WORRYING OVER THE TWO-YEAR STATE
BUDGET WITH FIGHTS BACK AND
FORTH ABOUT PARTISAN MATTERS AND
SPENDING.
BUT WHAT WILL THE PLAN MEAN FOR
WISCONSIN RESIDENTS?
WE SAT DOWN WITH GOVERNOR TONY
EVERS THIS WEEK TO HEAR HIS
TAKE.
WE STARTED BY ASKING HOW HE
THINKS THE PLAN WILL AFFECT
PEOPLE OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS.
>> I BELIEVE IN A POSITIVE WAY
OR I WOULDN'T HAVE SIGNED IT.
WE, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR AND I,
WENT ACROSS THE STATE BEFORE WE
DEVELOPED THE BUDGET AND
SUBSEQUENT TO SUBMITTING IT AND
GETTING PEOPLE'S REACTION TO IT.
AND SO, THE PRIORITIES ARE
AROUND HEALTH CARE, EDUCATION,
TRANSPORTATION, CLEARLY A TOP
PRIORITY.
BUT ALSO A TOP PRIORITY WAS
LET'S GET SOMETHING DONE.
AND SO I BELIEVE THAT AT THE END
OF THE DAY, THIS BUDGET DOES
MOVE US IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION
IN ALL THREE OF THOSE AREAS.
AND SO I THINK PEOPLE OF
WISCONSIN WILL SEE A BETTER
TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM, WILL SEE
EDUCATION SYSTEM THAT'S FUNDED
SOMEWHAT BETTER AND HEALTH CARE,
YOU KNOW, EVEN THOUGH THE
MEDICAID EXPANSION DIDN'T
HAPPEN, THERE'S ADDITIONAL
RESOURCES IN THAT AREA, TOO.
SO I THINK THE PEOPLE OF
WISCONSIN WILL BE PLEASED THAT
THOSE THREE CATEGORIES THAT WE
RAN ON, FRANKLY, AND LISTENED
TO, WE'VE MADE STEPS IN THE
RIGHT DIRECTION.
THAT'S NOT TO SAY THAT THIS
BUDGET'S AN END-ALL AND BE-ALL.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT I CONSIDERED
VETOING THE ENTIRE BUDGET, BUT
AT THE END OF THE DAY WE WERE
ABLE TO MAKE ENOUGH CHANGES TO
MAKE IT HAPPEN.
>> SPEAKING OF THOSE CHANGES,
HOW WAS IT IN THE VETO PROCESS
THAT YOU WERE ABLE TO INCREASE
FUNDING TO SCHOOLS OVER THE
REPUBLICAN PLAN?
>> WELL, IT'S CREATIVE BUDGET
VETOING.
I WILL SAY THAT.
BUT IT'S NOT CREATIVE IN THAT
IT'S NEVER BEEN DONE BEFORE.
THAT PARTICULAR TYPE OF VETO.
AND SO WE FELT IT WAS SOMETHING
THAT HAD, YOU KNOW, BEEN DONE
BEFORE BY REPUBLICAN AND
DEMOCRATIC GOVERNORS, SO WE FELT
IT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
AND IT ALLOWED US TO INCREASE
FUNDING FOR OUR SCHOOLS, WHICH A
TREMENDOUSLY IMPORTANT PIECE OF
OUR BUDGET.
>> IN RESPONSE TO THAT
PARTICULAR VETO, TWO REPUBLICAN
LAWMAKERS ARE CIRCULATING A
PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL
AMENDMENT TO LIMIT A GOVERNOR'S
VETO AUTHORITY.
WHAT'S YOUR REACTION TO THAT?
>> WELL, I HEARD ABOUT IT.
I HAVEN'T SEEN IT.
SO THAT'S A LITTLE BIT OF
DISADVANTAGE THERE.
BUT, YOU KNOW, THE THING THAT
CONCERNS ME IS THAT IT'S ONE
MORE LET'S DEAL WITH -- LET'S
TAKE POWER AWAY FROM THE
ADMINISTRATION.
WE STARTED WITH THE LAME DUCK
SESSION AND NOW WE'RE MORPHING
INTO THIS.
I JUST -- I THINK PEOPLE OF
WISCONSIN ARE SATISFIED THAT
THIS BUDGET PROCESS IS OVER AND
WE NEED TO MOVE ON.
BUT CLEARLY THERE'S AT LEAST A
COUPLE STATE REPS THAT FEEL THAT
THAT'S IMPORTANT TO LAY DOWN A
MARKER.
I DON'T BELIEVE THAT'S
NECESSARY.
WE HAD FAR FEWER BUDGET VETOES
THAN THE PREVIOUS GOVERNOR.
SO I THINK IT'S JUST KIND OF
MORE OF THE SAME THAT IS AN
OUTGROWTH OF THE RESULTS OF THE
LAST ELECTION.
>> IN REDUCING SPENDING ON THE
ADMINISTRATION OF FOODSHARE WORK
REQUIREMENTS FOR PEOPLE WITH
CHILDREN TO YOUR VETOES, YOU
EFFECTIVELY KILLED THAT
REQUIREMENT.
WHY DID YOU GO AHEAD AND DO
THAT?
>> WELL, CERTAINLY POOR PEOPLE
NEED ASSISTANCE, AND ANY
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS PUT ON
THEM I THINK IS UNFAIR.
AND I OPPOSED THOSE REQUIREMENTS
WHEN THEY'RE PASSED IN THE
LEGISLATURE IN THE PAST.
WHEN FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS
ARE STRUGGLING FINANCIALLY AND
THEY NEED HELP FROM -- IN THIS
CASE IT'S FEDERAL MONEY.
MOST OF IT'S FEDERAL MONEY.
I DON'T SEE THERE'S A REAL NEED
TO PUNISH THEM FURTHER.
JUST DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE TO
ME.
AND SO WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO
SAVE SOME MONEY BY DOING THOSE
VETOES AND ACTUALLY MAKE A
STATEMENT AROUND WHAT WE FEEL IS
IMPORTANT AND WHAT ISN'T
IMPORTANT.
>> AND THE VETO DID NOT
ELIMINATE THE DRUG TESTING
PROVISION.
WOULD YOU GET RID OF THAT IF YOU
COULD?
>> IF I COULD, SURE.
I MEAN, THERE'S THIS NOTION THAT
SOMEHOW THERE'S ALL THIS RAMPANT
ABUSE OF THE SYSTEM AND THAT
JUST ISN'T TRUE.
AND TO TIGHTEN UP THAT SOMETHING
ISN'T A MAJOR ISSUE JUST COSTS
MORE MONEY THAT COULD BE USED
ELSEWHERE.
>> GOING FORWARD, YOU HAVE SAID
THAT YOU ARE INTENT ON EXPANDING
MEDICAID.
HOW DO YOU EXPECT TO DO THAT
WITH THE LEGISLATURE DEAD SET
AGAINST IT?
>> WELL, WE HAVE LEGISLATORS
LEADERS THAT ARE DEAD SET
AGAINST IT.
I KNOW THAT THERE ARE
REPUBLICANS THAT IF GIVEN THE
OPPORTUNITY WOULD SUPPORT IT.
I BELIEVE THAT IF WE TAKE THIS
TO THE PEOPLE OF WISCONSIN AND
CONTINUE TO PUT IT OUT IN FRONT
OF PEOPLE, YOU THINK ABOUT IT.
I'VE SAID THAT A MILLION TIMES.
70% OF THE PEOPLE IN THE
MARQUETTE POLL SUPPORT IT.
WE HEARD IT CONSISTENTLY ACROSS
THE STATE WHEN WE DID OUR
LISTENING SESSIONS.
AND IT'S FINANCIALLY PRUDENT.
RIGHT NOW WE'RE SPENDING A
COUPLE BILLION OF OUR TAX MONEY
HELPING NEW JERSEY AND I ILLINOIS
EXPAND MEDICAID.
SO I THINK ALWAYS IT MAKES
SENSE.
OUR GOAL IS TO MAKE SURE THAT
PEOPLE WHEN THEY'RE RUNNING FOR
OFFICE NEXT TIME AROUND, THAT
THAT'S PART OF A DISCUSSION AND
GET PEOPLE ON THE RECORD ON THIS
ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.
YOU KNOW, ALL POLITICS ARE
LOCAL, AND IF LOCAL PEOPLE WANT
THIS, AND CLEARLY THEY DO, WE'RE
GOING TO BE ENCOURAGING PEOPLE
TO TAKE STANCES ON THIS WHEN
THEY'RE RUNNING FOR REELECTION.
>> WHY DID YOU VETO THE PART OF
THE TRANSPORTATION BUDGET THAT
WOULD HAVE SPENT $2.5 MILLION ON
A MILEAGE-BASED FEE STUDY?
>> WELL, BECAUSE FIRST OF ALL,
THAT'S A VERY -- FIRST OF ALL,
WE DIDN'T GET RID OF THE MONEY.
WE GOT RID OF THE STUDY.
SO THE MONEY IS STILL THERE.
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY WE'VE
HAD LOTS OF STUDIES ON THE ISSUE
OF THE TOLLING, WHICH IS PART OF
IT.
AND, YOU KNOW, AM I AGAINST
TOLLING OR FOR TOLLING?
IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE
ARE.
WE JUST HAD A LOT OF STUDIES ON
IT.
SO IF INDEED THERE NEEDS TO BE
MONEY AT SOME POINT IN TIME TO
TAKE A LOOK AT THE MILEAGE-BASED
PIECE, WE CAN TAKE A LOOK AT IT.
BUT TO ME IT WAS TOO RESTRICTIVE
AS IT WAS, SO WE KEPT THE MONEY
AND GOT RID OF THE REQUIREMENT.
>> WILL YOU INSIST ON THE GAS
TAX INCREASE?
>> I THINK IT'S THE MOST
SENSIBLE WAY TO DO THAT.
BUT IF THERE'S BETTER
ALTERNATIVES THAN THE ONE WE
HAVE RIGHT NOW, WHICH IS
ESSENTIALLY DOUBLING FEES, WHICH
WE CAN'T DO EVERY FOUR YEARS, WE
HAVE TO COME UP WITH A SOLUTION
SOMETIME BETWEEN NOW ND A THE -- AND
THE NEXT BUDGET.
I BELIEVE A GAS TAX INDEXED TO
INFLATION IS THE MOST LOGICAL
WAY.
BUT THERE MAY BE OTHER WAYS,
TOO.
FOUR YEARS IS A LONG WAY OFF.
OR TWO YEARS IS A LONG WAY OFF.
BUT I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT THINGS
ARE GOING TO CHANGE THAT MUCH
SINCE THEN, OR IN THAT PERIOD OF
TIME, SO I STILL THINK IT'S THE
BEST ALTERNATIVE.
>> IN YOUR VETO MESSAGE YOU SAID
YOU'RE GOING TO BRING THE FIGHT
FOR A NONPARTISAN REDISTRICTING
PROCESS TO THE LEGISLATURE?
>> EITHER THROUGH LEGISLATION
THAT IS PROPOSED AND WE'LL WORK
HARD TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY WE
WILL BRING IT TO THE PEOPLE OF
WISCONSIN.
AND AS I SAID BEFORE, ALL
POLITICS ARE LOCAL.
THIS IS ONE THAT ALL ACROSS THE
STATE PEOPLE FEEL VERY STRONGLY
ABOUT.
IT'S NOT JUST DEMS.
WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT
PEOPLE, THAT LEGISLATORS AND
GOVERNORS AREN'T SELECTING THEIR
VOTERS, THAT VOTERS SELECT THEM.
AND THAT'S A PRETTY SIMPLE
CONCEPT AND I KNOW WE CAN WIN ON
THAT.
IT'S JUST A MATTER OF GETTING IT
OUT THERE.
>> WHAT DO REPUBLICAN-DRAWN MAPS
HAVE TO DO WITH THE STATE
BUDGET?
>> WELL, A LOT.
FIRST OF ALL, WE HAVE A
LEGISLATURE THAT IS MOSTLY
REPUBLICAN.
AND IT'S ONE SIDE ORT OR THE OTHER,
ONE LESS, ONE MORE.
A LOT OF IT HAS TO DO WITH THE
FACT THAT WE'VE BEEN
GERRYMANDERED.
SO IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
ARE NOT SELECTING THE VOTERS,
THAT THE VOTERS ARE SELECTING
US, WE NEED TO HAVE FAIR MAPS.
AND I SAID THIS DURING THE
CAMPAIGN AND I'LL SAY IT NOW.
THIS CAN'T BE RECEIPT RETRIBUTION BY
DEMOCRATS.
WE JUST HAVE TO HAVE THEM DRAWN
FAIRLY.
THERE'S LOTS OF WAYS WE CAN DO
THAT.
>> DO YOU EXPECT YOU MIGHT BE
ABLE TO WORK WITH THE
LEGISLATURE TO PASS LEGISLATION
ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA?
>> POSSIBLY.
THERE SEEMS TO BE SOME INTEREST
IN DOING IT IN THE BUDGET.
PEOPLE THAT WERE AGAINST
RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA FELT
THERE WAS TOO MUCH TIED TO THE
MEDICINAL USE OF MARIJUANA.
BUT I THINK IT'S POSSIBLE.
BUT AT THE MINIMUM, WE'RE GOING
TO HAVE A GOOD CONVERSATION
AROUND IT.
IN THE PAST IN THE BUDGET WE
PROPOSED IT AND IT WAS YANKED
OUT RIGHT AWAY, SO THERE WAS NO
CHANCE TO TALK ABOUT THAT.
IF THERE'S LEGISLATION THAT'S
PROPOSED, AND I'M SURE THERE
WILL BE, YOU KNOW, SPEAKER VOS
HAS INDICATED INTEREST AND
OTHERS IN THE REPUBLICAN SIDE
HAVE TALKED ABOUT IT, TOO.
SO I FEEL GOOD THAT WE'RE
ACTUALLY GOING TO HAVE A
CONVERSATION AROUND IT.
>> NOW SHES MEMBERS, MEMBERS OF YOUR CABINET
WILL HAVE SPENT THE WEEK TOURING
THE STATE.
WHAT IS THEIR MESSAGE?
>> THEIR MESSAGE IS WE HAVE
DELIVERED ON OUR PROMISES TO
MAKE A GREAT START IN AREAS THAT
WE FOCUSED ON AND ALSO TALK
ABOUT -- REALLY, IT'S IMPORTANT
FOR PEOPLE OF WISCONSIN TO
UNDERSTAND THAT ADMINISTRATION
ISN'T JUST EVERS AND MANDELA
BARNES.
IT'S THE PEOPLE THAT ARE DOING
THE HARD WORK IN THE AGENCIES.
AND SO GETTING THEM OUT
INTERACTING WITH PEOPLE ACROSS
THE STATE IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT FOR THEM TO
TALK ABOUT WHAT DIFFERENCE THIS
BUDGET IS GOING TO MAKE TO THE
PEOPLE OF WISCONSIN AND IN OTHER
AREAS.
FOR EXAMPLE, IT SEEMS SMALL ON
THE SURFACE, BUT IN THE AREA OF
TOURISM, IT'S IN THE BUDGET, THE
REPUBLICANS AGREED TO IT, WE NOW
HAVE THE DIVISION OF OUTDOOR
RECREATION, WHICH IS REALLY
IMPORTANT TO THE STATE OF
WISCONSIN.
WE NEED TO BE TALKING ABOUT HOW
THAT'S GOING TO BE IMPLEMENTED.
>> I SPOKE WITH