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>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION.
>> WE HAVE AN AGREEMENT ON A
TRANSFORMATIONAL SHARED REVENUE
DEAL THAT WILL ALSO HAVE THE
LARGEST EXPANSION OF SCHOOL
CHOICE SINCE THE PROGRAM WAS
ORIGINALLY FOUNDED.
>> AT THE STATE CAPITOL,
LEGISLATIVE LEADERS AND THE
GOVERNOR SHAKE HANDS ON SHARED
REVENUE AND SCHOOL FUNDING.
AND FARTHER AFIELD, SMOKE FROM
CANADIAN WILDFIRES CREATES
DANGEROUS AIR QUALITY AROUND THE
COUNTRY AND HERE IN WISCONSIN.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW," WE
GET THE LATEST OPT SHARED
REVENUE PACKAGE HAMMERED OUT
THIS WEEK.
STEVE POTTER REPORTS ON FUNDING
FOR CONCLUSION 12 SCHOOLS.
WE TALK TO AN EXPERT ON THE
RECENT PROBLEMS WITH AIR QUALITY
AND A FORMER STATE SENATOR JOINS
TO DISCUSS A NEW BIPARTISAN HOOK
TO ELIMINATE ELECTION
MISINFORMATION.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR JUNE
9th.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNAL AND I AM FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.
>> THE HEADLINE FROM THE STATE
CAPITOL, THERE'S A SHARED
REVENUE DEAL AND A SCHOOL
FUNDING PACKAGE.
ON THE 1st, THAT'S GOOD NEWS
FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ACROSS
WISCONSIN WHO HAVE BEEN SOUNDING
THE ALARM ON THE NEED FOR AN
INFUSION OF STATE FUNDING,
ESPECIALLY FOR POLICE AND FIRE
SERVICES.
THE SHARED REVENUE PACKAGE WAS
DESIGNED TO DO JUST THAT, GIVING
20% OF THE MONEY THE STATE
COLLECTS FROM THE SALES TAX TO
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, BUT HOW THE
PACKAGE TREATS MILWAUKEE NEARLY
FELL APART THIS WEEK AND
THREATENED TO PUT STATE BUDGET
WORK ON HOLD.
MILWAUKEE WAS ORIGINALLY GIVEN A
10% INCREASE WITH THE ABILITY TO
RAISE MORE IN SALES TAX.
THE ADDITIONAL BUMP TIED TO
VOTERS THERE.
BUT MILWAUKEE, FACING
INSOLVENCY, WORRIED THE VOTE
WOULD FAIL.
LEGISLATIVE LEADERS WERE SPLIT
AND UNDER TIGHT LED DEADLINE TO COME
TO AN AGREEMENT WITH THE
GOVERNOR.
BY WEEK'S END, THERE WAS AN
AGREEMENT, AND THEN SOME,
INCLUDING ON SCHOOL FUNDING.
WE TURN TO BUREAU CHIEF SHAUN
JOHNSON FOR DETAILS.
HI, SHAUN.
>> HI, FRED.
>> SO WHAT IS IN THIS MOST
IMPORTANT SHARED REVENUE
PACKAGE?
>> I THINK WE'VE BEEN HEARING
ABOUT THE BROAD STROKES FOR
WEEKS AND MONTHS RIGHT NOW AND
ALL THOSE ARE STILL IN THERE.
YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A PORTION
OF THE STATE SALES TAX, 20% OF
THE SATAN STATE SALES TAX GOING
FORWARD WILL BE DEDICATED TO
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.
SO AS THE SALVATION TAX GROWS,
LOCAL -- SALES TAX GROWS, LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS WILL GET MORE MONEY,
WHICH IS A FAR CRY FROM WHAT
THEY'VE BEEN THE LAST 20 YEARS
WHEN THEY SAW THEIR FIXED BUDGET
FROM THE STATE CUT THREE TIMES.
AS FAR AS LIKE THE PERCENTAGE OF
MONEY THAT THEY GET, IT'S GOING
TO VARY.
TOWNS ARE GOING TO GET A LARGER
PERCENTAGE INCREASE, BUT CITIES
WILL GET A LARGER DOLLAR
INCREASE.
EVERYBODY WILL GET AT LEAST A
20% INCREASE IN THE PACKAGE THAT
WAS RELEASED THIS WEEK AND THEN
THERE ARE THOSE PROVISIONS IN
MILWAUKEE THAT WERE THE MOST
CONTENTIOUS BUT VERY KEY TO THAT
CITY THAT WILL LET MILWAUKEE
RAISE ITS SALES TAX BY 2% AND
THE COUNTY RAISE ITS SALES TAX
BY.4% WITHOUT GOING TO VOTERS.
>> SO DOES THIS END UP, THEN,
BEING A BETTER DEAL IN TERMS OF
SHARED REVENUE FOR LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS THAN WAS ORIGINALLY
PROPOSED BY REPUBLICAN
LEGISLATORS?
>> YEAH.
I MEAN, I THINK IF YOU MEASURE
IT JUST AGAINST WHAT HAS BEEN
PROPOSED THIS YEAR, THEY
ORIGINALLY CAME OUT WITH A 10%
FLOOR FOR STATE PAYMENTS TO
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.
GOVERNOR TONY EVERS SAID, YOU
KNOW, YOU'VE GOT TO INCREASE
THAT FUNDING OR I'M GOING TO
VETO THIS BILL.
ASSEMBLY PATH A VERSION THAT HAD
A 15% MINIMUM.
THE VERSION THAT CAME OUT IN THE
DEAL THIS WEEK BETWEEN GOVERNOR
TONY EVERS AND REPUBLICAN
LEADERS IS A 20% FLOOR.
SO BY THE NUMBERS, THAT'S A
BETTER DEAL.
THERE ARE STILL ALL OF THESE
RESTRICTIONS ON LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS IN TERMS OF HOW THEY
CAN SPEND THE MONEY.
THEY HAVE TO MAINTAIN WHAT
THEY'RE SPENDING ON POLICE, FOR
EXAMPLE, OR THEY WOULD BE
FINANCIALLY PENALIZED.
THEY CAN'T SPEND THE MONEY IN
MILWAUKEE'S CASE ON THE STREET
CAR OR IN ANY CASE ON DIVERSITY,
EQUITY AND INCLUSION EFFORTS.
BUT JUST FROM A MONEY
STANDPOINT, THIS DEAL IS BETTER
THAN WHERE REPUBLICANS STARTED A
MONTH OR SO AGO.
>> AS TO THE SCHOOL FUNDING
PART, HOW DOES THAT SHAPE UP?
>> WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF DEALS
BEYOND WHAT THEY SAID IN A PRESS
CONFERENCE AND PRESS RELEASE
THIS WEEK, BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE
THEY'RE GOING TO SET ASIDE A
BILLION DOLLARS BETWEEN STATE
AND LOCAL PROPERTY TAX FUNDING
FOR SCHOOLS AND THEN THERE WILL
ALSO BE FUNDING DEDICATED TO
LITERACY, TO SCHOOL MENTAL
HEALTH, TO SPECIAL EDUCATION.
IF YOU LOOK AT THAT TOTAL, YOU
KNOW, IT'S BIGGER THAN
REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS HAVE
APPROVED IN YEARS PAST, ASSUMING
THE STATE DOES FUND SOMEWHERE
CLOSE TO A BALANCE BILLION DOLLARS, BUT
SMALLER THAN WHAT THE GOVERNOR
PROPOSED WHEN HE INTRODUCED HIS
BUDGET EARLIER THIS YEAR.
>> SO WITH ABOUT 30 SECONDS
LEFT, IF THERE AREN'T TOO MANY
DETAILS OUT THERE, NOT TOO MUCH
MEAT ON THE BONE FOR PUBLIC
CONSUMPTION, PRESUMABLY IT'S
STILL BEING WORKED UP?
>> YOU KNOW, I THINK YOU'RE
GOING TO SEE THE REPUBLICAN
ELEMENT OF THE EDUCATION BUDGET
RELEASED IN THE COMING WEEKS,
BUT THE DEAL IS SEEMINGLY SET
FOR THIS SHARED REVENUE PACKAGE.
THEY DID SAY THEY WANT TO GET
DEMOCRATIC VOTES FOR IT.
WE'LL SEE HOW IT SHAKES OUT.
>> SHAUN JOHNSON, THANKS VERY
MUCH FOR JOINING US FROM THE
CAPITOL.
>> THANKS, FRED.
>> FOR MORE ON HOW THE STATE
BUDGET WILL TREAT SCHOOL FUNDING
AND THE NUMBERS NEGOTIATED
BETWEEN THE LEGISLATURE AND THE
GOVERNOR, "HERE AND NOW"
REPORTER STEVEN POTTER HAS
DETAILS.
>> I ASK THAT YOU SUPPORTER
CLOSING THE FUNDING GAP ACROSS
ALL SECTORS OF EDUCATION IN THE
STATE OF WISCONSIN.
>> AS STUDENTS PREPARE FOR
ANOTHER SUMMER, LAWMAKERS HAVE
NOW IS DECIDED ON DETAILS FOR
ONE OF THE MOST CONTENTIOUS AND
EXPENSIVE PARTS OF THE STATE
BUDGET PROCESS.
AND THAT'S FUNDING FOR
WISCONSIN'S K THROUGH 12
SCHOOLS.
LIKE PAST BUDGETS, EVERYONE FROM
EDUCATION OFFICIALS TO TEACHERS
AND PARENTS HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR
AN INCREASE IN SCHOOL FUNDING.
>> I'M REALLY SCARED ABOUT THE
STATE OF WISCONSIN'S PUBLIC
EDUCATION SYSTEM RIGHT NOW.
WE'VE HISTORICALLY
UNDER-RESOURCED OUR KIDS FOR 40
YEARS NOW, IMPOSING JUST MEASURE
AFTER MEASURE THAT MAKES IT
HARDER AND HARDER FOR KIDS TO
KEEP UP AND CATCH UP.
>> THAT'S HEATHER DUBOIS WITH
THE ADVOCACY GROUP CALLS THE
WISCONSIN PUBLIC EDUCATION
NETWORK.
SHE SAYS THAT SOME 40% OF THE
TESTIMONY AT THE RECENT JOINT
FINANCE COMMITTEE HEARINGS
AROUND THE STATE HAVE BEEN
EDUCATORS, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS,
AND OTHER STATE RESIDENTS ASKING
FOR AN INCREASE IN PUBLIC
EDUCATION FUNDING.
>> IT IS ABSOLUTELY CRUCIAL FOR
DEFOREST AND ALL WISCONSIN
PUBLIC SCHOOLS THAT THIS
BIENNIAL BUDGET MAKES UP FOR
WHAT FAILED TO DO THE LAST TIME
BY PROVIDING SCHOOLS WITH AN
ADEQUATE AND RECURRING FUNDS BY
WHICH WE CAN OPERATE EFFECTIVELY
ON.
>> ONE OF THE PRIMARY PROBLEMS
FACING THE STATE'S EDUCATION
PROBLEM IS A TEACHER SHORTAGE.
>> ONE OF THE REASONS THAT WE
HAVE SUCH A TEACHER CRISIS RIGHT
NOW IN WISCONSIN IS BECAUSE WE
DON'T HAVE A SYSTEM WHERE EVERY
DISTRICT CAN AFFORD TO PROVIDE A
LIVING WAGE LEVEL FOR ALL
EDUCATORS.
>> ACCORDING TO EARLY DETAILS
ABOUT A DEAL BETWEEN GOVERNOR
TONY EVERS AND REPUBLICAN
LEADERS IN THE STATE
LEGISLATURE, THE TWO SIDES HAVE
AGREED TO AN INCREASE IN
EDUCATION FUNDING IN THE
UPCOMING STATE BUDGET BY $1
BILLION.
THAT MONEY WILL COME FROM A MIX
OF STATE AID AND PROPERTY TAXES.
IT INCLUDES AN INCREASE OF
$2K4R-79FORNEW EDUCATION FUNDING PACKAGE
ALSO INCLUDES STATE MONEY FOR
THE PRIVATE SCHOOL CHOICE
VOUCHER PROGRAM, SPECIFICALLY
THERE, STUDENTS IN KINDERGARTEN
THROUGH EIGHTH DISBRAID GRADE VOUCHER
WILL GET $8,000 MORE ANNUALLY
AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN THE
VOUCHER PROGRAM WILL GET $3,000
MORE PER YEAR.
NIC KELLY IS THE PRESIDENT OF
THE NOT-FOR-PROFIT ADVOCACY
GROUP KNOWN AS SCHOOL CHOICE
WISCONSIN.
HE SAYS THERE ARE MANY REASONS
WHY PEOPLE CHOOSE PRIVATE
SCHOOLS.
>> SOME PEOPLE DO IT IN TERMS OF
ACADEMICS, SOME DO IT IN TERMS
OF SITUATIONS THAT THEY RESULTED
FROM A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE
PUBLIC SCHOOLS, THEY WANT OUT.
SOME PEOPLE DO IT FOR RELIGIOUS
REASONS.
BUT IT'S REALLY WHAT AN INTERNAL
DYNAMIC OF A FAMILY WANTS.
>> KELLY SAYS THAT THE $7
BILLION SURPLUS PROVIDES A LOT
OF INCENTIVE FOR THE SCHOOL
FUNDING CHOICE INCREASE.
>> NOW IS THE TIME BECAUSE
PARENTS ARE CALLING FOR IT.
IT'S NOT AN AGENDA OF ANY ONE
INDIVIDUAL GROUP.
IT'S THE VOICE OF THE PARENTS
AND THE FAMILIES ACROSS THE
STATE THAT WANT THESE
OPPORTUNITIES AND FINDING AN
EDUCATION THAT IS GOING TO FIT
THEIR CHILD'S NEEDS.
>> BERRY 1990 SAYS AN INCREASE
IN SCHOOL FUNDING IS THE THING
TO DO RIGHT NOW.
>> WHAT KIDS NEED IS PROTEIN
SIMPLE, AND IF WE JUST PUT OUR
FUNDING PRIORITIES WHERE THOSE
PRIORITY NEEDS ARE, WE COULD SEE
FIX MOST OF WHAT'S WRONG WITH
HOW WE DO SCHOOL FUNDING IN THE
STATE TOMORROW.
LET'S JUST DO IT.
>> FOR "HERE AND NOW," I'M
STEVEN POTTER.
>> THE ACE OF STATE BUDGET
NUMBER CRUNCHING HAS SEEN HIS
SHARE OF OF CAPITOL TURMOIL IS BOB
LANG.
HE GUIDES BUDGET WRITERS THROUGH
THEIR NUMBERS AND ATTACHES
FISCAL NOTES TO LEGISLATIVE
BILLS WHICH UNDERSELLS BY A LOT
HIS ROLE.
IT'S A NON-PARTISAN POSITION IN
A VERY PARTISAN WORLD, BUT IT
ALSO TAKES EXTREME FINANCIAL
SAVVY AND EXPERTISE.
WE TURN TO BOB LANG FOR THAT.
THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.
>> THANK YOU.
>> SO WE WERE JUST OFF REPORTING
ABOUT THIS DEAL HATCHED FOR THE
SHARED REVENUE PACKAGE.
WHY WOULD BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS
HAVE HAD TO WAIT FOR THAT BILL
TO BE HASHED BEFORE PROCEEDING?
>> WE SORT OF HAVE TWO TRACKS
GOING ON.
THE SHARED REVENUE IS REALLY
TRACK ONE.
IT STARTED PRIOR TO THE BUDGET
EVEN BEING INTRODUCED S. THERE'S
AN INTEREST ON THE PART OF THE
GOVERNOR AND AN INTEREST ON THE
PART OF THE LEGISLATORS TO
DEDICATE A PORTION OF THE STATE
SALES TAX TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
IN THIS PROGRAM WE CALL SHARED
REVENUE.
IT'S VERY BRIEF BACKGROUND.
THE STATE ENACTED THE FIRST
INCOME TAX IN THE COUNTRY IN
1911.
AT THAT TIME, THE STATE
PROHIBITED LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
FROM HAVING A LOCAL INCOME TAX
BUT PLEDGED IN 1911 THAT THE
STATE WOULD SHARE ITS REVENUES
WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.
HENCE, THE SHARED REVENUE
PROGRAM THAT IS BEING THERE
FOREVER.
-- THAT HAS BEEN THERE FOREVER,
AND MUCH OF THE TIME IT WAS
THERE, IT ACTUALLY WAS TAKING
PORTIONS OF SALES TAXES AND
OTHER TAXES AND DEDICATING THEM
TO LOCAL AIDS, LOCAL.GOV NANCES,
TOWNS, COUNTIES.
SO FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS OR SO,
THERE'S REALLY BEEN NO INCREASE
IN SHARED REVENUE PAYMENTS TO
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.
WE'VE GHOSN OFF THE FORMULAS AND
THEY'VE BEEN BASICALLY QUITE
FLAT AND SO GOVERNOR AND
LEGISLATURE BOTH FELT WE SHOULD
DEDICATE A PORTION OF SALES
TAXES.
ABOUT A BILLION 500 MILLION A
YEAR.
WE WOULD DEDICATE TO LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS FOR A NUMBER OF
LOCAL GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS.
ONE OF THEM BEING THE SHARED
REVENUE FORMULA.
AND SO THAT BILL HAD ANOTHER
MAJOR COMPONENT AND THAT WAS TO
ATTEMPT TO ASSIST THE CITY AND
THE COUNTY OF MILWAUKEE, BECAUSE
THEY'RE DEALING WITH SOME
SERIOUS FISCAL ISSUES THERE.
SO THE TWO MAIN ELEMENTS WERE
THE AMOUNT OF MONEY GIVEN BACK
TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND WAYS TO
ADDRESS MILWAUKEE'S SITUATION,
BOTH IN THE COUNTY AND IN THE
CITY.
AND IT WAS A SEPARATE TRACK.
NOW THE BUDGET BEGAN, BUDGET
CAME IN FEBRUARY 15th.
JOINT COMMITTEE ON FINANCE HAS
BEEN WORKING ON IT REALLY SINCE
THEN.
WE'RE VERY SERIOUSLY WORKING ON
IT NOW.
HOPE TO FINISH BY JULY 1.
BUT IT WAS SORT OF A 2-TRACK
PROCESS AND THEY BECAME SORT OF
INTERTWINED A DAY OR TWO AGO.
>> THAT'S RIGHT, INTERTWINED
BECAUSE THEY ALSO ANNOUNCED THE
K THROUGH 12 OF FUNDING PACKETS
KIND OF AT THE SAME TIME.
>> RIGHT.
>> HOW COMPLICATED ARE FITTING
ALL OF THESE PIECES TOGETHER IN
A SPENDING BILL THIS BIG WITH SO
MANY MOVING PARTS?
>> WELL, TEASE IT'S NOT A SIMPLE TASK.
WHEN WE HAVE TWO BICIALTION THE
MONEY WILL BE -- BILLS, THE
MONEY WILL BE IN ONE BILL.
ANOTHER BILL WILL BE ASPECTS
THAT WILL REQUIRE MONEY IN THE
SECOND BILL, AND SO WE'RE SORT
OF NAVIGATING OURSELVES THROUGH
THIS SORT OF 2-STEP PROCESS.
>> YOU JUST SAID THAT BECAUSE
THINGS ARE NOW KIND OF MOVING,
UNCLOGGED, THEY'RE MIGHT HAVE MOVING ALONG
QUICKLY, YOU THINK THAT THE WORK
WILL BE COMPLETED BY JULY 1.
THAT IS THE START OF THE NEW
FISCAL --
>> I THINK THE LEGISLATURE IS
VERY SET ON PASSING THE BILL
THROUGH THE FINANCE COMMITTEE
AND BOTH HOUSES OF THE
LEGISLATURE BY JULY 1, AND
THEY'RE ON TARGET TO DO SO.
>> SO AS TO THIS BIENNIAL
BUDGET, BY ANY MEASURE, IT COULD
BE REGARDED AS BUDGET WRITERS
WORKING WITH A MASSIVE SURPLUS,
THIS $7 BILLION SURPLUS.
WHERE DID THAT COME FROM?
>> IT'S REALLY INTERESTING.
IT REALLY CAME ABOUT THROUGH THE
PANDEMIC, AND I THINK IN MARCH
OR SO OF 2020 WHEN EVERYBODY
THOUGHT EVERYTHING WAS GOING TO
COLLAPSE, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
CAME IN WITH NUMEROUS BILLS THAT
REALLY HELPED NOT ONLY
GOVERNMENTS BUT INDIVIDUALS AND
BUSINESSES.
AND THE STATE OF WISCONSIN IN
TOTAL, REPROUDLY GOT ABOUT $58
BILLION.
SOME OF IT WENT TO INDIVIDUALS,
CHECKS.
SOME OF IT WENT ON UNEMPLOYMENT
INSURANCE, CHECKS THAT WERE
INCREASED, SOME OF IT WENT TO
HELP BUSINESSES, SOME OF IT WENT
TO HELP GOVERNMENTS.
AND DURING THAT TIME, WE HAD
INFLATION STARTING TO CREEP UP
AND BASICALLY OUR SALES TAX
COLLECTIONS WERE LOOKING STRONG,
AND THEN BECAUSE OF THE HELP
THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT GAVE
TO BUSINESSES AND OTHERS SO THEY
WOULDN'T REALLY GO UNDER AND
WE'D KEEP PAYROLLS THERE, INCOME
TAXES AND CORPORATE TAXES WERE
REALLY STRONG, SO WE ACTUALLY
ENDED THE 2021 FISCAL YEAR WITH
ABOUT 2.6 BILLION, WHICH WAS A
LARGE NUMBER FOR US.
THE END OF 2021/'22, IT WENT TO
4.3 BILLION AND NOW IT'S ABOUT 7
BILLION THAT WE EXPECT WE GET
ABOUT 12-1/2 WEEKS ON JUNE
30th OF THIS YEAR SO IT'S
REALLY ACCUMULATED OVER THAT
PERIOD OF TIME.
BUT AS YOU INDICATED, IT IS THE
LARGEST AMOUNT OF SURPLUS MONEY
THAT THE STATE HAS EVER HAD
GOING INTO A BUDGET PERIOD.
>> I WISH WE COULD TALK MORE
ABOUT THAT BUT OUR TIME IS UP.
GOOD LUCK TO YOU AND THE BUDGET
WRITERS IN THE FINAL THROES OF
THIS BIENNIAL PROCESS.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> IN ELECTION NEWS, FOLLOWING
CONSPIRACIES ON STEROIDS IN THE
2020 PRESIDENTIAL RACE AS A
FORMIDABLE SWING STATE,
WISCONSIN IS NOW GEARING UP FOR
2024.
WITH THAT, A NEW CHAPTER OF THE
GROUP CALLED KEEP OUR REPUBLIC
LAUNCHED HERE THIS WEEK.
IT'S A BIPARTISAN ADVISORY
COUNCIL DESIGNED TO BUILD TRUST,
RESPECT AND CONFIDENCE IN THE
WISCONSIN ELECTION SYSTEM.
MEMBERS IN WISCONSIN INCLUDE
FORMER DEMOCRATIC LIEUTENANT
GOVERNOR BARBARA LEIGHTON, DAVID
BOWEN, MILWAUKEE DEMOCRAT AND
FORMER GOVERNOR TOMMY THOMPSON.
DIRECTOR OF THE KEEP OUR
REPUBLIC IS FORMER REPUBLICAN
STATE SENATOR AND LONG-TIME
COUNTY ELECTION CLERK, KATHY
BERNIER.
SHE JOINS US FROM CHIPPEWA
FALLS.
THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.
>> YOU'RE VERY WELCOME.
IT'S MY PLEASURE.
>> SO HOW DO YOU DO YOU BUILD TRUST IN
THE ELECTION SYSTEM?
>> WELL, IT STARTS WITH
EDUCATION AND BUILDING KNOWLEDGE
AMONG THE AVERAGE ELECTORATE AND
SO THAT IS OUR MISSION, TO GO
AROUND THE STATE AND EDUCATE
INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITY
LEADERS ON HOW THE ELECTION
SYSTEM WORKS, WHERE THE CHECKS
AND BALANCES ARE AND THE
CONFIDENCE THAT THEY CAN HOLD
THAT EVERYTHING IN THE STATE OF
WISCONSIN IS BACKED UP ON PAPER.
>> WHY DID YOU FEEL IT WAS
IMPORTANT TO NOT JUST JOIN THIS
GROUP BUT NOW BE ITS DIRECTOR IN
WISCONSIN?
>> AS YOU KNOW, I WAS A VOCAL
CRITIC OF PEOPLE WHO QUESTIONED
THE ELECTION OFFICIALS IN THE
ELECTORAL SYSTEM, AND FRIEND OF
A FRIEND CONTACTED ME TO ASK ME
IF I WOULD CONSULT AND ADVISE,
KEEP OUR REPUBLIC.
I LOOKED INTO THEIR MISSION, I
SPOKE WITH THE EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR, AND I THOUGHT THIS WAS
A REALLY GOOD FIT FOR ME.
AND SO WE ARE JUST OFF AND
RUNNING.
>> SO WHAT DO YOUR FELLOW
REPUBLICANS ACROSS WISCONSIN
THINK ABOUT THIS GROUP?
>> WELL, NOTHING DIFFERENT THAN
THEY THOUGHT ABOUT ME.
THEY APPRECIATED MY HONESTY AND
MY OPENNESS AND THIS IS TRULY A
BIPARTISAN GROUP AND IT'S NOT
JUST ME.
I REALLY WANT TO GIVE ACCUSED TO
MY ADVISORY -- KUDOS TO MY
ADVISORY COUNCIL.
WHEN I ASKED DEMOCRATS AND
REPUBLICANS TO SERVE IS ON THIS
ADVISORY COUNCIL, THEY WERE
EAGER.
BOTH DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS
HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT OUR
ELECTORAL SYSTEM IN GENERAL,
THAT ELECTION DENIAL IS NOT
UNIQUE TO JANUARY 6th PEOPLE.
IT'S GONE ON SINCE, CLEARLY,
2016, AND EVERY ONE WANTS TO DIG
IN AND SAY ONCE ALL ELIGIBLE
VOTERS HAVE VOTED, ONCE THE
VOTES HAVE BEEN CAST, ONCE
THEY'VE BEEN COUNTED, WE ALL
NEED TO RESPECT AND ACCEPT THE
ELECTION RESULTS.
>> AS YOU NOTED JUST A BIT AGO,
YOU PUSHED BACK ON THESE
CONSPIRACIES IN THE 2020
ELECTION.
WHAT IN YOUR MIND WAS THE MOST
EGREGIOUS OF THOSE?
>> I THINK THERE WERE SO MANY OF
THINGS.
I THINK THE INDIVIDUALS THAT
CAME TO THE CAPITOL AND THE
INDIVIDUALS CALLING TO DECERTIFY
THE ELECTION AND FOR THE BLAZING
GUN THAT THEY FOUND, THE SMOKING
GUN, THAT THIS WAS AN ISSUE AND
THAT WAS AN ISSUE WHEN, IN FACT,
ALL THEY NEEDED TO DO WAS TO GO
TO AN ELECTION OFFICIAL SKID
MARKS THEM QUESTIONS ABOUT THE
INFORMATION THAT THEY THINK THEY
HAVE OR THE WISCONSIN ELECTION
COMMISSION, AND GET THE FACTUAL
INFORMATION BEHIND WHAT THEY
WERE SAYING.
THAT WAS THE MOST FRUSTRATING
THING, IS THEY WEREN'T EAGER TO
FIND OUT THE FACTS AND THE
TRUTH.
THEY WERE JUST GOING TO
DISSEMINATE MISINFORMATION.
IT WAS VERY FRUSTRATING.
>> HOW DO YOU EXPECT TO EDUCATE
PEOPLE ACROSS WISCONSIN ABOUT
HOW ELECTIONS WORK IN WISCONSIN?
>> WELL, ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS
I HAD TO DO IN THE FIRST TWO
MONTHS THAT I SERVED IN FOR KEEP
OUR REPUBLIC IS SET UP AN
ADVISORY COUNCIL AND THEN I HAD
TO CREATE A PLAN.
SO PENNSYLVANIA, MICHIGAN ARE
ALSO CREATING PLANS ON HOW TO
EDUCATE THEIR PUBLIC.
IN WISCONSIN, LOCAL GOVERNMENT
IS VERY IMPORTANT TO OUR
COMMUNITIES AND TO THE VOTERS OF
THE STATE OF WISCONSIN.
SO THE FIRST THING I DID IS
CREATE A PLAN THAT INVOLVED
COUNTY CLERKS, CO-WORKERS,
MUNICIPAL CLERKS AND OTHERS
WITHIN THE COMMUNITY TO COME
TOGETHER AND ONCE WE HAVE THE
CONVERSATION, EDUCATE EACH OTHER
ON THE ELECTORAL SYSTEM, THAT
THEY CAN THEN DISSEMINATE
FACTUAL INFORMATION TO THE
VOTERS.
>> WITH JUST ABOUT A MINUTE
LEFT, AS FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD
TRUMP WINDS INTO HIS RE-ELECTION
CAMPAIGN, WHAT ARE YOUR CONCERNS
FOR WISCONSIN?
>> MY CONCERNS ARE ALWAYS THE
SAME PERSONALLY.
KEEP OUR REPUBLIC DOESN'T CARE
WHO IS ON THE BALLOT.
WE ARE BIPARTISAN AND
NON-PARTISAN, AND SO WHOEVER IS
ON THE BALLOT, HEARS WHAT WE
PLAN TO DO -- HERE'S WHAT WE
PLAN TO DO, BUT IT DOESN'T
REALLY CONCERN ME WHO IS ON THE
BALLOT.
IF DONALD TRUMP HAS HIS LEGAL
ISSUES, IF JOE BIDEN OR HIS
FAMILY HAVE THEIR LEGAL ISSUES,
GOOD, THAT IS WHAT OUR MEDIA AND
OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM IS SUPPOSED
TO DO.
WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS JUST
LISTEN AND WATCH AND LEARN FROM
ALL OF THE CANDIDATES RUNNING
FOR OFFICE, DEMOCRAT AND
REPUBLICAN, AND WE WANT HOUSTON HONESTY
AND INTEGRITY IN THE INFORMATION
YOU GIVE US.
THAT SIMPLE.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WE LEAVE IT THERE.
KATHY BERNIER, THANKS SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> WE CHECKED IN WITH CRAIG
IN
ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS HEADLINES
DESCRIBE CANADA AS BAKING AND
BURNING.
>> ISSUED AN ADVISORY FOR
FOR MORE ON THIS AND OTHER
ISSUES FACING WISCONSIN, VISIT
OUR WEBSITE AT PBS WISCONSIN.
>> IN ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS
HEADLINES DESCRIBE CANADA AS
IMAIKDZ AND BURNING THIS SPRING.
CANADIAN WILDFIRES HAVE HAD
THEIR EFFECT HERE IN WISCONSIN
IN THIS UNUSUALLY HOT, DRY JUNE.
WE'VE HAD SOME RELIEF NOW, BUT
WHAT SCIENTISTS CALL FINE
PARTICULATE MATTER FROM THE
FIRES CAN EASILY GET INTO THE
LUNGS AND CAUSE SERIOUS HEALTH
PROBLEMS.
WE CHECKED IN WITH CRAIG
CZARNECKI FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF
NATURAL RESOURCES FOR MORE.
>> WE, SINCE 2012, HAVE NOT
ISSUED AN ADVISORY FOR PM FINE
PARTICULATE MATTER.
WE'VE HAD FOUR THIS SPRING.
WE HAVEN'T HAD TO ISSUE ANY IN
THE LAST 11 YEARS OR SO AND THIS
SPRING, FROM THE WILDFIRES IN
WESTERN CANADA, EASTERN CANADA,
WE'VE HAD FOUR, SO IT'S
DEFINITELY BEEN AN UNPRECEDENTED
SPRING AS FAR AS WILDFIRE
IMPACTS HERE ARE IN WISCONSIN.
TYPICALLY, WE'VE SEEN WILDFIRES
LIKE THIS IMPACT WISCONSIN WITH
THE SMOKE USUALLY LATER IN THE
SUMMER, TYPICALLY WHEN IT'S
HOTTER AND DRIER, BUT THAT SEEMS
TO BE HAPPENING A LITTLE BIT
EARLIER THAN USUAL AND THAT'S
ACTUALLY HAPPENED THE PAST A
COUPLE OF YEARS.
>> AND SO IF THERE IS AN AIR
QUALITY ALERT LIKE THAT
DESCRIBING IT AS UNHEALTHY FOR
SENSITIVE GROUPS, WHAT SHOULD
PEOPLE DO?
>> YEAH.
SO WHEN WE HAVE AN ADVISORY
THAT'S CALLED FOR UNHEALTHY FOR
SENSITIVE GROUPS, THAT WOULD
INCLUDE PEOPLE WITH HEART AND
LUNG AILMENTS OR LUNG DISEASE,
HEART DISEASE, ASTHMA, THINGS
LIKE THAT, AND THEN OTHER PEOPLE
IT WOULD INCLUDE THE ELDERLY AND
YOUNG CHILDREN AS WELL SINCE
THEIR LUNGS ARE STILL
DEVELOPING.
SO WHEN WE HAVE AN ADVISORY FOR
UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS,
WE JUST ASK PEOPLE IN THOSE
GROUPS TO CONSIDER SHORTENING
THEIR OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, LESS
INTENSE OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES AS
WELL AND THEN IF THEY ARE HAVING
ANY SYMPTOMS LIKE COUGHING OR
SHORTNESS OF BREATH, THAT WOULD
BE A SIGN TO MAYBE TAKE A BREAK
AND TAKE IT A LITTLE BIT EASIER
ON THOSE DAYS.
>> SO YOU ALSO MONITOR FOR
OZONE, AND WHAT IS OZONE?
>> SO OZONE IS A COMBINATION OF
A FEW DIFFERENT POLLUTANTS,
MAINLY VOLATILE ORGANIC OXIDES,
TWO DIFFERENT POLLUTANTS.
THE NUMBER ONE SOURCE OF THOSE
ARE MOBILITY SOURCES LIKE CARS
AND TRUCKS, AND THIS POLLUTANTS
REACT IN THE ATMOSPHERE WITH
HEAT AND SUNLIGHT TO FORM OZONE.
SO THAT'S THOSE REALLY HOT,
SUNNY DAYS, THAT'S WHEN WE'RE
TYPICALLY SEEING THOSE ELEVATED
LEVELS OF OZONE POLLUTION.
>> AND WHAT IS AN ELEVATED LEVEL
OF OZONE?
WHAT DOES THAT DO TO A PERSON'S
HEALTH?
>> YEP.
SO, AGAIN, THAT WOULD IMPACT
FOLKS WITH BREATHING ISSUES,
ASTHMA, THINGS LIKE THAT, YOU'RE
GOING TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE
SENSITIVE.
YOU'LL FEEL THOSE, YOU MIGHT
HAVE SHORTNESS OF BREATH,
KRAWFG, THINGS LIKE THAT
COUGHING, THINGS LIKE THAT.
>> AND DID SOME OF THOSE OZONE
PROBLEMS.
>> WE'VE HAD NINE OZONE
ADVISORIES SO FAR THIS SPRING,
WHICH IS A LITTLE BIT HIGHER
THAN NORMAL.
THE LAST FEW YEARS, WE HAVE BEEN
SEEING A SLIGHT INCREASE IN THE
NUMBER OF OZONE ADVISORIES WE'VE
BEEN ISSUING IN SPRING, BUT
WE'VE HAD NINE SO FAR THIS YEAR
AND THOSE HAVE RANGING FROM THE
UNHEALTHY TO SENSITIVE GROUPS TO
A LITTLE BIT OF THAT UNHEALTHY
LEVEL AS WELL.
>> AND MEANWHILE, THOSE TWO
THINGS KIND OF HAPPENED AT THE
SAME TIME, THE WILDFIRES AND THE
OZONE LEVELS.
>> YES.
THIS HAS BEEN A VERY INTERESTING
SPRING.
OTHER PEOPLE IN THE PROGRAM,
ALONG WITH MYSELF, HAVEN'T
REALLY SEEN A SPRING LIKE THIS
BEFORE.
WE'VE HAD SOME REALLY --
MID-MAY, WE HAD WILDFIRE IMPACTS
FROM OUT WEST AND THEN WE HAD
REALLY HOT, STAGNANT WEATHER
WITH A NUMBER OF OZONE
ADVISORIES ISSUED WITH LIKE THIS
WEATHER BLOCKING PATTERN, THE
AIR GETS STAGNANT.
MOST POLLUTANTS DON'T HAVE
ANYWHERE TO GO BECAUSE THE
CONDITIONS ARE PRETTY CALM.
SO ONCE THAT FINALLY BLEW OUT,
THEN THE WIND SHIFTED AND NOW
WE'RE IS GETTING WILDFIRE SMOKE,
OR WE WERE, FROM EASTERN CANADA.
SO IT'S JUST BEEN KIND OF A
REALLY UNLUCKY RUN OF
CIRCUMSTANCES HERE THAT HAVE
CAUSED THE AIR QUALITY I-OVER
THE PAST FEW WEEKS HERE.
>> MEANWHILE, ARE SCIENTISTS AND
YOUR AGENCY CONSIDERING THAT
THIS COULD BE KIND OF THE NEW
NORMAL GOING FORWARD OR THAT IT
COULD GET KIND OF WORSE AND
WORSE IN THESE WAYS THROUGH THE
YEARS?
>> WE ARE SEEING THAT THOSE
WILDFIRE IMPACTS ARE HAPPENING A
LITTLE BIT EARLIER THAN THEY
TYPICALLY HAVE BEEN AND THAT'S
BEEN THE LAST FEW YEARS WE'VE
BEEN SEEING THAT.
THOSE HOT, DRY CONDITIONS, THOSE
ARE JUST LASTING LONGER OUT WEST
AND UP IN CANADA AS WELL.
SO WE DON'T LIKE TO THINK IT'S
GETTING WORSE, BUT THE CHANCES
OF SEEING MORE OF THESE WILDFIRE
IMPACTS SEEM TO TO BE SOMETHING
THAT THIS WILL BE MORE OF A --
NOT AS UNUSUAL, I SUPPOSE, AS IT
HAS BEEN IN THE PAST.
WE'RE SEEING THESE HAPPENING A
LITTLE BIT MORE OFTEN WITH THESE
HOT AND DRY CONDITIONS HERE.
>> FOR MORE ON THIS AND OTHER
ISSUES FACING WISCONSIN, VISIT
OUR WEBSITE PBS WISCONSIN
DOT-ORG AND THEN CLICK ON THE
NEWS TAB.
THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.
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WISCONSIN.