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>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
PBS WISCONSIN PRODUCTION.
>> YOU ARE WATCHING "HERE AND
NOW" ELECTION COVERAGE.
OUT-OF-STATERS COME IN FOR THE
ELECTION AN TONY EBERS TO FORCE
THE HAND FOR PFAF FALLS FLAT.
CHARLESTON FRANKLIN JOIN US FOR
THE PRESIDENT AND THE SENATE AND
THE MENOMINEE TRIBE IS SUING BIG
SOCIAL MEDIA COMPANIES. WE SPEAK
TO THEIR LAWYER. ANOTHER EM PASS
OVER PFAS LEAVES COMMUNITIES
WAITING AND HOW SOME SCHOOL
DISTRICTS USE TOOLS TO KEEP TAX
RATES STABLE. IT IS "HERE AND
NOW" FOR APRIL 19TH. FUNDING IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND P& FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.
>> ENTHUSIASM FOR VOTING IN THE
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IS WAY
DOWN FROM FOUR YEARS AGO. THAT
IS A MESSAGE FROM THE LATEST
MARQUETTE LAW SCHOOL POLL OUT
THIS WEEK. FOR DETAILS WE TURN
TO POLL DIRECTOR CHARLESTON
FRANKLIN, THANKS SO MUCH FOR
BEING HERE.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> OVERALL HOW DOES DOES
DOES ENTHUSIASM COMPARE?
>> COMPARED TO MARCH OF 2020 --
ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT VOTING. THAT
IS QUITE A DROP. IT WAS DOWN IN
OUR JANUARY POLL ALSO ABOUT 20
POINTS BELOW WHERE IT HAD BEEN
FOUR YEARS AGO. NOW ENTHUSIASM
CAN CHANGE OVER THE COURSE OF
THE YEAR, THIS IS NOT
NECESSARILY BAKED IN. BUT AT THE
START OF THE RACE IT SHOWS WE
ARE NOT REALLY EAGER IN LOOKING
FORWARD TO THE FALL CAMPAIGN.
>> LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THE
PRESIDENTIAL MATCHUPS IN YOUR
POLLING. IT IS TRUMP 51% TO
BIDEN AT 49%. IN YOUR LAST POLL
THEY WERE EVEN. BUT YOU ALSO
FOUND INDEPENDENT RFK , JR. GOT
13% AND TAKING VOTES FROM TRUMP.
WHAT IS THIS SPELLING FOR BIDEN?
>> WE HAVE SEEN THIS IN SEVERAL
POLLS NOW, THAT REPUBLICANS VOTE
FOR KENNEDY ABOUT FOUR TO FIVE
POINTS MORE THAN DEMOCRATS VOTE
FOR KENNEDY. SO IT IS A LITTLE
MORE FROM THE REPUBLICAN SIDE.
NOW THE GREEN CANDIDATE, JILL
STEIN AND INDEPENDENT CORNELL
WEST TAKE MORE FROM DEMOCRATS
THAN REPUBLICANS. THIS MONTH IS
A SMALL CHANGE. TRUMP IS UP TWO
IN THE HEAD-TO-HEAD, UP BY ONE
POINT IN THE FIVE-WAY RACE, SO
THE NET EFFECT OF ALL THIS IS
SLIGHTLY IMPROVED BIDEN'S
POSITION BUT IT IS A VERY SLIGHT
DIFFERENCE. ONE LAST THING,
KENNEDY GETTING 13%, REMEMBER IN
2016, WHICH WAS THE RECENT HIGH
WATER MARK IN WISCONSIN, ALL
INDEPENDENT CANDIDATES TOGETHER
ONLY GOT 5.5% OF THE VOTE.
>> SO 13% IS A BIG NUMBER.
TAKING A LOOK AT THE TAMMY
BALDWIN AND HOVDE COMPARISON,
AMONG REGISTERED VOTERS IS
DEMOCRAT TAMMY BALDWIN, 52 TO 47
HOVDE. HOW HAS THAT MOVED SINCE
HOVDE ANNOUNCED?
>> WE DIDN'T HAVE AN EARLIER
VOTE QUESTION BECAUSE HE WASN'T
AN ANNOUNCED CANDIDATE YET. THIS
IS OUR FIRST TIME OF POLLING
THAT. HOVDE HAS GOTTEN BETTER
KNOWN SINCE JANUARY, WHEN WE DID
ASK IF YOU HAD A FAVORABLE OR
UNFAVORABLE VIEW. THEN IN
JANUARY, 82% SAID THEY DIDN'T
KNOW ENOUGH TO HAVE AN OPINION.
THIS TIME IT IS 56% SO
SUBSTANTIAL GROWTH IN NAME
RECOGNITION BUT STILL MORE THAN
HALF THE ELECTORATE DON'T HAVE
AN OPINION. THAT IS TOTALLY
NORMAL FOR NONINCOME WANT
CANDIDATES FOR THIS STAGE BUT BY
COMPARISON 11% SAID THEY DIDN'T
HAVE AN OPINION OF TAMMY
BALDWIN.
>> AMONG LIKELY VOTERS, THEIR
NUMBERS ARE EVEN AT 50%.
WHAT IS THE IMPLICATION OF THAT?
>> WELL, TWO THINGS. ONE IS
50/50 TIE MEANS THIS COULD LOOK
LIKE A CLOSE RACE WHEN PEOPLE
WERE THINKING OF BALDWIN'S
11-POINT ONE SIX YEARS AGO THIS
LOOKS LIKE A MUCH CLOSER RACE
THAN IN 2018. THE OTHER IS THAT
I THINK HOVDE ACTUALLY BENEFITS
IN AN ODD KIND OF WAY IN THAT
50/50 SPLIT WE ARE SAYING
DEMOCRAT TAMMY BALDWIN OR
REPUBLICAN ERIC HOVDE WHEN HALF
THE ELECTORATE DON'T HAVE AN
OPINION OF HOVDE SUPPLYING THE
REPUBLICAN LABEL HELPS THEM
DECIDE THIS IS SOMEONE ON MY
TEAM OR MAYBE NOT ON MY TEAM.
TWO OTHER WAYS OF ASKING THE
QUESTION SHOW A RANGE OF ANSWERS
WITH BALDWIN AHEAD BY AS MUCH AS
SEVEN OR FIVE AS WE HAVE JUST
EMPHASIZED ON THE REGISTERED
VOTER, OR TIED. SO IT IS A RANGE
OF THINGS. I THINK A CLOSE RACE
IS THE BEST ANSWER TO TAKE AWAY
FROM IT.
>> LOOKING KIND OF DEEPER INTO
THE ENTHUSIASM PART OF YOUR
POLLING SPECIFIC TO
-- VERY ENTHUSIASTIC
COMPARED TO 59% OF TRUMP VOTERS.
THEN FOR NOT AT ALL ENTHUSIASTIC
TO VOTE 62% SAY THAT FOR JOE
BIDEN, 37% FOR DONALD TRUMP.
>> I THINK THIS IS REALLY THE
LOOK OF THE RACE, THAT TRUMP HAS
A VERY SUPPORTIVE, VERY
ENTHUSIASTIC GROUND BEHIND HIM.
BIDEN VOTERS ARE JUST SIMPLY
MAYBE BIDEN VOTERS. THEY ARE
CERTAINLY MOSTLY NOT TRUMP
VOTERS BUT NOT EXCITED ABOUT THE
RACE OR ENTHUSIASTIC. THEY LIKE
THE COUNTRY HAVE RESERVATIONS
ABOUT BIDEN'S AGE, ISRAEL AND
HAMAS AND ALL THOSE THINGS ARE
MAKING BIDEN SUPPORTERS
UNENTHUSIASTIC EVEN IF THEY ARE
STILL COMMITTED TO VOTING FOR
THEM. YOU MOBILIZE THOSE
UNENTHUSIASTIC SUPPORT ERS.
>> LET'S LOOK AT THE ISSUE, THE
TOP THREE ISSUES WERE THE
ECONOMY, IMMIGRATION AND
ABORTION. IT SEEMS OF NOTE THAT
THE ISSUE OF ISRAEL AND GAZA WAS
WAY DOWN THE LIST AT 2%.
>> WAY DOWN. AMONG PEOPLE 18 TO
29 IT WAS 7% THAT SAID ISRAEL
AND GAZA WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT
PROBLEM. I THINK THIS IS A GOOD
EXAMPLE THAT INDIVIDUAL GROUPS
AND PARTICULAR ISSUES CAN
MOBILIZE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO
HAVE REALLY STRONG OPINIONS.
THAT DOESN'T MEAN IT IS THE MOST
IMPORTANT ISSUE ON THE COUNTRY
AS A WHOLE OR EVEN AMONG YOUNG
VOTERS AND IT IS LESS THAN 7%
AMONG DEMOCRATS AND PEOPLE WHO
CONSIDER THEMSELVES VERY LIB
RAT. THE OTHER THING ON THIS
ISSUE IS THAT DEMOCRATS PUT
ABORTION AS THE FIRST ISSUE BUT
IMMIGRATION ONLY GETS 1% AS THE
MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE FOR
DEMOCRATS. IT AND THE ECONOMY
ARE BY FAR THE TOP TWO ISSUES
FOR REPUBLICANS.
>> ALL RIGHT, CHARLES FRANKLIN,
THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> A MENOMINEE NATION LAWSUIT
AGAINST SOCIAL MEDIA GIANTS LIKE
META, SNAP, UBER AND TIKTOK
BLAMES THE COMPANIES FOR
REWIRING THE BRAINS OF TEENS AND
YOUNG ADULTS, CAUSING SUICIDAL
DISTRESS. THE SUIT ALLEGES THE
ALGORITHMS CODED IN TO THE
PLATFORMS ENCOURAGING OBSESSIVE
SCROLLING AND RESULTING NEGATIVE
SELF-IMAGE, ESPECIALLY AMONG
GIRLS. THE LAWSUIT CITES THE
CDC, SAYING TRIBAL SUICIDE RATES
FAR EXCEED THE NATIONAL AVERAGE,
ALLEGING A LINK TO SOCIAL MEDIA
USE. WE ARE JOINED NOW BY ONE OF
THE ATTORNEYS FOR THE MENOMINEE
INDIAN TRIBE, TIMOTHY PURDON.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> YOUR LAWSUIT DESCRIBE HOW
THIS HAS DEVASTATED TRIBAL
COMMUNITIES. WHAT IS THE
SITUATION AMONG THE MENOMINEE IN
WISCONSIN?
>> GENERALLY ACROSS INDIAN
COUNTRY THE RESERVATION
COMMUNITIES LIKE MENOMINEE, YOU
KNOW, OR A LONG TIME, DECADES
REALLY, YOU KNOW, THE TRIBAL
YOUTH, THE TEENAGE POPULATIONS
IN THOSE COMMUNITIES, REALLY
SOME OF THE MOST AT-RISK
POPULATIONS IN THIS COUNTRY, YOU
LOOK AT ANY OF THE STATISTICS
FOR MENTAL HEALTH, SUICIDE
RATES, THOSE SORT OF THINGS, A
NATIVE AMERICAN FEMALE TEENAGER
HAS A FIVE-TIME RATE OF SUICIDE
RISK TO A WHITE FEMALE TEENAGER.
THOSE SORTS OF STATISTICS ARE
ALL TOO OFTEN IN INDIAN
COUNTRIESN. THE LAST TEN YEARS
WE HAVE SEEN INJECTED INTO THAT
VULNERABLE POPULATION THE
SOPHISTICATED BUSINESS PRACTICES
AND ALGORITHMS O OF THE SOCIAL
MEDIA COMPANIES WHICH THE
GROWING RESEARCH AND DATA
DIRECTLY LINKS TO DECREASE T--
>> IN YOUR BELIEF DOES A YOUNG
PERSON ENGAGING WITH SOCIAL
MEDIA APPS CONTRIBUTE TO THIS?
>> WELL, THE STATISTICS ARE
CLEAR. THE CDC STUDIES ARE CLEAR
AND ESTABLISH A LINK. SO THAT IS
THE SCIENTIFIC BASIS BEHIND THIS
LAWSUIT AND A NUMBER OF THER
LAWSUITS. LET'S BE CLEAR,
MENOMINEE ENTITY IS NOT THE
FIRST TO COME FORWARD AND SEW
THE SOCIAL MEDIA GIANTS FOR
NEGATIVE IMPACT FOR THE TEEN
MENTAL HEALTH. AT LEAST 41 STATE
ATTORNEYS GENERAL FILED LAWSUITS
SIMILAR TO OURS LAST OCTOBER
AGAINST THESE COMPANIES
INCLUDING THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
FOR STATE OF WISCONSIN. THIS IS
A NATIONWIDE EPIDEMIC, CRISIS.
SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS IMPACTING
YOUNG PEOPLE. THE POINT OF OUR
LAWSUIT IS IN THE MIX OF ALL
THAT THE MOST VULNERABLE
POPULATION OF TEENAGERS IN THIS
COUNTRY ARE NATIVE TEENS LIVING
IN THEIR RESERVATION
COMMUNITIES.
>> SO THAT IS WHY THIS IS WHAT
YOU DESCRIBE AS A FIRST OF ITS
KIND LAWSUIT?
>> RIGHT. SO HISTORICALLY --
HISTORICALLY OVER THE LAST 150
YEARS TRIBAL NATIONS HAVE NOT
NECESSARILY COME FORWARD AND
EXERCISED THEIR SOVEREIGNTY IN
THIS WAY. COMING FORWARD, FILING
A LAWSUIT ON A PUBLIC HEALTH
CRISIS IMPACTING THEIR
RESERVATION AS IT IS IMPACTING
THE REST OF THE COUNTRY. IN THE
BIG TOBACCO CASES OF LATE 90s,
AMERICAN INDIAN TRIBES WERE NOT
PLAINTIFFS, THEY DID NOT SUE.
WHEN THEY SETTLED TRIBAL
COMMUNITIES DIDN'T SHARE IN THE
SETTLEMENT DOLLARS. OVER THE
LAST FIVE OR SIX YEARS THAT HAS
CHANGED AND HAVE BEEN INVOLVED
IN LITIGATION AGAINST OPIOID
MANUFACTURERS AND DISTRIBUTORS
FOR THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC. AGAIN,
AN EPIDEMIC THAT HAS HIT TRIBES
HARD. OVER 250 FEDERALLY
RECOGNIZED TRIBES FILED LAWSUIT
AGAINST THE OPIOID
MANUFACTURERS. WHEN THOSE
SETTLED OVER 1.5 BILLION WILL
FLOW DIRECTLY TO TRIBES FROM
THOSE SETTLEMENTS. THIS IS THE
LATEST SITUATION WHERE TRIBES
ARE EXERCISING THEIR
SOVEREIGNTY. SITTING
SHOULDER-TO-SHOULDER WITH THE
STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL FROM
WISCONSIN, FROM MINNESOTA,
BRINGING THE CASES SAYING WE ARE
TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS, WE ARE SOV
RIN
SOVEREIGN AND OUR PEOPLE ARE
IMPACTED, IT IS A ROBUST EFFORT
BY TRIBES IN THE COUNTRY.
>> WHAT IS YOUR SUIT
SEEK ING?ENTER
>> THE PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS. THE
SUIT ALLEGES THERE'S BEEN A
PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS CREATED. WE
ARE SEEKING COMPENSATION,
ABATEMENT. WE WANT TO SEE THAT
THE DOLLARS FLOW TO THE TRIBES
SO THEY CAN DEVELOP PROGRAMS TO
ADDRESS THE GROWING MENTAL
HEALTH AND SUICIDE CRISIS THAT
IS LINKED TO THE BUSINESS
PRACTICES OF SOME OF THESE
DEFENDANTS.
>> SO ARE THERE SPECIFIC IDEAS,
TO YOUR KNOWLEDGE, ON THE PART
OF THE TRIBES OF HOW THEY WOULD
SPECIFICALLY USE THIS MONEY?
>> WE ARE -- YOU KNOW, WE ARE AT
THE -- WE ARE TAKING THE FIRST
STEP IN WHAT COULD BE A VERY
LONG JOURNEY TOWARDS JUSTICE
HERE. TO TALK ABOUT WHAT THIS
MIGHT LOOK LIKE AT THE END IS A
LITTLE PREMATURE. I CAN TELL YOU
IN THE OPIOID CASES TRIBES THAT
HAVE RECEIVED SOME OF THAT
1.5 BILLION HAVE BUILT TREATMENT
FACILITIES, EXPANDED TREATMENT
OPPORTUNITIES ON THE RESERVATION
AND IN THOSE SORTS OF MENTAL
HEALTH TREATMENT, MENTAL HEALTH
CARE OPTIONS ARE ALL TOO SCARCE
IN INDIAN COUNTRY. SO ANY MONEYS
BROUGHT IN TO HELP PEOPLE ON THE
RESERVATION IS A BIG HELP.
>> ALL RIGHT. WE LEAVE IT THERE.
TIMOTHY PURDON, THANKS VERY
MUCH.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> ACTION PART NEW FEDERAL
LEVEL S HAVE BEEN SET AT FOUR
PARTS PER TRILLION, MUCH LOWER
THAN WISCONSIN'S 70 PARTS PER
TRILLION. ON INACTION PART
LAWMAKER S HAVE REJECTED
GOVERNOR EBERS CALL TO SPEND 125
MILLION TO DEAL WITH
PFAS .ENTER STATE AND NATIONAL
LAWSUITS AGAINST PARTIES DEEMED
RESPONSIBLE FOR PFAS
CONTAMINATION ARE IN VARIOUS
STAGES OF SETTLEMENT OR VERDICT.
ONE TRIAL GOES ON LATER THIS
YEAR. TYCO MANUFACTURED FIRE
FIGHTING FOAM USED AT TRAIN
FACILITY, AND SURROUNDING
COMMUNITIES INCLUDING PESHTIGO
ARE HOT SPOTS. AFTER YEARS OF
TESTING, FIGHTING, LOOKING FOR
HELP OUR NEXT GUEST IS FORMER
CHAIR OF THE TOWN OF PESHTIGO
GOOSHGSD
BOARD, CINDY BOYLE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN
FIGHTING IN YOUR HOMETOWN AND IN
YOUR OWN PROPERTY?
>> THIS NOVEMBER WILL BE EIGHT
YEARS.
>> SO THERE HAVE BEEN HUNDREDS
OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS HOPING TO
COME TO THE RESCUE OF PLACES
LIKE PESHTIGO FROM STATE, THE
FED, LAWSUITSES, COMPANY
OUTLAYS. HAS THAT MONEY YET MADE
A DIFFERENCE?
>> I'M ENCOURAGED BY THE FACT
THERE IS SIGNIFICANT FUNDING
COMING TO STATES ON WHAT APPEARS
TO BE A CONSISTENT BASIS AT THIS
POINT FOR MORE THAN WE COULD
HAVE HOPED FOR EVEN SEVEN YEARS
AGO, OR SIX YEARS AGO. TO MY
KNOWLEDGE NOT NO A SIGNIFICANT
MEANINGFUL WAY AS FAR AS A
PERMANENT SOLUTION FOR OUR
COMMUNITY, NO T YET NOTE YET BUT THE DNR
IS PUTTING THAT TO WORK AND WE
HAVE TO GET THAT FUNDING
RELEASED FROM TRUST AND INTO THE
DNR DIRECTION.
>> AS TO THE IN-FIGHTING OVER
125 MILLION WHAT DO RESIDENTS
LIKE YOURSELF THINK ABOUT THAT
FIGHTING IN MADISON WHEN YOU ARE
LOOKING FOR THIS URGENT HELP?
>> IT IS AN IMPORTANT QUESTION.
IT IS COMPLICATED, AS ARE ALL
THINGS PFAS. BUT I WONDER -- I
UNDERSTOOD VERY WELL THAT SB312
LEGISLATION AND UNDERSTOOD THE
ARGUMENTS ON BOTH SIDES OF THAT.
I'M CONCERNED -- I'M GRATEFUL
GOVERNOR EBERS DID VETO. WE AS A
STATE CANNOT AFFORD TO HAVE THIS
BILL'S LAW WEAKENED. IT IS THE
SINGLE MECHANISM BY WHICH
RESIDENTS IN WISCONSIN HAVE
PROTECTION WITH THE DNR. IF THEY
LOSE THAT PROTECTION IN ANY WAY,
SHAPE OR FORM OUR COMMUNITY FOR
ONE WOULD NEVER HAVE BENEFITTED
FROM HELP THEY HAVE PROVIDED US
SO WE NEED TO KEEP THAT FOREMOST
IN OUR MINDS AS THINGS GO
FORWARD. I AM VERY, VERY HOPEFUL
THAT NEW LEGISLATION WILL MAKE
ITS WAY OR THAT THE FINANCE
COMMITTEE WILL AT LEAST RELEASE
THOSE FUNDS AS INTENDED OVER A
YEAR AGO. IT NEEDS TO START
BEING ABLE TO BE PUT TO WORK.
>> SO PFAS IS COMPLICATED. ALL
THE REMEDIATIONS AND ALL THE
RESPONSIBLE PARTIES AND ALL OF
IT. HAS THIS DIVIDED YOUR
COMMUNITY?
>> MORE RECENTLY I WOULD SAY
PEOPLE GET A LITTLE BIT WORN
OUT. MAYBE THEY GET A LITTLE
DEFEATED AND FEEL LIKE THERE
ISN'T GOING TO BE A SOLUTION OR
MAYBE PEOPLE THOUGHT THE
SETTLEMENT THAT TYCO DISTRIBUTED
THROUGH OUR COMMUNITY WAS THE
BEST THEY COULD HOPE FOR AND ARE
NOW CHOOSING TO NOT THINK ABOUT
IT. I DON'T KNOW. I KNOW THE
TOPIC TOO WELL TO DO ANY OF
THOSE THINGS, SO MYSELF AND
OTHERS WHO ARE IN COMMUNITY
LEADERSHIP ROLLES AND ADVOCACY
ROLES ARE MOVING FORWARD TOWARD
SAFE WATER AND ACCOUNTABILITY
FROM THE RESPONSIBLE PARTY.
>> YOU DESCRIBE BEING EXCITED
ABOUT A NEW ANNOUNCEMENT OUT OF
THE EPA. WHAT WAS THAT.
>> YES. SO THIS MORNING THE
BIDEN ADMINISTRATION FINALIZED A
RULE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 40
YEARS. THEY ARE DEEMING PFOA AND
PF OS AS HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES,
WHICH IS CRITICAL BECAUSE IT
WILL QUALIFY THEM UNDER
SUPERFUND THAT. SEEMS
CONTRADICTORY TO HOPE YOUR
COMMUNITY WOULD BE CONSIDERED
FOR SUPERFUND BECAUSE BASICALLY
MEANS YOU LIVE IN A VERY
POLLUTED AREA BUT MEANS THE EPA
HAS THE AUTHORITY TO HOLD
PARTIES RESPONSIBLE TO MAKE SURE
THEY DO ADEQUATE, COMPREHENSIVE
REMEDIATION FOR THINGS LIKE
SURFACE WATER, SOILS, AS WELL AS
HELP INNOCENT LAND OWNERS SUCH
AS MYSELF HAVE PERMANENT SAFE
WATER SOLUTIONS. AFTER TODAY'S
ANNOUNCEMENT THERE WAS
UNCERTAINTY AROUND THE NEXT
STEPS FOR THIS. WITH TODAY'S
ANNOUNCEMENT WE ARE VERY
VINDICATED AND ENCOURAGED AND
OPTIMISTIC THAT THERE IS STILL A
STRONG PATH FORWARD, SO WE ARE
VERY, VERY GRATEFUL THIS RULE
HAS GONE INTO PLACE.
>> COMBINE THAT WITH RECENT EPA
SETTING MAX AT FOUR PARTS PER
TRILLION, WHAT WAS THAT LIKE?
>> EQUALLY AMAZING. IT DOESN'T
AFFECT US BECAUSE WE ARE ON
PRIVATE DRINKING WELLS BUT LAST
WEEK AGO WEDNESDAY -- SO ALL
PEOPLE ON WATER THROUGH PUBLIC
UTILITY HAVE ASSURANCE OF
PROTECTION, ESPECIALLY FOR
WISCONSIN, WE HAD AS YOU
MENTIONED 70 PARTS PER TRILLION
AND EPA ADJUSTED THAT TO FOUR
PARTS PER TRILLION, A MORE
PROTECTIVE NUMBER. WE ARE
GRATEFUL. THAT HAS NOT HAPPENED
IN 30 YEARS. THESE ARE
SIGNIFICANT STEPS. I'M GOING TO
GIVE IT TO YOU STRAIGHT. THAT
TELLS ME TWO THINGS: INDUSTRY
LOBBYISTS ARE VERY GOOD AT THEIR
JOB. NUMBER TWO, IT TELLS YOU
HOW BAD PFAS IS THAT THOSE TWO
RULES STILL WERE MADE.
>> ALL RIGHT. CINDY BOYLE, WE
LEAVE IT THERE. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> JUST BEFORE THE APRIL
ELECTION WE REPORTED ON THE RISE
OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS AROUND THE
STATE GOING TO REFERENDUM FOR
OPERATING EXPENSES. IN FEBRUARY
AND APRIL VOTERS APPROVE 41
OPERATING REFERENDUM, THE
BIGGEST 250 BILLION A YEAR FOR
MILWAUKEE PUBLIC SCHOOLS BUT A
NUMBER OF DISTRICTS FOUND
REQUESTS DENIED. THE TWO WE
PROFILED, FORT ATKINSON AND
RICHLAND, SAW THEIRS PASSED.
SENIOR POLITICAL REPORTERS AT
SCHULZ TELLS US THEY USED THE
SAME METHOD TO MAKE THEIR
REFERENDUM LOOK MORE APPEALING
TO VOTERS PROMISING THE TAX
INCREASE WOULDN'T COST THEM
ANYTHING.
>> IN THE RUNUP TO ELECTION DATE
THE FORT ATKINSON SCHOOL
DISTRICT HELD A PUBLIC
INFORMATION SESSION ON THE
REFERENDUM.
>> THE UPCOMING OPERATIONAL
REFERENDUM PROVIDES THE DISTRICT
TO USE FUNDS DIFFERENTLY.
>> THE DISTRICT WAS TELLING
VOTERS THE OPERATIONAL
REFERENDUM WOULD LET THEM LEVEE
ADDITIONAL 6.5 MILLION A YEAR
FOR THREE YEARS TO AVOID MORE
CUTS BUT IT WAS PROM MISSION
VOTE
PROMISING VOTERS IT WOULD NOT
RESULT IN TAX INCREASE.
>> I WANT TO MAKE SURE I HAVE
FIGURES STRAIGHT BECAUSE I'M
HAVING TROUBLE RELATING.
>> A LOT OF CONFUSION.
>> I'M AFRAID I DON'T UNDERSTAND
THE CONNECTION.
>> HERE IS THE AMOUNT IF THE
ATKINSON RECEIVES FROM PROPERTY
TAXES. THEY COULD PROMISE
6.5 MILLION INCREASE FOR THE
NEXT ATHLETE YEARYEARS WOULDN'T INCREASE
BECAUSE THEY RAISED LEVEE BY 7
MILLION THE YEAR BEFORE TO
PREPAY A CONSTRUCTION LOAN
CALLED DEFEASANCE. IF THE
REFERENDUM PASSED THEY WOULD GO
BACK TO PAYING THE NORMAL
PAYMENT IN FUTURE YEARS.
DEFEASENCE IS PREPAYING
INTEREST. ABBOT SAYS AFTER THE
REFERENDUM FAIL ED THE PRIOR
YEARS THE SCHOOL BOARD DECIDED
TO RAISE LEVEE TO PREPAID DEBT.
>> THE IDEA OF DEFEASANCE OR
PREPAYING DEBT IS DIFFICULT FOR
PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND BUT
DEFINITELY IS A STRATEGY THAT IS
A LONG-TERM BENEFIT TO THE
TAXPAYER. IN OUR CASE IT EQUATES
TO AROUND 3.4 MILLION IN SAVINGS
OF INTEREST OVER THE TERM OF
THOSE 20-YEAR BONDS.
>> BUT THE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS
CLEARLY DIDN'T WANT TO SAY THEY
HAD ALREADY RAISED TAXES ON
THEIR OWN. THEY DESCRIBED IT AS
NEEDING VOTER APPROVAL TO
REALLOCATE FUNDS.
>> THEY ARE SAYING WE NEED MONEY
TO MAINTAIN CURRENT PROGRAMMING
WE HAVE. WE CAN'T USE THAT
FUNDING OVER THERE THAT WE USED
TO PREPAY THE DEBT.
>> IT REALLY WASN'T SINKING IN.
>> OF THAT PREPAID 7 MILLION
ONE-TIME PAYMENT, THEY ARE
SEEKING PERMISSION TO SHIP
6.5 MILLION THREE TIMES.
>> WE ARE LEVEEING THE SAME
DOLLAR AMOUNT OVER EACH YEAR.
APPROXIMATE -- VOTER PERMISSION.
>> DOESN'T MATTER WHETHER WE
VOTE YES OR NO. YOU ARE STILL
GOING TO JUST MOVE IT AROUNDND THIS
IS --
>> NO, THEY NEED OUR PERMISSION.
>> IN OUR BEST EFFORTS TO BE AS
SIMPLE OR TO BE AS CONCRETE AS
POSSIBLE WHEN TALKING ABOUT
SCHOOL FINANCE, IT STILL IS
VERY, VERY DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE
TO UNDERSTAND HOW ALL OF THAT
WORKS.
>> IN THE RICHLAND SCHOOL
DISTRICT AN INCREASE IN STATE
AID A COUPLE YEARS AGO WOULD
HAVE MEANT A DROP IN THE TAX
RATE.
>> WE WANTED TO STABILIZE THAT
MILL RATE AND USE THAT TO
PRE-PAY SOME OF OUR EXISTING
DEBT.
>> DISTRICT ADMINISTRATOR STEVE
BOARD SAID THE SCHOOL DECIDED TO
USE DEFEASANCE TO KEEP THE RATE
THE SAME.
>> WE HAVE TAKEN AN 8.7 MILLION
DEBT AND CUT DOWN TO JUST UNDER
FOUR MILLION.
>> THAT HELPED THEM TO GET THIS
TAX NEUTRAL AS WELL.
>> WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO USE THAT
GAP TO DO THIS OPERATIONAL
REFERENDUM AT ZERO TAX IMPACT.
>> BOTH DISTRICT ADMINISTRATORS
SAY THIS USE TO SET UP THE
OPERATING REFERENDUM WAS KEY TO
PASSAGE.
>> THIS ISN'T A REFERENDUM WE
CAN LIVE WITHOUT SO WE ARE
FORCED TO CREATE AN EFFORT THAT
WILL HOP FULLY BE AS SUCCESSFUL
AS POSSIBLE IN PASSING
REFERENDUM.
>> RICHLAND'S OPERATING
REFERENDUM PASSED BY 139 VOTES.
FORT ATKINSON BY 79. SOME
NEIGHBORING DISTRICTS DIDN'T
HAVE THE SAME RESULTS. VOTERS IN
MOSSTON REJECTED BY 480 VOTES.
VOTERS IN THE JEFFERSON SCHOOL
DISTRICT REJECTED THEIRS BY 685.
BOTH MOSSTON AND JEFFERSON WERE
ASKING FOR LESS MONEY THAN THEIR
NEIGHBORS BUT EACH OF THOSE CAME
WITH A TAX INCREASE. SHOULD WE
EXPECT TO SEE MORE DISTRICTS
USING DEFEASANCE?
>> A DISTRICT CAN DO IT IF THEY
HAVE REFERENDUM DEBT FOR CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENTS THAT THEY ARE
TAKING OUT BONDS ON AND USE THAT
STRATEGY TO STABILIZE THE MILL
RATE.
>> I THINK FOR OTHER DISTRICTS
IF THEY ARE NOT PASSING AN
ADDITIONAL REFERENDUM THE ONLY
WAY THEY CAN KEEP THAT TAX RATE
STABLE OR WHERE IT HAD BEEN IS
PRE-PAY DEBT, IF THEY HAVE DEBT.
BUT OF COURSE WHEN DISTRICTS RUN
OUT OF DEBT THAT OPPORTUNITY
EVAPORATES AS WELL.
>> FROM FORT ATKINSON I'M ZAC
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