>> I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW,"
EFFORTS TO REDUCE THE STATE'S
HOMELESS POPULATION.
THE NEED FOR MORE SIGN LANGUAGE
INTERPRETERS IN WISCONSIN, AND
OUR POLITICAL PANELISTS,
MCCOSHEN AND ROSS ARE BACK, JUST
AS THE CANDIDATES FOR PRESIDENT
SWARM INTO THE STATE.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR
APRIL 26.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED IN PART BY FRIENDS OF
WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISION.
?
>> THE PROBLEM OF HOMELESSNESS
IN WISCONSIN IS GETTING SHARP
ATTENTION AT THE STATE LEVEL.
EIGHT NEW LEGISLATIVE BILLS
CALLING FOR NEARLY $4 MILLION IN
NEW SPENDING TO COMBAT THE ISSUE
ARE IN PROGRESS.
AND THE GOVERNOR HIMSELF
ANNOUNCED HE WILL CHAIR THE
INTERAGENCY COUNCIL ON
HOMELESSNESS, CREATED TWO YEARS
AGO.
TONY EVERS ALSO INCLUDED THE
SAME PROVISIONS IN FUNDING IN
HIS PROPOSED TWO-YEAR BUDGET.
TONIGHT AHEAD OF A LEGISLATIVE
DISCUSSION ON THE TOPIC, WE
REVISIT A CLIP FROM A SHORT FILM
AIRED HERE FIRST, "NO PLACE LIKE
HOME" FEATURES THE STORY OF A
ONCE HOMELESS TEAM.
JIVONTE DAVIS TELLS HOW QUICKLY
THE SECURITY OF HOUSING
CAN VANISH.
>> ONE NIGHT, IT WAS LIKE
I HAD A BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
IN MINNESOTA, SO I WENT TO
MINNESOTA FOR THREE DAYS.
YOU KNOW, MY PHONE WAS OFF
SO I COULDN'T CONTACT MY MOM
OR ANYTHING.
AND THEN, UM, I CAME BACK
FROM THE TRIP EXHAUSTED,
YOU KNOW, WANTED TO GO HOME,
GET READY FOR SCHOOL AND
EVERYTHING.
AND THEN, IT WAS, LIKE, I USED
MY KEY TO OPEN THE DOOR
AND THE DOOR WOULDN'T OPEN.
I'D KIND OF SEEN THE, LIKE, THE
"FOR SALE" SIGN UP IN THE LAWN,
BUT, LIKE, I NEVER PAID
ATTENTION TO IT.
AND THEN, OUR NEIGHBOR FROM
ACROSS THE STREET CAME OUTSIDE
AND WAS LIKE, "SON, ARE YOU
LOOKING FOR YOUR MOM?"
I WAS LIKE, "YEAH."
SHE'S LIKE, "SON, I JUST SEEN A
MOVING TRUCK LEAVE HERE
YESTERDAY."
I CALLED MY MOM AND SHE TOLD ME
THAT SHE END UP LOSING THE HOUSE
WHILE I WAS GONE AND BY ME AND
MY PHONE BEING OFF, SHE COULDN'T
CONTACT ME AND TELL ME.
SHE STARTED CRYING AND SHE'S
LIKE, WE'RE IN SUN PRAIRIE.
AND SHE TOLD ME, "YOU CAN STAY
HERE OR YOU CAN DO WHAT YOU GOT
TO DO."
AND I TOLD HER, "I CAN'T BE IN
SUN PRAIRIE."
"WE DON'T HAVE TRANSPORTATION"
AND I GO, "I STILL HAVE TO
FINISH SCHOOL."
SO I JUST STAYED ON IN MADISON
ON MY OWN.
I WAS STAYING AT FRIENDS'
HOUSES.
WHAT THEY CALL IT NOWADAYS, THEY
CALL IT COUCH SURFING, WHERE YOU
SLEEP FROM COUCH TO COUCH, FROM
HOUSE TO HOUSE, AND THAT'S WHAT
I WAS DOING.
THE TRANSITION WAS HARD
BECAUSE I WAS SO USED TO--
LIKE, I WAS USED TO TAKING
ADVANTAGE OF EVERYTHING THAT,
LIKE, WE DID HAVE WHEN I WAS
HOME, BUT WE DID-- I DON'T
LIKE--
YOU KNOW, ELECTRICITY, FRESH
WATER, YOU KNOW, HEAT.
I TOOK IT FOR GRANTED PRETTY
MUCH AND YOU NEVER--
YOU DON'T KNOW THAT UNTIL YOU
GET ON YOUR OWN THIS WAY, MAN.
WHERE AM I GONNA STAY TONIGHT,
OR LIKE, WHAT AM I GONNA EAT?
HOW AM I GONNA CHARGE MY PHONE?
LIKE, I TOLD MYSELF, "ONE DAY
IT'S THERE, THE NEXT DAY,
IT COULD BE GONE."
>> THAT FILM WON FIRST PLACE AT
THE AWARDS THIS MONTH.
CONTINUING THIS DISCUSSION NOW
IN TONIGHT'S CLOSER LOOK, WE SIT
DOWN WITH THE STATE ASSEMBLY
MAJORITY LEADER TO RUN THROUGH
THE SPENDING PROPOSALS FOR
HOMELESSNESS IN WISCONSIN.
ACCORDING TO A STATE REPORT
NEARLY 22,000 PEOPLE EXPERIENCED
HOMELESSNESS IN WISCONSIN IN
2017.
AND NEARLY 3500 OF THOSE PEOPLE
SLEPT IN PLACES NOT MEANT FOR
HUMAN HABITATION DURING WINTER
MONTHS.
THE REPORT ALSO SHOWED 56% OF
PEOPLE WHO EXPERIENCED BEING
HOMELESS WERE FROM OUTSIDE
MILWAUKEE, DANE AND RACINE
COUNTIES.
WITH THAT IN MIND, EIGHT
LEGISLATIVE MEASURES PROPOSED
THE $3.75 MILLION SPENDING THAT
INCLUDES INCREASED FUNDING
TOWARD PREVENTING HOMELESSNESS
BY PROVIDING SHORT TERM,
AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND JOB
SKILLS TRAINING.
THE VERY SAME MEASURES ARE IN
THE GOVERNMENT'S PROPOSAL.
WE SAT DOWN WITH MEMBER JIM STEN
KEY BY ASKING HIM TO DESCRIBE
THE MEASURES.
>> REALLY THE FOCUS IS TRYING TO
MAKE AN AN IMPACT ON THE
HOMELESSNESS PROBLEM FROM
BEGINNING TO END OF THE
SPECTRUM, RIGHT, SO ON THE FRONT
END OF THINGS, TRYING TO KEEP
PEOPLE FROM EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS TO BEGIN WITH BY
PROVIDING IN SOME CASES SHORT
TERM GRANTS OR SMALL OR LOW
INTEREST LOANS IN ORDER TO GET
THEM THROUGH YOU A ROUGH TIME SO
THEY DON'T EXPERIENCE
HOMELESSNESS TO BEGIN WITH, TO
THE POINT WHERE THEY'RE HOMELESS
AND WE'RE PROVIDING MORE
RESOURCES FOR SHELTERS
THROUGHOUT THE STATE, MORE
RESOURCES FOR WORKFORCE TRAINING
TRAINING, EVERYTHING ALONG THE
WAY TO TRY TO GET PEOPLE INTO A
PLACE WHERE THEY'RE MORE SECURE.
>> YOU SPONSORED LEGISLATION
THAT CREATED THE STATE COUNCIL
ON HOMELESSNESS.
AND ITS RECOMMENDATIONS OUT OF
THAT COUNCIL MIRRORED THESE
LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS.
IT'S NOT AS THOUGH YOUR KAUKAUNA
DISTRICT IS KIND OF THE
EPICENTER OF HOMELESSNESS IN
WISCONSIN.
WHY DID YOU TAKE THE LEAD ON IT?
>> YEAH, SO REALLY I GUESS IT
BOILS DOWN TO A COUPLE OF
THINGS.
THE MAIN THING WAS AFTER HAVING
SPENT SIX OR EIGHT YEARS COMING
DOWN HERE TO MADISON TO WORK
EVERY WEEK, AND NOTICING THE
HOMELESSNESS PROBLEM, ESPECIALLY
IN MY FIRST TERM, HOW BAD IT WAS
AND JUST HOW ABOUT VISIBLE IT
WAS IN COMPARISON TO
NORTHEASTERN WISCONSIN, IT
REALLY HAD A PRETTY DRAMATIC
EFFECT ON ME.
BUT THEN OVER THE COURSE OF THE
NEXT FEW YEARS, YOU JUST KIND OF
BECOME NUMB TO IT, AND THE
HOMELESS UNFORTUNATELY BECOME
KIND OF PART OF THE OF THE SCENERY IN
MADISON.
I REALLY WANTED TO START DIGGING
IN FURTHER TO SEE WHAT WE COULD
DO TO HELP.
>> GOVERNOR EVERS THIS SPRING
ANNOUNCED THAT HE WILL CHAIR
THIS COUNCIL.
WHAT DOES THAT SAY TO YOU ABOUT
HIS COMMITMENT ON THIS ISSUE?
>> I THINK THAT'S SIGNIFICANT.
I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY OUR PAST CHAIR
WAS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR REBECCA
KLEEFISCH WHO DID A WONDERFUL
JOB THE FIRST YEAR AND WAS
REALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR
DEVELOPING THIS PACKAGE OF
LEGISLATION.
I'M ENCOURAGED BY THE FACT THAT
HE WANTS TO LEAD IT, WE'RE A
LITTLE DISAPPOINTED THERE HASN'T
BEEN A MEETING CALLED YET AND
THERE HASN'T BEEN AN EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR HIRED SO THAT'S A
LITTLE CONCERNING.
WE REALLY WANT TO KEEP THE
MOMENTUM BUILDING ON THIS AND
THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WE
WANTED TO INTRODUCE THIS PACKAGE
OF LEGISLATION SEPARATELY TO
KEEP THIS TOP OF MIND FOR NOT
ONLY LEGISLATORS BUT PEOPLE
THROUGHOUT THE STATE.
>> AND YET GOING THROUGH THE
GOVERNOR'S EXECUTIVE BUDGET,
EACH OF THE PROVISIONS AND EACH
OF THE BILLS IS MIRRORED IN THAT
BUDGET AS WELL, AND SO WHAT DOES
THAT SAY TO YOU ABOUT HIS
COMMITMENT?
>> I THINK THAT'S A SIGNIFICANT
TELL AS WELL, IS THAT HE IS
COMMITTED TO WHAT HE IS TAKING,
HE DID TAKE THOSE
RECOMMENDATIONS AND MAKE IT PART
OF HIS BUDGET.
REALLY WHAT WE WANT TO DO BY
PULLING THOSE OUT AND HAVING
HEARINGS SEPARATELY IS CONTINUE
THAT CONVERSATION, BECAUSE IN
THE ABSENCE OF THE INTERAGENCY
COUNCIL ON HOMELESSNESS MEETING,
THERE'S KIND OF A VOID IN NEWS
MAKING ON THE ISSUE.
SO AS WE CONTINUE TO HOLD
HEARINGS ON THESE BILLS AND
MEDIA CONTINUES TO COVER THE
ISSUE, WE CONTINUE TO SPREAD
AWARENESS ABOUT THE PROBLEM.
>> DO YOU HAVE SOME SUSPICION
THAT THESE BILLS OR EVEN THE
PROVISIONS IN THE BUDGET WON'T
BE SUPPORTED IN A BIPARTISAN
WAY?
>> NO, I CERTAINLY HOPE NOT.
I HAVEN'T HEARD FROM ANYBODY
THAT IS IN DIRECT OPPOSITION TO
ANY PARTICULAR BILL, SO AS IT
HAS BEEN IN THE PAST, I THINK IT
WILL CONTINUE TO BE A BIPARTISAN
ISSUE.
>> NOW ADVOCATES FOR HOMELESS
SAID THAT WISCONSIN HAD NO PLAN
ON THIS ISSUE FOR MANY YEARS,
UNLIKE MOST OTHER STATES.
HOW FAR WILL THESE SPENDING
MEASURES GO TO CATCHING UP
TOWARD AS YOU SAY PREVENTION IN
THE FIRST PLACE AND HELPING
THOSE WHO ARE ALREADY WITHOUT
HOMES?
>> I THINK IT'S SIGNIFICANT.
I MEAN, I THINK THE FIRST STEP
WAS THE INITIAL CREATION OF THAT
INTERAGENCY COUNCIL.
THE WORK THAT THEY'VE DONE OVER
THE COURSE OF THE LAST YEAR
WORKING WITH -- A YEAR AND A OF
HALF REALLY WORKING WITH
ADVOCATES TO COME UP WITH THESE
PROPOSALS WAS PHENOMENAL.
AND NOW WE'RE GOING TO SEE THE
RESULTS OF THESE AS WE GO
FORWARD, BUT I JUST REMEMBER
BACK WHEN WE FIRST STARTED THIS
INITIATIVE, WHERE WE TALKED TO
SOMEBODY FROM THE CONTINUUM OF
CARE AND SHE SAID THAT IN HER
10, 11 OR 12 YEARS WORKING WITH
THE CONTINUUM OF CARE, THIS IS
THE FIRST TIME ANYBODY FROM THE
STATE HAS EVER REACHED OUT TO TO
WORK ON THIS ISSUE, WHICH REALLY
KIND OF TOOK ME ABACK BECAUSE
THAT COVERS A SPAN OF BOTH
REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS IN
CONTROL, AND NOBODY WAS REALLY
PAYING ATTENTION.
IT WAS KIND OF TELLING.
>> HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO BUILD
ON THIS EFFORT?
>> JUST CONTINUE TO KEEP THE
AWARENESS AMONGST THE PUBLIC
BECAUSE I THINK ALL TOO OFTEN,
PEOPLE SEE HOMELESSNESS AS A
MILWAUKEE PROBLEM OR A MADISON
PROBLEM, THEY DON'T REALIZE THAT
HOMELESSNESS IS VIRTUALLY IN
EVERY COMMUNITY THROUGHOUT THE
STATE.
IT AFFECTS RURAL AREAS AS WELL
AS URBAN AREAS, AND THERE'S JUST
NOT A LOT OF AWARENESS ABOUT HOW
SIGNIFICANT THE PROBLEM IS, EVEN
IN PEOPLE'S OWN BACKYARDS.
>> ALL RIGHT.
JIM STEINEKE, THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> AND THIS NOTE ON THE
DESCRIPTION OF A BILL CONCERNING
RAPE KIT TESTING WE'VE REPORTED
LAST WEEK.
UNDER A PROPOSED BILL TO CODIFY
PROCEDURES, WE SHOULD HAVE
EXPLAINED THAT IF VICTIMS CHOOSE
TO REPORT THEIR ASSAULT TO LAW
ENFORCEMENT, MEDICAL
PROFESSIONALS WILL HAVE 24 HOURS
TO REPORT TO POLICE THAT THEY
HAVE GATHERED A SEXUAL ASSAULT
KIT.
LAW ENFORCEMENT WILL THEN HAVE
72 HOURS TO COLLECT THE KIT, AND
14 DAYS TO SEND TO THE STATE
CRIME LAB FOR ANALYSIS.
REMEMBER WHEN THEN STATE REP TOM
NELSON SLEPT AT HIS DESK IN THE
STATE ASSEMBLY CHAMBERS IN
PROTEST OVER THE STATE BUDGET
IMPASSE?
IN TONIGHT'S INSIDE LOOK, WE'VE
GOT ANOTHER STATE REP STAGING A
PROTEST OVER STALLED
LEGISLATION.
MILWAUKEE DEMOCRAT JONATHAN
BROSTOFF HAS VOWED NOT TO CUT
HIS HAIR UNTIL A SPECIFIC BILL
IS PASSED.
REPRESENTATIVE BROSTOFF, THANKS
VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US.
>> YEAH, THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> SO WE CAN SEE THE DIFFERENCE.
WE HAD A BEFORE SHOT AND NOW YOU
HERE TODAY BUT WHY DON'T YOU
TELL US WHAT YOU'RE DOING IN
PROTEST.
>> I WOULDN'T ACTUALLY CLASSIFY
IT AS A PROTEST PER SE, MORE SO
JUST A COMMITMENT I'VE MADE TO A
NUMBER OF THE MEMBERS OF THE
DEAF COMMUNITY LEADERS WHO I'VE BEEN
WORKING WITH ACROSS THE STATE ON
PASSING LEGISLATION, AND
BASICALLY ESPECIALLY FOR THE
DEAF COMMUNITY IT'S A VISUAL
INDICATOR SAYING I'M WITH YOU
AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO STOP
UNTIL WE GET THIS DONE, SO IT'S
MORE SO KIND OF LIKE A WORKING
ARRANGEMENT BETWEEN ME AND THEM
AND JUST LETTING THEM KNOW I'M
WITH THEM, I'M THEIR ALLY AND
EVERY TIME THEY SEE ME, THEY'RE
GOING TO KNOW I'M GOING TO
CONTINUE MY WORK ON IT BUT IT
KIND OF GOT COVERED BY A LOCAL
MEDIA SOURCE AND KIND OF BLEW UP
LEAK THAT, BUT IT'S MORE SO JUST
A KIND OF PERSONAL COMMITMENT
BETWEEN ME AND SOME OF THE
STAKEHOLDERS I'VE BEEN WORKING
WITH.
>> SO TELL ME WHAT YOUR
COMMITMENT IS.
WHAT ARE YOU SEEKING TO DO?
>> SURE.
SO WE'VE BEEN WORKING FOR YEARS
NOW ON A BILL FOR THE DEAF
COMMUNITY, BASICALLY UPDATING
THE SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETING
LAWS IN WISCONSIN, AND IT'S A
FAIRLY TECHNICAL BILL BUT IN
ESSENCE, IT WOULD CREATE MORE
ACCESS FOR THE DEAF COMMUNITY,
MORE ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THE DEAF
COMMUNITY AND IT WOULD GET A LOT
MORE SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETERS
BACK TO WORK IN WISCONSIN, WHICH
WOULD HELP WITH THE SCARCITY
ISSUE WE CURRENTLY HAVE.
>> SO THE LEGISLATION WOULD
CREATE A NEW LICENSING BOARD FOR
SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETERS.
WHAT IS THE HOLDUP ON THIS?
>> WELL, WE ENJOYED BROAD
BIPARTISAN SUPPORT IN THE
ASSEMBLY, BASICALLY UNANIMOUS
SUPPORT, ALL 99 MEMBERS, IT WENT
THROUGH COMMITTEE, IT NO
PROBLEM, IT PASSED THE EXECUTIVE
SESSION, IN COMMITTEE
UNANIMOUSLY, AND WHEN IT GOT TO
THE SENATE, IT STALLED LAST TIME
AROUND.
WHICH ISN'T TERRIBLY UNCOMMON,
BUT IT WAS A BIG BLOW TO THE
DEAF COMMUNITY BECAUSE OF HOW
IMPORTANT THIS LEGISLATION IS,
AND FOLKS ARE REALLY TORN UP,
UNDERSTANDABLY SO, AFTERWARDS,
SO I BASICALLY SAID, YOU KNOW,
THIS IS GOING TO BE NUMBER ONE
PRIORITY AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO
STOP UNTIL WE GET IT DONE, AND
I'VE BEEN THANKFUL TO HAVE
COLLEAGUES LIKE REPRESENTATIVE
SKORONSKI, FORMER REPRESENTATIVE
KLEEFISCH AND SENATOR TESTON AND
OTHER REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS
TO CONTINUE TO WORK ON THIS AND
WHO ALSO UNUNDERSTAND HOW
IMPERATIVE IT IS THAT WE GET
THIS BILL PASSED.
>> DESCRIBE FOR ME WHAT THIS
LEGISLATION WOULD DO AGAIN.
I KNOW IT CREATES A LICENSING
BOARD BUT THEN IT SETS UP KIND
OF TIERS OF DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE
AND EDUCATION THAT THESE
INTERPRETERS WOULD NEED TO HAVE.
DESCRIBE THAT.
>> YEAH, EXACTLY.
SO BASICALLY IN A NUTSHELL, IT'S
MATCHING INTERPRETERS AT THE
EDUCATION AND SKILL LEVEL
THEY'RE AT WITH THE JOBS THAT
ARE APPROPRIATE FOR THEM, AND
THIS IS ESPECIALLY RELEVANT FOR
A SITUATION SUCH AS MEDICAL,
MENTAL HEALTH, AND LEGAL, WHERE
THE NATURE OF THE WORK IS A
LITTLE MORE TECHNICAL AND IT'S
ALSO A LITTLE MORE HIGH STAKES,
GIVEN WHAT FOLKS ARE WORKING ON,
SO THIS WOULD MORE CLEARLY
DEFINE THE SCOPE OF PRACTICE AS
WELL.
>> SO YOU WOULD HAVE TO HAVE AN
ADVANCED LEVEL INTERPRETER TO DO
THINGS LIKE MEDICAL KINDS OF
SIGNING OR LEGAL OR PERHAPS IF A
HEARING IMPAIRED PERSON IS
HAVING AN INTERACTION WITH LAW
ENFORCEMENT, FOR EXAMPLE, AND
WHY IS THAT IMPORTANT?
>> WELL, I CAN ACTUALLY EXPLAIN
IT BY A QUICK EXAMPLE OF A YOUNG
WISCONSIN WOMAN WHO CAME TO
TESTIFY AT ONE OF THE FIRST DEAF
LEGISLATIVE DAYS, THERESA.
SHE WAS SEEKING MEDICAL
ATTENTION IN A RURAL WISCONSIN
HOSPITAL, AND ALTHOUGH BEFORE
SHE GOT THERE, SHE INFORMED THEM
THAT SHE NEEDED A LIVE INTERPRE
ITINTERPRETER WHO WAS UP TO PAR,
SHE WAS NOT PROVIDED THAT, AND
LONG STORY SHORT, SHE BASICALLY
ENDED UP GETTING THE WRONG
SURGERY PERFORMED ON HER.
THIS WAS VERY CRITICAL TO HER
HEALTH, AND SO SHE'S KIND OF
MADE THIS HER LIFE'S WORK NOW,
AND I THINK SHE'S GOING TO END
UP BEING A CIVIL RIGHTS LAWYER
SO SHE CAN PROTECT OTHERS IN THE
SITUATION, BUT WE WANT TO MAKE
SURE IN SENSITIVE SITUATIONS
LIKE THAT, PEOPLE ARE GETTING
THE EXACT APPROPRIATE CARE AND
WHEN YOU'RE RELYING ON SOMEONE
TO COMMUNICATE THAT INFORMATION
PROPERLY, YOU NEED TO MAKE SURE
THAT THE SKILL LEVEL AND
APPROPRIATE AMOUNT OF
INFORMATION IS BEING TRANSMITTED
IN A CRITICAL TIME, SO YOU WANT
TO HAVE THAT SCOPE OF PRACTICE
WELL-DEFINED AS OUR BILL DOES.
>> NOW A LICENSING BOARD WOULD
ALSO BE ABLE TO INVESTIGATE
VIOLATIONS AND MAKE FINDINGS.
WHY IS THAT IMPORTANT?
>> CORRECT.
SO ONE OF THE ISSUES WE HEARD,
AND I TOURED ALL OVER THE STATE
AND I MET WITH FOLKS FROM RURAL
AREAS AND FROM URBAN AREAS AND
FROM DIFFERENT SCOPES OF LIFE
AND AMONG THE DEAF COMMUNITY
THAT I MET WITH, ONE THING WAS
VERY CONSISTENT WHICH WAS, THEY
WANTED A MECHANISM FOR
ACCOUNTABILITY IN THE BILL THAT
DOESN'T CURRENTLY EXIST.
SO RIGHT NOW THERE'S NO REAL
EFFECTIVE WAY TO GO AFTER
SOMEONE WHO'S PRACTICING
ILLEGALLY, AND THAT'S SOMETHING
THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE VERY
CONCERNED WITH.
ALTHOUGH IT'S NOT NECESSARILY A
WIDESPREAD ISSUE AND WE DON'T
HAVE TONS OF ILLEGAL
INTERPRETERS, YOU KNOW, TRYING
TO HARM PEOPLE, FOR THE PEOPLE
WHOSE LIVES IT AFFECTS, IT WAS
SOMETHING THAT THEY MADE SURE TO
LET ME KNOW WAS A PRIORITY, SO
WE HAD TO INCLUDE THAT,
ABSOLUTELY, IN THE BILL, SO IT
OFFERS THAT LEVEL OF
ACCOUNTABILITY THAT DOESN'T
CURRENTLY EXIST.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WELL, REPRESENTATIVE BROSTOFF,
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR JOINING
US AND DESCRIBING WHAT YOU'RE
DOING.
>> THANK YOU, AND THANKS FOR
YOUR WORK.
>> WE ALL KNOW WISCONSIN IS
GROUND ZERO FOR THE 2020
PRESIDENTIAL RACE.
LOOK NO FURTHER THAN THE NUMBER
OF DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES WHO
HAVE ALREADY MADE SWINGS THROUGH
THIS BATTLEGROUND STATE.
WITH PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP
ARRIVING THIS WEEK END IN GREEN
BEA.
IT'S NO SECRET WHY THE
DEMOCRATIC PARTY IS HOSTING ITS
CONVENTION IN MILWAUKEE NEXT
SUMMER.
EVERYONE NEEDS TO WIN OVER
WISCONSIN, BUT WHAT KIND OF
MESSAGE AND WHOSE WILL RESONATE?
FOR THIS, WE TURN TO OUR
POLITICAL PANELLESTS, CAPITAL
CONSULTANTS BILL MCCOSHEN AND
THE RETURN OF DEMOCRATIC
STRATEGIST SCOT ROSS WHO JOINS
US AFTER A BRIEF JOB-RELATED
DEPARTURE AND SOME CONVINCING ON
OUR PART.
SO THANKS BOTH OF YOU FOR BEING
BACK HERE AGAIN.
>> NEEDED TO TWIST MY ARM.
>> WE WANT OUR DEPARTING GIFT
T-SHIRT BACK.
I'M JUST KIDDING, YOU CAN KEEP
IT.
BUT AS TO ALL OF THESE FOLKS,
JOE BIDEN, WHEN IS HE GOING TO
APPEAR?
>> YOU WANT TO TAKE IT FIRST?
>> YOU KNOW, I MEAN, I HAVE TO
THINK THAT THE CIRCLE IS GOING
TO -- THE CYCLE IS GN TO
CONTINUE.
WISCONSIN IS A GREAT STATE, IT'S
A STATE THAT WE HAVE TO WIN,
IT'S A STATE THAT WE CAN WIN,
AND YOU KNOW, IT CERTAINLY HAS
THAT APPEAL.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S URBAN AREAS,
THERE'S RURAL AREAS, THERE'S
UNIVERSITIES, THERE'S
MANUFACTURING.
IT HAS ALL THE HALLMARKS OF A
GREAT STATE THAT YOU NEED TO WIN
IF YOU WANT TO BE A DEMOCRAT WHO
WINS THE PRESIDENCY, THAT'S FOR
SURE.
>> SO HE SAYS DEMOCRATS CAN WIN.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
WISCONSIN.
>> WELL, YEAH, THEY'RE 8-2 IN
THE LAST PRESIDENTIAL CYCLES
HERE IN WISCONSIN.
TRUMP WON HERE THREE YEARS AGO,
I THINK HE'S IN GOOD POSITION TO
BE RE-ELECTED HERE, BUT THE
RECORD SINCE 1980 IS 8-2.
SO THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT THEY
HAVE AN ADVANTAGE.
>> SO WHAT IS THE MESSAGE THAT
WISCONSIN VOTERS WANT TO HEAR?
>> WELL, I THINK AS IT RELATES
TO THE TRIPS, THIS WILL BE
TRUMP'S 18TH TRIP TO WISCONSIN
SINCE HE CAME DOWN THE ESCALATOR
IN JUNE OF 2015.
THAT'S EXTRAORDINARY.
AND IT'S A FORMULA WE USED WITH
TOMMY THOMPSON ALL THE TIME
WHICH IS PRESENCE EQUALS
POPULARITY.
HE KNOWS WHERE HE HAS TO BE AND
HE GOES THERE AND HE COMPETES
FOR THOSE VOTES.
I THINK THE RESULTS SPEAK FOR
THEMSELVES, THE FACT THAT HE WAS
ABLE TO WIN THE STATE WHEN A
GEORGE W. BUSH OR H.W. BUSH, YOU
KNOW, WASN'T ABLE TO WIN THE
STATE.
PEOPLE WANT TO BE COURTED AND
THEY WERE COURTED HERE BY DONALD
TRUMP.
>> IS IT AS SIMPLE AS THAT,
THOUGH, JUST IF YOU SHOW UP, YOU
WIN?
>> I MEAN, I THINK THERE IS AN
ABSENCE, TO RELITIGATE, THERE
WAS A COMPLETE AND UTTER ABSENCE
OF DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE FOR
PRESIDENT AT THAT TIME.
WAW IS A, LACROSSE, THERE ARE
GOOD SOLID POCKETS OF DEMOCRATIC
VOTERS.
THEY WEREN'T GIVEN ANY REASON
NECESSARILY TO BE INSPIRED TO GO
OUT TO THE POLLS AND VOTE.
MEANWHILE THE REPUBLICANS, THEY
HAD A GUY WHO WAS ON TV FOR 16
YEARS WHO IS OUT SAYING THE
THINGS THAT APPARENTLY WILL MAKE
THEM GO AND VOTE.
IT'S ABOUT TURNOUT.
>> SPEAKING OF SAYING THINGS AND
THE MESSAGE, WHAT IS THE
MESSAGE, DO YOU THINK, THAT IS
GOING TO RESONATE WITH WISCONSIN
VOTERS?
>> FOR TRUMP, I THINK IT'S THE
ECONOMY.
TODAY THE NEW GDP NUMBERS WERE
OUT, 3.2 FOR THE QUARTER WHICH
WAS SPECTACULAR, WELL ABOVE THE
EXPECTATIONS AND IT'S BEEN
AVERAGING ABOUT 3% OR BETTER IN
EVERY QUARTER THAT HE'S BEEN
PRESIDENT.
SO WE WERE TOLD IN THE OBAMA
WHITE HOUSE THAT, YOU KNOW, 1%
OR 1 1/2 WAS THE NEW NORMAL.
IT'S NOT EVEN CLOSE TO THE NEW
NORMAL.
IT'S THE ECONOMY.
>> I THINK THAT YOU SHOULD TALK
GDP ALL YOU WANT AND MY SIDE
WILL TALK ABOUT HOW PEOPLE'S
TAXES WENT UP DESPITE THE FACT
THAT MILLIONAIRES AND
BILLIONAIRES HAD THEIR TAXES GO
DOWN.
I JUST READ A THING TODAY, IT'S
SORT OF BUZZING ON THE NEWS,
GOLD STAR FAMILIES HAVE BEEN
SOCKED WITH TAX BREAKS.
THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO THEIR
FAMILY DIED IN THE LINE OF
SERVICE OF THIS NATION.
THEY GET A $15,000 DEATH
BENEFIT.
WOMAN REPORTED THAT SHE PAID
$1,100 IN TAXES ON IT LAST TIME,
THIS TIME SHE'S PAYING $5,500.
THAT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT YOU
CAN WIN RE-ELECTION ON WHEN,
AGAIN, IF YOU'VE RAISED OUR
TAXES, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A
REAL PROBLEM WITH IT, YOU KNOW,
REPUBLICANS HAVE BEEN RUNNING ON
THAT FOR YEARS, WHETHER
DEMOCRATS RAISE THEM OR NOT.
>> DID THE MUELLER REPORT BREAK
PRESIDENT TRUMP'S STRIDE AT ALL?
>> I THINK IT HELPED HIM, NO
QUESTION ABOUT IT.
IT PUT THIS ISSUE TO BED.
SOME DEMOCRATS, NOT ALL, NANCY
PELOSI BEING A GREAT EXCEPTION
HERE, SHE WANTS TO MOVE ON FROM
THAT.
SHE DOESN'T BELIEVE IT'S HELPFUL
TO THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.
I CAN'T BELIEVE I'M SAYING IT, I
AGREE WITH NANCY PELOSI, IT'S
NOT HELPFUL FOR DEMOCRATS.
IT IS HELPFUL FOR TRUMP FOR
DEMOCRATS TO CONTINUE TO BEAT
THAT DEAD HORSE BECAUSE IT'S NOT
GOING ANYWHERE.
>> IS IT A DEAD HORSE?
>> I DISAGREE COMPLETELY.
I WILL SAY THIS YOU KNOW,
THERE'S THE POLITICAL THING TO
DO AND THEN THERE'S WHAT'S RIGHT
TO DO.
IT'S VERY CLEAR THAT DONALD
TRUMP COMMITTED A SERIES OF
IMPEACHABLE OFFENSES NOT JUCH
JUST ONE, NOT TWO BUT SEVERAL OF
THEM.
OBSTRUCTING JUSTICE, YOU KNOW,
INCITING -- CALLING FOR THE
INCITING OF VIOLENCE.
THE CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT -- TO
COMMIT -- TO COMMIT CRIMES.
THAT'S WHERE STORMY DANIELS
PAYMENT WAS FUNDED.
>> HE SAID THERE WAS NO BASIS.
>> HE DID NOT SAY THAT.
HE SAID I CANNOT -- I CANNOT
RULE IT OUT.
THAT'S -- THE ATTORNEY GENERAL,
SORRY, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
DEFINITELY DID.
>> RIGHT.
>> BUT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IS A
HACK.
THE FACT IS --
>> HOLDER WASN'T, RIGHT?
>> THE DEMOCRATS ARE GOING TO
HAVE TO PROCEED ON SOME SORT OF
EXPLORATION ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED
BECAUSE DEMOCRATIC VOTERS,
PARTICULARLY ANGRY DEMOCRATIC
BASE VOTERS SEE THEIR NEIGHBORS
AND FRIENDS BEING INCARCERATED
FOR CRIMES AND DONALD TRUMP JUST
SIMPLY GOING AWAY, BEING ABLE TO
BUY HIMSELF OUT.
>> IT NAICS NANCY PELOSI AND
DEMOCRATS WEAKER, IT MAKES TRUMP
STRONGER.
KEEP IT UP.
>> IN 1998 WHEN THE IMPEACHMENT
WAS GOING ON WITH CLINTON, 1998
WAS DEFINED WITH IMPEACHMENT.
TOM MEE THOMPSON WON 60%.
THE SENATE WAS A WASH, 3-3, AND
THEY PICKED UP -- DEMOCRATS
PICKED UP ONE GOVERNOR.
IT DID NOT HURT REPUBLICANS IN
ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM TO
PROCEED DOWN THAT NONSENSE OF
IMPEACHMENT, LET ALONE THIS
ACTUAL REAL TANGIBLE REASON THAT
NEEDS TO BE EXPLORED.
>> LET'S BE CLEAR ABOUT
SOMETHING.
THERE'S ABOUT 30 OR 35 NEW
DEMOCRATS IN SEATS THAT TRUMP
WON JUST TWO YEARS AGO.
THERE'S NO CHANCE THEY'RE VOTING
FOR AN IMPEACHMENT.
NANCY PELOSI DOESN'T HAVE THE
VOTES, THAT'S WHY SHE'S NOT --
SHE SAYS SHE WANTS TO MOVE ON.
>> ALL RIGHT.
LET'S MOVE ALONG TO STATE SIDE
STUFF.
THE LAME DUCK LEGISLATION THAT
IS NOW AT THE HIGH COURT,
WISCONSIN SUPREME COURT.
WHAT IS UP WITH THAT WITH THE
LIBERALS WANTING TO TAKE TO THE
HIGH COURT AND GET IT OUT OF THE
APPEALS COURT?
>> WELL, LIKE I SAY, WHEN WE
TALK ABOUT LEGAL STRATEGY, I'M
NOT A LAWYER.
SO I DON'T QUITE UNDERSTAND THE
LEGAL RATIONALE FOR THAT.
BUT I THINK THEY PROBABLY -- YOU
KNOW, IT'S GOING TO INEVITABLY
END UP THERE ANYHOW, SO WHY NOT
TAKE IT THERE NOW AND SEE
WHETHER OR NOT YOU CAN CONVINCE
DAN KELLY, WHO'S THE SWING VOTE
BECAUSE HE'S UP FOR ELECTION IN
2020, WHEN DEMOCRATS ARE GOING
TO BE VOTING IN HOARDS, WHAT IS
HE GOING TO END UP DOING ON
THIS.
>> I THINK BOTH SIDES WANT SOME
FINALITY TO THIS, SO THE SUPREME
COURT IS THE ONLY PLACE THEY'RE
GOING TO GET THAT.
MESSING AROUND IN APPELLATE
COURT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE,
IT'S JUST GOING TO DRAG THIS OUT
EVEN LONGER SO I THINK GOING TO
THE SUPREME COURT ON BOTH SIDES
WAS THE RIGHT ANSWER AND LET'S
GET SOME FINALITY TO THIS ONCE
AND FOR ALL.
>> ALL THIS TALK THAT WE'VE
HEARD EVER SINCE TONY EVERS CAME
INTO OFFICE ABOUT WORKING ACROSS
THE AISLE AND FINDING THINGS,
YOU KNOW, THAT WE CAN WORK ON IN
A BIPARTISAN WAY, IS THERE
ANYTHING TO BE HAD IN YOUR MINDS
IN THE STATE BUDGET OR OTHERWISE
WHERE --
>> DAY ZERO, THERE'S NOTHING HE
CAN POINT TO WHERE HE'S WORKED
ACROSS THE AISLE.
WHETHER IT'S PRE-EXISTING
CONDITION WHERE ROBIN VOS TRIED
TO CUT A DEAL WITH HIM, VOS
ULTIMATELY PASSED THE BILL WITH
THE DEAL HE THOUGHT HE HAD WITH
THE GOVERNOR, TAX CUTS THAT TONY
EVERS RAN ON AND EFFICIENTLY
VETOED.
I WOULD THINK THAT'S THEIR
BIGGEST MISSTEP, THEY DO NOT
HAVE A BIPARTISAN
ACCOMPLISHMENT.
>> BASICALLY IT'S LIKE YOU DUMP
A BUCKET OF WATER AT SOMEBODY
AND YELL AT THEM FOR BEING WET.
IT'S RIDICULOUS.
AND I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, THE
STILL DE FACTO LEADER OF THE
PARTY HERE, SCOTT WALKER, IS A
GREAT EXAMPLE OF THE SORT OF
TENOR OF WHAT REPUBLICANS ARE
DOING RIGHT NOW.
TONY EVERS, GOVERNOR EVERS HAS
GONE OUT OF HIS WAY TO REACH
ACROSS THE AISLE, TO MEET WITH
REPUBLICANS, TO HOLD BUDGET
LISTENING SESSIONS ALL OVER THE
STATE SO PEOPLE CAN SHARE IDEAS,
ACTUALLY, NOT CRAFT THE BUDGET
IN SECRET WHICH HAS HIGH HAPPENED THE
LAST EIGHT YEARS, AND HE IS
GETTING NOTHING.
>> WHAT ISSUE --
>> CRIMINAL REFORM, I THINK
THAT'S ONE PLACE WHERE WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT.
>> I THINK THERE WILL BE SOME
BIPARTISAN SUPPORT FOR THAT.
>> I THINK WE CAN GET SOMETHING
DONE ON TRANSPORTATION.
BECAUSE WE HAVE TO.
>> I THINK YOU'D AGREE, THAT
WASN'T ONE OF HIS BIG ITEMS.
>> WHAT ABOUT THIS IDEA, THOUGH,
OF POURING COLD WATER WITH THIS
LAME DUCK STUFF RIGHT OUT OF THE
CHUTE.
>> FOR 10 YEARS.
YOU'VE GOT TO BE WOULD ABOVE THAT.
YOU HAVE TO FOCUS ON YOUR
AGENDA, STAY DISCIPLINED ON YOUR
MESSAGE, YOU DO HAVE TO WORK
BEHIND THE SCENES IN SOME CASES
WITH THE LEGISLATIVE LEADERSHIP
TO TRY AND ACCOMPLISH YOUR'
GENERAL DA.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, HE'S
GOING TO GET JUDGED ON HIS
RESULTS AND SO FAR, THEY'RE
PRETTY SPARSE.
>> ALL RIGHT.
YOU GUYS, WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT
THERE, BIG MCCOSHEN, SCOT ROSS,
WELCOME BACK.
THANKS.
NOW FOR AN UPDATE OUT OF
WASHINGTON, WHERE FEDERAL
AUTHORITIES WILL LOOK INTO
ALLEGATIONS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT
WITHIN THE WISCONSIN NATIONAL
GUARD.
GOVERNOR TONY EVERS AND U.S.
SENATOR TAMMY BALDWIN ANNOUNCED
WEDNESDAY THAT INVESTIGATORS
WILL SPEND THE NEXT SEVERAL
MONTHS IN WISCONSIN.
THEY WILL REVIEW THE GUARD'S
POLICIES AND PRACTICES ON SEXUAL
ASSAULT AND INVESTIGATE EXISTING
ALLEGATIONS.
THIS PROBE STEMS FROM
ALLEGATIONS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT OH
OCCURRING AT THE MADISON AIR
NATIONAL GUARD BASE FROM 2002 TO
2016.
BALDWIN CALLED FOR AN
INVESTIGATION IN NOVEMBER, AND
SAYS THIS REVIEW WILL HELP
CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT FREE OF
SEXUAL HARASSMENT.
NEXT WEEK A CONVERSATION WITH
PRESTON COLE, THE SECOND OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES.
THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.
?
[MUSIC]
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>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED IN PART BY FRIENDS OF
WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISION.