>> BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THIS IS
NOT TONY EVERS' BUDGET, IT'S NOT
THE DEMOCRATIC BUDGET, SPEAKER'S
BUDGET OR THE REPUBLICAN BUDGET.
THIS IS THE PEOPLE'S BUDGET.
>> GOVERNOR TONY EVERS
INTRODUCES WHAT HE'S CALLING THE
PEOPLE'S BUDGET.
GOOD EVENING.
I'M ZAC SCHULTZ.
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW,"
ANALYSIS OF GOVERNOR EVERS'
BUDGET PROPOSALS, REACTION AND
STATE SUPREME COURT CANDIDATE
BRIAN HAGEDORN IS HERE.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR MARCH 1.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED, IN PART, BY FRIENDS OF
WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISION.
>> IN OUR FIRST LOOK TONIGHT,
WE'LL TALK ABOUT GOVERNOR EVERS'
BUDGET PROPOSAL, INCLUDING $6
MILLION IN NEW SPENDING TO PAY
FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION, A 10% TAX
CREDIT TACTED TARGETED AT THE MIDDLE
CLASS, AN EXPANSION OF
WISCONSIN'S MEDICAID PROGRAM AND
IT ALSO LEGALIZES MEDICAL
MARIJUANA AND DECRIMINALIZES
SELLING AND SMOKING SMALL
AMOUNTS OF MARIJUANA.
EVERS SAYS THERE IS STRONG
PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR HIS IDEAS.
>> MORE THAN ONE MILLION
WISCONSINITES HAVE RAISED THEIR
OWN PROPERTY TAXES TO SUPPORT
THEIR LOCAL SCHOOLS IN THEIR
COMMUNITIES.
THIS IS SIMPLY NOT SUSTAINABLE.
I SAID ALL ALONG THAT WHAT'S
BEST FOR OUR KIDS IS BEST FOR
OUR STATES.
INVESTING IN OUR KIDS WILL YIELD
DIVIDENDS FOR OUR FUTURE.
K-12 WE'RE GOING TO PROVIDE
HISTORIC INVESTMENTS AND
RETURNING TO TWO-THIRDS FUNDING
AT THE STATE LEVEL.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> FOR ANALYSIS, WE WELCOME BACK
TODD BERRY FROM THE WISCONSIN
ACADEMY OF SCIENCES, ARTS AND
LETTERS.
THANKS FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
>> AND TEACHING ON THE CAMPUS.
>> GOOD FOR YOU.
>> TONY EVERS SAYS THIS IS THE
PEOPLE'S BUDGET AND HE
REFERENCED A LOT OF POLLING
SUPPORT IN HIS SPEECH FOR SOME
OF HIS POSITIONS.
REPUBLICANS ARE SAYING THIS IS
THE MOST EXTREME LIBERAL AGENDA
THEY'VE EVER SEEN.
WHERE DO YOU FALL IN ALL THIS?
>> I TRY TO AVOID THE PUNDITS
HERE AND GO TO THE STR STRUCTURAL
MECHANICS OF THE NUMBERS.
THE LA LONG AND THE SHORT OF IT, BY
THE TIME WE GET TO 2021, THE
SURPLUS OPENING BALANCE IS OVER
$9 MILLION.
WHEN WE END THAT YEAR THE NET
BALANCE IS $20 MILLION.
IN OTHER WORDS, WE'VE REALLY
SPENT ONE-TIME MONEY AND I
COULDN'T FIGURE OUT SEEING ALL
THESE THINGS GOING ON IN THE
PRESS ABOUT ALL THESE THINGS HE
WAS PROPOSING, WE ONLY HAD $1.8
BILLION IN NEW MONEY COMING
SUPPOSEDLY, HOW WAS HE PAYING
FOR ALL THIS.
THE ANSWER IS IN PART SURPLUS
AND THEN THERE'S A BILLION PLUS
IN TAX INCREASES.
NOW, THERE'S SOME TAX CUTS, TOO,
BUT -- AND THAT, YOU KNOW, THE
ONE THING THAT WILL UNITE
REPUBLICANS IS TAXES.
AND SO THAT'S WHY YOU'RE GETTING
THE SHOUT BACK FROM THEM.
>> SO, NOW REPUBLICANS
CRITICIZED THE GOVERNOR FOR NOT
CONSULTING WITH THEM BEFORE
RELEASING THE BUDGET.
IS IT REALISTIC FOR THAT TO
HAPPEN?
>> NO.
NO.
>> OR SHOULD THIS BE LIKE HIS
IDEALS?
>> NO.
GOVERNORS DON'T CONSULT WITH --
IT'S THE EXECUTE BUDGET.
GOGOVERNORS PREPARE THE BUDGET.
THIS IS THE NORMAL PROCESS.
SO THAT'S JUST RHETORICAL.
NOW, THERE MAY BE SOME VALID
REASONS THEY DON'T LIKE THE
BUDGET, BUT THIS ISN'T ONE OF
THEM.
>> SO HOW DOES EDUCATION GET
PAID FOR IN HERE?
>> YEAH.
WELL, AGAIN, IT'S STRIKING THAT
HISTORICALLY -- WE'RE REALLY
TALKING K-12 BECAUSE THERE'S NOT
A LOT FOR THE UNIVERSITY OR TECH
COLLEGES.
HISTORICALLY SCHOOL AIDS WERE
ABOUT 35% OF THE GENERAL FUND
BUDGET.
HE'S PUTTING ALMOST 60% OF THE
NEW MONEY IN SCHOOL AIDS.
SO ONE WAY HE'S PAYING FOR IT IS
HARDLY ANYTHING ELSE IS GROWING
EXCEPT MEDICAID AND THAT HE'S
DOING WITH FEDERAL MONEY.
SO PUT OTHER THINGS ON HOLD,
DRAW DOWN THIS SURPLUS AND THEN
FILL IN WITH TAX INCREASES.
>> SO -- AND THIS MIGHT BE A
LOADED QUESTION, BUT IS THIS
FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE?
>> WELL, I'LL PUT IT MY OLD
WISCONSIN TAXPAYERS ALLIANCE
HAT, AND WE TRIED TO HOLD
GOVERNORS AND LEGISLATORS IN
BOTH PARTIES' FEET TO THE FIRE
ON THIS FOR YEARS.
AND WHEN WE SAW SECOND-YEAR
BUDGETS WHERE THEY WERE SPENDING
A LOT MORE THAN THEY WERE
BRINGING IN IN REVENUE, WHICH
THIS DOES, YOU CREATE THIS BIG
PROBLEM GOING INTO THE NEXT
BUDGET.
SO YOU HAVE LIKE A $800 MILLION
PLUS PROBLEM.
THE OTHER THING WE LOOKED AT IS
WHAT WERE THE IMPLICATIONS FOR
THE STATE'S FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS, THE SO-CALLED GAP
DEFICIT, WHICH NOBODY TALKS
ABOUT.
AND THIS BUDGET AS IT STANDS NOW
WOULD INCREASE THAT BY A BILLION
DOLLARS.
SO IT STARTS TO MOVE IT BACK UP.
WALKER HAD GOTTEN IT DOWN A
LITTLE BIT AND THEN HAD LET IT
DRIFT UP AGAIN AND THEN IT CAME
DOWN A LITTLE BIT.
NOW IT'S GOING TO GO UP.
>> WE KNOW THAT REPUBLICANS ARE
GOING TO COMPLETELY REWRITE
THIS.
THEY'VE TALKED ABOUT PROBABLY
INTRODUCING THEIR OWN BUDGET.
IN THE END, HOW MUCH DOES IT
MATTER WHICH VERSION THEY WORK
FROM?
WHAT MATTERS IS WHAT THEY
DELIVER TO HIS DESK.
>> YEAH.
YOU KNOW, I KNOW THEY'LL GET
ATTACKED FOR PUTTING HIS BUDGET
IN THE NEAREST RECEPTACLE,
ALTHOUGH GOVERNOR EVERS IS USED
TO THAT BECAUSE AS DPI HE WOULD
ALWAYS PROPOSE BUDGETS AND
GOVERNOR WALKER WOULD ALWAYS
IGNORE THEM.
SO I THINK THAT THERE MAY BE SO
MUCH GOING ON IN THIS BUDGET,
THERE ARE JUST SO MANY PROPOSALS
FOR HIS BASE, IN A SENSE, THAT
THEY MAY JUST SAY WE DON'T WANT
TO HAVE TO SIT AND THINK ABOUT
EVERY ONE OF THESE AND VOTE YES
OR NO.
MAYBE WE SHOULD JUST START OVER.
PROCESS-WISE IT MIGHT BE EASIER.
>> NOW, DOES THIS ACCOUNT FOR
ANY POSSIBLE DOWNTURN IN THE
NATIONAL ECONOMY?
WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF WE DID
APPROACH --
>> WELL, THIS IS THE OTHER THING
I ALWAYS WORRY WHEN I WAS DOING
THIS FULL-TIME, IS DOES THE
BUDGET SUSTAIN ITSELF IF
ANYTHING GOES WRONG.
AND THE ENDING BALANCE NET IS
$20 MILLION.
I MEAN, $20 MILLION, AS I ALWAYS
SAID, ON ON DOYLE BUDGETS A AND
WALKER BUDGETS, BECAUSE THEY
WERE ALL LIKE THIS, TOO, IS A
SPLIT IN LAKE MENDOTA.
YOU KNOW, THAT'S A DAY OF INCOME
TAX COLLECTION.
AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE
UNDERLYING FISCAL BUREAU REVENUE
ESTIMATES, WHAT IT WAS SHOWING
IS THE REVENUE GROWTH WAS ONLY
ABOUT 3% PER YEAR AND YET THIS
BUDGET IS GROWING SPENDING AT A
HIGH OF 6% A YEE A YEAR.
I THINK MOST ECONOMISTS ARE
WORRIED ABOUT 2021.
IN THE END WILL THIS WUM D -- COME
DOWN TO A BATTLE BETWEEN THE
BUDGET WRITERS AND GOVERNOR
EVERS' VETO PEN?
>> WELL, IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF
IT WOULD BE BETWEEN THE BUDGET
WRITERS ON THE FINANCE COMMITTEE
AND THE CORE BUDGET
DECISION-MAKERS IN THE EVERS'
ADMINISTRATION, THAT IF THEY
COULD BE WORKING ON
ACCOMMODATIONS BEHIND-THE-SCENES
SO WE DON'T GO BACK TO THE OLD
JENSEN DAYS WHEN WE HAD BUDGETS
PASSED IN OCTOBER.
WE HAD ONE UNDER WALKER TOO WHEN
IT WAS ALL REPUBLICAN.
>> ALL RIGHT.
TODD BERRY, THANKS FOR YOUR
ANALYSIS.
>> MY PLEASURE.
>> GOVERNOR EVERS ALSO MADE THE
PITCH FOR INCREASED
TRANSPORTATION FUNDING, SAYING
REPUBLICANS SPENT EIGHT YEARS
KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD ON
A LONG-TERM FUNDING SOLUTION.
>> WE'RE GOING TO BE INCREASING
FEES FOR TITLES AND HEAVY
TRUCKS, AND WE DO HAVE TO RAISE
THE GAS TAX.
BUT AS I PROMISED ALL ALONG,
WE'RE SURE AS HECK NOT GOING TO
RAISE THE GAS TAX BY A DOLLAR.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> GONNA BE LESS.
IT'S GOING TO BE LESS.
WE'RE GOING TO RAISE IT EIGHT
CENTS A GALLON, WELL BELOW WHAT
THEY DID OVER THE RIVER RAISING
IT BY 20 CENTS IN MINNESOTA AND
18 CR CENTS IN OHIO.
BUT THE GOOD NEWS IS WE'RE ALSO
GOING TO REPEAL A HIDDEN TAX
THAT COSTS YOU 14 CENTS A GALLON
ON GAS.
THAT MEANS OUR PLAN ACTUALLY
MAKES POSSIBLE FOR YOU TO PAY
LESS AT THE PUMP THAN YOU DO
RIGHT NOW.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> LAST NIGHT, THE BUDGET TOOK
THE NEXT STEP FORWARD WHEN IT
WAS FORMALLY INTRODUCED TO THE
JOINT COMMITTEE ON FINANCE.
EARLIER TODAY I CAUGHT UP WITH
THE REPUBLICAN CO-CHAI OF JFC,
JOHN NYGREN.
>> LET'S START WITH YOUR FIRST
IMPRESSIONS OF GOVERNOR EVERS'
BUDGET.
>> FIRST, I THINK THE IMPRESSION
WOULD BE DISAPPOINTMENT.
HE'S USED RHETORIC ABOUT FINDING
COMMON GROUND, THINGS THAT ARE
NONDIVISIVE, YET WE KIND OF HAD
THE INSIDE OF THINGS THAT HAD
BEEN ROLLED OUT.
IT'S MISSED OPPORTUNITY OF BEING
ABLE TO WORK WITH US.
THERE'S OBVIOUSLY FROM
REPUBLICANS' PERSPECTIVES,
THERE'S NONSTARTERS, TAX
INCREASES, TAX INCREASES, BUT
THINGS SUCH AS, YOU KNOW,
DRIVER'S CARD FOR ILLEGAL IM
IMMIGRANTS.
THAT'S A A VERY DIVISIVE ISSUE,
COUNTER TO THE RHETORIC HE'D
BEEN USING.
>> TYPICALLY A GOVERNOR USES
THEIR FIRST BUDGET TO LAY OUT
PRIORITIES, GOVERNOR WALKER,
GOVERNOR DOYLE, THOMPSON.
AND THEN WITH THE UNDERSTANDING
THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT
OF CHANGE IN THAT BUDGET.
SO WHY IS IT A SURPRISE THAT HE
WOULD LAY OUT SOME OF THE THINGS
THAT EVEN HE MAY KNOW HE MAY NOT
GET BUT SAY THIS IS WHAT I
BELIEVE.
>> UNWITH ONE OF THE BIGGEST SURPRISES
IS THE RHETORIC HE USED.
HE CAMPAIGNED AS A MODERATE
PERSON, THAT HE WOULDN'T RAISE
TAXES.
NOW HE IS.
USING HIS OWN WORDS.
YOU MENTIONED DOYLE.
WE'VE GONE BACK AND LOOKED AT
REACTION TO HIS FIRST BUDGET.
TONY EVERS I THINK GENUINELY IS
A NICE MAN, COMES ACROSS AS A
VERY GENTLE MAN.
BUT GOING BACK TO LOOKING AT
REPUBLICANS' REACTION AND SOME
OF THE THINGS THAT GOVERNOR
DOYLE DID IN HIS FIRST BUDGET,
THIS IS EVEN FARTHER TO THE
LEFT.
SO THIS IS ACTUALLY CONTRARY TO
WHAT HE'S PRESENTING HIMSELF AS.
>> SO ONE OF THE BIG ISSUES THAT
WE HEARD ABOUT FIRST LAST NIGHT
WAS TRANSPORTATION FUNDING,
EIGHT CENTS A GALLON INCREASE IN
THE GAS TAX.
REPUBLICANS HAVE BEEN LOOKING
FOR YEARS TO TRY TO FIND A
SOLUTION UNDER GOVERNOR WALKER.
ARE YOU STILL COMMITTED TO THE
IDEA THAT MORE REVENUE IS NEEDED
IN TRANSPORTATION?
>> I THINK WE'RE STILL LOOKING.
REPUBLICANS IN THE ASSEMBLY HAVE
HISTORICALLY BEEN LOOKING FOR A
LONG-TERM FUNDING SOLUTION.
WE STILL HAVE -- WE ARE NOT A
UNICAMERAL.
WE HAVE TWO BODIES.
GOVERNOR EVERS, AS MAJORITY
LEADER POINTED OUT LAST NIGHT,
WE STILL HAVE A VERY
CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN MEMBERS
IN BOTH HOUSES BUT SPECIFICALLY
IN THE SENATE THAT WE HAVE TO BE
ABLE TO GET SUPPORT TO PASS
ANYTHING.
SO, YOU KNOW, I DO BELIEVE THAT
WE'RE COMMITTED TO FIND A
SOLUTION.
I DON'T KNOW THAT THE PROPOSAL
THAT GOVERNOR EVERS PUT OUT LAST
NIGHT WILL MEET THAT
OPPORTUNITY.
>> HE SAID HE'S COMMITTED TO THE
LOWEST AMOUNT OF BONDING FOR
TRANSPORTATION THAT WE'VE SEEN
IN A COUPLE -- OR GENERATION.
ARE YOU IN LINE WITH THAT?
IT SEEMS LIKE REPUBLICANS HAD
TRIED TO LIMIT BONDING.
>> I DON'T KNOW THE NUMBERS OFF
THE TOP OF MY HEAD, BUT I
BELIEVE GOVERNOR WALKER'S LAST
BUDGET WAS THE LOWEST BONDING IN
A GENERATION.
WE DON'T WANT TO PUT THIS DEBT
AND BURDEN ON OUR CHILDREN.
WE WANT TO PAY FOR IT NOW.
I THINK TRANSPORTATION, THERE'S
SOME OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO FIND
A COMPROMISE.
BUT IT'S NOT GOING TO BE A
RUBBER STAMP, THAT'S FOR SURE.
>> NOW, WHAT HAPPENS TO THE
BUDGET AS A WHOLE WHEN YOU START
REMOVING THINGS LIKE MEDICAID
EXPANSION OR THE ELIMINATION OF
SOME OF THE MANUFACTURING TAX
CREDITS THAT REPUBLICANS HAVE
SAID IS A NONSTARTER.
DOES THE WHOLE THING FALL APART?
>> WHERE WE START IS THE BIGGEST
QUESTION.
PEOPLE THROW OUT THE IDEA OF
STARTING WITH A BASE BUDGET.
I THINK FOR ME AND YOU WHO HAVE
BEEN AROUND A FEW YEARS, MAYBE
WE UNDERSTAND THAT.
I DON'T THINK THE GENERAL PUBLIC
UNDERSTANDS THAT.
THAT'S MORE INSIDE BASEBALL.
THE QUESTION COMES DOWN TO WHICH
PIECES OF GOVERNOR EVERS' BUDGET
ARE THINGS THAT WE CAN WORK
TOGETHER WITH HIM ON.
I MEAN, I THINK WE'RE GOING TO
FOCUS ON -- WE'RE GOING TO WANT
TO SEE A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE
FOR K-12 EDUCATION.
THIS ONE IS MORE THAN DOUBLE THE
LAST ONE.
SO I THINK WE HAVE TO BE
REALISTIC.
WE CAN'T SPEND MORE MONEY THAN
WE HAVE.
THIS BUDGET INCREASES THE
STRUCTURAL DEFICIT BY $850
MILLION, MEANING WE'RE NOT GOING
TO HAVE THE MONEY TO PAY FOR IT
INTO OUR NEXT BUDGET, INCREASING
THE GAP DEFICIT BY 75%, AFTER IT
WE HAD REDUCED IT BY NEARLY 60%.
THE PROBLEM WITH THIS BUDGET IS
SUSTAINABILITY.
>> GOVERNOR WALKER'S, ONE OF HIS
BUDGET PRIORITIES WAS KEEPING
PROPERTY TAXES AT OR BELOW WHEN
HE CAME INTO OFFICE OR 2014,
DEPENDING ON THE MOMENT IN TIME
WE'RE LOOKING AT.
THIS HAS 1.7% INCREASES IN THE
FIRST TWO YEARS, $50 ON AVERAGE,
MEDIAN TAXPAYERS' HOME.
IS THERE EXPECTATION THAT SOME
INCREASE IS OKAY?
>> MY UNDERSTANDING OF THE
NUMBERS, THIS IS A WORKING -- WE
WERE UP PRETTY LATE LAST NIGHT
RUNNING THE NUMBERS.
IT'S $150 INCREASE IN PROPERTY
TAXES ON THE MEDIAN VALUE HOME.
SO DO I BELIEVE THAT WE CAN
CONTINUE TO BUY DOWN PROPERTY
TAXES THROUGHOUT THE STATE?
I DO NOT.
SHOULD WE BE BUYING DOWN THE
GROWTH OF YOUR PERSONAL -- YOUR
HOME'S VALUE?
I THINK THAT'S A REASONABLE
EXPECTATION, THAT AS YOUR HOME
BECOMES MORE VALUABLE, TAX
BURDEN COULD GO UP A LITTLE BIT.
I DON'T BELIEVE THE $150 NUMBER
IS APPROPRIATE.
>> GOVERNOR EVERS SAID WE CAN'T
AFFORD TO PLAY POLITICS WITH THE
BUDGET.
BUT THE BUDGET IS INHERENTLY A
POLITICAL DOCUMENT.
SO IS THAT NAIVETY OR IS HE
PLAYING TO AN AUDIENCE THAT
DOESN'T UNDERSTAND THAT?
>> IT'S THE RHETORIC HE'S USING
TO WORK TOGETHER.
HIS PROPOSAL IS ANYTHING BUT,
ANYTHING BUT A UNIFYING
DOCUMENT.
IT'S ACTUALLY VERY
CONTROVERSIAL, AS WE SAID, A
NUMBER OF THINGS THAT ARE IN IT.
REGARDLESS WHERE THE PUBLIC IS
ON THINGS SUCH AS IN-STATE
TUITION FOR CHILDREN OF ILLEGAL
IMMIGRANTS, THE DRIVER'S CARDS,
TAX INCREASES, MARIJUANA.
THOSE ARE ALL VERY DIVISIVE
ISSUES THAT IF THEY'RE GOING TO
BE CONSIDERED, THEY SHOULD BE
CONSIDERED -- WE SHOULD HAVE
PUBLIC HEARINGS ON THEM,
SEPARATE, IN A DIFFERENT
DOCUMENT.
SO I THINK THERE'S A POSSIBILITY
WITH SOME OF THOSE MORE
CONTROVERSIAL ITEMS THAT WE
MIGHT MAYBE SEND THEM TO A
SEPARATE COMMITTEE, THE STANDING
COMMITTEES, AND HAVE THEM REVIEW
THOSE MORE IN-DEPTH.
>> REPUBLICANS HAVE RETAINED
SOME OF GOVERNOR WALKER'S OLD
BUDGET WRITERS.
SOME OF THE PEOPLE HAVE DONE
THAT.
HOW CAREFULLY WERE YOU CRAFTING
THE LANGUAGE YOU USE WITH
GOVERNOR EVERS' VETO PEN IN
MIND?
>> THE BIGGEST CONCERN IN
WISCONSIN GOVERNMENT IS THE
POWER OF THE VETO PEN.
NOW, WHILE WE'VE RESTRICTED THAT
OVER THE LAST TEN YEARS, I
BELIEVE IT'S ESTIMATED THAT THE
GOVERNOR HAS THE MOST POWER VETO
PEN IN THE NATION, STILL RETAINS
THAT.
SO THAT IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING
THAT WE WILL BE WATCHING.
I DON'T THINK YOU'RE GOING TO BE
SEEING -- WHILE DEMOCRATS HAVE
COMPLAINED ABOUT POLICY IN THE
BUDGET UNDER GOVERNOR WALKER, I
WOULD POINT OUT WE PULLED ALL
THOSE ITEMS OUT IN THE LAST
BUDGET.
I DON'T THINK YOU'RE GOING TO BE
SEEING US TO BE PUTTING MORE IN.
WE'RE GOING TO BE TAKING THOSE
OUT.
BECAUSE THOSE POLICY INITIATIVES
ARE THE BIGGEST OPPORTUNITY FOR
CREATIVE VETOING.
I'VE GOT GREAT STAFF.
SOME OF THEM DID WORK IN THE
WALKER ADMINISTRATION.
WE'VE GOT A GOOD EXPERTISE TO
HELP US OUT.
>> REPRESENTATIVE NYGREN, THANKS
FOR YOUR TIME.
>> GOOD TO BE WITH YOU.
>> I SPOKE WITH REPRESENTATIVE
NYGREN EARLIER TODAY.
NOW TO OUR NATION'S CAPITOL,
WHERE THERE WAS A BILL TO OVER
OVERWRITE THE PRESIDENT'S BILL.
AS THE BILL HEADS TO THE
REPUBLICAN CONTROLLED SENATE,
TAMMY BALDWIN SAYS SHE WILL VOTE
FOR OVERRIDING THE PRESIDENT'S
DECLARATION, WHILE RON JOHNSON
WOULD NOT SAY.
>> WE TURN NOW TO THE UPCOMING
SUPREME COURT ELECTION.
ON APRIL 2 VOTERS WILL CHOOSE
BETWEEN TWO APPEALS COURT JUDGES
TO REPLACE RETIRING JUSTICE
SHIRLEY ABRAHAMSON.
WE INTERVIEWED LISA NEUBAUER TWO
WEEKS AGO.
TONIGHT WE'LL CHAT WITH BRIAN
HAGEDORN, WHO SERVES ON THE
WISCONSIN COURT OF APPEALS.
HE CL NE CLERKED UNDER JUSTICE
GABLEMAN AND SERVED UNDER WALKER
BEFORE HE WAS APPOINTED TO THE
COURT OF APPEALS.
JUDGE HAGEDORN, THANKS FOR YOUR
TIME TODAY.
>> GREAT TO BE WITH YOU.
>> WHY ARE YOU RUNNING FOR THE
SUPREME COURT?
>> I'M RUNNING FOR THE SUPREME
COURT BECAUSE I BELIEVE WE NEED
A JUSTICE WHO'S GOING TO DEFEND
THE RULE OF LAW, UPHOLD THE
CONSTITUTION AND PROTECT THE
PUBLIC.
BY DEFENDING THE RULE OF THE
LAW, THE JOB OF A JUDGE IS TO
SAY WHAT THE LAW IS.
WE SHOULD GET PARTISAN POLITICS
OUT OF THE COURT.
SAME THING WITH UPHOLDING THE
CONSTITUTION.
YOU UPHOLD THE WORDS AS WRITTEN,
PROTECTING OUR RIGHTS, LIKE
FREEDOM OF SPEECH, RE FREEDOM OF
RELIGION.
PROTECTING THE PUBLIC, WE HAVE A
DRUG CRISIS.
THE OPIOID CRISIS AS WELL AS THE
METH CRISIS THAT'S ALL OVER THE
STATE.
TALKING TO SHERIFFS, LAW
ENFORCEMENT, PROUD TO HAVE THE
SUPPORT OF 44 SHERIFFS ACROSS
THE STATE OF WISCONSIN, FAR MORE
THAN MY OPPONENT.
AND THIS IS A PRESSING ISSUE.
>> THAT'S INTERESTING YOU BRING
THAT UP.
HOW DO HEROIN AND METH PLAY INTO
THE SUPREME COURT?
WHAT COULD YOU DO AS A JUSTICE?
>> WELL, IT'S A LITTLE PERSONAL
TO ME.
I'VE BEEN MARRIED FOR 17 YEARS.
I HAVE FIVE CHILDREN.
MY YOUNGEST GIRL IS LILY.
SHE'S FIVE.
SHE WAS BORN ADDICTED TO DRUGS.
WE ADOPTED HER.
WE WERE THERE IN THE HOSPITAL
WITH HER.
AND SHE WAS ADDICTED TO O OPIATES.
THAT STORY IS REPEATED ALL
ACROSS THE STATE.
PART OF WHAT YOU DO ON THE COURT
IS YOU'RE LISTENING TO ON FOLKS
EVERYWHERE AND BEING A PART OF
THAT CONVERSATION.
UNQUESTIONABLY WHEN I'M TALKING
TO JUDGES, PROSECUTORS AND LAW
ENFORCEMENT, THIS IS ONE OF THE
TOP THINGS ON THEIR MINDS.
SO THERE'S PILOT PROJECTS THAT
CAN AND ARE BEING DONE, DRUG
TREATMENT COURTS.
THERE'S FUNDING ISSUES AND
CONVERSATIONS TO BE HAD TO
ENSURE WE HAVE RESOURCES TO
SOLVE THOSE PROBLEMS.
>> YOUR OPPONENT CLAIMS 325
JUDGES ACROSS THE STATE.
YOU HAVE THE MAJORITY OF THE
STATES AND THE CONSERVATIVE
MEMBERS OF THE SUPREME COURT.
WHICH OF THOSE SHOULD BE MORE
RELEVANT WHEN IT COMES TO VOTERS
DECIDING WHAT ENDORSEMENTS
MATTER?
>> THE JUDGES THAT REVIEW OUR
WORK ARE THE MEMBERS OF THE
WISCONSIN SUPREME COURT.
I HAVE FIVE JUSTICES SUPPORTING
ME.
MY OPPONENT HAS NONE.
I THINK THAT SAYS A LOT ABOUT
THOSE WHO ARE PAYING ATTENTION
TO THE WORK, WHAT WE'RE DOING,
AND REVIEWING IT CAREFULLY.
AND SO YEAH.
I'M PROUD OF THE ENDORSEMENTS I
HAVE.
ALSO THE SUPPORT OF JUDGES,
DISTRICT ATTORNEYS.
BUT I DO THINK LAW ENFORCEMENT
IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THIS
RACE AND PROUD TO HAVE SUPPORT
ALL OVER THE STATE, NOT JUST
FROM ELECTED LEADERS, BUT FROM
THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF
CITIZENS WORKING HARD ON OUR
CAMPAIGN.
>> BOTH OF YOU SAY YOU'LL BE
INDEPENDENT, BUT SHE HAS FAMILY
EX CFAMILY-- CONNECTIONS TO A LOT OF
CONCLUDES.
GOVERNOR WALKER APPOINTED YOU.
WHY SHOULD VOTERS DISMISS THOSE
AND BELIEVE IN INDEPENDENT?
>> PRESIDENT OBAMA'S TOP LAWYER
BEFORE THE UNITED STATES SUPREME
COURT WHEN HE TAPPED HER TO BE
ON THE SUPREME COURT.
THERE'S NOTHING IMPLICITLY OR
OTHERWISE WRONG WITH PEOPLE
HAVING BACKGROUNDS IN GOVERNMENT
SERVICE, AS I HAVE.
I HAVE NOT BEEN ELECTED TO
POLITICAL OFFICE.
I HAVE NOT BEEN A PROLIFIC
POLITICAL GIVER.
I WAS PRIVILEGED TO SERVE IN A
SYG CAN'T ROLE.
-- SIGNIFICANT ROLE.
THAT HIGHLIGHTS THE EXPERIENCE I
HAVE LITIGATING BIG CASES, BEING
PART OF THESE BIG PICTURE
QUESTIONS.
THE REAL QUESTION IS JUDICIAL
PHILOSOPHY.
DO YOU THINK THAT YOUR PARTISAN
POLITICS SHOULD BE A PART OF
YOUR JUDICIAL DECISION-MAKING.
AND MY ANSWER TO THAT IS NO, IT
SHOULDN'T BE.
>> TALKING ABOUT JUDICIAL
PHILOSOPHY, AS A LAW STUDENT IN
2005 YOU ARGUED, QUOTE, THE IDEA
THAT HOMOSEXUAL BEHAVIOR IS
DIFFERENT THAN BESTIALITY AS A
CONSTITUTIONAL MATTER IS
UNJUSTIFIABLE.
DO YOU STILL STAND BY THAT?
>> THIS RACE ISN'T ABOUT BLOG
POSTS FROM WHEN I WAS A LAW
STUDENT.
THIS IS ABOUT THE JUDICIAL
PHILOSOPHY THAT OUGHT TO GOVERN
OUR COURTS.
WITH REGARD TO THIS QUOTE, THIS
HAS BEEN MISREPORTED.
I WAS TRACKING EXACTLY THE SAME
ARGUMENT THAT JUSTICE SCALIA
MADE IN A CASE.
THREE SUPREME COURT JUSTICES
WERE MAKING AN ARGUMENT ON A
PARTICULAR CASE.
I NEVER MADE A MORAL ARGUMENT,
POLITICAL OR POLICY ARGUMENT.
I SAID I EXPLICITLY WASN'T.
THERE'S A LOT OF UNDUE ATTENTION
BEING PAID TO A LEGAL ARGUMENT
AND I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN COMMITTED
TO UPHOLDING THE CONSTITUTION,
THE WAY IT'S WRITTEN, BEING
FAITHFUL TO IT, NO MATTER WHAT
ANYONE'S PERSONAL POLICY VIEWS
MIGHT BE.
>> WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT A LEGAL
ARGUMENT, THOUGH, SHOULD VOTERS
BE ABLE TO CONSIDER THAT AS
THAT'S PART OF YOUR LEGAL
THOUGHT PROCESS AND THAT'S HOW
YOU BELIEVE OR WOULD ACT AS A
JURIST ON THE WISCONSIN SUPREME
COURT?
>> WELL, I THINK I HAVE A TRACK
RECORD THAT PEOPLE CAN PAY
ATTENTION TO.
AGAIN, I WOULD REMIND VOTERS
THESE WERE POSTS BEFORE I WAS A
LAWYER.
I WASN'T EVEN A BAR ATTORNEY AT
THAT POINT.
SO I DON'T THINK THOSE THINGS
ARE AS RELEVANT TO THIS RACE AND
WHAT THIS IS ABOUT.
I HAVE THE EXPERIENCE AS A LAW
CLERK FOR THE WISCONSIN SUPREME
COURT, AS SOMEONE WHO'S BEEN IN
ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT
POSITIONS YOU CAN BE IN IN
GIVING LEGAL OPINIONS.
AND I HAVE A TRACK RECORD.
I HAVE NEVER, EVER DECIDED A
CASE AS A JUDGE WHERE I HAVE LET
MY PERSONAL VIEWS AFFECT THE WAY
I DECIDE THE CASE.
I'VE ALWAYS FOLLOWED THE LAW.
>> SOMETHING THAT IS MORE RECENT
THAT'S ALSO BEEN IN THE NEWS IS
IN 2016 YOU AND YOUR WIFE HELPED
FOUND A CHRISTIAN SCHOOL THAT
ALLOWS FOR THE FIRING OF
TEACHERS IF THEY ARE HOMOSEXUAL.
THAT CAUSED THE WISCONSIN
REALTOR AS ASSOCIATION TO
WITHDRAW THEIR ENDORSEMENT.
WHAT SHOULD VOTERS MAKE OF THAT,
SINCE THAT WAS MUCH MORE RECENT?
>> SURE.
WE HAVE HAD AN UNPRECEDENTED
ATTACK ON PEOPLE OF FAITH AND I
THINK THAT'S REPRESENTATIVE OF
THAT.
THERE ARE PEOPLE AND PARENTS AND
STUDENTS AROUND THE STATE WHO GO
TO THEIR LOCAL CATHOLIC SCHOOL,
LUTHERAN SCHOOL, JEWISH SCHOOL,
MUSLIM SCHOOL, MORMON SCHOOL,
WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE.
AND THERE'S NOTHING UNIQUE ABOUT
MANY OF THE TEACHINGS THAT WE'VE
HAD THAT ARE CONSISTENT WITH
TEACHING FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS.
AND SO THAT -- WE HAVE A RIGHT
TO FREEDOM OF RELIGION IN OUR
COUNTRY.
THERE'S -- NO ONE'S FORCING
ANYBODY ON ANYTHING.
WHEN MY WIFE AND I LIVE OUT OUR
FAITH, WE LIVE OUT OUR FAITH BY
BEING A PART OF A SCHOOL FOR OUR
KIDS.
NOBODY SHOULD BE EXCLUDED FROM
PUBLIC LIFE BECAUSE THEY
VOLUNTEER AT THE KNIGHTS OF
COLUMBUS OR RELIGIOUS SCHOOL.
I THINK THOSE ATTACKS HAVE BEEN
SHAMEFUL AND THEY'RE WRONG.
IT'S OKAY FOR PEOPLE TO DISAGREE
ABOUT EVEN IMPORTANT THINGS AND
LIVE SHARED LIFE TOGETHER IN
PUBLIC.
I TREAT EVERYBODY WHO COMES
BEFORE ME WITH RESPECT AND WITH
INTEGRITY AND DECENCY.
THAT'S BEEN MY TRACK RECORD AND
THAT'S WHO I AM.
A LOT OF THE NAME-CALLING THAT
I'VE BEEN RECEIVING ON THE BASIS
OF SOME OF THESE REPORTS HAS
BEEN UNFORTUNATE.
AGAIN, I THINK MOTIVATED BY
REALLY TROUBLESOME DEVELOPMENTS
IN ATTACKING PEOPLE OF FAITH.
>> IF THAT IS SO IMPORTANT TO
WHO YOU YOU ARE THAT YOU HELPED
FOUND A SCHOOL, WHY SHOULD
VOTERS NOT CONSIDER THAT TO BE
INSTRUMENTAL IN YOUR VIEWPOINTS
OF THE LAW AS WELL?
>> WELL, BECAUSE I'M NOT RUNNING
TO ON IMPOSE MY MORAL RELIGIOUS
VIEWS, AT ALL.
MY WHOLE CAMPAIGN IS PREMISED ON
THE IDEA THAT MY JOB AS A JUDGE
IS WHAT THE LAW IS AND NOT WHAT
I THINK IT SHOULD BE.
PEOPLE DON'T HAVE TO AGREE WITH
ME AT ALL.
IN FACT, I WILL DEFEND PEOPLE'S
RIGHT TO DISAGREE WITH WHATEVER
PERSONAL VIEWS I MAY HAVE.
I WANT TO REITERATE.
I'M NOT RUNNING ON MY PERSONAL
VIEWS.
I NEVER HAVE.
IT'S MY OPPONENT AND HER SPECIAL
INTEREST ALLIES WHO ARE
ATTACKING ME FOR MY FAITH.
>> ALL RIGHT.
BRIAN HAGEDORN, THANKS FOR
CLEARING THAT UP.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> GOVERNOR TONY EVERS ANNOUNCED
THIS WEEK HE IS WITHDRAWING
WISCONSIN NATIONAL GUARD TROOPS
DEPLOYED TO THE SOUTHERN BORDER.
GOVERNOR SCOTT WALKER SENT MORE
THAN 100 TO THE BORDER LAST
JUNE, AFTER THE PRESIDENT ASKED
THE MILITARY TO HELP SECURE THE
BORDER.
IN A STATEMENT RELEASED WITH HIS
EXECUTIVE ORDER, GOVERNOR EVERS
SAYS, QUOTE, THERE IS SIMPLY NOT
AMPLE EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THE
PRESIDENT'S CONTENTION THAT
THERE EXISTS A NATIONAL SECURITY
CRISIS AT OUR SOUTHWESTERN
BORDER.
IN THE ORDER, EVERS ASKED THE
GUARD'S GENERAL FOR A PROMPT
WITHDRAWAL OF TROOPS, WHICH IS
EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETE IN THE
COMING WEEK.
AND NEXT FRIDAY GOVERNOR TONY
EVERS WILL BE HERE.
I'M ZAC SCHULTZ.
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.