Good morning.
Welcome.
Welcome to Matt Nair on air.
Jane Matt Nair, Greg Bach, Calvin Butenoff coming to you live from our studio here at Radio Park in Racine.
You can always join us, call or text.
The number is the same.
It's 855-752-4842.
Leave a comment if you're watching on the live stream on Facebook, YouTube.
And what used to be Twitter, it is Tuesday, February 25th.
As of today, the average price of a gallon of milk in Wisconsin is $3.17, the same as yesterday.
The average price of a dozen large eggs here in the state, $6.11.
No change since yesterday, but that is up 45 cents since last week.
We have a very, very busy show coming up for you today.
State Senator Brad Paff is going to be joining us after the 1030 News to talk about the right to repair bill.
And this is something that's been kicking around for a while.
It's especially important to Wisconsin farmers who want to be able to fix their own equipment.
Yeah.
Oh, yeah.
You wouldn't think we'd have to have a bill to do that.
But when you look at it and you read it, you're like, yeah, this makes sense.
This makes sense.
So Brad is going to explain what is in this measure and the likelihood or not of whether that will move forward in the Republican-controlled legislature here in Wisconsin.
So State Senator Brad Paff joining us after the 10.30 news next hour at 11 o'clock, Dr. Kristen Lierly will be here.
Of course, since the fall of Roe,
Some states now no longer have any exceptions for rape, incest, or the life of a mother in order to give her the health care that she needs.
And now the amount of the number of cases involving sepsis are way on the rise.
This is not good.
Dr. Liarley will be joining us to talk about that after the 11 o'clock news.
11.30 the last half hour of the show.
Not everyone likes this, but...
I think it's important that we take a moment to breathe.
Yes.
And to laugh just for a brief time.
And to also extinguish the fire that's on our hair.
Yeah,
it's, it's, that just isn't the way that we do things.
We don't do those things here.
And we hear from people who have their thoughts, ideas, suggestions, and that's great.
Please contact us via
The text line, call us, email us.
Jane says at PacificMedia.us, leave a comment on the live stream.
But the rip in the Band-Aid moment office here is to say, it's Jane's show.
It's our show.
And we feel... I
think it's important that we laugh.
Exactly.
And I realize that there are a lot of things that aren't funny.
right now.
things are not funny right now, but I still think it's important that we all just have a little bit of a break as opposed to, as you said, all of the hair on fire that we could do though, through the whole show.
There's no question about it, but we like to try and lighten things up a little bit in the last half hour of the program.
So at 11.33, this is the question, and I think it's a pretty easy one, but I think it will have some interesting responses.
Do you read?
Books newspapers articles do you read and if not, how do you absorb your information?
There's an article in the Atlantic talking about Essentially that yeah whether or not folks are reading in this country anymore And we will wrap it up as we always do with this shouldn't be a thing today.
It's the royal flush edition Greg found this one It's good stick around for that and as well if you ever have a thing you think should not be not related to politics
Send it into Jane says at civicmedia.us Wanted to start off with this though because we spent a lot of time on it yesterday the town halls that some Republicans have been having around the country Getting a lot of hot response.
Yeah,
it's getting real tense getting getting tense in in some areas not everyone excited about Elon Musk the unelected co-president coming in and slashing programs that shocking actually affect
some of these politicians constituents.
So after some of these town halls last week where they got a fair amount of pushback, have they moderated at all on this?
You must be joking.
Politico headline reads House Republican unfazed by protests.
We are moving forward with the cuts.
Many GOP lawmakers insist their constituents are all supportive of Elon Musk's moves.
Well, scientifically no because we just what listen to videos of people booing and screaming at their representatives and
but you know, I look at different accounts on Twitter.
Yeah, and They're there is support for this absolutely there there absolutely is but it also seems to be There's support for it as long as it doesn't affect me I'm all behind these cuts as long as it's somebody else losing their job.
Yeah,
then it's just fine
And I found this clip, which I found very interesting.
Marie Harf is a commentator for faux news.
And she was on the five, I believe, yesterday with this comment about Elon's firings.
Calvin, can you play that clip, please?
There are both legal problems.
And I think we're hearing that from some of the unions.
There are contracts that have been negotiated.
But more importantly, this is just the latest in a strain of attacks.
public servants that have happened for the last month.
I spent ten years in the federal government.
Most of the people I worked with at the CIA or the State Department were hardworking, patriotic, dedicated Americans.
These federal workers aren't just in Washington, they're around the country.
We had 1,000 veterans affairs employees fired by Doge in the last few weeks, including some that manned the suicide hotline for veterans.
We had FAA safety officers mistakenly fired, and people that work on avian flu, the reason our eggs are so expensive is because of bird flu.
So moving fast and making public service employees
feel like the enemy and make it seem like it's something that's dishonorable is very difficult for people across the country.
And that's why you see people in red states and red districts going to town halls with their members and saying, I have honorably served my country for 20 years and I got fired for no reason by Elon Musk, who by the way makes millions and millions of dollars from the federal government.
Yes, he does.
And he's firing people who make $50,000 a year for no reason.
So I think morally this has been really disheartening to see how they're going out.
Someone so rich as Elon is going after public service employees and not doing it with a scalpel, not having their managers be the one to do it.
Doge isn't managing these people.
And at the same time, you know, people across the country can't pay their mortgages or put food on the table for their kids because they got fired from a job they thought had job security.
That is not...
electorally or morally a good plan, I think for Republican.
$50,000 is not making a huge amount of money.
Oh my gosh, especially if you have, if you have, if you make $50,000 a year and you have one child, you better hope your spouse is making 50 or 100 grand a year.
And that's still not even that much to keep up with everything.
Right.
I mean, good on her.
Who is this again?
Her name is, she's some contributor on a phone news, Maria Harf.
Maria Harf.
Yeah.
I mean, she'll never be back on there, by the way.
Well, they always, they always like to have a liberal on there to make them feel uncomfortable.
So I think that, you know, this, that was a, that was a 100% bipartisan statement.
That didn't, that didn't favor the left or the right.
That was just a statement of fact.
And this notion that Elon with his chainsaw coming in as the best, is the best path forward.
No, it's not.
This is just.
We're what?
A month and some change in?
Yeah.
Imagine what we're going to look like in two months and three
months.
Six months.
Six months.
Six months when, as James Vanderloos said last week, we're going to see the real effects of those tariffs come through as well.
So not just the cutting, but the tariffs and CNN just dropped a survey, a poll, I should say.
Americans aren't happy right now because the prices aren't coming down.
Inflation is up.
Inflation is up.
The stock market looks bad.
And it's just not this glamorous life that, what did he say he would do on day one?
Drop prices.
Day one's coming gone many times over.
But he's addressed the important things, Greg.
Like the body of water south of Texas.
The Gulf
of Greg.
Yeah.
We can all change names if we want.
Not all Republicans are happy with the cuts.
Republican Representative Jeff Van Drew from New Jersey
said, quote, don't touch seniors Medicare and don't cut Medicaid because it isn't just for lazy welfare people.
It's for real people.
And that's the new Republican Party, a populist party, a party of working people, a party of blue collar people.
You could have just stopped it.
Don't cut Medicaid.
You didn't have to have the lazy part in.
I mean, yes, he's right.
It's not.
But that's how they, how they have framed it.
Yes.
For decades.
Yes.
Lazy moochers.
Lazy moochers.
Lazy moochers.
Takers.
Yes.
Not makers, Jane.
Takers.
Takers.
Not everyone, though, agrees with that Republican.
Another Republican, Missouri representative, Mark Alford, also had a town hall last week, his response to people angry about all the cuts happening in their communities.
Here is what he said.
Just because you have a government job doesn't mean it's a lifetime appointment like the Supreme Court.
That's a whole nother issue.
So I would encourage anyone who finds themselves in this situation to realize we're gonna get this economy turning again.
There are jobs available.
God has a plan and purpose for your life.
So you can't pay your mortgage, you guys.
Don't worry.
God's got a plan.
Yeah, Johnson Bank, I lost my job this month.
But they said God has a plan.
So can I just am I fine with that?
No.
Do I have to pay my mortgage?
I still have to pay
my mortgage.
Okay.
Good to know.
Good to know.
Good to know.
All right.
I guess God's plan is paying my mortgage.
All right.
Cool.
You know, that's just so just we need civil servants like crazy.
And also let's I mean, we can't I'd love to step back into the ring of the economy was awesome in this country a year ago.
It was.
It was hard for some people.
And inflation was up.
Inflation was up, but not as much as they were telling us.
They were saying 20%.
That's a lie.
But where do they want the economy to be then?
That's what I want to know.
We're going to continue this discussion and talk about some of the savings the Trump administration has found and some of the spending that they've been doing while they're cutting big time.
for things that affect you and me and our neighbors.
Regardless of party.
Regardless of party.
But they are shelling out for other things.
Some big ticket items.
We'll have details on the other side.
Stay with us.
And again, if you'd like to join the conversation, 855-752-4842.
You're listening to Matt Nair on air.
This is the Civic Media Radio
Network.
Good morning, welcome, welcome to Matt Nair on air, Jane Matt Nair, Greg Bach.
Dr. Slide on the Board, coming to you from our studio here at Radio Park in Racine.
You can always join us, call her, text at 855-
7524842 leave a comment if you're watching on the live stream on Facebook YouTube and what used to be Twitter right after the 1030 news Wisconsin State Senator Brad Paff gonna join us to talk about the right to repair bill this is something that will be good for Wisconsin farmers it amazes me that this is a thing yeah and but it is and so we're gonna talk about Senator Paff's
measure that he has co-authored and whether or not this will actually pass through the Republican control legislature in Wisconsin.
That is coming up right after the 1030 news.
Before the break, we were talking about doge and all the cuts and the protests that kind of broke out at a bunch of town halls last week.
Not a lot of people.
Not everyone, shall we say, is happy with this.
There are a bunch of people I've seen on Twitter going, go, go, cut deeper, cut deeper, do more, do more.
Hasn't hurt them yet, apparently.
Hasn't touched them yet.
But I think it's important on the flip side, because the Trump administration on the one hand, all about cutting and savings for the American people, that's who this is for.
What?
Is the Trump administration spending money on?
One might ask.
And one would reply, Kristi Noem says $200 million.
Department of Homeland Security ad campaign thanking Trump was his idea.
Say
that number again.
$200 million.
$200 million.
Donald Trump's Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
says Trump instructed her to make ads that quote, thank me for closing the border.
Now, I haven't seen I don't want watch a lot of broadcast television.
I have yet to see any of these ads.
Apparently they're running all over Fox News.
Well, you got to you got to make sure they get, you know, they get their beak wet.
Yeah.
Got to got to pay them off.
Well, they also have to still pay on a billion dollar lawsuit they lost.
Yeah, well, there's that.
Yeah.
Uh, Kristi Noem was speaking at the CPAC conference last week.
She recalled Trump telling her after she was nominated, I want you to do ads for the border and I want you to do those everywhere.
I want them around the world.
I want you to tell people not to come to this country if they're going to come here illegally.
Quote, quote, according to Kristi Noem,
We're not going to let the media tell this story because the media never tells the truth.
We're going to run a marketing campaign making sure Americans know the truth of what you're doing.
So $200 million we've spent for an ad, by the way, in English.
Well, thank God.
Christine Ohm says Trump instructed her he didn't want to be in the ads himself.
Stay saying instead Christy.
I want you in the ads I want your face in the ads, but I want the first ad I want you to thank me I want you to thank me for closing the border and she recalled I said yes, sir.
I will thank you for closing the border So if you notice in that ad we thanked him for closing the border Our tax dollars at work folks.
Yeah, don't you feel
better?
It's, it's funny.
It's like the notion that he, he's slashed and burned through millions, if not tens, if not hundreds of millions of dollars already.
And we just spent it on a, a thank you card
to himself.
Yeah.
Make sure you thank me.
Make sure you thank
God.
The level, just the level of narcissism we're dealing with right now is like, yeah, study is.
brain one day.
Just so disgusting.
Sue from Franklin listening on WAUK when we're talking about cuts for the but not for me.
It's like some of these Republicans have been told that they don't have to worry about Doge cuts.
They'll be safe.
No matter what, I think you have a really good point
there, Sue.
I don't think that's I think that he's going to cut and cut and cut and then he's going to look at the Congress and say, where can we cut your budgets next?
Well, if they want to cut
budgets and they want to save money.
How many staffers does the average elected official in Washington have?
Well, they have a lot.
They have because they have their staffers in Washington.
They have their staffers across their home state.
I mean, I'm looking up
right
now.
Shouldn't they be tightening their belts, Greg Buck?
Do they need more than two?
Why would you need more than two?
That is a question that I'll bet you.
Elon's going to be asking in the next few months.
Yeah, then we're going to hear some screeching once it affects them.
However, we're already seeing it on Fox and phone news.
I should say Jesse Waters pleading on air on behalf of his friend who got laid off by Doge.
He was doged according to Jesse Waters.
Water says the man was worthy of his job, unlike the rest of those good for nothing public servants.
who work to keep Americans safe.
Lots of Republican lawmakers have been too cowed in to reign in Trump and Musk.
So instead they're asking for special exemptions, which is what I said was going to happen from the beginning.
And you're going to see this happen with FEMA dollars too.
Well, you're
also if you don't suck up, you're not getting any money.
Mississippi will get FEMA dollars with no content, with no contingencies, whereas California,
New
York.
Minnesota, who knows, maybe even us, because we're not good enough.
855-752-4842.
Jack from Miramac, we got about 90 seconds left.
Jack, go ahead.
Thanks for joining us.
Jack, are you there?
Nope, not here.
Jack, give us a call back if you like.
855-
7524842 even though House Republicans say they are unfazed by the recent protests don't stop Of course they do because they don't care what they're they're but but my point is don't stop We talked to Lou Ann Bird yesterday.
Oh making those phone calls.
Yes.
Keep making it send them a letter Send them a handwritten letter.
How can how can they where do they go
Jane to find out more information
about that?
It's super easy if you do not know how to contact your lawmaker Just go to myvotes.wi.gov
type in your address.
All of your elected officials will come up, including their phone numbers.
So give them a call.
Even though I understand from some things I saw on social media yesterday, Ron Johnson's mailbox is full.
Well, he's too busy voting against the veterans of this country, but that's another conversation.
Another day.
He needs another staffer
to go through those to go through those voice messages.
All right, we have news coming up next.
And then state Senator Brad Pfeff is going to join us.
Stay with us.
You were listening to Matt Nair on air.
This is the Civic Media Radio Network.
Good morning.
Welcome.
Welcome to Matt Nair on air.
Jane Matt Nair, Greg Bach, Dr. Slide on the board coming to you from our studio here at Radio Park in Racine.
You can always join us.
Call her text.
The number is the same 855-752-4842.
You can leave a comment too.
If you're watching on a live stream.
on Facebook, YouTube and the platform shedding more users than a molting parrot.
Next hour at this time, we're going to be taught.
We're going to lighten it up.
We always do for the last half hour
of the show.
We like to call it our audio sore base segment.
And we're going to just talk about if you read.
Do you read books?
Do you?
get your information some other way.
I think this is something that there's a big article in the Atlantic about it.
We will talk about that next hour at this time.
Do you read?
Do you enjoy reading or is it work?
Is it a chore?
Right now though, delighted to be joined by Wisconsin State Senator Brad Paff, coming to us live from our fabulous studio at the World Headquarters of Civic Media.
In Madison, good morning, sir.
Thank you so much for joining us.
Well, good morning, Jane.
Good morning, Greg.
And I do like to read, but I also like to get on my iPhone and work out and listen to some podcasts.
That works, too.
There you go.
Podcast.
Yep.
That's the thing.
I do.
But this is a beautiful world headquarters.
And thank you for the work that you do.
Oh, thank you so much.
Thank you, sir.
Really appreciate it.
Well, let's talk this.
We do a segment, Senator, called This Shouldn't Be a Thing at the
end
of the show.
And to me, this should not even have to be a thing.
The headline reads, from our civic media news department, Wisconsin lawmakers introduce right to repair bill for farmers.
So that means farmers right now cannot fix their own stuff.
That shouldn't be.
That shouldn't be, Jane.
That should not be.
That's absolutely right.
I'm a farm boy from Western Wisconsin.
And I can tell you this is that you're always up against the clock when you're farming.
You're trying to get that harvest in before it rains, or you're trying to get that harvest in before you got to milk the cows.
And you can imagine that you've purchased over $100,000 for a tractor or $500,000 for a combine to harvest your corn or soybeans.
And when it breaks down, you don't have the right to re...
fix it.
You don't have the right to repair it.
Instead, you have to reach out to the authorized service department from the manufacturer in order to get permission to take that in and get it fixed.
Well, that's not how things work on the farm.
You need to be able to fix your equipment.
And so this is a no brainer.
I've introduced legislation to allow farmers to repair their own equipment.
And I am proud to say that our Attorney General, Josh Call, has also joined a lawsuit with other states in order to force these farm equipment manufacturers to allow our hardworking family farmers to repair their own equipment.
Well, and that's what my question was going to be to you.
And because that answered it, this seemed like almost a
getting together of these companies saying, well, we're going to make it that if you, if you try to repair your own equipment, you void your warranty.
And that
way you
have to come to us where we use the expensive stuff.
We have our people, but like almost like a collusion type of situation.
And,
and,
and as Jane said, I bet you most people would say when they found out farmers couldn't work on their own equipment,
they
say,
What do you what's what do you mean they can't
what's going on here?
Yeah, yeah, that's absolutely right Greg.
It is it's a head scratcher because You know people like to work on their own equipment and sadly this type of stuff is happening not just with agriculture equipment It's also happening with automobiles as well as motorcycles and small engines So there is legislation that addresses these small engines and motorcycles My legislation that I have is for agriculture equipment, but this is something
that it quite frankly is taking place across the marketplace right now.
And I think we all recognize the fact that some of the America's great innovations took place as far as tinkering within a garage.
May it be you look at what's happened as far as the creation of Silicon Valley and what that's led to, but I think we've all heard the story about Steve Jobs and his friends tinkering in a garage or William Heward and Packard.
They worked in the garage and they created what we've got.
So, this is something we should not have.
firmly believe this is bipartisan support.
We're gonna see if we can get it through this legislature.
I think all of us that are listening to this radio program recognize it's not easy to get anything through the legislature right now here in Madison.
But this really is a question is, where do you stand and who do you support?
I mean, the family farmers out there that are working every day to provide food and fiber to all of us, or quite frankly, practices that do not allow those family farmers to fix their own equipment.
I know where I stand, and I think this legislation is important, and quite frankly, it is something we should get done quite quickly.
Yeah, again, I just don't understand why this should be, there's hair ripping on either side on why this shouldn't just sail right through, but I am going to assume that there are some on the other side of it who are like, well, the manufacturers of this equipment, they need to be protected.
And, you know, and there's some merit to that.
And that's why I wrote the legislation to make sure that we protect the intellectual property that has been created there.
That, you know, you do protect the computer codes and all of that.
So what would happen is this or what does happen right now is that you need to call the equipment manufacturer and you need to either have them come out and fix the piece of equipment on the farm in the field or they will sell you the app.
And that app that they will sell you that you can connect to your computer can cost thousands of dollars.
So what this legislation does is it says, hey, boys, let's bring down this price here a little bit.
I mean, what we have now is that since I can't, my equipment is broke down and I've got 500 acres of corn to harvest.
you know right now that's monopolistic in my opinion they can basically say yeah we'll sell you the app but it's going to cost this amount of money yep it can be up into thousands of dollars and i'm saying that is not the way this should be um you know i understand you uh developed uh this and you put thousands and millions of dollars into developing this equipment but the thing is is you need to be able to sell the app at a reasonable
price and of course all of us can debate what a reasonable price is but right now we have a situation that literally your tractor is frozen or your combine is frozen in that field and you cannot fix that unless you reach out and you purchase the app and that is something that you know I
Just have a problem with and I know that the farmers that I represent in Western, Wisconsin Are scratching your heads and saying hey We're good people we want to play by the rules, but I mean what are the rules here?
Yeah rules is that the thing is frozen and I gotta buy your app and
So let's do something about it.
If you're just joining us, State Senator Brad Paff is here and we are talking about the right to repair measure for Wisconsin farmers, which you wouldn't think should be, it has to be a thing, but it is.
The bill requires manufacturers to make repair documentation, data, parts and tools available to owners and mechanics at fair costs without compromising trade secrets.
And as you said, Senator
So my combine breaks down in the middle of my field and I don't have the app and I don't have the money for the app.
It's simply not feasible that this company is going to have someone right down the road who can come out to my farm in the next 20 minutes and fix this.
Well, that's the other thing is is that again then you know if you don't have the money to purchase the app you need to call the Equipment manufacturer and then he or she and they're generally very responsive people But again, they have scheduling issues like anyone else and if again
When corn is ready corn is ready.
It needs to be harvested then hay is ready It needs to be harvested that given day and so this is not something you could just push down the line for a week or two and That is why it's time sensitive And so we've got to figure this out the state of Colorado has passed similar legislation in fact the legislation that I Drafted is similar to the legislation that's been signed into law in state of Colorado But you know
We're not alone here in this state.
Wisconsin obviously is in a dud.
America's Dairyland, but I mean, we're surrounded by big state agriculture states like Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota.
You know, and those legislators in those states are hearing from their farmers as well.
And I think it's important to point out that these big corporate operations are much different economically than smaller family owned farms.
These big corporate farms might have the money to be able to get the app for thousands and thousands of dollars, but a lot of small independent
and farmers, all of their cash is tied up in their farm.
That's exactly right, Jane.
That's exactly right.
So what happens if all of a sudden your combine is stalled in the middle of your field?
You do need, and you can't get a timely service.
Then you reach out to a neighbor or somebody down the road and say, hey, can you bring your combine over?
Can we get this taken care of?
Well, you know.
Yes, we have neighborly love and support in the countryside, but I think we all recognize what this, what this means.
And, you know, I guess for those that don't live on a farm, just imagine the fact that you're out there and you're powing your snow and you need to get to work and you're at 630 in the morning and it's been snowing all night and you need to get your snow plowed and all of a sudden your snow plow stops and you, it doesn't move.
unless you all of a sudden have the app to fix it.
Well, you're either going to start shoveling or you're going to call your neighbor, or quite frankly, you're not going to make it to work on time.
And this is the kind of situation that we just need to think about.
And that's why I like the segment of your show.
It's like...
What's going on here?
It's a good segment and I'm happy to talk about this piece of legislation and I'm sure there's other things that we can scratch our head and say, how did we ever get to a point like this?
But this is where we're at right now.
Well, that actually brings up my point slash question is that we talk about, it's a very simple idea, very logical, taking care of our farmers, the backbone of this state and many other states in this country.
But the fight to get it passed will probably be difficult.
Don't you?
I mean, the way things are going in the legislature, especially now when, you know, they think the number one problem in the state is voter ID.
But like really, it's things like this that you're talking about.
How difficult do you think it's going to be able to push this legislation through to the governor's desk?
Well, it shouldn't be difficult.
I agree with you.
It shouldn't be at all.
But what's happening right now is it does seem that the legislature seems to be
you know, kind of on a holding pattern, and not just on agriculture issues, but just issues overall.
I mean, I can point to the fact that we in Wisconsin should at least be having oversight hearings when it comes to bird flu and what we can do with the price of eggs.
We do have a egg laying industry in this state, which is part of Wisconsin's agriculture economy.
We should be having this conversation at least, what can we do to make sure that not just protect the current flocks that we have,
in this state and what is being done, but then what can we do when it comes to the overall all consumer cost?
But again, great, we're not even having those conversations.
And so maybe that can be the next topic of...
you know that you want to talk about but there's a lot that we should be focusing on but in my opinion something like this makes an awful lot of sense because what we haven't discussed yet is this piece of legislation also helps the local mechanic that's down the road that's been in your community for generations probably.
and somebody you trust and employees, local people.
But again, if you have a situation where you can only have your equipment fixed by the manufacturer or by purchasing the app yourself,
then it becomes a matter what happens to this competitive practices within your local economies and what happens to your small local neighborhood mechanic.
Yeah.
State Senator Brad Paff is our guest and we're talking about the right to repair bill which hopefully will move through the Wisconsin Legislature.
I think it's really interesting Senator that you mentioned
how we're not doing any oversight about bird flu right now.
I just feel like on one side of the aisle it's almost as if if I don't see it and if I don't acknowledge it then it doesn't exist.
Yeah it's really too bad because I think we all acknowledge the fact that we should not be paying six dollars or seven dollars for a dozen eggs but yet at the same time.
you know, there is oversight hearings that can take place to make sure.
And there is, I have full confidence that the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture is doing their job when it comes to surveillance.
But the thing is, as we know, bird flu has impacted not just Wisconsin's consumers, but we've seen the culling of a number of different chicken flocks throughout this nation.
So what more can be done?
What should be done?
These are topics that I am interested in.
My constituents are interested in.
And I appreciate the opportunity to come before civic media and speak with the two of you.
So thank you.
Well, we're going to continue our conversation if you have the time, sir.
We got
one more
segment.
We'll be right back after this.
If you have a question for State Senator Brad Pfeff, 855-752-4842.
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We'll be right
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Good morning, welcome back to Matt and Air on Air.
Jane Matt and Air, Greg Bach, our resident young person, Calvin on the board, coming to you from our studio at Radio Park in Racine.
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Ollie, we see you on the line.
Hang on for just a little bit.
Our guest is State Senator Brad Paff, coming to us from Civic Media's World Headquarters in Madison, and we are talking about the right to repair bill for Wisconsin farmers so they don't either have to call the manufacturer when one of their pieces of equipment break down so they can send someone out to fix it.
or the other option is to spend thousands and thousands of dollars for an app to help them fix their own equipment.
Andrew from Maine Senator has a comment on the live stream listening on WAUK.
If the manufacturer is forbidding self-repair, are they then liable for the loss of farm reproduction because of faulty equipment?
Let me guess, I would say...
No.
Yeah, Jane, you'd be right.
But that's a great question.
And I do appreciate the question.
And as was mentioned in the last, or we talked about in the last segment, while I have a piece of legislation right to repair for farm equipment, there is legislation for small engine.
That is just as important and this would be things like chainsaws as well as snowblowers and pressure washers and you name it The thing is is that they you either have to buy the service agreement from the manufacturer and then the manufacturer would either repair it themselves or they would send you to an authorized repair facility or if you don't want to do that you can spend
and I don't there it depends on what kind of equipment that you were purchasing sure you can purchase the app and then you yourself can go in and fix that piece of equipment but then again there is a clause in there it says that if you fix something wrong then you may lose your entire warranty as well so we are our piece of legislation is addressing this as I mentioned
Attorney General Josh Call from Wisconsin is also filed suit against John Deere, which is a major farm equipment manufacturer.
And I do know that before the Biden administration, before that came to an end, the Federal Trade Commission also moved forward in regards to filing
a complaint against the farm equipment manufacturer.
Well, we certainly hear so much from both sides on how much we love our farmers and how important our farmers are.
And then when it comes to actually, I don't know, putting money where your mouth is to back up our farmers, some of them disappear.
Yeah, and that's absolutely right, Jane.
And that's something that, again, you know,
People know me they know my deep rural roots and where I'm from and and you know I'm proud to wear right on my sleeve my farm background and this makes complete sense if you spend a hundred thousand dollars or more for a piece of farm equipment which many Farmers do on a daily basis.
Yep, and you cannot repair that I mean that is just absolutely wrong But as I said, I mean if you're buying a chainsaw quite frankly you should be able to fix that as well this
This is just, I don't understand it.
We know how to build things in Wisconsin.
We know how to manufacture things.
We know how to repair things.
And not allowing people to tinker with the products that they have is wrong.
Ali from the North Woods has been very patient on the phone.
Good morning, Ali.
Did you have a question or a comment for Senator Pfeff?
Well, I have a comment, actually.
And I agree with everything he's saying.
And I listened to the farm report most mornings.
And this morning there was a senator on there who, because of the way he talked about Governor Evers, I assumed that he was a Republican.
And he got on there and touted what a good job he felt like he was doing and other senators because they were on the board for the FFA.
and supporting them, yet in the end, if they're not willing to pass legislation that actually helps the farmer, what good does it do for them to be on the board spouting how much they care about the farmers?
Yeah, Ollie, words
are cheap, right?
That's exactly right.
Ollie, thank you for your interest in agriculture and your support.
Please reach out to your local state senator and your state representative and ask them to support co-sponsor the right to repair legislation that I, State Senator Brad Paff, have introduced.
Well, yeah, do something about it instead of just giving it lip service, which, you know, there seems to be a lot of that that goes on.
Oh, yes, we support our farmers.
Oh, yes, we
want
to help them.
It's the same thing we hear about our veterans, except when it
comes time to actually fund programs that help these groups.
Yeah, and that's the important thing.
And again, we're sitting right now in the Wisconsin State Senate in which we are not having oversight hearings, nor are we on the state Senate floor addressing issues that I believe can not only help our family farmers, but help our residents throughout this state.
And we need to get to work.
And I just want to add one thing about bird flu.
There was one lawmaker, Republican lawmaker, I believe from Oklahoma, who said, we shouldn't have to worry about bird flu because chickens don't fly.
I got news for that guy.
other birds fly and can fly near your non-flying
chickens.
Again, I just go back to the fact that we at least could be having oversight hearings in the Wisconsin State Senate, addressing issues that impact not just our family, farmers and rural residents, but kitchen table issues that impact all of us in the state of Wisconsin.
And we all have heard loud and clear that the 2024 election was, you know, economic based.
Well, let's get to work and help grow this economy and help our residents of the
state.
Thank you very much for joining us.
We would love to have you back.
Stay
close.
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Matt.
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