>> A PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION.
THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS PART OF
OUR "HERE AND NOW" 2020 ELECTION
COVERAGE.
>> I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW," WE'LL
INTERVIEW A FORMER WISCONSIN
U.S. ATTORNEY WHO SIGNED A
LETTER TOGETHER WITH MORE THAN
2,000 OTHER DEPARTMENT OF
JUSTICE OFFICIALS ASKING U.S.
ATTORNEY GENERAL BILL BARR TO
RESIGN.
AFTER THAT WE LEARN ABOUT PLANS
FOR A TRIBAL YOUTH TREATMENT
CENTER TO HELP CHILDREN IN
RECOVERY FOR ADDICTION.
WISCONSIN PUBLIC RADIO'S LAUREL
WHITE JOINS US FOR INSIGHT ON
ASSEMBLY ACTION THIS WEEK AT THE
STATE CAPITOL.
MADISON MAYOR SATYA
RHODES-CONWAY IS HERE TO SHARE
HER PRIORITIES FOR A COMPLETE
CENSUS COUNT.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR
FEBRUARY 21.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF OF PBS
WISCONSIN.
>> FIRST UP TONIGHT, A QUICK
RECAP OF WISCONSIN PRIMARY
ELECTION RESULTS.
ON TUESDAY, STATE VOTERS
NARROWED THE THREE-PERSON FIELD
RUNNING FOR THE STATE SUPREME
COURT DOWN TO TWO.
INCUMBENT JUSTICE DANIEL KELLY
AND DANE COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT
JUDGE JILL KAROFSKY WILL FACE
OFF IN THE GENERAL ELECTION FOR
THAT RACE ON APRIL 7.
AND IN WISCONSIN'S 7TH
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT,
REPUBLICAN TOM TIFFANY WILL FACE
DEMOCRAT TRICIA ZUNKER ON
MAY 12.
NOW TO NATIONAL POLITICAL NEWS
WITH A WISCONSIN CONNECTION.
A FEDERAL JUDGE LATE THIS WEEK
SENTENCED AN ASSOCIATE OF
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP ON
OBSTRUCTION AND PERJURY CHARGES
RELATED TO THE RUSSIAN ELECTION
INTERFERENCE INVESTIGATION.
THE JUDGE SEVENTEEN TENNED SENTENCED ROGER STONE
TO THREE YEARS, FOUR MONTHS IN A
CASE THAT SAW PRESIDENT TRUMP
INTERFERE.
AFTER THE PRESIDENT'S TWEETS AND
COMMENTS, ATTORNEY GENERAL WILL
BUM
WILLIAM BARR OVERRULED HIS OWN
PROSECUTORS WHO THEN QUIT THE
CASE.
MORE THAN 2,000 FORMER FEDERAL
PROSECUTORS AND U.S. ATTORNEYS
HAVE SIGNED ON TO A LETTER
DEMANDING THAT WILLIAM BARR
RESIGN SAYING THEY STRONGLY
CONDEMN HIS INTERFERENCE IN THE
FAIR ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE.
AMONG THOSE SIGNING ON TO THE
CALL, FORMER U.S. ATTORNEY FOR
THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF
WISCONSIN JOHN VAUDREUIL.
HE JOINS US NOW.
SO I KNOW THAT PRESIDENT BARACK
OBAMA PLACED YOU AS U.S.
ATTORNEY.
IS THIS A SITUATION WHERE YOUR
CALLS AND THE CALLS OF THE
OTHERS FOR WILLIAM BARR TO
RESIGN, IS THIS POLITICAL?
>> SPEAKING FOR ME, ABSOLUTELY
NOT.
I SIGNED BECAUSE I BELIEVE WE'RE
A NATION OF LAWS, RULE OF LAW.
AND THE WAY PROSECUTORS DO THAT
IS BY MAKING DECISIONS BASED ON
THE FACTS, NOT BASED ON FAVOR,
NOT BASED ON FEAR, NOT BASED ON
WHO SOMEBODY IS OR WHO SOMEBODY
KNOWS.
AND I THINK THE DECISIONS IN
THIS CASE AND THE PUBLIC
STATEMENTS HAVE DAMAGED THAT
TRUST WITH THE PUBLIC.
>> NOW, YOU KNOW WILLIAM BARR.
DID THIS SURPRISE YOU?
>> I MET HIM ONCE AND I KNEW
HIM, I WORKED UNDER HIM WHEN HE
WAS THE ATTORNEY GENERAL UNDER
PRESIDENT BUSH.
I THOUGHT GOOD.
HE'S A GOOD LAWYER.
AND I MUST ADMIT HIS BEHAVIOR
SINCE HE'S BECOME ATTORNEY
GENERAL HAS SURPRISED ME
CONTINUOUSLY.
>> WHY DOESN'T, THOUGH, AN U.S.
ATTORNEY GENERAL HAVE THE
AUTHORITY TO TELL HIS ATTORNEYS
WHAT TO DO IN A CASE?
>> EXCELLENT QUESTION.
AND IT'S A DIFFERENT SITUATION.
HE IS THE BOSS OF THE U.S.
ATTORNEYS.
THERE ARE CASES THAT YOU ARE
CONSULTING WITH THE ATTORNEY
GENERAL, YOU SEEK APPROVAL,
TERRORISM CASES, HIGH-LEVEL
CORRUPTION CASES LIKE THE STONE
CASE.
IT'S DIFFERENT.
AND THAT'S POLICY.
AND THE PRESIDENT HAS SET
POLICY, WHETHER IT'S PRESIDENT
OBAMA, PRESIDENT REAGAN,
PRESIDENT TRUMP.
BUT THEY DON'T WEIGH IN ON
INDIVIDUAL CASES AND PUT THEIR
THUMB ON THE SCALE OF JUSTICE.
FOR THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO
WEIGH IN IN A CASE AND DISCUSS
IT WITH PROSECUTORS IS NORMAL.
BUT TO DO IT, IF HE DID, AT THE
DIRECTION OF THE PRESIDENT IS
EXTRAORDINARY.
>> DO YOU THINK HE DID DO IT AT
THE DIRECTION OF THE PRESIDENT?
>> HE SAYS HE DIDN'T.
I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE PEOPLE --
I'M THAT KIND OF PERSON FROM
WISCONSIN.
I TAKE PEOPLE AT THEIR WORD.
THE TIMING OF IT IS SUCH THAT I
THINK PEOPLE COULD PRESUME THAT
HE DID DO IT WITH THE
PRESIDENT'S DIRECTION.
>> WHAT IS YOUR EXPECTATION THAT
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL WILL HEED
YOUR CALL AND RESIGN?
>> I THINK VERY, VERY SLIM TO
NONE.
I THINK HE IS VERY COMFORTABLE.
HE'S MADE HIS PUBLIC STATEMENTS
TO THE PRESIDENT.
AND PERHAPS THAT'S ENOUGH.
PERHAPS THAT PUTS THE JUSTICE
DEPARTMENT BACK ON TRACK.
I THINK THEY HAVE DAMAGED THAT
TRUST WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BUILD
WITH THE PUBLIC AND IT WILL TAKE
A LONG TIME TO REBUILD THAT
TRUST.
>> WHAT DO YOU THINK SHOULD HE
NOT STEP DOWN, WHICH YOU SAY IS
UNLIKELY, WILL BE THE RESPONSE
OF DOJ EMPLOYEES AND U.S.
ATTORNEYS LIKE YOURSELF?
>> I THINK AND I HOPE -- AND I
KNOW A LOT OF THEM.
THESE ARE GOOD PEOPLE.
AND I THINK IF THEY ARE CALLED
TO DO SOMETHING THEY BELIEVE IS
POLITICAL, THEY WILL OBJECT,
THEY WILL RESIGN IF NEED BE,
THEY WILL REPORT ANY SUCH
CONDUCT TO THE OFFICE OF
PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY AND
THEY WILL KEEP THE DEPARTMENT
THAT THEY LOVE WORKING FOR
JUSTICE.
>> HOW UNPRECEDENT IS THIS WHOLE
SITUATION?
>> IT IS -- I CAN SPEAK FOR THE
40 YEARS WHEN I WAS IN THE
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.
REPUBLICAN, DEMOCRAT PRESIDENTS.
IT IS TOTALLY UNPRECEDENTED.
CERTAINLY PUBLICLY.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GONE ON
BEHIND-THE-SCENES NOW AND THEN.
BUT NOTHING HAS EVER LED ME TO
BELIEVE THAT WE WERE MAKING
POLITICAL DECISIONS AND TELLING
THE PEOPLE WHO YOU ARE AS A
DEFENDANT MATTERS.
BECAUSE IT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO BE
WHO YOU ARE THAT MATTERS.
WHO YOU KNOW ISN'T SUPPOSED TO
MATTER.
AND EVERYTHING THE PRESIDENT
SAID IN THIS CASE SAYS WHO YOU
ARE AND WHO YOU KNOW MATTERS.
>> WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE DONE IF
THIS HAPPENED WHILE YOU WERE
U.S. ATTORNEY HERE IN WISCONSIN?
>> I THINK HAD I -- HAD WE
WORKED IT THROUGH THE
RECOMMENDATION JUST THE WAY IT
DOES, LINE ATTORNEYS WORK ON THE
CASE, DISCUSS IT WITH THE BOSS,
THE U.S. ATTORNEY, DISCUSS IT
WITH DOJ AND THEN MAKE THEIR
RECOMMENDATION.
AND HAD I BEEN TOLD TO CHANGE IT
AND HAD I BELIEVED IT WAS AT THE
DIRECTION OF THE PRESIDENT, I
WOULD HAVE RESIGNED.
>> WHAT WOULD BE THE REACTION,
DO YOU SUPPOSE, IF THE PRESIDENT
PARDONS ROGER STONE?
>> I THINK CERTAINLY IT'S HIS
RIGHT AND WE CAN -- WE CAN'T
QUIBBLE OVER THINGS THAT THE
PRESIDENT HAS THE RIGHT TO DO.
IT'S NOT AGAINST THE LAW.
AS A DECISION THAT SMACKS AT
JUSTICE, I THINK THERE WILL BE A
LARGE PORTION OF THE PUBLIC THAT
THINK, SURE, THE FIX WAS IN.
AND THE PROCESS PLAYED OUT.
MAN WAS SENTENCED TO PRISON.
BUT HIS FRIEND, THE PRESIDENT,
COMMUTED THAT SENTENCE OR PAR
DONS HIM.
I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THIS
COUNTRY WILL THINK THE FIX IS IN
AND THAT'S WHAT IS VERY
SADDENING.
>> JOHN VAUDREUIL, THANKS VERY
MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THE ANNUAL STATE OF THE
TRIBES ADDRESS AT THE STATE
CAPITOL TOOK PLACE THIS WEEK.
IN TONIGHT'S CLOSER LOOK, WE
HEAR FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF THE
FOREST COUNTY POTAWATOMI
COMMUNITY, NED DANIELS.
>> THE SUCCESS OF NOT ONLY
WISCONSIN'S TRIBAL NATIONS, BUT
FOR ALL RESIDENTS OF THE STATE,
DEPEND ON OUR RESILIENCE TO
CONTINUE TO TACKLE DIFFICULT
ISSUES.
WE MUST MAINTAIN A SHARP FOCUS
ON IMPROVING THE LIVES OF THOSE
WE REPRESENT IN THE NEW DECADE
AS WE GRAPPLE WITH THE
RESPONSIBILITY OF ADDRESSING THE
COMPLEX CHANGES BEFORE US.
>> DANIELS SPOKE NAMELY TO THE
OPIOID EP DECK EPIDEMIC.
HE WAS THANKFUL FOR RECENT
LEGISLATION TO COMBAT ADDICTION.
HE DESCRIBED A WELLNESS CENTER
TO BE LOCATED AMONG NATIVE
NATIONS IN WISCONSIN.
WITH MORE ON THAT, WE TURN TO
SHANNON HOLSEY, PRESIDENT OF THE
STOCKBRIDGE-MUNSEE BAND OF THE
MOHICAN NATION, WHO JOINS US
FROM GREEN BAY.
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANKS VERY MUCH FOR HAVING
ME.
>> DESCRIBE WHY THIS YOUTH
TREATMENT CENTER IS SO NEEDED?
>> WELL, IT'S IMPERATIVE BECAUSE
WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THAT, THERE
IS NOTHING UNIQUE THAT OR
CULTURALLY CENTRIC TO THE NEED
OF YOUR PEOPLE AS RELATES TO
ADDICTION.
THIS IDEA WAS INSTILLED 20 YEARS
AGO.
AS TRIBAL NATIONS WE BELONG TO
THE GREAT LAKES INTERTRIBAL
COUNCIL.
20 YEARS AGO THEY HAD THE IDEA
THAT THEY NEEDED TO BRING
WELLNESS AND HEALING TO OUR
COMMUNITIES AND ESPECIALLY THE
MOST VULNERABLE, OUR YOUTH.
WE HAVE DECIDED THAT THE
DESIGNATION WILL BE IN CENTRAL
WISCONSIN PRIMARILY MOST LIKELY
MARATHON COUNTY AND PROBABLY IN
THE WAUSAU AREA DUE TO THE FACT
THAT IT HAS ACCESSIBILITY TO
HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS, WHICH IS
SOMETIMES ON TRIBAL RESERVATIONS
THE MOST CHALLENGING THING, IS
TO PROVIDE THOSE NECESSARY
RESOURCES AND FIND THE NECESSARY
PROFESSIONALS TO BRING THAT
HEALING TO OUR NATION.
>> I UNDERSTAND GAMING COMPACT
MONEY BACK IN '17 HELPED PALE
FOR THE PLANNING CENTER AND YOU
JUST MET WITH GOVERNOR EVERS AND
ATTORNEY GENERAL KAUL.
WHAT ARE THEY SAYING ABOUT THIS
EFFORT?
>> IT WAS UNDER GOVERNOR
WALKER'S ADMINISTRATION THAT WE
RECEIVED MONEY TO DO A
FEASIBILITY STUDY AND BUSINESS
PLAN.
THEN THERE WAS A CONTINUATION OF
THOSE PRIORITIES IN GOVERNOR
EVERS' AND ATTORNEY GENERAL
KAUL'S INITIATIVES.
BECAUSE THAT ISSUE DOESN'T GO
AWAY BECAUSE YOU ELECT A NEW
GOVERNOR.
AND THEY'RE BOTH PASSIONATE.
GOVERNOR WALKER SERVED UNDER THE
-- EXCUSE ME, GOVERNOR EVERS
SERVED UNDER GOVERNOR WALKER'S
ADMINISTRATION, SO HE WAS WELL
AWARE OF THIS INITIATIVE.
HIM BEING IN THE REALM OF
EDUCATION, HE UNDERSTOOD THE
PERILS OF WHAT THAT COULD BE AND
THE DEVASTATION IT BRINGS TO THE
YOUTH IN CRISIS AND FAMILIES AND
COMMUNITIES.
HE VERY MUCH HAS THE PULSE ON
WHAT IS HAPPENING, AS DOES
ATTORNEY GENERAL KAUL.
WE'VE MET WITH HIM SEVERAL DAYS
AGO WITH REGARDS TO THIS AND HE
SPOKE OF IT.
AND IT'S JUST NOT A NATIVE
AMERICAN ISSUE, CLEARLY.
IT'S AN ISSUE IN THE STATE OF
WISCONSIN.
WE ALL RECOGNIZE THAT IF WE
DON'T BRING HEALING TO THIS
GENERATION, WE'RE GOING TO LOSE
AN ENTIRE GENERATION OF YOUNG
PEOPLE TO THIS ADDICTION AND
IT'S GOING TO CAUSE MUCH LARGER
ISSUE.
>> AS TO THE TREATMENT CENTER
ITSELF, HOW WILL IT BE DIFFERENT
FROM OTHER YOUTH TREATMENT
CENTERS?
YOU KNOW, HOW WILL NATIVE
NATIONS' CULTURES BE
INCORPORATED?
>> WELL, IT'S DEEMED TO BE
CULTURALLY CENTRIC.
CENTRAL TO WHAT THAT IS IS I
UNDERSTAND THAT TREATMENT
CENTERS CAN SOMETIMES BE A VERY
CHALLENGING THING FOR ESPECIALLY
A YOUNG PERSON.
I CAN IMAGINE.
BUT THE FACT IS IS THAT WHAT WE
ARE TRYING TO DO IS EMULATE
SOMETHING THAT IS FAMILIAR TO
THEM TO HELP IN THE CARE AND
SOMETHING THAT'S FAMILIAR AS
THEY RETURN FROM CARE INTO THEIR
OWN COMMUNITIES.
WE THOUGHT WHAT WOULD BE BEST
AND WHAT WE KNOW BEST OUR
CULTURE AND TRADITIONS.
THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT ARE
IMPERATIVE TO THE FOUNDATION OF
THE HEALING OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE.
OF COURSE, IT WILL BE COMBINED
WITH WESTERN MEDICINE AND
NECESSARY WRAP-AROUND SERVICES
THAT WE'LL NEED FOR THE
CONTINUATION NOT ONLY FOR THE
YOUTH IN TREATMENT, BUT ALSO FOR
THE FAMILY.
SO THERE IS GOING TO BE AN
OPPORTUNITY, MY IDEA OR OUR
VISION COLLECTIVELYING COLLECTIVELY AS TRIBAL
LEADERS, BUILT AROUND AN IDEA OF
11 NATIONS KNOWING THIS IS
SOMETHING WE NEED TO DO FOR OUR
COMMUNITIES.
WE HAVE TO PROVIDE HEALTH AND
WELLNESS TO OUR COMMUNITIES.
BUT IF WE CAN'T AT THE MOST
GENERAL SENSE PROVIDE THE MOST
VULNERABLE PEOPLE, THEN WHAT
GOOD IS IT THAT WE DO AND WORK
FOR IF WE CAN'T BRING HEALING TO
THEM?
SO THE IDEA WAS IS THAT WE
ENJOIN OUR CULTURE AND OUR
TRADITIONS AND SOMETHING THAT
THEY'RE VERY FAMILIAR WITH, IT
WILL PROVIDE THEM THE NECESSARY
TOOLS AS THEY GO ON THEIR
HEALING JOURNEY TO UTILIZE AND
GO BACK AND REVERT TO THOSE
TOOLS AS THEY RETURN TO THEIR
TRIBAL NATIONS AND PROVIDE THAT
LONG-TERM HEALING AND
SUSTAINABILITY TO THEIR HEALING.
>> YOU SPOKE BRIEFLY ABOUT HOW
THERE WILL BE WRAP-AROUND
SERVICES.
IS THAT SOMETHING CENTRAL TO THE
KIND OF TREATMENT APPROACH
THERE?
>> YES.
WE HAD LOOKED AT VARIOUS OPTIONS
OF HOW WE WERE GOING TO APPROACH
THIS.
SO WHEN YOU ASKED EARLIER WHAT
UNIQUENESS FROM A CULTURAL
PERSPECTIVE THAT WAS GOING TO
BE, WE BELIEVE THAT BEHAVIORAL
HEALTH PLAYS A LARGE PART IN
THAT AND THAT'S NOT SOMETHING
THAT YOU CAN GET IN 90 OR 120
DAYS.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT HAS TO BE
ADDRESSED AT ITS CORE AND WILL
MOST LIKELY REQUIRE LONG-TERM
TREATMENT -- NOT TREATMENT, BUT
EXTERIOR TREATMENT FOR THAT
YOUNG PERSON.
BUT ALSO THE FAMILY OR THE
GUARDIAN THAT'S TASKED WITH THE
CARE OF THAT CHILD.
IT'S ABOUT DIET.
IT'S ABOUT DIFFERENT THINGS.
IT'S SORT OF A
MIND/BODY/SPIRITUAL APPROACH
MORE HOLISTIC IN NATURE.
>> WHEN DO YOU EXPECT TO OPEN
THE DOORS?
>> WELL, WE ARE AT THE NEXT
PHASE.
UNDER THE NEW ADMINISTRATION OF
GOVERNOR WALKER AND THE
WISCONSIN LEGISLATION WE WERE
FORTUNATE TO RECEIVE ADDITIONAL
FUNDING TO DO ARCHITECTURAL
RENDING.
WE'RE GETTING CLOSE.
WE'RE PLEASED TO SAY THAT WE'RE
CLOSER TO FINDING ANOTHER
PARTNER TO JOIN US IN
FACILITATING AND EXECUTING THIS
ENDEAVOR.
>> ALL RIGHT.
PRESIDENT SHANNON HOLSEY, THAWR
VERY MUCH AND GOOD LUCK.
>> THANK YOU, FREDERICA.
>> A FLURRY TO THE FINISH FOR
THE LEGISLATURE.
THIS WEEK THE STATE ASSEMBLY
WRAPPED WHAT'S EXPECTED TO BE
ITS FINAL DAY FOR THE YEAR.
THE SENATE COMES IN FOR ONE
FINAL DAY IN MARCH.
BOTH HOUSES PASSED AND SENT TO
THE GOVERNOR'S DESK A $250
MILLION INCOME TAX CUT.
THAT'S THE MAJORITY'S USE OF THE
NEWLY-PROJECTED $620 MILLION
BUDGET SURPLUS.
GOVERNOR EVERSMENTS TOGOVERNOR EVERS WANTS TO LOWER
PROPERTY TAXES AND SPEND MORE ON
SCHOOLS.
>> IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE IN 2020
THERE ARE 20 INDIVIDUALS WHO
MAKE $30 MILLION AND OVER EACH
AND THEY'LL GET $50.4 MILLION IN
TAX BREAKS.
AND YET TODAY YOU ALL, YOU ALL
SAID THAT YOU WEREN'T GOING TO
SEND MORE MONEY TO YOUR PUBLIC
SCHOOLS.
YOU REJECTED OUR GOVERNOR'S
PROPOSAL.
>> MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE,
UNFORTUNATELY, EDUCATION HAS
BECOME 100% POLITICAL.
100% POLITICAL.
NO MATTER WHAT WE DO ON THIS
SIDE OF THE AISLE, IS IT EVER
GOING TO BE ENOUGH?
>> IN TONIGHT'S CAPITOL INSIGHT
WE CHECK IN WITH LAUREL WHITE ON
THIS AND OTHER ACTION.
LAUREL, THANKS A LOT.
>> ABSOLUTELY GLVMENT SO THE
EXPECTATION IS THAT GOVERNOR
EVERS WILL VETO THIS TAX CUT?
>> SO THAT'S KIND OF THE MILLION
DOLLAR QUESTION RIGHT NOW.
WE REALLY DON'T KNOW.
WE KNOW THE GOVERNOR HAS BEEN
CRITICAL OF THE PROPOSAL SINCE
IT WAS FIRST ROLLED OUT.
HE OBVIOUSLY HAD A REALLY
DIFFERENT IDEA FOR HOW HE WANTED
TO SPEND THAT MONEY.
BUT HE HASN'T SAID OUTRIGHT
WHETHER HE'LL VETO IT OR NOT.
>> BUT IT HAS LANDED ON HIS DESK
AT THIS POINT?
>> IT IS ON HIS DESK AND HE
COULD ACT ON IT ANYTIME.
>> WHAT DO REPUBLICAN LEADERS
SAY ABOUT IF OR WHEN THEY WOULD
TAKE UP ADDITIONAL SCHOOL AID AS
THE GOVERNOR HAD CALLED FOR?
>> SO REPUBLICANS ARE SAYING
THAT KIND OF THE APPROPRIATE
TIME TO TAKE OUT MORE SCHOOL AID
WOULD BE DURING THE NEXT STATE
BUDGET PROCESS, WHICH OF COURSE
STARTS NEXT YEAR.
THEY POINT OUT THAT THEY MADE A
BIG INVESTMENT IN EDUCATION IN
THE CURRENT STATE BUDGET, SO
THEY KIND OF POINT TO THAT AS A
WIN AND SAY, HEY, WE CAN TALK
ABOUT EDUCATION MORE IN THE
FUTURE.
>> THAT'S KIND OF A LONG TIME TO
WAIT, I WOULD IMAGINE, FOR
GOVERNOR EVERS.
BUT HOW BIG OF A TAX CUT DID
JUST PASS?
>> SO THE INCOME TAX CUT THAT
PASSED IS ABOUT $247 MILLION.
IT'S GOING TO SAVE, ON AVERAGE,
$106 PER INCOME TAX FILER IN
WISCONSIN.
>> NOW, THRRL THERE ARE OTHER TAX CUTS
THAT CAME BY WAY OF A FARM AID
PACKAGE THAT INCORPORATED SOME
OF WHAT EVERS ASKED FOR; IS THAT
RIGHT?
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
SO THAT WAS PART OF A PACKAGE OF
BILLS AIMED AT SUPPORTING THE
DAIRY INDUSTRY IN WISCONSIN.
THOSE TAX PROPOSALS HAD TO DO
WITH FARMERS DEDUCTING THEIR
HEALTH INSURANCE COSTS FROM
THEIR INCOME TAX BILLS AND A
LITTLE BIT OF A TWEAK TO
PROPERTY TAXES RELATED TO
AGRICULTURAL BUILDINGINGS ON
THEIR PROPERTY, SO A COUPLE
ELEMENTS TO A PACKAGE OF BILLS
ABOUT DAIRY IN WISCONSIN.
>> I UNDERSTAND THAT WON'T GET A
SENATE VOTE UNTIL NEXT MONTH?
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
SO BOTH THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY
WERE IN THIS WEEK, BUT THE
SENATE ISN'T EXPECTED TO COME
BACK AND VOTE ON ANY MORE BILLS
ANY SOMETIME IN MARCH.
>> WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN HEARING
ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THE SENATE
WOULD BE EXPECTED TO ACTUALLY
PASS THAT PARTICULAR BILL?
OR PACKAGE OF BILLS.
>> SO WE DON'T KNOW FOR SURE.
WE KNOW OBVIOUSLY THAT THE
SENATE HAS A HISTORY ON OF
SOMETIMES DEPARTING FROM WHAT
THE ASSEMBLY HAS DONE.
OBVIOUSLY THE ASSEMBLY IS DONE
FOR THE YEAR NOW SO ANY CHANGES
THAT THE SENATE MAKE WOULD
COMPROMISE THE FUTURE OF THOSE
BILLS, NOT GET THEM IN THE
GOVERNOR'S DESK.
SO IT'S A LITTLE BIT UNCERTAIN
RIGHT NOW.
THEY DID PASS, THOUGH, I THINK
IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE, WITH
BROAD BIPARTISAN SUPPORT IN THE
ASSEMBLY.
>> EXACTLY.
NOW, HERE'S AN ITEM I UNDERSTAND
NOT MOVING FORWARD.
THE SEXUAL ASSAULT KIT BACKLOG
BILLS WHICH GOT AMENDED TO
INCLUDE WHAT DEMOCRATS WERE
CALLING "POISON PILLS," WHY
ISN'T THAT KIND OF RAPE BACKLOG
BILL BIPARTISAN?
>> THERE WAS A BIPARTISAN BILL
THAT PASSED THE SENATE.
THE PROBLEM THERE IS THE
ASSEMBLY AMENDED THE BILL TO
INCLUDE THOSE SO-CALLED POISON
PILLS TO DEMOCRATS.
ONE OF THOSE PROVISIONS WOULD
REQUIRE INDIVIDUALS ACCUSED OF
SEXUAL ASSAULT WHO WERE IN THE
COUNTRY ILLEGALLY TO BE REPORTED
TO FEDERAL IMMIGRATION
OFFICIALS.
ANOTHER HAS TO DO WITH PRIVATE
VOUCHERS AND ELIGIBILITY OF
SEXUAL ASSAULT VICTIMS.
THEY WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE
STATE PROGRAM REGARDLESS OF
PREVIOUS ELIGIBILITY.
SO THAT'S WHAT'S COME OF THE
ASSEMBLY AND IT'S VERY DIFFERENT
FROM WHAT'S COME OUT OF THE
SENATE.
>> SO HOW IS ATTORNEY GENERAL
KAUL TAKING THIS DEVELOPMENT?
>> SO KAUL IS VERY FRUSTRATED.
HE HAD PUSHED REALLY HARD FOR
THAT BIPARTISAN BILL THAT PASSED
THE SENATE EARLIER THIS YEAR.
HE WAS VERY FRUSTRATED WITH THE
CHANGES THAT THE ASSEMBLY MADE
AND SAID THAT THIS PROPOSAL IS
REALLY ESSENTIAL TO ENSURING
THAT WE DON'T HAVE A BACKLOG OF
SEXUAL ASSAULT KITS LIKE WE'VE
HAD IN WISCONSIN IN THE PAST.
>> NOW ON,, THE ASSEMBLY SNUCK IN AN
AMENDED VERSION OF A BILL TO
AFFECT PFAS.
WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT WHERE
THAT IS HEADED? WAS A REALLY LATE
ADDITION.
THE ASSEMBLY PASSED THAT BILL
AFTER MIDNIGHT THIS MORNING.
IT CAME OUT OF A LONG CAUCUS
THAT REPUBLICANS HELD IN THE WEE
HOURS OF THE MORNING.
WE DON'T KNOW WHERE THE SENATE
STANDS ON THAT BECAUSE IT'S SUCH
A NEW PROPOSAL.
IT'S CERTAINLY IN QUESTION
WHETHER THE SENATE WILL TAKE
THAT UP IN MARCH AND WHETHER IT
WILL BE HEADED TO THE GOVERNOR'S
DESK OR NOT.
>> AND THAT WAS ANOTHER ONE THAT
AT LEAST IN ITS ORIGINAL FORM
WAS BIPARTISAN IN NATURE.
>> MM-HMM.
THAT'S RIGHT.
THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF
BIPARTISAN WATER QUALITY BILLS
THAT HAVE PASSED THE ASSEMBLY
RECENTLY, SO THIS IS SOMETHING
THAT LAWMAKERS HAVE BEEN WORKING
ON, THINGS LIKE PFAS, WELL
CONTAMINATION.
SO IT WILL BE REALLY INTERESTING
TO SEE IF THE SENATE COMES
TOGETHER IN A SIMILAR WAY.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WELL, WISCONSIN PUBLIC RADIO'S
LAUREL WHITE, WE REALLY
APPRECIATE YOU JOINING US FROM
THE CAPITOL.
THANKS.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> BY MID-MARCH HOUSEHOLDS
ACROSS THE U.S. AND HERE IN
WISCONSIN WILL START GETTING
2020 CENSUS BUREAU INFORMATION
IN THE MAIL.
THE COUNT HAPPENS EVERY TEN
YEARS AND HELPS DETERMINE HOW
MUCH FEDERAL FUNDING GOES TO
STATES FOR THINGS SUCH AS
SCHOOLS, HOSPITALS AND ROADS.
RESULTS OF THE CENSUS ALSO
DETERMINE THE NUMBER OF SEATS
EACH STATE HAS IN THE U.S. HOUSE
OF REPRESENTATIVES AND ARE USED
TO DRAW LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS.
MADISON MAYOR SATYA
RHODES-CONWAY IS HOPING TO FILL
A SHORTAGE OF CENSUS TAKERS AND
GET A COMPLETE COUNT.
SHE JOINS US NOW AND THANKS FOR
BEING HERE.
>> IT'S MY PLEASURE.
>> I KNOW IN RECENT DAYS YOU
HAVE SAID THAT MADISON WAS
LAGGING BEHIND KIND OF THE REST
OF THE STATE IN BEING ABLE TO
HIRE OR RECRUIT CENSUS TAKERS.
HOW MANY DOES MADISON NEED TO
FILL?
>> SO WE'VE GOT ABOUT 47% OF OUR
POSITIONS FILLED RIGHT NOW AND
WHAT THEY TELL ME IS THAT IN
ORDER TO FILL THE REST, WE NEED
SOMEWHERE CLOSE TO 4,000
APPLICANTS.
THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE NEED 4,000
PEOPLE, BUT WE NEED PEOPLE TO
APPLY AND TO CONSIDER TAKING THE
JOB IN ORDER TO FILL THE
POSITIONS THAT WE NEED.
>> AND YET THE CENSUS CAN BE
FILLED OUT AND SENT BACK ONLINE
OR MAIL OR OVER THE PHONE.
WHY DO YOU NEED ACTUAL BODIES TO
KIND OF DO THIS COUNT?
>> THAT'S A REALLY GOOD POINT.
AND I DO WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT
WHEN PEOPLE GET THAT LETTER IN
THE MAIL, THEY HAVE LOLTS OF LOTS OF
OPTIONS.
THEY CAN GO ONLINE AND DO IT
RIGHT THERE.
THEY CAN CALL IN AND DO IT OVER
THE PHONE.
ORAL THEYOR THEY CAN WAIT UNTIL SOMEBODY
COMES TO THEIR DOOR.
AND WHAT WE SEE IS HISTORICALLY
IS ABOUT 20% OF PEOPLE WILL NOT
FILL IT OUT PROACTIVELY
THEMSELVES.
AND SO THAT 20% WE NEED TO SEND
PEOPLE OUT TO KNOCK ON DOORS AND
SAY, HEY, COULD YOU PLEASE FILL
THIS OUT.
LET'S DO IT TOGETHER.
YOU KNOW, ONE THING THAT'S
IMPORTANT FOR FOLKS TO KNOW IS
IT'S REALLY SHORT.
THERE'S NINE QUESTIONS.
IF YOU DO IT YOURSELF, IT TAKES
YOU MAYBE TEN MINUTES TO FINISH.
SO WE REALLY WANT TO ENCOURAGE
PEOPLE TO FILL IT OUT
THEMSELVES.
BUT WE ALSO REALLY HAVE TO HAVE
THAT COMPLETE COUNT.
>> THERE ARE SOME BARE YEARS TO
THIS, THOUGH, I UNDERSTAND AFTER
READING A CENSUS BUREAU STUDY
ABOUT THIS.
CHIEF AMONG THEM THAT THERE'S A
DISMUST OF GOVERNMENT AND THIS
IS A GOVERNMENT FORM.
ALSO ACCORDING TO THIS STUDY 10%
OF PEOPLE INCORRECTLY BELIEVE
THAT THE CENSUS IS USED TO
LOCATE UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS.
WHAT IS THE TRUTH TO THAT?
>> I WANT TO BE REALLY CLEAR
THAT WHEN PEOPLE DO FILL OUT THE
CENSUS, THAT DATA IS PRIVATE.
IT IS NOT USED FOR LAW
ENFORCEMENT.
IT IS NOT USED FOR IMMIGRATION.
I REALLY WANT TO ENCOURAGE
PEOPLE TO, YES, GO AHEAD AND
FILL OUT THE CENSUS.
THIS DATA IS NOT GOING TO BE
USED AGAINST YOU.
AND IN FACT IT IS GOING TO BE
USED TO HELP YOUR COMMUNITY.
AS YOU SAID AT THE TOP, WE HAVE
MANY STREAMS OF FEDERAL FUNDING
THAT RELY ON CENSUS NUMBERS.
AND IN FACT IF WE -- FOR EVERY
PERSON THAT DOESN'T FILL OUT THE
CENSUS, WE PROJECT THAT WE LOSE
ABOUT $2,000.
>> HOW MUCH FEDERAL MONEY
HISTORICALLY KIND OF FLOWS
THROUGH THE NUMBERS THAT THE
CENSUS COUNTS?
>> IT'S ALL ACROSS THE BOARD,
RIGHT.
SO THIS IS ANYTHING FROM TAX
CREDITS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING
TO THE FREE AND REDUCED LUNCHES
AT SCHOOL TO DIRECT ASSISTANCE
TO SMALL BUSINESSES IN OUR
COMMUNITIES.
SO THERE'S A WHOLE RANGE OF
TYPES OF FEDERAL MONEY THAT
COUNT ON THE CENSUS NUMBERS.
THE OTHER THING THAT'S IMPORTANT
IS THAT IT'S NOT JUST THE SHEER
NUMBERS OF PEOPLE, BUT IT'S IN
FACT THE TYPES OF PEOPLE.
SO IF WE HAVE MORE SENIORS
COUNTED, WE GET MORE FUNDING
RELATED TO SENIOR SERVICES.
SO IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT
EVERYBODY FILL OUT THE CENSUS,
THAT WE HAVE THAT COMPLETE
COUNT, SO THAT WE CAN HAVE A
REALLY ACCURATE ASSESSMENT OF
THE NEEDS IN OUR COMMUNITY AND
THEN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF AS MUCH
FEDERAL FUNDING AS POSSIBLE.
>> BECAUSE HOW HAS MADISON
CHANGED SINCE THE LAST CENSUS?
>> OH, TREMENDOUSLY.
YOU JUST LOOK AT OUR POPULATION
GROWTH ALONE.
IN THE LAST TEN YEARS, WE HAVE
GROWN TREMENDOUSLY.
AND, AS WE KNOW, IN MADISON, BUT
ALSO FEDERALLY, WE HAVE A SHIFT
IN DEMOGRAPHICS, RIGHT?
SO OUR AGE STRUCTURE IS
CHANGING.
WE ARE SEEING A LOT MORE -- I
DON'T WANT TO NAME A PARTICULAR
GENERATION, BUT WE'RE SEEING THE
20 TO 30 FOLKS, THAT SEGMENT OF
THE AGE STRUCTURE, IS GROWING IN
MADISON.
OUR COMMUNITY IS GETTING MORE
DIVERSE RACIALLY AND ETHNICALLY.
SO WE NEED TO KNOW WHO'S HERE IN
ORDER TO BE ACCURATE, BOTH FOR
THE MONEY BUT ALSO JUST TO HAVE
AN ACCURATE SENSE OF WHO OUR
COMMUNITY IS.
>> WHAT IS MADISON AND DANE
COUNTY DOING TO TRY TO ENSURE AN
ACCURATE COUNT?
>> SO THERE'S A NUMBER OF WAYS
WE'RE WORKING WITH THE
COMMUNITY.
RIGHT NOW I WANT TO REEMPHASIZE
THAT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS
WE NEED TO RECRUIT PEOPLE TO
APPLY FOR CENSUS JOBS.
SUPER EASY TO DO.
2020s CENSUS..GOV/JOBS.
THEY PAY $22 AN HOUR.
THEY'RE VERY FLEXIBLE.
LIMITED TERM, MARCH THROUGH
JULY.
IT CAN BE FULL-TIME, PART-TIME.
IT'S A GREAT THING FOR A RETIE RETIREE
OR STUDENT TO PICK UP.
WE HAVE PARTNERED WITH A NUMBER
OF AGENCIES IN OUR COMMUNITY TO
HELP US REACH OUT TO THE
POPULATIONS THAT ARE
UNDER-COUNTED AND TO SHARE THE
MESSAGE OF HOW IMPORTANT THE
CENSUS IS AND HOW MUCH WE NEED
PEOPLE TO CONTRIBUTE THAT
COMPLETE COUNT.
>> ALL RIGHT.
MAYOR SATYA RHODES-CONWAY,
THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> MY PLEASURE.
>> NEXT WEEK, RESULTS FROM THE
MARQUETTE LAW SCHOOL POLL.
CHARLES FRANKLIN WILL BE HERE.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.
>> FOR MORE ELECTION COVERAGE GO
TO pbs.org AND CLICK A NEWS.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.