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

>>> THE WISCONSIN ELECTIONS COMMISSION DEADLOCKS ON DROP BOX GUIDANCE.

OMICRON'S NEWVATORS ARE INVADING IMMUNITY.

THE U.S. SENATE RATE HE'SES AND UP THE HOLDING PATTERN OF REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH.

I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.

TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW," THE NEW CHAIR OF THE WISCONSIN ELECTIONS COMMISSION SPEAKS TO UPCOMING ELECTION GUIDANCE.

EPDEEMIOLOGIST MICHAEL OSTERHOLM ON THE BA.5 VARIANT.

U.S. SENATE CANDIDATES APPEAL TO VOTERS AND WITH ABORTION IN WISCONSIN, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTIVES.

IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR JULY 15th.

♪ ♪ >>> A WISCONSIN PRIMARY ELECTION IS LESS THAN A MONTH AWAY.

AND THE AGENCY TASKED WITH MAKING ELECTIONS GO IN THIS STATE IS BUSILY TRYING TO INTERPRET COURT RULINGS AND OTHER GUIDANCE.

THE WISCONSIN ELECTIONS COMMISSION REMAINS IN THE EYE OF THE ELECTION FRAUD STORM, AS ALL THREE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR SUPPORT GETTING RID OF THE COMMISSION FOLLOWING ITS ELECTION GUIDANCE DURING THE PEAK OF THE PANDEMIC.

ENTER NEW WISCONSIN ELECTIONS COMMISSION CHAIR REPUBLICAN DON MILLIS.

HE JOINS US NOW AND THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

>> MY PLEASURE TO BE HERE.

>> SO WHAT IS IT LIKE TO ENTER AS THE NEW CHAIR WHEN PEOPLE IN YOUR OWN PARTY WANT TO DO AWAY WITH IT?

>> THERE'S A LOT OF CATCHING UP TO DO.

WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE THE BEST OF WHAT WE HAVE.

WHETHER OR NOT THE COMMISSION GOES AWAY IS CERTAINLY A CONTROVERSIAL ISSUE.

THERE ARE FOLKS WHO WANT TO GET RID OF THE COMMISSION, THERE ARE OTHERS WANT TO KEEP IT.

WHEN IT STAYS OR GOES IS BEYOND MY PAY GREAT.

MY ROLE IS TO MAKE SURE THAT -- PAYGRADE.

MY ROLE IS TO MAKE SURE WE RUN AN EFFICIENT AND HONEST ELECTION IN AUGUST AND IN GENERAL.

THAT'S -- THAT'S REALLY ALL I CAN DO.

I CAN'T LOOK BEYOND THAT.

>> SO WHAT DO YOU THINK, THOUGH?

WHAT IS YOUR POSITION ON THE IDEA OF ABOLISHING THE ELECTIONS COMMISSION?

>> WELL, I DON'T HAVE -- I REALLY DON'T HAVE A -- I HAVEN'T GIVEN IT MUCH THOUGHT.

I DO THINK, AND I WAS ON THE RECORD IN 2016 WHEN I WAS FIRST APPOINTED WHEN THE COMMISSION WAS CREATED, THAT THE ELECTIONS COMMISSION WAS A SERIOUS UPGRADE OVER THE GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY BOARD.

I ALSO SERVED ON THE PRIOR AGENCY.

SO MY BIGGEST CONCERN ABOUT THE COMMISSION IS THAT WE SEEM TO BE DEADLOCKED ON ALL THE IMPORTANT -- IMPORTANT ISSUES OF THE DAY.

AND MY WARNING TO OTHER COMMISSIONERS IS IF THERE'S A CHANCE TO KEEP THE COMMISSION, WE BETTER START WORKING TOGETHER.

>> IN FACT, JUST THIS WEEK, THIS ISSUE THAT YOU SPEAK TO OF THE DEADLOCK BECAUSE THERE ARE THREE DEMOCRATS AND THREE REPUBLICANS ON THE COMMISSION, YOU END UP WITH A DEADLOCK.

NOW, REPUBLICANS LIKE YOURSELF WANTED TO OFFER GUIDANCE TO CLERKS AFTER THE SUPREME COURT RULED ABSENTEE BALLOT DROP BOXES ARE ILLEGAL.

DEMS SAID THAT GUIDANCE WOULD CONFUSE CLERKS MORE THAN HELP.

WHAT ABOUT THESE DEAD LOCKETS ON -- DEBT LOCKS ON THE COMMISSION?

DOES THAT RENDER IT INEFFECTIVE IN YOUR MIND?

>> IT DOES.

I THOUGHT IT WAS OUTRAGEOUS THAT THE COMMISSION COULDN'T AGREE TO ISSUE A STAFF -- THESE ARE CAREER CIVIL SERVICE STAFF WHO TRIED TO DISPEL 141-PAGE DECISION WITH TWO CONCURRENTS.

A DECISION THAT'S VERY COMPLICATED, DISTILLED IT TO A PAGE AND A HALF TO GIVE OUT TO THE 1800-PLUS CLERKS, MOST OF THEM WHO DON'T HAVE BEEN LAWYERS TO GO TO CONSULT THEM.

AND THE VERY FACT WE COULDN'T DO SOMETHING SO BASIC DOESN'T -- DOESN'T BODE WELL FOR THE FUTURE OF THE COMMISSION.

>> WHY DID YOU IN PARTICULAR WANT TO OFFER THAT GUIDANCE TO CLERKS?

>> CLERKS, THE MAST MA -- VAST MAJORITY OF CLERKS VERY HARD.

THEY HAVE A LOT OF ROLES.

THEY HAVE TO DEAL WITH OTHER AGENCIES IN STATE GOVERNMENT.

ELECTIONS IS A VERY IMPORTANT, PERHAPS THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THEIR JOB.

BUT IT'S NOT THE ONLY PART OF THEIR JOB.

AND THE ELECTION COMMISSION EXISTS, ONE OF THE -- FOR A PRIMARY REASON TO BROY GUIDANCE -- PROVIDE GUIDANCE TO CLERKS THIS.

WAS A WELL-RITTEN PAGE 1/2 MEMO THAT WOULD HAVE DISPELLED WHAT THEY CAN AND CANNOT DO WITH DROP BOXES.

THERE'S A LOT OF INFORMATION, NOT ALL OF IT GOOD.

THIS INFORMATION WAS ACCURATE AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN PROVIDED TO THE CLERKS.

>> WHAT WAS DID GUIDANCE?

>> THE GUIDANCES THAT -- COMMISSION INTERPRETED THE DECISION THAT YOU CANNOT HAVE UNSTAFFED DROP BOXES THAT -- STATUTE REQUIRE THAT ABSENTEE BALLOTS BE RETURNED IN PERSON BY THE ELECTOR.

THAT WAS THE GUIDANCE.

AND THAT'S -- BASICALLY WHAT THE SUPREME COURT RULED.

AND WE TRIED TO MAKE IT CLEAR AND SO THAT WE CAN ADDRESS THOSE QUESTIONS.

>> WHAT ABOUT THE ISSUE RAISED BY DISABILITY RIGHTS ADVOCATE THAT IS FEDERAL LAW PROTECTS THE RIGHT OF DISABLED PEOPLE TO GET HELP MAILING THEIR BALLOT OR DELIVERING IT TO THE CLERK?

>> WE AGREE.

IN FACT, THE REPUBLICANS OFFERED TO ADD TO THE GUIDANCE A PROVISION THAT WOULD REMIND CLERKS OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE FEDERAL LAW, THAT REQUIRES THAT OVERRIDES STATE LAW, THAT CLERKS MUST MAKE ACCOMMODATIONS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE ILL ILLITERATE, BLIND, OR DISABLED.

THAT'S THE LANGUAGE OF THE FEDERAL LAW.

AND THAT GUIDANCE WAS SHOT DOWN.

THREE DEMOCRATS WOULDN'T AGREE TO PUT THAT INTO THE GUIDANCE.

>> AMONG THE REPUBLICANS ON THE COMMISSION RIGHT NOW IS BOB SPINNEDEL WHO WAS ONE OF THE FALSE ELECTORS FOR TRUMP NOW GETTING ATTENTION FROM THE JANUARY 6th COMMITTEE AND POSSIBLY THE U.S. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT.

WHAT IS YOUR COMMENT ON WISCONSIN'S LATE OF FALSE ELECTORS?

>> WELL, I'M RELUCTANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT.

THERE IS A LAWSUIT PENDING.

THERE WAS A COMPLAINT FILED WITH THE COMMISSION.

THE COMMISSION DISMISSED THE COMPLAINT ON A 6-0 VOTE.

THE COMPLAINANTS ARE SUING THE COMMISSION INCLUDING COMMISSIONER SPIN DEL IN -- SPINTELL IN COURT.

AND ONE OF THE UNPLEASANT DUTIES I HAVE IS I AM QUARTERBACKING THAT CASE AND THE OUTSIDE ATTORNEYS ARE REPORTING TO ME.

SO I'M NOT GOING TO COMMENT ON IT.

I DO AGREE, I WILL AGREE, THOUGH, THAT I THOUGHT THE COMMISSION'S DECISION WAS CORRECT, THAT THE ULTIMATE SLATE OF ELECTORS, AS FAR AS I CAN TELL, DID NOT VIOLATE ANY WISCONSIN LAW THAT WAS PRESENTED IN THAT COMPLAINT.

>> WHAT ABOUT CALLS TO DECERTIFY THE 2020 ELECTION?

>> THE -- EVEN THE COUNCIL REPRESENTING THE PRE -- COUNSEL REPRESENTING THE PREVAIL PARTYING IN THE DROP BOX CASES T COUNSEL HAVE CONCEDED THAT THERE'S NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE TO DECERTIFY THE 2020 ELECTION.

AS FAR AS I CAN TELL, THE COMMISSION HAS NO ROLE AT THIS POINT IN DEALING WITH THE 2020 ELECTION.

MY JOB HAS BEEN TO LOOK FORWARD.

WE HAVE -- SEEMS TO ME DESPITE MANY ADVANCES IN ELECTION TECHNOLOGY, OUR CONFIDENCE IN ELECTION RESULTS IS AT AN ALL-TIME LOW.

IN 2016 I WAS SUED BECAUSE, AMONG OTHERS, BECAUSE OF THE MANY PEOPLE ON THE LEFT FELT THAT HILLARY CLINTON WON WISCONSIN AND IN 2020 YOU HAVE THE SAME THING WHERE PEOPLE ON THE RIGHT BELIEVED DON'T TRUMP WON.

RIGHT NOW THE COMMISSION HAS NO ROLE IN THAT.

MY JOB IS TO LOOK FORWARD AND TRY TO ENHANCE THE PUBLIC'S CONFIDENCE IN ELECTIONS.

>> I TRUST THAT YOU DO BELIEVE THAT JOE BIDEN LEGITIMATELY WON THE PRESIDENCY?

>> I HAVE MY PERSONAL FEELINGS ON THAT.

IT SEEMS THAT EVERY TIME I'M ASKED ABOUT MY ROLE ON THE COMMISSION, THAT'S ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT IS ASKED OF ME.

CLEARLY, THE SUPREME COURT DECIDED THAT THERE WERE SOMETHING THAT -- THINGS THAT WERE UNTOWARD REGARDING THE DROP BOXES.

WHETHER THAT HAD AN IMPACT ON THE ELECTION RESULTS -- I'M NOT GOING TO SAY ONE CANDIDATE WON OVER THE OTHER.

I'M TRYING TO LOOK FORWARD.

>> DON MILLIS, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> IN COVID-19 NEWS, MILWAUKEE IS REINSTATING MASK GUIDANCE AND DANE COUNTY IS EXTENDING THE EMERGENCY HOTEL SHELTER PROGRAM FOR THOSE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.

THESE MEASURES AS WISCONSIN TOPPED 2,000 POSITIVE CASES OVER ONE DAY THIS WEEK.

A NUMBER NOT SEEN SINCE EARLY JUNE, ACCORDING TO THE WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES.

THE STATE'S OFFICIAL POSITIVITY RATE SITS AT OVER 13%.

BUT THAT'S CERTAINLY AN UNDERCOUNT WITH AT-HOME TEST RESULTS NOT APPEARING IN THESE NUMBERS.

WHERE ARE WE HEADED WITH THIS ENDURING PANDEMIC AT THIS POINT?

WE ASKED NATIONAL EXPERT MICHAEL OSTERHOLM, DIRECTOR OF THE CENTER FOR INFESTER DISEASE RESEARCH AND POLICY, AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA.

HE JOINS US FROM MINNEAPOLIS.

AND THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU.

>> SO WHAT ARE THE ESTIMATES FOR HOW BIG OF AN UNDERCOUNT IT IS IN POSITIVE CASES CURRENTLY POSTED ON PUBLIC DASHBOARDS?

>> WE JUST REALLY DON'T KNOW.

I WILL HAVE TO SAY, USING THAT OLD RURAL WISCONSIN APPROACH TO UNDERSTANDING LIFE WHERE YOU WET YOUR FIGURER AND PUT IT UP IN THE AIR AND THAT'S HOW YOU DETERMINE WHICH WAY THE WIND IS COMING, THAT'S PRETTY MUCH WHAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW IN TERMS OF LOOKING AT COVID CASES.

WE HAVE MAJOR UNDERCOUNTS BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE NOT GETTING TESTED, USING THE PCR TESTING THAT WOULD GIVE YOU RESULTS THAT GET REPORTED.

IF YOU NOTED, MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE USING AT-HOME TESTING, THOSE RESULTS, FIRST OF ALL, ARE SOMEWHAT CHALLENGING AND WE KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE RIGHT NOW ARE TESTING NEGATIVE WHEN IN FACT THEY HAVE POSITIVE.

IN ADDITION, THEY'RE NOTE GETTING -- THEY'RE NOT GETTING REPORTED.

SO AT THIS TIME IT'S CLEAR THERE ARE MANY, MANY MORE CASES OCCURRING IN THE COMMUNITY.

I PERSONALLY KNOW OF MORE PEOPLE IN MY OWN LIFE RIGHT NOW THAT ARE INFECTED THAN I'VE SEEN AT ANY TIME IN THE ENTIRE PANDEMIC.

SO THE ONE THING THAT WE ARE USING RIGHT NOW AS A MEASURE INDIRECTLY OF WHAT'S HAPPENING IS HOSPITALIZATIONS AND DEATHS.

AND UNFORTUNATELY BOTH OF THOSE ARE CREEPING UP QUICKLY THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.

>> OUR STATE LAB SAYS THAT THE BA.5 VARIANT HAS NOW THE DOMINANT ONE.

WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THIS VARIANT?

>> WELL, AS WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT, ON THIS VERY SHOW THE BETTER PART OF THE LAST TWO YEARS, THIS VIRUS CONTINUES TO THROW 210-MILE-AN-HOUR CURVEBALLS AT US.

BA.5 IS NOW ONE THAT CAN INVITED THE IMMUNE PROTECTIONS OF THE VACCINES BUT EVEN THOSE WHO HAD BA1, THE EARLIER SUBVARIANT OF OMICRON IN DECEMBER AND JAN, ARE NOW GETTING INFECTED WITH BA.5.

SO THIS IS ONE OF THE ISSUES WE HAVE WITH THE COVID SITUATION, IS IN FACT THAT THE IMMUNE INVASION OF THESE NEWER VARIANTS IS A PROBLEM FOR US IN TERMS OF JUST UNDERSTANDING JUST HOW MANY NEW INFECTIONS WILL OCCUR, WHAT WILL HAPPEN.

WE JUST DON'T KNOW AT THIS POINT.

>> SO QUOTING FROM AN ATLANTA ARTICLE, MORE VARIANTS MEAN MORE INFECTIONS, MORE INFECTIONS MEAN MORE VARIANTS.

HOW DOES THIS CYCLE LOOK MOVING FORWARD, SAY, INTO THE FALL?

>> WELL, IT'S CLEAR THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T GET TO THE POINT EVENTUALLY OF WHERE, YOU KNOW -- ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS LOOK AT SOMETHING ACROSS THE FOOTBALL FIELD AND YOU GET INFECTED.

THAT'S NOT GOING TO GOING TO HAPPEN.

BUT EACH TIME THE VARIANT EMERGES AND TAKES OVER, IT MEANS THAT ARE NO, SIR INFECTIOUS AND ABLE TO INFECT.

WE'LL CONTINUE TO SEE, AFTER BA.5, WILL WE HAVE A BA7.

A 2.75 WHICH MAY HAVE THIS ADDITIONALT PROS TO MAKE IT THE DOMINANT -- PROPERTIES TO MAKE IT THE DOMINANT VARIANT.

BUT WE HAVE TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT PRIOR SIGMA.

WHAT'S NEXT?

WE DON'T KNOW.

AND SO I THINK WE HAVE TO EXPECT AT THIS POINT THE UNEXPECTED.

WHEN WE TALKED ON THIS SHOW A YEAR AGO, WHO COULD HAVE IMAGINED YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN CHRON?

WHO WOULD HAVE IMAGINED HOW IT WOULD BE SO HIGHLY INFENCER AND SPREAD THROUGH -- INFECTIOUS AND THE LEAD THROUGH THE COMMUNITIES?

WHAT WILL IT WILL BE IN THE WINT OR FALL, WE DON'T KNOW.

THE U.S. IS DONE WITH THE PANDEMIC.

WE'RE LOOKING ACROSS THE BOARDS.

THE CITIZENS ARE DONE WITH IT BUT THE VIRUS ISN'T DONE.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO RECONCILE.

>> IT SEEMS THAT FOLKS HAVE PRETTY MUCH QUIT WEARING MASKS.

SHOULD WEB?

>> WELL -- SHOULD WE BE?

>> I STILL WEAR MINE IF I'M IN A PUBLIC SETTING WHERE I MAY BE EXPOSED TO SOMEONE ELSE'S AIR.

AND WE ARE SEEING MANY, MANY CASES RIGHT NOW OCCURRING FROM BEING IN PUBLIC SETTINGS WHERE PEOPLE ARE NOT WEARING ANY KIND OF RESPIRATORY PROTECTION.

EVEN THOSE WHO THINK IF I JUST TAKE IT OFF FOR 45 MINUTES TO EAT IN A RESTAURANT, I'M OKAY.

THAT'S NOT TRUE.

WE HAVE MANY CASES OCCURRING THERE.

WHAT THE CHALLENGE IS RIGHT NOW, IS IF THESE ARE MILDER ILLNESSES, AS A NUMBER OF THEM ARE, THAT'S THE PRICE I PAY TO LIVE IN A WORLD OF COVID.

I WANT TO LIVE MY LIFE.

WE ALL UNDERSTAND THAT.

I WANT TO DO THAT.

BUT IF YOU'RE AT RISK FOR SERIOUS ILLNESS, HOSPITALIZATIONS, OR DEATH, YOUR OLDER, YOU HAVE UNDERLYING IMMUNE CRIMINAL PRI MILDS CONDITIONS, YOU'RE -- COMPROMISED CONDITIONS, YOU'RE OVERWEIGHT, ALL THOSE FACTORS RIGHT NOW, YOUR BEST BET IS TO ONE, BE AS VACCINATED AS YOU CAN BE.

IF YOU CAN GET FOUR DOSES BY ABLE GET IT OR THREE DOSES.

BUT IN ADDITION, PROTECT YOURSELF IN THE PUBLIC SETTING, YOU WANT TO GO OUT IN THE PUBLIC, HAVE THAT N95 RESPIRATORY ON AND THAT CAN GO A LONG BASIS IN ALLOWING YOU -- WAYS IN ALLOWING TO GO TO MOVIES AND CONCERT.

IF YOU HAVE THAT PROTECTION ON, THAT'S WHAT YOU NEED TO DO.

>> SHOULD WE HOLD OUT HOPE FOR A VARIANT-SPECIFIC BOOSTER REPORTEDLY COMING THIS FALL?

>> YOU KNOW, I AM NOT A BIG FAN OF THE -- SUBVARIANT BOOSTERS IN THE FACT -- THINK OF THE FOLLOWING.

WE JUST DONE TALKING ABOUT BA.5 IS NOW INFECTING PEOPLE WHO HAD BA.1.

SO THERE'S AN EXAMPLE OF THE SUBVARIANT THAT IS NOT SUCCESSFULLY PROTECTING YOU IF THAT WERE A VACCINE.

NOW, IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN GOING FORWARD IN THE NEXT FOUR TO FIVE WEEKS TO SEVERAL MONTHS, SOMETHING IS GOING TO REPLACE BA.5.

SO EVEN IF YOU HAVE A SUBVATOR VACCINE -- SUBVARIANT VACCINE, THERE'S NO INDICATION THAT WILL PROTECT YOU MORE.

SO I THINK IF WE CHASE THIS VIRUS BY JUST TRYING TO CATCH UP WITH THE SUBVARIANT DEVELOPMENT AND THEY MAKE NEW VACCINES, WE'LL ALWAYS BE A DAY LATE AND A DOLLAR SHORT.

THE STILL MOST IMPORTANT THING IS GET THE REGULAR VACCINE WE HAVE RIGHT NOW, KNOWING THAT IT WON'T NECESSARILY PROTECT YOU FROM GETTING INFECTED BUT IT CAN GO A LONG WAYS IN PROTECTING YOU SERIOUS ILLNESS, HOSPITALIZATIONS, OR DEATHS.

>> DR. MICHAEL OSTERHOLM, THANKS VERY MUCH FOR YOUR INFORMATION.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> TURNING TO "HERE AND NOW" 2022, ELECTION COVERAGE, TONIGHT WE GIVE YOU A LOOK AT THE CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR U.S. SENATE IN WISCONSIN.

OVER THE WEEKS LEADING UP TO THE AUGUST 9 PRIMARY, WE'RE SHARING EXCERPTS OF INTERVIEWS REPORTER STEVEN POTTER CONDUCTED.

WE START WITH CANDIDATE MANDELA BARNES.

HE'S CURRENTLY LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR OF WISCONSIN, ELECTED TO THAT POSITION IN 2018.

BEFORE THAT HE SERVED TWO TEAMS IN THE ASSEMBLY REPRESENTING HIS MILWAUKEE DISTRICT.

>> CURRENTLY GONE'S LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR -- WISCONSIN'S LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, PLEEFL A STATE LAWMAKERS.

>> I'M RUNNING FOR THE U.S. SENATE TO REBUILD THE MIDDLE-CLASS, THAT SAME THAT GIVE ME SO MUCH MOTHER.

MY MOTHER WAS A TEACHER.

AND MY DAD WORKED IN AN ASSEMBLY LINE.

THOSE TICKETS ARE HARDER AND HARDER FOUR PEOPLE TO COME BY.

WE'RE IN DESPERATE NEED OF LEADERSHIP RIGHT NOW.

PEOPLE WHO HAVE A FIRSTHAND UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT IS ACTUALLY GOING ON.

PEOPLE LIKE RON JOHNSON HAVE LEFT PEOPLE IN EVERY CORNER OF THIS STATE BEHIND.

THAT IS A PROBLEM, ESPECIALLY AS PEOPLE SEE RISING COSTS AT THE GROCERY STORE, AT THE GAS PUMP.

WE SEE OUR INDUSTRIES IN CRISIS, MANUFACTURING IS SUFFERING.

OUR SMALL FAMILY NORMTS FARMERS ARE BEING SKIED OUT -- SQUEEZED OUT.

WE HAVE AN OUT-OF-TOUCH U.S. SENATE THAT'S BROKEN AND I ALSO HEAR FROM PEOPLE, THAT IT IS A MILLIONAIRE'S CLUB THAT THEY WANT TO SEE BROKEN UP, BECAUSE THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF PEOPLE IN THIS STATE AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE NOT MILLIONAIRES AND THAT'S WHY THE ISSUES CONTINUE TO GET SWEPT UNDER THE RUG.

SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE OPPORTUNITY THAT I HAD GROWING UP IS AVAILABLE TO EVERY PERSON IN EVERY COUNTY AND EVERY ZIP CODE ACROSS THE STATE.

>> IF ELECTED WHAT WOULD YOUR PRIORITIES BE?

>> WE HAVE A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE AND CREATING GOOD PAYING JOBS IN THE PO SESSION.

WE HAVE TO BE AGGRESSIVE.

AND WE HAVE TO SAVE OUR DEMOCRACY.

NOTHING ELSE MATTER PHYSICAL WE DON'T PROTECT THE RIGHT TO VOTE, THAT PEOPLE HAVE ACCESS TO THE BALLOT AS THEY SHOULD.

AND WHAT'S TOP OF MIND FOR SO MANY OTHER PEOPLE IS PROTECTING THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE.

>> RON JOHNSON HAS WON ELECTION TO THE SENATE TWICE.

WHY ARE YOU THE CANDIDATE, THE DEMOCRAT WHO CAN BEAT HIM IN THE GENERAL ELECTION IN NOVEMBER?

>> THERE'S AN IMMINENT THREAT WITH SENATOR JOHNSON, A THREAT TO OUR DEMOCRACY AND WAY OF LIFE.

WE NEED TO SAY ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.

PUT AN END TO THESE PRACTICES THAT HAVE MADE IT HARDER AND HARDER FOR PEOPLE TO GET AHEAD.

WE HAVE TO CHANGE WASHINGTON AND ONLY WHEN WE CHANGE WASHINGTON IS WHEN WE CHANGE THE PEOPLE WE SEND TO WASHINGTON.

>> NEXT UP IS ANOTHER CANDIDATE FROM MILWAUKEE, ALEX LASRY, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF THE MILWAUKEE BUCKS.

PRIOR TO JOINING THE BUCKS, HE WORKED IN VARIOUS ROLES FOR THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION.

>> CURRENTLY AN EXECUTIVE FOR THE MILWAUKEE BUCKS.

WHY DO YOU WANT TO BE A U.S.

SENATOR?

>> I'M RUNNING BECAUSE I WANT MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ABLE TO GET THINGS DONE.

ONE OF THE BIGGEST FRUSTRATIONS I'VE HAD WITH WASHINGTON, I THINK ALL OF US HAVE HAD WITH WASHINGTON OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, IS THE FACT THAT WE'VE GOT A LOT OF PEOPLE IN OFFICE WHO JUST AREN'T GETTING THINGS DONE.

AND I THINK THAT'S WHERE A LOT OF VOTERS' FRUSTRATION AND THAT'S SOMETHING I'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO MY ENTIRE CAREER, WHEN IT'S RAISING WAGES, CREATING THOUSANDS OF GOOD PAYING UNION JOBS, BRINGING INVESTMENT TO THIS STATE.

>> WHAT YOUR LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES BE?

>> I THINK THE TOP PRIORITY IS MORE AFTER PROCESS ISSUE.

WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET RID OF THE FILIBUSTER SO WE CAN ACTUALLY GET THINGS DONE.

MAKE CODIFYING ROE V. WADE.

LIKE MAKING SURE THAT WE BAN ASSAULT WEAPONS.

LIKE MAKING SURE THAT WE PASS THINGS LIKE THE PRO ACT SO WE CAN RAISE WAGES AND GIVE WORKERS THEIR RIGHTS BACK.

I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS WE'VE SEEN MANY ECONOMY -- ECONOMISTS SAY IS ONE OF THE BEST THINGS WE CAN TO DO MAKE SHOULD THAT YOU ARE WE'RE MITIGATING INFLATION IS GETTING RID OF THE TRUMP TAX CUTS.

I WANT TO DO THAT SO WE AREN'T CREATING THESE TAX BREAKS THAT MAKE IT EASIER TO SHIP JOBS OVERSEAS BUT WORKING ON EDUCATION, JOB TRAINING, BRINGING THOSE JOBS BACK HERE TO WISCONSIN SO THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY INVEST IN OUR WORKFORCE AND BING HIGHER BRIDGES -- BRING HIRE WAGES TO THE STATE.

>> RON JOHNSON HAS WON THIS TWICE.

WHY ARE YOU THE CANDIDATE WHO CAN BEAT HIM?

>> WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE LAST 12 YEARS, RON JOHNSON HAS DONE NOTHING FOR THE STATE.

THE ONLY THING HE'S GONE IS PASS A -- DONE IS PASS A TAX CUT TO ENRICH HIMSELF AND HIS FRIENDS.

DO YOU WANT SOMETHING THAT'S HURTING THE STATE?

OR SOMEONE WHO HAS BROUGHT JOBS, RAISED WAGES, AND CREATED INVESTMENT HERE SO THAT WE KNOW THAT WHEN THEY GET TO WASHINGTON, THEY'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT SAME THING?

I THINK WITH WE MAKE THAT CHOICE CLEAR, THE CHOICE WILL BE SIMPLE.

>> FIND THE INTERVIEWS WITH CANDIDATES RUNNING OWE OUR NEWS PAGE ON PBSWISCONSIN.ORG.

>>> WE ALSO HAVE AN INVITATION OUT TO INCUMBENT SENATOR RON JOHNSON FOR AN INTERVIEW ON THIS PROGRAM.

>>> TURNING TO ANOTHER NATIONAL ISSUE, ILLEGAL ABORTION HAS LED TO AN AN INCREASED DEMAND FOR EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTIVES.

SOME PHARMACIES ARE STOCKING UP ON THESE LARGELY OVER-THE-COUNTER DRUGS.

MARISA WHOA CHICK -- WHOA CHECK SPOKE WITH THE PHARMACIST.

>> ARE YOU CONCERNED THAT EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTIVES COULD BE BANNED OR SEVERELY LIMITED IN ACCESS?

>> I DO HAVE THAT CONCERN.

I FEEL LIKE THE PO PERSONAL FOR THAT TO OCCUR -- POTENTIAL FOR THAT TO OCCUR IS POSSIBLE.

AS OF A FEW WEEKS AGO, I DIDN'T THINK THAT -- LEGAL ABORTION WOULD BE GONE AND IT IS NOW.

I KNOW THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE THAT -- THAT THERE SHOULDN'T BE ANY MEDICATION THAT IS WOULD AFFECT A FETUS OR WOULD AFFECT A EMBRYO.

SO I THINK THEY'RE AT RISK.

>> HAS THE DEMAND FOR EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTIVES GONE UP?

>> WE HAVE SEEN IT GO UP.

WE PROBABLY SOLD ONE -- ONE PACKAGE PROBABLY A MONTH PRIOR TO THE DECISION.

WE HAVE SOLD SEVERAL PACKAGES A DAY SINCE THE DECISION.

I THINK WE SAW THAT THERE'S A TREND THAT THE -- THAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE WANTING TO GET EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTIVE CARE FOR THEMSELVES TO HAVE IT AROUND.

AND THAT CREATED AN INCREASE IN DEMAND, WHICH CAN RESULT IN A SHORT SUPPLY.

AND A SHORT SUPPLY CAN LEAD TO INCREASED PRICE.

AND SO I THINK WE MADE A DECISION TO TRY AND PURCHASE A LARGE QUANTITY SO THAT WE COULD HAVE IT ON HAND AND THEN DECIDED TO MAKE IT BASICALLY SELL IT AT OUR COSTS SO WE COULD MAKE SURE THAT TO DAMPEN ANY RISK OF INCREASED PRICE.

>> SO EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTIVES, THOSE ARE DIFFERENT FROM ABORTION MEDICATION, RIGHT?

>> CORRECT.

CORRECT.

THESE ARE MEDICATIONS.

THESE EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTIVORS ARE MEDICATIONS THAT YOU TAKE IN THE FIRST THREE DAYS.

SEXUAL EVENT THAT WAS NOT PROTECTED.

AND SO YOU CAN USE THOSE WITHIN THREE DAYS AFTER THAT TO BE ABOUT 90 TO 95% EFFECTIVE.

>> WE'VE HEARD A LITTLE BIT ABOUT POTENTIALLY PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO GET PREGNANT ARE NO LONGER BEING FREE SCRIBED SINCE -- PRESCRIBED THINGS THAT COULD LEAD TO A MISCARRIAGE OR HARMING THE FEETUS.

HAS THAT BEEN AN ISSUE AT ALL?

>> WE HAVEN'T SEEN THAT HERE.

WE HAVE HEARD TALKING -- WE HAVE HEARD OTHER PROFESSIONALS TALKING ABOUT MEDICATIONS THAT ARE USED FOR THE TREATMENT OF ARTHRITIS, TREATMENT OF -- OF OTHER MEDICAL CONDITIONS THAT ARE NOT RELATED TO ABORTION.

AND THOSE DRUGS ARE NOT BEING AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY CAN BE USED IN ABORTION.

WE HAVEN'T SEEN THAT HERE.

IF WE GOT A PRESCRIPTION FOR ONE OF THOSE MEDICATIONS AT THIS POINT, I THINK IT WOULD BE OUR POLICY WOULD BE TO CALL THE PROVIDER WHO WROTE THE PRESCRIPTION AND ASK FOR A DIAGNOSIS AND WHY IT'S BEING USED.

SO THAT WE CAN ENSURE THAT WE WERE USING IT -- OUTSIDE OF THE REASONS FOR -- THAT THEY'RE USED FOR ABORTION.

>> HAS THIS CHANGED THE WAY YOU HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH PROVIDERS?

>> YEAH, I THINK THAT AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH MEDICATIONS THAT HAVE MULTIPLE USES, AND THERE ARE LEGAL RAMIFICATIONS ABOUT USING THE SAME MEDICATION, IF YOU USE THINK IT WAY, IT'S ILLEGAL AND IF YOU USE IT THIS OTHER WAY IT'S NOT ILLEGAL, I THINK WE'LL SEE MORE CONVERSATIONS BETWEEN PROVIDERS AND PHARMACISTS TO DISCUSS EXACTLY WHY THESE MEDICATIONS ARE BEING USED SO THEY CAN BE DOCUMENTED.

>> ARE THERE LIEBLES FOR -- 4R50EUB89S -- 4R50EUB89S FOR YOU PROVIDING THESE MET CASES?

>> I THINK -- MEDICATIONS?

>> I THINK THE LAW IN WISCONSIN IF I WERE TO DISPENSE MEDICATION THAT COULD BE USED TO ABORT A FETUS.

SO, YEAH.

>> WHAT DO YOUSY GOING -- DO YOU THINK IS GOING TO HAPPEN GOING FORWARD?

>> I THINK WE'RE PROBABLY IN A ELDHOING PATTERN AT THIS -- IN A HOLDING PATTERN AT THIS POINT AND I DON'T EXPECT MUCH TO CHANGE F. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE REVERSAL OF THE CURRENT LAW, IT'S GOING TO HAVE TO COME FROM THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

>> WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN HEARING FROM CUSTOMERS SINCE ROE WAS OVERTURNED AND JUST IN GENERAL ABOUT THE NEED FOR THIS KIND OF CARE?

>> SO WE'VE HEARD A LOT OF THANK YOUS.

WE HAVE GOTTEN A LOT OF SUPPORT FROM THE COMMUNITY.

>> AND DO YOU SEE THIS AS PATIENT CARE FOR YOUR CUSTOMERS?

>> YES.

ACCESS TO -- ACCESS TO CARE IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS THAT WE THINK THAT WE CAN PROVIDE.

AND SO, YES, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT IT'S ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE WHO NEEDS IT.

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

THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT.

I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.

HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.

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