>> I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW,"
SENATOR RON JOHNSON IS HERE TO
TALK ABOUT TARIFFS AND
IMMIGRATION.
THE LATEST ON THE STATE BUDGET
FROM DEMOCRAT EVAN GOYKE AND
REPUBLICAN JOHN NYGREN.
AND THE IMPACT THE BUDGET COULD
HAVE ON THE STATE STEWARDSHIP
PROGRAM.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR JUNE 14.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED, IN PART, MY FRIENDS OF
WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISION.
>> PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP THIS
WEEK POST POANDZ POST POSED TARIFFS FROM
MEXICO.
MEANWHILE, THE ACTING SECRETARY
OF HOMELAND SECURITY SOUNDED THE
ALARM ON TUESDAY BEFORE THE
JUDICIARY COMMITTEE SETTING A
623% INCREASE IN TOTAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS TAKEN AT THE
SOUTHERN BORDER SINCE MAY OF
LAST YEAR.
WISCONSIN U.S. SENATOR RON
JOHNSON IS CHAIR OF THE SENATE
COMMITTEE ON HOMELAND SECURITY
AND HE JOINS US NOW FROM
MILWAUKEE AND, SENATOR, THANKS
VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
>> WELL, FREED REEK FREDERICA, HAPPY TO BE
HERE.
>> THE AGREEMENT THE PRESIDENT
REACHED WITH MEXICO WOULD HAVE
THAT COUNTRY DO MUCH MORE
ENFORCEMENT ACTION AT ITS OWN
BOARDERS TO ON CUT THE FLOW OF
MY GRANTS COMING HERE.
WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE
AGREEMENT AND WHETHER YOU THINK
IT WILL WORK?
>> I THINK MULTIPLE
ADMINISTRATIONS HAVE BEEN ASKING
MEXICO TO DO MORE TO STEM THE
FLOW OF MIGRANTS FROM CENTRAL
AMERICAN COMING FROM THEIR
SOUTHERN BORDER INTO AMERICA.
AND SO WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO
IS THEY'RE GOING TO BASICALLY
PLACE UP TO 6,000 NATIONAL GUARD
TROOPS AT THE BORDER TO DETER
FURTHER MIGRATION, AS WELL AS
ACCEPT MORE OF THE CENTRAL
AMERICANS THAT HAVE COME IN HERE
CLAIMING ASPY ASYLUM, ACCEPT THEM
BACK INTO MEXICO WHILE THEY HAVE
THEIR CLAIM ADJUDICATED.
WE HAVEN'T FIXED OUR LAWS THAT
ONLY ALLOW OUR OFFICIALS TO HOLD
FAMILY MEMBERS FOR ABOUT 20
DAYS.
IT'S NOT ENOUGH TIME IN GENERAL.
AND AS A RESULT WE'RE RELEASING
THESE FAMILY UNITS INTO AMERICA,
WHICH IS CAUSING A HUGE
INCENTIVE FOR MORE TO COME.
THE BASIC NUMBERS ARE IN 2014
PRESIDENT OBAMA DECLARED IT A
NATIONAL -- HUMANITARIAN CRISIS
WHEN ABOUT 120,000 UNPAY
COMPANIEDUNACCOMPANIEDCHILDREN CAME IN.
WE'RE ALREADY OVER 400,000 THIS
YEAR.
IN THE PACE CONTINUES IN THE
NEXT FOUR MONTHS WE'LL BE OVER
800,000.
HOPEFULLY THE ACTIONS THAT
MEXICO HAS TAKEN WILL ACT AS A
DETEERNT ANDDETERRENT AND WE'LL SEE REDUCED
NUMBERS.
>> DOES THIS ALLY YOUR CONCERNS
ABOUT THIS AGREEMENT WITH MEXICO
NOW?
>> IT CERTAINLY ALLAYS THEM
INDEFINITELY.
I'M NOT A BIG FAN OF TARIFFS.
IT'S FINE WHEN TARIFFS ARE USED
AS LEVERAGE TO GET THE
ATTENTION, WHETHER IT'S OUR
TRADING PARTNERS, IN THIS CASE
MEXICO IN TERMS OF REDUCING THAT
FLOW.
TARIFFS IS JUST A FANCY NAME FOR
A TAX IMPOSED ON IMPORTS IMPOSED
ON AMERICAN CONSUMERS.
LONG-TERM THEY'RE HARMFUL
ECONOMICALLY.
BUT THEY CAN BE USED
BENEFICIALLY WHEN IT GETS THE
ATTENTION OF PEOPLE WE'RE TRYING
TO NEGOTIATE A BETTER DEAL WITH.
>> SO DO YOU SUPPORT LEGISLATION
REASSERTING CONGRESS'S AUTHORITY
AFTER TARIFFS?
>> YEAH.
I'VE BEEN ORIGINAL COSPONSOR OF
EVERY BILL THAT'S BEEN PROPOSED
IN THE SENATE.
THIS IS AUTHORITY THAT CONGRESS
GAVE AWAY BACK IN THE GREAT
DEPRESSION.
AFTER THE TARIFFS CONGRESS CAME
TO THEIR SENSES AND REALIZED
THAT WAS PRETTY DAMAGING
ECONOMICALLY BUT THEY DIDN'T
HAVE THE COURAGE TO REPEAL THE
TARIFFS THEMSELVES, SO THEY GAVE
THE PRESIDENT THAT AUTHORITY.
SO THIS IS JUST ONE OF MANY
EXAMPLES WHERE CONGRESS SIMPLY
HASN'T HAD THE COURAGE TO PASS
LAWS THEMSELVES AND SO THEY
SLUFF THAT AUTHORITY AND
RESPONSIBILITY OFF ON
EXECUTIVES.
GENERALLY PRESIDENTS ARE HAPPY
TO TAKE ADDITIONAL POWER AND
AUTHORITY.
I THINK IT'S WELL PAST TIME FOR
CONGRESS TO RECLAIM THIS
CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY THAT
HAS BEEN GIVEN AWAY TO PAST
PRESIDENTS.
>> ON ANOTHER MATTER, FOR HER
PART, YOUR COLLEAGUE ACROSS THE
AISLE, DEMOCRATIC U.S. SENATOR
TAMMY BALDWIN HAS WRITTEN TO THE
PRESIDENT ASKING HIM TO RELEASE
DETAILS OF A DEAL HE ANNOUNCED
SAYING MEXICO IS GOING TO BUY
LARGE AGRICULTURAL PRODUCT FROM
THE U.S.
WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THAT?
>> WELL, I'M NOT INVOLVED
SPECIFICALLY IN THOSE
NEGOTIATIONS, SO I DON'T HAVE
ANY KNOWLEDGE OF IT.
I'M COMPLETELY SUPPORTIVE,
THOUGH, OF THE SENATE AND THE
HOUSE RATIFYING THE NEW NAFTA,
THE USMCA AGREEMENT.
NAH AT THATNAFTA WAS HIGHLY BENEFICIAL TO
WISCONSIN.
MEXICO IS OUR LARGEST EXPORT
MARKET FOR WISCONSIN CHEESE.
IT'S INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT FOR
WISCONSIN THAT WE SET UP ALL
THESE VERY COMPLEX SUPPLY CHAINS
TO HAVE AN AGREEMENT IN PLACE,
WHETHER IT'S NAFTA OR THE NEW
USMCA.
SO I WOULD CALL ON SENATOR
BALDWIN TO CALL ON NANCY PELOSI
TO BRING THAT UP IN THE HOUSE SO
WE CAN RATIFY THAT AGREEMENT FOR
THE BENEFIT OF WISCONSIN FARMERS
AND MANUFACTURERS.
>> WHAT ARE THE CHANGING WINDS
ON TARIFFS AND RETALIATORY
TARIFFS AND TRADE DOING NOT JUST
TO FARM MARKETS, BUT BUSINESS
CERTAINTY MORE BROADLY?
>> WELL, IT'S CREATED
INSTABILITY AND UNCERTAINTY.
THE THING THIS ADMINISTRATION
HAS DONE FOR THE ECONOMY IS WE
STOPPED ADDING TO THE REGULATORY
BURDEN, WE ENACTED A MORE
COMPETITIVE TAX SYSTEM.
THAT BROUGHT MORE OPTIMISM INTO
OUR ECONOMY.
WHICH IS WHY WE GOT OUT OF THE
ECONOMIC DOLDRUMS, LESS THAN 2%
GROWTH.
WE'VE ACHIEVED MORE THAN 3%
GROWTH.
THE TRADE WARS HAVE PRODUCED
YOUR HONOR CERTAINTY.
--
UNCERTAINTY.
I TALKED TO BUSINESS PEOPLE AND
FARMERS IN WISCONSIN.
THEY REALLY DO SUPPORT WHAT
PRESIDENT TRUMP IS TRYING TO DO,
ACHIEVE FAIR TREATMENT BY ALL
OUR TRADING PARTNERS, BUT IN
PARTICULAR ADDRESSING THE ABUSES
OF CHINA, THE THEFT OF OUR
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY THROUGH
CYBER THEFT, THROUGH FORCED
TECHNOLOGY TRANSFERS.
THEY DO SUPPORT WHAT PRESIDENT
TRUMP IS TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH.
IT'S VERY UNFORTUNATE THAT OUR
TRADING PARTNERS REQUIRE THIS
LEVEL OF ATTENTION-GETTING TO
COME TO THE TABLE IN GOOD FAITH
AND REALLY DO A MORE FAIR TRADE
DEAL WITH AMERICA.
>> WITH JUST ABOUT A MINUTE LEFT
AND BACK TO THE MIGRATION LEVELS
AT OUR BORDER, 144,000 MIGRANTS
WERE DETAINED BY THE U.S. LAST
MONTH ALONE.
IS PART OF THE ANSWER FOR OUR
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO ADD
IMMIGRATION JUDGES TO PROCESS
ASYLUM CLAIMS FASTER?
>> THAT IS.
WE ALSO NEED TO REFORM THE
REINTERPRETATION OF THAT
AGREEMENT SO WE CAN DETAIN
PEOPLE A LITTLE LONGER SO WE
HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO ADD JUDE
CAILT THOSEADJUDICATETHOSE CLAIMS.
ONE DIMENSION IS NOT BEING
TALKED ABOUT IS THE HIEWSK HUMAN
TRAFFICKERS, THE FRAUDULENT
FAMILIES.
I DO KNOW WHEN WE WERE DOWN AT
THE BORDER WE WERE TOLD ABOUT A
THREE-YEAR-OLDTHREE-YEAR-OLD BOY THAT WAS LEFT
IN A HOT TEXAS FIELD BY HIS
FRAUDULENT FIELD WITH NOTHING
MORE THAN A CONTACT TELEPHONE
NUMBER WRITTEN ON HIS SANDAL.
THAT'S A DIMENSION WE'RE NOT
TALKING ABOUT.
THIS IS A CRY TIS.
IT'S -- CRY IS IS.
IT'S A GROWING PROBLEM.
>>.>> SENATOR RON JOHNSON, THANKS
FOR JOINING US.
IN STATE GOVERNMENT, BUDGET
WRITERS WRAPPED UP THEIR WORK ON
THE STATE BUDGET.
IT NOW HEADS TO THE FULL
LEGISLATURE AND THEN TO THE
GOVERNOR.
IT DIFFERS FROM WHAT GOVERNOR
EVERS PROPOSED.
SCHOOLS WOULD SEE A $500 MILLION
SPENDING INCREASE.
EVERS HAD PROPOSED $1.4 BILLION.
FOR THE UW BUDGET, THE GOP
PROVISION GIVES THE SYSTEM $58
MILLION AS OPPOSED TO THE $150
MILLION EVERS PROPOSED.
$1 BILLION WAS APPROVED IN
CAPITAL FUNDS FOR UW BILLING
PROJECTS.
ON HEALTH CARE, REPUBLICANS
REJECTED THE PLAN TO EXPAND
MEDICAID LEVERAGING AN
ADDITIONAL $1.6 BILLION IN
FEDERAL MONEY.
THEY APPROVED A $588 MILLION
HIKE IN STATE FUNDS FOR HEALTH
CARE AND RELATED COSTS.
AS FOR THE TRANSPORTATION
BUDGET, REPUBLICANS WOULD SPEND
$484 MILLION ON ROADS AND
HIGHWAYS.
EVERS WANTED AN INCREASE IN THE
GAS TAX TO GET TO HIS $624
MILLION.
INSTEAD, REPUBLICANS HIKED
REGISTRATION AND TITLING FEES.
ON TAXES, THE REPUBLICAN PLAN
WOULD TOTAL ABOUT $500 MILLION
IN INCOME AND PROPERTY TAX CUTS,
REDUCING INCOME TAXES ABOUT $75
PER PERSON THIS YEAR AND $136
PER PERSON IN 2020.
EVERS' PLAN WOULD MEAN ABOUT A
$216 REDUCTION.
AS THE PACKAGE HEADS TO THE
LEGISLATURE, SOME REPUBLICAN
STATE SENATORS ARE BALKING AT
THE SPENDING HIKES THEIR OWN
PARTY APPROVED IN THE PROCESS,
CALLING IT AN EFFORT TO BUY
GOVERNOR EVERS' SUPPORT.
>> I'M WAITING FOR TUESDAY TO
MAKE ANY KIND OF JUDGMENTS.
OBVIOUSLY, I'VE BEEN HAVING
ONGOING DISCUSSION WITH ALL THE
MEMBERS.
I KNOW THAT THE FINANCE TEAM
ALSO HAS BEEN TALKING TO MEMBERS
ALONG THE WAY WORKING WITH THEM.
SO, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT GOING TO
JUMP TO ANY CONCLUSIONS ON ANY
ONE INDIVIDUAL SENATOR.
AGAIN, I THINK JUST LIKE YOU
HAVE TO DO AT THE END OF ANY
FINANCE PROCESS, IS COME
TOGETHER AGAIN AND KIND OF START
FROM SCRATCH, RUN THROUGH THE
DOCUMENT AND SEE WHAT THE ISSUES
MAY BE.
>> AS TO WHETHER THE REPUBLICAN
PLAN COULD SEE CHANGES FROM THE
GOVERNOR'S VETO PEN, ASSEMBLY
SPEAKER ROBIN VOS HAD WARNED THE
BUDGET COULD BE DELAYED UNTIL
OCTOBER IF EVERS VETOES THE
WHOLE THING.
VOS HAS BACKED OFF THAT FEAR AT
THIS POINT.
>> FIRST OF ALL, I AM NOT
ACCEPTING THE FACT THAT GOVERNOR
EVERS IS GOING TO VETO THE
BUDGET.
I THINK THAT IT'S NEVER BEEN
DONE IN OUR STATE'S HISTORY, SO
IT'S VERY UNLIKELY WHEN WE HAVE
A BUDGET THAT FOCUSES ON THE
FOUR PILLARS.
FIX THE ROADS.
WE'RE DOING THAT.
MAKE SURE WE HAVE A BUDGET THAT
CAN HELP CHILDREN.
HE SAID MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE
ABILITY TO TAKE CARE OF THE MOST
VULNERABLE.
AND WE HAVE ENOUGH RESOURCES
LEFT OVER THAT WE PRIORITIZED A
VERY LARGE TAX CUT THAT'S GOING
TO HELP EVERY SINGLE FAMILY THAT
PAYS TAXES IN THE STATE.
>> CO-CHAIR OF THE JOINT FINANCE
COMMITTEE, REPUBLICAN REPRESENT
JOHN NYGREN, JUST WRAPPED UP HIS
HEAVY BUDGET LIFTING.
HE JOINS US BY PHONE.
>> GOOD TO BE WITH YOU.
>> SO WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE TO
THE CRITICISM FROM SOME FELL LE FELLOW
REPUBLICANS THAT YOUR BUDGET IS
TRYING TO BUY GOVERNOR EVERS'S
SUPPORT?
>> WELL, I WOULDN'T AGREE WITH
THEM.
I THINK THE LEVEL OF BORROWING
IS THE LOWEST IT'S BEEN SINCE
2009.
THE INCREASE IN SPENDING OVER
THE BY BIENNIUM IS 3.8%, WITHIN THE
RATE OF INFLATION.
WE DO LIVE IN SPLIT GOVERNMENT.
MAYBE THAT'S A LITTLE HIGHER
THAN WE WOULD LIKE.
BUT WE DO HAVE TO WORK WITH A
DEMOCRAT GOVERNOR AND FOR HIM TO
BE ABLE TO SIGN THIS BUDGET,
MEET SOME OF HIS PRIORITIES.
I THINK WE'VE DONE THAT.
HE PROPOSED A 3.8% INCREASE.
WE'RE AROUND 3 AND STILL MET A
LOT OF THE PRIORITIES OF THE
GOVERNOR AND THE PEOPLE OF THE
STATE OF WISCONSIN.
>> IF SOMETHING HAD TO BE
CHANGED TO GARNER THE SUPPORT OF
ANY DEFECTING ON THE SENATE
SIDE, WHAT WOULD THAT BE?
>> I'M NOT IN THE SENATE.
I'M IN THE ASSEMBLY.
THAT'S A CONVERSATION FOR
SENATOR FITZGERALD.
I THINK ONE -- SOME OF THE
CONCERNS, SOME OF THE COMMENTS
THAT HAVE BEEN MADE HAS BEEN
GOING THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS.
WE'RE NOT NECESSARILY LOOKING AT
THE BUDGET IN TOTALITY.
I THINK THEY WERE LOOKING AT THE
BUDGET VERSUS THE BILL, WHICH
HAD A HIGH LEVEL OF SPENDING, AS
I SAID, 8.3%.
WE MADE THOSE CHANGES.
WE TOOK THINGS OUT AS WE WENT.
THE PERSPECTIVE OF SOME OF MY
COLLEAGUES WHO WEREN'T PAYING AS
MUCH ATTENTION AS THOSE OF US ON
JOINT FINANCE, WHEN THEY SEE
WHERE WE GOT TO, I THINK THEY'RE
GOING TO BE SUPPORTIVE.
>> GIVEN WHAT YOU WERE
SUGGESTING ABOUT TRIMS, WHAT DO
YOU KNOW ABOUT WHETHER YOU WILL
GET THE GOVERNOR'S SUPPORT?
>> WELL, WHEN WE LOOK AT
EDUCATION FUNDING, $500 MILLION,
$204 PER PUPIL, A 22% INCREASE
IN SPECIAL ED FUNDING, IT'S THE
LEVEL GOVERNOR EVERS ASKED FOR
WHEN HE WAS DPI SECRETARY.
204 IS WHAT HE CALLED A KID
FRIENDLY BUDGET TWO YEARS AGO.
WE MEET THOSE OBJECTIVES WHEN WE
ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE FOR OUR MOST
VULNERABLE.
WE HAD SOME REAL PROBLES.
BECAUSE OF OUR ECONOMY IS SO
STRONG, WE HAVE ISSUES WITH
BEING ABLE TO PAY A GOOD ENOUGH
WAGE TO BE ABLE TO GET PEOPLE TO
WORK IN OUR NURSING HOMES AND
PERSONAL CARE WORKERS FOR OUR
ELDERLY IN THEIR HOMES.
WE WERE ABLE TO GO FURTHER THAN
HIM.
SO I BELIEVE IN A LOT OF THESE
CASES BECAUSE WE SOLVED THOSE
PROBLEMS AND MET THE PRIORITIES
NOT ONLY OF GOVERNOR EVERS IN
MANY CASES, BUT THE PEOPLE OF
WISCONSIN, I THINK HE SHOULD
SIGN IT.
>> SO WHEN YOU'VE SAID THAT THE
BUDGET WAS CAREFULLY CRAFTED TO
AVOID THE GOVERNOR'S VETO, IS
THIS THE KIND OF THING YOU'RE
TALKING ABOUT?
>> I THINK WHAT WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT TO AVOID THE VETO IS YOU
HAVE TO BE CAREFUL WHAT LANGUAGE
YOU PUT INTO THE BUDGET.
THE GOVERNOR CAN VETO DOWN
SPENDING.
IT CAN'T VETO IT UP.
HE HAS A VERY POWERFUL LINE ITEM
VETO WHERE HE CAN CHANGE WHAT
THE INTENT IS OF THE DIFFERENT
PROVISIONS.
SO WE HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL.
WHAT I'M REFERRING TO IS WHEN
WE'RE MEETING MANY OF HIS
OBJECTIVES, MAYBE IN A DIFFERENT
WAY, YET LIVING WITHIN THE MEANS
OF THE PEOPLE OF WISCONSIN, I
BELIEVE THAT IT'S NOT ONLY A
BUDGET THAT WE HAVE BEEN CAREFUL
ON THE VETOES, BUT WE'VE ALSO
BEEN UNDERSTANDING THAT WE NOW
LIVE IN SPLIT GOVERNMENT.
>> SO ON THE FLIP SIDE, HOW
CAREFULLY CRAFTED WAS IT TO
APIECE FISCAL HAWKS?
>> WELL, I THINK THAT THAT'S THE
THINGS I'VE BEEN ADDRESSING,
RATE OF INFLATION, YOU KNOW,
BORROWING IS DOWN.
ACTUALLY USING CASH INFUSION,
WHERE POSSIBLE, TO BE ABLE TO
REDUCE THE RELIANCE ON THE TAX
BURDEN.
AND THEN ALSO REALIZING THAT WE
DO HAVE A SIGNIFICANT SURPLUS SO
LET'S UTILIZE THAT RATHER THAN
RAISING TAXES.
LET'S USE SOME OF THOSE SURPLUS
DOLLARS TO REDUCE THE BURDEN ON
THE TAXPAYER.
>> HOW DIFFERENT WOULD YOUR
GOVERNOR HAVE BEEN IF GOVERNOR
WALKER WERE STILL GOVERNOR?
WOULD YOU HAVE EVER INCLUDED
TRANSPORTATION FEE HIKES OR GONE
FOR BIGGER TAX CUTS?
>> WE WOULD HAVE DEFINITELY GONE
FOR BIGGER TAX CUTS.
WE GOT TO $560 MILLION OF TAX
CUTS.
SO IF GOVERNOR WALKER WAS STILL
GOVERNOR, I THINK YOU PROBABLY
WOULD HAVE SEEN US STILL TRY TO
GET TO A SOLUTION ON
TRANSPORTATION, AT LEAST FROM
THE ASSEMBLY PERSPECTIVE.
WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET THERE
FOR QUITE SOME TIME.
OUR SENATE COLLEAGUES WEREN'T
ALWAYS WITH US ON THAT.
SO I THINK WE WOULD HAVE TRIED.
BUT I THINK THE SOLUTION WE CAME
UP WITH, ACTUALLY INCREASING
ROAD AIDS FOR OUR TOWNS AND OUR
VILLAGES AND OUR CITIES 10% AND
THEN ALSO IN WHAT WE CALL LREP,
WE TRIPLED THAT AMOUNT TO BE
ABLE TO HELP CATCH UP.
WE KNOW THERE'S SOME PENT-UP
NEED IN THE TRANSPORTATION AREAS
THROUGHOUT OUR ENTIRE STATE.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WE LEAVE IT THERE.
JOHN NYGREN, THANKS VERY MUCH
AGAIN.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> DEMOCRATS ON THE BUDGET
COMMITTEE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE
EVERS' BUDGET FORCED REPUBLICANS
TO, QUOTE, MOVE THE NEEDLE ON
SPENDING, BUT STILL THEY SAY IT
DOESN'T GO FAR ENOUGH TO ADDRESS
THE GOVERNOR'S PRIORITIES.
DEMOCRATIC REPRESENTATIVE EVAN
GOYKE JOINS US FROM MILWAUKEE.
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR DOING SO.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> SO YOU SAY THAT THE
REPUBLICAN PROPOSAL FALLS SHORT.
HOW SO?
>> WELL, I WANT TO FOCUS ON
THREE PRIMARY AREAS AND THAT'S
HEALTH CARE, EDUCATION AND
TRANSPORTATION.
AND JUST BRIEFLY ON EACH, ON
HEALTH CARE, AN IDEOLOGICAL
DECISION NOT TO EXPAND MEDICAID
COST THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAVE
$324 MILLION IN STATE RESOURCES,
WHILE LEVERAGING $1.6 BILLION IN
NEW FEDERAL FUNDING.
THAT CREATED HOLES IN OTHER
PARTS OF THE BUDGET, LIKE
EDUCATION.
SO THE SECOND AREA WHERE THE
REPUBLICAN BUDGET FELL SHORT IS
ON PUBLIC SCHOOL FUNDING.
AND PARTICULARLY HOW -- AND HOW
MUCH WE FUND SPECIAL EDUCATION.
AND SO THE GOVERNOR PROPOSED AN
HISTORIC INVESTMENT IN SPECIAL
EDUCATION AND REPUBLICANS CUT
83% FROM THE GOVERNOR'S
PROPOSAL.
AND THEN LASTLY ON
TRANSPORTATION, THE WAY WE FUND
ROADS I THINK IS AN IMBALANCE.
WE SHOULD USE THE GAS TAX, WHICH
IS CLOSER TO A USER FEE, AND GET
ALL OF THOSE OUT-OF-STATE
DRIVERS TO HELP PAY FOR OUR
ROADS, NOT JUST RELY ON OUR
REGISTRATION FEES ALSO.
>> SO ALL OF THAT SAID, HOW DO
YOU EXPECT THE GOVERNOR TO
HANDLE THE VERSION THAT DOESN'T
INCREASE THE GAS TAX OR GREATLY
INCREASE SPECIAL EDUCATION
FUNDING?
>> I THINK IT'S A CHALLENGE FOR
THE GOVERNOR.
AND I WANT TO WORK WITH HIS TEAM
AND WITH HIM ON WHAT STEPS
MOVING FORWARD HE COULD USE.
YOU KNOW, THE STATE OF WISCONSIN
HAS ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL
VETOES IN THE COUNTRY AND IT'S A
UNIQUE VETO.
AND SO I DON'T THINK WE'RE AT A
POINT IN TIME TODAY AS WE ARE
TALKING WHERE WE CAN REALLY SAY
EXACTLY WHAT THE RIGHT COURSE OF
ACTION SHOULD BE FOR THE
GOVERNOR.
NOW, ONE OTHER POINT THAT I WANT
TO MAKE, IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE
THAT WHILE JOINT FINANCE -- THE
JOINT FINANCE COMMITTEE IS DONE,
EACH CHAMBER MUST AGREE ON THE
BUDGET AS IT'S WRITTEN.
AND THERE COULD BE FURTHER
CHANGES MADE BY THE SENATE OR
ASSEMBLY MAJORITY REPUBLICANS.
>> HOW WOULD YOU COMPARE THIS
REPUBLICAN BUDGET PROPOSAL TO
YEARS PAST WHEN THE MAJORITY WAS
WORKING OFF REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR
SCOTTSCOTT WALKER'S PLAN?
>> SO IN YOUR INTRODUCTORY
REMARKS, YOU HIT THE NEEDLE.
THERE'S CLEARLY A RESPONSE OR
WHAT I SAID IN MY CLOSING
REMARKS YESTERDAY ON THE
COMMITTEE, THE REPUBLICANS ARE
TRYING TO CATCH UP TO THE
GOVERNOR'S LEADERSHIP AND HIS
VISION.
SO THIS BUDGET THAT THE
REPUBLICANS HAVE CRAFTED SPENDS
ABOUT $4.1 BILLION IN ADDITIONAL
SPENDING.
THE LAST BUDGET UNDER GOVERNOR
WALKER WAS ABOUT $2.2 BILLION.
SO ALMOST DOUBLE THE LEVEL OF
SPENDING THAN THE PRIOR
REPUBLICAN BUDGET.
AND I THINK THAT'S A RESPONSE TO
GOVERNOR EVERS'S WINNING THE
STATEWIDE ELECTION ON GOVERNOR,
CALLING FOR THE INCREASED
INVESTMENTS THAT WE'VE BEEN
DISCUSSING.
>> YOU ALSO SAID WHILE YOU WERE
ON THE COMMITTEE THAT THE
REPUBLICAN BUDGET WRITERS TRIED
THEIR BEST.
SO WHAT MORE CAN YOU REALLY ASK?
>> WELL, I THINK WE DON'T HAVE
TO DO THINGS IN A CLOSED ROOM
WITH ONLY ONE PARTY.
THAT'S HOW THE BUDGET WAS
WRITTEN BY THE REPUBLICANS.
THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY
REPUBLICANS WOULD GO SOMEWHERE
IN THE STATE CAPITOL, THEY WOULD
CLOSE THE DOOR AND THEY WERE
NEGOTIATING WITH THEMSELVES.
SO THAT WAS THE BEST THEY COULD
DO.
BUT THERE ARE TWO PARTIES IN THE
CAPITOL.
THEY COULD REACH ACROSS THE
AISLE AND SEEK DEMOCRATIC VOTES
AND DEMOCRATIC INPUT TO REACH A
BIPARTISAN COMPROMISE.
SO WHEN I SAID THEY DID THEIR
BEST, WHAT WE COULD DO BETTER IS
TALK TO ONE ANOTHER AND FIND
COMMON GROUND, ESPECIALLY ON
THOSE THREE BIG ITEMS THAT I'VE
MENTIONED.
>> WHAT KINDS OF CONCERNS DO YOU
HAVE ABOUT ANY CHANGES THAT
MIGHT BE MADE IN THE
LEGISLATURE, THE FULL
LEGISLATURE?
>> I'M WATCHING THE SENATE
REPUBLICAN CAUCUS VERY
CAREFULLY.
SENATOR STEVE NASS HAS SAID HE
HAS PROBLEMS WITH THE OVERALL
LEVEL OF SPENDING.
SENATOR DAVE CRAIG HAS SAID THE
SAME THING, THAT HE HAS GRAVE
CONCERNS OVER THE LEVEL OF
SPENDING.
IF A NUMBER OF OTHER SENATE
REPUBLICANS HAVE A DISAGREEMENT
WITH THE LEVEL OF SPENDING THAT
COULD RESULT IN MAJOR CHANGES
AND POTENTIALLY THROW OFF THE
ENTIRE BUDGET AS WRITTEN.
>> WE'LL BE WATCHING.
REPRESENTATIVE GOYKE, THANKS
VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> MORE ON THE STATE BUDGET NOW.
SPECIFICALLY, ITS IMPACT ON THE
STATE'S LAND PURCHASE FUND KNOWN
AS THE KNOWLES-NELSON
STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM.
MARKING ITS 30TH ANNIVERSARY,
THE PROGRAM PROVIDES DOLLARS TO
BUY LAND LIKE THE LAND SEEN HERE
IN DANE COUNTY KNOWN AS THE
CAPITAL SPRINGS RECREATION AREA.
THE STEWARDSHIP FUND ALSO
ALLOWED THE PURCHASE OF PARTS OF
THE ICE AGE TRAIL ACROSS
WISCONSIN AND PROPERTIES THAT
BECAME THE HANK AARON TRAIL THAT
CONNECTS MILLER PARK WITH
DOWNTOWN MILWAUKEE.
THE PROGRAM HAS AN EXPIRATION
DATE OF JUNE, 2020.
THAT'S WHY GOVERNOR EVERS SAYS
HE PROPOSED EXTENDING THE
PROGRAM FOR TWO YEARS WITH
BORROWING THE AMOUNTS TO JUST
OVER $42 MILLION PER YEAR.
THIS WEEK, REPUBLICANS GAVE THE
GOVERNOR WHAT HE ORIGINALLY
WANTED.
EVERS DID CHANGE COURSE, SEEK
AGO TEN-YEAR EXTENSION FOR THE
PROGRAM, ADDING MORE THAN $300
MILLION IN BONDING, BUT THAT WAS
VOTED DOWN ALONG PARTY LINES.
JASON STEIN HAS RESEARCHED THE
STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM IN HIS WORK
WITH THE WISCONSIN POLICY FORUM.
HE JOINS US NOW FROM THE STATE
CAPITOL AND, JASON, THANKS VERY
MUCH FOR DOING SO.
>> MY PLEASURE.
THANK YOU.
>> SO, AS WE'VE SAID, YOU'VE
DONE A DEEP DIVE ON THE
STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM IN
WISCONSIN.
HOW MUCH LAND IN THE STATE IS IS
IN PUBLIC HANDS BECAUSE OF THE
PROGRAM?
>> WELL, MORE THAN 800,000 ACRES
IN THE STATE OF WISCONSIN HAD
BEEN PROTECTED EITHER THROUGH AN
OUTRIGHT PURCHASE OR THROUGH A
CONSERVATIONING EASEMENT BECAUSE
OF THE STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM OVER
THE LIFE OF THE PROGRAM.
>> SOME CONSERVATIVE LAWMAKERS,
AS YOU KNOW, REALLY TAKE
EXCEPTION TO THE BONDING THAT IT
TIEKS TOTAKES TO ACQUIRE ALL THAT LAND.
HOW MUCH DOES IT TAKE IN
BONDING?
>> WELL, YOU LOOK AT WHAT THE
STATE HAS MADE IN DEBT PAYMENTS
OVER THE LIFE OF THE PROGRAM,
$865 MILLION, AND THERE'S MORE
THAN $700 MILLION IN PRINCIPAL
AND INTEREST OUTSTANDING ON
STEWARDSHIP BONDS.
SO IT IS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF
MONEY WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE
PROGRAM OVER ITS LIFE.
>> WHAT'S BEEN THE TREND IN
RECENT YEARS OF SPENDING ON DNR
LAND PURCHASES?
>> SO WHAT YOU SEE WHEN YOU LOOK
AT WHAT THE STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM
IS ACTUALLY SPENDING IS THAT THE
CORE STATE LAND PURCHASES
PROGRAM FOR THE DNR HAS FALLEN
LAST YEAR TO ITS LOWEST LEVEL IN
THE PROGRAM'S HISTORY, AT $2.9
MILLION.
SO THERE'S BEEN A BIG DECREASE
IN THAT.
AND AT THE SAME TIME FOR THE
FIRST TIME LAST YEAR IT WAS NO
LONGER THE LARGEST SINGLE
SPENDING ITEM FOR STEWARDSHIP.
INSTEAD, IT WAS A DEVELOPMENT
CATEGORY INVOLVING PROJECTS ON
PUBLIC LAND.
>> SO PRESUMABLY THAT KIND OF
TREND CONCERNS CONSERVATIONISTS
WHO REALLY APPLAUD AND SUPPORT
THIS STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM.
>> SURE.
ON THE ONE HAND, YOU HAVE
CRITICS CONCERNED ABOUT THE DEBT
AND LAND IN GOVERNMENT HANDS.
AND ON THE OTHER SIDE YOU SEE
SOME CONCERN FROM ADVOCATES FOR
THE PROGRAM ON THE DECLINE IN
THE PURCHASING POWER AND SORT OF
THE CORE LAND FUNCTION OF THE
PROGRAM OVER RECENT YEARS.
>> WHERE IS MOST OF THE
STEWARDSHIP LAND IN WISCONSIN?
>> SO MOST OF THE STEWARDSHIP
LAND THAT YOU SEE PURCHASED IS
IN NORTHERN WISCONSIN AND THOSE
NORTHERN WISCONSIN COUNTIES
WHERE AS MUCH AS 50% OR MORE OF
THE LAND CAN BE HELD BY THE
STATE, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, MOSTLY
COUNTIES AND THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT.
BUT YOU DO SEE SOME, IN DOLLAR
AMOUNTS, LARGE AMOUNTS BEING
SPENT IN SOUTHERN WISCONSIN IN
COUNTIES LIKE DANE AS WELL AS
WAUKESHA.
>> NOW, IT TAKES THAT LAND OFF
THE TAX ROLLS, THOUGH, BUT THEN
THE STATE MAKES UP FOR IT?
>> CORRECT.
SO BECAUSE STEWARDSHIP LAND
BECOMES PUBLIC, YOU NO LONGER
HAVE A PRIVATE OWNER THAT'S
PAYING PROPERTY TAXES TO LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS LIKE TOWNS, SCHOOLS
AND COUNTIES.
AT THE SAME TIME, THE STATE DOES
MAKE PAYMENTS TO LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS TO COMPENSATE THEM
FOR THAT LOST PROPERTY TAX
REVENUE, ABOUT $14 MILLION LAST
YEAR.
>> SO HOW DOES WISCONSIN COMPARE
TO OTHER STATES WHEN IT COMES TO
LAND PURCHASES FOR PUBLIC USE?
>> SURE.
SO WISCONSIN STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM
IS UNIQUE IN THAT IT IS LARGER
THAN MOST OTHER PROGRAMS IN THE
MIDWEST, THAT IT GROUPS TOGETHER
DIFFERENT FUNCTIONS IN ONE
PROGRAM THAT MAY BE SPLIT UP
AMONG DIFFERENT PROGRAMS IN
OTHER STATES.
YOU KNOW, AT THE SAME TIME,
THERE'S ALSO A COMMITMENT IN
OTHER STATES TO DO PROGRAMS LIKE
STEWARDSHIP.
SOME STATES USE BORROWING TO
FUND THOSE PURCHASES AND
PROJECTS, LIKE WISCONSIN DOES.
AND THEN SOME OTHER STATES HAVE
DEDICATED SOURCES OF REVENUE,
WHETHER IT'S SALES TAX DOLLARS
OR DOLLARS ASSOCIATED WITH
MINERAL RIGHTS, THINGS LIKE
THAT.
>> BUT, AGAIN, JOINT FINANCE
JUST EXTENDED THIS FOR TWO
YEARS, PRESUMABLY THAT STICKS IN
THE LARGER BUDGET.
>> RIGHT.
I MEAN, GIVEN THAT BOTH THE
GOVERNOR AND JOINT FINANCE
PROPOSED A TWO-YEAR EXTENSION OF
THE PROGRAM, YOU WOULD EXPECT
THAT TO STICK IN THE STATE
BUDGET AS LONG AS THE STATE
BUDGET MOVES FORWARD WITHOUT A
HITCH.
AND SO I THINK THAT MEANS THAT
THIS PROGRAM WILL SORT OF REMAIN
IN THE PUBLIC DISCUSSION OVER
THE NEXT TWO YEARS AS WE TALK
ABOUT, OKAY, WHAT COMES NEXT
AFTER THAT.
>> RIGHT.
EXACTLY.
ALL RIGHT.
JASON STEIN, THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
MY PLEASURE, FREDERICA.
>> THAT IS OUR PROGRAM FOR
TONIGHT.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED, IN PART, BY FRIENDS