>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL PRODUCTION.

>> I'M HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T GET ENOUGH ATTENTION.

I'M HERE TO CELEBRATE THE PROGRESS WE'RE MAKING IN SUPPORT OF BLACK SMALL BUSINESSES HERE AND AROUND THE COUNTRY.

>> A MILWAUKEE VISIT FROM DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN FORESHADOWS THE POLITICAL LANDSCAPE TO COME IN 2024 AS WISCONSIN REPUBLICANS MAKE PLANS TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF BOTH CHAMBERS.

I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.

TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW," BIG BREAKING NEWS FROM THE WISCONSIN SUPREME COURT ON REDISTRICTING MAPS.

SPEAKER VOS SAYS REPUB LICANS ARE GOING TO WIN IN 2024 BECAUSE OF BETTER CANDIDATES.

THEN, DETAILS ON A NEW TRIBAL TUITION PROMISE AT UW-MADISON, AND THE HEAD OF THE STATE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AGENCY SAYS BIG TECH IS COMING TO WISCONSIN.

IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR DECEMBER 22.

>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS WI SCONSIN.

>> THE WISCONSIN SUPREME COURT RELEASED ITS RULING THIS RELEASED ITS RULING THIS AFTERNOON OVERTURNING WISCONSIN'S VOTING MAPS.

THE VOTE WAS 4-3 WITH CONSERVATIVE JUSTICES DISSENTING.

THE LIBERAL MAJORITY ORDERED NEW MAPS BASED ON THE CONTIGUOUSUITY.

THE NUMBER O F STATE LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS CONTAINING TERRITORY COMPLETELY DISCONNECTED FROM THE REST OF THE DISTRICT IS STRIKING.

AT LEAST 50 OF T HE 99 ASSEMBLY DISTRICTS AND AT LEAST 20 OF THE 33 SENATE DISTRICTS INCLUDE SEPARATE DETACHED TERRITORY.

IN DISSENT, CHIEF JUSTICE ANNETTE ZEIGLER SAID, QUOTE, THIS DEAL WAS SEALED ON ELECTION NIGHT.

FOUR JUSTICES REMAP WISCONSIN, EVEN THOUGH THIS CONSTITUTIONAL RESPONSIBILITY IS TO OCCUR EVERY 10 YEARS AFTER A CENSUS.

BY THE OTHER TWO BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT.

CONTENTIOUS, TO BE SURE.

SENIOR POLITICAL REPORTER, ZAC SCHULTZ, JOINS US WITH DETAILS.

ZAC, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.

>> MY PLEASURE.

>> SO THE COURT RULED DETACHED TERRITORY OR THE CONTIGUOUSNESS OF THE MAPS VIOLATES THE STATE CONSTITUTION.

DESCRIBE WHY.

>> PART OF AN OLD TOWNSHIP WHEN A CITY INCORPORATES AND GRABS A SUBDIVISION, IT WOULD LEAVE A LITTLE ISLAND THAT BELONGED TO AN OLD TOWNSHIP, AND UNDER THE MAPS, AND FOR THE PAST FEW DECADES, THEY'VE LEFT THOSE WITH THE OTHER TOWNSHIP, AND IF THOSE HAPPENED ON THE DIVIDING LINES OF AN ASSEMBLY DISTRICT, PART OF THAT ISLAND GOES WITH THE OTHER DISTRICT.

PAST COURTS HAVE R ULED THAT THAT IS OKAY.

THIS COURT SET PRECEDENT GOING BACK TO THE 1800s, WHEN THEY SAID THAT CONTIGUOUS MEANS CONTIGUOUS.

>>> WHAT ELSE ST OOD OUT?

>> IT WAS THE TIME LINE OF THIS AND THE FACT THAT THEY'RE GETTING AWAY FROM LEASED CHANGE.

THAT WAS THE CRITERIA THAT THE LAST COURT INVENTED FOR WHICH THEY WOULD CONSIDER THESE MAPS, SAYING THAT THEY WANTED TO CHANGE THEM AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE.

THIS COURT SAID THIS CHANGE IS NOT A FACTOR, WE DON'T THINK IT SHOULD BE USED, IT WILL BE THROWN OUT.

THIS COURT HAS DECIDED THAT THEET GIVE THE LEGISLATURE THEY'RE GOING TO GIVE THE LEGISLATURE A CHANCE TO DRAW THE MAPS AND SEE IF THEY CAN COME UP W DEAL WITH THE GOVERNOR.

THAT'S UNLIKELY.

>> WHO DRAWS THE MAPS?

>> THERE ARE TWO ROUTES.

LEGISLATURE HAS THE OPTION OF PASSING LEGISLATURE.

THOSE WILL SUPERSEDE ANYTHING AND THEY'LL GO INTO PLACE.

SINCE WE KNOW THAT'S PROBABLY NOT GOING TO HAPPEN GIVEN THE POLITICAL REALITY WE'RE IN, THE COURT HAS SAID THAT THEY WILL HIRE CONSULTANTS TO HELP LOOK AND APPRAISE DIFFERENT MAPS THAT ARE BROUGHT TO THEM AND PRESENTED TO THEM.

>> DO ALL 132 LEGISLATORS HAVE TO STAND FOR ELECTION UNDER NEW MAPS?

>> NO.

WHAT THEY ALSO RULED IS THATúSED MAPS JUST TWO YEARS AGO WILL NOT HAVE TO GO UP AGAIN UNTIL A.E.D.

26.

>> SO MEANWHILE, THE COURT ALSO SET A JANUARY 12 DEADLINE TO SUBMIT THESE NEW MAPS.

TALK ABOUT FAST-TRACKED.

>> THIS HAS BEEN FAST-TRACKED FROM THE BEGINNING OF THIS LAWSUIT BEING FILED THE DAY THAT JUSTICE PROTASIEWICZ WAS SWORN IN ALL THE WAY TO ORAL ARGUMENTS, THIS DECISION COMING OUT IN JANUARY UNPRECEDENTED.

CANDIDATES CAN FILE IN THESE NEW DISTRICTS IN APRIL, SO THEY HAVE TO MOVE ON A FAST TIME LINE, WHICH IS WHY WE'RE SEEING THE COURT SAY WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS AT THE SAME TIME THE LEGISLATURE CAN BECAUSE WE DON'T TRUST THEM TO GET IT DONE ON TIME.

>> THEY'RE HIRING THESE CONSULTANTS TO HELP THEM DO THIS, AND KNOWING WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT HOW THIS STATE WORKS RIGHT NOW, I CAN'T IMAGINE THAT ALL OF THESE PIECES CAN COME TOGETHER IN TIME FOR THE NEXT YEAR'S ELECTIONS.

>> WELL, THEY HAVE TO, AND THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS EVERY 10 YEARS EVERYWHERE ELSE.

IT WILL GET DONE.

IT'S JUST PEOPLE WILL BE SAYING THAT THEY'RE JUST AS BIASED IN A DIFFERENT WAY AS THE LAST MAPS WERE BIASED.

>> THANK YOU, ZAC.

ROBIN VOS SAYS HE EXPECTS THIS CASE TO HEAD TO THE U.S. SUPREME COURT.

ZAC SPOKE WITH THE SPEAKER PRIOR TO THE MAP'S RULING THIS WEEK ON A VARIETY OF ISSUES.

LOOKING BACK AT THE LAST YEAR AND WHAT'S TO COME IN 2024.

>> WRAP UP 2023 FOR ME.

HOW DO YOU FEEL THE YEAR WENT FOR LEGISLATURE?

>> I THINK BY AND LARGE, THERE WERE AN AWFUL LOT OF SUCCESSES.

IF YOU GO ALL THE WAY BACK, WE HAVE SEEN SOME THINGS WHERE IT'S OBVIOUS BECAUSE WE HAD A LOT OF COVERAGE WHERE WE HAD A GOOD DEAL ON SHARED REVENUE.

THE FIRST MAJOR INCREASE IN A GENERATION.

WE HAD A LOT O F MONDAY GO INTO TRYING TO CREATE MORE HOUSING IN WISCONSIN.

WE HAD THE STATE B UDGET WHICH INVESTED IN EVERYTHING FROM SCHOOLS TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, AND IN ADDITION TO THAT, HAD GOOD INCREASES FOR OUR WORKERS WHO WORK AT THE STATE, LIKE PRISON GUARDS.

WE HAD SOME SEPARATE BILLS THAT DIDN'T GET AS MUCH COVERAGE.

ONE THAT I'M REALLY PROUD OF, INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF FUNDING FOR LITERACY, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT IF YOUNG PEOPLE DON'T READ AT GRADE LEVEL, THEY'RE SIGNIFICANTLY LESS LYING TO GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL AND GO ON TO COLLEGE.

WE HAD A BILL THAT ACTUALLY WORKED ITS WAY THROUGH THE PROCESS THAT DEALT WITH CRIMINAL JUSTICE.

SO WE HAD A LOT OF GOOD THINGS THAT HAPPENED THROUGHOUT WISCONSIN.

WE HAD SOME THINGS THAT WERE DISAPPOINTING THAT WE DIDN'T GET ACROSS THE FINISH LINE.

THERE WERE STILL SOME THINGS WAITING.

WE STRONGLY SUPPORTE D TO MAKE BIRTH CONTROL AVAILABLE OVER-THE-COUNTER SO WE DON'T HAVE A NEED FOR AS MANY ABORTIONS IN WISCONSIN.

STALLED IN THE SENATE, BUT HOPEFULLY THEY'LL GET IT ACROSS THE FINISH LINE.

WE HAD A BILL THAT DEALT WITH PROCESSING BALLOTS ON MONDAY SO WE DONE HAVE LATE NIGHT BALLOT DUMPS.

HOPEFULLY THAT WILL PA SS IN THE STATE SENATE.

>> YOU MENTIONED ONE OF THE SUCCESSES JUST A LITTLE BIT AGO IN THE BUDGET, THE RAISES, AND IT TOOK UNTIL JUST THIS WEEK FOR THE UW PORTION OF THOSE RAISES TO BE THROUGH.

THEY WERE NEGOTIATED THE FIRST TIME.

DO YOU FEEL THAT YOU H AD LEVERAGE TO NEGOTIATE OVER THOSE A SECOND TIME AND IS THAT PART OF THE LAWSUIT THAT GOVERNOR EVERS HAS FILED TO TRY AND STOP SOME OF THE OVERSIGHT THAT THE LEGISLATURE HAS?

>> WELL, AGAIN, THIS IS WHERE PEOPLE TRY TO REWRITE HISTORY.

IT'S BEEN VERY COMMON THAT THE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE DOES NOT APPROVE THE FINAL PRODUCT UNTIL SOME TIME IN THE FALL, SO WE'RE IN THE NORMAL TIME LINE.

THAT IS A BOGUS ARGUMENT.

IT'S ALSO TRUE THAT THE LEGISLATURE HAS THE ABILITY TO GO THROUGH THE PLAN WHERE THEY GIVE US A WHOLE BUNCH OF CHANGES AS TO THE WAY THEY WANT TO PAY EMPLOYEES, WHAT INSURANCE LOOKS LIKE, WHAT HAPPENS WITH DIFFERENT RULES FOR REGULATING THE WORKPLACE, ALL THOSE THINGS HAPPEN, AND IT'S VERY COMMON FOR US TO DO IT.

>> BUT YOU DID SEPARATE OUT THE RAISES, THE STATE WORKER RAISES FROM THE UW RAISES AND THEN YOU SAID I'M NOT APPROVING THOSE UNTIL I GET MORE CHANGES.

ISN'T THAT A SECOND SET OF NEGOTIATION?

>> NO.

THAT'S THE WAY THAT WE NORMALLY HAVE DONE THINGS.

AGAIN, THERE WERE A LOT OF THINGS THAT WORKED THEIR WAY THROUGH THE PROCESS.

THEY WANTED AN ENGINEERING BUILDING, THEY WANTED MORE MONEY FOR PROGRAMS.

THOSE WERE ALL THINGS THAT WERE PART OF THE PROCESS, TOO, AND THAT'S A NORMAL WAY WE NEGOTIATE.

WE TRY TO FIND A C ONSENSUS.

I GIVE PRESIDENT TO PRESIDENT ROTHMAN AND THE CHANCELLORS.

THEY NEGOTIATED IN GOOD FAITH.

THEY DIDN'T GIVE ME SNEER AS MUCH AS I WANTED BUT WE GAVE THEM THINGS THAT THEY WANTED.

THAT'S WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS MORE OF IS CONSENSUS AND COMPROMISE, NOT "IF I DON'T GET IT MY WAY EXACTLY I'M GOING TO SUE," OR IF I DON'T FIND A WAY TO GET TO AN ANSWER THAT ONLY I CAN SUPPORT, WE DO NOTHING."

>> SPEAKING OF THE BOARD OF REGENTS, HOW DO YOU INTERPRET THOSE TWO VOTES?

WHAT CHANGED FROM THE FIRST TO THE SECOND?

>> YOU'D HAVE TO ASK THEM.

INVOLVED.

WE NEGOTIATED FOR MONTHS.

I KNOW THAT THE CHANCELLORS AND PRESIDENT ROTHMAN WERE IN CONSTANT COMMUNICATION WITH THE REGENTS.

I CAN'T IMAGINE THEY CAME TO US AND SAY WE COULDN'T HAVE A DEAL IF WE HADN'T RUN THEM BY THE REGENTS.

MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT GOVERNOR EVERS AND HIS STAFF WERE ACTIVELY TRYING TO KILL THE DEAL MULTIPLE TIMES.

THEY DIDN'T WANT CONSENSUS.

I DON'T KNOW WHY, BUT THEY DIDN'T WANT CONSENSUS.

ULTIMATELY, EVEN THE GOVERNOR'S OWN REGENTS IGNORED HIS WISHES AND DID THE RIGHT THING, SO I DON'T KNOW WHY IT HAPPENED, BUT THE RIGHT THING HAPPENED AT THE END.

>> REGARDING DEI IN THE UW SYSTEM, WHAT WILL CHANGE WITH THIS DEAL AND ARE YOU CERTAIN THAT THIS WILL ROUTE OUT DEI AS YOU'VE REQUESTED, OR JUST GIVE IT A NAME?

>> NO.

IT'S A START.

LET'S JUST TAKE ONE EXAMPLE, ZAC, THAT'S GOTTEN AN AWFUL LOT OF -- NOT ENOUGH COVERAGE.

IN THE 1940s AND '50s, WE HAD A PROBLEM WHERE THERE WAS PERVASIVE RACISM FOR APPLICATIONS INTO THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM.

RIGHT?

IF YOU DIDN'T HAVE THE RIGHT SKIN COLOR OR PERHAPS THE RIGHT GENDER, YOU DIDN'T HAVE A CHANCE TO GET INTO THE UNIVERSITY.

SMART PEOPLE AT THE TIME DECIDED THAT WE WERE GOING TO DO THE S.A.T.

AND A.C.T.

TESTS OVER TIME SO THAT THE BEST QUALIFIED PEOPLE GET TO THE UNIVERSITY AND ARE ADMITTED ON THEIR GOD-GIVEN ABILITY.

THAT'S THE NORM FOR OUR SOCIETY.

IT'S RIDER THAT EVERY STUDENT TAKE THE A.C.T.

TEST.

ALL OF A SUDDEN COVID COMES AND THEY COULDN'T GATHER FOR THE TEST AND THE UNIVERSITY DECIDES WE'RE NO LONGER GOING TO USE STANDARDIZED TESTING.

WE'RE GOING TO LET PEOPLE WRITE AN ESSAY.

WELL, THAT'S WHAT THEY DID IN THE 1940s AND '50s WHEN THEY HAD INSTITUTIONAL RACISM AND NOW WE'RE DOING THE OPPOSITE WHERE WE'RE SAYING YOU CAN BE THE SMARTEST KID, BUT IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT CODE WORDS, YOU'RE NOT ADMITTED INTO ONE OF THE UNIVERSITIES.

THAT'S AWFUL.

SO WE WANT TO PUT THE A.C.T.

BACK IN.

THEY SAID ABSOLUTELY NOT, SO WE COMPROMISED AND SAID WE'RE GOING TO TAKE THE TOP 5% OF STUDENTS ADMITTANCE FROM ANY SCHOOL IN WISCONSIN, TOP 10% FOR ANYBODY BUT MADISON.

THAT'S A GOOD COMPROMISE THAT WINS FOR EVERY PART SO THAT IF THEY HAVE SMART KIDS, YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO TO ANOTHER STATE TO BE ACCEPTED.

THAT'S A WIN.

A LOT OF THE THINGS WE DID WERE GOOD COMMON SENSE MIDDLE GROUND FINDING WAYS TO GET TO AN ANSWER THAT SHOW THAT DEI ISN'T ABOUT DIVERSIFYING THE CAMPUS.

THAT'S WHAT WE BELIEVE IN.

WE ACTUALLY WANT MORE DIVERSITY.

I WANT PEOPLE COMING INTO THE CAMPUS NO MATTER WHAT COLOR OR RACE YOU ARE.

WHAT THEY WANT IS PEOPLE GIVING SPECIAL PRIVILEGES BASED ON CERTAIN CATEGORIES THAT THEY LIKE.

WELL, THAT'S NOT THE WAY THE WORLD SHOULD BE.

SO DIVERSITY IS WHAT WE SUPPORT, BUT DIVISION, SECLUSION AND INDOCTRINATION, WHICH IS WHAT IT'S BECOME, IS WHAT WE'RE OPPOSED TO.

>> SO HOW DO YOU WIN THE P.R.

BATTLE WHEN IT COMES TO PEOPLE WHO HAS HEADLINES AND SEE REPUBLICANS ARE OPPOSED TO THINGS THAT WILL HELP EVEN OUT THE PLAYING FIELD FOR BLACK PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN MARGINALIZED OR DISCRIMINATED AGAINST IN THE PAST, WHEN THOSE -- >> BUT IT DOESN'T EVEN OUT THE PLAYING FIELD.

IT GIVES PEOPLE A ESPECIALLY AVANTAGE, THAT IF IT WAS 1950s ALABAMA WE WOULD CALL RACISM.

RIGHT?

IT'S THE 2020s IN WISCONSIN.

WE DON'T WANT RACISM HERE EITHER.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IF YOU ARE THE SMARTEST, BEST, MOST CAPABLE PERSON, MAN, WOMAN, BLACK, WHITE, HISPANIC, ASIAN, WHO CARES?

YOU SHOULD GET THE JOB.

YOU SHOULD GET THAT POSITION.

YOU SHOULD BE ADVANCED.

THAT'S WHAT I THINK EVERYBODY IN WISCONSIN WANTS.

THE IDEA THAT WE'RE SOMEHOW GOING TO NOW USE A NEW FILTER OF RACE AS A WAY TO OFF-SET THE OLD FILTER OF RACE IS WRONG.

REDLINING HAS BEEN ILLEGAL FOR 50 YEARS.

IT SHOULD BE.

IT WAS HORRIFIC.

ALL OF THESE THINGS THAT WERE A PART OF OUR HISTORY SHOULD NEVER BE FORGOTTEN BUT NEVER BE REPEATED.

A LOT OF THE THING S THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT IS REPEATING THE PROBLEMS OF THE PAST TO TRY TO FIX WHAT THEY THINK ARE STILL THE PROBLEMS OF TODAY.

SO I THINK WE HAVE A WAY TO GENERTE A CONSENSUS, WE HAVE A WAY TO BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD ON PEOPLES TALENT AND ABLE TO.

YOU AND I KNOW THAT MOST OF THE REASON PEOPLE DON'T SUCCEED IS POVERTY OF IT'S NOT RACE IN AMERICA ANYMORE.

IT'S BECAUSE THEY'RE POOR.

LET'S FOCUS ON LIFTING UP PEOPLE WHO ARE IN POVERTY NO MATTER WHAT THEIR SKIN COLOR IS AND NOT OBSESS ON PEOPLE WHO ARE WEALTHY AND PERHAPS A MINORITY VERSUS SOMEBODY WHO IS NOT WEALTHY AND NOT A MINORITY.

SO HOPEFULLY WE CAN FIND THAT CONSENSUS.

>> MOVING ON TO TH E ANOTHER BIG ISSUE, SUPREME COURT IS TAKING UP REDISTRICTING CASE.

THEY HAVE HAD ORAL ARGUMENTS.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE POSSIBILITY OF -- >> IT'S NOT A POSSIBILITY.

THEY'VE ALREADY PREDETERMINED THE CASE OF EVERYBODY IN WISCONSIN KNOWS THAT THIS IS A FARCE.

THEY'VE ALREADY DECIDED TOWN HALL MEETING DRAW NEW MAPS BECAUSE JEANNETTE PROTASIEWICZ, BECAUSE FOR THE FIRST ITALIAN IN THE HISTORY OF THE COUNTRY, PREDETERMINED CASES WHEN SHE WAS RUNNING FOR ELECTION.

THAT'S WRONG.

WE ALREADY KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING, SO IT'S NOT A BIG MYSTERY THAT WE DON'T KNOW THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET MAPS.

REPUBLICAS HAVE HAD THIS MAJORITY IN THE CHAMBER FOR 30 YEARS WITH TWO YEARS EXCEPTION AND THAT WAS UNDER MAPS RUN BY A COURT, MAPS RUN BY THE LEGISLATURE, MAPS RUN BY A FEDERAL COURT.

WE'RE GOING TO WIN AGAIN IN 2024 BECAUSE WE HAVE BETTER CANDIDATES AND A BETTER MESSAGE.

ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT STATS THAT PEOPLE WANT TO TALK ABOUT IN 2018, WE HAD A DEMOCRAT SWEEP YEAR.

RIGHT?

DEMOCRATS WON PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING, INCLUDING THE U.S. SENATE.

WE SAW ALSO TAMMY BALDWIN CARRY 14 DISTRICTS THAT WERE WON BY SENATE REPUBLICANS.

IF SHE HAD JUST HAD THE SAME PEOPLE WHO VOTED FOR HER FOR THE FEDERAL OFFICE AND THE DEMOCRATN THE MAJORITY RIGHT NOW.

BUT WE HAVE BETTER CANDIDATES AND A BETTER MESSAGE.

THEY ARE TOO FOCUSED ON BEING DIVISIVE.

SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE SAME DYNAMIC IN 2024.

AS LONG AS THEY DON'T HAVE AID SUNNYSIDE STYLE GERRYMANDER WHERE THEY PIZZA PIED EVERYTHING, WE'LL HAVE COMPETITIVE MAPS, REPUBLICANS WILL WIN THE MAJORITY AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO HAVE A DIVIDED GOVERNMENT IN WISCONSIN.

>> THANK YOU, SPEAKER VOS, FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THIS WEEK, UW-MADISON ANNOUNCED THE WISCONSIN TRIBAL EDUCATION PROMISE PROGRAM.

STARTING IN FALL 2024, MEMBERS OF 11 FEDERALLY RECOGNIZED TRIBES IN THE STATE WILL BE ABLE TO ATTEND THE FLAGSHIP CAMPUS ALL EXPENSES PAID FOR UNDERGRADUATES AND FALL TUITION FOR LAW AND MEDICAL STUDENTS.

WE'RE JOINED NOW BY UW-MADISON DIRECTOR OF TRIBAL RELATIONS, CARLA VIGUE.

THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> SO WHAT IS THE REACTION TO THIS TRIBAL EDUCATION PROMISE PROGRAM FROM TRIBAL NATION MEMBERS ACROSS WISCONSIN?

>> I THINK EVERYONE IS REALLY EXCITED.

UW-MADISON, LIKE YOU SAID, IS ONE OF THE STATE'S -- OR IS ACTUALLY ONE OF THE COUNTRY'S PREMIER UNIVERSITIES, AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH TRIBES FOR THE BETTER PART OF A YEAR ON THIS PROPOSAL AND WE FINALLY BROUGHT IT TO FRUITION.

ESSENTIALLY WHAT HAPPENS IS IF YOU ARE, LIKE YOU SAID, A RESIDENT OF WISCONSIN, A MEMBER OF ONE OF OUR 11 FEDERALLY RECOGNIZED TRIBES AND YOU GET ADMITTED TO UW-MADISON, WE'LL TAKE CARE OF THE FULL COST OF ADMISSION, WHICH IS NOT JUST TUITION, BUT ROOM, BOARD, BOOKS, FEES, AND A FEW OTHER LITTLE THINGS, TOO.

>> WHAT IS IT LIKE FOR YOU TO BE ABLE TO ROLL THIS OUT, EVEN AS SPEAKER VOS, WHOM WE JUST HEARD FROM, WORKS TO DISMANTLE DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION PROGRAMS?

>> YEAH.

I MEAN, THERE'S OTHER THINGS HAPPENING IN THE STATE CAPITOL, BUT REALLY FOR US, WE SAT DOWN WITH TRIBAL LEADERS MANY MONTHS AGO AND WE SAID WE HAVE THIS IDEA.

OR STATES DO IT.

OTHER UNIVERSITIES DO IT, AND SO WE TALKED TO THEM AND SAID THIS IS AN IDEA WE HAVE AND HOW CAN WE MOVE FORWARD WITH IT.

WE'VE BEEN VERY FORTUNATE ALL 11 OF THE TRIBES CAME TO THE TABLE AND SAT WITH THE CHANCELLOR AND I AND TALKED IT THROUGH AND WE SHARED STORIES.

ONE OF THE TRIBAL LEADERS TALKED ABOUT SLEEPING IN HIS CAR WHILE HE WAS IN UNDERGRAD AND OTHERS TALKED ABOUT FOOD INSECURITY AND OTHER THINGS, AND AS WE SAT AROUND THE TABLE AND TALKED ABOUT THINGS, THIS IS WHAT WE CAME UP WITH, AND I THINK IT'S A REALLY GOOD PROPOSAL.

THERE ARE OTHER THINGS HAPPENING IN THE WORLD, BUT THAT IS SOMETHING WE WORKED REALLY HARD ON TOGETHER.

>> AS YOU MENTIONED, OTHER STATES DO THIS, BUT ARE OTHER STATES OFFERING SUCH ROBUST KIND OF PACKAGES TO INCLUDE ALL OF THE LIVING EXPENSES?

>> MOST DON'T.

I THINK, LIKE I SAID, WE WEREN'T THE FIRST OUT OF THE GATE WITH THIS PLAN BUT I THINK WE'RE THE BEST.

MAYBE THAT'S JUST ME T ALKING, BUT, YEAH, I THINK, YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAID, WE SAT DOWN AND WE TALKED THROUGH ALL THE SCENARIOS AND HOW MANY SEMESTERS AND WHAT IT SHOULD INCLUDE AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS, AND I THINK WE CAME TO AN AGREEMENT WITH THE TRIBES THAT THIS IS REALLY HOW WE SHOULD DO IT IN ORDER TO SUPPORT NATIVE STUDENTS.

>> IS IT UNUSUAL AS WELL TO PAY TUITION FOR LAW OR MEDICAL SCHOOL?

>> YEAH.

SO THAT WAS WHERE WE GAVE A LITTLE SURPRISE TO THE TRIBES AT ONE POINT.

WE SAID WE SPOKE TO THE LAW SCHOOL AND THE MEDICAL SCHOOL AND THEY BOTH AGREED THAT TUITION -- AND THERE ARE DIFFERENT KIND OF STUDENT RIGHT THERE, THEY'RE A LITTLE BIT OLDER, SO WE DIDN'T INCLUDE SOME OF THOSE OTHER THINGS, BUT TUITION FOR LAW SCHOOL AND MED SCHOOL, THAT'S A VERY BIG DEAL.

>> IT'S A BIG EXPENSE.

SO THERE ARE NO INCOME RESTRICTIONS WITH THIS BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND IT'S ABOUT PROMOTING UW-MADISON EDUCATION TO NATIVE STUDENTS.

WHY IS THAT IMPORTANT?

>> WELL, I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS -- SO WHEN I FIRST SAT DOWN WITH THE CHANCELLOR WHEN I FIRST TOOK MY POSITION, SHE AND I TALKED ABOUT THIS, AND FOR US, IT'S BOTH ABOUT GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY BUT ALSO ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THIS UNIVERSITY THAT WE WORK FOR IS BUILT ON LAND THAT WAS FORCIBLY REMOVED FROM THE TRIBE NATION, AND SO BOTH OF THOSE THINGS IN COMBINATION OF JUST WANTING TO DO THE RIGHT THING FOR NATIVE STUDENTS.

>> DESCRIBE FOR US WHAT YOU SAY IS AT THE HEART OF THE NATIVE COMMUNITY AS IT RELATES TO THIS PROGRAM.

>> YEAH.

I THINK WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT IT, LIKE I SAID, IT'S REALLY ABOUT TAKING CARE OF OUR COMMUNITY.

I'M NATIVE AMERICAN, I GREW UP ON THE ONEIDA INDIAN RESERVATION, I HAVE TWO LITTLE BOYS, HUNTER AND AUDO.

THE WAY WE THINK ABOUT COMMUNITY IS HOW DO WE GIVE BACK AND HOW DO WE TAKE CARE OF THE NEXT SEVEN GENERATIONS, AND SO IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT DECISION THAT ARE GOOD FOR ME OR MY LITTLE BOYS OR EVEN THEIR KIDS, BUT SEVEN GENERATIONS DOWN THE ROAD, HOW ARE WE TAKING CARE OF THOSE SEVEN GENERATIONS.

>> DO YOU HAVE ANY UNDERSTANDING OF HOW MANY STUDENTS MIGHT PARTICIPATE?

>> WE DO -- NOT REALLY.

KIND OF.

THAT'S A BAD ANSWER, BUT SO WE HAVE SOME NUMBERS, BUT RIGHT NOW, PEOPLE SELF-REPORT.

SO ANYONE WHO CLAIMS NATIVE ANCESTRY CAN REPORT THAT THEY'RE NATIVE.

THEY DON'T HAVE TO.

BUT WITH THIS PROGRAM, YOU'LL HAVE TO NOW, YOU KNOW, SHOW YOUN ONE OF WISCONSIN'S 11: 11 TRIBE.

WE'LL GET BETTER DATA AS WE GO ALONG.

>> AND AS YOU SAID ABOUT OFFERING THIS PROGRAM, THERE WAS A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MONEY SET ASIDE.

DO YOU HAVE AN EXPECTA TION AS TO WHAT THAT WILL BE?

>> WE'RE ROLLING THIS OUT IN DECEMBER AND THE APPLICATION DEADLINE IS FEBRUARY, SO WE'RE NOT EXPECTING THIS FIRST YEAR TO BE A HUGE NUMBER.

I THINK WE'LL SEE WHAT THIS FIRST YEAR LOOKS LIKE AND THEN BE ABLE TO BUILD FROM THERE.

THIS IS REALLY THE FIRST ITERATION OF THIS PROGRAM, HOPEFULLY.

MAYBE WE CAN GROW IT OR MAYBE THIS IS GOING TO BE SATISFACTORY ENOUGH.

BUT I THINK WE'LL HA VE MORE DATA AFTER THIS FIRST YEAR.

>> HAVE YOU GOTTEN CALLS FROM STUDENTS SAYING TELL ME ABOUT THIS?

>> OH, I'VE GOTTEN A LOT OF CALLS.

MY PRIOR ADMISSIONS DEPARTMENT IS LIKE PROBABLY OVERWHELMED BY PEOPLE I'M SENDING THEIR WAY, BUT IT'S REALLY FUN BECAUSE FAMILY AND FRIENDS ARE REACHING OUT, TOO, AND I'M GETTING TO SAY, YES, THEY'LL QUALIFY.

I WILL SAY I ALSO GOT TO CALL ONE OF THE STUDENTS WHO IS ALREADY HERE ON CAMPUS, SHE'S A STUDENT NAMED CALISTA.

SHE JOINED US THIS WEEK WHILE WE WERE ANNOUNCING THE PROGRAM.

AS I WAS DESCRIBING THE PROGRAM TO HER, SHE JUST GOT SILENT AND THEN VERY EXCITED AND I WAS EVEN A LITTLE BIT OVERWHELMED BY IT ALL BECAUSE I JUST GOT TO TELL SOMEONE WE WERE GOING TO TAKE CARE OF THEM.

>> THAT'S AWESOME.

CARLA VIGUE, THANKS VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> IN OTHER NEWS, MICROSOFT HAS FINALIZED THE PURCHASE OF MORE THAN 100,000 ACRES OF LAND IN RACINE COUNTY, WITH 600 ACRES PURCHASED FROM THE VILLAGE OF MOUNT PLEASANT THIS WEEK.

THE TECH GIANT SAYS IT PLANS TO SPEND BILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO CONSTRUCT NEW DATA CENTERS.

THIS AS THE NEIGHBORING FOXCONN TECHNOLOGY GROUP IS SET TO RECEIVE $3W0E $6.3 MILLION FOR G WORKERS AND INVESTMENTS MADE IN 2022.

THE GROUP HAS RECEIVED ROUGHLY $44 MILLION FROM THE STATE SINCE 2020, A SIGNIFICANTLY SCALED BACK SUM FROM THE ORIGINAL NEGOTIATED TAX INCENTIVES AFTER FOXCONN'S PROMISE OF 13,000 JOBS AND AN LCD SCREEN FACTORY NEVER CAME TO FRUITION.

STILL, THE COMPANY SAYS IT IS COMMITTED TO WISCONSIN.

FOR MORE ON ALL OF THIS, WE TURN TO THE C.E.O.

AND SECRETARY OF THE WISCONSIN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, MISSY HUGHES.

SECRETARY HUGHES, TH ANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.

>> SO GLAD TO BE HERE.

>> SO FOXCONN HAS NOW QUALIFIED FOR A THIRD ROUND OF STATE TAX CREDITS, BRINGING THE TOTAL AMOUNT THAT IT HAS RECEIVED FROM THE STATE TO NEARLY $44 MILLION.

DO YOU UNDERSTAND THE LONG-RANGE PROSPECTS FOR FOXCONN AFTER NOT LIVING UP TO ITS ORIGINAL PROMISE?

>> WELL, FOXCONN HAS REALLY BECOME LIKE ONE OF THE GREAT COMPANIES THAT WE HAD IN WISCONSIN, MILWAUKEE.

ALL OF THESE COMPANIES THAT ARE LOCATING HERE AND REALLY SETTLING IN.

SO WITH OVER A THOUSAND EMPLOYEES AND ALMOST $600 MILLION IN INVESTMENT, WE EXPECT THAT FOXCONN IS HERE FOR THE LONG TERM AND WILL CONTINUE TO PRODUCE AND EMPLOY FOLKS DOWN IN SOUTHEAST WISCONSIN IN A REALLY PRODUCTIVE WAY.

>> WHAT LESSONS LEARNED FROM FOXCONN IS COMPETING WITH OTHER COMPANIES WHEN IT COMES TO TAX CREDITS?

>> WELL, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO WORK WITH THE COMPANY TO UNDERSTAND THEIR LONG-TERM GOALS, TO SET THEM UP FOR SUCCESS.

SO OUR TAX CREDIT PROGRAMS ARE BASED ON PERFORMANCE.

COMPANIES DON'T RECEIVE A TAX CREDIT UNTIL THEY PERFORM, CREATE THE JOBS, SPEND THE CAPEX.

AND SO AS WE WORK WI TH FOXCONN THE SAME WAY WE WORK WITH OTHER COMPANIES, WE WANT THEM TO BE SUCCESSFUL, AND WITHIN THE PARAMETERS OF WHAT THEY EXPECT FOR THEIR STRATEGY.

>> NOW, THIS MONTH HAD TO RESPOND TO A STATE AUDIT IN WHICH FOUR OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS INVOLVED CLOSER TRACKING OF TAX CREDITS THAT HAVE BEEN AWARDED OR NEED TO HAVE BEEN REVOKED.

SHOULD WE HAVE CONFIDENCE IN THE DISBURSEMENT OF TAXPAYERS' MONEY TOWARD ATTRACTING BUSINESSES?

>> WE HAVE REALLY, OVER THE YEARS, TIGHTENED UP HOW WE VERIFY COMPANIES AND THEIR PERFORMANCE AROUND TAX CREDITS.

IT'S CRITICALLY IMPORTANT THAT THE COMPANIES PROVIDE US THEIR PAYROLL INFORMATION AND THEIR INFORMATION ABOUT CAPEX.

WE CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE LEGISLATIVE AUDIT BUREAU TO FIND WAYS TO IMPROVE AND NONE OF THE FINDINGS OF THE L.A.B.

WERE AROUND MISMANAGEMENT.

THEY'RE REALLY ABOUT HOW'D CAN WE CONTINUE TO DO THINGS BETTER?

>> SO MEANWHILE, BIG NEWS WITH MICROSOFT'S PURCHASE OF 1,100 ACRES OF LAND THAT WAS ORIGINALLY DESIGNED FOR FOXCONN.

WAS MICROSOFT PLANNING TO BUILD AT LEAST FOUR DATA CENTERS AND EXPANSION OF ITS PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED PROJECT INVESTING BILLION DOLLARS INTO A SINGLE DATA CENTER.

HOW BIG OF A BOOST IS THIS MICROSOFT DEAL?

>> WELL, HAVING A COMPANY LIKE MICROSOFT, A BLUE CHIP, A TRUE BLUE CHIP AMERICAN COMPANY DECIDE TO CREATE SUCH AN OPPORTUNITY IN WISCONSIN IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT AND REALLY EXCITING.

IT BRINGS IN HIGH TECH, ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.

ALL OF THESE THINGS THAT WE SEE IN THE ECONOMY OF THE FUTURE AND SO MICROSOFT CHOOSING WISCONSIN IS REALLY A TESTAMENT TO WHAT WE'VE DONE TO CREATE THE WORKFORCE THAT THEY NEED, TO CREATE THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT THEY NEED, AND WE'RE SO EXCITED TO HAVE THEM HERE.

>> I UNDERSTAND THAT THEIR DATA CENTERS ARE EXPECTED TO EMPLOY HUNDREDS OF TECH PEOPLE, BUT POTENTIALLY THOUSANDS OF CONSTRUCTION WORKERS.

WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THOSE ARE EXPECTED TO BE WISCONSIN WORKERS?

>> WELL, WHAT WE'VE ALREADY SEEN IS MICROSOFT HAS STARTED THEIR WORK ON A $500 MILLION DATA CENTER.

THEY ARE WORKING W ITH A NUMBER OF WISCONSIN COMPANIES, AND, OF COURSE, DOWN THERE ON THE BORDER OF ILLINOIS, WE WILL SEE SOME ILLINOIS COMPANIES EXPERIENCING OPPORTUNITIES WITH MICROSOFT, BUT WE KNOW THAT MICROSOFT WANTS WISCONSIN TO SUCCEED.

BRAD SMITH TALKED ABOUT THIS LONG-TERM RELATIONSHIP THAT WE ARE CREATING AND SO IT'S IMPORTANT TO MICROSOFT.

THEY'VE ALREADY STARTED WORKING WITH UW MILWAUKEE, WITH GATEWAY TECH, SO WE KNOW THAT THEY'RE COMMITTED TO WISCONSIN.

>> I DON'T HAVE TO TELL YOU THAT WISCONSIN HAS SEEN A LOT OF ATTENTION IN THE WORLD OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THIS YEAR, INCLUDING BEING AWARDED AS A úREGIONAL TECHNOLOGY HUB WITH TE ABILITY TO APPLY FOR UP TO $70 MILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDING.

WHAT WILL THIS MEAN FOR THE STATE?

>> THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING THINGS THAT'S HAPPENED THIS YEAR.

THIS IS A DESIGNATION BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

THERE ARE 31 AROUND THE COUNTRY, BUT WHAT'S EXCITING ABOUT WISCONSIN IS IT'S REALLY BASED ON BIOHEALTH, AND WE SEE BETWEEN MILWAUKEE AND MADISON REAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMPANIES TO WORK TOGETHER AND CREATE THIS AMAZING CORRIDOR AROUND PERSONALIZED MEDICINE.

REALLY DETERMINING HOW YOU CAN HELP SOMEONE WITH THE EXACT TREATMENT THEY NEED AT THE EXACT TIME THAT THEY NEED IT, AND WE SEE OPPORTUNITIES AROUND ADVANCED MANUFACTURING WITH THAT, RESEARCH, AND ENTREPRENEURISM.

SO ALL OF TH ESE THINGS WILL COME TOGETHER AS PART OF THIS REGIONAL TECH HUB.

WE'LL SEE BENEFITS EXTENDING UP TO GREEN BAY AND EAU CLAIRE, SO IT'S REALLY AN ALL-WISCONSIN EFFORT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

SECRETARY MISSY HUGHES, THANKS VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> 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 AND NOW" IS PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS WISC ONSIN.