>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION. >> 65,000 WISCONSIN STUDENTS ARE
THREATENED BY A LAWSUIT THAT WOULD RIP THEM FROM THEIR
SCHOOLS. >> AN AD CAMPAIGN TO KEEP
PRIVATE SCHOOL CHOICE HIGHLIGHTS THE HIGH STAKES OF A CASE THAT
COULD COME BEFORE THE WISCONSIN SUPREME COURT.
AND WISCONSIN'S FALSE ELECTORS ADMIT THEIR ATTEMPT TO OVERTURN
THE 2020 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE & NOW," THE UW REACHES A DEAL WITH THE
REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURE OVER PAY RAISES AND FUNDING.
REPUBLICANS ADMIT TO THEIR ROLE IN THE FAKE ELECTOR SCHEME.
THEN, A WISCONSIN SUPREME COURT CASE COULD THROW THE 2,12 SCHOOL
CHOICE SYSTEM INTO CHAOS. WE SPOKE TO ATTORNEYS FROM BOTH
SIDES. THE NEXT IN OUR SERIES OF
INTERVIEWS WITH LEGISLATIVE LEADERS AND THE CRITICAL
SHORTAGE OF SCHOOL THERAPISTS. IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR DECEMBER
8th. >> FUNDING FOR "HERE & NOW" IS
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS WISCOVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
ONSIN.
>> A BOMBSHELL COURT SETTLEMENT THIS WEEK INVOLVING THE 10
WISCONSIN REPUBLICAN FAKE ELECTORS IN THE 2020
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. THESE ARE PHOTOS OF THE ELECTORS
GATHERED IN SECRET AND UNDER ARMED GUARD AT THE STATE CAPITOL
IN 2020 TO FRAUDULENTLY SIGN CERTIFICATION DOCUMENTS CASTING
THEIR VOTE FOR DONALD TRUMP. AS PART OF THE SETTLEMENT, THE
FALSE ELECTORS HAD TO MAKE PUBLIC THIS STATEMENT, "ON
DECEMBER 14th, 2020, IN COMPLIANCE WITH REQUESTS
RECEIVED FROM THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN AND THE REPUBLICAN PARTY OF
WISCONSIN, WE MET AT THE WISCONSIN STATE CAPITOL AND
EXECUTED A DOCUMENT TITLED CERTIFICATE OF THE VOTES OF THE
2020 ELECTORS FROM WISCONSIN." THAT DOCUMENT STATED IN PART
THAT WE WERE THE DULY ELECTED AND QUALIFIED ELECTORS FOR
PREIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
FROM THE STATE OF WISCONSIN. THE ELECTOR DEFENDANTS TOOK THE
FOREGOING ACTION BECAUSE THEY WERE TOLD THAT IT WAS NECESSARY
TO PRESERVE THEIR ELECTORAL VOTES IN THE EVENT A COURT
CHALLENGE MAY LATER CHANGE THE OUTCOME OF THE ELECTION IN
WISCONSIN. THAT DOCUMENT WAS THEN USED AS
PART OF AN ATTEMPT TO IMPROPERLY OVERTURN THE 2020 PRESIDENTIAL
ELECTION RESULTS. UNDER THE SETTLEMENT, THE FALSE
ELECTORS ALL AGREED TO WITHDRAW DOCUMENTS EXECUTED THAT DAY,
ACKNOWLEDGED JOE BIDEN WON THE ELECTION AND AGREED NOT TO SERVE
AS PRESIDENTIAL ELECTORS IN 2024 OR ANY ELECTION WITH DONALD
TRUMP ON THE BALLOT. THE REPUBLICAN ELECTOR
DEFENDANTS ALSO PROMISED TO HELP THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
IN ITS INVESTIGATION. THE FALSE ELECTORS INCLUDE
CURRENT WISCONSIN ELECTION COMMISSIONER BOB SPINDELL AND
ANDREW HITT. THE LAWSUIT WAS BROUGHT BY
MADISON FIRM, LAW FORWARD, WHICH SAYS ABOUT THE SETTLEMENT,
"WISCONSIN VOTERS HAVE BEEN AWAITING ACCOUNTABILITY FOR
THREE YEARS AND IT IS BEYOND TIME TO HOLD THOSE WHO
PERPETRATED THIS SCHEME RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS."
THE SUIT CONTINUES AGAINST TWO ATTORNEYS WHO ASSISTED THE FALSE
ELECTORS. PETITIONERS IN A LAWSUIT
CHALLENGING WISCONSIN'S PRIVATE SCHOOL CHOICE PROGRAM AWAIT WORD
FROM THE STATE SUPREME COURT WHETHER IT WILL TAKE THEIR CASE.
THEY WANT THE COURT TO END THE PROGRAM, ARGUING IT VIOLATES THE
STATE CONSTITUTION, SAYING THE LEGISLATURE HAS CREATED A CANCER
THAT'S KILLING PUBLIC SCHOOLS. TONIGHT, WE HEAR BOTH SIDES OF
THIS CASE, STARTING WITH A LAWYER WHO FILED THE SCHOOL
CHOICE LAWSUIT, FREDERICK MELMS. HE JOINS US FROM MINOCQUA.
THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US. >> THANK YOU.
>> SO WHY ARE YOU ASKING THE SUPREME COURT TO TAKES THE AS AN
ORIGINAL ACTION RATHER THAN TAKING YOUR LAWSUIT TO CIRCUIT
COURT FIRST? >> WELL, A NUMBER OF REASONS.
THE PRIMARY REASON WE'RE TAKING OUR PETITION DIRECTLY TO THE
SUPREME COURT IS INEFFICIENCY. ULTIMATELY, THIS CASE WINDS UP
THERE ANYWAY. IF WE START IN THE CIRCUIT
COURT, WE WIN, WE LOSE, WE APPEAL, THE OTHER SIDE APPEALS,
AND WE ARGUE BEFORE THE SUPREME COURT.
THIS SAVES THREE YEARS OF LITIGATION FOR EVERYONE.
A LOT OF WHAT WE ARE ARGUING HAS NOT BEEN DECIDED UPON BEFORE BY
THE SUPREME COURT. THESE ARE MATTERS OF FIRST
IMPRESSION. SO THEY ARE ALSO -- THEY'RE MOST
APPROPRIATE COURT TO BE RULING ON OUR ISSUES AS WELL.
>> HOW DISAPPOINTED WERE YOU THAT THE EVERS ADMINISTRATION
JOINED ROBIN VOS IN SAYING IT SHOULD, IN FACT, NOT START IN
THE HIGH COURT? >> UMM, YOU KNOW, WE WERE
CERTAINLY DISAPPOINTED, BUT, YOU KNOW, THE EVERS ADMINISTRATION
AND MISBLOOMEN IF HE WOULD HAVE THEIR OWN AGENDA THAT THEY NEED
TO FULFILL. >> SO YOUR LAWSUIT SAYS THAT
SCHOOL VOUCHER PROGRAMS WERE, QUOTE, DESIGNED TO DESTRUCTIVELY
DEFUND PUBLIC SCHOOLS. BUT ISN'T THAT TRUE?
WEREN'T THEY DESIGNED AND STARTED IN THE EARLY KIND OF
'90s IN MILWAUKEE TO OFFER PRIVATE SCHOOL CHOICE TO LOW
INCOME STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES?
>> SO THE PROGRAMS WE HAVE NOW ARE SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFERENT THAN
THAT MILWAUKEE PROGRAM, AND WHAT THEY DO IS, FOR EVERY STUDENT
WHO TAKES A VOUCHER OUTSIDE OF MILWAUKEE, THE STATE DEDUCTS THE
ENTIRE VALUE OF THAT VOUCHER, WHICH IS, FOR A HIGH SCHOOL
STUDENT, ALMOST $13,000, FROM THEIR LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
STATE AID. AND IN A LOT OF THESE DISTRICTS,
THE STATE, THEY'RE ONLY GETTING ABOUT $2,000 PER STUDENT.
SO FOR EVERY VOUCHER STUDENT YOU LOSE TO A VOUCHER SCHOOL, YOU'RE
LOSING, YOU KNOW, SIX OR SEVEN STUDENTS' WORTH OF STATE AID IN
MANY DISTRICTS. AND THEN YOU EITHER HAVE TO MAKE
THAT UP THROUGH THE LOCAL TAX LEVY OR YOUR STUDENTS DON'T GET
THE RESOURCE THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO HAVE.
AND THIS HAS BEEN FELT PARTICULARLY HARD IN ONE OUT OF
EVERY THREE DOLLARS OF THEIR LOCAL PROPERTY TAXES IS USED
EFFECTIVELY JUST TO BACKFILL THE MONEY TAKEN IN STATE AID TO FUND
THE VOUCHER PROGRAM FOR STUDENTS. IT'S CLOSE TO $4
5 MILLION THAT THE TAXPAYERS ARE BEING ASKED TO
PUT UP TO MAKE UP FOR THE AID REDUCTION FROM THE VOUCHER
PROGRAM. >> SO, IN FACT, IN THE LAST
SCHOOL YEAR, THE PRIVATE SCHOOL CHOICE PROGRAM COSTS NEARLY 450
MILLION STATE DOLLARS. WHAT WOULD YOU SAY THAT IS DOING
TO THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM? >> WELL, THAT'S MONEY BEING
DIRECTLY REMOVED FROM THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THAT'S MONEY THE PUB
LIC SCHOOLS ARE SUPPOSED TO HAVE.
THE STATE OPTIONS WHEN IT SHOWS HOW TO FUND THIS PROGRAM AND
THEY CHOSE THE ONE THAT WAS MOST DESTRUCTIVE TO THE TRADITIONAL
PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS, AND IT'S OUR CONTENTION THAT THIS
AS INTENTIONAL AND IT WAS AN INTENTIONAL EFFORT TO DEFUND AND
ULTIMATELY DAMAGE PUBLIC EDUCATION IN WISCONSIN.
>> YOU SAY THE PRIVATE VOUCHER SCHOOLS DON'T HAVE ADEQUATE
OVERSIGHT OR EDUCATIONAL STANDARDS, WHICH THEIR ADVOCATES
DISPUTE IN THEIR FILINGS, BUT WHY WOULD PARENTS THEN CHOOSE
THESE SCHOOLS? >> I MEAN, I THINK THERE'S SOME
PRETTY SOLID MARKETING EFFORTS ON BEHALF OF THESE SCHOOLS TO
SUGGEST THAT THEY ARE A BETTER CHOICE, AND WHILE THEY MAY BE A
BETTER CHOICE FOR SOME STUDENTS, IT'S CERTAINLY NOT THE MAJORITY
OF STUDENTS. I THINK IF YOU LOOK TO THE MOST
RECENT TESTING DATA WE SAW ACROSS THE STATE THAT VOUCHER
STUDENTS SCORED SIGNIFICANTLY WORSE ON AVERAGE THAN PUBLIC
SCHOOL STUDENTS. SO IN MOST CASES, THESE ARE NOT
QUALITY SCHOOLS, AND IF YOU LOOK BACK, YOU KNOW, THROUGHOUT THE
HISTORY OF THIS PROGRAM, SOMETHING LIKE 40% OF THEM HAD
CLOSED THEIR DOORS ALREADY. ONLY A 30-YEAR OLD PROGRAM WITH
A 40% FAILURE RATE AND THEN THEY LEAVE THESE KIDS STRANDED WHO
THEN HAVE TO FIND A PUBLIC SCHOOL. THIS HAS NOT BEEN A
GOOD PROGRAM. >> ALL RIGHT.
WE NEED TO LEAVE IT THERE, MR. MELMS, THANKS VERY MUCH,
WE'LL BE WATCHING THIS CASE AS IT PROGRESSES.
>> THANK YOU. >> SUPPORTERS OF WISCONSIN'S
TAXPAYER FUNDED SCHOOL CHOICE AND INDEPENDENT CHARTER SCHOOL
PROGRAMS WANT THE STATE SUPREME COURT TO REJECT THE LAWSUIT,
SAYING ENDING THE PROGRAM WOULD CREATE CHAOS FOR TENS OF
THOUSANDS FAMILIES WITH STUDENTS CURRENTLY ENROLLED.
WISCONSIN INSTITUTE FOR LAW AND LIBERTY ATTORNEY, RICK ESENBERG,
IS ON THE CASE FOR SCHOOL CHOICE ADVOCATES. HE JOINS US FROM T
H TH MILWAUKE. THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. >> WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THE
PETITIONERS WON THEIR CASE AND THE PROGRAM FOLDED, TRANSFERRING
PRIVATE SCHOOL STUDENTS BACK IS THIS.
>> WELL, IT WOULD BE CHAOS FOR CHILDREN IN THE PROGRAM.
FIRST OF ALL, THEY WOULD BE DENIED AN EDUCATIONAL
OPPORTUNITY THAT THEY AND THEIR PARENTS HAVE CHOSEN.
THERE WOULD BE A MASSIVE INFLUX OF STUDENTS INTO PUBLIC SCHOOLS
WHO ARE NOT CURRENTLY SET UP TO RECEIVE THEM, AND THE LEGAL
PRINCIPLES THAT WOULD BE ESTABLISHED BY A DECISION
AGAINST THE PROGRAM IN THIS CASW WE FINANCE OUR SCHOOLS, IT WOULD
CALL INTO QUESTION EQUALIZATION AID, IT WOULD CALL INTO QUESTION
A WHOLE VARIETY OF NONEDUCATIONAL PUBLIC PROGRAMS.
IT WOULD BE REALLY A DISASTER FOR THE STATE OF WISCONSIN, AND
IT'S SOMETHING THAT I DON'T BELIEVE OUR COURT'S GOING TO DO.
>> SO IN YOUR COURT FILING, YOU TOOK GREAT EXCEPTION TO THE
CLAIM THAT CHOICE PROGRAMS WERE INTENDED TO HURT AND ARE HURTING
PUBLIC SCHOOLS. WHY?
>> WELL, YOU KNOW, WE LIVE IN A VERY POLARIZED TIME RIGHT NOW,
AND I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T REMEMBER THAT, WHEN SCHOOL
CHOICE WAS INITIALLY ENACTED ABOUT 30 YEARS AGO, IT WAS A
BIPARTISAN PROGRAM. BOTH DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS
REALIZED, FIRST IN MILWAUKEE, THAT SCHOOLS WERE NOT SERVING
ALL STUDENTS WELL, AND THAT EQUITY AND EDUCATIONAL
EFFECTIVENESS WOULD BE SERVED BY LETTING LOWER INCOME FAMILIES
HAVE THE SAME CHOICE THAT WEALTHIER FAMILIES HAVE.
AND SO THIS REALLY WAS AN EFFORT TO HELP KIDS.
WE OFTEN HEAR ABOUT, YOU KNOW, SCHOOL CHOICE SOMEHOW BEING A
PROFIT -- PROFIT-MAKING INTERPRIDES -- ENTERPRISE, AND
IT'S REALLY NOT. THESE ARE NONPROFIT
INSTITUTIONS. MOST OF THEM A RE
RELIGIOUSLY-BASED, AND NOBODY'S MAKING MONEY.
THIS REALLY IS, I THINK, INTENDED TO GIVE KIDS AN
OPPORTUNITY THAT THEY OTHERWISE WOULDN'T HAVE.
IT'S NOT TO DESTROY THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
CHOICE ADVOCATES REALIZE MOST KIDS ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO GO
TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THIS ISN'T ABOUT SECTOR WARS.
IT'S JUST A RECOGNITION THAT HUMAN BEINGS ARE DIVERSE, HUMAN
BEINGS ARE DIFFERENT, AND SOME PEOPLE, SOME KIDS WILL BENEFIT
FROM THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT CHOICE PROVIDES FOR THEM.
>> STILL, PUBLIC TAX DOLLARS ARE INCREASINGLY BEING DIVERTED FROM
PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS.
HOW DOES THAT NOT HURT THE PUBLICS? >> WELL, THEY'RE NOT
BEING DIVERTED.
THE PURPOSE OF PUBLIC TAX DOLLARS IS NOT TO BENEFIT PUBLIC
SCHOOLS AS AN INSTITUTION; IT'S TO EDUCATE CHILDREN.
AND THERE ARE LOTS OF SOCIAL SERVICES THAT THE GOVERNMENT
PROVIDES THAT MAY SOMETIMES BE PROVIDED BY GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES
AND MAY SOMETIMES BE PROVIDED BY, YOU KNOW, PRIVATE VENDORS,
HOSPITALS, ADOPTION AGENCIES. THERE'S A WHOLE HOST OF THEM.
AND SO WHAT HAPPENS IS WHEN A SCHOOL, WHEN A KID WHO IS BEING
EDUCATED AT PUBLIC EXPENSE, WE'RE ALL IN FAVOR OF THAT, GOES
TO A PRIVATE SCHOOL, THE TAX MONEY THAT IS USED TO EDUCATE
HER GOES WITH HER, AND SO THERE'S NO DIVERSION.
THERE'S JUST CHOICE. >> SO WITH LESS THAN A HALF A
MINUTE LEFT, HOW WORRIED WERE YOU THAT THE GOVERNOR EVERS'
ADMINISTRATION AGREED WITH ROBIN VOS THAT THIS CASE SHOULD START
NOT IN THE HIGH COURT BUT IN CIRCUIT COURT?
>> YOU KNOW, I GIVE GOVERNOR EVERS AND GENERAL KAUL CREDIT
FOR THIS. I KNOW THAT THEY'RE NOT
PROPONENTS OF THE CHOICE PROGRAM BUT THEY DID THE RIGHT THING
LEGALLY. THIS IS AN INAPPROPR IATE CASE
FOR AN ORIGINAL ACTION AND THEY MADE THE RIGHT CALL.
>> OKAY. WE NEED TO LEAVE IT THERE.
RICK ESENBERG, THANKS VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU.
>> WISCONSIN REPUBLICAN LEGISLATIVE LEADERS HAVE REACHED
AN AGREEMENT WITH THE UW OVER RELEASING BUDGET APPROVED PAY
RAISES, $32 MILLION IN CUTS OVER DEI PROGRAMS AND FUNDING OF A
NEW ENGINEERING BUILDING AT UW-MADISON. A NOTE, PBS WISC
ONSIN IS PART OF UW-MADISON.
THE DEAL INCLUDES ENACTING THE 4% SALARY INCREASES FOR 35,000
UW STAFF. THE RELEASE OF 32 MILLION STATE
DOLLARS HELD BACK OVER DIVERSITY PROGRAMS, AND FUNDING FOR A NEW
UW MADISON ENGINEERING BUILDING. IN RETURN, THE UNIVERSITY AGREES
TO A FREEZE IN THE NUMBER OF DEI POSITIONS, WITH A THIRD OF THOSE
JOBS TO FOCUS ON ACADEMIC SUCCESS AND THE CREATION OF AN
ENDOWED SHARE POSITION TO FOCUS ON CONSERVATIVE POLITICAL
THOUGHT. >> TODAY'S AGREEMENT REFLECTS
WHAT WE BELIEVE TO BE IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE
UNIVERSITIES OF WISCONSIN AND ALL WISCONSINITES TO FIND A PATH
FORWARD ON THE ISSUE THE SPEAKER HAS RAISED IN A WAY THAT ENABLES
ALL OF OUR UNIVERSITIES TO BETTER SERVE STUDENTS AND THE
PUBLIC UNDER THE CURRENT CIRCUMSTANCES. >> IN ANOTHE
R WIN FOR ABORTION ADVOCATES, A WISCONSIN JUDGE
RULED THIS WEEK THAT A 175-YEAR OLD LAW ON WISCONSIN'S BOOKS
DOES NOT BAN CONSENSUAL ABORTIONS. THE RULING FROM DA
NE COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE DIANE
SCHLIPPER WAS A DECLARATORY JUDGMENT SOLIDIFYING HER
INTERPRETATION OF THE LAW. SHEBOYGAN COUNTY DISTRICT
ATTORNEY JOEL URMANSKI, A REPUBLICAN AND A DEFENDANT IN
THE CASE, SAYS HE PLANS TO APPEAL.
>>> IN OTHER NEWS, AS PART OF OUR END-OF-YEAR INTERVIEWS WITH
LEGISLATIVE LEADERS, SENIOR POLITICAL REPORTER, ZAC SCHULTZ,
TALKED WITH REPUBLICAN SENATE DISWRMAJORITY LEADER DEVIN
LeMAHIEU. >> GIVE ME YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON
THE LAST YEAR STARTING WITH THE BUDGET, THE BIG BILL OF THE
YEAR. HOW DO YOU THINK THAT
EVERYTHING'S UNFOLDED FOUAD. >> I THINK WE GOT A LOT OF GOOD
THINGS DONE THIS LAST YEAR IN 2023.
THE SHARED REVENUE BILL FOR LOCAL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT,
SCHOOL FUNDING, SCHOOL CHOICE EXPANSION, A BUDGET THAT COULD
HAVE BEEN BETTER IF THE GOVERNOR WOULDN'T HAVE ISSUED A COUPLE OF
VETOES, BUT -- AND THEN THIS FALL, PASSING -- YOU KNOW,
KEEPING THE BREWERS AROUND FOR ANOTHER 20 YEARS AND WE GOT A
LOT OF GOOD BILLS DONE. >> A YEAR AGO, THERE WAS A LOT
OF TALK ABOUT A RESET WITH THE GOVERNOR. THERE HAVE BEEN SO
ME GOOD MOMENTS WITH THE GOVERNOR, WE
JUST TALKED ABOUT. THERE HAVE BEEN SOME OTHER
MOMENTS WHERE THE SENATE AS REJECT SOME OF HIS APPOINTMENTS,
THERE HAVE BEEN SOME OTHER CONTROVERSIES. HOW DO YOU FEE
L YOUR RELATIONSHIP IS WITH THE
ADMINISTRATION RIGHT NOW? >> SINCE THE BUDGET, WE HAVEN'T
COMMUNICATED A WHOLE LOT, UNFORTUNATELY, BUT I GUESS
WORKED SOMEWHAT WITH THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE ON THE BREWERS
BILL TO MAKE SURE THAT HE WAS COMFORTABLE WITH IT AND
OBVIOUSLY HE REALLY WANTED TO GET IT DONE, BUT IT'S
UNFORTUNATE HE KEEPS VETOING TAX CUTS WHEN WE HAVE SUCH A LARGE
SURPLUS OF TAXPAYER MONEY THAT WE COULD BE GIVING IT BACK TO
THEM. >> SPEAKING OF THE TAX CUTS THAT
HAVE BEEN PASSED AND VETOED TWICE, YOU HAVE BEEN ABLE TO
WORK WITH THE GOVERNOR ON OTHER ISSUES. IS THERE ANY ROOM TO
SIT DOWN TOE TABLE AND FIND COMPROMISE ON
WHAT HE MIGHT BE WILLING TO SIGN? >> I DON'T EVEN -- I M
EAN, IF IT'S SOME WISH LIST OF HIS, LIKE
THINGS THAT DON'T MAKE SENSE, IT'S NOT WORTH DOING A TAX CUT
BUT HE WAS FOR REDUCING THAT TAX BRACKET IN THE -- BEFORE HE RAN
FOR RE-ELECTION, AND AS YOU SAID, AS PART OF HIS RE-ELECTION
TACTICS, NOW APPARENTLY IT'S NO, WHICH STARTS AT 24,000 WHEN YOU
FILE INDIVIDUALLY, THAT TAX RATE, AND 36,000 MARRIED FILING
JOINTLY. SO IT'S REALLY UNFORTUNATE THAT
HE SORT OF FLIPPED HIS IDEA OF THAT BEING OF GOOD WAY TO REDUCE
TAXES IN THE STATE OF WISCONSIN. >> WHEN YOU LOOK AHEAD TO THE
NEXT YEAR, WHAT BILLS ARE A PRIORITY FOR YOU?
>> I THINK THERE'S TWO BILLS THAT HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET DONE
YET VERSUS THE RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL TO ALLOW WISCONSIN
COMPANIES THE RIGHT TO BUILD NEW TRANSMISSION LINES FIRST, KEEP
THAT WORK DONE HERE IN WISCONSIN, IS GOING TO SAVE RATE
PAYERS MONEY, SO HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET THAT DONE.
THEN THERE'S ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING BILL THAT WAS JUST
INTRODUCED. I THINK THAT BIL L WILL BE VITAL
TO EXPAND CHARGING STATIONS AROUND THE STATE OF WISCONSIN AS
THERE ARE MORE AND MORE ELECTRIC VEHICLES. >> IN TERMS OF E
LECTION BILLS, ARE THERE ANY BILLS OUT THERE
THAT YOU THINK THE GOVERNOR WILL SIGN SPECIFICALLY SOME OF THE
EARLY COUNTING BILLS THAT HAVE BEEN PROPOSED IN THE PAST?
>> WELL, THERE WAS A TIME WHEN I ACTUALLY AUTHORED THAT BILL A
COUPLE OF SESSIONS AGO, BUT I'M NOT SURE THAT BILL IS AT THE
SENATE RIGHT NOW. I DON'T KNOW IF IT WILL MOVE OR
NOT, BUT, YOU KNOW, IT'S IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THAT SOME
OF THE BIGGER CITIES ACTUALLY GET THEIR VOTES COUNTED ON TIME.
>> WHAT ARE THE OTHER BIG THINGS THAT HAPPENED THIS YEAR,
OBVIOUSLY, WAS THE SUPREME COURT ELECTION AND A SHIFT IN THE
BALANCE AND POWER THERE. HOW MUCH DOES THAT WEIGH ON YOUR
CAUCUS WHEN IT COMES TO EITHER THE BILLS THAT YOU'RE PROPOSING
OR OBVIOUSLY LOOKING AHEAD TO POSSIBLE NEW MAPS NEXT YEAR?
>> I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF CONCERN IN OUR CAUCUS, AND
AMONGST MYSELF THAT, YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING THAT WE'VE DONE FOR
ME FOR EIGHT YEARS AND OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN AROUND
LONGER, FOR THE LAST DECADE, 12 YEARS, ALL OF THE REFORMS THAT
WE'VE PASSED COULD BE UNDONE BY, DEPENDING ON HOW ACTIVIST THIS
COURT ACTUALLY BECOMES, AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S EARLY ON, BUT YOU CAN
TELL THE FIRST THING THAT THEY DID WAS CHALLENGE OUR MAPS, THAT
SHE WAS SWORN INTO OFFICE, SO THAT'S -- IT'S REALLY
UNFORTUNATE THAT IT SEEMS LIKE WITH THE GOVERNOR'S LAWSUIT
TRYING TO -- SUING US, OUR JOINT COMMITTEES, THAT WE HAVE TWO
BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT TRYING TO BOX OUT THE LEGISLATIVE BRONCHO.
WE'RE COEQUAL BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT AND WE LOOK FORWARD
TO GETTING BILLS DONE. >> ONE OF THE BIG THINGS NEXT
YEAR IS THE CONVENTION COMING TO MILWAUKEE. WHAT DO YOU THINK
THAT IMPACT WILL BE FOR THE REST OF THE
STATE ALL THE WAY IN THE FALL? >> YOU KNOW, I THINK IT WILL BE
GOOD -- IT WOULD HAVE BEEN GREAT IF WE HAD THE DNC CONVENTION IN
2020, JUST TO HIGHLIGHT MILWAUKEE AND THE GREAT STATE
THAT WE ARE. IT WILL BE EXCITING TO HAVE ALL
OF THE CAMERAS ON ON THE CITY OF MILWAUKEE AND HIGHLIGHT THE GOOD
STATE OF WISCONSIN. >> BUT AS FAR AS AN ELECTORAL
BOOST, YOU THINK THAT CAN CHANGE MINDS IN MILWAUKEE, THE SUBURBS,
OR INITIALS IN THE STATE? >> I'M NOT SURE IF THAT WILL
HAPPEN. IT'S GOING TO BE U P TO WHOEVER
THE NOMINEE IS TO DO THAT. WE'LL BE WORKING HARD TOE
GRASSROOTS REVEL IN THE SENATE. I THINK WE'VE BEEN VERY
SUCCESSFUL FINDING -- THIS LAST SESSION, WE HAD A LOT OF OPEN
SEATS THAT WERE CLOSE AND WE FOUND GOOD CANDIDATES AND -- WHO
CONNECTED WITH THEIR DISTRICTS AND THAT'S HOW WE PICKED UP A
SEAT AND GOT TO A TWO-THIRDS MAJORITY. IT WILL BE MY JOB
TO HELP FIND A GOOD QUALIFIED CANDIDATES IF WE
HAVE NEW MAPS OR IF SOME OF OUR MEMBERS DECIDE NOT TO RUN AGAIN.
BUT I THINK A LOT, IF THINGS -- JUST THE EVEN SET DISTRICTS ARE
UP, I THINK A LOT OF THOSE SENATORS WILL PROBABLY RUN
AGAIN. BUT WE'LL SEE.
>> DO YOU HOPE THAT DONALD TRUMP IS THE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE?
>> I'LL LET THE VOTERS DECIDE ON THAT.
I'M A BIG FAN OF NIKKI HALEY. I THINK SHE WOULD BE A NICE
CONTRAST TO PRESIDENT BIDEN, BUT THAT'S FOR THE VOTERS TO DECIDE.
>> SENATE MAJORITY LEADER, THANKS FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.
>> THANK YOU. >> IN EDUCATION, A CRITICAL
SHORTAGE OF SCHOOL THERAPISTS IS PLAGUING DISTRICTS ACROSS THE
COUNTRY AS MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES FOR STUDENTS SURGE.
SEEING THE NEED, EDUCATORS AND STUDENTS IN WISCONSIN ARE
FINDING WAYS TO BRIDGE THE GAP. STEVEN POTTER HAS MORE.
>> I THINK EVERY SCHOOL PRINCIPAL WOULD LOVE TO HAVE
MORE MENTAL HEALTH
PROFESSIONALS. >> DESPITE H AVING A HANDFUL OF
PSYCHOLOGIST, A PSYCHOLOGIST AND SOCIAL WORKER ON STAFF, ANDY
FARLEY, PRINCIPAL OF BROOKFIELD EAST HIGH SCHOOL, SAYS THEY
STILL HAVE TROUBLE MEETING THE MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS OF THEIR
1,400 STUDENTS. >> IT'S NEVER GOING TO BE
ENOUGH. >> FARLEY KNOWS FIRSTHAND HOW
DEVASTATING STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS CAN BECOME.
A FEW YEARS BACK, A NUMBER OF STUDENTS AT BROOKFIELD EAST HIGH
SCHOOL DIED FROM SUICIDE. >> INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT.
INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT AT OUR SCHOOL LEVEL, INCREDIBLY
DIFFICULT AT OUR COMMUNITY LEVEL.
WE ALL KNEW WE HAD TO DO SOMETHING. >> Reporter: THEY
CREATED A LOCAL CHAPTER OF THE NATIONAL
STUDENT LED MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT NETWORK CALLED THE HOPE
SQUAD. >> DOES ANYONE WANT TO SHARE
ABOUT SOME OF THE POSITIVES? >> Reporter: ON A WEEKLY
BASIS, THESE SCHOOL'S 60 STUDENT MEMBERS DISCUSS NEW STRATEGIES
TO HELP THEIR CLASSMATES STAY MENTALLY HEALTHY, FROM THE
IMPORTANCE OF GETTING ENOUGH SLEEP AND SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL
LEARNING TECHNIQUES TO RECOGNIZING SUICIDE WARNING
SIGNS. BROOKFIELD EAST SOPHOMORE, LEDRA
ASHENBRENNER, IS A HOPE SQUAD MEMBER. >> FROM A STUDENT ST
ANDPOINT, WE ARE THE EYES AND EARS OF THE
SCHOOL. WE BRIDGE THE GAP BE TWEEN
STUDENTS AND CI COUNCILORS AND STUDENTS AND TEACHERS BECAUSE
RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT STUDENTS ARE MORE LIKELY TO GO TO THEIR
PEERS IF THEE HAVING AN ISSUE THAT THEY NEED HELP WITH.
>> 20% OF KIDS HAVE SOME TYPE OF BEHAVIORAL OR SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL
CONCERN. >> Reporter: KATIE EKLUND IS A
PROFESSOR OF SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGY AT UW-MADISON.
>> OUT OF THAT GROUP, ONLY 20% OF THOSE KIDS ACTUALLY RECEIVE
THAT SUPPORT. >> Reporter: SHE WORKS TO FIND
SOLUTIONS TO THE INCREASING RATES OF YOUNG CHILDREN
SUFFERING FROM ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION, INCLUDING THOSE
HARMING THEMSELVES OR CONSIDERING SUICIDE.
>> WE SEE OFTEN BY THE TIME KIDS GET TO HIGH SCHOOL, WE SEE KIDS
NOT COMING TO SCHOOL, WE SEE LOWER GRADES, WE SEE HIGHER
INCIDENTS IN THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM AND JUST LOWER,
POOR PSYCHOSOCIAL OUTCOMES THROUGHOUT LIFE. >> Reporter:
EKLUND SAYS THAT CHILDREN AREN'T GETTING THE HELP
THEY NEED BECAUSE OF A SHORTAGE OF MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS,
SUCH AS THERAPISTS, COUNSELORS AND SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS.
ACCORDING TO STATISTICS, 7% OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS SAY MORE SCHOOLS
ARE SEEKING MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES BUT 87% OF THOSE
SCHOOLS SAY THEY CAN'T PROVIDE SUCH SERVICE TO ALL OF THE
STUDENTS IN NEED. EKLUND AND HER COLLEAGUES,
HOWEVER, HAVE A PLAN AND NEW RESOURCES TO ADDRESS THIS
SHORTAGE WITH A $10 MILLION GRANT FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT
OF EDUCATION. >> IT'S DESIGNED TO DECREASE THE
PIPELINE OF SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS, SCHOOL COUNSELORS
WHO ARE WORKING IN K THROUGH 12 SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.
>> SHE SAYS THE NEED SPEAKS FOR ITSELF. >> IN 2018, WE HAD 6
0 TO 70 UNFILLED POSITIONS ACROSS THE
STATE OF SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS. WE ANTICIPATE THAT COUNSELORS
ARE EXPERIENCING SIMILAR SHOARNLINGS, BOTH HERE IN THE
STATE AND IN THE COUNTRY AND THAT THOSE SHORTAGES HAVE ONLY
INCREASED OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS.
>> WHILE EVERYONE FROM SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS TO THE STUDENTS
THEMSELVES AGREE THAT MORE MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS ARE
NEEDED IN SCHOOLS, THEY WOULD STILL NEED TO BE PAID, AND
THAT'S WHERE THE STATE LEGISLATURE CAN COME IN.
DEMOCRATIC STATE REPRESENTATIVE ROBYN VINING HAS INTRODUCED A
PACKAGE OF BILLS AIMED AT INCREASING IF YOU C FUNDING FORH
12. >> WE KNOW THERE'S A MENTAL
HEALTHCARE CRISIS. WE KNOW THAT.
AND SO WE CANNOT LOOK AWAY. I DON'T BELIEVE THAT WE CAN MOVE
FORWARD RIGHT NOW WITHOUT ACTING ON MENTAL HEALTHCARE.
>> Reporter: ONE OF THE BILLS WOULD INCREASE SPENDING ON
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IN THE STATE'S SCHOOL SYSTEM BY $100
MILLION PER YEAR. >> WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CHILDREN
WHO ARE EXPERIENCING ANXIETY, DEPRESSION, SUICIDALLITY, AND
WE'RE TRYING TO GET PROFESSIONALS TO BE AVAILABLE TO
WORK WITH THEM, TO HELP THEM SURVIVE THIS VERY DIFFICULT
STAGE OF LIFE. >> Reporter: AND SO, AT THE
LOCAL, STATE AND NATIONAL LEVEL, WISCONSIN IS WORKING TO RESPOND
TO THE GROWING MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS OF ITS YOUNGEST
POPULATIONS. REPORTING FOR HERE AND NOW, FROM
BROOKFIELD, I'M STEVEN POTTER. >> IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW
NEEDS MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES, DIAL 9-8-8 FOR THE WISCONSIN
SUICIDE AND CRISIS LIFELINE. FOR MORE ON THIS AND OTHER
ISSUES FACING WISCONSIN, VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT PBSWISCONSIN.ORG
AND THEN CLICK ON THE NEWS TAB. THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG. HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE & NOW" IS PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS WISCOVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
ONSIN.