>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS PART
OF OUR "HERE AND NOW" 2018
WISCONSIN VOTE ELECTION
COVERAGE.
>> I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW," U.S.
SENATOR RON JOHNSON ON THE
BLOW-UP OVER IMMIGRATION REFORM.
ELECTIONS COMMISSIONS LEADER
MICHAEL HAAS IS HERE.
TWO MORE DEM CANNED DATES CANDIDATES IN THE
GOVERNOR'S RACE, KELDA ROYS AND
PAUL SOGLIN.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED IN PART BY FRIENDS OF
WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISION.
>> IN OUR FIRST LOOK TONIGHT, AN
INTERVIEW WITH WISCONSIN U.S.
SENATOR RON JOHNSON.
HE'S HERE AS FALLOUT FROM A
CONTENTIOUS OVAL OFFICE MEETING
OVER AN IMMIGRATION FIX,
INCLUDING PROTECTION FOR
DREAMERS, CONTINUES TO SPREAD.
THE PRESIDENT RESCINDED THE
ACTION LAST YEAR, BUT HAS SAID
HE'D BE WILLING TO REINSTATE THE
PROGRAM IN RETURN FOR BORDER
WALL FUNDING.
IN THE MIDST OF A BIPARTISAN
MEETING OF SENATORS WITH THE
PRESIDENT ON DACA, THE PRESIDENT
MADE INCENDIARY COMMENTS ABOUT
THE PROTECTED STAFF TUS STATUS FOR THE
PROGRAMS, ASKING WHY ARE WE ALL
HAVING THESE PEOPLE FROM BLEEP
HOLE COUNTRIES COME HERE.
SENATOR JOHNSON TOO IS LOOKING
FOR AN IMMIGRATION FIX.
HE JOINS US NOW.
>> HAPPY NEW YEAR.
>> WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE TO
PRESIDENT TRUMP'S REPORTED
RESPONSE TO TAKING IMMIGRANTS
FROM SLEEP HOLE COUNTRIES?
>> TOTALLY INAPPROPRIATE AND HE
SHOULD APOLOGIZE.
WHEN YOU ENTER THE PUBLIC REALM,
I DON'T CARE WHAT YOUR PAST WAS,
I DON'T CARE WHAT SALTY LANGUAGE
YOU USED, YOU STOP DOING IT.
YOU HAVE A CERTAIN DECORUM YOU
NEED TO CONDUCT YOURSELF IN
PUBLIC WITH.
YOU HAVE CHILDREN WATCHING.
YOU HAVE NATIONS WATCHING.
TOTALLY INAPPROPRIATE, VERY
UNFORTUNATE.
BECAUSE A COUPLE DAYS BEFORE
THAT, I THINK THE PRESIDENT
SHOWED HIMSELF IN REALLY A GOOD
LIGHT WITH BIPARTISAN GROUP OF
SENATORS AND HOUSE MEMBERS
REALLY TRYING TO FIND AREAS OF
AGREEMENT.
I HOPE PEOPLE TAKE A LOOK AT
THAT EXTENDED VIDEO OF THAT
ALMOST CABINET-LIKE MEETING,
WHERE HE DID SHOW HIMSELF IN
COMMAND, HE SHOWED HIMSELF
LISTENING AND YOU CAN REALLY SEE
EXACTLY HOW THE PROCESS WORKS.
YOU HAVE A PRINCIPAL IN CHARGE
OF THE MEETING, MEMBERS OF
CONGRESS.
YOU GET A MINUTE TO MAKE A
COMMENT.
BUT YOU SAW AN ATTEMPT TO FIND
AREAS OF AGREEMENT, WHICH IS HOW
YOU ACCOMPLISH THINGS.
>> LET'S GET BACK TO THE OTHER
FOR A MOMENT.
YOU CALL IT UNFORTUNATE, BUT DUE
CONDEMN IT?
>> YES.
AND AGAIN THE BEST THING HE CAN
DO IS ADMIT IT, APOLOGIZE IT AND
MOVE ON.
TRUTHFULLY, IT'S GOING TO BE
HELPFUL TO HAVE THE PRESIDENT
INVOLVED IN THIS, BUT THIS IS
CONGRESS'S RESPONSIBILITY.
WE HAVE GOT TO PASS LEGISLATION
TO FIX THE DREAMER PROBLEM, BUT
ALSO TO FIX OUR BROKEN LEGAL
IMMIGRATION SYSTEM AS WELL.
I THINK WE HAVE A GREAT
OPPORTUNITY.
I THINK THE VAST MAJORITY OF
AMERICANS, MEMBERS OF CONGRESS
WANT TO FIX THE DREAMER ISSUE,
BUT ALSO WANT TO SECURE OUR
BORDER, WANT TO HAVE A LEGAL
IMMIGRATION SYSTEM THAT MAKES
SENSE, WHERE WE CAN START
LIMITING THE ABUSE OF CHAIN
MIGRATION, THE DIVERSITY LOTTERY
THAT THROUGH THE COMBINATION OUR
LAST TWO TERRORIST ATTACKS HAVE
BEEN PERPETRATED BY PEOPLE WHO
CAME TO THIS COUNTRY THAT WAY.
THERE'S COMMON SENSE APPROACHES
I THINK THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
WOULD SUPPORT.
WE NEED TO GET BACK ON THAT AND
PASS THE LEGISLATION.
>> HOW DOES ALL OF WHAT'S
BLOWING UP RIGHT NOW AFFECT THE
PASSAGE OF ANY OF THAT?
>> IT SHOULDN'T AFFECT ANY OF
IT.
PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS SAID HE WILL
SIGN WHAT WE PUT ON HIS DESK.
IT'S INCUMBENT UPON US.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HASH IT
OUT BETWEEN OURSELVES.
>> THERE WAS AN AGREEMENT, A
BIPARTISAN AGREEMENT THAT WAS
PRESENTED TO HIM, AND THIS WAS
THE RESULT.
>> AGAIN, THAT WAS WITH A SMALL
GROUP.
YOU KNOW, THIS WAS THE EXACT
SAME THING IN 2013.
I WAS TOTALLY SUPPORTIVE OF WHAT
THEY WERE DOING, BUT MY COUNSEL
THEN AT THE SAME TIME WAS WORK
WITH THE HOUSE, GET THE HOUSE TO
PASS IMMIGRATION REFORM FIRST
BECAUSE IN THIS CASE IT WAS THE
HIGHER HURDLE.
YOU KIND OF HAVE TO -- WHEN
YOU'RE LOOKING AT A PIECE OF
LEGISLATION, WHERE'S THE CHOKE
POINT?
WHAT IS THE HIGHER HURDLE?
IN THIS CASE IT'S GOING TO BE
THE HOUSE.
SO LET'S BE WORKING WITH OUR
HOUSE COLLEAGUES.
THERE'S ANOTHER EFFORT WITH
OTHERS, TRYING TO THINK OF THE
OTHER ONE INVOLVED.
I'M TRYING TO WORK WITH YOU A
THE GROUPS.
I'M CHAIRMAN OF HOMELAND
SECURITY, CERTAINLY INVOLVED IN
BORDER SECURITY ISSUES, AS WELL
AS THE IMMIGRATION LAWS AS WELL.
SO THIS IS A STRONG ATTEMPT BY A
NUMBER OF MEMBERS OF CONGRESS
INCLUDING MYSELF TO GET THIS
THING ACCOMPLISHED.
>> I HEARD DICK DURBIN DAY THIS
MORNING THAT HE WOULD TAKE THIS
PACKAGE THAT WAS PRESENTED IN
THE OVAL OFFICE AND INTRODUCE IT
IN THE SENATE.
HOW WOULD YOU VOTE ON THAT?
>> I STILL DON'T KNOW THE
DETAILS OF THEIR SPECIFIC
PACKAGE.
I THINK A LOT OF THE ELEMENTS
ARE QUITE GOOD IN THERE.
TO A CERTAIN EXTENT ADDRESSES
SOME OF THE CHAIN MIGRATION
ISSUES.
BUT I WANT TO SEE THE DETAILS
BECAUSE IT IS -- THE DEVIL'S
REALLY ARE IN THE DETAILS.
FROM MY STANDPOINT, WE HAVE GOT
TO START CLOSING THE LOOP LOOPHOLES.
WE HAVE TO LIMIT CHAIN MIGRATION
TO A COMMON SENSE LEVEL.
RIGHT NOW WE LET ABOUT 1.1
MILLION PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY
LEGALLY EVERY YEAR.
65% OF THAT IS SOME KIND OF
CHAIN MIGRATION.
22% IS DIVERSITY LOTTERY.
ONLY 14% HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH
WORK.
THAT IS A CRAZY SYSTEM, WHEN YOU
HAVE LITERALLY MILLIONS OF
PEOPLE.
HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS WANT TO
COME TO THIS COUNTRY.
WE CAN'T ASSIMILATE ALL THOSE
PEOPLE.
WE'VE GOT TO LIMIT IT.
WE'VE GOT TO FIX OUR SYSTEM.
>> WHAT'S REGARDED OR CALLED
CHAIN MIGRATION IS NOT ALLOWING
CITIZENSHIP BASED ON BEING
SPONSORED BY ONE'S CHILDREN.
I HEARD DICK DURBIN SAY THAT
LANGUAGE, CHAIN MIGRATION, IS
SUPER OFFENSIVE BECAUSE IT
HEARKENS BACK TO --
>> IT'S WHAT PEOPLE USE.
IT'S NOT MEANT TO BE OFFENSIVE.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT ALLOWS AN
IMMIGRANT TO ALLOW IN THEIR
PARENTS, CHILDREN.
IT DOES CHAIN, WHERE THOSE
PEOPLE BEGIN THEN CAN BRING IN THEIR
CHILDREN, THEIR PARENTS.
ALL OF A SUDDEN ONE INDIVIDUAL
AND YOU'VE GOT CUSS STINS COUSINS AND ADULT
SIBLINGS.
THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO LIMIT TO
SOMETHING THAT MAKES COMMON
SENSE.
>> I WANT TO GO BACK ONE MORE
TIME TO THE PRESIDENT AND HIS
COMMENTS AND ASK YOU WHETHER OR
NOT YOU BELIEVE THAT THOSE WERE
RACIST UTTERANCES ON HIS PART.
>> I DON'T WANT TO PUT LABELS ON
THINGS.
IT'S JUST COMPLETELY
INAPPROPRIATE AND HE SHOULD
APOLOGIZE FOR IT.
>> ALL RIGHT.
I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE WORKED A
LOT ON THE OPIOID PROBLEM, AND
THE PRESIDENT THIS WEEK, JUST
YESTERDAY OR WEDNESDAY --
>> I WAS IN THE SIGNING SIR
CEREMONY.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
DIDN'T THE PRESIDENT SAY HE HAS
THE ANSWER TO FIX THIS PROBLEM?
>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT HE WAS
TALKING ABOUT THERE.
BUT AGAIN THERE'S A GOOD EXAMPLE
OF A VERY BIPARTISAN EFFORT,
FINDING AN AREA OF AGREEMENT.
WE ALL AGREED THAT THIS OPIOID
PROBLEM IS A PROBLEM.
THIS ACT FUNDED DETECTION DEVICE
FOR FENTANYL.
PRESIDENT TRUMP BEFORE HE SIGNED
IT ALLOWED EVERY MEMBER OF
CONGRESS IN THERE, FOUR OR FIVE
DEMOCRATS, HOUSE MEMBERS,
REPUBLICANS THERE, ALL ASKED US
TO MAKE COMMENT.
AND IT REALLY WAS A VERY GOOD
EXAMPLE OF HOW YOU ACCOMPLISH
THINGS LIKE YOU DO IN THE
BUSINESS WORLD.
YOU TENACIOUSLY PURSUE AREAS OF
GREAT.
IN POLITICS ALL TOO OFTEN PEOPLE
EXPLOIT AREAS OF DIVISION.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WE NEED TO LEAVE IT THERE.
SENATOR RON JOHNSON, THANKS VERY
MUCH.
>> HAVE A GOOD DAY.
>> AND DEMOCRATIC U.S. SENATOR
TAMMY BALDWIN TREATED THE
PRESIDENT'S COMMENTS FROM THE
OVAL OFFICE ARE SICKENING,
HATEFUL AND DIVISIVE.
HE SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY
FOR THEM.
>> IN OUR CLOSER LOOK TONIGHT,
AN INTERVIEW WITH A STATE
OFFICIAL WHO ACCUSES WISCONSIN'S
REPUBLICAN LEADERS OF SLANDER
AND WANTS THEM TO, QUOTE, STO
TRASHING HIS NAIL NAME AND
REPUTATION.
SENATOR MAJORITY LEADER ROBIN
VOS AND ASSEMBLY LEADER ROBIN
VOS SAY THEY'VE LOST CONFIDENCE
IN THE ETHICS COMMISSION BECAUSE
OF PARTISAN INFLUENCES WHEN THEY
WORKED FOR THE FORMER GAB.
THIS FOLLOWS A STAIGHTING REPORT SCATHING REPORT
OVER HOW THE GAB HANDLED THE
JOHN DOE INVESTIGATION INTO
GOVERNOR SCOTT WALKER'S
CAMPAIGN.
THE AG DESCRIBED THE GAB AS,
QUOTE, WEAPONIZED IN FURTHERANCE
OF POLITICAL GOALS.
LEADERS CALLED FOR THE ETHICS
ADMINISTRATORS TO STEP DOWN AND
IF THEY DO NOT, SENATOR
FITZGERALD HAS SET A JANUARY 23
SENATE JOAT VOTE TO REJECT THEIR COB
FIR MAITION.
COB
-- CONFIRMATION.
HE SAYS HE HAS BECOME ABUNDANTLY
CLEAR TO ME THAT MICHAEL HAAS
AND BRIAN BELL WILL NEVER
RECEIVE THE VOTES NECESSARY FOR
SENATE CONFIRMATION.
ANY LEFTOVER REMNANTS OF THE
PARTISAN GAB WILL NEVER HAVE THE
CONFIDENCE OF THE PUBLIC TO
ENSURE COMPLETE, NONPARTISANSHIP
IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF
ELECTIONS OR THE OVERSIGHT OF
GOVERNMENT ETHICS.
FOR HIS PART, THE CHAIRMAN OF
THE BIPARTISAN ELECTIONS
COMMISSION THIS WEEK CALLED
SENATOR FITZGERALD A BULLY AND A
COWARD.
THIS IS STUFF TOUGH.
AND ELECTIONS COMMISSION
ADMINISTRATOR MICHAEL HAAS IS IN
THE MIDDLE OF IT.
THANKS FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANK YOU.
GOOD TO BE HERE.
>> HOW HAVE REPUBLICAN LEADERS
SLANDERED YOU?
>> WELL, I'LL AN ATTORNEY.
I KNOW WHAT IT MEANS WHEN
SOMEBODY SAYS THAT THERE IS
POTENTIAL CRIMINAL ACTIVITY.
AND WHAT WAS SAID WAS THAT THERE
WAS NOT CONFIDENCE IN OUR AGENCY
OR ME AS AN ADMINISTRATOR AND
THAT THERE SHOULD NOT BE PEOPLE
LEADING THE AGENCIES WHO -- I
THINK THE PHRASE WAS WHO ARE
CANDIDATES FOR CRYBL CHARGES CRIMINAL CHARGES
OR SOMETHING TO THAT EFFECT,
IMPLYING THAT I HAD SOMETHING TO
DO WITH SOME TYPE OF CRIMINAL
ACTIVITY WITHIN THE STATE OTION.
AGENCY.
THAT'S RIDICULOUS.
IT'S COMPLETELY FALSE.
IT'S BENEATH AN ELECTED OFFICIAL
TO MAKE ALLEGATIONS LIKE THAT.
>> DO YOU DENY THEIR ALLEGATIONS
ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT ACCOUNT
ACIALT BOARD AND YOURSELF BEING
PARTISAN?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
UNLESS PEOPLE LOOKED AT THE
EVIDENCE IN THE INVESTIGATIONS
THAT THE GOVERNMENT
ACCOUNTABILITY BOARD REVIEWED
AND ITS INVESTIGATORS REVIEWED,
THEY DON'T HAVE ANY IDEA OF WHAT
THE JUDGES ON THE BOARD LOOKED
AT WHEN THE JUDGES AUTHORIZED
PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATIONS.
AND BEYOND THAT, MY FOCUS HAS
BEEN ON ADMINISTRATING
ELECTIONS.
I WAS FIRST STAFF ATTORNEY, BUT
THEN ADMINISTRATOR SINCE 2013.
IT'S BEEN A FOCUS ON
ADMINISTERING THE LAWS THAT THE
LEGISLATURE PASSES, WHETHER IT'S
PHOTO I.D. OR ANY OTHER
ELECTION-RELATED LAW.
AND NOBODY CAN POINT TO ANY
DECISION OR ACTION OF MYSELF OR
THE GAB OR THE CURRENT ELECTIONS
COMMISSION THAT'S BEEN BASED ON
PARTISAN MOTIVES.
>> SO WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO
BEING TOLD TO RESIGN?
>> WELL, I ANSWER TO OUR
COMMISSION.
OUR COMMISSION'S MADE UP OF
THREE REPUBLICANS, THREE
DEMOCRATS.
THEY'VE UNANIMOUSLY SUPPORTED
ME.
THEY UNANIMOUSLY APPOINTED ME.
AND RECENTLY HAVE REAFFIRMED
THAT AND ASKED FOR A PUBLIC
HEARING.
SENATOR FITZGERALD, SPEAKER VOS
AND MANY OTHER REPUBLICANS TOLD
ME THAT THEY SUPPORTED MY
APPOINTMENT WHEN I WAS FIRST
APPOINTED IN 2016.
SO I DON'T THINK IT'S TRUE THAT
THE VOTES WERE NEVER THERE.
AND I'M CONFIDENT THAT THERE IS
SUPPORT AMONGST THE SENATE FOR
MY CONFIRMATION.
>> AND WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE TO
APPARENTLY NOT GETTING A PUBLIC
HEARING?
>> WELL, IT'S FRUSTRATING.
I THINK IT'S UNUSUAL.
I MEAN, WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF
A UNIQUE APPOINTMENT STRUCTURE
BECAUSE IT'S NOT A GUBERNATORIAL
APPOINTMENT.
IT'S BY THE COMMISSION.
AND THEN ADVICE AND CONSENT OF
THE SENATE.
I THINK IT WOULD BE TWO POSITIVE
THINGS TO COME OUT OF A PUBLIC
HEARING.
BOTH MYSELF, COMMISSIONERS AND
THE PUBLIC COULD LET THE SENATE
KNOW WHAT THEY THINK OF THE
DIRECTION OF THE AGENCY AND
SENATORS, IF THEY HAVE CONCERNS,
THEY CAN HAVE THEIR QUESTIONS
ANSWERED.
I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT THERE'S A
LACK OF CONFIDENCE AMONGST THE
PUBLIC.
WE WOULD KNOW IF THAT WERE THE
CASE.
WE WOULD BE GETTING PHONE CALLS
AND EMAILS.
THAT'S NOT THE CASE.
I'VE ASKED LEGISLATORS IF YOUR
CONSTITUENTS HAVE CONCERNS, LET
ME HELP YOU ANSWER THEIR
CONCERNS.
NOBODY HAS OFFERED UP ANY
SPECIFIC CONCERN OF ANY MEMBER
OF THE PUBLIC THAT WE COULD
ADDRESS.
>> I SHOULD ADHERE THAT WE DID
ASK SENATOR FITZGERALD TO JOIN
THIS CONVERSATION AND HE
DECLINED THAT.
WHAT REMEDY DO YOU HAVE IF YOUR
CONFIRMATION IS REJECTED?
>> WELL, I THINK THAT'S A LITTLE
BIT OF UNCHARTED TERRITORY.
RIGHT NOW WE'RE FOCUSING ON
MAKING THE CASE TO THE SENATE
THAT MY APPOINTMENT SHOULD BE
CONFIRMED.
SO IF THE VOTE IS NOT TO
CONFIRM, THEN I THINK WE WILL
TRY TO DEAL WITH THOSE ISSUES AT
THE TIME.
>> YOU KNOW, GIVEN THE FACT THAT
THE GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY
BOARD WAS DISBANDED IN 2015 AND
NEITHER YOU NOR MR. BELL HAVE
YET BEEN CONFIRMED, I MEAN, DID
THAT SPELL THAT TROUBLE?
>> WELL, NOT FOR ME, BECAUSE I
WAS CHECKING IN WITH SENATOR
FITZGERALD'S OFFICE REGULARLY.
I WOULD SAY, ARE THERE ANY
CONCERNS?
ARE THERE ANY SENATORS YOU THINK
I SHOULD TALK TO?
I WAS ALWAYS TOLD, NO, WE THINK
EVERYTHING'S FINE.
WE'LL LET YOU KNOW.
SO I WAS SURPRISED TO GET A
LETTER, FRANKLY, REQUESTING MY
RESIGNATION.
>> WHAT DO YOU THINK HAPPENED?
>> APPARENTLY THERE WAS A CAUCUS
AMONGST THE SENATE REPUBLICANS
IRONICALLY ON THE SAME DAY THAT
SENATOR FITZGERALD'S STAFF SAID
THEY WERE SCHEDULING A MEETING
WITH ME WITH SENATOR FITZGERALD.
THAT WAS AFTER SENATOR NASS
ASKED FOR MY RESIGNATION.
>> MICHAEL HAAS, THANKS VERY
MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THE LIST OF DEMOCRATIC
CANDIDATES LINING UP TO
CHALLENGE GOVERNOR SCOTT WALKER
IS LONG AND GETTING LONGER.
WE'VE BEEN INTERVIEWING THE MANY
CANDIDATES OVER THE PAST SEVERAL
WEEKS.
AS THE CALENDAR TURNED TO THE
NEW YEAR WE'RE DOUBLING UP.
TONIGHT WE BRING YOU TWO
CHALLENGERS WHO THIS MONTH THREW
THEIR HAT IN THE RING.
WE START WITH KELDA ROYS.
SHE SERVED IN THE STATE ASSEMBLY
FROM 2008 TO 2012 AND CURRENTLY
RUNS A REAL ESTATE TECH
BUSINESS.
KELDA ROYS JOINS US NOW.
THANKS FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> FIRST WANT TO ASK YOU WHAT
SETS YOU APART FROM THE MANY
OTHER DEMOCRATS WANTING TO GO
HEAD TO HEAD WITH SCOTT WALKER?
>> WELL, I THINK IT'S GREAT WE
HAVE SO MUCH ENTHUSIASM ON OUR
SIDE AND SO MANY GREAT PEOPLE
STEPPING FORWARD TO RUN.
I DON'T VIEW MYSELF AS RUNNING
AGAINST MY DEMOCRATIC
COLLEAGUES.
I DON'T EVEN FEEL LIKE I'M
RUNNING AGAINST SCOTT WALKER.
I'M RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR BECAUSE
I WANT WISCONSIN TO BE A PLACE
OF OPPORTUNITY AND FAIRNESS
AGAIN.
I WANT WISCONSIN TO BE THE BEST
PLACE TO RAISE A FAMILY AND THE
BEST PLAIS TO BEST TO GROW A SMALL
BUSINESS.
I HAVE A LOT OF IDEAS TO BRING
FORWARD TO THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL
AND GOVERNORSHIP.
>> HOW DID YOUR PAST EXPERIENCE
PREPARE YOU FOR THIS ROLE?
>> I'VE HAD A LONG HISTORY OF
PROGRESSIVE ACCOMPLISHMENTS ON A
WIDE RANGE OF ISSUES.
FROM MY TIME IN THE LEGISLATURE
AND BEFORE THAT ON THE INNOCENCE
PROJECT TO PREVENT WRONGFUL
CONVICTIONS.
WHEN I WAS THE HEAD OF NARAL
PRO-CHOICE WISCONSIN WORKING ON
COMMON GROUND, COMMON SENSE
INITIATIVES TO HELP REDUCE THE
NEED FOR ABORTION, HELP WOMEN
WHO HAVE BEEN VICTIMS OF SEXUAL
ASSAULT, ET CETERA.
>> WHAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT
THING THAT WISCONSIN NEEDS TO DO
FOR ITS EDUCATION SYSTEM?
>> WELL, WE NEED TO PRIORITIZE
IT IN THE BUDGET.
YOU SIMPLY CANNOT SAY THAT YOU
VALUE EDUCATION IF YOU DEVALUE
EDUCATORS AND IF YOU TAKE MONEY
AWAY FROM SCHOOLS.
UNDER THE CURRENT GOVERNOR, WE
HAVE DIVESTED ABOUT A BILLION
DOLLARS FROM OUR K-12 EDUCATION
SYSTEM.
I THINK THAT'S ABSOLUTELY WRONG.
I SAY THAT AS A PARENT, SOMEONE
WHO IS A PRODUCT OF PUBLIC
SCHOOLS, AND AS AN EMPLOYER, WHO
KNOWS THAT THE WAY THAT WE'RE
GOING TO BE SUCCESSFUL NOW AND
IN THE FUTURE IS BY HAVING
EDUCATED WORKERS.
>> AND SO ON THAT SCORE, WHAT'S
THE BEST WAY TO GROW GOOD-PAYING
JOBS IN WISCONSIN?
>> WELL, THE MAJORITY OF NET NEW
JOBS COME FROM SMALL BUSINESSES.
THEY COME FROM START-UPS AND NEW
FIRMS, COMPANIES LIKE MINE.
SO IF WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A
SUSTAINABLE ECONOMY WITH
GOOD-PAYING JOBS, WE NEED TO
MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE CAN START
SMALL BUSINESSES AND THAT SMALL
BUSINESSES CAN GROW.
RIGHT NOW WE HAVE A SITUATION
WHERE THE BIGGEST BUSINESSES
THAT ALREADY HAVE BILLIONS OF
DOLLARS IN CAPITAL ARE GETTING
MASS SAVE INCENTIVES AND TAX
BREAKS.
AND ALL THE REST OF US ARE
PAYING THE PRICE FOR THAT.
AND SMALL BUSINESSES DO, TOO.
I HAVE A NUMBER OF IDEAS FOR HOW
WE CAN HELP SMALL BUSINESSES
LIKE MINE SUCCEED AND I'M
LOOKING FORWARD TO TALKING ABOUT
ALL THOSE IDEAS ON THE CAMPAIGN
TRAIL.
>> WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
BUSINESSES, LARGE AND SMALL.
WHAT'S YOUR OPINION OF THE
FOXCONN PROJECT?
>> WELL, FOXCONN IS -- TO ME
IT'S CLEARLY A DESPERATE HAIL
MARY PASS BY THE GOVERNOR.
HE KNOWS HIS RECORD ON THE
ECONOMY IS TERRIBLE.
WISCONSIN IS DOING WORSE THAN A
LOT OF OUR PEERS.
OUR MIDDLE CLASS IS SHRINKING.
AND SO I CAN UNDERSTAND WHY HE
WAS SO EAGER TO MAKE THAT DEAL.
BUT IT WAS -- YOU KNOW, THE IDEA
THAT WE ARE GOING TO GIVE NOW $4
BILLION AND COUNTING TO THIS
FOREIGN CORPORATION WITH VERY
LITTLE SECURITY FOR US AND ONLY
BENEFITING EVEN ONE SMALL PART
OF THE STATE, TO ME THAT'S NOT
LEADERSHIP.
THAT'S DESPERATION.
I WANT TO SEE HOME-GROWN
INNOVATORS GIVEN A CHANCE IN ALL
72 COUNTIES IN THE STATE.
AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
WE'RE INVESTING RESOURCES WHERE
THEY'RE ACTUALLY NEEDED, IN
SMALL BUSINESSES.
>> HOW SHOULD WISCONSIN IN YOUR
MIND CREATE A SUSTAINABLE
FUNDING SOURCE FOR WISCONSIN'S
ROADS AND HIGHWAYS?
>> WELL, THIS IS AN AREA WHERE I
THINK WE HAVE GREAT POTENTIAL
FOR BIPARTISAN COOPERATION.
ROADS AND TRANSIT AND
TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE
GENERALLY ARE ABSOLUTELY EE
SEVENTEEN CHELESSENTIAL FOR A STRONG AND
GROWING ECONOMY AND THERE'S A
LOT OF AGREEMENT AMONGST
REPUBLICANS IN THE LEGISLATURE
AS WELL AS DEMOCRATS.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US
EXPLORING A LOT OF DIFFERENT
REVENUE SOURCES.
I MEAN, CERTAINLY I THINK
LOOKING AT BEING WILLING TO LOOK
AT REVENUE SOURCES LIKE THE GAS
TAX ARE IMPORTANT, BUT WE ALSO
NEED TO THINK IN LONGER TERMS
BECAUSE AS PEOPLE MOVE MORE
TOWARDS MORE EFFICIENT VEHICLES
OR ELECTRIC-POWERED VEHICLES,
THE GAS TAX IS NOT GOING TO BE
SUSTAINABLE AS MY CHILDREN GROW
UP.
>> WHY DO YOU THINK YOU COULD
UNSEAT SCOTT WALKER?
>> I THINK THAT GOVERNOR WALKER
HAS HAD EIGHT YEARS TO DO WHAT
HE WANTS IN WISCONSIN.
HE'S HAD A VERY COMPLIANT
LEGISLATURE.
AND A LOT OF US HAVE BEEN REALLY
DISAPPOINTED BY THE OUTCOMES.
WISCONSIN IS READY FOR NEW
LEADERSHIP.
WE'RE READY FOR SOMEONE WHO IS
WILLING TO SAY I'M NOT GOING TO
PUT MY BIG DONORS FIRST, I'M NOT
GOING TO PUT THE BIGGEST
CORPORATIONS FIRST.
WHEN I'M GOVERNOR, I'M GOING TO
PUT EVERY WISCONSINITE FIRST.
I'M NOT GOING TO LEAVE ANYBODY
BEHIND.
WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE THE
ECONOMY WORKS FOR ALL OF US.
>> KELDA ROYS, THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THIS WEEK MADISON MAJOR PAUL
SOGLIN BECAME THE LATEST
CANDIDATE TO ANNOUNCE HIS RUN
FOR GOVERNOR.
SOGLIN HAS SERVED 20 YEARS AS
MADISON'S MAYOR STARTING WITH
HIS FIRST TERM IN 19 #73.
HE IS AN ATTORNEY AND FELLLY FELLOW AT
THE KENNEDY CENTER AT HARVARD.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> WHAT SETS YOU APART FROM THE
OTHER CANDIDATES?
>> PROBABLY THE FACT THAT I'VE
GOT 25 YEARS EXPERIENCE IN THE
PRIVATE SECTOR, OWNING MY OWN
SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSES, AND TIME
AT ONE OF THE LARGEST TECHNOLOGY
COMPANIES NOT JUST IN WISCONSIN,
BUT THE U.S., WHERE I HELD AN
IMPORTANT ADMINISTRATIVE
POSITION, AND OVER 20 AS MAYOR
OF THE CITY OF MADISON.
SO I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY BOTH
IN THE PUBLIC AND THE PRIVATE
SECTOR TO WORK ON DIFFICULT,
CHALLENGING PROBLEMS AND GET
SOLUTIONS, IDENTIFY THE NEED FOR
HOUSING AND THEN PUTTING A
PROGRAM THAT GETS US THOUSANDS
OF UNITS OF NEW HOUSING BUILT AT
ALL INCOME LEVELS, LOOK AT THE
CHALLENGES THAT WE SEE IN
REGARDS TO COMMUNICATION AND
TRANSPORTATION AND BUILD THOSE
KINDS OF NETWORKS AND BRING THEM
IN WITHIN BUDGET.
>> RIGHT OUT OF THE CHUTES, THE
WALKER CAMPAIGN TWEETED THE LAST
THING WE NEED IS MORE MADISON IN
OUR LIVES.
PAUL SOGLIN IS AN EXTREME
LIBERAL WHO WANTS TO TAKE OUR
STATE BACKWARD.
WHAT'S YOUR REACTION TO THAT?
>> BASICALLY HE'S UNGRATEFUL AND
DECEITFUL.
LET'S JUST TAKE THE EMPLOYMENT
NUMBERS, WHETHER WE MEASURE THEM
BY UNEMPLOYMENT, WE MEASURE THEM
BY JOB CREATION.
WISCONSIN NEEDS MADISON.
MADISON NEEDS WISCONSIN.
THE CITY OF MADISON AND THE DANE
COUNTY REGION HAVE CREATED MORE
JOBS.
WE ARE THE ONES THAT ARE LEADING
IN UNEMPLOYMENT.
WE ARE MAKING SCOTT WALKER LOOK
GOOD.
AND IT'S ABOUT TIME HE
ACKNOWLEDGED WHAT LIMITED
SUCCESS HE'S HAD COMES FROM OUR
REGION.
AT THE SAME TIME, NO ONE EXPECTS
MINERAL POINT, RICE LAKE, GREEN
BAY TO BECOME LIKE MADISON.
BUT WE'VE ALL GOT COMMON
PROBLEMS, COMMON PROBLEMS IN
TERMS OF TRANSPORTATION, IN
TERMS OF SCHOOLS, IN TERMS OF
SOLVING THE PROBLEMS OF THE DAY.
>> SO HOW DO YOU TRANSPOSES THE
SUCCESSES OF MADISON STATEWIDE,
GROWING GOOD-PAYING JOBS, FOR
EXAMPLE?
>> WELL, IT'S MAKING WISE
INVESTMENT, WORKING IN
CONJUNCTION WITH THE PRIVATE
SECTOR.
LET ME JUST SAY THAT A CONCEPT
IS FINE.
EACH INDIVIDUAL PROJECT HAS TO
BE EVALUATED ON ITS OWN.
THE DECISION ON FOXCONN IS A
DISASTER.
THE DECISION IS TOO COSTLY.
IT DOESN'T GIVE US ENOUGH
PROTECTIONS AS THE PUBLIC.
THE MONEY COULD BE MORE WISELY
SPENT ON INVESTMENT IN SMALL
BUSINESSES AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
AROUND THE REST OF THE STATE.
THE KEY TO ALL OF THIS IS
UNDERSTANDING THAT GOVERNMENT IS
TO PROVIDE HEALTH AND SAFETY AND
TO WORK WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR
IN OPENING UP OPPORTUNITIES.
>> WHAT'S THE BEST WAY, IN YOUR
MIND, TO SUPPORT WISCONSIN'S
EDUCATION SYSTEM?
>> WELL, WE DO NEED MORE MONEY,
MORE REVENUES.
WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO PUT MORE
INTO PRIMARY AND SECONDARY
EDUCATION.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE A
GREATER COMMITMENT TO THE
UNIVERSITY SYSTEM.
YOU LOOK AT OUR TOWNS, OUR
VILLAGES, OUR COMMUNITIES, THEY
ARE ONLY AS STRONG AS THEIR
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
WE CAN HAVE A DEBATE TILL THE
COWS COME HOME ABOUT WHETHER OR
NOT WE SHOULD HAVE CHOICE AND
VOUCHER AND ALL OF THAT.
WE'VE ALL GOT OUR OWN DIFFERENT
OPINIONS.
BUT NO MATTER WHAT YOUR FEELING
IS, THERE MUST BE STRONG PUBLIC
SCHOOLS.
>> WHERE WOULD YOU FIND A
SUSTAINABLE FUNDING FOR
WISCONSIN'S HIGHWAYS AND ROADS?
>> WELL, WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY
AND WE STILL DO WHILE GAS PRICES
ARE LOW TO RAISE THE GAS TAX.
I MEAN, IT'S JUST LUDICROUS THAT
WE DON'T TAKE A REVENUE STREAM
LIKE THAT, WHICH IS A MODEST
INCREASE, AND THEN USE IT FOR
FURTHER INVESTMENT.
OUR ROAD SYSTEM WAS A RESPONSE
TO THE DAIRY INDUSTRY.
100 YEARS AGO, WE HAD TO GET
FRESH MILK TO MARKET.
AND IT MEANT INVESTING IN TOWN
AND COUNTY ROADS.
IT MEANT INVESTING IN STATE
HIGHWAYS.
THOSE ROADS HAVE NOW MADE A
GREAT ECONOMY FOR WISCONSIN, FOR
MANUFACTURING TO THE TOURIST
INDUSTRY.
WE CANNOT TURN OUR BACK ON ANY
COUNTY IN THE STATE AND WE HAVE
TO UNDERSTAND, MAKE THAT
INVESTMENT IN THOSE ROADS AND
THEN WE WILL GET A LARGER TAX
BASE, WE WILL CREATE MORE JOBS
AND IT'S WISE.
MONONA TERRACE IS A PERFECT
EXAMPLE OF THAT KIND OF
INVESTMENT.
>> WHY DO YOU THINK YOU CAN
UNSEAT SCOTT WALKER?
>> WELL, WHEN WE HAD A
DISCUSSION IN MARCH AND
APRIL ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF
RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR, I ASKED
SARAH WHAT SHE THOUGHT ABOUT IT.
AND SHE SIMPLY SAID, YOU CAN
RUN, BUT YOU HAVE TO WIN.
WELL, I WENT ABOUT RAISING SOME
MONEY TO DO A POLL.
AND WITH HE WE DID A POLL.
PAUL MASLIN DID IT, WHO RECENTLY
COMPLETED THE JONES CAMPAIGN IN
ALABAMA, AND THE POLL SAYS I CAN
WIN.
>> WE LEAVE IT THERE.
PAUL SOGLIN, THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> IN TONIGHT'S LOOK AHEAD,
STATE OFFICIALS ARE ON A
MISSION.
AS WE'VE REPORTED, WISCONSIN
REALLY, REALLY WANTS MILLENNIALS
LIVING AND WORKING IN CHICAGO TO
LEAVE THERE AND COME HERE.
>> AND THIS WEEK, THE WISCONSIN
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
WENT LIVE, WITH ITS MILLION AD
CAMPAIGN IN CHICAGO.
COMMUTER TRAINS, TRAIN
PLATFORMS, HEALTH CLUBS AND
SOCIAL MEDIA WILL SEE THE
MARKETING BLITZ ABOUT HOW IT'S
BETTER HERE.
HOW MANY MILLENNIALS DOES
WISCONSIN WANT TO BRING INTO OUR
BORDERS?
AS MANY AS THEY CAN GET,
ACCORDING TO THE WEDC.
>> NOW, THIS FIRST MARKETING
PUSH IS THE PRECURSOR TO A
NEARLY $7 MILLION CAMPAIGN THE
STATE WANTS TO PURSUE TO REMEDY
ITS WORKER SHORTAGE.
STATE DEMOCRATIC LEADERS SAY THE
MONEY COULD BE BETTER SPENT ON
JOB TRAINING AND SAY GOVERNOR
WALKER AND HIS POLICIES ARE TO
BLAME FOR DRIVING YOUNG PEOPLE
OUT OF THE STATE.
THAT IS OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT.
NEXT WEEK, WE WILL BE WATCHING
THE STATE SENATE ELECTION IN THE
10TH DISTRICT.
WILL IT BE A BELLWETHER RACE?
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED, IN PART, BY FRIENDS OF
WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISION.
>> FOR MORE INFORMATION ON "HERE
AND NOW'S" 2018 ELECTION
COVERAGE, GO