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>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION.
>> IT IS THE ABSOLUTE HONOR OF A
LIFETIME TO BE ELECTED AS YOUR
NEXT JUSTICE ON THE WISCONSIN
SUPREME COURT.
>> JANET PROTASIEWICZ WINS THE
OPEN SEAT ON THE HIGH COURT IN A
SPRING ELECTION THAT BROUGHT
RECORD SPENDING AND RECORD
TURN-OUT.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON HERE AND NOW,
WISCONSIN HELD THE MOST
IMPORTANT ELECTION OF 2023.
WE'RE BREAKING DOWN ALL OF THE
RESULTS WITH REPORTER ZAC
SCHULTZ AND SCOTT ROSS AND BILL
McCOSHEN GIVE US THEIR
PARTISAN TAKES.
IT'S HERE AND NOW FOR APRIL
7th.
>> FUNDING IS PROVIDED BY THE
FOCUS FUND FOR JOURNALISM AND
FRIENDS OF PBS WISCONSIN.
>> JANET PROTASIEWICZ WON A
SMASHING 11-POINT VICTORY
TUESDAY NIGHT, WINNING A SEAT ON
THE WISCONSIN SUPREME COURT AND
CREATING A NEW LIBERAL MAJORITY
IN THE PROCESS.
JANET PROTASIEWICZ DEFEATED
CONSERVATIVE DANIEL KELLY 55.5%
TO 44.5% IN A RACE THAT SET
SPENDING RECORDS AND TURNED OUT
NEARLY TWO MILLION VOTERS
STATEWIDE.
AS PART OF OUR ELECTION
COVERAGE, ZAC SCHULTZ WAS AT THE
PROTASIEWICZ PARTY ON ELECTION
NIGHT AND HAS THIS STORY.
>> WELL, WISCONSIN, GUESS WHAT?
WE DID IT.
>> THE STAKES OF TUESDAY'S RACE
FOR A SEAT IN THE WISCONSIN
SUPREME COURT COULD NOT HAVE
BEEN MORE CLEAR.
THE WINNER WOULD DETERMINE THE
IDEOLOGICAL BALANCE OF THE COURT
IN A RECORD $45 MILLION IN
CAMPAIGN SPENDING, MADE SURE
EVERYONE IN THE STATE KNEW
ISSUES LIKE ABORTION AND
REDISTRICTING WERE HANGING IN
THE BALANCE.
>> FIRST, IT MEANS THAT
WISCONSIN VOTERS HAVE MADE THEIR
VOICES HEARD.
THEY'VE CHOSEN TO REJECT
PARTISAN EXTREMISM IN THIS
STATE.
>> JANET PROTASIEWICZ SPENT MOST
OF THE CAMPAIGN TALKING ABOUT
HER VALUES, MAKING IT CLEAR TO
VOTERS HOW SHE FELT ABOUT ISSUES
LIKE ABORTION, EVEN IF SHE
DECLARED THAT THAT WOULD HAVE NO
IMPACT ON HOW SHE MIGHT RULE ON
THE CHALLENGE TO THE STATE'S
1849 ABORTION BAN.
>> OUR STATE IS TAKING A STEP
FORWARD TO A BETTER AND BRIGHTER
FUTURE, WHERE OUR RIGHTS AND
FREEDOMS WILL BE PROTECTED.
>> THIS WAS THE SECOND BLOW-OUT
LOSS FOR CONSERVATIVE DANIEL
KELLY.
APPOINTED TO THE COURT IN 2016,
HE BLAMED HIS LOSS IN 2020 ON
TURN-OUT FOR THE DEMOCRATIC
PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY HELD ON THE
SAME DAY.
THIS TIME, HE HAD NO ONE ELSE TO
BLAME.
HE SPENT THE LATTER PART OF THE
CAMPAIGN CALLING JANET
PROTASIEWICZ A SERIAL LIAR AND
REPEATED THOSE CLAIMS TUESDAY
NIGHT AND DID NOT ATTEMPT TO
LOOK GRACIOUS IN DEFEAT, EVEN
REFUSING TO MAKE THE CUSTOMARY
PHONECALL CONCEDING TO HIS
OPPONENT.
>> I WISH THAT IN A CIRCUMSTANCE
LIKE THIS I WOULD BE ABLE TO
CONCEDE TO A WORTHY OPPONENT.
BUT I DO NOT HAVE A WORTHY
OPPONENT TO WHICH I CAN CONCEDE.
>> AND I WILL BE A PART OF THE
SOLUTION TO MAKE OUR SUPREME
COURT, ALONG WITH MY SOON-TO-BE
NEW COLLEAGUES.
>> MEANWHILE, PROTASIEWICZ COULD
BARELY FINISH HER VICTORY SPEECH
AS SHE WAS WELCOMED INTO THE NEW
MAJORITY ON THE WISCONSIN
SUPREME COURT.
>> THE RESULTS OF THIS ELECTION
UPSET THE 15-YEAR CONSERVATIVE
BALANCE OF POWER ON THE COURT.
ZAC SCHULTZ JOINS US FROM
OUTSIDE THE SUPREME COURT
CHAMBERS NOW AT THE STATE
CAPITOL.
HI, ZAC.
>> HELLO, FRED.
>> SO THIS RACE SET A LOT OF
RECORDS.
WHAT EXPLAINS THE HUGE WIN FOR
PROTASIEWICZ?
>> WELL, I THINK YOU HAVE TO
LOOK AT A NUMBER OF ISSUES, BUT
CAMPAIGNS COME DOWN TO THE
QUALITY OF THE CAMPAIGN.
PROTASIEWICZ GOT OUT EARLY,
RAISED A TO HAVE BEEN MONEY AND
SPENT A LOT OF MONEY AND YOU
HAVE TO LOOK AT THE QUALITY OF
THE CANDIDATES.
DAN KELLY HAS RUN AND LOST
BEFORE.
THERE WERE A LOT OF NEGATIVES
ASSOCIATED WITH HIM AND THEN YOU
HAVE TO LOOK AT THE SALIENT
ISSUES, AND CLEARLY ABORTION WAS
ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUES
THAT PEOPLE WERE CONNECTING TO
THIS CAMPAIGN AND PROTASIEWICZ
RAN ON THAT ISSUE.
AND I THINK ALL THREE OF THOSE
MERGED TOGETHER FOR THE MARGIN
OF VICTORY THAT WE SAW ON
TUESDAY.
>> WHERE DID SHE MAKE GAINS AND
KELLY TAKE LOSSES THAT WERE
DIFFERENT FROM OTHER ELECTIONS?
>> WELL, CERTAINLY YOU FIRST
HAVE TO LOOK TO THE WOW
COUNTIES, THE WAUKESHA AND OTHER
COUNTIES, THOSE SUBURBAN
COUNTIES OUTSIDE OF MILWAUKEE.
FOR DECADES, THOSE HAVE BEEN
REPUBLICAN STRONGHOLDS, WHERE
GIVING SCOTT WALKER OVERWHELMING
MAJORITIES KIND OF COUNTERING
OUT THE LIBERAL STRONGHOLDS AND
KIND OF LEAVING MOST ELECTIONS
UP TO THE REST OF THE STATE.
WE'VE SEEN THE EROSION AT THE
REPUBLICAN PARTY SINCE THE TOP
OF THE BALLOT SINCE DONALD TRUMP
CAME INTO OFFICE, SINCE THOSE
ARE PACKED WITH EDUCATED WOMEN
AND ISSUES LIKE ABORTION HAVE
BECOME MORE AND MORE IMPORTANT,
ESPECIALLY WITH THE DOBBS RULING
OVERTURNING ROE VERSUS WADE,
DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN CAMPAIGNING
ON THAT AND WE'RE SEEING
CONTINUALLY SLIPPAGE OF WHAT
WERE ONCE VERY STRONG REPUBLICAN
STRONGHOLDS NOW BECOMING UP FOR
GRABS OR AT LEAST NOT SO MUCH OF
A BLOW-OUT FOR REPUBLICANS.
BUT IF YOU LOOK PAST THAT AND
YOU GET OUTSIDE OF THE SOUTHEAST
WISCONSIN, YOU CAN LOOK TO THE
FOX VALLEY.
PROTASIEWICZ DID REALLY WELL IN
BROWN AND ALLEGHENY, THE BOW
COUNTIES THAT ARE IN THAT NEXT
CLASS OF COUNTIES, AND THEN SHE
EVEN DID WELL IN SOUTHWESTERN
WISCONSIN.
WHEN DEMOCRATS DO WELL THERE,
THEY WIN STATEWIDE.
THAT'S WHAT YOU'VE SEEN WITH
PRIOR LIBERAL WINS FOR THE
SUPREME COURT AND WITH TAMMY
BALDWIN HAS HAD BIG VICTORIES IN
HER SENATE RACES.
SHE'S DONE WELL IN THOSE PARTS
OF THE STATE AS WELL.
>> WITH THE BIG ISSUES, AS YOU
SAID, ABORTION AND
REDISTRICTING, HOW SOON ARE SUCH
CASES EXPECT TO FIND THEIR WAY
TO THE SUPREME COURT?
>> WOHL, WELL, FOR ABORTION, THAT
ISSUE IS AT A LOWER COURT
ALREADY.
WE'VE SEEN THE EVERS
ADMINISTRATION AND OTHER
LAWSUITS AND THEY'VE BEEN SLOW
PLAYING THAT.
THEY DIDN'T WANT THAT ISSUE TO
GET UP TO THE COURT TOO FAST
BECAUSE THEY WOULDN'T RULE IN
THE WAY THEY HOPED THEY WOULD,
AND SO NOW MAYBE THAT LAWSUIT
PICKS UP STEAM, PERHAPS EVEN GET
REACHED DOWN AND PICKED RIGHT UP
TO THE SUPREME COURT ONCE THE
NEW MAJORITY IS IN THERE IN
AUGUST.
PROTASIEWICZ DOESN'T TAKE THE
SEAT ON THE BENCH BEHIND ME
UNTIL THEN, SO YOU'LL SEE THOSE
START TO PERCOLATE THROUGHOUT
THE SUMMER AND DEFINITELY INTO
THE FALL.
AS FOR REDISTRICTING, WE'VE
ALREADY HEARD REPORTS OF SOME OF
THE LIBERAL LAW FIRMS STARTING
TO PUT THEIR CASE TOGETHER FOR
THEIR REASONS WHY THEY BELIEVE
THAT IT'S AN UNCONSTITUTIONAL
GERRYMANDER.
WE SAW THE BLUEPRINT FOR ONE
POSSIBLE OVERTURNING
REDISTRICTING IN THE LIBERAL
DESCENT TO THE REDISTRICTING
CASE LAST YEAR IN WHICH THE TIME
THREE LIBERALS ON THE COURT SAID
THAT THEY BELIEVE THAT THERE
COULD BE A TRIAL HELD AND THE
RESPONSE TO THE U.S. SUPREME
COURT'S RULING ON WISCONSIN'S
MATH.
SO EXPECT THOSE TO BE HAPPENING
GOING FORWARD.
DEFINITELY THROUGH THIS FALL
INTO THE WINTER.
FOR REDISTRICTING, THERE'S AN
ELECTION IN 2024.
THOSE MAPS NEED TO BE IN PLACE
BY THE SPRING SO THERE'S NOT A
TON OF TIME FOR THESE BIG ISSUES
TO COME BEFORE THE COURT AND
THEN GET SETTLED.
>> THERE ARE OTHER SUPREME COURT
ELECTIONS IN THE OFFING, NAMELY
IN 2025, WHEN THE TERM OF
LIBERAL JUSTICE ANN WALSH BRADLY
IS UP.
>> ABSOLUTELY GOING TO RUN
AGAIN.
I DO HAVE, BY THE WAY, I DO HAVE
AN IDEA, AND IT IS, YES, AFTER
TONIGHT'S PERFORMANCE AND SEEING
THE ENERGY IN THIS ROOM, I'M NOT
ONLY GOING TO RUN, I'M GOING TO
WIN.
>> SO LIBERALS FEEL LIKE THEY
ARE ON A NEW ROLL NOW.
IS THAT FAIR?
>> OH, ABSOLUTELY.
YOU LOOK AT THE PAST FEW
ELECTIONS FOR THE SUPREME COURT,
ASIDE FROM 2019, WHERE THAT WAS
EXPECTED TO BE A LIBERAL WIN AND
JUSTICE HAGEDORN WON BY JUST A
FEW THOUSAND VOTES, LIBERALS
HAVE BEEN WINNING BY LARGE
MARGINS, 10-POINT MARGINS FOR
THE LAST FEW RACES OUTSIDE OF
THAT PARTICULAR ONE AND WE HAVE
TO POINT OUT THAT NO PERSON EVER
ELECTED TO THE SUPREME COURT HAS
GONE AND LOST A RE-ELECTION.
THE ONLY TIME THAT A SITTING
MEMBER HAS BEEN DEFEATED IN A
RE-ELECTION IS WHEN THEY WERE
APPOINTED.
THAT HAPPENED TO JUSTICE KELLY
AND THAT HAPPENED TO LEWIS
BUTLER BACK IN 2009, SO THE
HISTORY OF ELECTED OFFICIALS IS
QUITE STRONG WHEN IT COMES TO
LOOKING FORWARD TO 2025, WHICH
IS WHEN ANN WALSH BRADLY WOULD
BE ON THE BALLOT AGAIN.
>> A PROCESS QUESTION.
AT THIS POINT, DOES ANN WALSH
BRADLY DEFACTO BECOME CHIEF
JUSTICE?
>> NO, SHE DOES NOT.
ACCORDING TO THE CONSTITUTIONAL
AMENDMENT THAT WAS PASSED BY
REPUBLICANS AND APPROVED BY
VOTERS A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO,
THE SUPREME COURT GETS TO ELECT
THEIR OWN CHIEF JUSTICE.
RIGHT NOW THAT IS CONSERVATIVE
ANNETTE ZIEGLER AND SHE WAS JUST
RE-ELECTED RECENTLY.
HOW MUCH, THE SUPREME COURT GETS
TO MAKE THEIR OWN RULES SO WHEN
JANET PROTASIEWICZ BECOMES
JUSTICE PROTASIEWICZ THIS
SUMMER, THEY WILL HAVE A
MAJORITY AND THEY COULD DECIDE
THEY WANT TO TAKE A VOTE ON WHO
THE CHIEF JUSTICE IS AT THAT
TIME AND YOU WOULD EXPECT IF
THAT HAPPENS, THAT IT WOULD BE
ANN WALSH BRADLY WHO WOULD
BECOME THE CHIEF AND THAT WILL
BE UP TO THE COURT AT THAT TIME,
IS THEY GET TO SET THEIR OWN
RULES AND QUITE HONESTLY,
THERE'S NO ONE ELSE TO APPEAL
TO.
THEY ARE THE SUPREME COURT.
>> INDEED.
SO HAVING REPORTED ON THIS AS
WELL, ZAC, YOU KNOW THAT ANOTHER
BIG ELECTION TUESDAY WAS FOR THE
STATE SENATE EIGHTH DISTRICT
WITH A ON THE LINE N. A CLOSE
RACE, DAN KOANDLE STOPPED JODI
HAY BISHOP SINYKIN.
NOW, THE SUPERMAJORITY ALLOWS
THE SENATE TO IMPEACH PUBLIC
OFFICIALS.
DAN KNODLE SPOKE TO THAT
OPPORTUNITY.
>> I REALLY COULD INVOLVE ANY
OFFICIAL, PARTICULARLY ELECTED
OFFICIALS, OUR GOVERNMENT
OFFICIALS AS WELL, SO I WOULD
THINK IT'S -- I VIEW IT
INITIALLY AS ALL ENCOMPASSING.
>> SO DAN KNODLE SEEMS ALL IN ON
IMPEACHING PEOPLE, BUT HOW
SERIOUS IS THE REPUBLICAN
MAJORITY ABOUT THOSE NEW POWERS?
>> WELL, THEY HAVE YET TO BE
TESTED.
THIS HAS NOT BEEN A REALITY IN
THE MODERN ERA OF WISCONSIN
POLITICS.
DAN KNODLE WAS CAMPAIGNING AT
THAT TIME.
HE WANTED THAT ISSUE TO BE
SALIENT FOR THE VOTERS IN HIS
AREA IS WHY HE SHOULD BE
ELECTED.
THE QUESTION IS WHETHER THAT
WOULD ACTUALLY HAPPEN.
THAT IS A BIG PROCESS.
IT'S NOT SOMETHING TO BE TAKEN
LIGHTLY.
EVEN THOUGH REPUBLICANS HAVE 22
MEMBERS, THAT IS A HUGE MAJORITY
AND NOT EVERY ONE OF THOSE
MEMBERS SEEM TO BE ON BOARD AT
THIS TIME.
WE'VE HEARD FROM SENATE MAJORITY
LEADER SAY IMPEACHING PEOPLE AND
THE WHOLE PROCESS RIGHT NOW IS
UNCERTAIN LEGALLY.
SOME OF THOSE TERMS AREN'T
DEFINED, WHICH WOULD SEEM TO BE
LEANING BACK TO THE COURTS
GETTING INVOLVED IF THEY WANTED
TO GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS FOR
ANYBODY.
>> SO IT COULD SPELL TROUBLE.
THEY WENT AHEAD WITH THAT.
ZAC SCHULTZ, THANKS VERY MUCH
FOR YOUR COVERAGE THROUGH THESE
ELECTION SEASONS.
>> THANKS, FRED.
>> AT THE BOTTOM OF TUESDAY'S
BALLOT WERE TWO QUESTIONS POSED
TO VOTERS TO AMEND THE STATE
CONSTITUTION.
THE FIRST QUESTION ON EXPANDING
CONDITIONS OF RELEASE PASSED
WITH MORE THAN 66% VOTING YES.
THE SECOND QUESTION ON EXPANDING
WHEN CASH BAIL CAN BE IMPOSED
ALSO PASSED WITH MORE THAN 67%
VOTING YES.
FOR SOME IN THE COURT SYSTEM,
THIS WAS GOOD NEWS.
FOR OTHERS WHO OPPOSED THE
MEASURES, THEY'RE WARNING OF THE
CONSEQUENCES.
>> IT GOES BACK TO 2017, WHERE
THIS WAS FIRST FLOATED TO AMEND
THE WISCONSIN CONSTITUTION,
REALLY GAINED MORE TRACTION
AFTER THE WAUKESHA PARADE
MASSACRE WITH DARRELL BROOKS.
>> THE TWO SIDES OF THE
COURTROOM HAVE COME DOWN ON
OPPOSING SIDES OF THE QUESTIONS
THAT CAME BEFORE WISCONSIN
VOTERS.
>> OUR WISCONSIN DISTRICT
ATTORNEY'S ASSOCIATION HAS
SUPPORTED THIS CONSTITUTIONAL
AMENDMENT AND WE ARE VERY
EXCITED THAT THE VOTERS OF
WISCONSIN JOINED US IN
OVERWHELMINGLY VOTING TO GIVE
MORE FACTORS FOR OUR JUDGES TO
LOOK AT WHEN SETTING CASH BAIL
AS WELL AS SOME OF THE
NON-MONETARY BAIL CONDITIONS, SO
IT SHOULD HAVE A NETEFFECT OF
MAKING WISCONSIN SAFER, BUT ALSO
ENSURING THAT OUR JUDGES ARE ALL
SETTING BAIL WITH THE SAME
RULES.
>> WE DID SEEK AGAINST THE
AMENDMENTS WHEN THEY WERE MAKING
THEIR WAY THROUGH THE
LEGISLATIVE PROCESS, REALLY OUR
PRIMARY CONCERN WITH THEM IS THE
EXPANDED ROLE THAT MONEY WOULD
PLAY IN THE BAIL SYSTEM.
UNDER THE AMENDMENT, BECAUSE
FUNDAMENTALLY, CASH IS NOT A
GUARANTEE OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND
THESE ARE GOING TO HAVE
SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THE NUMBER
OF INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE IN
CUSTODY WHILE STILL PRESUMED
INNOCENT.
>> OVERALL, THE AMENDMENTS
PASSED WILL EXPAND THE CRITERIA
JUDGES CAN CONSIDER WHEN SETTING
PRETRIAL RELEASE CONDITIONS.
>> WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT CASH
BAIL WAS FOR PRIOR TO THIS
AMENDMENT, THE ONLY REASON IN
THE WISCONSIN CONSTITUTION THAT
ALLOWED FOR CASH BAIL WAS TO
ASSURE A DEFENDANT'S APPEARANCE
IN COURT AND NOW IT SAYS THAT WE
LOOK AT THE DROWSINESS OF THE
DEFENDANT, WE LOOK AT THE PRIOR
CRIMINAL RECORD OF THE ACCUSED,
WE LOOK AT THE DEFENDANT
APPEARING IN COURT.
WE ALSO LOOK AT PROTECTING
WITNESSES FROM SERIOUS HARM.
SO THERE ARE A NUMBER OF
ADDITIONAL FACTORS THAT A JUDGE
IS NOW ABLE TO LOOK AT TO
DETERMINE IF CASH BAIL IS
APPROPRIATE.
>> BY EXPANDING THE NUMBER OF
CONSIDERATIONS, YOU TAKE AWAY
THE ABILITY TO ARGUE THAT THIS
PERSON WILL SHOW UP IN COURT IN
THE FUTURE AND THAT LIMITS THE
ABILITY TO ARGUE AGAINST CASH
BAIL.
>> THE USE OF CASH FOR S.P.D.
CLIENTS WHO ARE BY DEFINITION
POOR, EVEN LOW CASH BAIL AMOUNTS
OF $250, $500, COULD BE ENOUGH
TO KEEP THEM IN JAIL, AND SO
WHEN WE INCREASE THE ROLE OF
CASH AND NUMBER OF SITUATIONS IN
CASES WHERE IT'S USED, WE'RE
GOING TO SEE AN INCREASE IN THE
NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO CAN'T
AFFORD TO PAY THAT CASH BAIL AND
WHO ARE HELD IN CUSTODY.
>> I'VE HAD JUDGES THAT WILL ASK
SOMEBODY, HOW MUCH MONEY DO YOU
HAVE IN YOUR POCKET RIGHT NOW?
$10.
OKAY.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO ORDER
FOR CASH.
THERE ARE TIMES WHERE WE'LL MAKE
A REQUEST FOR 25, 50, MAYBE A
HUNDRED DOLLARS, WHERE IT'S
SOMETHING THAT WE BELIEVE A
DEFENDANT MIGHT BE ABLE TO POST,
BUT WE ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT
COULD BE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF
MONEY FOR THAT PARTICULAR
DEFENDANT, DEPENDING ON THEIR
CIRCUMSTANCES, BUT IT DOESN'T
REQUIRE A JUDGE TO ORDER CASH
BAIL AND THERE ARE ALREADY
PROTECTIONS IN OUR LEGAL SYSTEM
FOR DEFENDANTS WHO HAVE CASH
BAIL ORDERED.
IT'S ALSO THOSE NON-MONETARY
CONDITIONS THAT THE -- ONE OF
THE AMENDMENTS ADDRESSED TO LOOK
AT SERIOUS HARM, NOT JUST WHAT
WAS PREVIOUSLY SERIOUS BODILY
HARM.
SO THERE ARE OTHER FACTORS THAT
JUDGES NOW GET TO LOOK AT
WHEN -- IF THEY'RE NOT GOING TO
ORDER CASH, NOW THE JUDGES HAVE
AN EXPANDED ABILITY TO LOOK AT
THE HARM THAT MIGHT BE ECONOMIC,
EMOTIONAL, OTHER TYPE OF
POTENTIAL HARM THAT COULD BE
CAUSED.
>> THE LIST IS BEYOND WHAT I
THINK MOST PEOPLE WOULD CONSIDER
TO BE VIOLENT.
IT INCLUDES CRIMES SUCH AS
DISORDERLY CONDUCT, IF YOU HAVE
A KNIFE OR OTHER LOW LEVEL
OFFENSES THAT RIGHT NOW ARE NOT
EVEN OFTEN CHARGED.
>> THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO
UNDERSTAND IS KEEPING AN EYE ON
THE IMPACT ON PUBLIC SAFETY.
AS I SAID, THE RESEARCH AND
EVIDENCE SUGGESTS THAT WE WON'T
SEE A DECREASE IN CRIME RATES AS
A RESULT OF THIS.
IN FACT, THERE MAY BE A SLIGHT
UPTICK.
THAT'S ALSO WHY THE RESEARCH
SHOWS THAT A BETTER MODEL IS ONE
THAT IS BASED ON RISK ASSESSMENT
AND NOT THE RULE OF CASH BAIL.
THERE'S GOING TO BE A
REALIZATION IN THE VERY NEAR
FUTURE THAT THIS HAS SIGNIFICANT
IMPACT ON COST TO COUNTIES IN
TERMS OF INCREASED JAIL
POPULATION.
>> PROBABLY IT MAY BE HARD TO
SEE EXACTLY HOW THIS PLAYS OUT
IN DIFFERENT COUNTIES AND YOU
MIGHT BE ABLE TO LOOK AT JAIL
POPULATION TO SEE IF A COUNTY IS
EXPERIENCING A HIGHER NUMBER OF
DEFENDANTS PRETRIAL IN JAIL,
THAT A NUMBER THAT CERTAINLY CAN
BE LOOKED AT, BUT YOU CAN'T LOOK
AT THAT IN ISOLATION BECAUSE
SOMETIMES THERE CAN BE AN UPTICK
IN CRIME THAT COULD BE
RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT OR IT COULD
BE THAT CASES ARE TAKING LONGER
TO RESOLVE BECAUSE OF OTHER
ISSUES.
>> NOW WE HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE
HOW THIS HAS PRACTICAL IMPACT
DAY TO DAY, COUNTY-BY-COUNTY,
JUDGE-BY-JUDGE, AND TRY AND
FIGURE OUT WHAT SOME OF THOSE
PRACTICAL IMPACTS ARE.
AND THEN THAT OTHER QUESTION TO
ASK IS, YOU KNOW, WHEN THE
COUNTY BOARDS ARE CONSIDERING
THE BOND EACH SUMMER AND FALL
WHEN THOSE COSTS GO UP AND THE
TAXPAYERS ARE ASKED TO SHOULDER
THAT BURDEN, IS THIS HOW YOU
WANT YOUR TAX DOLLARS BEING
SPENT, IS IT HAVING THE INTENDED
EFFECT?
>> RESULTS OF THE MAIN CHOICE ON
THE BALLOT LEFT A JUBILANT
WINNER AND AN ANGRY LOSER.
THIS SHIFTS THE BALANCE OF THE
COURT TO A LIBERAL MAJORITY.
MUCH WATCHED RESULT WITH
POLITICAL IMPLICATIONS GOING
FORWARD.
FOR MORE, WE CHECK IN WITH OUR
POLITICAL PANELIST DEMOCRAT
SCOTT ROSS AND REPUBLICAN BILL
McCOSHEN AND THANK YOU FOR
BEING WITH US.
>> GOOD TO BE HERE.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.
>> FIRST, I WANT TO ASK ABOUT
DANIEL KELLY'S CONCESSION
SPEECH.
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT,
BILL?
>> WELL, YOU WANT TO WIN WITH
GRACE AND HUMILITY AND LOSE WITH
CLASS AND HUMILITY AND HE DID
NOT DO THAT.
I MEAN, WHEN YOU LOSE BY 11
POINTS, THAT'S A LANDSLIDE IN
THE STATE OF WISCONSIN.
YOU NEED TO BE A LITTLE MORE
HUMBLE.
I THINK IT WAS INSULTING TO ALL
THE PEOPLE THAT WORKED SO HARD
FOR HIM, FOLKS THAT DONATED TO
HIM.
I MEAN, THAT'S A REPRESENTATION
ON THEM, TOO, AND HE DIDN'T
THINK ABOUT THAT.
YOU'VE GOT TO LOSE WITH CLASS.
>> WHEN YOU SAW THAT, WHAT DID
YOU THINK?
>> I THOUGHT IT'S THE FACE OF
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY RIGHT NOW
BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN DECISIVE AND
EXTREME.
HE IS THE EMBODIMENT OF WHERE
THE REPUBLICAN HAS GONE.
IT'S NOT WHERE BILL'S AT.
IT'S THE TRUMP, THE DeSANTIS,
THE DIVISION, JUST THE REJECTION
OF WHAT HAVE BEEN NORMS IN BOTH
POLICY AND POLITICS.
>> SO, BILL, THIS WAS AN
11-POINT WIN, AS YOU POINTED
OUT.
THAT WAS A TROUNCING.
WHAT EXACTLY HAPPENED?
>> WELL, IT WAS TWICE AS BAD AS
HIS LAST RACE IN 2020.
HE LOST BY ABOUT 110,000 VOTES A
COUPLE OF YEARS AGO AND THIS ONE
WAS MORE LIKE 225,000.
I THINK MONEY WAS A FACTOR AND
THERE ARE DIFFERENT TYPES OF
MONEY.
THE MONEY THAT JANET
PROTASIEWICZ WAS ABLE TO RAISE
IN HER CAMPAIGN GOES FURTHER
BUYING MORE CAMPAIGN ADS.
SHE HAD WAY MORE POINTS THAN HE
DID.
HE ALWAYS STRUGGLED TO RAISE
MONEY.
JOHN RAISED TWICE AS MUCH MONEY
AS HE DID IN THE PRIMARY AND HE
NEVER PICKED IT UP IN THE
GENERAL, SO SHE HAD A HUGE
ADVANTAGE ON THE TYPES OF ADS
SHE COULD SEE BUY AND AT WHAT
RATE.
THINGS SEEMED A LITTLE BIT EQUAL
AS IT RELATED TO THIRD PARTIES,
BUT THOSE ADS ARE FAR MORE
EXPENSIVE AND THE CANDIDATE
DOESN'T CONTROL THOSE MESSAGES,
SO HE WAS OUTMANNED AND
OUT-MONEYED.
>> WAS IT ABOUT THE MONEY?
>> I THINK IT'S FOUR THINGS.
LET ME SAY THAT BILL REMINDS US,
YOU KNOW N-TALKING ABOUT KELLY'S
LAST LOSS, THAT SINCE 2016,
DEMOCRATS HAVE WON 15-OF-18
STATEWIDE ELECTIONS.
THIS IS A TREND.
THEY WON THE 2018 SUPREME COURT
SEAT, 55-TO-45, AND THEY WON THE
ONE IN 2020, THE SAME.
IT'S GONE FROM 110,000 TO
250,000 TO 200,000.
THE TRENDS ARE NOT RIGHT FOR THE
REPUBLICANS BOTH IN THE TURN-OUT
IN PLACES LIKE DAN COUNTY AND
MILWAUKEE COUNTY, INTLOW IN THE
WOW COUNTIES.
JANET PROTASIEWICZ WON THE CITY
OF WAUKESHA, THE PLACE WHERE
SCOTT WALKER HAD 73% IN 2014.
BUT, AGAIN, THE DEMOCRATS, THEY
HAVE THE MONEY, THEY HAVE THE
MESSAGE, THEY HAVE THE MACHINE,
AND THEY HAVE THE MOTIVATION AND
THAT'S GOING TO WIN ELECTIONS.
>> WHAT KIND OF A WAKE-UP CALL
IS THIS FOR REPUBLICANS?
ARE REPUBLICANS NOW ON THE WRONG
SIDE OF THE BARKER ISSUE PLOTICALLY?
>> THEY'RE ON THE WRONG SIDE OF
THE ISSUE.
THERE WERE THREE STATE
REFERENDUM ON THE BALLOT TWO.
RELATED TO BAIL, CASH BAIL.
ONE PASSED WITH 67%.
THE OTHER HAD 68%.
THEN THERE WAS A REFERENDUM
QUESTION ADVISORY ON ABLE-BODIED
CHILDLESS ADULTS WORKING.
THAT PATH WITH 80%.
ALL 72 COUNTIES VOTED FOR THOSE
THREE REFERENDUM, INCLUDING DANE
AND MILWAUKEE.
WE'RE RIGHT ON THE ISSUES.
WE HAVE TO DO A BETTER JOB ON
CANDIDATE SCREENING.
>> YOU'RE NOT GOING TO WIN A
STATE-WIDE ISSUE ON ANY OF THE
THREE THINGS HE'S TALKING ABOUT,
BUT ON ABORTION IT'S GOING TO
BECAUSE IT HITS PEOPLE HARD.
IT'S NOW A DISQUALIFY -- TO BE
ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE IN
STATEWIDE ELECTIONS IS
DISQUALIFYING.
IN THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, SAVE
FOR ONE.
SAVE FOR RON JOHNSON.
NOT ONLY IS IT TOXIC IN PLACES
LIKE DANE COUNTY AND MILWAUKEE,
BUT JANET WON THE THIRDS
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, THE
FIRST CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
SOUNDLY.
SHE WON IN PLACES LIKE THE
FRENCH QUARTER, EAU CLAIRE AND
LACROSSE, 64% IN BOTH OF THOSE
COUNTIES.
REPUBLICANS ARE IN A LOT OF
TROUBLE IF THEY DON'T CHANGE.
I DON'T THINK THEY'RE GOING TO.
>> KELLY LET PROTASIEWICZ DEFINE
HIS POSITION ON ABORTION.
VOTERS NEVER KNEW WHAT HIS
POSITION WAS ON ABORTION IF
YOU'RE GOING TO BE PRO-LIFE,
THAT'S FINE, BUT YOU HAVE TO BE
PROACTIVE.
YOU CAN'T LET YOUR OPPONENT
DEFINE YOU ON ISSUES SUCH AS
THAT AND IT WAS A HUGE PROBLEM
FOR KELLY, NO QUESTION ABOUT IT.
>> SCOTT, DOES THIS KIND OF
SPELL THE TURN FROM THE SCOTT
WALKER ERA?
>> WITHOUT A DOUBT, ABSOLUTELY,
100%.
GIVEN WHERE THE REPUBLICANS ARE
ON ABORTION, AND GIVEN WHERE THE
PUBLIC IS AND HOW THEY SEE THE
SUPREME COURT BEING THAT A TO B
LINE, BECAUSE THE OVERTURNING OF
THE 1849 BAN WHEN IT HAPPENS,
THAT'S GOING TO BE INVOLVED IN
THE SUPREME COURT ELECTIONS FROM
NOW UNTIL THE NEXT 10 YEARS SO
WE'VE GOT ONE'S UP IN 25, TWO
REPUBLICANS UP IN 26 AND 27.
AFTER 27, DEMOCRATS COULD IN
THEORY HAVE SIX OF THE SEVEN
SUPREME COURT SEATS.
>> WE SORT OF RUN THROUGH
WALKER-BACKED CANDIDATES WITH
REBECCA CLAY FISH AND NOW DANIEL
KELLY, BUT NOW HIS POLICIES ARE
GOING TO BE UP FOR GRABS IN THE
NEW SUPREME COURT.
WHEN JANET PROTASIEWICZ GETS
INVESTED IN AUGUST, THERE'S TWO
YEARS WHERE PROGRESSIVES WILL
HAVE FULL CONTROL OR THE
MAJORITY ON THE WISCONSIN
SUPREME COURT AND A LOT OF HIS
POLICIES MIGHT BE ON THE LINE.
>> BILL, SCOTT WALKER SAYS THAT
UW MADISON HELPED DANE COUNTY'S
NUMBERS BECAUSE HE SAYS, QUOTE,
LIBERALS ARE INDOCTRINATING
YOUNG PEOPLE AND TURNING THEM
OUT TO VOTE.
WHAT'S YOUR RESPONSE TO THAT?
>> MY RESPONSE IS DANE COUNTY
HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR
REPUBLICANS FOR 20 YEARS.
WE FINALLY HAVE NEW LEADERSHIP.
NAPOLI IS GOING TO DO A VERY
GOOD JOB.
I'M ENCOURAGED BY THE NEW
LEADERSHIP IN DANE COUNTY, BUT
WE'RE A WAYS BEHIND WHERE
DEMOCRATS ARE.
THEY HAVE FIGURED OUT THAT THEY
CAN HARVEST MORE VOTES HERE IN
DANE COUNTY THAN ANY OTHER
COUNTY IN THE STATE AND BUILD UP
A MASSIVE ADVANTAGE.
JANET PROTASIEWICZ HAD 153,000
VOTE ADVANTAGE JUST IN DANE
COUNTY.
IT'S GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME TO
FIX IT FOR REPUBLICANS.
MESSAGE MATTERS, CANDIDATES
MATTER, AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE
SOME TIME.
>> JANET WON 12 COUNTIES THAT
HAVE UW CAMPUSES.
THE REASON THAT PEOPLE AREN'T
VOTING IS BECAUSE SCOTT WALKER
WANTS TO RAISE MONEY FOR ITS NEW
OPERATION.
IT'S BECAUSE REPUBLICANS ARE
WRONG ON THE ISSUES OF ABORTION,
TRANSGENDER, RIGHTS, VOTING,
EDUCATION ALL ACROSS THE BOARD.
>> A MINUTE LEFT.
WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS FOR
2024?
>> THE IMPLICATIONS ARE THAT
WHAT'S HIS NAME DERIC VAN HORTON
AND BRIAN STYLE BETTER WATCH OUT
BECAUSE IT SOUNDS LIKE THEY
MIGHT BE GOING OUT IF D.C.
INVESTS IN WISCONSIN ELECTIONS,
WE'RE GOING TO WIN.
WE'VE PROVEN IT TIME AND TIME
AGAIN.
YOU PUT THE MONEY IN, WE GET THE
RIGHT CANDIDATES, WE WIN THE
ELECTIONS.
>> TOO SOON TO TELL.
WE NEED A DIFFERENT CANDIDATE AT
THE TOP OF THE TICKET OTHER THAN
DONALD TRUMP IF WE WANT TO WIN
IN THE SUNBURNS.
YOU EVER TO WIN THE BOW AND THE
WOW COUNTIES.
JANET PROTASIEWICZ WON ALL THREE
OF THE BOW COUNTIES AND SHE CUT
THE 345R7B8GS IN THE WOW
SIGNIFICANTLY.
WE NEED A DIFFERENT CANDIDATE AT
THE TOP OF THE TICKET.
AT THE LEGISLATIVE LEVEL, JUST
KEEP PASSING PROACTIVE POLICIES
THAT VOTERS RESPOND TO AND I
THINK THAT FORMULA WORKS.
>> 27 COUNTIES SHE WON INCLUDING
SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH CENTRAL PART
OF THE STATE, 27 COUNTIES.
>> WE NEED TO LEAVE IT THERE.
SCOTT ROSS, BILL McCOSHEN,
THANK YOU.
WITH SPRING ELECTIONS OVER,
STATE LAWMAKERS TURN THEIR
ATTENTION TO CRAFTING THE NEW
TWO-YEAR STATE BUDGET.
AFTER GOVERNOR TONY EVERS
RELEASED HIS BUDGET PROPOSAL IN
FEBRUARY, REPUBLICAN LEGISLATORS
ARE NOW BUILDING THEIR OWN
EXPECTED PLAN WORKING WITH A $7
BILLION SURPLUS.
MORE THAN 1,500 PEOPLE SHOWED UP
WEDNESDAY AS THE LEGISLATURE'S
BUDGET WRITING COMMITTEE HELD
ITS FIRST LISTENING SESSION.
MANY OF THOSE TESTIFYING BEFORE
THE COMMITTEE CAME SEEKING MORE
MONEY FOR K THROUGH 12
EDUCATION.
>> HAVING NO INCREASE ON THE PER
PUPIL REVENUE LIMIT FOR THE LAST
TWO SCHOOL YEARS HAS BEEN
EXTREMELY CHALLENGING,
ESPECIALLY DURING A TIME WHEN
WE'VE HAD TO REACT TO EXTREME
INFLATION RATES, STAFF
SHORTAGES, AND NAVIGATE A SAFE
RETURN TO SCHOOL IN THIS GLOBAL
PANDEMIC.
HAVING NO INCREASE IN THE
REVENUE LIMIT DURING A TIME WHEN
WE NEEDED IT THE MOST HAS CAUSED
US TO RELY ON ONE-TIME DOLLARS
AND THESE DOLLARS ARE RUNNING
OUT.
>> I WAS PLEASED TO KNOW THAT I
HAD FOUND AN EDUCATION FACILITY
THAT MET MY NEEDS FOR MY SON AND
MY NEEDS AS A PARENT AS WELL.
I FOUND IT WITHIN MY COMMUNITY.
I ASK THAT YOU SUPPORT CLOSING
THE FUNDING GAP ACROSS ALL
SECTORS OF EDUCATION IN THE
STATE OF WISCONSIN SO THAT OUR
SCHOOLS CAN CONTINUE TO CLOSE
THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP THAT HAS
PLAGUED OUR CITY.
>> THE JOINT FINANCE COMMITTEE
WILL HOLD THREE MORE PUBLIC
LISTENING SESSIONS ON THE STATE
BUDGET LATER THIS MONTH IN
EAU CLAIRE, WISCONSIN DELLS AND
MINUTEMINUTEMINOQUA.
CLICK ON THE NEWS TAP.
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.