% >> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
% WITNESS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
% PRODUCTION
% >> EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENT TODAY.
% LEGISLATION THAT WILL BRING
% HISTORIC INVESTMENTS AND REFORMS
% TO THE SHARED REVENUE SYSTEM
% HERE IN WISCONSIN
% >> REPUBLICANS RELEASE THEIR
% SHARED REVENUE PLAN.
% THE ASSEMBLY DEBATES SOCIAL
% NETWORK PLANS AND RIVERS ARE
% CRESTING IN WISCONSIN.
% I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
% TONIGHT ON HERE AND NOW, WITH
% THE LEAD ARCHITECTS JOINS US AND
% WE HEAR FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE
% AISLE ON THE ASSEMBLY DEBATE TO
% CHANGE UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE.
% PLUS, A BIPARTISAN MEASURE TO
% LIFT RESTRICTIONS ON WHO CAN
% HAVE THEIR CRIMINAL RECORDS
% EXPUNGED.%IT'S HERE AND NOW
FOR APRIL
% 28th.% >> FUNDING FOR HERE
AND NOW IS
% PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
% JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
% WISCONSIN.
% >> ACROSS THE STATE, REPUBLICANS
% ANNOUNCE THEIR PROPOSAL FOR A
% SIGNIFICANT BUMP IN SHARED
% REVENUE.%THE AMOUNT OF MONEY
THE STATE
% DISTRIBUTES TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
% WHICH HASN'T SEEN INCREASES IN
% NEARLY TWO DECADES.
% COMPOUNDED WITH LIMITS ON HOW
% MUCH LOCAL GOVERNMENTS CAN RAISE
% TAXES, WISCONSIN COMMUNITIES
% HAVE BEEN STRAPPED.
% ONE MAYOR RECALLED, I WILL NEVER
% FORGET THE YEAR THAT WE
% CONSIDERED SHUTTING OFF EVERY
% OTHER STREET LIGHT IN THE CITY
% OF WATER TOWN TO SAVE $250,000.
% IN MILWAUKEE, ASSEMBLY SPEAKER
% VOS GAVE THE BROAD STROKES OF
% THE PLAN AS WELL AS THE CITY
% MAYOR.
% >> ONE OF THE THINGS WE'VE ALSO
% HEARD FROM OUR LOCAL PARTNERS IS
% THEY NEED TO HAVE AN ONGOING
% REVENUE SOURCE THAT IS NOT
% STAGNANT BUT GROWS AS THE
% ECONOMY GROWS.
% THIS FUND ACTUALLY WILL TAKE THE
% INCREASE IN SALES TAX OVER TIME,
% IT WILL BE RUN THROUGH A FORMULA
% WHERE THERE ARE DIFFERENT BUGHTS
% AND EACH OF THOSE BUCKETS WILL
% GROW AS THE SALES TAX AND OUR
% ECONOMY CONTINUES TO EXPAND.
% WE ALSO FOCUSED ON PUTTING MONEY
% INTO HELPING LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
% CHANGE HOW THEY OPERATE.
% IN ADDITION TO THE ALMOST $225
% MILLION THAT WILL BE INVESTED IN
% SHARED REVENUE INCREASE
% PAYMENTS, WE ARE ALSO CREATING
% SOMETHING CALLED THE INNOVATION
% FUND.%IT MEANS THAT THERE WI
LL BE $300
% MILLION ALLOWED FOR LOCAL
% GOVERNMENTS WHO CHOOSE ENTIRELY
% VOLUNTARY TO COOPERATE WITH EACH
% OTHER, TO SHARE SERVICES,
% IMPROVE THE DELIVERY THAT WE
% GIVE TO OUR CONSTITUENTS,
% HOPEFULLY ALL AT A LOWER PRICE.
% >> I'M PLEASED THAT WE MADE SOME
% SIGNIFICANT STRIDES TOWARDS
% REMEDY TO THE CITY'S FISCAL
% ISSUES.%FROM THE OUTSET, THA
T'S BEEN
% PARAMOUNT, A PARAMOUNT GOAL OF
% MINE, AND THIS LEGISLATION
% STARTS TO DIVERSIFY REVENUE
% SOURCES FOR THE CITY OF
% MILWAUKEE.%IT STARTS TO INCRE
ASE THE AMOUNT
% OF SHARED REVENUE THAT GOES TO
% THE CITY OF MILWAUKEE AND OTHER
% UNITS OF GOVERNMENT ACROSS THE
% STATE.
% IT PUTS MILWAUKEE ON A PATH TO
% RESOLVE ITS ONEROUS PENSION
% OBLIGATIONS
% >> UNDER THE PLAN, 20% OF THE
% STATE'S SALES TAX WILL GO TOWARD
% INCREASING LOCAL GOVERNMENT
% FUNDING.
% ACCORDING TO AUTHORS OF THE
% PROPOSAL, THIS WILL MEAN A
% ROUGHLY $500 MILLION INCREASE
% STATEWIDE AND EVERY COMMUNITY
% WILL SEE AN INCREASE OF AT LEAST
% 10%.%SPEAKER VOS APPOINTED ME
MBER OF
% THE JOINT FINANCE COMMITTEE
% REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE TONY
% KURTZ TO COME UP WITH A PLAN AND
% HE JOINS US NOW.
% THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US
% >> MY PLEASURE.
% >> DESCRIBE HOW NEEDED THIS
% BOOST TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS.
% >> WELL, THE ORIGINAL SHARED
% REVENUE FORMULA WAS ACTUALLY
% FROZEN BACK IN 2004 AND SOME
% COMMUNITIES IN MY DISTRICT HAS
% TOLD ME THEY'VE ACTUALLY LOST
% MONEY OVER THE YEARS DUE TO
% INFLATIONARY PRESSURES, AND SO I
% THINK IT'S LONG OVERDUE.
% I KNOW YOU'VE HAD COMMENTS FROM
% SPEAKER VOS ABOUT THIS HAS BEEN
% LONG OVERDUE, AND I THINK IT'S
% THE RIGHT TIME, PARTICULARLY
% WITH THE INFLATIONARY PRESSURES
% OF SO MANY SMALL COMMUNITIES.
% WHY I GOT INVOLVED IS I HAVE A
% VERY SMALL RURAL COMMUNITY AND
% THEY'VE SUFFERED AS WELL, AND IN
% THE ORIGINAL FORMULA, FORMULATED
% YEARS AGO, ACTUALLY KIND OF HURT
% SMALL COMMUNITIES AND I KNOW
% THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WE
% FOCUSED ON WITH THIS PACKAGE
% >> SO WHAT AREAS WERE DEEMED
% PRIORITIES IN THE PROPOSAL WHERE
% THE MONEY IS RESTRICTED TO FOR
% USE?
% >> WELL, I THINK -- I THINK
% ABOUT IT, WHAT -- IN THOSE
% COMMUNITIES, WHAT DO THEY NEED?
% OBVIOUSLY, CITIES, VILLAGES,
% THEY OBVIOUSLY HAVE MORE LAW
% ENFORCEMENT, E.M.S., THOSE TYPE
% OF PROVIDERS.
% IN OUR COUNTIES, IT'S HIGHWAY
% DEPARTMENTS, IT'S SHERIFF'S
% DEPARTMENTS, BUT IN TOWNSHIPS,
% IT'S A LOT MORE E.M.S.-RELATED
% AND ALSO ROADS.
% YOU HEAR THAT FROM ALL
% TOWNSHIPS, ESPECIALLY ABOUT THE
% NEED TO INVEST IN ROADS.
% SO WE'VE KIND OF TAILORED THIS
% NEW MONEY, THE NEW $227 MILLION
% THAT WE'RE GOING TO PUT INTO
% TOWNS, VILLAGES AND CITIES AND
% COUNTIES.%WE WOULD LIKE THOS
E AREAS
% TARGETED.%LAW ENFORCEMENT, F
IRE
% DEPARTMENTS, OUR E.M.S.
% PROVIDERS, YOU KNOW, OUR
% DISPATCH, ALSO PUBLIC WORKS AND
% TRANSPORTATION, AND I THINK,
% TRUST ME, WHAT I HEAR FROM MY
% CONSTITUENTS AND MISCHARACTERIZE
% LOCAL OFFICIALS, THEY CAN -- AND
% FROM MY LOCAL OFFICIALS, THEY
% CAN USE THAT MONEY IN THOSE
% AREAS, DEFINITELY, AND ONE OF
% THE FEED-BACKS I GOT TODAY FROM
% SOMEBODY, THEY SAID I CAN ONLY
% USE THIS IN MY SHERIFF'S
% DEPARTMENT.% WELL, THAT'S T
RUE, BUT NOW YOU
% CAN USE THIS MONEY TO FUND YOUR
% SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, WHICH
% SHOULD, IN TURN, MAYBE FREE UP
% MONEY ELSEWHERE THAT YOU CAN USE
% THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.
% SO I THINK THEY CAN BE CREATIVE,
% BUT OUR GOAL WAS TO DEFINITELY
% SUPPORT THOSE KEY COMPONENTS OF
% OUR LOCALS
% >> SO IS THERE ANY PERCENTAGE OF
% THE MONEY THAT IS UNRESTRICTED?
% >> WELL, ONCE AGAIN, EVERYBODY
% IS GOING TO THEIR CURRENT NEW --
% THEIR CURRENT AMOUNT OF SHARED
% REVENUE, AND LIKE I MENTIONED
% BEFORE, AND LIKE YOU SAID
% EARLIER, EVERYBODY IS GOING TO
% SEE AT LEAST A 10% INCREASE.
% A LOT OF COMMUNITIES,
% PARTICULARLY SOME OF OUR SMALLER
% CITIES, VILLAGES AND TOWNSHIPS,
% THEY'RE GOING TO SEE A MUCH
% LARGER INCREASE.
% AND SO OBVIOUSLY WITH THAT
% INCREASE, THEY'LL BE ABLE TO USE
% THAT MONEY FOR THE NEEDS THAT
% THEY HAVE IN THEIR INDIVIDUAL
% COMMUNITIES%>> THE PLAN ALSO
CALLS -- OR
% ALLOWS THE CITY OF MILWAUKEE TO
% IMPOSE A NEW LOCAL 2% SALES TAX
% IF VOTERS AGREE.
% BUT AGAIN, RESTRICTS SOME OF HOW
% IT CAN BE SPENT.
% LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE, NO MONEY
% TOWARD STREET CARS.
% WHY IS THAT PROVISION IN THERE?
% >> WELL, LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT
% ABOUT MILWAUKEE.
% MILWAUKEE AND THE MAYOR, AND I
% GIVE THE MAYOR A LOT OF CREDIT,
% HEBREWSHE HAS BEEN AT THE TABLES
% BEEN VERY HELPFUL AND IT'S BEEN
% REFRESHING TO WORK WITH HIM, TO
% BE HONEST WITH YOU, AND ALSO THE
% COUNTY EXECUTIVE, DAVID CROWLEY,
% WHO I WOULD CONSIDER A GOOD
% FRIEND OF MINE.
% IT'S BEEN VERY REFRESHING TO
% WORK WITH BOTH OF THEM.
% BUT THE CITY PARTICULARLY IS IN
% FINANCIAL STRESS.
% I MEAN, WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT
% DO THEY -- IF THEY WOULD NEED TO
% DECLARE BANKRUPTCY, IT'S A
% MATTER OF WHEN THEY WOULD NEED
% TO DECLARE BANKRUPTCY.
% SO I THINK OUR POSITION IS IF
% YOU'RE IN SUCH DIRE STRAITS
% FINANCIALLY, WHICH THEY ARE,
% MAYBE YOU JUST NEED TO FOCUS
% THOSE -- THAT MONEY IN AREAS
% THAT YOU TRULY NEED IT.
% NOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S
% NOT GETTING TOLD IS WE'RE NOT
% SAYING YOU CAN'T FUND THAT TO
% USE THIS MONEY.
% YOU CAN STILL GET FEDERAL
% GRANTS, YOU CAN STILL GET
% PRIVATE DONORS.
% THERE'S STILL WAYS TO FUND THAT,
% ESPECIALLY THE CITY OF
% MILWAUKEE, THEY'RE VERY
% CREATIVE.% MAYOR CAVALIER I
THINK IS VERY
% RESOURCEFUL, AND I THINK IN THE
% END, FEPTS TO GET THAT STREET
% CAR IF HE WANTS TO GET THAT
% STREET CAR FUNDED, I THINK HE
% CAN DO THAT
% >> VERY QUICKLY, THIS IS A
% BIPARTISAN EFFORT.
% DUH WORK WITH GOVERNOR TONY
% EVERS ON THIS, WHOSE PLAN THAT
% HE ANNOUNCED IN THE BUDGET
% MIRRORED THE 20% OF STATE SALES
% TAX?
% >> WELL, THE MAJORITY LEADER
% ACTUALLY ON WEDNESDAY EVENING,
% MET WITH THE GOVERNOR, AND I
% PERCEIVED MANY MORE MEETINGS IN
% THE FUTURE AND, LIKE I SAID A
% FEW MINUTES AGO, DAVID CROWLEY,
% THE MAYOR, I MEAN, WE'VE MET
% QUITE A BIT OVER THE LAST SIX
% MONTHS ON THIS ISSUE, AND I GIVE
% THEM A LOT OF CREDIT.
% MY COUNTERPART ON JOINT FINANCE
% COMMITTEE, EVAN GORKY FROM
% MILWAUKEE, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT
% THIS.%HE'S BEEN IN THE ROOM
FOR THE
% LAST MONTH.
% WE DO WANT THIS TO BE A
% BIPARTISAN BILL.
% WE WANT BUY-IN.
% THAT'S WHY WE BROUGHT THEM EARLY
% ON INTO THE PROCESS, AND THE
% LAST MONTH, WE'VE HAD SOME VERY
% GOOD DISCUSSIONS.
% SOME BACK AND FORTH, AND IT'S
% BEEN VERY HEALTHY, VERY
% RESPECTFUL.
% PERSONALLY, I'M VERY PROUD OF
% WHAT WE'VE DONE.
% WE'VE GOT A LITTLE BIT MORE WORK
% TO DO, TO BE FAIR, BUT I THINK
% WE'RE IN A GOOD SPOT, AND I
% THINK FOR MY AREA, THIS IS A
% WONDERFUL PACKAGE THAT WILL
% DEFINITELY HELP RURAL WISCONSIN
% >> THAT'S GREAT NEWS.
% REPRESENTATIVE TONY KURTZ,
% THANKS VERY MUCH.
% >> NO, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
% APPRECIATE IT.
% >> FOLLOWING THE PASSAGE OF A
% NON-BINDING REFERENDUM ON THE
% STATEWIDE BALLOT IN THE APRIL 4
% ELECTION, WHERE MORE THAN THREE
% QUARTERS OF VOTERS SUPPORTED A
% QUESTION ABOUT GOVERNMENT
% BENEFITS THAT READ, SHALL
% ABLE-BODIED CHILDLESS ADULTS BE
% REQUIRED TO LOOK FOR WORK IN
% ORDER TO RECEIVE TAXPAYER FUNDED
% WELFARE BENEFITS?
% ASSEMBLY REPUBLICANS THIS WEEK
% PASSED A SLATE OF BILLS, MOSTLY
% AIMED AT UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS.
% THE SIX BILLS INCLUDE TIGHTENING
% UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE, WORK
% SEARCH REQUIREMENTS, AND DRUG
% TESTING, AS WELL AS BADGER CARE
% ELIGIBILITY.%FOR MORE, WE GO
TO ONE OF THE
% AUTHORS, REPUBLICAN
% REPRESENTATIVE JERRY O'CONNOR.
% THANK YOU FOR JOINING US
% >> THANK YOU
% >> SO WHY ARE THESE PROVISIONS
% IN THESE BILLS NEEDED?
% >> I COME FROM THE PRIVATE
% SECTOR, I'M A FIRST-TERM
% REPRESENTATIVE.
% I CAME OUT OF POSITION AS A
% COMMUNITY BANK PRESIDENT AFTER
% MANY YEARS.
% I REALLY LOOK AT THIS AS GOING
% BACK AND LOOKING AT A SERIES OF
% POLICIES AS THE PRIVATE SECTOR
% WOULD DO AND SAYING, OKAY, WE
% HAVE SOME ISSUES HERE.
% SO IF WE'RE GOING TO UPDATE
% THESE ISSUES, LET'S TAKE A LOOK
% AT A BROADER SECTION AND SEE
% WHAT WE CAN DO TO IMPROVE THEM.
% ESPECIALLY WHEN WE GET TO
% UNEMPLOYMENT.%THAT FUND IS F
UNDED BY
% EMPLOYERS, AND TO THAT EXTENT,
% THEY'RE THE ONES THAT BEAR THE
% BURDEN.%AT THE STATE LEVEL,
WE HAVE A
% FIDUCIARY DUTY RESPONSIBILITY TO
% MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE MOST
% EFFICIENT AND COST EFFECTIVE
% PROGRAM AVAILABLE AND WE JUST
% HAVE SOME AREAS WE NEED TO
% TIGHTEN UP
% >> IS IT YOUR SENSE THAT THE
% 25,000 PEOPLE THAT ARE CURRENTLY
% GETTING UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS
% RIGHT NOW IS TOO MANY PEOPLE?
% >> I WOULDN'T SAY THAT.
% I WOULD SAY THAT, AS IN MOST
% THINGS, WE CREATE LAWS,
% POLICIES, AND STATUTES TO
% ADDRESS A FEW IN OUR SOCIETY.
% MAYBE THE BEST EXAMPLE IS WHEN
% YOU GO TO THE AIRPORT AND YOU GO
% THROUGH THE METAL DETECTORS AND
% YOU WAIT IN LONG LINES, NOT
% BECAUSE EVERYONE IS A TERRORIST,
% BUT BECAUSE YOU'RE TRYING TO
% FIGURE OUT, WE NEED TO WEED OUT
% CERTAIN OR IDENTIFY CERTAIN
% CHARACTERISTICS THAT ARE A
% PROBLEM.%AND THAT REALLY IS W
HAT THIS
% BILL DOES.
% SO I WOULD SPEND LESS TIME
% TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHO DOESN'T
% QUALIFY IN TERMS OF PERSONALITY
% OR CHARACTERISTICS, BUT IT'S
% MORE IMPORTANT WE HAVE LAWS IN
% PLACE AND WE WANT TO ENFORCE
% THEM AS THEY EXIST OR IMPROVE
% THEM AS THEY NEED TO BE
% >> IS THE MESSAGE THAT PEOPLE ON
% UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE ARE
% GAMING THE SYSTEM, AS ONE OF
% YOUR COLLEAGUES SAID ON THE
% FLOOR, OR LAZY?
% >> I CAN'T SPEAK FOR THE
% REPRESENTATIVE.%I WOULD SPEA
K FROM WHAT I GET
% FEEDBACK FROM THE GENERAL
% PUBLIC, AND THAT WOULD BE OVER A
% PERIOD OF TIME THAT THEY'RE
% CONCERNED THAT WE SPEND A LOT OF
% MONEY AT THE STATE LEVEL OR AT
% THE FEDERAL LEVEL, WHERE THE
% MONEY IS UNACCOUNTABLE.
% WE DON'T KNOW IF IT'S WORKING,
% WE DON'T KNOW IF IT'S GOING TO
% THE RIGHT PLACES.
% WE DON'T KNOW IF THE AGENCIES
% ARE APPLYING THE LAWS AS
% INTENDED.% THE DRUG TESTING
BILL WOULD BE
% PART OF THAT THAT WAS PASSED IN
% THE LAST BUDGET BILL, BUT IT HAS
% NOT BEEN IMPLEMENTED.
% I CAN TELL YOU THE GENERAL
% PUBLIC DOES NOT WANT TO INVEST
% MONEY WHERE YOU HAVE PEOPLE
% USING THE SYSTEM WITHOUT USING
% THAT SYSTEM TO GET TO THE NEXT
% LEVEL, TO BE EMPLOYED, TO
% GAINFULLY ENGAGE IN THE SOCIETY
% AROUND US IN THAT MANNER
% >> ONE OF THE BILLS, AS YOU
% KNOW, LOOKS TO ACQUIRE MORE
% AUDITS OF WHETHER CLAIMANTS ARE
% DOING THE REQUIRED NUMBER OF
% WORK SEARCHES PER WEEK TO GET
% THEIR PAYMENT.
% THAT'S FOUR PER WEEK, INCLUDING
% DECLINING JOB INTERVIEWS OR NOT
% SHOWING UP FOR ONE.
% ACCORDING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF
% WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, THE
% AGENCY DOES DO THESE WEEKLY
% RANDOM KIND OF AUDITS, BUT IN
% YOUR MIND, THAT'S NOT ENOUGH
% OVERSIGHT?
% >> WELL, IT'S NOT ADDRESSING THE
% ISSUE.
% PART OF THAT ONE GOES BACK TO
% GHOSTING.
% GHOSTING IS A MATTER WHERE
% SOMEONE APPLIES FOR A JOB, SENDS
% IN AN APPLICATION, NOTIFIES THE
% STATE THAT I TOOK CARE OF THAT,
% BUT WHEN YOU GO BACK TO THE
% EMPLOYER, THE EMPLOYER IS
% SAYING, WAIT A MINUTE, THERE WAS
% AN EXAMPLE, I BELIEVE IT'S
% AHREN'S CORPORATION, THEY HAD IN
% EXCESS OF 400 PEOPLE THAT SENT
% IN AN APPLICATION FOR
% EMPLOYMENT, BUT WHEN THEY
% RESPONDED BACK TO SET UP AN
% INTERVIEW OR CONDUCT ONE OVER
% THE PHONE OR IN PERSON, THEY
% COULD NOT EVEN GET A SINGLE
% RESPONSE FROM THOSE PEOPLE.
% THAT'S IN A ONE-YEAR PERIOD.
% OR THEY HAD APPOINTMENTS SET UP,
% AND I BELIEVE THERE'S 125
% APPOINTMENTS, PEOPLE SIMPLY
% DIDN'T SHOW UP.
% NOW, IF YOUR OPI YOU'RE THE EMP,
% THIS IS HIGH COST.
% OUR HUMAN RESOURCE DEPARTMENTS
% IN ANY SECTOR ARE TAKING A LOT
% OF EXPENSE TO EMPLOY PEOPLE, SO
% THIS IS ONE OF THOSE ISSUES.
% THIS IS FEEDBACK FROM EMPLOYERS
% SAYING, THIS IS COSTING US A LOT
% OF MONEY, SO I DON'T THINK THE
% REQUIREMENTS FOR THE JOB SEARCH
% HAVE BEEN EFFECTIVE
% >> WOULD YOU JUST AS SOON DO
% AWAY WITH THE WHOLE UNEMPLOYMENT
% INSURANCE PROGRAM?
% >> ABSOLUTELY NOT.
% AGAIN, THIS IS -- THE GOAL OF
% THESE BILLS IS TO IDENTIFY THOSE
% PEOPLE THAT ARE REALLY NOT
% QUALIFIED TO BE ON UNEMPLOYMENT
% BECAUSE WE HAVE THAT AS AN
% ISSUE.
% AGAIN, THAT'S THE MINORITY.
% WE ALSO HAVE PEOPLE THAT --
% THEY'RE NOT OUT THERE TRULY
% LOOKING FOR A JOB.
% NOW, COME BACK TO THE BASIS OF
% YOUR QUESTION.
% I BELIEVE IN AID SCRIPTURAL
% PRINCIPLE THAT SAYS TRUE
% RELIGION IS TAKING CARE OF
% WIDOWS AND ORPHANS.
% THAT'S TAKING CARE OF PEOPLE
% THAT DON'T HAVE THE CAPACITY TO
% TAKE CARE OF ALL OF THEIR NEEDS,
% AND I BELIEVE THERE IS AN
% ABSOLUTE PLACE FOR GOVERNMENT,
% BUT I BELIEVE IT IS TO BE
% EXERCISED WISELY, AND WE LIVE IN
% A TIME WHERE YOU HAVE TO PUT
% MORE RESTRICTIONS OR RESTRAINTS
% OR ACCOUNTABILITY, IS PROBABLY
% MY BEST WORD, IN PLACE IN ORDER
% TO MAKE THAT WORK TO ITS OPTIMUM
% LEVEL
% >> ALL RIGHT.
% REPRESENTATIVE JERRY O'CONNOR,
% THANKS VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US.
% >> ALL RIGHT.
% THANK YOU.
% ENJOY YOUR DAY.
% >> AS REPUBLICANS PASS THE
% UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE BILLS ONE
% BY ONE, DEMOCRATS ASSAILED THEIR
% PASSAGE.%AMONG THEM, REPRESEN
TATIVE
% KATRINA SHANKLAND OF STEVENS
% POINT.%THANK YOU FOR BEING WI
TH US
% >> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME
% >> SO WHAT ABOUT THE RESULTS OF
% THE STATEWIDE REFERENDUM THAT
% SHOWED THAT VOTERS
% OVERWHELMINGLY AGREED THAT
% ABLE-BODIED ADULTS SHOULD HAVE
% TO LOOK FOR WORK TO RECEIVE
% TAXPAYER FUNDED WELFARE BENEFITS
% AND HOW REPUBLICANS SAY THAT
% THIS SLATE OF BILLS COMPORTS
% WITH THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE.
% >> SO FIRST AND FOREMOST, EVERY
% SINGLE BILL THAT WE TOOK UP
% RELATED TO UNEMPLOYMENT
% INSURANCE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH
% WELFARE BENEFITS.
% UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE IS AN
% INSURANCE PROGRAM, JUST LIKE
% SOCIAL SECURITY.
% IN FACT, WISCONSIN WAS THE FIRST
% STATE IN THE NATION TO CREATE AN
% UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE PROGRAM,
% AND WHEN THE SOCIAL SECURITY ACT
% PASSED ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL,
% UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WAS
% INCLUDED IN IT AND IT WAS
% MODELED AFTER WISCONSIN.
% SO THIS IS AN INSURANCE PROGRAM
% THAT YOU EARN BECAUSE YOU'VE
% WORKED AND IT IS DESIGNED
% SPECIFICALLY TO ENSURE THAT WHEN
% YOU LOSE A JOB THROUGH NO FAULT
% OF YOUR OWN, THAT THERE IS A
% SAFETY NET IN PLACE TO HELP YOU
% PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE AND FILL
% YOUR TANK TO GET TO THE NEXT JOB
% INTERVIEW SO YOU CAN FIND WORK
% >> SO UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE IS
% PAID FOR BY EMPLOYERS AND
% MAJORITY REPUBLICANS SAY THESE
% BILLS ARE NEEDED TO WEED OUT
% PEOPLE HANGING OUT ON
% UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE AND NOT
% SHOWING UP FOR INTERVIEWS
% BECAUSE THIS COSTS EMPLOYERS
% TIME AND MONEY WHEN THESE FOLKS
% COULD BE WORKING, WHICH WOULD
% THEN EASE OUR WORKER SHORTAGE.
% YOUR RESPONSE TO THAT?
% >> SURE.
% SO I POINTED OUT IN COMMITTEE
% AND ON THE ASSEMBLY FLOOR DURING
% THIS DEBATE THAT GHOSTING IS A
% REAL SITUATION AND THERE'S
% ALREADY A REPORTING FORM ON THE
% DEPARTMENT OF WORKFORCE
% DEVELOPMENT'S WEBSITE FOR
% EMPLOYERS TO REPORT, BUT WHAT MY
% COLLEAGUES ACROSS THE AISLE
% INTENDED TO DO WITH THIS
% LEGISLATION IS ONE MISSED
% INTERVIEW, ONE CAR BREAKING
% DOWN, ONE LOSING YOUR CHILDCARE
% SLOT FOR THE DAY OR WEEK AND YOU
% WOULD LOSE UNEMPLOYMENT FOR THAT
% WEEK AS WELL AND UNEMPLOYMENT
% INSURANCE, WE HAVE ONE OF THE
% LOWEST RATES IN THE NATION.
% IT'S UP TO $370 COMPARED TO
% STATES AROUND US.
% THAT IS NOT MEANT TO SUPPLEMENT
% OR I SHOULD SAY SUPPLANT OR
% REPLACE AN INCOME.
% IT IS AN INCOME SUPPLEMENT
% DESIGNED TO HELP YOU PUT FOOD ON
% THE TABLE AND GAS IN THE TANK,
% BUT NOT MUCH MORE THAN THAT, TO
% BE FRANK, SO I THINK THE
% ARGUMENT NOT ONLY IS INCORRECT,
% BUT IT ALSO FAILS TO UNDERSTAND
% WHAT UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE IS
% USED FOR, AND TO BE FRANK, THE
% MAJORITY OF CLAIMS THAT ARE
% FILED ARE FILED IN THE WINTER
% WHEN CONSTRUCTION WORKERS,
% LANDSCAPERS, VERTICAL
% CONSTRUCTION WORKERS ARE ALL
% UNABLE TO DO THE WORK THAT IS
% NEEDED BECAUSE, IN FEBRUARY,
% MARCH, JANUARY, DECEMBER, THOSE
% HARSH WISCONSIN WINTERS, YOU
% CANNOT LAY ASPHALT OR CONCRETE
% BELOW 40° AND OBVIOUSLY YOU'RE
% NOT LANDSCAPING.
% SO MY REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES
% REALLY NEED TO LOOK INTO THE
% DATA.
% I POINTED OUT ON THE FLOOR THAT
% MANY WORKERS ARE UNABLE TO WORK
% BETWEEN I WOULD SAY THE MONTHS
% OF NOVEMBER AND MARCH WHEN IT
% COMES TO CONSTRUCTION AND
% VERTICAL CONSTRUCTION, AND THEY
% USE UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE
% DURING THAT TIME BECAUSE THEY'VE
% PUT IN 2,000 HOURS OF WORK IN
% SIX OR SEVEN MONTHS AND I FIND
% THE ATTACK ON BLUE-COLLAR
% WORKERS VERY DIFFICULT TO
% STOMACH WHEN MANY OF MY
% COLLEAGUES ACROSS THE AISLE
% RARELY IF EVER PUT IN 83 HOURS A
% WEEK ON AVERAGE LIKE THESE
% CONSTRUCTION WORKERS DO.
% SO I FOUND IT INTERESTING TO
% DISCOVER THAT THEY FAILED TO
% TAKE UP A VOTE ON ONE OF THE
% BILLS THAT WOULD HAVE TAKEN UP
% TO THREE MONTHLIES OF
% UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE AWAY FROM
% THESE HARD-WORKING MEN AND WOMEN
% ACROSS THE STATE AND I THINK
% IT'S BECAUSE THEY WERE AFRAID OF
% THE DEBATE AND AFRAID TO TALK
% ABOUT HOW THESE BILLS COULD
% REALLY HARM BLUE-COLLAR WORKERS
% >> WHAT DO YOU THINK THE OVERALL
% MESSAGE IS FROM THE REPUBLICAN
% PASSAGE OF THESE BILLS THIS
% WEEK?%WHAT IS THEIR MESSAGE?
% >> THEIR MESSAGE IS THAT PEOPLE
% IN WISCONSIN AREN'T WORKING AND
% THE OPPOSITE IS TRUE.
% WE HAVE A 2.5% OR 2.7%
% UNEMPLOYMENT RATE, DEPENDING ON
% THE LAST TWO MONTHS THAT YOU
% LOOK OF DATA, AND IT'S A
% HISTORIC RECORD.
% WE KNOW THAT AS PEOPLE ARE AGING
% OUT OF THE WORKFORCE, THERE ARE
% NOT ENOUGH NEW WORKERS TO
% REPLACE THEM, AND SO WHAT WE
% NEED TO DO FOR THOSE WHO ARE
% UNABLE TO WORK THE NUMBER OF
% HOURS THEY'D LIKE TO WORK OR
% UNABLE TO ENTER THE WORKFORCE,
% IS HELP THEM ACCESS CHILDCARE,
% BECAUSE THAT IS THE NUMBER ONE
% BARRIER TO ENTRY RIGHT NOW.
% THERE ARE CHILDCARE WAIT LISTS
% ACROSS THE STATE.
% MANY RURAL AREAS ARE IN
% CHILDCARE DESERTS.
% SO WE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER TO
% TACKLE CHARACTER.
% WE NEED TO -- CHILDCARE.
% WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE
% HAVE ACCESS TO TRANSIT IF THEY
% DON'T HAVE A CAR.
% WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE
% WHO CAN'T AFFORD TO LIVE WHERE
% THEY WORK HAVE ACCESS TO
% AFFORDABLE HOUSING SO THAT THEY
% DON'T HAVE TO RELY ON SOMEBODY
% ELSE TO HELP THEM GET TO WORK IF
% THEIR CAR BREAKS DOWN AND THEY
% CAN GET TO WORK IN THE CITY THAT
% THEY LIVE.
% AND SO THOSE THREE THINGS:
% AFFORDABLE HOUSING, PUBLIC
% TRANSIT AND TRANSPORTATION FOR
% WORK AS WELL AS CHILDCARE ACCESS
% AND AFFORDA AFFORDABILITY IS WHE
% BEEN FOCUSING ON.
% IT WAS OUR CORE MESSAGE ON THE
% ASSEMBLY FLOOR.
% WE MEAN IT WHEN WE SAY WE ARE
% EXTENDING A HAND.
% THERE ARE PLENTY OF INCREDIBLE
% PROPOSALS IN GOVERNOR TONY
% EVERS' BUDGET THAT WOULD INVEST
% IN WORK HOUSE FUNDING, TRANSIT,
% AND WE STAND READY AND WILLING
% TO WORK WITH OUR PARTNERS ACROSS
% THE AISLE TO ENACT GOVERNOR TONY
% EVERS' BUDGET.
% WE KNOW THE WORKFORCE SHORTAGE
% IS REAL.
% LET'S HELP PEOPLE STAY WORKING,
% KEEP WORKING, AND GET INTO THE
% WORKFORCE IF THEY'RE NOT
% >> MEANWHILE, THESE BILLS ARE
% EXPECTED TO BE VETOED BY
% GOVERNOR EVERS, BUT
% REPRESENTATIVE KATRINA
% SHANKLAND, THANKS VERY MUCH.
% >> THANK YOU.
% >> RESTRICTIONS ON WHO IS
% ELIGIBLE FOR THEIR CRIMINAL
% RECORD TO BE EXPUNGED COULD BE
% LOOSENED UNDER A BIPARTISAN BILL
% MAKING ITS WAY THROUGH THE
% LEGISLATURE.
% EXPUNGEMENT IS A COURT SEALING
% OF AN ENTIRE CRIMINAL CASE FILE
% AND IT CANNOT BE SEEN WITHOUT A
% COURT ORDER.
% FURTHER, THE DEFENDANT'S NAME
% WON'T YIELD ANY RESULTS OF THE
% CASE IN A SEARCH OF WISCONSIN'S
% CIRCUIT COURT RECORDS.
% CURRENTLY LAW ONLY ALLOWS
% NON-VIOLENT FELONY CRIMES
% COMMITTED BEFORE THE AGE OF 25
% TO BE CONSIDERED FOR
% EXPUNGEMENT.
% AMONG THIS BILL'S AGE
% RESTRICTIONS WOULD BE LIFTED.
% DESPITE HAVING SUCCESS IN
% PREVIOUS SESSIONS OF THE
% ASSEMBLY IT HASN'T GOTTEN THE
% NECESSARY TRACTION IN THE SENATE
% UNTIL NOW.
% >> WE'RE GETTING RID OF THAT
% LIMIT, THAT AGE LIMIT THAT'S
% ASSOCIATED WITH IT.
% FOR EXPUNGEMENT TO BE ABLE TO
% HAPPEN, THESE INDIVIDUALS WOULD
% HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'VE
% PAID ALL OF THEIR RESTITUTION,
% DONE ALL OF THEIR HOURS, DID
% EVERYTHING THAT THEY NEEDED TO
% DO TO BE QUALIFIED FOR THIS.
% IT WOULD ALSO ALLOW FOLKS THAT
% WERE POSSIBLY DAMAGED OR INJURED
% TO BE NOTIFIED THAT SOMEONE WAS
% UP FOR EXPUNGEMENT.
% ONE OF THE BIG AREAS THAT I WAS
% CONTACTED FOR BY JUDGES WITH
% THIS EXPUNGEMENT BILL HAS TO DO
% WITH WHEN THAT IDEA OF
% EXPUNGEMENT CAN ACTUALLY BE
% GRANTED.
% OKAY?
% SO CURRENTLY WHAT HAPPENS IS IF
% YOU ARE CHARGED WITH A CRIME,
% THE INITIAL COURT HEARINGS WILL
% DETERMINE IF YOU CAN HAVE
% EXPUNGEMENT AT THE END OR NOT.
% A LOT OF JUDGES WERE SAYING WHY?
% WHAT HAPPENS IF THINGS HAPPENED
% IN BETWEEN THERE AND THEN YOU'RE
% JUST GOING TO EXPUNGE THIS
% PARTICULAR CRIME.
% THIS BILL WOULD SAY WE'RE GOING
% TO LOOK AT IT AT THE END ALSO
% AND SAY, HEY, IS THIS
% APPROPRIATE?
% BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES, IF
% PEOPLE DON'T ASK AT THE
% BEGINNING OF A TRIAL OR THEY
% DON'T KNOW, THEY WILL NOT BE
% ALLOWED FOR EXPUNGEMENT.
% CONSTITUENTS SAID, I WANTED TO
% JOIN THE MILITARY BUT I COULDN'T
% BECAUSE I MADE AN ERROR EIGHT,
% NINE YEARS AGO.
% I WANTED TO GET MY LICENSE IN
% SELLING OF INSURANCE.
% SOMETHING I DID WHEN I WAS 17
% YEARS OLD.
% RIGHT?
% SO THIS IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING
% THAT'S IMPACTING PEOPLE WHEN IT
% COMES TO WORKFORCE, WHEN IT
% COMES TO HOUSING, BUT WHAT ABOUT
% SELF-WORTH?
% THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT
% MIGHT HAVE STRUGGLED WITH MENTAL
% HEALTH WHEN THEY WERE YOUNGER OR
% WHATEVER THE REASON IS, MADE A
% STUPID CHOICE AND NOW 10, 20,
% 30, 40 YEARS LATER, THEY'RE
% STILL BEING PUNISHED FOR THIS,
% SO THERE HAS TO BE A RIGHT TO A
% WRONG, NOT ONLY ON THEIR END,
% BUT OUR END ALSO.
% I THINK PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE
% CONSEQUENCES FOR THE NEGATIVE
% CHOICES THAT THEY MAKE, BUT YOU
% CAN ALSO MAKE THAT RIGHT, AND SO
% DO I FIND THIS WEAKENING THE
% TOUGH ON CRIME?
% NO.
% WHAT I'M SAYING IS MAKE GOOD
% CHOICES.
% IF YOU MESS UP ALONG THE WAY,
% MAKE IT RIGHT AND THEN LET'S
% COME BACK AND LET'S START OVER.
% >> IN OTHER NEWS, WISCONSIN IS
% STILL UNDER A STATE OF EMERGENCY
% DUE TO HISTORIC FLOODWATERS.
% FLOODING ALONG THE MISSISSIPPI
% RIVER HIT ITS PEAK IN THE
% LACROSSE AREA OVER THE LAST FEW
% DAYS.
% HOWEVER, WATER WAS STILL RISING
% AT WEEK'S END FARTHER SOUTH NEAR
% PRAIRIE DA SHEEN.
% LATEST PROJECTIONS HAD THE RIVER
% REACHING JUST OVER 23 FEET
% FRIDAY AFTERNOON AND THEN
% STARTING TO RECEDE.
% IN PRAIRIE DA SHEEN, MANY ROADS
% WERE CLOSED AND RESIDENTS ALONG
% MAIN STREET EVACUATED.
% TENS OF THOUSANDS SANDBAGS WERE
% FILLED AND PLACED AS RESIDENTS
% TRIED TO KEEP FLOODWATERS AT
% BAY.
% THE MAJOR FLOODING IS THE RESULT
% OF RECORD SNOW PACK FOLLOWED BY
% RAINFALL AND SATURATED SOIL.
% THAT SATURATED SOIL MAY HAVE
% LEAD TO A FREIGHT TRAIN
% DERAILING THURSDAY ON THE BLUFF
% SIDE OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER
% WITH SEVERAL CARS TIPPING OVER.
% AUTHORITIES SAY HAZARDOUS
% MATERIALS OF LITHIUM ION
% BATTERIES, OXYGEN CONTAINERS AND
% PAINT WERE ON BOARD BUT HAVE
% BEEN CONTAINED.
% OFFICIALS SHUT DOWN A SECTION OF
% HIGHWAY 35 DURING CLEAN UP-UP.
% FOUR WORKERS WERE TAKEN TO THE
% HOSPITAL WITH
% NONLIFE-THREATENING INJURIES.
% THE INCIDENT AND EXACT CAUSE ARE
% UNDER INVESTIGATION.
% >>> FOR MORE ON THIS AND OTHER
% ISSUES FACING WISCONSIN, VISIT
% OUR WEBSITE AT PBS WISCONSIN.ORG
% AND THEN CLICK ON THE NEWS TAB.
% THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT.
% I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
% HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.
% (CLOSED CAPTIONING BY RIVERSIDE
% CAPTIONING COMPANY)
% FUNDING IS PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS
% FUND FOR JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS
% OF PBS WISCONSIN.