>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION.
>> REPUBLICANS HAVE OFFERED NO
REAL COMPREHENSIBLEIVE PLAN TO
ADDRESS OUR STATE'S WORKFORCE
CHALLENGES TO DATE.
>> THE GOVERNOR CALLS ANOTHER
SPECIAL SESSION.
>>> CHALLENGES PLAGUE THE
WISCONSIN VETERANS HOMES.
AND A SHIFT ON THE STATE SUPREME
COURT BENCH TEES UP NEW
CONVERSATIONS ABOUT ABORTION.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG, TONIGHT
ON "HERE AND NOW," A LOOK INTO
THE CONDITIONS AT THE TROUBLED
WISCONSIN VETERANS HOMES AND HOW
OFFICIALS ARE RESPONDING.
DEMOCRATS RENEW THEIR PUSH FOR
CHILDCARE FUNDING TO SUPPORT
WORKING FAMILIES, AND ZAC
SCHULTZ BRINGS THE FIRST IN A
SERIES OF REPORTS ON ABORTION.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR AUGUST
11.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE & NOW" IS PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.
>> NEARLY 75% OF RESIDENTS SAID
THEY WERE NEVER UNHAPPY WITH
CARE.
THIS IS ACCORDING TO THE RESULTS
OF A NEW SATISFACTION SURVEY
RELEASED BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT
OF VETERANS AFFAIRS POLLING
RESIDENTS IN THE WISCONSIN
VETERANS HOMES AT KING AND UNION
GROVE.
THE OVERALL POSITIVE SURVEY
RESULTS CLASH WITH OTHER REPORTS
FROM RESIDENTS, FAMILY,
EMPLOYEES, AND FEDERAL
INSPECTIONS CITING THESE
FACILITIES FOR POOR QUALITY OF
CARE.
MARISA WOJCIK SHARES THIS STORY.
>> BEEN MORE THAN 20 YEARS, I'VE
NEVER SEEN THIS MANY CITATIONS
AND THIS MUCH IN FINES LEVELED
AGAINST ONE NURSING HOME IN THIS
STATE.
>> THE WISCONSIN VETERANS HOMES
AT KING AND UNION GROVE HAVE
BEEN MAKING HEADLINES FOR YEARS
WITH ALLEGATIONS OF POOR QUALITY
OF CARE.
AS MUCH AS A QUARTER OF A
MILLION DOLLARS IN FINES FROM
DEFICIENCIES HAVE BEEN CITED IN
FEDERAL INSPECTIONS.
NOW, A LAWSUIT HOLDS UNION GROVE
RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DEATH OF
RESIDENT RANDY KOROLL.
>> THE CONCERNS WERE, TO SAY THE
LEAST, SAD, AS TO WHAT WAS
HAPPENING THERE, THE TREATMENT
THAT HE WAS RECEIVING AND
ULTIMATELY WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM
BECAUSE OF THE TREATMENT THAT HE
RECEIVED AT UNION GROVE, AND
THIS ALL CAME TO A HEAD IN LATE
2020, WHEN HE SUFFERED FROM
PROFOUND DEHYDRATION, WHEN HE
STARTED SUFFERING FROM SOME BED
SORES AND ULTIMATELY HE NEEDED
TO BE HOSPITALIZED FOR THOSE
CONDITIONS AND WAS NEVER ABLE TO
RECOVER.
THE WORST OF THESE THINGS
HAPPENED AFTER HE WAS DISCHARGED
FROM THE HOSPITAL AND RETURNED
TO UNION GROVE.
RANDY ONLY HAD A FEW DAYS LEFT
TO LIVE BECAUSE OF HIS INJURIES
AND THE DAY THAT RANDY STARTED
SHOWING CHANGES THAT HE WAS IN
THE DYING PROCESS, UNION GROVE
STAFF WAS SUPPOSED TO CALL HIS
WIFE AND LET HIM KNOW THAT RANDY
IS EXPERIENCING THESE CHANGES,
HE'S VERY CLOSE TO DEATH, SO
THAT SHE CAN GO AND BE WITH HIM,
BE AT HIS SIDE AND HOLD HIS
HAND.
THEY NEVER CALLED AND TOLD HER
THAT THEY DIDN'T CALL HER UNTIL
AFTER HE HAD DIED AND THEY
ROBBED HER OF THE RIGHT TO BE AT
HER HUSBAND'S SIDE AS HE PASSED
AWAY.
>> THESE EVENTS ARE SUPPORTED IN
A FEDERAL INSPECTION REPORT, AND
DOCUMENTS SHOWED MORE PROBLEMS.
>> MEDICATION ERRORS, WATER
BEING LEFT OUT OF RANDY'S REACH,
BED BUGS THAT WERE FOUND IN THE
ROOM, HIS CALL LIGHT GOING
UNANSWERED FOR MORE THAN 45
MINUTES, UNFILLED DOCTORS'
ORDERS FOR A HOLTER MONITOR TO
MONITOR HIS HEART, FOR PHYSICAL
THERAPY, ANTS CRAWLING AROUND IN
HIS ROOM, UNCOOKED FOOD, COLD
FOOD, FOOD THAT WAS...
>> WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF
VETERANS AFFAIRS SAYS THEY CAN'T
COMMENT ON MATTERS INVOLVING ANY
SPECIFIC INDIVIDUAL DUE TO
H.I.P.A.A. AND OTHER PRIVACY
LAWS.
>> INJURIES OF UNKNOWN ORIGIN,
INCLUDING HIM HAVING BLOOD IN
HIS MOUTH AND A CHIPPED TOOTH
AND MACHINES THAT WERE BEING
USED TO HELP SCAN RANDY'S
BLADDER TO SEE IF HE WAS HAVING
URINARY RETENTION, THE WIRES TO
THESE MACHINES WERE BEING HELD
TOGETHER BY SCOTCH TAPE.
>> WE HAVE INVITED SPEAKERS HERE
TODAY...
>> HEARING RECEIVED TESTIMONY ON
THE CONDITIONS OF THE WISCONSIN
VETERANS HOMES.
TESTIMONY PAINTED A GRIM PICTURE
INSIDE UNION GROVE IN KING, FROM
CONDITIONS FOR STAFF.
>> SOME WORKED 16-HOUR SHIFTS
FOR THREE DAYS IN A ROW.
WE SPOKE WITH A NURSE WHO HAD
WORKED 32 DAYS IN A ROW.
>> TO THE CONDITIONS FOR
RESIDENTS.
>> HE HAS WET HIMSELF IN THE BED
SEVERAL MORNINGS IN THE PAST FEW
YEARS BECAUSE NO ONE COMES TO
HELP WHEN HE PUTS HIS CALL
BUTTON ON.
NOW HE SAYS HE DOESN'T WANT TO
GO OUTSIDE BECAUSE HE KNOWS HE
WON'T WANT TO GO BACK IN.
>> AND POINTED TO LEADERSHIP AS
THE PROBLEM.
>> OVERSIGHT AND CHANGE OF
MANAGEMENT COMING OUT OF MADISON
AND AT THE LOCAL LOCATION,
THINGS STARTED TO DETERIORATE.
>> BUT THESE ORDEALS ARE
CONTRARY TO THE RESULTS OF A NEW
SATISFACTION SURVEY CONDUCTED BY
THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS
AFFAIRS.
PEOPLE AT UNION AND KING RATE AN
AVERAGE OF 8.1 OUT OF 10 AND
YEARLY 75% OF RESPONDENTS SAID
THEY WERE NEVER UNHAPPY WITH
CARE.
>> I WANTED TO HEAR FIRSTHAND
FROM THE MEMBERS ON THE GROUND,
THE MEMBERS AND THE STAFF IN THE
FACILITIES.
AND SO THAT WAS A GOOD START.
AND SO I'M GOING TO PUT TOGETHER
A WORKGROUP THAT'S GOING TO
ANALYZE THE RESULTS, COME UP
WITH SOME RECOMMENDATIONS AND
THAT WILL HELP US, YOU KNOW, PUT
TOGETHER A PATH FOR MOVING
FORWARD.
>> W DB-A SECRETARY DESIGNEE,
JAMES BOND, WAS APPOINTED BY
GOVERNOR TONY EVERS IN JANUARY.
HE PUSHES BACK AGAINST CLAIMS
SAYING THE HOMES ARE IN CRISIS.
>> ANY KIND OF ALLEGATION WITH
RESPECT TO OUR HOMES, THOSE ARE
THINGS THAT WE INVESTIGATE, WE
FOLLOW UP, WE MAKE SURE THAT WE
CORRECT WHATEVER IT IS THAT
NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED.
I ALSO WANT TO SAY TO THOSE
MEMBERS THAT I WANT TO HEAR
DIRECTLY FROM YOU.
IF YOU HAVE CONCERNS THAT YOU
FEEL ARE NOT BEING ADDRESSED,
YOU KNOW, REACH OUT TO ME.
>> THE DEPARTMENT NOTES
COMPETITION FROM PRIVATE
FACILITIES, A DECLINING VETERAN
POPULATION, AND STAFFING AS KEY
CHALLENGES.
>> I HAPPEN TO BE INVOLVED WITH
THE BOARD ON LONG-TERM CARE IN
THIS STATE AND WE OFTEN TALK
ABOUT SOME OF THE EXACT SAME
CHALLENGES THAT OUR STATE
VETERANS HOMES HAVE: STAFFING
CHALLENGES.
SOME OF THEM HAVE THINGS THAT
HAPPEN THAT BRING THEM A
CITATION THAT'S HORRIBLE, BUT
WE'RE HUMAN BEINGS.
BUT THEY'RE NOT IN THE PAPER AND
THEY'RE NOT SITTING HERE TODAY
BECAUSE THEY'RE PRIVATE SECTOR,
THEY DON'T HAVE THE WORD
"VETERAN" AND IT'S NOT NEWS
WORTHY.
>> SO IF THEIR STRESSORS ARE THE
SAME ACROSS THE INDUSTRY, WHY IS
UNION GROVE RANKED IN THE BOTTOM
FIVE IN THIS COUNTRY?
THAT'S ILLOGICAL.
>> THE STATE BUDGET APPROVED
FUNDING FOR A STUDY INTO ALL
THREE WISCONSIN VETERANS HOMES.
>> AND THE PURPOSE WAS IS SO
THAT WE CAN LOOK AT LONG-TERM
PLANNING OF OUR FACILITIES, LOOK
AT THE FUTURE OF HOW THOSE
FACILITIES MIGHT LOOK AND LOOK
AT OUR CURRENT OPERATIONS.
>> SENATE COMMITTEE MEMBERS ARE
HOPING MORE CAN BE DONE.
>> AND I WOULD HOPE THAT ONE OF
THE BIGGEST TAKE-AWAYS IN ALL OF
THIS IS THAT I THINK EVERY
MEMBER ON THE COMMITTEE IS ALL
IN AGREEMENT THAT WE WANT AN
AUDIT.
I THINK THAT GIVES US AN
OPPORTUNITY, IF WE GO THROUGH
THE AUDIT COMMITTEE, TO FIND
LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS.
BUT IN THE MEANTIME, THERE ARE
CLEARLY ISSUES THAT WE CAN
ADDRESS HERE IN THE SHORT-TERM.
>> IF THE LEGISLATURE DECIDES
THAT THEY WANT TO HAVE AN AUDIT
SO THEY CAN TAKE A BETTER LOOK
AT OUR OPERATIONS, OUR FINANCIAL
SITUATION, AND OFFER, YOU KNOW,
SUGGESTIONS ON HOW WE MIGHT BE
ABLE TO IMPROVE, I THINK THAT
WOULD BE A GOOD THING.
BUT AS I MENTIONED, I HAVE
NOTHING TO HIDE AND I WELCOME AN
AUDIT.
>> FOR "HERE AND NOW," I'M
MARISA WOJCIK.
>> GOVERNOR TONY EVERS MADE A
STATEWIDE SWEEP OF VISITS TO
CHILDCARE CENTERS THIS WEEK AS
HE ANNOUNCED A SPECIAL SESSION
OF THE LEGISLATURE TO ADDRESS
WORKER SHORTAGES.
EVERS WANTS TO USE $1 BILLION OF
A $4 BILLION BUDGET SURPLUS TO
SHORE UP CHILDCARE CENTERS,
EXPAND PAID FAMILY LEAVE, GIVE
MORE TO HIGHER EDUCATION, AND
PUT MONEY TOWARDS SUPPORTING
HIGH-DEMAND JOBS IN HEALTHCARE
AND EDUCATION.
>> TRULY ADDRESSING THESE
LONGSTANDING CHALLENGES MUST
INCLUDE EFFORTS TO ENSURE
WORKERS WHO ARE ALREADY WORKING
AND ARE PART OF THE WORKFORCE
CAN REMAIN IN THE WORKFORCE.
>> THE SPECIAL SESSION CALLED
FOR SEPTEMBER 20 WAS MET WITH
PREDICTED DEMOLIT DERISION FROM
LEGISLATIVE LEADERS WITH ROBIN
VOS CALLING IT A STUNT, END
QUOTE, NOTHING MORE THAN A
REHASH OF TONY EVERS' TAX AND
SPEND BUDGET.
DEMOCRATS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL,
HE SAYS, TRIED EXTENDING
RECKLESSLY TO HELP THE WORKFORCE
AND ALL WE GOT FOR IT WAS
CRUSHING INFLATION.
WE ARE NOT GOING TO DO THAT IN
WISCONSIN.
>>> VOS FURTHER SAYS PROPOSAL TO
GIVE CHILDCARE PROVIDERS BY
EVERS A ONE-TIME PAYMENT OF $365
MILLION IS A 12-MONTH PATCH TO
MATCH WHAT THEY LOST THROUGH THE
FEDERAL STIMULUS PLAN, CALLING
IT UNSUSTAINABLE.
PEOPLE WHO STUDY WISCONSIN'S
CHILDCARE AND ITS RAMIFICATIONS
ON THE WORKFORCE, FAMILIES AND
CHILDREN, WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT
FUNDING PATCH, HOWEVER, FEARING
THE COLLAPSE OF THE INDUSTRY IN
SHORT ORDER.
WE SAT DOWN WITH ALEJANDRA ROS
PILARZ, UW-MADISON ASSISTANT
PROFESSOR IN THE SCHOOL OF
SOCIAL WORK.
WE STARTED BY ASKING HER TO
DESCRIBE HOW BAD THE SHORTAGE OF
LICENSED CHILDCARE PROVIDERS IS
AND THE IMPLICATIONS OF THAT.
>> WHEN WE THINK ABOUT ACCESS OF
CHILDCARE, WE THINK ABOUT A FEW
DIFFERENT THINGS.
ONE IS JUST GEOGRAPHIC
PROXIMITY, LIKE CAN FAMILIES,
HOW FAR THEY HAVE TO DRIVE TO
GET TO A NEARBY CHILDCARE
PROVIDER.
IN WISCONSIN, WE KNOW THE
GEOGRAPHIC ACCESS REALLY VARIES
A LOT ACROSS THE STATE, SO IN
URBAN AREAS, IT TENDS TO BE A
LITTLE BETTER.
BUT IN RURAL AREAS, THERE'S
ABOUT 3.4 CHILDREN PER REGULATED
CHILDCARE SLOT.
SO THAT'S WHAT WE CALL IT, WHEN
THERE'S 3 OR 4 KIDS PER
CHILDCARE SLOT.
THAT SUGGESTS IN RURAL AREAS,
ESPECIALLY, BUT IN OTHER PARTS
OF THE STATE, TOO, THAT THERE'S
FAMILIES LACK THESE GEOGRAPHIC
ACCESS TO CHILDCARE.
THEY HAVE TO DRIVE REALLY FAR TO
GET TO A NEARBY PROVIDER.
BUT THE SECOND KEY PIECE IS
AFFORDABILITY, AND SO EVEN IF
YOU HAVE PROVIDERS WHO ARE NEAR
YOU, YOU MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO
AFFORD THEM.
SO IN WISCONSIN, CHILDCARE FOR
AN INFANT IN THE CENTER COSTS
$13,500 A YEAR.
THAT IS UNAFFORDABLE FOR MANY
FAMILIES.
AND SO EVEN WHEN THERE IS THAT
SPOT AVAILABLE, IF YOU HAVE TO
PAY $13,000 PER YEAR, YOU'RE NOT
GOING TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD THAT.
>> WHO DOES THIS SHORTAGE HURT
THE MOST?
>> OBVIOUSLY, IT MOST DIRECTLY
IMPACTS CHILDREN AND PARENTS AND
CHILDCARE PROVIDERS, BUT IT ALSO
HAS RAMIFICATIONS FOR THE LABOR
MARKET, FOR THE ECONOMY, AND SO
ULTIMATELY ALL OF US.
AND SO FOR -- LET ME KIND OF
WALK YOU THROUGH HOW IT IMPACTS
DIFFERENT CHILDREN AND PARENTS.
SO FOR CHILDREN, THERE'S A
WEALTH OF RESEARCH THAT HIGH
QUALITY EARLY CARE EDUCATION, OR
CHILDCARE, IS REALLY CRITICAL TO
THEIR DEVELOPMENT.
SO IT MATTERS FOR NOT JUST THEIR
SHORT-TERM EDUCATION, ACADEMIC
PERFORMANCE, BUT ALSO
LONGER-TERM CHILDREN WHO HAVE
HIGH QUALITY EARLY EDUCATION GO
FURTHER IN SCHOOL AND HAVE
HIGHER EARNINGS AS ADULTS.
THEY ARE HEALTHIER AND SO ALL OF
THESE THINGS, ALL OF THOSE
BENEFITS TO KIDS PAY OFF TO
SOCIETY AS WELL.
AND THEN FOR PARENTS, PARENTS
NEED CHILDCARE TO BE ABLE TO
WORK.
AND SO IF THEY ARE WORKING LESS
OR NOT WORKING AT ALL, THAT
OBVIOUSLY IMPACTS THEIR EARNINGS
TYPICALLY EARNINGS ECONOMIC
WELL-BEING BECAUSE THEY HAVE
SACRIFICED INCOME AND ALSO
IMPACTS THE ECONOMY BECAUSE YOU
HAVE PRODUCTIVE WORKERS WHO ARE
STEPPING OUT OF THE LABOR FORCE
AND BUSINESSES WHO CAN'T FIND
WORKERS OR WHO HAVE LOTS OF
TURNOVER.
>> HOW DID WE GET TO THIS PLACE
WHERE PARENTS CAN'T AFFORD
QUALITY CARE AND PROVIDERS CAN'T
AFFORD TO PAY THEIR STAFF REALLY
LIVING WAGES?
>> CHILDCARE PROVIDERS, THOSE
WHO CARE FOR THE KIDS, ARE THE
MOST IMPORTANT INGREDIENT OF
CHILDCARE, OBVIOUSLY.
RIGHT?
SO THIS IS CRITICAL TO HIGH
QUALITY CARE.
IN ORDER TO DO THAT, WE NEED TO
HAVE FEWER KIDS PER TEACHER SO
THAT TEACHERS CAN HAVE THESE
HIGH-QUALITY INTERACTIONS WITH
KIDS.
AND SO YOU NEED A LOT OF PEOPLE
TO PROVIDE THAT CARE.
SO IN A CHILDCARE CENTER, THE
MAJORITY OF THE COSTS GO TOWARDS
LABOR, TOWARDS HIRING TEACHERS
WHO DO THIS WORK, AND SO
WHENEVER YOU WANT TO INCREASE
TEACHERS' WAGES, OR YOU RETAIN
THEM, YOU ARE INCREASING YOUR
OVERALL BUDGET BY A LOT, YOUR
OVERALL COSTS BY A LOT, AND SO
CHILDCARE CENTERS HAVE NO OPTION
BUT TO PASS THAT ON TO PARENTS
BECAUSE WITHOUT ADDITIONAL
PUBLIC INVESTMENT.
SO YOU HAVE PARENTS WHO REALLY
CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY MORE AND
CHILDCARE CENTERS WHO WANT TO
PAY THEIR STAFF MORE BUT CAN'T,
RAISE WAGES AT THE RISK OF
LOSING PARENTS.
>> DO YOU THINK THAT THE
GOVERNOR'S CALL FOR A BILLION
DOLLARS INVESTMENT TOWARD THIS
PROBLEM IS THE RIGHT FIX?
>> SO IT'S ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL
TO MAINTAINING THE STATUS QUO.
SO RIGHT NOW, WE DO HAVE A
CHILDCARE SHORTAGE.
THE SYSTEM IS NOT FUNCTIONING
WELL AND THE FUNDING THAT THE
GOVERNOR IS CALLING FOR IS TO
MAINTAIN THE CURRENT FUNDING.
IF WE DON'T INVEST MORE,
PANDEMIC RELIEF FUNDS THAT ARE
CURRENTLY KEEPING THE SYSTEM
SORT OF STABLE ARE GOING TO GO
AWAY.
AND SO THERE'S THIS REAL FEAR
THAT WHEN THAT MONEY RUNS OUT,
THAT THE SYSTEM IS GOING TO
DESTABILIZE AND PRICES ARE GOING
TO GO UP, PARENTS ARE GOING TO
HAVE TO HAVE FEWER OPTIONS FOR
CARE, WORKERS ARE GOING TO
LEAVE, AND SO THAT MONEY IS
ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL TO HAVING
THAT NOT HAPPEN AND MAINTAINING
WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW, BUT IN
THE LONGER-TERM, WE DO NEED MORE
SUBSTANTIAL PUBLIC INVESTMENTS
IN CHILDCARE IN ORDER TO IMPROVE
THE SYSTEM.
TO MAKE THINGS BETTER.
SO THAT PARENTS DON'T HAVE TO
SPEND 20% OF THEIR INCOME ON
CHILDCARE.
SO THAT TEACHERS CAN MAKE MORE
THAN $13 ON AVERAGE AN HOUR, AND
SO WE NEED ADDITIONAL TO MAKE
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE SYSTEM, BUT
THE FUNDING THAT HAS BEEN
PROPOSED BY GOVERNOR EVERS IS
CRITICAL TO MAINTAINING THINGS
WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW.
>> ALL RIGHT.
PROFESSOR PILARZ, THANK YOU SO
MUCH.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> SINCE THE OVERTURNING OF ROE
VERSUS WADE LAST YEAR, THE
DEBATE AROUND ABORTION HAS
SCRAMBLED THE POLITICAL
LANDSCAPE.
STATES LIKE WISCONSIN HAVE SEEN
ABORTION LAWS PASSED 150 YEARS
AGO BACK ON THE BOOKS.
OVER THE NEXT THREE WEEKS, "HERE
AND NOW" WILL BE EXAMINING THE
NEW DEBATE SURROUNDING ABORTION
PRESENTING YOU WITH THE
VIEWPOINTS OF THOSE WHO HAVE
UTILIZED ABORTION, THOSE WHO
WANT TO KEEP IT ILLEGAL, AND
THOSE IN THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY
ADVOCATING FOR THEIR PATIENTS.
TONIGHT, WE BEGIN WITH THE
VOICES OF WOMEN WHO HAVE HAD AN
ABORTION FOR, AS THEY WOULD
DESCRIBE IT, COMPLETELY ORDINARY
REASONS.
THEY ARE SPEAKING UP NOW IN AN
EFFORT TO NORMALIZE THE
CONVERSATION AROUND ABORTION AS
HEALTHCARE.
"HERE AND NOW" SENIOR POLITICAL
REPORTER, ZAC SCHULTZ, PRODUCED
THIS STORY, LETTING THE WOMEN
TELL THEIR STORY IN THEIR OWN
WORDS.
>> I WAS 26.
I HAD JUST GOTTEN OUT OF A
RELATIONSHIP, A LONG
RELATIONSHIP WITH SOMEBODY FOR
FOUR YEARS AND THAT WAS ACTUALLY
THE FATHER.
>> I WAS A FULL-TIME STUDENT AT
UW-EAU CLAIRE GOING FOR
POLITICAL SCIENCE.
REALLY LOVING SCHOOL.
I WAS A SINGLE MOM.
I HAD A BEAUTIFUL, AMAZING
LITTLE SON, WORKING TWO JOBS.
>> SO I HAD SEX.
IT WAS PROTECTED SEX.
AND I ACTUALLY DIDN'T KNOW THAT
THE CONDOM HAD BROKEN.
AND FOUR OR FIVE WEEKS LATER, I
WAS PREGNANT.
>> I KNEW IMMEDIATELY.
I WOULD SAY THE DAY AFTER.
I JUST FELT IT IN MY BODY.
>> AT FIRST, I JUST THOUGHT I
WAS SICK, BUT I WAS WITH A
REALLY GOOD FRIEND OF MINE AND
HE WAS LIKE, MMM, MAYBE YOU'RE
PREGNANT.
I WAS, LIKE, THERE'S NO WAY THAT
CAN HAPPEN.
I'VE ONLY HAD SEX ONCE AND IT
WAS PROTECTED.
IT'S FINE.
WELL, IT WASN'T FINE.
I IMMEDIATELY KNEW.
A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY IT WAS A
HARD DECISION AND I ABSOLUTELY
RESPECT THAT AND IT IS FOR SOME,
BUT THIS WAS THE SINGLE EASIEST
DECISION I HAVE EVER MADE AS A
PARENT.
>> AND AT THAT POINT, I WAS NOT
IN A POSITION WHERE I WANTED
ANOTHER CHILD.
IT WASN'T SOMETHING THAT I FELT
FIT INTO MY LIFE AND SO I MADE
THE DECISION TO TERMINATE THE
PREGNANCY.
>> MINNEAPOLIS IS WHERE I ENDED
UP GOING AND GETTING AN
ABORTION.
YOU HAVE TO TAKE AN ENTIRE DAY
TO GO GET THE ABORTION.
THEY TELL YOU TO TAKE THE WHOLE
DAY.
SO I GOT CHILDCARE FOR MY CHILD.
I DON'T EVEN REMEMBER HOW I
SCRAPED UP THE MONEY, TO BE
HONEST, IT WAS SO LONG AGO.
IT WAS $600, THOUGH, I REMEMBER
THAT, BECAUSE I REMEMBER IT WAS
A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY
FOR ME TO COME UP WITH.
>> I WAS SHOCKED TO FIND OUT
THAT MY INSURANCE COVERED IT AND
ALSO VERY VERY GRATEFUL.
I THOUGHT THAT WAS JUST, I MEAN
SO AWESOME BECAUSE IT'S
HEALTHCARE.
YOU KNOW?
>> AND IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY,
IT WAS A COUPLE HUNDRED DOLLARS.
I THINK SOME OF IT WAS COVERED
BY INSURANCE, BUT NOT ALL OF IT.
>> IT WAS HARD FOR ME TO BE
THERE AT THE ACTUAL CLINIC
BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I WAS 26.
YOU SAW ALL WALKS OF LIFE IN
THAT ROOM.
YOU SAW YOUNG CHILDREN, YOU SAW
OLDER WOMEN, YOU SAW COUPLES.
>> THERE WAS A WIDE RANGE OF
PEOPLE, DIFFERENT AGES,
DIFFERENT RACES.
>> I WENT THROUGH IT.
I AM SO GRATEFUL, SO GRATEFUL
FOR ABORTION PROVIDERS AND THE
NURSES, THE ENTIRE STAFF.
I REMEMBER THIS LADY, SHE WAS
LIKE JUST HOLD MY HAND WHEN IT
HURTS, JUST SQUEEZE MY HAND, AND
I REMEMBER, OH, BOY, I'M GOING
TO BREAK HER FINGER.
I'M PROBABLY GOING TO BREAK HER
FINGERS, BUT EVERYONE WAS JUST
SO GREAT AND KIND.
>> AND WHEN I WOKE UP, I WAS IN
A CHAIR, THEY GAVE ME SOME JUICE
AND SOME CRACKERS, AND WHAT I
NOTICED WAS THAT I FELT GREAT.
I FELT GREAT.
SO I WENT TO THE HOTEL, ORDERED
SOME FOOD, AND FELT AN ENORMOUS
SENSE OF RELIEF AND FELT -- I
THOUGHT THAT I WAS GOING TO FEEL
ALL THESE SAD FEELINGS AND THAT
IT WAS GOING TO BE ALL OF THIS
STUFF THAT WAS HAPPENING, BUT
INSTEAD, I HAD MY CHICKEN FROM
THE WEARY TRAVELER, I REMEMBER,
BECAUSE IT WAS MY FAVORITE DISH
AT THE TIME, AND WATCHED T.V.
AND REALLY JUST FELT GOOD FOR
THE FIRST TIME IN ABOUT TWO
MONTHS.
AND FELT VERY MUCH AT EASE AND
AT PEACE WITH MY DECISION AT
THAT POINT.
>> I CALLED MY SISTER
IMMEDIATELY WHEN I GOT OUT OF
THE CLINIC.
GHETTO INTO THE CAR.
I CALLED HER.
I GOT INTO THE CAR.
I CALLED HER.
AND SHE JUST STARTED BAWLING AND
SHE'S LIKE, I'M NOT CRYING
BECAUSE YOU GOT AN ABORTION; I'M
CRYING BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T THINK
YOU COULD TELL ME BEFOREHAND AND
I JUST DIDN'T WANT TO PUT THAT
ON HER BECAUSE...
>> THERE ARE MANY FEELINGS THAT
WOMEN ARE GOING TO HAVE AROUND
THIS AND I THINK IT'S BECAUSE
WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT IT
ENOUGH.
>> THERE WERE A LOT OF MYTHOS
THAT WERE SPREAD, ESPECIALLY
AMONGST PERSONS TALKING ABOUT
THE BLACK COMMUNITY, SO THINGS
LIKE BLACK WOMEN AND POVERTY
USED ABORTION FOR BIRTH CONTROL.
PEOPLE DON'T TALK ABOUT IT.
PEOPLE DO NOT TALK ABOUT IT.
I WAS TOLD NOT TO TALK ABOUT IT
AFTER I TOLD MY MOM.
I WAS TOLD NEVER TO TELL MY
FATHER.
I WAS LIKE, WHY?
I'M NOT ASHAMED.
I DON'T FEEL BAD ABOUT THIS.
IT WAS A CHASE THAT I -- CHOICE
THAT I MADE AND I WOULD MAKE IT
AGAIN A HUNDRED TIMES.
I WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING
DIFFERENT.
>> MY STORY IS THE MAJORITY OF
THE STORY.
75% OF THE WOMEN THAT DO THIS
ARE FROM LOW INCOME.
I WAS LOW INCOME WHEN I DID IT.
60% ARE IN THEIR 20s.
I WAS IN MY 20s.
ALMOST 60%, 59 TO 60% ARE
ALREADY PARENTS.
THIS IS A PARENTAL DECISION THAT
THEY'RE MAKING.
I WAS ALREADY A PARENT.
AND THAT'S THE MAJORITY OF THE
STORIES.
I DON'T THINK THAT I TOLD ANYONE
PUBLICLY UNTIL PROBABLY FIVE OR
SIX YEARS AGO.
AT THAT POINT, I HADN'T TOLD
VERY MANY PEOPLE BECAUSE I DON'T
WALK AROUND TELLING PEOPLE WHAT
I DO AT MY DOCTOR'S OFFICE.
SO WHEN I DID DECIDE TO
DISCLOSE, IT WAS A POLITICAL
CHOICE TO BE ABLE TO SAY
PUBLICLY, THIS IS A CHOICE THAT
I MADE AND IT'S AN OKAY CHOICE.
>> YOU THINK WHEN WE'RE TRYING
TO TELL OUR STORIES, THE
SCARIEST THING IS OTHER PEOPLE'S
REACTION, HOW ARE THEY GOING TO
REACT TO THIS, WHAT ARE THEY
GOING TO THINK ABOUT ME.
>> THIS PAST WEEKEND, I WAS JUST
MAKING SO MANY GREAT CONNECTIONS
AND THIS ONE WOMAN ASKED ME IF I
WAS A MOM AND I RESPONDED CAN,
NO, I HAD AN ABORTION, AND SHE
SAID, I LOVE THAT THAT'S HOW YOU
PHRASED IT BECAUSE IT'S LIKE,
JUST BECAUSE IT'S AN ACTIVE
CHOICE TO NOT BE A MOM.
>> IT BECAME EASIER AND ACTUALLY
REALLY EMPOWERING, TOO, TO TALK
ABOUT IT, BECAUSE ALMOST EVERY
TIME WHEN I WOULD TALK ABOUT IT
AND SAY, HEY, I HAD AN ABORTION,
YOU KNOW, IF YOU WERE IN A
CONVERSATION, YOU COULD WALK
AWAY AND SOMEBODY WOULD COME UP
TO YOU AFTERWARDS AND SAY,
"THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TALKING
ABOUT THAT.
I ALSO HAD AN ABORTION.
I COULD NEVER DO WHAT YOU JUST
DID."
>> THAT WAS ONE OF THE BARRIERS
IS THAT I'M GOING TO HATE MYSELF
FOREVER.
I DON'T HATE MYSELF FOREVER.
I'M ACTUALLY VERY PROUD OF
MYSELF FOR MAKING A GOOD CHOICE
FOR MYSELF AND MY BODY.
>> THERE'S NO REASON FOR ME TO
GET AN ABORTION EXCEPT FOR THE
FACTS THAT I WANTED ONE.
I DIDN'T WANT A KID.
>> SOME PEOPLE SAY THAT'S NOT A
GOOD ENOUGH REASON, BUT IT IS.
I MEAN, THAT IS.
THAT IS A GREAT REASON.
>> I MADE THE DECISION FOR ME
AND MY UNBORN CHILD THAT THAT'S
NOT THE LIFE THAT I WANTED.
>> MY ABORTION ALLOWED ME TO
FIND THE LOVE OF MY LIFE, TO GET
MARRIED, TO HAVE MORE CHILDREN
WHEN WE WERE READY.
WE HAVE THREE CHILDREN NOW.
THERE WAS NEVER A POINT WHERE I
HAD TO SIT MY CHILDREN DOWN AND
SAY, JUST SO YOU NORTH KOREANS S
HAD AN ABORTION.
THEY'VE GROWN UP AND KNOWN IT.
IT'S NORMAL IN OUR HOUSE.
>> I WAS BORN TWO YEARS AFTER
ROE VERSUS WADE CAME INTO PASS,
SO I ALWAYS LIVED IN A WORLD
WHERE ABORTION WAS LEGAL AND TO
THINK THAT WE HAD ERASED 50
YEARS O OF PROGRESS WAS ASTOUNDG
AND IT WAS SAD AND IT WAS
ANGERING.
BECAUSE THE WOMEN BEFORE US
FOUGHT SO HARD TO GET US THERE.
AND WE LOST IT.
SO... WHOO.
I'M NOT CRYING BECAUSE OF THE
ACTUAL -- YOU KNOW, I DON'T
THINK ABOUT MY ABORTION OFTEN,
TO BE HONEST, BUT I DO THINK
ABOUT ALL OF THE PEOPLE WHO
DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE.
AND PEOPLE WHO ARE LUCKY ENOUGH
TO GET TO CHOOSE THE DIRECTION
OF THEIR LIFE.
>> THERE'S SO MANY BARRIERS THAT
WERE PUT IN PLACE BECAUSE PEOPLE
WANT TO IMPOSE THEIR MORALITY ON
OTHER PEOPLE.
I THINK THE ONLY WAY TO FIX THAT
IS FOR MORE OF US TO TALK ABOUT
IT, TO SAY IT, TO SAY IT'S
NORMAL, TO SAY "I HAD AN
ABORTION."
YOU LOVE SOMEBODY WHO HAD AN
ABORTION.
YOU PROBABLY LOVE A LOT OF MEME
WHO HAD AN ABORTION.
>> IT EMPOWERS THEM TO KNOW THAT
THERE'S A DIFFERENT NARRATIVE
OUT THERE, THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE
OUT THERE THAT ARE REALLY OKAY
WITH THE CHOICE.
EVEN THOSE WHO GREW UP BEING
TOLD THAT IT WASN'T OKAY.
IT IS AN OKAY CHOICE.
>> I WANTED TO BECOME PART OF
EVERYDAY LANGUAGE, GET, FOR ME.
NOT FOR EVERYBODY.
LIKE IF I CAN HELP OTHER PEOPLE
TALK ABOUT IT OR FEEL OKAY ABOUT
A DECISION THAT THEY MADE, THAT
I WANT TO DO THAT.
>> I'LL CONTINUE TO SHARE MINE,
BUT THE MORE OF US, THE BETTER.
WE HAVE AN ARMY.
LET'S START USING OUR VOICES
TOGETHER AND THEY CAN'T SHUT US
UP ANYMORE.
>> NEXT WEEK ON "HERE AND NOW,"
A REPORT ON A WOMAN WHO DECIDED
AGAINST HAVING AN ABORTION WITH
THE HELP OF ONE OF THE DOZENS OF
CENTERS ACROSS WISCONSIN WHOSE
MISSION IT IS TO PREVENT WOMEN
FROM TERMINATING THEIR
PREGNANCIES.
YOU CAN ALSO TUNE INTO A SPECIAL
SERIES OF REPORTS ON WISCONSIN
PUBLIC RADIO, LOOKING AT
ABORTION REGULATIONS SINCE THE
STATE PASSED ITS ORIGINAL
ABORTION BAN ENTITLED HOW WE GOT
HERE, ABORTION IN WISCONSIN
SINCE 1849.
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.
(CLOSED CAPTIONING BY RIVERSIDE
CAPTIONING COMPANY)
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE & NOW" IS PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.