>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION.
>> I'M HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT
SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T GET
ENOUGH ATTENTION.
I'M HERE TO CELEBRATE THE
PROGRESS WE'RE MAKING IN SUPPORT
OF BLACK SMALL BUSINESSES HERE
AND AROUND THE COUNTRY.
>> A MILWAUKEE VISIT FROM
DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN
FORESHADOWS THE POLITICAL
LANDSCAPE TO COME IN 2024 AS
WISCONSIN REPUBLICANS MAKE PLANS
TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF BOTH
CHAMBERS.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW," BIG
BREAKING NEWS FROM THE WISCONSIN
SUPREME COURT ON REDISTRICTING
MAPS.
SPEAKER VOS SAYS REPUBLICANS ARE
GOING TO WIN IN 2024 BECAUSE OF
BETTER CANDIDATES.
THEN, DETAILS ON A NEW TRIBAL
TUITION PROMISE AT UW-MADISON,
AND THE HEAD OF THE STATE
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AGENCY SAYS
BIG TECH IS COMING TO WISCONSIN.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR DECEMBER
22.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.
>> THE WISCONSIN SUPREME COURT
RELEASED ITS RULING THIS
AFTERNOON OVERTURNING
WISCONSIN'S VOTING MAPS.
THE VOTE WAS 4-3 WITH
CONSERVATIVE JUSTICES
DISSENTING.
THE LIBERAL MAJORITY ORDERED NEW
MAPS BASED ON THE
CONTIGUOUSUITY.
THE NUMBER OF STATE LEGISLATIVE
DISTRICTS CONTAINING TERRITORY
COMPLETELY DISCONNECTED FROM THE
REST OF THE DISTRICT IS
STRIKING.
AT LEAST 50 OF THE 99 ASSEMBLY
DISTRICTS AND AT LEAST 20 OF THE
33 SENATE DISTRICTS INCLUDE
SEPARATE DETACHED TERRITORY.
IN DISSENT, CHIEF JUSTICE
ANNETTE ZEIGLER SAID, QUOTE,
THIS DEAL WAS SEALED ON ELECTION
NIGHT.
FOUR JUSTICES REMAP WISCONSIN,
EVEN THOUGH THIS CONSTITUTIONAL
RESPONSIBILITY IS TO OCCUR EVERY
10 YEARS AFTER A CENSUS.
BY THE OTHER TWO BRANCHES OF
GOVERNMENT.
CONTENTIOUS, TO BE SURE.
SENIOR POLITICAL REPORTER, ZAC
SCHULTZ, JOINS US WITH DETAILS.
ZAC, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH
US.
>> MY PLEASURE.
>> SO THE COURT RULED DETACHED
TERRITORY OR THE CONTIGUOUSNESS
OF THE MAPS VIOLATES THE STATE
CONSTITUTION.
DESCRIBE WHY.
>> PART OF AN OLD TOWNSHIP WHEN
A CITY INCORPORATES AND GRABS A
SUBDIVISION, IT WOULD LEAVE A
LITTLE ISLAND THAT BELONGED TO
AN OLD TOWNSHIP, AND UNDER THE
MAPS, AND FOR THE PAST FEW
DECADES, THEY'VE LEFT THOSE WITH
THE OTHER TOWNSHIP, AND IF THOSE
HAPPENED ON THE DIVIDING LINES
OF AN ASSEMBLY DISTRICT, PART OF
THAT ISLAND GOES WITH THE OTHER
DISTRICT.
PAST COURTS HAVE RULED THAT THAT
IS OKAY.
THIS COURT SET PRECEDENT GOING
BACK TO THE 1800s, WHEN THEY
SAID THAT CONTIGUOUS MEANS
CONTIGUOUS.
>>> WHAT ELSE STOOD OUT?
>> IT WAS THE TIME LINE OF THIS
AND THE FACT THAT THEY'RE
GETTING AWAY FROM LEASED CHANGE.
THAT WAS THE CRITERIA THAT THE
LAST COURT INVENTED FOR WHICH
THEY WOULD CONSIDER THESE MAPS,
SAYING THAT THEY WANTED TO
CHANGE THEM AS LITTLE AS
POSSIBLE.
THIS COURT SAID THIS CHANGE IS
NOT A FACTOR, WE DON'T THINK IT
SHOULD BE USED, IT WILL BE
THROWN OUT.
THIS COURT HAS DECIDED THAT
THEET GIVE THE LEGISLATURE
THEY'RE GOING TO GIVE THE
LEGISLATURE A CHANCE TO DRAW THE
MAPS AND SEE IF THEY CAN COME UP
W DEAL WITH THE GOVERNOR.
THAT'S UNLIKELY.
>> WHO DRAWS THE MAPS?
>> THERE ARE TWO ROUTES.
LEGISLATURE HAS THE OPTION OF
PASSING LEGISLATURE.
THOSE WILL SUPERSEDE ANYTHING
AND THEY'LL GO INTO PLACE.
SINCE WE KNOW THAT'S PROBABLY
NOT GOING TO HAPPEN GIVEN THE
POLITICAL REALITY WE'RE IN, THE
COURT HAS SAID THAT THEY WILL
HIRE CONSULTANTS TO HELP LOOK
AND APPRAISE DIFFERENT MAPS THAT
ARE BROUGHT TO THEM AND
PRESENTED TO THEM.
>> DO ALL 132 LEGISLATORS HAVE
TO STAND FOR ELECTION UNDER NEW
MAPS?
>> NO.
WHAT THEY ALSO RULED IS THAT
úSENATORS ELECTED UNDER THE OLD
MAPS JUST TWO YEARS AGO WILL NOT
HAVE TO GO UP AGAIN UNTIL A.E.D.
26.
>> SO MEANWHILE, THE COURT ALSO
SET A JANUARY 12 DEADLINE TO
SUBMIT THESE NEW MAPS.
TALK ABOUT FAST-TRACKED.
>> THIS HAS BEEN FAST-TRACKED
FROM THE BEGINNING OF THIS
LAWSUIT BEING FILED THE DAY THAT
JUSTICE PROTASIEWICZ WAS SWORN
IN ALL THE WAY TO ORAL
ARGUMENTS, THIS DECISION COMING
OUT IN JANUARY UNPRECEDENTED.
CANDIDATES CAN FILE IN THESE NEW
DISTRICTS IN APRIL, SO THEY HAVE
TO MOVE ON A FAST TIME LINE,
WHICH IS WHY WE'RE SEEING THE
COURT SAY WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS
AT THE SAME TIME THE LEGISLATURE
CAN BECAUSE WE DON'T TRUST THEM
TO GET IT DONE ON TIME.
>> THEY'RE HIRING THESE
CONSULTANTS TO HELP THEM DO
THIS, AND KNOWING WHAT WE KNOW
ABOUT HOW THIS STATE WORKS RIGHT
NOW, I CAN'T IMAGINE THAT ALL OF
THESE PIECES CAN COME TOGETHER
IN TIME FOR THE NEXT YEAR'S
ELECTIONS.
>> WELL, THEY HAVE TO, AND
THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS EVERY 10
YEARS EVERYWHERE ELSE.
IT WILL GET DONE.
IT'S JUST PEOPLE WILL BE SAYING
THAT THEY'RE JUST AS BIASED IN A
DIFFERENT WAY AS THE LAST MAPS
WERE BIASED.
>> THANK YOU, ZAC.
ROBIN VOS SAYS HE EXPECTS THIS
CASE TO HEAD TO THE U.S. SUPREME
COURT.
ZAC SPOKE WITH THE SPEAKER PRIOR
TO THE MAP'S RULING THIS WEEK ON
A VARIETY OF ISSUES.
LOOKING BACK AT THE LAST YEAR
AND WHAT'S TO COME IN 2024.
>> WRAP UP 2023 FOR ME.
HOW DO YOU FEEL THE YEAR WENT
FOR LEGISLATURE?
>> I THINK BY AND LARGE, THERE
WERE AN AWFUL LOT OF SUCCESSES.
IF YOU GO ALL THE WAY BACK, WE
HAVE SEEN SOME THINGS WHERE IT'S
OBVIOUS BECAUSE WE HAD A LOT OF
COVERAGE WHERE WE HAD A GOOD
DEAL ON SHARED REVENUE.
THE FIRST MAJOR INCREASE IN A
GENERATION.
WE HAD A LOT OF MONDAY GO INTO
TRYING TO CREATE MORE HOUSING IN
WISCONSIN.
WE HAD THE STATE BUDGET WHICH
INVESTED IN EVERYTHING FROM
SCHOOLS TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS,
AND IN ADDITION TO THAT, HAD
GOOD INCREASES FOR OUR WORKERS
WHO WORK AT THE STATE, LIKE
PRISON GUARDS.
WE HAD SOME SEPARATE BILLS THAT
DIDN'T GET AS MUCH COVERAGE.
ONE THAT I'M REALLY PROUD OF,
INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF FUNDING
FOR LITERACY, BECAUSE WE KNOW
THAT IF YOUNG PEOPLE DON'T READ
AT GRADE LEVEL, THEY'RE
SIGNIFICANTLY LESS LYING TO
GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL AND GO
ON TO COLLEGE.
WE HAD A BILL THAT ACTUALLY
WORKED ITS WAY THROUGH THE
PROCESS THAT DEALT WITH CRIMINAL
JUSTICE.
SO WE HAD A LOT OF GOOD THINGS
THAT HAPPENED THROUGHOUT
WISCONSIN.
WE HAD SOME THINGS THAT WERE
DISAPPOINTING THAT WE DIDN'T GET
ACROSS THE FINISH LINE.
THERE WERE STILL SOME THINGS
WAITING.
WE STRONGLY SUPPORTED TO MAKE
BIRTH CONTROL AVAILABLE
OVER-THE-COUNTER SO WE DON'T
HAVE A NEED FOR AS MANY
ABORTIONS IN WISCONSIN.
STALLED IN THE SENATE, BUT
HOPEFULLY THEY'LL GET IT ACROSS
THE FINISH LINE.
WE HAD A BILL THAT DEALT WITH
PROCESSING BALLOTS ON MONDAY SO
WE DONE HAVE LATE NIGHT BALLOT
DUMPS.
HOPEFULLY THAT WILL PASS IN THE
STATE SENATE.
>> YOU MENTIONED ONE OF THE
SUCCESSES JUST A LITTLE BIT AGO
IN THE BUDGET, THE RAISES, AND
IT TOOK UNTIL JUST THIS WEEK FOR
THE UW PORTION OF THOSE RAISES
TO BE THROUGH.
THEY WERE NEGOTIATED THE FIRST
TIME.
DO YOU FEEL THAT YOU HAD
LEVERAGE TO NEGOTIATE OVER THOSE
A SECOND TIME AND IS THAT PART
OF THE LAWSUIT THAT GOVERNOR
EVERS HAS FILED TO TRY AND STOP
SOME OF THE OVERSIGHT THAT THE
LEGISLATURE HAS?
>> WELL, AGAIN, THIS IS WHERE
PEOPLE TRY TO REWRITE HISTORY.
IT'S BEEN VERY COMMON THAT THE
LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE DOES NOT
APPROVE THE FINAL PRODUCT UNTIL
SOME TIME IN THE FALL, SO WE'RE
IN THE NORMAL TIME LINE.
THAT IS A BOGUS ARGUMENT.
IT'S ALSO TRUE THAT THE
LEGISLATURE HAS THE ABILITY TO
GO THROUGH THE PLAN WHERE THEY
GIVE US A WHOLE BUNCH OF CHANGES
AS TO THE WAY THEY WANT TO PAY
EMPLOYEES, WHAT INSURANCE LOOKS
LIKE, WHAT HAPPENS WITH
DIFFERENT RULES FOR REGULATING
THE WORKPLACE, ALL THOSE THINGS
HAPPEN, AND IT'S VERY COMMON FOR
US TO DO IT.
>> BUT YOU DID SEPARATE OUT THE
RAISES, THE STATE WORKER RAISES
FROM THE UW RAISES AND THEN YOU
SAID I'M NOT APPROVING THOSE
UNTIL I GET MORE CHANGES.
ISN'T THAT A SECOND SET OF
NEGOTIATION?
>> NO.
THAT'S THE WAY THAT WE NORMALLY
HAVE DONE THINGS.
AGAIN, THERE WERE A LOT OF
THINGS THAT WORKED THEIR WAY
THROUGH THE PROCESS.
THEY WANTED AN ENGINEERING
BUILDING, THEY WANTED MORE MONEY
FOR PROGRAMS.
THOSE WERE ALL THINGS THAT WERE
PART OF THE PROCESS, TOO, AND
THAT'S A NORMAL WAY WE
NEGOTIATE.
WE TRY TO FIND A CONSENSUS.
I GIVE PRESIDENT TO PRESIDENT
ROTHMAN AND THE CHANCELLORS.
THEY NEGOTIATED IN GOOD FAITH.
THEY DIDN'T GIVE ME SNEER AS
MUCH AS I WANTED BUT WE GAVE
THEM THINGS THAT THEY WANTED.
THAT'S WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS MORE
OF IS CONSENSUS AND COMPROMISE,
NOT "IF I DON'T GET IT MY WAY
EXACTLY I'M GOING TO SUE," OR IF
I DON'T FIND A WAY TO GET TO AN
ANSWER THAT ONLY I CAN SUPPORT,
WE DO NOTHING."
>> SPEAKING OF THE BOARD OF
REGENTS, HOW DO YOU INTERPRET
THOSE TWO VOTES?
WHAT CHANGED FROM THE FIRST TO
THE SECOND?
>> YOU'D HAVE TO ASK THEM.
INVOLVED.
WE NEGOTIATED FOR MONTHS.
I KNOW THAT THE CHANCELLORS AND
PRESIDENT ROTHMAN WERE IN
CONSTANT COMMUNICATION WITH THE
REGENTS.
I CAN'T IMAGINE THEY CAME TO US
AND SAY WE COULDN'T HAVE A DEAL
IF WE HADN'T RUN THEM BY THE
REGENTS.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT
GOVERNOR EVERS AND HIS STAFF
WERE ACTIVELY TRYING TO KILL THE
DEAL MULTIPLE TIMES.
THEY DIDN'T WANT CONSENSUS.
I DON'T KNOW WHY, BUT THEY
DIDN'T WANT CONSENSUS.
ULTIMATELY, EVEN THE GOVERNOR'S
OWN REGENTS IGNORED HIS WISHES
AND DID THE RIGHT THING, SO I
DON'T KNOW WHY IT HAPPENED, BUT
THE RIGHT THING HAPPENED AT THE
END.
>> REGARDING DEI IN THE UW
SYSTEM, WHAT WILL CHANGE WITH
THIS DEAL AND ARE YOU CERTAIN
THAT THIS WILL ROUTE OUT DEI AS
YOU'VE REQUESTED, OR JUST GIVE
IT A NAME?
>> NO.
IT'S A START.
LET'S JUST TAKE ONE EXAMPLE,
ZAC, THAT'S GOTTEN AN AWFUL LOT
OF -- NOT ENOUGH COVERAGE.
IN THE 1940s AND '50s, WE
HAD A PROBLEM WHERE THERE WAS
PERVASIVE RACISM FOR
APPLICATIONS INTO THE UNIVERSITY
SYSTEM.
RIGHT?
IF YOU DIDN'T HAVE THE RIGHT
SKIN COLOR OR PERHAPS THE RIGHT
GENDER, YOU DIDN'T HAVE A CHANCE
TO GET INTO THE UNIVERSITY.
SMART PEOPLE AT THE TIME DECIDED
THAT WE WERE GOING TO DO THE
S.A.T. AND A.C.T. TESTS OVER
TIME SO THAT THE BEST QUALIFIED
PEOPLE GET TO THE UNIVERSITY AND
ARE ADMITTED ON THEIR GOD-GIVEN
ABILITY.
THAT'S THE NORM FOR OUR SOCIETY.
IT'S RIDER THAT EVERY STUDENT
TAKE THE A.C.T. TEST.
ALL OF A SUDDEN COVID COMES AND
THEY COULDN'T GATHER FOR THE
TEST AND THE UNIVERSITY DECIDES
WE'RE NO LONGER GOING TO USE
STANDARDIZED TESTING.
WE'RE GOING TO LET PEOPLE WRITE
AN ESSAY.
WELL, THAT'S WHAT THEY DID IN
THE 1940s AND '50s WHEN THEY
HAD INSTITUTIONAL RACISM AND NOW
WE'RE DOING THE OPPOSITE WHERE
WE'RE SAYING YOU CAN BE THE
SMARTEST KID, BUT IF YOU DON'T
HAVE THE RIGHT CODE WORDS,
YOU'RE NOT ADMITTED INTO ONE OF
THE UNIVERSITIES.
THAT'S AWFUL.
SO WE WANT TO PUT THE A.C.T.
BACK IN.
THEY SAID ABSOLUTELY NOT, SO WE
COMPROMISED AND SAID WE'RE GOING
TO TAKE THE TOP 5% OF STUDENTS
ADMITTANCE FROM ANY SCHOOL IN
WISCONSIN, TOP 10% FOR ANYBODY
BUT MADISON.
THAT'S A GOOD COMPROMISE THAT
WINS FOR EVERY PART SO THAT IF
THEY HAVE SMART KIDS, YOU DON'T
HAVE TO GO TO ANOTHER STATE TO
BE ACCEPTED.
THAT'S A WIN.
A LOT OF THE THINGS WE DID WERE
GOOD COMMON SENSE MIDDLE GROUND
FINDING WAYS TO GET TO AN ANSWER
THAT SHOW THAT DEI ISN'T ABOUT
DIVERSIFYING THE CAMPUS.
THAT'S WHAT WE BELIEVE IN.
WE ACTUALLY WANT MORE DIVERSITY.
I WANT PEOPLE COMING INTO THE
CAMPUS NO MATTER WHAT COLOR OR
RACE YOU ARE.
WHAT THEY WANT IS PEOPLE GIVING
SPECIAL PRIVILEGES BASED ON
CERTAIN CATEGORIES THAT THEY
LIKE.
WELL, THAT'S NOT THE WAY THE
WORLD SHOULD BE.
SO DIVERSITY IS WHAT WE SUPPORT,
BUT DIVISION, SECLUSION AND
INDOCTRINATION, WHICH IS WHAT
IT'S BECOME, IS WHAT WE'RE
OPPOSED TO.
>> SO HOW DO YOU WIN THE P.R.
BATTLE WHEN IT COMES TO PEOPLE
WHO HAS HEADLINES AND SEE
REPUBLICANS ARE OPPOSED TO
THINGS THAT WILL HELP EVEN OUT
THE PLAYING FIELD FOR BLACK
PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN
MARGINALIZED OR DISCRIMINATED
AGAINST IN THE PAST, WHEN
THOSE --
>> BUT IT DOESN'T EVEN OUT THE
PLAYING FIELD.
IT GIVES PEOPLE A ESPECIALLY
AVANTAGE, THAT IF IT WAS
1950s ALABAMA WE WOULD CALL
RACISM.
RIGHT?
IT'S THE 2020s IN WISCONSIN.
WE DON'T WANT RACISM HERE
EITHER.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IF YOU
ARE THE SMARTEST, BEST, MOST
CAPABLE PERSON, MAN, WOMAN,
BLACK, WHITE, HISPANIC, ASIAN,
WHO CARES?
YOU SHOULD GET THE JOB.
YOU SHOULD GET THAT POSITION.
YOU SHOULD BE ADVANCED.
THAT'S WHAT I THINK EVERYBODY IN
WISCONSIN WANTS.
THE IDEA THAT WE'RE SOMEHOW
GOING TO NOW USE A NEW FILTER OF
RACE AS A WAY TO OFF-SET THE OLD
FILTER OF RACE IS WRONG.
REDLINING HAS BEEN ILLEGAL FOR
50 YEARS.
IT SHOULD BE.
IT WAS HORRIFIC.
ALL OF THESE THINGS THAT WERE A
PART OF OUR HISTORY SHOULD NEVER
BE FORGOTTEN BUT NEVER BE
REPEATED.
A LOT OF THE THINGS THEY'RE
TALKING ABOUT IS REPEATING THE
PROBLEMS OF THE PAST TO TRY TO
FIX WHAT THEY THINK ARE STILL
THE PROBLEMS OF TODAY.
SO I THINK WE HAVE A WAY TO
GENERTE A CONSENSUS, WE HAVE A
WAY TO BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD
ON PEOPLES TALENT AND ABLE TO.
YOU AND I KNOW THAT MOST OF THE
REASON PEOPLE DON'T SUCCEED IS
POVERTY OF IT'S NOT RACE IN
AMERICA ANYMORE.
IT'S BECAUSE THEY'RE POOR.
LET'S FOCUS ON LIFTING UP PEOPLE
WHO ARE IN POVERTY NO MATTER
WHAT THEIR SKIN COLOR IS AND NOT
OBSESS ON PEOPLE WHO ARE WEALTHY
AND PERHAPS A MINORITY VERSUS
SOMEBODY WHO IS NOT WEALTHY AND
NOT A MINORITY.
SO HOPEFULLY WE CAN FIND THAT
CONSENSUS.
>> MOVING ON TO THE ANOTHER BIG
ISSUE, SUPREME COURT IS TAKING
UP REDISTRICTING CASE.
THEY HAVE HAD ORAL ARGUMENTS.
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE
POSSIBILITY OF --
>> IT'S NOT A POSSIBILITY.
THEY'VE ALREADY PREDETERMINED
THE CASE OF EVERYBODY IN
WISCONSIN KNOWS THAT THIS IS A
FARCE.
THEY'VE ALREADY DECIDED TOWN
HALL MEETING DRAW NEW MAPS
BECAUSE JEANNETTE PROTASIEWICZ,
BECAUSE FOR THE FIRST ITALIAN IN
THE HISTORY OF THE COUNTRY,
PREDETERMINED CASES WHEN SHE WAS
RUNNING FOR ELECTION.
THAT'S WRONG.
WE ALREADY KNOW WHAT'S
HAPPENING, SO IT'S NOT A BIG
MYSTERY THAT WE DON'T KNOW THAT
WE'RE GOING TO GET MAPS.
REPUBLICAS HAVE HAD THIS
MAJORITY IN THE CHAMBER FOR 30
YEARS WITH TWO YEARS EXCEPTION
AND THAT WAS UNDER MAPS RUN BY A
COURT, MAPS RUN BY THE
LEGISLATURE, MAPS RUN BY A
FEDERAL COURT.
WE'RE GOING TO WIN AGAIN IN 2024
BECAUSE WE HAVE BETTER
CANDIDATES AND A BETTER MESSAGE.
ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT STATS
THAT PEOPLE WANT TO TALK ABOUT
IN 2018, WE HAD A DEMOCRAT SWEEP
YEAR.
RIGHT?
DEMOCRATS WON PRETTY MUCH
EVERYTHING, INCLUDING THE U.S.
SENATE.
WE SAW ALSO TAMMY BALDWIN CARRY
14 DISTRICTS THAT WERE WON BY
SENATE REPUBLICANS.
IF SHE HAD JUST HAD THE SAME
PEOPLE WHO VOTED FOR HER FOR THE
FOR THE ASSEMBLY, THEY'D BE INT-
THE MAJORITY RIGHT NOW.
BUT WE HAVE BETTER CANDIDATES
AND A BETTER MESSAGE.
THEY ARE TOO FOCUSED ON BEING
DIVISIVE.
SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE SAME
DYNAMIC IN 2024.
AS LONG AS THEY DON'T HAVE AID
SUNNYSIDE STYLE GERRYMANDER
WHERE THEY PIZZA PIED
EVERYTHING, WE'LL HAVE
COMPETITIVE MAPS, REPUBLICANS
WILL WIN THE MAJORITY AND WE'LL
CONTINUE TO HAVE A DIVIDED
GOVERNMENT IN WISCONSIN.
>> THANK YOU, SPEAKER VOS, FOR
YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THIS WEEK, UW-MADISON
ANNOUNCED THE WISCONSIN TRIBAL
EDUCATION PROMISE PROGRAM.
STARTING IN FALL 2024, MEMBERS
OF 11 FEDERALLY RECOGNIZED
TRIBES IN THE STATE WILL BE ABLE
TO ATTEND THE FLAGSHIP CAMPUS
ALL EXPENSES PAID FOR
UNDERGRADUATES AND FALL TUITION
FOR LAW AND MEDICAL STUDENTS.
WE'RE JOINED NOW BY UW-MADISON
DIRECTOR OF TRIBAL RELATIONS,
CARLA VIGUE.
THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> SO WHAT IS THE REACTION TO
THIS TRIBAL EDUCATION PROMISE
PROGRAM FROM TRIBAL NATION
MEMBERS ACROSS WISCONSIN?
>> I THINK EVERYONE IS REALLY
EXCITED.
UW-MADISON, LIKE YOU SAID, IS
ONE OF THE STATE'S -- OR IS
ACTUALLY ONE OF THE COUNTRY'S
PREMIER UNIVERSITIES, AND WE'VE
BEEN WORKING WITH TRIBES FOR THE
BETTER PART OF A YEAR ON THIS
PROPOSAL AND WE FINALLY BROUGHT
IT TO FRUITION.
ESSENTIALLY WHAT HAPPENS IS IF
YOU ARE, LIKE YOU SAID, A
RESIDENT OF WISCONSIN, A MEMBER
OF ONE OF OUR 11 FEDERALLY
RECOGNIZED TRIBES AND YOU GET
ADMITTED TO UW-MADISON, WE'LL
TAKE CARE OF THE FULL COST OF
ADMISSION, WHICH IS NOT JUST
TUITION, BUT ROOM, BOARD, BOOKS,
FEES, AND A FEW OTHER LITTLE
THINGS, TOO.
>> WHAT IS IT LIKE FOR YOU TO BE
ABLE TO ROLL THIS OUT, EVEN AS
SPEAKER VOS, WHOM WE JUST HEARD
FROM, WORKS TO DISMANTLE
DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION
PROGRAMS?
>> YEAH.
I MEAN, THERE'S OTHER THINGS
HAPPENING IN THE STATE CAPITOL,
BUT REALLY FOR US, WE SAT DOWN
WITH TRIBAL LEADERS MANY MONTHS
AGO AND WE SAID WE HAVE THIS
IDEA.
OR STATES DO IT.
OTHER UNIVERSITIES DO IT, AND SO
WE TALKED TO THEM AND SAID THIS
IS AN IDEA WE HAVE AND HOW CAN
WE MOVE FORWARD WITH IT.
WE'VE BEEN VERY FORTUNATE ALL 11
OF THE TRIBES CAME TO THE TABLE
AND SAT WITH THE CHANCELLOR AND
I AND TALKED IT THROUGH AND WE
SHARED STORIES.
ONE OF THE TRIBAL LEADERS TALKED
ABOUT SLEEPING IN HIS CAR WHILE
HE WAS IN UNDERGRAD AND OTHERS
TALKED ABOUT FOOD INSECURITY AND
OTHER THINGS, AND AS WE SAT
AROUND THE TABLE AND TALKED
ABOUT THINGS, THIS IS WHAT WE
CAME UP WITH, AND I THINK IT'S A
REALLY GOOD PROPOSAL.
THERE ARE OTHER THINGS HAPPENING
IN THE WORLD, BUT THAT IS
SOMETHING WE WORKED REALLY HARD
ON TOGETHER.
>> AS YOU MENTIONED, OTHER
STATES DO THIS, BUT ARE OTHER
STATES OFFERING SUCH ROBUST KIND
OF PACKAGES TO INCLUDE ALL OF
THE LIVING EXPENSES?
>> MOST DON'T.
I THINK, LIKE I SAID, WE WEREN'T
THE FIRST OUT OF THE GATE WITH
THIS PLAN BUT I THINK WE'RE THE
BEST.
MAYBE THAT'S JUST ME TALKING,
BUT, YEAH, I THINK, YOU KNOW,
LIKE I SAID, WE SAT DOWN AND WE
TALKED THROUGH ALL THE SCENARIOS
AND HOW MANY SEMESTERS AND WHAT
IT SHOULD INCLUDE AND ALL OF
THOSE THINGS, AND I THINK WE
CAME TO AN AGREEMENT WITH THE
TRIBES THAT THIS IS REALLY HOW
WE SHOULD DO IT IN ORDER TO
SUPPORT NATIVE STUDENTS.
>> IS IT UNUSUAL AS WELL TO PAY
TUITION FOR LAW OR MEDICAL
SCHOOL?
>> YEAH.
SO THAT WAS WHERE WE GAVE A
LITTLE SURPRISE TO THE TRIBES AT
ONE POINT.
WE SAID WE SPOKE TO THE LAW
SCHOOL AND THE MEDICAL SCHOOL
AND THEY BOTH AGREED THAT
TUITION -- AND THERE ARE
DIFFERENT KIND OF STUDENT RIGHT
THERE, THEY'RE A LITTLE BIT
OLDER, SO WE DIDN'T INCLUDE SOME
OF THOSE OTHER THINGS, BUT
TUITION FOR LAW SCHOOL AND MED
SCHOOL, THAT'S A VERY BIG DEAL.
>> IT'S A BIG EXPENSE.
SO THERE ARE NO INCOME
RESTRICTIONS WITH THIS BECAUSE I
UNDERSTAND IT'S ABOUT PROMOTING
UW-MADISON EDUCATION TO NATIVE
STUDENTS.
WHY IS THAT IMPORTANT?
>> WELL, I THINK ONE OF THE
THINGS -- SO WHEN I FIRST SAT
DOWN WITH THE CHANCELLOR WHEN I
FIRST TOOK MY POSITION, SHE AND
I TALKED ABOUT THIS, AND FOR US,
IT'S BOTH ABOUT GIVING BACK TO
THE COMMUNITY BUT ALSO
ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THIS
UNIVERSITY THAT WE WORK FOR IS
BUILT ON LAND THAT WAS FORCIBLY
REMOVED FROM THE TRIBE NATION,
AND SO BOTH OF THOSE THINGS IN
COMBINATION OF JUST WANTING TO
DO THE RIGHT THING FOR NATIVE
STUDENTS.
>> DESCRIBE FOR US WHAT YOU SAY
IS AT THE HEART OF THE NATIVE
COMMUNITY AS IT RELATES TO THIS
PROGRAM.
>> YEAH.
I THINK WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT IT,
LIKE I SAID, IT'S REALLY ABOUT
TAKING CARE OF OUR COMMUNITY.
I'M NATIVE AMERICAN, I GREW UP
ON THE ONEIDA INDIAN
RESERVATION, I HAVE TWO LITTLE
BOYS, HUNTER AND AUDO.
THE WAY WE THINK ABOUT COMMUNITY
IS HOW DO WE GIVE BACK AND HOW
DO WE TAKE CARE OF THE NEXT
SEVEN GENERATIONS, AND SO IT'S
NOT JUST ABOUT DECISION THAT ARE
GOOD FOR ME OR MY LITTLE BOYS OR
EVEN THEIR KIDS, BUT SEVEN
GENERATIONS DOWN THE ROAD, HOW
ARE WE TAKING CARE OF THOSE
SEVEN GENERATIONS.
>> DO YOU HAVE ANY UNDERSTANDING
OF HOW MANY STUDENTS MIGHT
PARTICIPATE?
>> WE DO -- NOT REALLY.
KIND OF.
THAT'S A BAD ANSWER, BUT SO WE
HAVE SOME NUMBERS, BUT RIGHT
NOW, PEOPLE SELF-REPORT.
SO ANYONE WHO CLAIMS NATIVE
ANCESTRY CAN REPORT THAT THEY'RE
NATIVE.
THEY DON'T HAVE TO.
BUT WITH THIS PROGRAM, YOU'LL
HAVE TO NOW, YOU KNOW, SHOW YOUR -- PROVE YOU'RE ENROLLED IN
ONE OF WISCONSIN'S 11:30 11 TRIBES.
WE'LL GET BETTER DATA AS WE GO
ALONG.
>> AND AS YOU SAID ABOUT
OFFERING THIS PROGRAM, THERE WAS
A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MONEY SET
ASIDE.
DO YOU HAVE AN EXPECTATION AS TO
WHAT THAT WILL BE?
>> WE'RE ROLLING THIS OUT IN
DECEMBER AND THE APPLICATION
DEADLINE IS FEBRUARY, SO WE'RE
NOT EXPECTING THIS FIRST YEAR TO
BE A HUGE NUMBER.
I THINK WE'LL SEE WHAT THIS
FIRST YEAR LOOKS LIKE AND THEN
BE ABLE TO BUILD FROM THERE.
THIS IS REALLY THE FIRST
ITERATION OF THIS PROGRAM,
HOPEFULLY.
MAYBE WE CAN GROW IT OR MAYBE
THIS IS GOING TO BE SATISFACTORY
ENOUGH.
BUT I THINK WE'LL HAVE MORE DATA
AFTER THIS FIRST YEAR.
>> HAVE YOU GOTTEN CALLS FROM
STUDENTS SAYING TELL ME ABOUT
THIS?
>> OH, I'VE GOTTEN A LOT OF
CALLS.
MY PRIOR ADMISSIONS DEPARTMENT
IS LIKE PROBABLY OVERWHELMED BY
PEOPLE I'M SENDING THEIR WAY,
BUT IT'S REALLY FUN BECAUSE
FAMILY AND FRIENDS ARE REACHING
OUT, TOO, AND I'M GETTING TO
SAY, YES, THEY'LL QUALIFY.
I WILL SAY I ALSO GOT TO CALL
ONE OF THE STUDENTS WHO IS
ALREADY HERE ON CAMPUS, SHE'S A
STUDENT NAMED CALISTA.
SHE JOINED US THIS WEEK WHILE WE
WERE ANNOUNCING THE PROGRAM.
AS I WAS DESCRIBING THE PROGRAM
TO HER, SHE JUST GOT SILENT AND
THEN VERY EXCITED AND I WAS EVEN
A LITTLE BIT OVERWHELMED BY IT
ALL BECAUSE I JUST GOT TO TELL
SOMEONE WE WERE GOING TO TAKE
CARE OF THEM.
>> THAT'S AWESOME.
CARLA VIGUE, THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> IN OTHER NEWS, MICROSOFT HAS
FINALIZED THE PURCHASE OF MORE
THAN 100,000 ACRES OF LAND IN
RACINE COUNTY, WITH 600 ACRES
PURCHASED FROM THE VILLAGE OF
MOUNT PLEASANT THIS WEEK.
THE TECH GIANT SAYS IT PLANS TO
SPEND BILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO
CONSTRUCT NEW DATA CENTERS.
THIS AS THE NEIGHBORING FOXCONN
TECHNOLOGY GROUP IS SET TO
RECEIVE $3W0EU6 $6.3 MILLION FOR HIRING
WORKERS AND INVESTMENTS MADE IN
2022.
THE GROUP HAS RECEIVED ROUGHLY
$44 MILLION FROM THE STATE SINCE
2020, A SIGNIFICANTLY SCALED
BACK SUM FROM THE ORIGINAL
NEGOTIATED TAX INCENTIVES AFTER
FOXCONN'S PROMISE OF 13,000 JOBS
AND AN LCD SCREEN FACTORY NEVER
CAME TO FRUITION.
STILL, THE COMPANY SAYS IT IS
COMMITTED TO WISCONSIN.
FOR MORE ON ALL OF THIS, WE TURN
TO THE C.E.O. AND SECRETARY OF
THE WISCONSIN ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, MISSY
HUGHES.
SECRETARY HUGHES, THANK YOU FOR
BEING WITH US.
>> SO GLAD TO BE HERE.
>> SO FOXCONN HAS NOW QUALIFIED
FOR A THIRD ROUND OF STATE TAX
CREDITS, BRINGING THE TOTAL
AMOUNT THAT IT HAS RECEIVED FROM
THE STATE TO NEARLY $44 MILLION.
DO YOU UNDERSTAND THE LONG-RANGE
PROSPECTS FOR FOXCONN AFTER NOT
LIVING UP TO ITS ORIGINAL
PROMISE?
>> WELL, FOXCONN HAS REALLY
BECOME LIKE ONE OF THE GREAT
COMPANIES THAT WE HAD IN
WISCONSIN, MILWAUKEE.
ALL OF THESE COMPANIES THAT ARE
LOCATING HERE AND REALLY
SETTLING IN.
SO WITH OVER A THOUSAND
EMPLOYEES AND ALMOST $600
MILLION IN INVESTMENT, WE EXPECT
THAT FOXCONN IS HERE FOR THE
LONG TERM AND WILL CONTINUE TO
PRODUCE AND EMPLOY FOLKS DOWN IN
SOUTHEAST WISCONSIN IN A REALLY
PRODUCTIVE WAY.
>> WHAT LESSONS LEARNED FROM
FOXCONN IS COMPETING WITH OTHER
COMPANIES WHEN IT COMES TO TAX
CREDITS?
>> WELL, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT
TO WORK WITH THE COMPANY TO
UNDERSTAND THEIR LONG-TERM
GOALS, TO SET THEM UP FOR
SUCCESS.
SO OUR TAX CREDIT PROGRAMS ARE
BASED ON PERFORMANCE.
COMPANIES DON'T RECEIVE A TAX
CREDIT UNTIL THEY PERFORM,
CREATE THE JOBS, SPEND THE
CAPEX.
AND SO AS WE WORK WITH FOXCONN
THE SAME WAY WE WORK WITH OTHER
COMPANIES, WE WANT THEM TO BE
SUCCESSFUL, AND WITHIN THE
PARAMETERS OF WHAT THEY EXPECT
FOR THEIR STRATEGY.
>> NOW, THIS MONTH HAD TO
RESPOND TO A STATE AUDIT IN
WHICH FOUR OF THE
RECOMMENDATIONS INVOLVED CLOSER
TRACKING OF TAX CREDITS THAT
HAVE BEEN AWARDED OR NEED TO
HAVE BEEN REVOKED.
SHOULD WE HAVE CONFIDENCE IN THE
DISBURSEMENT OF TAXPAYERS' MONEY
TOWARD ATTRACTING BUSINESSES?
>> WE HAVE REALLY, OVER THE
YEARS, TIGHTENED UP HOW WE
VERIFY COMPANIES AND THEIR
PERFORMANCE AROUND TAX CREDITS.
IT'S CRITICALLY IMPORTANT THAT
THE COMPANIES PROVIDE US THEIR
PAYROLL INFORMATION AND THEIR
INFORMATION ABOUT CAPEX.
WE CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE
LEGISLATIVE AUDIT BUREAU TO FIND
WAYS TO IMPROVE AND NONE OF THE
FINDINGS OF THE L.A.B. WERE
AROUND MISMANAGEMENT.
THEY'RE REALLY ABOUT HOW'D CAN
WE CONTINUE TO DO THINGS BETTER?
>> SO MEANWHILE, BIG NEWS WITH
MICROSOFT'S PURCHASE OF 1,100
ACRES OF LAND THAT WAS
ORIGINALLY DESIGNED FOR FOXCONN.
WAS MICROSOFT PLANNING TO BUILD
AT LEAST FOUR DATA CENTERS AND
EXPANSION OF ITS PREVIOUSLY
ANNOUNCED PROJECT INVESTING
BILLION DOLLARS INTO A SINGLE
DATA CENTER.
HOW BIG OF A BOOST IS THIS
MICROSOFT DEAL?
>> WELL, HAVING A COMPANY LIKE
MICROSOFT, A BLUE CHIP, A TRUE
BLUE CHIP AMERICAN COMPANY
DECIDE TO CREATE SUCH AN
OPPORTUNITY IN WISCONSIN IS
INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT AND REALLY
EXCITING.
IT BRINGS IN HIGH TECH,
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.
ALL OF THESE THINGS THAT WE SEE
IN THE ECONOMY OF THE FUTURE AND
SO MICROSOFT CHOOSING WISCONSIN
IS REALLY A TESTAMENT TO WHAT
WE'VE DONE TO CREATE THE
WORKFORCE THAT THEY NEED, TO
CREATE THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT
THEY NEED, AND WE'RE SO EXCITED
TO HAVE THEM HERE.
>> I UNDERSTAND THAT THEIR DATA
CENTERS ARE EXPECTED TO EMPLOY
HUNDREDS OF TECH PEOPLE, BUT
POTENTIALLY THOUSANDS OF
CONSTRUCTION WORKERS.
WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT WHETHER
OR NOT THOSE ARE EXPECTED TO BE
WISCONSIN WORKERS?
>> WELL, WHAT WE'VE ALREADY SEEN
IS MICROSOFT HAS STARTED THEIR
WORK ON A $500 MILLION DATA
CENTER.
THEY ARE WORKING WITH A NUMBER
OF WISCONSIN COMPANIES, AND, OF
COURSE, DOWN THERE ON THE BORDER
OF ILLINOIS, WE WILL SEE SOME
ILLINOIS COMPANIES EXPERIENCING
OPPORTUNITIES WITH MICROSOFT,
BUT WE KNOW THAT MICROSOFT WANTS
WISCONSIN TO SUCCEED.
BRAD SMITH TALKED ABOUT THIS
LONG-TERM RELATIONSHIP THAT WE
ARE CREATING AND SO IT'S
IMPORTANT TO MICROSOFT.
THEY'VE ALREADY STARTED WORKING
WITH UW MILWAUKEE, WITH GATEWAY
TECH, SO WE KNOW THAT THEY'RE
COMMITTED TO WISCONSIN.
>> I DON'T HAVE TO TELL YOU THAT
WISCONSIN HAS SEEN A LOT OF
ATTENTION IN THE WORLD OF
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THIS YEAR,
INCLUDING BEING AWARDED AS A
úREGIONAL TECHNOLOGY HUB WITH THE
ABILITY TO APPLY FOR UP TO $70
MILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDING.
WHAT WILL THIS MEAN FOR THE
STATE?
>> THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST
EXCITING THINGS THAT'S HAPPENED
THIS YEAR.
THIS IS A DESIGNATION BY THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
THERE ARE 31 AROUND THE COUNTRY,
BUT WHAT'S EXCITING ABOUT
WISCONSIN IS IT'S REALLY BASED
ON BIOHEALTH, AND WE SEE BETWEEN
MILWAUKEE AND MADISON REAL
OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMPANIES TO
WORK TOGETHER AND CREATE THIS
AMAZING CORRIDOR AROUND
PERSONALIZED MEDICINE.
REALLY DETERMINING HOW YOU CAN
HELP SOMEONE WITH THE EXACT
TREATMENT THEY NEED AT THE EXACT
TIME THAT THEY NEED IT, AND WE
SEE OPPORTUNITIES AROUND
ADVANCED MANUFACTURING WITH
THAT, RESEARCH, AND
ENTREPRENEURISM.
SO ALL OF THESE THINGS WILL COME
TOGETHER AS PART OF THIS
REGIONAL TECH HUB.
WE'LL SEE BENEFITS EXTENDING UP
TO GREEN BAY AND EAU CLAIRE, SO
IT'S REALLY AN ALL-WISCONSIN
EFFORT.
>> ALL RIGHT.
SECRETARY MISSY HUGHES, THANKS
VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> 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 AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.