OPERATIONAL REFERENDUM.
AND IN THAT EFFORT, WE MADE IT
CLEAR THAT THE NEEDS WEREN'T
GOING TO CHANGE AND THAT WE
WOULD NEED TO COME BACK AGAIN,
WHICH WE DID LAST APRIL.
>> FORT ATKINSON HAS A LONG
RECORD OF PROARGT OPERATING
REFERENDA FOR THE SCHOOLS.
>> SO LAST SPRING, WE FAILED THE
OPERATIONAL REFERENDUM SOMEWHAT
SIGNIFICANTLY.
IT WAS PERHAPS THE FIRST TIME
WHAT WE REALLY GAVE PAUSE TO
THINGS HAVE REALLY CHANGED.
>> THE DISTRICT CUT.
>> THE BUDGET THAT HAS BEEN PUT
FORWARD TO OUR STATE LEGISLATURE
THAT THEY WILL VOTE ON ONE WEEK
FROM TODAY IN THE ASSEMBLY IS A
PROMISE TO MAKE EXISTING GAPS
WIDER AND TO MAKE EXISTING
DISPARITIES WORSE.
>> I COULDN'T HAVE BEEN MORE
RIGHT ABOUT THAT.
>> TODAY, SHE SAYS THE STATE HAS
UNDERFUNDED SCHOOLS FOR 15
YEARS.
>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION.
>> YOU'RE WATCHING HERE "HERE AND
NOW" 2024 ELECTION COVERAGE.
>> SO WOULDN'T THAT RIGHT THERE
SAY OUR ELECTIONS ARE NOT
SECURE?
>> NO.
THAT HAS --
>> ELECTION DENIERS CONTINUE TO
PRESS OFFICIALS ABOUT WHAT
HAPPENED IN 2020, AND K THROUGH
12 SCHOOL BUDGETS.
>> TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW,"
GOVERNOR TONY EVERS JOINS US AS
WE LOOK BACK AT THE LEGISLATIVE
SESSION.
ZAC SCHULTZ REPORTS ON SCHOOL
FUNDING SHORTFALLS AND HOW THE
PRICE OF A BAG OF GROCERIES
COULD SWAY THE PRESIDENTIAL
ELECTION.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR MARCH
29.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.
>> WISCONSIN VOTERS GO TO THE
POLLS NEXT TUESDAY, APRIL 2nd.
THIS SPRING ELECTION INCLUDES A
PRESIDENTIAL PREFERENCE VOTE,
WHICH MAY GIVE A SENSE OF WHICH
WAY OUR PIVOTAL BATTLEGROUND
STATE COULD TIP.
MEANWHILE, IN POLICY AND
POLITICS AT THE STATE LEVEL,
GOVERNOR TONY EVERS WITH WHAT HE
SIGNED INTO LAW AND WHAT HE
VETOED AND WHY.
HE JOINS US NOW.
GOVERNOR, THANKS VERY MUCH FOR
DOING SO.
>> THANKS, FREDERICA.
>> SO YOU HAVE TAKEN ACTION ON A
RAFT OF LEGISLATIVE BILLS IN THE
PAST SEVERAL DAYS.
WHAT, FOR YOU, ARE THE MOST
IMPORTANT BILLS THAT YOU'VE
SIGNED INTO LAW THIS SESSION?
>> IT'S ACTUALLY BEEN A PRETTY
GOOD BIPARTISAN SESSION.
I KNOW THE -- WHEN PEOPLE HEAR
IT FROM THE OUTSIDE, WE'RE
FIGHTING ALL THE TIME, BUT THE
FACT OF THE MATTER IS WE HAVE
FAIR MAPS.
THAT WAS A BIPARTISAN WIN.
SHARED REVENUES WAS VERY, VERY
IMPORTANT.
BREWER STADIUM, AFFORDABLE
HOUSING, JUST TO NAME A FEW, AND
ALL OF THEM WERE BIPARTISAN AND
VERY MEANINGFUL AND IMPORTANT
BILLS, SO I WAS REALLY, REALLY
HAPPY ABOUT THAT.
WE PROVIDE SOME MORE MONEY FOR
OUR SCHOOLS.
CLEARLY, WE HAD DECADES WORTH OF
KIND OF STARVING OUR SCHOOLS, SO
IT WASN'T ENOUGH, BUT IT
CERTAINLY WAS AN IMPORTANT ISSUE
AND LOTS OF RESOURCES FOR HEALTH
FOR KIDS.
THAT'S REALLY CRITICAL.
>> YOU SPOKE TO THE BIPARTISAN
NATURE OF THESE BILLS, NOW
SIGNED INTO LAW, BUT DO YOU LOOK
FORWARD TO A CHANGING POLITICAL
LANDSCAPE BECAUSE OF NEW MAPS?
SHOULD IT LEAD TO EVEN LESS
FEUDING AND MORE COMPROMISE?
>> IT SHOULD, AND THAT'S
CRITICALLY IMPORTANT.
FAIR MAPS DOES NOT MEAN
DEMOCRATICALLY GERRYMANDERED
MAPS.
IT JUST MEANS THE RATIONALE HERE
IS THAT WISCONSIN IS A PURPLE
STATE AND RACES SHOULD BE CLOSE
AND HARD-FOUGHT AND GIVE PEOPLE
THE CHANCE TO INTERACT WITH
CANDIDATES FROM BOTH PARTIES.
AND SO I THINK IT'S BEST FOR
DEMOCRACY, AND SO I'M REALLY
HAPPY ABOUT THAT.
I THINK THERE WILL BE MORE
DEMOCRATS IN THE LEGISLATURE
THAN BEFORE, BUT IT'S GOING TO
BE CLOSE.
AND SO I DO THINK THAT
BIPARTISANSHIP WILL BE AMPLIFIED
BY THAT, ABSOLUTELY.
>> WHICH DO YOU BELIEVE WERE
YOUR MOST IMPORTANT VETOES?
>> WELL, I WOULD SAY THE
IMPORTANT VETOES, THERE'S
SEVERAL, BUT THE ONE I'M
CONCERNED ABOUT IS ALL THE ONES
- THAT JUST NEVER MADE IT TO ME
THAT WEREN'T -- WE DIDN'T HAVE A
CHANCE TO VETO.
ESSENTIALLY THE POSTPARTUM
PIECE, WHERE WE COULD GIVE --
COULD HAVE GAVE WOMEN A FULL
YEAR INSTEAD OF 60 DAYS, MAKING
SURE THAT OUR PEOPLE AT THE
POLLS ARE DOING -- YOU KNOW, CAN
OPEN ENVELOPES THE DAY BEFORE SO
THAT THEY'RE NOT SO SCURRYING
AROUND ON ELECTION DAY.
THERE'S A WHOLE NUMBER OF THINGS
THAT FRANKLY DIDN'T HAPPEN, AND
THE ONE THING THAT I'LL CONTINUE
TO ADVOCATE FOR THAT, FRANKLY,
IS CRITICAL, IS CHILDCARE.
CHILDCARE OPERATIONS IN THE
STATE ARE JUST BARELY HANGING IN
THERE AND IF WE WANT TO HAVE A
STRONG ECONOMY, WE NEED A STRONG
INDUSTRY OF CHILDCARE.
SO THOSE ARE THINGS I DIDN'T
VETO; WE JUST NEVER GOT THERE.
>> SO WHAT ARE SOME LINGERING
ISSUES?
THE 15 MILLION IN HEALTHCARE
KIND OF HELP FOR THE CHIPPEWA
VALLEY AND P.F.A.S. COME TO
MIND.
>> YEAH.
I HAVE YET TO UNDERSTAND WHY WE
CAN'T RELEASE THAT MONEY FOR
FOLKS IN THE NORTHWEST
WISCONSIN.
I HEARD DIRECTLY FROM THE FOLKS
UP THERE THAT THEY WANTED -- THE
LEGISLATION ITSELF JUST SAID
HERE'S $15 MILLION FOR EMERGENCY
ROOM WORK.
THAT'S IMPORTANT, BUT WE NEED TO
DELIVER BABIES UP THERE.
WE HAVE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES IN
NORTHWEST WISCONSIN.
SO IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT I DID A
PARTIAL VETO ON THAT AND MADE IT
MORE REASONABLE FOR THE PEOPLE
UP THERE TO KIND OF GET THROUGH
UNTIL THEY HAVE SOMETHING
PERMANENT.
BUT THE JOINT FINANCE COMMITTEE
JUST CANNOT SEE FIT TO SEND THEM
THE MONEY.
IT'S JUST VERY, VERY
DISAPPOINTING.
>> ON SCHOOLS, YOU SPOKE TO
SCHOOL FUNDING EARLIER, BUT
VOTERS WILL BE ASKED ON THEIR
BALLOTS ON ON TUESDAY'S ELECTION
WHETHER TO SPEND $1 BILLION TO
SUPPLEMENT FUNDING IN THEIR
SCHOOLS.
WHAT IF VOTERS FEEL THEY CANNOT
VOTE "YES" ON THOSE?
>> WELL, CERTAINLY, YOU KNOW,
IT'S DIFFICULT.
AS I SAID BEFORE, WE DID A
PRETTY GOOD JOB OF HAVING A HEAD
START ON THE ISSUE OF FUNDING,
BUT FUNDING IS DIFFERENT IN
EVERY DIFFERENT -- YOU KNOW,
IT'S A VERY COMPLEX SITUATION IN
SOME SCHOOLS BECAUSE THEY HAVE
REVENUE AT HOME IN THEIR OWN
DISTRICT, SO IT'S A COMPLICATED
THING.
NOT EVERYBODY IS IN THAT
POSITION, BUT WE HAVE 10 YEARS
OR MORE OF ESSENTIALLY STARVING
OUR SCHOOLS AND WHAT WE ARE ABLE
TO DO WAS -- THAT FINALLY GOT
THROUGH WAS ABOUT 50% OF WHAT
THE ORIGINAL BUDGET WAS, AND SO
I'M NOT SURPRISED THAT THERE'S
MORE SCHOOLS GOING THROUGH
REFERENDUM, THEY NEED IT.
I HOPE THAT PEOPLE WILL BE
SUPPORTIVE, BUT I ALSO
UNDERSTAND THAT ANY TIME WE HAVE
A REFERENDUM, YOU'RE GOING TO BE
INCREASING THE TAX HAD -- THE LOCAL
TAXES.
BUT PEOPLE AT THE LOCAL LEVEL
MAKE THOSE DECISIONS, BUT IN THE
PAST, I'M ASSUMING IT'S THE SAME
CASE HERE, IS THERE WILL BE
PLENTY OF WINNERS AND A HANDFUL
OF LOSERS AND UNFORTUNATELY
THOSE LOSERS WILL LIKELY HAVE TO
MAKE SOME REALLY DIFFICULT
DECISIONS, ESPECIALLY AS IT
RELATES TO THE NUMBER OF
TEACHERS THEY HAVE.
>> WHAT ABOUT THE CONSTITUTIONAL
AMOUNTS THAT SEEK TO PROHIBIT
OUTSIDE GRANTS AND ELECTION
ADMINISTRATION OR OUTSIDE
EXPERTS STEMMING FROM 2020
CONCERNS?
WHY DID YOU VETO THOSE WHEN THEY
WERE LEGISLATIVE BILLS?
>> BECAUSE THEY ARE UNNECESSARY
AND, FRANKLY, WE'RE GOING TO
MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO VOTE.
IT'S A CORE THING FOR ME AND I
THINK MOST WISCONSINITES.
WE NEED TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO
VOTE INSTEAD OF DISCOURAGE THEM,
AND SO I FELT BOTH OF THOSE WERE
HEADED IN THE WRONG DIRECTION
AND SO I VETOED THEM.
NOW, I FIND IT AMAZING THAT,
BECAUSE THEY CAN'T OVERRIDE MY
VETO, SOMEHOW THE LEGISLATURE
CAN PUT IT ON THE BALLOT AND
MAKE IT PART OF THE
CONSTITUTION.
THESE THINGS AREN'T
CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES, BUT SO I
WILL BE VOTING AGAINST THOSE
BECAUSE I VETOED THEM TO BEGIN
WITH.
I THOUGHT BOTH OF THEM WOULD
MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR
PEOPLE TO VOTE AND WE SHOULD BE
MAKING IT -- MAKING IT A
FRIENDLY OPPORTUNITY.
WE WANT PEOPLE TO VOTE.
WEPT MORE PEOPLE TO VOTE.
SIMPLE AS THAT.
AND BOTH OF THESE ARE NOT HEADED
IN THAT DIRECTION.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WE LEAVE IT THERE.
GOVERNOR TONY EVERS, THANK YOU
VERY MUCH.
>> THANKS, FREDERICA.
HAVE A GOOD DAY.
>> AS WE MENTIONED, NEXT
TUESDAY, MANY VOTERS ACROSS THE
STATE WILL DECIDE ON THE FUTURE
OF THEIR LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT.
62 DISTRICTS ARE ASKING VOTERS
TO APPROVE AN OPERATING
REFERENDUM WHICH ALLOWS
DISTRICTS TO RAISE THEIR TAX
LEVY IN ORDER TO FUND DAY-TO-DAY
OPERATIONS.
THE BIGGEST QUESTION COMES FROM
MILWAUKEE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, WHERE
THEY'RE ASKING VOTERS TO APPROVE
$252 MILLION OVER FOUR YEARS,
BUT THE NEEDS VARY ACCORDING TO
SIZE.
WITH THE JUDA SCHOOL DISTRICT
SEEKING JUST $500,000 A YEAR.
WHAT'S CONSISTENT IS THAT, OVER
THE PAST FEW YEARS, THE NUMBER
OF DISTRICTS GOING TO REFERENDUM
HAS INCREASED AND THERE'S NO
SIGN OF THE TREND SLOWING DOWN.
"HERE AND NOW" SENIOR POLITICAL
REPORTER, ZAC SCHULTZ, EXPLAINS
WHY SO MANY DISTRICTS ARE FACING
THIS FISCAL CLIFF.
>> INSIDE FORT ATKINSON SCHOOLS,
THINGS LOOK NORMAL.
KIDS ARE READING, LEARNING MATH,
PLAYING INSTRUMENTS.
BUT THINGS COULD LOOK
DRAMATICALLY DIFFERENT NEXT FALL
IF THE VOTERS DON'T APPROVE THE
OPERATING REFERENDUM ON THE
BALLOT APRIL 2nd.
>> THIS ISN'T A REFERENDUM THAT
WE CAN LIVE WITHOUT.
>> Reporter: ROB ABBOTT IS THE
FORT ATKINSON ADMINISTRATOR AND
THIS IS HIS THIRD STRAIGHT YEAR
TRYING TO PASS A REFERENDUM.
>> TWO YEARS AGO WAS THE FIRST
TIME THAT THE COMMUNITY REJECTED
THE OPERATIONAL REFERENDUM.
AND IN THAT EFFORT, WE MADE IT
CLEAR THAT THE NEEDS WEREN'T
GOING TO CHANGE AND THAT WE
WOULD NEED TO COME BACK AGAIN,
WHICH WE DID LAST APRIL.
>> FORT ATKINSON HAS A LONG
RECORD OF SUPPORTING OPERATING
REFERENDUM FOR THE SCHOOLS.
>> SO LAST SPRING, WE FAILED THE
OPERATIONAL REFERENDUM SOMEWHAT
SIGNIFICANTLY AND IT WAS REALLY
PERHAPS THE FIRST TIME THAT WE
REALLY GAVE PAUSE TO THINGS HAVE
REALLY CHANGED.
>> THE DISTRICT CUT $3.3 MILLION
FROM THEIR BUDGET, INCLUDING 45
STAFF POSITIONS.
NOW THEY'RE ASKING FOR $6.5
MILLION A YEAR FOR THE NEXT
THREE YEARS TO AVOID MORE CUTS.
ABBOTT SAID JUST ABOUT EVERY
DISTRICT GOING TO REFERENDUM IS
IN THE SAME SITUATION.
>> THIS SPRING OR CERTAINLY WITH
THE NEXT NOVEMBER ELECTION
CYCLE, THAT DISTRICTS WHO AREN'T
SUCCESSFUL ARE GOING TO BE
LOOKING AT SIGNIFICANT
REDUCTIONS.
>> BUT HOW DID IT GET TO THIS
POINT?
THE SHORT-TERM ANSWER BRINGS US
BACK TO THE SPRING OF 2021, WHEN
THE STATE HAD RECEIVED $1.5
BILLION IN FEDERAL COVID RELIEF
AID EARMARKED FOR SCHOOLS.
THOSE COVID FUNDS WERE SUPPOSED
TO BE USED TO HELP KIDS CATCH UP
FROM PANDEMIC LEARNING LOSS AND
DEAL WITH INCREASED MENTAL
HEALTH ISSUES.
BUT REPUBLICANS IN CONTROL OF
THE STATE LEGISLATURE PASSED A
STATE BUDGET WITH A ZERO-DOLLAR
INCREASE IN PER PUPIL AID FOR
STUDENTS FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS,
COUNTING FEDERAL DOLLARS AS
STATE FUNDING.
>> THIS BUDGET, MORE THAN ANY
OTHER ONE THAT WE HAVE SEEN IN
MY LIFETIME, GIVES HUGE
INCREASES TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
HUGE.
MORE THAN THEY WILL PROBABLY
EVEN BE ABLE TO EFFECTIVELY
SPEND.
>> RIGHT BEFORE THE VOTE,
HEATHER DuBOIS MADE THIS
PUBLIC'S.
>> THE BUDGET THAT HAS BEEN PUT
FORWARD TO OUR STATE LEGISLATURE
THAT THEY WILL VOTE ON ONE WEEK
FROM TODAY IN THE ASSEMBLY IS A
PROMISE TO MAKE EXISTING GAPS
WIDER AND TO MAKE EXISTING
DISPARITIES WORSE.
>> THEY COULDN'T HAVE BEEN MORE
RIGHT ABOUT THAT.
>> TODAY, SHE SAYS THE STATE HAS
UNDERFUNDED SCHOOLS FOR 15
YEARS, DRAWING A STRAIGHT LINE
FROM THE STATE BUDGET TO LOCAL
REFERENDA.
>> OH, THAT'S AN "A" TO "B"
LINE.
THAT'S AS STRAIGHT AS A LINE CAN
GET.
THE REASON THAT DISTRICTS ARE
FORCED TO GO TO OPERATING
REFERENDA RIGHT NOW IS BECAUSE
THEY ARE ENDURING THESE
DECADE-LONG CUTS.
>> SINCE THE START OF APRIL
2021, 152 SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN
WISCONSIN HAVE GONE TO THE
VOTERS ASKING THEM TO PASS AN
OPERATING REFERENDUM.
SOME OF THEM MULTIPLE TIMES.
123 DISTRICTS, SHOWN HERE IN
GREEN, HAVE PASSED AN OPERATING
REFERENDUM.
29 DISTRICTS IN RED WERE TURNED
DOWN BY THEIR VOTERS, SOME OF
THEM MULTIPLE TIMES.
62 DISTRICTS HAVE OPERATING
REFERENDA ON THE BALLOT ON APRIL
2nd.
ONE OF THOSE IS THE RICHLAND
SCHOOL DISTRICT.
>> IT DOESN'T SURPRISE ME AT ALL
THAT MANY, MANY SCHOOL DISTRICTS
ARE GOING TO HAVE TO GO TO
REFERENDUM JUST TO MAINTAIN THE
SERVICES THAT THEY'VE BEEN
PROVIDING FOR OUR STUDENTS.
>> STEVE BOARD IS THE DISTRICT
ADMINISTRATOR.
HE SAYS RICHLAND USED SOME OF
THEIR COVID DOLLARS FOR THEIR
INTENDED PURPOSE.
THEY HIRED TEACHERS TO HELP WITH
LEARNING LOSS.
NOW THEY NEED THE COMMUNITY TO
APPROVE AN OPERATIONAL
REFERENDUM IF THEY WANT TO KEEP
THEM.
>> WE TRIED TO INVEST BACK INTO
OUR STUDENTS, AND IN DOING SO,
WE WERE ROLLING THE DICE A
LITTLE BIT BECAUSE WE DIDN'T
KNOW IF THOSE POSITIONS WOULD
CONTINUE, AND OBVIOUSLY THEY
WOULDN'T WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF
A REFERENDUM.
>> RICHLAND IS ALSO ASKING FOR A
CAPITAL REFERENDUM TO UPDATE
THINGS LIKE AN OLD ROOF AND
BROKEN BATH ROOMS.
>> OUR COMMUNITY FEELS THAT OUR,
QUOTE, UNQUOTE, NEW HIGH SCHOOL,
WHICH IS BUILT IN 1996, IS NEW,
BUT IT'S PUSHING 30 YEARS OLD.
>> SO HOW DID WE GET TO THIS
POINT?
WHILE THE SHORT-TERM POINTS TO
RECENT STATE BUDGETS, THE
LONG-TERM ANSWER IS OLDER THAN
THE RICHLAND HIGH SCHOOL.
THE SCHOOL LEVY LIMITS WERE
IMPOSED BY THE STATE IN THE
EARLY '90s TO CONTROL PROPERTY
TAXES.
EACH BUDGET THE STATE WOULD
INCREASE THE LEVY BY THE AMOUNT
OF INFLATION, BUT IN THE WAKE OF
THE 2009 GREAT RECESSION AND
CONTINUING THROUGH THE SCOTT
WALKER ERA, THE LEVY INCREASES
WERE UNCOUPLED FROM INFLATION.
>> THE SHORTFALL WAS OVER $3,000
PER STUDENT.
THAT'S A MONUMENTAL CHANGE.
>> REPRESENTATIVE SCOTT JOHNSON
IS A REPUBLICAN IN THE STATE
ASSEMBLY.
FORT ATKINSON IS IN HIS DISTRICT
AND HE USED TO SIT ON THE FORT
ATKINSON SCHOOL BOARD.
>> REPUBLICANS HAVE BEEN IN
CHARGE OF THE BIENNIAL BUDGETS
AND IT'S PRETTY CLEAR THAT MOST
OF US REPUBLICANS WANT TO FAVOR
SCHOOL CHOICE, VOUCHER SCHOOLS,
CHARTER SCHOOLS.
>> JOHNSON SAYS TOO MANY OF HIS
COLLEAGUES IN THE LEGISLATURE
ARE UNFAMILIAR WITH SCHOOL
FUNDING.
>> MANY DO NOT UNDERSTAND IT.
IT'S A CONVOLUTED, CHALLENGING
SYSTEM.
>> Reporter: EVEN FEWER
HAVE-DRIVEN A SCHOOL BUS, AS HE
STILL DOES, AND BEEN ABLE TO SEE
THE KIDS THAT ARE HEADING OFF TO
CLASS IN THE MORNING.
>> I WANT TO GIVE THAT CHILD A
GOOD MORNING GREETING SO THAT
THEY'VE HEARD SOMETHING
POSITIVE.
>> Reporter: JOHNSON SAYS THE
SIMPLE TRUTH IS SCHOOL DISTRICTS
HAVE TO PASS OPERATING REFERENDA
JUST TO BALANCE THE BUDGET,
BECAUSE STATE FUNDING HAS NOT
KEPT UP.
>> WE'RE GOING TO BALANCE LOCAL
SCHOOL BUDGETS BY REFERENDUM,
AND SO BASICALLY, EVERY SCHOOL
DISTRICT IS FACING THIS CLIFF.
EVERY THREE, FOUR YEARS,
DEPENDING UPON HOW LONG THEY RUN
THEIR SUNSET REFERENDA.
>> SO WHAT HAPPENS IN THAT
SITUATION?
LOCAL PROPERTY TAXPAYERS SIMPLY
HAVE TO PAY A LARGER SHARE OF
THE COST AND WE'RE SEEING THAT
ALL OVER THE STATE.
>> Reporter: IN MUCH OF THE
STATE, THE SAME VOTERS WHO ARE
DECIDING THESE REFERENDA ARE THE
ONES WHO ELECTED THE REPUBLICAN
LAWMAKERS WHO UNDERFUNDED THE
SCHOOLS IN THE FIRST PLACE.
>> POINTING OUT THE GAP BETWEEN
WHAT VOTERS WANT, WHAT THEY'RE
VOTING FOR AT THE LOCAL LEVEL,
AND WHAT THEY'RE GETTING FROM
REPUBLICAN LEADERS IN MADISON I
THINK IS A REALLY IMPORTANT
MISSING LINK HERE THAT A LOT OF
PEOPLE AREN'T REALLY CONNECTING.
>> Reporter: BUT DON'T EXPECT
THE SCHOOLS TO POINT THAT OUT.
>> WE'VE WORKED HARD TO BE AS
APOLITICAL AS POSSIBLE, AND IT'S
NOT TO OUR BENEFIT TO ALIGN, YOU
KNOW, ONE WAY OR THE OTHER, BUT
CERTAINLY THE DICHOTOMY
SOCIETALLY IS NOT PLAYING TO OUR
FAVOR.
>> THE RICHLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT
COULD NOT BE IN A MORE
ADVANTAGEOUS POSITION
POLITICALLY.
BOTH TONY KURTZ AND HOWARD
MARKLEIN SIT ON THE JOINT
FINANCE COMMITTEE WHICH WRITES
THE STATE BUDGET.
>> I ALSO TRY TO HAVE
CONVERSATIONS WITH TONY KURTZ
AND HOWARD MARKLEIN IN TERMS OF
THIS IS A REALITY OF WHERE
SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE AT SO THAT
THEY UNDERSTAND.
>> BOTH HOWARD MARKLEIN AND TONY
KURTZ DECLINED TO SPEAK WOULD
YOU SAY FOR THIS REPORT.
>> THE FOLKS IN THE STATE HOUSE
ARE A HUNDRED PERCENT TO BLAME
FOR THAT.
>> DuBOIS SAYS BEYOND SCHOOL
DISTRICTS HAVING TO CONSTANTLY
RETURN TO THE VOTERS, THE
PROBLEM COMES WHEN YOU LOOK BACK
AT THE MAP AND SEE IN WHICH
DISTRICTS THE REFERENDA ARE
FAILING OR WHERE THEY'RE NOT
EVEN ASKING FOR MORE FUNDS.
>> IT'S WIDENING THE GAPS ACROSS
OUR DISTRICTS, ACROSS OUR
SCHOOLS, AND IT'S REALLY
GUARANTEEING THAT THERE ARE SOME
KIDS IN THIS STATE WHO SIMPLY
ARENER GOING TO SEE ENOUGH
RESOURCE TO THRIVE UNLESS WE
CHANGE THE DIRECTION THIS SHIP
IS STARING STEERING QUICKLY.
>> THERE ARE SCHOOL DISTRICTS
THAT WILL BE DOING THE BEAR
MINIMUMS ACROSS THE BOARD AND
THEN YOU'LL HAVE THE HIGH RENT
DISTRICTS THAT WILL SPEND ALMOST
TWICE AS MUCH AND THEORETICALLY,
WE'LL TRY TO TELL THE PUBLIC
THAT THOSE TWO EDUCATIONAL
OPPORTUNITIES ARE THE SAME, AND
I WILL SUGGEST TO YOU THAT
THAT'S MISLEADING.
>> REPORTING FROM FORT ATKINSON,
I'M ZAC SCHULTZ FOR "HERE AND
NOW."
>> FACING THE HEADWINDS OF THE
2024 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS, THE
NON-PARTISAN GROUP, KEEP OUR
REPUBLIC, TEAMS UP WITH
WISCONSIN ELECTIONS COMMISSION
TO PROVIDE AN INFORMATIONAL
SESSION TO VOTERS ABOUT HOW
ELECTIONS WORK.
THE EVENT, HELD IN WEST BEND,
ASPIRED TO BRING GREATER
TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY
TO ELECTION PROCESS IN WISCONSIN
AS WELL AS DISPEL INFORMATION
THAT CONTINUES TO SIMMER.
THE FIRST HOUR OF THE EVENT
SPOKE TO THE MECHANICS OF HOW
WISCONSIN ELECTIONS ARE RUN.
SPEAKERS INCLUDED FORMER
REPUBLICAN SENATOR AND CURRENT
STATE DIRECTOR OF KEEP OUR
REPUBLIC, KATHY BERNIER.
MEAGAN WOLFE AND LOCAL WEST BEND
OFFICIALS, BUT DESPITE THE
EFFORT TO ALLAY CONCERNS ABOUT
STATE ELECTION OPERATIONS, IN
SOME INSTANCES, IT SEEMED TO
FUEL THEORIES ABOUT THE 2020
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION AND WHAT'S
TO COME IN NOVEMBER 2024.
>> BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THEY DID
NOT FIND FRAUD IN GREEN BAY.
>> FOR NEARLY TWO HOURS, THE
PANELISTS TOOK QUESTIONS FROM
THE AUDIENCE WITH A COMMON
THEME.
>> YOU DIDN'T CHALLENGE THE
FRAUDULENT-LARS ELECTORS EVEN
THOUGH YOU WERE THREE DAYS
BEFORE THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE.
THIS WAS ON FRIDAY THE 11th.
SO ARE YOU GOING TO PLEDGE THAT
FROM STOPPING THIS YEAR?
YES OR NO, ARE YOU GOING TO STOP
THAT?
>> THAT THE 2020 ELECTION
REMAINS UNRESOLVED.
>> I THOUGHT IT WAS PURPLE.
>> I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT
IT! ANSWER THE QUESTION!
>> WE ARE IN 2024.
>> BUT NOT ALL ATTENDEES
APPROACHED THE EVENT DEMANDING
ANSWERS ABOUT 2020.
>> WE JUST DON'T YELL AT THE
PEOPLE WHO ADMINISTER THE
ELECTIONS, BUT WE ALSO NEED TO
MAKE SURE WE HOLD THE PEOPLE IN
MADISON ACCOUNTABLE WHEN WE SEND
THEM THERE.
IF THEY'RE NOT DOING WHAT WE
WANT THEM TO.
THAT'S WHY WE HAVE ELECTIONS.
>> WE CAME HERE TO LEARN ABOUT
THE PROCESS.
SOME PEOPLE ASKING QUESTIONS
WERE ATTACKING THIS.
THIS IS THE WRONG PLACE.
THIS IS AN INFORMATIONAL
SEMINAR.
IT WASN'T A PLACE TO SAY, HEY,
HOW ARE WE GOING TO CHANGE THESE
THINGS.
>> KEEP OUR REPUBLIC PLANS TO
HOLD THREE MORE OF THESE EVENTS
ACROSS THE STATE.
IN ECONOMIC NEWS AND THE
PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN, WHAT IS
THE DISCONNECT BETWEEN LOWERED
INFLATION, LOW UNEMPLOYMENT AND
HIGHER WAGES AND CONSUMERS WHO
FEEL THE PAIN OF HIGH COSTS AT
THE CHECKOUT AND THEN BLAME THE
CURRENT BIDEN ADMINISTRATION,
LONGING FOR WHAT THEY BELIEVE TO
BE THE HALCYON DAYS OF TRUMP.
WE TRIED TO UNPACK THIS NOW WITH
CHIEF ANALYST AT THE CENTER FOR
BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC INSIGHT AT
UW STEVENS POINT, KEVIN BAHR.
PROFESSOR, THANK YOU FOR BEING
HERE.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME BACK,
FREDERICA.
>> SO BY IMPORTANT MEASURES, THE
ECONOMY IS STRONG.
WHY AREN'T AVERAGE CONSUMERS
FEELING IT, IF THEY AREN'T?
>> HUH.
COMPLEX QUESTION, BUT I THINK
THE BIG, PROBABLY, STICKING
POINT FOR SOME PEOPLE IN TERMS
OF NOT FEELING THE STRENGTH OF
THE ECONOMY, THE STRENGTH OF THE
STOCK MARKET, HAS BASICALLY BEEN
FOOD PRICES.
FOOD PRICES ARE UP
SIGNIFICANTLY, IF YOU LOOK OVER
THE PAST FIVE YEARS, THEY HAVE
RISEN ABOUT 26% IN THE UNITED
STATES AND THAT FOOD PRICE, I
MEAN, IT'S TOUGH BECAUSE WHEN
FOOD PRICES GO UP, IT'S NOT LIKE
YOU CAN AVOID BUYING FOOD.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT EVERYBODY
NEEDS, AND PARTICULARLY FOR
LOWER AND MIDDLE INCOME
AMERICANS, THAT TAKES UP A
BIGGER PORTION OF YOUR OVERALL
BUDGET, SO IT REALLY HITS LOWER
INCOME MIDDLE AMERICANS HARD.
THAT BEING SAID, IT'S BEEN
GLOBAL FACTORS THAT HAVE
INCREASED GLOBAL FOOD PRICES AND
THAT INCLUDES ANYTHING FROM
PUTIN INVADING THE UKRAINE,
WHICH CAUSED WHEAT PRICES TO
RAISE 50%, THE CRANE AND RUSSIA
ACCOUNT FOR ABOUT 25% OF GLOBAL
WHEAT EXPORTS, AGRICULTURAL
FERTILIZER SPIKED.
RUSSIA IS THE NUMBER ONE
EXPORTER OF AGRICULTURAL
FERTILIZER.
THEN YOU THROW IN LININGS LIKE THINGS LIKE
THE AVIAN FLEW, LABOR COSTS ARE
UP, IT'S A GLOBAL THING.
>> SO IT'S NOT, AS SOME WOULD
STRONGLY SUGGEST, QUOTE,
CORPORATE GREED WHERE PROFITS
ARE UP OVER40%?
>> WELL, YOU CAN ARGUE THAT THAT
PLAYS INTO IT.
I MEAN, THAT WOULD BE ONE OF THE
FACTORS.
GLOBAL PROFITS ARE BASICALLY AT
RECORD LEVELS.
BACK IN 2022, THEY BACKED UP A
LITTLE BIT, BUT THEY'RE STILL
OFF SIGNIFICANTLY, SAY, RELATIVE
TO 2019, SO THAT PLAYS INTO IT,
BUT THEN YOU ALSO GET INTO WHAT
CAN BE DONE TO LESSEN INDUSTRY
CONCENTRATION IN SOME AREAS OF
THE FOOD INDUSTRY, AND THAT'S
KIND OF A LONG-TERM THING.
YOUR NOT GOING TO BE SETTLING
THAT OVERNIGHT.
>> SO I READ A SAYING THAT
PRICES RISE LIKE A ROCKET AND
FALL LIKE A FEATHER.
IS THAT WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE
OR HAVE MARKET FORCES KIND OF
CHANGED MORE SIGNIFICANTLY?
>> WELL, IT'S SORT OF A
COMBINATION.
PRICES TYPICALLY GO UP A LOT
EASIER THAN WHAT THEY COME DOWN.
YOU GO BACK AND LOOK AT THE
HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES,
PRICES IN A GIVEN MONTH OVERALL,
DON'T REALLY COME DOWN TOO
OFTEN, BUT, AGAIN, WITH KIND OF
THE RECENT, KIND OF THE RECENT
RUN UP IN COSTS, PRODUCTION
COSTS ARE UP, TRANSPORTATION
COSTS ARE UP, LABOR COSTS ARE
UP.
SO IT'S A LOT HARDER TO GET
PRICES TO COME DOWN.
SOME PRODUCTS, YES.
THERE'S GOING TO BE PRODUCTION
EVACUATION IN SOME PRODUCTS, BUT
THE OVERALL PRICE LEVEL, IT'S
TOUGH TO DRIVE DOWN.
>> WHAT IS CONTRIBUTING TO
PEOPLE FEELING LIKE THE ECONOMY
IS BAD FOR THEM?
>> YOU CAN LOOK AT THE HOUSING
MARKET.
HOUSING'S BEEN TOUGH IN A LOT OF
THE INCREASE IN, FOR EXAMPLE,
HOUSING PRICES WENT UP ABOUT --
THE INCREASE IN HOUSING PRICES
IN THE FIRST THREE YEARS OF THIS
DECADE MATCHED THE INCREASE IN
HOUSING PRICES OVER THE ENTIRE
LAST DECADE, AND THAT HAS REALLY
BEEN DRIVEN BY THE DROP IN
SUPPLY, WHICH STARTED TO OCCUR
IN 2020.
SO IF YOU LOOK AT THE OVERALL
LISTINGS, AVAILABLE HOUSING,
THAT HAS INCREASED CERTAINLY
CONTRIBUTED SIGNIFICANTLY TO THE
COST OF HOUSING AND HOUSING
PRICES.
SO BETWEEN COST OF HOUSING AND
FOOD PRICES, THOSE ARE THE BIG
STICKING POINTS FOR THE ECONOMY.
>> SO HOW MUCH IS POLITICAL
MESSAGING CONTRIBUTING TO
CONSUMERS A' ATTITUDES ABOUT THEIR
OWN ECONOMIC WELL-BEING?
>> I THINK POLITICAL MESSAGING
PLAYS A BIG FACTOR.
LET ME THROW SOMETHING OUT JUST
SO WE KIND OF HIT BOTH SIDES OF
THE AISLE, IF YOU WILL.
THE GLOBAL PRICE OF OIL TANKED
FROM $70 TO ABOUT $25 A BARREL
ON THE FIRST HALF OF 2020.
SO OIL COMPANIES CUT THEIR
PRODUCTION, LOWERED THEIR LEVELS
OF INVENTORY.
YOU COULDN'T BLAME TRUMP FOR THE
REDUCTION IN OIL PRODUCTION.
AND THERE'S GLOBAL FACTORS AT
PLAY AS FAR AS FOOD PRICES.
I DON'T THINK BIDEN SHOULD BE
BLAMED FOR THAT.
THE ONLY THING YOU COULD SAY
CONTRIBUTE TO THAT, WE'VE HAD A
VERY STRONG ECONOMY, STRONG
DEMAND, STRONG JOB MARKET.
YOU HAVE PEOPLE WORKING.
IF YOU HAD UNIMPLEMENT AT 10%
VERSUS 4%, THAT WOULD MAKE A
DIFFERENCE IN THE OVERALL
DEMAND.
>> WE LEAVE IT THERE.
PROFESSOR BAHR, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> FOR MORE ON THIS AND OTHER
ISSUES FAIFG WISCONSIN, VISIT
OUR WEBSITE AT WBEs 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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