Here & Now

Here and Now for Sept. 9, 2016

ANNOUNCER:

THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS PART OF OUR “HERE AND NOW” 2016 WISCONSIN VOTE ELECTION COVERAGE. FUNDING FOR “HERE AND NOW” IS PROVIDED, IN PART, BY FRIENDS OF WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISION.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

I’M FREDERICA FREYBERG. TONIGHT ON “HERE AND NOW,” WE HEAR FROM THE CLINTON AND TRUMP WISCONSIN CAMPAIGNS. WE’LL GET INFORMATION ON PREMIUM INCREASES FOR INSURANCE PLANS IN THE HEALTH CARE EXCHANGE. AND NEW JOB NUMBERS ARE OUT. SO IS A NEW UW STUDY ON THE STATE OF WORKING IN WISCONSIN. ALSO THIS WEEK FOR-PROFIT COLLEGE CAMPUSES CLOSE THE DOORS ON STATE STUDENTS WITH NO NOTICE. BUT FIRST, HEADING INTO THE ELECTION HOMESTRETCH, WISCONSIN CONTINUES TO MAKE MOST TOP TEN BATTLEGROUND STATE LISTS. THE MOST RECENT MARQUETTE LAW SCHOOL POLL SHOWS A FIVE-POINT PREFERENCE AMONG WISCONSIN VOTERS FOR HILLARY CLINTON OVER DONALD TRUMP. THAT’S DOWN FROM A TEN-POINT EDGE IN AUGUST. THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE IS HEATING UP ON THE GROUND AND ON THE AIRWAVES. A GOOD TIME TO CHECK IN WITH WISCONSIN CAMPAIGNS, STARTING WITH SUE LYNCH, WHO IS WITH THE GROUP WISCONSIN WOMEN FOR TRUMP. SHE’S IN LA CROSSE. AND, SUE, THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

SUE LYNCH:

THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

SO AS WE HAVE JUST SAID, YOU ARE A MEMBER OF WISCONSIN WOMEN FOR TRUMP. WHY DO YOU LIKE DONALD TRUMP FOR PRESIDENT?

SUE LYNCH:

WELL, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET MR. TRUMP IN APRIL WHEN HE WAS HERE IN LA CROSSE AND IT JUST RECONFIRMED TO ME HIS COMMITMENT TO REALLY MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN. I THINK THE THING THAT REALLY DREW MY ATTENTION TO HIM FROM THE ONSET WAS HIS BELIEF IN SUPPORTING OUR VETERANS, STRONG NATIONAL DEFENSE AND CLAMPING DOWN ON THE ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION THAT’S OCCURRING IN OUR COUNTRY.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

SO WHAT ABOUT COMMENTS HE’S MADE ABOUT WOMEN, LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE, THE DUSTUP WITH MEGYN KELLY ON FOX NEWS?

SUE LYNCH:

YOU KNOW, I’M NOT GOING TO BE DISTRACTED ON THOSE COMMENTS. EVERY TIME I INTERVIEW, YOU KNOW, THE MODERATORS THING THAT UP. IT DOESN’T MATTER TO ME. I THINK WHAT MATTERS TO ME IS THAT HE WILL PUT AMERICA FIRST. AND HE TALKS ABOUT THE WAYS IN MOST RECENT MONTHS OF HOW HE’S GOING TO DO THAT. AND SO I THINK PEOPLE NEED TO LOOK AT THE BIGGER PICTURE OF THE CANDIDATE AND WHAT HE’S GOING TO DO TO MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

AND STILL, HOW DOES YOUR CANDIDATE, DONALD TRUMP, KIND OF COUNTER HIS REALLY VERY HIGH UNFAVORABLES ACCORDING TO THE LATEST MARQUETTE LAW SCHOOL POLL AMONG FEMALES, BLACK AND HISPANIC VOTERS? I MEAN, JUST IN WISCONSIN POLLING SHOWS THAT HE HAS 28% AMONG WOMEN. HOW DOES HE COUNTER THESE UNFAVORABLES?

SUE LYNCH:

WELL, I THINK HE’S DOING A GREAT JOB OF, YOU KNOW, COUNTERING THOSE UNFAVORABLES. I MEAN, YOU CAN SEE THE INCREASE OF HIS POPULARITY OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS. THE MORE YOU GET TO KNOW DONALD TRUMP, I THINK THE MORE YOU’RE GOING TO LIKE HIM. I THINK HE COMES OUT WITH SUBSTANTIVE, YOU KNOW, PLANS OF ACTION THAT RELATE TO ALL OF US, MEN, WOMEN. AND OUR COALITION IS AT THE GRASSROOTS LEVEL NOW WORKING TO HELP EDUCATE THE VOTER ON JUST WHO DONALD TRUMP IS AND WHAT HE’S GOING TO DO FOR US. AND SO THOSE POLL NUMBERS, AS I SEE THEM GO UP, I KEEP THINKING THAT BY ELECTION DAY DONALD TRUMP WILL BE ELECTED PRESIDENT.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

NOW, I HATE TO KEEP HEARKENING BACK TO THOSE POLL NUMBERS, BUT ONE OF DONALD TRUMP’S BIG ISSUES IS IMMIGRATION, BUILDING A WALL. YET THAT LATEST POLL SAID 62% OF REGISTERED VOTERS IN WISCONSIN SAY THAT UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS CURRENTLY WORKING IN THE U.S. SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO STAY AND EVENTUALLY APPLY FOR CITIZENSHIP. SO YOUR CANDIDATE’S POSITION ON THIS SEEMS TO NOT BE ON THE SAME SIDE AS THE MAJORITY OF WISCONSIN VOTERS WHO HAVE BEEN POLLED.

SUE LYNCH:

WELL, AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, WHEN THE — THOSE 62% REALIZE JUST WHAT THOSE UNDOCUMENTED, ILLEGAL ALIENS BRING INTO WISCONSIN, THEY’LL REALIZE THAT HIS PLAN THAT HE TALKED ABOUT LAST WEEK WHERE, YOU KNOW, LEGAL IMMIGRATION — THERE IS A PATHWAY TO CITIZENSHIP HERE IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND I THINK PEOPLE WHO HAVE FOLLOWED THAT UNDERSTAND WHY IT IS SO IMPORTANT THAT THERE IS A LEGAL PATHWAY RATHER THAN ALL THIS ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION THAT REALLY IS AFFECTING ALL OF US.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

A MOMENT AGO YOU SAID WHAT ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS BRING INTO THIS COUNTRY. WHAT DID YOU MEAN BY THAT?

SUE LYNCH:

WELL, I THINK, YOU KNOW, JUST THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY’RE NOT PAYING INTO THE FEDERAL SYSTEM, SOCIAL SECURITY. YOU KNOW, THEY’RE BENEFITING FROM OUR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM AT ALMOST NO COST. AND REALLY IN THE BIG PICTURE, YOU KNOW, THOSE ARE HUGE EXPENSES THAT WE’RE ENDURING BY HAVING ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS INTO THIS COUNTRY.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

NOW, SWITCHING GEARS A BIT, MILWAUKEE, AS YOU KNOW, HAS ISSUES OF POVERTY, SEGREGATION AND CRIME. WHAT WOULD A PRESIDENT TRUMP DO FOR CITIES LIKE MILWAUKEE TO HELP BUILD AND HEAL THESE COMMUNITIES?

SUE LYNCH:

WELL, I THINK HE HAS DEMONSTRATED VERY CLEARLY THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS ABOUT GOING TO THE COMMUNITY. YOU KNOW, MR. TRUMP HAS BEEN ACTIVE IN COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES ALL OF HIS CAREER. CLEARLY IN NEW YORK YOU SEE THE SUCCESS THAT HE HAS WORKING WITH MINORITIES. AND I THINK THAT THAT WILL RESONATE THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES AND HE WILL GO TO THE PEOPLE. MR. TRUMP I THINK IS A GRASSROOTS ADVOCATE FOR UNDERSTANDING HOW WE TOGETHER CAN CHANGE SOME OF THE PROBLEMS THAT ARE CURRENTLY IN THIS COUNTRY.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

AS FOR JOBS AND THE ECONOMY, I KNOW THAT DONALD TRUMP OPPOSES THE TRANS-PACIFIC TRADE DEAL, WHEREAS THE U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND WISCONSIN’S COUNTERPART TO THAT SUPPORTS IT BECAUSE IT OPENS MARKETS. HOW DOES THE TPP HURT WISCONSIN?

SUE LYNCH:

WELL, I REALLY HAVE TO TELL YOU THAT I’M NOT ALL THAT FAMILIAR OF THE DETAILS — YOU KNOW, OF THAT, BUT JUST LISTENING TO THE NEWS AND READING REPORTS, I THINK THAT WISCONSIN HAS A PATHWAY TO ALLOW FOR, YOU KNOW, THAT TYPE OF SERVICE OR TRADE AGREEMENT TO BENEFIT US IN JOBS HERE IN THE STATE.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

I’LL LEAVE —

SUE LYNCH:

IT MIGHT BE AN AREA WHERE WE DISAGREE WITH MR. TRUMP ON, I DON’T KNOW WHERE GOVERNOR WALKER STANDS ON IT. BUT YOU’RE GOING TO HAVE AREAS OF DISAGREEMENT. I ALWAYS SAY LOOK FOR AREAS OF AGREEMENT RATHER THAN DISAGREEMENT AND TELL ME WHY IT WOULD BE BETTER FOR US.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

ALL RIGHT. SUE LYNCH, I LEAVE IT THERE. THANKS VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US.

SUE LYNCH:

WELL, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ALLOWING US TO TELL OUR STORY ABOUT MR. TRUMP.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

MOST WELCOME. HILLARY CLINTON HEADED TO NORTH CAROLINA AFTER WEDNESDAY’S MILITARY TOWN HALL FORUM IN NEW YORK CITY. CAMPAIGNS HITTING THE TRAIL HARD WITH FEWER THAN 60 DAYS TO THE GENERAL ELECTION. GILLIAN DRUMMOND IS THE WISCONSIN CLINTON CAMPAIGN COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR. SHE JOINS US NOW. GILLIAN, THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

GILLIAN DRUMMOND:

HAPPY TO BE HERE.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

WHAT’S YOUR RESPONSE TO THE NARROWING BETWEEN HILLARY CLINTON AND DONALD TRUMP IN THE POLLS INCLUDING HERE IN WISCONSIN?

GILLIAN DRUMMOND:

WE ALWAYS KNEW THAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN. IT HAPPENED FOUR YEARS AGO, IF EVERYBODY REMEMBERS. THAT’S WHY WE’VE BEEN ON THE GROUND SINCE THE PRIMARY WORKING HARD TO ORGANIZE OUR VOLUNTEERS AND SUPPORTERS TO MAKE SURE THAT COME NOVEMBER 8 WE ARE SUCCESSFUL.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

BOTH CANDIDATES HAVE VERY HIGH UNFAVORABLE RATINGS, CLINTON’S AT 58% HERE IN WISCONSIN. 63% FOR TRUMP. WHILE YOUR CANDIDATE BESTS TRUMP IN THAT REGARD, IS THAT NUMBER ALARMING?

GILLIAN DRUMMOND:

WELL, OBVIOUSLY AT THE END OF THE DAY ELECTIONS ARE A CHOICE. AND WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO IT, DONALD TRUMP’S JUST ABSOLUTE DIVISIVE AND SCARY TEMPERAMENT IS REALLY WHAT VOTERS ARE GOING TO BE CONSIDERING WHAT THEY GO TO THE POLLS. OBVIOUSLY HILLARY CLINTON HAS THE EXPERIENCE AND THE PLAN TO CREATE JOBS HERE IN WISCONSIN AND TO KEEP OUR COUNTRY SAFE.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

WE JUST SPOKE WITH A MEMBER OF WISCONSIN WOMEN FOR TRUMP. WHY CONTRARY TO HER PERSUASION SHOULD WISCONSIN WOMEN BE FOR CLINTON?

GILLIAN DRUMMOND:

WELL, OBVIOUSLY HILLARY CLINTON HAS BEEN WORKING HARD FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN HER ENTIRE CAREER. FROM WORKING TO PASS COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH CARE REFORM EARLY IN THE ’90s, WHICH LED TO THE STATE CHILDREN’S HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM, WHICH INSURED THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN RIGHT HERE IN WISCONSIN, THE BADGERCARE PROGRAM AS MANY KNOW IT, TO VARIOUS OTHER THINGS. HER SPEECH ON THE FLOOR OF THE UN SAYING THAT WOMEN’S RIGHTS ARE HUMAN RIGHTS AND HUMAN RIGHTS ARE WOMEN’S RIGHTS IS SOMETHING POWERFUL AND I THINK MANY WOMEN CONNECT TO THAT.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

68% OF THOSE POLLED IN THE LATEST MARQUETTE SURVEY DESCRIBE HILLARY CLINTON AS DISHONEST. 64% DESCRIBE DONALD TRUMP THAT WAY. WHAT CAN YOU TELL VOTERS ABOUT WHY YOUR CANDIDATE SHOULD NOT BE JUDGED AS DISHONEST?

GILLIAN DRUMMOND:

WELL, I MEAN, I THINK IT’S VERY CLEAR HILLARY CLINTON HAS BEEN FIGHTING HER ENTIRE CAREER

FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN. AND, YOU KNOW, SHE’S BEEN IN THE SPOTLIGHT FOR A LONG TIME AND SOMETIMES IT’S TOUGH. A LOT OF DETRACTORS OUT THERE. BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY SHE’S FOUGHT AND WON SOME REALLY IMPORTANT BATTLES AND DEDICATED HER LIFE TO IMPROVING THE LIVES OF OTHERS. AND THAT’S REALLY WHAT THIS ELECTION IS ABOUT.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

HILLARY CLINTON SAYS SHE WILL INTRODUCE COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM IN HER FIRST 100 DAYS IN OFFICE. WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE?

GILLIAN DRUMMOND:

WELL, OBVIOUSLY SHE FULLY SUPPORTS A PATH TO CITIZENSHIP, AN EQUAL ONE, FOR ALL. AND SHE WILL BE INTRODUCING THAT HOPEFULLY WITH THE SUPPORT OF A SUPPORTIVE CONGRESS. AND SHE’LL BE WORKING WITH CONGRESS ON THAT, BECAUSE THAT’S WHAT THIS TAKES. IT TAKES SOMEBODY WHO CAN GET DOWN AND TALK TO MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND COME UP WITH SOLUTIONS. AND OBVIOUSLY SHE HAS THE EXPERIENCE AND THE TEMPERAMENT TO DO THAT WHEREAS OBVIOUSLY OUR OPPONENT HERE HAS TAKEN A VERY DIFFERENT LINE ON THIS ISSUE AND HAS FOCUSED ON SOME VERY DIVISIVE AND SCARY LANGUAGE THAT, YOU KNOW, PITS COMMUNITIES AGAINST ONE ANOTHER. AND THAT’S NOT WHAT AMERICA’S ABOUT. IT’S NOT WHAT WISCONSIN’S ABOUT. SO HILLARY CLINTON IS GOING TO INTRODUCE A PLAN AND WORK WITH CONGRESS TO PASS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN ALL SUPPORT.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

WHAT WOULD A PRESIDENT CLINTON DO FOR CITIES LIKE MILWAUKEE TO HELP BUILD AND HEAL THEM?

GILLIAN DRUMMOND:

OBVIOUSLY, THE ISSUES THAT WE’VE SEEN IN MILWAUKEE ARE SOMETHING THAT HILLARY CLINTON CARES DEEPLY ABOUT. DURING THE PRIMARY SHE CAME TO MILWAUKEE AND SAT DOWN WITH WOMEN WHO LOST SONS TO GUN VIOLENCE OR CHILDREN TO GUN VIOLENCE. AND IT’S BEEN SOMETHING THAT SHE’S TALKED ABOUT QUITE A BIT ON THE TRAIL. OBVIOUSLY DONTRE HAMILTON’S MOTHER HAS BEEN OUT SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF HILLARY CLINTON BECAUSE HILLARY HAS THE PLAN TO BRING OUR COMMUNITIES TOGETHER TO SOLVE THE PROBLEMS THAT THEY FACE. AND OBVIOUSLY FROM, YOU KNOW, WORKING WITH BUILDING BRIDGES BETWEEN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR TO INVESTING IN EDUCATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE AND JOBS, HILLARY CLINTON HAS THE PLAN TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR COMMUNITIES ARE SAFE.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

WHAT IS HILLARY CLINTON’S POSITION ON THE TRANS-PACIFIC TRADE DEAL?

GILLIAN DRUMMOND:

SHE OPPOSES IT. THE DEAL DOES NOT COMPLY WITH HER THREE REQUIREMENTS FOR TRADE, INCLUDING MAKING SURE THAT IT CREATES JOBS HERE IN THE UNITED STATES, THAT IT RAISES WAGES AND THAT IS REALLY WHAT IT COMES DOWN TO FOR HER.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

AS SECRETARY OF STATE SHE SUPPORTED IT.

GILLIAN DRUMMOND:

WELL, SHE DOESN’T SUPPORT IT NOW, AND SHE WILL NOT WHEN — SHE WON’T WHEN HOPEFULLY SHE BECOMES PRESIDENT.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

NOW, THE FIRST DEBATE BETWEEN THE CANDIDATES COMING UP, WHAT DO YOU WANT HILLARY CLINTON TO ACHIEVE DURING THAT?

GILLIAN DRUMMOND:

WELL, I THINK WE’RE LOOKING FORWARD TO HER TELLING HER STORY AND DELIVERING HER MESSAGE ABOUT HOW SHE’S GOING TO CREATE THOUSANDS OF JOBS RIGHT HERE IN WISCONSIN, 187,000 JOBS CREATED IN WISCONSIN PER AN INDEPENDENT ECONOMIST AT MOODY’S. AND OBVIOUSLY TALKING ABOUT HOW WE’RE GOING TO MOVE WISCONSIN FORWARD AND BUILD AN ECONOMY THAT’S BETTER FOR EVERYONE.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

ALL RIGHT. GILLIAN DRUMMOND, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

GILLIAN DRUMMOND:

THANK YOU.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

THIS WEEK SOME PEOPLE’S COLLEGE STUDIES HIT THE SKIDS. HUNDREDS OF STUDENTS AT ITT TECHNICAL INSTITUTE CAMPUSES IN WISCONSIN WILL NOT BE CONTINUING BECAUSE TUESDAY THE SCHOOL CEASED OPERATIONS.

WOMAN:

WHAT THE HECK?

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

WHEN THE FOR-PROFIT COLLEGE ITT TECH CLOSED ITS DOORS THIS WEEK, IT CAUGHT MANY BY SURPRISE.

WOMAN:

MY GOODNESS. FOR SO MANY PEOPLE NATIONWIDE, THOUGH.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

ITT TECH ENROLLED SOME 500 STUDENTS IN WISCONSIN AT CAMPUSES IN MADISON, GREENFIELD AND ONLINE. THE COLLEGE ABRUPTLY CLOSED IN THE WAKE OF NUMEROUS STATE AND FEDERAL INVESTIGATIONS. THE PENDING LOSS OF ACCREDITATION AND INCREASED FINANCIAL OVERSIGHT FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. THE COLLEGE OPERATED IN 38 STATES WITH A TOTAL ENROLLMENT OF 45,000 STUDENTS. MOST OF THOSE STUDENTS ATTENDED USING FEDERAL FINANCIAL AID.

JOSHUA MANN:

MY NAME IS JOSHUA MANN AND I AM AN ITT TECH GRADUATE.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

A WISCONSIN STATE AGENCY, THE EDUCATION APPROVAL BOARD, HAS OVERSIGHT OF FOR-PROFIT SCHOOLS AND SEEKS TO HELP FOLLOWING THE CLOSURE OF ITT TECH.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

SO WHAT SHOULD STUDENTS DO IF THEY WERE CURRENTLY ENROLLED AND ACTUALLY HOPING TO COMPLETE THEIR STUDIES?

DAVID DIES:

WELL, FORTUNATELY, BECAUSE MOST OF THE STUDENTS WHO WERE AT ITT, 95% OR MORE BASED ON INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE JUST ABOUT THE WISCONSIN STUDENTS, WERE RECEIVING FEDERAL FINANCIAL AID, THEY’LL BE ELIGIBLE TO HAVE THEIR FEDERAL LOANS DISCHARGED. THERE IS A PROCESS BY WHICH STUDENTS WILL LIKELY HAVE TO AVAIL THEMSELVES TO HAVE THOSE LOANS DISCHARGED. BUT IT WILL AT LEAST BE A WAY, YOU KNOW, FOR STUDENTS TO PERHAPS GET OUT FROM HAVING LARGE AMOUNTS OF DEBT.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE ITT CLOSURE, YOU CAN GO TO WISCONSIN’S EAB WEBSITE. THIS COMING TUESDAY NIGHT AT 8:00 P.M. ON WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISION LOOK FOR A NEW FRONTLINE INVESTIGATION: A SUBPRIME EDUCATION: AN EXAMINATION OF ALLEGED PREDATORY BEHAVIOR AND FRAUD IN THE FOR-PROFIT COLLEGE INDUSTRY. TONIGHT WE TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT JOBS IN THE STATE WITH THE RELEASE OF THE STATE OF WORKING WISCONSIN 2016 FROM UW-MADISON’S CENTER ON WISCONSIN STRATEGY. LAURA DRESSER IS ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR AT THE CENTER AND SHE JOINS US NOW. THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

LAURA DRESSER:

THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

SO YOU DID FIND SOME GOOD NEWS.

LAURA DRESSER:

YEAH. IT’S BEEN A WHILE SINCE WE’VE HAD GOOD NEWS. THE GREAT RECESSION HIT VERY HARD IN 2007, 2008. WE’VE SEEN REALLY BAD LABOR MARKET INDICATORS SINCE THEN. THIS TIME I’M FINALLY SEEING DATA AT 2007 LEVELS AND THAT'S’ A RELIEF.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

JOBS ARE UP?

LAURA DRESSER:

JOBS ARE UP. COULD BE UP BY MORE. NOT ALL THE JOBS WE NEED, BUT JOBS ARE UP. UNEMPLOYMENT IS DOWN. PEOPLE HAVE BEEN PAYING ATTENTION TO THAT. BUT INSIDE THAT UNEMPLOYMENT STATISTIC ARE ANOTHER COUPLE MEASURES THAT CAME DOWN TO 2007 LEVELS. THE SHARE OF FOLKS WHO ARE UNEMPLOYED, WHO HAVE BEEN UNEMPLOYED FOR SIX MONTHS OR MORE IS BACK DOWN TO 2007 LEVELS AND THAT WENT UP TO MORE THAN HALF OF UNEMPLOYED WORKERS BEING UNEMPLOYED LONG-TERM. SO THAT’S A REALLY GOOD ONE TO SEE GO DOWN. THE OTHER ONE IS THE SHARE OF WORKERS WHO ARE LOOKING FOR FULL-TIME WORK AND CAN’T FIND IT. THAT’S BACK DOWN AT 2007 LEVELS. SO THAT’S SOME HEALTH IN THE LABOR MARKET.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

I ALSO READ IN YOUR REPORT THAT THERE’S STRONG GROWTH OUT-PERFORMING NATIONAL TRENDS IN MANUFACTURING, WHICH IS WISCONSIN’S LARGEST SECTOR.

LAURA DRESSER:

IT’S OUR MOST UNIQUE SECTOR. IT’S THE THING THAT DIFFERENTIATES US FROM MOST STATES. AND SO THERE IS GOOD GROWTH IN MANUFACTURING STILL, YOU KNOW. THIS HAS BEEN ON THE WHOLE A DEVASTATING CENTURY FOR MANUFACTURING, BUT AT LEAST OVER THE LAST FIVE, SIX YEARS IT’S BEEN ONE OF THE GENERATORS OF JOBS IN THE WISCONSIN ECONOMY FOR SURE.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

BUT THERE ARE CERTAINLY SECTORS WHERE WE LAG.

LAURA DRESSER:

YES. AND IN FACT WE LAG ON NATIONAL GROWTH RATES. SO WHILE THE NATIONAL ECONOMY HAS GROWN ABOUT 10% OVER THE RECOVERY, WISCONSIN MORE LIKE 7%. WHEN WE COULD EXPECT THREE JOBS, WE’VE GOTTEN TWO. SO WE’RE LAGGING AND WE’RE LAGGING ESPECIALLY IN LEISURE AND HOSPITALITY, BUSINESS SERVICES AND TRADE.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

NOW, WHY DO WE LAG? IS THERE AN ANSWER TO THAT?

LAURA DRESSER:

YOU KNOW, IF THE ANSWER WAS MANUFACTURING, I COULD TELL YOU, BECAUSE MANUFACTURING IS UNIQUE AND THERE’S DYNAMICS ABOUT THE OUTSIDE. I THINK THOSE — THE HOSPITALITY, THE BUSINESS SERVICES, THOSE TEND TO BE JUST MIXED IN WITH OTHER SECTORS MORE AND SO THERE’S NOT A KIND OF BOTTOM LINE, THERE’S ONE REASON THAT WISCONSIN’S HOLDING BACK. IT’S MORE KIND OF A GENERAL, GENERAL SLOWNESS.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

YOUR REPORT ALSO SHOWS THAT ONE IN FOUR WISCONSIN JOBS ARE SO-CALLED POVERTY WAGE JOBS. HOW DOES THAT COMPARE TO NATIONAL FIGURES? AND WHAT IS THAT?

LAURA DRESSER:

YEAH. WE — IT’S SORT OF AN ARBITRARY DEFINITION, A WAY OF TRYING TO THINK ABOUT WHAT’S GOING ON AT THE BOTTOM OF THE LABOR MARKET. AND SO WHAT WE DO — WHICH MANY RESEARCHERS DO — IS LOOK AT JOBS THAT IF YOU WORKED THEM FULL-TIME FOR A FULL YEAR, WOULD YOU BE OUT OF POVERTY FOR A FAMILY OF FOUR. IT’S NOT REALLY A MEASURE OF WHETHER THE PEOPLE IN THOSE JOBS ARE IN POVERTY. IT’S A MEASURE OF THE ABILITY OF THAT JOB TO BE FAMILY SUFFICIENCY JOB. THE THRESHOLD IS $11.56 AN HOUR THIS YEAR. ONE IN FOUR WORKERS IN WISCONSIN, WHICH IS JUST ABOUT THE NATIONAL AVERAGE. THE THING THAT’S PRETTY DEPRESSING ABOUT THAT ONE, THOUGH, IS THAT ONE SEEMS VERY STICKY. REGARDLESS OF ECONOMIC GROWTH, REGARDLESS OF THE FACT THAT WE HAVE A LOT MORE EDUCATED WORK FORCE TODAY THAN WE DID 30, 40 YEARS AGO, WE STILL HAVE ABOUT ONE IN FOUR WORKERS, A REALLY HIGH SHARE OF THE WORK FORCE IN THESE VERY LOW-WAGE JOBS.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

SO WHAT’S THE SITUATION YOU DESCRIBE AS LONG-TERM WAGE STAGNATION IN WISCONSIN? DOES THAT PLAY INTO IT?

LAURA DRESSER:

YEAH. THAT’S SORT OF THE MORE MEDIAN PICTURE OF THE ECONOMY. SO WHAT THE POVERTY WAGE JOBS HELPS YOU SEE IS WHAT’S GOING ON AT THE BOTTOM OF THE ECONOMY IN THE WORST JOBS, THE LOWEST-PAYING JOBS. WHAT THAT STAGNATION PICTURE DOES IS REALLY FOCUS YOU AT THE MIDDLE OF THE ECONOMY. LINE UP ALL THE WORKERS BY WAGE, INCLUDE ALL THE PEOPLE WITH SALARIES, PICK THE ONE IN THE MIDDLE, CORRECT FOR INFLATION, LOOK AT THAT TREND OVER TIME. AND THAT WAGE INCREASE FROM 1979 TO 2015 IS 40 CENTS PER HOUR. SO THAT’S A RAISE OF TWO CENTS PER HOUR PER YEAR. THAT’S WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT WAGE STAGNATION AT THE MIDDLE. THAT’S THE MIDDLE WORKER IN THE WISCONSIN ECONOMY. AND YOU SHOULD REMEMBER THAT IN 1979 THAT WORKER HAD LESS EDUCATION AND MUCH LESS PRODUCTIVE TECHNOLOGY THAN TODAY. 40 CENTS TO PAY FOR IT.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

SO WHAT IS YOUR BOTTOM LINE ASSESSMENT OF THE STATE OF WORKING WISCONSIN IN 2016?

LAURA DRESSER:

WELL, I’M REALLY PLEASED TO SEE THESE SHORT-TERM — THE SHORT-TERM CRISIS FADING AWAY TO LEVELS THAT ARE BACK TO 2007. WE COULD USE MORE JOBS. WE WILL NEED TO BE FOCUSING ON EQUITY AND ISSUES AT THE MIDDLE OF THE LABOR MARKET AS WE GO FORWARD.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

LAURA DRESSER, THANKS FOR YOUR WORK.

LAURA DRESSER:

THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

NOW TO HEALTH NEWS, 2017 OPEN ENROLLMENT FOR HEALTH COVERAGE UNDER THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT BEGINS NOVEMBER 1. IT WILL BE THE FOURTH ENROLLMENT PERIOD FOR SO-CALLED OBAMACARE. HEALTH INSURANCE PROVIDERS ARE RESPONDING TO SMALLER MARKETS THAN PREDICTED AS WELL AS SICKER PEOPLE GETTING INSURED BY RAISING PREMIUMS BY AS MUCH AS 37% FOR SOME PLANS IN WISCONSIN’S ACA MARKETPLACE. BOBBY PETERSON IS AN ATTORNEY AND THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ABC FOR HEALTH, A NONPROFIT LAW FIRM THAT HELPS PEOPLE FIND APPROPRIATE HEALTH COVER. THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

BOBBY PETERSON:

GLAD TO BE HERE.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

AS WE’VE JUST SAID, SOME DOUBLE-DIGIT PROJECTED INCREASES IN PLANS IN WISCONSIN FOR NEXT YEAR. WHAT’S GOING ON?

BOBBY PETERSON:

WELL, FIRST OFF, THEY’RE NOT DOUBLE-DIGIT FOR ALL THE PLANS. I THINK IT’S IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE IF THEY’RE IN THE MARKETPLACE TO LOOK, TO IDENTIFY. SOME OF THE PLANS ACTUALLY HAVE LOWER COSTS HEADING INTO NEXT YEAR, MERCY CARE AND OTHERS, GROUP HEALTH HERE IS LOWER. IT’S NOT REDUCED. BUT IT’S IMPORTANT TO SHOP AROUND. BUT OVERALL I THINK THAT WHEN WE LOOK AT THE MARKETPLACE THERE’S A COUPLE FACTORS AT PLAY. ONE IS WHEN THE INSURERS FIRST GOT INTO THE MARKETPLACE, THEY OFFERED BARGAIN PRICES BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO BUILD UP MARKET SHARE. SO IT’S THE INTRODUCTORY PRICE. IT’S THE LOW PRICE. IT’S TRYING TO GET PEOPLE IN AND COMFORTABLE WITH THEIR PLANS. NOW AFTER THE DUST IS SETTLING, THERE’S ALSO SOME FEDERAL SUPPORTS THAT WERE HELPING THEM TO OFFSET SOME LOSSES. THOSE ARE NO LONGER GOING TO BE AVAILABLE NEXT YEAR. SO THERE’S A BUNCH OF MARKET FORCES THAT’S DRIVING THE PRICE UP. PLUS SICKER PEOPLE ARE GENERALLY GOING INTO THE PLANS.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

IS IT ALSO THE CASE THAT SOME OF THE SO-CALLED YOUNG INVINCIBLES, THE YOUNG HEALTHY PEOPLE, ARE JUST FOREGOING GETTING INSURANCE NOTWITHSTANDING THE MANDATES TO DO SO?

BOBBY PETERSON:

YEAH. I THINK THE PENALTIES PROBABLY AREN’T HIGH ENOUGH YET. AND PEOPLE ARE SAYING I’D RATHER PAY THE PENALTY THAN HAVE TO PAY FOR THE HEALTH COVERAGE. SO THAT IS A PROBLEM WE HAVE. WE DON’T HAVE AS MANY YOUNG PEOPLE, ALTHOUGH THERE’S MORE THAN SOME PEOPLE FEARED WOULD BE IN THE MARKET.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

I KNOW WHAT I’VE READ IN RESPONSE TO POTENTIALLY HIGHER PREMIUMS IS THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS SAYING YES, BUT DON’T FORGET THAT THOSE SUBSIDIES WILL KEEP PACE WITH THE HIGHER PREMIUMS. IS THAT ACCURATE?

BOBBY PETERSON:

RIGHT. I THINK THE ACTUAL AMOUNT THAT PEOPLE WILL BE PAYING, BECAUSE I THINK IT’S OVER 80% TO 90% IN WISCONSIN DO GET SOME SORT OF A SUBSIDY, WILL BE MINIMALLY AFFECTED. THOSE FOLKS WILL RECEIVE A SUBSIDY, A TAX CREDIT. SO THAT WILL BE REALLY HELPFUL FOR THEM TO PAY FOR THEIR COVERAGE.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

BUT IF THE PREMIUMS ARE GOING UP AND THE SUBSIDIES ARE ALSO GOING UP AND THERE ARE POTENTIALLY FEWER ENROLLEES AND FEWER OF THE HEALTHY YOUNG ENROLLEES, DOESN’T THIS KIND OF PUT THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT ON SHAKY FOOTING IF NOT FISCALLY, POLITICALLY?

BOBBY PETERSON:

I THINK BOTH. SOME PEOPLE TALK ABOUT THE DEATH SPIRAL FOR INSURANCE PLANS THAT ACCUMULATE TOO MANY SICK INDIVIDUALS AND THEN THERE’S THE DEATH SPIRAL. I DON’T THINK WE’RE IN THAT SCENARIO. I THINK ALMOST EVERYONE WOULD AGREE FROM THE LEFT OR THE RIGHT THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SOME TWEAKS AND MODIFICATIONS TO THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT. BUT IT’S A LOT BETTER THAN IT WAS, YOU KNOW, FOUR OR FIVE YEARS AGO WHEN YOU HAD PEOPLE THAT WERE SEGREGATED INTO HIGH-RISK POOLS. PEOPLE COULD BE DENIED BASED ON PREEXISTING CONDITION. YOU THOUGHT YOU HAD COVERAGE AND THEN YOU WERE DENIED AND TERMINATED. SO WE’RE MOVING INTO A BETTER PLACE. IT’S GOING TO BE BUMPY. BUT IT IS MUCH BETTER. AS AN ATTORNEY THAT PRACTICES IN THIS AREA AND HAD TO DEAL WITH INSURANCE COMPANIES THAT WERE DENYING FOLKS, IT’S A BETTER ENVIRONMENT NOW.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

PROJECTIONS PUT NATIONAL ENROLLMENT IN THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT FOR 2016 AT 24 MILLION. IT’S APPARENTLY CLOSER TO 11 MILLION. HOW DOES WISCONSIN STACK UP, TO YOUR UNDERSTANDING, IN ENROLLMENT PROJECTIONS AND ACTUAL?

BOBBY PETERSON:

I THINK WE’RE DOING OKAY. WE’D LIKE TO HAVE MORE PEOPLE ENROLLED IN THE MARKETPLACE. OUR NUMBERS OF UNINSURED HAVE DROPPED SIGNIFICANTLY IN THIS STATE. WE HAVE A BIT OF A CONFUSING ENVIRONMENT BECAUSE GOVERNOR WALKER CHOSE NOT TO EXPAND MEDICAID. SO WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, WHAT HE CALLS NO COVERAGE GAPS, BUT THAT’S A LITTLE BIT MORE OF A POLITICAL SLOGAN BECAUSE ALTHOUGH THERE MIGHT NOT BE COVERAGE GAPS FOR PEOPLE, IT’S STILL VERY CONFUSING TO IDENTIFY ELIGIBILITY PATHWAYS TO GET THAT COVERAGE. SO THAT MEANS PEOPLE FALL OFF OF ELIGIBILITY. WE HAVE MORE UNCOMPENSATED CARE AND THAT DRIVES UP COSTS.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

SO SPEAKING OF THAT, DO PEOPLE HAVE ENOUGH HELP IN UNDERSTANDING THE ENROLLMENT PROCESS AND THE PLANS?

BOBBY PETERSON:

NO. WE HAVE NAVIGATORS IN WISCONSIN. THERE’S FEDERAL FUNDING COVERING WISCONSIN’S NAVIGATOR FOR THE SOUTH AND SOUTHEASTERN PART OF THE STATE. NORTHWEST CEP OUT OF ASHLAND AND SOME PARTNERS ARE WORKING IN THE NORTH AND NORTHWESTERN PART OF THE STATE. BUT IT’S NOT ENOUGH. THERE’S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT NEED HELP. THIS IS NOT EASY STUFF. THAT’S WHY WE’RE A LAW FIRM THAT SPECIALIZES IN THIS, BECAUSE IT’S GRANULAR. IT’S DETAILED AND YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE PIVOT POINTS BETWEEN THE VARIOUS COVERAGES. IT’S NOT JUST THE ACA SOMETIMES. IT’S MEDICAID, MEDICARE. HOW DO THESE PROGRAMS INTERRELATE? IF YOU FALL OFF ONE, YOU MIGHT NOT GET BACK ON THE OTHER. AND THEN MEDICAL BILLS AND UNCOMPENSATED CARE, THAT HURTS EVERYBODY.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

THANKS VERY MUCH.

BOBBY PETERSON:

YOU’RE WELCOME.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

THAT’S ALL FOR TONIGHT’S PROGRAM. I’M FREDERICA FREYBERG. HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

ANNOUNCER:

FUNDING FOR “HERE AND NOW” IS PROVIDED, IN PART, BY FRIENDS OF WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISION. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON “HERE AND NOW’S” 2016 ELECTION COVERAGE, GO TO wisconsinvote.org.