% >> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
% PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
% PRODUCTION.
% >> I, TONY EVERS, SWEAR THAT I
% WILL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION OF
% THE UNITED STATES.
% >> DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR TONY
% EVERS TAKES THE OATH OF OFFICE
% FOR HIS SECOND TERM.
% A NEW STATE LEGISLATURE PREPARES
% FOR BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS.
% AND THE U.S. HOUSE OF
% REPRESENTATIVES STRUGGLES TO
% MOVE FORWARD ON A VOTE FOR
% SPEAKER.
% I'M ZAC SCHULTZ FILLING IN FOR
% FREDERICA FREYBERG, TONIGHT ON
% "HERE AND NOW," GOVERNOR TONY
% EVERS IS HERE, SHARING HIS
% PRIORITIES FOR THE UPCOMING
% SESSION.
% AND ASSEMBLY SPEAKER ROBIN VOS
% HOPES TO FIND COMMON GROUND ON
% TAX CUTS.
% IT'S "HERE AND NOW," FOR JANUAR.
% >> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS%
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR%
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS% WISC
ONSIN.
% >> TUESDAY MARKED THE START OF
% THE NEW TWO-YEAR LEGISLATIVE
% SESSION, AND KICKED OFF WITH THE
% INAUGURATION OF TONY EVERS AND
% THE OTHER CONSTITUTIONAL
% OFFICERS.
% [APPLAUSE]
% >> I'M TONY EVERS, AND YES I AM
% JAZZED AS HELL TO BE SWORN IN
% AGAIN AS THE 46TH GOVERNOR OF
% THE GREAT STATE OF WISCONSIN.
% [APPLAUSE]
% >> DEMOCRAT TONY EVERS TOOK THE
% OATH OF OFFICE, LOOKING TO SET A
% NEW TONE FOR HIS SECOND TERM AS
% GOVERNOR.
% HE FRAMED HIS WIN IN NOVEMBER AS
% A VICTORY FOR DEMOCRACY, NOT
% JUST DEMOCRATS.
% >> WISCONSIN REJECTED A RHETORIC
% BORN OUT OF APATHY AND ANIMOSITY
% TOWARDS OUR NEIGHBOR, AND
% WISCONSIN REJECTED A RETURN TO
% THE BITTER POLITICS OF
% RESENTMENT.
% >> HE USED HIS INAUGURAL ADDRESS
% TO LAY OUT HOW VOTERS EXPECT A
% RETURN TO BIPARTISANSHIP AND
% COMPROMISE, WITH A DEMOCRATIC
% POINT OF VIEW.
% >> PEOPLE VOTED BECAUSE THEY
% BELIEVE, AS I DO, THAT WHEN WE
% DELIVER TAX RELIEF, IT SHOULD BE
% TARGETED TO THE MIDDLE CLASS TO
% GIVE WORKING FAMILIES A LITTLE
% BREATHING ROOM IN THEIR FAMILY
% BUDGET, NOT TO GIVE BIG BREAKS
% TO MILLIONAIRES AND
% BILLIONAIRES.
% >> AFTER THE CEREMONY IN THE
% ROTUNDA, MEMBERS OF THE
% LEGISLATURE WERE SWORN IN.
% WITH REPUBLICANS IN COMMANDING
% CONTROL OF BOTH CHAMBERS.
% >> SO HELP ME GOD.
% >> ASSEMBLY SPEAKER ROBIN VOS%
ALSO SPOKE ABOUT COMPROMISE.
% >> SO IF YOU COME FROM THE FAR
% LEFT OR THE FAR RIGHT, PLEASE
% ALWAYS REMEMBER IN THIS
% INSTITUTION, THE MIDDLE 90% OF
% THE BODY IS WHERE THINGS GET
% DONE, NOT ON THE FRINGE.
% >> HE, TOO, SPOKE ABOUT TAX
% REFORM, FROM A REPUBLICAN POINT
% OF VIEW.
% >> WHEN I LOOK AT OUR TAX
% CLIMATE, I SEE THAT ALL AROUND
% US ARE FLAT TAXES.
% IN IOWA, MICHIGAN, ILLINOIS.
% >> GOVERNOR EVERS PREVIEWED THE
% NEXT TWO YEARS WHEN HE SAID THE
% INAUGURAL CALLED FOR A PARTY,
% BUT THE REAL WORK WAS YET TO%
COME.
% >> WISCONSIN, WE LOVE YOU.
% LET'S POLKA TONIGHT, AND GET TO
% WORK TOMORROW.
% >> IF TUESDAY NIGHT WAS ABOUT
% DANCING THE POLKA, IT HAS BEEN
% ABOUT TOURING THE STATE SINCE%
THEN.
% WE ARE JOINED NOW BY GOVERNOR
% TONY EVERS.
% THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.
% >> HI, ZAC.
% >> GOVERNOR, YOU'VE CRISSCROSSED%
WISCONSIN THE LAST COUPLE OF%DA
YS.
% WHAT DO THOSE VISITS CONNECT TO
% THE WORK OF DEALING WITH THE
% LEGISLATURE?%>> WELL, YOU KNO
W, YESTERDAY,
% FOR EXAMPLE, I WAS IN TWO SCHOOL
% DISTRICTS, AND THE WORK THAT
% THEY'RE DOING ABSOLUTEL HAS A
% LOT TO DO WITH, YOU KNOW,
% FUNDING OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND
% OTHER LEGISLATIVE THINGS.
% SO WE LEARNED A LOT, EVEN -- YOU
% KNOW, THINGS THAT SEEMINGLY ARE
% SMALL BUT WE TALKED WITH A LOT
% OF STUDENTS ABOUT THEIR YOUTH
% APPRENTICESHIPS AND HOW THAT
% WORKS.
% EVERYTHING I DO, AND I'M GOING
% OUT AND ABOUT, THE STATE HAS
% SOMETHING TO DO WITH
% LEGISLATION.%>> WE SPOKE WITH
SPEAKER VOS
% LAST MONTH AND HE SAID THAT MORE
% MONEY IS NOT THE SOLUTION TO
% SOLVING SOME OF THE KNOWLEDGE
% GAPS THAT OCCURRED DURING COVID.
% DO YOU AGREE OR DISAGREE?
% >> WELL, MONEY DOES PLAY A ROLE,
% CLEARLY.
% I MEAN, WE HAVE SCHOOL DISTRICTS
% GOING TO REFERENDA EVERY SINGLE
% ELECTION, AND TWO THINGS HAPPEN
% THERE.
% ONE IS THAT MOST OF THEM PASS,
% AND THAT RAISES PROPERTY TAXES
% SO THAT'S OBVIOUSLY A
% LEGISLATIVE ISSUE.
% AND SECOND OF ALL, THERE'S 20 TO
% 30% THAT DON'T PASS EVERY TIME,
% AND SO WHAT THAT DOES IS CREATES
% A SU SYSTEM OF HAVES AND HAVE-N.
% THAT IS A LEGISLATIVE ISSUE.
% SO YES, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT
% THAT WE LOOK AT EVERY OPTION TO
% HAVE KIDS LEARN IN A BETTER WAY,
% BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, ONE
% OF THOSE THINGS IS RESOURCES.
% >> NOW BOTH ON ELECTION NIGHT
% AND DURING YOUR INAUGURAL
% ADDRESS, YOU CONNECTED YOUR
% VICTORY WITH A VOTE TO SAVE
% DEMOCRACY.
% IS YOUR WIN ENOUGH TO DO THAT,
% OR DO WE NEED MORE LEGISLATION
% TO AVOID WHAT YOU CALLED, QUOTE,
% A TRAJECTORY BENT TOWARD
% PERMANENTLY UNDERMINING THE
% INSTITUTIONS THAT ARE
% FUNDAMENTAL TO WHO WE ARE AS A
% PEOPLE?%>> WELL, OUR ELECTIO
N AND THE
% WAY IT WAS RUN AND OBVIOUSLY
% EVERYTHING WENT FINE, YOU KNOW,
% WE HAVE A REPUBLICAN THAT'S HEAD
% OF THE WISCONSIN ELECTIONS
% COMMISSION, THEY CERTIFIED THE
% ELECTION.
% SO I THINK THINGS WENT WELL.
% NOW, DO I THINK THERE'S SOME
% THINGS THAT COULD BE BETTER?
% FRANKLY, I WOULD BE -- I'D LIKE
% TO HAVE AUTOMATIC VOTER
% REGISTRATION SO THAT PEOPLE ARE
% REGISTERED.
% THAT DOESN'T MEAN THEY HAVE TO
% VOTE.%AND I THINK IT WOULD B
E GOOD TO
% GIVE THOSE LOCAL CLERKS THE
% ABILITY TO PROCESS SOME OF THOSE
% EARLY VOTING THINGS BEFOREHAND
% SO THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TO DO IT
% AT 4:00 IN THE MORNING.
% BUT THE SYSTEM IS STRONG, AND
% BASICALLY, YES, DO I THINK THAT
% THAT ELECTION AND THE WAY IT WAS
% RUN HELPED PEOPLE UNDERSTAND HOW
% IMPORTANT DEMOCRACY IS?
% AND FRANKLY, HOW IT'S ALWAYS
% BEEN STRONG.
% I MEAN, IN WISCONSIN, SO MUCH OF
% THE HARD WORK, 90% OR MORE,
% HAPPENS LOCALLY.
% AND HAPPENS BY REPUBLICANS,
% DEMOCRATS, INDEPENDENTS, YOU
% KNOW, THE CLERKS, THE LOCAL
% CLERKS.
% THOSE ARE THE FOLKS THAT DO ALL
% THE HARD WORK.
% IT'S NOT WHAT HAPPENS IN
% MADISON.
% AND SO WE NEED TO REAFFIRM OUR
% SUPPORT FOR THAT AND CONTINUE TO
% MOVE FORWARD.
% >> NOW, YOU'VE HAD MEETINGS WITH
% ASSEMBLY SPEAKER ROBIN VOS AND
% SENATE MAJORITY LEADER DEVIN
% LEMAHIEU LAST MONTH, THE FIRST
% TIME IN A LONG TIME FOR THOSE.
% DO YOU EXPECT THAT TO BE A
% REGULAR THING GOING FORWARD?
% >> YEAH, I DO.
% I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO BE
% EVERY WEDNESDAY AT NOON OR
% SOMETHING LIKE THAT, BUT YEAH,
% I'VE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH
% MEETING WITH THEM.
% OBVIOUSLY DURING THE PANDEMIC,
% THAT MADE IT MORE DIFFICULT.
% SO YES, I THOUGHT BOTH MEETINGS
% WENT WELL.
% AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO IT, AND
% THERE'S LOTS OF THINGS THAT
% WE -- YOU KNOW, THAT I KNOW AND
% I THINK THEY KNOW TOO, THERE'S
% BIPARTISAN SUPPORT FOR.
% >> NOW IN YOUR FIRST TWO
% BUDGETS, THE NEGOTIATIONS
% APPEARED FROM THE OUTSIDE TO
% CONSIST OF REPUBLICANS TRYING TO
% FIGURE OUT HOW FAR THEY COULD GO
% BEFORE YOU WOULD VETO THE ENTIRE
% BILL.
% DO YOU EXPECT THIS PROCESS TO
% LOOK DIFFERENT?
% >> IT WILL BE DIFFERENT IN THAT
% THINGS LIKE SHARED REVENUE, HOW
% WE'RE GOING TO FUND OUR PUBLIC
% SCHOOLS, FIXING THE ROADS AND
% BROADBAND, THINGS LIKE THAT,
% ABSOLUTELY THERE IS COMMON
% GROUND TO BE HELD.
% AND THEN AFTER THAT, WE'LL SEE.
% YOU KNOW, WE MAY BE IN POSITIONS
% WHERE WE FIGHT ABOUT DIFFERENT
% THINGS AND I ANTICIPATE WE WILL.
% WHETHER THOSE THINGS WILL BE
% ENOUGH FOR ME TO VETO A BILL --
% A BUDGET OR NOT, I DON'T KNOW AT
% THIS TIME.
% >> NOW, WE'RE FINALLY STARTING
% TO SEE SOME OF GOVERNOR WALKER'S
% APPOINTEES TO SOME OF THOSE
% STATE BOARDS STEP DOWN AFTER
% OVERSTAYING THEIR TERMS,
% SPECIFICALLY ON THE DNR BOARD.
% IN THE FUTURE, WOULD YOU EXPECT
% TO RUN NAMES PAST SENATE
% MAJORITY LEMAHIEU IN ORDER TO
% SEE IF HE LIKES THEM OFF THE BAT
% OR ARE YOU JUST GOING TO
% ANNOUNCE THEM COLD?
% >> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, WE
% ANNOUNCE PEOPLE THAT WE FEEL
% WILL BE OKAY WITH SENATOR
% LEMAHIEU, AND I APPRECIATE THE
% FACT THAT HE SAID EVERYONE THAT
% WE HAVE OUT THERE, THEY'RE GOING
% TO BE GIVEN AN UP AND DOWN VOTE.
% AND THEY'RE ALL GOOD PEOPLE.
% I MEAN, THERE'S NO REASON WHY
% NOT TO.
% AND THE FACT THAT -- THE FACT
% THAT PEOPLE WAITED, A HANDFUL
% WAITED UNTIL THE END OF THE
% CALENDAR YEAR TO GET OUT, I FIND
% THAT, YOU KNOW, REFRESHING THAT
% THEY'D COME TO THAT CONCLUSION,
% BUT THAT SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED A
% LONG TIME AGO.
% >> YOU RECENTLY ANNOUNCED YOUR
% NEW SELECTION FOR DNR SECRETARY,
% ADAM PAYNE, JUST SO HAPPENS HE'S
% THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR FROM
% SENATOR LEMAHIEU'S HOME COUNTY
% OF SHEBOYGAN.
% WAS THAT A COINCIDENCE OR IS
% THAT SOMETHING YOU THINK WILL
% HELP SPEED THE CONFIRMATION?
% >> WELL, IT WAS A COINCIDENCE.
% I'D KNOWN ADAM FOR A LONG TIME,
% I'M FROM SHEBOYGAN COUNTY, I
% KNOW HE'S DONE A GREAT JOB
% THERE, I KNOW THAT HIS
% BACKGROUND IS ONE THAT, YOU
% KNOW, HIS FATHER WAS I THINK A
% PROFESSOR AT STEVENS POINT IN
% THE AREA OF -- YOU KNOW, NATURAL
% RESOURCES.
% SO IT WAS JUST A NATURAL.
% IF IT HELPS THAT HE'S FROM
% SHEBOYGAN COUNTY AND SO IS
% SENATOR LEMAHIEU, THAT'S GREAT.
% BUT THAT'S NOT WHY WE CHOSE HIM.
% >> SWITCHING TO THE TOPIC OF THE
% SUPREME COURT ELECTION THAT'S
% COMING UP, IT SEEMS LIKE ANY
% NEGOTIATIONS OVER THE OTHER
% MAJOR TOPIC OF ABORTION WILL BE
% TIED DIRECTLY TO TH THE OUTCOMEF
% THAT ELECTION, THERE DOESN'T
% SEEM TO BE ANY ROOM FOR
% COMPROMISE UNTIL WE KNOW WHAT'S
% GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THE COURT
% ON THAT ISSUE.
% >> I WOULD SAY SO.
% I WOULD IMAGINE WE WILL BE ABLE
% TO COME TO SOME CONCLUSION TO
% GET US TO THE POINT WHERE WE
% WERE BEFORE ROE V. WADE
% LEGISLATIVELY, SO THAT'S WHY WE
% FILED A LAWSUIT.
% I THINK THE LAWSUIT IS GOING TO
% BE SUCCESSFUL, AND IT'S LIKELY
% TO END UP IN THE WISCONSIN
% SUPREME COURT.
% >> WOULD YOU BE COMFORTABLE IF
% VOTERS APPROACHED THAT SUPREME
% COURT ELECTION FROM THE POINT OF
% VIEW OF ABORTION RIGHTS?
% >> OF COURSE.
% YEAH.%IT IS A BIG DEAL IN TH
E STATE OF
% WISCONSIN.
% MOST PEOPLE IN THE STATE DO
% BELIEVE THAT WOMEN SHOULD HAVE
% THAT DECISION-MAKING LEFT UP TO
% THEM.
% AND SO YES, IF THAT'S THE WAY IT
% PLAYS OUT, THAT'S THE WAY IT
% PLAYS OUT.
% BUT IT'S AN IMPORTANT ISSUE.
% IT WAS AN IMPORTANT ISSUE IN THE
% CAMPAIGN, MY CAMPAIGN, AND I
% BELIEVE WOMEN SHOULD HAVE THOSE
% RIGHTS.%>> NOW, INCLUDING IN
THE TOPIC
% OF AWORG ABORTION, THE FDA RECEA
% ANNOUNCED THEY WOULD BE
% EXPANDING ACCESS TO THE
% SO-CALLED ABORTION PILL BUT
% THAT'S NOT AVAILABLE IN
% WISCONSIN, BOTH DUE TO THE 1849
% LAW AND MORE RECENT LEGISLATION.
% IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WILL HAVE
% TO GET SORTED OUT WAY DOWN THE
% ROAD AS TO WHETHER PEOPLE WILL
% BE ABLE TO ACCESS THAT?
% >> I CAN'T IMAGINE THAT WILL BE
% DEALT WITH BY THE LEGISLATURE,
% BUT WE'LL SEE.
% I MEAN, CERTAINLY IF THERE'S
% THINGS THAT LEGISLATIVELY CAN
% HAPPEN THAT ALLOW WOMEN TO
% UTILIZE THIS PHARMACEUTICAL, I
% THINK WE SHOULD, BUT I'M
% GUESSING THAT'S NOT GOING TO
% HAPPEN.
% SO THAT'S GOING TO BE DOWN THE
% ROAD.%>> ONE OTHER ISSUE THA
T
% REPUBLICANS HAVE BROUGHT UP IS
% THE USE OF TIK TOK ON STATE
% DEVICES.
% WE'VE SEEN OTHER STATES BAN
% THEM.
% IS THAT SOMETHING YOU'RE LEANING
% TOWARDS?%>> YEAH, I MADE A DE
CISION TO DO
% THAT.%IN FACT, I'LL BE ISSUI
NG AN
% EXECUTIVE ORDERLY NEXT WEEK TO
% BAN THAT.
% >> HOW COME, AND IS THE USE OF
% TIK TOK ON STATE DEVICES?
% >> NOT VERY.
% I MEAN, THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE,
% IT'S RELATIVELY A SMALL NUMBER,
% I'D SAY PROBABLY LESS THAN 30
% ALL TOTAL, ALL STATE EMPLOYEES,
% SO IT'S NOT A MAJORITY BY ANY
% STRETCH.
% SO IT'S NOT PERVASIVE, BUT WE
% FEEL IT'S IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE
% THAT EVEN IN THE SMALL NUMBER OF
% PEOPLE THAT USE IT, THAT THEY
% SHOULDN'T BE USING IT.
% >> DOES THAT FALL UNDER THE
% LARGER PURVIEW OF JUST
% ELECTRONIC SECURITY?
% BECAUSE WE'VE HEARD OTHER
% EXPERTS SAY WELL, TIK TOK IS
% REALLY NO DIFFERENT THAN A LOT
% OF OTHER SOCIAL MEDIA DEVICES
% YOU DOWNLOAD ON TO A PHONE.
% >> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
% WE ARE IN CONSTANT CONVERSATIONS
% WITH FBI AND ALSO WISCONSIN
% EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND OTHERS
% THAT ARE REALLY INTO, YOU KNOW,
% THE NITTY GRITTY OF THAT, AND
% WE'LL FOLLOW THEIR ADVICE JUST
% LIKE WE DID WITH TIK TOK.
% >> ALL RIGHT.
% GOVERNOR EVERS, THANKS FOR YOUR
% TIME TODAY.%>> THANKS, ZAC.
% >> ASSEMBLY SPEAKER ROBIN VOS
% SAYS HE, TOO, IS HOPING TO
% IMPROVE LINES OF COMMUNICATION
% BETWEEN THE LEGISLATURE AND THE
% GOVERNOR.
% WE SPOKE WITH HIM RECENTLY ABOUT
% THE BUDGET AND HIS LEGISLATIVE
% PRIORITIES.%>> MR. SPEAKER,
THANKS FOR YOUR
% TIME.%>> ALWAYS HAPPY TO BE
HERE.
% THANKS, ZAC.
% >> GIVE ME YOUR IMPRESSIONS OF
% THE 2022 ELECTIONS AND WHAT ARE
% YOUR TAKEAWAYS FROM THE RESULTS?
% >> I WOULD SAY FIRST OF ALL, IT
% SEEMED TO GO ALONG BETTER THAN
% IT DID BEFORE.
% I THINK WE HAD LESS CONCERNS
% WITH THE CHALLENGES THAT
% OCCURRED IN 2020.
% I THINK IT STILL SHOWS THAT
% THERE WERE ISSUES THAT WE HAD TO
% DEAL WITH.
% I STILL WOULD PREFER THAT WE HAD
% THE MONDAY BILL ASSEMBLY -- I
% THINK WE HAD SOME CHANGES TO THE
% WAY THAT WE DID DIFFERENT
% ELECTION LAWS THAT SHOULD HAVE
% BECOME LAW.
% I THINK THOSE ISSUES ARE STILL
% OUT THERE.
% BUT I THINK WE'VE ALSO REALIZED
% THAT THERE IS A LOT OF PASSION
% AROUND ELECTIONS.
% ON BOTH SIDES IN WISCONSIN.
% EVERYTHING IS SO CLOSE.
% SO I WISH WE WOULD FOCUS MORE ON
% TRYING TO ENSURE THAT THERE WAS
% CONFIDENCE FROM THE VERY FAR
% RIGHT TO THE VERY FAR LEFT,
% INSTEAD OF JUST HOPING THAT OUR
% SIDE WINS AND THAT THE OTHER
% SIDE JUST HAS TO DEAL WITH IT.
% >> DO YOU THINK THE FACT THAT
% THERE WAS KIND OF A SPLIT
% ELECTION WITH RON JOHNSON AND
% TONY EVERS WINNING GIVES PEOPLE
% CONFIDENCE?
% LIKE THERE'S NO WAY IT COULD BE
% RIGGED IF THAT HAPPENED?
% >> I WOULD CERTAINLY HOPE SO.
% LIKE I SAY, I STILL BELIEVE
% THERE ARE CONCERNS THAT WE HAVE
% TO DEAL WITH.
% IT WOULD BE NICE IF WE COULD
% KIND OF TRY TO GENERATE MORE OF
% A CONSENSUS THIS TIME AROUND,
% WE'RE HEADING INTO WHAT IS
% PROBABLY GOING TO BE A
% CONTENTIOUS PRESIDENTIAL%ELEC
TION.% I DON'T THINK WE JUST THROW
% CAUTION TO THE WIND AND OVERHAUL
% EVERYTHING BUT AT THE SAME TIME,
% THERE'S A LOT OF CONCERNS THAT
% PEOPLE ARE LEGITIMATELY BRINGING
% UP.
% I HOPE WE CAN HAVE A SERIOUS
% CONVERSATION ABOUT IT.
% >> MILITARY B BALLOTS KIND OF CE
% UP AT THE VERY END, THERE'S NOT
% VERY ME MANY BUT DOES THAT NEEDO
% BE LOOKED AT?
% >> THERE'S A WAY IF WE DON'T
% HAVE THE SAME SECURITY AROUND
% PEOPLE WHO VOTE USING A MILITARY
% SITUATION AS OPPOSED TO SOMEBODY
% WHO LIVES IN LODI OR BURLINGTON,
% I THINK IT'S REASONABLE TO HAVE
% US DO THAT.
% MY GOAL IS ALWAYS TO HAVE THE
% MAXIMUM NUMBER OF VOTES CAST
% THAT ARE LEGAL AND PROPER.
% AND I THINK THAT'S THE SECOND
% PART THAT WE REALLY NEED TO
% FOCUS ON.
% YEAH, I WANT TO HAVE MASSIVE
% TURNOUT IN WISCONSIN LIKE WE
% ALWAYS HAVE BUT NOT DO IT IN A
% WAY THAT ALLOWS FOR INDIVIDUALS
% TO HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THE FINAL
% RESULTS BECAUSE SOMEBODY COULD,
% YOU KNOW, WORK THEIR WAY THROUGH
% THE PROCESS ILLEGALLY, WHETHER
% IT HAPPENS A LOT OR NOT, NOBODY
% SHOULD EVER HAVE TO WORRY THAT
% IT DOES.
% >> ARE THERE ANY NON-BUDGET
% ISSUES THAT YOU THINK THAT THE
% ASSEMBLY WILL LOOK TO ADDRESS
% RIGHT AWAY I WHEN THE SESSION
% STARTS?%>> BOY, THERE'S A LO
T THAT'S
% GOING TO GO ON.
% A LOT OF IT IS THE BUDGET.
% THAT'S PRIMARILY THE THING.
% BUT AS I'VE THOUGHT ABOUT THE
% TOPICS WE CAN LOOK AT, I FEEL
% LIKE ONE OF THE GOOD THINGS%
ABOUT THE WAY THAT THE
% LEGISLATURE WORKS IS WE HAVE THE
% ABILITY TO KIND OF HIT THE RESET
% BUTTON WITH EVERY SWEARING IN
% CEREMONY THAT WE HAVE TWO
% YEARS -- EVERY TWO YEARS, SO
% PART OF ME LOOKS AND SAYS, OKAY,
% THE PAST IS THE PAST, WE'VE GOT
% TO LOOK IF HE FUTURE.
% SO NUMBER ONE, I THINK WE HAVE A
% REAL PROBLEM WITH LEARNING LOSS.
% WE NOW SEE THAT TWO OUT OF THREE
% KIDS SINCE 2019 ARE DOING WORSE
% ON STANDARDIZED TESTS.
% THEY DON'T HAVE THE ADEQUATE
% LEVEL OF MATH OR READING FOR
% THEIR GRADE LEVEL.
% THAT'S WRONG.
% WE'VE GOT TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE
% DEAL WITH THAT.
% WE ALSO KNOW WITH THE MASSIVE
% AMOUNT OF FEDERAL MONEY THAT
% CAME IN, MORE MONEY ISN'T THE
% SIMPLE ANSWER, THERE'S A LOT OF
% COMPLEX ISSUES.
% SO I THINK THAT'S AN AREA WE
% COULD FOCUS ON.
% I WAS DISAPPOINTED THAT GOVERNOR
% EVERS VETOED OUR LEGISLATION TO
% INCREASE LITERACY AND LEARNING,
% HOPEFULLY WE CAN ADDRESS THE
% CONCERNS AND GET THAT THROUGH.
% SECOND THING IS WE KNOW WE HAVE
% A DEMOGRAPHIC CHALLENGE.
% WE HAVE REAL ISSUES IN WISCONSIN
% WITH A GRAYING POPULATION AND WE
% NEED TO DO MORE TO KEEP PEOPLE
% HERE IN WISCONSIN.
% IMWHEN I LOOK AT OUR TAX CLIMATE
% AND SEE WE HAVE A FLAT TAX IN
% IOWA, MICHIGAN, ILLINOIS, A
% REPUBLICAN STATE, A DEMOCRAT
% STATE AND NEWLY TURNED DEMOCRAT
% STATE, I THINK WE CAN CERTAINLY
% HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT OUR TAX
% BURDEN.%IT'S NOT ABOUT REWAR
DING WEALTH
% EVEN THOUGH THERE'S NOTHING
% WRONG WITH THAT.
% IT'S ABOUT SAYING IF YOU HAVE A
% RETIRED COUPLE AND THEY DECIDE
% WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO SPEND SIX
% MONTHS AND A DAY, IT CERTAINLY
% SHOULD BE WISCONSIN, NOT
% FLORIDA, TEXAS, ARIZONA, 1
% TENNESSEE, ALL PLACES
% SIGNIFICANTLY CHEAPER TO RETIRE.
% WE'VE GOT TO FIX THAT.
% AND THE LAST THING THAT I REALLY
% THINK WE NEED TO FOCUS ON IS
% MORE INNOVATION.
% UNDER THE BEST CASE SCENARIO,
% RIGHT NOW, WE SEE NOT NET IN
% MIGRATION, WE HAVE TO KEEP MORE
% COLLEGE GRADUATES AND PART OF
% THE INNOVATION HAS TO BE ALL
% THROUGH STATE GOVERNMENT AND
% LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.%I THINK FO
R THE MOST PART IN
% WISCONSIN, WE DO EVERYTHING THE
% WAY THAT WE DID 20 AND 30 YEARS
% AGO.
% AND RATHER THAN INNOVATING, WE
% JUST ADD MORE TO THE TOP OF THE
% PILE.%SO I WOULD LOVE FOR US
TO USE
% OUR BUDGET AND OUR OPPORTUNITY
% TO LEGISLATE TO FOCUS ON
% INNOVATING AND BEING IN A PLACE
% WHERE NEW IDEAS THRIVE.
% YOU KNOW, WE USED TO BE THE
% INVENTION CAPITAL OF THE
% COUNTRY, ERVEG FROM MALTED MILK
% TO GARBAGE DISPOSALS WERE
% INVENTED IN WISCONSIN.
% WE'VE BEEN LESS INNOVATIVE IN
% GOVERNMENT AND I THINK WE NEED
% TO CHANGE THAT.%>> MOVING TO
THE BUDGETS,
% OBVIOUSLY THE BIGGEST FOCUS, TAX
% CUTS ARE THE BIGGEST PRIORITY
% FOR REPUBLICANS.
% ARE YOU GOING TO PASS A BUDGET
% WITH A FLAT TAX OR IS THAT STILL
% NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN THE TWO
% CHAMBERS AS TO WHETHER THAT
% HAPPENS?%>> I ALWAYS START BY
SAYING I
% DON'T WANT TO HAVE ANY ABSOLUTE
% BOTTOM LINES AT THIS POINT.
% THERE ARE THINGS THAT I REALLY
% WANT TO ACCOMPLISH.
% I TALKED ABOUT THE LEARNING LOSS
% THAT WE'RE SEEING IN WISCONSIN
% AMONG ALMOST EVERY GRADE LEVEL.
% WELL, WE NEED TO EDUCATE AND
% DIFFERENTIATE WISCONSIN FROM
% OTHER PLACES.
% SO I WANT MORE SCHOOL CHOICE.
% THAT DOESN'T MEAN ONLY A PRIVATE
% SCHOOL.
% IT COULD MEAN WHY DO WE HAVE IT
% DIFFICULT BETWEEN TWO PUBLIC
% SCHOOLS?
% WHY DO WE GET TO HAVE PARENTS
% NOT BE THE PRIMARY DECIDERS AND
% BUREAUCRATS INSTEAD?
% I THINK THAT SHOULD BE SOMETHING
% THAT I KNOW GOVERNOR EVERS CARES
% ABOUT EDUCATION, SO YOU WOULD
% THINK THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING WE
% COULD FIND COMMON GROUND ON.
% I WOULD SAY IN MY MIND, YES, WE
% NEED TO HAVE TAX REFORM.
% I'VE TRIED TO BE GENEROUS IN
% SAYING THAT, LOOK, GOVERNOR
% EVERS SIGNED THE LAST BUDGET
% WHERE WE HAD NOWHERE NEAR THE
% SURPLUS WE HAD NOW WITH
% $3.4 BILLION IN TAX CUTS, I
% CAN'T IMAGINE UNDER ANY SCENARIO
% WE HAVE LESS THAN THAT, WE
% SHOULD HAVE MORE, BUT I HAVEN'T
% DRAWN A LINE IN THE SAND SAYING
% IT MUST BE DONE AT THIS LEVEL OR
% THIS WAY BUT I WILL TELL YOU THE
% ONLY BOTTOM LINE I HAVE IS WE
% ARE NOT GOING TO USE THE SURPLUS
% OR NEW REVENUES TO GROW THE SIZE
% OF GOVERNMENT.
% RIGHT?
% INNOVATE, MAKE SURE WE HAVE OUR
% PRIORITIES FUNDED, BUT TO CREATE
% NEW BU BUREAUCRACES, TO CREATE W
% MONSTROSITIES TO PAY FOR LATER
% ON, ABSOLUTELY NOT.
% >> TODAY MARKS TWO YEARS SINCE
% THE JANUARY 6TH INSURRECTION AT
% THE CAPITOL.
% TO DATE, MORE THAN 950 PEOPLE
% HAVE BEEN CHARGED IN CONNECTION
% WITH THE STORMING OF THE CAPITOL
% AND THE ATTEMPT TO STOP THE
% CERTIFICATION OF THE ELECTION.
% ALL 8 OF WISCONSIN'S MEMBERS OF
% THE HOUSE WERE THERE THAT DAY.
% 7 OF THEM INSIDE THE BUILDING.
% THE 8TH MEMBER IS REPUBLICAN
% DEREK VAN ORDEN, WHO WAS NOT IN
% CONGRESS THEN.
% HE ATTENDED THE RALLY OUTSIDE
% THE CAPITOL BUT CLAIMS HE DID
% NOT ENTER THE BUILDING OR
% PARTICIPATE IN THE VIOLENCE THAT
% DAY.
% VAN ORDEN WAS ELECTED THIS FALL
% TO REPRESENT WISCONSIN'S THIRD
% CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.
% HOWEVER, HE STILL HASN'T BEEN
% SWORN IN TO OFFICE BECAUSE
% REPUBLICANS HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO
% AGREE ON WHO TO ELECT AS SPEAKER
% OF THE HOUSE.
% REPUBLICAN KEVIN MCCARTHY HAS
% FAILED IN MORE THAN A DOZEN
% VOTES SINCE TUESDAY WITH A SMALL
% GROUP OF HOLDOUTS PREVENTING HIM
% FROM GETTING A MAJORITY.
% IT'S THE FIRST TIME IN 100 YEARS
% A SPEAKER WASN'T CHOSEN ON THE
% FIRST BALLOT, AND THIS MARKS THE
% MOST VOTES SINCE 1860 WHEN
% 44 VOTES WERE NEEDED.
% THE RECORD, BY THE WAY, WAS SET
% IN 1856, WHEN IT TOOK 133 ROUNDS
% OF VOTING TO ELECT A SPEAKER.
% UNLESS YOU'RE NEW TO WISCONSIN,
% YOU'VE SEEN THE SNOWPLOWS OUT
% THIS WINTER.
% NOT ONLY CLEANING THE ROADS BUT
% LAYING DOWN SALT.
% WHILE THIS MAKES IT SAFER FOR
% DRIVERS IT'S BECOMING A PROBLEM
% FOR OUR STATE'S FRESHWATER
% BODIES.%>> ONE THING WE'RE S
EEING IN A
% LOT OF URBAN AREAS IN WISCONSIN
% IS INCREASING IS A LI SALINITY R
% LAKES AND RIVERS.
% THAT'S A PROBLEM BECAUSE
% HISTORICALLY WE WERE BLESSED
% WITH A LOT OF FRESHWATER IN
% WISCONSIN.
% OFTEN WE TAKE THAT FOR GRANTED,
% IN OUR WATER BODIES, THAT CAUSES
% PROBLEMS FOR AQUATIC ORGANISMS
% IN FRESHWATER ENVIRONMENTS.
% IT ALSO CAUSES PROBLEMS FOR
% HUMANS IF THAT'S THE DRINKING
% WATER SOURCE, WE'RE SEEING
% INCREASE IN SALINITY IN LAKES,
% WE'RE LIKELY ALSO SEEING IT IN
% GROUNDWATER, SO THIS KIND OF
% GOES BENEATH THE SURFACE.
% EVERY COUNTY IN THE STATE, ALL
% THIS CAN BE WASHED INTO OUR
% WATERS EVENTUALLY.
% >> TO LEARN MORE ABOUT IMPACT
% AND MITIGATION, WE TURN TO
% ELLISON MADISON, PROGRAM MANAGER
% AT WISCONSIN SALT WISE.
% THANKS FOR JOINING US.
% >> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING
% ME.%>> SO WHAT IS SALT WISE
AND WHO
% ARE YOU WORKING WITH?
% >> IT ACTUALLY BEGAN IN THE
% MADISON AREA WITH THE CITY OF
% MADISON, DANE COUNTY, MADISON
% DANE COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH, THE
% WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT, THE
% WATER UTILITY, SEEING SALT
% CONCENTRATIONS INCREASE IN OUR
% LAKES, OUR STREAM AND OUR
% DRINKING WATER.
% SO THOSE ORGANIZATIONS CAME
% TOGETHER AND SAID WE NEED TO DO
% SOMETHING ABOUT THIS, AND
% INITIALLY THE GOAL WAS REACH OUT
% TO SOME OF THE BIGGEST USERS OF
% SALT, THE CITIES, DIFFERENT
% MUNICIPALITIES WITHIN THE COUNTY
% THEMSELVES AND THEY STARTED TO
% TRAIN OPERATORS, ANYBODY WHO'S
% PUTTING SALT DOWN ON BEST
% PRACTICES.
% AND THEN FROM THERE, SALT-WISE
% KIND OF GREW BECAUSE SOME OF THE
% OPERATORS WERE SAYING, YOU KNOW,
% THIS IS GREAT, BUT WE ALSO HAVE
% PRIVATE CONTRACTORS, THEY'RE
% PUTTING DOWN A LOT OF SALT ON
% PARKING LOTS AND SIDEWALKS, THEY
% NEED TO UNDERSTAND, AND THEN
% ALSO THE AUDIENCE OF JUST THE
% GENERAL PUBLIC CAME UP, RIGHT,
% LIKE IF THE PUBLIC DOESN'T
% UNDERSTAND WHY WE MIGHT WANT TO
% KIND OF CALIBRATE IN AND
% CONSIDER SALT USE, NOT JUST THAT
% MORE ISN'T ALWAYS BETTER, WE
% NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT MESSAGE
% GETS OUT TO THE PUBLIC SO THEY
% UNDERSTAND WHY WE'RE MAKING
% CHANGES AT THE MUNICIPAL,
% COUNTY, STATE LEVEL.
% >> SO WHAT'S THE TRADEOFF HERE
% BETWEEN MAKING ROADS SAFE AND
% KEEPING OUR GROUNDWATER SAFE?
% >> SO ACTUALLY I'M SO GLAD YOU
% ASKED THAT QUESTION, BECAUSE I
% REALLY -- WITH SALT-WISE, WHAT
% WE WANT TO DO IS KIND OF BREAK
% APART THAT DICHOTOMY OF WE'RE
% EITHER SAFE OR WE HAVE PURE
% FRESHWATER GOING FORWARD.
% BECAUSE REALLY A LOT OF THE BEST
% PRACTICES THAT THE SALT-WISE
% PARTNERSHIP ENCOURAGES ARE
% PRACTICES THAT DO NOT REDUCE THE
% LEVEL OF SERVICE ON OUR ROADS.
% SO THINGS LIKE CALIBRATING YOUR
% SALT SPREADERS SO YOU UNDERSTAND
% HOW MUCH SALT IS BEING PUT DOWN
% AND YOU CAN REALLY MAKE PRECISE
% APPLICATIONS BASED ON ROAD
% TEMPERATURE AND WEATHER TRENDS.
% ALSO USING LIQUID BRINES.
% YOU MAY HAVE SEEN THOSE LINES ON
% THE HIGHWAY BEFORE A STORM,
% SOMETIMES ON MUNICIPAL STREETS
% AS WELL.
% THOSE WORK TO PUT DOWN A VERY,
% VERY THIN LAYER OF SALT.
% I LIKE TO DESCRIBE IT LIKE
% PUTTING PAM SPRAY MAYBE, COOKING
% SPRAY, ON YOUR SKILL ET BEFORE
% YOU COOK.
% SO IF YOU CAN PREVENT THAT BOND
% FROM FORMING BETWEEN SNOW AND
% THE PAVEMENT, WHEN THE PLOW
% COMES, THE SNOW COMES UP SO MUCH
% MORE READILY, THEY USE A LOT
% LESS SALT AFTERWARDS, RIGHT?
% I THINK YOU PROBABLY SOMETIMES
% PUT SOME FOOD ON RIGHT BEFORE
% OILING THAT SKILL ET AND THEN
% YOU'RE SCRAPING AND SCRAPING
% AFTERWARDS.
% SO SOME OF THESE PRACTICES,
% USING LIQUID BRINES, CALIBRATING
% EQUIPMENT, THEY DON'T ACTUALLY
% REDUCE THE LEVEL OF SERVICE,
% THEY DON'T MAKE THE PAVEMENT
% LESS SAFE.
% SOMETIMES WE CAN ACTUALLY MAKE
% IT SAFER BECAUSE OF THE WORK OF
% LIQUID JUST WORKING SO MUCH MORE
% QUICKLY THAN SOLID ROCK SALT.
% SO IT'S NOT A QUESTION OF SAFE,
% AGAIN, OR, YOU KNOW, PROTECTING
% THE ENVIRONMENT, BUT IT'S REALLY
% JUST ADOPTING THOSE BEST
% PRACTICES.%>> SO CLIMATE CHAN
GE IS A BIG
% FACTOR HERE.
% IT'S CHANGING WHAT OUR WINTERS
% LOOK LIKE IN TERMS OF SIZE OF
% STORMS, WHEN SNOW RUNS OFF.
% DOES THAT CHANGE THE FORMULAS
% PEOPLE HAVE BEEN USING FOR YEARS
% ABOUT HOW TO LAY DOWN SALT?
% >> YEAH, SO ONE OF THE BIGGEST
% PROBLEMS IS WE HAVEN'T
% NECESSARILY USED FORMULAS IN THE
% PAST.
% WE'VE KIND OF JUST THOUGHT SALT
% IS GOOD, SOME IS GOOD, MORE IS
% BETTER, LET'S CRANK IT UP, PUT
% THE SALT DOWN, RIGHT?
% SO WE'RE SEEING THOSE
% CONVERSATIONS START TO CHANGE.
% PART OF IT IS THE ENVIRONMENTAL
% ASPECT OF THIS ISSUE, RIGHT,
% REALLY SEEING SALT
% CONCENTRATIONS INCREASE IN OUR
% FRESHWATER, BUT ANOTHER PIECE OF
% IT IS THE GROWING COST OF SALT
% ITSELF, AND ALSO THE FACT THAT
% SALT IS SUPER CORROSIVE, RIGHT?
% I THINK A LOT OF US SEE THAT
% MAYBE ON OUR PERSONAL VEHICLES,
% BUT SALT ALSO REALLY PREMATURELY
% AGES ROADS AND BRIDGES, AND SO
% WE'RE PAYING A LOT MORE FOR SALT
% THESE DAYS AND WE'RE STARTING TO
% SEE THE COST OF THAT.
% SO I THINK THAT THIS WORK IS
% REALLY JUST STARTING TO HAVE
% APPLICATORS, THOSE BIGGEST
% APPLICATORS ARE SEEING IT FIRST,
% KIND OF HOW DO WE DIAL IN AND
% RIGHT-SIZE OUR SALT USE AS THE
% CLIMATE CONTINUES TO CHANGE AND
% WE HAVE MORE MAYBE SNOW EVENT
% FOLLOWED BY WARM SPELLS WITH
% RAIN, YOU KNOW, WE SEE THAT IF
% THERE'S ANY EXTRA SALT THAT'S
% BEEN PUT DOWN ON PAVEMENT, IT'S
% JUST WASHING AWAY, RIGHT?
% INTO OUR STREAMS.
% >> SO FOR INDIVIDUALS -- JUST A
% FEW SECONDS LEFT, WHAT SHOULD
% THEY THINK ABOUT WHEN THEY SALT
% THEIR SIDEWALK OR THEIR STEPS?
% >> THANK YOU.
% SO WE REALLY ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO
% SHOVEL, SCATTER, SWITCH, AND
% THEN SWEEP.
% SO FIRST SHOVEL, GET OUT THERE
% AND MOVE AS MUCH SNOW AS YOU CAN
% POSSIBLY MOVE KIND OF MANUALLY
% OR MECHANICALLY WITH A
% SNOWBLOWER.
% SO SHOVEL, SCATTER.
% IF YOU DO NEED TO USE SALT, JUST
% APPLY IT AS NEEDED, BECAUSE
% EVERY TEASPOON OF SALT --
% 5 GALLONS OF WATER.
% SO IF YOU'VE GOT EXTRA SALT LEFT
% OVER YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE
% YOU'RE SWEEPING THAT UP AND
% USING LESS THE NEXT TIME.
% THE SWITCH COMES IN AT COLDER
% TEMPERATURES.
% IF YOU DROP BELOW -- IF THE
% TEMPERATURES DROP BELOW
% 15 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT, SALT IS
% NOT EFFECTIVE ANYMORE SO WE NEED
% TO SWITCH AND USE SAND FOR
% TRACTION OR A DIFFERENT DE-ICER.
% >> THAT IS ALL WE HAVE, ALLISON
% MADISON, THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.
% >> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
% IT WAS A DELIGHT TO BE ON.
% >> FOR MORE ON THIS AND OTHER%
ISSUES FACING WISCONSIN, VISIT
% OUR WEBSITE AT PBSWISCONSIN.ORG
% AND THEN CLICK ON THE NEWS TAB.
% THAT IS OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT.
% I'M ZAC SCHULTZ.
% HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.
% ♪
% [MUSIC]
% FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
% PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
% JOURNALISM,
% AND FRIENDS OF PBS WISCONSIN.