% >> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A%
PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL%PRODUCTION
.
% >> A NEW LEADER FOR WISCONSIN
% REPUBLICANS TALKS ABOUT WHERE
% THE PARTY GOES FROM HERE.
% A SCARCITY OF PUBLIC DEFENDERS
% AND DISTRICT ATTORNEYS IS%LE
ADING TO A CONSTITUTIONAL% CRISIS.
% AND THE RESURRECTION OF A PLAN
% TO EXPAND I-94 SEES A BACKLASH.
% GOOD EVENING.
% I'M ZAC SCHULTZ, FILLING IN FOR%
FREDERICA FREYBERG.
% TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW."
% NEWLY ELECTED REPUBLICAN PARTY
% CHAIR BRIAN SCHIMMING JOINS US.
% WE HEAR FROM THE CANDIDATES
% VYING FOR STATE SUPREME COURT.
% NATHAN DENZIN REPORTS ON THE
% RECORD SHORTAGE OF STATE%ATTO
RNEYS.
% AND A MILWAUKEE GROUP EXPLAINS
% THEIR OPPOSITION TO A HIGHWAY%
EXPANSION.
% IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR
% JANUARY 13TH.
% FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
% PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
% JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
% WISCONSIN.
% >> THE REPUBLICAN PARTY OF
% WISCONSIN RECENTLY CHANGED
% LEADERSHIP AGAIN, WITH THEIR
% FOURTH CHAIRMAN IN THE LAST FOUR
% YEARS.
% THE NEWEST CHAIRMAN IS NOT NEW
% TO THE PARTY.
% BRIAN SCHIMMING HAS BEEN HEAVILY
% INVOLVED IN G.O.P. POLITICS IN
% WISCONSIN FOR A LONG TIME.
% AND JOINS US NOW.
% THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.
% >> THANKS FOR INVITING ME.
% >>
% >> THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY HAS BEEN
% A POWERHOUSE.
% HAS THE TURNOVER AFFECTED
% ELECTION OUTCOMES?
% >> OH, I DON'T THINK SO.
% WE DON'T SEE ANY SENSE OF THAT.
% WE JUST RE-ELECTED RON JOHNSON
% AFTER THEY DROPPED $150 MILLION
% OF THEIR MONEY ON HIM, AND
% CAPTURED A FEW NEW DEMOCRAT
% SEATS IN THE ASSEMBLY, PICKED UP
% A SUE M SUPERMAJORITY IN THE SE,
% ELECTED A NEW REPUBLICAN FOR
% CONGRESS SO I'D SAY BASED ON THE
% DOLLAR THAT WE'RE DOING PRETTY
% WELL FOR OURSELVES.
% AND SOME DISAPPOINTMENTS THIS
% YEAR BUT I'LL BE CERTAINLY
% SPENDING SOME TIME RAISING MONEY
% AS WELL, OF COURSE WITH THE
% REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION
% COMING TO MILWAUKEE, WHICH WE'RE
% VERY EXCITED ABOUT, IT WILL BE
% GREAT TO HAVE THAT MUCH FOCUS ON
% WISCONSIN.%>> YOU WERE IN WAS
HINGTON LAST
% WEEK, SPEAKING OF OUR NEW
% CONGRESSPERSON.
% KEVIN MCCARTHY HAD TO GIVE UP A
% LOT OF POWER TO GET THE GAVEL.
% WILL IT AFFECT HIS FUNCTION?
% >> I WAS THERE THREE DAYS LAST
% WEEK.
% MY SENSE OF IT WAS NO, I THINK
% THEY GOT SOME CONCESSIONS IN
% KIND OF THE BACK AND FORTH OF
% THE LEADERSHIP ELECTIONS THERE.
% BUT LOOK, THE PLAY BOOK FOR THAT
% WAS SET BY THE DEMOCRATS.
% NANCY PELOSI THE LAST TWO TIMES
% HAD TO STRUGGLE TO GET THE VOTES
% TO GET ELECTED SPEAKER.
% MADE A NUMBER OF CONCESSIONS TO
% THE A.O.C. WING OF THE PARTY,
% AND IT SHOWED.
% AND IT FINALLY GOT TO THE POINT
% WHERE SHE LEFT.
% SO I'M NOT WORRIED ABOUT THAT,
% AND ANY ACTIONS THAT THEY'VE
% TAKEN SINCE KEVIN MCCARTHY WAS
% SELECTED SPEAKER, THERE'S UNITY.
% A LOT OF IT.
% >> IN WISCONSIN, THE GOVERNOR
% AND REPUBLICANS IN THE
% LEGISLATURE ARE TRYING TO MEET
% AND BUILD UP TRUST THAT'S BEEN
% LACKING.
% WHAT DOES COMPROMISE LOOK LIKE
% IN THIS ENVIRONMENT, ESPECIALLY
% FROM A REPUBLICAN BASE POINT OF
% VIEW?%>> WITH THE LEGISLATUR
E
% OVERWHELMINGLY REPUBLICAN,
% GOVERNOR'S OFFICE IN DEMOCRAT
% HANDS, I WORKED THERE A NUMBER
% OF YEARS AS CHIEF OF STAFF TO
% THE SPEAKER AND OTHER POSITIONS
% THERE.
% THE GOVERNOR NEEDS TO COME
% AWAYS.
% I THINK REPUBLICANS ARE WILLING
% TO COMPROMISE WITH THE GOVERNOR
% ON SOME ISSUES, NOT ON PRINCIPLE
% BUT ON SOME BIG LEGISLATIVE
% ITEMS, I THINK THEY'RE WILLING
% TO COMPROMISE BUT IT'S GOING TO
% TAKE THE GOVERNOR COMING IN TOO.
% THE GOVERNOR JUST FLATLY REFUSED
% TO MEET WITH THE LEGISLATIVE
% REPUBLICANS SEVERAL TIMES, MOST
% OF THE TIME, DURING THE LAST
% FOUR YEARS.%I HOPE THE GOVER
NOR NOW REALIZES
% THAT THE REPUBLICANS ARE HERE TO
% STAY IN THE LEGISLATURE.
% THEY CAN GET SOME THINGS DONE.
% I HOPE THEY DO.
% >> WE JUST SAW REPUBLICANS
% INTRODUCE A NEW FLAT TAX
% PROPOSAL BUT THEY DID IT AS A
% STANDALONE BILL, WHICH OBVIOUSLY
% IF IT'S PASSED, IT CAN BE VETOED
% BY THE GOVERNOR.
% DOES THAT MEAN IT'S MORE OF A
% STATEMENT OF VALUES TO PUT IT
% THAT WAY OR DO YOU THINK IT WILL
% STILL GO INTO THE BUDGET AS A
% FLAT TAX?
% >> I THINK SOME TYPE OF TAX
% REFORM WILL PROBABLY END UP
% GOING INTO THE BUDGET.
% THAT WILL BE DEPENDENT ON THE
% GOVERNOR.
% THE FLAT TAX IS ONE PROPOSAL,
% THERE WILL BE OTHERS I'M SURE
% BOTH IN THE SENATE AND THE
% ASSEMBLY.
% SO THERE WILL BE DIFFERENT IDEAS
% OUT THERE.
% I TRUST OUR LEGISLATORS TO GET
% THAT RIGHT.
% BUT IT WILL TAKE THE GOVERNOR
% SAYING LOOK, I'M WILLING TO LOOK
% AT WHAT IS HISTORICALLY A HIGH
% TAX STATE AND FIGURE OUT WAYS TO
% MAKE IT MORE AFFORDABLE FOR
% EVERYONE WATCHING THIS PROGRAM
% AND THE 6 MILLION PEOPLE IN THIS
% STATE.
% SO I HOPE THE GOVERNOR COMES TO
% THE TABLE AND WORKS PRODUCTIVELY
% ON IT.
% >> SO IF THE BUDGET IS PASSED,
% IS THAT A WIN, KEEPING THE
% GOVERNOR FROM VETOING IT
% ENTIRELY, IS THAT A WIN?
% >> WELL, REMEMBER, THE LAST
% BUDGET, THE REPUBLICANS PASSED
% IT OVER MONTHS OF OBJECTIONS BY
% THE GOVERNOR, THEN HE ENDED UP
% SIGNING IT.
% SO I'M NOT SURE WHAT'S IN THE
% GOVERNOR'S MIND RIGHT NOW, BUT
% WE'LL SEE.
% I'VE BEEN THROUGH A NUMBER OF
% BUDGETS AS YOU HAVE, WATCHING IT
% AND PARTICIPATING UP IN THE
% CAPITOL.
% A LOT OF MONEY SLOSHING AROUND.
% I KIND OF ALWAYS SAY TO
% REPUBLICANS IN THE LEGISLATURE,
% IF THERE'S TOO MUCH MONEY IN
% MADISON, GET IT OUT OF HERE.
% AND SO I HOPE THAT'S THEIR
% EMPHASIS, IS FIGURING OUT WAYS
% TO GIVE MONEY BACK TO TAXPAYERS,
% BECAUSE IT'S THEIR MONEY.
% >> ROBERT SPINDELL, A REPUBLICAN
% APPOINTEE TO THE WISCONSIN
% ELECTIONS COMMISSION, RECENTLY
% SENT AN EMAIL THAT'S GOTTEN SOME
% ATTENTION.
% URBAN MILWAUKEE QUOTES SPINDELL
% AS WRITING, THIS GREAT AND
% IMPORTANT DECREASE IN DEMOCRAT
% VOTES IN THE CITY OF MILWAUKEE
% WAS DUE TO A WELL THOUGHT OUT
% MULTIFACETED PLAN.
% DEMOCRATS ARE SAYING THAT'S
% VOTER SUPPRESSION.
% >> I TELL YOU WHAT THE
% MULTIFACETED PLAN IS, AND THAT
% IS THE REPUBLICAN PARTY OF
% WISCONSIN AND THE REPUBLICAN
% NATIONAL COMMITTEE OPENING
% OFFICES ON THE NORTH SIDE AND
% PREDOMINANTLY AFRICAN AMERICAN%
NEIGHBORHOODS, AND ON THE SOUTH
% SIDE, IN PROMINENTLY LATINO
% NEIGHBORHOODS, STAFFING THEM
% WITH PAID STAFF, WITH
% VOLUNTEERS.
% WE'VE BEEN AS ACTIVE IN
% MILWAUKEE, AND I'VE BEEN ON THE
% BOARD WITH BOB SPINDELL FOR A
% LOT OF YEARS.
% HE'S BEEN THE CHIEF PROPONENT OF
% INCREASED ACTIVITY IN MILWAUKEE
% IN THE MINORITY COMMUNITY, SO
% PERHAPS THE STATEMENTS WEREN'T
% AS ARTFULLY PUT AS THEY COULD
% BE, BUT I DON'T DOUBT THAT HE
% MEANS THAT -- WHAT WE ALL MEAN
% AS THE PARTY AND I CERTAINLY
% MEAN AS THE PARTY LEADER, AND
% THAT IS THAT WE ARE ARE GOING TO
% CONTINUE TO WORK THOSE
% NEIGHBORHOODS AND OTHER
% NEIGHBORHOODS IN MILWAUKEE.
% I HAVE AN OFFICE IN MILWAUKEE
% FOR YEARS.
% WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO WORK
% THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS AND FRANKLY
% WE UPTICKED A LITTLE BIT,
% REPUBLICANS DID GENERALLY IN
% MILWAUKEE, AND THAT'S GOING TO
% CONTINUE AND FRANKLY I WANT TO
% HIGHLIGHT MILWAUKEE AS THE
% REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION
% COMES TO TOWN.
% SO IN FACT, I'VE BEEN MEETING ON
% THIS IN THE LAST COUPLE DAYS, I
% WAS IN MILWAUKEE THE LAST COUPLE
% OF DAYS, SO WE'RE GOING TO
% CONTINUE OUR OUTREACH EFFORTS IN
% MILWAUKEE, AND I'M NOT GOING TO
% GET DISTRACTED BY THOSE KIND OF
% STORIES.%>> THERE IS A VERY I
MPORTANT
% SUPREME COURT ELECTION COMING
% UP, TWO LIBERALS, TWO
% CONSERVATIVES RUNNING.
% DO YOU ANTICIPATE THE PARTY
% GETTING INVOLVED IN THE PRIMARY?
% >> NO, I CAN'T IMAGINE A
% SITUATION IN WHICH WE GET
% INVOLVED IN THE PRIMARY IN THE
% SUPREME COURT RACE.%OF COURS
E THE PRIMARY COMING ON
% TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21ST.
% I THINK OUR ROLE AS THE PARTY
% AND MY ROLE AS THE PARTY
% CHAIRMAN STATEWIDE IS TO MAKE
% SURE, PAST THAT PRIMARY, THAT
% ONE OF THE CONSERVATIVES THAT WE
% HOPE WILL GET THROUGH, EVERY
% MODERATE TO CONSERVATIVE VOTER
% IN THIS STATE OUGHT TO KNOW
% ABOUT THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN
% THE CONSERVATIVES IN THIS RACE
% AND THE LIBERALS IN THIS RACE,
% AND THEY ARE, IN FACT, VERY,
% VERY LIBERAL.
% WE SAW THAT IN THE DEBATE, THAT
% HAPPENED THIS PAST WEEK, WHERE
% THEY WERE COMMENTING ON CASES
% THAT HAD BEEN BEFORE THE COURT
% OR MAY BE BEFORE THE COURT
% AGAIN.
% THAT IS -- NUMBER ONE, THAT'S
% FLAT OUT INAPPROPRIATE FOR THEM
% TO BE COMMENTING ON THOSE CASE,
% THE LIBERALS.
% SO THAT'S NUMBER ONE.
% BUT NUMBER TWO, I WANT TO MAKE
% SURE THAT FOLKS ALL ACROSS THE
% STATE UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCES
% BETWEEN THE TWO CANDIDATE AND
% THAT'S A ROLE WE'LL HELP PLAY.
% >> WE'VE GOT ABOUT A MINUTE LEFT
% HERE.
% IN PAST SUPREME COURT ELECTIONS,
% IT'S RARE TO SEE TWO
% CONSERVATIVE CANDIDATES GO HEAD
% TO HEAD.
% IS THERE A CONCERN THAT THEY MAY
% UP EACH OTHER'S NEGATIVES BY
% SOME OF THE SNIPING THAT'S GOING
% BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN THEM AND
% THEIR OPPONENTS AND EVEN THEIR
% SUPPORTERS?%>> RIGHT.%
THERE'S PROBABLY AS MUCH CONCERN
% ON THE LIBERAL SIDE BECAUSE
% THEY'RE HAVING QUITE A SHOOTOUT
% ON THEIR SIDE AS WELL, KIND OF A
% MILWAUKEE-BASED CANDIDATE VERSUS
% A MADISON-BASED CANNED TATE.
% CANDIDATE.
% SO I DON'T GET A LOT OF THAT
% CONCERN OUT THERE YET.
% THERE MAY BE AS WE'RE A NUMBER
% OF WAYS OUT FROM THE PRIMARY
% YET, BUT I SUSPECT THE LIBERALS
% ARE STARTING TO CUT AT EACH
% OTHER A LITTLE BIT AS WELL.
% SO WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
% BUT WE'LL BE UNIFIED AFTER
% FEBRUARY 21ST, THAT, I CAN TELL
% YOU.%>> ALL RIGHT.
% BRIAN SCHIMMING, THANKS FOR YOUR
% TIME.%>> THANKS FOR INVITING
ME.
% >> THE PRIMARY FOR THE WISCONSIN
% SUPREME COURT ELECTION IS
% FEBRUARY 21ST.%IN THE COMING
WEEKS, PBS
% WISCONSIN WILL BE SITTING DOWN
% WITH THE CANDIDATES AND BRINGING
% YOU IN DEPTH INTERVIEWS.
% EARLIER THIS WEEK, THE
% CANDIDATES APPEARED AT A FORUM
% IN MADISON.
% INTRODUCING THEMSELVES TO VOTERS
% AND GIVING YOU A SENSE OF WHO
% THEY WOULD BE AS A JUSTICE.
% >> FOR TOO LONG, PARTISANSHIP
% HAS SEPARATED US SO THAT WE'RE
% NOT ABLE TO HAVE THE
% REPRESENTATION THAT WISCONSIN
% PEOPLE NEED.
% AND AS JUDGE, SINCE 2016, I'VE
% LEARNED THAT JUSTICE IS NOT JUST
% WHAT YOU SAY, JUSTICE IS WHAT
% YOU DO.
% AND I BELIEVE THAT WE NEED A
% JUSTICE THAT CAN REPRESENT WHAT
% THAT MEANS FOR OUR STATE.
% I'VE WORKED HARD AS A JUDGE TO
% BE TOUGH, BUT FAIR.
% I'VE WORKED HARD TO BE PROACTIVE
% IN OUR COMMUNITY RATHER THAN
% REACTIVE.%>> I GOT INTO THIS
RACE TO BRING
% CHANGE AND COMMON SENSE BACK TO
% OUR SUPREME COURT.
% I STARTED THINKING ABOUT IT LAST
% SPRING.
% I COULD NOT SIT BACK AND WATCH
% EXTREME RIGHT WING PARTISANS
% HIJACK OUR SUPREME COURT.
% AND THAT IS WHY I GOT INTO THIS
% RACE: CHANGE AND COMMON SENSE.
% >> I'M RUNNING FOR THE SUPREME
% COURT BECAUSE THE PEOPLE OF THIS
% GREAT STATE OF WISCONSIN NEED
% AND DESERVE A JUSTICE WHO WILL
% UPHOLD THE RULE OF LAW, PROTECT
% OUR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS, AND
% NOT INJECT THEIR POLITICAL BIAS
% BY LEGISLATING FROM THE BENCH.
% I HAVE A DEPTH AND A BREADTH OF
% EXPERIENCE, UNLIKE ANY OTHER
% CANDIDATE, AND AN UNWAVERING
% COMMITMENT TO A FAIR AND
% IMPARTIAL JUDICIARY.
% >> WHAT I'VE HEARD A FAIR AMOUNT
% THIS AFTERNOON IS MY OPPONENTS
% TALKING ABOUT THEIR VALUES AND
% WHAT THEY THINK THAT THE LAW
% OUGHT TO DO.
% THAT IS THE STEP TOWARDS THE
% COMBINATION OF THE POWER OF THE
% JUDICIARY AND THE LEGISLATURE.
% THAT IS A STEP WE CANNOT TAKE.
% >> WISCONSIN IS FACING A
% SHORTAGE IN THE COURTROOM AS
% STATE OFFICES ARE HAVING A
% DIFFICULT TIME RECRUITING
% LAWYERS FOR BOTH THE PROSECUTION
% AND DEFENSE.
% "HERE AND NOW" REPORTER NATHAN
% DENZIN HAS THE STORY.
% >> CASH BAIL IN THE AMOUNT OF
% $2,000.%>> IT'S REALLY A PRO
BLEM THAT
% HAS REACHED A CONSTITUTIONAL
% CRISIS FROM BOTH PERSPECTIVES.
% >> STATE OFFICIALS ARE WARNING
% OF POTENTIAL MISCARRIAGES OF
% JUSTICE AS WISCONSIN FACES A
% SHORTAGE OF BOTH PUBLIC
% DEFENDERS AND PROSECUTORS.
% >> IF YOU GO TO SOME OF THESE
% COUNTIES LIKE WAUSHARA COUNTY OR
% SHAWANO, IT'S ANYWHERE FROM 50%
% OF THEIR PROSECUTION STAFF THAT
% ARE VACANT, IN ONE COUNTY RIGHT
% NOW, IT'S 100% PROSECUTION STAFF
% VACANCY.
% >> KURT KLOMBERG IS THE DISTRICT
% ATTORNEY FOR DODGE COUNTY, WHERE
% HE SAYS STAFF SHORTAGES HAVEúBEF
% QUALITY CANDIDATES.
% >> WE'RE GETTING VERY MINIMAL
% NUMBERS OF APPLICANTS.
% >> ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE
% COURTROOM, STATE PUBLIC DEFENDER
% KELLI THOMPSON SAYS HER OFFICE
% ALSO HAS STAFFING ISSUES.
% >> THE SIMPLE ANSWER IS WE NEED
% MORE ATTORNEYS.
% WE NEED MORE ATTORNEYS ON STAFF
% AND WE NEED MORE ATTORNEYS IN
% THE PRIVATE BAR FOR THOSE
% CONFLICT AND OVERFLOW CASES.
% SO RIGHT NOW WE HAVE A SHORTAGE
% JUST IN RECRUITMENT.
% >> BOTH PROSECUTORS AND
% DEFENDERS SAY THE LARGEEST GAP
% FALLS IN RURAL COUNTIES WHERE
% OPEN POSITIONS ARE NOT
% ATTRACTING ATTORNEYS.
% >> WE CURRENTLY ARE A COUNTY
% THAT HAS TWO COURTS, TWO JUDGES.
% WE HAVE A SINGLE PROSECUTOR, THE
% ELECTED DISTRICT ATTORNEY, AND
% TWO VACANT FULL TIME PROSECUTORS
% POSITIONS.%>> JUDGE DUTCHER P
RESIDES OVER A
% COURTROOM IN RURAL WAUSHARA
% COUNTY THAT HAS SEEN ATTORNEY
% SHORTAGES INCREASE STEADILY FOR
% ABOUT 10 YEARS.
% >> WE'RE SMALLER COUNTY, WE'RE
% HAVING DIFFICULTY FINDING
% ATTORNEYS TO TAKE CASES, AT
% TIMES HAVING TO GO THREE OR FOUR
% COUNTIES REMOVED TO FIND PUBLIC
% DEFENDER APPOINTMENTS OR PUBLIC
% DEFENDER AVAILABILITY FOR PEOPLE
% WHO HAVE A CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT
% TO REPRESENTATION.
% >> STATE-WIDE, A MURDER CASE
% TOOK ABOUT 15 MONTHS TO BE
% RESOLVED IN 2021.
% IN RURAL DODGE COUNTY, IT TOOK
% ABOUT TWO YEARS.
% >> NOW WE'RE HAVING THESE DELAYS
% THAT GO ON LONGER.
% AND THAT REALLY HURTS VICTIMS.
% IT ALSO HURTS DEFENDANTS.
% >> SINCE 2003, OVERALL WAIT
% TIMES BEFORE A DECISION IS
% REACHED IN FELONY CASES HAS
% INCREASED BY 85%.
% AND WAIT TIMES FOR MISDEMEANOR
% CASES HAVE INCREASED BY 110%.
% >> THE STRAIN IS SIGNIFICANT.
% THE HUMAN IMPACT, THE EMOTIONAL,
% THE MENTAL HEALTH PART OF THIS
% IS SIGNIFICANT.
% I MEAN, TO GET THOSE CALLS FROM
% YOUR CLIENT TO GO SEE YOUR
% CLIENT AND TO KNOW THAT THEY'RE
% STRUGGLING BECAUSE THEY DON'T
% HAVE INFORMATION OR THEIR CASE
% ISN'T MOVING FORWARD OR THEY
% DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.
% >> THE MAIN CAUSE OF THE
% SHORTAGE?
% A SALARY THAT STARTS LOW AND
% DOESN'T INCREASE VERY FAST.
% MOST QUALIFIED ATTORNEYS DON'T
% WANT STATE DEFENDER OR
% PROSECUTOR JOBS BECAUSE THEY CAN
% EARN MORE AT PRIVATE FIRMS.
% >> PUBLIC DEFENDERS' PAY IS TOO
% LOW, AND SO WE NEED TO BOOST
% THAT UP BECAUSE QUITE FRANKLY,
% IT'S HARD TO KEEP THEM WHEN WE
% CAN'T PAY THEM ENOUGH TO, YOU
% KNOW, BUY A HOME, RAISE THEIR
% FAMILY, PAY THEIR STUDENT LOANS.
% >> STATE ATTORNEY JOBS START AT
% ABOUT $55,000 PER YEAR, WHILE
% PRIVATE SECTOR JOBS TYPICALLY
% START NEAR $80,000 PER YEAR.
% >> WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT SIMPLY
% SAYING, I CAN MAKE $25,000 MORE
% PER YEAR AS A STARTING SALARY TO
% SIMPLY GO AND DO THAT AS OPPOSED
% TO BECOMING A STATE PROSECUTOR,
% THERE'S A BUSINESS DECISION
% THERE.%>> ON TOP OF LOWER PAY
,
% PROSECUTORS AND PUBLIC DEFENDERS
% OFTEN HAVE MASSIVE CASELOADS.
% KLOMBERG SAYS IT ISN'T UNUSUAL
% FOR A PROSECUTOR TO JUGGLE 200
% TO 300 CASES AT A TIME.
% >> YOU'RE ALWAYS TRYING TO CATCH
% UP.
% AND SO THAT ALSO MAKES THE JOB
% LESS ATTRACTIVE.
% >> WHILE HIRING HAS BEEN A
% PROBLEM FOR BOTH OFFICES,
% RETENTION HAS ALSO BECOME AN
% ISSUE.
% THIS CHART SHOWS THE NUMBER OF
% YEARS PROSECUTORS HAVE SPENT
% ACTUALLY PROSECUTING CASES.
% MOST FALL BETWEEN 1 AND 8 YEARS
% OF EXPERIENCE, WHILE A FAR
% SMALLER NUMBER HAVE MORE THAN 10
% YEARS EXPERIENCE.
% >> WHEN I CAME THROUGH THE RANKS
% AS A YOUNG PROSECUTOR, THERE
% WERE LITERALLY DOZENS OF VERY
% SEASONED, EXPERIENCED CAREER
% PROSECUTORS.
% I THINK YOU SEE LESS AND LESS
% PEOPLE CHOOSING PROSECUTION AS A
% CAREER.
% >> A LACK OF EXPERIENCE CAN
% CAUSE MISTAKES IN THE COURTROOM
% THAT CAN'T BE FIXED.
% >> THIS IS ALSO A JOB WHERE WE
% REALLY DON'T GET A LOT OF SECOND
% CHANCES.%IF YOU MAKE A MISTAK
E, IT'S
% PRETTY MUCH FINAL.
% >> IN ORDER TO MAKE STATE
% ATTORNEY POSITIONS MORE
% ATTRACTIVE TO POTENTIAL
% CANDIDATES, BOTH THE STATE
% PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE AND
% MANY DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S ARE
% PETITIONING THE STATE GOVERNMENT
% FOR A HIGHER STARTING SALARY.
% >> THE STATE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE
% DID A STUDY RECENTLY, AND THE
% WISCONSIN DA'S ASSOCIATION,
% WHICH I'M THE PAST PRESIDENT OF,
% IS PROMOTING A SALARY POINT IN
% THE MID 70s.
% >> KLOMBERG SAYS A $70,000
% STARTING SALARY WOULD LIKELY
% BOOST THE NUMBER OF PROSECUTORS
% TO ACCEPTABLE LEVELS.
% ON THE DEFENDER'S SIDE, THE
% STATE LEGISLATURE HAS BEEN ASKED
% TO INCREASE PAY FOR PRIVATE BAR
% ATTORNEYS FROM $70 PER HOUR TO
% $125 PER HOUR FOR IN-COURT WORK
% AND $100 PER HOUR FOR OUT OF
% COURT WORK.
% >> WE NEED TO EITHER BE AT THAT
% OR ABOVE THAT SO THAT WE CAN
% CONTINUE TO TAKE THAT BURDEN OFF
% OF THE COUNTY.
% >> WHILE INCREASED STARTING
% SALARIES WOULD HAVE AN IMPACT IN
% THE LONG TERM, KLOMBERG AND
% THOMPSON SAY FEDERAL FUNDS
% SHOULD BE USED TO TEMPORARILY
% RAISE SALARIES.
% >> THERE IS A LIMITED AMOUNT OF
% FUNDS THAT ARE AVAILABLE RIGHT
% NOW BECAUSE OF THE ARPA MONEY
% THAT HAS BEEN MADE AVAILABLE,
% BUT FOR THE MOST PART, IT HAS TO
% BE ONLY IN EXTREME SITUATIONS.
% >> AS THE STATE LEGISLATURE IS
% SET TO MEET AND DECIDE
% WISCONSIN'S NEXT BUDGET, FUNDING
% FOR THE JUSTICE SYSTEM WILL BE
% AT THE TOP OF ATTORNEYS' MINDS.
% >> THERE'S AN EXPRESSION THAT
% OFTEN GETS USED THAT JUST
% DISDELAYED IS JUSTICE DENIED,
% AND THAT APPLIES FRANKLY TO
% EVERYONE WHO'S INVOLVED WITH
% THIS TYPE OF CIRCUMSTANCE.
% >> FOR "HERE AND NOW," I'M
% NATHAN DENZIN.
% >> SINCE WE FIRST SPOKE WITH
% KURT KLOMBERG, HE RESIGNED AS
% THE DODGE COUNTY DISTRICT
% ATTORNEY.
% KLOMBERG SENT AN EMAIL TO
% COLLEAGUES ANNOUNCING HE WAS
% STEPPING DOWN AS OF JANUARY 13TH
% AND HEART BROKEN OVER THE
% COLLAPSE OF THE DODGE COUNTY
% PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE.
% AFTER RETIREMENTS, RESIGNATIONS
% AND NO NEW FULL-TIME ATTORNEYS
% ACCEPTING POSITIONS.
% >> THAT LEFT ME ALONE TO DO THE
% WORK OF SIX ATTORNEYS AFTER
% FEBRUARY 1ST, AND MY FAMILY HAS
% MADE MANY, MANY SACRIFICES FOR
% ME TO DO THIS WORK WHEN WE WERE
% FULLY SPHAFFED, I WAS LEAV STAFS
% LEAVING BEFORE MY CHILDREN WOULD
% BARELY GET UP IN THE MORNING AND
% I WAS COMING HOME AFTER THEY
% WENT TO BED AND I SAW NO END IN
% SIGHT.
% I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT MY OWN
% HEALTH.
% AND ALSO THE FACT THAT I CAN'T
% DO THAT AMOUNT OF WORK WITHOUT
% COMMITTING SERIOUS MALPRACTICE,
% AND I JUST FACED THE REALITY
% THAT I HAD TO LOOK FOR OTHER
% EMPLOYMENT.
% I'M GOING TO STILL BE A
% PROSECUTOR, AND I'M GOING TO AN
% OFFICE THAT IS SMALLER, IS
% WELL-STAFFED, AND I'M GOING TO
% BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO PRACTICE
% LAW AND DO THIS WORK.
% I JUST -- I JUST CAN'T DO IT
% HERE.%>> GOVERNOR EVERS MADE
ANOTHER
% APPOINTMENT TO THE DNR BOARD
% THIS WEEK, SELECTING PRESIDENT ,
% A DAIRY FARMER FROM VIROQUA.
% EVERS' APPOINTEES WILL NOW
% CONTROL THE BOARD 5-2 AND WITH
% THE SEATS VACANT, THE APPOINTEES
% CAN SERVE WHILE THEY AWAIT
% SENATE CONFIRMATION.
% THE NEXT BILLION-DOLLAR ROAD
% CONSTRUCTION PROJECT IN
% MILWAUKEE IS MOVING FORWARD.
% BUT THERE'S STILL TIME FOR THE
% PUBLIC TO PROVIDE INPUT TO THE
% STATE AND OPPONENTS ARE HOPING
% TO CHANGE THE PLAN.
% THE WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF
% TRANSPORTATION ANNOUNCED LAST
% FALL THEIR PLAN TO EXPAND THE
% INTERSTATE 94 CORRIDOR TO EIGHT
% LANES.
% THAT STRETCH RUNS FROM
% WEST ALLIS PAST AMERICAN FAMILY
% FIELD TOWARDS THE DOWNTOWN.
% THE STATE HAS STUDIED EXPANSION
% FOR THE LAST DECADE, BUT FORMER
% GOVERNOR SCOTT WALKER KILLED OFF
% THE PROJECT IN 2016, THEN
% GOVERNOR EVERS REVIVED IT.
% THAT HAS ANGERED A COALITION OF
% GROUPS WHO OPPOSE EXPANSION AND
% WOULD PREFER TO SEE THE ROAD
% STAY AT SIX LANES.
% JOINING US NOW IS MEMBER OF ONE
% OF THOSE OPPOSITION GROUPS,
% REVEREND DR. RICHARD SHAW.
% PRESIDENT OF MILWAUKEE INNER
% CITY CONGREGATION'S ALLIED FOR
% HOPE.
% THANKS FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.
% >> THANK YOU.
% >> NOW WHAT IS THE MAIN
% OPPOSITION THAT YOUR GROUP HAS
% TO EXPANDING THAT STRETCH OF
% ROAD TO EIGHT LANES?
% >> THE -- I WOULD SAY THE
% PRIMARY OPPOSITION WOULD BE
% IGNORING THE PUBLIC TRANSIT
% ISSUES THAT WE HAVE WHEREAS SOME
% OF THAT FUNDING OR A GOOD BIT OF
% IT WOULD BETTER BENEFIT OR
% BENEFIT THE RESIDENTS OF
% MILWAUKEE IN TERMS OF HELPING
% THEM GET FROM NEIGHBORHOOD TO
% NEIGHBORHOOD, PUTTING THOSE
% FUNDS INTO THAT STRETCH FROM
% 27TH TO NATIONAL.
% WE'RE ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT THE
% ENVIRONMENT.
% YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT EXPANDING
% TO EIGHT LANES, WHICH WILL
% INCREASE EMISSIONS, IT WILL ALSO
% INCREASE SALT AND CONTAMINATE
% THE LAND, SO THERE ARE VARIOUS
% THINGS BUT FOR THE MOST PART, IT
% DOES NOT BENEFIT THE RESIDENTS
% OF MILWAUKEE AS MUCH AS IT WOULD
% THOSE WHO LIVE IN THE SUBURBAN
% AREAS, WHO ARE -- WHO AIM TO GET
% DOWNTOWN TO WORK AND FOR
% ENTERTAINMENT.
% SO THOSE FUNDS COULD JUST BE
% BETTER SPENT.%>> NOW, MILWAU
KE MILWAUKEE'S INE
% SYSTEM IS DEEPLY ROOTED IN WHITE
% FLIGHT FROM THE CITY TO THE
% SUBURBS WITH THE ORIGINAL
% HIGHWAYS OFTEN BULLDOZING BLACK
% NEIGHBORHOODS.
% DO YOU SEE THIS PROJECT AS A
% CONTINUATION OF THAT HISTORY, OF
% WHO IT SERVES?
% >> YES, YES, DEFINITELY.
% IT'S SERVING THOSE WHO LIVE IN
% THE SUBURBS AS WELL AS THE
% EXBURBS TO BE ABLE TO, AGAIN,
% GET INTO MILWAUKEE AND TO, YOU
% KNOW, ENJOY DOWNTOWN.
% WHEN WE DISRUPT NEIGHBORHOODS
% THAT ARE ALREADY POOR AND THOSE
% THAT ARE ALREADY FACING
% CHALLENGES, IT ACTUALLY MAKES IT
% HARDER ON EVERYONE.
% AND SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT TRYING
% TO PROVIDE MEANS FOR PEOPLE TO
% GET TO WORK AND TO GET TO
% DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS, AGAIN,
% THOSE FUNDS COULD BE BETTER
% INVESTED IN IMPROVING THE
% TRANSIT SYSTEM IN MILWAUKEE, AND
% SO YES, IT IS NOT DIRECTLY
% IMPACTING IN A POSITIVE WAY OR A
% POSITIVE IMPACT AT ALL FOR
% PEOPLE OF COLOR LIVING IN
% MILWAUKEE.
% >> NOW THE DEPARTMENT OF
% TRANSPORTATION STUDIED A
% PROPOSAL TO RE-DO THAT SECTION
% OF INTERSTATE, BUT TO KEEP IT AT
% SIX LANES AS YOUR COALITION HAD
% ASKED FOR BUT DETERMINED IT
% WOULD HAVE ABOUT THE SAME COST
% AND NOT PROVIDE THE LONG TERM
% UPGRADES FOR EFFICIENCY.
% HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO THAT?
% >> AGAIN, IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT
% COST.
% IT'S ABOUT WHAT IT WILL DO TO
% THE ENVIRONMENT AS WELL.
% AND FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, STILL
% TRYING TO KEEP THAT IN THERE IS
% NOT ALLOWING ADEQUATE FUNDS TO
% BENEFIT THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN
% MILWAUKEE AND IN THAT ROUTE.
% >> NOW, THE DEPARTMENT OF
% TRANSPORTATION PLAN DOES ALLOW
% FOR $25 MILLION TO GO TOWARDS
% UPGRADED TRANSIT FOR THE
% CONSTRUCTION PERIOD TO HELP
% PEOPLE THAT ARE IMPACTED BY
% THAT.
% THAT'S OPPOSED TO A $1.2 BILLION
% COST.
% IF THERE WAS MORE MONEY IN THAT
% PLAN FOR TRANSIT, WOULD THIS
% BECOME MORE ACCEPTABLE?
% >> YOU KNOW, A TEMPORARY
% SOLUTION IS NOT GOING TO WORK.
% YES, THOSE FUNDS WILL
% TEMPORARILY HELP THE TRANSIT
% SYSTEM, BUT IT'S NOT A PERMANENT
% FIX.
% AND WHAT GOOD IS TO INVEST THIS
% MON HE'LL IN SOMMONEY IN SOMETHS
% TEMPORARY WHEN WE CAN DO
% SOMETHING THAT CAN MAKE A
% PERMANENT IMPACT ON THE
% RESIDENTS OF MILWAUKEE,
% ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO WILL BE
% IMPACTED DIRECTLY BY THIS
% CONSTRUCTION?
% >> HOW DO YOU FEEL THAT IT WAS
% GOVERNOR EVERS AND HIS
% ADMINISTRATION THAT GAVE THIS
% EXPANSION THE GREEN LIGHT WHEN
% THE PROJECT WAS DEAD?
% >> WELL, WHETHER IT WAS GOVERNOR
% EVERS OR ANY PAST GOVERNOR, WE
% HAVE TO ADVOCATE FOR THOSE WHO
% ARE IMPACTED NEGATIVELY.
% IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT SIDE OF
% THE POLITICAL FENCE THAT THEY'RE
% ON.
% AND SO I WOULD HOPE THAT
% GOVERNOR EVERS WOULD ACTUALLY
% TAKE A STANCE ON THIS OR DO
% MORE, SPEAK OUT ON IT AND
% SUPPORT THIS EFFORT OF FIXED AT
% SIX, BECAUSE AGAIN, THIS
% DIRECTLY NEGATIVELY IMPACTS THE
% RESIDENTS OF MILWAUKEE,
% ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO ARE ALONG
% THAT ROUTE.
% >> AND THE PROPOSAL THAT YOU
% WOULD LIKE TO SEE, THE SO CALLED
% FIX AT SIX, STILL UPGRADES THE
% INTERSTATE SO IT'S NOT LEAVING
% IT IN ITS CURRENT STATE, IT'S
% JUST THE EXPANSION THAT'S THE
% PRIMARY OPPOSITION HERE?
% >> YES.
% AND MY -- SUPPORTS THIS BECAUSE
% JUST BRINGING THE HIGHWAYS UP TO
% STANDARD, MAKING THE NECESSARY
% REPAIRS WILL STILL BRING JOBS,
% IT WILL STILL ALLOW PERSONS TO
% TRAVEL.
% I'VE LIVED IN ATLANTA, I'VE
% LIVED IN CHICAGO.
% AND I'VE EXPERIENCED THE EIGHT
% LANES.
% AND SO ALL OF THEM BECOME
% PARKING LOTS.
% SO EXPANDING TO EIGHT LANES WILL
% NOT BENEFIT TRANSPORTATION TO
% AND FRO, MILWAUKEE TO THE
% SUBURBS.
% BUT YES, WE BELIEVE THAT IT CAN
% BE DONE WITH THE SIX LANES, JUST
% INVEST THE MONEY, PUT IT INTO
% THAT, CREATE OTHER THINGS THAT
% CAN BENEFIT MILWAUKEE RESIDENTS.
% >> JUST A COUPLE SECONDS LEFT.
% WHAT DO YOU WANT THE PUBLIC TO
% SAY DURING THIS OPEN COMMENT
% PERIOD?
% >> I WANT US TO SAY BUT ALSO
% THINK, THINK ABOUT HUMANITY AND
% PEOPLE.
% I KNOW THAT IT LOOKS GOOD FROM
% THE OUTSIDE, IT GIVES THE
% IMPRESSION OF ADVANCEMENT FOR A
% CITY, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY,
% THE MARGINALIZED WHO ARE
% SPEAKING BUT THEY'RE NOT BEING
% HEARD, THOSE WHO ARE SAYING,
% LISTEN, WE NEED TRANSPORTATION,
% SAFE TRANSPORTATION WITHIN OUR
% NEIGHBORHOODS, AND SO THIS IS
% WHAT I WOULD ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO
% SPEAK OUT ON.
% NOT NECESSARILY YOUR CONVENIENCE
% TO GET AGAIN FROM THE SUBURBS TO
% DOWNTOWN, BUT CONSIDER HUMANITY
% AND CONSIDER THE LEAST OF THESE.
% >> ALL RIGHT, REVEREND
% DR. RICHARD SHAW, THANKS FOR
% YOUR TIME TODAY.
% >> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
% >> FOR MORE ON THIS AND OTHER
% ISSUES FACING WISCONSIN, VISIT
% OUR WEBSITE AT PBSWISCONSIN
% DORT.ORG AND CLICK ON THE NEWS
% TAP.
% THAT IS OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT.
% FREDERICA FREYBERG WILL BE BACK
% NEXT WEEK.
% I'M ZAC SCHULTZ.
% HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.
% ♪
% FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
% PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
% JOURNALISM, AND FRIENDS OF PBS
% WISCONSIN.