.
>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION.
>> THE STAGE IS SET AT THE
STATE CAPITOL FOR THE SUMMER
BUDGET BATTLE.
MONEY FOR WISCONSIN SCHOOLS IS
ON THE TABLE.
>> IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE
WITH ALL OF YOU AS WE KICK OFF
PRIDE MONTH IN WISCONSIN.
>> FREDERICA: AND THE PRIDE
FLAG IS RAISED OVER THE STATE
CAPITOL.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE & NOW," WHY
SOME RURAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE
WORRIED ABOUT THE SCHOOL BUDGET
PROPOSAL.
HOW SAFE IS GOING MASKLESS.
THE STATE OPEN DEEM OL YOU KNOW
WHAT I'M SAYING IS --
EPIDEMIOLOGIST IS HERE.
IT IS "HERE & NOW" FOR JUNE 4.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE & NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.
>> IT'S TOO EARLY TO TELL, BUT
IT IS ALWAYS AN OPTION THAT IS
ON THE TABLE.
>> FREDERICA: GOVERNOR TONY
EVERS THIS WEEK THREATENS TO
VETO THE ENTIRE STATE BUDGET
THIS REPUBLICANS ARE NOW
RECRAFTING OVER SCHOOL FUNDING.
HE CALLED IT AN INSULT TO THE
KIDS OF OUR STATE.
THAT'S BECAUSE THE BUDGET
COMMITTEE VOTED TO INCREASE
STATE FUNDING BY $128 MILLION
OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS, WHEN
EVERS HAD PROPOSED A $1.6
BILLION INCREASE.
THE REPUBLICAN VERSION ALSO DOES
NOT MEET THE SPENDING THRESHOLD
SET BY FEDERAL RULES FOR
WISCONSIN TO GET $1.5 BILLION IN
THE LATEST PANDEMIC AID PACKAGE
TO SCHOOLS.
THE WISCONSIN RURAL SCHOOLS
ALLIANCE SAYS THAT WITH ITS
ACTION, THE JOINT FINANCE
COMMITTEE GETS AN F ON
ADEQUATELY INVESTING IN K-12
EDUCATION.
WE TURN TO THE EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF THE RURAL SCHOOLS
ALLIANCE.
THANKS SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME,
FREDERICA.
APPRECIATE IT.
>> FREDERICA: WHEN THE JOINT
FINANCE COCHAIR SAYS THEY
REPRESENT A RESPONSIBLE BUDGET,
WHAT DO YOU SAY?
>> I THINK THEY MISSED A GREAT
OPPORTUNITY.
THERE IS A LOT OF SURPLUS COMING
IN AND THERE ARE A LOT OF ISSUES
THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSD IN THIS
BUDGET.
THEY ARE RELYING A LOT ON THE
FEDERAL FUNDING THAT IS COMING
IN, BUT MISSING THE POINT ON THE
FEDERAL FUNDING THAT THAT IS
DEDICATED TO COVID RELIEF AND
COVID ACTIVITIES, AND IS NOT
MEANT TO BACKFILL AND AS YOU HAD
STATED EARLIER, THE $128 MILLION
IS ONLY ABOUT 10% OF WHAT THE
GOVERNOR PUT IN THE ORIGINAL
BUDGET.
I THINK A COUPLE THINGS THAT
REALLY CONCERN US IS THERE IS NO
INCREASE IN GENERAL AID OR
REVENUE CEILING AND NO INCREASE
IN PER-PUPIL SPENDING IN THAT.
WHAT WE ARE REALLY CONCERNED
ABOUT HEADING DOWN THE ROAD,
WITH THE JOINT FINANCE
COMMITTEE, WE ARE REALLY RELYING
ON THIS ONE TIME FEDERAL
FUNDING, IT IS SETTING US UP FOR
A FINANCIAL CLIFF FOR THE NEXT
TWO YEARS.
I KNOW THE GOP MEMBERS, MEMBERS
OF JOINT FINANCE AND MANY GOP
LEGISLATORS DON'T LIKE
REFERENDUMS AND THIS WILL PUT US
BACK IN THAT CYCLE OF
REFERENDUMS, WHERE HERE THEY HAD
THE OPPORTUNITY TO USE THE
SURPLUS THAT WE HAVE -- PROBABLY
THE BIGGEST SURPLUS WE HAVE HAD
IN A LONG TIME, TO REALLY TAKE
CARE OF SOME OF THOSE ISSUES AND
TO PREVENT DISTRICTS, ESPECIALLY
RURAL DISTRICTS, FROM GOING TO
OPERATIONAL REFERENDUMS TO KEEP
THEIR DOORS OPEN.
>> FREDERICA: IN ADDITION TO
THE FISCAL CLIFF, NOT
MAINTAINING A CERTAIN THRESHOLD
OF STATE EDUCATION FUNDING PUTS
THAT FEDERAL AID AT RISK ITSELF
UNDER FEDERAL RULES.
. BUT MAJORITY REPUBLICAN
BUDGET WRITERS THINK THAT CAN BE
MANAGED.
WHAT KIND OF GAMBLE DOES THAT
REPRESENT IN YOUR MIND?
>> TO ME, IT IS A BIG GAMBLE
BECAUSE IT IS NOT ONLY AFFECTING
THE SR-3 MONEY THAT HASN'T BEEN
SENT OUT YET, BUT IT IS ALSO
GOING TO HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE
SECOND YEAR OF THIS SR-2 MONEY
THAT IS COMING.
AND A LOT OF OUR FOLKS -- AS WE
GET INTO THE SUMMER, JUST
HAVEN'T HAD TIME TO PUT THEIR
CLAIMS IN YET SO WE'LL BE DOING
THAT OVER THE SUMMERTIME HERE SO
THE DECISION NOT TO MEET THE --
>> FREDERICA: THE THRESHOLD FOR
STATE FUNDING, YEAH.
>> THANK YOU, YES.
WOULD BE REAL DEVASTATING IF WE
DON'T GET THAT MONEY BECAUSE
THESE PEOPLE WERE PLANNING ON
IT, THEY JUST HAVEN'T HAD TIME
TO GET THEIR RECEIPTS SUBMITTED
TO THE DPI.
SO, AGAIN, THAT COULD REALLY PUT
US IN A REAL BIND.
>> FREDERICA: SO YOU TALK ABOUT
THIS MONEY COMING IN, AND A LOT
OF COVID RELIEF HAS COME IN TO
THE STATE.
ARE SCHOOLS BEING GREEDY TO WANT
SO MUCH SPENDING AT THIS TIME?
>> I DON'T THINK SO.
. I BELIEVE THROUGH THIS WHOLE
PANDEMIC, THEY HAVE SPENT A LOT
OF EXTRA MONEY ON THINGS THEY
WOULDN'T HAVE SPENT ON,
ESPECIALLY LAST SPRING WHEN WE
HAD TO MAKE A PIVOT FROM
FACE-TO-FACE TO EVERYBODY GOING
VIRTUAL.
A LOT OF RURAL DISTRICTS WERE
PAYING FOR INTERNET PLANS FOR
FAMILIES, HOT SPOTS, PURCHASING
ADDITIONAL COMPUTERS, AND AS WE
WENT INTO THIS FALL, WHAT WE
REALIZED FROM LAST SPRING IS SO
MANY OF OUR KIDS GOT LEFT OUT
LAST SPRING BECAUSE OF LACK OF
INTERNET SERVICE, SO A LOT OF
OUR RURAL DISTRICTS WERE SENDING
OUT CLASSROOM PACKETS VIA BUS
ROUTES AND DELIVERING TO
FAMILIES AND TEACHERS CONTACTING
BY PHONE OR SOME KIND OF
SOCIALLY DISTANCED, FACE-TO-FACE
WHERE THEY COULD AT LEAST ASK
QUESTIONS IN THAT.
THERE WAS JUST A LOT OF
UNEXPECTED COSTS THERE AND --
>> FREDERICA: JUST SUPER
QUICKLY, ONE OF THE THINGS THE
MAJORITY BUDGET WRITERS WANT TO
DO IS REWARD DISTRICTS WHO
STAYED OPEN THROUGH AT LEAST 50%
OF THE PANDEMIC.
THEY WANT TO REWARD THEM WITH
AID.
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THAT,
ESPECIALLY GIVEN THAT IT WAS
LARGELY RURAL DISTRICTS THAT DID
RETURN TO IN-PERSON.
>> YEAH, IT IS AN ADVANTAGE FOR
OUR RURAL DISTRICTS BECAUSE MANY
OF THEM WERE FACE-TO-FACE
BECAUSE OF THE INTERNET ISSUE,
BUT WE ARE ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT
THE WHOLE PRECIPICE THAT IS
SETTING.
DISTRICTS TALK ABOUT LOCAL
CONTROL AND SO MANY DISTRICTS
DID WHAT THEY THOUGHT WAS RIGHT.
MANY RURAL DISTRICTS WERE
FACE-TO-FACE.
MANY MODERATE DISTRICTS WERE
HYBRID AND THEN THE LARGER
DISTRICTS FELT THE VIRTUAL, AND
THAT IS WHAT WAS BEST.
I THINK EVERYBODY DID THE BEST
THEY COULD WITH WHAT THEY HAD.
>> FREDERICA: WE'LL BE WATCHING
GOING FORWARD.
THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.
>> THANK YOU, HAVE A GREAT DAY.
>> FREDERICA: YOU, TOO.
WE INVITED THE REPUBLICAN
CO-CHAIR OF THE JOINT FINANCE
COMMITTEE TO JOIN US TONIGHT.
HE WAS UNABLE TO BE HERE, BUT
SENATOR HOWARD -- WROTE THIS
ABOUT THE SCHOOL SPENDING PLAN.
"WE INVEST IN $155 MILLION IN
EDUCATION.
THIS IS A TREMENDOUS INVESTMENT
IN ADDITION TO FEDERAL FUNDING
THAT IS ALREADY ARRIVING IN
SCHOOLS, COLLEGES AN
UNIVERSITIES ALL OVER WISCONSIN.
WE DOUBLED INVESTMENTS IN MENTAL
HEALTH PROGRAMS FOR K-12
SCHOOLS.
WE INVESTED $19 MILLION MORE IN
THIS IMPORTANT PRIORITY.
WE KNOW THERE ARE A LOT OF KIDS
WHO ARE STRUGGLING AS THE RESULT
OF THE PANDEMIC."
HE TOUTED MONEY FOR THE STATE
PROTECTED NIL -- TECHNICAL COLLEGE
AND UNIVERSITY SYSTEM.
THE BUDGET COMMITTEE OFFERS THE
UW SYSTEM FLEXIBILITY TO DEVELOP
TALENT, GENERATE LIFE CHANGING
RESEARCH AND DELIVER THE
RESEARCH FAMILIES DESERVE.
>>> IN COVID NEWS, THE LAST OF
THE MASKS CAME OFF THIS WEEK,
ALLOWING PEOPLE OUTDOORS AND
INDOORS TO CHOOSE NOT TO WEAR
MASKS IF THEY ARE FULLY
VACCINATED.
SPEAKING OF FULLY VACCINATED,
WHERE ARE PEOPLE HOLDING OUT IN
WISCONSIN, AND WHY?
THIS WEEK'S NOON WEDNESDAY, WE
ASKED THAT QUESTION.
>> DO WE KNOW OF THE PEOPLE WHO
ARE NOT YET VACCINATEDED, WHY
THEY ARE NOT VACCINATED?
IS IT FOLKS WHO ARE JUST SAYING,
I'M NEVER GOING TO GET
VACCINATED?
PEOPLE WHO ARE JUST STILL
WAITING FOR MORE INFORMATION?
OR ARE THERE STILL ISSUES OR
ACCESS?
>> WE CERTAINLY BEEN HEARING
ABOUT AND I HAVE READ THROUGH
THAT SUGGESTS THERE IS
DEFINITELY A POLITICAL DIMENSION
TO PEOPLE GENERALLY -- THEY
WILLINGNESS TO BE VACCINATED FOR
COVID-19 SPECIFICALLY.
WE SEE LOWER RATES OF
SELF-IDENTIFIED REPUBLICANS
EXPRESS WILLINGNESS OR
ENTHUSIASM TO BE VACCINATED FOR
COVID-19 THAN WE DO POLITICAL
INDEPENDENTS OR SELF-IDENTIFIED
DEMOCRATS.
BUT THERE DEFINITELY ARE OTHER
ELEMENTS AS WELL.
WE ARE SEEING IN WISCONSIN,
WHICH IS REALLY A NATIONWIDE
PHENOMENON, THAT RURAL COUNTIES
ARE GENERALLY SPEAKING, LAGGING
MORE URBAN COUNTIES IN
VACCINATION RATES.
I MENTIONED THAT DOOR COUNTY AND
BAYFIELD COUNTY HAVE HIGH
VACCINATION RATES.
THERE ARE AREAS THAT BUCK
TRENDS.
WHEN WE LOOK AT DATA OVERALL,
RURAL COUNTIES ARE GENERALLY
LAGGING BEHIND AND PART OF THAT
MAY HAVE TO DO WITH POLITICS.
THE RURAL PARTS OF THE STATE ARE
GENERALLY A LITTLE MORE
CONSERVATIVE, MORE REPUBLICAN
THAN THE URBAN CENTERS.
AND THERE MAY ALSO BE ACCESS
ISSUES IN RURAL PARTS OF THE
STATE AND ALSO, SORT OF A KIND
OF DIFFERENT UNDERSTANDING OF
THE PANDEMIC AND ITS IMPACT.
IN SOME PARTS OF THE STATE THAT
ARE SPARSELY POPULATED, THEY MAY
NOT HAVE BEEN AS MUCH OF AN
OBVIOUS IMPACT OF THE PANDEMIC,
EITHER THROUGH PANDEMIC RELATED
RESTRICTIONS, ON GATHERINGS,
MASKING, OR JUST KNOWING PEOPLE
WHO GOT THE DISEASE.
SO THERE MAY VERY WELL BE JUST
KIND OF LESS MOTIVATION IN SOME
PARTS OF THE STATE FOR RECEIVING
VACCINATIONS.
AND I SHOULD ALSO DEFINITELY
MENTION THAT WE ARE CONTINUING
TO SEE A DISPARITIES BY RACE AND
ETHNICITY AROUND THE STATE IN
VACCINATION RATES.
EVEN IN BING COUNTY, WHICH HAS
THE HIGHEST VACCINATION RATE
OVERALL, THERE IS A WIDE
DISPARITY BETWEEN THE COUNTIES
WHITE RESIDENTS AND BLACK AND
HISPANIC RESIDENTS.
THE VACCINATION RATE FOR BLACK
RESIDENTS IS AT ABOUT 25% IN
DANE COUNTY RIGHT NOW.
SO WE'LL DEFINITELY CONTINUE TO
SEE VACCINATION RATES RISE OVER
THE COMING MONTHS, BUT IT WILL
MOST CERTAINLY BE LOWER THAN
THIS SPRING.
>> FREDERICA: WHEN IT COMES TO
COVID PUBLIC HEALTH PRACTICES,
IS THE NEW NORMAL LIKE THE OLD
NORMAL?
IT COULD TAKE A WHILE, BECAUSE
SOME WISCONSINITES WHO WERE
COMPLIANT TO THE LETTER WITH
GUIDELINES, ARE DISCOVERING IT
MAY BE EASIER TO PUT A MASK ON,
THAN TO TAKE IT OFF.
WE OPEN THE DOOR TO POST-DEMIC
LIFE NOW TO SOMEONE WHO'S BEEN A
VALUABLE RESOURCE TO US THIS
YEAR, STATE EPIDEMIOLOGIST
DOCTOR RYAN WESTERGUARD.
I SHOULD SAY THIS YEAR AND LAST
YEAR.
WELCOME.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME BACK.
>> FREDERICA: WITH RESTRICTIONS
MOSTLY LIFTED, IS THIS OVER?
>> IT'S NOT QUITE OVER,
ALTHOUGH I THINK EVERYONE AGREES
WE ARE IN A MUCH BETTER PLACE
THAN WE WERE EVEN JUST A FEW
MONTHS AGO, SO -- BUT AS OF
TODAY AND THIS LAST WEEK, THERE
IS STILL JUST UNDER 200 PEOPLE
IN WISCONSIN WHO ARE IN THE
HOSPITAL WITH COVID-19 AND THESE
PAST SEVERAL WEEKS WE HAVE
AVERAGED FOUR DEATHS PER DAY.
THE PANDEMIC IS STILL HERE,
THINGS ARE LOOKING BETTER.
WE HAVE LEARNED A LOT, BUT IT IS
NOT OVER YET.
>> FREDERICA: IS THERE ANY
SENSE ON YOUR PART WITH
RESTRICTIONS GONE, THERE WILL BE
A SURGE?
>> WELL, WE HOPE NOT.
WE NEED TO REMAIN VIGILANT T.
DECISION BY CDC A COUPLE OF
WEEKS AGO TO REALLY CHANGE THE
NORMS AROUND MASK-WEARING FROM
MANDATES IN LARGE COMMUNITY
SETTINGS TO MAKING IT AN
INDIVIDUAL CHOICE, WAS
REFLECTIVE OF THE SCIENCE THAT
SHOWED WHEN ENOUGH PEOPLE ARE
VACCINATED AND VACCINATION IS
HIGHLY EFFECTIVE AS WE KNOW IT
IS, WE ARE PROTECTED AS A
COMMUNITY FROM SURGES.
THERE IS STILL SOME THREATS
BECAUSE THERE ARE VIRUSES STILL
CIRCULATING.
THE THREAT OF EMERGENCE OF NEW
GENETIC VARIANTS THAT MIGHT BE
HIGHLY TRANSMISSABLE IS EVER
PRESENT, BUT OUR HOPE IS WITH
APPROXIMATELY HALF OF THE PEOPLE
IN THE COUNTRY AND WISCONSIN
GETTING VACCINATED, THAT WE ARE
IN A SAFER PLACE OVERALL AS A
COMMUNITY.
>> FREDERICA: SHOULD THE PUBLIC
BE CONCERNED ABOUT INFECTION IF
UNVACCINATED PEOPLE WILL NOT IN
FACT, WEAR MASKS, EVEN THOUGH
THE GUIDANCE SAYS THEY SHOULD?
>> I THINK IF WE ARE
PARTICULARLY IN INDOOR SETTINGS
WHERE THERE IS PEOPLE WITH MIXED
VACCINATION STATUS, MEANING
PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN FULLY
VACCINATED AND PEOPLE WHO
HAVEN'T, FOR ME IF I WAS
ORGANIZING ONE OF THOSE EVENTS
AND PARTICULARLY IF THERE WERE
GOING TO BE OLDER OR MEDICALLY
VULNERABLE FOLKS, I THINK
WEARING MASKS IN THOSE SETTINGS
IS A REASONABLE RECOMMENDATION
TO HAVE AS A NORM FOR VACCINATED
AND UNVACCINATED PEOPLE.
THE FOCUS RELIEF FOR PUBLIC
HEALTH RECOMMENDATIONS ARE TO
ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO MAKE THESE
INDIVIDUAL CHOICES.
THE RECOMMENDATION FOR PEOPLE
WHO HAVE NOT BEEN FULLY
VACCINATED REMAINS THE SAME,
WHICH IS TO WEAR MASKS WHEN YOU
GO OUT.
>> FREDERICA: OUR REPORTER
DESCRIBED THIS PHASE OF COVID AS
A POSITIVE THING, BUT ALSO MESSY
AND CONFUSING, AND IT DOES SEEM
EVEN IN DANE COUNTY WHERE
VACCINATION RATES ARE HIGH,
PEOPLE ARE SLOW TO LET GO OF
THEIR MASKS.
THEY JUST DON'T FEEL SAFE ABOUT
IT.
WHAT IS THE PSYCHOLOGY OF THIS
AND DO YOU EXPECT IT TO TAKE
TIME TO READAPT?
>> I DO.
I THINK A LOT OF US HAVE
PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH THAT.
YOU KNOW, AS YOU MENTIONED, I'M
TALKING TO HERE IN THE STATE
OFFICE BUILDING WHERE THE
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES
IS, AND WE JUST RECENTLY REMOVED
THE MASK-WEARING NORM FOR
VACCINATED PEOPLE, AND PEOPLE
ARE FINDING IT AWKWARD AND
CONFUSING.
I THINK LIKE ALL THINGS RELATED
TO INDIVIDUAL RELATED DECISIONS,
WE DESERVE TO GIVE KINDNESS AND
COMPASSION TO EACH OTHER AS WE
MAKE THESE DECISIONS, BECAUSE
IT'S BEEN EXTRAORDINARILY
UNUSUAL AND DIFFICULT YEAR FOR
EVERYBODY.
THERE IS NO ONE RIGHT WAY OR
WRONG WAY TO FEEL OR ACT IN THIS
ENVIRONMENT.
WE JUST NEED TO SUPPORT EACH
OTHER AND RESPECT EACH OTHER'S
DECISIONS AND WEARING MASKS WHEN
WE ARE OUT IN PUBLIC EVEN IF
PEOPLE ARE FULLY VACCINATED IS
FULLY SUPPORTED BY SCIENCE.
>> FREDERICA: EVEN THOUGH THE
WORLD SEEMS ALMOST FULLY OPEN,
IS IT STILL IMPORTANT IN YOUR
MIND TO GET VACCINATED IF YOU
HAVEN'T BEEN?
>> .
>> IN MY MIND THAT IS THE
SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT THING
PEOPLE CAN DO.
WE KNOW ABOUT THE EFFECTIVENESS
OF VACCINES ON THE VEJ LEVEL AND
COMMUNITY LEVEL.
THERE IS REALLY NO OTHER MEDICAL
OR PREVENTIVE HEALTH TREATMENT
THAT I COULD RECOMMEND AS
ENTHUSIASTICALLY AS A COVID-19
VACCINE.
AS A PHYSICIAN, TO MY INDIVIDUAL
PATIENTS OR MEDICAL OFFICER FOR
THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, IT REALLY
IS OUR STRONGEST POSSIBLE
RECOMMENDATION.
ALL THAT SAID, WE UNDERSTAND
THIS IS A NEW VACCINE, THAT THE
SIENLS IS COMPLEX AND THAT
PEOPLE HAVE QUESTIONS, SO WE
WANT TO HAVE THAT FIRM,
ENTHUSIASTIC RECOMMENDATION, BUT
ALSO BE PREPARED TO LISTEN WHEN
PEOPLE HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT
VACCINES, AND PROVIDERS NEED TO
LISTEN TO PATIENTS WHO AREN'T
IMMEDIATELY EAGER OR
ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT GETTING THE
VACCINE.
PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY NEED TO
LISTEN, TRUST EACH OTHER.
TALK TO PEOPLE YOU KNOW ABOUT
WHETHER YOU HAVE BEEN
VACCINATED, WHAT THE EXPERIENCE
IS LIKE, AND ASK HONEST
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE COMPLICATED
SCIENCE.
WHEN WE TRY TO COMMUNICATE IN
PUBLIC HEALTH AND MEDICINE TO
THE SCIENCE, WE ARE HIGHLY
CONFIDENT IN THE VACCINES, BUT
IT IS GOING TO TAKE TIME TO
BRING PEOPLE ALONG AND FOR
EVERYONE TO FEEL COMFORTABLE
WITH THE IDEA.
>> FREDERICA: WE LEAVE IT
THERE.
DOCTOR RYAN WESTERGUARD, THANK
YOU VERY MUCH AND FOR YOUR WORK.
>> THANK YOU.
>> FREDERICA: AT THE STATE
CAPITOL, THE ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE
ON PUBLIC SAFETY TOOK UP SEVERAL
BILLINGS AROUND POLICING
THURSDAY THAT EMANATED AROUND
THE SPEAKER'S TASK FORCE ON
RACIAL DI DISPARITIES.
AMONG THEM, PROVISIONS OF
REPORTING, NO-KNOCK WARRANTS,
AND LAW ENFORCEMENT GRANTS FOR
BODY CAMERAS.
THE WORK OF THE BIPARTISAN TASK
FORCE WHOSE CO-CHAIR IS A
DEMOCRATIC MEMBER OF THE
LEGISLATIVE BLACK CAUCUS IS NOT
GETTING PRAISE IN ALL CORNERS.
REPRESENTATIVE DAVID BOWEN HELD
A PRESS CONFERENCE DECRYING THE
LACK OF MEANINGFUL WORK ON
POLICE REFORM IN THE WAKE OF THE
JACOB BLAKE SHOOTING IN KENOSHA
AND MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD.
HE WAS JOINED BY COMMUNITY
ADVOCATES INCLUDING ANGELA LANG,
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF BLACK
LEADERS ORGANIZING FOR
COMMUNITIES IN MILWAUKEE.
>> THIS IS A TIME TO INVEST IN
OUR COMMUNITIES, NOT INVEST IN
FURTHER POLICING OR FURTHER
CRIMINALIZATION AND THESE BILLS,
WHILE THEY ARE NOT A SILVER
BULLET
BULLET, THERE IS NO SILVER
BULLET TO UNRAVEL THE
GENERATIONS OF WHITE SUPREMACY,
THESE ARE BILLS THAT ARE A STEP
IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND
CONTINUE TO MOVE THE
CONVERSATION FORWARD.
>> FREDERICA: AT THE PRESS
CONFERENCE, REPRESENT BOWEN MADE
PUBLIC 12 LEGISLATIVE BILLS HE
IS PROPOSING TO PUT TEETH INTO
POLICE REFORM IN WISCONSIN.
HE JOINS US NOW FROM MILWAUKEE.
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING
ME ON.
>> FREDERICA: WHY ARE YOU
PROPOSING THESE BILLS NOW, EVEN
AS THERE IS WORK ONGOING IN THE
LEGISLATURE AROUND POLICE
REFORM.
>> WELL, NOW IS THE PERFECT
TIME.
THE TASK FORCE THAT WAS CREATED
BY THE SPEAKER, THEIR SEVEN
BILLS HAVE MADE THEIR WAY
THROUGH COMMITTEE.
I MYSELF HAD A CHANCE TO VOTE
AND SUPPORT FIVE OUT OF THE
SEVEN OF THOSE BILLS.
TWO OF THOSE THAT I REALLY
BELIEVE IN COMMUNICATION WITH
FOLKS THAT HAVE BEEN MARCHING
AND ADVOCATINGEING FOR QUITE SOME
TIME, SINCE THE DEATH OF GEORGE
FLOYD, THEY FEEL IT GOES IN THE
OPPOSITE DIRECTION OF WHAT THEY
HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR.
TWO OUT OF THE SEVEN, I REALLY
HOPE, IF THAT'S WHAT THE TASK
FORCE AND IF THAT IS WHAT THE
LEGISLATURE IS GOING TO SIGN OFF
ON, I REALLY HOPE IT IS
INCUMBENT ON THE GOVERNOR TO
VETO THOSE BILLS SO IT CAN GO
BACK TO DECISION MAKING TABLE
AND HAVE ITS WAY WITH THE OTHER
BILLS THAT ARE OUT THERE.
WE WANTED TO ADD INTO THE
SOLUTIONS, INTO THE TABLE THAT
SHOULD BE THERE TO BE TALKED
ABOUT, TO BE DISCUSSED, TO BE
DEBATED, AND NOT LIMIT IT TO
JUST WHERE THE TASK FORCE LEFT
OFF.
WE KNOW IT TOOK THEM
SEVEN-AND-A-HALF MONTHS THE GET
TO THE CONCLUSION OF THOSE SEVEN
BILLS AND WE WANT TO ADD TO
THAT.
WE WANT TO BUILD ON TO THAT.
SO IT'S REALLY ABOUT HAVING A
WHOLISTIC CONVERSATION ON THE
SOLUTIONS AND IT IS JUST VERY
CLEAR THAT CERTAIN SOLUTIONS
WEREN'T ALLOWED TO BE DISCUSSED
AT THAT TABLE AND THERE ARE SOME
OTHER BILLS THAT HAVE ALREADY
BEEN OUT THERE WITH
REPRESENTATIVE MEYERS, MY
COLLEAGUE WITH THE BAN ON
NO-KNOCK WARRANTS.
MY OTHER COLLEAGUE WITH THE
DECERTIFY CASE AN QUALIFIED
IMMUNITY AND THE 12 BILLS WE
HAVE HERE IN THE "ENOUGH IS
ENOUGH" PACKAGE.
>> FREDERICA: WHAT ARE YOU
SAYING WASN'T ALLOWED TO MOVE
FORWARD OR BE DISCUSSED?
WHAT ARE THOSE?
>> SURE.
SO ONE OF THE BILLS IN OUR
PACKAGE IS TO HIGHLIGHT THE
DECISION-MAKING AROUND
PROSECUTING OFFICERS AND THAT
SHOULD LIE WITH A SPECIAL
PROSECUTOR DECIDED BY A COURT,
RATHER THAN THE CURRENT PROCESS
IS TO GIVE THAT INVESTIGATIVE
REPORT TO THE DA AND THE LOCAL
DA MAKES A DECISION, EVEN THOUGH
THERE IS A VERY CLOSE
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN A LOCAL DA
AN POLICE DEPARTMENT.
WE SHOULD RECOGNIZE THAT WE
DON'T WANT TO HAVE A CONFLICT OF
INTEREST THERE.
ANOTHER BILL IS TO ENSURE THAT
IN INVESTIGATIONS, ANY
INVESTIGATOR IS NOT RELATED TO
SOMEONE ON THE SAME FORCE, THAT
THEY ARE DOING THAT
INVESTIGATION ON.
AND THAT THEY THEMSELVES HAVE
BEEN AT LEAST TEN YEARS REMOVED
FROM WORKING FOR THAT SAME
POLICE DEPARTMENT.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMOVE THE
CONFLICT OF INTEREST, THINGS
THAT COULD GET IN THE WAY.
THE HURDLES THAT ARE CREATING A
LOT OF DISTRUST IN THIS SYSTEM,
ESPECIALLY WHEN IT IS VERY SHOWN
THAT IT'S POSSIBLE THAT AN
OFFICER MADE A MOVE OF MESQUITE
CONDUCT, MADE AN ABUSE OF POWER.
>> FREDERICA: AND SO AS TO YOUR
SLATE OF BILLS, YOU'RE PROPOSING
ONE OF THEM IS POLICE USE OF
FORCE.
WHAT PRECISELY DOES IT CALL FOR?
>> ESSENTIALLY, IT'S VERY
SPECIFIC.
IT'S CALLING FOR DIRECTIVES TO
EVERY OFFICER IN THE STATE OF
WISCONSIN.
IT IS PRESERVING THE SANCTITY OF
LIFE.
IT IS ENSURING THAT OFFICERS ARE
USING THE LEAST AMOUNT OF FORCE
POSSIBLE IN SITUATIONS TO KEEP
PEOPLE ALIVE.
AND WE KNOW THAT THOSE -- THAT
DEFINITION OF USE FORCE IS NOT
COMPLETE TO COME OUT OF THE TASK
FORCE, SO WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE
THAT WAS A PART OF THE "ENOUGH
IS ENOUGH" PACKAGE, A COLLECTIVE
OF SOLUTIONS FROM THE PEOPLE AND
FROM THOSE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT.
WE ALSO HAVE A BILL TO RESPECT
THE DECISION OF POLICE CHIEFS
WHEN THEY MAKE A DECISION OF
FIRING AN OFFICER.
A LOT OF ONUS NEED TO BE PUT ON
POLICE CHIEFS TO MAKE THE
DECISION AND WHEN THEY DO IT
SHOULD BE RESPECTED AND IT
SHOULD TAKE MORE THAN A REGULAR
MAJORITY OF A POLICE COMMISSION
TO OVERTURN A DECISION OF A
POLICE CHIEF.
WE ALSO WANT TO ENSURE THAT
POLICE UNIONS ARE ADVOCATING FOR
STANDING UP FOR OFFICERS THAT
HAVE EXEMPLIFIED MISCONDUCT,
THAT HAVE EXEMPLIFIED NOT HAVING
THE PROPER CONDUCT TO BE IN
THEIR POSITIONS AND GO AGAINST A
DECISION OF A POLICE CHIEF.
SO WE'RE GETTING THOSE LOCAL
SOLUTIONS FROM CLEARLY DIFFERENT
FOLKS THAT ARE CONNECTED TO THIS
SYSTEM.
>> FREDERICA: I WANT TO ASK
BRIEFLY, WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF
TIME LEFT, BUT HOW DO YOU AND
OTHER DEMOCRATS ACCOMPLISH MORE
ON POLICE REFORM WITH MAJORITY
REPUBLICANS WITHOUT THE SEAT AT
THE BIPARTISAN TASK FORCE TABLE?
>> I THINK IT'S EXPOSING THE
RISK THAT EXISTS IN OUR STATE
LEGISLATURE.
IT IS ABOUT POWER TO SOME OF MY
COLLEAGUES, INSTEAD OF ACTUAL
SOLUTIONS TO KEEP PEOPLE ALIVE.
WE ARE TALKING WHAT ABOUT FOLKS
HAVE BEEN MARCHING, WHAT FOLKS
HAVE BEEN ADVOCATING SINCE THE
DEATH OF GEORGE FLOYD IN AN
EXTRAORDINARY WAY, IN WAYS WE
HAVEN'T SEEN SINCE THE CIVIL
RIGHTS OF THE '60s.
IT IS INCUMBENT ON SPEAKER VOSS
AND THE LEADERSHIP TO HEAR THE
CRIES OF PEOPLE THAT THEY WANT
BOLD CHANGE.
THEY JUST DON'T WANT STUTTER
STEPS AND TALKING AND LIP
SERVICE TOWARDS REAL SOLUTIONS.
WE HAVE TO GET AT THE ROOT.
THAT IS WHAT OUR "ENOUGH IS
ENOUGH" PACKAGE CREATES.
IT IS ABOUT BRINGING THE
SOLUTIONS TO THE TABLE IN
DECISION-MAKING AND PROSECUTING
AND DIRECT CONTACT WITH LAW
ENFORCEMENT.
ON THE FRONT END, AND LAW
ENFORCEMENT HAS A REALLY BIG
ROLE TO EMBRACE THESE REFORMS
THAT KEEPS THEM SAFE AS WELL,
AND THAT'S WHAT WE REALLY WANT
TO HIGHLIGHT HERE.
>> FREDERICA: THANK YOU.
I APPRECIATE IT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WE'LL HAVE YOU ON AGAIN TO TALK
FOR LONGER DURATION ON THESE
ISSUES.
REPRESENTATIVE DAVID BOWEN,
THANK YOU.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.
>> FREDERICA: GAY PRIDE MONTH
KICKED OFF AT THE STATE CAPITOL
THIS WEEK.
GOVERNOR TONY EVERS AND
ASSEMBLED GUESTS WITNESSED THE
RAISING OF THE PRIDE FLAG.
SPEAKERS INCLUDED DEMOCRATIC
U.S. SENATOR TAMMY BALDWIN.
>> AS WE RAISE THE PRIDE FLAG
AGAIN TODAY IN RECOGNITION OF
PRIDE MONTH, LET US REMEMBER IT
IS A SYMBOL OF FAIRNESS ABOUT
WHETHER LGBTQ WISCONSINITES
DESERVE TO BE TREATED JUST LIKE
THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS, THEIR
FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS.
IT IS ABOUT OPPORTUNITY, ABOUT
WORKING TOGETHER TO BREAK DOWN
BARRIERS SO THAT EVERYONE IN
WISCONSIN HAS AN EQUAL
OPPORTUNITY TO DREAM THE SAME
DREAMS, TO CHASE THE SAME
AMBITIONS, AN TO HAVE THE SAME
SHOT AT SUCCESS.
AND IT'S ABOUT THE ONGOING MARCH
FOR FREEDOM, THE FREEDOM OF FULL
EQUALITY FOR THE LGBTQ
COMMUNITY.
MOST OF ALL, IT'S ABOUT WHETHER
THE PROGRESS WIF HAS MADE WILL
CONTINUE.
TODAY, WE ASK OURSELVES IF WE
WILL LIVE UP TO OUR STATE MOTTO
FORWARD, AND TODAY WE COME
TOGETHER AS ONE COMMUNITY TO
ANSWER THAT QUESTION WITH A
RESOUNDING YES.
[CHEERS & APPLAUSE]
>> FREDERICA: FINALLY TONIGHT,
WE SAY FAREWELL TO SOMEONE YOU
HAVE NEVER SEEN ON CAMERA, BUT
HAS PLAYED AN ESSENTIAL ROLE TO
GETTING PROGRAMS TO YOUR LIVING
ROOM OVER THE LAST THREE
DECADES.
NEVER SEEN ON CAMERA, UNTIL NOW.
THIS WEEK ENGINEER MIKE HANSEN
ENDS A 30-YEAR CAREER WITH PBS
WISCONSIN.
HIS TECHNICAL KNOW-HOW HAS KEPT
CAMERAS ROLLING THE WHOLE TIME.
HE IS ALSO A TRANSMISSION
ENGINEER MAKING SURE OUR SHOW
ACTUALLY HITS THE AIR WAVES
EVERY WEEK.
THAT IS HIS JOB TONIGHT.
THERE HE IS AT HIS POST.
SO THANK YOU, MIKE, AND HAPPY
RETIREMENT.
CONGRATULATIONS.
THAT IS OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT.
HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.
>> FUNDING FOR HERE AND NOW IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND OF
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.