>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION. >> YOU'RE WATCHING "HERE AND "HD
NOW" 2024 ELECTION COVERAGE. A WEEK OF BLUSTER AT THE CAPITOL
HAS FURTHER FRACTURED REPUBLICANS ON IMMIGRATION AND
AID FOR UKRAINE. AND GOVERNOR TONY EVERS TELLS
EAU CLAIRE THE STARTLING AND SUDDEN CLOSURE OF CHIPPEWA
VALLEY HOSPITALS AND CLINICS IS WRONG.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG. TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW" WE
HEAR FROM WISCONSIN SENATORS ON BORDER SECURITY AND FUNDING FOR
UKRAINE. AND PART TWO OF A STORY ON THE
INFLUX OF IMMIGRANTS TO A SMALL WISCONSIN CITY.
CHARLES FRANKLIN TAKES THE TEMPERATURE OF INVENTORIES ON
PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES AND ENTHUSIASM FOR NOVEMBER.
AND FINALLY, THE STATE OF RURAL HEALTHCARE CAN AND WHAT
DECLINING ACCESS MEANS FOR MILLIONS.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR FEBRUARY 9.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
>> THE ISSUE OF IMMIGRATION REFORM HAS EXPLODED IN THE U.S.
WITH A CRUSH OF MIGRANTS
ENTERING AT THE SOUTHWEST BORDER.
SECURING THE BORDER IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE, ACCORDING TO
REPUBLICANS IN CONGRESS, BUT THIS WEEK, THE BIPARTISAN DEAL
THAT INCLUDED AID TO UKRAINE AND ISRAEL PAIRED WITH IMMIGRATION
REFORM MEASURES COLLAPSED IN THE U.S. SENATE.
AMONG LEADING REPUBLICANS OPPOSED TO THE FOREIGN AID
BORDER SECURITY PACKAGE, WISCONSIN U.S. SENATOR RON
JOHNSON, WHO JOINS US NOW. SENATOR, THANKS THANK YOU VERY
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME ON. >> WHAT IS YOUR OPPOSITION TO
THE BIPARTISAN BORDER SECURITY DEAL THAT IS NOW EFFECTIVELY
DEAD? >> IT MADE MATTERS WORSE.
LET ME EXPLAIN THAT. WHEN WE WENT INTO THESE
NEGOTIATIONS, WHICH I DON'T THINK EVER SHOULD HAVE BEEN
SECRET, SHOULD HAVE BEEN PUBLIC, WHAT WE WERE ASKING FOR IS LET'S
USE THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION'S DESIRE FOR UKRAINE FUNDING AS
LEVERAGE TO FORCE PRESIDENT BIDEN TO SECURE THE BORDER.
HE OPENED IT UP. HE WANTS AN OPEN BORDER.
HIS DEMOCRATIC COLLEAGUES IN CONGRESS WANT AN OPEN BORDER,
AND I DON'T BELIEVE THEY'RE NEGOTIATING IN GOOD FAITH, BUT
WE WEREN'T LOOKING FOR A MASSIVE IMMIGRATION BILL.
WE WERE JUST LOOKING FOR SIMPLE METRICS.
FUNDS SPECIFICALLY TO BENCHMARKS THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO MEET TO
HAVE THE MONEY FLOW, AND I THINK WE WERE ALL SHOCKED AT WHAT WAS
PRODUCED, BUT AGAIN, MANY, MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS BILL, BUT THE
BIGGEST ONE WAS PRESIDENTS ALREADY HAVE THE POWER TO SECURE
THE BORDER. TRUMP DID IT.
BIDEN USED THAT SAME AUTHORITY TO OPEN UP THE BORDER.
HE HAS THE EXECUTIVE AUTHORITY. HE HAS REPUBLICANS IN CONGRESS,
THAT IF THE COURTS INTERVENE, THAT WE'LL DO ANYTHING WE CAN TO
PASS MEASURES TO OVERRULE THOSE COURTS.
THIS BILL, BY CREATING DISCRETIONARY AUTHORITY TO STOP
PROCESSING ASYLUM CLAIMS AT 4,000, NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN
YOU'RE SAYING THE PRESIDENT REALLY DOESN'T HAVE THAT
AUTHORITY BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO CODIFY THAT DISCRETION AND THAT
ABILITY WOULD RUN OUT AFTER THREE YEARS.
SO YOU WOULD ACTUALLY HAMPR A FUTURE PRESIDENT'S ABILITY TO
SECURE THE BORDER BEFORE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE A DAY ON
AVERAGE WOULD COME INTO THE BORDER.
AND BY THE WAY, THIS WOULD NORMALIZE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE A
DAY, WHICH IS JUST SIMPLY UNACCEPTABLE.
NOTHING IN THIS RECORD? >> NOT IN THIS CASE, NO, BECAUSE
IT WOULD ACTUALLY TAKE AWAY PRESIDENTIAL AUTHORITY FROM A
PRESIDENT WHO WANTS TO SECURE THE BORDER, IT WOULD CODIFY OPEN
BORDER POLICIES OF THIS ADMINISTRATION.
SO, AGAIN, I'M SORRY TO SAY THAT.
WOULD NOT ONLY VOTE FOR IT, I WOULD PROMOTE A BILL THAT WOULD
SECURE THE BORDER AND PROVIDE SUPPORT TO THE UKRAINIAN PEOPLE,
BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT WE GOT. >> CAN THERE BE NO NEGOTIATION?
>> WELL, IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A PRETTY SIMPLE NEGOTIATION.
THE PRESIDENT NOW REALIZES, BECAUSE MAYOR ADAMS, THE MAYOR
OF CHICAGO, ARE TALKING ABOUT THE FRACTION OF THE 6 MILLION
PEOPLE THAT BIDEN ADMINISTRATION LET IN TO DESTROY THE CITIES, SO
NOW THAT YOU'RE FINDING OUT FROM THE STANDPOINT OF POLITICS, WE
BETTER DO SOMETHING. SO NOW WE'RE SAYING THEY WANT TO
SECURE THE BORDER. WE'RE HAPPY TO WORK WITH THEM.
IT'S NOT ABOUT PROVIDING BILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR
SANCTUARY CITIES. IT'S NOT ABOUT PROVIDING MORE
LEVELS OF VISAS AND WORK PERMITS AND PRETTY WELL LEGALIZING THE
ABUSE OF THE PRO AUTHORITY. THERE'S SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH
THIS BILL. BEEFING UP CUSTOMS AND BORDER
PATROL SO THEY CAN HANDLE THOUSANDS A DAY.
THE BETTER SOLUTION THERE IS LET'S BRING IT DOWN TO A
TRICKLE. BORDER, EFFECTIVELY.
>> YES, SO WE CAN ESTABLISH AID LEGAL IMMIGRATION SYSTEM, WHICH
IS WHAT I WAS WORKING WITH THE TRUMP WHITE HOUSE IN 2020.
UNFORTUNATELY, HE LOST THE ELECTION.
BORDERS, SET BACK LEGAL IMMIGRATION REFORM FOR QUITE
SOME TIME. >> WHAT DO YOU SAY TO CRITICS
THAT OPPOSITION IS BECAUSE FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP
WEIGHED IN AGAINST IT? >> I COMPLETELY DISAGREE.
I CERTAINLY NEVER GOT A CALL. THIS WASN'T OUR CONCERN.
WE LOOKED AT THE ACTUAL COMPONENTS OF THE BILL, AND SO
DID A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE, TOO. THE FACT THAT THIS BILL
COLLAPSED IN UNDER 24 HOURS TELLS YOU ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW.
SENATOR MURPHY, BUT THE DEMOCRATS' CHIEF NEGOTIATORS
SAID IT'S TO CLOSE TO THE BORDER.
WE HAD A SLIGHT INCREASE IN THE LIEISAI LIMB STANDARD, YET THATS
THE DEMOCRAT NEGOTIATOR. THIS BILL WOULD HAVE BEEN WORSE
THAN DOING NOTHING. IT WOULD HAVE HARMED A FUTURE
PRESIDENT'S ABILITY TO SECURE THE BORDER.
THAT'S WHY WE HAD TO REJECT IT. >> MEANWHILE, WE ARE HERE NOW
AND YOU DID NOT VOTE TO ADVANCE A NOW SEPARATE FUNDING BILL FOR
EMERGENCY FOREIGN AID. WHY NOT?
>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, OUR TOP PRIORITY SHOULD BE TO SECURE OUR
OWN BORDER BEFORE WE SPEND MONER NATION'S.
POINT. BUT I'VE GOT REAL QUESTIONS
ABOUT THE UKRAINE WAR. THE ONLY WAY THIS THING ENDS IS
IN A NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT. EVERY DAY THAT GOES BY, I'M
GOING TO HATE THE SETTLEMENT, BUT EVER DAY THAT GOES BY, THE
MORE UKRAINIANS DIE, MORE RUSSIANS DIE.
I TAKE NO JOY IN THAT. THESE ARE PEOPLE THAT WERE
YANKED OUT OF VILLAGES. MORE PEOPLE GET DESTROYED.
WHAT OUR ACTIONS OUGHT TO BE DIRECTED TOWARD IS BRINGING
PUTIN TO THE NEGOTIATING TABLE RATHER THAN FUELING THE FLAMES
OF WAR, A BLOOD STALEMATE TO THE TUNE OF $60 BILLION.
SO, AGAIN, I HAVE A FUNDAMENTAL DISAGREEMENT WITH PEOPLE ON IT
TO FUEL THOSE FLAMES. >> SO, AGAIN, YOU OPPOSE GIVING
THIS EMERGENCY AID TO UKRAINE? >> CERTAINLY WITHOUT SECURING
OUR BORDER FIRST, YES. >> SPEAKING OF THE BORDER,
MIGRANTS ARE RELOCATING TO CITIES, AS YOU KNOW, BUT
INCLUDING THE SMALL CITY HERE IN WISCONSIN OF WHITEWATER,
WHITEWATER IS ASKING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR FINANCIAL HELP.
WHAT IS YOUR MESSAGE TO WHITEWATER OFFICIALS SEEKING
THAT ASSISTANCE? >> I MET WITH THOSE OFFICIALS.
I'M COMPLETELY SYMPATHETIC WITH THE PLIGHT THEY ARE IN CAUSED BY
PRESIDENT BIDEN AND HIS DEMOCRAT ALLIES IN CONGRESS, THEIR OPEN
BORDER POLICY. IF THERE'S FEDERAL FUNDS CAN BE
FLOWING TO MAKE UP FOR THEIR LOSSES, IT SHOULD COME OUT OF
OTHER SPENDING. I WOULD SUGGEST TO SOME DEGREE
ENERGY BOONDOGGLES THE $400 BILLION THAT ARE GOING TO COST
1.2 TRILLION, RE-PURPOSE THOSE FUNDS.
OF THAT. >> WE HAD LEAVE IT THERE,
SENATOR RON JOHNSON. THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> HAVE A GOOD DAY. >> TAMMY BALDWIN WAS UNABLE TO
JOIN US THIS WEEK IN SUPPORT OF THE BORDER SECURITY BILL, SHE
SAID, QUOTE, THIS BIPARTISAN COMPROMISE WAS A PROMISING
OPPORTUNITY TO INVEST IN HIGH TECH BORDER SECURITY, DISRUPT
THE DEADLY FLOW OF FENTANYL INTO OUR COUNTRY, STREAMLINE OUR
ASYLUM PROCESS AND ENSURE WISCONSIN COMMUNITIES RECEIVING
MIGRANTS HAVE THE RESOURCES THEY NEED.
WEEK, WE HEARD FROM CITY OFFICIALS IN WHITEWATER WHO HOPE
THE STATE GOVERNMENT WILL SOON ALLOW MIGRANTS TO EARN A
DRIVER'S LICENSE. THIS WEEK, WE TAKE A LOOK AT
WHAT THE COMMUNITY IS DOING TO SUPPORT THE NEWCOMERS AND WHAT
OTHER SUPPORT THE CITY MIGHT NEED.
>> IT'S ANOTHER GENERATION OF FAMILIES COMING HERE TRYING TO
GET JOBS, FEED THEIR CHILDREN, GET THEIR CHILDREN THROUGH
SCHOOL. >> CONSERVATIVE ESTIMATES ASSUME
ABOUT 800 TO A THOUSAND MIGRANTS FROM CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA
HAVE COME TO WHITEWATER SINCE 2022, STRAINING LOCAL RESOURCES.
>> WE'RE TRYING OUR BEST. >> Reporter: SOME OF THE MOST
VULNERABLE IN THAT POPULATION ARE CHILDREN.
>> TO REALLY, HOW CAN WE ADVOCATE FOR THESE CHILDREN.
>> Reporter: MIGUEL ARANDA IS A MEMBER OF THE WHITEWATER
SCHOOL BOARD AND A SECOND GENERATION IMMIGRANT FROM
MEXICO. FUNDING FOR RESOURCES TO MAKE IT
A SMOOTH TRANSITION FOR A LOT OF THESE FAMILIES AND THEIR
CHILDREN, THAT'S WHAT I'M GOING TO CONTINUE ADVOCATING FOR.
>> Reporter: WITH THIS NEW INFLUX OF STUDENTS, ARANDA DA
SAYS THE SCHOOL DISTRICT NEEDS MORE FUNDING.
WISCONSIN CURRENTLY SITS ON A $3 BILLION BUDGET SURPLUS.
>> COMING FROM THIS STATE, I WOULD UNDERSTAND IF THERE'S NO
MONEY, WE HAVE TO MAKE OUR DECISIONS, BUT TO KNOW THAT
THERE'S A SURPLUS, IT ALMOST LOOKS LIKE THE MONEY IS BEING
DWINDLED RIGHT IN FRONT OF OUR FACES.
PLACES IN WHITEWATER THAT HAVE ACTED AS A STOPGAP TO HELP THE
NEW ARRIVALS. >> OUR MISSION IS TO MEET THE
NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY, WHATEVER THEY ARE.
>> Reporter: CHRISTINE AND KAY ARE CO FOUNDERS OF THE COMMUNITY
SPACE IN WHITEWATER. THEIR MISSION IS TO PROVIDE
EVERYTHING A PERSON MIGHT NEED, FROM BEDDING TO FURNITURE TO
FOOD, ALL FOR FREE. >> IF THEY'VE NEVER BEEN HERE
BEFORE AND THEY COME IN AND SEE ALL OF THESE THINGS AND WE TELL
THEM THAT THEY CAN JUST HAVE IT, THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND.
>> I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF WITNESSING SOMEBODY COMING IN,
MAYBE HAVING THEIR WORST DAY AND COMING IN AND JUST NEEDING SOME
SUPPORT, SOME FOOD, SOME WHATEVER, AND SEEING THEM SLOWLY
RELAX AND REALIZE WE'RE NOT GOING TO ASK THEM FOR ANY
PAPERS. ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, LET US KNOW
WHAT THEIR LIFE WAS LIKE. >> THE COMMUNITY SPACE HAS BEEN
ACCEPTING DONATIONS SINCE 2019, BUT HAS RAMPED UP ITS EFFORTS IN
THE LAST TWO YEARS. >> I'D CERTAINLY LIKE TO SAY
THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO CRISIS. HAVE WE HAD TO STRETCH AND
ADJUST? ABSOLUTELY.
BUT THERE IS NO CRISIS. >> WE'VE GOTTEN SO WE CAN
COMMUNITY PRETTY WELL. WE USE OUR PHONES AND THEY WILL
ALSO REACH FOR THEIR PHONE TRANSLATOR.
WEDNESDAY NIGHTS AND SATURDAYS AS A COMPLEMENT TO THE LOCAL
FOOD PANTRY. >> I CAN STAND UP IN THE MIDDLE
OF THE ROOM AND SAY IS THERE ANYONE HERE THAT'S BILINGUAL?
AND INEVITABLY, I'LL GET A 9-YEAR-OLD CHILD, WHICH IS
AWESOME, AND I ALWAYS SAY TO THE CHILD, YOU KNOW, ISN'T YOUR
MOTHER PROUD OF YOU? TELL HER WE'RE PROUD OF YOU.
>> WE LIKE TO THINK HALF OF WHAT WE DO IS SHARE AND GIVE AWAY AND
THE OTHER HALF IS HOW WE MAKE PEOPLE FEEL.
>> CITY OFFICIALS ARE ALSO LOOKING TO GET HELP FOR THE
NEWCOMERS. HERE IS THAT WE KNOW WE NEED
RESOURCES. POLICE IN WHITEWATER.
>> THIS IS APOLITICAL. WE HAVE NO DOG IN THAT FIGHT.
WE SIMPLY NEED MORE STAFFING. >> HE SAYS OVER THE LAST TWO
YEARS, HIS DEPARTMENT'S WORK HAS GOTTEN MUCH MORE DIFFICULT AND
TIME-CONSUMING. BEEN DIFFICULT FOR US AS LAW
ENFORCEMENT IS JUST WORKING WITH A POPULATION THAT, GENERALLY
SPEAKING, IS NOT TRUSTING OF GOVERNMENT BECAUSE THEY COME
FROM A PLACE WHERE THEY DON'T TRUST THEIR GOVERNMENT.
>> TO TRY AND GET SOME HELP FOR THE CITY, MEYER AND CITY
OFFICIALS SENT A LETTER TO STATE AND FEDERAL OFFICIALS IN
DECEMBER. >> WE NEED MORE OFFICERS SO THAT
WE CAN GET OUT AND PATROL AT THE LEVEL THAT THE COMMUNITY IS USED
TO HAVING US OUT THERE. >> BUT THE LETTER REQUESTED MORE
THAN JUST A BOOST IN LAW ENFORCEMENT FUNDING.
>> THIS IS A SITUATION WHERE WE ARE A POOR DOWN THAT HAS LIMITED
RESOURCES AND NOT ENOUGH SHARED REVENUE FROM THE STATE AND WE
WOULD LIKE TO HELP PEOPLE MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE GETTING JOBS,
YOU KNOW, SHELTER, FOOD, ALL THOSE THINGS.
>> BRIENNE BROWN IS A MEMBER OF THE WHITEWATER COMMON COUNCIL.
>> WE NEED THE LARGER PICTURE TO BE IF CONVI FOCUSED ON.
THE CITY IN THE PREPARED. >> MEYER AND BROWN SAY THEY HAVE
HEARD FROM LOCAL OFFICIALS WHO SEEM WILLING TO HELP, PLUS
WISCONSIN SENATOR TAMMY BALDWIN PLANS TO SEE WHAT SHE CAN DO TO
HELP BY VISITING SOON. RON JOHNSON VISITED WITH CITY
OFFICIALS BACK IN NOVEMBER. >> SO OBVIOUSLY, PRESIDENT
BIDEN, DEMOCRATS DO NOT WANT A SECURED BORDER.
>> Reporter: JOHNSON BLAMED WHAT HE CALLED A FLOOD OF
MIGRANTS IN WHITEWATER ON THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION.
BUT WHILE CITY OFFICIALS LOOK WHEREVER THEY CAN FOR RESOURCES,
IMMIGRANT ADVOCATES SAY THE NEW ARRIVALS SHOULD NOT BECOME
POLITICAL SCAPEGOATS. >> THERE'S A REASON WHY WE ARE
HERE. I DON'T HAVE ANY PLANS OF
LEAVING WISCONSIN. >> IT'S REALLY CONTRIBUTING TO
THE VITALITY IN OUR COMMUNITY. >> FOR "HERE AND NOW," I'M
NATHAN DENZIN IN WHITEWATER. >> AT THIS MOMENT IN TIME IN
WISCONSIN, IT'S A DEAD HEAT BETWEEN JOE BIDEN AND DONALD
TRUMP IN THE LATEST MARQUETTE UNIVERSITY LAW SCHOOL POLL, AND
THAT'S NOT ALL THE SURVEY SHOWS. WE TURN TO POLL DIRECTOR,
CHARLES FRANKLIN, FOR MORE. CHARLES, THANK YOU FOR BEING
>> SO I WAS GOING TO TALK ABOUT THIS A LITTLE BIT LATER IN OUR
DISCUSSION, BUT THE SPECIAL COUNCIL CHOOSING NOT TO CHARGE
PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN OVER HIS HANDLING OF CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS
ALSO CALLED HIM AN ELDERLY MAN WITH POOR MEMORY.
NOW, YOUR POLL FOUND THAT 61% OF RESPONDENTS BELIEVE BIDEN TOO
OLD TO BE PRESIDENT COMPARED TO 29% FOR DONALD TRUMP.
HOW DO YOU THINK THOSE NUMBERS WOULD LOOK IF YOU WERE IN THE
FIELD AFTER THIS REPORT? >> WELL, I THINK IT WILL ONLY
MOVE FURTHER IN THE -- TOO OLD TO BE PRESIDENT DESCRIBES BIDEN
VERY WELL. THAT 61% THIS TIME IS ALREADY UP
FROM 55% IN NOVEMBER, AND SO I DO THINK THAT THERE'S NOT ANY
EVIDENCE IN THOSE TWO MONTHS WORTH OF POLLING THAT BIDEN IS
ADDRESSING THE AGE ISSUE. NOW, TH THE AGE ISSUE HAS BEEN H
HIM FOR A LONG TIME. DONALD TRUMP IS ONLY FOUR YEARS
YOUNGER AND YET FAR FEWER PEOPLE SEE HIM AS TOO OLD.
HOW DOES THE CAMPAIGN DEAL WITH THIS, GIVEN THIS REPORT AND
THESE EXPLICIT EXAMPLES AND NOW, OF COURSE, EVERYBODY WATCHING
FOR EVERY TIME BIDEN MISSPEAKS. >> MEANWHILE, WHEN YOU WERE IN
THE FIELD, YOUR POLL SHOWED A DEAD HEAT WITH JOE BIDEN AT 49%
AND DONALD TRUMP AT 49% AMONG REGISTERED VOTERS, BUT
THIRD-PARTY VOTERS POLLED WAY HIGHER WAY HIGHER THAN NORMAL
WITH RFK, JR. SEEING 16%. WHOSE VOTES IS HE SIPHONING OFF?
>> WELL, IT'S INTERESTING. SO WHEN WE JUST MAKE IT HEAD TO
HEAD, IT'S A DEAD TIE. WHEN WE GIVE FIVE CANDIDATES AS
THE CHOICE, KENNEDY AT 16 IS TAKING A LITTLE MORE ACTUALLY
FROM REPUBLICAN VOTERS THAN FROM DEMOCRATIC VOTERS.
BUT JILL STEIN, THE GREEN PARTY CANDIDATE, TAKES 8% FROM
DEMOCRATS AND ONLY 1% FROM REPUBLICANS.
POINT OR TWO FROM EITHER PARTY. SO YOU'VE GOT TO PUT THAT INTO
PERSPECTIVE THAT IN 2016, WE HAD A RECENT HIGH WATERMARK FOR
30-PARTY VOTES HERE IN WISCONSIN, AND THAT WAS ONLY
5-1/2%. SO THE IDEA THAT WE WOULD SEE A
THIRD-PARTY VOTE TOTALLING 20% OR SO SEEMS UNLIKELY COME THE
FALL. BUT IT DOES REFLECT THE
DISSATISFACTION WITH BOTH OF THE TOP PARTY CANDIDATES.
WE FOUND 18% SAID THEY HAD AN UNFAVORABLE VIEW OF BOTH BIDEN
AND OF TRUMP. HOW DO THOSE 18% SHAKE OUT OVER
THE YEAR? >> THERE IS ANOTHER MATCH-UP
THAT'S SUPER INTERESTING AND KIND OF SPEAKS TO THIS AND THAT
IS THE BIDEN HALEY MATCH-UP. HALEY GETTING 57% TO BRAZ BIDEN.
WHAT DOES THAT SAY ABOUT BIDEN, HALEY AND TRUMP?
>> I THINK IT'S AN IMPORTANT INDICATION THAT BIDEN AND TRUMP
BOTH HAVE SERIOUS DISADVANTAGES, AND WHEN YOU PUT THEM HEAD TO
HEAD, YOU COME UP WITH A TIE, BUT WHEN IT'S BIDEN VERSUS
HALEY, WHO STILL REALLY IS NOT VERY WELL KNOWN IN THE STATE,
BIDEN'S LIABILITIES STAND OUT. HIS 41% AGAINST HALEY IS THE
SAME AS HIS JOB APPROVAL NUMBER. AND SO THAT'S JUST A GOOD
EXAMPLE THAT A CANDIDATE WITHOUT TRUMP'S BAGGAGE COULD AT LEAST
HYPOTHETICAL DO MUCH BETTER TO EXPLOIT BIDEN'S WEAKNESSES, BUT
JUST AS BIDEN HAS THIS TOO OLD TO BE PRESIDENT, 53% SAY TRUMP
COMMITTED ILLEGAL ACTS AFTER THE ELECTION IN 2020.
SO THERE'S THE FLIP SIDE OF WHO HAS GOT REAL PROBLEMS.
>> SO AND THAT MIGHT SAY SOMETHING, TOO, ABOUT VOTER
ENTHUSIASM. IN THAT REGARD, 49% OF YOUR
RESPONDENTS SAY THEY ARE VERY ENTHUSIASTIC TO VOTE COMPARED TO
70% IN 2020. >> IT'S DRAMATICALLY DIFFERENT
AND THAT 2020 IS FROM JANUARY 2020 AS WELL.
IT'S NOT LATE IN THE CAMPAIGN. IT'S THE SAME MONTH.
AND ALSO RIGHT BEFORE COVID HIT, SO IT'S BEFORE THE COVID
EFFECTS, IF ANY. YOU KNOW, AGAIN, I SEE THAT BOTH
BIDEN AND TRUMP ARE SEEN MORE UNFAVORABLABLY THAN FAVORABLY.
EACH OF THEM HAS THESE DIFFICULTIES.
VERY ENTHUSIASTIC GOES HEAVILY FOR DONALD TRUMP.
IT'S THE LESS THAN VERY ENTHUSIASTIC, SOMEWHAT, NOT AT
ALL. BIDEN WINS EACH OF THOSE GROUPS
VERY SUBSTANTIALLY AS WELL. AND YET DESPITE THAT, THEY'RE
TIED WHEN YOU PUSH PEOPLE TO WHO YOU'LL VOTE FOR.
THE CHALLENGE FOR THE DEMOCRATS IS HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH THOSE
LESS ENTHUSIASTIC PEOPLE THAT LIKE -- THAT ARE DISAPPOINTED
WITH BIDEN BUT LIKE TRUMP NOT MUCH AT ALL?
CAN YOU MOBILIZE THEM AND GET THEM TO THE POLLS?
OR ARE THOSE EXACTLY THE PEOPLE THAT MAY SAY, MEH, NOT GOOD
ENOUGH, I'LL VOTE THIRD-PARTY THIS YEAR.
NINE MONTHS TO GO TO SETTLE THAT QUESTION.
>> SO AS TO GOVERNOR TONY EVERS IN WISCONSIN COMING BACK
STATE-SIDE, HIS APPROVAL IS RIGHT SIDE UP WITH 51% APPROVING
OF HIS JOB PERFORMANCE AND 44% DISAPPROVING.
>> IT'S NOT BAD AT ALL. IT'S DOWN JUST SLIGHTLY FROM
NOVEMBER, BUT UP A BIT FROM THE ELECTION IN THE FALL OF 2022.
HE'S DOING PRETTY WELL. HE'S GENERALLY BEEN ABOVE WATER
ON THAT APPROVAL MEASURE HERE IN THE STATE.
>> WHICH SEEMS INTERESTING TO ME GIVEN HOW MUCH KIND OF DISCORD
THERE IS. >> WELL, THERE'S STILL PLENTY OF
DISCORD. FROM NOVEMBER TO JANUARY, THE
PERCENT OF PEOPLE SAYING THE STATE'S HEADED IN THE RIGHT
DIRECTION HAS BUMPED UP SIGNIFICANTLY, AND THE PERCENT
ECONOMY IS GETTING BETTER OR IS NOT AS BAD AS THEY SAW IT IN
NOVEMBER, THAT'S ALSO ABOUT 10 POINTS HIGHER THAN NOVEMBER.
AND FINALLY, WISCONSIN'S ECONOMY IS SEEN AS EVEN BETTER THAN THE
NATIONAL ECONOMY. >> GOOD NEWS FOR US.
CHARLES FRANKLIN, THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> GOVERNOR TONY EVERS VISITED EAU CLAIRE THIS WEEK WHERE THE
COMMUNITY IS STILL REELING FROM LATE NOTICE ABOUT CLOSURES OF
TWO HOSPITALS AND 19 CLINICS. THE GOVERNOR SAID HE WAS
DISAPPOINTED WITH THE HOSPITAL SISTERS HEALTH SYSTEM'S LACK OF
NOTIFICATIONS AND HOW IT WAS HANDLED WAS WRONG.
IN AN INTERVIEW, LOCAL REPRESENTATIVE KAREN HURD SHARED
HER CONCERNS. >> AS FAR AS THE IMPACT, I
CONSIDER THIS TO BE HUGE. NOT AS BIG AS THE MAUI FIRES,
BUT CERTAINLY BIGGER THAN THE EAST PALESTINE-OHIO TRAIN
DERAILMENT WHERE THEY HAD THE BIG CHEMICAL STILL.
IT'S BIGGER THAN THAT. I SEE IT AS BIGGER THAN THAT.
THIS PEOPLE ARE -- I SEE THAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO DIE, BUT I
WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT THE STATE REPRESENTATIVES FOR THE CHIPPEWA
VALLEY, WE ARE LIVING, BREATHING THIS EVERY MOMENT AND TRYING TO
COME UP WITH SOMETHING, SOMETHING TO BE ABLE TO HELP.
>> FOR MORE ON THE GREATER IMPACT OF THESE CLOSURES AND THE
OVERALL TREND OF RURAL HEALTH ACCESS DECLINING, WE TURN TO
JOHN EICH, DIRECTOR OF THE WISCONSIN OFFICE OF RURAL HEALTH
AT THE UW SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AND PUBLIC HEALTH.
JOHN EICH, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.
>> MY PLEASURE. >> SO WHEN HOSPITAL SYSTEMS LIKE
THIS PULL OUT OF RURAL AREAS IN WISCONSIN, HOW BIG OF A SHOCK IS
THAT TO HEALTHCARE ACCESS? >> IN A LOT OF WAYS, I THINK
IT'S A SHOCK. IT'S A SHOCK FOR PATIENTS WHO
HAVE TO NOW DRIVE FURTHER TO GET TO APPOINTMENTS OR TO CARE FOR
LOVED ONES. IT'S A SHOCK TO THE E.M.S.
SYSTEM IN THAT THEY HAVE TO TAKE PATIENTS LONGER AND LONGER FOR
CARE. AND IT'S ALSO A HIT TO THE LOCAL
ECONOMY. A SMALL COMMUNITY IS MORE
ATTRACTIVE TO ALL KINDS OF NEW BUSINESSES IF THEY HAVE ROBUST
HEALTHCARE, AND IF THAT'S MISSING, THAT'S CHALLENGING AS
WELL. >> BECAUSE WHERE ARE PEOPLE
FINDING CARE IN THE STATE OF WISCONSIN?
KIND OF THE DRIVE TIMES THAT PEOPLE EXPERIENCE GETTING TO AN
EMERGENCY ROOM. >> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.
SO OUR OFFICE DID AN ANALYSIS OF THAT DRIVE TIME, AND YOU CAN SEE
THAT. SO THE GREEN IS 10 MINUTES.
THE YELLOW, 20. AND THE RED, 30-MINUTE ACCESS.
SO IT'S FAIRLY OBVIOUS WHERE THE GAPS ARE OF THE NORTH WOODS, HAS
SORT OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES THERE, AND YOU CAN SEE WHERE IN
A SENSE THE CLUSTERS ARE AS WELL.
RELEVANT TO THIS SITUATION, WHERE YOU HAVE EAU CLAIRE COUNTY
SO CLOSE TO THE TWIN CITIES AND THESE ARE VERY LARGE SYSTEMS,
THEY'RE COMPETING PRETTY FIERCELY WITH EACH OTHER, AND SO
THERE'S A LOT OF PRESSURES ON THEM.
THIS SITUATION PARTICULARLY. I THINK THERE'S A REASON THAT IT
HAPPENED HERE VERSUS OTHER PARTS OF THE STATE.
>> REPRESENTATIVE HURD SAID PEOPLE WILL DIE.
IS THAT WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT?
>> WELL, HEALTHCARE IS ALWAYS LIFE AND DEATH, AND SO I DO
THINK THAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE LONGER FOR PEOPLE TO GET TO
CARE. TO BE HORROR CHALLENGING FOR
THEM -- MORE CHALLENGING FOR THEM IN E.M.S. IN RURAL AREAS
PARTICULARLY. WE'RE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT DRIVE
TIMES, AND SO THAT IS POSSIBLE, BUT I THINK THAT WE HAVE A
ROBUST HEALTHCARE SYSTEM IN THIS STATE AND PEOPLE ARE DOING THEIR
BEST AND ARE PROVIDING EXCELLENT CARE.
SO IT IS A CHALLENGE FOR SURE. >> HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS, BOTH
URBAN AND RURAL, FACE WORKER SHORTAGES.
>> I THINK, YOU KNOW, THE PANDEMIC BROUGHT THIS SORT OF
SOCIAL CHALLENGE, SORT OF THE DIVISIONS, THE PARTISAN
DIVISIONS WHERE WE TAKE HEALTHCARE AND POLITICIZE IT.
AND SO YOU HAVE WORKERS WHO WENT FROM BEING HEROES TO SUDDENLY
BEING PARIAHS OR POLITICAL OPERATIVES, AND I THINK THAT
REALLY PLAYS OUT IN A SMALLER COMMUNITY, PEOPLE KNOW EACH
OTHER BETTER. AS SOMEONE WALKS PAST ME IN A
CITY STREET, I MAY NOT KNOW THEIR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER, BUT
IF IT'S A COMMUNITY WHERE EVERYONE KNOWS WHO WORKS AT THE
HOSPITAL OR THE CLINIC, YOU'RE MORE IN A SPOTLIGHT.
THOSE CHALLENGES THAT I THINK WE ALL FELT WITH FAMILY, EXTENDED
FAMILY AND NEIGHBORS WHO DISAGREE ABOUT TOPICS, I THINK
THAT'S VERY COMPELLING. IT'S VERY CLOSE TO HOME IN A
SMALLER COMMUNITY. AND SO I THINK THOSE KIND OF
SOCIAL ISSUES IMPACTED THE WORKFORCE, NOT TO MENTION THE
FACT THAT THEY WERE DAY AFTER DAY OF THIS WORK AND SEEING
PEOPLE VERY SICK AND DYING. IT TAKES AN EMOTIONAL TOLL, AND
I DON'T THINK IT'S AS HE DOES AS WE DON'T HAVE TO WEAR MASKS
ANYMORE. IT'S STILL I DON'T FEEL GREAT AT
MY JOB. MAYBE I SHOULD CONSIDER AN EARLY
RETIREMENT OR MAYBE I SHOULD CONSIDER A DIFFERENT LINE OF
WORK. >> AND THAT PERSISTS?
>> IT DOES. I THINK IN BUSINESS, THEY TALK
ABOUT HOW CULTURE EATS STRATEGY FOR LUNK.
THESE ARE CULTURAL ISSUES AND THAT MEANS THAT WE'RE GOING TO
SEE -- THESE ARE HARD CHANGE ISSUES AND THEY'RE GOING TO TAKE
A WHILE. IT'S GOING TO TAKE A LOT OF
DIFFERENT SOLUTIONS AND I DON'T THINK WE'LL SEE IT GO AWAY
QUICKLY. IT, BUT IT WILL TAKE TIME.
>> SPEAKING OF SOLUTIONS, WHAT KIND OF MEASURES ARE NEEDED TO,
SPANNED ACCESS TO QUALITY EXPAND ACCESS TO QUALITY CARE?
>> IN WISCONSIN, WE'RE VERY LUCKY.
UP UNTIL RECENTLY, WE HAVEN'T SEEN A LOT OF HOSPITAL CLOSURES,
AND SO I THINK WE'RE DOING WELL. WE HAVE TO FILL IN THESE GAPS
THAT HAVE BEEN CREATED AND I THINK HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS WILL DO
THAT. BUILDING BACK THE WORKFORCE.
THAT'S A LONG PROCESS AS WELL, AND I THINK ALSO BROADBAND IS
VERY IMPORTANT IF WE'RE PROVIDING CARE TO PATIENTS WHO
HAVE TO DRIVE TO GET INTO A FOLLOW-UP APPOINTMENT OR A
CHECK-IN, THEM BEING ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH THEIR PROVIDERS
FROM THEIR HOME OR FROM A MOBILE SITUATION IS REALLY IMPORTANT,
BUT THERE JUST ISN'T THE BROADBAND AND CELLULAR COVERAGE
IN RURAL AREAS THAT WE NEED. >> JOHN EICH, THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> THANKS FOR INVITING ME. >> FOR MORE ON THIS AND OTHER
ISSUES FACING WISCONSIN, VISIT OUR WISCONSIN AT
PBSWISCONSIN.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