>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION.
>> I, TONY EVERS, SWEAR THAT I
WILL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION OF
THE UNITED STATES.
>> DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR TONY
EVERS TAKES THE OATH OF OFFICE
FOR HIS SECOND TERM.
A NEW STATE LEGISLATURE PREPARES
FOR BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS.
AND THE U.S. HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES STRUGGLES TO
MOVE FORWARD ON A VOTE FOR
SPEAKER.
I'M ZAC SCHULTZ FILLING IN FOR
FREDERICA FREYBERG, TONIGHT ON
"HERE AND NOW," GOVERNOR TONY
EVERS IS HERE, SHARING HIS
PRIORITIES FOR THE UPCOMING
SESSION.
AND ASSEMBLY SPEAKER ROBIN VOS
HOPES TO FIND COMMON GROUND ON
TAX CUTS.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW," FOR JANUAR.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.
>> TUESDAY MARKED THE START OF
THE NEW TWO-YEAR LEGISLATIVE
SESSION, AND KICKED OFF WITH THE
INAUGURATION OF TONY EVERS AND
THE OTHER CONSTITUTIONAL
OFFICERS.
[APPLAUSE]
>> I'M TONY EVERS, AND YES I AM
JAZZED AS HELL TO BE SWORN IN
AGAIN AS THE 46TH GOVERNOR OF
THE GREAT STATE OF WISCONSIN.
[APPLAUSE]
>> DEMOCRAT TONY EVERS TOOK THE
OATH OF OFFICE, LOOKING TO SET A
NEW TONE FOR HIS SECOND TERM AS
GOVERNOR.
HE FRAMED HIS WIN IN NOVEMBER AS
A VICTORY FOR DEMOCRACY, NOT
JUST DEMOCRATS.
>> WISCONSIN REJECTED A RHETORIC
BORN OUT OF APATHY AND ANIMOSITY
TOWARDS OUR NEIGHBOR, AND
WISCONSIN REJECTED A RETURN TO
THE BITTER POLITICS OF
RESENTMENT.
>> HE USED HIS INAUGURAL ADDRESS
TO LAY OUT HOW VOTERS EXPECT A
RETURN TO BIPARTISANSHIP AND
COMPROMISE, WITH A DEMOCRATIC
POINT OF VIEW.
>> PEOPLE VOTED BECAUSE THEY
BELIEVE, AS I DO, THAT WHEN WE
DELIVER TAX RELIEF, IT SHOULD BE
TARGETED TO THE MIDDLE CLASS TO
GIVE WORKING FAMILIES A LITTLE
BREATHING ROOM IN THEIR FAMILY
BUDGET, NOT TO GIVE BIG BREAKS
TO MILLIONAIRES AND
BILLIONAIRES.
>> AFTER THE CEREMONY IN THE
ROTUNDA, MEMBERS OF THE
LEGISLATURE WERE SWORN IN.
WITH REPUBLICANS IN COMMANDING
CONTROL OF BOTH CHAMBERS.
>> SO HELP ME GOD.
>> ASSEMBLY SPEAKER ROBIN VOS
ALSO SPOKE ABOUT COMPROMISE.
>> SO IF YOU COME FROM THE FAR
LEFT OR THE FAR RIGHT, PLEASE
ALWAYS REMEMBER IN THIS
INSTITUTION, THE MIDDLE 90% OF
THE BODY IS WHERE THINGS GET
DONE, NOT ON THE FRINGE.
>> HE, TOO, SPOKE ABOUT TAX
REFORM, FROM A REPUBLICAN POINT
OF VIEW.
>> WHEN I LOOK AT OUR TAX
CLIMATE, I SEE THAT ALL AROUND
US ARE FLAT TAXES.
IN IOWA, MICHIGAN, ILLINOIS.
>> GOVERNOR EVERS PREVIEWED THE
NEXT TWO YEARS WHEN HE SAID THE
INAUGURAL CALLED FOR A PARTY,
BUT THE REAL WORK WAS YET TO
COME.
>> WISCONSIN, WE LOVE YOU.
LET'S POLKA TONIGHT, AND GET TO
WORK TOMORROW.
>> IF TUESDAY NIGHT WAS ABOUT
DANCING THE POLKA, IT HAS BEEN
ABOUT TOURING THE STATE SINCE
THEN.
WE ARE JOINED NOW BY GOVERNOR
TONY EVERS.
THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.
>> HI, ZAC.
>> GOVERNOR, YOU'VE CRISSCROSSED
WISCONSIN THE LAST COUPLE OF
DAYS.
WHAT DO THOSE VISITS CONNECT TO
THE WORK OF DEALING WITH THE
LEGISLATURE?
>> WELL, YOU KNOW, YESTERDAY,
FOR EXAMPLE, I WAS IN TWO SCHOOL
DISTRICTS, AND THE WORK THAT
THEY'RE DOING ABSOLUTEL HAS A
LOT TO DO WITH, YOU KNOW,
FUNDING OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND
OTHER LEGISLATIVE THINGS.
SO WE LEARNED A LOT, EVEN -- YOU
KNOW, THINGS THAT SEEMINGLY ARE
SMALL BUT WE TALKED WITH A LOT
OF STUDENTS ABOUT THEIR YOUTH
APPRENTICESHIPS AND HOW THAT
WORKS.
EVERYTHING I DO, AND I'M GOING
OUT AND ABOUT, THE STATE HAS
SOMETHING TO DO WITH
LEGISLATION.
>> WE SPOKE WITH SPEAKER VOS
LAST MONTH AND HE SAID THAT MORE
MONEY IS NOT THE SOLUTION TO
SOLVING SOME OF THE KNOWLEDGE
GAPS THAT OCCURRED DURING COVID.
DO YOU AGREE OR DISAGREE?
>> WELL, MONEY DOES PLAY A ROLE,
CLEARLY.
I MEAN, WE HAVE SCHOOL DISTRICTS
GOING TO REFERENDA EVERY SINGLE
ELECTION, AND TWO THINGS HAPPEN
THERE.
ONE IS THAT MOST OF THEM PASS,
AND THAT RAISES PROPERTY TAXES
SO THAT'S OBVIOUSLY A
LEGISLATIVE ISSUE.
AND SECOND OF ALL, THERE'S 20 TO
30% THAT DON'T PASS EVERY TIME,
AND SO WHAT THAT DOES IS CREATES
A SU SYSTEM OF HAVES AND HAVE-N.
THAT IS A LEGISLATIVE ISSUE.
SO YES, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT
THAT WE LOOK AT EVERY OPTION TO
HAVE KIDS LEARN IN A BETTER WAY,
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, ONE
OF THOSE THINGS IS RESOURCES.
>> NOW BOTH ON ELECTION NIGHT
AND DURING YOUR INAUGURAL
ADDRESS, YOU CONNECTED YOUR
VICTORY WITH A VOTE TO SAVE
DEMOCRACY.
IS YOUR WIN ENOUGH TO DO THAT,
OR DO WE NEED MORE LEGISLATION
TO AVOID WHAT YOU CALLED, QUOTE,
A TRAJECTORY BENT TOWARD
PERMANENTLY UNDERMINING THE
INSTITUTIONS THAT ARE
FUNDAMENTAL TO WHO WE ARE AS A
PEOPLE?
>> WELL, OUR ELECTION AND THE
WAY IT WAS RUN AND OBVIOUSLY
EVERYTHING WENT FINE, YOU KNOW,
WE HAVE A REPUBLICAN THAT'S HEAD
OF THE WISCONSIN ELECTIONS
COMMISSION, THEY CERTIFIED THE
ELECTION.
SO I THINK THINGS WENT WELL.
NOW, DO I THINK THERE'S SOME
THINGS THAT COULD BE BETTER?
FRANKLY, I WOULD BE -- I'D LIKE
TO HAVE AUTOMATIC VOTER
REGISTRATION SO THAT PEOPLE ARE
REGISTERED.
THAT DOESN'T MEAN THEY HAVE TO
VOTE.
AND I THINK IT WOULD BE GOOD TO
GIVE THOSE LOCAL CLERKS THE
ABILITY TO PROCESS SOME OF THOSE
EARLY VOTING THINGS BEFOREHAND
SO THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TO DO IT
AT 4:00 IN THE MORNING.
BUT THE SYSTEM IS STRONG, AND
BASICALLY, YES, DO I THINK THAT
THAT ELECTION AND THE WAY IT WAS
RUN HELPED PEOPLE UNDERSTAND HOW
IMPORTANT DEMOCRACY IS?
AND FRANKLY, HOW IT'S ALWAYS
BEEN STRONG.
I MEAN, IN WISCONSIN, SO MUCH OF
THE HARD WORK, 90% OR MORE,
HAPPENS LOCALLY.
AND HAPPENS BY REPUBLICANS,
DEMOCRATS, INDEPENDENTS, YOU
KNOW, THE CLERKS, THE LOCAL
CLERKS.
THOSE ARE THE FOLKS THAT DO ALL
THE HARD WORK.
IT'S NOT WHAT HAPPENS IN
MADISON.
AND SO WE NEED TO REAFFIRM OUR
SUPPORT FOR THAT AND CONTINUE TO
MOVE FORWARD.
>> NOW, YOU'VE HAD MEETINGS WITH
ASSEMBLY SPEAKER ROBIN VOS AND
SENATE MAJORITY LEADER DEVIN
LEMAHIEU LAST MONTH, THE FIRST
TIME IN A LONG TIME FOR THOSE.
DO YOU EXPECT THAT TO BE A
REGULAR THING GOING FORWARD?
>> YEAH, I DO.
I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO BE
EVERY WEDNESDAY AT NOON OR
SOMETHING LIKE THAT, BUT YEAH,
I'VE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH
MEETING WITH THEM.
OBVIOUSLY DURING THE PANDEMIC,
THAT MADE IT MORE DIFFICULT.
SO YES, I THOUGHT BOTH MEETINGS
WENT WELL.
AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO IT, AND
THERE'S LOTS OF THINGS THAT
WE -- YOU KNOW, THAT I KNOW AND
I THINK THEY KNOW TOO, THERE'S
BIPARTISAN SUPPORT FOR.
>> NOW IN YOUR FIRST TWO
BUDGETS, THE NEGOTIATIONS
APPEARED FROM THE OUTSIDE TO
CONSIST OF REPUBLICANS TRYING TO
FIGURE OUT HOW FAR THEY COULD GO
BEFORE YOU WOULD VETO THE ENTIRE
BILL.
DO YOU EXPECT THIS PROCESS TO
LOOK DIFFERENT?
>> IT WILL BE DIFFERENT IN THAT
THINGS LIKE SHARED REVENUE, HOW
WE'RE GOING TO FUND OUR PUBLIC
SCHOOLS, FIXING THE ROADS AND
BROADBAND, THINGS LIKE THAT,
ABSOLUTELY THERE IS COMMON
GROUND TO BE HELD.
AND THEN AFTER THAT, WE'LL SEE.
YOU KNOW, WE MAY BE IN POSITIONS
WHERE WE FIGHT ABOUT DIFFERENT
THINGS AND I ANTICIPATE WE WILL.
WHETHER THOSE THINGS WILL BE
ENOUGH FOR ME TO VETO A BILL --
A BUDGET OR NOT, I DON'T KNOW AT
THIS TIME.
>> NOW, WE'RE FINALLY STARTING
TO SEE SOME OF GOVERNOR WALKER'S
APPOINTEES TO SOME OF THOSE
STATE BOARDS STEP DOWN AFTER
OVERSTAYING THEIR TERMS,
SPECIFICALLY ON THE DNR BOARD.
IN THE FUTURE, WOULD YOU EXPECT
TO RUN NAMES PAST SENATE
MAJORITY LEMAHIEU IN ORDER TO
SEE IF HE LIKES THEM OFF THE BAT
OR ARE YOU JUST GOING TO
ANNOUNCE THEM COLD?
>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, WE
ANNOUNCE PEOPLE THAT WE FEEL
WILL BE OKAY WITH SENATOR
LEMAHIEU, AND I APPRECIATE THE
FACT THAT HE SAID EVERYONE THAT
WE HAVE OUT THERE, THEY'RE GOING
TO BE GIVEN AN UP AND DOWN VOTE.
AND THEY'RE ALL GOOD PEOPLE.
I MEAN, THERE'S NO REASON WHY
NOT TO.
AND THE FACT THAT -- THE FACT
THAT PEOPLE WAITED, A HANDFUL
WAITED UNTIL THE END OF THE
CALENDAR YEAR TO GET OUT, I FIND
THAT, YOU KNOW, REFRESHING THAT
THEY'D COME TO THAT CONCLUSION,
BUT THAT SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED A
LONG TIME AGO.
>> YOU RECENTLY ANNOUNCED YOUR
NEW SELECTION FOR DNR SECRETARY,
ADAM PAYNE, JUST SO HAPPENS HE'S
THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR FROM
SENATOR LEMAHIEU'S HOME COUNTY
OF SHEBOYGAN.
WAS THAT A COINCIDENCE OR IS
THAT SOMETHING YOU THINK WILL
HELP SPEED THE CONFIRMATION?
>> WELL, IT WAS A COINCIDENCE.
I'D KNOWN ADAM FOR A LONG TIME,
I'M FROM SHEBOYGAN COUNTY, I
KNOW HE'S DONE A GREAT JOB
THERE, I KNOW THAT HIS
BACKGROUND IS ONE THAT, YOU
KNOW, HIS FATHER WAS I THINK A
PROFESSOR AT STEVENS POINT IN
THE AREA OF -- YOU KNOW, NATURAL
RESOURCES.
SO IT WAS JUST A NATURAL.
IF IT HELPS THAT HE'S FROM
SHEBOYGAN COUNTY AND SO IS
SENATOR LEMAHIEU, THAT'S GREAT.
BUT THAT'S NOT WHY WE CHOSE HIM.
>> SWITCHING TO THE TOPIC OF THE
SUPREME COURT ELECTION THAT'S
COMING UP, IT SEEMS LIKE ANY
NEGOTIATIONS OVER THE OTHER
MAJOR TOPIC OF ABORTION WILL BE
TIED DIRECTLY TO TH THE OUTCOMEF
THAT ELECTION, THERE DOESN'T
SEEM TO BE ANY ROOM FOR
COMPROMISE UNTIL WE KNOW WHAT'S
GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THE COURT
ON THAT ISSUE.
>> I WOULD SAY SO.
I WOULD IMAGINE WE WILL BE ABLE
TO COME TO SOME CONCLUSION TO
GET US TO THE POINT WHERE WE
WERE BEFORE ROE V. WADE
LEGISLATIVELY, SO THAT'S WHY WE
FILED A LAWSUIT.
I THINK THE LAWSUIT IS GOING TO
BE SUCCESSFUL, AND IT'S LIKELY
TO END UP IN THE WISCONSIN
SUPREME COURT.
>> WOULD YOU BE COMFORTABLE IF
VOTERS APPROACHED THAT SUPREME
COURT ELECTION FROM THE POINT OF
VIEW OF ABORTION RIGHTS?
>> OF COURSE.
YEAH.
IT IS A BIG DEAL IN THE STATE OF
WISCONSIN.
MOST PEOPLE IN THE STATE DO
BELIEVE THAT WOMEN SHOULD HAVE
THAT DECISION-MAKING LEFT UP TO
THEM.
AND SO YES, IF THAT'S THE WAY IT
PLAYS OUT, THAT'S THE WAY IT
PLAYS OUT.
BUT IT'S AN IMPORTANT ISSUE.
IT WAS AN IMPORTANT ISSUE IN THE
CAMPAIGN, MY CAMPAIGN, AND I
BELIEVE WOMEN SHOULD HAVE THOSE
RIGHTS.
>> NOW, INCLUDING IN THE TOPIC
OF AWORG ABORTION, THE FDA RECEA
ANNOUNCED THEY WOULD BE
EXPANDING ACCESS TO THE
SO-CALLED ABORTION PILL BUT
THAT'S NOT AVAILABLE IN
WISCONSIN, BOTH DUE TO THE 1849
LAW AND MORE RECENT LEGISLATION.
IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WILL HAVE
TO GET SORTED OUT WAY DOWN THE
ROAD AS TO WHETHER PEOPLE WILL
BE ABLE TO ACCESS THAT?
>> I CAN'T IMAGINE THAT WILL BE
DEALT WITH BY THE LEGISLATURE,
BUT WE'LL SEE.
I MEAN, CERTAINLY IF THERE'S
THINGS THAT LEGISLATIVELY CAN
HAPPEN THAT ALLOW WOMEN TO
UTILIZE THIS PHARMACEUTICAL, I
THINK WE SHOULD, BUT I'M
GUESSING THAT'S NOT GOING TO
HAPPEN.
SO THAT'S GOING TO BE DOWN THE
ROAD.
>> ONE OTHER ISSUE THAT
REPUBLICANS HAVE BROUGHT UP IS
THE USE OF TIK TOK ON STATE
DEVICES.
WE'VE SEEN OTHER STATES BAN
THEM.
IS THAT SOMETHING YOU'RE LEANING
TOWARDS?
>> YEAH, I MADE A DECISION TO DO
THAT.
IN FACT, I'LL BE ISSUING AN
EXECUTIVE ORDERLY NEXT WEEK TO
BAN THAT.
>> HOW COME, AND IS THE USE OF
TIK TOK ON STATE DEVICES?
>> NOT VERY.
I MEAN, THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE,
IT'S RELATIVELY A SMALL NUMBER,
I'D SAY PROBABLY LESS THAN 30
ALL TOTAL, ALL STATE EMPLOYEES,
SO IT'S NOT A MAJORITY BY ANY
STRETCH.
SO IT'S NOT PERVASIVE, BUT WE
FEEL IT'S IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE
THAT EVEN IN THE SMALL NUMBER OF
PEOPLE THAT USE IT, THAT THEY
SHOULDN'T BE USING IT.
>> DOES THAT FALL UNDER THE
LARGER PURVIEW OF JUST
ELECTRONIC SECURITY?
BECAUSE WE'VE HEARD OTHER
EXPERTS SAY WELL, TIK TOK IS
REALLY NO DIFFERENT THAN A LOT
OF OTHER SOCIAL MEDIA DEVICES
YOU DOWNLOAD ON TO A PHONE.
>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
WE ARE IN CONSTANT CONVERSATIONS
WITH FBI AND ALSO WISCONSIN
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND OTHERS
THAT ARE REALLY INTO, YOU KNOW,
THE NITTY GRITTY OF THAT, AND
WE'LL FOLLOW THEIR ADVICE JUST
LIKE WE DID WITH TIK TOK.
>> ALL RIGHT.
GOVERNOR EVERS, THANKS FOR YOUR
TIME TODAY.
>> THANKS, ZAC.
>> ASSEMBLY SPEAKER ROBIN VOS
SAYS HE, TOO, IS HOPING TO
IMPROVE LINES OF COMMUNICATION
BETWEEN THE LEGISLATURE AND THE
GOVERNOR.
WE SPOKE WITH HIM RECENTLY ABOUT
THE BUDGET AND HIS LEGISLATIVE
PRIORITIES.
>> MR. SPEAKER, THANKS FOR YOUR
TIME.
>> ALWAYS HAPPY TO BE HERE.
THANKS, ZAC.
>> GIVE ME YOUR IMPRESSIONS OF
THE 2022 ELECTIONS AND WHAT ARE
YOUR TAKEAWAYS FROM THE RESULTS?
>> I WOULD SAY FIRST OF ALL, IT
SEEMED TO GO ALONG BETTER THAN
IT DID BEFORE.
I THINK WE HAD LESS CONCERNS
WITH THE CHALLENGES THAT
OCCURRED IN 2020.
I THINK IT STILL SHOWS THAT
THERE WERE ISSUES THAT WE HAD TO
DEAL WITH.
I STILL WOULD PREFER THAT WE HAD
THE MONDAY BILL ASSEMBLY -- I
THINK WE HAD SOME CHANGES TO THE
WAY THAT WE DID DIFFERENT
ELECTION LAWS THAT SHOULD HAVE
BECOME LAW.
I THINK THOSE ISSUES ARE STILL
OUT THERE.
BUT I THINK WE'VE ALSO REALIZED
THAT THERE IS A LOT OF PASSION
AROUND ELECTIONS.
ON BOTH SIDES IN WISCONSIN.
EVERYTHING IS SO CLOSE.
SO I WISH WE WOULD FOCUS MORE ON
TRYING TO ENSURE THAT THERE WAS
CONFIDENCE FROM THE VERY FAR
RIGHT TO THE VERY FAR LEFT,
INSTEAD OF JUST HOPING THAT OUR
SIDE WINS AND THAT THE OTHER
SIDE JUST HAS TO DEAL WITH IT.
>> DO YOU THINK THE FACT THAT
THERE WAS KIND OF A SPLIT
ELECTION WITH RON JOHNSON AND
TONY EVERS WINNING GIVES PEOPLE
CONFIDENCE?
LIKE THERE'S NO WAY IT COULD BE
RIGGED IF THAT HAPPENED?
>> I WOULD CERTAINLY HOPE SO.
LIKE I SAY, I STILL BELIEVE
THERE ARE CONCERNS THAT WE HAVE
TO DEAL WITH.
IT WOULD BE NICE IF WE COULD
KIND OF TRY TO GENERATE MORE OF
A CONSENSUS THIS TIME AROUND,
WE'RE HEADING INTO WHAT IS
PROBABLY GOING TO BE A
CONTENTIOUS PRESIDENTIAL
ELECTION.
I DON'T THINK WE JUST THROW
CAUTION TO THE WIND AND OVERHAUL
EVERYTHING BUT AT THE SAME TIME,
THERE'S A LOT OF CONCERNS THAT
PEOPLE ARE LEGITIMATELY BRINGING
UP.
I HOPE WE CAN HAVE A SERIOUS
CONVERSATION ABOUT IT.
>> MILITARY B BALLOTS KIND OF CE
UP AT THE VERY END, THERE'S NOT
VERY ME MANY BUT DOES THAT NEEDO
BE LOOKED AT?
>> THERE'S A WAY IF WE DON'T
HAVE THE SAME SECURITY AROUND
PEOPLE WHO VOTE USING A MILITARY
SITUATION AS OPPOSED TO SOMEBODY
WHO LIVES IN LODI OR BURLINGTON,
I THINK IT'S REASONABLE TO HAVE
US DO THAT.
MY GOAL IS ALWAYS TO HAVE THE
MAXIMUM NUMBER OF VOTES CAST
THAT ARE LEGAL AND PROPER.
AND I THINK THAT'S THE SECOND
PART THAT WE REALLY NEED TO
FOCUS ON.
YEAH, I WANT TO HAVE MASSIVE
TURNOUT IN WISCONSIN LIKE WE
ALWAYS HAVE BUT NOT DO IT IN A
WAY THAT ALLOWS FOR INDIVIDUALS
TO HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THE FINAL
RESULTS BECAUSE SOMEBODY COULD,
YOU KNOW, WORK THEIR WAY THROUGH
THE PROCESS ILLEGALLY, WHETHER
IT HAPPENS A LOT OR NOT, NOBODY
SHOULD EVER HAVE TO WORRY THAT
IT DOES.
>> ARE THERE ANY NON-BUDGET
ISSUES THAT YOU THINK THAT THE
ASSEMBLY WILL LOOK TO ADDRESS
RIGHT AWAY I WHEN THE SESSION
STARTS?
>> BOY, THERE'S A LOT THAT'S
GOING TO GO ON.
A LOT OF IT IS THE BUDGET.
THAT'S PRIMARILY THE THING.
BUT AS I'VE THOUGHT ABOUT THE
TOPICS WE CAN LOOK AT, I FEEL
LIKE ONE OF THE GOOD THINGS
ABOUT THE WAY THAT THE
LEGISLATURE WORKS IS WE HAVE THE
ABILITY TO KIND OF HIT THE RESET
BUTTON WITH EVERY SWEARING IN
CEREMONY THAT WE HAVE TWO
YEARS -- EVERY TWO YEARS, SO
PART OF ME LOOKS AND SAYS, OKAY,
THE PAST IS THE PAST, WE'VE GOT
TO LOOK IF HE FUTURE.
SO NUMBER ONE, I THINK WE HAVE A
REAL PROBLEM WITH LEARNING LOSS.
WE NOW SEE THAT TWO OUT OF THREE
KIDS SINCE 2019 ARE DOING WORSE
ON STANDARDIZED TESTS.
THEY DON'T HAVE THE ADEQUATE
LEVEL OF MATH OR READING FOR
THEIR GRADE LEVEL.
THAT'S WRONG.
WE'VE GOT TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE
DEAL WITH THAT.
WE ALSO KNOW WITH THE MASSIVE
AMOUNT OF FEDERAL MONEY THAT
CAME IN, MORE MONEY ISN'T THE
SIMPLE ANSWER, THERE'S A LOT OF
COMPLEX ISSUES.
SO I THINK THAT'S AN AREA WE
COULD FOCUS ON.
I WAS DISAPPOINTED THAT GOVERNOR
EVERS VETOED OUR LEGISLATION TO
INCREASE LITERACY AND LEARNING,
HOPEFULLY WE CAN ADDRESS THE
CONCERNS AND GET THAT THROUGH.
SECOND THING IS WE KNOW WE HAVE
A DEMOGRAPHIC CHALLENGE.
WE HAVE REAL ISSUES IN WISCONSIN
WITH A GRAYING POPULATION AND WE
NEED TO DO MORE TO KEEP PEOPLE
HERE IN WISCONSIN.
IMWHEN I LOOK AT OUR TAX CLIMATE
AND SEE WE HAVE A FLAT TAX IN
IOWA, MICHIGAN, ILLINOIS, A
REPUBLICAN STATE, A DEMOCRAT
STATE AND NEWLY TURNED DEMOCRAT
STATE, I THINK WE CAN CERTAINLY
HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT OUR TAX
BURDEN.
IT'S NOT ABOUT REWARDING WEALTH
EVEN THOUGH THERE'S NOTHING
WRONG WITH THAT.
IT'S ABOUT SAYING IF YOU HAVE A
RETIRED COUPLE AND THEY DECIDE
WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO SPEND SIX
MONTHS AND A DAY, IT CERTAINLY
SHOULD BE WISCONSIN, NOT
FLORIDA, TEXAS, ARIZONA, 1
TENNESSEE, ALL PLACES
SIGNIFICANTLY CHEAPER TO RETIRE.
WE'VE GOT TO FIX THAT.
AND THE LAST THING THAT I REALLY
THINK WE NEED TO FOCUS ON IS
MORE INNOVATION.
UNDER THE BEST CASE SCENARIO,
RIGHT NOW, WE SEE NOT NET IN
MIGRATION, WE HAVE TO KEEP MORE
COLLEGE GRADUATES AND PART OF
THE INNOVATION HAS TO BE ALL
THROUGH STATE GOVERNMENT AND
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.
I THINK FOR THE MOST PART IN
WISCONSIN, WE DO EVERYTHING THE
WAY THAT WE DID 20 AND 30 YEARS
AGO.
AND RATHER THAN INNOVATING, WE
JUST ADD MORE TO THE TOP OF THE
PILE.
SO I WOULD LOVE FOR US TO USE
OUR BUDGET AND OUR OPPORTUNITY
TO LEGISLATE TO FOCUS ON
INNOVATING AND BEING IN A PLACE
WHERE NEW IDEAS THRIVE.
YOU KNOW, WE USED TO BE THE
INVENTION CAPITAL OF THE
COUNTRY, ERVEG FROM MALTED MILK
TO GARBAGE DISPOSALS WERE
INVENTED IN WISCONSIN.
WE'VE BEEN LESS INNOVATIVE IN
GOVERNMENT AND I THINK WE NEED
TO CHANGE THAT.
>> MOVING TO THE BUDGETS,
OBVIOUSLY THE BIGGEST FOCUS, TAX
CUTS ARE THE BIGGEST PRIORITY
FOR REPUBLICANS.
ARE YOU GOING TO PASS A BUDGET
WITH A FLAT TAX OR IS THAT STILL
NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN THE TWO
CHAMBERS AS TO WHETHER THAT
HAPPENS?
>> I ALWAYS START BY SAYING I
DON'T WANT TO HAVE ANY ABSOLUTE
BOTTOM LINES AT THIS POINT.
THERE ARE THINGS THAT I REALLY
WANT TO ACCOMPLISH.
I TALKED ABOUT THE LEARNING LOSS
THAT WE'RE SEEING IN WISCONSIN
AMONG ALMOST EVERY GRADE LEVEL.
WELL, WE NEED TO EDUCATE AND
DIFFERENTIATE WISCONSIN FROM
OTHER PLACES.
SO I WANT MORE SCHOOL CHOICE.
THAT DOESN'T MEAN ONLY A PRIVATE
SCHOOL.
IT COULD MEAN WHY DO WE HAVE IT
DIFFICULT BETWEEN TWO PUBLIC
SCHOOLS?
WHY DO WE GET TO HAVE PARENTS
NOT BE THE PRIMARY DECIDERS AND
BUREAUCRATS INSTEAD?
I THINK THAT SHOULD BE SOMETHING
THAT I KNOW GOVERNOR EVERS CARES
ABOUT EDUCATION, SO YOU WOULD
THINK THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING WE
COULD FIND COMMON GROUND ON.
I WOULD SAY IN MY MIND, YES, WE
NEED TO HAVE TAX REFORM.
I'VE TRIED TO BE GENEROUS IN
SAYING THAT, LOOK, GOVERNOR
EVERS SIGNED THE LAST BUDGET
WHERE WE HAD NOWHERE NEAR THE
SURPLUS WE HAD NOW WITH
$3.4 BILLION IN TAX CUTS, I
CAN'T IMAGINE UNDER ANY SCENARIO
WE HAVE LESS THAN THAT, WE
SHOULD HAVE MORE, BUT I HAVEN'T
DRAWN A LINE IN THE SAND SAYING
IT MUST BE DONE AT THIS LEVEL OR
THIS WAY BUT I WILL TELL YOU THE
ONLY BOTTOM LINE I HAVE IS WE
ARE NOT GOING TO USE THE SURPLUS
OR NEW REVENUES TO GROW THE SIZE
OF GOVERNMENT.
RIGHT?
INNOVATE, MAKE SURE WE HAVE OUR
PRIORITIES FUNDED, BUT TO CREATE
NEW BU BUREAUCRACES, TO CREATE W
MONSTROSITIES TO PAY FOR LATER
ON, ABSOLUTELY NOT.
>> TODAY MARKS TWO YEARS SINCE
THE JANUARY 6TH INSURRECTION AT
THE CAPITOL.
TO DATE, MORE THAN 950 PEOPLE
HAVE BEEN CHARGED IN CONNECTION
WITH THE STORMING OF THE CAPITOL
AND THE ATTEMPT TO STOP THE
CERTIFICATION OF THE ELECTION.
ALL 8 OF WISCONSIN'S MEMBERS OF
THE HOUSE WERE THERE THAT DAY.
7 OF THEM INSIDE THE BUILDING.
THE 8TH MEMBER IS REPUBLICAN
DEREK VAN ORDEN, WHO WAS NOT IN
CONGRESS THEN.
HE ATTENDED THE RALLY OUTSIDE
THE CAPITOL BUT CLAIMS HE DID
NOT ENTER THE BUILDING OR
PARTICIPATE IN THE VIOLENCE THAT
DAY.
VAN ORDEN WAS ELECTED THIS FALL
TO REPRESENT WISCONSIN'S THIRD
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.
HOWEVER, HE STILL HASN'T BEEN
SWORN IN TO OFFICE BECAUSE
REPUBLICANS HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO
AGREE ON WHO TO ELECT AS SPEAKER
OF THE HOUSE.
REPUBLICAN KEVIN MCCARTHY HAS
FAILED IN MORE THAN A DOZEN
VOTES SINCE TUESDAY WITH A SMALL
GROUP OF HOLDOUTS PREVENTING HIM
FROM GETTING A MAJORITY.
IT'S THE FIRST TIME IN 100 YEARS
A SPEAKER WASN'T CHOSEN ON THE
FIRST BALLOT, AND THIS MARKS THE
MOST VOTES SINCE 1860 WHEN
44 VOTES WERE NEEDED.
THE RECORD, BY THE WAY, WAS SET
IN 1856, WHEN IT TOOK 133 ROUNDS
OF VOTING TO ELECT A SPEAKER.
UNLESS YOU'RE NEW TO WISCONSIN,
YOU'VE SEEN THE SNOWPLOWS OUT
THIS WINTER.
NOT ONLY CLEANING THE ROADS BUT
LAYING DOWN SALT.
WHILE THIS MAKES IT SAFER FOR
DRIVERS IT'S BECOMING A PROBLEM
FOR OUR STATE'S FRESHWATER
BODIES.
>> ONE THING WE'RE SEEING IN A
LOT OF URBAN AREAS IN WISCONSIN
IS INCREASING IS A LI SALINITY R
LAKES AND RIVERS.
THAT'S A PROBLEM BECAUSE
HISTORICALLY WE WERE BLESSED
WITH A LOT OF FRESHWATER IN
WISCONSIN.
OFTEN WE TAKE THAT FOR GRANTED,
IN OUR WATER BODIES, THAT CAUSES
PROBLEMS FOR AQUATIC ORGANISMS
IN FRESHWATER ENVIRONMENTS.
IT ALSO CAUSES PROBLEMS FOR
HUMANS IF THAT'S THE DRINKING
WATER SOURCE, WE'RE SEEING
INCREASE IN SALINITY IN LAKES,
WE'RE LIKELY ALSO SEEING IT IN
GROUNDWATER, SO THIS KIND OF
GOES BENEATH THE SURFACE.
EVERY COUNTY IN THE STATE, ALL
THIS CAN BE WASHED INTO OUR
WATERS EVENTUALLY.
>> TO LEARN MORE ABOUT IMPACT
AND MITIGATION, WE TURN TO
ELLISON MADISON, PROGRAM MANAGER
AT WISCONSIN SALT WISE.
THANKS FOR JOINING US.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING
ME.
>> SO WHAT IS SALT WISE AND WHO
ARE YOU WORKING WITH?
>> IT ACTUALLY BEGAN IN THE
MADISON AREA WITH THE CITY OF
MADISON, DANE COUNTY, MADISON
DANE COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH, THE
WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT, THE
WATER UTILITY, SEEING SALT
CONCENTRATIONS INCREASE IN OUR
LAKES, OUR STREAM AND OUR
DRINKING WATER.
SO THOSE ORGANIZATIONS CAME
TOGETHER AND SAID WE NEED TO DO
SOMETHING ABOUT THIS, AND
INITIALLY THE GOAL WAS REACH OUT
TO SOME OF THE BIGGEST USERS OF
SALT, THE CITIES, DIFFERENT
MUNICIPALITIES WITHIN THE COUNTY
THEMSELVES AND THEY STARTED TO
TRAIN OPERATORS, ANYBODY WHO'S
PUTTING SALT DOWN ON BEST
PRACTICES.
AND THEN FROM THERE, SALT-WISE
KIND OF GREW BECAUSE SOME OF THE
OPERATORS WERE SAYING, YOU KNOW,
THIS IS GREAT, BUT WE ALSO HAVE
PRIVATE CONTRACTORS, THEY'RE
PUTTING DOWN A LOT OF SALT ON
PARKING LOTS AND SIDEWALKS, THEY
NEED TO UNDERSTAND, AND THEN
ALSO THE AUDIENCE OF JUST THE
GENERAL PUBLIC CAME UP, RIGHT,
LIKE IF THE PUBLIC DOESN'T
UNDERSTAND WHY WE MIGHT WANT TO
KIND OF CALIBRATE IN AND
CONSIDER SALT USE, NOT JUST THAT
MORE ISN'T ALWAYS BETTER, WE
NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT MESSAGE
GETS OUT TO THE PUBLIC SO THEY
UNDERSTAND WHY WE'RE MAKING
CHANGES AT THE MUNICIPAL,
COUNTY, STATE LEVEL.
>> SO WHAT'S THE TRADEOFF HERE
BETWEEN MAKING ROADS SAFE AND
KEEPING OUR GROUNDWATER SAFE?
>> SO ACTUALLY I'M SO GLAD YOU
ASKED THAT QUESTION, BECAUSE I
REALLY -- WITH SALT-WISE, WHAT
WE WANT TO DO IS KIND OF BREAK
APART THAT DICHOTOMY OF WE'RE
EITHER SAFE OR WE HAVE PURE
FRESHWATER GOING FORWARD.
BECAUSE REALLY A LOT OF THE BEST
PRACTICES THAT THE SALT-WISE
PARTNERSHIP ENCOURAGES ARE
PRACTICES THAT DO NOT REDUCE THE
LEVEL OF SERVICE ON OUR ROADS.
SO THINGS LIKE CALIBRATING YOUR
SALT SPREADERS SO YOU UNDERSTAND
HOW MUCH SALT IS BEING PUT DOWN
AND YOU CAN REALLY MAKE PRECISE
APPLICATIONS BASED ON ROAD
TEMPERATURE AND WEATHER TRENDS.
ALSO USING LIQUID BRINES.
YOU MAY HAVE SEEN THOSE LINES ON
THE HIGHWAY BEFORE A STORM,
SOMETIMES ON MUNICIPAL STREETS
AS WELL.
THOSE WORK TO PUT DOWN A VERY,
VERY THIN LAYER OF SALT.
I LIKE TO DESCRIBE IT LIKE
PUTTING PAM SPRAY MAYBE, COOKING
SPRAY, ON YOUR SKILL ET BEFORE
YOU COOK.
SO IF YOU CAN PREVENT THAT BOND
FROM FORMING BETWEEN SNOW AND
THE PAVEMENT, WHEN THE PLOW
COMES, THE SNOW COMES UP SO MUCH
MORE READILY, THEY USE A LOT
LESS SALT AFTERWARDS, RIGHT?
I THINK YOU PROBABLY SOMETIMES
PUT SOME FOOD ON RIGHT BEFORE
OILING THAT SKILL ET AND THEN
YOU'RE SCRAPING AND SCRAPING
AFTERWARDS.
SO SOME OF THESE PRACTICES,
USING LIQUID BRINES, CALIBRATING
EQUIPMENT, THEY DON'T ACTUALLY
REDUCE THE LEVEL OF SERVICE,
THEY DON'T MAKE THE PAVEMENT
LESS SAFE.
SOMETIMES WE CAN ACTUALLY MAKE
IT SAFER BECAUSE OF THE WORK OF
LIQUID JUST WORKING SO MUCH MORE
QUICKLY THAN SOLID ROCK SALT.
SO IT'S NOT A QUESTION OF SAFE,
AGAIN, OR, YOU KNOW, PROTECTING
THE ENVIRONMENT, BUT IT'S REALLY
JUST ADOPTING THOSE BEST
PRACTICES.
>> SO CLIMATE CHANGE IS A BIG
FACTOR HERE.
IT'S CHANGING WHAT OUR WINTERS
LOOK LIKE IN TERMS OF SIZE OF
STORMS, WHEN SNOW RUNS OFF.
DOES THAT CHANGE THE FORMULAS
PEOPLE HAVE BEEN USING FOR YEARS
ABOUT HOW TO LAY DOWN SALT?
>> YEAH, SO ONE OF THE BIGGEST
PROBLEMS IS WE HAVEN'T
NECESSARILY USED FORMULAS IN THE
PAST.
WE'VE KIND OF JUST THOUGHT SALT
IS GOOD, SOME IS GOOD, MORE IS
BETTER, LET'S CRANK IT UP, PUT
THE SALT DOWN, RIGHT?
SO WE'RE SEEING THOSE
CONVERSATIONS START TO CHANGE.
PART OF IT IS THE ENVIRONMENTAL
ASPECT OF THIS ISSUE, RIGHT,
REALLY SEEING SALT
CONCENTRATIONS INCREASE IN OUR
FRESHWATER, BUT ANOTHER PIECE OF
IT IS THE GROWING COST OF SALT
ITSELF, AND ALSO THE FACT THAT
SALT IS SUPER CORROSIVE, RIGHT?
I THINK A LOT OF US SEE THAT
MAYBE ON OUR PERSONAL VEHICLES,
BUT SALT ALSO REALLY PREMATURELY
AGES ROADS AND BRIDGES, AND SO
WE'RE PAYING A LOT MORE FOR SALT
THESE DAYS AND WE'RE STARTING TO
SEE THE COST OF THAT.
SO I THINK THAT THIS WORK IS
REALLY JUST STARTING TO HAVE
APPLICATORS, THOSE BIGGEST
APPLICATORS ARE SEEING IT FIRST,
KIND OF HOW DO WE DIAL IN AND
RIGHT-SIZE OUR SALT USE AS THE
CLIMATE CONTINUES TO CHANGE AND
WE HAVE MORE MAYBE SNOW EVENT
FOLLOWED BY WARM SPELLS WITH
RAIN, YOU KNOW, WE SEE THAT IF
THERE'S ANY EXTRA SALT THAT'S
BEEN PUT DOWN ON PAVEMENT, IT'S
JUST WASHING AWAY, RIGHT?
INTO OUR STREAMS.
>> SO FOR INDIVIDUALS -- JUST A
FEW SECONDS LEFT, WHAT SHOULD
THEY THINK ABOUT WHEN THEY SALT
THEIR SIDEWALK OR THEIR STEPS?
>> THANK YOU.
SO WE REALLY ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO
SHOVEL, SCATTER, SWITCH, AND
THEN SWEEP.
SO FIRST SHOVEL, GET OUT THERE
AND MOVE AS MUCH SNOW AS YOU CAN
POSSIBLY MOVE KIND OF MANUALLY
OR MECHANICALLY WITH A
SNOWBLOWER.
SO SHOVEL, SCATTER.
IF YOU DO NEED TO USE SALT, JUST
APPLY IT AS NEEDED, BECAUSE
EVERY TEASPOON OF SALT --
5 GALLONS OF WATER.
SO IF YOU'VE GOT EXTRA SALT LEFT
OVER YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE
YOU'RE SWEEPING THAT UP AND
USING LESS THE NEXT TIME.
THE SWITCH COMES IN AT COLDER
TEMPERATURES.
IF YOU DROP BELOW -- IF THE
TEMPERATURES DROP BELOW
15 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT, SALT IS
NOT EFFECTIVE ANYMORE SO WE NEED
TO SWITCH AND USE SAND FOR
TRACTION OR A DIFFERENT DE-ICER.
>> THAT IS ALL WE HAVE, ALLISON
MADISON, THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
IT WAS A DELIGHT TO BE ON.
>> FOR MORE ON THIS AND OTHER
ISSUES FACING WISCONSIN, VISIT
OUR WEBSITE AT PBSWISCONSIN.ORG
AND THEN CLICK ON THE NEWS TAB.
THAT IS OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT.
I'M ZAC SCHULTZ.
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.
?
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