>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION.
>> IT'S OFFICIAL.
GOVERNOR TONY EVERS TELLS
DEMOCRATIC PARTY MEMBERS AT THE
STATE CONVENTION THAT HE WILL
RUN FOR REELECTION IN 2022.
REPUBLICANS IN THE STATE
LEGISLATURE TURN AWAY AS THINGS
GET HOTTER UNDER THE CAPITOL
DOME.
AND THE HEAT, WITH NO RAIN IN
SIGHT, EDGES WISCONSIN INTO
DROUGHT CONDITIONS.
>> I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW," STATE
PARTY LEADERSHIP IS HERE TO KICK
OFF THE 2022 -- THAT'S RIGHT,
THE 2022 ELECTION SEASON.
ZAC SCHULTZ RECAPS A BUSY WEEK
AT THE STATE CAPITOL.
AND A UW AGRONOMIST LOOKS FOR
SIGNS OF DROUGHT CONDITIONS.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR JUNE 11.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.
>> THERE'S A VETO PEN TO PROTECT
AND WE'VE GOT BAGS TO PACK FOR
RON JOHNSON.
SO, HOLY MACKEREL, WE'RE GOING
TO NEED YOUR HELP TO GET IT DONE
AGAIN IN 2022.
>> GOVERNOR TONY EVERS' MESSAGE
TO DEMOCRATS AS HE ANNOUNCED HIS
REELECTION BID.
IT'S TRUE, AS REPUBLICANS WORK
TO BLOCK HIS AGENDA AND
AUTHORITY, THE DEMOCRATIC
GOVERNOR BLOCKED THEIR
LEGISLATIVE AGENDA BY VETO.
AS TO THE DEMOCRATS' PLAN TO
SEND REPUBLICAN U.S. SENATOR RON
JOHNSON PACKING, THEY'VE
CERTAINLY GOT A LOT OF
CANDIDATES, INCLUDING THESE WHO
HAVE ANNOUNCED THEIR BID FOR
U.S. SENATE.
STATE TREASURER SARAH GODLEWSKI.
STATE SENATOR CHRIS LARSON.
OUTAGAMIE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TOM
MEDICAL NELSON.
MILWAUKEE BUCKS EXECUTIVE ALEX
LASRY.
WAUSAU PHYSICIAN GILLIAN
BATTINO.
MANDELA BARNES IS ALSO
CONSIDERING ENTERING THE RACE.
JOHNSON HAS NOT ANNOUNCED HE IS
RUNNING FOR REELECTION, BUT HE
IS A HIGH-PROFILE TARGET OF THE
LEFT.
TO TALK MORE ABOUT THE 2022
CAMPAIGN, WE TURN TO PARTY
LEADERS.
FIRST WE GO TO MILWAUKEE TO
SPEAK WITH THE VICE-CHAIR OF THE
DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF WISCONSIN,
FELESIA MARTIN.
AND THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING
HERE.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
I'M GLAD TO BE HERE.
>> THE SO
>> SO IS TONY EVERS READY FOR
THE FIGHT?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
GOVERNOR EVERS IS READY AND HAS
DEMONSTRATED THAT HE IS PROVEN
TO BE A GOOD ADMINISTRATOR FOR
THE STATE OF WISCONSIN.
SO, YES, HE'S READY FOR THE
FIGHT.
>> SO WHAT ARE HIS AND THE
PARTY'S PRIORITIES, THOUGH THEY
BE BLOCKED AS MOST EVERY TURN BY
THE GOP?
>> WHAT WE PLANNED TO DO IS WHAT
OUR STRATEGY HAS ALWAYS BEEN, IS
TO AFTER PLA PHI AMPLIFY THE MESSAGE OF
GOVERNOR EVERS AND WHAT HE HAS
ACCOMPLISHED CONSIDERING WE HAVE
CONSIDERABLE OPPOSITION IN THE
STATE LEGISLATURE.
SO, WHAT WE WILL DO IS CONTINUE
TO CONNECT WITH VOTERS, HELP
THEM TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS
HAPPENING HERE ON THE GROUND AND
WHAT IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING IN
OUR LEGISLATIVE BRANCH.
WHO'S ACTUALLY GOVERNING FOR
THEM?
WHO'S AT THEIR BACK?
AND THE ANSWER ALL ALONG HAS
BEEN GOVERNOR EVERS.
>> WELL, REPUBLICANS SAY THAT
TONY EVERS, QUOTE, HAS NOTHING
TO RUN ON EXCEPT A RECORD OF
ABYSMAL FAILURE AND ABSENT
LEADERSHIP, CITING HIS RESPONSE
TO THE PANDEMIC, AMONG OTHER
THINGS.
WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE TO THAT
CRITICISM?
>> WE WANT TO TAKE THAT
QUESTION.
HE HAS THE BEST RECORD IN THE
NATION OF ROLLING OUT THE
VACCINE ACROSS WISCONSIN.
WE'VE COME IN AT THE TOP OF
MAKING SURE WE GET THAT VACCINE
INTO ARMS.
SO HE'S IN A GOOD PLACE TO RUN
ON THAT.
WE HAVE A STRONG DPI
SUPERINTENDENT COMING IN.
HE HAS DELIVERED ON ALL OF HIS
PROMISES, IN WHICH TO FIGHT ON
BEHALF OF WISCONSINITES ACROSS
THE BOARD, ACROSS THE BOARD.
AND ONE THING WE WILL HONE IN IS
THAT MESSAGE OF WHO IS ACTUALLY
STANDING WITH THE PEOPLE AND
GOVERNING FOR THE PEOPLE.
AND WE WILL ROLL OUT HIS RECORD,
AND WE'LL STAND ON THAT RECORD
AGAINST ANY REPUBLICAN.
>> WHAT DO YOU THINK THE VOTERS
THINK ABOUT KIND OF THE PARTISAN
BLOCKAGE BETWEEN REPUBLICANS AND
THE GOVERNOR?
IS THIS RESONANT WITH VOTERS OR
WHERE DO YOU THINK THEY'LL TURN
BECAUSE OF THIS PARTISAN
SO-CALLED BLOCK BLOCK AIDE?
>> PARTISAN POLITICS HAS BROUGHT
THINGS TO A STANDSTILL.
HERE IN THE WISCONSIN OR ACROSS
OUR COUNTRY.
AND VOTERS ARE REALLY TIRED OF
IT.
THEY REALLY WANT THOSE WHO
GOVERN FOR THEM TO UNDERSTAND WE
FEEL STUCK, THOSE OF US IN THE
MIDDLE, BETWEEN THE RIGHT AND
THE LEFT.
WHO IS ACTUALLY GOVERNING FOR
THE PEOPLE AND HAVE OUR BEST
INTEREST AT HEART?
SO OUR MESSAGE MUST CONNECT ON
THOSE ISSUES THAT FAMILIES,
REGARDLESS IF THEY'RE ON THE
RIGHT OR THE LEFT, WHAT ARE WE
LOOKING TO DO?
WHO'S FIGHTING FOR CLEAN AIR,
CLEAN WATER?
WHO IS FIGHTING AND PUSHING BACK
AGAINST THIS PANDEMIC AND MAKING
CERTAIN THAT WE ARE FOLLOWING
PUBLIC HEALTH GUIDELINES AND
THAT WE ARE HAVING VACCINES INTO
ARMS TO SAVE OUR PEOPLE AND SO
THAT WE CAN OPEN UP OUR ECONOMY
BACK, WHICH IT IS OPEN NOW, AND
WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO FOLLOW
THOSE PUBLIC HEALTH GUIDELINES.
WHO'S BEING RESPONSIBLE?
WHO'S BEING RESPONSIVE TO THE
GOVERNING BODIES?
WHO'S BEING RESPONSIVE TO THE
MOST IMPORTANT IN THE EQUATION,
WHICH ARE THE WISCONSINITES.
AND IF WE GIVE A STRONG MESSAGE
AND STAY ON TASK AND SAY WE'RE
THE ONES WHO ROLLED OUT
UNEMPLOYMENT, $300 FOR
UNEMPLOYMENT, FOR ALL OF OUR
WORKERS.
WE'RE THE ONES WHO ENCOURAGED
THE STIMULUS BILLS.
WE'RE THE ONES WHO ARE
DELIVERING THE AMERICAN RESCUE
PLAN THAT PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS
ROLLED OUT AND GOVERNOR EVERS
HAS DONE A TREMENDOUS JOB IN
HELPING TO FACILITATE ROLLING
THAT OUT ACROSS WISCONSIN.
>> AS FOR SENDING SENATOR RON
JOHNSON PACKING, HOW BIG OF A
PRIORITY IS THIS FOR THE PARTY?
>> OUR FIRST PRIORITY IS TO
REELECT GOVERNOR EVERS SO THAT
HE CAN CONTINUE ON A PROGRESSIVE
TRAJECTORY FOR WISCONSIN AND PUT
US -- AND CONTINUE TO KEEP US ON
TRACK FOR BOUNCING BACK.
SECONDLY, SENDING RON JOHNSON
PACKING?
THAT IS A KEY PRIORITY.
AND LET ME TELL YOU, FOLKS ON
THE GROUND ARE READY TO DO IT.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WE NEED TO LEAVE IT THERE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING
US, FELESIA MARTIN.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
HAVE A GOOD DAY.
>> NOW TO THE REPUBLICAN PARTY
AND HOW 2022 IS SHAPING UP FOR
GOP CANDIDATES.
THERE'S ONLY ONE REPUBLICAN
CANDIDATE SO FAR WHO HAS
ANOWNSZED HIS INTENTION TO RUN
FOR GOVERNOR.
JONATHAN WICHMAN IS A SMALL
BUSINESS OWNER.
OTHERS INCLUDE LIEUTENANT
GOVERNOR REBECCA KLEEFISCH,
KISKACHRISKAPENGA AND FORMER GOP
STAFFIST BILL MCCOSHEN, WHO IS
ALSO A "HERE AND NOW" POLITICAL
PANELIST.
ANDREW HITT IS THE CHAIR OF THE
REPUBLICAN PARTY OF WISCONSIN
AND HE JOINS US FROM APPLETON.
SO THAT'S QUITE A SLATE OF
CANDIDATES, ANDREW.
BUT WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE TO
TONY EVERS RUNNING FOR
REELECTION?
>> WELL, YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK
IT'S REALLY A BIG SURPRISE THAT
GOVERNOR EVERS WOULD RUN FOR
REELECTION, ENTERING -- TRYING
TO ENTER INTO A SECOND TERM.
MY REACTION, THOUGH, IS WHAT IS
GOVERNOR EVERS GOING TO RUN ON?
HE REALLY HAS NO RECORD OF
ACCOMPLISHMENT OVER THE LAST TWO
YEARS.
WE'VE SEEN MISMANAGEMENT AND
INCOMPETENCE FROM THE GOVERNOR.
I THINK THE ONE THING THAT HE'S
REALLY GOOD AT IS BLAMING
REPUBLICAN LEGISLATORS.
SO IT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING
TO SEE AS THEY DEVELOP A
REELECTION MESSAGING STRATEGY,
BECAUSE I'M NOT SURE REALLY WHAT
HE'S GOING TO RUN ON.
>> WELL, HE HAS BEEN AT THE HELM
OBVIOUSLY THROUGH THE PANDEMIC
AND VERY PROTECTIVE OF PUBLIC
HEALTH.
IN YOUR MIND, TOO PROTECTIVE?
>> WELL, I THINK, YOU KNOW, IF
WE GO BACK TO THE BEGINNING OF
THE PANDEMIC, AND JUST THE
UNEVENNESS, WHERE YOU COULD GO
TO WALMART AND BUY FURNITURE,
BUT YOU COULDN'T GO TO YOUR
LOCAL FURNITURE STORE ON MAIN
STREET.
PEOPLE SAW A LOT OF IN
CONSISTENCIES ACROSS OUR STATE
AND ACROSS THE SPECTRUM IN TERMS
OF THE RULES AND LOCKDOWNS.
I THINK PEOPLE WERE VERY
FRUSTRATED BY THAT.
PEOPLE SAW A WILLINGNESS TO
EXCEED THE LEGAL ABILITY, THE
LEGAL RESTRICTIONS AND THE
POWERS OF THE GOVERNOR.
THEY'RE ALSO FRUSTRATED BY THAT.
BUT I THINK, MOST IMPORTANTLY,
HE WAS THE FORMER DPI
SUPERINTENDENT AND HE DIDN'T GET
OUR SCHOOLS OPEN.
HE COULDN'T GET OUR SCHOOLS
OPEN.
AND HE HAD ALL THE RESOURCES IN
THE WORLD WITH THE STIMULUS
DOLLARS IN ORDER TO TRY TO
ACCOMPLISH THAT AND HE REALLY
DIDN'T EVEN TRY.
AND WE SAW ACROSS THE STATE
THERE WERE SOME SCHOOLS THAT
OPENED AND DID SO EFFECTIVELY.
THEY DID SO SAFELY AND SHOWED
THAT IT COULD BE DONE, BUT HE
COULDN'T MUSTER THAT.
HE COULDN'T MARSHALL THAT ON A
STATEWIDE BASIS.
>> HE KEEPS TRYING TO EXPAND
MEDICAID AND REPUBLICANS KEEP
BLOCKING IT.
WHY IS THAT MOVE RESONANT WITH
VOTERS WHEN POLLING SHOWS THAT
WISCONSIN SUPPORTS EXPANDING
MEDICAID?
>> SO I THINK, YOU KNOW,
MEDICAID, IF WE GO BACK TO THE
REFORMS THAT GOVERNOR WALKER PUT
IN, WE ARE ONE OF AT THAT TIME
THE ONLY STATE IN THE COUNTRY
THAT DID NOT HAVE A COVERAGE
GAP.
THERE WAS COVERAGE FOR THOSE
PEOPLE THAT NEEDED MEDICAID
BELOW 100% OF THE POVERTY LINE.
ANYBODY OVER 100% OF THE POVERTY
LINE HAD ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE
THROUGH THE EXCHANGE.
REPUBLICANS ARE VERY CONCERNED
THAT THE MONEY BEING OFFERED BY
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS GOING
TO DISAPPEAR AT SOME POINT AND
THEN THE MAINTENANCE AND EFFORT
REQUIREMENTS THAT ARE OUT THERE
ARE GOING TO SACK THE STATE OF
WISCONSIN WITH A HEFTY, HEFTY
BILL.
THERE IS NO COVERAGE GAP IN
WISCONSIN.
THERE ARE CERTAINLY MORE THINGS
WE CAN DO TO IMPROVE HEALTH
CARE, AND WE SHOULD DO THAT, BUT
EXPANDING MEDICAID DOESN'T HAVE
TO BE ONE OF THEM.
>> BUT THIS SOUNDS LIKE ANOTHER
EXAMPLE OF THE GOP KIND OF
TURNING AWAY FEDERAL DOLLARS,
BIG FEDERAL DOLLARS, COMING INTO
WISCONSIN.
>> WELL, THE CONCERN WITH THE
FEDERAL DOLLARS COMING IN, A
COUPLE OF THINGS.
ONE, THOSE AREN'T JUST MAGICAL
DOLLARS THAT ARE COMING IN FROM
NOWHERE.
THOSE ARE TAXPAYER DOLLARS.
AND UNDER THE BIDEN
ADMINISTRATION, WE HAVE SEEN AN
UNPRECEDENTED INCREASE AND
PROPOSED INCREASE IN FEDERAL
SPENDING AND EXPANSION OF THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
WE AS REPUBLICANS DON'T AGREE
WITH THAT.
WE'RE ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT THE
STRINGS THAT COME ATTACHED WITH
THOSE FEDERAL DOLLARS, THE FACT
THAT THOSE FEDERAL DOLLARS WILL
GO AWAY AT SOME POINT, LEAVING
THE STATES WITH TRYING TO FIGURE
OUT HOW TO GRAPPLE WITH THIS.
WE NEED A WISCONSIN SOLUTION,
NOT ONE FROM THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT.
>> I WANT TO TURN TO ELECTORAL
POLITICS AND ASK YOU WHAT HAS
SENATOR RON JOHNSON TOLD YOU
ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT HE WILL IN
FACT ANNOUNCE THAT HE IS RUNNING
AGAIN?
>> SO AS I'VE SAID MANY TIMES
BEFORE, SENATOR JOHNSON IS NOT
GOING TO MAKE A DECISION ANYTIME
SOON.
I DON'T EXPECT A DECISION, TO BE
HONEST WITH YOU, THIS YEAR.
I THINK WE WILL SEE SENATOR
JOHNSON'S FINAL DECISION
SOMETIME IN EARLY 2022.
HE IS GOING TO DO THINGS AND HAS
DONE THINGS ALREADY AS THOUGH HE
HAS DECIDED TO RUN FOR
REELECTION, LIKE LAYING
INFRASTRUCTURE, LIKE CONNECTING
WITH THE GRASSROOTS ALL OVER THE
STATE OF WISCONSIN AND TRAVELING
AND, IMPORTANTLY, RAISING MONEY.
HE'S GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO
THAT, BUT HIS FINAL DECISION
WILL COME EARLY NEXT YEAR.
>> GOOD TO KNOW.
ANDREW HITT, THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> FOR SOME POLITICAL ANALYSIS
AS WELL AS HOW THE FRAUGHT STATE
BUDGET IS SHAPING UP, LET'S TALK
WITH SENIOR POLITICAL REPORTER
ZAC SCHULTZ.
SO WHAT STANDS OUT ON THE TIMING
OF THE TONY EVERS' ANNOUNCEMENT
ON RUNNING FOR REELECTION?
>> WELL, HISTORICALLY IT'S A
LITTLE BIT AHEAD OF SCHEDULE.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT INCUMBENT
GOVERNORS, SO WE HAVE TO GO BACK
TO SCOTT WALKER, JIM DOYLE OR
TOMMY THOMPSON, THEY LIKE TO
WAIT UNTIL AFTER THAT LAST
BUDGET IS SIGNED BEFORE THEY
TRANSITION INTO THE CAMPAIGN,
JUST TO SEPARATE THE LAST BIG OF
BIG STATE POLICY FROM THE NEXT
ELECTION AND ALSO THERE USED TO
BE A SENSE OF IMPROPRIETY OF
FUND-RAISING WHILE THE BUDGET
WAS GOING ON.
EVERS MOVING THIS UP SENDS A
MESSAGE ABOUT HE MAY NOT THINK
THE BUDGET IS GOING TO BE SIGNED
ANYTIME SOON, BUT GETTING THAT
FUND-RAISING GOING RIGHT NOW.
>> SO ON THE U.S. SENATE RACE
WHAT HAPPENS TO THE FIELD OF
REPUBLICANS LINING UP TO RUN
AGAINST EVERS FOR GOVERNOR IF
RON JOHNSON DOESN'T RUN FOR
SENATE?
>> WELL, YOU'LL DEFINITELY SEE A
MUCH LARGER FIELD IN THE U.S.
SENATE RACE, ONE WOULD THINK,
JUST ON ITS FACE.
THE IDEA OF RUNNING FOR AN OPEN
SEAT IS A LOT EASIER THAN
RUNNING AGAINST TONY EVERS, WHO
WOULD BE A POPULAR INCUMBENT
SEEKING REELECTION.
AND THERE'S A LOT OF THE PEOPLE,
THE NAMES WE'VE SEEN OUT THERE,
SEEM TO HAVE MORE EXPERIENCE
ALREADY IN WASHINGTON OR WITH
MILITARY BACKGROUND OR FOREIGN
POLICY EXPERIENCE.
AND THAT ALL FILLS INTO THE LANE
OF AN U.S. SENATOR AS OPPOSED TO
A GOVERNOR.
>> SO TURNING TO LEGISLATIVE
STATE BUSINESS, THE BIG DEAL
RIGHT NOW, I DON'T HAVE TO TELL
YOU, IS THE TWO-YEAR STATE
BUDGET AND THIS NEWLY PROJECTED
BIG REVENUE SURPLUS, $4.4
BILLION MORE THAN EXPECTED.
BUT THERE ARE DIFFERENT IDEAS
ABOUT WHAT TO DO WITH THAT CASH.
LET'S TAKE A LISTEN.
>> IN A VAST MAJORITY IF NOT ALL
OF THE MONEY SHOULD GO TOWARD
PAYING DOWN PEOPLE'S TAXES
<!8192> THAT WE REDUCE INCOME
TAXES.
>> A TAX CUT, THESE GUYS ARE TOO
FOCUSED ON 2022 AND NOT FOCUSED
ENOUGH ON ACTUALLY IMPROVING
PEOPLE'S LIVES IN OUR STATE.
>> SO WHAT DO DEMS WANT TO DO
WITH IT?
>> I THINK THEY'D LOVE TO SEE
GOVERNOR EVERS' BUDGET REQUEST
FULLY FUNDED.
THAT WOULD BE THEIR MAIN
PRIORITY.
THE REPUBLICANS ON JOINT FINANCE
HAVE TRIMMED DOWN A LOT OF
SPENDING REQUESTS, THE MAIN ONE
BEING EDUCATION FUNDING.
THEY'VE SHORTED THAT BY SUCH A
LARGE AMOUNT THAT THERE IS A
GENUINE RISK THAT SOME OF THE
SCHOOLS DON'T CAPTURE SOME OF
THAT FEDERAL COVID DOLLARS,
REPUBLICANS SAY DON'T WORRY, IT
WILL ALL GET WORKED OUT IN THE
END, BUT DEFINITELY THAT
TRADITIONAL DEBATE OVER TAX
RELIEF VERSUS PUTTING MONEY INTO
EDUCATION OR OTHER PLACES.
>> SO IS HANDING OUT TAX CUTS
SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE LIKE TO DO
DURING AN ELECTION CAMPAIGN?
>> OH, ABSOLUTELY.
IT'S A POLITICIAN'S FAVORITE
THING, IS TO GIVE A BIG TRACKS -- TAX
BREAK.
SCOTT WALKER SOUGHT TO DO THAT
IN HIS LAST BIG BUDGET.
REMEMBER THERE WERE THOSE
ATTEMPTS AT SPENDING SPECIAL
CHECKS HOME.
I THINK TOMMY THOMPSON DID IT
WAY BACK WHEN.
IT'S A POPULAR THING.
I'M SAVING YOU MONEY.
THAT'S NOT A NEW THING BY ANY
STRETCH.
TRADITIONALLY REPUBLICANS ALWAYS
WANT TO LOWER TAXES.
THAT'S PART OF THEIR CORE
MISSION.
>> SO BACK TO VOS AND HINTZ.
THE SIDES FIGHT REGARDLESS OF
WHETHER THE STATE IS IN A BIG
DEFICIT OR SURPLUS.
>> YEAH.
THAT'S THE NATURE OF WHERE
POLITICS IS RIGHT NOW.
THERE ARE SILL FOF SILL SOF CAL
DIFFERENCES BUT THE CONCEPT OF
WINNING IS SO IMPORTANT TO BOTH
SIDES, NOT LETTING THE OTHER
SIDE WIN, THAT BOTH SIDES ARE
DETERMINED TO MAKE IT SEEM LIKE
THEIR PRIORITIES ARE WHAT'S GOOD
FOR THE STATE AND THE OTHER
SIDE'S PRIORITIES ARE ONLY
SELF-INTERESTS.
>> SO LEGISLATIVE BILLS MAKING
THEIR WAY THROUGH RIGHT NOW, SO
MANY ARE EXPECTED TO BE VETOED,
LIKE PARTICULAR VOTING
RESTRICTIONS OR ENDING ENHANCED
UNEMPLOYMENT TO NOT ENFORCING
FEDERAL GUN RESTRICTIONS.
BUT WHAT IS THE POINT OF NOT
EVEN TRYING HERE TO REACH
CONSENSUS?
>> WELL, THE IDEA THAT IF THEY
CAN'T REACH A CONSENSUS, THEY'RE
AT LEAST GOING TO SPEAK TO THEIR
VOTERS, CORE CONSTITUENCIES,
VOTERS.
REPUBLICANS WANT TO SEND A
MESSAGE AND SAY THIS IS WHAT WE
WOULD DO IF WE HAD COMPLETE
CONTROL.
DEMOCRATS DON'T HAVE THAT
ABILITY TO PASS THEIR OWN BILLS,
BUT THEY COULD HAVE THE GOVERNOR
ORDER A SPECIAL SESSION ON
MEDICAID EXPANSION AND SAY THESE
ARE WHAT WE WOULD DO IF WE HAD
COMPLETE CONTROL.
SO SIGNALING VOTERS AND DONORS.
>> ZAC SCHULTZ, WE LEAVE IT
THERE.
A LOT MORE FUN TO COME.
THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> NOW TO OUR DRY, HOT WEATHER.
BELOW LEVEL RAIN LEVELS ARE
UNCHANGED HEADING INTO THE
SUMMER, LEAVING WATER LEVELS LOW
AND FRONT YARDS SCROR SCORCHING.
MODERATE DROUGHT CONDITIONS
ACROSS THE STATE WITH ABNORMALLY
DRY CONDITIONS IN THE REST OF
WISCONSIN.
UW-MADISON CLIMATE RESEARCHER
AND AGRONOMY DEPARTMENT CHAIR
CHRISTOPER KUCHARIK IS ON TOP OF
THESE DEVELOPMENTS AND HE JOINS
US NOW FROM MADISON AND,
PROFESSOR, THANKS VERY MUCH FOR
DOING SO.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
<!32768>
>> SO WHAT KINDS OF HE PUBLIC
RADIO SIPPRECIPITATION DEFICIT ARE WE
RUNNING?
>> ABOUT HALF OF WHAT WE WOULD
GENERALLY GET.
THAT'S ABOUT TWO TO MAYBE FOUR
OR FIVE INCHES ACROSS THE
SOUTHERN PART OF THE STATE.
AND THAT'S EQUAL TO ABOUT A
MONTH TO MAYBE A MONTH AND A
HALF DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU ARE
OF THE NORMAL PRECIP WE WOULD
GET DURING THE SUMMERTIME AND
SPRING.
YOU KNOW, IT COULD BE MADE UP
QUICKLY DEPENDING ON IF YOU'RE
UNDER A HEAVY THUNDERSTORM.
BUT IT CAN TAKE A LOT TO MAKE UP
THAT KIND OF A DEFICIT QUICKLY.
>> YOU DON'T NECESSARILY WANT
THOSE GIANT DELUGES, EITHER.
THE NORTHERN PART OF THE STATE
IS NOT AS DRY, BUT THE WHOLE
STATE, AS YOU'VE REPORTED, HAD
BEEN BELOW NORMAL FOR MUCH OF
THE LAST YEAR.
SIGNIFICANTLY SO ACROSS THE
STATE?
>> MORE SO IN THE SOUTHERN HALF
OF THE STATE.
THE NORTH HAS BEEN SPARED A
LITTLE BIT AND THEY DID GET SOME
MORE PRECIPITATION YESTERDAY,
WHICH IS HELPING.
BUT THE WHOLE STATE HAS BEEN
SORT OF BEHIND AVERAGE,
PARTICULARLY THE LAST SIX
MONTHS, EVEN GOING BACK TO FALL
OF LAST YEAR, WHICH IS A PRETTY
BIG CHANGE COMPARED TO WHAT
WE'VE BEEN EXPERIENCING THE LAST
DECADE ACROSS THE STATE.
>> SO WHAT DOES THIS DROUGHT
CONDITION LOOK LIKE FOR CROPS IN
THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE STATE
AS WE SPEAK?
>> YEAH.
SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT TOO BAD
YET.
A MAJORITY OF OUR CROPS ARE
RATED IN THE FAIR TO GOOD RANGE.
AND THIS DROUGHT IS HAPPENING A
BIT EARLIER THAN NORMALLY WE
WOULD EXPERIENCE.
TYPICALLY IT WOULD BE JULY AND
AUGUST WHEN WE START TO SEE THE
MUCH HOTTER AND DRYER
CONDITIONS.
BUT WE'RE DOING OKAY AND THERE'S
A LOT OF THE GROWING SEASON LEFT
TO MAKE UP SOME OF THAT DEFICIT.
SO THE NEXT FOUR TO SIX WEEKS
WILL BE PRETTY IMPORTANT FOR
CROP DEVELOPMENT.
>> HOW DOES THIS YEAR LOOK
COMPARED TO THE DROUGHT OF 2012
WHICH WE ALL REMEMBER?
>> SURE.
YEAH.
GOOD QUESTION.
SO WE ARE STARTING EARLIER THIS
YEAR WITH THE DROUGHT
CONDITIONS.
WE'RE ABOUT A MONTH AHEAD OF
WHERE WE WERE IN 2012.
AND THAT REALLY IS BECAUSE OF
THE LACK OF SPRINGTIME PRECIP
THAT WE HAD.
IN 2012 WE HAD ABOUT DOUBLE THE
SPRINGTIME RAIN WE'VE HAD IN
2021.
SO WE'RE GOING INTO THE SEASON
WITH A LOT LESS STORED IN THE
SOIL.
SO RIGHT NOW PLANS ARE GROWING.
THEY'RE JUST EMERGING AND
DEVELOPING AND TRYING TO PUT
ROOTS DEEPER TO FIND WATER AND
THEY'RE UNLIKELY TO FIND VERY
MUCH RIGHT NOW, WHICH IS
PROBABLY THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN THOSE TWO YEARS.
>> SO IN BETWEEN THEN AND NOW,
WE'VE ALSO SEEN YEARS AS WE'VE
KIND OF DESCRIBED WITH HEAVY
PRECIPITATION, DESCRIBED AS KIND
OF WEATHER WHIPLASH.
ARE WE THEN EXPERIENCING THE
EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE WITH
THESE EXTREMES?
>> YEAH.
THIS IS SOMETHING WE WORRY QUITE
A BIT ABOUT MOVING INTO THE
FUTURE, IS THE VARIABILITY
MOVING, YOU KNOW, VERY RAPIDLY
FROM ONE EXTREME TO THE NEXT.
AND FARMING IS ALREADY
CHALLENGING ENOUGH, YOU KNOW, IF
YOU TALK TO ANY FARMER.
THEY'RE ALWAYS WAITING FOR THE
NEXT RAIN OR THE NEXT DRY DAY TO
BE ABLE TO DO SOMETHING.
UNFORTUNATELY, THIS IS A TREND
THAT WE ANTICIPATE WILL CONTINUE
TO HAPPEN, WHERE WE GO FROM
REALLY WET TO REALLY DRY
CONDITIONS.
AND IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE FROM
YEAR TO YEAR.
IT CAN BE WITHIN A SEASON
ITSELF.
>> YEAH.
ALL RIGHT.
WELL, WE LOOK FOR RAIN.
CHRISTOPER KUCHARIK, THANKS VERY
MUCH AND THANKS FOR JOINING US
ON THIS.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> TURNING TO POLICE REFORM,
MILWAUKEE POLICE DEPARTMENT
POLICIES AND PROTOCOLS SHOW
PROGRESS IN LINE WITH NATIONAL
REFORMS EFFORTS ACCORDING TO A
RECENT ANALYSIS BY THE WISCONSIN
POLICY FORUM.
HOWEVER, THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES
TO DO MORE.
IN THIS WEEK'S NOON WEDNESDAY,
MARISA WOJCIK SPOKE WITH THE
FORUM'S PRESIDENT, ROB HENKEN.
>> YOUR REPORT HAD SIX MAIN
AREAS OF FOCUS: REIMAGINING
PUBLIC SAFETY, USE OF FORCE,
DATA COLLECTION, ACCOUNTABILITY,
TRAINING AND DEMILITARIZATION.
SO WHERE DOES MILWAUKEE'S
PROGRESS STAND?
>> I THINK ONE OF THE REAL
INTERESTING, FROM A POLICY
PERSPECTIVE, PART OF THIS WHOLE
CONVERSATION IS UNDER THIS
CATEGORY OF REIMAGINING POLICE
OR REIMAGINING PUBLIC SAFETY.
AND, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A RANGE
OF REIMAGINING REFORM EFFORTS
GOING ON.
ONE IS EFFORT TO DEFUND POLICE,
WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY VERY
CONTENTIOUS.
BUT A LOT OF THIS SPEAKS TO HOW
DO YOU USE LAW ENFORCEMENT AND
WHICH TYPES OF 911 CALLS AND
OTHER INCIDENTS DO YOU WANT LAW
ENFORCEMENT TO BE THE RESPONDER
VERSUS TRAINED CLINICIANS IN
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, VERSUS
EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES,
VERSUS JUST CIVILIANS WHEN IT'S
A TRAFFIC INCIDENT.
AND SO THERE'S A LOT OF AREA
THERE THAT REALLY WE'VE JUST
STARTED TO THINK ABOUT IN
MILWAUKEE.
SO I THINK THAT'S ONE WHERE
POTENTIALLY MORE PROGRESS CAN BE
MADE.
>> OF THE CITIES THAT YOU DID
COMPARE MILWAUKEE TO, HOW DID
MILWAUKEE STACK UP WHAT?
WHAT STOOD OUT TO YOU?
>> WE FOUND THAT I BELIEVE EACH
OF THE CITIES THAT WE LOOKED AT
HAD SOME SUBSTANTIAL CIVILIAN
PARTICIPATION IN TERMS OF THE
COMMITTEES OR GROUPS OF
INDIVIDUALS THAT WERE CHARGED
WITH REVIEWING CERTAIN
INCIDENTS, CRITICAL INCIDENTS,
WHEREAS IN THE CITY OF MILWAUKEE
FOR MPD THERE ARE INTERNAL
COMMITTEES CONSISTING OF MPD
PERSONNEL, BUT THERE IS NOT
CIVILIAN PARTICIPATION ON THOSE
COMMITTEES.
AND SO WE BROUGHT THIS TO THE
MILWAUKEE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S
ATTENTION AND I THINK THEY ARE
NOW SERIOUSLY LOOKING AT HOW TO
TRY TO PROVIDE FOR SOME CIVILIAN
INVOLVEMENT TO ENSURE THAT THESE
CRITICAL INCIDENTS ARE REVIEWED
NOT ONLY BY MEMBERS OF THE
DEPARTMENT ITSELF, BUT ALSO
EXTERNAL MEMBERS.
>> IS THERE ACCOUNTABILITY IN
TERMS OF ACCURATE REPORTING?
AND IF A POLICE OFFICER DOES
HAVE MISCONDUCT, THAT ANOTHER
OFFICER OR ANOTHER AREA OF THE
DEPARTMENT CAN STEP IN AND NOT
RECEIVE ANY SORT OF RETALIATION?
>> IN TERMS OF THIS QUESTION
ABOUT WHISTLEBLOWING AND, YOU
KNOW, THE EXTENT TO WHICH WE'RE
FINDING, YOU KNOW, THAT FELLOW
OFFICERS -- THAT THE BLUE WALL
DOES OR DOESN'T EXIST WHEN IT
COMES TO MILWAUKEE POLICE
DEPARTMENT AND OUR OFFICERS WHO
ARE SEEING THINGS THAT SHOULDN'T
BE HAPPENING TO THE EXTENT THAT
THEY ARE REPORTING THOSE, ARE
THERE PROPER CHANNELS.
YOU KNOW, MY HUMBLE OPINION IS
THAT THAT'S I THINK ONE OF THE
TOP TWO OR THREE AREAS OF
INCREASED FOCUS IN THE WAKE OF
THE GEORGE FLOYD INCIDENT THAT
IS NOW RECEIVING THE MOST
ATTENTION AND THE ATTENTION THAT
IT DOES DESERVE.
>> MARISA'S FULL INTERVIEW WITH
ROB HENKEN CAN BE VIEWED BY
GOING TO pbswisconsin.org AND
CLICKING ON THE NEWS PAGE.
THAT IS OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT.
NEXT WEEK, GOVERNOR TONY EVERS
WILL BE HERE TO DISCUSS HIS
DECISION TO RUN FOR REELECTION.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.