PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION.
>> GOVERNOR TONY EVERS REVEALS
HIS STATE BUDGET PLAN THIS WEEK,
A PLAN HE CALLS THE BADGER
BOUNCEBACK AGENDA.
REPUBLICANS CALL IT A BOUNCE
BACKWARD BUDGET.
AND STATE VOTERS NARROW THE RACE
FOR STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF
PUBLIC INSTRUCTION DOWN TO TWO,
DEBORAH KERR AND JILL UNDERLY.
>> I'M F TONIGHT ON "HERE AND
NOW" JOIN REPUBLICAN MARK BORN
WEIGHING IN ON THE BUDGET PLAN.
THE FIRST OF OUR INTERVIEWS FOR
SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC
INSTRUCTION.
TONIGHT DEBORAH KERR IS HERE.
AND CHARLES TUBBS LOOKS BACK AT
THE ACT 10 DEMONSTRATIONS A
DECADE LATER.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR FEBRUARY
19.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.
>> DON'T LET ANYONE TELL YOU WE
CAN'T AFFORD TO MAKE HEALTH CARE
MORE ACCESSIBLE WHILE SAVING
YOUR HARD-EARNED TAX DOLLARS.
DON'T LET ANYONE TELL YOU WE
CAN'T AFFORD TO FULLY FUND OUR
PUBLIC SCHOOLS WHILE CUTTING
TAXES AT THE SAME TIME.
DON'T LET ANYONE TELL YOU WE
CAN'T AFFORD TO SUPPORT OUR
FARMERS, OUR RURAL COMMUNITIES
AND OUR SMALL BUSINESSES WHILE
PROTECTING OUR NATURAL RESOURCES
AND INVESTING IN NEW, CLEAN JOBS
JOBS.
>> GOVERNOR TONY EVERS DELIVERED
HIS BUDGET ADDRESS THIS WEEK.
THE $91 BILLION TWO-YEAR PLAN
REPRESENTS AN INCREASE IN
OVERALL SPENDING BY NEARLY 10%,
WITH EDUCATION LEADING THE WAY.
IN HIS PLAN, K-12 SCHOOLS WOULD
SEE A BOOST OF MORE THAN $1.6
BILLION AND THE UW SYSTEM WOULD
SEE THE LARGEST INCREASE IN 20
YEARS.
TO HELP FUND THESE INCREASES,
EVERS' BUDGET CALLS FOR A NEARLY
$1 BILLION TAX INCREASE BY WAY
OF LIMITS ON MANUFACTURERS' TAX
CREDITS AND INCREASING THE
CAPITAL GAINS TAX FOR
HIGH-INCOME PEOPLE.
TAX CUTS OF NEARLY $600 MILLION
WOULD GO TO CAREGIVERS, PARENTS
AND LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS.
REPUBLICANS SAY THE GOVERNOR'S
BUDGET INCLUDES WHAT THEY CALL
POISON PILLS, LIKE EXPANDING
MEDICAID, ROLLING BACK ACT 10
AND LEGALIZING RECREATIONAL
MARIJUANA.
WE GET REPUBLICAN REACTION NOW
FROM CO-CHAIR OF THE
LEGISLATURE'S BUDGET-WRITING
COMMITTEE, REPRESENTATIVE MARK
BORN OF BEAVER DAM.
>> GREAT TO BE WITH YOU.
>> WHAT IS YOUR OVERALL REACTION
TO THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET?
>> WELL, I MEAN, OVERALL IT'S
REALLY JUST A LIBERAL LIST.
IT HAS A TON OF POLICY IN IT,
TRYING TO REPEAL A LOT OF THINGS
THAT HAVE GONE INTO LAW IN THE
LAST PROBABLY TEN YEARS IN
WISCONSIN.
YOU MENTIONED SOME OF IT ON YOUR
LEAD N WITH-IN THERE, WITH THE ACT 10
THINGS.
ALSO MASSIVE TAX INCREASES, HUGE
SPENDING INCREASE AND JUST NOT
SOMETHING THAT'S A REALISTIC
BUDGET DOCUMENT MOVING FORWARD
FOR THE STATE OF WISCONSIN.
>> SO WITH ALL OF THAT SAID, DO
YOU EXPECT TO THROW IT OUT AND
START ANEW?
>> WELL, WE'LL CERTAINLY LOOK I
THINK IN THE COMING WEEKS.
CO-CHAIR AND I WILL SIT DOWN,
BUT I WILL IMAGINE WE'LL REMOVE
ALL THOSE POLICY ITEMS LIKE WE
DID LAST TIME.
THEY SHOULD HAVE A LEGISLATIVE
PROCESS, GO THROUGH THE PUBLIC
HEARINGS AND LET STAKEHOLDERS
WEIGH IN AND HAVE BIG
DISCUSSIONS ON THOSE TYPE OF
ISSUES.
AND CERTAINLY I THINK WHERE WE
ARE IS PROBABLY SOME OF WHERE WE
WERE LAST TIME, WHERE WE DID
WORK FROM A BASE BUDGET.
IT'S GOING TO BE HARD TO WORK
WITH ALL THE MASSIVE SPENDING
AND TAX INCREASES IN THERE.
A LOT OF THAT IS GOING TO BE
NONSTARTERS.
>> SO WHAT WILL REPUBLICAN
PRIORITIES BE FOR THE BUDGET?
>> I THINK IT WILL BE A LOT OF
THE STUFF YOU'VE SEEN FROM US IN
THE PAST, FOCUS ON MAKING
INVESTMENTS IN K-12 EDUCATION,
BROADBAND, ROADS, ESPECIALLY
LOCAL ROADS, OUR TRANSPORTATION
SYSTEM AND MAKING SURE WE'VE GOT
ACCESS TO OUR HIGH-QUALITY
HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS HERE IN
WISCONSIN.
THOSE ARE THINGS WE 'DONE WE 'DONE HAVE DONE
THE LAST COUPLE BUDGETS.
YOU TALKED ABOUT THE EDUCATION
SPENDING.
I DON'T THINK WE'LL SPEND AT THE
SAME LEVEL MAYBE IN THE SAME
WAY, BUT THERE'S ROOM FOR
COMPROMISE THERE.
BROADBAND IS ANOTHER ONE.
WE'VE INVESTED IN THE BROADBAND
THE LAST TWO BUDGETS.
THE GOVERNOR SAYS IT'S A
PRIORITY THIS TIME.
THERE'S ROOM TO WORK THERE AND
FOCUS ON THE ISSUE TOGETHER I
THINK.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WILL YOU APPROVE THE EXECUTIVE
BUDGET'S CALL FOR $95 MILLION TO
UPGRADE THE UNEMPLOYMENT
INSURANCE SYSTEM?
>> I THINK THAT WE TOOK ACTION
THIS WEEK IN THE JOINT COMMITTEE
ON A BILL THAT THE SENATE PASSED
YESTERDAY AND WE'RE GOING TO
PASS NEXT WEEK IN THE ASSEMBLY
HOPEFULLY, TO GET THAT PROCESS
STARTED.
AND I THINK THAT PROCESS AS WE
OUTLINED IN THAT BILL WILL GIVE
US A BETTER IDEA ON THE COST.
AFTER THE RFP COMES BACK, IF WE
NEED TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS FOR A
GOOD PLAN TO FIX THE SYSTEM, I
THINK THE LEGISLATURE WILL BE
OPEN TO TALKING ABOUT THAT,
DEFINITELY.
>> LET'S TAKE A LISTEN NOW TO
WHAT THE GOVERNOR HAD TO SAY
DIRECTLY TO YOU AND YOUR
COLLEAGUES.
>> TO MY FRIENDS IN THE
LEGISLATURE, OUR OPPORTUNITY TO
BOUNCE BACK FROM THIS CRISIS
CALLS FOR YOU TO SUMMON THE WILL
TO GET THIS DONE.
THERE'S NO TIME FOR FALSE
PROMISES OF HOPE AND PROSPERITY
WITH EMPTY WORDS THAT YOU KNOW
FULL WELL WON'T MATCH YOUR
ACTIONS.
YOU CAN DISAGREE WITH ME IF YOU
WANT BUT DON'T PUNISH THE PEOPLE
WE SERVE SO YOU CAN SETTLE A
SCORE NO ONE BUT YOU IS KEEPING.
EACH TIME A BILL FAILS TO PASS,
EACH TIME A COMPROMISE ENDS UP
IN FLAMES, EACH TIME LEGISLATORS
LOSE SIGHT OF THE PEOPLE WHO
SEND YOU WHOEVER, THE
DISAPPOINTMENT, THE RESENTMENT
AND THE DISPARITIES GROW.
>> SO WHAT'S YOUR RESPONSE TO
THAT MESSAGE FROM THE GOVERNOR
TO YOU?
>> YEAH.
WELL, I DON'T THINK THAT MYSELF
OR ANY OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE
LOST SIGHT OF THE PEOPLE THAT
HAVE SENT US TO MADISON TO
REPRESENT THEM.
I THINK IT'S QUITE THE OPPOSITE.
WHEN WE'RE PUSHING BACK ON THE
GOVERNOR'S BUDGET THAT'S GOING
TO TAKE THIS STATE BACKWARDS AND
REPEAL A LOT OF THINGS WE PUT
INTO PLACE IN THE LAST DECADE,
WHEN HE'S LOOKING TO TAX
WISCONSIN RESIDENTS AT A TIME
WHEN WE'RE COMING OUT OF A
NATIONAL PANDEMIC AND GETTING
BACK ON OUR FEET, WE'RE
DEFINITELY REMEMBERING WHO SENT
US THERE AND WORKING TOGETHER IS
A TWO-WAY STREET.
SO WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO
REPRESENT OUR CONSTITUENTS AND
WE'RE HOPING THAT THE GOVERNOR
WILL WORK WITH US ON THIS BUDGET
AND WE CAN ACCOMPLISH A BUDGET
LIKE WE DID TWO YEARS AGO.
BUT IT'S DEFINITELY A TWO-WAY
STREET AND I DON'T ACCEPT AT ALL
ANY IDEA THAT -- I BELIEVE THAT
I HAVE A LOT OF HOPE IN THIS
STATE AND MY CONSTITUENTS AND
I'M THERE TO REPRESENT THEM JUST
LIKE MY COLLEAGUES IN THE
LEGISLATURE ARE AND THAT'S WHAT
WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO.
>> YOU SPOKE EARLIER TO THIS,
THAT YOU BELIEVE THERE ARE
DEFINITELY THINGS THAT YOU CAN
AGREE ON WITH THE EVERS' BUDGET,
LIKE MAYBE THIS ISN'T THE
NUMBER, BUT $200 MILLION FOR
BROADBAND.
BUT HE ALSO HAS IN THERE A $200
MILLION FOR BUSINESSES TO TRY TO
RECOVER FROM THE PANDEMIC.
I TRUST THAT THAT WOULD BE
SOMETHING THAT YOU'D BE LOOKING
AT AS WELL?
>> YEAH.
AGAIN, UNTIL WE HAVE CAUCUS
DISCUSSIONS AND THINGS AND SEE
HOW ALL THE DIFFERENT THINGS FIT
TOGETHER, WE CAN'T COMMIT TO A
NUMBER.
DEFINITELY WE WILL WANT TO
INVEST IN BROADBAND.
I'M SURE WE WILL INVEST IN
BUSINESSES TO HELP THEM COME OUT
OF THE PANDEMIC.
ANOTHER IMPORTANT THING IS THE
NEEDS OF OUR WORKFORCE.
WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE
RETIRING, FAMILIES AREN'T AS
LARGE AS THEY USED TO BE.
WE NEED TO HAVE THE HIGH-QUALITY
WORKFORCE WE'VE ALWAYS HAD IN
WISCONSIN.
WE NEED TO ATTRACT MORE TALENT
TO OUR WORK WORKFORCE.
>> WE NEED TO LEAVE IT THERE.
REPRESENTATIVE MARK BORN, THANKS
FOR JOINING US.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> WISCONSIN VOTERS NARROWED THE
RACE FOR SUPERINTENDENT OF
PUBLIC INSTRUCTION DOWN TO TWO
CANDIDATES ON TUESDAY.
DEBORAH KERR AND JILL UNDERLY
WILL FACE OFF ON APRIL 6.
TONIGHT IN THE FIRST OF
INTERVIEWS WITH EACH CANDIDATE,
WE INTRODUCE YOU TO DEB KERR,
WHO HAS WORKED WITH PAROCHIAL,
CHARTER, PRIVATE AND PUBLIC
SCHOOLS, INCLUDING 13 YEARS AS
THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE BROWN
DEER SCHOOL DISTRICT AND IS
CO-CHAIR OF THE TASK FORCE TO
ADVANCE TEACHERS IN THE
PIPELINE.
THANKS FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> RIGHT NOW AS YOU KNOW AN
IMPORTANT ISSUE FOR WISCONSIN
SCHOOLS IS WHETHER AND HOW TO
REOPEN SAFELY.
WHAT ARE YOU CALLING FOR?
>> I'M THE ONLY CANDIDATE TO
CALL FOR A STATEWIDE REENTRY
BACK TO SCHOOL.
WE CAN DO THIS SENSIBLY AND
SAFELY.
THE RESEARCH HAS SHOWN ACROSS
THE COUNTRY THAT KIDS CAN COME
BACK TO SCHOOL AND ARE NOT
SPREADERS OF THE DISEASE.
I HAVE PROPOSED A REENTRY AND
RECOVER PLAN THAT GETS OUR
ELEMENTARY STUDENTS INTO THE
SCHOOLS FIRST WITH PROPER
PROTOCOLS AND OUR ADMINISTRATORS
AND SCHOOL BOARDS HAVE BEEN
PLANNING FOR THIS SINCE LAST
SPRING.
SO THEY ARE READY AND WITH THE
VACCINATIONS COMING UP, I THINK
WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO IT
SAFELY AND BECAUSE OUR KIDS ARE
NOT WINNING RIGHT NOW.
OUR KIDS ARE EXPERIENCING
SIGNIFICANT LEARNING LOSS AND
BECAUSE OF THIS PANDEMIC AND
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF
WORK TO DO TO RECOVER.
>> GOVERNOR EVERS' BUDGET CALLED
FOR BIG INCREASES IN K-12
FUNDING.
WHAT'S YOUR RESPONSE TO HIS PLAN
PLAN?
>> WE ARE GOING TO NEED
SIGNIFICANT FUNDS AND RESOURCES
PUT IN JUST THE RIGHT PLACES TO
SUPPORT ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS.
EVERY SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS
DIFFERENT NEEDS BASED UPON THE
UNIQUE NEEDS OF THEIR CHILDREN
AND COMMUNITY.
BUT WE ARE GOING TO NEED
EXTENDED FUNDING BECAUSE WE
MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO HAVE A
REGULAR SCHOOL YEAR.
WE MIGHT NEED TO EXTEND LEARNING
THROUGH SUMMER LEARNING
PROGRAMS, PROGRAMS ON THE
WEEKENDS, POSSIBLY LOOKING AT A
TOTALLY DIFFERENT WAY OF
EDUCATING OUR KIDS.
WE DID LEARN THAT SOME KIDS ARE
SUCCESSFUL IN THIS VIRTUAL
LEARNING, BUT WE'VE GOT A LOT OF
WORK TO DO TO CATCH UP.
>> SO YOU LIKE HIS FUNDING IN
HIS BUDGET.
IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING?
>> THE SCHOOLS NEED THE FUNDING.
THERE'S A LOT OF ADDITIONAL
RESOURCES BECAUSE OF THE PPE,
THE STAFFING NEEDS TO PUT IN
PROTOCOLS FOR CLEANING AND
SANITATION AND JUST THE
SPREADING OUT OF KIDS.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE KIDS HAVE
MASKS, ARE SOCIALLY DISTANCED
AND OUR TEACHERS ARE PROTECTED.
>> THE EVERS' BUDGET ALSO CALLS
ON CAPS FOR ENROLLMENT AND
PRIVATE SCHOOL TEACHERS TO HAVE
STATE LICENSES.
AS A SUPPORTER OF VOUCHER
SCHOOLS, WHAT'S YOUR RESPONSE TO
THAT?
>> FIRST OF ALL, THE STATE
SUPERINTENDENT THE IS
RESPONSIBLE FOR SERVING ALL
CHILDREN AND SO ALL SECTORS OF
EDUCATION ARE UNDER MY PURVIEW
AS THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT.
AND SO WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO
SUPPORT ALL KIDS AND MAKE SURE
THEY HAVE WHAT THEY NEED.
AND SO IRREGARDLESS OF WHAT THE
GOVERNOR HAS PROPOSED, THE
LEGISLATURE IS THE GROUP THAT
MAKES THOSE DECISIONS AND I
BELIEVE THAT ALL KIDS NEED TO BE
SUPPORTED.
>> AND SO YOU DISFAVOR THOSE
KINDS OF CAPS.
>> IT'S NOT MY DECISION AS THE
STATE SUPERINTENDENT.
HOWEVER, I DO KNOW THAT ALL KIDS
HAVE TO BE SERVED.
AND SOME OF THOSE SCHOOLS ARE
DOING VERY WELL.
AND SO I PROPOSE ONE SYSTEM OF
FULL ACCOUNTABILITY AND
TRANSPARENCY, MAKING SURE THAT
WE'RE ALL ACCOUNTABLE,
ESPECIALLY WHEN USING TAXPAYER
DOLLARS.
>> THE GOVERNOR WOULD ALSO ROLL
BACK PARTS OF ACT 10 AND ALLOW
FOR UNION COLLECTIVE BARGAINING.
IN YOUR MIND, WOULD THAT HELP OR
HURT SCHOOLS?
>> WELL, TO ME, THE ACT 10
SITUATION PROVIDED SOME RELIEF
IN A TEMPORARY WAY.
HOWEVER, IT'S ABOUT THE
RELATIONSHIPS THAT YOU HAVE WITH
YOUR TEACHERS.
SO IN BROWN DEER, WHERE I WAS
THE SUPERINTENDENT FOR THE LAST
13 YEARS, WE TREATED OUR
TEACHERS WITH PROFESSIONALISM.
WE CRAIFTED CREATED THE BEST WORK
ENVIRONMENTS POSSIBLE.
BEFORE WE MADE ANY DECISIONS, WE
ALWAYS VOCHED THEM INVOLVED THEM IN THE
PROCESS.
I BELIEVE IT JUST DEPENDS.
THE SCHOOL BOARD IN BROWN DEER
NEVER OVER-REACHED THEIR
GOVERNANCE IN DEALING WITH OUR
TEACHERS BECAUSE WE TRUSTED THEM
AND THEY TRUSTED US.
>> ACHIEVEMENT GAPS ARE AN
ENDURING PROBLEM IN WISCONSIN.
WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
>> FIRST OF ALL, WISCONSIN HAS
THE LARGEST ACHIEVEMENT GAPS IN
THE COUNTRY AND WE HAVE BEEN ON
THAT LIST FOR THE LAST TEN
YEARS.
THAT'S REP REEF HENCABLE AND
UNACCEPTABLE.
WE NEED TO HAVE A LASER FOCUS ON
LITERACY AND MATH.
BUT MY TEAM HAS PREPARED A
ROADMAP THAT WILL GET KIDS ON
THE RIGHT PATH FOR LEARNING HOW
TO READ WITH MORE GROWTH AND
ACHIEVEMENT WITHIN THE FIRST
YEAR.
THE IMPORTANT PART OF THIS PLAN
IS WE HAVE 400 DIFFERENT WAYS OF
TEACHING READING RIGHT NOW IN
OUR STATE.
WE NEED TO HAVE ALIGNMENT IN
TERMS OF CRYSK CURRICULUM, ASSESSMENTS
TO MEASURE GROWTH AND TO GET THE
OUTCOMES WE EXPECT FOR ALL KIDS.
>> YOU HAVE SAID THAT YOU'VE
BEEN IMMERSED IN EQUITY,
DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION FOR YOUR
ENTIRE CAREER.
I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT A TWEET
YOU POSTED THIS WEEK THAT MADE
HEADLINES.
WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY ABOUT
THAT?
>> FIRST OF ALL, BEING AN ED
CAIFORT IS A CALLING AND I
CONTINUE TO BE CALLED INTO THIS
WORK.
I DO HAVE A RECORD OF ACTION AS
IT RELATES TO PROTECTING ALL
STUDENTS OF COLOR.
I HAVE A REPUTATION FOR SPEAKING
MY TRIEWFT AT BROWN DEER,
ESPECIALLY WHERE I WAS THE
SUPERINTENDENT.
AND I ALSO ENCOURAGE MY STUDENTS
TO SPEAK THEIR TRUTH.
SO AFTER HEARING FROM STUDENTS
AND WITNESSING A LOT OF RACIST
ACTS AGAINST MY STUDENTS WHEN I
WAS SUPERINTENDENT, I SET UP A
CALL TO ACTION.
ENOUGH WAS ENOUGH AND I WORKED
TO DEVELOP A MULTISEQUENCED
APPROACH TO FIGHT RACISM IN OUR
SCHOOL.
SO I ASKED MY SCHOOL LEADERS TO
JOIN ME AND WORK TO ELIMINATE
THESE DISPARITIES.
BUT THIS IS A CONVERSATION THAT
NEEDS TO HAPPEN ALL ACROSS THE
STATE AND ALL ACROSS OUR
COUNTRY.
>> WE NEED TO LEAVE IT THERE.
DEBORAH KERR, THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
FREDERICA.
>> PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN SPOKE
ABOUT PUBLIC SCHOOLS THIS WEEK
DURING HIS TOWN HALL APPEARANCE
IN MILWAUKEE.
THE PRESIDENT SAID HE WANTS THE
MAJORITY ON OF K-12 SCHOOLS
FULLY OPEN BY THE END OF HIS
FIRST 100 DAYS IN OFFICE.
HE ALSO SAID TEACHERS SHOULD BE
MOVED UP IN THE HIERARCHY FOR
VACCINATIONS.
AND HE SPOKE ABOUT AN
ACCELERATED EFFORT FOR GETTING
ALL AMERICANS VACCINATED.
>> WE CAME INTO AWSSMENTS THERE OFFICE, THERE
WERE ONLY 50 MILLION DOSES
AVAILABLE.
BY THE END OF JULY WE'LL HAVE
OVER 600 MILLION DOSES, ENOUGH
TO VACCINATE EVERY AMERICAN.
>> SINCE THE START OF THE
PANDEMIC, LABS AGAIN SEQUENCING
TEST SAMPLES TO UNDERSTAND HOW
THE VIEFERS WAS MOVING THROUGH
COMMUNITIES AND WISCONSIN IS ONE
OF THE STATES LEADING THIS WORK.
NOW SEQUENCING LABS ARE
DETECTING THE PRESENCE OF
COVID-19 VARIANTS, INCLUDING THE
MORE CONTAGIOUS STRAIN SHES
B117, WHICH HAS NOW BEEN FOUND
IN CITIES ACROSS WISCONSIN.
MARISA WOJCIK SAT DOWN WITH
DR. PARAIC KENNY, A JEAN GENOME
RESEARCHER WHO HAS BEEN
SEQUENCING THE CORONAVIRUS FOR A
LIFE WEBCAST.
>> A GENETIC SEQUENCING THE ONLY
WAY TO DETECT A VARIANT?
>> IT'S THE BEST WAY.
WE AND OTHERS ARE WORKING ON
SOME TECHNOLOGIES AND DIAGNOSTIC
APPROACHES THAT SHOULD PROVIDE
MORE RAPID TURNAROUND THAN
TESTING THE ENTIRE GENOME.
WE CAN TEST BY THEMSELVES
WITHOUT NEEDING TO WORK OUT THE
FULL 19,903 LETTERS.
BUT FOR NOW, GOLD STANDARD
REALLY IS GENETIC TESTING.
>> AND NOW THAT WE KNOW IT'S IN
COMMUNITIES IN WISCONSIN,
DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE STATE,
SHOULD WE ASSUME THAT IT IS MORE
PREVALENT THAN EVEN WHAT HAS
BEEN DETECTED SO FAR?
>> FROM WHAT WE'VE SEEN WITH THE
INTRODUCTION OF THIS VIRUS TO
FLORIDA AND CALIFORNIA, WE SEE
THAT ONCE IT GETS A FOOTHOLD, IT
CAN TAKE OFF VERY EFFICIENTLY.
SO IN FLORIDA AND CALIFORNIA,
THIS B117 IS NOW COMPRISING UP
TO 8% TO 10% OF CASES AND THAT'S
DOUBLE ONINGING EVERY TEN DAYS.
SO IT CLEARLY IS A MORE
TRANSMISSIBLE SUBSTRAIN AND IT'S
ENTIRELY REASONABLE TO BELIEVE
THAT THERE'S A LOT MORE OF IT IN
WISCONSIN THAN IS CURRENTLY
APPARENT THROUGH THE SEQUENCING
DATA.
>> ARE WE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND IF
THE B117 VARIANT, FOR EXAMPLE,
IS MORE DANGEROUS OR LESS
DANGEROUS THAN THE ORIGINAL
NOVEL CORONAVIRUS THAT WE HAVE
SEEN FOR THE LAST YEAR?
>> WHETHER IT'S ACTUALLY MORE
DANGEROUS OR NOT ON AN
INDIVIDUAL LEVEL IS STILL THE
TOPIC OF A LOT OF DISCUSSION.
THERE'S SOME EVIDENCE THAT IT
MAY BE AT LEAST MODERATELY MORE
SEVERE.
THE BIGGEST RISK IS DOWN TO ITS
LEVEL OF TRANSMISSIBILITY.
SO THERE'S A WHOLE LOT MORE OF
THIS PARTICULAR STRAIN.
THIS STRAIN HAS MORE POTENTIAL
FOR SPREAD.
SO EVEN IF IT IS JUST AS SEVERE
OR NO MORE SEVERE THAN THE
PREVIOUS STRAINS OF THE
CORONAVIRUS, THE FACT THAT IT
CAN INFECT MORE PEOPLE IS
SIGNIFICANTLY -- IS GOING TO
MAKE IT MORE DANGEROUS BECAUSE
THE MORE PEOPLE YOU INFECT, THE
MORE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GET
SIGNIFICANTLY ILL.
>> COULD SOMEONE WHO HAS ALREADY
BEEN INFECTED WITH THE
CORONAVIRUS, THE NOVEL
CORONAVIRUS, PERHAPS LAST YEAR,
ARE THEY AT RISK FOR SPREADING A
NEW VARIANT?
>> THERE ARE CERTAINLY SOME
CONCERNS RIGHT NOW ABOUT THE
POTENTIAL FOR REINFECTION WITH
SOME OF THESE EMERGING
SUBSTRAINS.
WHILE IT'S BEEN GOOD TO SEE THAT
MOST OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD
COVID-19 SO FAR DO SEEM TO HAVE
AN ENDURING PROTECTION THAT'S
LASTING AT LEAST THIS LONG AND
NONE OF US KNOW HOW LONG IT WILL
LAST WITHOUT VACCINATION, THERE
IS A CONCERN WITH SOME OF THESE
IMMUNE ESCAPE VARIANTS THAT IT
MAY BECOME A PROBLEM.
>> WE SPOKE EARLIER ABOUT HOW
THE BUDGET WOULD ROLL BACK SOME
OF THE PROVISIONS OF ACT 10.
THAT LAW WENT INTO EFFECT TEN
YEARS AGO.
IN THE MIDST OF ITS PASSAGE,
TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PROCESS PROTESTERS
CONVERGED ON THE STATE CAPITOL,
MANY OF THEM TEACHERS.
THE CROWDS WERE LIKE NOTHING
SEEN BEFORE, THE LARGEST
DEMONSTRATION IN STATE HISTORY.
IMAGINE PERSON THE PERSON IN
CHARGE OF SAFETY AT THE STATE
CAPITOL DURING THAT.
OUR NEXT GUEST WAS THAT PERSON.
FORMER CAPITOL POLICE CHIEF
CHARLES TUBBS, CURRENTLY DIRECT
TO HAVE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
FOR DANE COUNTY.
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> SO TAKE US BACK TO THOSE 50
DAYS OF DEMONSTRATIONS, 30 OF
THEM YOU DESCRIBE AS INTENSE.
HOW DAUNTING WAS IT TO BE IN
CHARGE OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND
PROTECTION OF THE CAPITOL?
>> IT WAS A VERY HUMBLING
EXPERIENCE.
I MENTIONED EARLIER TO YOU THAT
I WAS IN WASHINGTON D.C. AREA
DURING 9/11, AND THAT WAS A VERY
HUMBLING BUT REWARDING
EXPERIENCE.
I LEARNED SO MUCH ON HOW TO
PROTECT THE COUNTRY AND WHAT WAS
TAKING PLACE AT THAT TIME.
MADE ME GROW UP EVEN MORE.
THE CAPITOL PROTESTS, ACT 10 WAS
ANOTHER MAJOR EVENT IN MY LIFE,
AND I KNEW I HAD TO ACT
RESPONSIBLE AND BE VERY CAPABLE
OF MAKING THINGS HAPPEN IN A
POSITIVE LIGHT TO SAVE LIVES,
REDUCE INJURIES AND REDUCE THE
DAMAGE TO PROPERTY, WHILE
ALLOWING THE GOVERNMENT TO
CONTINUE TO DO THEIR WORK AND
THE DISNS CITIZENS TO EXECUTE THEIR
CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS.
>> YOU SAID YOU MADE A CONSCIOUS
DECISION NOT TO USE RIOT GEAR OR
PEPPER SPRAY.
WHY THAT DECISION?
>> I'M A KID OF THE '60s, AND
I WATCHED SOMETIMES -- MAINLY
WATCHED AND WATCHED HOW THAT
HAPPENED AND HOW UNFORTUNATELY
THE USE OF BATONS AND AT TIMES
TEAR GAS AND ALL THOSE TYPE OF
TECHNIQUES WITHOUT THE ABILITY
TO COMMUNICATE WITH PEOPLE
CREATED A REAL TRAGEDY SITUATION
WITH PEOPLE INVOLVED.
IN CONFIDENCE, COMPLETE CHAOS
AND TURMOIL.
PEOPLE WERE INJURED, LOST THEIR
LIVES, WENT TO JAIL, HAD A
TREMENDOUS IMPACT ON PUBLIC
SAFETY AND CITIZENS.
>> SO WHAT DID YOU DO INSTEAD
THAT RESULTED IN FEWER THAN 20
ARRESTS DURING THOSE DAYS AND
ONE SERIOUSLY-INJURED OFFICER?
>> WHAT I IMMEDIATELY LEARNED
GOVERNOR WALKER'S PLAN I BELIEVE
WAS ON A THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND
HE HAD CALLED HIS CABINET
TOGETHER AND INVITED ME TO THE
MEETING.
HE MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF WHAT
HE HAD PLANNED TO DO, AND MOVING
FORWARD I KNEW IMMEDIATELY THIS
WAS GOING TO CREATE A REACTION
WITH CITIZENS IN DANE COUNTY AND
THROUGHOUT THE STATE.
I JUST DIDN'T KNOW HOW BIG.
I KNEW IT WOULD BE LARGE, BUT I
DIDN'T KNOW HOW LARGE IT WAS
GOING TO BE.
SO I PREPARED FOR THE ABSOLUTE
WORST AND PRAYED FOR THE BEST
AND I BEGAN MEETING IMMEDIATELY
WITH -- BECAUSE THE WORD GOT OUT
BEFORE I EVEN LEFT THE OFFICE,
WELL, THAT THERE WAS GOING TO BE
THIS MASSIVE CHANGE IN
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING, ET
CETERA.
SO I HAD TO IN ABOUT TWO AND A
HALF DAYS MEET WITH UNIONS,
SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS, LAW
ENFORCEMENT, ELECTED OFFICIALS,
EVERYONE INVOLVED TO MAKE SURE
WE WERE ABLE TO POLICE THE
SITUATION WITHOUT LETING IT GET
OUT OF HAND.
AND, AGAIN, AS I SAID EARLIER,
LOSING LIVES, PROPERTY DAMAGE
AND INJURIES TO MANY PEOPLE.
>> WAS THERE POLITICAL PRESSURE
TO, QUOTE, CRACK SOME HEADS?
>> THERE WAS POLITICAL PRESSURE
FROM SOME OF THE ELECTED
OFFICIALS THAT I WAS NOT DOING
ENOUGH, I NEEDED TO REMOVE THE
PEOPLE FROM THE BUILDING,
BASICALLY I WAS IN A SENSE BEING
TOO SOFT AND I NEEDED TO TAKE
CONTROL OF THE BUILDING.
AT ONE POINT, I BELIEVE SOME OF
THE ELECTED OFFICIALS WANT TO BE
REMOVED.
>> DO YOU THINK THAT YOUR
TACTICS THAT KIND OF DIRECT
DIALOGUE AND EVEN I UNDERSTAND
HAVING PROTESTERS KIND OF POLICE
THEMSELVES WITH THESE KIND OF
PROTEST MARSHALLS AND THAT KIND
OF THING, DO YOU THINK THAT
THOSE TACTICS ON YOUR PART HAVE
IMPLICATIONS ON DISCUSSIONS NOW
AROUND POLICE REFORM?
>> YES, I DO.
AND YOU HAVE SPOKEN WITH A
NUMBER OF AGENCIES ABOUT THE
TACTICS THAT WE USED AND HOW
THEY WORKED SO WELL AND WHY THEY
WORKED SO WELL.
AND I BELIEVE IN TODAY'S SOCIETY
WHAT WE'RE FACING WITH SOMEONE
WHO HAS A NUMBER OF ISSUES
FACING THIS COUNTRY RIGHT NOW,
IT IS THE TECHNIQUE THAT MUST BE
USED TO REGAIN ORDER AND ALSO
ALLOW PEOPLE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
EXPRESS THEMSELVES.
>> SO WITH ABOUT A MINUTE LEFT,
DO YOU THINK SUCH DEMONSTRATIONS
COULD, DESPITE DELIBERATE
DE-ESCALATION MEASURES ON YOUR
PART AND THE PART OF OTHER
OFFICERS THAT YOU COMMANDED, DO
YOU THINK THIS COULD BE MANAGED
THE SAME WAY IN TODAY'S CLIMATE,
ESPECIALLY AFTER WHAT WE SAW
JANUARY 6 IN THE NATION'S
CAPITOL?
>> I DO.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M NOT
COMPARING THE TWO INCIDENTS,
BECAUSE THEY WERE TOTALLY
DIFFERENT.
I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY THERE TO
REALLY GET OUT AND REACHED OUT
TO THE PEOPLE AND BRING ABOUT
WHAT I THOUGHT A POSITIVE CHANGE
ON HOW THEY WERE GOING TO BE
ABLE TO EXECUTE THEIR
CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS.
LINES OF COMMUNICATION MIGHT BE
OPEN AND REMAIN DIFFICULT NO -- REMAIN
DIFFICULT NO MATTER HOW
DIFFICULT THINGS GET.
IF YOU CLOSE OFF THE LINES OF
COMMUNICATION, YOU'RE GOING TO
LOSE AND LOSE BIG TIME.
>> WE NEED TO LEAVE IT THERE.
CHARLES TUBBS, THANKS VERY MUCH
AND THANKS FOR YOUR
RECOLLECTIONS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THAT IS OUR PROGRAM FOR
TONIGHT.
NEXT WEEK, STATE SUPERINTENDENT
OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION CANDIDATE
JILL UNDERLY WILL BE HERE.
LOOK FOR COMPLETE CANDIDATE
INFORMATION ON WISCONSIN
VOAFT.ORG.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.