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Tonight, a WISN

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12 Commitment 2026

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election special.

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An unprecedented race for Wisconsin

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governor.

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State Democrats in a hellstorm.

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What does that say about you as a

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leader? Money troubles.

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Scandal.

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Upheaval.

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We want to just kind of,

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all right, Rodriguez just dropped

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out.

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Five candidates remain in

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a fractured Democrat field,

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just days from the primary to decide

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who will take on likely Republican

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nominee Tom Tiffany.

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Tonight, their first and

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only televised debate at

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a critical juncture in Wisconsin

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history.

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Former Lieutenant Governor Mandela

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Barnes.

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We've been all across Wisconsin

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taking the fight directly to Tom

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Sithley.

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The former Tony Evers Cavalier.

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Member Joel Brennan.

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I am in this race and I'm committed

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to continuing in this race because

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Wisconsin values are at risk.

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Milwaukee County executive David

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Crowley.

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Listen, you deserve

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a true dinner.

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Democratic candidate.

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I'm not!

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In this race.

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State Representative Francesca

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Hahn.

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I am the only candidate

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in this race who takes income

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and power inequality seriously

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as the most urgent crisis

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of our times.

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State Senator Kel DeRoyce.

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That was not the time to move

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backwards and be in more disarray.

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And now, live from the campus

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of Marquette University in downtown

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Milwaukee, tonight's

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moderators, WISN

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12 political director Matt Smith

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and upfront co-host,

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12 News Anchor, Jaren Jordan.

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Good evening everyone and welcome.

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We are live tonight from the

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Marquette University campus.

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We thank our audience across

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Wisconsin for joining us for the

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first and only televised debate

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between the Democratic candidates

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and the primary for Wisconsin

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governor Mandela Barnes,

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Joel Brennan, David Crowley,

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Francesca Hong and Kel DeRoyze.

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We thank you all for being here with

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us tonight.

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The top vote getter in the August

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primary will take on the likely

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Republican nominee Tom Tiffany

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in November.

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With Tony Evers not seeking

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reelection, it is the first

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wide open race for governor since

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2010.

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First tonight, a few ground rules.

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This is a debate, but we'll be

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having a conversation.

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We'll be discussing some of the key

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issues facing Wisconsin.

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Candidates are asked to state their

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positions, stay on topic,

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and to be concise.

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The candidates may speak to each

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other, but we will manage the time

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on any given topic and

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move the conversation along if

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necessary.

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At the end, each candidate will make

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a brief closing statement, and it's

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fair to say that this race has been

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chaotic over the last few weeks, so

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let's get right to it.

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Mr. Crowley, three weeks ago, you

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dropped out of this race saying you

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couldn't see a path to victory.

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11 days ago, the primary upended

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when Sarah Rodriguez dropped out,

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and you made the unprecedented move

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of re-entering the race with an

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immediate endorsement from Governor

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Tony Evers.

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Since then, you have been linked to

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a social media account that includes

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offensive posts.

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You've said you didn't write any of

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those, and some have accused you of

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being the latest prop for the

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Democratic establishment.

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So, are you, and why should

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Voters now trust your judgment and

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ability to win.

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Well, first and foremost, thank you

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for having us.

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But I was never born into the

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establishment. I was actually born

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into struggle.

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I grew up in the 5-3-2-06 zip code

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where I had to work extremely hard

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for everything that I have.

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And so I'm not here to protect the

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establishment, I'm here to deliver

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real results for Wisconsinites

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all over our state.

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And I like to make decisions based

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off of the data, based off the

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facts. And we learned ever

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since that day that a lot of things

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have changed and we were going off

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of false data.

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And so we know that the stakes are

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too high this upcoming election, and

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that's why I got back into this

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race. And I'm honored to not only

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have the endorsement of Governor

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Tony Evers, but labor unions

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and leaders all across this state

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who believe in my leadership.

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And I am looking forward to

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delivering for all of Wisconsin.

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Ms. Fong, you are the Democratic

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Socialist who is leading in all of

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the polls, yet some Democrats are

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attempting to stop you from winning,

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fearful that you cannot beat

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Republican Tom Tiffany.

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Just this weekend, the co-chair of

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the Democratic socialists of

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America, which you are a member,

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reaffirmed the DSA's position of

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abolishing the Senate, prisons,

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and replacing the presidency and the

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Supreme Court as we know it.

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Do you fully back the DISA platform,

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and why should primary voters trust

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your judgment and your ability to

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win statewide? Bye.

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Well, first, thank you so much to

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the team at WISN and Marquette

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University for hosting this

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important debate.

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I do not support the full platform

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of the national DSA and

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I'm not endorsed by DSA

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national.

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What democratic socialism is,

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is a form of government that puts

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working class people first, that

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puts work first.

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The policies that we have been

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working on, permanent affordability,

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has broad bipartisan support

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in every corner of the state.

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Well, things like fully

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funding our public schools, ensuring

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that we are doing right by our kids

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and cutting property taxes,

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taxing the ultra wealthy and mega

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corporations, ensuring that we

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can invest in free childcare and

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that everyone has access to

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affordable housing.

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And we are the only campaign to

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support a moratorium on AI data

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centers, and we have found broad

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bipartisan support.

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I am looking forward to helping

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the Democrats become the big tent

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party that they've aimed to be for

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many years.

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Mr. Barnes, you were once seen as

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the clear front runner in this race.

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You previously lost a statewide

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election for US Senate when the

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field cleared for you.

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In fact, last year, the Milwaukee

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Courier said, we need a candidate

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who can unite the state and win.

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Mandela Barnes already showed us he

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can't. And Governor Tony Evers

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recently endorsed David Crowley over

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you. So why should primary voters

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now trust you that you can win

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statewide this time?

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Well, thanks so much for the

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question. And thanks so much for

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having me. There's not a single

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person on this stage who's united

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all shades of blue of the Democratic

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Party as I have before.

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Now that race in 2022,

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it was the closest US Senate race in

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the state in over 100 years.

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It was the closest challenge to any

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incumbent across the entire country,

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no incumbent law statewide.

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Now, while DC insiders like Chuck

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Schumer didn't see the race as

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winnable, Republican billionaires

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certainly did.

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They spent over $50 million

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to defeat me and I only lost

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by one point, 26,000

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votes.

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Now I can tell you, having been the

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only person on this stage who's

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actually won statewide in 2018

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when we kicked Scott Walker out of

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office for good, that race was also

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decided by one-point.

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Now I've been on both sides of the

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coin and you learn a whole lot more

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when you lose.

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When you win, you think you did

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everything right.

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But when you come up that short, you

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have a whole lotta time to think

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about the things that went wrong.

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You learn about the devastating

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impact of big money in politics.

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You also learn about how low

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Republicans can get.

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And I can tell you, right now we

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have the resources and we have the

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support to get it done. And on the

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terms of Governor Evers, I have zero

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interest in upholding the status

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quo. I have 0 interest in being the

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establishment candidate.

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That is the difference right here on

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the stage. Because I am pushing

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the envelope to make sure that we

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are as bold as we can possibly

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be in the Donald Trump era.

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Because that's what people have been

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calling for Democrats to be all

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along. We have not truly met the

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moment.

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At the moment. Thank you.

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Mr. Brennan and Ms.

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Royce, you are both polling in the

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single digits and have been since

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the start of this race.

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At this point, are primary voters

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wasting their vote on a vote for

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you? Mr. Brinnan.

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Well, here's what I would tell you,

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is I don't think primary voters have

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been paying much attention until the

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last two weeks and all the upheaval

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that you have seen.

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This is what I find when I am going

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out around the state is that, you

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know, and this has been verified by

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polls that was done here by

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my alma mater at Marquette, because

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about half the people at

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this point haven't made a decision.

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And so that is the lane that's

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opening up. The challenge that I

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have had from day one is not that

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anybody thinks I'm unqualified for

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the office. I have, I served as

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the top appointee to Governor Evers.

287
00:07:47,910 --> 00:07:49,109
We created the largest budget

288
00:07:49,110 --> 00:07:50,469
surplus in state history.

289
00:07:50,470 --> 00:07:52,189
We increased the rainy day fund.

290
00:07:52,190 --> 00:07:53,809
We got millions, billions of dollars

291
00:07:53,810 --> 00:07:55,809
out to family farms, to

292
00:07:55,810 --> 00:07:57,269
small businesses, to renters who

293
00:07:57,270 --> 00:07:58,389
needed it during COVID.

294
00:07:58,390 --> 00:08:00,269
So all of that stuff puts me in good

295
00:08:00,270 --> 00:08:01,789
stead. The challenge I have had is

296
00:08:01,790 --> 00:08:03,389
that people don't know me as well as

297
00:08:03,390 --> 00:08:04,309
they know some other candidates

298
00:08:04,310 --> 00:08:06,129
around the state. And so what I

299
00:08:06,130 --> 00:08:08,069
have found in recent days is that

300
00:08:08,070 --> 00:08:10,309
the disruption, the upheaval,

301
00:08:10,310 --> 00:08:11,609
somebody putting their thumb on the

302
00:08:11,610 --> 00:08:13,329
scale, it has gotten people much

303
00:08:13,330 --> 00:08:14,829
more engaged and much more

304
00:08:14,830 --> 00:08:16,129
interested in this race.

305
00:08:16,130 --> 00:08:17,909
And day by day, I am feeling that

306
00:08:17,910 --> 00:08:19,849
momentum and I'm feeling people who

307
00:08:19,850 --> 00:08:21,389
want somebody who can beat Tom

308
00:08:21,390 --> 00:08:23,209
Tiffany in the fall and who can hit

309
00:08:23,210 --> 00:08:24,729
the ground running on day one.

310
00:08:24,730 --> 00:08:26,889
And I will put my qualifications

311
00:08:26,890 --> 00:08:28,649
on those issues up against anybody

312
00:08:28,650 --> 00:08:29,949
in this rate. Mr. Brendan, thank

313
00:08:29,950 --> 00:08:29,979
you.

314
00:08:29,980 --> 00:08:31,839
Ms. Royce, you are continuing to

315
00:08:31,840 --> 00:08:33,259
poll in the single digits as well.

316
00:08:33,260 --> 00:08:35,019
At this point, our primary voters

317
00:08:35,020 --> 00:08:36,459
wasting their vote on a vote for

318
00:08:36,460 --> 00:08:37,489
you.

319
00:08:37,490 --> 00:08:39,069
If you want the best public schools

320
00:08:39,070 --> 00:08:40,829
in the nation for your children, if

321
00:08:40,830 --> 00:08:42,229
you want to open up the state's

322
00:08:42,230 --> 00:08:43,689
healthcare plan so that everyone can

323
00:08:43,690 --> 00:08:45,389
buy in and we can lower costs for

324
00:08:45,390 --> 00:08:47,369
all Wisconsinites, if you a

325
00:08:47,370 --> 00:08:48,949
candidate who is going to stand up

326
00:08:48,950 --> 00:08:50,769
and fight Donald Trump and bring an

327
00:08:50,770 --> 00:08:52,689
end to this authoritarian regime,

328
00:08:52,690 --> 00:08:54,029
then you should vote for me.

329
00:08:54,030 --> 00:08:55,529
I am the candidate in this race that

330
00:08:55,530 --> 00:08:57,249
brings the most experience in and

331
00:08:57,250 --> 00:08:58,729
around state government with 10

332
00:08:58,730 --> 00:08:59,969
years of service in the legislature

333
00:08:59,970 --> 00:09:01,369
and the only one who served on the

334
00:09:01,370 --> 00:09:02,469
state budget committee.

335
00:09:02,470 --> 00:09:03,849
I've also been an executive in the

336
00:09:03,850 --> 00:09:05,129
private and nonprofit sectors.

337
00:09:05,130 --> 00:09:07,529
And for over 20 years,

338
00:09:07,530 --> 00:09:08,789
I've been the candidate that has

339
00:09:08,790 --> 00:09:10,649
turned progressive ideas, like

340
00:09:10,650 --> 00:09:12,009
the kind that all of us have on this

341
00:09:12,010 --> 00:09:13,649
stage, into law.

342
00:09:13,650 --> 00:09:15,169
That kind of experience is

343
00:09:15,170 --> 00:09:16,509
absolutely essential.

344
00:09:16,510 --> 00:09:18,329
And voters need to think about not

345
00:09:18,330 --> 00:09:19,789
just who can beat Tom Tiffany,

346
00:09:19,790 --> 00:09:21,669
although that is important, not just

347
00:09:21,670 --> 00:09:22,809
who can deliver a democratic

348
00:09:22,810 --> 00:09:24,429
legislature, although that's vitally

349
00:09:24,430 --> 00:09:26,249
important, but who can actually

350
00:09:26,250 --> 00:09:27,869
do the job on day one.

351
00:09:27,870 --> 00:09:29,329
And I am proud to have earned by far

352
00:09:29,330 --> 00:09:30,669
the most endorsements of any

353
00:09:30,670 --> 00:09:32,569
candidate in this race, including

354
00:09:32,570 --> 00:09:33,829
the most endorsements in Milwaukee

355
00:09:33,830 --> 00:09:36,089
County, the most largest

356
00:09:36,090 --> 00:09:37,829
labor union endorsement with WEAC,

357
00:09:37,830 --> 00:09:39,249
the state teachers union.

358
00:09:39,250 --> 00:09:40,969
And the endorsement of former

359
00:09:40,970 --> 00:09:42,219
Lieutenant Governor Barbara Lawton.

360
00:09:42,220 --> 00:09:43,499
Thank you all.

361
00:09:43,500 --> 00:09:45,259
Last week, a Madison police officer

362
00:09:45,260 --> 00:09:46,559
shot and killed a man.

363
00:09:46,560 --> 00:09:48,099
Tonight, the investigation and the

364
00:09:48,100 --> 00:09:49,639
protests continue.

365
00:09:49,640 --> 00:09:51,299
Governor Tony Evers has called for

366
00:09:51,300 --> 00:09:53,419
transparency and accountability and

367
00:09:53,420 --> 00:09:55,579
urged for peaceful protests.

368
00:09:55,580 --> 00:09:56,839
Miss Hong, in the hours following

369
00:09:56,840 --> 00:09:58,219
the shooting, standing alongside

370
00:09:58,220 --> 00:10:00,139
protesters, you said, quote, this

371
00:10:00,140 --> 00:10:01,979
state sanctioned violence was an

372
00:10:01,980 --> 00:10:03,159
execution.

373
00:10:03,160 --> 00:10:04,179
Would you make those immediate

374
00:10:04,180 --> 00:10:06,019
declarations as governor even

375
00:10:06,020 --> 00:10:07,519
though an investigation had not yet

376
00:10:07,520 --> 00:10:08,639
started.

377
00:10:08,640 --> 00:10:10,039
You know, the governor has the

378
00:10:10,040 --> 00:10:11,839
largest microphone in the state, and

379
00:10:11,840 --> 00:10:13,659
there comes deep responsibility with

380
00:10:13,660 --> 00:10:15,479
that. But what we saw in

381
00:10:15,480 --> 00:10:17,539
videos and what I had talked

382
00:10:17,540 --> 00:10:19,479
to folks who had witnessed

383
00:10:19,480 --> 00:10:21,539
that, I think what

384
00:10:21,540 --> 00:10:23,799
we it was clearly the

385
00:10:23,800 --> 00:10:25,919
type of violence where no

386
00:10:25,920 --> 00:10:27,119
one's life should have been taken.

387
00:10:27,120 --> 00:10:28,979
And my thoughts are with

388
00:10:28,980 --> 00:10:30,919
Corey Ruiz and his family,

389
00:10:30,920 --> 00:10:33,229
and I hope that the

390
00:10:33,230 --> 00:10:35,089
accountability and transparency that

391
00:10:35,090 --> 00:10:36,869
both the Governor Evers and I have

392
00:10:36,870 --> 00:10:38,809
called for the independent

393
00:10:38,810 --> 00:10:40,829
investigation, the investment

394
00:10:40,830 --> 00:10:42,169
in body cameras.

395
00:10:42,170 --> 00:10:44,109
We want local governments to be able

396
00:10:44,110 --> 00:10:46,189
to invest in public safety,

397
00:10:46,190 --> 00:10:47,809
to be serious about public safety

398
00:10:47,810 --> 00:10:49,449
and I plan to be a partner in that.

399
00:10:49,450 --> 00:10:51,409
You have also called to defund and

400
00:10:51,410 --> 00:10:53,069
abolish police before while saying

401
00:10:53,070 --> 00:10:54,569
your ideal world is one without

402
00:10:54,570 --> 00:10:55,389
prisons.

403
00:10:55,390 --> 00:10:57,169
Would you sign a bill or budget that

404
00:10:57,170 --> 00:10:58,989
cuts funding for police departments?

405
00:10:58,990 --> 00:10:59,990
No.

406
00:11:00,470 --> 00:11:01,669
No. Why not?

407
00:11:03,620 --> 00:11:05,579
The governor cannot defund

408
00:11:05,580 --> 00:11:07,419
police, and I'm not here to

409
00:11:07,420 --> 00:11:08,779
govern by slogan.

410
00:11:08,780 --> 00:11:10,619
I'm here to make sure that I am the

411
00:11:10,620 --> 00:11:12,439
governor that is most serious about

412
00:11:12,440 --> 00:11:13,999
public safety, and that means

413
00:11:14,000 --> 00:11:15,539
investing in the things that we know

414
00:11:15,540 --> 00:11:17,499
prevent crime, and getting resources

415
00:11:17,500 --> 00:11:19,439
to victims, and ensuring that

416
00:11:19,440 --> 00:11:20,779
the people who are incarcerated and

417
00:11:20,780 --> 00:11:22,119
the folks who are working in our

418
00:11:22,120 --> 00:11:23,939
prisons are able to live a life

419
00:11:23,940 --> 00:11:25,939
of dignity and work with

420
00:11:25,940 --> 00:11:27,619
dignity. I think it's important that

421
00:11:27,620 --> 00:11:29,159
we invest in communities, including

422
00:11:29,160 --> 00:11:31,679
our public schools, out of

423
00:11:31,680 --> 00:11:33,639
school programs and mental health

424
00:11:33,640 --> 00:11:36,139
resources and attacking the opioid

425
00:11:36,140 --> 00:11:37,939
epidemic.

426
00:11:37,940 --> 00:11:39,859
These are things that are proven to

427
00:11:39,860 --> 00:11:41,879
prevent crime and this is what will

428
00:11:41,880 --> 00:11:43,539
help to make sure that we have a

429
00:11:43,540 --> 00:11:44,899
government that is serious about

430
00:11:44,900 --> 00:11:45,759
public safety.

431
00:11:45,760 --> 00:11:47,379
Mr. Barnes, you have previously

432
00:11:47,380 --> 00:11:48,999
shown support for reducing police

433
00:11:49,000 --> 00:11:50,939
funding and abolishing ICE following

434
00:11:50,940 --> 00:11:52,299
the Madison shooting You said you

435
00:11:52,300 --> 00:11:54,599
were deeply disturbed and pained.

436
00:11:54,600 --> 00:11:55,919
Would you sign a bill or budget that

437
00:11:55,920 --> 00:11:57,389
cuts funding for police departments?

438
00:11:57,390 --> 00:11:58,469
So first of all, we should all be

439
00:11:58,470 --> 00:12:00,269
very disturbed by what we saw in

440
00:12:00,270 --> 00:12:01,349
those images, what we saw in the

441
00:12:01,350 --> 00:12:03,609
video, and we should

442
00:12:03,610 --> 00:12:05,709
fight as hard as we possibly can

443
00:12:05,710 --> 00:12:07,709
as a state, as a people, as society

444
00:12:07,710 --> 00:12:09,349
to make sure that never happens

445
00:12:09,350 --> 00:12:10,489
again.

446
00:12:10,490 --> 00:12:12,569
And body cameras, of course, are

447
00:12:12,570 --> 00:12:14,389
the norm, it should be the norm.

448
00:12:14,390 --> 00:12:15,849
And I wish that the Madison Police

449
00:12:15,850 --> 00:12:16,989
Department did have those body

450
00:12:16,990 --> 00:12:18,309
cameras. So of course I would not

451
00:12:18,310 --> 00:12:20,089
sign a budget that reduced funding

452
00:12:20,090 --> 00:12:21,849
because obviously that The police

453
00:12:21,850 --> 00:12:23,149
department needs the funding to have

454
00:12:23,150 --> 00:12:24,249
body cameras.

455
00:12:24,250 --> 00:12:25,769
Ms. Royes, after the Madison

456
00:12:25,770 --> 00:12:27,489
shooting, you said, we do not have

457
00:12:27,490 --> 00:12:28,969
to accept this as inevitable.

458
00:12:28,970 --> 00:12:30,789
We can create a more fair, safe

459
00:12:30,790 --> 00:12:31,589
world.

460
00:12:31,590 --> 00:12:33,129
Would you sign a bill or budget that

461
00:12:33,130 --> 00:12:35,149
cuts funding for police departments?

462
00:12:35,150 --> 00:12:37,029
No, but I think we need to actually

463
00:12:37,030 --> 00:12:38,989
fund local communities so that

464
00:12:38,990 --> 00:12:40,869
we can do evidence-based programs

465
00:12:40,870 --> 00:12:42,629
that actually reduce and prevent

466
00:12:42,630 --> 00:12:43,449
crime.

467
00:12:43,450 --> 00:12:45,229
At the end of the day, I'm a mom and

468
00:12:45,230 --> 00:12:46,209
stepmom of five.

469
00:12:46,210 --> 00:12:48,049
I want my kids and every kid to

470
00:12:48,050 --> 00:12:49,829
be safe in our communities, and I

471
00:12:49,830 --> 00:12:51,409
want law enforcement officers to be

472
00:12:51,410 --> 00:12:52,529
safer in our community.

473
00:12:52,530 --> 00:12:54,449
That means that we have to invest in

474
00:12:54,450 --> 00:12:55,789
proven strategies that actually do

475
00:12:55,790 --> 00:12:57,649
that, unlike what Republicans like

476
00:12:57,650 --> 00:12:59,469
Tom Tiffany have done, which is cut

477
00:12:59,470 --> 00:13:00,969
funding to local governments and

478
00:13:00,970 --> 00:13:02,789
take away local control so that

479
00:13:02,790 --> 00:13:04,729
communities don't have the resources

480
00:13:04,730 --> 00:13:06,789
to be able to actually solve these

481
00:13:06,790 --> 00:13:08,329
problems effectively.

482
00:13:08,330 --> 00:13:09,889
I am really proud as the only

483
00:13:09,890 --> 00:13:11,309
attorney on the stage to be someone

484
00:13:11,310 --> 00:13:13,369
that has fought for and passed

485
00:13:13,370 --> 00:13:15,409
criminal justice reforms to make us

486
00:13:15,410 --> 00:13:17,009
more safe and more just.

487
00:13:17,010 --> 00:13:18,849
I have taken on racial disparities

488
00:13:18,850 --> 00:13:20,829
in areas from health to criminal

489
00:13:20,830 --> 00:13:22,909
justice and I believe

490
00:13:22,910 --> 00:13:25,129
that Wisconsin can be a place where

491
00:13:25,130 --> 00:13:26,529
everyone has the freedom to thrive

492
00:13:26,530 --> 00:13:28,349
but not if we aren't willing

493
00:13:28,350 --> 00:13:30,099
to tackle these really tough issues.

494
00:13:30,100 --> 00:13:31,599
Mr. Brennan, after the shooting in

495
00:13:31,600 --> 00:13:33,319
Madison, you are also calling for a

496
00:13:33,320 --> 00:13:35,079
full DOJ investigation.

497
00:13:35,080 --> 00:13:36,859
Would you sign a bill or a budget

498
00:13:36,860 --> 00:13:38,019
that cuts funding for police

499
00:13:38,020 --> 00:13:38,319
departments?

500
00:13:38,320 --> 00:13:40,259
Of course I wouldn't, and I think as

501
00:13:40,260 --> 00:13:41,339
others have said here, there has

502
00:13:41,340 --> 00:13:43,259
been a generation of disinvestment

503
00:13:43,260 --> 00:13:45,459
and a broken system between

504
00:13:45,460 --> 00:13:47,039
the state, the broken partnership

505
00:13:47,040 --> 00:13:48,359
between state and local government.

506
00:13:48,360 --> 00:13:49,959
So we need to make sure that we're

507
00:13:49,960 --> 00:13:51,299
robustly funding that.

508
00:13:51,300 --> 00:13:52,559
It has been demonstrated, this

509
00:13:52,560 --> 00:13:54,459
115-year-old contract that we have

510
00:13:54,460 --> 00:13:55,479
had between state and local

511
00:13:55,480 --> 00:13:57,199
governments worked pretty well for

512
00:13:57,200 --> 00:13:59,159
the first 80 years, and then the

513
00:13:59,160 --> 00:14:00,499
Republicans just turned off the

514
00:14:00,500 --> 00:14:01,759
spigot and stopped funding local

515
00:14:01,760 --> 00:14:03,239
government, so we need make sure we

516
00:14:03,240 --> 00:14:05,079
do that. On the larger issue of

517
00:14:05,080 --> 00:14:06,699
criminal justice reform, we need

518
00:14:06,700 --> 00:14:08,199
look a little bit to our neighbors

519
00:14:08,200 --> 00:14:08,979
to the west.

520
00:14:08,980 --> 00:14:11,419
In Minnesota, they spend about $215

521
00:14:11,420 --> 00:14:13,379
per capita on criminal

522
00:14:13,380 --> 00:14:14,759
justice in that state.

523
00:14:14,760 --> 00:14:16,319
They're about the same size, they

524
00:14:16,320 --> 00:14:17,799
have about the crime rate.

525
00:14:17,800 --> 00:14:19,319
We have about three times as many

526
00:14:19,320 --> 00:14:20,139
people incarcerated.

527
00:14:20,140 --> 00:14:22,599
In Wisconsin, we spend about 315

528
00:14:22,600 --> 00:14:24,139
per capita on that.

529
00:14:24,140 --> 00:14:26,039
As a long-term target,

530
00:14:26,040 --> 00:14:27,839
spending that $600 million

531
00:14:27,840 --> 00:14:29,819
difference that they spend on

532
00:14:29,820 --> 00:14:31,459
other things in Minnesota, spending

533
00:14:31,460 --> 00:14:33,479
those on early childhood,

534
00:14:33,480 --> 00:14:35,359
on K-12 education, on other

535
00:14:35,360 --> 00:14:37,339
programs in Wisconsin, that would be

536
00:14:37,340 --> 00:14:38,819
the kind of investment over the long

537
00:14:38,820 --> 00:14:40,179
term that would put us in better

538
00:14:40,180 --> 00:14:42,119
stead and keep us from having fewer

539
00:14:42,120 --> 00:14:43,319
of these incidents because they

540
00:14:43,320 --> 00:14:44,639
should outrage all of us.

541
00:14:44,640 --> 00:14:46,259
But there are ways that we can make

542
00:14:46,260 --> 00:14:48,219
a difference on those by spending

543
00:14:48,220 --> 00:14:49,279
our money differently.

544
00:14:49,280 --> 00:14:50,459
Mr. Brennan, thank you.

545
00:14:50,460 --> 00:14:51,999
Mr. Crowley, without first seeing

546
00:14:52,000 --> 00:14:53,279
any video, you said that you were

547
00:14:53,280 --> 00:14:54,739
horrified by the reports of the

548
00:14:54,740 --> 00:14:56,299
shooting and immediately pointed to

549
00:14:56,300 --> 00:14:57,739
other police shootings in Kenosha

550
00:14:57,740 --> 00:14:58,919
and Minneapolis.

551
00:14:58,920 --> 00:15:00,199
Did you rest your judgment with your

552
00:15:00,200 --> 00:15:01,699
comments and would you sign a bill

553
00:15:01,700 --> 00:15:03,259
or budget that cuts funding for

554
00:15:03,260 --> 00:15:03,889
police department?

555
00:15:03,890 --> 00:15:05,569
No, I did not rush to judgment with

556
00:15:05,570 --> 00:15:06,889
my comments. My thoughts and prayers

557
00:15:06,890 --> 00:15:08,329
are not just with Corey and his

558
00:15:08,330 --> 00:15:09,549
family and friends, but with the

559
00:15:09,550 --> 00:15:11,129
entire Madison community and

560
00:15:11,130 --> 00:15:12,249
everybody who's been affected and

561
00:15:12,250 --> 00:15:13,769
traumatized by this.

562
00:15:13,770 --> 00:15:15,169
Again, we have seen these types of

563
00:15:15,170 --> 00:15:16,689
incidents happening here locally

564
00:15:16,690 --> 00:15:18,609
with Jacob Blake, as well as George

565
00:15:18,610 --> 00:15:19,829
Floyd in Minnesota.

566
00:15:19,830 --> 00:15:21,129
And so it's extremely important that

567
00:15:21,130 --> 00:15:22,629
we have transparency.

568
00:15:22,630 --> 00:15:24,149
We cannot defund the police.

569
00:15:24,150 --> 00:15:25,629
We should be investing in public

570
00:15:25,630 --> 00:15:27,069
safety. And that doesn't mean more

571
00:15:27,070 --> 00:15:28,229
money to police officers.

572
00:15:28,230 --> 00:15:30,169
That's like investing in

573
00:15:30,170 --> 00:15:32,069
systems like the community violence

574
00:15:32,070 --> 00:15:32,979
interruption.

575
00:15:32,980 --> 00:15:34,359
Milwaukee County, we have been a

576
00:15:34,360 --> 00:15:35,999
leader in actually helping to reduce

577
00:15:36,000 --> 00:15:38,019
a violent crime here in in Milwaukee

578
00:15:38,020 --> 00:15:39,879
County working directly hand-in-hand

579
00:15:39,880 --> 00:15:41,499
with not just police departments but

580
00:15:41,500 --> 00:15:43,319
also community organizations.

581
00:15:43,320 --> 00:15:45,259
And so we have to focus on not just

582
00:15:45,260 --> 00:15:46,979
investing upstream but making sure

583
00:15:46,980 --> 00:15:48,419
we wrap around services around

584
00:15:48,420 --> 00:15:49,719
families so they don't have to go

585
00:15:49,720 --> 00:15:51,199
down the road of criminality in the

586
00:15:51,200 --> 00:15:52,200
first place.

587
00:15:53,030 --> 00:15:54,969
Madison police currently do

588
00:15:54,970 --> 00:15:56,849
not have police body cameras,

589
00:15:56,850 --> 00:15:58,729
raise your hand if as governor you

590
00:15:58,730 --> 00:16:00,549
would sign legislation requiring all

591
00:16:00,550 --> 00:16:01,809
police and sheriff's departments in

592
00:16:01,810 --> 00:16:03,730
Wisconsin to have body cameras.

593
00:16:05,230 --> 00:16:06,849
All of you. All candidates.

594
00:16:06,850 --> 00:16:08,629
Let's move on to the economy.

595
00:16:08,630 --> 00:16:09,529
Tonight, Wisconsinites

596
00:16:09,530 --> 00:16:11,409
overwhelmingly say inflation and

597
00:16:11,410 --> 00:16:13,049
the cost of living is the most

598
00:16:13,050 --> 00:16:14,349
important issue ahead of this

599
00:16:14,350 --> 00:16:15,349
election.

600
00:16:15,350 --> 00:16:16,629
The failed tax relief deal

601
00:16:16,630 --> 00:16:18,229
negotiated by Governor Tony Evers

602
00:16:18,230 --> 00:16:19,949
and Republican leaders would have

603
00:16:19,950 --> 00:16:21,129
delivered rebate checks to

604
00:16:21,130 --> 00:16:22,849
Wisconsinites, directed money to

605
00:16:22,850 --> 00:16:24,709
local schools to lower property

606
00:16:24,710 --> 00:16:27,089
taxes, increased special education

607
00:16:27,090 --> 00:16:29,029
funding, and eliminated taxes on

608
00:16:29,030 --> 00:16:30,449
tips and overtime.

609
00:16:30,450 --> 00:16:32,249
It failed in the State Senate.

610
00:16:32,250 --> 00:16:33,949
I'd like you to raise your hand if

611
00:16:33,950 --> 00:16:35,669
as governor you would have signed

612
00:16:35,670 --> 00:16:37,629
that into law if it

613
00:16:37,630 --> 00:16:38,630
passed.

614
00:16:39,640 --> 00:16:40,439
If it passed?

615
00:16:40,440 --> 00:16:41,999
If it past, would you have signed it

616
00:16:42,000 --> 00:16:43,000
into law?

617
00:16:44,420 --> 00:16:46,119
One, Mr. Crowley.

618
00:16:46,120 --> 00:16:47,499
Ms. Royce, you were one of the 15

619
00:16:47,500 --> 00:16:48,939
Democratic senators who helped kill

620
00:16:48,940 --> 00:16:50,539
the deal. Why?

621
00:16:50,540 --> 00:16:52,139
Because at the end of the day, my

622
00:16:52,140 --> 00:16:53,779
job is to be a responsible steward

623
00:16:53,780 --> 00:16:55,039
of taxpayer dollars.

624
00:16:55,040 --> 00:16:57,219
And this would have created a $2.9

625
00:16:57,220 --> 00:16:59,059
billion deficit down

626
00:16:59,060 --> 00:17:01,039
the road, which our schools and

627
00:17:01,040 --> 00:17:02,319
our health care system and our local

628
00:17:02,320 --> 00:17:04,358
governments cannot afford.

629
00:17:04,359 --> 00:17:06,459
It also would have spent

630
00:17:06,460 --> 00:17:07,699
the surplus before it had even

631
00:17:07,700 --> 00:17:08,679
materialized.

632
00:17:08,680 --> 00:17:09,959
Look at what is happening with the

633
00:17:09,960 --> 00:17:10,999
economy.

634
00:17:11,000 --> 00:17:13,059
When we are spending money that we

635
00:17:13,060 --> 00:17:15,059
do not yet have and

636
00:17:15,060 --> 00:17:16,899
spending it in ways that do

637
00:17:16,900 --> 00:17:18,598
not actually help us solve the

638
00:17:18,599 --> 00:17:20,098
long-term problem of getting more

639
00:17:20,099 --> 00:17:22,098
money into our public schools,

640
00:17:22,099 --> 00:17:23,439
giving property tax relief to

641
00:17:23,440 --> 00:17:25,479
property taxpayers, and making sure

642
00:17:25,480 --> 00:17:27,219
that we have a more fair, just tax

643
00:17:27,220 --> 00:17:28,019
system.

644
00:17:28,020 --> 00:17:29,699
All we are doing is throwing that

645
00:17:29,700 --> 00:17:31,379
money away on a political gimmick

646
00:17:31,380 --> 00:17:32,919
that was frankly cooked up by Robin

647
00:17:32,920 --> 00:17:34,779
Voss as he sees the blue wave

648
00:17:34,780 --> 00:17:36,439
coming and wanted to do anything

649
00:17:36,440 --> 00:17:38,299
that he could to either protect his

650
00:17:38,300 --> 00:17:40,099
members from losing their seats and

651
00:17:40,100 --> 00:17:41,579
run away from their terrible record

652
00:17:41,580 --> 00:17:43,339
on public education, which Tom

653
00:17:43,340 --> 00:17:45,119
Tiffany is partially responsible

654
00:17:45,120 --> 00:17:45,419
for.

655
00:17:45,420 --> 00:17:46,859
Quickly, that projected deficit

656
00:17:46,860 --> 00:17:48,859
factored in zero economic growth,

657
00:17:48,860 --> 00:17:50,379
would you consider zero economic

658
00:17:50,380 --> 00:17:51,520
growth? Would that be part of a

659
00:17:51,521 --> 00:17:52,779
Roy's administration if you cite

660
00:17:52,780 --> 00:17:54,069
that deficit?

661
00:17:54,070 --> 00:17:56,209
I'm looking at having a president

662
00:17:56,210 --> 00:17:58,129
who is hell-bent on making things

663
00:17:58,130 --> 00:18:00,189
as expensive and challenging for

664
00:18:00,190 --> 00:18:02,269
families across the state,

665
00:18:02,270 --> 00:18:03,369
and a congressman running for

666
00:18:03,370 --> 00:18:04,629
governor who has done nothing but

667
00:18:04,630 --> 00:18:06,759
stamp Trump's agenda 100 percent.

668
00:18:06,760 --> 00:18:08,119
Thank you, Mr. Crowley, you're the

669
00:18:08,120 --> 00:18:09,139
only one who raised your hand to

670
00:18:09,140 --> 00:18:10,139
sign the deal. Why would you have

671
00:18:10,140 --> 00:18:10,859
signed it into law?

672
00:18:10,860 --> 00:18:11,819
Well, I would have signed it into

673
00:18:11,820 --> 00:18:12,999
law because we would have gotten a

674
00:18:13,000 --> 00:18:14,719
bipartisan deal and actually done.

675
00:18:14,720 --> 00:18:16,319
I think folks understand here in the

676
00:18:16,320 --> 00:18:17,439
state of Wisconsin when you have

677
00:18:17,440 --> 00:18:19,399
divided government, it can be a

678
00:18:19,400 --> 00:18:20,559
bit chaotic.

679
00:18:20,560 --> 00:18:21,579
Were there things in this bill that

680
00:18:21,580 --> 00:18:22,679
I did not like?

681
00:18:22,680 --> 00:18:24,139
Absolutely. I love the fact that we

682
00:18:24,140 --> 00:18:26,039
were going to give relief

683
00:18:26,040 --> 00:18:27,739
to our schools and property tax

684
00:18:27,740 --> 00:18:28,619
relief, and there are other things

685
00:18:28,620 --> 00:18:30,139
in his bill that are didn't like.

686
00:18:30,140 --> 00:18:31,279
At the end of the day, we know that

687
00:18:31,280 --> 00:18:32,399
there are many Wisconsin families

688
00:18:32,400 --> 00:18:33,299
who are desperate.

689
00:18:33,300 --> 00:18:35,099
We should be focusing on how we lift

690
00:18:35,100 --> 00:18:37,279
them up and not playing politics.

691
00:18:37,280 --> 00:18:38,519
And so I would've signed that bill

692
00:18:38,520 --> 00:18:40,439
because that means it would have

693
00:18:40,440 --> 00:18:42,019
passed with bipartisanship.

694
00:18:42,020 --> 00:18:43,479
Congressman Tom Tiffany is

695
00:18:43,480 --> 00:18:44,659
campaigning on the fact that he

696
00:18:44,660 --> 00:18:46,419
would return the entire surplus, he

697
00:18:46,420 --> 00:18:48,199
says, to taxpayers.

698
00:18:48,200 --> 00:18:49,579
Ms. Hong, would you return the

699
00:18:49,580 --> 00:18:51,019
surplus to taxpayers or how would

700
00:18:51,020 --> 00:18:52,459
you spend the projected $2.5

701
00:18:52,460 --> 00:18:53,089
billion?

702
00:18:53,090 --> 00:18:54,969
Those are the taxpayers dollars

703
00:18:54,970 --> 00:18:56,789
but investment is what we need

704
00:18:56,790 --> 00:18:58,569
thinking about our shared future our

705
00:18:58,570 --> 00:19:00,389
kids it is an investment

706
00:19:00,390 --> 00:19:02,289
when we invest in public schools

707
00:19:02,290 --> 00:19:03,889
and ensuring that we are cutting

708
00:19:03,890 --> 00:19:05,569
property taxes but doing right for

709
00:19:05,570 --> 00:19:07,769
our kids our campaign is

710
00:19:07,770 --> 00:19:09,989
about permanent affordability and

711
00:19:09,990 --> 00:19:11,769
putting all of those surplus dollars

712
00:19:11,770 --> 00:19:13,789
um back into uh

713
00:19:13,790 --> 00:19:15,609
taxpayers money i think that

714
00:19:15,610 --> 00:19:17,609
it would be irresponsible and

715
00:19:17,610 --> 00:19:19,429
the reason why that surplus deal was

716
00:19:19,430 --> 00:19:21,309
so problematic is that those

717
00:19:21,310 --> 00:19:23,149
who are fixed income would not have

718
00:19:23,150 --> 00:19:24,529
received that check.

719
00:19:24,530 --> 00:19:25,989
Folks who are lower income would

720
00:19:25,990 --> 00:19:27,369
have received less.

721
00:19:27,370 --> 00:19:28,689
I think it's important to think

722
00:19:28,690 --> 00:19:30,729
about some of the working class

723
00:19:30,730 --> 00:19:32,509
families across our state that

724
00:19:32,510 --> 00:19:34,369
deserve real relief, durable

725
00:19:34,370 --> 00:19:36,309
relief, and that deal

726
00:19:36,310 --> 00:19:36,939
was not it.

727
00:19:36,940 --> 00:19:37,979
We should mention you did vote

728
00:19:37,980 --> 00:19:39,519
against that in the assembly.

729
00:19:39,520 --> 00:19:40,979
Quickly, what would you spend the

730
00:19:40,980 --> 00:19:41,769
surplus on?

731
00:19:41,770 --> 00:19:43,859
Public education and health care.

732
00:19:43,860 --> 00:19:45,699
Mr. Brennan, would you return

733
00:19:45,700 --> 00:19:47,279
it to the taxpayers or would you

734
00:19:47,280 --> 00:19:48,219
spend it and how would you?

735
00:19:48,220 --> 00:19:49,859
I think Tom Tiffany and the

736
00:19:49,860 --> 00:19:50,979
Republicans have already shown their

737
00:19:50,980 --> 00:19:52,219
hands about how they'd return it to

738
00:19:52,220 --> 00:19:53,119
the taxpayers.

739
00:19:53,120 --> 00:19:54,759
There are three sections in the

740
00:19:54,760 --> 00:19:56,279
studio audience here tonight.

741
00:19:56,280 --> 00:19:58,119
If the poor people and the people on

742
00:19:58,120 --> 00:19:59,239
fixed income and social security

743
00:19:59,240 --> 00:20:00,779
were sitting over here, they would

744
00:20:00,780 --> 00:20:01,679
get nothing.

745
00:20:01,680 --> 00:20:03,179
The rest of us who are doing okay

746
00:20:03,180 --> 00:20:04,819
would get the $300 and $600.

747
00:20:04,820 --> 00:20:06,559
By the way, if you want a

748
00:20:06,560 --> 00:20:07,999
stimulating effect by putting money

749
00:20:08,000 --> 00:20:09,299
into the economy, you put it in the

750
00:20:09,300 --> 00:20:10,399
hands of people who are going to

751
00:20:10,400 --> 00:20:12,239
spend it. That was part of the deal.

752
00:20:12,240 --> 00:20:13,099
The thing that I would have

753
00:20:13,100 --> 00:20:15,359
exercised in all of this is caution,

754
00:20:15,360 --> 00:20:16,859
because we live in a Trump economy.

755
00:20:16,860 --> 00:20:18,499
I put together, as the Secretary of

756
00:20:18,500 --> 00:20:19,859
Administration, two budgets for

757
00:20:19,860 --> 00:20:21,899
Governor Evers, and we need

758
00:20:21,900 --> 00:20:23,279
to make sure that we are doing

759
00:20:23,280 --> 00:20:25,179
everything possible to be cautious

760
00:20:25,180 --> 00:20:26,379
in this time of Trump.

761
00:20:26,380 --> 00:20:27,720
The way that I would spend it, you

762
00:20:27,721 --> 00:20:29,039
know, one, it would be cautious, but

763
00:20:29,040 --> 00:20:30,359
the first thing that I will spend,

764
00:20:30,360 --> 00:20:32,379
the first $100 million, which I

765
00:20:32,380 --> 00:20:34,359
will do in January, will go into

766
00:20:34,360 --> 00:20:35,659
childcare and early childhood

767
00:20:35,660 --> 00:20:36,479
education.

768
00:20:36,480 --> 00:20:38,359
It is a system that is broken.

769
00:20:38,360 --> 00:20:40,299
A billion dollars of productivity

770
00:20:40,300 --> 00:20:42,499
sits on the sidelines every year,

771
00:20:42,500 --> 00:20:44,099
especially from women, mainly from

772
00:20:44,100 --> 00:20:46,119
women who can't find affordable,

773
00:20:46,120 --> 00:20:47,679
accessible, or high quality child

774
00:20:47,680 --> 00:20:49,599
care. It is a K-12 and workforce

775
00:20:49,600 --> 00:20:51,219
issue. That's the first place I'd

776
00:20:51,220 --> 00:20:52,299
spend $100 million.

777
00:20:52,300 --> 00:20:54,039
Then I would restart the Knowles

778
00:20:54,040 --> 00:20:55,479
Nelson Stewardship Fund with another

779
00:20:55,480 --> 00:20:56,459
$100 billion.

780
00:20:56,460 --> 00:20:58,239
Those are the types of things that

781
00:20:58,240 --> 00:21:00,159
we can do that's bipartisan

782
00:21:00,160 --> 00:21:01,759
effort. Those are bipartisan things

783
00:21:01,760 --> 00:21:03,299
that have been successful.

784
00:21:03,300 --> 00:21:04,459
The Knowles-Nelson Stewardships

785
00:21:04,460 --> 00:21:06,339
Fund, 90% of us

786
00:21:06,340 --> 00:21:07,979
live within a mile of a project

787
00:21:07,980 --> 00:21:09,439
that's been enhanced by that over

788
00:21:09,440 --> 00:21:10,559
the last 40 years. It's as

789
00:21:10,560 --> 00:21:12,119
bipartisan as it gets.

790
00:21:12,120 --> 00:21:14,119
And it now, as of July 1, doesn't

791
00:21:14,120 --> 00:21:14,899
exist anymore.

792
00:21:14,900 --> 00:21:16,219
Those are the types of things that

793
00:21:16,220 --> 00:21:16,889
we should be investing.

794
00:21:16,890 --> 00:21:18,609
Thank you. Mr. Barnes, would you

795
00:21:18,610 --> 00:21:20,229
send it back to taxpayers or spend

796
00:21:20,230 --> 00:21:21,329
it and how would you spend it?

797
00:21:21,330 --> 00:21:22,309
Well, let's first talk about how we

798
00:21:22,310 --> 00:21:22,669
got here.

799
00:21:22,670 --> 00:21:24,449
Now, the reason there is a surplus

800
00:21:24,450 --> 00:21:25,809
is because Republicans in the

801
00:21:25,810 --> 00:21:27,009
legislature have failed the people

802
00:21:27,010 --> 00:21:27,949
of Wisconsin.

803
00:21:27,950 --> 00:21:29,189
Our school districts are going to

804
00:21:29,190 --> 00:21:31,169
referendum every single year just to

805
00:21:31,170 --> 00:21:32,289
keep the lights on.

806
00:21:32,290 --> 00:21:34,289
And we also see gaps in healthcare

807
00:21:34,290 --> 00:21:36,209
because we are one of 10 states that

808
00:21:36,210 --> 00:21:38,069
has yet to extend our,

809
00:21:38,070 --> 00:21:39,269
excuse me, expand our Medicaid

810
00:21:39,270 --> 00:21:40,689
program under the Affordable Care

811
00:21:40,690 --> 00:21:42,629
Act. We are in a world of trouble.

812
00:21:42,630 --> 00:21:44,469
And Robin Voss has never been

813
00:21:44,470 --> 00:21:45,869
a good negotiating partner.

814
00:21:45,870 --> 00:21:47,129
So no, I certainly wouldn't have

815
00:21:47,130 --> 00:21:48,349
signed the deal. But the way we give

816
00:21:48,350 --> 00:21:50,269
more money back to people, the way

817
00:21:50,270 --> 00:21:52,189
actually return money to folks

818
00:21:52,190 --> 00:21:54,129
is by taxing the wealthy, taxing

819
00:21:54,130 --> 00:21:55,369
the billionaires, tax in these

820
00:21:55,370 --> 00:21:56,609
corporations that have been getting

821
00:21:56,610 --> 00:21:58,529
over on us, making money hand over

822
00:21:58,530 --> 00:22:00,489
fist while communities continue to

823
00:22:00,490 --> 00:22:02,109
starve for resources.

824
00:22:02,110 --> 00:22:04,029
This is how we can most effectively

825
00:22:04,030 --> 00:22:05,369
return money back to folks.

826
00:22:05,370 --> 00:22:07,409
And on the issue of affordability,

827
00:22:07,410 --> 00:22:08,529
the best way we can close the

828
00:22:08,530 --> 00:22:10,369
affordability gap is to put

829
00:22:10,370 --> 00:22:11,749
more money in the pockets of

830
00:22:11,750 --> 00:22:13,109
hardworking people. Our minimum wage

831
00:22:13,110 --> 00:22:14,589
is still $7.25.

832
00:22:14,590 --> 00:22:16,249
Since costs have gone up, wages have

833
00:22:16,250 --> 00:22:18,089
not. But returning that money to the

834
00:22:18,090 --> 00:22:19,729
people, that means making the right

835
00:22:19,730 --> 00:22:21,389
investments in public education,

836
00:22:21,390 --> 00:22:22,469
making the investments in health

837
00:22:22,470 --> 00:22:24,029
care, taxing the wealthy and

838
00:22:24,030 --> 00:22:25,989
implementing a working class

839
00:22:25,990 --> 00:22:27,869
tax cut for folks who work hard

840
00:22:27,870 --> 00:22:29,489
every single day and don't get the

841
00:22:29,490 --> 00:22:30,469
benefits that corporations get.

842
00:22:30,470 --> 00:22:31,709
So quickly, what are you doing with

843
00:22:31,710 --> 00:22:32,569
the surplus?

844
00:22:32,570 --> 00:22:33,529
Well, with the surpluse, like I

845
00:22:33,530 --> 00:22:35,389
said, it's just reinvesting back

846
00:22:35,390 --> 00:22:36,369
into education.

847
00:22:36,370 --> 00:22:38,069
Education. And also now, and also

848
00:22:38,070 --> 00:22:40,409
because of Trump's big ugly bill,

849
00:22:40,410 --> 00:22:41,849
there's going to be some stresses

850
00:22:41,850 --> 00:22:43,709
when it comes to expanding badger

851
00:22:43,710 --> 00:22:45,689
care, which I still support.

852
00:22:45,690 --> 00:22:47,129
It is the right thing to do for us.

853
00:22:47,130 --> 00:22:48,609
So many folks are staring down,

854
00:22:48,610 --> 00:22:50,449
medical debt, medical bankruptcy,

855
00:22:50,450 --> 00:22:51,289
and we need to put money into

856
00:22:51,290 --> 00:22:51,579
healthcare.

857
00:22:51,580 --> 00:22:53,039
We're gonna move on to taxes.

858
00:22:53,040 --> 00:22:54,459
We did bring up taxes so let's move

859
00:22:54,460 --> 00:22:56,019
on to taxes you all in some degree

860
00:22:56,020 --> 00:22:57,679
have used phrases like making the

861
00:22:57,680 --> 00:22:59,499
wealthy pay their fair share and

862
00:22:59,500 --> 00:23:01,279
discussed raising taxes on the rich

863
00:23:01,280 --> 00:23:03,159
to fund your priorities.

864
00:23:03,160 --> 00:23:04,359
Wisconsin already has the second

865
00:23:04,360 --> 00:23:05,879
highest top income tax rate in the

866
00:23:05,880 --> 00:23:07,999
Midwest at 7.65 percent

867
00:23:08,000 --> 00:23:09,919
so we want to know what all of you

868
00:23:09,920 --> 00:23:11,599
define as rich.

869
00:23:11,600 --> 00:23:13,399
So Mr Barnes under your plan what is

870
00:23:13,400 --> 00:23:15,119
the specific income level where

871
00:23:15,120 --> 00:23:16,799
taxes would go up and what

872
00:23:16,800 --> 00:23:18,299
percentage would that top tax

873
00:23:18,300 --> 00:23:19,139
bracket pay?

874
00:23:19,140 --> 00:23:21,039
Yeah. So I think that incomes over a

875
00:23:21,040 --> 00:23:22,359
million dollars should be taxed a

876
00:23:22,360 --> 00:23:23,779
little bit higher, even if it's

877
00:23:23,780 --> 00:23:25,659
temporary. The fact is we are in a

878
00:23:25,660 --> 00:23:27,619
real crisis right now and

879
00:23:27,620 --> 00:23:29,499
our necessities have

880
00:23:29,500 --> 00:23:31,999
not been seeing the resources,

881
00:23:32,000 --> 00:23:33,419
have not been seen the funding.

882
00:23:33,420 --> 00:23:34,779
Again, there's no reason these

883
00:23:34,780 --> 00:23:35,839
school districts should be going to

884
00:23:35,840 --> 00:23:37,739
referendum every single year just to

885
00:23:37,740 --> 00:23:38,859
fund basic services.

886
00:23:38,860 --> 00:23:40,879
And if we increase that

887
00:23:40,880 --> 00:23:43,539
tax rate by less than 1%, 0.9%,

888
00:23:43,540 --> 00:23:45,579
0,8%, we do a

889
00:23:45,580 --> 00:23:47,279
great deal to able to provide much

890
00:23:47,280 --> 00:23:48,799
more funding to our school districts

891
00:23:48,800 --> 00:23:50,659
and also help close

892
00:23:50,660 --> 00:23:51,149
the share revenue.

893
00:23:51,150 --> 00:23:53,009
Is that what you're proposing, 0.8

894
00:23:53,010 --> 00:23:54,169
or 0.9%?

895
00:23:54,170 --> 00:23:55,329
Well, I'm saying this is all I'm

896
00:23:55,330 --> 00:23:56,409
happy to negotiate.

897
00:23:56,410 --> 00:23:57,909
This is what we need to negotiate,

898
00:23:57,910 --> 00:23:59,429
but this is the arena where I'm in

899
00:23:59,430 --> 00:23:59,939
right now.

900
00:23:59,940 --> 00:24:01,759
Ms. Hong, the income level that you

901
00:24:01,760 --> 00:24:04,359
would raise taxes on and how much?

902
00:24:04,360 --> 00:24:06,599
Those who are making the millionth

903
00:24:06,600 --> 00:24:07,619
and one dollar.

904
00:24:07,620 --> 00:24:09,499
I think that the billion as

905
00:24:09,500 --> 00:24:12,719
well to increase that to 0.9%.

906
00:24:12,720 --> 00:24:15,259
It is incredibly disappointing

907
00:24:15,260 --> 00:24:16,799
that some of our lowest income

908
00:24:16,800 --> 00:24:18,739
earners are paying a higher tax

909
00:24:18,740 --> 00:24:20,599
rate than some of the highest income

910
00:24:20,600 --> 00:24:22,439
earner. We need to return to

911
00:24:22,440 --> 00:24:24,459
a progressive income tax rate.

912
00:24:24,460 --> 00:24:26,519
It is how we build sustainable

913
00:24:26,520 --> 00:24:28,299
revenue and ensure that we're able

914
00:24:28,300 --> 00:24:30,159
to actually increase our tax

915
00:24:30,160 --> 00:24:31,839
base across the state as more

916
00:24:31,840 --> 00:24:33,559
working class people are going to be

917
00:24:33,560 --> 00:24:35,619
attracted to coming to Wisconsin to

918
00:24:35,620 --> 00:24:37,039
live, work, and play here.

919
00:24:37,040 --> 00:24:38,899
I think that the legislation that I

920
00:24:38,900 --> 00:24:40,739
introduced that would tax

921
00:24:40,740 --> 00:24:43,359
the billionaire and add millionaire

922
00:24:43,360 --> 00:24:45,599
tax bracket with lower property

923
00:24:45,600 --> 00:24:47,439
taxes by up to 44 percent

924
00:24:47,440 --> 00:24:49,039
and we could put that funding into

925
00:24:49,040 --> 00:24:50,919
special education funding which we

926
00:24:50,920 --> 00:24:52,919
have neglected to actually honor

927
00:24:52,920 --> 00:24:54,659
the budget amount and we must bring

928
00:24:54,660 --> 00:24:56,339
that back up to 90 percent

929
00:24:56,340 --> 00:24:56,889
reimbursement.

930
00:24:56,890 --> 00:24:58,129
And the percentage for those

931
00:24:58,130 --> 00:24:58,919
millionaires?

932
00:24:58,920 --> 00:25:00,699
I would increase that by about one

933
00:25:00,700 --> 00:25:01,199
percent.

934
00:25:01,200 --> 00:25:02,559
You would increase that to about so

935
00:25:02,560 --> 00:25:04,979
about 8.65 correct Mr.

936
00:25:04,980 --> 00:25:06,879
Crowley your income level and

937
00:25:06,880 --> 00:25:08,149
how much would you tax them?

938
00:25:08,150 --> 00:25:09,409
Well, let's be very clear, it's just

939
00:25:09,410 --> 00:25:11,269
not the income tax, but it's

940
00:25:11,270 --> 00:25:12,629
also the property taxes that are

941
00:25:12,630 --> 00:25:13,849
also extremely high in the state of

942
00:25:13,850 --> 00:25:15,069
Wisconsin. And we'll talk about that

943
00:25:15,070 --> 00:25:16,469
next. Okay, well, when we talk about

944
00:25:16,470 --> 00:25:17,809
income taxes, what we really need to

945
00:25:17,810 --> 00:25:19,529
be focusing on is how do we actually

946
00:25:19,530 --> 00:25:21,209
fix this system moving forward?

947
00:25:21,210 --> 00:25:22,609
What we need to do is take a

948
00:25:22,610 --> 00:25:25,229
holistic view of our taxes here

949
00:25:25,230 --> 00:25:26,149
in the State of Wisconsin?

950
00:25:26,150 --> 00:25:27,849
The last time that we took a

951
00:25:27,850 --> 00:25:29,769
holistic view of how we spend our

952
00:25:29,770 --> 00:25:31,209
money and bring in revenues was in

953
00:25:31,210 --> 00:25:33,209
1986, when Governor Tommy

954
00:25:33,210 --> 00:25:34,749
Thompson was actually governor.

955
00:25:34,750 --> 00:25:36,589
And so we need bring academics,

956
00:25:36,590 --> 00:25:38,509
We need to bring labor, we need

957
00:25:38,510 --> 00:25:39,729
to bring business owners and

958
00:25:39,730 --> 00:25:41,269
community members to the table, and

959
00:25:41,270 --> 00:25:42,249
let's actually have a real

960
00:25:42,250 --> 00:25:44,569
discussion about the entire system.

961
00:25:44,570 --> 00:25:45,649
I don't think that we should be just

962
00:25:45,650 --> 00:25:47,749
focusing on how we can increase

963
00:25:47,750 --> 00:25:50,029
taxes just particular for

964
00:25:50,030 --> 00:25:52,009
certain income earners when

965
00:25:52,010 --> 00:25:53,169
we haven't looked at the entire

966
00:25:53,170 --> 00:25:54,809
system. When it comes down to those

967
00:25:54,810 --> 00:25:56,669
who are making hand over fist, we

968
00:25:56,670 --> 00:25:58,389
absolutely need to tax the ultra

969
00:25:58,390 --> 00:25:59,889
wealthy, but we need to be smart

970
00:25:59,890 --> 00:26:00,969
about how we're doing things

971
00:26:00,970 --> 00:26:01,409
long-term.

972
00:26:01,410 --> 00:26:02,709
Do you have an income level or a

973
00:26:02,710 --> 00:26:03,699
percentage for that?

974
00:26:03,700 --> 00:26:04,739
Well, I think we've always got to

975
00:26:04,740 --> 00:26:06,359
look at those who are making more

976
00:26:06,360 --> 00:26:08,359
than a million dollars or more.

977
00:26:08,360 --> 00:26:08,969
Absolutely.

978
00:26:08,970 --> 00:26:09,989
Do you know how high you'd like to

979
00:26:09,990 --> 00:26:10,709
tax them?

980
00:26:10,710 --> 00:26:12,109
No, I think that we have to look at

981
00:26:12,110 --> 00:26:13,779
the entire system holistically.

982
00:26:13,780 --> 00:26:15,699
Ms. Royce, your income

983
00:26:15,700 --> 00:26:17,099
level and percentage you would tax

984
00:26:17,100 --> 00:26:18,989
them looking to raise taxes.

985
00:26:18,990 --> 00:26:20,309
I agree with my colleagues that

986
00:26:20,310 --> 00:26:22,129
anyone who's earning over a million

987
00:26:22,130 --> 00:26:23,589
dollars a year should pay a slightly

988
00:26:23,590 --> 00:26:25,409
higher tax rate, but we also

989
00:26:25,410 --> 00:26:26,849
need to look at the corporate tax

990
00:26:26,850 --> 00:26:28,509
giveaways that have run rampant over

991
00:26:28,510 --> 00:26:29,909
the last 15 years of Republican

992
00:26:29,910 --> 00:26:30,809
rule.

993
00:26:30,810 --> 00:26:32,129
We have rolled out the red carpet

994
00:26:32,130 --> 00:26:33,469
for Foxconn.

995
00:26:33,470 --> 00:26:35,289
The AI data center tax

996
00:26:35,290 --> 00:26:37,109
breaks are estimated to cost us

997
00:26:37,110 --> 00:26:38,110
$2 billion.

998
00:26:38,850 --> 00:26:40,829
All that at a time when we

999
00:26:40,830 --> 00:26:42,769
are spending zero dollars on

1000
00:26:42,770 --> 00:26:44,689
early childhood education, when

1001
00:26:44,690 --> 00:26:46,269
our public schools have been starved

1002
00:26:46,270 --> 00:26:48,149
of resources, jacking up people's

1003
00:26:48,150 --> 00:26:50,149
property taxes just to help our

1004
00:26:50,150 --> 00:26:52,109
kids keep teachers in the classroom.

1005
00:26:52,110 --> 00:26:54,009
So as a small business owner, it

1006
00:26:54,010 --> 00:26:55,769
offends me that the largest

1007
00:26:55,770 --> 00:26:57,769
businesses in the state are not only

1008
00:26:57,770 --> 00:26:58,829
not paying their fair share of

1009
00:26:58,830 --> 00:27:00,369
taxes, but they're often getting

1010
00:27:00,370 --> 00:27:01,569
public resources.

1011
00:27:01,570 --> 00:27:03,289
These are going to big polluters,

1012
00:27:03,290 --> 00:27:04,729
big corporations, out of state

1013
00:27:04,730 --> 00:27:05,569
corporations.

1014
00:27:05,570 --> 00:27:07,489
They're not tied to job creation And

1015
00:27:07,490 --> 00:27:09,169
we need to not just tax the wealthy,

1016
00:27:09,170 --> 00:27:10,229
but make sure that big corporations

1017
00:27:10,230 --> 00:27:11,199
pay their fair share too.

1018
00:27:11,200 --> 00:27:12,579
Do you have a specific percentage in

1019
00:27:12,580 --> 00:27:13,139
mind?

1020
00:27:13,140 --> 00:27:15,399
I think it's concurrent with what my

1021
00:27:15,400 --> 00:27:16,429
colleagues have talked about.

1022
00:27:16,430 --> 00:27:17,369
Mr. Brennan. We're going to find

1023
00:27:17,370 --> 00:27:18,909
that I have general agreement that

1024
00:27:18,910 --> 00:27:20,589
people making over a million dollars

1025
00:27:20,590 --> 00:27:21,849
should pay a little bit more, and we

1026
00:27:21,850 --> 00:27:23,949
could talk about what that is, but I

1027
00:27:23,950 --> 00:27:25,109
also think that there are other

1028
00:27:25,110 --> 00:27:26,529
things, the manufacturing and

1029
00:27:26,530 --> 00:27:28,089
agricultural tax credit, which is

1030
00:27:28,090 --> 00:27:30,049
generally not paid to farmers and

1031
00:27:30,050 --> 00:27:31,529
which has continued to increase to

1032
00:27:31,530 --> 00:27:33,429
the tune of about $400 million.

1033
00:27:33,430 --> 00:27:35,109
I would like to continue, you know,

1034
00:27:35,110 --> 00:27:36,569
we're talking about raising taxes on

1035
00:27:36,570 --> 00:27:37,949
the rich. One of the real successes

1036
00:27:37,950 --> 00:27:39,809
of Tony Evers is making sure that

1037
00:27:39,810 --> 00:27:41,429
we have had middle-class tax cuts

1038
00:27:41,430 --> 00:27:43,269
and ensuring that we can continue to

1039
00:27:43,270 --> 00:27:45,129
do that. Now, the other thing about

1040
00:27:45,130 --> 00:27:46,929
this, however, is that I like to

1041
00:27:46,930 --> 00:27:48,929
win. And we are losing right now to

1042
00:27:48,930 --> 00:27:50,869
Ohio, we're losing to Michigan, we

1043
00:27:50,870 --> 00:27:52,049
are loosing to Minnesota when it

1044
00:27:52,050 --> 00:27:53,489
comes to economic development.

1045
00:27:53,490 --> 00:27:55,249
And so if we're truly going to get

1046
00:27:55,250 --> 00:27:56,569
to the Wisconsin that we need, if we

1047
00:27:56,570 --> 00:27:57,949
are going to increase our

1048
00:27:57,950 --> 00:27:58,989
population, if were going to

1049
00:27:58,990 --> 00:28:00,329
increase what we're getting out of

1050
00:28:00,330 --> 00:28:01,529
our government, it's going to come

1051
00:28:01,530 --> 00:28:02,649
from economic growth.

1052
00:28:02,650 --> 00:28:03,909
And I think we need to make sure

1053
00:28:03,910 --> 00:28:05,809
that we are aggressive in those

1054
00:28:05,810 --> 00:28:07,629
things. You don't need to tell me

1055
00:28:07,630 --> 00:28:09,089
about Foxconn. I spent the first

1056
00:28:09,090 --> 00:28:10,689
year of the Evers administration

1057
00:28:10,690 --> 00:28:12,469
trying to figure out how do we get

1058
00:28:12,470 --> 00:28:14,569
out of that $3 million obligation.

1059
00:28:14,570 --> 00:28:16,149
Ultimately, we brought that down to

1060
00:28:16,150 --> 00:28:18,449
$80 million, and we were able to

1061
00:28:18,450 --> 00:28:20,189
invest and treat them like virtually

1062
00:28:20,190 --> 00:28:21,809
every other company, and then be

1063
00:28:21,810 --> 00:28:23,029
able to investment Main Street

1064
00:28:23,030 --> 00:28:24,629
businesses. So this is not just

1065
00:28:24,630 --> 00:28:26,789
about how do we raise revenue, it's

1066
00:28:26,790 --> 00:28:28,149
how do how do raise revenue by

1067
00:28:28,150 --> 00:28:29,209
taxes, it's, how do you raise

1068
00:28:29,210 --> 00:28:30,909
revenue through growth and making

1069
00:28:30,910 --> 00:28:32,669
sure that we are growing our own and

1070
00:28:32,670 --> 00:28:34,569
investing in economic development

1071
00:28:34,570 --> 00:28:35,099
in our state.

1072
00:28:35,100 --> 00:28:36,739
Real quick before we move on, what

1073
00:28:36,740 --> 00:28:37,919
if all the millionaires leave the

1074
00:28:37,920 --> 00:28:39,719
state and go to a state near us that

1075
00:28:39,720 --> 00:28:41,579
has a flat tax rate or a lower tax

1076
00:28:41,580 --> 00:28:42,499
rate, then all of these plans

1077
00:28:42,500 --> 00:28:43,779
collapse, correct?

1078
00:28:43,780 --> 00:28:45,219
I think that's why you need that.

1079
00:28:45,220 --> 00:28:46,519
That's why this needs to be a

1080
00:28:46,520 --> 00:28:47,379
holistic strategy.

1081
00:28:47,380 --> 00:28:48,779
You know, there's a whole bunch of

1082
00:28:48,780 --> 00:28:50,559
ways in which people don't trust

1083
00:28:50,560 --> 00:28:51,659
government and don't trust

1084
00:28:51,660 --> 00:28:53,159
Democrats. And we better be in a

1085
00:28:53,160 --> 00:28:54,599
position where we can demonstrate to

1086
00:28:54,600 --> 00:28:56,159
them that when we're spending these

1087
00:28:56,160 --> 00:28:57,679
things, they're also getting some

1088
00:28:57,680 --> 00:28:59,059
benefit on it. So if all we're

1089
00:28:59,060 --> 00:29:00,979
talking about is raising taxes, and

1090
00:29:00,980 --> 00:29:02,639
if this is all going to be about how

1091
00:29:02,640 --> 00:29:03,979
do we make sure that we are, you

1092
00:29:03,980 --> 00:29:05,139
know, doing that to people

1093
00:29:05,140 --> 00:29:06,359
penalizing, if it's just going to

1094
00:29:06,360 --> 00:29:08,159
penalties, then we are going to

1095
00:29:08,160 --> 00:29:09,379
start to lose. We need to make sure

1096
00:29:09,380 --> 00:29:10,459
we're growing with everybody.

1097
00:29:10,460 --> 00:29:11,640
Ms. Hong, do they leave the state?

1098
00:29:12,850 --> 00:29:14,369
You know, discussing that

1099
00:29:14,370 --> 00:29:16,329
hypothetical is a little

1100
00:29:16,330 --> 00:29:17,330
bit.

1101
00:29:18,340 --> 00:29:20,699
I'm confused about that, however,

1102
00:29:20,700 --> 00:29:22,339
let's look at all the other policies

1103
00:29:22,340 --> 00:29:24,639
that we have talked about that we've

1104
00:29:24,640 --> 00:29:26,339
been fighting for with our campaign

1105
00:29:26,340 --> 00:29:27,700
when there is free childcare, when

1106
00:29:27,701 --> 00:29:28,979
there is fully funded public

1107
00:29:28,980 --> 00:29:31,019
schools, when we see some of these

1108
00:29:31,020 --> 00:29:32,359
corporate loopholes in corporate

1109
00:29:32,360 --> 00:29:34,219
welfare come to an end,

1110
00:29:34,220 --> 00:29:36,019
when uh we have investment in rural

1111
00:29:36,020 --> 00:29:38,339
roads, when there's uh legalization

1112
00:29:38,340 --> 00:29:40,219
of cannabis, I think that we

1113
00:29:40,220 --> 00:29:41,959
can improve the quality of life for

1114
00:29:41,960 --> 00:29:43,919
millionaires and ensure that they

1115
00:29:43,920 --> 00:29:45,999
too will be able to live, work,

1116
00:29:46,000 --> 00:29:47,179
and thrive here in our state.

1117
00:29:47,180 --> 00:29:48,679
Let's talk about property taxes.

1118
00:29:48,680 --> 00:29:49,999
This past year, Wisconsinites saw

1119
00:29:50,000 --> 00:29:51,939
the highest property tax increase in

1120
00:29:51,940 --> 00:29:52,979
three decades.

1121
00:29:52,980 --> 00:29:54,899
School property tax levies increased

1122
00:29:54,900 --> 00:29:56,799
on average nearly 8%.

1123
00:29:56,800 --> 00:29:58,499
Raise your hand if you as governor

1124
00:29:58,500 --> 00:30:00,079
would commit to an across-the-board

1125
00:30:00,080 --> 00:30:01,640
property tax decrease.

1126
00:30:06,140 --> 00:30:08,079
All candidates agreeing to a

1127
00:30:08,080 --> 00:30:09,659
across-a-board property tax

1128
00:30:09,660 --> 00:30:11,599
decrease. We'll start with you, Mr.

1129
00:30:11,600 --> 00:30:12,719
Barnes. How would you make that

1130
00:30:12,720 --> 00:30:12,999
happen?

1131
00:30:13,000 --> 00:30:14,699
Well, first of all, we have to get

1132
00:30:14,700 --> 00:30:16,419
school funding off of the property

1133
00:30:16,420 --> 00:30:17,619
tax rolls. That's the biggest thing.

1134
00:30:17,620 --> 00:30:19,199
The reason we have seen these

1135
00:30:19,200 --> 00:30:21,559
historic property tax increases is,

1136
00:30:21,560 --> 00:30:22,739
again, because communities all

1137
00:30:22,740 --> 00:30:24,359
across the state of Wisconsin have

1138
00:30:24,360 --> 00:30:26,079
voted to raise their own property

1139
00:30:26,080 --> 00:30:27,899
taxes just to keep the doors

1140
00:30:27,900 --> 00:30:30,219
open. It is a very irresponsible

1141
00:30:30,220 --> 00:30:32,039
way to fund education,

1142
00:30:32,040 --> 00:30:33,539
to fund our future, to prioritize

1143
00:30:33,540 --> 00:30:35,159
our children. When I talked about

1144
00:30:35,160 --> 00:30:36,819
Robin Voss not being a good

1145
00:30:36,820 --> 00:30:38,339
negotiating partner, when I talked

1146
00:30:38,340 --> 00:30:39,819
about the priorities in Wisconsin

1147
00:30:39,820 --> 00:30:41,659
missing the mark, This is how we end

1148
00:30:41,660 --> 00:30:42,799
up with a surplus because our

1149
00:30:42,800 --> 00:30:44,119
schools don't have this funding and

1150
00:30:44,120 --> 00:30:45,359
the resources that they need.

1151
00:30:45,360 --> 00:30:47,639
So what we need to immediately do is

1152
00:30:47,640 --> 00:30:48,640
get to the states.

1153
00:30:49,649 --> 00:30:50,749
Constitutional commitment of

1154
00:30:50,750 --> 00:30:51,709
two-thirds funding.

1155
00:30:51,710 --> 00:30:53,049
We have to make sure our schools are

1156
00:30:53,050 --> 00:30:54,349
fully funded.

1157
00:30:54,350 --> 00:30:55,909
When our schools our fully funded,

1158
00:30:55,910 --> 00:30:57,189
that burden doesn't fall on the

1159
00:30:57,190 --> 00:30:58,209
property tax rolls.

1160
00:30:58,210 --> 00:30:59,949
And then gradually over time, we'll

1161
00:30:59,950 --> 00:31:01,829
be able to decrease property

1162
00:31:01,830 --> 00:31:02,199
taxes.

1163
00:31:02,200 --> 00:31:03,639
We are there right now at

1164
00:31:03,640 --> 00:31:04,409
two-thirds, roughly.

1165
00:31:04,410 --> 00:31:05,649
We are not, we're not there yet.

1166
00:31:05,650 --> 00:31:07,189
We are there yet, we are not there,

1167
00:31:07,190 --> 00:31:07,329
yet.

1168
00:31:07,330 --> 00:31:09,369
Mr. Brennan, how do you

1169
00:31:09,370 --> 00:31:10,169
make an across-the-board?

1170
00:31:10,170 --> 00:31:12,169
Yeah, well, again, it was mentioned

1171
00:31:12,170 --> 00:31:14,089
a little bit by Mandela, but this

1172
00:31:14,090 --> 00:31:15,769
spring, when we all celebrated Chris

1173
00:31:15,770 --> 00:31:17,669
Taylor's win, that night,

1174
00:31:17,670 --> 00:31:19,749
that same night, 72 school districts

1175
00:31:19,750 --> 00:31:21,549
went to referendums, 60 of them for

1176
00:31:21,550 --> 00:31:23,229
operations, just to keep the lights

1177
00:31:23,230 --> 00:31:24,349
on, not to build a new middle

1178
00:31:24,350 --> 00:31:25,589
school, not build a new science

1179
00:31:25,590 --> 00:31:27,409
classroom. That is as

1180
00:31:27,410 --> 00:31:29,129
big a condemnation as we can get in

1181
00:31:29,130 --> 00:31:30,429
Wisconsin, and so I would

1182
00:31:30,430 --> 00:31:31,849
immediately scrap that funding

1183
00:31:31,850 --> 00:31:33,349
formula, which is under a lawsuit

1184
00:31:33,350 --> 00:31:34,509
right now, but it's probably going

1185
00:31:34,510 --> 00:31:35,909
to take three years for that to work

1186
00:31:35,910 --> 00:31:37,009
its way through the courts.

1187
00:31:37,010 --> 00:31:38,589
Our kids don't have three more years

1188
00:31:38,590 --> 00:31:40,569
to wait. I would create a

1189
00:31:40,570 --> 00:31:42,569
child-centric formula where every

1190
00:31:42,570 --> 00:31:44,129
kid has value regardless of where

1191
00:31:44,130 --> 00:31:45,669
you live. You add on for special

1192
00:31:45,670 --> 00:31:47,269
needs. You add for urban rural

1193
00:31:47,270 --> 00:31:48,089
poverty.

1194
00:31:48,090 --> 00:31:49,689
You add-on for English language

1195
00:31:49,690 --> 00:31:51,329
learners. That's how most other

1196
00:31:51,330 --> 00:31:53,009
states have done this, and if you do

1197
00:31:53,010 --> 00:31:54,489
that and you recommit to that

1198
00:31:54,490 --> 00:31:55,909
two-thirds from the state,

1199
00:31:55,910 --> 00:31:57,749
immediately that brings down

1200
00:31:57,750 --> 00:31:59,529
property taxes for people, and it

1201
00:31:59,530 --> 00:32:01,469
gives kids and teachers and

1202
00:32:01,470 --> 00:32:02,809
parents what they need in the

1203
00:32:02,810 --> 00:32:04,429
classroom. This is where we have

1204
00:32:04,430 --> 00:32:06,309
failed. That student,

1205
00:32:06,310 --> 00:32:07,449
the school funding formula has been

1206
00:32:07,450 --> 00:32:09,149
around since 1993.

1207
00:32:09,150 --> 00:32:10,889
It didn't work then, and it doesn't

1208
00:32:10,890 --> 00:32:12,189
work now. So that's the first thing

1209
00:32:12,190 --> 00:32:13,549
that we've got to do that would meet

1210
00:32:13,550 --> 00:32:14,949
the needs of kids but stop hitting

1211
00:32:14,950 --> 00:32:16,609
property taxpayers against kids.

1212
00:32:16,610 --> 00:32:18,229
Ms. Hong, how do you bring property

1213
00:32:18,230 --> 00:32:19,459
taxes down across the board?

1214
00:32:19,460 --> 00:32:21,519
As I mentioned that we have already

1215
00:32:21,520 --> 00:32:23,439
introduced legislation that would

1216
00:32:23,440 --> 00:32:25,419
add a tax to the millionaire and

1217
00:32:25,420 --> 00:32:27,259
increase the millionaire tax

1218
00:32:27,260 --> 00:32:28,639
bracket as well as a billionaire

1219
00:32:28,640 --> 00:32:29,499
tax.

1220
00:32:29,500 --> 00:32:31,619
This would help us fund special

1221
00:32:31,620 --> 00:32:33,399
education while lowering property

1222
00:32:33,400 --> 00:32:35,259
taxes by up to 44%.

1223
00:32:35,260 --> 00:32:37,279
It is essential that we return to

1224
00:32:37,280 --> 00:32:39,259
two-thirds funding and make sure

1225
00:32:39,260 --> 00:32:40,839
that we are bringing a responsible

1226
00:32:40,840 --> 00:32:42,199
end to the voucher program.

1227
00:32:42,200 --> 00:32:44,179
This is a program that currently

1228
00:32:44,180 --> 00:32:46,199
the state is spending over

1229
00:32:46,200 --> 00:32:48,119
$1.2 billion and I I think

1230
00:32:48,120 --> 00:32:50,259
that it is not just public

1231
00:32:50,260 --> 00:32:51,459
school funding that is raising

1232
00:32:51,460 --> 00:32:53,139
property taxes.

1233
00:32:53,140 --> 00:32:54,699
Robin Voss and the Republican-led

1234
00:32:54,700 --> 00:32:56,899
legislature has been decreasing

1235
00:32:56,900 --> 00:32:58,879
shared revenue, and it is

1236
00:32:58,880 --> 00:33:00,919
a deep, inadequate funding for our

1237
00:33:00,920 --> 00:33:02,659
local governments, and they, too,

1238
00:33:02,660 --> 00:33:04,319
have had to go to referenda, and

1239
00:33:04,320 --> 00:33:06,079
many are increasing property taxes,

1240
00:33:06,080 --> 00:33:08,219
so increasing the levies and giving

1241
00:33:08,220 --> 00:33:10,439
our local government the ability to

1242
00:33:10,440 --> 00:33:12,639
raise more revenue, I think this

1243
00:33:12,640 --> 00:33:14,459
is how we're and make sure that

1244
00:33:14,460 --> 00:33:16,379
communities can invest in

1245
00:33:16,380 --> 00:33:17,959
the things that and the programs

1246
00:33:17,960 --> 00:33:19,579
that they absolutely deserve.

1247
00:33:19,580 --> 00:33:20,819
And we're gonna get to education and

1248
00:33:20,820 --> 00:33:22,099
vouchers here in just a second, Ms.

1249
00:33:22,100 --> 00:33:23,659
Roy. So I do wanna ask about

1250
00:33:23,660 --> 00:33:24,739
property taxes.

1251
00:33:24,740 --> 00:33:26,259
How do you bring property taxes down

1252
00:33:26,260 --> 00:33:27,499
across the board?

1253
00:33:27,500 --> 00:33:28,919
The most important thing that we can

1254
00:33:28,920 --> 00:33:30,859
do is appropriately fund our

1255
00:33:30,860 --> 00:33:32,319
local governments and our public

1256
00:33:32,320 --> 00:33:34,179
schools at the state level.

1257
00:33:34,180 --> 00:33:35,519
That means getting to the two thirds

1258
00:33:35,520 --> 00:33:36,899
funding commitment that was made but

1259
00:33:36,900 --> 00:33:38,079
has never been met.

1260
00:33:38,080 --> 00:33:39,539
But it also means fixing the way

1261
00:33:39,540 --> 00:33:40,899
that those dollars are distributed

1262
00:33:40,900 --> 00:33:42,139
because right now it's deeply

1263
00:33:42,140 --> 00:33:43,159
inequitable.

1264
00:33:43,160 --> 00:33:44,839
My family moved to rural Taylor

1265
00:33:44,840 --> 00:33:46,439
County. That's where I was a little

1266
00:33:46,440 --> 00:33:48,459
girl. And they moved because

1267
00:33:48,460 --> 00:33:49,439
of the quality of the public

1268
00:33:49,440 --> 00:33:51,319
education system here in Wisconsin

1269
00:33:51,320 --> 00:33:53,479
47 years ago.

1270
00:33:53,480 --> 00:33:55,459
Now raising my kids in Dane County,

1271
00:33:55,460 --> 00:33:57,299
I can see that we have been

1272
00:33:57,300 --> 00:33:58,959
shortchanging our kids, and that is

1273
00:33:58,960 --> 00:34:00,099
not okay with me.

1274
00:34:00,100 --> 00:34:01,819
So we do need more state resources

1275
00:34:01,820 --> 00:34:03,759
to end this divisive cycle of

1276
00:34:03,760 --> 00:34:04,939
referendums that are pitting

1277
00:34:04,940 --> 00:34:06,839
neighbors against one another,

1278
00:34:06,840 --> 00:34:07,779
grandparents against their

1279
00:34:07,780 --> 00:34:09,669
grandkids' schools.

1280
00:34:09,670 --> 00:34:11,448
I also am the only candidate in this

1281
00:34:11,449 --> 00:34:13,669
race that actually has a plan,

1282
00:34:13,670 --> 00:34:15,488
not just a wish, but an actual

1283
00:34:15,489 --> 00:34:17,329
plan to bring that private voucher

1284
00:34:17,330 --> 00:34:19,209
scheme to a responsible end,

1285
00:34:19,210 --> 00:34:20,689
because the actual number is closer

1286
00:34:20,690 --> 00:34:22,669
to $1.8 billion in each budget

1287
00:34:22,670 --> 00:34:24,789
that is going directly out of

1288
00:34:24,790 --> 00:34:25,988
the coffers of our local school

1289
00:34:25,989 --> 00:34:27,549
districts into these private

1290
00:34:27,550 --> 00:34:29,069
schemes, and they are unaccountable

1291
00:34:29,070 --> 00:34:30,309
and they can discriminate against

1292
00:34:30,310 --> 00:34:31,948
kids, and none of us as taxpayers

1293
00:34:31,949 --> 00:34:33,269
should find that acceptable.

1294
00:34:33,270 --> 00:34:34,149
Mr. Crowley, how do you bring

1295
00:34:34,150 --> 00:34:35,049
property taxes down across

1296
00:34:35,050 --> 00:34:36,869
property taxes are extremely high

1297
00:34:36,870 --> 00:34:37,888
here in the state of Wisconsin.

1298
00:34:37,889 --> 00:34:39,189
It's not just affecting the senior

1299
00:34:39,190 --> 00:34:40,649
who's on a fixed income, it's also

1300
00:34:40,650 --> 00:34:42,249
affecting that young person who may

1301
00:34:42,250 --> 00:34:43,388
want to buy a home and everybody's

1302
00:34:43,389 --> 00:34:45,149
getting squeezed in every direction.

1303
00:34:45,150 --> 00:34:46,549
It is not just affecting homeowners,

1304
00:34:46,550 --> 00:34:48,129
it is also affecting renters as well

1305
00:34:48,130 --> 00:34:50,129
because when property tax go up,

1306
00:34:50,130 --> 00:34:51,569
landlords quite frankly pass those

1307
00:34:51,570 --> 00:34:53,669
down to those renters as well.

1308
00:34:53,670 --> 00:34:54,968
And so we have to tackle property

1309
00:34:54,969 --> 00:34:56,488
taxes by one, investing in our

1310
00:34:56,489 --> 00:34:58,329
education system, increasing the

1311
00:34:58,330 --> 00:34:59,589
reimbursement rates as well for

1312
00:34:59,590 --> 00:35:01,249
special education because our school

1313
00:35:01,250 --> 00:35:02,689
districts shouldn't have to choose

1314
00:35:02,690 --> 00:35:04,609
between mandated services and

1315
00:35:04,610 --> 00:35:05,509
whether or not they're going to have

1316
00:35:05,510 --> 00:35:06,429
teachers.

1317
00:35:06,430 --> 00:35:08,249
But as the only elected official who

1318
00:35:08,250 --> 00:35:09,869
runs, you know, county government

1319
00:35:09,870 --> 00:35:11,309
representing 19 different

1320
00:35:11,310 --> 00:35:12,709
municipalities, close to a million

1321
00:35:12,710 --> 00:35:14,369
people, we have a lot of state

1322
00:35:14,370 --> 00:35:15,649
mandated services.

1323
00:35:15,650 --> 00:35:16,789
And with those state mandated

1324
00:35:16,790 --> 00:35:18,809
services, those resources don't come

1325
00:35:18,810 --> 00:35:19,809
down the pipeline.

1326
00:35:19,810 --> 00:35:21,369
And so it's extremely important that

1327
00:35:21,370 --> 00:35:23,309
we work out the state toe make sure

1328
00:35:23,310 --> 00:35:25,089
that we are getting the local

1329
00:35:25,090 --> 00:35:26,149
governments are getting enough

1330
00:35:26,150 --> 00:35:28,029
resources to invest in things like

1331
00:35:28,030 --> 00:35:29,629
public safety because the state of

1332
00:35:29,630 --> 00:35:31,529
Wisconsin is near the are dead last

1333
00:35:31,530 --> 00:35:32,909
when it comes down to investments

1334
00:35:32,910 --> 00:35:33,419
and such.

1335
00:35:33,420 --> 00:35:35,399
We brought up vouchers, so let's

1336
00:35:35,400 --> 00:35:36,299
talk about vouchers.

1337
00:35:36,300 --> 00:35:37,959
Right now, about 30,000 Milwaukee

1338
00:35:37,960 --> 00:35:39,439
children attend private schools

1339
00:35:39,440 --> 00:35:41,299
using taxpayer-funded vouchers

1340
00:35:41,300 --> 00:35:42,679
Milwaukee was the first school

1341
00:35:42,680 --> 00:35:44,279
choice program in the nation to help

1342
00:35:44,280 --> 00:35:45,999
families who felt failed by the

1343
00:35:46,000 --> 00:35:47,919
public school system and still do

1344
00:35:47,920 --> 00:35:48,979
so today.

1345
00:35:48,980 --> 00:35:50,399
The program has since expanded

1346
00:35:50,400 --> 00:35:51,379
statewide.

1347
00:35:51,380 --> 00:35:52,719
As we've heard, some of you are

1348
00:35:52,720 --> 00:35:54,859
calling to end the voucher program.

1349
00:35:54,860 --> 00:35:55,959
Mr. Crowley, do you support

1350
00:35:55,960 --> 00:35:57,939
eliminating or reducing vouchers

1351
00:35:57,940 --> 00:35:59,269
in the city of Milwaukee?

1352
00:35:59,270 --> 00:36:01,409
Look, I am a proud MPS

1353
00:36:01,410 --> 00:36:02,629
graduate. Went to Milwaukee Public

1354
00:36:02,630 --> 00:36:03,789
Schools, all three of my daughters

1355
00:36:03,790 --> 00:36:05,769
go to public school, so I believe in

1356
00:36:05,770 --> 00:36:07,709
the power of our public education.

1357
00:36:07,710 --> 00:36:08,829
I think to say that we're gonna

1358
00:36:08,830 --> 00:36:10,689
fully eliminate the

1359
00:36:10,690 --> 00:36:12,229
voucher system overnight really

1360
00:36:12,230 --> 00:36:14,149
doesn't take into account the impact

1361
00:36:14,150 --> 00:36:15,809
towards our family, towards our

1362
00:36:15,810 --> 00:36:17,169
teachers, and quite frankly, toward

1363
00:36:17,170 --> 00:36:18,589
the public school system.

1364
00:36:18,590 --> 00:36:19,829
You know, we've talked about how we

1365
00:36:19,830 --> 00:36:21,449
went to referendum to make sure our

1366
00:36:21,450 --> 00:36:22,909
public schools have what they need.

1367
00:36:22,910 --> 00:36:24,269
And if we're going to referendum for

1368
00:36:24,270 --> 00:36:25,549
the current capacity of students

1369
00:36:25,550 --> 00:36:27,459
that they have now, how will we

1370
00:36:27,460 --> 00:36:28,839
be able to bring on those students

1371
00:36:28,840 --> 00:36:30,559
and make sure that we have great

1372
00:36:30,560 --> 00:36:32,059
public schools moving forward?

1373
00:36:32,060 --> 00:36:33,259
And so I don't think the question is

1374
00:36:33,260 --> 00:36:34,339
whether or not we should have

1375
00:36:34,340 --> 00:36:36,239
vouchers. The question should be how

1376
00:36:36,240 --> 00:36:37,759
do we continue to invest in our

1377
00:36:37,760 --> 00:36:39,079
public schools to make sure they're

1378
00:36:39,080 --> 00:36:39,809
the school of choice.

1379
00:36:39,810 --> 00:36:41,029
So would you sign a bill that

1380
00:36:41,030 --> 00:36:42,469
eliminated or reduced vouchers in

1381
00:36:42,470 --> 00:36:43,499
Milwaukee?

1382
00:36:43,500 --> 00:36:45,199
To eliminate or reduce vouchers, no,

1383
00:36:45,200 --> 00:36:46,259
but I don't believe in expanding

1384
00:36:46,260 --> 00:36:47,519
vouchers in the state of Wisconsin.

1385
00:36:47,520 --> 00:36:49,039
Mr. Barnes, you're proposing a

1386
00:36:49,040 --> 00:36:50,859
multi-year sunset of the program,

1387
00:36:50,860 --> 00:36:51,799
as you've described it.

1388
00:36:51,800 --> 00:36:52,679
What does that look like

1389
00:36:52,680 --> 00:36:53,779
specifically in the city of

1390
00:36:53,780 --> 00:36:54,129
Milwaukee?

1391
00:36:54,130 --> 00:36:55,229
Well, let's first talk about the

1392
00:36:55,230 --> 00:36:57,229
reason why parents feel failed by

1393
00:36:57,230 --> 00:36:58,029
public schools.

1394
00:36:58,030 --> 00:36:59,969
This all goes back to the lack of

1395
00:36:59,970 --> 00:37:01,729
funding. This goes back the state

1396
00:37:01,730 --> 00:37:03,469
not meeting its two-thirds funding

1397
00:37:03,470 --> 00:37:05,429
requirement, and schools have been

1398
00:37:05,430 --> 00:37:06,589
starved of resources.

1399
00:37:06,590 --> 00:37:08,569
So it would only be natural for

1400
00:37:08,570 --> 00:37:09,469
parents to feel that way.

1401
00:37:09,470 --> 00:37:11,309
I am also a proud Milwaukee

1402
00:37:11,310 --> 00:37:13,149
public school graduate, but I know

1403
00:37:13,150 --> 00:37:15,009
having gone to a school that was

1404
00:37:15,010 --> 00:37:16,829
starved with resources, what that

1405
00:37:16,830 --> 00:37:18,209
impact meant on a lot of my

1406
00:37:18,210 --> 00:37:20,389
classmates. I was very fortunate to

1407
00:37:20,390 --> 00:37:21,989
know where I was going to go home at

1408
00:37:21,990 --> 00:37:23,369
night. I was very fortunate to not

1409
00:37:23,370 --> 00:37:24,549
have to worry about where my next

1410
00:37:24,550 --> 00:37:26,289
meal came from.

1411
00:37:26,290 --> 00:37:27,769
But that's not the reality that far

1412
00:37:27,770 --> 00:37:29,149
too many of our students face.

1413
00:37:29,150 --> 00:37:30,149
And when we're talking about

1414
00:37:30,150 --> 00:37:32,049
education, we truly have to

1415
00:37:32,050 --> 00:37:34,089
talk about the societal factors that

1416
00:37:34,090 --> 00:37:35,929
impact how our students do or

1417
00:37:35,930 --> 00:37:36,869
do not learn.

1418
00:37:36,870 --> 00:37:38,689
If we have these exorbitant rates

1419
00:37:38,690 --> 00:37:40,449
of child poverty, it is gonna impact

1420
00:37:40,450 --> 00:37:41,689
the way that they learn. And as I

1421
00:37:41,690 --> 00:37:43,509
have talked about vouchers,

1422
00:37:43,510 --> 00:37:45,989
the main line is accountability

1423
00:37:45,990 --> 00:37:47,849
because we have seen horror

1424
00:37:47,850 --> 00:37:50,279
stories where voucher operators.

1425
00:37:50,280 --> 00:37:52,139
Closed doors overnight.

1426
00:37:52,140 --> 00:37:53,699
These operators moved to Florida on

1427
00:37:53,700 --> 00:37:55,019
the public dime.

1428
00:37:55,020 --> 00:37:56,939
And so we have to first get the bad

1429
00:37:56,940 --> 00:37:58,499
actors out of the system.

1430
00:37:58,500 --> 00:38:00,139
Now, I believe public dollars belong

1431
00:38:00,140 --> 00:38:01,199
in public schools.

1432
00:38:01,200 --> 00:38:03,159
And if you receive a dime of

1433
00:38:03,160 --> 00:38:04,839
public money as a private school

1434
00:38:04,840 --> 00:38:06,519
operator, you should have to operate

1435
00:38:06,520 --> 00:38:08,919
by a uniform set of standards.

1436
00:38:08,920 --> 00:38:10,420
That means public governance, that

1437
00:38:10,421 --> 00:38:12,139
means public accountability, public

1438
00:38:12,140 --> 00:38:13,959
scrutiny. And, if you cannot meet

1439
00:38:13,960 --> 00:38:15,399
those standards, you should be taken

1440
00:38:15,400 --> 00:38:16,219
out of this system.

1441
00:38:16,220 --> 00:38:16,540
I can tell you-

1442
00:38:16,541 --> 00:38:17,939
I can tell you. But do vouchers go

1443
00:38:17,940 --> 00:38:19,339
down or are they eliminated in the

1444
00:38:19,340 --> 00:38:19,820
city of Milwaukee?

1445
00:38:19,821 --> 00:38:21,429
Well, I think that the income caps

1446
00:38:21,430 --> 00:38:23,589
being lifted is a travesty because

1447
00:38:23,590 --> 00:38:25,069
that is what makes it a scheme.

1448
00:38:25,070 --> 00:38:27,289
This no longer becomes a program for

1449
00:38:27,290 --> 00:38:28,749
lower income parents to put their

1450
00:38:28,750 --> 00:38:29,529
children in private schools.

1451
00:38:29,530 --> 00:38:30,689
So there could be less vouchers in

1452
00:38:30,690 --> 00:38:32,649
Milwaukee. It becomes a handout.

1453
00:38:32,650 --> 00:38:34,349
And we can no longer, there's no

1454
00:38:34,350 --> 00:38:36,309
justification for expansion

1455
00:38:36,310 --> 00:38:38,009
of vouchers or lifting the caps if

1456
00:38:38,010 --> 00:38:39,889
we have not fully funded our public

1457
00:38:39,890 --> 00:38:41,709
schools. So yes, I would sign a bill

1458
00:38:41,710 --> 00:38:43,589
that reduced them because

1459
00:38:43,590 --> 00:38:45,409
we have seen so

1460
00:38:45,410 --> 00:38:47,309
much chaos with

1461
00:38:47,310 --> 00:38:49,149
this system. We have seen, and

1462
00:38:49,150 --> 00:38:50,889
look, a lot of students, and this is

1463
00:38:50,890 --> 00:38:53,049
a, this is not an overnight thing by

1464
00:38:53,050 --> 00:38:54,729
any means, but we do have to get

1465
00:38:54,730 --> 00:38:55,969
serious about the delivery of

1466
00:38:55,970 --> 00:38:57,749
education, specifically here in

1467
00:38:57,750 --> 00:38:59,449
Milwaukee. But we also have to get

1468
00:38:59,450 --> 00:39:01,029
serious, about the societal issues

1469
00:39:01,030 --> 00:39:02,789
that continue to plague our systems.

1470
00:39:02,790 --> 00:39:03,829
We always have the conversation

1471
00:39:03,830 --> 00:39:05,429
about education, but never about

1472
00:39:05,430 --> 00:39:06,430
poverty. Thank you, Mr. Bowman.

1473
00:39:06,431 --> 00:39:07,749
Thank you, Mr. Barnes. Miss Royce,

1474
00:39:07,750 --> 00:39:08,869
at what point in your plan do

1475
00:39:08,870 --> 00:39:10,869
vouchers go away for tens of

1476
00:39:10,870 --> 00:39:13,029
millions of

1477
00:39:13,030 --> 00:39:14,389
children in Milwaukee, tens of

1478
00:39:14,390 --> 00:39:15,489
thousands of children in Milwaukee?

1479
00:39:16,510 --> 00:39:18,609
No student in Milwaukee or Racine

1480
00:39:18,610 --> 00:39:19,809
who is currently enrolled in a

1481
00:39:19,810 --> 00:39:21,589
voucher program and is happy there

1482
00:39:21,590 --> 00:39:23,089
will be displaced and they will be

1483
00:39:23,090 --> 00:39:24,329
allowed to continue their education

1484
00:39:24,330 --> 00:39:26,209
until they graduate as will their

1485
00:39:26,210 --> 00:39:27,029
siblings.

1486
00:39:27,030 --> 00:39:28,989
However, all programs

1487
00:39:28,990 --> 00:39:30,829
that take public money need to be

1488
00:39:30,830 --> 00:39:32,129
subject to the same rules and

1489
00:39:32,130 --> 00:39:33,709
regulations that public schools are.

1490
00:39:33,710 --> 00:39:35,449
Right now, you can do corporal

1491
00:39:35,450 --> 00:39:37,269
punishment in a Voucher School.

1492
00:39:37,270 --> 00:39:38,329
You don't have to have licensed

1493
00:39:38,330 --> 00:39:39,589
teachers that undergo background

1494
00:39:39,590 --> 00:39:40,369
checks.

1495
00:39:40,370 --> 00:39:41,929
You can discriminate against

1496
00:39:41,930 --> 00:39:43,349
teachers and against students,

1497
00:39:43,350 --> 00:39:44,869
including cherry-picking students

1498
00:39:44,870 --> 00:39:46,429
and saying, no, we don't want a

1499
00:39:46,430 --> 00:39:47,829
student with a disability.

1500
00:39:47,830 --> 00:39:49,329
I think that's totally unacceptable

1501
00:39:49,330 --> 00:39:51,329
as a taxpayer and certainly as

1502
00:39:51,330 --> 00:39:52,189
a parent.

1503
00:39:52,190 --> 00:39:54,129
Every single child deserves a high

1504
00:39:54,130 --> 00:39:55,649
quality public education.

1505
00:39:55,650 --> 00:39:56,909
And what we have with the statewide

1506
00:39:56,910 --> 00:39:58,789
expansion is essentially a

1507
00:39:58,790 --> 00:40:00,649
program that has subsidized

1508
00:40:00,650 --> 00:40:02,429
the private choices of wealthy

1509
00:40:02,430 --> 00:40:04,069
parents. The vast majority of

1510
00:40:04,070 --> 00:40:06,389
students in the statewide expansion

1511
00:40:06,390 --> 00:40:08,369
were already in private school at

1512
00:40:08,370 --> 00:40:09,549
their parent's expense before

1513
00:40:09,550 --> 00:40:10,869
taxpayers started picking up the

1514
00:40:10,870 --> 00:40:11,689
tab.

1515
00:40:11,690 --> 00:40:13,409
I believe that public dollars belong

1516
00:40:13,410 --> 00:40:14,789
in public schools and if you take

1517
00:40:14,790 --> 00:40:16,529
even one dollar of public money you

1518
00:40:16,530 --> 00:40:17,569
need to be subject to

1519
00:40:17,570 --> 00:40:18,369
accountability.

1520
00:40:18,370 --> 00:40:20,169
And yes, over time I am going to

1521
00:40:20,170 --> 00:40:21,569
bring the private voucher scheme to

1522
00:40:21,570 --> 00:40:23,469
an end as we increase the

1523
00:40:23,470 --> 00:40:25,389
quality and the capacity of our

1524
00:40:25,390 --> 00:40:26,989
public schools because the most

1525
00:40:26,990 --> 00:40:28,569
important thing to me as a parent

1526
00:40:28,570 --> 00:40:30,429
and what I hope my legacy will be

1527
00:40:30,430 --> 00:40:32,429
as governor is to restore

1528
00:40:32,430 --> 00:40:34,469
Wisconsin in our rightful place as

1529
00:40:34,470 --> 00:40:36,409
the best public education state in

1530
00:40:36,410 --> 00:40:36,649
the nation.

1531
00:40:36,650 --> 00:40:38,129
So a three-year-old child, for

1532
00:40:38,130 --> 00:40:39,449
example, in the city of Milwaukee

1533
00:40:39,450 --> 00:40:41,109
would not qualify for a voucher

1534
00:40:41,110 --> 00:40:42,568
under your plan.

1535
00:40:42,569 --> 00:40:44,089
Correct unless they were enrolled in

1536
00:40:44,090 --> 00:40:45,929
a 3k program or if their sibling

1537
00:40:45,930 --> 00:40:46,819
was already in one.

1538
00:40:46,820 --> 00:40:48,179
Thank you. Mr. Brennan, do you

1539
00:40:48,180 --> 00:40:49,899
support ending or dialing back the

1540
00:40:49,900 --> 00:40:51,139
state's voucher program?

1541
00:40:51,140 --> 00:40:52,279
And specifically, what does that

1542
00:40:52,280 --> 00:40:53,029
look like for Milwaukee?

1543
00:40:53,030 --> 00:40:55,229
Yeah, and I do support

1544
00:40:55,230 --> 00:40:57,149
some putting back the cap on for

1545
00:40:57,150 --> 00:40:58,389
the statewide program, which has

1546
00:40:58,390 --> 00:40:59,809
come off. I think that there are,

1547
00:40:59,810 --> 00:41:00,949
we've already talked about some of

1548
00:41:00,950 --> 00:41:01,949
the accountability. There's a

1549
00:41:01,950 --> 00:41:03,089
transparency issue.

1550
00:41:03,090 --> 00:41:04,649
We should pass a state law that says

1551
00:41:04,650 --> 00:41:06,229
on your property tax bill, you can

1552
00:41:06,230 --> 00:41:08,049
see how much the city, the county,

1553
00:41:08,050 --> 00:41:09,229
the public schools, and how much

1554
00:41:09,230 --> 00:41:10,609
vouchers are costing.

1555
00:41:10,610 --> 00:41:11,749
Like all of those things are

1556
00:41:11,750 --> 00:41:13,409
important. I'm a proud parent.

1557
00:41:13,410 --> 00:41:14,729
My kids went to Milwaukee public

1558
00:41:14,730 --> 00:41:16,389
schools for about 22 years.

1559
00:41:16,390 --> 00:41:17,829
But let me add a dose of reality

1560
00:41:17,830 --> 00:41:19,849
here. There is not going to be

1561
00:41:19,850 --> 00:41:21,289
a bill that passes in the

1562
00:41:21,290 --> 00:41:23,129
legislature that is put on the

1563
00:41:23,130 --> 00:41:24,569
governor's desk right now to end

1564
00:41:24,570 --> 00:41:25,449
vouchers in Milwaukee.

1565
00:41:25,450 --> 00:41:26,969
You know why? Because there are

1566
00:41:26,970 --> 00:41:28,349
representatives in Milwaukee who

1567
00:41:28,350 --> 00:41:30,069
represent the city of Milwaukee for

1568
00:41:30,070 --> 00:41:31,709
whom more than half of the people

1569
00:41:31,710 --> 00:41:33,689
who live there are sending their

1570
00:41:33,690 --> 00:41:34,749
kids to private schools.

1571
00:41:34,750 --> 00:41:36,689
We have to live in the real world.

1572
00:41:36,690 --> 00:41:38,349
This is an issue that is dividing

1573
00:41:38,350 --> 00:41:40,529
Democrats because in Milwaukee,

1574
00:41:40,530 --> 00:41:42,149
what parents deserve is a great

1575
00:41:42,150 --> 00:41:43,669
option. And I want to make sure our

1576
00:41:43,670 --> 00:41:45,589
public schools are better than any,

1577
00:41:45,590 --> 00:41:46,809
bar none. And we have the largest

1578
00:41:46,810 --> 00:41:49,029
achievement gap in the country right

1579
00:41:49,030 --> 00:41:50,189
here in my hometown.

1580
00:41:50,190 --> 00:41:51,649
That's not acceptable.

1581
00:41:51,650 --> 00:41:53,549
So the results aren't what we want.

1582
00:41:53,550 --> 00:41:54,709
We need to hold everybody

1583
00:41:54,710 --> 00:41:55,769
accountable. You know who doesn't

1584
00:41:55,770 --> 00:41:56,989
like accountability?

1585
00:41:56,990 --> 00:41:58,869
Lousy schools, no matter what kind

1586
00:41:58,870 --> 00:41:59,949
of school they are. So we need to

1587
00:41:59,950 --> 00:42:01,269
make sure we are holding ourselves

1588
00:42:01,270 --> 00:42:03,129
accountable. But we need also make

1589
00:42:03,130 --> 00:42:05,289
sure that we are, you

1590
00:42:05,290 --> 00:42:06,789
know, living in the real world here

1591
00:42:06,790 --> 00:42:08,949
because I wouldn't put

1592
00:42:08,950 --> 00:42:10,469
legislators in a position where

1593
00:42:10,470 --> 00:42:12,509
they're going to have to

1594
00:42:12,510 --> 00:42:13,949
tell parents that they can't send

1595
00:42:13,950 --> 00:42:14,970
their kids to school. To your dad.

1596
00:42:14,971 --> 00:42:15,849
Let's say a bill got to your desk.
Would you sign

1597
00:42:15,850 --> 00:42:17,350
a bill that reduced vouchers in the

1598
00:42:17,351 --> 00:42:17,779
city of Milwaukee?

1599
00:42:17,780 --> 00:42:19,759
I wouldn't right now because I think

1600
00:42:19,760 --> 00:42:21,299
we need to make sure that we are

1601
00:42:21,300 --> 00:42:23,139
doing right by everybody in the

1602
00:42:23,140 --> 00:42:24,139
city of Milwaukee. There are changes

1603
00:42:24,140 --> 00:42:25,999
to be made. The largest recipient of

1604
00:42:26,000 --> 00:42:28,019
vouchers in the state, $44 million

1605
00:42:28,020 --> 00:42:29,619
to a virtual school.

1606
00:42:29,620 --> 00:42:30,459
Thank you, Mr. Rodney. Those are the
types

1607
00:42:30,460 --> 00:42:31,020
of things we can change.

1608
00:42:31,021 --> 00:42:32,969
Miss Hong, you are calling for a

1609
00:42:32,970 --> 00:42:34,689
responsible transition away from

1610
00:42:34,690 --> 00:42:36,709
the, quote, unfair voucher program.

1611
00:42:36,710 --> 00:42:38,349
Does that include fully eliminating

1612
00:42:38,350 --> 00:42:39,779
vouchers in Milwaukee?

1613
00:42:39,780 --> 00:42:41,999
You know, I'm a very proud daughter

1614
00:42:42,000 --> 00:42:43,919
of immigrants, a single mom

1615
00:42:43,920 --> 00:42:45,979
where my son is going to the same

1616
00:42:45,980 --> 00:42:47,619
public school district that I came

1617
00:42:47,620 --> 00:42:49,639
through in my hometown of Madison.

1618
00:42:49,640 --> 00:42:51,299
I believe that public dollars not

1619
00:42:51,300 --> 00:42:53,239
only belong in public schools,

1620
00:42:53,240 --> 00:42:54,499
but one of the reasons that

1621
00:42:54,500 --> 00:42:56,519
privatization has grown across the

1622
00:42:56,520 --> 00:42:58,459
country is that, you know, it's

1623
00:42:58,460 --> 00:43:00,459
public institutions of education

1624
00:43:00,460 --> 00:43:01,979
that are one of our last remaining

1625
00:43:01,980 --> 00:43:03,279
democratic institutions.

1626
00:43:03,280 --> 00:43:05,039
And if we don't have strong public

1627
00:43:05,040 --> 00:43:06,459
schools we can't have a strong

1628
00:43:06,460 --> 00:43:08,279
democracy. Our plan would

1629
00:43:08,280 --> 00:43:10,519
ensure property tax

1630
00:43:10,520 --> 00:43:11,599
transparency.

1631
00:43:11,600 --> 00:43:13,579
I was in Luxembourg, Wisconsin

1632
00:43:13,580 --> 00:43:15,619
at the dairy breakfast talking

1633
00:43:15,620 --> 00:43:17,739
to a gentleman who had no idea about

1634
00:43:17,740 --> 00:43:19,499
the voucher program and when he

1635
00:43:19,500 --> 00:43:21,219
found out that the statewide program

1636
00:43:21,220 --> 00:43:23,199
is where some of the public

1637
00:43:23,200 --> 00:43:24,679
dollars were going into private

1638
00:43:24,680 --> 00:43:25,969
schools, he was shocked.

1639
00:43:25,970 --> 00:43:28,469
Ending that statewide program and

1640
00:43:28,470 --> 00:43:30,029
implementing property tax

1641
00:43:30,030 --> 00:43:31,909
transparency, and then moving

1642
00:43:31,910 --> 00:43:33,929
to Milwaukee and Racine and

1643
00:43:33,930 --> 00:43:35,689
looking at accountability and

1644
00:43:35,690 --> 00:43:37,769
transparency measures that is

1645
00:43:37,770 --> 00:43:39,689
uniform across what public schools

1646
00:43:39,690 --> 00:43:41,849
are having to be audited

1647
00:43:41,850 --> 00:43:43,869
for and the different regulations

1648
00:43:43,870 --> 00:43:45,849
that public schools are responsible

1649
00:43:45,850 --> 00:43:47,689
for. And I will say I introduced

1650
00:43:47,690 --> 00:43:49,089
the Healthy School Meals for All

1651
00:43:49,090 --> 00:43:51,009
legislation, and that is a

1652
00:43:51,010 --> 00:43:52,989
bill that would include all students

1653
00:43:52,990 --> 00:43:53,969
in K through 12.

1654
00:43:53,970 --> 00:43:55,769
It includes vouchers and includes

1655
00:43:55,770 --> 00:43:57,469
private schools, schools for the

1656
00:43:57,470 --> 00:43:58,429
visually impaired.

1657
00:43:58,430 --> 00:44:00,189
And this is a type of bill that not

1658
00:44:00,190 --> 00:44:02,109
only helps to reduce costs for

1659
00:44:02,110 --> 00:44:03,729
families, but would help all

1660
00:44:03,730 --> 00:44:04,730
students across the state.

1661
00:44:04,731 --> 00:44:05,779
Just to the point of fully

1662
00:44:05,780 --> 00:44:07,759
eliminating vouchers in Milwaukee.

1663
00:44:07,760 --> 00:44:09,089
Your plan?

1664
00:44:09,090 --> 00:44:10,949
It has to be a responsible

1665
00:44:10,950 --> 00:44:12,929
program and process where

1666
00:44:12,930 --> 00:44:14,809
we work directly with the families

1667
00:44:14,810 --> 00:44:17,029
and the different schools where

1668
00:44:17,030 --> 00:44:19,169
the voucher program, depending on

1669
00:44:19,170 --> 00:44:21,009
how expansive it is in the

1670
00:44:21,010 --> 00:44:22,889
school, but it would need to come to

1671
00:44:22,890 --> 00:44:24,769
an end and I can see, I don't want

1672
00:44:24,770 --> 00:44:26,629
to put a firm number on it,

1673
00:44:26,630 --> 00:44:28,829
but I do believe that, again,

1674
00:44:28,830 --> 00:44:29,949
public dollars coming in public

1675
00:44:29,950 --> 00:44:32,629
schools, understanding that we

1676
00:44:32,630 --> 00:44:34,569
have built this system where it's

1677
00:44:34,570 --> 00:44:36,429
deeply inequitable and I think that

1678
00:44:36,430 --> 00:44:38,289
it's important that we put in the

1679
00:44:38,290 --> 00:44:40,029
responsibilities of working with our

1680
00:44:40,030 --> 00:44:41,409
partners to end the program in

1681
00:44:41,410 --> 00:44:41,859
Milwaukee.

1682
00:44:41,860 --> 00:44:43,719
Eventually a full end in the city of

1683
00:44:43,720 --> 00:44:44,239
Milwaukee

1684
00:44:44,240 --> 00:44:46,139
I believe that that is what

1685
00:44:46,140 --> 00:44:48,139
bringing a responsible end

1686
00:44:48,140 --> 00:44:49,679
to the voucher program is, Matt.

1687
00:44:49,680 --> 00:44:50,039
Thank you.

1688
00:44:50,040 --> 00:44:51,739
Let's talk about data centers, and

1689
00:44:51,740 --> 00:44:53,779
Marquette's latest poll, 76%

1690
00:44:53,780 --> 00:44:55,479
of Wisconsinites say they believe

1691
00:44:55,480 --> 00:44:57,019
the costs outweigh the benefits.

1692
00:44:57,020 --> 00:44:58,399
And that includes a majority of

1693
00:44:58,400 --> 00:44:59,639
Democrats, independents, and

1694
00:44:59,640 --> 00:45:00,599
Republicans.

1695
00:45:00,600 --> 00:45:02,519
You've all outlined varying plans on

1696
00:45:02,520 --> 00:45:03,859
how you would approach the boom in

1697
00:45:03,860 --> 00:45:05,959
data centers from new regulations to

1698
00:45:05,960 --> 00:45:07,659
construction moratoriums.

1699
00:45:07,660 --> 00:45:08,879
State lawmakers recently attempted

1700
00:45:08,880 --> 00:45:10,779
to pass a series of regulations, but

1701
00:45:10,780 --> 00:45:11,879
they failed to pass the full

1702
00:45:11,880 --> 00:45:13,179
legislature.

1703
00:45:13,180 --> 00:45:14,819
If lawmakers can't agree and if you

1704
00:45:14,820 --> 00:45:16,479
believe in local control, what

1705
00:45:16,480 --> 00:45:18,499
really can you do as governor, Mr.

1706
00:45:18,500 --> 00:45:19,229
Crowley?

1707
00:45:19,230 --> 00:45:21,229
Well, one, we need to,

1708
00:45:21,230 --> 00:45:22,029
it's unfortunate that the

1709
00:45:22,030 --> 00:45:23,429
legislature actually left session

1710
00:45:23,430 --> 00:45:24,629
without actually putting any guard

1711
00:45:24,630 --> 00:45:25,649
rails in place.

1712
00:45:25,650 --> 00:45:26,849
And so as governor, we needed to

1713
00:45:26,850 --> 00:45:27,829
make sure that we're protecting

1714
00:45:27,830 --> 00:45:29,449
ourselves from the data centers that

1715
00:45:29,450 --> 00:45:30,549
are currently here.

1716
00:45:30,550 --> 00:45:32,409
I do have the same concerns that

1717
00:45:32,410 --> 00:45:34,189
many folks have across this state,

1718
00:45:34,190 --> 00:45:35,689
but I think a moratorium, a

1719
00:45:35,690 --> 00:45:36,969
short-term moratorium doesn't

1720
00:45:36,970 --> 00:45:39,109
address the long-term concerns that

1721
00:45:39,110 --> 00:45:39,889
we have.

1722
00:45:39,890 --> 00:45:41,369
And so, as governor we will make

1723
00:45:41,370 --> 00:45:42,669
sure we hold these data centers

1724
00:45:42,670 --> 00:45:44,609
accountable, that they pay for the

1725
00:45:44,610 --> 00:45:45,949
energy used, they pay the grid

1726
00:45:45,950 --> 00:45:47,649
upgrades, and they bring the

1727
00:45:47,650 --> 00:45:49,369
approach to bring your own new clean

1728
00:45:49,370 --> 00:45:50,209
energy.

1729
00:45:50,210 --> 00:45:51,569
We need these data centers to be as

1730
00:45:51,570 --> 00:45:53,829
close to 100% renewable energy as

1731
00:45:53,830 --> 00:45:55,369
much as possible.

1732
00:45:55,370 --> 00:45:56,769
But they can go anywhere in this

1733
00:45:56,770 --> 00:45:58,329
country. But we have to understand

1734
00:45:58,330 --> 00:46:00,149
that our clean air, our clean water,

1735
00:46:00,150 --> 00:46:01,629
it doesn't stop at the borders of

1736
00:46:01,630 --> 00:46:03,069
Wisconsin. And so as county

1737
00:46:03,070 --> 00:46:05,049
executive we have put in place a

1738
00:46:05,050 --> 00:46:06,549
climate action plan to reduce our

1739
00:46:06,550 --> 00:46:08,169
carbon emissions and we're 50% of

1740
00:46:08,170 --> 00:46:08,949
the way there.

1741
00:46:08,950 --> 00:46:10,249
And we need to make sure that we're

1742
00:46:10,250 --> 00:46:11,329
having that same level of

1743
00:46:11,330 --> 00:46:12,569
accountability here in the state of

1744
00:46:12,570 --> 00:46:13,409
Wisconsin.

1745
00:46:13,410 --> 00:46:14,729
But if they are going to be here,

1746
00:46:14,730 --> 00:46:16,069
let's make sure we're utilizing

1747
00:46:16,070 --> 00:46:16,889
union labor.

1748
00:46:16,890 --> 00:46:18,869
Let's see project labor agreements,

1749
00:46:18,870 --> 00:46:20,289
prevailing wage, and community

1750
00:46:20,290 --> 00:46:21,929
benefit agreements across the entire

1751
00:46:21,930 --> 00:46:23,889
state because we're all going to be

1752
00:46:23,890 --> 00:46:25,489
affected and I believe they should

1753
00:46:25,490 --> 00:46:27,389
be subsidizing our energy

1754
00:46:27,390 --> 00:46:28,839
use if they're going to be here.

1755
00:46:28,840 --> 00:46:30,099
You said they could go anywhere, do

1756
00:46:30,100 --> 00:46:31,539
you want them here?

1757
00:46:31,540 --> 00:46:32,379
I can hear you.

1758
00:46:32,380 --> 00:46:33,539
You said, they could, go anywhere.

1759
00:46:33,540 --> 00:46:35,119
Do you want, them here in Wisconsin?

1760
00:46:35,120 --> 00:46:36,399
Well, we need to make sure that we

1761
00:46:36,400 --> 00:46:37,879
have a framework in place to protect

1762
00:46:37,880 --> 00:46:39,399
ourselves moving forward because

1763
00:46:39,400 --> 00:46:40,599
right now we don't have anything

1764
00:46:40,600 --> 00:46:42,159
right now with what's already here.

1765
00:46:42,160 --> 00:46:44,759
Ms. Hong, if lawmakers, they

1766
00:46:44,760 --> 00:46:46,479
can't agree on any regulations, if

1767
00:46:46,480 --> 00:46:47,679
you believe in local control, what

1768
00:46:47,680 --> 00:46:49,209
can you really do as governor?

1769
00:46:49,210 --> 00:46:51,209
I introduced the legislation

1770
00:46:51,210 --> 00:46:52,849
that puts a moratorium on the

1771
00:46:52,850 --> 00:46:54,669
construction of new AI data centers

1772
00:46:54,670 --> 00:46:56,649
and I would call a special session

1773
00:46:56,650 --> 00:46:58,729
into play so

1774
00:46:58,730 --> 00:47:00,629
that the legislature can take up

1775
00:47:00,630 --> 00:47:02,089
that legislation or the other

1776
00:47:02,090 --> 00:47:04,169
democratic legislation that

1777
00:47:04,170 --> 00:47:06,069
had been introduced by my colleagues

1778
00:47:06,070 --> 00:47:08,049
and yet Robin Voss ended session

1779
00:47:08,050 --> 00:47:08,849
early.

1780
00:47:08,850 --> 00:47:10,349
I think it's important that we have

1781
00:47:10,350 --> 00:47:12,149
enforceable regulation, that we

1782
00:47:12,150 --> 00:47:14,209
bring union workers to the table,

1783
00:47:14,210 --> 00:47:16,069
that this is very similar to what

1784
00:47:16,070 --> 00:47:17,909
I believe could be seen as more

1785
00:47:17,910 --> 00:47:19,609
bargaining to make sure that we're

1786
00:47:19,610 --> 00:47:21,809
protecting union jobs and that

1787
00:47:21,810 --> 00:47:23,689
you know the natural resources

1788
00:47:23,690 --> 00:47:24,969
we're letting some of the big tech

1789
00:47:24,970 --> 00:47:26,609
companies know that they are not for

1790
00:47:26,610 --> 00:47:28,469
sale and until we fully fund

1791
00:47:28,470 --> 00:47:29,969
the Department of Natural Resources

1792
00:47:29,970 --> 00:47:32,149
and we have the actual regulations

1793
00:47:32,150 --> 00:47:34,029
to hold polluters

1794
00:47:34,030 --> 00:47:36,069
accountable that we are including

1795
00:47:36,070 --> 00:47:37,929
in the Public Service Commission you

1796
00:47:37,930 --> 00:47:39,329
know different types of phases where

1797
00:47:39,330 --> 00:47:41,209
we have stricter legislation and

1798
00:47:41,210 --> 00:47:43,229
clear definitions of how data

1799
00:47:43,230 --> 00:47:44,629
centers can actually move forward

1800
00:47:44,630 --> 00:47:46,989
this moratorium is necessary

1801
00:47:46,990 --> 00:47:48,889
so that we can responsibly and

1802
00:47:48,890 --> 00:47:50,989
put in enforcement mechanisms

1803
00:47:50,990 --> 00:47:53,049
to protect communities and

1804
00:47:53,050 --> 00:47:54,749
seeing local governments already put

1805
00:47:54,750 --> 00:47:56,529
moratoriums into play.

1806
00:47:56,530 --> 00:47:57,889
We want people to have local

1807
00:47:57,890 --> 00:47:59,269
control, but we also want to make

1808
00:47:59,270 --> 00:48:01,209
sure that there are the guardrails,

1809
00:48:01,210 --> 00:48:03,089
the legal resources, and that

1810
00:48:03,090 --> 00:48:04,569
if data centers are going to come

1811
00:48:04,570 --> 00:48:06,269
here in our state, that they pay

1812
00:48:06,270 --> 00:48:08,309
their own way and actually pay up

1813
00:48:08,310 --> 00:48:09,729
front. And I think it's important to

1814
00:48:09,730 --> 00:48:11,289
say that, you know, the data centers

1815
00:48:11,290 --> 00:48:12,969
that currently exist in our state

1816
00:48:12,970 --> 00:48:14,689
you know there is a sales tax

1817
00:48:14,690 --> 00:48:16,649
exemption with over 2.1

1818
00:48:16,650 --> 00:48:18,149
billion dollars that could go back

1819
00:48:18,150 --> 00:48:19,729
into infrastructure for clean

1820
00:48:19,730 --> 00:48:21,569
renewable energy green union

1821
00:48:21,570 --> 00:48:21,839
jobs

1822
00:48:21,840 --> 00:48:23,759
Thank you, Mr. Brennan, if

1823
00:48:23,760 --> 00:48:25,499
lawmakers can agree and you believe

1824
00:48:25,500 --> 00:48:27,299
in local control, what can you do to

1825
00:48:27,300 --> 00:48:28,419
address the data centers?

1826
00:48:28,420 --> 00:48:29,999
Three words to start with, get new

1827
00:48:30,000 --> 00:48:31,859
lawmakers. That's why the stakes

1828
00:48:31,860 --> 00:48:32,979
are so important this year.

1829
00:48:32,980 --> 00:48:34,859
That's we need a nominee who's going

1830
00:48:34,860 --> 00:48:36,779
to win down ballot and

1831
00:48:36,780 --> 00:48:38,359
make sure we can have a majority in

1832
00:48:38,360 --> 00:48:39,599
the state assembly and the state

1833
00:48:39,600 --> 00:48:41,699
senate. Once we do that, what people

1834
00:48:41,700 --> 00:48:43,019
think about when they think about

1835
00:48:43,020 --> 00:48:44,359
data centers, they are angry.

1836
00:48:44,360 --> 00:48:45,959
They're angry because government has

1837
00:48:45,960 --> 00:48:47,499
failed them. The state got into the

1838
00:48:47,500 --> 00:48:49,399
data center game and they put no

1839
00:48:49,400 --> 00:48:50,639
guardrails on.

1840
00:48:50,640 --> 00:48:52,179
And I have not called for a

1841
00:48:52,180 --> 00:48:53,659
moratorium, but I have said that I

1842
00:48:53,660 --> 00:48:54,879
would put a pause on the

1843
00:48:54,880 --> 00:48:55,999
construction of new data centers.

1844
00:48:56,000 --> 00:48:57,839
Not for a year, but in the first

1845
00:48:57,840 --> 00:48:59,619
hundred days, we can do four things.

1846
00:48:59,620 --> 00:49:00,919
We can make sure that nobody

1847
00:49:00,920 --> 00:49:02,739
watching tonight pays for the

1848
00:49:02,740 --> 00:49:04,179
construction, the operation, the

1849
00:49:04,180 --> 00:49:05,039
transmission, the ultimate

1850
00:49:05,040 --> 00:49:06,099
retirement of these.

1851
00:49:06,100 --> 00:49:07,419
Make sure that there are real teeth

1852
00:49:07,420 --> 00:49:08,919
in the environmental regulations,

1853
00:49:08,920 --> 00:49:09,939
making sure that they're having to

1854
00:49:09,940 --> 00:49:10,939
do renewables.

1855
00:49:10,940 --> 00:49:12,679
Make sure there are Wisconsin union

1856
00:49:12,680 --> 00:49:14,139
workers who are building these if

1857
00:49:14,140 --> 00:49:15,159
they happen here.

1858
00:49:15,160 --> 00:49:16,299
And number four, make sure that

1859
00:49:16,300 --> 00:49:17,779
there never going to be the

1860
00:49:17,780 --> 00:49:19,399
nondisclosure agreements that are

1861
00:49:19,400 --> 00:49:20,879
the reason why people don't trust

1862
00:49:20,880 --> 00:49:23,159
government, why they're so

1863
00:49:23,160 --> 00:49:24,359
angry about these things.

1864
00:49:24,360 --> 00:49:26,279
If we can demonstrate in that first

1865
00:49:26,280 --> 00:49:27,719
hundred days, and there's good

1866
00:49:27,720 --> 00:49:29,259
legislation that's gone through 12

1867
00:49:29,260 --> 00:49:31,339
drafts and Democrats and Republicans

1868
00:49:31,340 --> 00:49:32,719
both and stakeholders have had

1869
00:49:32,720 --> 00:49:34,699
involvement in that, if we can do

1870
00:49:34,700 --> 00:49:35,939
that in the first hundred days, it's

1871
00:49:35,940 --> 00:49:37,139
not going to make everybody happy,

1872
00:49:37,140 --> 00:49:38,759
but it's going to set the bar and

1873
00:49:38,760 --> 00:49:40,539
take away that uncertainty and take

1874
00:49:40,540 --> 00:49:42,139
away another reason why people

1875
00:49:42,140 --> 00:49:43,899
distrust government and why they're

1876
00:49:43,900 --> 00:49:45,239
so angry. Like, that's, I think,

1877
00:49:45,240 --> 00:49:45,979
what gov-

1878
00:49:45,980 --> 00:49:47,499
Mr. Lawrence.

1879
00:49:47,500 --> 00:49:49,699
So, as a governor, the

1880
00:49:49,700 --> 00:49:51,039
response has to be bigger than

1881
00:49:51,040 --> 00:49:51,959
buzzwords.

1882
00:49:51,960 --> 00:49:53,859
Now, I do think that there should be

1883
00:49:53,860 --> 00:49:55,599
no new data center construction

1884
00:49:55,600 --> 00:49:57,559
without those guard rails in place.

1885
00:49:57,560 --> 00:49:59,419
If a community rejects

1886
00:49:59,420 --> 00:50:00,879
a data center proposal, then there

1887
00:50:00,880 --> 00:50:02,239
should no new datacenter

1888
00:50:02,240 --> 00:50:03,339
constructed.

1889
00:50:03,340 --> 00:50:04,839
And with the guard rails, with the

1890
00:50:04,840 --> 00:50:06,379
framework that protects our natural

1891
00:50:06,380 --> 00:50:08,099
resources, that makes sure that

1892
00:50:08,100 --> 00:50:09,619
water quality, air quality is

1893
00:50:09,620 --> 00:50:11,499
protected, that also makes sure

1894
00:50:11,500 --> 00:50:13,159
people's utility rates aren't

1895
00:50:13,160 --> 00:50:15,239
increasing. If that framework is

1896
00:50:15,240 --> 00:50:16,699
in place, it also needs to be

1897
00:50:16,700 --> 00:50:18,599
retroactively applied to existing

1898
00:50:18,600 --> 00:50:19,479
data centers.

1899
00:50:19,480 --> 00:50:21,399
And we also have to have a renewable

1900
00:50:21,400 --> 00:50:22,819
energy mandate to make sure that

1901
00:50:22,820 --> 00:50:24,579
they are contributing energy back to

1902
00:50:24,580 --> 00:50:26,419
the grid. And I want us all to, you

1903
00:50:26,420 --> 00:50:27,859
know, caution especially, you

1904
00:50:27,860 --> 00:50:29,379
because I do, again, no new data

1905
00:50:29,380 --> 00:50:30,759
center construction without those

1906
00:50:30,760 --> 00:50:31,799
guardrails in place.

1907
00:50:31,800 --> 00:50:33,079
But even as the representative

1908
00:50:33,080 --> 00:50:35,119
mentioned, a full in urban Milwaukee

1909
00:50:35,120 --> 00:50:37,019
was reported that a full data

1910
00:50:37,020 --> 00:50:38,819
center moratorium may face legal

1911
00:50:38,820 --> 00:50:40,179
repercussions. Those were the words

1912
00:50:40,180 --> 00:50:41,659
of the representatives, not mine.

1913
00:50:41,660 --> 00:50:43,739
And it is important for us to

1914
00:50:43,740 --> 00:50:45,059
empower the Department of Natural

1915
00:50:45,060 --> 00:50:46,379
Resources to make sure that they

1916
00:50:46,380 --> 00:50:48,599
have the funding to engage

1917
00:50:48,600 --> 00:50:50,459
in the ongoing quality monitoring

1918
00:50:50,460 --> 00:50:52,419
of these data centers to ensure that

1919
00:50:52,420 --> 00:50:54,139
they aren't negatively impacting air

1920
00:50:54,140 --> 00:50:55,119
or water quality.

1921
00:50:55,120 --> 00:50:56,219
Mr. Barnes, thank you. Ms.

1922
00:50:56,220 --> 00:50:57,028
Royce.

1923
00:50:57,029 --> 00:50:58,569
Something that none of my colleagues

1924
00:50:58,570 --> 00:50:59,829
have mentioned, even though we are

1925
00:50:59,830 --> 00:51:01,389
all running for governor, is using

1926
00:51:01,390 --> 00:51:03,209
executive power against the

1927
00:51:03,210 --> 00:51:04,909
existing projects that are under

1928
00:51:04,910 --> 00:51:06,569
construction and were put under

1929
00:51:06,570 --> 00:51:08,189
construction over the strenuous

1930
00:51:08,190 --> 00:51:10,149
objections of those communities.

1931
00:51:10,150 --> 00:51:11,269
We have a Department of Natural

1932
00:51:11,270 --> 00:51:13,049
Resources that should be protecting

1933
00:51:13,050 --> 00:51:15,209
our air and our soil and our water.

1934
00:51:15,210 --> 00:51:16,629
We have a public service commission

1935
00:51:16,630 --> 00:51:17,989
that needs to be much more

1936
00:51:17,990 --> 00:51:20,109
aggressive about making sure that

1937
00:51:20,110 --> 00:51:21,929
the big guys are not

1938
00:51:21,930 --> 00:51:23,889
asking us to subsidize

1939
00:51:23,890 --> 00:51:25,989
them. I have put forth the strongest

1940
00:51:25,990 --> 00:51:28,029
legislation and the strongest plan

1941
00:51:28,030 --> 00:51:30,149
of the candidates in this race to

1942
00:51:30,150 --> 00:51:32,149
actually address and stop

1943
00:51:32,150 --> 00:51:33,909
the unregulated development of data

1944
00:51:33,910 --> 00:51:35,309
centers because I believe the status

1945
00:51:35,310 --> 00:51:36,789
quo is totally unacceptable.

1946
00:51:37,839 --> 00:51:39,719
The moratorium bill has very little

1947
00:51:39,720 --> 00:51:41,139
support and is unlikely to pass, but

1948
00:51:41,140 --> 00:51:42,799
the strong regulation bill that many

1949
00:51:42,800 --> 00:51:44,759
of my colleagues have described is

1950
00:51:44,760 --> 00:51:46,819
poised to pass in January.

1951
00:51:46,820 --> 00:51:48,419
But I will not stop there.

1952
00:51:48,420 --> 00:51:49,999
I will also establish a public

1953
00:51:50,000 --> 00:51:51,319
negotiating team so that any

1954
00:51:51,320 --> 00:51:52,639
community that decides it would like

1955
00:51:52,640 --> 00:51:54,619
to engage with a data center has

1956
00:51:54,620 --> 00:51:55,939
the opportunity to have expert

1957
00:51:55,940 --> 00:51:56,859
negotiators.

1958
00:51:56,860 --> 00:51:58,299
I will increase shared revenue so

1959
00:51:58,300 --> 00:51:59,219
that communities don't feel

1960
00:51:59,220 --> 00:52:00,959
desperate like they have to.

1961
00:52:00,960 --> 00:52:03,019
I will end the subsidies for

1962
00:52:03,020 --> 00:52:04,799
data centers because they should be

1963
00:52:04,800 --> 00:52:06,119
paying us and not the other way

1964
00:52:06,120 --> 00:52:07,479
around. And when a community

1965
00:52:07,480 --> 00:52:08,919
decides, yes, we've reached

1966
00:52:08,920 --> 00:52:10,819
agreement, I will charge an

1967
00:52:10,820 --> 00:52:12,219
upfront fee that they will pay to

1968
00:52:12,220 --> 00:52:13,859
the state on the order of hundreds

1969
00:52:13,860 --> 00:52:15,819
of millions of dollars to finance

1970
00:52:15,820 --> 00:52:17,719
a clean infrastructure public

1971
00:52:17,720 --> 00:52:17,969
bank.

1972
00:52:17,970 --> 00:52:19,789
I apologize if I cut you off here,

1973
00:52:19,790 --> 00:52:20,829
we are kind of running up against

1974
00:52:20,830 --> 00:52:22,249
time. Everything you've talked about

1975
00:52:22,250 --> 00:52:24,069
tonight relies on a democratically

1976
00:52:24,070 --> 00:52:25,489
controlled legislature.

1977
00:52:25,490 --> 00:52:27,049
Miss Hong, what happens if there's a

1978
00:52:27,050 --> 00:52:28,409
divided government or Republicans

1979
00:52:28,410 --> 00:52:29,729
control the legislature and your

1980
00:52:29,730 --> 00:52:30,119
governor?

1981
00:52:30,120 --> 00:52:31,939
You know, I have passed bipartisan

1982
00:52:31,940 --> 00:52:33,859
legislation, the one where

1983
00:52:33,860 --> 00:52:35,919
it would require K-12

1984
00:52:35,920 --> 00:52:37,599
schools to teach Asian American

1985
00:52:37,600 --> 00:52:39,439
history. So much of

1986
00:52:39,440 --> 00:52:41,279
working in government has to

1987
00:52:41,280 --> 00:52:42,359
do with building strong

1988
00:52:42,360 --> 00:52:43,899
relationships, and I have done that

1989
00:52:43,900 --> 00:52:44,839
with Republicans.

1990
00:52:44,840 --> 00:52:46,779
I am willing to work with anyone at

1991
00:52:46,780 --> 00:52:48,799
the table who wants to actually

1992
00:52:48,800 --> 00:52:50,599
deliver for working class families

1993
00:52:50,600 --> 00:52:52,959
and improve lives and work on

1994
00:52:52,960 --> 00:52:55,039
policies that are going to be

1995
00:52:55,040 --> 00:52:56,699
deliverables. And I believe that

1996
00:52:56,700 --> 00:52:58,519
shared revenue, health care,

1997
00:52:58,520 --> 00:53:00,519
and public education are three areas

1998
00:53:00,520 --> 00:53:02,759
and some of my top priorities where

1999
00:53:02,760 --> 00:53:04,619
Republicans have shown some

2000
00:53:04,620 --> 00:53:05,979
support. And I've talked to them

2001
00:53:05,980 --> 00:53:07,139
about these issues.

2002
00:53:07,140 --> 00:53:08,919
And so I believe, that even with the

2003
00:53:08,920 --> 00:53:10,899
split legislature, my focus and my

2004
00:53:10,900 --> 00:53:12,719
leadership will ensure that we are

2005
00:53:12,720 --> 00:53:14,239
governing to actually deliver for

2006
00:53:14,240 --> 00:53:15,819
working class families across the

2007
00:53:15,820 --> 00:53:15,989
state.

2008
00:53:15,990 --> 00:53:16,789
Thank you, Mr. Barnes.

2009
00:53:16,790 --> 00:53:17,749
How do you get anything done with

2010
00:53:17,750 --> 00:53:18,419
Republicans?

2011
00:53:18,420 --> 00:53:19,719
Well, I can tell you that's why this

2012
00:53:19,720 --> 00:53:20,699
race is so important.

2013
00:53:20,700 --> 00:53:22,599
That's why rejecting this broken

2014
00:53:22,600 --> 00:53:23,899
system matters so much.

2015
00:53:23,900 --> 00:53:25,619
That's, why rejecting the status quo

2016
00:53:25,620 --> 00:53:27,399
is so important when people go to

2017
00:53:27,400 --> 00:53:28,479
cast the ballot.

2018
00:53:28,480 --> 00:53:30,439
Look, we'll never be as bold

2019
00:53:30,440 --> 00:53:32,199
as we need to be as a state if we

2020
00:53:32,200 --> 00:53:33,619
continue down this path that we've

2021
00:53:33,620 --> 00:53:35,079
been going. And it's been mentioned

2022
00:53:35,080 --> 00:53:36,579
that the county executive had his

2023
00:53:36,580 --> 00:53:38,719
campaign resurrected by special

2024
00:53:38,720 --> 00:53:40,659
interests in a dark room with people

2025
00:53:40,660 --> 00:53:42,119
with their thumb on a scale.

2026
00:53:42,120 --> 00:53:43,979
This means things will always

2027
00:53:43,980 --> 00:53:45,599
be the same with that sort of

2028
00:53:45,600 --> 00:53:47,539
leadership. We should be asking for

2029
00:53:47,540 --> 00:53:48,739
more. We should be demanding more.

2030
00:53:48,740 --> 00:53:51,719
And if we lead with a bold platform,

2031
00:53:51,720 --> 00:53:54,109
we implement a mandate.

2032
00:53:54,110 --> 00:53:56,069
We have a mandate to govern in

2033
00:53:56,070 --> 00:53:57,069
the interests of people in a way

2034
00:53:57,070 --> 00:53:58,809
that we have never done before, and

2035
00:53:58,810 --> 00:54:00,349
that's what this race is about.

2036
00:54:00,350 --> 00:54:01,349
Thank you Mr. Crowley, how do you

2037
00:54:01,350 --> 00:54:02,549
work with Republicans?

2038
00:54:02,550 --> 00:54:03,149
Get anything done.

2039
00:54:03,150 --> 00:54:04,129
You know, I served in the state

2040
00:54:04,130 --> 00:54:05,269
legislation, like many of my

2041
00:54:05,270 --> 00:54:06,349
colleagues here, but none of them

2042
00:54:06,350 --> 00:54:08,129
have actually run local government.

2043
00:54:08,130 --> 00:54:09,529
You know I'm the county executive of

2044
00:54:09,530 --> 00:54:11,209
the largest community and when I was

2045
00:54:11,210 --> 00:54:13,189
elected in 2020,

2046
00:54:13,190 --> 00:54:15,189
we had to work to get Act 12 passed

2047
00:54:15,190 --> 00:54:16,809
and we worked with Democrats and

2048
00:54:16,810 --> 00:54:18,349
Republicans and we've done it in

2049
00:54:18,350 --> 00:54:19,669
Republican controlled legislatures

2050
00:54:19,670 --> 00:54:21,289
and I do believe that we'll get a

2051
00:54:21,290 --> 00:54:21,869
lot more done.

2052
00:54:21,870 --> 00:54:23,369
Thank you, believe it or not, it is

2053
00:54:23,370 --> 00:54:24,869
now time for closing statements.

2054
00:54:24,870 --> 00:54:26,909
We did choose randomly with

2055
00:54:26,910 --> 00:54:28,609
the campaigns present to determine

2056
00:54:28,610 --> 00:54:29,109
the order.

2057
00:54:29,110 --> 00:54:30,989
Each candidate will have 30 seconds

2058
00:54:30,990 --> 00:54:32,469
for a final thought and we will

2059
00:54:32,470 --> 00:54:33,899
begin with Mr. Brennan.

2060
00:54:33,900 --> 00:54:34,959
Thank you very much.

2061
00:54:34,960 --> 00:54:36,919
While you've seen differences

2062
00:54:36,920 --> 00:54:38,739
amongst us today, we

2063
00:54:38,740 --> 00:54:39,979
have a common threat.

2064
00:54:39,980 --> 00:54:42,019
It's losing to Tom Tiffany and

2065
00:54:42,020 --> 00:54:43,099
Donald Trump.

2066
00:54:43,100 --> 00:54:44,279
And the stakes have never been

2067
00:54:44,280 --> 00:54:46,039
higher. We can build 100,000 new

2068
00:54:46,040 --> 00:54:47,979
homes. We can expand badger care.

2069
00:54:47,980 --> 00:54:49,699
We can stop having property

2070
00:54:49,700 --> 00:54:51,399
taxpayers pitted against kids in

2071
00:54:51,400 --> 00:54:53,199
Wisconsin, but we have to win in

2072
00:54:53,200 --> 00:54:54,479
order to do that.

2073
00:54:54,480 --> 00:54:56,519
For 25 years, I have been somebody

2074
00:54:56,520 --> 00:54:57,939
who has solved problems.

2075
00:54:57,940 --> 00:54:59,459
I'll be a governor who's more

2076
00:54:59,460 --> 00:55:01,619
interested in results than rhetoric.

2077
00:55:01,620 --> 00:55:03,619
I hope that I can get your

2078
00:55:03,620 --> 00:55:05,419
support on August 11th and November

2079
00:55:05,420 --> 00:55:07,549
3rd. Thanks for tuning in tonight.

2080
00:55:07,550 --> 00:55:08,689
Mr. Crowley.

2081
00:55:08,690 --> 00:55:09,769
I want to first and foremost thank

2082
00:55:09,770 --> 00:55:11,589
our moderators for hosting us,

2083
00:55:11,590 --> 00:55:13,149
and I want to thank all of you who

2084
00:55:13,150 --> 00:55:14,529
are tuning in today.

2085
00:55:14,530 --> 00:55:15,809
You know, my story is like

2086
00:55:15,810 --> 00:55:16,589
Wisconsin's story.

2087
00:55:16,590 --> 00:55:17,969
I grew up learning the values of

2088
00:55:17,970 --> 00:55:19,789
hard work, resilience, and

2089
00:55:19,790 --> 00:55:21,629
to stand up when somebody tries

2090
00:55:21,630 --> 00:55:22,749
to knock you down.

2091
00:55:22,750 --> 00:55:24,309
But people all across this state are

2092
00:55:24,310 --> 00:55:25,469
struggling every single day.

2093
00:55:25,470 --> 00:55:26,929
And I know what that feels like.

2094
00:55:26,930 --> 00:55:28,529
They need a governor who's going to

2095
00:55:28,530 --> 00:55:30,329
deliver for them on day one.

2096
00:55:30,330 --> 00:55:32,069
And that's why I have received the

2097
00:55:32,070 --> 00:55:33,309
endorsements of folks like Tony

2098
00:55:33,310 --> 00:55:35,349
Evers, Governor Evers our labor

2099
00:55:35,350 --> 00:55:36,949
unions, and folks all across our

2100
00:55:36,950 --> 00:55:38,589
state because they know I will be

2101
00:55:38,590 --> 00:55:40,029
delivering the results that's going

2102
00:55:40,030 --> 00:55:41,549
to make a great impact.

2103
00:55:41,550 --> 00:55:42,749
I look forward to having your vote

2104
00:55:42,750 --> 00:55:44,069
on August 11th.

2105
00:55:44,070 --> 00:55:45,070
Ms. Royce.

2106
00:55:45,990 --> 00:55:47,769
All of us on this stage are good

2107
00:55:47,770 --> 00:55:48,789
people.

2108
00:55:48,790 --> 00:55:50,689
For 25 years, I have

2109
00:55:50,690 --> 00:55:52,429
been turning the good ideas that

2110
00:55:52,430 --> 00:55:54,429
we've shared into state law

2111
00:55:54,430 --> 00:55:55,749
in the toughest of political

2112
00:55:55,750 --> 00:55:56,709
environments.

2113
00:55:56,710 --> 00:55:57,989
I've stood up to bullies and

2114
00:55:57,990 --> 00:55:59,749
billionaires just like Donald Trump.

2115
00:55:59,750 --> 00:56:01,909
And I will never stop fighting to

2116
00:56:01,910 --> 00:56:03,709
build the Wisconsin that all of us

2117
00:56:03,710 --> 00:56:05,629
deserve working alongside you as I

2118
00:56:05,630 --> 00:56:07,469
have throughout my career.

2119
00:56:07,470 --> 00:56:09,349
We need all hands on deck in this

2120
00:56:09,350 --> 00:56:11,249
high stakes moment to protect our

2121
00:56:11,250 --> 00:56:12,809
rights and freedoms, to deliver

2122
00:56:12,810 --> 00:56:14,189
health care for all, and to make

2123
00:56:14,190 --> 00:56:15,669
sure that every child has a great

2124
00:56:15,670 --> 00:56:16,609
public school.

2125
00:56:16,610 --> 00:56:18,659
I ask for your vote on August 11th.

2126
00:56:18,660 --> 00:56:19,919
Mr. Barnes.

2127
00:56:19,920 --> 00:56:20,960
To everybody watching at home, I

2128
00:56:20,961 --> 00:56:22,799
want you to know that the

2129
00:56:22,800 --> 00:56:23,859
establishment is trying to rig this

2130
00:56:23,860 --> 00:56:25,259
election. They want you choose

2131
00:56:25,260 --> 00:56:26,479
between their preferred candidate

2132
00:56:26,480 --> 00:56:28,279
and also Republican billionaires are

2133
00:56:28,280 --> 00:56:30,099
lining up to the tune of $3.5

2134
00:56:30,100 --> 00:56:31,719
million to choose a Democratic

2135
00:56:31,720 --> 00:56:33,199
nominee in this race.

2136
00:56:33,200 --> 00:56:34,519
I'm here to say that's BS.

2137
00:56:34,520 --> 00:56:35,659
I've been a progressive fighter

2138
00:56:35,660 --> 00:56:37,579
who's taken on the tough fights, but

2139
00:56:37,580 --> 00:56:38,859
also the only candidate on this

2140
00:56:38,860 --> 00:56:40,579
stage who's actually defeating Tom

2141
00:56:40,580 --> 00:56:41,959
Tiffany according to the most recent

2142
00:56:41,960 --> 00:56:42,899
Marquette poll.

2143
00:56:42,900 --> 00:56:44,179
We can get things done, but it

2144
00:56:44,180 --> 00:56:45,359
starts on August 11th.

2145
00:56:45,360 --> 00:56:47,119
I'm asking for your support so that

2146
00:56:47,120 --> 00:56:48,699
we can go into November with the

2147
00:56:48,700 --> 00:56:49,959
strength and that we can into

2148
00:56:49,960 --> 00:56:51,679
January with the mandate to govern

2149
00:56:51,680 --> 00:56:53,109
in the interest of people.

2150
00:56:53,110 --> 00:56:53,879
Ms. Hall.

2151
00:56:53,880 --> 00:56:55,179
Thank you so much to the viewers

2152
00:56:55,180 --> 00:56:56,439
this evening.

2153
00:56:56,440 --> 00:56:57,839
I am your fighter, fighting

2154
00:56:57,840 --> 00:56:59,999
alongside you and fighting for you.

2155
00:57:00,000 --> 00:57:01,619
And this is a movement moment.

2156
00:57:01,620 --> 00:57:03,459
Our campaign is a one that has built

2157
00:57:03,460 --> 00:57:05,279
a bipartisan coalition where we

2158
00:57:05,280 --> 00:57:07,099
have reached voters in every part

2159
00:57:07,100 --> 00:57:08,100
of the state.

2160
00:57:08,700 --> 00:57:09,899
Republicans, independents,

2161
00:57:09,900 --> 00:57:11,459
democratic socialists, and

2162
00:57:11,460 --> 00:57:12,919
democrats, they have come together

2163
00:57:12,920 --> 00:57:14,219
and already uniting.

2164
00:57:14,220 --> 00:57:16,299
We are already beating Tom Tiffany,

2165
00:57:16,300 --> 00:57:17,679
whether it comes to the number of

2166
00:57:17,680 --> 00:57:19,179
donors, whether it come to the

2167
00:57:19,180 --> 00:57:21,179
individual donations.

2168
00:57:21,180 --> 00:57:23,059
I think it's time for this moment of

2169
00:57:23,060 --> 00:57:24,859
unity and I'm the leader to meet

2170
00:57:24,860 --> 00:57:26,059
that moment.

2171
00:57:26,060 --> 00:57:27,819
That was quick and we did it.

2172
00:57:27,820 --> 00:57:29,499
We made it. Our sincere thank you to

2173
00:57:29,500 --> 00:57:30,699
the candidates this evening for

2174
00:57:30,700 --> 00:57:32,339
being here tonight and thank you to

2175
00:57:32,340 --> 00:57:33,519
everyone watching at home.

2176
00:57:33,520 --> 00:57:35,239
If you missed any part of tonight's

2177
00:57:35,240 --> 00:57:36,599
debate, it will be available on the

2178
00:57:36,600 --> 00:57:38,599
12 News app, YouTube and streaming

2179
00:57:38,600 --> 00:57:39,739
on Very Local.

2180
00:57:39,740 --> 00:57:40,759
You can look for post debate

2181
00:57:40,760 --> 00:57:42,859
analysis Sunday on Upfront.

2182
00:57:42,860 --> 00:57:44,039
Election day is Tuesday, August

2183
00:57:44,040 --> 00:57:46,099
11th, early in person voting already

2184
00:57:46,100 --> 00:57:47,459
underway. Thanks so much for your

2185
00:57:47,460 --> 00:57:48,259
time tonight.

2186
00:57:48,260 --> 00:57:49,260
Have a good night.