>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION.
>> SOMETIMES YOU CAN BELIEVE IN
SOMETHING VERY FERVENTLY, AND AT
THE END OF THE DAY, YOU WEIGH
THE TOTALITY OF THE BILL, AND
YOU SAY IT'S MUCH BETTER TO HAVE
A PASS THAN NOT.
>> CHUNK OF THE STATE BUDGET
PASSED.
LONG AWAITED PROPOSAL WOULD
MODIFY HOW THE STATE'S ALCOHOL
INDUSTRY IS REGULATED, AND
PERCEPTIONS OF DIVERSITY AND
FREE SPEECH ON UW CAMPUSES
EMULATE THE NATIONAL CULTURE WAR
POLITICS.
>> GOOD EVENING.
I'M ZAC SCHULTZ FILLING IN FOR
FREDERICA FREYBERG.
THE LATEST ON THE BUDGET ACTION.
JAY ROTHMAN WEIGHS IN ON THE
STATE HIGHER EDUCATION BUDGET
AND ATTORNEY GENERAL JOSH KAUL
DISCUSSES CUTS TO THE OFFICE OF
SCHOOL SAFETY.
PLUS, WHAT CHANGES TO STATE
ALCOHOL REGULATION WOULD MEAN
FOR SMALL BUSINESS PRODUCERS.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR JUNE 16.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.
>> WORK ON THE STATE BUDGET
SLOWED DOWN THE PAST A COUPLE OF
WEEKS AS LEGISLATIVE REPUBLICANS
NEGOTIATED AMONGST THEMSELVES
AND WITH DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR
TONY EVERS TO REACH A COMPROMISE
ON SHARED REVENUE FOR LOCAL
MUNICIPALITIES.
THE SOLUTION REQUIRED PROMISES
FROM THE GOVERNOR TO SIGN OFF ON
A BIG INCREASE IN STATE PAYMENTS
TO PRIVATE VOUCHER SCHOOLS, AN
EXTRA BILLION DOLLARS FOR PUBLIC
SCHOOLS, AND DROPPING THE
REQUIREMENT THAT MILWAUKEE GO TO
REFERENDUM IN ORDER TO PASS AN
INCREASE IN THEIR SALES TAX.
THEY SAY THE BEST DEALS IN
POLITICS ARE OFTEN THE ONES
WHERE NO ONE COMES AWAY
PERFECTLY HAPPY, WHICH WAS THE
CASE THIS WEEK AS SENATE AND
ASSEMBLY SIGNED OFF ON THE BILLS
WITH BIPARTISAN SUPPORT AND
BIPARTISAN OPPOSITION.
>> THERE ARE 21 AYES, 12 NOs
AND THE BILL IS CONCURRED IN AS
AMENDED.
>> THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A CLEAN
BILL.
IT COULD HAVE BEEN PATH WITH
CONSENSUS AND INSTEAD
REPUBLICANS, TO MY
UNDERSTANDING, ARE STILL
IN-FIGHTING BECAUSE THEY'VE
DECIDED TO INSERT UNPOPULAR
IDEAS INTO THIS VITALLY
IMPORTANT PIECE OF LEGISLATION.
>> THERE ARE 68 AYES AND 26 NOS.
SENATE AMENDMENT ONE IS
CONCURRED IN AS AMENDED.
>> PART OF THE LEGISLATIVE
PROCESS IS GIVE-AND-TAKE.
THERE ARE PARTS IN THE BILL THAT
WE ARE GOING TO BE VOTING ON
TODAY, THAT IF IT WERE JUST ME,
I WOULD HAVE DONE DIFFERENTLY,BY
THAT'S DISAGREEMENTS EVEN
AMONGST REPUBLICANS.
THEN YOU ADD IN TRYING TO FIND A
TRULY BIPARTISAN AGREEMENT.
WE HAD TO GIVE UP ON SOME THINGS
THAT ARE REALLY IMPORTANT TO
REPUBLICANS.
>> ONE OF THE AREAS OF THE STATE
BUDGET YET TO BE FINALIZED
INCLUDES THE UNIVERSITY OF
WISCONSIN'S SYSTEM OF WHICH WE
AT PBS WISCONSIN ARE A PART OF.
AND THAT BUDGET COULD COME WITH
COMPLICATIONS AS EARLIER THIS
WEEK ASSEMBLY SPEAKER ROBIN VOS
SAID HE WANTED TO SEE CUTS BY
$32 MILLION TO FORCE THE SCHOOLS
TO ELIMINATE SCHOOLS REGARDING
DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION.
JAY ROTHMAN JOINS US.
THANKS FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.
SPEAKER VOS SAYS EFFORTS RELATED
TO DEI ARE A LEFT WIN RELIGION
AND INDOCTRINATION.
HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO THAT?
>> STEP BACK AND LOOK AT THE
BUDGET.
WHEN WE STARTED THE PROJECT, WE
HAD RECOMMENDED A 4% INCREASE IN
EACH YEAR OF THE BIENNIUM, WHICH
I THOUGHT WAS REASONABLE IN
LIGHT OF INFLATION BEING AT 8%
LAST YEAR AND 5 OR 6% THIS YEAR.
WE KNEW WE WOULDN'T EVEN KEEP
PACE WITH INFLATION AND NOW
THERE'S DISCUSSION OF A
POTENTIAL CUT TO OUR BUDGET AND
THE GULF BETWEEN THOSE TWO IS
HUGE, AND THAT GULF REALLY IS
GOING TO THREATEN ACCESSIBILITY
FOR OUR STUDENTS IN THIS STATE
AND IT'S GOING TO THREATEN
AFFORDABILITY IN THE STATE OF
WISCONSIN, AND THAT'S REALLY
WHAT WE'RE FOCUSED ON.
WE'RE FOCUSED ON HELPING
WISCONSIN WIN THE WAR FOR
TALENT.
WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH ENGINEERS
AND NURSES AND DATA SCIENTISTS
AND SO FORTH IN THE STATE.
THOSE JOBS ARE GOING TO LEAVE
OUR STATE UNLESS THEY'RE FILLED
HERE, WHICH IS GOING TO HURT
WISCONSIN'S LONG-TERM ECONOMIC
VIABILITY.
AND AS I THINK ABOUT THE
ACCESSIBILITY PIECE, I, IN
APRIL, I ASKED OUR CHANCELLORS
TO LOOK AT THE BRANCH CAMPUSES
AND LOOK AT ARE THEY VIABLE LONG
TERM.
HOW DO WE MAKE THEM VIABLE, HOW
CAN WE ADJUST THEM.
WE RECENTLY RETAINED DELOITTE TO
HELP LOOK AT STRUCTURAL DEFICITS
IN OUR UNIVERSITIES AND HELP US
TRY TO CLOSE THOSE BY 2028
CONSISTENT WITH OUR STRATEGIC
PLAN.
SO THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE.
THAT FUNDING GAP IS ENORMOUS AND
I THINK WE HAVE TO LOOK AT
LONGER TERM, WHAT ARE WE GOING
TO DO FOR THE STATE.
WHAT IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF
THE STATE OF WISCONSIN.
THAT'S WHY THE SYSTEM EXISTS.
THAT'S WHY I TOOK THIS JOB IS TO
HELP THE STATE OF WISCONSIN.
I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT IN THIS
STATE MY ENTIRE LIFE.
THAT FUNDING GAP CREATES A REAL
ISSUE FOR US.
>> SPEAKER VOS SAYS IN TERMS OF
HIRING MORE NURSES AND
ENGINEERS, HE THINKS MONEY IS
NOT BEING WELL SPENT ON
POSITIONS CONNECTED TO DEI
INVESTMENTS.
DO YOU AGREE WITH THAT?
>> WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE GULF,
WE'RE TALKING NEARLY HALF A
BILLION DOLLARS IN TERMS OF THAT
GULF, AND I APPRECIATE THE
CONCERNS AROUND D.E. & I, BUT I
LOOK AT IT AND SAY IT'S THAT
GULF, THAT INVESTMENT, AND WE'VE
BEEN DEALING WITH SLINKING
BUDGETS FOR 10 YEARS IN THE
SYSTEM, SHRINKING.
THERE IS A POINT AT WHICH YOU
CANNOT DO THIS ANY LONGER AND IT
IS THREATENING ACCESSIBILITY,
BUT IT'S ALSO THREATENING
AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
YOU LOOK AT IT AND YOU SAY --
AFFORDABILITY.
STUDY SAID THAT WE ARE THE MOST
AFFORDABLE PUBLIC UNIVERSITY
SYSTEM IN THE MIDWEST AND WE ARE
PROUD OF THAT.
WE THINK THAT IS IMPORTANT FOR
THE STATE OF WISCONSIN, AND TO
HAVE OUR UNIVERSITIES BE
AFFORDABLE, BUT THAT'S BEING
THREATENED BY THE LACK OF
INVESTMENT THAT'S GOING INTO OUR
UNIVERSITIES, AND THAT'S WHAT MY
FOCUS IS.
>> THE SYSTEM JUST ANNOUNCED A
NEW CHIEF DIVERSITY OFFICER HAS
BEEN HIRED.
DID YOU THINK THAT THE
CONNECTION BETWEEN THAT AND THE
BUDGET WOULD CAUSE CONFLICT?
>> THAT POSITION HAS BEEN IN
PLACE FOR MANY YEARS.
IT WAS IN POSITION WITH
PRESIDENT CROSS, IT WAS THERE
WITH PRESIDENT THOMPSON, SO WE
WERE SIMPLY FILLING A VACANCY.
THAT SEARCH STARTED LAST
NOVEMBER FOR THAT POSITION.
>> SO GOVERNOR TONY EVERS SAYS
THAT HE'S THREATENED TO VETO THE
ENTIRE STATE BUDGET IF THE UW'S
BUDGET IS CUT IN THIS WAY.
HAVE YOU REACHED OUT TO EITHER
THE SPEAKER'S OFFICE OR THE
GOVERNOR'S OFFICE TO TALK THREE
ABOUT DEI AND THE BUDGET?
>> WE'VE HAD A NUMBER OF
CONVERSATIONS WITH BOTH THE
LEGISLATORS ACROSS THE BOARD,
WHAT'S BEEN REASSURING TO ME IS
THE BIPARTISAN SUPPORT FOR THE
UW SYSTEM IN THE LEGISLATURE.
WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH
GOVERNOR EVERS.
THE VETO IN MY MIND IS DOWN THE
LINE.
WE'RE HOPEFUL WE CAN MAKE OUR
POINT THAT WHY INVESTMENT IN THE
UW SYSTEM IS AN INVESTMENT IN
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF
WISCONSIN.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE FOCUSED ON,
BECAUSE I DO WORRY.
I THINK WE HAVE TO LOOK BACK,
AND IF I'M STILL ON THIS EARTH
10, 15, 20 YEARS FROM NOW, THIS
IS A CRITICAL PERIOD ABOUT
ACCESSIBILITY AND AFFORDABILITY
IN OUR STATE.
>> FOR THE PEOPLE THAT ARE
LISTENING TO THIS INTERVIEW THAT
DO SUPPORT DEI AND THE MISSION
INVOLVED WITH THAT, THEY'RE NOT
HEARING VERY MUCH FROM YOU
SPEAKING ABOUT YOUR SUPPORT FOR
THOSE EFFORTS IN THOSE PROGRAMS.
WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO THEM?
>> I HAVE REITERATED ON A NUMBER
OF OCCASIONS THE SUPPORT FOR
DEI.
I CAME FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR,
IN THE FIRM THAT I WAS IN, WE
FOCUSED ON THAT BECAUSE IT WAS
GOOD BUSINESS, IT WAS IMPORTANT,
AND MY SUPPORT FOR D & I HAS NOT
WAVERED.
>> UW SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING
BUILDING WAS NOT APPROVED BY THE
REPUBLICANS ON THE JOINT
FINANCE.
IS THAT ANOTHER AREA THAT YOU'RE
PUSHING FOR OR DO YOU THINK IN A
SHIP HAS SAILED ON ENGINEERING
FOR NOW AND RIGHT NOW IT'S JUST
ON THE SYSTEM BUDGET?
>> I THINK WE CONTINUE TO
ADVOCATE FOR ENGINEERING.
IT WAS THE TOP PRIORITY IN OUR
CAPITAL BUDGET AND I THINK THE
LOGIC FOR BUILDING THAT BUILDING
IS COMPELLING.
THERE IS ENORMOUS STUDENT DEMAND
FOR IT.
THE APPLICANTS, WE CAN'T EVEN
SATISFY ANYWHERE NEAR THE NUMBER
OF APPLICANTS THAT ARE THERE.
WE KNOW THERE ARE JOBS AVAILABLE
FOR THOSE ENGINEERS, AND
CRITICAL JOBS INCLUDING IN THE
STATE OF WISCONSIN.
WE KNOW THAT THE BUSINESS
COMMUNITY IS VERY SUPPORTIVE OF
THAT BUILDING.
WE KNOW THAT WE NEED TO EXPAND
THE -- BU BECAUSE IT'S THE WORLD
CLASS RESEARCH THAT'S DONE
THERE.
WE NEED TO ENHANCE THE
FACILITIES SO THAT WE CAN
CONTINUE TO GROW THAT WORLD
CLASS RESEARCH THAT RENOUNCE THE
BENEFIT OF THIS STATE AND
FINALLY, YOU LOOK AT THE PRIVATE
SUPPORT.
WELL OVER A HUNDRED MILLION
DOLLARS OF PRIVATE MONEY GOES
INTO THAT BUILDING.
THIS IS A BUILDING THAT I WOULD
THINK THE LEGISLATURE LOOKS AT
AND SAY "WE NEED TO BUILD THAT
BUILDING."
WE THINK THAT ARGUMENT IS
COMPELLING AND WE ARE GOING TO
CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR THAT
BUILDING.
>> DO YOU THINK SOME OF THIS
IN-FIGHTING IS ABOUT POLITICAL
POSTURING, OR ARE THERE REAL
CONCERNS THE REPUBLICANS WILL
CUT YOUR BUDGET?
>> IT'S NOT JUST THE CUT IN THE
BUDGET; IT IS THAT GULF, AND ARE
WE GOING TO INVEST IN THE UW
SYSTEM.
WE ARE THE BEST DEVELOPER OF
TALENT THIS STATE HAS.
THAT IS CRITICAL AS WE MOVE INTO
A TECHNOLOGY-DRIVEN KNOWLEDGE
ECONOMY.
WHERE ARE WE GOING TO BE FIVE,
10, 15 YEARS FROM NOW?
THE INVESTMENTS THAT ARE MADE
TODAY OR THE INVESTMENTS THAT
ARE NOT MADE TODAY WILL DEFINE
WISCONSIN'S FUTURE.
>> WE'LL LEAVE IT THERE.
JAY ROTHMAN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR
TIME TODAY.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> ANOTHER BIG TICKET ITEM TAKEN
UP BY THE FINANCE COMMITTEE
RECENTLY WAS THE BUDGET FOR THE
STATE'S DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.
SIMILAR TO THE REST OF THE STATE
BUDGETING PROCESS, COMMITTEE
REPUBLICANS PASSED A FRACTION OF
WHAT DEMOCRATS PROPOSED FOR AN
INCREASE.
DEPARTMENT'S OFFICE OF SCHOOL
SAFETY CREATED IN 2018 DID NOT
SEE A RENEWAL OF FUNDS
EFFECTIVELY ELIMINATING IT.
WE'RE JOINED NOW BY STATE
ATTORNEY GENERAL JOSH KAUL FOR
MORE.
THANKS FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> SO WHAT WERE THE REASONS YOU
WERE GIVEN FOR THESE CUTS?
>> THERE WEREN'T ANY SPECIFIC
REASONS.
OUR OFFICE OF SCHOOL SAFETY HAS
BEEN A HUGE SUCCESS STORY OVER
THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.
THEY'VE DEVELOPED BOTH
INNOVATIVE AND EFFECTIVE
PROGRAMS THAT SCHOOLS AROUND
WISCONSIN HAVE RELIED ON TO HELP
KEEP KIDS SAFE.
WE'VE RELIED ON FEDERAL GRANT
FUNDING TO LAUNCH THOSE
PROGRAMS.
THAT'S ACTUALLY ONE OF THE
THINGS THAT WE AND D.P.I. WERE
DIRECTED TO DO IN THE STATUTE
CREATING THAT OFFICE, AND THE
LEGISLATURE, UNFORTUNATELY, AT
LEAST SO FAR, HAS DECIDED NOT TO
CONTINU PROVIDING -- TO PROVIDE
ADDITIONAL FUNDING THAT WE NEED
TO KEEP THE OPERATIONS OF THAT
OFFICE GOING AND WHAT THAT WOULD
MEAN FOR SCHOOLS IS THAT THEY
WOULD LOSES SOME CRITICAL
PROGRAMS, LIKE OUR 24/7
CONFIDENTIAL TIP LINE THAT HAS
HELPED KEEP SCHOOLS IN WISCONSIN
SAFE.
>> I KNOW SOME OF THE WORK THAT
THE OFFICE DID WAS HOW TO DO
PLANNING AND SCENARIOS FOR LAW
ENFORCEMENT AND SCHOOLS,
ESPECIALLY ACTIVE SHOOTER
SCENARIOS, WHICH ARE HAPPENING
MORE AND MORE.
WHAT WILL SCHOOLS DO IN LIEU OF
THAT?
DO YOU THINK 2450 THEY'D HAVE
RELATIONSHIPS AS A SUBSTITUTE?
>> THERE'S BEEN SOME PROGRESS
MADE OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS,
BUT THERE'S NOTHING THAT CAN
SUBSTITUTE FOR HAVING THIS
OFFICE IN SPACE.
AN EXARCHTION ONE OF THE
PROGRAMS LAUNCHED BY OUR SCHOOL
SAFETY IS THIS TIP LINE.
ANYBODY CAN PROVIDE A TIP AT ANY
TIME, GET A TRAINED ANALYST TO
RESPOND TO THAT TIP AND THEN GET
RESOURCES DEPLOYED.
WE'VE NOW RECEIVED THOUSANDS OF
CONTACTS THROUGH THAT LINE AND
IT INCLUDES THINGS LIKE REPORTS
ABOUT A STUDENT WHO HAD A GUN ON
A BUS.
WE GOT THAT INFORMATION TO
LOCALS AND THEN THAT GUN WAS
RECOVERED AND AN ARREST WAS
MADE.
IN ANOTHER CASE, THERE WAS A
STUDENT OVERHEARD TALKING ABOUT
MEETING UP WITH A STRANGER ON
THE INTERNET.
WE GOT RESOURCES TO THAT STUDENT
WORKING WITH LOCAL PARTNERS.
THAT STUDENT DIDN'T ULTIMATELY
MEET UP WITH A STRANGER.
AND IN ANOTHER CASE, THERE WAS
DISCUSSION ABOUT A POTENTIAL
PLANNED SCHOOL ATTACK WHERE
THERE WAS A RESPONSE THAT
HAPPENED AND THERE WAS A CHECK
DONE TO MAKE SURE THE SCHOOL WAS
SAFE.
THAT KIND OF INFORMATION
PREVENTS VIOLENCE FROM HAPPENING
IN OUR SCHOOLS AND THERE'S
NOTHING THAT'S IN PLACE THAT
WOULD REPLACE THAT.
>> DO YOU HAVE ANY ABILITY TO
REALLOCATE STAFF WITHIN YOUR
REMAINING DEPARTMENT TO TRY AND
HELP FILL SOME OF THAT GAP?
>> WE'RE GOING TO EXPLORE WHAT
OPPORTUNITIES ARE AVAILABLE, BUT
THE CLEAREST AND BEST WAY TO
CONTINUE FUNDING THAT OFFICE IS
TO HAVE A LONG-TERM INVESTMENT
THROUGH STATE RESOURCES.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT THE STATE
ABSOLUTELY CAN AFFORD.
WE HAVE A HISTORIC BUDGET
SURPLUS AND THE AMOUNT THAT WE
HAVE REQUESTED FOR THAT OFFICE
IS ABOUT $2.2 MILLION OVER A
TWO-YEAR PERIOD.
OUR KIDS DESERVE THAT KIND OF
INVESTMENT IN THEIR SAFETY.
>> AND NOW ANOTHER AREA OF THE
BUDGET THAT DIDN'T GET THE BUMP
YOU WERE HOPING FOR WAS THE
STATE CRIME LAB.
WHAT WILL THAT MEAN FOR
PROSECUTORS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL?
>> IT WAS DISAPPOINTING TO SEE
THERE WASN'T MORE OF AN
INVESTMENT THERE.
WE APPRECIATE WHAT THERE WAS,
BUT FAR LESS THAN WE REQUESTED.
ERIC TONEYEE, PRESIDENT OF THE
D.A.'S ASSOCIATION JOINED ME TO
ADVOCATE FOR RESOURCES FOR THE
LABS, BUT AGAIN, AT A TIME WHEN
WE HAVE HISTORIC BUDGET SURPLUS,
THE LEGISLATURE PROVIDED JUST A
FRACTION OF WHAT WE HAD ASKED
FOR AND THE MORE ANALYSTS THAT
WE HAVE, THE MORE EFFICIENTLY WE
CAN PROCESS EVIDENCE, THE MORE
EFFECTIVELY OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM
WORKS.
IT'S DISAPPOINTING THERE WASN'T
MORE INVESTMENT THERE.
OUR FOCUS RIGHT NOW IN LIGHT OF
WHAT WE'VE SEEN IS ON THE OFFICE
OF SCHOOL SAFETY BECAUSE THAT
OFFICE WILL BE DISMANTLED
WITHOUT A RENEWED EFFORT TO
INCLUDE FUNDING IN THE
LEGISLATURE.
>> AND WHAT HAVE YOU HEARD SINCE
THEY DECLINED TO FUND IT IN THE
FIRST PLACE?
IS THERE ANY CHANCE THEY COME
AROUND ON THE?
IS THERE SOMETHING THE GOVERNOR
CAN DO?
>> WE'RE GOING TO KEEP WORKING.
I'VE BEGUN REACHING OUT TO
LEGISLATORS.
I'M GOING TO KEEP DOING THAT.
I KNOW THAT THERE'S BIPARTISAN
SUPPORT FOR THIS OFFICE, BUT
WHERE THINGS END UP IS GOING TO
DEPEND ON WHAT DECISIONS
LEGISLATORS MAKE AND WE ARE
REACHING OUT TO PARTNERS, WE'RE
COMMUNICATING ABOUT THIS
BECAUSE, AT THE END OF THE DAY,
IF WE LOSE THIS OFFICE, THAT'S
GOING TO IMPACT SCHOOLS ACROSS
THE STATE OF WISCONSIN AND LEAVE
OUR KIDS LESS SAFE.
I CERTAINLY DON'T WANT TO SEE
THAT.
I'M HOPEFUL THAT LEGISLATORS
WILL AGREE THAT THAT'S NOT WHAT
THEY WANT TO HAVE HAPPEN.
>> IN PAST BUDGET CYCLES OR PAST
POLITICAL CYCLES, YOU'VE HAD
ISSUES WITH SOME OF THE BILLS
COMING OUT OF THE LEGISLATURE
THAT SEEMED POLITICALLY
MANEUVERED.
DO YOU SENSE POLITICS HERE
BECAUSE YOU'RE A DEMOCRAT
RUNNING THIS OFFICE, OR IS IT
FUNDING WHERE THEY DON'T SEE THE
NEED FOR THIS OFFICE?
>> THE STATEMENTS WE'VE HEARD
WERE PRETTY GENERAL.
THERE WAS A PARTY LINE VOTE IN
THE JOINT FINANCE COMMITTEE.
IT'S REPUBLICANS WHO VOTED TO
BLOCK THIS IF YOU COULD, BUT I
AM FUNDING, BUT I AM HOPEFUL
THERE WILL BE BIPARTISAN
SUPPORT.
THE OFFICE WAS CREATED IN 2018
WITH BIPARTISAN SUPPORT.
IT WAS SIGNED INTO LAW BY
GOVERNOR WALKER.
SCHOOL SAFETY, WE SHOULD ALL
AGREE, IS A WORTHWHILE
INVESTMENT FOR OUR KIDS, AND I
HOPE WE SEE THAT.
>> ARE YOU HOPING THAT LOCALS
WILL ACTUALLY SPEAK UP, THAT
SCHOOLS WILL SPEAK UP?
IN 30 SECONDS OR LESS, WHAT CAN
WE HOPE TO SEE OUTSIDE OF JUST
YOU AND THE POLITICAL PROCESS?
>> THAT'S WHAT WE'VE STARTED TO
SEE SO FAR.
WE'VE WORKED WITH PEOPLE WHO
WERE PARTNERS OF OURS IN THE
SCHOOL SAFETY OFFICE'S WORK.
WE'VE HEARD FROM S.R.O.s
ALREADY, FROM OTHERS IN LAW
ENFORCEMENT, FROM SCHOOLS ABOUT
THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS PROGRAM.
I THINK WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE
SEEING THAT AND WE'RE GOING TO
KEEP REACHING OUT TO ENCOURAGE
PEOPLE TO TALK ABOUT WHY THIS
PROGRAM IS SO VALUABLE.
>> ALL RIGHT.
JOSH KAUL, THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> THE RESULTS OF A
CONTROVERSIAL FREE SPEECH SURVEY
ADMINISTERED TO STUDENTS
THROUGHOUT THE UW SYSTEM FOUND
IN SOME INSTANCES, CONSERVATIVE
STUDENTS NOT FEELING COMFORTABLE
TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS IN THE
CLASSROOM BEFORE AND ESPECIALLY
AFTER THE FEBRUARY RELEASE OF
THOSE SURVEY RESULTS,
REPUBLICANS HAVE EXPRESSED
CONCERNS THAT STUDENTS WITH
CONSERVATIVE VIEWS ARE SHUT OUT
ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES OR, IN MORE
EXTREME LANGUAGE, ARE BEING
INDOCTRINATED BY PROFESSORS.
FREDERICA FREYBERG SPOKE WITH UW
MADISON POLITICAL SCIENCE
PROFESSOR KATHERINE CRAMER WHO
TOOK ISSUE WITH STUDENT
INDOCTRINATION IN AN ESSAY SHE
WROTE ON FREE SPEECH IN THE
CLASSROOM.
>> IT JUST DOES NOT AT ALL MATCH
MY REALITY.
THE DISCUSSION AROUND WHETHER OR
NOT INDOCTRINATION IS GOING ON
ON THE UW MADISON CAMPUS IS JUST
SO FAR REMOVED FROM MY DAILY
LIFE AND I, YOU KNOW, AS A
PERSON WHO HAS GROWN UP IN THIS
STATE AND WORKED AT THIS
INSTITUTION AT UW MADISON
BASICALLY MY ENTIRE CAREER, I'VE
BEEN FORTUNATE TO HAVE THIS JOB
SINCE I FINISHED MY
DISSERTATION, I MEAN, I JUST --
I WORRY A LOT ABOUT THE
CRITICISM OF THIS PLACE BECAUSE
I KNOW THAT IT'S THE UW MADISON,
UW SYSTEM IS SO BELOVED BY
PEOPLE OF THIS STATE AND MY
EXPERIENCE WITH STUDENTS ON THIS
CAMPUS IS JUST -- IT'S JUST VERY
DIFFERENT FROM THE DEBATE THAT'S
GOING ON AROUND INDOCTRINATION.
>> WHAT ABOUT THE FREE SPEECH
SURVEY UNDERTAKEN BY THE UW
SYSTEM THAT REPUBLICAN
LEGISLATORS THEMSELVES CALL
TROUBLING, WHERE IT FOUND THAT
60% OF REPUBLICAN STUDENTS FEEL,
QUOTE, PRESSURED BY AN
INSTRUCTOR TO AGREE WITH
SPECIFIC POLITICAL VIEWS BEING
EXPRESSED IN CLASS.
WHAT ABOUT THAT SURVEY?
>> IT'S BEEN MY LIFE'S WORK TO
CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT IN MY
CLASSROOM IN WHICH STUDENTS OF
ALL POLITICAL LEANINGS HAVE THE
SPACE TO THINK AND TALK WITH
EACH OTHER AND QUESTION EACH
OTHER AND GRADUATE FROM THAT
CLASS WITH A MORE PROFOUND SENSE
OF WHO THEY ARE AS A CITIZEN.
SO THAT'S ONE THING THAT THE
JUST REALLY -- THAT JUST REALLY
DISTURBED ME ABOUT THAT, BECAUSE
IT JUST RUNS AGAINST THE GRAIN
OF WHAT I'VE BEEN TRYING TO DO
FOR DECADES IN MY OWN LIFE.
AND THERE'S ANOTHER THING THAT
REALLY TROUBLES ME ABOUT THAT
SURVEY, IS THAT IT REALLY DOES
NOT COMPORT WELL OR MATCH WELL
WITH THE RESULTS OF OUR OWN UW
CAMPUS CLIMATE SURVEY, WHICH WAS
CONDUCTED IN 2021.
THEY HAD A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT
MEASURES OF WHO FELT WELCOME ON
CAMPUS, ABOUT 20, IF I REMEMBER
RIGHT, AND ACCORDING TO NONE OF
THOSE MEASURES DO SELF-DESCRIBED
CONSERVATIVE STUDENTS SAY THEY
DON'T FEEL WELCOMED.
AND YET THERE WAS A QUESTION ON
THAT SURVEY ASKING WHO DO YOU
THINK DOESN'T FEEL WELCOME ON
OUR CAMPUS?
AND MANY, MANY PEOPLE SAID
CONSERVATIVE STUDENTS.
SO THERE'S THIS PERSPECTIVE THAT
CONSERVATIVE STUDENTS ARE
SILENCED ON OUR CAMPUS, BUT
CONSERVATIVE STUDENTS THEMSELVES
DO NOT REPORT FEELING SILENCED.
SO I'M WORRIED THERE'S A BIG
MISMATCH IN MY MIND BETWEEN THE
RESULTS OF THE FREE SPEECH
SURVEY AND OUR OWN CAMPUS
CLIMATE SURVEY.
>> YOU DESCRIBED HOW STUDENTS
FELT TALKING ABOUT POLITICS AT
THE START OF YOUR CLASS IN THE
MIDST OF THIS POLARIZED CLIMATE.
WHAT IS THAT LIKE WHEN THEY
FIRST STEP INTO THAT CLASS?
>> SO ESPECIALLY WHEN I WAS -- I
ASSIGNED TO THEM PORTIONS OF A
BOOK I PUBLISHED IN 2016 ABOUT
OUR OWN RURAL URBAN DIVIDE HERE
IN WISCONSIN.
MANY OF THE STUDENTS, MOST OF
THEM ARE FROM AN URBAN OR
SUBURBAN AREA, WOULD SAY THINGS
LIKE, OH, I'VE NEVER HEARD THAT
PERSPECTIVE, OR I'VE ALWAYS
WONDERED WHY, WHY DID PEOPLE IN
RURAL AREAS OF THE COUNTRY VOTE
FOR DONALD TRUMP, BECAUSE IT
SEEMS TO ME LIKE HE'S A
CANDIDATE THAT WASN'T GOING TO
HELP THEM OR HE WOULD BE NOT
SUPPORTING THE KIND OF POLICIES
THAT INK WOULD BENEFIT I THINK
WOULD BENEFIT PEOPLE LIKE THEM.
I'M TRYING TO GET THEM TO
UNDERSTAND MORE DEEPLY THEIR OWN
VIEWS AND TO JUST BASICALLY SEE
PEOPLE WITH DIFFERENT POLITICAL
VIEWS AS HUMAN BEINGS, AS
EQUALLY AS HUMAN AND EQUALLY AS
DIGNIFIED AND WORTHY OF RESPECT
AS THEY THEMSELVES ARE.
>> SO THE OTHER THING THAT YOU
TOUCHED ON IN THIS CLASS WAS
RACE, AND WHAT WAS YOUR
TAKE-AWAY FROM THAT?
>> I PLAY SOME EXCERPTS FOR
THESE STUDENTS OF CONVERSATIONS
THAT STUDENTS OF COLOR AND I
ORGANIZED ON OUR CAMPUS A FEW
YEARS AGO AND I PLAYED SOME OF
THE EXCERPTS OF THOSE
CONVERSATIONS FOR THE BROADER
CLASS, WHICH IS PREDOMINANTLY
WHITE, AND THE STUDENTS ARE
SHOCKED TO HEAR SOME OF THESE
STORIES OF STUDENTS JUST TALKING
ABOUT THE DISCRIMINATION THEY
FACED JUST IN EVERYDAY LIFE ON
CAMPUS.
NOT VIOLENT, BUT SORT OF JUST
THE COMMON EXPERIENCE OF IT AND
IT'S INVISIBLE TO A LOT OF THESE
STUDENTS WHO DON'T EXPERIENCE
THAT PERSONALLY.
SO WE TALK ABOUT THAT AS BOTH
THE WAY YOU HAVE TO REALLY
LISTEN CAREFULLY FOR DIFFERENT
FACETS OF PUBLIC OPINION AND THE
WAY PEOPLE'S EXPERIENCES ARE
SUCH AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE
WAY THEY SEE THE WORLD, BUT THEN
ALSO AS A STEP TOWARDS, OKAY,
WE'VE LEARNED ABOUT WHAT PUBLIC
OPINION IS, HOW IT WORKS, HOW TO
MEASURE IT, BUT NOW WHAT'S YOUR
ROLE IN PUBLIC OPINION?
WHEN YOU LEAVE THIS CLASS, WHEN
YOU LEAVE THIS UNIVERSITY, WHAT
KIND OF A PERSON DO YOU WANT TO
BE OUT THERE IN THE WORLD?
HOW DO YOU WANT PEOPLE TO
RESPECT YOU AND LISTEN TO YOU
AND WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO TO
MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE KIND OF
DEMOCRACY WHERE, SITTING DOWN
AND TALKING WITH ONE ANOTHER IS
NOT UNUSUAL.
>> ALSO AT THE CAPITOL THIS
WEEK, A REPUBLICAN BILL IS
MOVING FORWARD THAT WOULD MAKE
NUMEROUS CHANGES TO HOW
WISCONSIN REGULATES THE SALE AND
DISTRIBUTION OF ALCOHOL.
THE CURRENT LAW WAS DESIGNED IN
AN AGE WHERE GIANT BREWERS
DOMINATED THE INDUSTRY, WELL
BEFORE THE BOOM IN MICRO
BREWERIES AND WINERIES ACROSS
THE STATE.
MARISA WOJCIK SPOKE WITH A CRAFT
BREWERY OWNER AND PRESIDENT OF
THE WISCONSIN BREWER'S GILD,
WILL GLASS, WHOSE LIFE WAS
UNENDED BY THE STATE'S
CONVOLUTED LAWS.
>> WE STARTED THE BREWING
PROJEKT BECAUSE THERE WAS A VOID
IN THE MARKET.
THOUGHT, HEY IF IT'S NOT THERE,
MAYBE WE SHOULD START MAKING IT.
>> WHILE WORKING THROUGH THE
COMPLICATED PERMITTING PROCESS
TO START HIS BREWERY, WILL GLASS
FACED A SIGNIFICANT BARRIER.
>> BECAUSE MY WIFE'S BUSINESS
HAD A MUNICIPAL LIQUOR LICENSE,
I WAS NOT ALLOWED TO HAVE A
BREWERY.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY
ACTUALLY TOLD US WAS THAT IF WE
GOT DIVORCED, WE COULD THEN HAVE
THIS PROBLEM WOULD BE SOLVED.
WHEN IT CAME TO BE A REAL
CONVERSATION, BECAUSE AT THAT
POINT WE WERE OVER A HALF
MILLION DOLLARS IN INVESTMENT
INTO THIS BUSINESS, WE ALSO THEN
FOUND OUT THAT BECAUSE WE HAD
CHILDREN IN COMMON AND THERE
WOULD BE A FIDUCIARY
RESPONSIBILITY BETWEEN SPOUSES,
THAT MONEY WOULD HAVE TO GO
BETWEEN US, THAT THAT WOULD ALSO
CONSTITUTE A BRIDGING OF THE
TIERS AND MADE US INELIGIBLE TO
GET A BREWER'S PERMIT.
>> THE TIERS HE'S REFERRING TO
ARE THE THREE THAT LARGELY
REGULATE WISCONSIN'S ALCOHOL
INDUSTRY.
>> DEPENDING ON IF YOU WANT TO
BE A PRODUCER, A WHOLESALER OR A
RETAILER, YOU KIND OF HAVE TO
ACT AS ONE AND NOT THE OTHER.
THERE ARE A LOT OF EXCEPTIONS TO
THAT.
I STARTED LOOKING AT THE
STATUTES A LITTLE CLOSER AND I
WAS HAVING A CONVERSATION WITH
MY FATHER.
I WAS DRIVING TO THE GROCERY
STORE, GETTING SOME MILK, I WAS
TALKING TO HIM ON THE PHONE, AND
HE SAID, WELL, WHAT IF I OWNED
THE BREWERY, AND I SAID, WELL,
THAT COULD WORK.
SO WE BASICALLY MADE A DEAL
WHERE I TRANSFERRED ALL OF MY
ASSETS INTO HIS NAME, SO ALL OF
THE DEBT THAT I HAD TAKEN ON,
ALL OF THE MONEY THAT I HAD
SAVED FOR YEARS.
>> WHEN HE THOUGHT THEY HAD
DOTTED ALL THE "Is" AND
CROSSED ALL THE "Ts", ANOTHER
COMPLICATION SUDDENLY AROSE.
>> THEY TOLD US "NO" AGAIN
BECAUSE ONE OF THE MANAGEMENT
EMPLOYEES THAT WE HAD, HIS WIFE
WAS A BARTENDER AT A BAR IN
TOWN.
IT'S ALL THIS CRAZY STUFF, AND
IT REALLY IS THE UNINTENDED
CONSEQUENCE OF PEOPLE NOT PAYING
ATTENTION TO THE CHANGES THAT
HAPPENED IN 2011 TO OUR
INDUSTRY.
WE LOST THE ABILITY TO HOLD
MULTIPLE PERMITS AT THE SAME
TIME.
IT JUST TURNED INTO THIS KIND OF
RAT'S NEST OF COMPLICATIONS AND
EXCEPTIONS TO THIS RULE AND
EXCEPTIONS TO THAT RULE.
IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO KNOW
WHAT YOU CAN AND CAN'T DO.
WE HOST WEDDINGS UP HERE.
IT HELPS US TO BECOME MORE
COMPETITIVE.
>> GLASS HAS SPENT YEARS PORING
OUT OF THE STATUTES OUT OF
NECESSITY.
HE COULDN'T AFFORD A LAWYER TO
INTERPRET THEM, AND EVEN THEN,
HE DOESN'T THINK THAT WOULD HAVE
MATTERED.
>> WITHOUT A DOWN THE, THE
STATUTES HAVE NOT KEPT UP WITH
THE MARKET.
RIGHT NOW, HARD SELTZERS IN THE
STATE OF WISCONSIN ARE
CONSIDERED WINE.
THAT'S AS OF ABOUT TWO MONTHS
AGO WHEN THE DEPARTMENT OF
REVENUE DECIDED TO REINTERPRET
WHAT A HARD SELTZER WOULD BE AS
OPPOSED TO THE FERMENTED
BEVERAGE, NOW THEY CONSIDER IT A
WINE SO IF YOU'RE MAKING HARD
SELTZER IF YOU DON'T HAVE A WINE
PERMIT, NOW YOU'RE ILLEGAL.
THE PROBLEM WITH THE 3-TIER
SYSTEM IS THAT IT TAKES AWAY A
LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES FROM
ENTREPRENEURS.
IT HOLDS UP THE ABILITY FOR THE
MARKET TO CHANGE AND FOR US TO
BE ABLE TO RESPOND TO THAT.
>> THE CURRENT BILL SPEEDING
THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE IS THE
CULMINATION OF YEARS OF ADVOCACY
FROM DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE
INDUSTRY.
>> THIS PROPOSAL THAT'S BEING
FLOATED RIGHT NOW WE'RE MAJOR
PROPONENTS OF, IT WOULD CLEAN UP
THE VAST MAJORITY OF ISSUES THAT
I HAVE RUN INTO IN THE PAST, THE
MAJORITY OF ISSUES THAT OUR
MEMBERS RUN INTO.
IT'S LONG OVERDUE BECAUSE THE
OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR INDUSTRY
HAVE SPENT SO MUCH TIME IN IT,
CHANGE IS DIFFICULT.
CHANGE IS HARD.
THE FUTURE SYSTEM ISN'T GOING
AWAY, BUT WHAT THIS BILL DOES IS
IT CREATES ALLOWANCES WITHIN.
IT GIVES SMBT ABILITY TO OPEN A
BREWERY WHEN THEIR WIFE OWNS A
BAR.
IT GIVES SOMEBODY THE ABILITY TO
HAVE SMALL LEVELS OF INVESTMENT
IN OTHER PARTS OF THE INDUSTRY,
IN OTHER TIERS THAT'S BEEN
FORBIDDEN FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
IT JUST KIND OF OPENS THE MARKET
UP IN A WAY THAT MAKES SENSE
TODAY.
>> REPORTING FROM EAU CLAIRE,
IMARIES WOJCIK FOR "HERE AND
NOW."
>> AND FINALLY TONIGHT, GOVERNOR
EVERS RAISES THE JUNETEENTH FLAG
ABOVE THE CAPITOL BUILDING
COMMEMORATING THE END OF SLAVERY
AND EMANCIPATION OF MASTER OF
SCIENCE IN THE UNITED STATES.
FOR MORE ON THIS AND OTHER
ISSUES FACING WISCONSIN, VISIT
OUR WEBSITE AT PBS WISCONSIN.ORG
AND CLICK ON THE NEWS TAB.
THAT IS OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT.
FREDERICA FREYBERG WILL BE BACK
NEXT WEEK.
I'M ZAC SCHULTZ.
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.
(CLOSED CAPTIONING BY RIVERSIDE
CAPTIONING )
>> FUNDING FORE"HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.