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>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
WITNESS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION
>> EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENT TODAY.
LEGISLATION THAT WILL BRING
HISTORIC INVESTMENTS AND REFORMS
TO THE SHARED REVENUE SYSTEM
HERE IN WISCONSIN
>> REPUBLICANS RELEASE THEIR
SHARED REVENUE PLAN.
THE ASSEMBLY DEBATES SOCIAL
NETWORK PLANS AND RIVERS ARE
CRESTING IN WISCONSIN.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON HERE AND NOW, WITH
THE LEAD ARCHITECTS JOINS US AND
WE HEAR FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE
AISLE ON THE ASSEMBLY DEBATE TO
CHANGE UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE.
PLUS, A BIPARTISAN MEASURE TO
LIFT RESTRICTIONS ON WHO CAN
HAVE THEIR CRIMINAL RECORDS
EXPUNGED.
IT'S HERE AND NOW FOR APRIL
28th.
>> FUNDING FOR HERE AND NOW IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.
>> ACROSS THE STATE, REPUBLICANS
ANNOUNCE THEIR PROPOSAL FOR A
SIGNIFICANT BUMP IN SHARED
REVENUE.
THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THE STATE
DISTRIBUTES TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
WHICH HASN'T SEEN INCREASES IN
NEARLY TWO DECADES.
COMPOUNDED WITH LIMITS ON HOW
MUCH LOCAL GOVERNMENTS CAN RAISE
TAXES, WISCONSIN COMMUNITIES
HAVE BEEN STRAPPED.
ONE MAYOR RECALLED, I WILL NEVER
FORGET THE YEAR THAT WE
CONSIDERED SHUTTING OFF EVERY
OTHER STREET LIGHT IN THE CITY
OF WATER TOWN TO SAVE $250,000.
IN MILWAUKEE, ASSEMBLY SPEAKER
VOS GAVE THE BROAD STROKES OF
THE PLAN AS WELL AS THE CITY
MAYOR.
>> ONE OF THE THINGS WE'VE ALSO
HEARD FROM OUR LOCAL PARTNERS IS
THEY NEED TO HAVE AN ONGOING
REVENUE SOURCE THAT IS NOT
STAGNANT BUT GROWS AS THE
ECONOMY GROWS.
THIS FUND ACTUALLY WILL TAKE THE
INCREASE IN SALES TAX OVER TIME,
IT WILL BE RUN THROUGH A FORMULA
WHERE THERE ARE DIFFERENT BUGHTS
AND EACH OF THOSE BUCKETS WILL
GROW AS THE SALES TAX AND OUR
ECONOMY CONTINUES TO EXPAND.
WE ALSO FOCUSED ON PUTTING MONEY
INTO HELPING LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
CHANGE HOW THEY OPERATE.
IN ADDITION TO THE ALMOST $225
MILLION THAT WILL BE INVESTED IN
SHARED REVENUE INCREASE
PAYMENTS, WE ARE ALSO CREATING
SOMETHING CALLED THE INNOVATION
FUND.
IT MEANS THAT THERE WILL BE $300
MILLION ALLOWED FOR LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS WHO CHOOSE ENTIRELY
VOLUNTARY TO COOPERATE WITH EACH
OTHER, TO SHARE SERVICES,
IMPROVE THE DELIVERY THAT WE
GIVE TO OUR CONSTITUENTS,
HOPEFULLY ALL AT A LOWER PRICE.
>> I'M PLEASED THAT WE MADE SOME
SIGNIFICANT STRIDES TOWARDS
REMEDY TO THE CITY'S FISCAL
ISSUES.
FROM THE OUTSET, THAT'S BEEN
PARAMOUNT, A PARAMOUNT GOAL OF
MINE, AND THIS LEGISLATION
STARTS TO DIVERSIFY REVENUE
SOURCES FOR THE CITY OF
MILWAUKEE.
IT STARTS TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT
OF SHARED REVENUE THAT GOES TO
THE CITY OF MILWAUKEE AND OTHER
UNITS OF GOVERNMENT ACROSS THE
STATE.
IT PUTS MILWAUKEE ON A PATH TO
RESOLVE ITS ONEROUS PENSION
OBLIGATIONS
>> UNDER THE PLAN, 20% OF THE
STATE'S SALES TAX WILL GO TOWARD
INCREASING LOCAL GOVERNMENT
FUNDING.
ACCORDING TO AUTHORS OF THE
PROPOSAL, THIS WILL MEAN A
ROUGHLY $500 MILLION INCREASE
STATEWIDE AND EVERY COMMUNITY
WILL SEE AN INCREASE OF AT LEAST
10%.
SPEAKER VOS APPOINTED MEMBER OF
THE JOINT FINANCE COMMITTEE
REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE TONY
KURTZ TO COME UP WITH A PLAN AND
HE JOINS US NOW.
THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US
>> MY PLEASURE.
>> DESCRIBE HOW NEEDED THIS
BOOST TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS.
>> WELL, THE ORIGINAL SHARED
REVENUE FORMULA WAS ACTUALLY
FROZEN BACK IN 2004 AND SOME
COMMUNITIES IN MY DISTRICT HAS
TOLD ME THEY'VE ACTUALLY LOST
MONEY OVER THE YEARS DUE TO
INFLATIONARY PRESSURES, AND SO I
THINK IT'S LONG OVERDUE.
I KNOW YOU'VE HAD COMMENTS FROM
SPEAKER VOS ABOUT THIS HAS BEEN
LONG OVERDUE, AND I THINK IT'S
THE RIGHT TIME, PARTICULARLY
WITH THE INFLATIONARY PRESSURES
OF SO MANY SMALL COMMUNITIES.
WHY I GOT INVOLVED IS I HAVE A
VERY SMALL RURAL COMMUNITY AND
THEY'VE SUFFERED AS WELL, AND IN
THE ORIGINAL FORMULA, FORMULATED
YEARS AGO, ACTUALLY KIND OF HURT
SMALL COMMUNITIES AND I KNOW
THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WE
FOCUSED ON WITH THIS PACKAGE
>> SO WHAT AREAS WERE DEEMED
PRIORITIES IN THE PROPOSAL WHERE
THE MONEY IS RESTRICTED TO FOR
USE?
>> WELL, I THINK -- I THINK
ABOUT IT, WHAT -- IN THOSE
COMMUNITIES, WHAT DO THEY NEED?
OBVIOUSLY, CITIES, VILLAGES,
THEY OBVIOUSLY HAVE MORE LAW
ENFORCEMENT, E.M.S., THOSE TYPE
OF PROVIDERS.
IN OUR COUNTIES, IT'S HIGHWAY
DEPARTMENTS, IT'S SHERIFF'S
DEPARTMENTS, BUT IN TOWNSHIPS,
IT'S A LOT MORE E.M.S.-RELATED
AND ALSO ROADS.
YOU HEAR THAT FROM ALL
TOWNSHIPS, ESPECIALLY ABOUT THE
NEED TO INVEST IN ROADS.
SO WE'VE KIND OF TAILORED THIS
NEW MONEY, THE NEW $227 MILLION
THAT WE'RE GOING TO PUT INTO
TOWNS, VILLAGES AND CITIES AND
COUNTIES.
WE WOULD LIKE THOSE AREAS
TARGETED.
LAW ENFORCEMENT, FIRE
DEPARTMENTS, OUR E.M.S.
PROVIDERS, YOU KNOW, OUR
DISPATCH, ALSO PUBLIC WORKS AND
TRANSPORTATION, AND I THINK,
TRUST ME, WHAT I HEAR FROM MY
CONSTITUENTS AND MISCHARACTERIZE
LOCAL OFFICIALS, THEY CAN -- AND
FROM MY LOCAL OFFICIALS, THEY
CAN USE THAT MONEY IN THOSE
AREAS, DEFINITELY, AND ONE OF
THE FEED-BACKS I GOT TODAY FROM
SOMEBODY, THEY SAID I CAN ONLY
USE THIS IN MY SHERIFF'S
DEPARTMENT.
WELL, THAT'S TRUE, BUT NOW YOU
CAN USE THIS MONEY TO FUND YOUR
SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, WHICH
SHOULD, IN TURN, MAYBE FREE UP
MONEY ELSEWHERE THAT YOU CAN USE
THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.
SO I THINK THEY CAN BE CREATIVE,
BUT OUR GOAL WAS TO DEFINITELY
SUPPORT THOSE KEY COMPONENTS OF
OUR LOCALS
>> SO IS THERE ANY PERCENTAGE OF
THE MONEY THAT IS UNRESTRICTED?
>> WELL, ONCE AGAIN, EVERYBODY
IS GOING TO THEIR CURRENT NEW --
THEIR CURRENT AMOUNT OF SHARED
REVENUE, AND LIKE I MENTIONED
BEFORE, AND LIKE YOU SAID
EARLIER, EVERYBODY IS GOING TO
SEE AT LEAST A 10% INCREASE.
A LOT OF COMMUNITIES,
PARTICULARLY SOME OF OUR SMALLER
CITIES, VILLAGES AND TOWNSHIPS,
THEY'RE GOING TO SEE A MUCH
LARGER INCREASE.
AND SO OBVIOUSLY WITH THAT
INCREASE, THEY'LL BE ABLE TO USE
THAT MONEY FOR THE NEEDS THAT
THEY HAVE IN THEIR INDIVIDUAL
COMMUNITIES
>> THE PLAN ALSO CALLS -- OR
ALLOWS THE CITY OF MILWAUKEE TO
IMPOSE A NEW LOCAL 2% SALES TAX
IF VOTERS AGREE.
BUT AGAIN, RESTRICTS SOME OF HOW
IT CAN BE SPENT.
LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE, NO MONEY
TOWARD STREET CARS.
WHY IS THAT PROVISION IN THERE?
>> WELL, LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT MILWAUKEE.
MILWAUKEE AND THE MAYOR, AND I
GIVE THE MAYOR A LOT OF CREDIT,
HEBREWS ATHE HAS BEEN AT THE TABLE, HE HAS
BEEN VERY HELPFUL AND IT'S BEEN
REFRESHING TO WORK WITH HIM, TO
BE HONEST WITH YOU, AND ALSO THE
COUNTY EXECUTIVE, DAVID CROWLEY,
WHO I WOULD CONSIDER A GOOD
FRIEND OF MINE.
IT'S BEEN VERY REFRESHING TO
WORK WITH BOTH OF THEM.
BUT THE CITY PARTICULARLY IS IN
FINANCIAL STRESS.
I MEAN, WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT
DO THEY -- IF THEY WOULD NEED TO
DECLARE BANKRUPTCY, IT'S A
MATTER OF WHEN THEY WOULD NEED
TO DECLARE BANKRUPTCY.
SO I THINK OUR POSITION IS IF
YOU'RE IN SUCH DIRE STRAITS
FINANCIALLY, WHICH THEY ARE,
MAYBE YOU JUST NEED TO FOCUS
THOSE -- THAT MONEY IN AREAS
THAT YOU TRULY NEED IT.
NOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S
NOT GETTING TOLD IS WE'RE NOT
SAYING YOU CAN'T FUND THAT TO
USE THIS MONEY.
YOU CAN STILL GET FEDERAL
GRANTS, YOU CAN STILL GET
PRIVATE DONORS.
THERE'S STILL WAYS TO FUND THAT,
ESPECIALLY THE CITY OF
MILWAUKEE, THEY'RE VERY
CREATIVE.
MAYOR CAVALIER I THINK IS VERY
RESOURCEFUL, AND I THINK IN THE
END, FEPTS TO GET THAT STREET
CAR IF HE WANTS TO GET THAT
STREET CAR FUNDED, I THINK HE
CAN DO THAT
>> VERY QUICKLY, THIS IS A
BIPARTISAN EFFORT.
DUH WORK WITH GOVERNOR TONY
EVERS ON THIS, WHOSE PLAN THAT
HE ANNOUNCED IN THE BUDGET
MIRRORED THE 20% OF STATE SALES
TAX?
>> WELL, THE MAJORITY LEADER
ACTUALLY ON WEDNESDAY EVENING,
MET WITH THE GOVERNOR, AND I
PERCEIVED MANY MORE MEETINGS IN
THE FUTURE AND, LIKE I SAID A
FEW MINUTES AGO, DAVID CROWLEY,
THE MAYOR, I MEAN, WE'VE MET
QUITE A BIT OVER THE LAST SIX
MONTHS ON THIS ISSUE, AND I GIVE
THEM A LOT OF CREDIT.
MY COUNTERPART ON JOINT FINANCE
COMMITTEE, EVAN GORKY FROM
MILWAUKEE, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT
THIS.
HE'S BEEN IN THE ROOM FOR THE
LAST MONTH.
WE DO WANT THIS TO BE A
BIPARTISAN BILL.
WE WANT BUY-IN.
THAT'S WHY WE BROUGHT THEM EARLY
ON INTO THE PROCESS, AND THE
LAST MONTH, WE'VE HAD SOME VERY
GOOD DISCUSSIONS.
SOME BACK AND FORTH, AND IT'S
BEEN VERY HEALTHY, VERY
RESPECTFUL.
PERSONALLY, I'M VERY PROUD OF
WHAT WE'VE DONE.
WE'VE GOT A LITTLE BIT MORE WORK
TO DO, TO BE FAIR, BUT I THINK
WE'RE IN A GOOD SPOT, AND I
THINK FOR MY AREA, THIS IS A
WONDERFUL PACKAGE THAT WILL
DEFINITELY HELP RURAL WISCONSIN
>> THAT'S GREAT NEWS.
REPRESENTATIVE TONY KURTZ,
THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> NO, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
APPRECIATE IT.
>> FOLLOWING THE PASSAGE OF A
NON-BINDING REFERENDUM ON THE
STATEWIDE BALLOT IN THE APRIL 4
ELECTION, WHERE MORE THAN THREE
QUARTERS OF VOTERS SUPPORTED A
QUESTION ABOUT GOVERNMENT
BENEFITS THAT READ, SHALL
ABLE-BODIED CHILDLESS ADULTS BE
REQUIRED TO LOOK FOR WORK IN
ORDER TO RECEIVE TAXPAYER FUNDED
WELFARE BENEFITS?
ASSEMBLY REPUBLICANS THIS WEEK
PASSED A SLATE OF BILLS, MOSTLY
AIMED AT UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS.
THE SIX BILLS INCLUDE TIGHTENING
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE, WORK
SEARCH REQUIREMENTS, AND DRUG
TESTING, AS WELL AS BADGER CARE
ELIGIBILITY.
FOR MORE, WE GO TO ONE OF THE
AUTHORS, REPUBLICAN
REPRESENTATIVE JERRY O'CONNOR.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US
>> THANK YOU
>> SO WHY ARE THESE PROVISIONS
IN THESE BILLS NEEDED?
>> I COME FROM THE PRIVATE
SECTOR, I'M A FIRST-TERM
REPRESENTATIVE.
I CAME OUT OF POSITION AS A
COMMUNITY BANK PRESIDENT AFTER
MANY YEARS.
I REALLY LOOK AT THIS AS GOING
BACK AND LOOKING AT A SERIES OF
POLICIES AS THE PRIVATE SECTOR
WOULD DO AND SAYING, OKAY, WE
HAVE SOME ISSUES HERE.
SO IF WE'RE GOING TO UPDATE
THESE ISSUES, LET'S TAKE A LOOK
AT A BROADER SECTION AND SEE
WHAT WE CAN DO TO IMPROVE THEM.
ESPECIALLY WHEN WE GET TO
UNEMPLOYMENT.
THAT FUND IS FUNDED BY
EMPLOYERS, AND TO THAT EXTENT,
THEY'RE THE ONES THAT BEAR THE
BURDEN.
AT THE STATE LEVEL, WE HAVE A
FIDUCIARY DUTY RESPONSIBILITY TO
MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE MOST
EFFICIENT AND COST EFFECTIVE
PROGRAM AVAILABLE AND WE JUST
HAVE SOME AREAS WE NEED TO
TIGHTEN UP
>> IS IT YOUR SENSE THAT THE
25,000 PEOPLE THAT ARE CURRENTLY
GETTING UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS
RIGHT NOW IS TOO MANY PEOPLE?
>> I WOULDN'T SAY THAT.
I WOULD SAY THAT, AS IN MOST
THINGS, WE CREATE LAWS,
POLICIES, AND STATUTES TO
ADDRESS A FEW IN OUR SOCIETY.
MAYBE THE BEST EXAMPLE IS WHEN
YOU GO TO THE AIRPORT AND YOU GO
THROUGH THE METAL DETECTORS AND
YOU WAIT IN LONG LINES, NOT
BECAUSE EVERYONE IS A TERRORIST,
BUT BECAUSE YOU'RE TRYING TO
FIGURE OUT, WE NEED TO WEED OUT
CERTAIN OR IDENTIFY CERTAIN
CHARACTERISTICS THAT ARE A
PROBLEM.
AND THAT REALLY IS WHAT THIS
BILL DOES.
SO I WOULD SPEND LESS TIME
TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHO DOESN'T
QUALIFY IN TERMS OF PERSONALITY
OR CHARACTERISTICS, BUT IT'S
MORE IMPORTANT WE HAVE LAWS IN
PLACE AND WE WANT TO ENFORCE
THEM AS THEY EXIST OR IMPROVE
THEM AS THEY NEED TO BE
>> IS THE MESSAGE THAT PEOPLE ON
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE ARE
GAMING THE SYSTEM, AS ONE OF
YOUR COLLEAGUES SAID ON THE
FLOOR, OR LAZY?
>> I CAN'T SPEAK FOR THE
REPRESENTATIVE.
I WOULD SPEAK FROM WHAT I GET
FEEDBACK FROM THE GENERAL
PUBLIC, AND THAT WOULD BE OVER A
PERIOD OF TIME THAT THEY'RE
CONCERNED THAT WE SPEND A LOT OF
MONEY AT THE STATE LEVEL OR AT
THE FEDERAL LEVEL, WHERE THE
MONEY IS UNACCOUNTABLE.
WE DON'T KNOW IF IT'S WORKING,
WE DON'T KNOW IF IT'S GOING TO
THE RIGHT PLACES.
WE DON'T KNOW IF THE AGENCIES
ARE APPLYING THE LAWS AS
INTENDED.
THE DRUG TESTING BILL WOULD BE
PART OF THAT THAT WAS PASSED IN
THE LAST BUDGET BILL, BUT IT HAS
NOT BEEN IMPLEMENTED.
I CAN TELL YOU THE GENERAL
PUBLIC DOES NOT WANT TO INVEST
MONEY WHERE YOU HAVE PEOPLE
USING THE SYSTEM WITHOUT USING
THAT SYSTEM TO GET TO THE NEXT
LEVEL, TO BE EMPLOYED, TO
GAINFULLY ENGAGE IN THE SOCIETY
AROUND US IN THAT MANNER
>> ONE OF THE BILLS, AS YOU
KNOW, LOOKS TO ACQUIRE MORE
AUDITS OF WHETHER CLAIMANTS ARE
DOING THE REQUIRED NUMBER OF
WORK SEARCHES PER WEEK TO GET
THEIR PAYMENT.
THAT'S FOUR PER WEEK, INCLUDING
DECLINING JOB INTERVIEWS OR NOT
SHOWING UP FOR ONE.
ACCORDING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, THE
AGENCY DOES DO THESE WEEKLY
RANDOM KIND OF AUDITS, BUT IN
YOUR MIND, THAT'S NOT ENOUGH
OVERSIGHT?
>> WELL, IT'S NOT ADDRESSING THE
ISSUE.
PART OF THAT ONE GOES BACK TO
GHOSTING.
GHOSTING IS A MATTER WHERE
SOMEONE APPLIES FOR A JOB, SENDS
IN AN APPLICATION, NOTIFIES THE
STATE THAT I TOOK CARE OF THAT,
BUT WHEN YOU GO BACK TO THE
EMPLOYER, THE EMPLOYER IS
SAYING, WAIT A MINUTE, THERE WAS
AN EXAMPLE, I BELIEVE IT'S
AHREN'S CORPORATION, THEY HAD IN
EXCESS OF 400 PEOPLE THAT SENT
IN AN APPLICATION FOR
EMPLOYMENT, BUT WHEN THEY
RESPONDED BACK TO SET UP AN
INTERVIEW OR CONDUCT ONE OVER
THE PHONE OR IN PERSON, THEY
COULD NOT EVEN GET A SINGLE
RESPONSE FROM THOSE PEOPLE.
THAT'S IN A ONE-YEAR PERIOD.
OR THEY HAD APPOINTMENTS SET UP,
AND I BELIEVE THERE'S 125
APPOINTMENTS, PEOPLE SIMPLY
DIDN'T SHOW UP.
NOW, IF YOUR OPINION YOU'RE THE EMPLOYER,
THIS IS HIGH COST.
OUR HUMAN RESOURCE DEPARTMENTS
IN ANY SECTOR ARE TAKING A LOT
OF EXPENSE TO EMPLOY PEOPLE, SO
THIS IS ONE OF THOSE ISSUES.
THIS IS FEEDBACK FROM EMPLOYERS
SAYING, THIS IS COSTING US A LOT
OF MONEY, SO I DON'T THINK THE
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE JOB SEARCH
HAVE BEEN EFFECTIVE
>> WOULD YOU JUST AS SOON DO
AWAY WITH THE WHOLE UNEMPLOYMENT
INSURANCE PROGRAM?
>> ABSOLUTELY NOT.
AGAIN, THIS IS -- THE GOAL OF
THESE BILLS IS TO IDENTIFY THOSE
PEOPLE THAT ARE REALLY NOT
QUALIFIED TO BE ON UNEMPLOYMENT
BECAUSE WE HAVE THAT AS AN
ISSUE.
AGAIN, THAT'S THE MINORITY.
WE ALSO HAVE PEOPLE THAT --
THEY'RE NOT OUT THERE TRULY
LOOKING FOR A JOB.
NOW, COME BACK TO THE BASIS OF
YOUR QUESTION.
I BELIEVE IN AID SCRIPTURAL
PRINCIPLE THAT SAYS TRUE
RELIGION IS TAKING CARE OF
WIDOWS AND ORPHANS.
THAT'S TAKING CARE OF PEOPLE
THAT DON'T HAVE THE CAPACITY TO
TAKE CARE OF ALL OF THEIR NEEDS,
AND I BELIEVE THERE IS AN
ABSOLUTE PLACE FOR GOVERNMENT,
BUT I BELIEVE IT IS TO BE
EXERCISED WISELY, AND WE LIVE IN
A TIME WHERE YOU HAVE TO PUT
MORE RESTRICTIONS OR RESTRAINTS
OR ACCOUNTABILITY, IS PROBABLY
MY BEST WORD, IN PLACE IN ORDER
TO MAKE THAT WORK TO ITS OPTIMUM
LEVEL
>> ALL RIGHT.
REPRESENTATIVE JERRY O'CONNOR,
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US.
>> ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU.
ENJOY YOUR DAY.
>> AS REPUBLICANS PASS THE
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE BILLS ONE
BY ONE, DEMOCRATS ASSAILED THEIR
PASSAGE.
AMONG THEM, REPRESENTATIVE
KATRINA SHANKLAND OF STEVENS
POINT.
THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME
>> SO WHAT ABOUT THE RESULTS OF
THE STATEWIDE REFERENDUM THAT
SHOWED THAT VOTERS
OVERWHELMINGLY AGREED THAT
ABLE-BODIED ADULTS SHOULD HAVE
TO LOOK FOR WORK TO RECEIVE
TAXPAYER FUNDED WELFARE BENEFITS
AND HOW REPUBLICANS SAY THAT
THIS SLATE OF BILLS COMPORTS
WITH THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE.
>> SO FIRST AND FOREMOST, EVERY
SINGLE BILL THAT WE TOOK UP
RELATED TO UNEMPLOYMENT
INSURANCE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH
WELFARE BENEFITS.
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE IS AN
INSURANCE PROGRAM, JUST LIKE
SOCIAL SECURITY.
IN FACT, WISCONSIN WAS THE FIRST
STATE IN THE NATION TO CREATE AN
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE PROGRAM,
AND WHEN THE SOCIAL SECURITY ACT
PASSED ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL,
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WAS
INCLUDED IN IT AND IT WAS
MODELED AFTER WISCONSIN.
SO THIS IS AN INSURANCE PROGRAM
THAT YOU EARN BECAUSE YOU'VE
WORKED AND IT IS DESIGNED
SPECIFICALLY TO ENSURE THAT WHEN
YOU LOSE A JOB THROUGH NO FAULT
OF YOUR OWN, THAT THERE IS A
SAFETY NET IN PLACE TO HELP YOU
PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE AND FILL
YOUR TANK TO GET TO THE NEXT JOB
INTERVIEW SO YOU CAN FIND WORK
>> SO UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE IS
PAID FOR BY EMPLOYERS AND
MAJORITY REPUBLICANS SAY THESE
BILLS ARE NEEDED TO WEED OUT
PEOPLE HANGING OUT ON
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE AND NOT
SHOWING UP FOR INTERVIEWS
BECAUSE THIS COSTS EMPLOYERS
TIME AND MONEY WHEN THESE FOLKS
COULD BE WORKING, WHICH WOULD
THEN EASE OUR WORKER SHORTAGE.
YOUR RESPONSE TO THAT?
>> SURE.
SO I POINTED OUT IN COMMITTEE
AND ON THE ASSEMBLY FLOOR DURING
THIS DEBATE THAT GHOSTING IS A
REAL SITUATION AND THERE'S
ALREADY A REPORTING FORM ON THE
DEPARTMENT OF WORKFORCE
DEVELOPMENT'S WEBSITE FOR
EMPLOYERS TO REPORT, BUT WHAT MY
COLLEAGUES ACROSS THE AISLE
INTENDED TO DO WITH THIS
LEGISLATION IS ONE MISSED
INTERVIEW, ONE CAR BREAKING
DOWN, ONE LOSING YOUR CHILDCARE
SLOT FOR THE DAY OR WEEK AND YOU
WOULD LOSE UNEMPLOYMENT FOR THAT
WEEK AS WELL AND UNEMPLOYMENT
INSURANCE, WE HAVE ONE OF THE
LOWEST RATES IN THE NATION.
IT'S UP TO $370 COMPARED TO
STATES AROUND US.
THAT IS NOT MEANT TO SUPPLEMENT
OR I SHOULD SAY SUPPLANT OR
REPLACE AN INCOME.
IT IS AN INCOME SUPPLEMENT
DESIGNED TO HELP YOU PUT FOOD ON
THE TABLE AND GAS IN THE TANK,
BUT NOT MUCH MORE THAN THAT, TO
BE FRANK, SO I THINK THE
ARGUMENT NOT ONLY IS INCORRECT,
BUT IT ALSO FAILS TO UNDERSTAND
WHAT UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE IS
USED FOR, AND TO BE FRANK, THE
MAJORITY OF CLAIMS THAT ARE
FILED ARE FILED IN THE WINTER
WHEN CONSTRUCTION WORKERS,
LANDSCAPERS, VERTICAL
CONSTRUCTION WORKERS ARE ALL
UNABLE TO DO THE WORK THAT IS
NEEDED BECAUSE, IN FEBRUARY,
MARCH, JANUARY, DECEMBER, THOSE
HARSH WISCONSIN WINTERS, YOU
CANNOT LAY ASPHALT OR CONCRETE
BELOW 40° AND OBVIOUSLY YOU'RE
NOT LANDSCAPING.
SO MY REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES
REALLY NEED TO LOOK INTO THE
DATA.
I POINTED OUT ON THE FLOOR THAT
MANY WORKERS ARE UNABLE TO WORK
BETWEEN I WOULD SAY THE MONTHS
OF NOVEMBER AND MARCH WHEN IT
COMES TO CONSTRUCTION AND
VERTICAL CONSTRUCTION, AND THEY
USE UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE
DURING THAT TIME BECAUSE THEY'VE
PUT IN 2,000 HOURS OF WORK IN
SIX OR SEVEN MONTHS AND I FIND
THE ATTACK ON BLUE-COLLAR
WORKERS VERY DIFFICULT TO
STOMACH WHEN MANY OF MY
COLLEAGUES ACROSS THE AISLE
RARELY IF EVER PUT IN 83 HOURS A
WEEK ON AVERAGE LIKE THESE
CONSTRUCTION WORKERS DO.
SO I FOUND IT INTERESTING TO
DISCOVER THAT THEY FAILED TO
TAKE UP A VOTE ON ONE OF THE
BILLS THAT WOULD HAVE TAKEN UP
TO THREE MONTHLIES OF
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE AWAY FROM
THESE HARD-WORKING MEN AND WOMEN
ACROSS THE STATE AND I THINK
IT'S BECAUSE THEY WERE AFRAID OF
THE DEBATE AND AFRAID TO TALK
ABOUT HOW THESE BILLS COULD
REALLY HARM BLUE-COLLAR WORKERS
>> WHAT DO YOU THINK THE OVERALL
MESSAGE IS FROM THE REPUBLICAN
PASSAGE OF THESE BILLS THIS
WEEK?
WHAT IS THEIR MESSAGE?
>> THEIR MESSAGE IS THAT PEOPLE
IN WISCONSIN AREN'T WORKING AND
THE OPPOSITE IS TRUE.
WE HAVE A 2.5% OR 2.7%
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE, DEPENDING ON
THE LAST TWO MONTHS THAT YOU
LOOK OF DATA, AND IT'S A
HISTORIC RECORD.
WE KNOW THAT AS PEOPLE ARE AGING
OUT OF THE WORKFORCE, THERE ARE
NOT ENOUGH NEW WORKERS TO
REPLACE THEM, AND SO WHAT WE
NEED TO DO FOR THOSE WHO ARE
UNABLE TO WORK THE NUMBER OF
HOURS THEY'D LIKE TO WORK OR
UNABLE TO ENTER THE WORKFORCE,
IS HELP THEM ACCESS CHILDCARE,
BECAUSE THAT IS THE NUMBER ONE
BARRIER TO ENTRY RIGHT NOW.
THERE ARE CHILDCARE WAIT LISTS
ACROSS THE STATE.
MANY RURAL AREAS ARE IN
CHILDCARE DESERTS.
SO WE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER TO
TACKLE CHARACTER.
WE NEED TO -- CHILDCARE.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE
HAVE ACCESS TO TRANSIT IF THEY
DON'T HAVE A CAR.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE
WHO CAN'T AFFORD TO LIVE WHERE
THEY WORK HAVE ACCESS TO
AFFORDABLE HOUSING SO THAT THEY
DON'T HAVE TO RELY ON SOMEBODY
ELSE TO HELP THEM GET TO WORK IF
THEIR CAR BREAKS DOWN AND THEY
CAN GET TO WORK IN THE CITY THAT
THEY LIVE.
AND SO THOSE THREE THINGS:
AFFORDABLE HOUSING, PUBLIC
TRANSIT AND TRANSPORTATION FOR
WORK AS WELL AS CHILDCARE ACCESS
AND AFFORDABLE AFFORDABILITY IS WHAT WE'VE
BEEN FOCUSING ON.
IT WAS OUR CORE MESSAGE ON THE
ASSEMBLY FLOOR.
WE MEAN IT WHEN WE SAY WE ARE
EXTENDING A HAND.
THERE ARE PLENTY OF INCREDIBLE
PROPOSALS IN GOVERNOR TONY
EVERS' BUDGET THAT WOULD INVEST
IN WORK HOUSE FUNDING, TRANSIT,
AND WE STAND READY AND WILLING
TO WORK WITH OUR PARTNERS ACROSS
THE AISLE TO ENACT GOVERNOR TONY
EVERS' BUDGET.
WE KNOW THE WORKFORCE SHORTAGE
IS REAL.
LET'S HELP PEOPLE STAY WORKING,
KEEP WORKING, AND GET INTO THE
WORKFORCE IF THEY'RE NOT
>> MEANWHILE, THESE BILLS ARE
EXPECTED TO BE VETOED BY
GOVERNOR EVERS, BUT
REPRESENTATIVE KATRINA
SHANKLAND, THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> RESTRICTIONS ON WHO IS
ELIGIBLE FOR THEIR CRIMINAL
RECORD TO BE EXPUNGED COULD BE
LOOSENED UNDER A BIPARTISAN BILL
MAKING ITS WAY THROUGH THE
LEGISLATURE.
EXPUNGEMENT IS A COURT SEALING
OF AN ENTIRE CRIMINAL CASE FILE
AND IT CANNOT BE SEEN WITHOUT A
COURT ORDER.
FURTHER, THE DEFENDANT'S NAME
WON'T YIELD ANY RESULTS OF THE
CASE IN A SEARCH OF WISCONSIN'S
CIRCUIT COURT RECORDS.
CURRENTLY LAW ONLY ALLOWS
NON-VIOLENT FELONY CRIMES
COMMITTED BEFORE THE AGE OF 25
TO BE CONSIDERED FOR
EXPUNGEMENT.
AMONG THIS BILL'S AGE
RESTRICTIONS WOULD BE LIFTED.
DESPITE HAVING SUCCESS IN
PREVIOUS SESSIONS OF THE
ASSEMBLY IT HASN'T GOTTEN THE
NECESSARY TRACTION IN THE SENATE
UNTIL NOW.
>> WE'RE GETTING RID OF THAT
LIMIT, THAT AGE LIMIT THAT'S
ASSOCIATED WITH IT.
FOR EXPUNGEMENT TO BE ABLE TO
HAPPEN, THESE INDIVIDUALS WOULD
HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'VE
PAID ALL OF THEIR RESTITUTION,
DONE ALL OF THEIR HOURS, DID
EVERYTHING THAT THEY NEEDED TO
DO TO BE QUALIFIED FOR THIS.
IT WOULD ALSO ALLOW FOLKS THAT
WERE POSSIBLY DAMAGED OR INJURED
TO BE NOTIFIED THAT SOMEONE WAS
UP FOR EXPUNGEMENT.
ONE OF THE BIG AREAS THAT I WAS
CONTACTED FOR BY JUDGES WITH
THIS EXPUNGEMENT BILL HAS TO DO
WITH WHEN THAT IDEA OF
EXPUNGEMENT CAN ACTUALLY BE
GRANTED.
OKAY?
SO CURRENTLY WHAT HAPPENS IS IF
YOU ARE CHARGED WITH A CRIME,
THE INITIAL COURT HEARINGS WILL
DETERMINE IF YOU CAN HAVE
EXPUNGEMENT AT THE END OR NOT.
A LOT OF JUDGES WERE SAYING WHY?
WHAT HAPPENS IF THINGS HAPPENED
IN BETWEEN THERE AND THEN YOU'RE
JUST GOING TO EXPUNGE THIS
PARTICULAR CRIME.
THIS BILL WOULD SAY WE'RE GOING
TO LOOK AT IT AT THE END ALSO
AND SAY, HEY, IS THIS
APPROPRIATE?
BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES, IF
PEOPLE DON'T ASK AT THE
BEGINNING OF A TRIAL OR THEY
DON'T KNOW, THEY WILL NOT BE
ALLOWED FOR EXPUNGEMENT.
CONSTITUENTS SAID, I WANTED TO
JOIN THE MILITARY BUT I COULDN'T
BECAUSE I MADE AN ERROR EIGHT,
NINE YEARS AGO.
I WANTED TO GET MY LICENSE IN
SELLING OF INSURANCE.
I CAN'T DO THAT BECAUSE OF
- SOMETHING I DID WHEN I WAS 17
YEARS OLD.
RIGHT?
SO THIS IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING
THAT'S IMPACTING PEOPLE WHEN IT
COMES TO WORKFORCE, WHEN IT
COMES TO HOUSING, BUT WHAT ABOUT
SELF-WORTH?
THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT
MIGHT HAVE STRUGGLED WITH MENTAL
HEALTH WHEN THEY WERE YOUNGER OR
WHATEVER THE REASON IS, MADE A
STUPID CHOICE AND NOW 10, 20,
30, 40 YEARS LATER, THEY'RE
STILL BEING PUNISHED FOR THIS,
SO THERE HAS TO BE A RIGHT TO A
WRONG, NOT ONLY ON THEIR END,
BUT OUR END ALSO.
I THINK PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE
CONSEQUENCES FOR THE NEGATIVE
CHOICES THAT THEY MAKE, BUT YOU
CAN ALSO MAKE THAT RIGHT, AND SO
DO I FIND THIS WEAKENING THE
TOUGH ON CRIME?
NO.
WHAT I'M SAYING IS MAKE GOOD
CHOICES.
IF YOU MESS UP ALONG THE WAY,
MAKE IT RIGHT AND THEN LET'S
COME BACK AND LET'S START OVER.
>> IN OTHER NEWS, WISCONSIN IS
STILL UNDER A STATE OF EMERGENCY
DUE TO HISTORIC FLOODWATERS.
FLOODING ALONG THE MISSISSIPPI
RIVER HIT ITS PEAK IN THE
LACROSSE AREA OVER THE LAST FEW
DAYS.
HOWEVER, WATER WAS STILL RISING
AT WEEK'S END FARTHER SOUTH NEAR
PRAIRIE DA SHEEN.
LATEST PROJECTIONS HAD THE RIVER
REACHING JUST OVER 23 FEET
FRIDAY AFTERNOON AND THEN
STARTING TO RECEDE.
IN PRAIRIE DA SHEEN, MANY ROADS
WERE CLOSED AND RESIDENTS ALONG
MAIN STREET EVACUATED.
TENS OF THOUSANDS SANDBAGS WERE
FILLED AND PLACED AS RESIDENTS
TRIED TO KEEP FLOODWATERS AT
BAY.
THE MAJOR FLOODING IS THE RESULT
OF RECORD SNOW PACK FOLLOWED BY
RAINFALL AND SATURATED SOIL.
THAT SATURATED SOIL MAY HAVE
LEAD TO A FREIGHT TRAIN
DERAILING THURSDAY ON THE BLUFF
SIDE OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER
WITH SEVERAL CARS TIPPING OVER.
AUTHORITIES SAY HAZARDOUS
MATERIALS OF LITHIUM ION
BATTERIES, OXYGEN CONTAINERS AND
PAINT WERE ON BOARD BUT HAVE
BEEN CONTAINED.
OFFICIALS SHUT DOWN A SECTION OF
HIGHWAY 35 DURING CLEAN UP-UP.
FOUR WORKERS WERE TAKEN TO THE
HOSPITAL WITH
NONLIFE-THREATENING INJURIES.
THE INCIDENT AND EXACT CAUSE ARE
UNDER INVESTIGATION.
>>> FOR MORE ON THIS AND OTHER
ISSUES FACING WISCONSIN, VISIT
OUR WEBSITE AT PBS WISCONSIN.ORG
AND THEN CLICK ON THE NEWS TAB.
THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.
(CLOSED CAPTIONING BY RIVERSIDE
CAPTIONING COMPANY)
FUNDING IS PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS
FUND FOR JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS
OF PBS WISCONSIN.