>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION.
>> THE STATE BUDGET STAYS IN THE
NEWS, INCLUDING A GOVERNOR EVERS
VETO THAT TAKES A BIGGER TAX
BITE OUT OF YOUR PAYCHECK.
CHILD TAX CREDIT CHECKS ARE IN
THE MAIL.
HOW MUCH AND WHAT IMPACT WILL
THE MONEY HAVE?
>> I AM RUNNING FOR REELECTION
AS ATTORNEY GENERAL OF
WISCONSIN.
>> AND ATTORNEY GENERAL JOSH
KAUL BECOMES THE INCUMBENT
CANDIDATE FOR THAT OFFICE IN
2022.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW,"
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW
ABOUT THE EXPANDED CHILD TAX
CREDIT.
ZAC SCHULTZ WITH ANALYSIS ON THE
BUDGET VETO THAT IMPACTS YOUR
TAKE-HOME PAY.
AND AN INTERVIEW WITH
NEWLY-ANNOUNCED INCUMBENT
CANDIDATE FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL
JOSH KAUL.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR JULY 16.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.
[APPLAUSE]
>> WHEN THE DUST SETTLED AFTER
ITS SIGNING, SENIOR POLITICAL
REPORTER ZAC SCHULTZ LOOK A LOOK
AT SOME OF THE VETOES GOVERNOR
EVERS MADE.
ONE OF THE VETOES HAS BEEN
DESCRIBED AS THE CRAZIEST THING
BY A UW-MADISON PROFESSOR WHO IS
A TAX AND BUDGET POLICY EXPERT.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE EVERS
VETO OF LANGUAGE THAT WOULD
UPDATE TAX WITHHOLDING TABLES.
YAWN, RIGHT?
WELL, NOT SO FAST.
ZAC SCHULTZ JOINS US FROM THE
CAPITOL TO EXPLAIN.
ZAC, CHAIRCHTIO THANKS A LOT FOG
US.
>> MY PLEASURE, FRED.
REPUBLICANS WROTE A BUDGET WITH
BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN TAX CUTS.
THE GOVERNOR SIGNED IT BUT
DIDN'T SIGN LANGUAGE THAT WOULD
ALIGN WITHHOLDING TABLES.
WHAT IS THE IMPLICATION OF NOT
ALIGNING THE WITHHOLDING TABLES?
>> WELL, THE IMPLICATION IS IF
YOU ARE RECEIVING A PAYCHECK AND
YOUR EMPLOYER TAKES OUT YOUR
STATE AND FEDERAL INCOME TAX OUT
WITH EVERY PAYCHECK, THEN YOU
WON'T SEE AN INCREASE IN YOUR
TAKE-HOME PAY DUE TO THESE TAX
CUTS.
IN THEORY, THIS WILL REDUCE YOUR
TAX BURDEN WHICH SHOULD LOWER
THE AMOUNT OF TAX YOU PAY BUT
YOU WON'T SEE THAT UNTIL YOU
FILE YOUR RETURN NEXT SPRING.
IT'S UP TO YOUR EMPLOYER TO
DECIDE HOW MUCH TO TAKE OUT
ACCORDING TO THESE WITHHOLDING
TABLE THE STATE SETS UP.
ANYONE CAN ADJUST THEIR OWN
WITHHOLDING NUMBERS BY CHANGING
THEIR W4 THROUGH THEIR
EMPLOYER'S HR SYSTEM, BUT IN
GENERAL THE EMPLOYER TAKES CARE
OF IT.
>> SO WHY DOES THE BUDGET EXPERT
CALL THIS THE CRAZIEST THING
HE'S EVER SEEN?
>> WELL, IT'S COMING FROM A TAX
EXPERT, AND THEY BELIEVE THAT
EVERYONE SHOULD WANT THEIR MONEY
AS SOON AS IT'S THEIR MONEY AND
THEY SHOULDN'T LET THE STATE
HOLD ON TO THEIR MONEY FOR AN
ENTIRE YEAR.
THESE ARE SOME OF THE PEOPLE
THAT WILL ADJUST THEIR OWN
WITHHOLDING TABLES ANYTIME
SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS THAT.
IT'S CRAZY TO THEM TO THINK THE
STATE WOULDN'T AUTOMATICALLY DO
THAT TO GET THE MONEY BACK OUT
TO THE PEOPLE.
>> SO THE STATE GETS TO HOLD ON
TO THE POT OF MONEY DERIVED FROM
PEOPLE BEING OVERTAXED, BUT NO
ONE IS GOING TO LOSE THAT MONEY
BECAUSE THEY'LL GET A BIGGER
REFUND COME FILING TIME.
>> THAT'S ABSOLUTELY CORRECT.
THE STATE'S GOING TO HOLD ON TO
THIS MONEY.
AND THE REASON WHY THIS
HAPPENED, THIS ISN'T A NEW
THING.
THE LAST TIME THE TAX
WITHHOLDING TABLES WERE ADJUSTED
WAS APRIL OF 2014.
SO MOREHAN SEVEN YEARS AGO.
THIS ISN'T JUST A GOVERNOR
EVERS' THING.
IT'S JUST THIS IS THE MOST
RECENT TAX CUT.
IT HASN'T BEEN DONE BECAUSE IT
COSTS A LOT OF MONEY TO PROPERLY
ADJUST THE WITHHOLDING TABLES.
THEN THE STATE DOESN'T HAVE THAT
MONEY, IT GOES OUT TO WORKERS.
REPUBLICANS PUT IT IN THE BUDGET
BECAUSE THEY SAID WE HAVE ALL
THE MONEY.
WE HAVE BUDGET FOR THAT ONE-TIME
PAYMENT OF $6 TO $7 MILLION
RIGHT NOW.
GOVERNOR EVERS VETOED THAT
BECAUSE HE SAYS HE WANTS THAT
MONEY TO BE AVAILABLE TO BE
REINVESTED IN EDUCATION
ESPECIALLY IF THE REQUIREMENTS
CHANGE TO CAPTURE THE COVID
DOLLARS COMING INTO PUBLIC
SCHOOLS.
SO THIS HAS IMPLICATIONS THAT GO
BACK TO EDUCATION AND MUCH
BROADER THAN JUST A WITHHOLDING
TABLE.
>> MUCH BROADER THAN JUST OUR
PAYCHECKS, APPARENTLY, UNDER THE
DOME THERE.
BUT THERE ARE TWO MORE PIECES TO
THIS.
ONE, THAT IF EVERS SIGNS THE TAX
WITHHOLDING TABLE LANGUAGE, THE
TAX CUTS WOULD BE PERMANENT?
IS THAT ACCURATE?
AND DOES THAT PLAY ANY PART IN
THE VETO?
>> WELL, THAT'S ONE OF THE
THEORIES OUT THERE SPECULATED BY
THIS UW PROFESSOR AS TO WHY
MAYBE IN THE CONSPIRACY LAND
GOVERNOR EVERS WOULDN'T DO THIS,
HOPING THE NEXT LEGISLATURE
WOULD BE DEMOCRATS AND IT WOULD
BE EASIER TO REPEAL THESE TAX
CUTS AND TAXPAYERS WOULDN'T KNOW
THE DIFFERENCE.
I TALKED TO PETER BARCA.
HE SAID ABSOLUTELY THAT IS NOT
TRUE, THATHE DOR CAN DO THIS
WHENEVER THEY WANT.
STATE LAW REQUIRES THE
DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE TO ADJUST
THE WITHHOLDING TABLES FROM TIME
TO TIME.
THE PROBLEM IS FROM TIME TO
TIME, WE'RE ALREADY SEVEN YEARS
IN AND IT HASN'T HAPPENED AND
THERE'S A LOT OF POLITICS THAT
GO INTO PLAYING WITH THIS, WHICH
IS WHY REPUBLICANS WANTED TO DO
IT NOW.
SECRETARY BARCA TOLD ME THAT ONE
OF THE REASONS THAT EVERS DIDN'T
DO IT NOW IS BECAUSE HE DOESN'T
LIKE BEING TOLD TO DO IT NOW.
THAT STATE LANGUAGE IN THE
BUDGET SAID IT HAD TO BE DONE BY
OCTOBER 1.
SECRETARY BARCA SAYS THEY PLAN
TO LOOK AT THE TABLES OVER THE
COURSE OF THE NEXT YEAR AND
ADJUST THOSE ACCORDINGLY.
HE JUST DN'T WANT A DEADLINE
THAT ACTUALLY IS COMING UP
PRETTY QUICKLY IN TERMS OF
MAKING THOSE ADJUSTMENTS NOW.
>> WOW.
LOTS OF STUFF.
BUT LET'S TOUCH ON ANOTHER STORY
YOU'VE BEEN WORKING ON.
NAMELY, MONEY FOR A SPECIALTY
CHARTER SCHOOL IN VILAS COUNTY.
GOVERNOR EVERS VETOED THIS.
WHY DID HE DO THAT ACCORDING TO
YOUR REPORTING?
>> WELL, THIS SPECIALTY SCHOOL
WAS CREATED A FEW YEARS AGO AS
PART OF A PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL IN
MINOCQUA.
IT HAS A LINE ITEM OF A MILLION.
THE GOVERNOR VETOED IT EACH
TIME, SAYING HE DOESN'T WANT TO
PICK WINNERS AND LOSERS.
IT'S A TINY SCHOOL.
THEY SERVE 30 STUDENTS.
WOULD GET ALL THIS MONEY WHEN HE
FEELS BUDGET SCHOOLS IN GENERAL
HAVEN'T BEEN FUNDED PROPERLY.
REPUBLICANS ARE SAYING THIS IS A
SPECIAL SCHOOL THAT'S BEEN
CREATEDO SERVE STUDENTS WITH
AUTISM.
YOU'LL HAVE TO GO TO THE STORY
AND LEARN ALL THE OTHER ESHES.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
THIS REPORTING, ZAC.
AGAIN, YOU CAN LOOK FOR THAT
REPORTING ON MONDAY ON
pbswisconsin.org AND THEN GO TO
THE NEWS PAGE.
ZAC, THANKS AGAIN FOR YOUR WORK.
>> MY PLEASURE.
THANKS.
>> SPEAKING OF TAXES, IF YOUR
HOUSEHOLD INCLUDES CHILDREN, YOU
SHOULD BE SEEING SOME EXTRA
MONEY RIGHT ABOUT NOW.
AS PART OF THE AMERICAN RESCUE
PLAN, PAYMENTS FROM THE EXPANDED
CHILD TAX CREDIT STARTED LANDING
IN BANK ACCOUNTS LATE THIS WEEK.
THE CREDIT IS $3600 A YEAR FOR
CHILDRENNDER SIX YEARS OLD AND
$3,000 FOR SIX THROUGH
17-YEAR-OLDS.
HALF OF THE CREDIT CAN BE
CLAIMED WHEN FILING INCOME TAXES
IN APRIL.
THE OTHER HALF GOES INTO MONTHLY
INSTALLMENTS THROUGH DECEMBER OF
THIS YEAR.
SO THAT'S $300 A MONTH FOR EACH
CHILD UNDER SIX AND $250 FOR
OLDER CHILDREN.
THE PAYMENTS START TO PHASE OUT
AT INCOMES OF $75,000 FOR
INDIVIDUALS AND $150,000 FOR
MARRIED COUPLES.
THE MONEY IS A GAME-CHANGER
ACCORDING TO TAMARINE CORNELIUS,
RESEARCH ANALYST FOR KIDS
FORWARD.
THANKS A LOT FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> SO HOW IS THIS EXPANDED TAX
CREDIT A GAME-CHANGER IN TERMS
OF HELPING FAMILIESF LOWER
INCOMES?
>> THESE PAYMENTS REPRESENT AN
IMPORTANT INVESTMENT IN
WISCONSIN'S FAMILIES AND
WISCONSIN'S KIDS AND THEREFORE
IN WISCONSI WISCONSIN'S FUTURE.
RAISING KIDS IS HARD, RIGHT?
AND IT'S IMPORTANT.
AND IT'S EVEN HARDER WHEN
FAMILIES HAVE TO STRUGGLE TO
MAKE ENDS MEET.
SO THESE PAYMENTS CAN HELP
FAMILIES BY HELPING THEM PAY FOR
RENT OR, YOU KNOW, CATCH UP ON
BILLS OR BUYING SCHOOL SUPPLIES,
WHATEVER FAMILIES NEED TO
THRIVE.
THIS PAYMENT CAN CONTRIBUTE TO
THAT.
>> IN ALL, HOW MANY HOUSEHOLDS
WILL BE GETTING THIS MONEY FROM
THE EXPANDED CREDIT, INCLUDING
THOSE WHO WERE NOT ELIGIBLE
BEFORE?
>> SO 1.2 MILLION KIDS ACROSS
WISCONSIN ARE GOING TO GET THIS
CREDIT.
SO THAT'S MOST KIDS, ARE GOING
TO GET THIS CREDIT.
>> AND --
>> AND THE ADVANCE PAYMENTS.
>> AND I UNDERSTAND THERE WERE
OVER 350,000 WHO WOULD NOT HAVE
BEEN PREVIOUSLY ELIGIBLE WHO ARE
ELIGIBLE FOR THIS.
>> RIGHT.
SO THERE'S THREE MAJOR AND
TEMPORARY CHANGES TO THE CHILD
TAX CREDIT THAT WE'RE SEEING.
ONE IS THAT HALF THE CREDIT IS
PAID OUT IN ADVANCE PAYMENTS,
NOT THROUGH THE END OF THE YEAR.
AND THAT'S WHAT YOU ALLUDED TO.
THAT'S ONE CHANGE.
THAT'S WHAT HIT PEOPLE'S BANK
ACCOUNTS THIS WEEK.
THE SECOND CHANGE IS THAT THE
AMOUNT OF THE CREDIT IS
INCREASED.
SO IT USED TO BE $2,000 AND NOW
FOR 2021 IT'S EITHER $3,000 OR
$3600, DEPENDING ON THE AGE OF
YOUR KID AND THE NUMBER OF YOUR
CHILDREN.
AND THEN THE THIRD CHANGE IS
THAT IT USED TO BE, BUT
TEMPORARILY CHANGED, THAT
FAMILIES WITH LOW INCOMES COULD
NOT GET THE FULL AMOUNT OF THE
CREDIT AND FAMILIES WITH THE
VERY LOWEST INCOMES COULDN'T GET
THE CREDIT AT ALL.
SO FAMILIES WHO COULD MAKE THE
MOST USE OF IT HELPING TO MAKE
ENDS MEET OR GETTING DIAPERS FOR
THEIR KIDS, THEY WERE SHUT OUT
OF THE CREDIT.
AND THAT CREDIT -- THAT SORT OF
DELIBERATE LOCKING PEOPLE OUT OF
CREDIT HAD SOME VERY STARK
RACIAL IMPLICATIONS AS WELL.
SO ABOUT HALF OF BLACK AND
HISPANIC KIDS WHO ARE FAMILIES
THAT HAVE TRADITIONALLY FACED
BARRIERS TO HIGHER-PAYING JOBS
AND TO EMPLOYMENT, ABOUT HALF OF
THEM COULDN'T GET THE FULL
AMOUNT OF CREDIT, COMPARED TO
ONLY ABOUT A QUARTER OF WHITE
KIDS.
SO THIS LAST CHANGE, WHERE THE
LOW INCOME OR THE LOWEST-INCOME
FAMILIES CAN GET THE FULL
CREDIT, THAT IS GOING TO AFFECT
ABOUT 350,000 WISCONSIN KIDS WHO
BEFORE COULDN'T GET THE FULL
AMOUNT OF THE CREDIT.
>> DO FAMILIES HAVE TO DO
ANYTHING TO SEE THIS CREDIT, SEE
THIS MONEY?
>> THERE IS TWO ANSWERS TO THAT.
MANY FAMILIES DO NOT, THAT IT
JUST COMES AUTOMATICALLY.
SO IF YOU FILED TAXES FOR 2019
OR FOR 2020 OR YOU FILED TO GET
STIMULUS PAYMENT, THEN THE MONEY
SHOULD COME AUTOMATICALLY TO
YOUR BANK ACCOUNT.
BUT THAT'S NOT EVERY FAMILY.
AND IN MANY CASES THAT'S NOT THE
FAMILIES WHO MIGHT NEED IT THE
MOST.
SO OTHER FAMILIES WHO ARE NOT
DESCRIBED BY THOSE CRITERIA,
THEY ARE GOING TO NEED TO TAKE
ACTION TO GET IT.
AND THEY -- AND THEY SHOULD GO
TO CHILDTAXCREDIT.GOV FOR OTHER
INFORMATION ABOUT THE CREDIT.
THAT'S KIND OF THE HUB FOR WHERE
YOU CAN FIND OUT AND GET
CONNECTED.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT
INFORMATION.
WHAT ABOUT THE ARGUMENT THAT
THESE CREDITS WERE EXPANDED TO
INCLUDE NONWORKING HOUSEHOLDS,
WHICH COULD INCENTIVIZE NOT
WORKING?
>> YOU KNOW WHAT THIS IS REALLY
ABOUT IS INVESTING IN
WISCONSIN'S FUTURE, RIGHT?
AND THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR KIDS IN
ALL FAMILIES AND SHOULDN'T BE
TIED TO WHETHER THEIR PARENTS
ARE WORKING OR NOT.
WHEN KIDS ARE LIFTED UP OUT OF
POVERTY, THAT BRINGS A WHOLE
SLEW OF ASSOCIATED POSITIVE
BENEFITS THAT IMPROVE LIVES FOR
EVERYONE.
IT REDUCES LOW BIRTH WEIGHT
BIRTHS.
IT LOWERS MATERNAL STRESS.
IT HELPS KIDS ATTEND SCHOOL.
IT MEANS LOWER USE OF DRUGS AND
ALCOHOL DOWN THE ROAD.
IT MAKES KIDS MORE LIKELY TO GO
TO COLLEGE.
ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE LINKED
TO IMPROVING ASSISTANCE TO
FAMILIES AND TO SAY THAT BECAUSE
FAMILIES ARE HAVING A TOUGH TIME
GETTING A JOB WE SHOULDN'T MAKE
THOSE INVESTMENTS AND WE
SHOULDN'T IMPROVE THE LIVES OF
THOSE KIDS IN THIS WAY THAT
GIVES A FANTASTIC RETURN ON
INVESTMENT IS REALLY
SHORT-SIGHTED.
<!32768>WE NEED TO LEAVE IT THE.
TAMARINE CORNELIUS, THANKS VERY
MUCH.
>> THANKS.
>> NOW TO THE 2022 ELECTION AND
ANOTHER INCUMBENT FOR STATEWIDE
OFFICE ANNOUNCING A RUN FOR
REELECTION.
LAST MONTH GOVERNOR EVERS SAID
HE'LL RUN AGAIN.
THIS WEEK, ATTORNEY GENERAL JOSH
KAUL ANNOUNCED HIS PLANS FOR
REELECTION.
OUT OF LAW SCHOOL, KAUL CLERKD
IN THE FIRST CIRCUIT COURT OF
APPEALS.
HE THEN WORKED IN PRIVATE
PRACTICE IN WASHINGTON D.C. AND
AS A FEDERAL PROSECUTOR IN
BALTIMORE.
HE JOINED A MADISON LAW FIRM IN
2014 AND SPECIALIZED IN VOTER
RIGHTS CAS CASES.
IN 2018 HE DEFEATED INCUMBENT
BRAD SCHIMEL.
TWO REPUBLICANS HAVE ALSO
ANNOUNCED THEIR ELECTION BIDS.
WE HAVE REACHED OUT TO THEIR
CAMPAIGNS TO SCHEDULE
INTERVIEWS.
TONIGHT WE ARE JOINED BY
INCUMBENT ATTORNEY JOSH KAUL AND
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> SO IN THIS STATE OF A NEARLY
EVENLY-SPLIT ELECTORATE AND WHEN
YOU NARROWLY WON YOUR FIRST TERM
AGAINST A REPUBLICAN, WHY SHOULD
VOTERS ACROSS WISCONSIN REELECT
YOU?
>> WELL, MY TOP PRIORITY AS
ATTORNEY GENERAL HAS BEEN PUBLIC
SAFETY AND I'M REALLY PROUD OF
THE WORK WE HAVE DONE TO PROTECT
WISCONSINITES FROM CRIME AS WELL
AS PROTECTING PEOPLE'S HEALTH,
OUR ENVIRONMENT AND OUR
DEMOCRACY.
AS YOU MENTIONED, I WAS A
FEDERAL PROSECUTOR IN ONE OF THE
MOST VIOLENT CITIES IN THE
COUNTRY.
I PROSECUTED MURDERERS, GANG
MEMBERS AND DRUG TRAFFICKERS.
AND AS ATTORNEY GENERAL MY
ADMINISTRATION HAS WORKED ON
PRIORITIZING THE MOST SERIOUS
OFFENSES AND INVESTIGATED AND
PROSECUTED EVERYTHING FROM
HOMICIDES AND ARSONS TO SEXUAL
ASSAULTS AND DRUG TRAFFICKING
OFFENSES.
WE'RE ALSO, THOUGH, GOING
FURTHER.
WE FILED SUIT AGAINST PURDUE
PHARMA AND THE STATE IS GOING TO
BE RECOVERING ABOUT $65 MILLION
TO HELP US FIGHT THE OPIOID
EPIDEMIC.
GETTING THOSE KIND OF RESOURCES
TO OUR COMMUNITY ARE GOING TO
MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE.
>> WHAT KIND OF HEADWINDS DO YOU
FACE FROM PARTISANS ON THE OTHER
SIDE OF THE AISLE WITH WHOM YOU
DISAGREE ON MOST EVERYTHING,
FROM KIND OF GUN CONTROL AND
UNIVERSAL BACKGROUND CHECKS TO
REDISTRICTING REFORM TO
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION LAW AND
MORE?
>> WELL, ON PUBLIC SAFETY, YOU
KNOW, THE PARTISAN GRIDLOCK
WE'VE SEEN IS A FRUSTRATION
BECAUSE WE COULD BE DOING MORE
TO MAKE OUR COMMUNITIES SAFER IF
WE HAD MORE COOPERATION.
YOU MENTIONED GUN SAFETY
MEASURES.
HAVING UNIVERSAL BACKGROUND
CHECKS WOULD HELP US KEEP
FIREARMS OUT OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE
BEEN CONVICTED OF CRIMES.
REFORMING OUR SEXUAL ASSAULT KIT
LAWS TO HAVE LAWS TO PREVENT
ANOTHER BACKLOG, WILL MAKE OUR
COMMUNITIES SAFER.
DESPITE THE CHALLENGES WE'VE HAD
FROM THE LEGISLATURE, WHICH
BEGAN WITH THE LAME DUCK
LEGISLATION BEFORE I EVEN TOOK
OFFICE, WE'VE GOTTEN A LOT
ACCOMPLISHED FOR THE PEOPLE OF
WISCONSIN AND I'M PROUD OF THAT
RECORD.
>> ONE OF YOUR CHALLENGES ON
THAT AS TO YOUR RELATIONSHIP
WITH THE LEGISLATURE SAYS THAT,
QUOTE, YOU HAVE IGNORED,
ATTACKED AND OFFENDED THE
LEGISLATURE ON SO MANY ISSUES
AND TO SUCH A DEGREE THAT YOU
CANNOT SUCCESSFULLY WORK WITH
THEM.
HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO THAT?
>> WELL, THAT'S JUST NOT
CORRECT.
WE WORKED CLOSELY WITH THE
LEGISLATURE ON AN UB IN OF
ISSUES AND IEM I'M HAPPY TO WORK
WITH ANYBODY WHERE WE CAN MAKE
PROGRESS FOR THE PEOPLE OF
WISCONSIN.
WE JUST HAD THE BUDGET PASSED,
FOR EXAMPLE.
I'M ALSO WILLING TO STAND UP TO
THE LEGISLATURE IF THEY'RE DOING
SOMETHING THAT'S NOT IN THE BEST
INTEREST OF THE PEOPLE OF
WISCONSIN.
I THINK IT'S VITAL THAT WE HAVE
AN INDEPENDENT ATTORNEY GENERAL
WHO IS WILLING TO STAND UP FOR
WHAT'S RIGHT AND WHO'S A
WATCHDOG FOR THE PEOPLE OF
WISCONSIN, NOT SOMEBODY WHO'S
JUST GOING TO DO WHAT THE
LEGISLATURE WANTS THEM TO DO.
>> AS YOU'VE ENUMERATED, YOU
HAVE SEEN SOME MAJOR WINS.
WHAT WOULD YOU SAY ARE YOUR
PROUDEST ACHIEVEMENTS IN YOUR
FIRST TERM TO DATE?
>> ONE THING I'M REALLY PROUD OF
IS THE WORK THAT WE'VE DONE ON
THE BACKLOG OF UNTESTED SEXUAL
ASSAULTITS.
DURING MY CAMPAIGN AGAINST BRAD
SCHIMEL THAT WAS A MAJOR ISSUE
AND HE RUSHED TO GET A NUMBER OF
THEM TESTED BEFORE THE ELECTION.
WHEN WE TOOK OFFICE WE TESTED
OVER 300 ADDITIONAL KITS AND
FINISHED THE TESTING.
WE REVIEWED EVERY CASE IN WHICH
THERE WAS A DNA MATCH, WENT
THROUGH THOSE.
THAT LED TO SOME INVESTIGATIONS
AS WELL AS SOME PROSECUTIONS.
THERE WAS RECENTLY A PERSON
ARRESTED WITH CHARGES IN KENOSHA
COUNTY WHOSE DNA HAD MATCHED
FOUR DIFFERENT SEXUAL ASSAULT
KITS.
THAT'S AN ALLEGED SERIAL
OFFENDER WHO'S OFF THE STREET.
I'M INCREDIBLY PROUD OF OUR
WORK.
ALSO HOLDING BIG PHARMA
ACCOUNTABLE, CHALLENGING THE ACA
AND STANDING UP FOR OUR
ENVIRONMENT AND DEMOCRACY ARE
KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
>> WITH JUST ABOUT A MINUTE
LEFT, AS THE SO-CALLED TOP COP
IN THE STATE, WHATS THE
BALANCE BETWEEN PUBLIC SAFETY
AND POLICE REFORM, WHICH YOU
HAVE CALLED FOR?
>> I THINK THEY GO HAND IN HAND.
I THINK CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM
MORE BROADLY AND PUBLIC SAFETY
GO HAND IN HAND BECAUSE THERE
ARE SO MANY CHANGES WE CAN MAKE
THAT WILL MAKE OUR COMMUNITIES
SAFER AND MAKE OUR SYSTEM FAIRER
AND BUILD STRONG COMMUNITY LAW
ENFORCEMENT RELATIONSHIPS.
SO ONE GREAT EXAMPLE OF THAT IS
INVESTING IN COMMUNITY POLICING
AND VIOLENCE PREVENTION
PROGRAMS.
WHEN WE CAN BUILD STRONG
RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN LAW
ENFORCEMENT AND THE COMMUNITIES
IN WHICH THEY WORK, THAT'S
HELPFUL TO PUBLIC SAFETY BECAUSE
WE GET BETTER INFORMATION FOR
LAW ENFORCEMENT.
WE CAN IDENTIFY THE MOST SERIOUS
OFFENDERS.
IT BUILDS STRONG RELATIONSHIPS
THAT CAN HELP ADVANCE THE GOAL
OF STRONGER RELATIONS BETWEEN
THE COMMUNITY AND LAW
ENFORCEMENT.
>> ALL RIGHT.
ATTORNEY GENERAL JOSH KAUL,
THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> TURNING BACK TO THE
GOP-WRITTEN STATE BUDGET, IT
ALLOWED AN INCREASE OF $128
MILLION FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
HOWEVER, PUBLIC SCHOOL ADVOCATES
ARE SAYING EVEN WITH THAT SOME
SCHOOLS MAY HAVE TO CUT SPENDING
BECAUSE THE INCREASE DOESN'T
KEEP UP WITH THE COST OF
INFLATION.
REPUBLICAN BUDGET WRITERS SAY
THE BIGGEST BUDGET INCREASE TO
PASS THROUGH SCHOOLS AS PROPERTY
TAX CUTS.
IN THIS WEEK'S "NOON WEDNESDAY"
MARISA WOJCIK SPOKE WITH
DR. JULIE UNDERWOOD, FORMER DEAN
OF THE UW-MADISON SCHOOL OF
EDUCATION AND BOARD PRESIDENT
FOR THE WISCONSIN ALLIANCE FOR
EXCELLENT SCHOOLS.
>> YOU WROTE ON BEHALF OF THE
WISCONSIN ALLIANCE FOR EXCELLENT
SCHOOLS THAT THIS YEAR WAS A,
QUOTE, GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN HOW?
>> WELL, IT WAS A GOLDEN
OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE IN THE STATE
OF WISCONSIN WE HAVE A GREAT --
A GREAT BUDGET.
THERE WAS A GREAT BUDGET
FORECAST.
AND THE FISCAL BUREAU ACTUALLY
IN THE MIDDLE OF JUNE FORECASTED
EVEN ADDITIONAL REVENUE, LIKE
$4.4 BILLION OF ADDITIONAL
REVENUE THAT WAS NOT EXPECTED.
SO WE HAVE MORE MONEY TO SPEND
THAN WE HAVE IN THE PAST.
THIS ISN'T A DAY WHEN YOU LOOK
AT A BUDGET AND THINK THAT WE
NEED TO BE AUSTERE.
IT'S A DAY WHEN YOU CAN LOOK AT
THE BUDGET AND LOOK AT A GREAT
REVENUE FORECAST AND SAY WE NEED
TO INVEST IN OUR FUTURE AND FIX
SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE
HAD PROBLEMS WITH IN THE PAST.
AND THAT REALLY IS WHAT HASN'T
HAPPENED.
WE HAD A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY TO
DO RIGHT BY KIDS.
AND THE LEGISLATURE'S BUDGET
JUST DOESN'T DO THAT.
>> WHY IS RAISING REVENUE LIMITS
THE BIG STORY TO YOU?
>> IN THE STATE OF WISCONSIN WE
HAVE REVENUE LIMITS.
THEY'RE ACTUALLY SPENDING
LIMITS.
AND THEY WERE SET IN 1993.
THE ONLY WAY THAT REVENUE LIMITS
OR SPENDING LIMITS CAN GO UP IS
IF THE LEGISLATURE DOES THAT OR
IF A SCHOOL DISTRICT GOES TO
REFERENDUM.
THIS PARTICULAR BUDGET PROVIDES
A ZERO DOLLAR INCREASE IN THE
SCHOOL SPENDING AUTHORITY IN THE
REVENUE LIMIT IN THEIR SPENDING
AUTHORITY.
IT REALLY IS A SPENDING LIMIT.
AND THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSAL WAS
TO INCREASE THAT SPENDING
AUTHORITY BY $200 PER STUDENT.
SO IF YOU DON'T RAISE THE
SPENDING AUTHORITY, NO MATTER
HOW MUCH MONEYROM THE STATE
YOU PUT INTO THE BUDGET, THE
SCHOOL DISTRICTS CAN'T SPEND IT.
SO IT COMES IN AND THEY HAVE TO
SEND IS BACK OUT REALLY THROUGH
PROPERTY -- THROUGH A PROPERTY
TAX CUT.
AND SO IT MEANS THAT THERE'S NO
SPENDABLE MONEY FOR SCHOOLS.
>> SO THE GOP BUDGET WRITERS
SAID THAT THEY ALSO TOOK INTO
ACCOUNT THE ONE-TIME FUNDING OF
NEARLY $2.5 BILLION FROM FEDERAL
PANDEMIC AID THAT IS GOING TO
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
DOES THIS NOT FULFILL WHAT
SCHOOLS WILL IMMEDIATE, AT LEAST
UNTIL THE NEXT BUDGET CYCLE?
>> FEDERAL MONEY IS EARMARKED
FOR COVID RELIEF.
SO YOU CAN'T RELY ON THE FEDERAL
COVID-19 MONEY FOR YOUR REGULAR
EXPENDITURES.
IT'S NOT NOT ALLOWED.
YOU CAN'T PROVIDE THIS FOR
SALARIES.
AND MOST SCHOOL DISTRICTS SPEND
90% OF THEIR MONEY IS SPENT ON
SALARIES.
AND THE COVID RELIEF MONEY IS
COVID RELIEF MONEY, NOT SALARY
MONEY, NOT TEACHER SALARY MONEY.
IT'S NOT INTENDED FOR THAT.
I'VE HEARD CONCERNS ALL OVER THE
STATE.
THERE ARE ABOUT 140 SCHOOL
DISTRICTS THAT ARE NOT GOING TO
GET ANY ADDITIONAL FUNDING AND
IN FACT WILL BE CUT, THEIR
FUNDING WILL BE REDUCED, STATE
FUNDING WILL BE REDUCED.
THAT INCLUDES 20 OF THE POOREST
SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THE STATE OF
WISCONSIN.
NOT JUST GENERALLY LARGE CITIES.
NOT URBAN CITIES.
NOT POOR DISTRICTS.
LIKE THIS PROBLEM IS ACROSS THE
STATE.
BUT OF COURSE IT'S WORSE FOR THE
POOR DISTRICTS.
AND THE PROBLEM IS REGARDLESS OF
SIZE OR GEOGRAPHY OR POLITICAL
LEANING, THIS -- THE BUDGET AS
WE HAVE NOW IS NOT GOOD FOR
SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
>> NOW, IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE
REFERRING TO IN YOUR LETTER TO
THE GOVERNOR AS THESE GAPS
WIDENING?
>> OPPORTUNITY GAPS, ACADEMIC
GAPS, ACHIEVEMENT GAPS.
CALL IT WHAT YOU MAY.
FUNDING GAPS.
LARGE GAPS IN OUR STATE,
PARTICULARLY CHILDREN IN
POVERTY, RURAL CHILDREN, ENGLISH
LANGUAGE LEARNERS, CHILDREN WITH
SPECIAL NEEDS.
THESE ARE CHILDREN WHO DON'T
HAVE THE OPPORTUNITIES, ACADEMIC
OPPORTUNITIES THAT CHILDREN IN
WEALTHY COMMUNITIES HAVE.
SCHOOL DISTRICTS WHO DON'T HAVE
BROADBAND.
SCHOOL DISTRICTS WHO DON'T HAVE
SUFFICIENT TEACHERS OR AIDES.
SCHOOL DISTRICTS WHO HAVE
FACILITIES THAT NEED ASSISTANCE,
STRUCTURALLY FACILITIES THAT
NEED ASSISTANCE.
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, ENGLISH
LANGUAGE LEARNING SERVICES.
THESE -- THE GAPS WERE LAID BARE
AND THIS PARTICULAR BUDGET IS
GOING TO MAKE THOSE GAPS WORSE
RATHER THAN BETTER.
>> YOU CAN WATCH THE
FULL-ELEVENTH INTERVIEW AND
OTHER NEWS CONTENT AT
pbswisconsin.org/NEWS.
NOW TO THE STATE CAPITOL WHERE
ON TUESDAY HISTORY WAS IN THE
MAKING.
<!32768> IT'S NOT A STATUE YET,
BUT THIS CARDBOARD CUTOUT OF
WISCONSIN'S FIRST BLACK
SECRETARY OF STATE, VEL
PHILLIPS, GAVE MEMBERS OF A
GROUP DECIDING ON THE PLACEMENT
A SPECIAL SNEAK PREVIEW OF
THINGS TO COME.
HER STATUE LOCATION ON THE SOUTH
SIDE OF THE CAPITOL WAS
UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED BY THE
CAPITOL SUBCOMMITTEE THIS WEEK.
PHILLIPS LIVED AND WORKED A LIFE
OF FIRSTS.
SHE WAS THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN TO
GRADUATE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF
WISCONSIN LAW SCHOOL.
SHE WAS THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN ON
THE MILWAUKEE COMMON COUNCIL.
PHILLIPS WAS THE STATE'S FIRST
BLACK WOMAN JUDGE.
IN 1978, SHE WAS ELECTED
SECRETARY OF STATE, THE FIRST
FEMALE, NONWHITE PERSON SO
ELECTED.
HER STATUE WILL BE A LEGACY TO
NOT ONLY HER OWN WORK, BUT THE
PRODUCT ON GG WORK PROPELLED BY
THE RACIAL JUSTICE MOVEMENT.
PHILLIPS' SON WAS THERE ON
TUESDAY.
HE SAID HIS MOTHER'S STATUE WILL
HELP ENSURE HER LEGACY.
>> THEY LOOK UP AND SEE THIS
STATUE OF A PERSON.
WHO IS THAT.
THEY LOOK AND READ THE
INSCRIPTION.
AND THEN THEY GOOGLE HER.
AND THEN THEY FIND OUT THIS IS A
PERSON WHO HAS FOUGHT FOR THE
RIGHT OF ALL WISCONSINITES.
>> FULL COMMITTEE APPROVAL FOR
THE STATUE IS EXPECTEDHIS
FALL.
>> SOME OF THE HISTORICAL
FOOTAGE YOU JUST SAW IS FROM A
PBS WISCONSIN DOCUMENTARY ON THE
LIFE OF VEL PHILLIPS.
IT'S CALLED "VEL PHILLIPS, DREAM
BIG DREAMS."
IT CAN BE SEEN ONLINE IN THE PBS
VIDEO ARCHIVE.
AND THAT IS OUR PROGRAM FOR
TONIGHT.
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.