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

>> YOU'RE WATCHING "HERE AND "HD NOW" 2024 ELECTION COVERAGE.

A WEEK OF BLUSTER AT THE CAPITOL HAS FURTHER FRACTURED REPUBLICANS ON IMMIGRATION AND AID FOR UKRAINE.

AND GOVERNOR TONY EVERS TELLS EAU CLAIRE THE STARTLING AND SUDDEN CLOSURE OF CHIPPEWA VALLEY HOSPITALS AND CLINICS IS WRONG.

I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.

TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW" WE HEAR FROM WISCONSIN SENATORS ON BORDER SECURITY AND FUNDING FOR UKRAINE.

AND PART TWO OF A STORY ON THE INFLUX OF IMMIGRANTS TO A SMALL WISCONSIN CITY.

CHARLES FRANKLIN TAKES THE TEMPERATURE OF INVENTORIES ON PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES AND ENTHUSIASM FOR NOVEMBER.

AND FINALLY, THE STATE OF RURAL HEALTHCARE CAN AND WHAT DECLINING ACCESS MEANS FOR MILLIONS.

IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR FEBRUARY 9.

>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR >> THE ISSUE OF IMMIGRATION REFORM HAS EXPLODED IN THE U.S. REFORM HAS EXPLODED IN THE U.S. WITH A CRUSH OF MIGRANTS ENTERING AT THE SOUTHWEST BORDER.

SECURING THE BORDER IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE, ACCORDING TO REPUBLICANS IN CONGRESS, BUT THIS WEEK, THE BIPARTISAN DEAL THAT INCLUDED AID TO UKRAINE AND ISRAEL PAIRED WITH IMMIGRATION REFORM MEASURES COLLAPSED IN THE U.S. SENATE.

AMONG LEADING REPUBLICANS OPPOSED TO THE FOREIGN AID BORDER SECURITY PACKAGE, WISCONSIN U.S.

SENATOR RON JOHNSON, WHO JOINS US NOW.

SENATOR, THANKS THANK YOU VERY >> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME ON.

>> WHAT IS YOUR OPPOSITION TO THE BIPARTISAN BORDER SECURITY DEAL THAT IS NOW EFFECTIVELY DEAD?

>> IT MADE MATTERS WORSE.

LET ME EXPLAIN THAT.

WHEN WE WENT INTO THESE NEGOTIATIONS, WHICH I DON'T THINK EVER SHOULD HAVE BEEN SECRET, SHOULD HAVE BEEN PUBLIC, WHAT WE WERE ASKING FOR IS LET'S USE THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION'S DESIRE FOR UKRAINE FUNDING AS LEVERAGE TO FORCE PRESIDENT BIDEN TO SECURE THE BORDER.

HE OPENED IT UP.

HE WANTS AN OPEN BORDER.

HIS DEMOCRATIC COLLEAGUES IN CONGRESS WANT AN OPEN BORDER, AND I DON'T BELIEVE THEY'RE NEGOTIATING IN GOOD FAITH, BUT WE WEREN'T LOOKING FOR A MASSIVE IMMIGRATION BILL.

WE WERE JUST LOOKING FOR SIMPLE METRICS.

FUNDS SPECIFICALLY TO BENCHMARKS THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO MEET TO HAVE THE MONEY FLOW, AND I THINK WE WERE ALL SHOCKED AT WHAT WAS PRODUCED, BUT AGAIN, MANY, MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS BILL, BUT THE BIGGEST ONE WAS PRESIDENTS ALREADY HAVE THE POWER TO SECURE THE BORDER.

TRUMP DID IT.

BIDEN USED THAT SAME AUTHORITY TO OPEN UP THE BORDER.

HE HAS THE EXECUTIVE AUTHORITY.

HE HAS REPUBLICANS IN CONGRESS, THAT IF THE COURTS INTERVENE, THAT WE'LL DO ANYTHING WE CAN TO PASS MEASURES TO OVERRULE THOSE COURTS.

THIS BILL, BY CREATING DISCRETIONARY AUTHORITY TO STOP PROCESSING ASYLUM CLAIMS AT 4,000, NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU'RE SAYING THE PRESIDENT REALLY DOESN'T HAVE THAT AUTHORITY BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO CODIFY THAT DISCRETION AND THAT ABILITY WOULD RUN OUT AFTER THREE YEARS.

SO YOU WOULD ACTUALLY HAMPR A FUTURE PRESIDENT'S ABILITY TO SECURE THE BORDER BEFORE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE A DAY ON AVERAGE WOULD COME INTO THE BORDER.

AND BY THE WAY, THIS WOULD NORMALIZE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE A DAY, WHICH IS JUST SIMPLY UNACCEPTABLE.

NOTHING IN THIS RECORD?

>> NOT IN THIS CASE, NO, BECAUSE IT WOULD ACTUALLY TAKE AWAY PRESIDENTIAL AUTHORITY FROM A PRESIDENT WHO WANTS TO SECURE THE BORDER, IT WOULD CODIFY OPEN BORDER POLICIES OF THIS ADMINISTRATION.

SO, AGAIN, I'M SORRY TO SAY THAT.

WOULD NOT ONLY VOTE FOR IT, I WOULD PROMOTE A BILL THAT WOULD SECURE THE BORDER AND PROVIDE SUPPORT TO THE UKRAINIAN PEOPLE, BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT WE GOT.

>> CAN THERE BE NO NEGOTIATION?

>> WELL, IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A PRETTY SIMPLE NEGOTIATION.

THE PRESIDENT NOW REALIZES, BECAUSE MAYOR ADAMS, THE MAYOR OF CHICAGO, ARE TALKING ABOUT THE FRACTION OF THE 6 MILLION PEOPLE THAT BIDEN ADMINISTRATION LET IN TO DESTROY THE CITIES, SO NOW THAT YOU'RE FINDING OUT FROM THE STANDPOINT OF POLITICS, WE BETTER DO SOMETHING.

SO NOW WE'RE SAYING THEY WANT TO SECURE THE BORDER.

WE'RE HAPPY TO WORK WITH THEM.

IT'S NOT ABOUT PROVIDING BILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR SANCTUARY CITIES.

IT'S NOT ABOUT PROVIDING MORE LEVELS OF VISAS AND WORK PERMITS AND PRETTY WELL LEGALIZING THE ABUSE OF THE PRO AUTHORITY.

THERE'S SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS BILL.

BEEFING UP CUSTOMS AND BORDER PATROL SO THEY CAN HANDLE THOUSANDS A DAY.

THE BETTER SOLUTION THERE IS LET'S BRING IT DOWN TO A TRICKLE.

BORDER, EFFECTIVELY.

>> YES, SO WE CAN ESTABLISH AID LEGAL IMMIGRATION SYSTEM, WHICH IS WHAT I WAS WORKING WITH THE TRUMP WHITE HOUSE IN 2020.

UNFORTUNATELY, HE LOST THE ELECTION.

BORDERS, SET BACK LEGAL IMMIGRATION REFORM FOR QUITE SOME TIME.

>> WHAT DO YOU SAY TO CRITICS THAT OPPOSITION IS BECAUSE FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP WEIGHED IN AGAINST IT?

>> I COMPLETELY DISAGREE.

I CERTAINLY NEVER GOT A CALL.

THIS WASN'T OUR CONCERN.

WE LOOKED AT THE ACTUAL COMPONENTS OF THE BILL, AND SO DID A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE, TOO.

THE FACT THAT THIS BILL COLLAPSED IN UNDER 24 HOURS TELLS YOU ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW.

SENATOR MURPHY, BUT THE DEMOCRATS' CHIEF NEGOTIATORS SAID IT'S TO CLOSE TO THE BORDER.

WE HAD A SLIGHT INCREASE IN THE LIEISAI LIMB STANDARD, YET THATS THE DEMOCRAT NEGOTIATOR.

THIS BILL WOULD HAVE BEEN WORSE THAN DOING NOTHING.

IT WOULD HAVE HARMED A FUTURE PRESIDENT'S ABILITY TO SECURE THE BORDER.

THAT'S WHY WE HAD TO REJECT IT.

>> MEANWHILE, WE ARE HERE NOW AND YOU DID NOT VOTE TO ADVANCE A NOW SEPARATE FUNDING BILL FOR EMERGENCY FOREIGN AID.

WHY NOT?

>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, OUR TOP PRIORITY SHOULD BE TO SECURE OUR OWN BORDER BEFORE WE SPEND MONER NATION'S.

POINT.

BUT I'VE GOT REAL QUESTIONS ABOUT THE UKRAINE WAR.

THE ONLY WAY THIS THING ENDS IS IN A NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT.

EVERY DAY THAT GOES BY, I'M GOING TO HATE THE SETTLEMENT, BUT EVER DAY THAT GOES BY, THE MORE UKRAINIANS DIE, MORE RUSSIANS DIE.

I TAKE NO JOY IN THAT.

THESE ARE PEOPLE THAT WERE YANKED OUT OF VILLAGES.

MORE PEOPLE GET DESTROYED.

WHAT OUR ACTIONS OUGHT TO BE DIRECTED TOWARD IS BRINGING PUTIN TO THE NEGOTIATING TABLE RATHER THAN FUELING THE FLAMES OF WAR, A BLOOD STALEMATE TO THE TUNE OF $60 BILLION.

SO, AGAIN, I HAVE A FUNDAMENTAL DISAGREEMENT WITH PEOPLE ON IT TO FUEL THOSE FLAMES.

>> SO, AGAIN, YOU OPPOSE GIVING THIS EMERGENCY AID TO UKRAINE?

>> CERTAINLY WITHOUT SECURING OUR BORDER FIRST, YES.

>> SPEAKING OF THE BORDER, MIGRANTS ARE RELOCATING TO CITIES, AS YOU KNOW, BUT INCLUDING THE SMALL CITY HERE IN WISCONSIN OF WHITEWATER, WHITEWATER IS ASKING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR FINANCIAL HELP.

WHAT IS YOUR MESSAGE TO WHITEWATER OFFICIALS SEEKING THAT ASSISTANCE?

>> I MET WITH THOSE OFFICIALS.

I'M COMPLETELY SYMPATHETIC WITH THE PLIGHT THEY ARE IN CAUSED BY PRESIDENT BIDEN AND HIS DEMOCRAT ALLIES IN CONGRESS, THEIR OPEN BORDER POLICY.

IF THERE'S FEDERAL FUNDS CAN BE FLOWING TO MAKE UP FOR THEIR LOSSES, IT SHOULD COME OUT OF OTHER SPENDING.

I WOULD SUGGEST TO SOME DEGREE ENERGY BOONDOGGLES THE $400 BILLION THAT ARE GOING TO COST 1.2 TRILLION, RE-PURPOSE THOSE FUNDS.

OF THAT.

>> WE HAD LEAVE IT THERE, SENATOR RON JOHNSON.

THANKS VERY MUCH.

>> HAVE A GOOD DAY.

>> TAMMY BALDWIN WAS UNABLE TO JOIN US THIS WEEK IN SUPPORT OF THE BORDER SECURITY BILL, SHE SAID, QUOTE, THIS BIPARTISAN COMPROMISE WAS A PROMISING OPPORTUNITY TO INVEST IN HIGH TECH BORDER SECURITY, DISRUPT THE DEADLY FLOW OF FENTANYL INTO OUR COUNTRY, STREAMLINE OUR ASYLUM PROCESS AND ENSURE WISCONSIN COMMUNITIES RECEIVING MIGRANTS HAVE THE RESOURCES THEY NEED.

WEEK, WE HEARD FROM CITY OFFICIALS IN WHITEWATER WHO HOPE THE STATE GOVERNMENT WILL SOON ALLOW MIGRANTS TO EARN A DRIVER'S LICENSE.

THIS WEEK, WE TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT THE COMMUNITY IS DOING TO SUPPORT THE NEWCOMERS AND WHAT OTHER SUPPORT THE CITY MIGHT NEED.

>> IT'S ANOTHER GENERATION OF FAMILIES COMING HERE TRYING TO GET JOBS, FEED THEIR CHILDREN, GET THEIR CHILDREN THROUGH SCHOOL.

>> CONSERVATIVE ESTIMATES ASSUME ABOUT 800 TO A THOUSAND MIGRANTS FROM CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA HAVE COME TO WHITEWATER SINCE 2022, STRAINING LOCAL RESOURCES.

>> WE'RE TRYING OUR BEST.

>> Reporter: SOME OF THE MOST VULNERABLE IN THAT POPULATION ARE CHILDREN.

>> TO REALLY, HOW CAN WE ADVOCATE FOR THESE CHILDREN.

>> Reporter: MIGUEL ARANDA IS A MEMBER OF THE WHITEWATER SCHOOL BOARD AND A SECOND GENERATION IMMIGRANT FROM MEXICO.

FUNDING FOR RESOURCES TO MAKE IT A SMOOTH TRANSITION FOR A LOT OF THESE FAMILIES AND THEIR CHILDREN, THAT'S WHAT I'M GOING TO CONTINUE ADVOCATING FOR.

>> Reporter: WITH THIS NEW INFLUX OF STUDENTS, ARANDA DA SAYS THE SCHOOL DISTRICT NEEDS MORE FUNDING.

WISCONSIN CURRENTLY SITS ON A $3 BILLION BUDGET SURPLUS.

>> COMING FROM THIS STATE, I WOULD UNDERSTAND IF THERE'S NO MONEY, WE HAVE TO MAKE OUR DECISIONS, BUT TO KNOW THAT THERE'S A SURPLUS, IT ALMOST LOOKS LIKE THE MONEY IS BEING DWINDLED RIGHT IN FRONT OF OUR FACES.

PLACES IN WHITEWATER THAT HAVE ACTED AS A STOPGAP TO HELP THE NEW ARRIVALS.

>> OUR MISSION IS TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY, WHATEVER THEY ARE.

>> Reporter: CHRISTINE AND KAY ARE CO FOUNDERS OF THE COMMUNITY SPACE IN WHITEWATER.

THEIR MISSION IS TO PROVIDE EVERYTHING A PERSON MIGHT NEED, FROM BEDDING TO FURNITURE TO FOOD, ALL FOR FREE.

>> IF THEY'VE NEVER BEEN HERE BEFORE AND THEY COME IN AND SEE ALL OF THESE THINGS AND WE TELL THEM THAT THEY CAN JUST HAVE IT, THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND.

>> I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF WITNESSING SOMEBODY COMING IN, MAYBE HAVING THEIR WORST DAY AND COMING IN AND JUST NEEDING SOME SUPPORT, SOME FOOD, SOME WHATEVER, AND SEEING THEM SLOWLY RELAX AND REALIZE WE'RE NOT GOING TO ASK THEM FOR ANY PAPERS.

ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, LET US KNOW WHAT THEIR LIFE WAS LIKE.

>> THE COMMUNITY SPACE HAS BEEN ACCEPTING DONATIONS SINCE 2019, BUT HAS RAMPED UP ITS EFFORTS IN THE LAST TWO YEARS.

>> I'D CERTAINLY LIKE TO SAY THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO CRISIS.

HAVE WE HAD TO STRETCH AND ADJUST?

ABSOLUTELY.

BUT THERE IS NO CRISIS.

>> WE'VE GOTTEN SO WE CAN COMMUNITY PRETTY WELL.

WE USE OUR PHONES AND THEY WILL ALSO REACH FOR THEIR PHONE TRANSLATOR.

WEDNESDAY NIGHTS AND SATURDAYS AS A COMPLEMENT TO THE LOCAL FOOD PANTRY.

>> I CAN STAND UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROOM AND SAY IS THERE ANYONE HERE THAT'S BILINGUAL?

AND INEVITABLY, I'LL GET A 9-YEAR-OLD CHILD, WHICH IS AWESOME, AND I ALWAYS SAY TO THE CHILD, YOU KNOW, ISN'T YOUR MOTHER PROUD OF YOU?

TELL HER WE'RE PROUD OF YOU.

>> WE LIKE TO THINK HALF OF WHAT WE DO IS SHARE AND GIVE AWAY AND THE OTHER HALF IS HOW WE MAKE PEOPLE FEEL.

>> CITY OFFICIALS ARE ALSO LOOKING TO GET HELP FOR THE NEWCOMERS.

HERE IS THAT WE KNOW WE NEED RESOURCES.

POLICE IN WHITEWATER.

>> THIS IS APOLITICAL.

WE HAVE NO DOG IN THAT FIGHT.

WE SIMPLY NEED MORE STAFFING.

>> HE SAYS OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS, HIS DEPARTMENT'S WORK HAS GOTTEN MUCH MORE DIFFICULT AND TIME-CONSUMING.

BEEN DIFFICULT FOR US AS LAW ENFORCEMENT IS JUST WORKING WITH A POPULATION THAT, GENERALLY SPEAKING, IS NOT TRUSTING OF GOVERNMENT BECAUSE THEY COME FROM A PLACE WHERE THEY DON'T TRUST THEIR GOVERNMENT.

>> TO TRY AND GET SOME HELP FOR THE CITY, MEYER AND CITY OFFICIALS SENT A LETTER TO STATE AND FEDERAL OFFICIALS IN DECEMBER.

>> WE NEED MORE OFFICERS SO THAT WE CAN GET OUT AND PATROL AT THE LEVEL THAT THE COMMUNITY IS USED TO HAVING US OUT THERE.

>> BUT THE LETTER REQUESTED MORE THAN JUST A BOOST IN LAW ENFORCEMENT FUNDING.

>> THIS IS A SITUATION WHERE WE ARE A POOR DOWN THAT HAS LIMITED RESOURCES AND NOT ENOUGH SHARED REVENUE FROM THE STATE AND WE WOULD LIKE TO HELP PEOPLE MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE GETTING JOBS, YOU KNOW, SHELTER, FOOD, ALL THOSE THINGS.

>> BRIENNE BROWN IS A MEMBER OF THE WHITEWATER COMMON COUNCIL.

>> WE NEED THE LARGER PICTURE TO BE IF CONVI FOCUSED ON.

THE CITY IN THE PREPARED.

>> MEYER AND BROWN SAY THEY HAVE HEARD FROM LOCAL OFFICIALS WHO SEEM WILLING TO HELP, PLUS WISCONSIN SENATOR TAMMY BALDWIN PLANS TO SEE WHAT SHE CAN DO TO HELP BY VISITING SOON.

RON JOHNSON VISITED WITH CITY OFFICIALS BACK IN NOVEMBER.

>> SO OBVIOUSLY, PRESIDENT BIDEN, DEMOCRATS DO NOT WANT A SECURED BORDER.

>> Reporter: JOHNSON BLAMED WHAT HE CALLED A FLOOD OF MIGRANTS IN WHITEWATER ON THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION.

BUT WHILE CITY OFFICIALS LOOK WHEREVER THEY CAN FOR RESOURCES, IMMIGRANT ADVOCATES SAY THE NEW ARRIVALS SHOULD NOT BECOME POLITICAL SCAPEGOATS.

>> THERE'S A REASON WHY WE ARE HERE.

I DON'T HAVE ANY PLANS OF LEAVING WISCONSIN.

>> IT'S REALLY CONTRIBUTING TO THE VITALITY IN OUR COMMUNITY.

>> FOR "HERE AND NOW," I'M NATHAN DENZIN IN WHITEWATER.

>> AT THIS MOMENT IN TIME IN WISCONSIN, IT'S A DEAD HEAT BETWEEN JOE BIDEN AND DONALD TRUMP IN THE LATEST MARQUETTE UNIVERSITY LAW SCHOOL POLL, AND THAT'S NOT ALL THE SURVEY SHOWS.

WE TURN TO POLL DIRECTOR, CHARLES FRANKLIN, FOR MORE.

CHARLES, THANK YOU FOR BEING >> SO I WAS GOING TO TALK ABOUT THIS A LITTLE BIT LATER IN OUR DISCUSSION, BUT THE SPECIAL COUNCIL CHOOSING NOT TO CHARGE PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN OVER HIS HANDLING OF CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS ALSO CALLED HIM AN ELDERLY MAN WITH POOR MEMORY.

NOW, YOUR POLL FOUND THAT 61% OF RESPONDENTS BELIEVE BIDEN TOO OLD TO BE PRESIDENT COMPARED TO 29% FOR DONALD TRUMP.

HOW DO YOU THINK THOSE NUMBERS WOULD LOOK IF YOU WERE IN THE FIELD AFTER THIS REPORT?

>> WELL, I THINK IT WILL ONLY MOVE FURTHER IN THE -- TOO OLD TO BE PRESIDENT DESCRIBES BIDEN VERY WELL.

THAT 61% THIS TIME IS ALREADY UP FROM 55% IN NOVEMBER, AND SO I DO THINK THAT THERE'S NOT ANY EVIDENCE IN THOSE TWO MONTHS WORTH OF POLLING THAT BIDEN IS ADDRESSING THE AGE ISSUE.

NOW, TH THE AGE ISSUE HAS BEEN H HIM FOR A LONG TIME.

DONALD TRUMP IS ONLY FOUR YEARS YOUNGER AND YET FAR FEWER PEOPLE SEE HIM AS TOO OLD.

HOW DOES THE CAMPAIGN DEAL WITH THIS, GIVEN THIS REPORT AND THESE EXPLICIT EXAMPLES AND NOW, OF COURSE, EVERYBODY WATCHING FOR EVERY TIME BIDEN MISSPEAKS.

>> MEANWHILE, WHEN YOU WERE IN THE FIELD, YOUR POLL SHOWED A DEAD HEAT WITH JOE BIDEN AT 49% AND DONALD TRUMP AT 49% AMONG REGISTERED VOTERS, BUT THIRD-PARTY VOTERS POLLED WAY HIGHER WAY HIGHER THAN NORMAL WITH RFK, JR.

SEEING 16%.

WHOSE VOTES IS HE SIPHONING OFF?

>> WELL, IT'S INTERESTING.

SO WHEN WE JUST MAKE IT HEAD TO HEAD, IT'S A DEAD TIE.

WHEN WE GIVE FIVE CANDIDATES AS THE CHOICE, KENNEDY AT 16 IS TAKING A LITTLE MORE ACTUALLY FROM REPUBLICAN VOTERS THAN FROM DEMOCRATIC VOTERS.

BUT JILL STEIN, THE GREEN PARTY CANDIDATE, TAKES 8% FROM DEMOCRATS AND ONLY 1% FROM REPUBLICANS.

POINT OR TWO FROM EITHER PARTY.

SO YOU'VE GOT TO PUT THAT INTO PERSPECTIVE THAT IN 2016, WE HAD A RECENT HIGH WATERMARK FOR 30-PARTY VOTES HERE IN WISCONSIN, AND THAT WAS ONLY 5-1/2%.

SO THE IDEA THAT WE WOULD SEE A THIRD-PARTY VOTE TOTALLING 20% OR SO SEEMS UNLIKELY COME THE FALL.

BUT IT DOES REFLECT THE DISSATISFACTION WITH BOTH OF THE TOP PARTY CANDIDATES.

WE FOUND 18% SAID THEY HAD AN UNFAVORABLE VIEW OF BOTH BIDEN AND OF TRUMP.

HOW DO THOSE 18% SHAKE OUT OVER THE YEAR?

>> THERE IS ANOTHER MATCH-UP THAT'S SUPER INTERESTING AND KIND OF SPEAKS TO THIS AND THAT IS THE BIDEN HALEY MATCH-UP.

HALEY GETTING 57% TO BRAZ BIDEN.

WHAT DOES THAT SAY ABOUT BIDEN, HALEY AND TRUMP?

>> I THINK IT'S AN IMPORTANT INDICATION THAT BIDEN AND TRUMP BOTH HAVE SERIOUS DISADVANTAGES, AND WHEN YOU PUT THEM HEAD TO HEAD, YOU COME UP WITH A TIE, BUT WHEN IT'S BIDEN VERSUS HALEY, WHO STILL REALLY IS NOT VERY WELL KNOWN IN THE STATE, BIDEN'S LIABILITIES STAND OUT.

HIS 41% AGAINST HALEY IS THE SAME AS HIS JOB APPROVAL NUMBER.

AND SO THAT'S JUST A GOOD EXAMPLE THAT A CANDIDATE WITHOUT TRUMP'S BAGGAGE COULD AT LEAST HYPOTHETICAL DO MUCH BETTER TO EXPLOIT BIDEN'S WEAKNESSES, BUT JUST AS BIDEN HAS THIS TOO OLD TO BE PRESIDENT, 53% SAY TRUMP COMMITTED ILLEGAL ACTS AFTER THE ELECTION IN 2020.

SO THERE'S THE FLIP SIDE OF WHO HAS GOT REAL PROBLEMS.

>> SO AND THAT MIGHT SAY SOMETHING, TOO, ABOUT VOTER ENTHUSIASM.

IN THAT REGARD, 49% OF YOUR RESPONDENTS SAY THEY ARE VERY ENTHUSIASTIC TO VOTE COMPARED TO 70% IN 2020.

>> IT'S DRAMATICALLY DIFFERENT AND THAT 2020 IS FROM JANUARY 2020 AS WELL.

IT'S NOT LATE IN THE CAMPAIGN.

IT'S THE SAME MONTH.

AND ALSO RIGHT BEFORE COVID HIT, SO IT'S BEFORE THE COVID EFFECTS, IF ANY.

YOU KNOW, AGAIN, I SEE THAT BOTH BIDEN AND TRUMP ARE SEEN MORE UNFAVORABLABLY THAN FAVORABLY.

EACH OF THEM HAS THESE DIFFICULTIES.

VERY ENTHUSIASTIC GOES HEAVILY FOR DONALD TRUMP.

IT'S THE LESS THAN VERY ENTHUSIASTIC, SOMEWHAT, NOT AT ALL.

BIDEN WINS EACH OF THOSE GROUPS VERY SUBSTANTIALLY AS WELL.

AND YET DESPITE THAT, THEY'RE TIED WHEN YOU PUSH PEOPLE TO WHO YOU'LL VOTE FOR.

THE CHALLENGE FOR THE DEMOCRATS IS HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH THOSE LESS ENTHUSIASTIC PEOPLE THAT LIKE -- THAT ARE DISAPPOINTED WITH BIDEN BUT LIKE TRUMP NOT MUCH AT ALL?

CAN YOU MOBILIZE THEM AND GET THEM TO THE POLLS?

OR ARE THOSE EXACTLY THE PEOPLE THAT MAY SAY, MEH, NOT GOOD ENOUGH, I'LL VOTE THIRD-PARTY THIS YEAR.

NINE MONTHS TO GO TO SETTLE THAT QUESTION.

>> SO AS TO GOVERNOR TONY EVERS IN WISCONSIN COMING BACK STATE-SIDE, HIS APPROVAL IS RIGHT SIDE UP WITH 51% APPROVING OF HIS JOB PERFORMANCE AND 44% DISAPPROVING.

>> IT'S NOT BAD AT ALL.

IT'S DOWN JUST SLIGHTLY FROM NOVEMBER, BUT UP A BIT FROM THE ELECTION IN THE FALL OF 2022.

HE'S DOING PRETTY WELL.

HE'S GENERALLY BEEN ABOVE WATER ON THAT APPROVAL MEASURE HERE IN THE STATE.

>> WHICH SEEMS INTERESTING TO ME GIVEN HOW MUCH KIND OF DISCORD THERE IS.

>> WELL, THERE'S STILL PLENTY OF DISCORD.

FROM NOVEMBER TO JANUARY, THE PERCENT OF PEOPLE SAYING THE STATE'S HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION HAS BUMPED UP SIGNIFICANTLY, AND THE PERCENT ECONOMY IS GETTING BETTER OR IS NOT AS BAD AS THEY SAW IT IN NOVEMBER, THAT'S ALSO ABOUT 10 POINTS HIGHER THAN NOVEMBER.

AND FINALLY, WISCONSIN'S ECONOMY IS SEEN AS EVEN BETTER THAN THE NATIONAL ECONOMY.

>> GOOD NEWS FOR US.

CHARLES FRANKLIN, THANKS VERY MUCH.

>> GOVERNOR TONY EVERS VISITED EAU CLAIRE THIS WEEK WHERE THE COMMUNITY IS STILL REELING FROM LATE NOTICE ABOUT CLOSURES OF TWO HOSPITALS AND 19 CLINICS.

THE GOVERNOR SAID HE WAS DISAPPOINTED WITH THE HOSPITAL SISTERS HEALTH SYSTEM'S LACK OF NOTIFICATIONS AND HOW IT WAS HANDLED WAS WRONG.

IN AN INTERVIEW, LOCAL REPRESENTATIVE KAREN HURD SHARED HER CONCERNS.

>> AS FAR AS THE IMPACT, I CONSIDER THIS TO BE HUGE.

NOT AS BIG AS THE MAUI FIRES, BUT CERTAINLY BIGGER THAN THE EAST PALESTINE-OHIO TRAIN DERAILMENT WHERE THEY HAD THE BIG CHEMICAL STILL.

IT'S BIGGER THAN THAT.

I SEE IT AS BIGGER THAN THAT.

THIS PEOPLE ARE -- I SEE THAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO DIE, BUT I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT THE STATE REPRESENTATIVES FOR THE CHIPPEWA VALLEY, WE ARE LIVING, BREATHING THIS EVERY MOMENT AND TRYING TO COME UP WITH SOMETHING, SOMETHING TO BE ABLE TO HELP.

>> FOR MORE ON THE GREATER IMPACT OF THESE CLOSURES AND THE OVERALL TREND OF RURAL HEALTH ACCESS DECLINING, WE TURN TO JOHN EICH, DIRECTOR OF THE WISCONSIN OFFICE OF RURAL HEALTH AT THE UW SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AND PUBLIC HEALTH.

JOHN EICH, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.

>> MY PLEASURE.

>> SO WHEN HOSPITAL SYSTEMS LIKE THIS PULL OUT OF RURAL AREAS IN WISCONSIN, HOW BIG OF A SHOCK IS THAT TO HEALTHCARE ACCESS?

>> IN A LOT OF WAYS, I THINK IT'S A SHOCK.

IT'S A SHOCK FOR PATIENTS WHO HAVE TO NOW DRIVE FURTHER TO GET TO APPOINTMENTS OR TO CARE FOR LOVED ONES.

IT'S A SHOCK TO THE E.M.S.

SYSTEM IN THAT THEY HAVE TO TAKE PATIENTS LONGER AND LONGER FOR CARE.

AND IT'S ALSO A HIT TO THE LOCAL ECONOMY.

A SMALL COMMUNITY IS MORE ATTRACTIVE TO ALL KINDS OF NEW BUSINESSES IF THEY HAVE ROBUST HEALTHCARE, AND IF THAT'S MISSING, THAT'S CHALLENGING AS WELL.

>> BECAUSE WHERE ARE PEOPLE FINDING CARE IN THE STATE OF WISCONSIN?

KIND OF THE DRIVE TIMES THAT PEOPLE EXPERIENCE GETTING TO AN EMERGENCY ROOM.

>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

SO OUR OFFICE DID AN ANALYSIS OF THAT DRIVE TIME, AND YOU CAN SEE THAT.

SO THE GREEN IS 10 MINUTES.

THE YELLOW, 20.

AND THE RED, 30-MINUTE ACCESS.

SO IT'S FAIRLY OBVIOUS WHERE THE GAPS ARE OF THE NORTH WOODS, HAS SORT OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES THERE, AND YOU CAN SEE WHERE IN A SENSE THE CLUSTERS ARE AS WELL.

RELEVANT TO THIS SITUATION, WHERE YOU HAVE EAU CLAIRE COUNTY SO CLOSE TO THE TWIN CITIES AND THESE ARE VERY LARGE SYSTEMS, THEY'RE COMPETING PRETTY FIERCELY WITH EACH OTHER, AND SO THERE'S A LOT OF PRESSURES ON THEM.

THIS SITUATION PARTICULARLY.

I THINK THERE'S A REASON THAT IT HAPPENED HERE VERSUS OTHER PARTS OF THE STATE.

>> REPRESENTATIVE HURD SAID PEOPLE WILL DIE.

IS THAT WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT?

>> WELL, HEALTHCARE IS ALWAYS LIFE AND DEATH, AND SO I DO THINK THAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE LONGER FOR PEOPLE TO GET TO CARE.

TO BE HORROR CHALLENGING FOR THEM -- MORE CHALLENGING FOR THEM IN E.M.S.

IN RURAL AREAS PARTICULARLY.

WE'RE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT DRIVE TIMES, AND SO THAT IS POSSIBLE, BUT I THINK THAT WE HAVE A ROBUST HEALTHCARE SYSTEM IN THIS STATE AND PEOPLE ARE DOING THEIR BEST AND ARE PROVIDING EXCELLENT CARE.

SO IT IS A CHALLENGE FOR SURE.

>> HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS, BOTH URBAN AND RURAL, FACE WORKER SHORTAGES.

>> I THINK, YOU KNOW, THE PANDEMIC BROUGHT THIS SORT OF SOCIAL CHALLENGE, SORT OF THE DIVISIONS, THE PARTISAN DIVISIONS WHERE WE TAKE HEALTHCARE AND POLITICIZE IT.

AND SO YOU HAVE WORKERS WHO WENT FROM BEING HEROES TO SUDDENLY BEING PARIAHS OR POLITICAL OPERATIVES, AND I THINK THAT REALLY PLAYS OUT IN A SMALLER COMMUNITY, PEOPLE KNOW EACH OTHER BETTER.

AS SOMEONE WALKS PAST ME IN A CITY STREET, I MAY NOT KNOW THEIR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER, BUT IF IT'S A COMMUNITY WHERE EVERYONE KNOWS WHO WORKS AT THE HOSPITAL OR THE CLINIC, YOU'RE MORE IN A SPOTLIGHT.

THOSE CHALLENGES THAT I THINK WE ALL FELT WITH FAMILY, EXTENDED FAMILY AND NEIGHBORS WHO DISAGREE ABOUT TOPICS, I THINK THAT'S VERY COMPELLING.

IT'S VERY CLOSE TO HOME IN A SMALLER COMMUNITY.

AND SO I THINK THOSE KIND OF SOCIAL ISSUES IMPACTED THE WORKFORCE, NOT TO MENTION THE FACT THAT THEY WERE DAY AFTER DAY OF THIS WORK AND SEEING PEOPLE VERY SICK AND DYING.

IT TAKES AN EMOTIONAL TOLL, AND I DON'T THINK IT'S AS HE DOES AS WE DON'T HAVE TO WEAR MASKS ANYMORE.

IT'S STILL I DON'T FEEL GREAT AT MY JOB.

MAYBE I SHOULD CONSIDER AN EARLY RETIREMENT OR MAYBE I SHOULD CONSIDER A DIFFERENT LINE OF WORK.

>> AND THAT PERSISTS?

>> IT DOES.

I THINK IN BUSINESS, THEY TALK ABOUT HOW CULTURE EATS STRATEGY FOR LUNK.

THESE ARE CULTURAL ISSUES AND THAT MEANS THAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE -- THESE ARE HARD CHANGE ISSUES AND THEY'RE GOING TO TAKE A WHILE.

IT'S GOING TO TAKE A LOT OF DIFFERENT SOLUTIONS AND I DON'T THINK WE'LL SEE IT GO AWAY QUICKLY.

IT, BUT IT WILL TAKE TIME.

>> SPEAKING OF SOLUTIONS, WHAT KIND OF MEASURES ARE NEEDED TO, SPANNED ACCESS TO QUALITY EXPAND ACCESS TO QUALITY CARE?

>> IN WISCONSIN, WE'RE VERY LUCKY.

UP UNTIL RECENTLY, WE HAVEN'T SEEN A LOT OF HOSPITAL CLOSURES, AND SO I THINK WE'RE DOING WELL.

WE HAVE TO FILL IN THESE GAPS THAT HAVE BEEN CREATED AND I THINK HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS WILL DO THAT.

BUILDING BACK THE WORKFORCE.

THAT'S A LONG PROCESS AS WELL, AND I THINK ALSO BROADBAND IS VERY IMPORTANT IF WE'RE PROVIDING CARE TO PATIENTS WHO HAVE TO DRIVE TO GET INTO A FOLLOW-UP APPOINTMENT OR A CHECK-IN, THEM BEING ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH THEIR PROVIDERS FROM THEIR HOME OR FROM A MOBILE SITUATION IS REALLY IMPORTANT, BUT THERE JUST ISN'T THE BROADBAND AND CELLULAR COVERAGE IN RURAL AREAS THAT WE NEED.

>> JOHN EICH, THANKS VERY MUCH.

>> THANKS FOR INVITING ME.

>> FOR MORE ON THIS AND OTHER ISSUES FACING WISCONSIN, VISIT OUR WISCONSIN AT PBSWISCONSIN.ORG AND THEN CLICK ON THE NEWS TAB.

THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT.

I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.

HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.

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