? >> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL PRODUCTION.
>> YOU'RE WATCHING "HERE AND NOW," 2024 ELECTION COVERAGE.
>> I THINK OUR MEMBERS REALIZE THAT WE HAVE BEEN DEALT A VERY
DIFFICULT HAND. >> REPUBLICANS HEDGE THEIR BETS
AND PASS THE GOVERNOR'S REDISTRICTING MAPS.
DEMOCRATS ARE SKEPTICAL, SURE THAT THIS MUST BE A POLITICAL
MANEUVER. I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW," CONGRESSWOMAN GWEN MOORE ON WHAT
SHE CALLS A SHAM IMPEACHMENT, AND THE LATEST IN CLASHES OVER
BORDER SECURITY. THE GOVERNOR'S REDISTRICTING
MAPS PASSED THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE.
WE ASK SENATOR MARK SPREITZER WHY DEMOCRATS VOTED AGAINST
THEM. WHAT EL NIÑO WEATHER MEANS FOR
SPRING CROPS, AND HOW REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT IS DIVIDING WESTERN
WISCONSIN COMMUNITIES. IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR FEBRUARY
16. >> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
>> LAST WEEK, WE TALKED WITH WISCONSIN REPUBLICAN SENATOR RON
JOHNSON, WHO TOLD US HE WAS STRONGLY OPPOSED TO BIPARTISAN
IMMIGRATION REFORM MEASURES THAT WERE INCLUDED IN A BILL TO FUND
EMERGENCY AID TO UKRAINE AND ISRAEL.
THAT BILL ULTIMATELY TANKED IN THE SENATE.
THE AID FUNDING WAS SEPARATED OUT AND JOHNSON ALSO VOTED
AGAINST THAT. THIS WEEK, WE HEAR FROM
DEMOCRATIC U.S. REPRESENTATIVE GWEN MOORE FROM MILWAUKEE FOR
HER TAKE ON ALL OF THIS. CONGRESSWOMAN, THANK YOU FOR
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. >> SO AT THIS TIME, AS YOU WELL
KNOW, IT HASN'T BEEN CALLED TO THE HOUSE FLOOR, BUT WHAT IS
YOUR POSITION ON THE 95-BILLION-DOLLAR EMERGENCY AID
BILL PASSED OUT OF THE U.S. SENATE?
>> WELL, I THINK THAT IT WAS GIFT WRAPPED REPUBLICAN BILL, IN
MY OPINION. MANY OF THE IMMIGRATION REFORM
ADVOCATES WERE OPPOSED TO IT BECAUSE IT WAS VERY, VERY
STRIDENT. ENFORCEMENT.
IT GAVE THE PRESIDENT -- NOT JUST PRESIDENT BIDEN, BUT ANY
PRESIDENT, A GREAT DEAL OF ENFORCEMENT POWERS, THE ABILITY
TO SHUT THE BORDER DOWN COMPLETELY AFTER 5,000 FOLKS HAD
CROSSED DURING -- IN A DAY'S PERIOD OF TIME AND KEEP IT SHUT
DOWN. IT LIMITED ASYLUM CLAIMS,
PROHIBITED PEOPLE FROM SEEKING ASYLUM A THIRD TIME, AND IT
SEEMED TO REALLY DISREGARD THE WELFARE OF CHILDREN, WHICH I
THOUGHT WAS QUITE DISTURBING. AND YET, IT WAS A BILL THAT
PRESIDENT BIDEN SAID HE WAS WILLING TO SIGN.
IT ALSO REENGAGED THE UNITED STATES IN THE MEXICO -- STAY IN
MEXICO POLICY, AND IT WAS A GIFT.
HAD WANTED IN THEIR HR2 BILL, AND YET THEY REFUSED TO MOVE IT
FORWARD. MORE ABOUT THAT IN A BIT, BUT I
ALSO WANT TO GET YOUR TAKE ON THE EMERGENCY AID BILL THAT
WOULD GIVE $95 BILLION TO UKRAINE, FOR EXAMPLE, AND ISRAEL
AND HUMANITARIAN AID TO GAZA. WHAT ABOUT THIS MATTER OF GIVING
THIS FUNDING TO UKRAINE AT THIS TIME?
>> SO I THINK THAT WHAT'S REALLY AT STAKE IS PRESERVING DEMOCRACY
IN EUROPE. AND SO I THINK IT'S REALLY
IMPORTANT TO FUND THE INITIATIVES IN UKRAINE.
THEY'RE NOT A N.A.T.O. PARTNER SO WE DON'T HAVE ANY BOOTS ON
THE GROUND. AND THE LEAST WE COULD DO IS TO
PROVIDE THEM WITH THAT AID. I JUST DON'T GET IT, WHY SENATOR
JOHNSON DOES NOT SEE THAT, DOES NOT LEAN INTO THAT.
IT'S VERY PUZZLING. >> WHAT ABOUT --
>> YOU KNOW, AND TODAY, WE JUST HAD THE RUSSIAN OPPOSITION
LEADER DIE. WE TALKED ABOUT IT A LITTLE BIT
DURING THE BREAK. IT'S HARD TO DIE OF NATURAL
CAUSES WHEN YOU'RE 47 YEARS OLD. >> INDEED.
WHAT ABOUT GIVING MONEY TO ISRAEL AT THIS TIME?
WHAT'S YOUR POSITION ON THAT? >> OH, I THINK IT WAS PART OF
THE LARGER PACKAGE. THERE WERE DEFENSIVE WEAPONRY
THERE. ISRAEL IN THE MIDDLE OF A WAR
AND IT'S BEING ATTACKED ON ALL SIDES OF ITS BORDERS BY THE
HOUTHIS AND HEZBOLLAH AND ISIS, AS WELL AS HAMAS.
AND SO I THINK THAT IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO DENY YOUR ALLY
ASSISTANCE AND AID WHILE THEY'RE AT WAR.
BUT I DO WANT TO SAY THAT INK JOE BIDEN HAS REALLY INDICATED
VERY CLEARLY THAT HE WANTS BENJAMIN NETANYAHU TO SORT OF
LISTEN TO OUR COUNSEL A LITTLE BIT MORE, AND IF WE PROVIDE THEM
WITH WEAPONS, THEY OUGHT TO BE USED DEFENSIVELY AND THAT WE
OUGHT TO BE MORE STRATEGIC IN SEEKING OUT HAMAS MILITANTS AS
OPPOSED TO CARPET BOMBING THE ENTIRE POPULATION.
YOU KNOW, THE SITUATION IS VERY DIRE.
BEEN FORCED INTO THE SOUTHERN PART OF ISRAEL.
RAFAH, I DON'T KNOW IF PEOPLE CAN FIGURE -- SEE THE MAP IN
THEIR MIND, BUT THERE'S NOWHERE ELSE TO GO EXCEPT THE SINAI
DESERT. CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR -- SAYING
THAT THEY COULD POSSIBLY RETREAT FROM THE THAT THEY HAVE HAD WITH
ISRAEL. I'M VERY DISTURBED THAT THIS HAS
TURNED INTO A REGIONAL WAR AND VERY, VERY CONCERNED, AS WE ALL
OUGHT TO BE. SO I DO THINK THAT ISRAEL IS OUR
ALLY, BUT I DON'T THINK THEY SHOULD TAKE OUR FRIENDSHIP FOR
GRANTED. VERY, VERY CLOSE TO SAYING THE
QUIET PART OUT LOUD, THAT WE'RE REALLY GOING TO START
CONDITIONING OUR SUPPORT BECAUSE THIS SHOULD NOT BE A REVENGE
CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE GAZA PEOPLE.
>> TURNING BACK DOMESTIC, CONGRESSWOMAN.
CONGRESSMAN FROM WISCONSIN, MIKE GALLAGHER, VOTED AGAINST THE
IMPEACHMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY MAYORKAS, AS DID YOU.
WHAT'S YOUR COMMENT ON HIS HOUSE IMPEACHMENT, THE SECRETARY'S?
>> WELL, YOU KNOW, ON T.V., I CAN'T REALLY SAY WHAT I WOULD
LIKE TO SAY, BUT I THINK MIKE GALLAGHER'S VOTE REALLY IS
INDICATIVE OF THE PRESSURE THAT ALL OF REPUBLICANS ARE
EXPERIENCING TO DO WHAT DONALD TRUMP WANTS THEM TO DO, AND MIKE
GALLAGHER IS SOMEONE WHO APPARENTLY HAS AMBITIONS BEYOND
THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, DECIDED TO JUST TAKE AN EXIT.
HE VOTED AGAINST THE BIG LIE IN NOT CERTIFYING THE ELECTION.
I NOTED THAT EARLIER IN THE 118th CONGRESS.
AND, YOU KNOW, HE'S THOUGHTFUL AND HE HAS COURAGE AND I THINK
THAT IT DEMONSTRATES THAT GREAT COWARDICE THAT WE'RE
EXPERIENCING HERE IN THE HOUSE. >> ALL RIGHT.
GWEN MOORE, THANKS VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US.
>> THANK YOU. >> AT THE STATE CAPITOL THIS
WEEK, ANOTHER CURVE BALL IN THE FIGHT OVER NEW VOTING MAPS.
WHILE AWAITING A DECISION FROM THE WISCONSIN SUPREME COURT ON
WHICH DISTRICTS MAPS WILL BE IN EFFECT FOR THE UPCOMING
ELECTIONS, REPUBLICANS IN THE LEGISLATURE ONCE AGAIN PUT
FORWARD MAPS DRAWN BY DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR TONY EVERS, ONLY THIS
TIME WITHOUT ANY CHANGES. EVEN MORE SURPRISING WAS THE
MAJORITY OF DEMOCRATS VOTING AGAINST THE MEASURE, SKEPTICAL
OF REPUBLICAN INTENTIONS. NOT ALL REPUBLICANS VOTED IN
LINE WITH THEIR CAUCUS, WHILE OTHERS VOTED IN FAVOR WITH GREAT
RESENTMENT. REPUBLICAN SENATOR VAN WANGGAARD
SAID OF THE VOTE REPUBLICANS WERE NOT STUCK BETWEEN A ROCK
AND A HARD PLACE; IT WAS A MATTER OF CHOOSING TO BE
STABBED, SHOT, POISONED, OR LED TO THE GUILLOTINE.
WE CHOSE TO BE STABBED, HE SAID, SO WE COULD LIVE TO FIGHT
ANOTHER DAY. >> ONCE WE PASS THE MAPS, MORE
OR LESS THE LAWSUITS STOP, THERE'S NO NEED FOR US TO TRY TO
DO AN APPEAL TO THE SUPREME COURT BECAUSE THE LEGISLATURE
HAS ADOPTED A MAP, IT'S BEEN SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR.
THERE'S NO NEED FOR US TO BE ABLE TO GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS
TO SAY THAT JEANNETTE JANET PROZ IS BIASED AND WE NEED A CAPERTON
DECISION BECAUSE SHE WON'T BE VOTING ON THE MAPS.
THE POTENTIAL WE HAVE TO GO TO THE SUPREME COURT AND WIN ARE NO
LONGER VIABLE, WHICH IS WHY, IF THE GOVERNOR SIGNS THE MAP, I AM
SUPREMELY CONFIDENT THAT THAT IS THE MAP THAT WE WILL RUN ON IN
NOVEMBER. WHETHER I LIKE IT OR NOT, THAT'S
WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DEAL WITH. >> GIVEN THE CIRCUMSTANCE THE
LEGISLATURE IS FACED WITH TWO CHOICES: EITHER PASS THE MAPS AS
IS OR ALLOW THE LIBERAL MAJORITY TO GERRYMANDER THE STATE AT THE
LAST MINUTE WITHOUT PUBLIC INPUT.
WISCONSIN VOTERS DESERVE MORE CERTAINTY THAN WISCONSIN SUPREME
COURT IS GOING TO PROVIDE THE LEGISLATURE.
GOING TO END THIS SHAM LITIGATION AND PASS THE
GOVERNOR'S MAP. NOMINATION PAPERS WILL BE
CIRCULATED IN 62 DAYS FROM TODAY.
THE 2024 ELECTION IS ALMOST HERE.
PASSING THEY SAY MAPS AND HAVING THEM SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR WILL
GIVE THE WISCONSIN VOTERS THE CERTAINTY THAT THEY DESERVE.
>> AN I DON'T FEAR THE ELECTION THAT I'M GOING TO BE FACED WITH
MY DELICATELY SLICED DISTRICT NOW BASED UPON THE GOVERNOR'S
LAWYERS MUST HAVE PUT TOGETHER, BUT I'M GOING TO VOTE FOR THESE
MAPS BECAUSE THE PROCESS THAT'S UNDERWAY IN THE SUPREME COURT
CERTAINLY DOESN'T APPEAR THAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE OUR ARGUMENTS
SERIOUSLY OR EVEN CONSIDER THEM. SO WE KIND OF HAVE A GUN TO OUR
HEAD, FRANKLIN, IS HOW IT'S LOOKING RIGHT NOW.
AND, I MEAN, I'M GOING TO GO OUT ON A LIMB AND SAY THE GOVERNOR,
AS HE'S ALREADY INDICATED, SAYS THAT HE DOES SIGN THESE MAPS
BECAUSE I REALLY DON'T THINK HE WANTS TO BE SO HYPOCRITICAL OR
SO PARTISAN THAT HE WOULD VETO HIS OWN EXACT MAPS THAT HE HAS
PUT FORTH. >> I DON'T LIKE THIS BILL.
I DON'T LIKE WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE TODAY.
I THINK IT WAS ALREADY SETTLED. I THINK WE HAVE A DUTY AND A
RESPONSIBILITY, AND WE DID THAT. THE DANGEROUS PRECEDENT THAT'S
BEING SET IS THAT A SUPREME COURT JUSTICE CAN RUN MAKING
PROMISES OF THE OUTCOME OF A CASE AND THEN RULE ON THAT CASE.
>> GOVERNOR TONY EVERS HAS UNTIL NEXT TUESDAY TO DECIDE WHETHER
TO VETO HIS OWN MAPS. HE HAS SAID HE WILL SIGN THEM
INTO LAW, BUT MANY FELLOW DEMOCRATS SEE THE LEGISLATURE'S
MOVE TO PASS EVERS' MAPS AS A TRICK.
AMONG THEM, DEMOCRATIC STATE SENATOR MARK SPREITZER.
SENATOR, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
>> SO ARE YOU AMONG THOSE WHO WANTED THE GOVERNOR TO VETO HIS
OWN MAPS AND HOLD OUT FOR THE SUPREME COURT'S CHOICE?
>> I TRUST THEM TO MAKE THIS DECISION AND TO CONSULT WITH HIS
LAWYERS AND FIGURE OUT WHAT THE BEST PATH TO FAIR MAPS IS.
OBVIOUSLY, HIS MAP IS ONE OF FOUR FAIR MAPS THAT ARE PENDING
BEFORE THE STATE SUPREME COURT. I DO TRUST THE STATE SUPREME
COURT TO MAKE THE DECISION ON WHAT THE BEST MAP IS, WHETHER
THAT'S ONE OF THESE FOR OR WHETHER TO MAKE ANY TWEAKS OR
ANYTHING TO ANY OF THOSE MAPS. I ALSO TRUSS GOVERNOR EVERS TO
DECIDE IF SIGNING THIS MAP IS THE BEST PATH TO GET FAIR MAPS
THAT WE CAN ALL HAVE GOING FORWARD.
ACTUALLY CAME BEFORE THE STATE ASSEMBLY AND THE STATE SENATE TO
VOTE ON, THAT ALTHOUGH IT WAS A CLEAN VERSION OF THE GOVERNOR'S
MAP, WE HAD A QUESTION ABOUT WHETHER THE BILL ITSELF WAS A
CLEAN BILL BECAUSE IT DOESN'T CAUSE THE MAP TO TAKE EFFECT
UNTIL THIS FALL'S ELECTION. AND RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE A MAP
THAT IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL, THAT THE WISCONSIN SUPREME COURT HAS
SAID CAN'T BE USED FOR ANY FUTURE ELECTIONS AND THERE'S A
RECALL EFFORT AGAINST SPEAKER ROBIN VOS, THERE'S A SPECIAL
ELECTION THAT'S NEEDED IN THE FOURTH SENATE DISTRICT, AND SO
THERE'S SOME UNANSWERED QUESTIONS IF THIS BILL IS SIGNED
INTO LAW ABOUT WHAT MAP THOSE ELECTIONS ARE HELD ON AND WHAT
MAP EXISTS BETWEEN NOW AND NOVEMBER.
THOSE QUESTIONS COULD BE ANSWERED BY GOING BACK TO THE
STATE SUPREME COURT AND TRYING TO GET CLARITY, BUT THAT'S
SOMETHING I THINK GOVERNOR EVERS NEEDS TO LOOK AT AS HE'S MAKING
THIS DECISION, AND THEN WE ALSO JUST NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT
THERE'S NOT ANY REPUBLICAN TRICKS THAT WOULD SOMEHOW MAKE
IT EASIER FOR THEM TO CHOOSE WHAT COURT TO APPEAL TO AND
MAYBE GET A CONSERVATIVE FEDERAL COURT TO INTERVENE HERE AND STOP
US FROM HAVING FAIR MAPS. THOSE ARE ALL THE THINGS THAT
ARE ON MY MIND AND THAT I HOPE ARE ON GOVERNOR EVERS' MIND AS
HE MAKES THIS DECISION. >> SO ON THOSE TWO POINTS, DOES
IT MATTER TO YOU AT ALL THAT THE LEGISLATIVE REFERENCE BUREAU
REPORTS THAT IT ADDED THE LANGUAGE TO THE BILL SAYING THE
MAPS WOULD FIRST TAKE EFFECT FOR THE NOVEMBER 2024 ELECTION?
>> I THINK THERE'S A QUESTION OF INTENT AND THERE'S A QUESTION OF
EFFECT. SO I TAKE THE LEGISLATIVE
REFERENCE BUREAU AT ITS WORD THAT THEY ADDED THAT LANGUAGE
AND WEREN'T DIRECTED TO ADD IT FOR ANY POLITICAL PURPOSE, BUT
THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT IT DOESN'T HAVE A POLITICAL
OUTCOME, AND I THINK IT STILL LEAVES OPEN THE QUESTION OF WHAT
MAPS SAY THE VOS RECALL SHOULD BE HELD ON AND ANY FUTURE
SPECIAL ELECTIONS AND LRB IS SAID THAT THIS IS SORT OF THE
NORMAL PROCEDURE, BUT WE'RE NOT IN NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES.
WE NORMALLIANT DOING A REDISTRICTING PROCESS MID-DECADE
BECAUSE THE STATE SUPREME COURT HAS FOUND THE EXISTING MAP TO BE
UNCONSTITUTIONAL, SO I THINK THERE'S STILL SOME QUESTIONS
BLTHERE AND ONE OF THE THINGS TT CEMENTED MY "NO" VOTE WAS THAT
EVEN THOUGH REPUBLICANS ANNOUNCED THE WEEK BEFORE THEIR
INTENTION TO VOTE ON THIS MAP, THEY DIDN'T ACTUALLY PUT THE
AMENDMENT OUT TO THE PUBLIC OR TO LEGISLATORS IN ADVANCE.
THEY DIDN'T GO THROUGH THE NORMAL COMMITTEE PROCESS.
I'M THE TOP DEMOCRAT ON THE COMMITTEE THAT THIS UNDERLINED
BILL WAS IN AND NORMALLY WE WOULD VOTE IN COMMITTEE AND
MAYBE ADOPT THE AMENDMENT WITH THE MAPS IN COMMITTEE, BUT
INSTEAD THE BILL WAS PULLED OUT OF COMMITTEE WITHOUT A VOTE AT
ALL AND WE DIDN'T GET THE AMENDMENT THAT PUT THE
GOVERNOR'S MAPS INTO PLACE UNTIL WE WERE ACTUALLY ON THE SENATE
FLOOR. WEEKEND FOR THE PUBLIC TO LOOK
AT AND FOR PEOPLE TO WEIGH IN, BUT NO PUBLIC HEARING WAS HELD
AND THIS WAS REALLY SOMETHING THAT WAS DECIDED IN CLOSE
REPUBLICAN CAUCUS AND BROUGHT FORWARD AT THE LAST MINUTE.
AND MY QUESTION IS WHY. IF THIS IS WHAT YOU WERE GOING
TO DO, WHY NOT JUST PUT IT OUT FOR EVERYBODY TO SEE AND THEN WE
COULD HAVE RAISED THESE QUESTIONS IN ADVANCE.
>> AS TO THE QUESTION OF WHETHER OR NOT THE PASSAGE OF THE
GOVERNOR'S MAPS OPENS THE DOOR TO FEDERAL LAWSUITS, SAY, SO
MANY EXPERTS SAY THAT THAT IS JUST NOT AT ALL LIKELY.
>> I HAVE CERTAINLY HEARD FOLKS SAYING THAT'S NOT LIKELY, AND I
HOPE IT'S NOT LIKELY. I HOPE THAT IF THIS IS THE MAP,
THAT WE CAN ALL RUN ON IT AND NOT RISK FURTHER LAWSUITS, BUT I
ALSO KNOW THAT THEY ARE VERY CREDIBLE LAWYERS, LIKE MARK
AAHLIYAHIAS, WHO HAS WON NUMEROUS CASES ON
ELECTED-RELATED ISSUES AROUND THE COUNTRY WHO HAVE RAISED
CONCERNS HERE. I HAVE NOT HAD A CHANCE TO TALK
TO HIM DIRECTLY, I'M NOT A LAWYER, AND THAT'S SOMETHING
WHERE, YOU KNOW, I WANTED TO TAKE THE CAUTIOUS APPROACH AND
SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT, THIS IS MOVING REALLY QUICKLY, WE DON'T
HAVE ANSWERS TO THESE QUESTIONS, I'M GOING TO VOTE NO, BUT THE
GOVERNOR HAS PLENTY OF LAWYERS AROUND HIM THAT HE'S TALKING TO
AND I TRUST THAT IF HE DECIDES THIS IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO,
HE'LL EITHER SIGN OR VETO THIS ACCORDINGLY.
BEGINNING AND REALLY WITH ONLY ABOUT HALF A MINUTE LEFT, HOW
SURPRISED WERE YOU THAT THE REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURE TOOK UP
AND PASSED THE EVERS MAPS? >> I WAS SURPRISED.
REPUBLICAN LEGISLATORS JUST A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO WERE TALKING
ABOUT HOW TERRIBLE THESE MAPS WERE, BUT I THINK THEY
ULTIMATELY DECIDED THAT THEY WANT TO CONTROL THE PROCESS HERE
AND CONTROL THEIR OWN DESTINY, AND THAT'S ANOTHER REASON I
VOTED NOW. I DON'T THINK POLITICIANS SHOULD
BE CHERRY-PICKING MAPS. I THINK WISCONSINITES SHOULD BE
PICKING THEY'RE ELECTED OFFICIALS AND SO I DIDN'T WANT
TO BE IN A POSITION OF DECIDING WHICH MAP WAS BEST FOR POLITICAL
REASONS. THE COURT.
>> SENATOR SPREITZER, THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. >> THIS WINTER HAS SEEN RECORD
HIGH TEMPERATURES CAUSED BY A MIXTURE OF AN UNCOMMON WEATHER
EVENT CALLED EL NIÑO. AND THE MORE COMMON CLIMATE
CHANGE. THOSE WARM TEMPERATURES CAUSED A
SURPRISE TORNADO IN EVANSVILLE LAST WEEK, CAUSING AN ESTIMATED
$2.4 MILLION WORTH OF DAMAGE. "HERE AND NOW" REPORTER ADITI
DEBNATH HAS MORE ON WHAT A WARMING CLIMATE MEANS FOR
WISCONSIN. >> AT THE START OF THE NEW YEAR,
HEAVY WINTER STORMS HIT MUCH OF WISCONSIN.
ALONG WITH BITTER COLD, STORMS BROUGHT MORE SNOWFALL THAN THE
STATE SAW IN ALL OF DECEMBER COMBINED.
ALTHOUGH THAT'S SNOWSTORM WAS NOT ABNORMAL FOR A WISCONSIN
WINTER, THE SUBZERO COLD FELT EXTREME BECAUSE TEMPERATURES
BEFORE AND AFTER THE STORMS WERE ABOVE FREEZING.
FEBRUARY RETURNS BACK TO THE UNUSUALLY WARM TEMPERATURES THAT
MARKED THE BEGINNING OF THIS WINTER.
THE UNSEASONAL WARMTH IS LIKELY DUE TO CLIMATE CHANGE AND A
WEATHER EVENT CALLED EL NIÑO, WHEN RISING TEMPERATURES IN THE
PACIFIC OCEAN CAUSE A WARMER WINTER AND LESS SNOWFALL.
IT ALSO MEANS A DRY WINTER. A DRY EL NIÑO WINTER COULD
PROLONG THE EFFECTS OF DROUGHT CONDITIONS IN A THIRD OF THE
STATE. FARMERS.
BECAUSE IT'S WARM DURING THE DAY, AT NIGHT, IT'S BELOW
FREEZING SO THE SOIL STAYS FROZEN.
THE FROZEN SOIL IS UNABLE TO ABSORB THE SNOW MELT AND REMAINS
DRY UNTIL THE SPRING THAW, AT WHICH TIME FARMERS NEED WET SOIL
TO GERMINATE YOUNG CROPS. THIS DECEMBER MARKED WISCONSIN'S
WARMEST AND DRIEST ON RECORD, WITH TEMPERATURES BETWEEN 5 AND
9° WARMER THAN AVERAGE. ABOUT 740,000 WISCONSIN
RESIDENTS CURRENTLY LIVE IN AREAS OF DROUGHT, PARTICULARLY
IN THE NORTHERN PART OF THE STATE.
WHILE EL NIÑO COMES ALONG EVERY THREE TO FIVE YEARS, THE EFFECTS
OF CLIMATE CHANGE COULD BRING THESE CONDITIONS IN MORE
WISCONSIN WINTERS TO COME. FOR "HERE AND NOW," I'M ADITI
DEBNATH. >> TURNING TO WESTERN WISCONSIN,
THE CHIPPEWA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS PASSED A RESOLUTION
THIS WEEK CALLING FOR A PAUSE ON PLANS TO BRING REFUGEES TO THE
CHIPPEWA VALLEY. WHILE THE RESOLUTION IS
NONBINDING, IT SENDS A MESSAGE THAT MIRRORS SOME OF THE
DIVISION WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. MARISA WOJCIK REPORTS.
>> WE BEGAN JUST AN EXPLORATORY PROCESS.
>> LAST SPRING, WORLD RELIEF BEGAN LOOKING FOR A COMMUNITY
WHERE REFUGEES COULD FIND A NEW HOME.
OF CONSULTING WITH LOCAL LEADERS, GOVERNMENTAL LEADERS,
AS WELL AS SCHOOL BOARDS, LAW ENFORCEMENT, POTENTIAL
EMPLOYERS, APARTMENT -- YOU KNOW, LANDLORDS, LOCAL CHURCHES
AND OTHER FAITH AND NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND REALLY CAME TO
THE CONCLUSION THAT THIS IS A COMMUNITY THAT IS REALLY EAGER
TO WELCOME REFUGEES AND WE PROPOSED THAT TO THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT, WHICH HAS THE ULTIMATE AUTHORITY ON WHERE
REFUGEES ARE SETTLED. >> IN THE FALL, THEY HELD A
PUBLIC HEARING AND LOCAL NEWS BEGAN COVERING PLANS TO RESETTLE
ROUGHLY 75 REFUGEES IN THE AREA. >> I STARTED TO GET MANY, MANY
CALLS, EMAILS, EMAILS, CALLS. >> REPRESENTATIVE KAREN HERD'S
DISTRICT INCLUDES THE EAST EDGE OF EAU CLAIRE.
>> ARE WE PREPARED? DO WE HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN
PLACE? TO BE ABLE TO EVALUATE IT.
>> SHE SAID NOT BEING AWARE OF THE PLANS MADE HER UNPREPARED TO
ADDRESS QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS. >> IT WAS JUST THAT THE PUBLIC
WASN'T AWARE OF IT, BECAUSE 75 PEOPLE COMING IN FROM MINNESOTA
AND ANOTHER STATE, THEY'RE COMING HERE ON THEIR OWN.
THEY HAVE THE MONEY TO COME HERE ON THEIR OWN.
THEY'RE MOVING THEIR FAMILIES HERE AND GETTING A JOB.
THEY'RE PEOPLE LIKE YOU AND I. THESE ARE PEOPLE THAT MOST
LIKELY ARE GOING TO BE DEPENDENT UPON SERVICES.
>> WORLD RELIEF SAYS THAT'S TYPICALLY NOT THE CASE.
>> THERE'S VERY STRONG FOCUS ON THE FEDERAL REFUGEE SETTLEMENT
PROGRAMS TO HELP REFUGEES FIND WORK WITHIN THE FIRST 90 DAYS
AFTER THEY ARRIVE AND BE ECONOMICALLY SELF-SUFFICIENT AS
NEEDS, ACTUALLY, RIGHT NOW SO THAT WE CAN PROVIDE PEOPLE WHO
ARE AUTHORIZED TO WORK. IT'S A WIN-WIN.
>> I AM SUPPORTIVE OF PEOPLE COMING TO OUR COUNTRY AS LONG AS
THEY ARE COMING LEGALLY, SO, YES, ABSOLUTELY, LET THEM COME.
>> SHE SAYS HER ISSUE IS PROPER PUBLIC NOTICE AND INPUT.
WORLD RELIEF SAYS THEY DID HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH LOCAL
STAKEHOLDERS, AS IS REQUIRED IN THE FEDERAL REFUGEE ACT OF 1980.
IT SAYS AGENCIES LIKE WORLD RELIEF MUST WORK IN CLOSE
COOPERATION AND ADVANCE CONSULTATION WITH STATE AND
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS. THE LAW ALSO OUTLINES CRITERIA,
ENSURING A REFUGEE IS NOT SETTLED IN AN AREA HIGHLY
IMPACTED. FOR REPRESENTATIVE HERD.
SHE AUTHORED A BILL THAT OUTLINES SPECIFICS FOR
CONTACTING LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS.
THE EQUIVALENT OF PERMISSION? >> NOT AT ALL.
INPUT. THAT'S ALL THIS IS.
COULD WE BE AT THE TABLE TOO? >> THE REASON WE'RE OPPOSED TO
THIS BILL IS WE THINK IT IS NOT NECESSARY.
ROBUST PROCESS FOR COMMUNITY CONSULTATION.
VERY CAREFULLY. >> THE PROPOSAL SAYS IF A LOCAL
OFFICIAL CONNECTS WITH A FEDERAL OR NONPROFIT AGENCY RELATING TO
REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT, IT MUST BE REPORTED TO EVERY CITY, VILLAGE,
TOWN, COUNTY, AND SCHOOL DISTRICT TOUCHING A 100-MILE
RADIUS FROM WHERE A PROPOSED REFUGEE WOULD BE PLACED.
EACH LOCAL BODY CONTACTED MUST TAKE IT UP AS A MEETING AGENDA
ITEM AND TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT. >> IT'S VERY CONCEIVABLE THAT
EVERY SINGLE PRELIMINARY CONVERSATION ABOUT THE
SETTLEMENT WOULD NEED TO TRIGGER MORE THAN A THOUSAND MEETINGS,
FOLLOWED BY FOLLOW-UP MEETINGS THAT WOULD BE REQUIRED, FOLLOWED
BY POTENTIAL RESOLUTIONS IN COMMUNITIES THAT ARE UNLIKELY
EVER TO SEE A REFUGEE RESETTLED INTO THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD OR
COMMUNITY. AT ALL.
IT'S ACTUALLY VERY MINIMAL BECAUSE THEY JUST HAVE TO BE
NOTIFIED AND IF THEY WANT TO BE A PART OF THE DISCUSSION, THEY
CAN SEND A REPRESENTATIVE. SO IT WOULD BE THOSE INTERESTED
PARTIES THAT WANT TO. >> BUT REPRESENTATIVES IN
CONGRESS TAKE ISSUE WITH MORE THAN JUST NOTICE.
IN A LETTER FROM CONGRESSMAN TOM TIFFANIE TO THE EAU CLAIRE CITY
COUNCIL, HE WROTE, PLANS BY A CONTROVERSIAL NGO TO RESETTLE A
LARGE NUMBER OF REFUGEES POTENTIALLY FROM SOMALIA, SYRIA,
AND OTHER UNSTABLE COUNTRIES IN THE EAU CLAIRE AREA HAVE RAISED
UNDERSTANDABLE CONCERNS AMONG LOCAL RESIDENTS.
GIVEN THE DANGEROUS CONDITIONS IN THESE CONDITIONS AND THE
BIDEN ADMINISTRATION'S ALARMING TRACK RECORD WHEN IT COMES TO
VETTING NEWCOMERS, IT IS INCONCEIVABLE THAT THE LOCAL
COMMUNITY WOULD BE KEPT IN THE DARK IN THIS WAY.
>> THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF QUESTIONS, WHAT COUNTRIES PEOPLE
ARE COMING FROM. OUR VIEW IS THAT'S THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT'S JOB TO FIGURE OUT, IS TO DETERMINE IF THESE PEOPLE
HAVE FLED FEAR OF PERSECUTION, WHICH IS THE LEGAL DEFINITION OF
REFUGEE, IF THEY'RE VETTED BY OUR GOVERNMENT.
A LOT OF THE CONCERNS PEOPLE HAVE ARE BASED ON CONFUSION,
WHICH IS REALLY UNDERSTANDABLE BECAUSE THE DYNAMICS AT THE
BORDER, WHICH ARE REALLY IMPORTANT, ARE IN THE NEWS EVERY
SINGLE DAY. >> AND REPRESENTATIVE HERD
AGREES. CONFUSION, UNEQUIVOCALICALLY.
THERE IS A HUGE DIFFERENCE OF REFUGEES VETTED BY OUR
GOVERNMENT AND IT'S A VERY RIGOROUS PROCESS THEY GO THROUGH
THAT TAKES YEARS AND YEARS FOR THEM TO FINALLY BE-APPROVED.
>> BECAUSE OF THIS AND OTHER STEPS OUTLINED IN THE 1980
FEDERAL LAW, WORLD RELIEF WORRIES ABOUT THE MESSAGE THIS
BILL SENDS. >> IS IT STIGMATIZING REFUGEES?
IT IMPLIES THAT WE NEED THIS NOTICE AND POTENTIAL RESOLUTION
PROCESS ABOUT THE ARRIVAL OF A SMALL NUMBER OF PEOPLE FROM
THESE COUNTRIES. >> THE NARRATIVE IN THE
COMMUNITY HAS BEEN DOMINATED BY SMALL MINORITY OPPOSED TO THE
PLANNED REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT. >> IN JANUARY, THE EAU CLAIRE
CITY COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY PASSED A RESOLUTION AFFIRMING SUPPORT
OF REFUGEES MAKING EAU CLAIRE THEIR NEW HOME.
>> I THINK THE VAST MAJORITY OF PEOPLE IN EAU CLAIRE HAVE BEEN
VERY ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT THIS IDEA OF WELCOMING A RELATIVELY
SMALL NUMBER OF REFUGEE FAMILIES TO THE COMMUNITY.
>> EARLIER THIS MONTH, THE FIRST FAMILY ARRIVED IN THE AREA,
COMING FROM THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO.
FOR "HERE AND NOW," I'M MARISA WOJCIK.
>> 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 WEEKEND.
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