>> I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW," A
FIRST LOOK AT THE U.S. SENATE
TAX PLAN.
IN OUR LOOK AHEAD, WE'LL TALK
ABOUT AN ANTIVIOLENCE PROJECT
TAKING SHAPE IN MILWAUKEE WITH
MAYOR TOM BARRETT.
WPR'S SHAWN JOHNSON IS HERE ON A
LEGAL POWER PLAY BETWEEN THE
GOVERNOR AND THE SUPERINTENDENT
OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION.
WE'LL GO TO ASHLAND TO LEARN
ABOUT ASPECTS FOR A NEW LIFE FOR
AN OLD WISCONSIN RESORT,
TELEMARK.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR
DECEMBER 1.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED, IN PART, BY FRIENDS OF
WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISION.
>> A FIRST LOOK TONIGHT AT THE
REPUBLICAN U.S. TAX PLAN AND
WHERE IT GOES FROM HERE.
WISCONSIN SENATOR RON JOHNSON IS
NOW ONBOARD AFTER GETTING AN
ADDITIONAL BREAK FOR BUSINESS,
BUT THE LATEST ANALYSIS OF THE
PLAN SHOWS THE SENATE GOP PLAN
WOULD ADD $1 TRILLION TO THE
DEFICIT OVER TEN YEARS.
STILL, THE BILL IS HURDLING
TOWARD PASSAGE.
WE'RE JOINED TONIGHT BY A TAX
EXPERT, ROURKE O'BRIEN.
HE ALSO SERVED AS SENIOR POLICY
ADVISER AT THE U.S. TREASURY
DEPARTMENT.
SO THE TAX PLAN IS OVERSHADOWED
BY OTHER MAJOR BREAKING NEWS OUT
OF WASHINGTON, BUT WHAT DO YOU
THINK OF THAT NEW SCORING WITH
THAT TRILLION DOLLAR DEFICIT?
>> WHEN WE STARTED THIS WHOLE
PROCESS, PAUL RYAN AND MITCH
MCCONNELL PLANNING TO GO AFTER
TAX REFORM THAT WAS TAX NEUTRAL.
THEN THEY ACCEPTED DEFICIT
INCREASES WITH THE PROMISE THAT
THE ECONOMIC GROWTH THAT WOULD
FOLLOW WOULD OFFSET ALL OF THOSE
AND IT WOULD BE REVENUE NEUTRAL
AT THE END OF THE DAY.
THIS IDEA THAT WE'LL KIND OF
COUNT THE POTENTIAL FEEDBACK
MECHANISM THROUGH WHICH THE TAX
CUTS MIGHT LEAD TO MORE GROWTH
WHICH MIGHT OFFSET THE COST OF
THE BILL, BUT LOOKS LIKE THAT'S
ONLY GOING TO REDUCE THE PRICE
TAGTAG BY A LITTLE BIT.
>> NOW, THE LAST TIME WE SPOKE
YOU ENVISIONED THAT THE HOUSE
TAX PLAN WOULD REQUIRE A LOT OF
REWRITING ONCE THE SENATE WAS
INVOLVED.
WHAT WERE THE IMPORTANT CHANGES
THAT WERE MADE IN YOUR MIND THAT
ARE NOW TEED UP FOR THIS SENATE
VOTE?
>> I THINK THE BIG DIFFERENCE IS
THE INCLUSION OF THE REPEAL OF
THE INDIVIDUAL MANDATE UNDER THE
ACA.
THIS WAS ADDED TO THE BILL AND
WILL SAVE THE GOVERNMENT SOME
MONEY BECAUSE MORE PEOPLE WILL
NO LONGER BE INSURED AND COVERED
UNDER THE ACA.
THAT MEANS FEWER SUBSIDIES,
LOWER COST TO THE GOVERNMENT,
WHICH CREATED MORE ROOM FOR TAX
CUTS IN THE SENATE BILL.
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT WE'RE
GOING TO HAVE UP TO 13 MILLION
MORE AMERICANS UNINSURED AND
PREMIUMS GOING UP 10% A YEAR
UNDER THIS PROVISION.
THE HOUSE PLAN WAS MAINLY
LOOKING AT JUST TAXES.
HERE WE HAVE A TAX AND HEALTH
CARE BILL ALL IN ONE.
>> A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN
TALKING ABOUT THE PROCESS.
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF IT?
DOES IT SEEM TO HAVE BEEN
HURRIED?
>> IT DOES.
THESE ARE REALLY COMPLICATED
BILLS.
THERE ARE A LOT OF SMART EXPERTS
AROUND THE COUNTRY WHO HAVE
MODELS WHERE THEY'RE TRYING TO
UNDERSTAND THE VARIOUS
PROVISIONS.
HERE WE HAVE A VOTE THAT'S
HAPPENING WHERE WE'RE JUST NOW
GETTING THE LATEST NUMBERS AND
IT STILL SEEMS THAT THAT MIGHT
BE THE FINAL SCORE AS THE BILL
SEEMS TO BE CHANGING OUT FROM
UNDERNEATH US.
>> PRESIDENT TRUMP ROORKED REMARKED THIS
WEEK THAT THE TAX PLAN WOULD
HURT HIM AND OTHER WEALTHY
PEOPLE.
COULD THAT POSSIBLY BE TRUE?
>> IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE HOW
TRUMP WON'T BENEFIT FROM THIS
BILL.
IT STANDS TO BENEFIT WEALTHY
FAMILIES.
IN ADDITION, THIS PROVISION TO
REDUCE TAXES ON PASS-THROUGH
CORPORATIONS, OF WHICH MANY
TRUMP ORGANIZATIONS ARE, THAT
STANDS TO BENEFIT THE PRESIDENT
AND OTHER WEALTHY BUSINESS
OWNERS.
>> NOW, OUR OWN SENATOR RON
JOHNSON AS YOU KNOW SOUGHT AND
RECEIVED DEEPER BUSINESS TAX
CUTS TO INCLUDE SO-CALLED
PASS-THROUGH COMPANIES.
HE AND OTHERS DESCRIBED THESE AS
KIND OF MAIN STREET BUSINESSES.
SNAIS THAT FULLY ACCURATE?
>> MANY MOM AND POP SHOPS ARE
PASS-THROUGH ENTITIES.
THEY ONLY HAVE A FEW OWNERS AND
RELY ON THAT AS THEIR PERSONAL
INCOME.
THEY DON'T HAVE TO GET TAXED
TWICE, ONCE THRU CORPORATE AND
ONCE THROUGH INDIVIDUAL.
BUT THE RULES ARE PRETTY LOOSE.
SO YOU CAN HAVE HEDGE FUND
MANAGERS AND LAW FIRMS AND OTHER
KIND OF MUCH WEALTHIER ENTITIES
INCORPORATING AS PASS-THROUGH
COMPANIES.
70% OF ALL PASS-THROUGH REVENUE
GOES TO THE TOP 1%.
SO THIS IS ULTIMATELY GOING TO
BE A BIG TAX CUT FOR THE
WEALTHY.
>> GOING BACK TO OUR PREVIOUS
INTERVIEW, YOU SAID THAT WHETHER
CORPORATE TAX SAVINGS WILL BE
PASSED ON TO THE AVERAGE WORKER
IN HIGHER WAGES OR CAPTURED BY
SHAREHOLDERS THROUGH DIVIDENDS
IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE
STORY THAT REMAINS TO BE TOLD.
WHEN WILL THAT BE ABLE TO BE
TOLD?
>> YEAH.
IT'S STILL AN OPEN QUESTION.
HOW MUCH CAN WE EXPECT THESE
CORPORATE TAX CUTS TO BE PASSED
ON TO THE WORKER.
EVEN BY THE MOST GENEROUS
ESTIMATE WE'D ONLY EXPECT ABOUT
25% OF THOSE TAX CUTS TO BE
PASSED ON IN THE FORM OF HIGHER
WAGES.
RIGHT NOW IN MOST INDUSTRIES
CORPORATE PROFITS ARE AT
ALL-TIME HIGHS AND WAGES HAVE
STAGNATED.
IT'S HARD TO EXPECT TO
ONE-TO-ONE TRANSFER THAT WE'VE
BEEN PROMISED THAT THEY'D BE
PASSED ON TO THE WORKER.
>> WHAT DO YOU THINK AS A TAX
EXPERT TO THE PART OF THE PLAN
THAT SUNSETS INDIVIDUAL TAX CUTS
BUT KEEPS CORPORATE TAX CUTS
PERMANENT?
>> IT CREATES QUITE A FISCAL
CLIFF FOR FAMILIES.
WHILE SOME FAMILIES IN YEARS ONE
AND TWO MIGHT RECEIVE A MODEST
TAX CUT, THOSE TAX CUTS SUNSET.
BY 2027 MAJORITY OF FAMILIES
WILL SEE A TAX INCREASE.
THAT PART OF THE BILL WILL BE SO
POPULAR THAT FIVE OR TEN YEARS
THERE WILL BE ANOTHER BILL TO
EXTEND THOSE PROVISIONS.
BUT THAT WILL ONLY MAKE THE
DEFICIT WORK.
WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT TAX REFORM
THAT WORKS FOR EVERYONE AND WILL
BE PAID FOR SOMEHOW.
>> SPEAKING OF BEING PAID FOR,
AS PART OF THE PAYGO SEQUESTER
RULES, WOULD THERE HAVE TO BE
AUTOMATIC CUTS TO PROGRAMS LIKE
MEDICARE BECAUSE OF THIS TAX
BILL?
>> SO IT DOES LOOK LIKELY THAT
THE TAX BILL WOULD RUN AFOUL OF
THE RULES WHICH WOULD
AUTOMATICALLY TRIGGER CUTS TO A
NUMBER OF PROGRAMS INCLUDING
MEDICARE.
IN THE PAST, THE CONGRESS HAS
GONE AHEAD AND PUT IN WAIVERS
AND SAID THAT THIS SPECIFIC
PIECE OF LEGISLATION WON'T COUNT
AGAINST THOSE RULES.
>> ALL RIGHT.
ROURKE O'BRIEN, THANKS VERY MUCH
FOR YOUR EXPERTISE.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> IN TONIGHT'S LOOK AHEAD, THE
CITY OF MILWAUKEE HAS RELEASED
ITS AMBITIOUS NEARLY 100-PAGE
BLUEPRINT FOR PEACE, A DOCUMENT
TO STEM VIOLENCE IN THE CITY, A
CITY THAT SAW A 76% INCREASE IN
GUN HOMICIDES BETWEEN 2010 AND
2016.
THE BLUEPRINT SETS OUT SIX GOALS
BEGINNING WITH STOP THE
SHOOTING.
THE OTHERS: PROMOTE HEALING AND
RESTORATIVE JUSTICE, SUPPORT
CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, PROMOTE
ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY, FOSTER
SAFE AND STRONG NEIGHBORHOODS
AND STRENGTHEN THE COORDINATION
OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION EFFORTS.
THE PLAN IS BEING DESCRIBED AS A
PUBLIC HEALTH APPROACH.
MILWAUKEE MAYOR TOM BARRETT
JOINS US WITH DETAILS.
MAYOR, THANKS VERY MUCH FOR
BEING HERE.
>> IT'S GREAT TO BE WITH YOU.
>> WHY A PUBLIC HEALTH APPROACH?
>> WELL, I THINK MOST PEOPLE
WOULD BE SURPRISED TO LEARN THAT
IN THE CITY OF MILWAUKEE THE
BUDGET FOR OUR POLICE
DEPARTMENT, WHICH THIS YEAR IS
ABOUT $302 MILLION, IS ACTUALLY
LARGER THAN THE ENTIRE TAX LEVY
FOR THE CITY OF MILWAUKEE.
I'LL REPEAT THAT BECAUSE IT'S
SHOCKING TO MOST PEOPLE AROUND
THE STATE.
THE BUDGET FOR THE MILWAUKEE
POLICE DEPARTMENT IS LARGER THAN
OUR ENTIRE PROPERTY TAX LEVY.
SO THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT
WE'RE PUTTING THE RESOURCES INTO
LAW ENFORCEMENT AND DOING WHAT
WE CAN TO APPREHEND CRIMINALS.
BUT WE'RE ALSO NOW CONVINCED
THAT WE COULD ADD A GAZILLION
POLICE OFFICER OFFICERS AND WE STILL
WOULDN'T GET TO THE CORE ISSUES
IN THE CITY.
WE'RE SEEING MORE AND MORE
PEOPLE SAYING, LOOK, LET'S LOOK
AT SOME OTHER FACTORS.
LET'S TREAT THIS AS A PUBLIC
HEALTH EPIDEMIC BECAUSE THERE
ARE FACTORS THAT ARE LEADING NOT
JUST MILWAUKEE BUT A LOT OF
URBAN AREAS THROUGHOUT THE
NATION TO HAVE MUCH HIGHER
COUNTS OF VIOLENCE.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WANT
TO DEAL WITH HERE.
SO WHAT WE DID IS IN 2015, THE
YEAR WHEN WE SAW A SIGNIFICANT
INCREASE IN HOMICIDES, WE
ESSENTIALLY RETOOLED OUR OFFICE
OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION, TRIPLED
IT IN SIZE, AND ASKED THEM TO
PUT TOGETHER A COMMUNITY
DOCUMENT.
SO THIS IS NOT THE MAYOR'S
BLUEPRINT FOR PEACE.
THIS IS THE CITY OF MILWAUKEE
COMMUNITY'S BLUEPRINT FOR PEACE,
BECAUSE I NEED THE THE ENTIRE
COMMUNITY TO BUY INTO THIS
APPROACH TO SEE IF WE CAN REDUCE
THE VIOLENCE WE HAVE IN THE CITY
OF MILWAUKEE.
>> NOW, THIS BLUEPRINT IS
ALL-ENCOMPASSING.
HOW CAN THE CITY FIX EVERYTHING
ALL AT ONCE?
>> WELL, WE CAN'T FIX EVERYTHING
ALL AT ONCE, BUT I THINK IF WE
CAN BRING THE CHURCHES, IF WE
CAN BRING LAW ENFORCEMENT, IF WE
CAN BRING COMMUNITY GROUPS, IF
WE CAN BRING CITIZENS,
NEIGHBORHOODS TOGETHER AND HAVE
A UNIFIED APPROACH, WHERE WE'RE
DEALING WITH A WIDE RANGE OF
ISSUES, I THINK WE'RE MORE
LIKELY TO HAVE A SIGNIFICANT
IMPACT ON THE LEVEL OF VIOLENCE.
NOW, I SAY THAT, AND I WANT YOU
AND YOUR VIEWERS TO KNOW OUR
HOMICIDE RATE FOR THIS YEAR IS
DOWN ABOUT 16% FROM LAST YEAR
AND IT'S DOWN ABOUT 22% FROM
2015.
SO I DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO BE
AFRAID TO COME TO MILWAUKEE.
THERE'S AN INCREDIBLE
RENAISSANCE GOING ON IN THE
HEART OF THE CITY RIGHT NOW,
UNLIKE ANYTHING PEOPLE HAVE SEEN
IN THEIR LIFETIMES.
AT THE SAME TIME, WE KNOW THAT
THERE ARE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE
PLAGUED BY TOO MUCH VIOLENCE,
THAT THERE ARE POVERTY ISSUES,
HOMELESS ISSUES, TRANSIENT
ISSUES, EDUCATION ISSUES.
SO WE WANT TO DEAL WITH ALL
THESE ISSUES WHILE WE MOVE THE
CITY FORWARD.
BECAUSE THE CITY IS MOVING
FORWARD.
>> NOWRKS ONE OF THE NOW, ONE OF THE GOALS IS
COORDINATION OF EFFORTS.
THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE AND
GROUPS TRYING TO HELP, BUT THEY
COMPETE FOR FUNDING.
HOW DO YOU SPECIFICALLY BRING
THEM TOGETHER?
>> SO OUR GOAL IS TO HAVE OUR
OFFICE OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION
ESSENTIALLY BE THE CENTER OF THE
WHEEL AND ALL THE SPOKES FEED
INTO THAT CENTER SO THAT WE CAN
BETTER COORDINATE WHAT'S
HAPPENING IN DIFFERENT
NEIGHBORHOODS.
WE WANT TO MAP THE NEIGHBORHOODS
AND SEE WHAT RESOURCES ARE IN
VARIOUS NEIGHBORHOODS SERVING
YOUTH, SERVING PEOPLE COMING OUT
OF PRISONS, SERVING PEOPLE WHO
NEED FOOD.
IF WE HAVE A MORE COORDINATED
APPROACH TO THIS, I THINK WE CAN
BETTER UTILIZE THE ASSETS WE
HAVE AND SEE WHERE WE NEED TO
PUT MORE RESOURCES.
IT'S A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH.
YOU'RE RIGHT WHEN YOU SAY THAT.
THE DOCUMENT ITSELF IS VERY
COMPREHENSIVE.
BUT IT'S FOCUSED ON BRINGING
EVERYONE TOGETHER, NOT JUST LAW
ENFORCEMENT, NOT JUST THE
CHURCHES, BUT AS MANY
INDIVIDUALS AND INSTITUTIONS AS
WE CAN TO SUPPLEMENT AND
COMPLEMENT THE WORK THAT'S BEING
DONE BY LAW ENFORCEMENT.
>> NOW, I NOTED INTERESTINGLY
THAT TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE FUNDING
TO HELP IMPLEMENT THE GOALS
YOU'RE THINKING OF A POTENTIAL
CITY FEE OR A TAX?
DESCRIBE THAT IDEA.
>> WELL, WE'RE STILL IN THE
FORMATIVE STAGES FOR THAT.
YESTERDAY WE MADE A PRESENTATION
TO THE UNITED WAY.
AND WE THINK THAT THERE MIGHT BE
COMMUNITY SUPPORT FROM
CORPORATIONS AND FOUNDATIONS.
BECAUSE WE'VE DONE IT IN A WAY
THAT WE FOCUS ON TEN DIFFERENT
NEIGHBORHOODS.
TEN DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS.
IT'S A CITYWIDE APPROACH, BUT WE
KNOW THAT THE VIOLENCE IS MOST
PREVALENT IN TEN DIFFERENT
NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND SO WE'RE ABLE TO WORK WITH
THE FOUNDATION, WORK WITH THE
CORPORATION TO SAY, LOOK, YOU
WANT TO HELP US?
HERE'S OLD MILWAUKEE.
HERE'S OLD MILWAUKEE
NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE COULD WORK WITH YOU TO FOCUS
YOUR DOLLARS OR YOUR ASSETS OR
YOUR PEOPLE IN THIS SPECIFIC
AREA.
SO EVEN THOUGH IT'S A LARGE
DOCUMENT AND A COMPREHENSIVE
DOCUMENT, IT REALLY CAN BE
BROKEN UP, DEPENDING UPON THE
FUNDING SOURCE AND THE DIFFERENT
NEEDS OF THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS.
>> VERY BRIEFLY, WITH ABOUT A
HALF A MINUTE LEFT, WHAT IS
NEXT?
>> WELL, WHAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT
NOW IS WE'RE HAVING NEIGHBORHOOD
SESSIONS.
AGAIN, BECAUSE A BIG PART OF
THIS IS TO HAVE THE
NEIGHBORHOODS BUY INTO THIS.
IT CAN'T JUST BE THE MAYOR'S
PLAN, THE CITY'S PLAN.
IT CERTAINLY CAN'T BE JUST THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT'S PLAN.
IT HAS TO BE ALL OF OUR PLAN.
IF I DIDN'T THINK WE COULDN'T
MOVE THE NEEDLE, WE WOULDN'T BE
DOING THIS.
BUT I'M CONVINCED WE CAN DEAL
WITH THOSE ISSUES BECAUSE OF THE
PROGRESS WE'VE SEEN IN ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT IN MILWAUKEE.
IT'S A DIFFERENT MILWAUKEE FOR
PEOPLE WHO HAVEN'T BEEN HERE.
WE'RE MOVING IN THE RIGHT
DIRECTION.
WE HAVE TO BRING EVERYBODY ALONG
WITH THAT.
>> MAYOR TOM BARRETT, THANKS
VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> A DIFFERENT LOOK AT CRIME AND
PUNISHMENT NOW FROM THE STATE
CAPITOL.
MILWAUKEE STATE REPRESENTATIVE
EVAN GOYKE, A FORMER PUBLIC
DEFENDER, INTRODUCED A SLATE OF
BILLS THIS WEEK TO PUT MORE
INMATES IN TREATMENT PROGRAMS
AND REDUCE THE RATE OF
REINCARCERATION.
>> THE GOAL HERE TODAY WAS TO
REALLY TALK ABOUT WHAT IS
HAPPENING BEHIND THE FENCE, IN
PRISONS, AND THE PRISON
POPULATION.
THIS IS ABOUT AVOIDING A
PROBLEM.
WE STAND ON THE PRECIPICE OF
HAVING TO BUILD A NEW PRISON OR
SEND GUYS OUT OF STATE.
THREES THREE BILLSTHREESTHESE THREE BILLS ARE JUST THE
BEGINNING TO AVOID THE CRISIS WE
FIND OURSELVES IN TODAY.
>> IN OTHER STATE NEWS, THE RACE
FOR GOVERNOR IN WISCONSIN IS
ALREADY SEEING A SKIRMISH
BETWEEN THE INCUMBENT AND A
DEMOCRATIC IN THEDEMOCRAT IN THE RUNNING.
WE LOOK AT HOW GOVERNOR SCOTT
WALKER WON'T LET DEMOCRATIC
SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC
INSTRUCTION TONY EVERS HAVE HIS
OWN LAWYER TO REPRESENT HIM IN A
LAWSUIT OVER HOW HE RUNS HIS
AGENCY.
THE GOVERNOR WANTS THE STATE
ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE TO
REPRESENT EVERS, EVEN THOUGH THE
JUSTICE LAWYER WOULD ARGUE
AGAINST EVERS.
HMM.
WE ARE JOINED BY WPR CAPITOL
BUREAU CHIEF SHAWN JOHNSON TO
SORT THIS OUT.
IT IS USUAL PRACTICE FOR THE
STATE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
LAWYERS TO REPRESENT AGENCIES IN
LAWSUITS.
SO WHAT'S DIFFERENT THIS TIME?
>> WHAT'S DIFFERENT THIS TIME IS
THAT WHILE THE DEPARTMENT OF
JUSTICE IS WILLING AND IS
CURRENTLY SLATED TO REPRESENT
TONY EVERS IN THIS CASE, BUT
THINK THAT THE PEOPLE SUING HIM
ESSENTIALLY ARE RIGHT.
THAT IS, THEY DISAGREE WITH TONY
EVERS IN THIS CASE.
AND SO THEY WOULD BE GIVING HIM
REPRESENTATION, BUT NOT THE KIND
OF REPRESENTATION HE WANTS.
>> LET ME BACK UP A LITTLE BIT
AND SAY THAT EVERS WAS SUED BY A
RIGHT-WING LAW GROUP OVER NOT
GETTING THE WALKER
ADMINISTRATION'S SIGNOFF ON
IMPLEMENTATION OF RULES WITHIN
THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC
INSTRUCTION.
THAT'S A NEW REQUIREMENT UNDER
STATE LAW.
BUT DOES IT MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN
THIS CASE IN TERMS OF THIS LEGAL
REPRESENTATION AND THIS SIGNOFF
OF THESE ADMINISTRATIVE RULES
THAT TONY EVERS IS A
CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICER?
>> TONY EVERS WOULD ARGUE THAT
IT DOES, THAT HIS POWERS ARE
SPELLED OUT EXPLICITLY IN THE
STATE CONSTITUTION.
AND IT'S NOT JUST HIM MAKING
THAT ARGUMENT EITHER.
THE STATE SUPREME COURT ISSUED A
DECISION IN 2016 IN A VERY
SIMILAR CASE INVOLVING A NEW LAW
THAT GAVE THE GOVERNOR MORE
POWER TO VETO RULES FROM THE
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC
INSTRUCTION.
AND IN THAT 4-3 DECISION THEY
SAID THAT, YES, THE
SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC
INSTRUCTION HAS THESE POWERS AND
THAT THE GOVERNOR CAN'T RESTRICT
THEM.
>> THIS IS BASICALLY JUST A
QUAGMIRE, BUT WHAT IS REALLY
HAPPENING HERE IS THAT THE
JUSTICE LAWYERS WOULD NOT ARGUE
EVERS' SIDE OF THIS CASE.
>> RIGHT.
THAT'S WHAT IT BOILS DOWN TO AT
THIS POINT.
AND THAT'S WHY YOU HEARD TONY
EVERS SAY THIS PAST WEEK -- HE
HELD A PRESS CONFERENCE WHERE HE
HAD A MESSAGE TO HIS POLITICAL
OPPONENTS, GOVERNOR WALKER AND
HIS HAND-PICKED ATTORNEYS.
HE SAID YOU'RE FIRED.
AND HERE'S WHAT TONY EVERS SAID
ABOUT WHY.
>> THE GOVERNOR DOESN'T GET TO
CHOOSE HIS OPPONENTS ON THE
BALLOT.
AND HIS OPPONENTS' LAWYERS IN
COURT.
I CAN'T BELIEVE THERE'S MANY IF
ANY CITIZENS IN THE STATE OF
WISCONSIN THAT WOULD FEEL
COMFORTABLE GOING TO COURT
KNOWING THAT THE ATTORNEY THAT'S
REPRESENTING THEM ACTUALLY
REPRESENTS THE OTHER SIDE.
>> SO WHO DOES TONY EVERS WANT
AS HIS LAWYER?
>> HE WANTS HIS OWN LAWYER, HIS
LAWYER WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF
PUBLIC INSTRUCTION, TO REPRESENT
HIM.
THAT'S ACTUALLY WHAT HAPPENED
WHEN THIS CASE -- NOT THIS CASE,
BUT THE SIMILAR CASE WENT
THROUGH, THE ONE DECIDED IN
2016.
TONY EVERS HAD AN ATTORNEY FROM
THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC
INSTRUCTION REPRESENT HIM.
HE WANTS TO DO THAT AGAIN.
THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC
INSTRUCTION WAS STARTING TO
INITIATE THAT PROCESS.
THIS TIME WHEN GOVERNOR WALKER'S
OFFICE STEPPED IN AND SAID, NO,
THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, BRAD
SCHIMEL'S OFFICE WILL SHE REPRESENT
YOU.
>> WHAT DOES THE GOVERNOR SAY ON
WHY HE'S DOING THIS?
>> THE GOVERNOR BASICALLY CAME
BACK TO THIS MESSAGE OF TONY
EVERS NEEDS TO FOLLOW THE LAW.
THAT WAS THE MESSAGE THAT YOU
HEARD OVER AND OVER AGAIN FROM
GOVERNOR WALKER.
SO HE WAS ASKED SPECIFICALLY
SHOULDN'T TONY EVERS HAVE A
LAWYER REPRESENTING HIM WHO
REPRESENTS HIS CAUSE, WHO
BELIEVES IN HIS CAUSE?
HERE IS WHAT THE GOVERNOR HAD TO
SAY ABOUT THAT.
>> THE LAWYER REPRESENTS
EVERYONE.
THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THAT
THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT
REPRESENTS ALL STATE AGENCIES.
THEY'RE NOT CONFLICTED OUT.
AND SO THEY'RE ULTIMATELY GOING
TO REPRESENT THE STATE IN THIS
CASE JUST LIKE THEY WOULD FOR
ANY OTHER STATE AGENCY OR ANY
OTHER OFFICE.
>> POLITICALLY SPEAKING, ARE
BOTH SIDES NOW, TONY EVERS, WHO
WE'VE MENTIONED IS A CANDIDATE,
A DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE RUNNING
FOR GOVERNOR, OF COURSE
INCUMBENT SCOTT WALKER WHO HAS
ANNOUNCED THAT HE'S RUNNING FOR
REELECTION, ARE THOSE BOTH
POLITICKING THIS NOW?
>> IT WOULD SEEM LIKE IT.
WE ARE LESS THAN A YEAR FROM THE
NEXT GOVERNOR'S RACE.
I THINK WE SHOULD VIEW
EVERYTHING THAT TONY EVERS, A
CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR, AND
SCOTT WALKER, A GOVERNOR RUNNING
FOR THIRD TERM, WE SHOULD VIEW
EVERYTHING THEY DO THROUGH A
POLITICAL LIGHT.
WHEN THIS STARTED OUT, YOU COULD
ARGUE THAT WISCONSIN IS TWO FOR
LAW LIBERTY.
WHILE IT IS CONSISTENT FOR THEM
TO WANT TO RESTRICT MAKING POWER
FROM AGENCIES, THEY INTERPRETED
THIS AS TONY EVERS BREAKING THE
LAW KNOWING THAT HE'S A
CANDIDATE.
TONY EVERS IS HITTING BACK
SAYING I'M STANDING UP TO SCOTT
WALKER.
HE'S FUND-RAISING OFF OF THIS
PRETTY REGULARLY SAYING THAT
HE'S IN THIS FIGHT WITH SCOTT
WALKER.
SO HE'S USING IT TO HIS
ADVANTAGE, TOO.
>> JUST SUPER QUICKLY, THERE'S
ANOTHER FILING THAT JUST
HAPPENED ON THIS AS WELL.
>> ESSENTIALLY THE LAWYERS WHO
REPRESENTED TEACHERS WHO BROUGHT
THIS CASE INITIALLY BACK IN 2012
ARE ASKING THAT COURT TO STOP
SCOTT WALKER FROM ENFORCING
THIS.
SO INSTEAD OF DEALING WITH IT AT
THE STATE SUPREME COURT, THEY
WANT TO TAKE IT BACK INTO THE
CIRCUIT COURT SYSTEM.
>> WE'LL KEEP WATCHING IT.
SHAWN, THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> YOU'RE WELCOME.
>> SOUTHEAST WISCONSIN IS
GETTING FOXCONN.
NOW AN ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT HOW
NORTHERN WISCONSIN COULD SEE A
MAJOR REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT.
IT'S ON A MUCH SMALLER SCALE,
BUT IT'S REGIONALLY IMPORTANT.
THE ICONIC TELEMARK RESORT IN
CABLE HAS SEEN MORE THAN ITS
SHARE OF UPS AND DOWNS OVER ITS
70-YEAR HISTORY FROM ITS START
AS A SKI HILL IN 1947 TO ITS
HEYDEY IN THE 1970s WHEN
BIG-NAME ACTS PLAYED ITS VENUE
AS IT EXPANDED INTO A MAJOR
RESORT AND CONFERENCE CENTER.
IT SITS ADJACENT TO THE STARTING
GATE FOR THE BIRKEBEINER
CROSS-COUNTRY SKI RACE.
BUT BY THE MID '80s THE OWNER
FILED BANKRUPTCY AND IT HAS BEEN
BOUGHT AND SOLD SEVERAL TIMES,
EACH TIME REOPENED ONLY TO BE
CLOSED AGAIN, A ROLLERCOASTER OF
DASHED PROMISED FOR
REVITALIZATION.
SO THE QUESTION NOW IS CAN THE
LATEST $47 MILLION RENOVATION
STICK THIS TIME?
THE DEVELOPERS ARE LOOKING FOR
TAXPAYER ASSISTANCE, WHICH NEEDS
ACTION FROM THE LEGISLATURE AND
THE GOVERNOR.
CABLE AREA OFFICIALS WERE IN
MADISON THIS WEEK TRYING TO SET
THAT IN MOTION, INCLUDING TOWN
OF CABLE CHAIRMAN ART HANCOCK.
HE JOINS US FROM ASHLAND AND
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR DOING SO.
>> I'M GLAD TO DO SO.
>> EL WITH, WELL, SO WHAT ARE YOU AND
OTHERS SEEKING FROM THE STATE?
>> WHAT WE'RE SEEKING IS THE
PERMISSION TO ESTABLISH A TAX
INCREMENT DISTRICT.
WE'RE A SMALL DOWN AND TOWN AND TIF IS
ONLY USUALLY GRANTED TO VILLAGES
AND LARGER CITIES.
BECAUSE WE DON'T MEET THE
CRITERIA WITH THE EXISTING
LEGISLATION, WE WERE DOWN IN
MADISON TO TRY TO GET THEM TO
GIVE US SPECIAL LEGISLATION SO
THAT WE CAN ESTABLISH A DISTRICT
IN OUR TOWN.
>> WHAT'S BEEN THE RESPONSE IN
MADISON?
>> I THOUGHT IT WENT REALLY
QUITE POSITIVELY YESTERDAY.
WE MET BEFORE THE WAYS AND MEANS
COMMITTEE FOR THE ASSEMBLY AND
FOR THE MOST PART THEY WERE VERY
POSITIVE.
THEY DID HAVE SOME CONCERNS THAT
AS A TOWN THEY DON'T WANT US TO
GET IN OVER OUR HEADS WITH
FINANCING IT TOO MUCH.
BUT I THINK WE ALLAYED THEIR
FEARS AND I FEEL LIKE WE'RE ON A
POSITIVE TRACK.
>> IS THERE ANY KIND OF DOLLAR
FIGURE AS TO HOW MUCH THE NEW
BUYERS OR THE DEVELOPERS WOULD
LIKE TO SEE?
>> THE TOWN OF CABLE HAS NOT
ENTERED INTO ANY NEGOTIATIONS
WITH THE DEVELOPER AT THIS TIME.
THERE HAVE BEEN SOME NUMBERS
THAT HAVE BEEN THROWN OUT, BUT
THEY'RE JUST KIND OF PRELIMINARY
NUMBERS.
THE RESORT IS IN SUCH A
DELAPIDATED STATE RIGHT NOW THAT
THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT NEEDS
TO GO AND THAT CAN GO INTO
TIF-ALLOWED PROJECTS, IT'S
REALLY KIND OF PRELIMINARY RIGHT
NOW TO DETERMINE THAT.
>> NOW, I SPOKE TO ONE LOCAL IN
CABLE WHO SAID THAT SHE IS
EXCITED BY THE PROSPECT OF
BRINGING TELEMARK BACK, BUT ALSO
SCARED TO DEATH.
DOES THAT PRETTY MUCH MEASURE
HOW PEOPLE THERE FEEL?
>> I FEEL THERE'S A PRETTY GOOD
ESTIMATE OF WHAT MOST FOLKS IN
CABLE FEEL.
THE SENSE I GET IS THAT MOST OF
US ARE CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC.
TELEMARK HAS BEEN OUR FLAGSHIP
FOR YEARS AND YEARS, AND IT'S
BEEN -- WE HAVE FOLKS IN CABLE
WHO -- COUPLES THAT HAVE MET ON
THE SLOPES OF TELEMARK, AND IT
WAS SUCH AN ECONOMIC POWERHOUSE
FOR SO MANY YEARS.
SO THE PROSPECTS OF IT OPENING
AGAIN ARE HUGE, THOUGH WE HAVE
OVER THE LAST FEW QUEERS FEW YEARS HAVE HAD
A NUMBER OF DEVELOPERS THAT HAVE
FALLEN THROUGH.
I THINK PEOPLE IN CABLE ARE A
BIT SUSPECT THAT EVERYBODY THAT
I'VE TALKED TO IS VERY
OPTIMISTIC.
>> SO WHAT DO YOU ENVISION AS
THE BEST-CASE SCENARIO FOR THAT
PROPERTY?
>> WELL, THE BEST CASE IS WE
HAVE A CURRENT DEVELOPER THAT IS
INTERESTED IN PURCHASING THE
PROPERTY, HAS ACTUALLY ENTERED
INTO A PURCHASE AGREEMENT WITH
THE CURRENT OWNER OF THE
PROPERTY.
THEY HOPE TO CLOSE ON THE
PROPERTY AT THE END OF JANUARY.
THAT'S THE FIRST -- WOULD BE THE
FIRST BIG MILESTONE.
AND THEN WITHIN THE LAST NEXT
YEAR OR YEAR AND A HALF, FOR
THEM TO DEVELOP THE PROPERTY
JUST ALONG THE SAME LINES THAT
THEY ARE HOPING TO -- THAT
THEY'VE PROJECTED THAT THEY ARE.
>> WHAT COULD IT MEAN FOR THE
ECONOMY AND JOBS IN THE REGION?
>> WE HAD A -- THE TOWN OF CABLE
AND BAYFIELD COUNTY FUNDED A
MARKET FEASIBILITY STUDY, AND WE
-- AND PART OF THAT STUDY, THEY
LOOKED AT SOME OF THOSE NUMBERS
OF WHAT IT MIGHT MEAN TO THE
COMMUNITY.
AND THEY'RE PROJECTING THAT IT
MIGHT RESULT IN ABOUT A $25
MILLION INCREASE IN DIRECT
VISITOR SPENDING TO BAYFIELD
COUNTY.
SO A LOT OF THAT WOULD COME
RIGHT INTO OUR TOWN, AND WE
WOULD BE VERY HAPPY WITH THOSE
RESULTS.
>> WHY DO YOU THINK, IF YOU DO,
THAT THIS TIME MIGHT BE THE
CHARM FOR TELEMARK?
>> WELL, THE CURRENT DEVELOPER
IS -- THEY'VE BEEN AROUND THE
BLOCK.
THEY'VE DONE THESE PROJECTS
BEFORE.
THE DEVELOPERS THAT HAVE COME
THROUGH THAT TRIED TO JOUST KIND
OF RENOVATE THE EXISTING
BUILDING THAT WAS BUILT IN THE
'70s, THAT HASN'T WORKED OUT.
BUT THIS DEVELOPER WANTS TO DO A
COMPLETE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE
PROPERTY.
AND IT'S A DIFFERENT THING.
AND I THINK THEIR MARKETING PLAN
IS QUITE DIFFERENT AS WELL.
AND I THINK THAT THAT WILL PROVE
TO BE SUBJECTFUL.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WELL, WE HOPE SO.
ART HANCOCK OUT OF ASHLAND,
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US.
>> THANK YOU.
>> NEXT WEEK ON "HERE AND NOW,"
WE'LL HEAR FROM OUR COLLEAGUES
AT WISCONSIN CONTEXT.ORG ABOUT
THE CONNECTION BETWEEN HURRICANE
MARIA RECOVERY AND A SLOW-DOWN
OF SOME MEDICAL SUPPLIES IN
WISCONSIN.
THAT'S ON NEXT WEEK'S PROGRAM.
THAT'S ALL FOR TONIGHT.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED, IN PART, BY FRIENDS OF
WISCONSI