>> I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW," A
FIRST LOOK AT GOVERNOR SCOTT
WALKER'S REELECTION BID.
A CLOSER LOOK AT THE STATE'S
CONTRACT WITH FOXCONN.
THEN, IN OUR LOOK AHEAD, WE'LL
DISCUSS HOW TUESDAY'S ELECTIONS
AROUND THE COUNTRY MAY HAVE
IMPLICATIONS FOR WISCONSIN'S
MIDTERM RACES.
AND SHAWN JOHNSON PROVIDES
CAPITOL INSIGHT ON THE STATE
SENATE'S CONSTITUTIONAL
CONVENTION VOTE.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR
NOVEMBER 10.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED, IN PART, BY FRIENDS OF
WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISION.
>> AFTER WINNING TWO GENERAL
ELECTIONS AND ONE RECALL
ELECTION FOR GOVERNOR,
SURROUNDED BY FAMILY AND
LONG-TIME SUPPORTERS, GOVERNOR
SCOTT WALKER ANNOUNCED SUNDAY
THAT HE IS OFFICIALLY IN THE
RACE FOR REELECTION IN 2018.
HIS CAMPAIGN KICKOFF WAS IN
WAUKESHA.
>> I'M PLEASED, I AM THRILLED ON
BEHALF OF OUR OUTSTANDING
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, REBECCA
KLEEFISCH AND I, TO ANNOUNCE
TODAY THAT REBECCA AND I ARE
ASKING FOR FOUR MORE YEARS TO
SERVE AS YOUR GOVERNOR AND
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR TO MOVE
WISCONSIN FORWARD!
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> FOUR MORE YEARS!
FOUR MORE YEARS!
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
FOUR MORE YEARS.
FOUR MORE YEARS TO KEEP MOVING
THIS STATE FORWARD AND LOOKING
AHEAD.
WE WANT A STATE WHERE EVERYONE
SHARES, EVERYONE SHARES IN OUR
ECONOMIC PROSPERITY, WHETHER YOU
LIVE IN A BIG CITY OR A SMALL
TOWN, FROM ONE END OF THE STATE
TO THE OTHER.
WE WANT EVERYONE TO SHARE IN THE
WISCONSIN COMEBACK SO THAT
EVERYONE CAN FIND NOT JUST A
JOB, BUT A CAREER TO SUPPORT
THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES
GOING FORWARD.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> LOOKING AHEAD, WE WANT A
STATE WHERE EVERY CHILD, EVERY
CHILD CAN HAVE ACCESS TO A GREAT
EDUCATION, WHETHER IT'S LIKE
MATT AND ALEX DID AT A
TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOL, A
CHARTER SCHOOL, A CHOICE SCHOOL,
A PRIVATE HOMESCHOOL, A VIRTUAL
SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT.
WHEREVER IT MIGHT BE, WE TRUST
PARENTS TO MAKE THE RIGHT
DECISION FOR THEIR SONS AND
THEIR DAUGHTERS, NOT JUST FOR
STUDENT SUCCESS, BECAUSE WE WANT
TO ENERGIZE THE NEXT GENERATION
OF THE 21ST CENTURY WORKFORCE
HERE IN WISCONSIN.
>> THE ANNOUNCEMENT TOUTED
EDUCATION AND THE WORKFORCE,
AMONG OTHER ACCOMPLISHMENTS LIKE
TAX CUTS.
BUT HE DIDN'T MENTION THE
STATE'S NEWLY-MINTED $3 BILLION
DEAL WITH FOXCONN.
WE'LL HAVE MORE ON THE WEEK'S
FOXCONN DEVELOPMENTS LATER IN
THE PROGRAM, BUT WE WONDERED WHY
THE GOVERNOR LEFT THE DEAL WITH
THE ELECTRONICS GIANT OUT OF HIS
REMARKS.
HERE'S WHAT UW-MILWAUKEE
POLITICAL SCIENTIST MORDECAI LEE
SAYS ABOUT THAT.
>> WITH SCOTT WALKER HE'S SUCH A
GOOD POLITICIAN THERE'S ALWAYS A
REASON.
IT COULD BE THEY'VE DONE
INTERNAL POLLING AND THEY'VE
FOUND REPUBLICANS ARE MIXED
ABOUT IT.
IT COULD BE THERE ARE SOME WHO
THINK I'M NOT SURE THIS IS A
VERY GOOD IDEA.
THIS IS CORPORATE WELFARE.
OR THIS IS PUTTING ALL YOUR
MONEY ON ONE INSTEAD OF
SPREADING YOUR MONEY AROUND.
SO IT'S POSSIBLE THAT HE'S NOT
SURE THAT IT'S A WINNER IN TERMS
OF MOBILIZING HIS BASE.
WE KNOW ALREADY THAT THERE ARE
DEMOCRATS WHO ARE AGAINST IT,
BUT THAT MIGHT BE MORE REFLEXIVE
THAN ANYTHING ELSE.
AND WHEN IT COMES TO THIS
SITUATION, HE CAN BOAST ABOUT
THE POTENTIAL OF THE CONTRACT,
BUT BY NEXT NOVEMBER NOBODY'S
GOING TO KNOW IF THE POTENTIAL
WORKED OR NOT.
THERE CAN BE BEGINNING
CONSTRUCTION.
THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE A MINIMAL
CREW.
THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE MINIMAL
EMPLOYMENT.
SO IT COULD BE THAT IF HE WANTS
TO RUN ON WHAT HE'S
ACCOMPLISHED, PAST TENSE, THAT
THIS CONTRACT IS NOT THE THING
THAT FITS INTO THAT BOX.
>> SCOTT WALKER'S REELECTION
ANNOUNCEMENT THIS WEEK COMES IN
THE SAME WEEK OTHER REPUBLICANS
TOOK A TROUNCING IN ELECTIONS IN
VIRGINIA AND ELSEWHERE.
IN TONIGHT'S LOOK AHEAD, WE ASK
OUR POLITICAL PANEL WERE THOSE
ELECTIONS A ONEOFF OR A TREND, A
REFERENDUM ON PRESIDENT
PRESIDENT TRUMP?
TONIGHT REPUBLICAN BILL MCCOSHEN
AND DEMOCRAT SCOTT ROSS ARE
HERE.
FIRST I WANTED TO ASK YOU ABOUT
FOXCONN BEFORE WE GET TO THOSE
QUESTIONS.
IS THIS A WINNER OR A LOSER FOR
SCOTT WALKER?
>> TOO SOON TO TELL.
I THINK THEY EXPECTED IT TO BE
AN OVERWHELMING WINNER.
IT HASN'T TURNED OUT TO BE, AT
LEAST IN THE INITIAL POLLS.
MARQUETTE UNIVERSITY DID A POLL
A COUPLE WEEKS AGO.
IT'S MARGINALLY POPULAR, BUT
PEOPLE THINK IT'S ALSO A LOT OF
TAXPAYER DOLLARS THAT WENT INTO
IT.
UPSTATE IT'S LESS POPULAR.
SO THE CHALLENGE OVER THE COURSE
OF THE NEXT YEAR WILL BE TO
EXPLAIN HOW THIS BENEFITS THE
ENTIRE STATE.
>> WHAT DO YOU THINK, WINNER OR
LOSER?
>> OH, LOSER, AND THE REASON YOU
KNOW, HE DIDN'T TALK ABOUT IN
HIS ANNOUNCEMENT.
HE KNOWS THIS IS A DOG-OUT STATE
BECAUSE PEOPLE OUT-STATE WANT TO
KNOW WHY THEY'RE SPENDING $3
BILLION TO JOBS TO PEOPLE WHO
ARE GOING TO CROSS THE ILLINOIS
BORDER.
>> IF THE PROMISE OF JOBS AND
THE PLANT ITSELF IT KIND OF
TANTALIZING IS FOR PEOPLE, IS
BASHING IT ILL-ADVISED?
>> I THINK ABSOLUTELY NOT.
SCOTT WALKER TURNED DOWN A TON
OF JOBS WITH HIGH-SPEED RAIL AND
THE STIMULUS PACKAGE.
IF THAT WAS A DISQUALIFIER,
SCOTT WALKER WOULDN'T BE
GOVERNOR RIGHT NOWVMENT PEOPLE
KIND OF FEEL OKAY ABOUT THE
ECONOMY.
I THINK A BUNCH OF JOBS WHICH
MAY OR MAY NOT COME ARE NOT
GOING TO DECIDE THE GOVERNOR'S
RACE.
>> PEOPLE WANT TO SEE IT.
EVERYTHING HAS BEEN SHARE MONEY
ME AL.
THE PIENL FINAL SIGNING OF THE
EXECUTION OF THE CONTRACT, THE
LIKELIHOOD IS THE GROUND LIKELY
WON'T BE BROKEN MILLION LATE
SUMMER, EARLY PAUL.
IT'S IMGIT'S IMG GOING TO BE HARD FOR THE
GOVERNOR TO SHOW WHAT THIS WILL
MEAN FOR THE FUTURE EXPWHRVMENT
>> HITCHING HIS NAME TO SOMEONE,
WHAT DO YOU THINK THE VIRGINIA
RESULTS MEAN GOING FORWARD?
WAS THIS A REFERENDUM OF DONALD
TRUMP?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
I THINK WHAT THIS SHOWED WAS
WHEN YOU ASPIRE TO PEOPLE'S BASE
INSTINCTS, ONCE IN A WHILE YOU
CAN CATCH WHITE LIGHTNING IN A
BOTTLE.
AND IN VIRGINIA HOPE WON OUT.
WE'RE A PRETTY ABOUT PEOPLE.
WE ARE ASCEND THESE KEY VICE DIVISIVE
THINGS.
S A REAL PROBLEM FOR SCOTT
WALKER.
>> HOSE I THIRCHG THINK IT'S A WARNING SIGN
FOR REPUBLICANS.
THE ENERGY WAS BIGGER AND HIGHER
ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE.
THE CANDIDATES IN VIRGINIA, ED
GILLESPIE, GOT MORE VOTES THAN
THE PREVIOUS CANDIDATE AND STILL
GOT TROUNCED BY NINE POINTS.
SO I THINK THERE IS A LESSON
HEEMPLET I DON'T THINKHERE.
I THINK IT'S ABOUT CONGRESS'S
INABILITY TO GET STUFF DONE.
>> WE ASKED BOTH WISCONSIN
POLITICAL PARTIES WHETHER DONALD
TRUMP WAS GOOD OR BAD FOR THEIR
BRAND AND THEIR CANDIDATES.
HERE'S WHAT THEY SAID.
>> WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE
COALITION THAT PROPELLED
PRESIDENT TRUMP TO A WIN HERE IN
WISCONSIN, THAT COALITION, THAT
WINNING COALITION OF REPUBLICANS
IN THE SOUTHEAST, SMALL TOWN
RURAL VOTERS, THAT'S A COALITION
THAT GOVERNOR WALKER PUT
TOGETHER MULTIPLE TIMES BEFORE
THEN.
SO WHEN I LOOK AT WHAT A WINNING
COALITION IS GOING TO BE, I
THINK YOU SEE THE PRESIDENT
CERTAINLY MAINTAIN SOME
FAVORABILITY AMONGST THOSE
VOTERS.
I THINK THOSE FOLKS ELECTED TO
SEEK CHANGE IN WASHINGTON.
BUT BEYOND THAT WHAT THEY VOTED
FOR WAS THAT SAME TYPE OF BOLD
LEADERSHIP.
THEY WANTED CHANGE.
THEY WANTED TO SEE RESULTS.
THAT'S WHAT GOVERNOR WALKER HAS
DELIVERDELIVERED AND WHY THEY VOTED FOR
HIM THREE TIMES IN A ROW.
>> I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT
THAT THE PARTY IS TALKING ABOUT
WHAT WE STAND FOR, THAT WE WANT
AN ECONOMY THAT WORKS FOR EVERY
EVERYONE, NOT JUST THOSE AT THE
TOP, THAT WE WANT PEOPLE WHO
WORK HARD TO GET AHEAD.
IF YOU WORK FULL-TIME, YOU
SHOULD BE ABLE TO RETIRE WITH
DIGNITY.
WE BELIEVE IN THOSE THINGS.
BUT IT'S ALSO REALLY IMPORTANT
THAT WE'RE POINTING OUT THAT
WHAT PRESIDENT TRUMP STANDS FOR,
THE DIVISIVENESS AND THE HATE,
IS NOT ACCEPTABLE EITHER.
WHAT REALLY MAKES AMERICA GREAT
IS WHEN WE COME TOGETHER AND
WHEN WE WORK TOGETHER TO BUILD
THRIVING COMMUNITIES.
THAT'S NOT WHAT DONALD TRUMP IS
ABOUT.
>> WHAT STANDS OUT TO THOSE
COMMENTS TO ME IS THAT NEITHER
ONE OF THEM REALLY WANT TO TALK
THAT MUCH ABOUT DONALD TRUMP.
I WAS INTERESTED TO SEE THAT THE
DEMOCRATIC PARTY DIDN'T COME OUT
FIRST ON, YOU KNOW, HOW BAD THEY
THINK DONALD TRUMP IS AND THE
REPUBLICAN PARTY EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR ALSO DIDN'T TALK ABOUT
DONALD TRUMP AS MUCH AS HE
TALKED ABOUT SCOTT WALKER.
>> AND I THINK THE REASON WHY IS
BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BEAT
SCOTT WALKER BY PROVING HE'LL
MAKE WISCONSIN.
YOU'LL BEAT HIM BY PROVING YOU
CAN MAKE WISCONSIN BETTER.
HE'S NEVER BEEN HIGHER THAN 52%.
SO HE HAS THAT CEILING.
CAN DEMOCRATS ENGAGE THEIR BASE
TO GET OUT TO THESE ELECTIONS?
SCOTT WALKER HAS BENEFITED FROM
A COUPLE ELECTIONS IN TERMS OF
HIS TURNOUT.
YOU HAVE FOUR RESOURCES: TIME,
TREASURE, TECHNOLOGY AND TALENT.
ENTHUSIASM COMES UNDER THAT.
RIGHT NOW THE ENTHUSIASM IS WITH
THE DEMOCRATS.
IS IT GOING TO REMAIN.
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE THAT
CONTINUE IF YOU JUST BASH THE
REPUBLICANS.
>> I THINK THIS COULD BE A RED
WALL FOR REPUBLICANS IN 2018.
I SAY MOM, MONEY, ORGANIZATION
AND MESSAGE.
WALKER HAS SIGNIFICANT
ADVANTAGES IN ALL OF THOSE.
HE HAS BUILT THE BEST STATESIDE
ORGANIZATION EVER ON THE
REPUBLICAN SIDE.
OVER THE COURSE OF THREE
ELECTIONS.
HE'S ALREADY BEEN ELECTED
GOVERNOR THREE TIMES IN THE LAST
7.5 YEARS.
SO THAT INFRASTRUCTURE IS THERE.
ARGUABLY IT HELPED ELECT DONALD
TRUMP, FIRST REPUBLICAN TO WIN
HERE SINCE 1984.
WALKER IS THE BEST FUND-RAISER
REPUBLICANS HAVE EVER HAD.
ON THE MESSAGE, WHAT WALKER
DOES, HE'S INCREDIBLY
DISCIPLINED.
HE KEEPS HIS MESSAGE TIGHT.
HE TALKS ABOUT THE PROMISES MADE
AND THE PROMISES KEPT.
HE DOESN'T GO OUTSIDE OF HIS
LANE AT ALL.
THAT'S GOING TO BE TOUGH FOR
DEMOCRATS TO TRY AND GET HIM OFF
MESSAGE AND FIND A WEDGE ISSUE
THAT WILL PIERCE THROUGH TO
VOTERS.
>> AND YET THE DEMOCRATS HERE IN
WISCONSIN SEEM POSITIVELY GIDDY
WITH THOSE RESULTS ON THE EAST
COAST AND YET WHAT DO WE KNOW
ABOUT THEIR OPERATION COMPARED
TO WHAT YOU WERE JUST TALKING
ABOUT?
>> TAMMY BALDWIN IS ON THE TOP
OF THE TICKET.
THAT SHOULD HELP, ESPECIALLY
WITH THE PROGRESSIVES.
WITH HER TURNING OUT THE LEFT,
HIM TURNING OUT THE RIGHT, WHO
CAN GET THE MIDDLE?
WALKER HAS BEEN ABLE TO GET THE
MIDDLE.
HE'S NOT TOMMY THOMPSON.
HE'S OKAY WITH 53%, WHICH IS HIS
HIGHEST.
THAT'S FINE.
HIS VOTES, THEY'RE NOT
APATHETIC.
THEY'RE ROCK SOLID FOR HIM.
I DON'T SEE -- IF I SENSE ANY
APATHY OUT THERE, IT'S MORE ON
THE CONGRESSIONAL LEVEL AND
THOSE GUYS -- IF I'M THEM, I'M
WORRIED.
YOU GOT TO START GETTING THINGS
DONE IN D.C. OR THERE COULD BE
BIG TROUBLE.
>> THE.>> WITH THE ENTHUSIASM,
DEMOCRATS HAVE MARSHALLED
CHALLENGES IN ALMOST EVERY
DISTRICT IN THE STATE OF
WISCONSIN, INCLUDING TWO OUT IN
WASHINGTON D.C.
BUT WHEN IT COMES TO SCOTT
WALKER, THE THING IS IS HE IS
VERY DISCIPLINED.
BUT HE IS A DIVISIVE CANDIDATE.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE BEEN ON
THE INTERNET.
IN MADISON, FOR INSTANCE, MY
FEED IS NONSTOP DIVISIVE SOCIAL
MEDIA ADS FROM SCOTT WALKER.
STOP THE BIG LABOR BOSSES.
DEMOCRATS ARE GOING TO TURN THE
STATE BACKWARDS.
THOSE AREN'T MESSAGES WHEN
YOU'RE ASKING FOR AN
UNPRECEDENTED THIRD TERM THE
DIVISIVENESS IS NOT GOING TO
WORK THIS TIME.
IT WILL GET YOU 47% OR 48%, BUT
THAT LAST 4% IS GOING TO BE
WHETHER OR NOT DEMOCRATS CAN DO
THIS.
2.3 MILLION TURN OUT IN A
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.
IF DEMS CAN GET THAT TO 2.5,
THEY'RE GOING TO WIN.
>> HOW BIG IS TURNOUT?
>> HUGE.
YOU GOT TO GET YOUR PEOPLE OUT.
IF IT'S 47% OR 48%, THE THING
THAT WILL TIP THEM OVER, VOTERS
VOTE THEIR POCKETBOOK FIRST.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT.
THE ECONOMY, LOOKS LIKE IT WILL
BE GANGBUSTERS IN 2018.
>> RIGHT.
>> SO THAT WILL PLAY TO WALKER'S
ADVANTAGE.
>> THE POCKETBOOK ISSUE ARE
JOBS, YES.
WAGES.
OUR WAGES ARE TERRIBLE HERE.
EDUCATION, HEALTH CARE, STUDENT
LOAN DEBT.
ALL THOSE THINGS THAT SCOTT
WALKER HAS DONE THE OPPOSITE OF
WHAT'S GOING TO HELP THE MIDDLE
CLASS HERE.
A LOT OF PEOPLE AROUND THE STATE
OF WISCONSIN WHO MIGHT BE
UNEMPLOYED LIKE THE 126 PEOPLE
WHO ARE LOSING THEIR JOBS IN
FOND DU LAC ARE GOING TO SAY
WHERE'S MY JOB, SCOTT WALKER,
WHEN YOU'RE GIVING A BUNCH OF
ILLINOIS WORKERS JOBS WE'RE
PAYING FOR.
>> WHAT ABOUT THE SPLIT BETWEEN
SOUTHEAST WISCONSIN AND NORTHERN
WISCONSIN?
>> IF FOXCONN COMES THROUGH WITH
23,000 JOBS, IT'S GOING TO PUT
PRESSURE ON WAGES ALL OVER THE
STATE.
THAT'S GOING TO BENEFIT EVERY
WORKER FROM KENOSHA TO SUPERIOR
AND GREEN BAY DOWN TO
PLATTEVILLE.
>> THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE IN
TIME FOR NEXT YEAR'S ELECTION.
>> IT WON'T BE.
BUT THERE'S A SHORTAGE OUT THERE
RIGHT NOW.
COMPANIES ARE LOOKING FOR
WORKERS AND HAVING TROUBLE
FILLING THOSE POSITIONS.
SO THE MORE THAT EXISTS, THE
MORE WAGES WILL GO UP.
>> WE WERE TALKING ABOUT TURNOUT
AND KIND OF THE SPLIT IN
WISCONSIN AND WE'VE DISCUSSED
BEFORE THIS KIND OF POLITICS OF
RESENTMENT BETWEEN PEOPLE MAYBE
IN THE NORTHERN REACHES OR
ELSEWHERE.
THOSE PEOPLE CAME OUT FOR DONALD
TRUMP.
AND IT LOOKS LIKE IN VIRGINIA IN
PARTICULAR SOME OF THOSE SAME
PEOPLE MAY HAVE COME OUT FOR THE
DEMS THIS TIME.
DO YOU SEE THAT HAPPENING?
>> I THINK A LOT OF STUFF -- I
THINK A LOT OF WHAT HAPPENED IN
RURAL WISCONSIN IN 2016 WAS THAT
THERE WEREN'T DEMOCRAT MESSAGES
BEING COMMUNICATED OUT THERE.
WE HAD EIGHT YEARS OF OBAMA.
IN RON KIND'S DISTRICT, HE
DIDN'T HAVE A FACE.
SO THERE WERE TV ADS DEFENDING
OBAMA, THAT WAS ABSENT.
I THINK THE RESOURCES ARE GOING
TO BE THERE.
NEVER GOING TO BE OUT ABLE TO
OUT-SPEND THE REPUBLICANS.
>> WALKER ISN'T GOING TO GET
THOSE GUYS IN THE STATE OF
WISCONSIN.
SO DO THEY STAY HOME?
ARE THEY FIRED UP ENOUGH TO COME
OUT AND VOTE FOR HIS OPPONENT?
>> ALL RIGHT.
WE LEAVE IT THERE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> NOW TONIGHT'S CLOSER LOOK
SEGMENT AND THE LATEST ON THE
FOXCONN DEAL.
>> WE ARE SO EXCITED TO HAVE
FOXCONN HERE WITH ITS $10
BILLION INVESTMENT, LEADING TO
13,000 GOOD-PAYING,
FAMILY-SUPPORTING JOBS RIGHT
HERE IN THE STATE OF WISCONSIN.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> GOVERNOR SCOTT WALKER AND THE
FLAT SCREEN COMPANY CHAIRMAN
TERRY GOU SIGNED THE 29-PAGE
CONTRACT THIS AFTERNOON IN
RACINE.
U.S. HOUSE SPEAKER PAUL RYAN WAS
ALREADY THERE.
IT INCLUDES LANGUAGE THAT IN THE
NEXT FIVE YEARS THE STATE COULD
GET 100% OF THE TAX CREDITS BACK
IF THE COMPANY MOVES THE PLANT
OR CLOSES IT.
THEREAFTER, FOXCONN'S PARENT
COMPANY AND TERRY GOU HIMSELF
GUARANTEE $500 MILLION IN THE
EVENT THE WISCONSIN OPERATION
FAILS TO MEET JOBS GOALS.
IT SUNSETS AFTER 15 YEARS.
THE WISCONSIN ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION WORKED
TO GET THE GUARANTEE AND ONCE IN
HAND THE WEDC BOARD VOTED 8-2 TO
APPROVE THE CONTRACT.
>> THIS IS AN EXCITING DAY FOR
THE STATE OF WISCONSIN.
AS I'VE SAID A FEW TIMES, WHAT
OUR GOAL IN THIS WHOLE
TRANSACTION, IT STARTED 28 WEEKS
AGO ON FRY DIE, HAS BEEN TO
PROVIDE THE COMPANY THE KIND OF
FLEXIBILITY AND LATITUDE THAT
THEY NEED TO INVEST UP TO $10
BILLION, CREATE 13,000 JOBS HERE
IN THE STATE OF WISCONSIN.
AND AT THE SAME TIME CREATE
CERTAINTY AROUND THE PROTECTION
FOR THE TAXPAYERS.
>> TWO DEMOCRATS ON THE BOARD
VOTED AGAINST THE CONTRACT,
INCLUDING REPRESENTATIVE DANE AT
THAT WACHS OF EAU CLAIRE.
>> I VOTED NO.
MY RATIONALE IS THAT $3 BILLION
SPENT ON ONE COMPANY WITHIN ONE
INDUSTRY IS A -- IT'S A RISK
THAT I THINK IS TOO MUCH FOR OUR
TAXPAYERS.
>> NOW TO THE STATE LEGISLATURE
AND TONIGHT'S CAPITOL INSIGHT.
SPONSORS OF A MEASURE TO APPROVE
A CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION SAY
ITS PASSAGE THIS WEEK MAKES
WISCONSIN THE 28TH STATE TO
APPROVE SUCH A RESOLUTION.
IF 34 STATES APPROVE, CONVENTION
DELEGATES CAN BE CALLED TO DRAFT
AMENDMENTS TO THE U.S.
CONSTITUTION.
REPUBLICAN PROPONENTS OF THE
CONVENTION SAY THEY WOULD FOCUS
ON AN AMENDMENT TO REQUIRE A
BALANCED FEDERAL BUDGET.
BUT WHAT ELSE COULD BE POSSIBLE?
WE TURNED TO WISCONSIN PUBLIC
RADIO'S CAPITOL BUREAU CHIEF
SHAWN JOHNSON.
THANKS FOR BEING HERE.
>> HEY, FRED.
>> YOU REFERRED TO THIS AS AN
ARTICLE V RESOLUTION.
WHAT IS ARTICLE V?
>> IT REFERS TO ARTICLE V OF THE
U.S. CONSTITUTION, WHICH IS A
FAIRLY SHORT PASSAGE THAT TALKS
ABOUT HOW YOU CAN AMEND THE
CONSTITUTION.
AND THE WAY THAT THIS COUNTRY
HAS DONE IT FOR THE PREVIOUS 27
AMENDMENTS IS A DIFFERENT
PROCESS.
WE HAVE A TWO-THIRDS VOTE IN THE
U.S. HOUSE, TWO-THIRDS VOTE IN
THE U.S. SENATE AND THEN
RATIFICATION BY THREE QUARTERS
OF THE STATE LEGISLATURES.
THIS WOULD BE A COMPLETELY
DIFFERENT PROCESS, WHAT WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT HERE AND WHAT
PASSED THE WISCONSIN SENATE THIS
PAST WEEK.
THIS WOULD BE A SO-CALLED
CONVENTION OF STATES, WHERE IF
TWO-THIRDS OF STATES AGREE, THEY
CAN PETITION CONGRESS TO FORM
THIS ARTICLE V CONVENTION AND
THEN THEY CAN PROPOSE PRETTY
MUCH WHATEVER THEY WANT.
>> SO AFTER 230 YEARS, THE
WISCONSIN LEGISLATURE BELIEVES
THE TIME IS NOW TO PUSH FOR THIS
ARTICLE V RESOLUTION AND THIS
BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT?
>> IT REALLY HAS BEEN, YOU KNOW,
THAT LONG.
GOING BACK TO 1787, THIS HASN'T
BEEN USED.
SO IT WOULD BE A -- YOU KNOW, AN
EXTREMELY BIG DEAL, AN HISTORIC
PROCESS.
AND WHEN YOU LISTEN TO
SUPPORTERS OF THIS, THEY SAY --
THEY DON'T TAKE IT LIGHTLY AND
THAT IF YOU LOOK BACK AT THE
GREAT CIVILIZATIONS, THE THING
THAT HAS ALWAYS TOPPLED THEM HAS
BEEN DEBT.
AND THEY FEEL LIKE DEBT IS
GROWING TOO LARGE IN THE UNITED
STATES RIGHT NOW AND THAT IT'S A
NATIONAL SECURITY THREAT IT'S SO
BAD.
>> WELL, LET'S TAKE A LISTEN TO
WHAT ONE OF THE REPUBLICAN
BACKERS, SENATOR DAVE CRAIG, HAD
TO SAY ABOUT THIS ON THE SENATE
FLOOR.
>> ARTICLE V WAS PUT IN PLACE
SPECIFICALLY FOR THE SITUATION
IN WHICH CONGRESS, THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT NEEDS ASSISTANCE FROM
THE STATES.
BY WHICH UNDER OUR CONSTITUTION
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DERIVES
ITS POWER.
TO SOMEHOW SAY ON THIS BODY'S
FLOOR THAT THIS IS NOT WITHIN
OUR PURVIEW IS RIDICULOUS.
>> BUT WHAT ARE THE RULES ABOUT
WHETHER JUST ONE AMENDMENT LIKE
THIS COULD BE ADDED?
>> THAT'S THE THING.
THERE ARE NO RESTRICTIONS LIKE
THAT IN THE CONSTITUTION.
SO IF THIS CONVENTION IS CALLED,
EVEN THOUGH THE STATES HAVE SAID
WE'RE CALLING IT TO TALK ABOUT
THIS BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT
AND A NUMBER OF -- WISCONSIN
PASSED A RESOLUTION SPELLING OUT
WHAT THE CONVENTION WOULD BE
ABOUT.
THEY PASSED A BILL THAT SAID
HERE IS WHO WOULD BE OUR
DELEGATES.
ONCE THE CONVENTION IS CALLED,
CONSTITUTIONAL EXPERTS SAY
THERE'S NOTHING THAT RESTRICTS
WHAT DELEGATES CAN DO.
AND SO THEY COULD CONSIDER
AMENDMENTS ON ANY NUMBER OF
ISSUES, INCLUDING TWO EXISTING
PROTECTIONS THAT ARE IN THE U.S.
CONSTITUTION.
>> UNDERSTOOD WHY PEOPLE MIGHT
CONSIDER THAT A SLIPPERY SLOPE.
>> YEAH.
AND THAT WAS THE ARGUMENT THAT
YOU HEARD FROM OPPONENTS OF
THIS, WHICH IN THIS CASE WERE
THE DEMOCRATIC MEMBERS OF THE
STATE SENATE.
DEMOCRATIC SENATOR KATHLEEN
VINEHOUT WAS AMONG THOSE WHO
SAID IF YOU CALL THIS
CONVENTION, YOU'RE OPENING UP
ALL THESE PROTECTIONS THAT
PEOPLE HOLD DEAR.
HERE IS SENATOR KATHLEEN
VINEHOUT.
>> AS REWRITERS OF THE UNITED
STATES CONSTITUTION, THE
DELEGATES BECOME THE SOVEREIGN
POWER IN THE LAND.
MORE POWERFUL THAN THE UNITED
STATES CONGRESS.
MORE POWERFUL THAN THE UNITED
STATES SUPREME COURT.
MORE POWERFUL THAN THE UNITED
STATES PRESIDENT.
>> SO WE SHOULD NOTE THAT
KATHLEEN VINEHOUT IS ONE OF THE
DEMOCRATS RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR.
BUT NOW HOW DO SPONSORS OF THIS
RECONCILE THE IDEA THAT THE TAX
PLAN IN WASHINGTON IS KIND OF ON
THE FAST TRACK AND THE CDO SAYS
THAT THIS WOULD ADD $1.7
TRILLION TO THE DEFICIT?
HOW DO REDUCTIONS IN REVENUE
SQUARE WITH POTENTIAL NEEDS FOR
GOVERNMENT SPENDING?
I KNOW OPPONENTS OF THE BALANCED
BUDGET AMENDMENT HAVE SOME
CONCERNS ALONG THESE LINES.
LIKE WHAT?
>> YEAH.
I MEAN, IF YOU SORT OF SET ASIDE
THE CONCERNS LAID OUT THERE BY
SENATOR VINEHOUT AND OTHERS THAT
THIS COULD OPEN A PANDORA'S BOX
AND THAT YOU COULD HAVE ANY
AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION,
SET THAT ASIDE.
LET'S SAY THAT THEY JUST FOCUS
ON A BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN, YOU KNOW?
WHAT IS A BALANCED BUDGET
AMENDMENT?
IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT NOT
LETTING THE GOVERNMENT SPEND
MORE THAN IT TAKES IN, THAT
WOULD REDUCE DEBT, BUT IT WOULD
BE A DRAMATIC DEPARTURE FROM THE
WAY GOVERNMENT AS WE KNOW IT
OPERATES NOW.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN IF YOU HAVE
A BIG TAX CUT BILL?
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN IF YOU HAVE
A WAR?
WHAT DOES IT MEAN IF YOU HAVE A
NATURAL DISASTER LIKE A
HURRICANE AND SUDDENLY YOU NEED
MORE MONEY THAN YOU HAVE TO PAY
FOR IT?
THESE ARE ALL QUESTIONS THAT
ARE, YOU KNOW, RAISED BY THE
PROSPECT OF A BALANCED BUDGET
AMENDMENT, YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY
SINCE YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT
WOULD LOOK LIKE.
IT WOULD BE UP TO DELEGATES.
>> NOW, AS WE DISCUSSED, 34
STATES WOULD HAVE TO PASS THIS
RESOLUTION.
HOW LIKELY IS THIS TO HAPPEN?
>> WE DON'T KNOW.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S REALLY NO WAY
TO SAY.
I THINK AS MORE AND MORE STATES
GET ADDED TO THE LIST, YOU START
TO REALIZE, HEY, THEY'RE GETTING
KIND OF CLOSE TO THAT NUMBER.
28 IS PROBABLY LOOKS PRETTY HIGH
TO PEOPLE WHO STARTED THIS PUSH
YEARS AGO.
AND SO YEAH.
YOU'RE SIX STATES AWAY AT THIS
POINT.
A LITTLE CAVEAT THERE.
IF THEY WERE TO GET UP TO THAT
34 THRESHOLD, THERE WOULD BE
SOME DEBATE OVER WHETHER OR NOT
THEY'D HIT THAT NUMBER.
BECAUSE SOME OF THESE
RESOLUTIONS WERE PASSED DECADES
AGO.
AND SO THERE WOULD BE SOME
DISPUTE, THERE IS SOME DISPUTE
OVER WHETHER OR NOT THOSE ARE
STILL VALID.
SOME OF THEM ARE CALLING FOR
SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT LANGUAGE THAN
OTHERS.
AND SO WHEN WOULD YOU HIT THAT
NUMBER?
THAT WOULD BE DEBATED EVEN IF
THEY HIT THAT 34 ACCORDING TO
SPONSORS.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WELL, THANKS FOR SPELLING THIS
OUT FOR US.
SHAWN JOHNSON.
>> YOU'RE WELCOME.
>> THE UW BOARD OF REGENTS
THURSDAY VOTED TO APPROVE THE
REORGANIZATION OF THE
UNIVERSITY.
WHILE TWO REGENTS VOTED NO,
INCLUDING THE FORMER STATE
AUDITOR WHO CALLED FOR MORE TIME
TO STUDY THE PLAN, THE MERGING
OF THE SYSTEMS TWO-YEAR SCHOOLS
WITH FOUR-YEAR CAMPUSES MOVES
AHEAD.
WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISION, NOW
PART OF UW-EXTENSION, WOULD MOVE
TO UW SYSTEM ADMINISTRATION.
SYSTEM PRESIDENT RAY CROSS SAYS
DECLINING ENROLLMENT AT TWO-YEAR
SCHOOLS PUTS THEM IN JEOPARDY
AND SAYS HE BELIEVES THE TIME IS
NOW TO MAKE THE CHANGES EVEN
THOUGH THE DETAILS HAVE NOT BEEN
WORKED OUT.
>> MY DREAM FOR THE UNIVERSITY
OF WISCONSIN SYSTEM AND FOR THE
STATE OF WISCONSIN INCLUDES A
FUTURE WHERE THE PEOPLE OF
WISCONSIN, REGARDLESS OF THEIR
PAST EXPERIENCES OR FINANCIAL
CIRCUMSTANCES, HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO EARN A COLLEGE
DEGREE.
THAT MEANS MAINTAINING AND EVEN
EXPANDING ACCESS TO THE
UNIVERSITY, ASSURING
AFFORDABILITY, CONTINUING TO
SIMPLIFY AND STREAMLINE
TRANSFERABILITY, PROVIDING
ENHANCED ADVISING SO THAT WE CAN
GROW THE NUMBER OF COLLEGE
GRADUATES THIS STATE SO
DESPERATELY NEEDS.
>> THE CHANGES ARE EXPECTED TO
TAKE EFFECT JULY 1, 2018.
AND THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR
TONIGHT.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED, IN PART, BY FRIENDS OF
WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISIO