE THE REST OF HER LIFE AHEAD
OF HER, KNOWING THAT A CHOICE
LIKE THAT HAS KIND OF BEEN
STRIPPED AWAY, IT'S SCARY.
LIKE KNOWING THAT IF I COULDN'T
AFFORD IT OR IF IT WAS LIKE IF I
GOT SEXUALLY ASSAULTED OR
SOMETHING LIKE THAT, LIKE I
WOULD STILL HAVE TO CARRY THE
BABY.
AND EVEN IF I COULD DIE IN THE
PROCESS, OR IF I KNEW THE BABY
WOULDN'T MAKE IT, I WOULD STILL
HAVE TO HAVE IT.
>> I THINK IT WILL CAUSE A LOT
MORE NEGATIVE SIDE EFFECTS DOWN
THE ROAD THAN WHAT PEOPLE THINK.
>> IN "HERE AND NOW" 2023
ELECTION REPORTING, THE SECOND
IN OUR SERIES OF INTERVIEWS WITH
THE CANDIDATES RUNNING IN THE
FEBRUARY 21 PRIMARY FOR THE
WISCONSIN SUPREME COURT.
THERE ARE FOUR PRIMARY
CANDIDATES VYING FOR TWO SPOTS
MOVING TO THE APRIL 4 GENERAL
ELECTION, TWO CONSERVATIVES AND
TWO LIBERALS, AND WHOEVER WINS
WILL DETERMINE THE IDEOLOGICAL
BALANCE OF THE COURT.
MILWAUKEE COUNTY CIRCUIT JUDGE
JANET PROTASIEWICZ IS ONE OF THE
LIBERALS IN THE RACE.
SHE WAS A MILWAUKEE COUNTY
ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY FOR
26 YEARS BEFORE BEING ELECTED TO
THE MILWAUKEE COUNTY CIRCUIT
COURT IN 2014.
HERE'S SENIOR POLITICAL REPORTER
ZAC SCHULTZ WITH JUDGE
PROTASIEWICZ.
>> WHAT WERE SOME OF THE REASONS
THAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO WANT TO
ENTER THE RACE?
>> HOW CRITICALLY IMPORTANT THE
RACE IS.
AND HOW CRITICALLY HIGH THE
STAKES IN THIS RACE ARE.
I WAS AT A PRETTY COMFORTABLE
POSITION IN MY LIFE, QUITE
FRANKLY, AND I SAT ABOUT BACK BD
STARTED THINKING ABOUT THIS RACE
LAST SPRING.
THE MORE I THOUGHT ABOUT IT, THE
MORE I COULDN'T SIT BACK AND LET
PARTISAN FAR RIGHT EXTREMISTS
HIJACK OUR SUPREME COURT.
BECAUSE EVERYTHING WE CARE ABOUT
IS ON THE LINE.
EVERYTHING I CARE ABOUT IS ON
THE LINE.
I THINK THAT EVERYTHING MANY,
MANY PEOPLE CARE ABOUT IS ON THE
LINE.
I'VE HAD CONTESTED RACES.
I LIKE TO CAMPAIGN.
I LIKE PEOPLE.
THE ISSUES ARE SO ABSOLUTELY
CRITICAL.
I DECIDED TO GET INTO THE RACE.
>> HOW DID YOU COME TO THE
DECISION ON HOW YOU WOULD TALK
TO VOTERS ABOUT WHAT YOU CARE
ABOUT VERSUS SOME OTHER
CANDIDATES IN THIS ELECTION WHO
ARE TRYING TO KEEP EVERYTHING
PRETTY PLAIN, TALKING ABOUT THE
LAW AND THE CONSTITUTION?
>> WELL, RIGHT, AND, I MEAN, I
THINK THAT WE PRETTY MUCH KNOW
HOW MUCH PEOPLE CARE ABOUT
CERTAIN ISSUES.
WE PRETTY MUCH KNOW.
SO MY POSITION REALLY IS PEOPLE
WHO ARE JUST TALKING ABOUT THE
CONSTITUTION AND THE LAW, THAT'S
A PERSONAL CHOICE OF THEIRS, I
SUPPOSE.
ON THE OTHER HAND, THEY MAY NOT
WISH TO SHARE WHAT THEIR VALUES
OR IDEAS ARE ON SOME OF THE
ISSUES THAT ARE REALLY, REALLY
IMPORTANT TO VOTERS.
SO WHEN I TALK TO VOTERS, I SAY
I CAN TELL YOU WHAT MY VALUES
ARE.
I CAN'T TELL YOU WHAT I WILL DO
ON ANY PARTICULAR CASE.
BUT I'LL TELL YOU WHAT MY VALUES
ARE, I TELL YOU WHAT I THINK IS
IMPORTANT.
AND THAT'S REALLY HOW I FRAME IT
WHEN I TALK TO PEOPLE, BECAUSE
OBVIOUSLY I HAVE TO FOLLOW THE
CONSTITUTION.
OBVIOUSLY I HAVE TO FOLLOW THE
LAW.
BUT PEOPLE ARE VERY, VERY
CONCERNED ABOUT A WIDE VARIETY
OF ISSUES.
THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT WOMEN'S
RIGHT TO CHOOSE.
THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT FAIR
MAPS.
THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT
COMMUNITY SAFETY.
THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT CLEAN
WATER.
THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT MARRIAGE
EQUALITY.
SO WE TALK ABOUT THOSE ISSUES IN
TERMS OF WHAT MY VALUES ARE.
>> SO HOW DO YOUR VALUES THEN
TRANSLATE TO DECISIONS FROM THE
BENCH?
>> WELL, I STILL HAVE TO FOLLOW
THE CONSTITUTION.
I HAVE TO FOLLOW THE LAW.
BUT I THINK WE ALL KNOW THAT
THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT ABILITY
TO INTERPRET THE LAWS.
THERE'S SIGNIFICANT THINGS THAT
CAN BE EXHIBIT PRI INTERPRETED T
WAYS AND YOU CAN TELL THAT JUST
BASED ON HOW COURTS SPLIT ON
THEIR DECISIONS AND HOW THERE
CAN BE A VERY WELL REASONED
OPINION AND A VERY WELL REASONED
DISSENT, RIGHT?
SO YOU CAN TELL THAT THERE ARE,
YOU KNOW, WELL-THOUGHT-OUT
DECISIONS ON BOTH SIDES, WITH BT
IT'S PRETTY CLEAR TO ME, IT'S
VERY, VERY CLEAR TO ME, THAT
WOMEN AND MEN IN THIS STATE ARE
VERY, VERY CONCERNED ABOUT A
WOMAN'S RIGHT TO CHOOSE.
VERY, VERY CONCERNED ABOUT IT.
AND SO I TELL THEM, YOU KNOW,
YOU SHOULD KNOW MY VALUE.
AND MY VALUE IS THAT BOTTOM LINE
IS, YOU KNOW, DISCUSS THE ISSUE
WITH YOUR CLERGY, DISCUSS IT
WITH YOUR MEDICAL CARE PROVIDER,
DISCUSS IT WITH YOUR FAMILY OR
YOUR SIGNIFICANT OTHER, BUT IN
THE END, THAT DECISION IS REALLY
YOUR DECISION.
THAT'S WHAT MY VALUE IS.
WHERE WOULD YOU COME DOWN ON IF
A CASE WAS BROUGHT IN FRONT OF
THE COURT?
THAT'S A SEPARATE EVALUATION.
>> ALONG THIS PATH TOWARDS
ANNOUNCING AND RUNNING, DID
ANYONE SAY, WELL, MAYBE YOU
SHOULDN'T BROADCAST THOSE VALUES
SO LOUDLY.
IN THIS KIND OF CAMPAIGN, MAYBE
THIS IS -- YOU SHOULD CODE YOUR
LANGUAGE A LITTLE MORE SO THE
VOTERS KNOW, WITH A WINK, WHAT
YOU INTEND BUT YOU DON'T SAY IT
SO PLAINLY.
>> I DON'T KNOW WHY I WOULD DO
THAT.
I MEAN, I CERTAINLY HEAR FROM
THE FAR RIGHT, SHE'S TELLING YOU
WHAT SHE'S GOING TO DO.
THE CRITICISM IS, IF SHE'S
TELLING YOU WHAT HER VALUES ARE,
SHE'S TELLING YOU WHAT SHE'S
GOING TO DO.
CERTAINLY I'VE HEARD THE
CRITICISM.
BUT I THINK VOTERS WANT TO KNOW.
I MEAN, THESE ISSUES ARE REALLY,
REALLY ON THE FOREFRONT.
THEY WANT TO KNOW WHAT KIND OF
VALUES A SUPREME COURT JUSTICE
IS GOING TO BRING.
SO HERE'S WHAT I SAY TO THAT.
WE HAVE HAD SO MUCH EXTREMISM,
WE HAVE HAD SO MUCH OF A THUMB
ON THE SCALE, WE HAVE HAD SO
MUCH WHERE YOU CAN KIND OF
PREDETERMINE WHAT THE OUTCOME OF
A CASE IS GOING TO BE, AND
THAT'S JUST ABSOLUTELY WRONG.
YOU NEED A SUPREME COURT JUSTICE
WHO'S GOING TO FOLLOW THE LAW,
AND UPHOLD THE CONSTITUTION.
THAT'S WHAT YOU NEED.
AND SO YOU NEED TO, LIKE, LET
PEOPLE KNOW WHAT YOU'RE
THINKING.
COMMON SENSE DOESN'T CHANGE.
TRYING TO GET AWAY FROM ALL OF
THE EXTREMISM AND BRING COMMON
SENSE AND CHANGE TO OUR SUPREME
COURT.
AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT I KEEP
GOING BACK TO, COMMON SENSE AND
CHANGE.
AND THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE WANT.
THEY'RE TIRED OF THE DYSFUNCTION
ON THE SUPREME COURT.
PEOPLE TELL ME THAT THEY THINK
THE COURTS SHOULD BE DIFFERENT,
WHOLLY DIFFERENT, THAN THE
LEGISLATURE AND FROM TIME TO
TIME THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH.
THEY SHOULD BE STEPS ABOVE.
THEY SHOULD BE PLACES OF
INTEGRITY.
AND IT IS SO DIFFERENT, THE ROLE
OF THE SUPREME COURT, AND THE
WAY THE SUPREME COURT
DISTINGUISHES ITSELF, FROM THE
LEGISLATURES AND SOMETIMES FROM,
YOU KNOW, THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH.
IT'S VERY DIFFERENT.
AND YOU WANT TO BRING THAT BACK.
YOU WANT TO BRING BACK THAT
CHANGE, THAT COMMON SENSE, THAT
DECORUM, THAT DIGNITY, THAT
INTEGRITY TO THE SUPREME COURT.
>> WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE OTHER
CANDIDATES RUNNING IN THIS
PRIMARY, OBVIOUSLY I'M SURE YOU
WOULD SAY YOU ARE THE BEST
CHOICE FOR VOTERS, BUT DO YOU
THINK THE OTHER CANDIDATES ARE
ALSO QUALIFIED FOR THE SUPREME
COURT?
>> I DON'T.
I THINK YOU HAVE TWO PEOPLE ON
THE RIGHT WHO ARE VERY SIMILARLY
ALIGNED THAT ARE VERY EXTREME,
THAT DON'T REFLECT THE PEOPLE IN
THIS STATE.
I HAVE A FRIENDLY OPPONENT ON
THE LEFT.
MY OPINION IS I HAVE LONGER,
BROADER, DEEPER EXPERIENCE THAN
HE HAS.
SO, YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHERE I
COME DOWN.
>> WHEN YOU HEAR FROM SOMEONE
LIKE DAN KELLY SAYING THAT,
WELL, WE CAN PREDICT HOW YOU
VOTE, YOU'RE SIGNALING TOO MUCH
BECAUSE OF WHERE YOUR BACKGROUND
IS, BUT HE CLAIMS THAT HE'S
COMPLETELY INDEPENDENT, AND NO
ONE WILL BE ABLE TO TELL, BUT
HE'S APPEARED AT TRUMP RALLIES,
HE'S BEEN ENDORSED BY
REPUBLICANS, HE WAS APPOINTED BY
A REPUBLICAN.
IS IT BETTER TO BE OUT AND OPEN
ABOUT WHERE YOUR SUPPORT IS OR
TO PRETEND THAT YOU'RE IN A
LANE?
>> WELL, PRETENDING YOU'RE IN A
LANE IS SO DISINGENUOUS.
I LOOK AT DAN KELLY, HE WAS
RECENTLY TOURING THE STATE WITH,
OF ALL PEOPLE, OF ALL PEOPLE,
MICHAEL GABELMAN ON AN ELECTION
INTEGRITY TOUR.
WHAT WERE THEY TRYING TO DO?
PEDDLE THE BIG LIE THAT THE 2020
ELECTION WAS STOLEN.
WE ALL KNOW THAT ELECTION WASN'T
STOLEN.
WE KNOW IN HIS LAST RACE, HE WAS
DOING SOME OF IF NOT ALL OF HIS
CAMPAIGNING OUT OF THE
REPUBLICAN PARTY HEADQUARTERS,
RIGHT?
SO, YOU KNOW, WHEN HE MADE THE
COMMENTS THAT HE MADE AT THE
FORUM, THEY'RE QUITE FRANKLY
LAUGHABLE.
THAT THOSE COULD COME OUT OF HIS
MOUTH.
WITH A STRAIGHT FACE.
>> ANOTHER OPPONENT IN THIS RACE
IS JENNIFER DOROW, AND SHE
GAINED FAME THROUGH APPEARING AS
A JUDGE WITH A LOT OF CELEBRITY
STATUS.
HOW MUCH SHOULD WE PUT INTO
THAT, PUSHING HER NAME
RECOGNITION FORWARD AND
ROCKET-FUELING HER CAMPAIGN?
IS THAT WHAT SHOULD QUALIFY HER
FOR THE BENCH?
>> NO, ABSOLUTELY NOT.
NOW, DARRELL BROOKS, A VERY
DIFFICULT, SO TO SPEAK,
DEFENDANT WHO COMMITTED SOME
VIOLENT, ATROCIOUS CRIMES, NO
DOUBT ABOUT IT, I'VE TOLD YOU
I'VE SPENT THREE YEARS IN
HOMICIDE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT
COURT, TWO YEARS WITH THOSE DRUG
DEALERS, A YEAR WITH THOSE
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OFFENDERS.
DARRELL BROOKS' PERSONALITY IS
NOT A UNIQUE PERSONALITY.
I'VE SEEN HIS PERSONALITY IN
COURT OVER AND OVER AND OVER
WITH THE TYPES OF CASES THAT
I'VE HANDLED.
THAT'S OUR JOB AS A JUDGE, TO
HANDLE THAT TYPE OF PERSONALITY
AMONGST MANY OTHERS.
YOU KNOW, MY HOUSE HAS BEEN
UNDER SURVEILLANCE ON NUMEROUS
OCCASIONS BECAUSE OF THE TYPES
OF PEOPLE THAT I DEAL WITH,
BECAUSE OF THE DEATH THREATS
THAT, YOU KNOW, I HAVE HAD, YOU
KNOW, THAT AFFECT MYSELF, MY
FAMILY, MY NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO PROPELLING SOMEBODY INTO
RUNNING DUE TO ONE PARTICULAR
CASE, I THINK IS WHOLELY
INAPPROPRIATE.
>> WHAT HAVE YOU FELT IN TERMS
OF THE NATIONAL ATTENTION, GIVEN
THIS RACE, AND THAT WISCONSIN
SUPREME COURT RACES USED TO BE
RELATIVELY SLEEPY, SO TO SPEAK,
AND NOW WE'VE GOT "NEW YORK
TIMES" ARTICLES TALKING ABOUT
THE MOST IMPORTANT RACE YOU
HAVEN'T HEARD.
>> YEAH, IT'S REALLY
INTERESTING, I HAVE TO SAY QUITE
FRANKLY I WAS SURPRISED,
BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I SHARE THAT
ASSESSMENT.
USUALLY THESE SUPREME COURT
RACES ARE KIND OF SLEEPY AND
IT'S A LITTLE BIT CHALLENGING TO
GET OUT THE VOTE AND IT A SPRING
ELECTION, AND IN WISCONSIN WE
KNOW THAT SPRING ELECTION IS A
PRIMARY IN FEBRUARY, WHICH IS
RIGHT IN THE HEART OF WINTER.
SO YES, I WAS, I WOULD HAVE TO
SAY, SOMEWHAT SURPRISED BY THE
NATIONAL ATTENTION.
>> NEXT WEEK ON THIS PROGRAM,
ZAC SITS DOWN WITH LIBERAL
CANDIDATE JUDGE EVERETT MITCHELL
FOR MORE ON THIS AND OTHER
ISSUES FACING WISCONSIN, VISIT
OUR WEBSITE AT PBSWISCONSIN.ORG
AND THEN CLICK ON THE NEWS TAB.
THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
HAVE A GOOD WEEK END.
FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.