PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL PRODUCTION.

>> TEMPERATURES PLUNGE OUTSIDE, BUT THINGS HEAT UP AT THE STATE CAPITOL THIS WEEK, AS REPUBLICANS WORK TO PASS A COVID RELIEF BILL THAT GOVERNOR TONY EVERS WILL SIGN, EVEN AS THEY'RE FORCED TO PUNT ON STRIKING DOWN A STATEWIDE MASK MANDATE.

>> I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.

TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW," THE POLITICAL BATTLE OVER THE STATE COVID RELIEF BILL AND MASK MANDATE.

ROBIN VOS IS HERE AS IS GORDON HINTZ.

ANALYSIS OF THE POLITICAL STANDOFFS IN WASHINGTON D.C. AND WE GO TO KESHENA TO SEE HOW VACCINATIONS ARE GOING FOR THE MENOMINEE NATION.

IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR JANUARY 29.

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

>> WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THE REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURE'S MOVE TO OVERTURN THE MASK MANDATE?

WELL, IT'S A LITTLE MESSY.

THE STATE SENATE THIS WEEK VOTED TO END THE MASK ORDER BUT DISCOVERED THAT WOULD RESULT IN WISCONSIN LOSING NEARLY $50 MILLION A MILLION IN FOODSHARE BENEFITS COMING FROM THE FEDS FOR STATES THAT ENACT EMERGENCY SAFETY ORDERS.

SO THEY TACKED AN AMENDMENT ON THE RELIEF BILL THAT WOULD ALLOW THE GOVERNOR TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY JUST FOR THE PURPOSE OF GETTING THE FUNDING.

WHEN THE ASSEMBLY WAS SET TO TAKE THIS UP, SPEAKER ROBIN VOS PULLED BACK ON A VOTE SEEKING TIME TO STUDY THE MATTER.

HE JOINS US NOW TO UNTANGLE ALL OF THIS AND THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

>> GOOD EVENING.

>> SO WHY NOT VOTE ON THE RESOLUTION IF THE SENATE AMENDMENT FIXES THE FEDERAL FUNDING PROBLEM?

>> WE SURE HOPE IT FIXES IT BUT WE'RE NOT CERTAIN IT DOES AND WHEN SOMETHING LIKE THAT HAPPENS RIGHT BEFORE WE'RE GOING TO VOTE ON A BILL, I DON'T WANT TO RUSH SOMETHING AND DO SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE A MISTAKE.

WE HAVE THE SUPPORT TO BE ABLE TO SAY THAT THE GOVERNOR DOES NOT HAVE UNILATERAL POWER.

HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH US FOR MONTHS TO COME UP WITH OTHER SOLUTIONS THAT COULD WORK.

WE KNOW AT THE END OF THE DAY LOCAL PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENTS HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO WHAT THEY I WILL.

THIS IS NOT ABOUT MASKS.

IT IS ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THE GOVERNOR GETS TO FOLLOW THE LAW.

IT IS CRYSTAL CLEAR IN THE STATUTES THAT YOU ONLY GET THE CHANCE TO HAVE ONE EMERGENCY AND THEN AFTER THAT IT HAS TO BE REVIEWED BY THE LEGISLATURE.

SO I THINK THAT WE DON'T WANT TO SACRIFICE THE $50 MILLION A MONTH IN FAD -- FOODSHARE.

ASSUMING THAT'S THE ONLY RAMIFICATION AND WE CAN FIX IT, WE'LL MOVE AHEAD.

>> EIGHT A AT A TIME WHEN WE'RE BEING TOLD TO DOUBLE MASK AND BUSINESSES OBJECT TO ENDING THE MASK ORDER, PEOPLE WANT TO UNDERSTAND WHY YOU WANT TO GET RID OF IT AT THIS TIME.

YOU SAY IT'S NOT ABOUT MASKS, BUT IT IS ABOUT MASKS.

>> NOT FOR ME.

WHEN I LOOK AT WHAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING IN OUR STATE, WHEN I GO TO MASS, HARDWARE STORE OR RESTAURANT, THE VAST MAJORITY OF PEOPLE ARE WEARING A MASK.

IT'S NOT BECAUSE THE GOVERNOR ORDERED IT BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN NO ENFORCEMENT WHATSOEVER.

IT'S PEOPLE KNOW IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

IT'S WHY I DID THAT COMMERCIAL WITH MARK POCAN THAT SOME HAVE GIVEN ME DERYFTION DERISION FOR BECAUSE I DO SUPPORT WEARING MASKS.

THAT'S WHY IN THE ASSEMBLY WE'RE EXEMPTED FROM WEARING A MASK.

YOU'LL SEE I THINK OF THE MEMBERS ALL BUT A COUPLE WEAR A MASK BECAUSE IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO IN A LARGE GROUP.

SO I THINK THIS IS MUCH ADO ABOUT DEMOCRATS TRYING TO MAKE IT ABOUT MASKS, BUT THE REALITY IS THIS IS ABOUT GOVERNOR EVERS ISSUING AN ILLEGAL ORDER THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN STRUCK DOWN BY THE COURTS.

THEY HAVEN'T ACTED YET.

>> LET'S LOOK AT THAT PSA THAT YOU CUT WITH DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSMAN MARK POCAN TELLING PEOPLE TO WEAR A MASK.

HE SAYS IF YOUR OBJECTION IS OVERREACH FROM THE GOVERNOR, THEN THE LEGISLATURE SHOULD PASS ITS ON MASK MANDATE.

WHY NOT PASS YOUR OWN?

>> BECAUSE, AGAIN, THERE'S NO ENFORCEMENT MECHANISM.

>> SO POCAN ALSO SAYS IF THIS IS SIMPLY ABOUT APPEALING TO SCIENCE DENIERS FOR POLITICAL PURPOSES, WE CANNOT AFFORD THIS KIND OF RAW PARTISANSHIP.

HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO THAT?

>> WELL, IT'S NOT ABOUT THAT BECAUSE AGAIN IT'S NOT ABOUT MASKS.

YOU WILL SEE THAT ONCE WE PASS THE REPEAL OF THE GOVERNOR'S EMERGENCY AUTHORITY, PEOPLE AROUND WISCONSIN ARE STILL GOING TO WEAR MASKS BECAUSE THEY WANT TO PROTECT THEIR KIDS OR THEIR GRANDPARENTS.

THAT'S EXACTLY WHY I WEAR ONE.

SO I THINK THE DEMOCRATS AGAIN TRYING TO OBFUSCATE AND DIRECT AWAY FROM THE REAL ISSUE, THAT GOVERNOR EVERS HAS AN INABILITY TO WORK WITH OTHERS TO BE ABLE TO GET THIS DONE.

IT'S ALL KIND OF A ONE SIZE FITS ALL WRITTEN WHEN HE'S AT THE MANSION BY HIMSELF INSTEAD OF WORKING WITH THE LEGISLATURE TO GET A DEAL DONE.

AT THE END OF THE DAY WE ARE BEYOND THAT.

PUBLIC PRESSURE IS WHY PEOPLE ARE WEARING A MASK.

>> THE LATEST VERSION OF THE COVID RELIEF BILL GIVES THE BUDGET COMMITTEE REVIEW OVER FEDERAL DOLLARS TO FIGHT CORONAVIRUS.

IS IT BECAUSE YOU DON'T LIKE HOW GOVERNOR EVERS HAS MANAGED THAT MONEY?

>> SOMEWHAT.

I THINK THAT'S TRUE.

BUT IT'S REALLY JUST SOMETHING THAT'S NOT ALL THAT ABNORMAL.

WHEN JIM DOYLE WAS IN OFFICE AND MARK POCAN WAS IN OFFICE.

THEY GOT A BUNCH OF MONEY UNDER THE AMERICAN RECOVERY AND REVIN RECOVERY AND REINVESTMENT ACT.

THEY SIGNED LEGISLATION SAYING THEY WOULD HAVE LEGISLATIVE OVERSIGHT.

IT SHOULD MEAN THAT THE LEGISLATURE, THE ONES WHO ARE SUPPOSED TO APPROPRIATE MONEY, HAVE THE ABILITY TO OVERSEE IT JUST LIKE WE DO WITH EVERY OTHER DOLLAR THAT COMES INTO THE TREASURY.

>> THAT MIGHT BE ONE OF THOSE SO-CALLED POISON PILLS THAT COULD RESULT IN AN EVERS' VETO OF THIS COVID RELIEF PACKAGE.

THEN WHAT?

>> I SURE HOPE IT DIDN'T.

IF JIM DOYLE AND MARK POCAN CAN STRIKE A DEAL WHEN DEMOCRATS ARE IN CHARGE, I DON'T KNOW WHY YOU WOULDN'T WANT IT WHEN YOU HAVE DIVIDED GOVERNMENT.

IT'S A GOOD BILL.

IT'S GOT LOTS OF IDEAS, MONEY FOR THE PANDEMIC, ABILITY FOR US TO HAVE AN ESSENTIAL VISITOR PROGRAM.

WE WORK ON VACCINATIONS.

THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD THINGS IN THERE.

SO IT WOULD BE A REAL DISAPPOINTMENT IF GOVERNOR EVERS CHOSE TO PLAY POLITICS.

>> WELL HE WE'LL SEEVMENT SEE.

>> THE DEMOCRATS DECRIED STRIKING DOWN THE MASK MANDATE IN THE FIRST PLACE, BUT THEN THAT IT WOULD TAKE FOOD FROM PEOPLE IN NEED, THAT RAISED THE ROOF.

THE ASSEMBLY SPEAKER CALLED OFF THE VOTE TO STUDY HOW TO MAKE IT WORK WITHOUT LOSING THAT MONEY.

TONIGHT WE ARE JOINED BY THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE, WITH DEMOCRATIC LEADER THE ASSEMBLY, GMENT GORDON HINTZ.

WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE TO THE ORDER ALMOST BEING TURNED OVER?

>> THE IDEA THE FIRST ACT TO PASS THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY WAS SOMETHING THAT MADE OUR COVID PROBLEM WORST AT THE MOST CRITICAL TIME WHERE WE'RE OVER 80% IN TERMS OF ICU BEDS FILLED, HOSPITALIZATION RATE OVER 80% AND WHERE WE KNOW THE VACCINE IS GOING TO TAKE A WHILE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE, THE IDEA THAT WE'RE GOING TO GO AGAINST THE WISHES OF EVERY MAJOR HEALTH ORGANIZATION IN THE STATE IS CONTRARY TO WHAT OUR ROLE IN GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE.

AND SO HAVING IT SCHEDULED AS THE FIRST ACT WAS DISAPPOINTING.

BUT I CAN TELL YOU CERTAINLY THERE ARE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES, SUCH AS THE LOSS OF FOODSHARE DOLLARS.

BUT THE REALITY IS THOUSANDS OF WISCONSINITES CONTACTED US.

GROUPS WERE REGISTERING AGAINST.

I THINK THERE WASN'T 100% SUPPORT IN THAT REPUBLICAN CAUCUS OVER WHETHER THIS WAS A GOOD IDEA OR NOT.

WE NEED TO KEEP THE PRESSURE ON AND HOPEFULLY GET THEM TO NOT REPEAL THE MANDATE.

>> SO WHAT'S YOUR POSITION ON THE SENATE AMENDMENT THAT WOULD PREVENT THE LOSS OF FEDERAL FUNDS BY ALLOWING THE GOVERNOR TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY JUST FOR THE PURPOSE OF GETTING THAT FEDERAL MONEY WITHOUT THE MASK PART OF THE ORDER?

>> WELL, LOOK.

IF THEY ARE REALLY GOING TO GO THROUGH WITH DOING SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO INFECT MORE PEOPLE, PROBABLY RESULT IN MORE LIVES LOST IN WISCONSIN, MAKE OUR RECOVERY SLOWER, I'M HOPEFUL THAT WE CAN AT LEAST FIND A WAY TO KEEP THE ADDITIONAL FUNDING THAT WE GET FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN FOODSHARE.

THAT'S A SECONDARY WORRY TO THE FACT THAT THEY'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO DO SOMETHING AGAIN THAT MAKES COVID WORSE IN OUR STATE.

>> BUT SPEAKER VOS REGARDS, HE SAYS, WEARING A MASK AS A SOCIAL CONTRACT THAT SHOULD NOT IN FACT BE A MANDATE.

HE EVEN CUT THAT PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT ENCOURAGING IT.

WHAT ABOUT THE IDEA OF SIMPLY APPEALING TO PEOPLE'S KIND OF CIVIC DUTY TO WEAR A MASK AS OPPOSED TO AN ORDER?

>> WELL, I THINK THE SUCCESS OF IT IS GOING TO BE GETTING PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THAT WEARING A MASK IS ABOUT LOOKING OUT FOR OTHERS.

IT'S ABOUT LOOKING OUT FOR EACH OTHER.

AND WE REALLY NEED THAT COLLECTIVE RALLY.

THAT WAS CERTAINLY A LOST OPPORTUNITY WITH OUR PRESIDENT SENDING THE OPPOSITE MESSAGE TO PEOPLE.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, MASK MANDATES WORK.

THERE'S ENOUGH EVIDENCE BETWEEN COUNTIES THAT HAVE DONE IT AND COUNTIES THAT HAVEN'T.

39 OTHER STATES IN THE COUNTRY HAVE A MASK MANDATE, INCLUDING REPUBLICAN STATES.

SO THEY DO IT BECAUSE IT WORKS.

THIS IS A POLITICAL OR IDEOLOGICAL STANCE THAT IS CONTRARY TO THE HEALTH OR WELL-BEING OF OUR STATE.

>> AS TO OTHER CHANGES TO THE COVID RELIEF BILL THAT THE GOVERNOR HAD AGREED ON BEFORE ASSEMBLY REVISIONS, HOW DO YOU THINK THE GOVERNOR WOULD REGARD THE PART OF IT THAT REQUIRES A LEGISLATIVE REVIEW OF ANY FEDERAL CORONAVIRUS FUNDING?

>> I THINK HE'LL VETO IT IMMEDIATELY.

IT'S NONSTARTER.

SINCE NEEFERS GOVERNOR EVERS WAS ELECTED, THE SPEAKER AND THE LEGISLATURE SEEM TO WANT TO BE GOVERNOR, TOOK AWAY HIS POWER, SUED HIM.

THERE IS AN EXECUTIVE BRANCH AND THEY ARE CHARGED WITH THIS EXACT TASK OF MANAGING SOMETHING LIKE THE PANDEMIC.

THE IDEA THAT WE WOULD GIVE PEOPLE THAT CAN'T EVEN CATCH $50 MILLION MONTHLY LOSS IN FOODSHARE OR $25 MILLION LOSS BY DELAYING UNEMPLOYMENT ONE WEEK REPEAL IN CHARGE OF MANAGING FEDERAL AID IS RIDICULOUS.

THIS IS THESE GUYS TRYING TO MICROMANAGE AND CONTINUE TO TRY TO DO GOVERNOR EVERS' JOB FOR HIM AND THAT'S A NONSTARTER.

>> SO IT GETS A VETO IN YOUR EXPECTATION FROM THE GOVERNOR.

WHERE DOES THAT LEAVE THE STATE THEN WITH ANY KIND OF COVID RELIEF LEGISLATION?

>> NOWHERE.

I MEAN, AND THAT'S THE PROBLEM.

THE DECISION MADE BY THE ASSEMBLY THE OTHER DAY WAS ESSENTIALLY TO KEEP DOING NOTHING.

THEY PASSED SOMETHING THAT THEY KNEW WAS GOING TO DELAY OR DISRUPT THE AID THAT DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR SINCE LAST SUMMER.

IT'S BEEN OVER 290 DAYS NOW SINCE WE'VE ACTED.

AND THE DECISION THE OTHER DAY WAS TO DELAY.

BETWEEN THAT AND THE MASK MANDATE, IT'S PRETTY CLEAR THAT OUR HEALTH, WELL-BEING, ECONOMIC HEALTH, IN-PERSON SCHOOL FOR OUR KIDS IS SIMPLY NOT A PRIORITY RIGHT NOW FOR REPUBLICANS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE LEAVE IT THERE.

REPRESENTATIVE GORDON HINTZ, THANKS JOIFNING US.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> TO THE NATIONAL CAPITOL WHERE ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT WERE DELIVERED FRIDAY NIGHT.

FIVE REPUBLICANS JOINED DEMOCRATS IN A VOTE THAT REJECTED THE IDEA THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP'S IMPEACHMENT WAS UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

U.S.

SENATOR RON JOHNSON WAS NOT AMONG THEM.

>> WILL A TRIAL OF A FORMER PRESIDENT, A PRIVATE CITIZEN, WILL IT HEAL, WILL IT UNIFY?

I THINK THE ANSWER IS CLEARLY IT WILL NOT.

>> WE TAKE UP THE IMPEACHMENT EFFORTS IN THE SENATE AS WELL AS THE MOUNTING POWER STRUGGLES THERE WITH MICHAEL WAGNER, PROFESSOR OF JOURNALISM AT UW-MADISON ADD EXPERT ON AMERICAN POLITICS AND POLITICAL BEHAVIOR.

THE SENATE WILL NOT VOTE TO CONVICT PRESIDENT TRUMP.

CAN MOST REPUBLICANS IN CONGRESS SIMPLY PUT WHAT HAPPENED JANUARY 6 IN THE REAR VIEW, DO YOU THINK?

>> I THINK THAT'S THEIR GOAL AND I THINK THAT'S THEIR HOPE.

WHETHER VOTERS CONTINUE TO HAVE A LONG MEMORY ABOUT THE COUP ATTEMPT, WHICH IS WHAT THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS IS NOW CALLING IT, REMAINS TO BE SEEN.

SO THERE MAY BE A PRICE TO PAY WITH VOTERS, BUT IT DOES NOT APPEAR THAT THERE ARE ENOUGH REPUBLICANS TO CONVICT THE PRESIDENT IN THE SENATE.

>> HOW FORMIDABLE IS DONALD TRUMP POLITICALLY, EVEN AFTER HIS SUPPORTERS VIOLENTLY ATTACKED THE CAPITOL?

>> WELL, HE DOES NOT SEEM TO HAVE THE EXACT SAME PULL THAT HE HAD ON THE PARTY WHILE HE WAS PRESIDENT AND LONGER HE IS OUT OF THE LIMELIGHT AND ES PECIAL LIVE THE LONGER THAT HE'S OFF OF SOCIAL IMMEDIATE YARKS THE HARD -- IMMEDIATE YARKS THE MEDIA, THE HARDER IT IS FOR HIM TO GAIN A FOOTHOLD.

THERE ARE PLENTY OF REPUBLICANS WHO DON'T WANT TO CROSS HIM BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO UPSET THE CORE BASE OF SUPPORTERS THAT THE FORMER PRESIDENT CONTINUES TO CARRY WITH HIM.

SO IT'S AN OPEN QUESTION.

I WOULD SAY THE -- WOULDN'T SAY THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS IN A CIVIL WAR, BUT IN A STRUGGLE FOR THEIR FUTURE.

>> AS TO CON CON CONSPIRACY THEORIES LIESK QANON, ARE THEY QUIETED NOW OR JUST REGROUPING, DIEWFNG?

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

OFTENTIMES WHEN A CONSPIRACY GROUP HAS THE THING THEY SAID WAS GOING TO HAPPEN FAIL, OFTEN YOU WOULD THINK, WELL, THAT'S GOT TO BE THE END OF THE CONSPIRACY.

BUT USUALLY THE CONSPIREORS FIND A WAY TO BELIEVE THERE'S SOME OTHER REASON FOR WHY THE THING THEY PREDICTED DIDN'T HAPPEN AND SOMETIMES REDOUBLE THEIR EFFORTS TO CONTINUE THE BEHAVIORS THEY WERE ENBANDAGED IN BEFORE.

SO THEY'RE REGROUPING AND THEY'RE CERTAINLY IN DISARRAY, BUT WE SHOULDN'T BE CONFIDENT THAT IT'S OVER.

>> ALARMINGLY, THE FBI IS NOW WARNING ABOUT THE CONTINUING THREAT OF DOMESTIC TERROR GROUPS.

HAS ALL OF THIS BEEN BUBBLING UNDER THE SURFACE UNTIL IT JUST BLEW INTO THE OPEN?

>> WELL, IT'S BEEN BUBBLING UNDER THE SURFACE FOR A VERY LONG TIME AND IT'S BEEN EXPLODING OVER THE SURFACE FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS IN A LOT OF RESPECTS.

AND SO I DON'T KNOW THAT IT WAS SURPRISING THAT IT HAPPENED.

I THINK THAT PEOPLE MIGHT HAVE BEEN CAUGHT OFF GUARD THAT IT WAS SO EASY TO STORM THE CAPITOL ON THE DAY THAT THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE WERE CONVENING TO CERTIFY THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE VOTES.

AND IT'S STRIKING HOW IN DANGER MANY OF OUR LEADERS, INCLUDING THE VICE PRESIDENT AND SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE, WERE IN.

THAT'S ALL DEEPLY DISTRESSING.

AND THESE CONVERSATIONS AREN'T GOING TO BE GOING AWAY.

PEOPLE WILL ALWAYS FIND A PLATFORM ON WHICH TO HAVE THESE, ALTHOUGH DEPLATFORMING DOES MAKE IT HARDER FOR THEM TO ORGANIZE.

>> HOW INSIDIOUS IS THE CONTINUING BELIEF ON THE PART OF SOME THAT THERE WAS WIDESPREAD ELECTION FRAUD?

>> IT IS AN ABSOLUTE STAB IN THE HEART OF A DEMOCRACY TO CONTINUE TO MAKE THESE FALSE ALLEGATIONS.

IT'S A DECENTRALIZED ELECTION, WHICH MAKES IT HARD TO ENGAGE IN FRAUD WHEN SO MANY LOCALITIES ARE IN CHARGE OF THE BALLOT PRINTING AND COUNTING.

THERE WAS A COUNTING AND RECOUNT.

THERE WERE MORE THAN 60 LAWSUITS, ALL OF WHICH TOLD US THAT JOE BIDEN WON THE ELECTION IN A FREE AND FAIR WAY.

ANYBODY WHO CAN'T SAY THAT IS NOT INTERESTED IN THE PRACTICE OF DEMOCRACY, BUT INTERESTED IN THEIR OWN POWERS FOR THEIR OWN REASONS.

>> JUST BRIEFLY, IS PRESIDENT BIDEN'S CALL FOR UNITY IN THE MIDST OF ALL OF THIS NAIVE?

>> IT DEPENDS WHAT WE MEAN BY UNITY.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO HOLD HANDS AND SING A SONG OF PEACE.

BUT IF WE CAN COME AROUND SIMPLE FACTS, ELECTIONS MATTER, IF YOU LOSE, YOU TRY AGAIN THE NEXT TIME, NOT COMPLAIN ABOUT THE RESULT AND PRETEND THAT IT WASN'T REEFL, REAL, THEN THERE COULD BE SOME HEALING.

>> ALL RIGHT.

MICHAEL WAGNER, THANKS FOR JOINING US.

>> YOU BET.

>> NOW TO COVID NEWS AND TO KESHENA, WHERE THE MENOMINEE NATION IN THE MIDST OF A VACCINATION PROGRAM.

ONE TRIBE SWITCHED TO THE FEDERAL INDIAN SERVICE.

OTHERS INCLUDING THE MENOMINEE CONTINUED TO WORK WITH STATE GOVERNMENT FOR VACCINE ALLOCATION.

WE CHECK IN NOW WITH THE TRIBAL PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICER, DR. AMY SLAGLE.

THANKS VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> HOW MANY VACCINATIONS DO YOU NEED TO GI AND HOW MANY BE GIVEN TO DATE?

>> WE PLAN TO GIVE AROUND 9,000 IF WE MEET OUR GOALS.

AND SO FAR WE'VE GIVEN A LITTLE OVER 700.

>> WOW.

SO -- >> AS OF THIS MORNING.

>> WE KNOW THAT THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT REPORTS HAVING TROUBLE GETTING ENOUGH VACCINE.

WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH AVAILABILITY FOR YOU?

>> WELL, IT'S BEEN -- I WOULD CALL IT -- THE BEST WAY TO DESCRIBE IT IS VARIABLE.

WE HAVE GOTTEN AS MANY AS 200 VACCINE IN A WEEK AND WE HAVE HAD AS LITTLE AS ONE VIAL IN A WEEK, WHICH WAS LAST WEEK, TEN DOSES.

SO IT'S BEEN A LITTLE BIT ALL OVER THE MAP.

BUT IN GENERAL WHAT WE'RE EXPECTING NOW IS TO GET 200 TO 300 A WEEK, INCLUDING OUR SECOND DOSES.

SO IT'S BEEN A LITTLE ANXIETY-PROVOKING BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHICH DAY IT'S COMING AND HOW MUCH WE'RE GETTING UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE, MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO SCHEDULE PEOPLE AHEAD OF TIME.

>> YEAH.

ABSOLUTELY.

BUT PRESUMABLY, YOU, LIKE OTHERS, WOULD LIKE TO SEE JUST A LOT MORE OF IT COMING YOUR WAY.

>> WE SURE WOULD.

WE WOULD LIKE TO GET OUR VERY HIGH-RISK POPULATION VACCINATED AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

WE HAVE SOME ADVANTAGES.

THE STATE HAS ALLOWED US SOME LEEWAY WITH SOVEREIGNTY ISSUES.

SO WE ARE A LITTLE AHEAD OF PHASE 1B COMPARED TO OTHER AREAS.

WE'RE VACCINATING 70 AND OLDER RIGHT NOW AND WE ARE WELL INTO OUR ESSENTIAL WORKERS.

SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE 710 PLUS VACCINES IN WITH ALREADY ALL OUR HEALTH CARE DONE, FIRST RESPONDERS AND MANY ELDERS.

BUT WE'VE GOT A LARGE GROUP OF PEOPLE 40 TO 65 YEARS OLD WITH MULTIPLE HEALTH PROBLEMS THAT ARE QUITE VULNERABLE AND AT RISK FOR COVID AND WE'D LIKE TO GET THEM VACCINATED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

>> DID YOU HAVE TO OVERCOME MISTRUST OF THE VACCINE?

>> THERE ARE ISSUES PARTICULAR TO THE MENOMINEE TRIBE THAT DO BRING MISTRUST INTO THE EQUATION.

IT MAY BE DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE'RE SEEING NATIONALLY.

IT HAS TO DO WITH HISTORICAL PROBLEMS WITH SMALLPOX AND BROKEN TREATIES AND FAILURES OF THE GOVERNMENT TO COME THROUGH FOR NATIVE AMERICANS AND OTHER PUBLIC HEALTH CALAMITIES.

SO THE POLITICAL ISSUES ARE NOT REALLY PART OF OUR PROBLEM.

IT'S CONVINCING PEOPLE THAT THE GOVERNMENT REALLY DOES MEAN TO DELIVER THE GOOD THING AND THE RIGHT THING AND THE LIFE-SAVING THING HERE.

SO THE HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE IS REALLY IMPORTANT HERE.

>> YEAH.

AND VERY REAL.

SO I KNOW THAT YOU JUST SPOKE TO THE FACT THAT YOU HAD A HIGH-RISK POPULATION EVEN AMONG THE YOUNGER AGE GROUPS.

HOW HAS COVID-19 IMPACTED THE COMMUNITY WHERE YOU PRACTICE?

>> WELL, WE'VE HAD ABOUT 30 DEATHS TOTAL.

HALF OF THOSE ARE MENOMINEES ON THE RESERVATION.

HALF LIVE OFF THE RESERVATION EITHER IN CONTIGUOUS AREAS OR A FEW REMOTELY IN THE STATE.

WE'VE HAD 950 COVID CASES, WHICH DOESN'T SOUND A LOT COMPARED TO MENOMINEE OR MADISON, BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT ON A PER CAPITA BASIS, MENOMINEE HAS HAD THE GREATEST CASE BURDEN PER CAPITA UP UNTIL A FEW WEEKS AGO AND WE HAD THAT SPOT FOR MANY MONTHS.

SO PER CAPITA, WE'VE HAD A VERY HIGH BURDEN OF COVID AND WE'VE HAD PLENTY OF DEATHS.

>> ARE PEOPLE HEEDING SAFETY GUIDANCE AROUND DISTANCING AND MASKING?

>> PUBLICLY AND IN WORKPLACES, IT'S VERY GOOD.

I THINK PEOPLE TAKE THE RECOMMENDATIONS SERIOUSLY.

THE TRIBE HAS HAD EMERGENCY ORDERS IN PLACE WHICH FORTUNATELY WE'RE ABLE TO SUPERSEDE WHATEVER THE GOVERNMENT IS CURRENTLY DOING WITH APPROVING OR DISAPPROVING THOSE.

BUT THE TRIBE TAKES IT VERY SERIOUSLY AND THEY WANT TO PROTECT EACH OTHER AND THEY HAVE BEEN STRONG WITH THAT MESSAGE.

THE PROBLEM WHERE WE'VE SEEN THE SAFETY COME IS -- OR PROBLEMS WITH IT IS IN HOMES, WHERE IT'S MULTIGENERATIONAL.

THAT'S ONE OF THE BEAUTIFUL THINGS ABOUT THE MENOMINEE, IS THEIR LOVE FOR FAMILY AND THEIR CONNECTIONS.

SO THERE'S LOTS OF VISITING AND THERE'S OVER-CROWDING IN HOMES AND THAT'S WHERE WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF SPREAD.

THE OTHER PLACE WE'VE SEEN IS PEOPLE WHO WORK OUTSIDE THE AREA, WHERE SAFETY MEASURES AREN'T ENFORCED AND THEY BRING IT HOME BECAUSE THEY WORK IN A PLACE WHERE MASKS WEREN'T ENFORCED.

>> DOCTOR, WE WISH YOU WELL WITH THIS AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO CHECK IN.

DR. AMY SLAGLE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> MORE THAN HALF OF WISCONSIN'S 20,000 PRISON INMATES HAVE CONTRACTED COVID-19 AND 25 OF THEM HAVE DIED FROM THE DISEASE.

THE AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION OF WISCONSIN HAS CALLED THE STATE'S RESPONSE TO OUTBREAKS IN PRISON A FAILURE AND HAS CALLED FOR DECARCERATION.

MARISA WOJCIK SAT DOWN WITH DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS SECRETARY KEVIN CARR EARLIER THIS WEEK FOR HIS TAKE ON COVID-19 SPREADING AMONG THOSE INCARCERATED.

>> LET'S SAY WE'VE GOT 20,000 FOLKS IN CUSTODY AND WE WANT TO ACCOMPLISH SOCIAL DISTANCING.

THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO RELEASE FROM PRISON IN ORDER TO JUST ACHIEVE THAT OBJECTIVE, I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT IT IS, BUT I SPECULATE THAT IT WOULD BE HALF.

YOU GOT TO REMEMBER THAT OUR FACILITIES WERE DESIGNED AND INTENDED TO BE CONGREGATE LIVING SETTINGS WHERE TWO PEOPLE LIVED IN ONE CELL AND THAT DORMITORIES WERE, YOU KNOW, USED AS THE ROUTINE WAY TO HOUSE INDIVIDUALS.

THOSE TYPES OF SITUATIONS ARE NOT CONDUCIVE TO MITIGATION STRATEGIES UNLESS YOU HAVE AN EXTREMELY LOW POPULATION.

SO I'VE TALKED TO THE GOVERNOR ABOUT A NUMBER OF THESE THINGS, AND NO OPTION IS OFF THE TABLE.

THERE HAS BEEN NO DECISIONS MADE ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.

BUT I CAN CERTAINLY TELL YOU THAT WE HEAR THE ACLU AND THE ADVOCATES ABOUT REDUCING THE OVERALL PRISON POPULATION.

BUT, AGAIN, I'D LIKE TO REMIND THOSE FOLKS AND YOUR VIEWERS THAT WE'VE REDUCED OUR POPULATION IN OUR SYSTEM BY OVER 3500 FOLKS SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THIS PANDEMIC.

AND WE LOOK TO DO MORE.

>> THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK THAT PRISONERS ARE SET TO BE PART OF THE NEXT PHASE OF THE COVID-19 VACCINE ROLL-OUT ALONG WITH TEACHERS, CHILD CARE WORKERS, TRANSIT DRIVERS, FOOD WORKERS.

THAT STARTS IN MARCH.

YOU CAN WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH SECRETARY CARR ON OUR WEBSITE AT pbswisconsin.org.

THAT'S 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.