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

>> STATE LAWMAKERS THIS WEEK TURN THEIR SIGHTS TO HOW PEOPLE CAN VOTE AND COME UP WITH A RAFT OF BILLS THAT WOULD CHANGE HOW ELECTIONS ARE RUN IN WISCONSIN.

REPUBLICANS SAY IT'S ABOUT BALLOT INTEGRITY.

DEMOCRATS SAY IT'S ABOUT VOTER SUPPRESSION.

I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.

TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW," NEW BILLS AT THE STATE CAPITOL WOULD CHANGE HOW WISCONSIN ELECTIONS ARE RUN.

COVID-19, MAKING SURE VACCINE GETS TO PEOPLE IN ALL COMMUNITIES.

AND LATER, AN INTERVIEW WITH SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT CANDIDATE JILL UNDERLY.

IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR FEBRUARY 26.

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

>> SENATE REPUBLICANS UNVEIL THE PACKAGE OF TEN BILLS THIS WEEK THAT WOULD MODIFY HOW THE WISCONSIN VOTE IS TAKEN.

THE MEASURES RANGE FROM A PROPOSAL THAT WOULD CHANGE HOW ABSENTEE BALLOTS CAN BE GATHERED TO A WILL THAT WOULD REEF REDEFINE WHO VOTERS WHO ARE INDEFINITELY CONFINED.

THESE VOTERS CAST THEIR BALLOT BY MAIL BECAUSE OF AGE, DISABILITY OR OTHER PHYSICAL BARRIERS.

CURRENTLY THEY CAN HAVE A WITNESS SIGN THEIR BALLOT AS PROOF OF IDENTITY, NO PHOTO I.D.

REQUIRED.

UNDER THE PROPOSED LAW I.D.

EXEMPTLE SHON FOR INDEFINITELY-CONFINED VOTERS WOULD BE ELIMINATED.

THESE VOTES WOULD HAVE TO SWEAR UNDER OATH THAT THEY ARE INDEFINITELY CONFINED.

VOTERS IN THIS CATEGORY UNDER THE AGE OF 65 WOULD HAVE A PROVIDE A HEALTH PROVIDER'S DOCUMENTATION OF CONFINEMENT STATUS.

THE MEASURE WOULD ELIMINATE THE INDEFINITELY-CONFINED STATUS OF VOTERS WHO ENROLLED AS SUCH BETWEEN MARCH 12 AND NOVEMBER 6 OF LAST YEAR.

REPUBLICAN SENATOR KATHY BERNIER IS THE CHAIR OF THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON ELECTIONS AND SHE JOINS US NOW FROM THE VILLAGE OF LAKE HALLIE IN CHIPPEWA COUNTY AND THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

>> IT IS MY PLEASURE.

THANK YOU.

>> SO THE INDEFINITELY CONFINED PROPOSALS REALLY CLAMP DOWN ON RULES IN PLACE LAST NOVEMBER.

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT'S NECESSARY?

>> WELL, I DON'T AGREE WITH 100% OF THE BILLS THAT CAME OUT IN ALL THE DETAIL INVOLVED IN IT, SO I DID HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH SENATOR STROEBEL, DARLING AND ALL OF OUR STAFF GOT TOGETHER AND I SAID I HAVE SOME CONCERNS.

I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE DISABLED, DISABILITY COMMUNITY AND THEIR ADVOCATES TO COME UP WITH SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE AND EASY TO NAVIGATE FOR THE PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.

AND THAT IS WHAT THAT PROVISION REALLY WAS CREATED FOR.

IT WAS NOT CREATED FOR ABLE-BODIED INDIVIDUALS WHO CAN GO OUT SHOPPING OR CAMPAIGNING OR WHATEVER TO USE INDEFINITELY CONFINED.

AND SO WHAT PRECIPITATED IT IS THERE WERE INDIVIDUALS WHO ABUSED THAT PRIVILEGE THAT WAS REALLY DESIGNED FOR THE DISABLED AND ELDERLY.

>> WELL, LET ME ASK YOU WHAT PROBLEMS YOU HAVE WITH IT THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE CHANGED.

>> WELL, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE ABLE TO LEAVE THEIR HOME AS DESIRED DON'T HAVE THAT OPTION, BECAUSE, ONCE AGAIN, WHEN YOU HAVE ABSENTEE VOTING, THAT IS THE AREA WHICH IS EASIER TO ABUSE.

AND SO IT IS INTENDED FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE ACTUALLY INCAPABLE OF GETTING OUT OF THEIR HOMES AS DESIRED.

>> RIGHT, BUT -- >> AND THAT DIDN'T INCLUDE -- THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE ME OR SOMEONE LIKE ME.

>> SURE.

BUT DID YOU SAY THAT YOU HAD ISSUES WITH THE WAY THE DRAFT OF THE PROPOSED LAW LOOKS RIGHT NOW, WITH SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE JUST LAID OUT?

OR DUE LIKE IT DO YOU LIKE IT THE WAY IT STANDS?

>> I DO NOT LIKE IT THE WAY IT STANDS.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME CHANGES.

>> LIKE WHAT?

>> I WOULD LIKE TO SEE WHERE THE WITNESS AND AFFIDAVIT -- AN AFFIDAVIT IS AN OATH SO ESSENTIALLY THEY SIGNED THAT SAYING THEY ARE UNABLE TO LEAVE THEIR HOME AS DESIRED, AND SO THAT IS CLEAR.

AND TO REQUIRE MEDICAL INFORMATION IS NOT REASONABLE.

I'M NOT EVEN SURE HIPPA WOULD ALLOW FOR THAT OR WE CAN REQUIRE THAT.

SO WE WANT IT TO HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY FOR THE INDIVIDUALS WHO NEED IT, BUT WE DON'T WANT THE IT ABUSED IT ABUSED BY OAMPLETS I USE OTHERS.

PARKING IN A DISABLED PARKING SPOT IS NOT MY RIEFT.

I AM NOT DISABLED.

I WILL PAY A FINE FOR T. THE SAME PROVIDES FOR THIS PROVISION IN THE LAW.

>> SO SENATOR STROEBEL LISTENING TO YOUR CONCERNS AND DO YOU EXPECT THEN THERE TO BE MODIFICATIONS?

>> YES.

HE RECOGNIZED THAT MANY OF THESE PROPOSALS WILL HAVE CHANGES MADE TO THEM.

HE RECOGNIZED THAT.

>> BECAUSE THE BILL AS IT STANDS NOW WOULD CLARIFY IN STATE LAW THAT A PANDEMIC CANNOT BE USED TO APPLY FOR INDEFINITELY CONFINED STATUS.

IN YOUR MIND IS THAT WHAT CAUSED THE NUMBER OF SUCH VOTERS TO INCREASE BY NEARLY 150,000 IN THE NOVEMBER ELECTION COMPARED TO 2016?

>> IT DIDN'T INTUITIVETY INTUITIVELY CAUSE THAT.

IT IS TWO COUNTY CLERKS THAT TOOK IT UPON THEMSELF TO INTERPRET STATE LAW AS THEY SO CHOOSE, WHICH I BELIEVE THE SUPREME COURT -- OR I KNOW THE SUPREME COURT DID SEND A MESSAGE TO THE COUNTY CLERK IN DANE COUNTY THAT HE HAS NO AUTHORITY TO DO THAT.

AND I SHARE THAT OPINION WITH SCOTT McDONALD, THAT COUNTY CLERKS DO NOT INTERPRET THE LAW OR PROVIDE GUIDANCE.

THAT IS WHY WE HAVE THE WISCONSIN ELECTION COMMISSION.

SO THAT IS I BELIEVE WHAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM IN THE FIRST PLACE.

>> NOW, YOU WERE A LONG-TIME ELECTION CLERK IN CHIPPEWA COUNTY.

DO YOU THINK THE VOLUME OF ABSENTEE BALLOTS OF ALL KIND RESULTED IN VOTER FRAUD IN WISCONSIN THAT FLIPPED THE ELECTION TO JOE BIDEN?

>> NO.

I DO BELIEVE WE HAVE A MIGHT A HIGHER PERCENTAGE OF VOTER FRAUD, THAT WE WILL HAVE A HIGHER NUMBER, BUT I HAVE TOLD LOTS ON LOTS OF CONSERVATIVES STRAIGHT UP THAT WE DO NOT HAVE 20,000 VOTER FRAUD CASES IN THE STATE OF WISCONSIN.

I AM CONFIDENT OF THAT.

BUT I ALSO POINT OUT THAT INDIVIDUALS WHO THINK THAT WE NEED NOT TWEAK OUR ELECTION LAWS, WE DID IN 2016 WITH THE ACCUSATIONS FROM DEMOCRATS THAT RUSSIANS HACKED OUR ELECTIONS AND WE DEALT WITH HOMELAND SECURITY AND WE ADDED MORE IN CRYP SHON AND DOUBLE AUTHENTICATION FROM THE CLERKS WHEN THEY'RE IN THE SYSTEM.

SO WE REACTED TO THOSE ACCUSATIONS, JUST AS WE'RE GOING TO REACT TO ACCUSATIONS MADE DURING THIS ELECTION.

>> WELL, WE WILL WAIT TO SEE WHAT THOSE MODIFICATIONS LOOK LIKE.

SENATOR, THANKS VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>> YOU ARE WELCOME.

THANK YOU.

>> DEMOCRATS AT THE STATE CAPITOL WERE JOINED IN OPPOSITION TO THE BILL BY GROUPS SUCH AS DISABILITY RIGHTS WISCONSIN.

THE MILWAUKEE OFFICE DIRECTOR OF THAT GROUP IS BARBARA BECKERT, WHO JOINS US NOW FROM MILWAUKEE AND THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE GLMENT THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.

>> SO WHAT IS YOUR OR OR AUL OVERALL REACTION TO THE PROPOSAL >> WE WANT TO WORK WITH POLICYMAKERS TO ADDRESS BARRIERS TO VOTING AND PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF VOTERS AND ALSO ENSURE WE HAVE SECURE ELECTIONS.

AND WE AGREE THAT THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVEMENT.

>> OF THE PRONGS OF IT, CLIEWFDING INCLUDING REQUIRING A DOCTOR'S SIGNATURE FOR VOTERS UNDER 65, WHICH PARTS OF IT STAND OUT AS PROBLEMATIC FOR YOU AND WHY?

>> WELL, THESE VOTERS WOULD BE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE STATEMENTS UNDER OATH THAT THEY ARE INDEFINITELY CONFINED.

WE'RE NOT SURE WHAT THAT MEANS, BUT WE'RE CONCERNED.

THESE ARE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE A LOT OF DIFFICULTY GETTING OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY.

DOES IT MEAN THEY WOULD HAVE TO GO TO A NOTARY?

THEY NEED TO HAVE A STATEMENT SIGNED BY A DOCTOR.

THAT'S VERY CONCERNING.

THIS IS NOT COVERED BY INSURANCE, SO IT'S VERY LIKELY THE VOTER WOULD NEED TO PAY FOR THE VISIT.

SOME PEOPLE FEEL IT'S A POLL TAX.

THESE ARE LOW-INCOME PEOPLE IN MANY CASES.

IN ADDITION, IF THE VOTER OR DOCTOR MAKES A FALSE STATEMENT IT'S A FELONY WITH A FINE AND POSSIBLE PRISON TIME.

SO I THINK IT'S VERY UNLIKELY THAT HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS WILL BE WILLING GOING OUT ON THE LINE AND SIGN THIS, ESPECIALLY SINCE IT DOES NOT DEFINE WHAT INDEFINITELY CONFINED MEANS.

>> NOW, WE ARE JUST AWFT AIR OFF THE AIR WITH SENATOR BERNIER WHO SAYS SHE TOO TAKES ISSUE WITH THOSE KINDS OF ELEMENTS IN THE PROPOSED BILL, SPECIFICALLY A DOCTOR'S SIGNATURE AND AN OATH TO SWEAR THAT YOU ARE INDEFINITELY CONFINED.

AND SHE EXPECTS THERE TO BE MODIFICATIONS TO THIS.

WHAT'S YOUR RESPONSE TO THAT?

>> YEAH.

WE'VE APPRECIATED THE DIALOGUE WITH SENATOR BERNIER.

I THINK SHE'S BEEN VERY CONCERNED ABOUT ENSURING THAT THE RIGHTS OF VOTERS WITH DISABILITIES AND OLDER ADULTS ARE HONORED.

BUT ALSO SEEING THAT THERE'S SOME OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVEMENTS IN THE WAY WE DO BUSINESS WITH OUR ELECTION SYSTEM HERE IN WISCONSIN.

AND WE WELCOME THE CHANCE FOR CONTINUING CONVERSATION.

>> SO ARE THERE ANY CHANGES TO CURRENT LAW AROUND INDEFINITELY-CONFINED VOTERS THAT YOU WOULD SUPPORT?

>> WELL, ONE THING THAT WE HAVE SEEN IS THAT THE TERM IS CONFUSING TO PEOPLE.

AT DISABILITY RIGHTS WISCONSIN, WE HAVE A VOTER ASSISTANCE HOTLINE, SO LAST YEAR, 2020, WE ASSISTED HUNDREDS OF VOTERS WITH DISABILITIES AND OLDER ADULTS WHO HAD QUESTIONS.

AND MANY OF THEM, IN OUR EXPERIENCE, THEY WANT TO FOLLOW THE LAW.

AND WHEN THEY HEAR A TERM INDEFINITELY CONFINED, IT MAKES THEM ANXIOUS BECAUSE THEY SAY, YES, I HAVE DIFFICULTY VOTING AND GOING TO MY POLLING PLACE BECAUSE OF AGE, DISABILITY OR INFIRMITY OR MEDICAL CONDITION.

HOWEVER, I DO LEAVE MY HOUSE SOMETIMES.

I, YOU KNOW, MAY BE ABLE ON A GOOD DAY TO GO TO THE GROCERY STORE.

I GO OUT FOR MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS AND SO ON.

SO DO I QUALIFY FOR INDEFINITELY CONFINED?

AND THE STATE SUPREME COURT HAS AFFIRMED THAT, THAT THIS IS UP TO THE VOTER TO DECIDE AND TO CERTIFY.

BUT I DO THINK THAT THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO FURTHER CLARIFY IT SO THAT PEOPLE ARE COMFORTABLE.

BECAUSE IN OUR EXPERIENCE, VOTERS WANT TO DO THE RIGHT THING.

SO I THINK WE CAN HELP THEM WITH THAT.

AND ALSO ENSURE THAT MUNICIPAL CLERKS HAVE A CONSISTENT UNDERSTANDING.

>> YEAH, BECAUSE IT IS TRUE THAT THE USE OF THE INDEFINITELY-CONFINED STATUS JUMPED FROM UNDER 70,000 VOTERS IN 2016 TO MORE THAN 200,000 VOTERS IN 2020.

IN YOUR ESTIMATION, WAS IT OVER-USED BY PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT IN FACT DISABLED OR CONFINED?

>> WELL, I GUESS FIRST I WOULD PUT THAT IN THE CONTEXT OF THE FACT THAT WE HAD A WORLDWIDE PANDEMIC.

SO I THINK IT'S NOT AT ALL SURPRISING THAT THE USAGE INCREASED.

AND DID SOME PEOPLE DO THIS IN AN EFFORT IN SOME WAY TO BE FRAUDULENT AND DEFRAUD THE SYSTEM?

THAT'S POSSIBLE.

I DON'T KNOW THAT.

THAT ISN'T THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE CALLED US.

YOU KNOW, WE HAD INDIVIDUALS WHO PERHAPS HAD NOT USED THAT DEFINITION BEFORE, BUT THEY WERE SCARED BECAUSE OF COVID AND THEY WANTED TO RECEIVE ABSENTEE BALLOTS FOR THE ELECTION IN 2020 AND DID NOT HAVE AN EASY WAY TO PROVIDE A PHOTO I.D.

IT'S VERY INTERESTING THAT THE DATA FROM THE ELECTION COMMISSION SHOWED THAT THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE WHO USED INDEFINITELY-CONFINED STATUS DID HAVE A PHOTO I.D.

REQUEST ON FILE OR HAD SHOWN IT IN A PAST ELECTION.

>> LIKE 80% OR SOMETHING, YEAH.

>> EXACTLY.

YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T HAVE PRIVILEGE WHERE THEY HAVE ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY OR THEY MAY NOT KNOW HOW TO UPLOAD A PHOTO I.D.

THAT'S THE CHALLENGE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

BARBARA BECKERT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANKS FOR YOUR WORK.

>> THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO BE A VOICE FOR VOTERS WITH DISABILITIES AND OLDER ADULTS.

>> IN WASHINGTON, WISCONSIN SENATOR RON JOHNSON RECEIVED CRITICISM FOR HIS STATEMENTS AT A HEARING LOOKING AT THE ATTACK ON THE U.S. CAPITOL JANUARY 6.

HE STATED HE DIDN'T THINK THE ATTACK COUNTED AS AN ARMED INSURRECTION BECAUSE SO MANY OF THE ATTACKERS WERE USING FLAGPOLES AND STICKS INSTEAD OF GUNS.

HE READ INTO THE RECORD AN ACCOUNT OF THE ATTACK BY A RIGHT-WING WRITER WHO CLAIMED SOME IN THE CROWD WERE ANTI-TRUMP PROTESTERS IN DISGUISE.

>> ALTHOUGH THE CROWD RECOMMENDED A WIDE CROSS-SECTION OF AMERICANS, SOME PEOPLE STOOD OUT.

A VERY FEW DIDN'T SHARE THE JOVIAL, FRIENDLY, EARNEST DEMEANOR OF THE GREAT MAJORITY.

SOME OBVIOUSLY DIDN'T FIT IN AND HE DESCRIBES FOUR DIFFERENT DESCRIBES OF PEOPLE: PLAIN CLOTHES MILITANTS, PROK CA TO YOURS, FAKE TRUMP PROTESTERS AND ATTACKERS.

THESE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT PROBABLY PLANNED THIS.

>> THE AUTHOR OF THE ARTICLE WROTE HE DIDN'T SEE ANY OF THE PEOPLE HE SUSPECTED OF BEING FAKE TRUMP SUPPORTERS ACTUALLY CAUSING TROUBLE.

BUT SENATOR JOHNSON DID NOT READ THAT PART OF THE ACCOUNT INTO THE RECORD.

JOHNSON WAS QUICKLY ACCUSED OF SPREADING CONSPIRACY THEORIES.

WISCONSIN'S OTHER U.S.

SENATOR TAMMY BALDWIN TWEETED A MESSAGE BLAMING THE INSURRECTION ON DONALD TRUMP SAYING EVERY MEMBER OF CONGRESS SHOULD TELL THIS TRUTH INSTEAD OF PUSHING CON CONSPIRACY THEORIES.

THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK THAT MORE GROUPS WILL BE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE THE COVID-19 VACCINE BEGINNING MARCH 1.

THIS AS AS ACCESS TO THE VACCINE IS LEAVING COMMUNITIES OF COLOR SQUEEZED OUT OF ALLOCATIONS.

DR. ZENO FRANCO WITH THE MEDICAL COLLEGE OF WISCONSIN HAS THESE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CREATING GREATER ACCESS AND TRUST TO DISTRIBUTE THE VACCINE IN MILWAUKEE.

>> WELL, I THINK SOME VERY SIMPLE SOLUTIONS CAN GO A LONG WAY.

ONE, WE REALLY NEED TO HAVE VACCINATORS OF COLOR AT EVERY VACCINE LOCATION, RIGHT?

SO THAT PEOPLE CLEARLY CAN TRUST THE SITUATION.

THEY CAN TALK TO SOMEBODY FROM THEIR OWN CULTURE WHO'S TAKEN THE VACCINE.

IF THEY HAVE QUESTIONS THEY FEEL COMFORTABLE IN ASKING.

AGAIN, IT'S VERY, VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE MOVE FROM CENTRALIZED DISTRIBUTION TO THE COMMUNITY CLINIC MODEL.

BUT EVEN MORE THAN THAT, MAYBE TO MOBILE VACCINE CLINICS THAT ARE GOING BLOCK BY BLOCK IN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR SO IF SOMEBODY DOESN'T HAVE ACCESS THEY CAN GET THE VACCINE.

WE NEED TO SLOW DOWN, RIGHT?

AND THIS IS FOR ALL THE INSTITUTIONS IN THE REGION, THE BIG AGENCIES, SLOW DOWN, HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH THE COMMUNITY.

WHAT ARE YOUR WORRIES?

YOU KNOW, IT'S EASY FOR ME TO SAY IT'S NOT GOING TO CHANGE YOUR GENES,IT'S NOT GOING TO TURN YOU INTO A ZOMBIE, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE STERILIZED BY THIS, BUT THOSE ARE GENUINE WORRIES FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS RIGHT HERE IN MILWAUKEE.

AND IT'S REALLY EASY TO GLOSS OVER THEM AND SAY THAT'S JUST DUMB, YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND THE SCIENCE.

NO, THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND THE SCIENCE, AND WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO EXPLAINT EXPLAIN IT, RIGHT, IN A WAY THAT'S EASY TO UNDERSTAND, THAT'S CONSUMABLE AND HELPS PEOPLE MAKE A DECISION ABOUT THEIR HEALTH CARE.

>> ANOTHER DECISION IMPEDING ACCESS, VACCINE TOURISM.

DHS ANNOUNCED A PARTNERSHIP WITH WALGREENS TO DISTRIBUTE THE VACCINE TO UNDER-SERVED COMMUNITIES.

HOWEVER, PEOPLE FROM OUTSIDE THE AREA CAN TAKE UP APPOINTMENTS AT NEIGHBORHOOD PHARMACIES WHERE THEY DON'T RESIDE AND THEN EXPEND THE LIMITED VACCINE SUPPLY.

DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSWOMAN GWEN MOORE SPOKE TO MARISA ABOUT THIS.

>> WHY IS THERE A LACK OF ACCESS IN YOUR DISTRICT?

>> I WOULDN'T ATTRIBUTE TOURISM TO THE ENTIRE PROBLEM?

MAYBE THE ENTIRE PROBLEM IS MANY OF MY CONSTITUENTS, PEOPLE OF COLOR, THE SYSTEM IS ALREADY BUILT UP AND DESIGNED TO PROVIDE VACCINE INADVERTENTLY TO WHITE PEOPLE, PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THE MEDICAL PROFESSION, PEOPLE WHO, YOU KNOW, AS FIRST PRIORITY, PEOPLE WHO ARE OVER 65.

THE MEDIAN AGE OF WHITE PEOPLE, THE COST OF THE BABYBOOMER GENERATION AFTER WORLD WAR II ARE WHITE.

AND SO I THINK THAT MAKES TOURISM SO MUCH MORE EGREGIOUS IS THAT THE INEQUITIES ARE ALREADY BUILT IN.

>> AND IN PARTICULAR TO VACCINE TOURISM, WHAT WERE YOU PROPOSING TO DHS AND TO WALGREENS IN ORDER TO PREVENT THAT SPECIFIC ISSUE FROM HAPPENING?

>> IF YOU ARE SAY A WALGREENS SERVING AN AREA WHERE YOU KNOW THAT THERE ARE HIGHER RATES OF PANDEMIC OR LOW-INCOME PEOPLE, IT'S VERY SIMPLE TO ASK FOR I.D.

AND ASK FOR ADDRESS, TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE MEETING THOSE CLIENTS.

BUT MORE PARTICULARLY, WE ARE ASKING WALGREENS TO USE THEIR SAME SYSTEM WHERE THEY REACH OUT TO PEOPLE TO REMIND THEM TO PICK UP REFILL PRESCRIPTIONS, PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY IN THEIR DATABASE AND LIVE WITHIN THEIR SERVICE AREA, TO REACH OUT TO THEM, JUST TO NOTIFY THEM THAT THE VACCINE IS AVAILABLE.

AND THEY WERE RECEPTIVE TO USING TECHNOLOGY THAT'S READILY AVAILABLE TO THEM.

JUST SORT OF THINKING OUT OF THE BOXMENT IT'S BOX.

IT'S VERY, VERY IMPORTANT TO PUT EXTRA INITIATIVES INTO ALL ELEMENTS OF VACCINE HESITATION, TOURISM, LACK OF AVAILABILITY TO CERTAIN COMMUNITIES BECAUSE OF AGE DIFFERENCES.

THAT'S EVEN GREATER WHEN YOU GET TO THE LATINX COMMUNITY, THAT AGE DISPARITY, AND TO REALLY CREATE A VACCINE SO THAT WE'RE NOT IN THIS HUNGER GAMES SITUATION.

>> TO SEE THE EXTENDED INTERVIEWS WITH DR. FRANK FRANCO AND U.S. REPRESENTATIVE MOORE VISIT OUR WEBSITE.

NOW TO ELECTION NEWS.

THAT'S THE GENERAL ELECTION DAY THAT WILL DETERMINE THE NEXT SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT.

LAST FRIDAY WE INTRODUCED YOU TO DEBORAH KERR.

TONIGHT, A CONVERSATION WITH HER OPPONENT JILL UNDERLY, A FORMER HIGH SCHOOL AND MIDDLE SCHOOL SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHER.

SHE'S WORKED AS A LICENSING SPECIALIST AT THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION AND FOR THE PAST SIX YEARS UNDERLY HAS SERVED AS THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE PECK CON CA SCHOOL DISTRICT.

SHE JOIFNS JOINS US NOW FROM HOLLANDALE.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> SO K-12 SCHOOLS THAT HAVEN'T REOPENED, ARE ON THE PRECIPICE OF DOING SO, WHAT ARE YOU CALLING FOR TO FULLY AND SAFELY OPEN TO IN-PERSON CLASSES?

>> YEF.

THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

I KNOW THE VALUE OF PERSONAL -- OR IN-PERSON LEARNING, I SHOULD SAY.

IT'S BETTER FOR YOUR KIDS, OUR ECONOMIES, OUR COMMUNITIES.

AND I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH TEACHERS AND SCHOOL BOARDS TO HAVE SCHOOLS OPEN.

SO WHAT WE NEED TO DO, I'M THE ONLY CANDIDATE WHO IS LEADING A SCHOOL DISTRICT DURING THE PANDEMIC.

WE REALLY NEED TO WORK TOGETHER.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S BUY-IN FROM THE TEACHERS, PARENTS AND THE BOARD AS FAR AS REOPENING PLANS.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR TEACHERS GET VACCINATED.

>> WHAT'S YOUR RESPONSE TO GOVERNOR EVERS' BUDGET AND HIS PROPOSALS FOR A MAJOR BOOST IN K-12 FUNDING, CALLING FOR AN INCREASE OF $1.6 BILLION OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THAT?

>> YEAH.

I THINK IT'S GREAT.

I HAVE A GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH GOVERNOR EVERS.

I THINK THAT INVESTMENT IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS REALLY NEEDED.

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT INEQUITIES AND BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, WE CERTAINLY HAVE HAD A LOT OF FINANCIAL STRUGGLES.

YOU KNOW, ALSO WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBER OF SCHOOLS THAT ARE GOING TO REFERENDUM ON THE BALLOT, YOU KNOW THAT WE NEED THE FUNDING IN ORDER TO KEEP OUR SCHOOLS OPEN AND INVEST IN SAFETY MEASURES AS WELL.

>> SO THE BUDGET ALSO CALLS FOR CAPS ON PRIVATE SCHOOL, STATE-FUNDED VOUCHERS.

WHERE DO YOU STAND ON THAT?

>> I'M 100% PRO PUBLIC SCHOOLS, SO I SUPPORT THE CAP.

RIGHT NOW WE SPEND $380 MILLION PER YEAR ON PRIVATE SCHOOL VOUCHERS AND THAT'S MONEY THAT SHOULD BE IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

>> SO ANOTHER THING THE GOVERNOR IS CALLING FOR IS ROLLING BACK PARTS OF ACT 10 TO RESTORE UNION COLLECTIVE BARGAINING RIGHTS, FOR EXAMPLE.

AS THE CANDIDATE ENDORSED BY THE STATE'S TEACHERS UNION, HOW DO YOU THINK THAT, ROLLING BACK OF ACT 10, WOULD HELP STUDENTS?

>> YEAH.

SO WHEN I LOOK AT ACT 10, HERE WE ARE TEN YEARS OUT, AND I THOUGHT ABOUT WE'RE NOT IN ANY BETTER SHAPE THAN WHEN ACT 10 HAPPENED.

OUR BUDGETS ARE STILL BROKEN.

WE'VE ALSO NOW DESTROYED OUR PIPELINE TO THE TEACHING PROFESSION.

WE STRUGGLE RECRUITING AND RETAINING TEACHERS.

ACT 10 CERTAINLY MADE IT AN UNDESIRABLE PROFESSION.

SO I WOULD SUPPORT GOVERNOR EVERS' ROLLBACK OF ACT 10 BECAUSE WHAT IT WILL MEAN IS IF WE CAN PROFESSIONALIZE THE PROFESSION AGAIN, THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO DO.

>> AND THIS IS A BIG QUESTION, BUT WHAT IS YOUR PLAN FOR NARROWING OR ELIMINATING THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP BETWEEN STUDENTS OF COLOR AND WHITE STUDENTS?

>> YEAH.

YOU KNOW, ACHIEVEMENT GAP IS PRETTY MUCH THE POPULAR WORD STATEWIDE, BUT I LIKE TO CALL THEM OPPORTUNITY GAPS, BECAUSE WHEN WE TALK THEM ABOUT BEING ACHIEVEMENT GAPS WE'RE PUTTING THE ONUS ON THE KIDS.

IT'S A COMBINATION OF A LOT OF THINGS THAT THE KIDS HAVE NO CONTROL OVER, LAWS AND POLICIES AND PRACTICES.

REALLY WHAT WE FIND IS THE WELL-RESOURCED SCHOOLS HAVE THE MOST OPPORTUNITIES FOR THOSE KIDS AND THOSE KIDS ARE MORE LIKELY TO DO BETTER IN SCHOOL.

EARLY CHILDHOOD EXPANSION, BRINGING THAT OPPORTUNITY TO KIDS, RECRUITING AND RETAINING PASSIONATE EDUCATORS FOR OUR KIDS, EXPANDING MENTAL HEALTH ACCESS AND FIXING OUR BROKEN FUNDING FORMULA.

>> AND YET MANY OF THESE KINDS OF IDEAS HAVE BEEN IN FORCE FOR A WHILE AND THESE GAPS ARE SO ENDURING.

WHAT ABOUT THAT?

>> YEAH.

I THINK, THOUGH, THAT A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT I HAVE BEEN PROPOSING ARE RESEARCH-BASED AND THEY HAVEN'T BEEN IN PLACE FOR A WHILE.

RIGHT NOW EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION IS ONLY REIMBURSED AT 60%.

WE NEED TO EXPAND ACCESS FOR ALL KIDS SO THAT EVERY KID, NO MATTER THEIR ZIP CODE, HAS ACCESS TO A HIGH- HIGH-QUALITY PRESCHOOL PROGRAM.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT TEACHER RETENTION, THE HIGHEST POVERTY SCHOOLS OFTEN HAVE THE LEAST EXPERIENCED TEACHERS BECAUSE WHEN TEACHERS GET MORE EXPERIENCE, THEY OFTEN GO TO WELL-RESOURCED SCHOOLS WHERE THEY CAN EARN MORE MONEY.

IT'S RURAL SCHOOLS, TOO.

WE LOOK AT MENTAL HEALTH, THERE'S A SHORTAGE OF PROVIDERS IN THE STATE.

AND PREPANDEMIC IT WAS AN EPIDEMIC.

POST-PANDEMIC WE NEED TO GET MENTAL HEALTH AID TO OUR KIDS.

THESE IDEAS ARE PROVEN TO WORK.

SO GETTING THE FUNDING TO THE KIDS IS MY HIGHEST PRIORITY.

>> JILL UNDERLY, THANK YOU JUROR FOR JOINING US.

>> MY PLEASURE.

>> YOU CAN FIND MORE BY GOING TO wisconsinvote.org AND THAT IS OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT.

I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.

HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.

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