>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION.
>> SO WHEN I SAY IT'S SLOPPY AND
IRRESPONSIBLE LIES, I MEAN THAT
IN EVERY POSSIBLE WAY.
>> THAT DOESN'T SOUND TRUTHFUL
TO ME.
>> THE NATION IS WATCHING
WISCONSIN AS THE CANDIDATES FOR
THE STATE'S NEXT SUPREME COURT
JUSTICE PARTICIPATE IN THEIR
FIRST AND ONLY DEBATE.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW," WE
LOOK AT WHAT WENT DOWN AT THE
WISCONSIN SUPREME COURT DEBATE
AND THE ATTACK ADS HITTING THE
AIRWAVES.
ZAC SCHULTZ REPORTS ON ITS
LESSER KNOWN RACE IN THE STATE'S
EIGHTH SENATE DISTRICT.
PLUS, A LOOK AT A G.O.P.-LED
PROFESSIONAL EXPANDING ONE AREA
OF MEDICAID.
IT'S HERE AND NOW FOR MARCH
24th.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.
>> JANET PROTASIEWICZ AND DANIEL
KELLY MET TUESDAY THIS WEEK FOR
THEIR ONLY DEBATE OF THE SUPREME
COURT ELECTION AND THEY SPENT
MOST OF THE HOUR ACCUSING THE
OTHER CANDIDATE OF BEING A LIAR
AND A THREAT TO THE COURT.
>> LIKE PRIZE FIGHTERS ENTERING
THE RING, DANIEL KELLY AND JANET
PROTASIEWICZ DESCENDED OPPOSITE
SIDES OF A CURVED STAIRCASE ON
THEIR WAY TO THE DEBATE STAGE
AND THEN SPENT THE NEXT HOUR
HITTING EACH OTHER WITH VERBAL
BLOWS.
>> I AM RUNNING AGAINST PROBABLY
ONE OF THE MOST EXTREME PARTISAN
CHARACTERS IN THE HISTORY OF
THIS STATE.
>> AGAIN, THIS IS YOU BEING
QUICK TO LIE.
>> THIS ELECTION WILL DETERMINE
THE IDEOLOGICAL BALANCE OF THE
WISCONSIN SUPREME COURT, AND AS
IT BECAME THE MOST EXPENSIVE
SUPREME COURT ELECTION IN UNITED
STATES HISTORY, IT BECAME MORE
AND MORE PARTISAN, WITH A HEAVY
FOCUS ON TOPICS LIKE WISCONSIN'S
1849 ABORTION BAN.
>> BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT IF MY
OPPONENT IS ELECTED, WE CAN TELL
YOU WITH 100% CERTAINTY THAT
1849 ABORTION BAN WILL STAY ON
THE BOOKS.
I CAN TELL YOU THAT TAKE A LOOK
AT WISCONSIN RIGHT TO LIFE'S
WEBSITE.
THERE'S A PICTURE OF HIM AS
THEIR ENDORSED CANDIDATE WITH
THE LANGUAGE THAT HE HAS
PLEDGED-PLEDGED-TO UPHOLD THEIR
VALUES.
>> JUSTICE KELLY, YOUR RESPONSE.
>> THAT'S ABSOLUTELY NOT TRUE.
ONCE AGAIN.
SO THIS SEEMS TO BE A PATTERN
FOR YOU, JANET, JUST TELLING
LIES.
SO YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M
THINKING ABOUT THAT ABORTION
BAN.
YOU HAVE NO IDEA.
>> THE ACCUSATIONS OF LYING AND
SLANDER COVER TOPICS LIKE WHAT
PROMISES THEY MADE TO SPECIAL
INTEREST GROUPS, WHETHER THEIR
CAMPAIGN ADS ARE DISPORTIONS OF
DISTORTIONS OF THE TRUTH AND
WHETHER ELECTING THEIR OPPONENT
WAS A THREAT TO DEMOCRACY.
>> ANDREW HITT, THE HEAD OF THE
REPUBLICAN PARTY, TESTIFIED IN
THE JANUARY 6th HEARING THAT
HE HAD EXTENSIVE CONVERSATIONS
WITH MY OPPONENT.
EXTENSIVE.
EXTENSIVE CONVERSATIONS WITH HIM
ABOUT THE FAKE ELECTORS.
HE IS A TRUE THREAT TO OUR
DEMOCRACY.
>> JUSTICE KELLY, YOU HAVE 30
SECONDS.
>> SURE.
SO ONCE AGAIN, YOU'RE LYING.
SO YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW THIS, BUT
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY HAD
MULTIPLE.
HIS TESTIMONY WAS HE HAD
EXTENSIVE CONVERSATIONS WITH HIS
ATTORNEYS, PLURAL.
>> THE DEBATE ENDED AS IT BEGAN
WITH NO HANDSHAKE AND THE
CAMPAIGNS ARGUING THAT THE OTHER
SIDE WAS LYING.
>> IT'S NOT JUST IN PERSON THAT
THESE CANDIDATES SPAR.
THE NEGATIVE CAMPAIGN ADS ARE
FLYING FAST AND FURIOUS IN THIS
HIGH STAKES, HIGH COST RACE.
THE AIRWAVES ARE FLOODED WITH
ADS FROM LIBERAL CANDIDATE JANET
PROTASIEWICZ, WHO IS OUTSPENDING
CONSERVATIVE CANDIDATE DANIEL
KELLY, BUT ONE AD FROM KELLY
HEARKENS BACK TO A PRESIDENTIAL
ELECTION 35 YEARS AGO IN AN
ADVERTISEMENT WELL KNOWN FOR ITS
APPEAL TO RACIST FEARS OVER
CRIME.
>> BUSH AND DUKAKIS ON CRIME.
BUSH SUPPORTS THE DEATH PENALTY
FOR FIRST-DEGREE MURDERERS.
DUKAKIS NOT ONLY OPPOSES THE
DEATH PENALTY, HE ALLOWED
FIRST-DEGREE MURDERERS TO HAVE
WEEKEND PASSES FROM PRISON.
ONE WAS WILLIE HORTON, WHO
MURDERED A BOY IN A ROBBERY,
STABBING HIM 19 TIMES.
>> IT WAS THE WILLIE HORTON AD
FROM THE GEORGE BUSH CAMPAIGN IN
1988 THAT SUNK CANDIDATE MICHAEL
DUKAKIS OVER A PRISON FURLOUGH
PROGRAM.
NOW LOOK AT THIS AD FROM DANIEL
KELLY.
>> DANIEL KELLY AND JANET
PROTASIEWICZ ARE CRIME.
JUSTICE KELLY SUPPORTS ENFORCING
THE RULE OF LAW AND KEEPING OUR
COMMUNITIES SAFE.
AS A MILWAUKEE JUDGE, JANET
PROTASIEWICZ HAS A LONG HISTORY
OF LETTING DANGEROUS CRIMINALS
OFF EASY.
>> THE 1988 KELLY'S AD DOES NOT
INCLUDE THE MUGSHOT OF THE BLACK
DEFENDANT.
>> HERE TO TALK ABOUT THIS,
LACROSSE POLITICAL SCIENCE
PROFESSOR, ANTHONY CHERGOSKY.
THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.
>> THANK YOU.
>> SO AS A POLITICAL SCIENCE,
WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION WHEN YOU
SAW THE SIMILARITIES BETWEEN
KNOWS TWO ADS?
>> I WAS VERY INTRIGUED BY IT,
FREDERICA, BECAUSE THE WILLIE
HORTON AD HAS BEEN EXTENSIVELY
STUDIED BY POLITICAL SCIENTISTS.
THERE'S EVIDENCE THAT THE WILLIE
HORTON AD ACTIVATED RACIAL
ATTITUDES.
IN OTHER WORDS, WHEN THE HORTON
AD RAN IN THE 1988 PRESIDENTIAL
CAMPAIGN, IT MADE PEOPLE START
TO THINK ABOUT RACE AND TAKE
RACE INTO CONSIDERATION IN A WAY
THAT WASN'T TRUE BEFORE THE AD
RAN.
AND SO FOR THAT REASON, THE
WILLIE HORTON AD IS VIEWED AS
ONE OF THE MOST INFAMOUS AD OF
ALL TIME IN PRESIDENTIAL
ELECTION HISTORY.
>> WERE YOU SURPRISED WHEN YOU
SAW THE PRODUCTION STYLE
SIMILARITIES BETWEEN THE HORTON
AD AND THE DANIEL KELLY AD?
>> IT CERTAINLY FITS IN WITH
KELLY'S EMPHASIS ON CRIME.
WE KNOW THAT THE WILLIE HORTON
AVID WAS ALL ABOUT CRIME AND
TRYING TO CREATE THE SENSE THAT
IF MICHAEL DUKAKIS WAS ELECTED,
THEN THERE WOULD BE RAMPANT
CRIME ALL OVER THE COUNTRY AND
IT MADE PEOPLE FEARFUL OF CRIME.
AND AGAIN, IT ACTIVATED THOSE
RACIAL CONSIDERATIONS AND THOSE
RACIAL ATTITUDES JUST AS IT
ACTIVATED THOSE FEELINGS ABOUT
CRIME.
SO, TO ME, THE BIG DIFFERENCE IS
THE LACK OF A MUGSHOT.
THAT IS THE BIG STYLISTIC
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO ADS.
ALSO, IT JUST FITS IN WITH THIS
BROADER THEME ON CRIME.
DAN KELLY WANTS TO ADVANCE THE
NARRATIVE THAT JANET
PROTASIEWICZ IS WEAK ON CRIME
AND SO HE HEARKENS BACK TO THIS
CLASSIC AD THAT REALLY MADE
PEOPLE THINK ABOUT CRIME IN A
VERY INTENSE WAY.
>> AND YET THERE'S A WHOLE
GENERATION AT LEAST OF PEOPLE
WHO HAVE REALLY NEVER HEARD OF
WILLIE HORTON OR THAT WILLIE
HORTON AD.
SO IS THIS APPEAL TO AN OLDER
DEMOGRAPHIC?
>> IT COULD BE, FREDERICA.
IT COULD BE AN ATTEMPTS TO
CREATE SOME BUZZ.
IT COULD ALSO JUST BE AN EFFORT
TO MEAN GET PEOPLE THINKING
ABOUT POLITICS IN A WAY THAT
THEY THOUGHT ABOUT POLITICS LONG
AGO IN 1988.
IN THE '80s, THINGS WERE MUCH
DIFFERENT IN TERMS OF PEOPLE'S
RACIAL ATTITUDES, HOW PEOPLE
THOUGHT ABOUT RACE AND HOW
PEOPLE THOUGHT ABOUT CRIME.
IT WAS A DIFFERENT CONTEXT.
SO THIS COULD BE KIND OF AN
EFFORT TO RECAPTURE SOME OF THAT
CONTEXT FROM THE '80s TO
REMIND PEOPLE OF WHAT LIFE WAS
LIKE IN THE 1980s AND TO MAKE
PEOPLE SCARED OF GOING BACK TO
THAT TYPE OF SITUATION, AND JUST
TO CREATE BUZZ.
WE KNOW THAT DAN KELLY HAS BEEN
OUTSPENT BY JANET PROTASIEWICZ.
DAN KELLY HAS NOT RUN NEARLY AS
MANY COMMERCIALS AS JANET
PROTASIEWICZ HAS.
ONE WAY TO RESPOND IN THAT TYPE
OF ENVIRONMENT, ONE WAY TO DEAL
WITH THAT TYPE OF ENVIRONMENT IS
TO TRY TO CREATE SOME BUZZ, SOME
WORD OF MOUTH, AND THAT MIGHT BE
WHAT HE'S TRYING TO DO IN THIS
SITUATION.
>> SO WE KNOW THAT THIS
PARTICULAR DAN KELLY AD DOES NOT
SHOW THE MUGSHOT OF THE BLACK
DEFENDANT, BUT THERE ARE
THIRD-PARTY GROUPS, OF COURSE,
THAT ARE AIRING ADS ON HIS
BEHALF THAT DO.
THERE'S ONE SHOWING WHO SHADOWY
MUGSHOTS OF BLACK DEFENDANTS.
SO HAS THE WILLIE HORTON RACE
CARD PLAYBOOK REEMERGED IN HIGH
STAKES RACES IN WISCONSIN?
>> IT'S INTERESTING, FREDERICA
FREYBERG.
WHEN WE LOOK BACK AT SOME OF THE
RESEARCH ON THE WILLIE HORTON
AD, WE KNOW THAT IT ACTIVATED
PEOPLE'S RACIAL ATTITUDES IN THE
CONTEXT OF THE 1988 CAMPAIGN,
BUT WHAT IT WAS CALLED OUT FOR
BEING RACIST, WHEN PEOPLE
STARTED TO ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT
THE WILLIE HORTON CAMPAIGN AD,
THEN THE EFFECT OF THE WILLIE
HORTON AD ACTUALLY DIMINISHED
AND PEOPLE'S RACIAL ATTITUDES
BECAME SOMEWHAT LESS RELEVANT IN
HOW THEY THOUGHT ABOUT THE
SITUATION.
SO THIS COULD BE WHAT HAPPENS
THIS TIME AROUND.
AS PEOPLE ARE MAYBE
SUBCONSCIOUSLY THINKING ABOUT
RACE, IT HAS SOME PARTICULAR
EFFECT.
AS PEOPLE THINK ABOUT RACE IN A
MORE CONCRETE MATTER, IT COULD
HAVE A DIFFERENT EFFECT.
WE KNOW THAT THAT IS EXACTLY
WHAT PLAYED OUT IN 1988, WHERE
RACIAL HAD THIS RACE -- RACIAL
ATTITUDES HAVE THESE UNDERLYING
ELEMENT OF PEOPLE'S
CONSIDERATIONS AND THEN WHEN THE
AD WAS CALLED OUT FOR BEING
RACIST, THEN PEOPLE STARTED TO
REJECT THE AD AND STARTED TO
THINK ABOUT THE AD IN A
DIFFERENT WAY.
>> IN TERMS OF THIS DAN KELLY AD
THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, WE
WANTED TO DO JUST A LITTLE MINI
FACTS CHECK.
THESE ARE ONLY 30-SECOND ADS BUT
THE AD SAYS THAT THIS DEFENDANT
FACED 60 YEARS IN PRISON.
IN FACT, THE DEFENDANT FACED
FIVE YEARS IN PRISON AND FIVE
YEARS ON PROBATION AFTER THE
CHARGES WERE AMENDED DOWN.
PROTASIEWICZ GAVE HIM ONE YEAR
IN A MEDIUM SECURITY JAIL BUT
THE FULL 10 YEARS IF HE WAS
REVOKED AND THAT APPARENTLY NOW
A REVOCATION IS IN PROCESS AND
THIS DEFENDANT IS IN JAIL, SO
THERE'S THE FULL STORY THAT YOU
CAN'T GET INTO A COMMERCIAL.
NOW, ONE PROTASIEWICZ AD ACCUSES
KELLY OF CORRUPTION FOR STEPPING
ASIDE FROM A CASE AND THEN
JOINING BACK IN AFTER GETTING
CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE
FAMILY OF A PARTY IN THE CASE,
BUT THE KELLY CAMPAIGN CALLS
THIS ASSERTION OF CORRUPTION A
LIE, SAYING HE ONLY REJOINED
WHEN HE LOST THE 2020 ELECTION
AND THEN HE DIDN'T GO ON TO RULE
ON THE CASE.
SO THESE ADS FROM THE CANDIDATES
LEAVE OUT DETAIL, OF COURSE, BUT
WHAT ARE VOTERS TO MAKE OF THESE
ATTACK ADS ON BOTH SIDES?
EXISTING RECORD FOR THE MOST
EXPENSIVE JUDICIAL ELECTION EVER
IN UNITED STATES HISTORY.
WE KNOW THAT THE ATTACK ADS ARE
GOING BACK AND FORTH AND WE KNOW
THAT THOSE ADS LEAVE OUT A LOT
OF CONTEXT.
IT'S UP TO THE VOTERS TO MAKE AN
INFORMED DECISION, KNOWING THAT
THE 30-SECOND ADS ARE NOT THE
MOST RELIABLE INDICATORS OF HOW
A JUDGE MIGHT OPERATE WHEN THEY
ARE IN OFFICE.
YOU HAVE TO PUT THESE ADS INTO
CONTEXT.
YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THE FACTS
ABOUT THESE ADS BECAUSE THE SPIN
DOCTORS ARE OUT THERE TRYING TO
INFLUENCE PEOPLE WITH THESE
30-SECOND COMMERCIALS.
>> PROFESSOR CHERGOSKY, THANKS
VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> ON APRIL 4th, WISCONSIN
VOTERS WILL ELECT THE SUPREME
COURT JUSTICE THAT WILL
DETERMINE THE IDEOLOGICAL
BALANCE OF THE COURT.
ON THAT SAME DAY, VOTERS IN THE
NORTHERN MILWAUKEE SUBURBS WILL
ELECT A STATE SENATOR THAT COULD
DETERMINE SOMETHING EQUALLY AS
LARGE.
WHETHER REPUBLICANS IN THE
SENATE HOLD A TWO-THIRDS
MAJORITY.
SENIOR POLITICAL REPORTER, ZAC
SCHULTZ, HAS THE STORY.
>> HI.
HOW ARE YOU?
I'M JODI HABUSH SINYKIN.
I'M RUNNING FOR WISCONSIN STATE
SENATE.
>> I'M DAN KNODL, STATE
REPRESENTATIVE, RUNNING NOW FOR
STATE SENATOR.
>> THE SPECIAL ELECTION IN THE
EIGHTH SENATE DISTRICT HAS THE
POTENTIAL TO BE OVERLOOKED ON
APRIL 4th.
AFTER ALL, NO MATTER THE
OUTCOME, REPUBLICANS WILL STILL
CONTROL THE LEGISLATURE AND
DEMOCRAT TONY EVERS WILL STILL
BE GOVERNOR.
IF DAN KNODL WINS, HE WILL
BECOME THE 22nd REPUBLICAN IN
THE SENATE, GIVING THEM A
TWO-THIRDS MAJORITY.
BUT REPUBLICANS WOULD STILL BE A
COUPLE VOTES SHY OF TWO-THIRDS
IN THE ASSEMBLY.
SO THERE'S NO THREAT OF THEM
BEING ABLE TO OVERRIDE A VETO
FROM GOVERNOR TONY EVERS.
>> WISCONSIN IS, IN FACT A
TIPPING POINT.
>> BUT DEMOCRAT JODI HABUSH
SINYKIN IS TRYING TO CONVINCE
VOTERS THE OUTCOME COULD IMPACT
THE ENTIRE STATE.
>> I HAVE SOME LITERATURE IF I
COULD GIVE TO YOU AND JUST
IMPRESS UPON YOU THE IMPORTANCE
OF THE APRIL 4th SPECIAL
ELECTION.
>> SURE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I APPRECIATE IT.
>> THAT'S BECAUSE TWO-THIRDS
MAJORITY IN THE SENATE WOULD
GIVE REPUBLICANS IN THE
LEGISLATURE THE POWER OF
IMPEACHMENT, THE ABILITY TO
REMOVE CIVIL OFFICERS OF THE
STATE FROM OFFICE FOR REASONS OF
CORRUPT CONDUCT.
>> I WOULD HOPE VOTERS DO HAVE
THAT IN THEIR MIND.
I WILL PUT IT IN THEIR MIND
BECAUSE IT IS IMPORTANT.
>> DAN KNODL WOULD BE THE 22nd
VOTE AND HE'S EAGER TO TEST OUT
THE LEGAL LIMITS OF IMPEACHMENT,
EVEN IF ANY ATTEMPT WOULD LIKELY
BE CHALLENGED IN COURT.
>> I THINK WE HAVE TO BE HONEST.
THAT IS LIKELY I HAVE REQUESTS
OUT RIGHT NOW FROM PEOPLE WHO
ARE MORE CONSTITUTIONALLY
SCHOLARLY THAN I AM TO TELL ME,
WELL, GIVE ME AN OPINION ON WHAT
THIS AUTHORITY MIGHT PROVIDE.
>> BUT 2014 MEMORANDUM FROM THE
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MAKES CLEAR
THE TERM "CIVIL OFFICERS" IS NOT
DEFINED.
SO THE FIRST QUESTION IS WHETHER
THIS WOULD ONLY APPLY TO
APPOINTING CABINET LEVEL
OFFICIALS OR STATE BOARD MEMBERS
OR WHETHER REPUBLICANS COULD TRY
TO IMPEACH GOVERNOR EVERS OR
JOSH KAUL OR A MEMBER OF THE
WISCONSIN SUPREME COURT.
>> THAT'S THE QUESTION, AND THAT
WE MAY NOT KNOW THE ANSWER
UNLESS WE TEST THAT AND USE THAT
AUTHORITY AND SEE HOW IT SHAKES
OUT, BUT I WILL INITIALLY LOOK
AT IT.
THAT COULD INVOLVE ANY ELECTED
OFFICIAL, PARTICULARLY ELECTED
OFFICIALS, GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS
AS WELL.
SO I WOULD THINK IT'S -- I VIEW
IT INITIALLY AS ALL
ENCOMPASSING.
>> THOSE TYPE OF SHENANIGANS,
THOSE GAMES OF IMPEACHMENT
WHETHER THEY'RE TIED UP IN COURT
OR NOT, IT'S NOT WHAT WE NEED IN
WISCONSIN.
>> A WIN BY JODI HABUSH SINYKIN
WOULD TAKE IMPEACHMENT OFF THE
TABLE, BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT SHE'S
CAMPAIGNING ON.
>> AND I JUST WANTED TO SEE IF
YOU WERE SUPPORTIVE AND IF
THERE'S ISSUES YOU ARE
INTERESTED IN TALKING ABOUT.
>> WELL, WHAT ISSUES ARE YOU
RUNNING ON?
>> I'M VERY MUCH RUNNING ON
WOMEN'S RIGHT TO CHOOSE AND HAVE
HEALTHCARE OPTIONS.
>> LIKE DEMOCRATS ACROSS THE
COUNTRY, SINCE THE FALL OF ROE
VERSUS WADE, SHE'S CAMPAIGNING
ON ABORTION.
>> WHAT I AM CONTINUING TO HEAR
THE GRAVEST CONCERN TO FOLKS IS
WOMEN'S RIGHT TO CHOOSE AND
WOMEN'S HEALTHCARE OPTIONS IN
GENERAL.
THAT'S REALLY THE NUMBER ONE.
>> AND TO ME BEING PRO-LIFE IS A
POSITIVE THING.
>> KNODL HAS BEEN IN THE
ASSEMBLY OR 14 YEARS AND HAS
REPRESENTED LARGE PORTIONS OF
THE SENATE DISTRICT OVER THAT
TIME.
HE SAYS THAT REPRESENTATION
EXTENDS BEYOND THOSE ALREADY
LIVING HERE.
>> SO I BELIEVE I NEED TO BE THE
VOICE OF NOT ONLY THOSE THAT ARE
ADULTS, BUT YOUNGER PEOPLE AND
THE UNBORN.
THEY DON'T HAVE A VOICE.
>> REPUBLICANS IN THE ASSEMBLY
RECENTLY INTRODUCED A BILL THAT
WOULD PROVIDE RAPE AND INCEST
EXCEPTIONS FOR ABORTION IN THE
FIRST TRIMESTER AND CLARIFIES
WHEN AN ABORTION CAN BE
PERFORMED TO SAVE THE LIFE OF A
MOTHER.
>> I DON'T THINK PEOPLE GIVE
ENOUGH CREDENCE TO CURRENT LAW
WHICH PROTECTS THE LIFE OF THE
MOTHER, WHICH IS A MAIN FACTOR.
SO -- BUT I AM ALSO -- I DO
SUPPORT RAPE AND INCEST
EXCEPTIONS.
>> THE BILL WILL GO NOWHERE AS
GOVERNOR EVERS PROMISED A VETO
AND SENATE REPUBLICANS SAID THEY
WON'T EVEN TAKE IT UP.
JODI HABUSH SINYKIN SAYS EVEN
SUPPORTING THE ASSEMBLY BILL
PUTS KNODL OUT OF LINE WITH MOST
VOTERS.
>> WHAT THEY DON'T APPRECIATE IS
THAT KNODL, WHO IS MY OPPONENT,
IS EXTREME ON ABORTION.
>> THE EIGHTH SENATE DISTRICT
HAS BEEN A SAFE REPUBLICAN SEAT
FOR DECADES.
REPUBLICAN ALBERTA DARLING HELD
THE SEAT FOR 30 YEARS BUT SHE
RESIGNED LAST FALL, SETTING UP
THE SPECIAL ELECTION TO FILL OUT
THE LAST TWO YEARS OF HER TERM.
OVER THE LAST SIX YEARS, THE
SEAT HAS FOLLOWED THE PATH OF
SUBURBS ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND
SHIFTED MORE DEMOCRATIC.
>> I HAVE TO ADMIT, CERTAINLY
THERE'S A SHIFT THAT HAS BEEN
GOING ON.
JUST LOOK AT THE ELECTION
CYCLES.
>> KNODL SAYS SOME OF THAT SHIFT
HAS BEEN PEOPLE MOVING OUT OF
MILWAUKEE TO GET AWAY FROM
CRIME.
>> AND NOBODY CAN DENY THAT
THERE'S CRIME, RISING CRIME
PROBLEM IN THE CITY OF MILWAUKEE
AND THAT EXTENDS OUT INTO THE
SUBURBS AND SO WE FEEL THAT.
>> HA JODI HABUSH SINYKIN SAYS
REPUBLICANS ARE TO BLAME FOR
SHORT-CHANGING REVENUE,
PREVENTING CITIES FROM HIRING
ENOUGH POLICE OFFICERS.
>> THIS LEGISLATURE REALLY UNDER
MY OPPONENT'S WATCH, THEY ARE
PART OF THIS PROBLEM.
THEY ARE NOT PROVIDING OUR LAW
ENFORCEMENT WITH WHAT THEY NEED
TO KEEP US SAFE.
>> KNODL HAS A DIFFERENT
SOLUTION TO BATTLING CRIME IN
MILWAUKEE.
HE WANTS TO SEE THE SENATE USE
ITS NEW IMPEACHMENT POWERS TO
TARGET JOHN CHISHOLM.
>> I'VE HAD STATEMENTS BEFORE
CALLING FOR HIS RESIGNATION.
JUST DON'T FEEL THAT -- AND WHEN
WE SEE THE REVOLVING DOOR,
THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS IN MILWAUKEE
AND WE SEE THE COURT CASES AND
THE AFTERMATH OF PEOPLE GETTING
OUT WITHOUT -- WITH LOW BAIL,
SPECIFICALLY AND CAUSING EVEN
MORE HARM.
THAT'S A PROBLEM AND THAT GOES
TO THE PROSECUTOR.
>> IT'S A CLASSIC MOVE TO POINT
TO AN INDIVIDUAL, A
REPRESENTATIVE TRYING TO KEEP
OUR COMMUNITY SAFE AND BLAME
THEM FOR THE VERY THINGS THAT
THEIR POLICIES ARE CAUSING.
>> REPORTING FROM GERMANTOWN,
I'M ZAC SCHULTZ FOR "HERE AND
NOW."
>> REPUBLICAN AUTHORED BILL WITH
A NUMBER OF CO-SPONSORS ON BOTH
SIDES OF THE AISLE WOULD EXPAND
POSTPARTUM MEDICAID COVERAGE
FROM TWO MONTHS TO A FULL YEAR.
UNDER CURRENT STATE LAW, MEDICAL
ASSISTANCE, KNOWN AS BADGER CARE
IN WISCONSIN, IS AVAILABLE TO
THOSE WITH AN INCOME UP TO 300%
OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL.
THIS BILL, IF PASSED, WOULD SEEK
PERMISSION FROM THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT TO EXPAND THE SAME
COVERAGE FOR 10 ADDITIONAL
MONTHS.
HERE AND NOW PRODUCER MARISA
WOJCIK SPOKE WITH MAJORITY
CAUCUSES VICE CHAIRMAN JOAN
BALLWEG TO LEARN MORE.
>> THANK YOU FOR DOING THIS.
>> HAPPY TO BE WITH YOU.
>> I FIRST WANT TO ASK, WHY IS
IT NECESSARY TO EXPAND MEDICAID
BENEFITS TO POSTPARTUM MOTHERS
UP TO A YEAR AFTER GIVING BIRTH?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
SO WHAT WE'VE HEARD FROM THE
ADVOCATES FOR THAT POPULATION OF
FOLKS IS THAT THE CONTINUITY OF
CARE IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE
REALLY CONCERNED WITH.
MANY TIMES THROUGH PREGNANCY,
THERE ARE HEALTH CONDITIONS THAT
INDIVIDUALS MAY SEE ARE
EXACERBATED DURING THEIR
PREGNANCY AND SO WE WANT TO
CONTINUE TO HAVE THOSE FOLKS
MONITORED AND THOSE CHANGES
DON'T NECESSARILY GO AWAY AFTER
60 DAYS, WHICH IS WHAT CURRENT
STATE LAW IS.
ALSO, THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT
CAN COME UP A LITTLE BIT LATER
THAT ARE NEVER USUALLY IN THE
FIRST 60 DAYS, SUCH AS
DEPRESSION ISSUES, WHICH MANY
TIMES AREN'T POPPING UP UNTIL
EITHER THREE TO SIX MONTHS
LATER.
THE OTHER THING WE WANT TO MAKE
SURE IS THIS YOUNGSTER IS
GETTING OFF TO A GOOD START
BECAUSE THEY'RE BEING COVERED BY
THAT FIRST YEAR.
SO WE DON'T WANT NEW MOTHERS TO
HAVE THE STRESS OF HAVING TO
FIGURE OUT HOW TO CONTINUE THEIR
CARE IF THEY ARE NO LONGER
COVERED.
AND SO IT JUST CAUSES ADDITIONAL
STRESS FOR THAT CARE AND WE WANT
TO HAVE NEW MOMS IN THEIR FIRST
YEAR TO BE THE BEST POSSIBLE
PARENTS AND BE ABLE TO FOCUS ON
THAT LITTLE PERSON.
>> AND WHAT KIND OF BENEFITS
WILL THIS GIVE BOTH PREGNANT AND
POSTPARTUM MOTHERS?
>> WELL, IT WILL MAKE ANY
CHANGES FOR PREGNANT WOMEN OR
THE FIRST 60 DAYS.
BECAUSE IN WISCONSIN, WE DO HAVE
A PRETTY RICH BENEFIT WITH
COVERAGE OF 306% OF THE FEDERAL
POVERTY LIMIT.
YOU GO PAST THE 60 DAYS, THEN IT
WOULD FALL BACK TO WHAT
EVERYBODY ELSE IS AT 100%.
SO WE HAVE THIS MORE GENEROUS
MEANS OF TAKING CARE OF OUR
POSTPARTUM MOMS.
SO THAT WOULD BE THE BIGGEST
DIFFERENCE SO THAT THEY WOULD BE
ABLE TO CONTINUE WITH THE
HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS AND THE
PROGRAMS THAT THEY HAD SET UP
DURING THE PREGNANCY AND NEXT
COUPLE OF MONTHS POSTPARTUM.
>> WISCONSIN REPUBLICANS
GENERALLY HAVE NOT BEEN IN FAVOR
OF ANY MEDICAID EXPANSION,
TALKING ABOUT GROWING
ENTITLEMENT PROGRAMS.
DOES THIS HAVE BROAD REPUBLICAN
SUPPORT IN THE SENATE AND
ASSEMBLY?
>> IT DOES HAVE BROAD REPUBLICAN
SUPPORT AND IT HAS BROAD SUPPORT
OVERALL.
WE HAVE 66 CO-SPONSORS TO OUR
LEGISLATION THIS YEAR.
I THINK THIS HAS BEEN A BIT OF A
LEARNING CURVE FOR SOME OF OUR
MEMBERS TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT
RELATIONSHIP IS AND HOW THIS CAN
STRENGTHEN FAMILIES.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT I'VE BEEN
WORKING ON FOR MOST OF THE YEARS
THAT I'VE BEEN IN THE
LEGISLATURE, STRENGTHENING
FAMILIES, STRENGTHENING THAT
BOND, UNDERSTANDING THAT THE
BEGINNING YEARS OF A CHILD'S
DEVELOPMENT ARE SO IMPORTANT
MOVING FORWARD.
WE HAVE A VERY BROAD COALITION
OF SPONSORS FROM NOT ONLY
LEGISLATURE, FROM SPONSORSHIP
AROUND WISCONSIN.
IT'S JUST A VERY WIDE GROUP OF
FOLKS THAT HAVE REALLY COME TO
UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF THE
LONG-TERM CARE OF MOMS.
>> AND UNITED STATES AND
WISCONSIN ARE NOT DOING A GREAT
JOB WHEN IT COMES TO MATERNAL
HEALTH.
THERE WAS JUST A NEW C.D.C.
REPORT THAT CAME OUT THAT UNITED
STATES IS EVEN FALLING FARTHER
BEHIND WHEN IT COMES TO
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES, AND
WISCONSIN IS IN THE SAME
CONDITION.
SO I THINK PEOPLE ARE STARTING
TO REALIZE THAT IT'S TIME TO
PROVIDE THIS HELP.
>> THAT C.D.C. REPORT CAME OUT
RECENTLY BUT SHOWED THAT IN
2021, THE UNITED STATES SAW THE
WORST MATERNAL MORTALITY RATES
IN THE COUNTRY'S HISTORY.
SO WITHOUT THE ABILITY TO SEEK
ABORTIONS FOR THE HEALTH OF THE
MOTHER IN WISCONSIN, IS THIS
LEGISLATION ENOUGH TO TAKE ON
THESE SIGNIFICANT MORTALITY
RATES?
>> WELL, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
MORTALITY RATES FOR NEW MOMS,
FOR PEOPLE THAT HAVE GONE
THROUGH PREGNANCY, AND THAT'S
OUR FOCUS.
SO FOR THESE BABIES THAT ARE
COMING ALONG, HOW DO WE KEEP
THEIR FAMILIES STRONG?
HOW DO WE KEEP MOM IN THE BEST
HEALTH MEANS AS POSSIBLE MOVING
FORWARD, AND TO AVOID SOME OF
THOSE ISSUES THAT MAY HAVE BEEN
EXACERBATED BY THE PREGNANCY:
HYPERTENSION, CARDIAC ISSUES,
ALL OF THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.
WE HAVE WOMEN NOWADAYS THAT ARE
INTERESTED IN STARTING THEIR
FAMILIES A LITTLE BIT LATER IN
LIFE THAN MAYBE WE HAVE BEFORE
AND, OF COURSE, THOSE ARE FOLKS
THAT HAVE MORE EXPERIENCE IN
LIFE AND MAYBE HAVE A LITTLE BIT
MORE HEALTH CONCERNS ALONG THE
WAY, SO I THINK WE NEED ALL WE
CAN DO TO SUPPORT THOSE FOLKS.
>> WHAT DO YOU SAY TO YOUR
REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES WHO AREN'T
ON BOARD WITH THIS?
>> MMM.
WELL, THE NUMBER ONE THING I TRY
TO POINT OUT IS THAT WE ARE
PRO-LIFE, WE DO SEE THAT WE WANT
TO SUPPORT NEW FAMILIES,
ENCOURAGE FOLKS THAT WANT TO
BUILD THEIR FAMILIES, AND HOW DO
WE DO THAT IN A PRODUCTIVE WAY?
BE ABLE TO HELP THOSE FOLKS THAT
ARE A LITTLE BIT LOWER ON THE
ECONOMIC STRATA, TO PROVIDE THEM
WITH SOME HELP THAT THEY CAN
GROW THEIR FAMILIES, GROW THEIR
FINANCIAL SUPPORT, YOU KNOW,
MOVING FORWARD.
SO THIS IS A GOOD THING OVERALL
FOR WISCONSIN, FOR FAMILIES.
I JUST THINK IT'S THE RIGHT
THING TO DO.
>> FOR MORE ON THIS AND OTHER
ISSUES FACING WISCONSIN, VISIT
OUR WEBSITE AT PBS WISCONSIN
DOT-ORG AND THEN CLICK ON THE
NEWS TAB.
THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.
FUNDING FOR HERE AND NOW IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.