.

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

>> THE STAGE IS SET AT THE STATE CAPITOL FOR THE SUMMER BUDGET BATTLE.

MONEY FOR WISCONSIN SCHOOLS IS ON THE TABLE.

>> IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE WITH ALL OF YOU AS WE KICK OFF PRIDE MONTH IN WISCONSIN.

>> FREDERICA: AND THE PRIDE FLAG IS RAISED OVER THE STATE CAPITOL.

I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.

TONIGHT ON "HERE & NOW," WHY SOME RURAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE WORRIED ABOUT THE SCHOOL BUDGET PROPOSAL.

HOW SAFE IS GOING MASKLESS.

THE STATE OPEN DEEM OL YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING IS -- EPIDEMIOLOGIST IS HERE.

IT IS "HERE & NOW" FOR JUNE 4.

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

>> IT'S TOO EARLY TO TELL, BUT IT IS ALWAYS AN OPTION THAT IS ON THE TABLE.

>> FREDERICA: GOVERNOR TONY EVERS THIS WEEK THREATENS TO VETO THE ENTIRE STATE BUDGET THIS REPUBLICANS ARE NOW RECRAFTING OVER SCHOOL FUNDING.

HE CALLED IT AN INSULT TO THE KIDS OF OUR STATE.

THAT'S BECAUSE THE BUDGET COMMITTEE VOTED TO INCREASE STATE FUNDING BY $128 MILLION OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS, WHEN EVERS HAD PROPOSED A $1.6 BILLION INCREASE.

THE REPUBLICAN VERSION ALSO DOES NOT MEET THE SPENDING THRESHOLD SET BY FEDERAL RULES FOR WISCONSIN TO GET $1.5 BILLION IN THE LATEST PANDEMIC AID PACKAGE TO SCHOOLS.

THE WISCONSIN RURAL SCHOOLS ALLIANCE SAYS THAT WITH ITS ACTION, THE JOINT FINANCE COMMITTEE GETS AN F ON ADEQUATELY INVESTING IN K-12 EDUCATION.

WE TURN TO THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE RURAL SCHOOLS ALLIANCE.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME, FREDERICA.

APPRECIATE IT.

>> FREDERICA: WHEN THE JOINT FINANCE COCHAIR SAYS THEY REPRESENT A RESPONSIBLE BUDGET, WHAT DO YOU SAY?

>> I THINK THEY MISSED A GREAT OPPORTUNITY.

THERE IS A LOT OF SURPLUS COMING IN AND THERE ARE A LOT OF ISSUES THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSD IN THIS BUDGET.

THEY ARE RELYING A LOT ON THE FEDERAL FUNDING THAT IS COMING IN, BUT MISSING THE POINT ON THE FEDERAL FUNDING THAT THAT IS DEDICATED TO COVID RELIEF AND COVID ACTIVITIES, AND IS NOT MEANT TO BACKFILL AND AS YOU HAD STATED EARLIER, THE $128 MILLION IS ONLY ABOUT 10% OF WHAT THE GOVERNOR PUT IN THE ORIGINAL BUDGET.

I THINK A COUPLE THINGS THAT REALLY CONCERN US IS THERE IS NO INCREASE IN GENERAL AID OR REVENUE CEILING AND NO INCREASE IN PER-PUPIL SPENDING IN THAT.

WHAT WE ARE REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT HEADING DOWN THE ROAD, WITH THE JOINT FINANCE COMMITTEE, WE ARE REALLY RELYING ON THIS ONE TIME FEDERAL FUNDING, IT IS SETTING US UP FOR A FINANCIAL CLIFF FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS.

I KNOW THE GOP MEMBERS, MEMBERS OF JOINT FINANCE AND MANY GOP LEGISLATORS DON'T LIKE REFERENDUMS AND THIS WILL PUT US BACK IN THAT CYCLE OF REFERENDUMS, WHERE HERE THEY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO USE THE SURPLUS THAT WE HAVE -- PROBABLY THE BIGGEST SURPLUS WE HAVE HAD IN A LONG TIME, TO REALLY TAKE CARE OF SOME OF THOSE ISSUES AND TO PREVENT DISTRICTS, ESPECIALLY RURAL DISTRICTS, FROM GOING TO OPERATIONAL REFERENDUMS TO KEEP THEIR DOORS OPEN.

>> FREDERICA: IN ADDITION TO THE FISCAL CLIFF, NOT MAINTAINING A CERTAIN THRESHOLD OF STATE EDUCATION FUNDING PUTS THAT FEDERAL AID AT RISK ITSELF UNDER FEDERAL RULES.

.

BUT MAJORITY REPUBLICAN BUDGET WRITERS THINK THAT CAN BE MANAGED.

WHAT KIND OF GAMBLE DOES THAT REPRESENT IN YOUR MIND?

>> TO ME, IT IS A BIG GAMBLE BECAUSE IT IS NOT ONLY AFFECTING THE SR-3 MONEY THAT HASN'T BEEN SENT OUT YET, BUT IT IS ALSO GOING TO HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE SECOND YEAR OF THIS SR-2 MONEY THAT IS COMING.

AND A LOT OF OUR FOLKS -- AS WE GET INTO THE SUMMER, JUST HAVEN'T HAD TIME TO PUT THEIR CLAIMS IN YET SO WE'LL BE DOING THAT OVER THE SUMMERTIME HERE SO THE DECISION NOT TO MEET THE -- >> FREDERICA: THE THRESHOLD FOR STATE FUNDING, YEAH.

>> THANK YOU, YES.

WOULD BE REAL DEVASTATING IF WE DON'T GET THAT MONEY BECAUSE THESE PEOPLE WERE PLANNING ON IT, THEY JUST HAVEN'T HAD TIME TO GET THEIR RECEIPTS SUBMITTED TO THE DPI.

SO, AGAIN, THAT COULD REALLY PUT US IN A REAL BIND.

>> FREDERICA: SO YOU TALK ABOUT THIS MONEY COMING IN, AND A LOT OF COVID RELIEF HAS COME IN TO THE STATE.

ARE SCHOOLS BEING GREEDY TO WANT SO MUCH SPENDING AT THIS TIME?

>> I DON'T THINK SO.

.

I BELIEVE THROUGH THIS WHOLE PANDEMIC, THEY HAVE SPENT A LOT OF EXTRA MONEY ON THINGS THEY WOULDN'T HAVE SPENT ON, ESPECIALLY LAST SPRING WHEN WE HAD TO MAKE A PIVOT FROM FACE-TO-FACE TO EVERYBODY GOING VIRTUAL.

A LOT OF RURAL DISTRICTS WERE PAYING FOR INTERNET PLANS FOR FAMILIES, HOT SPOTS, PURCHASING ADDITIONAL COMPUTERS, AND AS WE WENT INTO THIS FALL, WHAT WE REALIZED FROM LAST SPRING IS SO MANY OF OUR KIDS GOT LEFT OUT LAST SPRING BECAUSE OF LACK OF INTERNET SERVICE, SO A LOT OF OUR RURAL DISTRICTS WERE SENDING OUT CLASSROOM PACKETS VIA BUS ROUTES AND DELIVERING TO FAMILIES AND TEACHERS CONTACTING BY PHONE OR SOME KIND OF SOCIALLY DISTANCED, FACE-TO-FACE WHERE THEY COULD AT LEAST ASK QUESTIONS IN THAT.

THERE WAS JUST A LOT OF UNEXPECTED COSTS THERE AND -- >> FREDERICA: JUST SUPER QUICKLY, ONE OF THE THINGS THE MAJORITY BUDGET WRITERS WANT TO DO IS REWARD DISTRICTS WHO STAYED OPEN THROUGH AT LEAST 50% OF THE PANDEMIC.

THEY WANT TO REWARD THEM WITH AID.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THAT, ESPECIALLY GIVEN THAT IT WAS LARGELY RURAL DISTRICTS THAT DID RETURN TO IN-PERSON.

>> YEAH, IT IS AN ADVANTAGE FOR OUR RURAL DISTRICTS BECAUSE MANY OF THEM WERE FACE-TO-FACE BECAUSE OF THE INTERNET ISSUE, BUT WE ARE ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT THE WHOLE PRECIPICE THAT IS SETTING.

DISTRICTS TALK ABOUT LOCAL CONTROL AND SO MANY DISTRICTS DID WHAT THEY THOUGHT WAS RIGHT.

MANY RURAL DISTRICTS WERE FACE-TO-FACE.

MANY MODERATE DISTRICTS WERE HYBRID AND THEN THE LARGER DISTRICTS FELT THE VIRTUAL, AND THAT IS WHAT WAS BEST.

I THINK EVERYBODY DID THE BEST THEY COULD WITH WHAT THEY HAD.

>> FREDERICA: WE'LL BE WATCHING GOING FORWARD.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU, HAVE A GREAT DAY.

>> FREDERICA: YOU, TOO.

WE INVITED THE REPUBLICAN CO-CHAIR OF THE JOINT FINANCE COMMITTEE TO JOIN US TONIGHT.

HE WAS UNABLE TO BE HERE, BUT SENATOR HOWARD -- WROTE THIS ABOUT THE SCHOOL SPENDING PLAN.

"WE INVEST IN $155 MILLION IN EDUCATION.

THIS IS A TREMENDOUS INVESTMENT IN ADDITION TO FEDERAL FUNDING THAT IS ALREADY ARRIVING IN SCHOOLS, COLLEGES AN UNIVERSITIES ALL OVER WISCONSIN.

WE DOUBLED INVESTMENTS IN MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS FOR K-12 SCHOOLS.

WE INVESTED $19 MILLION MORE IN THIS IMPORTANT PRIORITY.

WE KNOW THERE ARE A LOT OF KIDS WHO ARE STRUGGLING AS THE RESULT OF THE PANDEMIC."

HE TOUTED MONEY FOR THE STATE PROTECTED NIL -- TECHNICAL COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY SYSTEM.

THE BUDGET COMMITTEE OFFERS THE UW SYSTEM FLEXIBILITY TO DEVELOP TALENT, GENERATE LIFE CHANGING RESEARCH AND DELIVER THE RESEARCH FAMILIES DESERVE.

>>> IN COVID NEWS, THE LAST OF THE MASKS CAME OFF THIS WEEK, ALLOWING PEOPLE OUTDOORS AND INDOORS TO CHOOSE NOT TO WEAR MASKS IF THEY ARE FULLY VACCINATED.

SPEAKING OF FULLY VACCINATED, WHERE ARE PEOPLE HOLDING OUT IN WISCONSIN, AND WHY?

THIS WEEK'S NOON WEDNESDAY, WE ASKED THAT QUESTION.

>> DO WE KNOW OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT YET VACCINATEDED, WHY THEY ARE NOT VACCINATED?

IS IT FOLKS WHO ARE JUST SAYING, I'M NEVER GOING TO GET VACCINATED?

PEOPLE WHO ARE JUST STILL WAITING FOR MORE INFORMATION?

OR ARE THERE STILL ISSUES OR ACCESS?

>> WE CERTAINLY BEEN HEARING ABOUT AND I HAVE READ THROUGH THAT SUGGESTS THERE IS DEFINITELY A POLITICAL DIMENSION TO PEOPLE GENERALLY -- THEY WILLINGNESS TO BE VACCINATED FOR COVID-19 SPECIFICALLY.

WE SEE LOWER RATES OF SELF-IDENTIFIED REPUBLICANS EXPRESS WILLINGNESS OR ENTHUSIASM TO BE VACCINATED FOR COVID-19 THAN WE DO POLITICAL INDEPENDENTS OR SELF-IDENTIFIED DEMOCRATS.

BUT THERE DEFINITELY ARE OTHER ELEMENTS AS WELL.

WE ARE SEEING IN WISCONSIN, WHICH IS REALLY A NATIONWIDE PHENOMENON, THAT RURAL COUNTIES ARE GENERALLY SPEAKING, LAGGING MORE URBAN COUNTIES IN VACCINATION RATES.

I MENTIONED THAT DOOR COUNTY AND BAYFIELD COUNTY HAVE HIGH VACCINATION RATES.

THERE ARE AREAS THAT BUCK TRENDS.

WHEN WE LOOK AT DATA OVERALL, RURAL COUNTIES ARE GENERALLY LAGGING BEHIND AND PART OF THAT MAY HAVE TO DO WITH POLITICS.

THE RURAL PARTS OF THE STATE ARE GENERALLY A LITTLE MORE CONSERVATIVE, MORE REPUBLICAN THAN THE URBAN CENTERS.

AND THERE MAY ALSO BE ACCESS ISSUES IN RURAL PARTS OF THE STATE AND ALSO, SORT OF A KIND OF DIFFERENT UNDERSTANDING OF THE PANDEMIC AND ITS IMPACT.

IN SOME PARTS OF THE STATE THAT ARE SPARSELY POPULATED, THEY MAY NOT HAVE BEEN AS MUCH OF AN OBVIOUS IMPACT OF THE PANDEMIC, EITHER THROUGH PANDEMIC RELATED RESTRICTIONS, ON GATHERINGS, MASKING, OR JUST KNOWING PEOPLE WHO GOT THE DISEASE.

SO THERE MAY VERY WELL BE JUST KIND OF LESS MOTIVATION IN SOME PARTS OF THE STATE FOR RECEIVING VACCINATIONS.

AND I SHOULD ALSO DEFINITELY MENTION THAT WE ARE CONTINUING TO SEE A DISPARITIES BY RACE AND ETHNICITY AROUND THE STATE IN VACCINATION RATES.

EVEN IN BING COUNTY, WHICH HAS THE HIGHEST VACCINATION RATE OVERALL, THERE IS A WIDE DISPARITY BETWEEN THE COUNTIES WHITE RESIDENTS AND BLACK AND HISPANIC RESIDENTS.

THE VACCINATION RATE FOR BLACK RESIDENTS IS AT ABOUT 25% IN DANE COUNTY RIGHT NOW.

SO WE'LL DEFINITELY CONTINUE TO SEE VACCINATION RATES RISE OVER THE COMING MONTHS, BUT IT WILL MOST CERTAINLY BE LOWER THAN THIS SPRING.

>> FREDERICA: WHEN IT COMES TO COVID PUBLIC HEALTH PRACTICES, IS THE NEW NORMAL LIKE THE OLD NORMAL?

IT COULD TAKE A WHILE, BECAUSE SOME WISCONSINITES WHO WERE COMPLIANT TO THE LETTER WITH GUIDELINES, ARE DISCOVERING IT MAY BE EASIER TO PUT A MASK ON, THAN TO TAKE IT OFF.

WE OPEN THE DOOR TO POST-DEMIC LIFE NOW TO SOMEONE WHO'S BEEN A VALUABLE RESOURCE TO US THIS YEAR, STATE EPIDEMIOLOGIST DOCTOR RYAN WESTERGUARD.

I SHOULD SAY THIS YEAR AND LAST YEAR.

WELCOME.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME BACK.

>> FREDERICA: WITH RESTRICTIONS MOSTLY LIFTED, IS THIS OVER?

>> IT'S NOT QUITE OVER, ALTHOUGH I THINK EVERYONE AGREES WE ARE IN A MUCH BETTER PLACE THAN WE WERE EVEN JUST A FEW MONTHS AGO, SO -- BUT AS OF TODAY AND THIS LAST WEEK, THERE IS STILL JUST UNDER 200 PEOPLE IN WISCONSIN WHO ARE IN THE HOSPITAL WITH COVID-19 AND THESE PAST SEVERAL WEEKS WE HAVE AVERAGED FOUR DEATHS PER DAY.

THE PANDEMIC IS STILL HERE, THINGS ARE LOOKING BETTER.

WE HAVE LEARNED A LOT, BUT IT IS NOT OVER YET.

>> FREDERICA: IS THERE ANY SENSE ON YOUR PART WITH RESTRICTIONS GONE, THERE WILL BE A SURGE?

>> WELL, WE HOPE NOT.

WE NEED TO REMAIN VIGILANT T. DECISION BY CDC A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO TO REALLY CHANGE THE NORMS AROUND MASK-WEARING FROM MANDATES IN LARGE COMMUNITY SETTINGS TO MAKING IT AN INDIVIDUAL CHOICE, WAS REFLECTIVE OF THE SCIENCE THAT SHOWED WHEN ENOUGH PEOPLE ARE VACCINATED AND VACCINATION IS HIGHLY EFFECTIVE AS WE KNOW IT IS, WE ARE PROTECTED AS A COMMUNITY FROM SURGES.

THERE IS STILL SOME THREATS BECAUSE THERE ARE VIRUSES STILL CIRCULATING.

THE THREAT OF EMERGENCE OF NEW GENETIC VARIANTS THAT MIGHT BE HIGHLY TRANSMISSABLE IS EVER PRESENT, BUT OUR HOPE IS WITH APPROXIMATELY HALF OF THE PEOPLE IN THE COUNTRY AND WISCONSIN GETTING VACCINATED, THAT WE ARE IN A SAFER PLACE OVERALL AS A COMMUNITY.

>> FREDERICA: SHOULD THE PUBLIC BE CONCERNED ABOUT INFECTION IF UNVACCINATED PEOPLE WILL NOT IN FACT, WEAR MASKS, EVEN THOUGH THE GUIDANCE SAYS THEY SHOULD?

>> I THINK IF WE ARE PARTICULARLY IN INDOOR SETTINGS WHERE THERE IS PEOPLE WITH MIXED VACCINATION STATUS, MEANING PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN FULLY VACCINATED AND PEOPLE WHO HAVEN'T, FOR ME IF I WAS ORGANIZING ONE OF THOSE EVENTS AND PARTICULARLY IF THERE WERE GOING TO BE OLDER OR MEDICALLY VULNERABLE FOLKS, I THINK WEARING MASKS IN THOSE SETTINGS IS A REASONABLE RECOMMENDATION TO HAVE AS A NORM FOR VACCINATED AND UNVACCINATED PEOPLE.

THE FOCUS RELIEF FOR PUBLIC HEALTH RECOMMENDATIONS ARE TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO MAKE THESE INDIVIDUAL CHOICES.

THE RECOMMENDATION FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT BEEN FULLY VACCINATED REMAINS THE SAME, WHICH IS TO WEAR MASKS WHEN YOU GO OUT.

>> FREDERICA: OUR REPORTER DESCRIBED THIS PHASE OF COVID AS A POSITIVE THING, BUT ALSO MESSY AND CONFUSING, AND IT DOES SEEM EVEN IN DANE COUNTY WHERE VACCINATION RATES ARE HIGH, PEOPLE ARE SLOW TO LET GO OF THEIR MASKS.

THEY JUST DON'T FEEL SAFE ABOUT IT.

WHAT IS THE PSYCHOLOGY OF THIS AND DO YOU EXPECT IT TO TAKE TIME TO READAPT?

>> I DO.

I THINK A LOT OF US HAVE PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH THAT.

YOU KNOW, AS YOU MENTIONED, I'M TALKING TO HERE IN THE STATE OFFICE BUILDING WHERE THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES IS, AND WE JUST RECENTLY REMOVED THE MASK-WEARING NORM FOR VACCINATED PEOPLE, AND PEOPLE ARE FINDING IT AWKWARD AND CONFUSING.

I THINK LIKE ALL THINGS RELATED TO INDIVIDUAL RELATED DECISIONS, WE DESERVE TO GIVE KINDNESS AND COMPASSION TO EACH OTHER AS WE MAKE THESE DECISIONS, BECAUSE IT'S BEEN EXTRAORDINARILY UNUSUAL AND DIFFICULT YEAR FOR EVERYBODY.

THERE IS NO ONE RIGHT WAY OR WRONG WAY TO FEEL OR ACT IN THIS ENVIRONMENT.

WE JUST NEED TO SUPPORT EACH OTHER AND RESPECT EACH OTHER'S DECISIONS AND WEARING MASKS WHEN WE ARE OUT IN PUBLIC EVEN IF PEOPLE ARE FULLY VACCINATED IS FULLY SUPPORTED BY SCIENCE.

>> FREDERICA: EVEN THOUGH THE WORLD SEEMS ALMOST FULLY OPEN, IS IT STILL IMPORTANT IN YOUR MIND TO GET VACCINATED IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN?

>> .

>> IN MY MIND THAT IS THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT THING PEOPLE CAN DO.

WE KNOW ABOUT THE EFFECTIVENESS OF VACCINES ON THE VEJ LEVEL AND COMMUNITY LEVEL.

THERE IS REALLY NO OTHER MEDICAL OR PREVENTIVE HEALTH TREATMENT THAT I COULD RECOMMEND AS ENTHUSIASTICALLY AS A COVID-19 VACCINE.

AS A PHYSICIAN, TO MY INDIVIDUAL PATIENTS OR MEDICAL OFFICER FOR THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, IT REALLY IS OUR STRONGEST POSSIBLE RECOMMENDATION.

ALL THAT SAID, WE UNDERSTAND THIS IS A NEW VACCINE, THAT THE SIENLS IS COMPLEX AND THAT PEOPLE HAVE QUESTIONS, SO WE WANT TO HAVE THAT FIRM, ENTHUSIASTIC RECOMMENDATION, BUT ALSO BE PREPARED TO LISTEN WHEN PEOPLE HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT VACCINES, AND PROVIDERS NEED TO LISTEN TO PATIENTS WHO AREN'T IMMEDIATELY EAGER OR ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT GETTING THE VACCINE.

PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY NEED TO LISTEN, TRUST EACH OTHER.

TALK TO PEOPLE YOU KNOW ABOUT WHETHER YOU HAVE BEEN VACCINATED, WHAT THE EXPERIENCE IS LIKE, AND ASK HONEST QUESTIONS ABOUT THE COMPLICATED SCIENCE.

WHEN WE TRY TO COMMUNICATE IN PUBLIC HEALTH AND MEDICINE TO THE SCIENCE, WE ARE HIGHLY CONFIDENT IN THE VACCINES, BUT IT IS GOING TO TAKE TIME TO BRING PEOPLE ALONG AND FOR EVERYONE TO FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH THE IDEA.

>> FREDERICA: WE LEAVE IT THERE.

DOCTOR RYAN WESTERGUARD, THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND FOR YOUR WORK.

>> THANK YOU.

>> FREDERICA: AT THE STATE CAPITOL, THE ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY TOOK UP SEVERAL BILLINGS AROUND POLICING THURSDAY THAT EMANATED AROUND THE SPEAKER'S TASK FORCE ON RACIAL DI DISPARITIES.

AMONG THEM, PROVISIONS OF REPORTING, NO-KNOCK WARRANTS, AND LAW ENFORCEMENT GRANTS FOR BODY CAMERAS.

THE WORK OF THE BIPARTISAN TASK FORCE WHOSE CO-CHAIR IS A DEMOCRATIC MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE BLACK CAUCUS IS NOT GETTING PRAISE IN ALL CORNERS.

REPRESENTATIVE DAVID BOWEN HELD A PRESS CONFERENCE DECRYING THE LACK OF MEANINGFUL WORK ON POLICE REFORM IN THE WAKE OF THE JACOB BLAKE SHOOTING IN KENOSHA AND MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD.

HE WAS JOINED BY COMMUNITY ADVOCATES INCLUDING ANGELA LANG, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF BLACK LEADERS ORGANIZING FOR COMMUNITIES IN MILWAUKEE.

>> THIS IS A TIME TO INVEST IN OUR COMMUNITIES, NOT INVEST IN FURTHER POLICING OR FURTHER CRIMINALIZATION AND THESE BILLS, WHILE THEY ARE NOT A SILVER BULLET BULLET, THERE IS NO SILVER BULLET TO UNRAVEL THE GENERATIONS OF WHITE SUPREMACY, THESE ARE BILLS THAT ARE A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND CONTINUE TO MOVE THE CONVERSATION FORWARD.

>> FREDERICA: AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE, REPRESENT BOWEN MADE PUBLIC 12 LEGISLATIVE BILLS HE IS PROPOSING TO PUT TEETH INTO POLICE REFORM IN WISCONSIN.

HE JOINS US NOW FROM MILWAUKEE.

THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME ON.

>> FREDERICA: WHY ARE YOU PROPOSING THESE BILLS NOW, EVEN AS THERE IS WORK ONGOING IN THE LEGISLATURE AROUND POLICE REFORM.

>> WELL, NOW IS THE PERFECT TIME.

THE TASK FORCE THAT WAS CREATED BY THE SPEAKER, THEIR SEVEN BILLS HAVE MADE THEIR WAY THROUGH COMMITTEE.

I MYSELF HAD A CHANCE TO VOTE AND SUPPORT FIVE OUT OF THE SEVEN OF THOSE BILLS.

TWO OF THOSE THAT I REALLY BELIEVE IN COMMUNICATION WITH FOLKS THAT HAVE BEEN MARCHING AND ADVOCATINGEING FOR QUITE SOME TIME, SINCE THE DEATH OF GEORGE FLOYD, THEY FEEL IT GOES IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION OF WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR.

TWO OUT OF THE SEVEN, I REALLY HOPE, IF THAT'S WHAT THE TASK FORCE AND IF THAT IS WHAT THE LEGISLATURE IS GOING TO SIGN OFF ON, I REALLY HOPE IT IS INCUMBENT ON THE GOVERNOR TO VETO THOSE BILLS SO IT CAN GO BACK TO DECISION MAKING TABLE AND HAVE ITS WAY WITH THE OTHER BILLS THAT ARE OUT THERE.

WE WANTED TO ADD INTO THE SOLUTIONS, INTO THE TABLE THAT SHOULD BE THERE TO BE TALKED ABOUT, TO BE DISCUSSED, TO BE DEBATED, AND NOT LIMIT IT TO JUST WHERE THE TASK FORCE LEFT OFF.

WE KNOW IT TOOK THEM SEVEN-AND-A-HALF MONTHS THE GET TO THE CONCLUSION OF THOSE SEVEN BILLS AND WE WANT TO ADD TO THAT.

WE WANT TO BUILD ON TO THAT.

SO IT'S REALLY ABOUT HAVING A WHOLISTIC CONVERSATION ON THE SOLUTIONS AND IT IS JUST VERY CLEAR THAT CERTAIN SOLUTIONS WEREN'T ALLOWED TO BE DISCUSSED AT THAT TABLE AND THERE ARE SOME OTHER BILLS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN OUT THERE WITH REPRESENTATIVE MEYERS, MY COLLEAGUE WITH THE BAN ON NO-KNOCK WARRANTS.

MY OTHER COLLEAGUE WITH THE DECERTIFY CASE AN QUALIFIED IMMUNITY AND THE 12 BILLS WE HAVE HERE IN THE "ENOUGH IS ENOUGH" PACKAGE.

>> FREDERICA: WHAT ARE YOU SAYING WASN'T ALLOWED TO MOVE FORWARD OR BE DISCUSSED?

WHAT ARE THOSE?

>> SURE.

SO ONE OF THE BILLS IN OUR PACKAGE IS TO HIGHLIGHT THE DECISION-MAKING AROUND PROSECUTING OFFICERS AND THAT SHOULD LIE WITH A SPECIAL PROSECUTOR DECIDED BY A COURT, RATHER THAN THE CURRENT PROCESS IS TO GIVE THAT INVESTIGATIVE REPORT TO THE DA AND THE LOCAL DA MAKES A DECISION, EVEN THOUGH THERE IS A VERY CLOSE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN A LOCAL DA AN POLICE DEPARTMENT.

WE SHOULD RECOGNIZE THAT WE DON'T WANT TO HAVE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST THERE.

ANOTHER BILL IS TO ENSURE THAT IN INVESTIGATIONS, ANY INVESTIGATOR IS NOT RELATED TO SOMEONE ON THE SAME FORCE, THAT THEY ARE DOING THAT INVESTIGATION ON.

AND THAT THEY THEMSELVES HAVE BEEN AT LEAST TEN YEARS REMOVED FROM WORKING FOR THAT SAME POLICE DEPARTMENT.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMOVE THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST, THINGS THAT COULD GET IN THE WAY.

THE HURDLES THAT ARE CREATING A LOT OF DISTRUST IN THIS SYSTEM, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT IS VERY SHOWN THAT IT'S POSSIBLE THAT AN OFFICER MADE A MOVE OF MESQUITE CONDUCT, MADE AN ABUSE OF POWER.

>> FREDERICA: AND SO AS TO YOUR SLATE OF BILLS, YOU'RE PROPOSING ONE OF THEM IS POLICE USE OF FORCE.

WHAT PRECISELY DOES IT CALL FOR?

>> ESSENTIALLY, IT'S VERY SPECIFIC.

IT'S CALLING FOR DIRECTIVES TO EVERY OFFICER IN THE STATE OF WISCONSIN.

IT IS PRESERVING THE SANCTITY OF LIFE.

IT IS ENSURING THAT OFFICERS ARE USING THE LEAST AMOUNT OF FORCE POSSIBLE IN SITUATIONS TO KEEP PEOPLE ALIVE.

AND WE KNOW THAT THOSE -- THAT DEFINITION OF USE FORCE IS NOT COMPLETE TO COME OUT OF THE TASK FORCE, SO WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WAS A PART OF THE "ENOUGH IS ENOUGH" PACKAGE, A COLLECTIVE OF SOLUTIONS FROM THE PEOPLE AND FROM THOSE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT.

WE ALSO HAVE A BILL TO RESPECT THE DECISION OF POLICE CHIEFS WHEN THEY MAKE A DECISION OF FIRING AN OFFICER.

A LOT OF ONUS NEED TO BE PUT ON POLICE CHIEFS TO MAKE THE DECISION AND WHEN THEY DO IT SHOULD BE RESPECTED AND IT SHOULD TAKE MORE THAN A REGULAR MAJORITY OF A POLICE COMMISSION TO OVERTURN A DECISION OF A POLICE CHIEF.

WE ALSO WANT TO ENSURE THAT POLICE UNIONS ARE ADVOCATING FOR STANDING UP FOR OFFICERS THAT HAVE EXEMPLIFIED MISCONDUCT, THAT HAVE EXEMPLIFIED NOT HAVING THE PROPER CONDUCT TO BE IN THEIR POSITIONS AND GO AGAINST A DECISION OF A POLICE CHIEF.

SO WE'RE GETTING THOSE LOCAL SOLUTIONS FROM CLEARLY DIFFERENT FOLKS THAT ARE CONNECTED TO THIS SYSTEM.

>> FREDERICA: I WANT TO ASK BRIEFLY, WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF TIME LEFT, BUT HOW DO YOU AND OTHER DEMOCRATS ACCOMPLISH MORE ON POLICE REFORM WITH MAJORITY REPUBLICANS WITHOUT THE SEAT AT THE BIPARTISAN TASK FORCE TABLE?

>> I THINK IT'S EXPOSING THE RISK THAT EXISTS IN OUR STATE LEGISLATURE.

IT IS ABOUT POWER TO SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES, INSTEAD OF ACTUAL SOLUTIONS TO KEEP PEOPLE ALIVE.

WE ARE TALKING WHAT ABOUT FOLKS HAVE BEEN MARCHING, WHAT FOLKS HAVE BEEN ADVOCATING SINCE THE DEATH OF GEORGE FLOYD IN AN EXTRAORDINARY WAY, IN WAYS WE HAVEN'T SEEN SINCE THE CIVIL RIGHTS OF THE '60s.

IT IS INCUMBENT ON SPEAKER VOSS AND THE LEADERSHIP TO HEAR THE CRIES OF PEOPLE THAT THEY WANT BOLD CHANGE.

THEY JUST DON'T WANT STUTTER STEPS AND TALKING AND LIP SERVICE TOWARDS REAL SOLUTIONS.

WE HAVE TO GET AT THE ROOT.

THAT IS WHAT OUR "ENOUGH IS ENOUGH" PACKAGE CREATES.

IT IS ABOUT BRINGING THE SOLUTIONS TO THE TABLE IN DECISION-MAKING AND PROSECUTING AND DIRECT CONTACT WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT.

ON THE FRONT END, AND LAW ENFORCEMENT HAS A REALLY BIG ROLE TO EMBRACE THESE REFORMS THAT KEEPS THEM SAFE AS WELL, AND THAT'S WHAT WE REALLY WANT TO HIGHLIGHT HERE.

>> FREDERICA: THANK YOU.

I APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WE'LL HAVE YOU ON AGAIN TO TALK FOR LONGER DURATION ON THESE ISSUES.

REPRESENTATIVE DAVID BOWEN, THANK YOU.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

>> FREDERICA: GAY PRIDE MONTH KICKED OFF AT THE STATE CAPITOL THIS WEEK.

GOVERNOR TONY EVERS AND ASSEMBLED GUESTS WITNESSED THE RAISING OF THE PRIDE FLAG.

SPEAKERS INCLUDED DEMOCRATIC U.S.

SENATOR TAMMY BALDWIN.

>> AS WE RAISE THE PRIDE FLAG AGAIN TODAY IN RECOGNITION OF PRIDE MONTH, LET US REMEMBER IT IS A SYMBOL OF FAIRNESS ABOUT WHETHER LGBTQ WISCONSINITES DESERVE TO BE TREATED JUST LIKE THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS, THEIR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS.

IT IS ABOUT OPPORTUNITY, ABOUT WORKING TOGETHER TO BREAK DOWN BARRIERS SO THAT EVERYONE IN WISCONSIN HAS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY TO DREAM THE SAME DREAMS, TO CHASE THE SAME AMBITIONS, AN TO HAVE THE SAME SHOT AT SUCCESS.

AND IT'S ABOUT THE ONGOING MARCH FOR FREEDOM, THE FREEDOM OF FULL EQUALITY FOR THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY.

MOST OF ALL, IT'S ABOUT WHETHER THE PROGRESS WIF HAS MADE WILL CONTINUE.

TODAY, WE ASK OURSELVES IF WE WILL LIVE UP TO OUR STATE MOTTO FORWARD, AND TODAY WE COME TOGETHER AS ONE COMMUNITY TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION WITH A RESOUNDING YES.

[CHEERS & APPLAUSE] >> FREDERICA: FINALLY TONIGHT, WE SAY FAREWELL TO SOMEONE YOU HAVE NEVER SEEN ON CAMERA, BUT HAS PLAYED AN ESSENTIAL ROLE TO GETTING PROGRAMS TO YOUR LIVING ROOM OVER THE LAST THREE DECADES.

NEVER SEEN ON CAMERA, UNTIL NOW.

THIS WEEK ENGINEER MIKE HANSEN ENDS A 30-YEAR CAREER WITH PBS WISCONSIN.

HIS TECHNICAL KNOW-HOW HAS KEPT CAMERAS ROLLING THE WHOLE TIME.

HE IS ALSO A TRANSMISSION ENGINEER MAKING SURE OUR SHOW ACTUALLY HITS THE AIR WAVES EVERY WEEK.

THAT IS HIS JOB TONIGHT.

THERE HE IS AT HIS POST.

SO THANK YOU, MIKE, AND HAPPY RETIREMENT.

CONGRATULATIONS.

THAT IS OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT.

HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.

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