>> I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW," I SIT
DOWN WITH GOVERNOR TONY EVERS TO
GO OVER THE NEW STATE BUDGET.
A NATIONAL LATIN-AMERICAN
CONVENTION BRINGS TOP
PRESIDENTIAL CONTENDERS TO
MILWAUKEE.
AND MILWAUKEE COUNTY ROLLS OUT A
NEW APPROACH TO JUVENILE
JUSTICE.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR JULY 12.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED, IN PART, BY FRIENDS OF
WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISION.
>> CAPITOL WONKS SPENT MONTHS
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 GOVERNOR EVERS
EARLIER THIS WEEK.
>> ALL EYES ARE ON MILWAUKEE AS
THE SEAT OF NEXT JULY 'S
NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION.
BUT AHEAD OF THAT, THIS JULY, A
NATIONAL CONVENTION WITH AN EYE
TOWARD POLICY AND POLITICS ALSO
CHOSE MILWAUKEE.
SOME 25,000 PEOPLE GATHERED LATE
THIS WEEK TO CELEBRATE THE 90TH
ANNIVERSARY OF THE LEAGUE OF
UNITED LATIN AMERICAN CITIZENS.
LAST NIGHT, THE CONVENTION
HOSTED SOME OF THE DEMOCRATS
RUNNING IN THE PRESIDENTIAL
PRIMARY.
HERE'S A SAMPLE OF WHAT WAS
DISCUSSED AT THE MILWAUKEE TOWN
HALL FORUM.
>> THE QUESTION BEFORE US IS
WHETHER WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE
TO BE THAT COUNTRY THAT EXPANDS
OPPORTUNITY TO PEOPLE NO MATTER
WHO THEY ARE, WHAT THEY LOOK
LIKE, HOW MUCH MONEY THEY HAVE
OR DON'T HAVE, HOW LONG THEY'VE
BEEN IN OUR COUNTRY, WHAT THEIR
LAST NAME IS.
OR ARE WE GOING TO GO BACKWARD
AND BECOME A NATION WHERE
OPPORTUNITY IS ONLY AFFORDED TO
THOSE WHO LOOK A CERTAIN WAY.
>> I'M ALSO PROTECTING OUR
DREAMERS, BUT NOT JUST OUR
DREAMERS.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO PROTECT A
DREAMER IF HER MOTHER IS TAKEN
AWAY, IF HER FATHER IS TAKEN
AWAY, IF AN OLDER SIBLING IS
TAKEN AWAY, IF A YOUNGER SIBLING
HAS MISSED THE TIME CUTOFF.
THAT'S NOT WHO WE ARE.
>> WE DON'T NEED TO DEPORT
PEOPLE OR ROUND THEM UP.
IN FACT, WHEN IMMIGRANT
COMMUNITIES FEAR LOCAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT, FEAR FEDERAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT, THEY'RE LESS LIKELY
TO REPORT CRIMES, TO TESTIFY IN
TRIALS, TO SERVE AS WITNESSES.
THEY'RE NO LONGER PARTICIPATING
IN THE CIVIC LIVES OF OUR
COMMUNITIES AND WE ARE LESS
SAFE.
>> DEMOCRATS RUNNING IN THE
PRIMARY APPEARED AT A TOWN HALL
FORUM LAST NIGHT SPONSORED BY
INI VISION AND LEAGUE OF UNITED
LATIN AMERICAN CITIZENS, THE
OLDEST CIVIL RIGHTS ORGANIZATION
IN THE COUNTRY.
SO WHAT DO MEMBERS OF THE LEAGUE
THINK OF THE CANDIDATES AND THE
RACE FOR PRESIDENT MORE
GENERALLY?
WE ASKED IT'S FORMER PRESIDENT,
HECTOR FLORES, WHO JOINS US NOW
FROM MILWAUKEE AND THANKS VERY
MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
>> IT'S AN HONOR AND A PLEASURE
TO BE WITH YOU TODAY.
>> WHAT DO YOUR MEMBERS WANT TO
HEAR FROM ANY CANDIDATE WHO WILL
RECEIVE AN ENDORSEMENT FROM YOUR
ORGANIZATION?
>> WELL, BECAUSE WE'RE A
NONPROFIT, NORMALLY WE DON'T
ENDORSE CANDIDATES, BUT MOST
CERTAINLY ANY OF OUR MEMBERSHIP
CAN ENDORSE CANDIDATES AND
ABSOLUTELY THE KIND OF WORK THAT
WE DO IN ORDER NOT TO I GUESS
JEOPARDIZE OUR NONPROFIT STATUS
IS WE DO VOTER EDUCATION DRIVES,
REGISTRATION AND GET OUT THE
VOTE.
WE DO LISTEN TO CANDIDATES.
LAST NIGHT WE HAD FOUR OF THE
VIABLE CANDIDATES BEFORE I GUESS
A CAPACITY CROWD AT THE
CONVENTION CENTER.
AND LET ME TELL YOU, IT WAS
REALLY INTERESTING AND VERY
INTENSE LAST NIGHT TO LISTEN TO
FOUR GREAT CANDIDATES, BEGINNING
WITH CASTRO FROM SAN SAN ANTONIO AND
SECRETARY OF HUD.
WE ALSO HAD BERNIE SANDERS AND A
LOT OF YOUNG PEOPLE WHOOPING AND
HOLLERING.
THEN WHEN ELIZABETH WARREN CAME
ONBOARD, THEY KEPT ON.
THE EXCITEMENT, YOU KNOW, THE
POLITICAL EXCITEMENT AND
ATMOSPHERE.
AND THE CLEAN-UP HITTER WAS FROM
TEXAS.
IT WAS DYNAMITE TO LISTEN TO ALL
THESE CANDIDATES EXPOUND ON WHAT
THEY WOULD DO AS SOON AS THEY
GOT INTO OFFICE.
OUR MEMBERSHIP WERE EXCITED THEY
TOOK THE TIME TO SPEAK TO US.
>> WHY DID YOU BRING YOUR
NATIONAL CONVENTION TO
MILWAUKEE?
>> NORMALLY IT TAKES ABOUT FOUR
YEARS TO BID FOR THE CONVENTION.
AND WHEN I WAS THE NATIONAL
PRESIDENT IN 2006, I ACTUALLY
WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN BRINGING IT
TO MILWAUKEE BECAUSE I WANTED
OUR BASE TO EXPAND IN THE
MIDWEST.
BUT ALSO NOT ONLY HERE IN
WISCONSIN, BUT ALSO IN ILLINOIS
AND CHICAGO IN PARTICULAR,
BECAUSE THERE'S TWO MILLION
LATINOS OF MEXICAN ORIGIN IN THE
CHICAGO AREA.
SO I THOUGHT THAT WE SHOULD
BRING IT TO WHERE OUR POTENTIAL
MEMBERSHIP IS, BUT ALSO TO
PREPARE THEM TO GET INTO
ELECTIVE OFFICE AT ALL LEVELS,
FROM THE SCHOOL BOARDS TO THE
CITY COUNCILS TO STATE
REPRESENTATION TO CONGRESS AND
ON AND ON AND SO.
AND IN THE TIME THAT I'VE LIVED,
I'VE SEEN THOSE CHANGES OCCUR
BECAUSE OF THE GREAT WORK THAT
NOT ONLY LULAC HAS DONE, BUT A
LOT OF OUR SISTER CIVIL RIGHTS
ORGANIZATIONS.
>> DID YOU INVITE ALL THE
CANDIDATES, INCLUDING PRESIDENT
TRUMP?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
PRESIDENT TRUMP WAS INVITED BUT
HE CHOSE TO COME AND ONLY SPEAK
TO THE WELL-HEELED WEALTHY OF
THIS COMMUNITY TONIGHT.
BUT EVERYBODY GOT AN INVITE.
IN FACT, WE JUST GOT A CALL
TODAY FROM SITTING MAYOR DID HE
BLASIO FROM NEW YORK.
WE SAID COME ON DOWN HERE.
WE WANT TO LISTEN TO YOU TOO.
WE HAVE QUITE A FEW OF THE OTHER
CANDIDATES.
THERE ARE 22 OR 23 RIGHT NOW.
THEY'RE WELCOME TO COME AND
SPEAK.
AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, AS A
NONPROFIT WE CANNOT ENDORSE BUT
WE CAN HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THESE
PEOPLE.
>> HOW DOES WHAT MANY DESCRIBE
AS A CRISIS AT THE U.S. BORDER
WITH MEXICO SHAPE HOW YOUR
MEMBERS FEEL GOING INTO THE 2020
ELECTION?
>> MOST LATINOS ARE AGHAST AT
WHAT OUR COUNTRY HAS BECOME
BECAUSE OF THE PUBLIC POLICIES
OF DONALD TRUMP.
I COULDN'T IMAGINE GROWING UP IN
A BORDER TOWN THAT WE WOULD PUT
IN JAIL, CONCENTRATION CAMPS, I
KNOW WE CALL THEM SOMETHING
ELSE.
WHEN YOU TAKE KIDS FROM THEIR
PARENTS, EVEN BABIES, AND PUT
THEM IN THESE DETENTION CENTERS,
IS THIS WHAT AMERICA HAS BECOME?
YOU KNOW, WE ARE THE VANGUARDS
OF LIBERTIES AND FREEDOMS AND
CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS.
TO DO THAT BY THE POLICY OF THIS
ADMINISTRATION IS TOTALLY
UNACCEPTABLE.
WE'RE THE EPICENTER OF WRONG
HERE.
WE DON'T KNOW WHAT HAS HAPPENED
TO OUR SHIP.
WE GOT TO BRING IT BACK TO THOSE
VALUES, THOSE AMERICAN VALUES.
WE'RE VERY UPSET, TO SAY THE
HEEFT.
>> AND THERE ARE CERTAINLY
HISPANICS WHO VOTED FOR DONALD
TRUMP.
HOW DOES HIS RHETORIC GO OVER
WITH PEOPLE WHO MIGHT HAVE VOTED
FOR DONALD TRUMP?
>> THEY'RE NOT LISTENING TO HIS
-- THEY'RE ONLY LISTENING TO HIS
RHETORIC AND NOT SEEING WHAT HIS
PRESIDENCY HAS DONE TO PEOPLE IN
NEED, THOSE REFUGEES THAT ARE
COMING HERE, FLEEING VIOLENCE
AND ECONOMIC HARDSHIPS IN THEIR
HOME COUNTRIES, IN MEXICO AND
OTHERS IN CENTRAL AMERICA.
EVEN FROM AFRICA NOW THEY'RE
COMING INTO MEXICO AND OTHER
COUNTRIES AND GOING THROUGH
THOSE BORDERS.
IT'S NOT JUST MEXICANS AND
CENTRAL AMERICANS THAT ARE
COMING TO OUR BORDERS SEEKING
ASYLUM.
WHERE HAVE YOU HEARD OF PEOPLE
NOT BEING GIVEN THE RIGHT TO
ASYLUM?
WE HAVE THAT AS PART OF OUR
CONTRACT WITH OTHER NATIONS,
THAT WE WILL OPEN.
AND SO THEY'VE SLOWED THE
PROCESS OF THOSE SEEKING ASYLUM
BY SOME OF THE PROBLEMS I JUST
MENTIONED.
>> VERY QUICKLY, HOW ON
IMPORTANT ARE HISPANICS TO THE
VOTE IN 2020 NATIONALLY AND HERE
IN WISCONSIN?
>> WELL, LET ME JUST SAY THAT
THE ROAD TO THE PRESIDENCY OF
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
GOES THROUGH OUR CITIES, OUR
COUNTIES AND OUR STATES WHERE WE
PREDOMINATE, IN ABOUT SIX MAJOR
CITIES.
MANY OF THOSE ARE GOING TO BE
SOME CITIES THAT IF PEOPLE GO
OUT AND VOTE, I UNDERSTAND AND
I'VE SEEN SOME OF THE RESEARCH,
THAT THE ONLY REASON THAT DONALD
TRUMP WON WAS BECAUSE PEOPLE DID
NOT VOTE.
IF PEOPLE HAD GOTTEN OFF THEIR
DUFF AND GONE AND VOTED, HE
WOULDN'T HAVE WON.
WE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE
ELECTORAL COLLEGE, WINNER TAKE
ALL.
PROBABLY HILLARY HAD THREE
MILLION MORE POP HAR VOTES.
WE HAVE ENGAGED IN THE LAWSUIT
TRYING TO CHANGE THAT SYSTEM.
WE'RE SUING FOUR MAJOR SYSTEMS
ON HOW THEY DETERMINE HOW THE
VOTING IS SPLIT ONCE THE
ELECTION IS TAKEN.
>> I WANT TO GET YOU ON THIS,
LASTLY.
WHAT IS YOUR COMMENT ON
NATIONWIDE ICE RAISED SCHEDULED
BY THE TRUMP TRAITION ADMINISTRATION FOR
THIS WEEKEND?
>> I DON'T THINK TERRORIZING
PEOPLE IS THE WAY TO DO IT.
WE DON'T ACCEPT CRIMINALS OR
PEOPLE COMMITTING CRIMES IN OUR
COUNTRY.
WE THINK LAW ENFORCEMENT SHOULD
COME IN AND ROOT THOSE THAT COME
HERE AND DO HARM TO ANYBODY OR
VIOLATE OUR LAWS.
BUT WE DON'T THINK CROSSING THAT
BORDER SHOULD BE A CRIMINAL ACT.
THAT'S A CIVIL ACT, YOU RECEIVE
FINES AND WHAT HAVE YOU.
WE HOPE WE WILL SPONSOR THROUGH
OUR FRIENDS LEGISLATION TO MAKE
IT STRICTLY A CIVIL OFFENSE,
LIKE GETTING A TICKET AND GOING
AND PAYING YOUR FINE AND THEN
WORKING WITH THOSE.
WE THINK THAT IMMIGRANTS COMING
TO OUR COUNTRY, LIKE IN THE
PAST, SHOULD HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO
CITIZENSHIP, A WAY TO
CITIZENSHIP, BUT THEY MUST
COMPLY.
WE BELIEVE IN EARNED
CITIZENSHIP.
>> HECTOR FLORES, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH.
>> IT'S MY PLEASURE TO BE WITH
YOU.
>> PRESIDENT TRUMP ALSO VISITED
MILWAUKEE FRIDAY.
HE CAME TO WISCONSIN TO DISCUSS
THE UNITED STATES-MEXICO-CANADA
AGREEMENT AND HOLD A
FUND-RAISER.
IT'S THE PRESIDENT'S SIXTH VISIT
TO WISCONSIN SINCE TAKING
OFFICE.
>> WE STAY IN MILWAUKEE AND TURN
TO A NEW COUNTY EFFORT TO
RETHINK JUVENILE JUSTICE.
THIS MONTH, THE MILWAUKEE COUNTY
EXECUTIVE PROPOSED A NEARLY $42
MILLION MAKEOVER OF HIS COUNTY'S
JUVENILE DETENTION CENTER TO
HOUSE YOUTH OFFENDERS WHO ARE
CRUNTLYCURRENTLY HOUSED AT PRISONS.
IT INCLUDES CARE AND PROGRAMMING
AIMED AT REDUCING RECIDIVISM AND
RETURNING YOUTH TO THEIR
COMMUNITIES WITH SKILLS THEY
NEED TO SUCCEED.
THE PROPOSAL IS DESIGNED TO
BUILD ON WHAT THE COUNTY SAYS IS
ITS APPROACH TO THE YOUTH
JUSTICE SYSTEM THAT PROMOTES
RACIAL AND ECONOMIC EQUITY.
MILWAUKEE COUNTY SUPERVISOR
NICHOLSON SIGNED A RESOLUTION
DECLARING RACISM A PUBLIC HEALTH
CRISIS.
SHE WEIGHS IN WITH US TONIGHT.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> SO WHAT DO YOU THINK OF
MILWAUKEE COUNTY EXECUTIVE'S
SUBMISSION FOR THIS CARE CENTER
FOR YOUTH OFFENDERS?
>> WELL, FREDERICA, I
WHOLEHEARTEDLY SUPPORT THIS
MEASURE.
A SINGLE INSTITUTION IS A ONE
SIZE FITS ALL MODEL THAT DOESN'T
WORK FOR THE CHILDREN OF
MILWAUKEE COUNTY.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE
PARTNER WITH THE STATE AND AGREE
TO OPERATE LOCAL FACILITIES
WHILE THEY GIVE US THE FREEDOM
TO IMPLEMENT LOCAL SOLUTIONS.
WE HAVE ALREADY BEAT THE STATE
AT REFORMING CRIMINAL JUSTICE
PRACTICES FOR YOUTH.
AND SINCE 2011 WE'VE LOOKED
BEYOND DETENTION AND INSTEAD
LOOKED TO DEVELOP A CONTINUUM OF
SERVICES FOR YOUTH AND FAMILY SO
THEY NO LONGER NEED THE SYSTEM,
THEY CAN LEAVE THE SYSTEM AND
REENGAGE WITH THEIR PEERS.
>> SO THAT SAID, JUVENILE
INMATES WOULD BE TRANSFERRED
FROM LINCOLN HILLS AND COPPER
LAKE DETENTION CENTERS AND THE
TREATMENT WOULD FOCUS ON
TREATMENT.
HOW WOULD THIS BE DIFFERENT FROM
CURRENT PRACTICE THE A THE YOUTH
PRISONS?
>> WE NO LONGER WANT TO HANDCUFF
OUR CHILDREN TO A SYSTEM THAT
DOESN'T WORK FOR THEM.
INSTEAD, WE WANT TO USE
EVIDENCE-BASED SOLUTIONS TO HELP
OUR YOUTH.
THAT MEANS PROVIDING GREENSPACES
SO THAT THEY CAN RECONNECT WITH
NATURE.
IT MEANS PROVIDING A LARGER
STAFF TO CHILD RATIO SO NONE
FALL THROUGH THE CRACKS.
IT MEANS IMPLEMENTING EDUCATION,
TREATMENT AND PROGRAMMING TO GET
AT THE ROOT OF WHY OUR CHILDREN
FIRST MET THE SYSTEM AND WHAT
THEY NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY
DON'T REOWE FUND.
>> WHAT HAS BEEN THE REACTION IN
MILWAUKEE TO THIS PROPOSAL ON
THE PART OF THE COUNTY?
>> WELL, TO OUR PROPOSAL AROUND
YOUTH JUSTICE FACILITIES, THIS
IS BEEN A LOT OF SUPPORT.
WE ARE ALREADY OPERATING MANY
YOUTH JUSTICE FACILITIES AND
WE'RE UTILIZING THIS MODERN
APPROACH.
SO RATHER THAN BUILD A NEW
FACILITY, WE ARE RENOVATING,
UPGRADING WHAT WE'RE ALREADY
DOING AND BUILDING UPON THE
SUCCESSES THAT WE ALREADY HAVE.
>> HOW DOES THIS PROPOSAL
DOVETAIL WITH DECLARING RACISM A
PUBLIC CRISIS?
>> I NEED TO FIRST EXPLAIN WHAT
INSTITUTIONAL RACISM SEE.
MANY PEOPLE SEE IT AS A FEW BAD
APPLES.
WE NEED TO LOOK AT AN APPLE TREE
WHOSE ROOTS ARE PERMANENT
NATURING THE SYSTEM, OUR COURTS,
OUR SCHOOLS, THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT.
A BLACK PERSON AND A WHITE
PERSON CAN COMMIT THE SAME
CRIME.
LET'S USE DRUG ABUSE AS AN
EXAMPLE.
THE BLACK PERSON IS HR MORE
LIKELY TO BE ARRESTED BECAUSE
THE POLICE ARE ALREADY IN THEIR
COMMUNITIES AT A
DISPROPORTIONATE RATE.
IF THEY ARE BOTH ARRESTED, THE
BLACK INDIVIDUAL MAY BE MORE
LIKELY TO SIT IN JAIL BECAUSE HE
CAN'T MEET CASH BAIL.
OR THE WHITE INDIVIDUAL MAY BE
DIRECTED TO DRUG COURT, WHERE
HE'LL RECEIVE TREATMENT INSTEAD
OF INCARCERATION.
AND IF THEY'RE BOTH SENTENCED TO
JAIL, DATA SHOWS THAT THAT BLACK
INDIVIDUAL WILL RECEIVE A 20%
HARSHER SENTENCE, ALREADY
CREATING BIASES AT EVERY CORNER.
SO IF THE MOMENT OF ARREST TO
THE TIME SPENT IN JAIL AND THE
ABILITY TO GET OUT AND REENTER
SOCIETY, PEOPLE OF COLOR ARE
ALREADY AT A DISADVANTAGE.
AND THAT'S INSTITUTIONAL RACISM.
THAT'S THE SYSTEM WE'RE TRYING
TO REFORM AND PROVIDE FOR OUR
CHILDREN SO THAT THEY CAN DO
BETTER.
>> NOW, THE NEW APPROACH IN
MILWAUKEE WOULD EXPAND
PROGRAMMING THAT ACCORDING TO
COUNTY EXECUTIVE CHRIS ABELE
VALIDATES AND VALUES EACH
YOUTH'S CULTURE, RACE AND
ETHNICITY.
HOW IMPORTANT IS THAT IN YOUR
MIND?
>> MILWAUKEE COUNTY DOESN'T AIM
TO PROVIDE BASIC SERVICES.
WE AIM TO PROVIDE EXTRAORDINARY
SERVICES THAT MEET THE PEOPLE
WHERE THEY ARE.
SERVICES THAT CREATE AN
ENVIRONMENT FOR ON EVERYONE TO
THRIVE AND TO BE SUCCESSFUL AT
LIFE, REGARDLESS OF RACE,
REGARDLESS OF THEIR COLOR.
AND BY AFFIRMING OUR VALUES TO
ADDRESS RACISM, AFFIRMING OUR
VALUES TO SAY WE CARE ABOUT OUR
CHILDREN, THAT ALONE IS THE
FIRST STEP INIC IN MAKING SURE THAT
THEY WILL HAVE THE TOOLS THEY
NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL ADULTS.
>> GREAT.
SUPERVISOR NICHOLSON, THANK YOU
VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US.
>> THANK YOU.
>> NOW FOR SOME ENVIRONMENTAL
NEWS.
AN ADVISORY GROUP OF HUNTERS IS
PUSHING FOR A MANDATORY CWD TEST
FOR PARTS OF WESTERN WISCONSIN.
THE GROUP WAS FORMED AFTER A CWD
POSITIVE DEER WAS FOUND LAST
YEAR IN EAU CLAIRE COUNTY.
THEY ADVISED THE DRR DNR FOR
OPTIONS.
THE RECOMMENDATION INCLUDES SIX
TOWNSHIPS IN EAU CLAIRE, DUNN
AND PEPIN COUNTIES.
AND 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 OF