>> I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW,"
BUDGET BATTLES AT THE STATE
CAPITOL THIS WEEK.
WE'LL TALK WITH TWO MEMBERS OF
THE JOINT FINANCE COMMITTEE IN
JUST A MOMENT.
AFTER THAT, A CLOSER LOOK AT THE
EFFECT PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP'S
PROPOSED MEXICAN TARIFF COULD
HAVE ON WISCONSIN.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR
JUNE 7TH.
>> FUNDING FOR HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED IN PART BY FRIENDS OF
WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISION.
?
>> A FIRST LOOK TONIGHT AT STATE
BUDGET ACTION AT THE CAPITOL,
WHERE LATE IN THE WEEK, THE
JOINT FINANCE COMMITTEE TOOK UP
TRANSPORTATION FUNDING.
DAYS EARLIER, REPUBLICANS ON THE
BUDGET COMMITTEE PASSED THEIR
VERSION OF THE MEDICAID SPENDING
PLAN.
UNDER THAT PLAN, REPUBLICANS
WOULD ADD $588 MILLION IN STATE
FUNDS FOR THE HEALTHCARE AND
OTHER RELATED PROGRAMS.
ABOUT $187 MILLION LESS THAN
WHAT GOVERNOR TONY EVERS CALLED
FOR.
IT WOULD INCREASE STATE FUNDING
TO HOSPITALS THAT SERVE LOW
INCOME WISCONSINITES BY
$60 MILLION, INCREASE NURSING
HOME FUNDING BY $30 MILLION,
FUNDING FOR PERSONAL CARE
WORKERS BY $37 MILLION, AND
FUNDING TO COUNTIES FOR CHILDREN
AND FAMILIES BY A LITTLE MORE
THAN $30 MILLION.
NOW THE DIVIDE BETWEEN
REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS
FOCUSES ON EXPANDING MEDICAID TO
MORE THAN 80,000 LOW INCOME
PEOPLE IN WISCONSIN AS GOVERNOR
TONY EVERS HAD PROPOSED IN HIS
BUDGET PLAN.
>> THE GOVERNOR IS COMMITTED TO
A BUDGET FOR THE PEOPLE.
THAT IS HIS TOP PRIORITY, THAT
IS OUR TOP PRIORITY.
WE WILL NOT STOP FIGHTING FOR
MEDICAID EXPANSION FOR THE
PEOPLE OF THIS STATE.
BUT IT LOOKS LIKE MY REPUBLICAN
COLLEAGUES RATHER SPEND MORE
MONEY AND COVER LESS PEOPLE.
>> THE GOVERNOR WILL SAY IT'S
THE PEOPLE'S BUDGET BUT I WILL
SAY THIS IS A BUDGET THAT WE
REALLY LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE AND
THEY TOLD US WE NEED TO SAVE OUR
NURSING HOMES, WE NEED TO INVEST
IN OUR PERSONAL CARE WORKERS AND
WE NEED TO MAKE THOSE PRIORITY
INVESTMENTS.
>> THE LEGISLATURE'S BUDGET
WRITING COMMITTEE TOOK UP
TRANSPORTATION FUNDING LAST
NIGHT, WHERE THE COMMITTEE VOTED
IN FAVOR OF $484 MILLION IN
FUNDING, INCLUDING A $10 HIKE IN
THE VEHICLE REGISTRATION FEE,
BRINGING THAT TO $85 A YEAR, AND
A $95 INCREASE IN THE VEHICLE
TITLE FEE, BRINGING THAT COST TO
$164.50.
THE COMMITTEE ALSO VOTED TO
SPEND $2.5 MILLION FOR A STUDY
ON TOLLING.
GOVERNOR EVERS HAD PROPOSED AN
8-CENT A GALLON GAS TAX AND A
HEAVY TRUCK TEE TO RAISE ABOUT
$200 MILLION MORE THAN THE PLAN
PASSED OUT OF JOINT FINANCE LAST
NIGHT.
THE GAS TAX AND THE TRUCK FEE
WERE REJECTED.
>> RIGHT NOW WE'RE ON A
DEMOCRATIC PLAN WHICH IS
RESPONSIBLE, SUSTAINABLE.
WE'RE GOING TO DEBATE A
REPUBLICAN PLAN THAT RELIES MORE
HEAVILY ON FEES AND ONE-TIME
NON-LONG TERM SOLUTIONS.
>> CARS ARE MORE EFFICIENT SO
THEY'RE NOT BURNING AS MUCH GAS
SO THEY'RE NOT PAYING AS MUCH
GAS TAX, SO WE THOUGHT WE WOULD
HELP THEM NOT BE THE PROBLEM.
WE ARE RAISING YOUR LICENSE FEE
AND YOUR TRANSFER FEE BECAUSE WE
KNOW YOU WANT TO BE PART OF THE
SOLUTION.
>> FOLLOWING THIS WEEK'S ACTION,
THE REPUBLICAN CO-CHAIR OF THE
LEGISLATURES BUDGET WRITING
COMMITTEE WAS ABLE TO MEET WITH
US AT THE CAPITOL.
WE SAT DOWN WITH REPRESENTATIVE
JOHN NYGREN AT HIS OFFICE AND
STARTED BY ASKING ABOUT THE
REPUBLICAN TRANSPORTATION
BUDGET.
>> ALL RIGHT.
FIRST OF ALL, THANKS VERY MUCH
FOR DOING THIS.
>> WELCOME.
>> ON THE TRANSPORTATION BUDGET,
THOSE TITLE FEES, OUCH.
WHAT DO YOU SAY TO PEOPLE OF
WISCONSIN ABOUT THAT?
>> WELL, IT'S A $95 INCREASE BUT
THE AVERAGE PERSON IN WISCONSIN
HAS A NEW CAR FOR AN AVERAGE OF
SIX YEARS, AND THAT ACTUALLY
AVERAGES OUT BETWEEN 15 AND $16
A YEAR, ACTUALLY THE GAS TAX
INCREASE AS PROPOSED WOULD BE
WELL OVER THAT, IN MANY CASES
MORE THAN DOUBLE THAT.
AND THE OTHER THING THAT, YOU
KNOW, I THINK FROM OUR
PERSPECTIVE, THE BUILT-IN
INDEXING OF A GAS TAX, YOU KNOW,
I WASN'T HERE WHEN THEY REMOVED
INDEXING OF GAS TAX, BUT I GUESS
MY PERSPECTIVE IS, IF YOU'RE
ELECTED TO LEAD AND MAKE TOUGH
DECISIONS AND FUND OUR
PRIORITIES SUCH AS
TRANSPORTATION, YOU SHOULD
ACTUALLY HAVE TO STAND UP AND
SAY YEA OR NAY RATHER THAN
HAVING IT AUTOMATICALLY BUILT IN
AND YOU MOVE FORWARD SO WE THINK
THAT'S A FAIR WAY.
>> WHAT ABOUT THE ARGUMENT THAT
A GAS TAX HITS EVERY DRIVER ON
THE ROAD WHEREAS THESE FEE
INCREASES HIT JUST WISCONSIN
RESIDENTS
>> >> YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT'S A
FAIR ARGUMENT.
ONE OF THE THINGS -- THE WAY WE
LOOK AT THIS PROPOSAL IS MORE OF
A BRIDGE TO A FUTURE OPPORTUNITY
FOR US.
THE STUDY WHICH HAD BEEN
RIDICULED AS HAVING ANOTHER
STUDY ON THIS, BUT ACTUALLY WHAT
THE STUDY SAYS IS WE'RE ACTUALLY
ASKING FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION TO DEVELOP A
MILEAGE-BASED SYSTEM THAT COULD
BE VEHICLE MILES TRAVELED, THAT
COULD BE TOLLING, THAT COULD BE
A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT THINGS TO
GET TO A POINT WHERE I'VE GOT AN
I-PASS FOR ILLINOIS, SO WHEN I
USE THOSE ROADS IN ILLINOIS, I'M
PAYING.
SO I THINK LONG TERM, OUR
OBJECTIVE IS TO GET TO MORE OF A
MILEAGE-BASED SYSTEM.
>> THAT IS PRETTY LONG TERM,
THOUGH, RIGHT, BECAUSE ANY KIND
OF STUDY IS JUST THE BEGINNING
AND THEN THAT PROCESS OF
POTENTIALLY, YOU KNOW, DOING
TOLLING WOULD TAKE YEARS,
WOULDN'T IT?
>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, THE STUDY
WE'RE ASKING FOR I THINK BY 2023
FOR THEM TO COME BACK WITH A
RECOMMENDATION.
IF WE ACTUALLY GO TO TOLLING,
LIKE I SAID, VEHICLE MILES
TRAVELED, WHICH MANY STATES ARE
DOING, THIS IS NOT THE OLD
SYSTEM WHERE YOU'RE BUILDING
TOLL BOOTHS, ET CETERA, VEHICLE
MILES TRAVELED, IT DOESN'T EVEN
NEED ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
TOLLING DOESN'T NEED THAT NOW
DAYS, WITH TRANSPONDERS AND
OTHER TECHNOLOGY, IT CAN
ACTUALLY BE IMPLEMENTED MUCH
QUICKER THAN PEOPLE THINK.
>> AREN'T INCREASES IN FEES
TAXES BY ANOTHER NAME?
>> YOU KNOW, IT'S SEMANTICS TO A
CERTAIN EXTENT.
WE LOOK AT IT WHETHER IT BE A
GAS TAX OR WHETHER IT BE A FEE,
IT'S A USER FEE TO USE THE
ROADS.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE'VE
HEARD LOUD AND CLEAR OVER THE
YEARS, WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON
THIS, I'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS
FOR EIGHT YEARS TO TRY TO GET A
SOLUTION, DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN
SUPPORTIVE OF A TRANSPORTATION
SOLUTION AS WELL, LOCALS, YOU NO
HE, COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE
STATE, CITIZENS, WE'VE HEARD
THEIR VOICES SO WE THINK WE'RE
HEADING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
WE'RE INVESTS IN THE PRIORITIES
OF THE PEOPLE OF WISCONSIN.
>> ONE THING I SAW WAS THAT YOU
CUT ANNUAL FEES HEAVY VEHICLES,
WHEREAS THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET
HIKED THEM.
>> ACTUALLY IT'S NOT HEAVY.
THE GOVERNOR PROPOSED A FEE ON
HEAVY TRUCKS.
>> YES.
>> WE ACTUALLY HAD ONE HIGH --
SEMIS, WE ACTUALLY THINK IF NOT
THE HIGHEST IN THE NATION,
DEFINITELY THE HIGHEST IN THE
MIDWEST, AND ACTUALLY FOR SEMIS.
THE INTERESTING THING, AS I
TRAVEL THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY,
YOU ACTUALLY CAN REGISTER IN
DIFFERENT STATES, SO IF YOU
INCREASE A FEE, YOU'RE BASE KRI
LOSING THOSE REVENUES TO ANOTHER
STATE.
THE CONFUSION YOU'RE TALKING
ABOUT IS WE HAVE THREE DIFFERENT
CLASSIFICATIONS OF WHAT I WOULD
CALL MIDDLE OF THE ROAD TRUCKS,
PICKUP TRUCKS, S.U.V.s, ET
CETERA.
I ACTUALLY HAVE ONE.
IF THERE'S A, B AND C, AND WE
ACTUALLY SHRUNK THOSE INTO ONE
CLASS, BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN A
LOT OF CONFUSION ABOUT
REGISTRATION OF THOSE VEHICLES.
>> SOME SENATE REPUBLICANS ARE
VOICING OPPOSITION AS YOU KNOW
TO THIS TRANSPORTATION PACKAGE.
WILL THIS PASS IN THE SENATE?
>> YOU KNOW, I WORRY ABOUT THE
63 REPUBLICAN MEMBERS IN THE
ASSEMBLY.
SENATOR FITZGERALD -- I DO
BELIEVE I THINK WHEN WE LOOK AT
THE BUDGET AS A TOTAL PACKAGE,
WE'VE INVESTED IN OUR
PRIORITIES, WE'RE DEFINITELY
GOING TO BE WAY LESS THAN
GOVERNOR EVERS IN SPENDING, HE
WAS AT 8.3%, HE WAS RAISING
TAXES BOTH ON PROPERTY AND
INCOME.
WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO BE
LOOKING TO DO A MIDDLE CLASS TAX
CUT AGAIN, SO AT THE END OF THE
DAY, I THINK WE'LL HAVE SUPPORT
TO BE ABLE TO PASS THIS IN BOTH
HOUSES.
>> ON MEDICAID, THE OTHER KIND
OF BIG BUDGET ACTION THIS WEEK,
WHY ARE YOU EXPOSED TO THE
EXPANSION THAT SAVES SOME
$300 MILLION IN STATE MONEY AND
BRINGS IN MORE THAN A BILLION
DOLLARS IN FEDERAL MONEY?
>> FIRST OF ALL THOSE -- WHETHER
IT'S FEDERAL MONEY OR STATE TAX
MONEY, IT'S ACTUALLY TAXPAYER
MONEY, BUT WHERE WE ARE AS A
STATE, OUR ECONOMY IS DOING VERY
WELL, ACTUALLY OUR BIGGEST
WEAKNESS IN THE STATE IS
PROBABLY A SHORTAGE OF WORKERS.
AT A TIME LIKE THIS, THERE'S NO
NEED TO EXPAND WELFARE, THAT'S
WHAT THIS PROGRAM IS, YOU KNOW,
BETWEEN 100 AND 138% OF POVERTY.
THOSE FOLKS ALREADY HAVE ACCESS,
GOVERNOR EVERS HAS SAID ITS
82,000, IT'S 82,000, HALF OF
THEM ALREADY HAVE COVERAGE ON
THE EXCHANGE FOR AS LOW AS
PENNIES ON THE DOLLAR.
THE OTHER HALF ARE ELIGIBLE.
SO WE DID PROVIDE RESOURCES TO
BE ABLE TO CONNECT PEOPLE TO
THAT EXCHANGE, HELP THEM GET
INSURANCE, BUT WE ALSO USE THE
SURPLUS OUT OF THE MEDICAID
BUDGET TO REINVEST IN THE THINGS
WE'VE HEARD ABOUT THE MOST,
NURSING HOMES CLOSING THROUGHOUT
THE STATE, FAMILY CARE -- WITH
THE SURPLUS.
>> GOVERNOR EVERS SAYS THIS
SHOULD BE THE EASIEST DECISION
IN THE BUDGET, THAT BEING
EXPANDING MEDICAID, AND HE
CONTINUES TO FIGHT FOR IT.
WHAT DO YOU SAY TO HIM?
>> HE OFTEN TIMES TOUTS POLLS,
70%, THEY ASKED ALL OF OUR
CONSTITUENTS THE SAME QUESTION,
WE ASKED ABOUT EXPANDING
WELFARE.
SOME PEOPLE CRINGE AT THAT, BUT
MEDICAID WAS DESIGNED AS A
WELFARE PROGRAM FOR THE
IMPOVERISHED, AND AT 100% OF
POVERTY, THAT'S WHAT IT IS.
SO WE ASKED THAT QUESTION.
THE OVERWHELMING RESULTS WERE
ABOUT 80% WERE IN FAVOR -- OR
AGAINST EXPANSION.
>> WHAT ARE YOUR VETO CONCERNS,
IF ANY?
>> WE'VE BEEN VERY CAREFUL.
WE'VE BEEN VERY CAREFUL ABOUT
LANGUAGE WE PUT IN, INTO THE
BUDGET BECAUSE OF THOSE
CONCERNS.
GOVERNOR EVERS, I GUESS, HAS
THREATENED TO VETO THE BUDGET IN
ITS TOTALITY BUT WHEN YOU LOOK
AT WE'RE FUNDING PRIORITIES FOR
MEDICAID FOR THOSE THAT HAVE A
HARD TIME TAKING CARE OF
THEMSELVES.
WE ACTUALLY PROVIDE ANOTHER
SIZABLE INCREASE FOR K-12
EDUCATION, WE'RE SOLVING THE
TRANSPORTATION PROBLEM
THROUGHOUT OUR STATE.
WHEN WE LOOK AT IT IN TOTALITY,
I THINK HE'S GOING TO HAVE A
HARD TIME SAYING NO.
>> JOHN NYGREN, THANKS VERY
MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> VOTES ON THE BUDGET COMMITTEE
FALL MOSTLY ALONG PARTY LINES
WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ONE
REPUBLICAN SENATOR VOTING LAST
NIGHT AGAINST THE TRANSPORTATION
BUDGET PLAN.
DEMOCRATS HOLD THE MINORITY ON
JOINT FINANCE.
THAT'S NOT TO SAY THEY AREN'T
FIGHTING ARE FOR THE GOFF'S BUDGET
PROPOSALS.
MILWAUKEE DEMOCRAT, SENATOR LA
TONYA JOHNSON AMONG THEMMENT
THANKS VERY MUCHTHEM.THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
ON THE TRANSPORTATION BUDGET
COMINGS OUT OF JOINT FINANCE,
WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE OF THE
137% HIKE IN VEHICLE TITLING
FEES MAKING IT $164.50?
>> IT'S UNFORTUNATE, AND IT'S
UNFAIR.
YOU KNOW, MAKING SURE THAT WE
HAVE GOOD ROADS IS A PRIORITY,
BUT JUST TAXING WISCONSINITES
FOR THOSE ROADS IS EXTREMELY
UNFAIR.
THE GOVERNOR'S 8 CENTS GAS TAX
WOULD SPREAD THOSE COSTS
PROPORTIONATELY, NOT ONLY TO
INDIVIDUALS IN WISCONSIN BUT
ALSO THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO LIVE
OUT OF STATE BUT CONTINUE TO USE
OUR ROADS.
AND IT MAKES IT PROPORTIONATE.
IF YOU DO MORE DRIVING, YOU'LL
PAY MORE FOR GAS.
IF YOU DON'T DRIVE AS MUCH, THEN
THE COST ISN'T AS MUCH FOR YOU.
>> NOW CO-CHAIR NYGREN POINTS
OUT THAT THE TITLING FEE IS NOT
AN ANNUAL ONE SO IT GETS SPREAD
OUT AND ONLY ACCRUES WHEN
SOMEONE PURCHASES A VEHICLE,
WITH AR THE GAS TAX WOULD HIT
THE CONSUMER EVERY TIME THEY
FILL UP.
DOES THAT SOFTEN THAT INCREASE?
>> NO, IT DOESN'T, BECAUSE
REGARDLESS OF THE COST OF THE
CAR, REGARDLESS IF YOU BOUGHT A
$1,500 CAR OR A $65,000 CAR, THE
TIE IT WILL HETITLE TRANSFER AND COST IS STILL
THE SAME, $164.50.
AND FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO
ARE LIVING ON A FIXED INCOME OR
MAYBE LOW INCOME, THAT HURTS.
THAT'S A SIGNIFICANT RISE IN
COST.
>> WE WANT TO JUST POINT OUT AND
APOLOGIZE HERE, THERE'S A LITTLE
BIT OF BREAKUP ON OUR SHOT TO
YOU THERE IN MILWAUKEE, BUT WE
WILL PROCEED.
DO DEMOCRATS FEEL THE
TRANSPORTATION PACKAGE FROM THE
MAJORITY WILL ALLOW FOR RELIABLE
FUNDING NEEDED TO FIX AND
MAINTAIN OUR ROADS AND HIGHWAYS?
>> NO, IT'S NOT SUSTAINABLE
FUNDING.
GOVERNOR EVERS' TRANSPORTATION
BUDGET WAS SUSTAINABLE, AND THIS
IS NOT.
AND EVIDENCE OF THAT IS THAT
THEY HAVE A MILEAGE STUDY THAT'S
WRITTEN INTO BUDGET WITH
$2.5 MILLION SET ASIDE FOR STUDY
SO THEY CAN FIND MORE RELIABLE
SOURCES.
AND SO I THINK THAT THAT'S
UNFAIR TO INCREASE THOSE TITLE
FEES THAT SIGNIFICANTLY AND
STILL NOT HAVE A SUSTAINABLE
SOURCE.
>> AS FOR THAT STUDY, DO
DEMOCRATS APPROVE OR LIKE THE
IDEA OF TOLLING?
>> THE PROBLEM WITH THE TOLLING
IS THAT WE NEED MONEY RIGHT NOW.
EVEN IF WE WERE TO LOOK INTO THE
TOLLING PROCESS, THAT WOULD BE
AT LEAST FIVE YEARS DOWN THE
ROAD.
WE WOULD HAVE TO GET FEDERAL
PERMISSION TO INSTALL THE TOLLS,
AND SO AS FAR AS HAVING A
STATE-WIDE TOLL SOURCE, THAT
WOULD BE A SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM
AS WELL.
>> ON THE MEDICAID PROGRAMS, THE
ACTION ON THE PART OF
REPUBLICANS ON JOINT FINANCE,
IT'S NOT NEW THAT THEY WERE DEAD
SET AGAINST THE EXPANSION OF
MEDICAID BUT HOW DO YOU REGARD
THEIR PLAN TO PUT $588 MILLION
OF GPR INTO THE MEDICAID
PROGRAM?
>> I THINK IT'S UNFORTUNATE
BECAUSE EXPANDING MEDICAID
BRINGS $1.6 BILLION, NEW
DOLLARS, INTO THE STATE, AND IT
SAVES THE STATE $324 MILLION.
THIS IS MONEY THAT OUR TAXPAYERS
HAVE ALREADY PAID IN FEDERAL
TAXES, AND 36 STATES HAVE
DECIDED TO EXPAND MEDICAID.
>> NOW I KNOW THAT DEMOCRATS SAY
STATEWIDE POLLS SHOW 70% OF
RESPONDENTS FAVOR EXPANDING
MEDICAID, BUT THE REPUBLICAN
CO-CHAIR SAYS THAT WHEN ASKED IF
THEY WANT TO ENGS PAND WELFARE,
80% IN HIS DISTRICT OF THE
RESPONDENTS SAID NO.
HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO THAT?
>> WELL, IT'S UNFORTUNATE
BECAUSE THE WAY THAT BADGERCARE
IS SET UP, IF YOU ARE A SINGLE
INDIVIDUAL WITH ONE CHILD AND
YOU EARN $8.15 AN HOUR, THAT
MAKES YOU INELIGIBLE FOR
BADGERCARE.
SO WE ARE TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE
WHO EARN PENNIES ON A DOLLAR.
ONE WAY TO MAKE SURE THAT
INDIVIDUALS DON'T QUALIFY FOR
WELFARE IS TO RAISE THE MINIMUM
WAGE.
BUT MY REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES
FAIL TO DO THAT AS WELL.
BUT TO SEE THIS AS A WELFARE
PROGRAM, IT'S NOT.
THESE ARE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE
JOBS, BUT ARE NOT EARNING ENOUGH
TO AFFORD THE PRICES ON THE
PRIVATE MARKET EXCHANGE.
WE HAVE 230,000 INDIVIDUALS IN
THIS STATE THAT ARE UNINSURED,
AND TO FEEL THAT $8.15 IS ENOUGH
TO PURCHASE INSURANCE ON THE
PRIVATE MARKET, I JUST DON'T
UNDERSTAND THAT SENTIMENT.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WE NEED TO LEAVE IT THERE,
SENATOR LA TONYA JOHNSON, THANKS
VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US.
>> THANK YOU.
>> NOW TO THE THORNY FEDERAL
ISSUE OF TARIFFS AND
IMMIGRATION.
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP HAS SET
MONDAY FOR THE DAY A 5% TARIFF
ON IMPORTED GOODS FROM MEXICO
WILL TAKE EFFECT.
THE PRESIDENT WANTS TO USE THE
TARIFFS TO PUSH MEXICO TO STOP
PEOPLE FROM COMING TO THE U.S.
FROM THAT COUNTRY'S SOUTHERN
BORDER.
THE TARIFFS COULD INCREASE BY 5%
EACH MONTH UNTIL HITTING 25% ON
OCTOBER 1ST.
AS THAT MOVE ROYALS CONGRESS,
THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MOVE TO APPROVE THE SO CALLED
AMERICAN DREAM AND PROMISE ACT.
UNDER THAT MEASURE, 2.5 MILLION
DREAMERS AND IMMIGRANTS ELIGIBLE
FOR TEMPORARY PROTECTED STATUS
WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR A PATH TO
CITIZENSHIP.
THAT INCLUDES NEARLY 19,000
IMMIGRANTS IN WISCONSIN,
ACCORDING TO THE CENTER FOR
AMERICAN PROGRESS.
IN TONIGHT'S "CLOSER LOOK," WE
CHECK IN WITH SECOND DISTRICT
DEMOCRAT U.S. REPRESENTATIVE
MARK POCAN, WHO VOTED IN FAVOR
OF THE DREAMERS AND PROMISE ACT.
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
>> YEAH, THANK YOU.
GLAD TO BE HERE.
>> FIRST TO THE TARIFFS, WHAT IS
YOUR POSITION ON THE TARIFFS OF
GOODS IMPORTED FROM MEXICO IN IS
>> YEAH, IT'S NOT JUST THE GOODS
IMPORTED FROM MEXICO, WHICH IS A
BAD IDEA, IT'S ALL THE TARIFFS
THAT WE'RE THROWING OUT THERE,
MUCH LIKE SPAGHETTI AGAINST A
WALL, HOPING THAT IT STICKS AND
DOES SOMETHING.
THE PRESIDENT REALLY DOESN'T
HAVE A TRADE POLICY.
I THINK WHEN HE RAN IN
WISCONSIN, HE TALKED ABOUT
BRINGING AMERICAN JOBS BACK,
THAT RESONATED WITH A LOT OF
PEOPLE WHO'VE LOST MANUFACTURING
JOBS, BUT HE REALLY DOESN'T KNOW
WHAT HE'S TALKING ABOUT WHEN
HE'S BEEN DEALING WITH TRADE.
THAT'S WHY WE DON'T HAVE A NAFTA
2.0, THAT'S WHY ON THE TARIFF
ISSUE, OUR FARMERS ARE REALLY
HURTING IN WISCONSIN JUST FROM
THE EXISTING TARIFFS.
I'M NOT AGAINST TARIFFS.
YOU CAN USE A TARGETED TARIFF IN
EFFECTIVE WAY TO STOP A COUNTRY
FROM DUMPING STEEL OR SOMETHING
ELSE, BUT WAY THAT WE'RE DOING
IT IS COMPLETELY HAPHAZARD.
AND I HAD A FARMER RECENTLY COME
BY WHO COMES BY EVERY YEAR WHOSE
FAMILY HAS A LONG HISTORY OF
FARMING WHO'S TALKING ABOUT
MAYBE SELLING THE FARM, AND WHEN
PEOPLE TALKED ABOUT HOW THE
PRESIDENT HAS A PACKAGE TO
PROVIDE SOME RELIEF FOR FARMERS
BASED ON THE TARIFFS, THIS
FARMER TOLD ME ON SOYBEANS, IT'S
ABOUT 50 CENTS ON THE DOLLAR, ON
DAIRY, IT'S ABOUT 2 CENTS ON THE
DOLLAR AND FOR CORN GROW, IT'S
ABOUT 1 CENT ON THE DOLLAR.
THAT'S NOT GETTING YOU ANYWHERE
CLOSE TO KEEPING A FAMILY FARM A
FAMILY FARM.
SO THE TARIFFS RIGHT NOW ARE
REALLY HURTING WISCONSIN FARMERS
AND WE'VE GOT TO HAVE A CHANGE
IN THE PRESIDENT'S POLICY.
>> ON THE TARIFFS WITH MEXICO,
WISCONSIN IMPORTED NEARLY
$3 BILLION IN GOODS FROM MEXICO
LAST YEAR, SO HOW MIGHT A 5% OR
A 25% TARIFF THEN AFFECT PEOPLE
IN WISCONSIN?
>> IT WILL BE A MESS.
I MEAN, FIRST OF ALL, WE ALREADY
HAVE A PROBLEM WITH TRUCKS
BRINGING SOME GOODS IN TO
WISCONSIN BUSINESSES THAT ARE
TALKING ABOUT LAYING OFF STAFF
BECAUSE THEY CAN'T PRODUCE GOODS
IN WISCONSIN BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT
GETTING SOME OF THE PRODUCT THAT
THEY NEED TO ASSEMBLE FROM
MEXICO.
AND IF YOU KEEP DOING THIS, OF
COURSE IT'S GOING TO BE PRICE
INCREASES TO PEOPLE IN
WISCONSIN, BUT ALSO IT'S GOING
TO HAVE THAT OTHER RIPPLE EFFECT
WHERE YOU SEE PEOPLE ACTUALLY
WORKING IN WISCONSIN NOT BEING
ABLE TO WORK BECAUSE GOODS ARE
GOING TO COST MORE OR TAKE
LONGER TO GET HERE AND A THERE'S
NO REASON, THE PRESIDENT HAS
ABSOLUTELY NO POLICY
REASON/PROOF THAT THIS WILL WORK
IN ANY WAY OTHER THAN HE FEELS
LIKE IT'S A WAY TO TRY TO
PRESSURE MEXICANS ON THE BORDER
WHEN LAST TIME I LOOKED, THE
SURGE THAT WE HAVE AT THE BORDER
IS FROM HONDURAS, EL SALVADOR
AND GUATEMALA, NOT MEXICO.
SO ONCE AGAIN, THE PRESIDENT IS
SHOOTING THE AT A TARGET HERE
WHEN THE REST OF THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE ARE BUSY WORRYING ABOUT
WHAT'S HERE.
>> ON THAT, LET'S TAKE A LISTEN
TO WHAT U.S. SENATOR REPUBLICAN
RON JOHNSON SAYS ABOUT THE FLOW
OF IMMIGRANTS COMING THROUGH
MEXICO.
>> I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND
PRESIDENT TRUMP'S FRUSTRATION
WITH CONGRESS NOT ACTING TO
SOLVE THIS PROBLEM, AND QUITE
HONESTLY WITH MEXICO NOT DOING
ENOUGH TO HELP SOLVE THE PROBLEM
AS WELL.
I MET WITH THE MEXICAN
AMBASSADOR AND FOREIGN MINISTER
AND IN THAT MEETING ASKED THEM
TO MOVE TOWARD ENACTING A THIRD
SAFE COUNTRY AGREEMENT WITH
AMERICA WHICH WOULD HELP DETER
THAT FLOW OF PEOPLE FROM CENTRAL
AMERICA TAKING A VERY DANGEROUS
JOURNEY INTO AMERICA.
THIS IS COMPLETELY OUT OF
CONTROL.
WE'RE ALREADY UP TO 400,000
UNACCOMPANIED CHILDREN, MOSTLY
PEOPLE COMING IN AS A FAMILY
UNIT PRIMARILY ONE ADULT, ONE
CHILD, IN JUST THE FIRST EIGHT
MONTHS OF THIS FISCAL YEAR.
IF WE MAINTAIN THIS RATE, IT
WILL BE 800,000 BY THE END OF
SEPTEMBER.
SO THAT COMPARES WITH 120,000 IN
2014.
SO THIS IS A CRISIS THAT IS
GROWING.
>> SO WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THE
MEXICAN GOVERNMENT'S POTENTIAL
TO CURTAIL IMMIGRANTS COMING TO
THE U.S. BECAUSE OF THESE
TARIFFS AND COULD THEY BE DOING
MORE?
>> I THINK THAT'S THE WRONG
QUESTION THAT THE PRESIDENT IS
TRYING TO PUT OUT THERE.
THE REAL QUESTION IS, MY FIRST
TERM IN CONGRESS, THERE WAS A
BILL THAT CAME THROUGH THE
SENATE THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN A
COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION
REFORM, IT GOT NEARLY 70 VOTES
IN A BIPARTISAN MANNER THAT
WOULD HAVE DEALT WITH ASPIRING
AMERICANS AS WELL AS DEAL WITH
PROTECTIONS AT THE BORDERS, BUT
THIS PRESIDENT REFUSES TO TAKE
ANYTHING LIKE THAT UP.
ALL HE WANTS TO DO IS BUILD A
WALL BECAUSE THAT GOES WELL WHEN
HE GOES TO HIS RALLIES AROUND
THE COUNTRY.
BUT THE REALITY IS, HE'S TAKING
AWAY FUNDING FROM THE COUNTRIES
WHERE PEOPLE ARE COMING SO WE
COULD STOP THE VIOLENCE THERE SO
THAT PEOPLE WOULDN'T LEAVE THOSE
COUNTRIES.
THE LAST 10 YEARS WE'VE HAD A
NET MIGRATION OUTSIDE THE UNITED
STATES BUT THE SPIKE WE HAVE
RIGHT NOW IS BECAUSE THE
PRESIDENT IS TALKING ABOUT
BUILDING A BORDER, PEOPLE ARE
LIKE, WELL, WE'D BETTER HURRY UP
AND GET HERE TO ADDRESS DEALING
WITH THE VIOLENCE IN THOSE
COUNTRIES.
SO EVERYTHING THE PRESIDENT HAS
DONE HAS BEEN WRONG HEADED IN
THIS AREA AND QUITE HONESTLY,
RON JOHNSON IS JUST WRONG, HIS
SENATE DID A VERY RESPONSIBLE
THING WITH NEARLY 70 VOTES MY
VERY FIRST TERM, WE SHOULD BE
DOING COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION
REFORM INSTEAD OF TRYING TO
PIECEMEAL A WALL OR TAKE KIDS
WHO HAVE BEEN HERE LEGALLY
THROUGH THE DACA PROGRAM AND
PUNISH THEM.
EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS ISSUE HAS
BEEN DONE WRONG BY THIS
ADMINISTRATION.
>> ONE MORE CLIP FROM SENATOR
JOHNSON ABOUT THE TARIFFS WITH
MEXICO, AND THERE SEEMS TO BE
OPPOSITION AMONG REPUBLICAN
SENATORS.
LET'S LISTEN TO WHAT HE SAYS.
>> I'M NOT A FAN OF TARIFFS.
THE PRESIDENT IS FULLY AWARE OF
THAT.
HE'S USING TARIFFS, IS WHAT HE
SAYS, FOR LEVERAGE.
IF WE COULD SUES A TARIFF AS A
LEVERAGE TO GET MEXICO TO ENACT
A THIRD SAFE COUNTRY AGREEMENT,
THAT WOULD BE A GOOD THING.
I DO NOT WANT TO SEE THESE
TARIFFS IMPOSED.
TARIFFS ARE A TAX ON CONSUMERS,
I'M PAPERFULLY AWARE OF THAT AS
WELL.
>> SO THERE YOU HAVE IT, HIS
PERSUASION ON TARIFFS.
ANOTHER MATTER, THE HOUSE THIS
WEEK PASSED THE DREAM AND
PROMISE ACT.
WISCONSIN ACCORDING TO
STATISTICS IS HOME TO NEARLY
19,000 IMMIGRANTS WHO WOULD BE
ELIGIBLE FOR THIS PATH TO
PERMANENT CITIZENSHIP.
WHY IN YOUR MIND IS THIS
IMPORTANT NOW?
>> IT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE'VE
HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE RIGHT HERE
IN WISCONSIN, PROBABLY ABOUT
19,000 PEOPLE ACCORDING TO THE
CENTER FOR AMERICAN PROGRESS
THAT ARE HERE THAT MAY HAVE COME
AT TWO WEEKS OR TWO MONTHS OLD,
MAY NOT SPEAK THE LANGUAGE OF
THE COUNTRY THEY CAME FROM, AND
WE HAD PROTECTIONS THROUGH THE
DACA PROGRAM FOR A VERY LONG
TIME AND SOME OTHER EFFORTS YET
THE PRESIDENT KIND OF TOOK THAT
AND BROKE IT.
AND NO ONE ASKED FOR IT IN
CONGRESS.
THAT'S THE THING.
IT'S NOT LIKE THIS HAS BEEN A
PROBLEM, BUT HE CREATED A NEW
PROBLEM IN TRYING TO GET MONEY
FOR THE BORDER WALL.
WE DECIDE WE NEEDED TO FIX THIS
BUT REALLY FIX THIS, NOT JUST
THE TEMPORARY FIX THAT PRESIDENT
OBAMA HAD IN PLACE BUT ACTUALLY
FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO THIS, SO IF
YOU WORK HERE, GO TO SCHOOL
HERE, SERVE IN THE MILITARY,
THAT CAN HELP PROVIDE THAT PATH
TO CITIZENSHIP.
BUT ALSO ONE THING ON THE LAST
PART, MEXICO IS ONE OF OUR
BIGGEST TRADING PARTNERS.
IT IS AN ALLY.
THE WAY WE'RE TREATING MEXICO
WHEN THAT'S NOT WHERE PEOPLE ARE
COMING FROM IS WRONG HEADED ON
THIS AND AGAIN, IT'S GOING TO
IMPACT CONSUMERS IN WISCONSIN,
CONTINUE TO IMPACT FARMERS IN
WISCONSIN, AND OTHER BUSINESSES
IN WISCONSIN.
I TALKED TO SOMEONE IN SAUK
COUNTY AND THE TRUCKS, AGAIN,
THAT THEY NEED TO HAVE SUPPLIES
THAT THEY'RE GOING TO ASSEMBLE,
PUT TOGETHER AND CREATE THE JOBS
FOR PEOPLE WORKING IN SAUK
COUNTY, THEY CAN'T DO BECAUSE
THE PRESIDENT WON'T PUT MONEY
TOWARDS LETTING THE TRUCKS COME
THROUGH BECAUSE HE'S TRYING TO
MAKE A POINT AGAIN ABOUT THE
BORDER WALL.
EVERYTHING THAT WE'RE DOING IN
THIS AREA IS SO WRONG HEADED
THAT IT'S VERY DIFFICULT.
LET'S NOT EVEN FORGET THE FAMILY
SEPARATION POLICY AND ALL THE
REST THAT WE'RE DOING DEALING WITH.
THIS IS AN AREA WHERE REALLY THE
PRESIDENT HAS BEEN VERY
STUBBORN-HEADED AROUND FINDING
MONEY FOR THE WALL NO MATTER
WHAT AND BECAUSE OF THIS, WE
HAVE THIS RIPPLE EFFECT, WHETHER
IT BE THE TARIFFS, WHETHER IT BE
TREATING PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THE
DATA CRAM WHODACA PROGRAM WHO ARE HERE TO
PROVIDE THAT PATHWAY TO
CITIZENSHIP, WE NEED TO DO A LOT
MORE THAN WHAT THEY'VE BEEN
DOING.
>> A LOT MORE TO TALK ABOUT.
REPRESENTATIVE POCAN, THANK YOU.
THE MONTH OF JUNE IS DESIGNATED
AT LGBTQ PRIDE MONTH IN THE
STATE AND A GROUP OF WISCONSIN
LEGISLATORS IS ROLLING OUT WHAT
THEY CALL THEIR HE QUALITY
AGENDA, TO BAN DISCRIMINATION
BASED ON GENDER IDENTITY AND
MAKE CERTAIN LANGUAGE IN STATE
STATUTE GENDER-NEUTRAL.
INCLUDED IN THE PROPOSAL IS A
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO
ELIMINATE THE STATE'S BAN ON GAY
MARRIAGE, WHICH WAS LEFT
UNENFORCEABLE BY THE U.S.
SUPREME COURT.
THE BILLS ARE BEING CIRCULATED
FOR CO-SPONSORSHIP WITH SOME
BIPARTISAN BACKING, AND TODAY,
GOVERNOR EVERS ORDERED RAINBOW
FLAGS TO BE FLOWN AT THE STATE
CAPITOL.
BEFORE WE LEAVE YOU TONIGHT, WE
WANT TO CALL YOUR ATTENTION TO
AN HISTORICAL GATHERING AT THE
STATE CAPITOL SCHEDULED NEXT
WEEK.
WISCONSIN WAS THE FIRST STATE TO
RATIFY THE 19TH AMENDMENT WHICH
GAVE WOMEN THE RIGHT TO VOTE.
ON MONDAY, THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY
OF WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE WILL BE
CELEBRATED AT THE CAPITOL.
THE EVENT GETS UNDERWAY AT NOON
AND INCLUDES REMARKS FROM
WISCONSIN FIRST LADY KATHY
EVERS, FORMER LIEUTENANT
GOVERNOR REBECCA KLEEFISCH, AND
SUPREME COURT JUSTICE ANN WALSH
BRADLEY.
THE ORIGINAL DOCUMENT WILL ALSO
BE ON VIEW.
THE EVENT STARTS AT NOON.
THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
HAVE A GREAT WEEK END.
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[MUSIC]
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>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED IN PART BY FRIENDS OF