PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION.
>> TO IMPROVE THE SERVICE THAT
WISCONSINITES RECEIVE.
>> REPUBLICANS TAKE A VICTORY
LAP.
AND JUST AS THE NEW FUNDING IS
CUT OVER ITS DIVERSITY OFFICES,
AFFIRMATIVE ACTION IN COLLEGE
ADMISSIONS IS STRUCK DOWN BY THE
U.S. SUPREME COURT.
>> I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
FORMER GOVERNOR TOMMY THOMPSON
SHARES HIS VISION FROM HIGHER
EDUCATION.
AND POLITICAL TAKES ON BUDGET
ACTION AT THE CAPITOL FROM
PANELIST BILL McCOSHEN AND SCOT
ROSS.
IT'S "HERE & NOW" ON JUNE 30th.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE & NOW" IS
FUNDED BY FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.
>> THE NEARLY 99 BILLION DOLLAR
BIANNUAL STATE BUDGET FINISHED
ITS JOURNEY THROUGH THE SENATE
AND ASSEMBLY THIS WEEK PASSING
ALONG PARTY LINES AND HEADS TO
THE GOVERNOR'S DESK WHERE HE HAS
PROMISED AN ABUNDANCE OF PARTIAL
VETOES IF HE DOESN'T VETO THE
BUDGET IN FULL.
REPUBLICANS HERALDED THE TAX
CUTS AS A TRIUMPH WHILE
DEMOCRATS ASSAILED THEM.
>> I'M INCREDIBLY PROUD OF THE
DOCUMENT PRESENTED TODAY.
IT FOCUSES ON THE PRIORITIES WE
HEARD AND KNOW WISCONSINITES
WANTS.
IT'S ENSURING WE CAN AFFORD IT
FOR THE LONG-TERM, MAKING SURE
WE INVEST IN OUR PRIORITIES
EVERYTHING FROM POLICE AND FIRE
TO ENSURING WE HAVE GREAT
SCHOOLS ACROSS THE STATE AND
THEN ULTIMATELY RETURNING A
SIGNIFICANT CHUNK, ALMOST HALF
OF THE DOLLARS THAT WERE
OVERTAKEN FROM THE CITIZENS OF
WISCONSIN BACK TO THEM IN INCOME
AND PROPERTY TAX CUTS.
>> TODAY I URGE MY GOP
COLLEAGUES TO PROVIDE TARGETED
TAX RELIEF TO THE MIDDLE-CLASS
FAMILIES AND MAIN-STREET
BUSINESSES WHO ARE THE BACK
BONEBONE OF THE STATE OF
WISCONSIN.
EVERY WISCONSINITE SHOULD KNOW
REPUBLICANS ARE CHOOSING TO GIVE
OUR STATE'S TOP ELEVEN EARNERS
20 MILLION DOLLARS IN TAX CUTS.
>> THE U.S. SUPREME COURT THIS
WEEK CALLED AFFIRMATIVE ACTION
OR CONSIDERATION OF A PERSON'S
RACE IN COLLEGE ADMISSIONS
UNCONSTITUTIONAL FOR VIOLATING
THE EQUAL PROTECTION CLAUSE.
AFFIRMATIVE ACTION POLICIES HAVE
EXISTED SINCE THE '60s AND
CONSIDER A PERSON'S MINORITY
RACE STATUS TO COUNTERACT.
THE RULING WILL REQUIRE MOD
MODIFICAT
MODIFICATIONS.
WE'LL ADAPT PRACTICES TO COMPLY
WITH THE LAW.
AT THE SAME TIME I WANT TO
REITERATE THAT OUR COMMITMENT TO
THE VALUE OF DIVERSITY WITHIN
OUR COMMUNITY INCLUDING RACIAL
DIVERSITY REMAINS A BEDROCK
VALUE OF THE INSTITUTION.
HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS
IN THE STATE BUDGET GO TO HIGHER
EDUCATION AND WITH LITTLE
COORDINATION BETWEEN THE UW AND
TECHNICAL COLLEGE SYSTEMS, WE
ARE NOW AT A CROSSROADS.
THAT'S ACCORDING TO TOMMY
THOMPSON, FORMER GOVERNOR AND
FORMER UW SYSTEM PRESIDENT.
HE JOINS ME NOW AND THANKS VERY
MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
>> IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE WITH
YOU, ALWAYS IS, AND I LOVE YOUR
PROGRAM, I LOVE WHAT YOU DO AND
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HAVING
ME ON YOUR PROGRAM.
>> THANK YOU.
SO WITH 13 TWO-YEAR UW CAMPUSES
AND 16 MAIN TECHNICAL COLLEGES
IN WISCONSIN, WHAT ARE THE
INEFFICIENCIES IN THAT?
>> WELL, THAT'S ONLY PART OF THE
PROBLEM, WHAT YOU JUST OUTLINED.
WHEN YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN, IT'S
GOT 13 CAMPUSES, BUT IT ALSO HAS
13 TWO-YEAR CAMPUSES.
SO IT'S GOT 26.
AND THE LOCATION SCHOOL HAS 16
MAIN CAMPUSES BUT 54 OTHER
BRANCH CAMPUSES.
YOU HAVE 80 PLACES THAT TEACH
HIGHER EDUCATION AND VOCATIONAL
EDUCATION.
THERE'S NO COOPERATION, NO
CONSIDERATION OF ONE TO THE
OTHER.
THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT SYSTEMS.
ONE IS FUNDED BY THE TAXPAYERS
OF THE STATE; ONE IS FUNDED BY
THE PROPERTY TAXPAYERS AND THE
COORDINATION IS SMALL.
THE POPULATION IS GOING DOWN AND
2026 IS A CLIFF.
AND NOBODY IS PLANNING WHAT ARE
WE GOING TO DO.
THAT'S WHY I'VE BEEN ADVOCATING
FOR SOME TIME, THERE NEEDS TO BE
A TASK FORCE TO STUDY THIS
BECAUSE WE HAVE OVERDUPLICATION,
TOO MANY BUILDINGS AND TOO MUCH
EDUCATION FOR THE AMOUNT OF
STUDENTS WE HAVE.
WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT
IT.
BETTER TO DO IT NOW IN AN
IMPARTIAL SYSTEMIC SMART WAY
THAN WAITING UNTIL 2026 AND SAY,
"OH MY LORD, WHAT DO WE DO?"
>>THE WRITING HAS BEEN ON THE
WALL FOR YEARS.
NOW WESTBEND WANTS TO
CONSOLIDATE.
IS IT YOUR SENSE THE REST OF THE
TWO-YEAR CAMPUSES SHOULD MERGE
WITH TECH CAMPUSES?
>> NOT NECESSARILY BUT THEY
SHOULD COME TOGETHER AND SAY
WHICH ONE IS THE STRONGEST.
ONE SHOULD BE A TECH SCHOOL.
MAYBE THEY SHOULD BE ALL
COMMUNITY COLLEGES, I THINK.
I THINK THEY SHOULD COME
TOGETHER AND ALLOW THE STUDENTS
TO BE ABLE TO CHOOSE THE BEST
COURSE FOR THEMSELVES AND GET
MORE STUDENTS TO GRADUATE.
IT'S SORT OF A DEPLORABLE RECORD
TO GET ALL THESE STUDENTS INTO
COLLEGE AND THEY DON'T FINISH,
BOTH AT THE UNIVERSITY AND EVEN
MORE SO AT THE VOCATIONAL
EDUCATION.
IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE TO ME
AND IT DOESN'T HELP THE
STUDENTS.
IT DOESN'T HELP THE WORKERS'
PRODUCTIVITY OR GRADUATION RATES
IN WISCONSIN.
WE HAVE OVERDUPLICATION.
WE HAVE SOME VOCATIONAL SCHOOLS
AND TWO-YEAR CAMPUSES SHARING
THE SAME PARKING LOT, THE SAME
CLASSROOMS, AND YET THEY HAVE
TWO DIFFERENT SYSTEMS.
DOES THAT MAKE ANY SENSE TO
ANYBODY WHEN THE DECLINING
POPULATION IN BOTH SYSTEMS ARE
VYING FOR THAT STUDENT?
WHY DON'T WE PUT ALL OF THESE
INTO A COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND PUT
THEM IN AND DECIDE HOW MANY WE
REALLY NEED?
>> WHAT ABOUT KIND OF LOCALIZED
SENSE OF PRIDE AND OWNERSHIP OF
HAVING A UW CAMPUS FOR STUDENTS
WHO CAN GO ON TO GET THEIR
FOUR-YEAR AGREE AT THE
CORRESPONDING CAMPUS?
>> IT'S WONDERFUL BUT THE
PROBLEM IS YOU CAN'T AFFORD IT
AND THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENED IN
RICHLAND CENTER.
IT'S BEING CLOSED DOWN.
NOW THE COUNTY OF RICHLAND,
WHICH IS A POOR COUNTY, HAS GOT
TO TAKE CARE OF THE BUILDINGS
AND THEY'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE
CLASSES NEXT YEAR.
AND SO THE PEOPLE IN RICHLAND
CENTER ARE VERY UPSET.
BUT YOU HAVE A VOCATIONAL SCHOOL
DOING VERY WELL.
WOULDN'T IT MAKE SENSE, I MEAN,
JUST COMMON SENSE TO SAY WHY
DON'T THE TWO COME TOGETHER AND
HAVE COURSES SO THAT THE
STUDENTS CAN HAVE SOME COURSES
IN THE RICHLAND CENTER SO THOSE
BUILDINGS ARE BEING UTILIZED AND
MAKE THOSE BOTH INTO A COMMUNITY
COLLEGE?
DOWN IN WEST BEND, THEY HAD THE
UNIVERSITY DECLINING IN
POPULATION BUT THE VOCATION
SCHOOL IS DOING WELL.
SO THE COUNTY EXEC CAME UP WITH
A BRILLIANT IDEA.
LET'S SEE WHAT WE CAN DO, STUDY
AND PUT THEM TOGETHER.
THAT'S WHAT HAS TO HAPPEN.
BUT WE SHOULD BE DOING THIS
STATEWIDE.
WE SHOULDN'T WAIT UNTIL THIS
CATACLYSMIC DECLINE THAT'S
COMING IN 2026 AND EVERYBODY IS
SAYING, "WHY DIDN'T WE DO
SOMETHING?"
TIME IS NOW.
IT WAS YESTERDAY, BUT TODAY
LET'S GET STARTED AND NOT WASTE
ANY MORE TIME.
>> SO WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE
LEGISLATIVE BUDGET WRITERS
CUTTING 32 MILLION DOLLARS FROM
THE UW AND TARGETING ITS
DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION
OFFICES?
>> WELL, I THINK, YOU KNOW, THAT
WHEN YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THE
AFFIRMATIVE ACTION OPINION THAT
CAME OUT OF THE SUPREME COURT
THIS WEEK, IT'S OBVIOUS THAT
MAYBE THE UNIVERSITY HAS GOT TO
COME TO GRIPS WITH THE FACT THAT
THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO WORK
WITH THE LEGISLATURE.
I'M NOT SAYING ONE SIDE IS RIGHT
AND THE OTHER SIDE IS WRONG, BUT
I'M SAYING COOPERATION AND
LEADERSHIP AND DISCUSSION IS
WHAT IS NEEDED AND I DON'T CARE
THERE'S ENOUGH OF THAT.
>> AS THE FORMER PRESIDENT OF
THE SYSTEM, WHAT DO YOU THINK OF
THE VALUE OF THOSE DEI OFFICES?
>> WHEN YOU LOOK AT HOW MANY, I
THINK THAT, I THINK THE
UNIVERSITY HAS GONE, HAS GOT
PROBABLY TOO MANY POSITIONS AND
I THINK THE LEGISLATURE IS
SAYING, "YES, YOU HAVE TOO MANY
POSITIONS.
YOU HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF
STUDENTS IN WISCONSIN AS WELL."
WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE THE
UNIVERSITY IS WELL-FUNDED AND
ABLE TO RECRUIT ENOUGH STUDENTS
AND THE UNIVERSITY IS PLANNING
AHEAD AND LOOKING AT THESE
PROBLEMS AND FINDING WAYS TO,
YOU KNOW, TO SOLVE THEM, AND
THEY'VE GOT TO LEARN TO WORK
WITH THE LEGISLATURE.
>> WHO DO YOU THINK SHOULD TAKE
THE CHARGE?
>> I THINK IT'S GOT TO BE THE
BOARD OF REGENTS, THE
PRESIDENTS' DAY -- THE
PRESIDENT, AND THE GOVERNOR.
THEY HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO SET
IT UP AND HAVE AN INDEPENDENT
STUDY.
I THINK WE SHOULD SIT DOWN WITH
THE VOCATION SCHOOL AND THE
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN TWO-YEAR
CAMPUSES AND COME UP WITH WAYS
OF HOW TO TURN THEM INTO
COMMUNITY COLLEGES AND BE ABLE
TO MEET THE NEEDS OF WISCONSIN.
WISCONSIN HAS GOT TO BE MORE
GRADUATES AND MORE STUDENTS
PREPARED TO WORK, MORE STUDENTS
EDUCATED IN THE JOBS THAT WE
HAVE AND ARE GOING.
WISCONSIN IS GROWING AND WE
DON'T HAVE THE EXPERTISE REALLY
TO PILOT THE PROGRAMS AND THE
JOBS THAT ARE OUT THERE.
>> TOMMY THOMPSON, THANKS VERY
MUCH.
>> MY PLEASURE.
>> YOU CAN WATCH OUR FULL-LENGTH
INTERVIEW WITH TOMMY THOMPSON BY
VISITING OUR WEBSITE AT PBS
WISCONSIN DOT-ORG/NEWS.
TURNING TO ELECTIONS, THE JOB
SECURITY OF THE ADMINISTRATOR OF
THE WISCONSIN ELECTIONS
COMMISSION IS UNCERTAIN AS
OFFICIALS DELIBERATE THE FINE
PRINT OF HER APPOINTMENT.
MEAGAN WOLFE'S FOUR-YEAR TENURE
HAS WEATHERED THE CHAOS OF
HOLDING ELECTIONS AMIDST A
PANDEMIC AND NUMEROUS COURT
CASES ALLEGING VOTER FRAUD IN
THE 2020 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
BUT IS NOW IN THE CROSSHAIRS FOR
SENATE REPUBLICANS WHO TYPICALLY
APPROVE NOMINEES FOR THE JOB.
THE WISCONSIN ELECTIONS
COMMISSION VOTED ON WOLFE'S
REAPPOINTMENT.
THE COMMISSION'S THREE
REPUBLICANS VOTED IN FAVOR BUT
THE THREE DEMOCRATS ABSTAINED
SAYING WOLFE DOESN'T NEED TO BE
REAPPOINTED; SHE SHOULD MAINTAIN
HER CURRENT ROLE UNTIL THERE IS
A VACANCY.
>> THANK YOU TO THE
COMMISSIONERS FOR THEIR KIND
WORDS AND THEIR UNANIMOUS
SUPPORT FOR ME JOB PERFORMANCE
TODAY.
I WAS SO IMPRESSED BY THE
COMMISSIONERS' INTEGRITY AND
WILLING TO STAND UP FOR THE
TRUTH ABOUT ELECTIONS, TO SET
THE RECORD STRAIGHT ABOUT THE
OUR PROCESS AND HOW THE
COMMISSION WORKS AND HOW THE
COMMISSION'S DECISIONS, WHICH I
DON'T HAVE A VOTE ON, HOW
THEY'RE MADE, DELIBERATED AS
PART OF A PUBLIC MEETING.
>> I THINK THE STATUTORY LAW
REGARDING THE WEC IS CRYSTAL
CLEAR, AS CLEAR AS IT CAN BE.
I'M A BATTERED VETERAN OF I
DON'T KNOW HOW MANY COURT CASES
BEING APPOINTED IN 2016.
IF SOMEONE IS GOING TO SUE US,
THEY'RE GOING TO SUE US AND
WE'LL SEE HOW THAT SHAKES OUT,
BUT I FEEL VERY CONFIDENT IN OUR
INTERPRETATION OF THE LAW.
>> I'M VERY CONCERNED THAT NOW
WE ARE LEAVING THE JOB OF THE
ADMINISTRATOR IN THE HANDS OF A
CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE OR COURT OF
THE APPEALS IN THE SUPREME COURT
AND HER POSITION COULD BE IN
JEOPARDY ON A MOMENT'S NOTICE.
AND I DON'T THINK THAT'S GOOD
FOR THE STAFF, I DON'T THINK
THAT'S GOOD FOR THE
ADMINISTRATION OF ELECTIONS IN
WISCONSIN.
>> WITH ELECTION 2024 ALREADY
HEATING UP, THE LATEST STATEWIDE
POLLING ON CANDIDATES, SITTING
POLITICIANS AND ISSUES TAKES THE
PUBLIC TEMPERATURE IN WISCONSIN.
THE NEW MARQUETTE LAW SCHOOL
POLL FINDS SOME INTERESTING
RESULTS.
HERE TO TALK ABOUT IT, POLL
DIRECTOR CHARLES FRANKLIN.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
THE APPROVAL RATING JUMP IS
INTERESTING.
>> IT'S QUITE A JUMP.
>> 57 PERCENT OF RESPONDENTS
PROVE OF THE JOB HE'S DOING
WHILE 38 PERCENT DISAPPROVE AND
HIS APPROVAL RATING HAS GONE UP
11 POINTS SINCE THE LAST
ELECTION.
WHAT IN YOUR MIND EXPLAINS THIS?
>> TWO THINGS.
YOU'RE IN THE HEAT OF AN
ELECTORAL BATTLE AND HE'S HAD A
PRETTY GOOD LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
HE CERTAINLY HASN'T GOT MOST OF
WHAT HE WANTED BUT HE'S GOTTEN A
FAIR BIT OF WHAT HE WANTED.
SO I THINK THE SPRING HAS BEEN
FAIRLY GOOD.
IT'S ALSO STRIKING THAT HE'S THE
ONE PERSON WHO'S REALLY HAD THIS
SUBSTANTIAL RISE IN APPROVAL
SINCE OCTOBER.
OTHER RISES ARE MUCH MORE
MODEST.
SO I THINK WE HAVE TO GIVE
CREDIT TO HIM.
>> ON THE OTHER HAND, YOUR POLL
SAYS 40 PERCENT SAY IT'S GOING
IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
COULD THAT BE SOMETHING OTHER
THAN TONY EVERS?
>> I THINK WE'RE SEEING THAT
USED TO BE A MEASURE OF HOW GOOD
A JOB THE INCUMBENT'S DOING, BUT
NOW IF YOU'RE A DEMOCRAT YOU
BLAME REPUBLICANS FOR WHY WE'RE
HEADED OFF IN THE WRONG
DIRECTION AND IF YOU'RE
REPUBLICANS YOU BLAME THE
DEMOCRATS FOR THE SAME THING.
THERE'S A LOT OF ACROSS THE
AISLE POINTING.
WE SEE IN THE NATIONAL AND STATE
NUMBERS.
IT DOESN'T MEAN WHAT IT USED TO
MEAN ABOUT WHETHER THINGS ARE
GOOD OR BAD.
>> IN THE GOP PRESIDENTIAL
PRIMARY, AMONG REPUBLICANS AND
THOSE WHO LEAN REPUBLICAN WHEN
ACCOUNTING FOR ALL THE GOP
CANDIDATES OUT THERE IT'S EVEN
BETWEEN DONALD TRUMP AND RON
DESANTIS, 31 PERCENT AND 30
PERCENT.
WITH 21 PERCENT UNDECIDED, THAT
SEEMS LIKE A BIG NUMBER.
WHEN ASKED WHO THEY WOULD PICK
WHEN ONLY BETWEEN THOSE TWO, 57
PERCENT CHOSE DeSANTIS OVER 41
PERCENT FOR TRUMP.
WHAT DO ALL THESE NUMBERS SAY?
>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, IT'S
REALLY SURPRISING BECAUSE IN
NATIONAL POLLING TRUMP IS
LEADING DeSANTIS BY AT LEAST
DOUBLE DIGITS AND THAT'S BEEN
PRETTY CONSISTENT INCLUDING IN
OUR NATIONAL POLLING.
I WAS SURPRISED BY THAT NUMBER.
BUT WHAT WE SEE IS THAT OF THE
PEOPLE THAT WOULD LIKE SOMEBODY
OTHER THAN DeSANTIS OR TRUMP OR
ARE UNDECIDED, THEY GO 65 TO 75
PERCENT TO DeSANTIS WHEN YOU ASK
THE HEAD TO HEAD QUESTION.
ONLY ABOUT A QUARTER OF THEM
MOVE TO TRUMP.
TRUMP IS GETTING A LOT OF
SUPPORT FROM HIS BASE WITHIN THE
PARTY BUT OF THE 30 PERCENT OF
REPUBLICANS THAT DON'T LIKE
TRUMP, HE GOT ZERO PERCENT ON
THE HEAD-TO-HEAD QUESTION.
SO IT'S NOT, YOU KNOW, THOSE
THAT LIKE HIM STILL LIKE HIM
QUITE A BIT BUT THERE IS THIS
SEGMENT, A MINORITY OF 30
PERCENT, THAT REALLY DON'T LIKE
TRUMP AND ARE LOOKING FOR ANY
ALTERNATIVE.
>> SO AS FOR EITHER OF THE TWO
FRONTRUNNING REPUBLICAN
CANDIDATES FOR PRESIDENT, YOUR
POLL SHOWED A CLOSE MATCH-UP
BETWEEN JOE BIDEN AND DeSANTIS
WITH 4 PERCENT UNDECIDED IN THE
HYPOTHETICAL MATCH-UP BETWEEN
BIDEN, HE DOES MUCH BETTER
AGAINST TRUMP, 52 PERCENT TO 43
PERCENT.
SO AS A CANDIDATE, DONALD TRUMP
HAS SOME WORK TO DO IN THIS
IMPORTANT SWING STATE.
>> YES, I THINK THAT IS
CERTAINLY THE CASE AND IT GOES
PARTLY TO THE ELECTABILITY
ARGUMENT.
IT ALSO GOES TO THE FACT THAT
TRUMP IS STILL GETTING 94 AND 95
PERCENT OF THE REPUBLICAN VOTE
WHEN HE'S MATCHED UP AGAINST
BIDEN.
DeSANTIS GETS ALMOST EXACTLY THE
SAME REPUBLICAN SUPPORT THERE.
SO IT'S NOT REPUBLICANS
DESERTING TRUMP AT ALL.
WHAT IT IS, IS THE INDEPENDENTS
WHO LEAN A LITTLE BIT TO BIDEN
VERSUS DeSANTIS AND MOVE HEAVILY
TO BIDEN WHEN IT'S TRUMP.
IT'S WINNING YOUR PRIMARY WITH A
LOT OF TRUE BELIEVERS BUT MOVING
ON TO A GENERAL ELECTION YOU
NEED TO APPEAL TO INDEPENDENTS.
AND AT LEAST THIS MONTH IN THIS
SAMPLE, TRUMP IS DOING
NOTICEABLY WORSE WITH
INDEPENDENTS THAN DeSANTIS IS.
REMEMBER, WE ARE IN THE FIELD
THE DAY AND FOLLOWING THE
INDICTMENT OF TRUMP.
DIDN'T HURT HIM WITH REPUBLICANS
BUT IT MAY BE THAT THAT'S PART
OF WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THESE
INDEPENDENTS AND LOOKING AHEAD
TO THE GENERAL.
>> INTERESTING CONTEXT.
SO AS FOR SITTING U.S. SENATOR
TAMMY BALDWIN, ALSO UP FOR
RE-ELECTION, HER FAVORABILITY
RATING TICKED UP 3 POINTS FROM
LAST OCTOBER, NOW SITTING AT 40
PERCENT FAVORABLE, 37 PERCENT
UNFAVORABLE BUT 22 PERCENT HAVE
NOT HEARD ENOUGH ABOUT HER.
SHE MUST STILL BE FORMIDABLE
THOUGH BECAUSE NOBODY HAS
FORMALLY DECLARED AGAINST HER.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
THAT'S 22 PERCENT IS IN LINE
WITH WHERE SHE HAS BEEN THE LAST
TWO OR THREE YEARS.
RON JOHNSON IS USUALLY IN THE
30s.
THOUGH WHEN ELECTIONS COME YOU
GET THAT NUMBER DOWN TO 10
PERCENT THAT DON'T KNOW ENOUGH.
IT'S A BIG ELECTION EFFECT.
WHEN WE ASKED ABOUT FOUR
POTENTIAL REPUBLICAN CHALLENGERS
BETWEEN 50 AND 85 PERCENT DIDN'T
KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT ANY OF THOSE.
UNTIL SOMEBODY OFFICIALLY GETS
IN AND THE RACE HEATS UP AND
THEY'RE CAMPAIGNING, NO
CHALLENGER IS GOING TO LOOK VERY
GOOD ON THE NAME RECOGNITION
SIDE AND IN PERSPECTIVE BALDWIN
HAS A LITTLE ADVANTAGE OF BEING
WELL KNOWN BUT THE CHALLENGERS
WHEN THEY DO GET IN WILL BUILD
RECOGNITION OVER THE NEXT 18
MONTHS.
>> ALL RIGHT, CHARLES FRANK,
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR YOUR WORK.
>> THANK YOU.
>> AS ALWAYS THERE'S A LOT GOING
ON IN WISCONSIN FROM POLITICS TO
POLICY.
TONIGHT WE CHECK IN WITH OUR
POLITICAL PANELIST REPUBLICAN
BILL McCOSHEN AND DEMOCRAT SCOT
ROSS.
THANKS FOR BEING HERE.
FIRST OFF WHAT IS YOUR BROAD
TAKE ON THE LEGISLATURE'S STATE
BUDGET JUST PASSED AND AWAITING
THE GOVERNOR'S ACTION?
IS IT WHAT YOU EXPECTED WITH A 7
BILLION DOLLAR SURPLUS?
>> I THINK IT'S A 7 BILLION
DOLLAR WASTED OPPORTUNITY BY
REPUBLICANS TO SUPPORT THINGS
THAT ARE GOING TO HELP THE
PEOPLE OF WISCONSIN, MEN, WOMEN,
CHILDREN, THRIVE AND EXCEL.
WE MISSED THE OPPORTUNITY TO END
THE CRIMINAL ABORTION BAN.
WE'RE GASHING THE UW SYSTEM.
WE'RE NOT FULLY FUNDING PUBLIC
EDUCATION.
LET'S JUST TALK ABOUT CHILDCARE.
WE'VE GOT CHILDCARE, THERE WAS
AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE REAL
CHILDCARE BUT INSTEAD WE'RE
GIVING A TAX BREAK TO THE TOP 1
PERCENT.
25,000 PEOPLE ARE GETTING THE
300 MILLION DOLLARS THAT COULD
HAVE OTHERWISE PREVENTED 2500
CHILDCARE FACILITIES FROM
CLOSING THE NEXT COUPLE OF
YEARS.
IT'S JUST SHAMEFUL.
>> I THINK VIEWERS SHOULD BE
EXCITED ABOUT THIS BUDGET.
THIS IS TONY'S THIRD BUDGETS
WITH REPUBLICANS IN THE MAJORITY
WHERE THEY HAVE GRAND BARGAINS
ON KEY ISSUES.
SHARED REVENUE, HISTORIC
INCREASE IN FUNDING TO LOCAL
GOVERNMENT, K-12 AND CHARTER
SCHOOLS, ALL KIDS BENEFIT
REGARDLESS OF WHICH CHOICE THEIR
PARENTS MAKE FOR THEIR
EDUCATION, HOUSING 500 MILLION
DOLLARS, TO INCREASE THE HOUSING
STOCK NOT ONLY IN URBAN BUT
RURAL AREAS AS WELL.
LITERACY, TRANSPORTATION, PAY
RAISES FOR STATE EMPLOYEES.
ALL OF THOSE THINGS THEY AGREED
ON.
THAT'S THE FIRST TIME THAT'S
HAPPENED IN THE LAST THREE
BUDGETS.
I THINK THERE'S A LOT TO BE
EXCITED ABOUT IN THIS BUDGET.
>> WHAT DO YOU THINK THE
GOVERNOR MIGHT DO?
>> I TALKED TO SOMEBODY TODAY
FROM THE EAST WING AND THEY SAID
THE CHANCE OF VETOING THE ENTIRE
BUDGET ARE FIFTY-FIFTY.
IF NOT THEY'RE GOING TO LINE
ITEM AS MUCH AS HUMANLY POSSIBLE
AS THE GOVERNOR ALREADY STATED
AND I THINK FOR GOOD REASON
BECAUSE WE MISSED OPPORTUNITIES,
HANDING OUT TOO MUCH MONEY TO
PEOPLE.
>> WHAT WOULD HE BE VETOING
OVER?
>> THE TAX PLAN IN PARTICULAR.
YOU SEE HOW MUCH MONEY THEY'RE
WASTING.
THE TOP 1 PERCENT IS TAKING AWAY
300 PLUS BILLION DOLLARS.
IF YOU GET RID OF THAT TOP RATE
IT'S 700 MILLION DOLLARS LOST
THAT COULD BE INVESTED IN THINGS
LIKE CHILDCARE.
>> THREE CHOICES, SIGN IT IN
TOTAL, HE WON'T DO THAT, VETO IT
COMPLETELY, I DON'T THINK THAT'S
REALISTIC, OR PARTIAL VETOES IS
REALISTIC.
HIS STAFF INDICATED HE WILL USE
IT AS MUCH AS HUMANLY POSSIBLE.
THE REASON HE WON'T VETO THE
WHOLE BILL, THE FUNDING IS IN
THIS BILL.
THE LIKELIHOOD OF A BETTER DEAL
NEXT TIME AROUND IS ZERO.
TO ELIMINATE UW DEI OFFICES.
BUT WHAT'S NEXT IN THE REALM OF
ABANDONING DIVERSITY, EQUITY,
AND INCLUSION INITIATIVES IN
WISCONSIN?
>> I DON'T THINK WE'RE
ABANDONING IT BUT I THINK MAYBE
FINALLY WE'RE GOING TO PUT THE
FOCUS WHERE IT BELONGS WHICH IS
ON URBAN SCHOOLS.
IF YOU WANT TO GIVE
AFRICAN-AMERICAN KIDS A BETTER
OPPORTUNITY YOU HAVE TO TEACH
THEM TO READ.
WHEN 22 CAN READ AT GRADE LEVEL
AND 80 PERCENT CAN'T, THE 80
PERCENT IS NEVER GOING TO MAKE
IT TO COLLEGE AND MORE LIKELY TO
END UP IN PRISON.
THAT HAS TO BE THE FOCUS IS
MAKING SURE OUR URBAN SCHOOLS
DELIVER THE KIND OF EDUCATION
THOSE KIDS NEED AND THE TRUTH IS
THE ONES WHO SUFFER THE MOST ARE
ASIAN AMERICANS, NOT WHITES.
>> I THINK IT'S DISGRACEFUL WHAT
THE SUPREME COURT AND REPUBLICAN
LEGISLATURE IS TRYING TO DO.
AGAIN, DIVERSITY IS WHAT MAKES
WISCONSIN, WHAT MAKES THE
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN GREAT,
AND STYMYING THAT BECAUSE YOU
THINK IT PLAYS YOUR RACIST BASE
IS NOT THE WAY TO GO.
34 MILLION DOLLARS CUT OUT OF
UW.
SO A STUDENT WHO GRADUATED FROM
THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA GETS
TO WALK AFTER FOUR YEARS ACROSS
THE AISLE.
A STUDENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF
WISCONSIN WILL HAVE TO STAY FIVE
YEARS BECAUSE THEY CAN'T GET
WHAT THEY NEED IN FOUR YEARS AS
A RESULT.
>> MY SON GRADUATED FROM MADISON
IN MAY.
I WAS AT THE GRADUATION
CEREMONY.
FEWER THAN 200 AFRICAN-AMERICANS
CROSSED THE STAGE OUT OF 8,000.
>> WE HAVE TO DOUBLE DOWN AND
NOT TAKE IT BACK.
WHAT THE SUPREME COURT DID WAS
DISGRACEFUL AND PROBABLY WAS THE
WORST WEEK FOR THE SUPREME COURT
OTHER THAN PLESSENGER VERSUS
FERGUSON.
>> SPEAKING OF THE SUPREME
COURT, THEY TURNED BACK JOE
BIDEN'S ACTION TO CANCEL STUDENT
LOAN DEBT.
WHAT IS THE COMPLIIMPLICATIONS?
>> I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW
PROVIDING ROBIN VOS WITH A
300,000 LOAN, HE'S A
MULTI-MILLIONAIRE, HOW THAT
HELPS THE ECONOMY, BUT FORGIVING
10,000 DOLLARS FOR NEARLY A
MILLION STUDENT LOAN BORROW ERS
WHO WILL PUT IT BACK IN THE
ECONOMY HELPS OUR ECONOMY.
IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.
AND THE PEOPLE WHO FINANCED THE
LAWSUIT GOT A PPP LOAN.
IT'S HYPOCRISY.
>> I'M ONE OF SEVEN KIDS.
THE NOTION THAT I WOULD GO TO A
BIG TEN SCHOOL AND GET A DEGREE
WAS UNTHINKABLE WHEN I WAS A
KID, YET IT HAPPENED.
WHY?
I INVESTED IN MYSELF.
I TOOK OUT STUDENT LOANS.
I PAID THOSE BACK.
I VIEWED IT AS AN INVESTMENT IN
MYSELF AND I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO
PAY FOR SOMEONE ELSE WHO MADE
THAT SAME CHOICE.
>> THAT'S THE ARGUMENT.
>> WE SPENT THE MONEY, WE USED
TO INVEST TEN CENTS OF EVERY GPR
DOLLAR INTO HIGHER GENERAEDUCAT.
IT'S DOWN TO TWO AND A HALF
CENTS.
I PAID STUDENT DEBT FOR 26
YEARS.
I SUPPORT FORGIVING EVERY PENNY
OF STUDENT LOAN DEBT AND MAKE IT
FREE.
>> I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT THE
MARQUETTE LAW SCHOOL POLL THAT
SHOWED 66 PERCENT OF PEOPLE
SURVEYED IN WISCONSIN THINK
ABORTION SHOULD BE LEGAL IN ALL
OR MOST CASES.
HOW WILL THIS ISSUE CONTINUE TO
INFORM THE UPCOMING ELECTIONS?
>> THE SUPREME COURT OF
WISCONSIN HAS A BIG SAY IN THAT
WHETHER IT'S THE LAW OF THE LAND
OR SOMETHING PASSED SUBSEQUENT
TO THAT.
SO WE'LL SEE.
IF YOU LOOK CLOSELY AT THE CROSS
TABS PEOPLE DON'T LIKE ABORTION
UP UNTIL THE TIME OF BIRTH AND A
LOT OF FOLKS DON'T SUPPORT ANY
ABORTION AT ANY TIME.
>> NOBODY'S HAVING ABORTIONS UP
TO THE POINT OF BIRTH BUT I
AGREE IT'S GOING TO BE A HUGE
ISSUE.
I THINK IT'LL REIGN HUGE IN
RACES AND DEMOCRATS ARE ON THE
RIGHT SIDE OF HISTORY.
THE LESSON FROM THE POLL IS
REPUBLICANS IF THEY ACTED MORE
LIKE DEMOCRATS WITH THOSE ISSUES
THEY MIGHT LOSE FEWER ELECTIONS.
>> FOR MORE ON THIS AND OTHER
ISSUES FACING WISCONSIN VISIT
OUR WEBSITE AND PBS WISCONSIN
DOT-ORG AND CLICK ON THE NEWS
TAB.
THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.
(CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY
RIVERSIDE CAPTIONING COMPANY)
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE & NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.