Brutal. Yeah.
Okay, we're back on track.
All right, we're good?
All right, sorry. We'll we'll go
back to the to the voucher question.
So would you like to see any changes
in the voucher system or just more
accountability within it?
I think we first need to foc focus
on how do we fully fund our public
school systems in the entire state
of Wisconsin.
The state has really broken its
promise in funding our our school
systems with two-thirds funding of
really funding local municipalities
with the shared revenue split that
we are getting. And so we cannot
get rid of the voucher system
until our public school systems
are in a place where they can build
their capacity and have enough
resources.
But if there are going to be schools
that are receiving public funds,
we need to make sure that they're
held to the same level of standards
that our public schools are held at,
that they're accoun accountable as
well as transparent as far as how
they're spending those dollars.
Over the course of the last year,
the Supreme Court has issued a
number of decisions that have
weakened legislative oversight
into the rulemaking process, both
the Attorney General's office and
the the legislative direct oversight
to agency rules.
Would you like to see a bipartisan
solution to providing legislative
sup oversight, or do you think the
current system, as it is now with
agencies not needing any sign off
from the legislature, is the way to
go forward?
Look, I I've always said that, you
know, bipartisan solutions are good
long term solutions, you know,
because whoever is the governor,
Democrat or Republican, it can
go back and forth.
And we always know that the pendulum
swings. But if we want to have good
policy in place that's going
to benefit everybody,
those departments, those who are
directly impacted by the programs
and services, I would like to see a
bipartisan effort of our legislators
coming together to get it done.
And you referenced this earlier, but
talk a little bit about funding for
local government.
You've been on your end of it.
How important is that and what
changes would you like to see or
make as governor?
You know, as the county executive,
80% of our local tax levy
is going towards you know,
state mandated services.
These are services that, you know,
most folks may not actually utilize,
but those most use amenities
like our public parks, like
our our county zoo,
like our county transit system,
these are non-mandated services.
And it really puts those particular
services that help to improve
the quality of life for individuals
who live in or around or just play
in Milwaukee County, those are
always on the chopping block.
And so we actually need a
a better course of action.
We need a better relationship with
the state of Wisconsin for all
local municipalities to be able to
fund the necessary programs
and services that their residents
expect but also rely on every day.
There are a number of exploratory
mining sites around the northwoods
of Wisconsin, some of which
are getting closer to actually
requesting permits for a full mine
operation.
What's your stance on mining in
Wisconsin and can it be done safely?
Would you sign off on permits as
governor?
Well, it's about working with the
the local municipalities, working
with the groups and the stakeholders
that are on the ground and making
sure that the work group that we
can put together are giving
us the best information possible to
make the best decisions that's going
to have a huge impact that can have
a huge impact on the environment as
well as a a new industry here in the
state of Wisconsin.
And so you have to take that on a
case by case basis and really
working with all the stakeholders to
make sure that we're making the best
decision possible.
Do you have concerns in this
political environment about violence
as a candidate running for statewide
office?
I think we've seen a a huge uptick
in in political rhetoric and
political violence happening all
across this country.
And quite frankly, I'm I'm sick and
tired of it. It is unfortunate
that we're seeing the level of
violence just for being able to
deliver on behalf of those that we
represent every single day.
And so, you know, whether you're a
Republican, Democrat, we we need we
really need to end the the political
rhetoric and this violent rhetoric
that has been out there and really
focus on how do we make lives better
for those that we represent.
You've referenced affordable housing
a couple of times.
Does that mean fewer regulations,
more density?
How how do you create more
affordable housing?
It's important to understand that
there isn't a one-size solution
that fits all of the problems that
we're facing as a state.
What works in Milwaukee may not work
in Menasha, may not work in
Marinette, may not work in Barron.
And so we have to make sure that
we're working with those local
organizations, those local units of
government to figure out what
right size solution works for
them. Yes, do we need more
affordable housing?
Absolutely we do.
We need that for our seniors, for
working families, for people with
disabilities.
But we also need attainable housing
as well. And attainable housing is
those who have the ability to afford
those who may not qualify
for affordable housing but have the
means to buy their own home,
yet we don't have the housing stock.
And so it's about how do we bring
online more housing options to
help lower the costs for communities
all across this state.
But again, we have to
work with local municipalities to
figure out what is the best solution
for this.
Governor Evers has proposed a a
corrections plan that would revamp
the correction system in Wisconsin.
Do you agree with his plan?
Would you carry that vision forward
as Governor?
We we absolutely need to revisit how
we do corrections here in the state
of Wisconsin. When I served in the
state legislature years ago,
you know, Grover Norquist came
to Wisconsin to talk about how we
needed to do criminal justice
reform. And there's not many times
where I can say, I agree with Grover
Norquist.
And so we should be looking at how
do we make sure that those those
those those less violent offenders
aren't just spending as much time
in our care, which costs us a lot
more money to have them in a prison.
What more can we do in making
sure that those who absolutely
need to be in these in these
facilities, they get the help that
they need, we rehabilitate them.
But individuals, when it comes down
to mental health, prisons
should not be the answer for
those individuals.
We need to make sure that they're
getting the resources and the
help that they need.
But also, how do we make sure
that we wrap around those other
services, support systems
around their family and their other
networks to make sure that they
don't fall through the cracks again?
On the topic of abortion, the
the law of the land in Wisconsin is
actually a law passed by Governor
Walker and the Republican
legislature a number of years ago.
Would you like to see any changes to
Wisconsin's abortion law?
Look, I I'm a huge champion when it
comes down to to abortion here in
the state of Wisconsin.
When I was a state representative
in two thousand seventeen, I I
co-authored legislation declaring
abortion as health care.
And as a daughter as a father of
three daughters, being your girl dad
times three, it's important for me
to make sure that they have the same
rights that their mother and
grandmother had, not less.
And so I'm going to always
be a champion for women's rights
to choose.
All right. David Crowley, thanks for
your time.
Thank you so much. Thank you for
having me.
All right. We covered a lot of
territory. I appreciate it.
You man, you were all over, man.
Right. Thank you.
Well I can't just make it easy on
you, right? Gotta keep you on your
toes.