>> I DOUBT IT.
I'M SORRY, THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> DEMOCRATS IN THE WISCONSIN
LEGISLTURE WILL HEAD INTO THE
NEXT SESSION WITH EVEN SMALLER
MINORITIES BUT THE LEADERS OF
THE PARTY IN THE SENATE AND
ASSEMBLY SAY THEY STILL
REPRESENT THE MAJORITY OF THE
STATE.
"HERE AND NOW" SENIOR POLITICAL
REPORTER ZAC SCHULTZ RECENTLY
SAT DOWN WITH SENATOR MELISSA
AGARD AND REPRESENTATIVE GRETA
NEUBAUER AND HAS THIS STORY.
>> SENATOR AGARD IS STILL
GETTING USED TO HER NEW OFFICE
AND NEW POSITION AS THE
DEMOCRATIC MINORITY LEADER.
>> IT FEELS A BIT LIKE DRINKING
FROM A FIRE HOSE BUT I'M READY.
>> WITH ONLY 11 MEMBERS THE
DEMOCRATS ARE POWERLESS TO PASS
LEGISATION.
AGARD POINTS TO THE STATEWIDE
WIN BY GOVERNOR TONY EVERS TO
SHOW DEMOCRATS REPRESENT THE
VALUE OF THE MAJORITY OF
WISCONSIN.
>> ULTIMATELY WE MAY HOLD THE
MINORITY OF SEATS IN THE STATE
OF WISCONSIN, BUT WE KNOW THAT
WE HOLD THE MAJORITY OF THE
HEARTS OF THE PEOPLE OF THE
STATE OF WISCONSIN IN THE WORK
WE'RE DOING.
>> DEMOCRATS BLAMED
REDISTRICTING MAPS FOR THEIR
MINORITY STATUS.
REPRESENTATIVE GRETA NEUBAUER IS
THE MINORITY LEADER IN THE
ASSEMBLY FOR THE DEMOCRATS.
IT WAS A CHALLENGE TO FIND
DEMOCRATS TO RUN FOR OFFICE.
>> WE ARE IN INCREDIBLY
POLARIZED PARTISAN TIMES AND IT
WAS HARD TO BOTH RECRUIT PEOPLE
TO RUN, PARTICULARLY WOMEN,
BECAUSE THEY KNEW THAT THEY AND
THEIR FAMILY MAY FACE THREATS.
AND THAT UNFORTUNATELY DID BEAR
OUT THIS CYCLE FOR CANDIDATES,
FOR VOLUNTEERS.
>> ASSEMBLY DEMOCRATS WON 35
SEATS JUST ENOUGH TO PREVENT A
REPUBLICAN SUPER MAJORITY THAT
WOULD ALLOW THE GOP TO OVERRIDE
ANY OF EVERS' VETOES.
IF TWO MEMBERS ARE MISSING THE
GOP WOULD HAVE ENOUGH.
>> OUR CAUCUS UNDERSTANDS ONE OF
OUR TOP PRIORITIES FOR THE
SESSION IS BEING HERE IN MADISON
TO MAKE SURE THAT IF REPUBLICANS
ARE TRYING TO OVERRIDE GOVERNOR
EVERS' VETOES AND MOVE OUR STATE
BACKWARDS WE'RE HERE TO PROTECT
THOSE VETOES.
>> NEUBAUER TOOK OVER AS LEADER
PART WAY THROUGH THE LAST
SESSION.
THIS IS HER FIRST FULL TERM IN
CHARGE AND SHE AND AGARD
UNDERSTANDS DEMOCRATS IN THE
MINORITY NEED TO BE MORE THAN
THE PARTY OF NO.
>> WE KNOW THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE
ARE FRUSTRATED WITH POLITICS
RIGHT NOW AND I THINK OUR
RESPONSIBILITY IS TO PASS POLICY
IN THE CAPITOL THAT MAKES
PEOPLE'S LIVES BETTER AND SHOWS
THAT GOVERNMENT CAN AND MUST BE
A FORCE FOR GOOD.
>> THEY HOPE THE BUDGET WILL
CREATE SPACES FOR COMPROMISE ON
THINGS LIKE INCREASING SHARED
REVENUE.
>> SUPPORTING OUR LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS IS AT THE TOP OF THE
PILE OF THINGS WE CAN AGREE ON.
IT IS WHETHER, YOU KNOW, SO WE
HAVE THE ENDPOINT HOW DO WE GET
THERE AND THE PATHS WE USE TO
MOVE FORWARD?
THAT'S TO BE CONTINUED.
>> AGARD HOPES TO BREAK THE
INPASS IN THE SENATOR OF
ONFIRMING GOVERNOR EVERS'
APPOINTEES.
REPUBLICANS HAVE REFUSED TO HAVE
VOTES.
>> BASED ON WHAT I HEAR FROM
COLLEAGUES ON THE OTHER SIDE OF
THE AISLE WE'RE READY TO START
MOVING FORWARD.
LET'S BRING IT TO THE FLOOR AND
DEBATE IT AND LET'S VOTE UP OR
DOWN.
IF THE MAJORITY PARTY DOES FEEL
LIKE THE PERSON IS NOT THE RIGHT
FIT, HOLDING THEM IN THIS WEIRD
LIMBO ISN'T GOING TO HELP THE
STATE OF WISCONSIN.
>> THERE IS ONE AREA WHERE
DEMOCRATS ARE NOT LOOKING FOR
COMMON GROUND, ABORTION.
>> THERE ARE SOME ISSUES WHERE
THERE IS NO ROOM FOR COMPROMISE.
A PERSONAL HEALTHCARE DECISION,
NOT A PLACE WHERE POLITICIANS
BELONG AND SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE
HAVE SUGGESTED THAT WE ALSO
INCLUDE IN THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE
NOT JUST POLITICIANS BUT POLICE
OFFICER.
>> REPUBLICANS TALK ABOUT
PASSING A BILL TO MODIFIED THE
LAW BANNING ABORTIONS TO PROVIDE
EXCEPTIONS FOR RAPE OR INCEST.
>> AS ONE OF THE 50% OF PEOPLE
IN WISCONSIN WHO LOST A CONCRETE
RIGHT IN THE LAST YEAR I HAVE
HEARD FROM PEOPLE ACROSS THE
STATE HOW IMPORTANT IT IS THAT
WE KEEP FIGHTING FOR COME
PREHENCEIVE ACCESS TO
REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE.
EXCEPTIONS ARE NOT COME
PREHENCEIVE AND WE KNOW THAT.
>> DEMOCRATS WANT TO KEEP THE
CURRENT LAW IN PLACE WHILE THEY
WAIT FOR LEGAL CHALLENGES.
THAT LEADS TO THE OTHER
PRIORITY, ELECTING A LIBERAL TO
THE SUPREME COURT IN APPEAR --
APRIL.
>> WE WANT TO ELECT A JUSTICE
WHO WILL PUT THE PEOPLE OF
WISCONSIN OVER THEIR PARTY.
>> A LIBERAL MAJORITY ON THE
COURT COULD WRITE NEW
LEGISLATIVE MAPS IN WISCONSIN
GIVING DEMOCRATS A CHANCE TO WIN
MORE SEATS AND GET MORE SWAY AT
THE CAPITOL.
>> ABORTION RIGHTS,
REDISTRICTING, UNION RIGHTS, THE
LIST GOES ON AND ON.