ANNOUNCER:

FUNDING FOR “HERE AND NOW” IS PROVIDED, IN PART, BY L.E. PHILLIPS FAMILY FOUNDATION AND FRIENDS OF WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISION.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

I’M FREDERICA FREYBERG. TONIGHT ON “HERE AND NOW,” THE REGIONAL DIRECTOR FOR THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES IS HERE TO ANSWER OBAMACARE QUESTIONS IN ADVANCE OF POSSIBLE REPUBLICAN CHANGES TO THE PROGRAM. A STUDY ON WISCONSIN VOTER I.D. LAWS IS IN THE WORKS. AND WE’LL HEAR FROM STATE ASSEMBLY LEADERSHIP, SPEAKER ROBIN VOS AND MINORITY LEADER PETER BARCA. BUT FIRST, EVEN AS REPUBLICANS IN WASHINGTON VOW TO REPEAL OBAMACARE, ENROLLMENT FOR NEXT YEAR IS NOW OPEN FOR PEOPLE WHO WANT TO SIGN UP FOR HEALTH CARE PLANS. TONIGHT, WE CHECK IN WITH REGIONAL DIRECTOR OF THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, KATHLEEN FALK, AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

KATHLEEN FALK:

THANK YOU.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

I WANTED TO ASK FIRST WHAT SHOULD PEOPLE WHO DO WANT TO SIGN UP FOR THESE HEALTHCARE PLANS THROUGH THE EXCHANGE KNOW IN THIS REALLY VERY UNCERTAIN TIME?

KATHLEEN FALK:

WELL IT’S THE LAW OF THE LAND. THANKS TO THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT NOW IN ITS SIXTH YEAR, 20 MILLION MORE AMERICANS HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE THAT DIDN’T BEFORE. SO THE DIFFERENCE THAT’S MAKING IN THE LIVES OF 20 MILLION PEOPLE IS JUST SO PROFOUND. AND WE ARE IN THIS OPEN ENROLLMENT PERIOD NOW SO THAT THOSE THAT ARE STILL UNINSURED, COME AND SHOP ON THIS MARKETPLACE AND SEE IF THERE’S A PLAN FOR YOU. LOTS OF LOCAL FREE HELP TO GET ADVICE AND A TOLL-FREE HOTLINE THAT I’LL GIVE YOU AT THE END OF THE SHOW HERE.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

WHAT DO ENROLLMENT NUMBERS LOOK LIKE IN THE FIRST MONTH SINCE IT OPENED FOR NEXT YEAR?

KATHLEEN FALK:

IT OPENED JUST A COUPLE WEEKS AGO, NOVEMBER 1. AND JUST IN THE FIRST 12 DAYS ALONE, OVER A MILLION PEOPLE ENROLLED NATIONWIDE. IN FACT, THE DAY AFTER THE ELECTION, 100,000 PEOPLE ENROLLED JUST THAT ONE DAY. SO THERE ARE STILL MORE PEOPLE OUT THERE WITHOUT INSURANCE. THEY’RE SHOPPING AND THEY’RE BUYING.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

THOSE KIND OF EARLY ENROLLMENTS, PARTICULARLY THOSE AFTER ELECTION DAY, DOES THAT STAND IN CONTRAST TO PREVIOUS YEARS?

KATHLEEN FALK:

WE’RE ABOVE WHERE WE WERE EVEN THOSE FIRST 12 DAYS OF LAST YEAR. AND PARTLY IT’S BECAUSE PEOPLE KNOW NOW THAT THERE’S THIS PRODUCT OUT THERE THAT’S AFFORDABLE. HERE IN WISCONSIN SEVEN OUT OF TEN UNINSURED THAT ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THIS MARKETPLACE CAN GET A PLAN FOR $100 OR LESS A MONTH WITH THE TAX CREDITS.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

BUT WE’VE ALL READ AND SEEN AND CONFIRMED THAT PREMIUM INCREASES FOR NEXT YEAR ARE UP DOUBLE-DIGITS IN MANY REGIONS. DESCRIBE WHY THAT IS?

KATHLEEN FALK:

WELL, THE TAX CREDITS GO UP AND SO THAT’S WHY THIS IS STILL A VERY AFFORDABLE PLAN FOR PEOPLE. AND WHY AGAIN, IN WISCONSIN SEVEN OUT OF TEN CAN GET THIS INSURANCE FOR $100 OR LESS BECAUSE OF TAX CREDITS THAT ARE AVAILABLE.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

BUT WHAT’S RESPONSIBLE FOR THOSE PREMIUM INCREASES?

KATHLEEN FALK:

INSURANCE COMPANIES, IT’S A PRIVATE MARKETPLACE AND WE KNOW THAT INSURANCE COMPANIES ARE PRIVATE COMPANIES AND BEFORE THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT RATES WERE GOING UP DOUBLE-DIGIT EVERY YEAR. SINCE THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT, WE’VE NOW HAD FIVE OUT OF THE LAST SIX YEARS HAVE HAD THE LOWEST INCREASES ON RECORD.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

HOW ACCURATE IS IT THAT THE YOUNGER PEOPLE WHO NEED LESS OF THE CARE HAVE NOT SIGNED UP IN THE NUMBERS REQUIRED TO KIND OF TEMPER THESE INCREASES?

KATHLEEN FALK:

WELL, I THINK INSURANCE COMPANIES WOULD ALWAYS LIKE PEOPLE NOT TO USE THEIR INSURANCE.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

RIGHT.

KATHLEEN FALK:

THAT’S NOT NEW. WHAT’S NEW IS THAT NOW YOUNG PEOPLE CAN HAVE A CHANCE TO BUY AN AFFORDABLE PLAN, WHEREAS BEFORE, YOU KNOW, THEY COULDN’T AFFORD TO DO SO. SO THAT’S WHAT’S IMPORTANT NOW AND THAT’S WHY WE WORK HARD TO REACH YOUNG PEOPLE.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO DECIDE TO JUST TAKE THE HIT WITH THE PENALTIES AS OPPOSED TO SIGNING UP?

KATHLEEN FALK:

WELL, WE HOPE THEY WON’T DO THAT. NOT BECAUSE IT’S THEIR CHOICE IF THEY TO WANT PAY A PENALTY, BUT JUST SO THEY HAVE THE SECURITY, THE FINANCIAL SECURITY, THE EMOTIONAL SECURITY OF KNOWING THEY HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE IF THEY NEED IT.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

DO YOU KNOW WHAT THOSE NUMBERS LOOK LIKE, THE PEOPLE WHO JUST BASICALLY WALK AWAY FROM THE ENTIRE PROGRAM?

KATHLEEN FALK:

I THINK THEY’RE PEOPLE WHO JUST HOPE THAT THEY’LL NEVER GET SICK AND THAT THEY’LL NEVER HAVE A PROBLEM. AND AS WE ALL KNOW, YOU HAVE INSURANCE BECAUSE SOMEDAY YOU MIGHT.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

WHAT CONCERNS DO YOU HAVE BETWEEN THESE PREMIUM INCREASES AND REPEAL REALITIES, THAT PEOPLE JUST THIS YEAR IN PARTICULAR, NOTWITHSTANDING KIND OF THE EARLY NUMBERS, WILL JUST NOT PARTAKE?

KATHLEEN FALK:

WELL, THE WAY I THINK MANY PEOPLE LOOK AT IT IS THINK OF THE OLD DAYS BEFORE THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT, WHERE 129 MILLION AMERICANS WITH PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS, WHETHER IT’S DIABETES OR CANCER OR HEART DISEASE, COULDN’T BUY INSURANCE AT ANY COST, BECAUSE AN INSURANCE COMPANY COULD REFUSE TO SELL THEM A POLICY. PEOPLE DON’T WANT TO GO BACK TO THAT DAY. OR WHERE INSURANCE COMPANIES COULD CUT YOU OFF DURING THE YEAR BECAUSE YOU REACHED YOUR ANNUAL LIMIT OR YOUR LIFETIME LIMIT. OR WOMEN WERE CHARGED MORE. ALL THAT NOW IS ILLEGAL UNDER THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT. SO GOING BACK TO THOSE BAD OLD DAYS I THINK IS NOT WHAT AMERICANS WANT.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

SOME AMERICANS, MANY AMERICANS, MAY NOT WANT THAT, BUT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE NOW IN CHARGE IN WASHINGTON DO WANT THAT. THEY TALK ABOUT REPEALING IN FULL OR IN PART THIS PROGRAM. SO WHAT’S YOUR REACTION TO THAT?

KATHLEEN FALK:

WELL, A PRESIDENT AND CONGRESS DECIDE WHAT THE LAW OF THE LAND IS. AND THE PRESIDENT AND CONGRESS, A REPUBLICAN CONGRESS, DECIDED THIS TOO, SIX YEARS AGO. AND NOW THANKS TO THEIR ACTION, 20 MILLION AMERICANS HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE THAT DIDN’T. AND SO THEY’RE NOT GOING TO WANT TO GIVE IT UP.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

HOW INTRICATE, THOUGH, IS THIS PROGRAM, ALL OF THE DIFFERENT PIECES WORKING TOGETHER? CAN THE PRESIDENT AND CONGRESS KIND OF CHERRYPICK AND KEEP PART OF IT, LIKE KEEPING CHILDREN ON HEALTH CARE UNTIL THEY’RE 26 OR COVERING PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS, BUT DITCHING THINGS LIKE THE INDIVIDUAL MANDATE? I MEAN, DOES IT WORK IF YOU JUST REPEAL PARTS OF IT?

KATHLEEN FALK:

WELL, THERE WILL BE CONSEQUENCES TO REPEALING ANY JUST PARTS OF IT. SO, FOR EXAMPLE, IF THE MANDATE WAS REPEALED, IT MEANS ALL THE REST OF US WHO ALREADY HAVE INSURANCE WIND UP PAYING MORE BECAUSE WE PAY FOR THE HEALTH CARE COSTS OF THOSE WITHOUT INSURANCE WHEN THEY SHOW AT THE EMERGENCY ROOM, FOR EXAMPLE. SO THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE AFFECTED IF YOU CHERRYPICK PIECES.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

KNOWING AS MUCH AS YOU KNOW ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND THIS PROGRAM, HOW DIFFICULT DO YOU THINK IT WILL BE TO ACTUALLY REPEAL AND REPLACE IT?

KATHLEEN FALK:

I THINK VERY DIFFICULT, BECAUSE FOR THE FIRST TIME NOW IN OUR NATION’S HISTORY, PEOPLE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET AFFORDABLE CARE. THAT’S REALLY GOOD HEALTH CARE. EVERYTHING FROM DOCTORS AND HOSPITAL VISITS TO MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE. AND SO TO GO BACK TO THOSE BAD OLD DAYS WILL BE REALLY HARD ON TENS OF MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WHO COUNT ON THIS.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

SUPPORTERS OF REPEAL TALK A LOT ABOUT ALLOWING THE MARKETPLACE TO DICTATE HEALTH INSURANCE CHOICES AND TALK ABOUT ALLOWING FOR PLANS ACROSS STATE LINES. DOES THAT HELP PEOPLE GET ROBUST, LOW-COST INSURANCE?

KATHLEEN FALK:

IN WISCONSIN THE NEWS IS GOOD, BECAUSE THERE ARE MORE CARRIERS HERE, 15 CARRIERS, THAN IN ANY OTHER STATE IN THE NATION. SO THE CHOICES FOR PEOPLE ARE GOOD. IT DEPENDS ON WHERE YOU LIVE IN WISCONSIN, BUT THE AVERAGE CONSUMER IN WISCONSIN HAS A CHOICE OF ABOUT 44 PLANS TO CHOOSE FROM. SO WE ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO SHOP, GO TO THE WEBSITE. THERE’S A COVERING WISCONSIN.ORG WEBSITE. COVERINGWI.ORG WEBSITE. YOU CAN CALL THE TOLL-FREE HOTLINE, 24 HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK TO GET FREE, CONFIDENTIAL PERSONAL ADVICE AND CALL AS MANY TIMES AS YOU NEED.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

ONE LAST QUESTION. DONALD TRUMP WON IN WISCONSIN COUNTIES THAT MOST HEAVILY PARTICIPATE IN THE FEDERAL EXCHANGES. HOW DO YOU RECONCILE THAT?

KATHLEEN FALK:

PEOPLE LOVE THEIR HEALTH INSURANCE. THEY REALLY COUNT ON THAT FINANCIAL AND THAT EMOTIONAL SECURITY OF GETTING THE CARE THEY NEED WHEN THEY NEED IT. SO IT WOULD BE HARD TO TAKE THAT AWAY.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

AND YET ONE OF HIS CAMPAIGN MISSIONS WAS TO REPEAL OBAMACARE. SO CAN YOU RECONCILE THAT?

KATHLEEN FALK:

WELL, THE VOTERS WILL MAKE IT KNOWN TO A NEW PRESIDENT AND A CONGRESS ABOUT WHAT THEY WANT. AND RIGHT NOW WHAT WE’RE SEEING IS THEY ARE ENROLLING AT A RECORD PACE BECAUSE THERE ARE STILL PEOPLE UNINSURED. WHILE WE’VE GOT THE UNINSURANCED RATE TO THE LOWEST EVER IN HISTORY, THERE ARE STILL MORE PEOPLE TO REACH. I APPRECIATE HELPING GET THE WORD OUT HERE SO WE CAN MAKE SURE EVERYBODY KNOWS THEY HAVE THIS WINDOW UNTIL JANUARY 31. KATHLEEN FALK, THANKS VERY MUCH.

KATHLEEN FALK:

THANK YOU.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

WISCONSIN’S VOTER I.D. LAW IS GETTING SOME OF THE BLAME FOR LOW TURNOUT NUMBERS IN THE LAST WEEK’S ELECTION. GOVERNOR SCOTT WALKER IS QUOTED AS SAYING, IT’S A LOAD OF CRAP” THAT THE LAW SUPPRESSED TURNOUT. OUR NEXT GUEST AIMS TO FIND OUT. HE’S UW MADISON POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSOR KEN MAYER, WHO’S EMBARKING ON A RESEARCH PROJECT TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THE NEAR 20-YEAR LOW TURNOUT IN THE STATE. THANKS A LOT FOR BEING HERE.

KEN MAYER:

GOOD TO BE WITH YOU.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

SO I UNDERSTAND THAT AT LEAST 600 VOTERS WERE GIVEN THESE PROVISIONAL BALLOTS FOR SHOWING UP AT THE POLLS WITHOUT USABLE I.D.s IN WISCONSIN AND THAT NUMBER IS EXPECTED TO GROW AS CLERKS ACROSS THE STATE REPORT IN. BUT THOSE NUMBERS WOULDN’T HAVE TIPPED THE RESULTS. STILL, WHAT’S YOUR REACTION TO THE FACT THAT HUNDREDS OF PROVISIONAL BALLOTS WERE GIVEN?

KEN MAYER:

THOSE EXAMPLES OF THE I.D. PROVISIONAL BALLOTS, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT HAD NEVER HAPPENED IN WISCONSIN BEFORE IN PREVIOUS PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS. WE WOULD HAVE 80, 100 OR SO AND IT WAS USUALLY FOR PEOPLE WHO COULDN’T VERIFY THEIR ADDRESS. MOST OF THOSE PEOPLE WILL ACTUALLY NOT HAVE THEIR COUNTS COUNTED. SOME OF THEM MIGHT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CURE THEIR BALLOTS BY THE FRIDAY AFTER THE ELECTION BUT TYPICALLY ABOUT 60% TO 70% OF THOSE TYPES OF BALLOTS ARE NOT COUNTED. THOSE ARE PEOPLE WHO WERE FLAT OUT PREVENTED FROM VOTING BECAUSE OF THE VOTER I.D. LAW. AND WHAT THAT ACTUALLY DOESN’T CAPTURE IS WHETHER OR NOT THERE WERE PEOPLE WHO DIDN’T EVEN BOTHER GOING TO THE POLLS BECAUSE THEY DIDN’T THINK THEY HAD AN I.D. AND DIDN’T THINK THE ONES THAT THEY HAD WOULD ALLOW THEM TO VOTE. AND THAT’S SOMETHING THAT’S VERY DIFFICULT TO MEASURE AND THAT’S ONE OF THE THINGS WE’RE TRYING TO GET AT IN THIS STUDY.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

BECAUSE IN MILWAUKEE COUNTY 41,000 FEWER PEOPLE VOTED COMPARED TO 2012, OR IN THE CITY OF MILWAUKEE, AND THE CLERK THERE IS PARTLY BLAMING VOTER I.D., WITH THAT VERY IDEA THAT YOU JUST EXPRESSED, MAYBE IT’S NOT THAT THEY GOT TO THE POLL AND DIDN’T HAVE IT, BUT THEY JUST SAID THIS IS TOO BIG A BARRIER.

KEN MAYER:

THAT CONCLUSION THAT THE CHAIR OF THE ELECTIONS COMMISSION IN MILWAUKEE MADE IS BASED ON HIS VIEW OF THE WARD LEVEL TURNOUT. THAT THE TURNOUT VARIED AND WAS ACTUALLY LOWER THAN OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY IN THE AREAS WHERE YOU HAD HIGH CONCENTRATIONS OF THE POOREST CITIZENS IN MILWAUKEE. HOMELESS PEOPLE WITHOUT A FIXED ADDRESS. WE KNOW FROM OTHER ANALYSES THAT HAVE BEEN DONE IN OTHER STATES THAT VOTER I.D. DOES LOWER TURNOUT. IT LOWERS TURNOUT IN WAYS THAT YOU WOULD EXPECT. PEOPLE WHO DON’T HAVE A DRIVER’S LICENSE OR AN I.D. THEY CAN’T VOTE. EVEN IF THERE IS A PROCESS BY WHICH THEY CAN OBTAIN A SPECIAL VOTER I.D., IT’S CUMBERSOME AND PEOPLE OFTEN HAVE TO TRAVEL LONG DISTANCES TO AN INCONVENIENT TIME AND LOCATION.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

EXPERT COURT TESTIMONY IN VOTER I.D. LAWSUITS TALK ABOUT 300,000 PEOPLE NOT HAVING ADEQUATE I.D. DOES THAT NUMBER STILL HOLD?

KEN MAYER:

PROBABLY. THAT NUMBER WAS BASED ON AN ANALYSIS I DID OF THE STATEWIDE VOTER REGISTRATION LIST WHICH IS ALL THE REGISTERED VOTERS. I FOUND ABOUT 330,000 OF THEM DIDN’T MATCH INTO THE DATA IN THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. THE EXPERT ON THE OTHER SIDE ARGUED THAT THE NUMBER WAS LOWER. HIS NUMBER WAS PROBABLY 150,000, 160,000. BUT THERE’S NO DOUBT THAT THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF REGISTERED VOTERS WHO DON’T SHOW UP AS HAVING A DRIVER’S LICENSE.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

I DON’T WANT TO GIVE SHORT SHRIFT TO THE RESEARCH YOU’RE EMBARKING ON. HOW WILL THAT PROCEED?

KEN MAYER:

THE STUDY THAT I’M DOING FOR TURNOUT, WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO DO A SURVEY OF REGISTRANTS WHO DIDN’T VOTE. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CLERKS ENTER INTO THE DATABASE IS VOTER HISTORY. SO WE’LL BE ABLE TO LOOK AND IDENTIFY WHETHER SOMEONE VOTED OR NOT. WE’RE GOING TO DO A SURVEY OF PEOPLE WHO DIDN’T VOTE AND REALLY TRY TO GET AT ARE THEY STILL ELIGIBLE TO VOTE, HAVE THEY MOVED OUT OF STATE, DO THEY HAVE AN I.D., WHAT WERE THE REASONS THEY DIDN’T VOTE. AND THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER KIND OF SIMILAR STUDIES, BUT NOT ONE LIKE THIS THAT REALLY TARGETED CITYWIDE OR COUNTYWIDE. WE’LL BE DOING IT BOTH IN MILWAUKEE COUNTY AND DANE COUNTY, TRYING TO REALLY NAIL DOWN WHAT THE EMPIRICAL EFFECT IS ON INDIVIDUALS.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

WHEN MIGHT YOU HAVE THE RESULTS?

KEN MAYER:

WELL, THE EXPECTATION WITH THE AMOUNT OF DATA THAT’S FLOATING AROUND THE ELECTIONS, PEOPLE WANT TO SEE THE RESULTS RIGHT AWAY. THIS PART OF THE SURVEY WILL GO INTO THE FIELD IN JANUARY. DATA COLLECTION WILL CONTINUE PROBABLY THROUGH MARCH. WE’RE HOPING TO HAVE SOME PRELIMINARY RESULTS AVAILABLE BY LATE SPRING OR EARLY SUMMER.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

OKAY. KEN MAYER, THANKS VERY MUCH.

KEN MAYER:

MY PLEASURE.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

THEY DID IT AGAIN. WE’RE TALKING ABOUT STATEHOUSE REPUBLICANS GROWING THEIR MAJORITY IN THE LEGISLATURE AND PROMISING A BIG AND BOLD AGENDA. REPUBLICANS NOW HOLD A 64 TO 35 MAJORITY IN THE ASSEMBLY AND OUTWEIGH DEMOCRATS IN THE SENATE 20 TO 13. SO TONIGHT WE TALK WITH LEADERS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE. REPUBLICAN ASSEMBLY SPEAKER ROBIN VOS AND ASSEMBLY MINORITY LEADER PETER BARCA JOIN US FROM MILWAUKEE, AND THANKS TO BOTH OF YOU FOR BEING HERE.

ROBIN VOS AND PETER BARCA:

THANKS FOR HAVING US ON.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

WELL, FIRST TO YOU, SPEAKER VOS, CONGRATULATIONS, THE LARGEST REPUBLICAN MAJORITY IN SIX DECADES. WHAT IS IT ABOUT YOUR MESSAGE THAT IS INCREASING APPEALING TO VOTERS?

ROBIN VOS:

THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE BEING ON TONIGHT. I THINK THE BIGGEST THING I’VE LEARNED FROM THIS ELECTION IS THAT WE REALLY HAVE AN AGENDA THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT WE’RE WORKING FOR THEIR INTERESTS. IF YOU GO BACK TO 2011, WE TOOK ON VERY DIFFICULT VOTES, BUT THOSE VOTES ARE NOW PAYING DIVIDENDS. WE NOW KNOW THAT IN THE LAST BUDGET WE WERE ABLE TO PUT $200 MILLION MORE INTO PUBLIC SCHOOLS. WE WERE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON THE PRIORITIES WHICH WE KNOW ARE IMPORTANT TO OUR STATE AND THAT’S HAVING A BALANCED BUDGET WHILE STILL REDUCING TAXES, HOLDING THE LINE ON PROPERTY TAXES ALL ACROSS THE STATE AND, MOST IMPORTANTLY, DEALING WITH THE HEROIN EPIDEMIC AND FOCUSING ON THINGS LIKE ALZHEIMER’S AND DEMENTIA. SO WE HAVE A GREAT MESSAGE.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

REPRESENTATIVE BARCA, HOW STINGING IS THE INCREASING LOPSIDED MAJORITY ON THE PART OF THE REPUBLICANS?

PETER BARCA:

WELL, I THINK WHAT IS ESPECIALLY STINGING IS THAT WORKING-CLASS PEOPLE HAVE NOT FULLY RECOGNIZED THAT THE REPUBLICAN AGENDA IS ACTUALLY MAKING IT WORSE FOR THEM. NOW OBVIOUS THE MARQUETTE POLL SHOWS THAT THE STATE FEELS WE’RE GOING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION. BUT THE TRUMP WAVE OBVIOUSLY HELPED THE REPUBLICANS ENORMOUSLY. BUT OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE WORK TO DO. WE HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD. WE HAVE TO ANALYZE WHY IT IS THAT WORKING PEOPLE DO NOT RECOGNIZE THAT WHEN YOU PASS RIGHT TO WORK, WHEN YOU PASS PREVAILING WAGE, THAT ONLY MAKES A SITUATION IN WISCONSIN WHERE WE HAVE THE MOST DIMINISHED MIDDLE CLASS IN THE ENTIRE NATION GO THE WRONG DIRECTION. BUT WE HAVE WORK TO DO, NO QUESTION.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

SPEAKER VOS, WHAT WILL YOU DO WITH YOUR HISTORIC MAJORITY?

ROBIN VOS:

WELL, FIRST OF ALL, WE’RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON THE PRIORITIES WHICH HAVE ALWAYS BEEN IMPORTANT IN WISCONSIN. THAT’S HAVING GREAT PUBLIC SCHOOLS, ENSURING THAT WE ARE ABLE TO HAVE A BALANCED BUDGET. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I’VE MADE A PRIORITY OVER THE COURSE OF ESPECIALLY THE LAST SIX MONTHS IS FINDING A LONG-TERM SOLUTION FOR DEALING WITH OUR TRANSPORTATION FUND DEFICIT. I THINK IF YOU LOOK AT MOST PEOPLE AROUND THE STATE, THEY ARE HAPPY THAT WE HAVE HISTORICALLY LOW UNEMPLOYMENT. THAT WE HAVE A BALANCED BUDGET. THAT WE ACTUALLY HAVE A RAINY DAY FUND. SO WHILE I UNDERSTAND PETER IS FRUSTRATED WITH THE ELECTION RESULTS, TO CONTINUE TO GO BACK AND TALK ABOUT THE SAME THINGS WHEN VOTERS HAVE CONSISTENTLY REWARDED THE DECISIONS THAT WE HAVE MADE SEEMS LIKE THEY’RE EVENTUALLY GOING TO BE DOWN TO ALMOST NOBODY LEFT IN THE ASSEMBLY.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

REPRESENTATIVE BARCA, REPUBLICANS ARE PLEDGING BIGGER AND BOLDER. WHAT CAN YOU DO ABOUT IT IN THE MINORITY, AS YOU ARE?

PETER BARCA:

WELL, OBVIOUSLY, FOR US WE’LL CONTINUE TO STAND UP FOR WISCONSIN VALUES. WE KNOW THAT WE HAD SOME SUCCESSES. WHEN THEY TRIED TO ESSENTIALLY END OPEN RECORDS IN WISCONSIN, WE WERE ABLE TO PUT UP A STIFF OPPOSITION AND THEY BACKTRACKED. WHEN THE GOVERNOR’S TRIED AT VARIOUS TIMES TO TAKE ONE OF THE BEST IF NOT THE BEST PENSION SYSTEM IN THE COUNTRY AND ATTEMPT TO DIMINISH THAT, WE’VE BEEN ABLE TO FIGHT BACK. WHEN THE GOVERNOR TRIED IN THE BUDGET TO ELIMINATE THE AGING AND DISABILITY CENTERS, WE WERE ABLE TO STOP THAT, AS WELL AS HIS GETTING RID OF SENIOR CARE. ON THE OTHER END OF THE SPECTRUM, WE’RE GOING TO PUT FORWARD A VERY AGGRESSIVE, PROACTIVE PROGRAM, INITIATIVES TO TRY AND REBUILD THE MIDDLE CLASS. WE’RE THE MOST DIMINISHED MIDDLE CLASS IN THE COUNTRY. AND WE WILL HAVE AN AGENDA THAT’S MUCH MORE FOCUSED, HELPING PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE AND WHY WE NEED TO BRING FORWARD INITIATIVES TO HELP REBUILD THE MIDDLE CLASS. IT IS THE MOST DIMINISHED HERE IN WISCONSIN.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

SPEAKER VOS, I KEEP TALKING ABOUT THIS, BUT WHAT SPECIFICS OF BIG AND BOLD CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT?

ROBIN VOS:

SO THE THING THAT I’M MOST EXCITED ABOUT IS THE FACT THAT IN WASHINGTON D.C. WE NOW HAVE MY FRIEND REINCE PRIEBUS AS THE WHITE HOUSE CHIEF OF STAFF. WE HAVE SPEAKER PAUL RYAN HEADING THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IN A REPUBLICAN CONGRESS. SO I BELIEVE THE MESSAGE THAT THEY HAVE BEEN TELLING THE VOTERS OVER THE COURSE OF THE PAST COUPLE YEARS, WHICH IS, WHEN GIVEN THE CHANCE, THEY ARE GOING DEVOLVE POWER FROM A FARAWAY CAPITOL IN WASHINGTON BACK TO STATE CAPITOLS ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY. WE’RE GOING TO HAVE THE CHANCE TO DEAL WITH WHAT’S GOING TO HAPPEN WHEN THEY REPEAL OBAMACARE, GIVING US MORE FREEDOM TO MAKE DECISIONS WHICH ARE GOOD FOR WISCONSINITES. THEY’RE GOING TO ALSO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO HOPEFULLY BE DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN EDUCATION AND FIGURING OUT HOW DO WE DO WORKER TRAINING BETTER? I’M EXCITED THAT WE’RE GOING TO SEE WISCONSIN HOPEFULLY LEAD THE WAY, BUT ALL STATE CAPITOLS BECOME THOSE LABORATORIES OF DEMOCRACY THAT THE FRAMERS ORIGINALLY INTENDED THAT UNFORTUNATELY UNDER DEMOCRATS THEY’VE SUCKED POWER INTO WASHINGTON D.C., WHICH IS WHY LOTS OF OUR COUNTRY IS SCREWED UP.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

SPEAKER VOS, I WANT TO STAY WITH YOU ON THIS, WHAT WILL THE STATE DO ABOUT PEOPLE CURRENTLY IN THESE MARKETPLACE HEALTH PLANS IF AND VERY LIKELY WHEN OBAMACARE IS REPEALED? I MEAN, WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THOSE PEOPLE?

ROBIN VOS:

WELL, LET’S REMEMBER, FIRST OF ALL, WE HAD A VERY SUCCESSFUL BIPARTISAN PROGRAM IN WISCONSIN CALLED HIRSP. IT WAS THE HIGH INCOME RISK SHARING POOL WHICH ALLOWED US TO COVER AN AWFUL LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WERE DROPPED OFF OF THAT AND HAD GO INTO THE EXCHANGES WHERE IT WAS MORE EXPENSIVE WITH WORSE COVERAGE. WISCONSIN HAS BEEN AN INNOVATOR IN THE PAST. I HOPE THEY GIVE US THE FREEDOM BUT IT’S TOO EARLY TO TELL. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WASHINGTON FOLLOWS THROUGH ON THEIR PROMISE TO ELIMINATE THE REQUIREMENTS THAT ARE SO HARMFUL FOR OUR ECONOMY UNDER OBAMACARE AND GIVE US THE FREEDOM TO DO IT. SO IT’S TOO EARLY TO TELL, BUT BASED ON OUR PAST HISTORY OF BIPARTISAN WORK TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE HAVE ACCESS TO HEALTH INSURANCE, I THINK WISCONSIN WILL CONTINUE TO LEAD THE WAY.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

REPRESENTATIVE BARCA, WHAT’S YOUR RESPONSE TO THAT?

PETER BARCA:

WELL, MY RESPONSE IS THAT, YOU KNOW, FIRST OF ALL, I HOPE AND I PRAY OUR NEW PRESIDENT IS SUCCESSFUL. I TRULY HOPE THAT THAT HAPPENS. BUT HE MADE BOLD PROMISES. NEXT YEAR I LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING A DECREASE IN MY HEALTH CARE PREMIUMS BECAUSE HE SAID OBAMACARE IS WHY HEALTH CARE COSTS WENT UP. I LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING SCORES IF NOT HUNDREDS OF FACTORIES MOVE BACK HERE IN MEXICO, AS HE EVISCERATES THESE TRADE DEALS HE SAID ARE SO HARMFUL. AND I AGREE WITH HIM ON THAT, FRANKLY. SO OBVIOUSLY THERE’S BOLD PROMISES THAT HAVE BEEN MADE AND I HOPE THEY’RE ATTAINED. FOR US, WE OBVIOUSLY DO LIKE THE IDEA OF INNOVATING HERE IN WISCONSIN. WE THINK BADGERCARE WAS A PHENOMENAL PROGRAM. UNFORTUNATELY WE DID TURN DOWN WHAT REPRESENTED OVER A TEN-YEAR PERIOD SOMEWHERE BETWEEN $3 AND $5 BILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDS. I DON’T KNOW IF THEY’LL BE THERE ANYMORE. WE’LL FIND OUT WITH OUR NEW PRESIDENT TRUMP. BUT CLEARLY PEOPLE NEED TO HAVE ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE. VERY VITAL FOR WORKING CLASS PEOPLE.

ROBIN VOS:

THANK GOODNESS WE DID TURN DOWN THAT FEDERAL MONEY BECAUSE WE WOULD HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH A SITUATION WHERE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OVER-PROMISED AND UNDER-DELIVERED WHICH IS SO TYPICAL OF WHAT WASHINGTON DOES.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

LET ME ASK ABOUT THIS TRANSPORTATION FUNDING HOLE. SPEAKER VOS, WHAT’S YOUR PRESCRIPTION FOR THAT GOING FORWARD INTO THE BUDGET YEAR?

ROBIN VOS:

WELL JUST THIS LAST WEEK ASSEMBLY REPUBLICANS PUT OUT A DOCUMENT CALLED “NO EASY ANSWERS” AND THAT’S REALLY THE TRUTH OF WHERE WE ARE ON THIS DISCUSSION. THERE IS NO SINGLE ANSWER THAT IS GOING TO SOLVE THE TRANSPORTATION FUND DEFICIT. WE NEED TO FIRST FOCUS ON FINDING EVERY POSSIBLE SAVINGS WHICH IS WHY THE AUDIT IS GOING TO COME OUT SOMETIME TOWARD THE END OF DECEMBER OR BEGINNING OF JANUARY. WE KNOW THAT THERE’S ALSO A STUDY SHOWING WHETHER OR NOT THAT TOLLING WILL BE AN OPTION. BUT I CERTAINLY THINK THAT THERE’S NO WAY WE CAN TAX OUR WAY INTO SOLVING THE DEFICIT. AND THERE’S NO WAY THAT WE CAN CUT OUR WAY INTO SOLVING THE DEFICIT. I’VE URGED EVERYTHING TO BE ON THE TABLE. ONCE WE SEE FIRST OF ALL THE GOVERNOR’S BUDGET. WE’RE HAVING A HEARING ON DECEMBER 6 IN THE ASSEMBLY TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE TO FULLY EXPLORE WHAT THE GOVERNOR’S BUDGET WILL MEAN FOR TRANSPORTATION. THEN WE’LL BEGIN TO PUT FORWARD IDEAS TO SOLVE THAT DEFICIT WHICH WILL PROBABLY BE A COMBINATION OF ALL OF THE ABOVE. SOME POTENTIAL NEW REVENUES, REDUCTIONS IN SPENDING AND PRIORITIES AS TO WHERE THE SPENDINGS ACTUALLY GOING TO BE.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

REPRESENTATIVE BARCA, HOW DOES THAT PRESCRIPTION SOUND TO YOU?

PETER BARCA:

WELL, LET ME SAY THIS. I HOPE THAT WE CAN TACKLE THIS. IT HAS TO BE ONE OF THE TOP THREE PRIORITIES IN WISCONSIN TO SOLVE OUR INFRASTRUCTURE. BUT THE REPUBLICANS HAVE HAD SIX YEARS, SIX YEARS. AND THE RESULT IS WE NOW HAVE THE FOURTH WORST ROADS AND BRIDGES IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY. SO THEY HAVE THIS HISTORIC MAJORITY, AS YOU’VE INDICATED. THE GOVERNOR HAS BEEN IN POWER SIX YEARS. AND HE’S TURNED DOWN EVERY SINGLE SUGGESTION THAT’S COME HIS WAY, BOTH FROM A BIPARTISAN COMMISSION THAT HE FORMED, AND FROM HIS OWN SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION. SO DEMOCRATS WILL CONTINUE, LIKE WE DID IN THIS LAST SESSION, TO PROPOSE ALTERNATIVES. BUT I JUST HOPE THAT IT’S NOT TWO MORE YEARS OF INACTION, BECAUSE HAVING THE FOURTH WORST ROADS HURTS BUSINESSES AND IT HURTS WORKING CLASS PEOPLE THAT HAVE TO DRIVE TO GO TO WORK OR DRIVE TRUCKS TO DELIVER THEIR GOODS OR SALESPEOPLE HAVE TO DRIVE TO THEIR CUSTOMERS. ROADS ARE VITALLY IMPORTANT IN A BIG STATE LIKE WISCONSIN.

ROBIN VOS:

ON THAT WE AGREE.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

WE WILL ALL BE WATCHING. SPEAKER VOS AND REPRESENTATIVE BARCA, MINORITY LEADER. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

ROBIN VOS:

THANK YOU.

PETER BARCA:

THANK YOU. GOOD TO BE WITH YOU AGAIN.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

TONIGHT WE WANT TO REMEMBER ONE OF THE BEST. BY NOW, YOU’VE HEARD THAT PBS JOURNALIST GWEN IFILL PASSED AWAY ON MONDAY IN WASHINGTON. IFILL SET THE BAR HIGH FOR ALL OF US IN BROADCAST JOURNALISM. NOT JUST IN PUBLIC BROADCASTING BUT ACROSS MEDIA AND NETWORKS. WE AT WPT HAD THE PRIVILEGE TO GET TO KNOW GWEN OVER THE YEARS, EVEN IF IN JUST A MODEST WAY. SHE WAS SO SMART, SO WARM AND, ABOVE ALL ELSE, SO FUNNY. A HUGE LOSS TO AMERICAN JOURNALISM. GWEN IFILL WAS 61. ALSO THIS WEEK, THE PASSING OF ONE OF WISCONSIN’S MOST LEGENDARY POLITICIANS. OVER THE COURSE OF 16 YEARS AS THE STATE’S 7TH DISTRICT CONGRESSMAN, MEL LAIRD BLAZED A TRAIL FOR HEALTH RESEARCH FUNDING FOR WISCONSIN AND THE NATION. HERE’S PART OF AN ARCHIVED PROFILE OF SECRETARY LAIRD BY FORMER WPT PRODUCER ART HACKETT. IT BEGINS WITH THE PUBLIC SERVICE FOR WHICH LAIRD IS BEST REMEMBERED: HIS TERM AS SECRETARY OF DEFENSE UNDER PRESIDENT RICHARD NIXON.

RICHARD NIXON:

MEL LAIRD BRINGS AN EXTRA DIMENSION TO THIS POSITION THAT IS NEEDED IN THIS TIME.

ART HACKETT:

IN 1969, PRESIDENT RICHARD NIXON CHOSE MEL LAIRD AS HIS SECRETARY OF DEFENSE.

RICHARD NIXON:

I THINK HE WILL BRING TO THIS POSITION A HIGH DEGREE OF INTELLIGENCE, OF COOLNESS UNDER FIRE AND ALSO OF THE ABILITY TO MANAGE PEOPLE AS WELL AS WEAPONS.

ART HACKETT:

DAVE OBEY TOOK OVER LAIRD’S SEAT IN CONGRESS.

DAVE OBEY:

WHAT WENT THROUGH MY HEAD IS I WAS PROBABLY A ONE-TERM WONDER WHO PROBABLY WASN’T GOING TO GET RE-ELECTED. BUT IT WAS COMPLICATED. BECAUSE MEL WAS SECRETARY OF DEFENSE, THE HOT ISSUE WAS THE VIETNAM WAR. AND I WAS OPPOSED TO THE VIETNAM WAR.

ART HACKETT:

THERE ARE PAINTINGS REFLECTING VIETNAM IN LAIRD’S OFFICE. AMONG OTHER THINGS, LAIRD IS RESPONSIBLE FOR VIETNAMIZATION: PULLING OUT U.S. TROOPS AND LETTING THE SOUTH VIETNAMESE FIGHT THE WAR ON THEIR OWN.

ART HACKETT:

DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU WERE HIRED TO GET THE UNITED STATES OUT OF VIETNAM? WAS THAT WHAT NIXON WANTED YOU TO DO?

MEL LAIRD:

HE NEVER GAVE ME ANY INSTRUCTIONS ABOUT ANYTHING, BUT I TOLD HIM THAT I WAS GOING TO DEVELOP A PLAN AND THAT THE PLAN WOULD BE TO START WITHDRAWING BASED ON THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE SOUTH VIETNAMESE FORCES.

ART HACKETT:

LAIRD HELPED EASE U.S. TROOPS OUT OF VIETNAM. IN 1974 HE HELPED EASE RICHARD NIXON OUT OF THE WHITE HOUSE BECAUSE OF THE WATERGATE SCANDAL.

MEL LAIRD:

I SAID, YOU KNOW, I JUST LEARNED ABOUT THE TAPES. AND I’VE LEARNED THAT YOU WERE IN THE COVER-UP POSITION ALL THE TIME AND KNEW EVERYTHING ABOUT IT. AND I BELIEVE THE SOURCE THAT HAS TOLD ME. I MIGHT HAVE COME OVER HERE TO HELP YOU BECAUSE OF THE IMPORTANCE OF THE WHITE HOUSE, IF YOU HADN’T LIED TO ME. BUT YOU LIED TO ME UP AT CAMP DAVID. AND I HAVE TO LEAVE.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

FORMER WISCONSIN CONGRESSMAN AND U.S. SECRETARY OF DEFENSE, MEL LAIRD DIED OF HEART FAILURE ON WEDNESDAY AT A FLORIDA HOSPITAL. HE WAS 94. THAT IS ALL FOR TONIGHT’S PROGRAM. I’M FREDERICA FREYBERG. HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.