% >> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
% PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
% PRODUCTION.%>> WE HAVE AN AG
REEMENT ON A
% TRANSFORMATIONAL SHARED REVENUE
% DEAL THAT WILL ALSO HAVE THE
% LARGEST EXPANSION OF SCHOOL
% CHOICE SINCE THE PROGRAM WAS
% ORIGINALLY FOUNDED.
% >> AT THE STATE CAPITOL,
% LEGISLATIVE LEADERS AND THE
% GOVERNOR SHAKE HANDS ON SHARED
% REVENUE AND SCHOOL FUNDING.
% AND FARTHER AFIELD, SMOKE FROM
% CANADIAN WILDFIRES CREATES
% DANGEROUS AIR QUALITY AROUND THE
% COUNTRY AND HERE IN WISCONSIN.
% I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
% TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW," WE
% GET THE LATEST OPT SHARED
% REVENUE PACKAGE HAMMERED OUT
% THIS WEEK.
% STEVE POTTER REPORTS ON FUNDING
% FOR CONCLUSION 12 SCHOOLS.
% WE TALK TO AN EXPERT ON THE
% RECENT PROBLEMS WITH AIR QUALITY
% AND A FORMER STATE SENATOR JOINS
% TO DISCUSS A NEW BIPARTISAN HOOK
% TO ELIMINATE ELECTION
% MISINFORMATION.
% IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR JUNE
% 9th.
% >> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
% PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
% JOURNAL AND I AM FRIENDS OF PBS
% WISCONSIN.
% >> THE HEADLINE FROM THE STATE
% CAPITOL, THERE'S A SHARED
% REVENUE DEAL AND A SCHOOL
% FUNDING PACKAGE.
% ON THE 1st, THAT'S GOOD NEWS
% FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ACROSS
% WISCONSIN WHO HAVE BEEN SOUNDING
% THE ALARM ON THE NEED FOR AN
% INFUSION OF STATE FUNDING,
% ESPECIALLY FOR POLICE AND FIRE
% SERVICES.
% THE SHARED REVENUE PACKAGE WAS
% DESIGNED TO DO JUST THAT, GIVING
% 20% OF THE MONEY THE STATE
% COLLECTS FROM THE SALES TAX TO
% LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, BUT HOW THE
% PACKAGE TREATS MILWAUKEE NEARLY
% FELL APART THIS WEEK AND
% THREATENED TO PUT STATE BUDGET
% WORK ON HOLD.
% MILWAUKEE WAS ORIGINALLY GIVEN A
% 10% INCREASE WITH THE ABILITY TO
% RAISE MORE IN SALES TAX.
% THE ADDITIONAL BUMP TIED TO
% VOTERS THERE.
% BUT MILWAUKEE, FACING
% INSOLVENCY, WORRIED THE VOTE
% WOULD FAIL.
% LEGISLATIVE LEADERS WERE SPLIT
% AND UNDER TIGHT LE DEADLINE TO E
% TO AN AGREEMENT WITH THE
% GOVERNOR.
% BY WEEK'S END, THERE WAS AN
% AGREEMENT, AND THEN SOME,
% INCLUDING ON SCHOOL FUNDING.
% WE TURN TO BUREAU CHIEF SHAUN
% JOHNSON FOR DETAILS.
% HI, SHAUN.
% >> HI, FRED.
% >> SO WHAT IS IN THIS MOST
% IMPORTANT SHARED REVENUE
% PACKAGE?
% >> I THINK WE'VE BEEN HEARING
% ABOUT THE BROAD STROKES FOR
% WEEKS AND MONTHS RIGHT NOW AND
% ALL THOSE ARE STILL IN THERE.
% YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A PORTION
% OF THE STATE SALES TAX, 20% OF
% THE SAT STATE SALES TAX GOING
% FORWARD WILL BE DEDICATED TO
% LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.
% SO AS THE SALVATION TAX GROWS,
% LOCAL -- SALES TAX GROWS, LOCAL
% GOVERNMENTS WILL GET MORE MONEY,
% WHICH IS A FAR CRY FROM WHAT
% THEY'VE BEEN THE LAST 20 YEARS
% WHEN THEY SAW THEIR FIXED BUDGET
% FROM THE STATE CUT THREE TIMES.
% AS FAR AS LIKE THE PERCENTAGE OF
% MONEY THAT THEY GET, IT'S GOING
% TO VARY.
% TOWNS ARE GOING TO GET A LARGER
% PERCENTAGE INCREASE, BUT CITIES
% WILL GET A LARGER DOLLAR
% INCREASE.
% EVERYBODY WILL GET AT LEAST A
% 20% INCREASE IN THE PACKAGE THAT
% WAS RELEASED THIS WEEK AND THEN
% THERE ARE THOSE PROVISIONS IN
% MILWAUKEE THAT WERE THE MOST
% CONTENTIOUS BUT VERY KEY TO THAT
% CITY THAT WILL LET MILWAUKEE
% RAISE ITS SALES TAX BY 2% AND
% THE COUNTY RAISE ITS SALES TAX
% BY.4% WITHOUT GOING TO VOTERS.
% >> SO DOES THIS END UP, THEN,
% BEING A BETTER DEAL IN TERMS OF
% SHARED REVENUE FOR LOCAL
% GOVERNMENTS THAN WAS ORIGINALLY
% PROPOSED BY REPUBLICAN
% LEGISLATORS?%>> YEAH.
% I MEAN, I THINK IF YOU MEASURE
% IT JUST AGAINST WHAT HAS BEEN
% PROPOSED THIS YEAR, THEY
% ORIGINALLY CAME OUT WITH A 10%
% FLOOR FOR STATE PAYMENTS TO
% LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.
% GOVERNOR TONY EVERS SAID, YOU
% KNOW, YOU'VE GOT TO INCREASE
% THAT FUNDING OR I'M GOING TO
% VETO THIS BILL.
% ASSEMBLY PATH A VERSION THAT HAD
% A 15% MINIMUM.
% THE VERSION THAT CAME OUT IN THE
% DEAL THIS WEEK BETWEEN GOVERNOR
% TONY EVERS AND REPUBLICAN
% LEADERS IS A 20% FLOOR.
% SO BY THE NUMBERS, THAT'S A
% BETTER DEAL.
% THERE ARE STILL ALL OF THESE
% RESTRICTIONS ON LOCAL
% GOVERNMENTS IN TERMS OF HOW THEY
% CAN SPEND THE MONEY.
% THEY HAVE TO MAINTAIN WHAT
% THEY'RE SPENDING ON POLICE, FOR
% EXAMPLE, OR THEY WOULD BE
% FINANCIALLY PENALIZED.
% THEY CAN'T SPEND THE MONEY IN
% MILWAUKEE'S CASE ON THE STREET
% CAR OR IN ANY CASE ON DIVERSITY,
% EQUITY AND INCLUSION EFFORTS.
% BUT JUST FROM A MONEY
% STANDPOINT, THIS DEAL IS BETTER
% THAN WHERE REPUBLICANS STARTED A
% MONTH OR SO AGO.
% >> AS TO THE SCHOOL FUNDING
% PART, HOW DOES THAT SHAPE UP?
% >> WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF DEALS
% BEYOND WHAT THEY SAID IN A PRESS
% CONFERENCE AND PRESS RELEASE
% THIS WEEK, BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE
% THEY'RE GOING TO SET ASIDE A
% BILLION DOLLARS BETWEEN STATE
% AND LOCAL PROPERTY TAX FUNDING
% FOR SCHOOLS AND THEN THERE WILL
% ALSO BE FUNDING DEDICATED TO
% LITERACY, TO SCHOOL MENTAL
% HEALTH, TO SPECIAL EDUCATION.
% IF YOU LOOK AT THAT TOTAL, YOU
% KNOW, IT'S BIGGER THAN
% REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS HAVE
% APPROVED IN YEARS PAST, ASSUMING
% THE STATE DOES FUND SOMEWHERE
% CLOSE TO A BALAN BILLION DOLLART
% SMALLER THAN WHAT THE GOVERNOR
% PROPOSED WHEN HE INTRODUCED HIS
% BUDGET EARLIER THIS YEAR.
% >> SO WITH ABOUT 30 SECONDS
% LEFT, IF THERE AREN'T TOO MANY
% DETAILS OUT THERE, NOT TOO MUCH
% MEAT ON THE BONE FOR PUBLIC
% CONSUMPTION, PRESUMABLY IT'S
% STILL BEING WORKED UP?
% >> YOU KNOW, I THINK YOU'RE
% GOING TO SEE THE REPUBLICAN
% ELEMENT OF THE EDUCATION BUDGET
% RELEASED IN THE COMING WEEKS,
% BUT THE DEAL IS SEEMINGLY SET
% FOR THIS SHARED REVENUE PACKAGE.
% THEY DID SAY THEY WANT TO GET
% DEMOCRATIC VOTES FOR IT.
% WE'LL SEE HOW IT SHAKES OUT.
% >> SHAUN JOHNSON, THANKS VERY
% MUCH FOR JOINING US FROM THE
% CAPITOL.%>> THANKS, FRED.
% >> FOR MORE ON HOW THE STATE
% BUDGET WILL TREAT SCHOOL FUNDING
% AND THE NUMBERS NEGOTIATED
% BETWEEN THE LEGISLATURE AND THE
% GOVERNOR, "HERE AND NOW"
% REPORTER STEVEN POTTER HAS
% DETAILS.
% >> I ASK THAT YOU SUPPORTER
% CLOSING THE FUNDING GAP ACROSS
% ALL SECTORS OF EDUCATION IN THE
% STATE OF WISCONSIN.
% >> AS STUDENTS PREPARE FOR
% ANOTHER SUMMER, LAWMAKERS HAVE
% NOW IS DECIDED ON DETAILS FOR
% ONE OF THE MOST CONTENTIOUS AND
% EXPENSIVE PARTS OF THE STATE
% BUDGET PROCESS.
% AND THAT'S FUNDING FOR
% WISCONSIN'S K THROUGH 12
% SCHOOLS.
% LIKE PAST BUDGETS, EVERYONE FROM
% EDUCATION OFFICIALS TO TEACHERS
% AND PARENTS HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR
% AN INCREASE IN SCHOOL FUNDING.
% >> I'M REALLY SCARED ABOUT THE
% STATE OF WISCONSIN'S PUBLIC
% EDUCATION SYSTEM RIGHT NOW.
% WE'VE HISTORICALLY
% UNDER-RESOURCED OUR KIDS FOR 40
% YEARS NOW, IMPOSING JUST MEASURE
% AFTER MEASURE THAT MAKES IT
% HARDER AND HARDER FOR KIDS TO
% KEEP UP AND CATCH UP.
% >> THAT'S HEATHER DUBOIS WITH
% THE ADVOCACY GROUP CALLS THE
% WISCONSIN PUBLIC EDUCATION
% NETWORK.%SHE SAYS THAT SOME 4
0% OF THE
% TESTIMONY AT THE RECENT JOINT
% FINANCE COMMITTEE HEARINGS
% AROUND THE STATE HAVE BEEN
% EDUCATORS, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS,
% AND OTHER STATE RESIDENTS ASKING
% FOR AN INCREASE IN PUBLIC
% EDUCATION FUNDING.
% >> IT IS ABSOLUTELY CRUCIAL FOR
% DEFOREST AND ALL WISCONSIN
% PUBLIC SCHOOLS THAT THIS
% BIENNIAL BUDGET MAKES UP FOR
% WHAT FAILED TO DO THE LAST TIME
% BY PROVIDING SCHOOLS WITH AN
% ADEQUATE AND RECURRING FUNDS BY
% WHICH WE CAN OPERATE EFFECTIVELY
% ON.
% >> ONE OF THE PRIMARY PROBLEMS
% FACING THE STATE'S EDUCATION
% PROBLEM IS A TEACHER SHORTAGE.
% >> ONE OF THE REASONS THAT WE
% HAVE SUCH A TEACHER CRISIS RIGHT
% NOW IN WISCONSIN IS BECAUSE WE
% DON'T HAVE A SYSTEM WHERE EVERY
% DISTRICT CAN AFFORD TO PROVIDE A
% LIVING WAGE LEVEL FOR ALL
% EDUCATORS.%>> ACCORDING TO EA
RLY DETAILS
% ABOUT A DEAL BETWEEN GOVERNOR
% TONY EVERS AND REPUBLICAN
% LEADERS IN THE STATE
% LEGISLATURE, THE TWO SIDES HAVE
% AGREED TO AN INCREASE IN
% EDUCATION FUNDING IN THE
% UPCOMING STATE BUDGET BY $1
% BILLION.%THAT MONEY WILL COME
FROM A MIX
% OF STATE AID AND PROPERTY TAXES.
% IT INCLUDES AN INCREASE OF
% $2K4RFORNEW EDUCATION FUNDING PE
% ALSO INCLUDES STATE MONEY FOR
% THE PRIVATE SCHOOL CHOICE
% VOUCHER PROGRAM, SPECIFICALLY
% THERE, STUDENTS IN KINDERGARTEN
% THROUGH EIGHTH DISBR GRADE VOUCR
% WILL GET $8,000 MORE ANNUALLY
% AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN THE
% VOUCHER PROGRAM WILL GET $3,000
% MORE PER YEAR.
% NIC KELLY IS THE PRESIDENT OF
% THE NOT-FOR-PROFIT ADVOCACY
% GROUP KNOWN AS SCHOOL CHOICE
% WISCONSIN.
% HE SAYS THERE ARE MANY REASONS
% WHY PEOPLE CHOOSE PRIVATE
% SCHOOLS.%>> SOME PEOPLE DO IT
IN TERMS OF
% ACADEMICS, SOME DO IT IN TERMS
% OF SITUATIONS THAT THEY RESULTED
% FROM A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE
% PUBLIC SCHOOLS, THEY WANT OUT.
% SOME PEOPLE DO IT FOR RELIGIOUS
% REASONS.
% BUT IT'S REALLY WHAT AN INTERNAL
% DYNAMIC OF A FAMILY WANTS.
% >> KELLY SAYS THAT THE $7
% BILLION SURPLUS PROVIDES A LOT
% OF INCENTIVE FOR THE SCHOOL
% FUNDING CHOICE INCREASE.
% >> NOW IS THE TIME BECAUSE
% PARENTS ARE CALLING FOR IT.
% IT'S NOT AN AGENDA OF ANY ONE
% INDIVIDUAL GROUP.
% IT'S THE VOICE OF THE PARENTS
% AND THE FAMILIES ACROSS THE
% STATE THAT WANT THESE
% OPPORTUNITIES AND FINDING AN
% EDUCATION THAT IS GOING TO FIT
% THEIR CHILD'S NEEDS.
% >> BERRY 1990 SAYS AN INCREASE
% IN SCHOOL FUNDING IS THE THING
% TO DO RIGHT NOW.
% >> WHAT KIDS NEED IS PROTEIN
% SIMPLE, AND IF WE JUST PUT OUR
% FUNDING PRIORITIES WHERE THOSE
% PRIORITY NEEDS ARE, WE COULD SEE
% FIX MOST OF WHAT'S WRONG WITH
% HOW WE DO SCHOOL FUNDING IN THE
% STATE TOMORROW.
% LET'S JUST DO IT.
% >> FOR "HERE AND NOW," I'M
% STEVEN POTTER.
% >> THE ACE OF STATE BUDGET
% NUMBER CRUNCHING HAS SEEN HIS
% SHARE O OF CAPITOL TURMOIL IS BB
% LANG.
% HE GUIDES BUDGET WRITERS THROUGH
% THEIR NUMBERS AND ATTACHES
% FISCAL NOTES TO LEGISLATIVE
% BILLS WHICH UNDERSELLS BY A LOT
% HIS ROLE.
% IT'S A NON-PARTISAN POSITION IN
% A VERY PARTISAN WORLD, BUT IT
% ALSO TAKES EXTREME FINANCIAL
% SAVVY AND EXPERTISE.
% WE TURN TO BOB LANG FOR THAT.
% THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.
% >> THANK YOU.
% >> SO WE WERE JUST OFF REPORTING
% ABOUT THIS DEAL HATCHED FOR THE
% SHARED REVENUE PACKAGE.
% WHY WOULD BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS
% HAVE HAD TO WAIT FOR THAT BILL
% TO BE HASHED BEFORE PROCEEDING?
% >> WE SORT OF HAVE TWO TRACKS
% GOING ON.
% THE SHARED REVENUE IS REALLY
% TRACK ONE.
% IT STARTED PRIOR TO THE BUDGET
% EVEN BEING INTRODUCED S. THERE'S
% AN INTEREST ON THE PART OF THE
% GOVERNOR AND AN INTEREST ON THE
% PART OF THE LEGISLATORS TO
% DEDICATE A PORTION OF THE STATE
% SALES TAX TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
% IN THIS PROGRAM WE CALL SHARED
% REVENUE.
% IT'S VERY BRIEF BACKGROUND.
% THE STATE ENACTED THE FIRST
% INCOME TAX IN THE COUNTRY IN
% 1911.%AT THAT TIME, THE STAT
E
% PROHIBITED LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
% FROM HAVING A LOCAL INCOME TAX
% BUT PLEDGED IN 1911 THAT THE
% STATE WOULD SHARE ITS REVENUES
% WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.
% HENCE, THE SHARED REVENUE
% PROGRAM THAT IS BEING THERE
% FOREVER.
% -- THAT HAS BEEN THERE FOREVER,
% AND MUCH OF THE TIME IT WAS
% THERE, IT ACTUALLY WAS TAKING
% PORTIONS OF SALES TAXES AND
% OTHER TAXES AND DEDICATING THEM
% TO LOCAL AIDS, LOCAL.GOV NANCES,
% TOWNS, COUNTIES.
% SO FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS OR SO,
% THERE'S REALLY BEEN NO INCREASE
% IN SHARED REVENUE PAYMENTS TO
% LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.
% WE'VE GHOSN OFF THE FORMULAS AND
% THEY'VE BEEN BASICALLY QUITE
% FLAT AND SO GOVERNOR AND
% LEGISLATURE BOTH FELT WE SHOULD
% DEDICATE A PORTION OF SALES
% TAXES.
% ABOUT A BILLION 500 MILLION A
% YEAR.%WE WOULD DEDICATE TO L
OCAL
% GOVERNMENTS FOR A NUMBER OF
% LOCAL GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS.
% ONE OF THEM BEING THE SHARED
% REVENUE FORMULA.
% AND SO THAT BILL HAD ANOTHER
% MAJOR COMPONENT AND THAT WAS TO
% ATTEMPT TO ASSIST THE CITY AND
% THE COUNTY OF MILWAUKEE, BECAUSE
% THEY'RE DEALING WITH SOME
% SERIOUS FISCAL ISSUES THERE.
% SO THE TWO MAIN ELEMENTS WERE
% THE AMOUNT OF MONEY GIVEN BACK
% TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND WAYS TO
% ADDRESS MILWAUKEE'S SITUATION,
% BOTH IN THE COUNTY AND IN THE
% CITY.%AND IT WAS A SEPARATE
TRACK.
% NOW THE BUDGET BEGAN, BUDGET
% CAME IN FEBRUARY 15th.
% JOINT COMMITTEE ON FINANCE HAS
% BEEN WORKING ON IT REALLY SINCE
% THEN.
% WE'RE VERY SERIOUSLY WORKING ON
% IT NOW.
% HOPE TO FINISH BY JULY 1.
% BUT IT WAS SORT OF A 2-TRACK
% PROCESS AND THEY BECAME SORT OF
% INTERTWINED A DAY OR TWO AGO.
% >> THAT'S RIGHT, INTERTWINED
% BECAUSE THEY ALSO ANNOUNCED THE
% K THROUGH 12 OF FUNDING PACKETS
% KIND OF AT THE SAME TIME.
% >> RIGHT.
% >> HOW COMPLICATED ARE FITTING
% ALL OF THESE PIECES TOGETHER IN
% A SPENDING BILL THIS BIG WITH SO
% MANY MOVING PARTS?
% >> WELL, TEA IT'S NOT A SIMPLE .
% WHEN WE HAVE TWO BICIALTION THE
% MONEY WILL BE -- BILLS, THE
% MONEY WILL BE IN ONE BILL.
% ANOTHER BILL WILL BE ASPECTS
% THAT WILL REQUIRE MONEY IN THE
% SECOND BILL, AND SO WE'RE SORT
% OF NAVIGATING OURSELVES THROUGH
% THIS SORT OF 2-STEP PROCESS.
% >> YOU JUST SAID THAT BECAUSE
% THINGS ARE NOW KIND OF MOVING,
% UNCLOGGED, THEY'RE MIGHT HAVE MG
% QUICKLY, YOU THINK THAT THE WORK
% WILL BE COMPLETED BY JULY 1.
% THAT IS THE START OF THE NEW
% FISCAL --%>> I THINK THE LEG
ISLATURE IS
% VERY SET ON PASSING THE BILL
% THROUGH THE FINANCE COMMITTEE
% AND BOTH HOUSES OF THE
% LEGISLATURE BY JULY 1, AND
% THEY'RE ON TARGET TO DO SO.
% >> SO AS TO THIS BIENNIAL
% BUDGET, BY ANY MEASURE, IT COULD
% BE REGARDED AS BUDGET WRITERS
% WORKING WITH A MASSIVE SURPLUS,
% THIS $7 BILLION SURPLUS.
% WHERE DID THAT COME FROM?
% >> IT'S REALLY INTERESTING.
% IT REALLY CAME ABOUT THROUGH THE
% PANDEMIC, AND I THINK IN MARCH
% OR SO OF 2020 WHEN EVERYBODY
% THOUGHT EVERYTHING WAS GOING TO
% COLLAPSE, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
% CAME IN WITH NUMEROUS BILLS THAT
% REALLY HELPED NOT ONLY
% GOVERNMENTS BUT INDIVIDUALS AND
% BUSINESSES.%AND THE STATE OF
WISCONSIN IN
% TOTAL, REPROUDLY GOT ABOUT $58
% BILLION.%SOME OF IT WENT TO I
NDIVIDUALS,
% CHECKS.%SOME OF IT WENT ON U
NEMPLOYMENT
% INSURANCE, CHECKS THAT WERE
% INCREASED, SOME OF IT WENT TO
% HELP BUSINESSES, SOME OF IT WENT
% TO HELP GOVERNMENTS.
% AND DURING THAT TIME, WE HAD
% INFLATION STARTING TO CREEP UP
% AND BASICALLY OUR SALES TAX
% COLLECTIONS WERE LOOKING STRONG,
% AND THEN BECAUSE OF THE HELP
% THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT GAVE
% TO BUSINESSES AND OTHERS SO THEY
% WOULDN'T REALLY GO UNDER AND
% WE'D KEEP PAYROLLS THERE, INCOME
% TAXES AND CORPORATE TAXES WERE
% REALLY STRONG, SO WE ACTUALLY
% ENDED THE 2021 FISCAL YEAR WITH
% ABOUT 2.6 BILLION, WHICH WAS A
% LARGE NUMBER FOR US.
% THE END OF 2021/'22, IT WENT TO
% 4.3 BILLION AND NOW IT'S ABOUT 7
% BILLION THAT WE EXPECT WE GET
% ABOUT 12-1/2 WEEKS ON JUNE
% 30th OF THIS YEAR SO IT'S
% REALLY ACCUMULATED OVER THAT
% PERIOD OF TIME.
% BUT AS YOU INDICATED, IT IS THE
% LARGEST AMOUNT OF SURPLUS MONEY
% THAT THE STATE HAS EVER HAD
% GOING INTO A BUDGET PERIOD.
% >> I WISH WE COULD TALK MORE
% ABOUT THAT BUT OUR TIME IS UP.
% GOOD LUCK TO YOU AND THE BUDGET
% WRITERS IN THE FINAL THROES OF
% THIS BIENNIAL PROCESS.
% >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
% >> IN ELECTION NEWS, FOLLOWING
% CONSPIRACIES ON STEROIDS IN THE
% 2020 PRESIDENTIAL RACE AS A
% FORMIDABLE SWING STATE,
% WISCONSIN IS NOW GEARING UP FOR
% 2024.%WITH THAT, A NEW CHAPT
ER OF THE
% GROUP CALLED KEEP OUR REPUBLIC
% LAUNCHED HERE THIS WEEK.
% IT'S A BIPARTISAN ADVISORY
% COUNCIL DESIGNED TO BUILD TRUST,
% RESPECT AND CONFIDENCE IN THE
% WISCONSIN ELECTION SYSTEM.
% MEMBERS IN WISCONSIN INCLUDE
% FORMER DEMOCRATIC LIEUTENANT
% GOVERNOR BARBARA LEIGHTON, DAVID
% BOWEN, MILWAUKEE DEMOCRAT AND
% FORMER GOVERNOR TOMMY THOMPSON.
% DIRECTOR OF THE KEEP OUR
% REPUBLIC IS FORMER REPUBLICAN
% STATE SENATOR AND LONG-TIME
% COUNTY ELECTION CLERK, KATHY
% BERNIER.%SHE JOINS US FROM CH
IPPEWA
% FALLS.%THANK YOU FOR BEING WI
TH US.% >> YOU'RE VERY WELCOME.
% IT'S MY PLEASURE.
% >> SO HOW DO Y DO YOU BUILD TRUN
% THE ELECTION SYSTEM?
% >> WELL, IT STARTS WITH
% EDUCATION AND BUILDING KNOWLEDGE
% AMONG THE AVERAGE ELECTORATE AND
% SO THAT IS OUR MISSION, TO GO
% AROUND THE STATE AND EDUCATE
% INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITY
% LEADERS ON HOW THE ELECTION
% SYSTEM WORKS, WHERE THE CHECKS
% AND BALANCES ARE AND THE
% CONFIDENCE THAT THEY CAN HOLD
% THAT EVERYTHING IN THE STATE OF
% WISCONSIN IS BACKED UP ON PAPER.
% >> WHY DID YOU FEEL IT WAS
% IMPORTANT TO NOT JUST JOIN THIS
% GROUP BUT NOW BE ITS DIRECTOR IN
% WISCONSIN?
% >> AS YOU KNOW, I WAS A VOCAL
% CRITIC OF PEOPLE WHO QUESTIONED
% THE ELECTION OFFICIALS IN THE
% ELECTORAL SYSTEM, AND FRIEND OF
% A FRIEND CONTACTED ME TO ASK ME
% IF I WOULD CONSULT AND ADVISE,
% KEEP OUR REPUBLIC.
% I LOOKED INTO THEIR MISSION, I
% SPOKE WITH THE EXECUTIVE
% DIRECTOR, AND I THOUGHT THIS WAS
% A REALLY GOOD FIT FOR ME.
% AND SO WE ARE JUST OFF AND
% RUNNING.
% >> SO WHAT DO YOUR FELLOW
% REPUBLICANS ACROSS WISCONSIN
% THINK ABOUT THIS GROUP?
% >> WELL, NOTHING DIFFERENT THAN
% THEY THOUGHT ABOUT ME.
% THEY APPRECIATED MY HONESTY AND
% MY OPENNESS AND THIS IS TRULY A
% BIPARTISAN GROUP AND IT'S NOT
% JUST ME.
% I REALLY WANT TO GIVE ACCUSED TO
% MY ADVISORY -- KUDOS TO MY
% ADVISORY COUNCIL.
% WHEN I ASKED DEMOCRATS AND
% REPUBLICANS TO SERVE IS ON THIS
% ADVISORY COUNCIL, THEY WERE
% EAGER.
% BOTH DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS
% HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT OUR
% ELECTORAL SYSTEM IN GENERAL,
% THAT ELECTION DENIAL IS NOT
% UNIQUE TO JANUARY 6th PEOPLE.
% IT'S GONE ON SINCE, CLEARLY,
% 2016, AND EVERY ONE WANTS TO DIG
% IN AND SAY ONCE ALL ELIGIBLE
% VOTERS HAVE VOTED, ONCE THE
% VOTES HAVE BEEN CAST, ONCE
% THEY'VE BEEN COUNTED, WE ALL
% NEED TO RESPECT AND ACCEPT THE
% ELECTION RESULTS.
% >> AS YOU NOTED JUST A BIT AGO,
% YOU PUSHED BACK ON THESE
% CONSPIRACIES IN THE 2020
% ELECTION.
% WHAT IN YOUR MIND WAS THE MOST
% EGREGIOUS OF THOSE?
% >> I THINK THERE WERE SO MANY OF
% THINGS.%I THINK THE INDIVIDU
ALS THAT
% CAME TO THE CAPITOL AND THE
% INDIVIDUALS CALLING TO DECERTIFY
% THE ELECTION AND FOR THE BLAZING
% GUN THAT THEY FOUND, THE SMOKING
% GUN, THAT THIS WAS AN ISSUE AND
% THAT WAS AN ISSUE WHEN, IN FACT,
% ALL THEY NEEDED TO DO WAS TO GO
% TO AN ELECTION OFFICIAL SKID
% MARKS THEM QUESTIONS ABOUT THE
% INFORMATION THAT THEY THINK THEY
% HAVE OR THE WISCONSIN ELECTION
% COMMISSION, AND GET THE FACTUAL
% INFORMATION BEHIND WHAT THEY
% WERE SAYING.
% THAT WAS THE MOST FRUSTRATING
% THING, IS THEY WEREN'T EAGER TO
% FIND OUT THE FACTS AND THE
% TRUTH.%THEY WERE JUST GOING T
O
% DISSEMINATE MISINFORMATION.
% IT WAS VERY FRUSTRATING.
% >> HOW DO YOU EXPECT TO EDUCATE
% PEOPLE ACROSS WISCONSIN ABOUT
% HOW ELECTIONS WORK IN WISCONSIN?
% >> WELL, ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS
% I HAD TO DO IN THE FIRST TWO
% MONTHS THAT I SERVED IN FOR KEEP
% OUR REPUBLIC IS SET UP AN
% ADVISORY COUNCIL AND THEN I HAD
% TO CREATE A PLAN.
% SO PENNSYLVANIA, MICHIGAN ARE
% ALSO CREATING PLANS ON HOW TO
% EDUCATE THEIR PUBLIC.
% IN WISCONSIN, LOCAL GOVERNMENT
% IS VERY IMPORTANT TO OUR
% COMMUNITIES AND TO THE VOTERS OF
% THE STATE OF WISCONSIN.
% SO THE FIRST THING I DID IS
% CREATE A PLAN THAT INVOLVED
% COUNTY CLERKS, CO-WORKERS,
% MUNICIPAL CLERKS AND OTHERS
% WITHIN THE COMMUNITY TO COME
% TOGETHER AND ONCE WE HAVE THE
% CONVERSATION, EDUCATE EACH OTHER
% ON THE ELECTORAL SYSTEM, THAT
% THEY CAN THEN DISSEMINATE
% FACTUAL INFORMATION TO THE
% VOTERS.%>> WITH JUST ABOUT A
MINUTE
% LEFT, AS FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD
% TRUMP WINDS INTO HIS RE-ELECTION
% CAMPAIGN, WHAT ARE YOUR CONCERNS
% FOR WISCONSIN?
% >> MY CONCERNS ARE ALWAYS THE
% SAME PERSONALLY.
% KEEP OUR REPUBLIC DOESN'T CARE
% WHO IS ON THE BALLOT.
% WE ARE BIPARTISAN AND
% NON-PARTISAN, AND SO WHOEVER IS
% ON THE BALLOT, HEARS WHAT WE
% PLAN TO DO -- HERE'S WHAT WE
% PLAN TO DO, BUT IT DOESN'T
% REALLY CONCERN ME WHO IS ON THE
% BALLOT.
% IF DONALD TRUMP HAS HIS LEGAL
% ISSUES, IF JOE BIDEN OR HIS
% FAMILY HAVE THEIR LEGAL ISSUES,
% GOOD, THAT IS WHAT OUR MEDIA AND
% OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM IS SUPPOSED
% TO DO.
% WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS JUST
% LISTEN AND WATCH AND LEARN FROM
% ALL OF THE CANDIDATES RUNNING
% FOR OFFICE, DEMOCRAT AND
% REPUBLICAN, AND WE WANT HOUSTONY
% AND INTEGRITY IN THE INFORMATION
% YOU GIVE US.
% THAT SIMPLE.
% >> ALL RIGHT.
% WE LEAVE IT THERE.
% >> IN ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS
% HEADLINES DESCRIBE CANADA AS
% IMAIKDZ AND BURNING THIS SPRING.
% CANADIAN WILDFIRES HAVE HAD
% THEIR EFFECT HERE IN WISCONSIN
% IN THIS UNUSUALLY HOT, DRY JUNE.
% WE'VE HAD SOME RELIEF NOW, BUT
% WHAT SCIENTISTS CALL FINE
% PARTICULATE MATTER FROM THE
% FIRES CAN EASILY GET INTO THE
% LUNGS AND CAUSE SERIOUS HEALTH
% PROBLEMS.%WE CHECKED IN WITH
CRAIG
% CZARNECKI FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF
% NATURAL RESOURCES FOR MORE.
% >> WE, SINCE 2012, HAVE NOT
% ISSUED AN ADVISORY FOR PM FINE
% PARTICULATE MATTER.%WE'VE HA
D FOUR THIS SPRING.
% WE HAVEN'T HAD TO ISSUE ANY IN
% THE LAST 11 YEARS OR SO AND THIS
% SPRING, FROM THE WILDFIRES IN
% WESTERN CANADA, EASTERN CANADA,
% WE'VE HAD FOUR, SO IT'S
% DEFINITELY BEEN AN UNPRECEDENTED
% SPRING AS FAR AS WILDFIRE
% IMPACTS HERE ARE IN WISCONSIN.
% TYPICALLY, WE'VE SEEN WILDFIRES
% LIKE THIS IMPACT WISCONSIN WITH
% THE SMOKE USUALLY LATER IN THE
% SUMMER, TYPICALLY WHEN IT'S
% HOTTER AND DRIER, BUT THAT SEEMS
% TO BE HAPPENING A LITTLE BIT
% EARLIER THAN USUAL AND THAT'S
% ACTUALLY HAPPENED THE PAST A
% COUPLE OF YEARS.
% >> AND SO IF THERE IS AN AIR
% QUALITY ALERT LIKE THAT
% DESCRIBING IT AS UNHEALTHY FOR
% SENSITIVE GROUPS, WHAT SHOULD
% PEOPLE DO?
% >> YEAH.
% SO WHEN WE HAVE AN ADVISORY
% THAT'S CALLED FOR UNHEALTHY FOR
% SENSITIVE GROUPS, THAT WOULD
% INCLUDE PEOPLE WITH HEART AND
% LUNG AILMENTS OR LUNG DISEASE,
% HEART DISEASE, ASTHMA, THINGS
% LIKE THAT, AND THEN OTHER PEOPLE
% IT WOULD INCLUDE THE ELDERLY AND
% YOUNG CHILDREN AS WELL SINCE
% THEIR LUNGS ARE STILL
% DEVELOPING.
% SO WHEN WE HAVE AN ADVISORY FOR
% UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS,
% WE JUST ASK PEOPLE IN THOSE
% GROUPS TO CONSIDER SHORTENING
% THEIR OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, LESS
% INTENSE OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES AS
% WELL AND THEN IF THEY ARE HAVING
% ANY SYMPTOMS LIKE COUGHING OR
% SHORTNESS OF BREATH, THAT WOULD
% BE A SIGN TO MAYBE TAKE A BREAK
% AND TAKE IT A LITTLE BIT EASIER
% ON THOSE DAYS.
% >> SO YOU ALSO MONITOR FOR
% OZONE, AND WHAT IS OZONE?
% >> SO OZONE IS A COMBINATION OF
% A FEW DIFFERENT POLLUTANTS,
% MAINLY VOLATILE ORGANIC OXIDES,
% TWO DIFFERENT POLLUTANTS.
% THE NUMBER ONE SOURCE OF THOSE
% ARE MOBILITY SOURCES LIKE CARS
% AND TRUCKS, AND THIS POLLUTANTS
% REACT IN THE ATMOSPHERE WITH
% HEAT AND SUNLIGHT TO FORM OZONE.
% SO THAT'S THOSE REALLY HOT,
% SUNNY DAYS, THAT'S WHEN WE'RE
% TYPICALLY SEEING THOSE ELEVATED
% LEVELS OF OZONE POLLUTION.
% >> AND WHAT IS AN ELEVATED LEVEL
% OF OZONE?
% WHAT DOES THAT DO TO A PERSON'S
% HEALTH?%>> YEP.
% SO, AGAIN, THAT WOULD IMPACT
% FOLKS WITH BREATHING ISSUES,
% ASTHMA, THINGS LIKE THAT, YOU'RE
% GOING TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE
% SENSITIVE.%YOU'LL FEEL THOSE,
YOU MIGHT
% HAVE SHORTNESS OF BREATH,
% KRAWFG, THINGS LIKE THAT
% COUGHING, THINGS LIKE THAT.
% >> AND DID SOME OF THOSE OZONE
% PROBLEMS.
% >> WE'VE HAD NINE OZONE
% ADVISORIES SO FAR THIS SPRING,
% WHICH IS A LITTLE BIT HIGHER
% THAN NORMAL.
% THE LAST FEW YEARS, WE HAVE BEEN
% SEEING A SLIGHT INCREASE IN THE
% NUMBER OF OZONE ADVISORIES WE'VE
% BEEN ISSUING IN SPRING, BUT
% WE'VE HAD NINE SO FAR THIS YEAR
% AND THOSE HAVE RANGING FROM THE
% UNHEALTHY TO SENSITIVE GROUPS TO
% A LITTLE BIT OF THAT UNHEALTHY
% LEVEL AS WELL.
% >> AND MEANWHILE, THOSE TWO
% THINGS KIND OF HAPPENED AT THE
% SAME TIME, THE WILDFIRES AND THE
% OZONE LEVELS.
% >> YES.
% THIS HAS BEEN A VERY INTERESTING
% SPRING.
% OTHER PEOPLE IN THE PROGRAM,
% ALONG WITH MYSELF, HAVEN'T
% REALLY SEEN A SPRING LIKE THIS
% BEFORE.%WE'VE HAD SOME REALL
Y --
% MID-MAY, WE HAD WILDFIRE IMPACTS
% FROM OUT WEST AND THEN WE HAD
% REALLY HOT, STAGNANT WEATHER
% WITH A NUMBER OF OZONE
% ADVISORIES ISSUED WITH LIKE THIS
% WEATHER BLOCKING PATTERN, THE
% AIR GETS STAGNANT.
% MOST POLLUTANTS DON'T HAVE
% ANYWHERE TO GO BECAUSE THE
% CONDITIONS ARE PRETTY CALM.
% SO ONCE THAT FINALLY BLEW OUT,
% THEN THE WIND SHIFTED AND NOW
% WE'RE IS GETTING WILDFIRE SMOKE,
% OR WE WERE, FROM EASTERN CANADA.
% SO IT'S JUST BEEN KIND OF A
% REALLY UNLUCKY RUN OF
% CIRCUMSTANCES HERE THAT HAVE
% CAUSED THE AIR QUALITY I-OVER
% THE PAST FEW WEEKS HERE.
% >> MEANWHILE, ARE SCIENTISTS AND
% YOUR AGENCY CONSIDERING THAT
% THIS COULD BE KIND OF THE NEW
% NORMAL GOING FORWARD OR THAT IT
% COULD GET KIND OF WORSE AND
% WORSE IN THESE WAYS THROUGH THE
% YEARS?
% >> WE ARE SEEING THAT THOSE
% WILDFIRE IMPACTS ARE HAPPENING A
% LITTLE BIT EARLIER THAN THEY
% TYPICALLY HAVE BEEN AND THAT'S
% BEEN THE LAST FEW YEARS WE'VE
% BEEN SEEING THAT.
% THOSE HOT, DRY CONDITIONS, THOSE
% ARE JUST LASTING LONGER OUT WEST
% AND UP IN CANADA AS WELL.
% SO WE DON'T LIKE TO THINK IT'S
% GETTING WORSE, BUT THE CHANCES
% OF SEEING MORE OF THESE WILDFIRE
% IMPACTS SEEM TO TO BE SOMETHING
% THAT THIS WILL BE MORE OF A --
% NOT AS UNUSUAL, I SUPPOSE, AS IT
% HAS BEEN IN THE PAST.
% WE'RE SEEING THESE HAPPENING A
% LITTLE BIT MORE OFTEN WITH THESE
% HOT AND DRY CONDITIONS HERE.
% >> FOR MORE ON THIS AND OTHER
% ISSUES FACING WISCONSIN, VISIT
% OUR WEBSITE PBS WISCONSIN
% DOT-ORG AND THEN CLICK ON THE
% NEWS TAB.
% THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT.
% I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
% HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.
% FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
% PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
% JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
% WISCONSIN.