As of this afternoon, democratic state Senator Melissa
Agard is out
as minority leader, having announced she will not run
for reelection to the legislature.
To instead throw her hat in the ring
for Dane County executive just ahead of her announcement,
she sat down with senior political reporters, Zac Schultz,
to talk about the last year as leader.
>> Well, Senator Agard, thanks for your time today.
>> Thank you. >> So wrap up 2023 for me.
How do you view the year
as a whole from the Senate minority perspective?
>> Well, certainly every legislative session
that I have been in the building has a different feel
and a different flavor and this is no exception.
I think with the undertones of the redistricting lawsuit
that was gonna be coming before the Supreme Court,
it has created different relationships
here in the Capitol building.
But despite the fact that there is division,
I am really proud of the ability that we have had as
a legislator legislature to be able
to get some real good things done
for the people in Wisconsin,
whether it's the shared revenue bill
or more recently ensuring that the brewer is continue
to call Wisconsin home.
I think those are big wins,
but at the same point, knowing
what people across Wisconsin are really prioritizing the
issues that they would like the legislature
to be addressing, we're not getting that done.
Whether it's expanding healthcare.
So everyone in Wisconsin has access to quality,
affordable healthcare, ensuring
that our kids have safe places to go
by extending the childcare counts program,
legalizing cannabis, protecting reproductive health rights
and protecting our environment,
addressing our PFAS contaminations as well as lead laterals
and water contaminants across the state.
Those are just a few examples of the things
that people are concerned about at their kitchen tables.
I'm sure they were conversations
that people were having over the recent
Thanksgiving holidays.
So while we've been able to get some real good things done,
it's clear that the legislature still isn't addressing the
needs of the ordinary people in Wisconsin.
>> So one of the biggest things that happened this year
outside of the, the Capitol was the election
of Janet Pro se, which the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
How much has that changed the dynamic in terms
of people understanding the court is now a different
majority and the possibility of opening up redistricting
and changing the makeup of the legislature.
>> So we know in Wisconsin
that we are a gerrymandered state on top
of another gerrymandered.
Our state has been gerrymandered twice in a row
and many scientists
and mathematicians will point to Wisconsin as being
the most gerrymandered state in the nation,
both in the Assembly and the Senate.
That isn't good for clean government.
That is not what people in Wisconsin are asking for.
I am hopeful that
by having a more balanced court here in the state,
that we will have a more balanced legislature
and that the will of the people will in fact
become the law of the land.
>> Are you anticipating the possibility
that the entire Senate will be up next year?
>> I think it's a real possibility that the whole Senate,
all 33 seats will be up for election next year as well as
we already know all 99 members of, of the assembly.
So having 132 legislative seats up for reelection
in 2024 provides a real opportunity for a reset in the state
of Wisconsin and empowers the voters
who are ultimately our bosses to make real choices.
>> What do you think the impact
of the GOP convention in Milwaukee will be in the fall?
>> You know, I think it's great for our economy when we can
bring big groups like that into the state.
Whether it's the dairy forums that come here in Madison
or big entertainment or political caucuses.
You know, we were supposed to have the Democratic
caucus here in Wisconsin,
but we had unfortunately COVID
so it, it took a different look.
I think it's great when we can be front
and center with these debates
and have a front seat to
what it is that people are talking about.
>> But do you think that will give
Republicans a boost in the state?
>> Well, it may give Republicans a boost,
but what we've seen here in the Capitol building is a lot
of extremism from the Republicans in the legislature
to be more extreme.
Whether it's the threat of impeaching Justice Protasiewicz
before she even ruled on anything threats
to impeach Meghan Wolfe, who is ensured
that our elections in Wisconsin are safe, secure,
and fair attacks on trans rights attacks,
on reproductive freedoms, the inability to stand up
and protect our water quality and our environment.
Folks not willing to have conversations
about cannabis legalization.
That's what matters most to folks. Alright,
>> Senator Agard.
Thanks. Thank you. Schools