NOW FOR
A
CLOSER
LOOK
AT
THE
% ONGOING STAND-OFF
BETWEEN
THE
% DEPARTMENT
OF JUSTICE
AND
THE
% LEGISLATURE.%WISCONSIN WAS NO
T
AMONG
THE
% MORE
THAN
20
STATES THAT
% REACHED
A
SETTLEMENT
WITH
THE
% OPIOID MANUFACTURER PURDUE
% PHARMA
THIS
WEEK.
% ATTORNEY GENERAL
JOSH KAUL
%
SAYING
WE'RE COMMITTED
TO
% GETTING
JUSTICE
AND
IN
MY
VIEW
% PURDUE'S CURRENT POSITION
% DOESN'T ACHIEVE
THAT.
% IT
COMES
IN
THE
MIDST
OF
AN
% IMPASSE WITH
REPUBLICANS
ON
THE
% JOINT
FINANCE
COMMITTEE
WHETHER
% THEY SHOULD SIGN
% CONFIDENTIALITY
AGREEMENTS
TO
% SEE AND APPROVE
CASE
% RESOLUTIONS UNDER
THE
SO-CALLED
% LAME
DUCK LAWS
LIMITING
KAUL'S
% AUTHORITY.
% THE
CO-CHAIRS
OF
JFC
STATED
% THROUGH
MEDIA
REPORTS
THE % ATTORNEY GENERAL STATED %
WISCONSIN
IS
NOT
ONE
OF
THE
% STATES
AGREEING
TO
SETTLE THE % PURDUE
PHARMA CASE
AT
THIS
TIME.
% WE
HOPE
THOSE
REPORTERS
HAVE
% SIGNED
NON-DISCLOSURE
% AGREEMENTS BECAUSE
THEY'RE
% GETTING CONFIDENTIAL
% INFORMATION FROM
THE
ATTORNEY
% GENERAL THAT
HE
REFUSED TO
% SHARE
WITH
MEMBERS
OF THE
JOINT
% FINANCE COMMITTEE.
% THE
ATTORNEY
GENERAL,
THEY
SAY, % SHOULD
STOP
PLAYING
GAMES.% JFC
COMMITTEE
LEADERSHIP
% DECLINED OUR
INVITATION
TO
% APPEAR ON
TONIGHT'S
PROGRAM
AS
% THE
HIGH
STAKES
DISPUTE
% CONTINUES, WE
SAT
DOWN WITH
% ATTORNEY GENERAL KAUL
JUST
% AHEAD
OF
THE ANNOUNCED % SETTLEMENTS
AMONG
OTHER
STATES.
% WE
STARTED
BY
ASKING
ABOUT
THE
% NEED FOR THOSE
SECRECY
% AGREEMENTS.
% >>
WHEN
YOU
ARE
LITIGATING
A % CASE, THERE
IS CERTAIN
% INFORMATION THAT
NEEDS TO
BE
% KEPT
CONFIDENTIAL
IN
A
LOT
OF
% CIRCUMSTANCES
AND
SO TO
PRESENT
% POTENTIAL SETTLEMENTS TO
THE
% LEGISLATURE, WE
REACHED
OUT
AND
% SAID
WE
NEED
TO
REACH
A
PROCESS
% THAT
WILL
ALLOW
US
TO
DISCUSS
% THESE
MATTERS
CONFIDENTIALLY SO % THE STATE'S
INTEREST
AND
THE
% INTEREST OF
TAXPAYERS
ISN'T
% UNDERMINED BY
HAVING
% CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION MADE %
PUBLIC AND AVAILABLE
TO
THE % OTHER
SIDE
IN
LITIGATION.
% WE'VE
OFFERED
A
COUPLE
OPTIONS
% BUT
THE
PRIMARY
ONE
WE
OFFERED
% A
CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT FOR
% THE LEGISLATURE TO
SIGN
AND
% THEY
HAVE
DECLINED TO
SIGN
THAT
% AND
THE PROBLEM
IS
THE
% SOLUTIONS
THEY
HAVE
OFFERED % DON'T
ACTUALLY
PROTECT
% CONFIDENTIALITY.
% SO
WE
NEED
THEM TO
FIGURE
OUT
% SOME SORT OF
SOLUTION TO
THIS
% MESS
THAT THEY'VE
CREATED
SO
% THAT
WE
CAN
MOVE
FORWARD
WITH % RESOLUTIONS FOR THE
STATE.
% >>
ONE
OF THOSE
SOLUTIONS
THAT
% THEY OFFERED A
COUPLE OF WEEKS % AGO
WAS
TO
HAVE
A
LAWYER
SIGN % IT
ON THEIR
BEHALF.% IS
THAT
STILL WHAT
THEY'RE
% TALKING ABOUT?
% >>
IT IS
NOT CLEAR
TO
ME WHAT % THEY'RE
TALKING
ABOUT
NOW.
% THEY'VE OFFERED
A
COUPLE
% SOLUTIONS
THAT
THEY SAID
WOULD
% MAINTAIN CONFIDENTIALITY.%FI
RST THEY
SAID
THEY WOULD GO
% INTO
CLOSED
SESSION.
% THE
LEGISLATIVE REFERENCE
% BUREAU
SAYS IT
DOESN'T
PROTECT
% CONFIDENTIALITY.%THEY WOULD
HAVE
A LAWYER SIGN
A
% CONFIDENTIALITY
AGREEMENT.
% AGAIN
THE
LEGISLATIVE
REFERENCE
% BUREAU SAID
IT DOESN'T
BIND
% INDIVIDUAL LEGISLATORS.%THEY
HAVEN'T
COME
UP
WITH % OPTIONS
TO
MAINTAIN
% CONFIDENTIALITY.%THEY
GAVE
THEMSELVES
THIS
% SIGNIFICANT POWER
BUT
THEY NOW
% NEED
TO
TAKE ON
THE
% RESPONSIBILITY THAT COMES WITH
% THE
POWER
OR NEED TO
CHANGE
THE
% LAW.
% >>
THE
SENATE
MAJORITY
LEADER % SCOTT
FITZGERALD
SAID
THIS.
% THE
ATTORNEY
GENERAL
ALREADY % KNOWS
OF
NUMEROUS
WAYS
HE
CAN % PRESENT
CONFIDENTIAL SETTLEMENT
% INFORMATION
TO
THE
JOINT
% FINANCE COMMITTEE
AND
HE
% CONTINUES TO
DRAG
HIS
FEET.% HE CONTINUES
TO
SAY
HE
CAN
WORK % WITH US OR
BE PART
OF THE
% PROBLEM.%WHAT
IS YOUR
RESPONSE
TO
THAT?
% >>
WELL, HE
IS ABSOLUTELY
WRONG
% ABOUT
THAT.
% AS WE JUST
TALKED
ABOUT
THERE
% ARE
OPTIONS
THAT THEY PRESENTED
% THAT
DON'T
WORK.
% WE
HAVE PRESENTED
A
WORKABLE
% OPTION.%THIS
IS
A REALLY
BAD
SITUATION
% AND WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE THE
% BEST OF
IT.
% FOR
MONTHS
WE'VE
TRIED
TO WORK
% WITH
THE
LEGISLATURE.
% SO
FAR
THEY
HAVEN'T BEEN % WILLING
TO TAKE
ON
THE % RESPONSIBILITY THEY'VE GIVEN
% THEMSELVES.%>> YOU
SAY
HUNDREDS OF
MILLIONS
% OF DOLLARS COULD
BE AT
STAKE.
% HOW
SO?
% >>
THE
STATE
IS
INVOLVED
IN % SETTLING
LOTS
OF
LITIGATION.
% THERE ARE
CASES
THAT
HAVE
% SIGNIFICANT DOLLAR
VALUES
AT % STAKE.
% OVER
TIME
IF
THIS PROBLEM
IS
N'T % RESOLVED, THERE IS
GOING
TO
BE
% SIGNIFICANT
FINANCIAL % CONSEQUENCES
FOR
THE
STATE.
% IF
WE
HAVE
CASES,
FOR
EXAMPLE,
% MULTI-STATE
CASE WHERE
MANY
% STATES JOIN
IN
A
SETTLEMENT BUT % WE AREN'T ABLE
TO
BE
PART
OF
% THAT
SETTLEMENT
BECAUSE
OUR
% JOINT
FINANCE
COMMITTEE
CAN'T
% GET
ITS
ACT
TOGETHER AND
FIGURE
% OUT
HOW
TO
REVIEW
SETTLEMENTS, % IT'S
THE TAXPAYERS
IN
WISCONSIN % WHO WILL
BE
HARMED BY
THAT
AND
% IT WILL
BE
HARDER
TO
GET
% JUSTICE
WHEN
CONSUMERS
ARE
% DEFRAUDED
BY
SOMEBODY
AND
WE
% BROUGHT A
CONSUMER
PROTECTION
% ACTION
OR
IF
A
POLLUTEOR
% COMMITS AN ENVIRONMENTAL
% VIOLATION WE'LL
HAVE
A
HARDER
% TIME RESOLVING
THOSE
CASES
% BECAUSE THE
JOINT
FINANCE
%
COMMITTEE HAS CREATED
THIS
% SITUATION.
% >>
WHAT'S
THE
STATUS
OF THE
% PURDUE
PHARMA
CASE?
% >>
I
CAN
ONLY
COMMENT GENERALLY
% ON
PENDING
LITIGATION.
% WE
HAVE
BROUGHT
SUIT
AGAINST
% TWO
PURDUE
PHARMA
ENTITY
AND
% RICHARD
SACKLER
THE FORMER
% PRESIDENT AND
CO-CHAIR
OF
THE
% BOARD
OF
PURDUE
PHARMA
AND
% JOINED
A
MULTI-STATE % INVESTIGATION
INTO
OPIOID
% MANUFACTURERS.
% MY
PREDECESSOR
JOINED
% MULTI-STATE INVESTIGATIONS
INTO
% DISTRIBUTORS
AND WE'RE
% COMMITTED TO
RECOVERING TO THE
% FULLEST
EXTENT
WE
CAN
ON BEHALF
% OF
WISCONSINITES
SO WE
CAN
% START
PUTTING
THOSE
RESOURCES
% TO
ADDRESS
THE EPIDEMIC
TO
% THINGS
LIKE
TREATMENT AND % PREVENTION
AND
ENFORCEMENT.
% >>
WERE
EARLIER SETTLEMENT
% TALKS IN
CONNECTION
WITH
THAT % CASE OR
THOSE
CASES
PART
OF
% WHAT
BROUGHT YOU BEFORE
JOINT
% FINANCE SAYING
YOU HAD AN
% URGENT MATTER?
% >>
I CAN'T COMMENT
ON
THE % SPECIFICS
OF THAT
NEGOTIATION.
% BUT
WHAT
I
CAN
SAY
IS THAT
ANY % CASE
WHERE
THERE
ARE
URGENT % SETTLEMENT TALKS COULD
LEAD
TO
% A
SITUATION
WHERE
WE MIGHT
NEED
% A
DECISION
VERY
QUICKLY
FROM % THE
JOINT
FINANCE
COMMITTEE.% SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO
MAKE
A
% DECISION IN A
LIMITED
WINDOW
% AND
THE JOINT FINANCE COMMITTEE % NEEDS
TO
HAVE
A
PROCESS
IN
% PLACE
OR THE
STATE
IS
GOING
TO
% BE
AT
RISK
AT
LAONGZ
OUT
ON
% BEING
PART OF
A
LARGE % SETTLEMENT.
% >> WHAT WOULD
IT
MEAN
IF
THE
% MANUFACTURER
OF
OXYCONTIN
% DECLARED BANKRUPTCY?
% >>
IF
THERE IS
BANKRUPTCY
% DECLARED
WISCONSIN
AND
A
NUMBER % OF OTHER
STATES,
I'M
CONFIDENT
% A
NUMBER OF
OTHER
STATES
WILL
% CONTINUE
TO
PURSUE
THEIR
CLAIMS
% BOTH AGAINST
THE
BANKRUPTCY
% ESTATE.%WE
ALSO
HAVE A
CLAIM
AGAINST % ONE
OF
THE
MEMBERS
OF
THE
% SACKLER FAMILY
AND THOSE
CLAIMS
% WILL
BE
CLAIMS
THAT WE
CONTINUE
% TO
PURSUE
EITHER
IN A
% BANKRUPTCY FORUM
OR
IN
THE FORM % WHERE
THEY
CURRENTLY
ARE.
% >>
IN
TERMS
OF
THE
SITUATION
% WITH
THE
JOINT
FINANCE
% COMMITTEE, IF
JUSTICE
HAS
TO
% TRY
CASES
RATHER
THAN
SETTLE
% THEM,
IS
YOUR
OFFICE
PREPARED
% TO
DO THAT IN
EVERY
INSTANCE?
% >>
WE'RE
PREPARED TO
TRY THE
% CASES WE'VE
BROUGHT
BUT
A
GOOD
% EXAMPLE
OF
HOW THIS
NEW % PROCEDURE
THAT
HAS
BEEN
PUT
IN % PLACE HARMS
WISCONSINITES
% BECAUSE WE HAVE
LIMITED
% RESOURCES
AT
THE
DEPARTMENT OF
% JUSTICE AND
WE
NEED
TO
MAKE
% SURE
WE'RE
ALLOCATING
THOSE % RESOURCES AS
EFFECTIVELY
AS
% POSSIBLE.
% ONE
WAY
IS
BY
SETTLING
SOME
% CASES
SO
THAT
THE
RESOURCES
WE % DO
HAVE
AREN'T
USED
IN
LARGE % VOLUME
ON SINGLE
CASES.
% BUT
RATHER
WE
CAN
MAKE
SURE
% WE'RE GETTING JUSTICE IN A
LOT % MORE CASES.
% IF
NOT
WE
NEED
TO CONSIDER
THE
% POSSIBILITY THAT
MANY
MORE % CASES ARE
GOING
TO
TRIAL.
% THAT'S
GOING TO
IMPACT THE
% NUMBER
OF
CASES WE
CAN
BRING
% AND
THE
NUMBER
OF
PEOPLE
ARE % ABLE TO
GET
JUSTICE.
% >>
SOME DANGER
OF WORSE
% OUTCOMES
IF YOU
GO
TO
TRIAL
% RATHER
THAN ENTER
INTO
A % SETTLEMENT?
% >>
ABSOLUTELY.% THE REASON
YOU
ENTER
INTO
A
% SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT IS
YOU
% IT'S
A
FAIR RESOLUTION
OF
A
% CASE.
% RISK
COMES
WITH
PROCEEDING TO % TRIAL.
% YOU
MIGHT LOSE
A
CASE
AND
YOU
% HAVE
TO
SPEND
RESOURCES THAT % YOU
WOULDN'T OTHERWISE HAVE
TO
% SPEND.
% >>
ARE
YOU
PUSHING
THIS
BECAUSE
% YOU
JUST
DON'T
APPROVE OF
THIS
% LAW
OR
IS
IT
A PARTISAN
% SITUATION
FOR
YOU?
% >>
WE
BEGAN
IN
FEBRUARY
TRYING
% TO
REACH
AN AGREEMENT
WITH
THE
% CO-CHAIRS
OF
THE JOINT
FINANCE
% COMMITTEE TO TRY
TO
PUT
IN
% PLACE
A
PROCESS
THAT
WOULD
% ALLOW US
TO RESOLVE
CASES.
% THIS
IS
NOT
A
GOOD
SITUATION
NO
% MATTER WHAT
PROCESS WE
PUT
IN
% PLACE.
% BUT
WE'RE
TRYING
TO
MAKE
IT
% WORK
BECAUSE
MY
INTEREST
IS
IN
% GETTING
THE
BEST
OUTCOME
% POSSIBLE
FOR WISCONSINITES
IN
% THESE
CASES.
% UNFORTUNATELY WE
HAVEN'T
BEEN
% ABLE
TO
REACH
AGREEMENT
WITH % THE
JOINT
FINANCE
COMMITTEE.
% THEY
KEEP
INSISTING
ON % SOLUTIONS
THAT
DON'T
WORK.
% AND THEY'VE
REFUSED
TO TAKE
ON
% THE
RESPONSIBILITY
OF
% MAINTAINING THE CONFIDENTIALITY
% OF
CONFIDENTIAL MATERIALS.% SO WHILE
I
WOULD
LIKE
TO SEE
% THIS
LAW
OVERTURNED, WE'RE % DOING OUR
BEST
TO
MAKE
IT
WORK
% AND
WE UNFORTUNATELY HAVEN'T
% HAD
COOPERATION
FROM
THE JOINT
% FINANCE COMMITTEE
TO MAKE
THAT % A REALITY.
% >>
AGAIN,
THE
REPUBLICAN
% CO-CHAIRS T
FINANCE COMMITTEE
% DECLINED AN INVITATION TO %
APPEAR TONIGHT.
% IN
TONIGHT'S LOOK
AHEAD
IF
YOU
% LIVE IN MILWAUKEE
COUNTY
YOU
% COULD
BE LOOKING
AT
PAYING MORE
% AT
THE
CHECK-OUT.
% THAT'S BECAUSE
ELECTED
% OFFICIALS AND
EVEN
BUSINESS
% LEADERS
THERE
WANT
TO
HIKE
THE
% SALES
TAX
BY
1%
TO
HELP
PAY FOR
% SERVICES AND
IMPROVEMENTS.
% IT
COULD
BE
A
HEAVY
LIFT
AS
IT
% NEEDS
LEGISLATIVE APPROVAL % BEFORE IT
GOES
TO
A
REFERENDUM.
% DEMOCRATIC
REPRESENTATIVE EVAN % GOYKE IS
PROPOSING
A
BILL
TO
% ALLOW
THE
TAX
INCREASE
AND
% JOINS US
NOW
FROM
MILWAUKEE.
% THANK YOU FOR
DOING
SO
% >>
THANK YOU
FOR
HAVING
ME
.
% >>
ROBIN
VOS
HAS ALREADY SAID % THE
PROPOSAL
WILL BE
A
HARD
% SELL.%IS THIS
DEAD
BEFORE
IT
EVEN % GETS
OFF
THE
GROUND?
% >> I CERTAINLY
DON'T
THINK
SO.
% I
DON'T
LIKE
TO
SPEND
MY % LEGISLATIVE
TIME
WORKING
ON
% ISSUES
THAT ARE
DEAD
ON
ARRIVAL % IN
THE STATE
CAPITOL.
% THE
REASON
WHY
I
THINK
WE % AREN'T THERE
YET
IS
WE
HAVE
AN
% UNPRECEDENTED
COALITION
OF
% LEADERS IN
MILWAUKEE,
LEADERS
% FROM
THE
SUBURB,
THE
CITY,
THE
% COUNTY, CIVIC
AND
BUSINESS
% LEADERS.
% THIS IS
A
UNIFICATION
OF % MILWAUKEE UNLIKE ONE
THAT
I
% HAVE
EVER
SEEN
IN MY
TENURE
IN
% MADISON.%AND WHEN
WE
WORK
TOGETHER, WE
% CAN
MOVE
MOUNTAINS.
% AND
SO
THAT'S
OUR
GOAL
IS
TO % STAY
UNITED,
PUSH
FORWARD
ON
A % SOLUTION THAT
WE THINK
SOLVES A
% LOT
OF
THE
ISSUES
FACING
LOCAL % GOVERNMENTS IN
MILWAUKEE
COUNTY.
% >>
IF
IT IS
A HARD
SELL DO
YOU
% THINK
IT
WOULD
BE
THAT
BECAUSE
% IT
IS MILWAUKEE
ASKING
FOR
THIS?
% >>
WELL,
I
THINK
WE
AS
A
% COALITION HAVE
WORKED
HARD TO
% TRY
TO TAILOR
THE
LEGISLATION
% IN
A
WAY
THAT
DOESN'T PIT % MILWAUKEE VERSUS THE
REST
OF
% THE
STATE.
% IF
THIS
LEGISLATION
PASSES,
NO
% SCHOOL DISTRICT, NO
ONE'S % HEALTHCARE OR
NO ONE'S
ROADS
% ARE
IMPACTED.% THIS
IS
OUR
SOLUTION.
% WE
WILL
BEAR
THE
BRUNT
ON
OUR
% SHOULDER, OUR
RESIDENTS
AND
OUR
% VISITORS
AND
COMMUTERS
WILL
% RAISE
THIS
REVENUE,
KEEP IT AND
% SPEND
IT
LOCAL.
% IF
SOME
OF
OUR
LISTENERS
DON'T
% LIVE IN
MILWAUKEE
COUNTY
THEY
% WON'T BE
IMPACTED
AT
ALL
BY
% THIS
OTHER
THAN
THESE
% INVESTMENTS WILL
GROW
% MILWAUKEE'S ECONOMY
AND
OUR
% RETURN
ON
INVESTMENT TO % TAXPAYERS
IS
LARGER.
% >>
WHY
DOES
MILWAUKEE
NEED
A % NEW
SOURCE OF
REVENUE?
% >>
WE'RE
UNIQUE IN
WISCONSIN
% THE BIGGEST
CITY
AND
REGION WE
% HAVE
UNIQUE
CHALLENGES.
% ALMOST
EVERY
OTHER
LARGE
CITY % OR
LARGE METRO
AREA
IN
THE
% UNITED
STATES
HAS
SOME
ABILITY
% TO CONTROL
THEIR
LOCAL REVENUE.
% WE
HAVE SUFFERED
LOSS
OF
JOBS, % WE
HAVE
CONCENTRATED
POVERTY.
% WE
NEED
TO
TOOLS TO
ADDRESS
% THOSE
ISSUES.
% CURRENTLY
WISCONSIN'S
LAW,
OUR
% STATE
LAW,
TREATS
OUR
% MUNICIPALITIES AS
PRETTY % UNIQUELY
AROUND
THE
COUNTRY.% WE'RE THE
ONLY
STATE
IN
THE
% MIDWEST THAT
DOES
NOT
ALLOW
OUR
% LARGEST METRO
AREA
TO
CONTROL,
% TO
RAISE
OR
TO SPEND
ITS
LOCAL
% TAXES.
% AND
SO
WHAT'S
HAPPENING
IS
OUR
% NEIGHBORS ARE GROWING
FASTER
% THAN
US.
% OUR
NEIGHBORS
LIKE
MINNEAPOLIS
% OR
CHICAGO
ARE
SEEING
BIG % INVESTMENT
THAT
IS
ABLE
TO
% ATTRACT
AND RETAIN
YOUNG
% WORKERS
AND
THEY
ARE
GROWING
% FASTER THAN OUR
METRO AREA.
% >>
SO
HOW
MUCH
COULD
BE
RAISED
% AND
WHAT WOULD
IT
GO
TOWARD?
% >>
SO OUR
ESTIMATE
IS
THAT
1%
% OR
1
CENT
ON
A
DOLLAR
WOULD % RAISE
ROUGHLY
$160 MILLION.% THE
FIRST
ONE
QUARTER
OF
THAT
% WOULD
GO
BACK
TO
PROPERTY
% TAXPAYERS.%WE
HAVE AN
IMBALANCE
IN
% WISCONSIN.%WE
HAVE
A
LOW
SALES
TAX
AND
% VERY
HIGH
PROPERTY
TAX
AND
WE
% WANT
TO BETTER
BALANCE THAT % RATIO.%WE
RESERVE
SOME
MONEY
FOR
% PUBLIC
HEALTH
INFRASTRUCTURE TO
% ADDRESS
HEALTH DISPARITIES IN
% OUR
REGION
AND
THE
REST
IS
% SPLIT
BETWEEN
THE
COUNTY
% GOVERNMENT
AND
OUR 19
% MUNICIPALITIES SO THAT THEY
CAN
% USE IT
ON
THEIR OPERATION
AND
% CAPITAL BUDGET.
% THAT'S
FILLING
POTHOLES,
POLICE
% AND FIREFIGHTERS,
PARKS,
PUBLIC
% TRANSIT.
% ALL
PUBLIC
SERVICES
AND
PUBLIC
% GOODS THAT OUR
RESIDENTS
USE.
% >>
JUST
BRIEFLY
WITH
A
HALF
% MINUTE
LEFT
ONE
UWM
ECONOMIST
% SAYS
LOWER
INCOME
RESIDENTS
% WOULD SUFFER
A
HIGHER
BURDEN.
% THE
INCREASED COST
WILL
HAVE
% MORE
OF
AN
IMPACT ON
LOW
INCOME % FAMILIES.%HOW DO YOU
RESPOND
TO
THAT?
% >>
THE
SALES
TAX
IS
NOT
A
% PROGRESSIVE TAX
BY
ITS
NATURE.
% I
THINK
THAT
ECONOMIST
IS
NOT
% WRONG IN THAT
I
GUESS THAT % ANALYSIS.
% HOWEVER, WHEN
GOVERNMENTS
ARE
% FOERLSED TO
CUT
SERVICES,
THAT
% SAME
POPULATION,
THOSE
LOW
% INCOME INDIVIDUALS, ARE
FIRST % TO
BEAR
THE
BURDEN.
% SO
WHEN
WE
CUT
BUS
ROUTES
OR
% PARKS
DON'T
GET
MAINTAINED
IT % IS
NORMALLY
THOSE
POPULATIONS
% LIVING IN
POVERTY
THAT
ARE
MOST
% AFFECTED BY CUTS
IN SERVICES.
% >>
ALL
RIGHT.
% WE
NEED TO
LEAVE IT
THERE.% THANK
YOU VERY MUCH.
% >> THANKS FOR
HAVING
ME.
% >>
IN
THE
HARD
SELL
CAUCUS
ON
% THIS
MATTER,
STATE
% REPRESENTATIVE
JOE SANFILLIPO
% OF
NEW
BERLIN.
% THANK YOU
FOR
BEING
HERE.
% >>
THANK YOU FOR
HAVING ME.
% >>
WHAT
DO
YOU
THINK
OF
A
LOCAL
% OPTION SALES
TAX INCREASE
IN
% MILWAUKEE COUNTY
AND
ITS
LOCAL
% MUNICIPALITIES?
% >>
YOU
KNOW, THE COUNTY
ALREADY
% TAKES
ADVANTAGE
OF
THE SALES % TAX INCREASE THAT
THEY
HAVE.
% THEY HAVE
A
HALF
PERCENT.
% I
TH
INK
THAT IT'S TOUGH
--
IN % WISCONSIN
WE'VE
BEEN
GOING
IN
% THE
RIGHT
DIRECTION
WITH
OUR
% TAXES
THE
LAST
FEW YEARS
BUT
% STILL
ONE OF THE
HIGHEST-TAXED
% STATES IN THE
COUNTRY
AND IN
% THE
MIDWEST
REGION.% ANY TIME
WE
WANT
TO
PUT
AN
% EXTRA BURDEN ON
OUR
CITIZENS
IT
% IS
SOMETHING
WE
REALLY
HAVE
TO % TAKE WITH
CAREFUL
CONSIDERATION.
% >>
BUT
WHAT
ABOUT
THE
ARGUMENT
% THAT
MILWAUKEE
HAS
SEEN
% DECLINING
STATE AID
AND
NEEDS
% SOME
WAY
TO
OFFSET THAT
FOR
% NEEDED SERVICES?
% >>
SO
I
THINK THE
COUNTY
HAS
% PLENTY OF
AREAS
WHERE
THEY
% COULD
LOOK
WITHIN
THEIR
OWN % BUDGET TO
DO
SOME
TRIMMING.
% I
SPENT
FIVE YEARS ON
THE
% COUNTY BOARD.
% I'VE
BEEN
OFF OF
IT
FOR
SEVEN.% WHEN I
WAS THERE THERE
WERE
A
% LOT OF AREAS
WHERE TRIMMING % COULD
BE
DONE
THAT
THE
COUNTY
% WAS UNWILLING
TO DO
SO.
% WHEN YOU
TAKE
A
LOOK
AT
NOW
% THEY
ARE
TALKING
ABOUT
NEEDING
% TO
RAISE
REVENUE
FOR
DEBT
% REDUCTION AND
THINGS
LIKE THAT.
% WHEN
I
WAS ON
THE
COUNTY
BOARD
% WE
HAVE THOUSANDS OF
ACRES
OF
% LAND
THAT
IS
UNUSED
THAT
% DEVELOPERS MAY BE
INTERESTED IN
% PURCHASING.%I THINK THAT
OPTION OUGHT
TO
BE
% EXPLORED.%TO
RAISE
SOME
MONEY
TO
LOWER
% DEBT
SERVICE
AS OPPOSED
TO
JUST
% RUNNING TO
THE
TAXPAYERS
AND
% PUTTING AN EXTRA
BURDEN
ON
THEM.
% >> SUPPORTERS, INCLUDING
THE
% MILWAUKEE ASSOCIATION
OF % COMMERCE,
SAY
THE
INCREASE
IN
% THE
SALES
TAX
WOULD
PROVIDE
% PROPERTY TAX
RELIEF
BY
PUTTING % 25%
OF
THE
SALES TAX
PROCEEDS
%
TOWARD THAT.
% THEY ALSO
CALL IT
A
SOUND
% INVESTMENT OF THE
FUTURE
IN
% MILWAUKEE.%WHAT ABOUT
THE
IDEA
THAT % BUSINESS
LEADERS
SUPPORT
THIS?
% >>
SO
I
THINK
YOU
HAVE
SOME
% BUSINESS LEADERS THAT WILL
% SUPPORT
IT.
% IF
YOU'RE
IN
DOWNTOWN
% MILWAUKEE, DEPENDING ON THE
% TYPE OF
BUSINESS
YOU'RE
IN.% YOU
AREN'T
AS
AFFECTED.% IF YOU'RE
IN SOME
OF
THE
% SUBURBAN COMMUNITIES
% NEIGHBORING OTHER
COUNTIES.
% WAUKESHA
COUNTY
IS
A
HALF
% PERCENT LOWER
THAN
MILWAUKEE % COUNTY IN
ITS
SALES
TAX.
% IT
WILL
TRANSLATE
TO
1
1/2
% PERCENT IF
THIS
FWOES
THROUGH.
% IF
YOU
LIVE
IN
SUBURB
BAN
% COMMUNITIES
YOU
CAN
SHOP
IN
% WAUKESHA
COUNTY
AND
SAVE
1
1/2%.
% THAT ADDS UP
THROUGHOUT
THE
% YEAR.
% A LOT
OF
BUSINESSES
AROUND
THE
% OUTER
EDGES
OF
MILWAUKEE
COUNTY
% MAY
NOT
FEEL
AS
MUCH,
YOU
KNOW,
% INSULATED FROM ANY
DAMAGE THAT
% COULD
BE
CAUSED
BY
THIS
% INCREASE AS
THOSE IN
DOWNTOWN
% MILWAUKEE ITSELF.
% >>
IS
THIS IN
YOUR
MIND
A
GOOD
% EXAMPLE OF LOCAL
CONTROL,
% THOUGH, THROUGH
THE
REFERENDUM
% PROCESS?
% >>
WELL, I
THINK IT'S
A
GOOD
% EXAMPLE OF THE
STATE
--
OF
THE
% LOCAL
COMMUNITY,
IN
THIS
CASE
% THE
COUNTY AND
LOCAL % MUNICIPALITIES, COMING
TO
THE
% STATE AND
WANTING
THROW
IT IN
% OUR
LAP,
RIGHT?
% LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES AND %CO
UNTIES ALREADY HAVE
AN
OPTION
% TO
HOLD
A
REFERENDUM
AND
RAISE
% TAXES
IF
THEY
SEE THAT
THEY
% NEED
TO.% BUT IN THAT
CASE
THEY
HAVE
TO
% SELL
THAT
IDEA TO
THEIR
LOCAL
% VOTERS.%IT IS
MUCH
EASIER
FOR
THEM
TO
% COME
TO
MADISON
AND
ASK
% LEGISLATORS
TO
GIVE
THEM
THE
% AUTHORITY
TO
RAISE
THE
SALES
% TAX
AND
TRY TO
SLAM
IT
THROUGH.
% IN
AN
ELECTION
WHERE
YOU MAY
% HAVE
LOPSIDED
RESULTS.
% >>
AND
SO
AS
TO THAT
SPEAKER
% VOS CALLED IT
A
HARD
SELL.
% DO YOU
THINK
IT'S ACCURATE?
% >> I
THINK
IT
WILL BE
A
HARD
% SELL.
% WE'VE
WORKED
VERY
HARD
THE
LAST
% EIGHT,
NINE YEARS
TO LOWER
% TAXES
IN
THE
STATE
OF
WISCONSIN % TO GET
US
MOVING IN
THE RIGHT
% DIRECTION.%SO
NOBODY
IS
GOING
TO
WANT
TO
% DO
SOMETHING TO START
REVERSING
% THAT TREND.%NOW THE
FLIP
SIDE
OF
THAT
IS
I
% THINK THAT IF
YOU
SEE
WHERE IS
% THE
MONEY
GOING
TO
BE
SPENT
AND
% HOW
DO WE
SAFEGUARD
--
YOU
TALK % ABOUT
PROPERTY
TAX
RELIEF.
% HOW
DO
WE
MAKE
SURE
THE
% PROPERTY TAX RELIEF ISN'T
JUST
% THERE RIGHT AT
FIRST
AND
ALL
OF
% A
SUDDEN
DISSIPATES
AS
TIME % GOES ON
AND
THEY
END
UP HAVING
% YOUR
PROPERTY
TAXES
GOING
UP
% AND NOW
YOUR
SALES TAX IS
UP AS
% WELL?
% THERE
WILL
BE
A LOT OF
% DISCUSSION GOING
FORWARD.% THERE IS
NO
DOUBT
THERE ARE % SOME
AREAS
OF
NEED.
% THE
CITY
OF
MILWAUKEE
HAS
A
% HORRENDOUS CRIME
PROBLEM
RIGHT
% NOW.
% THEY
REFUSE
TO PUT
MORE
MONEY % INTO
THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT.
% I
THINK
IF
YOU
ASKED THE
% AVERAGE
CITIZEN
THAT
WOULD
BE
% SOMEWHERE WHERE THEY
WOULD
% AGREE
TO
HAVE
SOME
EXTRA
% SPENDING IF
THEY
KNEW IT WOULD
% GO
TO
SAFETY.
% HOW
DO
YOU
PROTECT
THAT
MONEY % AND MAKE
SURE
THAT'S WHERE IT
% REALLY GOES?
% >>
WE'LL CONTINUE
TO
WATCH
THIS.
% THANK