BECAUSE HE SIGNED HIS NAME ON
THE BOTTOM.
WHEN I DID THAT IN COLLEGE, IF I
WOULD HAVE DONE THAT IN COLLEGE,
IT WOULD HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED
PLAGIARISM.
I THINK THE CHALLENGE WE HAVE
RIGHT NOW IS THE AVERAGE PERSON
IS SPENDING OVER $700 A YEAR,
EXCUSE ME, $700 A MONTH MORE
THAN A YEAR AGO FOR DOING THE
EXACT SAME THING.
WHAT WE'RE SEEING RIGHT NOW IS
THE GOVERNOR SAYING THAT HE'S
PROPOSING A TAX CUT TO ABOUT 10%
TO THE MIDDLE CLASS, STILL NOT
SURE EXACTLY WHERE HE'S GOING TO
GET THAT FROM, TAX CREDITS HE
DIDN'T WANT TO REALLY TALK
ABOUT, REMOVE THE MINIMUM MARKUP
AND THEN THE CHILD CARE CREDIT.
THERE'S SOME IDEAS HE HAS THERE
BUT WE'RE NOT SEEING WHERE THE
IMPACT IS GOING TO BE ON THOSE.
>> BUT SPECIFICALLY WHAT WILL
MICHELS DO, WHAT CAN THE
GOVERNOR DO?
>> HE HAS TALKED ABOUT ON THE
ROAD PROVIDING A FLAT TAX.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT A BUDGET THAT
HAS A $4 BILLION SURPLUS, I
THINK TIM MICHELS SAID IT LATER
ON IN THE CONVERSATION THAT HE
WANTS TO GIVE THAT MONEY BACK TO
THE PEOPLE.
WE HAVE TO BE LOOKING FORWARD TO
FIGURE OUT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO
DO.
THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE WE HAVE
WHEN IT COMES TO INFLATION IS A
LOT OF IT IS AT THE FEDERAL
LEVEL.
THAT'S MESSED IT UP SO MUCH
THERE'S NOT A LOT WE'RE GOING TO
BE ABLE TO FIX RIGHT HERE.
>> WHAT CAN ANY GOVERNOR DO
EXCEPT TAKE THE BLAME FOR
INFLATION?
>> WELL, INFLATION IS A GLOBAL
PROBLEM AND IT'S UNFORTUNATE
THAT IT'S BEING USED -- THAT'S
SORT OF DIVORCED FROM HOW
ECONOMICS WORKS BUT I THINK
THERE ARE CONCRETE STEPS THAT
GOVERNOR EVERS IS PROPOSING
SPECIFICALLY TO GAS TAX, DOING A
HOLIDAY, THAT'S SOMETHING
MICHELS HAS REA FUSED TO COMMIT
TO.
HE'S URGED THE BIDEN
ADMINISTRATION TO SUSPEND GAS
TAXES AND WORK TO REPEAL THE
MINIMUM MARKUP FOR GAS.
SO THOSE ARE REALLY CONCRETE
STEPS.
ON CHILD CARE, MICHELS DOESN'T
EVEN HAVE A PLAN TO ADDRESS
CHILD CARE.
EVERS UNDERSTANDS THE COST OF
CHILD CARE IS UNAFFORDABLE AND
THAT'S HURTING OUR WORKFORCE AND
OUR SMALL BUSINESSES AND THAT'S
WHY HE'S PROPOSED CONCRETE TAX
CREDITS TO HELP CAREGIVERS AND
FAMILIES.
>> ONE THING I WANT TO FRAME FOR
OUR VIEWERS IS HOW DO YOU WIN
ELECTIONS.
YOU CAN EITHER WIN THE SMALL
NUMBER OF SWING VOTERS AND
INDEPENDENTS IN WISCONSIN OR YOU
CAN TURN OUT YOUR BASE.
OBVIOUSLY WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A
DROPOFF IN THE PRESIDENTIAL
ELECTION SO WHEN IT COMES TO AN
ISSUE LIKE INFLATION OR ANY OF
THESE, WHICH ONES ARE BASE
ISSUES AND WHICH ONES ARE GOING
TO BE SWING INDEPENDENTS?
DOES -- WE JUST HEARD, ABOUT 22%
OF PEOPLE DON'T CARE BUT
OTHERWISE REPUBLICANS HAVE THE
ADVANTAGE ON INFLATION.
IS THIS A BASE ISSUE FOR THE
GOVERNOR TO HAVE A DETAILED PLAN
OR IS HE GOING TO WIN
INDEPENDENCE WITH THAT?
>> I THINK HE IS GOING TO WIN
INDEPENDENCE BECAUSE HE HAS
SPECIFICS AND HE CAN SHOW HIS
WORK.
GOVERNOR EVERS HAS SHOWN
INVESTMENTS IN PUBLIC EDUCATION.
WE WENT FROM 18TH UNDER THE
DEVASTATING CUTS OF WALKER TO
8TH IN THE NATION WHICH IS BACK
WHERE WE SHOULD BE.
HE'S MADE OVER $100 MILLION IN
INVESTMENTS IN PUBLIC SAFETY
AGAIN, EVERY SINGLE LAW
ENFORCEMENT AGENCY IN THE STATE
RECEIVED MONEY THANKS TO
GOVERNOR EVERS.
>> BASE OR SWING FROM MICHELS
PERSPECTIVE?
>> SWING VOTERS, IT'S GOING TO
BE IMPORTANT.
GOVERNOR EVERS TALKED ABOUT THE
MARQUETTE POLL A COUPLE OF
TIMES.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBERS,
THEY'RE LOOKING AT INFLATION AS
ONE OF THEIR TOP TWO CONCERN
CATEGORIES.
YOU'VE SEEN THE MOVE THAT
OCCURRED IN THAT MARQUETTE POLL.
PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO REALIZE
WE NEED A DIFFERENCE IN
LEADERSHIP WHEN IT COMES TO THE
GOVERNOR BECAUSE HE HASN'T DONE
THE JOB YET.
>> ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT IS SHARED REVENUE
AND THE AMOUNT OF MONEY
AVAILABLE IN THE NEXT BUDGET.
THE GOVERNOR SAYS HE WANTS TO
SEE MORE MONEY GO TO THE LOCAL
COMMUNITIES.
LET'S SEE WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY.
>> THERE'S PLENTY OF MONEY IN
GOVERNMENT.
THERE'S $43.5 BILLION SPENT
EVERY YEAR.
THOSE ARE THE TAXPAYERS' MONEY.
I'M GOING TO SIT DOWN WITH THE
LEGISLATURE AND THE SMART
PEOPLE, MY LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
ROGER ROTH, WE'RE GOING TO MAKE
SURE WE COME UP WITH THE RIGHT
FORMULAS AND ADEQUATELY MAKE
SURE THERE'S FUNDING FOR THE
ISSUES THAT PEOPLE OF WISCONSIN
ARE SO CONCERNED ABOUT.
>> NEXT BUDGET, IT IS MY TOP
PRIORITY.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE 4% EACH YEAR
OF THE BIENNIUM AND THAT HELPS
THESE PEOPLE DO THE HARD WORK.
WHETHER IT'S AROUND CRIME,
SOCIAL SERVICES, YOU NAME IT,
THEY DO THE HARD WORK.
>> THANK YOU, YOUR TIME IS UP.
>> THEY NEED TO HAVE THE
RESOURCES.
>> WE NEED TO MOVE ON NOW.
>> SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT BASE
TURNOVERS TO SWING, DOES ANYBODY
GET EXCITED ABOUT SHARED
REVENUE?
EVEN THOUGH IT'S EXTREMELY
IMPORTANT, IS THAT SOMETHING
THAT CAN RESONATE WITH A VOTER
WHO DOESN'T REALLY FOLLOW
POLITICS?
>> I THINK PEOPLE KNOW VERY WELL
IF THEIR COMMUNITIES HAVE THE
RESOURCES THEY NEED TO HAVE
THINGS LIKE GOOD PUBLIC PARKS,
TO HAVE CLEAN WATER, TO HAVE
POLICE AND FIRE SERVICE, PUBLIC
HEALTH.
ALL THESE THINGS ARE DAY TO DAY
IMPORTANT WORK GOVERNMENT DOES
AND GOVERNOR EVERS HAS A PLAN TO
FUND IT AND TIM MICHELS DOES
NOT.
AGAIN, THAT'S A HUGE CONTRAST.
IF YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT
FUNDING THE POLICE, GOVERNOR
EVERS HAS FUNDED THE POLICE.
TIM MICHELS AND HIS REPUBLICAN
COLLEAGUES INCLUDING MY FRIEND
PAUL, HE WAS ON THE FINANCE
COMMITTEE FOR YEARS, REPUBLICANS
CUT AND CUT AND CUT SHARED
REVENUE WHICH MEANS INEVITABLY
CUTS TO POLICE AND FIRE.
>> JOINT FINANCE DOES NOT LIKE
TO GIVE MONEY TO MILWAUKEE AND
OTHER LARGE CITIES.
THEY HAVE HELD THAT FLAT FOR
QUITE A WHILE.
DO YOU SEE THAT CHANGING UNDER
TIM MICHELS' LEADERSHIP?
>> QUICK CORRECTION, I WAS NEVER
ON JOINT FINANCE.
>> OH, YOU WERE NOT.
>> NO.
BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT SHARED
REVENUE, I THINK PART OF THE
CHALCHALLENGE YOU HEAR, YOU HEAR THE
GOVERNOR TALK ABOUT IT, HE WANTS
TO PROVIDE A 4%, 4% YEAR OVER
YEAR.
THE ISSUE, AGAIN I AGREE WITH
YOU, THEY DON'T SEE WHAT SHARED
REVENUE IS, THEY LIKE THEIR
PARKS, THEY LIKE TO SEE WHAT'S
HAPPENING.
I THINK THE KEY POSITION YOU
HAVE TO HEAR THOUGH IS, TIM
MICHELS AS GOVERNOR IS GOING TO
REACH OUT TO THE LEGISLATURE TO
WORK WITH THEM.
GOVERNOR EVERS HASN'T DONE THAT
IN THE LAST CYCLE.
WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE NUMBER
OF TIMES THAT A LEGISLATIVE
LEADERSHIP SHOULD MEET WITH THE
GOVERNOR AND AS THE LEADER OF
THE STATE, THE GOVERNOR SHOULD
BE PUSHING THAT SAYING LET'S
FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET THIS DONE.
HE'S GOT THE FEWEST VISITATIONS
AND MEETINGS WITH LEGISLATORS OF
ANY GOVERNOR WE'VE HAD FOR A
WHILE.
>> THE LEGISLATURE WASN'T REALLY
WORKING FOR MOST OF THE LAST
SESSION TOO.
>> ESPECIALLY DURING COVID.
BUT ONE OF THE BIG IMPACTS OF
SHARED REVENUE IS ABOUT CRIME AT
THE LOCAL LEVEL.
IT'S BEEN ONE OF GOVERNOR EVERS'
MAIN TALKING POINTS.
WE'RE GOING TO HEAR FROM THEM ON
THIS.
>> CRIME IS RUNNING RAMPANT.
CRIME WENT DOWN IN AMERICA FROM
30 YEARS AGO UNTIL TWO YEARS
AGO.
BUT IN THE LAST TWO YEARS,
THERE'S BEEN A TREMENDOUS SPIKE.
I BELIEVE IT IS A BYPRODUCT OF
THE DEFUND THE POLICE MOVEMENT.
WE GOT TO THIS CRAZY SPOT IN
AMERICA WHERE LESS COPS IS
BETTER OR POLICE ARE BAD.
I DON'T BUY THAT AT ALL.
I HAVE THE ENDORSEMENT OF
MULTIPLE POLICE ASSOCIATIONS.
>> IT ISN'T JUST ABOUT TALKING
TOUGH, BELIEVE ME.
IT IS ABOUT PROVIDING THE
RESOURCES SO THAT THOSE POLICE
OFFICERS CAN DO THE JOB.
THE TRAINING THAT MAYBE NEEDS TO
HAPPEN.
AND WE PUT OVER A MILLION
DOLLARS OR EXCUSE ME
$100 MILLION DURING THE PANDEMIC
FOR THE MILWAUKEE AREA AND OTHER
PLACES ACROSS THE STATE OF
WISCONSIN.
FOR VIOLENCE PREVENTION.
FOR LOCAL OFFICERS AND POLICE
OFFICERS.
>> ALL RIGHT, PAUL, TIM MICHELS
SAID THAT DURING HIS INAUGURAL
ADDRESS, HE'S GOING TO HAVE A
SPEECH FOR CRIMINALS.
DO CRIMINALS WATCH INAUGURAL
ADDRESSES?
>> THAT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO
SEE IF THEY DO.
I THINK WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT
HERE, AGAIN, IS THE LEADERSHIP
OF TONY EVERS.
HE WAS TALKING THAT HE'S GIVEN
LAW ENFORCEMENT OVER
$100 MILLION.
THE MONEY HE'S TALKING ABOUT IS
THE FEDERAL CARES ACT OR ARPA
MONEY THAT'S OUT THERE.
IT'S NOT MONEY FROM THE STATE.
IT IS SHORT TERM MONEY, IT'S NOT
EVEN A BAND-AID IN THIS
SITUATION, IT'S GOING TO SOLVE A
VERY SHORT TERM ISSUE.
HE HASN'T LOOKED AT LONG TERM
ISSUES ON HOW WE'RE GOING TO
SOLVE THIS.
THE YOU LOOK AT HIS TRACK
RECORD.
WHEN HE CAME IN, HE TALKED ABOUT
REDUCING THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN
PRISON.
LEADSER SHIP.
WHEN HE CAME IN, HE WAS TALKING
ABOUT -- ACTUALLY WHEN HE TALKED
ABOUT THE PAROLE PROGRAM, HE
FIRED THE CHAIRMAN.
AFTER ONE CASE.
BUT HOW MANY CASES AFTER THAT
DID WE STILL HAVE INDIVIDUALS
COMING OUT?
AND THE LAST THING I HAVE TO SAY
ABOUT IT, BECAUSE AGAIN, HE
BROUGHT IT UP, IS, WHEN YOU LOOK
AT A LEADERSHIP POSITION, YOU
WANT SOMEONE WHO TELLS PEOPLE IN
THE PUBLIC, ALL RIGHT, LET'S
JUST CALM DOWN AND TAKE A MOMENT
BEFORE WE REACT.
THE FIRST STATEMENT THAT HE PUT
OUT IN THE KENOSHA RIOTS IS
WHILE WE DO NOT HAVE ALL THE
DETAILS YET, WHAT WE KNOW FOR
CERTAIN IS THAT HE IS NOT THE
FIRST BLACK MAN OR PERSON TO
HAVE BEEN SHOT OR INJURED OR
MERCY LESSLY KILLED IT THE HAND
OF LAW ENFORCEMENT IN OUR STATE
OR COUNTRY.
THAT'S NOT WHAT YOU WANT TO HEAR
FROM YOUR LEADER.
>> WE HEARD ABOUT LEADERSHIP,
TIM MICHELS SAID HE WAS GOING TO
BE A BOLD LEADER.
WE DIDN'T HEAR ANY OF THAT
DEFINED.
>> I THINK A LEADER IS SOMEONE
WHO MAKES A COMMITMENT TO FUND
OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS SO THAT WE
CAN HAVE AN ECONOMIC FUTURE AND
SO THAT PEOPLE WANT TO LIVE IN
THE STATE.
GOVERNOR EVERS HAS PLEDGED TO DO
THAT.
TIM MICHELS BY CONTRAST HAS SAID
THAT CONTINUES TO FUND PUBLIC
EDUCATION IS, QUOTE, THE
DEFINITION OF INSANITY.
LEADERSHIP IS SHOWING UP AND
FUNDING OUR PUBLIC SERVICES.
GOVERNOR EVERS HAS DELIVERED
OVER $100 MILLION, AND YES, HE
SPENT FEDERAL MONEY BECAUSE THE
STATE LEGISLATURE, WHICH IS
CONTROLLED BY REPUBLICANS,
REFUSED TO DO THEIR JOB AND
ALLOCATE ADEQUATE FUNDS.
HE DID THAT.
YOU KNOW, TIM MICHELS, ON THE
OTHER HAND, HAS SUGGESTED THAT
COMMUNITIES WITH RISING CRIME
SHOULD ACTUALLY HAVE THEIR
FUNDING BE CUT.
NOW, PEOPLE MIGHT THINK, OH,
WELL, THAT'S JUST GOING TO
AFFECT MADISON AND MILWAUKEE.
AND IT'S A LITTLE BUILT OF A DOG
WHISTLE.
BUT IT'S ACTUALLY THE SMALLEST
COMMUNITIES IN WISCONSIN THAT
ARE GOING TO BE HURT THE MOST
BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE LEAST
CAPABILITY TO WEATHER THOSE KIND
OF CUTS.
>> EDUCATION IS PART OF THAT
ISSUE, AND IT'S PART OF ALL
THESE ISSUES THAT ARE ALL TIED
TOGETHER, THE CANDIDATE, OF
COURSE, ADDRESSED THAT.
WE'RE GOING TO HEAR FROM TIM
MICHELS FIRST.
>> EVERY PARENT IS A TAXPAYER SO
THEY SHOULD ALL EQUALLY HAVE THE
BENEFIT OF THOSE TAX DOLLARS TO
EDUCATE THEIR KIDS.
OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM IS BROKEN
IN WISCONSIN.
WHAT DO I MEAN BY THAT?
THE TEST SCORES CONTINUE TO GO
DOWN.
THE STATE TESTS, THE FORWARD
TESTS, BAD NUMBER, GETTING
WORSE.
THE NATIONAL NUMBERS, THE
NUMBERS DN TO GO CONTINUE TO GO DOWN.
>> WE DO NEED MORE RESOURCES, WE
NEED TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE MORE
SPECIAL EDUCATION MONEY, MENTAL
HEALTH MONEY, WE NEED TO MAKE
SURE THAT OUR LITERACY PROGRAM
IS MAKING THE TOP READERS IN THE
STATE.
>> PAUL, TIM MICHELS SAID -- TO
A DIFFERENT QUESTION, HE SAID
HE'S GOING TO SPEND AS MUCH ON
EDUCATION AS ANY OTHER GOVERNOR,
WITHBUT HE ALSO HAS MADE STATEMENTS
IN THE PAST ABOUT GIVING MORE
MONEY TO SCHOOLS IS INSANITY.
SO HOW DO THOSE TWO WORK
TOGETHER?
>> I THINK WHAT YOU HEARD IN ONE
OF THE QUESTIONS OUT THERE IS
HOW ARE YOU GOING TO PAY FOR TWO
PARALLEL SYSTEMS.
AND WE HEAR THIS ALL THE TIME,
THAT THERE ARE TWO SYSTEMS.
THE VOUCHER PROGRAM AND IN THE
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
THERE AREN'T TWO SYSTEMS.
THERE'S ONE.
IT'S THE SUCCESS OF THE
STUDENTS.
AND WHAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT IS
HOW ARE WE SUCCEEDING WITH OUR
STUDENTS?
IF YOU KEEP TALKING ABOUT THE
DOLLARS, WHICH IS WHAT GOVERNOR
EVERS KEEPS TALKING ABOUT, IN
FACT, WHEN THE FIRST LADY JILL
BIDEN WAS HERE, THEY WERE AT A
SCHOOL AND SHE WAS PRAISING THEM
FOR THROWING SO MUCH MONEY AT
SCHOOLS, EXCEPT THE SCHOOL SHE
WAS AT, THEIR PROFICIENCY FOR
MATH WAS ZERO.
THE PROFICIENCY FOR ENGLISH WAS
1.
THIS IS THE CHALLENGE THAT WE
HAVE.
THE GOVERNOR CONTINUES TO SAY
WE'VE GOT GOOD SYSTEMS.
I THINK SOME OF THE PUBLIC
SCHOOLS ARE VERY GOOD SCHOOLS.
BUT WE'VE GOT OTHER ONES THAT
ARE FAILING, AND THROWING MONEY
AT THEM ISN'T THE ANSWER.
WE'VE GOT TO FIND A WAY, AND I
THINK YOU LOOK WHAT TIM MICHELS
IS TRYING TO DO IS SAY LET'S GET
THE PARENTS INVOLVED.
WE KNOW THERE'S SUCCESS WITH THE
VOUCHER PROGRAMS WHEN WE HAVE
THE PARENTS INVOLVED IN THE
EDUCATION SYSTEM.
LET'S MAKE SURE ALL PARENTS ARE
INVOLVED IN THEIR KIDS' FUTURE.
>> SO HOW MUCH OF A BASE TURNOUT
IS THIS, WHEN THE GOVERNOR TALKS
ABOUT EDUCATION?
>> IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE AN ISSUE
THAT IS MORE FUNDAMENTAL FOR
WISCONSIN VOTERS THAN PUBLIC
EDUCATION.
WE ARE THE EDUCATION STATE.
AND WE CANNOT AFFORD TO KEEP
SENDING OUR TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO
PRIVATE, UNACCOUNTABLE VOUCHER
SCHOOLS, WHICH TO NOT HAVE TO
MEET THE SAME STANDARDS AS
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
THE TEACHERS THAT THEY HIRE DO
NOT HAVE TO MEET THE SAME
STANDARDS AS PUBLIC SCHOOL
TEACHERS.
AND UNLIKE PUBLIC SCHOOLS,
VOUCHER SCHOOLS DON'T HAVE TO
TAKE ALL-COMERS.
SO THERE'S A TREMENDOUS
DISCREPANCY.
WE HAVE A HUGE VACUUM FROM THESE
PUBLIC TAXPAYER DOLLARS, THEY'RE
GOING TO THESE PRIVATE SCHOOLS
AND TIM MICHELS WANTS TO TAKE
THAT STATEWIDE.
I DON'T THINK WISCONSIN VOTERS
THINK THAT DEFUNDING SCHOOLS
THAT ARE STRUGGLING, WHETHER
IT'S RURAL SCHOOLS WITH HIGH
TRANSPORTATION COSTS, WHETHER
IT'S SCHOOLS THAT HAVE HIGH
SPECIAL NEEDS POPULATIONS, THAT
TAKING MONEY AWAY IS GOING TO
HELP EDUCATE OUR KIDS.
>> THERE'S ONE LAST ISSUE THAT
WE HAVE TO GET TO BEFORE WE LET
YOU TWO GO AND THAT IS ABORTION,
WE'VE SEEN IT IN ALL OF THE ADS,
IT'S BEEN OBVIOUSLY TOP OF MIND
SINCE THE DOBBS DECISION.
WE'RE GOING TO HEAR FROM TIM
MICHELS FIRST.
>> I AM PRO LIFE AND I MAKE NO
APOLLS FOR THAT BUTAAPOLOGIES FOR THAT.
THE REAL RADICAL IS GOVERNOR
EVERS, WHERE HE IS -- FOR
ALLOWING ABORTION AS LATE AS AT
THE TIME OF BIRTH.
HE EVEN VETOED THE BORN ALIVE
BILL, WHICH WOULD ALLOW A DOCTOR
TO MURDER A BABY AFTER BIRTH.
THAT IS EXTREME.
THAT IS RADICAL.
>> WOMEN SHOULD HAVE THE ABILITY
AND THE RIGHT TO MAKE DECISIONS
ABOUT THEIR HEALTHCARE,
INCLUDING REPRODUCTIVE
HEALTHCARE.
AND THAT INCLUDES ABORTION.
MY OPPONENT IS RADICAL ON THIS
ISSUE, AND FRANKLY, A HE'S
RADICAL BECAUSE IT'S NOT
CONSISTENT WITH WISCONSIN
VALUES.
>> WE'VE HEARD THE TERM RADICAL
OVER AND OVER AND PAUL, NOW TIM
MICHELS IS TRYING TO FLIP THE
SCRIPT AND USE THAT TO DESCRIBE
TONY EVERS.
WILL THAT WORK?
>> YOU KNOW, THE ABORTION ISSUE
IS ONE OF THOSE ISSUES THAT
EVERYBODY HAS A CONCERN WITH.
I THINK RIGHT NOW WHAT YOU'RE
SEEING IS THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY
USING IT AS THE SHIELD TO
DISAVOW EVERYTHING ELSE THAT'S
HAPPENING.
BECAUSE THEY REALLY HAVEN'T BEEN
SUCCESSFUL ON ANY OTHER
CHALLENGES.
I THINK GOVERNOR EVERS --
GOVERNOR EVERS MADE A STATEMENT
AND HAS SAID THAT HE IS WANTING
TO CODIFY ROE VERSUS WADE.
THAT'S IT.
TIM MICHELS HAS SAID, AND I
THINK HE'S THE ONLY ONE THAT
SAID LOOK, IF I GET A BILL THAT
COMES TO MY DESK, EVEN THOUGH
I'M PRO-LIFE AND IT HAS
EXCEPTIONS WHICH THE VAST
MAJORITY AGREE WITH, I'LL LOOK
AT IT AND SIGN IT.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WE'VE GOT LESS THAN A MINUTE.
IS THIS THE BASE TURNOUT OF ALL
BASE TURNOUTS?
>> NO, THIS IS A HUGE ISSUE FOR
ALL WISCONSIN VOTERS.
HALF OF THE PEOPLE IN THE STATE
LOST OUR RIGHTS OVERNIGHT
BECAUSE OF UNELECTED REPUBLICAN
SUPREME COURT, IT'S
UNACCEPTABLE.
TIM MICHELS IS SO FAR OUT OF
STEP, HE DESCRIBED THAT THE 1849
PRECIVIL WAR CRIMINALIZATION OF
ABORTION WAS AN EXACT MIRROR OF
HIS POSITION.
HE HAS FUNNELED THOUSANDS OF
DOLLARS WHO OWE MOSTS
CONTRACEPTION AND WANTS TO GET
RID OF THE EXCEPTION FOR THE
LIFE OF THE WOMAN.
THAT'S HOW EXTREME TIM MICHELS
IS.
HE CANNOT BE TRUSTED ON ABORTION
WITH OUR RIGHTS OR OUR SCHOOL
KIDS.
>> WE'VE GOT JUST A FEW SECONDS
LEFT.
VERY QUICKLY, WE'LL START WITH
YOU, DID ANYONE WIN OR LOSE THE
DEBATE TONIGHT?
>> I THINK TONY EVERS CLEARLY
WON BECAUSE HE CAME WITH
DETAILED PLANS, WITH A RECORD OF
ACCOMPLISHMENTS, AND YOU KNOW,
HE HAS BEEN THE LEADER THAT THE
STATE DESERVES.
>> 10 SECONDS.
>> TIM MICHELS WON, HE CAME WITH
THE REALIZATION THAT WE'RE GOING
TO GET A NEW LEADERSHIP IN
MADISON.
>> ALL RIGHT.
PAUL THANK YOU BOTH, WE
APPRECIATE IT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> WE TURN NOW TO AN ELECTION
THAT CAN GET OVERSHADOWED BY THE
RACES FOR GOVERNOR AND U.S.
SENATE, WISCONSIN'S ATTORNEY
GENERAL IS OFTEN CALLED THE
STATE'S TOP COP.
AND PUBLIC SAFETY IS THE NUMBER
ONE ISSUE FOR BOTH THE
INCUMBENT, DEMOCRAT JOSH KAUL
AND CHALLENGER ERIC TONY.
WHO
>> I THINK PUBLIC SAFETY IS THE
MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE FOR THE
ATTORNEY GENERAL.
IT'S BEEN MY TOP PRIORITY SINCE
I TOOK OFF AND IT CONTINUES TO
BE.
>> JOSH KAUL HAS DECIDED THAT'S
NOT GOING TO BE HIS TOP
PRIORITY.
POLITICS HAS BEEN HIS TOP
PRIORITY AND THAT'S WHY WE NEED
A PROSECUTOR AND NOT A
POLITICIAN AS OUR TOP COP.
>> THE ATTORNEY GENERAL LEADS
WISCONSIN'S DEPARTMENT OF
JUSTICE.
AND WHILE THAT MAY SOUND
IMPOSING, DOJ IS TYPICALLY NOT
ON THE FRONT LINE OF THE FIGHT
AGAINST CRIME.
THEY OFTEN PLAY A SUPPORT ROLE,
STEPPING INTO ASSIST LOCAL
POLICE AND COUNTY DISTRICT
ATTORNEYS WHEN NEEDED.
>> WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS FOCUS
ON MILWAUKEE COUNTY.
>> ERIC TONEY WANTS A MORE
DIRECT ROLE.
IFFY ELECTED, HE PLANS TO ASK
THE LEGISLATURE FOR THE
AUTHORITY TO STEP IN AND
PROSECUTE ANY CASE IN MILWAUKEE
COUNTY.
>> IT'S EVIDENT THAT WE NEED
MORE RESOURCES AND TO HAVE THE
ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE ASSIST
ON THAT TYPE OF VIOLENT CRIME.
>> JOSH KAUL SAYS IF THE
LEGISLATURE IS GIVING MORE
AUTHORITY TO THE DOJ, IT SHOULD
APPLY STATE-WIDE.
BUT HE ALSO CAN'T THINK OF CASES
WHERE THE MILWAUKEE COUNTY
DISTRICT ATTORNEY IS CHOOSING
NOT TO PROSECUTE VIOLENT
CRIMINALS.
>> I CAN'T THINK OF EXAMPLES
WHERE, YOU KNOW, DAs THINK
THAT THERE IS A PROSECUTION THAT
SHOULD BE BROUGHT AND THEY'RE
CHOOSING NOT TO.
>> FOR THE RECORD, TONEY CAN'T
LIST ANY EXAMPLES OF THAT
EITHER, BUT HE KNOWS MILWAUKEE
HAS A BUDGET SHORTFALL.
>> THE MAYOR'S BUDGET PROPOSAL
THIS YEAR IS FOR LESS POLICE
OFFICERS THAN THE YEAR BEFORE.
AND SO OUR DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
CAN BE A RESOURCE TO AUGMENT
WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN MILWAUKEE
WITH DCI AGENTS AND PROSECUTORS
TO ADD MORE TO OUR DEPARTMENT OF
JUSTICE.
>> CALL SAYS THE WAY TO FIGHT
CRIME IS FOR THE LEGISLATURE TO
FULLY FUND SHARED REVENUE TO
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, SO THE CITY
OF MILWAUKEE CAN AFFORD MORE
OFFICERS.
>> WHAT WE REALLY NEED, THOUGH,
IS NOT JUST A SHIFT IN
AUTHORITY.
WE NEED TO GET RESOURCES TO OUR
COMMUNITIES.
>> TONEY SAYS REPUBLICANS IN THE
LEGISLATURE ARE MORE LIKELY TO
FUND HIS DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
THAN INCREASE SHARED REVENUE TO
MILWAUKEE.
>> WHAT WE NEED IS SOMEONE, THE
LEGISLATURE TRUSTS TO PARTNER
WITH TO DEPLOY THOSE RESOURCES
FOR PUBLIC SAFETY.
>> CALL SAYS IT'S IMPORTANT TO
HAVE AN ATTORNEY GENERAL WILLING
TO STAND UP TO REPUBLICANS IN
THE LEGISLATURE.
ESPECIALLY ON ELECTION ISSUES.
>> THIS IS A CLEAR CONTRAST IN
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S RACE.
IF YOU WANT A CANDIDATE WHO YOU
CAN COUNT ON TO PROTECT
DEMOCRACY, I THINK MY TRACK
RECORD SPEAKS FOR ITSELF.
AND MY OPPONENT'S TRACK RECORD
SPEAKS FOR ITSELF IN A VERY
DIFFERENT WAY.
>> CALL REPRESENTED THE STATE IN
NUMEROUS LAWSUITS FILED BEFORE
AND AFTER THE 2020 ELECTION, AND
SAYS A REPUBLICAN COULDN'T BE
TRUSTED TO DO THE SAME.
>> THAT'S A REAL CONCERN THAT I
HAVE, IS THAT IF THERE IS
REPUBLICAN CONTROL, THAT THEY
WOULD OVERRULE THE WILL OF THE
PEOPLE.
AND I'M WORRIED THAT IF ERIC
TONEY WERE A.G., THAT HE WOULD
POTENTIALLY SUGGEST THAT, YOU
KNOW, FALSELY THAT LAWS WERE
BROKEN OR THAT THERE WAS FRAUD.
AND AGAIN, HE HAS SUGGESTED THAT
LAWS WERE BROKEN IN 2020,
DESPITE THE FACT THAT THIS HAS
BEEN LITIGATED IN CASE AFTER
CASE AFTER CASE.
>> THAT'S INCREDIBLY
DISINGENUOUS AND DISHONEST OF
OUR ATTORNEY ATTORNEY GENERAL TO MAKE A
STATEMENT LIKE THAT.
>>
>> ERIC TONEY IS ONE OF THE FEW
REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES IN THIS
ELECTION CYCLE TO CLEARLY STATE
DONALD TRUMP LOST WISCONSIN IN
2020.
>> I'VE BEEN THE MOST VOCAL
STATEWIDE SAYING WE CANNOT
DECERTIFY THE ELECTION THAT IT'S
NOT LAWFUL --
>> THAT DOESN'T MEAN TONEY AND
KAUL AGREE ON ELECTION ISSUES.
TONEY SAYS THE MEMBERS OF THE
WISCONSIN ELECTIONS COMMISSION
COULD HAVE BEEN PROSECUTED FOR
THE GUIDANCE THEY ISSUED TO
LOCAL CLERKS.
>> WEC EXCEEDED THEIR LAWFUL
AUTHORITY IN DIRECTING THESE
CLERKS TO EFFECTIVELY BREAK
WISCONSIN LAW.
>> KAUL SAYS NO MATTER TONEY'S
PRIOR STATEMENTS, HE WOULDN'T
TRUST HIM IN 2024.
>> WHAT WE'VE SEEN, THOUGH, IS
ON ISSUE AFTER ISSUE,
REPUBLICANS IN WISCONSIN HAVE
BEEN UNWILLING TO STAND UP TO
DONALD TRUMP.
>> TONEY SAYS IN 2024, HE WILL
FOB THE LAW.
>> I WILL ENFORCE THE RULE OF
LAW NOT JUST WHEN IT'S POPULAR
AND JUST WHEN I AGREE, THAT I
WILL NOT INJECT MY PEARNL
BELIEFS ON OTHERS AND I WILL
FOLLOW THE LAW.
>> HE SAYS THAT APPLIES TO
ANOTHER AREA OF CONTENTION IN
THIS ELECTION, ABORTION,
SPECIFICALLY ENFORCING
WISCONSIN'S 1849 LAW THAT BANS
ALL ABORTION EXCEPT TO SAVE THE
LIFE OF THE MOTHER.
>> I'VE BEEN VERY CLEAR AS A DA
AND AS ATTORNEY GENERAL I'M
GOING TO ENFORCE THE LAW.
RIGHT NOW THAT MEANS WE HAVE AN
ABORTION BAN ON THE BOOKS HERE
IN WISCONSIN.
AND I WILL ENFORCE THAT AS A
D.A. AND I WILL ENFORCE AND
DEFEND THAT AS OUR ATTORNEY
GENERAL.
>> JOSH KAUL HAS FILED A LAWSUIT
SEEKING TO OVERTURN THAT LAW AND
HAS SAID HE WILL NOT ENFORCE IT
AS ATTORNEY GENERAL.
>> THE WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF
JUSTICE HAS ABOUT A HUNDRED
INVESTIGATORS, AS WELL AS A
NUMBER OF PROSECUTORS, PUTTING
THOSE RESOURCES TOWARDS GOING
AFTER DOCTORS OR NURSES OR
SPOUSES OR PARENTS FOR VIOLATING
THAT 19TH CENTURY ABORTION BAN.
FIRST IS WRONG BUT ON TOP OF
THAT WOULD BE SHIFTING RESOURCES
FROM PROTECTING PUBLIC SAFETY.
>> NOT ONLY WOULD TONEY ENFORCE
THE 1849 ABORTION BAN, HE WOULD
ASK THE LEGISLATURE TO ALLOW
ADJOINING COUNTIES TO BRING
CASES IF THE LOCAL D.A. WON'T
PROSECUTE.
>> WE NEED TO GIVE OUR ATTORNEY
GENERAL THE AUTHORITY TO
PROSECUTE.
THEY ALREADY WOULD HAVE THE
TECHNICAL AUTHORITY TO
INVESTIGATE IT.
AND I THINK ANOTHER APPROACH
WOULD BE ALLOWING FOR ADJOINING
COUNTIES TO BE ABLE TO
INVESTIGATE AND ENFORCE THAT
ABORTION BAN IN WISCONSIN.
>> WHAT WE DO IN WISCONSIN IN
THESE ELECTIONS MAKES SUCH A BIG
DIFFERENCE.
THE MARGINS ARE SMALL, BUT THE
CONSEQUENCES ARE HUGE.
>> JOSH KAUL THINKS THIS IS THE
TYPE OF ISSUE THAT SWINGS
ELECTIONS AND MAY MAKE THE
DIFFERENCE IN A TIGHT RACE.
>> I DO THINK THAT THIS IS GOING
TO IMPACT THE ELECTION.
I THINK THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO MAY
HAVE VOTED REPUBLICAN WHEN
THEY -- WHEN THEY KNEW THERE WAS
A CONSTITUTIONAL PROTECTION FOR
ACCESS TO SAFE AND LEGAL
ABORTION WHO ARE NOW SEEING HOW
EXTREME REPUBLICAN, INCLUDING MY
OPPONENT, ARE ON THIS ISSUE.
>> TONEY SAYS IN THE END, IT
WILL COME DOWN TO PUBLIC SAFETY.
>> JOSH KAUL HAS BEEN LOCKSTEP
WITH TONY EVERS WHERE WE NEED AN
ATTORNEY GENERAL THAT IS GOING
TO STAND WITH OUR LAW
ENFORCEMENT, PUBLIC SAFETY AND
THE RULE OF LAW.
>> FOR MORE ON THIS AND OTHER
ISSUES FACING WISCONSIN, VISIT
OUR WEBSITE AT PBSWISCONSIN.ORG,
THEN CLICK ON THE NEWS TAB.
AND TO LEARN ABOUT ALL THE
CANDIDATES IN NOVEMBER, VISIT
WISCONSINVOTE.ORG.
THAT IS OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT.
I'M ZAC SCHULTZ.
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.
?
FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.