>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL PRODUCTION.

>> THE WISCONSIN VACCINATION PROGRAM ON PARTIAL PAUSE THIS WEEK.

STATE HEALTH OFFICIALS FOLLOW THE CDC RECOMMENDATION TO TEMPORARILY STOP THE JOHNSON & JOHNSON VACCINE.

THIS IS THE BATTLE TO CONTROL FORTHCOMING FEDERAL COVID MONEY CONTINUES AT THE STATE CAPITOL.

AND AS TENSIONS MOUNT THROUGHOUT THIS WEEK, THE MINNESOTA TRIAL OF DEREK CHAUVIN.

I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.

TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW," THE FIGHT FOR CONTROL OF FEDERAL COVID DOLLARS AT THE STATE CAPITOL.

PARTY LEADERS ARE HERE.

THE PUSH TO GET CHILDREN VACCINATED.

AND THE TRAUMA IMPACT OF THE DEREK CHAUVIN TRIAL.

IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR APRIL 16.

>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS WISCONSIN.

>> SAY HIS NAME.

>> DAUNTE WRIGHT.

>> DEMONSTRATIONS THROUGH THE WEEK OVER ANOTHER BLACK MAN SHOT AND KILLED BY A POLICE OFFICER IN A MINNEAPOLIS SUBURB, THE SAME WEEK TESTIMONY IN THE CRIMINAL TRIAL OF DEREK CHAUVIN WRAPPED UP, AFTER WEEKS OF EVIDENCE, INCLUDING THE REPEATED REPLAY OF VIDEO DETAILING THE DEATH OF GEORGE FLOYD, WHO SUCCUMBED AFTER THE POLICE OFFICER HELD HIM DOWN WITH HIS KNEE.

HOW TRIGGERING ARE THESE EVENTS?

HOW OPPRESSIVE IS THE FEELING THAT BLACK LIVES DON'T MATTER?

WE CHECK IN WITH DR. ALVIN THOMAS, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF MEDICINE AT THE SCHOOL HUMAN ECOLOGY GLMENT THANK ECOLOGY.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> HOW ARE THE CHAUVIN TRIAL AND KILLING OF DAUNTE WRIGHT AFFECTING THE HEALTH OF BLACK MEN AND BOYS IN PARTICULAR RIGHT NOW?

>> I THINK YOU PUT YOUR FINGER ON THE PULSE IN THAT WE'VE HAD THESE REPEATED EXPERIENCES OF BLACK DEATH BEING STREAMED INTO PUBLIC SPACES AND PRIVATE SPACES FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE.

AND WHETHER IT'S GEORGE FLOYD OR DAUNTE WRIGHT OR COUNTLESS OTHERS BEFORE AND PROBABLY AFTER THIS, WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS THIS REPEATED EXPOSURE TO IMAGES LIKE THIS AND IN SOME CASES VIDEO LIKE THIS AND IN OTHER CASES JUST HEARING ABOUT IT.

THIS REPEATED EXPOSURE CONSTITUTES SOME KIND OF POTENTIAL TRAUMA, IN SOME CASES DIRECT TRAUMA FOR THE FAMILY MEMBERS, BUT FOR OTHERS WHO ARE NOT DIRECTLY RELATED, THAT EXPERIENCE OF VIE VICARIOUS TRAUMA.

THESE THINGS DIRECTLY AND INDIRECTLY HAVE VERY STARK NEGATIVE IMPACT ON OUR PSYCHE AND ABILITY TO FUNCTION NORMAL.

>> WE SEE PROTESTS AND DEMONSTRATIONS OVER WHAT HAPPENED TO GEORGE FLOYD AND DAUNTE WRIGHT AND SO MANY OTHERS.

YOU HAVE SAID, QUOTE, BLACK PEOPLE ARE CRYING OUT AND AMERICA IS NOT LISTENING AND NOT RESPONDING BECAUSE IT HEARS THE NOISE AND NOT THE PAIN."

WHAT IS THIS DISCONNECT?

>> I THINK THE DISCONNECT IS OFTEN THAT WE SEE PEOPLE FIRST AT SOCIAL RULES AND DESIGNATIONS BEFORE WE SEE THEM AS HUMAN BEINGS.

AND BECAUSE WE'RE DISCONNECTED FROM THAT HUMAN CONNECTION, THAT JOINS ALL OF US, THAT COLLECTIVE HUMANITY, IT'S A LOT EASIER TO DISMISS SOMETIMES WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL.

THAT SUDDEN LOSS OF INNER SENSE, THAT SUDDEN CHANGE IN OUR WORLDVIEW, THAT THE WORD HAS OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL, THAT THE WORLD IS A PLACE THAT'S FULL OF PLUF.

LOVE.

THAT IS TRANSFORMED INTO A WORLDVIEW OF THE WORLD AS AN UNSAFE, SCARY, DANGEROUS, UNPREDICTABLE SPACE.

>> SOME DECRY THE PROPERTY DESTRUCTION OF PROTESTS.

BUT IS THAT EXPRESSION OF ANGER AMONG THOSE PROTESTING WRONG?

>> I THINK WE GET INTO A WEDGE IECE WHEN WE START TO LEGISLATE WRONG AND RIGHT WITH REGARD TO AN INDIVIDUAL'S RIGHT TO ATTEMPT SOMETHING THAT'S NOT BEING HEARD.

IF I BRING IT BACK TO JUST HOW A CHILD WOULD REACT, FOR INSTANCE, IF A CHILD IS REACTING TO SOMETHING THAT'S HAPPENING INSIDE OF THEM OR SOME PERCEIVED MISMATCH BETWEEN THE NEEDS THAT THEY HAVE AND THE SOCIETY OR THE FAMILY'S ATTEMPT TO MEET THOSE NEEDS, IF THAT MISMATCH CONTINUES TO GO ON AND THE CHILD IS NOT SEEN, THERE'S A FRUSTRATION IN MEETING THOSE NEEDS, EVENTUALLY THE INDIVIDUAL STARTS TO ACT IN DIFFERENT WAYS TO ATTRACT ATTENTION TO THE ISSUE.

AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT WHEN I SAY WE HEAR ABOUT THESE CRIMES, PROTESTS, DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY, BUT UNDERLYING THAT IS THAT CRY THAT SAYS I AM HUMAN AND YOU'RE NOT HEARING ME.

>> THE CDC JUST DECLARED RACISM IS SERIOUS PUBLIC HEALTH THREAT AND YOU WROTE ONCE AGAIN THAT AS WE SPEAK THE BLACK COMMUNITY IS BEING DEVASTATED BY CALF CATASTROPHIC LOSSES IN A FATAL EPIDEMIC.

HOW OVERWHELMING IS THIS VULNERABILITY?

>> I THINK THE VULNERABILITY IS FAR MORE THAN WE ARE SEEING.

I THINK WHAT WE ARE SEEING ARE THE THINGS THAT ARE ON THE SCREEN.

IN LINE WITH THE CDC RECOMMENDATION, THERE WAS A SIMILAR DECLARATION IN 2019 AND 2020 ADDRESSING A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT ELEMENTS OF THE PROBLEMATIC RELATIONSHIP THAT OUR INSTITUTIONS HAVE WITH BLACK COMMUNITIES.

WHAT WE ARE AREA SEEING, THOUGH, IS A GROWING AWARENESS OF THE SYMPTOMS OF THE LARGER ISSUE, BUT WITHOUT THE DETERMINATION TO ADDRESS THE UNDERLYING ISSUES, WHICH IS HISTORICAL AND DEEPLY ENTRENCHED MARGIN MARGINALIZATION OF CERTAIN GROUPS, ONE OF THEM BEING THE BLACK COMMUNITY.

>> WHAT IS YOUR MESSAGE TO PEOPLE STRUGGLING WITH MENTAL HEALTH TRIGGERED POINTEDLY RIGHT NOW?

>> LOOK AT THE PEOPLE AROUND YOU TO SEE WHETHER OR NOT YOU'RE SEEING A CHANGE, A DRASTIC CHANGE IN THEIR BEHAVIOR.

THAT'S THE FIRST SIGN THAT SOMETHING IS HAPPENING FOR THE INDIVIDUAL, THAT THEY'RE HARBORING, THEY'RE DEALING WITH SOMETHING ON THE INSIDE THAT THEY CAN'T YET FIND SPACE TO EXPLORE IT.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT A FEW OF MY COLLEAGUES AND I FROM THE URBAN LEAGUE OF MADISON AND FROM REBOUNDS LIKE WELLNESS WITH SOME MONIES FROM THE WPP PARTNERSHIP HAVE DONE IS TO DO SOME WORK SPECIFICALLY WITH BLACK MEN AND BLACK BOYS, TRYING TO SUPPORT THEM AND TO ENGAGE IN MENTAL HEALTH CONVERSATIONS.

AND THAT IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE FIRST STEPS.

GIVING PEOPLE THE SPACE TO BE ABLE TO SHARE THEIR STORIES, UNFETTERED AND UNJUDGED AND SUPPORTED IN SHARING THEIR STORIES AND GETTING THE SUPPORT THAT THEY NEED.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE LEAVE IT THERE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANKS FOR YOUR INSIGHTS, DR. ALVIN THOMAS.

>> YOU'RE WELCOME.

THAWF VERY MUCH.

>> REPUBLICAN MAJORITIES IN BOTH HOUSES OF THE STATE LEGISLATURE PASSED A NUMBER OF BILLS THIS WIEK INCLUDING CHANGES TO STATE ELECTION PROCEDURES.

THE HOTTEST DEBATE WAS WITH REGARD TO HOW TO SPEND THE OVER $3 BILLION FEDERAL STIMULUS MONEY.

ONE PLAN DIRECTS 10% OF THEIR LAST PROPERTY BILL TO PROPERTY OWNERS.

THAT WOULD ACCOUNT FOR OVER $1 BILLION.

REPUBLICANS APRUDE A APPROVED A PLAN TO PAY OFF STATE DEBT, $310 MEN TO10 MILLION TO SHORE UP UNEMPLOYMENT AND COMMUNICATIONS UPGRADE AND A MENTAL HEALTH CENTER IN NORTHERN WISCONSIN.

DEMOCRATS SAY USING THE FUNDS IN THOSE WAYS IS NOT ALLOWED BASED ON FEDERAL GUIDELINES AND AS INTERPRETED BY THE FISCAL BUREAU.

THE BILLS MAY HAVE THE WORD "VETO" WRITTEN ALL OVER THEM.

GOVERNOR EVERS SAID LEGISLATIVE OVERSIGHT WOULD ONLY SLOW DOWN THE RELEASE OF THE MONEY.

>> I CAN'T IMAGINE HAVING THE JOINT FINANCE COMMITTEE BEING IN CHARGE OF THAT, WHERE ONE SENATOR CAN RAISE HIS HAND AND -- HIS OR HER HAND AND SAY, SORRY, I DON'T LIKE THAT.

WHERE DO YOU GO?

YOU DO NOTHING.

>> GOVERNOR TONY EVERS SPEAKING IN LA CROSSE ON THURSDAY.

EARLIER, I SPOKE WITH SENATE MAJORITY LEADER DEVIN LEMAHIEU.

>> WHY DO YOU WANT THE LEGISLATURE TO CONTROL HOW THE FEDERAL COVID STIMULUS IS SPENT?

>> THE LEGISLATURE HAS AN IMPORTANT JOB THAT WE'RE WORKING ON, THE BUDGET, GOING FORWARD.

AND WITH THIS LAST ROUND OF SPENDING BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, $1.9 TRILLION NATIONALLY, WITH OVER $5.7 BILLION COMING INTO THE STATE OF WISCONSIN, WE FEEL THAT IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE LEGISLATURE TO HAVE A VOICE IN HOW THAT $3.2 BILLION THAT THE GOVERNOR HAS SOLE DISCREFTION OVER DISCRETION IS OVER TO SPEND.

IT'S IMPORTANT AS WE ENTER THE BUDGET PROCESS GOING FORWARD.

WITHOUT A FRAMEWORK OR A ROADMAP, WE'RE SORT OF FLYING BLIND GOING INTO THE BUDGET BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW IF THE GOVERNOR IS SITTING THERE WITH ALL KINDS OF FEDERAL MONEY IN ITS POCKETS.

IT'S GOING TO BE HARD TO DEVELOP A BUDGET.

>> DO YOU NOT THINK THAT GOVERNOR EVERS IS SPENDING THE FEDERAL FUNDS IN THE RATE RIGHT WAY?

>> WE DON'T KNOW HOW HE'S GOING TO SPEND THE FUNDS.

WE DON'T KNOW.

SO WE CHOSE -- THE GOAL BEHIND OUR 11-BILL PLAN IMPORTANT SPENDING THIS FEDERAL FUNDS IS TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S INVESTING IN ONE-TIME ITEMS TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S NOT CAUSING A FUTURE DEFICIT BY USING IT FOR ONGOING EXPENSES AND MAKING SURE WE'RE INVESTING IN INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE STATE OF WISCONSIN AND SMALL BUSINESSES, IN FAMILIES WHO ARE PAYING PROPERTY TAXES.

SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN HARDEST HIT FOR SOME OF THE PERSONAL RELIEF.

AND ALSO INVESTING LONG-TERM INTO INFRASTRUCTURE SO CAN HAVE LONG-TERM EFFECTS, SUCH AS BROADBAND, LOCAL ROADS, THINGS LIKE THAT.

>> THERE IS SOME CROSSOVER BETWEEN THE GOVERNOR AND MAJORITY REPUBLICANS ON THINGS LIKE BROADBAND, SMALL BUSINESS AND TOURISM.

WHY NOT KIND OF WORK TOGETHER SO THAT YOU CAN WORK ON THIS ROADMAP TOGETHER?

>> YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHAT WE WANTED TO DO.

THAT'S WHY WE CAME IN LAST MONTH IN THE LEGISLATURE AND PASSED THE LEGISLATIVE OVERSIGHT BILL GIVING APPROVAL OVER HOW THIS MONEY IS SPENT IN THE STATE OF WISCONSIN.

THE GOVERNOR VETOED THAT THE MINUTE IT CAME TO HIS DESK.

IT APPEARS THAT THE GOVERNOR HAS NO DESIRE TO INCLUDE US IN THIS PROCESS.

WE FEEL THAT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO JUST PUT THAT ROADMAP OUT THERE ON HOW WE THINK IT SHOULD BE BEST SPENT.

>> WHAT HAPPENS WHEN GOVERNOR EVERS VETOES THE BILLS?

>> THEN I GUESS WE'RE STARTING FROM SCRATCH AGAIN, AND LIKE I MENTIONED EARLIER, IT MAKES IT VERY TOUGH TO DEVELOP A BUDGET.

THE GOVERNOR HAS, YOU KNOW, BROADBAND SPENDING IN THE BUDGET.

BUT WE DON'T KNOW IF HE'S GOING TO SPEND MONEY ON BROADBAND WITH THE FEDERAL MONEY.

SO HOW CAN WE PUT THAT IN THE BUDGET?

HE HAS REPLACING LEAD PIPES IN MILWAUKEE IN THE BUDGET.

WE HAD THAT IN ONE OF OUR BILLS.

IF HE VETOES IT, HOW DO WE PUT THAT IN THE BUDGET?

THAT'S THE DPLEAM WE'RE THE DILEMMA WE'RE FACING.

>> WHAT IS SOME OF THE SPENDING IN YOUR BILLS THAT'S NOT ALLOWED UNDER THE FEDERAL BILL?

>> WE DON'T KNOW THAT FOR CERTAIN AT THIS POINT.

THERE ARE FISCAL BUREAU PAPERS PUT OUT THAT ARE SPECULATING ON WHAT THE FEDERAL GUIDANCE MIGHT BE.

BUT THE U.S. TREASURY HASN'T ISSUED THAT GUIDANCE YET.

BUT WE FEEL THAT IT'S IMPORTANT TO PUT THOSE PRIORITIES OUT THERE.

HOPEFULLY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT GIVES A BROADER, BROADER -- IN THEIR GUIDANCE BROADER USE OF THAT FUNDS TO MAKE SURE WE CAN INVEST IN INFRASTRUCTURE.

SOME OF THE BILLS WE THINK FOR SURE WILL BE COVERED UNDER THIS AND SOME MIGHT NOT BE, THEY MIGHT BE, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO PUT THOSE PRIORITIES OUT THERE.

>> ON A DIFFERENT MATTER BUT RELATED, WHAT'S YOUR RESPONSE TO THE EVERS' ADMINISTRATION MAKING KIND OF A SAVING CONSTRUCTION TO GET THE ENHANCED FOODSHARE FEDERAL FUNDING?

IS THAT A GOOD THINGN YOUR THING, IN YOUR MIND?

>> THAT WAS A FIX THAT WE HAD IN AB 1 THAT THE GOVERNOR VETOED, SO WE THOUGHT IT WAS A PRIORITY TO GET THE EXPANDED FEDERAL ACCESS GOING FORWARD.

THERE'S STILL PROBABLY SOME QUESTIONS LEGALLY IF THE GOVERNOR HAS THE AUTHORITY TO DO THAT AFTER SOME OF THE RECENT SUPREME COURT RULINGS.

BUT -- SO WE'RE CHECKING INTO THAT.

BUT I THINK IT'S DEFINITELY BENEFICIAL FOR THE STATE FOR THAT FUNDING TO BE CONTINUED GOING FORWARD.

YOU KNOW, APPARENTLY THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS WILLING TO PROVIDE SOME PRETTY BROAD, BROAD INTERPRETATION OF FEDERAL LAW TO THE GOVERNOR IN THIS INSTANCE AND HOPEFULLY, HOPEFULLY THE U.S. TREASURY CAN PROVIDE SOME OF THAT BROAD GUIDANCE TO US AS WE SPEND FEDERAL MONEY TO MAKE SURE WE KNOW WHAT'S BEST FOR THE STATE OF WISCONSIN AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MAY NOT KNOW WHAT'S BEST FOR THE STATE OF WISCONSIN.

>> WHAT IS YOUR POSITION ON REQUIRING PEOPLE TO GET A COVID VACCINE?

>> I DON'T THINK PEOPLE SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO GET A COVID VACCINE.

IF A PRIVATE BUSINESS MAKES THAT DETERMINATION, I GUESS THAT'S UP TO THE PRIVATE BUSINESS.

BUT I DEFINITELY DON'T THINK GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE MANDATING THAT INDIVIDUALS GET A COVID VACCINATION.

>> WHAT IS YOUR MESSAGE TO PEOPLE ABOUT GETTING A VACCINE?

>> YOU KNOW, WE'RE OVER A YEAR INTO THE PANDEMIC.

PEOPLE HAVE LEARNED A LOT ABOUT THE PANDEMIC.

THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF INFORMATION LEARNED.

AND IT'S DEFINITELY UP TO THE INDIVIDUAL.

HOPEFULLY A LOT OF PEOPLE DO GET VACCINATED TO MAKE SURE WE GET UP TO THAT HERD IMMUNITY.

SO I'D ENCOURAGE VACCINATION FOR ALL PEOPLE, BUT I UNDERSTAND SOME PEOPLE MAY NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE.

BUT IT'S GREAT THAT WISCONSIN IS -- SEEMS TO BE AHEAD OF THE CURVE WORKING WITH, YOU KNOW, WALGREENS AND THE HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION AND CLINICS TO GET THE VACCINES OUT.

SO THAT'S GREAT FOR THE STATE OF WISCONSIN AND HOPEFULLY PEOPLE CONTINUE TO GET VACCINATED.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

SENATOR LEM A HUE, THANKS VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> WE TURN NOW TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE AND HEAD TO OSHKOSH.

THAT'S WHERE WE ARE JOINED BY ASSEMBLY MINORITY LEADER DEMOCRAT GORDON HINTZ.

THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

>> HAPPY TO BE HERE.

>> YOU SAID THE REPUBLICAN BILLS TO TAKE CONTROL OF HOW TO SPEND SOME $2.7 BILLION OF THE STIMULUS MONEY IS DESIGNED TO, QUOTE, SCORE POLITICAL POINTS.

HOW SO?

>> WELL, FIRST OFF, I THINK GOVERNOR EVERS HAS DONE A TREMENDOUS JOB, A NONPOLITICAL JOB, TRYING TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF OUR STATE, BOTH DURING THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC, COMING OUT OF THE PANDEMIC AND BY INTRODUCING A BUDGET THAT REALLY TRIES TO TURN THE CORNER BOTH ON THE PUBLIC HEALTH SIDE AND THE ECONOMY.

AND WITH THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT, WE EXPECT MORE OF THE SAME.

IT'S THAT KIND OF DISCRETION THAT I THINK WE NEED WHERE WE DON'T NEED THE MICROMANAGING AND POLITICIZING EACH OF THESE DECISIONS.

LEGISLATIVE REPUBLICANS REFUSE TO ACT FOR THE LAST NINE MONTHS HEADING UP INTO THIS SYTION SESSION STARTING AND A WEEK AGO INTRODUCED THESE BILLS THAT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THEIR TRACK RECORD SINCE GOVERNOR EVERS HAS BEEN ELECTED, THEIR PRIORITY SEEMS TO BE TO TRY TO THWART, SUE, STOP, MAKE THE GOVERNOR LOOK BAD.

I DON'T THINK THE PUBLIC HAS ANY APPETITE FOR THIS AT A TIME WHEN WE SHOULD BE MANAGING THE CRISIS.

>> WHAT ABOUT THE ARGUMENT THAT REPUBLICAN BUDGET WRITERS NEED TO KNOW WHERE THIS MONEY CAN BE PLUGGED IN AS THEY TRY TO RECRAFT THE BUDGET?

>> WELL, I MEAN, I THINK A LOT OF US HAVE THOSE QUESTIONS AS WELL, BUT REMEMBER SOME OF THE REPUBLICAN ATTEMPTS THAT WERE INTRODUCED MAY NOT ACTUALLY BE COMPLIANT WITH WHAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS ASKING FOR IN TERMS OF WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO ALLOW.

THIS IS ONE-TIME MONEY.

I THINK THE GOVERNOR IS SLOAFLY RELEASING VERY DELIBERATE CONSIDERATIONS ON WHAT CAN BEST HELP ADDRESS COVID AND BUILD BACK OUR ECONOMY.

THE RECENT ANNOUNCEMENT OF $100 MILLION FOR THE ECONOMY IS SOMETHING.

I THINK THERE WILL BE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT INFRASTRUCTURE, BROADBAND, SOME OF THOSE THINGS.

I THINK WE WILL KNOW A LOT THAT PRIOR TO THE DELIBERATIONS THE FINANCE COMMITTEEMENT BUT I DON'T THINK THAT'S WHAT WAS GOING ON WITH THE PROPOSAL BY THE REPUBLICANS.

THIS WAS JUST SORT OF MORE OF THE SAME, TRYING TO COME AT GOVERNOR EVERS POE LITALLY.

>> WOULDN'T THIS REQUIRE WORKING ACROSS THE IEFL ACROSS THE AISLE AS WISCONSIN TRIES TO RECOVER?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

ONE OF THE MOMENTS WE HAD WAS LAST APRIL WHERE WE HAD A NEAR UNANIMOUS COVID PACKAGE THAT WE WERVEGD HARD ON TOGETHER, SIGNED INTO LAW BY GOVERNOR EVERS.

I THINK THERE WAS HOPE OVER THE LAST YEAR THAT THAT WOULD SOMEWHAT CONTINUE.

AND I THINK IT'S POSSIBLE NOW.

AND THAT'S WHAT I MEAN.

IF THERE ARE IDEAS OR QUESTIONS OR SUGGESTIONS, WHY REACH OUT TO THE ADMINISTRATION OR THE AGENCIES.

BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND JUST LIKE THE CARES ACT RESOURCES LAST YEAR, YOU KNOW, YOU WANT TO HAVE SOME FLEXIBILITY AS WE HOPE WHERE WE'RE GOING TO BE IN A FEW MONTHS.

WE DON'T NECESSARILY KNOW.

SO TYING UP THOSE RESOURCES ISN'T NECESSARILY THE BEST IDEA.

IT'S NOT PRUDENT.

BUT WE'LL HAVE TO SEE HOW IT IMPACTS THE BUDGET OVERALL.

>> THERE ARE SOME SHARED INTERESTS BETWEEN THE GOP AND GOVERNOR EVERS, NAMELY, SPENDING MONEY ON BROADBAND, SMALL BUSINESSES AND TOURISM.

BUT WHEN GOVERNOR EVERS VETOES THE REPUBLICAN BILLS, AS HE HAS AS MUCH AS PROMISED, HOW DOES THAT SET HIM UP FOR CRITICISM FOR REJECTING THAT SPENDING?

>> WELL, ON THE BILLS THAT HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED, THEY HAVEN'T EXACTLY BEEN INTRODUCED WITH THE GOVERNOR'S INPUT AND THERE'S ALWAYS BEEN A CLEAR POISON PILL.

THAT'S A PART OF ALL OF THESE THINGS.

IF YOU'RE GOING TO REPEAL THE MASK MANDATE, IF YOU'RE GOING TO INTRODUCE OVERSIGHT WHERE YOU CAN MICROMANAGEMENT THE GOVERNOR'S SPENDING DECISIONS, THOSE ARE PROBABLY THINGS THAT ARE PRETTY CLEAR THE GOVERNOR IS NOT GOING TO SIGN, WHICH I THINK MAKES IT CLEAR THAT THIS IS MORE POLITICAL.

THERE ARE AREAS OF AGREEMENT.

I MENTIONED BROADBAND, TRANSPORTATION, INFRASTRUCTURE.

GIVEN THAT A LOT OF THE FEDERAL MONEY IS ONE-TIME, I THINK WE REALLY NEED TO LOOK AT WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT WE CAN REALLY CATCH UP ON.

THE GOVERNOR HAS MADE A PRIORITY OF LEAD PIPE REPLACEMENT, GROUNDWATER, A LOT OF THINGS THAT IMPACT COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE STATE THAT WE COULD MAKE SIGNIFICANT HEADWAY ON.

AND A BUDGET THAT I THINK HAS THE RESOURCES TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE AS PROPOSED BY GOVERNOR EVERS.

SO I THINK WE'RE OPEN.

BUT, YOU KNOW, WE GOT TO LET GO OF THE FACT THAT GOVERNOR EVERS IS GOVERNOR.

IF ANY OF THEM WANTS TO BE GOVERNOR, THEY CAN RUN.

>> RIGHT.

WE LEAVE IT THERE.

REPRESENTATIVE GORDON HINTZ, THANKS VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> TO PRIORITIZE THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF OUR RESIDENTS AND TO PROVIDE ENOUGH TIME TO LEARN MORE AND MAKE EVIDENCE-BASED DECISIONS ABOUT THE EFFECT OF THIS NEWS ON THE VACCINE ROLL-OUT, WE HAVE PAUSED THE USE OF JOHNSON & JOHNSON VACCINE IN WISCONSIN.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT THESE REACTIONS, WE CALL THEM ADVERSE EVENTS, REPRESENT SIX ADVERSE EVENTS OUT OF 6.8 MILLION DOSES OF JOHNSON & JOHNSON VACCINE.

THAT MEANS THAT NEARLY 6.8 MILLION AMERICANS HAVE RECEIVED THEIR SHOTS OF JOHNSON & JOHNSON WITHOUT EXPERIENCING THIS ADVERSE REACTION.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS VERY RARE AND THAT WE ARE TAKING THIS ACTION OUT OF AN ABUNDANCE OF CAUTION.

>> EVEN WITHOUT THE JOHNSON & JOHNSON VACCINE STILL IN THE MIX FOR NOW, ABOUT A QUARTER OF PEOPLE IN WISCONSIN ARE NOW FULLY VACCINATED.

THE FOCUS HAS MOSTLY BEEN ON ADULT VACCINATIONS, BUT OUR NEXT GUEST SAYS MAKING SURE YOUNGER CHILDREN ARE ABLE TO GET VACCINATED IS IMPORTANT TO END THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

DR. JIM CONWAY, PROFESSOR OF PEED PEED PEDIATRICS AT UW-MADISON.

THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

>> HAPPY TO BE HERE.

THANK YOU.

>> FIRST, ON THE JOHNSON & JOHNSON VACCINE, WHAT SHOULD PEOPLE WHO HAVE RECEIVED IT KNOW?

>> I THINK FOR PEOPLE THAT HAVE RECEIVED IT RECENTLY, THEY NEED TO JUST BE AWARE OF REPORTING SIDE EFFECT SYMPTOMS THAT THEY CONSIDER PARTICULARLY SEVERE.

SO FOR ABOUT THE TWO, THREE WEEKS AFTER THEY GET THE VACCINE ANY KIND OF HEADACHE, RESPIRATORY PROBLEMS OR PAIN NEED TO BE REPORTED AND EVALUATED BY A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL.

>> HOW MIGHT THIS EXACERBATE VACCINE HESITANCY?

>> I THINK THIS SHOWS HOW SERIOUSLY WE TAKE SAFETY AND EVEN JUST A HANDFUL OF CASES IS ENOUGH TO TRIGGER THE SYSTEM TO SAY LET'S PAUSE AND TAKE A SECOND AND LOOK AT THIS AND MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT MISSING ANYTHING.

MESS POSITIVE OFMOST OF THE VASKS TRIALS VACCINE TRIALS ARE DONE ON 50,000 PEOPLE.

AT 6 OR 7 MILLION DOSES, THIS IS VERY EARLY IN THE GAME.

>> WHY DO YOU SAY THAT IT IS VITAL THAT CHILDREN GET COVID-19 VACCINATIONS AS SOON AS THEY ARE CLEEFERRED TO DO SO?

>> YEAH.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT PEOPLE REALIZE THAT EARLY ON IN THIS PANDEMIC WE UNDERSTOOD TWO THINGS.

ONE IS KIDS DON'T SEEM TO GET VERY SEVERE DISEASE AND DIDN'T SEEM TO BE MAJOR DRIVERS OF TRANSMISSION.

THAT WAS PARTIALLY RELATED TO THE FACT THAT SCHOOLS HAD ALL GONE VIRTUAL AND EVERYBODY WAS BEING CAREFUL AND MITIGATING AND KIDS WERE BEING KEPT IN BUBBLES.

WHAT WE STARTED TO REALIZE IS THAT AS WE'VE OPENED THINGS UP AND KIDS ARE MORE ENGAGED WITH OTHERS, THAT THEY CERTAINLY CAN BE INFECTED.

WHILE THEY STILL DON'T SEEM TO DO POORLY WITH THE INFECTION, THEY CAN TRANSMIT TO OTHERS AND CAN CAUSE SMALL OUTBREAKS AND TRANSMISSION WITHIN THEIR PEER GROUPS, BUT ALSO BACK INTO THEIR FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES.

IF WE WANT TO GET RID OF THIS, WE NEED HERD IMMUNITY ACROSS ALL AGE GROUPS AND NOT HAVE A RESERVOIR OF VULNERABLES CIRCULATING THE DISEASE.

>> I UNDERSTAND TRIALS WITH YOUNG CHILDREN ARE WELL UNDERWAY.

WHEN MIGHT WE BE EXPECT TO BE CLEARED FOR USE OF THOSE?

>> THEY'RE DOING THESE IN A STEP-WISE MANNER.

THEY FIFTEEN FINISHED UP TO THE 12 TO 15-YEAR-OLDS.

APPROVAL SHOULD BE SOMETIME IN EARLY SUMMER.

AND THEN THEY'RE GRADUALLY WORKING THEIR WAY INTO THE SIX TO 11-YEAR-OLDS AND THREE TO FIVE-YEAR-OLDS AND FINALLY THE SIX MONTH OLDS TO TWO YEEFERLDS.

THOSE GROUPS WILL BE MORE TOWARD THE END OF 2021.

YOUNGEST KIDS IN EARLY 2022.

>> PFIZER VACCINE IS CLEARED FOR 16 AND OLDER NOW.

HOW IMPORTANT IS IT FOR THAT AGE GROUP TO GET VACCINATED?

>> I THINK WHILE THERE IS VACCINE AVAILABLE AND WHILE PEOPLE HAVE THE CAPACITY TO ACCOMMODATE THOSE GROUPS, IT'S IMPORTANT TO START VAKS NAILING AS MANY OF THOSE PEOPLE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

THE GOAL SHOULD BE IF WE CAN GET THROUGH MOST OF THOSE GROUPS IN TIMES THAT WHEN THE UAU FOR PFIZER AMENDMENT, THAT WILL BE THE NEXT GROUP WE CAN TACKLE.

WE WANT TO AVOID BOTTLENECKS WHERE A LARGE GROUP OF PEOPLE ARE ELIGIBLE AND OTHER PEOPLE ARE STRAGGLING ALONG.

YOUNG ADULTS NEED TO GET MOVING AND GET THEMSELVES IMMUNIZED AND THEN THE 16 AND 17-YEAR-OLDS, SO WE CAN CLEAR THE CAPACITY SO WHEN 12 TO 15-YEAR-OLDS ARE APPROVED, WE CAN GET THEM MOVING OVER THE SUMMER.

>> SO WISCONSIN IS AT JUST MORE THAN 25% FULLY VACCINATED.

ARE WE WINNING THIS RACE AGAINST THE VARIANTS?

>> YEAH.

IT'S OPTIMISTIC, BUT THERE'S STILL A LITTLE TOUCHINESS OVER THESE NESKS NEXT FEW MONTHS.

THE VARIANTS ARE SURROUNDING US.

WE'RE STARTING TO SEE TRANSMISSION IN VARIOUS AREAS AROUND WISCONSIN.

WE DO NEED TO BE AGGRESSIVE ABOUT GETTING MORE OF THE POPULATION IMMUNIZED AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

WHILE WE'RE IN THIS RAMP-UP, WE NEED PEOPLE TO BUCKLE DOWN AND BE PATIENT SO WE DON'T SEE MUCH MORE SPRID.

WE'VE BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL IN OLDER INDIVIDUALS IN WIFS, ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL STATES IN THAT GROUP.

WE HAVE PROABLGHTED PROTECTED THE MOST VULNERABLE.

BUT NOW WE NEED BUY-IN.

WE ARE STARTING TO SEE A BUMP-UP IN HOSPITALIZATIONS.

THESE NEXT TWO MONTHS ARE CRITICAL.

>> WE WILL BE WATCHING.

DR. CONWAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> THAT IS OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT.

FOR ONGOING COVERAGE, GO TO pbswisconsin.org AND CLICK ON THE NEWS PAGE.

I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.

HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.

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