>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION.
>> STATE LAWMAKERS THIS WEEK
SUPPORT DROPPING TAXES ON
BUSINESS EQUIPMENT, EVEN AS A
BUDGET PLAN TO CUT INCOME AND
LOCAL PROPERTY TAXES GOES TO A
VOTE NEXT WEEK.
[CHANTING]
>> AND IMMIGRANT WORKERS SEEK
CITIZENSHIP ON A MARCH FROM
MILWAUKEE TO MADISON.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW," ZAC
SCHULTZ REPORTS ON HOW PROPERTY
TAXES GUIDE THE POLITICAL DEBATE
AT ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT.
TWO EXPERTS DISCUSS WHY CRITICAL
RACE THEORY IS NO SO CONTROVERSIAL.
WE TALK WITH A RELIGIOUS LEADER
ADVOCATING AGAINST VOTER
SUPPRESSION.
AND WE'LL FOLLOW MARCHERS ON
THEIR TREK ACROSS THE STATE.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR JUNE 25.
>> FUNDING IS PROVIDED BY FOCUS
FUND FOR JOURNALISM AND PBS
WISCONSIN.
>> THE COMPLICATED GOP STATE
BUDGET MACHINATIONS OVER TAX
CUTS LEAVE SCHOOL DISTRICTS
ABOUT EVEN, BUT ALLOW FOR
FEDERAL COVID RELIEF DOLLARS TO
FLOW INTO WISCONSIN.
BUDGET WRITERS BROUGHT DOWN
PROPERTY TAXES.
THEY THEN BACKFILLED SCHOOL
FUNDING WITH STATE DOLLARS.
THAT MAINTAINED EL ELIGIBILITY FOR
FEDERAL FUNDS WHICH WOULD HAVE
BEEN FORFEITED HAD WISCONSIN NOT
OBLIGED TO THE MAINTENANCE OF
EFFORT THRESHOLD FOR FUNDING OF
SCHOOLS.
PROPERTY TAXES ARE A VEXING AND
IMPORTANT DRIVER FOR HOMEOWNERS,
SCHOOL AND POLITICIANS.
ZAC SCHULTZ UNRAVELS THE WAY IT
WORKS.
>> IF YOU LIVE IN WISCONSIN,
THERE'S ALMOST NO ESCAPING THE
PROPERTY TAX.
EVEN IF YOU DON'T OWN A HOME,
YOU'RE PAYING YOUR LANDLORD'S
PROPERTY TAX BILL THROUGH YOUR
REPRESENT AND THAT BILL CAN BE
BIG.
<!32768> IN
>> JASON STEIN IS RESEARCHER
DIRECTOR AT THE POLICY FORUM AND
STUDIES THE MATTER.
WISCONSIN STANDS OUT IN HOW MUCH
WE RELY ON THE PROPERTY TAX.
>> WE RELY VERY HEAVILY ON THE
PROPERTY TAX TO FUND LOCAL
GOVERNMENT.
>> COUNTIES, TOWNS, VILLAGES
SCHOOL DISTRICTS COLLECT TAXES
TO FUND SERVICES LIKE POLICE AND
FIRE, PARKS, ROADS AND THE
COURTS.
WHEN YOU OPEN YOUR BILL, YOU CAN
SEE WHERE YOUR MONEY IS GOING
AND HOW IT ALL ADDS UP.
HOW MUCH YOU PAY IS BASED ON THE
VALUE OF YOUR PROPERTY.
LET'S LOOK AT TWO HOMEOWNERS IN
THE CITY OF ONALASKA LOCATED
NORTH OF LA CROSSE ON THE
MISSISSIPPI RIVER.
THE OWNER OF THIS $800,000 HOME
IN THE BLUFFS OWED NEARLY
$14,000 IN 2020.
DOWN THE HILL, THE OWNER OF THIS
$170,000 HOME PAID $2700.
>> SO IF YOU ASK ANY HOMEOWNER
IN WISCONSIN, HEY, WHAT'D YOU
PAY IN PROPERTY TAXES LAST YEAR,
THEY'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO GIVE
YOU A NUMBER THAT IS CLOSE OR
EVEN EXACT TO WHAT THEY PAID.
>> ONE REASON IT STANDS OUT IS
IT COMES IN ONE LARGE BILL.
YOU PAY SALES TAX ON EACH
TRANSACTION.
YOU PAY YOUR INCOME TAXES ON
EACH PAYCHECK.
THE PROPERTY TAX STANDS ALONE.
>> YOU COMBINE BOTH THE SALIENCE
AND THE ACTUAL SIZE OF IT AND IT
TENDS TO LOOMS PRETTY LARGE IN
PEOPLE'S MINDS.
>> IN THEORY, PROPERTY TAX
LEVIES ARE SET AT THE LOCAL
LEVEL BY SCHOOL BOARDS AND CITY
COUNCILS.
BUT IN REALITY PROPERTY TAXES
ARE CONTROLLED AT THE STATE
LEVEL BY POLITICIANS AND THE
LEGISLATURE.
>> THE GOAL OBVIOUSLY IS TO KEEP
PROPERTY TAXES LOW.
>> REPRESENTATIVE TONY KURTZ IS
A REPUBLICAN ON THE JOINT
FINANCE COMMITTEE WHICH WRITES
THE STATE BUDGET.
>> I THINK EVERYBODY, ESPECIALLY
MY AREA, WHEN YOU GET THAT
PROPERTY TAX BILL, EVERYBODY
HOLDS THEIR BREATH.
>> REPUBLICANS FIXATE ON
PROPERTY TAXES BECAUSE THAT'S
WHAT THEIR VOTERS TELL THEM TO
DO.
>> I KEPT HEARING DON'T RAISE MY
PROPERTY TAXES.
SO IN MY AREA, THAT'S A
SENSITIVE ISSUE.
>> THE STATE HAS TRADITIONALLY
CONTROLLED PROPERTY TAXES IN TWO
WAYS, BY USING THE STATE BUDGET
TO HELP PAY FOR SERVICES
PROVIDED THROUGH GENERAL AID TO
SCHOOLS AND SHARED REVENUE FOR
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND BY USING
STATE LAW TO ELIMINATE LOCAL
CONTROL AND ENFORCE REVENUE
LIMITS, PREVENTING PROPERTY
TAXES FROM INCREASING.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN UNDER
REVENUE LIMITS SINCE THE 1990s
WHEN THE STATE PROMISED TO PAY
TWO-THIRDS OF THE SCHOOL'S COST
IN EXCHANGE FOR A CAP ON
PROPERTY TAXES.
WHILE THE STATE RAIRG LIVES UP
TO ITS END OF THE BARGAIN, IT
DOES SET HOW MUCH THE CAPS CAN
RISE.
>> THINK OF THAT AS A BUCKET OR
CONTAINER.
>> KENT ELLICKSON IS THE
DIRECTOR OF FINANCE FOR THE
SCHOOL DISTRICT OF ONALASKA.
HE COMPARES THE BUDGET TO A
BUCKET AND THE REVENUE LIMITS
CAP THE SIZE OF THE BUCKET.
>> SO THE STATE SETS THE SIZE OF
THAT BUCKET AND THEY DETERMINE
HOW MUCH THEY'RE GOING TO FILL
UP THAT BUCKET.
>> ELLICKSON SAYS AFTER THE
STATE FILLS PART OF THE BUCKET,
THE SCHOOLS LEVY PROPERTY TAXES
TO FILL THE REST.
IF THE BUCKET ISN'T BIG ENOUGH,
THEY ASK THEIR TAXPAYERS TO PASS
AN OPERATING REFERENDUM TO
INCREASE THE REVENUE LIMIT.
>> IT HAS BEEN DECADES OF
FUNDING WITH CONTINUAL OPERATION
REFERENDA.
THAT SUPPORTS A SIGNIFICANT
CHUNK OF OUR BUDGETS.
>> CITIES, VILLAGES, TOWNS AND
COUNTIES HAVE BEEN UNDER LIMITS
SINCE THE 2000s.
THAT WAS ZEROED OUT UNDER
GOVERNOR SCOTT WALKER.
THE TAX LEVY CAN ONLY INCREASE
BY THE VALUE IN NEW
CONSTRUCTION, WHICH IS A VERY
SMALL NUMBER IN MOST
MUNICIPALITIES.
>> THIS PAST YEAR WAS 1.5%.
THAT DOESN'T RECOGNIZE
INFLATION.
>> STEVE O'MALLEY IS LA CROSSE
CBT ADMINISTRATOR.
>> WE'VE SEEN LITTLE GROWTH IN
STATE REVENUE.
>> STATE AND FEDERAL MANDATES
REQUIRE THEM TO MAINTAIN
HIGHWAYS, THE JAILS, THE COURTS
AND PROVIDE HUMAN SERVICES.
>> YOU HAVE TO CUT BUDGETS,
POSITIONS.
WE'VE DECREASED THE NUMBER OF
FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES WITHIN
LA CROSSE COUNTY, AS HAVE MOST
COUNTIES ACROSS THE STATE.
>> O'MALLEY SAYS THE STATE
SHOULD INCREASE SHARED REVENUE
BECAUSE HE DOESN'T WANT TO
INCREASE PROPERTY TAXES.
>> IT'S JUST THE HIP HYPOCRISY.
THEY DON'T HAVE TO PAY FOR WHAT
THEY MANDATE COUNTIES TO
PROVIDE.
>> THOSE LIMITS ARE GOING TO
STRANGLE US.
>> THE TECHNICAL COLLEGES MAKE
UP ANOTHER LINE ON YOUR TAX BILL
BILL.
WESTERN TECHNICAL COLLEGE COVERS
AN 11-COUNTY AREA.
THEY HAVE LIMITED AUTHORITY TO
RAISE PROPERTY TAXES WIPED OUT
BY GOVERNOR WALKER.
>> WE WERE ACCOUNTABLE UNDER A
SYSTEM AND IT WAS A SYSTEM THAT
WORKED AND IT WAS A
REPRESENTATIVE SYSTEM BECAUSE IT
REPRESENTED OUR COUNTIES.
>> HE SAYS THE LEVY LIMITS HURT
THEIR ABILITY TO OFFER NEW JOB
TRAINING PROGRAMS THAT ARE
REQUESTED BY LOCAL EMPLOYERS
BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE THE
MONEY TO CREATE NEW CLASSES.
HE SAYS PEOPLE FOCUSED ON THEIR
TAX BILL NEED TO UNDERSTAND A
SMALL INCREASE CAN LEAD TO MORE
JOBS.
>> SO ANYTIME YOU SAVE THEM $6,
$7, $8 ON THAT TAX BILL, THAT
FEELS GOOD.
WHEN YOU ADD IT ON THERE, YOU GO
WHAT AM I DIRECTLY GETTING FOR
THAT.
IT'S HARD FOR SOMEONE TO SAY
THERE'S A BETTER WORK.
THEY ADDED ANOTHER SECTION OF
WELDING.
IT DOESN'T TRANSFER THAT WAY.
>> WE HEAR ABOUT THAT
CONSTANTLY.
>> SENATOR MARY FELZKOWSKI IS A
REPUBLICAN ON THE JOINT FINANCE
COMMITTEE.
SHE AGREES VOTERS DON'T ALWAYS
UNDERSTAND THE LINK BETWEEN
PROPERTY TAXES AND THE SERVICES
THEY PAY FOR.
>> PROBABLY NOT.
BUT IT'S STILL THE DIFFERENCE OF
CAN I AFFORD TO STAY IN MY HOUSE
OR NOT.
>> REPUBLICANS COULD INCREASE
THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THE STATE
GIVES LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND
SCHOOLS TO REDUCE THEIR RELIANCE
ON PROPERTY TAXES.
BUT OVER THE LAST DECADE,
THEY'VE CHOSEN A DIFFERENT
ROUTE, POURING MORE STATE MONEY
INTO PROPERTY TAX CREDITS.
THESE CREDITS APPEAR ON YOUR
PROPERTY TAX BILL AS A NEGATIVE
NUMBER, REDUCING THE AMOUNT YOU
OWE.
THE STATE USES MONEY COLLECTED
FROM SALES AND INCOME TAXES TO
PAY OFF A PORTION OF YOUR
PROPERTY TAXES.
THE FIRST DOLLAR CREDIT ADDS UP
TO $150 MILLION A YEAR STATEWIDE
AND IT'S THE SAME NUMBER FOR ALL
HOMEOWNERS IN EACH SCHOOL
DISTRICT.
THE LOTTERY CREDIT COMES FROM
PROCEEDS FROM THE LOTTERY AND
IT'S THE SAME FOR ALL HOMEOWNERS
AS WELL.
THE SCHOOL LEVY CREDIT IS THE
BIG ONE AND IT'S USED TO LOWER
THE TAX RATE IN EACH SCHOOL
DISTRICT AND THIS IS WHERE
REPUBLICANS HAVE INVESTED MORE
AND MORE MONEY, TO THE POINT
WHERE THE STATE BUDGET SPENDS
NEARLY A BILLION DOLLARS A YEAR
ON THE SCHOOL LEVY CREDIT.
>> BOTH PROPERTY AND INCOME
TAXES WILL BE LOWER IN 2018 THAN
THEY WERE IN 2010.
>> THIS ACCELERATED DURING SCOTT
WALKER'S TIME AS GOVERNOR.
HE STARTED CAMPAIGNING ON A
PLEDGE TO MAKE PROPERTY TAXES
LOWER THAN WHEN HE TOOK OFFICE.
AND WHEN FREEZING LEVY LIMITS
WASN'T ENOUGH, HE STARTED
PUMPING MORE STATE MONEY INTO
CREDITS.
REPUBLICANS INCREASED THE SIZE
OF THE SCHOOL LEVY CREDIT IN
2013, '16 AND '18.
IN 2014, THEY ADDED $420 MILLION
IN STATE DOLLARS TO THE
TECHNICAL COLLEGE BUDGET BUT
REQUIRED THEM TO LOWER PROPERTY
TAXES BY THE SAME AMOUNT.
IN 2017, THEY ELIMINATED THE
STATE FOR FORESTRY TAX.
THEY PUT MONEY INTO FUNDING THE
LOTTERY SO THAT CREDIT WOULD
INCREASE.
IN THE LAST DECADE THE STATE HAS
INVESTED $13.6 BILLION TO BUY
DOWN PROPERTY TAXES.
BUT WHO'S SEEN THE MOST BENEFIT
FROM THAT INVESTMENT?
WHO'S SAVING THE MOST MONEY?
THE PEOPLE WHO OWN THE MOST
PROPERTY, OF COURSE.
LET'S LOOK AT OUR HOMEOWNERS IN
ONALASKA.
IN 2011, THIS HOME WAS VALUED AT
$706,000 AND THE OWNER PAID
$14,000 IN PROPERTY TAXES.
OVER THE NEXT TEN YEARS, THE
HOME WENT UP $95,000 IN ASSESSED
VALUE, TO $801,000.
BUT IN 2020 THE PROPERTY TAXES
HAD GONE DOWN FROM WHERE THEY
WERE IN 2011, TO $13,992.
OVER THE YEARS, THOSE THREE TAX
CREDITS ON THE BILL SAVED THE
OWNER $14,000.
DOWN THE HILL, THIS HOME WAS
VALUED AT $108,000 IN 2011 AND
PAID $2,000.
OVER THE DECADE, THIS HOME WENT
UP $60,000 IN VALUE, BUT BY 2020
THE PROPERTY TAXES WERE UP TO
$2780.
THE THREE CREDITS SAVED THIS
HOMEOWNER JUST UNDER $4,000.
REPUBLICANS LIKE SENATOR FELL
COWSAYSIT'S OKAY IF THE WEALTHY PAY
MORE.
>> IF HE'S GOING TO PAY MORE,
HE'S GOING TO SAVE MORE.
>> REPUBLICANS SAY CONTROLLING
PROPERTY TAXES WAS ALL ABOUT
HELPING PEOPLE AFFORD TO STAY IN
THEIR HOMES.
>> WHEN WE CAN KEEP PROPERTY
TAXES LOW THAT'S GOING TO KEEP
THOSE PEOPLE ON THOSE FIXED
INCOMES.
>> BUT INCREASING THE SCHOOL
LEVY CREDIT IS NOT THE BEST WAY
TO ACHIEVE THAT GOAL.
>> IF YOU WANT TO ENSURE THAT
SAY ELDERLY PEOPLE REMAIN IN
THEIR HOMES, THEN NO.
THERE WOULD BE MORE EFFICIENT
WAYS TO DO THAT.
>> WE HAVE IT SORT OF UPSIDE
DOWN IN WISCONSIN.
>> ANDREW RESCHOVSKY IS A
PROFESSOR EMERITUS AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN.
HE STUDIES PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND
ONE OF HIS STUDIES FOUND ONLY
ABOUT HALF OF THE SCHOOL LEVY
CREDIT GOES TO WISCONSIN
HOMEOWNERS.
THE REST OF THE CREDITS GO TO
OWNERS OF FARMLAND, COMMERCIAL
PROPERTY, INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY
AND OUT-OF-STATE OWNERS.
MOST OF THE CREDIT GOES TO
WEALTHY PROPERTY AREAS.
>> THE WAY THE LEVY CREDIT
WORKS, THEY GET A LARGER
PROPORTION OF THE TOTAL CREDIT.
>> THE PROFESSOR SAYS IF THE
GOAL IS TO HELP LOW-INCOME
HOMEOWNERS PAY THEIR PROPERTY
TAXES, THE SOLUTION IS NOT
THROUGH THE PROPERTY TAX BILL,
BUT THROUGH THE INCOME TAX
RETURN.
>> THE HOMESTEAD CREDIT IS WHAT
IS CALLED A CIRCUIT BREAKER.
>> THE HOMESTEAD CREDIT KICKS IN
IF THE PROPORTION OF YOUR
PROPERTY TAXES IS HIGH COMPARED
TO YOUR INCOME.
BUT COMPARED TO OTHER PROPERTY
TAX CREDITS, IT'S VERY LIMITED.
>> OVER THE LAST TEN YEARS, THE
NUMBER OF PEOPLE GETTING THE
CREDIT HAS HALVED.
>> IN FACT, THE HOMESTEAD CREDIT
IS THE ONE AREA OF PROPERTY TAX
RELIEF REPUBLICANS HAVE CUT OVER
THE LAST DECADE, DOWN 45% FROM
WHERE IT WAS IN 2011.
>> IT'S TINY.
TINY AMOUNT OF MONEY RELATIVE
EXAMPLE TO THE SCHOOL LEVY
CREDIT.
>> IN THE SAME DECADE WISCONSIN
SPENT $13 BILLION TO LOWER
PROPERTY TAXES.
THE STATE SPENT JUST $1 BILLION
ON THE HOMESTEAD CREDIT.
>> THE IRONY IS THAT BY THAT
FOCUS, WE ARE NOT ACHIEVING THE
POLITICAL GOAL THAT THE
LEGISLATORS WANTED IN THE
BEGINNING, WHICH WAS TO TARGET
THOSE PEOPLE WHO REALLY NEED
RELIEF.
>> REPORTING FROM ONALASKA, I'M
ZAC SCHULTZ FOR "HERE AND NOW."
>> YOU HEARD ZAC REPORT ON LEVY
LIMITS PLACED ON SCHOOLS AND
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.
REPUBLICAN BUDGET WRITERS KEPT
THOSE CAPS IN PLACE IN THE
BUDGET TO BE VOTED ON NEXT WEEK.
MEANWHILE, EARLIER THIS MONTH A
GROUP OF STATE REPUBLICAN
LAWMAKERS INTRODUCED LEGISLATION
THAT WOULD PROHIBIT PUBLIC
SCHOOLS THE UW AND TECH COLLEGES
FROM TEACHING CRITICAL RACE
THEORY, A DECADES OLD ACADEMIC
THEORY THAT HOLDS THAT RACISM IS
SYSTEMATIC, BUILT INTO SOCIETAL
INSTITUTIONS SINCE THE DAYS OF
SLAVERY.
GLORIA LADSON-BILLINGS IS ONE OF
THE ACADEMICS WHO FIRST APPLIED
THE CRITICAL RACE THEORY TO HER
EDUCATION POLICY RESEARCH.
SHE'S A PROFESSOR AT UW-MADISON
AND NOW THE PRESIDENT OF THE
NATIONAL ACADEMY OF EDUCATION.
BUT HOW DOES CRITICAL RACE
THEORY CROSS OVER INTO TODAY'S
POLITICS?
TO THAT, WE ASK EMERITUS
PROFESSOR JOHN WITTE, A POLICY
EXPERT WHO SAYS THE CONCEPT IS
WIDELY MISUNDERSTOOD.
AND THEY BOTH JOIN US NOW AND
THANKS FOR BEING HERE.
>> WELCOME.
>> A PLEASURE.
>> WELL, FIRST TO YOU, PROFESSOR
BILLINGS, WHAT IS CRITICAL RACE
THEORY?
>> IT IS AN ATTEMPT TO BEGIN TO
UNDERSTAND RACIAL DISPARITY.
IF YOU LOOK OVER THE HISTORY OF
THE NATION, WE STARTED OUT IN
1600 UP INTO THE MID 20TH
CENTURY LITERALLY SAYING THAT
THE REASON THAT THERE WERE
RACIAL DISPARITIES IS BECAUSE
THERE WERE BIOLOGICAL AND
INTELLECTUAL DEFICIENCIES.
WE'VE FINALLY PUT THAT MYTH TO
REST AND IT'S FALLEN OUT OF
FAVOR.
I WOULD SAY IN THE NEXT FEW
YEARS WE BEGAN TO LOOK AT ISSUES
OF EQUAL OPPORTUNITY.
SO WE HAD THE BROWN DECISION.
CERTAINLY WE HAD RECONSTRUCTION,
WE HAD THE BROWN DECISION, THE
CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT, THE
VOTING RIGHTS ACT.
SO WE'VE HAD OPPORTUNITIES.
BUT THEY ALL GET ROLLED BACK.
WE CAN SHOW YOU CLEARLY IN THE
HISTORY OF THE NATION THAT WE
ROLL THOSE BACK.
SO CRITICAL RACE THEORY IS YET
ANOTHER WAY TO THINK ABOUT HOW
DO WE UNDERSTAND RACIAL
DISPARITY.
>> SO WISCONSIN U.S.
REPRESENTATIVE GLEN GROTHMAN HAS
INTRODUCED A BILL BANNING ITS
TEACHING SAYING THE PURPOSE OF
THIS RETELLING OF AMERICAN
HISTORY IS TO TO TRY TO SET
AMERICAN AGAINST AMERICAN HE
SAYS AND THAT QUOTE THE CRT
CURRICULUM THAT ENLIGHTENED
EDUCATORS TEACHES OUR CHILDREN
TO HATE EACH OTHER AND OUR
COUNTRY MEN.
THERE ARE NO BOGEYMAN HOLDING
PEOPLE BACK.
PROFESSOR LADSON-BILLINGS, WHAT
IS YOUR RESPONSE TO THAT?
>> THE BOOGEYMAN IS THAT CRT IS
IN K-12 SCHOOLS.
IT'S THERE AS MUCH AS UNICORNS
ARE THERE.
IT'S NOT IN THE CURRICULUM.
I WOULD ADVISE REPRESENTATIVE
GROTHMAN TO GO UP BASCOM HILL
AND LOOK AT THE PLAQUE ABOUT
SIFTING AND WINNOWING THAT SAYS
THIS IS A STATE THAT WILL NOT
PROHIBIT THE SEARCH FOR THE
TRUTH.
THEY DIDN'T WANT PROFESSOR ELY
IN THE 1800s TO TEACH
SOCIALISM.
I'M VERY HARTENED BY THE FACT
THAT WE HAD THE JOINT CHIEFS OF
STAFF GENERAL SAY THE OTHER DAY
THAT HE HAD READ LENIN AND MARX.
IT DIDN'T MAKE HIM A COMMUNIST.
>> DID CRITICAL RACE THEORY
TEACH TO HATE WHITE PEOPLE?
>> ABSOLUTELY NOT.
IN SEVERAL OF THE INTERVIEWS
THAT I HAVE DONE BEFORE I'VE
DONE INTERVIEWS WITH PRINT
REPORTERS, I'VE SENT THEM
ARTICLES I'VE WRITTEN AND THEN
WHEN THEY CONTACT ME, I SAID,
WHAT IN THE ARTICLE SAYS THAT
YOU SHOULD HATE WHITE PEOPLE.
THEY ALL AGREE, IT'S NOT THERE.
IT IS NOT THERE.
>> PROFESSOR WITTE, WE KNOW THAT
PRESIDENT TRUMP BANNED ANY
FEDERAL TRAINING IN CRITICAL
RACE THEORY, WHITE PRIVILEGE OR
OTHER WHAT HE CALLED POP PROPAGANDA.
WAS THAT DIRECTLY THE GENESIS OF
POLITICIZING CRITICAL RACE
THEORY?
>> OH, YES, IT WAS, THAT AND
JANUARY 6.
STARTS WITH JANUARY 6 AND THEN
TRUMP GETS INVOLVED.
BUT THERE ARE MISUNDERSTANDINGS
ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS, I THINK.
WHILE GLORIA HAS LAID IT OUT
ACCURATELY, DIFFERENT PEOPLE
INTERPRET IT DIFFERENTLY.
SO THE PEOPLE THAT ARE
PROPONENTS OF IT, THEY POINT TO
THE HISTORIC ORIGINS OF IT,
SLAVERY, AND THEY ALSO ARGUE
THAT IT'S STILL A PRESENT
PROBLEM NOW WITH INEQUITIES.
THE DIFFERENCE IS THAT THE
OPPONENTS SAY THAT THERE'S A
BLAME GAME HERE, THAT THE
CURRENT GENERATION IS SOMEHOW TO
BLAME FOR WHAT HAPPENED
HISTORICALLY AND IT'S THEIR
RESPONSIBILITY TO RECTIFY IT.
THAT'S WHERE YOU GET THE HUGE
DIVIDE AND YOU GET THE VERY
STRIDENT DIFFERENCES BETWEEN
THOSE POSITIONS.
>> SO WHAT SHOULD WE MAKE OF THE
WAY THAT PROPOSALS TO BAN
CRITICAL RACE THEORY AS A SCHOOL
SUBJECT ARE SWEEPING THE NATION?
>> WELL, MY VIEW HAS BEEN THAT
BECAUSE OF THE DIFFERENCES IN
OPINION WHAT IT MEANS, YOU
SHOULD BE VERY GINGER ABOUT
TEACHING IT.
I WOULD NOT INTRODUCE IT TO
ELEMENTARY STUDENTS OR EVEN
MIDDLE SCHOOLS.
I DO THINK IT SHOULD BE
INTRODUCED IN HIGH SCHOOLS
BECAUSE IT'S ALL OVER THE NEWS.
IT'S GOING TO BE ALL OVER THIS
SHOW TONIGHT.
AND I HOPE THAT THERE ARE SOME
HIGH SCHOOL KIDS OUT THERE
WATCHING AND READING THOSE
THINGS.
I THINK THERE YOU CAN DISCUSS IT
IN A REASONABLE MANNER.
YOU GOT TO APPROACH IT IN A
GINGERLY MANNER BECAUSE YOU CAN
GET VERY BAD FEELINGS ON BOTH
SIDES, AFRICAN-AMERICANS AND
WHITE PEOPLE.
>> REPRESENTATIVE
LAWSON-BILLINGS, IS IT PART OF
SCHOOL CURRICULUM NOW?
<!32768> IT IS NOT.
I WOULD NOT INTRODUCE IT IN HIGH
SCHOOL.
IT'S A THEER RYE.
THEORY.
WHO NEEDS THEORY?
GRADUATE STUDENTS.
I NEVER INTRODUCED IT EVEN TO
UNDERGRADUATES.
I WORKED WITH GRADUATE STUDENTS
WHO ARE LOOKING FOR A
THEORETICAL FRAME TO BOLSTER AN
ARGUMENT AND THAT'S WHERE IT
RESIDES.
>> PROFESSOR WITTE, YOU HAVE
SAID A DIFFERENT TERM ALTOGETHER
SHOULD BE USED TO DISCUSS RACIAL
DISPARITIES.
WHY?
>> I WOULD DROP CRITICAL RACE
THEORY AND FIND OTHER TERMS TO
DEAL WITH IT, HOWEVER THEY WANT
TO PHRASE IT.
I DON'T THINK -- I DISAGREE WITH
GLORIA HERE.
I DON'T THINK YOU SHOULD AVOID
IT.
NOW, THAT'S PART MY WHAT I DO.
I BRING -- MY WHOLE CAREER I
BROUGHT IN THE MOST
CONTROVERSIAL THINGS I COULD
FIND.
WE TALKED ABOUT ABORTION AT THE
UNDERGRADUATE LEVEL, VERY HEATED
ISSUES.
I STUDIED EDUCATIONAL VOUCHERS,
VERY HEATED ISSUE IN THE
EDUCATION WORLD.
I TALKED ABOUT IT
STRAIGHTFORWARD AND BOTH SIDES
GIVEN.
I THINK THE SAME THING SHOULD
HAPPEN HERE.
YOU HAVE TO BE VERY SENSITIVE TO
DOING IT.
I AGREE WITH HER THERE.
I AGREE WITH THAT.
BECAUSE YOU GOT TO ALWAYS WATCH
THE FACES OF PEOPLE TO SEE WHO'S
BEING HARMED AND WHO'S GETTING
VERY ANGRY.
YOU CAN TELL THAT IN THE
CLASSROOM.
YOU CAN SEE IT AND WATCH FOR
THAT.
>> I WANT TO ASK ONE LAST
QUESTION QUICKLY OF YOU,
PROFESSOR BILLINGS.
APART FROM THE BROUHAHA OVER
CRITICAL RACE THEORY, WHAT IS
THE IMPORTANCE OF TEACHING
CULTURALLY ACCURATE HISTORY?
>> I'VE BEEN VERY FORTUNATE THAT
WE HAVE JUST PUT OUT A REPORT ON
CIVIC DISCOURSE AND CIVIC
REASONING.
THAT'S THE PLACE WHERE I THINK
WE HAVE TO GO AS A NATION.
AS JOHN MENTIONED, JANUARY 6
SHOWED US CLEARLY WE DON'T KNOW
HOW TO SIT DOWN AND TALK WHEN WE
DISAGREE.
SO THAT'S THE WORK THAT WE HAVE
TO DO, IS FIGURE OUT HOW DO WE
HAVE CIVIL DISCOURSE, EVEN WHEN
WE DON'T SEE THE WORLD THE SAME
WAY.
>> WE NEED TO LEAVE IT THERE.
PROFESSORS, THANK YOU VERY MUCH
FOR YOUR INSIGHTS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THIS WEEK, THE STATE ASSEMBLY
PASSED A SLATE OF
ELECTION-RELATED BILLS THAT WILL
HEAD TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK AND
ARE LIKELY TO BE VETOED,
REQUIRING VOTERS TO PRESENT
VOTER I.D. TO VOTE AND MAKE
VOTERS REAPPLY EACH ELECTION TO
RECEIVE A BALLOT.
DEMOCRATS SAY IT MAKES IT HARDER
TO VOTE.
>> SINCE NOVEMBER 2020
REPUBLICANS HAVE BEEN
PERPETUATING THEORIES THAT THE
2020 ELECTION WAS STOLEN,
LEADING TO ARMED
INSURRECTIONISTS STORMING THE
CAPITOL.
NOW THEY WANT TO USE THE DOUBTS
TO CHANGE STATE ELECTION LAW.
>> THE GOAL IS TO MAKE SURE THAT
EVERY PERSON HAS THE CHANCE TO
VOTE, BUT THAT WE GUARANTEE
CONFIDENCE IN THE ELECTION,
WHICH HAS BEEN SEVERELY
UNDERMINED BY THE ACTIONS OF A
FEW OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST
ELECTION CYCLE HOPEFULLY ARE A
THING OF THE PAST.
>> CHANGING THE RULES HAS BECOME
A TOP PRIORITY FOR REPUBLICANS
ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
THEY SAY THEIR OBJECTIVE IS TO
MAINTAIN INTEGRITY OF THE VOTE.
RABBI BONNIE MARGULIS SPOKE IN
THIS "NOON WEDNESDAY" ASKING
WHETHER THE STATUS OF THE BILLS
MATTERS.
>> GOVERNOR EVERS IS GOING TO
MORE THAN LIKELY VETO THESE
BILLS, BUT WHAT'S THE IMPACT OF
THE BILLS ACTUALLY BEING
INTRODUCED AND PUT OUT THERE?
WHAT KIND OF PRESSURE IS THAT
PUTTING ON THE VOTING PROCESS?
>> PEOPLE DON'T ALWAYS READ TO
THE END OF A NEWS ITEM TO READ
THAT THE GOVERNOR VETOED THESE
BILLS BUT JUST HEAR THAT THEY'RE
OUT THERE AND IT MAKES FOR A LOT
OF CONFUSION AND A LOT OF PEOPLE
NOT REALLY KNOWING CAN I DO
THIS, CAN'T I DO THIS, WHAT'S
THE LAW NOW.
AND THE MORE PEOPLE ARE
CONFUSED, THE MORE RELUCTANT
THEY ARE TO EVEN TRY TO VOTE.
SO IT REALLY HAS A VERY NEGATIVE
EFFECT ON VOTER REGISTRATION AND
VOTER TURNOUT, WHICH, SADLY, IS
THE PURPOSE OF THESE BILLS AND
OF THE FALSE NARRATIVE THAT'S
BEING PROMOTED.
>> NOW TO IMMIGRATION NEWS AND
ONE GROUP'S EFFORT TO CREATE
CHANGES.
SUNDAY IMMIGRANT ESSENTIAL
WORKERS BEGAN A MARCH FROM
MILWAUKEE TO MADISON DEMANDING
CITIZENSHIP AND DRIVER'S
LICENSES FOR ALL.
>> BIDEN RAN ON A PROMISE OF
CITIZENSHIP.
DEMOCRATS CAN GET IT DONE BY
INTERVIEWING IT IN THIS JOBS
PACKET.
THIS MARCH IS TO INVITE PEOPLE
TO ELEVATE THOSE VOICES AND SEND
A MESSAGE THAT THEY ARE NOT
ALONE.
>> THIS MARCH IS PART OF A
BROADER NATIONAL MOVEMENT
FIGHTING TO INCLUDE CITIZENSHIP
FOR ALL IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE
BILL CURRENTLY BEING NEGOTIATED.
MARCHES SAID THIS WOULD NOT
ONLY HELP INDIVIDUALS, IT WOULD
ALSO BENEFIT THE ECONOMY.
>> OUR BUSINESS PARTNERS ARE
HURTING FOR FACTORY WORKERS,
DRIVERS, FOOD SERVICE AND MANY
OTHER JOBS.
BUSINESSES ARE HAVING TO CLOSE
BECAUSE OF THE CURRENT WORKFORCE
SHORTAGE CRISIS.
>> THIS MARCH WILL END MONDAY,
JUNE 28, CONCLUDING WITH A
DEMONSTRATION AT THE STATE
CAPITOL.
THERE, PARTICIPANTS WILL TELL
THE COMMUNITY WHEN THEY EXPECT
IMMIGRATION REFORM.
>> THE TIME IS NOW!
THE TIME IS NOW!
>> FOR ONLINE COVERAGE ON YOU A
THE TOPICS WE COVERED TONIGHT,
GO TO pbswisconsin.org AND
CLICK ON THE NEWS PAGE.
THAT IS ALL FOR TONIGHT'S
PROGRAM.
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.