>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION.
>> A BUSY WEEK AT THE CAPITOL
WITH AN ADDRESS FROM THE
GOVERNOR AND HIS CALL FOR A
SPECIAL SESSION ON TAX REFUNDS.
PLUS, A RALLY IN THE ROTUNDA IN
SUPPORT OF OVERTURNING THE 2020
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.
AND WISCONSIN'S WORKFORCE IS
LEFT WANTING.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW," WE
BREAK DOWN THE GOVERNOR'S FOURTH
STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS AND
THE REPUBLICAN RESPONSE, ALL IN
THE CONTEXT OF AN ELECTION YEAR.
AND ELECTION OVERHAUL OR
OVERTHROW?
WISCONSIN IS GROUND ZERO FOR A
CONSERVATIVE MOVEMENT REDEFINING
HOW ELECTIONS ARE RUN.
AND FINALLY, WITH COVID TAKING A
U-TURN, ARE WISCONSIN JOBS AND
THE ECONOMY BACK ON TRACK?
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR
FEBRUARY 18.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.
>> INDIFFERENCE IN THIS BUILDING
IS GETTING EXPENSIVE, FOLKS, AND
LET ME BE FRANK.
THE PEOPLE WHO BEAR THE BURDEN
OF INACTION ARE ALMOST CERTAINLY
NOT THE PEOPLE SITTING IN THIS
CHAMBER TONIGHT.
SO DON'T SIT HERE IN A WHITE
MARBLE BUILDING WITH STATE
COFFERS THAT ARE FULL AND TELL
WISCONSINITES WHO ARE WORKING
HARD EVERY DAY, WE CAN'T AFFORD
TO DO MORE.
>> WE'VE CREATED AN ENVIRONMENT
IN WHICH INDIVIDUALS AND
BUSINESSES CAN BOTH THRIVE.
BUT DESPITE BEING IN BETTER
FINANCIAL SHAPE THAN MANY OTHER
STATES, WISCONSIN IS NOWHERE
NEAR WHERE WE WANT TO BE.
NEARLY EVERY OTHER ASPECT OF OUR
LIVES HAS DECLINED IN QUALITY
BECAUSE OF JOE BIDEN'S
DISASTROUS POLICIES AND TONY
EVERS' WEAK LEADERSHIP.
>> OUCH.
CAN YOU TELL IT'S AN ELECTION
YEAR?
IN HIS STATE OF THE STATE
ADDRESS THIS WEEK, GOVERNOR TONY
EVERS CHALLENGED REPUBLICAN
LEADERS TO TAKE UP HIS PLAN TO
GIVE CHECKS FROM THE STATE
SURPLUS TO EVERY TAX FILER.
HIS CALL FOR A SPECIAL SESSION,
MARCH 8, TO DO THAT IS SO FAR
NOT BEING MET WITH EN ENTHUSIASM BY
REPUBLICAN LEADERS WHO SLAMMED
HIS IDEA IN FAVOR OF THEIR OWN.
IT SEEMS LIKE A NICE ELECTION
YEAR PROBLEM TO HAVE, BUT LEAVE
TO FOLKS UNDER THE DOME TO MAKE
IT A POLITICAL FIGHT.
SENIOR POLITICAL REPORTER ZAC
SCHULTZ IS AT THE CAPITOL NOW,
WHERE WE CHECK IN WITH HIM.
HEY, ZAC.
>> HELLO, FRED.
>> SO WHAT IS THIS TAX REFUND
FIGHT OVER?
>> WELL, IT'S REALLY WHAT TO DO
WITH THE SURPLUS IN AN ELECTION
YEAR.
OBVIOUSLY GOVERNOR EVERS HAS
LAID OUT HIS PLAN TO SEND SOME
OF IT BACK.
YOU MAY RECALL FOUR
YEARS AGO, GOVERNOR SCOTT WALKER
SENT $100 PER CHILD HOME TO
TAXPAYERS IN AN ELECTION YEAR.
AT THE TIME, DEMOCRATS CALLED IT
A GI MIC.
WELL, HE HAD THE REPUBLICAN
LEGISLATURE ADVANCE IT SO IT
ACTUALLY HAPPENED.
THIS TIME AROUND REPUBLICANS ARE
CALLING IT A GIMMICK,
REPUBLICANS WOULD MUCH RATHER
SEE THAT SURPLUS STAY THERE IN
THE HOPES THAT THEY HAVE A
REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR WHO WILL
SIGN A MUCH MORE TAX
CUT-FRIENDLY BILL IN THE BUDGET
NEXT YEAR.
>> SO HERE'S WHAT SENATE
MAJORITY LEADER DEVIN LEMAHIEU
HAD TO SAY.
ú>> ULTIMATELY, GOVERNOR EVERS
ABANDONED HIS OWN UNREALISTIC
BUDGETS AND FOLLOWED OUR LEAD BY
SIGNING OUR RESPONSIBLE BUDGETS.
>> BUDGETS THAT INCLUDED TAX
CUTS, WHICH THEY SAY THAT EVERS
IS TAKING CREDIT FOR.
BUT HERE'S WHAT EVERS SAYS ABOUT
WHY HE WANTS TO CUT THESE CHECKS
NOW AND NOT WAIT FOR A TAX CUT
LATER.
>> IT WON'T HELP WISCONSINITES
PAY FOR CHILD CARE, HEATING
THEIR HOMES OR PUTTING FOOD ON
THEIR TABLE TODAY.
WISCONSINITES CANNOT WAIT.
>> SO THE GOVERNOR NOT ONLY
WANTS TO GIVE THE SURPLUS REFUND
TO FAMILIES BUT BEEF UP
EDUCATION FUNDING BY
$750 MILLION, WHICH HE SAYS
PRESERVES THIS FEDERAL FUNDING
TO WISCONSIN SCHOOLS, WHICH IS
AT RISK IF THE STATE DOESN'T
SPEND ENOUGH ON EDUCATION.
DOES THIS PUT THE OPPOSING
PARTY, REPUBLICANS, IN A BIND?
>> NOT FROM THEIR PERSPECTIVE.
THEY'RE PERFECTLY CONTENT TO LET
THE CHIPS FALL WHERE THEY MAY.
IF THERE'S ANY ISSUE BETWEEN THE
STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
OVER ANY OF THOSE FUNDS DOWN THE
ROAD, THEY WILL BLAME GOVERNOR
EVERS, JOE BIDEN IN WASHINGTON,
THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC
INSTRUCTION IN MADISON.
THEY ARE JUST LOOKING TO GET
THROUGH THIS UNSCATHED AND GET
INTO THE NEXT ELECTION CYCLE.
>> AS PART OF THE PLAN TO BOOST
EMPLOYMENT, THE GOVERNOR WOULD
INCREASE CHILD CARE TAX CREDITS.
MEANWHILE, THE ASSEMBLY JUST
THIS WEEK PASSED THESE MEASURES
TO GET AT THE NEED FOR WORKERS,
INCLUDING MOVING RULES TO GET
MORE PEOPLE OFF GOVERNMENT
PROGRAMS.
SO WHAT DOES THIS SAY ABOUT KIND
OF THE DIVERGENCE IN APPROACH
HERE?
>> WELL, IT'S A PRETTY CLASSIC
LOOK OF WHERE WE ARE WITH THE
PERSPECTIVE OF THE DIFFERENT
PARTIES AND HOW TO HANDLE THE
EXEE AND JOBS.
REPUBLICANS FOR YEARS HAVE SAID
WE NEED TO GET EVERYONE OFF
UNEMPLOYMENT, WE NEED TO GET
THEM INTO THE WORKFORCE, DOESN'T
MATTER WHAT JOB, JUST GET THEM
THERE AS FAST AS POSSIBLE.
ANY INCENTIVE FOR PEOPLE TO
POSSIBLY STAY ON UNEMPLOYMENT
LONGER, TO LOOK FOR A JOB MORE
SUITED TO THEIR FIELD OR IN
THEIR PARTICULAR FAMILY
SITUATION, THAT'S NOT TO THEIR
LIKING.
WHEREAS DEMOCRATS ARE MUCH MORE
COMFORTABLE TRYING TO CREATE
INCENTIVES FOR PEOPLE TO BUILD
CAREERS OFF UNEMPLOYMENT, AND
THEY POINT TO ACTUALLY A VERY
SMALL NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN THE
WORKFORCE THAT ARE ON
UNEMPLOYMENT RIGHT NOW, AND THE
FACT THAT WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH
WORKERS, PERIOD, SO IT'S A
DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE THAT GOES
BACK A LONG WAY ON HOW TO
APPROACH JOBS IN THE ECONOMY.
>> MEANWHILE, REPUBLICANS CHIDE
EVERS FOR GIVING OUT FEDERAL
COVID FUNDS, CALLING THE MONEY
FEDERAL TAX DOLLARS BORROWS
AGAINST OUR KIDS' FUTURES BUT
THEY ALSO COMPLAIN HE HASN'T
GIVEN IT OUT FAST ENOUGH.
IT'S LIKE HE CAN'T WIN FOR
TRYING HERE?
>> IT'S MORE POLITICS,
FREDERICA.
YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THE HISTORY
OF THIS MONEY.
IT WASN'T TOO LONG AGO THAT
REPUBLICANS WERE TRYING TO MAKE
EVERY DOLLAR THE GOVERNOR WANTED
TO GIVE OUT HAVE TO GO THROUGH
THE JOINT FINANCE COMMITTEE,
WHICH THEY CONTROLLED.
AND IN THAT SCENARIO, IT SEEMS
MUCH MORE LIKELY THAT MONEY
WOULD HAVE BEEN SLOWED DOWN IF
NOT STOPPED ALL TOGETHER BECAUSE
AT THE TIME, REPUBLICANS WERE
STILL HOPING THEY COULD HAVE A
REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR SPENDING
THOSE FUNDS BECAUSE THE FUNDS
ARE STILL GOOD FOR A COUPLE MORE
YEARS.
THEY'D BEEN FRUSTRATED AT THE
GOVERNOR'S CHOICES AT EVERY STEP
ALONG THE PROCESS.
THEY PASSED A LOT OF BILLS
DIRECTING HIM TO DO THIS OR
THAT, AND HE'S VETOED ALL OF
THEM BECAUSE HE'S MAINTAINED
SOLE AUTHORITY ON WHERE TO PUT
THESE DOLLARS AND HE'S STILL
DOLLING THEM OUT RIGHT UP
THROUGH THE ELECTION SEASON INTO
AREAS THAT HE THINKS ARE
CRITICAL FOR WISCONSIN'S
ECONOMY.
>> SO OVERALL, AS AN ELECTION
YEAR ADDRESS, HOW DID THIS ONE
FARE?
>> IT'S PRETTY STANDARD.
YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THE
INCUMBENT GOVERNOR CHEERLEAD AND
TALK ABOUT WHAT'S GOING GREAT.
THAT'S WHAT THE STATE OF THE
STATE ADDRESS IS.
AND YOU'RE ALWAYS GOING TO SEE
THE OPPOSITE PARTY SAY YOU
DIDN'T TALK ABOUT ALL THE THINGS
THAT REALLY MATTER, ALL THE
THINGS WE'RE TRYING TO HYPE UP.
ELECTION YEARS DON'T HAVE MUCH
MEAT ON THE BONE AT THE CAPITOL
WHEN IT COMES TO LEGISLATION.
THE SESSION IS ALMOST DONE,
WE'RE NOT GOING TO SEE MUCH DONE
IN THAT SENSE, SO THIS STATE OF
THE STATE IS REALLY ALL ABOUT
THE NEXT ELECTION.
>> AND WE'RE COMING IN TO THE
NEXT ELECTION.
SO ZAC SCHULTZ, THANKS VER
MUCH.
THANKS FOR STAYING WITH US FROM
THE CAPITOL.
>> THANKS, FRED.
>> AMID THE FLURRY OF ACTIVITY
AT THE CAPITOL WAS A RALLY FROM
FAR RIGHT REPUBLICANS.
THE GROUP ONCE AGAIN PETITIONING
TO OVERTURN WISCONSIN'S
ELECTORAL VOTES FOR TRUMP.
ON GROUNDS THAT THE ELECTION WAS
ADMINISTERED ILLEGALLY.
A CHARGE THAT HAS LONG BEEN
ISCREDITED AFTER NUMEROUS
LAWSUITS, AUDITS AND
INVESTIGATIONS.
REPRESENTATIVE TIMOTHY RAMTHUN,
WHO JUST ANNOUNCED HIS RUN FOR
GOVERNOR, AND JANEL BRANDTJEN,
CHAIR ON CAMPAIGNS AND LEK
SHOULDELECTIONS, PUSHED FOR A
RESOLUTION TO RECLAIM
WISCONSIN'S 10 ELECTORS.
>> I'M NOT A CONSPIRACY
THEORIST.
I'M INTO TRUTH, I WANT JUSTICE
AND CLOSURE ON THE DETAILS OF
MECHANICS OF AWR PROCESS.
OUR PROCESS.
IT DOESN'T MATTER WHO'S ON THE
BALLOT, IS IT BEING COUNTED
PROPERLY.
>> THIS ADVERTISED FOR SPECIFIC
GROUPS TO BE REPRESENTED, NOT
ALL VOTERS.
IS THAT THE JOB OF A
MUNICIPALITY TO ONLY REACH OUT
TO SPECIFIC GROUPS?
AND NOT ALL GROUPS AS VOTERS?
YOU ARE NOT CRAZY.
>> THIS MOVE ON THE PART OF
SPECIFIC LAWMAKERS COMES DESPITE
THE LEGISLATURE'S NON-PARTISAN
LEGAL COUNSEL SAYING, SUCH
ACTION VIOLATES THE WISCONSIN
CONSTITUTION.
HOW DOES A POLITICIAN LIKE
TIMOTHY RAMTHUN RESONATE WITH
WISCONSIN REPUBLICAN VOTERS, AND
WHERE IS THE PARTY HEADED?
WE TURN TO MARQUETTE UNIVERSITY
PROFESSOR OF POLITICAL SCIENCE,
PAUL NOLLETTE, WITH THOSE
QUESTIONS, AND THANKS FOR BEING
HERE.
>> HI.
GREAT TO BE HERE.
>> SO WHAT KIND OF REPUBLICANS
ARE SETTING THE AGENDA RIGHT NOW
IN WISCONSIN?
>> WELL, RIGHT NOW, IT REALLY IS
A BATTLE, I THINK, BETWEEN THE
MORE MAINSTREAM REPUBLICANS,
MANY OF THE LEADERS IN THE STATE
LEGISLATURE, AS WELL AS THE
CLOSEST ALLIES TO FORMER
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP.
AND THAT BATTLE IS REALLY, I
THINK, ONE OF THOSE BIG BATTLE
GROUNDS, ANYWAYS, OVER THIS
QUESTION ABOUT THE 2020
ELECTION, AND VOTING RIGHTS.
AND SO SOME OF WHAT THE MORE
CONSERVATIVE MEMBERS OF THE
REPUBLICANS AT THE STATE LEVEL
ARE REALLY FOCUSED ON IS THIS
QUESTION OF THE ELECTION, AND
THE 2020 ELECTION, ALMOST IN A
SINGLE ISSUE WAY.
>> SO WHICH FACTION OF THE
REPUBLICAN PARTY, THEN, IN
WISCONSIN DO YOU THINK MOST
RESONATES WITH VOTERS?
>> WELL, I THINK THE
CONSERVATIVE SIDE DEFINITELY HAS
A NUMBER OF ADHERENCE.
I MEAN, THERE'S A LOT OF ENERGY
ON THE MORE PRO-TRUMP SIDE OF
THE PARTY, AND CERTAINLY DONALD
TRUMP REMAINS A POPULAR FIGURE
WITHIN THE CONTEMPORARY
REPUBLICAN PARTY, BOTH
NATIONWIDE AND HERE IN
WISCONSIN.
I DO THINK, THOUGH, THAT IN
TERMS OF POLICY, LOOKING AT HOW
THINGS ARE ACTUALLY GOING, THE
SOMEWHAT MORE ESTABLISHMENT OR
MAINSTREAM, WHATEVER WORD WE
WANT TO EU WHO ARE USE, WHO ARE PUSHING
BACK ON THE MORE EXTREME
CONSPIRACY THEORIES AND CLAIMS
ABOUT THE 2020 2020 ELECTION, SO FAR
THOSE REPUBLICANS HAVE BEEN IN
CONTROL.
WE'VE SEEN THE WISCONSIN
LEGISLATURE CARRY ON A VERY LONG
INVESTIGATION OF THE 2020
ELECTION, BUT SO FAR THOSE CALLS
TO ACTUALLY DECERTIFY THE
ELECTION, TO PULL BACK ELECTORAL
VOTES FROM JOE BIDEN IN
WISCONSIN, THOSE SO FAR HAVE NOT
GONE ANYWHERE.
>> DO REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES FOR
GOVERNOR HAVE TO TRY TO BE THE
TRUMP-IEST TO WIN?
>> IT'S A BALANCE, IT'S REALLY A
BALANCE, AND A TIGHTROPE, I
THINK, FOR PEOPLE LIKE REBECCA
KLEEFISCH, FOR INSTANCE, WHO I
THINK PROBABLY ENTERS AS THE
FAVORITE IN THE RACE ON THE
REPUBLICAN SIDE, AND I THINK THE
PRO-TRUMP ENERGY, I MEAN, THESE
ARE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE REALLY
FIRED UP TO VOTE, THEY'RE READY
TO VOTE IN THE PRIMARY IN AUGUST
AND THEN IN THE GENERAL ELECTION
THIS NOVEMBER, BUT ULTIMATELY, I
THINK THEY ARE STILL LIKELY A
MINORITY ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE,
IN TERMS OF EMBRACING THE MORE
EXTREME VERSIONS OF THE
CONSPIRACY THEORIES TO SAY NOT
ONLY WAS THERE FRAUD AND THIS
ELECTION STOLEN FROM US, BUT, IN
FACT, WE NEED TO REVERSE THE
ELECTION IN FAVOR OF JOE BIDEN.
>> IN YOUR BELIEF, IS THE FERVOR
OVER THESE INVESTIGATIONS INTO
THE 2020 ELECTION GENUINE, OR IS
IT KIND OF POLITICAL FODDER TO
FIRE UP THE BASE?
>> WELL, IT'S A DIFFICULT
QUESTION BECAUSE IT'S HARD TO
GET INTO EVERYBODY'S MIND ABOUT
HOW THEY'RE THINKING ABOUT THIS.
I DO THINK THAT THERE IS A
GENUINE BELIEF ON A NUMBER OF
TRUMP SUPPORTERS AND REPUBLICANS
IN THE STATE THAT THERE WAS
FISHY BUSINESS, EVEN THOUGH
THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY EVIDENCE,
REALLY WHATSOEVER, TO JUSTIFY
THOSE CLAIMS.
I DO THINK THAT A LOT OF THE
REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP IN THE
STATE HAS TO NAVIGATE THIS
DIFFICULTY OF HAVEING MOST OF THE
REPUBLICAN PARTY STILL ALLIED,
VERY MUCH SO, WITH DONALD TRUMP
AND HIS CLAIMS ABOUT A
FRAUDULENT ELECTION, BUT ALSO
TRYING TO GOVERN IN SOME SENSE
AND NOT TO LOSE THE ABILITY TO
WIN IN THE GENERAL ELECTION.
AND TO APPEAL TO SOME VOTERS WHO
MIGHT BE WILLING TO VOTE FOR
REPUBLICANS BUT NOT WILLING TO
VOTE FOR THE MOST EXTREME
CONSPIRACY THEORIES.
SO IT'S REALLY A BALANCING ACT
THAT A LOT OF THESE OFFICIALS
ARE TRYING TO MANEUVER RIGHT
NOW.
>> WHAT WOULD COOL OR HEAT UP
THE DOMINANCE OF DONALD TRUMP IN
WISCONSIN ELECTORAL POLITICS IN
YOUR MIND?
>> WELL, IT WILL BE INTERESTING
TO SEE WHAT DONALD TRUMP HIMSELF
DOES, AND HOW INVOLVED HE GETS
IN THE WISCONSIN RACES.
WE'VE SEEN HIM QUITE WILLING TO
ENDORSE CANDIDATES WHO ARE LOYAL
TO HIM AND LOYAL TO THIS IDEA
THAT THE ELECTION WAS STOLEN AND
THAT THERE WAS MASSIVE FRAUD.
SO THE EXTENT TO WHICH TRUMP
KIND OF OFFICIALLY MAKES AN
ENDORSEMENT IN THIS RACE AND
TRIES TO GET INVOLVED WITH
SPEECHES AND SO FORTH, I THINK
COULD REALLY RAISE THE
TEMPERATURE, AND IN MANY WAYS
RAISE THE DIFFICULTY LEVEL FOR
REPUBLICANS ON THE MORE
ESTABLISHMENT MAINSTREAM SIDE TO
TRY TO TURN AWAY FROM THESE
ISSUES AND RELITIGATING THE 2020
ELECTION INSTEAD OF ISSUES THAT
THEY DO WANT TO CONCENTRATE ON,
LIKE INFLATION, JOBS, OTHER
ISSUES THAT RESONATE WITH THE
MAJORITY OF WISCONSINITES.
>> WE'VE SEEN THIS ELECTION
CYCLE, THESE KIND OF FRACTIOUS
SCHOOL BOARD ELECTIONS.
DOES THIS MARK A SHIFT IN
POLITICAL ACTIVITY?
>> YEAH, WELL, I THINK WE'VE
SEEN A LOT MORE ATTENTION ON
LOCAL RACES.
AS YOU MENTIONED, SCHOOL BOARDS
ALSO, YOU KNOW, SECRETARY OF
STATE RACES, AND OTHER RACES
BELOW THE MARQUEE RACES, THE
SENATE RACES, THE GOVERNORS'
RACES THAT TEND TO GET A LOT OF
THE ATTENTION, AND WE SEE
REPUBLICANS AND KIND OF
PRO-TRUMP REPUBLICANS REALLY
TARGET THESE RACES HERE IN
WISCONSIN AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY
IN A WAY THAT WE HAVEN'T REALLY
NECESSARILY SEEN BEFORE.
AND I THINK THAT'S A NEW TYPE OF
POLITICAL ORGANIZING, AND IN A
WAY THAT I DO THINK HAS SOME
REAL RAMIFICATIONS FOR DEMOCRACY
HERE IN WISCONSIN AND ACROSS THE
COUNTRY.
>> ALL RIGHT.
PROFESSOR WE NEED TO LEAVE IT
THERE, BUT THANKS VERY MUCH.
REALLY IMPORTANT INFORMATION.
THANK YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT.
THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> PRIOR TO THE GOVERNOR'S
ADDRESS, THE REPUBLICAN
CONTROLLED ASSEMBLY PASSED A
JOINT RESOLUTION THAT WOULD PUT
A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
BEFORE VOTERS.
IF APPROVED BY VOTERS, THE
RESOLUTION WOULD REQUIRE THE
COURT TO CONSIDER THE SEVERITY
OF A PERSON'S CRIMINAL RECORD
WHEN DETERMINING THEIR BAIL.
>> NOW IF YOU LOOK AT LAST
SESSION AND YOU LOOK AT SOME OF
THE CONCERNS THAT WE HAVE HAD, I
DIDN'T ALWAYS SUPPORT THIS IDEA.
I ALWAYS HAD CONCERNS ABOUT
MAKING SURE THAT ANYBODY WHO
SAYS THAT THEY ARE INNOCENT HAS
THE RIGHT TO PROVE THEMSELVES
INNOCENT IN A COURT OF LAW.
AND THAT'S THE WHOLE POINT.
YOU'RE INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN
GUILTY.
BUT I THINK THE AUTHOR HAS DONE
A GOOD JOB OF MAKING CHANGES TO
THIS AMENDMENT TO MEET THOSE
CONCERNS AND ALLOW US TO MOVE
THIS BILL FORWARD AND THIS
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.
WHAT HAPPENED IN WAUKESHA, AND
I'LL LET THE FOLKS WHO REPRESENT
THAT AREA -- WAS A WAKE-UP CALL
FOR MANY OF US WHO SAW THAT IN
FAR TOO MANY CIRCUMSTANCES, A
CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM PUTS THE
ONUS ON THE VICTIM TO BE ABLE TO
GUARANTEE THAT THEIR SAFETY IS
PROTECTED AS OPPOSED TO THE ONUS
ON THE PERPETRATOR TO MAKE SURE
THAT THEY SHOULD BE LET OUT
BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT A DANGER TO
SOCIETY.
>> ON NEXT WEEK'S "HERE AND
NOW," WE'LL HEAR MORE ON THE
BAIL SETTING PROPOSAL.
LOOKING AHEAD TO APRIL AND THE
GENERAL ELECTION IN MILWAUKEE
FOR MAYOR, THIS WEEK SAW TWO
CANDIDATES ADVANCE AFTER THE
TUESDAY PRIMARY.
THEY ARE CAVALIER CHEVY JOHNSON,
WHO'S BEEN ACTING MAYOR SINCE
TOM BARRETT STEPPED DOWN IN
DECEMBER, AND ALDERMAN BOB
DONOVAN.
JOHN JOHNSON, A MARQUETTE LAW
SCHOOL RESEARCH FELLOW, SAYS THE
PRIMARY RESULTS REFLECT A CITY
WHOSE DEMOGRAPHICS HAVE
DRASTICALLY CHANGED.
>> IN 2005 OR 2004, WHEN BARRETT
WON HIS FIRST ELECTION, PROBABLY
A MAJORITY OF THE CITY'S ADULTS
AT THAT TIME WERE STILL
NON-HISPANIC WHITE.
THAT'S NOT TRUE ANYMORE.
MILWAUKEE IS A VERY DIVERSE
CITY.
SEG KATE THE, YES, BUT ALSO
DIVERSE, SO IF YOU'RE GOING TO
WIN A CITY-WIDE RACE, TODAY YOU
NEED A MULTI-RACIAL COALITION TO
DO SO.
THAT WAS NOT NECESSARILY THE
CASE TWO DECADES AGO.
AND SO IT WILL BE A REAL
CHALLENGE FOR DONOVAN, BASED ON
HIS PAST ELECTION RESULTS, TO
ACHIEVE THAT.
>> SOON AFTER THE POLLS CLOSED
IN THE SPRING PRIMARY ELECTION,
THE WISCONSIN ELECTIONS
COMMISSION MET TO RESCIND ITS
DIRECTIVE ON ABSENTEE BALLOT
DROPBOXES IN CONCURRENCE WITH A
RECENT STATE SUPREME COURT
ORDER.
>> WE'RE NOT ISSUING ANY
ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE BECAUSE, YOU
KNOW, MAYBE THE GUIDANCE
SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ISSUED IN
THE FIRST PLACE.
SO I DON'T THINK WE'RE IN THE
POSITION NOW TO START ISSUING
ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE REGARDING
DROPBOXES OR WHO IN THAT --
BRING THE BALLOT TO THE COURT.
>> THE GUY GUIDANCE WAS WRITTEN IN
2020, A YEAR WHEN MORE THAN
2 MILLION ABSENTEE BALLOTS WERE
REQUESTED BY VOTERS STATEWIDE.
ALSO THIS WEEK, THE
REPUBLICAN-LED ELECTION
INVESTIGATION DIRECTED BY FORMER
SUPREME COURT JUSTICE MICHAEL
GABLEMAN HAS WITHDRAWN ALL
SUBPOENAS ISSUED TO IMMIGRANT
ADVOCACY GROUP VOCES DE LA
FRONTERA ACTION.
IN HIS STATE OF THE STATE
ADDRESS, GOVERNOR EVERS BOASTED
OF THE CURRENT UNEMPLOYMENT RATE
OFOF 2.8% BEING THE LOWEST IN
WISCONSIN HISTORY.
NATIONAL LABOR STATISTICS SHOW
IN WISCONSIN 209,000 JOBS REMAIN
UNFILLED.
OUR NEXT GUEST, PROFESSOR OF
PUBLIC AFFAIRS IN ECONOMICS SAYS
THE WORD "SHORTAGE" IS A
MISNOMER.
SO WE WELCOME PROFESSOR MENZIE
CHINN.
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
>> WELL, THANKS FOR HAVING ME
ON, FREDERICA.
IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE.
>> SO IF IT'S NOT A WORKER
SHORTAGE WHEN EMPLOYERS CAN'T
FILL JOBS, WHAT IS IT?
>> WELL, I THINK THERE'S A
DISTINCTION BETWEEN HOW
ECONOMISTS USE THE TERM SHORTAGE
AND HOW IT'S JE NARE CLEE
UNDERSTOOD.
SO A SHORTAGE WOULD BE, FOR
ECONOMISTS, WHERE WE WOULD SAY
FOR SOME REASON PRICES OR IN
THIS CASE WAGES AREN'T ALLOWED
TO MOVE UP TO THE LEVEL WHERE
PEOPLE ARE JOINING THE LABOR
FORCE AND TAKING JOBS IN THE
LEVELS THAT THEY WANT TO.
NOW THERE'S NOTHING THAT
RESTRICTS FIRMS FROM RAISING
WAGES AND BENEFITS AND WORKING
CONDITIONS SO THAT YOU FILL ALL
THE JOBS BUT IT TAKES SOME
AMOUNT OF TIME.
SO I THINK IT WOULD BE BETTER TO
SAY NOT A LABOR SHORTAGE, BUT
THERE'S A SHORTFALL IN THE
NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO ARE WILLING
TO TAKE THE JOBS, GIVEN THE
WORKING CONDITIONS THAT FIRMS
ARE WILLING TO OFFER.
SO I THINK THAT'S A DISTINCTION
WE SHOULD PUT INTO PLACE, AND
THEN WE CAN THINK ABOUT WHY IS
IT THAT WORKERS AT THESE WAGES
AREN'T WILLING TO TAKE THE JOBS
THAT ARE AVAILABLE.
>> IS SALARY THE DEFINING FACTOR
THEN IN PEOPLE TAKING A JOB?
>> WELL, I THINK IT'S AP
FALSE -- OF CHARACTERISTICS.
FOR A LONG TIME, WE'VE HAD WHAT
HAS BEEN CALLED A SHORTAGE IN
WISCONSIN, THE APPROPRIATE
WORKERS THAT HAVE THE SKILLS
THAT ARE NECESSARY, BUT REALLY
NOTHING HAS STOPPED FIRMS FROM
GRAZINGRAISING WAGES.
HOW FLEXIBLE IS WORK, IT'S THE
AVAILABILITY OF OTHER SOURCES OF
LABOR, FOR INSTANCE,
IMMIGRATION, TO ALLOW MORE
PEOPLE WHO ARE WILLING TO WORK
FOR WHATEVER GOING WAGES.
LOTS OF THESE THINGS HAVE JUST
BEEN EXACERBATED TREMENDOUSLY BY
PANDEMIC, WHEREIN FOR A WHILE,
BENEFITS WERE ELEVATED FOR GOOD
REASONS TO HELP WORKER WHO LOST
THEIR JOBS TO MANAGE THROUGH
THESE TIMES, BUT IN ADDITION TO
THAT, PEOPLE MIGHT SAY, WELL, I
CAN'T GET CHILD CARE DURING
THESE TIMES, AND SO IT'S VERY
HARD FOR ME TO GET ON MAYBE A
BUS SERVICE THAT DOESN'T EXIST
ANYMORE TO GET TO A JOB THAT
MIGHT BE AVAILABLE.
SO THOSE THINGS HAVE OCCURRED,
BUT THEN ALSO THE FEAR OF
INFECTION AND GETTING SICK.
SO WHAT'S HAPPENED IS YOU'VE HAD
A RE-ASSESSMENT BY A LOT OF
WORKERS, EITHER BECAUSE OF THE
CONSTRAINTS IMPOSED UPON THEM OR
JUST BECAUSE THEY'RE THINKING
ABOUT THE TRADEOFFS THAT EXIST
IN THEIR LIVES AND THE FACT THAT
MAYBE THEY'VE GOT A LITTLE BIT
OF SAVINGS SOCKED AWAY TO WAIT
OUT UNTIL THEY CAN FIND THE
RIGHT FIELD AND THE RIGHT -- I
THINK THE PERIOD IS ALREADY
DISSIPATING, YOU HAVE THIS
JUNCTURE BETWEEN JOB OPENINGS
AND THOSE JOB OPENINGS BEING
FILLED.
>> YOU SAY NOTHING IS STOPPING
EMPLOYER FROM RAISING WAGES.
BUT POTENTIALLY, YOU KNOW,
PROFITS?
>> SURE, AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE
AGGREGATE NUMBER, WHAT'S TRUE IS
PROFITS ARE SHOOTING WAY UP.
THEY HAVE SHOT WAY UP DURING
THIS PANDEMIC.
IF TU LOOK AT OVERALL PROFITS.
NOW WHAT'S TRUE IS, THE DEGREE
TO WHICH FIRMS CAN PASS ON THE
COSTS OF HIGHER WAGES DIFFERS A
LOT.
SO YOU SEE PROFITS JUMPING UP
FOR SOME MEAT PROCESSORS.
WELL, THERE'S A DEGREE OF
CONCENTRATION THERE, WHICH IS
MEETING AT THE SAME TIME HIGH
DEMAND FOR WHAT'S BEING
PRODUCED, AND SO THERE, WELL,
PROFITS ARE JUMPING UP EVEN IF
WAGES MIGHT ALSO BE RISING.
NOW OTHER FIRMS ARE GETTING MORE
EXPOSED TO COMPETITION, MAYBE
THERE ARE LOTS OF PRODUCERS SO
THEY DON'T HAVE THIS MONOPOLY
POWER, THEY'RE GOING TO BE LESS
ABLE TO PASS ON THOSE PRICE
INCREASES.
SO FOR SURE I SYMPATHIZE WITH
THOSE FIRMS, THEY'RE GOING TO
FEEL INCREDIBLY PRESSED AND SAY
I JUST CAN'T RAISE THE WAGES
ENOUGH WITHOUT SQUEEZING MY
PROFITS BELOW WHAT I CONSIDER
SURVIVABLE PROFITS.
SO I UNDERSTAND WHERE THEY'RE
COMING FROM, WHERE THEY SAY I
CAN'T RAISE THE WAGES, BUT IF
YOU THINK ABOUT HOW WE'VE ALWAYS
ARGUED THE FREE MARKET SYSTEM
SHOULD WORK AND PRICES AND WAGES
SHOULD MOVE TO EQUILIBRATE THE
MARKET, THAT'S NOT ACTUALLY A
CONSISTENT ANSWER.
>> SO WHAT KIND OF PUBLIC POLICY
COULD YOU BE PUT IN PLACE TO
HELP?
WOULD IT BE MOVING PEOPLE OFF
BENEFITS PROGRAMS OR BOOSTING
THINGS LIKE CHILD CARE TAX
CREDITS?
>> WELL, I THINK, YOU KNOW,
WITHOUT THINKING ABOUT THE
USEFULNESS OF EITHER OF THOSE,
IT'S TRUE, IF WE WERE TO REDUCE
BENEFITS AND REDUCE BENEFITS TO
ZERO, THAT WOULD PROBABLY
INCREASE THE LABOR FORCE
PARTICIPATION RATE, IT WOULD
INDUCE PEOPLE TO TAKE JOBS MORE
READILY, THAT'S FOR SURE.
I'M NOT SURE HOW BIG THAT EFFECT
IS.
I MEAN, FOR THE THINGS THAT ARE
BEING CONTEMPLATED, FOR
INSTANCE, WHEN WE ELIMINATED
EXTENDED OR ENHANCED
UNEMPLOYMENT EFFORTS IN
SEPTEMBER IN WISCONSIN, YOU SAW
AN ENORMOUS JUMP IN PEOPLE
WORKING IN THE LABOR FORCE, YOU
SAW A JUMP BUT NOT A BIG ONE.
ON THE OTHER HAND, YOU DO KNOW,
AND AT LEAST -- I HAVE THESE
RESPONSIBILITIES, EITHER PARENTS
THAT ARTICULATE -- AND THAT
CONSTRAINS THEM IN A TIME WHEN
SOME SERVICES LIKE
TRANSPORTATION MIGHT BE CUT BACK
AND PEOPLE CAN'T GET A CAR TO
TRAVEL TO WHERE THEY NEED TO
TAKE ON THE JOB, I THINK THERE
ARE A VARIETY OF CONSTRAINTS
THAT POLICY CAN SOMETIMES
MITIGATE.
THAT WOULD INCLUDE, FOR
INSTANCE, CHILD TAX CREDIT,
WHICH I'M SORRY TO SEE IS NOT
GOING TO BE, AS FAR AS I CAN
TELL, PART OF THE FEDERAL PLAN
OR WHAT WOULD BE POSSIBLY
CONTEMPLATED AT THE STATE LEVEL.
SO WE COULD DO THESE THINGS.
I WOULD SAY THAT IF YOU COULD
INDUCE PEOPLE TO, FOR INSTANCE,
GET MORE VACCINATION RATE UP SO
THAT PEOPLE HAD A BETTER
ASSESSMENT OF LOWER RISK OF
WORKING IN THE WORKPLACE, THAT,
TOO, WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT
CHANGES THE BENEFIT COST
CALCULATION FOR INDIVIDUAL
WORKER WHETHER TO TAKE A JOB OR
NOT.
PARTICULARLY IN THOSE SECTORS
THAT HAVE BEEN HURTING LIKE
LEISURE AND HOSPITALITY.
>> INDEED.
ALL RIGHT, MENZIE CHINN, THANK
YOU VERY MUCH.
THANKS FOR YOUR INFORMATION.
>> OKAY, MY PLEASURE.
THANK YOU.
>> ON THE COVID FRONT, MAJOR
INSTITUTIONS, LOCAL PUBLIC
HEALTH OFFICERS AND SCHOOLS ARE
MOVING TO REMOVE MASK
REQUIREMENTS AS CASES DROP
ACROSS WISCONSIN.
THE UW SYSTEM REPORTS MASK
MANDATES WILL BE WITHDRAWN AS
SOON AS MARCH 1ST, DEPENDING ON
THE CAMPUS.
A STATEMENT FROM SYSTEM
PRESIDENT TOMMY THOMPSON SAYS,
"DUE TO VACCINATION AND
INFECTION-INDUCED IMMUNITY, IT
IS EXPECTED THE POPULATION WILL
CONTINUE TO BUILD ITS OVERALL
IMMUNITY AND THE RISK OF SEVERE
DISEASE WILL DECREASE.
YOU CAN WATCH OUR COVERAGE OF
THE FULL STATE OF THE STATE
ADDRESS ONLINE, AND FOR MORE
WISCONSIN NEWS, POLITICS AND
COVID-19 UPDATES, VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT PBSWISCONSIN.ORG, AND
THEN CLICK ON THE NEWS TAB.
THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.