>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION. >> YOU'RE WATCHING "HERE AND
NOW" 2024 ELECTION COVERAGE. PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN VISITS
SUPERIOR TO TOUT INFRASTRUCTURE AND THE ECONOMY, WHILE WISCONSIN
REPUBLICANS BLAST THE PRESIDENT ON INFLATION AND IMMIGRATION.
AND GOVERNOR EVERS DELIVERS HIS STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG. TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW," THE
LATEST FROM THE STATE LEGISLATURE AND MOVEMENT ON
VOTING MAPS. THEN WHEN A REPUBLICAN
NEVER-TRUMPER THINKS OF THE FORMER PRESIDENT'S VICTORY IN
NEW HAMPSHIRE. WHAT HAPPENS NOW AS 19 CLINICS
AND TWO HOSPITALS CLOSE IN WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN, AND NEW
GUIDANCE FOR LEAD TESTING IN CHILDREN.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR JANUARY 26.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS WISCONSIN.
>> A BUSY WEEK AT THE STATE CAPITOL. GOVERNOR TONY EVERS DELIVERED
HIS STATE-OF-THE STATE ADDRESS
AS THE REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURE PROPOSED AND PASSED HEADLINING
BILLS. >> I'VE INTRODUCED A
COMPREHENSIVE WORKFORCE CLAN TWICE.
ANYONE ON EITHER SIDE OF THE AISLE HAS A BETTER PLAN THAN
MINE THAT NOT ONLY PREVENTS THE COLLAPSE OF OUR STATE'S
CHILDCARE INDUSTRY BUT ALSO HELPS US COMPETE AGAINST OUR
NEIGHBORING STATES FOR TALENT AND INVESTS IN PUBLIC EDUCATION
AT EVERY LEVEL TO PREPARE OUR KIDS FOR THE FUTURE, LET'S HEAR
IT. I WILL WORK WITH ANY LEGISLATOR, ANY PARTNER, ANY STAKEHOLDER WHO
IS WILLING TO ENGAGE IN MEANINGFUL CONVERSATIONS ON
THESE ISSUES TO DO THE RIGHT THING FOR WISCONSIN.
[APPLAUSE] >> THE LEGISLATURE RELEASED A
PLAN TODAY THAT WOULD CUT TAXES FOR THE MIDDLE CLASS.
IT WOULD EXEMPT RETIREMENT INCOME FROM STATE INCOME TAXES.
IT WOULD INCREASE THE MARRIED COUPLE CREDIT.
DEMOCRATS SEE STATE SURPLUSES AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GROW
GOVERNMENT ENTITLEMENT ON THE BACKS OF HARD-WORKING TAXPAYERS.
LEGISLATIVE REPUBLICANS HAVE A DIFFERENT VERSION.
WE STAND FOR LIMITED GOVERNMENT, LOW TAXES, SAFE COMMUNITIES, AND
A STRONG ECONOMY. >> IN ADDITION TO THE TAX CUT
PROPOSAL AND A BILL BANNING ABORTIONS AFTER 14 WEEKS,
LEGISLATIVE REPUBLICANS PASSED A NEW REDISTRICTING PLAN, MAPS
THAT MIRROR THE ONE SUBMITTED BY GOVERNOR EVERS WITH CHANGES TO
PROTECT INCUMBENTS. UNDER THE EVERS MAP, REPUBLICAN
WOULD HAVE A MAJORITY IN THE ASSEMBLY AND A 17-16 EDGE IN THE
SENATE BUT VOS SAID UNDER THOSE MAPS, 30 REPUBLICANS WOULD BE
PAIRED AGAINST ONE ANOTHER COMPARED WITH JUST TWO
DEMOCRATS. >> UNDER THE MAP THAT WE'RE VOTING ON TODAY, WITH THE SMALL
TWEAKS FOR FIVE MEMBERS, THE GOVERNOR IS GETTING 99% OF WHAT
HE ASKED FOR. 99%. AND ACTUALLY THE MAP THAT WE'RE
VOTING ON TODAY DISENFRANCHISES FEWER PEOPLE THAN THE GOVERNOR'S
MAP BECAUSE WE REUNITE A COUPLE OF THE LEGISLATORS WITH THEIR
COMMUNITIES AND UNDO THE MOST EGREGIOUS POLITICAL GERRYMANDERS
IN THIS MAP. >> LACROSSE POLITICAL SCIENCE
PROFESSOR ANTHONY CHERGOSKY WAS AT THE CAPITOL AS ALL OF THIS
WAS UNFOLDING. HE JOINS US NOW FOR HIS TAKE.
PROFESSOR, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US. >> THANK YOU.
>> SO AS WE'VE SAID, SINCE WE LAST TALKED, BOTH THE SENATE AND
THE ASSEMBLY PASSED THIS NEW REDISTRICTING PROPOSAL THAT
MIRRORS GOVERNOR EVERS' MAPS WITH WHAT THEY CALL MINUSCULE
CHANGES TO PROTECT SOME OF THE INCUMBENTS IN THE STATEMENT
DISTRICTS. WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THE
REPUBLICANS' MOVE HERE? >> WELL, I THINK IT'S PRETTY
SIGNIFICANT CHANGES WHEN THE MAPS ARE BEING ADJUSTED TO
PRACTICALLY INCUMBENTS. PART OF THIS IS ABOUT
SELF-PRESERVATION. IF TWO INCUMBENTS ARE RUNNING AGAINST ONE ANOTHER, THEN ONLY
ONE INCUMBENT CAN WIN AND THAT MEANS THAT A SUBSTANTIAL NUMBER
OF INCUMBENTS COULD BE LEFT OUT OF A JOB AFTER THE 2024 ELECTION
CYCLE IS COMPLETED. SO I THINK THE ABILITY TO REMAIN
IN OFFICE IS CERTAINLY TOP OF MIND FOR LEGISLATORS.
IN ADDITION, THE INCUMBENCY ADVANTAGE STILL MATTERS.
THE INCUMBENCY IS NOT WHAT IT USED TO BE, BUT STILL,
INCUMBENTS DO HAVE CERTAIN ADVANTAGES IN TERMS OF
FUNDRAISING, IN TERMS OF NAME RECOGNITION, IN TERMS OF THE
CONNECTIONS AND THE INCREDIBILITY THEY'VE BUILT WITH
VOTERS. SO THE MORE INCUMBENTS ARE ON THE BALLOT FOR REPUBLICANS, THE
BETTER THE PARTY AS A WHOLE COULD DO.
I'M NOT SURPRISED THAT REPUBLICAN LEADERS WANT TO
PROTECT THEIR INCUMBENTS AND ENSURE THAT AS MANY OF THEIR
INCUMBENTS AS POSSIBLE CAN BE ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT.
>> BUT MEANWHILE, EVERS SAYS HE WILL ALMOST CERTAINLY VETO THE
LATEST REPUBLICAN PROPOSAL AND THAT HAD TO BE EXPECTED ON THE
PART OF THE LEGISLATIVE REPUBLICAN LEADERS.
SO KIND OF WHY GO THROUGH THAT EXERCISE?
>> I THINK FOR EVERS, HE UNDERSTANDS THAT THESE CHANGES
ARE INDEED SUBSTANTIAL. ALLOWING MORE INCUMBENTS TO RUN
FOR OFFICE IN 2024 COULD HAVE SIGNIFICANT EFFECTS ON THE
ELECTION OUTCOMES. MEANWHILE, REPUBLICANS UNDERSTAND THAT AS WELL.
THEY WANT TO PROTECT THEIR INCUMBENTS.
THEY KNOW THAT THE MORE INCUMBENTS ON THE BALLOT, THE
BETTER THEIR PARTY IS TO DO. IF REPUBLICANS DON'T HAVE MANY
INCUMBENTS WHO ARE ABLE TO RUN IN NOVEMBER 2024 DUE TO NEW
MAPS, THEN IT'S GOING TO TAKE A LOT OF WORK FOR CANDIDATE
RECRUITMENT, IT'S GOING TO TAKE A LOT OF FUNDRAISING EFFORT,
IT'S GOING TO TAKE A LOT OF WORK TO BUILD NAME RECOGNITION FOR A
NEW BATCH OF CANDIDATES. REPUBLICANS UNDOUBTEDLY WANT
INCUMBENTS TO BE ABLE TO RUN IN NOVEMBER 2024.
OF COURSE, CERTAIN INCUMBENTS WILL NOT BE ABLE TO RUN, BUT THE
MORE INCUMBENTS REPUBLICANS CAN HAVE ON THE BALLOT, THE BETTER
FOR THEM. >> SO SPEAKER VOS DESCRIBED THIS
AS MINUSCULE CHANGES AND 99% OF WHAT THE GOVERNOR WANTED IN HIS
MAPS THINKING PERHAPS HE WOULD SIGN THEM.
IS THERE PROPOSAL A HEDGE AGAINST SUPREME COURT CHOOSING A
MAP THAT'S EVEN MORE ADVANTAGEOUS TO DEMOCRATS OR ONE
OF ITS OWN, WHICH IS KIND OF UNKNOWN AT THIS POINT?
>> YOU'RE RIGHT. RIGHT NOW, I THINK UNKNOWN IS
THE KEY WORD. WE'RE DEALING WITH A PERIOD OF
UNCERTAINTY REGARDING THE ONGOING COURT CHALLENGE TO THE
MAPS BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW HOW THE CONSULTANTS HIRED BY THE
WISCONSIN STATE SUPREME COURT ARE GOING TO COME DOWN ON THE
MAPS THAT HAVE BEEN PROPOSED, THE CONSULTANTS COULD PICK ONE
OF THE MAPS, THEY COULD DRAW THEIR OWN MAPS.
RIGHT NOW THERE'S A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY HANGING OVER THE
CAPITOL WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT MAPS FOR
2024 AND UNCERTAINTY MAKES POLITICIANS NERVOUS BY DRAWING
THE MAPS THEMSELVES, THEY CAN BRING SOME CERTAINTY BACK INTO
THE EQUATION, BUT IF THIS CONTINUES TO WORK ITS WAY
THROUGH THE COURTS, THE NAME OF THE GAME IS GOING TO BE
UNCERTAINTY AT LEAST UNTIL THE WISCONSIN STATE SUPREME COURT
SETTLES ON A MAP AND UNTIL ALL LEGAL CHALLENGES HAVE BEEN
EXHAUSTED. >> BRIEFLY, ALL OF THIS WAS
HAPPENING KIND OF AT THE SAME TIME THAT GOVERNOR EVERS WAS IN
THE SPOTLIGHT FOR HIS STATE-OF-THE STATE ADDRESS.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT GOVERNOR EVERS DID NOT DISCUSS THERE WAS
TAX CUTS AT THE SAME TIME THAT THE REPUBLICANS CAME OUT WITH
THIS TAX CUT PROPOSAL THAT WOULD SEEM TO BE MORE AMENABLE TO WHAT
THE GOVERNOR MIGHT WANT. WHY TRY TO WORK WITH HIM ON THAT
NOW, OR IS THAT WHAT'S HAPPENING?
>> REPUBLICANS WANT THINGS TO RUN ON IN NOVEMBER OF 2024.
THEY NEED THINGS TO PUT ON THEIR CAMPAIGN BROCHURES, THEY NEED
THINGS TO MENTION WHEN THEY'RE KNOCKING ON DOORS.
SO REPUBLICANS ARE LOOKING TO RACK UP SOME ACHIEVEMENTS AND
THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO MEET THE GOVERNOR HALFWAY ON TAXES.
WE'LL HAVE TO SEE HOW THAT PANS OUT. THE GOVERNOR DID NOT MENTION
TAXES IN HIS STATE OF THE STATE BUT I THINK COMPROMISE ON THAT
ISSUE IS POSSIBLE. COMPROMISES ON OTHER ISSUES LIKE
ABORTION, NOT SO POSSIBLE. >> THAT'S FOR SURE.
PROFESSOR ANTHONY CHERGOSKY, THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. >> PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE DONALD
TRUMP BEAT HIS LAST REPUBLICAN CHALLENGER STANDING IN THE NEW
HAMPSHIRE PRIMARY THIS WEEK. NIKKI HALEY VOWS TO CONTINUE HER
CAMPAIGN, BUT WHERE ARE WE WITH THE PRESIDENTIAL CONTEST?
WE TURN TO POLITICAL COMMENTATOR, CHARLIE SYKES, WHO
KNOWS WISCONSIN POLITICS AS FORMER HOST OF A POWERFUL
CONSERVATIVE TALKRADIO SHOW OUT OF MILWAUKEE FOR MORE THAN 20
YEARS AND THE COFOUNDER OF PODCAST. HE'S ALSO A WELL-KNOWN
NEVER-TRUMPER. CHARLIE, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.
>> GOOD TO BE BACK WITH YOU. >> SO NOT W STANDING WHAT NIKKI
HALEY IS SAYING, IS IT A FOREGONE CONCLUSION THAT THE
REPUBLICAN PRIMARY RACE IS OVER AND THE GENERAL ELECTION RACE
BETWEEN DONALD TRUMP AND JOE BIDEN IS ON?
>> I THINK YOU HAVE TO ASSUME THAT THAT'S THE CASE.
THIS IS DONALD TRUMP'S PARTY. I THINK THAT THAT'S BEEN EVIDENT
FOR SOME TIME, AND I THINK THAT THE FACT THAT SO MANY ELECTED
REPUBLICANS ARE COALESCING AROUND HIM SO QUICKLY IS AN
INDICATION THAT THEY'RE EXPECTING A CORONATION THIS
SUMMER HERE IN MILWAUKEE. >> WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THAT?
>> WELL, IT IS EXTRAORDINARY HOW QUICKLY THE REPUBLICAN PARTY HAS
CAPITULATED TO DONALD TRUMP ONCE AGAIN. I MEAN, THINK ABOUT ALL OF THE
OFF-RAMPS THEY COULD HAVE TAKEN. THEY COULD HAVE TAKEN OFF-RAMPS
AFTER HE WAS DEFEATED. THEY CERTAINLY COULD HAVE TAKEN
OFF-RAMPS AFTER JANUARY 6th, AFTER THE INDICTMENTS, AND YET
AT EACH TURN, THERE'S BEEN A FAILURE OF WILL, THERE'S BEEN A
FAILURE TO COALESCE AROUND SOMEBODY ELSE, AND HERE WE ARE,
THREE YEARS AFTER THE ATTEMPTED OVERTHROW OF THE FREE AND FAIR
ELECTIONS OF 2020, AND DONALD TRUMP IS POISED TO WIN THE
REPUBLICAN NOMINATION DESPITE THE FACT THAT HE IS FACING 90
FELONY CHARGES, A CASE STEMMING FROM A SEXUAL ASSAULT OF A WOMAN
BACK IN THE 1990s AND FRAUD CASES IN NEW YORK, AND YET THE
REPUBLICAN PARTY IS NOT BLINKING AT THE PROSPECT OF RUNNING UNDER
HIS BANNER. >> IN FACT, EXPERTS HAVE TOLD US
THAT CRIMINAL CHARGES AGAINST DONALD TRUMP MAKE HIM MORE
POPULAR AMONG HIS BASE, NOT LESS. WHAT IS HAPPENING?
>> WELL, I THINK TWO THINGS ARE HAPPENING. I MEAN, NUMBER ONE, CLEARLY THE
REPUBLICAN PARTY, THE BASE, HAS RALLIED AROUND HIM.
HE HAS EFFECTIVELY PLAYED THE VICTIM CARD, HE HAS EFFECTIVELY
MADE THE CASE THAT HE IS BEING TARGETED.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, IT IS HARD TO IMAGINE THAT AS THE CRIMINAL
CHARGES UNFOLD OVER THE NEXT YEAR, THAT THERE ARE GOING TO BE
VERY MANY SWING VOTERS WHO MIGHT HAVE ABANDONED HIM IN 2020 WHO
ARE GOING TO SAY, YOU KNOW, THIS TIME AROUND, WE THINK WE'RE
GOING TO GO WITH HIM. SO I THINK THERE'S TWO
NARRATIVES THAT I THINK ARE PARALLEL AT THE SAME TIME.
NUMBER ONE, HE IS DOMINANT IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, BUT I
THINK THAT YOU'RE ALSO SEEING THAT HE'S VULNERABLE IN A
GENERAL ELECTION, HE'S VULNERABLE AMONG MODERATES,
AMONG SOFT REPUBLICANS AND AMONG INDEPENDENTS, AND I THINK YOU
SAW THAT IN BOTH IOWA AND NEW HAMPSHIRE AND I THINK THAT
THAT'S GOING TO BE -- THAT THAT'S GOING TO BE MORE EVIDENT
AS WE GO THROUGH THE YEAR. >> HOW DO YOU THINK THOSE
DYNAMICS PLAY WITH THE WISCONSIN ELECTORATE? >> WELL, IN WISCONSIN,
EVERYTHING IS ON A KNIFE'S EDGE. THESE ELECTIONS HAVE BEEN
DECIDED BY 20,000 VOTES. AND DONALD TRUMP LAST IN 2020.
LARGELY BECAUSE HE WAS -- HE DIDN'T DO AS WELL AS HE NEEDED
TO DO IN THE SUBURBS. HE HAD A MASSIVE DEMOCRATIC
TURNOUT, BUT YOU ALSO HAD A NUMBER OF REPUBLICANS, QUITE A
FEW REPUBLICANS WHO VOTED FOR REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES FOR THE
STATE LEGISLATURE AND FOR CONGRESS BUT DID NOT VOTE FOR
DONALD TRUMP. NOW, I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THEY
VOTED FOR JOE BIDEN, BUT THERE WAS CLEARLY AN UNDERVOTE, AND I
THINK THAT -- THERE'S TWO BIG QUESTIONS ABOUT WISCONSIN.
NUMBER ONE, WILL DEMOCRATS BE ABLE TO ONCE AGAIN BE ABLE TO
HAVE THE ENTHUSIASM TO HAVE A MASSIVE TURNOUT, PARTICULARLY IN
DANE COUNTY AND, NUMBER TWO IS DONALD TRUMP GOING TO CONTINUE
TO UNDERPERFORM IN THE WILD COUNTIES, WAUKESHA, OZAKE AND
WASHINGTON COUNTIES, AND I SUSPECT THAT HE PROBABLY WILL.
BUT AGAIN, EVERY ELECTION IN WISCONSIN IS CLOSE AND THIS ONE
PROBABLY WILL BE AS WELL. >> SO YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT
SOFT REPUBLICANS AND INDEPENDENTS. DO YOU THINK THEY'LL VOTE FOR
JOE BIDEN? >> I DON'T KNOW AT THIS POINT,
BUT I THINK THAT THERE IS -- THERE'S EVIDENCE, THERE'S A LOT
OF THOSE VOTERS THAT ARE JUST NOT GOING TO VOTE FOR DONALD
TRUMP. THE MAGA BASE IS GOING TO STICK WITH HIM, THERE'S NO QUESTION
ABOUT IT. I THINK THE HARD CORE REPUBLICAN
VOTERS ARE GOING TO TURN OUT. NOTHING IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO
CHANGE THERE, BUT I THINK THAT THERE IS A SEGMENT OF THE
ELECTORATE THAT MAY NOT AGREE WITH JOE BIDEN'S POLICIES, MAY
HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT HIS AGE, MAY HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT WHERE HE'S
TAKING THE COUNTRY, BUT ALSO RECOGNIZE, AS LIZ CHENEY HAS
SAID, ONLY ONE OF THE CANDIDATES ON THE BALLOT IS GOING TO SHRED
THE CONSTITUTION, AND SO THE QUESTION IS, WHAT WILL THEY
PRIORITIZE? WILL THEY PRIORITIZE CERTAINLY
IDEOLOGICAL ISSUES OR WILL THEY STEP BACK AND SAY WE CANNOT HAVE
A CONVICTED FELON IN THE WHITE HOUSE, WE CANNOT HAVE A
SEDITIONIST, WE CANNOT HAVE SOMEBODY WHO IS AS ERRATIC AS
DONALD TRUMP RETURN TO THE PRESIDENCY. >> OR MAYBE PEOPLE JUST STAY
HOME. CHARLIE SYKES, THANKS VERY MUCH. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. >> IN A GUT-PUNCH TO RURAL
HEALTHCARE IN NORTHWEST WISCONSIN, MEDICAL CLINICS IN 10
COMMUNES AND TWO HOSPITALS HAVE ANNOUNCED THEY ARE SHUTTING
DOWN, RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF MORE THAN 1,400 STAFF AND
PHYSICIANS. ONE STATE LEGISLATOR FROM THE
REGION CALLED IT DEVASTATION. THE HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS SAID
THE DECISION WAS THE RESULT OF FINANCIAL STRESS RELATED TO
THINGS INCLUDING LINGERING IMPACTS OF THE PANDEMIC,
INFLATION AND WORKFORCE SHORTAGES. ONE OF THE CLINICS AND ST.
JOSEPH'S HOSPITAL IN CHIPPEWA FALLS WILL CLOSE.
THAT CITY'S MAYOR, GREG HOFFMAN, SAYS HE WAS NOT GIVEN NOTICE OF
THE CLOSURES. HE JOINS US NOW.
MAYOR, THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
>> YES, GOOD MORNING. >> SO WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION
WHEN YOU LEARNED OF THESE CLOSURES?
>> WELL, THE HISTORY -- I KNEW THAT ST. JOE'S HOSPITAL HAD BEEN
HAVING SOME FINANCIAL ISSUES AND THEY WERE LOOKING TO MARKET IT,
AND SO THAT WASN'T A COMPLETE SHOCK. IT'S JUST THE FACT THAT THERE
WAS NO ADVANCE NOTICE. ALL OF A SUDDEN, I GET AN EMAIL
SENT TO ME ABOUT 11:30, 12:00, INFORMING HE OF ALL THE CLOSURES
AND I WAS, YEAH, VERY, VERY SHOCKED BY THE WHOLE EVENTS.
AND REALLY, THE THING THAT SHOCKED ME THE MOST WAS THAT
SACRED HEART AND PERVEYA CLINICS WERE SHUTTING DOWN.
WE WERE TRYING TO COME UP WITH SOMETHING AROUND ST. JOE'S, BUT
HAVING THESE OTHER CLINICS, IT IS -- IT'S JUST DEVASTATING TO
THE COMMUNITY. >> BECAUSE WHAT WILL IT MEAN FOR
YOUR COMMUNITY? >> WELL, YOU KNOW, RIGHT NOW,
WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE WE GO.
SACRED HEART HOSPITAL AND ST. JOE'S ACCOUNTED FOR
APPROXIMATELY 40% OF THE BEDS AND THE MEDICAL CARE IN THE
CHIPPEWA VALLEY. SO WHERE DO YOU GO WITH 40%?
I MEAN, WE HAVE MARSHALL CLINIC YET, WE HAVE OAK LEAF SURGICAL
AND THEN YOU MAYO LUTHER, BUT THEY ONLY HAVE SO MUCH CAPACITY.
AND SO THAT, TO ME, IS THE REAL QUESTION, IS WHAT DO WE DO?
CHIPPEWA FALLS IS BLESSED WITH AN EXTREMELY LARGE SENIOR
POPULATION. WE HAVE ABOUT 30% OF OUR POPULATION IS OVER THE AGE OF
65, AND, OF COURSE, COMING WITH THAT OVER 65 IS HEALTH ISSUES,
AND THAT'S WHAT WAS NICE ABOUT SACRED HEART AND ST. JOE'S.
SO WHERE DO WE GO NOW? AND THEN IN ADDITION TO THAT,
YOU'VE GOT ALL THE EMPLOYEES, THE ECONOMY.
I MEAN, IT'S JUST A RIPPLE EFFECT.
>> HOW FRIGHTENING IS THIS FOR YOU AND THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN
THE REGION? >> WELL, YOU KNOW, FRIGHTENING IS MAYBE A STRONG WORD.
RIGHT NOW, WE'RE TRYING TO PROCESS ALL THIS.
I'VE HAD NUMEROUS CONVERSATIONS WITH MEDICAL, A NUMBER OF PEOPLE
OUTSIDE OF THE MEDICAL FIELD OF WHAT DOES THIS LOOK LIKE AND IS
IT A STRONG CONCERN? YES.
AND WE NEED TO WORK THROUGH THIS TO SEE WHAT IT'S GOING TO LOOK
LIKE WHEN WE GET TO THE OTHER SIDE. HOW MUCH CAN MAYO LUTHER HANDLE,
HOW MUCH CAN MARSHALL HANDLE? RIGHT NOW, WE MAY HAVE TO GO TO
THE LOOMER HOSPITAL, WHICH IS 15 MILES NORTH OR THE ASPIRE
STANLEY. IT'S REALLY HARD TO SAY. AND SO THERE'S A LOT OF UNKNOWNS
AT THIS TIME THAT WE'RE TRYING TO GET OUR ARMS AROUND AND NOT
LET OUR IMAGINATION GO DOWN THE ROAD TOO FAR.
>> HOW DOES MEDICAID AND MEDICARE REIMBURSEMENT FACTOR
INTO THESE CLOSURES, DO YOU THINK?
>> WELL, I WAS JUST VISITING WITH SOMEONE FROM THE HOSPITAL
BOARD AND THAT IS PART OF OUR PROBLEM. SOME OF THESE FACILITIES, I
WOULDN'T SAY THEY'RE HAD BEEN THEY TOOK A LARGER SHARE OF THE
MEDICARE AND MEDICAID AND MAYBE SOME OF THE OTHER FACILITIES IN
THE AREA AND AS YOU KNOW, MEDICAID AND MEDICARE PAYMENT ON
THAT IS CONSIDERABLY LESS THAN PRIVATE INSURANCE.
SO THAT HAS DEFINITELY FIGURED INTO THE EQUATION AND THAT I
WOULDN'T SAY THAT WAS THE ONLY REASON, BUT IT HAD A PORTION OF
WHAT HAPPENED TO THESE FACILITIES. >> YOU SAID THAT RIGHT NOW
YOU'RE TRYING TO WORK THROUGH THESE THINGS WITH LESS THAN A
MINUTE LEFT. HAVE YOU BEEN GETTING THE
ANSWERS OR THE SUPPORT YOU NEED TO WORK THROUGH THIS AND COME
OUT THE OTHER END, AS YOU SAID? >> YES.
EVERYBODY HAS BEEN VERY COOPERATIVE, EVERYBODY IS, YOU
KNOW, WE'RE ALL LOOKING FOR SOLUTIONS TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO.
THE UPPER EAST CHIPPEWA VALLEY IS A VERY RESILIENT COMMUNITY
AND I'M VERY CONFIDENT THAT WE'LL FIND -- GET TO THE OR
SIDE. IT'S JUST GETTING THERE IS WHERE
THERE'S OTHER PAIN AND FRUSTRATION AT THIS MOMENT.
>> YEAH. WELL, MAYOR HOFFMAN, THANKS VERY
MUCH AND GOOD LUCK. >> THANK YOU.
>> WISCONSIN PHYSICIANS HAVE NEW RECOMMENDATIONS TO TEST ALL
CHILDREN FOR ELEVATED LEVELS OF LEAD IN THEIR BLOOD.
THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES IS CALLING FOR
UNIVERSAL LEAD TESTING FOR ALL ONE AND TWO-YEAR-OLDS AND UP TO
AGE 5 IF NOT PREVIOUS TESTED. THE NUMBER OF WISCONSIN CHILDREN
WHO WERE TESTED DROPPED 75% FROM APRIL 2019 TO APRIL 2020,
ACCORDING TO D.H.S.. DR. BETH NEARY IS A RETIRED
PEDIATRICIAN, ADJUNCT ASSISTANT CLINICAL PHYSICIAN OF PEDIATRICS
AND COPRESIDENT OF A WISCONSIN ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH NETWORK.
SHE JOINS US TO DETAIL WHY THESE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE NEEDED.
DOCTOR, THANKS FOR BEING HERE. >> THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME.
>> HOW IMPORTANT IS IT THAT YOUNG CHILDREN BE TESTED FOR
BLOOD LEAD LEVELS? >> IT IS CRITICAL, AND I'M
REALLY SO PROUD OF OUR STATE FOR TAKING THIS STEP.
RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE WHAT'S CALLED TARGETED TESTING, AND AS A
RESULT OF THAT, WE MISS A LOT OF CHILDREN. I DON'T THINK WE HAVE A GOOD
HANDLE ON HOW MANY CHILDREN IN THIS STATE ARE BEING POISONED BY
LEAD. >> HOW CONCERNING IS IT AS THE
D.H.S. THAT THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN BEING TESTING HAS
FALLEN OFF? >> THAT'S EXTREME CONCERNING.
PART OF IT IS COVID, BUT WHEN YOU HAVE TARGETED SCREENING,
YOU'RE GOING TO MISS SOME CHILDREN.
WHEN WE GO TO UNIVERSAL, WE'LL BE ABLE TO FIND ALL OF THE
CHILDREN WHO ARE AFFECTED BY LEAD.
>> AND WHAT IS TARGETED SCREENING? >> TARGETED MEANS YOU HAVE A
QUICK AND EASYAIRE, AND IF ANY OF THE -- QUESTIONNAIRE, AND IF
ANY OF THE ANSWERS TO THE QUESTION ARE POSITIVE, THEN YOU
DO A LEAD SCREEN. OUR PREVIOUS TARGETED TESTING
WAS BASED ON THE AGE OF THE HOUSING. SO WE WOULD CAPTURE, HOPEFULLY,
CHILDREN WHO LEAD POISONED BY PAINT, BUT WE WOULD MISS
CHILDREN IF IT WAS LEAD PIPES. IF IT WAS OTHER THINGS, SUCH AS
LIVING NEAR A SMALL AIRPORT THAT STILL USES LEADED GASOLINE IN
SMALL AIRCRAFT, WE MIGHT MISS CHILDREN WHO HAD FOOD THAT WAS
CONTAMINATED, AS WITH THIS LAST CASE WE SAW IN NOVEMBER 2023.
>> WHAT HAPPENS TO A CHILD IF THEY HAVE LEAD IN THEIR BLOOD?
>> WELL, LEAD IS A TOXIC. IT AFFECTS EVERY ORGAN IN THE
SYSTEM, BUT IT IS AWFUL FOR THE HUMAN BRAIN.
AND IF YOU THINK OF CHILDREN FROM THE AGES OF ZERO TO FIVE,
THAT BRAIN IS STILL DEVELOPING, IT'S CREATING THESE PATHWAYS,
AND IT'S THEIR FUTURE. SO WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT IT
INTERRUPTS THESE CIRCUITS IN THE BRAIN SO THE RESULT IS WE SEE
CHILDREN WHO HAVE LOWER I.Q., IT AFFECTS WHAT WE CALL EXECUTIVE
FUNCTION, AND THAT MEANS THE ABILITY TO SIT STILL IN CLASS,
TO REGULATE YOUR EMOTIONS, TO REASON THROUGH THINGS.
SO WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT A CHILD WHO BE CAN'T DO THAT, AND IN
KINDERGARTEN, MAYBE THEY CAN'T SIT STILL AND THEY CAN'T FOCUS,
THEY CAN'T LEARN, AND SO WHAT WE DISCOVER IS THAT IF WE HAD
ELEVATED LEAD LEVELS IN CHILDREN, IT AFFECTED THEIR
THIRD GRADE READING AND MATH SCORES, IT AFFECTED HIGH SCHOOL
GRADUATION RATES AND ITS LINKED TO INCARCERATION, SO IT'S AWFUL
FOR THE CHILD, BUT IT HAS SOCIETAL IMPLICATIONS FOR ALL OF
US. >> IS THERE ANY WAY TO TREAT IT IF A CHILD HAS ELEVATED LEVELS?
>> THAT'S VERY DIFFICULT QUESTION. SO ONCE IT'S IN THE BODY, THE
BODY SEES LEAD AS CALCIUM, AND SO IT GETS STORED IN THE BONES.
THE ONLY TIME WE ACTUALLY TREAT A CHILD FOR LEAD POISONING IS IF
THEIR LEVEL GETS UP TO 45 MICROGRAMS, AND THAT'S VERY
HIGH, AND THEN THEY GO THROUGH A PROCESS OF WHAT'S CALLED
KEYLATION, THEY HAVE TO BE HOSPITALIZED.
IT'S QUITE EXTREME, BUT THE DANIEL HAS ALREADY BEEN --
DAMAGE HAS ALREADY BEEN DONE, IT'S ALREADY HIT THE BRAIN.
EVERYTHING WE SHOULD BE DOING IS TO PREVENT CHILDREN FROM BEING
LEAD POISONED. >> SPEAKING OF DOING THINGS,
SHOULD WISCONSIN BE DOING MORE, PARTICULARLY IN MILWAUKEE, WHERE
TWO-THIRDS OF ELEVATED LEAD LEVELS ARE FOUND?
>> ABSOLUTELY. SO WHAT WE DO WITH BLOOD TESTING
IS WHAT'S CALLED SECONDARY PREVENTION.
WHAT WE REALLY WANT TO DO IS PRIMARY PREVENTION.
AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS PREVENT THE CHILD FROM EVER BEING
EXPOSED TO LEAD. SO WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING IS
TAKING THE LEAD OUT OF THE ENVIRONMENT, OKAY, AND SO WE ARE
DOING SOME OF THOSE THINGS. GETTING RID OF THE LEAD SERVICE
LINES ACROSS THIS STATE, ACROSS THE COUNTRY, MAKING SURE THAT WE
HAVE WHAT WE CALL LEAD-SAFE HOMES.
MAYBE NOT LEAD-FREE, BUT LEAD-SAFE, THE PAINT IS IN GOOD
REPAIR. WE HAVE DONE WONDERFUL THINGS. WE TOOK THE LEAD OUT OF
RESIDENTIAL PAINT IN 1978. WE TOOK IT OUT OF AUDIT MOTIVE
GASOLINE -- AUTOMOTIVE GASOLINE IN THE '70s AND THAT WAS THE
BIGGEST LEAD LEVELS FOR CHILDREN. WHAT I WOULD LOVE TO SEE IS
MILWAUKEE TO SAY TO ALL OF THE LANDLORDS, SHOW ME THAT YOUR
PROPERTY IS LEAD SAFE BEFORE YOU RENT IT.
DO YOU KNOW WHAT WE DO NOW? WE WAIT UNTIL A KID IS POISONED,
THEN WE GO INTO THE HOUSE AND SAY, OKAY, NOW CLEAN IT UP.
THAT'S BACKWARDS. WE SHOULD BE PREVENTING THOSE
CHILDREN FROM BEING EXPOSED, BUT WE HAVE A STATE WHAT LAW THAT S
IT. ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, HAS
LEGISLATION LIKE THAT. BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, HAS.
WE NEED TO DO THAT IN MILWAUKEE. >> DOCTOR, THANKS VERY MUCH.
THANKS FOR YOUR PASSION. >> THANK YOU.
>> IN OTHER HEALTH UPDATES, THE JN1 VARIANT OF COVID HAS TAKEN
HOLD AS THE MOST PREVALENT STRAIN, HAVING BEEN FIRSTS
DETECTED IN NOVEMBER THIS AS R.S.V. HAVE BEEN SWIRLING.
HEALTH OFFICIALS ARE HOPING THE WORSEWORST IS OVER, BUT STILL ST
GETTING VACCINATED AND TESTED. >> WHAT YOU'RE SEEING IS
EVOLUTION IN ACTION WITH THESE VIRUSES.
VIRUSES ADAPT AND THEY CHANGE OVER TIME.
SO THE FACT THAT WE'RE SEEING A NEW VIRAL STRAIN SHOULDN'T BE
SURPRISING. AND I WOULD ENFORCE THAT
DISCUSSION WITH YOUR PROVIDER. THERE'S A LOT OF MISINFORMATION
OUT THERE ABOUT VACCINES, WHAT THEY DO AND WHAT THEY DON'T DO.
ABSOLUTELY, THERE'S A LOT OF OVERLAP IN TERMS OF SYMPTOMS
BETWEEN R.S.V., COVID AND INFLUENZA. SO I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE
REALLY DIFFICULT FOR PATIENTS TO FIGURE OUT WHICH ONE OF THE
THREE THEY HAVE. I WOULD ENCOURAGE THEM IF
THEY'RE NOT FEELING WELL, TO REACH OUT TO THEIR PROVIDER AND
GET TESTED. >> 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 WEEKENDS. WEEKEND.
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS WISCONSIN.