ARE NOT CURRENTLY SET UP TO
RECEIVE THEM AND THE LEGAL
PRINCIPLES THAT WOULD BE
ESTABLISHED BY A DECISION
AGAINST THE PROGRAM IN THIS CASE
WOULD HAVE RAMIFICATIONS FOR HOW
WE FINANCE OUR SCHOOLS, IT WOULD
CALL INTO QUESTION EQUALIZATION
AID, IT WOULD CALL INTO QUESTION
A WHOLE VARIETY OF
NONEDUCATIONAL PUBLIC PROGRAMS.
IT WOULD BE REALLY A DISASTER
FOR THE STATE OF WISCONSIN AND
SOMETHING THAT I DON'T BELIEVE
OUR COURT'S GOING TO DO.
>> SO IN YOUR COURT FILING, YOU
TOOK GREAT EXCEPTION TO THE
CLAIM THAT CHOICE PROGRAMS WERE
INTENDED TO HURT AND ARE HURTING
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
WHY?
>> WELL, YOU KNOW, WE LIVE IN A
VERY POLARIZED TIME RIGHT NOW
AND I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE
CHOICE WAS INITIALLY WHEN SCHOOL-
ENACTED
>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION.
>> 65,000 WISCONSIN STUDENTS ARE
THREATENED BY A LAWSUIT THAT
WOULD RIP THEM FROM THEIR
SCHOOLS.
>> AN AD CAMPAIGN TO KEEP
PRIVATE SCHOOL CHOICE HIGHLIGHTS
THE HIGH STAKES OF A CASE THAT
COULD COME BEFORE THE WISCONSIN
SUPREME COURT.
AND WISCONSIN'S FALSE ELECTORS
ADMIT THEIR ATTEMPT TO OVERTURN
THE 2020 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE & NOW," THE UW
REACHES A DEAL WITH THE
REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURE OVER PAY
RAISES AND FUNDING.
REPUBLICANS ADMIT TO THEIR ROLE
IN THE FAKE ELECTOR SCHEME.
THEN, A WISCONSIN SUPREME COURT
CASE COULD THROW THE 2,12 SCHOOL
CHOICE SYSTEM INTO CHAOS.
WE SPOKE TO ATTORNEYS FROM BOTH
SIDES.
THE NEXT IN OUR SERIES OF
INTERVIEWS WITH LEGISLATIVE
LEADERS AND THE CRITICAL
SHORTAGE OF SCHOOL THERAPISTS.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR DECEMBER
8th.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE & NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.
>> A BOMBSHELL COURT SETTLEMENT
THIS WEEK INVOLVING THE 10
WISCONSIN REPUBLICAN FAKE
ELECTORS IN THE 2020
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.
THESE ARE PHOTOS OF THE ELECTORS
GATHERED IN SECRET AND UNDER
ARMED GUARD AT THE STATE CAPITOL
IN 2020 TO FRAUDULENTLY SIGN
CERTIFICATION DOCUMENTS CASTING
THEIR VOTE FOR DONALD TRUMP.
AS PART OF THE SETTLEMENT, THE
FALSE ELECTORS HAD TO MAKE
PUBLIC THIS STATEMENT, "ON
DECEMBER 14th, 2020, IN
COMPLIANCE WITH REQUESTS
RECEIVED FROM THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN
AND THE REPUBLICAN PARTY OF
WISCONSIN, WE MET AT THE
WISCONSIN STATE CAPITOL AND
EXECUTED A DOCUMENT TITLED
CERTIFICATE OF THE VOTES OF THE
2020 ELECTORS FROM WISCONSIN."
THAT DOCUMENT STATED IN PART
THAT WE WERE THE DULY ELECTED
AND QUALIFIED ELECTORS FOR
PREIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT OF
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
FROM THE STATE OF WISCONSIN.
THE ELECTOR DEFENDANTS TOOK THE
FOREGOING ACTION BECAUSE THEY
WERE TOLD THAT IT WAS NECESSARY
TO PRESERVE THEIR ELECTORAL
VOTES IN THE EVENT A COURT
CHALLENGE MAY LATER CHANGE THE
OUTCOME OF THE ELECTION IN
WISCONSIN.
THAT DOCUMENT WAS THEN USED AS
PART OF AN ATTEMPT TO IMPROPERLY
OVERTURN THE 2020 PRESIDENTIAL
ELECTION RESULTS.
UNDER THE SETTLEMENT, THE FALSE
ELECTORS ALL AGREED TO WITHDRAW
DOCUMENTS EXECUTED THAT DAY,
ACKNOWLEDGED JOE BIDEN WON THE
ELECTION AND AGREED NOT TO SERVE
AS PRESIDENTIAL ELECTORS IN 2024
OR ANY ELECTION WITH DONALD
TRUMP ON THE BALLOT.
THE REPUBLICAN ELECTOR
DEFENDANTS ALSO PROMISED TO HELP
THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
IN ITS INVESTIGATION.
THE FALSE ELECTORS INCLUDE
CURRENT WISCONSIN ELECTION
COMMISSIONER BOB SPINDELL AND
ANDREW HITT.
THE LAWSUIT WAS BROUGHT BY
MADISON FIRM, LAW FORWARD, WHICH
SAYS ABOUT THE SETTLEMENT,
"WISCONSIN VOTERS HAVE BEEN
AWAITING ACCOUNTABILITY FOR
THREE YEARS AND IT IS BEYOND
TIME TO HOLD THOSE WHO
PERPETRATED THIS SCHEME
RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS."
THE SUIT CONTINUES AGAINST TWO
ATTORNEYS WHO ASSISTED THE FALSE
ELECTORS.
PETITIONERS IN A LAWSUIT
CHALLENGING WISCONSIN'S PRIVATE
SCHOOL CHOICE PROGRAM AWAIT WORD
FROM THE STATE SUPREME COURT
WHETHER IT WILL TAKE THEIR CASE.
THEY WANT THE COURT TO END THE
PROGRAM, ARGUING IT VIOLATES THE
STATE CONSTITUTION, SAYING THE
LEGISLATURE HAS CREATED A CANCER
THAT'S KILLING PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
TONIGHT, WE HEAR BOTH SIDES OF
THIS CASE, STARTING WITH A
LAWYER WHO FILED THE SCHOOL
CHOICE LAWSUIT, FREDERICK MELMS.
HE JOINS US FROM MINOCQUA.
THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.
>> THANK YOU.
>> SO WHY ARE YOU ASKING THE
SUPREME COURT TO TAKES THE AS AN
ORIGINAL ACTION RATHER THAN
TAKING YOUR LAWSUIT TO CIRCUIT
COURT FIRST?
>> WELL, A NUMBER OF REASONS.
THE PRIMARY REASON WE'RE TAKING
OUR PETITION DIRECTLY TO THE
SUPREME COURT IS INEFFICIENCY.
ULTIMATELY, THIS CASE WINDS UP
THERE ANYWAY.
IF WE START IN THE CIRCUIT
COURT, WE WIN, WE LOSE, WE
APPEAL, THE OTHER SIDE APPEALS,
AND WE ARGUE BEFORE THE SUPREME
COURT.
THIS SAVES THREE YEARS OF
LITIGATION FOR EVERYONE.
A LOT OF WHAT WE ARE ARGUING HAS
NOT BEEN DECIDED UPON BEFORE BY
THE SUPREME COURT.
THESE ARE MATTERS OF FIRST
IMPRESSION.
SO THEY ARE ALSO -- THEY'RE MOST
APPROPRIATE COURT TO BE RULING
ON OUR ISSUES AS WELL.
>> HOW DISAPPOINTED WERE YOU
THAT THE EVERS ADMINISTRATION
JOINED ROBIN VOS IN SAYING IT
SHOULD, IN FACT, NOT START IN
THE HIGH COURT?
>> UMM, YOU KNOW, WE WERE
CERTAINLY DISAPPOINTED, BUT, YOU
KNOW, THE EVERS ADMINISTRATION
AND MISBLOOMEN IF HE WOULD HAVE
THEIR OWN AGENDA THAT THEY NEED
TO FULFILL.
>> SO YOUR LAWSUIT SAYS THAT
SCHOOL VOUCHER PROGRAMS WERE,
QUOTE, DESIGNED TO DESTRUCTIVELY
DEFUND PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
BUT ISN'T THAT TRUE?
WEREN'T THEY DESIGNED AND
STARTED IN THE EARLY KIND OF
'90s IN MILWAUKEE TO OFFER
PRIVATE SCHOOL CHOICE TO LOW
INCOME STUDENTS AND THEIR
FAMILIES?
>> SO THE PROGRAMS WE HAVE NOW
ARE SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFERENT THAN
THAT MILWAUKEE PROGRAM, AND WHAT
THEY DO IS, FOR EVERY STUDENT
WHO TAKES A VOUCHER OUTSIDE OF
MILWAUKEE, THE STATE DEDUCTS THE
ENTIRE VALUE OF THAT VOUCHER,
WHICH IS, FOR A HIGH SCHOOL
STUDENT, ALMOST $13,000, FROM
THEIR LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
STATE AID.
AND IN A LOT OF THESE DISTRICTS,
THE STATE, THEY'RE ONLY GETTING
ABOUT $2,000 PER STUDENT.
SO FOR EVERY VOUCHER STUDENT YOU
LOSE TO A VOUCHER SCHOOL, YOU'RE
LOSING, YOU KNOW, SIX OR SEVEN
STUDENTS' WORTH OF STATE AID IN
MANY DISTRICTS.
AND THEN YOU EITHER HAVE TO MAKE
THAT UP THROUGH THE LOCAL TAX
LEVY OR YOUR STUDENTS DON'T GET
THE RESOURCE THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO
HAVE.
AND THIS HAS BEEN FELT
PARTICULARLY HARD IN ONE OUT OF
EVERY THREE DOLLARS OF THEIR
LOCAL PROPERTY TAXES IS USED
EFFECTIVELY JUST TO BACKFILL THE
MONEY TAKEN IN STATE AID TO FUND
THE VOUCHER PROGRAM FOR
STUDENTS.
IT'S CLOSE TO $45 MILLION THAT
THE TAXPAYERS ARE BEING ASKED TO
PUT UP TO MAKE UP FOR THE AID
REDUCTION FROM THE VOUCHER
PROGRAM.
>> SO, IN FACT, IN THE LAST
SCHOOL YEAR, THE PRIVATE SCHOOL
CHOICE PROGRAM COSTS NEARLY 450
MILLION STATE DOLLARS.
WHAT WOULD YOU SAY THAT IS DOING
TO THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM?
>> WELL, THAT'S MONEY BEING
DIRECTLY REMOVED FROM THE PUBLIC
SCHOOLS.
THAT'S MONEY THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
ARE SUPPOSED TO HAVE.
THE STATE OPTIONS WHEN IT SHOWS
HOW TO FUND THIS PROGRAM AND
THEY CHOSE THE ONE THAT WAS MOST
DESTRUCTIVE TO THE TRADITIONAL
PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS, AND
IT'S OUR CONTENTION THAT THIS
AS INTENTIONAL AND IT WAS AN
INTENTIONAL EFFORT TO DEFUND AND
ULTIMATELY DAMAGE PUBLIC
EDUCATION IN WISCONSIN.
>> YOU SAY THE PRIVATE VOUCHER
SCHOOLS DON'T HAVE ADEQUATE
OVERSIGHT OR EDUCATIONAL
STANDARDS, WHICH THEIR ADVOCATES
DISPUTE IN THEIR FILINGS, BUT
WHY WOULD PARENTS THEN CHOOSE
THESE SCHOOLS?
>> I MEAN, I THINK THERE'S SOME
PRETTY SOLID MARKETING EFFORTS
ON BEHALF OF THESE SCHOOLS TO
SUGGEST THAT THEY ARE A BETTER
CHOICE, AND WHILE THEY MAY BE A
BETTER CHOICE FOR SOME STUDENTS,
IT'S CERTAINLY NOT THE MAJORITY
OF STUDENTS.
I THINK IF YOU LOOK TO THE MOST
RECENT TESTING DATA WE SAW
ACROSS THE STATE THAT VOUCHER
STUDENTS SCORED SIGNIFICANTLY
WORSE ON AVERAGE THAN PUBLIC
SCHOOL STUDENTS.
SO IN MOST CASES, THESE ARE NOT
QUALITY SCHOOLS, AND IF YOU LOOK
BACK, YOU KNOW, THROUGHOUT THE
HISTORY OF THIS PROGRAM,
SOMETHING LIKE 40% OF THEM HAD
CLOSED THEIR DOORS ALREADY.
ONLY A 30-YEAR OLD PROGRAM WITH
A 40% FAILURE RATE AND THEN THEY
LEAVE THESE KIDS STRANDED WHO
THEN HAVE TO FIND A PUBLIC
SCHOOL.
THIS HAS NOT BEEN A GOOD
PROGRAM.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WE NEED TO LEAVE IT THERE,
MR. MELMS, THANKS VERY MUCH,
WE'LL BE WATCHING THIS CASE AS
IT PROGRESSES.
>> THANK YOU.
>> SUPPORTERS OF WISCONSIN'S
TAXPAYER FUNDED SCHOOL CHOICE
AND INDEPENDENT CHARTER SCHOOL
PROGRAMS WANT THE STATE SUPREME
COURT TO REJECT THE LAWSUIT,
SAYING ENDING THE PROGRAM WOULD
CREATE CHAOS FOR TENS OF
THOUSANDS FAMILIES WITH STUDENTS
CURRENTLY ENROLLED.
WISCONSIN INSTITUTE FOR LAW AND
LIBERTY ATTORNEY, RICK ESENBERG,
IS ON THE CASE FOR SCHOOL CHOICE
ADVOCATES.
HE JOINS US FROM THE THE MILWAUKEE.
THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THE
PETITIONERS WON THEIR CASE AND
THE PROGRAM FOLDED, TRANSFERRING
PRIVATE SCHOOL STUDENTS BACK IS
THIS.
>> WELL, IT WOULD BE CHAOS FOR
CHILDREN IN THE PROGRAM.
FIRST OF ALL, THEY WOULD BE
DENIED AN EDUCATIONAL
OPPORTUNITY THAT THEY AND THEIR
PARENTS HAVE CHOSEN.
THERE WOULD BE A MASSIVE INFLUX
OF STUDENTS INTO PUBLIC SCHOOLS
WHO ARE NOT CURRENTLY SET UP TO
RECEIVE THEM, AND THE LEGAL
PRINCIPLES THAT WOULD BE
ESTABLISHED BY A DECISION
WOULD HAVE RAMIFICATION FOR HOWE-
WE FINANCE OUR SCHOOLS, IT WOULD
CALL INTO QUESTION EQUALIZATION
AID, IT WOULD CALL INTO QUESTION
A WHOLE VARIETY OF
NONEDUCATIONAL PUBLIC PROGRAMS.
IT WOULD BE REALLY A DISASTER
FOR THE STATE OF WISCONSIN, AND
IT'S SOMETHING THAT I DON'T
BELIEVE OUR COURT'S GOING TO DO.
>> SO IN YOUR COURT FILING, YOU
TOOK GREAT EXCEPTION TO THE
CLAIM THAT CHOICE PROGRAMS WERE
INTENDED TO HURT AND ARE HURTING
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
WHY?
>> WELL, YOU KNOW, WE LIVE IN A
VERY POLARIZED TIME RIGHT NOW,
AND I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE
DON'T REMEMBER THAT, WHEN SCHOOL
CHOICE WAS INITIALLY ENACTED
ABOUT 30 YEARS AGO, IT WAS A
BIPARTISAN PROGRAM.
BOTH DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS
REALIZED, FIRST IN MILWAUKEE,
THAT SCHOOLS WERE NOT SERVING
ALL STUDENTS WELL, AND THAT
EQUITY AND EDUCATIONAL
EFFECTIVENESS WOULD BE SERVED BY
LETTING LOWER INCOME FAMILIES
HAVE THE SAME CHOICE THAT
WEALTHIER FAMILIES HAVE.
AND SO THIS REALLY WAS AN EFFORT
TO HELP KIDS.
WE OFTEN HEAR ABOUT, YOU KNOW,
SCHOOL CHOICE SOMEHOW BEING A
PROFIT -- PROFIT-MAKING
INTERPRIDES, -- ENTERPRISE, AND
IT'S REALLY NOT.
THESE ARE NONPROFIT
INSTITUTIONS.
MOST OF THEM ARE
RELIGIOUSLY-BASED, AND NOBODY'S
MAKING MONEY.
THIS REALLY IS, I THINK,
INTENDED TO GIVE KIDS AN
OPPORTUNITY THAT THEY OTHERWISE
WOULDN'T HAVE.
IT'S NOT TO DESTROY THE PUBLIC
SCHOOLS.
CHOICE ADVOCATES REALIZE MOST
KIDS ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO GO
TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
THIS ISN'T ABOUT SECTOR WARS.
IT'S JUST A RECOGNITION THAT
HUMAN BEINGS ARE DIVERSE, HUMAN
BEINGS ARE DIFFERENT, AND SOME
PEOPLE, SOME KIDS WILL BENEFIT
FROM THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT
CHOICE PROVIDES FOR THEM.
>> STILL, PUBLIC TAX DOLLARS ARE
INCREASINGLY BEING DIVERTED FROM
PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO PRIVATE
SCHOOLS.
HOW DOES THAT NOT HURT THE
PUBLICS?
>> WELL, THEY'RE NOT BEING
DIVERTED.
THE PURPOSE OF PUBLIC TAX
DOLLARS IS NOT TO BENEFIT PUBLIC
SCHOOLS AS AN INSTITUTION; IT'S
TO EDUCATE CHILDREN.
AND THERE ARE LOTS OF SOCIAL
SERVICES THAT THE GOVERNMENT
PROVIDES THAT MAY SOMETIMES BE
PROVIDED BY GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES
AND MAY SOMETIMES BE PROVIDED
BY, YOU KNOW, PRIVATE VENDORS,
HOSPITALS, ADOPTION AGENCIES.
THERE'S A WHOLE HOST OF THEM.
AND SO WHAT HAPPENS IS WHEN A
SCHOOL, WHEN A KID WHO IS BEING
EDUCATED AT PUBLIC EXPENSE,
WE'RE ALL IN FAVOR OF THAT, GOES
TO A PRIVATE SCHOOL, THE TAX
MONEY THAT IS USED TO EDUCATE
HER GOES WITH HER, AND SO
THERE'S NO DIVERSION.
THERE'S JUST CHOICE.
>> SO WITH LESS THAN A HALF A
MINUTE LEFT, HOW WORRIED WERE
YOU THAT THE GOVERNOR EVERS'
ADMINISTRATION AGREED WITH ROBIN
VOS THAT THIS CASE SHOULD START
NOT IN THE HIGH COURT BUT IN
CIRCUIT COURT?
>> YOU KNOW, I GIVE GOVERNOR
EVERS AND GENERAL KAUL CREDIT
FOR THIS.
I KNOW THAT THEY'RE NOT
PROPONENTS OF THE CHOICE PROGRAM
BUT THEY DID THE RIGHT THING
LEGALLY.
THIS IS AN INAPPROPRIATE CASE
FOR AN ORIGINAL ACTION AND THEY
MADE THE RIGHT CALL.
>> OKAY.
WE NEED TO LEAVE IT THERE.
RICK ESENBERG, THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> WISCONSIN REPUBLICAN
LEGISLATIVE LEADERS HAVE REACHED
AN AGREEMENT WITH THE UW OVER
RELEASING BUDGET APPROVED PAY
RAISES, $32 MILLION IN CUTS OVER
DEI PROGRAMS AND FUNDING OF A
NEW ENGINEERING BUILDING AT
UW-MADISON.
A NOTE, PBS WISCONSIN IS PART OF
UW-MADISON.
THE DEAL INCLUDES ENACTING THE
4% SALARY INCREASES FOR 35,000
UW STAFF.
THE RELEASE OF 32 MILLION STATE
DOLLARS HELD BACK OVER DIVERSITY
PROGRAMS, AND FUNDING FOR A NEW
UW MADISON ENGINEERING BUILDING.
IN RETURN, THE UNIVERSITY AGREES
TO A FREEZE IN THE NUMBER OF DEI
POSITIONS, WITH A THIRD OF THOSE
JOBS TO FOCUS ON ACADEMIC
SUCCESS AND THE CREATION OF AN
ENDOWED SHARE POSITION TO FOCUS
ON CONSERVATIVE POLITICAL
THOUGHT.
>> TODAY'S AGREEMENT REFLECTS
WHAT WE BELIEVE TO BE IN THE
BEST INTERESTS OF THE
UNIVERSITIES OF WISCONSIN AND
ALL WISCONSINITES TO FIND A PATH
FORWARD ON THE ISSUE THE SPEAKER
HAS RAISED IN A WAY THAT ENABLES
ALL OF OUR UNIVERSITIES TO
BETTER SERVE STUDENTS AND THE
PUBLIC UNDER THE CURRENT
CIRCUMSTANCES.
>> IN ANOTHER WIN FOR ABORTION
ADVOCATES, A WISCONSIN JUDGE
RULED THIS WEEK THAT A 175-YEAR
OLD LAW ON WISCONSIN'S BOOKS
DOES NOT BAN CONSENSUAL
ABORTIONS.
THE RULING FROM DANE COUNTY
CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE DIANE
SCHLIPPER WAS A DECLARATORY
JUDGMENT SOLIDIFYING HER
INTERPRETATION OF THE LAW.
SHEBOYGAN COUNTY DISTRICT
ATTORNEY JOEL URMANSKI, A
REPUBLICAN AND A DEFENDANT IN
THE CASE, SAYS HE PLANS TO
APPEAL.
>>> IN OTHER NEWS, AS PART OF
OUR END-OF-YEAR INTERVIEWS WITH
LEGISLATIVE LEADERS, SENIOR
POLITICAL REPORTER, ZAC SCHULTZ,
TALKED WITH REPUBLICAN SENATE
DISWRORTMAJORITY LEADER DEVIN
LeMAHIEU.
>> GIVE ME YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON
THE LAST YEAR STARTING WITH THE
BUDGET, THE BIG BILL OF THE
YEAR.
HOW DO YOU THINK THAT
EVERYTHING'S UNFOLDED FOUAD.
>> I THINK WE GOT A LOT OF GOOD
THINGS DONE THIS LAST YEAR IN
2023.
THE SHARED REVENUE BILL FOR
LOCAL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT,
SCHOOL FUNDING, SCHOOL CHOICE
EXPANSION, A BUDGET THAT COULD
HAVE BEEN BETTER IF THE GOVERNOR
WOULDN'T HAVE ISSUED A COUPLE OF
VETOES, BUT -- AND THEN THIS
FALL, PASSING -- YOU KNOW,
KEEPING THE BREWERS AROUND FOR
ANOTHER 20 YEARS AND WE GOT A
LOT OF GOOD BILLS DONE.
>> A YEAR AGO, THERE WAS A LOT
OF TALK ABOUT A RESET WITH THE
GOVERNOR.
THERE HAVE BEEN SOME GOOD
MOMENTS WITH THE GOVERNOR, WE
JUST TALKED ABOUT.
THERE HAVE BEEN SOME OTHER
MOMENTS WHERE THE SENATE AS
REJECT SOME OF HIS APPOINTMENTS,
THERE HAVE BEEN SOME OTHER
CONTROVERSIES.
HOW DO YOU FEEL YOUR
RELATIONSHIP IS WITH THE
ADMINISTRATION RIGHT NOW?
>> SINCE THE BUDGET, WE HAVEN'T
COMMUNICATED A WHOLE LOT,
UNFORTUNATELY, BUT I GUESS
WORKED SOMEWHAT WITH THE
GOVERNOR'S OFFICE ON THE BREWERS
BILL TO MAKE SURE THAT HE WAS
COMFORTABLE WITH IT AND
OBVIOUSLY HE REALLY WANTED TO
GET IT DONE, BUT IT'S
UNFORTUNATE HE KEEPS VETOING TAX
CUTS WHEN WE HAVE SUCH A LARGE
SURPLUS OF TAXPAYER MONEY THAT
WE COULD BE GIVING IT BACK TO
THEM.
>> SPEAKING OF THE TAX CUTS THAT
HAVE BEEN PASSED AND VETOED
TWICE, YOU HAVE BEEN ABLE TO
WORK WITH THE GOVERNOR ON OTHER
ISSUES.
IS THERE ANY ROOM TO SIT DOWN
TOE TABLE AND FIND COMPROMISE ON
WHAT HE MIGHT BE WILLING TO
SIGN?
>> I DON'T EVEN -- I MEAN, IF
IT'S SOME WISH LIST OF HIS, LIKE
THINGS THAT DON'T MAKE SENSE,
IT'S NOT WORTH DOING A TAX CUT
BUT HE WAS FOR REDUCING THAT TAX
BRACKET IN THE -- BEFORE HE RAN
FOR RE-ELECTION, AND AS YOU
SAID, AS PART OF HIS RE-ELECTION
TACTICS, NOW APPARENTLY IT'S NOT -- IT'S A WEALTHY TAX CUT,
WHICH STARTS AT 24,000 WHEN YOU
FILE INDIVIDUALLY, THAT TAX
RATE, AND 36,000 MARRIED FILING
JOINTLY.
SO IT'S REALLY UNFORTUNATE THAT
HE SORT OF FLIPPED HIS IDEA OF
THAT BEING OF GOOD WAY TO REDUCE
TAXES IN THE STATE OF WISCONSIN.
>> WHEN YOU LOOK AHEAD TO THE
NEXT YEAR, WHAT BILLS ARE A
PRIORITY FOR YOU?
>> I THINK THERE'S TWO BILLS
THAT HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET DONE
YET VERSUS THE RIGHT OF FIRST
REFUSAL TO ALLOW WISCONSIN
COMPANIES THE RIGHT TO BUILD NEW
TRANSMISSION LINES FIRST, KEEP
THAT WORK DONE HERE IN
WISCONSIN, IS GOING TO SAVE RATE
PAYERS MONEY, SO HOPEFULLY WE
CAN GET THAT DONE.
THEN THERE'S ELECTRIC VEHICLE
CHARGING BILL THAT WAS JUST
INTRODUCED.
I THINK THAT BILL WILL BE VITAL
TO EXPAND CHARGING STATIONS
AROUND THE STATE OF WISCONSIN AS
THERE ARE MORE AND MORE ELECTRIC
VEHICLES.
>> IN TERMS OF ELECTION BILLS,
ARE THERE ANY BILLS OUT THERE
THAT YOU THINK THE GOVERNOR WILL
SIGN SPECIFICALLY SOME OF THE
EARLY COUNTING BILLS THAT HAVE
BEEN PROPOSED IN THE PAST?
>> WELL, THERE WAS A TIME WHEN I
ACTUALLY AUTHORED THAT BILL A
COUPLE OF SESSIONS AGO, BUT I'M
NOT SURE THAT BILL IS AT THE
SENATE RIGHT NOW.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT WILL MOVE OR
NOT, BUT, YOU KNOW, IT'S
IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THAT SOME
OF THE BIGGER CITIES ACTUALLY
GET THEIR VOTES COUNTED ON TIME.
>> WHAT ARE THE OTHER BIG THINGS
THAT HAPPENED THIS YEAR,
OBVIOUSLY, WAS THE SUPREME COURT
ELECTION AND A SHIFT IN THE
BALANCE AND POWER THERE.
HOW MUCH DOES THAT WEIGH ON YOUR
CAUCUS WHEN IT COMES TO EITHER
THE BILLS THAT YOU'RE PROPOSING
OR OBVIOUSLY LOOKING AHEAD TO
POSSIBLE NEW MAPS NEXT YEAR?
>> I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF
CONCERN IN OUR CAUCUS, AND
AMONGST MYSELF THAT, YOU KNOW,
EVERYTHING THAT WE'VE DONE FOR
ME FOR EIGHT YEARS AND OTHER
PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN AROUND
LONGER, FOR THE LAST DECADE, 12
YEARS, ALL OF THE REFORMS THAT
WE'VE PASSED COULD BE UNDONE BY,
DEPENDING ON HOW ACTIVIST THIS
COURT ACTUALLY BECOMES, AND, YOU
KNOW, IT'S EARLY ON, BUT YOU CAN
TELL THE FIRST THING THAT THEY
DID WAS CHALLENGE OUR MAPS, THAT
SHE WAS SWORN INTO OFFICE, SO
THAT'S -- IT'S REALLY
UNFORTUNATE THAT IT SEEMS LIKE
WITH THE GOVERNOR'S LAWSUIT
TRYING TO -- SUING US, OUR JOINT
COMMITTEES, THAT WE HAVE TWO
BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT TRYING TO
BOX OUT THE LEGISLATIVE BRONCHOG BRANCH.
WE'RE COEQUAL BRANCHES OF
GOVERNMENT AND WE LOOK FORWARD
TO GETTING BILLS DONE.
>> ONE OF THE BIG THINGS NEXT
YEAR IS THE CONVENTION COMING TO
MILWAUKEE.
WHAT DO YOU THINK THAT IMPACT
WILL BE FOR THE REST OF THE
STATE ALL THE WAY IN THE FALL?
>> YOU KNOW, I THINK IT WILL BE
GOOD -- IT WOULD HAVE BEEN GREAT
IF WE HAD THE DNC CONVENTION IN
2020, JUST TO HIGHLIGHT
MILWAUKEE AND THE GREAT STATE
THAT WE ARE.
IT WILL BE EXCITING TO HAVE ALL
OF THE CAMERAS ON ON THE CITY OF
MILWAUKEE AND HIGHLIGHT THE GOOD
STATE OF WISCONSIN.
>> BUT AS FAR AS AN ELECTORAL
BOOST, YOU THINK THAT CAN CHANGE
MINDS IN MILWAUKEE, THE SUBURBS,
OR INITIALS IN THE STATE?
>> I'M NOT SURE IF THAT WILL
HAPPEN.
IT'S GOING TO BE UP TO WHOEVER
THE NOMINEE IS TO DO THAT.
WE'LL BE WORKING HARD TOE
GRASSROOTS REVEL IN THE SENATE.
I THINK WE'VE BEEN VERY
SUCCESSFUL FINDING -- THIS LAST
SESSION, WE HAD A LOT OF OPEN
SEATS THAT WERE CLOSE AND WE
FOUND GOOD CANDIDATES AND -- WHO
CONNECTED WITH THEIR DISTRICTS
AND THAT'S HOW WE PICKED UP A
SEAT AND GOT TO A TWO-THIRDS
MAJORITY.
IT WILL BE MY JOB TO HELP FIND A
GOOD QUALIFIED CANDIDATES IF WE
HAVE NEW MAPS OR IF SOME OF OUR
MEMBERS DECIDE NOT TO RUN AGAIN.
BUT I THINK A LOT, IF THINGS --
JUST THE EVEN SET DISTRICTS ARE
UP, I THINK A LOT OF THOSE
SENATORS WILL PROBABLY RUN
AGAIN.
BUT WE'LL SEE.
>> DO YOU HOPE THAT DONALD TRUMP
IS THE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE?
>> I'LL LET THE VOTERS DECIDE ON
THAT.
I'M A BIG FAN OF NIKKI HALEY.
I THINK SHE WOULD BE A NICE
CONTRAST TO PRESIDENT BIDEN, BUT
THAT'S FOR THE VOTERS TO DECIDE.
>> SENATE MAJORITY LEADER,
THANKS FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> IN EDUCATION, A CRITICAL
SHORTAGE OF SCHOOL THERAPISTS IS
PLAGUING DISTRICTS ACROSS THE
COUNTRY AS MENTAL HEALTH
CHALLENGES FOR STUDENTS SURGE.
SEEING THE NEED, EDUCATORS AND
STUDENTS IN WISCONSIN ARE
FINDING WAYS TO BRIDGE THE GAP.
STEVEN POTTER HAS MORE.
>> I THINK EVERY SCHOOL
PRINCIPAL WOULD LOVE TO HAVE
MORE MENTAL HEALTH
PROFESSIONALS.
>> DESPITE HAVING A HANDFUL OF
PSYCHOLOGIST, A PSYCHOLOGIST AND
SOCIAL WORKER ON STAFF, ANDY
FARLEY, PRINCIPAL OF BROOKFIELD
EAST HIGH SCHOOL, SAYS THEY
STILL HAVE TROUBLE MEETING THE
MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS OF THEIR
1,400 STUDENTS.
>> IT'S NEVER GOING TO BE
ENOUGH.
>> FARLEY KNOWS FIRSTHAND HOW
DEVASTATING STUDENT MENTAL
HEALTH PROBLEMS CAN BECOME.
A FEW YEARS BACK, A NUMBER OF
STUDENTS AT BROOKFIELD EAST HIGH
SCHOOL DIED FROM SUICIDE.
>> INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT.
INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT AT OUR
SCHOOL LEVEL, INCREDIBLY
DIFFICULT AT OUR COMMUNITY
LEVEL.
WE ALL KNEW WE HAD TO DO
SOMETHING.
>> Reporter: THEY CREATED A
LOCAL CHAPTER OF THE NATIONAL
STUDENT LED MENTAL HEALTH
SUPPORT NETWORK CALLED THE HOPE
SQUAD.
>> DOES ANYONE WANT TO SHARE
ABOUT SOME OF THE POSITIVES?
>> Reporter: ON A WEEKLY
BASIS, THESE SCHOOL'S 60 STUDENT
MEMBERS DISCUSS NEW STRATEGIES
TO HELP THEIR CLASSMATES STAY
MENTALLY HEALTHY, FROM THE
IMPORTANCE OF GETTING ENOUGH
SLEEP AND SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL
LEARNING TECHNIQUES TO
RECOGNIZING SUICIDE WARNING
SIGNS.
BROOKFIELD EAST SOPHOMORE, LEDRA
ASHENBRENNER, IS A HOPE SQUAD
MEMBER.
>> FROM A STUDENT STANDPOINT, WE
ARE THE EYES AND EARS OF THE
SCHOOL.
WE BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN
STUDENTS AND CITY COUNCILORS AND
STUDENTS AND TEACHERS BECAUSE
RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT STUDENTS
ARE MORE LIKELY TO GO TO THEIR
PEERS IF THEE HAVING AN ISSUE
THAT THEY NEED HELP WITH.
>> 20% OF KIDS HAVE SOME TYPE OF
BEHAVIORAL OR SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL
CONCERN.
>> Reporter: KATIE EKLUND IS A
PROFESSOR OF SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGY
AT UW-MADISON.
>> OUT OF THAT GROUP, ONLY 20%
OF THOSE KIDS ACTUALLY RECEIVE
THAT SUPPORT.
>> Reporter: SHE WORKS TO FIND
SOLUTIONS TO THE INCREASING
RATES OF YOUNG CHILDREN
SUFFERING FROM ANXIETY AND
DEPRESSION, INCLUDING THOSE
HARMING THEMSELVES OR
CONSIDERING SUICIDE.
>> WE SEE OFTEN BY THE TIME KIDS
GET TO HIGH SCHOOL, WE SEE KIDS
NOT COMING TO SCHOOL, WE SEE
LOWER GRADES, WE SEE HIGHER
INCIDENTS IN THE JUVENILE
JUSTICE SYSTEM AND JUST LOWER,
POOR PSYCHOSOCIAL OUTCOMES
THROUGHOUT LIFE.
>> Reporter: EKLUND SAYS THAT
CHILDREN AREN'T GETTING THE HELP
THEY NEED BECAUSE OF A SHORTAGE
OF MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS,
SUCH AS THERAPISTS, COUNSELORS
AND SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS.
ACCORDING TO STATISTICS, 7% OF
PUBLIC SCHOOLS SAY MORE SCHOOLS
ARE SEEKING MENTAL HEALTH
SERVICES BUT 87% OF THOSE
SCHOOLS SAY THEY CAN'T PROVIDE
SUCH SERVICE TO ALL OF THE
STUDENTS IN NEED.
EKLUND AND HER COLLEAGUES,
HOWEVER, HAVE A PLAN AND NEW
RESOURCES TO ADDRESS THIS
SHORTAGE WITH A $10 MILLION
GRANT FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT
OF EDUCATION.
>> IT'S DESIGNED TO DECREASE THE
PIPELINE OF SCHOOL
PSYCHOLOGISTS, SCHOOL COUNSELORS
WHO ARE WORKING IN K THROUGH 12
SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.
>> SHE SAYS THE NEED SPEAKS FOR
ITSELF.
>> IN 2018, WE HAD 60 TO 70
UNFILLED POSITIONS ACROSS THE
STATE OF SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS.
WE ANTICIPATE THAT COUNSELORS
ARE EXPERIENCING SIMILAR
SHOARNLINGS, BOTH HERE IN THE
STATE AND IN THE COUNTRY AND
THAT THOSE SHORTAGES HAVE ONLY
INCREASED OVER THE LAST FIVE
YEARS.
>> WHILE EVERYONE FROM SCHOOL
ADMINISTRATORS TO THE STUDENTS
THEMSELVES AGREE THAT MORE
MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS ARE
NEEDED IN SCHOOLS, THEY WOULD
STILL NEED TO BE PAID, AND
THAT'S WHERE THE STATE
LEGISLATURE CAN COME IN.
DEMOCRATIC STATE REPRESENTATIVE
ROBYN VINING HAS INTRODUCED A
PACKAGE OF BILLS AIMED AT
INCREASING IF YOU COULD FUNDING FOR K THROUGH
12.
>> WE KNOW THERE'S A MENTAL
HEALTHCARE CRISIS.
WE KNOW THAT.
AND SO WE CANNOT LOOK AWAY.
I DON'T BELIEVE THAT WE CAN MOVE
FORWARD RIGHT NOW WITHOUT ACTING
ON MENTAL HEALTHCARE.
>> Reporter: ONE OF THE BILLS
WOULD INCREASE SPENDING ON
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IN THE
STATE'S SCHOOL SYSTEM BY $100
MILLION PER YEAR.
>> WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CHILDREN
WHO ARE EXPERIENCING ANXIETY,
DEPRESSION, SUICIDALLITY, AND
WE'RE TRYING TO GET
PROFESSIONALS TO BE AVAILABLE TO
WORK WITH THEM, TO HELP THEM
SURVIVE THIS VERY DIFFICULT
STAGE OF LIFE.
>> Reporter: AND SO, AT THE
LOCAL, STATE AND NATIONAL LEVEL,
WISCONSIN IS WORKING TO RESPOND
TO THE GROWING MENTAL HEALTH
NEEDS OF ITS YOUNGEST
POPULATIONS.
REPORTING FOR HERE AND NOW, FROM
BROOKFIELD, I'M STEVEN POTTER.
>> IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW
NEEDS MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES,
DIAL 9-8-8 FOR THE WISCONSIN
SUICIDE AND CRISIS LIFELINE.
FOR MORE ON THIS AND OTHER
ISSUES FACING WISCONSIN, VISIT
OUR WEBSITE AT PBSWISCONSIN.ORG
AND THEN CLICK ON THE NEWS TAB.
THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE & NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.