THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS PART
OF OUR HERE AND NOW 2022
ELECTION COVERAGE.
THE NEWLY RELEASED NATION'S
REPORT CARD RENEWS WISCONSIN'S
REPUTATION IN RACIAL
DISPARITIES.
EARLY VOTING BEGAN THIS WEEK
AS ELECTION DAY RAPIDLY DRAWS
NEAR.
TURNOUT BASED ON THE ISSUE OF
ABORTION COULD DETERMINE THE
NEXT GOVERNOR.
AND LEGISLATION VETOED UNDER
EVERS THAT WOULD LIKELY PASS
UNDER A MICHELS'
ADMINISTRATION.
>> I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON HERE AND NOW.
ZAC SCHULTZ LOOKS AT THE
IMPACT OF ABORTION LAW ON THE
MIDTERMS.
PLUS, WHAT POSSIBLE ELECTION
OUTCOMES WILL MEAN FOR STATE
GOP LEGISLATION.
AND THE STATE'S DEPARTMENT OF
PUBLIC INSTRUCTION RESPONDS TO
A BLEAK REPORT CARD FOR BLACK
STUDENTS.
IT'S HERE AND NOW FOR OCTOBER
28.
FUNDING FOR "HERE & NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM.
AND FRIENDS OF PBS WISCONSIN.
>> DURING MIDTERM ELECTIONS,
VICTORY OFTEN COMES DOWN TO
ONE THING:
WHICH PARTY DOES A BETTER JOB
OF GETTING THEIR VOTERS TO THE
POLLS.
OR TURN OUT.
THIS FALL, DEMOCRATS ARE
HOPING THE ISSUE OF ABORTION
WILL NOT ONLY ENERGIZE THEIR
BASE, BUT PULL IN SWING VOTERS
WHO MAY HAVE VOTED REPUBLICAN
IN THE PAST.
WHEN ROE V. WADE WAS STILL THE
LAW OF THE LAND.
"HERE AND NOW" SENIOR
POLITICAL REPORTER, ZAC
SCHULTZ HAS THE STORY.
[CHANTING]
WHEN THE UNITED STATES SUPREME
COURT OVERTURNED ROE VS WADE,
THEY OVERTURNED THE
CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT FOR WOMEN
TO SEEK AN ABORTION.
BUT THEY ALSO OVERTURNED
DECADES OF CONVENTIONAL WISDOM
ON JUST HOW MUCH THE ISSUE OF
ABORTION CAN IMPACT AN
ELECTION.
[CHANTING]
>> IT WAS THIS KIND OF CRAZY
JAW-DROPPING MOMENT OF, LIKE,
OH, MY GOD,THEY DID IT.
>> AMAYA BARKER IS A VOLUNTEER
FOR PLANNED PARENTHOOD
ADVOCATES OF WISCONSIN.
THE ORGANIZING ARM OF PLANNED
PARENTHOOD.
SHE SAYS THERE WAS AN
IMMEDIATE SURGE IN THE NUMBER
OF PEOPLE LOOKING TO GET
INVOLVED.
>> I'VE SEE A LOT MORE PEOPLE
BEING LIKE, WOW, I ACTUALLY
HAVE TO DO SOMETHING NOW ABOUT
THIS.
SARAH BERNDSEN SIGNED UP, AND
HER FIRST EVENT WAS THE
BAYVIEW BASH IN MILWAUKEE,
WHERE THE POINT WAS TO REMIND
PEOPLE PLANNED PARENTHOOD WAS
STILL OPEN PROVIDING
HEALTHCARE SERVICES.
JUST NOT ABORTIONS.
>> IT'S BEEN A REALLY POSITIVE
REACTION.
WE HAVE HAD PEOPLE COMING UP
REALLY APPRECIATIVE THAT WE'RE
OUT HERE PROVIDING
INFORMATION.
WHILE THEIR STAND DIDN'T
ADVOCATE FOR ANY POLITICAL
CANDIDATES.
THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF
MILWAUKEE COUNTY WAS NEXT
DOOR.
AND ABORTION RIGHTS WERE FRONT
AND CENTER.
>> FOR MANY, MANY VOTERS,
ESPECIALLY WOMEN ACROSS THE
STATE, IT HAS BEEN SOMETHING
THAT HAS GALVANIZED A LEVEL OF
KIND OF POLITICAL OUTRAGE AND
COMMITMENT TO CHANGE THAT WILL
RESHAPE THIS ELECTION THIS
FALL.
BEN WIKLER IS THE CHAIR OF THE
DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF WISCONSIN.
HE THINKS ABORTION WILL SWING
VOTES EVERYWHERE, NOT JUST
MILWAUKEE AND MADISON.
IF YOU KNOCK ON DOORS IN RURAL
WISCONSIN, IN SUBURBS, IN
CITIES ALIKE, THERE ARE PEOPLE
EVEN WHO VOTED REPUBLICAN
BEFORE WHO THINK THIS IS MUCH
TOO FAR.
I WAS VERY SHOCKED BY THE JUST
THE SHEER RESPONSE THAT PEOPLE
HAD IN THIS AREA.
JESSA MICHIE IS A DIGITAL
ORGANIZER FOR PLANNED
PARENTHOOD ADVOCATES BASED IN
STEVENS POINT IN CENTRAL
WISCONSIN.
SHE SAYS THEY WERE OVERWHELMED
AT FIRST BY THE NUMBER OF
PEOPLE LOOKING TO VOLUNTEER.
>> A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO HAVEN'T
DONE THIS BEFORE, THIS REALLY
ACTIVATED A LOT OF FOLKS WHO
WERE BRAND NEW TO IT.
THE FOCUS NOW IS TRANSLATING
THAT ENERGY INTO TURNOUT.
WE'RE VERY, VERY FOCUSED ON
VOTING.
GETTING OUT THE VOTE IS THE
MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT WE
CAN DO AT THIS POINT IN
WISCONSIN.
>> THESE ARE OUR MATERIALS.
AS, SEE,
THIS IS FOCUSING N OUR
CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATES.
PLANNED PARENTHOOD ADVOCATES
ISN'T THE ONLY GROUP TALKING
ABOUT ABORTION WITH VOTERS.
>>GRACIE SKOGMAN IS THE
LEGISLATIVE DIRECTOR FOR
WISCONSIN RIGHT TO LIFE
>> THE GOAL IS THAT WE CAN GO
TO ANY VOTER, REGARDLESS OF
WHERE THEY STAND, AND GIVE
THEM SOMETHING THAT WE HOPE
ULTIMATELY WILL ENCOURAGE THEM
TO SUPPORT PRO-LIFE
CANDIDATES.
SKOGMAN SAYS THE CASE THAT
OVERTURNED ROE, DOBBS VS
JACKSON, WAS A VICTORY.
BUT NOT THE END OF THE DEBATE.
>> WE'VE WE'VE SEEN THAT
PEOPLE ARE, OF COURSE, ARE
REJOICING AND HAPPY, BUT THEN
THEY THINK THAT IT'S TIME TO
GO HOME AND STOP TALKING ABOUT
THIS.
BUT IT'S MORE IMPORTANT NOW
THAN EVER BEFORE.
SHE SAYS IT CAN BE A DELICATE
CONVERSATION.
I WENT EARLIER THIS WEEK AND
PEOPLE WERE NOT SO RECEPTIVE.
WE KNOW THAT THIS IS A VERY
EMOTIONAL AND POLARIZING ISSUE
RIGHT ON ON BOTH SIDES OF THE
AISLE.
WISCONSIN RIGHT TO LIFE WOULD
LIKE TO SHIFT THE CONVERSATION
TO WHAT COMES NEXT.
SPECIFICALLY, WHETHER A
REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR AND
LEGISLATURE WILL PROVIDE STATE
FUNDING TO PREGNANCY RESOURCE
CENTERS.
THE NON-PROFITS THAT OFTEN
OPEN UP ACROSS THE STREET FROM
ABORTION CLINICS AND COUNSEL
PREGNANT WOMEN AWAY FROM
ABORTION.
>> I THINK OUR BEST WAY TO
MOVE FORWARD IS ON THE
UNIFYING ISSUE OF PREGNANCY
RESOURCE CENTERS, HAVING
CONVERSATIONS ABOUT PAID
FAMILY LEAVE.
THESE ARE BIPARTISAN ISSUES.
>> JESSA MICHIE SAYS VOTERS
AREN'T QUITE READY TO MOVE ON.
>> I DEFINITELY THINK THAT
PEOPLE STILL HAVE MORE TO SAY
AND A LOT MORE FEELINGS ABOUT
LOSING THAT ACCESS TO CARE.
I DON'T THINK THAT FOLKS ARE
READY TO MOVE ON AT ALL.
I THINK THAT THEY'RE MORE
ANGRY ABOUT THIS AND MORE
ENERGIZED THAN THEY WERE
BEFORE.
>> HE SAID IT'S, QUOTE, NOT
UNREASONABLE FOR THE STATE
GOVERNMENT TO MANDATE RAPE
VICTIMS TO GIVE BIRTH.
>> DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR TONY
EVERS IS HOPING TO CAPITALIZE
ON THAT ENERGY.
HE'S BEEN RUNNING ADS HITTING
HIS OPPONENT, REPUBLICAN TIM
MICHELS, ON ABORTION.
>> TIM MICHELS IS WAY TOO
RADICAL FOR WISCONSIN.
>> DO I THINK IT'S AN
IMPORTANT ISSUE IN THE RACE?
YES.
LOOK AT WHERE MY OPPONENT IS
ON THIS AND ON THAT ISSUE.
SO DO I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE
A FACTOR?
YES, ABSOLUTELY.
>> ALMOST EVERY SINGLE ATTACK
THAT'S OUT THERE ON REPUBLICAN
CANDIDATES HAS TO DO WITH
DOBBS.
>> PAUL FARROW IS THE CHAIRMAN
OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY OF
WISCONSIN.
HE SAYS THE EVERS ADS ARE OVER
THE TOP.
I THINK OUR CONVERSATION OF
MAKING SURE THE HEALTH OF THE
WOMAN AND HEALTH OF THE CHILD
IS JUST AS IMPORTANT, IS KIND
OF TAMPERING DOWN WHAT THE
LEFT IS SAYING, THAT WE'RE
TRYING TO CRIMINALIZE WOMEN
LEFT AND RIGHT.
>> GOVERNOR EVERS AND THE LEFT
HAVE SPENT TENS OF MILLIONS OF
DOLLARS MISCHARACTERIZING MY
POSITION, CALLING ME A
RADICAL.
I AM PRO-LIFE AND I MAKE NO
APOLOGIES FOR THAT.
BUT I'LL TELL YOU WHO THE REAL
RADICAL IS.
THE REAL RADICAL IS GOVERNOR
EVERS.
>> TIM MICHELS DID NOT AGREE
TO AN INTERVIEW FOR THIS
STORY, BUT HAS HAD TROUBLE
BEING CONSISTENT IN HIS
POSITION ON ABORTION.
WITHOUT THE PROTECTION OF
ROE-V-WADE, WISCONSIN REVERTED
BACK TO AN 1849 LAW ON
ABORTION THAT ONLY PROVIDES
EXCEPTIONS IF TWO DOCTORS FEEL
IT IS NEEDED TO SAVE THE LIFE
OF THE MOTHER.
MICHELS ORIGINALLY CAMPAIGNED
ON HIS SUPPORT FOR THAT LAW.
BUT HAS SINCE SAID HE WOULD
SUPPORT A BILL THAT PROVIDES
EXCEPTIONS FOR RAPE AND
INCEST.
>> I'VE SAID IF A BILL IS PUT
BEFORE ME FROM THE
LEGISLATURE, WHICH IS A DIRECT
REPRESENTATION OF THE PEOPLE,
AND IT HAS AN EXCEPTION IN IT
FOR RAPE AND INCEST, THAT I
WOULD SIGN THAT BILL.
A FEW DAYS LATER, MICHELS
ADDED ANOTHER CHANGE.
>> I WILL NEVER ARREST A
DOCTOR, AS THEY'RE SAYING.
I'M A REASONABLE GUY.
>> HOWEVER, UNDER THE 1849
LAW, DOCTORS PROVIDING AN
ABORTION CAN BE ARRESTED, AND
HIS CAMPAIGN HAD TO CLARIFY
THAT MICHELS JUST WOULDN'T BE
THE ONE DOING THE ARRESTING.
SAYING, “THE DISTRICT
ATTORNEYS SHOULD ENFORCE ALL
LAWS.
THE GOVERNOR IS AN EXECUTIVE.
HE'S NOT A DA OR BEAT COP
ARRESTING ANYONE.”
>> EVERS DOESN'T BUY IT.
>> THERE'S NO WAY I BELIEVE IT
AND NO WAY PEOPLE IN WISCONSIN
BELIEVE YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE
THIS HARD CORE SOMETHING
THAT'S PART OF YOUR INSIDE
POSITION THAT RAPE OR INCEST
IS NOT SOMETHING THAT YOU
SHOULD EXCLUDE FROM THIS LAW.
NEVER.
THIS IS IMPORTANT FOR ME
BECAUSE OF MY CONVICTIONS.
AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE
NEXT DAY YOU SAY, WELL, I
GUESS I DON'T HAVE ANY
CONVICTIONS.
MICHIE SAYS MICHELS IS
MUDDYING THE WATER.
>> THAT'S THE INTENTION, I
THINK, IN A LOT OF CASES IS TO
JUST SORT OF MUDDLE THE ISSUE
AND CONFUSE PEOPLE.
>> HOWEVER, GRACIE SKOGMAN IS
CLEAR ON WHERE WISCONSIN
RIGHT TO LIFE STANDS.
>> OUR POSITION IS WE ARE NOT
IN FAVOR OF ADDING A RAPE AND
INCEST EXCEPTION.
MY ONLY CONCERN IS, LET'S SAY
THERE'S A RAPE CASE.
EVEN IF THEIR VOTERS AT THE
DOORS HAVE A DIFFERENT
OPINION.
>> REPORTING FROM MADISON, I'M
ZAC SCHULTZ, FOR HERE AND NOW.
IN THE HEAT RACE FOR ATTORNEY
GENERAL, QUESTIONS REPEATEDLY
CAME UP DURING A DEBATE
THURSDAY REFERENCING PBS
WISCONSIN REPORT ON THE
CANDIDATES THAT TOUCHED ON THE
MATTER.
MR. TONY SAID ON VIDEO SAYING
THAT ONE OF THE THINGS HE
SHOULD CONSIDER IS ALLOW
DCIALTION A's ACROSS COUNTY
LINES.
IT'S ANOTHER EXAMPLE AS
ATTORNEY GENERAL WHAT YOU SAY
ATTERS.
WE DON'T GET TO WALK IT BACK
WEEKS LATER BECAUSE PEOPLE
WILL MAKE POLICY DECISIONS
BASED ON WHAT YOU SAY.
>> THE FULL CON TENGHT WAS
ASKED ABOUT DA's WOULDN'T
PROSECUTOR CERTAIN.
WE HAVE THAT ALLOW A D'TO
PROSECUTOR IN AN ADJOINING
COUNTY IF THE DA RECHES TO
PROSECUTE.
I USE IT AS AN ANALOGY TO SAY
ATTORNEY GENERAL SHOULD HAVE
THE AUTHORITY OF THE DA's
REFUSING TO PROSECUTE AND THAT
WOULD BE ANOTHER OPTION.
I NEVER EXPRESSLY ADVOCATED.
REPORTERS PROVIDE THE FULL
QUESTION AND ANSWER AT ISSUE
WHICH CAN YOU CAN FIND BY
GOING TO PBS WISCONSIN.ORG AND
THEN CLICKING ON THE NEWS
PAGE.
>> ON THE MATTER OF EDUCATION,
THE CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR
HAVE VERY DIFFERENT IDEAS
ABOUT HOW TO HELP LEARNING
OUTCOMES FOR K-12 STUDENTS IN
WISCONSIN.
REPUBLICAN TIM MICHELS WANTS
TO EXPAND PRIVATE SCHOOL
CHOICE TO ALL STUDENTS.
DEMOCRAT TONY EVERS WANTS TO
PUMP AN EXTRA 2 BILLION
DOLLARS INTO EDUCATION
FUNDING.
RELATEDLY, WHAT'S CALLED THE
NATION'S REPORT CARD THIS FALL
SHOWED OVERALL WISCONSIN
STUDENTS HELD STEADY IN MATH
AND READING WHILE NATION-WIDE
PANDEMIC DECLINES WERE WORSE.
BUT THE GRIM HEADLINE FROM THE
REPORT FOR THIS STATE:
ONCE AGAIN, WISCONSIN LEADS
THE NATION IN TEST SCORE GAPS
BETWEEN WHITE AND BLACK
STUDENTS.
>> IN A PULL-OUT FROM THE
REPORT CARD FOR 8TH GRADE
MATH:
IN 2022, BLACK STUDENTS HAD AN
AVERAGE SCORE THAT WAS 53
POINTS LOWER THAN FOR WHITE
STUDENTS.
NOT SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFERENT,
IT SAID, FROM 2003.
WHY IS THIS HAPPENING AND WHAT
IS BEING DONE ABOUT IT?
WE TURN TO THE STATE
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC
INSTRUCTION AND ITS
COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR,
ABIGAIL SWETZ.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
>> EVENING, THANKS FOR HAVING
ME.
IN THE YOUNGER GRADES.
>> FOURTH GRADE MATH GAPS
SHOWED BLACK STUDENTS AVERAGE
SCORES WERE 48 POINTS LOWER
THAN FOR WHITE STUDENTS.
WITH READING SCORES 40 POINTS
LOWER.
HOW IS THIS HAPPENING?
IT'S THE RIGHT QUESTION TO
ASK.
IT'S WHERE WE NEED TO PUT OUR
FOCUS UNDERS RESOURCES.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT GAPS,
PEOPLE TALK ABOUT THEM AS AN
ACHIEVEMENT GAP.
I'M GLAD WE ARE STOP USING
THAT PHRASE.
WHAT WE NEED TO BE LOOKING AT
ARE WHAT ARE THE INPUTS.
WHAT ARE THE OPPORTUNITIES
THAT NOT ALL STUDENTS HAVE
BEEN ABLE IT ACCESS.
THAT'S WHY WE SHOULD BE AND WE
ARE CALLING IT AN OPPORTUNITY
IT GAP WHICH IS WHY WHAT WE
CAN DO IS PRI THOSE
OPPORTUNITIES AND PROVIDE
THOSE RESOURCES IN WAYS THAT
WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO IN THE
PAST.
I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT
WE CAN LOOK AT THE MOST IN
THAT IS WHAT CAN WE DO IN OUR
BUDGET TO MAKE SURE THAT THE
STUDENTS WHO NEED RESOURCES
THE MOST ARE THE STUDENTS WHO
ARE GETTING THEM.
THERE IS DISCUSSION AMONG SOME
EXPERTS THAT THESE
STANDARDIZED TESTS ARE BIASED
IN FAVOR OF WHITE STUDENTS.
WRITTEN BY WHITE PEOPLE.
ARE THEY NOT POSSIBLY
CAPTURING THE TRUE SKILLS AND
POTENTIAL OF BLACK STUDENTS?
I THINK WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT
WHETHER OR NOT WE ARE
CAPTAINURING THE TRUE
POTENTIAL OF THE STUDENTS.
YOU HAVE TO REALIZE NO ONE
TEST CAN GO DO THAT.
NO ONE ANYTHING CAN DO THAT.
THE SCORES ARE AN IMPORTANT
WINDOWS BUT ONLY ONE WINDOWS
INTO UNDERSTANDING WHERE OUR
STUDENTS REALLY AT IN
WISCONSIN.
WHERE ARE EACH STUDENT, WHERE
IS EACH STUDENTS AT, BLACK
STUDENTS, WHITE STUDENTS, ANY
STUDENTS.
WHEN WE THINK ABOUT WHAT IS A
PROBLEM POTENTIALLY WITH A
CERTAIN STANDARDIZED
ASSESSMENT, IT'S WHY IT'S
HELPFUL THAT TEACHERS ARE
EVERY DAY COLLECTING DATA IN
THE CLASSROOMS.
COMPREHENSION CHECKS AND
COMMUNITY BUILDING AND
DISCUSSIONS.
WHEN YOU PUT IT ALL TOGETHER,
YOU GAIN A BETTER
UNDERSTANDING OF WHERE IS THE
STUDENTS AT AND HOW CAN WE
GROW THEM FURTHER.
IT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WE ARE
SO THANKFUL WE ARE ABLE TO
STAY IN CONTACT WITH THE FIELD
AND IT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WE
PAY ATTENTION A LOT TO THOSE
OTHER DATA POINTS AS WELL.
THE PANDEMIC MAY HAVE MADE IT
WORSE, BUT THIS IS A
DECADES-LONG GAP WHERE THE
NEEDLE HAS NOT MOVED.
WHAT MUST BE DONE?
WHAT ABOUT THAT?
IT'S INCREDIBLY UNFORTUNATE.
IT WAS UNACCEPTABLE BEFORE.
IT'S UNACCEPTABLE NOW.
IT'S WHY WE NEED FOCUSED
INVESTMENT TO TRY TO MOVE THE
NEEDLE.
I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE.
ONE OF THE PLACES WE ARE
SEEING THE MOST STRUGGLE, IN
ADDITION TO THIS GAP WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT IS THAT STUDENTS
WHO ARE STRUGGLING BEFORE ARE
STRUGGLING EVEN MORE NOW.
STILL LOWER SCORES, WE SAW THE
STEEPEST DECLINE.
IT'S ONE OF THE MANY REASONS
WE ARE TRYING TO REALLY
INCREASE OUR REIMBURSEMENT
RATE FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION
FUNDING BUS WE THINK NOT ALL
STUDENTS IN THAT CATEGORY ARE
SPECIAL ED STUDENTS.
BUT IT'S A WAY TO MOVE THAT
NEEDLE AND MAKE SURE THAT THE
FUNDS DESIGNED TO GET TO WHERE
THEY NEED TO GET REALLY,
REALLY DO IMPACT WHERE WE NEED
THEM TO IMPACT.
CLEARLY GENERATIONS OF BLACK
STUDENTS IN WISCONSIN ARE
BEING LEFT BEHIND.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR ALL OF
WISCONSIN?
IT'S THE RIGHT QUESTION AGAIN.
WE HAVE TO REMEMBER OUR
SCHOOLS AND OUR COMMUNITIES
AND OUR STUDENTS ARE SO
INTERCONNECTED.
WE SAY ALL THE TIME THE
STUDENTS ARE OUR FUTURE.
THE CHILDREN ARE OUR FUTURE.
THAT'S TRUE WHETHER WE PREPARE
THEM WELL OR NOT.
SO WE ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO
PREPARE THEM WELL.
AND IT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WE
ARE LOOKING AT WHEN WE SAY
OPPORTUNITY GAP, WE NEED TO
LOOK AT WHERE IS THE
REPRESENTATION GAD?
WE NEED TO DIVERSIFY OUR
PIPELINE TO MAKE SURE OUR
STUDENTS ARE REFLECTED IN THE
LEADERS IN THEIR CLASSROOM AND
THE CURRICULUM AHEAD OF THEM.
THERE IS ONLY A MINUTE LEFT.
AS TO OVERALL SCORES, THEY MAY
NOT HAVE SLIPPED OVER THE
PANDEMIC LIKE OTHER STATES,
BUT ACROSS GRADES ONLY ABOUT
THE PERCENTAGE OF STUDENTS
TESTING PROFICIENT IS WELL
BELOW.
WHERE SHOULD WISCONSIN BE?
WE SHOULD BE NOT SATISFIED
WHERE WE ARE.
WE ARE ON A JOURNEY.
IN TERMS OF RECOVERY JOURNEY,
BUT EVEN IF WE WERE FURTHER
THAN WE ARE TODAY, WE WOULD
WANT TO KEEP GROWING.
I THINK YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER
THIS KIND OF JOURNEY IS NOT
LINEAR.
IT REQUIRES A WHOLE LOT OF
WORK AND THAT'S THE KIND OF
WORKER WITH COMMITTED TO DOING
HERE AT THE DEPARTMENT OF
PUBLIC INSTRUCTION.
ABIGAIL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
WHEN IT COMES TO HIGH SCHOOL
STUDENTS IN WISCONSIN.
WHAT KINDS OF ISSUES ARE THEY
THINKING ABOUT HEADING INTO
THE MILLION DOLLAR TERM
ELECTIONS?
WE SPANNED OUT ACROSS THE
STATE IN LATE SEPTEMBER TO
FINDS OUT.
AS CAMPAIGNS ARE PUTTING FOCUS
ON CRIME AND GUN CONTROL, WE
FOUND THE SPECTER OF SCHOOL
SHOOTINGS WEIGHS ON STUDENTS'
MINDS AS THEY GO ABOUT THEIR
DAY.
>> IT'S KIND OF ONE OF THOSE
THINGS WHERE I THINK NOW JUST
IS.
AND IT'S JUST ANOTHER ONE OF
THOSE THINGS WHERE YOU GO TO
SCHOOL AND, YOU KNOW, THERE'S
A POSSIBILITY OF SOMETHING
HAPPENING.
>> EVERY SINGLE DAY WE WALK IN
THE SCHOOL, THERE'S ALWAYS
THAT LITTLE PART IN YOUR MIND
THAT'S LIKE, IS TODAY GOING TO
BE THE DAY?
AM I GOING TO BE ON THE NEWS?
>> I HAVE, LIKE, SIBLINGS IN A
DIFFERENT SCHOOL.
AND IT'S NERVE-RACKING KNOWING
THAT PEOPLE WOULD PUT KIDS
THAT YOUNG IN HARM'S WAY.
AND IT COULD HAPPEN AT ANY
MOMENT.
>> I THINK ABOUT THAT A LOT,
ESPECIALLY WITH THE NEW
SHOOTINGS THAT HAVE BEEN GOING
ON.
I MEAN, IT'S BEEN GOING ON
FOREVER.
BUT, LIKE, IT'S -- I FEEL LIKE
IT'S BEEN MORE BROADCASTED,
ESPECIALLY THESE DAYS.
I'M LIKE ALWAYS THINKING LIKE,
OKAY, WHERE'S THE CLOSEST
EXIT?
>> THERE'S ALWAYS THAT LITTLE
THOUGHT IN THE BACK OF MY MIND
THAT WHAT IF SOMETHING
HAPPENED AND WE HAD A SCARE
LIKE THAT LAST YEAR HERE, AND
MOST OF THE KIDS STAYED AWAY
FROM SCHOOL IN FEAR OF THE
FACT THAT THAT IGHT HAPPEN TO
US.
>> I KNOW HERE AND THERE WE'VE
TALKED -- SCHOOLS HAVE TALKED
ABOUT LIKE BIGGER SCHOOL
SHOOTINGS AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
BUT I THINK IT WAS ABOUT TWO
WEEKS AGO OR LAST WEEK THERE
WAS A THREAT ON THE SCHOOL AND
I ENDED UP STAYING HOME
BECAUSE I HONESTLY FEARED THAT
I -- IT COULD HAVE BEEN REAL.
>> SCHOOL SAFETY IS ESSENTIAL
TO THE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT.
YOU SHOULDN'T GO TO CLASS
FEARING FOR YOUR LIFE.
YOU SHOULDN'T.
THAT IS ABSOLUTELY
UNACCEPTABLE.
>> OUR THANKS TO THE PBS
WISCONSIN EDUCATION DEPARTMENT
FOR THEIR HELP GATHERING THOSE
STUDENT INTERVIEWS.
THEY WERE CONDUCTED AT SCHOOLS
ACROSS THE STATE INCLUDING AT
TWO PBS NEWSHOUR STUDENT
REPORTING LABS SCHOOLS.
AND NOW, WE TURN TO A
POSSIBILITY THAT'S RARE IN
POLITICAL HISTORY.
THAT WOULD BE A LEGISLATIVE
SUPER-MAJORITY IN WISCONSIN.
WHILE REPUBLICANS HAVE STRONG
MAJORITIES IN BOTH THE
ASSEMBLY AND SENATE RIGHT NOW,
THEY'RE STRIVING FOR EVEN
GREATER CONTROL.
TO MAKE THEIR LEGISLATION
VETO-PROOF.
HERE & NOW'S STEVEN POTTER
BREAKS DOWN HOW REPUBLICANS
CAN ACHIEVE A SUPER-MAJORITY
IN THIS FAST FACTS REPORT.
SENATE BILL 210.
>> OVER THE PAST FOUR YEARS,
DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR TONY EVERS
HAS VETOED A RECORD-SETTING
146 BILLS SENT TO HIM BY THE
REPUBLICAN-CONTROLLED STATE
LEGISLATURE.
THESE VETOES INCLUDED BILLS
REGARDING EVERYTHING FROM
EDUCATION AND VOTING
RESTRICTIONS TO PANDEMIC
POLICIES AND NEW STATE WELFARE
REQUIREMENTS.
BUT GOVERNOR EVERS' ABILITY TO
VETO, OR STOP, THE LEGISLATION
HE DISAGREES WITH COULD SOON
COME TO AN END.
THAT WOULD HAPPEN IF
REPUBLICANS ACHIEVE WHAT'S
CALLED A ‘SUPERMAJORITY,'
WHICH WOULD ALLOW THE
LEGISLATURE TO OVERRIDE A
GOVERNOR'S VETO.
TO DO THIS, REPUBLICANS WOULD
NEED TO WIN ELECTIONS IN
TWO-THIRDS OF THE SEATS IN
BOTH THE STATE SENATE AND
STATE ASSEMBLY.
AS IT STANDS RIGHT NOW,
REPUBLICANS HAVE A 61 TO 38
MAJORITY OVER DEMOCRATS IN THE
STATE ASSEMBLY.
THEY WOULD NEED TO TAKE AN
ADDITIONAL FIVE SEATS FROM
DEMOCRATS IN THE UPCOMING
NOVEMBER ELECTION TO ACHIEVE A
66-SEAT SUPERMAJORITY IN THAT
CHAMBER.
IN THE STATE SENATE,
REPUBLICANS CURRENTLY HAVE A
21 TO 12 MAJORITY OVER
DEMOCRATS.
TO EARN A TWO-THIRDS
SUPERMAJORITY THERE,
REPUBLICANS WOULD NEED TO FLIP
ONLY ONE SEAT.
IN ORDER TO OVERRIDE A
GOVERNOR'S VETO, BOTH THE
STATE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY MUST
VOTE TO DO SO.
ONE CHAMBER CANNOT OVERRIDE A
VETO ALONE.
IN THE EVENT THAT REPUBLICAN
CHALLENGER TIM MICHELS WINS
THE GOVERNOR'S ELECTION ON
NOV. 8, OVERRIDING A VETO WILL
PROVE LIKELY UNNECESSARY AS
REPUBLICANS WILL HAVE COMPLETE
CONTROL OVER ALL LAWMAKING
BODIES OF STATE GOVERNMENT.
THE LAST TIME ONE POLITICAL
PARTY HAD A TWO-THIRDS
SUPERMAJORITY IN BOTH THE
STATE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY WAS
IN 1977 AND THE CONTROLLING
PARTY WAS DEMOCRATS.
AND THE LAST TIME A VETO WAS
OVERRIDDEN WAS PART OF THE
STATE BUDGET BILL IN 1985.
FOR HERE & NOW, I'M STEVEN
POTTER.
>> AS YOU JUST HEARD, IF
REPUBLICANS WIN A VETO-PROOF
MAJORITY AND DEMOCRAT TONY
EVERS WINS RE-ELECTION, HIS
DAYS OF EASILY OVERTURNING
BILLS WOULD BE OVER.
BUT IF REPUBLICAN TIM MICHELS
WINS THE ELECTION, WHAT BILLS
THAT EVERS VETOED WOULD LIKELY
BECOME LAW?
TO LOOK AT THESE POSSIBLE
ELECTION OUTCOMES, WE TURN TO
SHAWN JOHNSON, CAPITOL BUREAU
CHIEF FOR WISCONSIN PUBLIC
RADIO.
NICE TO SEE YOU.
>> GOOD TO SEE YOU.
>> OKAY, SO HOW DOES GOVERNOR
TONY EVERS' VETO RECORD STACK
UP IN HISTORY?
IT TURNS OUT, OVER A TWO-YEAR
SESSION.
EVER SINCE WISCONSIN HAS BEEN
A STATE.
NO GOVERNOR HAS VETOED NOR
BILLS THAN HE HAS.
126.
THE NEXT CLOSEST IS 90s.
EVERS HAS IT BY A MILE.
IF YOU ARE THINKING THEY ARE
NOT GETTING ALONG TOO WELL.
YOU ARE FACTUALLY, OBJECTIVELY
CORRECT.
IN HIS 126 VETOES IN A SINGLE
IT COVERED EVERYTHING FROM
ELECTION LAW CHANGES, COVID
BILLS, K-12 LAW CHANGES,
LEGISLATION ON
GUNS, ABORTION, AND CHILD
LABOR LAWS.
WHICH STAND OUT HEADING INTO
THE ELECTION?
IF YOU ASK WHICH STANDS OUT IN
TERMS OF THE CAMPAIGN WE ARE
WATCHING RIGHT NOW.
I WOULD SAY NOT VERY MANY OF
THEM.
REALLY.
IT FEELS LIKE THE CANDIDATES
ARE RUNNING ON THEMES THAT YOU
SEE FROM REPUBLICANS AND
DEMOCRATS EVERYWHERE.
TIM MICHELS IS RUNNING AGAINST
EVERS AS, TALKING ABOUT HIS
PAROLE COMMISSION.
EVERS IS TALKING ABOUT TIM
MIKE ELLS ON ABORTION GOING
BACK TO 2004.
THAT'S WHAT THEY ARE TALKING
ABOUT.
THEY WERE NOT REALLY TALKING
ABOUT THESE VETOES.
THAT SAID, THERE IS
SIGNIFICANT STUFF IN THERE.
THERE IS AROUND 20 BILTZ THAT
REPUBLICANS PASSED RELATED TO
ELECTION LAW CHANGES,
INCLUDING THEN ON PRIVATE
PLANTS TO HELP RUN ELECTIONS.
THERE ARE SOME PRETTY
SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TO
EDUCATION IN WISCONSIN.
PROPOSED IN THESE BILLS.
INCLUDING ONE THAT WOULD LIFT
ALL CAPS ON THE PRIVATE SCHOOL
VOUCHER PROGRAM, NO MORE
ENROLLMENT CAPS OR LIMITS TO
THE PROGRAM.
THAT IS A SUBSTANTIAL CHANGE
TO WISCONSIN LAW.
SO THERE IS A LOT IN THERE IN
ALL OF THESE BILLS.
SOME OF IT IS GETTING TALKS
ABOUT, JUST NOT AS MUCH AS THE
LARGER THEMES.
DO THESE BILLS THAT ARE VETOED
REPRESENT A BLUEPRINT FOR
REPUBLICANS?
>> IN A WAY, I THINK THEY DO.
WE MENTIONED IT'S REFERRED TO
AS THE UNIVERSITY SCHOOL
CHOICE PLAN.
HISTORICALLY IN WISCONSIN, THE
SCHOOL CHOICE LOBBY IS KIND OF
MOVED INCREMENTALLY.
RAISE THE INCOME LIMITATIONS
FOR THE CHOICE PROGRAM A
LITTLE BIT THIS SESSION.
A LITTLE BIT THIS SESSION.
EXPANDS IT TO RECEIVE, THEN
STATE-WIDE.
KIND OF STEP BY STEP.
THIS IS LIKE EVERYTHING HERE.
AND I THINK BYPASSING IT,
GETTING THE LEGISLATURE ON
RECORD TO SUPPORT THIS BILL,
EVEN IF THEY KNEW THE GOVERNOR
WAS GOING TO VETO IT.
THEY MAY HAVE TIM MIKE ELLS
TALKING ABOUT IT.
EVERYBODY IS ON THE RECORD IN
REPUBLICAN POLITICS SAYING
"LET'S DO THIS."
IT DOES SET A BLUEPRINT FOR
REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR SHOULD TIM
MICHELS WIN TO STAKE SWEEPING
STEPS QUICKLY.
>> WHAT ELSE WILL BE FIRST OUT
OF THE BLOCKS?
I THINK THE ELECTION BILLS
WOULD BE COMING PRETTY FAST.
BECAUSE THE REPUBLICAN BASE
SAYS THEY WANT THEM.
AND I ALSO THINK THAT THERE IS
PROBABLY NOT ALL THE CHANGES
REPUBLICANS ARE GOING TO BE
DOING WHEN IT COMES TO
ELECTION LAW.
THERE IS GOING TO BE A PUSH TO
POSSIBLY ELIMINATE THE
WISCONSIN ELECTIONS
COMMISSION.
THERE A WHOLE BUNCH THAT
REPUBLICANS TALKED ABOUT IN
THEIR PRIMARY COMPLAIN THAT
THE BASE WANTS.
WE HAVE AN ELECTION IN 2024
THAT WILL BE CLOSE HERE IN
WISCONSIN.
>> WITH ALL OF THESE BILLS
CONCEIVABLY COME BACK OR IS
SOME OF IT REPUBLICANS TRYING
TO DRAW THE VETO TO MESSAGE
THE BASE?
I THINK WHAT YOU JUST SAID
THERE IS A VERY GOOD
POSSIBILITY FOR SOME OF THEM.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU REMEMBER.
THIS WEAPON HAD A TALK LIKE
THIS IN 2010.
WHEN WE HAD A DEMOCRAT
GOVERNOR WHO VETOED REPUBLICAN
BILLS.
SUDDENLY REPUBLICANS HAD ALL
THE POWER.
WE WENT THROUGH A LIST OF WHAT
MIGHT THEY PASS.
THEY DID PASS SOME OF THAT
STUFF THAT THEY SENT TO GET
VETOED.
BUT NOT ALL OF IT.
THERE WAS OTHER STUFF THAT WAS
NOT ON THE LIST.
I DON'T KNOW, SO I DON'T THINK
YOU CAN LOOK TELL VETO LIST
AND SAY THAT'S EVERYTHING THEY
WILL DO NEXT YEAR.
THERE ARE SOME BILLS ON THERE,
FOR EXAMPLE ONE THAT WOULD
EXEMPT ALL GUNS MADE IN
WISCONSIN FROM ANY FEDERAL
FIREARM LAWS.
IT WOULD PROHIBIT FEDERAL BANS
ON ASSAULT WEAPONS.
THAT'S PRETTY BROAD STUFF.
THEY MIGHT MASS IT AGAIN.
BUT WE JUST DON'T KNOW.
>> IT DOES SUFFICE TO SAY IT
POINTS TO HIGH STAKES IN THIS
ELECTION, FOR SURE.
SHAWN JOHNSON MUCH
>> NEXT WEEK, ZAC SCHULTZ IS
ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL WITH THE
CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR.
FOR MORE ON THE STATE-WIDE
RACES AND OTHER ISSUES FACING
WISCONSIN, VISIT OUR WEBSITE
AT PBS WISCONSIN.ORG AND THEN
CLICK ON THE NEWS TAB.
ALSO, TURN TO WISCONSIN
VOTE.ORG FOR UP-TO-DATE
ELECTION COVERAGE AND
INFORMATION.
INCLUDING REAL-TIME RESULTS ON
ELECTION NIGHT.
THAT IS OUR PROGRAM FOR
TONIGHT.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.
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