>> THIS BUDGET SHOWS CLEARLY
THAT WE CAN LIVE WITHIN OUR
MEANS AND THAT WE CAN BUILD ON
LAST SESSION'S HISTORIC
INVESTMENT IN K-12 EDUCATION.
>> ASSEMBLY SPEAKER ROBIN VOS ON
THE REPUBLICAN VERSION OF THE
K-12 SPENDING PLAN.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW"
MORE ON THE DUELING BUDGETS
AND THE BATTLE OVER HOW MUCH TO
SPEND ON STATE SCHOOLS.
WE'LL HEAR FROM TWO MEMBERS OF
THE JOINT FINANCE COMMITTEE.
WPR'S SHAWN JOHNSON SORTS
THROUGH THE STUBBORN POLITICS OF
THE BUDGET.
WE'LL LOOK AHEAD AT WATER POLICY
IN THE BUDGET PLAN.
AND AN INSIDE LOOK AT CALLS FOR
IMPEACHMENT OF PRESIDENT TRUMP.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR MAY
24.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED IN PART BY FRIENDS OF
WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISION.
?
[MUSIC]
>> A FIRST LOOK TONIGHT AT A
MAJOR PIECE OF THE STATE BUDGET,
SPENDING FOR K-12 EDUCATION.
THE LEGISLATURE'S JOINT FINANCE
COMMITTEE VOTED THURSDAY TO
INCREASE K-12 FUNDING BY
$500 MILLION TO $12.3 BILLION.
THAT INCLUDES $97 MILLION MORE
FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION.
INCREASING REVENUE LIMITS BY
$200 PER PUPIL IN THE FIRST YEAR
OF THE BUDGET AND $204 IN THE
SECOND.
IT WOULD INCREASE THE
REIMBURSEMENT TO DISTRICTS FOR
SPECIAL EDUCATION TO 30% AND
-- IN THE SECOND YEAR AND
PULL $12.5 MILLION INTO MENTAL
HEALTH.
THE LEGISLATURE'S JOINT FINANCE
COMMITTEE VOTED ALONG PARTY
LINES TO APPROVE THE PLAN.
>> I BELIEVE THIS INVESTMENT WE
ARE MAKING TODAY IS ADEQUATE.
IN FACT, IT GOES BEYOND
ADEQUACY.
I THINK IT GOES TO FUND WHAT IS
OUR MOST IMPORTANT PRIORITY AND
THAT'S OUR KIDS.
I ALSO BELIEVE, MOST
IMPORTANTLY, THE PROMISE WE'RE
MAKING TODAY IS SUSTAINABLE.
>> REPRESENTATIVE NYGREN SAID
THAT THIS BUDGET PROPOSAL, THE
REPUBLICAN PLAN, THAT IT
WOULDN'T MATTER, THAT IT DOESN'T
MATTER WHAT ZIP CODE YOU LIVE
IN, THAT UNDER THEIR PROPOSAL,
YOU GET A QUALITY EDUCATION.
WRONG.
NOPE.
INACCURATE.
NOT TRUE.
THIS BUDGET MAKES CHANGES, THIS
MOTION MADE CHANGES TO THE
GOVERNOR'S BUDGET, AND IT DOES
MATTER WHERE YOU LIVE.
THIS MOTION DOES PICK WINNERS
AND LOSERS.
>> DEMOCRATS ESPECIALLY FAULT
THE REPUBLICAN SPENDING PLAN FOR
WHAT THEY REGARD AS SHORTING
SPECIAL EDUCATION.
BUT FINANCE COMMITTEE VICE
CHAIR, REPUBLICAN SENATOR LUTHER
OLSEN, CALLS THE G.O.P. SCHOOL
PLAN THE BEST IT GETS, THOUGH
OVERALL IT FALLS $900 MILLION
SHORT OF WHAT GOVERNOR TONY
EVERS PROPOSED AND $500 MILLION
SHORT OF THE GOVERNOR'S SPECIAL
EDUCATION FUNDING PROPOSAL.
SENATOR OLSEN JOINS US FROM
OSHKOSH.
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR DOING SO.
>> MY PLEASURE.
>> DESCRIBE WHY YOU THINK THIS
IS A GOOD K-12 BUDGET.
>> WELL, IT'S GOING TO GET MOST
OF THE MONEY IN THE BUDGET,
$500 MILLION, IT AVERAGES OUT
ABOUT 500-SOME DOLLARS PER
STUDENT AND OUR SPECIAL ED
NUMBER IS WHAT REALLY GOVERNOR
EVERS WHEN HE WAS SUPERINTENDENT
EVERS ASKED FOR.
HE ASKED FOR ABOUT 26% IN THE
FIRST YEAR AND 30% IN THE SECOND
YEAR, WHEN HE WAS STATE
SUPERINTENDENT, AND WE HIT THOSE
NUMBERS AND THE THING YOU HAVE
TO REALIZE IS, THAT 30% IS GOING
TO BE THERE FOREVER, SO NO
MATTER HOW MUCH SPECIAL ED COSTS
INCREASE, WE WILL BE FUNDING
30%.
>> AS YOU SAY, THIS IS KIND OF A
MAJOR CONCERN ON THE PART OF
DEMOCRATS THAT REIMBURSEMENT
RATE TO SCHOOLS FOR THEIR
SPECIAL EDUCATION SPENDING
BECAUSE, AGAIN, THE GOVERNOR IN
THIS BUCKET ASKED FOR 60% IN THE
SECOND YEAR.
SO THAT IS A BIG GAP.
>> YEAH, YOU KNOW, HE ASKED FOR
THAT, BUT THE GOVERNOR PROPOSES
INAND THE LEGISLATURE DISPOSES,
AND OUR NUMBER IS HIGHER THAN
THE BASE.
YOU CAN COME UP WITH ANY NUMBER
THAT YOU SORT OF WANT, BUT THIS
IS ONE THAT WE FELT THAT WE CAN
CONTINUE TO FUND OVER THE YEARS.
>> DO SCHOOLS END UP HAVING TO
SPEND FROM THEIR GENERAL
REVENUES SERVING ALL STUDENTS TO
MAKE UP FOR THAT REIMBURSEMENT
RATE, THOUGH?
>> CORRECT.
WHAT HAPPENS IS, SPECIAL ED
STUDENTS HAVE INDIVIDUAL
EDUCATION PLANS, AND WHAT THAT
SAYS SCHOOLS HAVE TO PROVIDE,
WHETHER THEY HAVE ENOUGH MONEY
IN THE SPECIAL ED BUDGET OR NOT,
SO THEY ARE TRANSFERRING MONEY
FROM REGULAR ED OVER TO SPECIAL
ED, AND YOU KNOW, ROBBING PETER
TO PAY PAUL.
WE HAVEN'T INCREASED THAT NUMBER
FOR 8 TO 10 YEARS, THAT PERCENT,
SO THIS BUDGET, WE DID, BRINGING
THEM UP TO 30%.
THE FED SAID THEY WERE GOING TO
REIMBURSE THE ENTIRE RATE AND
THEY HAVEN'T.
IN FACT, I WAS OUT IN D.C. A
COUPLE YEARS TALKING TO THE
EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SAYING YOU
KNOW, YOU REALLY NEED INCREASE
THE REIMBURSEMENT RATE BECAUSE
IT'S NOT WHAT YOU PROMISED, AND
THE EDUCATION FOLKS IN D.C. ,
UNDER PRESIDENT OBAMA SAID, NO,
WE THINK OUR PERCENT IS JUST
RIGHT.
SO THEY'RE NOT INCREASING THEIR
PERCENT, WISCONSIN IS.
>> WHAT ABOUT THE CRITICISM THAT
THERE ARE WINNERS AND LOSERS IN
THE PLAN PASSED OUT OF JOINT
FINANCE, WHEREBY RICH DISTRICTS
GET THE SAME PER PUPIL SPENDING
AS POOR DISTRICTS WITHOUT THE
EVERS CHANGE TO THE FUNDING
FORMULA, WHICH WOULD BOOST
POORER DISTRICTS?
>> WELL, THEY DON'T GET THE SAME
BECAUSE WE HAVE EQUALIZED AID
FORMULA.
SO LIKE I HAVE GREEN LAKE IN MY
DISTRICT, THEY GET NO STATE AID,
REALLY.
THE LAST BUDGET, THE LAST COUPLE
BUDGET, PER PUPIL SPENDING, NOW
WE'RE INCREASING THAT PER PUPIL
SPENDING TO $700, SO NO MATTER
WHAT YOU SPEND IN THE PROPERTY
WEALTH, YOU GET $700 OR WILL GET
$700, AND EVENTUALLY A THOUSAND
AT THE END OF THE DAY, BUT YOU
HAVE TO REALIZE THAT THERE'S
HIGH VALUE PROPERTY DISTRICTS,
BUT THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE THERE
DON'T MAKE A LOT OF MONEY.
ALL THOSE ARE PRETTY MUCH
VACATION PLACES, AND SO WHAT
HAPPENS IS PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN
GREEN LAKE THAT LIVE THERE,
THEIR INCOMES AREN'T THAT GREAT.
SO THAT'S WHY WE DID THIS.
>> YOU SAID THAT THIS IS THE
BEST IT GETS FOR K-12 SPENDING.
SO NO FURTHER NEGOTIATION EVEN
THOUGH THIS SPENDING IS A THIRD
OF WHAT THE GOVERNOR CALLED FOR?
>> YEAH, I MEAN, WE DID WHAT WE
COULD DO.
I DON'T SEE US COMING BACK TO
SAY, WELL, WE'VE GOT MORE MONEY
BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHERE WE'D
GET IT.
THE THING THAT CONCERNS ME IS,
YOU KNOW, DIRECTOR LANGE FROM
THE FISCAL BUREAU ALWAYS KEEPS
TALKING ABOUT WE COULD BE
SLIPPING INTO A RECESSION ONE OF
THESE YEARS, AND SO IF ALL OF A
SUDDEN THAT WHISPER HAPPENS,
THEN WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO
REFIGURE THINGS AND IT WON'T BE
HIGHER, IT WILL BE LOWER.
SO I REALLY THINK THAT THE
NUMBER WE HAVE IS A GOOD NUMBER,
I'VE TALKED TO PLENTY OF
SUPERINTENDENTS AND THEY SAID,
GET US THE TWO, THE 204 AND 30%
REIMBURSEMENT AND WE WILL BE
HAPPY.
WOULD THEY WANT MORE?
OF COURSE.
BUT THEY'RE REALISTIC.
>> WHAT CONCERNS DO YOU HAVE
ABOUT A GOVERNOR'S VETO?
>> WELL, IF HE VETOES IT, THE
WHOLE BUDGET, THEN I DON'T KNOW
WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.
WE WILL PROBABLY SEND HIM BITS
AND PIECES OF THE BUDGET, BUT
THE SAD THING IS, IT JUST DELAYS
INFORMATION FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS
BECAUSE THEY START THEIR
BUDGETING YEAR JULY 1ST.
AND IF THIS GOES ON UNTIL
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER, THEIR YEAR IS,
YOU KNOW, GOING THROUGH FAST,
AND THEY DON'T HAVE ANY
INCREASE.
SO I THINK IT BEHOOVES THE
GOVERNOR -- IT'S NOT WHAT HE
WANTED, BUT IT'S AN INCREASE,
AND A LOT OF TIMES A HALF A LOAF
OR A THIRD OF A LOAF IS BETTER
THAN NO LOAF.
>> WE LEAVE IT THERE.
SENATOR LUTHER OLSEN, THANKS
VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US.
>> THANK YOU.
>> FOR THEIR PART, DEMOCRATS
CALL THE REPUBLICAN K-12
SPENDING PLAN INADEQUATE.
JOINT FINANCE COMMITTEE MEMBER,
DEMOCRATIC REPRESENTATIVE CHRIS
TAYLOR VOTED AGAINST THE
REPUBLICAN BUDGET MEASURE FOR
SCHOOLS.
SHE JOINS US NOW.
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> SO TELL US WHY YOU VOTED
AGAINST THIS PLAN.
>> WELL, THE GOVERNOR PROPOSED A
$1.4 BILLION INCREASE THAT OUR
SCHOOLS ARE DESPERATE FOR.
WE WENT ALL OVER THE STATE IN
JOINT FINANCE HEARINGS ON THE
BUDGET AND WHAT WE HEARD IS
PEOPLE BEGGING US TO ADOPT THE
GOVERNOR'S K-12 BUDGET, GIVEN
THE INADEQUATE FUNDING OVER THE
LAST EIGHT YEARS, AND EVEN THE
STEEPEST CUT WE'VE EVER SEEN IN
THE HISTORY OF OUR STATE.
SO WE WANTED AND THE PEOPLE
WANTED THAT INCREASE, OUR
SCHOOLS ARE HURTING, A RECORD
NUMBER HAVE GONE TO REFERENDUM,
JUST IN NOVEMBER, THIS LAST
NOVEMBER, 77 REF RECOMMEND DUMB
PASSED.
PEOPLE VOTED TO RAISE THEIR
PROPERTY TAXES BY $1.4 BILLION
TO FUND SCHOOLS.
SO IT'S VERY INTERESTING THE
GOVERNOR WAS PROPOSING
$1.4 BILLION IN AN INVESTMENT,
AND IT'S REALLY UNFORTUNATE THAT
MY REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES CUT
THAT PROPOSAL BY ABOUT
$900 MILLION.
>> NOW ONE OF DEMOCRATS' BIG
CONCERNS AS I LISTENED TO THE
WORK BEFORE THE JOINT FINANCE
COMMITTEE IS WORK AROUND SPECIAL
EDUCATION.
BUT SENATOR LUTHER OLSEN SAYS
YES, BUT THE 30% REIMBURSEMENT
RATE TO SCHOOLS IN THE SECOND
YEAR OF THIS BUDGET IS WHAT TONY
EVERS ASKED FOR.
>> LOOK, OUR SCHOOLS WERE ASKING
FOR FAIR FUNDING OF SPECIAL ED,
PRIVATE VOUCHER SCHOOLS GET 90%
OF THEIR COSTS COVERED FOR
SPECIAL ED.
OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS GET 25%.
30% IS INADEQUATE.
WE HAVE THE MONEY TO DO IT, THE
GOVERNOR PROPOSED A WAY TO DO
IT, BUT UNFORTUNATELY SENATOR
OLSEN AND HIS REPUBLICAN
COLLEAGUES ARE MORE CONCERNED
WITH PROTECTING $1.1 BILLION IN
TAX CUTS TO THE MOST WEALTHY IN
OUR STATE.
THAT'S WHAT THEY VOTED FOR
BEFORE OUR SCHOOL CHILDREN.
SO THERE'S A WAY TO DO IT, IT
WAS FUNDED IN THE GOFF GOVERNOR'S
BUDGET, IT WAS NOT A PRIORITY OF
MY REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES.
>> YOUR REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES
ALSO SAY THIS, THE GOVERNOR'S
PLAN, WAS NOT SUSTAINABLE, BUT
YOU THINK IT IS.
>> WHAT'S NOT SUSTAINABLE IS
SPENDING $2.2 BILLION SINCE 2011
ON PRIVATE UNACCOUNTABLE VOUCHER
SCHOOLS.
VOUCHER SCHOOLS JUST IN THIS
LAST BIENNIUM GOT $712 MILLION.
THOSE MONEY ARE COMING FROM OUR
PUBLIC SCHOOL, THE PUBLIC
SCHOOLS ARE HAVING TO LEVY TO
MAKE UP FOR THAT MONEY SO
PROPERTY TAXES ARE INCREASING.
THAT'S NOT A SUSTAINABLE SYSTEM.
THERE WAS A WAY TO FUND THE
$1.4 BILLION INVESTMENT THAT
SCHOOLS AROUND THIS STATE CAME
OUT STRONGLY SUPPORTING.
THERE WAS A WAY TO DO IT, MY
REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES REFUSED TO
DO IT.
THEY COULD DO IT, THEY WOULDN'T
DO IT.
>> MEANWHILE,
REPUBLICAN HOWARD MARKLEIN
MARKLEIN SAID THIS: THOSE WHO
CRITICIZE OUR PLAN ARE FOCUSED
ON AN UNREALISTIC, BLUE-SKY WISH
LIST OF SPENDING THAT RAISES
TAXES AND SACRIFICES OTHER
PRIORITIES.
>> WELL, IN SENATOR MARKLEIN'S
DISTRICT ALONE, LAST YEAR, THERE
WERE 16 REFERENDUMS TO FUND
SCHOOLS BECAUSE, AGAIN, THEY'RE
NOT RECEIVING THE STATE SUPPORT
THAT THEY NEED.
15 OF THOSE REFERENDUM PASSED.
SO HIS OWN SCHOOLS WOULD HAVE
BENEFITED GREATLY FROM THIS
$1.4 BILLION INVESTMENT THAT OUR
GOVERNOR WAS PROPOSING.
AGAIN, IT'S ABOUT PRIORITIES.
THEY COULD HAVE, MY REPUBLICAN
COLLEAGUES COULD HAVE SCALED
BACK SOME OF THESE MASSIVE TAX
GIVEAWAYS THAT BENEFIT
MILLIONAIRES.
$1.1 BILLION.
THEY WOULDN'T DO IT.
THEY WOULDN'T USE THAT MONEY TO
FUND OUR SCHOOLS.
AND YOU KNOW, OUR SCHOOLS IN
THIS -- JUST THIS YEAR ARE STILL
NOT BACK TO 2011 FUNDING LEVELS
WHEN YOU ADJUST FOR INFLATION.
THEY'RE STILL SHORT.
WE'RE NOT EVEN BACK TO 2011.
>> NOW THE MAJORITY SAYS THAT
SCHOOL LEADERS AND THEIR
DISTRICTS ARE APPLAUDING THEIR
K-12 BUDGET PLAN.
WHAT ARE SCHOOL LEADERS IN YOUR
DISTRICT SAYING ABOUT IT?
>> WELL, LOOK, ALL AROUND THIS
STATE, SCHOOLS ARE HAVING TO
TRANSFER $1 BILLION TO COVER
SPECIAL ED COSTS.
SPECIAL ED COSTS ARE IN THE --
ARE IN THE DISCRETIONARY.
YOU HAVE TO PROVIDE SPECIAL
EDUCATION.
IS WE KNOW THAT SCHOOLS HAVE
BEEN IMPACTED, SCHOOLS ARE
CERTAINLY IMPACTED HERE IN
MADISON, AND TRANSFERRING THIS
MASSIVE A MONEY FROM GENERAL
AIDS TO SPECIAL ED, WHICH REALLY
IS UNFAIR TO ALL CHILDREN.
I THINK WHAT'S HAPPENED IN THIS
STATE, BECAUSE MY REPUBLICAN
COLLEAGUES HAVE REFUSED TO MAKE
THE INVESTMENTS THAT WE'VE
NEEDED IN PUBLIC EDUCATION, ANY
AMOUNT THAT SUPERINTENDENTS GET,
THEY'RE JUST RELIEVED THEY
WEREN'T CUT, QUITE FRANKLY,
GIVEN WHAT'S HAPPENED IN THE
LAST EIGHT YEARS.
>> GIVEN THE GAP IN SPENDING
BETWEEN THE REPUBLICAN PLAN AND
THE EXECUTIVE BUDGET, WHAT DO
YOU THINK THE PROSPECT IS OF
GOVERNOR EVERS VETOING THIS?
>> WELL, LOOK, I THINK THAT
WHETHER THIS BUDGET IS VETOED,
WE'VE GOT TO LISTEN TO THE
PEOPLE OF THIS STATE.
AND THEY'RE THE ULTIMATE, THEY
SHOULD BE THE ULTIMATE, YOU
KNOW, ARBITRATORS OF WHETHER
THIS BUDGET IS SUFFICIENT, BUT
THE PRIORITIES OF THE PEOPLE ARE
NOT BEING INCLUDED IN THIS
BUDGET.
WE SAW THIS WITH MEDICAID
EXPANSION, WITH 70% OF
WISCONSINITE SUPPORT AND NOW
WE'RE SEEING IT WITH PUBLIC
EDUCATION WHICH REALLY WAS THE
NUMBER ONE ISSUE FOR VOTERS THIS
LAST NOVEMBER.
SO IT'S GOING TO BE UP TO THE
PEOPLE WHETHER THEY'RE SATISFIED
WITH THIS BUDGET, BUT MY GOSH,
WE CERTAINLY COULD DO A LOT
BETTER THAN WHAT I'M SEEING FROM
MY REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WE NEED TO LEAVE IT THERE,
REPRESENTATIVE CHRIS TAYLOR,
THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> WILL GOVERNOR TONY EVERS VETO
THE BUDGET FOR SPENDING?
WE CHECK IN WITH WPR CAPITOL
BUREAU CHIEF, SHAWN JOHNSON.
FIRST OF ALL,
WHAT IS GOVERNOR EVERS' REACTION
TO THE REPUBLICAN SPENDING PLAN
FOR THE K-12 SCHOOLS?
>> I THINK YOU'D SAY HE'S LESS
REACTING TO WHAT THEY PUT OUT ON
THE TABLE THIS WEEK AND MORE
CONTINUING TO PUSH HIS OWN PLAN.
SO HE'S STILL TALKING ABOUT THE
$1.4 BILLION IN NEW MONEY HE
WANTS TO PUT INTO SCHOOLS AND
HE'S STILL TALKING ABOUT THE
$600 MILLION THAT HE WANTS TO
INVEST IN SPECIAL EDUCATION OUT
OF THAT $1.4 BILLION, SO HE'S
NOT SAYING MUCH ABOUT WHAT THEY
DID, ONLY TO SAY THAT HE THINKS
THE BUDGET PROCESS IS A LONG WAY
FROM FINISHED AND HE HOPES TO
REACH A DEAL WITH REPUBLICANS
BEFORE IT'S ALL OVER.
>> THAT'S WHAT HE SAYS, ALTHOUGH
IT SEEMS TO ME SPEAKING WITH
PEOPLE LIKE SENATOR LUTHER
OLSEN, WHO'S REPUBLICAN VICE
CHAIR OF THAT JOINT FINANCE
COMMITTEE, IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE
THEY'RE UP FOR THAT
RENEGOTIATION, ALTHOUGH I
SUPPOSE ANYTHING'S POSSIBLE AS
THE WEEKS GO ON.
>> YEAH, I DON'T KNOW WHERE IT'S
GOING TO GO EXACTLY.
I MEAN, THE REPUBLICAN RESPONSE
TO EVERS SAYING WE CAN STILL
TALK ABOUT THIS OR WE CAN REACH
A DEAL SEEMS TO BE, THIS IS THE
BEST YOU'RE GOING TO GET AND IF
IT GOT ANY BETTER, IT WOULD BE
SO MARGINAL IT WASN'T WORTH IT.
>> SO WITH THAT SAID, WHAT IS
THE EXPECTATION, IF ANY, THAT
GOVERNOR EVERS WOULD TAKE HIS
VETO PEN TO THIS?
>> SO IT DEPENDS WHAT KIND OF
VETO PEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT,
RIGHT?
THE GOVERNOR OF WISCONSIN HAS
ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL PARTIAL
VETO PENS IN THE COUNTRY.
HE CAN VETO OUT INDIVIDUAL WORDS
AND NUMBERS, HE CAN GET VERY
CREATIVE WITH THAT VETO PEN.
SO THAT'S WHY THE OFFICE OF THE
GOVERNOR HAS A LOT OF POWER IN
WISCONSIN.
LARGELY BECAUSE OF THAT PEN WHEN
IT COMES TO THESE TWO-YEAR
BUDGETS.
IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT VETOING
THE WHOLE THING?
IT'S EXTREMELY RARE.
IN FACT, I DON'T THINK IT'S EVER
HAPPENED BEFORE.
TALKING TO THE LEGISLATIVE
FISCAL BUREAU, LEGISLATIVE
REFERENCE BUREAU, THEY SAID
SINCE THE STATE STARTED GOING TO
THIS EXECUTIVE BUDGET BACK IN
1931, THERE'S BEEN NO BUDGET
THAT A GOVERNOR HAS JUST
OUTRIGHT VETOED AS FAR AS THEY
KNOW, SO IT'S NOT ONLY RARE,
IT'S NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE.
>> IS THAT REALLY SOMETHING THAT
PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT IN THE
HALLS OF THE CAPITOL?
>> IT HAPPENS WHEN A BUDGET
COMES OUT, THE GOVERNOR
THREATENS TO THROW OUT WHOLE
THING.
HE'S NOT THE FIRST GOVERNOR TO
DO THAT.
AND SO THEN EVERYBODY IS JUST
KIND OF LEFT WITH THE QUESTION,
GIVEN HOW RARE IT IS, WOULD THE
GOVERNOR REALLY DO IT.
AND SO IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE,
GOVERNOR EVERS CAMPAIGNED ON
INCREASING SPENDING BY
$1.4 BILLION ON EDUCATION.
IT IS SORT OF THE CENTER PIECE
OF HIS BUDGET.
AND SO HE HAS THIS -- BUDGET
THAT'S $900 MILLION LESS GOOD
ENOUGH?
>> SO THIS PARTIAL VETO THAT HE
HAS, THOUGH, HE CAN CHANGE
NUMBERS, HE CAN MAKE REVENUE --
>> NOT SO MUCH.
IT'S HARD TO PUT MONEY BACK INTO
THE BUDGET.
THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS A
GOVERNOR CAN DO TO CHANGE A
BUDGET, BUT PUTTING MONEY BACK
IN ISN'T REALLY ONE OF THEM, SO
THAT'S THE LIMITATIONS OF HIS
PARTIAL VETO WHEN IT COMES TO
THIS.
>> NOW EARLIER ON, REPUBLICANS
WERE TALKING ABOUT SPLITTING THE
BUDGET INTO TWO TO SOMEHOW
MITIGATE A GOVERNOR'S VETO.
WHAT IS THAT ALL ABOUT AND IS
THAT STILL OUT THERE?
>> AS FAR AS I KNOW, THAT IS
SOMETHING THAT IS STILL OUT
THERE.
SO WHAT THEY WOULD DO IS SPLIT
IT INTO ONE BILL THAT HAS ALL
THE APPROPRIATIONS AND THEN ONE
BILL THAT HAS ALL THE -- I MEAN,
YOU COULD CALL IT POLICY BUT ALL
THE LANGUAGE THAT TALKS ABOUT
WHAT THE STATE IS GOING TO DO.
THE BUDGET IS AN ENORMOUS
DOCUMENT, THERE'S A LOT OF
LANGUAGE.
AND SO WHAT HAPPENS IS, A
GOVERNOR CAN ONLY USE THAT
PARTIAL VETO PEN ON A BUDGET
WHEN THERE'S -- WHEN IT'S AN
APPROPRIATION.
YOU TAKE THE APPROPRIATION OUT,
HE LOSES SOME OF THAT POWER.
BY THE WAY, THE REFERENCE BUREAU
SAYS THEY'RE NOT AWARE OF THAT
EVER HAPPENING BEFORE EITHER.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WELL, THIS IS WISCONSIN.
SHAWN JOHNSON, THANKS VERY MUCH.
THERE'S A RENEWED SENSE OF
URGENCY TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM OF
CONTAMINATED DRINKING WATER IN
WISCONSIN.
GOVERNOR TONY EVERS HAS DECLARED
2019 THE YEAR OF CLEAN DRINKING
WATER.
REPRESENTATIVE ROBIN VOS HAS
CREATED THE SPEAKER'S TASK FORCE
ON WATER QUALITY.
IN TONIGHT'S LOOK AHEAD, WE
EXAMINE WHAT KIND OF FUNDING IS
BEING PROPOSED.
PLUS WE GET THE PERSPECTIVE OF
TWO FARMERS ON THE GROUND.
MARISA WOJCIK HAS THE STORY.
>> CLEAN DRINKING WATER.
FOR SOME PEOPLE IN WISCONSIN,
THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT SAFE
DRINKING WATER WILL COME OUT OF
THEIR FAUCET.
BUT FOR MANY OTHERS, WORRYING
WHAT'S FLOWING THROUGH THE
GROUND AND INTO THE PIPES IS TOP
OF MIND.
>> WE'RE REALLY STARTING TO GET
A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF JUST
HOW MUCH CONTAMINATION IS
ALREADY OUT THERE.
TO SOME EXTENT, SEPTIC SYSTEMS
THAT CAN VERY QUICKLY GET INTO
OUR GROUNDWATER, ESPECIALLY PART
OF THE STATE LIKE THIS, AND THEN
SHOW UP IN PEOPLE'S WELLS.
>> SCOTT AND HIS WIFE CHELSEA
CHANDLER OWN A COMMUNITY SHARES
VEGETABLE FARM IN SOUTHWEST
WISCONSIN.
>> WE STARTED OUR FARM IN 2013,
SO THIS IS GOING TO BE OUR
SEVENTH SEASON, WHICH IS KIND OF
CRAZY.
>> SCOTT IS ALSO THE WATER
PROGRAM DIRECTOR AT CLEAN
WISCONSIN, A NON-PROFIT THAT
ADVOCATES FOR ENVIRONMENTALLY
FRIENDLY POLICIES IN THE STATE,
WITH AN EMPHASIS ON
CONSERVATION.
FOR SCOTT AND CHELSEA, THEY
PRACTICE WHAT THEY PREACH --
FINDING HARMONY BETWEEN FOOD
PRODUCTION AND CONSERVATION.
>> I THINK REALLY, ONE OF THE
GOALS AND THEMES OF OUR FARM HAS
BEEN TO FIND A WAY TO BALANCE
THOSE TWO.
>> WITH A 3 MONTH OLD DAUGHTER,
CLEAN DRINKING WATER HITS VERY
CLOSE TO HOME.
>> AS A MOM, THERE'S A LOT
YOU'RE WORRIED ABOUT, DON'T WANT
TO ADD CLEAN DRINKING WATER TO
THE LIST,
BUT IT'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING
THAT'S IN THE BACK OF YOUR MIND.
>> A RECENT STUDY CONDUCTED IN
THREE SOUTHWEST WISCONSIN
COUNTIES SHOWED THAT 40% OF
PRIVATE WELLS WERE CONTAMINATED
BEYOND SAFE DRINKING LEVELS.
>> THERE WERE A LOT OF CONCERNS
FROM HOMEOWNERS AND FARMERS AND
ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS AND OTHERS
ABOUT WHAT ACTUALLY WAS THE
GROUNDWATER QUALITY.
>> KEN BRADBURY IS THE DIRECTOR
OF THE WISCONSIN GEOLOGICAL AND
NATURAL HISTORY SURVEY, WHICH
HELPED CONDUCT THE STUDY TO TEST
THESE WELLS.
BRADBURY AND HIS FELLOW
SCIENTISTS WEREN'T ALL THAT
SURPRISED BY THE RESULTS.
>> THE GEOLOGY IN THAT PART OF
THE STATE IS FAIRLY VULNERABLE
FOR GROUNDWATER.
>> BUT A LACK OF FUNDING FOR
RESEARCH LIKE THIS MADE IT
DIFFICULT TO SCIENTIFICALLY
PROVE WHAT THEY WERE SEEING IN
BITS AND PIECES.
>> THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT
WE’VE HAD A VERY RIGOROUS STUDY
TO REALLY SHOW THAT
SCIENTIFICALLY.
>> IN TOTAL, THE BUDGET PROPOSES
$83 MILLION TOWARDS WATER
QUALITY EFFORTS INCLUDING AN
ADDITIONAL $1.6 MILLION FOR THE
WELL COMPENSATION PROGRAM,
$10 MILLION FOR THE SOIL AND
WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
PROGRAM, AND NEARLY $1 MILLION
TOWARD DNR REGULATION OF
CONCENTRATED ANIMAL FEED LOTS OR
CAFOs.
THE REST OF THE STATE RELIES ON
PRIVATE WELLS FOR THEIR WATER
SOURCE, AND IT'S UP TO THE
HOMEOWNER TO TEST FOR
CONTAMINANTS.
>> I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE TAKE
IT FOR GRANTED THAT THE WATER IS
ALWAYS GOING TO BE GOOD.
IN FACT, THEY REALLY NEED TO
TEST TO BE SURE.
>> INSPIRED BY A SIMILAR STUDY
DONE IN THE NORTHEAST SIDE OF
THE STATE, BRADBURY TEAMED UP
WITH COUNTY CONSERVATIONISTS AND
LOCAL CITIZENS FROM LAFAYETTE,
GRANT AND IOWA COUNTIES TO FUND
AND CONDUCT THE STUDY.
>> WE THOUGHT THERE WOULD BE
SOME RESPONSE, BUT THE BREADTH
AND MAGNITUDE OF THE RESPONSE
SURPRISED US.
>> DAYS AFTER THE RESULTS WERE
RELEASED, REPRESENTATIVE ROBIN
VOS CREATED THE BIPARTISAN
SPEAKER’S TASK FORCE ON WATER
QUALITY.
BUT SOME FARMERS ARE HESITANT TO
IMPOSE NEW RULES TOO BROADLY.
>> THERE IS NOT A ONE-SIZE FITS
ALL.
>> JIM HOLT IS A CORN FARMER IN
EAU CLAIRE COUNTY AND THE
PRESIDENT OF THE WISCONSIN FARM
BUREAU FEDERATION.
HE DOESN'T LIKE THAT FARMERS ARE
VIEWED
AS APATHETIC TO WATER QUALITY.
>> WE’RE SEEN AS USERS OF WATER.
WATER IS NECESSARY FOR OUR
BUSINESS.
YET PEOPLE DON’T NATURALLY STEP
BACK TO THE FACT THAT THE WATER
THAT I AND MY FAMILY USE ON AN
EVERYDAY BASIS IS UNDER THIS
LAND.
WE ARE THE ONES WITH THE BIGGEST
STAKE IN WATER QUALITY.
>> HE DOESN’T AGREE THAT FARMERS
ARE WILLING TO SACRIFICE THE
GROUNDWATER AROUND THEM IN
EXCHANGE FOR HIGHER CROP YIELDS
, INSTEAD, THEY GO HAND IN HAND.
>> FARMERS ARE STRUGGLING
FINANCIALLY ACROSS THE COUNTRY,
BUT WHEN YOU UNDERSTAND HOW
WATER QUALITY AND HOW
CONSERVATION IMPACTS US NOT ONLY
TODAY BUT NEXT YEAR AND EVERY
YEAR DOWN THE ROAD, YOU
UNDERSTAND IT'S SOMETHING WE
CAN'T WALK AWAY FROM IN
DIFFICULT FINANCIAL TIMES.
>> HE DOES CONCEDE THAT
AGRICULTURE HAS TO TAKE SOME
RESPONSIBILITY FOR WATER QUALITY
PROBLEMS IN THE STATE.
>> IT ALWAYS HAS BEEN A
CONTRIBUTOR AND WE'RE
UNDERSTANDING MORE AND MORE
ABOUT IT NOW.
AND WE’RE UNDERSTANDING THAT
THEY’RE CERTAINLY NOT THE ONLY
CONTRIBUTOR.
THERE’S OTHER FACTORS.
>> OTHER FACTORS LIKE HUMAN
SEPTIC SYSTEMS.
BUT SCOTT LAESER DOESN’T PUT AS
MUCH STOCK IN THAT ARGUMENT.
>> LAST YEAR IN LAFAYETTE COUNTY
WE HAD ABOUT ONE HUNDRED AND I
BELIVE THIRTY OR FORTY THOUSAND
ACRES OF CORN PLANTED.
WHAT THAT GIVES US IS
4.4 MILLION POUNDS OF NITROGEN
THAT IS AT RISK OF GETTING INTO
OUR GROUNDWATER, AT 105 THOUSAND
POUNDS FROM SEPTIC SYSTEMS.
>> THE MAJORITY OF THAT NITROGEN
IS COMING FROM AGRICULTURAL
SOURCES AND THERE ARE A LOT OF
PRACTICES THAT WE KNOW CAN HELP
MITIGATE SOME OF THAT NITROGEN
LOSS.
>> JIM HOLT AGREES THAT
PRACTICES LIKE DECREASING
NITROGEN APPLICATION, NO-TILL
FARMING AND OTHER CONSERVATION
PRACTICES AND NEWLY EMERGING
TECHNIQUES ARE RESPONSIBILITIES
THAT FARMERS LARGE OR SMALL MUST
TAKE ON BUT THEY'RE ALREADY
IMPLEMENTING THESE CONSERVATION
PRACTICES THEMSELVES, WHICH IS
WHY HE'S CAUTIOUS OF BROAD BRUSH
REGULATIONS.
>> YES, IF WE HAVE REGULATIONS
CREATED WITH GOOD COMMON SENSE
AND GOOD SCIENCE, WE DO NEED TO
ENFORCE THOSE, YES.
>> MEANWHILE, THE SPEAKERS TASK
FORCE ON WATER QUALITY IS
HOLDING HEARINGS ACROSS THE
STATE, LISTENING TO EXPERTS AND
LOCAL CITIZENS ABOUT THE VARIOUS
WATER QUALITY CHALLENGES THEY'RE
FACING.
>> >> WE'VE PUT THE BULL'S EYE ON
OUR BACK.
>> THERE IS ONE THING EVERYONE
CAN AGREE ON.
>> WATER QUALITY IS IMPORTANT TO
EVERYONE, IT DOESN'T MATTER
WHICH SIDE OF THE AISLE YOU'RE
ON.
>> SOMETHING LIKE WATER QUALITY,
IT'S HARD FOR PEOPLE TO BE
AGAINST GOOD WATER.
>> MORE AND MORE CITIZENS IN
WISCONSIN SEE THIS ISSUE AS A
TOP PRIORITY ISSUE.
WE'RE FORTUNATE TO HAVE SAFE
DRINKING WATER, BUT NOW HAVING A
DAUGHTER HAS GIVEN ME A
DIFFERENT LEVEL OF APPRECIATION
FOR THE CHALLENGES THAT OTHER
PEOPLE FACE.
>> FOR "HERE AND NOW" IN
LAFAYETTE AND EAU CLAIRE COUNTY,
I'M MARISA WOJCIK.
>> THE NEXT ROUND OF RESULTS
FROM THE STUDY WILL BE RELEASED
NEXT WEEK, WITH EVEN MORE DATA
ABOUT SOURCES OF CONTAMINATION.
IN WASHINGTON, TALK OF
PRESIDENTIAL IMPEACHMENT IS
HEATING UP IN SOME CIRCLES,
INCLUDING FROM WISCONSIN
CONGRESSMAN, DEMOCRAT, MARK
POCAN.
POCAN SAYS CONGRESS IS A
CO-EQUAL BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT,
CHARGED WITH OVERSIGHT OF THE
EXECUTIVE BRANCH AND WITH THE
POWER TO SUBPOENA INFORMATION
AND INDIVIDUALS, BUT THAT THE
PRESIDENT IS STONEWALLING
CONGRESS.
HOWARD SCHWEBER, A UW-MADISON
POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSOR AND
CONSTITUTIONAL LAW EXPERT, HAD
THIS TAKE ON THE SITUATION.
>> WHAT I THINK IS MOVING
REPRESENTATIVE POCAN, PERHAPS
NANCY PELOSI AND OTHERS IS MUCH
MORE RECENTLY, WHICH IS THE
PRESIDENT'S REFUSAL TO ALLOW
ANYONE ASSOCIATED WITH HIS
OFFICE, NOTABLY DON MCGAHN FOR
EXAMPLE, TO TESTIFY TO CONGRESS
RESPONDS TO A SUBPOENA.
DEFYING A SUBPOENA, WHETHER IT'S
A VIOLATION OF THE CONSTITUTION,
IT'S KIND OF AN INSULT TO
CONGRESS AT LEAST SOME MEMBERS
OF CONGRESS TAKE INSULTS TO
THEMSELVES AND THEIR INSTITUTION
SHALL WE SAY AT LEAST AS
SERIOUSLY AS THEY TAKE ON ISSUES
OF LEGALITY AND RIGHTLY SO.
IT'S NOT JUST A MATTER OF PIQUE.
IT'S A MATTER OF SEPARATION OF
POWERS.
>> NOW FOR A LOOK DOWN THE
TRACKS TO THE 2020 CONVENTION,
MILWAUKEE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO
EXPAND ITS STREETCAR ROUTE AHEAD
OF NEXT SUMMER'S DEMOCRATIC
NATIONAL CONVENTION.
CITY OFFICIALS WANTED TO EXPAND
THE 2-MILE STRETCH OF TRACK TO
REACH THE LOCATION OF THE
CONVENTION, BUT A COMMITTEE VOTE
THIS WEEK PUT THE BRAKES ON THE
PLAN FOR NOW.
AMONG THE CONCERNS WERE HOW TO
PAY FOR THE STREETCAR, AND HOW
TO MAKE SURE AREAS OUTSIDE OF
DOWNTOWN BENEFIT FROM THE
EXPANSION.
WITH THE VOTE, THE FULL COUNCIL
WILL LIKELY NOT HEAR THE PLAN
BEFORE JUNE.
AND THAT IS OUR PROGRAM FOR
TONIGHT.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.
?
[MUSIC]
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED IN PART BY FRIENDS OF
WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISION.